bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Piezoelectric Shear Response in Adaptive Sandwich Shells of Revolution - Part 1: Theoretical Formulation
Authors: Benjeddou A. , Gorge V. , Ohayon R.
Published: July 2008

This work, in two parts, proposes a theoretical formulation (Part 1) and its finite element implementation (Part 2) for an adaptive sandwich shell of revolution that uses the transverse shear response of a piezoelectric core sandwiched between two elastic faces. For this, the former is assumed initially poled along the meridian but subjected to electric potentials on its fully electroded inner and outer surfaces. The model assumes the first-order shear deformation theory for each layer and enforces the displacement continuity conditions at the core to faces interfaces. Besides, the sandwich theory retains the shell transverse deflection together with the mean and relative tangential displacements and bending rotations of the elastic faces as mechanical independent variables. These are augmented by the electric potential in the piezoelectric core, in order to effectively consider the electromechanical coupling. Implementation and validation of the theoretical formulation developed in this part are presented in Part 2 of the paper.
Micromechanical Modeling of a Composite Containing Piezoelectric and Shape Memory Alloy Inclusions
Authors: Jiang B. , Batra R. C.
Published: July 2008

Macroscopic constitutive relations based on the mean-field theory and the Mori–Tanaka method are derived for a 3-phase composite consisting of a polymer matrix and shape memory alloy (SMA) and piezoceramic (PZT) inclusions. Effective moduli are computed for likewise oriented spherical and cylindrical inclusions. Results are also computed for cylindrical PZT and ellipsoidal SMA inclusions. Even though the PZT and the matrix materials are assumed to be linear, the overall response of the composite is nonlinear because of the phase transformations in the SMA inclusions. The 3-phase composite exhibits pyroelectric effects even when none of its constituents is pyroelectric. It is found that the spherical inclusions are more effective than the cylindrical inclusions in the sense that lower values of the average axial stress induce phase transformations in the SMA inclusions, and the maximum principal tensile strain induced in the PZT inclusions is only about 7% of the average axial strain. However, spherical PZT inclusions require a very high value of the electric field to induce any noticeable axial strain in the hybrid composite.
Dynamic Viscoelasticity and Its Mechanical Model of an MR Suspension in Oscillatory Slit Flow Mode
Authors: Yamamoto Hideki , Nakano Masami
Published: July 2008

The dynamic nonlinear viscoelasticity of an MR fluid in oscillatory slit flow under magnetic flux normal to the flow has been investigated by using a newly developed oscillatory pressure flow type rheometer. The MR fluid consisting of micron-sized magnetically polarizable particles (carbonyl iron) dispersed into a carrier medium (hydrocarbon oil) was evaluated. The dependence of viscoelasticity of the MR fluid on magnetic field strengths, fluid strain amplitudes and fluid oscillation frequencies have been already investigated. Generalized viscoelastic mechanical models of the MR fluid in oscillatory slit flow are very important for analyzing various MR dampers using MR valves. In this work, a nonlinear dynamic viscoelastic mechanical model of the MR fluid in oscillatory slit flow is proposed, based on the data which have been already measured. The proposed viscoelastic mechanical model of an MR fluid is discussed and compared with the experimental results.
Development of an Actuator with ER Damper and Its Basic Experiments
Authors: Takesue Naoyuki , Zhang Guoguang , Furusho Junji , Sakaguchi Masamichi , Asawa Hideo
Published: July 2008

Most industrial robots are driven through reduction gear units by DC or AC servomotors. The elasticity of the drive systems including these reduction gear units cannot be ignored when the high-speed and precise motion control is required for robots. Due to the elasticity of the drive systems, the vibratory behaviors are caused, and the control performances of robot systems are deteriorated. In this study, we develop a new actuator, which consists of an AC servomotor, a harmonic drive gear and an ER damper. Since the gap between electrodes of the ER damper is 80 [Rm], only the voltage of 80 [V] is needed for the electric field of 1 [kV/mm]. And this ER damper consumes little electric power. The actuator is installed to the one-link robot arm. The mathematical model of the robot arm is derived, and the eigenvalues of the robot system are analyzed. The experiments are conducted, and the effectiveness of the actuator is shown.
Dextrins as Carriers for Drug Targeting: Reproducible Succinoylation as a Means to Introduce Pendant Groups
Authors: Hreczuk-Hirst Dale , German Lisa , Duncan Ruth
Published: July 2008

Dextrin (a-1,4 polyglucose) is in clinical use as a peritoneal dialysis solution and controlled drug delivery formulation. As a biodegradable polymer, dextrin has considerable potential as a polymeric drug carrier. Succinoylation, using dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as a catalyst, was used to conjugate chemotherapeutic agents, probes to follow biodistribution and probes to monitor intracellular fate. The aims of this study were to optimize the reaction conditions for the succinoylation (in respect of temperature and reaction time), to assess the suitability of succinoylated-dextrin as an intermediate for conjugation of drugs and probes selected to monitor pharmacokinetics (doxorubicin, tyrosinamide and biotin). The optimum temperature for succinoylation was 500C with a minimum of 8 h reaction time. Under these conditions succinoylation was reproducible with a coefficient of variation of < 10% and always gave a -50% yield. Different degrees of dextrin succinoylation (0.5-30 mol%) was achieved by variation of the reactants. Conjugation of doxorubicin to the succinoylated dextrin intermediate (15 or 34 mol%) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimde (sulfo-NHS) reproducibly gave conjugates containing-9.0 wt% with < 1% of the total doxorubicin present as free drug. Tyrosinamide and biotin were bound to the succinoylated intermediate using carbodiimidazole (CDI). Dextrin-tyrosinamide conjugates were -1 mol% modified and the dextrin-biotin conjugates containing 6.8 wt% biotin. Succinoylation of dextrin is a non-polymer-disruptive method that can be used to reproducibly introduce pendant groups. The resultant conjugates are suitable for biological evaluation in in vitro and in vivo.
Vibration Suppression of Structures Using Passive Shape Memory Alloy Energy Dissipation Devices
Authors: Salichs J. , Hou Z. , Noori M.
Published: July 2008

The paper presents a preliminary study on feasibility using shape memory alloy (SMA) passive devices for vibration suppression of building structures. A one-story prototype-building model is used. The structure is subjected to a base excitation and is strengthened by SMA diagonal bracing wires. Constitutive behavior of SMA wires used in the study was experimentally characterized to properly model the SMA super- or pseudoelastic material properties and results were compared with the numerical simulation based on theoretical SMA constitutive models by Lexcellent and Bourbon ((1996). Thermodynamical model of cyclic behavior of Ti-Ni and Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys under isothermal undulated tensile tests. Mechanics of Materials, 24: 59-73) and Brinson ((1993). One-dimensional constitutive behavior of shape memory alloys: Thermomechanical derivation with non-constant material functions and redefined martensite internal variable. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 4: 229). The Single-degree-of-freedom structural system was also experimentally calibrated to determine the structural parameters. Both the experimentally calibrated structural model and SMA constitutive model were then employed in numerical simulation to predict dynamic response of the building structure with SMA bracing wires subjected to a base input and results showed a good agreement with experimental data. The results were also compared with both cases of conventional steel bracing wires and no bracing at all. The results showed that SMA passive devices maybe effectively used to suppress vibration by introducing additional stiffness to shift the system natural frequency away from the resonance and/or providing additional energy dissipation by its superelastic hysteresis. The SMA damping is adaptive and is especially attractive for the case when the loading is random in nature. When an unexpected excitation causes excessive vibration, more energy will be dissipated through larger SMA superelastic hysteretic loops and therefore, the vibration will eventually be mitigated. Numerical simulation also showed that the SMA device dissipated more energy than the viscous damping in the case studied.
New Polishing Method with Magnetic Congelation Liquid
Authors: Umehara Noritsugu , Shibata Isao , Edamura Kazuya
Published: July 2008

In order to polish complicated-shaped inner surfaces of molds, a new polishing method with magnetic congelation liquid was invented. Magnetic congelation liquid which is magnetic fluid at high temperature, can be solidified by cooling. If abrasives are in the magnetic congelation liquid, the distribution of abrasives in the liquid can be controlled by magnetic field. Therefore we can make a special polishing tool which has well arranged abrasives inside after cooling. In order to know the fundamental polishing properties of this new polishing tool, brass plate was polished. The polishing tool was pressed and rotated against the brass plates in specified polishing time. After many experiments, it was found that this type of polishing tool provided enough removal rate and surface roughness. Also, it was confirmed that the alignment of abrasives in the polishing tool strongly affected removal rate and surface roughness.
Feedback Control of the Bending Response of Ionic Polymer Actuators
Authors: Mallavarapu Kiran , Leo Donald J.
Published: July 2008

Ionic polymers are a class of active material that exhibit large bending deflections under the application of an electric field. Previous research has demonstrated that the response of an actuator in air is characterized by a large initial deflection and a relaxation to a steady-state value. The time constant of the relaxation is of the order 5–20 s and the overshoot of the step response is typically greater than 100%. These aspects of the step response limit the actuation bandwidth of the material. In this work we explore the use of feedback control techniques to eliminate the large overshoot and reduce the settling time of cantilevered ionic polymer actuators. Control models are developed from measurements of the actuator response to a step change in the applied voltage. The models demonstrate that the dynamics relevant to the control problem can be separated into a low-frequency (< 5 Hz) range in which the response is characterized by a series of time constants, and a high-frequency range (> 10 Hz) characterized by the resonance of the actuator. For shorter polymers the resonance is sufficiently high that it can be ignored in the control design, but the resonant response becomes significant as the length of the polymer increases. Control simulations based on Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) theory demonstrate that feedback control eliminates the overshoot in the step response and decreases the settling time by a factor of 10. Control of the actuator oscillation is accomplished by using an LQR weighting matrix that includes the states associated with the actuator resonance, whereas a state weighting matrix that does not include these terms results in a compensator that includes a notch at the actuator resonance. Experimental results on the shorter polymer demonstrate that the overshoot in the step response is eliminated and the settling time is reduced from 12–16 s to 1–2 s, thus verifying the ability of feedback control to shape the step response of the actuator. Experimental results on the longer polymer demonstrate that incorporating the resonance terms in the LQR weighting matrix is the superior control design method. Designs that included a notch in the compensator were unstable for very low gains because of variations in the actuator resonance due to changes in surface hydration. Designs that included phase lead in the compensator produced superior closed-loop performance and resulted in reductions in overshoot and settling time of the order 6–10 s.
On the Characterization of Wetting and Adhesion in Glass Fiber-PA12 Composites
Authors: Bernet N. , Bourban P. -E. , Maånson J.-A. E.
Published: July 2008

A variety of glass fibers (GF) and Polyamide 12 (PA 12) resins were selected to study fiber-matrix wetting and adhesion in thermoplastic composites. The fibers differed in the nature of their surface treatment, the PA 12 resins in their content of amine terminal groups and melt viscosity. The wetting behavior and the interfacial adhesion were investigated by conducting contact angle and interfacial shear strength measurements on fiber-droplet specimens. Depending on the fiber surface finish, variations in contact angle of up to 600 and differences in interfacial shear strength of up to 7 M Pa were obtained. Slight variations in contact angle and interfacial shear strength were also observed as a function of the resin viscosity and the chain termination chemistry. These results are of practical relevance for tailoring the fiber-matrix interface, to minimize the fiber impregnation time during processing and optimize the mechanical performance of the composite during service. The results also allow a correlation to be established between the contact angle and the interfacial shear strength, in agreement with an existing model. The validity of the experimental methods suggested for the determination of contact angle and interfacial shear strength in thermoplastic composites is thus confirmed.
Genetically Engineered Calmodulin Self-Assembled on Gold Surface
Authors: Kobatake Eiry , Suzuki Shigeya , Yanagida Yasuko , Haruyama Tetsuya , Aizawa Masuo
Published: July 2008

In order to construct intelligent materials consisting of functional proteins, the assembling techniques of proteins with retaining their functions even on a solid surfaces are required. Calmodulin, which expresses modulating function by conformation change with calcium binding, was selected as a model protein for molecular assembling. Calmodulin was genetically engineered for self-assembling on the gold surface with an oriented manner by introducing cysteine residues at the N-terminus of calmodulin. The engineered calmodulin retained Ca2+-responsive modulating function of enzyme activity as native calmodulin. Enzyme immunoassay and quartz crystal microbalance revealed that the engineered calmodulin was efficiently assembled on the gold surface in an acidic buffer solution as compared with native calmodulin. Genetic engineering is discussed to be effective on modifying proteins to be self-assembled on solid matrices.
Hepatic 11beta‐HSD1 mRNA expression in fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Konopelska Sarah , Kienitz Tina , Hughes Beverly , Pirlich Matthias , Bauditz Jürgen , Lochs Herbert , Strasburger Christian J. , Stewart Paul M. , Quinkler Marcus
Published: July 2008

Context  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease represents the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of liver injury. The pathophysiology that leads to NASH is not well understood.

Objective  We hypothesize that an altered cortisol metabolism in the liver may be a pathogenetic factor.

Design and patients  75 patients (28 men, 47 women) underwent liver biopsy for elevation in liver enzymes. Histological diagnosis identified normal liver in eight, fatty liver in 20, NASH grade 1 in 22, grade 2 in nine, grade 3 in three patients, and other forms of hepatitis or cirrhosis in 13 patients. We quantified hepatic 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type1 (11β‐HSD1) and hexose‐6‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase (H6PDH) mRNA expression by real‐time PCR. In addition, analysis of 24 h urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites using GCMS was performed and compared with healthy controls.

Results  11β‐HSD1 mRNA expression correlated significantly (R2= 0·809; P < 0·001) with H6PDH mRNA expression, negatively with waist‐to‐hip ratio in women (R2= 0·394; P= 0·005), but not with urinary (THF + 5α‐THF)/THE ratio, total cortisol metabolite excretion, age, BMI, degree of fatty liver or NASH stages. Total cortisol metabolite excretion was increased in patients with fatty liver or NASH compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions  Our data suggest that expression of hepatic 11β‐HSD1 and H6PDH are closely interlinked. 11β‐HSD1 gene expression does not seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of fatty liver or NASH. However, those patients showed an increased 5α‐ and 5β‐reduction of cortisol leading to an increased cortisol turnover rate and an activation of the HPA axis.
Impacts of cattle on amphibian larvae and the aquatic environment
Authors: SCHMUTZER A. CHANDLER , GRAY MATTHEW J. , BURTON ELIZABETH C. , MILLER DEBRA L.
Published: July 2008

Agricultural practices such as cattle farming may have direct or indirect negative effects on larval amphibians by decreasing water quality through deposition of nitrogenous waste, causing eutrophication, and grazing shoreline vegetation that contributes to detrital cover and food.

We sampled amphibian larvae on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee, U.S.A., twice per week, water quality twice per month and algal and detrital biomass once per month at seven wetlands (three cattle‐access and four non‐access) from March to August 2005 and 2006.

In general, species richness and diversity of amphibian larvae were greater in wetlands without cattle. Mean relative abundance of green frog (Rana clamitans) and American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles was greater in non‐access wetlands. Body size of some ranid larvae was larger in cattle‐access wetlands but this trend did not exist for juveniles or adults. Dissolved oxygen was lower, while specific conductivity and turbidity were higher in cattle‐access wetlands. Mean biomass of detritus was lower in cattle‐access wetlands compared to non‐access wetlands; no differences were detected in algal biomass.

Given the negative impacts of cattle on water quality, detrital biomass, larval amphibian species richness and relative abundance of some amphibian species, we recommend that farmers consider excluding these livestock from aquatic environments.
Conceptualising spirituality and religion for healthcare
Authors: Pesut Barbara , Fowler Marsha , Taylor Elizabeth J , Reimer‐Kirkham Sheryl , Sawatzky Richard
Published: July 2008

Aims.  To discuss some of the challenges of conceptualising spirituality and religion for healthcare practice.

Background.  With the growing interest in spirituality in healthcare, has come the inevitable task of trying to conceptualise spirituality, a daunting task given the amorphous nature of spirituality, the changing understandings of spirituality among individuals and the diverse globalised society within which this task is taking place. Spirituality’s relationship to religion is a particularly challenging point of debate.

Design.  Critical review.

Conclusions.  Three social and historical conditions – located in the context of Western thought – have contributed to current conceptualisations of spirituality and religion: the diminishment of the social authority of religion as a result of the Enlightenment focus on reason, the rise of a postmodern spirituality emphasising spiritual experience and current tensions over the ideological and political roles of religion in society. The trend to minimise the social influence of religion is a particular Western bias that seems to ignore the global megatrend of the resurgence of religion. Current conceptualisations are critiqued on the following grounds: that they tend to be ungrounded from a rich history of theological and philosophical thought, that a particular form of elitist spirituality is emerging and that the individualistic emphasis in recent conceptualisations of spirituality diminishes the potential for societal critique and transformation while opening the door for economic and political self interest.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Constructing adequate conceptualisations of spirituality and religion for clinical practice entails grounding them in the wealth of centuries of philosophical and theological thinking, ensuring that they represent the diverse society that nursing serves and anchoring them within a moral view of practice.
Complement‐mediated killing of Philasterides dicentrarchi (Ciliophora) by turbot serum: relative importance of alternative and classical pathways
Authors: LEIRO J. , PIAZZÓN M. C. , BUDIÑO B. , SANMARTÍN M. L. , LAMAS J.
Published: July 2008

The present study was carried out to elucidate the in vitro killing activity of turbot complement and specific antibodies against the ciliate parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi. Fresh serum from nonimmunized fish showed a moderate ability to kill the parasite, which indicates that P. dicentrarchi is able to activate the alternative complement pathway (ACP). Fresh serum from immunized fish, which contained high levels of specific antibodies, showed greater killing activity. Heat‐inactivated serum, with or without antibodies, and antibodies alone did not have any effect on parasite viability, which indicates that serum mainly kills P. dicentrarchi through the antibody‐mediated classical complement pathway (CCP). Ascitic fluid from infected fish, but containing low levels of specific antibodies, showed a low ability to kill the parasite, and fresh serum from nonimmunized infected fish did not kill the parasite. The latter serum contained some specific antibodies but lower levels of complement than serum from control and vaccinated fish, and the lack of ability of this serum to kill the parasite was probably related to low levels of complement. In addition, serum and ascitic fluid from infected turbot showed high proteolytic activity which degraded fish Igs. The proteolytic activity generated may favour survival of the parasite during infection.
Cooperative activity of DNA methyltransferases for maintenance of symmetrical and non‐symmetrical cytosine methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Singh Anuradha , Zubko Elena , Meyer Peter
Published: July 2008

Maintenance of cytosine methylation in plants is controlled by three DNA methyltransferases. MET1 maintains CG methylation, and DRM1/2 and CMT3 act redundantly to enforce non‐CG methylation. RPS, a repetitive hypermethylated DNA fragment from Petunia hybrida, attracts DNA methylation when transferred into Petunia or other species. In Arabidopsis thaliana, which does not contain any RPS homologues, RPS transgenes are efficiently methylated in all sequence contexts. To test which DNA methylation pathways regulate RPS methylation, we examined maintenance of RPS methylation in various mutant backgrounds. Surprisingly, CG methylation was lost in a drm1/2/cmt3 mutant, and non‐CG methylation was almost completely eliminated in a met1 mutant. An unusual cooperative activity of all three DNA methyltransferases is therefore required for maintenance of both CG and non‐CG methylation in RPS. Other unusual features of RPS methylation are the independence of its non‐CG methylation from the RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway and the exceptional maintenance of methylation at a CCmTGG site in some epigenetic mutants. This is indicative of activity of a methylation system in plants that may have evolved from the DCM methylation system that controls CCmWGG methylation in bacteria. Our data suggest that strict separation of CG and non‐CG methylation pathways does not apply to all target regions, and that caution is required in generalizing methylation data obtained for individual genomic regions.
Donor screening for hepatitis B virus infection in a cell and tissue bank
Authors: Solves P. , Mirabet V. , Alvarez M. , Vila E. , Quiles F. , Villalba J.V. , Montoro J.A. , Soler M.A. , Roig R.J.
Published: July 2008

Abstract: Background and objectives. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been transmitted by tissue transplantation. In order to reduce the risk of HBV transmission, testing for antibody to HBV core antigen (anti‐HBc) is used in addition to testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in many blood centers and tissue banks.

Design and methods. We retrospectively analyzed the results of HBV assays in tissue donors. All tissue donors were tested for HBsAg and anti‐HBc. All anti‐HBc positive sera were tested for the antibody to HBsAg (anti‐HBs). From July 2006, an HBV nucleic acid testing (NAT) assay was also performed.

Results. A total of 6855 tissue donors from January 1999 till July 2007 were tested for HBV assays: 4756 women and 2099 men. Positive HBsAg was found in 23 (0.36%) living donors, while no multiorgan or cord blood (CB) donor was found to be positive for HBsAg. Positive anti‐HBc was found in 80 multiorgan donors (12.94%), 599 living donors (17.84%), and 103 CB donors (3.57%) (P<0.005), while isolated anti‐HBc was found in 12 multiorgan (1.94%), in 126 living tissue donors (3.75%), and in 8 CB donors (0.28%). A total of 1310 donors were analyzed for single‐sample DNA HBV NAT assay.

Discussion. We consider that anti‐HBc and NAT assays must both still be performed in addition to HBsAg assay for HBV screening in tissue donors. All these tests will be useful in order to define an algorithm for safe and efficient management of the tissue bank.
Seminal Plasma Composition from Ejaculates Collected by Artificial Vagina and Electroejaculation in Guirra Ram
Authors: Marco‐Jiménez F , Vicente JS , Viudes‐de‐Castro MP
Published: July 2008

Contents

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in ram seminal plasma composition from ejaculates obtained using artificial vagina (AV) and electroejaculation (EE). To address this question, we assessed the effect of semen collection method on volume, sperm concentration, sodium concentration, potassium concentration, sodium/potassium ratio, total protein content and protein profile using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and 2‐D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The main findings from this study were: (i) similar volume was obtained, while sperm concentration was significantly lower for EE method; (ii) potassium and sodium/potassium concentration ratio were not influenced by recovery method, while sodium concentration increased significantly when semen was recovered using EE; (iii) approximately 80% of the total relative seminal plasma protein is represented by four protein fractions of molecular weights around 15, 21, 24 and 50 kDa and there were not differences and (iv) focussing the two‐dimensional SDS‐PAGE gel on the 10–25 kDa rank, theimage analysissoftware detected around 22 spots with isoelectric points ranging from 5.1 to 6.1. Two protein spots (15 kDa and 5.5 and 22 kDa and 5.2 for molecular weight and isoelectric point respectively) increased significantly when semen was recovered using EE. One spot protein with molecular weight around 25 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.2 were only found in the seminal plasma from the semen recovery by AV. As it was demonstrated, ejaculates obtained with EE modify the sodium concentration, alter two proteins concentration and induced the loss of one protein in seminal plasma.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Receptors for Oestrogen and Progesterone in Endometrial Glands and Stroma during the Oestrous Cycle in Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) Cows
Authors: Martin I , Torres Neto R , Oba E , Buratini Jr J , Binelli M , Laufer‐Amorim R , Ferreira JCP
Published: July 2008

Contents

The aim of the present study was to monitor endometrial distribution and concentrations of oestrogen receptors α (ERα) and progesterone receptors (PR) by immunohistochemistry in Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus) during the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected for progesterone measurement and endometrial samples were taken from the uterine horn contra lateral to the corpus luteum in 16 cows at days 0 (ovulation), 5, 9, 13 and 19 of the oestrous cycle. Immunostaining evaluation for ERα and PR in the glandular epithelium and uterine stroma was performed by two methods: positive nuclei counting and staining intensity of the nuclei. Specific positive staining reactions for both receptors were limited to cell nuclei and they were not identified in the cytoplasm. The proportion of ERα positive nuclei had a temporal variation throughout the oestrous cycle in both cell types evaluated and was higher in uterine stroma than the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). The greatest proportion of ERα stained nuclei was observed at oestrus and during the initial and mid luteal phase (days 5, 9 and 13) (p < 0.05) in the glandular epithelium and at days 0, 5 and 9 in the uterine stroma (p < 0.01). The proportion of PR positive nuclei remained constant throughout the entire oestrous cycle for both cell types evaluated (p > 0.05). A higher proportion of PR positive nuclei was measured in the uterine stroma compared with the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). Intensity of staining for ERα and PR varied throughout the oestrous cycle (p < 0.01). There was a higher staining intensity at days 0 and 5 in the stroma for ERα (p < 0.01) and PR (p < 0.01) and in the glandular epithelium at days 0, 5, 9 and 13 for ERα (p < 0.01) and at days 0, 5 and 9 for PR (p < 0.01) when compared with the other evaluated days. These data demonstrate that ERα and PR expression varied throughout the oestrous cycle in Nelore cows, in general with highest concentrations at oestrus and the lowest during the luteal phase. This is similar to patterns observed in Bos taurus taurus.
Low dose methylprednisolone prophylaxis to reduce inflammation during one‐lung ventilation
Authors: THEROUX MARY C. , OLIVANT ALICIA , LIM DOYLE , BERNARDI JOHN P. , COSTARINO ANDREW T. , SHAFFER THOMAS H. , MILLER THOMAS L.
Published: July 2008

Background:  The specific aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of a low dose of methylprednisolone in minimizing inflammatory response in juvenile piglets when given 45–60 min prior to onset of one‐lung ventilation.

Methods:  Twenty piglets aged 3 weeks were assigned to either the control group (n = 10) or methylprednisolone group (n = 10). The animals were anesthetized and after 30 min of ventilation, they had their left lung blocked. Ventilation was continued via right lung for 3 h. The left lung was then unblocked. Following another 30 min of bilateral ventilation, the animals were euthanized and both lungs were harvested. The methylprednisolone group had a single dose (2 mg·kg−1) of methylprednisolone given i.v. 45–60 min prior to onset of one‐lung ventilation. Physiological parameters (PaO2, resistance, and compliance) and markers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α, interleukin [IL]‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8) were measured at baseline and every 30 min thereafter. Lung tissue homogenates from both collapsed and ventilated lungs were analyzed for TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8.

Results:  The methylprednisolone group had higher partial pressure of oxygen (P = 0.01), lower plasma levels of TNF‐α (P = 0.03) and IL‐6 (P = 0.001) when compared with control group. Lung tissue homogenate in the methylprednisolone group had lower levels of TNF‐α (P < 0.05), IL‐1β (P < 0.05), and IL‐8 (P < 0.05) in both the collapsed and the ventilated lungs.

Conclusions:  In a piglet model of one‐lung ventilation, use of prophylactic methylprednisolone prior to collapse of the lung improves lung function and decreases systemic pro‐inflammatory response. In addition, in the piglets who received methylprednisolone, there were reduced levels of inflammatory mediators in both the collapsed and ventilated lungs.
Subhypnotic propofol infusion plus dexamethasone is more effective than dexamethasone alone for the prevention of vomiting in children after tonsillectomy
Authors: ERDEM ALI FUAT , YORUK OZGUR , ALICI HACI AHMET , CESUR MEHMET , ATALAY CANAN , ALTAS ENVER , KURSAD HUSNU , YUKSEK MUSTAFA SAHIN
Published: July 2008

Background: Postoperative vomiting (POV) is a common complication after tonsillectomy. Dexamethasone is known to decrease postsurgical vomiting. In this study, we compared the effects of dexamethasone alone to dexamethasone plus propofol on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Methods: In a randomized double‐blinded study, we evaluated 80 healthy children, aged 4–12 years, who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. After anesthesia was induced by inhalation of sevoflurane, 0.15 mg·kg−1dexamethasone and 2 μg·kg−1fentanyl was administered i.v. to all patients. The patients in the dexamethasone plus propofol group received 1 mg·kg−1propofol before intubation and continuously after intubation at a rate of 20 μg·kg−1·min−1until the surgery was completed. Data for postoperative vomiting were grouped into the following time periods: 0–4 and 4–24 h. Data were analyzed using a Student’st‐test and chi‐squared analysis.

Results: The percentage of patients exhibiting a complete response (defined as no retching or vomiting for 24 h) increased from 37.5% in the dexamethasone‐alone group to 75% in the dexamethasone plus propofol group (P = 0.001). Twenty‐two patients (55%) in the dexamethasone‐alone and nine patients (22.5%) in the dexamethasone plus propofol groups experienced vomited during 0–4 h (P = 0.003). Eight patients in the dexamethasone‐alone group and three patients in the dexamethasone plus propofol group received ondansetron as a rescue antiemetic during the postoperative period.

Conclusion: For children undergoing tonsillectomy, intraoperative subhypnotic propofol infusion combined with dexamethasone treatment provides a better prophylaxis against postoperative vomiting than does dexamethasone alone.
The Thrust of the Problem: Bodily Inhibitions and Guilt as a Function of Mortality Salience and Neuroticism
Authors: Goldenberg Jamie L. , Heflick Nathan A. , Cooper Douglas P.
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
We argue that existential concerns underlie discomfort with the physicality of the body and that activities likely to make individuals aware of their physical body (e.g., sex, dancing) may be inhibited and cause guilt. Further, individuals high in neuroticism may be especially vulnerable to such difficulties. To test this, individuals high and low in neuroticism were primed with thoughts about their mortality or a control topic and then engaged in an exercise designed to promote body awareness before self‐reporting guilt. A comparison group engaged in non‐body‐oriented behavior. The results revealed that high neuroticism participants inhibited their body‐oriented behavior when mortality was salient and that they experienced a marginal increase in guilt after performing the behavior in conjunction with mortality salience. Discussion focuses on the relationship between neuroticism, mortality salience, inhibition surrounding the body, and guilt.
Adaptive Memory
Authors: Nairne James S. , Pandeirada Josefa N.S.
Published: July 2008

If memory evolved, sculpted by the processes of natural selection, then its operating characteristics likely bear the “footprints” of ancestral selection pressures. Psychologists rarely consider this possibility and generally ignore functional questions in their attempt to understand how human memory works. We propose that memory evolved to enhance reproductive fitness and, accordingly, its systems are tuned to retain information that is fitness-relevant. We present evidence consistent with this proposal, namely that processing information for its survival relevance leads to superior long-term retention—better, in fact, than most known memory-enhancement techniques. Even if one remains skeptical about evolutionary analyses, adopting a functional perspective can lead to the generation of new research ideas.
False Confessions
Authors: Kassin Saul M.
Published: July 2008

Despite the commonsense belief that people do not confess to crimes they did not commit, 20 to 25% of all DNA exonerations involve innocent prisoners who confessed. After distinguishing between voluntary, compliant, and internalized false confessions, this article suggests that a sequence of three processes is responsible for false confessions and their adverse consequences. First, police sometimes target innocent people for interrogation because of erroneous judgments of truth and deception. Second, innocent people sometimes confess as a function of certain interrogation tactics, dispositional suspect vulnerabilities, and the phenomenology of innocence. Third, jurors fail to discount even those confessions they see as coerced. At present, researchers are seeking ways to improve the accuracy of confession evidence and its evaluation in the courtroom.
The Mental Regulation of Autobiographical Recollection in the Aftermath of Trauma
Authors: Dalgleish Tim , Hauer Beatrijs , Kuyken Willem
Published: July 2008

Survivors of psychological trauma are frequently troubled by intrusive recollection of the traumatic event. We describe research showing that attempts to suppress such trauma memories can be associated with paradoxically enhanced remembering of the trauma, enhanced access to other negative personal material, and a lack of specificity in the recollection of the personal past. This suggests that attempted suppression is generally a counterproductive approach to the regulation of traumatic memories in distressed trauma survivors. Working with trauma memories, rather than suppressing them, is more adaptive.
Children's Emotional Security in the Interparental Relationship
Authors: Davies Patrick T. , Woitach Meredith J.
Published: July 2008

In response to the societal premium placed on understanding the difficulties faced by children from high-conflict homes, emotional security theory aims to understand precisely how and why interparental discord is associated with children's psychological problems. One of its main premises is that interparental discord increases children's vulnerability to mental illness by undermining their sense of safety or security in the context of the interparental relationship. In this article, we highlight the main assumptions of a new ethological formulation of emotional security theory and its predictions and findings regarding the organization, precursors, and consequences of individual differences in children's emotional insecurity. We conclude with a synopsis of the value of the new formulation for future work.
Future Thinking in Young Children
Authors: Atance Cristina M.
Published: July 2008

The study of future thinking is gaining momentum across various domains of psychology. Mentally projecting the self forward in time (i.e., mental time travel) is argued to be uniquely human and of vital importance to the evolution of human culture. Yet it is only recently that developmentalists have begun to study when, and how, this capacity emerges. I begin by outlining the concept of mental time travel, along with newly developed methodologies to test children's ability to mentally project the self into the future. Data suggest that this ability is in place by ages 4 or 5 but also reveal conditions under which children may experience difficulty accurately predicting their future desires. I conclude by discussing how the research on children's mental time travel can be used to further our understanding of the development of future-oriented behaviors, including planning and delaying gratification.
A Spatial Filtering Specification for an Auto‐negative Binomial Model ofAnopheles arabiensisAquatic Habitats
Authors: Jacob Benjamin G , Griffith Daniel A , Gunter James T , Muturi Ephantus J , Caamano Erick X , Shililu Josephat I , Githure John I , Regens James L , Novak Robert J
Published: July 2008

This research accounts for spatial autocorrelation by including latent map pattern components as predictor variables in a malaria mosquito aquatic habitat model specification. The data used to derive the model was from a digitized grid‐based algorithm, generated in an ArcInfo database, using QuickBird visible and near‐infrared (NIR) data. The Feature Extraction (FX) Module in ENVI 4.4®was used to categorize individual pixels of field sampled aquatic habitats into separate spectral classes, convert remotely sensed raster layers to vector coverages, and classify output layers to vector format as ESRI shapefiles. These data were used to construct a geographic weights matrix for evaluation of field and remote sampled covariates ofAnopheles arabiensisaquatic habitats, a major vector of malaria in East Africa. The principal finding is that synthetic map pattern variables, which are eigenvectors computed for a geographic weights matrix, furnish an alternative way of capturing spatial dependency effects in the mean response term of a regression model. The spatial autocorrelation components suggest the presence of roughly 11 to 28% redundant information in the aquatic habitat larval count samples. The presence of redundant information in the models suggest that the sampling configuration of theAn. arabiensisaquatic habitats, in the study sites, may cause field and remote observations of aquatic habitats to be dependent, rather than independent, moving data analysis away from the classical statistical independence model. A Poisson regression model, with a non‐constant, gamma‐distributed mean, can decompose field and remote sampledAn. arabiensisdata into positive and negative spatial autocorrelation eigenvectors, which can assess the precision of a malaria mosquito aquatic habitat map and the significance of all factors associated with larval abundance and distribution in a riceland agroecosystem.
Existentials as impersonalising devices: the case of European Portuguese1
Authors: Afonso Susana
Published: July 2008

Existentials have been associated with the functions of asserting existence of an entity, setting a scene, presentation of new discourse entities, as well as listing. They are structures whose meaning is connected to discourse. Although the construction has been widely studied, some of the functions it performs, such as the impersonalising function have remained largely unexplored. This paper takes impersonalisation as a functional concept, in the sense of agent removal from a scene, shows how existentials in European Portuguese are also impersonal constructions, and describes them within the framework of construction grammar.
Clitic impersonal constructions in Romance: syntactic features and semantic interpretation1
Authors: Mendikoetxea Amaya
Published: July 2008

This paper provides an overview of the syntax and semantics of Romance clitic impersonal constructions (CL‐ICs), as present in the grammars of Spanish and Italian, within the framework of the Minimalist Program. Syntactically, these structures are characterised by the presence of the cliticse/si,which is analysed as a 0‐person clitic, along with other person clitics in Romance, and heads a functional projection in the temporal domain immediately above T(ense). The syntactic properties of CL‐ICs can be accounted for with reference to the complex agreement operations involving the cliticse/si, the empty category in subject position (a null generic pronoun:G‐pro), the object argument in transitive contexts, and the features of the heads T andv. The interpretation of CL‐ICs crucially relies on the presence ofG‐pro in the specifier position ofvP: it introduces a variable that can be bound by an existential or a universal quantifier, which accounts for the variable quantificational force of CL‐ICs.
Population monitoring of snow leopards using noninvasive collection of scat samples: a pilot study
Authors: Janečka J. E. , Jackson R. , Yuquang Z. , Diqiang L. , Munkhtsog B. , Buckley‐Beason V. , Murphy W. J.
Published: July 2008

The endangered snow leopardPanthera unciaoccurs in rugged, high‐altitude regions of Central Asia. However, information on the status of this felid is limited in many areas. We conducted a pilot study to optimize moecular markers for the analysis of snow leopard scat samples and to examine the feasibility of using noninvasive genetic methods for monitoring this felid. We designed snow leopard‐specific primers for seven microsatellite loci that amplified shorter segments and avoided flanking sequences shared with repetitive elements. By redesigning primers we maximized genotyping success and minimized genotyping errors. In addition, we tested a Y chromosome‐marker for sex identification and designed a panel of mitochondrial DNA primers for examining genetic diversity of snow leopards using scat samples. We collected scats believed to be from snow leopards in three separate geographic regions including north‐western India, central China and southern Mongolia. We observed snow leopard scats in all three sites despite only brief 2‐day surveys in each area. There was a high rate of species misidentification in the field with up to 54% of snow leopard scats misidentified as red fox. The high rate of field misidentification suggests sign surveys incorporating scat likely overestimate snow leopard abundance. The highest ratio of snow leopard scats was observed in Ladakh (India) and South Gobi (Mongolia), where four and five snow leopards were detected, respectively. Our findings describe a species‐specific molecular panel for analysis of snow leopard scats, and highlight the efficacy of noninvasive genetic surveys for monitoring snow leopards. These methods enable large‐scale noninvasive studies that will provide information critical for conservation of snow leopards.
Behavior in Prader‐Willi syndrome: relationship to genetic subtypes and age
Authors: Dykens Elisabeth M. , Roof Elizabeth
Published: July 2008

Background:  Some behavioral features of Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) are associated with the major genetic subtypes of this disorder. While most agree that those with maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) have a distinctive cognitive and psychiatric profile, findings are more controversial regarding possible differences among persons who vary in paternal deletion size.

Methods:  Caregivers of 88 persons with PWS aged 5 to 51 years (M = 22 years) were administered measures of problem behavior, compulsivity, hyperphagia, and adaptive skills. The sample was well characterized as having relatively large, Type I (n = 26) or smaller, Type II (n = 29) deletions, or UPD (n = 33).

Results:  No significant behavioral differences were found between the Type I versus Type II deletion groups. Within each genetic subtype, however, differences emerged in how advancing age related to behavior. Although age did not emerge as a significant correlate of behavior in the Type II or UPD groups, in the Type I group age was consistently associated with lower problem behaviors, adaptive skills, and externalizing symptoms.

Conclusion:  Although differences between deletion subtypes were not found, significant within‐subtype differences emerged in relationships between age and behavior. Negative associations between age and behavior in the Type I group only may relate to non‐imprinted genes that are deleted in Type I but not Type II cases, including CYFIP1. Altered expression of CYFIP1 is seen in other developmental disabilities, including 15q disorders, and haploinsufficiency of CYFIP1 in Type I PWS cases may be associated with age‐related phenotypic effects. Findings underscore the importance of a life‐span perspective in phenotypic research.