bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender, home and family in cultural capital theory
Authors: Silva Elizabeth B.
Published: March 2005

The paper argues that Bourdieu's stress on early familiarization for the highest value of cultural capital is closely linked to his idea, strongly emphasized inDistinction, about the role of family and domestic life for individual development and social positions. The role of women, as mothers and homemakers, is crucial in this process. Yet, Bourdieu defines social origin as deriving from the father. The centrality to Bourdieu's thinking of a resilient traditional pattern of masculine domination and feminine submission constitutive of the Western gender habitus explains both his stress on ‘normalcy’ for the production of legitimate dispositions, and his resistance to incorporating into his thinking the implications of recent transformations in home family living, which have destabilized the gender order. It is thus important to consider contemporary feminist analyses of the family and home life and their significance for a renewed theory of cultural capital.

The paper considers two sets of literature. Firstly, it addresses the manners in which home and family are conceptualized in Bourdieu's key texts where these issues were prominent in the development of his thinking on cultural capital. The second set of literature includes texts by feminist academics in the fields of family, gender and the body, which analyse the destabilizing of the gender order and everyday family living in contemporary society. Two questions are addressed on the basis of these reflections: (1) Is cultural capital an individual or a household resource? (2) How does cultural capital relate to personal interdependencies at the level of family and households?
Mediating production and consumption: cultural capital and ‘cultural workers’
Authors: Wright David
Published: March 2005

This paper examines recent debates about the role of what Bourdieu termed cultural intermediaries in the formation and reproduction of the relations of cultural capital. Workers in the cultural or creative industries were given a central place in Bourdieu's schema in the creation of hierarchies of value in the production and consumption of symbolic goods. Subsequent writers about the apparent emergence of a creative economy (Lash and Urry 1994; Featherstone 1991) have given workers involved in the production and distribution of cultural goods a pivotal place in the development of late or post‐modernity. More recent work (Negus 2002; Nixon and du Gay 2002) has criticized the validity and coherence of the term as it has come to be understood and called for more rigour in its definition and use. This paper adds to this debate by considering the book trade as a space in which the gap between production and consumption of cultural goods is mediated. It suggests that cultural intermediaries, as cultural workers, are engaged in the reproduction of the cultural aspects of social class by ‘shoring up’ their insecure position in the relations of cultural capital, rather than simply being the taste leaders of a reflexive modernity.
Therapeutic angiogenesis and vasculogenesis for tissue regeneration
Authors: Madeddu Paolo
Published: March 2005

Therapeutic angiogenesis/vasculogenesis holds promise for the cure of ischaemic disease. The approach postulates the manipulation of spontaneous healing response by supplementation of growth factors or transplantation of vascular progenitor cells. These supplements are intended to foster the formation of arterial collaterals and promote the regeneration of damaged tissues. Angiogenic factors are generally delivered in the form of recombinant proteins or by gene transfer using viral vectors. In addition, new non‐viral methods are gaining importance for their safer profile. The association of growth factors with different biological activity might offer distinct advantages in terms of efficacy, yet combined approaches require further optimization. Alternatively, substances with pleiotropic activity might be considered, by virtue of their ability to target multiple mechanisms. For instance, some angiogenic factors not only stimulate the growth of arterioles and capillaries, but also inhibit vascular destabilization triggered by metabolic and oxidative stress. Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells was recently proposed for the treatment of peripheral and myocardial ischaemia. Progenitor cells can be transplanted either without any preliminary conditioning or after ex vivo genetic manipulation. Delivery of genetically modified progenitor cells eliminates the drawback of immune response against viral vectors and makes feasible repeating the therapeutic procedure in case of injury recurrence. It is envisioned that these new approaches of regenerative medicine will open unprecedented opportunities for the care of life‐threatening diseases.
Exposure to traffic exhausts and oxidative DNA damage
Authors: Lai C-H , Liou S-H , Lin H-C , Shih T-S , Tsai P-J , Chen J-S , Yang T , Jaakkola J J K , Strickland P T
Published: March 2005

Aims:To assess the relations between exposure to traffic exhausts and indicators of oxidative DNA damage among highway toll station workers.

Methods:Cross-sectional study of 47 female highway toll station workers exposed to traffic exhausts and 27 female office workers as a reference group. Exposure assessment was based on average and cumulative traffic density and a biomarker of exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide (1-OHPG). Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was measured as an indicator of oxidative stress related to traffic exhaust exposure.

Results:The mean concentration of urinary 8-OHdG was substantially higher among the exposed non-smokers (13.6 μg/g creatinine) compared with the reference non-smokers (7.3 μg/g creatinine; difference 6.3, 95% CI 3.0 to 9.6). The mean concentration of NO among the exposed (48.0 μmol/l) was also higher compared with the reference non-smokers (37.6 μmol/l; difference 10.4, 95% CI −0.4 to 21.2). In linear regression adjusting for confounding, a change in log(8-OHdG) was statistically significantly related to a unit change in log(1-OHPG) (β = 0.372, 95% CI 0.081 to 0.663).

Conclusions:Results indicate that exposure to traffic exhausts increases oxidative DNA damage. Urinary 8-OHdG is a promising biomarker of traffic exhaust induced oxidative stress.
Fundamental approach to the fluence-based kinetic and electrical energy efficiency parameters in photochemical degradation reactions: polychromatic light
Authors: Stefan Mihaela I , Bolton James R
Published: March 2005

When the logarithm of the concentration of a photolyzed component is plotted against the fluence, one usually obtains a first-order plot, and from the slope one can obtain a "fluence-based rate constant". In this study, theoretical expressions are derived for fluence-based rate constants for both monochromatic and polychromatic radiation, and are shown to be fundamental and not dependent on experimental parameters. Therefore, such rate constants can be reproduced from one laboratory to another, as long as the polychromatic light source exhibits similar spectral characteristics. An important quantity that can be obtained from the fluence-based rate constant is the quantum yield. As an example, the quantum yield for the photolysis of atrazine is determined to be 0.033 using the monochromatic fluence-based rate constant. The analysis is extended to the polychromatic light sources, and the expression of polychromatic fluence-based rate constant is derived and validated experimentally for atrazine and NDMA. The new concepts are developed further to analyze the figure-of-merit electrical energy per order (EEO), and it is shown that the EEO depends on the same fundamental photochemical parameters. Key words: fluence-based rate constant, quantum yield, UV radiation, fluence rate, kinetics, photochemical parameters.
Optimization of nitrogen for bioventing of gasoline contaminated soil
Authors: Shewfelt Kirsten , Lee Hung , Zytner Richard G
Published: March 2005

Bioventing is a promising in situ remediation technology for hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Using low airflow rates to produce oxygen-rich conditions in the vadose zone, and nutrient addition, bioventing stimulates indigenous microorganisms that degrade the hydrocarbon contaminants. However, several questions about bioventing remain to be answered, including the optimum soil water content, type and amount of nutrients necessary, and contributions of different microbes. Experiments were conducted using small-scale respirometers containing gasoline-contaminated soil from an active remediation site to determine the effects of soil water content, nitrogen content, nitrogen form, and the composition of the microbial population on the gasoline biodegradation rate. Results indicate that optimum bioventing conditions were 18 wt.% soil water content, C:N = 10:1, using NH4+-N. A maximum first-order degradation rate constant of 0.12/d was observed. Biodegradation was limited at high C:N ratios by the availability of nitrogen and at low C:N ratios by acidification. It was also determined that aerobic bacteria were the dominant group responsible for biodegradation, with fungi playing a minor role. Key words: bioventing, degradation rate, nutrients, water content, scale-up, gasoline, microbial population.
LARGE-SCALE GENOMIC APPROACHES TO BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND CIRCUITRY
Authors: Hatten Mary E. , Heintz Nathaniel
Published: March 2005

Over the past two decades, molecular genetic studies have enabled a common conceptual framework for the development and basic function of the nervous system. These studies, and the pioneering efforts of mouse geneticists and neuroscientists to identify and clone genes for spontaneous mouse mutants, have provided a paradigm for understanding complex processes of the vertebrate brain. Gene cloning for human brain malformations and degenerative disorders identified other important central nervous system (CNS) genes. However, because many debilitating human disorders are genetically complex, phenotypic screens are difficult to design. This difficulty has led to large-scale, genomic approaches to discover genes that are uniquely expressed in brain circuits and regions that control complex behaviors. In this review, we summarize current phenotype- and genotype-driven approaches to discover novel CNS-expressed genes, as well as current approaches to carry out large-scale, gene-expression screens in the CNS.
Mechanisms of Fungal Speciation
Authors: Kohn Linda M.
Published: March 2005

The objective of this review is to provide a synthesis of speciation theory, of what is known about mechanisms of speciation in fungi and from this, what is expected, and of ideas on how speciation can be elucidated in more fungal systems. The emphasis is on process rather than pattern. Phylogeographic studies in some groups, such as the agarics, demonstrate predominantly allopatric speciation, often through vicariance, as seen in many plants and animals. The variety of life history factors in fungi suggests, however, a diversity in speciation mechanisms that is borne out in comparison of some key examples. Life history features in fungi with a bearing on speciation include genetic mechanisms for intra- and interspecies interactions, haploidy as monokaryons, dikaryons, or coenocytes, distinctive types of propagules with distinctive modes of dispersal, as well as characteristic relationships to the substrate or host as specialized or generalist saprotrophs, parasites or mutualists with associated opportunities and selective pressures for hybridization. Approaches are proposed for both retrospective, phylogeographic determination of speciation mechanisms, and experimental studies with the potential for genomic applications, particularly in examining the relationship between adaptation and reproductive isolation.
TGF-β1 gene transfer to the mouse colon leads to intestinal fibrosis
Authors: Vallance Bruce A. , Gunawan M. Imelda , Hewlett Bryan , Bercik Premysl , Van Kampen Corinne , Galeazzi Francesca , Sime Patricia J. , Gauldie Jack , Collins Stephen M.
Published: March 2005

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by transmural inflammation. In CD, the recurrent inflammatory injury and tissue repair that occurs in the intestine can progress uncontrollably, leading to the proliferation of mesenchymal cells as well as fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition. These processes thicken the bowel wall, reducing flexibility, and often culminate in obstructive strictures. Because no effective measures are currently available to specifically treat or prevent intestinal stricturing, we sought to gain a better understanding of its pathogenesis by developing a mouse model of intestinal fibrosis. Because transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 can mediate both fibrosis and mesenchymal cell proliferation; we studied the effects of delivering adenoviral vectors encoding spontaneously active TGF-β1 into the colons of mice. We first demonstrated that enema delivery of marker adenoviral vectors led to the transfection of the colonic epithelium and transient transgene expression. Histologically, control vectors caused an acute inflammatory response, involving the recruitment of neutrophils and mononuclear cells into the colonic lamina propria; however, infection caused little if any fibrosis. In contrast, the TGF-β1 vector caused a more severe and prolonged inflammatory response as well as localized collagen deposition, leading to severe and progressive fibrosis. This was accompanied by the emergence of cells with a myofibroblast phenotype. Ultimately the fibrosis resulted in many of the TGF-β1-transfected mice developing profound colonic obstruction. Through adenoviral gene transfer technology, we describe a novel mouse model of colitis and implicate TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of obstructive intestinal fibrosis.
Enhanced susceptibility ofstaggerer(RORαsg/sg) mice to lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation
Authors: Stapleton Cliona M. , Jaradat Maisa , Dixon Darlene , Kang Hong Soon , Kim Seong-Chul , Liao Grace , Carey Michelle A. , Cristiano Joey , Moorman Michael P. , Jetten Anton M.
Published: March 2005

The retinoid-related orphan receptor α (RORα), a member of the ROR subfamily of nuclear receptors, has been implicated in the control of a number of physiological processes, including the regulation of several immune functions. To study the potential role of RORα in the regulation of innate immune responses in vivo, we analyzed the induction of airway inflammation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in wild-type and staggerer (RORαsg/sg) mice, a natural mutant strain lacking RORα expression. Examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained lung sections showed that RORαsg/sgmice displayed a higher degree of LPS-induced inflammation than wild-type mice. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 3, 16, and 24 h after LPS exposure to monitor the increase in inflammatory cells and the level of several cytokines/chemokines. The increased susceptibility of RORαsg/sgmice to LPS-induced airway inflammation correlated with a higher number of total cells and neutrophils in BAL fluids from LPS-treated RORαsg/sgmice compared with those from LPS-treated wild-type mice. In addition, IL-1β, IL-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 were appreciably more elevated in BAL fluids from LPS-treated RORαsg/sgmice compared with those from LPS-treated wild-type mice. The enhanced susceptibility of RORαsg/sgmice appeared not to be due to a repression of IκBα expression. Our observations indicate that RORαsg/sgmice are more susceptible to LPS-induced airway inflammation and are in agreement with the hypothesis that RORα functions as a negative regulator of LPS-induced inflammatory responses.
Effect of CO2on LPS-induced cytokine responses in rat alveolar macrophages
Authors: Lang Carol J. , Dong Ping , Hosszu Emma K. , Doyle Ian R.
Published: March 2005

Alveolar macrophages (AM) may be exposed to a range of CO2and pH levels depending on their location in the alveoli and the health of the lung. Cytokines produced by AM contribute to inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI). Current ventilatory practices for the management of ALI favor low tidal volumes, which can give rise to increases in CO2and changes in pH of the alveolar microenvironment. Here we examined the effect of CO2on cytokine release from LPS-stimulated rat AM. AM were incubated for 1–4 h under different atmospheric gas mixtures ranging from 2.5–20% CO2. To distinguish between effects of pH and CO2, the culture media were also buffered to pH 7.2 with NaHCO3. Cell metabolic activity, but not cell viability, decreased and increased significantly after 4 h at 20 and 2.5% CO2, respectively. Increasing CO2decreased TNF-α secretion but had no effect on lysate TNF-α. Buffering the media abated the effects of CO2on TNF-α secretion. CO2increased cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant factor-1 secretion only when the pH was buffered to 7.2. Effects of CO2on cytokine responses were reversible. In conclusion, the effects of CO2on cytokine lysate levels and/or secretion in AM are cytokine specific and, depending on both the cytokine and the immediate microenvironment, may be beneficial or detrimental to ALI.
Evaluation of an Orographic Precipitation Model
Authors: Barstad Idar , Smith Ronald B.
Published: March 2005

The question of whether rain gauge data from complex terrain are suitable to test physical models of orographic precipitation or to estimate free parameters is addressed. Data from three projects are considered: the Intermountain Precipitation Experiment (IPEX) and the California Land-falling Jets Experiment (CALJET), both in the United States, and the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) in the European Alps. As a prototype physical model, a new linear theory including airflow dynamics, condensed water advection, and leeside evaporation was employed. Theoretical considerations using the linear model showed sensitivity of point measurements across an ideal hill. To assist in model evaluation with real data, a new measure of “goodness of fit” was defined. This measure, “location sensitivity skill” (LSS), rewards detail as well as accuracy. For real data comparison, the linear model predictions show skill using traditional methods and the new LSS measure. The findings show that the wind direction and stability, and especially the cloud time delay (tau), are the sensitive parameters for point precipitation. The cloud time delay was the primary controller of point precipitation amplitude, and the stability tended to shift the precipitation pattern. Direct measures of tau are generally not obtainable, but this study indirectly constrained tau to 0–1000 s. The need for a denser observational network with tighter time control was revealed.
The Technique of “Redirection” in Couple Therapy
Authors: Kalina Ira
Published: March 2005

In this article, the author describes the technique of redirection in couple therapy. Many therapists become too interested in the content of therapy, which may create problems with intervention. By learning to focus more on the process of therapy, a therapist can see another dimension of the clients’ interaction and formulate powerful interventions. Because intimate partners are focused on the problems, or issues, that bring them to treatment, they are often unaware of how they are interacting with each other (their process). When the therapist redirects their attention to their process, this new awareness is often experienced as magical by the couple. Directives that will enhance intervention are provided, as is a brief case example.
Comprehensive in silico functional specification of mouse retina transcripts
Authors: Zhang Samuel Shao-Min , Xu Xuming , Li Jinming , Liu Mu-Gen , Zhao Hongyu , Soares M Bento , Barnstable Colin J , Fu Xin-Yuan
Published: March 2005

Background

The retina is a well-defined portion of the central nervous system (CNS) that has been used as a model for CNS development and function studies. The full specification of transcripts in an individual tissue or cell type, like retina, can greatly aid the understanding of the control of cell differentiation and cell function. In this study, we have integrated computational bioinformatics and microarray experimental approaches to classify the tissue specificity and developmental distribution of mouse retina transcripts.

Results

We have classified a set of retina-specific genes using sequence-based screening integrated with computational and retina tissue-specific microarray approaches. 33,737 non-redundant sequences were identified as retina transcript clusters (RTCs) from more than 81,000 mouse retina ESTs. We estimate that about 19,000 to 20,000 genes might express in mouse retina from embryonic to adult stages. 39.1% of the RTCs are not covered by 60,770 RIKEN full-length cDNAs. Through comparison with 2 million mouse ESTs, spectra of neural, retinal, late-generated retinal, and photoreceptor -enriched RTCs have been generated. More than 70% of these RTCs have data from biological experiments confirming their tissue-specific expression pattern. The highest-grade retina-enriched pool covered almost all the known genes encoding proteins involved in photo-transduction.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive mouse retina transcript profile for further gene discovery in retina and suggests that tissue-specific transcripts contribute substantially to the whole transcriptome.
Detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in Unstimulated Saliva of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Cortelli Sheila Cavalca , Feres Magda , Rodrigues Aélcia A.B. , Aquino Davi R. , Shibli Jamil Awad , Cortelli José Roberto
Published: March 2005

Background: The use of whole saliva has shown to be promising in detecting Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans out of the subgingival environment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of unstimulated saliva in detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and to compare the subgingival and extracrevicular occurrence of this pathogen in Brazilian subjects with chronic periodontitis.

Methods: Sixty‐six patients (mean age 38.01 ± 9.28 years) with advanced generalized chronic periodontitis were sampled. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from eight sites per patient representing the two deepest sites of each quadrant. Samples of the mucous surfaces, including dorsal surface of the tongue and cheek, were collected with a sterile swab and placed in a microtube containing a reduced solution. Samples of unstimulated saliva were also collected in sterile tubes and 0.1 ml of whole saliva was diluted in 1 ml of reduced solution. The presence of A. actionomycetemcomitans was established using bacterial culture in trypticase soy bacitracin vancomycin selective media. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to differentiate highly from minimally leukotoxic strains in patients who presented A. actinomycetemcomitans in at least two sampled sites.

Results:A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 63.63% of subgingival samples, 56.06% of saliva samples, and 45.45% of samples from mucous surfaces. No statistical difference was observed between subgingival and salivary occurrence of the microorganism. Linear regression showed an association between subgingival plaque and saliva (r2 = 0.897; P = 0.015) and mucous membrane and saliva (r2 = 0.152; P = 0.024). The same A. actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxic profile was observed in all sampled sites for a given patient.

Conclusion: These results suggest that in advanced periodontitis, unstimulated saliva is representative of pooled subgingival plaque samples and its use is appropriate in the oral detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans. J Periodontol 2005;76: 204‐209.
Simvastatin Promotes Cell Metabolism, Proliferation, and Osteoblastic Differentiation in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells
Authors: Yazawa Hiroshi , Zimmermann Bernd , Asami Yoshiko , Bernimoulin Jean‐Pierre
Published: March 2005

Background: Simvastatin is one of the cholesterol lowering drugs. Recent studies demonstrated that it has a bone stimulatory effect. Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells are believed to play an important role in periodontal regeneration; that is, they may differentiate into specific cells which make cementum, bone, and attachment apparatus. It would be of interest whether simvastatin has a positive effect on PDL cells. Therefore, effects of simvastatin on cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in PDL cells were analyzed.

Methods: Human PDL cells were cultured in monolayer with simvastatin for 24 and 72 hours and cell metabolism and proliferation were determined. To analyze osteoblastic differentiation, human PDL cells were cultured in organoid culture for 7, 14, and 21 days and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteopontin (OPN), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) −2, osteocalcin (OCN), and calcium contents were measured. They were co‐treated by simvastatin and mevalonate.

Results: Simvastatin enhanced cell proliferation and metabolism dose‐dependently after 24 hours. Simvastatin also stimulated ALP activity of human PDL cells dose‐dependently, and maximum effect was obtained at the concentration of 10−8 M. In time dependent analysis, 10−8 M simvastatin stimulated ALP activity and osteopontin content after 7 days and calcium contents after 21 days. BMP‐2 and OCN contents were not detected. Moreover this statin‐enhanced ALP activity was abolished by mevalonate.

Conclusion: These results suggest that at low concentration, simvastatin exhibits positive effect on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human PDL cells, and these effects may be caused by the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. J Periodontol 2005;76:295‐302.
Increased calcitonin level in thyroid nodules without medullary carcinoma
Authors: Gibelin H , Essique D , Jones C , Levillain P , Maréchaud R , Kraimps J-L
Published: March 2005

Background

Basal calcitonin measurement is routinely performed in patients with a thyroid nodule to detect medullary carcinoma. However, increased calcitonin does not always correlate with medullary carcinoma. The aim of this study was to analyse increased calcitonin levels in patients without medullary carcinoma and to find out whether absence of this carcinoma can be predicted with certainty.

Methods

From 1992 to 2003, 5018 patients with thyroid nodules underwent thyroid surgery. A retrospective analysis of preoperative increased calcitonin levels in 67 of these patients was performed.

Results

Pathology revealed medullary carcinoma in 16 patients (group I), micromedullary carcinoma in 13 (group II) and no medullary carcinoma in 38 (group III). In group III, 30 patients had C-cell hyperplasia. The mean basal calcitonin level was 6250 pg/ml in group I (39–62 500), 109·6 pg/ml in group II (10–728) and 25·5 pg/ml in group III (10·5–145). The mean pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin level was 1074·1 pg/ml in group II (26–5700) and 67·6 pg/ml in group III (10–205).

Conclusion

There is an overlap of thyroid C-cell pathology for medullary carcinoma, micromedullary carcinoma and C-cell hyperplasia that occurs when basal calcitonin is between 10 and 145 pg/ml and pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin between 10 and 205 pg/ml. In these patients, since medullary carcinoma cannot be completely excluded, total thyroidectomy should be recommended.
Establishment of mesodermal gene expression patterns in earlyXenopusembryos: The role of repression
Authors: Kurth Thomas , Meissner Stefan , Schäckel Simona , Steinbeisser Herbert
Published: March 2005

InXenopus, activin‐like signals are able to induce and pattern mesoderm in a concentration‐dependent manner. Previous experiments demonstrated that discrete gene expression patterns can be formed in animal cap explants as a response to graded activin signals. We analyzed the spatiotemporal appearance ofgoosecoid(gsc),chordin(chd), andXbrachyury(Xbra) mRNAs in wholeXenopusembryos ectopically expressing activin or BVg1. To discriminate between direct transcriptional regulation and indirect, protein synthesis‐dependent effects of ectopic signals, we combined overexpression studies and cycloheximide treatment. Our experiments revealed long‐range signaling of activin/BVg1, but the expression patterns ofgsc,chd, andXbrain response to activin/BVg1 indicated that repressors are essential to establish the proper expression of these genes. Analysis of endogenousgsc,chd, andXbratranscript distribution in embryos treated with cycloheximide supported this concept. We, therefore, conclude that inhibition is fundamental during early embryonic patterning. Developmental Dynamics 233:418–429, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transgenic frogs expressing the highly fluorescent protein venus under the control of a strong mammalian promoter suitable for monitoring living cells
Authors: Sakamaki Kazuhiro , Takagi Chiyo , Yoshino Jun , Yokota Hideo , Nakamura Sakiko , Kominami Katsuya , Hyodo Akiko , Takamune Kazufumi , Yuge Masahiro , Ueno Naoto
Published: March 2005

To easily monitor living cells and organisms, we have created a transgenic Xenopus line expressing Venus, a brighter variant of yellow fluorescent protein, under the control of the CMV enhancer/chicken β‐actin (CAG) promoter. The established line exhibited high fluorescent intensity not only in most tissues of tadpoles to adult frogs but also in germ cells of both sexes, which enabled three‐dimensional imaging of fluorescing organs from images of the serial slices of the transgenic animals. Furthermore, by using this transgenic line, we generated chimeric animals by brain implantation and importantly, we found that the brain grafts survived and expressed Venus in recipients after development, highlighting the boundary between fluorescent and nonfluorescent areas in live animals. Thus, Venus‐expressing transgenic frogs, tadpoles, and embryos would facilitate their use in many applications, including the tracing of the fluorescent cells after tissue/organ transplantation. Developmental Dynamics 233:562–569, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Parallel acquisition techniques for accelerated volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen: Assessment of image quality and lesion conspicuity
Authors: Vogt Florian M. , Antoch Gerald , Hunold Peter , Maderwald Stefan , Ladd Mark E. , Debatin Jörg F. , Ruehm Stefan G.
Published: March 2005

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of parallel acquisition techniques (PATs) on image quality and detection of liver metastases using three‐dimensional volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) for clinical liver imaging.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐nine patients with various primary malignancies underwent abdominal dynamic contrast‐enhanced three‐dimensional VIBE magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1.5 T) using a standard phased array coil. Recently introduced Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) and SENSitivity Encoding (mSENSE) PAT reconstruction algorithms were added to reduce scan time twofold. Overall image quality, motion, and aliasing artifacts were classified on a 5‐point scale. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) measurements were performed for quantitative comparison. All sequences were evaluated concerning the number of detected lesions.

Results

PAT resulted in a reduction of data acquisition time from 23 to 13 seconds. Both GRAPPA and mSENSE data sets yielded 30% less SNR (34.8 ± 14.1 and 33.1 ± 13.3, P < 0.001) and 35% less CNR (21.2 ± 15.0 and 20.9 ± 12.7, P < 0.05) in comparison to unaccelerated VIBE (SNR = 50.8 ± 20.3/CNR = 32.5 ± 19.1). Similarly, PAT revealed lower‐image‐quality scores than unaccelerated VIBE. GRAPPA resulted in more fold‐over artifacts than mSENSE. mSENSE revealed slightly fewer motion artifacts than no PAT. The unaccelerated late‐venous‐phase VIBE sequence revealed 146 lesions in the same patients. Accelerated images with mSENSE reconstruction detected 138 lesions. GRAPPA revealed 127 lesions, and thus performed inferior to mSENSE.

Conclusion

At least for arrays with small numbers of elements, such as arrays used in this study, the PAT‐induced reduction in scanning times must be weighed against compromises in image quality, which translate into poorer diagnostic performance regarding detection of small hepatic lesions. Thus, the PAT implementations tested in this study should probably be reserved for patients unable to hold their breaths for regular three‐dimensional VIBE data sets. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:376–382. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of ingestion order of the fat component of a solid meal on intragastric fat distribution and gastric emptying assessed by MRI
Authors: Kunz Patrik , Feinle‐Bisset Christine , Faas Henryk , Boesiger Peter , Fried Michael , Steingötter Andreas , Schwizer Werner
Published: March 2005

Purpose

To develop an MRI technique to investigate how varying the ingestion order of nonfat and fat components of a solid meal influences three‐dimensional intragastric distribution and gastric emptying (GE).

Materials and Methods

Eight healthy subjects were studied twice in randomized order. On one occasion (condition F‐NF), the fat component (40 g mayonnaise on toast) was served before the nonfat component (270 g pasta, 200 g tomato sauce, 100 mL water); on the other (condition NF‐F), the ingestion order was reversed. GE and intragastric distribution of both components were assessed by MRI for 180 minutes.

Results

During condition F‐NF, GE of fat was significantly faster than during condition NF‐F (T25 [min]: F‐NF: 20 ± 9; NF‐F: 40 ± 7; P < 0.05), a larger amount of fat was observed in the antrum during condition F‐NF, and more fat layering occurred. No differences were observed in total GE between the two conditions.

Conclusion

Meal ingestion order influences GE and intragastric distribution of fat, which can be assessed by MRI techniques, providing new insights into the physiology of gastric processing and intragastric distribution of different meal phases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:383–390. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein secondary structure prediction with dihedral angles
Authors: Wood Matthew J. , Hirst Jonathan D.
Published: March 2005

We present DESTRUCT, a new method of protein secondary structure prediction, which achieves a three‐state accuracy (Q3) of 79.4% in a cross‐validated trial on a nonredundant set of 513 proteins. An iterative set of cascade–correlation neural networks is used to predict both secondary structure and ψ dihedral angles, with predicted values enhancing the subsequent iteration. Predictive accuracies of 80.7% and 81.7% are achieved on the CASP4 and CASP5 targets, respectively. Our approach is significantly more accurate than other contemporary methods, due to feedback and a novel combination of structural representations. Proteins 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Descartes on Spontaneity, Indifference, and Alternatives
Authors: Campbell Joseph Keim
Published: March 2005

“Descartes on Spontaneity, Indifference, and Alternatives” This essay argues for a “two‐way” compatibilist reading of Descartes on the topic of free will, i.e., Descartes holds that free will is compatible with determinism, and yet also thinks that free will requires a two‐way power to pursue or avoid, and affirm or deny.
Causation and Similarity in Descartes
Authors: Gorham Geoffrey
Published: March 2005

Descartes believed that causation is intelligible only if the cause and effect are similar, since it is impossible to understand how the reality of an effect can owe anything to the reality of its cause if the two have nothing in common. I argue first that Descartes has a coherent and reasonably strong metaphysical justification for his condition of causal similarity. Second, I defend Descartes from the charge that his conception of similarity renders the condition trivial by making practically everything similar to everything else. Third, I discuss the familiar objection that if the similarity condition is not trivial, then it is incompatible with Cartesian mind–body interaction. I argue that the condition is consistent with, and indeed explains, Descartes's late view of interaction.
religion is for dummies and romantics
Authors: Slone D. Jason
Published: March 2005

Most people are aware of the existence of theological incorrectness, but often dismiss it as a harmless bit of folk religion. Theological correctness, however, challenges every bit of conventional wisdom, as well as a great deal of scholarship on religion and how it works. Since theological incorrectness is natural, it can be analyzed by means of the methods employed by natural science.
religion is what your parents say
Authors: Slone D. Jason
Published: March 2005

This chapter evaluates the standard social science model and postmodernist theories and methods for studying religion. It is argued that the theoretical inadequacies of the standard social science model has limited is explanatory power. Scholars’ acceptance of problematic assumptions about knowledge, scholarship, cultures, religion and human behavior from postmodernism has hindered progress in the field.
Sentiment, Reason, and Motivation
Authors: Nichols Shaun
Published: March 2005

An adequate sentimentalist account must explain (i) how emotion plays a role in linking moral judgment to motivation, (ii) how moral judgments can be made in the absence of emotional response, and (iii) how reason can play an important role in moral judgment. This chapter argues that the account of moral judgment sketched in chapter 1 can accommodate all these features of moral judgment, and the account suggests a new distinction in debates over the relation between moral judgment and motivation. However, the chapter also acknowledges an important shortcoming in the account of moral judgment presented in the volume, namely, the account makes the relationship between emotions and norms seem surprisingly contingent.
Theories and Models of Turnout
Authors: Clarke Harold D. , Sanders David , Stewart Marianne C. , Whiteley Paul
Published: March 2005

Uses confirmatory factor analysis to locate electoral participation in a broader matrix of political activities, and presents alternative theoretical models that might be used to explain the decline in electoral turnout in Britain and other mature democracies. The relative deprivation or equity-fairness model stresses the gap between what an individual expects and what s/he gets out of life. The civic voluntarism model focuses on the resources that individuals bring to bear on the decision to vote or not and the mobilization efforts that are made by other actors. The social capital model emphasizes social trust and the individual’s involvement with social organizations. The cognitive mobilization model highlights the role of political interest, political knowledge, and media usage. Finally, the general incentives model supplements a broadly defined Downsian-style cost-benefit analysis with variables that take account of a variety of other incentives, such as ‘doing one’s democratic duty’.
3 The Supply of Esteem
Authors: Brennan Geoffrey , Pettit Philip
Published: March 2005

For a fully developed economy, esteem must be something that people are able to supply in response to the demands of others, not just to demand themselves; there must be a possibility of exchanging esteem, whether for reciprocal esteem or for other benefits. As with demand, there may seem to be a problem in maintaining that it is possible for people to supply esteem in this way. After all, I cannot make a gift of my esteem, nor can I offer it in a trade with another person, nor can I pass on the esteem I receive from others. But while esteem itself may not be alienable in these ways, certain ‘esteem-services’ are: I can voluntarily offer you my attention, my testimony, and my company, and do so in a way that promises to increase your positive esteem. And I can do this without self-defeat so far as I can hide my motives or, more plausibly, can do so in a virtually but not actually strategic way: I give my attention, testimony or association quite spontaneously but will be led to think again if it fails to secure suitable reciprocation.
15 Mobilising the Intangible Hand
Authors: Brennan Geoffrey , Pettit Philip
Published: March 2005

This final chapter illustrates ways in which the intangible hand might be made to work for good, nurturing socially desirable norms and weakening socially undesirable ones. It will work for good so far as people are predisposed to be influenced by the desire for esteem; so far as the options before them are presented in a way that bends the desire for esteem in desirable directions; and so far as the regime of publicity under which they operate makes it likely that the desire will be effectively mobilized. The chapter illustrates these themes by identifying a range of cases where existing arrangements may jeopardize the potential of the intangible hand on these three fronts.
Women in Lithuanian Politics: From Nomenklatura Selection to Representation
Authors: Krupavičius Algis , Matonytė Irmina
Published: March 2005

This chapter examines the changes in women’s representation in Lithuania. Women are expected to make significant inroads in their quest for political power. Although the number of women in political power declined from the Soviet period, those who are active in politics have been able to carve out more authentic places for themselves, with meaningful power. Women’s representation and recruitment are increasingly included in the political agenda as the democratic system stabilizes and recovers from the chaos of regime change.
Croatia's Leap towards Political Equality: Rules and Players1
Authors: Glaurdic Josip
Published: March 2005

This chapter examines the increase in women’s parliamentary representation in Croatia in the 2000 elections. Three main factors contributed to the increase in representation. These are electoral rule changes provided party leaders with incentives to reach out to female candidates, the success of parties that have consistently nominated more women in gaining control of the parliament, and the fact that women became more organized and better able to pressure party gatekeepers into recruiting women.
Intergenerational Mobility in Poland: 1972–88–94
Authors: Mach Bogdan W.
Published: March 2005

Detailed 1972–1988–1994 comparisons of intergenerational mobility in Poland reveal significant gender differences. Instances of upward movement increase over time among women, but remain stable among men. No temporal change is the general trend in male relative mobility, while a clear tendency towards increasing fluidity characterizes its female patterns. Although in terms of the core model of Erikson and Goldthorpe, Polish mobility patterns move closer and closer to the West European ‘core’ for men as well as for women, gender differences exist in the specific effects included in the model: a strengthening of hierarchy effects is more characteristic of men, whereas a decline in inheritance effects is more characteristic of women. This consistent pattern of gender differences is difficult to interpret systematically in the context of macro-structural developments taking place in Poland in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, and invites further research on the detailed effects of educational differentials.
Inventing Systems Integration
Authors: Sapolsky Harvey M.
Published: March 2005

The US government needed more than money, a good strategy, and determination to wage the Cold War: it needed to invent the institutions that could sustain and co‐ordinate the long‐term enlistment of technology and industry for military purposes. The military structures that could command co‐ordination when most in society were ready to accept military discipline and priorities were inadequate for managing the less than total mobilization that followed. Describes the creation and institutionalisation of a variety of special organisations and skills that allowed the military to manage effectively the design and development of complex weapons systems during the Cold War.
Systems Integration and the Social Solution of Technical Problems in Complex Systems
Authors: Johnson Stephen B.
Published: March 2005

As has been shown in well‐recognised books such as Charles Perrow's Normal Accidents, it is difficult to build reliable complex technologies. The primary reasons revolve around the communication of deep and heterogeneous information between design engineers, compounded by the difficulty of assuring foolproof manufacturing and integration of thousands of components. Shows that most technical failures ultimately result from human error or miscommunication and, furthermore, that the solutions to these problems, including systems integration, are likewise social in nature. Here, both engineering and historical analysis are used to point to the social basis of failure and dependability.
Modularization in the Car Industry
Authors: Takeishi Akira , Fujimoto Takahiro
Published: March 2005

Analyses modularisation in the world auto industry. Modularisation has involved architectural changes in product, production, and supplier systems in the industry. As an attempt to understand such multi‐faceted, complex processes, this chapter proposes a conceptual framework that sees development/production activities as multiple hierarchies of products, processes, and inter‐firm boundaries that are interlinked. Using this framework and drawing on case studies and questionnaire survey data, the chapter examines the on‐going processes of modularisation in the industry and argues that tensions exist among the three hierarchies, and such tensions may lead to further changes in product, production, and supplier‐system architectures.
Systems Integration in the US Defence Industry
Authors: Gholz Eugene
Published: March 2005

A number of different kind of organizations in the US defence industry claim expertise in systems integration, including major prime contractors that build weapons systems, for‐profit and non‐profit technical advisors, and government laboratories and organizations that manage weapons acquisition. Describes the supply and demand structure for the various types of systems integration capabilities. Considers various ways of measuring the quality of systems integration capabilities, including the limits of regulatory standards enforcement and of non‐market competition among systems integration organisations. Finally, it proposes ways to preserve vital systems integration capability in a political economic environment that normally favours spending on production rather than on project management expertise.
What Kind of Europe?
Authors: Tsoukalis Loukas
Published: March 2005

This book examines the issues associated with the future of economic and political integration in Europe. It seeks answers to the question, “What kind of Europe do we want to build?”, with emphasis on the policy choices involved. The book is divided into two parts. Part I highlights the achievements of European integration to date, and the outstanding issues inherited from the past. Part 2 provides in-depth discussions of the main challenges facing the enlarged EU.
The Implications of Third Way Social Policy for Inequality, Social Cohesion, and Citizenship
Authors: Dean Hartley
Published: March 2005

Focuses on the UK and argues that the Labour Government has had firm ideas about both how social provision should look, and what the state can and cannot do about it. It suggests further that there is a serious tension between ideas and principles informing policies and ideas about the role of the state, and that this tension signals a more fundamental conflict–present at the EU level also–between welfare ends and market means. The chapter illustrates these arguments with reference to the development of childcare policy in the UK.