bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Des fictions créatrices : les identités nationales
Authors: Thiesse Anne-Marie
Published: November 2007

L'avènement des nations en Europe, à partir de la fin du XVIIIe siècle, correspond à des mutations politiques et économiques. Mais la formation des nations a été préparée par la création culturelle des identités nationales, références construites pour devenir support d'une conscience collective. Écrivains, artistes, érudits ont élaboré les patrimoines culturels et symboliques nationaux, selon un modèle transnational. C'est à travers des échanges constants d'idées et de savoir-faire qu'ont été forgés les principaux éléments des identités nationales (langue, historiographie, paysage, monuments historiques, folklore). the constant exchange of ideas and know-how that the main elements of national identity lan guage historiography landscape historic monuments and folklore were forged
Collection : une typologie historique
Authors: Pomian Krzysztof
Published: November 2007

L'article décrit différents types sous lesquels les collections se présentent en Occident: les trésors qui en sont le seul exemple entre le Ve et le XIVe siècle, les collections particulières dont l'âge d'or se situe entre le XVe et le XVIIIe siècle, les collections publiques avec en premier lieu les musées qui se multiplient à partir du XVIe siècle. Ces différents types apparaissent successivement, mais les antérieurs ne disparaissent pas suite à l'apparition des postérieurs. L'article évoque leurs transformations au cours du temps, en tenant compte notamment de l'influence exercée sur les collections particulières par les musées. Et il montre les changements de la place des collections par rapport au pouvoir, au savoir et à la richesse.
Gravures textuelles : un genre littéraire
Authors: Stead Evanghélia
Published: November 2007

Des "Eaux-fortes" de Verlaine aux Illuminations de Rimbaud, la littérature de la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle emprunte fréquemment au lexique des arts dits "petits" une terminologie qui propose de lire les textes comme des images. L'article s'attache aux textes dont le titre renvoie à la gravure (notamment l'eau-forte, mais aussi d'autres techniques gravées sur cuivre) principalement en France et dans quelques autres pays européens. Il explore le contexte artistique et culturel dans lequel surgit la tendance, étudie ses champs sémantiques de prédilection (la morsure), analyse son rapport à la transposition d'art et à l'ekphrasis, et conclut sur les apories qu'entraîne l'usage, par nature excessif, de la gravure textuelle.
Littérature et photographie orientaliste, ou la mémoire égyptienne de Maxime Du Camp
Authors: Caraion Marta
Published: November 2007

When examined in dialogue, three works from Maxime Du Camp 's travels in Egypte - a photography album, a novel and a travel journal - reveal a complex exploration of memory. A literary memory of Romanticism simultaneously rejected and defended, a memory of meticulously described ruins that accounts for their precise state of decline and a photographic memory interact in an obsessional dialectic of destruction / conservation. By investigating descriptions and photographs of ruins side by side, a subjective memorial to the Orient is revealed, seemingly at odds with claims of objectivity made by photography and the discourses that accompany it in the 1850s.
A Neutron and X‐Ray Diffraction Study of Bioglass® with Reverse Monte Carlo Modelling
Authors: FitzGerald V. , Pickup D. M. , Greenspan D. , Sarkar G. , Fitzgerald J. J. , Wetherall K. M. , Moss R. M. , Jones J. R. , Newport R. J.
Published: November 2007

A class of melt‐quenched silicate glasses, containing calcium, phosphorus and alkali metals, and having the ability to promote bone regeneration and to fuse to living bone, creating strong implants with less danger of interfacial instability than previous materials, is produced commercially as Bioglass® and sold under the brand names of PerioGlas®, NovaBone® and NovaBone‐C/M®. We have collected the first high energy X‐ray and neutron diffraction data, on this important material in the hope of providing more direct experimental insight into the glass structure. Similarly, the first solid state MAS (magic angle spinning) 29Si, 31P, and 23Na NMR data on the material is presented. The diffraction data has been modeled using the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method to allow the identification of the atomic‐scale structural features present; the solid state NMR data is used explicitly within the model‐building process as a constraint on the connectivity of the network. The 29Si NMR suggests that the host silica network primarily consists of chains and rings of Q2 SiO4 tetrahedra, with some degree of cross linking as represented by the presence of Q3 units. The diffraction‐based RMC model suggests a Na–O distance of 2.35 Å and a corresponding coordination of ∼ 6; the coordination number is supported by the 23Na NMR data presented here which reveals that the likely sodium environment is six‐coordinate in pseudo‐octahedral arrangement. The RMC model provides evidence for the non‐uniform distribution of Ca, which is in line with previous molecular dynamics simulation results, and the data is also suggestive of CaO as the associated structural motif within the high calcium content regions of the glass.
Evolutionary changes in the masticatory complex following the transition to farming in the southern Levant
Authors: Pinhasi R. , Eshed V. , Shaw P.
Published: November 2007

A post‐Pleistocene reduction trend in the dimensions of the masticatory complex followed the transition to agricultural lifestyle in several world regions. A major limitation of previous studies is large temporal gaps between the analyzed skeletal populations, which do not allow the detection and analysis of a diachronic morphological transition. In this work, we analyze a large number of specimens from the southern Levant, where agriculture first emerged in situ and for which there is a good diachronic sequence of the shift from a hunting‐gathering way of life to a food producing, farming economy (12,000–7,000 uncalibrated bp). Changes in the masticatory complex are examined in the context of three prevailing dental reduction models: the Probable Mutation Effect (Brace,1963; Brace and Mahler,1971), Increasing Population Density Effect (Macchiarelli and Bondioli,1986) and Selective Compromise Effect (SCE) (Calcagno,1989). A series of linear regressions of dimension vs. time and coefficients of variation for each dimension are analyzed. Our results indicate significant reduction in the buccolingual but not mesiodistal dental dimensions and in the ramus breadth and anterior height dimensions of the mandible but not in its overall size. These findings, taken together with low coefficients of variation for the buccolingual dimensions, suggest selective pressure resulting in reduction of specific dimensions. The observed trend is in partial accordance with the SCE but differs from the trends observed in other regions, and is therefore best explained as a region‐specific variant of the SCE. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative three‐dimensional shape analysis of the proximal hallucial metatarsal articular surface in Homo, Pan, Gorilla, and Hylobates
Authors: Proctor Daniel J. , Broadfield Douglas , Proctor Kristopher
Published: November 2007

Multidimensional morphometrics is used to compare the proximal articular surface of the first metatarsal between Homo, Pan, Gorilla, Hylobates, and the hominin fossils A.L. 333‐54 (A. afarensis), SKX 5017 (P. robustus), and OH 8 (H. habilis). Statistically significant differences in articular surface morphology exist between H. sapiens and the apes, and between ape groups. Ape groups are characterized by greater surface depth, an obliquely curved articular surface through the dorso‐lateral and medio‐plantar regions, and a wider medio‐lateral surface relative to the dorso‐plantar height. The OH 8 articular surface is indistinguishable from H. sapiens, while A.L. 333‐54 and SKX 5017 more closely resemble the apes. P. robustus and A. afarensis exhibit ape‐like oblique curvature of the articular surface. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Larger Acenes: Versatile Organic Semiconductors
Authors: Anthony John E.
Published: November 2007

Acenes have long been the subject of intense study because of the unique electronic properties associated with their π‐bond topology. Recent reports of impressive semiconductor properties of larger homologues have reinvigorated research in this field, leading to new methods for their synthesis, functionalization, and purification, as well as for fabricating organic electronic components. Studies performed on high‐purity acene single crystals revealed their intrinsic electronic properties and provide useful benchmarks for thin film device research. New approaches to add functionality were developed to improve the processability of these materials in solution. These new functionalization strategies have recently allowed the synthesis of acenes larger than pentacene, which have hitherto been largely unavailable and poorly studied, as well as investigation of their associated structure/property relationships.
Electrical conductivity of poly(ethylene terephthalate) modified by titanium plasma
Authors: Han Z. J. , Tay B. K.
Published: November 2007

Ion‐implantation‐induced electrical conductivity in a polymer surface is known to have a different mechanism from that of metals and semiconductors. We used a technique called plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition and combined it with a titanium cathodic vacuum arc to modify the surface electrical conductivity of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The conductivity curve as a function of temperature well fitted the Mott hopping model, which has been proposed for many disordered systems. In addition, we also observed conductivity degradation when modified PET was kept at room temperature. The degradation showed a quasi‐exponential decay as a function of time, that is, an aging effect, which has been seldom reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. This could have resulted from the unusual structure of PET's surface after ion implantation. A new formula for electrical conductivity in modified PET is proposed that considers both temperature and aging effects. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Anti‐inflammatory effects of low‐intensity extremely high‐frequency electromagnetic radiation: Frequency and power dependence
Authors: Gapeyev A.B. , Mikhailik E.N. , Chemeris N.K.
Published: November 2007

Using a model of acute zymosan‐induced footpad edema in NMRI mice, the frequency and power dependence of anti‐inflammatory effect of low‐intensity extremely high‐frequency electromagnetic radiation (EHF EMR) was found. Single whole‐body exposure of animals to EHF EMR at the intensity of 0.1 mW/cm2 for 20 min at 1 h after zymosan injection reduced both the footpad edema and local hyperthermia on average by 20% at the frequencies of 42.2, 51.8, and 65 GHz. Some other frequencies from the frequency range of 37.5–70 GHz were less effective or not effective at all. At fixed frequency of 42.2 GHz and intensity of 0.1 mW/cm2, the effect had bell‐shaped dependence on exposure duration with a maximum at 20–40 min. Reduction of intensity to 0.01 mW/cm2 resulted in a change of the effect dependence on exposure duration to a linear one. Combined action of cyclooxygenase inhibitor sodium diclofenac and EHF EMR exposure caused a partial additive effect of decrease in footpad edema. Combined action of antihistamine clemastine and EHF EMR exposure caused a dose‐dependent abolishment of the anti‐inflammatory effect of EHF EMR. The results obtained suggest that arachidonic acid metabolites and histamine are involved in realization of anti‐inflammatory effects of low‐intensity EHF EMR. Bioelectromagnetics 29:197–206, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Death qualification and prejudice: the effect of implicit racism, sexism, and homophobia on capital defendants' right to due process
Authors: Butler Brooke
Published: November 2007

Two hundred venirepersons from the 12th Judicial Circuit in Bradenton, Florida completed the following measures: (1) one question that measured their level of support for the death penalty; (2) one question that categorized their death‐qualification status; (3) 23 questions that measured their attitudes toward the death penalty (ATDP); (4) 22 questions that assessed their attitudes toward women (ATW); (5) 25 questions that measured their level of homophobia (H); (6) seven questions that assessed their level of modern racism (MR); (7) eight questions that measured their level of modern sexism (MS); and (8) standard demographic questions. Results indicated that as death‐penalty support increased participants exhibited more positive attitudes toward the death penalty, more negative attitudes toward women, and higher levels of homophobia, modern racism, and modern sexism. Findings also suggested that death‐qualified venirepersons exhibited more positive attitudes toward the death penalty and higher levels of homophobia, modern racism, and modern sexism. Finally, more positive attitudes toward the death penalty were correlated with more negative attitudes toward women and higher levels of homophobia, modern racism, and modern sexism. Legal implications are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ligand‐Directed Immobilization of Proteins through an Esterase 2 Fusion Tag Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Minařik Antonín , Humenik Martin , Li Sheng , Huang Yiwei , Krausch Georg , Sprinzl Mathias
Published: November 2007

Atomically flat mica surfaces were chemically modified with an alkyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a covalent inhibitor of esterase 2 from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, which served as a tag for ligand‐directed immobilization of esterase‐linked proteins. Purified NADH oxidase from Thermus thermophilus and human exportin‐t from cell lysates were anchored on the modified surfaces. The immobilization effectiveness of the proteins was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was shown that ligand–esterase interaction allowed specific attachment of exportin‐t and resulted in high‐resolution images and coverage patterns that were comparable with immobilized purified protein. Moreover, the biological functionality of immobilized human exportin‐t in forming a quaternary complex with tRNA and the GTPase Ran‐GTP, and the dimension changes before and after complex formation were also determined by AFM.
An evaluation of octogenarians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry
Authors: Yan Bryan P. , Gurvitch Ronen , Duffy Stephen J. , Clark David J. , Sebastian Martin , New Gishel , Warren Roderick , Lefkovits Jeffery , Lew Robert , Brennan Angela L. , Reid Chris , Andrianopoulos Nick , Ajani Andrew E.
Published: November 2007

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of octogenarians (≥80 years of age) in a contemporary, multi‐centre percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry.

Background:

Octogenarians are increasingly referred for PCI. This patient population frequently has significant comorbidities, which result in major therapeutic challenges.

Methods:

The study population consisted of consecutive patients undergoing PCI in seven major Australian hospitals, who were treated over a 2‐year period (2004–2005).

Results:

Of 4,360 PCI's, 11.3% (n = 491) were performed in octogenarians and 88.7% (n = 3,869) in patients <80 years. Octogenarians (compared with patients <80 years of age) were more likely female and have greater comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease, renal impairment, congestive heart failure, and chronic airway disease. Octogenarians more frequently presented with acute coronary syndromes and cardiogenic shock. Octogenarians had significantly increased 30‐day (6.0 vs. 1.4%, P < 0.01) and 12‐month mortality (8.4% vs. 2.5%, P < 0.01), and major adverse cardiac event rates [(MACE), 30 days 11.3% vs. 5.4%, P < 0.01 and 12‐months 18.7% vs. 12.9%, P = 0.04]. Cardiogenic shock, ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction, chronic renal failure, and age ≥80 years were independent predictors of 12‐month mortality.

Conclusions:

Octogenarians comprise a significant cohort of patients undergoing PCI. Octogenarians have more comorbidities, and higher rates of mortality and MACE, mandating thorough clinical evaluation before acceptance for PCI. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The practice of stakeholder dialogue between multinationals and NGOs
Authors: van Huijstee Mariëtte , Glasbergen Pieter
Published: November 2007

This paper looks for patterns in the emerging dialogue practice between multinationals and NGOs (non‐governmental organizations). It examines what drives the practice, where stakeholder management is located in the organizational structure, how topics and partners for stakeholder dialogue are selected, which types of dialogue occur and what outcomes they have. The practice is evaluated in terms of the strategic management model and the sustainability model. While strategic management considerations may be recognized in all elements of the dialogue practice, sustainability considerations are less prominent. It is concluded that corporate stakeholder dialogues with environmental NGOs have a high instrumental value for strategic management. For corporate environmental sustainability, however, current dialogues are a possible but not a necessary instrument. Nonetheless, the apparent learning process among the individual participants might be the added value of stakeholder dialogue in sustainability terms. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Mercury‐Substituted Type‐I Clathrates A8Hg4Sn42 (A = K, Rb, Cs)
Authors: Kaltzoglou Andreas , Ponou Siméon , Fässler Thomas F.
Published: November 2007

The mercury‐substituted type‐I clathrates A8Hg4Sn42,with A = K, Rb or Cs, were obtained by fusion of the pure elements at high temperatures. The crystal structures of the compounds were refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. They crystallize in the space group Pm$\bar {3}$n (No. 223), Z = 1 with a = 12.1255(4) Å for K8Hg4Sn42 (1), a = 12.1838(4) Å for Rb8Hg4Sn42 (2) and a = 12.2130(4) Å for Cs8Hg4Sn42 (3). The 3D framework of four‐bonded atoms defines two types of polyhedral cages of different size that are fully occupied by the alkali‐metal atoms. All three compounds are considered as formally charge‐balanced Zintl phases without any homogeneity range. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicates that the stability of the clathrates significantly depends on the size of the encaged cations. The thermal stability of the title compounds and the binary phases A8Sn44 (A = K, Rb, Cs) is discussed. Temperature‐dependent magnetic measurements for compound 3 show also the expected diamagnetic behaviour. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
(η5‐Cyclopentadienyl)(η4‐tetrasila‐ and η4‐trisilagermacyclobutadiene)cobalt: Sandwich Complexes Featuring Heavy Cyclobutadiene Ligands (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 35/2007)
Authors: Takanashi Kazunori , Lee Vladimir Ya. , Ichinohe Masaaki , Sekiguchi Akira
Published: November 2007

The cover picture shows two spotlights illuminating the structure of the first sandwich complex featuring an all‐heavy group 14 element‐consisting Si4‐cyclic ligand, namely, a derivative of (?5‐cyclopentadienyl)(η4‐tetrasilacyclobutadiene)cobalt [(η4‐R4Si4)CoCp] (R = SiMetBu2). The Me and tBu groups on the Si substituents, as well as the H atoms on the Cp ring, are removed for simplicity. The title compound was smoothly prepared by a ligand exchange reaction between the tetrasilacyclobutadiene dianion salt K+2·[R4Si4]2 and [CpCoI2(PPh3)]. Systematic comparison of the complex [(η4‐R4Si4)CoCp] and its carbon analogue [η4‐(Me3Si)4C4]CoCp revealed important structural distinctions between the two complexes that result from the different ring sizes of the cyclobutadiene ligands η4‐R4E4 (R = SiMetBu2, E = Si vs. R = SiMe3, E = C). Details of the synthesis of the novel Co complex, as well as of its structural and electronic peculiarities, are discussed in the Short Communication by A. Sekiguchi et al. on p. 5471 ff.
Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper: A key protein in the sensitization of monocytes to lipopolysaccharide in alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Hamdi Haifa , Bigorgne Amélie , Naveau Sylvie , Balian Axel , Bouchet-Delbos Laurence , Cassard-Doulcier Anne-Marie , Maillot Marie-Christine , Durand-Gasselin Ingrid , Prévot Sophie , Delaveaucoupet Jocelyne , Emilie Dominique , Perlemuter Gabriel
Published: November 2007

Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ), a recently identified protein induced by glucocorticoids (GCs), inhibits the nuclear factor κB pathway and the activation of monocytes/macrophages by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of GILZ to the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis (AH): we (1) assessed

GILZ

expression in the livers of patients with AH and (2) treated patients with severe AH with GCs (prednisolone 40 mg/day) and studied the effect of GILZ modulation on circulating monocyte function. We quantified

GILZ

expression in the livers of 42 consecutive alcoholic patients (21 with and 21 without AH). GILZ messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were lower in the livers of patients with AH versus those without AH (

P

< 0.05). We collected circulating monocytes from patients with severe AH before and 48 hours after GC treatment to quantify

GILZ

expression and cytokine secretion. GC treatment induced significantly higher levels of GILZ mRNA than that observed before treatment and impaired LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and regulated upon activation, normal T cell–expressed secretion (RANTES) by these monocytes. We transfected circulating monocytes with GILZ small interfering RNA (siRNA), specifically blocking

GILZ

expression, to demonstrate the role of GILZ in mediating GC effect. GILZ siRNA abrogated the effect of GC treatment on LPS-induced TNF-α and RANTES secretion.

Conclusion:

Low expression of

GILZ

may contribute to liver inflammation in AH. GCs enhance

GILZ

expression, abrogating macrophage sensitivity to LPS and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. These findings may explain the beneficial effect of GC treatment in patients with severe AH. (Hepatology 2007;46:1986–1992.)
Determinants of alcohol use and abuse: Impact of quantity and frequency patterns on liver disease
Authors: Zakhari Samir , Li Ting-Kai
Published: November 2007

More than 70% of alcohol is consumed by 10% of the population in the United States. Implicit in this statistic is that tremendous variation in the pattern of drinking (quantity, frequency, and duration) exists among alcohol consumers. Individuals who are binge or chronic drinkers will have different health outcomes than social drinkers. Therefore, knowing the pattern of drinking will shed light on how severely individuals are alcohol-dependent and on the extent of liver damage. Thus, these parameters assume particular relevance for the treatment-providing physician. Genetic factors contribute substantially to differences in alcohol metabolism. Variations in the activities of the alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, in part determine blood alcohol concentration, thereby contributing to the predisposition to becoming alcohol-dependent and to susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver damage. Chronic alcohol consumption induces cytochrome P450 2E1, a microsomal enzyme that metabolizes alcohol at high concentrations and also metabolizes medications such as acetaminophen and protease inhibitors. Alcohol metabolism changes the redox state of the liver, which leads to alterations in hepatic lipid, carbohydrate, protein, lactate, and uric acid metabolism. The quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption severely impact the liver in the presence of comorbid conditions such as infection with hepatitis B or C and/or human immunodeficiency virus, type 2 diabetes, hemochromatosis, or obesity and thus have implications with respect to the extent of injury and response to medications.

Conclusion:

Knowledge of the relationships between the quantity, frequency, and patterns of drinking and alcoholic liver disease is limited. A better understanding of these relationships will guide hepatologists in managing alcoholic liver disease. (Hepatology 2007;46:2032–2039.)
ESE‐1 is a potent repressor of type II collagen gene (COL2A1) transcription in human chondrocytes
Authors: Peng Haibing , Tan Lujian , Osaki Makoto , Zhan Yumei , Ijiri Kosei , Tsuchimochi Kaneyuki , Otero Miguel , Wang Hong , Choy Bob K. , Grall Franck T. , Gu Xuesong , Libermann Towia A. , Oettgen Peter , Goldring Mary B.
Published: November 2007

The epithelium‐specific ETS (ESE)‐1 transcription factor is induced in chondrocytes by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). We reported previously that early activation of EGR‐1 by IL‐1β results in suppression of the proximal COL2A1 promoter activity by displacement of Sp1 from GC boxes. Here we report that ESE‐1 is a potent transcriptional suppressor of COL2A1 promoter activity in chondrocytes and accounts for the sustained, NF‐κB‐dependent inhibition by IL‐1β. Of the ETS factors tested, this response was specific to ESE‐1, since ESE‐3, which was also induced by IL‐1β, suppressed COL2A1 promoter activity only weakly. In contrast, overexpression of ETS‐1 increased COL2A1 promoter activity and blocked the inhibition by IL‐1β. These responses to ESE‐1 and ETS‐1 were confirmed using siRNA‐ESE1 and siRNA‐ETS1. In transient cotransfections, the inhibitory responses to ESE‐1 and IL‐1β colocalized in the −577/−132 bp promoter region, ESE‐1 bound specifically to tandem ETS sites at −403/−381 bp, and IL‐1‐induced binding of ESE‐1 to the COL2A1 promoter was confirmed in vivo by ChIP. Our results indicate that ESE‐1 serves a potent repressor function by interacting with at least two sites in the COL2A1 promoter. However, the endogenous response may depend upon the balance of other ETS factors such as ETS‐1, and other IL‐1‐induced factors, including EGR‐1 at any given time. Intracellular ESE‐1 staining in chondrocytes in cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis (OA), but not in normal cartilage, further suggests a fundamental role for ESE‐1 in cartilage degeneration and suppression of repair. J. Cell. Physiol. 215: 562–573, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The arginine growth hormone stimulation test in bradykinetic‐rigid parkinsonisms
Authors: Pellecchia Maria Teresa , Longo Katia , Manfredi Michela , Lucetti Claudio , Cossu Giovanni , Petrone Alfredo , Marconi Roberto , Sensi Mariachiara , Epifanio Antonio , Eleopra Roberto , Marchese Roberta , Scaravilli Tomaso , Morgante Letterio , Abbruzzese Giovanni , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Donati Edoardo , Pivonello Rosario , Colao Annamaria , Barone Paolo
Published: November 2007

The arginine growth hormone (GH) stimulation test differentiates the Parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA‐P) from idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the arginine GH stimulation test in distinguishing between PSP, MSA‐P, and PD. We measured the GH response to arginine in serum samples of 26 MSA‐P, 23 PSP, and 26 PD patients, and in 80 healthy controls. We used ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni test to compare GH values and peaks among groups. We used receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to establish the arginine cut‐off level that best differentiated between MSA‐P, PSP, and PD. The GH peak was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in MSA‐P (1.46 ± 0.29 μg/L) than in both PD (8.74 ± 0.98 μg/L) and PSP (6.64 ± 0.82 μg/L) patients, and controls (8.59 ± 0.44 μg/L). Growth hormone peaked later in PSP patients than in PD patients and controls. At a cut‐off level of 4 μg/L, arginine test distinguished MSA‐P from PD with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 96%, and MSA‐P from PSP with a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 96%. The GH response to arginine differentiates MSA‐P from PD and PSP with a good diagnostic accuracy. The neuroendocrine response to arginine of PSP patients differed from that of MSA‐P patients, but was not identical to that of normal controls and PD patients. Our results suggest that the impairment of the central mechanisms modulating GH release differs between PSP and MSA‐P. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Survival in multiple system atrophy
Authors: Schrag Anette , Wenning Gregor K. , Quinn Niall , Ben‐Shlomo Yoav
Published: November 2007

We here report survival in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) in a large, prospectively studied group of patients with MSA. Eighty‐five of 100 patients were known to have died. Three patients were rediagnosed as having PD. Twenty‐four patients came to autopsy, which showed MSA in 22 and idiopathic Parkinson's disease in 2. The median survival time was 8.6 and 7.3 years for men and women, respectively (hazard ratio for women was 1.49, 95% CI 0.97–2.31, P = 0.07). Except for rediagnosis as PD, no predictive factors for better survival could be identified. These data confirm the relatively poor prognosis of MSA of less than 9 years on average. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Discordance between measured postural instability and absence of clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients in the early stages of the disease
Authors: Chastan Nathalie , Debono Bertrand , Maltête David , Weber Jacques
Published: November 2007

We compared postural performances in early stage Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy subjects, and to determine if PD patients have infraclinical postural instability. Nine PD patients and 18 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects were recorded with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE) using a force platform in static and dynamic conditions with a mobile platform allowing antero posterior and medio lateral oscillations. Oscillations of the mobile platform and balance strategy were quantified using both a force platform and the Vicon system. Under static conditions with both OE and CE, PD patients had a larger center foot pressure sway area than the control subjects (P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). Under dynamic conditions, the PD patients' sway area was greater than that of the control subjects in the CE antero posterior position (P = 0.04). Oscillations of the mobile platform were not different between the two groups. Lastly, all subjects used an ankle strategy, but PD patients had larger head oscillations than the control subjects. Early stage PD patients have an infraclinical postural instability which is compensated when it is more difficult to maintain good balance, suggesting that the neurological mechanisms of balance are partially still operating at this stage of the disease. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
New approaches for solving the block‐to‐train assignment problem
Authors: Jha Krishna C. , Ahuja Ravindra K. , Şahin Güvenç
Published: November 2007

Railroad planning involves solving two optimization problems: (i) the blocking problem, which determines what blocks to make and how to route traffic over these blocks; and (ii) the train schedule design problem, which determines train origins, destinations, and routes. Once the blocking plan and train schedule have been obtained, the next step is to determine which trains should carry which blocks. This problem, known as the block‐to‐train assignment problem, is considered in this paper. We provide two formulations for this problem: an arc‐based formulation and a path‐based formulation. The latter is generally smaller than the former, and it can better handle practical constraints. We also propose exact and heuristic algorithms based on the path‐based formulation. Our exact algorithm solves an integer programming formulation with CPLEX using both a priori generation and dynamic generation of paths. Our heuristic algorithms include a Lagrangian relaxation‐based method as well as a greedy construction method. We present computational results of our algorithms using the data provided by a major US railroad. We show that we can obtain an optimal solution of the block‐to‐train assignment problem within a few minutes of computational time, and can obtain heuristic solutions with 1–2% deviations from the optimal solutions within a few seconds. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2008
Modelling the transient interaction of a thin elastic shell with an exterior acoustic field
Authors: Chappell David J. , Harris Paul J. , Henwood David , Chakrabarti Roma
Published: November 2007

Coupled finite and boundary element methods for solving transient fluid–structure interaction problems are developed. The finite element method is used to model the radiating structure, and the boundary element method (BEM) is used to determine the resulting acoustic field. The well‐known stability problems of time domain BEMs are avoided by using a Burton–Miller‐type integral equation. The stability, accuracy and efficiency of two alternative solution methods are compared using an exact solution for the case of a thin spherical elastic shell. The convergence properties of the preferred solution method are then investigated more thoroughly. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of aqueous solvation on the structures of pyruvic acid isomers and their reactions in solution: a computational study
Authors: Kakkar Rita , Pathak Mallika , Gahlot Pragya
Published: November 2007

The pyruvic acid molecule and its various isomers have been studied in aqueous solution in order to understand the mechanism of decarboxylation. The tautomeric equilibrium remains in favor of the keto form in aqueous solution, but the energy difference between the two tautomers decreases. The anion also exists in the keto form in aqueous solution. Good agreement between the calculated and observed gas phase protonation and basicity values is obtained, and the calculated pKa value is also in reasonable agreement with the literature value. The importance of the catalytic mechanism may be gauged from the fact that, in the absence of an enzymatic pathway, the reaction has high activation barrier and may not occur at all. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous detection of five different 2‐hydroxyethyl‐DNA adducts formed by ethylene oxide exposure, using a high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry assay
Authors: Tompkins Elaine M. , Jones Donald J.L. , Lamb John H. , Marsden Debbie A. , Farmer Peter B. , Brown Karen
Published: November 2007

A method has been developed for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of five different 2‐hydroxyethyl‐DNA (HE‐DNA) adducts that could be formed as a result of exposure to ethylene oxide (EO). In addition to the major N7‐HE‐guanine (N7‐HEG) adducts this assay can also measure the less prevalent but potentially more biologically significant N1‐HE‐2′‐deoxyadenosine (N1‐HEdA), O6‐HE‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (O6‐HEdG), N6‐HE‐2′‐deoxyadenosine (N6‐HEdA) and N3‐HE‐2′‐deoxyuridine adducts (N3‐HEdU). The method involves the isolation of HE adducts from the unmodified nucleosides by either neutral thermal hydrolysis or enzymatic digestion, followed by high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) purification, before detection and quantification by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using selective reaction monitoring (SRM). The limits of detection were in the range 0.5–25 fmol for each individual adduct, making this one of the most sensitive assays available for the detection of N7‐HEG. To illustrate the possible applications of the assay, it has been employed in the measurement of endogenous/background and EO‐induced HE adducts in a variety of DNA samples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
H∞ control for discrete‐time nonlinear switching systems
Authors: Zhang Huan , Huang Shoudong , James Matthew R.
Published: November 2007

This paper formulates and solves the robust H∞ control problem for discrete‐time nonlinear switching systems. The H∞ control problem is interpreted as the l2 finite gain control problem and is studied using a dissipative systems theory for switched systems. Both state and measurement feedback control problems are formulated as dynamic games and solved using dynamic programming. The partially observed dynamic game corresponding to the measurement feedback control problem is solved by transforming into a completely observed, full state infinite‐dimensional game problem using information states. Our results are illustrated with an example. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ermüdungsprobleme dünnwandiger kaltgeformter Bauteile
Authors: Gläßer Katrin , Lindner Joachim
Published: November 2007

Die aktuellen Bemessungskonzepte für dünnwandige Bauteile berücksichtigen bei der Ermittlung der Tragfähigkeit das mögliche örtliche Beulen der Querschnittsteile. Zum Ermüdungsverhalten kaltgeformter Profile bei wiederholtem elastischem Ausbeulen gibt es jedoch bisher keine Aussagen.

Zur Untersuchung dieser Problemstellung wurden Schwingversuche an dünnwandigen kaltgeformten U‐Profilen mit reiner Biegebeanspruchung durchgeführt, die den Einfluss des örtlichen Beulens hinsichtlich entstehender Sekundärspannungen und damit verbundener Rissbildung klären sollten.

Als Ergebnis zusätzlicher numerischer Untersuchungen wird zur Verhinderung von Rissen bei dynamischer Beanspruchung eine Begrenzung der Belastung auf 60% der Traglast vorgeschlagen.
Wissenschaftstheoretische Überlegungen zur Entwicklung der Baustatik
Authors: Gold Peter
Published: November 2007

Die Geschichte der Baukonstruktionen ist so alt wie die Geschichte der Menschheit. In früheren Zeiten waren die Baumeister mit ihrer Erfahrung für die Standfestigkeit eines Bauwerks verantwortlich. Erst mit Beginn der Renaissance und dem Wandel vom aristotelischen zum mechanischen Weltbild konnte die Entwicklung der Baustatik ihren Weg nehmen. Auf Grundlage von Logik und Wissenschaftstheorie hat der Autor versucht, die Wissenschaftsgeschichte der Baustatik, beginnend bei Galileo Galilei, zu rekonstruieren. Aber es sollte ein langer Weg werden, bis Navier Statik und Elastizitätslehre zur Baustatik vereinigte und damit die erste abgeschlossene Theorie in der Geschichte der Baustatik formulierte.
Urine pH is an indicator of dietary acid–base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population study
Authors: Welch Ailsa A. , Mulligan Angela , Bingham Sheila A. , Khaw Kay-tee
Published: November 2007

Evidence exists that a more acidic diet is detrimental to bone health. Although more precise methods exist for measurement of acid–base balance, urine pH reflects acid–base balance and is readily measurable but has not been related to habitual dietary intake in general populations. The present study investigated the relationship between urine pH and dietary acid–base load (potential renal acid load; PRAL) and its contributory food groups (fruit and vegetables, meats, cereal and dairy foods). There were 22 034 men and women aged 39–78 years living in Norfolk (UK) with casual urine samples and dietary intakes from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk FFQ. A sub-study (n 363) compared pH in casual samples and 24 h urine and intakes from a 7 d diary and the FFQ. A more alkaline diet (low PRAL), high fruit and vegetable intake and lower consumption of meat was significantly associated with a more alkaline urine pH before and after adjustment for age, BMI, physical activity and smoking habit and also after excluding for urinary protein, glucose, ketones, diagnosed high blood pressure and diuretic medication. In the sub-study the strongest relationship was found between the 24 h urine and the 7 d diary. In conclusion, a more alkaline diet, higher fruit and vegetable and lower meat intake were related to more alkaline urine with a magnitude similar to intervention studies. As urine pH relates to dietary acid–base load its use to monitor change in consumption of fruit and vegetables, in individuals, warrants further investigation.
Nature and Natural Kinds
Authors: Robinson Guy
Published: November 2007

The paper examines the character and historical source of the mystifications of the notions of Nature and Natural Kinds in the misguided attempt to turn Nature into a secular substitute for the role played by God in the previous theological framework of thought in order to turn it into a secular one in the period of the rise of science and scientific understanding. The role and function nature was given in this would-be replacement framework turned it into a quasi-deity governing the world from outside and generated the mechanical world-view in which humans were mere cogs.

Against this is set Aristotle's conception of Nature and the Natural as simply ‘what happens by and large and for the most part’—a description and not an explanation.
Modeling the impact of historical land cover change on Australia's regional climate
Authors: McAlpine C. A. , Syktus J. , Deo R. C. , Lawrence P. J. , McGowan H. A. , Watterson I. G. , Phinn S. R.
Published: November 2007

The Australian landscape has been transformed extensively since European settlement. However, the potential impact of historical land cover change (LCC) on regional climate has been a secondary consideration in the climate change projections. In this study, we analyzed data from a pair of ensembles (10 members each) for the period 1951–2003 to quantify changes in regional climate by comparing results from pre‐European and modern‐day land cover characteristics. The results of the sensitivity simulations showed the following: a statistically significant warming of the surface temperature, especially for summer in eastern Australia (0.4–2°C) and southwest Western Australia (0.4–0.8°C); a statistically significant decrease in summer rainfall in southeast Australia; and increased surface temperature in eastern regions during the 2002/2003 El Niño drought event. The simulated magnitude and pattern of change indicates that LCC has potentially been an important contributing factor to the observed changes in regional climate of Australia.
MODIS derived fine mode fraction characteristics of marine, dust, and anthropogenic aerosols over the ocean, constrained by GOCART, MOPITT, and TOMS
Authors: Jones Thomas A. , Christopher Sundar A.
Published: November 2007

One year (December 2003 to November 2004) of Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), and Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) data over the open ocean are used in conjunction with the Goddard Chemistry Transport Model (GOCART) to characterize differing aerosol types as a function of satellite observable parameters. GOCART model output is used to select regions that are dominated (at least 80% of the total aerosol optical thickness from a single aerosol species) by anthropogenic (black carbon + organic carbon + sulfate), dust (DU) and sea salt regions (SS). Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and fine mode fraction (FMF) retrieved from MODIS are averaged for each aerosol species region at 1 month intervals to examine the observational differences among each aerosol species. Anthropogenic (AN) aerosols are further separated into those produced primarily from biomass burning (BB) versus those from combustion and industrial pollution (PO). TOMS ultraviolet absorbing aerosol index (AI) in conjunction with MOPITT carbon monoxide (CO) data sets on Terra are used to contrast the differences between BB and PO aerosol properties. Annually averaged estimates for SS, DU, and AN MODIS FMF are 0.25 ± 0.07, 0.45 ± 0.05, and 0.84 ± 0.04, respectively, in agreement with or slightly lower than previous estimates. However, FMF values were observed to change substantially as a function of space and time as regions dominated by single aerosol types shrink, expand, and move around from month to month. The greatest variability in FMF was observed for SS and DU aerosols. SS are associated with regions of high near‐surface wind speeds in the Southern Hemisphere, which have large temporal and spatial variations. Dust transport off of the Saharan Desert is maximized in the Northern Hemisphere summer, increasing the area of predominately dust aerosols. MODIS aerosol effective radius for each aerosol type also showed a similar trend with SS, DU, and AN values of 1.03, 0.68, and 0.32 μm. TOMS‐AI values for DU exceeded SS and AN values up to 100% between April and October 2004 in association with the greatest dust concentrations in the North Atlantic. For BB and PO components of AN aerosols, no significant difference in MODIS FMF were observed; however, substantial differences in TOMS‐AI and MOPITT values were observed between BB and PO aerosols, especially between June and November. For both TOMS‐AI and MOPITT CO, BB aerosols are generally associated with higher values than are PO aerosols. The use of GOCART to constrain regions where a dominant aerosol species exists has allowed a comprehensive analysis of the satellite observed properties of various aerosol species.
Enhanced creation of dispersive monolayer phonons in Xe∕Pt(111) by inelastic helium atom scattering at low energies
Authors: Hansen F. Y. , Bruch L. W.
Published: November 2007

Conditions likely to lead to enhanced inelastic atomic scattering that creates shear horizontal (SH) and longitudinal acoustic (LA) monolayer phonons are identified, specifically examining the inelastic scattering of He4 atoms by a monolayer solid of Xe∕Pt(111) at incident energies of 2–25meV. There is strong inelastic scattering for both dispersive phonon branches (SH and LA) of the monolayer at incident energies below 8meV. Several improvements enable more complete wave packet calculations of the inelastic scattering than in previous work. Long propagation times are made feasible by adding an absorbing potential at large distance. The times now extend to beyond 100ps and enable a clarification of processes involving transient trapping of the He atoms. The wave packet is made more monochromatic by significantly increasing the spatial width of the initial Gaussian shape. The narrower energy distribution in the incident beam then enables a demonstration of strong energy dependence of the scattering over a scale of less than 0.3meV.
Cylindrical dust acoustic solitary waves with transverse perturbations in quantum dusty plasmas
Authors: Mushtaq A.
Published: November 2007

The nonlinear quantum dust acoustic waves with effects of nonplanar cylindrical geometry, quantum corrections, and transverse perturbations are studied. By using the perturbation method, a cylindrical Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation for dust acoustic waves is derived by incorporating quantum-mechanical effects. The quantum-mechanical effects via quantum diffraction and quantum statistics, and the role of transverse perturbations in cylindrical geometry on the dynamics of this wave, are studied both analytically and numerically.
Thermal instability of electrically active centers in heavily Ga-doped ZnO thin films: X-ray absorption study of the Ga-site configuration
Authors: Sans J. A. , Martínez-Criado G. , Pellicer-Porres J. , Sánchez-Royo J. F. , Segura A.
Published: November 2007

We report a study of the site configuration of Ga atoms in Ga-doped ZnO thin films by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Ga-related donors remain electrically active after vacuum annealing at 800°C. On the opposite, annealing the films in air (400°C) leads to a dramatic decrease of the conductivity by four orders of magnitude and disappearance of the Burstein-Moss shift. XAS spectra indicate that air annealing induces partial segregation of Ga atoms to nanocrystallites of the spinel ZnGa2O4 or other intermediate phase. The short Ga–O bondlength measured can be at the origin of the here reported instability.