bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Traffic Regulation to Limited Ways: The Effort to Build a Science of Transportation Planning
Authors: Brown Jeffrey
Published: January 2006

During the 1920s, millions of Americans embraced the automobile as their primary means of transportation, and traffic quickly congested city streets. Local officials turned to the experts for aid. These men approached the problem as one whose solution might be identified through the application of scientific techniques. Through their efforts, they transformed transportation planning from a broad, multidisciplinary exercise into a narrow, technical one, and introduced principles and procedures that continue to guide practitioners. Their development of a science based on traffic data and premised on the desirability of facilitating high-speed automobile movement also served to blind later professionals to the often-negative consequences of their own planning prescriptions.
Prostanoid receptor EP1 and Cox-2 in injured human nerves and a rat model of nerve injury: a time-course study
Authors: Durrenberger Pascal F , Facer Paul , Casula Maria A , Yiangou Yiangos , Gray Roy A , Chessell Iain P , Day Nicola C , Collins Sue D , Bingham Sharon , Wilson Alex W , Elliot David , Birch Rolfe , Anand Praveen
Published: January 2006

Background

Recent studies show that inflammatory processes may contribute to neuropathic pain. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is an inducible enzyme responsible for production of prostanoids, which may sensitise sensory neurones via the EP1 receptor. We have recently reported that while macrophages infiltrate injured nerves within days of injury, they express increased Cox-2-immunoreactivity (Cox-2-IR) from 2 to 3 weeks after injury. We have now investigated the time course of EP1 and Cox-2 changes in injured human nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and the chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI) model in the rat.

Methods

Tissue sections were immunostained with specific antibodies to EP1, Cox-2, CD68 (human macrophage marker) or OX42 (rat microglial marker), and neurofilaments (NF), prior to image analysis, from the following: human brachial plexus nerves (21 to 196 days post-injury), painful neuromas (9 days to 12 years post-injury), avulsion injured DRG, control nerves and DRG, and rat CCI model tissues. EP1 and NF-immunoreactive nerve fibres were quantified by image analysis.

Results

EP1:NF ratio was significantly increased in human brachial plexus nerve fibres, both proximal and distal to injury, in comparison with uninjured nerves. Sensory neurones in injured human DRG showed a significant acute increase of EP1-IR intensity. While there was a rapid increase in EP1-fibres and CD-68 positive macrophages, Cox-2 increase was apparent later, but was persistent in human painful neuromas for years. A similar time-course of changes was found in the rat CCI model with the above markers, both in the injured nerves and ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord.

Conclusion

Different stages of infiltration and activation of macrophages may be observed in the peripheral and central nervous system following peripheral nerve injury. EP1 receptor level increase in sensory neurones, and macrophage infiltration, appears to precede increased Cox-2 expression by macrophages. However, other methods for detecting Cox-2 levels and activity are required. EP1 antagonists may show therapeutic effects in acute and chronic neuropathic pain, in addition to inflammatory pain.
Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain Animals Exhibit Distinct Responses to Innocuous Thermal and Motoric Challenges
Authors: Jabakhanji Rami , Foss Jennifer M , Berra Hugo H , Centeno Maria V , Apkarian A Vania , Chialvo Dante R
Published: January 2006

Most current methods for assessing pain in animals are based on reflexive measures and require constant interaction between the observer and the animal. Here we explore two new fully automated methods to quantify the impact of pain on the overall behavior of the organism. Both methods take advantage of the animals' natural preference for a dark environment. We used a box divided into two compartments: dark and bright. In the motoric operant task, “AngleTrack”, one end of the box was raised so that the animals had to climb uphill to go from the light to the dark compartment. In the thermal operant task, “ThermalTrack”, the floor of the dark compartment was heated to a given temperature, while the light compartment remained at 25°C. Rats were individually placed in the light box and their crossing between chambers monitored automatically for 30 minutes. The angle of the box, or the temperature of the dark compartment, was altered to challenge the animals' natural preference. We test the hypothesis that different models of pain (inflammatory or neuropathic) can be differentiated based on performance on these devices. Three groups of rats were tested at five different challenge levels on both tasks: 1) normal, 2) neuropathic injury pain (Spared Nerve Injury), and 3) inflammatory pain (intraplantar injection of Carrageenan). We monitored the position of the animals as well as their rate of switching between compartments. We find significant differences between the three groups and between the challenge levels both in their average position with respect to time, and in their switching rates. This suggests that the angle-track and thermal-track may be useful in assessing automatically the global impact of different types of pain on behavior.
Logical versus Empirical Readability and Human Interest Scores for Introductory Texts Published between 1977 and 1988
Authors: Quereshi M. Y.
Published: January 2006

Two studies, on using 58 and other 59 general psychology textbooks published between 1977 and 1988, compared readability and human interest scores computed two ways. Correlations indicated that Flesch's (logical) scores were not comparable to students' (empirical) ratings. Students were generally consistent in performing the task, although the method for selecting paragraphs, either randomly (Study 1) or on the basis of uniform content and length (Study 2), did not provide dependable information about the overall readability and human interest levels of the books as calculated by Flesch's procedures.
On Actualizing Person-Centered Theory: A Critique of Textbook Treatments of Rogers's Motivational Constructs
Authors: Ford J. Guthrie , Maas Sharon
Published: January 2006

The Rogerian motivational constructs of actualization and self-actualization were inadequately presented in the large majority of introductory textbooks we examined. This phenomenon may partly reflect that authors do not recognize the historical changes (or the significance thereof) in the motivational aspects of person-centered theory.
Evaluating a Seminar on Stress Management
Authors: Deffenbacher Jerry L. , Shepard Jeffrey M.
Published: January 2006

A psychology seminar on stress management is described and evaluated. Though instruments changed in six classes over a 6- year period, students reported significantly less general anxiety, general anger, situational stress reactivity, and stress-related physiological reactivity after the class than before. Follow-ups conducted with two classes showed maintenance of these effects. These results suggest that the classroom can be a practical medium for increasing academic knowledge about and personal skills for stress reduction.
Graduate Student and Faculty Perspectives about Graduate School
Authors: Descutner Carol J. , Thelen Mark H.
Published: January 2006

There has been little research concerning how entering students view graduate education (e.g., perceive their role or the control they have over the academic environment). This study investigated perceptions of the student role and expectancies of student control among entering clinical psychology graduate students and clinical faculty in nine psychology departments. Findings indicated that students arrived on campus with role perceptions generally in line with those of faculty, concerning which qualities are considered important for student success. After a semester in the program, student perceptions were even more similar to faculty perceptions. Other findings revealed expectancies of diminished control (i. e., students perceived less of an impact on the student–faculty relationship and more of a need to comply with disliked program policies after their first semester than they had anticipated before entering graduate school). Because students appear to know what it takes to succeed in graduate school, efforts might be more effectively directed toward helping them assert control over their environment and cope with stress.
Factorial Design: Binocular and Monocular Depth Perception in Vertical and Horizontal Stimuli
Authors: Zerbolio Dominic J. , Walker James T.
Published: January 2006

This article describes a factorial experiment that is useful as a laboratory exercise in a research methods course. In the Howard–Dolman depth perception apparatus, two vertical rods are adjusted, using binocular or monocular vision, so they appear equidistant from the observer. The two rods can also be oriented horizontally, which allows a factorial design combining the factors of Viewing Condition (binocular and monocular) and Rod Orientation (vertical and horizontal). The exercise illustrates the nature of an interaction and the necessity of an additional analysis of simple main effects. It also provides a basis for understanding a perceptual problem in the real world—the difficulty of localizing horizontally extended stimuli such as power lines.
Item Order Affects Performance on Multiple-Choice Exams
Authors: Balch William R.
Published: January 2006

A total of 404 General Psychology students were assigned to one of three different item orders (sequential, chapter contiguity, and random) of the same final exam consisting of 75 multiple- choice questions. In the sequential (S) order exam, items appeared in the same sequence in which their supporting material was presented in the textbook and lectures. For the chapter contiguity (CC) order exam, items based on the same chapter appeared together, but were not sequentially arranged within or between chapters. The order of the third exam was random (R). Scores for the sequential order exam were higher than for the other two. There were no significant differences in the completion times for any of the exams.
Undergraduate Role Players as “Clients” for Graduate Counseling Students
Authors: Anderson Dana D. , Gundersen Colleen Buren , Banken Daniel M. , Halvorson Jonathan V. , Schmutte Denise
Published: January 2006

We describe two exercises using undergraduates from abnormal psychology courses to act as role-play clients for graduate counselor–trainees. The first exercise involves mock counseling sessions; the second is a mock case conference. We grade graduates on their counseling and case-conceptualization skills. Undergraduates participate as ungraded volunteers. We believe that graduate students benefit from the challenge and honest feedback that undergraduate role players provide. Undergraduates reported academic benefits and increased empathy for the characters they played. The exercises seem to be educationally beneficial and may also help decrease undergraduates' negative stereotyping of persons with psychological problems.
Student Selection of Deadline Conditions in a Personalized Psychology Course
Authors: Roberts M. Susan , Semb George B.
Published: January 2006

Given a choice between five instructor- and five self-set deadlines, more students in a self-paced developmental psychology course chose the former. Students in the two conditions did not differ on a measure of academic performance or the number of testing days used to complete the course. Students who chose to set their own deadlines missed fewer deadlines, showed accelerated pacing, and rated the opportunity to choose more favorably than did those in the instructor-set deadline condition. Most students indicated that, if given the choice again, they would make the same decision, but a higher percentage of students who chose instructor-set deadlines would reverse their choice.
“Dear Mom and Dad”: Using Personal Letters to Enhance Students' Understanding of Developmental Issues
Authors: Junn Ellen N.
Published: January 2006

An exercise designed to address a number of developmental issues by requiring students to write semiautobiographical personal letters is described. Student responses were overwhelmingly positive and suggest a number of beneficial outcomes. Recommendations for instructors are provided.
A BASIC Program for Generating Integer Means and Variances
Authors: Beins Bernard C.
Published: January 2006

This article describes a BASIC computer program for generating different sets of random numbers that have integer means and variances. The user can select either the biased or unbiased formula for the standard deviation. Suggestions for use and limitations of the program are noted.
Use of the Ordered-Tree Technique to Assess Students' Initial Knowledge and Conceptual Learning
Authors: Naveh-Benjamin Moshe , McKeachie Wilbert J. , Lin Yi-Guang
Published: January 2006

Cognitive structures involving concepts related to aging were assessed at the beginning, middle, and end of a Psychology of Aging course using the modified ordered-tree method (Naveh-Benjamin, McKeachie, Lin, & Tucker, 1986). Results showed that students' knowledge at the beginning of the course reflected stereotypes, ordinary language relationships, and knowledge gained in previous courses. During the course, new relations among concepts appeared, accompanied by breakdowns of initial relations. The development and final knowledge structures of students at the end of the course were different from what we intended. Instructors could benefit from using this technique to plan their courses, to modify them in progress if necessary, and to assess the degree to which their initial course goals were met.
Chapters and Units: Frequent versus Infrequent Testing Revisited
Authors: Grover Cathy A. , Becker Angela H. , Davis Stephen F.
Published: January 2006

Test scores of students choosing a frequent (chapter-by-chapter) testing program were compared with scores of students choosing a unit (four-chapter) testing program. Unlike previous reports, neither option was associated with superior performance. The advisability of allowing students to select their preferred testing option is highlighted.
Writing to Discuss: Use of a Clustering Technique
Authors: Ventis Deborah G.
Published: January 2006

A clustering technique developed to improve writing skills and previously used to facilitate thinking in classroom settings was used as a stimulus for class discussion. The technique involved presenting a relevant word at the beginning of each meeting of discussion sections of an introductory psychology class. Students wrote down any associations they had to the word, followed by a brief explanation. Each student told the class about what he or she had written. At the end of the discussion, students recorded things they did not say in class and summarized their reactions to the discussion. Benefits to instructors are discussed.
A Model for Reading and Writing about Primary Sources: The Case of Introductory Psychology
Authors: Price Derek W. W.
Published: January 2006

Readings from primary sources are integrated into introductory psychology via short writing assignments. Selected readings are reviewed briefly with respect to course goals and students' interest and comprehension. Content-oriented feedback at several stages of students' writing is used to focus and facilitate conceptual mastery of primary sources. Issues of time management, grading, and plagiarism are discussed briefly. Student and instructor evaluations of the course endorse writing as a means to introduce original sources in psychology courses.
Novels as Case-Study Materials for Psychology Students
Authors: Chrisler Joan C.
Published: January 2006

This article describes a writing assignment based on the main character of a novel, an autobiography, or a biography about mental illness. Students are asked to describe the character's symptoms and the treatment received, to provide a diagnosis, and to suggest a treatment plan. This assignment promotes critical thinking and empathy for the mentally ill.
Effective Feedback on Written Assignments
Authors: Willingham Daniel B.
Published: January 2006

The goal of feedback on papers is assumed to be the improvement of future drafts and the improvement of the writing ability of the student. The specificity of comments is a critical variable in providing effective feedback. Comments on student papers should be specific enough to guide students when editing their work, but not so specific that they simply implement the instructor's suggestions. Instructors should minimize corrections of mechanical errors; comments should form a hierarchy of importance that students can easily discern.
The Dimensions of Psychological Research
Authors: Hendricks Bryan , Marvel M. Kim , Barrington Byron L.
Published: January 2006

Introductory psychology textbooks present limited and often confusing coverage of research methods. One common flaw is the failure to distinguish between data collection procedures (e.g., self-report and observational strategies) and research design (e.g., experimental and correlational procedures). Although many texts list various research tactics, a multidimensional format better covers the array of combinations. To provide a comprehensive and understandable coverage of research strategies for psychology students, we present two cubes that delineate separate dimensions for data collection procedures, research designs, and research settings. One cube (a 4 × 2 × 2 model) covers most traditional group designs, and a second cube (a 2 × 2 × 2 model) covers most individual subject designs. Illustrative examples are provided for studies in each cell of these cubes. Suggestions are included for using these models in instruction.
Undergraduate Psychology Alumni: Gender and Cohort Differences in Course Usefulness, Postbaccalaureate Education, and Career Paths
Authors: Keyes Barbara J. , Hogberg David K.
Published: January 2006

We surveyed psychology majors who graduated between 1967 and 1986 to investigate gender and cohort differences in current perceptions of undergraduate course usefulness, postbaccalaureate education, and occupational achievements. We found that more women than men (a) obtained bachelor's degrees in psychology during the 20-year period; (b) earned advanced degrees in psychology and psychology-related fields; and (c) in recent years, worked in psychology and psychology-related positions. The two courses most frequently named as useful since graduation were Abnormal Psychology and Methodology. Our results provide evidence for the male flight from and the resulting feminization of the undergraduate psychology major.
Images of Madness: Feature Films in Teaching Psychology
Authors: Fleming Michael Z. , Piedmont Ralph L. , Hiam C. Michael
Published: January 2006

An interdisciplinary course, Psychology and Film: Images of Madness, has been taught at Boston University since 1979 by two instructors: a psychologist and a film historian. This course may be pedagogically unique because of its use of feature films (90 to 110 min) as a major element of instruction. The films allow students to explore the interaction between art and psychology and make them cognizant of the cinema's ability to reflect and affect our perceptions of madness and treatment. A student survey and course evaluation substantiated the effectiveness of this instructional program.
Using Student Projects to Acquire Demonstrations for the Classroom and Laboratory
Authors: Wagor Walter F.
Published: January 2006

As part of the requirements for a Sensation and Perception course, students constructed and demonstrated a sensory or perceptual phenomenon. A special feature of this requirement was the request to donate the project to the Psychology Department for use in other classes. Students willingly complied with the request. Overall evaluation of the project was very positive.
The Declining Role of Behavioral Sciences in the Preparation of Secondary Social Studies Teachers
Authors: Evans Charles S. , Dumas Wayne , Weible Tom
Published: January 2006

Results of a 1989 study of behavioral science requirements in the preparation of secondary social studies teachers are compared with those of a similar study reported in 1984. Results indicate a substantial decline in the role of behavioral sciences in the preparation of secondary social studies teachers compared to history, geography, and other social sciences.
Formal Operations and Learning Style Predict Success in Statistics and Computer Science Courses
Authors: Hudak Mary A. , Anderson David E.
Published: January 2006

Measures of formal operations and learning style predicted success in introductory statistics and computer science courses. Using a final course grade cutoff of 80% or better as a criterion of success in the course, a discriminant analysis correctly classified 81% of the statistics students and 72% of the computer science students. Success was related to the presence of the ability to act as a formal operator and to the absence of a reliance on the concrete experiences learning style. These findings highlight the need to examine both cognitive maturity and learning style in studies of academic success at the college level.
The Interviewing Team: An Exercise for Teaching Assessment and Conceptualization Skills
Authors: Balleweg Bernard J.
Published: January 2006

The Interviewing Team is an exercise for teaching students how to conduct assessment interviews and conceptualize client problems. The team consists of up to 10 students who take turns interviewing the instructor who role-plays a client. Each student is responsible for obtaining one type of assessment information (e.g., affective, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms). After each role-play segment, the instructor gives the student feedback and asks the team questions designed to develop hypotheses about the nature and etiology of the “client's” problems. The advantages of this approach to teaching conceptualization skills are discussed.
What Goes Where? An Activity to Teach the Organization of Journal Articles
Authors: Ault Ruth L.
Published: January 2006

Writing APA-style journal articles or research reports is a complicated task for undergraduates because they are creating and organizing the prose while trying to follow format conventions. The homework assignment described in this article is used to teach one component of the task: organizing the information within major headings. I distribute the contents of a short journal article in scrambled order, with instructions to unscramble the order of paragraphs and to determine the location of headings under which the paragraphs belong. Diagnosis of errors allows instructors to determine where additional teaching is needed and highlights for students some writing conventions.
Bringing Psychologists into the Precollege Classroom: A Correspondence Exercise
Authors: Matiya James C. , Stahl Robert J.
Published: January 2006

High school students were assigned to write to an “important” or “prominent” person in psychology in order to appreciate their contributions to the field. The psychologists were asked the following questions: ( a) What is the most important idea or concept to be learned in psychology? ( b) Would you send a picture for a bulletin board display? ( c) Would you send any other salient information about yourself and your contributions to the field of psychology? The students wrote to 113 psychologists and received replies from 72 of them. Thirty two psychologists sent curricula vitae and 26 sent a total of 82 reprints of their published articles.
Peace, War, and Nuclear Issues in the Psychology Classroom
Authors: Murphy Bianca Cody , Polyson James A.
Published: January 2006

Members of Division Two of the American Psychological Association (APA) were surveyed to determine how college psychology faculty are incorporating peace, war, nuclear issues, or international relations into their teaching. Although few faculty offer a specialty course devoted to those issues, almost 25% of the respondents would like to teach such a course, and a majority have discussed the psychological aspects of peace, war, nuclear issues, or internatiorial relations in their classes. Those who have discussed the issues are more likely to be tenured at universities or 4-year colleges and have more favorable attitudes toward nuclear disarmament.
Students' Evaluation of Writing Assignments in an Abnormal Psychology Course
Authors: Procidano Mary E.
Published: January 2006

Students in an abnormal psychology class rated the usefulness of drafts for two writing assignments: a case-study reaction paper and a research proposal. Evaluative data indicated that the research proposal was more effective than the case study in developing students' interest in psychokjgy. Students indicated that they valued the research proposal mostly for the opportunity to be creative; they valued the case study mostly for the opportunity to read an interesting book. Writing assignments and feedback to students should reflect important aspects of a discipline, and a clear rationale for the value of writing skills should be communicated to students.
Teaching of Psychology: A Required Course for All Doctoral Students
Authors: Rickard Henry C. , Prentice-Dunn Steven , Rogers Ronald W. , Scogin Forrest R. , Lyman Robert D.
Published: January 2006

The development and content of a Teaching of Psychology course required for doctoral students is described. Graduate students take full responsibility for a section of introductory psychology and participate in a weekly 2-hr seminar covering a variety of practical and theoretical issues. Two separate evaluations have found that undergraduates rate graduate student instructors and faculty instructors similarly. Faculty and graduate students report a high degree of satisfaction with the course.
Pay Attention! Demonstrating the Role of Attention in Learning
Authors: Larsen Janet D.
Published: January 2006

In this demonstration, students receive one of three different sets of directions regarding what to learn about a set of stimulus cards. How attention affects memory is shown by students' tendency to recall best the characteristic they were told to remember.
Demonstrating Differential Reinforcement by Shaping Classroom Participation
Authors: Hodge Gordon K. , Nelson Nancy H.
Published: January 2006

A classroom demonstration using differential reinforcement was devised to shape classroom participation of 14 students in an introductory psychology lab. Based on our observations and student comments, the technique was useful for illustrating how reinforcers shape behavior. The demonstration facilitated students' understanding of operant conditioning procedures and seemed to encourage a more equitable distribution of classroom participation for all students.
Using a Computer Bulletin Board in a Social Psychology Course
Authors: Kahn Arnold S. , Brookshire Robert G.
Published: January 2006

In this article, we first explore the nature of a computer bulletin board within the context of computer mediated communication, and then we describe and evaluate its use during three semesters of an undergraduate course in social psychology. Results suggest that a computer bulletin board can boost student computer literacy, increase class time available for lecture/discussion, save time and money on reproducing and distributing materials, permit more materials to be distributed to students, and allow students easier access to their instructor. However, most students failed to take full advantage of the bulletin board. Reasons for this are discussed.
From Self-Blame to Self-Acceptance: Benefits of Learning Psychology in a Prison Undergraduate Program
Authors: Fraley Stephen E.
Published: January 2006

I am an inmate graduate psychology student. In this article, I discuss how I applied education in psychology to my own rehabilitation and explain why I believe that virtually any motivated inmate student can find significant moral and ethical growth and development in a serious approach to psychology. A few major developmental theories are mentioned in relation to my life. My journey from self-blame to self-acceptance is recounted, with brief examples of my personal growth as a student and as a mature human being. Suggestions about what it takes to be a successful psychology student are mentioned.
Modification of Anodized Aluminum Film by Hyperbranched Poly(siloxysilane)s in Conductive Polymer Aluminum Solid Electrolytic Capacitor
Authors: Nogami Katsunori , Kakimoto Masa-aki , Hayakawa Teruaki , Yokomachi Kazutoshi , Seino Makoto , Sakamoto Kiyoshi
Published: January 2006

An aluminum solid electrolytic capacitor, using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as a counter electrode, was prepared with hyperbranched poly(siloxysilane)s (HBPSi) to improve an interface of aluminum oxide and PEDOT. Capacitance and equivalent series resistance (ESR) were significantly improved comparing to those without HBPSi.
A Randomized, Community-Based Trial of Home Visiting to Reduce Blood Lead Levels in Children
Authors: Brown Mary Jean , McLaine Pat , Dixon Sherry , Simon Peter
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to measure the effectiveness of intensive case management to reduce blood lead levels (BLLs) in children. Lead poisoning remains a common, preventable pediatric condition despite advances in reducing children's BLLs in the United States. Substantial evidence implicates lead paint–contaminated house dust as the most common high-dose source of lead in children's environments. Housekeeping and parental supervision also may contribute to risk for lead exposure.

METHODS. We conducted a community-based, randomized trial of comprehensive education and home visiting for families of children with BLLs 15 to 19 μg/dL. BLLs after 1 year of follow-up were compared for intervention group children, whose families received individualized education that was designed to address specific risks factors in a child's environment, and comparison group children, whose families received customary care, usually 1 or 2 educational visits. Environmental samples were collected at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up for intervention group children and compared with those of comparison group children, collected only at the end of study.

RESULTS. During the follow-up period, parents of intervention group children (n = 92) successfully decreased dust lead levels and significantly improved parent-child interaction and family housekeeping practices compared with comparison group children (n = 83). Overall geometric mean BLLs declined by 47%, and the difference in BLL by group was not significant (9 vs 8.3 μg/dL for intervention versus comparison group children, respectively.) After 1 year, nearly half of enrolled children had BLLs ≥10 μg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS. Until a reservoir of lead-safe housing is created, programs that educate families to reduce environmental exposure are needed. Although providing families with quantitative information regarding lead contamination may have a role in short-term efforts to prevent lead exposure, these null findings suggest that it has little benefit once BLLs are elevated.
Dental microwear from Natufian hunter‐gatherers and early Neolithic farmers: Comparisons within and between samples
Authors: Mahoney Patrick
Published: January 2006

Microwear patterns from Natufian hunter‐gatherers (12,500–10,250 bp) and early Neolithic (10,250–7,500 bp) farmers from northern Israel are correlated with location on facet nine and related to an archaeologically suggested change in food preparation. Casts of permanent second mandibular molars are examined with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 500×. Digitized micrographs are taken from the upper and lower part of facet nine. Microwear patterns are recorded with an image‐analysis computer program and compared within and between samples, using univariate and multivariate analyses. Comparisons within samples reveal a greater frequency of pits on the lower part of the facet among the farmers, compared to the upper part. Microwear does not vary over the facet among the hunter‐gatherers. Comparisons between samples reveal larger dental pits (length and width) and wider scratches among the farmers at the bottom of the facet, compared to the hunter‐gatherers. Microwear does not vary between samples at the top of the facet. The microwear patterns suggest that the Natufian to early Neolithic development led to a harder diet, and this is related to an archaeologically suggested change in food processing. The harder diet of the early farmers may have required higher bite forces that were exerted at the bottom of facet nine, in the basin of the tooth. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stereoselective Incorporation of an Unsaturated Isoleucine Analogue into a Protein Expressed in E. coli
Authors: Mock Marissa L. , Michon Thierry , van Hest Jan C. M. , Tirrell David A.
Published: January 2006

The unsaturated amino acid 2‐amino‐3‐methyl‐4‐pentenoic acid (E‐Ile) was prepared in the form of its (2S,3S),(2R,3R) and (2S,3R),(2R,3S) stereoisomeric pairs. The translational activities of SS‐E‐Ile and SR‐E‐Ile were assessed in an E. coli strain rendered auxotrophic for isoleucine. SS‐E‐Ile was incorporated into the test protein mouse dihydrofolate reductase (mDHFR) in place of isoleucine at a rate of up to 72 %; SR‐E‐Ile yielded no conclusive evidence for incorporation. ATP/PPi exchange assays indicated that SS‐E‐Ile was activated by the isoleucyl‐tRNA synthetase at a rate comparable to that characteristic of isoleucine; SR‐E‐Ile was activated approximately 100‐times more slowly than SS‐E‐Ile.
Numerical Analysis of Isothermal Gaseous Flows in Microchannel
Authors: Cao B. , Chen G. , Li Y. , Yuan Q.
Published: January 2006

Two‐dimensional compressible momentum equations were solved by a perturbation analysis and the PISO algorithm to investigate the effects of compressibility and rarefaction on the local flow resistance of isothermal gas flow in circular microchannels. The computations were performed for a wide range of Reynolds numbers and inlet Mach numbers. The explicit expression of the normalized local Fanning friction factor along the microchannel was derived in the present paper. The results reveal that the local Fanning friction factor is a function of the inlet Mach number, the Reynolds number and the length‐diameter ratio of the channel. For larger Reynolds and inlet Mach numbers, the friction coefficient in the microchannel is higher than the value in a macrotube, and the gas flow in the microchannel is dominated only by compressibility. For smaller Reynolds and inlet Mach numbers, the Fanning friction factor of gas flow in the microchannel is lower than that in a circular tube of conventional size due to slip flow at the wall and thus, rarefaction has a significant effect on the fluid flow characteristics in a microchannel.
Enhancement of Thermal Conductivity with CuO for Nanofluids
Authors: Liu M.‐S. , Lin M. C.‐C. , Huang I.‐T. , Wang C.‐C.
Published: January 2006

The enhancement of the thermal conductivity of ethylene glycol in the presence of copper oxide (CuO) is investigated. CuO nanofluids are prepared in a two‐step method. No surfactant is employed as a dispersant. The volume fraction of CuO nanoparticles suspended in ethylene glycol liquid is below 5 vol.‐%. The crystalline phases of the CuO powders are measured with x‐ray diffraction patterns (XRD). CuO nanoparticles are examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine their microstructure. The thermal conductivities of the CuO suspensions are measured by a modified transient hot wire method. The viscosity was measured with a viscosity instrument. The results show that CuO nanofluids with low concentrations of nanoparticles have considerably higher thermal conductivities than the identical ethylene glycol base liquids without solid nanoparticles. The thermal conductivity ratio improvement for CuO nanofluids is approximately linear with the volume fraction of nanoparticles. For CuO nanoparticles at a volume fraction of 0.05 (5 vol‐.%) thermal conductivity was enhanced by up to 22.4 %. CuO nanofluids thus have good potential for effective heat transfer applications.
Combustion Prevention of Iron Powders by a Novel Coating Method
Authors: Moghtaderi B. , Shames I. , Doroodchi E.
Published: January 2006

The effectiveness of a novel coating method in providing fine iron powder particles with a protective barrier against rapid oxidation was systematically studied. Particles were individually coated with an alumina‐based (Al2O3) ultra‐thin film using the Atomic Layer Deposition method. The oxidation resistance of the coating layer was found to be greatly dependent on the film thickness. Furthermore, for each film thickness there was a corresponding temperature above which the film drastically lost its protective effectiveness, primarily due to cracking caused by the thermal expansion mismatch between the particle and the alumina film. This problem was largely overcome when, instead of Al2O3, the protective film was generated from alternating layers of Al2O3/ZnS to ensure that the thermal expansion properties of the resultant film matched that of iron. The technique employed in this study is quite robust and can be adapted for combustion prevention in other types of metal powders.
Effect of Solvent Composition on Crystallization Process of Ascorbic Acid
Authors: Omar W.
Published: January 2006

The crystal growth kinetics of ascorbic acid in water and in the solvent systems water/ethanol, water/methanol, and water/propanol is determined by means of seeded isothermal batch crystallization experiments. The measurements are correlated by a power low equation of the form (G = kg σn). The composition of the solvent system is found to have a significant influence on the kinetic parameters of growth of ascorbic acid. An increase in growth rate in the presence of alcoholic solvents (20 wt %) is measured compared to experiments with pure water. The thermodynamic effect of the solvent on the growth kinetics is approached by the UNIFAC method. The kinetic effect of solvent composition is explained using the two‐step model. Both thermodynamic and kinetic analyses give the same result: The addition of alcoholic solvents (20 wt % ethanol, methanol, and propanol) to the ascorbic acid/water system slightly reduces the diffusion rate and significantly accelerates the surface integration process.
Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Modeling Studies of TIBO‐Like Cyclic Sulfones as Non‐Nucleoside HIV‐1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Authors: Di Santo Roberto , Costi Roberta , Artico Marino , Ragno Rino , Lavecchia Antonio , Novellino Ettore , Gavuzzo Enrico , La Torre Francesco , Cirilli Roberto , Cancio Reynel , Maga Giovanni
Published: January 2006

TIBO‐ and TBO‐like sulfone derivatives 1 and 2 were designed, synthesized, and tested for their ability to block the replication cycle of HIV‐1 in infected cells. The anti‐HIV‐1 activities of sulfones 3, which were intermediates in the syntheses of 1 and 2, were also evaluated. Surprisingly, the sulfone analogues of TIBO R82913 (compounds 1) were inactive, whereas interesting results were obtained for truncated derivatives 2. Compound 2 w was the most potent among this series in cell‐based assays (EC50=0.07 μM, CC50>200 μM, SI>2857). It was twofold less potent than R82913, but more selective. An X‐ray crystallographic analysis was carried out to establish the absolute configuration of 2 w and its enantiomer 2 x, which were obtained by semipreparative HPLC of 2 v, one of the most potent racemates. Compounds 1–3 were proven to target HIV‐1 RT. In fact, representative derivatives inhibited recombinant HIV‐1 RT in vitro at concentrations similar to those active in cell‐based assays. 3D QSAR studies and docking simulations were developed on TIBO‐ and TBO‐like sulfone derivatives to rationalize their anti‐HIV‐1 potencies and to predict the activity of novel untested sulfone derivatives. Predictive 3D QSAR models were obtained with a receptor‐based alignment by docking of TIBO‐ and TBO‐like derivatives into the NNBS of RT.
Identification of evolutionarily conserved regulatory elements in the mouse Fgf8 locus
Authors: Beermann Friedrich , Kaloulis Kostas , Hofmann Denise , Murisier Fabien , Bucher Philipp , Trumpp Andreas
Published: January 2006

The secreted signaling molecule fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8) is an essential component of certain embryonic signaling centers including the mid‐hindbrain (isthmic) organizer, the first branchial arch (BA1), and the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). In these signaling centers Fgf8 transcripts are expressed in a dynamic and transient fashion, but the mechanism by which this highly specific expression pattern is established remains largely unknown. We used DNA sequence comparisons coupled to transgenic approaches to obtain insight into the structure and function of regulatory elements in the Fgf8 locus. First, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing the mouse Fgf8 gene partially rescues the embryonic lethality of Fgf8‐deficient mice and controls Fgf8‐specific gene expression of a coinjected lacZ reporter transgene. Second, sequence comparison of vertebrate Fgf8 loci revealed evolutionarily highly conserved noncoding sequences that were unexpectedly located mainly 3′ of the Fgf8 coding region. Third, in transgenic mice some of these elements were sufficient to target expression to the AER, tail bud, and brain, including the isthmic organizer, indicating that they may represent Fgf8 cis‐acting elements. Collectively, these data identify novel regulatory elements of the Fgf8 gene sufficient to drive expression to regions of known Fgf8 activity. genesis 44:1–6, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gallbladder cancer worldwide: Geographical distribution and risk factors
Authors: Randi Giorgia , Franceschi Silvia , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: January 2006

Gallbladder cancer is a relatively rare neoplasm that shows, however, high incidence rates in certain world populations. The interplay of genetic susceptibility, lifestyle factors and infections in gallbladder carcinogenesis is still poorly understood. Age‐adjusted rates were calculated by cancer registry‐based data. Epidemiological studies on gallbladder cancer were selected through searches of literature, and relative risks were abstracted for major risk factors. The highest gallbladder cancer incidence rates worldwide were reported for women in Delhi, India (21.5/100,000), South Karachi, Pakistan (13.8/100,000) and Quito, Ecuador (12.9/100,000). High incidence was found in Korea and Japan and some central and eastern European countries. Female‐to‐male incidence ratios were generally around 3, but ranged from 1 in Far East Asia to over 5 in Spain and Colombia. History of gallstones was the strongest risk factor for gallbladder cancer, with a pooled relative risk (RR) of 4.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.3–7.4]. Consistent associations were also present with obesity, multiparity and chronic infections like Salmonella typhi and S. paratyphi [pooled RR 4.8 (95% CI: 1.4–17.3)] and Helicobacter bilis and H. pylori [pooled RR 4.3 (95% CI: 2.1–8.8)]. Differences in incidence ratios point to variations in gallbladder cancer aetiology in different populations. Diagnosis of gallstones and removal of gallbladder currently represent the keystone to gallbladder cancer prevention, but interventions able to prevent obesity, cholecystitis and gallstone formation should be assessed. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A solid‐state NMR investigation of the structure of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite
Authors: Jäger Christian , Welzel Thea , Meyer‐Zaika Wolfgang , Epple Matthias
Published: January 2006

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) prepared by a precipitation route was investigated. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) powder patterns of the elongated nanocrystals with a typical diameter of about 10 nm and length of 30–50 nm (by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)) revealed the presence of HAp with significantly broadened XRD reflections. However, Ca deficiency was found, as the Ca/P ratio was 1.5 only (so‐called calcium‐deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA)), and not 1.67. This Ca deficiency of nanocrystalline HAp is explained using NMR. It is shown unambiguously that (i) the nanocrystals consist of a crystalline core and a (disordered) surface region with a relative phosphate content of about 1:1, (ii) the crystalline core is HAp, and (iii) the surface region is dominated by hydrogen phosphate anions (with no hydroxyapatite‐like structural motif) and structural water (hydrate). From the relative phosphate content and taking into account the crystal shape, the thickness of the surface layer along the main crystal axis could be estimated to be about 1 nm, and the average chemical composition of the surface layer has been determined. Finally, a Ca/P ratio of 1.52 was estimated from the NMR data that compares well with the value of 1.51 from chemical analysis. The important consequences are that the surface of nanocrystalline HAp has nothing in common with the bulk composition and that the chemistry of such materials (e.g. the binding of protein molecules to phosphate surfaces) must be reconsidered. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of hydrophilicity on the properties of a degradable polylactide
Authors: Boxberg Yvonne , Schnabelrauch Matthias , Vogt Sebastian , Sánchez Manuel Salmerón , Ferrer Gloria Gallego , Pradas Manuel Monleón , Antón Julio Suay
Published: January 2006

A series of polylactide networks has been prepared by the copolymerization of a biodegradable oligolactide macromer with hydrophobic methyl methacrylate monomer and hydrophilic hydroxyethyl acrylate monomer, with different amounts of the hydrophilic monomer. The incorporation of the hydrophilic units into the network has been characterized with thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical spectrometry. A homogeneous material results, showing a single glass‐transition temperature and a characteristic relaxation behavior that is not the sum of those of the pure components separately. Additional hydrophilic units in the network chains lower the rubbery modulus, keeping a high modulus value at room temperature, and manifestly increase the degradation rate of the polymer. This can be attributed both to the higher water swellability of the network when hydrophilic units are present and to the higher water diffusion coefficient in a network, which has a lower crosslinking density. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 656–664, 2006
A correlation‐based method for the enhancement of scoring functions on funnel‐shaped energy landscapes
Authors: Stumpff‐Kane Andrew W. , Feig Michael
Published: January 2006

A correlation‐based approach is introduced for enhancing the ability of structure‐scoring methods to identify and distinguish native‐like conformations. The proposed method relies on a funnel‐shaped scoring function that decreases steadily toward the native state. It takes advantage of the idea that the structure from a given ensemble that is closest to the native basin leads to the highest correlation coefficient between a given score and distance to that structure as an approximation of the native state for the entire ensemble. The method is applied successfully to a number of different test cases that demonstrate substantial improvements in the correlation of the score with the distance from the true native state but also result in the selection of more native‐like structures compared to the original score. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.