bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relocating the Master’s Domain: Social and Legal Locations of Gender from Post-Disaster to Everyday Life
Authors: Krishnadas Jane
Published: February 2007

The post-disaster situation provides an insight into the role of rights in the relocation of social and legal spheres and the location of gender within. Grounded in four years of empirical research in the post-earthquake reconstruction process in Maharashtra, India, this article traces the World Bank and state government policy to relocate 52,000 houses and 67 villages. Lorde’s (1996) analogy of ‘the master’s house’ provides a metaphor for the location of women within the patriarchal architecture of the private and public sphere, which I relate to discourses of place and space and the local and global. Drawing upon feminist and post-colonial perspectives, this article challenges the essentialist binary locations of women within public and private domains of rights constructed within the World Bank and state housing policy, the public and private legal system and informal to alternative spheres of social and legal relations. Alternative women’s meetings, street protests and gatherings at the village to international fora intersect and disrupt the boundary walls to relocate women across social and legal spheres. This experience provides the possibility of ultimately becoming the master of the relocation of social and local domains and one’s location within.
Moral Responsibility: A Relational Way of Being
Authors: Lindh Inga-Britt , Severinsson Elisabeth , Berg Agneta
Published: February 2007

This article reports a study exploring the meaning of the complex phenomenon of moral responsibility in nursing practice. Each of three focus groups with a total of 14 student nurses were conducted twice to gather their views on moral responsibility in nursing practice. The data were analysed by qualitative thematic content analysis. Moral responsibility was interpreted as a relational way of being, which involved guidance by one’s inner compass composed of ideals, values and knowledge that translate into a striving to do good. It was concluded that, if student nurses are to continue striving to do good in a way that respects themselves and other people, it is important that they do not feel forced to compromise their values. Instead they should be given space and encouragement in their endeavours to do good in a relational way that advances nursing as a moral practice.
Development of the Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire
Authors: Dahlqvist Vera , Eriksson Sture , Glasberg Ann-Louise , Lindahl Elisabeth , Lü tzén Kim , Strandberg Gunilla , Söderberg Anna , Sørlie Venke , Norberg Astrid
Published: February 2007

Health care often involves ethically difficult situations that may disquiet the conscience. The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire for identifying various perceptions of conscience within a framework based on the literature and on explorative interviews about perceptions of conscience (Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire). The questionnaire was tested on a sample of 444 registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurses’ assistants and physicians. The data were analysed using principal component analysis to explore possible dimensions of perceptions of conscience. The results showed six dimensions, found also in theory and empirical health care studies. Conscience was perceived as authority, a warning signal, demanding sensitivity, an asset, a burden and depending on culture. We conclude that the Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire is valid for assessing some perceptions of conscience relevant to health care providers.
Ethical Problems in End-of-Life Decisions for Elderly Norwegians
Authors: Schaffer Marjorie A
Published: February 2007

Norwegian health professionals, elderly people and family members experience ethical problems involving end-of-life decision making for elders in the context of the values of Norwegian society. This study used ethical inquiry and qualitative methodology to conduct and analyze interviews carried out with 25 health professionals, six elderly people and five family members about the ethical problems they encountered in end-of-life decision making in Norway. All three participant groups experienced ethical problems involving the adequacy of health care for elderly Norwegians. Older people were concerned about being a burden to their families at the end of their life. However, health professionals wished to protect families from the burden of difficult decisions regarding health care for elderly parents at the end of life. Strategies are suggested for dialogue about end-of-life decisions and the integration of palliative care approaches into health care services for frail elderly people.
From social policy to economic policy: taxation incentives for retirement income savings in New Zealand (1910-2005)
Authors: Marriott Lisa , Fowler Carolyn
Published: February 2007

New Zealand has seen a change in policy direction from the provision of taxation incentives for retirement income savings from 1910 through to 1988, to removal of all incentives from 1988 through to 2004. In 1910, the focus was primarily on decreasing state dependency, while simultaneously assisting individuals to be self-reliant. By 1988 the focus had moved to increasing efficiency and removing inequities that were present in the incumbent scheme. In 2004 and 2005, the New Zealand Government demonstrated that they are no longer opposed to providing “incentives” to encourage retirement income savings, with the implementation of schemes targeted at the individual level and the work-based level. The indication is that taxation incentives to encourage retirement savings are more likely to be witnessed in a welfarist political environment. Conversely if the political environment has a stronger neo-liberal focus, the support for taxation incentives is likely to reduce.
Outcomes Evaluation in Faith-Based Social Services: Are We Evaluating Faith Accurately?
Authors: Ferguson Kristin M. , Wu Qiaobing , Spruijt-Metz Donna , Dyrness Grace
Published: February 2007

In response to a recent call for research on the effectiveness of faith-based organizations, this article synthesizes how effectiveness has been defined and measured in evaluation research of faith-based programs. Although evidence indicates that religion can have a positive impact on individuals' well-being, no prior comprehensive review exists of the literature on the effectiveness of faith-based social service programs. Adopting the systematic review method, the authors explore how researchers have conceptualized and operationalized effectiveness and faith. The authors identify trends and limitations across studies and conclude with implications for researchers and practitioners interested in examining and delivering faith-based social services.
Assessing Intermediate Outcomes of a Faith-Based Residential Prisoner Reentry Program
Authors: Roman Caterina G. , Wolff Ashley , Correa Vanessa , Buck Janeen
Published: February 2007

Objective: This study examined intermediate outcomes of a faith-based prisoner reentry program by assessing how client spirituality related to client- and program-level characteristics, investigating differences between completers and terminators, and examining how religious preference, religiosity/spirituality, religious salience, and incarceration's impact on spirituality influenced program completion, satisfaction, and perceived progress. Method: The study employed independent t tests, chi-square tests, and regression models to examine the influence of predictor variables. Results: Religious preference was positively associated with progress and satisfaction. In addition, individuals reporting decreases in spirituality during prison were 34 times as likely to drop out of the program compared to those who had more positive in-prison spiritual changes. Salience, general religiosity/spirituality, and spiritual experiences did not predict outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed.
A Systematic Review of the Empirical Literature on Intercessory Prayer
Authors: Hodge David R.
Published: February 2007

Perhaps surprisingly, many social workers appear to use intercessory prayer in direct practice settings. To help inform practitioners' use of this intervention, this article evaluates the empirical literature on the topic using the following three methods: (a) an individual assessment of each study, (b) an evaluation of intercessory prayer as an empirically supported intervention using criteria developed by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (APA), and (c) a meta-analysis. Based on the Division 12 criteria, intercessory prayer was classified as an experimental intervention. Meta-analysis indicated small, but significant, effect sizes for the use of intercessory prayer (g =–.171, p =.015). The implications are discussed in light of the APA's Presidential Task Force on Evidence-based Practice.
Youth at Risk for Truancy Detour Into a Faith-Based Education Program: Their Perceptions of the Program and its Impact
Authors: Sinha Jill Witmer
Published: February 2007

Many minority adolescents in the United States today are at a high risk for truancy, dropout, and academic under-achievement. Truancy is related to a host of preceding and subsequent risks such as delinquency and limited vocational outcomes. Using participatory research methods, this federally funded, 10-month study assessed youths' perceptions of a publicly funded, faith-based, alternative education program with 73 minority youth participants who were at risk for truancy. The study assessed whether change occurred in peer dynamics, youths' use of time, and educational aspirations. The program was found to have a positive impact on peer dynamics and the use of both school hours and free time. The program supported or did not hamper educational aspiration. Implications about the impact of alternative education programs for at-risk youth and the faith-based nature of the program are discussed.
Risk and Protective Factors Predictive of Sense of Coherence during Adolescence
Authors: Marsh Shawn C. , Clinkinbeard Samantha S. , Thomas Rebecca M. , Evans William P.
Published: February 2007

This brief report presents a study undertaken to better understand the factors that are related to sense of coherence (SOC) levels among youth. Middle school students ( N = 1619) reported on risk and protective factors across ecological domains. Analyses revealed that social support, anger expression, family conflict and neighborhood cohesion were predictors of SOC for both males and females. Community views regarding gang membership was a predictor of SOC only for males, while age was a predictor of SOC only for females. The findings suggest a resiliency and ecological framework may be helpful in understanding SOC in youth.
Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status and the Health of Pregnant Women
Authors: Stewart Anita L. , Dean Mitzi L. , Gregorich Steven E. , Brawarsky Phyllis , Haas Jennifer S.
Published: February 2007

We examined how traditional (income, education) and nontraditional (public assistance, material deprivation, subjective social standing) socioeconomic status (SES) indicators were associated with self-rated health, physical functioning, and depression in ethnically diverse pregnant women. Using multiple regression, we estimated the association of race/ethnicity (African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander (PI) and white) and sets of SES measures on each health measure. Education, material deprivation, and subjective social standing were independently associated with all health measures. After adding all SES variables, race/ethnic disparities in depression remained for all minority groups; disparities in self-rated health remained for Asian/Pacific Islanders. Few race/ethnic differences were found in physical functioning. Our results contribute to a small literature on how SES might interact with race/ethnicity in explaining health.
Sociodemographic Differences in Myocardial Infarction Risk Perceptions among People with Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Aalto Anna-Mari , Weinman John , French David P. , Aro Arja R. , Manderbacka Kristiina , Keskimäki Ilmo
Published: February 2007

This study examines sociodemographic differences in myocardial infarction (MI) risk perceptions among people with coronary heart disease (CHD) ( N = 3130). Two variables for comparative risk perceptions were computed: (1) own risk compared to that of an average person; and (2) own risk compared to that of an average person with CHD. Comparative optimism in MI risk perceptions was common, particularly among men and those with higher education. CHD severity and psychosocial resources mediated these sociodemographic differences. These results suggest challenges for secondary prevention in CHD, particularly regarding psychosocial interventions for communicating risk information and supporting lifestyle adjustments.
Validation of a New Scale for Measuring Concerns of Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (CART)
Authors: Klonoff-Cohen Hillary , Natarajan Loki , Klonoff Elizabeth
Published: February 2007

A new instrument was developed and assessed for internal consistency, validity and test-retest reliability. A total of 151 women undergoing IVF/GIFT in California rated concern levels about anesthesia, surgery, recovery time, side-effects, finances, missing work, pain, insufficient information and delivering a healthy baby. Validity was assessed by comparing CART to the Infertility Reaction Scale and Bipolar Profile of Moods States, and reliability was investigated by calculating correlations between repeat CARTs. Factor analysis identified three domains: procedural concerns; missing work; and achieving a successful delivery. CART is a new, valid and reliable instrument, which measures concerns during IVF/GIFT not previously identified by existing instruments.
Picturing civic journalism
Authors: Coleman Renita
Published: February 2007

This study used in-depth interviews with 18 photographers and designers to explore how civic journalism has changed their work and some of the practical problems it raises. The main issue for designers was ‘too many pieces’ - stories, sidebars, info-graphics, and photographs. One solution they devised was a graphic device they called a ‘grid’ to package information in a systematic way. Photographers struggled with conceptual stories that were hard to illustrate. They suggested a return to ‘enterprise’ photos, but acknowledged they take too much time. Theoretical insights include the core problem of dichotomous reasoning in three general areas: First, the world of these civic journalism workers is divided into the visual and the verbal, with the verbal predominating. Second, the movement has neglected to address changes at the organizational level, focusing instead on individuals, i.e. citizens. Third, visual journalists think about their work as dialectic when they discuss the normative issues as being separate from the philosophical issues. Some solutions and implications for the profession are discussed.
The Europhile Fringe?
Authors: Jolly Seth Kincaid
Published: February 2007

The relationship between European integration and regionalist parties is still a largely unexplored area of research. In this paper, I evaluate whether regionalist parties perceive the European Union (EU) as an ally or an enemy. Using expert surveys, I assess the views of regionalist parties on European integration and I find that regionalist political parties are consistently pro-EU across time, space, and issue area. I find further support for this finding in a case study of the Scottish National Party.
Assessment of sleep studies in myotonic dystrophy
Authors: Kumar S P , Sword D , Petty R KH , Banham S W , Patel K R
Published: February 2007

Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is the commonest adult muscular dystrophy and is associated with respiratory muscle weakness. The role of screening sleep studies is unclear in MD. We prospectively evaluated polysomnography/overnight oximetry in a group of MD patients and related this to the daytime respiratory function in an attempt to evaluate the usefulness of screening sleep studies. Twenty-five patients with type I MD [15 males; mean age (SD) 40.0 (10.9) years] who had at least one symptom suggestive of nocturnal hypoventilation were included in the study. We performed spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, arterial blood gases and polysomnography or overnight oximetry. Excessive tiredness and sleepiness were the most common presenting symptoms. Prevalence of sleep related breathing disorder (SRBD) was 36%. FVC was found to be normal in 33% of subjects with significant SRBD. Mouth pressures were reduced more than FVC, even in patients with normal overnight oxygen saturation. Of all the daytime measures, FVC correlated best with arterial carbon dioxide tension ( r = -0.7). Sleep studies were useful to identify a small group of myotonic dystrophy patients (12%, three out of 25 in our series) with SRBD that would have been missed with routine daytime assessments. Targeted sleep monitoring in patients who are older, with multiple symptoms suggestive of SRBD, especially if they are over-weight seems to be the best way to utilize the existing resources. Home unattended oximetry was well tolerated and offers a practical screening tool in this challenging patient group where excess daytime sleepiness is often due to causes other than SRBD.
A randomized evaluation of the acute efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of Flutter and active cycle of breathing with and without postural drainage in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
Authors: Eaton T , Young P , Zeng I , Kolbe J
Published: February 2007

Airway clearance is integral to the management of bronchiectasis, yet there is no evidence as to the optimal modality. The aim of this randomized prospective study was to evaluate the acute efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of three airway clearance techniques in non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis. Flutter, active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) and ACBT with postural drainage (ACBT-PD) were evaluated in random order over a week in 36 patients (mean age 62 years, range 33-83), with stable non-CF bronchiectasis. Total sputum wet weight for ACBT-PD was twice that of either ACBT alone or Flutter. No objective difference in treatment duration was noted. All three techniques were well accepted and tolerated. Patient preference was 16 (44%) for Flutter, eight (22%) ACBT and 12 (33%) for ACBT-PD. Patient demography, factors such as upper airways or reflux symptoms, previous use or acute efficacy did not predict preference. This is the first randomized systematic evaluation of acute efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of Flutter, ACBT and ACBT-PD in non-CF bronchiectasis. All three techniques were well tolerated but ACBT-PD proved superior in terms of acute efficacy. Patient preference for treatment modality could not be predicted.
NeuroTerrain – a client-server system for browsing 3D biomedical image data sets
Authors: Gustafson Carl , Bug William J , Nissanov Jonathan
Published: February 2007

Background

Three dimensional biomedical image sets are becoming ubiquitous, along with the canonical atlases providing the necessary spatial context for analysis. To make full use of these 3D image sets, one must be able to present views for 2D display, either surface renderings or 2D cross-sections through the data. Typical display software is limited to presentations along one of the three orthogonal anatomical axes (coronal, horizontal, or sagittal). However, data sets precisely oriented along the major axes are rare. To make fullest use of these datasets, one must reasonably match the atlas' orientation; this involves resampling the atlas in planes matched to the data set. Traditionally, this requires the atlas and browser reside on the user's desktop; unfortunately, in addition to being monolithic programs, these tools often require substantial local resources. In this article, we describe a network-capable, client-server framework to slice and visualize 3D atlases at off-axis angles, along with an open client architecture and development kit to support integration into complex data analysis environments.

Results

Here we describe the basic architecture of a client-server 3D visualization system, consisting of a thin Java client built on a development kit, and a computationally robust, high-performance server written in ANSI C++. The Java client components (NetOStat) support arbitrary-angle viewing and run on readily available desktop computers running Mac OS X, Windows XP, or Linux as a downloadable Java Application. Using the NeuroTerrain Software Development Kit (NT-SDK), sophisticated atlas browsing can be added to any Java-compatible application requiring as little as 50 lines of Java glue code, thus making it eminently re-useable and much more accessible to programmers building more complex, biomedical data analysis tools. The NT-SDK separates the interactive GUI components from the server control and monitoring, so as to support development of non-interactive applications. The server implementation takes full advantage of data center's high-performance hardware, where it can be co-localized with centrally-located, 3D dataset repositories, extending access to the researcher community throughout the Internet.

Conclusion

The combination of an optimized server and modular, platform-independent client provides an ideal environment for viewing complex 3D biomedical datasets, taking full advantage of high-performance servers to prepare images and subsets of associated meta-data for viewing, as well as the graphical capabilities in Java to actually display the data.
The improved Clinical Global Impression Scale (iCGI): development and validation in depression
Authors: Kadouri Alane , Corruble Emmanuelle , Falissard Bruno
Published: February 2007

Background

The Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) is frequently used in medical care and clinical research because of its face validity and practicability. This study proposes to improve the reliability of the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale in depressive disorders by the use of a semi-standardized interview, a new response format, and a Delphi procedure.

Methods

Thirty patients hospitalised for a major depressive episode were filmed at T1 (first week in hospital) and at T2 (2 weeks later) during a 5' specific interview. The Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale and the Symptom Check List were also rated. Eleven psychiatrists rated these videos using either the usual CGI response format or an improved response format, with or without a Delphi procedure.

Results

The new response format slightly improved (but not significantly) the interrater agreement, the Delphi procedure did not. The best results were obtained when ratings by 4 independent raters were averaged. In this situation, intraclass correlation coefficients were about 0.9.

Conclusion

The Clinical Global Impression is a useful approach in psychiatry since it apprehends patients in their entirety. This study shows that it is possible to quantify such impressions with a high level of interrater agreement.
Phase III Trial of Fludarabine Plus Cyclophosphamide Compared With Fludarabine for Patients With Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: US Intergroup Trial E2997
Authors: Flinn Ian W. , Neuberg Donna S. , Grever Michael R. , Dewald Gordon W. , Bennett John M. , Paietta Elisabeth M. , Hussein Mohamad A. , Appelbaum Frederick R. , Larson Richard A. , Moore Dennis F. , Tallman Martin S.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The combination of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide is an effective regimen for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, it may be accompanied by increased toxicity compared with fludarabine alone. E2997 is a phase III randomized Intergroup trial comparing fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC arm) versus fludarabine (F arm) alone in patients receiving their first chemotherapy regimen for CLL.

Patients and Methods

Symptomatic, previously untreated patients with CLL were randomly assigned to receive either fludarabine 25 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) days 1 through 5 or cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 IV day 1 and fludarabine 20 mg/m2 IV days 1 through 5. These cycles were repeated every 28 days for a maximum of six cycles.

Results

A total of 278 patients were randomly assigned in this Intergroup study. Treatment with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide was associated with a significantly higher complete response (CR) rate (23.4% v 4.6%; P < .001) and a higher overall response (OR) rate (74.3% v 59.5%, P = .013) than treatment with fludarabine as a single agent. Progression-free survival (PFS) was also superior in patients treated with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide than those treated with fludarabine (31.6 v 19.2 months, P < .0001). Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide caused additional hematologic toxicity, including more severe thrombocytopenia (P = .046), but it did not increase the number of severe infections (P = .812).

Conclusion

Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide produced an increase in OR and CR, and it improved PFS in patients with previously untreated CLL compared with fludarabine alone and was not associated with an increase in infectious toxicity.
Comprehensive Assessment of Genetic and Molecular Features Predicting Outcome in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results From the US Intergroup Phase III Trial E2997
Authors: Grever Michael R. , Lucas David M. , Dewald Gordon W. , Neuberg Donna S. , Reed John C. , Kitada Shinichi , Flinn Ian W. , Tallman Martin S. , Appelbaum Frederick R. , Larson Richard A. , Paietta Elisabeth , Jelinek Diane F. , Gribben John G. , Byrd John C.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

Genomic features including unmutated immunoglobulin variable region heavy chain (IgVH) genes, del(11q22.3), del(17p13.1), and p53 mutations have been reported to predict the clinical course and overall survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, ZAP-70 and Bcl-2 family proteins have been explored as predictors of outcome.

Patients and Methods

We prospectively evaluated the prognostic significance of a comprehensive panel of laboratory factors on both response and progression-free survival (PFS) using samples and data from 235 patients enrolled onto a therapeutic trial. Patients received either fludarabine (FL; n = 113) or fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC; n = 122) as part of a US Intergroup randomized trial for previously untreated CLL patients.

Results

Complete response (CR) rates were 24.6% for patients receiving FC and 5.3% for patients receiving FL (P = .00004). PFS was statistically significantly longer in patients receiving FC (median, 33.5 months for patients receiving FC and 19.9 months for patients receiving FL; P < .0001). The occurrence of del(17p13.1) (hazard ratio, 3.428; P = .0002) or del(11q22.3) (hazard ratio, 1.904; P = .006) was associated with reduced PFS. CR and overall response rates were not significantly different based on cytogenetics, IgVH mutational status, CD38 expression, or p53 mutational status. Expression of ZAP-70, Bcl-2, Bax, Mcl-1, XIAP, Caspase-3, and Traf-1 was not associated with either clinical response or PFS.

Conclusion

These results support the use of interphase cytogenetic analysis, but not IgVH, CD38 expression, or ZAP-70 status, to predict outcome of FL-based chemotherapy. Patients with high-risk cytogenetic features should be considered for alternative therapies.
Pearson's Hard-Soft Acid-Base Principle as a Means of Interpreting the Reactivity of Carbon Materials
Authors: Wiśniewski M. , Gauden P.A.
Published: February 2007

In the current studies we are focusing on the utility of the theory of hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB), as proposed by Pearson, for the description of the reactivity of different types of two-radical graphene sheets where two neighbouring carbon atoms are unsaturated in the zigzag position. The closed- and open-shell systems were taken into account. The well-known theoretical reactivity indices (ionization potential, electron affinity and global softness) were calculated for the adsorbents analyzed. We have shown that the values of these parameters are independent of the size of the carbon models. To test the reactivity of adsorption sites as probe molecules, we have used the chloride anion (Cl−), cation (Cl+) and radical (Cl0), respectively. Respective correlations between the enthalpy of reaction, the ionization and/or electronic chemical potential of the carbon structures were found.

The results obtained confirm the original HSAB concept of Pearson which has been improved recently by Nalewajski. A similar relationship was observed for the adsorbent charge-transfer term, i.e. the change in the electron densities of the analyzed graphene sheets before and after the adsorption process. From an analysis of the results presented, it has been deduced that a charge-transfer mechanism is probable for chloride ion/adsorbent complexes. Moreover, the acid–base duality of carbon models during the adsorption process was shown and confirmed.
Mesopore Development in Activated Carbon Fibres by Additional Chemical Activation
Authors: Lei Song , Miyamoto Junichi , Kanoh Hirofumi , Kaneko Katsumi
Published: February 2007

Mesoporous activated carbon fibres (ACFs) were prepared from pitch-based microporous carbon fibres by additional chemical activation using calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4) as activation agents. The porosity change was examined by performing N2 adsorption measurements at 77 K. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm varied as a result of re-activation with Na2HPO4 or Ca(NO3)2 at 1123 K or 1173 K for 1 h or 2 h, with that of the re-activated ACFs exhibiting explicit H4 or H1 hysteresis. The use of Ca(NO3)2 for chemical activation produced more mesopores than Na2HPO4, the maximum mesopore volume being 0.92 ml/g. The largest volume ratio of mesopores to micropores was greater than three and the surface areas were greater than 1000 m2/g.
Removal of Phenol and 4-Chlorophenol from Aqueous Solutions by Olive Stone-Based Activated Carbon
Authors: Termoul Mourad , Bestani Benaouda , Benderdouche Nouredine , Belhakem Mostefa , Naffrechoux Emmanuel
Published: February 2007

The evaluation of agricultural by-products as a means of removing pollutants from contaminated wastewater is attracting increasing interest for sustainable development applications. The present work deals with the removal of phenol and 4-chlorophenol from aqueous solutions by chemically activated olive stones. The olive stones were soaked in 50% phosphoric acid for 3 h at 443 K. After washing, the product was activated in an inert atmosphere for 2 h or 3 h at temperatures within the range 873–1023 K. The carbons thus prepared were characterized by Methylene Blue and iodine adsorption, N2 adsorption at 77 K in conjunction with the BET equation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Boehm titrations. The sorption capacity towards both pollutants was determined by fitting the Langmuir model to the adsorption isotherms. The optimum activation temperature and time were 1023 K and 3 h, respectively. A maximum adsorption capacity of 189 mg/g was obtained for phenol and 436 mg/g for 4-chlorophenol. In comparison, the Merck and Aldrich commercial-grade powdered activated carbons ranked lower with adsorption capacities of 145 mg/g and 179 mg/g for phenol and 244 mg/g and 316 mg/g for 4-chorophenol, respectively.
Combining SELEX and the yeast three-hybrid system for in vivo selection and classification of RNA aptamers
Authors: König Julian , Julius Christian , Baumann Sebastian , Homann Matthias , Göringer H. Ulrich , Feldbrügge Michael
Published: February 2007

Aptamers are small nucleic acid ligands that bind to their targets with specificity and high affinity. They are generated by a combinatorial technology, known as SELEX. This in vitro approach uses iterative cycles of enrichment and amplification to select binders from nucleic acid libraries of high complexity. Here we combine SELEX with the yeast three-hybrid system in order to select for RNA aptamers with in vivo binding activity. As a target molecule, we chose the RNA recognition motif-containing RNA-binding protein Rrm4 from the corn pathogen Ustilago maydis. Rrm4 is an ELAV-like protein containing three N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). It has been implicated in microtubule-dependent RNA transport during pathogenic development. After 11 SELEX cycles, four aptamer classes were identified. These sequences were further screened for their in vivo binding activity applying the yeast three-hybrid system. Of the initial aptamer classes only members of two classes were capable of binding in vivo. Testing representatives of both classes against Rrm4 variants mutated in one of the three RRM domains revealed that these aptamers interacted with the third RRM. Thus, the yeast three-hybrid system is a useful extension to the SELEX protocol for the identification and characterization of aptamers with in vivo binding activity.
G-ribo: A new structural motif in ribosomal RNA
Authors: Steinberg Sergey V. , Boutorine Yury I.
Published: February 2007

Analysis of the available crystal structures of the ribosome and of its subunits has revealed a new RNA motif that we call G-ribo. The motif consists of two double helices positioned side-by-side and connected by an unpaired region. The juxtaposition of the two helices is kept by a complex system of tertiary interactions spread over several layers of stacked nucleotides. In the center of this arrangement, the ribose of a nucleotide from one helix is specifically packed with the ribose and the minor-groove edge of a guanosine from the other helix. In total, we found eight G-ribo motifs in both ribosomal subunits. The location of these motifs suggests that at least some of them play an important role in the formation of the ribosome structure and/or in its function.
Convergence of the homology spectral sequence of a cosimplicial space
Authors: Shipley Brooke E.
Published: February 2007

We produce new convergence conditions for the homology spectral sequence of a cosimplicial space by requiring that each codegree of the cosimplicial space has finite type mod p homology. Specifically, we find conditions which ensure strong convergence if and only if the total space has p -good components. We also find exotic convergence conditions for cosimplicial spaces not covered by the strong convergence conditions. These results give new convergence conditions, for example, for the Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence and for mapping spaces.
Embeddings of homogeneous spaces in prime characteristics
Authors: Lauritzen Niels
Published: February 2007

Let G be a reductive linear algebraic group. The simplest example of a projective homogeneous G -variety in characteristic p , not isomorphic to a flag variety, is the divisor x 0 y p 0 + x 1 y p 1 + x 2 y p 2 = 0 in P 2 × P 2 , which is SL 3 modulo a nonreduced stabilizer containing the upper triangular matrices. In this paper embeddings of projective homogeneous spaces viewed as G/H , where H is any subgroup scheme containing a Borel subgroup, are studied. We prove that G/H can be identified with the orbit of the highest weight line in the projective space over the simple G -representation L (λ) of a certain highest weight λ. This leads to some strange embeddings especially in characteristic 2, where we give an example in the C 4 -case lying on the boundary of Hartshorne's conjecture on complete intersections. Finally we prove that ample line bundles on G/H are very ample. This gives a counterexample to Kodaira type vanishing with a very ample line bundle, answering an old question of Raynaud.
Théorèmes de connexité pour les produits d'espaces projectifs et les Grassmanniennes
Authors: Olivier Debarre
Published: February 2007

We give a numerical condition on the images of two morphisms to a Grassmannian (or a product of projective spaces) that ensures that their fibered product is connected, thereby extending connectedness results of Fulton and Hansen. This result is valid over any algebraically closed field; it yields a condition on the class of an irreducible subvariety of a Grassmannian that implies that it is simply connected. This applies in particular to Fano varieties of certain hypersurfaces in a projective space.
Cohen-Macaulay graded rings associated to ideals
Authors: Goto Shiro , Nakamura Yukio , Nishida Koji
Published: February 2007

Let G( I ) be the associated graded ring of an ideal I in a Cohen-Macaulay local ring A . We give a sufficient condition for G( I ) to be a Cohen-Macaulay ring. It is described in terms of the depths of A/I n for finitely many n , the reduction numbers of I Q for certain prime ideals Q and the Artin-Nagata property of I in the sense of Ulrich ( Contemp. Math. vol. 159, pp. 373-400). The main theorem unifies several results which are already known in this aspect of the theory. Although the statement of the main theorem is rather complicated, we restate the conditions under special situations, so that they are practical and simple.
Geometric group actions on trees
Authors: Levitt Gilbert , Paulin Frédéric
Published: February 2007

We define geometric group actions on [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="01i" /]-trees, as dual to a measured foliation on a 2-complex with some finiteness and injectivity properties. We prove that an action is nongeometric if and only if it is a nontrivial strong limit in the sense of Gillet-Shalen. We give a simple new construction of the Bass-Serre tree of a graph of groups, and we show that a simplicial action is geometric if and only if edge groups are finitely generated. We prove that geometric actions with trivial edge stabilizers have finitely many orbits of branch points, and finite rank.
Properties of the solutions of the linearized Monge-Ampère equation
Authors: Caffarelli Luis A. , Gutiérrez Cristian E.
Published: February 2007

Let Φ: R n → R be a function strictly convex and smooth, and μ = det D 2 Φ is the Monge-Ampere generated by Φ. Given x ∈ R n and t > 0, let' S ( x, t ) = { y ∈ R n : Φ( y ) < Φ( x ) + ∇Φ( x ) · ( y - x ) + t }. The purpose of this paper is to study the properties of the solutions of the linearized Monge-Ampère equation given by a ij ( x ) D ij u = 0 where the coefficients a ij ( x ) are the cofactors of the matrix D 2 Φ( x ). It is assumed that μ satisfies a doubling condition on the sets S ( x, t ) and a uniform continuity condition at every scale with respect to Lebesgue measure. We establish that the distribution functions of nonnegative solutions u at altitude t decay like a negative power of t and prove an invariant Harnack's inequality on the sections S ( x, t ). All the estimates are independent of the regularity of Φ and depend only on the constants in the hypotheses made on the measure μ.
Intersection bodies, positive definite distributions, and the Busemann-Petty problem
Authors: Koldobsky Alexander
Published: February 2007

The 1956 Busemann-Petty problem asks whether symmetric convex bodies with larger central hyperplane sections also have greater volume. In 1988, Lutwak introduced the concept of an intersection body which is closely related to the Busemann-Petty problem. We prove that an origin-symmetric star body K in [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="01i" /] is an intersection body if and only if ║ x ║ -1 K is a positive definite distribution on [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="02i" /], where ║ x ║ K = min{ a > 0 : x ∈ aK }. We use this result to show that for every dimension n there exist polytopes in [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="03i" /] which are intersection bodies (for example, the cross-polytope), the unit ball of every subspace of L p , 0 < p ≤ 2 is an intersection body, the unit ball of the space ℓ n q , 2 < q < ∞, is not an intersection body if n ≥ 5. Using Lutwak's connection with the Busemann-Petty problem, we present new counterexamples to the problem for n ≥ 5, and confirm the conjecture of Meyer that the answer to the problem is affirmative if the smaller body is a polar projection body.
Real ellipsoids and double valued reflection in complex space
Authors: Webster S. M.
Published: February 2007

We develop the theory of double valued reflection for a real ellipsoidal hypersurface M in complex Euclidean n -space. This leads to a pair of meromorphic involutions on the complexification of M . The main problem is to understand the dynamics of their composition, which is a reversible contact trnasformation. By means of the Segre polar correspondence, This map is transformed into a kind of generalized complex "null-cone billiard" map relative to two nonsingular n -dimensional complex quadrics in projective ( n + 1)-space. Next we develop a generalization of classical confocal ellipsoidal coordinates, which we use, together with the Maurer-Cartan equations of the orthogonal group, to demonstrate the integrable nature of the dynamics of the reversible map. We show that certain complex integral curves of the characteristic systems of suitably invariant contact forms of the structure are invariant by the map. The integration of these systems is, in turn, reduced to solving systems of Abelian differential equations by means of generalized Jacobi inversion. Finally, we indicate how to choose the contact form so that the real loci of these characteristic curves will be closed curves. The complex curves will then yield generalized stationary curves, in the sense of Lempert, for the ellipsoidal domain.
Zero-pole interpolation for matrix meromorphic functions on a compact Riemann surface and a matrix Fay trisecant identity
Authors: Ball Joseph A. , Vinnikov Victor
Published: February 2007

This paper presents a new approach to constructing a meromorphic bundle map between flat vector bundles over a compact Riemann surface having a prescribed Weil divisor (i.e., having prescribed zeros and poles with directional as well as multiplicity information included in the vector case). This new formalism unifies the earlier approach of Ball-Clancey (in the setting of trivial bundles over an abstract Riemann surface) with an earlier approach of the authors (where the Riemann surface was assumed to be the normalizing Riemann surface for an algebraic curve embedded in C 2 with determinantal representation, and the vector bundles were assumed to be presented as the kernels of linear matrix pencils). The main tool is a version of the Cauchy kernel appropriate for flat vector bundles over the Riemann surface. Our formula for the interpolating bundle map (in the special case of a single zero and a single pole) can be viewed as a generalization of the Fay trisecant identity from the usual line bundle case to the vector bundle case in terms of Cauchy kernels. In particular we obtain a new proof of the Fay trisecant identity.
Einstein-Hermitian connections on polystable principal bundles over a compact Kähler manifold
Authors: Anchouche Boudjemaa , Biswas Indranil
Published: February 2007

Given a compact Kähler manifold M and a connected reductive algebraic group G over [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="01i" /], a prinlcipal G -bundle over M admits an Einstein-Hermitian connection if and only if the principal bundle is polystable. If M is a projective manifold, a Higgs G -bundle over M admits an Einstein-Hermitian connection if and only if the Higgs bundle is polystable.
Finite regularity and Koszul algebras
Authors: Avramov Luchezar L. , Peeva Irena
Published: February 2007

We determine the positively graded commutative algebras over which the residue field modulo the homogeneous maximal ideal has finite Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity: they are the polynomial rings in finitely many indeterminates over Koszul algebras; this proves a conjecture of Avramov and Eisenbud. We also show that if the residue field of a finitely generated graded algebras has finite regularity, then so do all finitely generated graded modules.
A cohomological bound for the h -topology
Authors: Goodwillie T. G. , Lichtenbaum S.
Published: February 2007

We show that if X is a d -dimensional noetherian scheme such that the residue field of X at every point has strict étale cohomological dimension ≤ e , then the cohomology groups in Voevodsky's h -topology H n ( X, F ) are zero for n > d + e and any h -sheaf F .
Leibniz algebras, Courant algebroids, and multiplications on reductive homogeneous spaces
Authors: Kinyon Michael K. , Weinstein Alan
Published: February 2007

We show that the skew-symmetrized product on every Leibniz algebra ε can be realized on a reductive complement to a subalgebra in a Lie algebra. As a consequence, we construct a nonassociative multiplication on ε which, when ε is a Lie algebra, is derived from the integrated adjoint representation. We apply this construction to realize the bracket operations on the sections of Courant algebroids and on the "omni-Lie algebras" recently introduced by the second author.
Comparing K -theories for complex varieties
Authors: Friedlander Eric M. , Walker Mark E.
Published: February 2007

The semi-topological K -theory of a complex variety was defined in a recent paper by the authors, with the expectation that it would prove to be a theory lying "part way" between the algebraic K -theory of the variety and the topological K -theory of the associated analytic space, and thus would share properties with each of these other theories. In this paper, we realize these expectations by proving among other results that (1) the algebraic K -theory with finite coefficients and the semi-topological K -theory with finite coefficients coincide on all projective complex varieties, (2) semi-topological K -theory and topological K -theory agree on certain types of generalized flag varieties, and (3) (assuming a result asserted by Cohen and Lima-Filho) the semi-topological K -theory of any smooth projective variety becomes isomorphic to the topological K -theory of the underlying analytic space once the Bott element is inverted. To illustrate the utility of our results, we observe that a new proof of the Quillen-Lichtenbaum conjecture for smooth, complete curves is obtained as a corollary.
Modules and Morita theorem for operads
Authors: Kapranov M. , Manin Yu.
Published: February 2007

Associative rings A, B are called Morita equivalent when the categories of left modules over them are equivalent. We call two classical linear operads P, Q Morita equivalent if the categories of algebras over them are equivalent. We transport a part of Morita theory to the operadic context by studying modules over operads. As an application of this philosophy, we consider an operadic version of the sheaf of linear differential operators on a (super)manifold M and give a comparison theorem between algebras over this sheaf on M and M red .
The expected number of real roots of a multihomogeneous system of polynomial equations
Authors: McLennan Andrew
Published: February 2007

The mean number of roots of a multihomogeneous system of polynomial equations (with respect to a natural distribution on the space of coefficient vectors) is shown to be at least as large as the square root of the generic number of complex roots, as determined by Bernshtein's theorem. We first extend the methods of Shub and Smale to the class of multihomogeneous systems of polynomial equations, yielding Theorem A, which is a formula expressing the mean number of real roots as a multiple of the mean absolute value of the determinant of a random matrix. Theorem B derives closed form expressions for the mean in special cases that include: (a) Shub and Smale's result that the expected number of real roots of the general homogeneous system is the square root of the generic number of complex roots given by Bezout's theorem; (b) Rojas' characterization of the mean number of real roots of an "unmixed" multihomogeneous system. Special properties of normal random variables are exploited to derive Theorem C, which gives recursive inequalities satisfied by the mean, and the bounds on the mean number of real roots (we also give an upper bound) are derived by comparing these with recursive equalities satisfied by the numbers given by Bernshtein's theorem.