bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating Schools by Family Income: A Promising Education Reform or Unattainable Dream?
Authors: Kane Robin
Published: August 2009

Integrating public schools by family income is a relatively new proposal in the education reform debate. To enhance equity in education, advocates have sought approaches that will not meet the judicial resistance that race has met when used to integrate schools. This paper provides a review of the proposal to integrate public schools by family income. It examines research on achievement by students of all income levels in schools with concentrated poverty, trends in racial segregation, and the case in support of plans to balance schools by family income. The paper also provides a summary of the plans in place in two school districts, the response of key policy players to these plans, and the possible challenges to wider implementation.
Federal Class Size Reduction Policy: A Case Study Testing John W. Kingdon's Theory on Agenda Setting
Authors: Rohan Sue
Published: August 2009

According to policy theorist John W. Kingdon's theory on agenda setting, three streams of problems, politics, and policy alternatives converge to create a window of opportunity that allows an issue to move onto the policy-setting agenda. In 1999 the policy-setting agenda included former President Bill Clinton's class size reduction policy despite many decades of conflict over the policy and inaction at the federal level. It appears that a change in the political stream created a window of opportunity that allowed class size reduction to arrive on the agenda. By examining enrollment data, average class size and teacher-pupil ratio trends, national perceptions, developments in policy approaches, and political factors, this study concludes that class size reduction is an example of Kingdon's theory.
Economic Self-Sufficiency and Implementation of TANF in the District of Columbia
Authors: Simmons-Rudolph Ashley P.
Published: August 2009

Even as federal policymakers debate the reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation, state-level activists are beginning to discuss the best ways to implement the policy in their locales. The District of Columbia has experienced the lowest reduction in percentage of welfare caseloads in the country since the 1996 welfare reauthorization. This study explores implementation of welfare policy that both facilitates and hinders the ability of DC welfare clients to become self-sufficient. The study features in-depth interviews with twenty-six welfare clients in the District to add individual voices to the quantitative data gathered on the topic. Specifically, this paper explores the context of welfare clients' lives before and once on welfare, and asks which welfare policies they perceive to be obstacles to their own self-sufficiency. A limited ability to save money, few childcare options, strict transportation and job search requirements, and poor relationships with caseworkers all hinder a client's ability to support herself without assistance from TANF. A qualitative analysis will show that welfare recipients want and are ready to be self sufficient and have clear ideas of the current barriers embedded within the welfare systems that make their personal escape from poverty more difficult.
The Georgia HOPE Scholarship
Authors: Chen Victor
Published: August 2009

In 1992, Georgia unveiled the HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) program, a merit-based scholarship for state residents funded entirely through a state lottery. Since then, the immense popularity of the program has induced many states to try and capture Georgia's success with their own lottery-funded scholarship program. While billed a success, there remain several questions about the effectiveness of the HOPE program. This article examines HOPE's impact and asserts that the program may not prove to be the unqualified success that many proponents claim.
When Zero-Sum Yields No Winners: The Case of Implementing Changes to Bilingual Education Law in Massachusetts
Authors: Lee Nicholas
Published: August 2009

Even when clear outcomes arise from a political process, corresponding victories and defeats are not always translated into an implementation reality. The case of implementing recent changes to bilingual education law in Massachusetts serves as an apt example of such a phenomenon. In particular, two crucial educational implementation factors, perceived policy legitimacy and teacher motivation, and their interplay, will be analyzed vis-à-vis the policy approval and implementation processes. The methodology of this presentation will include both a direct analysis of Massachusetts' situation and a comparative one with the more developed implementation process in California. From these analyses, possible implementation outcomes within Massachusetts will be presented along with suitable recommendations for spurring positive movement within the implementation process.
The Skinny on a Fat Tax: Obesity and Microeconomics
Authors: Southworth Lisa M.
Published: August 2009

The growing problem of obesity in the U.S. has prompted calls for government action, including the imposition of a "fat tax." The author uses microeconomic theory and a cost-benefit framework to explore the pros and cons of a fat tax. She applies theories of rational and irrational consumer decision-making to obesity-related consumption decisions and presents a simple supply and demand model to suggest the likely consequences of a fat tax. The author concludes that, before implementing a fat tax, additional research is needed to determine if a fat tax is merely the latest fad or a significant policy initiative that will make real contributions to correcting a major health problem in the United States.
The Terrorist Risk Insurance Act of 2002: The Federal Government's Role in Addressing Losses Caused by Terrorism
Authors: Stinziano Michael P.G.
Published: August 2009

In response to problems associated with insuring against the risk of foreign terrorist attacks in the United States, Congress passed The Terrorist Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA) to help solve an availability and affordability crisis in the private marketplace for terrorism risk insurance. TRIA established a temporary three-year federal program that created a risk-sharing mechanism to provide private insurance companies with a tool to manage the allocation of their risk resulting from foreign terrorist attacks. The role of government in helping to provide financial protection from losses not served by private markets is not new, but protecting against terrorism risk is. TRIA and its possible alternatives remain a topic of considerable discussion and debate as our country continues to address the threat of terrorism in the United States. One important element of this analysis is to determine what permanent role, if any, the government should play in providing terrorism risk insurance to address the market failure that occurred after September 11. Another is to explore possible alternatives to the current temporary program.
Cultivating Effective Practices in Government and Policy-Making: Summary of an Interview with Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner
Authors: France Katherine J.
Published: August 2009

On March 31, 2005, the Editor-in-Chief of Policy Perspectives had the opportunity to speak with Governor Mark R. Warner of Virginia about his tenure as the state's chief executive. The conversation focused on Virginia's successes in government management, the relationship between federal and state-level policy, and the responsibilities of professionals in the field of public policy.
Assessing the 2004 Campaign Websites: The Role of the Internet in Elections and Civil Society
Authors: Coggeshall Kenneth S. , Michael Alexandra , Bhatnagar Shweta , Moynihan Patricia D.
Published: August 2009

The Internet is changing the face of political campaigns in the United States; not since the introduction of television have the tools used to communicate with the electorate changed so notably. This study uses the 2004 campaign websites created by the Democratic primary candidates and President George W. Bush to evaluate both the ways in which websites can help voters participate in democratic decision-making, and the ways in which websites may help candidates gain public support. We find that, given a list of 41 criteria deemed important to an informative, participatory and easy to use website, the average candidate's site earned just over half the possible points. Still, initial correlation analyses suggest that better websites may mean more votes on Election Day.
Katrina: It Reshaped the Gulf Coast – How Will it Reshape Washington, D.C.? Remarks by Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Authors: Allen Admiral Thad W.
Published: August 2009

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two of the most powerful storms in history, devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2005. These natural disasters not only destroyed lives, neighborhoods and communities but also challenged the local, state and federal governments' emergency response infrastructure. To learn from these events and the government's response to them, The George Washington University School of Public Policy and Public Administration (SPPPA) held a symposium on December 2, 2005, which featured the following keynote address by then Vice Admiral Thad Allen, the principal federal official managing the federal government's response efforts to Hurricane Katrina. In his speech, Admiral Allen described his own efforts and the federal government's efforts to respond to the hurricanes in a timely and efficient manner. For the audience, the chance to hear Admiral Allen – who spoke from the Gulf Coast region via remote technology – provided an opportunity to hear an in-person, first-hand account of the value of public administration.
From Yellow to Orange: Using Cost-Benefit Analysis to Inform Local Homeland Security Decision-Making
Authors: Kirschner Charlotte
Published: August 2009

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, officials at all levels of government were faced with difficult policy decisions concerning public security. Many policymakers were asked to make security decisions based on limited information about the nature or credibility of potential threats. Using San Francisco as a case study, this article applies the technique of cost-benefit analysis from "yellow to orange." The article demonstrates how a policymaker might conduct a cost-benefit analysis when the benefits and costs of a decision are contingent on the unknown probability of an event occurring. This analysis highlights the importance of information sharing between levels of government and demonstrates the affect of a policy decision on the probability of terrorist attack. The lessons learned provide important insights for the many government officials currently facing risk-dependent policy decisions.
Change, Challenge, and China: an Analysis of Competition in the North American Textile and Apparel Industries
Authors: Connolly Katrina D.
Published: August 2009

Media, manufacturers, and politicians are blaming China for intensified competition, downward pressure on prices and job loss in the U.S. manufacturing sector. A brief history of textile and apparel trade suggests that people over-reacted to a surge of Chinese imports in 2005 because of a historical focus on defining single countries as threats to domestic markets. Approaching trade policy from a broader perspective reveals that bilateral thinking overstates China as a threat. A broader approach studies how trade policies interact to create changes in market prices rather than a single country. To illustrate these effects, an economic analysis of the North American Free Trade Agreement first explains how this regional trade policy bolstered higher prices and demand for North American textile and apparel products. Economic models then explain how a global policy that liberalized trade, Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, undermined NAFTA's benefits and enhanced the competitive pressure perceived by these manufacturers. The article concludes that as one of many countries liberalized by the ATC, China plays a smaller role than the public assumes in diminishing NAFTA's benefits as perceived by North American textile and apparel manufacturers.
Building Economic Opportunity on Indian Reservations
Authors: McGlone Deirdre
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
The Effect of Immigrants on the Wages of Workers in the United States
Authors: Boyer Lawrence G.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
An Analysis of Recent Decisions Affecting Public Servants
Authors: Hartung John J.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities: Moving from Legislative Concept to Successful Implementation
Authors: Cisneros Hon. Henry G.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Reforming the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: Amorose Karen W.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Urban Crime Control and Prevention in the 1990s: Community Policing
Authors: Temsky Jevera R.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Federal Urban Job Creation: A Systemic Analysis
Authors: Zahradnik Robert A.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Telecommunication Reform: The History and Conditions Leading to Political Action
Authors: Granata Steve A.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
The Changing Role of Government: A State Perspective
Authors: Thompson Governor Tommy G.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
The Changing Role of Government: A Federal Perspective
Authors: Reid U.S. Senator Harry
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Paying for Congress
Authors: Hamilton Laura E.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Fighting Crime From the Ground Up: The "Zero Tolerance" Approach
Authors: Orlando Jason R.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
The Battle Over Product Liability Law Reform
Authors: Fallon Theresa A.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Tax Reform and State Education Spending: Lessons Learned in Michigan
Authors: Smith Charisse
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
When a Lawsuit Isn't Enough: The Supreme Court's Impact on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment in Schools
Authors: Saunders Greer D.
Published: August 2009

No abstract available.
Regulation & Managed Care: An Empirical Examination of State OB/GYN Laws
Authors: Veronda Brian
Published: August 2009

Since 1995, states have played an increasingly active role as regulators of managed care health plans. However, there is little consistency from state to state in the laws that govern managed care plans. This paper analyzes this inconsistency within the framework of the economic and political theories of regulatory choice. An empirical model is developed to test whether these theories can explain the presence of two laws regulating women's access to obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs). The results suggest that these theories together do help to clarify why certain states enacted the regulations. The regulations were more likely to be present in states with a relatively high number of OB/GYNs and female legislators, and Democratic control of government.
Revisiting the Public-Private Divide: Workplace Violence and the U.S. Forest Service
Authors: Ramble Kindra
Published: August 2009

The Oklahoma City bombing put a sensational face on antigovernment violence. Yet, for all of the attention devoted during its aftermath to the growth and possible consequences of antigovernment sentiments, little systematic investigation has been done regarding the extent to which this type of violence may have permeated the government workplace. Further, scholars presently lack contextual knowledge about potential differences between public sector and private sector workplace violence in which to place hypotheses concerning the connections between antigovernment sentiments and the violent victimization of government employees. This article probes those connections through a study of the workplace violence endured by rangers of the United States Forest Service, in hopes of contributing to the understanding of the complicated relationships between workplace violence, antigovernment activity, and employment in the public sector. Analysis of the violent incidents uncovered through this study lends support to the conclusion that violence waged against government employees is significantly different than the violence being perpetrated in private sector work settings. These findings further suggest that antigovernment activity contributes meaningfully to the differences in workplace violence experienced by government employees.
The Case of the Eleven-Inch Fish: A Study in Administrative Discretion
Authors: Jaccard Don
Published: August 2009

The complex, yet vague nature, of legislation being generated by lawmakers in Washington, DC requires that public administrators be afforded administrative discretion in carrying out their respective duties. It is no longer possible for policymakers to be fully informed regarding the multitude of variables that exist in the offshore fishing environment, nor is it possible to articulate that spectrum of variables in codified laws and regulations. The academic debate between controlling the exercise of administrative discretion on the one hand and extending the leash of judgment on the other has been around as long as the profession of public administration. In the case of the eleven-inch fish (the fish is one inch shy of being a legal catch), the public administrator on the scene of the infraction has a choice to make. The administrator can choose to overlook the incident, issue a warning, or issue a $100 notice of violation and seize the fish. I know which alternative I chose. The question is, which alternative would you choose?
Public Private Partnerships and Communities: Encouraging Economic Development and Citizen Participation in Charles County, Maryland
Authors: Wierzbicki Wendy B.
Published: August 2009

In a typical community, the commercial/industrial component provides enough tax revenue to offset most infrastructure costs. This is not the case in many suburban areas like Charles County, Maryland whose growth is predominantly residential with little commercial/industrial development. This article examines Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an innovative economic development strategy that can address this imbalance. A framework is outlined for the development of a PPP in Charles County that will benefit the county by increasing the supply of improved, ready-to-occupy commercial/industrial sites, and by acting as a tool to improve communication between citizens and the government.
The Battle is Over, But the War Goes On: Unraveling the Illusion of the Financial Modernization Act
Authors: Holyoke Thomas T.
Published: August 2009

Over the last several decades, scholars have developed several models of policy making, including interest group pluralism where an equilibrium between competing organized interests becomes law, and legislative control, where the equilibrium between the preferences of legislators becomes law. While pluralism has fallen out of favor, this paper argues that it still has a place in models of policy making complementary to the legislative control theory. Using the development and passage of the Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act, the legislation rewriting the nearly century old laws structuring the banking and finance policy domain, this article shows how this enactment required agreements between organized interests as well as between concerned legislators.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Lessons from the 103rd and the 104th Congresses, and What We May Expect in the 107th
Authors: Otto Aaron A.
Published: August 2009

The congressional elections of 1994 gave the GOP a unique opportunity: the chance to govern as the majority party in the House for the first time in 40 years. However, the balance of power in the House has narrowed with every election cycle since 1994, giving the Democrats the potential to retake the majority in 2000. Although either party may be in a position to serve in the majority, the more likely scenario is that both parties will probably be at parity with each other. This article compares the management styles and priorities of the last Democratic Congress (103rd, 1993-95) with the subsequent Republican Congress (104th, 1995-97) to discover which lessons can be learned about how, given the opportunity, either party would manage the House in the upcoming 107th Congress. This article will also review some of the transitional difficulties that took place the last time control of the House changed between the two parties in 1995.
Is Deployment Desirable? An Examination of National Missile Defense Alternatives
Authors: Teti Nathaniel J.
Published: August 2009

Today, the United States stands alone as the world's sole superpower. Traditionally, this status and the nation's strategic location has served as an effective national defense. However, with the rise of new threats from rogue states, terrorists, and new powers, the United States must determine whether current national defense policy is sufficient in the world's changing political climate. This article examines the possibility of deploying a National Missile Defense system (NMD). The author suggests three policy alternatives and explores the concerns surrounding the issue. The alternatives include maintaining the status quo, implementing a limited program, or full deploying a full NMD system. The author discusses the difficulty in implementing NMD, but suggests that the changing climate calls for action.
Gridlock: A Theoretical and Applied Critique Using the Family and Medical Leave Act
Authors: Stengel Nicholas A.J.
Published: August 2009

Politicians, media, and the public use the term "gridlock" to refer to the crush of competing interests in the policy process. Gridlock, however, is not a phenomenon that can be objectively identified or addressed. Rather, it is a catch-phrase used by partisans and pundits. Using other theories of political conflict and a case study of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1992, this article shows that political discourse would be better served if gridlock was not used as an analogy for perceived legislative troubles.
States' Rights and Economic Development
Authors: Thompson Chris
Published: August 2009

The United States' growing immersion in the global marketplace has great significance in the area of economic development. The current lack of agreement between the federal and state levels of government concerning their respective roles in attracting foreign investment could possibly have serious consequences as America becomes further integrated into the world economy. A national discussion between government officials, the private sector, and experts in academia needs to take place to determine a comprehensive course of action for the nation. Such a national plan, however, does not require the nationalization of economic development planning. Indeed, to better plot future economic development in the global environment, it is useful to examine the two competing forces driving state and federal economic development planning, states' rights and centralization, and to assess the current status of these ideologies.
Agriculture at a Crossroads: Ensuring Conservation and Income Support in the Farm Bill
Authors: Fredregill Amy
Published: August 2009

While most farmers take steps to enhance natural resources, times of low prices and high costs may create difficulties for farmers who wish to spend resources on agriculture conservation. Consequently, farming can have a harmful effect on natural resources. Because many farmers rely on income support payments, and most income programs do not require farmers to utilize environmental conservation practices, environmental degradation continues. To ensure adequate protection of water quality, soil quality and wildlife habitat, and to provide income support for farms of all sizes, politically feasible legislation is needed to link income payments with conservation practices. This article follows the outline of atraditional policy analysis to examine four policy options for the farm bill the Conservation Security Program (CSP), Flex Fallow, the Conservation Reserve Program, and conservation easements. The options range from conservative to liberal, with differing environmental and income impacts. Policy options for achieving these goals were judged using the following criteria: effectiveness in achieving conservation goals,' effectiveness in supporting farmer income,' political feasibility,' and strength of the linkage between conservation practices and income payments. Based on this analysis, CSP is the best option for the farm bill, because it is a compromise approach to achieving the goals of this analysis. This evaluation is presented as a policy analysis in order to provide a systematic technique for identifying solutions to current farm policy problems. The elements of a policy analysis traditionally include formulating a problem, identifying policy alternatives, forecasting the future, modeling the impacts of alternatives, and comparing and ranking the policy alternatives.
Reforming the Power of the Purse: A Look at the Fiscal and Budgetary Relationship between the District of Columbia and the U.S. Congress
Authors: Wepman Noah
Published: August 2009

The fiscal and budgetary relationship between the U.S. Congress and the District of Columbia is inconsistent with the typical federal governance system. In its current position, the District’s fiscal and budgetary authority is somewhere between that of a central city vis-a-vis its state capital and that of an Executive-level agency, like the Department of Commerce. The District is restricted in how it can raise revenue and formulate an annual budget, resulting in an often fragile fiscal environment. This article looks at the history of the current arrangement and suggests ways to reform the relationship between these two distinct government entities.
Balancing Politics and U.S. Energy Supply: One Renewable Energy Resource Gets Support from Both Sides of the Aisle
Authors: Nielson Tara
Published: August 2009

The debate over the U.S. Department of Energy’s fiscal year 2002 budget for the renewable energy Hydrogen Program demonstrates how industry, state programs, and government officials can affect policy making through the federal budget process. Funding for energy programs is controversial, as Democrats and Republicans typically disagree over the use of fossil versus renewable resources to satisfy the country’s energy needs. The Hydrogen Program, which funds research and development for renewable hydrogen energy technologies, receives support from both sides of the aisle. This article explains the reasons behind the unusual circumstances of this bipartisan support and discusses ways in which the current political climate may shape Hydrogen Program funding in the future.
Novel Multifunctional Properties Induced by Interface Effects in Perovskite Oxide Heterostructures
Authors: Jin Kui‐juan , Lu Hui‐bin , Zhao Kun , Ge Chen , He Meng , Yang Guo‐zhen
Published: August 2009

Multilayer structures have emerged as a leading research topic and researchers expect that multilayers may lead to interesting artificial materials with novel properties. In this Research News we show that the introduction of interfaces into perovskite oxides can induce a series of novel properties including an unusual positive magnetoresistance, great enhancement of lateral photovoltage in La0.9Sr0.1MnO3/SrNb0.01Ti0.99O3, and an electrical modulation of the magnetoresistance in multi‐p‐n heterostructures of SrTiO3−δ/La0.9Sr0.1MnO3/SrTiO3−δ/La0.9Sr0.1MnO3/Si. This novel positive magnetoresistance is attributed to the creation of a space charge region at the interface where the spin of the carriers is anti‐parallel to that of the carriers in the region far from the interface of manganese oxide in the heterostructures.
Clinical lessons learned from the International Research Symposium on ankyloblepharon‐ectodermal defects‐cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome
Authors: Bree Alanna F.
Published: August 2009

The International Research Symposium on ankyloblepharon‐ectodermal defects‐cleft lip/palate (AEC) Syndrome, that was supported by the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) through a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases (NIH‐ORD), brought together physicians, scientists, and 23 individuals affected by AEC syndrome from 13 families. Eighteen of the AEC‐affected individuals were enrolled in an IRB‐approved protocol through Baylor College of Medicine. Enrolled participants had clinical evaluations by multiple subspecialists, and additionally submitted blood for mutational analysis and skin specimens for pathologic evaluation. One of the goals of the conference was to define clinical and pathologic findings for improved diagnostic criteria, with the hope of determining genotype–phenotype correlations that might aid in predicting prognosis or directing therapeutics. What we found was wide interfamilial and intrafamilial variability in the manifestations of the syndrome. We were unable to identify any specific genotype–phenotype correlations. This may relate to our small sample size or other unknown epigenetic factors that are also at play in the expression and manifestation of the syndrome in specific individuals. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Common origin of pure and interrupted repeat expansions in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2)
Authors: Ramos Eliana Marisa , Martins Sandra , Alonso Isabel , Emmel Vanessa E. , Saraiva‐Pereira Maria Luiza , Jardim Laura Bannach , Coutinho Paula , Sequeiros Jorge , Silveira Isabel
Published: August 2009

The spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by gait and limb ataxia. This disease is caused by the expansion of a (CAG)nlocated in theATXN2, that encodes a polyglutamine tract of more than 34 repeats. Lately, alleles with 32–33 CAGs have been associated to late‐onset disease cases. Repeat interruptions by CAA triplets are common in normal alleles, while expanded alleles usually contain a pure repeat tract. To investigate the mutational origin and the instability associated to theATXN2repeat, we performed an extensive haplotype study and sequencing of the CAG/CAA repeat, in a cohort of families of different geographic origins and phenotypes. Our results showed (1) CAA interruptions also in expandedATXN2alleles; (2) that pathological CAA interrupted alleles shared an ancestral haplotype with pure expanded alleles; and (3) higher genetic diversity in European SCA2 families, suggesting an older European ancestry of SCA2. In conclusion, we found instability towards expansion in interruptedATXN2alleles and a shared ancestralATXN2haplotype for pure and interrupted expanded alleles; this finding has strong implications in mutation diagnosis and counseling. Our results indicate that interrupted alleles, below the pathological threshold, may be a reservoir of mutable alleles, prone to expansion in subsequent generations, leading to full disease mutation. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduced 3‐O‐methyl‐dopa levels in OCD patients and their unaffected parents is associated with the low activity M158 COMT allele
Authors: Delorme Richard , Betancur Catalina , Chaste Pauline , Kernéis Solen , Stopin Astrid , Mouren Marie‐Christine , Collet Corinne , Bourgeron Thomas , Leboyer Marion , Launay Jean‐Marie
Published: August 2009

The catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene is considered as a candidate gene in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Specifically, theCOMTlow‐activity M158 allele has been suggested to be associated with OCD. However, there is no study reporting that COMT activity is decreased in OCD patients and that the decrease is mediated by the V158M polymorphism. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to assess COMT activity in OCD by measuring plasma levels of 3‐O‐methyl‐dopa (3‐OMD), which result from the methylation of levodopa by COMT, and to investigate the relationship between 3‐OMD levels and the V158M polymorphism. We also examined whether 3‐OMD levels represented an endophenotype, associated with the genetic liability to OCD, by assessing unaffected relatives of OCD patients. We assessed plasma 3‐OMD levels in a sample of drug‐free OCD probands (n = 34) and their unaffected parents (n = 63), and compared them with controls (n = 85). TheCOMTV158M polymorphism was genotyped in all participants. Lower plasma 3‐OMD levels were found in OCD probands and their unaffected parents compared to controls. TheCOMTM158 allele was associated with reduced plasma 3‐OMD levels in a co‐dominant manner, both in OCD probands and their relatives, but not in controls. Our results suggest that COMT activity could act as a limiting factor for the production of 3‐OMD in OCD patients and in their relatives. These findings further support a role of COMT in the susceptibility to OCD and provide evidence that 3‐OMD levels could represent an endophenotype in OCD. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FKBP5 polymorphisms and antidepressant response in geriatric depression
Authors: Sarginson Jane E. , Lazzeroni Laura C. , Ryan Heather S. , Schatzberg Alan F. , Murphy Greer M.
Published: August 2009

Genetic variation at the FKBP5 locus has been reported to affect clinical outcomes in patients treated with antidepressant medications in several studies. However, other reports have not confirmed this association. FKBP5 may regulate the sensitivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. We tested two FKBP5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1360780 and rs3800373) in a sample of 246 geriatric patients treated for 8 weeks in a double‐blind randomized comparison trial of paroxetine and mirtazapine. These two polymorphisms had previously been reported to predict efficacy in depressed patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine, and those treated with mirtazapine, an agent with both serotonergic and noradrenergic actions. However, we found no significant associations between these FKBP5 genetic variants and clinical outcomes. Neither mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores nor time to remission or response were predicted by FKBP5 genetic variation. These results suggest that FKBP5 is unlikely to play a major role in determining antidepressant treatment outcomes in geriatric patients. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase‐2 Suppresses Lymph Node Metastasis via VEGF‐C
Authors: Liu Huidong , Yang Yanmei , Xiao Jianbing , Lv Yanhong , Liu Yan , Yang Huike , Zhao Linghui
Published: August 2009

Most experimental work addressing cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor has focused on suppressing hematogenic spread. Little is known about the mechanism by which this inhibitor can also block lymphatic metastasis. Here, the effects of COX‐2 inhibitor on vascular endothelial growth factor‐C (VEGF‐C) expression, lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis were investigated. Utilizing the highly metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma cell line Anip973 and its parental line AGZY83‐a, which has a low metastatic capacity, we found elevated VEGF‐C and COX‐2 immunoreactivity in Anip973 cells compared with AGZY83‐a cells. Celecoxib down‐regulated expression of VEGF‐C mRNA and protein in Anip973 cells while PGE2 up‐regulated expression of VEGF‐C mRNA and protein in AGZY83‐a cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. The expression of COX‐2 and VEGF‐C was significantly increased in xenografted Anip973 tumors compared with AGZY83‐a tumors. The Anip973 tumors showed more lymphatic vessels and lymph node metastasis than the AGZY83‐a tumors. In vivo, celecoxib decreased VEGF‐C expression in Anip973 tumor‐treated mice to a similar level to that in the AGZY83‐a tumor‐treated mice. Consistent with this decrease in VEGF‐C expression, the density of lymphatic vessels and lymph node metastasis in Anip973 tumor‐treated mice were suppressed to approximately that found in the AGZY83‐a tumor‐treated ones. Taken together, our results suggest that the differential expression of COX‐2 and VEGF‐C might help explain the different metastasis phenotype of lung adenocarcinoma cancer, and that COX‐2 inhibitor mediates VEGF‐C to block lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. Thus, COX‐2 may be a potential therapeutic target for blocking lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunohistochemical and Histochemical Characteristics of the Olfactory System of the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata (Teleostei, Poecilidae)
Authors: Bettini Simone , Lazzari Maurizio , Ciani Franco , Franceschini Valeria
Published: August 2009

Olfaction in fish has been studied using preferentially macrosmatic species as models. In the present research, the labelling patterns of different neuronal markers and lectins were analyzed in the olfactory neurons and in their bulbar axonal endings in the guppy Poecilia reticulata, belonging to the group of microsmatic fish. We observed that calretinin immunostaining was confined to a population of olfactory receptor cells localized in the upper layers of the sensory mucosa, probably microvillous neurons innervating the lateral glomerular layer. Immunoreactivity for S100 proteins was mainly evident in crypt cells, but also in other olfactory cells belonging to subtypes projecting in distinct regions of the bulbs. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) was not detected in the olfactory system of the guppy. Lectin binding revealed the presence of N‐acetylglucosamine and α‐N‐acetylgalactosamine residues in the glycoconjugates of numerous olfactory neurons ubiquitously distributed in the mucosa. The low number of sugar types detected suggested a reduced glycosidic variability that could be an index of restricted odorant discrimination, in concordance with guppy visual‐based behaviors. Finally, we counted few crypt cells which were immunoreactive for S100 and calretinin. Crypt cells were more abundant in guppy females. This difference is in accordance with guppy gender‐specific responses to pheromones. Cells immunoreactive to calretinin showed no evidence of ventral projections in the bulbs. We assumed the hypothesis that their odorant sensitivity is not strictly limited to pheromones or sexual signals in general. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Delay‐dependent robust stabilization for uncertain stochastic switching systems with distributed delays
Authors: Shen Hao , Xu Shengyuan , Song Xiaona , Luo Jianwen
Published: August 2009

This paper deals with the problem of robust stabilization for a class of uncertain stochastic switching systems with distributed delays. The purpose is to design a memory controller, which guarantees that the resulting closed‐loop system is mean‐square asymptotically stable. In terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities, a delay‐dependent condition is proposed and a robust memory controller is designed. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Directed attachment of antibodies to kinesin‐powered molecular shuttles
Authors: Carroll‐Portillo Amanda , Bachand Marlene , Bachand George D.
Published: August 2009

Biomolecular motors, such as kinesin, have been used to shuttle a range of biological and synthetic cargo in microfluidic architectures. A critical gap in this technology is the ability to controllably link macromolecular cargo on microtubule (MT) shuttles without forming extraneous byproducts that may potentially limit their application. Here we present a generalized approach for functionalizing MTs with antibodies in which covalent bonds are formed between the carbohydrate in Fc region of polyclonal antibodies and the positively charged amino acids on the MT surface using the crosslinker succinimidyl 4‐hydrazidoterephthalate hydrochloride (SHTH). Antibody‐functionalized MTs (Ab‐MTs) produced through this approach maintained motility characteristics and antigenic selectivity, and did not produce undesirable byproducts common to other approaches. We also demonstrate and characterize the application of these Ab‐MTs for capturing and transporting bacterial and viral antigens. While this approach cannot be applied to monoclonal antibodies, which lack a carbohydrate moiety, it may be used for selectively functionalizing MT shuttles with a variety of carbohydrate‐containing cargoes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 104: 1182–1188. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Die Nahrungsprobleme des Zwergflamingos. Rätselhafte Massensterben an den Salzseen
Authors: Krienitz Lothar
Published: August 2009

Der Zwergflamingo ist hervorragend an die extremen Lebensbedingungen alkalin‐saliner Gewässer in Afrika und Indien angepasst. Seine bevorzugte Nahrung ist das Cyanobakterium Arthrospira fusiformis, das Massenentwicklungen in diesen Gewässern produzieren kann. In den vergangenen beiden Jahrzehnten wird immer häufiger über Nahrungsverknappung und ‐kontamination berichtet. Anhand von Situationsberichten aus verschiedenen Hauptverbreitungsgebieten des Zwergflamingos wird geschildert, dass anthropogene Belastungen der Ökosysteme eine große Gefahr für die Vögel und ihre Nahrungsgrundlage darstellen.
Wie Hormone die Zellteilung der Pflanzen kontrollieren. Auxin und Cytokinin
Authors: Beck Erwin , Hartig Katja
Published: August 2009

Seit einem halben Jahrhundert ist bekannt, dass in Pflanzen zwei Gruppen von Hormonen – die Auxine und die Cytokinine – die Zellteilung kontrollieren. Aber erst in jüngster Zeit beginnt das Bild dieser Kontrolle auf der biochemischen Ebene Konturen anzunehmen, welche die Gemeinsamkeiten, aber auch die Besonderheiten der Pflanzen im Vergleich zu Tieren und Pilzen aufzeigen. Wichtigste Elemente sind dabei Proteinkinasen, die zu ihrer Funktionsfähigkeit regulatorische Proteine – die so genannten Cycline – benötigen. Das hier vorgestellte biochemische Modell der molekularen Kontrolle des pflanzlichen Zellzyklus berücksichtigt besonders die Beteiligung der beiden Phytohormone.
Der Frühe und Mittlere Jura. Lebensraum Jurameer
Authors: Nitsch Edgar , Franz Matthias
Published: August 2009

In Mitteleuropa sind aus der Jurazeit Ablagerungen eines subtropischen Meeres erhalten, die in ihrer reichhaltigen Fossilführung Einblicke in die marinen Ökosysteme des Mesozoikums erlauben. Erstmals beteiligte sich kalkiges Plankton an der Entstehung mariner Sedimente und ist seitdem ein wichtiger Faktor im globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf. Ammoniten, Belemniten, Fische und Meeressaurier durchzogen das freie Wasser, während eine artenreiche Fauna den Meeresgrund besiedelte und durchwühlte. Aus den wechselnden Faunengesellschaften und aus den unterschiedlichen, in den Gesteinen dokumentierten Ablagerungsbedingungen lassen sich die Wechselfälle in der Geschichte eines mesozoischen Meeres rekonstruieren, dessen Veränderungen im Meeresspiegel und in den Meeresströmungen unmittelbaren Einfluss auf die Evolution der marinen Fauna hatte.
Spottdrosseln: Erstaunliche Kognitionsleistung
Authors: Irsch Wilhelm
Published: August 2009

Nordamerikanische Spottdrosseln (Mimus polyglottos) gelten als besonders neugierig. Nun zeigte sich, dass sie aus mehreren tausend Menschen Personen unterscheiden und wiedererkennen konnten, die zuvor ihr Nest bedrohten.
ChemInform Abstract: A New Perovskite Polytype in the High‐Pressure Sequence of BaIrO3.
Authors: Cheng Jin‐Guang , Alonso Jose Antonio , Suard Emmanuelle , Zhou Jian‐Shi , Goodenough John B.
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Direct Spectroscopic Characterization of Aqueous Actinyl(VI) Species: A Comparative Study of Np and U.
Authors: Mueller Katharina , Foerstendorf Harald , Tsushima Satoru , Brendler Vinzenz , Bernhard Gert
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Nanoscale Characterization of (NH4)4ThF8 and ThNF.
Authors: Silva G. W. Chinthaka , Yeamans Charles B. , Cereficet Gary S. , Sattelberg Alfred P. , Czerwinski Kenneth R.
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Channels Occupancy and Distortion in New Lithium Uranyl Phosphates with Three‐Dimensional Open‐Frameworks.
Authors: Renard C. , Obbade S. , Abraham F.
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: New Types of 3D Organically Templated Zn2+/Cd2+—Cu+ Mixed Metal Sulfites.
Authors: Li Pei‐Xin , Hu Chun‐Li , Lin Qi‐Pu , Zhao Na , Mao Jiang‐Gao
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Tandem Zn‐Promoted Brook Rearrangement/Ene—Allene Carbocyclization Reaction.
Authors: Unger Rozalia , Weisser Fritz , Chinkov Nicka , Stanger Amnon , Cohen Theodore , Marek Ilan
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Regioselective Iodination of Phenol and Analogues Using N‐Iodosuccinimide and p‐Toluenesulfonic Acid.
Authors: Bovonsombat Pakorn , Leykajarakul Juthamard , Khan Chiraphorn , Pla‐on Kawin , Krause Michael M. , Khanthapura Pratheep , Ali Rameez , Doowa Niran
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Selective Monomethylation of Anilines by Cu(OAc)2‐Promoted Cross‐Coupling with MeB(OH)2.
Authors: Gonzalez Israel , Mosquera Jesus , Guerrero Cesar , Rodriguez Ramon , Cruces Jacobo
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Base‐Mediated Rearrangement of Free Aromatic Hydroxamic Acids (ArCO—NHOH) to Anilines.
Authors: Hoshino Yujiro , Okuno Moriaki , Kawamura Eri , Honda Kiyoshi , Inoue Seiichi
Published: August 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.