bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Processing of Written Word and Nonword Visual Information by Individuals With Prelingual Deafness
Authors: Miller Paul
Published: April 2006

The objective of this study was to bring about a better understanding of the abilities of prelingually deafened individuals to process word and nonword visual information. Students with prelingual deafness (
n
= 18, mean grade = 5.1) and a task-matched hearing control group (
n
= 28, mean grade = 4.9) judged the identicalness of physically (perceptually) or conventionally identical words or drawings to learn about differences in their processing strategies as the phonological information contained in these stimuli was manipulated. Findings suggested that the information-processing skills of both groups of participants were similar regardless of stimulus material (i.e., words or drawings) and whether such processing required the referencing of conceptual knowledge. Evidence further indicated that both groups relied on similar strategies for processing the stimuli but that neither relied on a phonology-based strategy.
Sensory Processing of Backward-Masking Signals in Children With Language-Learning Impairment As Assessed With the Auditory Brainstem Response
Authors: Marler Jeffrey A. , Champlin Craig A.
Published: April 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible contribution of sensory mechanisms to an auditory processing deficit shown by some children with language-learning impairment (LLI). Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured from 2 groups of school-aged (8–10 years) children. One group consisted of 10 children with LLI, and the other group (control) consisted of 10 children with normally developing language. The ABR was elicited with a brief tone burst presented either alone (no-masking condition) or immediately followed by a longer duration noise burst (backward-masking condition). The primary dependent variable was the latency of wave V of the ABR. The mean latencies were not significantly different for the 2 groups in the no-masking condition. However, in the backward-masking condition, the mean latency for the LLI group was significantly increased relative to the mean latency for the control group. Thus, the presence of successive sounds delay the neural response in children with LLI. The explanation for this delay at the level of the brainstem is not known, but it may be due to disruption of synchrony, activation of alternate (less direct) pathways, increased inhibition, or some combination of these (or other) factors.
Effect of Slow-Acting Wide Dynamic Range Compression on Measures of Intelligibility and Ratings of Speech Quality in Simulated-Loss Listeners
Authors: Rosengard Peninah S. , Payton Karen L. , Braida Louis D.
Published: April 2006

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine the extent to which 4-channel, slow-acting wide dynamic range amplitude compression (WDRC) can counteract the perceptual effects of reduced auditory dynamic range and (b) to examine the relation between objective measures of speech intelligibility and categorical ratings of speech quality for sentences processed with slow-acting WDRC. Multiband expansion was used to simulate the effects of elevated thresholds and loudness recruitment in normal hearing listeners. While some previous studies have shown that WDRC can improve both speech intelligibility and quality, others have found no benefit. The current experiment shows that moderate amounts of compression can provide a small but significant improvement in speech intelligibility, relative to linear amplification, for simulated-loss listeners with small dynamic ranges (i.e., flat, moderate hearing loss). This benefit was found for speech at conversational levels, both in quiet and in a background of babble. Simulated-loss listeners with large dynamic ranges (i.e., sloping, mild-to-moderate hearing loss) did not show any improvement. Comparison of speech intelligibility scores and subjective ratings of intelligibility showed that listeners with simulated hearing loss could accurately judge the overall intelligibility of speech. However, in all listeners, ratings of pleasantness decreased as the compression ratio increased. These findings suggest that subjective measures of speech quality should be used in conjunction with either objective or subjective measures of speech intelligibility to ensure that participant-selected hearing aid parameters optimize both comfort and intelligibility.
Perceiving Nonnative Vowels
Authors: Frenck-Mestre Cheryl , Meunier Christine , Espesser Robert , Daffner Kirk , Holcomb Phillip
Published: April 2006

In 2 experiments, the authors examined the electrophysiological auditory responses of monolingual French listeners to American English vowel contrasts as a function of the surrounding vowel context. The context was determined on the basis of behavioral results (C.Meunier, C. Frenck-Mestre, T. Lelekov-Boissard, & M. Le Besnaris, 2003, 2004). In the 1st experiment, where the vowel /I/ was placed in a context in which it could easily be discriminated from the surrounding vowels (82% /i/ and 3% /ae/), the electrophysiological response to this vowel showed both acoustic and phonemic responses in line with behavioral results. In the 2nd experiment, where the same vowel /I/ was placed in a
difficult
context (82% /ε/ and 3% /ae/), the electrophysiological response of French participants to this vowel revealed a greatly reduced phonemic response, showing assimilation of the vowel to the surrounding context, again in line with behavioral results. The results of a 3rd
control
experiment with American participants showed both an acoustic and a phonemic response to the vowel /I/ in the difficult context (82% /ε/ and 3% /ae/). This pattern demonstrates the fluctuations in perception as a function of context, and hints at a supple system that may be modified through experience.
Star-shaped cyclic-twinning nanowires
Authors: Jiang Jun , Cao Minghe , Sun Yuekui , Wu Peiwen , Yuan Jun
Published: April 2006

We report the discovery of a new class of nanowires with a star-shaped cross section. Unlike most nanowires, it shows a prominent regular reentrant surface profile. The electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy analyses indicate that the nanowire is composed of superhard boron suboxide (B6O). The fivefold symmetry of the star-shaped nanowire could be understood as a cyclic twinning structure. The crystallographic analysis further suggested that it could be a common occurrence in boron-rich compounds. Star-shaped nanowires with regular reentrant surfaces are attractive for applications in nanotechnology.
Structural plasticity of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase active site
Authors: Turner James M. , Graziano James , Spraggon Glen , Schultz Peter G.
Published: April 2006

Recently, tRNA aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pairs have been evolved that allow one to genetically encode a large array of unnatural amino acids in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. We have determined the crystal structures of two substrate-bound
Methanococcus jannaschii
tyrosyl aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that charge the unnatural amino acids
p
-bromophenylalanine and 3-(2-naphthyl)alanine (NpAla). A comparison of these structures with the substrate-bound WT synthetase, as well as a mutant synthetase that charges
p
-acetylphenylalanine, shows that altered specificity is due to both side-chain and backbone rearrangements within the active site that modify hydrogen bonds and packing interactions with substrate, as well as disrupt the α
8
-helix, which spans the WT active site. The high degree of structural plasticity that is observed in these aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is rarely found in other mutant enzymes with altered specificities and provides an explanation for the surprising adaptability of the genetic code to novel amino acids.
Overcoming Barriers to Establishing an Inpatient Vaccination Program for Pneumococcus Using Standing Orders
Authors: Middleton Donald B. , Fox Dwight E. , Nowalk Mary Patricia , Skledar Susan J. , Sokos Denise R. , Zimmerman Richard K. , Ervin Kelly A. , Lin Chyongchiou J.
Published: April 2006

Objectives:

To identify and classify barriers to establishing a standing orders program (SOP) for adult pneumococcal vaccination in acute care inpatient facilities and to provide recommendations for overcoming these roadblocks. Vaccination rates in hospitals with SOPs are generally higher than those in hospitals that require individual physician orders. The array of solutions drawn from our experience in different hospital settings should permit many types of facilities to anticipate and overcome barriers, allowing a smoother transition from initiation to successful implementation of an inpatient pneumococcal vaccination SOP.

Design:

Descriptive study of barriers and solutions encountered during implementation of a pneumococcal vaccination SOP in three hospitals of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System (UPMC) and in the scientific literature.

Setting:

As of 2004, two UPMC tertiary-care hospitals and one UPMC community hospital had incorporated SOPs into existing physician order-driven programs for inpatient vaccination with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Results:

Barriers were identified at each step of implementation and categorized as patient related, provider related, or institutional. Based on a process of continual review and revision of our programs in response to encountered barriers, steps were taken to overcome these impediments.

Conclusions:

A strong commitment by key individuals in the facility's administration including a physician champion; ongoing, persistent efforts to educate and train staff; and close monitoring of the vaccination rate were essential for successful implementation of a SOP for pneumococcal vaccination of eligible inpatients. Legal statutes and evaluations of external hospital-rating associations regarding the effectiveness of the vaccination program were major motivating factors in its success.
Addiction: a journal and its Invisible College*
Authors: Edwards Griffith
Published: April 2006

Provenance  This paper derives from a lecture given before the Society for the Study of Addiction in November 2004, on the author's retirement from the position of Editor‐in‐Chief of Addiction, one of the Society's journals.

Aim  To identify the live processes which have influenced the journal's evolution since its foundation in 1884.

Conclusions  Over the 120‐year period a strong, continuing historical thread has been the fluctuating success of the journal's engagement with its ‘Invisible College’, the community which it seeks to serve. It is argued that the journal's future success will depend on its capacity to explore and nurture further this two‐way relationship. Addiction is a journal with an active and clearly articulated, multiple vision of it purpose, and this vision is outlined. It dares to try to influence its future with the authority so to do rooted in its ability to reflect the aspirations and concerns of its readers. It is ‘a journal of the second kind’.
The economic impact of a smoke‐free bylaw on restaurant and bar sales in Ottawa, Canada
Authors: Luk Rita , Ferrence Roberta , Gmel Gerhard
Published: April 2006

Aims  On 1 August 2001, the City of Ottawa (Canada's Capital) implemented a smoke‐free bylaw that completely prohibited smoking in work‐places and public places, including restaurants and bars, with no exemption for separately ventilated smoking rooms. This paper evaluates the effects of this bylaw on restaurant and bar sales.

Data and measures  We used retail sales tax data from March 1998 to June 2002 to construct two outcome measures: the ratio of licensed restaurant and bar sales to total retail sales and the ratio of unlicensed restaurant sales to total retail sales. Restaurant and bar sales were subtracted from total retail sales in the denominator of these measures.

Design and analysis  We employed an interrupted time‐series design. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) intervention analysis was used to test for three possible impacts that the bylaw might have on the sales of restaurants and bars. We repeated the analysis using regression with autoregressive moving average (ARMA) errors method to triangulate our results.

Findings  Outcome measures showed declining trends at baseline before the bylaw went into effect. Results from ARIMA intervention and regression analyses did not support the hypotheses that the smoke‐free bylaw had an impact that resulted in (1) abrupt permanent, (2) gradual permanent or (3) abrupt temporary changes in restaurant and bar sales.

Conclusions  While a large body of research has found no significant adverse impact of smoke‐free legislation on restaurant and bar sales in the United States, Australia and elsewhere, our study confirms these results in a northern region with a bilingual population, which has important implications for impending policy in Europe and other areas.
A life shaped by pain: women and endometriosis
Authors: Huntington Annette , Gilmour Jean A
Published: April 2006

Aims and objectives.  The research aim was to explore women's perceptions of living with endometriosis, its effects on their lives and the strategies used to manage their disease.

Background.  Symptomatic endometriosis significantly affects women's quality of life. Characteristically the condition causes severe pain and has a negative impact on the ability to work, on family relationships and self‐esteem. There has been little discussion about women's experience of endometriosis in nursing literature.

Design.  A qualitative research design informed by feminist research principles was chosen for this project.

Methods.  Eighteen women agreed to take part in the research. The individual, audio taped interviews were semi‐structured and interactive. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results.  The dominant feature of data from the interviews was the experience of severe and chronic pain impacting on all aspects of life. Analysis related to pain resulted in four themes: manifestations of pain, the pain trajectory, intractable pain and controlling pain.

Conclusion.  The diagnostic process typically took 5–10 years indicating that primary health care practitioners need higher levels of ‘suspicion’ for this condition. Case studies and problem‐based scenarios focusing on endometriosis in health professional education programmes would enhance diagnostic skills and knowledge development. No formal pain management follow up after diagnosis and treatment meant women actively sought information from other sources as they made major lifestyle changes in the areas of activity and nutrition. Pain management services specifically for women with endometriosis would provide much needed support with this neglected aspect of the disease.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This is a fertile area for the development of the Nurse Practitioner role which, also drawing on the considerable collective expertise of women with endometriosis, could provide significant information and support for women as they manage this highly complex condition.
Annual changes in the concentration of minerals and organic compounds of Quercus suber leaves
Authors: Passarinho José A. P. , Lamosa Pedro , Baeta José P. , Santos Helena , Ricardo Cândido P. P.
Published: April 2006

Mature leaves are the primary source of sugars, which give rise to many secondary metabolites required for plant survival under adverse conditions. In order to study the interaction of field‐grown cork oak (Quercus suber L.) with the environment, we investigated the seasonal variation of minerals and organic metabolites in the leaves, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, elemental analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Statistical analysis showed that the data strongly correlated with seasonal climate and were divided in three groups corresponding to: (1) spring‐early summer, (2) summer and (3) autumn‐winter. The concentration of N, P, K and leaf ash content were highest in spring (recently formed leaves), reached the minimum during the hot and dry summer and increased slightly during the rainy period of autumn‐winter. Conversely, Na, Mg and Ca concentrations were lowest in spring‐early summer and increased during summer and autumn‐winter, the Ca concentration increasing five‐fold. Two cyclitol derivatives, quinic acid and quercitol were the major organic metabolites of the leaves. Their concentration along the season followed opposite trends. While quinic acid predominated during spring‐early summer, when it contributed 12% to the leaf osmotic potential, quercitol was predominant during autumn‐winter, when its contribution to leaf osmotic potential was about 10%. This different preponderance of the two compounds is expressed by the quercitol/quinic acid ratio, which can be as low as 0.2 in early summer and as high as 9 in winter. Sucrose and glucose concentrations also increased during autumn‐winter. Evidence for the quercitol protective role in plants during stress is discussed, and on the basis of structural similarity, it is suggested that quinic acid could have an identical importance, with a protective role against heat and high irradiance. It is concluded that the marked changes in Q. suber leaf composition throughout the year could have important implications in the plant capacity to endure climatic stress.
Dual function of pyrimidine metabolism in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants: pyrimidine salvage and supply of β‐alanine to pantothenic acid synthesis
Authors: Katahira Riko , Ashihara Hiroshi
Published: April 2006

Uridine and cytidine are major nucleosides and are produced as catabolites of pyrimidine nucleotides. To study the metabolic fates and role of these nucleosides in plants, we have performed pulse (2 h) and chase (12 h) experiments with [2‐14C]uridine and [2‐14C]cytidine and determined the activities of some related enzymes using tubers and fully expanded leaves from 10‐week‐old potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.). In tubers, more than 94% of exogenously supplied [2‐14C]uridine and [2‐14C]cytidine was converted to pyrimidine nucleotides and RNA during 2‐h pulse, and radioactivity in these salvage products still remained at 12 h after the chase. Little degradation of pyrimidine was found. A similar pyrimidine salvage was operative in leaves, although more than 20% of the radioactivity from [2‐14C]uridine and [2‐14C]cytidine was released as 14CO2 during the chase. Enzyme profile data show that uridine/cytidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.48) activity is higher in tubers than in leaves, but uridine nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.3) activity was higher in leaves. In leaves, radioactivity from [U‐14C]uracil was incorporated into β‐ureidopropionic acid, CO2, β‐alanine, pantothenic acid and several common amino acids. Our results suggest two functions of uridine and cytidine metabolism in leaves; these nucleosides are not only substrates for the classical pyrimidine salvage pathways but also starting materials for the biosynthesis of β‐alanine. Subsequently, some β‐alanine units are utilized for the synthesis of pantothenic acid in potato leaves.
Contact dermatitis due to benzisothiazolone in a works analytical team
Authors: Slovak A. J. M.
Published: April 2006

In the quality control laboratory of a chemical firm, 11 of 16 men developed dermatitis. Of the allergenic substances used, seven men reacted to benzisothiazolone, two to dinilro‐chlorobenzene, and none to diphenylamine. Two men were negative to all three substances. A poorly ventilated humid working environment was thought to be an important contributory factor.
Alcohol use among young adults presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Tjipto Alwie C , McD Taylor David , Liew Hui
Published: April 2006

Objectives:  To determine the prevalence of young ED patients at risk from hazardous alcohol consumption, to identify high‐risk patient subgroups and evaluate the feasibility of use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in this setting.

Methods:  We undertook a cross‐sectional survey of 336 ED patients aged 18–30 years, inclusive. All were breathalysed prior to self‐administering the AUDIT. A ‘positive’ AUDIT score (≥8) defined hazardous alcohol consumption. AUDIT scores were correlated with sex and trauma diagnosis.

Results:  One hundred and thirty‐one (39.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 33.8–44.5) patients were classified as AUDIT‐positive. Men were significantly more likely to be AUDIT‐positive (49%vs 23%, P < 0.001) and had significantly higher total AUDIT scores (P < 0.001) than women. Trauma patients were significantly more likely to be AUDIT‐positive (P < 0.001) and had significantly higher AUDIT scores than non‐trauma patients (P < 0.001). Of the six patients who recorded a positive breath alcohol reading, all were AUDIT‐positive. One hundred (76.3%, 95% CI 68.0–83.1) AUDIT‐positive patients did not report others being concerned about their drinking or had not been given advice to cut down.

Conclusion:  It is feasible to use the AUDIT screening tool in the ED to identify those at risk from hazardous drinking. In our ED there is a high prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption in young adult patients, many of whom have not previously received advice to cut down on their drinking.
SIMULTANEOUS RECOVERY AND DETECTION OF FOUR HEAT‐INJURED FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN GROUND BEEF AND MILK BY A FOUR‐COMPARTMENT THIN AGAR LAYER PLATE
Authors: WU VIVIAN C.H. , FUNG DANIEL Y.C.
Published: April 2006

A four‐compartment thin agar layer (4‐TAL) system was developed to improve operation efficiency and recover injured foodborne pathogens simultaneously. The system consisted of a layer of nonselective agar overlaid on four different selective agars (xylose lysine desoxycholate [XLD], cefsulodin irgasan novobiocin [CIN], modified Oxford medium [MOX] and MacConkey sorbitol agar [MSA]) housed in a four‐compartment petri dish. We applied this system to simultaneously recover heat‐injured (55C, 10 min) Escherichia coli O157:H7 (MSA), Listeria monocytogenes (MOX), Salmonella Typhimurium (XLD) and Yersinia enterocolitica (CIN) from ground beef and pasteurized milk. No significant difference (P > 0.05) occurred between the single recovery unit (nonselective agar overlaid on one selective agar in a standard petri dish) and the 4‐TAL for detecting four heat‐injured pathogens in tested samples. Both TAL methods showed greater recovery of four heat‐injured pathogens than the pathogen‐specific selective media (P < 0.05). The 4‐TAL system appears to be efficient for recovery and detection of injured pathogens in food in terms of operation, material and labor costs, and space of incubation.
Host Genetics of
Bordetella pertussis
Infection in Mice: Significance of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in Genetic Susceptibility and Pathobiology
Authors: Banus H. A. , Vandebriel R. J. , de Ruiter H. , Dormans J. A. M. A. , Nagelkerke N. J. , Mooi F. R. , Hoebee B. , van Kranen H. J. , Kimman T. G.
Published: April 2006

The susceptibility to and the severity of
Bordetella pertussis
infections in infants and children varies widely, suggesting that genetic differences between individuals influence the course of infection. We have previously identified three novel loci that influence the severity of whooping cough by using recombinant congenic strains of mice:
Bordetella pertussis
susceptibility loci 1, 2, and 3 (
Bps1
,
-2
, and
-3
). Because these loci could not account for all genetic differences between mice, we extended our search for additional susceptibility loci. We therefore screened 11 inbred strains of mice for susceptibility to a pertussis infection after intranasal infection. Susceptibility was defined by the number of bacteria in the lungs, being indicative of the effect between the clearance and replication of bacteria. The most resistant (A/J) and the most susceptible (C3H/HeJ) strains were selected for further genetic and phenotypic characterization. The link between bacterial clearance and chromosomal location was investigated with 300 F
2
mice, generated by crossing A/J and C3H/HeJ mice. We found a link between the delayed clearance of bacteria from the lung and a large part of chromosome 4 in F
2
mice with a maximum log of the odds score of 33.6 at 65.4 Mb, which is the location of
Tlr4
. C3H/HeJ mice carry a functional mutation in the intracellular domain of
Tlr4
. This locus accounted for all detectable genetic differences between these strains. Compared to A/J mice, C3H/HeJ mice showed a delayed clearance of bacteria from the lung, a higher relative lung weight, and increased body weight loss. Splenocytes from infected C3H/HeJ mice produced almost no interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) upon ex vivo restimulation with
B. pertussis
compared to A/J mice and also showed a delayed gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production. TNF-α expression in the lungs 3 days after infection was increased fivefold compared to uninfected controls in A/J mice and was not affected in C3H/HeJ mice. In conclusion,
Tlr4
is a major host factor explaining the differences in the course of infection between these inbred strains of mice. Functional
Tlr4
is essential for an efficient IL-1-β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ response; efficient clearance of bacteria from the lung; and reduced lung pathology.
The
Escherichia coli
O157 Flagellar Regulatory Gene
flhC
and Not the Flagellin Gene
fliC
Impacts Colonization of Cattle
Authors: Dobbin Heather S. , Hovde Carolyn J. , Williams Christopher J. , Minnich Scott A.
Published: April 2006

A virulent European
Escherichia coli
O157:H

−

isolate is nonmotile due to a 12-bp deletion in the flagellar regulatory gene
flhC
. To investigate the contribution of
flhC
in the relationship between
E. coli
O157:H7 and cattle, we constructed a similar
flhC
regulatory mutant in the well-characterized strain ATCC 43894. There was no difference in the growth rate between the wild type and this regulatory mutant, but phenotypic arrays showed substrate utilization differences. Survival in the bovine gastrointestinal tract and colonization of the rectoanal junction mucosa were assessed. Mixtures of both strains were given orally or rectally to steers or administered into the rumen of cattle dually cannulated at the rumen and duodenum. One day post-oral dose, most rectal/fecal isolates (74%) were the regulatory mutant, but by 3 days post-oral dose and throughout the 42-day experiment, ≥80% of the isolates were wild type. Among steers given a rectal application of both strains, wild-type isolates were the majority of isolates recovered on all days. The regulatory mutant survived better than the wild type in both the rumen and duodenum. To test the role of motility, a filament mutant (Δ
fliC
) was constructed and similar cattle experiments were performed. On all days post-oral dose, the majority of isolates (64% to 98%) were the filament mutant. In contrast, both strains were recovered equally post-rectal application. Thus, the regulatory mutant survived passage through the bovine gastrointestinal tract better than the wild type but failed to efficiently colonize cattle, and the requirement of
flhC
for colonization was not dependent on a functional flagellum.
Mixed Strain Infections and Strain-Specific Protective Immunity in the Rodent Malaria Parasite
Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi
in Mice
Authors: Cheesman Sandra , Raza Ahmed , Carter Richard
Published: April 2006

Important to malaria vaccine design is the phenomenon of “strain-specific” immunity. Using an accurate and sensitive assay of parasite genotype, real-time quantitative PCR, we have investigated protective immunity against mixed infections of genetically distinct cloned “strains” of the rodent malaria parasite
Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi
in mice. Four strains of
P. c. chabaudi
, AS, AJ, AQ, and CB, were studied. One round of blood infection and drug cure with a single strain resulted in a partial reduction in parasitemia, compared with levels for naïve mice, in challenge infections with mixed inocula of the immunizing (homologous) strain and a heterologous strain. In all cases, the numbers of blood-stage parasites of each genotype were reduced to similar degrees. After a second, homologous round of infection and drug cure followed by challenge with homologous and heterologous strains, the parasitemias were reduced even further. In these circumstances, moreover, the homologous strain was reduced much faster than the heterologous strain in all of the combinations tested. That the immunity induced by a single infection did not show “strain specificity,” while the immunity following a second, homologous infection did, suggests that the “strain-specific” component of protective immunity in malaria may be dependent upon immune memory. The results show that strong, protective immunity induced by and effective against malaria parasites from a single parasite species has a significant “strain-specific” component and that this immunity operates differentially against genetically distinct parasites within the same infection.
A Fungicidal Monoclonal Antibody Protects against Murine Invasive Candidiasis
Authors: Sevilla María J. , Robledo Beatriz , Rementeria Aitor , Moragues María D. , Pontón José
Published: April 2006

Mice infected by
Candida albicans
and treated with monoclonal antibody C7 survived longer than saline-treated animals. A prozone-like effect was observed. The in vitro candidacidal activity of macrophages was strongly enhanced when
C. albicans
was opsonized by C7 and complete murine serum was present.
Specific Modification of a Na
+
Binding Site in NADH:Quinone Oxidoreductase from
Klebsiella pneumoniae
with Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide
Authors: Vgenopoulou Irini , Gemperli Anja C. , Steuber Julia
Published: April 2006

The respiratory NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) (NDH-1) is a multisubunit enzyme that translocates protons (or in some cases Na
+
) across energy-conserving membranes from bacteria or mitochondria. We studied the reaction of the Na
+
-translocating complex I from the enterobacterium
Klebsiella pneumoniae
with
N
,
N
′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), with the aim of identifying a subunit critical for Na
+
binding. At low Na
+
concentrations (0.6 mM), DCCD inhibited both quinone reduction and Na
+
transport by NDH-1 concurrent with the covalent modification of a 30-kDa polypeptide. In the presence of 50 mM Na
+
, NDH-1 was protected from inhibition by DCCD, and the modification of the 30-kDa polypeptide with [
14
C]DCCD was prevented, indicating that Na
+
and DCCD competed for the binding to a critical carboxyl group in NDH-1. The 30-kDa polypeptide was assigned to NuoH, the homologue of the ND1 subunit from mitochondrial complex I. It is proposed that Na
+
binds to the NuoH subunit during NADH-driven Na
+
transport by NDH-1.
Sequencing
Bacillus anthracis
Typing Phages Gamma and Cherry Reveals a Common Ancestry
Authors: Fouts Derrick E. , Rasko David A. , Cer Regina Z. , Jiang Lingxia , Fedorova Nadia B. , Shvartsbeyn Alla , Vamathevan Jessica J. , Tallon Luke , Althoff Ryan , Arbogast Tamara S. , Fadrosh Douglas W. , Read Timothy D. , Gill Steven R.
Published: April 2006

The genetic relatedness of the
Bacillus anthracis
typing phages Gamma and Cherry was determined by nucleotide sequencing and comparative analysis. The genomes of these two phages were identical except at three variable loci, which showed heterogeneity within individual lysates and among Cherry, Wβ, Fah, and four Gamma bacteriophage sequences.
Induction of
Escherichia coli
Chromosomal
mazEF
by Stressful Conditions Causes an Irreversible Loss of Viability
Authors: Kolodkin-Gal Ilana , Engelberg-Kulka Hanna
Published: April 2006

mazEF
is a stress-induced toxin-antitoxin module located on the chromosomes of many bacteria. Here we induced
Escherichia coli
chromosomal
mazEF
by various stressful conditions. We found an irreversible loss of viability, which is the basic characteristic of cell death. These results further support our previous conclusion that
E. coli mazEF
mediation of cell death is not a passive process, but an active and genetically “programmed” death response.
Task-level control of rapid wall following in the American cockroach
Authors: Cowan N. J. , Lee J. , Full R. J.
Published: April 2006

The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is reported to follow walls at a rate of up to 25 turns s–1. During high-speed wall following, a cockroach holds its antenna relatively still at the base while the flagellum bends in response to upcoming protrusions. We present a simple mechanosensory model for the task-level dynamics of wall following. In the model a torsional, mass-damper system describes the cockroach's turning dynamics, and a simplified antenna measures distance from the cockroach's centerline to a wall. The model predicts that stabilizing neural feedback requires both proportional feedback (difference between the actual and desired distance to wall) and derivative feedback (velocity of wall convergence) information from the antenna. To test this prediction, we fit a closed-loop proportional-derivative control model to trials in which blinded cockroaches encountered an angled wall (30° or 45°) while running. We used the average state of the cockroach in each of its first four strides after first contacting the angled wall to predict the state in each subsequent stride. Nonlinear statistical regression provided best-fit model parameters. We rejected the hypothesis that proportional feedback alone was sufficient. A derivative (velocity) feedback term in the control model was necessary for stability.
Parathyroid hormone may maintain bone formation in hibernating black bears (Ursus americanus) to prevent disuse osteoporosis
Authors: Donahue Seth W. , Galley Sarah A. , Vaughan Michael R. , Patterson-Buckendahl Patricia , Demers Laurence M. , Vance Josef L. , McGee Meghan E.
Published: April 2006

Mechanical unloading of bone causes an imbalance in bone formation and resorption leading to bone loss and increased fracture risk. Black bears(Ursus americanus) are inactive for up to six months during hibernation, yet bone mineral content and strength do not decrease with disuse or aging. To test whether hibernating bears have biological mechanisms to prevent disuse osteoporosis, we measured the serum concentrations of hormones and growth factors involved in bone metabolism and correlated them with the serum concentration of a bone formation marker (osteocalcin). Serum was obtained from black bears over a 7-month duration that included periods of activity and inactivity. Both resorption and formation markers increased during hibernation, suggesting high bone turnover occurred during inactivity. However, bone formation appeared to be balanced with bone resorption. The serum concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was higher in the hibernation(P=0.35) and post-hibernation (P=0.006) seasons relative to pre-hibernation levels. Serum leptin was lower (P<0.004)post-hibernation relative to pre-hibernation and hibernation periods. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased (P<0.0001) during hibernation relative to pre-hibernation and reached its highest value during remobilization. There was no difference (P=0.64) in 25-OH vitamin D between the three seasons. Serum osteocalcin (bone formation marker) was significantly correlated with PTH, but not with leptin, IGF-I or 25-OH vitamin D. Osteocalcin and PTH were positively correlated when samples from all seasons were pooled and when only hibernation samples were considered, raising the possibility that the anabolic actions of PTH help maintain bone formation to prevent disuse osteoporosis. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)release from MC3T3 osteoblastic cells was significantly affected by treatment with bear serum from different seasons (i.e. hibernation versus active periods). The seasonal changes in PGE2 release showed trends similar to the seasonal changes in serum IGF-I. Since both PGE2 and IGF-I are associated with collagenous bone formation, it is possible that seasonal changes in a circulating factor influence IGF-I levels in vivo in bears and PGE2 release in osteoblastic cells in vitro. The significant decrease in serum leptin following arousal from hibernation may promote bone formation during remobilization, assuming there is a similar decrease in intracerebroventricular leptin. These findings support the idea that seasonal changes in the concentration of circulating molecules help regulate bone formation activity and may be important for preventing disuse osteoporosis in bears.
Witt-Type Theorems for Grassmannians and Lie Incidence Geometries
Authors: Cooperstein B. N. , Kasikova Anna , Shult Ernest E.
Published: April 2006

For a subset of a Lie incidence geometry two intrinsic notions of independence are introduced. Also defined is the notion of a parabolic subspace. A classification is achieved for certain independent subgraphs of the point collinearity graph of the Lie incidence geometries An,k
, Bn,n
, Dn,n
. As a corollary it is proved that certain subspaces of these geometries are parabolic and transitivity results are obtained.
Polar spaces embedded in projective spaces
Authors: Seal Gavin J.
Published: April 2006

Let P be a polar space induced by a
quasipolarity on a projective space G. In this article, we give
sufficient conditions for an embedding (i.e. an incidence-preserving map which
is injective on points and lines) of P into a projective space
H to be extendable to an incidencepreserving map from G to
H. As a consequence, we obtain conditions for such an embedding to be
induced by a semilinear map between the overlying vector
spaces.
On the geometry of linear involutions
Authors: Pankov Mark
Published: April 2006

Let V  be an n-dimensional left
vector space over a division ring R and n ≥ 3. Denote by ##
add figure 'advg.5.3.455_01.gif'##
k
the Grassmann space of
k-dimensional subspaces of V and write ## add figure
'advg.5.3.455_02.gif'##
k
for the set of all pairs
(S, U ) ∈ ## add figure
'advg.5.3.455_01.gif'##
k
 ｘ ## add figure
'advg.5.3.455_01.gif'##
n - k
  such that S + U = V. We study bijective transformations of ## add
figure 'advg.5.3.455_02.gif'##
k
preserving the class of base
subsets and show that these mappings are induced by semilinear isomorphisms of
V  to itself or to the dual space V*  if n
≠ 2k ; for n = 2k this fails. This result can be
formulated as the following: if n ≠ 2k and the characteristic
of R is not equal to 2 then any commutativity preserving transformation
of the set of (k, n - k )-involutions can be
extended to an automorphism of the group GL(V  ).
Metaphor in the ‘‘Strict Father’’ and ‘‘Nurturant Parent’’ cognitive models: Theoretical issues raised in an empirical study
Authors: Cienki Alan
Published: April 2006

The metaphorical components of two cognitive models of
moral/political systems, presented in Lakoff (1996 [2002]), were tested
empirically, using a set of televised debates between two candidates for US
president as data. Few verbal metaphoric expressions were found in the data
which directly reﬂected the conceptual metaphors proposed in the models.
However, a large number of mostly non-metaphoric expressions were found which
constitute entailments of the models. This suggests a form of reasoning
according to the logic of the proposed metaphors. The speakers’ metaphoric
gestures in one of the debates were then coded and analyzed. Quantitative
analysis produced results similar to the linguistic analysis, but qualitative
analysis highlighted signiﬁcant differences between the models, both in terms of
their composition and how they can be expressed. The study raises methodological
issues for metaphor research, and theoretical questions about the ways of
identifying and labeling conceptual metaphors and about the status of cognitive
and cultural models.
Reading relative clauses in English
Authors: Gibson Edward , Desmet Timothy , Grodner Daniel , Watson Duane , Ko Kara
Published: April 2006

Two self-paced reading experiments investigated
several factors that inﬂuence the comprehension complexity of singly-embedded
relative clauses (RCs) in English. Three factors were manipulated in Experiment
1, resulting in three main effects. First, object-extracted RCs were read more
slowly than subject-extracted RCs, replicating previous work. Second, RCs that
were embedded within the sentential complement of a noun were read more slowly
than comparable RCs that were not embedded in this way. Third, and most
interestingly, object-modifying RCs were read more slowly than subject-modifying
relative clauses. This result contradicts one of the central tenets of
complexity research: that nested sentences are harder to understand than their
right-branching equivalents (e.g., Miller and Chomsky 1963). It is hypothesized
that this result followed from a combination of two information-ﬂow factors: (1)
background information is usually presented early in a sentence; and (2)
restrictive RCs—the form of the RCs in Experiment 1—usually convey background
information. Experiment 2 tested this hypothesis by comparing restrictive and
non-restrictive RCs— which generally provide new information—in both subject-
and objectmodifying positions. The results of the experiment were as predicted
by the information-ﬂow account: Only restrictive RCs were read more slowly when
modifying objects. It is concluded that both resource and information-ﬂow
factors need to be considered in explaining RC complexity
effects.
Intellectual Property and Biotechnology
Authors: Jimenez Victoria , Fernandez Dennis
Published: April 2006

Why protect Intellectual Property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to a legal entitlement, which sometimes attaches to the expressed form of an idea or of other intangible subject matter. The most well known forms of IP include copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. IP rights are protected under various federal and state laws, as well as international treaties. Without this protection, IP would fall into the public domain and be used by any party without a license. Therefore, a sound management strategy should systematically build a portfolio consisting of different IP rights, with the aim of protecting the various aspects of the company’s technology and commercial interests.
Editorial
Authors: Spranger Tade Matthias
Published: April 2006

In their fundamental overview on intellectual property and biotechnology,
Dialektforschung im Internet [Dialect research on the Internet]
Authors: Schmitz Ulrich
Published: April 2006

Hypermediale Techniken eröffnen der Dialektforschung ungeahnte Forschungs- und Präsentationsmöglichkeiten, weil authentische Sprachproben, kartographisches Material, Texte und Informationen unterschiedlichster Art auf ein und derselben technischen Plattform unmittelbar zusammengebunden werden können.
Bridge verbs and V2 verbs – the same thing in spades?
Authors: Featherston Samuel
Published: April 2006

In this paper we investigate the quality of ‘bridgeness’, the extent to which a verb permits extraction from its complement clause. In spite of considerable study, linguists have only a limited idea of the nature of the factor involved. We address the question whether the quality of being a bridge verb is the same as the quality which permits a verb to take a verb-second complement clause in German. We report the results of two experiments using the technique of magnitude estimation, a method of eliciting grammaticality judgements with a high degree of differentiation. The data reveals that the ‘bridge’ quality and the ‘V2’ quality co-vary very closely, suggesting that they may well be facets of the same factor. We discuss the implications this finding has for the nature of the bridge quality.
Das neue italienische Gesetz über Sklaverei und Menschenhandel(Gesetz Nr. 228 vom 11. August 2003)
Authors: Summerer Kolis
Published: April 2006

I. Einleitung

Die Einführung der neuen Regelung über Sklaverei und Menschenhandel beendet einen langen Zeitraum, in dem die Anwendung der Art. 600ff. it.StGB systematisch unterlassen wurde und bestätigt gleichzeitig die Auffassung der Rechtsprechung, die schon seit Jahren eine moderne und innovative Auslegung der knappen Vorschriften des Codice Rocco langsamdurchgesetzt hatte. Das neue Gesetz Nr. 228 vom 11. August 2003 zwingtnun, die Diskussion im Hinblick auf den gewandelten politischen und gesellschaftlichen Kontext und einen in den Jahren komplex und heterogengewordenen normativen Rahmen wieder aufzunehmen.

Die mit der Sklaverei und dem Menschenhandel verbundenen kriminellen Erscheinungen haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten beträchtlich zugenommen. Außerdem haben diese nun eine ausgedehnt organisierte Form angenommen und weisen einen typisch transnationalen Charakter auf. Die Versklavung, der An- und Verkauf von Menschen, die Formen totaler körperlicherund psychischer Unterwerfung sind durchaus Phänomene der modernen Gesellschaft. Es handelt sich eindeutig um Ausbeutungstypologien,die von der traditionellen und historisch bekannten Sklaverei weit entferntsind: man denke nur an die Zwangsarbeit und an die Zwangsdienste im Haushalt und in der Industrie, an die Bettelei, an die Schuldknechtschaft, andie Zuhälterei, an die Ausnutzung der Jugendprostitution und an den Sex-Tourismus – wahre Formen einer modernen Sklaverei, die dadurch charakterisiertsind, dass die Personen tatsächlich in der Situation eines Sklaven lebenund der Macht eines Gebieters völlig unterworfen sind.
Early Bantu Ethnography from a Philological Point of View
Authors: Warmelo N. J. v.
Published: April 2006

Opening Paragraph

Few of the secrets that Africa still holds from us to-day have, I think, such an absorbing interest as the problem of Bantu in its relation to the neighbouring families and types of speech. Taking the continent of Africa as a whole, we find on the one hand the huge, yet marvellously homogeneous and compact body of the Bantu languages, clear-cut in structure, simple and transparent in phonology, and, at the back of much apparent diversity, exceptionally uniform in vocabulary. On the other hand there are in Africa numerous other languages of various type, which differ so much amongst each other that they have not yet been brought under any but the very broadest of classifications. The essential points of these are as follows.
Populations et Peuplement à Madagascar. Simple Essai de Mise au Point
Authors: Dubois R. P. Henri
Published: April 2006

Nous n'avons certes pas la prétention de donner ici une solution définitive ou complète au problème des origines de nos tribus malgaches. Madagascar, comme chacun sait, abonde en énigmes, et il faudra sans doute encore bien du temps, bien des recherches, bien des tâtonnements pour y répondre. Notre intention n'est que, pour ainsi parler, de faire le point soit des connaissances déjà acquises, soit des probabilités déjà entrevues au sujet du peuplement de la Grande-Ile.
Marriage by Exchange in Nigeria. A Disappearing Institution
Authors: Meek C. K.
Published: April 2006

Opening Paragraph

In Nigeria there are two principal methods of contracting marriages (a) by the payment of a bride-price, and (b) by exchange.

I use the well-established term ‘bride-price’ in preference to the newfangled term ‘bride-wealth’ because the exact equivalent of the term ‘bride-price’ is used in many native Nigerian languages, and also because the term connotes a standard rate payable for a bride, whereas ‘bride-wealth’ is a vague term which seems to suggest the goods and chattels or wedding-presents of a bride.