bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Njárgajávri/Hyggevann
Authors: Blom Jon Gunnar
Published: March 2023

Høsten 2022 undersøkte og dokumenterte arkeologer fra Norges arktiske universitetsmuseum to skyteskjul/bogasteller i et fangstanlegg ved Njárgajávri/Hyggevann øst for Hammerfest i Finnmark. Steinmurene ble rensket fram og plukket fra hverandre, og området i skyteskjulet og et mindre område utenfor steinmurene ble gravd ut for hånd. Målet var å finne arkeologisk materiale som kan si noe om når fangstanlegget ble etablert, hvilken periode eller perioder det var i bruk, konstruksjon og relasjon til landskap og aktivitet i og utenfor skyteskjulene.
Det ble ikke funnet gjenstander eller egnet prøvemateriale i og ved strukturene, men murene og utgravingsfeltet ble dokumentert med fotogrammetri, totalstasjon og feltfoto.
Fangstanlegget med ledegjerde, andre skyteskjul og landskapet rundt ble dokumentert med drone og fotogrammetri. Dette ble analysert og sammenlignet med det nærliggende fangstanlegget på Fállevággi.
Tsongkha History and Historiography
Authors: Sun Penghao
Published: March 2023

Almost no trace of the eleventh-century Tibetan kingdom of Tsongkha remains in extant Tibetan materials; to write its history, scholars have therefore had to rely almost exclusively on Chinese sources written during the Song dynasty. This paper identifies a hitherto undiscovered colophon preserved in the Tibetan Bud- dhist canon as belonging to a translation that was produced through the patronage of the Tsongkha royal court in 1068 or 1080. This colophon provides the Tibetan versions of the names of the Tsongkha king Dongzhan, the queen Xinmu, and their capital/palace. Not only does this new source offer us a valuable local insight into this mysterious Tibetan kingdom, it also raises questions concerning the perception of Tsongkha by Song Chinese literati and Central Tibetan clerics during and after the eleventh century. The paper proffers a description and interpretation of the ambivalent status held by this border region among its two neighboring regions.
Review of The Practice of Canaanite Cult: The Middle and Late Bronze Ages
Authors: Hallote Rachel
Published: March 2023

The Practice of Canaanite Cult: The Middle and Late Bronze Ages. By Matthew Susnow. Ägypten und Altes Testament, vol. 106. Münster: Zaphon, 2021 . Pp. 374, illus. €112.
Review of The Anthropology of Islamic Law: Education, Ethics, and Legal Interpretation at Egypt’s Al-Azhar
Authors: El-Tobgui Carl Sharif
Published: March 2023

The Anthropology of Islamic Law: Education, Ethics, and Legal Interpretation at Egypt’s Al-Azhar. By Aria Nakissa. Oxford Islamic Legal Studies. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019 . Pp . ix + 312. $95.
Review of The Oxford Handbook of Qur’anic Studies
Authors: Fudge Bruce
Published: March 2023

The Oxford Handbook of Qur’anic Studies. Edited by Mustafa Shah and Muhammad Abdel Haleem. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020. Pp. xxiv + 912. $145, £125.
Review of Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran
Authors: Mizzi Dennis
Published: March 2023

Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran. By Sidnie White Crawford. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2019. Pp. xviii + 406. $50.
Review of The Rephaim: Sons of the Gods
Authors: Smith Mark S.
Published: March 2023

The Rephaim: Sons of the Gods. By Jonathan Yogev. Culture and History of the Ancient Near East,

vol. 121. Leiden: Brill, 2021. Pp. xii + 216. $142.
Effects of Hydro-ethanolic Leaf Extract of Sida acuta on Female Albino Rats’ Reproductive Potential and Weight: An Interventional Study
Authors: Chinedu Ibeagi, A. , Bawa Muhammed, Y. , Titilayo Bamidele, O. , Moses Daikwo, A. , Benedict Ashikaa, A.
Published: March 2023

Background: Human fertility control (family planning) is among the major approaches through which unwanted pregnancy can be curbed. Hence, utilization of medicinal herbs in the development and formulation of products, as an alternative to conventional drugs, is one of the method options to achieve this.

Aim: This study was designed to assess the contraceptive potentials of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta, through evaluating its effects on fertility hormones, pregnancy status, and body weight of female albino rats.

Method: This experiment was conducted using thirty five (35) sexually matured albino rats. Using a CRD, the rats were randomly divided into five (5) groups of seven (7) rats each, with five (5) female and two (2) male replicate assigned to each group. The Control group (Group 1) did not receive any treatment. The females in the standard group (Group 2) were administerd with levonorgestrel-etinyl estradiol (standard drug) 7.5/0.75mg/kg b.w./day p.o. The females in the test groups (Groups 3, 4 and 5) were administered the plant extract at different doses of 100mg/kg b.w./day (Low dose), 200mg/kg b.w./day (Medium dose) and 400mg/kg b.w./day (High dose) p.o. respectively, for 28days. The initial and final body weights of the animals were measured. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta, as well as the GC-MS analysis were also performed using standard methods. Furthermore, the effects of the extract were checked on the reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, Progesterone and Estrogen), pregnancy status as well as the body weight of the animals.

Results: The results revealed the presence of bioactive compounds in the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta which may be responsible for the contraceptive potentials of the plant. There were decreased levels of FSH across the groups. There was no pregnancy outcome in group 5 (high-dose group). And there was a significant weight reduction in group 5 (high-dose group).

Conclusion: The result suggested that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta has suppressive effects on the reproductive hormones (especially the gonadotropins) at higher dose, thereby establishing its contraceptive potentials as confirmed by the pregnancy outcome. Also, the extract is capable of significantly decreasing body weight at a high dose.
Evaluation of some Barley Genotypes under Saline Soil Conditions
Authors: El-Mantawy Rania, F. , EL-Shawy E. E. , Mansour Mohamed , Gomaa Heba A.
Published: March 2023

This study examined ten barley genotypes under both normal and saline soil environments at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, during two growing seasons 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used for each experiment. Some traits were recorded i.e. days to maturity, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of spikes m-2, number of grains spike-1, grain yield (t ha-1), biological yield (t ha-1), chlorophyll, K, Na content and K/ Na ratio. Analysis of variance for years, locations, genotypes and interaction were significant and highly significant for all studied traits. Results revealed that, the evaluated genotypes revealed a wide variation in salinity sensitivity. Line-1 and Line-6 gave the most desirable values of yield and related traits as well as physiological parameters under studied environments in both seasons, so we can recommend those genotypes under salinity conditions.
Innovative Fibreglass Mobile Sink Basin: An Intervention for Hand Washing in an Era of Pandemics
Authors: Tabi-Agyei Emmanuel , Padditey Eugene , Adom Dickson , Azaglo Alex Kwasi , Ernest Acheampong Okyere , Kakari Obed
Published: March 2023

The purpose of the study was to undertake an innovative project of producing a mobile sink basin from fibreglass as an intervention for hand washing in Ghana. The qualitative research approach with the arts-based descriptive research design guided the study. Fifty-five (55) study participants in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana were purposively sampled to evaluate the project in the context of handwashing in this era of pandemics. Data were primarily gathered via semi-structured interviews, observations and photographs. Detailed account on the tools and materials as well as the procedural steps for the production of the innovative fibreglass mobile sink by meticulously following the rules in arts-based descriptive research design. The qualitative data were analysed using the qualitative thematic analysis. The study found that the fibreglass mobile sink would be useful for handwashing and proper hand hygiene at homes, schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and marketplaces to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics, the study suggests the scaling up of this innovative mobile sink due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, accessibility and portability that would encourage the Ghanaian citizenry to practice handwashing. The study recommends that the Ghana government via the Ministry of Health in Ghana should seek for funding avenues to support the mass production of this innovative project. Also, the Ministry of Health must collaborate with higher education institutions in organizing and funding projects of staff and students targeted at arresting the daunting health-related issues such as handwashing to curb the spread of infectious diseases.
Effect of Calcium, Magnesium and Boron on Rice and their residual effects on Groundnut
Authors: Rani S. Sheela , Sudhir K. , Hanumanthappa M. , Nalina C. N. , Naik R. Shivamurthy , Chandrakala M. , Shankara M. H.
Published: March 2023

The study was carried out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS) Brahmavar, Udupi district. To know the effect of Calcium, Magnesium (Mg) and Boron (B) on yield and yield components of rice and also their residual effect on groundnut. The geographical position of the area is between 74º45’ to 74º46' East longitude and 13º24'45’’ to 13º25’30’’ North latitude and is at an altitude of 10 meters above mean sea level. Field experiments were established using three levels of Ca (0, 400 & 800 kg ha_1), two levels of Mg  (0 & 120 kg ha_1) and foliar spray of boron at two levels (0 & 0.5 %) combined to give 12 treatments. Groundnut crop was grown as a residual crop in the same plots in which rice has been raised in the previous season, for this recommended dose of fertilizer was applied along with that borax was sprayed on the 45th day after sowing. Results showed that the different combinations of Ca-Mg-B significantly influenced the yield and yield components of rice. The highest were recorded from Ca, Mg and B at 800 kg, 120 kg and 550 g ha-1 respectively. The lowest was recorded in control plot (Ca0-Mg0-B0). In case of groundnut the highest was found from Ca, Mg and B at 800 kg, 120 kg and 550 g ha-1 respectively this treatment was limed in previously cultivated rice crop and the lowest was recorded from control plot.
Effects of Some Nutritional Factors on the Growth of Chlorella vulgaris in a Mixotrophic Cultivation
Authors: Trinh-Dang Mau , Kim Oanh Truong Thi
Published: March 2023

The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris is not only known as a source of lipid compounds for the biofuel industry but also as a potential source of biomass production for aquaculture. This study investigated the influence of some nutritional factors (organic carbon source and C:N ratio) on the growth rate of Chlorella vulgaris. Glucose, sodium acetate, and sucrose were used to check the effect of the carbon sources. Meanwhile, five different ratios of C:N (1:1, 6:1, 12:1, 18:1, and 24:1) were tested. Results showed that glucose was the most suitable source of organic carbon for the biomass development of the Chlorella vulgaris; the ratio C:N=18:1 equivalent to 52.92 mmol/L carbon and 2.94 mmol/L nitrogen is the most appropriate ratio to promote biomass increase. The maximum growth rate of C. vulgaris recorded in this study was 0.58±0.03 day-1 in treatment supplemented with glucose at ratio C:N=18:1.
Horizontal Inequality and West Africa’s Worsening Security: Case Studies of Mali and Nigeria
Authors: Solomon Oyeindiepreye , Cocodia Jude
Published: March 2023

Mutual distrust, suspicion, hate, fear of domination and marginalization compel in-group members to enhance their marked identities in order to differentiate themselves from others and mobilise against other groups that are viewed as threats. Groups in this sense include ethnic, religious and professional, and are further categorized in terms of demography into minority and majority groups. Groups accentuating the fear of each other are a recipe for violent conflict in any state. When governments contribute to this dichotomy through giving a group undue advantage at the expense of others, or deliberately deny a group of due benefits, group suspicion and conflict are taken to frightening levels that keep society dangling on the precipice of war. This research examines how Nigeria has fared under such state sponsored horizontal inequality, the impact on politics, cohesion and (in) security, and what could be done to reverse the trend.  Ex post facto is adopted as the design for this study considering that the events under analysis have occurred and the researcher cannot manipulate the outcomes, and data was collected from secondary sources. This study concludes among others that promoting horizontal equality in society through governance is an effective means in reversing the negative effects of horizontal inequality.
Decentralization of Religious Discourse in the Covid times: A Case Study on Hong Kong’s #DeltaΔMovement
Authors: Lai Rachel
Published: March 2023

Traditionally, most of Christian religious discourse in Hong Kong has been centralized in established institutions, such as churches and seminaries. However, with the changing times of Hong Kong’s protests in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic, young believers have turned to social media to engage in religious discourse under the hashtag “DeltaΔMovement”. This paper will investigate in what ways #DeltaΔMovement has allowed young people to engage in discourse in a decentralized manner, how established institutions are responding to the movement, and insights as to how people may generalize the process of decentralization in various facets of social justice issues, amplifying the voices of the traditionally overlooked and marginalized.
Reading the Resistance of Hegemony on Historical Activities in Indonesia
Authors: Hagijanto Andrian Dektisa , Srisanto Erandaru
Published: March 2023

Indonesian reenactors imitate the characteristics of the troops during the independence war. It becomes a euphoric event in commemorating the battles and history learning activity. The activity itself is perceived as the source of history learning when it is creatively crafted to be a media content and uploaded in social media. It is a kind of excavation towards the history of independence war from the alternative perspective, which has never been disclosed before. The reenactors narrate the perspective of the history of Indonesia independence war as, what is interpreted in this writing, the articulation of hegemony counter. It becomes an example of the operationalization theory of Cox and Schilthuis inspired by Antonio Gramsci. It is a kind of expression of resistance towards the State system and politics from the intellectual concept. Resistance using the history education as the subject becomes a kind of hegemony counter done by society groups which are not included in marginalized society. This paper uses the method of library research, observation and visual analysis interview using the Barthesian semiology perspective.
Brainstorming and Mind-mapping: Crucial Basic Skills Duet in Building Critical Thinking for Academic Composition
Authors: Budiana Christine Ike
Published: March 2023

Academic writing in English has been a challenging basic skill for most English learners despite the levels of fluency the learners have. The range of struggle extends from the limited knowledge of the topic to the less practice in technical academic writing process. Although the challenges vary from one learner to another, there is a similar struggle indicated, particularly in starting the composition process. Brainstorming and mind-mapping have been commonly introduced as the initial phase for academic writing. Nevertheless, they are not as extensively practiced as the next steps of drafting. The next challenge in academic writing highlights the struggle in presenting logical flow of ideas to reflect the critical thinking of the writer. Interestingly, this struggle is closely related to the initial process of collecting and clustering ideas through brainstorming and mind-mapping. According to Pareto Principle, the 20% focus on building “vital few” – in this context is the basic skill – leads to 80% effective results of improvement. Thus, the extensive practice in brainstorming and mind-mapping as the basic skills in academic writing is believed to be crucial to support the whole composition process; particularly in developing the ideas and keeping the track of those ideas to present the critical and logical thinking of the writer.
English Education in Japan and Its Transformation in the Era of COVID-19
Authors: Agustina Eka Christine
Published: March 2023

English has a unique perception in Japan. While it is considered as one of the important tools to gain knowledge and success, Japanese society also has its own sentiment and seen it as a language of the elites. This perception heavily influenced the curriculum, teaching methods, and students’ motivation in mastering the language. English proficiency in Japan itself, however, is still considered very low. Many argued that the curriculum and the outdated teaching style are the ones to blame. Japanese government have been trying several initiatives to improve its English education quality. In the past few years, non- formal English educations institution and native English teachers has also been increasing in demand, mainly thanks to Tokyo Olympic 2020. The spread of COVID-19, however, brought a lot of new challenges and left the future of English education in jeopardy. This paper is intended to give an overview of how English is perceived by Japanese society, how it is learnt in each educational level, and later how COVID-19 affected the system.
Board Game Design as a Means to Educate Indonesian Novice Voters about Participating in an Elections
Authors: Prayogo Ignatius Hendy , Salamoon Daniel Kurniawan , Tanudjaja Bing Bedjo
Published: March 2023

Apathetic about elections in Indonesia is one of few topics that are often discussed whenever the elections period is being held. With generation z attain 27. 94 percent of the total population of Indonesia, it is important that the majority of the Indonesian citizens participate and use their right to vote wisely with a mindset that cares about the nation’s future. This board game is created as a means to educate Indonesian novice voters about taking part in an election so that they are more inclined to participate and use their right of voting. Using board games as the medium makes learning more fun and conveys the message more easily.
Optimizing Indonesian Language Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Elementary Schools
Authors: Samsiyah Nur
Published: March 2023

Learning during the pandemic has an impact on student learning activities in learning Indonesian. This impact causes learning to be carried out online. The purpose of this study was to find out how the teacher's strategy was to optimize Indonesian language learning in elementary schools during the covid-19 pandemic. This research is descriptive qualitative research that examines the strategies of elementary school teachers in optimizing online learning. Data collection techniques using observation, interviews and questionnaires. The research was conducted at an elementary school in Madiun with 10 grade 4 teachers as the subject. The results of optimizing Indonesian language learning show that students learn Indonesian using thematic books with Whatsapp group application services, google meet, google classroom, Microsoft 365, google form, social media. The results of the assessment are carried out using quizzes or tests in the form of assignments.
Cleavage of recombinant and cell derived human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1) Nef protein by HIV‐1 protease
Authors: Gaedigk-Nitschko K. , Schön A. , Wachinger G. , Erfle V. , Kohleisen B.
Published: July 2002

Recombinant purified Nef protein of HIV‐1, as well as Nef protein derived from extracts of permanently HIV‐1 infected glioblastoma cells and monocytes, are specifically cleaved by the HIV‐1 protease. Nef cleavage products in cellular extracts treated with protease showed identical molecular weights as those obtained by digestion of purified Nef with recombinant HIV‐1 protease. Since cellular extracts were prepared by detergent and mechanical lysis it cannot be excluded that physiological cytoplasmic conditions were altered. The lack of Nef cleavage by endogenous HIV‐1 protease in infected cells might be due to low concentrations of viral protease and the presence of Gag precursor molecules as natural substrate. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies two cleavage fragments of 19 kDa and 8 kDa were defined. The cleavage site was located by microsequencing between amino acid 57 and 58 (AW∗LEAQEEEEVGF). The conserved cleavage motif within HIV‐1 Nef suggests a potential biological function of Nef processing.
Underevaluation of complex I activity by the direct assay of NADH‐coenzyme Q reductase in rat liver mitochondria
Authors: Lenaz G. , Fato R. , Genova M.L. , Formiggini G. , Castelli G.Parenti , Bovina C.
Published: July 2002

We have shown that the rate of NADH‐coenzyme Q reductase in rat liver mitochondria, assayed using the decyl‐ubiquinone analog DB, is underevaluated, probably as a result of its low water solubility. In view of drawbacks encountered using other more soluble acceptors in this system, we demonstrate that the most reliable assay of the physiological rate of CoQ reduction by Complex I is the indirect calculation from the total rate of NADH oxidation and the rate of ubiquinol oxidation, using the pool equation of Kröger and Klingenberg [(1973) Eur. J. Biochem. 34, 358–368].
Basal dephosphorylation controls slow gating of L‐type Ca2+ channels in human vascular smooth muscle
Authors: Groschner Klaus , Schuhmann Klaus , Baumgartner Werner , Pastushenko Vassili , Schindler Hansgeorg , Romanin Christoph
Published: July 2002

The role of cellular phosphatase activity in regulation of smooth muscle L‐type Ca2+ channels was investigated using tautomycin, a potent and specific inhibitor of serin/threonin phosphatases type 1 and 2A. Tautomycin (1–100 nM) inhibited Ca2+ channel activity in smooth muscle cells isolated from human umbilical vein. Tautomycin‐induced inhibition of Ca2+ channel activity was due to a reduction of channel availability which originated mainly from prolongation of the lifetime of unavailable states of the channel. Pretreatment of smooth muscle cells with the protein kinase inhibitor H‐7 (10 μM) prevented the inhibitory effect of tautomycin. Our results suggest modulation of slow gating between available and unavailable states as a mechanism of phosphorylation‐dependent down‐regulation of Ca2+ channels in vascular smooth muscle.
Inhibition of glycosphingolipid synthesis induces p34cdc2 activation in Xenopus oocyte
Authors: De Smedt Véronique , Rime Hélène , Jessus Catherine , Ozon René
Published: July 2002

In Xenopus prophase‐blocked oocytes, it is assumed that progesterone interacts with the plasma membrane to initiate a signalling cascade that ultimately leads to MPF activation. Progesterone regulates negatively the cAMP pathway through an inhibition of adenylate cyclase. However, the mechanisms linking the initial action of the hormone with adenylate cyclase activity remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that PDMP, an inhibitor of glucosphingolipid synthesis, triggers oocyte meiotic maturation in a cAMP‐ and cycloheximide‐dependent manner, whereas exogenous ceramide is unefficient. We propose that sphingolipid metabolism and targeting represent an important regulatory process of oocyte meiosis.
Diverse expression profiles of 21 rice peroxidase genes
Authors: Hiraga Susumu , Yamamoto Kimiko , Ito Hiroyuki , Sasaki Katsutomo , Matsui Hirokazu , Honma Mamoru , Nagamura Yoshiaki , Sasaki Takuji , Ohashi Yuko
Published: July 2002

Secretory class III plant peroxidases (POXs) catalyze the oxidation of various reductants, and are encoded by a large multigene family. In rice, 42 independent expressed sequence tags for POXs have been identified. By RNA gel blot analysis using specific probes, we show here that 21 rice POX genes are unique in their developmental, organ specific and external stimuli‐responsive expression. This would suggest that encoded POX isoenzymes are involved in a broad range of physiological processes in rice plants, individually.
Subunit interactions in the twin‐arginine translocase complex of Escherichia coli
Authors: Bolhuis Albert , Bogsch Erik G. , Robinson Colin
Published: July 2002

A subset of Escherichia coli proteins, in particular cofactor‐binding proteins with so‐called twin‐arginine signal peptides, is transported to the periplasm via the twin‐arginine translocation (Tat) pathway. The tatA and tatB genes encode important components of the export system and we have analysed whether the proteins encoded by these genes physically interact. Using co‐immunoprecipitation experiments, we show that TatA and TatB do indeed associate with each other. Gel filtration chromatography demonstrates that both proteins are present in a large complex with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 600 kDa, indicating the presence of other components and/or several TatA and TatB subunits. Finally, we show that TatA is stable in the absence of TatB and may participate in a separate complex lacking TatB in wild‐type cells.
α‐Helical solenoid model for the human involucrin
Authors: Kajava A.V
Published: July 2002

Involucrin is a key component of the cross‐linked envelope of terminally differentiated keratinocytes. The human molecule largely consists of 10 residue repeats and forms a thin 460 Å long rod. Summarized experimental data and a detailed stereochemical analysis made with computer modeling resulted in a structural model for the involucrin molecule. The suggested structure is a left‐handed α‐helical solenoid built of a tandem array of helix‐turn‐helix folds. The structure enables us to explain the whole set of experimental data and residue conservations within the repeats. It is ideally suited to serve as a scaffold for cell envelope assembly and proposes a possible mode of the intermolecular interactions of involucrin during cell cornification.
Transfer of Carbon Dioxide within Cultures of Microalgae: Plain Bubbling versus Hollow‐Fiber Modules
Authors: Carvalho Ana P. , Malcata F. Xavier
Published: July 2002

In attempts to improve the metabolic efficiency in closed photosynthetic reactors, availability of light and CO2 are often considered as limiting factors, as they are difficult to control in a culture. The carbon source is usually provided via bubbling of CO2‐enriched air into the culture medium; however, this procedure is not particularly effective in terms of mass transfer. Besides, it leads to considerable waste of that gas to the open atmosphere, which adds to operation costs. Increase in the interfacial area of contact available for gas exchange via use of membranes might be a useful alternative; microporous membranes, in hollow‐fiber form, were tested accordingly. Two hollow‐fiber modules, different in both hydrophilicity and outer surface area, were tested and duly compared, in terms of mass transfer, versus traditional plain bubbling. Overall volumetric coefficients (KLa) for CO2 transfer were 1.48 × 10−2 min−1 for the hydrophobic membrane, 1.33 × 10−2 min−1 for the hydrophilic membrane, and 7.0 × 10−3 min−1 for plain bubbling. A model microalga, viz. Nannochloropsis sp., was cultivated using the two aforementioned membrane systems and plain bubbling. The produced data showed slight (but hardly significant) increases in biomass productivity when the hollow‐fiber devices were used. However, hollow‐fiber modules allow recirculation of unused CO2, thus reducing feedstock costs. Furthermore, such indirect way of supplying CO2 offers the additional possibility for use of lower gas pressures, as no need to counterbalance hydrostatic heads exists.
Engineering Dental Pulp‐like Tissue in Vitro
Authors: Mooney David J. , Powell Courtney , Piana James , Rutherford Bruce
Published: July 2002

Injury or infection of adult dental pulp often necessitates root canal therapy. This terminates dentin formation and subsequent tooth maturation. In addition, the synthetic materials currently utilized to replace lost tooth structure are not capable of completely replacing the function of the lost tissue, and often fail over time. This report describes a technique to engineer new pulp‐like tissues utilizing cultured cells and synthetic extracellular matrices. Fibroblasts were obtained from human adult dental pulps and multiplied in culture. These cells were subsequently seeded onto synthetic matrices fabricated from fibers (approximately 15 μm in diameter) of polyglycolic acid (PGA). The pulp‐derived fibroblasts adhered to the fibers, proliferated, and formed a new tissue over 60 days in culture with a cellularity similar to that of native pulp. These tissues may find application in the regeneration of oral tissues and may provide novel systems in which to study the biocompatibility of materials and chemicals used in dentistry.
Structure–activity relationship of truncated and substituted analogues of the intracellular delivery vector Penetratin
Authors: Fischer P.M. , Zhelev N.Z. , Wang S. , Melville J.E. , Fåhraeus R. , Lane D.P.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: Peptides derived from the third α‐helix of the homeodomain (residues 43–58; Penetratin) of Antennapedia, a Drosophila homeoprotein, were prepared by simultaneous multiple synthesis. Sets of N‐ and C‐terminally truncated peptides, as well as a series of alanine substitution analogues, were studied. Cell penetration assays using human cell cultures with these peptides revealed that the C‐terminal segment 52Arg‐Arg‐Met‐Lys‐Trp‐Lys‐Lys58 of the parent sequence was necessary and sufficient for efficient cell membrane translocation. Individual Ala substitutions of the peptide’s basic residues led to markedly decreased cell internalization ability, whereas replacement of hydrophobic residues was tolerated surprisingly well. Subcellular localization was seen to be affected by substitutions, with analogues being addressed preferentially to the cytosol or to the nucleus. Conformational constriction of the Penetratin sequence through placement and oxidation of flanking cysteine residues afforded a cyclic disulfide peptide which had lost most of its membrane translocation capacity.
Red blood cell phenotyping is a sensitive technique for monitoring chronic myeloid leukaemia patients after T‐cell‐depleted bone marrow transplantation and after donor leucocyte infusion
Authors: Schaap N. , Schattenberg A. , Bär B. , Mensink E. , De Man A. , Geurts van Kessel A. , De Witte T.
Published: July 2002

Fifteen consecutive patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)‐positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) who relapsed from T‐cell‐depleted bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were successfully treated with donor leucocyte infusions (DLIs). Chimaerism was analysed using red blood cell phenotyping (RCP), and the results were compared with cytogenetic analysis and outcome of qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for breakpoint molecules. In all patients, an increase in autologous erythrocytes and/or a decrease in donor red cells indicated relapse. Donor erythrocytes started to increase from 4 to 20 (median 12) weeks after DLI. At 6 and 12 months after DLI, complete donor chimaerism was found in 11 and 15 patients, respectively, and all patients were in cytogenic remission. A high percentage of autologous red cells at the time of DLI predicted pancytopenia. During relapse and after DLI, the percentage of autologous red cells was strongly correlated with the reappearance and disappearance of Ph‐positive metaphases (r = 0·90; P < 0·001 and r = 0·96; P < 0·001 respectively). The same was true for the correlation between the percentage of autologous red cells and positivity/negativity in PCR for Bcr‐Abl breakpoint molecules (r = 0·94; P < 0·001). A normalized Bcr‐Abl dose of greater than 10−3 in real‐time quantitative PCR correlated well with relapse and the presence of autologous red blood cells (r = 0·77; P < 0·001). We conclude that RCP is a sensitive, easy to perform and fast technique for the prediction of pending relapse after BMT for CML. RCP also predicts the response to DLI and the occurrence of bone marrow aplasia after DLI.
Molecular cytogenetic characterization of an acquired minute supernumerary marker chromosome as the sole abnormality in a case clinically diagnosed as atypical Philadelphia‐negative chronic myelogenous leukaemia
Authors: Starke Heike , Raida Martin , Trifonov Vladimir , Clement Joachim H. , Loncarevic Ivan F. , Heller Anita , Bleck Cordula , Nietzel Angela , Rubtsov Nikolai , Claussen Uwe , Liehr Thomas
Published: July 2002

A case of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) in a 48‐year‐old man is reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a Philadelphia‐negative CML with an acquired small supernumerary marker chromosome (SMC) 11 as the sole abnormality. The derivative chromosome 11 was studied in detail using molecular cytogenetic methods; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using centromere‐ and region‐specific probes for chromosome 11, microdissection, micro‐comparative genomic hybridization (micro‐CGH) and the recently developed multicolour banding (MCB) technique. The acquired SMC was determined to be a ring chromosome that can be described as r(11)(:p11.2→q13.1::q14:).
Pattern of transmission of laser light through carious molar teeth
Authors: Chandler N. P. , Pitt Ford T. R. , Watson T. F.
Published: July 2002

Aims

The aims of this study were to investigate the pattern of transmission of laser light through carious human molar teeth, and to examine the effect on light transmission of reactions to caries in the dentine.

Methodology

Sectioned carious human molars were examined whilst illuminated from their external surfaces by a helium–neon laser probe of 0.5 mm diameter. The pattern of light transmission was observed and selected specimens were photographed. The passage of light through the surrounding dentine toward the pulp space was investigated by confocal microscopy. Further carious and restored teeth were illuminated from three buccal and three lingual sites to establish the probability of light being able to reach the coronal pulp space.

Results

For all 31 teeth examined, it was posssible to illuminate the pulp space from a position on the buccal side. The presence of intracoronal restorations did not necessarily prevent light transmission to the pulp. Confocal microscopy demonstrated conduction of light within dystrophic deposits of irregular secondary dentine.

Conclusions

The presence of carious lesions or restorations in molar teeth does not necessarily interfere with transmission of laser light to the pulp space. Light is conducted within irregular secondary dentine. With appropriate probe placement, assessments of pulp health in diseased posterior teeth may be possible using laser Doppler flowmetry.
Examining the secretor status in the saliva of patients with oral pre‐cancerous lesions
Authors: Vidas I. , D‐Elajlija M. , Temmer‐Vuksan B. , Stipetic°‐Mravak M. , Cindric° N. , MariČic° D.
Published: July 2002

It has been demonstrated in a number of earlier studies on the aetiology and pathogenesis of certain diseases that the patients′ secretor status (ABO (H) blood group antigens) may possibly be a factor influencing the development of systemic oral diseases. This likelihood has prompted the present study, to examine the differences in the saliva secretor status by comparing patients with oral pre‐cancerous lesions on the one hand, and the healthy population on the other; (i) in relation to the intensity of the clinical manifestation of diseases and (ii) in relation to the intensity of epithelial dysplasia of patients with oral pre‐cancerous lesions. In total 122 subjects were examined, half of whom suffered from oral pre‐cancerous lesions (excluding

Candida albicans

in oral smears), while the other half were the healthy control group. All were subjected to clinical oral examinations and standard evaluation tests in order to establish the secretor status of their saliva. In the group of patients with oral pre‐cancerous lesions (experimental group), a pathohistological examination of the oral mucosa was performed. The results have demonstrated that the large majority of the people examined in both groups were secretors and no significant difference between secretors and non‐secretors was found in the comparison between the experimental group and the healthy control group. However, (i) we found a higher intensity of oral disease in the non‐secretor group, and (ii) the occurrence of epithelial dysplasia was found exclusively in the non‐secretor group.
Modelling and exploring human sleep with event history analysis
Authors: YASSOURIDIS ALEXANDER , STEIGER AXEL , KLINGER ARTUR , FAHRMEIR LUDWIG
Published: July 2002

In this paper we propose the use of statistical models of event history analysis for investigating human sleep. These models provide appropriate tools for statistical evaluation when sleep data are recorded continuously over time or on a fine time grid, and are classified into sleep stages such as REM and nonREM as defined by Rechtschaffen and Kales (1968). In contrast to conventional statistical procedures, event history analysis makes full use of the information contained in sleep data , and can therefore provide new insights into non‐stationary properties of sleep. Probabilities of or intensities for transitions between sleep stages are the basic quantities for characterising sleep processes. The statistical methods of event history analysis aim at modelling and estimating these intensities as functions of time, taking into account individual sleep history and assessing the influence of factors of interest, such as hormonal secretion. In this study we suggest the use of non‐parametric approaches to reveal unknown functional forms of transition intensities and to explore time‐varying and non‐stationary effects. We then apply these techniques in a study of 30 healthy male volunteers to assess the mean population intensity and the effects of plasma cortisol concentration on the transition between selected sleep stages as well as the influence of elapsed time in a current REM period on the intensity for a transition to nonREM. The most interesting findings are that (a) the intensity of the nonREM‐to‐REM transitions after sleep onset in young men shows a periodicity which is similar to that of nonREM/REM cycles; (b) 30–45 min after sleep onset, young men reveal a great propensity to pass from light sleep (stages 1 or 2) into slow‐wave sleep (SWS) (stages 3 or 4); (c) high cortisol levels imposed additional impulses on the transition intensity of (i) wake to sleep around 2 h after sleep onset, (ii) nonREM to REM around 6 h later, (iii) stage 1 or stage 2 sleep to SWS around 2, 4 and 6 h later and (iv) SWS to stage 1 or stage 2 sleep about 2 h later. Moreover, high cortisol concentrations at the beginning of REM periods favoured the change to nonREM sleep, whereas later their influence on a nonREM change became weak and weaker. As sleep data are also available as event‐oriented data in many studies in sleep research, event history analysis applied additionally to conventional statistical procedures, such as regression analysis or analyis of variance, could help to acquire more information and knowledge about the mechanisms behind the sleep process.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LAPAROSCOPIC VERSUS CONVENTIONAL CHOLECYSTECTOMY
Authors: Chaudhary D. , Verma G. R. , Gupta R. , Bose S. M. , Ganguly N. K.
Published: July 2002

Background: Injury induces systemic inflammatory response. The degree of response is proportionate to the trauma.

Methods: Patients with ultrasound‐proven gall stones posted for operation were randomized into two groups. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in one group while the other group underwent conventional cholecystectomy. Peripheral venous blood samples for inflammatory mediators, namely tumour necrosis factor, C‐reactive protein, oxygen release from monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes were drawn 1 day before surgery and repeated on the first and third days after surgery. Partial pressure of arterial oxygen was also measured in both groups. Only patients who met selection criteria and had uncomplicated postoperative courses were included in the study.There was a total of 40 patients for the final analysis, 20 in each group.

Results: There was no significant difference (P > 0.1) in age, sex or body mass index in both groups of patients. The level of all of the inflammatory mediators was elevated on the first postoperative day; however, the elevation was significantly less following laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to conventional cholecystectomy (P < 0.01). Although the values came down on the third postoperative day, they remained above the respective controls. Postoperative hypoxaemia was significantly more in patients of conventional than laparoscopic cholecystectomy (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Trauma‐induced inflammatory response is significantly less following laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to conventional cholecystectomy. It appears to be related to degree of trauma.
Cuckoldry and the stability of biparental care
Authors: Kokko H.
Published: July 2002

In socially monogamous species, females may engage in extra‐pair fertilizations to gain direct or indirect benefits not provided by the social mate, with the potential risk of a reduction in the social mate’s paternal effort. I present an ESS model of cuckoldry frequencies, which considers both facultative and nonfacultative male responses to losses in paternity. Two possible equilibria exist: stable social monogamy with varying degrees of extra‐pair paternity, and polygamy with little or no male care. Monogamy with limited cuckoldry can be stable only if the initial cuckoldry frequency is low, intrinsic cuckoldry benefits are not high, males can reasonably accurately detect cuckoldry, and female compensation for losses in male care is incomplete. Deviations from these assumptions lead to stronger mate acquisition in males at the expense of paternal care, and eventually to runaway evolution towards polygamy. Average female fitness is reduced in the runaway, although it is initiated by females maximizing the survival of offspring – a potential “tragedy of the commons” in breeding systems.
Real-time observations of hydrogen drift and diffusion in silicon
Authors: Seager C. H. , Anderson R. A.
Published: July 2002

Real-time detection of hydrogen motion and bonding has been accomplished by capacitance voltage profiling of various Schottky and metal- insulator-semiconductor capacitors during low-energy H ion beam injection into the barrier metallization. Finite element analysis modeling of the data indicates that a significant fraction of H interstitials are positively charged, and that bonding of these species with charged boron acceptors proceeds with the large cross section expected of a Coulomb capture process. The 300 K value of the H diffusivity is ≂10−10 cm2/s in agreement with extrapolation of high-temperature diffusivity data.
Extremely low resistance nonalloyed ohmic contacts on GaAs using InAs/InGaAs and InAs/GaAs strained-layer superlattices
Authors: Peng C. K. , Ji G. , Kumar N. S. , Morkoç H.
Published: July 2002

Employing a structure consisting of n+-InAs/InGaAs and InAs/GaAs strained-layer superlattices (SLS’s) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs films, nonalloyed contact resistances less than 8.5×10−8 Ω cm2 have been obtained. Self-consistent simulations show that these extremely small nonalloyed contact resistances are due to the suppression of the depletion depth in the GaAs channel and tunneling through the SLS layer. Similar structures on InGaAs channels have led to nonalloyed specific contact resistances of about 1.5×10−8 Ω cm2. These results represent the smallest figures reported for these important material systems.
High-power operation in InGaAs separate confinement heterostructure quantum well laser diodes
Authors: Kitamura M. , Takano S. , Sasaki T. , Yamada H. , Mito I.
Published: July 2002

Lasing characteristics have been investigated systematically in long-wavelength InGaAs separate confinement heterostructure quantum well laser diodes (SCH QW LD’s) with varied well thicknesses and number of wells, for the first time. Marked improvements in threshold current density and characteristic temperature values have been observed in SCH MQW LD’s to SCH SQW LD’s. Maximum cw output power of 46 mW at 20 °C has been achieved in SCH QW LD’s with five wells, which is the highest among the long-wavelength quantum well LD’s.
Anomalous suppression of transport critical current below B
c2 (T) in oriented sintered samples of DyBa2Cu3O7
Authors: Hampshire D. P. , Seuntjens J. , Cooley L. D. , Larbalestier D. C.
Published: July 2002

Measurements of the transport critical current density (Jct ) of textured sintered samples of DyBa2 Cu3 O7 have been made as a function of temperature in magnetic fields up to 27 T. Data with the current orthogonal to the applied field for the high Bc2 (T) (B⊥c axis) and the low Bc2 (T) (B∥c axis) orientations are presented. We report the anomalous suppression of the transport critical current when current flows along the c axis at 24 T and 4.2 K, a field which is well below Bc2 (∼100 T) at this temperature.
Physical mechanism of triggering in trigatron spark gaps
Authors: Peterkin F. E. , Williams P. F.
Published: July 2002

Since the first trigatron spark gap was described by J. D. Craggs, M. E. Haine, and J. M. Meek [J. Inst. Electr. Eng. 93A, 963 (1946)], there has been controversy about the physical mechanism responsible for triggering the devices. In this letter we present experimental evidence that directly shows the sequence of physical events responsible for triggering in the gap we studied, and we present a model for trigatron triggering based on this information. We believe this model to be general and discuss it in light of existing literature. We briefly discuss the implications of the model for the engineering design of trigatron gaps.
Isoelectronic doping in GaAs epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Lee M. K. , Chiu T. H. , Dayem A. , Agyekum E.
Published: July 2002

In-doped GaAs epilayers have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy. This work investigates the relatively unexplored In doping concentration in the range of 1017–1019 cm−3. Enhancement in Hall mobility and photoluminescence intensity have been observed. Proper isoelectronic doping may lead to reduction of the unintentional impurity level.
Disordering of Si-implanted GaAs-AlGaAs superlattices by rapid thermal annealing
Authors: Lee S.-Tong , Braunstein G. , Fellinger P. , Kahen K. B. , Rajeswaran G.
Published: July 2002

We have studied the disordering phenomenon in GaAs-AlGaAs superlattices induced by Si implantation followed by rapid thermal annealing. Disordering has been detected in superlattices implanted with 220 keV Si+ at doses ≥1×1015 cm−2 and annealed at 1050 °C for 10 s. The amount of disordering saturates with time after 10 s annealing, whence the lattice damage caused by the implantation is predominantly annealed out and little Si diffusion detected. The transient disordering is attributed to defect-induced layer intermixing occurring during the annealing of the implantation damage. The defect-induced disordering has been simulated by solving two coupled diffusion equations for aluminum and vacancies, and good qualitative agreement with experimental results has been obtained.