bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political Values in Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania: Sources and Implications for Democracy
Authors: Reisinger William M. , Miller Arthur H. , Hesli Vicki L. , Maher Kristen Hill
Published: March 2009

Employing data from three surveys of mass opinion conducted in Lithuania, Ukraine and European Russia during 1990, 1991 and 1992, we examine three prominent but competing hypotheses about the source of political values in the post-Soviet societies: historically derived political culture, regime indoctrination and the effects of societal modernization. The literature on Soviet political culture argues that Russian mass values are distinguished by authoritarianism and love of order, values which will be largely shared by Ukrainians, especially East Ukrainians, whereas Lithuanian society would not evince this pattern. Our data do not support this hypothesis. We then examine acceptance of Soviet era norms, both political and economic. We do not find support for the argument that regime indoctrination during the Soviet period produced a set of ideologically derived values throughout the former Soviet Union and across a series of generations. The third hypothesis – that industrialization, urbanization, war and changing educational opportunities shaped the formative experiences of succeeding generations in the Soviet societies and, therefore, their citizens' values – receives the most support: in each of the three societies, differences in political values across age groups, places of residence and levels of education are noteworthy. The variations in political values we find across demographic groupings help us to understand the level of pro-democratic values in each society. We find that in Russia and Ukraine more support for democracy can be found among urban, better educated respondents than among other groups. In Lithuania, the urban and better educated respondents evince pro-democratic values at about the same level as their counterparts in Russia and Ukraine, but Lithuanian farmers and blue-collar workers support democracy at a level closer to urban, white-collar Lithuanians than to their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts. In all three societies, those citizens most likely to hold values supportive of democracy are those who are less favourable to Soviet-era values and less convinced of the primacy of the need for social and political ‘order’. Those who desire strong leadership, however, tend to have more democratic values, not more authoritarian ones.
Empirical Linkages Between Democracy and Economic Growth
Authors: Helliwell John F.
Published: March 2009

Using cross-sectional and pooled data for up to 125 countries over the period from 1960 to 1985, this article evaluates the two-way linkages between democracy and economic growth. The effects of income on democracy are found to be robust and positive. The effects of several measures of democracy and personal freedoms on growth are assessed in a comparative growth framework in which growth of GDP per adult depends negatively on initial income levels, as implied by the convergence hypothesis, and positively on rates of investment in physical and human capital. Adjusting for the simultaneous determination of income and democracy makes the estimated partial effect of democracy on subsequent economic growth negative but insignificant. This nonsignificant negative effect is in any case counterbalanced by the positive indirect effect that democracy exerts on growth via education and investment. The general result of the growth analysis is that it is still not possible to identify any systematic net effects of democracy on subsequent economic growth.
Putting Scandinavian Equality to the Test: An Experimental Evaluation of Gender Stereotyping of Political Candidates in a Sample of Norwegian Voters
Authors: Matland Richard E.
Published: March 2009

The issue of the equitable representation of women in political bodies has concerned both political activists and political scientists for a number of years. Greater representation of women is predicted to have a number of effects on public policy and social interactions. Among these effects are changes in policy priorities, improved system legitimacy and a change in the political culture as old stereotypes disappear and women come to be viewed as the equals of men in the political sphere. The view has been that if women were to get into office, they could prove themselves effective. Therefore societal views on women as political leaders would change, and old stereotypes as to their limited competence would break down. The hope of many is that as women politicians become commonplace, a country's political culture would change so that gender is no longer a relevant consideration in evaluating political leaders. This Note directly tests the assertion that increased participation by women leads to this genderneutral view of political leaders.
A model of growth, pregnancy and lactation in the red deer
Authors: VETHARANIAM I. , STEVENS D. R. , ASHER G. W. , WOODWARD S. J. R. , ARCHER J. A. , ROLLO M. D.
Published: March 2009

A model of the growth, pregnancy and lactation of red deer was developed for incorporation into a whole-farm systems model in order to improve the understanding of venison supply systems. The model estimates the level of metabolic demand for a deer, which depends on the maximum capacity of its tissues to use energy. A function that takes account of satiation signals and rumen capacity is used to convert the metabolic demand into an estimate of the deer's forage intake demand, which can be used as an input into a foraging model. The actual energy intake of the deer is subsequently used to predict live weight (LW), body condition score, foetal growth and gestation length in pregnant hinds, and milk yield in lactating hinds. In order to make these predictions, the model requires inputs that include values for mean daily temperature, mean daily wind speed, day length and season, as well as pasture quality. Values for model parameters were obtained from the literature, rather than by fitting to data, and model predictions were then compared with measurements obtained in independent trials.

In simulations, the model predicted that 152-day-old stags and hinds, weighing, respectively, 44 and 48 kg, would grow to, respectively, 106 and 90 kg when 517 days old, compared with trial results of, respectively, 103 and 84 kg. Predictions for the weight of pregnant hinds, gestation length and calf birth weight compared well with an experiment for hinds on a high plane of nutrition but poorly for hinds on medium and low planes. Weekly predictions of hind LWs for days 132–230 of pregnancy had respective residual means of 0·08, 6·2 and 8·5 kg, and respective residual standard deviations of 1·33, 4·6 and 5·2 kg for the high, medium and low nutritional planes. Predicted gestation length for high, medium and low planes of nutrition were, respectively, 231·5, 238·0 and 242·0 days compared with experimental values of, respectively, 231·3, 234·7 and 239·2 days, while predicted birth weights were, respectively, 8·5, 8·3 and 8·9 kg compared with measured values of, respectively, 8·4, 9·5 and 9·3 kg. Predicted calf growth from birth to 14 weeks agreed well with data (residual mean and standard deviation being 0·04 and 1·15 kg, respectively).

The existing software structure of the whole-farm model dictated that the deer model use the Euler method with a fixed, daily time step. Therefore, the model was constructed using difference (rather than differential) equations and used a traditional, energy-balance method for predicting growth. This empirical approach tacitly imposed a standard body composition and standard metabolic rate for adults, with values corresponding to well-fed deer. This does not cater for variation in body composition and metabolic activity, and in retrospect, caused the model to perform poorly for the medium and low nutritional regimes.
Bilateral, simultaneous cochlear implantation in children: surgical considerations
Authors: Migirov L , Kronenberg J
Published: March 2009

Problem:

The advantages of bilateral, simultaneous cochlear implantation include: the possibility to pre-empt cochlear calcification following meningitis; reduction of the intervention to only one procedure, general anaesthetic and course of clinical care (with obvious benefits for the patient); and greater cost-effectiveness. The disadvantages of such a procedure include: doubling the risk of associated complications; placing the patient on the implanted side during contralateral implantation; the possibility of vestibular alteration simultaneously in both ears; the need for precise planning of symmetrical incisions and implant sites; and longer surgery time.

Methods:

The study cohort included 10 children who underwent bilateral, simultaneous cochlear implantation using the suprameatal approach.

Results:

The overall operation time, inclusive of anaesthesia, was approximately three hours in all cases. None of the children had any intra- or post-operative complications.

Conclusions:

From a surgical perspective, bilateral, simultaneous cochlear implantation is a safe procedure. The use of a non-mastoidectomy approach is recommended.
Rinodina etayoi, anew saxicolous lichen species from the Canary Islands
Authors: GIRALT Mireia , van den BOOM Pieter P. G.
Published: March 2009

The silicicolous lichen species,Rinodina etayoiGiralt & van den Boom, is described as new from inland localities of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote (Canary Islands). It is characterized by a crustose, whitish thallus containing atranorin, zeorin, chloroatranorin and stictic acid, hemispheric pseudolecanorine apothecia containing, a proper exciple inspersed with numerous and large oil drops, and by ascospores of theMischoblastia-type. The joint occurrence of pannarin, stictic acid andMischoblastia-type ascospores makesR. etayoiunique within the genus.
A new species of Lecanactis (Arthoniales, Roccellaceae) from Madagascar
Authors: ERTZ Damien , SÉRUSIAUX Emmanuël
Published: March 2009

Lecanactis rubra is described as new to science. It is characterized by having rounded to irregular or lirellate ascomata, relatively wide 3-septate ascospores and by the production of gyrophoric acid and an anthraquinone. The species is known only from the type locality in the deciduous dry forests in the western part of Madagascar.
Is the north side of the Strait of Gibraltar more diverse than the south side? A case study using the intertidal peracarids (Crustacea: Malacostraca) associated to the seaweedCorallina elongata
Authors: Guerra-García José M. , Cabezas Pilar , Baeza-Rojano Elena , Espinosa Free , García-Gómez J. Carlos
Published: March 2009

The objectives of this study were to describe the peracaridean fauna associated to the algaeCorallina elongatafrom the Strait of Gibraltar, and explore possible biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of variation along the north–south and Atlantic–Mediterranean axes across the Strait of Gibraltar. Twenty-five stations were selected along the north and south coasts of the Strait to cover the broadest possible range of human pressure and environmental conditions, including both natural rocky shores and artificial breakwaters. The algaCorallina elongatawas selected as substrate, and the peracaridean crustaceans were identified to species level and classified in geographical distribution groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore and confirm patterns of variation. Forty peracarid species were collected, most of them with an Atlantic–Mediterranean distribution (67%) with only the gammaridParhyale eburnea, being an endemic Mediterranean species. The most common species collected during the present study were the gammaridsHyale stebbingi, Jassa marmorata, Stenothoe monoculoidesandAmpithoespp., the caprellidsCaprella grandimanaandC. penantis, the isopodIschyromene lacazeiand the tanaidTanais dulongi. The number of species per station and the diversity index were significantly higher in the stations located along the north side of the Strait of Gibraltar. However, the two-way ANOVA discarded differences between north and south due to the type of substrate (natural versus artificial) and degree of human pressure. Based on peracaridean assemblages, the Strait of Gibraltar behaves as a whole and homogeneous region, with a very similar faunal composition in all stations and there is not a clear gradient of species substitution from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic stations. Provided that we selected the same substrate in all stations, and that statistical analyses revealed that differences between north and south stations were not due to environmental factors such as anthropogenic stress or type of substrate, we should look to historical biogeographical reasons to explain the higher diversity in the north side of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Interaction webs of marine specialist herbivores on Japanese shores
Authors: Trowbridge Cynthia D. , Hirano Yayoi M. , Hirano Yoshiaki J.
Published: March 2009

Marine specialist herbivores inhabiting Japanese rocky shores are significantly more diverse than in other biogeographical regions at comparable latitudes. The interaction webs of specialist sacoglossans were investigated on the Pacific shore of Honshu, Japan. The host use of the small stenophagous sacoglossan opisthobranch Placida sp. (sensu Baba, 1986) was investigated in association with the green macroalgae Codium spp. Based on field associations, Placida sp. attacked six congeneric algal host species out of eight investigated (75%) in and around Sagami Bay and ten of 20 species (50%) in Japan. In pairwise-choice feeding experiments, Placida sp. preferred the algal host from which it was collected (source alga) to alternate host and non-host algae. Preference rankings, however, could be altered based on the condition or identity of the choices (e.g. old versus young fronds of C. fragile). Connectance values were lower in these high-diversity assemblages than in their low-diversity counterparts on other temperate shores (but these values may increase with additional study). The sacoglossan occasionally coexisted with two other common sacoglossan species (Elysia trisinuata and E. setoensis) and several other less common ones. However, interspecific feeding interactions appeared minor, with no discernible evidence of interference or exploitation competition. Despite the diverse assemblage of specialist sacoglossans feeding on Codium spp., these Japanese sacoglossans (1) had low niche differentiation, (2) were weak interactors with their hosts, and (3) had negligible intra-guild interactions.
Modernizing Military Organizations and Political Control in Central Europe
Authors: Demchak Chris C.
Published: March 2009

The public policy issues of modernizing public agencies in Central Europe are nowhere more pressing than in the process of modernizing militaries. The leaders of central Europe – Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – plan to deploy smaller, more professional forces equipped with advanced weapons and support systems, changing their organizations accordingly. This paper argues that the political and organizational circumstances roughly common to Central European countries make such modernization highly problematical for effective civilian policy in crises. Advanced technologies can compound the normal problems of civilian ministerial control by altering modernizing military organizations in unexpected ways. The more intricate, critical and expensive the machines, the more organizational effects they induce. Even in minor crises, military leaders will probably want to move to heightened states of readiness to be sure the machines are in place and functional. Under these circumstances, there is greater potential for each otherwise noisy but survivable crisis to escalate through regrettable military guidance and destabilizing military actions, with or without full civilian understanding.
‘No Straight Answers’: Writing in the Margins, Finding Lost Heroes
Authors: Adebayo Mojisola , Mason-John Valerie , Osborne Deirdre
Published: March 2009

Mojisola Adebayo and Valerie Mason-John are two distinctive voices in contemporary writing and performance, representing an Afro-Queer diasporic heritage through the specific experience of being black, British, and lesbian. Creating continuities from contorted or erased histories (personal, social, and cultural), their drama demonstrates both Afro-centric and European theatrical influences, which in Mason-John's case is further consolidated in her polemic, poetry, and prose. Like Britain's most innovative and prominent contemporary black woman dramatist, debbie tucker green, they reach beyond local or national identity politics to represent universal themes and to centralize black women's experiences. With subject matter that includes royal families, the care system, racial cross-dressing, and global ecology, Adebayo and Mason-John have individually forged a unique aesthetic and perspective in work which links environmental degradation with social disenfranchisement and travels to the heart of whiteness along black-affirming imaginative routes. Deirdre Osborne is a lecturer in drama at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has published essays on the work of black British dramatists and poets, including Kwame Kwei-Armah, Dona Daley, debbie tucker green, Lennie James, Lemn Sissay, SuAndi, and Roy Williams. She is the editor of Hidden Gems (London: Oberon Books, 2008), a collection of plays by black British dramatists.
Theatre Workshop's Translations of Three Spanish Plays
Authors: Edwards Gwynne
Published: March 2009

In 1936 Joan Littlewood staged Lope de Vega's seventeenth-century play, Fuente Ovejuna (The Sheep Well); in 1945 Lorca's The Love of Don Perlimplín for Belisa in His Garden; and in 1958 Fernando de Rojas's sixteenth-century La Celestina. There were also plans to produce Lorca's Blood Wedding in 1948. The English versions of Fuente Ovejuna, Don Perlimplín, and Blood Wedding have been preserved in the Theatre Workshop archive at Littlewood's former base, the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, and in the following article Gwynne Edwards compares these translations with the original Spanish plays, considers the changes which were introduced in the process of adaptation, and assesses the merits of each. Gwynne Edwards is a specialist in Spanish theatre. Eleven of his translations of the plays of Lorca, as well as translations of seventeenth-century Spanish and modern Latin American plays, have been published by Methuen, and many have been given professional productions. He has recently completed the libretto of an opera on the last days of Dylan Thomas.
AMBIGUITY IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE FREE ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRITICAL CIRCLE MAP
Authors: KENNY BRIAN G. , DIXON TONY W.
Published: March 2009

We consider a simple model to describe the widths of the mode-locked intervals for the critical circle map. By using two different partitions of the rational numbers based on Farey series and Farey tree levels, respectively, we calculate the free energy analytically at selected points for each partition. It emerges that the result of the calculation depends on the method of partition. An implication of this finding is that the generalized dimensions Dq are different for the two types of partition except when q=0; that is, only the Hausdorff dimension is the same in both cases.
Psychometric Approach to Social Capital: Using AsiaBarometer Survey Data in 29 Asian Societies
Authors: HOTTA ZEN-U LUCIAN , INOGUCHI TAKASHI
Published: March 2009

This paper is one of the few attempts made by social scientists to measure social capital via psychometric approach, and is the only one of such kind to base its evidence on the AsiaBarometer survey data. After first reviewing the history of social capital, including its conceptual emergence and recent literatures, we expose the issue of difficulty in the measurement of social capital despite its topical popularity. We tackle this measurement issue by applying psychometric procedures to the AsiaBarometer survey data of 2004, 2005, and 2006, focusing on questions pertaining to social capital of ordinary individuals residing in the 29 survey societies. This paper is significant in two aspects. First, using simple statistical procedures, it extracts various dimensions of social capital without first knowing what dimensions to extract. In short, it does not try to measure social capital using some kind of pre-defined concepts such as those outlined in the historical review of our predecessors. Rather, it succeeds in manifesting key factors of social capital – altruism, utilitarianism, communitarianism, and concordance with prevailing regime – by mechanically processing collective responses by individual respondents towards survey questions oriented with social capital. Though the paper does not aim to establish its methodology as a widely held consensus on how to measure social capital, it does give credence and recognition to psychometric approaches as effectives means to measure social capital, which, by its very definition, calls for ‘objective’ approaches using collective data to measure ‘subjective’ notions of individual actions within networks. Second, this paper is the first systematic empirical analysis of social capital in all the subregions of Asia, i.e. East, Southeast, South, and Central. It builds on our earlier works, including the 2006 paper on social capital in Central and South Asia, and gives empirical credence to important concepts on Asian political culture.
Genetic structure analysis of domestic duck populations in eastern China
Authors: Hui-Fang Li , Wei-Tao Song , Wen-Qi Zhu , Wen-Juan Xu , Qing-Ping Tang
Published: March 2009

Using microsatellite markers, the genetic structure of nine domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos) populations in eastern China was analysed. The results showed that the heterozygosity was high in these populations, ranging from 0.5137 to 0.6055, with an average heterozygosity of 0.5523, reflecting the rich diversity. Considerable breed differentiation was observed and 25.65% of the total genetic variation came from breed differences; this low differentiation result affirmed that each breed has its own genetic diversity. The DA genetic distances suggested that greater differentiation existed between populations. The duck populations were clustered into four groups based on neighbour joining (NJ) clustering, and the clustering results showed relationships with duck breed distributions and economic utilization.
Activation tagging library construction and mutant phenotype analysis
Authors: Dong-Mei Cao , Xi-Ying Fan , Yun-Shan Wang , Li-Fang Kang
Published: March 2009

Activation tagging plays an important role in plant genomics studies. In this paper, an activation tagging library containing 50 000 Basta-resistant lines was constructed by mediated transformation of the mutantbzr1-DofAribidopsis thaliana. Among these transformants, 47 lines showed obvious phenotypes, including late flowering time, dwarf growth habit, changed leaf shape, longer leaf petiole, leaves lacking trichomes, sterility and no kink between stem/leaf. Some T-DNA flanking sequences were obtained by TAIL (thermal asymmetric interlaced) and nested PCR. Results showed that the mutants contained one to three T-DNA insertions. The insertions were distributed in the first, fourth and fifth chromosomes of the genome.
Induction of lamb follicular development and embryo production in vitro
Authors: Xiao-Yong Chen , Shu-Jun Tian , Run-Zi Sang , Shu-Chun Sun , Zhu-Jun Zhao , Jun-Jie Li , Wei-Tao Dun
Published: March 2009

Effect of lamb age, transport stimulation and repeated hormone superovulation on the number of collected oocytes were determined. Effect of the culture medium containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the development of embryos produced in vitro from lamb oocytes was also investigated. Results indicated that the mean numbers of collected and available oocytes (oocytes with compacted cumulus cells, evenly granulated ooplasm and morphologically normal) from 6- to 8-week-old lambs were 60.8±13.9 and 58.2±12.3, respectively. These figures were higher than those obtained from 12- to 14-week-old lambs (27.3±5.1 and 26.0±4.9) (P<0.05). Stimulation by transportation didn't decrease the number of collected oocytes from the superovulated lambs (P>0.05). However, the number of collected oocytes in the repeated superovulation group was significantly reduced, compared with the control group (P<0.05). The embryonic culture medium supplemented with 10 μmol/l EDTA highly improved the development capability of the embryos from lamb oocytes (P<0.05). Healthy lambs were born following embryo transfer.
Identification of thecrygene inBacillus thuringiensisstrain WZ-9 and its toxicity againstHenosepilachna vigintioctomaculata
Authors: Ping Song , Qin-Ying Wang , Hui-Xian Wu , Xiu-Jun Lu , Yong Wang
Published: March 2009

Bacillus thuringiensisstrain WZ-9, isolated from soil in Hebei province, China, was effective againstHenosepilachna vigintioctomaculatalarvae. The strain presented bipyramidal crystals with a protein band of 130 kDa in SDS–PAGE. The pH changes of the culture media showed important fluctuations during the 24 h growth cycle. The pH varied less in log and stationary phases than it did in the exponential phase. Bioassay results showed that the WZ-9 strain was only harmful to larvae ofH. vigintioctomaculataand not to either adults ofH. vigintioctomaculataor other several lepidopteran and coleopteran insects. LC50to second-instar larvae ofH. vigintioctomaculatawas 2.95×107cells/ml after 72 h. Genotypic investigations showed that this strain possessed thecry7gene. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the encoding gene contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 3414 bp and encoded 1138 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence was 99.65% identical to that of the reported Cry7Ab2 sequences. This gene was designated by the Bt δ-endotoxin nomenclature committee as Cry7Ab3 with accession number BI 1015188 in the GenBank database.
Aussagekraft der diagnostischen Möglichkeiten zur Bestimmung der Amputationshöhe
Authors: Tautenhahn  , Meyer  , Lobmann  , Halloul
Published: March 2009

Die Amputationshöhe nach ausgeschöpfter Revaskularisationsmöglichkeit erweist sich als entscheidendes Kriterium zur suffizienten Rekonvaleszenz, Wiedererlangung der Mobilität, Senkung der Operationsmortalität und der sozialen Integrationsfähigkeit. Bei vaskulärer Genese ist vor jedem Eingriff die Perfusionswiederherstellung zu prüfen. Im Literaturüberblick der diagnostischen Verfahren hat sich bisher nur die ptO2-Messung zur Amputationshöhenbestimmung durchgesetzt. Studienergebnisse belegen die genuale und infragenuale Verschiebung der Grenzen. Gute Prognosewerte wurden auch mit nuklearmedizinischen Verfahren erreicht. Eine einfache Methode unter Beachtung von Einflussfaktoren und Messstandards stellt ebenfalls die systolische Verschlussdruckbestimmung dar. Die technische Entwicklung von Kombinationsmethoden bedarf der Evaluierung. Potenzial und technische Möglichkeiten der Begleituntersuchungen scheinen nicht ausgeschöpft.
Amputationen an der durchblutungsgestörten Extremität. Die gefäßchirurgische Sicht
Authors: Nowak  , Terörde  , Luther
Published: March 2009

Die Amputationschirurgie gehört zu den ältesten Techniken in der Geschichte der Chirurgie. Trotz langer Tradition ist sie oftmals mit sehr negativen Emotionen verbunden. Amputationen stehen für das Scheitern von alternativen Therapieoptionen im Bereich der Gefäßchirurgie, der Diabetologie und der Infektologie. Der Diabetes mellitus ist mit einer deutlich erhöhten Komorbidität assoziiert und neben der peripheren arteriosklerotischen Verschlusskrankheit eine der häufigsten Ursachen für Amputationen an der unteren Extremität. Postoperative Komplikationen wie Wundheilungsstörungen, Entwicklung von Phantomschmerzen, psychische Belastungssituationen, Herzinfarkte und Schlaganfälle stellen keine Seltenheit dar. Die Letalität nach Majoramputation beträgt im ersten postoperativen Jahr 30–50%. Der präoperative Allgemeinzustand, die Höhe der Amputation, die Amputationstechnik und der postoperative Verlauf sind neben einer frühen Mobilisation und Prothesenversorgung entscheidend für das weitere Schicksal der Patienten. Eine Wiedererlangung der Unabhängigkeit und Mobilität im gewohnten sozialen Umfeld nach einer Amputation ist oftmals nicht mehr vollständig herstellbar, sollte aber die höchste Zielstellung und Herausforderung für die Behandelnden bleiben.
Extremitätenerhaltende Amputations- und Resektionstechniken am Fuß
Authors: Greitemann
Published: March 2009

Die wesentlichen ätiologischen Enthitäten für Amputationen an der unteren Extremität sind der Diabetes mellitus und die Durchblutungsstörungen. Gerade bei diesen Ursachen kommt es durch die begleitende Multimorbidität des Patienten häufig zu erheblichen Rehabilitationsbehinderungen und Invalidisierungen mit hohen Teilhabestörungen durch hohe Amputationen. Extremitäten erhaltende Amputations- und Resektionstechniken im Fußbereich sind speziell beim Diabetes mellitus daher von besonderer Bedeutung, da der Patient ein hohes Risiko hat, auch auf der Gegenseite eine Amputation zu erleiden. Profunde Kenntnisse in den Amputationstechniken am Fuß und der anschließenden orthopädieschuhtechnischen oder prothetischen Versorgung ermöglichen gute Behandlungsergebnisse.
15 Jahre Amputierten-Initiative e.V.
Authors: Heidrich
Published: March 2009

1991 wurde in Berlin eine Amputierten-Initiative e.V. als Selbsthilfegruppe amputierter Patienten gegründet. Ziel war und ist es, durch Aufklärung Amputationen zu verhindern, Patienten vor und nach nicht abwendbaren Amputationen sozialmedizinisch zu beraten und an problemorientierte Angiologen, Gefäßchirurgen, Schmerztherapeuten, Orthopäden, Orthopädie-Techniker und Rehabilitationseinrichtungen zu vermitteln. Diese Tätigkeit hat zur Mitgliedschaft der Amputierten-Initiative in zahlreichen wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaften, zur Teilnahme an Forschungsprojekten und zu persönlichen und institutionellen Ehrungen geführt. Die Akzeptanz und Notwendigkeit der Amputierten-Initiative sowie der Bedarf an ihrer Arbeit werden durch die steigende Mitgliederzahl deutlich.
Untersuchung zur Effektivität von offenen und geschlossenen Minoramputationen bei diabetischer Gangrän
Authors: Özdemir
Published: March 2009

Hintergrund: Am diabetischen Fuß ist die geschlossene Minoramputation oft wenig erfolgreich, die Ursachen sind ungeklärt. Fragestellung: Die Verläufe von Minoramputationen am diabetischen Fuß wurden in Bezug zur Amputationstechnik (offene Amputation (OA), oder geschlossene Amputation (GA) mit primärer Wundnaht) multizentrisch untersucht. Operationsprotokolle, histologische Befundberichte und die klinischen Verläufe wurden anhand der Krankenakten ausgewertet. Patienten: Untersucht wurden 80 diabetische Patienten, davon 47 Patienten mit kritischer Fußischämie (PAVK Stadium IV), 5 mit dialysepflichtiger Niereninsuffizienz und 72 mit Polyneuropathie. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt wurden 60 Zehen und 48 Mittelfußknochen im Verlauf von 96 Eingriffen amputiert (GA in 54 Fällen, OA in 42 Fällen, je nach Präferenz des Operateurs). Bei GA wurden mehr Zehen und weniger Mittelfußknochen amputiert als bei OA (p = 0.0018). Bei GA heilten 14 Wunden (26%) primär; in 40 Fällen musste die Primärnaht wegen Wundinfektion entfernt und in 15 Fällen (28%) musste nachamputiert werden. Bei OA heilten 26 Wunden (62%) sekundär, in 14 Fällen (33%) war eine Nachamputation nötig. Die Histologie zeigte Osteomyelitis im Knochenabsetzungsrand in 34 Fällen (64 %) bei GA, und in 31 Fällen (78 % ) bei OA. War der Knochen im Absetzungsrand gesund und bestand keine PAVK (n = 9), war die GA in 77% erfolgreich, verglichen mit 4% von 25 Fällen mit Osteomyelitis im Knochenabsetzungsrand und PAVK (p < 0.0001). Schlussfolgerung: Die geschlossene Amputation war nur bei Abwesenheit von PAVK und von Osteomyelitis im Absetzungsrand erfolgreich. Die Ausdehnung der Osteomyelitis wurde unterschätzt. Optimierte präoperative Osteomyelitis-Diagnostik mit MRT (anstatt Röntgenbild) könnte die Prognose der geschlossenen Minoramputation verbessern und ihre bevorzugte Anwendung am diabetischen Fuß rechtfertigen.
Bein-Prothesen des neunzehnten und zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts
Authors: Knoche
Published: March 2009

Könnte der Gedanke, einer separaten Stumpfpolsterung wie sie von Heine, Eichler und anderen angegeben wird, nicht auch heute, bei schwierigen, schlecht durchbluteten Amputations-Stümpfen, sinnvoll sein? Sollte nicht der Gedanke von Hermann und Habermann, durch eigene Kraft kniesichernd einzugreifen, gerade bei den schwachen, hilflosen Patienten, aktualisiert werden? Mit Sicherheit muss der Frage nachgegangen werden, welche objektiven Prüfmethoden zur Verfügung stehen, um die gute Passform und den, für diesen Patienten, richtigen Aufbau zu überprüfen und zu kontrollieren. Es ist das Verdienst des Leiters der Orthopädischen Versorgungsstelle Hamburg Altona, zur Verth, dass er vor fast hundert Jahren dieser Frage nachgegangen ist. Zur Verth hat nicht nur in seinem Amputationsschema die Wertigkeit der Amputationshöhen bewertet sondern auch mit Dr. Arnsprenger, 1927, ein Gerät entwickelt, mit dem der Aufbau einer Prothese objektiviert werden kann.
Amputationen in der Gefäßchirurgie – Ein Thema in der heutigen Zeit?
Authors: Gebauer  , Bürger
Published: March 2009

Die peripheren Gliedmaßenamputationen stellen trotz der medizinischen und technischen Fortschritte ein aktuelles Thema dar, welches auch gegenwärtig noch zu wenig Beachtung findet. Gliedmaßenamputationen selbst beschäftigen uns nicht erst in der heutigen Zeit. Sie galten schon immer als die schwerwiegendsten verstümmelnsten Eingriffe in der gesamten Chirurgie. Im Laufe der Zeit traten die medizinischen Gesichtspunkte in den Vordergrund, die zu notwendigen Amputationen führten. Durch enorme Fortschritte in der gefäßchirurgischen Diagnostik und Therapie gelingt es, eine Vielzahl amputationsbedrohter Extremitäten zu erhalten und damit dem Patienten ein hohes Maß an Lebensqualität zu erhalten [10]. Ein nicht unerheblicher Teil unseres gefäßchirurgischen Patientengutes muss aber auch heute noch Gliedmaßen amputiert werden, da Lokalbefund, eingeschränkte therapeutische Möglichkeiten, Begleiterkrankungen und Infektionen sowie eine zunehmende Multimorbidität den Erhalt der Extremität nicht ermöglichen. In der folgenden Arbeit werden die eigenen Daten und Ursachen analysiert und Konsequenzen für die Zukunft aufgezeigt.
CXC‐chemokine‐ligand‐10 gene therapy efficiently inhibits the growth of cervical carcinoma on the basis of its anti‐angiogenic and antiviral activity
Authors: Yang Ling‐lin , Chen Ping , Luo Shan , Li Jie , Liu Kang , Hu Huo‐zhen , Wei Yu‐quan
Published: March 2009

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that high‐risk HPV (human papillomavirus) is involved in the development of cervical carcinoma. The HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 in immortalized human keratinocytes mostly result from inactivation of the tumour‐suppressor proteins p53 and pRb (retinoblastoma protein), which also play an important role in regulating the expression of pro‐ and anti‐angiogenic factors. The present study was conducted to determine whether interferon‐γ‐inducible protein 10/CXCL10 (CXC chemokine ligand 10), one of the potent anti‐angiogenic chemokines, can inhibit the growth of cervical cancer. Plasmid DNA encoding CXCL10 was encapsulated with cationic liposomes, and mice were treated with a DNA/liposome mixture six times at 5‐day intervals. Our results demonstrated that CXCL10 could reduce the level of the HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 in cervical‐cancer cells. In vivo study showed that CXCL10 could inhibit the growth of tumour in the immunodeficient mice. Immunohistology analysis revealed that CXCL10 down‐regulated the microvessel density and the expression of proliferating‐cell nuclear antigen in tumour tissues. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling) staining demonstrated that CXCL10 significantly increases the apoptotic rate. Our results suggest that CXCL10 can inhibit the growth of cervical carcinoma through modulating the formation of microvessels and the expression of the HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. The present findings also provide further evidence of the antitumour effects of CXCL10 and may be of importance for further exploring the potential application of this molecule in the treatment of cervical carcinoma.
Two new miR‐16 targets: caprin‐1 and HMGA1, proteins implicated in cell proliferation
Authors: Kaddar Tagrid , Rouault Jean‐Pierre , Chien Wei Wen , Chebel Amel , Gadoux Mylène , Salles Gilles , Ffrench Martine , Magaud Jean‐Pierre
Published: March 2009

Background information. miRNAs (microRNAs) are a class of non‐coding RNAs that inhibit gene expression by binding to recognition elements, mainly in the 3′ UTR (untranslated region) of mRNA. A single miRNA can target several hundred mRNAs, leading to a complex metabolic network. miR‐16 (miRNA‐16), located on chromosome 13q14, is involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis regulation; it may interfere with either oncogenic or tumour suppressor pathways, and is implicated in leukaemogenesis. These data prompted us to search for and validate novel targets of miR‐16.

Results. In the present study, by using a combined bioinformatics and molecular approach, we identified two novel putative targets of miR‐16, caprin‐1 (cytoplasmic activation/proliferation‐associated protein‐1) and HMGA1 (high‐mobility group A1), and we also studied cyclin E which had been previously recognized as an miR‐16 target by bioinformatics database. Using luciferase activity assays, we demonstrated that miR‐16 interacts with the 3′ UTR of the three target mRNAs. We showed that miR‐16, in MCF‐7 and HeLa cell lines, down‐regulates the expression of caprin‐1, HMGA1a, HMGA1b and cyclin E at the protein level, and of cyclin E, HMGA1a and HMGA1b at the mRNA levels.

Conclusions. Taken together, our data demonstrated that miR‐16 can negatively regulate two new targets, HMGA1 and caprin‐1, which are involved in cell proliferation. In addition, we also showed that the inhibition of cyclin E expression was due, at least in part, to a decrease in its mRNA stability.
MYPT1, the targeting subunit of smooth-muscle myosin phosphatase, is a substrate for the asparaginyl hydroxylase factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor (FIH)
Authors: Webb James D. , Murányi Andrea , Pugh Christopher W. , Ratcliffe Peter J. , Coleman Mathew L.
Published: March 2009

The asparaginyl hydroxylase FIH [factor inhibiting HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor)] was first identified as a protein that inhibits transcriptional activation by HIF, through hydroxylation of an asparagine residue in the CAD (C-terminal activation domain). More recently, several ARD [AR (ankyrin repeat) domain]-containing proteins were identified as FIH substrates using FIH interaction assays. Although the function(s) of these ARD hydroxylations is unclear, expression of the ARD protein Notch1 was shown to compete efficiently with HIF CAD for asparagine hydroxylation and thus to enhance HIF activity. The ARD is a common protein domain with over 300 examples in the human proteome. However, the extent of hydroxylation among ARD proteins, and the ability of other members to compete with HIF–CAD for FIH, is not known. In the present study we assay for asparagine hydroxylation in a bioinformatically predicted FIH substrate, the targeting subunit of myosin phosphatase, MYPT1. Our results confirm hydroxylation both in cultured cells and in endogenous protein purified from animal tissue. We show that the extent of hydroxylation at three sites is dependent on FIH expression level and that hydroxylation is incomplete under basal conditions even in the animal tissue. We also show that expression of MYPT1 enhances HIF–CAD activity in a manner consistent with competition for FIH and that this property extends to other ARD proteins. These results extend the range of FIH substrates and suggest that cross-competition between ARDs and HIF–CAD, and between ARDs themselves, may be extensive and have important effects on hypoxia signalling.
Glycolysis in contracting rat skeletal muscle is controlled by factors related to energy state
Authors: Ørtenblad Niels , Macdonald Will A. , Sahlin Kent
Published: March 2009

The control of glycolysis in contracting muscle is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to examine whether activation of glycolysis is mediated by factors related to the energy state or by a direct effect of Ca2+ on the regulating enzymes. Extensor digitorum longus muscles from rat were isolated, treated with cyanide to inhibit aerobic ATP production and stimulated (0.2 s trains every 4 s) until force was reduced to 70% of initial force (control muscle, referred to as Con). Muscles treated with BTS (N-benzyl-p-toluene sulfonamide), an inhibitor of cross-bridge cycling without affecting Ca2+ transients, were stimulated for an equal time period as Con. Energy utilization by the contractile apparatus (estimated from the observed relation between ATP utilization and force–time integral) was 60% of total. In BTS, the force–time integral and ATP utilization were only 38 and 58% of those in Con respectively. Glycolytic rate in BTS was only 51% of that in Con but the relative contribution of ATP derived from PCr (phosphocreatine) and glycolysis and the relation between muscle contents of PCr and Lac (lactate) were not different. Prolonged cyanide incubation of quiescent muscle (low Ca2+) did not change the relation between PCr and Lac. The reduced glycolytic rate in BTS despite maintained Ca2+ transients, and the unchanged PCr/Lac relation in the absence of Ca2+ transients, demonstrates that Ca2+ is not the main trigger of glycogenolysis. Instead the preserved relative contribution of energy delivered from PCr and glycolysis during both conditions suggests that the glycolytic rate is controlled by factors related to energy state.
Subglottic Air Pressure and Swallowing
Authors: Gross Roxann Diez
Published: March 2009

The existence of positive subglottic air pressure at the time of the swallow was first demonstrated in patients with indwelling tracheostomy tubes. Deglutitive subglottic air pressure has also been measured in non-tracheostomized persons. Several investigations that compared the occlusion status of tracheostomy tubes (open vs. closed) have found relationships between swallowing physiology and tube status. Similar findings were reported when healthy individuals swallowed at various lung volumes. As such, there is emerging evidence for the role of subglottic air pressure in swallowing motor control. Clinically, subglottic pressures in relation to breathing and swallowing coordination, pulmonary function, and lung-thoracic unit recoil forces may need to be considered when working with both tracheostomized and non-tracheostomized patients.
Aspiration Pneumonitis and Aspiration Pneumonia
Authors: Cavallazzi Rodrigo , Vasu Tajender S , Marik Paul E
Published: March 2009

Aspiration pneumonitis and aspiration pneumonia are common entities that occur more frequently in populations that are susceptible to aspiration. In aspiration pneumonitis, the degree of lung injury caused by the aspiration of gastric contents is influenced by the pH and to a lesser extent volume of the aspirate. In aspiration pneumonia, the key precipitating event is the inhalation of colonized oropharyngeal material. While anaerobic bacteria are the classic organisms associated with aspiration pneumonia, gram-negative bacteria also play an important role in its pathogenesis. Although there is enormous potential for the investigation of strategies aiming the prevention of aspiration pneumonia, most studies have failed to show a benefit of these strategies. Recently published clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of different antibiotic regimens for the treatment of aspiration pneumonia. Importantly, new and simplified antibiotic regimens have emerged as an option for the treatment of aspiration pneumonia.
Swallow Pattern Generator Reconfiguration of the Respiratory Neural Network
Authors: Vovka Andrea , Davenport Paul W. , Wheeler-Hegland Karen , Morris Kendall F. , Sapienza Christine M. , Bolser Donald C.
Published: March 2009

When the nasal and oral passages converge and a bolus enters the pharynx, it is critical that breathing and swallow motor patterns become integrated to allow safe passage of the bolus through the pharynx. Breathing patterns must be reconfigured to inhibit inspiration, and upper airway muscle activity must be recruited and reconfigured to close the glottis and laryngeal vestibule, invert the epiglottis, and ultimately protect the lower airways. Failure to close and protect the glottal opening to the lower airways, or loss of the integration and coordination of swallow and breathing, increases the risk of penetration or aspiration. A neural swallow central pattern generator (CPG) controls the pharyngeal swallow phase and is located in the medulla. We propose that this swallow CPG is functionally organized in a holarchical behavioral control assembly (BCA) and is recruited with pharyngeal swallow. The swallow BCA holon reconfigures the respiratory CPG to produce the stereotypical swallow breathing pattern, consisting of swallow apnea during swallowing followed by prolongation of expiration following swallow. The timing of swallow apnea and the duration of expiration is a function of the presence of the bolus in the pharynx, size of the bolus, bolus consistency, breath cycle, ventilatory state and disease.
Galaxy clusters tighten constraints on the cosmic accelerator
Authors: Day Charles
Published: March 2009

Evidence from clusters and elsewhere suggests that the universe’s accelerated expansion is driven by something that behaves like Einstein’s cosmological constant.
Physicists in forensics
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: March 2009

From faulty products to murder, physicists help figure out what really happened.
Brookhaven light source to brighten x-ray beams
Authors: Kramer David
Published: March 2009

Leading European synchrotron also approves a seven-year upgrade.
North Carolina institute offers to archive old astronomy data
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: March 2009

Is digitizing astronomical photographic plates worth the time and money?
Testing relativity from the 1919 eclipse—a question of bias
Authors: Kennefick Daniel
Published: March 2009

When interpreting experimental results, context is everything. The researchers who took and analyzed the most important eclipse data had good reasons for judging the experiment a victory for Albert Einstein.
Evidence for Axis-Aligned Motion Bias: Football Axis—Trajectory Misalignment Causes Systematic Error in Projected Final Destinations of Thrown American Footballs
Authors: Dolgov Igor , McBeath Michael K , Sugar Thomas
Published: March 2009

The axis-aligned motion (AAM) bias is the tendency of observers to assume that symmetric moving objects maintain axis–trajectory alignment and to bias their judgments of trajectory toward the axis when they are misaligned. We tested whether humans exhibit an AAM bias in a realistic, cue-rich, 3-D setting by examining the impact of axis–trajectory misalignment on estimates of final destinations of thrown American footballs. In experiments 1 and 2 we show that observers are significantly worse in judging destinations of footballs than those of volleyballs and basketballs. This difference in performance is due to the deviation of the football's axis from trajectory in flight, as shown by the correspondence of participants' lateral judgment error and the football's lateral axial deviation from trajectory, which was predicted by passer handedness. Nearly all animals exhibit bilateral symmetry and maintain axis–trajectory alignment during locomotion, and we argue that the AAM bias is complementary mental attunement to the natural regularity of this axis-aligned motion. Furthermore, this bias is also a prototypical example of a perceptual regularity that is a mixed blessing—advantageous in perceptual judgment tasks of axis–trajectory-aligned moving entities like most living creatures, and disadvantageous in tasks demanding judgments of axis–trajectory-misaligned moving objects which are typically artifacts.