bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of community based daycare on mental health and quality of life of elderly in rural south India: a community intervention study
Authors: Jacob Mini Elizabeth , Abraham Vinod Joseph , Abraham Sulochana , Jacob K. S.
Published: November 2006

Background

Sustainable cost‐effective interventions to improve psychiatric morbidity and quality of life among the elderly have not been systematically evaluated in developing countries.

Method

The most vulnerable elderly living in Pennathur, Vellore district, India, in terms of socioeconomic status and social supports, were invited to participate in a day‐care program. Baseline assessments were done using the Mini Mental Status Examination, the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life‐ Bref. Follow‐up assessment was done at 3 months on subjects who took part and those who refused.

Results and conclusions

Forty‐one (16.4%) were invited to take part. Twenty subjects took part in the program while 21 refused. There was a significant reduction in psychiatric morbidity and improvement in quality of life scores at 3 months for subjects who attended the program. The improvement in quality of life persisted after adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status and baseline scores. Costing of the program suggests sustainability. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subjectively reported sleep quality and excessive daytime somnolence in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Boddy Frauke , Rowan Elise N , Lett Debbie , O'Brien John T , McKeith Ian G , Burn David J
Published: November 2006

Objective

We compared subjective sleep quality and excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in controls, Parkinson's disease with (PDD) and without dementia (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether sleep dysfunction and EDS associate with motor phenotype in PD, PDD and DLB.

Method

Assessments included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

EDS was more frequent in PD, DLB and PDD patients than in AD. PDD, PD and DLB patients also had worse sleep quality when compared with AD and controls. Baseline postural instability‐gait difficulty (PIGD) motor phenotype in PDD was associated with a higher ESS score and frequency of EDS, but this association was lost at two years. PSQI scores did not differ between PIGD dominant and non‐dominant PD, PDD and DLB patients.

Conclusion

EDS and poor sleep quality are greater in PD, PDD and DLB, compared with AD. The dissociation of EDS and motor phenotype suggests their pathophysiology is anatomically and/or temporally distinct. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reverse Thermal Gelation of Aliphatically Modified Biodegradable Triblock Copolymers
Authors: Jo Seongbong , Kim Jin , Kim Sung Wan
Published: November 2006

Summary: A simple aliphatic modification demonstrated how to turn a water‐soluble biodegradable triblock copolymer synthesized from PEG, L‐lactide, and ε‐caprolactone into a thermoreversible polymer of which aqueous solution underwent a sol‐to‐gel phase transition upon a mild temperature rise. Thermogelling behavior of the aliphatically modified polymer was dependent on the degree of aliphatic modification and polymer concentration. When the polymer solutions were subcutaneously injected into rats, immediate depot formation has been observed. The polymeric gel depots have lasted for two weeks in vivo. This aliphatically modified thermogelling polymer can find applications in drug delivery.

Aliphatically modified biodegradable triblock copolymer and its thermal gelation.

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Aliphatically modified biodegradable triblock copolymer and its thermal gelation.
Effects of Thermoresponsive Coacervation on the Hydrolytic Degradation of Amphipathic Poly(γ‐glutamate)s
Authors: Shimokuri Taiki , Kaneko Tatsuo , Akashi Mitsuru
Published: November 2006

Summary: Hydrolytic properties of thermoresponsive biopolymers with amphiphilic structures, γ‐PGA‐P, were investigated. Hydrolysis was monitored in terms of molecular weight changes using GPC and spectroscopic measurements. The hydrolytic degradation of γ‐PGA‐P was controlled by a change in the degree of propyl group conversion, reaction temperature, and/or reaction pH. The degradation was classified as the rapid elimination of propyl side chains and the moderate cleavage of peptide linkages in the backbone. Furthermore, hydrophobic environments established by the thermoresponsive coacervation of γ‐PGA‐P60 solutions inhibited hydrolytic degradation reactions. Inversely, hydrolytic degradations increased coacervation temperatures. Kinetic studies of hydrolytic reactions suggest that the degradation rate of γ‐PGA‐P60 solutions can be controlled by their thermoresponsivity. The hydrolysis reported here represents the first degradation rate controlled by thermoresponsive coacervation.

A schematic illustration of the hydrolytic mechanism of γ‐PGA‐P60.

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A schematic illustration of the hydrolytic mechanism of γ‐PGA‐P60.
Front Cover: Macromol. Biosci. 11/2006
Authors: Ouyang Wuye , Müller Martin
Published: November 2006

Front Cover: Monomodal cationic or anionic nanoparticles of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) sizing around 200 nm can be prepared by mixing PDADMAC and PSS and consecutive centrifugation. The model proteins LYZ, HSA and MYO can be bound by PEC nanoparticles under electrostatically repulsive conditions and the formed PEC/protein conjugates conserve their spherical shape and colloid stability. Further details can be found in the article by W. Ouyang and M. Müller* on page 929.
Back Cover: Macromol. Biosci. 11/2006
Authors: Asoh Taka‐aki , Kaneko Tatsuo , Matsusaki Michiya , Akashi Mitsuru
Published: November 2006

Back Cover: Cationic drug could be rapidly released and then abruptly discontinued from nano‐tracted poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels containing linear poly(acrylic acid) (nano‐tracted semi‐IPNs) in response to dual stimuli. Clear release and stopping cycles were repeatedly observed on successive steps. Further details can be found in the article by T. Asoh, T. Kaneko, M. Matsusaki, and M. Akashi* on page 959.
Shoulder subluxation after stroke: relationships with pain and motor recovery
Authors: Paci Matteo , Nannetti Luca , Taiti Piero , Baccini Marco , Pasquini Jacopo , Rinaldi Lucio
Published: November 2006

Background and Purpose. Glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) is a frequent complication in patients with post‐stroke hemiplegia, but its role in functional recovery is still unclear. The aim of the present investigation was to understand the relationship of GHS with shoulder pain and arm motor recovery. Method. A case–control study design was used. A sample of 107 hemiplegic adults with recent stroke (less than 30 days from onset) was differentiated into two groups according to the presence of GHS. Motor recovery was assessed using the upper extremity part of the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment Scale and the presence of shoulder pain was recorded at admission (T1), at discharge (T2) and at follow‐up, 30–40 days after discharge (T3). Results. GHS was present in 52 patients (48.6%) and correlated significantly to shoulder pain at T1, at T2 and at T3 (p < 0.001). Moreover, GHS at admission accounted for nearly 50% of shoulder pain at T3 (adjusted R2 = 0.458; p < 0.001). The presence of GHS was independently associated with the upper extremity score of the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment Scale at follow‐up (adjusted R2 = 0.766; p < 0.001). Conclusions. GHS is a factor associated with shoulder pain development and with arm motor recovery and should be treated in the acute stage of hemiplegia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface hydrophobic groups, stability, and flip‐flopping in lattice proteins
Authors: Rashin Alexander A. , Rashin Abraham H. L.
Published: November 2006

Two‐dimensional lattice protein models were studied in two approximations of the conformational equilibrium to elucidate the role of surface hydrophobic groups in their stabilities. We demonstrate that stability of any compactly folded sequence is determined by its ability to “flip‐flop” (refold) into alternative compact structures. The degree of stability required for folded sequences determines the average numbers of surface hydrophobic groups in stable lattice structures which are in good agreement with ratios of core to surface hydrophobic groups in real proteins. However, the average destabilization of the native structure per surface hydrophobic group is small (0–0.25 kcal/mol), often disagrees with the free energies derived from the ratios of core to surface hydrophobic groups in the same structures, and has a combinatorial entropic nature independent of the strength of structure stabilizing interactions. This suggests that the free energies derived from the core to surface ratios of hydrophobic groups in real proteins have little to do with folding thermodynamics. On average, sequences with highly stable native structures are the least hydrophobic. The results suggest that in designing novel stable proteins hydrophobic groups on the surface should be avoided to reduce the possibility of flip‐flopping. The average stability of highly designable structures is never higher than that of some low designability structures, contrary to the accepted view. In the equilibrium approximation with alternative compact and partially unfolded structures, the requirement of high stability selects a unique 5 × 5 structure formed by only a few sequences, suggesting much stronger sequence selectivity than commonly thought. Proteins 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relative tolerance of mesostable and thermostable protein homologs to extensive mutation
Authors: Besenmatter Werner , Kast Peter , Hilvert Donald
Published: November 2006

Evolvability, designability, and plasticity of a protein are properties that are important to protein engineers, but difficult to quantify. Here, we directly compare homologous AroQ chorismate mutases from the thermophile Methanococcus jannaschii and the mesophile Escherichia coli with respect to their capacity to accommodate extensive mutation. The N‐terminal helix comprising about 40% of these proteins was randomized at the genetic level using a binary pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues based on the respective wild‐type sequences. Catalytically active library members were identified by a survival‐selection assay in a chorismate mutase‐deficient E. coli strain. Functional variants were found ∼∼10‐times more frequently with the thermostable protein compared to its mesostable counterpart. Moreover, detailed sequence analysis revealed that functional M. jannaschii enzyme variants contained a smaller number of conserved residues and tolerated greater variability at individual sequence positions. Our results thus highlight the greater robustness of the thermostable protein with respect to amino acid substitution, while identifying specific sites important for constructing active enzymes. Overall, they support the notion that redesign projects will benefit from using a thermostable starting structure, even at very high mutational loads. Proteins 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nitrite anions induce nitrosative deamination of peptides and proteins
Authors: Deng Haiteng
Published: November 2006

In the present study, reactions of sodium nitrite with proteins/peptides were characterized with mass spectrometry. The reaction generates two major products: replacement of the amino group by a hydroxyl group and formation of an alkene derivative by loss of a NH3 group at the N‐terminus and the side chain of lysine residues of proteins/peptides. The reaction proceeds rapidly in weak acidic solution and at 37°C in the presence of a millimolar concentration of nitrite, demonstrating that nitrite induces nitrosative deamination in proteins and peptides. The facile nitrite‐induced modification of amino groups of protein/peptides changes the chemical nature of proteins and may have various applications in peptide synthesis, analytical chemistry, and protein engineering. It also provides information to enhance our understanding of functions of nitrite ions in biology and food preservation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multidisciplinary Approach to the Management of Breast Cancer in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Wai‐Fan , Cheung Polly Suk‐Yee , Epstein Richard J. , Mak Joyce
Published: November 2006

Introduction

Treatment of breast cancer has become more complex and sophisticated in recent years, and a multidisciplinary team approach to management is now recommended worldwide. The present study reviews the applicability of the multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with breast cancer in a private hospital.

Methods

Between September 2003 and April 2005, a total of 579 consecutive patients undergoing breast cancer surgery were studied. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy or who had metastatic disease at presentation were excluded. Demographic and operative details, pathology, and recommended adjuvant therapy were discussed in the weekly multidisciplinary breast conference involving breast surgeons, pathologists, and radiation and medical oncologists.

Results

The mean age was 48.6 years. A self‐discovered breast lump (80%) was the most common presentation, whereas screening mammography accounted for only 12.2%. The accuracy of preoperative mammography, ultrasonography, fine‐needle aspiration cytology, and core biopsy were 66.5%, 80.7%, 89.4%, and 98.9%, respectively. Mastectomy was performed in 49.3% of patients, of whom 22.0% underwent immediate reconstruction. Eighty‐five percent of patients underwent concomitant axillary surgery, comprising either sentinel node biopsy (49.9%), sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary dissection (38.7%), or axillary dissection alone (11.4%). The mean size of invasive tumors was 2.3 cm, and lymph node metastases were detected in 40% of patients; stage 0, I, II, and III disease was present in 14.2%, 34%, 44.5%, and 7.2% of patients, respectively. Adjuvant hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were recommended in 62.4%, 51.2%, and 64.9% of patients, respectively.

Conclusions

Breast cancer in Hong Kong most often presents as a breast lump discovered by self‐examination. The role of screening mammogram has to be reevaluated. Multidisciplinary teamwork is essential for optimizing decision‐making about adjuvant treatment interventions in such patients.
Effect of Glucocorticoid Pretreatment on Oxidative Liver Injury and Survival in Jaundiced Rats with Endotoxin Cholangitis
Authors: Lee Chi Wei , Chuang Jiin Haur , Wang Pei Wen , Chang Nyuk Kong , Wang Hsiu Chuan , Huang Chao Cheng , Tiao Mao Meng , Lo Sing Kai
Published: November 2006

Introduction

Biliary tract infection is associated with high mortality. This study investigated the effect of glucocorticoid pretreatment on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cholangitis.

Methods

Rats undergoing either sham operation or ligation of the extrahepatic bile duct (BDL) for 2 weeks were randomly assigned to receive intravenous injections of dexamethasone (DX) or normal saline (NS) prior to infusing LPS into the biliary tract. The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα), chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2) as well as liver mRNA expression of MCP‐1 and MIP‐2 were determined. Infiltration of monocytes, Kupffer cells, and neutrophils in rat liver were studied with immunohistochemistry. Oxidative liver injury was measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) content.

Results

Dexamethasone pretreatment resulted in significantly decreased plasma levels of TNFα at 1 hour, MCP‐1 and MIP‐2 at 2 and 3 hours, and decreased liver MCP‐1 mRNA expression at 3 hours following LPS infusion in BDL‐DX rats than in BDL‐NS rats. The number of inflammatory cells in the liver was significantly different between sham‐ and BDL‐treated rats but was not affected by DX pretreatment. Pretreatment with DX resulted in significantly decreased liver MDA contents in the BDL‐DX group than that in the BDL‐NS group. Jaundiced rats pretreated with 5 mg DX prior to infusion of 1 g of LPS were 6.8 times more likely to survive than those that were not pretreated.

Conclusions

Pretreatment of jaundiced, LPS‐treated rats with a supraphysiological dose of dexamethasone may rescue their lives by suppression of chemokine expression and alleviation of oxidative liver injury.
Analysis of NF‐κB Nuclear Translocation in PMN‐neutrophils of Major Trauma Patients in the Early Post‐traumatic Period: A Pilot Study
Authors: Stegmaier Julia , Kirchhoff Chlodwig , Kanz Karl‐Georg , Mayer Verena , Landes Juergen , Euler Ekkehard , Mutschler Wolf , Biberthaler Peter
Published: November 2006

Background

Post‐traumatic inflammation is connected to polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)‐dysfunction characterized by reduced nuclear translocation of NF‐κB during the post‐traumatic period. However, the dynamic of NF‐κB translocation in PMN of major trauma patients remains unclear. Hence, the aim of this pilot study was to analyze NF‐κB in PMN from multiply injured patients immediately after trauma.

Patients and Methods

Blood samples of major trauma patients (ISS > 16) were drawn on admission within 90 minutes after trauma and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after trauma. Neutrophilic NF‐κB‐translocation was analyzed by EMSA and quantified by densitometry as (arbitrary units). In addition, PMN of healthy volunteers were analyzed either in their native state (–control) or after LPS stimulation (+control).

Results

Twelve patients (NISS: 34 ± 10 [mean ± SEM]) were enrolled. NF‐κB translocation was significantly increased in trauma patients on admission and after 6 hours. Interestingly, a second activity peak was present after 24 hours. In patients who later died, NF‐κB activity was significantly elevated initially, to be rapidly diminished after 6 hours, while it increased in the survivors group. After 24 hours NF‐κB activity increased significantly in the survivors group, to become reduced in both groups at a later time.

Conclusions

Within this pilot study, the dynamic of NF‐κB translocation in PMN of multiply injured patients immmediately after trauma was analyzed for the first time. Enabled by closely matched sequential blood sampling strictly standardized to the traumatic event, an essential biphasic increase of neutrophilic signal transduction could be investigated in the very early post‐traumatic period, which preceded the downregulation of the innate immune system.
Anakinra is safe and effective in controlling hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D syndrome‐associated febrile crisis
Authors: Cailliez M. , Garaix F. , Rousset‐Rouvière C. , Bruno D. , Kone‐Paut I. , Sarles J. , Chabrol B. , Tsimaratos M.
Published: November 2006

Hyper‐IgD and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) is a hereditary autoinflammatory syndrome, characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks. Treatment of HIDS is difficult. Recently, the IL‐1ra analogue anakinra was reported to be successful in aborting the IgD inflammatory attacks in a vaccination model. We report a clinical case of spectacular reduction of febrile attacks in a severe HIDS patient.
How biological diversity influences ecosystem function: a test with a tropical stream detritivore guild
Authors: Boyero Luz , Pearson Richard G. , Bastian Mikis
Published: November 2006

We investigated the relationship between diversity and ecosystem function, which is controversial and has rarely been examined for consumer assemblages, for the process of leaf breakdown by the shredder guild in a tropical stream. We manipulated species richness, evenness and identity of four macroinvertebrate shredder species (three caddisflies and one mayfly) in microcosms and tested their effect on leaf breakdown rates measured as leaf mass loss per capita and per milligram of animal. Species richness, evenness and species identity all affected leaf breakdown rates. Breakdown rates tended to increase with higher richness, but only for the three caddisflies, probably through a release of intraspecific interference, although other mechanisms such as niche complementarity or facilitation cannot be discarded. Leaf breakdown by the caddisflies was reduced in the presence of the mayfly, possibly because of its mode of movement by swimming instead of crawling and its similarity to some predators that are common in leaf litter. Species identity was more important than species richness in determining leaf breakdown rates, indicating that some species within the shredder guild are not redundant, and suggesting important consequences of particular species loss for the functioning of the ecosystem.
Transformation of β-Ni(OH)2to NiO nano-sheets via surface nanocrystalline zirconia coating: Shape and size retention
Authors: Cheng Ming-Yao , Hwang Bing-Joe
Published: November 2006

Shape and size of the synthesized NiO nano-sheets were retained during transformation of sheet-like β-Ni(OH)2to NiO at elevated temperatures via nano-sized zirconia coating on the surface of β-Ni(OH)2. The average grain size was 6.42 nm after 600 °C treatment and slightly increased to 10 nm after 1000 °C treatment, showing effective sintering retardation between NiO nano-sheets. The excellent thermal stability revealed potential application at elevated temperatures, especially for high temperature catalysts and solid-state electrochemical devices.
Informal helpers’ responses when adolescents tell them about dating violence or romantic relationship problems
Authors: Weisz Arlene N. , Tolman Richard M. , Callahan Michelle R. , Saunders Daniel G. , Black Beverly M.
Published: November 2006

This study examines the responses of informal helpers to adolescents who disclose dating violence or upsetting but non‐violent experiences in their romantic relationships. Based on a survey of 224 Midwestern high school students, the study found that youths were more likely to disclose problems to friends rather than others. A factor analysis of potential helpers’ responses showed that, compared to avoidance and minimization, nurturing was the most typical response received. Adolescents who told someone about being victimized by severe dating violence were more likely to receive an avoidance response than those who told about less severe dating violence. Males encountered high levels of minimization regarding less severe dating violence. While friends and family seem to respond effectively to romantic relationship problems, youths need more training in how to respond helpfully to friends’ difficulties with dating violence or how to encourage victims to seek help from trained practitioners.
The giant clam Tridacna maxima communities of three French Polynesia islands: comparison of their population sizes and structures at early stages of their exploitation
Authors: Gilbert Antoine , Andréfouët Serge , Yan Laurent , Remoissenet Georges
Published: November 2006

Several lagoons of the atolls of Tuamotu Archipelago and volcanic islands of the Australes Archipelago (French Polynesia) are characterized by enormous populations of the clam Tridacna maxima, a species considered as endangered in many locations worldwide. Even if this resource can still be considered as virtually intact, the growing harvesting pressure to feed Tahiti's market (up to 50 t of wet matter y−1), combined with the relatively small size of these lagoons, will soon call for management action to sustain a fishery that currently targets a large, virtually pristine stock. Hence, we present T. maxima population sizes and structures for two atolls (Fangatau and Tatakoto) and one island (Tubuai), where high clam densities and population sizes have promoted a small-scale, but growing, commercial fishery since the late 1990s. We followed an earlier pilot study, in which a combination of remote sensing and in situ data provided an estimate of the Fangatau clam population size (23.6 ± 5.3 million clams, mean ± 95% confidence interval, for 4.05 km2 of mapped lagoon). We obtain 88.3 ± 10.5 and 47.5 ± 5.2 million clams for Tatakoto (mapped area of 11.46 km2) and Tubuai (mapped area of 16.3 km2), respectively. Accounting for contrasted length frequency distribution curves and one common size–weight relationship, the total biomasses are 1485 ± 177 t, 1162 ± 272 t, and 2173 ± 232 t of commercial flesh for Tatakoto, Fangatau, and Tubuai, respectively. In addition, given the legal restriction on collecting clams smaller than 12 cm, the legally harvestable biomasses are 958 ± 114 t, 1038 ± 247 t, and 1971 ± 210 t of flesh for Tatakoto, Fangatau, and Tubuai, respectively. The ratio between legal and total stock is much smaller for Tatakoto because this atoll is dominated by small clams, unlike the other two sites. The differences in population size and structure are discussed in terms of natural environment (habitats, degree of aperture to the ocean, temperature variations), providing insights on the natural variability between two similar systems (Tatakoto and Fangatau), and between different systems (the two atolls and the volcanic island of Tubuai), suggesting that future management schemes will have to be optimized locally.
Comparison of airborne lidar with echosounders: a case study in the coastal Atlantic waters of southern Europe
Authors: Carrera P. , Churnside J.H. , Boyra G. , Marques V. , Scalabrin C. , Uriarte A.
Published: November 2006

The feasibility of using airborne lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) was studied to assess the early juvenile fractions of the main pelagic fish species of the coastal Atlantic waters of southern Europe (anchovy, sardine, mackerel, and horse mackerel). Field comparisons with more established echosounder methods were undertaken in the summers of 1998 and 1999 during the recruitment period of sardine and anchovy in the selected areas, in the presence of a variety of oceanographic and environmental conditions. Backscattered energies as well as the types of target recorded by both devices were compared. The distributions of energies and the shape of the targets were generally similar for both techniques, with moderate numerical correlation between sensors, demonstrating the potential of lidar for assessment of anchovy, sardine, and juvenile mackerel. However, differences in received backscattering energy were found, especially in the presence of certain plankton assemblages (to which lidar is more sensitive) and isolated schools with large vertical dimensions (for which shadowing is more significant for light than sound). Experimental ad hoc optical reflectivity measurements of fish and plankton are proposed to discriminate these two types of targets. In addition, an improvement on lidar implementation and data processing is suggested to achieve fish abundance estimates.
The biology and abundance of kilka (Clupeonella spp.) along the coast of Azerbaijan, Caspian Sea
Authors: Mamedov Elchin V.
Published: November 2006

In the changing environmental conditions of the Caspian Sea, and specifically following the accidental introduction of the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi from the Azov–Black Sea basin in the late 1990s, ecosystem functioning has been disturbed, particularly in the pelagic zone. The main commercial species of kilka in the Caspian, anchovy kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis), suffered greatly from the introduction. The catch of kilka by Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran dropped from 182 700 t in 2000 to 74 700 t in 2001, although the total allowable catch remained at 300 000 t. Between 2000 and 2004, the catch by Azerbaijan alone dropped from 18 500 t to 5 100 t. Recruitment of anchovy kilka failed in early 2001, resulting in an increase in the average age of the stock, and a big decline in abundance. During kilka surveys conducted in summer 2003 and summer 2004 along the Azerbaijan coast of the central Caspian, the average cone-net catch varied from 19.8 kg to 30.5 kg at depths of 51–90 m, and along the Azerbaijan coast of the southern Caspian from 6.1 to 33.7 kg at depths of 53–81 m. Information is provided on the biology and apparent environmental preferences of the three kilka species of the Caspian, specifically their age composition, growth rate, and mean weight, off the coast of Azerbaijan.
Process drivers of e‐service quality: Analysis of data from an online rating site
Authors: Heim Gregory R. , Field Joy M.
Published: November 2006

Managers of e‐service operations are increasingly challenged to ensure high quality in their electronic services. Many researchers have studied how perceptions of e‐service quality dimensions relate to perceptions of higher order evaluations such as overall satisfaction and customer loyalty. However, in this study, we turn toward operational practice, examining relationships between e‐service process attributes and e‐service quality dimensions. Our intent is to identify potential drivers of e‐service quality that managers may use as levers to improve their operations. The study employs a cross‐sectional regression analysis of publicly available data collected from an online rating site. The study sample consists of over 1000 online retailers from several retailing industry segments. The data collection and analysis are innovative due to the lack of operations management research utilizing public data sources and the increased generalizability of results obtainable from multi‐sector data sets. The results identify operational drivers associated with customer ratings of e‐service quality, and provide guidance for future research on drivers of e‐service quality.
Rhinosinusitis: Developing guidance for clinical trials
Authors: Meltzer Eli O. , Hamilos Daniel L. , Hadley James A. , Lanza Donald C. , Marple Bradley F. , Nicklas Richard A. , Adinoff Allen D. , Bachert Claus , Borish Larry , Chinchilli Vernon M. , Danzig Melvyn R. , Ferguson Berrylin J. , Fokkens Wytske J. , Jenkins Stephen G. , Lund Valerie J. , Mafee Mahmood F. , Naclerio Robert M. , Pawankar Ruby , Ponikau Jens U. , Schubert Mark S. , Slavin Raymond G. , Stewart Michael G. , Togias Alkis , Wald Ellen R. , Winther Birgit
Published: November 2006

The Rhinosinusitis Initiative was developed by 5 national societies. The current guidance document is an expansion of the 2004 publication, “Rhinosinusitis: Establishing definitions for clinical research and patient care” and provides templates for clinical trials in antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and symptom‐relieving therapies for the following: (1) acute presumed bacterial rhinosinusitis, (2) chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps, (3) CRS with nasal polyps, and (4) classic allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. In addition to the templates for clinical trials and proposed study designs, the Rhinosinusitis Initiative has developed 6 appendices, which address (1) health outcomes, (2) nasal endoscopy and staging of CRS, (3) radiologic imaging, (4) microbiology, (5) laboratory measures, and (6) biostatistical methods.
Theory for two-dimensional electron and ion Bernstein–Greene–Kruskal modes in a magnetized plasma
Authors: ELIASSON B. , SHUKLA P. K.
Published: November 2006

A theory for two-dimensional electron and ion Bernstein–Greene– Kruskal (BGK) modes in a magnetized space plasma is presented. The BGK modes are constructed using the energy and the canonical angular momentum of the particles, which are conserved in a cylindrically symmetric potential. The typical length scale of the BGK modes is of the same order or larger than the thermal gyroradius of the particles. The results are relevant for understanding the properties of observed localized structures in the Earth's magnetosphere and auroral zone, as well as in laboratory magnetoplasmas.
Social capital, ‘trust’ and the role of networks in Julfan trade: informal and semi-formal institutions at work
Authors: Aslanian Sebouh
Published: November 2006

This essay examines the role of ‘trust’ and cooperation in early modern long-distance trade. While most literature on the subject posits trust as a given attribute of long-distance merchant communities and not as a factor in need of historical explanation or analysis, this essay seeks to provide a historical explanation for the creation and role of trust in such communities. It focuses on the history of Armenian merchants from New Julfa, Isfahan, during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The central theoretical model this essay relies upon to explain trust among Julfan Armenian merchants derives from ‘social capital’ theory as elaborated in sociology and economic sociology, as well as theory from the New Institutional Economics associated with the influential work of Avner Greif. Unlike the latter body of work, however, this essay argues that Julfan trust must be understood not solely as an outcome of informal institutions such as reputation-regulating mechanisms discussed by Greif in his work on Maghribi Jews of the medieval period, but also as a result of the simultaneous combination of both informal and semi-formal legal institutions. In the Julfan context, the essay thus focuses on a merchant arbitrage institution known as the Assembly of Merchants, which enabled Julfan merchants to generate and maintain trust, trustworthiness and uniform norms necessary for collective action and cooperation.
Africa and globalization: colonialism, decolonization and the postcolonial malaise
Authors: Austen Ralph A.
Published: November 2006

Tropical Africa has not fared well either in the contemporary world order or in the globalization literature that has accompanied it. Under such labels as ‘black hole’ ‘blank space’ and ‘the hopeless continent’, this part of the world seems hardly worthy of attention in the study of the connections and energies that define the twenty-first century.
The Tim21 binding domain connects the preprotein translocases of both mitochondrial membranes
Authors: Albrecht Reinhard , Rehling Peter , Chacinska Agnieszka , Brix Jan , Cadamuro Sergio A , Volkmer Rudolf , Guiard Bernard , Pfanner Nikolaus , Zeth Kornelius
Published: November 2006

Proteins destined for the mitochondrial matrix are imported by the translocase of the outer membrane—the TOM complex—and the presequence translocase of the inner membrane—the TIM23 complex. At present, there is no structural information on components of the presequence translocase. Tim21, a subunit of the presequence translocase consisting of a membrane anchor and a carboxy‐terminal domain exposed to the intermembrane space, directly connects the TOM and TIM23 complexes by binding to the intermembrane space domain of the Tom22 receptor. We crystallized the binding domain of Tim21 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and determined its structure at 1.6 Å resolution. The Tim21 structure represents a new α/β‐mixed protein fold with two α‐helices flanked by an extended eight‐stranded β‐sheet. We also identified a core sequence of Tom22 that binds to Tim21. Furthermore, negatively charged amino‐acid residues of Tom22 are important for binding to Tim21. Here we suggest a mechanism for the TOM–TIM interaction.
Anopheles and Plasmodium: from laboratory models to natural systems in the field
Authors: Cohuet Anna , Osta Mike A , Morlais Isabelle , Awono‐Ambene Parfait H , Michel Kristin , Simard Frederic , Christophides George K , Fontenille Didier , Kafatos Fotis C
Published: November 2006

Parasites that cause malaria must complete a complex life cycle in Anopheles vector mosquitoes in order to be transmitted from human to human. Previous gene‐silencing studies have shown the influence of mosquito immunity in controlling the development of Plasmodium. Thus, parasite survival to the oocyst stage increased when the parasite antagonist gene LRIM1 (leucine‐rich repeat immune protein 1) of the mosquito was silenced, but decreased when the C‐type lectin agonist gene CTL4 or CTLMA2 (CTL mannose binding 2) was silenced. However, such effects were shown for infections of the human mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae with the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. Here, we report the first results of A. gambiae gene silencing on infection by sympatric field isolates of the principal human pathogen P. falciparum. In contrast with the results obtained with the rodent parasite, silencing of the same three genes had no effect on human parasite development. These results highlight the importance of following up discoveries in laboratory model systems with studies on natural parasite–mosquito interactions.
Effects of different irrigation programs and nitrogen levels on nitrogen concentration, uptake and utilisation in processing tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum)
Authors: Erdal İ. , Ertek A. , Şenyiğit U. , Yılmaz H. İ.
Published: November 2006

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different irrigation programs and nitrogen (N) levels on N concentration, uptake and utilisation by the processing tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). The amount of water used was determined based on a screened class-A pan. Irrigation treatments consisted of 2 different irrigation intervals (I5, 5 days; I10, 10 days) and 3 plant-pan coefficients (Kcp0.50, 0.50; Kcp0.75, 0.75; Kcp1.00, 1.00). Nitrogen treatments consisted of 3 N levels (N0, 0 kg/ha; N80, 80 kg/ha; N160, 160 kg/ha). The irrigation interval, plant-pan coefficient and N fertiliser rate affected all parameters examined; however, the N fertiliser rate had the greatest impact. Nitrogen applications increased N concentrations in the leaf, tomato and vegetative biomass. Plant total N uptake and benefit rate from fertiliser was highest with the N160, I10 and Kcp0.75 and Kcp1.00 treatments. Results show that the N160, I10 and Kcp0.75 treatments can be used for increasing plant N uptake and the benefit rate from fertiliser.
Zinc sulfate is more effective at producing wheat shoots than zinc oxide in an alkaline soil but both sources are equally effective in an acid soil
Authors: Brennan R. F. , Bolland M. D. A.
Published: November 2006

The effectiveness of zinc, as either zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O, 22.4% Zn) or zinc oxide (ZnO; 80% Zn) applied to an acid sand or an alkaline sandy clay, at producing wheat shoots was compared in a glasshouse experiment using yield of 50-day-old wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. The fertilisers were applied as fine powders and mixed through the soil. Both fertilisers were equally effective in the acid soil, but the oxide was about half as effective as the sulfate in the alkaline soil; about twice the amount of zinc as the oxide was required to produce the same yield as zinc added as the sulfate. The amount of zinc required to produce 90% of the maximum yield was 38 µg Zn/pot for both sources of zinc in the acid soil, and 100 µg Zn/pot for the sulfate source and 250 µg Zn/pot for the oxide source for the alkaline soil. Critical zinc, which is the zinc concentration in the youngest emerged leaf that was related to 90% of the maximum yield of shoots, was about 13 mg/kg for both sources of zinc and both soils. Zinc oxide may be less effective at producing wheat shoots than zinc sulfate in alkaline soils of south-western Australia.
Seasonal accumulation and distribution of nutrient elements in fruit of kiwifruit vines affected by boron toxicity
Authors: Sotiropoulos T. E. , Therios I. N. , Dimassi K. N.
Published: November 2006

The objectives of the present research were to study the effect of boron (B) toxicity on the seasonal accumulation of nutrient elements in fruit of kiwifruit vines and also to study the distribution of nutrient elements within a mature fruit. The kiwifruit vines were 12 years old and grown on soil developed on alluvial deposits. One part of the experimental orchard was irrigated from a well with good quality water (0.3 mg B/L) and served as a control, whereas the other part was irrigated with high B water (3.2 mg B/L) pumped by another well. Symptoms of B toxicity in leaves were clearly visible in the form of chlorosis. At the end of June 1998, necrotic spots were apparent in the leaf blade. The seasonal patterns for the various macro- and micronutrient elements could be broadly grouped into 2 types: (i) the P, Ca and Fe contents in fruit of both orchards declined gradually until they reached values which remained relatively constant until harvest; (ii) the N, K, Mg, Mn and Zn contents in fruit tended to decline steadily throughout the sampling period. Irrigation of kiwifruit vines with high B water did not significantly affect fruit N, P, K, Mg, Mn and Fe contents, whereas it decreased Ca contents and increased Zn and B contents. The decrease in B content from the basal part of the fruit towards the apical could be ascribed to the low mobility of B within the plant. The distribution pattern of B in fruit is not uniform; this indicates that during interpretation, fruit analysis data should be treated with caution, as the analysis of an entire fruit represents an average of widely different B contents. The higher B content in the basal part of flesh suggests that this tissue is the most sensitive indicator of B toxicity in fruit.
Postharvest characteristics and handling of litchi fruit — an overview
Authors: Jiang Y. M. , Wang Y. , Song L. , Liu H. , Lichter A. , Kerdchoechuen O. , Joyce D. C. , Shi J.
Published: November 2006

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a tropical to subtropical crop that originated in South-East Asia. Litchi fruit are prized on the world market for their flavour, semi-translucent white aril and attractive red skin. Litchi is now grown commercially in many countries and production in Australia, China, Israel, South Africa and Thailand has expanded markedly in recent years. Increased production has made significant contributions to economic development in these countries, especially those in South-East Asia. Non-climacteric litchi fruit are harvested at their visual and organoleptic optimum. They are highly perishable and, consequently, have a short life that limits marketability and potential expansion of demand. Pericarp browning and pathological decay are common and important defects of harvested litchi fruit. Postharvest technologies have been developed to reduce these defects. These technologies involve cooling and heating the fruit, use of various packages and packaging materials and the application of fungicides and other chemicals. Through the use of fungicides and refrigeration, litchi fruit have a storage life of about 30 days. However, when they are removed from storage, their shelf life at ambient temperature is very short due to pericarp browning and fruit rotting. Low temperature acclimation or use of chitsoan as a coating can extend the shelf life. Sulfur dioxide fumigation effectively reduces pericarp browning, but approval from Europe, Australia and Japan for this chemical is likely to be withdrawn due to concerns over sulfur residues in fumigated fruit. Thus, sulfur-free postharvest treatments that maintain fruit skin colour are increasingly important. Alternatives to SO2 fumigation for control of pericarp browning and fruit rotting are pre-storage pathogen management, anoxia treatment, and dipping in 2% hydrogen chloride solution for 6−8 min following storage at 0°C. Insect disinfestation has become increasingly important for the expansion of export markets because of quarantine issues associated with some fruit fly species. Thus, effective disinfestation protocols need to be developed. Heat treatment has shown promise as a quarantine technology, but it injures pericarp tissue and results in skin browning. However, heat treatment can be combined with an acid dip treatment that inhibits browning. Therefore, the primary aim of postharvest litchi research remains the achievement of highly coloured fruit which is free of pests and disease. Future research should focus on disease control before harvest, combined acid and heat treatments after harvest and careful temperature management during storage and transport.
Influence of irrigation method on water use and production of perennial pastures in northern Victoria
Authors: Wood M. L. , Finger L.
Published: November 2006

The irrigation of pasture for the dairy industry accounts for a large proportion of Australia’s total irrigation water use, particularly in the Murray–Darling Basin. Most pasture is irrigated using the border-check method. The dairy industry is under increasing pressure to use water more efficiently in response to water market reforms and restrictions on future irrigation water availability, creating interest in the potential of alternative irrigation methods. A field experiment was conducted at Tatura, Victoria, Australia between July 2000 and July 2002 to quantify the differences in water use, perennial pasture production and pasture composition under border-check, surge, sprinkler and subsurface drip irrigation. The experiment aimed to assess each irrigation method as it would perform under farm best management practices. Measurements included applied water, tailwater runoff, soil water status, dry matter production and botanical composition. This experiment found that sprinkler and subsurface drip irrigation used on average 2 ML/ha.year (17–23%) less water than border-check irrigation while maintaining or increasing pasture production, consequently having a significantly higher water use efficiency. Surface runoff was significantly reduced under sprinkler and subsurface drip irrigation. Surge irrigation had no advantages over border-check. Although some differences in pasture composition were observed between irrigation treatments, the trends were inconsistent from one season to the next. The high water use by gravity fed irrigation methods is attributed to a combination of higher evaporation and groundwater accessions.
Trevor Pearcey and the First Australian Computer: A Lost Opportunity?
Authors: Willis J. B. , Deane J. F.
Published: November 2006

Shortly after the Second World War Trevor Pearcey joined the Radiophysics Division of the Australian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the predecessor of today's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). He designed the first Australian electronic computer, which was constructed in the Division. By 1951 this machine was functioning, but three years later a decision was made to discontinue work on computer development in CSIRO. Pearcey however went on to play a vital role in Australian computing, both in CSIRO and in academia. This paper tells something of Pearcey's early contribution to Australian computing. It also takes a fresh look at some of the factors involved in the 1954 decision to terminate computer development in CSIRO.
Crystal structures of human cardiac β-myosin II S2-Δ provide insight into the functional role of the S2 subfragment
Authors: Blankenfeldt Wulf , Thomä Nicolas H. , Wray John S. , Gautel Mathias , Schlichting Ilme
Published: November 2006

Myosin II is the major component of the muscle thick filament. It consists of two N-terminal S1 subfragments (“heads”) connected to a long dimeric coiled-coil rod. The rod is in itself twofold symmetric, but in the filament, the two heads point away from the filament surface and are therefore not equivalent. This breaking of symmetry requires the initial section of the rod, subfragment 2 (S2), to be relatively flexible. S2 is an important functional element, involved in various mechanisms by which the activity of smooth and striated muscle is regulated. We have determined crystal structures of the 126 N-terminal residues of S2 from human cardiac β-myosin II (S2-Δ), of both WT and the disease-associated E924K mutant. S2-Δ is a straight parallel dimeric coiled coil, but the N terminus of one chain is disordered in WT-S2-Δ due to crystal contacts, indicative of unstable local structure. Bulky noncanonical side chains pack into a/d positions of S2-Δ's N terminus, leading to defined local asymmetry and axial stagger, which could induce nonequivalence of the S1 subfragments. Additionally, S2 possesses a conserved charge distribution with three prominent rings of negative potential within S2-Δ, the first of which may provide a binding interface for the “blocked head” of smooth muscle myosin in the OFF state. The observation that many disease-associated mutations affect the second negatively charged ring further suggests that charge interactions play an important role in regulation of cardiac muscle activity through myosin-binding protein C.