bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
African influence on culture and music in Dubai
Authors: Khalifa Aisha Bilkhair
Published: March 2007

This article has two major sections. The first section provides a historical review, introduces the history of Dubai, and describes the power dynamics and social interactions between its tribal population and slaves of African descent. Further this section discusses and analyses the social and cultural assimilation of African slaves in the host society. The second section investigates the role music and rituals played in the lives of slaves. It specifically illustrates the merger of African music and lyrics with Gulf poetry to produce the hybrid known as alnahmah, a sea chant. This section reveals how the different African musical genres and rituals functioned to sustain the slaves' existence. Finally, this section links spirit possession to slavery as a form of slave resistance and a method of coping with enslavement. The conclusion includes a discussion of topics addressing the historical links and contemporary connections between Dubai society and the music of African descendants. Despite the prolonged silence around the issue of slavery and its legacy, through music and rituals Gulf African slaves were able to leave an indelible mark that ultimately documents, records and preserves their experience of enslavement.
The institutional economics of sharing biological information
Authors: Dedeurwaerdere Tom
Published: March 2007

Within the field of the governance of biodiversity, initiatives for sharing knowledge through networking distributed databases have emerged, operating both on a global scale (such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility connecting worldwide biodiversity resources in a searchable database portal) and in more focused issue networks (such as the European Human Frozen Tumour Tissue Bank). In this article, I analyse the institutional conditions for the development of these initiatives in the particular case of microbiological resources. Two main results come out of this analysis. First, microbiological information has to be considered as a complex good, having both public good and common pool resources aspects. Second, to solve the incentive problems for this complex good, we have to go beyond a static conception of efficiency (favouring economic incentives through the allocation of intellectual property rights) and adopt a dynamic framework (geared towards the enforcement of norms of cooperation in a context of changing social preferences and processes of knowledge acquisition throughout the entire innovation chain). Building on the methodologies of successful research programmes on dynamic efficiency in other fields of new institutional economics, I discuss a framework for defining a robust set of design rules for the governance of the microbiological commons.
The Global Burden of Headache: A Documentation of Headache Prevalence and Disability Worldwide
Authors: Stovner LJ , Hagen K , Jensen R , Katsarava Z , Lipton RB , Scher AI , Steiner TJ , Zwart J-A
Published: March 2007

This study, which is a part of the initiative 'Lifting The Burden: The Global Campaign to Reduce the Burden of Headache Worldwide', assesses and presents all existing evidence of the world prevalence and burden of headache disorders. Population-based studies applying International Headache Society criteria for migraine and tension-type headache, and also studies on headache in general and 'chronic daily headache', have been included. Globally, the percentages of the adult population with an active headache disorder are 46% for headache in general, 11% for migraine, 42% for tension-type headache and 3% for chronic daily headache. Our calculations indicate that the disability attributable to tension-type headache is larger worldwide than that due to migraine. On the World Health Organization's ranking of causes of disability, this would bring headache disorders into the 10 most disabling conditions for the two genders, and into the five most disabling for women.
An investigator‐masked comparison of the efficacy and safety of twice daily applications of calcitriol 3 µg/g ointment vs. calcipotriol 50 µg/g ointment in subjects with mild to moderate chronic plaque‐type psoriasis
Authors: Zhu X , Wang B , Zhao G , Gu J , Chen Z , Briantais P , Andres P
Published: March 2007

Background  Calcitriol and calcipotriol, two vitamin D derivatives, are available for topical treatment of psoriasis and have been shown to be effective.

Aim  To compare the efficacy and safety of calcitriol 3 µg/g and calcipotriol 50 µg/g.

Methods  This was a multicentre, randomized, investigator‐masked, and parallel comparison in subjects with mild to moderate chronic plaque‐type psoriasis receiving either calcitriol or calcipotriol ointment twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy evaluations comprised global improvement (on a 4‐point scale from 0: no change or worse, to 3: clear or almost clear) assessed by the investigator and by the subject. Efficacy further included the ‘dermatological sum score’ at each study visit. Safety evaluations included adverse event reporting, cutaneous safety assessed by the investigator and cutaneous discomfort assessment by the subject (both on a 5‐point scale from 0: none, to 4: very severe).

Results  A total of 250 subjects of both gender were recruited. At week 12, the LSmean score of global improvement rated by the investigator was 2.27 for calcitriol and 2.22 for calcipotriol. This difference was not statistically significant, with calcitriol demonstrating to be non‐inferior to calcipotriol for global improvement. This same parameter was scored by the subject, with a mean of 2.12 for calcitriol and 2.09 for calcipotriol. The percentage of patients with at least marked improvement tended to be in favour of calcitriol (95.7% vs. 85% for calcipotriol). However, differences were not statistically significant. The mean worst score for the cutaneous safety assessment was higher in the calcipotriol group (0.3 vs. 0.1 and 0.4 vs. 0.2, by the investigator and the patient, respectively). These differences were statistically significant in favour of a better safety profile for calcitriol (P = 0.0035). Fourteen dermatological and treatment‐related adverse events were reported with calcipotriol vs. only five with calcitriol for a total of 22 adverse events reported throughout the study.

Conclusion  Calcitriol administered twice daily over a 12‐week treatment period demonstrated similar efficacy to calcipotriol, while showing a significantly better safety profile.
Tilt illusions after Oyama (1960): A review1
Authors: KITAOKA AKIYOSHI
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  This article reviews the study of tilt illusions by focusing on new illusions or new demonstrations reported by Japanese researchers after the review of Oyama (1960). Steady progress was observed in a variety of illusions. In particular, the development of the study of the Café Wall illusion and its related illusions during the past decade was remarkable. The study of the spiral illusion has also progressed dramatically.
Non‐proteolytic neurotrophic effects of tissue plasminogen activator on cultured mouse cerebrocortical neurons
Authors: Lee Hee‐Young , Hwang Ih‐Yeon , Im Hana , Koh Jae‐Young , Kim Yang‐Hee
Published: March 2007

Most biological effects of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), such as fibrinolysis, are mediated by its protease activity. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that tPA also has several protease‐independent effects such as: neuroprotection, microglial activation, and promoting LTP formation. In order to gain a better understanding of how tPA affects neurons, we examined neurite outgrowth and cell survival in low density cerebrocortical neuronal culture in the presence of tPA. tPA enhanced neurite elongation and neuronal survival. tPA protease inhibitors, PAI‐1 or PMSF, did not alter either effect. Consistent with neurotrophic effects, tPA activated Raf‐K/ERK, PKC and PI3‐K/Akt, 5–60 min after treatment. In addition, specific inhibitors of these kinases reduced tPA‐induced neurite outgrowth. Interestingly, survival‐promoting effect of tPA was attenuated only by PI3‐K inhibitors. Activation of signaling kinases suggests that tPA activates an upstream membrane receptor. Thus far, three membrane proteins, low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP), mannose receptor (MR), and annexin‐II (AII), have been identified to bind tPA. While inhibiting LRP or MR did not change tPA‐induced neurite outgrowth and cell survival, inhibiting AII blocked neurotrophic effects of tPA. Taken together, our results indicate that tPA has novel, non‐proteolytic neurotrophic effects on cultured cortical neurons, which are likely mediated by AII.
The cyclic GMP‐protein kinase G pathway regulates cytoskeleton dynamics and motility in astrocytes
Authors: Borán Mariela Susana , García Agustina
Published: March 2007

We have previously demonstrated that inflammatory compounds that increase nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression have a biphasic effect on the level of the NO messenger cGMP in astrocytes. In this work, we demonstrate that NO‐dependent cGMP formation is involved in the morphological change induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in cultured rat cerebellar astroglia. In agreement with this, dibutyryl‐cGMP, a permeable cGMP analogue, and atrial natriuretic peptide, a ligand for particulate guanylyl cyclase, are both able to induce process elongation and branching in astrocytes resulting from a rapid, reversible and concentration‐dependent redistribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and actin filaments without significant change in protein levels. These effects are also observed in astrocytes co‐cultured with neurons. The cytoskeleton rearrangement induced by cGMP is prevented by the specific protein kinase G inhibitor Rp‐8Br‐PET‐cGMPS and involves downstream inhibition of RhoA GTPase since is not observed in cells transfected with constitutively active RhoA. Furthermore, dibutyryl‐cGMP prevents RhoA‐membrane association, a step necessary for its interaction with effectors. Stimulation of the cGMP‐protein kinase G pathway also leads to increased astrocyte migration in anin vitroscratch‐wound assay resulting in accelerated wound closure, as seen in reactive gliosis following brain injury. These results indicate that cGMP‐mediated pathways may regulate physio‐pathologically relevant responses in astroglial cells.
Pincer nail: aesthetic concept in surgery
Authors: Fuchsbauer Martin , Özdemir C , Scharffetter‐Kochanek Karin
Published: March 2007

Although pincer nail deformity (PND) treatment is time consuming independent of whether it is based on surgical or conservative procedures, long lasting beneficial results are found only after surgical intervention. Typically destruction of the lateral matrix horns either surgically or by phenol cauterization or even ablation of the matrix is performed. In the past these procedures mainly aimed at relief from pain; however, currently more patients ask for the preservation of the nail unit and a good cosmetic outcome. Today reconstructive results that meet the patient expectations are available. An adapted novel surgical method which will preserve the matrix horns while correcting the shape of the phalanx and preventing renewed adhesion of the nail bed to the phalanx is presented. Therefore the restoration of a normal width‐to‐length ratio of the nail plate with a cosmetically appealing result becomes possible.

Surgical steps in an affected right toenail are presented.
Political and social drivers for access to the countryside: the need for research on birds and recreational disturbance
Authors: BATHE GRAHAM
Published: March 2007

The introduction of a statutory right of access to open country and registered common land in England and Wales in 2005 was a major milestone in a campaign traceable to the 19th century, with views strongly polarized between social classes and political parties, and between land owners and campaigners. More recently, access has also been recognized as a factor contributing to quality‐of‐life, public health, social diversity and rural economic issues. The mapping of access land revealed that 55% of it is also designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, where wildlife is legally conserved. This has generated a need to assess the implications of access in each case, and take measures to ensure nationally and internationally important features are protected, drawing on sound scientific principles. Early research, although competently undertaken, often failed to address population‐scale effects significant at the designated‐site level, enabling disputes and polarized ‘beliefs’ to be articulated. Hence, in addition to drawing up formal and transparent procedures for evaluating impacts and resolving difficulties, funds were released and a major programme initiated, commissioning applied research of direct relevance to the implementation of the legislation. This has pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge in a field which is both difficult and expensive to study. By gradually replacing ‘belief’ with evidence, this represents a case study in resolving environmental disputes.
Visitor patterns on southern heaths: a review of visitor access patterns to heathlands in the UK and the relevance to Annex I bird species
Authors: UNDERHILL‐DAY JOHN C. , LILEY DURWYN
Published: March 2007

Many lowland heathlands have been designated as Special Protection Areas under the European Union Birds Directive as they support populations of bird species of European importance listed in Annex I of the Directive, including Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Woodlark Lullula arborea and Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata. Many lowland heaths are near to human settlements and are heavily used as open spaces by those living nearby. A number of past visitor surveys have established the range of uses to which urban heaths are subject, and the attitudes of those who use them. We have collated a number of these visitor surveys, many of which are unpublished reports relating to single sites, in order to provide a broad summary of access to heathlands. The majority of visitors to urban and suburban lowland heaths visit sites regularly and live nearby (within 5 km). A large proportion of visitors drive to sites and dog walking is the usual purpose for a visit. Visits are typically short, with the average dog walker travelling less than 2.5 km on the heath. Dog walkers typically stay on the paths, but most let their dog off the lead and consider it important to be able to do so. On large regionally or nationally known rural sites such as the New Forest, more visitors are day trippers and tourists, fewer are dog walkers, they stay for longer and their reasons for visiting differ from those of local residents. The information presented here is relevant in helping to inform decisions on the location of new housing development, and mitigating the impacts of existing and new settlements, as well as helping the heathland manager to make provision for visitors in ways that are most compatible with wildlife conservation.
Oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment can be separated from lipofuscin accumulation in aged human skeletal muscle
Authors: Hütter Eveline , Skovbro Mette , Lener Barbara , Prats Clara , Rabøl Rasmus , Dela Flemming , Jansen‐Dürr Pidder
Published: March 2007

According to the free radical theory of aging, reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as a driving force of the aging process, and it is generally believed that mitochondrial dysfunction is a major source of increased oxidative stress in tissues with high content of mitochondria, such as muscle or brain. However, recent experiments in mouse models of premature aging have questioned the role of mitochondrial ROS production in premature aging. To address the role of mitochondrial impairment and ROS production for aging in human muscles, we have analyzed mitochondrial properties in muscle fibres isolated from the vastus lateralis of young and elderly donors. Mitochondrial respiratory functions were addressed by high‐resolution respirometry, and ROS production was analyzed by in situ staining with the redox‐sensitive dye dihydroethidium. We found that aged human skeletal muscles contain fully functional mitochondria and that the level of ROS production is higher in young compared to aged muscle. Accordingly, we could not find any increase in oxidative modification of proteins in muscle from elderly donors. However, the accumulation of lipofuscin was identified as a robust marker of human muscle aging. The data support a model, where ROS‐induced molecular damage is continuously removed, preventing the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria despite ongoing ROS production.
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Fall Prevention Programs and Quality of Life in Older Fallers
Authors: Lin Mau‐Roung , Wolf Steven L. , Hwang Hei‐Fen , Gong Sheng‐You , Chen Chih‐Yi
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of three fall‐prevention programs (education (ED), home safety assessment and modification (HSAM), and exercise training (ET)) on quality of life (QOL), functional balance and gait, activities of daily living (ADLs), fear of falling, and depression in adults aged 65 and older.

DESIGN: A 4‐month randomized trial.

SETTING: Randomized, controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty participants who had experienced a recent fall.

MEASUREMENTS: QOL was assessed according to the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL‐BREF), functional balance and gait according to functional reach and Tinetti balance and gait, ADLs according to the Older Americans Resources and Services questionnaire, fear of falling according to a visual analog scale, and depression level according to the Geriatric Depression Scale.

RESULTS: The score changes for the ET group were 2.1 points greater on the physical domain (95% confidence interval (CI)=−1.2–5.3), 3.8 points greater on the psychological domain (95% CI=0.7–7.0), and for the WHOQOL‐BREF, 3.4 points greater on the social domain (95% CI=0.7–6.1) and 3.2 points greater on the environmental domain (95% CI=0.6–5.7) than for the ED group. The score change for each domain of the WHOQOL‐BREF for the HSAM group was greater than that for the ED group, although these results were not statistically significant. The ET group also had greater improvements in functional reach, Tinetti balance and gait, and fear of falling than the ED group.

CONCLUSION: The QOL outcome supports the superiority of ET over the other two interventions in older people who have recently fallen. This finding also parallels those gathered from the functional measures.
Multitasking: Association Between Poorer Performance and a History of Recurrent Falls
Authors: Faulkner Kimberly A. , Redfern Mark S. , Cauley Jane A. , Landsittel Douglas P. , Studenski Stephanie A. , Rosano Caterina , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Harris Tamara B. , Shorr Ronald I. , Ayonayon Hilsa N. , Newman Anne B. ,   for the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between poorer performance on concurrent walking and reaction time and recurrent falls.

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis.

SETTING: Community.

PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred seventy‐seven older community‐dwelling adults (mean age±standard deviation 78±3).

MEASUREMENTS: Reaction times on push‐button and visual‐spatial decision tasks were assessed while seated and while walking a 20‐m course (straight walk) and a 20‐m course with a turn at 10 m (turn walk). Walking times were recorded while walking only and while performing a reaction‐time response. Dual‐task performance was calculated as the percentage change in task times when done in dual‐task versus single‐task conditions. A history of recurrent falls (≥2 vs ≤1 falls) in the prior 12 months was self‐reported. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict the standardized odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent falls history. The standardized unit for dual‐task performance ORs was interquartile range/2.

RESULTS: On the push‐button task during the turn walk, poorer reaction time response (slower) was associated with 28% lower (P=.04) odds of recurrent fall history. On the visual‐spatial task, poorer walking‐time response (slower) was associated with 34% (P=.02) and 42% (P=.01) higher odds of recurrent falls history on the straight and turn walks, respectively.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that walking more slowly in response to a visual‐spatial decision task may identify individuals at risk for multiple falls. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of poor walking responses in a dual‐task setting for multiple falls.
Adolescents' Attachment Representations and Their Capacity for Intimacy in Close Relationships
Authors: Mayseless Ofra , Scharf Miri
Published: March 2007

A secure state of mind with regard to attachment, as assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), as well as attachment styles as assessed by questionnaires (the two most prevalent facets of attachment representations assessed in adolescence and adulthood) were examined as potential contributors to adolescents' capacity for intimacy. Eighty male Israeli adolescents were administered the two measures and reported on their impulsiveness during their senior year of high school. Four years later, at the end of their mandatory military service, they were interviewed regarding their capacity for intimacy, and they filled out questionnaires. State of mind with regard to attachment and attachment styles uniquely predicted capacity for romantic intimacy and affective relationships with friends. Impulsiveness interacted with attachment security (benefiting dismissing and avoidant participants, and hampering secure ones) in predicting romantic intimacy. The discussion underscores the distinctiveness and importance of different facets of attachment representations to close relationships with peers.
The Validity of Observational Measures in Detecting Optimal Maternal Communication Styles: Evidence from European Americans and Latinos
Authors: Nadeem Erum , Romo Laura F. , Sigman Marian , Lefkowitz Eva S. , Au Terry K.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the sensitivity of an observational coding system for assessing positive and negative maternal behaviors of Latino and European American mothers toward their adolescent children. Ninety Latino (54 Spanish speaking and 35 English speaking) and 20 European American mother–adolescent dyads participated in an observational study of conversations about sexuality, AIDS, and conflicts. Associations were examined between observed maternal positive and negative behaviors and adolescent‐reported relationship quality. Results indicated that maternal negative responsiveness was negatively associated with relationship quality for all ethnic/language groups. However, maternal positive responsiveness was related to relationship quality for European Americans but not for Latinos. These findings suggest a need for a broader definition of positive parenting in Latino families.
Predicting Adolescents' Organized Activity Involvement: The Role of Maternal Depression History, Family Relationship Quality, and Adolescent Cognitions
Authors: Bohnert Amy M. , Martin Nina C. , Garber Judy
Published: March 2007

Although the potential benefits of organized activity involvement during high school have been documented, little is known about what familial and individual characteristics are associated with higher levels of participation. Using structural equation modeling, this longitudinal study examined the extent to which maternal depression history (i.e., risk), family relationship quality, and adolescents' cognitions (i.e., self‐worth and attributional style), predicted organized activity involvement during high school among 145 adolescents, controlling for socioeconomic status and adolescent depressive symptoms. Results showed that risk predicted less adolescent high school activity involvement, and this relation was mediated by family relationship quality. Family relationship quality indirectly affected activity involvement through adolescent cognitions. The overall predictive model generally supported the importance of the interplay between family and individual factors in predicting activity involvement during high school.
4‐Phenylbutyrate restores the functionality of a misfolded mutant low‐density lipoprotein receptor
Authors: Tveten Kristian , Holla Øystein L. , Ranheim Trine , Berge Knut E. , Leren Trond P. , Kulseth Mari A.
Published: March 2007

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the low‐density lipoprotein receptor. To date, more than 900 different mutations have been described. Transport‐defective mutations (class 2) causing partial or complete retention of the receptor in the endoplasmic reticulum are the predominant class of mutations. In a cell culture system (Chinese hamster ovary cells), we show that chemical chaperones are able to mediate rescue of a transport‐defective mutant (G544V), and that the ability to obtain rescue is mutation dependent. In particular, the low molecular mass fatty acid derivative 4‐phenylbutyrate mediated a marked increase in the transport of G544V‐mutant low‐density lipoprotein receptor to the plasma membrane. Thirty per cent of the mutant receptor was able to escape from the endoplasmic reticulum and reach the cell surface. The rescued receptor had reduced stability, but was found to be as efficient as the wild‐type low‐density lipoprotein receptor in binding and internalizing low‐density lipoprotein. In addition to 4‐phenylbutyrate, we also studied 3‐phenylpropionate and 5‐phenylvalerate, and compared their effect on rescue of the G544V‐mutant low‐density lipoprotein receptor with their ability to increase overall gene expression caused by their histone deacetylase inhibitor activity. No correlation was found. Our results indicate that the effect of these agents was not solely mediated by their ability to induce gene expression of proteins involved in intracellular transport, but rather could be due to a direct chemical chaperone activity. These data suggest that rescue of mutant low‐density lipoprotein receptor is possible and that it might be feasible to develop pharmacologic chaperones to treat familial hypercholesterolemia patients with class 2 mutations.
THE SHIFTING POWER OF LABOR‐COMMUNITY COALITIONS: IDENTIFYING COMMON ELEMENTS OF POWERFUL COALITIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND THE U.S.
Authors: Tattersall Amanda , Reynolds David
Published: March 2007

This article presents and explores a theoretical framework of common features across labor‐community coalitions. While researchers in both the U.S. and Australia have written about labor‐community coalitions, most of their work has focused on profiling “best practices” rather than building a framework for understanding coalition and such work in general. This article argues that all coalitions are defined by four common elements: the nature of common concern, the structure of organizational relationships, organizational capacity and commitment, and the scale of coalition activity. It then uses these elements to identify four different ideal types of coalitions, varying from ad hoc coalitions, to simple coalitions, to mutual interest coalitions to deep coalitions. The article illustrates the usefulness of this framework by using it to examine sample coalition experiences in the U.S. and Australia. The Australian case displays variation in coalition type within a single ongoing campaign around public education. By contrast, eight samples of U.S. living wage efforts demonstrate variation in coalition type among different campaigns.
What Theories of Truth Should be Like (but Cannot be)
Authors: Leitgeb Hannes
Published: March 2007

This article outlines what a formal theory of truthshouldbe like, at least at first glance. As not all of the stated constraints can be satisfied at the same time, in view of notorious semantic paradoxes such as the Liar paradox, we consider the maximal consistent combinations of these desiderata and compare their relative advantages and disadvantages.
The impact of urological conditions on patients’ dignity
Authors: Baillie Lesley
Published: March 2007

There is increasing emphasis on patients’ rights to dignity. However, studies indicate that patients are vulnerable to a loss of dignity in hospital. There is a dearth of research focusing on the dignity of patients with urological conditions and this study aimed to explain how urological conditions affect patients’ dignity and how patients’ dignity can be promoted when threatened. The research design was a qualitative case study based in a urological ward in the United Kingdom. Four‐hour episodes of participant observation were conducted on 12 separate days, each focused on one patient’s care. Following observation, the 12 patients were interviewed in the ward. Interviews were conducted with a further 12 patients following discharge. Data were analysed using the framework approach. Patients’ urological conditions threatened dignity because of the intimate area of the body affected and accompanying bodily exposure. Urinary catheters and associated procedures were considered threats to dignity. Staff promoted dignity by providing privacy and using therapeutic interactions. Patients promoted their own dignity through rationalization and humour. Where they viewed loss of dignity was inevitable, adopting an attitude of acceptance made patients feel more comfortable. Patients could rationalize their situation better when with other patients with urological conditions who were ‘in the same boat’. In conclusion, patients with urological conditions are particularly vulnerable to a loss of dignity in hospital but staff behaviour and patients’ attitudes can promote dignity in these situations.
Where urology and obstetrics meet: the Campaign to End Fistula
Authors: Ramsey Kate , Pinel Arletty
Published: March 2007

That obstetric fistula, one of the most devastating childbirth morbidities, exists in the 21st century is unconscionable when the means to prevent and treat obstetric fistula are known. Where it persists, it is a startling reminder of the vast disparities in maternal health care. Inequities in access to skilled care at delivery and caesarean section and lack of available and affordable treatment care mean that tens of thousands of new cases occur and the backlog of cases grows each year. Nurses and midwives have a key role in preventing and treating obstetric fistula. A global Campaign to End Fistula is now bringing actors together to address the neglected condition of obstetric fistula. Nurses and midwives should be engaged in the fight to end this injustice.
Language in the American Courtroom
Authors: Shuy Roger W.
Published: March 2007

One of the most promising connections that linguistics can make to other fields is to the legal arena, primarily because much of the work in law is doneinlanguage and it is often largelyaboutlanguage, either spoken or written. For example, lawsuits, indictments, pleadings, briefs, legal opinions, and, of course, laws and statutes are all revealed and preserved in written language. Courtroom appearances and testimony, although presented orally, end up in written form and even oral evidence gets transformed into written transcripts. We begin with the observation that language and law are close bedfellows.
A Numerical Study of the Global Performance of Two Static Mixers
Authors: Rahmani Ramin K. , Ayasoufi Anahita , Keith Theo G.
Published: March 2007

The use of in-line static mixers has been widely advocated for an important variety of applications, such as continuous mixing, heat and mass transfer processes, and chemical reactions. This paper extends previous studies by the authors on industrial static mixers and illustrates how static mixing processes of single-phase viscous liquids can be numerically simulated. Mixing of Newtonian, shear-thinning, and shear-thickening fluids through static mixer, as well as thermal enhancement by static mixer is studied. Using different measuring tools, the global performance and costs of SMX (Sulzer mixer X) and helical static mixers are studied. It is shown that the SMX mixer manifests a higher performance; however, the required energy to maintain the flow across a SMX mixer is significantly higher.
Three‐dimensional reconstruction of seed implants by randomized rounding and visual evaluation
Authors: Siebert Frank‐André , Srivastav Anand , Kliemann Lasse , Fohlin Helena , Kovács György
Published: March 2007

The development of efficient 3D seed reconstruction algorithms is an ongoing and vivid research topic. Since the 1980s many publications about seed assignment were published. In this paper a novel mathematical approach is described to solve the 3D assignment problem for the reconstruction of seeds with radiographs: we present a fast linear programming approach together with afterwards applying the so‐called randomized rounding scheme to compute good (possibly partial) assignments. We apply a visualization software that allows user interaction to check the solution given by the algorithm and to augment partial assignments. The second step is justified as the randomized algorithm already returns optimal solutions is many cases, and in cases with partial assignments it fails to match only a very small number of seed images. Our algorithm transfers ideas from recent breakthrough research work on the design of efficient randomized algorithms in discrete optimization and computer science to the seed reconstruction problem.
Monte Carlo simulations of absorbed dose in a mouse phantom from 18‐fluorine compounds
Authors: Taschereau Richard , Chatziioannou Arion F.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to calculate internal absorbed dose distribution in mice from preclinical small animal PET imaging procedures with fluorine‐18 labeled compounds (, , and fluoride ion). The GATE Monte Carlo software and a realistic, voxel‐based mouse phantom that included a subcutaneous tumor were used to perform simulations. Discretized time‐activity curves obtained from dynamic in vivo studies with each of the compounds were used to set the activity concentration in the simulations. For , a realistic range of uptake ratios was considered for the heart and tumor. For each simulated time frame, the biodistribution of the radionuclide in the phantom was considered constant, and a sufficient number of decays were simulated to achieve low statistical uncertainty. Absorbed dose, which was scaled to take into account radioactive decay, integration with time, and changes in biological distribution was reported in mGy per MBq of administered activity for several organs and uptake scenarios. The mean absorbed dose ranged from a few mGy/MBq to hundreds of mGy/MBq. Major organs receive an absorbed dose in a range for which biological effects have been reported. The effects on a given investigation are hard to predict; however, investigators should be aware of potential perturbations especially when the studied organ receives high absorbed dose and when longitudinal imaging protocols are considered.
HETEROGENEOUS TRAFFIC FLOW MODEL FOR A TWO-LANE ROUNDABOUT AND CONTROLLED INTERSECTION
Authors: FENG Y. , LIU Y. , DEO P. , RUSKIN H. J.
Published: March 2007

Modern urban traffic management depends heavily on the efficiency of road features, such as controlled intersections and multi-lane roundabouts. Vehicle throughput at any such configuration is modified by traffic mix, by rules governing manoeuvrability and by driver observance, as well as by traffic density. Here, we study heterogeneous traffic flow on two-lane roads through a cellular automata model for a binary mix of long and short vehicles. Throughput is investigated for a range of arrival rates and for fixed turning rate at an intersection: manoeuvres, while described in terms of left-lane driving, are completely generalisable. For a given heterogeneous distribution of vehicle type, there is a significant impact on queue length, delay times experienced and throughput at a fixed-cycle traffic light controlled two-way intersection and two-lane roundabout, when compared to the homogeneous case. As the proportion of long vehicles increases, average throughput for both configurations declines for increasing arrival rate, with average queue length and waiting time correspondingly increased. The effect is less-marked for the two-lane roundabout, due to absence of cross-traffic delays. Nevertheless, average waiting times and queue lengths remain uniformly high for arrival rates >0.25 vehicle per second (900 vph) on entry roads and for long vehicle proportion above 0.30–0.35.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE FREE ENERGY SURFACE OF COARSE-GRAINED OFF-LATTICE PROTEIN MODELS
Authors: AKTÜRK ETHEM , ARKIN HANDAN , ÇELİK TARIK
Published: March 2007

We have performed multicanonical simulations of hydrophobic-hydrophilic heteropolymers with a simple effective, coarse-grained off-lattice model to study the structure and the topology of the energy surface. The multicanonical method samples the whole rugged energy landscape, in particular the low-energy part, and enables one to better understand the critical behaviors and visualize the folding pathways of the considered protein model.
OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL INVESTIGATION OF LOW DIMENSIONAL SELF-ASSEMBLEDInAsQUANTUM DOT FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS
Authors: ZENG YUXIN , LIU WEI , YANG FUHUA , XU PING , TAN PINGHENG , ZHENG HOUZHI , ZENG YIPING , XING YINGJIE , YU DAPENG
Published: March 2007

Self-assembled InAs QD dot-in-a-well (DWELL) structures were grown on GaAs substrate by MBE system, and heterojunction modulation-doped field effect transistor (MODFET) was fabricated. The optical properties of the samples show that the photoluminescence of InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dot (SAQD) is at 1.265 μm at 300 K. The temperature-dependence of the abnormal redshift of InAs SAQD wavelength with the increasing temperature was observed, which is closely related with the inhomogeneous size distribution of the InAs quantum dot. According to the electrical measurement, high electric field current–voltage characteristic of the MODFET device were obtained. The embedded InAs QD of the samples can be regard as scattering centers to the vicinity of the channel electrons. The transport property of the electrons in GaAs channel will be modulated by the QD due to the Coulomb interaction. It has been proposed that a MODFET embedded with InAs QDs presents a novel type of field effect photon detector.
Y-TYPE PHOTONIC CRYSTAL WAVEGUIDE WITH MINIMUM BRANCHES SPACE
Authors: HAN SHOUZHEN , TIAN JIE , REN CHENG , XU XINGSHENG , LE ZHIYUAN , CHENG BINGYING , ZHANG DAOZHONG
Published: March 2007

The abstract should summarize the context, content and conclusions of the paper in less than 200 words. We fabricated a two-dimensional Y-branch photonic crystal waveguide in the near infrared region by using focused ion beam etching and depositing system. The light guide characters of the waveguide were measured for three different spaces between branches. Field intensity distributions of TE polarized wave in the branches were simulated by using the transfer matrix method. Both the theoretical and experimental results show that the shortest space between branches of the photonic crystal waveguide is about 1.4 times wavelength of transmitted light. If the space became shorter, the light in the two branches would couple to each other seriously. This result might be helpful for the design of compact wave demultiplexer and all-optical integrated circuits.
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION OF SELF-ASSEMBLED CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: WEI DAWEI , GUO WANLIN
Published: March 2007

Molecular dynamics (MD) was used to study the behaviors of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) immersed in ethanol liquid (suspension) when assembling tangled and bulky CNTs into a well-controlled fashion. The ends of the CNTs were modified with carboxyl groups in advance, and then were put into different electric field to analyses the motion process of the assemblage. We found that CNTs moved to the cathode quickly and aligned parallel to the orientation of the direct current electric field.
TUNING OF EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF InAs/GaAs QUANTUM DOTS SANDWICHED BY COMBINATION LAYERS
Authors: FANG ZHIDAN , GONG ZHENG , MIAO ZHENHUA , NIU ZHICHUAN
Published: March 2007

We investigate about controlling of photoluminescence (PL) wavelengths of InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) sandwiched with combination strained-buffer layer (CSBL) and combination strained-reducing layer (CSRL). The emission peak position of QDs is red-shifted to 1.37 μm. The density of the QDs is increased to 1.17 × 1010 cm -2. It is indicated that optical properties of QDs could be improved by optimizing of the buffer and covering layers for the QDs. These results may provide a new way to further developing GaAs -based 1.3 μm light sources.
CELL CULTURES ON A SUPER WATER-REPELLENT ALKYLKETENE DIMER SURFACE
Authors: YAN HU , SHIGA HATSUKI , ITO ETSURO , TSUJII KAORU
Published: March 2007

The fractal alkylketene dimer (AKD) surface is an artificial super water-repellent one with a high contact angle of 174°, therefore, may provide special surface circumstances for studies of biological cells such as cell cultures. The experimental results indicated that the distribution of F-actin in the astrocytes cultured on the fractal AKD-coated dishes showed the stellate shape, while that in the astrocytes cultured on the poly-L-lysine-coated coverslips showed the formation of long alignment. The morphological change of astrocytes is induced by the fractal AKD surface, and the result suggests that astrocyte differentiation is stimulated by the fractal AKD surface.
SURFACE MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION OF STRAINED InAs/GaAs(331)A FILMS
Authors: GONG ZHENG , FANG ZHIDAN , MIAO ZHENHUA , NIU ZHICHUAN
Published: March 2007

Surface morphology evolution of strained InAs/GaAs (331) A films was systematically investigated in this paper. Under As -rich conditions, InAs elongated islands aligned along [Formula: see text] are formed at a substrate temperature of 510°C. We explained it as a result of the anisotropic diffusion of adatoms. Under In -rich conditions, striking change has occurred with respect to the surface morphology of the InAs layers. Instead of anisotropic InAs elongated islands, unique island-pit pairs randomly distributed on the whole surface were observed. Using cooperative nucleation mechanisms proposed by Jesson et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett.77, 1330 (1996)], we interpret the resulting surface morphology evolution.
DIRECTIONAL DIFFUSION OF K ATOMS ON A GaAs(110) SURFACE
Authors: ISHIDA NOBUYUKI , SUBAGYO AGUS , SUEOKA KAZUHISA
Published: March 2007

We performed STM measurements on the K/GaAs (110) surface with high K coverage. The K atoms gradually disappeared while scanning the tip over the surface at negative sample bias voltage. The phenomenon strongly occurred over the scanning area and can be explained by the field-induced surface diffusion from the scanning area to radial direction. Considering the interaction between the dipole moment of the adsorbed K atoms and the electric field, we discuss the relationship between the static and induced dipole moment of K atoms on a GaAs (110) surface.
WRINKLE-INDUCED MICRORIDGE PATTERNS BY GLOBAL MECHANICAL STIMULI
Authors: OHZONO TAKUYA , SHIMOMURA MASATSUGU
Published: March 2007

A new method is described that uses surface wrinkling (buckling) phenomena as a means of simple micro-nanofabrication of the ordered ridges on a surface. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomer surface is modified through Pt -deposition by ion sputtering. Uniaxial compressive strain induces ordered wrinkles on the surface with a characteristic length scale. The wrinkle formation includes small degree of irreversible plastic deformation. Thus, the small ridges with the ordered stripe pattern appear after unloading. The ridge patterns can be superposed to form square and triangle lattice patterns by other compression-unloading processes in different directions. The present knowledge of ridge formation may find uses for cost-effective fabrication of nanomicrostructures because the ordered wrinkle pattern, which triggers the ridges, spontaneously forms with the aid of external strain.
LOCAL ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF DOMAIN BOUNDARIES ON c(2 × 2) Fe(001) THIN FILM SURFACES
Authors: OKA HIROFUMI , SUBAGYO AGUS , SUEOKA KAZUHISA
Published: March 2007

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy have been performed on a nanostructure "line-like pattern" appearing on atomically flat terraces of bcc-Fe (001) with a c(2 × 2) reconstructed structure. Atomically resolved STM reveals that the line-like pattern consists of regularly aligned surface atoms that have a similar symmetry to the (1 × 1) structure of Fe (001). The line-like pattern plays a role of domain boundaries of c(2 × 2) domains. The patterns exhibit bias-voltage dependent image contrast in the STM topographic images. In negative sample bias-voltage range the patterns appear lower than the c(2 × 2) domains and higher in positive range. In dI/dV tunneling spectra taken on the patterns a shoulder is observed around +0.2 V. On the other hands, a small salient is distinguished around +0.4 V in the spectra taken on the c(2 × 2) domains. These features are originated from surface states existing on bcc-Fe (001) surfaces with (1 × 1) structure and c(2 × 2) reconstructed structure, respectively. Emergence of the line-like patterns results in the difference of tunneling conductance.
NANOMECHANICS OF INDIVIDUAL ZINC OXIDE NANOBELTS MEASURED BY IN SITU TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Authors: BAI XUEDONG , WANG EN GE , WANG ZHONG LIN
Published: March 2007

Zinc oxide nanobelts, grown by a solid–vapor phase thermal sublimation process, are stimulating extensive interest because of their semiconducting and piezoelectric properties, diverse functionalities and chemical stability. For nanomanipulation and nanomeasurement of an individual ZnO nanobelts, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique is a unique approach. In this paper, mechanical resonance of a single ZnO nanobelt, induced by an alternative electric field, was studied by in situ TEM. Due to the rectangular cross-section of the nanobelt, two fundamental resonance modes have been observed in corresponding to two orthogonal transverse vibration directions, showing the versatile applications of nanobelts as nanocantilevers and nanoresonators. The bending modulus of the ZnO nanobelts was measured to be ~ 52 GPa and the damping time constant of the resonance in vacuum of 10–8 Torr was ~ 1.2 ms. The ZnO nanobelts are promising in potential applications as nanocantilevers, nanoresonators and nanoactuators.