bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trace amine‐associated receptors and their ligands
Authors: Zucchi R , Chiellini G , Scanlan T S , Grandy D K
Published: November 2006

Classical biogenic amines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and histamine) interact with specific families of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). The term ‘trace amines’ is used when referring top‐tyramine, β‐phenylethylamine, tryptamine and octopamine, compounds that are present in mammalian tissues at very low (nanomolar) concentrations. The pharmacological effects of trace amines are usually attributed to their interference with the aminergic pathways, but in 2001 a new gene was identified, that codes for a GPCR responding top‐tyramine and β‐phenylethylamine but not to classical biogenic amines. Several closely related genes were subsequently identified and designated as the trace amine‐associated receptors (TAARs). Pharmacological investigationsin vitroshow that many TAAR subtypes may not respond top‐tyramine, β‐phenylethylamine, tryptamine or octopamine, suggesting the existence of additional endogenous ligands. A novel endogenous thyroid hormone derivative, 3‐iodothyronamine, has been found to interact with TAAR1 and possibly other TAAR subtypes.In vivo, micromolar concentrations of 3‐iodothyronamine determine functional effects which are opposite to those produced on a longer time scale by thyroid hormones, including reduction in body temperature and decrease in cardiac contractility. Expression of all TAAR subtypes except TAAR1 has been reported in mouse olfactory epithelium, and several volatile amines were shown to interact with specific TAAR subtypes. In addition, there is evidence that TAAR1 is targeted by amphetamines and other psychotropic agents, while genetic linkage studies show a significant association between the TAAR gene family locus and susceptibility to schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2006)149, 967–978. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706948
Ordering of nanocrystalline Fe–Pt alloys studied by in situ neutron powder diffraction
Authors: Lyubina Julia , Isnard Olivier , Gutfleisch Oliver , Müller Karl-Hartmut , Schultz Ludwig
Published: November 2006

The ordering in nanocrystalline Fe100−xPtx (x=40, 45, 50, and 55) alloys prepared by mechanical ball milling was studied by neutron powder diffraction during in situ heat treatment and differential scanning calorimetry. Independent of milling time and stoichiometry the onset of ordering is at around 300°C. For alloys with a multilayer-type microstructure an enhanced kinetics of ordering is observed, characterized by an activation energy of 1.03±0.08eV. The transformation to the L10 phase proceeds via a metastable state, which is a mixture of highly ordered L10 and L12 phases. For samples with homogeneous A1 phase, the A1→L10 transformation is characterized by a lower driving force and higher activation energy. For nonequiatomic compositions, the A1→L10 transformation is considerably decelerated.
Kinetics of bond formation in cross-linked gelatin gels
Authors: Abete T. , Del Gado E. , Serughetti D. Hellio , de Arcangelis L. , Djabourov M. , Coniglio A.
Published: November 2006

In chemical cross-linking of gelatin solutions, two different time scales affect the kinetics of the gel formation in the experiments. We complement the experimental study with Monte Carlo numerical simulations of a lattice model. This approach shows that the two characteristic time scales are related to the formation of single bond cross-linker–chain and of bridges between chains. In particular, their ratio turns out to control the kinetics of the gel formation. We discuss the effect of the concentration of chains. Finally our results suggest that by varying the probability of forming bridges as an independent parameter, one can finely tune the kinetics of the gelation via the ratio of the two characteristic times.
Self-catalytic growth of single-phase AlGaN alloy nanowires by chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Hong L. , Liu Z. , Zhang X. T. , Hark S. K.
Published: November 2006

Wurtzite structured AlGaN alloy nanowires over the entire compositional range have been grown on silicon (100) substrates by chemical vapor deposition using NH3 vapor and a mixture of Al powders and molten Ga droplets. The morphology, structure, and compositions were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and micro-Raman scattering. The nanowires grow along the ⟨0001⟩ direction and remain as a single phase alloy, despite their small diameter. At comparable diameters, previous studies had shown that AlGaN nanowires would have spontaneously phase separated. The growth of the nanowires is suggested as via a self-catalytic vapor-liquid-solid mechanism.
Ultrafast dynamics of periodic nanostructure formation on diamondlike carbon films irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Miyaji Godai , Miyazaki Kenzo
Published: November 2006

Using a pump-probe technique the authors have measured reflectivity of diamondlike carbon (DLC) film irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses to understand dynamic processes responsible for periodic nanostructure formation. The results have shown that characteristic reflectivity change observed as a function of superimposed laser shots is closely associated with the nanostructure formation and the bonding structure change to induce surface swelling, leading to a conclusion that the nanostructure formation on the DLC surface is certainly preceded by the bonding structure change. The nanoscale ablation to produce the nanostructure is discussed based on the local field generation on the surface.
Negative differential conductance observed in electron field emission from band gap modulated amorphous-carbon nanolayers
Authors: Tsang W. M. , Henley S. J. , Stolojan V. , Silva S. R. P.
Published: November 2006

Amorphous-carbon (a-C)-based quantum confined structures were synthesized by pulsed laser deposition. In these structures, electrons are confined in a few nanometer thick sp2 rich a-C layer, which is bound by the vacuum barrier and a 3nm thick sp3 rich a-C base layer. In these structures anomalous field emission properties, including negative differential conductance and repeatable switching effects, are observed when compared to control samples. These properties will be discussed in terms of resonant tunneling and are of great interest in the generation and amplification of high-frequency signals for vacuum microelectronics and fast switching devices.
Decomposition of a two-layer thin liquid film flowing under the action of Marangoni stresses
Authors: Nepomnyashchy A. A. , Simanovskii I. B.
Published: November 2006

The decomposition of a laterally heated two-layer film caused by intermolecular forces is considered. Long-wave nonlinear equations, which incorporate thermocapillary flows and the influence of the van der Waals forces, are derived. The main stages of the three-dimensional evolution of films are presented. The influence of the thermocapillary flow on the morphology and the evolution of unstable two-layer films is investigated. It is shown that the film instability leads typically to formation of droplets driven by the thermocapillary flow. Anisotropic coalescence of droplets and formation of rivulets are observed.
An Empirical Estimation of the Effect of Some Variables on Land Sub-division in Madras
Authors: Thangavel C.
Published: November 2006

Focusing on the case of Madras City in India, this paper makes an empirical analysis of land development determinants. The determinants of land sub-division are studied using a regression model. It is found that variables like accessibility, average land value, social environment and average population density are the major factors influencing land development in the Madras context. From the perspective of planning and the management of urban growth, accessibility is expected to play a greater role in shaping the urban structure of Madras.
The Political Economy of Korean Government Policies on Real Estate
Authors: Kim Chung-Ho , Kim Kyung-Hwan
Published: November 2006

This paper investigates the driving forces behind the Korean government's real-estate policy decision-making. In particular, it tries to explain why inefficient and inequitable policies have persisted for so long, and why policy reform has been so sluggish. In order to do this, a few key regulations governing housing supply and land use are described and evaluated. These are the price control on new apartments, control on land-use conversion, green belts and spatial deconcentration policies. Next, it is demonstrated that the standard economic theory of interest-group politics is not appropriate in explaining the behaviour of the government officials in charge of these regulations. It is then suggested that a piecemeal and lukewarm approach to policy reform could be better understood in light of the behaviour of risk-averse government officials taking the political ramifications of their decisions very seriously.
Beyond Optimal City Size: An Evaluation of Alternative Urban Growth Patterns
Authors: Capello Roberta , Camagni Roberto
Published: November 2006

The aim of the paper is to present a critical view of theoretical works on city size. We begin with the consideration that, during the 1960s and 1970s, the question of optimal city size tended to be expressed in a misleading way. The real issue is not 'optimal city size' but 'efficient size', which depends on the functional characteristics of the city and on the spatial organisation within the urban system. Economies of scale exist up to a certain city size. However, urban development generates conditions leading to structural readjustments which may create new economic advantages. These structural adjustments may either be sectoral trasformations towards higher-order functions, or increases in external linkages with other cities. The paper provides empirical evidence of these processes, and contains an econometric evaluation of urban location benefits and cost functions with respect to different levels of network integration, size and urban function. The model is applied to 58 Italian cities.
Race-based Neighbourhood Projection: A Proposed Framework for Understanding New Data on Racial Integration
Authors: Gould Ellen Ingrid
Published: November 2006

This paper outlines the race-based, neighbourhood projection hypothesis which holds that, in choosing neighbourhoods, households care less about present racial composition than they do about expectations about future neighbourhood conditions, such as school quality, property values and crime. Race remains relevant, however, since households tend to associate a growing minority presence with structural decline. Using a unique data-set that links households to their neighbourhoods, this paper estimates both exit and entry models and then constructs a simple simulation model that predicts the course of racial change in different communities. Doing so, the paper concludes that the empirical evidence is more consistent with the race-based projection hypothesis than with other common explanations for neighbourhood racial transition.
Area Deprivation in Scotland: A New Assessment
Authors: Kearns Ade , Gibb Kenneth , Mackay Daniel
Published: November 2006

This paper gives an account of an attempt to create a new area deprivation index for Scotland based mainly upon non-census indicators and calibrated at the spatial level of the postcode sector. This is the first such index to be produced in the UK. The paper explains why there is currently more interest in this type of index, describes how the index was constructed from identification of deprivation domains through selection of indicators to their standardisation, transformation and combination into a single measure. A multidimensional account of the resulting geographical pattern of deprivation is given. There then follows a discussion of various issues surrounding the index and areas for further development or improvement are identified.
Ontology, Policy and the Market: Trends to Home-ownership in Hong Kong
Authors: La Grange Adrienne , Pretorius Frederik
Published: November 2006

An important trend in housing delivery internationally has been rising rates of home-ownership. In Hong Kong, owner-occupation has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, and this is expected to continue. This paper seeks to account for trends to home-ownership in Hong Kong. It is proposed that two principal factors account for rates of home-ownership internationally: the interaction and combined outcome of housing affordability and household preferences—the 'market explanation' for tenure choice; and the 'ontological explanation' of home-ownership as a preferred household tenure choice, which assumes that ownership is the innately preferred tenure form. On face value, Hong Kong presents a relatively persuasive case for the ontological explanation for trends to home-ownership. Yet the findings of this paper suggest that the decision to buy appears to be systematically explicable by market factors: in the private sector, primarily by investment considerations, namely high returns to residential property investment and favourable user cost of housing capital; and, in the public sector, by a very fine-grained approach to household affordability with publicly assisted home-ownership initiatives. Hong Kong demonstrates again how carefully families weigh the bundle of services associated with their tenure options. The government plans to expand home-ownership further, yet there are major systemic implications for such an expansion.
Singapore : The Development of an Intelligent Island and Social Dividends of Information Technology
Authors: Arun Mahizhnan , Teng Yap Mui
Published: November 2006

The paper traces the development of Singapore as an 'intelligent' island through an identification of the various social policy arrangements which have harnessed new information technology modes in their delivery. At home, at work, on the road, in public service and in the court room, the emergence of new IT arrangements is a matter of fact in Singaporean lives. Attention is drawn to the 'unencumbered' character of IT policy-making in Singapore, a characteristic which is the outcome of little or no strong political opposition in parliament.
A Pilot Implementation of Internet Access for Remote Aboriginal Communities in the 'Top End' of Australia
Authors: Morrison Perry
Published: November 2006

Many international bodies and agencies such as the UNDP and the World Bank are embracing IT, telecommunications and the Internet in particular as promising vehicles for development of the least developed countries. Internet and related technologies are being investigated as more efficient mechanisms for delivery of government services, health care and civil administration in remote areas. The paper is an analysis of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) Internet Pilot Project—a trial project funded under the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to implement e-mail and Internet capabilities in four remote communities in the Northern Territory of Australia. The pilot is a precursor to a much larger proposal which aims to provide similar capabilities to 66 community government councils throughout the Northern Territory. The paper concludes that Internet and e-mail have an important future in remote areas of the Northern Territory and, more importantly, that community councils are an appropriate, resilient locus for their development.
The Development of Intelligent Local Clusters to Increase Global Competitiveness and Local Cohesion: The Case of Small Businesses in the Creative Industries
Authors: de Berranger Pascale , Meldrum Mary C. R.
Published: November 2006

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer potential to enhance the global competitiveness and local cohesion of emergent creative industries using virtual networks. This paper draws on a case study based on a pilot project in Manchester's creative sector, the Northern Quarter. The aim was to introduce advanced ICTs to creative micro businesses and explore the relationship between physical and digital networking. ICTs were found to bring local businesses closer together in the development and training phases and to provide an impetus to the development of electronic trading. The lasting benefits of the project for local cohesion are less clear and the reasons for this are discussed.
Technology, Dialogue and the Development Process
Authors: Denning Stephen , Grieco Margaret
Published: November 2006

Development activities are in crisis. Beneficiaries and clients are vocal in their demand for a higher level and better quality of participation in the development decision-making process. Development agencies are also questioning their own role and are concerned at the mixed results of development assistance, particularly in Africa. Support for international assistance in donor countries is fragile. Just at this point of crisis, new approaches and technologies have become available which can accommodate the more integral participation of clients and beneficiaries in the interior organisation of the development agencies. Correspondingly, there is a growing awareness that the mixed results of expert technical assistance to the developing world is in part the result of inadequate dialogue and discussion between expert and client. The paper describes the emerging development paradigm in which better communication-not only expert-to-client, but also client-to-expert and client-to-client-is at the core.
Use and Valuation: Information in the City
Authors: Macdonald Kenneth I.
Published: November 2006

The aim of the paper is to raise some issues regarding the proper role of management and information in the political spaces of the virtual urban world. The spatial density of successful economic exploitation of the virtual economy suggests that anchoring in ways of life, modes of behaving, 'competencies', may matter. Discussion of historical public space indicates the importance of structured information for participants, as does reflection on the usage of information. The overall narrative suggests that for the successful development of an information-rich urban polity we need more than 'smart' buildings or provision of Internet access. We need co-ordination between the spatially anchored decision-making structures and the possibilities of cyber-space. Consideration of recent advances in evolutionary psychology supports this claim.
Brownfields Redevelopment, Preferences and Public Involvement: A Case Study of an Ethnically Mixed Neighbourhood
Authors: Greenberg Michael , Lewis M. Jane
Published: November 2006

A survey was conducted with over 200 residents of a largely Hispanic census tract in the City of Perth Amboy, NJ, in order to identify their preferences for brownfield redevelopment and the extent to which residents want to participate in the redevelopment process. We found that residents preferred recreation, cultural and other community facilities, followed by new housing. They were less interested in industry and business. Three-quarters of respondents indicated a desire to participate in the redevelopment process. Those who were most interested in participation tended to be optimistic, less trusting of authority, distressed by brownfields and focused on providing opportunities for youth. In light of the fact that US brownfields redevelopment has been promoted as a way to bring industry and commerce back to inner-city neighbourhoods, the findings of this study imply that local government and business interests need to work closely with local communities to build support for commercial land uses. Alternatively, processes need to be developed that will fund the clean-up of brownfield sites to residential and recreation land-use standards.
Using Geometry to Evaluate Strategic Road Proposals in Orbital-Radial Cities
Authors: Mayhew Les
Published: November 2006

This paper uses geometry to evaluate major road proposals in cities with road networks consisting of orbital and radial routes. The type of geometry used is a development of the Karlsruhe or Moscow metric after the cities where it was identified, although the results have wider applicability. The paper begins with a detailed consideration of the relationship between route speeds, junction access and service areas. New urban patterns are presented using optimal space-filling techniques in which the aim is to maximise drive-time coverage with the minimum number of junctions. The method is then refined to allow for effects such as congestion and interstitial access. The results are then used in a case study to evaluate a well-known strategic road plan for London first proposed in the 1940s. There follows a general discussion about the policy and planning implications for London and further possible developments of the techniques presented.
Property Cycles in a Global Economy
Authors: Dehesh Alireza , Pugh Cedric
Published: November 2006

Property cycles are varied in terms of their amplitude, their periodicity and the impact they exert on the wider economy. In periods of domestic macroeconomic stability, property cycles tend to be endogenous-i.e. caused by disequilibria in the sector — and they are relatively subdued. In periods of domestic macroeconomic instability, property cycles tend to be exogenous-i.e. caused by various conditions in the macroeconomy-and sometimes feature exceptional fluctuations. The exceptional cycles, with heightened amplitudes and longer periodicity, exert relatively deep and protracted impact on the wider economy. But, the international 'non-system' which has developed since the breakdown of Bretton Woods has placed the property sector in a wider context in the sense that, in addition to influences of domestic macroeconomic conditions, major property cycles are now influenced by various conditions in the international economy. The post-Bretton-Woods period is characterised with deregulation, integration of diverse economies, structural/spatial changes and the very high and still growing capital mobility supported by the rapid progress of financial technology in a multipolar world economy. Two important consequences of these changes have had direct and indirect impacts on property markets. First, deregulation and the ensuing intensification of competition between the banking sector and capital markets narrowed margins and led to excessive lending to the property sector. But, the overinvestment in the property sector in the upturn was unsustainable and turned into non-performing loans in the inevitable downturn, thus increasing risks to the banking sector and threatening the stability of financial systems. This has drastically curtailed the ability of the banking sector to provide capital to finance recovery. Secondly, rapid and voluminous movement of international finance capital increased liquidity in domestic markets and led to rises in asset prices, including property. So, the two-way interdependence between the property sector and the macroeconomy has become more significant in the post-Bretton-Woods period. Accordingly the IMF and the World Bank, through their adjusted policies, are now playing increasingly important roles in international property development, albeit in an indirect way. The purpose of this article is to examine the post-1980 international property cycles in the context of the 'non-system' global economy with particular reference to some Asian examples.
Towards Regionally Embedded Innovation Support Systems in South Korea? Case Studies from Kyongbuk-Taegu and Kyonggi
Authors: Hassink Robert
Published: November 2006

Since the beginning of the 1990s, systems of innovation have been used as a framework to explain differences in innovativeness between firms, industries and economies at local, regional, national and supranational levels. The main argument behind the discussions around systems of innovation is that firms are increasingly dependent on institutions in their direct environment for their innovativeness and thus competitiveness. In regional innovation systems, firms and other organisations are systematically engaged in interactive learning through an institutional milieu characterised by embeddedness. On the basis of these systems' governance infrastructure, a typology can be developed consisting of grassroots systems (with the highest level of regional embeddedness), integrated systems and dirigiste systems (with the lowest level of regional embeddedness). Based on empirical research on innovation support agencies in Kyongbuk-Taegu and Kyonggi, this paper shows that South Korea is characterised by dirigiste regional innovation support systems with a relatively low level of regional embeddedness. This dirigiste kind of system generates both excessively homogeneous innovation support agencies, which are not sufficiently focused on specific regional economic demand, and horizontal policy coordination problems due to the strong vertical dependencies of agencies in the regions to their sponsors in the central government.
Measurement of the World City Network
Authors: Taylor P.J. , Catalano G. , Walker D.R.F.
Published: November 2006

The purpose of this paper is to describe the construction of a set of data that can be used to measure intercity relations. Building on a specification of the world city network as an 'interlocking network' in which business service firms play the crucial role in network formation, information is gathered from global service firms about the size of their presence in a city and about any 'extra-territorial' functions of their offices. This information is converted into data to provide the 'service value' of a city for a firm's provision of its service in a 316 (cities) X 100 (firms) matrix. These data are used to measure the global network connectivity of the cities. In an initial analysis, the paper concludes with a simple correlation exercise that shows New York and London to be `exceptions' rather than 'exemplars' amongst contemporary world cities.
On Government Structure and Spending: The Effects of Management Form and Separation of Powers
Authors: Campbell Rebecca J. , Turnbull Geoffrey K.
Published: November 2006

This paper contributes to the on-going debate over how government form affects spending. It broadens the previous focus on elected versus professional management to address the separation of legislative and executive powers. The empirical results reveal spending differences between governments with separation of powers and those with unified powers only for Southern counties of the US. In addition, for all regions and time-periods, professional or elected executive management does not significantly affect either municipal or county spending.
New Realism and Local Realities: Local Transport Planning in Leicester and Cambridgeshire
Authors: Bulkeley Harriet , Rayner Tim
Published: November 2006

In this paper, we seek to contribute to the debate concerning the emergence of a 'new realism' in transport planning in the UK, through an examination of the development of Local Transport Plans. After describing the background to these policy changes, we consider how one central tenet of the new realism—the need to manage demand—is taking shape within the local transport planning process in Cambridgeshire and Leicester. We argue that although a 'climate of desperation' exists in each case over levels of traffic growth and their associated impacts, policy learning and change have been confined to a 'weak' interpretation of new realism where transport planning remains effectively subservient to prevailing local notions of how economic competitiveness ought to be promoted. In conclusion, we argue that this poses fundamental challenges for national government's transport and sustainable development policies.
The Institutional Structure of a Property Market in Inland China: Chongqing
Authors: Han Sun Sheng , Wang Yong
Published: November 2006

This paper contributes to the understanding of China's urban development by examining the institutional structure of a property market in an inland city: Chongqing. Data were collected from three recent projects through field reconnaissance and interviews. A framework of institutional analysis was used in discussing and interpreting the data. Our analyses revealed an emerging property market with dynamic and evolving new institutions in inland China. In this new market, a variety of actors with different roles and interests in the property development process had come into play. Formal and informal rules governing the development process had been evolving. Although with a time-lag, the rapid formation of Chongqing's property market was similar to that in the coastal cities. Nevertheless, in contrast to the coastal cities, this time-lag led to a property market which was more dependent on state involvement. Chongqing's property market was dominated by government not only because the government formulated development directions and set up rules and regulations, but also due to the practice that government participated in development projects as a party. Irregularities in land allocation, price setting and development control created a keen desire among developers to forge a close relationship with the government. It remained a challenge to the government to set up a complete, transparent and enforceable set of rules in order to guide the newly emerging property market towards maturity.
Building Community Citizens: Claiming the Right to Place-making in the City
Authors: Lepofsky Jonathan , Fraser James C.
Published: November 2006

This paper examines how citizenship operates in urban community-building programmes, particularly in the comprehensive community-building initiative (CCI) model. We argue that the current context shaping cities today gives rise to flexibility in citizenship and that this flexibility emerges as a key component by which resident and non-resident stakeholders position themselves to make claims to participate in CCIs. We posit that, while the CCI model is committed to being 'resident-driven', the operative function of citizenship creates a hindrance rather than an opportunity for local resident involvement. We fortify this thesis with a case study from our experience in CCIs.
Neo-industrial Tokyo: Urban Development and Globalisation in Japan's State-centred Developmental Capitalism
Authors: Fujita Kuniko
Published: November 2006

This paper analyses the relation between Tokyo and globalisation in the framework of regulation theory and attempts to draw theoretical implications for Tokyo's current urban development. Regulation theorists contend that globalisation, particularly global capital and finance mobility, has led to the crisis of regulatory institutions that sustained the post-war Fordist growth regime and that the new finance-market-centred growth regime emerging out of the crisis in the UK and the US is now challenging other capitalist societies. Tokyo's urban experience in the past decade conforms to and yet deviates from regulation theory. The paper argues that, although local and national politics have played the most important role in reshaping Tokyo's urban development, it is Japan's state-centred developmental, capitalist system that has enabled Tokyo to resist the new Anglo-American growth regime. Tokyo's growth strategy in the 1990s has instead re-emphasised manufacturing technology. The impact of the new finance-market-centred growth regime is exaggerated. Urban development in many cities of the world will continue to be far more influenced by local, national and regional politics and institutions than by the new finance market growth regime.
Homelessness in Osaka: Globalisation, Yoseba and Disemployment
Authors: Aoki Hideo
Published: November 2006

Homeless people have increased and become visible socially in Japan since the mid 1990s. There has also been a corresponding increase in sociological studies of homelessness. These studies have sought to analyse the unique characteristics of homeless people: rough sleepers, ex-day-labourers, single men, the elderly and so on. The life conditions of homeless people have also been analysed: how they get jobs, foods and shelter; how they make networks among themselves; how they resist violence from the mainstream citizenry and so on. However, in order to understand the observed situations of homeless people correctly, the economic, institutional and structural backgrounds of homelessness in Japan must be analysed on a macro and historical level. To date, no such study has been undertaken. This paper seeks to fill that gap. It analyses the processes through which homelessness has appeared in Japan. It has three specific aims. The first is to analyse the economic background of homelessness by focusing on two phenomena brought by globalisation to Japan: deyosebisation, which means the gradual disappearance of day-labourers from yoseba (the day-labour market); and the disemployment of casually employed unskilled workers in the general labour market. The second is to analyse the institutional background of homelessness to regulate the homeless population, especially by focusing on social welfare. The third is to analyse the structural background of homelessness to regulate the homeless population by focusing on two affiliate groups: company and family/relatives. The research field of this paper is Metropolitan Osaka in the 1990s.
Chaperone‐like activity and hydrophobicity of α‐crystallin
Authors: Reddy G. Bhanuprakash , Kumar P. Anil , Kumar M. Satish
Published: November 2006

α‐Crystallin, a prominent member of small heat shock protein (sHsp) family and a major structural protein of the eye lens is a large polydisperse oligomer of two isoforms, αA‐ and αB‐crystallins. Numerous studies have demonstrated that α‐crystallin functions like a molecular chaperone in preventing the aggregation of various proteins under a wide range of stress conditions. The molecular chaperone function of α‐crystallin is thus considered to be vital in the maintenance of lens transparency and in cataract prevention. α‐Crystallin selectively interacts with non‐native proteins thereby preventing them from aggregation and helps maintain them in a folding competent state. It has been proposed and generally accepted that α‐crystallin suppresses the aggregation of other proteins through the interaction between hydrophobic patches on its surface and exposed hydrophobic sites of partially unfolded substrate protein. However, a quantifiable relationship between hydrophobicity and chaperone‐like activity remains a matter to be concerned about. On an attentive review of studies on α‐crystallin chaperone‐like activity, particularly the studies that have direct or indirect implications to hydrophobicity and chaperone‐like activity, we found several instances wherein the correlation between hydrophobicity and its chaperone‐like activity is paradoxical. We thus attempted to provide an overview on the role of hydrophobicity in chaperone‐like activity of α‐crystallin, the kind of evaluation done for the first time.
iubmb Life, 58: 632 ‐ 641, 2006
Shigella applies molecular mimicry to subvert vinculin and invade host cells
Authors: Izard Tina , Tran Van Nhieu Guy , Bois Philippe R.J.
Published: November 2006

Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, injects invasin proteins through a type III secretion apparatus upon contacting the host cell, which triggers pathogen internalization. The invasin IpaA is essential for S. flexneri pathogenesis and binds to the cytoskeletal protein vinculin to facilitate host cell entry. We report that IpaA harbors two vinculin-binding sites (VBSs) within its C-terminal domain that bind to and activate vinculin in a mutually exclusive fashion. Only the highest affinity C-terminal IpaA VBS is necessary for efficient entry and cell–cell spread of S. flexneri, whereas the lower affinity VBS appears to contribute to vinculin recruitment at entry foci of the pathogen. Finally, the crystal structures of vinculin in complex with the VBSs of IpaA reveal the mechanism by which IpaA subverts vinculin's functions, where S. flexneri utilizes a remarkable level of molecular mimicry of the talin–vinculin interaction to activate vinculin. Mimicry of vinculin's interactions may therefore be a general mechanism applied by pathogens to infect the host cell.
Individualization of bypassing agent treatment for haemophilic patients with inhibitors utilizing thromboelastography
Authors: YOUNG G. , BLAIN R. , NAKAGAWA P. , NUGENT D. J.
Published: November 2006

Summary.  The treatment of bleeding for haemophilic patients with inhibitors relies on the use of the bypassing agents, recombinant factor VIIa and factor eight inhibitor bypass activity (FEIBA). While both therapies are effective in the majority of bleeding episodes, there is a significant amount of interindividual variability when it comes to the response to therapy. As of yet, there is no reliable laboratory parameter that can predict the response to therapy in the same manner that factor VIII and factor IX levels predict response in non‐inhibitor patients. Developing such a laboratory parameter is vital in order to maximize the clinical efficacy of these agents. Thromboelastography (TEG) is a device, which assesses clot formation over time in whole blood and has several characteristics which suggest it may be an effective way to monitor bypass agent therapy. We studied the ability of TEG to individualize the treatment regimens of three patients with high titre inhibitors assessing the response to recombinant factor VIIa, FEIBA, and when both were used sequentially. The TEG allowed for individualization of treatment for each of the three patients and resulted in more effective, convenient and less expensive treatment regimens. We thus believe that TEG is a promising device for monitoring of bypass agent therapy and should be studied further.
Influence of a brushing working motion on the fatigue life of NiTi rotary instruments
Authors: Plotino G. , Grande N. M. , Sorci E. , Malagnino V. A. , Somma F.
Published: November 2006

Aim  To evaluate the cyclic fatigue resistance of Mtwo NiTi rotary instruments when used with a brushing or no‐brushing action in oval root canals.

Methodology  Cyclic fatigue testing of instruments was performed in tapered artificial canals with a 5 mm radius of curvature and an angle of curvature of 60°. Twenty Mtwo instruments for each size were selected and divided into two groups: group A = 10 instruments used with a no‐brushing motion (control group); group B = 10 instruments used with a brushing‐milling action. Each Mtwo instrument was used for cleaning and shaping 10 oval root canals. In all 80 instruments were rotated until fracture occurred and the number of cycles to failure (NCF) recorded. Data were analysed by one‐way anova, Tukey HSD test and independent sample t‐test to determine any statistical difference; the significance was determined at the 95% confidence level.

Results  No statistically significant reduction of NCF between instruments used with a no‐brushing motion (group A) and instruments used with a brushing motion (group B) were apparent except for size 25, 0.06 taper. Mtwo size 10, 0.04 taper, size 15, 0.05 taper, size 20, 0.06 taper, size 25, 0.06 taper instruments had a decrease in life span of 1%, 0.5%, 8% and 19%, respectively.

Conclusions  Fatigue life of instruments of larger size could be reduced by using them with a lateral brushing or pressing movement. However, each file was successfully operated without intracanal failure, demonstrating that Mtwo rotary instruments can be used safely in a brushing action in simulated clinical conditions up to 10 times in oval canals.
In vivo comparison of working length determination with two electronic apex locators
Authors: Wrbas K. T. , Ziegler A. A. , Altenburger M. J. , Schirrmeister J. F.
Published: November 2006

Aim  To compare the accuracy of two electronic apex locators (EALs) in the same teeth in vivo.

Methodology  The working lengths in 20 teeth with a single canal were determined with two different EALs (Root ZX; J. Morita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan and Raypex® 5 VDW, Munich, Germany) before extraction. When the first EAL was used the files were advanced until the display indicated the ‘apical constriction’. The files were then fixed in removable and replaceable light curing composite patterns. The procedure was repeated in the same tooth with the second EAL and a different file. The teeth were then extracted and the apical 4 mm of the root canals were exposed. After that the apical parts with the repositioned files in the canals were digitally photographed under a light microscope. On the images the minor diameter and the major foramen of each sample were marked and the respective distances of the file tips from these positions were measured with a computer program. Subsequently the values of the two groups of EALs were compared using a paired sample t‐test.

Results  The minor foramen was located within the limits of ±0.5 mm in 75% of the cases with the Root ZX and in 80% of the cases with Raypex® 5. The paired sample t‐test showed no significant difference between the EALs regarding determination of the minor foramen.

Conclusion  The use of EALs is a reliable method for determining working length. The differences between the two EALs were not statistically significant.
Potential of e‐health in relation to depression: short survey of previous research
Authors: STJERNSWÄRD S. , ÖSTMAN M.
Published: November 2006

E‐health is developing at a high rate and represents an opportunity for the development and spreading of information and communication channels to interested parties. The aim of this study was to get an overview and comprehension of the e‐health field, with special focus on depression. A survey of initiatives and studies regarding e‐health and depression was carried out. Relevant articles were found through searches on databases, search engines and reference lists. This paper shows that many different initiators with differing goals and motives are active within the e‐health field. In the field of e‐health and depression, the following areas show interesting results: studies mapping users’ profile and habits, the quality of health‐related information and the effectiveness of online therapies and supportive communities. Numerous initiators have launched different kinds of e‐health initiatives. The potential of the Internet to be used constructively by health‐care professionals and health‐care consumers for health‐enhancing purposes still needs to be mapped, evaluated and developed.
Problematizing special observation in psychiatry: Foucault, archaeology, genealogy, discourse and power/knowledge
Authors: STEVENSON C. , CUTCLIFFE J.
Published: November 2006

Special observation by mental health professionals is the recommended approach for those people deemed as at risk or risky. Recent research and academic writing have challenged the benefits of observing people/patients who are defined as ‘at risk’, and a more human engagement process is being recommended. Despite this assault, practice has not changed substantively, suggesting a need for a thorough exploration and questioning of the practices and process. The paper outlines three Foucaultian approaches to historical analysis. It applies aspects of Foucault’s archaeology/genealogy, discourse and power/knowledge to explore the practices of special observation as a means of controlling risk, especially suicide risk. We identify the regulatory function of the ‘gaze’, professional codes and government policy in relation to restricting professional practices. We argue that observation can be related to moral therapy, wherein the person relinquishes madness for responsibility through a disciplinary process and, in governing risk, a ‘professional industry’ is created. The regulation of statements about people with mental health issues are exposed and related to what can be said and done by professionals. Finally, we look at productive power in relation to observation, and how it is intimately related to resistance. We conclude with ‘soft’ recommendations for practice discursively produced through the writing of the paper.
The metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia: the latest evidence and nursing guidelines for management
Authors: USHER K. , FOSTER K. , PARK T.
Published: November 2006

The introduction of second‐generation antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia has provided significant benefits for clients experiencing this disorder. While they have been found effective in reducing psychotic symptoms, there is evidence that these drugs are also linked with a group of side effects commonly known as the metabolic syndrome. Mental health nurses are well positioned to prevent, detect and/or manage the development of this problematic constellation of symptoms. Guidelines for practice can be useful in prevention and management of the syndrome and enhance nursing care of clients who are taking second‐generation antipsychotics.
Views of mental illness and mental health care in Thailand: a report of an ethnographic study
Authors: BURNARD P. , NAIYAPATANA W. , LLOYD G.
Published: November 2006

This paper reports some of the findings of an ethnographic study carried out in Thailand over a 2‐year period. Interviews were conducted with three clinical nurses, three student nurses, 14 nurse educators, one psychiatrist, one Buddhist monk and two lay people (n = 24) about their views of mental health and mental health care in Thailand. Data (comprising field notes and interview transcripts) were analysed with the aid of Atlas.ti. Data were also collected through observation and conversation. This paper reports only the findings from the interviews. Findings emerged under the following headings: Causes of mental illness; Status of the mentally ill; Karma; Merit making; Kwan; Treatment and care; Reasons for becoming a mental health nurse. A range of causes, including the effects of ghosts and spirits, were identified under the first heading. The stigma of mental illness was noted under the second. Karma and merit making are Buddhist concepts and were discussed by many respondents as was the animist concept of kwan. Treatment and care seemed to include both ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ approaches. These findings are discussed and some tentative ‘rules’ that appear to exist within the culture are mooted. The study is descriptive in nature and the findings cannot be generalized; however, it is hoped that they go some way to illuminate aspects of Thai culture as they relate to the mental health and mental health nursing fields.