bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the interleukin‐6 haplotype a prognostic factor for sciatica?
Authors: Karppinen Jaro , Daavittila Iita , Noponen Noora , Haapea Marianne , Taimela Simo , Vanharanta Heikki , Ala‐Kokko Leena , Männikkö Minna
Published: March 2008

Aims: We have shown in a cross‐sectional setting that an IL6 haplotype (GGGA) is associated with intervertebral disc disease (IDD) characterized by sciatica. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of the GGGA haplotype in IDD.

Methods: DNA from 153 sciatica patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial of periradicular infiltration was analysed for IL6 variations rs1800797 (−596A>G), rs1800796 (−572G>C), rs1800795 (−174G>C), and rs13306435 (+15T>A). The patients recorded back and leg pain intensity and duration, disability by Oswestry Index and back‐related sickness absence over a three‐year follow‐up. Repeated measures and univariate analysis of variance with adjustment for age, gender and physical work load were used in statistical analyses for the last two‐years of the follow‐up.

Results: The prevalence of the GGGA haplotype was 9% (14/153). Subjects with the GGGA haplotype did not differ from those without the haplotype with respect to pain intensity, or disability score, but days with back and leg pain and days on sick leave were significantly higher among subjects with the IL6 haplotype after adjustment for occupation (p=0.006, 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). An interaction between the IL6 haplotype and physical work load was significant for the duration of back and leg pain and sick leave (p=0.038, 0.011 and 0.006, respectively).

Conclusions: This is the first observation of any prognostic genotype among sciatica patients. The IL6 haplotype GGGA predicted the number of days with back or leg pain and also sickness absence. Subjects with the IL6 haplotype may be more vulnerable when doing physically demanding jobs.
Upregulation and redistribution of ephrinB and EphB receptor in dorsal root ganglion and spinal dorsal horn neurons after peripheral nerve injury and dorsal rhizotomy
Authors: Song Xue‐Jun , Cao Jun‐Li , Li Hao‐Chuan , Zheng Ji‐Hong , Song Xue‐Song , Xiong Li‐Ze
Published: March 2008

EphrinB–EphB receptor signaling plays diverse roles during development, but recently has been implicated in synaptic plasticity in the matured nervous system and in pain processes. The present study investigated the correlation between expression of ephrinB and EphB receptor proteins and chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and dorsal rhizotomy (DR) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord (SC); and interaction of CCI and DR on expression of these signals. Adult, male Sprague–Dawley rats were employed and thermal sensitivity was determined in the sham operated CCI and DR rats. Western blot and immunobiochemistry analysis and immunofluorescence staining techniques were used to detect the expression and location of the ephrinB–EphB receptor proteins in DRG and SC. The results showed that expression of ephrinB1 and EphB1 receptor proteins was significantly upregulated in DRG and SC in a time‐dependent manner corresponding to the development of thermal hyperalgesia after CCI. The increased expression is predominately located in the medium‐ and small‐sized DRG neurons, the superficial layers of spinal dorsal horn (DH) neurons, and the IB4 positive nociceptive terminals. DR increases ephrinB1 in DRG, not SC and EphB receptor in SC, not DRG. DR suppressed CCI‐induced upregulation of ephrinB1 in SC and EphB1 receptor in DRG and SC. These findings indicate that ephrinB–EphB receptor activation and redistribution in DRG and DH neurons after nerve injury could contribute to neuropathic pain. This study may also provide a new mechanism underlying DR‐induced analgesia in clinic.
Role of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor in the protective effect of smilagenin on rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons damaged by MPP+
Authors: Zhang Yongfang , Xia Zongqin , Hu Yaer , Orsi Antonia , Rees Daryl
Published: March 2008

Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in cultured mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons smilagenin (SMI), added prior to 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPP+), protected against the drop of neuron number and neurite outgrowth length caused by MPP+. Addition of anti‐GDNF and/or anti‐GFRα1 functional antibodies to the medium prior to SMI, eliminated mostly, though incompletely, the action of SMI. The expression of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mRNA, but not GDNF receptor alpha1 (GFRα1) or receptor tyrosine kinase mRNA in MPP+ intoxicated neurons was markedly elevated as early as 2 h after the addition of SMI with a peak at 24–48 h. Therefore, an important route of the protective action of SMI on dopaminergic neurons is to stimulate intrinsic GDNF expression.
Dark and photoactivated rhodopsin share common binding modes to transducin
Authors: Fanelli Francesca , Dell'Orco Daniele
Published: March 2008

The results of this study provide the first evidence that dark and photoactivated rhodopsins share a common recognition mode to Gt, characterized by the docking of the Gtα C‐tail in the proximity to the E/DRY motif of rhodopsin.
RME‐8 regulates trafficking of the epidermal growth factor receptor
Authors: Girard Martine , McPherson Peter S.
Published: March 2008

We recently identified receptor‐mediated endocytosis 8 (RME‐8), a DnaJ domain protein localized to endosomes. We now demonstrate that RME‐8 depletion leads to decreased levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) without influencing receptors that primarily recycle to the plasma membrane. Decreases in EGFR are detected at both surface and intracellular pools and result from increased rates of EGFR degradation. Interestingly, RME‐8 depletion also decreases EGFR levels in breast cancer cell lines in which overexpression of the EGFR family member ErbB2 has been shown to protect EGFR from degradation. These data implicate RME‐8 in sorting decisions influencing EGFR at the level of endosomes and point to RME‐8 as a potential regulatory target in ErbB2‐positive breast cancers.
Evidence for a novel phosphopantetheinyl transferase domain in the polyketide synthase for enediyne biosynthesis
Authors: Murugan Elavazhagan , Liang Zhao-Xun
Published: March 2008

The polyketide synthase associated with the biosynthesis of enediyne‐containing calicheamicin contains a putative phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) domain. By cloning and expressing the C‐terminal region of the polyketide synthase and in vitro phosphopantetheinylation assay, we found that the PPTase domain exhibits preferred substrate specificity towards acyl and peptidyl carrier proteins in fatty acid and non‐ribosomal peptide synthesis over its cognate partner. We also found evidence suggesting that the PPTase domain adopts a pseudo‐trimeric structure, distinct from the pseudo‐dimeric structure of type II PPTases. The results revealed a novel type of PPTase with unique structure and substrate specificity, and suggested that the polyketide synthase probably acquired the PPTase domain from a primary metabolic pathway in evolution.
Linking entries in protein interaction database to structured text: The FEBS Letters experiment
Authors: Ceol Arnaud , Chatr-Aryamontri Andrew , Licata Luana , Cesareni Gianni
Published: March 2008

The corpus of the scientific literature has reached such size that a lot of useful data, dispersed throughout millions different articles, are now hard to recover. For instance, many articles in the biological domain describe relationships between entities (gene, proteins, small molecules, etc.) yet this crucial information cannot be efficiently used because of the difficulties in retrieving it automatically from unstructured text. Databases are striving to capture this valuable information and to organize it in a structured format ready for automatic analysis. However, the current database model, based on manual curation, is not sustainable because the limited support is not compatible with complete and accurate coverage of published information. Several proposals have been put forward to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the curation process. Here we present an experiment, designed by the editorial board of FEBS Letters, aimed at integrating each manuscript with a structured summary precisely reporting, with database identifiers and predefined controlled vocabularies, the protein interactions reported in the manuscript. The authors play an important role in this process as they are requested to provide structured information to be appended, in the form of human‐readable paragraphs, at the end of traditional summaries. It is envisaged that the structured text will become an integral part of Medline abstracts. In 6 months time the experience gained with this experiment will form the basis for a community discussion to propose a widely accepted strategy for information storage and retrieval.
Eurytrema procyonis and pancreatitis in a cat
Authors: Vyhnal Kristin K. , Barr Stephen C. , Hornbuckle William E. , Yeager Amy E. , Wade Susan E. , Frongillo Marguerite F. , Simpson Kenneth W. , Bowman Dwight D.
Published: March 2008

A young adult male domestic shorthair cat was presented for physical examination, routine vaccinations, and a fecal examination. Physical examination revealed no significant abnormalities. Eggs of the raccoon pancreatic fluke Eurytrema procyonis were detected by fecal flotation. Results of a complete blood count and serum biochemistry panel were normal. Abdominal sonography revealed an enlarged hypoechoic pancreas with a hyperechoic rim, and a distended and thickened pancreatic duct. Serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) was increased. These findings supported the possibility of fluke-associated pancreatitis. Treatment with praziquantel/pyrantel/febantel was associated with resolution of sonographic abnormalities and normalization of PLI.
US Midwives' Knowledge and Use of Sterile Water Injections for Labor Pain
Authors: Mårtensson Lena , McSwiggin Maureen , Mercer Judith S.
Published: March 2008

The purpose of this research study was to identify and describe US midwives' knowledge and use of sterile water injections to relieve pain during labor. Research studies have shown that injections of sterile water to relieve low back pain during labor are effective with good maternal satisfaction. However, no knowledge is available about their use by midwives in the United States. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample (N = 450) of midwives who were members of the American College of Nurse‐Midwives (ACNM). One hundred thirty‐two respondents (29%) returned the questionnaire. One‐fourth (26%) of the midwives use sterile water injections, although infrequently. More than half of the midwives use the intracutaneous injection technique, and most use a total of four injections. Most midwives give the injections between contractions, with the assistance of another person, and report very good pain relief. Of those not using sterile water injections, most had no experience or training in use of the method and were interested in learning more about their use. While sterile water injections are a good treatment for back pain during labor, there is a lack of knowledge among midwives about this method of pain relief during labor and an interest in knowing more.
JXA-8100 microanalyzer: accuracy of analysis of rock-forming minerals
Authors: Korolyuk V.N. , Lavrent’ev Yu.G. , Usova L.V. , Nigmatulina E.N.
Published: March 2008

The JXA-8100 microanalyzer software provides precise electron-probe microanalysis of rock-forming minerals, with a relative deviation within 1.0–1.5%, if the matrix effect in the samples is predominantly determined by only one physical factor: either atomic number or absorption. If the matrix effect is of binary character, i.e., is owing to the simultaneous action of two commensurate factors (absorption and atomic number), the analysis error grows up to 4–14%.
Equivariant Intersection Theory and Surgery Theory for Manifolds with Middle Dimensional Singular Sets
Authors: Bak Anthony , Morimoto Masaharu
Published: March 2008

Let G denote a finite group and n = 2k 6 an even integer. Let X denote a simply connected, compact, oriented, smooth G-manifold of dimension n. Let L denote a union of connected, compact, neat submanifolds in X of dimension k. We invoke the hypothesis that L is a G-subcomplex of a G-equivariant smooth triangulation of X and contains the singular set of the action of G on X. If the dimension of the G-singular set is also k then the ordinary equivariant self-intersection form is not well defined, although the equivariant intersection form is well defined. The first goal of the paper is to eliminate the deficiency above by constructing a new, well defined, equivariant, self-intersection form, called the generalized (or doubly parametrized) equivariant self-intersection form. Its value at a given element agrees with that of the ordinary equivariant self-intersection form when the latter value is well defined. Let denote a finite family of immersions withtrivial normal bundle of k-dimensional, connected, closed, orientable, smooth manifolds into X. Assume that the integral (and mod 2) intersection forms applied to members of and to orientable (and nonorientable) k-dimensional members of L are trivial. Then the vanishing of the equivariant intersection form on × and the generalized equivariant self-intersection form on is a necessary and sufficient condition that is regularly homotopic to a family of disjoint embeddings, each of which is disjoint from L. This property, when is a finite family of immersions of the k-dimensional sphere Sk into X, is just what is needed for constructing an equivariant surgery theory for G-manifolds X as above whose G-singular set has dimension less than or equal to k. What is new for surgery theory is that the equivariant surgery obstruction is defined for an almost arbitrary singular set of dimension k and in particular, the k-dimensional components of the singular set can be nonorientable.
The State Wealth-Legislative Compensation Effect
Authors: Squire Peverill
Published: March 2008

Abstract. Legislative scholars have paid almost no attention to explanations for the level of compensation provided to legislators, either within a country or cross-nationally, despite its importance to members and institutions. I posit a simple theory based on state wealth to explain differences in legislative pay. I test this theory using two novel data sets, one on 35 national assemblies, the other on subnational assemblies in Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States. Analysis of these data reveals that national or state wealth is strongly associated with legislator compensation. This finding is consistent with an intriguing analog in the labour economics literature.

Résumé. Les érudits du monde législatif ne se sont guère penchés sur les raisons des divers niveaux de rémunération des législateurs, à l'échelle nationale ou transnationale, malgré l'importance du sujet pour les institutions et les membres des législatures. Pour expliquer cette disparité, j'avance une simple théorie fondée sur la richesse des États. J'évalue ensuite cette théorie en m'appuyant sur deux nouvelles bases de données, la première portant sur 35 assemblées nationales et l'autre sur des assemblées sous-nationales en Australie, au Canada, en Allemagne et aux États-Unis. Ces analyses statistiques démontrent qu'il existe effectivement un lien étroit entre la richesse de l'État et la rémunération des législateurs. Cette constatation est confirmée par une analogie fascinante dans la littérature sur l'économique du travail.
Neoliberalism and Violence against Women: Can Retrenchment Convergence Explain the Path of Provincial Anti-Violence Policy, 1985–2005?
Authors: Collier Cheryl N.
Published: March 2008

Abstract.This article examines the impact of neoliberalism on provincial policies aimed at addressing the problem of violence against women during a period (1985–2005) when welfare state retrenchment convergence has been documented both provincially and in a variety of Western democracies, including in Canada. Using measurements of both aggregate government expenditures and qualitative evaluations of anti-violence policy progression during this time frame, my analysis questions the existence of welfare state convergence in both Ontario and British Columbia. Instead, it demonstrates evidence of pronounced anti-violence policy divergence in both cases, which is better explained by a partisan theory of public policy framework.

Résumé.Cet article examine l'incidence du néolibéralisme sur les politiques provinciales visant à enrayer le problème de la violence faite aux femmes au cours de la période 1985–2005. Cette période coïncide avec la remise en question de l'État providence, phénomène largement documenté à l'échelle provinciale comme dans diverses démocraties occidentales, incluant le Canada. En mesurant les dépenses publiques d'agrégat ainsi que les évaluations qualitatives de l'évolution des politiques contre la violence durant cette période, mon analyse remet en question l'existence d'une convergence dans l'évolution de l'État providence en Ontario et en Colombie-Britannique. En fait, elle démontre plutôt l'évidence d'une divergence prononcée de politiques dans les deux cas, qui peut être mieux expliquée par une théorie “partisane” des politiques publiques.
Citizenship and the Welfare State: A Critique of David Miller's Theory of Nationality
Authors: Hibbert Neil
Published: March 2008

Abstract.For much of the post-war period of welfare state formation, T.H. Marshall's idea of shared entitlement to universal social rights of citizenship formed the theoretical foundations of social democratic political reforms and legitimacy. This approach has been updated by contemporary egalitarian theorists, such as John Rawls. The ongoing politics of restructuring have led to a growing number of arguments against the motivational capacity of an institutional account of social unity. This paper examines a particular argument against rights-based citizenship—David Miller's theory of nationality. Miller argues that “pure” citizenship rests on self-interest, and thus when differences in risk are explicit it can only legitimate minimal redistribution. Strong welfare states require pre-political ties and must be embedded in the ethical relations of shared nationality. Against Miller's position, it is advanced that shared citizenship has both effective motivational and moral dimensions. It can also address the problems the nationality thesis faces in reconciling its account of motivation with the moral diversity that is constitutive of pluralist societies.

Résumé.Dans l'après-guerre, au moment de la formation des Etats-providence, la mise en place et la justification des politiques social-démocrates s'appuyèrent en grande majorité sur la théorie de T.H. Marshall à propos du rôle joué par les droits sociaux dans l'intégration civique. Cette approche a été actualisée par des théoriciens égalitariens tels que John Rawls. Les politiques actuelles de restructuration de l'Etat-providence ont provoqué la multiplication d'un certain type de critiques soulignant les insuffisances de cette approche institutionnelle du lien social en termes de ressources motivationnelles. Cet article examine l'une ces critiques, formulée par David Miller dans sa théorie sur la nationalité. Miller soutient que la citoyenneté “pure” repose sur l'intérêt personnel et qu'elle ne peut justifier qu'une redistribution minimale, lorsque les différences engagées sont manifestes. Pour affirmer leur autorité, les Etats-providence ont besoin d'être fondés sur des liens prépolitiques et soutenus par les rapports de solidarité d'une nationalité commune. A l'encontre de la position défendue par Miller, on avancera que la citoyenneté possède de façon effective une dimension qui est à la fois morale et motivationnelle. En outre, elle est à même d'affronter les problèmes que soulève la thèse sur la nationalité, en réconciliant sa conception de la motivation avec la diversité morale inhérente aux sociétés pluralistes.
Making Political Science Matter: Debating Knowledge, Research, and Method
Authors: Anderson Bruce
Published: March 2008

Making Political Science Matter: Debating Knowledge, Research, and Method, Sanford F. Schram and Brian Caterino, New York: New York University Press, 2006, pp. 304.

Making Political Science Matter is a response to Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How It Can Succeed Again by Bent Flyvbjerg, Professor of Planning at Aalborg University, Denmark (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001). Making Political Science Matter is a collection of fourteen essays on methodological issues in political science. Its overarching aim is “to move the conversation forward in the hopes of seeing the possibility of a rejuvenated political science” (11).
Une école pour le monde, une école pour tout le monde : L'éducation québécoise dans le contexte de la mondialisation.
Authors: Birch Lisa
Published: March 2008

Une école pour le monde, une école pour tout le monde : L'éducation québécoise dans le contexte de la mondialisation., Jocelyn Berthelot, VLB Éditeur, 2006, 220 pages.

Jocelyn Berthelot, chercheur à la Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) et membre du Centre de recherche et d'intervention sur la réussite scolaire (CRIRES), décortique les effets pervers du néolibéralisme sur le système d'éducation au Québec et ailleurs pour ensuite proposer un projet éducatif et social de remplacement basé sur les principes de l'égalité, de l'intégration sociale, de la justice sociale et de la démocratie. Érudit et éclectique, cet ouvrage bien documenté nous présente dans un premier acte une synthèse bien structurée de l'histoire de la mondialisation et les enjeux sociaux, économiques et politiques qui en découlent. Le deuxième acte décrit le “nouvel ordre éducatif mondial” d'inspiration néolibérale et en expose les conséquences, engendrées par la marchandisation de l'éducation et l'introduction des notions de concurrence, notamment les glissements inégalitaires auxquels l'école publique doit faire face dans nos démocraties. En conclusion, le troisième acte propose un plaidoyer passionné et cohérent en faveur d'un projet social de démocratisation de l'éducation et, par ricochet, d'une politique multisectorielle de lutte intégrée contre la pauvreté et l'exclusion sociale. Chaque acte inclut des comparaisons très intéressantes entre l'expérience québécoise et ce qui se passe ailleurs en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, en Australie et en Nouvelle-Zélande. Des résultats de recherches dans le domaine ainsi que des réflexions de philosophes éclairent l'analyse du début à la fin et agrémentent la lecture. Même si, à certains endroits, l'analyse pourrait être légèrement plus nuancée, cet ouvrage a le mérite d'identifier clairement les failles de l'éducation québécoise et de les mettre en perspective. De plus, il a le courage de dépasser le stade de la critique en proposant un débat autour d'un modèle de remplacement, un “New Deal”, qui vise à recentrer l'éducation autour des grandes valeurs démocratiques.
Democracy
Authors: Parris Kristen
Published: March 2008

Democracy, Charles Tilly, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007, pp. xi, 227.

The ideal of democracy is rarely challenged openly in the contemporary world, yet it remains one of the social science's essentially contested concepts. Despite a large and growing literature on the topic, there is little consensus on how we are to decide when a particular regime qualifies as a democracy or not. In his ambitious and forceful new book, Charles Tilly argues that this lack of a clear and accurate definition of democracy is of considerable consequence. Lucid explanations of democratization, political standing of regimes, related foreign policy decisions and the quality of people's lives are all at stake. Tilly devotes his first chapter to building a working definition of democracy before putting forward a cogent explanatory framework for understanding how and why democracies emerge and why they sometimes disappear and to demonstrate what difference it makes.
The Politics of Free Markets: The Rise of Neoliberal Economic Policies in Britain, France, Germany, and the United States
Authors: Hamilton Paul
Published: March 2008

The Politics of Free Markets: The Rise of Neoliberal Economic Policies in Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, Monica Prasad, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006 pp. 328, ix.

Following the Second World War many western democracies embarked on an expansion of their respective welfare states. This effort would be effectively stopped, even reversed, with the development of neoliberal policies within established parties of the right. In other states, neoliberalism was effectively blocked from affecting public policy. Monica Prasad's book is an effort to explain the success or failure of neoliberalism in western democracies.
Incertitudes, pouvoir et résistances : les enjeux du politique dans la modernité
Authors: Paquerot Sylvie
Published: March 2008

Incertitudes, pouvoir et résistances : les enjeux du politique dans la modernité, Carol Levasseur, Québec, Les Presses de l'Université Laval, 2006, 432 pages.

La quatrième de couverture décrit l'ouvrage en peu de mots : “Ce livre contient les principales contributions de Carol Levasseur, professeur au Département de science politique de l'Université Laval, décédé en 2003”. Publié après la mort de l'auteur, il se compose de textes réunis et mis en perspective par ses collègues : Leila Azzaria, Jean-Marie Fecteau, Jean-Guy Lacroix et Diane Lamoureux. Il présente donc les limites inhérentes à tout recueil visant à rendre compte de la pensée d'un auteur dans sa complexité … en l'absence de toute rétroaction de sa part.
The latent structure of post-traumatic stress disorder: tests of invariance by gender and trauma type
Authors: Chung H. , Breslau N.
Published: March 2008

Background

Measurement invariance of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criterion symptoms was tested by gender and trauma type, assaultive and non-assaultive.

Method

Analysis was conducted using latent class analysis (LCA), based on findings that the three-class LCA model from Breslau et al. (Archives of General Psychiatry 2005, 62, 1343–1351) fits the data across the four groups best. The classes represent three levels of PTSD-related disturbance: no disturbance, intermediate disturbance and pervasive disturbance, with the last one approximating the DSM-IV PTSD diagnosis.

Results

Analysis of measurement invariance showed that, with respect to gender, there was no evidence of differential symptom reporting within the same disturbance class. DSM-IV symptom indicators represent the latent structure of PTSD equally in males and females. We found that more female than male victims of assaultive violence experienced pervasive disturbance. In the absence of measurement variability associated with gender, the finding is likely to reflect a gender difference in susceptibility. The analysis of measurement invariance detected evidence of variability associated with trauma type. Victims of assaultive violence in the pervasive disturbance class report more severe distress (especially emotional numbing) than do victims of non-assaultive violence in the same class.

Conclusions

The finding of measurement bias associated with type of trauma raises questions about the applicability of a single definition for PTSD associated with assaultive violence and PTSD associated with traumatic events of lesser magnitude.
Levels of vasopressin in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Morrison Wynne E. , Simone Shari , Conway Dyana , Tumulty Jamie , Johnson Cynthia , Cardarelli Marcelo
Published: March 2008

Objectives

It is accepted treatment to give vasopressin to adults in postcardiotomy shock, but such use in children is controversial. Cardiopulmonary bypass is presumed to attenuate the normal endogenous vasopressin response to shock. We hypothesized that levels of vasopressin in children are altered by bypass, and that children having low endogenous levels perioperatively are more likely to develop hypotension, or require vasopressors.

Methods

Serial levels of vasopressin were assessed prospectively in children undergoing bypass at a single center.

Results

Of 61 eligible patients, we enrolled 39 (63%). Their median age was 5 months. The mean level of vasopressin prior to bypass was 18.6 picograms per millilitre, with an interquartile range from 2.6 to 11.4. Levels of vasopressin peaked during bypass at 87.1, this being highly significant compared to baseline (p < 0.00005), remained high for 12 hours at a mean of 73.5, again significantly different from baseline (p = 0.002), were falling at 24 hours, with a mean of 28.1 (p = 0.04), and had returned to baseline by 48 hours, when the mean was 7.4 (p = 0.3). Age, gender, and the category for surgical risk had no influence on the levels of vasopressin. There was no statistically significant relationship between the measured levels and hypotension or the requirement for vasopressors, although a few persistently hypotensive patients had high levels subsequent to bypass. Higher levels correlated with higher levels of sodium in the serum (rs= 0.37, p < 0.00005), higher osmolality (rs= 0.37, p < 0.00005), and positive fluid balance (rs= 0.23, p < 0.008). Preoperative use of inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme, preoperative congestive cardiac failure, and longer periods of bypass predicted higher levels during the first eight postoperative hours.

Conclusions

Children do not have deficient endogenous levels of vasopressin following bypass, and lower levels are not associated with hypotension. Any therapeutic efficacy of infusion of vasopressin for post-cardiotomy shock in children is likely due to reasons other than physiologic replacement.
Takayasu’s disease: a review
Authors: Tann Oliver R. , Tulloh Robert M.R. , Hamilton Mark C.K.
Published: March 2008

Takayasu’s disease is a rare chronic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Initial symptoms and signs are non-specific, and a high index of suspicion is needed to make the correct diagnosis. The disease is associated with a high incidence of morbidity, and a significant risk of premature death. Serological tests have proved unreliable in distinguishing active from quiescent disease, with non-invasive imaging currently offering the best option for early diagnosis, and monitoring the response to treatment. In this review, we detail the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, imaging characteristics, and currently available treatments.
A comparative study of selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in normal and breast cancer patients
Authors: Moradi Masoumeh , Hassan Eftekhari Mohammad , Talei Abdolrasoul , Rajaei Fard Abdolreza
Published: March 2008

Objective

The present study was undertaken to compare plasma Se values and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in normal and breast cancer patients.

Design

In a case–control study, forty-five breast cancer patients and the same number of healthy women were randomly selected from their population. Se was measured in plasma by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and GPX activity in erythrocytes was measured using a standard spectrophotometric method.

Results

Plasma Se concentration in healthy women and breast cancer patients was in the normal range, with no statistically significant difference observed between the two groups (138·40 (sd 40·36) μg/l v. 132·15 (sd 35·37) μg/l, respectively). Erythrocyte GPX activity was significantly (P<0·01) higher in breast cancer patients (24·81 (sd 11·66) U/g Hb) compared with healthy women (20·29 (sd 4·24) U/g Hb).

Conclusion

The present study indicated that Se deficiency was not a problem in the participants, and sufficient quantity of this element could increase GPX activity to have a protective effect against oxidative damage.
The political constitution of emergency powers: parliamentary and separation-of-powers regulation
Authors: Tushnet Mark
Published: March 2008

Constitutional democracies control the exercise of emergency powers through law and through politics. Although many believe that legal controls on the exercise of such powers are essential, examining the structure and history of political controls on emergency powers demonstrates that there are conditions under which such controls can be more effective than legal controls, even in systems committed to parliamentary supremacy. Political controls can sometimes be deployed effectively more quickly than legal ones can. Even in settings seemingly quite unfavourable to the development of constraints on the flow of power to executive government during emergencies, political controls can work, and sometimes might work in real time more effectively than judicial controls do in real time.
Controlling the ‘Gorgon’ of state power in the state of exception: a reply to Professor Tushnet
Authors: O’Cinneide Colm
Published: March 2008

Mark Tushnet’s paper is an interesting extension of his recent work on how constitutional democracies can control the use of emergency powers. His analysis is useful in drawing attention to the often-overlooked impact of political dynamics in times of emergency. However, Tushnet is too ready to accept that political processes will be able to control the grant and use of emergency powers. He also is too quick to draw a sharp dichotomy between effective political and ineffective legal processes. Political processes can be active and useful in reining in the excesses of emergency powers, but usually only if they play out against the backdrop of a vibrant constitutional culture where the potential for abuse of emergency powers is recognised. The impact of legal and supranational controls plays an important role in shaping this constitutional culture, in particular by ‘dampening’ down the abuse of emergency powers and limiting the scope of action available to the executive. Focusing upon the potential of political means alone to control the application of state power in emergency states of exception is to underestimate the capacity of wider constitutional dynamics to play a key role, even if the political arena may be where the ultimate battles are fought out.
The political constitution of emergency powers: a comment
Authors: Ewing Keith
Published: March 2008

The United Kingdom had the experience of at least five different kinds of emergency throughout the twentieth century. The first and most serious is war, though not all wars (including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) create or created national emergencies. Nevertheless, the world wars of 1914–1918 and 1939–1945 almost certainly did, especially in the latter case with its risk – albeit short-lived – of invasion by a foreign power. The other causes of emergency were: second, the long-term internal conflict in Northern Ireland in what seemed like a separatist armed struggle, with one community pitted against another, and against the State (1969–2007); third, short-term but large-scale industrial action, which in at least one case (1926) was thought to border on the subversive; while the fourth has been an array of natural disasters, sometimes caused by adverse weather conditions, and sometimes caused by disease; finally, and most recently, there is the threat posed by international terrorism in the wake of 9/11 and our experiences in London in July 2005. Although emergency situations can thus arise for a host of reasons, it might be argued that the foregoing list is far from complete, with a sixth category of emergency being the various economic and fiscal crises that have engulfed the country from time to time, notably in 1931, when emergency powers were taken, and again after the end of World War II, when the country was financially exhausted by the demands of conflict.
Helium deficit in high‐3He/4He parent magmas: Predegassing fractionation, not a “helium paradox”
Authors: Hopp Jens , Trieloff Mario
Published: March 2008

We evaluated He‐Ne‐Ar elemental compositions of mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) glasses and basalt glasses from the Hawaiian hot spot (Loihi Seamount, Kilauea) to determine the (3He/22Ne)solar, 4He*/21Ne*, and 4He*/40Ar* MORB‐type and “plume”‐type end‐member compositions within a binary mixing model. Although the 3He/22Ne ratios of “plume” magma and MORB magma marginally agree with current estimates of solar compositions, the calculated 4He*/21Ne* ratios are lower than the theoretical production ratio and indicate that the “plume” magma component experienced a predegassing fractionation event. This fractionation event resulted in a deficit in both radiogenic 4He* and primordial 3He and accounts for the differences in 3He/22Ne, 4He*/21Ne*, and 4He*/40Ar* ratios and 3He concentrations for both mantle domains. This resolves an apparent contradiction previously termed “mantle He paradox,” though the derived 3He concentrations are also at odds with a primitive mantle concept that requires still higher concentrations. We propose that the primary fractionation of He/Ne and He/Ar ratios is related to a more compatible behavior of He relative to Ne, Ar during partial melting. One model is presented: at depths below a shallow MORB source region a rising mantle plume causes formation of low‐degree partial melts, which are deficient in He. During melt ascent, these “plume”‐derived melts mix with melts of the shallow (MORB‐type) mantle source that experienced a higher degree of melting and hence show no He deficit. Depending on the relative proportion of mixing the resulting oceanic basalts will encompass the whole observed range from Loihi‐type and MORB‐type noble gas isotope compositions.
Production of brief extreme ground acceleration pulses by nonlinear mechanisms in the shallow subsurface
Authors: Sleep Norman H. , Ma Shuo
Published: March 2008

A brief pulse of extreme acceleration ∼20 m s−2 was recorded at Station FZ16 during the 2004 Mw 6.0 Parkfield, California, earthquake. The sustained acceleration at the dominant frequency is a factor of ∼2 below the maximum. Here we show that the pulses of extreme acceleration might originate in the shallow subsurface, rather than on the main fault plane. Two nonlinear mechanisms can feasibly convert low‐frequency energy of the incident wave into high‐frequency pulses with extreme acceleration: (1) Dynamic stress carried by strong seismic waves causes small shallow cracks to slip in secondary earthquakes. (2) The elasticity of the shallow subsurface is nonlinear. The relationship between dynamic shear stress and strain is linear at small strains. At the large strains associated with strong ground motion, shear deformation locks compliant cracks by bringing their asperities into contact. The locking increases the instantaneous shear modulus of the cracked rock. Computations indicate that both mechanisms produce high accelerations in the later part of the strong ground motion. These testable hypotheses imply that brief pulses of extreme acceleration are likely not a property of the main fault and hence not harbingers of prolonged pulses of extreme acceleration.
Constraints on core‐mantle electromagnetic coupling from torsional oscillation normal modes
Authors: Dumberry M. , Mound J. E.
Published: March 2008

Decadal axial angular momentum variations in the Earth's core are believed to be carried by the normal modes of torsional oscillations. Coupling with the mantle transfers angular momentum to the latter, leading to changes in length of day (LOD). Electromagnetic stresses at the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) may be an important coupling mechanism as well as a source of dissipation for torsional oscillations. In this work, we investigate whether the observed spectra of fluid core velocities and LOD variations can be both explained in terms of the normal modes of torsional oscillations when the only coupling with the mantle is through electromagnetic stresses. We show that this explanation may be true when the magnetic field at the CMB is based on a downward continuation of surface observations, provided the conductance at the bottom of the mantle does not greatly exceed 108 S and small wavelength field features do not contribute more than approximately 25% of the total radial field at the CMB. A larger conductance or a higher amplitude radial magnetic field results in a damping of the normal modes of torsional oscillation that is sufficiently large that they should not be detectable. In particular, we show that this is the case for the conductance and radial magnetic field that are inferred from the Earth's forced nutations. If these constraints are correct, the decadal periodicities in the fluid velocity and LOD must then represent the preferred frequencies of the excitation mechanism of torsional oscillations rather than the signature of the free modes.
Tropopause inversion layer: Seasonal and latitudinal variations and representation in standard radiosonde data and global models
Authors: Bell Shaun W. , Geller Marvin A.
Published: March 2008

Previous publications have given information on the seasonal and latitudinal variations of the tropopause inversion layer (TIL), as seen in high‐resolution radiosonde data sets, when soundings are averaged using the tropopause as a reference level. This paper presents a more quantitative analysis of the latitudinal and seasonal structure of the TIL than has been given previously. To do this, we define the region over which the static stability relaxes from its overshoot value at the tropopause to its local minimum in the stratosphere. This region is seen to increase monotonically in thickness from about 1 km at low latitudes to about 4 to 5 km at high latitudes. When the seasons are defined as winter (DJF), spring (MAM), summer (JJA), and fall (SON), the transition from tropical behavior occurs a little poleward of 20°N in both DJF and MAM and moves to a little poleward of 30°N in JJA and SON. Somewhat surprisingly, it is also shown that almost identical information about the TIL can be derived from standard radiosonde data for our period of analysis because of their reporting of the tropopause and other “significant levels,” but caution needs to be used in doing this since the number of reported significant levels has varied significantly over the long term and with some distinct discontinuities. Finally, we discuss what sort of information on the TIL can be obtained from global models given their relatively coarse vertical resolution.
Isotopomer fractionation in the UV photolysis of N2O: 2. Further comparison of theory and experiment
Authors: Chen Wei‐Chen , Prakash Meher K. , Marcus R. A.
Published: March 2008

Wavelength‐dependent fractionation of various isotopomers in the photodissociation of N2O is studied. The absorption cross sections are calculated by a time‐independent reflection principle, related to the Prakash et al. (2005) treatment but now with an inclusion of the NN stretching coordinate and both the 2A′ and 1A″ electronic excited states. The added 1A″ state is found to have little effect on both the absorption cross section and the fractionation. The improvements include more physical details in the photodissociation of N2O, while maintaining an advantage of a treatment in the work by Prakash et al. (2005) that was not computationally intensive. The present calculated fractionation, without a significant adjustable parameter, gives good agreement with experiments in the absorption cross section in the low‐energy region, the important region for the experimentally observed isotopic fractionation.
A new model of wind erosion in the presence of vegetation
Authors: Okin Gregory S.
Published: March 2008

Vegetation is known to impact strongly the erosion of soil by the wind. Lateral cover is the primary parameter used to represent the amount of vegetation in aeolian research and, in particular, shear stress partitioning research. Although lateral cover provides a simple means for representing how much vegetation is in an area, it is not capable of characterizing how vegetation is distributed. A new, nonequilibrium model for the representation of nonerodible roughness elements is presented that uses the size distribution of erodible gaps between plants to characterize the ratio of the maximum shear stress to the average shear stress at the surface. The model shows very good agreement with measured shear stress ratios from the laboratory and field experiments. The model also satisfactorily explains relatively high horizontal aeolian sediment flux at high lateral cover. The relationship between this model and another shear stress partitioning model is explored, and the new model is found to be superior to the existing model because it (1) utilizes parameters with physical meaning that are measurable in the field or laboratory, (2) explains observations of horizontal flux at high cover, (3) overcomes difficulties inherent in the use of lateral cover to characterize vegetation on the surface, (4) is scale‐explicit, and (5) can be used at multiple scales from an individual unvegetated gap to an entire landscape.
Atomically resolved imaging by low-temperature frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy using a quartz length-extension resonator
Authors: An Toshu , Nishio Takahiro , Eguchi Toyoaki , Ono Masanori , Nomura Atsushi , Akiyama Kotone , Hasegawa Yukio
Published: March 2008

Low-temperature ultrahigh vacuum frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed using a 1MHz length-extension type of quartz resonator as a force sensor. Taking advantage of the high stiffness of the resonator, the AFM was operated with an oscillation amplitude smaller than 100pm, which is favorable for high spatial resolution, without snapping an AFM tip onto a sample surface. Atomically resolved imaging of the adatom structure on the Si(111)-(7×7) surface was successfully obtained.
On the Poisson-Lie T-plurality of boundary conditions
Authors: Albertsson Cecilia , Hlavatý Ladislav , Šnobl Libor
Published: March 2008

Conditions for the gluing matrix defining consistent boundary conditions of two-dimensional nonlinear σ-models are analyzed and reformulated. Transformation properties of the right-invariant fields under the Poisson-Lie T-plurality are used to derive a formula for the transformation of the boundary conditions. Examples of transformation of D-branes in two and three dimensions are presented. We investigate obstacles arising in this procedure and propose possible solutions.
Metal detector coil arrangement for uniform internal and zero external sensitivity
Authors: Dhagat P. , Jander A. , Luo D.
Published: March 2008

A design for transmit and receive coils of walk-through metal detectors is presented. The coil arrangements, emulating magnetization patterns of one sided flux sources, provide highly uniform detection sensitivity within the walk-through portal and low detection sensitivity outside of the portal. The spatial distribution of magnetic field vectors produced by the coils were calculated and show the desired field cancellation on one side of the structure and field strength decaying approximately exponentially with distance from the active side. The proposed metal detector design combines one sided excitation and receive coils on either side of the portal such that the exponentially decreasing excitation fields together with the exponentially increasing receive sensitivity results in uniform detection throughout the portal. The absence of fields produced outside of the portal results in low detection of external objects.