bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature- and species-dependent quenching of NO AΣ+2(v′=) probed by two-photon laser-induced fluorescence using a picosecond laser
Authors: Settersten Thomas B. , Patterson Brian D. , Gray Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2006

We report improved measurements of the temperature-dependent cross sections for the quenching of fluorescence from the AΣ+2(v′=0) state of NO. Cross sections were measured for gas temperatures ranging from 294to1300K for quenching by NO(XΠ2), H2O, CO2, O2, CO, N2, and C2H2. The AΣ+2(v′=0) state was populated via two-photon excitation with a picosecond laser at 454nm, and the decay rate of the fluorescence originating from AΣ+2(v′=0) was measured directly. Thermally averaged quenching cross sections were determined from the dependence of the fluorescence decay rate on the quencher gas pressure. Our measurements are compared to previous measurements and models of the quenching cross sections, and new empirical fits to the data are presented. Our new cross-section data enable predictions in excellent agreement with prior measurements of the fluorescence lifetime in an atmospheric-pressure methane-air diffusion flame. The agreement resolves discrepancies between the lifetime measurements and predictions based on the previous quenching models, primarily through improved models for the quenching by H2O, CO2, and O2 at temperatures less than 1300K.
ac losses in a YBa2Cu3O7−x coil
Authors: Polak M. , Demencik E. , Jansak L. , Mozola P. , Aized D. , Thieme C. L. H. , Levin G. A. , Barnes P. N.
Published: June 2006

The properties of a small pancake coil made with a 10mm wide copper-stabilized YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) coated conductor were investigated. The radial component of the magnetic field was mapped at the coil edge in both the dc and ac regimes and differs significantly from that calculated assuming a uniform current distribution. The observed hysteresis indicates the strong influence of the ferromagnetic properties of the substrate. The ac losses of the coil were measured for ac frequencies between 60 and 1000Hz. The differences in properties of the YBCO coil and a similarly prepared copper coil are discussed.
Rotational transitions and diffraction in D2 scattering from the LiF(001) surface: Theory and experiment
Authors: Valero Rosendo , Kroes Geert-Jan , Ekinci Yasin , Toennies J. Peter
Published: June 2006

High probabilities of energy transfer from translation to molecular rotations are observed in the scattering of n-D2 from LiF(001) at an incident beam energy of 85.3meV. For the ⟨100⟩ incidence direction, close-coupling calculations yield ratios of the rotationally inelastic (j=0→2) and (j=1→3) peaks to the rotationally elastic specular peaks (G=0) that are in reasonable agreement with experiment, as are the ratios of the rotationally elastic diffraction peak intensities to the specular peak intensities. The agreement between theory and experiment is also quite good for the rotationally inelastic diffractive (−1−1) transitions for (j=1→3), but rather poor for (j=0→2). The calculations show that the interaction between the electrostatic field of the surface ions and the quadrupole moment of the D2 molecule efficiently promotes the (j=0→2) and (j=1→3) transitions. If this electrostatic interaction is excluded from the potential model, the ratios of the (j=0→2) and (j=1→3) rotationally inelastic peaks to the corresponding specular peaks show a large discrepancy with experiment, underlining the importance of this interaction. The close-coupling calculations show a somewhat worse agreement with experiment for the ⟨110⟩ incidence direction. In particular, the sharp peaks observed experimentally in the ratios of the peak intensities of the rotationally inelastic G=0 (j=0→2) and (j=1→3) to the rotationally elastic G=0 transitions as a function of incident angle are not reproduced by the calculations. The theoretical ratios of the peak intensities of the rotationally elastic diffraction to G=0 transitions are shifted to lower incidence angles with respect to experiment. The rotationally inelastic diffractive (−10) transitions present an interesting resonance phenomenon for the (j=0→2) rotational transition. This resonance is predicted by both theory and experiment, although at rather different incident angles.
Dynamics of gravity-induced gradients in soap film thicknesses
Authors: Ropars G. , Chauvat D. , Le Floch A. , O’Sullivan-Hale M. N. , Boyd R. W.
Published: June 2006

We demonstrate a direct measurement of thickness gradients in vertical soap films with a resonant differential interferometer, i.e., the Jamin-Fabry-Perot interferometer. Two regimes are investigated: thick colored films with gravity- and capillarity-induced gradients, and silvery-gray to common black films which are quasi-independent of gravity. In the colored zone, our differential method is an ideal tool with which to isolate the large thickness instabilities of the film reaching 17nm∕mm that characterize the end of its drainage. Using the so-called F2 law of such an interferometer, thermal-induced thickness variations as small as 1nm are isolated in the gradient-free common black film.
Organic solar cells with carbon nanotubes replacing In2O3:Sn as the transparent electrode
Authors: van de Lagemaat Jao , Barnes Teresa M. , Rumbles Garry , Shaheen Sean E. , Coutts Timothy J. , Weeks Chris , Levitsky Igor , Peltola Jorma , Glatkowski Paul
Published: June 2006

We report two viable organic excitonic solar cell structures where the conventional In2O3:Sn (ITO) hole-collecting electrode was replaced by a thin single-walled carbon nanotube layer. The first structure includes poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and gave a nonoptimized device efficiency of 1.5%. The second did not use PEDOT as a hole selective contact and had an efficiency of 0.47%. The strong rectifying behavior of the device shows that nanotubes are selective for holes and are not efficient recombination sites. The reported excitonic solar cell, produced without ITO and PEDOT, is an important step towards a fully printable solar cell.
Use of an electron-beam evaporator for the creation of nanostructured pits in an insulating surface
Authors: Mativetsky Jeffrey M. , Miyahara Yoichi , Fostner Shawn , Burke Sarah A. , Grutter Peter
Published: June 2006

We demonstrate a method for creating monatomic-depth rectangular pits of controlled size in an alkali halide surface by using an electron-beam evaporator. Atomic resolution noncontact atomic force microscopy is used to characterize the structure and size distribution of the pits, with mean side lengths ranging from 6.5to20nm. It is also demonstrated that metal nanoparticles can be used to nucleate the growth of pits, resulting in pits with metal nanoparticles inside.
Catalyst-free growth of indium nitride nanorods by chemical-beam epitaxy
Authors: Chao C. K. , Chyi J.-I. , Hsiao C. N. , Kei C. C. , Kuo S. Y. , Chang H.-S. , Hsu T. M.
Published: June 2006

We demonstrate the growth of indium nitride (InN) nanorods on sapphire by chemical-beam epitaxy without a catalyst. The nanorods are synthesized nearly unidirectionally along the ⟨001⟩ direction and the diameters varied in the range of 20–40nm with In∕N flow ratio. Single-crystalline wurtzite structure is verified by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Raman measurements show that these wurtzite InN nanorods have sharp peaks E2 (high) at 491cm−1 and A1 (LO) at 593cm−1.
Microwave nanotube transistor operation at high bias
Authors: Yu Z. , Rutherglen C. , Burke P. J.
Published: June 2006

We measure the small signal, 1GHz source-drain dynamical conductance of a back-gated single-walled carbon nanotube field effect transistor at both low and high dc bias voltages. At all bias voltages, the intrinsic device dynamical conductance at 1GHz is identical to the low frequency dynamical conductance, consistent with the prediction of a cutoff frequency much higher than 1GHz. This work represents a significant step towards a full characterization of a nanotube transistor for rf and microwave amplifiers.
Stress-induced change of magnetization in a Ni–Mn–Ga single crystal under magnetomechanical training
Authors: Li Guang , Liu Yong
Published: June 2006

The effect of magnetomechanical training on the stress-induced change of magnetization in a Ni50.3Mn28.7Ga21 single crystal is studied. The crystal was initially deformed for three cycles under an orthogonal magnetic field. After this magnetomechanical training, the direction of the applied magnetic field was changed, respectively, to 45°, 90°, and 180° angles with respect to the initial orientation and the sample was further tested. It is found that both the mechanical and the magnetic behavior depend strongly on the direction of the applied magnetic field once the sample is magnetomechanically trained. This phenomenon can be understood from the fact that the magnetomechanical training results in a stable preferential orientation of martensite variants.
Effect of lightly Si doping on the minority carrier diffusion length in n-type GaN films
Authors: Zhao D. G. , Jiang D. S. , Yang Hui , Zhu J. J. , Liu Z. S. , Zhang S. M. , Liang J. W. , Hao X. P. , Wei L. , Li X. , Li X. Y. , Gong H. M.
Published: June 2006

We investigate the effects of lightly Si doping on the minority carrier diffusion length in n-type GaN films by analyzing photovoltaic spectra and positron annihilation measurements. We find that the minority carrier diffusion length in undoped n-type GaN is much larger than in lightly Si-doped GaN. Positron annihilation analysis demonstrates that the concentration of Ga vacancies is much higher in lightly Si-doped GaN and suggests that the Ga vacancies instead of dislocations are responsible for the smaller minority carrier diffusion length in the investigated Si-doped GaN samples due to the effects of deep level defects.
Epitaxially grown WOx nanorod probes for sub-100nm multiple-scanning-probe measurement
Authors: Kubo O. , Shingaya Y. , Nakaya M. , Aono M. , Nakayama T.
Published: June 2006

Tungsten suboxide (WOx) nanorods that are directly grown on electrochemically etched tungsten (W) tips are used as probes of a double-scanning-probe tunneling microscope. A WOx nanorod well acts as a scanning probe in tunneling microscopy and stable atomic-scale imaging is confirmed. For a contact nanoelectrode in measuring electrical properties of nanostructures, the WOx nanorod probe is coated with platinum. A series of resistance measurements of an erbium-disilicide nanowire as a function of interprobe distance down to 72nm is realized.
Improving crystal quality of InGaAs∕GaAs quantum dots by inductively coupled Ar plasma
Authors: Nie D. , Mei T. , Djie H. S. , Ooi B. S. , Zhang X. H.
Published: June 2006

The crystal quality of InGaAs∕GaAs quantum dots (QDs) is substantially improved without redistribution of composition using inductively coupled Ar plasma exposure. After plasma exposure, the QDs exhibit an increase in photoluminescence intensity by a factor of 1.7 while keeping the peak wavelength unshifted, and the band gap blueshift after rapid thermal annealing is suppressed, denoting an improvement in thermal stability. The time-resolved photoluminescence shows an increase in carrier lifetime from 735to1140ps by plasma exposure, indicating the mechanism of grown-in defects reduction in the QD regions.
TOR coordinates bulk and targeted endocytosis in the Drosophila melanogaster fat body to regulate cell growth
Authors: Hennig Krista M. , Colombani Julien , Neufeld Thomas P.
Published: June 2006

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator of cellular and organismal growth in response to nutrient conditions. In a genetic screen for novel TOR interactors in Drosophila melanogaster, we have identified the clathrin-uncoating ATPase Hsc70-4, which is a key regulator of endocytosis. We present genetic evidence that TOR signaling stimulates bulk endocytic uptake and inhibits the targeted endocytic degradation of the amino acid importer Slimfast. Thus, TOR simultaneously down-regulates aspects of endocytosis that inhibit growth and up-regulates potential growth-promoting functions of endocytosis. In addition, we find that disruption of endocytosis leads to changes in TOR and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase activity, affecting cell growth, autophagy, and rapamycin sensitivity. Our data indicate that endocytosis acts both as an effector function downstream of TOR and as a physiologically relevant regulator of TOR signaling.
“HURP on” we're off to the kinetochore!
Authors: Wilde Andrew
Published: June 2006

RanGTP has a central role in spindle assembly, but the Ran-regulated factors required to initiate spindle bipolarity and stabilize MT growth toward the chromosomes remain unknown. However, three recent papers (Koffa et al., 2006; Sillje et al., 2006; Wong and Fang, 2006) have identified a single factor, HURP, that may encompass both of these properties.
Peach latent mosaic viroid: not so latent
Authors: FLORES RICARDO , DELGADO SONIA , RODIO MARÍA‐ELENA , AMBRÓS SILVIA , HERNÁNDEZ CARMEN , SERIO FRANCESCO DI
Published: June 2006

Taxonomy:  Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) is the type species of the genus Pelamoviroid within the family Avsunviroidae of chloroplastic viroids with hammerhead ribozymes.

Physical properties:  A small circular RNA of 336–351 nt (differences in size result from the absence or presence of certain insertions) adopting a branched conformation stabilized by a pseudoknot between two kissing loops. This particular conformation is most likely responsible for the insolubility of PLMVd in highly saline conditions (in which other viroids adopting a rod‐like conformation are soluble). Both polarity strands are able to form hammerhead structures and to self‐cleave during replication as predicted by these ribozymes.

Biological properties:  Although most infections occur without conspicuous symptoms, certain PLMVd isolates induce leaf mosaics, blotches and in the most extreme cases albinism (peach calico, PC), flower streaking, delays in foliation, flowering and ripening, deformations and decolorations of fruits, which usually present cracked sutures and enlarged roundish stones, bud necrosis, stem pitting and premature ageing of the trees, which also adopt a characteristic growing pattern (open habit). The molecular determinant for PC has been mapped at a 12–14‐nt insertion that folds into a hairpin capped by a U‐rich loop present only in certain variants. PLMVd is horizontally transmitted by the propagation of infected buds and to a lesser extent by pruning tools and aphids, but not by pollen; the viroid is not vertically transmitted through seed.

Interesting features:  This provides a suitable system for studying how a minimal non‐protein‐coding catalytic RNA replicates (subverting a DNA‐dependent RNA polymerase to transcribe an RNA template), moves, interferes with the metabolism of its host (inciting specific symptoms and a defensive RNA silencing response) and evolves following a quasi‐species model characterized by a complex spectrum of variants.
Sex ratio and maturity indicate the local dispersal and mortality of adult stoneflies
Authors: PETERSEN I. , MASTERS Z. , ORMEROD S. J. , HILDREW A. G.
Published: June 2006

1. Despite a recent upsurge in interest, there remains remarkably little information about the dispersal and survival of the adults of most stream‐dwelling insects, although this is a basic requirement for understanding their long‐term population dynamics.

2. Using Malaise traps for a whole annual flight period, we captured adult stoneflies (Leuctra nigra) along transects perpendicular to three upland Welsh streams. We assessed spatial and temporal patterns in sex ratio to infer local dispersal and, using maturity as an age marker, estimated the mortality of adult females.

3. Nearly all adult stoneflies (99%) were taken in the period 26 April–23 July, and the onset of the male and female flight periods was the same. Most males (90%) had been caught by late June. Females were classified as immature (without ripe eggs) or mature, and 90% of immature females had been caught by mid‐late June (depending on catchment). As immature females declined in the catch, mature females increased, 10% having been caught by late‐May to early June and 90% by early to mid‐July. The median catches of immature and mature females were separated by 32 days in all three catchments.

4. There was a female bias in the sex ratio overall, which increased as time passed and was attributable partially to the greater longevity of females. Late in the flight period, however, female bias was also greater near the stream channel implying a return of mature females (but not males) from the riparian vegetation, presumably to oviposit.

5. The number of mature females was less than the number of immatures in two of the three channels. Over all three catchments, the overall mortality of females over the 32 days taken to mature was estimated at 29%, equivalent to an exponential daily rate of 1.1% day−1. The apparently negative mortality rate in one catchment (i.e. more matures than immatures being caught) could be due to an influx of adult females from elsewhere along the channel to oviposit.

6. Natural markers of age and population structure, such as sex ratio and female maturity, thus enabled us to detect a return of females to the stream to oviposit, after prior limited dispersal into the riparian zone, and to infer longitudinal movements in search of suitable sites. We were also able to estimate mortality in the field. Such natural markers seem to have been underexploited in the study of adult aquatic insects.
Placental Expression of Glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored Proteins in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria
Authors: Kristoffersen E. K. , Haram K. O. , Edvardsen B. , Ernst P. , Bjørge L.
Published: June 2006

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal stem cell disorder in which a defect of glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored proteins leads to higher morbidity and mortality because of intravascular haemolysis, haemoglobinuria, pancytopenia and an increased frequency of thrombotic events. We report here the clinical features of a pregnant woman with PNH and present an immunhistochemical analysis of complement regulators, leukocyte activation markers and placental alkaline phosphatase (PALP) on syncytiotrophoblasts and inflammatory cells in her placenta. Placental tissue from normal deliveries served as controls. The patient had severe PNH with haemolysis, thrombosis episodes and signs of bone marrow failure. Placental syncytiotrophoblasts and villous cells of fetal origin in both normal placentas and the placenta from the PNH patient expressed PALP and the complement regulators CD46, CD55 and CD59. Additionally, CD11b‐positive leukocytes of presumed maternal origin were negative for CD15 in the PNH placenta, while they stained positive within the villous space and in normal placentas. These findings show that fetally derived cells in the PNH placenta expressed GPI‐linked molecules that are known to be of importance for a successful pregnancy outcome.
Retrograde suppression of GABAergic currents in a subset of SCN neurons
Authors: Gompf Heinrich S. , Irwin Robert P. , Allen Charles N.
Published: June 2006

Many postsynaptic neurons release a retrograde transmitter that modulates presynaptic neurotransmitter release. In the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), retrograde signaling is suggested by the presence of dendritic dense‐core vesicles. Whole‐cell voltage‐clamp recordings were made from rat SCN neurons to determine whether a retrograde messenger could modulate the activity of afferent γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inputs. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous GABAergic currents was significantly reduced in a subpopulation of SCN neurons (eight out of 13) following a postsynaptic depolarization. Similarly, a postsynaptic depolarization significantly reduced the amplitude of evoked GABAergic currents during both day and night recordings. A postsynaptic depolarizing pulse eliminated paired‐pulse inhibition of GABAergic currents consistent with a presynaptic mechanism. Muscimol‐activated currents were not altered by postsynaptic depolarization, demonstrating that the activity of GABAA receptors was not altered. Depolarization‐induced inhibition of the GABAergic currents was not observed when a Ca2+ chelator was included in the microelectrode. Postsynaptic depolarization significantly increased the Ca2+ concentration in both the soma and dendrites. The dendritic Ca2+ levels increased faster, to a higher concentration and decayed faster than in the soma. The depolarization‐induced inhibition of the evoked GABAergic current was blocked by the G‐protein uncoupling agent N‐ethylmaleimide, suggesting that the retrograde messenger acts on a pertussis toxin‐sensitive G‐protein‐coupled receptor. Because the majority of SCN neurons receive GABAergic input from neighboring cells, these results describe a retrograde signaling mechanism by which SCN neurons can modulate GABAergic synaptic input.
Sleep‐active neurons in the preoptic area project to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and perifornical lateral hypothalamus
Authors: Uschakov Aaron , Gong Hui , McGinty Dennis , Szymusiak Ronald
Published: June 2006

The lamina terminalis consists of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) and subfornical organ. The MnPO and ventrolateral preoptic area (vlPOA) are known to contain high densities of neurons that are sleep active. The prevalence of sleep‐active neurons in the OVLT and subfornical organ is unknown. The vlPOA and subdivisions of the lamina terminalis project to hypothalamic regions involved in the control of behavioral, electrographic or autonomic arousal, including the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The extent to which projection neurons are active during sleep is unknown. We quantified c‐Fos protein immunoreactivity (IR) in the lamina terminalis and vlPOA in sleeping and awake rats that received injections of retrograde tracer into either the LHA or PVN. Fos IR was also examined in lamina terminalis neurons following tracer injections into the vlPOA. Significantly more projection neurons from the MnPO, OVLT and vlPOA to the LHA were Fos‐immunoreactive in sleeping vs. awake animals. Waking Fos IR was more prevalent in lamina terminalis neurons projecting to the PVN although a subset of MnPO projection neurons in sleeping rats was Fos‐immunoreactive. Almost 50% of vlPOA‐PVN projection neurons expressed Fos IR during sleep, compared with 3% during waking. Significantly more neurons in the OVLT and MnPO projecting to the vlPOA were Fos‐immunoreactive in sleeping vs. awake rats. Inhibition of LHA and PVN neurons arising from OVLT, MnPO and vlPOA neurons may contribute to suppression of behavioral, electroencephalographic and sympathetic nervous system activation during sleep.
TheDrosophila cacts2mutation reduces presynaptic Ca2+entry and defines an important element in Cav2.1 channel inactivation
Authors: Macleod G. T. , Chen L. , Karunanithi S. , Peloquin J. B. , Atwood H. L. , McRory J. E. , Zamponi G. W. , Charlton M. P.
Published: June 2006

Voltage‐gated Ca2+channels in nerve terminals open in response to action potentials and admit Ca2+, the trigger for neurotransmitter release. Thecacophonygene encodes the primary presynaptic voltage‐gated Ca2+channel inDrosophilamotor‐nerve terminals. Thecacts2mutant allele ofcacophonyis associated with paralysis and reduced neurotransmission at non‐permissive temperatures but the basis for the neurotransmission deficit has not been established. Thecacts2mutation occurs in the cytoplasmic carboxyl tail of the α1‐subunit, not within the pore‐forming trans‐membrane domains, making it difficult to predict the mutation's impact. We applied a Ca2+‐imaging technique at motor‐nerve terminals of mutant larvae to test the hypothesis that the neurotransmission deficit is a result of impaired Ca2+entry. Presynaptic Ca2+signals evoked by single and multiple action potentials showed a temperature‐dependent reduction. The amplitude of the reduction was sufficient to account for the neurotransmission deficit, indicating that the site of thecacts2mutation plays a role in Ca2+channel activity. As the mutation occurs in a motif conserved in mammalian high‐voltage‐activated Ca2+channels, we used a heterologous expression system to probe the effect of this mutation on channel function. The mutation was introduced into rat Cav2.1 channels expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. Patch‐clamp analysis of mutant channels at the physiological temperature of 37 °C showed much faster inactivation rates than for wild‐type channels, demonstrating that the integrity of this motif is critical for normal Cav2.1 channel inactivation.
Troglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ agonist, decreases tau phosphorylation in CHOtau4R cells
Authors: D'Abramo Cristina , Ricciarelli Roberta , Pronzato Maria A. , Davies Peter
Published: June 2006

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγ), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is activated by several compounds including the thiazolidinediones. In addition to being a target for diabetes, PPARγ activation state has recently been shown to modulate β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) production in cellular models relevant to Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report the effect of troglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, in cells expressing 4‐repeat tau. A 24 h treatment with troglitazone significantly reduced phosphorylation of tau at Ser202 and Ser396/404, residues of early and later stages of neurofibrillary tangle accumulation in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Under the same experimental conditions the level of tau did not change. In our cellular model, troglitazone appeared to enhance 3′‐phosphoinositide‐dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) nuclear translocation, resulting in a decrease in cytosolic phosphorylated 70 kDa ribosomal protein kinase (p70S6) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor). Furthermore, PPARγ transcriptional activity did not appear to be responsible for decreased phosphorylation of tau. Thus, we believe that the thiazolidinedione regulates tau phosphorylation through a PPARγ‐dependent/independent mechanism involving an Akt/glycogen synthase kinase‐3(GSK‐3β)‐independent signalling cascade: PDK1/p70S6K/mTor.
The transcription factor ΔFosB is recruited by inflammatory pain
Authors: Luis‐Delgado Oliva Erendira , Barrot Michel , Rodeau Jean‐Luc , Ulery Paula G. , Freund‐Mercier Marie‐José , Lasbennes François
Published: June 2006

ΔFosB, a stable splice variant of FosB, has been proposed to mediate persistent brain adaptation in response to several chronic perturbations, but it has not yet been considered in the context of sustained pain. Inflammatory pain induces neuronal plasticity that can result in persistent alteration of nociceptive pathways. This neuronal plasticity can partly result from changes in gene expression controlled by transcription factors. In the present study, we analyse the capacity of carrageenan‐mediated inflammation to induce ΔFosB in the spinal cord. We found that hind‐paw inflammation increases FosB‐like immunoreactivity in the superficial layers of rat lumbar spinal cord for at least 7 days. This induction parallels mechanical hyperalgesia and is maximal in the dorsal horn of segment L4 of the spinal cord which corresponds to the primary nociceptive afferent regions from the hind paw. We identified this FosB‐like signal as ΔFosB by comparing data obtained with antibodies raised against either an epitope present in both FosB and ΔFosB, or the FosB C‐terminal region that is deleted in ΔFosB. The week‐lasting changes in ΔFosB highlight the interest in this protein as a molecular marker of sustained pain, and suggest a role of this transcription factor in pain‐related plasticity within the spinal cord.
Lipid mobilization from human abdominal, subcutaneous adipose tissue is independent of sex during steady‐state exercise
Authors: Bülow Jens , Gjeraa Kirsten , Enevoldsen Lotte H. , Simonsen Lene
Published: June 2006

The aim of the study was to elucidate whether there are sex differences of significant biological importance in the human abdominal, subcutaneous adipose tissue lipid metabolism when studied by Fick's Principle during rest and exercise in steady‐state conditions. The net mobilization of fatty acids and glycerol from the abdominal, subcutaneous adipose tissue was measured by arterio‐venous catheterizations and simultaneous measurements of adipose tissue blood flow with the local Xe‐clearance technique in 16 healthy, young normal weight men and women during rest, during 1 h of exercise at moderate intensity, and for another 60 min during post‐exercise recovery. The results show that there are not significant sex differences with respect to the steady‐state fatty acid and glycerol mobilizations neither during resting condition nor during exercise.
Fibrohistiocytic skin tumors
Authors: Hügel Heino
Published: June 2006

The fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin are a heterogeneous group of dermal/subcutaneous mesenchymal neoplasms which show fibroblastic, myofibroblastic and histiocytic (macrophage‐like) differentiation, often one beside the other in the same tumor. “Fibrohistiocytic” means in this context the morphologic similarity of the cells with fibroblasts and histiocytes.

The WHO classification of 2005 includes the following entities as fibrohistiocytic tumors of the skin: Benign: 1. Fibrous histiocytoma (FH)/(synonymous: Dermatofibroma. Variants of FH: 1a. cellular fibrous histiocytoma, 1b. atypical (pseudosarcomatous) fibrous histiocytoma, 1c. aneurysmatic fibrous histiocytoma, 1d. epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma; 2. dermatomyofibroma; 3. (juvenile) xanthogranuloma. Intermediate: 4. plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor; 5. dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; 6. atypical Fibroxanthoma. Malignant: 7. malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

All these entities are reviewed in this paper with particular attention devoted to differential diagnostic considerations.
Ecological situation and management of Bothriochloa ischaemum grasslands in China
Authors: Zhang Jin‐Tun , Zhang Gui‐Lian
Published: June 2006

Bothriochloa ischaemum grasslands cover a large area of central China. A total of 81 grassland quadrats of 2 m × 2 m were established randomly in nine counties of central China. Data for species composition, abundance, coverage and height, plus several environmental variables were measured and recorded in each quadrat. Dry biomass and productivity for three associations within three counties were also determined. Species data of importance values were used in the two‐way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination. A total of 11 main grassland associations were distinguished by the TWINSPAN classification; all of them being secondary vegetation. Each association had its own characteristics in composition, structure, productivity and environment. The results of DCA show that the distribution of B. ischaemum grasslands and associated species are closely related to longitude, that is, related to a moisture gradient. Precipitation was one of the most important factors affecting the distribution of the studied grasslands. In addition, topographic factors, such as elevation, aspect, slope and soil types, were also correlated to grassland vegetation. The distribution of grassland associations was consistent to that of their dominant species. TWINSPAN and DCA revealed the same ecological gradients in this study. These grasslands are important for regional development of animal husbandry and economy, although their productivity is not very high. Effective protocols for the conservation and management of B. ischaemum grasslands are needed.
Hydroxyproline-Based DNA Mimics: A Review on Synthesis and Properties
Authors: Efimov Vladimir A. , Chakhmakhcheva Oksana G.
Published: June 2006

With the aim to improve physicochemical and biological properties of natural oligonucleotides, many types of DNA analogues and mimics are designed on the basis of hydroxyproline and its derivatives, and their properties are evaluated. Among them, two types of DNA mimics representing hetero-oligomers constructed from alternating monomers of phosphono peptide nucleic acids and monomers on the base of trans-1-acetyl-4-hydroxy-L-proline (HypNA-pPNAs) and oligomers constructed from monomers containing (2S,4R)-1-acetyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acid backbone (pHypNAs) are of particular interest. In a set of in vitro and in vivo assays, it was shown that HypNA-pPNAs and pHypNAs demonstrated a high potential for the use in nucleic acid based diagnostics, isolation of nucleic acids and antisense experiments. A review with 53 references.
A FUZZY MODEL FOR DESIGN EVALUATION BASED ON MULTIPLE CRITERIA ANALYSIS IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS
Authors: MARTINEZ LUIS , LIU JUN , YANG JIAN-BO
Published: June 2006

Before implementing a design of a large engineering system different design proposals are evaluated and ranked according to different criteria, such as, safety, cost and technical performance. The experts' knowledge about these criteria is usually vague and/or incomplete, and their nature may be quantitative or qualitative. Therefore the preference modelling for the criteria could imply the use of different types of information such as numerical and/or linguistic (non-homogeneous framework). However, in most of evaluation processes the experts are forced to provide their scores in the same expression domain and in the same scale. The aim of this paper is to propose an evaluation model based on a multi-criteria decision analysis that offers to the experts the possibility of expressing their knowledge in a non-homogeneous evaluation framework, such that the experts can provide their assessments within different domains and scales according to their knowledge and the nature of the criteria. To do so, we propose the use of the fuzzy logic and the fuzzy linguistic approach in order to manage the uncertainty related to the information provided by the experts.
CONNECTIVITY IN THE GAME OF GO
Authors: CHEN KEH-HSUN
Published: June 2006

We study connectivity of stones on a Go Board, including influence and heuristics-based soft connectivity and pattern- and search-based hard connectivity. Stone connectivity provides a Go program with an understanding of a fundamental aspect of board configurations. It is essential in positional evaluation, candidate move generation, and move selection.
Synthesis, Biological, Spectral, and Thermal Investigations of Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes of N‐Isonicotinamido‐2′,4′‐Dichlorobenzalaldimine
Authors: Agarwal Ram K. , Sharma Deepak , Singh Lakshman , Agarwal Himanshu
Published: June 2006

A new series of 12 complexes of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) with N‐isonicotinamido‐2′,4′‐dichlorobenzalaldimine (INH‐DCB) with the general composition MX2 · n(INH‐DCB) [M = Co(II) or Ni(II), X = Cl−, Br−, NO3−, NCS−, or CH3COO−, n = 2; X = ClO4−, n = 3] have been synthesized. The nature of bonding and the stereochemistry of the complexes have been deduced from elemental analyses, infrared, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity measurements. An
octahedral geometry has been suggested for all the complexes. The metal complexes were screened for their antifungal and antibacterial activities on different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria and their biopotency has been discussed.
Estimates of topological entropy of continuous maps with applications
Authors: Yang Xiao-Song , Bai Xiaoming
Published: June 2006

We present a simple theory on topological entropy of
the continuous maps defined on a compact metric space, and
establish some inequalities of topological entropy. As an
application of the results of this paper, we give a new simple
proof of chaos in the so‐called N‐buffer switched flow networks.
Browder's type strong convergence theorems for infinite families of nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces
Authors: Suzuki Tomonari
Published: June 2006

We prove Browder's type strong convergence theorems for infinite families of nonexpansive mappings. One of our main results is the following: let "Equation missing" be a bounded closed convex subset of a uniformly smooth Banach space "Equation missing". Let "Equation missing" be an infinite family of commuting nonexpansive mappings on "Equation missing". Let "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" be sequences in "Equation missing" satisfying "Equation missing" for "Equation missing". Fix "Equation missing" and define a sequence "Equation missing" in "Equation missing" by "Equation missing" for "Equation missing". Then "Equation missing" converges strongly to "Equation missing", where "Equation missing" is the unique sunny nonexpansive retraction from "Equation missing" onto "Equation missing".
Likely path to extinction in simple branching models with large initial population
Authors: Klebaner F. C. , Liptser R.
Published: June 2006

We give explicit formulae for most likely paths to extinction in
simple branching models when initial population is large. In
discrete time, we study the Galton‐Watson process, and in
continuous time, the branching diffusion. The most likely paths
are found with the help of the large deviation principle (LDP). We
also find asymptotics for the extinction probability,
which gives a new expression in continuous time and recovers
the known formula in discrete time. Due to the
nonnegativity of the processes, the proof of LDP at the point of
extinction uses a nonstandard argument of independent interest.
Approximation and optimality necessary conditions in relaxed stochastic control problems
Authors: Bahlali Seïd , Mezerdi Brahim , Djehiche Boualem
Published: June 2006

We consider a control problem where the state variable is a solution of a stochastic differential equation (SDE) in which the control enters both the drift and the diffusion coefficient. We study the relaxed problem for which admissible controls are measure‐valued processes and the state variable is governed by an SDE driven by an orthogonal martingale measure. Under some mild conditions on the coefficients and pathwise uniqueness, we prove that every diffusion process associated to a relaxed control is a strong limit of a sequence of diffusion processes associated to strict controls. As a consequence, we show that the strict and the relaxed control problems have the same value function and that an optimal relaxed control exists. Moreover we derive a maximum principle of the Pontriagin type, extending the well‐known Peng stochastic maximum principle to the class of measure‐valued controls.
Histone Deacetylase Enzymes as Potential Drug Targets in Cancer and Parasitic Diseases
Authors: Ouaissi Mehdi , Ouaissi Ali
Published: June 2006

The elucidation of the mechanisms of transcriptional activation and repression in eukaryotic cells has shed light on the important role of acetylation‐deacetylation of histones mediated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), respectively. Another group belonging to the large family of sirtuins (silent information regulators (SIRs)) has an (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) NAD+‐dependent HDAC activity. Several inhibitors of HDACs (HDIs) have been shown to exert antitumor effects. Interestingly, some of the HDIs exerted a broad spectrum of antiprotozoal activity. The purpose of this review is to analyze some of the current data related to the deacetylase enzymes as a possible target for drug development in cancer and parasitic diseases with special reference to protozoan infections. Given the structural differences among members of this family of enzymes, development of specific inhibitors will not only allow selective therapeutic intervention, but may also provide a powerful tool for functional study of these enzymes.
Nitrooxyethylation Reverses the Healing‐Suppressant Effect of Ibuprofen
Authors: Kaushal Mandeep , Kutty N. Gopalan , Rao C. Mallikarjuna
Published: June 2006

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs like ibuprofen impede tissue repair by virtue of retarding inflammation. The present study was undertaken to explore if linking of nitrooxyethyl ester to ibuprofen reverses its healing‐depressant propensity. Nitrooxyethyl ester of ibuprofen (NOE‐Ibu) was synthesized in our laboratory through a well‐established synthetic pathway. NOE‐Ibu was screened for its influence on collagenation, wound contraction and epithelialization phases of healing, and scar size of healed wound in three wound models, namely, incision, dead space, and excision wounds. Besides, its influence on the oxidative stress (levels of GSH and TBARS) was also determined in 10‐day‐old granulation tissue. NOE‐Ibu was further screened for its antiinflammatory activity in rat paw edema model. NOE‐Ibu promoted collagenation (increase in breaking strength, granulation weight, and collagen content), wound contraction and epithelialization phases of healing. NOE‐Ibu also showed a significant antioxidant effect in 10‐day‐old granulation tissue as compared to ibuprofen. Results vindicate that the esterification of ibuprofen with nitrooxyethyl group reverses the healing‐suppressant effect of ibuprofen. The compound also showed equipotent antiinflammatory activity as ibuprofen.
Sensitivity and specificity of a quantitative point of care D-dimer assay using heparinized whole blood, in patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Korte Wolfgang , Schwab Michael , Zerback Rainer , Huisman Menno , Dempfle Carl-Erik ,   on behalf of the CARDIM study group
Published: June 2006

D-dimer assays are efficient in the exclusion diagnostics of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients without severe concomitant diseases. We have determined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a new point-of-care rapid assay for quantitative determination of D-dimer in heparinized whole blood in outpatients with suspected DVT. In 19 participating centers, 637 patients were included in the study, of which 77 were excluded, the majority because of inadequate documentation of analytical quality control measures. DVT was diagnosed in 223 of the remaining 560 patients by duplex ultrasound examination. The POC D-dimer assay showed a high sensitivity of 96.9% for the diagnosis of DVT and a high specificity of 60.8% at a pre-specified cutoff of 0.5 µg/ml. For Tina-quant D-dimer, sensitivity was slightly lower at 94.9%, with a specificity of 64.8%.The VIDAS D-dimer assay showed a sensitivity of 98.2%, but specificity was 40.7%. The area under the curve (AUC ± standard error, 95% confidence interval) was 0.879 ± 0.019 (0.845–0.909) for POC D-dimer, 0.908 ± 0.016 (0.877–0.934) for Tina-quant D-dimer, and 0.895± 0.018 (0.862–0.922) forVIDAS D-dimer. Differences were not statistically significant. The new whole blood POC D-dimer assay isa reliable tool for exclusion of DVT in symptomatic outpatients, displaying a comparable diagnostic performance as VIDAS D-dimer and Tina-quant D-dimer assays.

Roche CARDIAC and TINA-QUANT are tradenames of Roche.
Early in vivo anticoagulation inhibits the angiogenic response following hindlimb ischemia in a rodent model
Authors: De Paula Erich , Nascimento Mariane , Ramos Celso , Ozelo Margareth , Machado Tânia , Guillaumon Ana , Annichino-Bizzacchi Joyce , Arruda Valder
Published: June 2006

Emerging findings have demonstrated the critical role of blood clotting factors in the formation and stabilization of embryonic blood vessels. Whether a similar role is true during post-natal angiogenesis remains to be determined. Here we sought to determine whether the suppression of thrombin generation with anticoagulant drugs at doses routinely used for therapeutic purposes would affect the angiogenesis pattern following hindlimb ischemia in rats. Animals were treated with r- hirudin or enoxaparin within six hours post induction of hindlimb ischemia, whereas two other groups received oral anticoagulation warfarin beginning at day 3 post-ischemia or saline (as control). The revascularization anatomical and functional responses were evaluated 30 days following tissue ischemia. Chronic administration of the drugs resulted in stable anticoagulation in all animals throughout the experiment. Animals that received drugs with fast anticoagulation effects (i.e. r-hirudin and enoxaparin) presented a significant decrease in capillary density and capillary-to-myocyte ratio compared to control animals. These effects were not associated with changes in relative perfusion of the hindlimb at steady state. These anti-angiogenic effects occur in a time-dependent manner, since delayed inhibition of coagulation (> 72 hours) presents no adverse effect on the angiogenic response. We conclude that the use of anticoagulant drugs immediately after tissue ischemia induction hampers in vivo angiogenic response in a rodent hindlimb ischemia model.
Horses or Unicorns: Can Paying for Performance Make Quality Competition Routine?
Authors: Sage William M. , Kalyan Dev N.
Published: June 2006

The competitive benefits of pay-for-performance (P4P) financial incentives are widely assumed. These incentives can affect health care through several mechanisms, however, not all of which involve competition. This insight has three implications. First, federal antitrust enforcement should continue to scrutinize P4P arrangements. Second, government needs to play a larger role in P4P than through antitrust oversight. Third, widespread enthusiasm for a particular health policy reform does not relieve policy makers of the obligation to understand its theoretical basis.
Contesting Anticompetitive Actions Taken in the Name of the State: State Action Immunity and Health Care Markets
Authors: Havighurst Clark C.
Published: June 2006

The so-called state action doctrine is a judicially created formula for resolving conflicts between federal antitrust policy and state policies that seem to authorize conduct that antitrust law would prohibit. Against the background of recent commentaries by the federal antitrust agencies, this article reviews the doctrine and discusses its application in the health care sector, focusing on the ability of states to immunize anticompetitive actions by state licensing and regulatory boards, hospital medical staffs, and public hospitals, as well as anticompetitive mergers and agreements. Although states are free, as sovereign governments, to restrict competition, the state action doctrine requires that “the state itself” make the decision to do so. Partly on the basis of problems in the political environment, the article criticizes courts for using a mere “foreseeability” test to decide whether a state legislature sufficiently authorized competitors to act in contravention of clear federal policy: “Few things are more foreseeable than that a trade or profession empowered to regulate itself will produce anticompetitive regulations.”
Beyond Competition: The Normative Implications of Consumer-Driven Health Plans
Authors: Rosenthal Meredith , Daniels Norman
Published: June 2006

The Federal Trade Commission/Department of Justice 2004 report Improving Health Care: A Dose of Competition appeals to efficiency arguments in promoting a wide range of health care market reforms. But the market-based reforms discussed in Improving Health Care are not simply neutral with regard to equity in access to services; they are likely to have substantial and inequitable distributional effects. We use the case of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs), the pillar of the Bush administration's private-sector health reform efforts, to illustrate the limitations of viewing health policy reform through the lens of Improving Health Care. We conclude that the speculative efficiency gains from CDHPs need to be balanced against well-documented equity concerns within a normative framework. Moreover, other important ethical issues arise with regard to the risks imposed on the population by the introduction of policies that are based on a faith in markets rather than empirical evidence.