bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Best Practices in Learning Disabilities in Israel
Authors: Gumpel Thomas P. , Sharoni Varda
Published: July 2007

We present an analysis of the current state of practice in the diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities (LD) in Israel. Through an examination of the cultural, historical, and demographic background of the country (“deep structures”), we show how a fragmented society has developed; it segregates different ethnicities and social groups and has led to an educational system (“surface structures”) that perpetuates that separation. Special education law also reflects and perpetuates that social reality. However, since 2002, the Israeli Ministry of Education, through legislation and ministerial guidelines, has embarked on a mission to include children with LD fully in the general education curriculum. This change is meaningful, because it is foreign to the Israeli educational perspective. The development of a response–to–intervention model that includes a specialist (called a Matal) charged with providing diagnostic and prescriptive case management is still in its experimental phase and its efficacy has yet to be evaluated. However, adoption of this model has already had an effect on the testing and diagnosis of LD. Future trajectories of Israeli LD are also discussed.
South Korean Perspective on Learning Disabilities
Authors: Jung Dae Young
Published: July 2007

In the context of the educational system and the nature of special education in South Korea, I describe policy, practice, and research about children with learning disabilities (LD). Recently, the study of LD has attracted professionals from multiple disciplines including general and special education, medicine, psychology, and social work. In Korea, the field of LD has developed rapidly over a brief period, but there are many problems to be solved in the near future. In particular, the field of LD in Korea lacks: (a) consensus about a conceptual definition, (b) a clear set of criteria for identifying students with LD, (c) lack of assessment instruments for identifying LD, and (d) general low understanding or misunderstanding of students with LD among teachers and parents.
Globalization, Human Capital, and Learning Disabilities
Authors: Gerber Michael M.
Published: July 2007

In my commentary on the articles in this special international issue, I argue that attention to the phenomenon of learning disability arises inevitably as a policy concern, despite differences in history, cultural traditions, and political circumstances. Refinements in scientific knowledge alone cannot account for the observed similarities across nations. Instead, I argue that it is the universal recognition of and response to the high social cost of underachievement that naturally leads to the construct of learning disability. Despite differences, nations respond to economic challenges similarly with policies that promote universal education and, thereafter, create the inevitable collision of limitations in their ability to provide universally effective schooling in the face of human differences.
Method of Atrioventricular Programming in Atrial Flutter in Patients with Biventricular Pacemaker
Authors: NAQVI TASNEEM Z. , BARNETT WILLIAM
Published: July 2007

Background: Atrial flutter is a common cause of exacerbation of congestive heart failure (CHF). Typically, during atrial tachycardia, pacemakers, both dual and biventricular, are programmed to ignore atrial tracking. Virtually all current pacemakers and defibrillators use a programmable mode switch algorithm to switch between atrial tracking modes (DDD, DDDR) to nontracking modes (DDIR, DDI, VVI) during episodes of atrial tachycardia.

Methods: In this report, we describe a novel method of atrioventricular (AV) pacemaker programming in four patients with atrial flutter and CHF who remained symptomatic postbiventricular pacemaker implantation. All patients had chronic atrial flutter upon interrogation; adjustment of AV delay and postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) was performed to enable sensing of every second to fourth atrial flutter beat by the atrial lead. Mode switch was turned “OFF” in all points, and lower and upper rate limits were set to 50 and 100 bpm. Once sequential early and late diastolic filling was seen on mitral inflow pulsed‐wave (PW) Doppler, further adjustment of AV delay and PVARP was performed until the highest and broadest atrial velocity occurred on mitral inflow PW Doppler.

Results: All patients developed improvement in aortic ejection duration and peak ejection velocity during AV optimization. Repeat ECG in these patients at 8 months, 7 days, 2 days, and 2 months postoptimization showed no change in P and QRS relationship. All patients developed improvement in CHF symptoms postbiv pacemaker optimization.

Conclusion: In symptomatic patients with CHF and stable atrial flutter who have a biventricular pacemaker, atrial mechanical contribution to cardiac output can be achieved by adjusting PVARP and AV delay during echo‐guided pacemaker programming.
Integrating Functional and Anatomical Information to Facilitate Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: TOURNOUX FRANCOIS B. , MANZKE ROBERT , CHAN RAYMOND C. , SOLIS JORGE , CHEN‐TOURNOUX ANNABEL A. , GÉRARD OLIVIER , NANDIGAM VEENA , ALLAIN PASCAL , REDDY VIVEK , RUSKIN JEREMY N. , WEYMAN ARTHUR E. , PICARD MICHAEL H. , SINGH JAGMEET P.
Published: July 2007

Multiple imaging modalities are required in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy. We have developed a strategy to integrate echocardiographic and angiographic information to facilitate left ventricle (LV) lead position. Full three‐dimensional LV‐volumes (3DLVV) and dyssynchrony maps were acquired before and after resynchronization. At the time of device implantation, 3D‐rotational coronary venous angiography was performed. 3D‐models of the veins were then integrated with the pre‐ and post‐3DLVV. In the case displayed, prior to implantation, the lateral wall was delayed compared to the septum. The LV lead was positioned into the vein over the most delayed region, resulting in improved LV synchrony.
The Coronary Sinus as a Focal Source of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: More Evidence for the ‘Fifth Pulmonary Vein’?
Authors: ROSTOCK THOMAS , LUTOMSKY BORIS , STEVEN DANIEL , WILLEMS STEPHAN
Published: July 2007

The coronary sinus (CS) has been described as a substrate being involved in the atrial fibrillation (AF) process. However, there are no data describing the CS as a single source of AF. We report a patient with paroxysmal AF who demonstrated an arrhythmogenic focus within the proximal CS as single source initiating and driving AF. This discrete spot was characterized by a sharp “pulmonary vein‐like” spike potential preceding every beat during AF and following the atrial potential during sinus rhythm. Radiofrequency ablation at that site led to elimination of the spike potential, disappearance and noninducibility of AF.
Close Relationship Between the Bronchi and Pulmonary Veins: Implications for the Prevention of Atriobronchial Fistula After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: WU MEI‐HAN , WONGCHAROEN WANWARANG , TSAO HSUAN‐MING , TAI CHING‐TAI , CHANG SHIH‐LIN , LIN YENN‐JIANG , SHEU MING‐HUEI , CHANG CHENG‐YEN , CHEN SHIH‐ANN
Published: July 2007

Introduction: Atrio‐bronchial fistula (ABF) can be a rare but potentially lethal complication following the catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Understanding the extent of the contact between the bronchial tree and pulmonary veins (PVs) is critical to avoid this complication. We investigated the anatomic relationship between the four PVs and bronchial tree using multi‐detector computed tomography (MDCT) images.

Methods and Results: Seventy patients with drug refractory AF were included. They underwent 16‐slice MDCT before the ablation. The spatial relationship between the bronchus and PVs was demonstrated by the multi‐planar images. The bronchus was in direct contact with four PVs in the vast majority of patients. The mean distances between the bronchus and the ostia of right superior, left superior, right inferior, and left inferior PV were 7.1 ± 5.5, 3.5 ± 4.8, 12.3 ± 5.6, and 17.9 ± 6.8 mm, respectively. Patients were categorized into two groups: Group I: proximal contact (<5 mm from the PV ostium) and Group II: distal contact (>5 mm from the PV ostium). For the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), the Group I patients were associated with thinner connective tissue between them (P = 0.001), a larger RSPV (17.2 ± 2.2 vs 15.5 ± 2.1 mm, P < 0.001), and right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) diameter (15.9 ± 1.9 vs 14.6 ± 1.6 mm, P < 0.01). For the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), the Group I patients were associated with an older age (P = 0.02).

Conclusion: Isolation of the superior PVs may carry the potential risk of bronchial damage. The clinical or anatomic characteristics associated with the proximal contact between the bronchi and superior PVs can provide useful information to prevent this complication.
Silicon impedes stalk penetration by the borer Eldana saccharina in sugarcane
Authors: Kvedaras O. L. , Keeping M. G.
Published: July 2007

Many plants grown in soils amended with silicon (Si) display increased levels of resistance to attack by insect herbivores. This study aimed to determine if Si treatment impeded Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) stalk penetration and subsequent damage, as well as borer mass gain, on the node and internode of a susceptible (N11) and a resistant (N33) sugarcane cultivar. Sugarcane [Saccharum spp. (Poaceae)] cultivars were grown in a pot trial in Si‐deficient river sand, with (Si+) and without (Si–) calcium silicate. Sugarcane was infested with 2‐week‐old E. saccharina larvae and harvested at four times, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after infestation. Silicon‐treated plants showed significant increases in Si content compared to controls, and the external rind was significantly harder for Si+ cane than Si– cane. Silicon treatment significantly decreased borer penetration, stalk damage, and larval mass gain. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that Si contributes to sugarcane stalk borer resistance by impeding larval penetration. Silicon appears to contribute to the suppression of E. saccharina directly through reduced larval growth and feeding damage to the crop, and indirectly by delaying stalk penetration, resulting most likely in increased exposure time of young larvae to natural enemies, adverse climatic factors, or control measures that target young larvae (e.g., insecticides).
Griffithsin, a potent HIV entry inhibitor, is an excellent candidate for anti‐HIV microbicide
Authors: Emau P. , Tian B. , O’keefe B.R. , Mori T. , McMahon J.B. , Palmer K.E. , Jiang Y. , Bekele G. , Tsai C.C.
Published: August 2007

Abstract Background  The predominant mode of HIV‐1 transmission is by heterosexual contact. The cervical/vaginal mucosa is the main port of HIV entry in women. A safe and effective topical microbicide against HIV is urgently needed to prevent sexual transmission. Hence, we evaluated griffithsin (GRFT), a 12.7 kDa carbohydrate‐binding protein, both native and recombinant GRFT, potently inhibited both CXCR4‐and CCR5‐tropic HIV infection and transmission in vitro.

Methods  The antiviral efficacy of native and recombinant GRFT against CXCR4‐and CCR5‐tropic HIV and SHIV strains and SIVmac251 was evaluated by in vitro assays. We also evaluated the time course of antiviral activity and stability of GRFT in cervical/vaginal lavage as a function of pH 4–8.

Results  Griffithsin blocked CXCR4‐and CCR5‐tropic viruses at less than 1 nm concentrations and exhibited a high potency. GRFT was stable in cervical/vaginal lavage fluid and maintained a similar potency of anti‐HIV activity. GRFT is not only a highly potent HIV entry inhibitor, but also prevents cell fusion and cell‐to‐cell transmission of HIV.

Conclusions  The in vitro efficacy of GRFT revealed low cytotoxicity, high potency, rapid onset of antiviral activity and long‐term stability in cervical/vaginal lavage. GRFT is an excellent candidate for anti‐HIV microbicide development.
Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Gag/Pol/Env vaccines derived from temporal isolates of SIVmne against cognate virus challenge
Authors: Polacino Patricia , Cleveland Brad , Zhu Yongde , Kimata Jason T. , Overbaugh Julie , Anderson David , Hu Shiu‐Lok
Published: August 2007

Abstract Background  We used the SIVmne model to examine the relative immunogenicity and protective efficacy of vaccines derived from temporal isolates of lentivirus infection. SIVmne170 is a molecular clone isolated from a pig‐tailed macaque 170 weeks after inoculation with SIVmneCL8.

Methods  We immunized pig‐tailed macaques with Gag/Pol/Env vaccines derived from CL8 or 170 and examined their protective efficacy against CL8, 170, or chimeras 8/170 and 170/8, containing the 5′ or 3′ half of the respective parental genomes.

Results  As expected, CL8 vaccines protected animals against the CL8, but not the 170 virus. Surprisingly, 170 vaccines not only failed to protect against the 170 virus, but also the less pathogenic CL8. Chimeric virus challenges revealed that the envelope antigen of CL8 represents an important target for protective immunity.

Conclusions  These results underscore the potential importance of targeting transmitted viruses through judicious choice of immunogens from early isolates for vaccine development.
The melanocytorrhagic hypothesis of vitiligo tested on pigmented, stressed, reconstructed epidermis
Authors: Cario‐André M. , Pain C. , Gauthier Y. , Taïeb A.
Published: July 2007

Common generalized vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder characterized by a chronic and progressive loss of melanocytes from the epidermis and hair follicles. We previously proposed a new theory that vitiligo involves the chronic detachment and transepidermal loss of melanocytes caused by autoimmune, neural and impaired redox mechanisms associated with mechanical trauma. In this study, we reconstructed epidermis on dead de‐epidermized dermis with normal and/or non‐segmental non‐lesional vitiligo (NSV) cells and tested catecholamines or sera or hydrogen peroxide. Under unstressed conditions, the number of melanocytes located in the basal layer was significantly lower in reconstructs made with melanocytes from non‐lesional NSV skin and normal keratinocytes compared with controls made with autologous normal melanocytes. The number of non‐lesional NSV melanocytes was even lower in reconstructs made with keratinocytes from non‐lesional NSV skin. Epinephrine and H2O2 could trigger the transepidermal loss of normal and vitiligo melanocytes. Some sera induced melanocyte detachment but without any clear correlation with disease activity in the donors. In conclusion, our results are the first step to obtaining a reproducible melanocytorrhagic model in vitro with some of the stressors investigated. They support the hypothesis that NSV melanocytes have an intrinsic defect, which limits their adhesion in a reconstructed epidermis, with an enhancer effect of the vitiligo keratinocyte milieu.
The Romance of the Campagna
Authors: Rope H. E. G.
Published: August 2007

Few if any regions in the world can rival in romance the classical Campagna. Not the least of the evils of the Pagan Renaissance was the disastrous attempt to separate what the Church had joined together—poetry and faith, romance and philosophy. The Christian Renaissance acted far otherwise. There is no real break between Dante and Tasso, Giotto and the Della Robbias, or Donatello ; the same Catholic sap nourished these varying tendrils of the same vine.

A true romantic work is also classical, and the classics have far more of the romantic than is commonly admitted, and the most classical of landscapes may well challenge a primacy of romance.

We may admit at the outset, with Digby, that much of Italian scenery is in itself greatly inferior to northern

We take into account the disparaging words that even Ruskin himself once used of the Roman Campagna.
A Resurrection of Relics
Authors: Barnes A. S. , McNabb Vincent
Published: August 2007

A Resurrection of Relics is the title of a “Modern Churchman’s defence in a recent charge of heresy” urged against the Rev. H. D. A. Major, principal of a Church of England Theological College at Oxford, and Editor of The Modern Churchman. Presented by a brother clergyman to his bishop on a charge of heresy on account of a statement publicly made “that the form which the doctrine of the resurrection assumes in his mind is the survival of death by a personality which has shed its physical integument for ever,” Mr. Major has brought out a pamphlet in which he reiterates this statement and endeavours to defend his position.

He has been brought to hold what he does, he tells us, not merely “because of the intrinsic improbability” of the doctrine from which he dissents, “nor because of the scientific difficulties to which it was open.” He has been led to reject the doctrine “because it has become clear that Jesus Christ did not teach it.” With the Apostles it is otherwise, and “it may well be that the teaching of St. Paul is different.” But, if so, so much the worse for St. Paul. Like the Salvation Army lass when confronted with St. Paul’s teaching on women’s speaking in church, he has his answer ready. “Ah ! but that, you see, is just where I don’t agree with Paul.” There is only a single passage of Our Lord’s teaching to appeal to, so he tells us, for “the resurrection teaching of the Fourth Gospel is not easy to interpret” and may therefore, apparently, be left unexamined. The one passage which is decisive, in Mr. Major’s view, is the answer of Our Lord to the Sadducees, “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
A “Catholic History”
Authors: Calthrop M. M. C.
Published: August 2007

We like the method the author of A Catholic History of Great Britain has proposed to herself of emphasizing, that is to say, “leading ideas” rather than “unimportant facts,” it is the only method for treating history on so compressed a scale. But we confess to some disappointment at the result. Perhaps we expected too much. The test of a general survey consists of its presentment of Constitutional and Social development and of Foreign Relations. Here the one strikes us, more particularly in the earlier part, as wanting in clearness of outline—it is crammed with small detail—and the other as lacking the essential elements of connection and continuity.

The Saxon ceorl, for example, described as a farmer, an agriculturist (p. 20), serves as a key to Anglo-Saxon society if his position as occupying the lowest rank of free landowner, midway between the noble class on the one hand and the slave class on the other, is clearly brought out. To trace the effect of growing feudalization on the status of the ceorlish man in the age immediately preceding the Conquest, and his subsequent identification with the unfree villein of Post-Conquest days following the introduction of the fully organized Feudal System into England by the Conqueror, is to grasp the successive stages through which Englishmen passed from an order where the middle-class man, in the person of the ceorl, was free, but had below him a slave class to a society where he himself had become debased and had lost his independence, but the community at large rested no longer on a substructure of slavery. The Saxon theow had gained where the Saxon ceorl had lost, and progress was justified of her children in the dying institution of slavery.
Where All Roads Lead
Authors: Chesterton G. K.
Published: August 2007

I was being escorted the other day over the Roman foundations of an ancient British city, by a professor who said something that seems to me a satire on a good many other professors. I think it very probable that this professor saw the joke, though he maintained an iron gravity; but I do not know whether he saw that it was a joke against a great deal of historical science and comparative religion. I drew his attention to a bas-relief or moulding representing the head of the sun with the usual halo of rays, but with the difference that the face in the disc, instead of being boyish like Apollo, was bearded like Neptune or Jupiter. Yes, he said, with a certain delicate exactitude, that is supposed to represent the local sun-god Sul. The best authorities identify Sul with Minerva; but this has been held to show that the identification is not complete.

That is what we call a powerful understatement. And it struck me that it was singularly like a large number of parallels I have come across in what is called comparative religion, on which I would add a postscript to these notes. Many professors identifying things remind me of this identification of Minerva with the Bearded Woman of Mr. Barnum. It is indeed an example of the modern world being madder than any satires on it; for long ago Mr. Belloc invented an imaginary don, who said that a bust of Ariadne had been proved by modern research to represent Silenus.
The Law: Executive Order 13422: An Expansion of Presidential Influence in the Rulemaking Process
Authors: COPELAND CURTIS W.
Published: July 2007

Executive Order 13422, issued by President George W. Bush in January 2007, contains the most significant changes to the presidential regulatory review process since 1993. The changes include requirements that agencies designate a presidential appointee as a “regulatory policy officer” who can control rulemaking activity and identify the “market failure” or problem that warrants a new regulation. The order also expands presidential review to include significant guidance documents. Although these changes have been criticized as an expansion of presidential influence over rulemaking (to the detriment of Congress and agencies), the ultimate impact of the order may only be revealed through its implementation.
Modulation of heme and myristate binding to human serum albumin by anti‐HIV drugs
Authors: Fanali Gabriella , Bocedi Alessio , Ascenzi Paolo , Fasano Mauro
Published: July 2007

Human serum albumin (HSA) has an extraordinary ligand‐binding capacity, and transports Fe(III)heme and medium‐ and long‐chain fatty acids. In human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients the administered drugs bind to HSA and act as allosteric effectors. Here, the binding of Fe(III)heme to HSA in the presence of three representative anti‐HIV drugs and myristate is investigated. Values of the dissociation equilibrium constant Kd for Fe(III)heme binding to HSA were determined at different myristate concentrations, in the absence and presence of anti‐HIV drugs. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles of HSA–Fe(III)heme were measured, at different myristate concentrations, in the absence and presence of anti‐HIV drugs. Structural bases for anti‐HIV drug binding to HSA are provided by automatic docking simulation. Abacavir and nevirapine bind to HSA with Kd values of 1 × 10−6 and 2 × 10−6 m, respectively. Therefore, at concentrations used in therapy (in the 1–5 × 10−6 m range) abacavir and nevirapine bind to HSA and increase the affinity of heme for HSA. In the presence of abacavir or nevirapine, the affinity is not lowered by myristate. FA7 should therefore be intended as a secondary binding site for abacavir and nevirapine. Binding of atazanavir is limited by the large size of the drug, although preferential binding may be envisaged to a site positively coupled with FA1 and FA2, and negatively coupled to FA7. As a whole, these results provide a foundation for the comprehension of the complex network of links modulating HSA‐binding properties.
Enteral Exsorption of Acetaminophen after Intravenous Injection in Rats: Influence of Activated Charcoal on This Clearance Path
Authors: Eyer Florian , Jung Nicole , Neuberger Heidi , Schulz Roswitha , Steiner Kurt , Ladstetter Bernhard , Poethko Thorsten , Henke Julia , Zilker Thomas
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  The fate of acetaminophen after intravenous injection in whole bowel‐irrigated rats (n = 40) and the influence of activated charcoal on the kinetics were investigated. After randomization to four groups (n = 10, each group), plasma concentration and the quantities of acetaminophen and metabolites excreted into bile, urine and intestine were determined using an in vivo model with or without orally administered activated charcoal and with or without bile duct cannulation. The cumulative amount of acetaminiphen and metabolites exsorbed into the small intestine within 3.5 hr after intravenous injection was about 20% of dose in the animals with bile duct cannulation and about 7% of dose in the animals without. Correspondingly, about 13% of dose was detected in the externalized bile. Activated charcoal did not influence the amount exsorbed into the small intestine. Terminal half‐life in plasma ranged from 35 to 51 min. within the four treatment groups without statistically significant difference (P = 0.152). Correspondingly, the area under the curve did not vary much and ranged between 2.6 and 3.3 g/min./l (P = 0.392). Deposition of acetaminophen and metabolites in liver and kidney after 3.5 hr was marginal and ranged between 0.02% and 0.6% of the dose within all groups. The excretion of acetaminophen and metabolites into urine varied strikingly between 31% and 56% of the dose within all groups and correlated with diuresis. The lack of effect of activated charcoal on the elimination of acetaminophen and metabolites may be due to the small amount of the drug being exsorbed into the intestine or the reduced adsorbent capacity of activated charcoal to acetaminophen and metabolites, which also could be influenced by inadequate luminal stirring.
Protective Effect of Quercetin on the Homocysteine‐Injured Human Umbilical Vein Vascular Endothelial Cell Line (ECV304)
Authors: Lin Rong , Liu Juntian , Gan Weijie , Ding Cunjing
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  Homocysteine is responsible for the occurrence of many cardiovascular diseases for instance by injuring the vascular endothelial cells. Quercetin has many beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, but it is unknown whether it provides protection against homocysteine‐injured vascular endothelial cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of quercetin on the homocysteine‐injured human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cell line (ECV304) (i.e. morphology, viability and nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) expression of ECV304 injured with 1.0 mM homocysteine) by determination of lipid peroxidant and endothelium‐derived factors in the cultural medium of homocysteine‐injured ECV304. Quercetin at 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 µM attenuated the morphological changes and increased viability of homocysteine‐injured ECV304 in a dose‐dependent manner (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 versus the homocysteine‐injured group). At the same time, quercetin at 12.5, 25 and 50 µM decreased malondialdehyde level, endothelin release and NF‐κB expression, and increased superoxide dismutase activity, nitric oxide and 6‐keto‐prostaglandin F1α releases in homocysteine‐injured ECV304 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 versus the homocysteine‐injured group). These results suggest that quercetin has a protective effect on homocysteine‐injured vascular endothelial cells by antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms.
Effects of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on the Histopathological Changes in the Lungs of Cigarette Smoke‐Exposed Rabbits
Authors: Sezer Murat , Sahin Onder , Solak Okan , Fidan Fatma , Kara Ziya , Unlu Mehmet
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  We aimed at evaluating the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the histopathological changes in the lungs of rabbits exposed to cigarette smoke exposure. Four groups with six rabbits each were as follows: cigarette smoke group, CAPE group, cigarette smoke + CAPE group and control group. The cigarette smoke group was exposed to cigarette smoke 1 hr daily for 1 month. The CAPE group was administered intraperitoneal CAPE. The CAPE + cigarette smoke group was both exposed to cigarette smoke and was administered intraperitoneal CAPE. The control group was exposed to clean air. After 1 month, the rabbits were killed and the lung tissues were examined histopathologically. Peribronchial and intraparenchymal inflammation, intraparenchymal vascular congestion and thrombosis, intraparenchymal haemorrhage, respiratory epithelial proliferation, number of macrophages in the bronchiolar and alveolar lumen, alveolar destruction, emphysematous changes and bronchoalveolar haemorrhage scores were significantly higher in the cigarette smoke group than in the control group. Administration of CAPE to cigarette smoke‐exposed rabbits significantly prevented all these changes. CAPE seems to have significant preventive effects on the severe histopathological changes in the lungs associated with cigarette smoke exposure. However, in some instances, it may not alter the progression to fibrosis.
Effect of Betulinic Acid on Anticancer Drug‐Resistant Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Jung Gwon‐Ryul , Kim Kyung‐Jong , Choi Cheol‐Hee , Lee Tae‐Beum , Han Song Iy , Han Hyo‐Kyung , Lim Sung‐Chul
Published: July 2007

Abstract: Primary or acquired resistance of tumours to established chemotherapeutic regimens is a major concern in oncology. Attempts to improve the survival of cancer patients largely depend on strategies to prevent tumour cell resistance. 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐based chemotherapy with a combination of other drugs such as irinotecan (IRT) and oxaliplatin (OXT) has been reported to be effective, even though an optimal regimen has yet to be defined due to the relatively high toxicity of the procedure. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of betulinic acid (BetA) as a chemosensitizer for anticancer drug treatment in chemoresistant colon cancer cell lines. A chemoresistant cell line to 5‐fluorouracil (SNU‐C5/5FU‐R), irinotecan (SNU‐C5/IRT‐R) and oxaliplatin (SNU‐C5/OXT‐R) treatment were derived from the wild‐type colon adenocarcinoma cell line (SNU‐C5/WT). The effect of BetA or a combination of anticancer drugs and BetA on the multidrug resistance‐related genes, caspases, Bcl‐2, Bad and cell death in the SNU‐C5/WT and SNU‐C5/R cell lines was analysed. BetA alone was an effective chemotherapeutic drug for the SNU‐C5/WT, SNU‐C5/5FU‐R and SNU‐C5/OXT‐R cells. The combination of BetA with IRT or OXT was effective against SNU‐C5/5FU‐R cells, and the combination of BetA with 5‐fluorouracil, IRT or OXT was effective against SNU‐C5/OXT‐R cells. BetA induced cancer cell death by apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. These findings indicate that the use of BetA as a chemosensitizer may be a new strategy to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy. However, further studies will be needed for confirmation.
ON THE VALIDITY OF SUBJECTIVE MEASURES OF COMPANY PERFORMANCE
Authors: WALL TOBY D. , MICHIE JONATHAN , PATTERSON MALCOLM , WOOD STEPHEN J. , SHEEHAN MAURA , CLEGG CHRIS W. , WEST MICHAEL
Published: July 2007

Subjective measures of company performance are widely used in research and typically are interpreted as equivalent to objective measures. Yet, the assumption of equivalence is open to challenge. We compared the use of both types of measure in 3 separate samples. Findings were consistent in showing that: (a) subjective and objective measures of company performance were positively associated (convergent validity); (b) those relationships were stronger than those between measures of differing aspects of performance using the same method (discriminant validity); and (c) the relationships of subjective and objective company performance measures with a range of independent variables were equivalent (construct validity).
PROTÉGÉS NEGATIVE MENTORING EXPERIENCES: CONSTRUCT DEVELOPMENT AND NOMOLOGICAL VALIDATION
Authors: EBY LILLIAN , BUITS MARCUS , LOCKWOOD ANGIE , SIMON SHANA A.
Published: July 2007

Two studies were conducted to operationalize the construct of negative mentoring experiences, establish content validity, and test theory‐based predictions associated with a nomological network of related variables. As predicted, the negative experiences of mentor Distancing Behavior and Lack of Mentor Expertise were more often reported in the separation phase and among protégés in formally arranged mentoring relationships. All types of experiences were related to career‐related support, psychosocial support, and learning, with Distancing Behavior being most highly related to career support and learning. Significant correlations were also found with relational complementarity, social exchange perceptions, intentions to leave the relationship, depressed mood, and psychological job withdrawal. Negative mentoring was also distinct from positive mentoring, general workplace stress, and dissatisfying social relationships at work, providing discriminant validity evidence. Finally, negative mentoring had explanatory power in predicting protégéoutcomes over and above positive mentoring. The findings are discussed in terms of future research on mentoring as well as applied practice.
Naturalism, Reduction and Normativity: Pressing from Below
Authors: POST JOHN F.
Published: August 2007

David Papineau's model of scientific reduction, contrary to his intent, appears to enable a naturalist realist account of the primitive normativity involved in a biological adaptation's being “for” this or that (say the eye's being for seeing). By disabling the crucial anti‐naturalist arguments against any such reduction, his model would support a cogni‐tivist semantics for normative claims like “The heart is for pumping blood, and defective if it doesn't.” Nomoralclaim would follow, certainly. Nonetheless, by thus “pressing from below” we may learn something about moral normativity. For instance, suppose non‐cognitivists like Mackie are right that the semantics of normative claims should be “unified”: if the semantics of moral claims is non‐cognitivist, so too is that of all normative claims. Then, assuming that a naturalist reduction does yield a sound cognitivist account of the primitive normativity, it would follow that our semantics of moral claims is cognitivist as well.
Epistemic Circularity Squared? Skepticism about Common Sense
Authors: REED Baron
Published: August 2007

Epistemic circularity occurs when a subject forms the belief that a faculty F is reliable through the use of F. Although this is often thought to be vicious, externalist theories generally don't rule it out. For some philosophers, this is a reason to reject externalism. However, Michael Bergmann defends externalism by drawing on the tradition of common sense in two ways. First, he concedes that epistemically circular beliefs cannot answer a subject's doubts about her cognitive faculties. But, he argues, subjects don't have such doubts, so epistemically circular beliefs are rarely called upon to play this role. Second, following Thomas Reid, Bergmann argues that we have noninferential, though epistemically circular, knowledge that our faculties are reliable. I argue, however, that Bergmann's view is undermined by doubts a subject should have and that there is no plausible explanation for how we can have noninferential knowledge that our faculties are reliable.
Daydreams and Anarchy: A Defense of Anomalous Mental Causation
Authors: ZANGWILL Nick
Published: August 2007

Must mental properties figure in psychological causal laws if they are causally efficacious? And do those psychological causal laws give the essence of mental properties? Contrary to the prevailing consensus, I argue that, on the usual conception of laws that is in play in these debates, there are in fact lawless causally efficacious properties both in and out of the philosophy of mind. I argue that this makes a great difference to the philosophical relevance of empirical psychology. 1 begin by making the case that revolutions and hurricanes are lawless phenomena, before arguing for a similar thesis about creativity, love, courage, dreams, daydreams, and musings. Furthermore, the empirical research on these phenomena suggests that the philosophical issues may be independent of what empirical psychology can tell us.
Existence and Predication from Aristotle to Frege
Authors: VILKKO Risto , HINTIKKA Jaakko
Published: August 2007

One of the characteristic features of contemporary logic is that it incorporates the Frege‐Russell thesis according to which verbs for being are multiply ambiguous. This thesis was not accepted before the nineteenth century. In Aristotle existence could not serve alone as a predicate term. However, it could be a part of the force of the predicate term, depending on the context. For Kant existence could not even be a part of the force of the predicate term. Hence, after Kant, existence was left homeless. It found a home in the algebra of logic in which the operators corresponding to universal and particular judgments were treated as duals, and universal judgments were taken to be relative to some universe of discourse. Because of the duality, existential quantifier expressions came to express existence. The orphaned notion of existence thus found a new home in the existential quantifier.
In Defence of Direct Realism
Authors: SMITH A. D.
Published: August 2007

In her careful consideration of my book, The Problem of Perception (henceforth, PP), Susanna Siegel highlights what she takes to be a number of shortcomings in the work. First, she suggests that a sense‐datum theorist has two options–what she calls the “complex sense‐data option” and the “two‐factor option”–that survive the argument of my book unscathed. I consider these two options in the first two sections of this reply. Secondly, she criticizes my suggestion that there are three and only three basic and independent sources of perceptual consciousness: an issue I take up in my third section. Thirdly, she expresses reservations about my response to the argument from hallucination. In particular, she argues that the phenomenological considerations on which I put so much weight cannot settle the fundamental issue here. I address this criticism in the fourth section of this reply. Finally, she spends a certain amount of time discussing the notion of a “veridicality‐rele‐vant property”, a topic to which I devote the concluding section of this reply.
Paternity fraud and compensation for misattributed paternity
Authors: Draper Heather
Published: July 2007

Claims for reimbursement of child support, the reversal of property settlements and compensation can arise when misattributed paternity is discovered. The ethical justifications for such claims seem to be related to the financial cost of bringing up children, the absence of choice about taking on these expenses, the hard work involved in child rearing, the emotional attachments that are formed with children, the obligation of women to make truthful claims about paternity, and the deception involved in infidelity. In this paper it is argued that there should not be compensation for infidelity and that reimbursement is appropriate where the claimant has made child support payments but has not taken on the social role of father. Where the claimant’s behaviour suggests a social view of fatherhood, on the other hand, claims for compensation are less coherent. Where the genetic model of fatherhood dominates, the “other” man (the woman’s lover and progenitor of the children) might also have a claim for the loss of the benefits of fatherhood. It is concluded that claims for reimbursement and compensation in cases of misattributed paternity produce the same distorted and thin view of what it means to be a father that paternity testing assumes, and underscores a trend that is not in the interests of children.
Metastatic unknown primary tumour presenting in pregnancy: a rarity posing an ethical dilemma
Authors: Patni Shalini , Wagstaff John , Tofazzal Nasima , Bonduelle Myriam , Moselhi Marsham , Kevelighan Euan , Edwards Steve
Published: July 2007

This brief report raises the ethical dilemma encountered by an obstetrician involved in the care of a pregnant woman with life-threatening disease. This is a particularly difficult issue if the maternal well-being is in conflict with the survival of the unborn child.
Teaching ethics in Europe
Authors: Claudot Frédérique , Alla François , Ducrocq Xavier , Coudane Henry
Published: July 2007

Aim:To carry out an appropriate overview and inventory of the teaching of ethics within the European Union Schools of Medicine.

Methods:A questionnaire was sent by email to 45 randomly selected medical schools from each of 23 countries in the European Union in February 2006.

Results:25 schools of medicine from 18 European countries were included (response rate = 56%). In 21 of 25 medical schools, there was at least one ethics module. In 11 of 25 medical schools, the teaching of ethics was transversal. Only one of the responding schools did not teach ethics. The mean time invested in ethics teaching was 44 h during the overall curriculum.

Conclusions:Ethics now has an established place within the medical curriculum throughout the European Union. However, there is a notable disparity in programme characteristics among schools of medicine.
Quality of life, work ability, and self employment: a population survey of entrepreneurs, farmers, and salary earners
Authors: Saarni S I , Saarni E S , Saarni H
Published: August 2007

Objectives:

Self employment is increasing but it is not yet known how its different forms affect health, quality of life, and work ability. We compared the work ability, subjective quality of life (QoL), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of entrepreneurs both with and without personnel, farmers, and salaried workers. We investigated which domains of HRQoL are associated with work status.

Methods:

A nationally representative general population sample comprising 5834 Finns aged between 30 and 64. Work ability was measured using the work ability index (WAI), HRQoL using 15D and EQ-5D, and QoL with self reported global quality of life.

Results:

Entrepreneurs with personnel had better work ability than salary earners, but there were no differences in QoL or HRQoL between the entrepreneurs and salary earners. Farmers scored lowest on all measures; this finding remained even after adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, and chronic conditions. The low WAI score of farmers was mainly explained by poor subjective work ability, while their low 15D score was mainly the result of poor functioning in the psychosocial domains of HRQoL. The low EQ-5D score of farmers was explained by problems with mobility, usual activities, and with pain or discomfort.

Conclusions:

Farmers have poorer work ability, QoL, and HRQoL than other working groups, but this does not appear to be caused by physical health problems. From a research point of view, farmers should be categorised separately from other forms of entrepreneurship. From a public health point of view, improving farmers’ wellbeing may require psychosocial interventions exceeding traditional health promotion.
SYMBOLIC IMPLEMENTATION OF ALTERNATING AUTOMATA
Authors: BLOEM RODERICK , CIMATTI ALESSANDRO , PILL INGO , ROVERI MARCO
Published: July 2007

This paper addresses the challenges of symbolic model checking and language emptiness checking where the specification is given as an alternating Büchi automaton.

We introduce a novel version of Miyano and Hayashi's construction that allows us to directly convert an alternating automaton to a polynomially-sized symbolic structure. We thus avoid building an exponentially-sized explicit representation of the corresponding nondeterministic automaton.

For one-weak automata, Gastin and Oddoux' construction produces smaller automata than Miyano and Hayashi's construction. We present a (symbolic) hybrid approach that combines the benefits of both: while retaining full generality, it uses the cheaper construction for those parts of the automaton that are one-weak.

We performed a thorough experimental comparison of the explicit and symbolic approaches and several variants of Miyano and Hayashi's construction, using both BDD-based and SAT-based model checking techniques. The symbolic approaches clearly outperform the explicit one.
THE STRUCTURE OF FACTOR ORACLES
Authors: CROCHEMORE MAXIME , ILIE LUCIAN , SEID-HILMI EMINE
Published: July 2007

The factor oracle is a relatively new data structure for the set of factors of a string. It has been introduced by Allauzen, Crochemore, and Raffinot in 1999. It may recognize non-factors (hence the name "oracle") but its implementational simplicity and experimental behaviour are stunning; factor oracle based string matching has been conjectured optimal on average. However, its structure is not well understood. We take important steps in clarifying its structure by explaining how it can be obtained as a quotient of the trie of the set of factors. When seen this way, all known properties of the factor oracle become simple observations. Also, we introduce a framework where various oracles can be compared. The factor oracle is better than several natural ones obtained from the trie of the set of factors, the suffix and the factor automata, respectively.
FORGETTING AUTOMATA AND UNARY LANGUAGES
Authors: GLÖCKLER JENS
Published: July 2007

We consider forgetting automata, i.e., linear bounded automata which can only use the operations "move", "erase" (rewrite with a blank symbol) and "delete" (remove completely). A classification of the families of languages corresponding to the possible combinations of operations has been given in [1], here we address some of the problems left open. Furthermore the unary case is being investigated.
PURE AND O-SUBSTITUTION
Authors: MALETTI ANDREAS
Published: July 2007

The basic properties of distributivity and deletion of pure and o-substitution are investigated. The obtained results are applied to show preservation of recognizability in a number of interesting cases. It is proved that linear and recognizable tree series are closed under o-substitution provided that the underlying semiring is commutative, continuous, and additively idempotent. It is known that, in general, pure substitution does not preserve recognizability (not even for linear target tree series), but it is shown that recognizable linear probability distributions (represented as tree series) are closed under pure substitution.
BORDERS AND FINITE AUTOMATA
Authors: ŠIMŮNEK MARTIN , MELICHAR BOŘIVOJ
Published: July 2007

A border of a string is a prefix of the string that is simultaneously its suffix. It is one of the basic stringology keystones used as a part of many algorithms in pattern matching, molecular biology, computer-assisted music analysis and others.

The paper offers the automata-theoretical description of Iliopoulos's ALL_BORDERS algorithm. The algorithm finds all borders of a string with don't care symbols. We show that ALL_BORDERS algorithm is an implementation of a finite state transducer of specific form. We describe how such a transducer can be constructed and what should be the input string like. The described transducer finds a set of lengths of all borders.

Last but not least, we define approximate borders and show how to find all approximate borders of a string when we concern Hamming distance definition. Our solution of this problem is based on transducers again. This allows us to use analogy with automata-based pattern matching methods. Finally we discuss conditions under which the same principle can be used for other distance measures.
ON NON-PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS OF WORD EQUATIONS OVER THREE UNKNOWNS
Authors: CZEIZLER ELENA , KARHUMÄKI JUHANI
Published: July 2007

We investigate the open question asking whether there exist independent systems of three equations over three unknowns admitting non-periodic solutions, formulated in 1983 by Culik II and Karhumäki. In particular, we give a negative answer to this question for a large class of systems. More specifically, the question remains open only for a well specified class of systems. We also investigate systems of two equations over three unknowns for which we give necessary and sufficient conditions for admitting at most quasi-periodic solutions, i.e., solutions where the images of two unknowns are powers of a common word. In doing so, we also give a number of examples showing that these conditions represent a boundary point between systems admitting purely non-periodic solutions and those admitting at most quasi-periodic ones.