bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
G-COT
Authors: Norcliffe Glen
Published: February 2009

This paper explores the process of technological innovation from a geographical perspective. Some explanations of technological change concentrate on the development of technology itself - in which makers play a central role, while other explanations focus more on consumption and the users of technology. In this paper, discussion will focus on interactions between makers and users, and on the particular places in which such interactions occur. It is proposed that these interactions, especially during the early phase of rapid product development, produce creative spaces. An adaptation of the social construction of technology (SCOT) model is therefore proposed which stresses the geographical settings in which rapid innovation occurs, and therefore is called geographical construction of technology (G-COT). The G-COT model is illustrated by the case of the Coventry bicycle industry from its foundation in 1869 to 1880 when this town had become the world's largest center of bicycle production.
Elvira Arellano: No Rosa Parks
Authors: McElmurry Sara E.
Published: February 2009

From August 2006 through August 2007, Elvira Arellano, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, lived in a church on Chicago's West Side with her U.S.-born 7-year-old son, Saul, to avoid a deportation order. Her plight played out in Chicago-area and national media, piggybacking on a nationwide debate on immigration. This study focuses on one piece of media coverage of the Arellano controversy: a column written by the Chicago Sun-Times journalist Mary Mitchell, titled “Blacks Know Rosa Parks and You, Arellano, Are No Rosa Parks,” published in August 2006. The controversial column spurred reaction from journalists and readers from other Chicago-area newspapers, mostly notably, Hoy, a Spanish-language daily. This study will illustrate how Arellano is simultaneously positioned as a member of an in-group of “Us” or an out-group of “Them” in the Sun-Times and Hoy and will correlate this Us-Them positioning with differences in the perceived and/or actual audience of each newspaper.
The Continuum of “Troubling” to “Troubled” Behavior
Authors: Hart Juliet E. , Cramer Elizabeth D. , Harry Beth , Klingner Janette K. , Sturges Keith M.
Published: February 2009

This article discusses the construction of the “emotional disturbance” (ED) category in the cases of four African American elementary students. These cases represent a sub-set of data from a three-year ethnographic study of the special education process in a large, culturally/linguistically diverse school district. Based on interviews, observations, and examination of students’ records, the data revealed three inappropriate, yet significant, contributors to the children’s classification as ED: inadequate instruction/behavior management prior to referral, exclusion of contextual classroom information from the decision-making process, and subjective/arbitrary evaluation processes. Presented is a cross-case thematic analysis of these complex and problematic processes and their outcomes. The authors call for a reconsideration of “ED” to reflect a behavioral continuum rather than the current categorical formulation, a more holistic view acknowledging the contribution of school contexts in the evaluation of children’s difficulties, and research focusing on effective, preventive practices for all children with troubling behavior.
Comparative Analysis of Purchase Intentions Toward Smart Clothing Between Korean and U.S. Consumers
Authors: Ko Eunju , Sung Heewon , Yun Hyelim
Published: February 2009

To examine perceived risks and attributes of smart clothing and how they influence attitudes and purchase intentions toward smart clothing, this study compares 300 Korean and 311 American purchasers to find any differences in the innovation-decision process. Analysis of the data indicates that perceived attributes are identifiable as relative advantage/compatibility and complexity factors. The most significant predictor explaining product attitude and purchase intention across the two countries is relative advantage/compatibility, whereas complexity is only significant in predicting attitude toward smart clothing in the U.S. model. Perceived risks among Koreans are generated into psycho/social, economic, time loss, and performance. Americans present five factors, with psychological and social risk dimensions being separate. Psychological and/or social risk and economic risk take on significant roles in explaining relative advantage, whereas different dimensions of perceived risks are associated with complexity across the two nations.These findings imply different marketing strategies for each cultural group.
Training Interviewers for Research on Sexual Violence
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Adams Adrienne E. , Wasco Sharon M. , Ahrens Courtney E. , Sefl Tracy
Published: February 2009

Face-to-face interviewing is a common data collection technique in violence against women research. To guide the development of interviewer training programs, the authors conducted an empirical study on adult rape survivors' recommendations for interview practice. They asked survivors what interviewers should know about rape and how they should interact with participants. Data from 92 survivors revealed that interviewer training needs to emphasize diversity so that researchers are capable of working effectively with individuals with different life circumstances. The survivors also emphasized that interviewers need to show warmth and compassion and allow them to exercise choice and control during the interview process.
Expansion of peripheral naturally occurring T regulatory cells by Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand treatment
Authors: Swee Lee Kim , Bosco Nabil , Malissen Bernard , Ceredig Rhodri , Rolink Antonius
Published: February 2009

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) plays a major role in dendritic cell (DC) biology. Deficiency of FLT3L causes a dramatic decrease in DC numbers, whereas increasing its availability (by repetitive injections for 7-10 days) leads to a 10-fold increase in DC numbers. In this study, we show that FLT3L treatment indirectly leads to an expansion of peripheral naturally occurring T regulatory cells (NTregs). The FLT3L-induced increase in NTregs was still observed in thymectomized mice, ruling out the role of the thymus in this mechanism. Instead, the increased number of NTregs was due to proliferation of preexisting NTregs, most likely due to favored interactions with increased number of DCs. In vitro, we show that DCs induce regulatory T-cell (Treg) proliferation by direct cell contact and in an interleukin-2–dependent, T-cell receptor–independent manner. FLT3L could prevent death induced by acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This study demonstrates unique aspects in the regulation of Treg homeostasis by DCs, which were unappreciated until now. It also reinforces the relevance of FLT3L treatment in GVHD by its ability to increase both the number of tolerizing DCs and NTregs.
Characterization of Cronobacter recovered from dried milk and related products
Authors: El-Sharoud Walid M , O'Brien Stephen , Negredo Carmen , Iversen Carol , Fanning Séamus , Healy Brendan
Published: February 2009

Background

Cronobacter is a recently proposed genus consisting of six genomospecies that encompass the organisms previously identified as Enterobacter sakazakii. Cronobacter are opportunistic pathogens and are known to cause serious infections in infants, particularly neonates. High case fatality rates have been associated with infections and acute sequelae can occur in survivors with severe ramifications on neurological development. Infant formula has been identified as one route of transmission for infection in infants. However, the primary reservoirs for subsequent contamination of foods with Cronobacter remain undefined due to the ubiquitous nature of these organisms. More recently, infections in adults have been reported, especially amongst the elderly and patients who are immunocompromised. To help prevent the transmission of infection, it is important to identify the main food sources for Cronobacter. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Cronobacter isolated from dried-milk and related products available in an Egyptian food market.

Results

In total sixteen Cronobacter strains were isolated from 152 dairy-based products. These were identified and characterized using pheno- and genotyping experiments. Real-time PCR confirmed the detection of Cronobacter. Following antibiotic susceptibility tests, 3 strains showed resistance to trimethoprim and/or neomycin. Phenotype profiles were generated based on key biochemical distinguishing tests. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) identified 8 PFGE types amongst the collection of strains. Repetitive sequence based PCR (rep-PCR) analysis identified 3 rep-PCR types amongst the collection of strains. Sequencing of the recN gene was used to differentiate among the recently described species of Cronobacter.

Conclusion

This study identified the presence of Cronobacter in dried milk and related products sourced from the Nile-Delta region of Egypt. Although the majority of the strains were susceptible to the antibiotics tested, resistance was observed in three isolates, highlighting the risks associated with Cronobacter contamination in foods. Phenotype and genotype analysis should be applied to further characterize Cronobacter spp. and prevent its transmission into food products.
DNA instability in replicating Huntington's disease lymphoblasts
Authors: Cannella Milena , Maglione Vittorio , Martino Tiziana , Ragona Giuseppe , Frati Luigi , Li Guo-Min , Squitieri Ferdinando
Published: February 2009

Background

The expanded CAG repeat in the Huntington's disease (HD) gene may display tissue-specific variability (e.g. triplet mosaicism) in repeat length, the longest mutations involving mitotic (germ and glial cells) and postmitotic (neurons) cells. What contributes to the triplet mutability underlying the development of HD nevertheless remains unknown. We investigated whether, besides the increased DNA instability documented in postmitotic neurons, possible environmental and genetic mechanisms, related to cell replication, may concur to determine CAG repeat mutability. To test this hypothesis we used, as a model, cultured HD patients' lymphoblasts with various CAG repeat lengths.

Results

Although most lymphoblastoid cell lines (88%) showed little or no repeat instability even after six or more months culture, in lymphoblasts with large expansion repeats beyond 60 CAG repeats the mutation size and triplet mosaicism always increased during replication, implying that the repeat mutability for highly expanded mutations may quantitatively depend on the triplet expansion size. None of the investigated genetic factors, potentially acting in cis to the mutation, significantly influence the repeat changes. Finally, in our experiments certain drugs controlled triplet expansion in two prone-to-expand HD cell lines carrying large CAG mutations.

Conclusion

Our data support quantitative evidence that the inherited CAG length of expanded alleles has a major influence on somatic repeat variation. The longest triplet expansions show wide somatic variations and may offer a mechanistic model to study triplet drug-controlled instability and genetic factors influencing it.
Differential effects of Th1, monocyte/macrophage and Th2 cytokine mixtures on early gene expression for molecules associated with metabolism, signaling and regulation in central nervous system mixed glial cell cultures
Authors: Lisak Robert P , Benjamins Joyce A , Bealmear Beverly , Nedelkoska Liljana , Studzinski Diane , Retland Ernest , Yao Bin , Land Susan
Published: February 2009

Background

Cytokines secreted by immune cells and activated glia play central roles in both the pathogenesis of and protection from damage to the central nervous system (CNS) in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

We have used gene array analysis to identify the initial direct effects of cytokines on CNS glia by comparing changes in early gene expression in CNS glial cultures treated for 6 hours with cytokines typical of those secreted by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages (M/M).

Results

In two previous papers, we summarized effects of these cytokines on immune-related molecules, and on neural and glial related proteins, including neurotrophins, growth factors and structural proteins. In this paper, we present the effects of the cytokines on molecules involved in metabolism, signaling and regulatory mechanisms in CNS glia. Many of the changes in gene expression were similar to those seen in ischemic preconditioning and in early inflammatory lesions in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), related to ion homeostasis, mitochondrial function, neurotransmission, vitamin D metabolism and a variety of transcription factors and signaling pathways. Among the most prominent changes, all three cytokine mixtures markedly downregulated the dopamine D3 receptor, while Th1 and Th2 cytokines downregulated neuropeptide Y receptor 5. An unexpected finding was the large number of changes related to lipid metabolism, including several suggesting a switch from diacylglycerol to phosphatidyl inositol mediated signaling pathways. Using QRT-PCR we validated the results for regulation of genes for iNOS, arginase and P glycoprotein/multi-drug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) seen at 6 hours with microarray.

Conclusion

Each of the three cytokine mixtures differentially regulated gene expression related to metabolism and signaling that may play roles in the pathogenesis of MS, most notably with regard to mitochondrial function and neurotransmitter signaling in glia.
Antiviral therapy in acute viral hepatitis B: why and when
Authors: Morelli Giuseppe , Perrella Alessandro , Sbreglia Costanza , Bellopede Pasquale , Riccio Vincenzo , Perrella Oreste
Published: February 2009

Acute viral hepatitis B is cleared in more than 95% of patients, while the remainder ones may develop either chronic HBV infection or, rarely, fulminant hepatitis.

Therefore there are elderly patients with severe acute HBV hepatitis caractherized by high serum bilirubin levels >15 mmole/dl, international normalized ratio (INR) with value more than 1.6; these patients are caractherized by a severe outcome of HBV infection.

As known, outcome of infection and the pathogenesis of liver diseases are determined by viral and host factors, such as T reg lymphocytes.

T regs may be associated with a negative immune response such as an inhibition of gamma- IFN secretion.

The impact of viral load on antiviral T cell responses may play a critical role in thaese patients, influencing disease persistence and immune response.

Antiviral drugs could be useful in these patients determing a possible down -regulation of T regs.
Albumin dialysis improves hepatic encephalopathy and decreases circulating phenolic aromatic amino acids in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and severe liver failure
Authors: Parés Albert , Deulofeu Ramón , Cisneros Laura , Escorsell Angels , Salmerón Joan Manuel , Caballería Joan , Mas Antoni
Published: February 2009

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of albumin dialysis on hepatic encephalopathy and circulating levels of amino acids in severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Methods

The study was carried out in nine patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and four with primary biliary cirrhosis treated with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system. Besides standard liver function tests, circulating levels of ammonia, total, branched chain and aromatic amino acids, the presence and severity of hepatic encephalopathy, and number connection test were measured before and after each treatment.

Results

There were eight episodes of encephalopathy in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Albumin dialysis was associated with significant improvement in encephalopathy (p = 0.02), and a decrease in total amino acid levels (2490 ± 152 μM to 2229 ± 114 μM, p < 0.001). Moreover, the Fischer's ratio, which was significantly lower in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (1.32 ± 0.08) than in controls (3.20 ± 0.16), increased by 17% after albumin dialysis (p < 0.02) because of a significant decrease in phenolic aromatic amino acids (193 ± 17 μM to 165 ± 9 μM, p = 0.04). No differences were observed in circulating ammonia. Changes in phenolic aromatic amino acids and the Fischer's ratio were more prominent in patients with encephalopathy and higher bilirubin removal. Albumin dialysis did not significantly affect the amino acid profile in the controls.

Conclusions

Albumin dialysis results in a significant decrease in circulating phenolic aromatic amino acids and improvement of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with severe liver failure.
Physical transfer of membrane and cytoplasmic components as a general mechanism of cell-cell communication
Authors: Niu Xinle , Gupta Kshitiz , Yang Joy T. , Shamblott Michael J. , Levchenko Andre
Published: February 2009

Recent evidence from different research areas has revealed a novel mechanism of cell-cell communication by spontaneous intercellular transfer of cellular components (ICT). Here we studied this phenomenon by co-culturing different cells that contain distinct levels of proteins or markers for the plasma membrane or cytoplasm. We found that a variety of transmembrane proteins are transferable between multiple cell types. Membrane lipids also show a high efficiency of intercellular transfer. Size-dependent cytoplasmic transfer allows exchange of cytoplasmic macromolecules up to 40 kDa between somatic cells, and up to 2000 kDa between uncommitted human precursor cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Protein transfer, lipid transfer and cytoplasmic component transfer can occur simultaneously and all require direct cell-cell contact. Analyses of the properties of ICT, together with a close examination of cell-cell interactions, suggest that the spontaneous ICT of different cellular components might have a common underlying process: transient local membrane fusions formed when neighboring cells undergo close cell-cell contact.
Dynamic release of nuclear RanGTP triggers TPX2-dependent microtubule assembly during the apoptotic execution phase
Authors: Moss David K. , Wilde Andrew , Lane Jon D.
Published: February 2009

During apoptosis, the interphase microtubule network is dismantled then later replaced by a novel, non-centrosomal microtubule array. These microtubules assist in the peripheral redistribution of nuclear fragments in the apoptotic cell; however, the regulation of apoptotic microtubule assembly is not understood. Here, we demonstrate that microtubule assembly depends upon the release of nuclear RanGTP into the apoptotic cytoplasm because this process is blocked in apoptotic cells overexpressing dominant-negative GDP-locked Ran (T24N). Actin–myosin-II contractility provides the impetus for Ran release and, consequently, microtubule assembly is blocked in blebbistatin- and Y27632-treated apoptotic cells. Importantly, the spindle-assembly factor TPX2 (targeting protein for Xklp2), colocalises with apoptotic microtubules, and siRNA silencing of TPX2, but not of the microtubule motors Mklp1 and Kid, abrogates apoptotic microtubule assembly. These data provide a molecular explanation for the assembly of the apoptotic microtubule network, and suggest important similarities with the process of RanGTP- and TPX2-mediated mitotic spindle formation.
Human protein arginine methyltransferases in vivo – distinct properties of eight canonical members of the PRMT family
Authors: Herrmann Frank , Pably Peter , Eckerich Carmen , Bedford Mark T. , Fackelmayer Frank O.
Published: February 2009

Methylation of arginine residues is a widespread post-translational modification of proteins catalyzed by a small family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). Functionally, the modification appears to regulate protein functions and interactions that affect gene regulation, signalling and subcellular localization of proteins and nucleic acids. All members have been, to different degrees, characterized individually and their implication in cellular processes has been inferred from characterizing substrates and interactions. Here, we report the first comprehensive comparison of all eight canonical members of the human PRMT family with respect to subcellular localization and dynamics in living cells. We show that the individual family members differ significantly in their properties, as well as in their substrate specificities, suggesting that they fulfil distinctive, non-redundant functions in vivo. In addition, certain PRMTs display different subcellular localization in different cell types, implicating cell- and tissue-specific mechanisms for regulating PRMT functions.
Accurate natural frequencies of transversely isotropic moderately thick annular sector plates
Authors: Jomehzadeh E , Saidi A R
Published: February 2009

This article introduces an analytical method for free vibration analysis of transversely isotropic moderately thick annular sector plates. The plate has simply supported radial edges and arbitrary conditions along the circular edges. The displacement field of Mindlin's first-order shear deformation plate theory is considered and, based on this, the governing equations of motion are obtained. By using a function, which will be referred to as the boundary layer function, the three coupled governing equations of motion have been converted into two uncoupled equations. The general solutions of these equations contain integer and non-integer order Bessel and/or modified Bessel functions of the first and second kinds. By applying the boundary conditions at the inner and outer radii, an eigenvalue problem for finding the natural frequencies is obtained. The nine distinct cases considered involve all possible combinations of boundary conditions along the circular edges. An accurate non-dimensional frequency parameter is presented for a wide range of sector angles, some thickness—radius ratios and different inner-to-outer radius ratios. Three mode shapes of an annular sector plate with a sector angle of 60° are also presented. Finally, the effects of sector angle, thickness—radius ratio, boundary conditions, and inner-to-outer radius ratio on the frequency parameter are discussed.
The attitude model and control of a three-degree-of-freedom experiment helicopter bench
Authors: Zhang Y , Du J , Lu T
Published: February 2009

In order to control the attitude of the tilt rotor aircraft when it is in its helicopter state, the three-degree-of-freedom helicopter bench has been established. The model of the bench is derived based on the Lagrange equation. If there are two control inputs and three outputs, the system can be looked on as an under-actuated system. In order to accomplish two different tasks, two kinds of simplified methods have been suggested. Based on these two different simplified models, two types of model-based controllers, including the filter error approximation controller and the hierarchy-modified proportional plus derivative (PD) controller, are proposed. The filter error approximation controller can make the helicopter track the desired changing pitch and elevation angles, whereas the hierarchy-modified PD controller can make the helicopter hover at definite travel angle and elevation angle. This hierarchy controller is a multi-loop controller, which utilizes the pitch control as the inner loop and the travel control as the outer loop. The numerical simulations have proved that these two controllers can fulfil the two different proposed tasks. And the hierarchy-modified PD controllers have also been tested successfully in real-time experiments in the helicopter test-bed.
Book Reviews
Authors: Lev Benjamin
Published: February 2009

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. However, we do not review software. To submit a book for review, please send it to me at the above address. Although we cannot review all books because of space limitations, we do list all books that we receive. We commission all book reviews and do not accept unsolicited reviews. To become a reviewer, please send me your name, address, and specific areas of expertise. We encourage readers to suggest books for review or to ask publishers to send copies of such books.

The authors or editors of books we review in this issue are Milind W. Dawande, H. Neil Geismar, Suresh P. Sethi, Chelliah Sriskandarajah, Finn R. Forsund, Yu-Chi Ho, Qian-Chuan Zhao, and Qing-Shan Jia.
Operations Research Improves Quality and Efficiency in Home Care
Authors: Eveborn Patrik , Rönnqvist Mikael , Einarsdóttir Helga , Eklund Mats , Lidén Karin , Almroth Marie
Published: February 2009

Elder care systems are facing increased costs, primarily because the elderly constitute a growing percentage of the population. Sweden publicly finances such systems; in 2005, the cost to taxpayers on a national level was 8.8 billion euros ($13 billion). The many customized aspects of scheduling home care workers to assist elderly and disabled citizens with their varying needs contribute to these costs. Laps Care, a system that was developed in 2002, uses operations research modeling to eliminate the manual planning of home care unit assignments. More than 200 units/organizations in Swedish municipalities use Laps Care each day to plan staff scheduling and routing for 4,000 home care workers. The system has increased operational efficiency by 10–15 percent; this corresponds to an annual savings of 20–30 million euros ($30–$45 million). In addition, the quality of home care for elderly citizens has improved. The City of Stockholm, with its 800,000 inhabitants, adopted Laps Care in 2006 and started a full implementation and rollout during 2008, thus adding 800 units and 15,000 home care workers to the system. The savings for the City of Stockholm will be 20–30 million euros ($30–$45 million).
Introduction: 2008 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Authors: Denton Brian T. , Sodhi ManMohan S.
Published: February 2009

This special issue of Interfaces is devoted to the finalists of the 37th annual competition for the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences, the profession's prestigious award for the practice of operations research. Of the six entries, one demonstrates the benefits derived from OR/MS-based scheduling for the care of the elderly in Sweden. The second shows dramatic improvement in air traffic management with new weather-system-related policies in the United States. The third shows how to improve network configuration and routing of natural gas in Norway and neighboring countries. The fourth shows how to place contaminant sensors in water sources and its application in the United States. The fifth reflects productivity improvements in print shops and document manufacturing facilities, also in the United States. The final entry shows how OR/MS was used to construct a brand new timetable for the passenger railway system in The Netherlands to account for much higher demand on the system.
Buy Now and Match Later: Impact of Posterior Price Matching on Profit with Strategic Consumers
Authors: Lai Guoming , Debo Laurens G. , Sycara Katia
Published: February 2009

With a posterior price matching (PM) policy, a seller guarantees to reimburse the price difference to a consumer who buys a product before the seller marks it down. Such a policy has been widely adopted by retailers. We examine the impact of a posterior PM policy on consumers' purchasing behavior, a seller's pricing and inventory decisions, and their expected payoffs, assuming that the seller cannot credibly commit to a price path, but can implement a posterior PM policy. We find that the PM policy eliminates strategic consumers' waiting incentive and thus allows the seller to increase price in the regular selling season. When the fraction of strategic consumers is not too small and their valuation decline over time is neither too low nor too high, the PM policy can substantially improve the seller's profit, as well as the inventory investment. In such situations, the strategic consumers' waiting incentive and the loss if they wait are both high. However, to adopt this policy, the seller also bears the refund cost. The seller must either pay the refund that consumers will claim or forgo the salvage value of any leftover inventory. The PM policy can be detrimental when there are only a few strategic consumers or the strategic consumers' valuation decline is very low or very high. We find that the performance of this policy is insensitive to the proportion of consumers who claim the refund. From the consumers' perspective, the PM policy generally reduces consumer surplus; however, there are cases where consumer surplus can be increased, typically when the variance of the potential high-end market volume is high. As a result, a Pareto improvement on both the seller's and the consumers' payoffs is possible. Finally, we find that the ability to credibly commit to a fixed price path is not very valuable when the seller can implement price matching.
Stability of Reconstituted Fluconazole Oral Suspension in Plastic Bottles and Oral Syringes
Authors: Dentinger Paul J , Swenson Chad F
Published: February 2009

Background:

Fluconazole for oral suspension is a dry powder with a beyond-use date of 14 days after being reconstituted. Dispensing fluconazole liquid in the inpatient setting would be much more efficient if prefilled oral syringes containing standard doses were readily available. In addition, if the beyond-use date could be extended, the resulting decreased waste would be economically beneficial.

Objective:

To determine the stability of reconstituted fluconazole oral suspension using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Methods:

Diflucan lyophilized powder was reconstituted to fluconazole 40 mg/mL using Sterile Water for Irrigation, USP. Samples were stored at room temperature in both the original Diflucan plastic bottles and in amber polyethylene oral syringes with silicon elastomer plunger tips that were sealed with high-density polyethylene caps. Samples were analyzed immediately and at 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 days. Fluconazole concentrations were measured using a modified stability-indicating HPLC method. At each test interval, the density of the suspension was determined gravimetrically and then used to calculate the exact volume of sample used for each analysis. Excessive degradation was defined as greater than 10% loss of the initial concentration.

Results:

The stock internal standard was stable for at least 77 days when stored in the dark at room temperature. The stock and working fluconazole standard solutions were prepared fresh at each test interval. Reconstituted oral suspension retained more than 90% of the initial fluconazole concentration for at least 70 days at 22–25 °C. No changes in color, odor, or visible microbiological growth were observed in any sample. The pH of the suspension was initially 4.2 and remained essentially unchanged throughout the study.

Conclusions:

Reconstituted fluconazole oral suspension is stable in both the product's original plastic bottles and in amber polyethylene oral syringes for at least 70 days when stored at 22-25 °C.
Modeling Extended Twin Family Data II: Power Associated With Different Family Structures
Authors: Medland Sarah E. , Keller Matthew C.
Published: February 2009

Modeling the data from extended twin pedigrees allows the estimation of increasing complex covariance relationships in which the effects of cultural transmission, nonrandom mating and genotype x environment covariation can be incorporated. However, the power to detect these effects in existing data sets has not yet been examined. The present study examined the effects that different family structures (i.e., the ratio of MZ to DZ families and the importance of cousins vs. avuncular relatives) have on statistical power. In addition, we examined the power to detect genetic and environmental effects within the context of two large data sets (VA30K and the OZVA60K). We found that power to detect additive genetic and cultural transmission effects were maximized by over sampling MZ families. In terms of ascertainment, there was little difference in power between samples that had focused on recruiting a third generation (the children of twins) versus those that had focused on recruiting the siblings of the twins. In addition, we examined the power to detect additive and dominant genetic effects, cultural transmission and assortative mating in the existing VA30K and OZVA60K samples, under two different models of mating: phenotypic assortment and social homogamy. There was nearly 100% power to detect assortative mating and cultural transmission, against a background of small additive and dominant genetic and familial environmental effects. In addition, the power to detect additive or dominant genetic effects quickly asymptoted, so that there was almost 100% power to detect effects explaining 20% or more of the total variance. These results demonstrate that the Cascade model has sufficient power to detect parameters of interest in existing datasets. Mx scripts are available from www.vipbg.vcu.edu/~sarahme/cascade.
Reviews
Authors: Lacey Kate , Gordon Janey , Long Paul
Published: February 2009

The Human Voice: The Story Of A Remarkable Talent, Anne Karpf (2007) London: Bloomsbury, 399 pp., ISBN 9 7807 475 8537 4 (pbk), 20

From the Margins to the Cutting Edge: Community Media and Empowerment, Peter M. Lewis and Susan Jones (eds), (2006) Cresskill,
New Jersey: Hampton Press, 256 pp., ISBN 1572737181 (pbk), 23.95

The Peel Sessions: A Story of Teenage Dreams and One Man's Love of New Music, Ken Garner (2007) London, BBC Books, 352 pp., ISBN 978 18460 72826 (pbk), 19.99
Modeling xylan solubilization during autohydrolysis of sugar maple wood meal: Reaction kinetics
Authors: Mittal Ashutosh , Chatterjee Siddharth G. , Scott Gary M. , Amidon Thomas E.
Published: February 2009

The objective of this work was to study the kinetics of hemicelluloses extraction during hydrothermal pretreatment of sugar maple wood meal. Pretreatment was conducted in a batch reactor at 145–185°C with reaction times up to 8 h and with liquor to solid ratio of 20:1. Under these conditions, hemicelluloses were selectively solubilized and little degradation (approximately 6–9% of the initial amount) of cellulose and lignin was observed. A kinetic model was developed. It was supposed that there are no diffusion limitations and that the reaction rate constants have first-order kinetics with Arrhenius-type temperature dependence. The model proposes the formation of xylose directly from wood xylan as well as from xylooligomers formed in the liquid phase by the hydrolysis of xylan. The model is able to correlate satisfactorily experimentally measured yields of residual xylan, xylooligomers, xylose, and furfural obtained during the pretreatment.
Genusparameter in der Diskussion
Authors: Scheibl György
Published: February 2009

This article gives an overview of some general, but also controversal gender features generally accepted by the typological literature in describing gender languages.

I pursue a contrastive typological strategy as my methodological principle by applying the typological connections to “unshakable” categorisations of the individual language (based on grammatical traditions) in order to test their stability. During the work I discuss these controversal gender parameters and their application to the German nominal gender system. I do not claim to supply proof for a radically new gender theory for German on the basis of this analysis, but rather I would like to show how these typological classifications and definitions show traditional grammatical categorisations of German in a different light.
Die deutsche Pluralbildung zwischen deskriptiver Angemessenheit und Sprachtheorie
Authors: Gaeta Livio
Published: February 2009

How many inflectional classes displays the German substantive? As basic as this question may be, a satisfactory answer is still lacking. In this paper, the question will be tackled again, taking into consideration the contribution provided by several recent theoretical approaches to an adequate description and comprehension of the German inflectional system. On the other hand, the intricacies of the German plural constitute an optimal test bed to verify the empirical adequacy of recent theoretical thinking on language.
Eine neue hebräische Lesart für Kluft ‚Anzug‘
Authors: den Besten Hans
Published: February 2009

German Kluft ‘dress, uniform, working clothes’ looks Germanic but is supposed to derive (via Yiddish) from a Hebrew word meaning ‘peel’. Ten pertinent hypotheses are discussed and rejected – mainly on phonological grounds. On the basis of Kluft and the older occurrences klabot and claffot, it is concluded that we should look for a Hebrew “word”{q/k}-ǝ-l-ā-{v/w}-{o/ō}-{ṭ/ð} and that two dialects of medieval Judeo-German must be kept apart: Rhinelandic (klabot, Claffot, Klaft} and “Danubelandic” (Kluft, Kloft). This word is interpreted as a Hebrew syntactic compound kǝlī + ʕāvōð ‘working clothes’, with kǝlī ‘instrument, clothes’.
„Wenn zahle nix dann geht dir schlecht“. Ein Experiment zu sprachlichen Verstellungsstrategien in Erpresserbriefen
Authors: Dern Christa
Published: February 2009

The following paper deals with the issue of disguise in incriminated writings within the framework of forensic authorship assessment. Although it does not seem to be widely known among linguistically untrained speakers that written language can indeed contain traces of the individual author and that these traces may be detected by a linguist, authors of incriminated writings such as extortion letters or threatening letters frequently attempt to disguise not only their handwriting, but also their language. Everyday practice points to a number of possible strategies of disguise which, however, have not as yet been empirically investigated. In order to acquire some empirical data a study was carried out with 52 students of German Studies, the results of which are presented and discussed. Although the results remain to be tested against data acquired under more representative conditions, different strategies of disguise can indeed be distinguished which may facilitate the forensic linguist's task of identifying disguised as opposed to authentic language in written texts. Also, it is suggested that the results of an experiment such as the one outlined here may contribute to research into issues concerning the general metalinguistic knowledge of native speakers in general.
Genetic Enhancement of Thalamocortical Network Activity by Elevating α1G-Mediated Low-Voltage-Activated Calcium Current Induces Pure Absence Epilepsy
Authors: Ernst Wayne L. , Zhang Yi , Yoo Jong W. , Ernst Sara J. , Noebels Jeffrey L.
Published: February 2009

Absence seizures are a leading form of childhood epilepsy. Human and mouse P/Q-type calcium channel gene mutations initiate a complex absence epilepsy and ataxia phenotype, and in mice, secondarily elevate neuronal low-voltage-activated T-type calcium currents. These currents influence thalamocortical network activity and contribute to the generation of cortical spike-wave discharges (SWDs) associated with absence seizures. To address whether enhanced thalamocortical T-type currents suffice to induce an epileptic phenotype, two BAC transgenic mouse lines overexpressing theCacna1ggene for α1G T-type calcium channels were generated with low and high transgene copy numbers that exhibit elevated α1G expression and showed increased functional T-type currents measured in thalamic neurons. Both lines exhibit frequent bilateral cortical SWDs associated with behavioral arrest but lack other overt neurological abnormalities. These models provide the first evidence that primary elevation of brain T-type currents are causally related to pure absence epilepsy, and selectively identifyCacna1g, one of the three T-type calcium channel genes, as a key component of a genetically complex epileptogenic pathway.
PtenDeletion in Adult Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Enhances Constitutive Neurogenesis
Authors: Gregorian Caroline , Nakashima Jonathan , Le Belle Janel , Ohab John , Kim Rachel , Liu Annie , Smith Kate Barzan , Groszer Matthias , Garcia A. Denise , Sofroniew Michael V. , Carmichael S. Thomas , Kornblum Harley I. , Liu Xin , Wu Hong
Published: February 2009

Here we show that conditional deletion ofPtenin a subpopulation of adult neural stem cells in the subependymal zone (SEZ) leads to persistently enhanced neural stem cell self-renewal without sign of exhaustion. ThesePtennull SEZ-born neural stem cells and progenies can follow the endogenous migration, differentiation, and integration pathways and contribute to constitutive neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb. As a result,Ptendeleted animals have increased olfactory bulb mass and enhanced olfactory function.Ptennull cells in the olfactory bulb can establish normal connections with peripheral olfactory epithelium and help olfactory bulb recovery from acute damage. Following a focal stroke,Ptennull progenitors give rise to greater numbers of neuroblasts that migrate to peri-infarct cortex. However, in contrast to the olfactory bulb, no significant long-term survival and integration can be observed, indicating that additional factors are necessary for long-term survival of newly born neurons after stroke. These data suggest that manipulating PTEN-controlled signaling pathways may be a useful step in facilitating endogenous neural stem/progenitor expansion for the treatment of disorders or lesions in regions associated with constitutive neurogenesis.
Changes in Expression and Function of Extrasynaptic GABAAReceptors in the Rat Hippocampus during Pregnancy and after Delivery
Authors: Sanna Enrico , Mostallino Maria Cristina , Murru Luca , Carta Mario , Talani Giuseppe , Zucca Stefano , Mura Maria Luisa , Maciocco Elisabetta , Biggio Giovanni
Published: February 2009

Pregnancy is associated with changes in mood and anxiety level as well as with marked hormonal fluctuations. Increases in the brain concentrations of neuroactive steroids during pregnancy in rats are accompanied by changes in expression of subunits of the GABA type A receptor (GABAA-R) in the brain. Granule cells of the dentate gyrus (DGGCs) exhibit two components of inhibitory GABAergic transmission: a phasic component mediated by synaptic GABAA-Rs, and a tonic component mediated by extrasynaptic GABAA-Rs. Recordings of GABAergic currents were obtained from hippocampal slices prepared from rats in estrus, at pregnancy day 15 (P15) or P19, or at 2 d after delivery. Exogenous GABA or 3α,5α-THP induced an increase in tonic current in DGGCs that was significantly greater at P19 than in estrus. Neither tonic nor phasic currents were affected by pregnancy in CA1 pyramidal cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a marked increase in the abundance of the δ subunit of the GABAA-R and a concomitant decrease in that of the γ2subunit in the hippocampus at P19. Expression of the α4subunit did not change during pregnancy but was increased 2 d after delivery. Treatment of rats from P12 to P18 with the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride prevented the changes in tonic current and in δ and γ2subunit expression normally apparent at P19. These data suggest that the number of extrasynaptic GABAA-Rs is increased in DGGCs during late pregnancy as a consequence of the associated marked fluctuations in the brain levels of neuroactive steroids.
Population Encoding by Circadian Clock Neurons Organizes Circadian Behavior
Authors: Ciarleglio Christopher M. , Gamble Karen L. , Axley John C. , Strauss Benjamin R. , Cohen Jeremiah Y. , Colwell Christopher S. , McMahon Douglas G.
Published: February 2009

Mammalian circadian rhythms are orchestrated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The SCN are composed of circadian clock neurons, but the mechanisms by which these populations of neuronal oscillators encode rhythmic behavior are incompletely understood. We have usedex vivoreal-time gene expression imaging of the neural correlates of circadian behavior, combined with genetic disruption of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, a key SCN signaling molecule, to examine the neural basis of circadian organization in the SCN. We show that the coherence and timing of clock neuron rhythms are correlated with the coherence and timing of behavioral rhythms within individual mice and that the degree of disruption of SCN neuronal organization correlates with the degree of behavioral disruption within individuals. Our results suggest that the SCN encode circadian phase as a temporal population vector of its constituent neurons; such that as the neuronal population becomes desynchronized, phase information becomes ambiguous.
Probing Protein Packing Surrounding the Residues in and Flanking the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor M2M3 Loop
Authors: Wiltfong Roger Ernest , Jansen Michaela
Published: February 2009

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are cation-selective, ligand-gated ion channels of the cysteine (Cys)-loop gene superfamily. The recent crystal structure of a bacterial homolog fromErwinia chrysanthemi(ELIC) agrees with previous structures of the N-terminal domain of AChBP (acetylcholine-binding protein) and of the electron-microscopy-derivedTorpedonAChR structure. However, the ELIC transmembrane domain is significantly more tightly packed than the corresponding region of theTorpedonAChR. We investigated the tightness of protein packing surrounding the extracellular end of the M2 transmembrane segment and around the loop connecting the M2 and M3 segments using the substituted cysteine accessibility method. The M2 20′ to 27′ residues were highly water accessible and the variation in reaction rates were consistent with this region being α-helical. At all positions tested, the presence of ACh changed methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA) modification rates by <10-fold. In the presence of ACh, reaction rates for residues in the last extracellular α-helical turn of M2 and in the M2M3 loop increased, whereas rates in the penultimate α-helical turn of M2 decreased. Only three of eight M2M3 loop residues were accessible to MTSEA in both the presence and absence of ACh. We infer that the protein packing around the M2M3 loop is tight, consistent with its location at the interdomain interface where it is involved in the transduction of ligand binding in the extracellular domain to gating in the transmembrane domain. Our data indicate that theTorpedonAChR transmembrane domain structure is a better model than the ELIC structure for eukaryotic Cys-loop receptors.
Effects of Sustained Spatial Attention in the Human Lateral Geniculate Nucleus and Superior Colliculus
Authors: Schneider Keith A. , Kastner Sabine
Published: February 2009

The role of subcortical visual structures such as the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the superior colliculus (SC) in the control of visual spatial attention remains poorly understood. Here, we used high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure responses in the human LGN and SC during sustained spatial attention. Subjects covertly and continuously tracked one of two segments that rotated through the visual field, composed of either moving dots or transient colored shapes. Activity in both nuclei was generally enhanced by attention, independent of the stimulus type, with the voxels responding more sensitively to stimulus contrast (those dominated by magnocellular input) exhibiting greater attentional enhancement. The LGN contained clusters of voxels exhibiting attentional enhancement or weak suppression, whereas the SC exhibited predominantly attentional enhancement, which was significantly stronger than in the LGN. The spatial distribution of the attentional effects was unrelated to the retinotopic organization in either structure. The results demonstrate that each of the major subcortical visual pathways participates in attentional selection, and their differential magnitudes of modulation suggest distinct roles.