bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The European Bear’s Son Tale: Its Reception and Influence on Indigenous Oral Traditions in North America
Authors:   University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, Frank Roslyn M.
Published: March 2023

The primary purpose of this article is to explore the way that the Bear’s Son tale, a wide-spread European folktale, came to be incorporated into the oral storytelling traditions of Native Americans. The work is divided into three parts. In the first section the reasons that led me to begin to investigate the European tale are discussed. The second part is dedicated to a discussion of the European tale itself, its plotline and geographical diffusion within Europe and North America. In the third section, I reflect on how and why versions of the European tale came to attract the attention of Native American storytellers, as well as the time frame that might be assigned to the transfer of these oral traditions.
Messages Behind Self-Gifting Practices: A Phenomenological-Anthropological Approach
Authors:   Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania, Latinytė Rūta
Published: March 2023

Using the tools of phenomenological anthropology and the means of research into everyday practices, the article discusses contemporary gift-giving practices, focusing on the special cases of gift giving, revealed through the narratives of respondents who were interviewed for the research conducted in Lithuania – a country on the borders of Western, Eastern, and Northern Europe. The analyzed special cases are self-gifts – the ones purchased by the respondents and originally called “a gift to myself” by them, whereas they emphasize that it was not an ordinary purchase but certainly a gift. This phenomenon is analyzed through a deeper insight into three cases: excerpts of qualitative unstructured interviews conducted for the research and a description of the author’s personal experience. In this article, they are presented along with the comments of the author as is characteristic of the phenomenological research. The analysis seeks to reveal how the experiences with self-gifts occur, acquire meaning and place in memory, and how this affects a person’s relationship with themselves and those around them. Although the self-gifting practice sounds like a paradox, it exists in the language and everyday practices, so this analysis aims to look for a deeper message encoded behind the words of individual stories.
The Status and Roles of Women in Terms of Gender in Ancient Turkish History and Culture Based on the Dīwān Lughāt Al-Turk – The First Turkish Dictionary
Authors:   Department of Journalism, Faculty of Communication, Sakarya University, Turkey, Çötok Nesrin Akıncı , Büyüközkara Ender ,   Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakarya University, Turkey, Çötok Tufan ,   Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakarya University, Turkey
Published: March 2023

In this paper, based on the Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk – the first Turkish dictionary – the female gender is analysed through the categories of ‘women and their social status’, ‘perception of women from the perspective of gender’, ‘woman-man relationships and family structure’, ‘responsibilities of women’, and ‘clothes and belongings of women’. These categories are determined in the context of the data provided by the definitions of the words related to women in the dictionary. It can be seen from the dictionary that women are classified in terms of social status and that they are part of a hierarchical structure. On the other hand, a woman is perceived as the representative of beauty and aesthetics by being described in terms of physical and inner beauty. In addition, a woman is also described as being coquettish, flirtatious, and crafty. In the dictionary, where it seems that a woman is respected as a wife and mother, it was discovered that marriage and family were highly esteemed, that many cultural rituals were practised in the processes of becoming a bride, that having and raising children was considered important, and that there were relations between spouses based on mutual rights and responsibilities. When the dictionary is analysed in terms of women’s clothing and belongings, it can be seen that a great number of things and ways of adornment are mentioned and that being beautiful is highly esteemed.
Regression applied to legal judgments to predict compensation for immaterial damage
Authors: Dal Pont Thiago Raulino , Sabo Isabela Cristina , Hübner Jomi Fred , Rover Aires José
Published: March 2023

Immaterial damage compensation is a controversial matter in the judicial practice of several law systems. Due to a lack of criteria for its assessment, the judge is free to establish the value based on his/her conviction. Our research motivation is that knowing the estimated amount of immaterial damage compensation at the initial stage of a lawsuit can encourage an agreement between the parties. We thus investigate text regression techniques to predict the compensation value from legal judgments in which consumers had problems with airlines and claim for immaterial damage. We start from a simple pipeline and create others by adding some natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) techniques, which we call adjustments. The adjustments include N-Grams Extraction, Feature Selection, Overfitting Avoidance, Cross-Validation and Outliers Removal. An special adjustment, Addition of Attributes Extracted by the Legal Expert (AELE), is proposed as a complementary input to the case text. We evaluate the impact of adding these adjustments in the pipeline in terms of prediction quality and execution time. N-Grams Extraction and Addition of AELE have the biggest impact on the prediction quality. In terms of execution time, Feature Selection and Overfitting Avoidance have significant importance. Moreover, we notice the existence of pipelines with subsets of adjustments that achieved better prediction quality than a pipeline with them all. The result is promising since the prediction error of the best pipeline is acceptable in the legal environment. Consequently, the predictions will likely be helpful in a legal environment.
Intellectualized Collection and Analysis of Multimedia Computer Teaching Based on the Fusion of Audio-visual Information
Authors: . Sarengawa
Published: March 2023

In the post-epidemic era, online classrooms and multimedia computers are increasingly connected. In order to efficiently conduct online teaching and answer questions after class, this paper intelligently collects and analyzes current multimedia computer teaching materials based on the latest audio-visual information fusion algorithm. First, the spatial frequency SF of the online classroom is selected as the input excitation of audio-visual information, and the direction information at the pixel is fixed as the link strength slice relationship of PCNN. Compared with traditional computer teaching, this method has many advantages. Multimedia electronic classrooms are very suitable for computer teaching, and the use of multimedia electronic classrooms can diversify the forms of computer teaching. Then, the source image is decomposed in a two-dimensional experience mode, and the obtained residual images are fused to complete the intelligent collection and analysis of the characteristics of teaching information; the function design is carried out under the framework of learning activities, and the functional upgrade of technical products requires the teaching and learning.
Public attitudes towards beef production systems and beef consumption behaviour
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Mansky de la Fuente Valentina
Published: March 2023

Mucho se discute sobre las diferentes características, eficiencia y externalidades de los diferentes sistemas de producción de carne de vacuno, pero se sabe poco sobre cómo estas características influyen en las actitudes de los ciudadanos hacia la industria de producción de carne. Estas actitudes pueden influir en las decisiones sobre los hábitos de consumo de carne de vacuno y aumentar el número de personas que deciden reducirla o dejar de comerla. En primer lugar, este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar las actitudes de los ciudadanos hacia los sistemas de producción y consumo de carne vacuna y la influencia de la información en los sistemas e investigar el consumo actual de carne de vacuno, su proyección y las razones subyacentes. Para esta investigación, los ciudadanos chilenos fueron reclutados en persona o en línea. Se pidió a los participantes que respondieran un cuestionario que incluía información sobre uno de los sistemas productivos (confinamiento, pastoreo extensivo, pastoreo regenerativo) o ninguna información, y cada uno fue aleatorizado a uno de estos cuestionarios. Los participantes (n = 1509) tuvieron actitudes más favorables hacia los sistemas basados en pasto que hacia el confinamiento, principalmente debido a preocupaciones sobre el bienestar animal y los impactos ambientales. El suministro de información no tuvo ningún efecto en las respuestas de los participantes respecto a los sistemas de producción de carne vacuna, ni en su consumo actual o futuro de carne. La mitad de los participantes dijeron que habían reducido el consumo de carne en el último año por razones ambientales o de bienestar animal y el 42% esperaba reducir el consumo en el futuro. Además, el 80% esperaba que los chilenos redujeran el consumo de carne de res en el futuro, pero la mayoría no confiaba en que esto suceda. Los participantes creen que es necesario reducir el consumo de carne de vacuno, tanto para ellos mismos como para la sociedad en su conjunto. Tanto el apoyo a la producción como el consumo de carne pueden beneficiarse si los sistemas de producción adoptan características que el público percibe como positivas para el medio ambiente y el bienestar animal.
Aplicación de bioestimulantes para mejorar parámetros de calidad y condición de uva de mesa cv. Timco (Sheegene 13)
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Aranda González Pablo Adrián
Published: March 2023

En Chile la aplicación de reguladores de crecimiento en uvas juega un papel fundamental en la calidad y condición de la fruta. Si bien se ha tratado de estandarizar fechas y dosis de estos reguladores, el funcionamiento o la respuesta nunca es igual en todas las zonas productivas. El ingreso de variedades nuevas a nuestro país exige que generemos información local que permita saber cómo responde una variedad en un lugar determinado. Esta investigación en la variedad Sheegene 13 (Timco) tiene como objetivo realizar nuevos tratamientos de bioestimulantes, en épocas determinadas y ver cómo afectan los parámetros de calidad de la fruta. El primer tratamiento se realizó con citoquininas sintéticas tidiazurón (TDZ) y forclorfenurón (CPPU) en el estado fenológico de pre antesis y un segundo tratamiento en el estado fenológico de envero con lecitina (LEC) y brasinoesteroides (BR). Los parámetros estudiados fueron crecimiento y desarrollo desde el ovario hasta el desarrollo del fruto; se analizó calibre, firmeza, color, partidura, deshidratación y calidad de raquis de la variedad Sheegene 13. Los parámetros que presentaron diferencias significativas con el control fueron la aplicación de TDZ en pre antesis que generó un aumento del peso de los ovarios y un aumento de diámetro de los hombros del racimo (raquis). La aplicación de CPPU en pre antesis aumentó los sólidos solubles en cosecha. La aplicación de brasinoesteroides en pinta generó un color de la baya con valor CIRG superior.
Transitando emociones : teatro inmersivo sensorial aplicado (TISA) como práctica performativa eficaz en la transición puberal
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Artes, Abatte Paola
Published: March 2023

Desde un acercamiento fenomenológico a las emociones, que rescata su naturaleza afectiva, fluida, preverbal, transpersonal e inmersiva, propongo a las artes como lenguajes afectivos, privilegiados para contener y organizar flujos afectivo-emocionales. Dentro de las artes, las teatralidades inmersivas y sensoriales aportan prácticas y constituyen caminos de experiencias y descubrimientos relacionados con las emociones. La práctica como investigación (PaR ) y el análisis de referentes como el Teatro de los Sentidos de Enrique Vargas me permiten presentar el Teatro Inmersivo Sensorial Aplicado (TISA) como práctica performativa eficaz en la exploración, expresión y conocimiento de las emociones con y por niñes en transición puberal, quienes se encuentran atravesando cambios y transiciones. La pubertad y las teatralidades TISA están unidas por la transitividad, mientras que la eficacia se puede comprender como el re- conocimiento encarnado del tránsito emocional.
Geometrical approach for quantum control : the qubit case
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Instituto de Física, Mendizábal Pico Mauro Javier
Published: March 2023

En esta tesis presentamos un modelo de control cuántico para transiciones de estados puros y mixtos, aplicado a un qubit. El modelo está basado en la geometría del espacio de los estados cuánticos dada por la métrica de Bures y la ecuación de Liouville-von Neumann, la cual contiene información sobre los parámetros de los campos de control. Además, hacemos una revisión y simulación de los modelos o algoritmos de control cuántico que están bien establecidos en el área de control cuántico. Hemos llegado a concluir que nuestro trabajo supera a los modelos CRAB y GRAPE cuando se desea llegar al estado final en menos pasos; es decir, haciendo evolucionar al estado inicial lo menos posible, cumpliendo con un rango de valor de infidelidad deseado.
ON THE NEW TYPES OF COMPOSITE METAMATERIALS
Authors: TRALLE Igor , ZIĘBA Paweł
Published: March 2023

This paper is the review of our study published in J Appl Phys 115, 233509 (2014) and J Mater Sci 53, 2034 (2018). In it, we examined the possibility of fabricating the metamaterial, which is both gyrotropic and of the simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability. Our idea was to use the three-component mixture of ingredients, where one of them is responsible for the negative effective permeability µeff of hypothetical metamaterial, while all three are responsible for the negative value of effective permittivity εeff. At first we considered the following composite: the first component was the “swarm” of single-domain ferromagnetic nanoparticles, immersed in a mixture of other two, silver and mercury cadmium telluride. Then, as fabrication of the Hg1-x Cdx Te is related to using mercury which is very poisoning, we tried to exclude this material substituting it by Pb1-x Snx Te. Additionally, taking into account that silver is relatively expensive material, we have also used Cu and Al particles as the cheaper substitute of it. We have shown by computer simulations that by the proper fitting of the parameters, e.g., the radius of nanoparticles, their magnetic moments, the relative concentration of ingredients, etc., it is possible to obtain the double-negative metamaterial, that is with negative refraction index in a relatively broad range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The last seems to be very promising in terms of practical applications of metamaterials.
A new Roman distance-slab from the Antonine Wall
Authors: Steer Kenneth A , Cormack E A
Published: March 2023

NS 515723. The flrst Antonine Wall distance-slab to be discovered for over a century was ploughed up at Cleddans Farm, between Castlehill and Duntocher. Skilfully carved, it shows an architectural façade in three bays containing ?Britannia and a standard-bearer flanked by defeated Caledonians. The inscription records the building of 3000 Roman feet of wall by the Twentieth Legion. The find-spots of slabs now suggest that each length of wall was marked by four slabs, not two; and the unweathered condition of this one suggests its concealment well before 185.
Notes on Scottish medieval pottery
Authors: Laing Lloyd , Robertson W Norman
Published: March 2023

Sherds from 13 sites bring the total of known provenances in Scotland of Scarborough ware to 19, mostly in eastern coastal areas. Sherds of face-mask jugs have been found on 20 sites and kilns for their manufacture are known at Stenhouse near Falkirk and at Colstoun in E Lothian. Scottish face-mask jugs are divided into three types dating from the late 13th-16th centuries. Evidence is accumulating for a direct east coast pottery trade between Scotland and Yorkshire during the late 13th and early 14th centuries AD. AR See also L R Laing in Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 103, 1970-71 (1974), 169-77, for medieval pottery in Dundee Museum.
Preliminaries
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

Front matter for Volume 102

Table of contents

Office-bearers of the Society 1969-70

Corrigendum

Obituary
Roman coins found in Scotland, 1961-70
Authors: Robertson Anne S
Published: March 2023

Seventh list of Roman and Greek coins found in Scotland on Roman and native sites, in hoards or as isolated finds. The information contained in all seven lists is amalgamated in tables showing provenance, emperor and metal, and the implications of the chronological distribution of these coins are discussed. Maps illustrate the geographical distribution of coins from non-Roman sites century by century.
Preliminaries
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

Front matter for Volume 103

Table of contents

Office-bearers of the Society 1970-1
Excavations at the Roman fort of Crawford, Lanarkshire
Authors: Maxwell Gordon , Robertson Anne , McKerrell Hugh
Published: March 2023

NS 954214. The primary fort was an Agricolan foundation, built in AD 80 or 81 and abandoned, its timber buildings dismantled, soon after AD 87. A second phase of occupation began around AD 140 when the original ditch system was modified; the end of this first Antonine period was very quickly followed by a second Antonine occupation. This time the fort was enlarged and the defences recast. Final abandonment occurred between 165 and 170 apparently as part of a planned military withdrawal. Finds included coins, metalwork, leather shoes and samian and coarse wares. Organic remains indicated a contemporary natural environment of mixed deciduous forest with encroaching heath and peat-bog. A R
Excavation of a chambered cairn at Dalineun, Lorn, Argyll
Authors: Ritchie J N Graham , Henshall Audrey S , McInnes I J , Denston C B
Published: March 2023

NM 879267. The excavation of this multiperiod cairn clarified the relationship between a Clyde type chambered tomb and a simple massive cist formerly considered to be a potential protomegalith. The Clyde chamber proved to constitute the earliest building phase, set within a heel-shaped cairn and containing neolithic burials. Beaker burials formed a second phase of activity in the chamber, together with a small cist immediately outside the entrance. The entrance was then blocked and the cist covered by a semi-circular mass of stones. Finally a massive cist was inserted into the cairn material behind the chamber. Finds include Beaker sherds, a Food Vessel and flintwork. A R
Some rescue excavation on the line of the Antonine Wall, 1973-6
Authors: Keppie Lawrence J F , Main Lorna , Henderson Alastair A R
Published: March 2023

Records the results of twelve watching briefs and small excavations as pipeline or construction work breached the line of the Wall. Clearance of a 40m length on one site was particularly informative.
The excavation of the chambered cairn at Glenvoidean, Isle of Bute
Authors: Marshall Dorothy N , Taylor Isabel D , Scott J G
Published: March 2023

NR 997705. Excavation of this multi-period Clyde cairn revealed a simple axial chamber within a round cairn, to which were added two lateral chambers set in an oval cairn. The whole was then enclosed in a trapezoidal cairn with a straight façade and a forecourt on which fires had been lit before the final blocking. No burials survived, but pottery included Beacharra and Rothesay style vessels. A 14C date was obtained from burnt material beneath a side-slab of the axial chamber. A two-tiered cist, containing an enlarged food vessel, and a medieval corn-drying kiln represent later insertions into the cairn. J G Scott discusses in detail the Rothesay style of Neolithic pottery. A R
Traces of Beaker period cultivation at Rosinish, Benbecula
Authors: Shepherd Ian A G , Tuckwell Alexandra N
Published: March 2023

NF 873537. Midden deposits of Beaker date on a sand-dune site were found to cover an old land surface containing traces of ploughing and spade cultivation. Asymmetric V-shaped marks were probably made by a crook-ard, and showed evidence of cross-ploughing. Carbonized barley and wheat were recovered from the midden. Limpet samples gave 14C dates early in 2nd millennium bc. AR. See also 80/6762.
Excavations in the northern annexe of the Roman fort at Camelon near Falkirk, 1961-3
Authors: McCord Norman , Tait J
Published: March 2023

[NS 8680]. Excavations showed that the fort defences extended to form an ?integrally planned annexe defended on the E side by four ditches. Structural and pottery evidence indicate two Antonine phases, with final abandonment by AD 160. The nature of the annexe is unclear (succession of temporary wooden structures). D G
A Roman iron flask from Newstead
Authors: Close-Brooks Joanna
Published: March 2023

Unpublished fragments of iron with bronze mounts prove to be, not armour, but part of a soldier's drinking flask.
Anniversary meeting
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

At the Anniversary meeting the Annual Report was delivered, covering topics such as Fellowship, Meetings, Excavations and publications. The Treasurer then presented the report on the Society’s accounts. The Council for the following session was then elected and a list of Fellows who died or resigned during 1977-1978 was read.At the Anniversary meeting the Annual Report was delivered, covering topics such as Fellowship, Meetings, Excavations and publications. The Treasurer then presented the report on the Society’s accounts. The Council for the following session was then elected and a list of Fellows who died or resigned during 1977-1978 was read.

Notes for the guidance of contributors are appended.
Preliminaries
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

Front matter for Volume 109

Table of contents

Office-bearers of the Society 1977-8
Excavations in the Dairy Park, Dunrobin, Sutherland, 1977
Authors: Close-Brooks Joanna , Harman Mary , Lunt Dorothy A , Kenworthy J B
Published: March 2023

NC 847003. A low rectangular cairn covered the burial in a long cist of an adult female marked by a Class I Pictish symbol stone bearing an incised double crescent, snake and Z-rod and mirror and comb. Two 14C analyses indicate a date for the burial in the 7th century ad. NC 848004. Medieval corn-drying kiln. A R
Roads and bridges in the Scottish Highlands: the route between Dunkeld and Inverness 1725-1925
Authors: Curtis G R
Published: March 2023

Based on fieldwork and excavation, this is an examination of the engineering aspects of roads and bridges built under the auspices of (successively) Wade, Caulfeild, Telford and the Ministry of Transport. AR
Two early medieval timber buildings from Castle Hill, Peebles
Authors: Murray Hilary , Ewart Gordon
Published: March 2023

NT 248803. ?Twelth century ditches and postholes: 1, circular ?tower (12.4m external diameter); 2, squarish structure (5m sides) with corner gap and four internal ?roof-bearing supports. D F R/Ed
Anniversary meeting
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

At the Anniversary meeting the Annual Report was delivered, covering topics such as Membership, Meetings, Excavations and publications. The Annual Report also contains details of the Society’s bicentenary celebrations in 1980. The Treasurer then presented the report on the Society’s accounts. The Council for the following session was then elected and a list of Fellows who died or resigned during 1978-1979 was read.
Preliminaries
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

Front matter for Volume 110

Table of contents
Excavations at Ardnave, Islay
Authors: Ritchie Graham , Welfare Humphrey , Barber J W , Brown M M , Cowie T G , Dickson C A , Evans J G , Halliday S P , Harman M , Henshall A S , Wickham-Jones C R
Published: March 2023

This paper describes the excavation of a series of structures discovered in the sand-dunes at Ardnave, Islay, between 1977 and 1980. The earliest structure was a house, probably of several periods, associated with food-vessel pottery. Subsequently the house was covered by blown sand, but later occupation was attested by midden material, also with food vessels, overlying the earlier building. There were also two hearths of late Iron Age date, one of which was overlain by traces of spade cultivation. The excavation offers useful structural, cultural and economic information about Islay in the second millennium BC and in the early first millennium AD.
Archaeological notes on some Scottish early Christian sculptures
Authors: Laing Lloyd , Laing Jennifer
Published: March 2023

Evidence is found of strong debt to RB and AS England in Pictish culture as represented by objects shown on Pictish stones (chariot, armour, weapons, horsemen, musical instruments, etc).
Excavations at Castlehill of Strachan, 1980-1
Authors: Yeoman Peter A , Boyd W E , Duncan H B , Gemmell A M D , Hodgson G W I , Hulme P D , Murray Hilary , Murray J C , Shirriffs Jennifer , Simpson Grant G , Smith Catherine , Spearman R M
Published: March 2023

A typical northern motte had a timber hall on the summit, two phases of palisade, surrounding ditch and approach causeway. The 13th century landscape was reconstructed using geomorphology and air photography. Coins, pottery of c 1250 to early 14th. Three furnaces/ovens were set on reused millstones. Metalwork, animal bones, pottery, palaeobotany.
Pollen analysis of a radiocarbon-dated core from North Mains, Strathallan, Perthshire
Authors: Hulme Peter D , Shirriffs Jennifer
Published: March 2023

Cores for pollen and macrofossil analysis and radiocarbon dating were collected from a 6m deep deposit near the North Mains excavation area. Results are presented for the upper 3-4m which was mostly deposited between late Palaeolithic and late Neolithic times. During the Mesolithic the local landscape was covered by woodland containing a variety of deciduous trees and large shrubs (birch, oak, elm and hazel); no indication of disturbance was found in the pollen profile. The first indication of human activity is the presence of charcoal around the 100 cm depth above which cereal type pollen and a number of weed pollen types signal the arrival of Neolithic people. A radiocarbon date indicates that this happened around 5600 bp and the pollen diagram shows that it preceded the elm decline. This is one of only a few sites in Britain where pre-elm decline cereal type pollen has been recorded. At a depth of 35 cm there is a gap in the pollen pro file representing a period of at least 3000 years, starting at around 4000 bp. It is therefore probable that the core covers the period of ring ditch and henge construction but not the period of barrow construction.
Preliminaries
Authors: - -
Published: March 2023

Front matter for Volume 115

Table of contents

Office bearers and representatives of the Society, 1984-5
Reconnaissance excavations on early historic fortifications and other royal sites in Scotland, 1974-84: 1, excavations near St Abb's Head, Berwickshire, 1980
Authors: Alcock Leslie , Alcock Elizabeth A , Foster Sally M
Published: March 2023

The headland known as St Abb's Nunnery was shown to bear a late med secular hall and enclosing wall, identifiable as Rampart Hall. The preferred site for the 7th century Anglian monastery is Kirk Hall, where a massive turf bank may be identified as the monastic vallum. This had been preceded by two timber palisades, one of them 14C-dated to 7th-8th centuries AD. Au(adp)
Analogous amino acid sequences in myelin proteolipid and viral proteins
Authors: Shaw Shyh-Yu , Laursen Richard A. , Lees Marjorie B.
Published: July 2002

Computer analysis of the intrinsic membrane protein, myelin proteolipid, shows strong sequence similarities between the putative extramembrane segments of the proteolipid protein and a number of viral proteins, several of which infect humans. These similarities are even more striking than those reported previously between viral proteins and the encephalitogenic myelin basic protein (MBP). These findings, along with other reports of molecular mimicry by viruses, suggest that immunological cross‐reactions between virus‐induced antibodies or T‐cells and analogous antigenic determinants (epitopes) in myelin proteolipid could be involved in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis or post‐infectious demyelinating syndromes.
Intestinal complications of radiotherapy in gynecologic malignancy — clinical presentation and management
Authors: Kao M.‐S.
Published: July 2002

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment modality for various gynecologic malignancies. In spite of advances in radiotherapy equipment and techniques over the years, the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts have remained a considerable problem with radiotherapy of the pelvis and abdomen. Clinical presentation of intestinal complications, current concepts of pathophysiology and principles of medical and surgical management are reviewed.
Effect of Inclusion Body Contaminants on the Oxidative Renaturation of Hen Egg White Lysozyme
Authors: Maachupalli‐Reddy Jhansi , Kelley Brian D. , Clark Eliana De Bernardez
Published: July 2002

The effect of typical contaminants in inclusion body preparations such as DNA, ribosomal RNA, phospholipids, lipopolysaccharides, and other proteins on renaturation rate and yield of hen egg white lysozyme was investigated. Separate experiments were conducted in which known amounts of individual contaminants were added to test their effect on renaturation kinetics. On the basis of a simplified model for the kinetic competition between folding and aggregation, it was found that none of the above contaminants had an effect on the rate of the folding reaction, but some of them significantly affected the rate of the aggregation reaction and, thus, the overall renaturation yield. While ribosomal RNA did not seem to affect the aggregation reaction, plasmid DNA and lipopolysaccharides increased the aggregation rate, resulting in a decrease of about 10% in the overall renaturation yield. Phospholipids were found to improve refolding yields by about 15% by decreasing the overall rate of the aggregation reaction without affecting the rate of the folding reaction. Proteinaceous contaminants which aggregate upon folding, such as β‐galactosidase and bovine serum albumin, were found to significantly decrease renaturation yields by promoting aggregation. This effect was strongly dependent on the concentration of the proteinaceous impurity. On the other hand, the presence of refolding ribonuclease A, which does not significantly aggregate upon folding under the conditions tested in this work, did not affect the renaturation kinetics of lysozyme, even at concentrations as high as 0.7 mg/mL.
Solution synthesis and biological activity of human pleiotrophin, a novel heparin‐binding neurotrophic factor consisting of 136 amino acid residues with five disulfide bonds
Authors: Inui T. , Nakao M. , Nishio H. , Nishiuchi Y. , Kimura T. , Kojima S. , Muramatsu T.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: Human pleiotrophin (hPTN), a novel heparin‐binding neurotrophic factor consisting of 136 amino acid residues with five intramoleular disulfide bonds, was synthesized by solution procedure in order to demonstrate the utility of our strategy using our newly developed solvent system, a mixture of trifluoroethanol (TFE) and dichloromethane (DCM) or chloroform (CHL). The final protected peptide was synthesized by coupling two larger protected intermediates, Boc‐(1‐64)‐OH and H‐(6 5‐136)‐OBzl, in CHL/TFE (3 : 1; v/v) using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide (EDC) in the presence of 3,4‐dihydro‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐oxo‐1,2,3‐benzotriazine (HOOBt). After removal of all protecting groups using the HF procedure followed by treatment with Hg(OAc)2, the fully deprotected peptide was subjected to an oxidative folding reaction. The product was confirmed as having the correct disulfide structure by examining the cystine peptides obtained by enzymatic digestions, and as possessing the same biological activities as those of the natural product. The N‐ and C‐terminal half domains (1‐64 and 65‐136) were also synthesized, and measurement of their biological activities indicated that the C‐terminal half domain displays almost all the activities of the full‐length molecule, whereas the N‐terminal half domain shows almost no activity. From these results, we were able to confirm that the C‐terminal half domain is responsible for the expression of biological activities in the same manner as human midkine (hMK), another heparin‐binding neurotrophic growth factor.
Structure of peptidase T from Salmonella typhimurium
Authors: Håkansson Kjell , Miller Charles G.
Published: July 2002

The structure of peptidase T, or tripeptidase, was determined by multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) methodology and refined to 2.4 Å resolution. Peptidase T comprises two domains; a catalytic domain with an active site containing two metal ions, and a smaller domain formed through a long insertion into the catalytic domain. The two metal ions, presumably zinc, are separated by 3.3 Å, and are coordinated by five carboxylate and histidine ligands. The molecular surface of the active site is negatively charged. Peptidase T has the same basic fold as carboxypeptidase G2. When the structures of the two enzymes are superimposed, a number of homologous residues, not evident from the sequence alone, could be identified. Comparison of the active sites of peptidase T, carboxypeptidase G2, Aeromonas proteolytica aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A and leucine aminopeptidase reveals a common structural framework with interesting similarities and differences in the active sites and in the zinc coordination. A␣putative binding site for the C‐terminal end of the tripeptide substrate was found at a peptidase T specific fingerprint sequence motif.
Characterization and synthetic applications of recombinant AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Osswald Steffen , Wajant Harald , Effenberger Franz
Published: July 2002

The nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana was overexpressed in Escherichia coli with an N‐terminal His6 tag and purified by zinc chelate affinity chromatography in a single step almost to homogeneity in a 68% yield with a specific activity of 34.1 U·mg−1. The native enzyme (≈ 450 kDa) consists of 11–13 subunits (38 kDa). The temperature optimum was determined to be 35 °C, and a pH optimum of 9 was found. Thus, recombinant AtNIT1 resembles in its properties the native enzyme and the nitrilase from Brassica napus. The stability of AtNIT1 could be significantly improved by the addition of dithiothreitol and EDTA. The substrate range of AtNIT1 differs considerably from those of bacterial nitrilases. Aliphatic nitriles are the most effective substrates, showing increasing rates of hydrolysis with increasing size of the residues, as demonstrated in the series butyronitrile, octanenitrile, phenylpropionitrile. In comparison with 3‐indolylacetonitrile, the rate of hydrolysis of 3‐phenylpropionitrile is increased by a factor of 330, and the Km value is reduced by a factor of 23. With the exception of fluoro, substituents in the α position to the nitrile function completely inhibit the hydrolysis.
Mapping soil texture classes using field textuing, particle size distribution and local knowledge by both conventional and geostatisical methods
Authors: Oberthür T. , Goovaerts P , Dobermann A .
Published: July 2002

We investigated the utility of three interpolation techniques that ignored descriptive `soft' information and one that used it for mapping topsoil texture classes: re‐coding of soil map units within Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Thiessen polygons, and classifcation of probability vectors estimated by ordinary indicator kriging and simple indicator kriging with local prior means. The results were compared with texture maps based on a classifcation of kriged maps of particle size distribution. The methods were applied to two distinct regions, which represent large areas in rain‐fed rice ecosystems and irrigated rice ecosystems. The `hard' databases for both areas contained soil information needed for mapping at regional scales (1:100 000‐1:150 000). These data were complemented with 'soft' information derived from farmers and soil experts (Northeast Thailand) and soil maps (Nueva Ecija, Philippines). Interpolated maps agreed with the texture map based on interpolation of particle size distribution, and ®eld estimates of soil texture proved to be valuable surrogates for laboratory measurements of soil texture classes. The interpolation of categorical data such as soil texture classes allows for upgrading and increasing the resolution of maps in sparsely sampled regions by using simple field measurements. Validation using independent test sets showed that indicator kriging with local prior means performed best in the rain‐fed lands, whereas soft information did not improve the predictions in Nueva Ecija. Local knowledge in a formalized form was valuable in Northeast Thailand and the interpolated soil texture map for this area had an accuracy and resolution to support agronomic decisions at the village scale. The poor quality of the soil map and the fact that the gradually changing variability in young alluvial soils can be modelled with fewer data explained the lower accuracy of simple indicator kriging with local prior means in Nueva Ecija. Thiessen polygons performed well in the undulating rain‐fed lands but were not as reliable as indicator kriging in the gradually changing irrigated lands.
Increasing curvature of the normal fetal ductus arteriosus with advancing gestational age
Authors: Benson C. B. , Brown D. L. , Doubilet P. M. , DiSalvo D. N. , Laing F. C. , Frates M. C.
Published: July 2002

In order to determine whether the configuration of the normal fetal ductus arteriosus changes with increasing gestational age, we prospectively collected oblique transverse sonographic images of the fetal thorax through the ductus arteriosus. Scans from 240 consecutive normal fetuses with gestational age 20 weeks or more were included in the study. The images were reviewed independently by two sonologists and the ductus arteriosus was graded as: (1) straight; (2) mildly curved (C‐shaped, bending < 90° from a straight line); or (3) markedly curved (C‐shaped, bending < 90°, or S‐shaped). In cases where the two sonologists' gradings did not concur, the images were re‐reviewed jointly by both sonologists and a grading was assigned by consensus. Forty‐two cases were rejected, due to inadequate images.

The ductus arteriosus was graded in 42 fetuses aged 20–25.9 weeks, 48 at 26–31.9 weeks, 74 at 32–37.9 weeks, and 34 at 38 weeks or more for a total of 198 cases. There was a significant trend to greater curvature with increasing gestational age (p < 0.0001). The frequency of a straight ductus arteriosus decreased steadily from 55% of fetuses aged 20–25.9 weeks to 3% of fetuses at 38 weeks or older, while the frequency of marked curvature increased from 2% in the youngest age group to 56% in the oldest. The proportion with mild curvature showed little variation throughout gestation.

In summary, the configuration of the ductus arteriosus is variable but tends to become more curved as pregnancy proceeds. Marked curvature or tortuosity of the ductus arteriosus should not be misinterpreted as a great vessel anomaly. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Corridors: a Genetic Approach
Authors: Mech Stephen G. , Hallett James G.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: The effectiveness of corridors in maintaining dispersal in fragmented landscapes is a question of considerable conservation and ecological importance. We tested the efficacy of corridors as residual landscape structures in maintaining population structure in the red‐backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), a closed‐canopy specialist, and the deer mouse (  Peromyscus maniculatus), a habitat generalist. In coniferous forests managed for timber production in northeastern Washington, we sampled pairs of populations in three landscape classes: (1) contiguous landscapes, in which sites were located completely within a matrix of closed‐canopy forest; (2) corridor landscapes, in which sites were connected by a corridor of closed‐canopy forest; and (3) isolated landscapes, in which sites were separated from one another by clearcut or young regeneration stands. For each species, we used four microsatellite loci to quantify genetic distance between population pairs. Nei's genetic distance (  Ds  ) increased from smallest to largest in the order of contiguous, corridor, and isolated landscapes for C. gapperi. For P. maniculatus, genetic distances across landscape configurations were not significantly different. The differences between the two species indicate that they respond differently to the presence of forest corridors. In managed forests, corridors between unlogged habitats appear to maintain higher population connectivity for C. gapperi than landscapes without corridors.
Sex Hormones and Cognitive Function in Older Men
Authors: Yaffe Kristine , Lui Li‐Yung , Zmuda Joeseph , Cauley Jane
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have suggested that estrogen may improve cognitive function or prevent cognitive decline in older women. Little research has been conducted on exogenous or endogenous sex hormones and cognition in older men, yet it has been hypothesized that testosterone, either directly or by conversion to estrogens, may improve cognitive function. We investigated whether serum level of testosterone and estradiol is associated with cognition in older community‐dwelling men.

DESIGN: A cross‐sectional study.

SETTING: Population‐based listings in the Monongahela Valley near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred ten men (mean age ± standard deviation = 73.0 ± 7.1) who were part of a cohort study.

MEASUREMENTS: We measured cognitive function using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trails B, and Digit Symbol. Sex hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay from serum obtained at the time of cognitive testing and analyzed by tertile.

RESULTS: No consistent association between total testosterone level and cognitive test scores was observed. However, men with high bioavailable (loosely protein‐bound) testosterone had better cognitive test scores on all three tests (P≤ .001). Total estradiol levels were associated with worse cognitive scores on Digit Symbol (P < .001) and Trails B (P = .002), but bioavailable estradiol levels were not associated with cognitive function. Level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was negatively associated with cognitive scores on all three tests (P≤ .001). After adjusting for age and education, the statistical significance lessened for bioavailable testosterone (MMSE, P = .086; Digit Symbol, P = .047; Trails B, P = .076) and became nonsignificant for SHBG (all cognitive tests P> .10).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that higher levels of bioavailable testosterone, but not of bioavailable estradiol, are associated with better cognitive function in older men. In addition, bioavailable measures of testosterone may better reflect hormone levels available to the brain and thus be more closely associated with central nervous system outcomes such as cognition. Future studies, especially randomized trials, should be undertaken to determine whether testosterone may protect against cognitive decline in older men.
Evening Light Exposure: Implications for Sleep and Depression
Authors: Wallace‐Guy Geralyn M. , Kripke Daniel F. , Jean‐Louis Girardin , Langer Robert D. , Elliott Jeffrey A. , Tuunainen Arja
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether dim illumination in the evening is a factor in sleep disturbances of aging, depression, and circadian phase advance.

DESIGN: One‐week continuous recordings were made to record illumination exposure and to infer 24‐hour sleep patterns from wrist activity.

SETTING: Recordings took place during normal home and community activities.

PARTICIPANTS: Complete data of 154 postmenopausal women, mean age 66.7, were selected from a larger study of participants in the Women's Health Initiative.

MEASUREMENTS: Illumination in lux was averaged for 4 hours before bedtime and over 24 hours. Mood was measured using a brief eight‐item screen.

RESULTS: Illumination in the 4 hours before bedtime was quite dim: median 24 lux. Nevertheless, evening light exposure was not significantly related to sleep amount (in bed or out of bed) sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake within sleep, or mood. In contrast, the overall amount of light throughout the 24 hours was negatively correlated with sleep latency, wake within sleep, and depressed mood.

CONCLUSIONS: Low evening lighting does not appear to be a crucial factor in sleep and mood disturbances of aging, but overall lighting may contribute to these disturbances.
Pollen Studies in Subtribe Centaureinae (Asteraceae): The Carthamus Complex and the Genus Aegialophila Analyzed with Electron Microscopy
Authors: Vilatersana R. , Martín Villodre J. , Susanna A. , Garcia‐Jacas N. , Garnatje T.
Published: July 2002

Abstract: Recent molecular and karyologic studies have deeply modified the delimitation of the genera of the Carthamus complex, and have led to a new classification of the group in four genera (Carduncellus, Carthamus, Femeniasia and Phonus). Molecular studies have confirmed the position of the group among the derived genera of the subtribe Centaureinae, and have suggested a faint relationship between the Carthamus complex and the small genus Aegialophila. However, despite the importance of pollen evolution in the subtribe, a comprehensive study of the pollen of the involved genera with electron microscopy was lacking. Therefore, we have carried out a survey of pollen morphology and ultrastructure in a wide sample of the genera, using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Our results suggest that pollen type of the Carthamus complex is homogeneous and should be classified as a new pollen type in the classification of Wagenitz. Pollen type of Aegialophila shows strong similarities with the Centaurea scabiosa pollen type of Wagenitz, but there are slight differences in shape and in ultrastructure of the exine. These differences are evaluated, together with morphological and molecular evidence; the authors conclude that similarities are the result of parallel evolution and that pollen of Aegialophila could be considered a new pollen type. Some considerations are made on the placement of the new types in the cadre of pollen and molecular evolution in the subtribe Centaureinae.
Intervalley deformation potentials and scattering rates in zinc blende semiconductors
Authors: Zollner Stefan , Gopalan Sudha , Cardona Manuel
Published: July 2002

The intervalley electron-phonon deformation potentials between the lowest Γ−, X- and L-conduction band valleys in zinc blende semiconductors are calculated using empirical pseudopotentials for the electrons and realistic shell models for the phonons. The intervalley scattering rates computed using these deformation potentials are in agreement with experiments.
Reactive ion etching of diamond
Authors: Sandhu G. S. , Chu W. K.
Published: July 2002

A reliable means of removing surface layers of diamond is of significant importance for microelectronics as well as for other applications such as polishing of the diamond surface. Preliminary studies using reactive ion etching with O2 and H2 showed etching rates of the order of 560 Å/min for thin carbon films and 350 Å/min for natural type II-A diamonds using 300 eV oxygen ions. Addition of a substantial percentage of Ar to oxygen in the reaction chamber did not affect the etching rate.