bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘In Case of Fire Emergency’
Authors: Shevchenko Olga
Published: April 2009

This article argues that the study of Russian rituals and patterns of consumption reveals the intricate ways in which post-socialist actors deal with economic and political uncertainty, creating and symbolically affirming their identities in a rapidly transforming environment. Far more culturally specific than a simple globalization argument would suggest, and far more creative than simple reproduction of ‘Soviet’ attitudes, post-Soviet practices of consumption represent a complex fusion of global trends and local cultural patterns. As such, they may tell us just as much about the post-socialist condition as about the attitudes that preceded it. This article addresses these issues by exploring the consumption of household durables, the popularity of which can be explained by the fact that they came to embody some of the most profound cultural trends, expectations and fears in a contemporary post-Soviet setting. Decoding the symbolic significance of these objects may thus yield valuable insights into the cultural processes unfolding in the post-Soviet milieu, but also help us raise more general questions of formation and affirmation of identities, groups and coping strategies through consumption.
Fields of Fashion
Authors: Rocamora Agnès
Published: April 2009

Bourdieu’s sociology of culture has been central to studies of consumption. However, although it offers rich insights into his sociology of cultural production and consumption, his work in the field of fashion has been little discussed. This article explores some of Bourdieu’s main ideas, namely the notions of field and subfield, the concept of transsubstantiation, that of symbolic production, and the idea of a dialectic of distinction-pretension. It is argued that Bourdieu does not pay enough attention to the materiality of material culture whose meaningfulness he discusses only as symbolic. He also fails to reflect on the significance of mass fashion - whether symbolic or sensual - and the influence it has had on the field of high fashion, hence ignoring the theoretical implications of such influence. In his work, the discrepancies between empirical reality and his conceptual framework are minimized.
Social skins
Authors: Loren Diana Dipaolo
Published: April 2009

While current anthropological interpretations employ notions of agency to interpret social practices in contact and early colonial period contexts, the interplay of doxa, orthodoxies and heterodoxies is often overlooked. When doxic (or unquestioned) beliefs were challenged during culture contact, attempts were made to reestablish colonial order through the creation of orthodoxies - laws and mandates - meant to police the daily routines of colonial subjects, many of which were viewed as heterodoxies (or inappropriate practices). Implicated in this discourse was the body and practices of dressing, which implied status, race and gender, as well as political, social and sexual interactions. In the case study presented here, I consider how both Native American and French subjects in the late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century lower Mississippi Valley created social identities at the intersection of doxic beliefs, orthodoxies regarding clothing and actions and the practices of dressing.
Health Monitoring and Reliability of Adaptive Heterogeneous Structures
Authors: Garg Devendra P. , Zikry Mohammed A. , Anderson Gary L. , Stepp David
Published: April 2009

New adaptive structural systems comprised of optimal material combinations, innovative sensors and actuators, and control subsystems need to be developed and tailored for damage tolerant applications associated with severe loading conditions and harsh environments. In this position paper, fundamental considerations related to the modeling, design, and performance prediction of adaptive heterogeneous structures and benchmark laboratory experiments that would be needed for developing new and reliable sensor-integrated adaptive structures are discussed. Recent progress in these areas is discussed and new research directions that are needed and the barriers to be overcome to fulfill these objectives are proposed. One major challenge is to optimally integrate a variety of sensors and actuators in the context of health monitoring in order to enhance structural performance and reliability. The other major challenge is of scaling material and structural behavior from the micro- and meso-levels to the macro-level for full-scale adaptive structural system performance.
Ethnographic Mapmaking: Part 2—Practical Concerns and Triangulation
Authors: Werner Oswald , Kuznar Lawrence A.
Published: April 2009

The authors introduced the importance and principles of ethnographic mapmaking in Part 1 of this series. Here, they discuss practical matters when making maps in ethnographic situations, including ethics, measurement, and scale. They also provide an example of the triangulation method.
Mobile Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing with Handheld Computers: The Entryware System 3.0
Authors: Gravlee Clarence C.
Published: April 2009

Computer-assisted data collection in survey research offers potentially lower costs, quicker turnaround time, and improved data quality as compared to traditional paper-and-pencil methods. The proliferation of handheld computers in recent years now makes these benefits more accessible to field researchers. Handheld computers are inexpensive, portable, and energy efficient, making them ideal field instruments. In this article, I review a new software product designed for mobile computer-assisted personal interviewing (MCAPI) with Palm OS handheld computers. Based on my experience with MCAPI in the field, I conclude that version 3.0 of Entryware software is a robust tool for face-to-face or self-administered structured interviews in field settings. I also consider some implications of this new technology for field research, including respondents' reactions and data quality.
The Utility of Sport and Returns to Ownership
Authors: Gamrat Frank A. , Sauer Raymond D.
Published: April 2009

The rate of return to investment in thoroughbred racehorses is widely believed to be negative on average. In a world of fully informed market participants, this implies that ownership of a racehorse is motivated in part by nonfinancial attributes, perhaps a taste for sport. This article presents simple models of the utility derived from sporting competition. The models differ in their implications for the rate of return to racehorse ownership and its variation with the level of talent. Evidence from thoroughbred auctions and racing earnings are used to test between the models.
Muscle Weakness and Cocontraction in Upper Limb Hemiparesis: Relationship to Motor Impairment and Physical Disability
Authors: Chae John , Yang Guang , Park Byung Kyu , Labatia Ihab
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this article is to describe the relationship between poststroke upper limb muscle weakness and cocontraction, and clinical measures of upper limb motor impairment and physical disability. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the paretic and nonparetic wrist flexors and extensors of 26 chronic stroke survivors were recorded during isometric wrist flexion and extension. The root mean square (RMS) of the EMG signal was used as a measure of strength of contraction. A ratio of RMS of antagonist and agonist muscles was used as a measure of cocontraction. Upper limb motor impairment and physical disability were assessed with the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) and the arm motor ability test (AMAT), respectively. The strength of muscle contraction was significantly stronger in the nonparetic limb (P < 0.001). The degree of cocontraction was significantly greater in the paretic limb (P < 0.001). The strength of muscle contraction in the paretic limb correlated significantly with FMA (r = 0.62 to 0.87,P ≤ 0.001) and AMAT (r = 0.66 to 0.80, P ≤ 0.001) scores. Similarly, the degree of cocontraction correlated significantly with FMA (r = -0.70 to -0.64, P ≤ 0.001) and AMAT (r = -0.72 to -0.62, P ≤ 0.001) scores. Muscle weakness and degree of cocontraction correlate significantly with motor impairment and physical disability in upper limb hemiplegia. This relationship may provide insights toward development of specific interventions. However, additional studies are needed to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship.
Right-to-left shunt with hypoxemia in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Vodoz Jean-Frédéric , Cottin Vincent , Glérant Jean-Charles , Derumeaux Geneviève , Khouatra Chahéra , Blanchet Anne-Sophie , Mastroïanni Bénédicte , Bayle Jean-Yves , Mornex Jean-François , Cordier Jean-François
Published: April 2009

Background

Hypoxemia is common in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and may be partly related to ventilation/perfusion mismatch, low diffusion capacity, low cardiac output, and/or right-to-left (RL) shunting.

Methods

To determine whether true RL shunting causing hypoxemia is caused by intracardiac shunting, as classically considered, a retrospective single center study was conducted in consecutive patients with precapillary PH, with hypoxemia at rest (PaO2 < 10 kPa), shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) greater than 5%, elevated alveolar-arterial difference of PO2 (AaPO2), and with transthoracic contrast echocardiography performed within 3 months.

Results

Among 263 patients with precapillary PH, 34 patients were included: pulmonary arterial hypertension, 21%; PH associated with lung disease, 47% (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 23%; interstitial lung disease, 9%; other, 15%); chronic thromboembolic PH, 26%; miscellaneous causes, 6%. Mean pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, and pulmonary vascular resistance were 45.8 ± 10.8 mmHg, 2.2 ± 0.6 L/min/m2, and 469 ± 275 dyn.s.cm-5, respectively. PaO2 in room air was 6.8 ± 1.3 kPa. Qs/Qt was 10.2 ± 4.2%. AaPO2 under 100% oxygen was 32.5 ± 12.4 kPa. Positive contrast was present at transthoracic contrast echocardiography in 6/34 (18%) of patients, including only 4/34 (12%) with intracardiac RL shunting. Qs/Qt did not correlate with hemodynamic parameters. Patients' characteristics did not differ according to the result of contrast echocardiography.

Conclusion

When present in patients with precapillary PH, RL shunting is usually not related to reopening of patent foramen ovale, whatever the etiology of PH.
Recurrence of Hyperprolactinemia after Withdrawal of Long-Term Cabergoline Therapy
Authors: Kharlip J. , Salvatori R. , Yenokyan G. , Wand G. S.
Published: April 2009

Context: Recurrence of hyperprolactinemia after cabergoline withdrawal ranges widely from 36 to 80%. The Pituitary Society recommends withdrawal of cabergoline in selected patients.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate recurrence of hyperprolactinemia in patients meeting The Pituitary Society guidelines.

Design: Patients were followed from the date of discontinuation to either relapse of hyperprolactinemia or the day of last prolactin test.

Setting: We conducted the study at an academic medical center.

Patients: Forty-six patients meeting Pituitary Society criteria (normoprolactinemic and with tumor volume reduction after 2 or more years of treatment) participated in the study.

Interventions: After withdrawal, if prolactin returned above reference range, another measurement was obtained within 1 month, symptoms were assessed by questionnaire, and magnetic resonance imaging was performed.

Main Outcome Measures: We measured risk of and time to recurrence estimates as well as clinical predictors of recurrence.

Results: Mean age of patients was 50 ± 13 yr, and 70% were women. Thirty-one patients had microprolactinomas, 11 had macroprolactinomas, and four had nontumoral hyperprolactinemia. The overall recurrence was 54%, and the estimated risk of recurrence by 18 months was 63%. The median time to recurrence was 3 months (range, 1–18 months), with 91% of recurrences occurring within 1 yr after discontinuation. Size of tumor remnant prior to withdrawal predicted recurrence [18% increase in risk for each millimeter (95% confidence interval, 3–35; P = 0.017)]. None of the tumors enlarged in the patients experiencing recurrence, and 28% had symptoms of hypogonadism.

Conclusions: Cabergoline withdrawal is practical and safe in a subset of patients as defined by The Pituitary Society guidelines; however, the average risk of long-term recurrence in our study was over 60%. Close follow-up remains important, especially within the first year.
Bounds for the Distance Between the Distributions of Sums of Absolutely Continuous i.i.d. Convex-Ordered Random Variables with Applications
Authors: Christofides Tasos C. , Vaggelatou Eutichia
Published: April 2009

Let X1, X2,… and Y1, Y2,… be two sequences of absolutely continuous, independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) random variables with equal means E(Xi)=E(Yi), i=1,2,… In this work we provide upper bounds for the total variation and Kolmogorov distances between the distributions of the partial sums ∑i=1nXi and ∑i=1nYi. In the case where the distributions of the Xis and the Yis are compared with respect to the convex order, the proposed upper bounds are further refined. Finally, in order to illustrate the applicability of the results presented, we consider specific examples concerning gamma and normal approximations.
On the Sums of Compound Negative Binomial and Gamma Random Variables
Authors: Vellaisamy P. , Upadhye N. S.
Published: April 2009

We study the convolution of compound negative binomial distributions with arbitrary parameters. The exact expression and also a random parameter representation are obtained. These results generalize some recent results in the literature. An application of these results to insurance mathematics is discussed. The sums of certain dependent compound Poisson variables are also studied. Using the connection between negative binomial and gamma distributions, we obtain a simple random parameter representation for the convolution of independent and weighted gamma variables with arbitrary parameters. Applications to the reliability of m-out-of-n:G systems and to the shortest path problem in graph theory are also discussed.
Bax inhibitor 1 regulates ER-stress-induced ROS accumulation through the regulation of cytochrome P450 2E1
Authors: Kim Hyung-Ryong , Lee Geum-Hwa , Yi Cho Eun , Chae Soo-Wan , Ahn Taeho , Chae Han-Jung
Published: April 2009

This study investigated the molecular mechanism by which Bax inhibitor 1 (BI1) abrogates the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Electron uncoupling between NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (NPR) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) is a major source of ROS on the ER membrane. ER stress produced ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation of the ER membrane, but BI1 reduced this accumulation. Under ER stress, expression of P450 2E1 in control cells was upregulated more than in BI1-overexpressing cells. In control cells, inhibiting P450 2E1 through chemical or siRNA approaches suppressed ROS accumulation, ER membrane lipid peroxidation and the resultant cell death after ER stress. However, it had little effect in BI1-overexpressing cells. In addition, BI1 knock down also increased ROS accumulation and expression of P450 2E1. In a reconstituted phospholipid membrane containing purified BI1, NPR and P450 2E1, BI1 dose-dependently decreased the production of ROS. BI1 bound to NPR with higher affinity than P450 2E1. Furthermore, BI1 overexpression reduced the interaction of NPR and P450 2E1, and decreased the catalytic activity of P450 2E1, suggesting that the flow of electrons from NPR to P450 2E1 can be modulated by BI1. In summary, BI1 reduces the accumulation of ROS and the resultant cell death through regulating P450 2E1.
Necdin is expressed in cachectic skeletal muscle to protect fibers from tumor-induced wasting
Authors: Sciorati Clara , Touvier Thierry , Buono Roberta , Pessina Patrizia , François Stephanie , Perrotta Cristiana , Meneveri Raffaella , Clementi Emilio , Brunelli Silvia
Published: April 2009

Skeletal muscles of subjects with advanced cancer undergo progressive wasting, referred to as cachexia. Cachexia is an important area for medical research because strategies proposed until now have yielded little benefit. We have recently identified necdin as a key player in fetal and postnatal physiological myogenesis and in muscle regeneration. Here we show that necdin is selectively expressed in muscles of cachetic mice and prove that its expression is causally linked to a protective response of the tissue against tumor-induced wasting, inhibition of myogenic differentiation and fiber regeneration. Necdin carries out this role mainly via interference with TNFα signaling at various levels, including regulation of expression of TNFR1 and p53, and regulation of the activity of caspase 3 and caspase 9. These data suggest that inhibition of muscle wasting using necdin is a feasible approach to treat cachexia in neoplastic patients.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Anticoagulation Strategies in Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Maxwell Carleton B , Holdford David A , Crouch Michael A , Patel Dipen A
Published: April 2009

Background:

Contemporary studies document the outcomes of unfractionated heparin (UFH), enoxaparin, fondaparinux, and bivalirudin in patients with non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). It remains unclear which anticoagulant regimen is the most cost-effective.

Objective:

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing 4 anticoagulant regimens in NSTE-ACS.

Methods:

A decision analysis was conducted from a healthcare provider perspective. Data sources included the SYNERGY, OASIS-5, and ACUITY trials, including 2 subgroup analyses. A decision tree model was created incorporating the outcomes associated with 4 antithrombotic approaches: UFH with eptifibatide, enoxaparin with eptifibatide, bivalirudin alone, and fondaparinux with eptifibatide. The percentage of eptifibatide use in each arm was consistent with clinical trials. Probabilities of complications (eg, myocardial infarction, revascularization, major/minor bleeding at 30 days) were calculated. Costs were assigned to each outcome, incorporating the cost associated with diagnosis-related group and/or current procedural terminology codes, drug acquisition, and red blood cell infusions. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results:

The base case analysis showed bivalirudin monotherapy to be the least costly regimen ($1131 per average course), and it dominated enoxaparin plus eptifibatide ($1609) and UFH plus eptifibatide ($1739) in cost-effectiveness. The total average cost of fondaparinux with eptifibatide ($1184) was higher than bivalirudin alone, but the combination was more effective, resulting in an incremental cost of $2569 per each additional patient treated without complication. Sensitivity analyses showed the model's results to be sensitive to drug acquisition cost and complication probabilities. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses favored neither bivalirudin nor fondaparinux; however, when 2 or more vials of bivalirudin were necessary, bivalirudin was no longer a cost-effactive alternative.

Conclusions:

Bivalirudin is the least costly agent in moderate- to high-risk NSTE-ACS patients managed with an early invasive approach, if its use is consistent with the ACUITY trial. Fondaparinux is the preferred agent in patients undergoing a conservative treatment strategy.
Association of the Tag SNPs in the Human SKT Gene (KIAA1217) With Lumbar Disc Herniation
Authors: Karasugi Tatsuki , Semba Kei , Hirose Yuichiro , Kelempisioti Anthi , Nakajima Masahiro , Miyake Atsushi , Furuichi Tatsuya , Kawaguchi Yoshiharu , Mikami Yasuo , Chiba Kazuhiro , Kamata Michihiro , Ozaki Kouichi , Takahashi Atsushi , Mäkelä Pirkka , Karppinen Jaro , Kimura Tomoatsu , Kubo Toshikazu , Toyama Yoshiaki , Yamamura Ken-ichi , Männikkö Minna , Mizuta Hiroshi , Ikegawa Shiro
Published: April 2009

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most common musculo-skeletal diseases. Recent studies have indicated that LDH has strong genetic determinants, and several susceptibility genes have been reported to associate with LDH; however, its etiology and pathogenesis still remain unclear. KIAA1217 (alias SKT, the human homolog of murine Skt [Sickle tail]) is a good candidate for an LDH susceptibility gene because SKT is specifically expressed in nucleus pulposa of intervertebral discs (IVDs) in humans and mice, and SktGt mice, which are established through a large-scale gene-trap mutagenesis, exhibit progressive, postnatal onset abnormality of the IVDs. Here, we report the association of SKT with LDH. Using tag SNPs, we examined the association in two independent Japanese case-control populations and found a significant association with SKT rs16924573 in the allele frequency model (p = 0.0015). The association was replicated in a Finnish case-control population (p = 0.026). The combined p value of the two population by meta-analysis is 0.00040 (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14–1.58). Our data indicate that SKT is involved in the etiology of LDH.
Cholinergic Deafferentation of the Neocortex Using 192 IgG-Saporin Impairs Feature Binding In Rats
Authors: Botly Leigh C. P. , De Rosa Eve
Published: April 2009

The binding problem refers to the fundamental challenge of the CNS to integrate sensory information registered by distinct brain regions to form a unified neural representation of a stimulus. Although the human cognitive literature has established that attentional processes in frontoparietal cortices support feature binding, the neurochemical and specific downstream neuroanatomical contributions to feature binding remain unknown. Using systemic pharmacology in rats, it has been shown that the neuromodulator acetylcholine is essential for feature binding at encoding, but the neural source of such critical cholinergic neurotransmission has yet to be identified. Cholinergic efferents from the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) of the basal forebrain provide the majority of the cholinergic input to the neocortex. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that the NBM is the neural source that provides the critical neuromodulatory support for feature binding. To test this hypothesis, rats received bilateral 192 IgG-saporin lesions of the NBM, and their feature binding performance was tested using a forced-choice digging paradigm. Relative to sham-lesioned rats, NBM-lesioned rats were significantly impaired at acquiring a crossmodal feature conjunction (FC) stimulus set that required feature binding, whereas their ability to retrieve an FC stimulus set and to acquire two crossmodal feature singleton stimulus sets, one of greater difficulty than the other but neither requiring feature binding, remained intact. These behavioral findings, along with histological analyses demonstrating positive relationships between feature-binding acquisition and markers of cholinergic activity in frontoparietal regions, reveal the importance of neocortical cholinergic input from the NBM to feature binding at encoding.
What Is the Position of an Arm Relative to the Body? Neural Correlates of Body Schema and Body Structural Description
Authors: Corradi-Dell'Acqua Corrado , Tomasino Barbara , Fink Gereon R.
Published: April 2009

Neuropsychological studies suggest that the human brain is endowed with two body representations: the body schema (BS), coding the orientation of one's body parts in space, and the body structural description (BSD), coding the location of body parts relative to a standard body. We used fMRI to disentangle the neural mechanisms underlying these putatively distinct body representations. Participants saw an arm or a pot's handle (stimulus: arm, handle) rotated at different angles (angle: 30–150°). If the stimulus was an arm, subjects were instructed to imagine (1) rotating their own arm until it matched the stimulus orientation (comparing the seen arm to their own) or (2) seeing the stimulus moving toward its appropriate position on a simultaneously presented human body [comparing the arm to the one of a standard body (strategy: motor, visual imagery)]. If the stimulus was a handle, subjects were instructed to imagine (1) placing the handle on its appropriate position on a simultaneously presented pot or (2) seeing it moving toward its pot's position. The analysis of the interaction stimulus × strategy revealed activation of left secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), specifically when comparing the stimulus arm to one's own. The analysis of the parameters describing the linear effect of angle revealed that neural activity of left posterior intraparietal sulcus was modulated by the stimulus's rotation, but only when relating the arm to a standard body. The results associate BS and BSD with differential neural substrates, thereby suggesting that these are independent body representations, and furthermore extend current concepts of SII function.
Die Sowjetunion in der Auseinandersetzung über den NATO-Doppelbeschluss 1979–1983
Authors: Wettig Gerhard
Published: April 2009

Vorspann

Wenige Ereignisse waren für die Bundesrepublik und für Westeuropa so folgenreich wie der NATO-Doppelbeschluss vom Dezember 1979. Die öffentliche Ablehnung war damals gewaltig. Wie aber stellt sich diese Reaktion 30 Jahre später dar – nach dem Zusammenbruch von Sowjetunion und Warschauer Pakt und nach der langsamen Öffnung der ehemaligen sowjetischen Archive? Lässt sich nun abschätzen, wer damals eigentlich der Aggressor war?
A Feature Extraction Method Based on Information Theory for Fault Diagnosis of Reciprocating Machinery
Authors: Wang Huaqing , Chen Peng
Published: April 2009

This paper proposes a feature extraction method based on information theory for fault diagnosis of reciprocating machinery. A method to obtain symptom parameter waves is defined in the time domain using the vibration signals, and an information wave is presented based on information theory, using the symptom parameter waves. A new way to determine the difference spectrum of envelope information waves is also derived, by which the feature spectrum can be extracted clearly and machine faults can be effectively differentiated. This paper also compares the proposed method with the conventional Hilbert-transform-based envelope detection and with a wavelet analysis technique. Practical examples of diagnosis for a rolling element bearing used in a diesel engine are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The verification results show that the bearing faults that typically occur in rolling element bearings, such as outer-race, inner-race, and roller defects, can be effectively identified by the proposed method, while these bearing faults are difficult to detect using either of the other techniques it was compared to.
Fear Extinction in Rodents
Authors: Chang Chun‐hui , Knapska Ewelina , Orsini Caitlin A. , Rabinak Christine A. , Zimmerman Joshua M. , Maren Stephen
Published: April 2009

Pavlovian conditioning paradigms have become important model systems for understanding the neuroscience of behavior. In particular, studies of the extinction of Pavlovian fear responses are yielding important information about the neural substrates of anxiety disorders, such as phobias and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. These studies are germane to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral interventions that suppress fear, including exposure therapy in anxiety disorders. This unit describes detailed behavioral protocols for examining the nature and properties of fear extinction in laboratory rodents. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 47:8.23.1‐8.23.17. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Controlled synthesis of Cu2O cubic and octahedral nano‐ and microcrystals
Authors: Wang Zhenghua , Wang Hui , Wang Lingling , Pan Ling
Published: April 2009

Cubic and octahedral Cu2O nano‐ and microcrystals were selectively synthesized via a simple wet chemical reduction route at room temperature, with CuCl2 and NaOH as starting reactants, and ascorbic acid or hydrazine hydrate as the reducer. Hydrazine hydrate could be preferentially adsorbed on different crystal faces of Cu2O, affecting the growth rate along the 〈100〉 to that along the 〈111〉 direction, which resulted in the formation of octahedral Cu2O crystals. When ascorbic acid was used as the reducer, the growth rate along the 〈100〉 to that along the 〈111〉 direction was different, which resulted in the formation of cubic Cu2O crystals. The size of cubic and octahedral Cu2O crystals could be varied by adjusting the molar ratio of OH– to Cu2+. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Acetic acid denaturing for RNA capillary polymer electrophoresis
Authors: Sumitomo Keiko , Sasaki Motoyasu , Yamaguchi Yoshinori
Published: April 2009

A strong denaturant to cleave intramolecular hydrogen bonds in RNA is required for RNA size separation in a small sample volume (<10 nL). We found that carboxylic acids were strong denaturants for RNA and the RNA separation performance was dramatically improved by capillary electrophoresis with a sieving matrix containing acetic acid. We revealed that the denaturing ability of 2.0 M acetic acid was stronger than that of either 2.5 M formaldehyde or 7.0 M urea by estimating DNA melting temperature. Consequently, we suggested “in‐capillary denaturing polymer electrophoresis” as the RNA size separation methodology to simultaneously denature and separate RNA in a small sample volume without conventional in vitro sample preparation before electrophoresis. The baseline separation of RNA with a size of 100–10 000 nt was achieved in 25 min by “in‐capillary denaturing polymer electrophoresis” with the running buffer containing 2.0 M acetic acid. The resolution and the theoretical plates of RNA separation peaks were larger than those of the RNA separation in a conventional CGE with in vitro sample preparation by 7.0 M urea. In addition, we detected RNA peaks from the nucleic acids extracted from NIH 3T3 cells without DNase enzyme treatment.
Study of protein–protein binding reaction by whole‐column fluorescence‐imaged CIEF
Authors: Wu Xing‐Zheng , Asai Shinya , Yamaguchi Yoshie
Published: April 2009

Whole‐column fluorescence‐imaged CIEF was applied to study protein–protein binding reaction. A homemade whole‐column fluorescence‐imaged CIEF experimental setup was built, and its CIEF performance was evaluated with native fluorescent protein green fluorescence protein and fluorescently labeled proteins (bovine albumin, human albumin, and BSA). pIs, focusing time, detection limits, and linear quantitative range of the proteins were obtained. Furthermore, the method was used to study FITC–protein A–human IgG binding reaction. Experimental results showed that the apparent binding ratio of the FITC–protein A to human IgG was 1:2, and pI of the binding conjugates were about 6.3–6.5. No binding reaction was found between green fluorescence protein and the fluorescent‐labeled proteins.
A well‐balanced upstream flux‐splitting finite‐volume scheme for shallow‐water flow simulations with irregular bed topography
Authors: Lai Jihn‐Sung , Guo Wen‐Dar , Lin Gwo‐Fong , Tan Yih‐Chi
Published: April 2009

This study extends the upstream flux‐splitting finite‐volume (UFF) scheme to shallow water equations with source terms. Coupling the hydrostatic reconstruction method (HRM) with the UFF scheme achieves a resultant numerical scheme that adequately balances flux gradients and source terms. The proposed scheme is validated in three benchmark problems and applied to flood flows in the natural/irregular river with bridge pier obstructions. The results of the simulations are in satisfactory agreement with the available analytical solutions, experimental data and field measurements. Comparisons of the present results with those obtained by the surface gradient method (SGM) demonstrate the superior stability and higher accuracy of the HRM. The stability test results also show that the HRM requires less CPU time (up to 60%) than the SGM. The proposed well‐balanced UFF scheme is accurate, stable and efficient to solve flow problems involving irregular bed topography. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and principal components analysis to monitor dissolved organic matter dynamics in a glacier system
Authors: Barker J. D. , Sharp M. J. , Turner R. J.
Published: April 2009

The molecular characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) reflect both its source material and its biogeochemical history. In glacial systems, DOM characteristics might be expected to change over the course of a melt season as changes in the glacier drainage system cause the mobilization of DOM from different OM pools. To test this hypothesis we used Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of synchronous fluorescence spectra to detect and describe changes in the DOM in meltwater from a glacier system in the Coast Mountains of northern British Columbia, Canada. For most of the melt season, the dominant component of subglacially routed meltwater DOM is characterized by a tyrosine‐like fluorophore. This DOM component is most likely derived from supraglacial snowmelt. During periods of high discharge, a second component of DOM is present which is humic in character and similar to DOM sampled from a nearby non‐glacial stream. This DOM component is inferred to be derived from a moss‐covered soil environment that has been glacially overrun. It is probably entrained into glacial melt waters when the supraglacial meltwater flux exceeds the capacity of the principal subglacial drainage channels and water floods areas of the glacier bed that are normally isolated from the subglacial drainage system. Another source of DOM also appears to be mobilized during periods of high air temperatures. It is characterized by both humic and proteinaceous fluorophores and may be derived from the drainage of supraglacial cryoconite holes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural determination of quercusides A and B, new flavonoid glucosides from Quercus incana, by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Iftikhar Benish , Perveen Shagufta , Malik Abdul , Sultana Najma , Arayne Saeed , Muhammad Pir
Published: April 2009

Quercusides A and B, new flavonoid glucosides have been isolated from the chloroform soluble fractions of Quercus incana. Their structures were assigned from 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) and by correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) experiments. Lupeol, β‐sitosterol and ursolic acid have also been reported from this species. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Splenic hamartoma in a child in the era of PET‐CT
Authors: Avila Laura , Sivaprakasam Ponni , Viero Sandra , Somers Gino R. , Shago Mary , Gerstle J. Ted , Metser Ur , Gupta Abha A.
Published: April 2009

We present a case of a healthy 7‐year‐old female with an incidental finding of a growing splenic lesion, diagnosed as a splenic hamartoma after splenectomy. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of splenic lesions and that the role of positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) in defining splenic lesions in the pediatric population remains to be defined. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:114–116. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of valgus osteotomy and fixation with dynamic hip screw and 120° double angle barrel plate in the management of neglected and ununited femoral neck fracture in young patients
Authors: Khan Abdul Qayyum , Khan Mohammad Shahnawaz , Sherwani Mohammed Khalid Anwar , Agarwal Rahul
Published: April 2009

Background

Head preservation is the mainstay of management in younger patients with neglected or ununited intracapsular fracture neck of femur. Very few reports have dealt with the results of valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy and fixation with dynamic hip screw in such cases. In this prospective study, we have tried to evaluate the role of valgus osteotomy and fixation with dynamic hip screw and 120° double angle barrel plate in neglected or ununited intracapsular fracture neck of femur in patients below 60 years of age and whose time since injury is equal to or more than 3 weeks.

Materials and methods

We treated 16 such cases with valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy and fixation achieved with dynamic hip screw and 120° double angle barrel plate, with mean age of 36.4 years. The cases were evaluated radiologically and clinically at a mean of 19 months.

Results

In 14 of the 16 patients, the fracture went on to satisfactory union after an average of 14.7 weeks (10–26.7 weeks). The average Harris hip score increased from 66.6 points (range 55–75 points) before surgery to 88 points (range 75–95 points). All the patients with united fractures were able to sit cross-legged, squat and do one-leg stance. Pain and limitation of motion improved remarkably. Two patients had unfavourable outcome; both had cut-through of the implant, out of the head.

Conclusions

Valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy is a very cheap and effective procedure to achieve union in neglected and ununited fracture neck femur in young patients. We propose fixation with dynamic hip screw and 120° double angle barrel plate as it provides additional compression and, with valgus osteotomy, improved stability of internal fixation, with few complications.
The social determinants of psychosis in migrant and ethnic minority populations: a public health tragedy
Authors: Morgan C. , Hutchinson G.
Published: April 2009

High rates of schizophrenia and other psychoses have been repeatedly found in migrant populations. However, the development of public health responses has been hindered by unfounded claims that the high rates are an artefact of misdiagnosis. Recent research implicating exposure to social adversity across the life course as the key explanation for these high rates has the potential to inform initiatives to tackle this major public health problem.
Day‐to‐day variability in the development of plasma bubbles associated with geomagnetic disturbances
Authors: Abalde J. R. , Sahai Y. , Fagundes P. R. , Becker‐Guedes F. , Bittencourt J. A. , Pillat V. G. , Lima W. L. C. , Candido C. M. N. , de Freitas T. F.
Published: April 2009

The development of equatorial ionospheric irregularities into large‐scale ionospheric plasma bubbles continues to be an active area for scientific investigations. In this paper, we present simultaneous OI 630.0‐nm emission all‐sky imaging observations carried out at the Astrophysics National Laboratory (LNA), Brazopolis (22.5°S, 45.6°W, altitude 1860 m) and ionospheric sounding observations carried out at Palmas (10.2°S, 48.2°W; located close to the magnetic equator) and Sao Jose dos Campos (23.2°S, 45.9°W; located under the southern crest of equatorial ionospheric anomaly, close to Brazopolis), Brazil, to study the day‐to‐day variability in the development of ionospheric plasma bubbles during both geomagnetically disturbed and quiet periods in September–October 2002. Also, we present simultaneous complementary phase fluctuation (ROT) data obtained from the global position system (GPS) meridional chain operated by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic (IBGE). On the three nights studied in the present investigation (one geomagnetically quiet and two geomagnetically disturbed), it has been observed that the geomagnetic disturbances, during this spring equinox period, have a strong effect on the generation and development of ionospheric plasma bubbles.
A metamodeling approach for studying ignition target robustness in a highly dimensional parameter space
Authors: Giorla Jean , Masson Annie , Poggi Françoise , Quach Robert , Seytor Patricia , Garnier Josselin
Published: April 2009

Inertial confinement fusion targets must be carefully designed to ignite their central hot spots and burn. Changes in the optimal implosion could reduce the fusion energy or even prevent ignition. Since there are unavoidable uncertainties due to technological defects and not perfect reproducibility from shot to shot, the fusion energy will remain uncertain. The degree with which a target can tolerate larger specifications than specified, and the probability with which a particular yield is exceeded, are possible measures of the robustness of that design. This robustness must be assessed in a very high-dimensional parameter space whose variables include every characteristics of the given target and of the associated laser pulse shape, using high-fidelity simulations. Therefore, these studies would remain computationally very intensive. In this paper we propose an approach which consist first of constructing an accurate metamodel of the yield on the whole parameter space with a reasonable data set of simulations. Then the robustness is very quickly assessed for any set of specifications with this surrogate. The yield is approximated by a neural network, and an iterative method adds new points in the data set by means of D-optimal experimental designs. The robustness study of the baseline Laser Mégajoule target against one-dimensional defects illustrates this approach. A set of 2000 simulations is sufficient to metamodel the fusion energy on a large 22-dimensional parameter space around the nominal point. Furthermore, a metamodel of the robustness margin against all specifications has been obtained, providing guidance for target fabrication research and development.
Nanoscale wavy fracture surface of a Pd-based bulk metallic glass
Authors: Chen N. , Louzguine-Luzgin D. V. , Xie G. Q. , Inoue A.
Published: April 2009

The authors report the observations of nanoscale wavy steps on fracture surface of a Pd-based bulk metallic glass. The wavy steps are generated by crack front waves. Besides this kind of steps, it is also found that there is a dispersive microscale wavy trace aligned along a backbone “branch line,” which is induced by dynamic instability of a rapidly propagating crack front. Such microbranching events are evidenced as dissipating energy accumulated at the crack front by creating the additional fracture surface area when the crack propagation exceeds a critical velocity.
Edge-enhanced Raman scattering in Si nanostripes
Authors: Poborchii Vladimir , Tada Tetsuya , Kanayama Toshihiko
Published: April 2009

We show both theoretically and experimentally that at the 364 nm excitation wavelength, the Raman signal is strongly enhanced within a local (<20 nm wide) area at the Si stripe edge when both incident and scattered lights are polarized parallel to the stripe. This enhancement effect results from a high concentration of the light electric field at the stripe edge and allows single nanowire Raman measurement as well as local stress detection at the stripe edges in Si device structures.
Rotational and Candidate-Eclipsing-Binary Light Curves for Pre-Main-Sequence Stars in the Chamaeleon I Star-Forming Cloud
Authors: Lawson Warrick A. , Crause Lisa A.
Published: April 2009

We present the results of a photometric survey for variability in ten X-ray-emitting low-mass stars in the Chamaeleon region. Eight of the stars we observed are bona fide pre-main-sequence members of the ∼2 Myr-old Chamaeleon I star-forming cloud. The other two stars are young with high levels of relative X-ray emission, but with discordant proper motions they are probable non-members of the cloud. In six of the stars we monitored, periodic variations on timescales of 2.5–11.5 d were detected, that we ascribe to stellar rotation and the presence of cool starspots. Two other stars, CHXR 20 and CHXR 85, show large amplitude variations at visual and near-infrared wavelengths and are candidate eclipsing binaries. Compared to the rotational properties of low-mass stars in the ≈8 Myr-old η Chamaeleontis cluster, we find that the older η Chamaeleontis stars have several times higher surface specific angular momentum than the younger Chamaeleon I stars. The apparent increase in angular momentum between ∼2 and 8 Myr might be due to changes in stellar internal structure as the stars evolve, or evidence for a different rotational history between members of the two star-forming regions.
Language-in-education policies in the Catalan language area
Authors: Moreno F. Xavier Vila i
Published: April 2009

The territories where Catalan is traditionally spoken as a native language constitute an attractive sociolinguistic laboratory which appears especially interesting from the point of view of language-in-education policies. The educational system has spearheaded the recovery of Catalan during the last 20 years. Schools are being attributed most of the responsibility for the (failure of integration) of past and current immigrant waves.

There is a historical, demolinguistic and political fragmentation of the linguistic area of Catalan because at least 8 different national and sub-national authorities have a say in the definition of language policies in education. This circumstance has led to the establishment of a number of school models which deal differently with each of the challenges described before. In this contribution, an overview is produced of the main school models which are currently running in the Catalan language areas from a comparative perspective, highlighting their points in common and their differences. The article also provides a summary of available research results in connection with language learning, language practices, the impact on social integration and cohesion, and on academic achievement. It does review some of the challenges that will have to be faced by each system in the near future.
Current challenges in bilingual education in Wales
Authors: Lewis W. Gwyn
Published: April 2009

In Wales, bilingual education in Welsh and English has an increasingly high profile and Wales shares international leadership of bilingual education policies and practices alongside other countries where bilingual education flourishes. Ever since the first designated Welsh-medium primary school was opened in 1939, Welsh-medium and bilingual education has spread across Wales.

This poses both an opportunity and a challenge to educators, since classes may well contain a wide linguistic variety of native speakers and learners of Welsh. This also gives rise to variations in teaching methodologies and in the allocation of languages across the curriculum, with growing experimentation in the concurrent use of both languages within the same lesson period.

New research seeks to develop a profile of language allocation in bilingual schools in Wales, and to construct a typology of bilingual education that is empirical as well as conceptual. It also seeks to critique current typologies of bilingual education.

This paper will commence with a brief overview of the development of the Welsh language and its role within the bilingual education system in Wales (including current statistics), before going on to discuss the research work in progress and present some early emerging issues and challenges.
Structures and expectations
Authors: Wood Johanna L.
Published: April 2009

It is shown how a model based on a critical discourse analysis approach, in conjunction with frame analysis, offers a systematic way to analyse fifteenth-century letters. It is argued that in this framework all contexts are “local contexts”. Letters present particular difficulties because they are formulaic in certain parts and expressive in others. It is shown that this characteristic may be exploited to facilitate the identification of expressive text. It is further shown that variation in the formulae has a practical application. The formulaic parts of letters that scribes wrote for Margaret Paston may be compared with letters they wrote for themselves. This provides evidence that Margaret herself was responsible for the wording of her letters.