bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytoskeletal protein radixin activates integrin αMβ2 by binding to its cytoplasmic tail
Authors: Tang Pingtao , Cao Chunzhang , Xu Min , Zhang Li
Published: February 2007

Talin binding of integrins, via its band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, and moesin (FERM)‐homologous domain, directly activates the integrin receptor. However, it is not known whether other FERM‐containing proteins also possess such an integrin activating capability. We report here that radixin, one of the original FERM‐domain proteins, binds to the membrane‐proximal region of the integrin β2 but not αM cytoplasmic tail. Importantly, we show that radixin binding significantly enhances the adhesive activity of integrin αMβ2. Given the distinct biological activities of radixin and talin, radixin may represent a novel talin‐independent pathway for integrin activation under specific settings.
Overlapping expression patterns among the genes encodingArabidopsischromosomal high mobility group (HMG) proteins
Authors: Launholt Dorte , Grønlund Jesper T. , Nielsen Hanne K. , Grasser Klaus D.
Published: February 2007

High mobility group (HMG) proteins are usually considered ubiquitous components of the eukaryotic chromatin. UsingHMGgene promoter‐GUSreporter gene fusions we have examined the expression of the reporter gene in transgenicArabidopsisplants. These experiments have revealed that the different HMGA and HMGB promoters display overlapping patterns of activity, but they also show tissue‐ and developmental stage‐specific differences. Moreover, leader introns that are present in some of theHMGBgenes can modulate reporter gene expression. The differentialHMGgene expression supports the view that the various HMG proteins serve partially different architectural functions in plant chromatin.
Distribution of arginase in tissues of cat (Felis catus)
Authors: Aminlari Mahmoud , Shahbazkia Homayoon R. , Esfandiari Azadeh
Published: February 2007

Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1), the final enzyme in the urea cycle, catalyses the hydrolysis of L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea. High activity of this enzyme in the liver indicates its primary role in ammonia detoxification. However, its wide tissue distribution suggests that this enzyme might perform other functions besides hepatic ureagenesis. Although the distribution and properties of arginase from many tissues of human, laboratory animals and some domestic animals have been studied, little is known about the pattern of distribution and physiological roles of this enzyme in the cat. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the distribution of arginase in different tissues of the cat. A selection of tissue samples was assayed for arginase by the diacetyl monoxime method of determination of enzymatically formed urea. The protein content of tissues and enzymatic activities were calculated as units per gram tissue and units per milligram protein of the tissue. Results showed that the liver was the richest source of arginase followed by the oesophageal and tongue mucosal layers. Significant activity of this enzyme was found in the mucosa of the small intestine, kidney cortex, lung, testis and ovary. The results of this study will be discussed in terms of the involvement of arginase in several biochemical and physiological functions in this species.
Psychology and opposition to free trade
Authors: KEMP SIMON
Published: February 2007

This paper reviews psychological reasons why the enthusiasm of the general public for free international trade might be less than that of the economist. Six specific reasons are advanced: (1) lay views of utility emphasize employment over consumption; (2) status quo bias results from loss aversion; (3) people think altruistically but parochially; (4) people often consider fairness in bargaining situations; (5) people may hold inappropriate fixed pie beliefs; and (6) people may misunderstand Ricardo's principle of comparative advantage. The reasons vary in their apparent rationality and appear to operate in concert rather than independently.
Trade negotiations and developing countries Negotiating Trade: Developing Countries in the WTO and NAFTA. Cambridge, Cambridge Edited by John S. Odell Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. xi, 298 Behind the Scenes at the WTO: The Real World of International Trade Negotiations By Fatoumata Jawara and Aileen Kwa London New York, Bangkok: Zed Books in association with Focus on the Global South, updated edition, 2004, pp. lxxxv, 329
Authors: MICHAEL FINGER J.
Published: February 2007

The WTO, we hope, is an institution that mutes the importance of raw power – provides a system for working out problems among countries in which the interests of smaller countries are not always overwhelmed by those of larger. The two books reviewed both address this issue, but in different ways. The Odell volume (a collection of studies by different analysts) reviews a number of WTO events in which developed and developing country interests were at odds; e.g., the ‘bananas dispute’ involving Ecuador, the US, and the European Communities. The studies in that volume document the skill of developing country negotiators to use the system to their advantage; they demonstrate that the WTO process often came to outcomes more favorable to smaller countries than a simple weighing of relative power would imply.
Kinematics of fault‐related folding derived from a sandbox experiment
Authors: Bernard Sylvain , Avouac Jean‐Philippe , Dominguez Stéphane , Simoes Martine
Published: February 2007

We analyze the kinematics of fault tip folding at the front of a fold‐and‐thrust wedge using a sandbox experiment. The analog model consists of sand layers intercalated with low‐friction glass bead layers, deposited in a glass‐sided experimental device and with a total thickness h = 4.8 cm. A computerized mobile backstop induces progressive horizontal shortening of the sand layers and therefore thrust fault propagation. Active deformation at the tip of the forward propagating basal décollement is monitored along the cross section with a high‐resolution CCD camera, and the displacement field between pairs of images is measured from the optical flow technique. In the early stage, when cumulative shortening is less than about h/10, slip along the décollement tapers gradually to zero and the displacement gradient is absorbed by distributed deformation of the overlying medium. In this stage of detachment tip folding, horizontal displacements decrease linearly with distance toward the foreland. Vertical displacements reflect a nearly symmetrical mode of folding, with displacements varying linearly between relatively well defined axial surfaces. When the cumulative slip on the décollement exceeds about h/10, deformation tends to localize on a few discrete shear bands at the front of the system, until shortening exceeds h/8 and deformation gets fully localized on a single emergent frontal ramp. The fault geometry subsequently evolves to a sigmoid shape and the hanging wall deforms by simple shear as it overthrusts the flat ramp system. As long as strain localization is not fully established, the sand layers experience a combination of thickening and horizontal shortening, which induces gradual limb rotation. The observed kinematics can be reduced to simple analytical expressions that can be used to restore fault tip folds, relate finite deformation to incremental folding, and derive shortening rates from deformed geomorphic markers or growth strata.
Warming and oxygen decrease of intermediate water in the northwestern North Pacific, originating from the Sea of Okhotsk, 1955–2004
Authors: Nakanowatari Takuya , Ohshima Kay I. , Wakatsuchi Masaaki
Published: February 2007

On the basis of all available data, it is found that intermediate water temperature on the 26.8–27.4σθ isopycnals in the northwestern North Pacific has significantly increased during the past 50 years. The largest warming area exists in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk with a 0.68°C/50‐yr temperature increase observed at 27.0σθ. The warming in the Pacific is found over the Oyashio and Subarctic Current regions, where the Okhotsk water extends along the subarctic gyre. This suggests that the warming originates from the Sea of Okhotsk. The warming trend is also accompanied by the significant decreasing trend of dissolved oxygen content, suggesting the weakening of overturning in the northwestern North Pacific. We propose that these trends of the water mass property are caused by a decrease in dense shelf water production in the northwestern shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk, which is a sensitive area to the current global warming.
Evolution of melt pond volume on the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: Sneed W. A. , Hamilton G. S.
Published: February 2007

The presence of surface meltwater on ice caps and ice sheets is an important glaciological and climatological characteristic. We describe an algorithm for estimating the depth and hence volume of surface melt ponds using multispectral ASTER satellite imagery. The method relies on reasonable assumptions about the albedo of the bottom surface of the ponds and the optical attenuation characteristics of the ponded meltwater. We apply the technique to sequences of satellite imagery acquired over the western margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet to derive changes in melt pond extent and volume during the period 2001–2004. Results show large intra‐ and interannual changes in ponded water volumes, and large volumes of liquid water stored in extensive slush zones.
Effect of 1998 El Niño on the distribution of phytoplankton in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhao Hui , Tang Dan Ling
Published: February 2007

The present study analyzed interannual variation of phytoplankton/Chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) distribution in the South China Sea (SCS) for the period from 1997 to 2005 using SeaWiFS‐derived Chl‐a data and other oceanographic data. The results show high spatial variation of Chl‐a concentrations in the SCS and revealed an anomalous event in 1998. High Chl‐a concentrations in the southwestern SCS in the summer season (June to August) may be related with strong Ekman Pumping and strong wind stress, whereas a jet‐shape high Chl‐a region offshore in western SCS was associated with coastal upwelling driven by offshore Ekman transport and Vietnamese offshore current. Chl‐a concentrations in 1998 summer in the SCS were the lowest among the 7 years and were particularly low in the western SCS. At the same season, the jet‐shape Chl‐a region offshore of southeast Vietnam almost disappeared, and southwesterly monsoon winds and offshore current were relatively weaker in 1998. This anomalous event of low phytoplankton biomass in the SCS coincided with an El Niño year in 1998.
Spatial and temporal trends of gas and particle phase atmospheric DDT and metabolites in Michigan: Evidence of long‐term persistence and atmospheric emission in a high‐DDT‐use fruit orchard
Authors: Hermanson Mark H. , Moss Daren J. , Monosmith Carrie L. , Keeler Gerald J.
Published: February 2007

Michigan was among the top three apple producing states in the United States from the 1940s to 1969 when DDT was heavily used on its fruit orchards. More than 2 decades after Michigan banned DDT use in 1969, we collected air samples from four sites around the state to measure concentrations of six DDT‐related compounds in the atmosphere. At South Haven, an apple producing area, average gas phase concentrations of DDT and DDE compounds were at least 10 times greater than the other sites including Pellston in the north, Deckerville in the east, and Dexter in south‐central. Concentrations at South Haven showed a very strong seasonal cycle, an effect of higher air temperatures on moving these residues into the gas phase from a local source. We calculated ΔH values for all six compounds from the South Haven data which showed that p,p′‐DDE was the highest at 108 kJ mol−1. The ΔH values for all compounds at South Haven had a high correlation with Henry's Law Constant (HLC) (r = 0.7), verifying that HLC is a good indicator of tendency for compound conversion to the gas phase. South Haven was the only site with significant atmospheric particle‐associated DDT. Particle/gas ratios there for p,p′‐DDT and p,p′‐DDE also had a predictable seasonal variation. Overall, these results show that agricultural sites with similar DDT use history will be continuous sources of atmospheric DDT for decades after application.
Exact distribution of the peak streamflow
Authors: Nadarajah Saralees
Published: February 2007

Iacobellis and Fiorentino (2000) and Fiorentino et al. (2006) proposed modeling the peak of direct streamflow as a product of two independent random variables: one gamma distributed and the other Weibull distributed. However, the papers did not provide any results on the theoretical probability distribution of the peak streamflow. In this note, we derive explicit expressions for the probability density function, cumulative distribution function, and the moment measures of the peak streamflow. We also show how one could determine the percentiles of the peak streamflow. The results of this note could be applied more widely than just for the modeling of peak streamflow.
Threshold currents to move domain walls in films with perpendicular anisotropy
Authors: Ravelosona D. , Mangin S. , Katine J. A. , Fullerton Eric E. , Terris B. D.
Published: February 2007

The authors quantify the impact of the pinning potential on the current driven domain wall depinning process in wires with spin valves having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. By artificially controlling the strength of the pinning field Hp, the threshold current Jth is found to decrease when reducing Hp. In addition, the efficiency of the depinning process is observed to correlate with the polarization and the damping parameter of the magnetic layer. This suggests that the engineering of pinning sites together with well suited materials provides a pathway for efficient current-induced domain wall manipulation in films with perpendicular anisotropy.
Pressure tuning the optical transmission properties of photonic band gap composites
Authors: Ying Yurong , Xia Jiqiang , Foulger Stephen H.
Published: February 2007

A pressure cell was configured to allow the dynamic tuning of the transmission characteristics of a mechanochromic colloidally based photonic crystal. The rejection wavelength exhibited a 212nm shift from 645to433nm with an applied pressure of 20kPa. At pressures greater than 5kPa, the rejection wavelength shifted ∼−8nm for every incremental 1kPa rise in pressure.
Deuterium passivation of electrically active defects in nonintentionally doped n-GaN
Authors: Mimila-Arroyo J. , Barbé M. , Jomard F. , Chevallier J. , di Forte-Poisson M. A. , Delage S. L. , Dua. C.
Published: February 2007

Deuterium diffusion was achieved in nonintentionally doped n-GaN layers, grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition, at 460°C and a power density of 1.0Wcm−2. A deuterium diffusion mechanism was observed yielding concentrations around 1018cm−3 in the surface region following the (Dt)1∕2 diffusion law. A second mechanism displaying an abnormally high diffusion coefficient, probably occurring along threading dislocations, was observed. The fast diffusing deuterium traps electrons and passivates residual acceptors, decreasing the electron concentration from 1016to1015cm−3 and increasing the electron mobility from 10to320cm2V−1s−1, producing better material for electronic devices.
Pulsed-laser deposited Er:ZnO films for 1.54μm emission
Authors: Pradhan A. K. , Douglas L. , Mustafa H. , Mundle R. , Hunter D. , Bonner C. E.
Published: February 2007

High-quality Er:ZnO films were grown by the pulsed-laser deposition technique at high temperature followed by in situ annealing. The films demonstrate remarkable crystalline quality and array of self-assembled grains. Although the films show very low electrical resistivity (∼6.41×10−4Ωcm) at room temperature, a semiconductor-metal transition was observed at 190K for low doping in contrast to semiconductor behavior for high doping. The films show pronounced room temperature emission at 1.54μm, illustrating the activation of Er3+ ions in ZnO matrix. Furthermore, no quenching effects in 1.54μm emission characteristics were observed up to 2wt% of Er doping in ZnO at room temperature.
Discontinuous ion tracks on silicon oxide on silicon surfaces after grazing-angle heavy ion irradiation
Authors: Carvalho A. M. J. F. , Marinoni M. , Touboul A. D. , Guasch C. , Lebius H. , Ramonda M. , Bonnet J. , Saigne F.
Published: February 2007

Thin silicon oxide layers on silicon have been characterized by atomic force microscopy before and after swift heavy ion irradiation with 0.63MeV∕u Pb ions at grazing angle of incidence. In this letter, the authors report the observation of extended intermittent tracks at the silicon oxide (SiO2) surface. As a result, this raises the question of the discontinuous energy deposition at the nanometric scale. This experimental overlook is of major interest for nanostructuring and surface nanoprocessing as well as with regard to reliability of electronic components and systems.
Quantum-based mechanical force realization in piconewton range
Authors: Choi Jae-Hyuk , Kim Min-Seok , Park Yon-Kyu , Choi Mahn-Soo
Published: February 2007

Mechanical force realization based on flux quantization in the piconewton range is proposed. By controlling the number of flux quantum in a superconducting annulus, a force can be created as integer multiples of a constant step. For a 50nm thick Nb annulus with inner and outer radii of 5 and 10μm, respectively, and field gradient of 10T∕m, the force step is estimated to be 184fN. The stability against thermal fluctuations is also addressed.
Amorphization of embedded Cu nanocrystals by ion irradiation
Authors: Johannessen B. , Kluth P. , Llewellyn D. J. , Foran G. J. , Cookson D. J. , Ridgway M. C.
Published: February 2007

While bulk crystalline elemental metals cannot be amorphized by ion irradiation in the absence of chemical impurities, the authors demonstrate that finite-size effects enable the amorphization of embedded Cu nanocrystals. The authors form and compare the atomic-scale structure of the polycrystalline, nanocrystalline, and amorphous phases, present an explanation for the extreme sensitivity to irradiation exhibited by nanocrystals, and show that low-temperature annealing is sufficient to return amorphized material to the crystalline form.
Stability of continuous-wave laser-crystallized epilike silicon transistors
Authors: Lin Yu-Ting , Chen Chih , Shieh Jia-Min , Pan Ci-Ling
Published: February 2007

Stability of high-hole-mobility thin-film transistors (TFTs) on single-grainlike silicon channels formed by continuous-wave laser crystallization during hot-carrier stressing (HCS) was studied. As channel layers become thicker, laser-mediated channel crystallinity increases, increasing channel roughness. On such epilike polycrystalline silicon substrates, the poorer interface quality for thicker channels, even those with lower tail-state densities of grain traps, is responsible for the extensive charge trapping and creation of deep-state densities in the fabricated TFTs due to HCS. Hence, on a thin channel with a thickness of 50nm and ultrasmooth surfaces, HCS hardly degrades the electrical parameters of the devices.
Role of germanium nitride interfacial layers in HfO2/germanium nitride/germanium metal-insulator-semiconductor structures
Authors: Maeda Tatsuro , Nishizawa Masayasu , Morita Yukinori , Takagi Shinichi
Published: February 2007

The authors investigate the electrical properties of germanium nitride interfacial layers for germanium metal-insulator-semiconductor (Ge MIS) structures with HfO2 high-k dielectrics. A pure Ge nitride interfacial layer is fabricated by direct nitridation of a Ge substrate with the plasma processing before high-k deposition. The interface trap density of Au∕HfO2∕Ge niride/Ge MIS structures measured by the ac conductance method including the effect of the surface potential fluctuation is found to be as low as 1.8×1011cm−2eV−1 at the minimum. It is also found that Ge nitride interfacial layers mitigate the degradation of the accumulation capacitance during the high-temperature annealing.
Control of the Corridor Illusion in Baboons (Papio Papio) by Gradient and Linear-Perspective Depth Cues
Authors: Barbet Isabelle , Fagot Joël
Published: February 2007

The corridor illusion was recently demonstrated in baboons with background pictures containing rich depth information (Barbet and Fagot 2002, Behavioural Brain Research132 111–115). In the current research we determined the contribution of gradient texture and perspective lines to that illusion. In experiment 1, the corridor illusion was tested in two baboons, with pictures of a hallway as backgrounds, or the same image of the hallway represented by perspective lines. Findings confirmed that the baboons experience the corridor illusion with the picture of the hallway, and showed that this illusion remained with the perspective-line backgrounds. The same procedure was adopted in experiment 2, but with a hallway drawn from gradient textures. The two baboons experienced the illusion in this experiment too. Thus both gradient and perspective line cues convey sufficient information to control the corridor illusion in baboons. In baboons, the processing of these two kinds of depth cues interacts with the perception of object size, suggesting homologous processes of pictorial depth perception in humans and non-human primates.
Familiar Other-Race Faces Show Normal Holistic Processing and are Robust to Perceptual Stress
Authors: McKone Elinor , Brewer Jacqueline L , MacPherson Sarah , Rhodes Gillian , Hayward William G
Published: February 2007

Other-race individuals are remembered more poorly and receive less holistic/configural processing than same-race individuals, at least when faces are novel. Here, we examine the amelioration of these effects with familiarity, using distinctiveness-matched Caucasian and Asian stimulus sets. We confirmed a cross-race deficit for upright faces following a single encoding trial, which disappeared rapidly with practice on a small set of other-race ‘friends’ and did not re-emerge when perceptual processing was put under stress (presentation in the periphery). We also examined holistic/configural processing for familiarised faces using the peripheral inversion effect (McKone, 2004 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition30 181 – 197). A test for faces and nonface objects (dogs) confirmed the validity of this technique as providing a direct measure of holistic processing; we then showed that, after 1 h of training, holistic processing was as strong for other-race as same-race faces. We conclude that practice with other-race individuals can rapidly engage normal face-processing mechanisms.
Perception of Visual Inclination in a Real and Simulated Urban Environment
Authors: Feresin Catina , Agostini Tiziano
Published: February 2007

The perceived inclination of slopes is generally overestimated. We claim that overestimation depends on the use of impoverished stimuli and on the distance between the observer and an inclined surface. In experiment 1, participants reported the perceived inclination of a set of urban roads from two different viewing distances. Observers did not overestimate the perceived inclination of slopes when they saw roads from the shorter viewing distances, whereas they slightly overestimated the perceived inclination of slopes from the farther distance. In experiment 2, participants reported the perceived inclination of a set of stereoscopic slides representing the same urban roads as in experiment 1. Here, observers did not overestimate the perceived inclination of slopes when the projected stereoscopic image contained horizontal disparity and simulated the shorter viewing distance; while they revealed a slight overestimation from the farther distance. We found always overestimation when the binocular image did not contain horizontal disparity, independently from the viewing distance. In conclusion, slopes are overestimated when (a) horizontal disparity is absent, and (b) the viewing distance is increased.
What is in a View? The Role of Featural Information in the Recognition of Unfamiliar Faces across Viewpoint Transformation
Authors: Stephan Blossom C M , Caine Diana
Published: February 2007

In recognising a face the visual system shows a remarkable ability in overcoming changes in viewpoint. However, the mechanisms involved in solving this complex computational problem, particularly in terms of information processing, have not been clearly defined. Considerable evidence indicates that face recognition involves both featural and configural processing. In this study we examined the contribution of featural information across viewpoint change. Participants were familiarised with unknown faces and were later tested for recognition in complete or part-face format, across changes in view. A striking effect of viewpoint resulting in a reduction in profile recognition compared with the three-quarter and frontal views was found. However, a complete-face over part-face advantage independent of transformation was demonstrated across all views. A hierarchy of feature salience was also demonstrated. Findings are discussed in terms of the problem of object constancy as it applies to faces.
Online Control of Discrete Action following Visual Perturbation
Authors: Hansen Steve , Elliott Digby , Tremblay Luc
Published: February 2007

We examined the spatial and temporal limitations of the visual corrective process in goal-directed aiming, as well as gender differences in online control. An initial experiment was conducted to test the utility of a monocular switch procedure as a method of rapidly introducing a visual perturbation. The results revealed minimal effect of the monocular switch on movement time and the endpoint error. Following this control experiment, prismatic displacement was introduced at the initiation of and during the movement. In the third experiment, the prism was presented prior to movement initiation, and then removed at the beginning of or during the movement. Movement trajectories were most influenced by the early presentation and removal of the prism, and female performance was significantly more affected by both perturbations than male performance.
Prosopagnosia in Biographies and Autobiographies
Authors: Grüter Thomas , Grüter Martina
Published: February 2007

Prosopagnosia is a selective impairment of the visual learning and recognition of faces. The congenital type, which is not accompanied by detectable brain damage or malformation, was recently found to be far more common than previously known. Therefore, one should expect that at least a few biographies or autobiographies would reveal a prosopagnosia. In this paper we present an autobiography and a biography describing five cases of congenital prosopagnosia. These biographic descriptions of prosopagnosia add further evidence to the assumption that the congenital type of prosopagnosia is not a rare condition, and not as socially crippling as one might expect.
Analyzing gene expression data in terms of gene sets: methodological issues
Authors: Goeman Jelle J. , Bühlmann Peter
Published: February 2007

Motivation: Many statistical tests have been proposed in recent years for analyzing gene expression data in terms of gene sets, usually from Gene Ontology. These methods are based on widely different methodological assumptions. Some approaches test differential expression of each gene set against differential expression of the rest of the genes, whereas others test each gene set on its own. Also, some methods are based on a model in which the genes are the sampling units, whereas others treat the subjects as the sampling units. This article aims to clarify the assumptions behind different approaches and to indicate a preferential methodology of gene set testing.

Results: We identify some crucial assumptions which are needed by the majority of methods. P-values derived from methods that use a model which takes the genes as the sampling unit are easily misinterpreted, as they are based on a statistical model that does not resemble the biological experiment actually performed. Furthermore, because these models are based on a crucial and unrealistic independence assumption between genes, the P-values derived from such methods can be wildly anti-conservative, as a simulation experiment shows. We also argue that methods that competitively test each gene set against the rest of the genes create an unnecessary rift between single gene testing and gene set testing.

Contact:  j.j.goeman@lumc.nl
Immunohistochemical expression of the β‐catenin‐interacting protein B9L is associated with histological high nuclear grade and immunohistochemical ErbB2/HER‐2 expression in breast cancers
Authors: Toya Hiroyuki , Oyama Tetsunari , Ohwada Susumu , Togo Nozomi , Sakamoto Ichiro , Horiguchi Jun , Koibuchi Yukio , Adachi Shungo , Jigami Takafumi , Nakajima Takashi , Akiyama Tetsu
Published: February 2007

B9L/BCL9‐2, a novel β‐catenin‐interacting protein, plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis by translocating β‐catenin to the nucleus and enhancing β‐catenin–T‐cell factor‐mediated transcription. To elucidate the role of B9L in breast cancers, we studied B9L expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast immunohistochemically and compared it to the immunohistochemical expression of known proteins involved in breast carcinogenesis. In breast tissues, B9L immunoreactivity was present exclusively in the nuclei of normal and neoplastic ductal cells. In DCIS, immunohistochemical B9L expression was significantly associated with the tumor nuclear grade, comedo necrosis and the expression of ErbB2/HER‐2, c‐myc and p53. In IDC, B9L expression was correlated with ErbB2/HER‐2 expression and tumor nuclear grade only. In both DCIS and IDC, immunohistochemical B9L expression was not related to the expression of cytoplasmic β‐catenin. We demonstrated that nuclear B9L expression was closely associated with the high nuclear grade cancer phenotype and the expression of ErbB2/HER‐2 in breast cancers. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 484–490)
A continental philosophy perspective on knowledge management
Authors: Hassell Lewis
Published: February 2007

Abstract. Knowledge management is the computer’s contribution to management ‘science’ and claims to be the successor of various trends in the business world, including, but not necessarily limited to information resources management, business process reengineering, management information systems and organizational memory. A number of definitions have been proposed for it. The very concept of knowledge used by knowledge management writers, however, is based on a dubious epistemology. This paper looks at the concept of knowledge from a continental perspective. With this perspective, we question whether what is being managed is, in fact, knowledge, and whether management will get business what it wants anyway.
Understanding the design of information technologies for knowledge management in organizations: a pragmatic perspective
Authors: Butler Tom , Murphy Ciaran
Published: February 2007

Abstract.  Researchers report mixed findings on the successful application of information technologies (IT) for knowledge management (KM). The primary difficulty is argued to be the use of information management techniques and concepts to design and develop KM Tools. Also problematic is the existence of a multiplicity of KM technologies, the application and use of which differs across organizations. This paper argues that these problems stem, in part, from the information system field’s over‐reliance on design concepts from the functionalist paradigm. Hence, our contention that alternative perspectives, which bring into focus issues of ontology and epistemology, need to be brought to bear in order to understand the challenges involved in the design and deployment of IT artefacts in knowledge management systems (KMS). The philosophy of technology, with its emphasis on the primacy of praxis, and which incorporates ontological and epistemological concepts from phenomenology and hermeneutics, is applied to the findings of a participative action research study to illustrate how social actors interpret and understand worldly phenomena and subsequently share their knowledge of the life‐world using IT. The outcome of this marriage of situated practical theory and philosophy is a set of design principles to guide the development of a core KM Tool for KMS.
Medical aspects of ageing in a population with intellectual disability: III. Mobility, internal conditions and cancer
Authors: Evenhuis H. M.
Published: February 2007

The aim of this study was to assess mobility Impairment and morbidity and mortality caused by Internal conditions and cancer in an ageing population with mild to severe intellectual disability. Seventy subjects with a mean age of 70 years (range 60–92 years) at initial evaluation, were assessed during a 10‐year prospective longitudinal study. As was to be expected, there was a high prevalence of mobility impairment (30% under and 58% over age 75), similar to reports from other ageing populations with Intellectual disability, and of related conditions (chronic constipation, pulmonary function loss and urinary incontinence). Overall morbidity and mortality caused by internal disease and cancer might be comparable to that In the general ageing Dutch population, but questions concerning the specific contribution of risk factors will have to be addressed. The lack of or atypical presentation of subjective symptoms was striking. Nevertheless, autopsy outcomes showed that diagnosis in people with intellectual disability can be as accurate as In the general population, if performed actively.
Expressive pragmatic skills in pre‐school children with and without Down's syndrome: parental perceptions
Authors: Johnston F. , Stansfield J.
Published: February 2007

Parental perceptions of the pragmatic skills of six pre‐school children with Down's syndrome were compared to those of six children without cognitive impairment. Children were matched for language comprehension age on the Reynell Developmental Language Scale and parents were interviewed using the Pragmatics Profile of Early Communication Skills. Data from the parental interviews was analysed taking a qualitative approach, using the technique of content analysis. The results showed that the children with and without Down's syndrome had many isimilarities in reported behaviours and responses In addition, five out of the six children with Down's syndrome had some skills which were more advanced than their matched pairs. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed. The evidence suggests that children with Down's syndrome have a normal range of pragmatic skills and communicative intentions compared with children of similar levels of comprehension functioning at an early pre‐school level.
Prevalence and incidence of health problems in people with intellectual disability
Authors: van Schrojenstein Lantman‐de Valk H. M. J. , van den Akker M. , Maaskant M. A. , Haveman M. J. , Urlings H. F. J. , Kessels A.GH. , Crebolder H. F. J. K
Published: February 2007

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of the most frequent chronic health problems in relation to age in people with intellectual disabilities living in residential facilities in the Netherlands. A prospective cohort study was done with four data collections, each with an interval of one year. Data were collected by means of questionnaires which were completed by each person's physician. Striking results included the reported high prevalence and incidence of visual and hearing impairment, which was even more pronounced in people with Down's syndrome than in people with intellectual disability resulting from other causes. Gastrointestinal problems also appeared to have high incidence rates. Dementia was frequently reported in people with Down's syndrome aged 40 years and older. The results reflect the need for a more predictive policy which can anticipate health problems in people with intellectual disability.
The epidemiology of Alzheimer disease in intellectual disability: results and recommendations from an international conference
Authors: Zigman W. , Schupf N. , Haveman M. , Silverman W.
Published: February 2007

Among adults with intellectual disability, virtually everyone with Down's syndrome (DS) over the age of 40 years has neuropathology currently viewed to be consistent with a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), while other adults with intellectual disability without DS display an increased prevalence of Alzheimer‐type neuropathology after they reach the age of 65. This paper presents the results of discussions by an epidemiology workgroup, formed at an international conference convened to discuss AD among people with intellectual disability, concerning: (I) the incidence and prevalence of clinical dementia in adults with intellectual disability; (2) risk factors for the development of AD in adults with intellectual disability; and (3) a minimum data set that would be of great utility for future research on AD in adults with intellectual disability.
Autism in Down's syndrome: family history correlates
Authors: Ghaziuddin M
Published: February 2007

Although the association of autism with Down's syndrome is said to be uncommon, several reports have described the co‐occurrence of the two disorders. This report describes three additional cases of Down's syndrome with autism. In all the patients, a history suggestive of the broader phenotype of autism was obtained In parents. This suggests that familial factors SFtecific to autism may play an important role even when autism complicates a known medical condition such as Down's syndrome.
Disability: the place of judgement in a world of fact*
Authors: Rioux M. H.
Published: February 2007

Ways of viewing disability, of developing research questions, of interpreting research results, of justifying research methodology, and of putting policies and programmes in place are as much about ideology as they are about fact. It is important to recognize how significant this is to research generally and to the field of intellectual disability in particular. The roots of scientific and socio‐economic justification for the allocation of research funding, and of political (or state) action based on research findings can be found in identifiable and shifting ideological frameworks. Therefore, to understand the field, it is useful to explore the social and scientific formulations of disability which underpin the research agenda, and the ways of knowing disability.
Old World—new territory: European perspectives on intellectual disability
Authors: Walsh P. N.
Published: February 2007

People with intellectual disability share the mixed fortunes of the diverse countries in that they live, as well as the social and political changes that mark life in Europe at the close of the twentieth century. The European Union exerts its influence through common policies and centrally funded initiatives which promote the social and vocational integration of people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe are building a new and as‐yet untested social order. This paper outlines the distinctive features of European identity. Some of the gains already achieved on behalf of Europeans with intellectual disability are presented, as well as some of the problems which continue to threaten their well‐being and inclusion. It is suggested that partnerships between countries and regions can help to chart new territory for citizens of the Old World.
Diagnosis of dementia in individuals with intellectual disability*
Authors: Aylward E. H. , Burt D. B. , Thorpe L U. , Lai F. , Dalton A.
Published: February 2007

The foremost impediment to progress in the understanding and treatment of dementia in adults with intellectual disability is the lack of standardized criteria and diagnostic procedures. Standardized criteria for the diagnosis of dementia in individuals with intellectual disability are proposed, and their application is discussed. In addition, procedures for determining v/hether or not
A story description task in children with Down's syndrome: lexical and morphosyntactic abilities
Authors: Fabbretti D. , Pizzuto E. , Vicari S. , Volterra V.
Published: February 2007

A story description task was used to elicit short stories by 10 Italian children and adolescents with Down's syndrome and 10 normal children matched on mean length of utterance (MLU). Data analysis focused on a subset of lexical, morphological and syntactic aspects of language use. The results show that the subjects with Down's syndrome and their normal matches use a similar lexical repertoire. However, the two groups differ with respect to omissions of free morphemes, and some aspects of syntactic and pragmatic abilities. These data on Italian subjects corroborate and extend previous findings on other languages: despite an extensive repertoire of lexical and grammatical items, subjects with Down's syndrome seem unable to use such elements appropriately and consistently across contexts.
Classification, prevalence, prevention and rehabilitation of intellectual disability: an overview of research in the People's Republic of China
Authors: Sonnander K. , Claesson M.
Published: February 2007

The People's Republic of China is a developing country with all the problems and challenges that face such countries all over the world. Progress has been hampered by scarcity of resources, and a lack of relevant information and appropriate skills, as well as by the stigma traditionally attached to people with intellectual disability. The present rapid economic development has made possible further improvement and expansion of educational opportunities, and health and rehabilitation services. According to a recent census and sample surveys conducted in the People's Republic of China, the overall prevalence rate of people with disabilities was estimated to 4.9%. Thus, China has more individuals with disabilities than any other country in the world. According to these figures, the prevalence of intellectual disability in the population is × I %. For children younger than 14 years of age, the prevalence is around 2%, which accounts for 66% of all handicapped children, making it the most frequent childhood disability. Today, the existing medical facilities, and educational and social welfare organizations cannot meet the tremendous need of care and services. The problems of the large number of disabled children and adults are a major challenge for contemporary Chinese society. This paper is devoted to research pertinent to intellectual disability in China. With a few exceptions, only publications in the English language were included in this review, which makes the overview selective rather than comprehensive. Publications on classification systems and diagnostic criteria, screening methods and assessment instruments, prevalence rates, aetiology and risk factors, prevention and intervention efforts, special education, and families with children with intellectual disability are presented.
The effect of the disaster caused by the great Hanshin earthquake on people with intellectual disability
Authors: Takahashi A. , Watanabe K. , Oshima M. , Shimada H. , Ozawa A.
Published: February 2007

The vulnerability of people with intellectual disability when services are disrupted by a major earthquake is described. The value of an accessible register and multiple networks of support at the time of a major disaster is emphasized.
Sexual Selection on Accessory Glands, Genitalia and Protarsal Pads in the Whirligig Beetle Dineutus nigrior Roberts (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)
Authors: Fairn Evan R. , Schulte‐Hostedde Albrecht I. , Alarie Yves
Published: February 2007

Sexual selection is a potent force in the evolution of morphology in sexually reproducing species. When large size in a trait is favored by sexual selection the trait often exhibits positive allometry. Mating behavior in whirligig beetles consists of males attempting to grasp reluctant females using enlarged protarsi (protarsal pads). Here we use allometry and a mating experiment to investigate sexual selection pressures on accessory glands, intromittant genitalia (aedeagus), and protarsal pads in males of the whirligig beetle Dineutus nigrior Roberts. Accessory gland size exhibited positive allometry and males with larger accessory glands were more likely to copulate suggesting that larger size in this trait is favored by sexual selection. Males with larger accessory glands attempted to copulate more often but did not exhibit fewer failed mating attempts before copulating. This suggests that the increased probability of mating in males with large accessory glands is due to higher mating attempt frequency and not to increased ability to overcome female resistance. The length of the aedeagus exhibited negative allometry and males with a longer aedeagus did not have increased mating success. This is consistent with stabilizing selection favoring an intermediate size in this trait. The allometric slope of the protarsal pad did not differ from isometry and males with larger protarsal pads did not have increased mating success. This suggests that larger protarsal pads are not favored by sexual selection.
Detection of the Sexual Identity of Conspecifics through Volatile Chemical Signals in a Territorial Salamander
Authors: Dantzer Benjamin J. , Jaeger Robert G.
Published: February 2007

Territorial red‐backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) have been shown to use nonvolatile chemical signals in both territorial defense and to convey a variety of information to conspecifics. We investigated whether or not red‐backed salamanders could determine the sexual identity of conspecifics through volatile chemical signals, and we explored their use in the context of territorial defense. We exposed male and female red‐backed salamanders to four experimental treatments (i.e. filter papers that had been scent marked by male or female conspecifics for 1 and 5 d) and two control treatments (i.e. unscented filter papers for 1 and 5 d tests). The focal salamanders were prevented from physically accessing the scent marked filter papers and, presumably, some of the substrate scent marks had volatile components that were detected and interpreted by the focal salamanders. Both male and female red‐backed salamanders spent significantly more time in threat displays when they were exposed to volatile chemical signals from same‐sex conspecifics than they did toward similar signals from opposite‐sex conspecifics. A similar statistical pattern was observed for the amount of chemosensory sampling exhibited by focal red‐backed salamanders. From these results, we infer that red‐backed salamanders can determine the sexual identity of conspecifics through volatile chemical signals, some of which may be used in territorial defense. Further, such airborne pheromones may influence the spatial organization of salamander territories on the forest floor.