bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spirituality and medicine: complementary perspectives
Authors: Aldridge David
Published: January 2006

The natural science base of modern medicine, which in turn influences the way in which modern medicine is delivered, often ignores the spiritual factors associated with health. Health invariably becomes defined in anatomical or physiological, psychological or social terms. Practitioners and researchers are not being asked to abandon the language of natural science, simply to accept that within our varying cultures there are complementary vocabularies and repertoires of healing that have their own validity and with which those people who come to us as sufferers narrate the performance of their own lives. To deny the validity of their language of expression as it is performed in the dramaturgy of their lives is to deny legitimacy to the identity of the sufferer, and that contributes further to the suffering. Religions are developing to meet individual needs and alternative forms of celebration. Within these religions, as symbolic systems and repertoires of practices with their multiplicity of ever‐changing texts, there will be individualized spiritualities. The same goes for healthcare practices and the fluctuating definitions of health. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Integrating Tarot readings into counselling and psychotherapy
Authors: Semetsky Inna
Published: January 2006

This paper is based on research conducted between 1992 and 1994 under the auspices of the Behavioral Board Science Examiners in California, USA, and for the purpose of satisfying requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. In the current global climate permeated by diverse beliefs, disparate values and cultural conflicts (natural disasters notwithstanding), an integrative approach to therapy is paramount for maintaining public mental health. The purpose of this paper is not only to contribute to the desensitization of some preconceived ideas regarding Tarot but also so that the author may share the practical knowledge she have initially obtained for herself and which can be used as a means towards achieving people's well‐being and emotional security, as well as making sense of different and conflicting experiences. The research subjects' verbal reports, as their immediate self‐reflection on each individual reading, constitute the focal point of this paper. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The tumor suppressor p53 is not required for antigen receptor‐mediated apoptosis of B lymphocytes
Authors: Devi Singh Savita , Hagiyama Hiroyuki , Adachi Takahiro , Miyasaka Nobuyuki , Tsubata Takeshi
Published: January 2006

The tumor suppressor p53 has been shown to be essential in apoptosis induced by irradiation, deregulated c‐Myc expression and anti‐cancer drugs. The protein level of p53 was moderately increased when the B cell line WEHI‐231 undergoes apoptosis by B cell receptor (BCR) crosslinking. However, overexpression of a dominant negative form of p53, p53DD, abolished DNA binding activity of p53 almost completely but failed to block BCR‐mediated death of WEHI‐231, suggesting that p53‐mediated transactivation is not required for BCR‐mediated apoptosis of WEHI‐231. Moreover, B cells of p53‐deficient mice underwent cell death upon BCR crosslinking as efficiently as those of normal littermates, indicating that p53 is not essential for BCR‐mediated apoptosis of normal B cells. Although a previous report suggested that p53 is required for BCR‐mediated apoptosis through its transactivation, our data strongly argue that p53 is not required for BCR‐mediated apoptosis.
Characterisation of lipids in cell signalling and membrane dynamics by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
Authors: Garnier Marie , Dufourc Erick J. , Larijani Banafshe
Published: January 2006

Signalling lipids regulate cellular events directly by recruiting and/or activating specific proteins or indirectly by locally modifying the physical properties of the membrane. These events trigger the co‐localisation and interaction of proteins on membranes. This in turn effects the function and the properties of the proteins. To enable a comprehensive study of the complex and spatially heterogeneous natural membrane, complementary analytical tools need to be applied. Spectroscopy tools such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry provide the sensitivity and the precision required for detecting low amounts of highly transient signalling lipids, but also determine their effect on membrane structure. Specific examples are used to illustrate the application of liquid NMR spectroscopy, solid state NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. The main advantages and limitations of these tools are discussed in this review.
Design and implementation of a wireless internet remote access platform
Authors: Lai Yen‐Cheng , Lin Phone , Huang Yao‐Ting
Published: January 2006

Recently, mobile networks and internet technologies have been widely developed for the voice communication and information retrieval services all over the world. Compared with the wire‐line internet environment, mobile networks have lower bandwidth, longer transmission latency and unreliable connection, and the capability of mobile terminals is restricted by the limited memory size, lower CPU computation capability and inconvenient I/O interface. These limitations restrict the development of the wireless internet applications. In this paper, we design and implement a ‘wireless internet remote access platform’ (WIRAP). The WIRAP platform interconnects the wireless network and internet to provide mobile users a remote centralized storage and computation environment. A mobile user can store large volume of data and execute complex computations on WIRAP instead of on the mobile terminals. WIRAP supports different network interfaces (e.g. short message service (SMS), wireless markup language (WML) and hyper text markup language (HTML) and users may use terminals (with different network capabilities) to access WIRAP. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient IEEE 802.11 handoff based on a novel geographical fingerprint scheme
Authors: Wu Tin‐Yu , Lai Cheng‐Chia , Chao Han‐Chieh
Published: January 2006

The effective coverage distance of wireless LAN (WLAN) being small, users may leave the coverage area of the specific access point (AP) from time to time while roaming. However, the wireless network is a shared medium. The air is open for everyone. In general there is collision if a few users attempt to transmit with the same channel that is more rigorous during handoff period because of active scan mode. The active scan will perform requests for searching available AP. Unfortunately, this function consumes too much resource in wireless communication, and also affect total performance. We will propose an advanced active scan to improve it. In our proposal, we convert RF signal distribution to a simple classification problem, like as XOR classifier with artificial neural network (ANN). We combine ANN with active scan to achieve our goal. And the weight, which trained by ANN presents the connection character of geography. Moreover, the weight could be stored in AP for reusing and is called geographical fingerprint. The average enhancement of reducing the active scan area is about 62%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New insights into the colour origin of archaeological Egyptian blue and green by XAFS at the Cu K‐edge
Authors: Pagès‐Camagna S. , Reiche I. , Brouder C. , Cabaret D. , Rossano S. , Kanngießer B. , Erko A.
Published: January 2006

New results on the local chemical environment of Cu2+ in archaeological Egyptian blue and green and also modern Egyptian green were obtained by x‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis. The information is essential for the understanding of the colouring mechanisms in both pigments. In a previous study, a clear physico‐chemical characterisation of Egyptian blue and green was achieved using a complementary analytical approach with ancient and modern synthesized pigments. Electron microscopy (SEM–EDX and TEM), x‐ray diffraction and micro‐Raman and UV–visible spectroscopy were used to gain information about the conditions of the ancient Egyptian fabrication processes and permitted the clear distinction of both pigments. However, the exact colouring mechanisms could not be elucidated by these methods. Different Cu‐bearing amorphous and crystalline phases were found in both pigments. These phases should be at the origin of the blue and turquoise colours. Using XAFS data at the Cu K‐edge, new insights into the origin of the colouring mechanisms of both pigments could be obtained from the precision of the Cu speciation. In Egyptian blue, Cu2+ is mainly allocated in a square‐planar site in a crystalline cuprorivaite phase, whereas in Egyptian green, Cu2+ is basically situated in a distorted octahedral site in an amorphous phase. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Population dynamics of Caulerpa sertularioides (Chlorophyta: Bryopsidales) from Baja California, Mexico, during El Niño and La Niña years
Authors: Scrosati Ricardo
Published: January 2006

This study monitored the abundance of the tropical/subtropical seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides (Chlorophyta: Bryopsidales) from a sandy beach from Balandra Cove, on the south-eastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, between April 1998 and April 2000, including consecutive El Niño and La Niña events. El Niño conditions, indicated by relatively high seawater temperatures, were associated with a high population abundance (April–June 1998), whereas La Niña conditions, indicated by relatively low temperatures, were associated with the absence of C. sertularioides (April–June 1999 and April 2000). Caulerpa sertularioides was present during other times of the year during the study period, but never with the high abundance reached during El Niño conditions. Seaweeds of temperate affinity occurring in Baja California, such as Gelidium robustum (Rhodophyta: Gelidiales) and Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae: Laminariales), decreased sharply in abundance during El Niño conditions. Therefore, the biogeographic affinity of seaweeds from Baja California might be helpful in predicting the effects of El Niño and La Niña on their abundance, with implications for resource management and for the prediction of the effects of long-term oceanographic changes on seaweed distribution.
Carbon and nitrogen content of Laminaria saccharina in the eastern English Channel: biometrics and seasonal variations
Authors: Gevaert F. , Davoult D. , Creach A. , Kling R. , Janquin M.-A. , Seuront L. , Lemoine Y.
Published: January 2006

Fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), carbon and nitrogen content were measured for specimens of Laminaria saccharina (Heterokontophyta: Phaeophyceae) sampled in the eastern English Channel in order to conduct a biometrical study. The aim was to relate carbon and nitrogen masses of the algae to a simple and rapid morphological measurement of the total length of the sporophyte. These relationships were highly significant and appeared very useful to express the standing biomass of L. saccharina in terms of carbon or nitrogen and then to consider dynamic processes such as primary production. Variations in tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were examined over a complete seasonal cycle. Average carbon and nitrogen content ranged from 23·9 to 31·4% and 2·23 to 3·42% of the total dry weight, respectively. Variations in C/N ratio showed a clear seasonal pattern with an increase in the early spring corresponding to strong photosynthesis and growth.
Burrow morphology and mating behaviour of the thalassinidean shrimp Upogebia noronhensis
Authors: Candisani Luciano C. , Sumida Paulo Y.G. , Pires-Vanin Ana Maria S.
Published: January 2006

Burrow morphology and mating behaviour of Upogebia noronhensis was studied using resin casting of burrows in the field and observation of laboratory maintained animals. Burrows of U. noronhensis showed a typical Y-shaped pattern in over 70% of the cases analysed. The remaining 30% comprised U-shaped burrows lacking the lower tunnel (shaft) and burrows with long additional branches projecting from the U portion. Results from animals left to construct burrows in the aquarium closely matched those found in nature. Field and laboratory burrows showed that different shapes are related to the collapse of the burrow walls, the burrowing activities of other individuals and species, and to the behaviour of the species itself. U-shaped burrows form as a result of the partial construction of the burrow (the U part is always built first) or owing to the collapse of the shaft. Burrows with additional branches always belonged to males and result from their search for a female with which to reproduce. This process also produced connected burrows. Mating occurs within the female burrow and this is the only time when two animals occupy the same burrow. After mating, the male returns to its burrow and immediately closes the connection. Larvae are planktonic and probably settle in adult areas, since the smallest juvenile burrows were always associated with adult burrows. This may contribute to the high population densities found in the field (∼200 ind m−2), which in consequence facilitates fossorial encounters for reproduction. This is the first time fossorial encounters for reproduction are reported for an Upogebia species and probably for all Thalassinidea.
Stomach contents of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Scottish waters
Authors: Santos M.B. , Pierce G.J. , Reid R.J. , Patterson I.A.P. , Ross H.M. , Mente E.
Published: January 2006

Data on stomach contents of ten bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded and by-caught around Scotland (UK) between 1990 and 1999 are presented. Although the species is resident in the Moray Firth (north-east Scotland), little previous information exists on the feeding habits of the species in Scottish waters. Cod (Gadus morhua), saithe (Pollachius virens) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) were found to be the main prey eaten although several other fish species were also found, including salmon (Salmo salar) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and also cephalopods.
Observation of virus-like particles in thin sections of the plumose anemone, Metridium senile
Authors: Wilson William H. , Chapman David M.
Published: January 2006

Virus-like particles (VLPs) were observed in thin sections of the plumose anemone, Metridium senile, collected from seawater off the west coast of Sweden in 1969. The VLPs were observed in the nucleus of spiroblasts and amoebocytes; they were either pentagonal or hexagonal in section, indicating an icosahedral structure. Virus-like particles were ∼60 nm in diameter, with an electron-dense core 40 nm in width; they had no apparent tail. This is the first substantial report of viruses observed in sea anemone cells.
Comparison between the Nereis diversicolor and Nereis virens marine worms in the transformation of ingested hydrocarbons
Authors: Gilbert F. , Desrosiers G. , Hulth S. , Stora G.
Published: January 2006

A feeding experiment was conducted on the marine worm Nereis diversicolor to compare the fate of a hydrocarbon mixture during the gut passage in this species with the hydrocarbon breakdown process demonstrated for Nereis virens. Hydrocarbon dissolution/solubilization processes in the gut of N. diversicolor were found to have similar qualitative and quantitative importance in the hydrocarbon transformation as those observed in N. virens.
The brachyuras of the Dardanelles
Authors: Palaz Mustafa , Çelik Ekrem Şanver , Berber Selçuk
Published: January 2006

This study was conducted to research brachyuran crabs at the upper infralittoral zone of the Dardanelles from August 1997 to February 1998. The samples were collected by diving and dredge. The crabs were fixed and preserved in 5% formalin prepared in seawater. The brachyuran crabs were identified in systematic order according to literature records and data.

It was established that eight discernible species and eight genera belonging to five families on the shores of the Dardanelles existed, including: Eriphia verrucosa, Xantho poressa, Carcinus aestuarii, Liocarcinus depurator, Maja crispata, Pachygrapsus marmoratus, Ilia nucleus and Macropodia longirostris.
Occurrence of the astigmatid mite Tyrophagus in estuarine benthic sediments
Authors: Marshall David J. , Perissinotto Renzo , Nozais Christian , Haines Carla-Jane , Procheş Şerban
Published: January 2006

The astigmatid mite species, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, was found to occur in meiobenthic collections from the Mdloti Estuary on the eastern seaboard of southern Africa. To examine whether these mites are actually components of estuarine systems or the result of contamination of collecting and laboratory materials, special sterilization procedures were incorporated into the collection protocol. Samples employing sterilization procedures still yielded Tyrophagus mites, providing evidence for their existence in the estuarine sediments. The origination of these mites in estuarine and fringe marine systems, in general, is discussed. These findings are significant in terms of the potential trophic importance of Tyrophagus mites.
Approaches for the identification of potential excreted/secreted proteins ofLeishmania majorparasites
Authors: CHENIK M. , LAKHAL S. , BEN KHALEF N. , ZRIBI L. , LOUZIR H. , DELLAGI K.
Published: January 2006

Leishmaniaparasites are able to survive in host macrophages despite the harsh phagolysosomal vacuoles conditions. This could reflect, in part, their capacity to secrete proteins that may play an essential role in the establishment of infection and serve as targets for cellular immune responses. To characterizeLeishmania majorproteins excreted/secreted early after promastigote entry into the host macrophage, we have generated antibodies against culture supernatants of stationary-phase promastigotes collected 6 h after incubation in conditions that partially reproduce those prevailing in the parasitophorous vacuole. The screening of anL. majorcDNA library with these antibodies led us to isolate 33 different cDNA clones that we report here. Sequence analysis revealed that the corresponding proteins could be classified in 3 groups: 9 proteins have been previously described as excreted/secreted inLeishmaniaand/or other species; 11 correspond to known proteins already characterized inLeishmaniaand/or other species although it is unknown whether they are excreted/secreted and 13 code for unknown proteins. Interestingly, the latter are transcribed as shown by RT-PCR and some of them are stage regulated. TheL. majorexcreted/secreted proteins may constitute putative virulence factors, vaccine candidates and/or new drug targets.
Passive coordination of nonlinear bilateral teleoperated manipulators
Authors: McIntyre M. , Dixon W. , Dawson D. , Tatlicioglu E.
Published: January 2006

Significant research has been aimed at the development and control of teleoperator systems due to both the practical importance and the challenging theoretical nature of the problem. Two controllers are developed in this paper for a nonlinear teleoperator system that target coordination of the master and slave manipulators and passivity of the overall system. The first controller is proven to yield a semi-global asymptotic result in the presence of parametric uncertainty in the master and slave manipulator dynamic models. The second controller yields a global asymptotic result despite unmeasurable user and environmental input forces. To develop each controller, a transformation encodes the coordination and passivity objectives in the closed loop system. The coordinated system is forced to track a dynamic system to assist in meeting all control objectives. Finally, continuous nonlinear integral feedback terms are used to accommodate for incomplete system knowledge for both controllers. Lyapunov-based techniques are used to prove that all control objectives are met and that all signals are bounded.
Cosmopolitism, Global Justice, and International Law
Authors: PIERIK ROLAND , WERNER WOUTER
Published: January 2006

Along with the exploding attention to globalization, issues of global justice have become central elements in political philosophy. After decades in which debates were dominated by a state-centric paradigm, current debates in political philosophy also address issues of global inequality, global poverty, and the moral foundations of international law. As recent events have demonstrated, these issues also play an important role in the practice of international law. In fields such as peace and security, economic integration, environmental law, and human rights, international lawyers are constantly confronted with questions of global justice and international legitimacy. This special issue contains four papers which address an important element of this emerging debate on cosmopolitan global justice, with much relevance for international law: the principle of sovereign equality, global economic inequality, and environmental law.
The Role of Fair Trial Considerations in the Complementarity Regime of the International Criminal Court: From ‘No Peace without Justice’ to ‘No Peace with Victor's Justice’?
Authors: ROJO ENRIQUE CARNERO
Published: January 2006

This article discusses the possibility of the International Criminal Court's taking domestic investigations and prosecutions of crimes within its jurisdiction where states are unwilling genuinely to investigate or prosecute such crimes. In particular sustaining the admissibility of a case on the basis of the lack of impartiality or independence of national proceedings is subject to analysis. Whereas the lack of this due process guarantee is expressly considered in the Rome Statute as a ground for admissibility where it is meant to shield a person from criminal responsibility, it is not equally clear that a case can be declared admissible where domestic proceedings are or were unfairly conducted to the prejudice of the person concerned. On an analysis of the wording of the Statute, its object and purpose, and its ‘preparatory works’, the possibility of the Court's taking on domestic proceedings on the basis of their being intentionally unfair to the prejudice of a suspect or accused does not appear to have a strong legal basis. However, recent developments at the ICTY and the ICTR show the importance of such a possibility to the fulfilment of the mission entrusted to the ad hoc tribunals. This circumstance brings about crucial questions about the role of the International Criminal Court in the enforcement of international justice and its contribution to international peace and security.
Surveillance of respiratory virus infections in adult hospital admissions using rapid methods
Authors: KAYE M. , SKIDMORE S. , OSMAN H. , WEINBREN M. , WARREN R.
Published: January 2006

Both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause epidemics of respiratory illness of variable severity during the winter season. Influenza in particular has been blamed for hospital winter bed pressures, although it is thought that RSV may also play a role. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a new respiratory virus reported to be important in children; only a limited number of studies are available for adult populations. We aimed to determine initially the burden of virologically confirmed infections, i.e. influenza, RSV and hMPV using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and, in addition, to assess the feasibility of this approach as a surveillance tool for these respiratory viruses. Adult patients admitted to hospital in the previous 24 hours with onset of acute respiratory symptoms in the last 14 days were asked to participate. Informed written consent was obtained and nose and throat swabs taken. Multiplex PCR for influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2), influenza B and RSV A and B were carried out together with a separate PCR for hMPV. A total of 219 patients in 2001–2002 and 216 in 2002–2003 were tested and the combined results for both seasons were: 8 positive for influenza A/H1N1, 14 for influenza A/H3N2, 2 for influenza B, 14 for RSV A and 6 for RSV B. Most patients (261/435) were >65 years and most positives (30/44) were found within this age group. A number of patients aged >65 years who were positive for influenza (12/15) reported having had vaccine. In total, 373 samples were tested for hMPV and 20 were found positive across all age groups except the 45–54 years age group. As influenza activity was low during the study period the impact of infection on admissions could not be assessed. Nevertheless the viruses studied accounted for 15% of hospital admissions for respiratory infection. Most patients were aged >65 years, as expected. In the two years studied RSV and hMPV were each responsible for as many hospitalized cases of respiratory infection as influenza. Influenza infection must be considered even in those who give a history of vaccination. The molecular methods used in this study showed that surveillance of these respiratory viruses can be conducted and may help in the management of patients.
The use of outbreak information in the interpretation of clustering of reported cases of Escherichia coli O157 in space and time in Alberta, Canada, 2000–2002
Authors: PEARL D. L. , LOUIE M. , CHUI L. , DORÉ K. , GRIMSRUD K. M. , LEEDELL D. , MARTIN S. W. , MICHEL P. , SVENSON L. W. , McEWEN S. A.
Published: January 2006

We obtained a list of all reported cases of Escherichia coli O157 in Alberta during the 2000–2002 period, and using scan statistics we identified yearly temporal and spatial clusters of reported cases of E. coli O157 during the summer and in southern Alberta. However, the location of the spatial cluster in the south was variable among years. The impact of using both outbreak and sporadic data or only sporadic data on the identification of spatial and temporal clusters was small when analysing individual years, but the difference between spatial clusters was pronounced when scanning the entire study period. We also identified space-time clusters that incorporated known outbreaks, and clusters that were suggestive of undetected outbreaks that we attempted to validate with molecular data. Our results suggest that scan statistics, based on a space-time permutation model, may have a role in outbreak investigation and surveillance programmes by identifying previously undetected outbreaks.
Survival and ultrastructure of gene-microinjected rabbit embryos after vitrification
Authors: Popelková M. , Chrenek P. , Pivko J. , Makarevich A.V. , Kubovičová E. , Kačmárik J.
Published: January 2006

Morphological signs of injury and subsequent regeneration following vitrification of either rabbit gene microinjected (Gene-Mi) or intact in vitro cultured embryos derived from in vivo fertilized eggs were evaluated by post-warming recovery in culture and analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The percentages of vitrified/warmed Gene-Mi embryos that reached the blastocyst stage (69%) and hatched (57%) did not differ significantly from those of intact embryos (78% and 56%, respectively). In contrast, in vitro development of embryos to the blastocyst stage among non-vitrified intact (96%) and Gene-Mi (90%) embryos compared with both the intact vitrified (78%) and Gene-Mi vitrified (69%) groups, as well as hatching rate (94%, 90% vs 56%, 57%, respectively) varied significantly (p<0.001). Observations by TEM showed that the vitrified/warmed intact or Gene-Mi embryos without post-culture displayed severe degenerative changes among their cells. During 24 h of culture a proportion of the embryos were able to regenerate and complete the compaction process. Nevertheless the signs of previous injury were retained, such as swollen cytoplasmic organelles and remaining cellular debris in the perivitelline space. These observations indicate that the procedure of gene Mi does not siginificantly compromise embryo tolerance to cryopreservation and post-warming developmental ability. Severe changes in embryo morphology, observed at the ultrastructural level, can be attributed to a direct influence of the vitrification process rather than to the Mi procedure itself.
Use of strontium in the activation of bovine oocytes reconstructed by somatic cell nuclear transfer
Authors: Yamazaki Walt , Ferreira Christina Ramires , Méo Simone Cristina , Leal Cláudia Lima Verde , Meirelles Flávio Vieira , Garcia Joaquim Mansano
Published: January 2006

As an important step in the nuclear transfer (NT) procedure, we evaluated the effect of three different treatments for oocyte activation on the in vitro and in vivo developmental capacity of bovine reconstructed embryos: (1) strontium, which has been successfully used in mice but not yet tested in cattle; (2) ionomycin and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), a standard treatment used in cattle; (3) ionomycin and strontium, in place of 6-DMAP. As regards NT blastocyst development, no difference was observed when strontium (20.1%) or ionomycin/6-DMAP (14.4%) were used. However, when 6-DMAP was substituted by strontium (3), the blastocyst rate (34.8%) was superior to that in the other activation groups (p <0.05). Results of in vivo development showed the possibility of pregnancies when NT embryos activated in strontium were transferred to recipient cows (16.6%). A live female calf was obtained when ionomycin/strontium were used, but it died 30 days after birth. Our findings show that strontium can be used as an activation agent in bovine cloning procedures and that activation with a combination of strontium and ionomycin increased the in vitro developmental capacity of reconstructed embryos. This is the first report of a calf produced by adult somatic cell NT in Latin America.
Introduction
Authors: BURKE PETER
Published: January 2006

A preoccupation with hybridity is natural in a period like ours marked by increasingly frequent and intense cultural encounters. Globalization encourages hybridization. However we react to it, the globalizing trend is impossible to miss, from curry and chips – recently voted the favourite dish in Britain – to Thai saunas, Zen Judaism, Nigerian Kung Fu or ‘Bollywood’ films. The process is particularly obvious in the domain of music, in the case of such hybrid forms and genres as jazz, reggae, salsa or, more recently, Afro-Celtic rock. New technology (including, appropriately enough, the ‘mixer’), has obviously facilitated this kind of hybridization.

It is no wonder then that a group of theorists of hybridity have made their appearance, themselves often of double or mixed cultural identity. Homi Bhabha for instance, is an Indian who has taught in England and is now in the USA. Stuart Hall, who was born in Jamaica of mixed parentage, has lived most of his life in England and describes himself as ‘a mongrel culturally, the absolute cultural hybrid’. Ien Ang describes herself as ‘an ethnic Chinese, Indonesian-born and European-educated academic who now lives and works in Australia’. The late Edward Said was a Palestinian who grew up in Egypt, taught in the USA and described himself as ‘out of place’ wherever he was located.

The work of these and other theorists has attracted growing interest in a number of disciplines, from anthropology to literature, from geography to art history, and from musicology to religious studies. In this issue, the contributions discuss Africa, Japan and the Americas as well as Europe and range from the 16th century to the 21st, from religion to architecture and from clothing to the cinema.
TELEPHONE COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME IN SECONDARY CARE: A CASE SERIES
Authors: Burgess Mary , Chalder Trudie
Published: January 2006

Four randomized controlled trials have shown out-patient cognitive behaviour therapy reduces fatigue and
disability in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, some patients referred to Kings College
Hospital, London are unable to attend regular appointments. We therefore developed a self-help treatment manual
using cognitive-behavioural principles for patients to use at home with telephone contact with a therapist. Nine consecutive patients with a diagnosis of CFS who were unable to attend regular out-patient appointments used this self-help
treatment approach at home. The therapist (MB) carried out a face-to-face assessment at the hospital. Subsequently,
patients had fortnightly telephone appointments to discuss their progress, plan and discuss their homework and any
problems. Outcome was evaluated using measures of functional impairment, fatigue, mood and general health before
and after treatment and at 3 and 6-month follow-up. Eight patients completed treatment. Functional impairment, fatigue
and general health improved at discharge and gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Self-treatment at home
guided by a manual with fortnightly telephone sessions was helpful in the treatment of patients with chronic fatigue
syndrome. A randomized controlled trial is underway to compare telephone cognitive behaviour therapy with out-patient cognitive behaviour therapy. Patients with other conditions such as chronic pain who are unable to travel for
regular appointments may benefit from a home-based treatment package involving therapist contact by phone.
DOES PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY PREDICT THERAPY OUTCOME IN A CLINICAL SETTING?
Authors: Moorey Stirling , Holting Christoph , Hughes Peter , Knynenberg Peter , Michael Albert
Published: January 2006

This study tested the use of a problem solving measure (The Problem Solving Scale: Center for Cognitive
Therapy, 1988) as a predictor of outcome in patients receiving cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in an NHS psychotherapy service. Lower scores at assessment on the Problem Solving Scale (PSS) were predicted to be associated with poorer outcome for all diagnoses (but particularly depression) and higher dropout. The PSS predicted outcome for depressed patients receiving CBT, but not anxious patients or patients with other disorders. Poorer problem solving was not associated with dropout from therapy. Components of the scale that were most closely correlated with global outcome seemed to reflect the behavioural activation and cognitive restructuring skills taught in CBT for depression. Since this is the second study to connect PSS scores with outcome in depression (Scott, Harrington, House, & Ferrier, 1996), the possibility that aspects of learned resourcefulness are relevant to patients' suitability for CBT remains alive, and further research in this area is indicated.
Deepwater overflow through Luzon Strait
Authors: Qu Tangdong , Girton James B. , Whitehead J. A.
Published: January 2006

This study examines water property distributions in the deep South China Sea and adjoining Pacific Ocean using all available hydrographic data. Our analysis reveals that below about 1500 m there is a persistent baroclinic pressure gradient driving flow from the Pacific into the South China Sea through Luzon Strait. Applying hydraulic theory with assumptions of zero potential vorticity and flat bottom to the Luzon Strait yields a transport estimate of 2.5 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1). Some implications of this result include: (1) a residence time of less than 30 years in the deep South China Sea, (2) a mean diapycnal diffusivity as large as 10−3 m2 s−1, and (3) an abyssal upwelling rate of about 3 × 10−6 m s−1. These quantities are consistent with residence times based on oxygen consumption rates. The fact that all of the inflowing water must warm up before leaving the basin implies that this marginal sea contributes to the water mass transformations that drive the meridional overturning circulation in the North Pacific. Density distributions within the South China Sea basin suggest a cyclonic deep boundary current system, as might be expected for an overflow‐driven abyssal circulation.
Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine: two of a kind?
Authors: Alewijnse Astrid E , Michel Martin C
Published: January 2006

Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine are structurally related signalling molecules. Although they share some biological effects, it is debated whether this involves the same receptors. In this issue, Mathieson and Nixon report that these two lipids activate the same transcription factor but do so via distinct signalling pathways. Against this background, we discuss some of the potential pitfalls in studies comparing the effects of the two sphingolipids.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, 347–348. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706602
Transforming growth factor βs are upregulated in the rat masseter muscle hypertrophied by clenbuterol, a β2 adrenergic agonist
Authors: Akutsu Satonari , Shimada Akemi , Yamane Akira
Published: January 2006

The regulatory mechanism for the hypertrophy of skeletal muscles induced by clenbuterol is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which transforming growth factor βs (TGFβs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and platelet‐derived growth factors (PDGFs) are involved in the hypertrophy of rat masseter muscle induced by clenbuterol.

We measured the mRNA expression levels for TGFβs, FGFs, HGF, and PDGFs in rat masseter muscle hypertrophied by oral administration of clenbuterol for 3 weeks and determined correlations between the weight of masseter muscle and mRNA expression levels by regression analysis. We determined immunolocalizations of TGFβs and their receptors (TGFβRs).

The mRNA expression levels for TGFβ1, 2, and 3, and for PDGF‐B demonstrated clenbuterol‐induced elevations and positive correlations with the weight of masseter muscle. In particular, TGFβ1, 2, and 3 showed strong positive correlations (correlation coefficients >0.6). The mRNA expression levels for PDGF‐A, FGF‐1 and 2, and HGF showed no significant differences between the control and clenbuterol groups, and no significant correlations. TGFβ1, 2, and 3 were principally localized in the connective tissues interspaced among myofibers, and TGFβRI and II were localized in the periphery and sarcoplasm of the myofibers.

These results suggest that paracrine actions of TGFβ1, 2, and 3 via TGFβRI and II could be involved in the hypertrophy of rat masseter muscle induced by clenbuterol. This is the first study to document the involvement of TGFβs in the hypertrophy of skeletal muscles induced by clenbuterol.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, 412–421. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706625
Elimination of mode grouping in InGaAsP∕InP ridge waveguide laser using quantum-well intermixing
Authors: Teng J. H. , Dong J. R. , Chua S. J. , Yin R. , Foo B. C. , Wang B. Z. , Wang Y. J.
Published: January 2006

In this letter, we report the observation of the longitudinal mode grouping effect in the InGaAsP∕InP multiquantum-well ridge waveguide laser. Two mode groups were observed and showed different behaviors with the changing of the injection current. The higher order lateral modes and the current spreading in the ridge waveguide structure is proposed to be responsible for this mode grouping phenomena. A one-step quantum-well intermixing process using the SiO2 electrical isolation layer itself was introduced and proved to be effective in improving the lateral electrical and optical confinement in a ridge waveguide laser structure as well as eliminating the mode grouping.
Beyond the resonant dipole interaction model: Resolution of a discrepancy between experimental and calculated structures of the carbon dioxide cyclic planar trimer
Authors: Boychenko Inna V. , Huber Hanspeter
Published: January 2006

A dimer and two trimers of carbon dioxide are known experimentally and have also been studied computationally. Whereas the calculated and experimental structures are in excellent agreement for the dimer and in fair agreement for the nonplanar trimer of C2 symmetry, the cyclic planar trimer shows a significant discrepancy in the angle β which measures the deviation from D3h symmetry. All calculations yield for this angle values around 40° in contrast to the experimental angle of (33.8±0.5)°. The latter was obtained from the experimental shift of the asymmetric vibrational stretch line of the trimer relative to the monomer using the resonant dipole-dipole interaction model. This model corresponds to the leading term in the molecular transition multipole expansion (TMPE) of the electrostatic coupling contribution to vibrational shifts. In this paper we go beyond the resonant dipole-dipole interaction model and include higher-order moments. To this end we use the first-order perturbation approach in combination with the (CO2)2 ab initio symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT)-s potential to calculate the vibrational shifts and scale the CO2 SAPT-s point charges to reproduce the experimental transition dipole moment of the gas-phase CO2 asymmetric stretch. The transition dipole-dipole term in the TMPE of the electrostatic coupling plays a predominant role in the vibrational shifts of the CO2 dimer and nonplanar trimer, however, to explain the vibrational shifts of the cyclic planar trimer the inclusion of the higher-order vibrationally induced moments is needed. As the angle β in this trimer approaches the value of 40° the dipole-dipole term in the electrostatic coupling disappears and the sum of the higher-order terms becomes important for the correct description of the vibrational shifts. Hence applying the resonant dipole-dipole interaction model to the experimentally observed vibrational shift for the cyclic planar trimer gives the wrong angle β for this trimer. The higher-order terms in the TMPE of the electrostatic coupling which are not negligible for the vibrational shifts of the cyclic planar trimer include vibrationally induced dipole-octupole and quadrupole-quadrupole interactions.
On the relation between quantum lifetimes and classical stability for the systems with a saddle-type potential
Authors: Simonović N. S.
Published: January 2006

Relations between quantum-mechanical and classical properties of open systems with a saddle-type potential, for which at a given energy only one unstable periodic orbit exists, are studied. By considering the convergence of the Gutzwiller trace formula [J. Math. Phys. 12, 343 (1971)] it is confirmed that both for homogeneous and inhomogeneous potentials the poles of the formula are located below the real energy axis, i.e., these kind of potentials do not support bound states, in general. Within the harmonic approximation the widths of resonant (transition) states are proportional to the values of Lyapunov exponent of the single periodic orbit calculated at the energies which are equal to the resonance positions. The accuracy of the semiclassical relation is discussed and demonstrated for several examples.
Collisionless damping of zonal flows in helical systems
Authors: Sugama H. , Watanabe T.-H.
Published: January 2006

Collisionless time evolution of zonal flows in helical systems is investigated. An analytical expression describing the collisionless response of the zonal-flow potential to the initial potential and a given turbulence source is derived from the gyrokinetic equations combined with the quasineutrality condition. The dispersion relation for the geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) in helical systems is derived from the short-time response kernel for the zonal-flow potential. It is found that helical ripples in the magnetic-field strength as well as finite orbit widths of passing ions enhance the GAM damping. The radial drift motions of particles trapped in helical ripples cause the residual zonal-flow level in the collisionless long-time limit to be lower for longer radial wavelengths and deeper helical ripples. On the other hand, a high-level zonal-flow response, which is not affected by helical-ripple-trapped particles, can be maintained for a longer time by reducing their radial drift velocity. This implies a possibility that helical configurations optimized for reducing neoclassical ripple transport can simultaneously enhance zonal flows which lower anomalous transport. The validity of our analytical results is verified by gyrokinetic Vlasov simulation.
Polymer chains in a soft nanotube: A Monte Carlo Study
Authors: Avramova K. , Milchev A.
Published: January 2006

We study the equilibrium properties of flexible polymer chains confined in a soft tube by means of extensive Monte Carlo simulations. The tube wall is that of a single sheet six-coordinated self-avoiding tethered membrane. Our study assumes that there is no adsorption of the chain on the wall. By varying the length N of the polymer and the tube diameter D we examine the variation of the polymer gyration radius Rg and diffusion coefficient Ddiff in soft and rigid tubes of identical diameter and compare them to scaling theory predictions. We find that the swollen region of the soft tube surrounding the chain exhibits a cigarlike cylindrical shape for sufficiently narrow tubes with D⪡Rg. The observed scaling of static conformational properties with chain length N and tube diameter D follows the predictions of scaling theory and displays no significant difference between soft and rigid tubes. The Brownian dynamics of the polymer diffusion in a rigid tube is found to slow down in a tube with soft walls by an amount which depends on the Rg∕D ratio albeit the relaxation time τ‖ for diffusive motion along the tube still scales as τ‖∝N3.
Statistics of polarization and Stokes parameters: Multiple orthonormal wave populations
Authors: Hole M. J. , Robinson P. A. , Cairns Iver H.
Published: January 2006

A stochastic analysis is developed for the superposition of multiple, fully polarized, electric-field vectors. Each vector is described by a polarization ellipse, with fixed axial ratio and polarization angle, and probability distribution functions (pdfs) for the field strength and phase. These wave populations are then superposed in orthonormal modes of polarization, representing the normal modes of a medium. Central results of this work include analytic and Monte Carlo methods to calculate the pdfs of the measurable Stokes parameters I, U, Q, and V, and degrees of polarization, of the superposed waves. Predictions are computed for the superposition of some characteristic wave populations, and several striking and counterintuitive results produced. These include nonzero probabilities for U, Q, and V at U=0, Q=0, and V=0, irrespective of the constituent wave polarizations and field distributions. For wave populations with identical polarization ellipses, a power-law enhancement of the pdf of the intensity I at low I is found, which is independent of the constituent electric-field distributions. Generation of elliptically polarized light from components which each have an opposite sense of polarization is shown to be possible. A description of the asymptotic limits of the pdfs of the Stokes parameters is obtained, and the appearance of fine structure in the pdfs of the degrees of polarization is demonstrated. Together, these results demonstrate the necessity of systematic analysis when predicting pdfs for the Stokes parameters and degrees of polarization: qualitative results cannot be correctly inferred from intuition alone.