bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tour not so grand: mobile Muslims in northern Pakistan
Authors: Marsden Magnus
Published: April 2009

This paper explores the ways in which village Muslims living in the Chitral region of northern Pakistan seek to nurture and sustain their region as a socially heterogeneous space by actively embarking on local forms of travel. The heterogeneity of places in the region offers potentials for Chitrali Muslims to enact diverse ways of being Muslim, forge complex structures of attachment to Chitral, and cultivate an attitude of curiosity as to the heterogeneity of life in their region. The expanding body of anthropological work on sacred landscapes is brought into conversation with ethnographic studies in urban settings of the role played by everyday practices in the formation of Muslim ethical selfhood. In doing so, I suggest the wider insights into understanding the complexity and diversity of Muslim experiences of and responses to modernity that are afforded by a consideration of rural societies.

L’auteur étudie la façon dont les villageois musulmans de la région de Chitral, dans le nord du Pakistan, s’efforcent d’entretenir et de soutenir leur région en tant qu’espace socialement hétérogène, en entreprenant diverses formes de voyages locaux. L’hétérogénéité des lieux au sein même de la région donne aux Chitralis la possibilité de vivre différentes manières d’être musulmans, de forger des structures complexes d’attachement au Chitral et de cultiver une attitude de curiosité envers les multiples visages de la vie dans leur région. Le corpus grandissant de travaux anthropologiques sur les paysages sacrés sont confrontés ici aux études ethnographiques en milieu urbain consacrées au rôle des pratiques quotidiennes dans la formation du Moi éthique musulman. Par ce biais, l’article suggère que l’examen des sociétés rurales élargit l’approche de la complexité et de la diversité des façons dont les musulmans appréhendent la modernité et y répondent.
TOWARD AN EPISTEMOLOGY OF CERTAIN SUBSTANTIVE A PRIORI TRUTHS
Authors: GERT JOSHUA
Published: April 2009

Abstract: This article explains and motivates an account of one way in which we might have substantive a priori knowledge in one important class of domains: domains in which the central concepts are response‐dependent. The central example will be our knowledge of the connection between something's being harmful and the fact that it is irrational for us to fail to be averse to that thing. The idea is that although the relevant responses (basic aversion in the case of harm, and a kind of interpretive failure in the case of irrationality) are produced by independent psychological mechanisms, they have distal causes that turn out to be related in ways that—once language enters the picture—yield epistemically accessible necessary connections between the referents of their corresponding terms.
RACE, IDEOLOGY, AND IDEAL THEORY
Authors: BOETTCHER JAMES
Published: April 2009

Abstract: Philosophers who have addressed the problems of enduring racial injustice have been suspicious of the role played by ideal theory in ethics and political philosophy generally, and in contemporary liberal political philosophy in particular. The theoretical marginalization of race in the work of Rawls has led some to charge that ideal theory is at the very least unhelpful in understanding one of the most significant forms of contemporary injustice, and is at worst ideological in the pejorative sense. To explore these concerns, I formulate five related criticisms of ideal theory and examine each as it would be applied to Rawls's political philosophy. My thesis is that the strongest criticisms—namely, that ideal theory is essentially ideological and cannot provide adequate grounds for justifying race‐conscious, equality‐securing measures—ultimately miss the mark. But other criticisms of ideal theory are more plausible, and most plausibly directed to an area of Rawls's thought often ignored in discussions of liberalism and race, namely, his account of citizenship and public reasoning.
LES CULS‐DE‐SAC OF ENLIGHTENMENT AESTHETICS: A METAPHILOSOPHY OF ART
Authors: CARROLL NOËL
Published: April 2009

Abstract: This article charts the rise and fall of the Modern System of the Arts and the failure of the aesthetic theory of art to define membership in the so‐called system, which, instead, I argue, is and has been, for a long time, merely a historically evolved collection. Rather than endorsing the continued attempt to define Art with a capital A in terms of aesthetic experience, I recommend alternative lines of research for contemporary philosophers of the arts.
Economics as a Moral Science
Authors: ATKINSON A. B.
Published: April 2009

Economists frequently make judgments about economic welfare, but there is today little discussion of the foundations of welfare economics. It is assumed either that there is unanimity of interests, or that there is general acceptance of utilitarianism. This means that economics cannot address many key policy issues and that important differences in ethical views cannot be recognized. This paper argues that it is a legitimate exercise of economic analysis to examine the consequences of different ethical positions, taking case studies of employment as a macroeconomic objective, and the role of capabilities in the measurement of economic performance.
The Continuing Muddles of Monetary Theory: A Steadfast Refusal to Face Facts
Authors: GOODHART C. A. E.
Published: April 2009

Lionel Robbins was concerned about the methodology of economic science. When he discussed the relationship between theory and ‘reality’, two of the examples of inappropriate relationships were taken from monetary economics. Such shortcomings continue. Among the worst are:

(1) IS/LM: whereby the monetary authorities set the monetary base, and the interest rate is market determined;

(2) the monetary base multiplier of bank deposits, and the role of reserve ratios;

(3) the current three‐equation neoclassical consensus, assuming perfect creditworthiness, and hence no need for banks;

(4) the analysis of the evolution of money.
Some Legacies of Robbins'An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science
Authors: LIPSEY RICHARD G.
Published: April 2009

This paper criticizes three Robbinsian positions still often found in modern economics: (1) the methodology of intuitively obvious assumptions; (2) treating facts as illustrations rather than as tests of theoretical propositions; (3) assuming that theory provides universally applicable generalizations independent of the characteristics of individual economies and so are independent of specific historical processes. Two corollaries of point (3) are that theory cannot assist in explaining unique historical events such as the emergence of sustained growth in the West and that economists need not interest themselves in the details of the technologies that produce the nation's wealth.
Short-Term Frovatriptan for the Prevention of Difficult-To-Treat Menstrual Migraine Attacks
Authors: Brandes JL , Poole AC , Kallela M , Schreiber CP , MacGregor EA , Silberstein SD , Tobin J , Shaw R
Published: April 2009

The efficacy of a 6-day regimen of frovatriptan for menstrual migraine (MM; attacks starting on day -2 to +3 of menses) prevention in women with difficult-to-treat MM was assessed. Women with a documented inadequate response to triptans for acute MM treatment were included in this placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Women were randomized to double-blind treatment for three perimenstrual periods (PMPs) with either frovatriptan 2.5 mg (q.d. or b.i.d.) or placebo initiated 2 days before anticipated MM. The efficacy analysis included 410 women with 85% completing three double-blind PMPs. The mean number of headache-free PMPs was 0.92 with frovatriptan b.i.d., 0.69 with frovatriptan q.d. and 0.42 with placebo [ P < 0.001 (b.i.d.) and P < 0.02 (q.d.) vs. placebo]. When migraine occurred, severity was reduced with frovatriptan q.d. ( P < 0.001) and b.i.d. ( P < 0.001) vs. placebo. Both frovatriptan regimens were well tolerated. In women with difficult-to-treat MM, a 6-day regimen of frovatriptan significantly reduced MM incidence and severity.
Prevalence of New Daily Persistent Headache in the General Population. The Akershus Study of Chronic Headache
Authors: Grande RB , Aaseth K , Lundqvist C , Russell MB
Published: April 2009

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of new daily persistent headache (NDPH) in the general population, and compare the clinical characteristics of NDPH and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). This is a population-based cross-sectional study. A random sample of 30 000 persons aged 30-44 years was drawn from the population of Akershus County, Norway. A postal questionnaire was screened for chronic headache. Those ( n = 633) with self-reported chronic headache within the last month and/or year were invited to an interview and examination by a neurological resident. A follow-up interview was conducted after 1.5-3 years. The headaches were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn and relevant revisions. The response rate of the questionnaire was 71% and the participation rate of the interview was 74%. Four persons, three men and one woman, had NDPH. The overall 1-year prevalence of NDPH was 0.03%. The clinical characteristics of NDPH and CTTH were similar, except for the sudden onset in NDPH. Three of the four persons with NDPH had medication overuse. Follow-up disclosed that the symptomatology of NDPH is not unchangeable, since two persons had improvement of their NDPH. NDPH is rare and occurs in one of 3500 persons from the general population of 30-44-year-olds. It is often associated with medication overuse.
The Biography of Mary E. O'Sullivan: An Early American Headache Specialist
Authors: Jerath NU , Newman JS , Boes CJ
Published: April 2009

The aim of this study was to review the life of Mary E. O'Sullivan and to summarize her important contributions to the study of migraine. Mary E. O'Sullivan underwent extensive training to become a neurologist at a time when only 5% of women in America were physicians. She published five papers on migraine. In a 1936 Journal of the American Medical Association article, she described a patient with ergotamine overuse headache and recommended that daily doses of oral ergotamine should be avoided. Three years later she described migraine as a ‘complex’ syndrome with multiple causes and multiple cures. Mary E. O'Sullivan, an ambitious female headache specialist of the 1930s, was an early advocate of the use of ergotamine to treat migraine, yet she was one of the first to report ergotamine overuse headache. Although her life was short, her research, knowledge and ambition at a time when women had limited opportunities in medicine have left a mark.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Triggered by Non-Noxious Stimuli at Multiple Cephalic and Extracephalic Sites
Authors: Berg JWM ter , Dupont P , Schoenen J
Published: April 2009

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) triggered by non-noxious stimuli at multiple cephalic and extracephalic sites with positron emission tomography (PET) evidence for involvement of the upper brainstem has never been reported. We present such a patient, a 73-year-old man who since the age of 50 had suffered from GN with a high recurrence rate and very severe unilateral, non-familial GN episodes with very easy trigger zones widely extending beyond the n IX territory. Extensive neuroimaging and neurophysiological tests detected no precise underlying cause. PET scan revealed activation in the upper brainstem on extracephalic triggers. Single-fibre electromyography data will be discussed. We hypothesize that deficient inhibition as seen in trigeminal nociceptive reflexes on the level of brainstem interneurons, a functional lesion in the primary somatosensory cortex-sensory thalamic nuclei circuit and the dorsal column-thalamic pathway both activated by light touch may in part be involved in the extra- cephalic triggering.
Peri-ictal Normalization of Visual Cortex Excitability in Migraine: an MEG Study
Authors: Chen W-T , Wang S-J , Fuh J-L , Lin C-P , Ko Y-C , Lin Y-Y
Published: April 2009

To delineate if the change in cortical excitability persists across migraine attacks, visual evoked magnetic fields (VEF) were measured in patients with migraine without aura during the interictal ( n = 26) or peri-ictal ( n = 21) periods, and were compared with 30 healthy controls. The visual stimuli were checkerboard reversals with four different check sizes (15',30',60' and 120'). For each check size, five sequential blocks of 50 VEF responses were recorded to calculate the percentage change of the P100m amplitude in the second to the fifth blocks in comparison with the first block. At check size 120', interictal patients showed a larger amplitude increment than controls [28.1 ± 38.3% (S.D.) vs. 8.7 ± 21.3%] in the second block and a larger increment than peri-ictal patients in the second (28.1 ± 38.3% vs. -3.2 ± 19.2%), fourth (22.7 ± 31.2% vs. -5.7 ± 22.3%) and fifth (20.5 ± 30.4% vs. -10.8 ± 30.1%) blocks ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference at other check sizes or between peri-ictal patients and controls. In conclusion, there may be peri-ictal normalization of visual cortical excitability changes in migraine that is dependent on the spatial frequency of the stimuli and reflects a dynamic modulation of cortical activities.
An electrophysiological assessment of distractor suppression in visual search tasks
Authors: Mazza Veronica , Turatto Massimo , Caramazza Alfonso
Published: April 2009

We investigated whether the N2pc is unequivocally linked to distractor‐suppression mechanisms, as is commonly assumed. According to the distractor‐suppression account of the N2pc, no suppression, and thus no N2pc, should occur when homogeneous distractors help in selecting the target, such as when the target feature is unpredictable. Participants performed a simple detection or a finer discrimination on a singleton target, which had either a variable or a constant color. Contrary to the distractor‐suppression account, an N2pc was present for both the variable and the constant conditions, and for both tasks. Additionally, target feature consistency correlated with earlier N2pc onsets relative to variable blocks. Both results indicate that the N2pc is not unequivocally linked to distractor‐suppression mechanisms, but may index mechanisms involved in identifying and localizing relevant stimuli through enhancement of their features.
Neural inhibition and interhemispheric connections in two‐choice reaction time: A Laplacian ERP study
Authors: Meynier Chloe , Burle Boris , Possamaï Camille‐Aime , Vidal Franck , Hasbroucq Thierry
Published: April 2009

In between‐hand choice reaction time tasks, the motor cortex involved in the required response is activated while the motor cortex involved in the non‐required response is inhibited. Such an inhibition could be implemented actively between the responses defined as possible alternatives by the task instructions or, alternatively, could passively result from some kind of “reciprocal inhibition” between the two motor cortices. The present study addressed this issue. To this end, we compared the surface Laplacian transforms of electroencephalographic (EEG) waves recorded over the contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortices in between‐hand and within‐hand choice conditions. The dynamics of the recorded EEG activities suggest that inhibition is implemented in a feed‐forward manner between the cortical zones controlling the different response alternatives rather than between homologous motor cortical structures.
TorsinA and dystonia: from nuclear envelope to synapse
Authors: Granata Alessandra , Schiavo Giampietro , Warner Thomas T.
Published: April 2009

A GAG deletion in the DYT1 gene is responsible for the autosomal dominant movement disorder, early onset primary torsion dystonia, which is characterised by involuntary sustained muscle contractions and abnormal posturing of the limbs. The mutation leads to deletion of a single glutamate residue in the C‐terminus of the protein torsinA, a member of the AAA+ ATPase family of proteins with multiple functions. Since no evidence of neurodegeneration has been found in DYT1 patients, the dystonic phenotype is likely to be the result of neuronal functional defect(s), the nature of which is only partially understood. Biochemical, structural and cell biological studies have been performed in order to characterise torsinA. These studies, together with the generation of several animal models, have contributed to identify cellular compartments and pathways, including the cytoskeleton and the nuclear envelope, the secretory pathway and the synaptic vesicle machinery where torsinA function may be crucial. However, the role of torsinA and the correlation between the dysfunction caused by the mutation and the dystonic phenotype remain unclear. This review provides an overview of the findings of the last ten years of research on torsinA, a critical evaluation of the different models proposed and insights towards future avenues of research.
JNK signaling in insulin‐producing cells is required for adaptive responses to stress in Drosophila
Authors: Karpac Jason , Hull‐Thompson Julie , Falleur Melody , Jasper Heinrich
Published: April 2009

Adaptation to environmental challenges is critical for the survival of an organism. Repression of Insulin/IGF Signaling (IIS) by stress‐responsive Jun‐N‐terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling is emerging as a conserved mechanism that allows reallocating resources from anabolic to repair processes under stress conditions. JNK activation in Insulin‐producing cells (IPCs) is sufficient to repress Insulin and Insulin‐like peptide (ILP) expression in rats and flies, but the significance of this interaction for adaptive responses to stress is unclear. In this study, it is shown that JNK activity in IPCs of flies is required for oxidative stress‐induced repression of the Drosophila ILP2. It is found that this repression is required for growth adaptation to heat stress as well as adult oxidative stress tolerance, and that induction of stress response genes in the periphery is in part dependent on IPC‐specific JNK activity. Endocrine control of IIS by JNK in IPCs is thus critical for systemic adaptation to stress.
Sex differences in nutrient‐dependent reproductive ageing
Authors: Maklakov Alexei A. , Hall Matthew D. , Simpson Stephen J. , Dessmann Josephine , Clissold Fiona J. , Zajitschek Felix , Lailvaux Simon P. , Raubenheimer David , Bonduriansky Russell , Brooks Robert C.
Published: April 2009

Evolutionary theories of aging predict that fitness‐related traits, including reproductive performance, will senesce because the strength of selection declines with age. Sexual selection theory predicts, however, that male reproductive performance (especially sexual advertisement) will increase with age. In both bodies of theory, diet should mediate age‐dependent changes in reproductive performance. In this study, we show that the sexes exhibit dramatic, qualitative differences in age‐dependent reproductive performance trajectories and patterns of reproductive ageing in the cricket Teleogryllus commodus. In females, fecundity peaked early in adulthood and then declined. In contrast, male sexual advertisement increased across the natural lifespan and only declined well beyond the maximum field lifespan. These sex differences were robust to deviations from sex‐specific dietary requirements. Our results demonstrate that sexual selection can be at least as important as sex‐dependent mortality in shaping the signal of reproductive ageing.
Ciprofloxacin decreases survival in HT‐29 cells via the induction of TGF‐β1 secretion and enhances the anti‐proliferative effect of 5‐fluorouracil
Authors: Bourikas Leonidas A , Kolios George , Valatas Vassilis , Notas George , Drygiannakis Ioannis , Pelagiadis Iordanis , Manousou Pinelopi , Klironomos Stefanos , Mouzas Ioannis A , Kouroumalis Elias
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose: Fluoroquinolones are potent anti‐microbial agents with multiple effects on host cells and tissues. Previous studies have highlighted their pro‐apoptotic effect on human cancer cells and an immunoregulatory role in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease. We examined the effect of ciprofloxacin on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of HT‐29 cells, a human colonic epithelial cell line sensitive to transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1‐mediated growth inhibition and its role in TGF‐β1 production. We also examined the effect of ciprofloxacin on proliferation of HT‐29 cells in combination with 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), a well‐established pro‐apoptotic agent.

Experimental approach: Using subconfluent cultures of HT‐29 and Caco‐2 cells, we studied the effect of ciprofloxacin, TGF‐β1 and 5‐FU on proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis and cell cycle. The effect of ciprofloxacin on TGF‐β1 mRNA expression and production was studied in RNA extracts and cell culture supernatants respectively, using confluent cultures.

Key results: Ciprofloxacin decreased proliferation of HT‐29 cells in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. This was mediated by accumulation of HT‐29 cells into the S‐phase but without any effect on apoptosis or necrosis. Additionally, ciprofloxacin enhanced the antiproliferative effect of 5‐FU. Interestingly, ciprofloxacin was found to up‐regulate TGF‐β1 production by HT‐29 cells and its anti‐proliferative effect was abolished when TGF‐β1 was blocked. Confirming this mechanism further, ciprofloxacin had no effect on Caco‐2, a human colonic epithelial cell line that lacks functional TGF‐β1 receptors.

Conclusions and implications: We demonstrate a novel anti‐proliferative and immunoregulatory effect of ciprofloxacin on human intestinal epithelial cells mediated via TGF‐β1.
Does CYP2E1 play a major role in the aggravation of isoniazid toxicity by rifampicin in human hepatocytes?
Authors: Yue Jiang , Peng Renxiu
Published: April 2009

Isoniazid and rifampicin are first‐line anti‐tubercular drugs. In a recent paper, Shenet al.provided interesting findings that rifampicin exacerbated isoniazid toxicity in human hepatocytes but not in rat hepatocytes. The main conclusion was that the difference in cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) induction by rifampicin between rat and human hepatocytes accounted for the difference in exacerbation of isoniazid hepatotoxicity by rifampicin. 4‐Nitrophenol hydroxylase (4‐NP) activity was the only probe of CYP2E1 activity used in the paper. The authors presented data showing that rifampicin enhanced 4‐NP activity and CYP2E1 mRNA expression in human hepatocytes, but not in rat hepatocytes. However, CYP3A also makes a significant contribution to 4‐NP activity in humans and rats, which has been confirmed by both CYP3A‐specific inducer and inhibitors. Rifampicin is a strong inducer of human CYP3A; thus, the increase in 4‐NP activity in human hepatocytes could be due to the induction of CYP3A. Rifampicin did not increase 4‐NP activities in rat hepatocytes, which could reflect a lack of the induction of rat CYP3A by rifampicin. Additionally, more experiments are needed to support the conclusion that rifampicin increased CYP2E1 mRNA expression in human hepatocytes because of the small sample size and the limitations of semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR. The study by Shenet al.suggests that another drug‐metabolizing enzyme rather than CYP2E1 could be involved in the aggravation of isoniazid toxicity by rifampicin in human hepatocytes.

The 2008 paper by Shenet al.is available fromhttp://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi‐bin/fulltext/121667602/PDFSTART
Effects of zotepine on extracellular levels of monoamine, GABA and glutamate in rat prefrontal cortex
Authors: Yamamura S , Ohoyama K , Hamaguchi T , Nakagawa M , Suzuki D , Matsumoto T , Motomura E , Tanii H , Shiroyama T , Okada M
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose: The atypical antipsychotic drug, zotepine, is effective in treatment of schizophrenia and acute mania, but the incidence of seizures during treatment is higher than with other antipsychotics. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the clinical actions of zotepine remain uncharacterized.

Experimental approach: The effects of intraperitoneal administration of zotepine and haloperidol on the extracellular levels of noradrenaline, dopamine, 5‐HT, GABA, and glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were compared. Neuronal activities induced by each drug in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), locus coeruleus (LC), dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MTN) were also analysed.

Key results: Haloperidol did not affect extracellular neurotransmitter levels in the mPFC. In contrast, zotepine activated neuronal activities in all nuclei and increased the extracellular levels of noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate in the mPFC, but not 5‐HT levels. The zotepine‐stimulated neuronal activity in the VTA, LC, DRN and MTN enhanced the release of dopamine, noradrenaline, 5‐HT, glutamate and GABA in the mPFC, although the enhanced GABAergic transmission possibly inhibited noradrenaline, dopamine and 5‐HT release. The other afferent to mPFC, which releases dopamine and noradrenaline, was partially insensitive to GABAergic inhibition, but possibly received stimulatory AMPA/glutamatergic regulation from the MTN.

Conclusions and implications: Our results indicated that the positive interaction between prefrontal catecholaminergic transmission and AMPA/glutamatergic transmission from MTN might explain the regulatory effects of zotepine on neurotransmitter release. A mechanism is suggested to account for the pharmacological profile of this atypical antipsychotic and for its pro‐convulsive action.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2009)157,656–665; doi:10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2009.00175.x; published online 9 April 2009
cAMP signal transduction in the heart: understanding spatial control for the development of novel therapeutic strategies
Authors: Zaccolo Manuela
Published: April 2009

3′‐5′‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a pleiotropic intracellular second messenger generated in response to activation of Gsprotein‐coupled receptors. In the heart, cAMP mediates the catecholaminergic control on heart rate and contractility but, at the same time, it is responsible for the functional response to a wide variety of other hormones and neurotransmitters, raising the question of how the myocyte can decode the cAMP signal and generate the appropriate functional output to each individual extracellular stimulus. A growing body of evidence points to the spatial organization of the components of the cAMP signalling pathway in distinct, spatially segregated signalling domains as the key feature underpinning specificity of response and data is emerging, indicating that alteration of spatial control of the cAMP signal cascade associates with heart pathology. Most of the details of the molecular organization and regulation of individual cAMP signalling compartments are still to be elucidated but future research should provide the knowledge necessary to develop and test new therapeutic strategies that, by acting on a limited subset of downstream targets, would improve efficacy and minimize off‐target effects.
Effect of K+and Rb+on the action of verapamil on a voltage‐gated K+channel,hKv1.3: implications for a second open state?
Authors: Kuras Z , Grissmer S
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose: Verapamil blocks current through the voltage‐gated K+channel Kv1.3 in the open and inactivated state of the channel but not the closed state. The binding site for verapamil was proposed to be close to the selectivity filter and the occupancy of the selectivity filter might therefore influence verapamil affinity.

Experimental approach: We investigated the influence of intra‐ and extracellular K+and Rb+on the effect of verapamil by patch‐clamp studies, in COS‐7 cells transfected withhKv1.3 channels.

Key results: Verapamil affinity was highest in high intracellular K+concentrations ([K+]i) and lowest in low [Rb+]i, indicating an influence of intracellular cations on verapamil affinity. Experiments with a mutant channel (H399T), exhibiting a strongly reduced C‐type inactivated state, demonstrated that part of this changed verapamil affinity in wild‐type channels could be caused by altered C‐type inactivation. External K+and Rb+could influence verapamil affinity by a voltage‐dependent entry into the channel thereby modifying the verapamil off‐rate and in addition causing a voltage‐dependent verapamil off‐rate.

Conclusions and implications: Recovery from verapamil block was mainly due to the voltage‐dependent closing of channels (state‐dependent block), implying a second open state of the channel. This hypothesis was confirmed by the dependency of the tail current time course on duration of the prepulse. We conclude that the wild‐typehKv1.3 channel undergoes at least two different conformational changes before finally closing with a low verapamil affinity in one open state and a high verapamil affinity in the other open state.
Labour Market Adjustment and Intra‐Industry Trade: The Effects of Association on the Hungarian Food Industry
Authors: Ferto Imre
Published: April 2009

The structure of Hungary’s food trade expansion over the period 1995–2003 and its implications for labour market adjustment are examined. The contributions of the paper are threefold. First, we test the sensitivity of results to the choice of measurement and their implications for the results. Second, we introduce more industry‐specific control variables. Third, we distinguish the short‐ and long‐run adjustment effects. Our results provide some support for the smooth‐adjustment hypothesis of intra‐industry trade. Estimations confirm that industry‐specific variables may have a significant effect on adjustment costs.
The Missionary Impact: The Northern Transvaal in the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Kirkaldy Alan
Published: April 2009

During the nineteenth century, missionaries were largely unsuccessful in making, and keeping, a significant number of converts in the Northern Transvaal. In addition, in marked contrast to commonly‐held assumptions, much of the early work of evangelisation was performed by African converts, rather than white missionaries. The introduction of western medicine, education and literacy did not achieve the ends envisaged by the missionaries. The majority of people did not abandon their culture and adopt the new religions and cultural ways. Africans nevertheless took these new tools and used them in ways unforeseen by the missionaries. A blending of African and Western ways took place which led to cultural transformation.
Alexander the Great in Current Scholarship
Authors: Anson Edward M.
Published: April 2009

Interest in Alexander the Great has never flagged from the time of his death until the present day. The bibliography of Alexander the Great continues to grow at near exponential rates. He was a commander of outstanding ability whose legacy was a world forever changed. However, plagued by a dearth of contemporary sources, scholars still debate his goals, his methods, and his true legacy. Did he envision and work towards a world where the races would be fused into one? Or was he an insatiable conqueror whose values were those of a Genghis Khan or a Tamarlane? Was his empire built on expediency or was it an attempt at a new world order under an absolute monarch. Finally, did Alexander order his own deification, and was this the result of practical administrative and political calculations, or was it the consequence of growing megalomaniacy. All of these interpretations have modern scholarly adherents, although some have come to dominate most current scholarship.
Corticosteroids’ Effect on the Height of Atopic Dermatitis Patients: A Controlled Questionnaire Study
Authors: Thomas Meghan W. , Panter A. T. , Morrell Dean S.
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  To investigate if children treated with topical corticosteroids have a significantly shorter height than the height of children not treated with corticosteroids and to see if corticosteroids affect the ability for treated children to meet growth potential defined as midparental height. Parents of patients attending the UNC’s Dermatology clinic completed the survey. The patient’s height and siblings’ heights were measured by staff. Parents’ heights were self reported as were the child’s diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, and duration of use of corticosteroids. The patient’s height was standardized using CDC charts. Additionally, the midparental height was calculated and standardized. The difference between present and predicted standardized heights was calculated; 151 surveys yielded data on 83 girls and 63 boys (ages 2–21 yrs). The standing height and the difference in standing height and midparental scores were not significantly different among: (i) children with and without atopic dermatitis; and (ii) children treated and not treated with corticosteroids. The overall height of children examined in this survey who were treated with topical corticosteroids appears to be unaffected.
Sizing up Ethanol‐Induced Plasticity: The Role of Small and Large Conductance Calcium‐Activated Potassium Channels
Authors: Mulholland Patrick J. , Hopf F. Woodward , Bukiya Anna N. , Martin Gilles E. , Liu Jianxi , Dopico Alejandro M. , Bonci Antonello , Treistman Steven N. , Chandler L. Judson
Published: April 2009

Small (SK) and large conductance (BK) Ca2+‐activated K+channels contribute to action potential repolarization, shape dendritic Ca2+spikes and postsynaptic responses, modulate the release of hormones and neurotransmitters, and contribute to hippocampal‐dependent synaptic plasticity. Over the last decade, SK and BK channels have emerged as important targets for the development of acute ethanol tolerance and for altering neuronal excitability following chronic ethanol consumption. In this mini‐review, we discuss new evidence implicating SK and BK channels in ethanol tolerance and ethanol‐associated homeostatic plasticity. Findings from recent reports demonstrate that chronic ethanol produces a reduction in the function of SK channels in VTA dopaminergic and CA1 pyramidal neurons. It is hypothesized that the reduction in SK channel function increases the propensity for burst firing in VTA neurons and increases the likelihood for aberrant hyperexcitability during ethanol withdrawal in hippocampus. There is also increasing evidence supporting the idea that ethanol sensitivity of native BK channel results from differences in BK subunit composition, the proteolipid microenvironment, and molecular determinants of the channel‐forming subunit itself. Moreover, these molecular entities play a substantial role in controlling the temporal component of ethanol‐associated neuroadaptations in BK channels. Taken together, these studies suggest that SK and BK channels contribute to ethanol tolerance and adaptive plasticity.
Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale in a Group of Alcohol‐Dependent Subjects of Mexico City
Authors: Cordero Marta , Solís Luís , Cordero Roberto , Torruco Mario , Cruz‐Fuentes Carlos
Published: April 2009

Background:  Obsessive thoughts and compulsive drinking behaviors have been proposed as key factors associated with the loss of control over alcohol consumption experienced by alcohol‐dependent patients. The self‐report 14‐item Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS; Anton et al., 1995) was designed in order to rate these features.

Methods:  A Spanish‐translated version of the OCDS was applied to a group of 159 alcohol‐dependent subjects while in abstinence, and data were analyzed in order to evaluate the factor structure and concurrent validity of the scale.

Results:  Several solutions were explored after applying the principal factor analysis to the data. The most plausible result was obtained after excluding the items on quantity and frequency of drinking. This model explaining 56.9% of the variance included 2 factors: obsessive thoughts related to drinking and interference/behaviors related to drinking. Additionally, OCDS scores were significantly correlated with measures for the Alcohol Dependence Scale, number of DSM‐IV criteria met for alcohol dependence as well as the number of days in a week engaged in heavy drinking, indicating concurrent validity.

Conclusions:  Our results support the use of OCDS as a valid self‐rated instrument that can be broadly applied in research and treatment settings. However, its current version includes questions that may not represent the core concept of craving. The abridged 12‐item version of the scale (excluding the items on drinking habits) maintains good psychometrics features and seems to be adequate when different cognitive and behavioral dimensions are explored.
Disparity Between Tonic and Phasic Ethanol‐Induced Dopamine Increases in the Nucleus Accumbens of Rats
Authors: Robinson Donita L. , Howard Elaina C. , McConnell Scott , Gonzales Rueben A. , Wightman R. Mark
Published: April 2009

Background: Dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens fluctuate on phasic (subsecond) and tonic (over minutes) timescales in awake rats. Acute ethanol increases tonic concentrations of dopamine, but its effect on subsecond dopamine transients has not been fully explored.

Methods: We measured tonic and phasic dopamine fluctuations in the nucleus accumbens of rats in response to ethanol (within‐subject cumulative dosing, 0.125 to 2 g/kg, i.v.).

Results: Microdialysis samples yielded significant tonic increases in dopamine concentrations at 1 to 2 g/kg ethanol in each rat, while repeated saline infusions had no effect. When monitored with fast scan cyclic voltammetry, ethanol increased the frequency of dopamine transients in 6 of 16 recording sites, in contrast to the uniform effect of ethanol as measured with microdialysis. In the remaining 10 recording sites that were unresponsive to ethanol, dopamine transients either decreased in frequency or were unaffected by cumulative ethanol infusions, patterns also observed during repeated saline infusions. The responsiveness of particular recording sites to ethanol was not correlated with either core versus shell placement of the electrodes or the basal rate of dopamine transients. Importantly, the phasic response pattern to a single dose of ethanol at a particular site was qualitatively reproduced when a second dose of ethanol was administered, suggesting that the variable between‐site effects reflected specific pharmacology at that recording site.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the relatively uniform dopamine concentrations obtained with microdialysis can mask a dramatic heterogeneity of phasic dopamine release within the accumbens.
The Impact of Underage Drinking Laws on Alcohol‐Related Fatal Crashes of Young Drivers
Authors: Fell James C. , Fisher Deborah A. , Voas Robert B. , Blackman Kenneth , Tippetts A. Scott
Published: April 2009

Background:  This study used a pre‐ to post‐design to evaluate the influence on drinking‐and‐driving fatal crashes of 6 laws directed at youth aged 20 and younger and 4 laws targeting all drivers.

Methods:  Data on the laws were drawn from the Alcohol Policy Information System data set (1998 to 2005), the Digests of State Alcohol Highway Safety Related Legislation (1983 to 2006), and the Westlaw database. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System data set (1982 to 2004) was used to assess the ratio of drinking to nondrinking drivers involved in fatal crashes [fatal crash incidence ratio (CIR)]. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques.

Results:  Significant decreases in the underage fatal CIR were associated with presence of 4 of the laws targeting youth (possession, purchase, use and lose, and zero tolerance) and 3 of the laws targeting all drivers (0.08 blood alcohol concentration illegal per se law, secondary or upgrade to a primary seat belt law, and an administrative license revocation law). Beer consumption was associated with a significant increase in the underage fatal CIR. The direct effects of laws targeting drivers of all ages on adult drinking drivers aged 26 and older were similar but of a smaller magnitude compared to the findings for those aged 20 and younger. It is estimated that the 2 core underage drinking laws (purchase and possession) and the zero tolerance law are currently saving an estimated 732 lives per year controlling for other exposure factors. If all states adopted use and lose laws, an additional 165 lives could be saved annually.

Conclusions:  These results provide substantial support for the effectiveness of under age 21 drinking laws with 4 of the 6 laws examined having significant associations with reductions in underage drinking‐and‐driving fatal crashes. These findings point to the importance of key underage drinking and traffic safety laws in efforts to reduce underage drinking‐driver crashes.
IgA Immune Responses Against Acetaldehyde Adducts and Biomarkers of Alcohol Consumption in Patients with IgA Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Kaartinen Kati , Niemelä Onni , Syrjänen Jaana , Alatalo Päivikki , Pörsti Ilkka , Harmoinen Aimo , Pasternack Amos , Huhtala Heini , Mustonen Jukka
Published: April 2009

Background:  The pathogenesis of IgA glomerulonephritis (IgAGN) involves intense deposition of IgAs within the glomerulus. Although previous studies have shown that heavy drinking frequently leads to the generation of IgA antibodies against neo‐antigens induced by ethanol metabolites and tissue deposition of IgAs, the associations between alcohol consumption, IgA immune responses, and kidney disease have not been examined.

Methods:  A total of 158 IgAGN patients (96 men, 62 women) were classified as abstainers (n = 38), moderate drinkers (n = 114), and heavy drinkers (n = 6) based on self‐reported alcohol consumption. The reference population included 143 individuals (99 men, 44 women) who were either apparently healthy abstainers (n = 31), moderate drinkers (n = 43), or heavy drinkers devoid of liver disease (n = 69). The assessments included various biomarkers of alcohol consumption: carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT), glutamyl transferase, γ‐CDT (combination of GGR and CDT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), tests for liver and kidney function, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), and specific IgA antibodies against acetaldehyde–protein adducts.

Results:  In male IgAGN patients, drinking status was significantly associated with MCV, p < 0.001; CDT, p < 0.01; and γ ‐CDT, p < 0.05. In the reference population, all biomarkers and anti‐adduct IgA levels were found to vary according to drinking status. In IgAGN patients, anti‐adduct IgA levels were elevated in 63% of the cases but the titers did not associate with self‐reported ethanol intake.

Conclusions:  These data indicate high levels of IgA antibodies against acetaldehyde‐derived antigens in IgAGN patients, which may hamper the use of the immune responses as markers of alcohol consumption among such patients. Future studies on the pathogenic and prognostic significance of anti‐adduct immune responses in IgAGN patients are warranted.
Art Museum Attendance, Public Funding, and the Business Cycle
Authors: Skinner Sarah J. , Ekelund, Jr. Robert B. , Jackson John D.
Published: April 2009

Abstract

There are a number of important problems in contemporary museum finance, and this article identifies yet another possible difficulty. An aggregate statistical measure of museum attendance is calculated in this research and the attendance measure is shown to be countercyclical in nature. When set against federal and other allocations to museums, which are clearly pro‐cyclical in nature, an attendance “disease” may be at least tentatively identified. Efficiency criteria, of course, require that costs are covered in real time. We find, however, that, despite the likelihood that museum attendance is income‐elastic and a normal good, attendance varies countercyclically with the business cycle. We suggest that one possible explanation for this phenomenon is that a positive substitution effect on demand outweighs the income effect on demand for museum attendance over the cycle. From a policymaking perspective, these results call for a longer range planning horizon, that is, one that includes the full business cycle rather than just the financial year, as is the current U.S. government practice.
The Career Consequences of a Mistaken Research Project: The Case of Polywater
Authors: Diamond, Jr. Arthur M.
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Polywater, one of the most famous mistaken scientific research programs of the past half‐century, is used as a case study to examine whether polywater researchers later experienced lower citation counts, or less favorable job mobility. The primary result is that simply writing on polywater, either pro or con, has a negative impact on future citations, in comparison with those who never wrote on polywater. The lifetime value of the lost citations is roughly in the range of $13,000 to $19,000. However writing on polywater did not affect the probability of a scientist leaving university employment.
Seasonal Homes and the Local Property Tax: Evidence from New York State
Authors: Hadsell Lester , Colarusso Chad
Published: April 2009

Abstract

This study examines the growth of seasonal (i.e., second or vacation) homes and their impact on local property tax rates using evidence from towns and villages in New York State between 1990 and 2000. We find that a greater concentration of seasonal homes in a municipality is associated with a lower effective property tax rate in towns, and a higher rate in small and rural villages. An alternative measure of tax burden, property taxes as a percentage of median household income, is not related to the presence of seasonal homes in towns but is positively related in small and rural villages. Our findings for towns contradict the findings of an earlier study by Fritz (1982) that found that an increase in town property allocated to vacation homes was significantly associated with an increasing property tax rate, although our findings for villages supports his findings.
Investigating Smoker's Profile: The Role of Psychosocial Characteristics and the Effectiveness of Tobacco Policy Tools
Authors: Raptou Elena , Mattas Konstadinos , Katrakilidis Constantinos
Published: April 2009

Abstract

This article investigates smoker's profile by addressing the determinants of cigarette demand and providing a circumstantial exposition of the psychosocial characteristics that differentiate smoking patterns. At the same time, the impact of tobacco control policies on smoking rates and their effectiveness on decreasing cigarette consumption are also analyzed. Consumers are distinguished in four smoking groups in concurrence to smoking status, and dichotomous indicators are constructed to describe tobacco control policies, psychosocial, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. The empirical analysis estimates an ordered probit model with sample selectivity. The results indicate the absence of selectivity bias for cigarette consumption; hence, the subsample of smokers comprises a random independent sample and smoking participation and cigarette consumption form distinct stages of smoking behavior. Most of the psychosocial factors are found to be statistically significant in the econometric analysis, implying the main determinants of smoking behavior. In addition, total smoking bans in workplaces and educational institutions comprise efficient policy tools for decreasing cigarette demand, while partial smoking restrictions are accrued to be ineffective in reducing smoking participation.