bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social and Behavioral Characteristics of Young Adult Drink/Drivers Adjusted for Level of Alcohol Use
Authors: Bingham C. Raymond , Elliott Michael R. , Shope Jean T.
Published: February 2007

Background: Alcohol consumption and drink/driving are positively correlated and many predictors of alcohol use also predict drink/driving. Past research has not fully distinguished the contributions of personal risk factors from the level of alcohol use in the prediction of drink/driving. As a result, the extent to which predictors are specific to drink/driving, versus due to a mutual association to alcohol use, is unclear.

Methods: This study examined the unique and shared risk factors for drink/driving and alcohol use, and examined the attributable risk (AR) associated with predictors of drink/driving while adjusting for alcohol use. Study data were from a telephone survey of 3,480 Michigan‐licensed young adults who were drinkers. Four groups of drink/drivers were formed based on the prior 12‐month maximum severity of drink/driving: (1) never drink/driving; (2) driving at least once within an hour of 1 or 2 drinks; (3) driving within an hour of 3 or more drinks or while feeling the effects of alcohol; and (4) drinking while driving.

Results: Lower perceived risk of drink/driving, greater social support for drinking and drink/driving, greater aggression and delinquency, more cigarette smoking, and more risky driving behaviors uniquely predicted drink/driving severity in models adjusted for alcohol use. The largest ARs were associated with social support for drinking and drink/driving and perceived risk of drink/driving.

Conclusions: These results confirm that alcohol use and drink/driving share risk factors, but also indicate that part of the variation in these factors is specific to drink/driving. Implications for interventions to reduce drink/driving are discussed.
Left Atrial Dissection: An Unusual Complication of Mitral Valve Surgery
Authors: Jani Sonal , Hecht Susan , Leibowitz Keith , Berger Marvin
Published: February 2007

Left atrial (LA) dissection is an uncommon complication of mitral valve surgery. We report a case of a patient found to have left atrial dissection two months after mitral valve repair. In brief, we also review etiology, presentation, and management of LAD.
Utility of Intracardiac Echocardiography in Left Heart Ablation for Tachyarrhythmias
Authors: Ren Jian‐Fang , Marchlinski Francis E.
Published: February 2007

Catheter‐based radiofrequency ablation in the left heart can provide effective therapy for tachyarrhythmias. The recent development of the real time intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) with 2D and Doppler color flow imaging can facilitate left heart ablation procedures. This report reviews the use of ICE during radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia and is based on our own experience in 955 patients. ICE has a critical role for guiding transseptal catheterization, assisting placement of mapping/ablation catheters and monitoring lesion morphologic changes, especially in the pulmonary vein ostia, Marshall ligament region, thickened interatrial septum, left atrial posterior wall contiguous to esophagus, aortic valve cusps, and the epicardial regions. One of the more powerful utilities of ICE lies in its ability to identify and potentially reduce procedural complications including damage to intracardiac structures, residual atrial septal defect, left atrial thrombus formation, pulmonary vein stenosis, esophageal injury, myocardial air‐embolizaion and pericardial effusion during left heart ablation.
Demystifying Optimal Dynamic Treatment Regimes
Authors: Moodie Erica E. M. , Richardson Thomas S. , Stephens David A.
Published: February 2007

Summary A dynamic regime is a function that takes treatment and covariate history and baseline covariates as inputs and returns a decision to be made. Murphy (2003, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B65, 331–366) and Robins (2004, Proceedings of the Second Seattle Symposium on Biostatistics, 189–326) have proposed models and developed semiparametric methods for making inference about the optimal regime in a multi‐interval trial that provide clear advantages over traditional parametric approaches. We show that Murphy's model is a special case of Robins's and that the methods are closely related but not equivalent. Interesting features of the methods are highlighted using the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and through simulation.
Analysis of Failure Time Data with Multilevel Clustering, with Application to the Child Vitamin A Intervention Trial in Nepal
Authors: Shih Joanna H. , Lu Shou‐En
Published: February 2007

Summary We consider the problem of estimating covariate effects in the marginal Cox proportional hazard model and multilevel associations for child mortality data collected from a vitamin A supplementation trial in Nepal, where the data are clustered within households and villages. For this purpose, a class of multivariate survival models that can be represented by a functional of marginal survival functions and accounts for hierarchical structure of clustering is exploited. Based on this class of models, an estimation strategy involving a within‐cluster resampling procedure is proposed, and a model assessment approach is presented. The asymptotic theory for the proposed estimators and lack‐of‐fit test is established. The simulation study shows that the estimates are approximately unbiased, and the proposed test statistic is conservative under extremely heavy censoring but approaches the size otherwise. The analysis of the Nepal study data shows that the association of mortality is much greater within households than within villages.
Determinants, differentiation, and development of short‐term marginal costs in dairy production: an empirical analysis for selected regions of the EU
Authors: Wieck Christine , Heckelei Thomas
Published: February 2007

This work provides evidence on the determinants, cost differentiation, and development of short‐term marginal costs of dairy farms in important production regions of the European Union. The empirical study is based on the estimation of multi‐input multi‐output Symmetric Generalized McFadden cost functions using an unbalanced panel data set of the European Farm Accountancy Data Network. The results show considerable regional differences in the impact of the outputs, input prices, and fixed factors on marginal costs. Strong evidence can be found that marginal costs decrease over time and is further underlined by the development of derived regional aggregated short‐term supply curves. Marginal cost elasticities and correlation coefficients validate the hypotheses that a high degree of farm specialization, large milk output, and low milk prices are associated with lower marginal costs. Furthermore, the marginal cost spread in the data sample is analyzed. We show that milk output, milk yield, herd size, labor input, and fodder production can be attributed to significant marginal cost differentiation of farms, whereas for crop and animal output, grassland, stock of other animals, and depreciation only minor differentiation can be found.
Productivity change in Taiwan's farmers' credit unions: a nonparametric risk‐adjusted Malmquist approach
Authors: Chen Po‐Chi , Yu Ming‐Miin , Chang Ching‐Cheng , Hsu Shih‐Hsun
Published: February 2007

This article proposes an extended three‐stage DEA methodology similar to Fried et al. (2002) to improve the measurement of productivity growth when the assumption of free disposability of undesirable output does not apply. A directional distance function is used to construct adjusted Malmquist–Luenberger productivity indexes which simultaneously account for the impacts of undesirable outputs, environmental variables, and statistical noise. Panel data for 263 farmers' credit unions (FCUs) in Taiwan covering the 1998–2000 periods are employed to illustrate the advantages of this method. On average, the productivity of Taiwan's FCUs is found to have deteriorated over the 1998–2000 period. Although an improvement in efficiency has been observed, the major reason for the deterioration is found to be due to the regression of technology.
Clopidogrel‐mediated reduction of circulating tissue factor in patients with stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Stellbaum C. , Willich T. , Boltzen U. , Ayral Y. , Szotowski B. , Piorkowski M. , Schultheiss H.‐P. , Rauch U.
Published: February 2007

Background:  Tissue factor (TF), the initiator of coagulation, circulates in blood and contributes to thrombosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). TF is present in the α‐granules of platelets. Therapy with clopidogrel results in inhibition of platelet degranulation. Whether clopidogrel affects circulating TF is unknown. This study examined the effect of clopidogrel on TF level in the blood of patients with stable CAD and ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as well as healthy controls.

Methods:  Thirty‐three patients with CAD and twenty with STEMI were studied pre and post clopidogrel therapy (loading dose 300 mg, then 75 mg daily). All were treated with aspirin 100 mg/d. The control groups consisted of thirty healthy male volunteers also treated with clopidogrel and ten patients with CAD treated with aspirin only. TF concentration in blood drawn pre and 96 h post clopidogrel administration was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:  Patients with CAD and STEMI had significantly more TF in blood than healthy controls. Clopidogrel reduced TF in stable CAD patients to levels seen in healthy controls. No alterations in TF were found in controls and patients with STEMI post clopidogrel therapy. Clopidogrel reduced sCD40L level in stable CAD patients, but not in STEMI patients. A correlation between TF and sCD40L was found for the combined CAD and control, but not STEMI group.

Conclusion:  Clopidogrel leads to a reduction of not only sCD40L but also TF in stable CAD. The reduction of TF may lead to a reduced thrombogenicity, contributing to the benefits of clopidogrel therapy.
Mycophenolate mofetil in a case of relapsed, refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Ahmad Humayun N. , Thomas‐Dewing Rowena R. , Hunt Beverley J.
Published: February 2007

A case of relapsing and refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura received mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to attempt to maintain remission. The possible use of MMF in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is discussed.
DETERMINATION OF OPTIMAL WINDOW WIDTH AND LEVEL FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE CANINE PITUITARY GLAND HEIGHT ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES USING A PHANTOM
Authors: AURIEMMA E. , VOORHOUT G. , BARTHEZ P. Y.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal window level and width for accurate measurement of pituitary gland height in a phantom. A phantom, mimicking the appearance of the pituitary gland, was made by using the base of a canine skull immersed in buttermilk. Seven different‐sized cylindrical pieces of cheese were made and the real diameter of each sample was measured by using a caliper. The cheese was then placed in the pituitary fossa, and 2‐mm thick contiguous computed tomography (CT) slices were acquired. The height of the cheese was measured using electronic calipers with different window width and level (WW–WL) settings. The mean difference between CT and manual caliper measurements and concordance correlation coefficients were calculated for all settings. CT measurements underestimated manual caliper measurements with all settings, but the smallest difference (0.5 mm) was obtained with a 250–80 window. Concordance coefficients ranged from 0.699 to 0.820, with the maximum concordance coefficient obtained with a 250–80 window. A second series of measurements using a different window setting for the brain–pituitary gland edge (WW–WL: 250–80) and for the bone–pituitary gland edge (WW–WL: 250–240) resulted in a reduction in the mean difference (0.1 mm) and an increase in the concordance coefficient (0.836). It was concluded that underestimation of the height of the pituitary gland on CT images is most likely due to erroneous placement of the edge of the basisphenoid bone using a low level and a narrow window.
Nucleoplasmic lamins and their interaction partners, LAP2α, Rb, and BAF, in transcriptional regulation
Authors: Dorner Daniela , Gotzmann Josef , Foisner Roland
Published: February 2007

Lamins are major structural components of the nuclear envelope in multicellular eukaryotes. Particularly A‐type lamins are also located in the nucleoplasm, likely involving a specific binding partner, lamina‐associated polypeptide 2α (LAP2α). LAP2α–lamins A/C complexes in the nucleoplasm have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression by various means. They bind chromatin proteins and chromatin modifying enzymes, and can thus participate in epigenetic control pathways. Furthermore, binding of lamins A/C complexes to specific transcription factors and repressors may directly affect their transcriptional activity. LAP2α–lamins A/C also regulate retinoblastoma protein and influence cell cycle progression and differentiation, which could have important implications for molecular mechanisms of laminopathic diseases, linked to lamins A/C mutations.
Different professionals’ knowledge and perceptions of the management of people with pancreatic cancer
Authors: JEFFORD Michael , JENNENS Ross , SPEER Tony , THURSFIELD Vicky
Published: February 2007

Background:  Pancreatic cancer is generally associated with a very poor prognosis. The knowledge, beliefs and opinions of clinicians caring for people with pancreatic cancer may affect preferences for particular therapies and may impact upon patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to conduct a postal survey of clinicians who consult patients with pancreatic cancer to assess their knowledge regarding the disease itself and the effectiveness of various treatments, and to gauge their opinions regarding aspects of management.

Methods:  A 20‐item multiple‐choice questionnaire was mailed to medical and radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, general surgeons and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeons in Australia. Questions assessed knowledge of survival following surgery for resectable disease, and survival and response rate following chemoradiation for locally advanced disease and chemotherapy for advanced disease. Beliefs regarding the need for tissue diagnosis and perceptions of benefit of various treatment strategies were also sought.

Results:  Overall, knowledge was fair (average knowledge score 4.1 out of 8); 56% of HPB surgeons and 55% of medical oncologists had good knowledge, compared with 39% of gastroenterologists and general surgeons. There were marked differences in opinion regarding requirement for tissue diagnosis before further management. There was considerable variation in opinion regarding the benefit of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion:  These findings argue strongly for the development of evidence‐based guidelines. Multidisciplinary management teams may help educate individual clinicians and professional groups and are likely to result in improved outcomes for patients.
Identity Theory and Foreign Policy: Explaining Japan’s Responses to the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 U.S. War in Iraq
Authors: Catalinac Amy L.
Published: February 2007

This article examines the feasibility of using role identity as an independent variable to explain the direction of a state’s national security policy. Focusing on the response of the Japanese government to the Gulf War (January‐March 1991) and the U.S. War in Iraq (March‐May 2003), the article correlates articulations of their preferred role made in the Japanese Diet, with these policy outcomes. It finds that the different balance of role conceptions held by Japanese politicians in the two periods under study can explain the difference in policy outcomes. The study also finds, however, that the salience of these role identities is directly affected by contextual factors. Under circumstances of heightened threat perception, Japanese policy makers were less inclined to articulate any sort of value‐based role identity for Japan in favor of role statements that were characterized by pragmatism.
Confucianism and Contemporary Chinese Politics
Authors: Hu Shaohua
Published: February 2007

This article examines the relevance of Confucianism to contemporary Chinese politics. While some dismiss Confucianism as irrelevant or even harmful, others emphasize its positive and enduring influence. The study begins by reviewing debates on the relevance of Confucianism, a discussion that has never stopped since China’s entry into the modern world system. After some of the weaknesses of previous debates have been identified, an assessment is made of aspects of Confucianism, followed by a brief prediction of a continuing but limited influence for Confucianism in China.
Clonal Spread of
mef
-Positive Macrolide-Resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Isolates Causing Invasive Disease in Adults in Germany
Authors: van der Linden Mark , Al-Lahham Adnan , Haupts Stefan , Reinert Ralf René
Published: February 2007

Isolates (3,845) obtained from German adults with invasive pneumococcal disease between 1992 and 2004 were investigated. Of these, 430 isolates (11.2%) were erythromycin A nonsusceptible. Macrolide resistance genotypes and multilocus sequence types were determined. Among the isolates, 35.6% were
erm
(B) positive and 63.5% were
mef
positive. Over the study period, the frequency of resistance rose significantly from 2.2 to 17.0% (
P
< 0.001). A serotype 14, sequence type 9 clone was the most widespread.
Horizontal Gene Transfer of
ftsI
, Encoding Penicillin-Binding Protein 3, in
Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Takahata Sho , Ida Takashi , Senju Nami , Sanbongi Yumiko , Miyata Aiko , Maebashi Kazunori , Hoshiko Shigeru
Published: February 2007

Horizontal gene transfer has been identified in only a small number of genes in
Haemophilus influenzae
, an organism which is naturally competent for transformation. This report provides evidence for the genetic transfer of the
ftsI
gene, which encodes penicillin-binding protein 3, in
H. influenzae
. Mosaic structures of the
ftsI
gene were found in several clinical isolates of
H. influenzae
. To identify the origin of the mosaic sequence, complete sequences of the corresponding gene from seven type strains of
Haemophilus
species were determined. Comparison of these sequences with mosaic regions identified a homologous recombination of the
ftsI
gene between
H. influenzae
and
Haemophilus haemolyticus
. Subsequently, ampicillin-resistant
H. influenzae
strains harboring identical
ftsI
sequences were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Divergent PFGE patterns among β-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) strains from different hospitals indicated the potential for the genetic transfer of the mutated
ftsI
gene between these isolates. Moreover, transfer of the
ftsI
gene from BLNAR strains to β-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin-susceptible (BLNAS)
H. influenzae
strains was evaluated in vitro. Coincubation of a BLNAS strain (a rifampin-resistant mutant of strain Rd) and BLNAR strains resulted in the emergence of rifampin- and cefdinir-resistant clones at frequencies of 5.1 × 10
−7
to 1.5 × 10
−6
. Characterization of these doubly resistant mutants by DNA sequencing of the
ftsI
gene, susceptibility testing, and genotyping by PFGE revealed that the
ftsI
genes of BLNAR strains had transferred to BLNAS strains during coincubation. In conclusion, horizontal transfer of the
ftsI
gene in
H. influenzae
can occur in an intraspecies and an interspecies manner.
Jun N-Terminal Protein Kinase Enhances Middle Ear Mucosal Proliferation during Bacterial Otitis Media
Authors: Furukawa Masayuki , Ebmeyer Jörg , Pak Kwang , Austin Darrell A. , Melhus Åsa , Webster Nicholas J. G. , Ryan Allen F.
Published: February 2007

Mucosal hyperplasia is a characteristic component of otitis media. The present study investigated the participation of signaling via the Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase in middle ear mucosal hyperplasia in animal models of bacterial otitis media. Otitis media was induced by the inoculation of nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
into the middle ear cavity. Western blotting revealed that phosphorylation of JNK isoforms in the middle ear mucosa preceded but paralleled mucosal hyperplasia in this in vivo rat model. Nuclear JNK phosphorylation was observed in many cells of both the mucosal epithelium and stroma by immunohistochemistry. In an in vitro model of primary rat middle ear mucosal explants, bacterially induced mucosal growth was blocked by the Rac/Cdc42 inhibitor
Clostridium difficile
toxin B, the mixed-lineage kinase inhibitor CEP11004, and the JNK inhibitor SP600125. Finally, the JNK inhibitor SP600125 significantly inhibited mucosal hyperplasia during in vivo bacterial otitis media in guinea pigs. Inhibition of JNK in vivo resulted in a diminished proliferative response, as shown by a local decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression by immunohistochemistry. We conclude that activation of JNK is a critical pathway for bacterially induced mucosal hyperplasia during otitis media, influencing tissue proliferation.
Strong diabetes
Authors: Young James , Anwar Aresh
Published: February 2007

The case of a 36-year-old male professional bodybuilder is reported. He presented to the accident and emergency department with right upper quadrant pain. This was on the background of a 15-year history of anabolic steroid and growth hormone misuse. Examination revealed mild hepatomegaly and a random blood sugar of 30.2 mmol/l. There was no evidence of ketonuria or acidosis. Biochemical evidence of hepatitis was found, and the patient was in acute renal failure. He was given a sliding scale of insulin and an intravenous infusion of crystalloid. The hepatitis and hyperglycaemia settled with conservative treatment. It is believed that this is the first reported case of frank diabetes precipitated by supraphysiological recreational growth hormone misuse.
A NOTE ON PSEUDOLINEARITY IN TERMS OF BIFUNCTIONS
Authors: LALITHA C. S. , MEHTA MONIKA
Published: February 2007

The main aim of this paper is to generalize the notion of pseudolinearity to nondifferentiable functions and to obtain characterizations for such functions. Under the assumption of pseudolinearity, a characterization for the solution sets of an optimization problem and a variational inequality problem has been obtained.
COSMIC STRING WITH TWO INTERACTING SCALAR FIELDS
Authors: DZHUNUSHALIEV VLADIMIR , FOLOMEEV VLADIMIR , MYRZAKULOV KAIRAT , MYRZAKULOV RATBAY
Published: February 2007

The model of cosmic string formed from two gravitating and interacting scalar fields is considered. It is shown that the regular solutions exist at special choice of the model's parameters only.
ON THE SCATTERING PHASE FOR AdS5 × S5 STRINGS
Authors: BEISERT NIKLAS
Published: February 2007

We propose a phase factor of the worldsheet S-matrix for strings on AdS5 × S5 apparently solving Janik's crossing relation exactly.
FRONTIERS ON LASERS, PLASMAS, AND ACCELERATORS — WITH AN EYE ON THE EXPERIMENTAL COSMOLOGY
Authors: HWANG W.-Y. P.
Published: February 2007

The welcoming speech to Joint International Workshop on Laser and Beam Interactions and Laser and Plasma Accelerators held on December 12-16, 2005.
HIGH QUALITY LASER-PRODUCED PROTON BEAM GENERATION BY PHASE ROTATION
Authors: NODA AKIRA , NAKAMURA SHU , IWASHITA YOSHIHISA , SHIRAI TOSHIYUKI , TONGU HIROMU , SOUDA HIKARU , DAIDO HIROYUKI , MORI MICHIAKI , KADO MASATAKA , SAGISAKA AKITO , OGURA KOICHI , NISHIUCHI MAMIKO , ORIMO SATOSHI , HAYASHI YUKIO , YOGO AKIFUMI , PIROZHKOV ALEXANDER , BULANOV SERGEI , ESIRKEPOV TIMUR , NAGASHIMA AKIRA , KIMURA TOYOAKI , TAJIMA TOSHIKI , TAKEUCHI TAKESHI , FUKUMI ATSUSHI , LI ZHONG
Published: February 2007

Laser ion production has been studied for downsizing of the accelerator dedicated for cancer therapy. For optimization of various parameters such as pre-pulse condition, target position, laser spot size on the target, laser pulse width and so on, time of flight (TOF) measurement utilizing the detected signal by a plastic scintillation counter played an essential role for real time measurement. Protons up to ~900 keV and ~600 keV are produced from the thin foil targets of Ti 3 μm and 5 μm in thickness, respectively. Modification of the energy distribution of the laser-produced ions with Maxwell distribution by utilizing an RF electric field synchronized to the pulse laser, which is the rotation of the ion beam in the longitudinal phase space (Phase Rotation), has been demonstrated for the first time. By using the Ti Sapphire laser of the wave length and pulse duration of 800 nm and a few hundreds fs, respectively, intensity increase of factor 3 in a certain energy bins is attained creating energy peaks with the energy spread about 7 %, which is found to be reproduced with good probability.
PLASMA WAKES DRIVEN BY NEUTRINOS, PHOTONS AND ELECTRON BEAMS
Authors: BINGHAM R. , SILVA L. O. , MENDONCA J. T. , SHUKLA P. K. , MORI W. B. , SERBETO A.
Published: February 2007

There is considerable interest in the propagation dynamics of intense electron and photon neutrino beams in a background dispersive medium such as dense plasmas, particularly in the search for a mechanism to explain the dynamics of type II supernovae. Neutrino interactions with matter are usually considered as single particle interactions. All the single particle mechanisms describing the dynamical properties of neutrino's in matter are analogous with the processes involving single electron interactions with a medium such as Compton scattering, and Cerenkov radiation etc. However, it is well known that beams of electrons moving through a plasma give rise to a new class of processes known as collective interactions such as two stream instabilities which result in either the absorption or generation of plasma waves. Intense photon beams also drive collective interactions such as modulational type instabilities. In both cases relativistic electron beams of electrons and photon beams can drive plasma wakefields in plasmas. Employing the relativistic kinetic equations for neutrinos interacting with dense plasmas via the weak force we explore collective plasma streaming instabilities driven by Neutrino electron and photon beams and demonstrate that all three types of particles can drive wakefields.
GENERATION OF HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRON BEAM BY LASER-PLASMA ACCELERATOR
Authors: KOYAMA KAZUYOSHI , MASUDA SHINICHI , MIURA EISUKE , WATANABE TAKAYUKI , KATO SUSUMU , ADACHI MASAHIRO , TANIMOTO MITSUMORI
Published: February 2007

An energy gain of the monoenergetic component of electrons γ were successfully increased to 25 MeV by decreasing an electron density ne to 4 × 1019 cm -3 and increasing a laser power PL to 4 TW. An empirical scaling law of the energy gain of γ ∝ PL/ne was derived from the experiment. A forward scattering spectrum of the laser pulse showed anti-Stokes satellite peaks up to third-order harmonics around a second harmonic light and a Stokes satellite peak around a laser wavelength, which indicated that a wakefield was excited in a self-modulation laser wakefield regime. A density modulation of wakefield was estimated at 60 ± 10 % from intensity ratios of satellite peaks. The empirical scaling law well agrees with results obtained at other institutes by using higher laser power of 10 ~ 30 TW .
A COMPACT THOMSON X-RAY SOURCE AT SHI
Authors: SAKAI FUMIO , NAKAJYO TERUNOBU , YANAGIDA TATSUYA , ITO SHINJI
Published: February 2007

A compact, high-brightness x-ray source has been developed through Thomson scattering between photons and relativistic electrons. 33keV energy photons (maximum) were generated in a 165-degree interaction configuration with 38MeV electrons and 800nm-wavelength Ti :sapphire laser light. The number of total photons generated at an interaction point was 106 photons/pulse for a 0.8nC electron bunch charge and 150mJ laser pulse energy. In a 90-degree interaction configuration, 105 photons/pulse total photons were obtained (maximum). Transverse profiles of x-ray intensity and energy were measured by an x-ray CCD camera. These experiment profiles agreed with the analytical results. Imaging using this x-ray source was demonstrated as an application. X-ray images for some objects were taken with various lengths between the objects and the camera. As a result, the refraction contrast images were observed with 17keV x-rays.
POLARIZED POSITRON GENERATION BASED ON LASER COMPTON SCHEME AND ITS POLARIZATION MEASUREMENTS
Authors: SAKAUE KAZUYUKI , SAITO TAKU , YAMAZAKI ISSEI , KURODA RYUNOSUKE , WASHIO MASAKAZU , HIROSE TACHISHIGE , OMORI TSUNEHIKO , OKUGI TOSHIYUKI , KURIHARA YOSHIMASA , URAKAWA JUNJI , FUKUDA MASAFUMI , NOMURA MASAHIRO , OHASHI AYUMU
Published: February 2007

We have proposed a new scheme for polarized positron production, consisting of two quantum processes i.e. inverse Compton scatterings of circularly polarized laser light on high-quality electron beams and successive electron-positron pair creations. Using a circularly polarized laser beam of 532 nm scattered off a high-quality electron beam with the energy of 1.28 GeV, we have demonstrated for the first time productions of highly polarized positrons with an intensity of 2×104 e +/ bunch and an average energy of 36 MeV. Hence an average polarization of positrons was determined as 73±15( stat )±19( syst )% by means of a newly designed positron polarimeter.
LASER-ACCELERATED PROTONS: PERSPECTIVES FOR CONTROL/OPTIMIZATION OF BEAM PROPERTIES
Authors: BORGHESI M. , CECCHETTI C. A. , ROMAGNANI L. , ANTICI P. , AUDEBERT P. , FUCHS J. , D'HUMIERES E. , BRAMBRINK E. , TONCIAN T. , PIPAHL A. , WILLI O. , LEFEVBRE E.
Published: February 2007

The acceleration of high-energy ion beams (up to several tens of MeV per nucleon) following the interaction of short ( t < 1ps ) and intense (Iλ2 > 1018W cm-2μm2) laser pulses with solid targets has been one of the most active areas of research in the last few years. The exceptional properties of these beams (high brightness and high spectral cutoff, high directionality and laminarity, short burst duration) distinguish them from those of the lower energy ions accelerated in earlier experiments at moderate laser intensities. In view of these properties, laser-driven ion beams can be employed in a number of groundbreaking applications in the scientific, technological and medical areas. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art, highlights recent developments and indicate future directions of this research area.
POSSIBILITY OF A SMALL NEUTRON SOURCE BY LASER-PLASMA INTERACTION
Authors: IWASHITA Y. , NAKAMURA S. , YAMADA K. , OGATA A. , WADA Y. , HIROTA K.
Published: February 2007

Cold neutrons are good probe for nano meter scale objects. While some huge facilities as spallation neutron sources are under construction, small local (satellite) neutron sources will help to test new ideas on research. Such small ones are considered to be complementary parts of the huge facilities. Because the threshold energy of the d-d reactions is fairly low, irradiation of deuterated polyethylene (CD2) target by laser induced energetic deuterons may generate neutrons. A preliminary experiment performed with 1TW laser irradiating CD2 foil just before another thick CD2 target is described.
STOCHASTIC WAKEFIELD PLASMA ACCELERATION IN GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
Authors: BARBIELLINI G. , LONGO F. , OMODEI N. , GIULIETTI D. , CELOTTI A. , TAVANI M.
Published: February 2007

Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) prompt emission can, for specific conditions, be so powerful and short-pulsed to strongly influence any surrounding plasma. In this paper, we briefly discuss the possibility that a very intense initial burst of radiation produced by GRBs satisfy the intensity and temporal conditions to cause stochastic wake-field particle acceleration in a surrounding plasma of moderate density. We consider a simple but realistic GRB model for which particle wake-field acceleration can first be excited by a very strong low-energy precursor, and then be effective in producing the observed prompt X-ray and gamma-ray GRB emission.
HYPERCHAOS IN A NEW FAMILY OF SIMPLE CNNS
Authors: HUANG YAN , YANG XIAO-SONG
Published: February 2007

In this paper we demonstrate hyperchaotic dynamics in a new family of simple Cellular Neural Networks (CNNs) which is a one-dimensional regular array of four cells. The Lyapunov spectrum is calculated in a range of parameters, the bifurcation plots and several important phase portraits are presented as well.
THE NUCLEON STRUCTURE AND THE EQUATION OF STATE FOR NUCLEAR MATTER
Authors: ROŻYNEK J.
Published: February 2007

We show the density dependent corrections to the nucleon structure function in the frame of nuclear Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) models. These corrections are connected with the modifications of the parton distribution in nuclei emerging from generalized nuclear Fermi motion and final state interactions between the nucleon and the rest of the nucleus. The medium effects concern the nucleon structure, namely the changes in the nucleon rest energy, the enhancement of sea quark contribution (simulated with "nuclear pions") and the modifications of the transverse parton momentum distribution inside Nuclear Matter (NM). The sea parton distributions are described by the modified cloud of virtual pions in order to saturate the nuclear energy-momentum sum rule. The description of theses features are in good agreement with experimental data; the EMC effect for x > 0.15 and nuclear lepton pair production data has been described essentialy without free parameters. The influence of these medium modifications to the nucleon structure function within the equation of state in RMF models of NM will be discussed.
GIANT DIPOLE RESONANCE IN DEFORMED NUCLEI: DEPENDENCE ON SKYRME FORCES
Authors: NESTERENKO V. O. , KLEINIG W. , KVASIL J. , VESELY P. , REINHARD P.-G.
Published: February 2007

The giant dipole resonance (GDR) in deformed nuclei is analyzed using the self-consistent separable random-phase-approximation (SRPA) with Skyrme forces SkT6, SkM*, SLy6 and SkI3. The deformed nuclei 150 Nd and 238 U are used as representative rare-earth and actinide samples. Dependences of the dipole strength distributions on some basic characteristics of the Skyrme functional and nuclear matter properties (isoscalar and isovector effective masses, time-odd contributions) are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the fragmentation structure of the GDR strength which is shown to depend sensitively to spin-orbit intruder states with large angular momentum.
FARSJUM, A FUZZY SYSTEM FOR RANKING SPARSE JUDGMENT MATRICES: A CASE STUDY IN SOCCER TOURNAMENTS
Authors: GHOLAMIAN M. R. , FATEMI GHOMI S. M. T. , GHAZANFARI M.
Published: February 2007

The establishment of the priorities from pairwise comparison matrices is the major constituent of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). However, the number of pairwise comparisons necessary in real problems often becomes overwhelming. In such cases, generally the experts are not able to answer all questions and consequently sparse judgment matrix is generated which caused "equal ranks" and "rank reversal" based on AHP method.

In this paper, a new ranking system (FARSJUM) is developed for such sparse judgment matrix. The system is constructed on fuzzy rules and fuzzy reasoning methods. The numerical example of world cup soccer tournament is brought to clarify the performance of the developed system comparing with AHP method in ranking the sparse judgment matrices.
Sex steroid effects at target tissues: mechanisms of action
Authors: Wierman Margaret E.
Published: February 2007

Our understanding of the mechanisms of sex hormone action has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Estrogens, progestins, and androgens are the steroid hormones that modulate reproductive function. Recent data have shown that many other tissues are targets of sex hormones in addition to classical reproductive organs. This review outlines new advances in our understanding of the spectrum of steroid hormone ligands, newly recognized target tissues, structure-function relationships of steroid receptors, and, finally, their genomic and nongenomic actions. Sex-based specific effects are often related to the different steroid hormone mileu in men compared with women. Understanding the mechanisms of sex steroid action gives insight into the differences in normal physiology and disease states.
The membrane and lipids as integral participants in signal transduction: lipid signal transduction for the non-lipid biochemist
Authors: Eyster Kathleen M.
Published: February 2007

Reviews of signal transduction have often focused on the cascades of protein kinases and protein phosphatases and their cytoplasmic substrates that become activated in response to extracellular signals. Lipids, lipid kinases, and lipid phosphatases have not received the same amount of attention as proteins in studies of signal transduction. However, lipids serve a variety of roles in signal transduction. They act as ligands that activate signal transduction pathways as well as mediators of signaling pathways, and lipids are the substrates of lipid kinases and lipid phosphatases. Cell membranes are the source of the lipids involved in signal transduction, but membranes also constitute lipid barriers that must be traversed by signal transduction pathways. The purpose of this review is to explore the magnitude and diversity of the roles of the cell membrane and lipids in signal transduction and to highlight the interrelatedness of families of lipid mediators in signal transduction.
Sex and the cardiovascular system: the intriguing tale of how women and men regulate cardiovascular function differently
Authors: Huxley Virginia H.
Published: February 2007

The ability to recognize and appreciate from a reproductive standpoint that males and females possess different attributes has been long standing. Only more recently have we begun to look more deeply into both the similarities and differences between men and women, as well as between boys and girls, with respect to the structure and function of other organ systems. This article focuses on the cardiovascular system, with examples of sex differences in the control of coronary function, blood pressure, and volume. Recognizing the differences between the sexes with respect to cardiovascular function facilitates understanding of the mechanisms whereby homeostasis can be achieved using different contributions or components of the living system. Furthermore, recognition of the differences as well as the similarities permits the design of appropriate diagnostic instruments, recognition of sex-specific pathophysiology, and implementation of appropriate treatment of cardiovascular disease in men and women.
Sex-based differences in physiology: what should we teach in the medical curriculum?
Authors: Blair Martha L.
Published: February 2007

An abundance of recent research indicates that there are multiple differences between males and females both in normal physiology and in the pathophysiology of disease. The Refresher Course on Gender Differences in Physiology, sponsored by the American Physiological Society Education Committee at the 2006 Experimental Biology Meeting in San Franciso, CA, was designed to provide teachers of medical physiology with the background necessary to include the most important aspects of sex-based differences in their curricula. The presentations addressed sex-based differences in the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and immune systems as well as the cellular mechanisms of sex steroid hormone actions on nonreproductive tissues. The slides and audio files for these presentations are available at http://www.the-aps.org/education/refresher/index.htm . This overview highlights the key concepts relevant to the topic of sex-based differences in physiology: why these differences are important, their potential causes, and examples of prominent differences between males and females in normal physiological function for selected organ systems.
Antisense oligonucleotides against the lipid phosphatase SHIP2 improve muscle insulin sensitivity in a dietary rat model of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Buettner Roland , Ottinger Iris , Gerhardt-Salbert Christiane , Wrede Christian E. , Schölmerich Jürgen , Bollheimer L. Cornelius
Published: February 2007

The lipid phosphatase SH2 domain-containing lipid phosphatase (SHIP2) has been implicated in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, but its role in the therapy of insulin-resistant states remains to be defined. Here, we examined the effects of an antisense oligonucleotide (AS) therapy directed against SHIP2 on whole body insulin sensitivity and insulin action in liver and muscle tissue in a dietary rodent model of the metabolic syndrome, the high-fat-fed (HF) rat. Whole body insulin sensitivity was examined in vivo by insulin tolerance tests before and after the intraperitoneal application of an AS directed against SHIP2 (HF-SHIP2-AS) or a control AS (HF-Con-AS) in HF rats. Insulin action in liver and muscle was assayed by measuring the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2 after a portal venous insulin bolus. SHIP2 mRNA and protein content were quantified in these tissues by real-time PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. In HF-SHIP2-AS, whole body glucose disposal after an insulin bolus was markedly elevated compared with HF-Con-AS. In liver, insulin activated Akt similarly in both groups. In muscle, insulin did not clearly activate Akt in HF-Con-AS animals, whereas insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation was sustained in SHIP2-AS-treated rats. IRS-1/2 activation did not differ between the experimental groups. SHIP2 mRNA and protein content were markedly reduced only in muscle. In standard diet-fed controls, SHIP2-AS reduced SHIP2 protein levels in liver and muscle, but it had no significant effect on insulin sensitivity. We conclude that treatment with SHIP2-AS can rapidly improve muscle insulin sensitivity in dietary insulin resistance. The long-term feasability of such a strategy should be examined further.
Soluble PD-1 Facilitates 4-1BBL–Triggered Antitumor Immunity against Murine H22 Hepatocarcinoma In vivo
Authors: Xiao Han , Huang Bo , Yuan Ye , Li Dong , Han Ling-Fei , Liu Yi , Gong Wei , Wu Feng-Hua , Zhang Gui-Mei , Feng Zuo-Hua
Published: February 2007

Purpose: The use of costimulatory molecules targeting distinct T-cell signaling pathways has provided a means for triggering and enhancing antitumor immunity; however, it is still not fully understood what types of costimulatory molecules are suitable for the combination in tumor therapy. Our purpose in this study is to establish an effective antitumor immune approach by using costimulatory molecule 4-1BBL in combination with soluble PD-1.

Experimental Design: The murine H22 hepatocarcinoma served as an ectopic tumor model. Local gene transfer was done by injection with naked plasmid p4-1BBL and/or psPD-1. The synergistic mechanism of dual-gene therapy was elucidated by detecting the change of gene expression of immunoregulatory factors in tumor microenvironment. The effects of immunotherapy were evaluated by testing the function of tumor-specific T cells, measuring tumor weight or volume, survival of mice, and H&E staining of tissues.

Results: 4-1BBL expressed by normal nonimmune cells effectively enhanced antitumor immune response but up-regulated PD-L1 and did not reduce IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). sPD-1 synergized with 4-1BBL to establish efficient antitumor immune environment, including down-regulation of IL-10 and TGF-β, further up-regulation of interleukin (IL)-2 and IFN-γ, and higher CD8+ T-cell infiltration. The combined treatment by 4-1BBL/sPD-1 eradicated tumors from mice with small amounts of preexistent tumor cells or tumors from ∼60% of individuals with larger amounts of preexistent tumor cells.

Conclusions: Our findings in this report imply a great potential of 4-1BBL in combination with sPD-1 in tumor therapeutics with the in vivo existent tumor cells as antigens.
Rethinking Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Authors: Taipale Kim
Published: February 2007

This précis is abstracted from the “The Ear of Dionysus: Rethinking Foreign Intelligence Surveillance,” to be published in the Yale Journal of Law and Technology (forthcoming spring 2007).
An Iraqi Discovers Arendt
Authors: Makiya Kanan
Published: February 2007

This essay is adapted from a lecture at Hannah Arendt: Right Now, a conference co-sponsored by the NYU Institute for the Humanities and the Humanities Council at NYU, in December 2006.
Histoarchitecture and Δ5-3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase profile in ovaries of the non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating insectivorous rat-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari
Authors: Trivedi Seema , Lall Suresh Bihari
Published: February 2007

The histoarchitecture and profile of Δ5-3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were studied in an insectivorous seasonally-breeding microchiropteran, Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari (rattailed bat) ovaries during non-pregnant, pregnant and lactation phases. Mid-sections of follicles and ova showed variation in their diameter (0.013-0.182 mm and 0.010-0.075 mm, respectively). Though dextral and sinistral ovaries are functionally equivalent, ovulation occurs only once (alternately from one ovary) in each annual cycle. An extroverted corpus luteum (0.792 mm) was observed in either the dextral or sinistral ovary of a pregnant R. m. kinneari. This exhibited two types of cells. Follicular atresia was pronounced in ovaries during these reproductive stages. No post-partum 'heat' was discerned. Δ5-3β HSDH is a crucial catalyst in steroid hormone biosynthesis and the reaction product indicates status of steroidogenesis in different follicle types. Differential Δ5-3β HSDH activity evident from reaction product staining in three reproductive states and in different ovarian components was seen. Consistent sites of enzyme activity were thecal cells and ovarian stroma. However, intensity varied in different reproductive states.