bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of composition and quality of diet and feeding time on the kinetics and efficacy of some anthelmintic drugs: A mini-review
Authors: Ali B. H.
Published: September 2004

This article reviews the literature dealing with the effects of composition and quality of diet and feeding time on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of some anthelmintic drugs in ruminants. Studies have suggested that greater availability, and therefore improved anthelmintic activity, is possible through temporary feed restriction. It is also recommended that anthelmintic drugs should not be given to animals whilst they are maintained on large feed intakes, particularly of lush pasture that promotes rapid gastric transit, as this may reduce drug availability and anthelmintic efficacy. Generally, feeding animals low-quality fibrous diets reduces the passage rate of digesta and allows more time for absorption of several anthelmintic drugs and their metabolites from the gut. Some kinetic data of drugs given to animals on such diets may be slightly different, but this does not necessarily indicate alteration of the dosages of the anthelmintic drug. Nonetheless, due consideration should be given to anthelmintic dosages under various dietary regimes if optimum efficacy is to be achieved at all times.
Rizikó- és protektív tényezők hatása a nagyon korai gondozás előrejelzésében
Authors: Danis Ildikó
Published: September 2004

Empirikus munkám célja - eloször szülo kismamák beszámolói alapján - egy komplex magyarázó modell felállítása volt a várandósság, a szülés és a nagyon korai gondozói kapcsolat idoszakára vonatkozóan. Központi kérdésem az volt, hogy vajon a prenatális idoszak személyiség- (például alkati szorongás) és pszichoszociális tényezoi (például a saját gyermekkor, a szociális noi nemi és anyaszerep vállalása, a partneri támogatás, a gyermek iránti vágy) képesek-e elore jelezni közvetlen, illetve - a terhességi szorongáson és attitudön, valamint a szülés változóin keresztül - közvetett utakon a korai posztnatális kapcsolat bizonyos interaktív jellemzoit. E kérdés vizsgálatára az útelemzés módszerét használtam. Mivel az adatokat egy 78 fos, eloször szülo anyákból álló homogén minta követéses, kérdoíves vizsgálata során nyertem, az általánosításra korlátozott a lehetoség. A modell 13 végleges változóját saját szerkesztésu kérdoívek fokomponens-analízisével, standardizált vagy már más kutatásokban használt eszközök (STAI, PAS, MABS) alskáláinak felhasználásával, valamint indokolt esetben ezek változócsoportokká való redukálásával nyertem. Statisztikai alapként a két forduló (26-36. terhességi hét és 2. posztnatális hét) változóinak összefüggései szolgáltak. A modell kiinduló változóiként a fentiekben vázolt személyiség- és pszichoszociális faktorok szerepelnek. A második szint a terhességi szorongást és a globális terhességi attitudöt, míg a harmadik a szülés komplex élményét és a szülés után közvetlenül aktiválódó diádikus kontaktust leíró változókat tartalmazza. Végso kimenetként a baba irritabilitását és szocialitását, a gondozó magabiztosságát és a szülés után megváltozott életvitellel való elégedettséget leíró faktorok szerepelnek. Minden változó az anyai percepción és önbeszámolón alapszik. Számos útvonal részletezésétol eltekintve a modell paraméterei (a jó illeszkedés-mutatók, a szignifikáns útvonalak, a változók megmagyarázott varianciaértékei) alátámasztják azt a fo predikciónkat, miszerint a korai gondozói magabiztosságot nemcsak a gyermek anya által percipiált irritabilitása jósolja be közvetlenül, hanem a prenatális faktorok kapcsolatrendszerén keresztül a terhességi attitud is. Ez az összefüggés a prenatális dimenziók protektív jellegét fejezheti ki a negativisztikus gyermeki sajátosságok kapcsolati rizikója mellett.
Könyvismertetések
Authors: Tófalvy Tamás , Bereczkei Tamás , Kardos Péter , Krajcsi Attila , Garab Edit Anna , Lukács Ágnes
Published: September 2004

Darwin után, szabadon [Steve Jones: Darwin szelleme; Edward O. Wilson: Minden egybecseng] (Tófalvy Tamás); A tudomány célja: határok átlépése [Pléh Csaba: A természet és a lélek] (Bereczkei Tamás); Iránytu az evolúciós pszichológiához [Bereczkei Tamás: Evolúciós pszichológia] (Kardos Péter); Intuitív aritmetika [Stanislas Dehaene: A számérzék] (Krajcsi Attila); Nyelv és káosz [Navracsics Judit: A kétnyelvu gyermek] (Garab Edit Anna); Egy markáns ellenvélemény [Michael Tomasello: Constructing a language - A usage-based theory of language acquisition (Egy nyelv felépítése - a nyelvelsajátítás használat alapú elmélete)] (Lukács Ágnes);
Physicochemical studies of Cadmium(II) biosorption by the invasive alga in Europe, Sargassum muticum
Authors: Lodeiro P. , Cordero B. , Grille Z. , Herrero R. , Sastre de Vicente M.E.
Published: September 2004

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the studies concerning brown seaweed as biosorbents for metal removal owing to their high binding ability and low cost. This work reports the results of a study regarding the cadmium binding equilibria of dead biomass from the seaweed Sargassum muticum; this alga is a pest fouling organism that competes with the local fucalean species and may also interfere with the “sea industry”; therefore, it would constitute an ideal material to be used as biosorbent. Seven different treatments were tested in order to obtain a stable biomass that could be suitable for industrial use under a broad range of operational conditions. The treatments employed were protonation, chemical cross‐linking with formaldehyde, KOH, Ca(OH)2 and CaCl2 or physical treatments with acetone and methanol. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Langmuir–Freundlich were obtained for the quantitative description of the cadmium uptake. The effect of pH on biosorption equilibrium was studied at values ranging from 1 to 6, demonstrating the importance of this parameter for an accurate evaluation of the biosorption process. Maximum biosorption was found pH higher than 4.5. The maximum biosorption uptake for the raw biomass was 65 mg g−1, while for formaldehyde cross‐linking biomass the uptake increases to 99 mg g−1 and for protonated biomass to 95 mg g−1. Potentiometric titrations were carried out to estimate the total number of weak acid groups and to obtain their apparent pK value, 3.85, using the Katchalsky model. Kinetic studies varying cadmium concentration, algal dose, and ionic strength were carried out. Over 95% of the maximum cadmium uptake was achieved within 45 min, so the process can be considered relatively fast. A pseudo‐second‐order model, for the kinetics of cadmium biosorption, was shown to be able to reproduce experimental data points with accuracy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A program for the design of linear time invariant control systems: CDMCAD
Authors: Koksal M. , Hamamci S. E.
Published: September 2004

Coefficient Diagram Method (CDM) is a new method proposed for the analysis and design of linear time‐invariant control systems. The control system design by this method results with satisfactory stability, time response and robustness properties compatible with, and in most cases better than, the ones obtained by the other present design methods. In this study, the design procedure described in the literature for CDM is improved so that a systematic and easy tool with understandable sufficient detail is presented. A visual toolbox, which can be used efficiently both for education and research, is obtained based on the procedure presented by using MATLAB. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 12: 165–174, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20011
The place of memantine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a number needed to treat analysis
Authors: Livingston Gill , Katona Cornelius
Published: September 2004

Introduction

Memantine is currently the only treatment approved for moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is still some discussion as to its place in clinical practice and many UK clinicians are discouraged for economic reasons from prescribing it. We adopt a ‘number needed to treat’ (NNT) approach to assess the benefits reported in memantine trials.

Method

We searched Medline and the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Specialised Register for double‐blind, randomised and controlled trials of memantine in AD. If efficacy was only reported in terms of mean change, rather than as number of individuals who responded or were harmed by an intervention, we contacted the drug companies (Merz and Lundbeck) to ask for more data. We also calculated effect size.

Results

We found two trials of memantine in AD that met our criteria. We found that NNTs for global outcome were 3 and 6, for cognitive outcome 7 and for activities of daily living 4 and 8. The effect size for memantine varied between 0.32 and 0.62. For NNH memantine was no more harmful than placebo and significantly less so for the outcome of agitation.

Conclusion

The small NNTs and the lack of harm shown by the NNHs strongly suggest that memantine, as with cholinesterase inhibitors, has a valuable place in the current clinical management of AD. The effect sizes are mainly in the ‘medium’ range for clinical effect, which also suggests that memantine has a clinical place in terms of cognition and dependency. There remains a need for more studies that examine carer burden, behavioural and psychological effects, and quality of life for both the person with dementia and the caregiver. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microbial conversion of sterol‐containing soybean oil production waste
Authors: Donova Marina V , Dovbnya Dmitry V , Sukhodolskaya Galina V , Khomutov Sergey M , Nikolayeva Vera M , Kwon Inchan , Han Kyuboem
Published: September 2004

Soybean extract residue (scum), a waste of soybean oil production, was examined as a raw material for C17‐ketosteroid production. As a model process, its bioconversion to 9α‐hydroxyandrost‐4‐ene‐3,17‐dione (9‐OH‐AD) by Mycobacterium sp VKM Ac‐1817D was studied. The content of transformable sterols (sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol) in scum was estimated at ∼14%. The bioconversion of scum to 9‐OH‐AD was characterized by a long lag‐period (300–350 h) followed by 9‐OH‐AD accumulation. The microbial or chemical elimination of fatty non‐identified components resulted in sterol‐enriched scum preparations. Effective conversion of these preparations by Mycobacterium sp was demonstrated: 9‐OH‐AD molar yield ∼65% was reached at 60 h from the scum preparation containing 10 g dm−3 transformable sterols. The process productivity was comparable with that for high quality‐sitosterol of wood origin (tall‐oil sitosterol). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Mangrove ecosystem dynamics and elemental cycling at Twin Cays, Belize, during the Holocene
Authors: Wooller Matthew J. , Behling Hermann , Smallwood Barbara J. , Fogel Marilyn
Published: September 2004

Existing at the transition between the terrestrial environment and hydrosphere, mangroves are sensitive to environmental change (e.g. sea‐level rise). We present pollen and stable isotope data from a core (TCC1) of continuous (10 m) mangrove peat from Twin Cays, ∼12 km off of the coast of Belize, Central America. Radiocarbon dates on fragments of mangrove leaves preserved in TCC1 show that the core provides an 8600 14C year record of mangrove ecosystem changes. Variation in the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (δ13C = ∼−30 to −25‰; δ15N = ∼−6 to 2‰) of mangrove leaves imply that the stand structure and nutrient status of the mangroves at the site have changed during the Holocene. Pollen data from the same core show that the floral composition of the site has changed at points during the Holocene, most notably a brief (∼240 years) switch at ∼3860 14C yr BP to dominance by a species of Myrsine (not currently present at the site). Our results are consistent with significant environmental changes (either marked disturbance from hurricanes or fluctuations in sea‐level) through the Holocene. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Holocene vegetation dynamics in the northeastern Rub' al‐Khali desert, Arabian Peninsula: a phytolith, pollen and carbon isotope study
Authors: Parker A. G. , Eckersley L. , Smith M. M. , Goudie A. S. , Stokes S. , Ward S. , White K. , Hodson M. J.
Published: September 2004

The Holocene vegetation history of the Arabian Peninsula is poorly understood, with few palaeobotanical studies to date. At Awafi, Ras al‐Khaimah, UAE, a 3.3 m lake sediment sequence records the vegetation development for the period 8500 cal. yr BP to ∼3000 cal. yr BP. δ13C isotope, pollen and phytolith analyses indicate that C3 Pooid grassland with a strong woody element existed during the early Holocene (between 8500 and 6000 cal. yr BP) and became replaced by mixed C3 and C4 grasses with a strong C4 Panicoid tall grass element between 5900 and 5400 cal. yr BP. An intense, arid event occurred at 4100 cal. yr BP when the lake desiccated and was infilled by Aeolian sand. From 4100 cal. yr BP the vegetation was dominated by C4 Chloridoid types and Cyperaceae, suggesting an incomplete vegetation cover and Aeolian dune reactivation owing to increased regional aridity. These data outline the ecosystem dynamics and carbon cycling in response to palaeomonsoon and north‐westerly variability during the Holocene. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dating of dipterocarp tree rings: establishing a record of carbon cycling and climatic change in the tropics
Authors: Robertson I. , Froyd C. A. , Walsh R. P. D. , Newbery D. M. , Woodborne S. , Ong R. C.
Published: September 2004

In a first step to obtain a proxy record of past climatic events (including the El Niño–Southern Oscillation) in the normally aseasonal tropical environment of Sabah, a radial segment from a recently fallen dipterocarp (Shorea superba) was radiocarbon dated and subjected to carbon isotope analysis. The high‐precision radiocarbon results fell into the ambiguous modern plateau where several calibrated dates can exist for each sample. Dating was achieved by wiggle matching using a Bayesian approach to calibration. Using the defined growth characteristics of Shorea superba, probability density distributions were calculated and improbable dates rejected. It was found that the tree most likely started growing around AD 1660–1685. A total of 173 apparent growth increments were measured and, therefore, it could be determined that the tree formed one ring approximately every two years. Stable carbon isotope values were obtained from resin‐extracted wholewood from each ring. Carbon cycling is evident in the ‘juvenile effect’, resulting from the assimilation of respired carbon dioxide and lower light levels below the canopy, and in the ‘anthropogenic effect’ caused by increased industrial activity in the late‐nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This study demonstrates that palaeoenvironmental information can be obtained from trees growing in aseasonal environments, where climatic conditions prevent the formation of well‐defined annual rings. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly(N‐hexyl‐cyclopenta[c]pyrrole) – A Novel 1,3,4‐Alkyl‐substituted Polypyrrole Soluble in Organic Solvents and Redox Conducting
Authors: Zotti Gianni , Zecchin Sandro , Schiavon Gilberto , Vercelli Barbara , Berlin Anna , Grimoldi Sara
Published: September 2004

Summary: N‐Hexyl‐cyclopenta[c]pyrrole was synthesized and electrochemically and chemically polymerized to a novel 1,3,4‐alkyl‐substituted polypyrrole. The polymer was characterized in solution and as thin solid film by cyclic voltammetry, UV‐vis, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, MALDI mass spectroscopy, GPC analysis, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, ESR spectroscopy and in situ conductivity. The polymer, with a defect‐free structure and an average degree of polymerization of 13 (electrochemically prepared) and 24 (chemically prepared), is soluble (>1%) in acetone, acetonitrile and chlorinated solvents. Its in situ conductivity as a function of potential and doping charge has the typical features of redox conductivity with a maximum value of ca 1 × 10−3 S · cm−1.

Structure of poly(N‐hexyl‐cyclopenta[c]pyrrole).

magnified image

Structure of poly(N‐hexyl‐cyclopenta[c]pyrrole).
Differences in the cellular distribution of D1 receptor mRNA in the hippocampus of bipolars and schizophrenics
Authors: Pantazopoulos Harry , Stone David , Walsh John , Benes Francine M.
Published: September 2004

Several lines of evidence have pointed to a role of the dopamine system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. A recent postmortem study demonstrated a selective decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase fibers on pyramidal neurons in sector CA2 in the hippocampus of schizophrenics. Although both brain imaging and postmortem studies have examined the distribution of the D1 receptor in the prefrontal and cingulate cortex, no study to date has examined its expression of mRNA using a high‐resolution autoradiographic approach. In order to further assess whether the regulation of the dopamine D1 receptor is altered in hippocampal neurons in this disorder, we used in situ hybridization (ISH) to measure the expression of messenger RNA for this receptor in the dentate gyrus and sectors CA1–4. Both the number of cells expressing D1 mRNA and the amount of expression per cell were measured in 15 schizophrenic, 15 bipolar disorder, and 15 normal control subjects. The results show a significant (21%) and selective decrease in D1 mRNA expression in sector CA3 of schizophrenic subjects. First‐degree relatives of schizophrenics did not show any differences in either the expression of D1 mRNA per cell or the number of cells expressing this mRNA when compared to a separate group of normal controls matched for age and PMI. Subjects with bipolar disorder also showed a significant (25%) and selective increase of D1 mRNA expression in sector CA2. Other hippocampal sectors did not show significant changes. These findings in schizophrenics and bipolars were also associated with inverse changes in the overall number of neurons expressing D1 mRNA in sectors CA3 and CA2, respectively. This study shows diagnosis‐specific changes in D1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus of schizophrenic versus bipolar subjects and suggests that this neuromodulatory system may show distinct changes in the pathophysiology of the two disorders. Synapse 54:147–155, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High levels of the hydroxyl radical in the winter urban troposphere
Authors: Heard D. E. , Carpenter L. J. , Creasey D. J. , Hopkins J. R. , Lee J. D. , Lewis A. C. , Pilling M. J. , Seakins P. W. , Carslaw N. , Emmerson K. M.
Published: September 2004

Measurements of the OH radical during winter show that noon‐time concentrations at an urban site in Birmingham are only a factor of 2 less than during summer at the same site, despite a factor of 15 reduction in OH production from the photolysis of ozone. Noon‐time concentrations of HO2 were similar for summer and winter. These high winter concentrations are quantitatively reproduced by a detailed box‐model, showing that the winter radical pool (OH, HO2, RO2) is sustained by reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons with ozone and by the photolysis of carbonyls. The high OH concentrations show there is significant chemical processing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in winter at mid‐to‐high latitudes in the northern hemisphere where emissions are high.
Cramer–von Mises and Anderson‐Darling goodness of fit tests for extreme value distributions with unknown parameters
Authors: Laio Francesco
Published: September 2004

The use of goodness of fit tests based on Cramer–von Mises and Anderson‐Darling statistics is discussed, with reference to the composite hypothesis that a sample of observations comes from a distribution, FH, whose parameters are unspecified. When this is the case, the critical region of the test has to be redetermined for each hypothetical distribution FH. To avoid this difficulty, a transformation is proposed that produces a new test statistic which is independent of FH. This transformation involves three coefficients that are determined using the asymptotic theory of tests based on the empirical distribution function. A single table of coefficients is thus sufficient for carrying out the test with different hypothetical distributions; a set of probability models of common use in extreme value analysis is considered here, including the following: extreme value 1 and 2, normal and lognormal, generalized extreme value, three‐parameter gamma, and log‐Pearson type 3, in all cases with parameters estimated using maximum likelihood. Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine small sample corrections and to assess the power of the tests compared to alternative approaches.
Thermoelastic waves in an anisotropic infinite plate
Authors: Al-Qahtani Hussain , Datta Subhendu K.
Published: September 2004

An analysis of the propogation of thermoelastic waves in a homogeneous, anisotropic, thermally conducting plate has been presented in the context of the generalized Lord-Shulman theory of thermoelasticity. Three different methods are used in this analysis: two of them are exact and the third is a semianalytic finite element method (SAFE). In our exact analysis, two different approaches are used. The first one, which is applicable to transversely isotropic plate, is based on introducing displacement potential functions, whereas in the second approach, which is applicable to any triclinic material, we rewrite the governing equations and boundary conditions in a matrix form. Finally, in the SAFE method, the plate is discretized along its thickness using N parallel, homogeneous layers, which are perfectly bonded together. Frequency spectrum and dispersion curves are obtained using the three methods and are shown to agree well with each other. The effects of thermal relaxation time and coupling term are also investigated. Numerical calculations have been presented for a silicon nitride (Si3N4) plate. However, the methods can be used for other materials as well.
State-of-the-art density matrix renormalization group and coupled cluster theory studies of the nitrogen binding curve
Authors: Chan Garnet Kin-Lic , Kállay Mihály , Gauss Jürgen
Published: September 2004

We study the nitrogen binding curve with the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) and single-reference and multireference coupled cluster (CC) theory. Our DMRG calculations use up to 4000 states and our single-reference CC calculations include up to full connected hextuple excitations. Using the DMRG, we compute an all-electron benchmark nitrogen binding curve, at the polarized, valence double-zeta level (28 basis functions), with an estimated accuracy of 0.03 mEh. We also assess the performance of more approximate DMRG and CC theories across the nitrogen curve. We provide an analysis of the relative strengths and merits of the DMRG and CC theory under different correlation conditions.
Thermal properties of the midinfrared nonlinear crystal LiInSe2
Authors: Yelisseyev A. P. , Drebushchak V. A. , Titov A. S. , Isaenko L. I. , Lobanov S. I. , Lyapunov K. M. , Gruzdev V. A. , Komarov S. G. , Petrov V. , Zondy J.-J.
Published: September 2004

The thermal conductivity and thermal-expansion and thermo-optic coefficients, the knowledge of which is essential for nonlinear optical applications, are measured along the three crystallographic axes of the newly discovered orthorhombic crystal LiInSe2. The latter has a nonlinear susceptibility only a quarter lower than that for the commercially available AgGaS2, but its advantages include ∼4 times higher thermal conductivity, ∼2 times lower thermo-optic coefficients, and the lack of sign inversion in thermal-expansion coefficients.
Alcohol detection using carbon nanotubes acoustic and optical sensors
Authors: Penza M. , Cassano G. , Aversa P. , Antolini F. , Cusano A. , Cutolo A. , Giordano M. , Nicolais L.
Published: September 2004

We demonstrate the integration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) onto quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and standard silica optical fiber (SOF) sensor for alcohol detection at room temperature. Different transducing mechanisms have been used in order to outline the sensing properties of this class of nanomaterials, in particular the attention has been focused on two key parameters in sensing applications: mass and refractive index changes due to gas absorption. Here, Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films consisting of tangled bundles of SWCNTs without surfactant molecules have been successfully transferred onto QCM and SOF. Mass-sensitive 10MHz QCM SWCNTs sensor exhibited a resonant frequency decreasing upon tested alcohols exposure; also the normalized optoelectronic signal (λ=1310nm) of the refractive index-sensitive SOF SWCNTs sensor was found to decrease upon alcohols ambient. Highly sensitive, repeatable and reversible responses of the QCM and SOF SWCNTs sensors indicate that the detection, at room temperature, in a wide mmHg vapor pressures range of alcohols and potentially other volatile organic compounds is feasible.
High resolution photodetachment spectroscopy of negative ions via slow photoelectron imaging
Authors: Osterwalder Andreas , Nee Matthew J. , Zhou Jia , Neumark Daniel M.
Published: September 2004

A technique for high resolution anion photodetachment spectroscopy is presented that combines velocity map imaging and anion threshold photodetachment. This method, slow electron velocity-map imaging, provides spectral line widths of better than 1 meV. Spectra over a substantial range of electron kinetic energies are recorded in a single image, providing a dramatic reduction of data acquisition time compared to other techniques with comparable resolution. We apply this technique to atomic iodine and the van der Waals cluster I⋅CO2 as test systems, and then to the prereactive Cl⋅D2 complex where partially resolved structure assigned to hindered rotor motion is observed.
Dielectric and pyroelectric properties of lead zirconate titanate/polyurethane composites
Authors: Lam K. S. , Wong Y. W. , Tai L. S. , Poon Y. M. , Shin F. G.
Published: September 2004

0-3 composite ranging between 0 and 3, of ferroelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (PU) were fabricated. The pyroelectric and dielectric properties of the hot-pressed thin film samples of various PZT volume fractions were measured. The experimental dielectric permittivities and losses agreed reasonably well with the Bruggeman model. The room temperature pyroelectric coefficients of the composites were found to increase linearly with PZT volume fraction and substantially larger than expected. For example, for a composite with 30% PZT, its pyroelectric coefficient is about 90μC∕m2K at room temperature, which is more than tenfold of a PZT∕PVDF composite of the same ceramic volume fraction. We propose a model in which the electrical conductivity of the composite system is taken into consideration to explain the linear relationship and the extraordinarily large pyroelectric coefficients obtained.
The switching properties of patterned synthetic ferrimagnetic structures
Authors: Janesky J. , Rizzo N. D. , Engel B. N. , Tehrani S.
Published: September 2004

We investigated the switching properties of patterned submicrometer synthetic ferromagnetic (SF) Ni65Fe15Co20(t1nm)∕Ru0.8nm∕Ni65Fe15Co20(t2nm) tri-layers. By changing t1 and t2, the shape anisotropy field, Hksh∝∣t1−t2∣, was changed from 36 to 18Oe, and the effective material anisotropy field, Hkeff,∝α=(t1+t2)∕∣t1−t2∣, was changed from 28 to over 60Oe. We found that a hard axis field, Hhd, is less effective at reducing the easy axis switching field, Hsw, as α is increased, with α=3.7 requiring twice the relative magnitude of Hhd for the same relative reduction in Hsw as a single magnetic layer. In addition, by repeating the basic SF tri-layer structure in circular elements, we demonstrated improved stability against thermal activation by a factor of 2 with no associated increase in Hsw.
Genetics of resistance to Mycosphaerella pinodes in Lathyrus sativus
Authors: Skiba B. , Ford R. , Pang E. C. K.
Published: September 2004

Three Lathyrus sativus accessions were screened for their reaction to Mycosphaerella pinodes infection. Accession ATC 80878 displayed the lowest percentage stem lesion values (%SL) and was significantly more resistant to M. pinodes than ATC 80407 and ATC 80053. Accession ATC 80407 was the most susceptible, displaying the severest disease symptoms. A backcross and an F2 population were generated using accessions ATC 80878 and ATC 80407 as the resistant and susceptible parents, respectively. The backcross and F2 progeny segregated in a 3 : 1 and 7 : 9 ratio, respectively, for resistance/susceptibility, using the 99% confidence intervals for the means of the parental controls in each assay to determine the point of discontinuity. The segregation data from both populations fitted a Mendelian segregation model that suggested that resistance in the L. sativus accession ATC 80878 may be controlled by 2 independently segregating genes, operating in a complementary epistatic manner.
Religion, social support, fat intake and physical activity
Authors: Kim Karen Hye-cheon , Sobal Jeffery
Published: September 2004

Objective:

Most research on diet and exercise has focused on these health behaviours as proximate causes of disease, rather than examine the context of how diet and exercise are developed and maintained. This study examined religion and social support in relationship to fat intake and physical activity.

Design, setting and subjects:

Data from surveys of 546 adults aged 17–91 years, residing in one upstate New York county, were analysed.

Results:

Most relationships between the multiple facets of religion, fat intake and physical activity were not statistically significant. After controlling for demographics and social support, Conservative Protestant women and women specifying an ‘Other’ religious affiliation reported higher fat intakes than did Catholic women. There were no relationships between religion and fat intake in men. In women, religious commitment was associated with greater moderate and vigorous physical activity, whereas in men, divine social support was associated with greater moderate physical activity. Social support did not substantially change the magnitude of the relationships between religion, diet and physical activity.

Conclusion:

Overall, there were few relationships between religion, fat intake and physical activity, suggesting that in contemporary US society religion may play a small role in the context of how diet and exercise are developed and maintained. The limited range of religiosity in the sample, however, may have underestimated the role of religion. Significant relationships between religion and physical activity in women suggest that further research is needed to more clearly delineate religion's relationship with health behaviours.
Regulation of WASP/WAVE proteins
Authors: Bompard Guillaume , Caron Emmanuelle
Published: September 2004

Despite their homology, the regulation of WASP and WAVE, activators of Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization, has always been thought to be different. Several recent studies have revealed new aspects of their regulation, highlighting its complexity and the crucial role of post-translational modifications. New data also suggest additional functions for WASP family proteins, pushing us to reconsider existing models.
ASEAN and China: Export Rivals or Partners in Regional Growth?
Authors: Holst David Roland , Weiss John
Published: September 2004

Rivalry in trade between China and its regional neighbours in ASEAN has become a major preoccupation for many regional policy‐makers. For these reasons, strengthening the basis of empirical evidence on regional trade relations is especially important, and this paper does so in two ways. Using very detailed historical trade data, we combine econometric and trade flow analysis to elucidate patterns of export competition and underlying comparative advantage for ASEAN and China. Our findings indicate that the potential exists for both export rivalry and more extensive trade complementarity, but so do many challenges for policy makers who seek to mitigate adjustment costs and facilitate long term efficiency. Our econometric results indicate that, in the short run at least, ASEAN and China are experiencing intensified export competition in prominent third markets such as Japan and the US. More extensive trade flow analysis reveals, however, that in the long run globalisation can accommodate export growth by all the economies of East Asia, if aggregate growth can be sustained to facilitate the structural adjustments necessary for an optimal regional division of labour.
Evaluation of the implementation of a best practice information sheet: tracheal suctioning of adults with an artificial airway
Authors: McKillop Ann
Published: September 2004

Purpose  This report presents an evaluation of the implementation of a Best Practice Information Sheet related to tracheal suctioning of adults with an artificial airway. The Centre for Evidence‐Based Nursing Aotearoa based in Auckland, New Zealand, conducted a systematic review of the evidence and produced a Best Practice Information Sheet. The present study is an evaluation of the impact of this information sheet. The study also describes the process used to implement the Best Practice Information Sheet at each of three study sites.

Method  A survey of 105 nurses was conducted at three sites: one in New Zealand and two in Australia. Using a before/after design, data were collected at the time of release of the Best Practice Information Sheet and then approximately 12 months later. Suctioning practice was observed with a focus on assessment of the patient by the nurse, the procedure used to suction and the bases for decisions made about suctioning. Before and after data were compared to capture the possible effects on practice of the recommendations in the Best Practice Information Sheet. Those involved in leading the implementation process at each site were interviewed by telephone, notes from the interviews were thematically analysed and comparisons were drawn.

Results  The degree of uptake of the evidence was variable across the three sites and across the recommendations. For a number of recommendations, there was a modest trend towards the uptake of the recommendations of the Best Practice Information Sheet. Other recommendations were congruent with existing usual practice and therefore no change was observed. Each study site employed a range of strategies to implement the Best Practice Information Sheet. Improved practice was seen in relation to a greater number of recommendations at one site. This site appears to have used more sources of information to evaluate the quality of practice, which may have raised the profile of suctioning and its impact on patients.

Conclusions  This study suggests a trend towards a modest uptake of best practice recommendations into nursing practice demonstrated by some behavioural changes within a 12‐month period in the context of an implementation plan and a Best Practice Information Sheet.
Major Human Cytomegalovirus Structural Protein pp65 (ppUL83) Prevents Interferon Response Factor 3 Activation in the Interferon Response
Authors: Abate Davide A. , Watanabe Shinya , Mocarski Edward S.
Published: September 2004

We have identified a cytomegalovirus virion protein capable of modulating the rapid induction of an interferon-like response in cells that follows virus binding and penetration. Functional genomics revealed a role for the major cytomegalovirus structural protein, pp65 (ppUL83), in counteracting this response. The underlying mechanism involves a differential impact of this structural protein on the regulation of interferon response factor 3 (IRF-3). In contrast, NF-κB is activated independent of pp65, and neither STAT1 nor STAT3 becomes activated by either virus. pp65 is sufficient to prevent the activation of IRF-3 when introduced alone into cells. pp65 acts by inhibiting nuclear accumulation of IRF-3 and is associated with a reduced IRF-3 phosphorylation state. Thus, this investigation shows that the major structural protein of cytomegalovirus is committed to the modulation of the IRF-3 response, a primary mediator of the type I interferon response. By subverting IRF-3, the virus escapes throwing a central alarm devoted to both immediate antiviral control and regulation of the immune response.
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Induces Rapamycin-Insensitive Phosphorylation of Downstream Effectors of mTOR Kinase
Authors: Kudchodkar Sagar B. , Yu Yongjun , Maguire Tobi G. , Alwine James C.
Published: September 2004

Signaling mediated by the cellular kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activates cap-dependent translation under normal (nonstressed) conditions. However, translation is inhibited by cellular stress responses or rapamycin treatment, which inhibit mTOR kinase activity. We show that during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, viral protein synthesis and virus production proceed relatively normally when mTOR kinase activity is inhibited due to hypoxic stress or rapamycin treatment. Using rapamycin inhibition of mTOR, we show that HCMV infection induces phosphorylation of two mTOR effectors, eucaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein (4E-BP) and eIF4G. The virally induced phosphorylation of eIF4G is both mTOR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) independent, whereas the phosphorylation of 4E-BP is mTOR independent, but PI3K dependent. HCMV infection does not induce mTOR-independent phosphorylation of a third mTOR effector, p70S6 kinase (p70S6K). We show that the HCMV-induced phosphorylation of eIF4G and 4E-BP correlates with the association of eIF4E, the cap binding protein, with eIF4G in the eIF4F translation initiation complex. Thus, HCMV induces mechanisms to maintain the integrity of the eIF4F complex even when mTOR signaling is inhibited.
Disruption of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latent Nuclear Antigen Leads to Abortive Episome Persistence
Authors: Ye Feng-Chun , Zhou Fu-Chun , Yoo Seung Min , Xie Jian-Ping , Browning Philip J. , Gao Shou-Jiang
Published: September 2004

Latent nuclear antigen (LNA) is implicated in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) episome persistence. LNA colocalizes with KSHV episomes on chromosomes in metaphase, and it maintains the stability and replication of KSHV terminal repeat-containing plasmids. In this study, we examined the function of LNA in episome persistence in the context of full-length KSHV genome by mutagenesis analysis. We generated a KSHV mutant, BAC36-ΔLNA, with LNA disrupted by transposon-based mutagenesis with a KSHV BAC clone, BAC36, as a template. Immunofluorescence antibody staining revealed that the insertion of a transposon cassette into LNA disrupted its expression but had no effect on the expression of two adjacent genes, the vCyclin and vFLIP genes. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) cassette as a tracking marker for the KSHV episome, we found 8.7-fold-fewer GFP-positive cells in BAC36-ΔLNA cultures than in wild-type BAC36 cultures at the early stage following episome delivery into 293 cells by transfection, which could be partially rescued by cotransfection with a LNA expression plasmid but not a control plasmid. Cells harboring BAC36-ΔLNA with or without transient complementation rapidly lost episomes and became virus-free after 2 weeks of culture based on GFP expression and Gardella gel analysis and quantitative PCR assays for detecting KSHV genomes. In contrast, BAC36 episomes were stably maintained during the same period. Stable cultures with close to 100% of cells harboring KSHV episomes were readily established by hygromycin selection for BAC36 but not for BAC36-ΔLNA. These results conclusively indicate that LNA is essential for the establishment and persistence of KSHV episomes in mammalian cells.
A Nucleotide Binding Motif in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS4B Mediates HCV RNA Replication
Authors: Einav Shirit , Elazar Menashe , Danieli Tsafi , Glenn Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2004

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis. There is no effective therapy for most patients. We have identified a nucleotide binding motif (NBM) in one of the virus's nonstructural proteins, NS4B. This structural motif binds and hydrolyzes GTP and is conserved across HCV isolates. Genetically disrupting the NBM impairs GTP binding and hydrolysis and dramatically inhibits HCV RNA replication. These results have exciting implications for the HCV life cycle and novel antiviral strategies.
The role of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in hypoxia induced apoptosis: Figure 1
Authors: Greijer A E , van der Wall E
Published: September 2004

Apoptosis can be induced in response to hypoxia. The severity of hypoxia determines whether cells become apoptotic or adapt to hypoxia and survive. A hypoxic environment devoid of nutrients prevents the cell undergoing energy dependent apoptosis and cells become necrotic. Apoptosis regulatory proteins are delicately balanced. In solid tumours, hypoxia is a common phenomenon. Cells adapt to this environmental stress, so that after repeated periods of hypoxia, selection for resistance to hypoxia induced apoptosis occurs. These resistant tumours probably have a more aggressive phenotype and may have decreased responsiveness to treatment. The key regulator of this process, hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), can initiate apoptosis by inducing high concentrations of proapoptotic proteins, such as BNIP3, and can cause stabilisation of p53. However, during hypoxia, antiapoptotic proteins, such as IAP-2, can be induced, whereas the proapoptotic protein Bax can be downregulated. During hypoxia, an intricate balance exists between factors that induce or counteract apoptosis, or even stimulate proliferation. Understanding the regulation of apoptosis during hypoxia and the mechanisms of resistance to apoptosis might lead to more specific treatments for solid tumours.
CONFORMAL INVARIANCE AND RATIONALITY IN AN EVEN DIMENSIONAL QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
Authors: NIKOLOV N. M. , TODOROV I. T.
Published: September 2004

Invariance under finite conformal transformations in Minkowski space and the Wightman axioms imply strong locality (Huygens principle) and rationality of correlation functions, thus providing an extension of the concept of vertex algebra to higher dimensions. Gibbs (finite temperature) expectation values appear as elliptic functions in the conformal time. We survey and further pursue our program of constructing a globally conformal invariant model of a Hermitian scalar field ℒ of scale dimension four in Minkowski space–time which can be interpreted as the Lagrangian density of a gauge field theory.
DETECTION OF GREATER TUBEROSITY FRACTURES BY SONOGRAPHY
Authors: Yeroham Kleinbaum , Heyman Zahava , Ganel Avraham , Mirovski Yigal , Blankstein Alexander
Published: September 2004

Objective: To describe the prevalence and sonographic appearance of greater tuberosity fractures in patients undertaking shoulder sonography in an outpatient clinic.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the reports of 854 sonographic shoulder examination and detected 42 patients (26 men, 14 women aged 35–60) with greater tuberosity fractures. Clinical data, sonographic results and plain radiographs correlation were evaluated.

Results: 28/42 patients showed discontinuity of the humeral head. 10/42 patients showed gap greater than 2 mm. 4/42 patients showed double line configuration. In 14/2 patients, the fracture was not seen even retrospectively.

Conclusions: Greater tuberosity fractures are characterized by sonography as cortical discontinuity, which may appear as a cortical gap or step-off (double line). They can be seen in shoulder sonography examination and should be looked for in every shoulder sonography examination even without clear history of trauma.
The heat radiation problem: three‐dimensional analysis for arbitrary enclosure geometries
Authors: Qatanani Naji , Schulz Monika
Published: September 2004

This paper gives very significant and up‐to‐date analytical and
numerical results to the three‐dimensional heat radiation problem
governed by a boundary integral equation. There are two types of
enclosure geometries to be considered: convex and nonconvex
geometries. The properties of the integral operator of the
radiosity equation have been thoroughly investigated and
presented. The application of the Banach fixed point theorem
proves the existence and the uniqueness of the solution of the
radiosity equation. For a nonconvex enclosure geometries, the
visibility function must be taken into account. For the numerical
treatment of the radiosity equation, we use the boundary element
method based on the Galerkin discretization scheme. As a numerical
example, we implement the conjugate gradient algorithm with
preconditioning to compute the outgoing flux for a
three‐dimensional nonconvex geometry. This has turned out to be
the most efficient method to solve this type of problems.
Maximum likelihood estimator of the volatility of forward rates driven by geometric spatial AR sheet
Authors: Gáll József , Pap Gyula , van Zuijlen Martien C. A.
Published: September 2004

Discrete‐time forward interest rate curve models are studied,
where the curves are driven by a random field. Under the
assumption of no‐arbitrage, the maximum likelihood estimator of
the volatility parameter is given and its asymptotic behaviour is
studied. First, the so‐called martingale models are examined, but
we will also deal with the general case, where we include the
market price of risk in the discount factor.
On the links between limit characteristic zeros and stability properties of linear time‐invariant systems with point delays and their delay‐free counterparts
Authors: De La Sen M. , Jugo J.
Published: September 2004

We investigate the relationships between the infinitely many
characteristic zeros (or modes) of linear systems
subject to point delays and their delay‐free counterparts based
on algebraic results and theory of analytic functions.
The cases when the delay tends to zero or to infinity are
emphasized in the study. It is found that when the delay is
arbitrarily small, infinitely many of those zeros are located in
the stable region with arbitrarily large modulus, while their
contribution to the system dynamics becomes irrelevant. The
remaining finite characteristic zeros converge to those of the
delay‐free nominal system. When the delay tends to infinity,
infinitely many zeros are close to the origin. Furthermore, there
exist two auxiliary delay‐free systems which describe the
relevant dynamics in both cases for zero and infinite delays. The
maintenance of the delay‐free system stability in the presence of
sufficiently small delayed dynamics is also discussed in
light of H∞‐theory. The main mathematical
arguments used to derive the results are based on the theory of
analytic functions.
Solution of an extraordinary differential equation by Adomian decomposition method
Authors: Ray S. Saha , Bera R. K.
Published: September 2004

The aim of the present analysis is to apply the Adomian
decomposition method for the solution of a fractional
differential equation as an alternative method of Laplace
transform.
Free convection flow of conducting micropolar fluid with thermal relaxation including heat sources
Authors: Ezzat Magdy A.
Published: September 2004

The present work is concerned with unsteady free convection flow
of an incompressible electrically conducting micropolar fluid,
bounded by an infinite vertical plane surface of constant
temperature. A uniform magnetic field acts perpendicularly to the
plane. The state space technique is adopted for the
one‐dimensional problems including heat sources with one
relaxation time. The resulting formulation is applied to a
problem for the whole space with a plane distribution of heat
sources. The reflection method together with the solution
obtained for the whole space is applied to a semispace problem
with a plane distribution of heat sources located inside the
fluid. The inversion of the Laplace transforms is carried out
using a numerical approach. Numerical results for the
temperature, the velocity, and the angular velocity distributions
are given and illustrated graphically for the problems considered.