bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Phased Cylindrical Arc Antenna Arrays
Authors: Rammal Hussein , Olleik Charif , Sabbah Kamal , Rammal Mohammad , Vaudon Patrick
Published: September 2009

This paper describes a new approach to synthesize cylindrical antenna arrays controlled by the phase excitation, to synthesize directive lobe and multilobe patterns with steered zero. The proposed method is based on iterative minimization of a function that incorporates constraints imposed in each direction. An 8-element cylindrical antenna has been simulated and tested for various types of beam configurations.
k‐Kernel Symmetric Matrices
Authors: Meenakshi A. R. , Jaya Shree D.
Published: September 2009

In this paper we present equivalent characterizations of k‐Kernel symmetric Matrices. Necessary and sufficient conditions are determined for a matrix to be k‐Kernel Symmetric. We give some basic results of kernel symmetric matrices. It is shown that k‐symmetric implies k‐Kernel symmetric but the converse need not be true. We derive some basic properties of k‐Kernel symmetric fuzzy matrices. We obtain k‐similar and scalar product of a fuzzy matrix.
Relation between Theories, Experiments, and Simulations of Spectral Line Shapes
Authors: Oks Eugene
Published: September 2009

Simulations of Shapes and Shifts of Spectral Lines (SSSL) are important as the third powerful research methodology—in addition to theories and experiments. However, there is a growing tendency in physics in general and in the area of SSSL in particular, to consider the ultimate test of any theory to be the comparison with results of a code based on fully-numerical simulations starting from the “scratch” rather than from some analytical advance. In this paper, we show by examples that fully-numerical simulations are often not properly verified and validated, fail to capture emergent principles and phenomena, and lack the physical insight. Physics is the experimental science. So, the ultimate test of any theory—including theories of SSSL—should be the comparison with experiments conducted in well-controlled conditions (benchmark experiments).
Adaptor Protein Crk Induces Src-Dependent Activation of p38 MAPK in Regulation of Synovial Sarcoma Cell Proliferation
Authors: Watanabe Takuya , Tsuda Masumi , Tanaka Shinya , Ohba Yusuke , Kawaguchi Hideaki , Majima Tokifumi , Sawa Hirofumi , Minami Akio
Published: September 2009

The adaptor protein Crk mediates intracellular signaling related to cell motility and proliferation and is implicated in human tumorigenesis. The role of Crk in the growth of human sarcoma has remained unclear, however. The present study shows that Crk-induced activation of Src and subsequent signaling by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) contribute to the enhanced proliferation of human synovial sarcoma cells. Depletion of Crk by RNA interference markedly inhibited proliferation of the synovial sarcoma cell lines HS-SYII, SYO-1, and Fuji as well as prevented anchorage-independent growth. Conversely, reconstitution with CrkII by authentic small interfering RNA–resistant Crk gene restored proliferation in Crk-silenced SYO-1 cells. Crk-depleted synovial sarcoma cells manifested enhanced transcriptional activity and expression of the p16INK4A gene, resulting in their accumulation in G1 phase of the cell cycle. In response to hepatocyte growth factor stimulation, Crk prominently induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of Grb2-associated binder 1 through activation of Src and focal adhesion kinase, and the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 almost completely inhibited the proliferation of SYO-1 cells. Crk also induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and SB203580, a p38 MAPK–specific inhibitor, increased expression of p16INK4A gene in SYO-1 cells. Furthermore, SB203580 or depletion of p38 MAPK by small interfering RNA suppressed both the phosphorylation of Akt triggered by hepatocyte growth factor and the proliferation of SYO-1 cells. These results suggest that Crk promotes proliferation of human synovial sarcoma cells through activation of Src and its downstream signaling by a novel p38 MAPK-Akt pathway, with these signaling molecules providing potent new targets for molecular therapeutics. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(9):1582–92)
Mutations in Multiple Domains of c-Myb Disrupt Interaction with CBP/p300 and Abrogate Myeloid Transforming Ability
Authors: Pattabiraman Diwakar R. , Sun Jane , Dowhan Dennis H. , Ishii Shunsuke , Gonda Thomas J.
Published: September 2009

The c-myb proto-oncogene is a key regulator of hematopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation. MYB mRNA is expressed at high levels in, and is required for the proliferation of, most human myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemias. Recently, chromosomal translocation and genomic duplications of c-MYB have been identified in human T-cell acute leukemia. The present work focuses on the effects of mutations in different domains of the murine c-Myb protein on its transforming ability as defined by suppression of myelomonocytic differentiation and continued proliferation. Using both a novel myeloid cell line–based assay and a primary hematopoietic cell assay, we have shown that mutation of single residues in the transactivation domain important for CBP/p300 binding leads to complete loss of transforming ability. We also simultaneously mutated residues in the DNA-binding domain and the negative regulatory domain of the protein. These double mutants, but not the corresponding single mutants, show a complete loss of transforming activity. Surprisingly, these double mutants show severely impaired transactivation and are also defective for CBP/p300 binding. Our results imply that multiple Myb domains influence its interaction with CBP/p300, highlight the importance of this interaction for myeloid transformation, and suggest an approach for molecular targeting of Myb in leukemia. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(9):1477–86)
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Homocysteine Metabolism Pathway Genes
Authors: Kumar Jitender , Garg Gaurav , Kumar Arun , Sundaramoorthy Elayanambi , Sanapala Krishna Rao , Ghosh Saurabh , Karthikeyan Ganesan , Ramakrishnan Lakshmy ,   Indian Genome Variation Consortium, Sengupta Shantanu
Published: September 2009

Background—

An elevated level of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia) has been implicated as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Deficiency of dietary factors like vitamin B
12
, folate, and genetic variations can cause hyperhomocysteinemia. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in the Indian population is likely to be high because most Indians adhere to a vegetarian diet, deficient in vitamin B
12
. In the background of vitamin B
12
deficiency, variations in genes involved in homocysteine metabolism might have a greater impact on homocysteine levels.

Methods and Results—

We genotyped 44 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) from 11 genes involved in homocysteine metabolism and found only 14 to be polymorphic. These 14 nsSNPs were genotyped in 546 individuals recruited from a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India, and it was found that choline dehydrogenase (
CHDH
A119C) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (
MTHFR
C677T) were significantly associated with plasma total homocysteine levels (
P
=0.009 and
P
=0.001, respectively). These 2 SNPs were further genotyped in 330 individuals recruited from the same center, and the association remained significant even after increasing the sample size. Furthermore, we found the possibility of a significant interaction between vegetarian diet and the 2 polymorphisms that could explain the variation of homocysteine levels. We also genotyped all the polymorphic nsSNPs in apparently healthy individuals recruited from 24 different subpopulations (based on their linguistic lineage) spread across the country to determine their basal frequencies. The frequencies of these SNPs varied significantly between linguistic groups.

Conclusion—

Vegetarian diet along with
CHDH
A119C and
MTHFR
C677T play an important role in modulating the homocysteine levels in Indian population.
The Validity of the Graduate Record Examination for Master’s and Doctoral Programs: A Meta-Analytic Investigation
Authors: Kuncel Nathan R. , Wee Serena , Serafin Lauren , Hezlett Sarah A.
Published: September 2009

Extensive research has examined the effectiveness of admissions tests for use in higher education. What has gone unexamined is the extent to which tests are similarly effective for predicting performance at both the master’s and doctoral levels. This study empirically synthesizes previous studies to investigate whether or not the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) predicts the performance of students in master’s programs as well as the performance of doctoral students. Across nearly 100 studies and 10,000 students, this study found that GRE scores predict first year grade point average (GPA), graduate GPA, and faculty ratings well for both master’s and doctoral students, with differences that ranged from small to zero.
A Generalized Model With Internal Restrictions on Item Difficulty for Polytomous Items
Authors: Wang Wen-Chung , Jin Kuan-Yu
Published: September 2009

In this study, the authors extend the standard item response model with internal restrictions on item difficulty (MIRID) to fit polytomous items using cumulative logits and adjacent-category logits. Moreover, the new model incorporates discrimination parameters and is rooted in a multilevel framework. It is a nonlinear mixed model so that existing parameter estimation procedures and computer packages for nonlinear mixed models can be directly adopted to estimate the parameters. Through simulations, it was found that the SAS NLMIXED procedure could recover the parameters fairly well and produce appropriate standard errors, except when the two-parameter adjacent-category logits MIRID was fit to data with a small sample size and a short test length; overall, cumulative logits yielded a better parameter recovery than adjacent-category logits. A real data set about guilt was analyzed with gender as a Level 2 predictor to illustrate applications and applications of the new model. Further model generalization is discussed.
Modeling the Effects of Person Group Factors on Discrimination
Authors: Humphry Stephen M.
Published: September 2009

Discrimination has traditionally been parameterized for items but not other empirical factors. Consequently, if person factors affect discrimination they cause misfit. However, by explicitly formulating the relationship between discrimination and the unit of a metric, it is possible to parameterize discrimination for person groups. This article applies the Rasch model with a person group discrimination parameter to demonstrate the empirical effect of a person group factor on the degree of discrimination. The model is applied to the responses of students in different grades of schooling to a reading test, resulting in improved equating and fit of the data to the model. A simulation study confirms the efficacy of the model and tests of fit. Applied implications are discussed.
Assessing Fit and Dimensionality in Least Squares Metric Multidimensional Scaling Using Akaike’s Information Criterion
Authors: Ding Cody S. , Davison Mark L.
Published: September 2009

Akaike’s information criterion is suggested as a tool for evaluating fit and dimensionality in metric multidimensional scaling that uses least squares methods of estimation. This criterion combines the least squares loss function with the number of estimated parameters. Numerical examples are presented. The results from analyses of both simulation data and real data demonstrate the utility of the Akaike’s information criterion in identifying the best approximating models in multidimensional scaling analyses.
Cosmopolitanism in the Hinterland? Bellary District through Fresh Lenses, 1800–1840
Authors: Mallampalli Chandra
Published: September 2009

This essay revises earlier work on colonial Bellary by highlighting its status as a complex cultural frontier. As a south Indian ‘dry zone’, Bellary often has been associated with economic stagnancy, warfare and the absence of a dominating cultural high tradition. By contrast, the region may be viewed as a site of ‘hinterland cosmopolitanism’, marked by dynamic interactions between persons of different linguistic, cultural and religious affiliations. Situated between Hyderabad, Mysore, the Maratha country and Madras, Bellary bridged Indo–Islamic, Sanskritic, south Indian and north Indian cultural terrains. Colonial rule transformed Bellary from a site of multi-directional trade and cultural influence to an economy centred upon its cantonment and bazaar. Sharper racial distinctions between Europeans and Indians diminished Bellary’s cosmopolitanism without entirely eradicating it. While an imperial quest for revenue and political dominance had once defined the story of this district, it is necessary for historians to move beyond such concerns to address other compelling aspects of Bellary’s history.
The military influence on engineering education in Britain and India, 1848–1906
Authors: Black John
Published: September 2009

The original colleges for military engineers—the Royal Military Academy (RMA) Woolwich and the East India Company (EIC) Seminary at Addiscombe—were the only outlet for a curriculum based on the theory and practice of engineering taught within an academically orientated institution in Britain during the nineteenth century. Overall, engineering in Britain was taught through work-related traditional apprenticeship systems that focused on the ‘practical man’ concept, supported from 1853 onwards with funding based on a payments-by-results system administered by the Department of Science and Art. This trend continued despite the introduction of modest engineering faculties within the British university system. In India, matters were different: there were four colleges of civil engineering, the oldest, Thomason College, having been founded in 1847. Their role was to provide civil engineers for the Indian Public Works Department. Both in Britain and in India, the administration and management of science, technical and engineering education was undertaken by officers from the Royal Engineers and the Indian Army equivalent, (commonly referred to as sapper officers). This trend in civil/military relationships continued with the establishment of the Royal Indian Engineering College (also known as Cooper’s Hill College) in 1870, specifically to train civil engineers in England for duties with the Indian Public Works Department. The comparisons between engineering education in Britain and India during the nineteenth century are stark. The role of the military in the development of engineering education both in Britain and India was crucial. The Indian Public Works Department, although technically a civilian organisation, relied on military engineers during its life until 1947. An examination of the topic from both the British and Indian perspective gives an insight not only into comparative engineering education but also into the civil/military relationships that existed in Britain and India during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
New province, old capital
Authors: Mukherjee Sraman
Published: September 2009

In 1912, Bihar and Orissa was carved out of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency as a separate Province. The next year saw the beginnings of one of the most lavishly financed archaeological excavations of colonial India in the new province—the Pataliputra excavations funded by Ratan Tata and supervised, on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of India, by D.B. Spooner. The excavations discovered Patna, the new Provincial capital, as the ancient city of Pataliputra. This essay traces the history of archaeological excavations at Patna between 1913 and 1918. However, it does not engage with Pataliputra as a pre-given, physically available site, which could be discovered through archaeological excavations. Against the backdrop of provincial reconfigurations across Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in the opening decades of the twentieth century, the paper explores the politics of place-making and provincial self-fashioning in early twentieth-century colonial Bihar. It maps how Pataliputra was brought into being through the place-making labours of colonial archaeology. And in tracking the different and changing trajectories of making Patna Pataliputra, the essay unearths how nationalist identities were deeply imbricated in the same disciplinary and institutional spaces opened up by colonial archaeological and museum practices.
Numerical Simulation of Mechanical Properties of Cellular Materials Using Computed Tomography Analysis
Authors: Fischer F. , Lim G.T. , Handge U.A. , Altstädt V.
Published: September 2009

The IUPAC study ‘‘Structure and Properties of Linear and Cross-Linked Structural Polyvinylchloride Foams’’ (IUPAC no. 2003-038-4-400) of the IUPAC Subcommittee ‘‘Structure and Properties of Commercial Polymers’’ elucidates the mechanical properties of Polyvinylchloride foams. In order to predict the mechanical properties of polymer foams several simplified models were developed which take into account the density and stiffness of the bulk material, but do not apply any morphological information. Previous results on Polyvinylchloride foams indicate that the cubic model of Gibson and Ashby is not suitable to predict their compressive modulus. In this article, we discuss several alternatives for the prediction of the mechanical properties. In particular, a novel approach is presented in order to transfer cell morphological data obtained by computer tomography to realistic finite element meshes for numerical simulations. This approach allows to take into account the statistical character of the foam morphology and can be applied to predict the mechanical properties of foams. First, a computer tomography analysis was performed to determine the size distribution of the polymer foams using a nondestructive technique. The computer tomography information was applied to build finite element meshes using a tessellation of modified Kelvin cell units or truncated octahedra of various cell sizes. Then finite element simulations were performed using these meshes in order to predict the compressive behavior of polymer foams. The results of the numerical simulations were in a good agreement with those of experimental data. In conclusion, the mechanical properties of cellular polymers can be adequately predicted by taking into account the inhomogeneous foam structure, in particular the cell size distribution.
A study on fairness of place/transition systems-to make fairness fairer
Authors: Chongyi Yuan  , Yu Huang  , Wen Zhao  , Xinpeng Li
Published: September 2009

Fairness is among the most well known properties of Petri net systems, but it has not been investigated in depth for the purpose of application. This paper aims at such an investigation, and as a result, alternative definitions based on synchronic distances are proposed with examples for illustration.
DES abstractions for the supervisory control of hybrid systems
Authors: Iordache Marian V. , Antsaklis Panos J.
Published: September 2009

An examination of the literature results on timed and untimed discrete event system (DES) models reveals clearly that the supervisory control problem is more tractable on untimed models. Thus it is interesting to consider the extent to which untimed DES models can be used to design controllers for dynamical systems. In order to approach a larger class of systems appropriate abstraction methods are necessary as well as some extensions of the untimed supervisory control methods. This paper proposes an abstraction procedure that can be used to extract untimed DES models from hybrid automata models with control inputs and continuous disturbances. The abstractions obtained using this procedure are state machines in which every state corresponds to a region of the state space of the hybrid automaton and transitions between states correspond to transitions between the regions. Results describing properties of the abstraction procedure are obtained, including a semidecidability result. The procedure is useful not only for sequential problems, but also in the context of concurrency.
An event-based approach to integrated parametric and discrete fault diagnosis in hybrid systems
Authors: Daigle Matthew J. , Koutsoukos Xenofon D. , Biswas Gautam
Published: September 2009

Fault diagnosis is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of complex engineering systems. These systems often exhibit hybrid behaviours, therefore, model-based diagnosis methods have to be based on hybrid system models. Most previous work in hybrid systems diagnosis has focused either on parametric or discrete faults. In this paper, we develop an integrated approach for hybrid diagnosis of parametric and discrete faults by incorporating the effects of both types of faults into our event-based qualitative fault signature framework. The framework allows for systematic design of event-based diagnosers that facilitate diagnosability analysis. Experimental results from a case study performed on an electrical power distribution system demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Stability of delay impulsive systems with application to networked control systems
Authors: Naghshtabrizi Payam , Hespanha João P. , Teel Andrew R.
Published: September 2009

We establish asymptotic and exponential stability theorems for delay impulsive systems by employing Lyapunov functionals with discontinuities. Our conditions have the property that when specialized to linear delay impulsive systems, the stability tests can be formulated as Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Then we consider Networked Control Systems (NCSs) consisting of an LTI process and a static feedback controller connected through a communication network. Due to the shared and unreliable channels, sampling intervals become uncertain and variable. Moreover, samples may be dropped or experience uncertain and variable delays before arriving at the destination. We show that the resulting NCSs can be modelled by linear delay impulsive systems and we provide conditions for stability of the closed-loop system in terms of LMIs. By solving these LMIs, one can find a positive constant that determines an upper bound between each sampling time and the subsequent input update time, for which stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed.
Least-cost planning sequence estimation in labelled Petri nets
Authors: Lingxi Li  , Hadjicostis Christoforos N.
Published: September 2009

This paper develops a recursive algorithm for estimating the least-cost planning sequence in a manufacturing system that is modelled by a labelled Petri net. We consider a setting where we are given a sequence of labels that represents a sequence of tasks that need to be executed during a manufacturing process, and we assume that each label (task) can potentially be accomplished by a number of different transitions, which represent alternative ways of accomplishing a specific task. The processes via which individual tasks can be accomplished and the interactions among these processes in the given manufacturing system are captured by the structure of the labelled Petri net. Moreover, each transition in this net is associated with a non-negative cost that captures its execution cost (eg, in terms of the amount of workload or power required to execute the transition). Given the sequence of labels (ie, the sequence of tasks that has to be accomplished), we need to identify the transition firing sequence(s) (ie, the sequence(s) of activities) that has (have) the least total cost and accomplishes (accomplish) the desired sequence of tasks while, of course, obeying the constraints imposed by the manufacturing system (ie, the dynamics and structure of the Petri net). We develop a recursive algorithm that finds the least-cost transition firing sequence(s) with complexity that is polynomial in the length of the given sequence of labels (tasks). An example of two parallel working machines is also provided to illustrate how the algorithm can be used to estimate least-cost planning sequences.
Lay People in Revival: A Case Study of the ‘1859’ Revival
Authors: Randall Ian
Published: September 2009

This study examines the transatlantic spiritual revival that occurred in the period 1857 to 1859 especially, and had significant effects continuing into the 1860s and beyond. It is often known as the ‘1859 Revival’. The focus here is the role of lay people within the revival — men and women and young people. The features of this revival were not uniform, and contextualization is important, but within the different contexts of the revival I am arguing for the place of lay people as crucial — as a feature of the ‘rhythms’ of revival. I suggest that the 1859 Revival illustrates the way in which the dislocation that characterizes revival offers fresh opportunities for lay leadership.
The Gentiles in the Zion Hymns: Canaanite Myth and Christian Mission
Authors: Miller Robert D.
Published: September 2009

The Psalms are an underused resource as a biblical basis for mission, especially since the Gentiles are treated more positively in the Psalms than in most of the rest of the Old Testament. In the Psalms, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the community of God focuses on their coming to Zion. This article explores what that means in the context of Israelite religion and the Canaanite images it borrowed. Hermeneutical conclusions are drawn from this and the history of interpretation of these Psalms in order to enrich the theology of mission.
In the Shadow of the Gun
Authors: Sluka Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2009

Despite over fifteen years of ‘peace process,’ political violence in Northern Ireland has continued and a situation characterised as ‘not-war-not peace’ has prevailed. In the euphoria surrounding the establishment of the ‘power-sharing government’ in 2007, the media reported this event as representing the end of the ‘troubles’ or conflict. However, significant political violence has continued throughout the peace process and the heavily armed Loyalist paramilitaries, unlike the IRA, have not begun to disarm and have no intention to do so, despite this being a fundamental requirement of the peace process. They are reserving the option and are fully prepared to return to violence in response to any movement towards a united Ireland, and this ‘threat’ is growing because Catholic-nationalists will become a voting majority in the province over the next decade or so. This paper argues that there is no peace in Northern Ireland now, that the peace process has not been successfully completed, and that the prognosis for the future of the gun and political violence in Northern Ireland is not good. History and Protestant political culture strongly suggest that the most likely future scenario is a resurgence of Loyalist violence and a renewed paramilitary campaign, rather than a real and lasting peace.
The Ethics of Apology
Authors: Mookherjee Nayanika , Rapport Nigel , Josephides Lisette , Hage Ghassan , Todd Lindi Renier , Cowlishaw Gillian
Published: September 2009

■ On 13 February 2008, the Australian government apologized to the ‘stolen generations’: those children of Aboriginal descent who were removed from their parents (usually their Aboriginal mothers) to be raised in white foster-homes and institutions administered by government and Christian churches — a practice that lasted from before the First World War to the early 1970s. This apology was significant, in the words of Rudd, for the ‘healing’ of the Australian nation. Apologizing for past injustices has become a significant speech act in current times. Why does saying sorry seem to be ubiquitous at the moment? What are the instances of not saying sorry? What are the ethical implications of this era of remembrance and apology? This set of commentaries seeks to explore some of the ethical, philosophical, social and political dimensions of this Age of Apology. The authors discuss whether apology is a responsibility which cannot — and should not — be avoided; the ethical pitfalls of seeking an apology, or not uttering it; the global and local understandings of apology and forgiveness; and the processes of ownership and appropriation in saying sorry.
Microbial toxin’s effect on mitochondrial survival by increasing K+ uptake
Authors: Saris N-E. Leo , Andersson Maria A , Mikkola Raimo , Andersson Leif C , Teplova Vera V , Grigoriev Pavel A , Salkinoja-Salonen Mirja S
Published: September 2009

We studied the effects of toxins, which inhibited the motility of boar spermatozoa, on rat liver mitochondria. The toxins studied were originally from bacteria isolated from moisture-damaged buildings where inhabitants exhibited symptoms, or from food causing poisoning. Some strains of Bacillus cereus and Streptomyces griseus produced potassium ionophoric peptides cereulide and valinomycin (Mikkola, et al., European Journal of Biochemistry 1999; 263: 112—117). Of interest is that channels were formed in black-lipid membranes (BLM) with a selectivity of K+ > Na+ at a concentration of 26 nM. Recently, bafilomycin A1—an inhibitor of V-H+ATPases—was found also to be a K+-specific ionophore active at nanomolar concentrations (Teplova, et al., J Bioenerg Biomembr 2007; 39: 321—329), while B. amyloliquefaciens produced amylosin, a cation channel-forming peptide with a higher selectivity for K+ over Na+ at around 200 nM concentrations (Mikkola, et al., Toxicon 2007; 49: 1158—1171). Of interest is that channels were formed in BLM with a selectivity of K+ > Na+ at a concentration of 26 nM. The ionophores and the channel-forming amylosin caused swelling of energized mitochondria due to uptake of K+, loss of membrane potential, inhibition of maximal respiration rates due to loss of pyridine nucleotides, and inhibition of ATP synthesis. Various cell types may have different sensitivities to the effects of the ionophores. Thus, the mitochondrial membrane potential in neuronal cells was more sensitive to cereulide than in differentiated Paju cells (Teplova, et al., Acta Biochimica Polonica 2004; 51: 539—544). Swelling causes release of proapoptotic factors from mitochondria, which explains that undifferentiated neuronal cells were sensitive, while differentiated Paju cells were resistant, which probably is due to them having an increased expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the neuroprotective stanniocalcin.
A Bilayer Hyaluronic Acid Wound Dressing to Promote Wound Healing in Diabetic Ulcer
Authors: Lin Yung-Kai , Matsumoto Yasuhiro , Kuroyanagi Yoshimitsu , Kagawa Shizuko
Published: September 2009

Several spongy wound dressings composed of various hyaluronic acid (HA) materials were developed: HA aqueous solution with cross-linking agent (epoxy compound (HAWC), without cross-linking agent (HAWOC), and combined bilayer material HAWC and HAWOC (2LHA). The microstructure, sensitivity to hyaluronidase, sensitivity to free radicals, in vitro cytotoxicity, healing potential on full-thickness defect on and diabetic ulcers were evaluated. Scanning electron micrograph views of all HA wound dressings showed an interconnected channel and high porosity structure. HAWOC was degraded rapidly in hyaluronidase and free radical solution. The in vitro cytotoxicity of HAWC was significantly (p<0.05) higher than other HA wound dressings and reduced the released amount of VEGF from human fibroblast. The HAWOC remarkably facilitated the formation of vascularized granulation tissue and provided a HA enrichment wound healing process of either a full-thickness defect or a diabetic ulcer. In contrast, the presence of un-degradable products of HAWC seemed to interfere dermal tissue restoration. Nevertheless, because of the fragile properties, rapid degradation and wound adhesion of HAWOC, the 2LHA should be developed for diabetic ulcer therapy.
Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-based Crosslinked Networks with Potential Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) Protein Inhibition Effects
Authors: Santos-Román Nilmarie , Méndez-Vega Janet , Torres-Lugo Madeline
Published: September 2009

Linear poly(ethylene glycol) based structures have emerged as possible inhibitors for the multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins and recognized as a major hurdle during drug absorption and distribution. In this report, PEG-based hydrogels were evaluated for transport enhancement of the known MDR1 substrate Rhodamine 123. The expression of the MDR1 protein was corroborated using an immunostaining technique. The results indicated that these hydrogels are capable of enhancing the transport of Rhodamine 123 up to 350%, most likely due to MDR1 inhibition. The length of the PEG tethered chain appears to play an important role on transport enhancement as well the concentration of PEG hydrogel. This was taken as evidence of a possible inhibition effect of the MDR1 protein. When compared to the known inhibitors, genistein and verapamil, the PEG hydrogels provided similar efflux ratio, but the transport enhancement was lower. This is the first evidence of the role of crosslinked PEG-based hydrogels as possible inhibitors of the MDR1 protein.
Posterolateral Spinal Fusion in Rabbits Using a RP-based PLGA/ TCP/Col/BMSCs-OB Biomimetic Grafting Material
Authors: Ma Xing , Wu Xiaoming , Wu Yaoping , Liu Jian , Xiong Zhuo , Lv Rong , Yan Yongnian , Wang Jun , Li Dan
Published: September 2009

Three-dimensional highly porous poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid)/ tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/TCP) scaffolds were fabricated using a rapid prototyping technique (RP). The 3D rhombic lamellar PLGA/TCP carriers (20 mm × 20 mm × 3 mm) subsequently were coated with collagen type I (Col) to produce PLGA/TCP/Col composites. Both the RP-based PLGA/TCP scaffolds and the PLGA/TCP/Col composites were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were equally randomized into 2 groups (group A and group B) and bilaterally underwent posterolateral intertransverse process arthrodesis at the L4—L5 level using the following graft materials: In group A, PLGA/TCP/Col/BMSCs-OB composites (on the right side, group A1, n = 20) and autogenous iliac bone grafts (on the left side, group A2, n = 20) were used; In group B, PLGA/TCP scaffolds plus fresh autogenous bone marrow (on the right side, group B1, n = 20) and PLGA/TCP scaffolds alone (on the left side, group B2, n = 20) were utilized. In group A1, rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated and cultured under the osteogenic conditions (BMSCs-OB). Structural PLGA/TCP/Col composites then were efficiently loaded with BMSCs-OB and cultured 5 days to make PLGA/TCP/ Col/BMSCs-OB biomaterials. Rabbits were sacrificed after 12-week follow-up and the spinal fusion were evaluated by a general observation, a manual palpation test, histological analyses and radiography. As a result, RP established PLGA/TCP scaffolds with appropriate biomaterial properties including satisfactory microstructure, inter-connectivity and porosity. Modifications to the structural highly porous PLGA/TCP scaffolds with Col (PLGA/TCP/Col) essentially increased the affinity of the carriers to seeding cells. In group A1, radiological evaluation revealed strong ability of new bone formation and bony fusion in the implanted sites and histological analyses showed highly cellular bone marrow between the newly formed trabecular bone was present in the fusion mass. In group A2, there was a reduced amount of newly formed bone. In group B1, only a few bony fusions were obtained. In group B2, PLGA/TCP scaffolds were biocompatible and biodegradable; whereas, no newly formed bone or bony fusion was found. Twelve weeks after surgery, spinal fusion rates in groups of A1, A2, B1, and B2 were 70.0%(14/20), 45.0%(9/20), 15.8%(3/19), and 0%(0/19), respectively. The rates of fusion were significantly higher in groups of A1 and A2 compared with groups of B1 and B2 (p<0.01), and there was no significant difference of fusion rate between group A1 and group A2 (p>0.05). Therefore, RP-based 3D PLGA/TCP/Col/BMSCs-OB biomaterial holds promise as a bone grafting substitute for spinal fusion. Our attempts may provide a novel method for biofabrication of the bionic construct.
Protective role of selenium supplementation against cardiac lesions induced by the combination of levomepromazine and risperidone in the rabbit
Authors: Manati W. , Vaillant F. , Bost M. , Maffre V. , Belhani D. , Descotes J. , Tabib A. , Bui-Xuan B. , Hamdan L. , Timour Q.
Published: September 2009

Neuroleptics are a suspected cause of sudden death in psychiatric patients, especially in those with pre-existing cardiac lesions. As these lesions were previously shown to be associated with selenium (Se) deficiency, the aim of the present study was to evidence the possible protective effect of Se supplementation against cardiac lesions induced by the combination of the neuroleptic drugs levomepromazine and risperidone in the rabbit. Two groups of 6 rabbits were treated with 3 mg/kg of levomepromazine daily intramuscularly combined with 1 mg/kg of risperidone intramuscularly every other week for 3 consecutive months, and one group additionally received a solution of sodium selenite (2 μg/kg/day) intramuscularly during the whole treatment period. Furthermore, one group of six untreated animals was given the Se supplementation and another group of six control animals received saline daily. Blood samples were drawn before and at the end of the treatment period for the measurement of serum Se levels. At the end of the study, all animals were sacrificed and their hearts were removed for the measurement of tissue Se concentrations. In addition, the hearts were prepared for histopathological examination. A variety of cardiac lesions was found in the neuroleptics-treated animals without supplementation and to a lesser extent in the control and Se-supplemented untreated animals. Importantly, only rare cardiac lesions were observed in neuroleptics-Se-treated animals. The most striking differences in Se concentrations were noted in the myocardium: as compared to controls, there was a 43% reduction in neuroleptics-treated, but non-Se-supplemented animals (p < .01), at the end of the treatment period, whereas only a 14% reduction (p < .05) was noted in the neuroleptics-Se-treated animals. These results confirm that neuroleptics induce cardiac lesions associated with Se deficiency. Selenium supplementation markedly decreased the incidence and severity of neuroleptics-induced cardiac lesions and these findings may serve as a basis for further evaluation of the protective role of Se supplementation in neuroleptics-treated patients. However, Se supplementation in normal animals without Se deficiency was also shown to be cardiotoxic.
Size Distribution of Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Narayana M.R.
Published: September 2009

Using the Pareto distribution, this paper estimates the size distribution of metropolitan areas in India from 1981 through 2025. Empirical results offer evidence for dispersion of metropolitan population size, notwithstanding the growing concentration of urban population in metropolitan areas as compared to non-metropolitan areas. The economic importance of metropolitan size dispersion is analysed with respect to levels of employment, consumption expenditure and poverty and for select years since 1987–88. The implications of these results are explored for national urban development policy, as they are related to the competitiveness of smaller metropolitan areas to attract national and global business and investments.
Early Stent Thrombosis in Patients Undergoing Primary Coronary Stenting for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Incidence, a Simple Risk Score, and Prognosis
Authors: Ergelen Mehmet , Uyarel Huseyin , Osmonov Damirbek , Ayhan Erkan , Akkaya Emre , Soylu Ozer , Orhan Ahmet L. , Sayar Nurten , Bozbay Mehmet , Turer Ayca , Yildirim Ersin , Yekeler Ibrahim
Published: September 2009

Background: One of the major concerns remaining in the treatment with stenting of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the occurrence of stent thrombosis (ST). The aim of the current study is to investigate the incidence, predictors, and long-term outcomes of early ST after primary coronary stenting for AMI in a large population. Methods: We reviewed 1960 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 11.6 years, 1658 males) treated with primary coronary stenting for AMI between 2003 and 2008. All clinical, angiographic, and follow-up data were retrospectively collected. Early ST was defined as thrombosis that occurred in the first 30 days after primary coronary stenting. Results: Early ST was observed in 89 (4.5%) patients. Five variables, selected from the multivariate analysis, were weighted proportionally to their respective odds ratio (OR) for early ST (premature clopidogrel therapy discontinuation [10 points], stent diameter ≤3 mm [5 points], current smoker [4 points], diabetes mellitus [DM; 3 points], and age >65 years [2 points]). Three strata of risks were defined (low risk, score 0-4; intermediate risk, score 5-12; and high risk, score 13-24) and had a strong association with early ST and long-term cardiovascular mortality. Long-term cardiovascular mortality was 5-fold more in patients with early ST than that without ST (24.1% vs 4.7%, respectively, P < .001). Conclusions: Early ST after primary coronary stenting in AMI is strongly related with increased long-term cardiovascular mortality. Premature clopidogrel therapy discontinuation is the most powerful predictor of early ST.
Get the Party Started
Authors: Sircar Indraneel , Høyland Bjørn
Published: September 2009

In this article, we investigate the effect of political parties on legislative behaviour. We compile and analyse a unique dataset of all roll-call votes for all the sessions of the Irish Free State Seanad (the Upper Chamber in the legislature, 1922—36). The development of legislative parties inside the Irish Seanad led to the formation of cohesive voting blocs after 1928. This caused dramatic shifts in the rank-ordering of members and changed the coalition pattern. The establishment of disciplined parties also sealed the fate of the legislature when the Fianna Fáil party, hostile to the Free State Seanad, became an organized force inside the institution.
Sex differences in time trends for overweight and obesity in adolescents: The Young-HUNT study
Authors: Bjornelv Sigrid , Lydersen Stian , Holmen Jostein , Lund Nilsen Tom Ivar , Holmen Turid Lingaas
Published: September 2009

Aims: To investigate sex differences in the prevalence and extent of overweight and obesity in adolescents aged 14—18 years. Methods: Standardized measurements of height and weight were collected from surveys of adolescents in the same geographical area in 1966—69 (n = 8378) and in 1995—97 (n = 6673). The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were calculated using criteria approved by the International Obesity Task Force. The extents of overweight and obesity were assessed by computing age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) percentiles. Results: In 1995—97, 17.2% met the criteria for either overweight or obesity, as compared with 10.7% in 1966—69. The prevalence of overweight and obesity combined was higher in girls (13.0%) than in boys (8.5%) in 1966—69 (difference 4.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1—5.9), while no sex difference was found in 1995—97 (girls 16.9%, boys 17.5%, difference —0.6, 95% CI —2.3—1.1). The increase in overweight was greater in boys (6.2PP, 95% CI 4.7—7.6) than in girls (1.9PP, 95% CI 0.4—3.5), while the sex difference in increased obesity was smaller (boys 2.8PP, 95% CI 2.1—3.4, girls 2.0PP, 95% CI 1.3—2.6). The increase in extent of overweight and obesity was highest in boys. The values of the 85th percentile and the 95th percentile in boys increased by 1.3 and 3.0 BMI units, respectively. The corresponding increases in girls were 0.7 and 1.7 BMI units. Conclusions: A marked sex difference in time trends for both the prevalence and extent of overweight and obesity, with a more pronounced increase in boys than in girls, was demonstrated. This might have implications for preventive strategies.
Interview with an ancestor
Authors: Bubandt Nils
Published: September 2009

A B S T R A C T ■ This article explores the relationship between spirit possession, politics and subjectivity. Based on an account of two possession ceremonies on the island of Ternate in eastern Indonesia, I show that as spirits are being conjured up for political reasons, they partake in a spiritual politics in which they are both instruments and actors. Methodologically, I use these accounts to suggest the need to treat spirits as informants. From this I develop a critique of the continuing link between the anthropological concept of the informant and conventional ideas about bounded subjectivity, a link that remains unquestioned despite much contemporary anthropological research into the complexity of lived subjectivity. Analytically, I argue that treating spirits as informants reveals how possession rituals construct and make intelligible a particular relationship between politics, experience and emerging democracy in Indonesia. Treating spirits as ‘methodologically real’ therefore has important analytical consequences for how we understand their political efficacy.
The Seven Up! films
Authors: Thorne Barrie
Published: September 2009

A B S T R A C T ■ Michael Apted’s documentary film series, which tracks 14 British children as they move from ages seven to 49, connects the personal with the sociological. Organized around the phenomenology of ‘growing older together’ (Schutz, 1976), the films invite emotional identification as they go about exploring unique, shared, and fluctuating experiences of the self. The documentaries resonate with the work of ethnographers who revisit the field, who seek to craft coherent narratives from a surplus of material, and who confront ethical problems as they investigate the private lives of subjects. The Seven Up! linear narrative of social class determination loosened in subsequent films as contingency, variation, and the dynamics of gender, generation, and parenting came more fully into view. The films embed tensions between linear and contingent, open-ended forms of temporality, juxtaposing varied forms of time: subjective (with fluctuating orientations of consciousness), physical aging, personal maturation, life course, biographical, historical, and generational.
Sensitivity Enhancement of Long-gage FBG Sensors for Macro-strain Measurements
Authors: Suzhen Li  , Zhishen Wu
Published: September 2009

In our recent study, a structural health monitoring strategy based on distributed fiber optic sensing techniques has been proposed to utilize the strain responses throughout the full or some partial areas of structures to detect the arbitrary and unforeseen damage. However, to perform this strategy more effectively, there is an increasing demand for improving the ability of such sensors to measure small structural responses, especially for the cases such as damage identification based on ambient vibration tests, fatigue crack monitoring of steel structures and crack detection of reinforced concrete structures. This work puts forward a novel packaging design for long-gage fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to enhance the measurement sensitivity of strain responses. The basic idea is to utilize two materials of different stiffness to package the in-tube optical fiber and impose the deformation within the gage length largely on the short-gage sensing part of FBG. Proof-tests indicate that the measurement sensitivity of the innovative FBG sensor can be artificially enhanced by adjusting the two recoating materials and their respective lengths. A series of tests are carried out to verify the ability of the improved sensors to detect small crack and measure slight vibration.