bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wheat development as affected by nitrogen and sulfur nutrition
Authors: Salvagiotti Fernando , Miralles Daniel J.
Published: January 2007

Sulfur (S) is one of the essential nutrients for crop growth, which is linked to nitrogen (N) in many physiological functions. The rate of leaf emergence (RLE) and final leaf number (FLN) determine the duration of the emergence (Em)–anthesis (Ant) period in wheat. Although some studies showed effects of N and phosphorus on RLE and the length of the Em–Ant period, no reports studied the effect of N and S interaction on the phasic development and the coordination of RLE with tillering appearance. A bread-wheat genotype was grown with 4 N and 2 S fertiliser rates during 2000 and 2001 in field plots. In addition, an experiment with 4 combinations of N and S rates (N0S0, N0S1, N1S0, and N1S1) was arranged in containers using nutrient solutions in 2001. Under field conditions, additional N and S did not modify the duration of the different phenological stages or the Phy value and FLN. However, the stronger N and S deficiency in the experiments conducted in containers affected RLE. A higher S rate delayed the period Em–Ant by 65° degree-days under no N restrictions, mainly by a delay in the duration of terminal spikelet (TS)–Ant period. Phyllochron (Phy) changed with crop ontogeny (inflection point occurred on 7th leaf) and N and S did not affect the timing when Phy changed; however, a lower N supply increased Phy in earlier leaves without effect of S on this trait. Treatments without S or N deficiency achieved the highest maximum tiller number (MTN) and the greatest tiller mortality rate (TMR); however, tiller number at maturity was 76% higher in this treatment with respect to the rest of the treatments because of the MTN attained. The number of tillers per emerged leaf was significantly increased when plants were grown under high N supply. Under no N restrictions, additional S increased the number of tillers per emerged leaf by 24%.
Evaluation of resistance to Turnip mosaic virus in Australian Brassica napus genotypes
Authors: Coutts Brenda A. , Walsh John A. , Jones Roger A. C.
Published: January 2007

Forty-three Australian cultivars or breeding lines of Brassica napus (canola, oilseed rape) and 2 cultivars of Brassica juncea (mustard) were inoculated with infective sap containing isolate WA-Ap of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), which belongs to TuMV pathotype 8. The types of reactions obtained were: necrotic spots in inoculated leaves without systemic infection (RN), chlorotic blotches in inoculated leaves without systemic infection (R), and chlorotic blotches in inoculated leaves accompanied by systemic infection that consisted of either necrotic spots (+N) or chlorotic blotches (+). The RN and +N reactions are consistent with those expected in the presence of 4 strain-specific TuMV resistance genes TuRB01 (+N response), TuRB03 (+N response) and TuRB04 with TuRB05 (RN), with + indicating a susceptible response. However, which resistance gene corresponds to the R response is unclear. The RN (TuRB04 with TuRB05) type of response was the commonest. Only one genotype lacked any TuMV resistance, and segregation for more than one different type of resistance response occurred within 22 genotypes and some segregated for resistance and susceptibility. Some genotypes segregated for all 3 types of resistance response found. The reaction of 2 plants of cv. Rivette was atypical as they developed both necrotic spots in inoculated leaves and systemic chlorotic spots. Since breeding for TuMV resistance is not undertaken in Australia, these results indicate frequent but inadvertent crossing with parental lines carrying TuMV resistance. Widespread occurrence of TuMV resistance genes and the possibility that many Australian TuMV isolates may not be well adapted to B. napus may explain the low incidence of this virus found in Australian B. napus crops.
Development and use of a variable-speed lateral boom irrigation system to define water requirements of 11 turfgrass genotypes under field conditions
Authors: Short D. C. , Colmer T. D.
Published: January 2007

Improved irrigation scheduling is one strategy by which water management can be improved in turfgrass systems. The development and testing of a variable-speed lateral boom irrigation system for use in field-based irrigation trials is reported. Christiansen’s coefficient of uniformity was greater than 92% and the efficiency of irrigator discharge was greater than 90% for application depths (mm/unit land area) of 0.5–13 mm. The minimum irrigation requirements were determined for 11 turfgrass genotypes from a summer irrigation dose–response field trial that applied daily treatments of 100 (control), 80, 60, 40 and 20% of the previous day’s net evaporation measured using a US Class A pan. Responses of several shoot parameters, including clipping production, green leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll and leaf water status were evaluated to define minimum irrigation requirements for the turfgrasses. Minimum irrigation requirements (as defined by declines of 10% in several shoot responses) for C3 and C4 turfgrasses were 64–94% and 32–78% of US Class A pan, respectively. Variability in irrigation requirements within C3 or C4 types was due mainly to variations in estimates based on the different shoot parameters. The results demonstrate the opportunity for water conservation by using C4 rather than C3 turfgrasses in locations with hot dry summers (and mild winters) typical of a Mediterranean-type climate.
Effective remediation of diazinon from spent sheep dip wash by disposal on land
Authors: Levot G. W.
Published: January 2007

Spent sheep dip wash (about 3500 L) containing 59 mg diazinon/L was evenly distributed onto a 450-m2 grassed, soil-bunded, sloping site near Cumnock in central New South Wales, Australia. The entire volume was contained within the bunded area but surface run-off created ponding in the lowest corner of the site. The mean concentration within the top 7 cm of soil was 2.32 mg/kg a day after application. By day 14, this had dropped to 0.4 mg/kg and by day 56, was below the limit of quantification (0.1 mg/kg). The half-life of diazinon in soil was estimated to be 7 days. Residues in the next 7 cm of soil depth were much lower and were below the limit of quantification in all samples collected at day 28 or later. This suggests that vertical leaching of diazinon within the soil profile did not occur despite more than 95 mm of rain during the trial interval. Throughout the 56-day trial interval, diazinon concentrations in the top 7 cm of soil 3 m downhill of the lowest corner of the dip disposal site were unchanged from background pre-treatment levels. No diazinon was detected in samples at 7–14 cm depth in the soil profile in this area. With neither vertical nor lateral movement of diazinon away from the initial treatment zone, we consider the disposal of spent diazinon sheep dips as described here, to be an acceptable and convenient option for Australian wool producers and dipping contractors. Suitable dip disposal sites should be situated away from sensitive locations in areas that have good grass cover over deep soil and that are contained by an effective bund. Stock and other animals should be excluded from these sensitive locations.
Denaturing Protein Immunoprecipitation from Mammalian Cells
Authors: Tansey William P.
Published: January 2007

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes a denaturing immunoprecipitation (IP) for mammalian cells. Where possible, we prefer to use denaturing IPs to recover labeled proteins from pulse-chase experiments. The use of denaturing IPs reduces background considerably.
Nuclear Staining of Plants for Confocal Microscopy
Authors: Running Mark
Published: January 2007

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes a useful way to observe the development of embryos, as well as meristems and young primordia developing at the shoot apex, by confocal microscopy after staining the nuclei with propidium iodide. The number of cells can be exactly quantified in a meristem or in young primordia. Because embryonic and meristematic cells are largely filled out by their nuclei, it is convenient to image only the nuclei. This method allows analysis of whole-mount material, which is more easily reconstructed than sectioned material.
Imaging of Fresh Arabidopsis Tissues in the Scanning Electron Microscope: Figure 1.
Authors: Jackson David
Published: January 2007

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the increased sensitivity of electron detectors and the availability of low-vacuum or variable-pressure systems have allowed imaging of fresh tissue samples without the need for fixation, drying, and coating. This obviously saves a lot of time, although the image quality may not be as good as that obtained from fixed samples. However, for most applications that tend to be at a relatively low magnification, the quality can be as good as that obtained from fixed samples.
Labour Market Flexibility, Wages and Incomes in Sub‐Saharan Africa in the 1990s
Authors: Kingdon Geeta , Sandefur Justin , Teal Francis
Published: January 2007

Abstract:  This paper provides an overview of how African labour markets have performed in the 1990s. It is argued that the failure of African labour markets to create good paying jobs has resulted in excess labour supply in the form of either open unemployment or a growing self‐employment sector. One explanation for this outcome is a lack of labour market ‘flexibility’ keeping formal sector wages above their equilibrium level and restricting job creation. We identify three attributes of labour market flexibility. First, whether real wages decline over time; secondly, the tendency for wages to adjust in the face of unemployment; and thirdly, the extent of wage differentials between sectors and/or firms of various size. Recent research shows that real wages in Africa during the 1990s may have been more downwardly flexible than previously thought and have been surprisingly responsive to unemployment rates, yet large wage differentials between formal and informal sector firms remain. This third sense of the term ‘inflexibility’ can explain a common factor across diverse African economies — the high income divide between those working in large firms and those not. Those working in the thriving self‐employment sector in Ghana have something in common with the unemployed in South Africa — both have very low income opportunities relative to those in large firms.
The molecular and clinical impact of hepatocyte growth factor, its receptor, activators, and inhibitors in wound healing
Authors: Conway Kevin , Price Patricia , Harding Keith G. , Jiang Wen G.
Published: January 2007

Wound healing involves a number of cellular and molecular events, many of which are controlled by soluble growth factors. In the process of healing, hepatocyte growth factor, a cytokine known to act as mitogen, motogen, and morphogen, has been postulated to play multiple roles during several stages of this complex biological process. Produced primarily by stromal fibroblasts, hepatocyte growth factor regulates angiogenesis, vascular permeability, cell migration, matrix deposition and degradation, and other biological processes. The current article discusses recent progress in understanding the multiple roles played by this growth factor in tissue repair.
Intralesional cryosurgery enhances the involution of recalcitrant auricular keloids: a new clinical approach supported by experimental studies
Authors: Har‐Shai Yaron , Sabo Edmond , Rohde Ewa , Hyams Michael , Assaf Chalid , Zouboulis Christos C.
Published: January 2007

To explain the mechanism of action of a novel intralesional cryoprobe, thermal behavior measurements, and histological studies were performed in swine muscle specimens after intralesional cryosurgery ex vivo. Slow cooling (20°C/min) and thawing (25°C/min) rates, end temperature of −30°C, produced 8 mm wide diffuse coagulative‐type necrosis and a 3 mm‐wide transition zone around the cryoprobe. In contrast, contact cryosurgery showed fast cooling and thawing rates (80°C/min) and an end temperature of −100°C. Efficacy and safety of the intralesional cryoprobe was further assessed in ten recalcitrant auricular keloids in nine Caucasian patients. There was a 67.4 ± 23 percent reduction of scar volume at the end of the 18‐month follow‐up period after a single intralesional treatment (p < 0.005). Significant reduction of hardness, elevation, and redness as well as itching, pain, and tenderness was documented. The histomorphometric analysis, including spectral and fractal analysis, as well as assessment of the fast Fourier transform algorithm, showed parallel alignment and reorganization of the collagen fibers in the treated scar similar to that in the normal dermis. A long hold time in the deep scar core caused minimal damage to the superficial tissue, including melanocytes. There was no evidence of permanent hypopigmentation, active bleeding, infection, or recurrence. The major advantages of the intralesional cryoprobe, including the marked efficacy of a single treatment, may have a major importance in the clinical application of cryosurgery in the treatment of keloids and of other lesions localized deep in the skin.
Toward a common language: surgical wound bed preparation and debridement
Authors: Granick Mark , Boykin Joseph , Gamelli Richard , Schultz Gregory , Tenenhaus Mayer
Published: January 2007

Wound management encompasses a number of disciplines. As new concepts and innovative technologies develop within this exciting field, it is important to share them in spite of the divergence of clinical perspectives between the expert disciplines. One such divergence exists between surgeons and nonsurgical wound specialists. As a result, there is a need to develop a common language between these two groups. How can we develop a common language that unites surgical expertise within medical wound management? One route may be through the principles of wound bed preparation, which we believe have great potential for the communication of effective surgical techniques. Another is through sharing our concepts of surgical debridement as it is applied to different wounds by a variety of surgical disciplines. In this monograph, we try to bring these two themes together. We discuss how wound bed preparation has added to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the nonhealing wound and has provided us with some general clinical concepts. We discuss what role debridement, and then specifically surgical debridement, has to play within wound bed preparation, before analyzing the importance of surgical debridement in tissue preservation and the control of infection. We finally look at ongoing work that examines the cost of various surgical debridement techniques. We will also review a new hydrosurgery system (VERSAJET®, Smith and Nephew, Hull, UK), which we believe has an important role to play in the surgical preparation of the wound. We also expect that this paper will remind our medical colleagues about the critical role played by surgery in wound management.
Preclinical Studies with Adrenomedullin and Its Binding Protein as Cardiovascular Protective Agents for Hemorrhagic Shock
Authors: Wu Rongqian , Wang Ping
Published: January 2007

Traumatic injury is a major, largely unrecognized public health problem in the US that cuts across race, gender, age, and economic boundaries. The resulting loss of productive life years exceeds that of any other disease, with societal costs of $469 billion annually. Most trauma deaths result either from insufficient tissue perfusion due to excessive blood loss, or the development of inflammation, infection, and vital organ damage following resuscitation. Clinical management of hemorrhagic shock relies on massive and rapid infusion of fluids to maintain blood pressure. However, the majority of victims with severe blood loss do not respond well to fluid restoration. The development of effective strategies for resuscitation of traumatic blood loss is therefore critically needed. We have recently discovered that the vascular responsiveness to a recently‐discovered potent vasodilatory peptide, adrenomedullin (AM) is depressed after severe blood loss, which may be due to downregulation of a novel specific binding protein, AM binding protein‐1 (AMBP‐1). Using three different animal models of hemorrhage (controlled hemorrhage with large volume resuscitation, controlled hemorrhage with low volume resuscitation, and uncontrolled hemorrhage with minimum resuscitation), we have shown that cell and organ injury occurs after hemorrhage despite fluid resuscitation. Administration of AM/AMBP‐1 significantly improves cardiac output, heart performance and tissue perfusion, attenuates hepatic and renal injury, decreases pro‐inflammatory cytokines, prevents metabolic acidosis, and reduces hemorrhage‐induced mortality. Thus, administration of AM/AMBP‐1 appears to be a novel and useful approach for restoring cardiovascular responses, preventing organ injury, and reducing mortality after hemorrhagic shock.
HOLOGRAM TECHNIQUES FOR PARTICLE‐SIZE ANALYSIS
Authors: Zinky William R.
Published: January 2007

Summary

Fraunhofer hologram camera systems have been applied to a number of applications for particle‐size analysis. Reconstructed holograms provide high‐quality images with three orders of magnitude greater depth of field than that provided by a microscope. Instantaneous recording of dynamic dispersions with freedom from isokinetric sampling losses is one of the chief attractions of the method. A permanent record of the particle distribution that can easily be recalled is produced. The typical laser pulse length of 20 nanoseconds allows particles to be moving at high velocities; the maximum particle velocity criterion is that the particle shall move less than 1/10 diameter during the exposure time.

A hologram has extremely high information content; in fact, it contains the size, shape and position in three‐dimensional space of a large number of objects. The price that must be paid for recording this large amount of information is that lasers and precision optical systems must be used in a two‐step process to record and reconstruct the holograms.

Hologram photography has, however, all the advantages of direct photography; it gives shape information and shows the minute detail of the microcosm. Scientists trained to utilize this new hologram technique can further their work in fine‐particle analysis.
THE SCREEN‐FILTRATION PRESSURE METHOD FOR DETECTING PARTICULATE MATTER IN FLUIDS*
Authors: Swank Roy L. , Prichard Kathleen H.
Published: January 2007

A constant flow, screen‐filtration pressure method is described which has proved sensitive to the presence of particulate matter in fluids. It has the advantage of simplicity and speed of operation.
THE CHEMISTRY OF Co(I) DERIVATIVES OF VITAMIN B12 AND OF RELATED CHELATES
Authors: Schrauzer G. N.
Published: January 2007

Summary

The main points of the present review can be summarized as follows:

1. The existence of Co(I) derivatives is limited to strong‐field chelates, since the stabilization of spin‐paired d8‐ions is particularly favored in planar complexes. The Co(I) chelates do not form stable adducts with Lewis bases, but weak interactions yielding five‐coordinate species are observed.

2. There appear to be no basic differences between the reactions of the Co(I) center in vitamin B12s and the corresponding derivatives of simple chelates. Thus, the rates of the reactions of primary alkylating agents with vitamin B12sor cobaloximes(I) are very nearly the same.

3. The dz2 orbital in the Co(I) compounds is weakly antibonding, extending its charge cloud perpendicular to the plane of the molecule. This causes the Co(I) chelates to be the strongest nucleophiles known.

4. All Co(I) chelates studied show three or four absorption bands between 12000 and 18000 cm‐1 that are assigned to the ligand‐modified d‐d transitions. In the isolectronic nickel chelates, corresponding transitions were observed between 20000 and 28000 cm‐1.

5. The reduction of vitamin B12 and of cobaloximes can be achieved with a variety of reagents, e.g., NaBH4, zinc dust, thiols. New reducing agents are acyloins or ketosugars. The reduction with NaBH4 is sensitive to trace‐metal catalysis. Cobaloximes(II) (but not vitamin B12) are reduced by molecular hydrogen, a fact presumably associated with the existence of dimeric, metal‐metal bonded Co(II) derivatives.

6. The reduction of Co‐Salen and Co‐BAE to the Co(I) derivatives in water requires strongly alkaline conditions to prevent the decomposition into the Co(II) derivatives and hydrogen. This is a direct consequence of the higher Co(II)/Co(I) reduction potentials of these compounds.
Mechanisms Driving the Time-Dependent Salt Flux in a Partially Stratified Estuary*
Authors: Lerczak James A. , Geyer W. Rockwell , Chant Robert J.
Published: January 2007

The subtidal salt balance and the mechanisms driving the downgradient salt flux in the Hudson River estuary are investigated using measurements from a cross-channel mooring array of current meters, temperature and conductivity sensors, and cross-channel and along-estuary shipboard surveys obtained during the spring of 2002. Steady (subtidal) vertical shear dispersion, resulting from the estuarine exchange flow, was the dominant mechanism driving the downgradient salt flux, and varied by over an order of magnitude over the spring–neap cycle, with maximum values during neap tides and minimum values during spring tides. Corresponding longitudinal dispersion rates were as big as 2500 m2 s−1 during neap tides. The salinity intrusion was not in a steady balance during the study period. During spring tides, the oceanward advective salt flux resulting from the net outflow balanced the time rate of change of salt content landward of the study site, and salt was flushed out of the estuary. During neap tides, the landward steady shear dispersion salt flux exceeded the oceanward advective salt flux, and salt entered the estuary. Factor-of-4 variations in the salt content occurred at the spring–neap time scale and at the time scale of variations in the net outflow. On average, the salt flux resulting from tidal correlations between currents and salinity (tidal oscillatory salt flux) was an order of magnitude smaller than that resulting from steady shear dispersion. During neap tides, this flux was minimal (or slightly countergradient) and was due to correlations between tidal currents and vertical excursions of the halocline. During spring tides, the tidal oscillatory salt flux was driven primarily by oscillatory shear dispersion, with an associated longitudinal dispersion rate of about 130 m2 s−1.
Hydrothermal synthesis of anisotropic alkali and alkaline earth vanadates
Authors: Michailovski Alexej , Wörle Michael , Sheptyakov Denis , Patzke Greta R.
Published: January 2007

In the course of a systematic field study, anisotropic alkali and alkaline earth vanadates have been accessed through a straightforward, one-step hydrothermal process. They are formed quantitatively from V2O5 and alkali- or alkaline earth halide solutions after a few days of autoclave treatment in the temperature range between 100 and 220 °C. The presence of ionic additives leads to an interplay between the formation of isotropic crystalline phases and the production of fibrous oxide materials, such as a novel magnesium vanadate. The influence of the hydrothermal parameters and of the alkali/alkaline earth halides on the emerging phases and morphologies has been investigated in the course of a systematic study. The results are compared with other vanadate- and transition metal oxide-based hydrothermal systems, and the emerging trends are discussed with respect to the development of predictive synthetic concepts for nanostructured vanadium oxides.
Synthesis and nitrogen stability of ultrafine titanium carbonitride particles
Authors: Lee Dong-Won , Ahn Jae-Hwan , Chung Hyungsik
Published: January 2007

The ultrafine titanium carbonitride particles (TiC0.5N0.5) with 100 nm in mean size was successfully synthesized by nitridation treatment at ordinary temperatures, 1373∼1473 K of the nanostructured half-stoichiometric titanium carbide (TiC0.5) particles, which were produced by the magnesium reduction of gaseous TiCl4+1/4C2Cl4. In addition, the nitrogen stability for the produced titanium carbonitride particles at various temperatures and vacuum conditions was investigated experimentally and compared with values calculated by an ideal solution model.
Drying-induced forming of alumina ceramics using high solid-loaded slurries with addition of glycerol
Authors: Jiang S.W. , Nakamura S. , Tanaka S. , Uematsu K.
Published: January 2007

A new drying-induced forming (DIF) of ceramics has been developed using high solid-loaded alumina slurries with addition of glycerol, in which the slurry was simply dried in an open mold at the ambient condition. The drying-induced forming approach is facilitated by the high stability of concentrated slurries during drying where glycerol was added to maximize the critical solid loading and play simultaneously as a drying control agent. The drying and rheological behaviors of slurries were examined with respect to the glycerol addition. A slurry of 60 vol% solid loading with 20 wt% glycerol addition was chosen for the drying induced forming test. The green samples exhibited no bending or cracks, and a small degree of shrinkage anisotropy during sintering. The sintered samples showed a high relative density of 99.2% and an average strength of 420 MPa. We demonstrate here a possibility of producing near-net-shaped and bulk ceramic components in a simple scheme by using the drying-induced approach.
Hydration-induced coupling of the excitonic state of Y2O3with its phonon: Negative effect on the luminescence efficiency of Y2O3:Eu+3nanophosphor
Authors: Nayak A. , Sahoo R. , Debnath R.
Published: January 2007

Luminescence properties of a series of samples of Y2O3:Eu+3red phosphor of particle sizes ranging from 50 to 300 nm were investigated as a function of time to decipher the long-standing mystery of the effect of reduction of particle size on the luminescence efficiency of the phosphor. The samples were found to lose luminescence efficiency and suffer a change in the excitation profile with time. Infrared studies showed that although the samples at their freshly prepared stage were almost free from contaminated water, on aging in air at room temperature, they absorbed the latter. The phenomenon of hydration-induced coupling of the excitonic state of Y2O3with one of its Fumodes was detected in the case of the aged sample, which was shown to be instrumental in introducing newer nonradiative channels in the system. Because of larger surface-to-volume ratio, the effect was most pronounced in the case of nanocrystalline samples.
Medicaid Planning, Estate Recovery, and Alternatives for Long-Term Care Financing: Identifying the Ethical Issues
Authors: Kapp Marshall B.
Published: January 2007

In anticipation of the escalating costs of long-term care, consumers and the federal and state governments are engaging in a variety of strategies intended to preserve the financial solvency of the respective parties. For the consumer, this may mean planning in a way designed to maximize one’s potential future eligibility for government support, whereas the federal government tries to limit those planning activities inspired by public benefits considerations and the states attempt to recover their long-term care expenses from the estates of deceased consumers whose long-term care needs the state had earlier supported. All of these strategies have important and controversial public policy implications. The public policy debate surrounding these strategies ought to be ethically informed. This article sets out to identify and outline some of the main ethical questions engendered by individual Medicaid planning on one hand, and state estate recovery efforts on the other. It concludes that neither of these approaches to the challenge of long-term care financing is very ethically palatable.
Induction of chemoresistance in a cultured canine cell line by retroviral transduction of the canine multidrug resistance 1 gene
Authors: Matsuura Shinobu , Koto Hisao , Ide Kaori , Fujino Yasuhito , Setoguchi-Mukai Asuka , Ohno Koichi , Tsujimoto Hajime
Published: January 2007

Objective—To induce chemoresistance in a normal canine cell line through the transduction of the canine multidrug resistance 1 gene (mdr1).

Sample Population—Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell line.

Procedures—The full-length canine mdr1 cDNA clone isolated in our laboratory was inserted into a Moloney murine leukemia virus–based vector to construct the retroviral vector, pLNC-cMDR1. After retroviral transduction of pLNC-cMDR1 into MDCK cells, the expression and function of the P-glycoprotein, a product of mdr1, were assessed by immunoblotting, measurement of rhodamine123 (Rh123) retention, and drug sensitivity assays.

Results—P-glycoprotein was strongly expressed in cells transduced with pLNC-cMDR1. This P-glycoprotein was fully functional, as demonstrated by the decreased Rh123 retention and the increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Measured as 50% inhibitory concentrations, resistance increased 59 times to vincristine and 25 times to doxorubicin in MDCK cells after transduction of pLNC-cMDR1.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Transduction of canine mdr1 is an effective method for inducing chemoresistance in normal canine cells. This system may be applicable to the induction of drug resistance in hematopoietic cells.
Serum biochemical abnormalities in goats with uroliths: 107 cases (1992–2003)
Authors: George Jeanne W. , Hird David W. , George Lisle W.
Published: January 2007

Objective—To characterize serum biochemical abnormalities in goats with uroliths.

Design—Retrospective case-control series.

Animals—107 male goats with uroliths and 94 male goats with various nonrenal diseases (controls).

Procedures—For male goats, results of serum biochemical analyses collected from 1992 through 2003 were retrieved from computerized records, as were signalment, clinical diagnoses, and discharge status. Results of analyses for BUN, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium, Na, K, Cl, total CO2, anion gap, and glucose were compared between goats with uroliths and control goats.

Results—Goats with uroliths had higher mean BUN, creatinine, total CO2, K, and glucose concentrations and lower mean phosphorus, Na, and Cl concentrations than control goats, with no difference in mean calcium concentration and anion gap. Goats with uroliths had higher frequency of azotemia, hypophosphatemia, hypochloridemia, and increased total CO2 and lower frequency of decreased total CO2 than control goats. Urolithiasis occurred more frequently in castrated males than in sexually intact males and in dwarf African breeds than in other breeds.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Goats with uroliths often had hypophosphatemia at admission. Hypochloridemic metabolic alkalosis was the most common acid-base disorder. Rupture in the urinary tract system was associated with increased prevalence of hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. Clinicians should be aware of these abnormalities when determining fluid therapy.
Inferring the emission regions for different kinds of gamma‐ray bursts
Authors: Zhang Z. B. , Xie G. Z. , Deng J. G. , Wei B. T.
Published: January 2007

Using a theoretical model describing pulse shapes, we have clarified the relations between the observed pulses and their corresponding timescales, such as the angular spreading time, the dynamic time as well as the cooling time. We find that the angular spreading timescale caused by curvature effect of fireball surface only contributes to the falling part of the observed pulses, while the dynamic one in the co‐moving frame of the shell merely contributes to the rising portion of pulses provided the radiative time is negligible. In addition, the pulses resulted from the pure radiative cooling time of relativistic electrons exhibit properties of fast rise and slow decay (a quasi‐FRED) profile together with smooth peaks. Besides, we interpret the phenomena of wider pulses tending to be more asymmetric to be a consequence of the difference in emission regions. Meanwhile, we find the intrinsic emission time is decided by the ratios of lorentz factors and radii of the shells between short and long bursts. Based on the analysis of asymmetry, our results suggest that the long GRB pulses may occur in the regions with larger radius, while the short bursts could locate at the smaller distance from central engine. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Crystal Structure of Anhydrous β‐Caffeine as Determined from X‐ray Powder‐Diffraction Data
Authors: Lehmann Christian W. , Stowasser Frank
Published: January 2007

The crystal structure of the low‐temperature form of anhydrous caffeine has been determined by using X‐ray powder‐diffraction data with a combined simulated‐annealing/Rietveld method. Anhydrous caffeine crystallises with five crystallographically independent molecules in a monoclinic C‐centred unit cell with dimensions of a=43.0390(17), b=15.0676(6) and c=6.95314(14) Å and a β angle of 99.027(2)°.
Self‐Assembly of Halogenated Cobaltacarborane Compounds: Boron‐Assisted CH⋅⋅⋅XB Hydrogen Bonds?
Authors: Giner Planas José , Teixidor Francesc , Viñas Clara , Light Mark E. , Hursthouse Michael B.
Published: January 2007

Full structural characterisation and complete synthetic procedures for three monohalogenated cobaltacarborane compounds closo‐[3‐Co(η5‐C5H5)‐8‐X‐1,2‐C2B9H10] (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)) and the dibromo derivative closo‐[3‐Co(η5‐C5H5)‐8,9‐Br2‐1,2‐C2B9H9] (4) are reported. The supramolecular structures of 1, 3, and 4 reveal the existence of intermolecular CH⋅⋅⋅XB interactions. The role of these interactions has been investigated through a CSD search and subsequent analysis of the reported crystalline compounds. The results show that halogens become reasonably good hydrogen‐bond acceptors when bonded to boron and, in this respect, are comparable in strength to metal‐bound halogens.
Differential susceptibility of leukocyte subsets to cytotoxic T cell killing: Implications for HIV immunopathogenesis
Authors: Liu Jie , Roederer Mario
Published: January 2007

Background:

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are crucial for the host defense against viral infection. In many cases, this anti‐viral immune response contributes to host pathogenesis, through inflammation and tissue destruction. Few studies have explored the relative susceptibility of infected cells to CTL killing, and the range of cell types that may be effectively killed by CTLs in vivo, both of which are key to understanding both immune control of infection and immune‐related pathogenesis.

Methods:

We developed and optimized a highly sensitive method to quantify the relative susceptibility of leukocyte subsets to CTL‐mediated killing. Maximal sensitivity was achieved by uniquely measuring cell death occurring during the assay culture.

Results:

We found that leukocyte subsets have a wide range of susceptibility to antigen‐specific CTL‐mediated lysis. Generally, T cells were more susceptible than B or NK cells, with CD4 T cells being more susceptible than CD8 T cells. In all lymphocyte lineages, susceptibility was greater for more differentiated subsets compared with their naïve counterparts; however, for dendritic cells, immature cells are more susceptible than mature cells. We focused on the susceptibility of T cell subsets, and found that naïve cells are far more resistant than memory cells, and in particular, CCR5+ or HLA‐DR+ memory cells are highly susceptible to CTL‐mediated killing.

Conclusions:

These results provide an explanation for the observation that certain subsets of CD4 T cells are ablated during chronic HIV infection, and indicate which subsets are most likely to contain the persistent viral reservoir. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonconscious influences of religion on prosociality: a priming study
Authors: Pichon Isabelle , Boccato Giulio , Saroglou Vassilis
Published: January 2007

Past literature on the automaticity of social behavior indicates that priming a concept automatically activates related behavioral schemas. In the two present studies we examined the impact of religion on prosociality. In the first study, we tested the impact of subliminal priming of religious concepts on prosocial behavior intentions. We found a main effect of this priming, moderated by valence: prosocial behavior tendencies were stronger when positive religious words had previously been subliminally primed. In the second study, we examined the accessibility of prosocial concepts, after the supraliminal activation of religion. Indeed, we found that not only were religion‐related attributes more accessible when primed, but positive religious primes were also able to activate prosocial concepts. While previous research has shown the religion‐prosociality link at the explicit level and in terms of the role of individual religiousness, these results indicate that religious concepts by themselves can nonconsciously activate prosocial behavioral schemas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tensile strength equation for HSS bracing members having slotted end connections
Authors: Han Sang‐Whan , Kim Wook Tae , Foutch Douglas A.
Published: January 2007

In the previous study, the authors investigated the effect of w/t ratios on the behaviour of bracing members under symmetric cyclic loading in compression and tension. In this study, 11 bracing members with slotted end sections made of cold‐formed square hollow structural sections (HSS) were tested. The w/t ratios ranged from 8 to 28. Unlike the test results of other former studies obtained under compression‐oriented cyclic loading, the results of this study showed that bracing members having a smaller w/t ratio (<14) had less deformation and less energy dissipation capacity, and a shorter fracture life compared with other specimens. Such inferior behaviour resulted from early fracture at the slotted end section. This study compares tensile strength obtained from the design equations in the AISC LRFD manual and Eurocode 3 using the actual strengths of the tested specimens. This study found that for preventing early fracture in HSS bracing members, design fracture strength should be larger than design yield strength. Design strength equations are proposed for bracing members in special concentrically braced frames (SCBF). The proposed design equations are verified by experimental tests conducted under symmetric cyclic loading in tension and compression using two HSS bracing members designed according to the proposed equation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Short‐term scheduling of thermal units: emission constraints and trade‐off curves
Authors: Catalão J. P. S. , Mariano S. J. P. S. , Mendes V. M. F. , Ferreira L. A. F. M.
Published: January 2007

This paper provides an approach to short‐term scheduling of thermal units, designed to simultaneously address the economic issue of the fuel cost incurred on the commitment of the units and the environmental consideration due to emission allowance trading. The simultaneous address of the fuel cost with the emission is modeled by a multi‐objective optimization problem, which is solved by a combination of the weighted sum method with the ε‐constraining method. A numerical example for different values of a scaling factor is considered in order to obtain the non‐dominated solutions of the trade‐off curve between fuel cost and emission. Our approach presents a new parameter, ratio of change, and the corresponding gradient angle, to enable the proper selection of a compromise commitment for the units. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DWT‐based extraction of residual currents throughout unearthed MV networks for detecting high‐impedance faults due to leaning trees
Authors: Elkalashy Nagy I. , Lehtonen Matti , Darwish Hatem A. , Taalab Abdel‐Maksoud I. , Izzularab Mohamed A.
Published: January 2007

Modelling of a high‐impedance arcing fault due to a leaning tree in medium voltage (MV) networks was experimentally verified and the network transients due to this fault were also investigated. Even though the tree had a very high resistance value, the initial transients were periodically caused by the arc reignitions after each zero‐crossing. In this paper, these features are extracted from residual currents using discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to localise this fault event. The DWT performance at different measuring nodes throughout an unearthed 20 kV network can be gathered at the base station using wireless sensors concept. So, the DWT is evaluated for a wide area of the network and the fault detection is confirmed by numerous DWT extractors. Due to the periodicity of arc reignitions, the initial transients are localised not only at fault starting instant but also during the fault period that will enhance the detection security. The term of locating the faulty section is determined based on ratios of the residual current amplitudes. The fault cases are simulated by ATP/EMTP and the arc model is implemented using the universal arc representation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Demand for private health insurance in Chinese urban areas
Authors: Ying Xiao‐Hua , Hu Teh‐Wei , Ren Jane , Chen Wen , Xu Ke , Huang Jin‐Hui
Published: January 2007

Between 1993 and 2003, the proportion of urban residents without health insurance rose from 27 to 50%. The probability of outpatient visits in the previous 2 weeks dropped from 19.9 to 11.8% in urban areas between 1993 and 2003, and from 16.0 to 13.9% in rural areas. To improve risk‐pooling and risk‐sharing, private health insurance should play an important role in China's health insurance system. This paper estimates the demand for private health insurance in urban areas using contingent valuation methods. Individuals were asked about their willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for major catastrophic disease insurance (MCDI), inpatient expenses insurance (IEI), and outpatient expenses insurance (OEI). The study was based on a household survey conducted in four small cities in China in 2004 and included 2671 respondents. More people would like to buy IEI and MCDI (48.5 and 43.0%, respectively) than OEI (24.5%). In addition, individuals would pay a higher premium for MCDI and IEI than for OEI. The price elasticities of demand for MCDI, IEI, and OEI were −0.27, −0.34, and −0.42, respectively. The determinants of enrollment in the three private health insurance programs were similar with employment status, age, education, and income. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scheduling streaming flows on the downlink shared channel of UMTS
Authors: Kuri Joy , Karthik R. M.
Published: January 2007

In Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS), the Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) may be used to provide streaming services. The traffic model for streaming services is different from the continuously backlogged model used in much of the literature. Each connection specifies a required service rate over an interval of time. In this paper, we are interested in determining how k DSCH frames should be allocated among a set of I connections. We need a scheduler that is channel‐aware, so that channels presently enjoying low fading losses can be exploited to achieve higher aggregate throughput. On the other hand, the scheduler is also required to be fair, so that each connection obtains a throughput as close as possible to what it requires. We introduce the notion of discrepancy to capture the inherent trade‐off between aggregate throughput and fairness. We show that the discrepancy criterion provides a flexible means for balancing efficiency, as measured by aggregate throughput, and fairness. Our problem, then, is to schedule mobiles so as to minimize the discrepancy over the control horizon. We provide a simple low‐complexity heuristic called ITEM that is provably optimal in certain cases. In particular, we show that ITEM is optimal when applied in the UMTS context. Next, we compare the performance of ITEM with that of other algorithms, and show that it performs better in terms of both fairness and aggregate throughput. Thus, ITEM provides benefits in both dimensions—fairness and efficiency—and is therefore a promising algorithm for scheduling streaming connections. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ageing of the conduit arteries
Authors: Greenwald SE
Published: January 2007

Conduit arteries become stiffer with age due to alterations in their morphology and the composition of the their major structural proteins, elastin and collagen. The elastic lamellae undergo fragmentation and thinning, leading to ectasia and a gradual transfer of mechanical load to collagen, which is 100–1000 times stiffer than elastin. Possible causes of this fragmentation are mechanical (fatigue failure) or enzymatic (driven by matrix metallo proteinases (MMP) activity), both of which may have genetic or environmental origins (fetal programming). Furthermore, the remaining elastin itself becomes stiffer, owing to calcification and the formation of cross‐links due to advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs), a process that affects collagen even more strongly. These changes are accelerated in the presence of disease such as hypertension, diabetes and uraemia and may be exacerbated locally by atherosclerosis. Raised MMP activity, calcification and impaired endothelial function are also associated with a high level of plasma homocysteine, which itself increases with age. Impaired endothelial function leads to increased resting vascular smooth muscle tone and further increases in vascular stiffness and mean and/or pulse pressure. The effect of increased stiffness, whatever its underlying causes, is to reduce the reservoir/buffering function of the conduit arteries near the heart and to increase pulse wave velocity, both of which increase systolic and pulse pressure. These determine the peak load on the heart and the vascular system as a whole, the breakdown of which, like that of any machine, depends more on the maximum loads they must bear than on their average. Reversing or stabilising the increased arterial stiffness associated with age and disease by targeting any or all of its causes provides a number of promising new approaches to the treatment of systolic hypertension and its sequelae, the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The endocrine system and ageing
Authors: Chahal HS , Drake WM
Published: January 2007

Complex changes occur within the endocrine system of ageing individuals. This article explores the changes that occur in the metabolism and production of various hormones and discusses the resulting clinical consequences. As individuals age there is a decline in the peripheral levels of oestrogen and testosterone, with an increase in luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone and sex hormone‐binding globulin. Additionally there is a decline in serum concentrations of growth hormone, insulin‐like growth factor‐I and dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulphate‐bound form. Even though there are complex changes within the hypothalmo–pituitary–adrenal/thyroid axis, there is minimal change in adrenal and thyroid function with ageing. The clinical significance of these deficiencies with age are variable and include reduced protein synthesis, decrease in lean body mass and bone mass, increased fat mass, insulin resistance, higher cardiovascular disease risk, increase in vasomotor symptoms, fatigue, depression, anaemia, poor libido, erectile deficiency and a decline in immune function. For each endocrine system, studies have been carried out in an attempt to reverse the effects of ageing by altering the serum hormonal levels of older individuals. However, the real benefits of hormonal treatment in older individuals are still being evaluated. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.