bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ferroelectric Aging and Recoverable Electrostrain in BaTi0.98Ca0.02O2.98 Ceramics
Authors: Zhang Lei , Ben Liubin , Thakur Om Prakash , Feteira Antonio , Mould Andrew G. , Sinclair Derek C. , West Anthony R.
Published: July 2008

BaTi0.98Ca0.02O2.98 (BTC) ceramics where Ca2+ acts as an acceptor dopant show ferroelectric aging, reversible domain switching, and a nonlinear recoverable electrostrain of ∼0.04% at ∼11 kV/cm. This behavior is attributed to the mobility of oxide‐ion vacancies created by the acceptor doping mechanism and a tendency for the defect symmetry to align with the crystal symmetry. The recoverable strain in unpoled ceramics is of comparable magnitude to that obtained from the linear piezoelectric effect in poled hard‐PZT ceramics at a similar applied field. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential of BTC as a ‘Pb‐free’ ceramic to achieve significant recoverable electrostrain.
Nanocomposite Formation Through Thermal Decomposition of Mixed Samarium and Magnesium Citrate‐Derived Gels Formed by Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Enz Thorsten , Sieger Hermann , Fasel Claudia , Hahn Horst
Published: July 2008

Metal citrate gels of samarium and magnesium were used as precursors for the generation of hollow sphere particles by spray pyrolysis under mild thermal conditions. Six mixtures with different Sm/Mg ratios as well as pure Sm and Mg samples were prepared. As a result of the low synthesis temperature the particles consist of amorphous metal carboxylate networks. The texture of the shells is governed by microporosity yielding the major part of the total surface area. A detailed investigation of thermal decomposition, crystallization, and grain growth behavior was carried out under constant heating rate conditions. The decomposition products are nanocrystalline Sm2O3 and MgO and corresponding two‐phase nanocomposites. The pure samarium carboxylate gel features considerably higher thermal stability compared with the one comprised of only magnesium. Accordingly the decomposition behavior of mixed samples is dependent on the Sm/Mg ratio. Furthermore it is shown that small amounts of MgO are able to slow down the kinetics of grain growth of Sm2O3 whereas high amounts are necessary to significantly reduce the final grain size at 1000°C.
Preparation of Unsintered Spherical BaFe12O19 Nanoparticles via an Alcohol‐Assisted Spray‐Pyrolysis Route
Authors: Lee Hye Moon , Bae Sun‐Young , Yu Ji‐Hun , Kim Yong‐Jin
Published: July 2008

Unsintered spherical barium ferrite (BaFe12O19) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the alcohol‐assisted spray‐pyrolysis (AASP) method without any postannealing processes. Ethyl alcohol (EtOH) in the precursor solution for BaFe12O19 particles was very effective not only in its capacity to decrease the particle size, but also in enhancing crystallization into barium ferrite hexagonal phase. As the vol% of EtOH increased from 0 to 20, a decrease of particle size from 136 to 111 nm and an increase of crystallinity were clearly observed. The AASP method was optimized by adjusting the chemical concentration in the precursor solution, and finally, unsintered spherical BaFe12O19 particles, with a geometric mean diameter of 72 nm, a geometric SD of 1.4, and an intrinsic coercivity of 4510 Oe, were successfully prepared.
Formation of NbAl3/Al2O3 Composites by Pressureless Reactive Infiltration
Authors: Zhang Wei , Travitzky Nahum , Greil Peter
Published: July 2008

Porous preforms of NbO2 with “coral‐like” microstructure were prepared from powder blends of Nb2O5, C, and dextrin [(C6H10O5)n, where n=10–200] by uniaxial pressing and three‐dimensional printing. The compacted powder blends were then pyrolyzed at 800°C for 2 h in nitrogen atmosphere to decompose the dextrin binder into carbon and subsequently presintered at temperatures from 1150°C up to 1400°C for 1 h under Ar atmosphere. Because of interconnected porosity with a mean channel pore diameter of 1.8 μm for uniaxially pressed preform, and bimodal pore size distribution with pore size maxima of 1 μm (intraagglomerate pores) and 40 μm (interagglomerate pores) for printed preform, capillary driven infiltration with Al melt could be achieved at 1200°C without applying external pressure. Subsequent heat treatment at 1400°C for 1 h resulted in the formation of dense NbAl3/Al2O3 composites.
A Novel Method to Fabricate Unidirectional Porous Hydroxyapatite Body Using Ethanol Bubbles in a Viscous Slurry
Authors: Song Ho‐Yeon , Islam Shamiul , Lee Byong‐Taek
Published: July 2008

A unidirectional porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) body was fabricated using a novel process that employed ethanol bubbles as a pore‐forming agent in a viscous slurry of methylcellulose. The slurry contained HAp powders, methylcellulose, ethanol and distilled water. During the heating of the slurry, bubbles were formed at 70°–80°C and produced the unidirectional porous green body. From X‐ray diffraction analysis, it was confirmed that no phase change occurred in the sintered porous HAp body. The total porosity of the porous HAp body was 70% and the compressive strength was about 10 MPa, which falls within the range required for human cancellous bone (2–12 MPa).
Sintering Behavior, Structures, and Microwave Dielectric Properties of (LixNb3x)Ti1−4xO2
Authors: Pang Li‐Xia , Wang Hong , Zhou Di , Yao Xi
Published: July 2008

(LixNb3x)Ti1−4xO2 (0.05≤x≤0.23) ceramics were synthesized by conventional solid‐state reaction method. The sintering behavior, structures, and microwave dielectric properties were investigated as a function of the content of (Li1/4Nb3/4)4+ substitution for Ti4+. Tetragonal rutile solid solutions were observed when 0.05≤x≤0.15, while LiNb3O8 phase coexisted with rutile phase when 0.20≤x≤0.23. Without sintering aids, (LixNb3x)Ti1−4xO2 ceramics were well densified at 960°–1020°C. Dielectric constant (ɛr) changed from 91 to 39 and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (TCF) shifted from +320.5 ppm/°C to −72.7 ppm/°C with the amount of (Li1/4Nb3/4)4+ substitution increasing. (Li0.215Nb0.645)Ti0.14O2 ceramic sintered at 1020°C showed excellent microwave dielectric properties with ɛr∼43, Q × f value∼14 500 GHz and TCF∼−15 ppm/°C. The relationship between structure parameter (tetragonality ratio) and dielectric constant or/and TCF value of LixNb3xTi1−4xO2 rutile solid solutions was also studied in this work.
Air‐Cooling of Metallurgical Slags Containing Multivalent Oxides
Authors: Durinck Dirk , Jones Peter Tom , Blanpain Bart , Wollants Patrick
Published: July 2008

During air‐cooling, high temperature, reduced metallurgical slags are brought in contact with ambient air, resulting in a gradient in both temperature and oxygen partial pressure. In this article, the pO2 dependency of slags containing multivalent oxides is investigated. Computer simulations with an extended version of the Scheil solidification model indicate significant differences in both end mineralogy and solidification path depending on oxygen partial pressure and oxygen diffusion. It is shown that metallic particles can form inside the slag during cooling because of a lack of oxygen exchange with the surrounding atmosphere. This is confirmed by laboratory solidification experiments, which corroborate that the level of oxygen diffusion is indeed limited. The proposed solidification mechanisms are extrapolated to industrial practice, based on key features of a stainless‐steel electric arc furnace slag. The possible implications for slag recycling are discussed.
Young People's Musical Taste: Relationship With Gender and Gender‐Related Traits1
Authors: Colley Ann
Published: July 2008

The present study extended previous findings of gender differences in young people's musical taste by examining whether identification with gender‐related expressive or instrumental traits contributes to these differences, and by examining the underlying structure of musical taste by gender. The results confirmed greater liking of heavier contemporary music among men and of chart pop music among women. Gender was a stronger predictor of taste for gender‐stereotyped styles than identification with gender‐related traits. The structure of style preferences in dimensions relating to mainstream styles varied by gender. Men and participants with higher scores on expressiveness gave higher ratings to more styles. The findings are discussed in relation to gender differences in the use of music and gender‐role socialization.
Gender‐Role Orientation and Alcohol Treatment Outcome1
Authors: John Bev , Alwyn Tina , Hodgson Ray J. , Phillips Ceri J.
Published: July 2008

This study investigated the function of gender‐role orientation as a predictor of socially focused alcohol treatment outcome. Participants were drawn from a randomized controlled trial involving home detoxification with an add‐on psychological intervention to enhance social support and coping. Participants were classified into 4 gender‐role types (androgynous, masculine, feminine, or undifferentiated). Analysis was conducted relating to differential (between gender‐role groups) treatment effects in relation to the main outcome measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol‐related problems and self‐esteem. The relationship between perceived social support and gender‐role type as a function of treatment outcome was also explored. Levels of psychological masculinity and femininity were more predictive of a socially focused treatment outcome than were sex differences.
Cyclooxygenase in normal human tissues – is COX‐1 really a constitutive isoform, and COX‐2 an inducible isoform?
Authors: Zidar Nina , Odar Katarina , Glavac Damjan , Jerse Maja , Zupanc Tomaz , Stajer Dusan
Published: July 2008

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in prostanoid synthesis. It exists in two isoforms, COX‐1 and COX‐2. COX‐1 is referred to as a ‘constitutive isoform’, and is considered to be expressed in most tissues under basal conditions. In contrast, COX‐2 is referred to as an ‘inducible isoform’, which is believed to be undetectable in most normal tissues, but can be up‐regulated during various conditions, many of them pathological. Even though the role of COX in homeostasis and disease in now well appreciated, controversial information is available concerning the distribution of COX isoforms in normal human tissues. There is mounting evidence that it is much more complex than generally believed. Our aim was therefore to analyse the expression and distribution of COX isoforms in normal human tissues, using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real‐time RT‐PCR. Autopsy samples from 20 healthy trauma victims and samples from 48 biopsy surgical specimens were included. COX‐1 was found in blood vessels, interstitial cells, smooth muscle cells, platelets and mesothelial cells. In contrast, COX‐2 was found predominantly in the parenchymal cells of many tissues, with few exceptions, for example the heart. Our results confirm the hypothesis that the distribution of COX isoforms in healthy tissues is much more complex than generally believed. This and previous studies indicate that both isoforms, not only COX‐1, are present in many normal human tissues, and that both isoforms, not only COX‐2, are up‐regulated in various pathological conditions. We may have to revise the concept of ‘constitutive’ and ‘inducible’ COX isoforms.
Fish movement and habitat use depends on water body size and shape
Authors: Woolnough D. A. , Downing J. A. , Newton T. J.
Published: July 2008

Abstract –  Home ranges are central to understanding habitat diversity, effects of fragmentation and conservation. The distance that an organism moves yields information on life history, genetics and interactions with other organisms. Present theory suggests that home range is set by body size of individuals. Here, we analyse estimates of home ranges in lakes and rivers to show that body size of fish and water body size and shape influence home range size. Using 71 studies including 66 fish species on five continents, we show that home range estimates increased with increasing water body size across water body shapes. This contrasts with past studies concluding that body size sets home range. We show that water body size was a consistently significant predictor of home range. In conjunction, body size and water body size can provide improved estimates of home range than just body size alone. As habitat patches are decreasing in size worldwide, our findings have implications for ecology, conservation and genetics of populations in fragmented ecosystems.
Endosomal Targeting of MEK2 Requires RAF, MEK Kinase Activity and Clathrin‐Dependent Endocytosis
Authors: Galperin Emilia , Sorkin Alexander
Published: July 2008

To study spatiotemporal regulation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling cascade in living cells, a HeLa cell line in which MAPK kinase of ERK kinase (MEK) 2 (MAPK kinase) was knocked down by RNA interference and replaced with the green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged MEK2 was generated. In these cells, MEK2–GFP was stably expressed at a level similar to that of the endogenous MEK2 in the parental cells. Upon activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR), a pool of MEK2–GFP was found initially translocated to the plasma membrane and then accumulated in a subset of early and late endosomes. However, activated MEK was detected only at the plasma membrane and not in endosomes. Surprisingly, MEK2–GFP endosomes did not contain active EGFR, suggesting that endosomal MEK2–GFP was separated from the upstream signaling complexes. Knockdown of clathrin by small interfering RNA (siRNA) abolished MEK2 recruitment to endosomes but resulted in increased activation of ERK without affecting the activity of MEK2–GFP. The accumulation of MEK2–GFP in endosomes was also blocked by siRNA depletion of RAF kinases and by the MEK1/2 inhibitor, UO126. We propose that the recruitment of MEK2 to endosomes can be a part of the negative feedback regulation of the EGFR–MAPK signaling pathway by endocytosis.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: IL‐6 as a Regulatory Factor of the Humoral Response During Pregnancy
Authors: Dubinsky Valeria , Junovich Gisela , Gentile Teresa , Gutiérrez Gabriela
Published: July 2008

Problem  Regulatory factors seem to be essential to achieve transition from implantation window to placental vascularization. A novel function of interleukin (IL)‐6 in the promotion of Th2 differentiation and inhibition of Th1 polarization has been demonstrated. Considering that Th2 response promotes antibody synthesis, we postulate that IL‐6 could be modulating the quality of this response during pregnancy by increasing the proportion of blocking asymmetric antibodies.

Method of study  We investigated expression of blocking‐asymmetric‐IgG during pregnancy of CBA/J × DBA/2 abortion model treated with IL‐6, with regards to CBA/J × BALB/c. We also determined asymmetric‐IgG production in IL‐6‐deficient pregnant mice.

Results  We found that IL‐6 treatment increased asymmetric‐IgG in multiparous placentas from abortion combination whereas diminished abortion rate. Moreover, asymmetric‐IgG proportion was diminished in sera from IL‐6‐deficient pregnant mice.

Conclusion  Modulation of asymmetric antibody synthesis could be another mechanism implicated in the beneficial effect of IL‐6 in prevention of murine recurrent abortion.
Association of ADHD and the Protogenin gene in the chromosome 15q21.3 reading disabilities linkage region
Authors: Wigg K. G. , Feng Y. , Crosbie J. , Tannock R. , Kennedy J. L. , Ickowicz A. , Malone M. , Schachar R. , Barr C. L.
Published: July 2008

Twin studies indicate genetic overlap between symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disabilities (RD), and linkage studies identify several chromosomal regions possibly containing common susceptibility genes, including the 15q region. Based on a translocation finding and association to two specific alleles, the candidate gene, DYX1C1, has been proposed as the susceptibility gene for RD in 15q. Previously, we tested markers in DYX1C1 for association with ADHD. Although we identified association for haplotypes across the gene, we were unable to replicate the association to the specific alleles reported. Thus, the risk alleles for ADHD are yet to be identified. The susceptibility alleles may be in a remote regulatory element, or DYX1C1 may not be the risk gene. To continue study of 15q, we tested a coding region change in DYX1C1, followed by markers across the gene Protogenin (PRTG) in 253 ADHD nuclear families. PRTG was chosen based on its location and because it is closely related to DCC and Neogenin, two genes known to guide migratory cells and axons during development. The markers in DYX1C1 were not associated to ADHD when analyzed individually; however, six markers in PRTG showed significant association with ADHD as a categorical trait (P = 0.025–0.005). Haplotypes in both genes showed evidence for association. We identified association with ADHD symptoms measured as quantitative traits in PRTG, but no evidence for association with two key components of reading, word identification and decoding was observed. These findings, while preliminary, identify association of ADHD to a gene that potentially plays a role in cell migration and axon growth.
Involvement of A2A receptors in anxiolytic, locomotor and motivational properties of ethanol in mice
Authors: Houchi H. , Warnault V. , Barbier E. , Dubois C. , Pierrefiche O. , Ledent C. , Daoust M. , Naassila M.
Published: July 2008

We have shown previously that mice lacking the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) generated on a CD1 background self‐administer more ethanol and exhibit hyposensitivity to acute ethanol. We aimed to investigate if the increased propensity of A2A−/− mice to consume ethanol is associated with an altered sensitivity in the motivational properties of ethanol in the conditioned place preference (CPP) and conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigms and with an altered development of sensitization to the locomotor effects of ethanol. We also tested their sensitivity to the anxiolytic effects of ethanol. Our results show that A2A−/− mice produced on a CD1 background displayed a reduced ethanol‐induced CPP and an increased sensitivity to the anxiolytic and locomotor‐stimulant effects of ethanol, but they did not show alteration in ethanol‐induced CTA and locomotor sensitization. Ethanol‐induced CPP, ethanol consumption and the locomotor effects of ethanol were also tested in A2A−/− mice produced on a C57BL/6J background. Our results emphasized the importance of the genetic background because alteration in ethanol consumption and preference, ethanol‐induced CPP and locomotor‐stimulant effects were not found in knockout mice produced on the alcohol‐preferring C57BL/6J genetic background. Finally, the A2AR agonist, 2‐p‐(2‐carboxyethyl)‐phenylethylamino‐5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine hydrochloride (CGS 21680), reduced ethanol consumption and preference in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, A2AR deficiency in mice generated on a CD1 background leads to high ethanol consumption that is associated with an increased sensitivity to the locomotor‐stimulant/anxiolytic effects of ethanol and a decrease in ethanol‐induced CPP.
Peri‐Implant Bone Organization under Immediate Loading Conditions: Collagen Fiber Orientation and Mineral Density Analyses in the Minipig Model
Authors: Traini Tonino , Neugebauer Jörg , Thams Ulf , Zöller Joachim E. , Caputi Sergio , Piattelli Adriano
Published: July 2008

Background: Mechanical properties of bones are greatly influenced by percentages of organic and mineral constituents. Nevertheless, information about mineralization level on a microscopic scale and collagen fiber organization in peri‐implant bone after immediate loading is scarce.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to analyze and compare the degree of mineralization and collagen fiber orientation in alveolar bone (AB) and peri‐implant bone of immediately loaded (IL) and unloaded (NL) implants.

Materials and Methods: A total of 25 dental implants of 3.8 mm in diameter and 11 mm in length were used in the present study. In five minipigs, three premolars and the first molar were removed from the left side of the mandible. Three months later, five implants for each animal were inserted. Four implants were loaded immediately with a fixed restoration, while one implant was left unloaded. After a 4‐month healing period, all implants were retrieved. Circularly polarized light and scanning electron microscope with backscattered electron imaging were used to analyze both peri‐implant and AB retrieved 5 mm from the implant.

Results: The bone/implant contact ratio (BIC %) was 77.8 ± 5.9% for the IL implants and 78.0 ± 5.8% for the NL implants; the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.554). In the peri‐implant bone, the area related to transverse collagen fibers was 112,453 ± 4,605 pixels for IL implants and 87,256 ± 2,428 pixels for NL implants. In the AB, the area related to transverse collagen fibers was 172,340 ± 3,892 pixels. The difference between groups was statistically significant (p < .001). The degree of mineralization of peri‐implant bone was 137 ± 19 gray level for IL implants and 115 ± 24 gray level for NL implants, while in the AB, the degree of mineralization was 125 ± 26 gray level. This difference was statistically significant (p < .001).

Conclusion: In this study, it was found that IL and NL implants showed the same degree of osseointegration. The bone matrix around IL implants had a higher quantity of transverse collagen fibers and presented a higher level of mineralization.
Bacterial Colonization of Oral Implants from Nondental Sources
Authors: Emrani Jinus , Chee Winston , Slots Jørgen
Published: July 2008

Implants showing signs of peri‐implantitis harbor a microbiota similar to that of periodontitis‐affected teeth. This case report describes the subgingival microbiota of a 45‐year‐old female with advanced periodontitis before and after complete edentulation and reconstruction with dental implants. A 3‐month healing period post extraction passed before implants were placed using a two‐stage submerged implant protocol. At 4‐ to 6‐month recall visits after definitive prosthetic reconstruction, some implant sites showed bleeding on probing and localized mucositis. Microbiological culture of three inflamed peri‐implant sites showed an almost identical spectrum of pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and other major pathogenic bacteria characteristic of aggressive periodontitis. As natural teeth were absent for 8 months, this case report suggests that periodontal pathogens can be retained for a prolonged period of time in nondental sites, from where they can later colonize and compromise the health of dental implants. The therapeutic implications of this finding are discussed.
Clinical Outcome of Overdenture Treatment on Two Nonsubmerged and Nonsplinted Astra Tech Microthread™ Implants
Authors: De Bruyn Hugo , Besseler Jos , Raes Filiep , Vaneker Marianne
Published: July 2008

Background: The use of two implants for mandibular overdenture stabilization improves the patients' comfort and well‐being. This treatment could be more cost‐effective if surgery and prosthetic treatment could be performed by one clinician in the normal setting of a dental clinic.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to describe implant success, restorative outcome, and the patients' opinion of mandibular overdenture treatment on two early‐loaded, nonsplinted Astra Tech TiOblast Microthread™ (Astra Tech Dental, Mölndal, Sweden) implants.

Materials and Methods: Thirty‐seven consecutive patients treated with implant‐supported mandibular overdentures were invited for a clinical examination. Implant survival, marginal bone level, quality of implant and prosthetic treatment, and the patients' opinion by means of questionnaires were scored.

Results: Thirty‐four patients attended the examination. Two implants were lost in one patient and the failure rate for the total group of patients was 3%. As 8 of the 33 remaining patients were still in the provisional loading stage, they were not included in the final clinical and radiographic examination. Based on 25 patients and 50 implants with a mean follow‐up of 18.8 months (range 4–33), implant positioning and occlusion/articulation scored perfect in 74 to 80% of the cases. Retention of the dentures was rated perfect in 80%, but 20% needed minor activation of the attachments, 20% showed signs of abrasion, and 20% had already been repaired. The average marginal bone level was 0.8 mm below the reference point. The mean pocket depth was 2.1 mm, and 54% of the peri‐implant tissues were free of bleeding. The patients were appreciative of the work carried out by their dentist and they indicated a significant improvement in their well‐being and quality of life.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that the Astra Tech implant system was successfully used by the general dentist both surgically and prosthetically with minimal implant failures and prosthetic complications and that this led to high levels of patient appreciation and overall satisfaction.
Fracture Strength of Zirconia Implants after Artificial Aging
Authors: Andreiotelli Marina , Kohal Ralf‐Joachim
Published: July 2008

Background: Zirconia (ZrO2) might be an alternative material to titanium (Ti) for dental implant fabrication. However, no data are available on the fracture strength of one‐piece ZrO2 oral implants.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength of ZrO2 implants after exposure to the artificial mouth.

Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty ZrO2 and Ti implants were used. The Ti implants were divided into two control groups (A and B). ZrO2 implants manufactured from yttria‐stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 polycrystal (Y‐TZP) in group C, from Y‐TZP dotted with alumina (Y‐TZP‐A) in group D, and from Y‐TZP‐A with a modified surface in groups E and F were used. In group F, the implant heads were prepared, and in group G, the implants were restored with ZrO2 crowns. Each group included 16 samples with the exception of group D, which included 24 samples.

A subgroup of each implant type (eight implants) was subjected to thermomechanical cycling in a chewing simulator prior to fracture testing. Test specimens were then loaded until a fracture occurred.

Results: Seven of the 120 samples failed in the chewing simulator. ZrO2 implant fracture occurred at 725 to 850 N when the implants were not prepared, and at 539 to 607 N when prepared. The samples in group A fractured at the level of the abutment screw. All ZrO2 implants fractured at the level of the Technovit® resin (Heraeus Kulzer GmbH & Co., Wehrheim, Germany). No fracture of the ZrO2 crowns in group G was observed.

Conclusion: Mean fracture strength values obtained were all within the limits of clinical acceptance. However, implant preparation had a statistically significant negative influence on the implant fracture strength. Long‐term clinical data are necessary before one‐piece ZrO2 implants can be recommended for daily practice.
Reproducibility of the Implant Crown Aesthetic Index – Rating Aesthetics of Single‐Implant Crowns and Adjacent Soft Tissues with Regard to Observer Dental Specialization
Authors: Gehrke Peter , Degidi Marco , Lulay‐Saad Zitta , Dhom Günter
Published: July 2008

Aim: The Implant Crown Aesthetic (ICA) Index evaluates the aesthetic outcome of implant‐supported single crowns in the anterior zone by awarding nine points for the shape, color, and surface characteristics of the crowns and surrounding soft tissue. The aim of this study was to measure the reproducibility of the ICA Index and assess the influence exerted by the examiner's degree of dental specialization.

Materials and Methods: Ten examiners (two general dentists, two prosthodontists, two oral surgeons, two orthodontists, and two dental technicians) applied the ICA Index to 23 implant‐supported single crowns twice at an interval of 4 weeks. The inter‐ and intra‐examiner ratings were analyzed. Cohen's kappa (K) was used to measure the interexaminer reliability of estimations by two appraisers at a significance level of p < .05.

Results: Within the various parameters, the observer agreement ranged 53 to 81%. All the examiners achieved moderate agreement between the first and second ratings, whereby Cohen's kappa was 0.49 (p < .001). The most agreement was obtained by surgeons (K = 0.62, substantial) and the least by orthodontists (K = 0.24, sufficient). The lowest level of agreement with other occupational groups was manifested by the orthodontists (≤44.3%). The ICA Index produced a moderate Cohen's kappa of 0.42 and agreement amounting to 67% between the two ratings within the occupational groups. There was minimum agreement among the occupational groups (Cohen's K = 0.11–0.37, observer agreement: 40.2–66.3%); again, the least agreement was between the orthodontists and others.

Conclusions: The ICA Index resulted in poor to moderate intra‐ and interexaminer agreement. The validity and reproducibility of the ICA indexing as an objective tool in rating implant aesthetics is questionable.
Literature and Medicine: Twenty‐Five Years Later
Authors: Logan Peter Melville
Published: July 2008

An analysis of ten recent studies in Victorian literature and medicine examines the changes in the interdisciplinary field since G. S. Rousseau published an influential article on the topic in 1981.
Devolving Romanticism: Nation, Region and the Case of Devon and Cornwall
Authors: Moore Dafydd
Published: July 2008

This essay considers the ways in which four nations, or archipelagic, criticism has impacted upon the study of eighteenth‐century and Romantic Britain. It traces the history of four nations’ criticism from its impact on the Celtic nations and the study of regional identity and culture. The second half of the essay considers Devon and Cornwall, and in particular the Cornish writer Richard Polwhele as a case study for this four nations approach. It considers Polwhele's literary and other writerly activities (particularly in the field of antiquarianism and topographical county histories) as an example of a possible regional Romanticism.
Lipopolysaccharide‐evoked activation of p38 and JNK leads to an increase in ICAM‐1 expression in Schwann cells of sciatic nerves
Authors: Shen Aiguo , Yang Junling , Gu Yangyang , Zhou Dan , Sun Linlin , Qin Yongwei , Chen Jianping , Wang Ping , Xiao Feng , Zhang Li , Cheng Chun
Published: July 2008

Lipopolysaccharide is a major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria. It activates monocytes and macrophages to produce cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukins IL‐1β and IL‐6. These cytokines appear to be responsible for the neurotoxicity observed in peripheral nervous system inflammatory disease. It has been reported that, in the central nervous system, the expression level of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) was dramatically upregulated in response to LPS, as well as many inflammatory cytokines. ICAM‐1 contributes to multiple processes seen in central nervous system inflammatory disease, for example migration of leukocytes to inflammatory sites, and adhesion of polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes to central nervous system cells. In the present study, we found that lipopolysacharide evoked ICAM‐1 mRNA and protein expression early at 1 h post‐injection, and the most significant increase was seen at 4 h. Immunofluorescence double‐labeling suggested that most of the ICAM‐1‐positive staining was located in Schwann cells. Using Schwann cell cultures, we demonstrated that ICAM‐1 expression in Schwann cells is regulated by mitogen‐activated protein kinases, especially the p38 and stress‐activated protein kinase/c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase pathways. Thus, it is thought that upregulation of ICAM‐1 expression in Schwann cells may be important for host defenses after peripheral nervous system injury, and reducing the biosynthesis of ICAM‐1 and other cytokines by blocking the cell signal pathway might provide a new strategy against inflammatory and immune reaction after peripheral nerve injury.
Compartmentalization and in vivo insulin‐induced translocation of the insulin‐signaling inhibitor Grb14 in rat liver
Authors: Desbuquois Bernard , Béréziat Véronique , Authier François , Girard Jean , Burnol Anne‐Françoise
Published: July 2008

The molecular adaptor Grb14 binds in vitro to the activated insulin receptor (IR) and inhibits IR signaling. In this study, we have used rat liver subcellular fractionation to analyze in vivo insulin effects on Grb14 compartmentalization and IR phosphorylation and activity. In control rats, Grb14 was recovered mainly in microsomal and cytosolic fractions, but was also detectable at low levels in plasma membrane and Golgi/endosome fractions. Insulin injection led to a rapid and dose‐dependent increase in Grb14 content, first in the plasma membrane fraction, and then in the Golgi/endosome fraction, which paralleled the increase in IR β‐subunit tyrosine phosphorylation. Upon sustained in vivo IR tyrosine phosphorylation induced by high‐affinity insulin analogs, in vitro IR dephosphorylation by endogenous phosphatases, and in vivo phosphorylation of the IR induced by injection of bisperoxo(1,10 phenanthroline)oxovanadate, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, we observed a striking correlation between IR phosphorylation state and Grb14 content in both the plasma membrane and Golgi/endosome fractions. In addition, coimmunoprecipitation experiments provided evidence that Grb14 was associated with phosphorylated IR β‐subunit in these fractions. Altogether, these data support a model whereby insulin stimulates the recruitment of endogenous Grb14 to the activated IR at the plasma membrane, and induces internalization of the Grb14–IR complex in endosomes. Removal of Grb14 from fractions of insulin‐treated rats by KCl treatment led to an increase of in vivo insulin‐stimulated IR tyrosine kinase activity, indicating that endogenous Grb14 exerts a negative feedback control on IR catalytic activity. This study thus demonstrates that Grb14 is a physiological regulator of liver insulin signaling.
Social Capital in an Impoverished Minority Neighborhood: Emergence and Effects on Children's Mental Health
Authors: Hanks Carole A.
Published: July 2008

PROBLEM:  This study aims to describe and analyze neighborhood effects on children's mental health, focusing on the emergence and effects of Social Capital or informal social control.

METHOD:  Focus groups of Hispanic and African American families raising children in a low‐income, minority neighborhood.

FINDINGS:  Parents’ alienation from and distrust of public sources of formal social control, such as policemen, prevented the emergence of positive informal social control.

CONCLUSION:  Psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners must utilize public health and individual therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat children's mental health problems in disorganized, violent neighborhoods.
Optical Study of Lithium–Bismuth–Borate Glasses
Authors: Mahmoud Khaled H.
Published: July 2008

Glasses with compositions xBi2O3(75−x)B2O325Li2O3 for 0≤x≤40 mol% have been prepared using the normal melt‐quenching technique. The optical absorption and reflection spectra were recorded at room temperature in the wavelength range 190–1100 nm. From the absorption edge studies, the values of the optical band gap (Eopt) and Urbach energy (ΔE) have been evaluated. Optical parameters such as refractive index and complex dielectric constant have been determined. The dispersion of the refractive index is discussed in terms of the single‐oscillator Wemple–DiDomenico model. Color parameters and color difference data L*, U*, V*, C*, hue, W, Ye, ΔL*, ΔU*, ΔV*, ΔC*, and ΔE have been calculated.
Quantifying Bank Storage of Variably Saturated Aquifers
Authors: Li Hailong , Boufadel Michel C. , Weaver James W.
Published: July 2008

Numerical simulations were conducted to quantify bank storage in a variably saturated, homogenous, and anisotropic aquifer abutting a stream during rising stream stage. Seepage faces and bank slopes ranging from 1/3 to 100/3 were simulated. The initial conditions were assumed steady‐state flow with water draining toward the stream. Then, the stream level rose at a constant rate to the specified elevation of the water table given by the landward boundary condition and stayed there until the system reached a new steady state. This represents a highly simplified version of a real world hydrograph. For the specific examples considered, the following conclusions can be made. The volume of surface water entering the bank increased with the rate of stream level rise, became negligible when the rate of rise was slow, and approached a positive constant when the rate was large. Also, the volume decreased with the dimensionless parameter M (the product of the anisotropy ratio and the square of the domain’s aspect ratio). When M was large (>10), bank storage was small because most pore space was initially saturated with ground water due to the presence of a significant seepage face. When M was small, the seepage face became insignificant and capillarity began to play a role. The weaker the capillary effect, the easier for surface water to enter the bank. The effect of the capillary forces on the volume of surface water entering the bank was significant and could not be neglected.
A pristine environment and water quality in perspective: Maliau Basin, Borneo's mysterious world
Authors: Mokhtar Mazlin Bin , Aris Ahmad Zaharin , Abdullah Mohd Harun , Yusoff Mohd Kamil , Abdullah Md. Pauzi , Idris Abd. Rahim , Raja Uzir Raja Ibrahim
Published: July 2008

The chemical characteristics of the surface water of Eucalyptus River, in Maliau Basin, were studied based on its major ion chemistry and its suitability for drinking, domestic use and irrigation. Water samples from the river were collected and analysed for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, Cl, SO4, Ca, Mg, Na and K. Besides major elements, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, Bi, Cd, Ba, Pb, As, Al, V, Se, Ag, Sr and Li were also determined in this study. The results show that the river water of the area reflects natural factors and is regarded as fresh water and suitable for drinking and domestic use. The calculated values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Mg hazard and salinity hazard indicate that the river water is of high quality and suitable for agricultural and irrigation purposes. This study contributes baseline data for a pristine, forested environment for future reference.
Evidence: Fundamental Concepts and the Phenomenal Conception
Authors: Kelly Thomas
Published: July 2008

The concept of evidence is among the central concerns of epistemology broadly construed. As such, it has long engaged the intellectual energies of both philosophers of science and epistemologists of a more traditional variety. Here I briefly survey some of the more important ideas to have emerged from this tradition of reflection. I then look somewhat more closely at an issue that has recently come to the fore, largely as a result of Williamson's Knowledge and Its Limits: that of whether one's evidence supervenes on one's non‐factive mental states.
Defining Physicalism
Authors: Ney Alyssa
Published: July 2008

This article discusses recent disagreements over the correct formulation of physicalism. Although there appears to be a consensus outside those who discuss the issue that physicalists believe that what exists is what is countenanced by physics, as we will see, this orthodoxy faces an important puzzle now frequently referred to as ‘Hempel's Dilemma’. After surveying the historical trajectory from Enlightenment‐era materialism to contemporary physicalism, I examine several mainstream approaches that respond to Hempel's dilemma, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Virtual Globes: An Overview of Their History, Uses, and Future Challenges
Authors: Tuttle Benjamin T. , Anderson Sharolyn , Huff Russell
Published: July 2008

The fusion of the World Wide Web and spatial technologies has led to the emergence of a new and evolving geospatial Web. Multiple virtual globes, or geobrowsers such as Google Earth and National Aeronautics and Space Administration's World Wind, have emerged and are positioned to proceed as the gateway to the geospatial Web. Virtual globes are presently used in such areas as education, scientific research and disaster response. Online discussions and conference presentations highlight the uses to which virtual globes may be put, but the peer‐reviewed literature still contains relatively few examples of these applications. Technical advances, data availability and end‐user expectations are driving the rapid development of virtual globes, making this an ideal time to explore the uses to which virtual globes can be put, ways to identify the challenges involved in their use, and highlight potential pitfalls and opportunities.
Optimality as a Concept to Understand and Model Vegetation at Different Scales
Authors: Schymanski Stanislaus J.
Published: July 2008

Observations made at different scales are often incomparable, because they reveal different patterns within the same entity. The change in observed pattern with the change in scale of observation is often abrupt, a phenomenon referred to as ‘break in scale’. Linking patterns with different scales of observation has become a major challenge in all sciences; however, it appears that the better our ability to observe patterns becomes, the more ‘breaks in scales’ we find. This article links breaks in scales to hierarchical levels of organisation. It is argued that organisation is linked with optimality and that optimality is predictable to a certain degree. It is further argued that in some cases heterogeneity within a level of organisation can be neglected if this heterogeneity is assumed to be a result of optimisation; hence, the implementation of vegetation optimality in models can lead to a new degree of predictability in ecohydrology.
Scoping Geographic Information Systems for Education: Making Sense of Academic and Practitioner Perspectives
Authors: DiBiase David
Published: July 2008

Geographic information systems (GIS) education now takes place in most of the world's colleges and universities, where it involves dozens of disciplines, thousands of instructors, and tens of thousands of students annually. Still, no consensus exists about the scope and content of the field that GIS educators should help students understand. Twenty‐five years of inconclusive debate among academic geographers and GIS practitioners are reviewed from a US perspective, culminating in a pivotal lawsuit in US federal court. A broad and inclusive conception called geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) is proposed to help students make sense of the field. GIS&T is an intersection of accredited and non‐accredited disciplines, regulated and unregulated professions, and old and new technologies. The interests of organizations and individual practitioners are at once competing and complementary. One common interest is, or should be, the ‘body of knowledge’ that distinguishes the field from others and defines relationships among its constituent communities of practice. Continuous development of the GIS&T Body of Knowledge is recommended as a vehicle for communication and cooperation among the diverse interests that make up the GIS&T field.
Latin American Social Movements: A Review and Critique of the Geographical Literature
Authors: Perreault Tom
Published: July 2008

Drawing on a survey of the academic literature from 1975 to the present, this article examines research by geographers on Latin American social movements. The survey identified over 100 works, distributed in a temporally, spatially, and thematically uneven fashion. Work by geographers on Latin American social movements has increased dramatically since 1990. The article reviews the geographical literature on Latin American social movements, discusses reasons for the increase in social movement activity since 1990 (and the increased attention by geographers to social movements during this period), and outlines an agenda for further research. Of the categories of social movements studied, indigenous movements garnered the most attention, followed by transnational solidarity/Left political movements. Agrarian, environmental, and women's movements have also received considerable attention. Greater geographical attention needs to be paid to movements of the elite and the political Right; gay, lesbian, and transgender movements; and the entry of social movements into formal (electoral) politics.
Making Space for the Economy: Live Performances, Dead Objects, and Economic Geography
Authors: Barnes Trevor J.
Published: July 2008

The article explores the usefulness of the recent literature on markets and performativity for economic geography. The article is divided into two main sections. The first reviews work on performativity, the idea that our statements and representations actively produce reality rather than being mere faithful copies of it. Writers in science studies, in particular, have taken up this notion and used it to understand the making of economic markets. The second argues that economic geography usefully amends the work on performance and economic markets by adding a geographical perspective that plays out in at least four registers: the performance of spatial theory; the geographical performance of economic theory; the spatial performance of market constitution; and the political performance of spatial markets.
Genetically Altering Aβ Distribution from the Brain to the Vasculature Ameliorates Tau Pathology
Authors: Oddo Salvatore , Caccamo Antonella , Cheng David , LaFerla Frank M.
Published: July 2008

The inheritance of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene is the major genetic risk factor for developing late‐onset Alzheimer disease. In transgenic mice overexpressing amyloid precursor protein (APP), replacing the endogenous mouse apoE gene with the human apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) gene alters the distribution of amyloid‐β (Aβ) deposits from the brain parenchyma to the vasculature. However, the effects of this distribution on the onset and progression of tau pathology remain to be established. To address this issue, we used a genetic approach to replace the endogenous apoE gene with the human apoE4 allele in the 3xTg‐AD mice. We showed that changing Aβ distribution from the parenchyma to the vasculature drastically reduces the tau pathology. The 3xTg‐AD mice expressing the human apoE4 gene were virtually depleted of any somatodendritic tau deposits. These data strongly suggest that the somatodendritic tau accumulation is dependent on the parenchyma Aβ deposits.
Lipid‐Lowering and LDL‐Oxidation Inhibitory Effects of Aqueous Extract of Freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea)—Using Tilapia As an Animal Model
Authors: Chen T.‐Y. , Lin B.‐C. , Shiao M.‐S. , Pan B.S.
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT:  A previous study has demonstrated that tilapia able to exhibit hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia is a good model for the evaluation of beneficial effects of nutraceuticals. In this study, tilapia were used to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of a hot water extract (FC‐HW) of freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea). FC‐HW prolonged the lag phase of Cu2+‐induced human and tilapia LDL oxidation. The prolongation of the lag phase was concentration‐dependent in human (r2= 0.94) and tilapia LDL (r2= 0.98). The antioxidative potential of FC‐HW was 0.33% (on a weight basis) of Trolox, a positive control. Male tilapia (n= 24) were randomly divided into 2 groups and separately fed for 60 d with an isocaloric also isoprotein diet containing 2% (w/w) FC‐HW or a control diet. Body length and body mass were significantly higher in fish fed FC‐HW than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Total triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and LDL‐C in plasma of the FC‐HW group were significantly lower (–89.9%, –61.8%, and –54.5%, respectively), while plasma total antioxidant capacity of the FC‐HW group was higher and the lag phase in Cu2+‐induced LDL oxidation was longer than those of the control group (P < 0.05). FC‐HW demonstrated hypolipidemia and hypocholesterolemia effects and inhibited human LDL oxidation in vitro and tilapia LDL both in vitro and ex vivo, indicative that FC‐HW can be a potential nutraceutical to reduce the risk factors of atherosclerosis.