bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Negotiating Marriage: Questions of Morality and Legitimacy in the Ghanaian Pentecostal Diaspora
Authors: van Dijk Rijk
Published: November 2004

Among the many immigrant groups that have settled in the Netherlands, the recently arrived migrants from Ghana have been perceived by the Dutch state as especially problematic. Explicit measures have been taken to investigate marriages of Ghanaians, as these appeared to be an avenue by which many acquired access to the Dutch welfare state. While the Dutch government tightened its immigration policies, many Ghanaian Pentecostal churches were emerging in the Ghanaian immigrant communities. An important function of these churches is to officiate over marriages; marriages that are perceived as lawful and righteous in the eyes of the migrant community but nonetheless do not have any legal basis as far as the Dutch state is concerned. This contribution explores why the Ghanaian community attributes great moral significance to these marriages that are taking place within their Pentecostal churches. It investigates the changing meaning of the functions of Pentecostal churches in Ghana and in the Netherlands by distinguishing civil morality from civic responsibility. It seeks to explore how, in both contexts, legitimacy is created as well as contested in the face of prevailing state-civil society relations. Through this exploration, it will become clear why, in both situations, Pentecostalism is unlikely to develop into a civic religion in the full sense of the term.
The Occupation of Public Space through Religious and Political Events: How Senegalese Migrants Became a Part of Harlem, New York
Authors: Salzbrunn Monika
Published: November 2004

During the last twenty years, Senegalese migration has shifted from West African cities to France, from France to its European neighbour countries and finally towards the United States of America. Whereas the secular French state discourages religious display, especially within public space, the more community-oriented USA is far from opposed to religious expression in the public sphere. In this article, I analyze how Senegalese migrants who have grown up in secular states (Senegal and/or France) use American public space to demonstrate their political and religious identity through the organization of special events. Even though the migrants, notably the political and religious activists, take into consideration the cultural and political differences between their different places of residence, they follow continuous strategies across their translocal spaces. Special events like the Murid Parade in July or the Senegalese presidential election campaign in spring 2000 provide rich empirical data for the analysis of the complex interaction between Senegalese inside and outside their country, their translocal networks and their connections to the local situation in New York City. The latter includes the different inhabitants of Harlem and the local geographical setting, the representatives of the state and the politics of migration, as well as the Mayor and his political program. The recently opened House of Islam, founded by members of the Murid Sufi order in Harlem, shows how deeply the Senegalese in the US are already rooted. However, the annual religious event organized by the Murids is only one demonstration of identity politics. In order to illustrate the diversity of the community, I show how the events organized during the Senegalese presidential election campaign in 2000 in New York City take into consideration the complexity of the religious, political and economic identities of the American Senegalese.
Assessing ENSO Simulations and Predictions Using Adjoint Ocean State Estimation
Authors: Dommenget Dietmar , Stammer Detlef
Published: November 2004

Simulations and seasonal forecasts of tropical Pacific SST and subsurface fields that are based on the global Consortium for Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) ocean-state estimation procedure are investigated. As compared to similar results from a traditional ENSO simulation and forecast procedure, the hindcast of the constrained ocean state is significantly closer to observed surface and subsurface conditions. The skill of the 12-month lead SST forecast in the equatorial Pacific is comparable in both approaches. The optimization appears to have better skill in the SST anomaly correlations, suggesting that the initial ocean conditions and forcing corrections calculated by the ocean-state estimation do have a positive impact on the predictive skill. However, the optimized forecast skill is currently limited by the low quality of the statistical atmosphere. Progress is expected from optimizing a coupled model over a longer time interval with the coupling statistics being part of the control vector.
The Formation of Concentric Vorticity Structures in Typhoons
Authors: Kuo H-C. , Lin L-Y. , Chang C-P. , Williams R. T.
Published: November 2004

An important issue in the formation of concentric eyewalls in a tropical cyclone is the development of a symmetric structure from asymmetric convection. It is proposed herein, with the aid of a nondivergent barotropic model, that concentric vorticity structures result from the interaction between a small and strong inner vortex (the tropical cyclone core) and neighboring weak vortices (the vorticity induced by the moist convection outside the central vortex of a tropical cyclone). The results highlight the pivotal role of the vorticity strength of the inner core vortex in maintaining itself, and in stretching, organizing, and stabilizing the outer vorticity field. Specifically, the core vortex induces a differential rotation across the large and weak vortex to strain out the latter into a vorticity band surrounding the former. The straining out of a large, weak vortex into a concentric vorticity band can also result in the contraction of the outer tangential wind maximum. The stability of the outer band is related to the Fjørtoft sufficient condition for stability because the strong inner vortex can cause the wind at the inner edge to be stronger than the outer edge, which allows the vorticity band and therefore the concentric structure to be sustained. Moreover, the inner vortex must possess high vorticity not only to be maintained against any deformation field induced by the outer vortices but also to maintain a smaller enstrophy cascade and to resist the merger process into a monopole. The negative vorticity anomaly in the moat serves as a “shield” or a barrier to the farther inward mixing the outer vorticity field. The binary vortex experiments described in this paper suggest that the formation of a concentric vorticity structure requires 1) a very strong core vortex with a vorticity at least 6 times stronger than the neighboring vortices, 2) a large neighboring vorticity area that is larger than the core vortex, and 3) a separation distance between the neighboring vorticity field and the core vortex that is within 3 to 4 times the core vortex radius.
Quantifying Asymmetric Wave Breaking and Two-Way Transport
Authors: Nakamura Noboru
Published: November 2004

Effective diffusivity calculated from a scalar field that obeys the advection–diffusion equation has proved useful for estimating the permeability of unsteady boundaries of air masses such as the edge of the stratospheric polar vortex and the extratropical tropopause. However, the method does not discriminate the direction of transport—whereas some material crosses the boundary from one side to the other, some material does so in the other direction—yet the extant method concerns only the net transport.

In this paper, the diagnostic is extended to allow partitioning of fluxes of mass and tracer into opposing directions. This is accomplished by discriminating the regions of “inward” and “outward” wave breaking with the local curvature of the tracer field. The utility of the new method is demonstrated for nonlinear Kelvin– Helmholtz instability and Rossby wave breaking in the stratosphere using a numerically generated tracer. The method successfully quantifies two-way transport and hence the direction of wave breaking—the predominantly equatorward breaking of Rossby waves in the extratropical middle stratosphere, for example. Isolated episodes of mixing are identified well, particularly by the mass flux that primarily arises from the tracer filaments.

Comparison of different transport schemes suggests that the results are reasonably robust under a varying subgrid representation of the model.
Coordination of a Water Molecule to a Square-pyramidal N2S3-type Co(III) Complex Directed to an Active Site of Nitrile Hydratase
Authors: Ozawa Tomohiro , Ikeda Tomohiro , Yano Takuma , Arii Hidekazu , Yamaguchi Syuhei , Funahashi Yasuhiro , Jitsukawa Koichiro , Masuda Hideki
Published: November 2004

A novel distorted square-pyramidal N2S3-type Co(III) complex with a vacant site was synthesized as an active center model of nitrile hydratases (NHases) and characterized by UV–vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic and X-ray analyses. The electronic absorption spectra were characteristic of a five-coordinate structure in organic solvents such as acetonitrile, while the complex in an aqueous solution gave different spectrum characteristic of a six-coordinate octahedron. These results suggest that the coordination of a water molecule is a key for the hydration of nitrile compound in the NHases.
Additional RNA–Protein Interactions Facilitate in vitro Selection by Ribosome Display
Authors: Inoue Atsushi , Sawata Shinya Y , Fujita Satoshi , Taira Kazunari
Published: November 2004

By introducing specific RNA–protein interaction into ribosome display method, further stabilization of RNA–ribosome–protein complex was achieved. The amount of mRNA of interest recovered after one round of selection correlates with the strength of RNA–protein interaction. This noncovalent but strong interaction should provide a simple and effective strategy for selections of functional proteins from large libraries.
Reductive Adsorption of Gold(III) by Crosslinked Lignophenol
Authors: Parajuli Durga , Inoue Katsutoshi , Kuriyama Masayuki , Funaoka Masamitsu , Makino Kenjiro
Published: November 2004

The adsorption behavior of a crosslinked lignophenol gel for various metal ions from chloride medium was investigated. The gel was found to be only effective for the adsorption of Au(III) from weak to strong acidic medium. The analysis of XRD-spectrum and SEM-images of the adsorbent after adsorption revealed the formation of elemental gold by the reduction of the Au(III) ion. Such a result is promising for the development of a recovery system for gold from various industrial wastes.
Heterosexual men and women with HIV test positive at a later stage of infection than homo- or bisexual men
Authors: Manavi K , McMillan A , Ogilvie M , Scott G
Published: November 2004

The current strategy of offering HIV testing to individuals with known risk has had no impact on the reduction in the number of patients diagnosed with immune suppression of infection. A prospective observational study to compare the baseline CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV-infected homosexual/bisexual men, intravenous drug users, heterosexual men and women diagnosed in GUM/RIDU and that of patients diagnosed during routine maternal screening for HIV between December 1999 and January 2003 was carried out at the Departments of Genitourinary Medicine (GUM), Regional Infectious Disease Unit (RIDU) and Obstetrics in Edinburgh.

Late presentation was defined as positive HIV test with baseline CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200 cells/mL.

During the study period, 189 patients tested in GUM/RIDU setting and 13 screened women were diagnosed with HIV infection. Thirty-four percent of the former and 38% of the latter group had CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200 cells/mL by the time of diagnosis. Heterosexual individuals contributed to 78% of HIV tests in the GUM/RIDU setting. Amongst the 78 HIV-infected heterosexual individuals diagnosed in GUM/RIDU 45% were late presenters. Significantly fewer homosexual men were late presenters. There was no difference between the proportion of late presenters amongst women screened at the antenatal (5/13) compared to heterosexual patients diagnosed in GUM/RIDU (35/78). A significant number of HIV infected heterosexual patients are late presenters in the HIV testing at GUM/RIDU. HIV screening programmes for heterosexual individuals in any medical encounter may reduce the number of late presenters.
Fast Cation Conduction and Anion Rotational Disorder in the High-Temperature Phase of Lithium Sodium Sulfate
Authors: Wilmer Dirk , Feldmann Harald , Lechner Ruep E.
Published: November 2004

Quasielastic neutron scattering and high-frequency (10 MHz to 60 GHz) conductivity measurements have been performed on the high-temperature phase of LiNaSO4, a typical representative of a group of simple inorganic salts exhibiting both fast-cation conduction and anion rotational disorder.

The quasielastic neutron spectra are composed of two Lorentzian contributions which are consistently attributed to cation diffusion and anion rotational motion. The narrower component is dominated by incoherent sodium scattering; it shows the characteristics of jump diffusion with a jump distance of 3.8 Å and residence times between 14 ps and 22 ps.

The broader quasielastic component reflects the anion dynamics with typical reorientation times of 2 ps. The reduced Q-dependent intensities are in good agreement with the model of isotropic diffusion. The quasielastic intensity in the low Q regime (Q < 1 Å−1) indicates the involvement of cations in the reorientational motion of the translationally fixed anions.

Analysis of the conductivity data in terms of diffusivities points to an unusual cation conduction mechanism: the Haven ratio, H
R = D
*/D
σ, turns out to be considerably larger than one. This behavior, rarely observed in a typical fast ion conductor, can be traced back to a charge correlation factor which is clearly smaller than unity, indicating that charge transport is less effective than tracer transport in this material.
Olive Mill Wastewater Treatment by a Pilot‐Scale Subsurface Horizontal Flow (SSF‐h) Constructed Wetland
Authors: del Bubba Massimo , Checchini Leonardo , Pifferi Chiara , Zanieri Laura , Lepri Luciano
Published: November 2004

Performances of a pilot‐scale reed bed for the olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment were investigated, by monitoring influent and effluent pH, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus and polyphenols. In order to reduce the suspended matter concentration and to avoid clogging, OMW was pre‐treated by adding lime putty, calcium hydroxide and hydraulic lime. The best results were obtained with 2 g/L of hydraulic lime. Pre‐treated OMW was dosed in the reed bed at dilution ratios of 1/3 and 1/10 (v/v), pointing up that the latter only did not give rise to reed suffering and allowed to obtain good and durable removal efficiencies, above all for COD (74.1±17.6 %) and polyphenols (83.4±17.8 %). Recycling of the effluent was quite effective for the improvement of the wastewater quality, allowing a further removal of 26‐70 %, depending on the parameter taken into account. A post‐dosage study, carried out by feeding the reed bed with the effluent of an activated sludge plant, pointed up a rapid decreasing of the outlet concentrations of the investigated parameters to values compatible with Italian regulations concerning wastewater discharge in surface water. Polyphenols were the exception, being their outlet concentration at the end of post‐dosage study around 2 mg/L.
Kinetics of the OH Initiated Oxidation of Nitrogen Monoxide
Authors: Di Loreto Giovanni , d'Ottone Luca
Published: November 2004

The kinetics of the recombination reaction, OH+NO+(M) → Products have been investigated by the Pulsed Laser Photolysis‐Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLP‐LIF) technique in nitrogen and helium buffer gases at room temperature and as a function of pressure (30‐900 Torr). Our values for the absolute rate coefficient in nitrogen at room temperature are in excellent agreement with the JPL 2003 and with the current IUPAC 2003 recommendations. With the exception of a very old study by Overend, our rate constants in helium are the only ones to cover the range of pressures between 30 and 900 Torr.
Application of HS‐SPME and GC‐MS to Characterization of Volatile Compounds Emitted from Osmanthus Flowers
Authors: Deng Chunhui , Song Guoxin , Hu Yaoming
Published: November 2004

Headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) combined with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was developed for characterization of volatile compounds emitted from two varieties Osmanthus flowers of O. fragrans var. latifolius and O. fragrans var. thunbergii. The SPME parameters were studied, the optimum conditions of a 65 μm carbowax/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB), extraction temperature of 22 °C and extraction time of 10min were obtained and applied to extraction of the volatile emissions. Fourteen compounds released from both varieties of Osmanthus flowers were separated and identified by GC‐MS, which mainly included α‐linalool, β‐linalool, trans‐linalool oxide, cis‐linalool oxide, α‐lonone, β‐lonone, capraldehyde and decalactone. By comparing their peak areas, we found that the sums of the fourteen compounds from the two Osmanthus flowers were very close, while the relative contents of individual volatile compounds in the two emissions were very different. The relative content of α‐linalool and β‐linalool in O. fragrans var. latifolius were 39.46 % and 0.51 %, while in O. fragrans var. thunbergii were 9.53 % and 27.71 %. Due to their different relative contents, the two varieties of flower have different fragrances.
Extraction and Transport of Chromium(VI) Through a Bulk Liquid Membrane Containing Triphenylphosphine
Authors: Sahmoune Amar , Mitiche Lynda
Published: November 2004

The solvent extraction of chromium(VI) in chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethane and its transport through a chloroformic bulk liquid membrane from sulphuric acid solutions with the neutral extractant triphenylphosphine (TPP) were studied. It was highlighted that the TPP extractant is an interesting complexing and efficient carrier for transport of chromium(VI) as [(HTPP)HCr2O7] complex from a 2M sulphuric acid solutions. It has a high ability to concentrate the chromium(VI) in the receiving phase according to the Donnan equilibrium. The co‐extraction and the co‐transport of sulphuric acid is very low and has no effect on the transport efficiency. The transport rate depends mainly on the initial concentration of the extractant.
Chromatographic Behaviors of Proteins on Cation‐Exchange Column
Authors: Li Rong , Chen Guo‐Liang , Zhao Wen‐Ming
Published: November 2004

A weak cation‐exchanger (XIDACE‐WCX) has been synthesized by the indirect method. The chromatographic characteristics of the synthesized packing was studied in detail. The standard protein mixture and lysozyme from egg white were separated with the prepared chromatographic column. The chromatographic thermodynamics of proteins was studied in a wide temperature range. Thermodynamic parameters standard enthalpy change (ΔH0)and standard entropy change (ΔS0) and compensation temperature (β�) at protein denaturation were determined in the chromatographic system. By using obtained ΔS0, the conformational change of proteins was judged in the chromatographic process. The linear relationship between ΔH0 and ΔS0 can be used to identify the identity of the protein retention mechanism in the weak cation‐exchange chromatography. The interaction between weak cation‐exchanger and metal ions was investigated. Several metal chelate columns were prepared. The effects of introducing metal ion into the naked column on protein retention and the retention mechanism of proteins in the metal chalet affinity chromatography were discussed.
Heavy Metals in Petroleum‐Contaminated Surface Soils in Serbia
Authors: Grujić Svetlana , Ristić Mirjana , Laušević Mila
Published: November 2004

Investigation of heavy metal contamination levels as well as their association types with substrates in petroleum‐contaminated surface soil was carried out using modified sequential extraction method. In that way, remobilization capacity of metal cations, both in natural conditions and in accidents, has been studied. Moreover, partitioning of heavy metals, originating from spilt oil derivative, among surface soil substrates was estimated. Extreme contamination with lead was discovered, as well as the increased concentrations of zinc and copper. Oil‐derived Pb and Zn were found to be distributed between carbonates and amorphous Feoxides, whereas Cu was found to be dominantly associated with amorphous Feoxides. Appreciable amounts of these metals were also found to be incorporated into more resistant structures. In petroleum‐contaminated surface soil, substrates of cadmium are carbonates, whereas nickel has the great affinity toward hydrous Mnoxides. Cd is proven to be the most mobile metal in oil‐contaminated surface soil.
Postmarketing surveillance for drug safety in pregnancy: The Organization of Teratology Information Services Project
Authors: Felix Robert J. , Jones Kenneth Lyons , Johnson Kathleen A. , McCloskey Carolyn A. , Chambers Christina D. ,   for the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS) Collaborative Research Group
Published: November 2004

BACKGROUND

Although medications are frequently used during pregnancy, premarketing studies exclude pregnant women, with the result that maternal and fetal risks of medications are largely unknown prior to marketing.

METHODS

To demonstrate the feasibility of using Teratology Information Services (TISs) to identify potential subjects who may participate in postmarketing surveillance studies regarding medications taken during pregnancy, maternal characteristics and pregnancy exposure data routinely collected from callers to member agencies of the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS) were pooled for two one‐month periods.

RESULTS

A total of 3536 calls inquiring about 7746 different agents were received from pregnant women. Of the 40 medications about which pregnant women most frequently asked, the top two were nonprescription acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, three were prescription drugs with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration pregnancy label category D designation, and five were prescription antidepressants.

CONCLUSIONS

TISs are well positioned to prospectively ascertain medication exposures in large numbers of pregnant women and may be an exceptional resource for conducting postmarketing surveillance for the safety of medications taken during pregnancy. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Descriptive epidemiology of lipomyelomeningocele, Hawaii, 1986–2001
Authors: Forrester Mathias B. , Merz Ruth D.
Published: November 2004

BACKGROUND

The epidemiology of neural tube defects (NTDs) may depend on the type of the defect and its location. There is little epidemiologic information on lipomyelomeningocele, a type of NTD. The objective of this investigation was to describe the epidemiology of lipomyelomeningocele.

METHODS

Cases were obtained from a Hawaii birth defect registry and consisted of all infants delivered during 1986–2001 with lipomyelomeningocele. Lipomyelomeningocele rates per 10,000 births were calculated for various factors.

RESULTS

A total of 17 cases of lipomyelomeningocele were identified, for a total rate of 0.57. When the lipomyelomeningocele rate was examined with respect to the time period of folic acid fortification of cereal grains in the United States, the rate was 0.57 during 1986–1996 (prefortification), 0.57 during 1997–1998 (voluntary fortification), and 0.58 during 1999–2001 (mandatory fortification). A total of 11 (64.7%) of the cases were female. Lipomyelomeningocele rates were higher among infants born to mothers in younger and older age groups. The rate was highest among Pacific Islanders, followed by Filipinos and Far East Asians, and lowest among whites. Rates were greater with lower birth weight and gestational age and among multiple births.

CONCLUSIONS

Lipomyelomeningocele rates were not found to be affected by folic acid fortification. The majority of cases were female. Other demographic and clinical factors appear to be associated with lipomyelomeningocele risk. None of the differences in rates between the various subgroups were statistically significant, and due to the small number of cases, the 95% confidence interval (CI) ranges were wide. However, the findings suggest possible patterns of occurrence. Additional studies involving larger numbers of cases are recommended. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenetics of antihypertensive treatment
Authors: Arnett Donna K. , Claas Steven A.
Published: November 2004

Hypertension is a common disorder associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, in the United States, only about one third of those who are aware of their hypertensive status successfully control their blood pressure. One reason for this is the variable and unpredictable response individuals have to pharmacologic treatment. Clinicians often resort to a trial‐and‐error approach to match patients with effective drug treatment. It is the goal of hypertension pharmacogenetics to apply knowledge of genetic predictors of treatment response to drugs that lower blood pressure and to translate this knowledge into clinical practice. To date, more than 30 studies have investigated associations between specific genetic polymorphisms and response to particular antihypertensive drugs. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors have been most frequently studied, followed by diuretics, beta‐blockers, angiotensin II blockers, adrenergic alpha‐agonists, and calcium channel blockers. Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system genes have been the most widely studied, with the angiotensin‐converting enzyme I/D variant being typed in about one third of all hypertension pharmacogenetic studies to date. In a number of cases, significant and potentially promising associations between genes and drug treatments have been reported. However, taken in sum, the literature suggests that the path from gene‐drug‐outcome association studies to clinically useful knowledge may be neither short nor direct. In the future, carefully designed studies must acknowledge that hypertension is caused by multiple genes and environmental factors that act in concert. These considerations, along with a better understanding of the complexities of the biology of hypertension, open the next set of opportunities for hypertension pharmacogenetics research. Drug Dev. Res. 62:191–199, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenomic approaches in antidiabetic drug development
Authors: Rosmond Roland
Published: November 2004

Sequencing the human genome has provided new insights that will enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying diabetes. However, completion of the human genome sequence is just the beginning. The current challenge is to generate a comprehensive understanding of the software and the hardware of the cell and the organism. Less than 2% of the noninfectious human disease burden is monogenic in nature. The rest is polygenic or is caused by nongenetic or postgenetic alterations in cellular molecules. Consequently, elucidating pathological mechanisms and full penetration of the causal mechanisms driving diabetes progression will require analysis tools ranging from direct DNA sequencing, mRNA expression monitoring, protein sequencing, protein localization studies, and finally to metabolic or physiologic profiling. In addition, studying the influence of genetic differences on the variability in patients' response to antidiabetic drugs holds the promise that drugs might one day be tailor‐made for individuals and adapted to each person's own genetic makeup. Environment, diet, age, lifestyle, and state of health all influences an individual's response to medicines, but the study of pharmacogenomics will offer a more comprehensive understanding of drug responses, aiding the development of antidiabetic drugs with greater efficacy and safety. Drug Dev. Res. 62:207–212, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenomics of antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Haas David W.
Published: November 2004

Effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection requires long‐term administration of multiple antiretroviral drugs. This has markedly reduced morbidity and mortality due to AIDS, but drug toxicities often limit the success of treatment. Using candidate gene approaches, pharmacogenomic studies have begun to identify associations between host allelic variants and increased risk of adverse reactions to antiretroviral medications. Of note are associations between abacavir hypersensitivity reactions and specific HLA and hsp70‐hom genotypes, and between CYP2B6 polymorphisms, efavirenz pharmacokinetics, and central nervous system side effects. Pharmacogenomics also has the long‐term potential to reveal new drug targets. The observation that a naturally occurring, nonfunctional deletion mutant of the HIV receptor gene CCR5 protected against HIV infection and slowed disease progression encouraged the development of drugs that target CCR5. Pharmacogenomics promises to improve the lives of persons living with HIV by identifying new therapeutic targets and by fostering rational drug prescribing that optimizes efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Drug Dev. Res. 62:213–220, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The homocysteine pathway: A new target for Alzheimer disease treatment?
Authors: Lao José I. , Beyer Katrin , Ariza Aurelio
Published: November 2004

One of the known risk factors for developing Alzheimer disease (AD) is hyperhomocysteinemia. The latter may result from mutations of the genes coding for three key enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR], methionine synthase [MS], and cystathionine beta‐synthase [CBS]). Polymorphisms within the three genes have been shown to be positively associated with AD in some populations. Whereas MS and MTHFR polymorphisms have been described as AD risk factors independently on age at onset of the disease, two of the CBS polymorphisms were found to depend on age at onset of AD. The division of AD patients and controls into age‐at‐onset/age dependent subgroups (<65 years, 65–74 years, ≥75 years) revealed that the 844ins68 mutation and variable number of tandem repeats allele 19 are independent risk factors for AD development in subjects aged 75 years or more. Although homocysteine levels can be regulated by dietary intake of folic acid, B vitamins, and other components, the genotype‐dependent design of strategies for the maintenance of adequate homocysteine levels could be helpful for AD treatment. In addition to each specific genotype, age and age at onset of AD are important factors for specific regulation of the homocysteine metabolism. One of the molecules to take into account in the case of AD is choline, which serves as methyl‐group donor when MS activity is impaired. Drug Dev. Res. 62:221–230, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recent advances in pharmacogenetic approaches to anticancer drug development
Authors: Smith Nicola F. , Figg William D. , Sparreboom Alex
Published: November 2004

A great deal of effort has been spent in defining the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of investigational and registered anticancer agents. There is often a marked variability in drug handling between individual patients, which contributes to variability in the pharmacodynamic effects of a given dose of a drug. A combination of physiological variables, genetic characteristics (pharmacogenetics), and environmental factors are known to alter the relationship between the absolute dose and the concentration–time profile in plasma. A variety of strategies is now being evaluated in patients with cancer to improve the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs, by implementation of pharmacogenetic imprinting through genotyping or phenotyping individual patients. The efforts have mainly focused on variants in genes encoding the drug‐metabolizing enzymes thiopurine S‐methyltransferase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, members of the cytochrome P450 family, including the CYP2B, 2C, 2D, and 3A subfamilies, members of the UGT family, as well as the ATP‐binding cassette transporters ABCB1 (P‐glycoprotein) and ABCG2 (breast‐cancer resistance protein). Several of these genotyping strategies have been shown to have substantial impact on therapeutic outcome and should eventually lead to improved anticancer chemotherapy. Drug Dev. Res. 62:233–253, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Advances in the genomics of allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Mullighan Charles G. , Bardy Peter G.
Published: November 2004

Allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation is curative for many patients with haematologic disorders. Despite advances in supportive care, complications such as graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) and infection remain important causes of morbidity and mortality after transplantation. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching of donors and recipients is important but does not avoid these complications. Recent studies have shown that non‐HLA genetic polymorphisms influence the risk of complications after transplant. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding mediators and targets of GVHD, such as cytokines, adhesion molecules, and minor histocompatibility antigens, are associated with GVHD risk and severity. Particularly in HLA‐mismatched transplants, matching of donors and recipients for natural killer cell receptors and ligands may influence disease relapse and survival. Polymorphisms in drug‐metabolizing enzymes influence toxicities of immunosuppressive drugs used in transplant protocols. Finally, polymorphisms in mediators of host defence such as mannose‐binding lectin, myeloperoxidase, and immunoglobulin receptors influence host immune reconstitution and infection risk after transplant. This novel genetic information offers the opportunity to better predict the risk of complications, to offer intensified immunosuppression to those at highest risk of GVHD, and to intervene with novel therapies. Drug Dev. Res. 62:273–292, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacogenomic approaches to therapies in rheumatic diseases
Authors: Ranganathan Prabha , Eisen Seth
Published: November 2004

Pharmacogenomics, the study of genetic variations in drug‐metabolizing enzymes and their translation to drug effects, is a rapidly evolving field. At the present time, clinicians choose drugs for patients with rheumatologic diseases based on data from population studies and at times, empirically. The application of pharmacogenomics to drugs used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, particularly the new expensive agents, holds great promise for optimizing their use in clinical practice. In this article, we highlight some of the published literature on the pharmacogenetics of the common disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and the emerging data on the new biologic therapies. As evident from the contents of this review, this is an exciting field which is progressing productively and rapidly. Pharmacogenomic approaches are clearly the basis of the “individualized” therapies of the future. Drug Dev. Res. 62:161–171, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aus der Arbeit der Sachverständigenausschüsse: SVA “Beschichtungen und Kunststoffbahnen”
Authors: Mittelstädt Mathis‐C. , Ipawitz Brigitte
Published: November 2004

Bericht über wesentliche Änderungen im Zulassungsverfahren für Kunststoffbahnen, Beschichtungssysteme , Beschichtungsstoffe und Innenbeschichtungen in Anlagen zum Lagern, Abfüllen und Umschlagen wassergefährdender Stoffe
Application of genetic algorithms for process integration and optimization considering environmental factors
Authors: Gao Ying , Shi Lei , Yao Pingjing
Published: November 2004

A systematic methodology for pollution prevention based on process integration is presented in this report. In this methodology, process simulation was carried out to provide mass and energy information of the chemical process. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to replace rigorous process simulation in the optimization process to improve computational efficiency. Multiobjective optimization was performed to obtain coordinate optimization of process performance for both economics and environmental aspects. A multiobjective genetic algorithm was used to solve the multiobjective optimization problems. Mass and energy use were considered simultaneously in this program. A case study of a wastewater recovery system in ammonia production process is discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of this pollution prevention methodology. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
Use of life‐cycle inventory as a screening tool for environmental performance: Supercritical carbon dioxide in the semiconductor industry
Authors: Blowers Paul , Titus Monica
Published: November 2004

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is attractive as a green solvent because it has environmental benefits and attractive physical properties for many applications. In addition, removal of supercritical conditions after use can allow perfect separation and recycle of the solvent. In this work, we investigate using scCO2 as a rinsing agent to replace ultrapure water in semiconductor manufacturing. By conducting a gate‐to‐gate life‐cycle inventory (LCI) of scCO2 usage, we begin to evaluate the overall environmental impact the process may incur. After conducting the LCI of a particular scCO2 rinsing process we find the process requires 1 kg of new CO2 and 0.27 kg of new propylene carbonate per wafer cleaning cycle because of the need for start‐up, purging, and separation processes. The total pumping requirements are 88 kJ/cycle, whereas cooling requirements are 249 kJ/cycle and require cooling to 10° C. Heating requirements are 616 kJ/cycle and require reaching temperatures of 65° C for cleaning or 25.5° C for separations. Refrigeration cycle requirements add an additional 298 kJ/cycle to the energy requirements so the total energy inputs to the process, including the refrigeration, are 1002 kJ/cycle. These material and energy needs are much lower than the requirements of the ultrapure water technologies currently in use for wafer rinsing. Companies now have baseline data to evaluate whether this new technology will be suitable for their needs. Finally, throughout any LCI, there are many key assumptions and barriers to obtaining high quality data, which the chemical and environmental engineering communities should begin addressing as more life‐cycle inventories and assessments are completed. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
Evaluating chemical‐, mechanical‐, and bio‐pulping processes and their sustainability characterization using life‐cycle assessment
Authors: Das Tapas K. , Houtman Carl
Published: November 2004

Pulp and paper manufacturing constitutes one of the largest industry segments in the United States in term of water and energy usage and total discharges to the environment. More than many other industries, however, this industry plays an important role in sustainable development because its chief raw material—wood fiber—is renewable. This industry provides an example of how a resource can be managed to provide a sustained supply to meet society's current and future needs. The objective of this work is to present streamlined environmental life‐cycle assessments (LCA) between chemical (kraft–sulfate), mechanical (or thermomechanical), and biopulping processes. This LCA would help us to evaluate the industry's current experience and practices in terms of environmental stewardship, regulatory and nonregulatory forces, life cycles of its processes and products, and future developments.

The pulping industry has been traditionally using mechanical or chemical pulping methods, or a combination of the two, to produce pulps of desired characteristics. Mechanical pulping accounts for about 25% of the wood pulp production in the world today. Mechanical pulping, with its high yield, is viewed as a way to extend the forest resources. However, mechanical pulping is electrical energy–intensive and yields paper with less strength compared to that produced by the chemical pulping process. These disadvantages limit the use of mechanical pulps in many grades of paper. Chemical pulping accounts for about 75% of the wood pulp production in the world. This process produces paper with very high strength. However, the process has the disadvantages of being capital‐ and energy‐intensive, giving relatively low yields, producing troublesome waste products, and producing by‐products that are of relatively low values. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
An infrastructure‐less peer‐to‐peer framework for mobile handheld devices
Authors: Bisignano Mario , Di Modica Giuseppe , Tomarchio Orazio
Published: November 2004

Mobile handheld devices are becoming more and more widely common among users. Their increasing computing and storage capabilities together with the widespreading of new wireless communication technologies, enable these devices for new and useful applications. The peer‐to‐peer (P2P) paradigm, which has recently experienced a wide diffusion among internet users, seems to be very well suited to effectively support mobile applications. However, several questions arise when trying to develop such systems: existing solutions do not address all the requirements of these mobile environments. In this paper, we present a framework to develop mobile applications that exploits the P2P paradigm: it is designed to work on Java micro edition (J2ME) enabled mobile devices, interacting each other in an ad hoc fashion. One of the key features is to be interoperable with JXTA, a well‐known P2P open platform, by extending the advantages of P2P computing to mobile computing environments. A simple but effective example of application is also provided showing the viability of the designed framework. Copyright © 2004 AEI
Validity and extension of the SCS‐CN method for computing infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates
Authors: Mishra Surendra Kumar , Singh Vijay P.
Published: November 2004

A criterion is developed for determining the validity of the Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS‐CN) method. According to this criterion, the existing SCS‐CN method is found to be applicable when the potential maximum retention, S, is less than or equal to twice the total rainfall amount. The criterion is tested using published data of two watersheds. Separating the steady infiltration from capillary infiltration, the method is extended for predicting infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates. The extended SCS‐CN method is tested using 55 sets of laboratory infiltration data on soils varying from Plainfield sand to Yolo light clay, and the computed and observed infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates are found to be in good agreement. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robert E. Horton's perceptual model of infiltration processes
Authors: Beven Keith
Published: November 2004

Robert E. Horton is best known as the originator of the infiltration excess overland flow concept for storm hydrograph analysis and prediction, which, in conjunction with the unit hydrograph concept, provided the foundation for engineering hydrology for several decades. Although these concepts, at least in their simplest form, have been largely superseded, a study of Horton's archived scientific papers reveals that his perceptual model of infiltration processes and appreciation of scale problems in modelling were far more sophisticated and complete than normally presented in hydrological texts. His understanding of surface controls on infiltration remain relevant today. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The interaction between corporate rescue and labour legislation: lessons to be drawn from the South African experience
Authors: Loubser Anneli
Published: November 2004

One of the main advantages of a successful corporate rescue is that it prevents or at least limits the job losses caused by a business failure. For this reason, labour legislation which is designed to protect the employees of a company in the event of its winding‐up, should take cognisance of the effects such legislation may have on any rescue attempts. As the recent experience in South Africa has shown, ignoring corporate rescue in legislation dealing with labour law in the context of the winding‐up of a company may have the unintended effect of seriously hampering any corporate rescue attempt. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coordinated expression of myosin heavy chains, metabolic enzymes, and morphological features of porcine skeletal muscle fiber types
Authors: Quiroz‐Rothe Eugenio , Rivero José‐Luis L.
Published: November 2004

Combined methodologies of electrophoresis, immunoblots, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry, and photometric image analysis were applied to characterize porcine skeletal muscle fibers according to their myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition, and to determine on a fiber‐to‐fiber basis the correlation between contractile [MyHC (s), myofibrillar ATPase (mATPase), and sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA) isoforms], metabolic [succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activities, glycogen, and phospholamban (PLB) contents], and morphological [cross‐sectional area (CSA), capillary, and nuclear densities] features of individual myofibers. An accurate delineation of MyHC‐based fiber types was obtained with the immunohistochemical method developed. This protocol showed a high sensitivity and objectivity to delineate hybrid fibers with overwhelming dominance of one MyHC isoform. The phenotypic differences in contractile, metabolic, and morphological properties seen between fiber types were related with MyHC content. Slow fibers had the lowest mATPase activity (related to shortening velocity), the highest SDH activity (oxidative capacity), the lowest GPDH activity (glycolytic metabolism), and glycogen content, the smallest CSA, the greatest capillary, and nuclear densities, and expressed slow SERCA isoform and PLB, but not the fast SERCA isoform. The reverse pattern was true for pure IIB fibers, whereas type IIA and IIX fibers had intermediate properties. Hybrid fibers had mean values intermediate in‐between their respective pure phenotypes. Discrimination of myofibers according to their MyHC content was possible on the basis of their contractile and non‐contractile profiles. These intrafiber interrelationships suggest that myofibers of control pigs exhibit a high degree of co‐ordination in their physiological, biochemical, and anatomical features. This study may well be a useful baseline for future work on the pig meat industry and also offers new prospects for muscle fiber typing in porcine experimental studies. Microsc. Res. Tech. 65:43–61, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrastructure of in situ perfusion‐fixed avian liver, with special reference to structure of the sinusoids
Authors: Ghoddusi Majid , Kelly W. Roger
Published: November 2004

Broiler chicken and laying hen livers were fixed using a simple technique of in situ puncture perfusion of cacodylate‐buffered fixative, which allowed characterisation of the fine structure of hepatic parenchyma, hepatocytes, bile ductules, and, in particular, the sinusoidal cells including endothelial, Kupffer, and Ito cells. Sinusoidal endothelial cells with their bulging perinuclear cytoplasm, evident in both transmission and scanning electron micrographs, were easily distinguishable from Kupffer cells, which possessed numerous pseudopodia. Bile ductular epithelium and hepatocytes of the laying hens contained large amounts of lipid. The ultrastructural characteristics of intercalated cells (putative extra‐sinusoidal macrophages of chicken liver) are described and their possible role as precursors of Kupffer cells is discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 65:101–111, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.