bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On-Line Analyses of Molten Polymers by near Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics—Development of the Flow Cell and Realisation of the Long-Term Repeatability and Continuity
Authors: Watari Masahiro , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: July 2008

An on-line monitoring system using Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy was introduced and applied to molten poly-olefin polymers. Molten polymers are a kind of non-elastic fluid and their characteristics are ascribed mainly to their molecular weight and/or viscosity. From this standpoint, the cell for the molten polymer analysis, including probes with sapphire windows, heaters and thermocouples for temperature control, was developed. By using the developed cell, it was demonstrated that on-line monitoring of the density of linear low-density polyethylene could be done in a real plant over three months maintaining a good standard error of performance. The reproducibility before and after maintenance periods was also evaluated. The results, using the same sample, showed that the predicted values are the same between the maintenance periods. It can be estimated that the reproducibility of the system, including the flow cell, was sufficient for the application. For the realisation of the practical calibration, keeping reliability and traceability during long term in a real plant, the changes in the performance of the on-line system before and after maintenance caused by the relocation and/or the change of parts were investigated. A method for calibration correction considering wave-number shift and path-length correction was proposed as the solution for the change in performance. The result of the evaluation, using the flow cell and polypropylene samples, showed that the proposed method was useful in spite of using only one sample. It is available as a practical calibration method for real industry, because real plants require a method of calibration correction using as few samples as possible from the view point of saving cost and labour.
Incorporating Chemical Band-Assignment in near Infrared Spectroscopy Regression Models
Authors: Westad Frank , Schmidt Angela , Kermit Martin
Published: July 2008

In this paper, we present an approach for incorporating chemical band assignment information in regression models between spectra and constituents. It is shown how the matrices in this L-shaped data structure can be combined and give direct information of the relationships between theoretical chemical band assignment, spectral wavelengths and the responses. The chosen application is NIR spectroscopic measurements of canola seeds. Variable selection based on partial least squares regression using jack-knifing within a cross-model validation (CMV) framework is applied for removing non-relevant spectral regions. Extended multiplicative scatter correction was applied as a spectral pre-treatment to remove physical scatter effects in the spectra. The results show a high degree of correspondence between the objectively found wavelength bands from CMV and the reported chemical interpretation found in the literature.
Comparison of Chemometric Techniques Applied to near Infrared Spectra for a Gasoline Blending Control
Authors: Martínez Emilio , Huertas Sonia , Ménez Héctor , Peña José Luís , Alcalde Ana
Published: July 2008

In order to fulfil specifications, avoid quality give-aways, improve process safety and save on costs, refineries need to have on-line methods for the control of their processes. On-line analysers allow product streams characteristic variables to be controlled, providing a great amount of data in almost real time.1 Currently, the spectroscopic analysers [near infrared (NIR), mid infrared, nuclear magnetic resonanc and ultraviolet] are the most widely used. These analysers allow the value of the property of interest to be inferred from the measurement of a spectrum. Due to the great quantity of variables that constitute a spectrum, mathematical tools are required to extract the information related to the properties of interest. Repsol YPF has developed, and is in process of implantating, several NIR systems in its different laboratories, pilot plants and industrial complexes, which include from gasoline or diesel blending systems control to some petrochemical product manufacture controls. In the development of these systems, different hardware and software have been compared. In this work, the results obtained with three different chemometric methods for predicting critical gasoline properties for blending control are analysed and compared—partial least squares, a topological method and artificial neural networks.
Use of a Portable near Infrared Spectrometer for the Authentication of Tablets and the Detection of Counterfeit Versions
Authors: O'Neil Andrew J. , Jee Roger D. , Lee Ged , Charvill Andrew , Moffat Anthony C.
Published: July 2008

Use of a portable near-infrared transmittance spectrometer (NIT-38, NIR Technology, Australia] was evaluated for the authentication of tablets. Operating in the third overtone region (720–1090 nm, 10 nm wavelength increment), the device was used to analyse tablets in transmission mode using a custom-made cell. Authentic tablets of two proprietary products were studied: cialis ( n = 14 tablets, from four batches); levitra ( n = nine tablets, from three batches). Counterfeit versions of these two products were also analysed: counterfeit cialis ( n = 22 tablets, from eight batches); counterfeit levitra ( n = 19 tablets, from several batches). Data were converted from transmittance to apparent absorbance and scatter corrected using standard normal variate (SNV) transform. Classification models were constructed for each product from principal component scores and used UNEQ for classification. The classification ability of each UNEQ model was verified using the scores of the other authentic and counterfeit tablets. An unsupervised learning method (Kohonen self-organising map (SOM)) was also studied to further assess the utility of transmission measurements in the third overtone region for identification. Compressed wafers of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and major excipients were prepared and analysed in transmission. These data and those of the analysed tablets were used to train the SOM. UNEQ classification models were able to correctly identify authentic tablets and differentiate them from counterfeits ( p < 0.05). The SOM showed close association of authentic tablets with their respective APIs and revealed the presence of several clusters in the counterfeit samples suggesting several sources of origin. Sufficient chemical information was therefore found to exist in the spectra to enable tablet authentication and cluster counterfeits to reveal their likely number of sources of origin.
Calibration Models for Multi-Component Quantitative Analyses of Dairy with the Use of Two Different Types of Portable near Infrared Spectrometer
Authors: Kalinin Andrey , Krivtsun Vladimir , Krasheninnikov Viktor , Sadovskiy Sergey , Denisovich Helen , Yurova Helen
Published: July 2008

Several partial least squares (PLS) calibration models were performed on spectra of standards of restored milk measured with two different types of near infrared spectrophotometers (800–1080 nm); the most reliable instrument was chosen using a self-made PLS program, ISCAP, the efficiency of which was evaluated with the Quant2 OPUS program. Then ISCAP was applied to develop and test a method of moisture prediction in milk powder based on diffuse reflection spectra received in a NIR spectrometer (1100–1700 nm) equipped with a remote fibre-optic probe The reference moisture was determined by thermo-gravimetric analysis.
Immunoreactive vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and vasopressin cells after a protein malnutrition diet in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat
Authors: Rojas-Castañeda J , Vigueras-Villaseñor R M , Rojas P , Rojas C , Cintra L
Published: July 2008

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of prenatal and postnatal protein deprivation on the morphology and density of vasopressin (VP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of young rats. Female Wistar rats were fed either 6% (malnourished group) or 25% (control group) casein diet five weeks before conception, during gestation and lactation. After weaning, the pups were maintained on the same diet until sacrificed at 30 days of age. The major and minor axes, somatic area and the density of VP- and VIP-immunoreactive neurons were evaluated in the middle sections of the SCN. The present study shows that chronic protein malnutrition (ChPM) in VP neurons induces a significant decrease in number of cells (–31%,) and a significant increase in major and minor axes and somatic area (+12.2%, +21.1% and +15.0%, respectively). The VIP cells showed a significant decrease in cellular density (–41.5%) and a significant increase in minor axis (+13.5%) and somatic area (+10.1%). Our findings suggest that ChPM induces abnormalities in the density and morphology of the soma of VP and VIP neurons. These alterations may be a morphological substrate underlying circadian alterations previously observed in malnourished rats.
Unilateral optical nerve hypoplasia in a Beagle dog
Authors: Negishi H , Hoshiya T , Tsuda Y , Doi K , Kanemaki N
Published: July 2008

Unilateral (left eye) optic nerve hypoplasia was detected in a six-month-old male Beagle dog. Vision testing indicated that the left eye had poor vision and testing the pupillary light reflex showed the left eye to have an absence of the afferent pathway of the reflex but it had a normal efferent pathway. Ophthalmoscopy revealed a small-sized optic disc, winding retinal artery and dilated retinal vasculature in the left globe. Electroretinography showed no abnormal findings even in the left globe. Histopathologically, the left optic nerve was markedly hypoplastic and was composed of sparse neural elements and a moderate amount of connective and glial tissues. In the retina of the left globe, the nerve fibre layer and the ganglion cell layer were reduced in thickness, although a small number of ganglion cells were still present. There were no abnormal findings detected in the right globe and the right optic nerve. The brain appeared normal macroscopically.
An appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of newborn and juvenile rat models for researching gastrointestinal development
Authors: Henare S J , Mellor D J , Lentle R G , Moughan P J
Published: July 2008

Research on the impact of bioactive compounds on the development and functional maturation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract using newborn and juvenile rats has greatly contributed to the knowledge of GI physiology and to the improved clinical management of both premature and full-term newborns. Of the animal models available, two types have been described for use with young rats – maintenance models and substitution models. Maintenance models are those in which the young are reared with the dam and therefore benefit from continuation of natural nutrition and maternal care. Substitution models are those in which the young are reared in the absence of the dam using artificially formulated milk delivered by various means into specific GI sites. In this review, we describe these models and their operation, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. Attention is also given to questions of scientific validity and some animal welfare issues raised by the use of these models.
The haemodynamic and catecholamine response to xenon/remifentanil anaesthesia in Beagle dogs
Authors: Francis Roland C E , Reyle-Hahn Matthias S , Höhne Claudia , Klein Adrian , Theruvath Ilka , Donaubauer Bernd , Busch Thilo , Boemke Willehad
Published: July 2008

The noble gas xenon seems to have minimal cardiovascular side-effects and so may be an ideal anaesthetic agent when investigating cardiovascular physiology. In comparison with standard modern anaesthetics, we investigated the haemodynamic and hormonal effects of xenon in Beagle dogs. After a 30 min baseline period, anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with either (1) 1.2% isoflurane/70% nitrous oxide (N2O), (2) 0.8% isoflurane/0.5 µg/kg/min remifentanil or (3) 63% xenon/0.5 µg/kg/min remifentanil ( n = 6 per group). Haemodynamics were recorded and blood samples taken before and 60 min after induction. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was higher in conscious dogs than during isoflurane/N2O (86 ± 2 vs. 65 ± 2 mmHg, mean ± SEM) and isoflurane/remifentanil anaesthesia (95 ± 2 vs. 67 ± 3 mmHg), whereas MAP did not decrease significantly in response to xenon/remifentanil anaesthesia (96 ± 4 vs. 85 ± 6 mmHg). Bradycardia was present during isoflurane/remifentanil (54 ± 2/min) and xenon/remifentanil (40 ± 3/min), but not during isoflurane/N2O anaesthesia (98 ± 3/min, P < 0.05). Xenon/remifentanil anaesthesia induced the highest reduction in cardiac output (CO) (–61%), and the highest increase in systemic vascular resistance (+120%) among all treatment groups ( P < 0.05). A simultaneous increase in endogenous adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations could only be observed in the xenon/remifentanil group, whereas angiotensin II and vasopressin concentrations increased in all groups. In conclusion, xenon/remifentanil anaesthesia maintains MAP but reduces heart rate and CO and is associated with a considerable stimulation of vasopressor hormones in Beagle dogs. Therefore, xenon/remifentanil exerts a new quality of adverse haemodynamic effects different from volatile anaesthetics and may not perform better during studies of cardiovascular physiology.
Oral instillation with surfactant phospholipid: a reliable alternative to intratracheal injection in mouse studies
Authors: Yu H , Buff S M , Baatz J E , Virella-Lowell I
Published: July 2008

The intratracheal (IT) injection technique has been widely used in the mouse studies of pulmonary diseases. Here, we describe a non-invasive technique using oral instillation challenge with the surfactant phospholipid that may advantageously replace the traditional IT technique. We performed comparative studies between oral instillation and IT injection of both vectors (adeno-associated virus, AAV vector) and bacteria ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Our results demonstrated that the oral instillation is a reliable alternative to IT injection. The administration of a fluorophore-labelled AAV vector demonstrated a similar pattern of distribution and quantity of vector delivered by oral instillation compared with IT injection. In addition, administration of AAV5-alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to the lungs by oral instillation resulted in similar levels of AAT in both the lung homogenates and sera compared with the IT injection group. In our study of P. aeruginosa delivery, oral instillation resulted in similar mouse weight loss, cytokine levels in the epithelial lining fluid [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, neutrophil chemokine and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α], lung histology/pathology and bacterial loads. Therefore, we conclude that oral instillation of materials mixed with surfactant phospholipid is an adequate and reproducible technique to replace the invasive IT injection procedure for the delivery of either vector or bacteria to the lungs. This procedure has the benefits of eliminating the discomfort, local inflammation and mortality associated with the more invasive IT surgical procedures.
Normative data of multifrequency tympanometry in rabbits
Authors: Stieve Martin , Hedrich Hans , Mojallal Hamidreza , Behrens Peter , Müller Peter , Lenarz Thomas
Published: July 2008

In an experimental study, we evaluated acoustic immittance in rabbits in order to use these data as normative values for further experimental investigations. This study is the first experimental evaluation of both conventional 226 Hz and multifrequency tympanometry (MFT) in rabbits. For the investigation, we used 33 female New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.2–4.4 kg and aged six months. Bilateral measurements using conventional 226 Hz and MFT were performed under general anaesthetic. A 226 Hz tympanogram was recorded for all animals by conducting an air pressure sweep from +200 to −400 daPa at a rate of 50 daPa/s. Subsequent tympanograms were recorded over a wide frequency range from 250 to 2000 Hz. The acoustic impedance device used in this study provided reproducible and evaluable tympanograms. The applied tone frequency of 226 Hz proved to be especially suitable for determining compliance. Normative data obtained from our study reveal the resonance frequency to be 1368 ± 205 standard deviation (SD) for the right side and 1413 ± 216 SD for the left side. The values for physiological acoustic immittance of the middle ear in the rabbit obtained here can serve as normative data in subsequent experimental animal studies.
Detection of Corynebacterium kutscheri in the faeces of subclinically infected mice
Authors: Amao H , Moriguchi N , Komukai Y , Kawasumi H , Takahashi K , Sawada T
Published: July 2008

Mice were infected experimentally and subclinically with Corynebacterium kutscheri to recover the organism from mice faeces. The faeces were then cultured using selective furazolidone-nalidixic acid-colimycin agar. The number of C. kutscheri per gram of fresh faeces varied from mouse to mouse, but once established in the intestine, the organism was excreted in the faeces for at least five months. Viable bacteria were detected in most of the faecal samples, including those stored in the animal room for five days. The number of organisms in the stored faeces decreased gradually but did not differ significantly from those in the fresh faeces until they had been stored for more than three days. Many infected mice excreted between 104.77 and 105.37 colony forming units (CFU) of C. kutscheri per day in their faeces, and one mouse even excreted 103.74 CFU at eight weeks postinfection. These values showed little daily variation. Our present study showed that subclinically infected mice discharged the organism continuously and persistently in their faeces. Therefore, faecal samples would be useful for monitoring infection with C. kutscheri in living mice in a manner that is not stressful for the animals.
Klebsiella oxytoca: opportunistic infections in laboratory rodents
Authors: Bleich Andre , Kirsch Petra , Sahly Hany , Fahey Jim , Smoczek Anna , Hedrich Hans-Jürgen , Sundberg John P
Published: July 2008

Opportunistic pathogens have become increasingly relevant as the causative agents of clinical disease and pathological lesions in laboratory animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of Klebsiella oxytoca as an opportunistic pathogen in laboratory rodents. Therefore, K. oxytoca-induced lesions were studied from 2004 to early 2006 in naturally infected rodent colonies maintained at The Jackson Laboratory (TJL), Bar Harbor, USA, the Animal Research Centre (Tierforschungszentrum, TFZ) of the University of Ulm, Germany and the Central Animal Facility (ZTM) of the Hannover Medical School, Germany. K. oxytoca infections were observed in substrains of C3H/HeJ mice, which carry the Tlr4Lps-d allele; in LEW.1AR1- iddm rats, the latter being prone to diabetes mellitus; in immunodeficient NMRI- Foxn1nu mice; and in mole voles, Ellobius lutescens. The main lesions observed were severe suppurative otitis media, urogenital tract infections and pneumonia. Bacteriological examination revealed K. oxytoca as monocultures in all cases. Clonality analysis performed on strains isolated at the ZTM and TFZ (serotyping, pulse field gel electrophoresis [PFGE], enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) polymerase chain reaction, sequencing of 16S rRNA and rpoB genes) revealed that the majority of bacteria belonged to two clones, one in each facility, expressing the capsule type K55 (ZTM) or K72 (TFZ). Two strains, one isolated at the ZTM and one at the TFZ, showed different PFGE and ERIC pattern than all other isolates and both expressed capsule type K35. In conclusion, K. oxytoca is an opportunistic pathogen capable of inducing pathological lesions in different rodent species.
Animal welfare and the refinement of neuroscience research methods – a case study of Huntington's disease models
Authors: Olsson I Anna S , Hansen Axel K , Sandøe Peter
Published: July 2008

The use of animals in biomedical and other research presents an ethical dilemma: we do not want to lose scientific benefits, nor do we want to cause laboratory animals to suffer. Scientists often refer to the potential human benefits of animal models to justify their use. However, even if this is accepted, it still needs to be argued that the same benefits could not have been achieved with a mitigated impact on animal welfare. Reducing the adverse effects of scientific protocols (‘refinement’) is therefore crucial in animal-based research. It is especially important that researchers share knowledge on how to avoid causing unnecessary suffering. We have previously demonstrated that even in studies in which animal use leads to spontaneous death, scientists often fail to report measures to minimize animal distress ( Olsson et al. 2007 ). In this paper, we present the full results of a case study examining reports, published in peer-reviewed journals between 2003 and 2004, of experiments employing animal models to study the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease. In 51 references, experiments in which animals were expected to develop motor deficits so severe that they would have difficulty eating and drinking normally were conducted, yet only three references were made to housing adaptation to facilitate food and water intake. Experiments including end-stages of the disease were reported in 14 papers, yet of these only six referred to the euthanasia of moribund animals. If the reference in scientific publications reflects the actual application of refinement, researchers do not follow the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) principle. While in some cases, it is clear that less-than-optimal techniques were used, we recognize that scientists may apply refinement without referring to it; however, if they do not include such information in publications, it suggests they find it less relevant. Journal publishing policy could play an important role: first, in ensuring that referees seriously consider whether submitted studies were indeed carried out with the smallest achievable negative impact on the animals and, secondly, in encouraging scientists to share refinements through the inclusion of a 3Rs section in papers publishing the results of animal-based research.
Revenue Management with Limited Demand Information
Authors: Lan Yingjie , Gao Huina , Ball Michael O. , Karaesmen Itir
Published: July 2008

In this paper, we consider the classical multifare, single-resource (leg) problem in revenue management for the case where demand information is limited. Our approach employs a competitive analysis, which guarantees a certain performance level under all possible demand scenarios. The only information required about the demand for each fare class is lower and upper bounds. We consider both competitive ratio and absolute regret performance criteria. For both performance criteria, we derive the best possible static policies, which employ booking limits that remain constant throughout the booking horizon. The optimal policies have the form of nested booking limits. Dynamic policies, which employ booking limits that may be adjusted at any time based on the history of bookings, are also obtained. We provide extensive computational experiments and compare our methods to existing ones. The results of the experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of these new robust methods.
Latent variable models for multivariate longitudinal ordinal responses
Authors: Cagnone Silvia , Moustaki Irini , Vasdekis Vassilis
Published: July 2008

The paper proposes a full information maximum likelihood estimation method for modelling multivariate longitudinal ordinal variables. Two latent variable models are proposed that account for dependencies among items within time and between time. One model fits item‐specific random effects which account for the between time points correlations and the second model uses a common factor. The relationships between the time‐dependent latent variables are modelled with a non‐stationary autoregressive model. The proposed models are fitted to a real data set.
Effects of psychological therapies in randomized trials and practice‐based studies
Authors: Barkham Michael , Stiles William B. , Connell Janice , Twigg Elspeth , Leach Chris , Lucock Mike , Mellor‐Clark John , Bower Peter , King Michael , Shapiro David A. , Hardy Gillian E. , Greenberg Leslie , Angus Lynne
Published: July 2008

Background

Randomized trials of the effects of psychological therapies seek internal validity via homogeneous samples and standardized treatment protocols. In contrast, practice‐based studies aim for clinical realism and external validity via heterogeneous samples of clients treated under routine practice conditions. We compared indices of treatment effects in these two types of studies.

Method

Using published transformation formulas, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores from five randomized trials of depression (N = 477 clients) were transformed into Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation‐Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) scores and compared with CORE‐OM data collected in four practice‐based studies (N = 4,196 clients). Conversely, the practice‐based studies' CORE‐OM scores were transformed into BDI scores and compared with randomized trial data.

Results

Randomized trials showed a modest advantage over practice‐based studies in amount of pre–post improvement. This difference was compressed or exaggerated depending on the direction of the transformation but averaged about 12%. There was a similarly sized advantage to randomized trials in rates of reliable and clinically significant improvement (RCSI). The largest difference was yielded by comparisons of effect sizes which suggested an advantage more than twice as large, reflecting narrower pre‐treatment distributions in the randomized trials.

Conclusions

Outcomes of completed treatments for depression in randomized trials appeared to be modestly greater than those in routine care settings. The size of the difference may be distorted depending on the method for calculating degree of change. Transforming BDI scores into CORE‐OM scores and vice versa may be a preferable alternative to effect sizes for comparisons of studies using these measures.
Sensitivity to speech rhythm explains individual differences in reading ability independently of phonological awareness
Authors: Holliman Andrew J. , Wood Clare , Sheehy Kieron
Published: July 2008

This study considered whether sensitivity to speech rhythm can predict concurrent variance in reading attainment after individual differences in age, vocabulary, and phonological awareness have been controlled. Five‐ to six‐year‐old English‐speaking children completed a battery of phonological processing assessments and reading assessments, along with a simple word stress manipulation task. The results showed that performance on the stress manipulation measure predicted a significant amount of variance in reading attainment after age, vocabulary, and phonological processing had been taken into account. These results suggest that stress sensitivity is an important, yet neglected, aspect of English‐speaking children's phonological representations, which needs to be incorporated into theoretical accounts of reading development.
Smoking to stay thin or giving up to save face? Young men and women talk about appearance concerns and smoking
Authors: Grogan Sarah , Fry Gary , Gough Brendan , Conner Mark
Published: July 2008

Objective. This study was designed to investigate how young men and women smokers and non‐smokers talk about the impact of smoking on appearance, with the aim of using these accounts to inform anti‐smoking campaigns targeted at young people.

Design. Volunteer smokers and non‐smokers took part in 24 focus groups.

Method. Eighty‐seven men and women aged 17–24 were asked to talk about impacts of smoking on appearance.

Results. A thematic analysis of transcripts suggested that weight gain after quitting was only a significant concern for the younger (17‐year‐old) women. Non‐smokers of both genders expressed concern about yellowing of skin and teeth if they started smoking, and women non‐smokers were concerned about skin ageing. Smokers believed that smoking made them look ‘cool’, mature, and sophisticated and would quit only if skin ageing and other negative effects on appearance became visible.

Conclusions. Appearance concerns are relevant to the decision whether to start and quit smoking, and are linked to gender and age. Results are discussed in relation to implications for the development of age‐ and gender‐relevant anti‐smoking interventions.
Inferring universals from grammatical variation: Multidimensional scaling for typological analysis
Authors: Croft William , Poole Keith T.
Published: July 2008

A fundamental fact about grammatical structure is that it is highly variable both across languages and within languages. Typological analysis has drawn language universals from grammatical variation, in particular by using the semantic map model. But the semantic map model, while theoretically well-motivated in typology, is not mathematically well-defined or computationally tractable, making it impossible to use with large and highly variable crosslinguistic datasets. Multidimensional scaling (MDS), in particular the Optimal Classification nonparametric unfolding algorithm, offers a powerful, formalized tool that allows linguists to infer language universals from highly complex and large-scale datasets. We compare our approach to Haspelmath's semantic map analysis of indefinite pronouns, and reanalyze Dahl's (1985) large tense-aspect dataset. MDS works best with large datasets, demonstrating the centrality of grammatical variation in inferring language universals and the importance of examining as wide a range of grammatical behavior as possible both within and across languages.
Verfolgung und Wiedergutmachung. Karl M. Hettlage: Mitarbeiter von Albert Speer und Staatssekretär im Bundesfinanzministerium
Authors: Schrafstetter Susanne
Published: July 2008

Vorspann

Karl M. Hettlage hatte nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg viel zu verbergen: Er war einer von Albert Speers engsten Mitarbeitern gewesen und hatte dabei maßgeblich an der Vertreibung der Berliner Juden und an der Organisation der deutschen Kriegs- und Rüstungsmaschinerie mitgewirkt. Seiner Karriere nach 1945 stand das nicht im Weg. Er wurde Professor für Öffentliches Recht und Staatssekretär im Bundesfinanzministerium von 1959 bis 1962, wo er auch mit der Wiedergutmachung befasst war. Susanna Schrafstetter, Professorin an der Universität von Nebraska, spürt diesem erstaunlichen Lebensweg nach und fragt dabei insbesondere nach den Konsequenzen, die ein Täter zog, als er mit Opfern zu tun hatte, die Ansprüche auf Entschädigung und Wiedergutmachung erhoben.
Geschichtspolitik im Fernsehen. Die WDR-Dokumentation „Heia Safari” von 1966/67 über Deutschlands Kolonialvergangenheit
Authors: Michels Eckard
Published: July 2008

Vorspann

Trotz der geringen Bedeutung der Kolonien für Deutschland bis 1918 entfachte Ralph Giordanos äußerst kritische Darstellung der nationalen Kolonialgeschichte, ausgestrahlt zur besten Sendezeit im Oktober 1966 im Fernsehprogramm der ARD, eine scharfe öffentliche Kontroverse. War die Rolle der Kolonialvergangenheit im kollektiven Gedächtnis der Deutschen doch größer als eigentlich zu erwarten? Welches Geschichtsbild hatte sich von dieser Epoche erhalten? Und inwiefern waren die Reaktionen auf den Film von der erinnerungskulturellen Gesamtkonstellation in der Bundesrepublik beeinflusst? Diesen Fragen geht Eckard Michels in seinem Beitrag ebenso nach wie den „Gelegenheiten zur Meinungsmanipulation“, die dem Genre der historischen Fernsehdokumentation eigen sind.
Reducing the positional modulation of NbO6-octahedra in Sr
x
Ba1–x
Nb2O6 by increasing the barium content: A single crystal neutron diffraction study at ambient temperature for x = 0.61 and x = 0.34
Authors: Schefer Jürg , Schaniel Dominik , Petříček Václav , Woike Theo , Cousson Alain , Wöhlecke Manfred
Published: July 2008

We report on the influence of the barium content on the modulation amplitude in Sr
x
Ba1–x
Nb2O6 compounds by comparing Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 (SBN61) and Sr0.34Ba0.66Nb2O6 (SBN34). Our single crystal neutron diffraction results demonstrate that the amplitude of the positional modulation of the NbO6 octahedra is reduced with increasing barium content, indicating that the origin of the modulation is the partial occupation of the pentagonal channels by Sr and Ba atoms. By increasing the Sr content the bigger Ba atoms are replaced by the smaller Sr atoms, which leads to a larger deformation of the surrounding lattice and hence to a larger modulation amplitude. The more homogeneous the filling of these channels with one atomic type (Ba) the lower the modulation amplitude. Our results also show that the structure can be described with a two-dimensional incommensurate harmonic modulation. No second order modulation has been observed, both by single crystal diffraction measurements and q-scans. The positional modulation of the Nb atoms is much smaller than that of the oxygen atoms, such that the modulation can be seen as a rotational modulation of almost rigid NbO6-octahedra.
Structure determination of 6,6′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-thiazine-indigo from laboratory powder data and lattice-energy minimisation
Authors: Schmidt Martin U. , Buchsbaum Christian
Published: July 2008

6,6′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-thiazine-indigo, C18H8F6N2O2S2, is a yellow derivative of the thiazine-indigo pigments. Due to its insolubility single crystals could not be grown; the structure had to be determined from powder diffraction data. The X-ray powder pattern – measured on a laboratory diffractometer in routine manner – could be indexed, although the crystallite size was only about 20 nm. The crystal struc ture was solved by lattice-energy minimisation using the program CRYSCA. Subsequently, the structure was refined by the Rietveld method using restraints. The compound crys tallises in space group P21/c with a = 15.4136(12), b = 7.8384(5), c = 7.7102(6) Å, β = 112.736(6)°, Z = 2, with molecules on inversion centres. The molecules are connected by double hydrogen bonds, resulting in planar chains. These chains form stacks in [001] direction. The density is unusually high (ϱ = 1.7875 g/cm3), this explains the observed insolubility of the compound.
Polytene Chromosomal Maps of 11 Drosophila Species: The Order of Genomic Scaffolds Inferred From Genetic and Physical Maps
Authors: Schaeffer Stephen W , Bhutkar Arjun , McAllister Bryant F , Matsuda Muneo , Matzkin Luciano M , O'Grady Patrick M , Rohde Claudia , Valente Vera L S , Aguadé Montserrat , Anderson Wyatt W , Edwards Kevin , Garcia Ana C L , Goodman Josh , Hartigan James , Kataoka Eiko , Lapoint Richard T , Lozovsky Elena R , Machado Carlos A , Noor Mohamed A F , Papaceit Montserrat , Reed Laura K , Richards Stephen , Rieger Tania T , Russo Susan M , Sato Hajime , Segarra Carmen , Smith Douglas R , Smith Temple F , Strelets Victor , Tobari Yoshiko N , Tomimura Yoshihiko , Wasserman Marvin , Watts Thomas , Wilson Robert , Yoshida Kiyohito , Markow Therese A , Gelbart William M , Kaufman Thomas C
Published: July 2008

The sequencing of the 12 genomes of members of the genus Drosophila was taken as an opportunity to reevaluate the genetic and physical maps for 11 of the species, in part to aid in the mapping of assembled scaffolds. Here, we present an overview of the importance of cytogenetic maps to Drosophila biology and to the concepts of chromosomal evolution. Physical and genetic markers were used to anchor the genome assembly scaffolds to the polytene chromosomal maps for each species. In addition, a computational approach was used to anchor smaller scaffolds on the basis of the analysis of syntenic blocks. We present the chromosomal map data from each of the 11 sequenced non-Drosophila melanogaster species as a series of sections. Each section reviews the history of the polytene chromosome maps for each species, presents the new polytene chromosome maps, and anchors the genomic scaffolds to the cytological maps using genetic and physical markers. The mapping data agree with Muller's idea that the majority of Drosophila genes are syntenic. Despite the conservation of genes within homologous chromosome arms across species, the karyotypes of these species have changed through the fusion of chromosomal arms followed by subsequent rearrangement events.
Integration of Cytogenetic and Genetic Linkage Maps Unveils the Physical Architecture of Tomato Chromosome 2
Authors: Koo Dal-Hoe , Jo Sung-Hwan , Bang Jae-Wook , Park Hye-Mi , Lee Sanghyeob , Choi Doil
Published: July 2008

We report the integration of the linkage map of tomato chromosome 2 with a high-density bacterial artificial chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (BAC–FISH)-based cytogenetic map. The euchromatic block of chromosome 2 resides between 13 and 142 cM and has a physical length of 48.12 μm, with 1 μm equivalent to 540 kb. BAC–FISH resolved a pair of loci that were 3.7–3.9 Mb apart and were not resolved on the linkage map. Most of the regions had crossover densities close to the mean of ∼200 kb/cM. Relatively hot and cold spots of recombination were unevenly distributed along the chromosome. The distribution of centimorgan/micrometer values was similar to the previously reported recombination nodule distribution along the pachytene chromosome. FISH-based physical maps will play an important role in advanced genomics research for tomato, including map-based cloning of agronomically important traits and whole-genome sequencing.
Complex Network of Wnt Signaling Regulates Neuronal Migrations DuringCaenorhabditis elegansDevelopment
Authors: Zinovyeva Anna Y , Yamamoto Yuko , Sawa Hitoshi , Forrester Wayne C
Published: July 2008

Members of the Wnt family of secreted glycoproteins regulate many developmental processes, including cell migration. We and others have previously shown that the Wnts egl-20, cwn-1, and cwn-2 are required for cell migration and axon guidance. However, the roles in cell migration of all of the Caenorhabditis elegans Wnt genes and their candidate receptors have not been explored fully. We have extended our analysis to include all C. elegans Wnts and six candidate Wnt receptors: four Frizzleds, the sole Ryk family receptor LIN-18, and the Ror receptor tyrosine kinase CAM-1. We show that three of the Wnts, CWN-1, CWN-2, and EGL-20, play major roles in directing cell migrations and that all five Wnts direct specific cell migrations either by acting redundantly or by antagonizing each other's function. We report that all four Frizzleds function to direct Q-descendant cell migrations, but only a subset of the putative Wnt receptors function in directing migrations of other cells. Finally, we find striking differences between the phenotypes of the Wnt quintuple and Frizzled quadruple mutants.
High dose chemotherapy followed by autologous CD34+ stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe refractory polysystemic autoimmune diseases of the adults – the first experiences in Hungary
Authors: Váróczy László , Illés Árpád , Kiss Emese , Szekanecz Zoltán , Soltész Pál , Sipka Sándor , Kiss Attila , Udvardy Miklós , Szegedi Gyula , Zeher Margit
Published: July 2008

A súlyos, terápiarefrakter poliszisztémás autoimmun kórképek kezelésében alternatíva lehet a nagy dózisú kemoterápia autológ őssejt-szupportációval. A szerzők saját kezdeti tapasztalataik ismertetését tűzték ki célul.
Eredmények:
A szerzők intézményükben 2006. augusztus és 2007. november között összesen 7 autoimmun beteg őssejt-transzplantációját végezték el: közülük kettő szisztémás lupus erythematosusban, négy rheumatoid arthritisben, egy pedig szisztémás sclerosisban szenvedett. Az őssejt-mobilizálás során cyclophosphamid + kolóniastimuláló faktor terápiát alkalmaztak, a kondicionáló kezelés nagy dózisú cyclophosphamid (200 mg/ttkg) + antithymocyta-globulin (9 mg/ttkg) protokoll szerint történt. A beadott őssejtek valamennyi betegnél sikeresen megtapadtak. Az egyik szisztémás lupus erythematosus miatt gondozott beteget a 46. napon fulmináns cytomegalovirus-infekció miatt elveszítették, a többieknél súlyos szövődmény nem lépett fel. Átlagosan 10 hónapos követésük során az alapbetegségük tartós remisszióba került, és az életminőségükben jelentős javulás következett be.
Következtetések:
Az autológ őssejtterápia biztonságosan és eredményesen alkalmazható a súlyos autoimmun betegségek válogatott eseteinek kezelésében is.
Longevity genes
Authors: Rucz Károly
Published: July 2008

Ha elfogadjuk, hogy az öregedés biológiailag szabályozott életfolyamat, akkor továbbgondolva adódik a feltételezés, hogy biztosan van genetikai kódja. Márpedig ha van kódja, akkor a humán genom ismeretében ez megfejthető. Ha megfejthető, akkor manipulálható is. Ha azonban ezen mesterkedünk, akkor azt tegyük úgy, hogy a megnövelt élettartam a fizikai és szellemi jóllét csúcsán elérhető állapotot tartósítsa. Tehát ne csak az élethosszt növeljük, de egyúttal a betegségekkel szembeni ellenállást is. Szerte a világon sok kutatóintézet foglalkozik ma már ezzel a témával, és lázasan fáradoznak a megvalósításon. Az összefoglaló a feltárt ismeretanyagból ad ízelítőt.
Lentiviral-Mediated HoxB4 Expression in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Initiates Early Hematopoiesis in a Dose-Dependent Manner but Does Not Promote Myeloid Differentiation
Authors: Unger Christian , Kärner Elerin , Treschow Alexandra , Stellan Birgitta , Felldin Ulrika , Concha Hernan , Wendel Mikael , Hovatta Outi , Aints Alar , Ährlund-Richter Lars , Dilber M. Sirac
Published: July 2008

The variation of HoxB4 expression levels might be a key regulatory mechanism in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In this study, hESCs ectopically expressing high and low levels of HoxB4 were obtained using lentiviral gene transfer. Quantification throughout differentiation revealed a steady increase in transcription levels from our constructs. The effects of the two expression levels of HoxB4 were compared regarding the differentiation potential into HSCs. High levels of HoxB4 expression correlated to an improved yield of cells expressing CD34, CD38, the stem cell leukemia gene, and vascular epithelium-cadherin. However, no improvement in myeloid cell maturation was observed, as determined by colony formation assays. In contrast, hESCs with low HoxB4 levels did not show any elevated hematopoietic development. In addition, we found that the total population of HoxB4-expressing cells, on both levels, decreased in developing embryoid bodies. Notably, a high HoxB4 expression in hESCs also seemed to interfere with the formation of germ layers after xenografting into immunodeficient mice. These data suggest that HoxB4-induced effects on hESC-derived HSCs are concentration-dependent during in vitro development and reduce proliferation of other cell types in vitro and in vivo. The application of the transcription factor HoxB4 during early hematopoiesis from hESCs might provide new means for regenerative medicine, allowing efficient differentiation and engraftment of genetically modified hESC clones. Our study highlights the importance of HoxB4 dosage and points to the need for experimental systems allowing controlled gene expression.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
An Induction Gene Trap Screen in Neural Stem Cells Reveals an Instructive Function of the Niche and Identifies the Splicing Regulator Sam68 as a Tenascin-C-Regulated Target Gene
Authors: Moritz Sören , Lehmann Stefanie , Faissner Andreas , von Holst Alexander
Published: July 2008

Neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in a niche that abounds in extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. The ECM glycoprotein tenascin-C (Tnc) that occurs in more than 25 isoforms represents a major constituent of the privileged NSC milieu. To understand its role for NSCs, the induction gene trap technology was successfully applied to mouse embryonic NSCs, and a library of more than 500 NSC lines with independent gene trap vector integrations was established. Our pilot screen identified Sam68 as a target of Tnc signaling in NSCs. The Tnc-mediated downregulation of Sam68, which we found expressed at low levels in the niche along with Tnc, was independently confirmed on the protein level. Sam68 is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein, and its potential significance for cultured NSCs was studied by overexpression. Increased Sam68 levels caused a marked reduction in NSC cell proliferation. In addition, Sam68 is a signal-dependent regulator of alternative splicing, and its overexpression selectively increased the larger Tnc isoforms, whereas a mutated phosphorylation-deficient Sam68 variant did not. This emphasizes the importance of Sam68 for NSC biology and implicates an instructive rather than a purely permissive role for Tnc in the neural stem cell niche.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Producing Interferon-α in a Mouse Melanoma Lung Metastasis Model
Authors: Ren Changchun , Kumar Sanjay , Chanda Diptiman , Chen Jian , Mountz John D. , Ponnazhagan Selvarangan
Published: July 2008

Adult stem cells represent a potential source for cell-based therapy of cancer. The present study evaluated the potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), genetically modified to express interferon (IFN)-α, for the treatment of lung metastasis in an immunocompetent mouse model of metastatic melanoma. A recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) 6 vector encoding IFN-α was used to transduce mouse bone marrow-derived MSC ex vivo. Expression and bioactivity of the transgenic protein from rAAV-transduced MSC were confirmed prior to in vivo studies. A lung metastasis model of melanoma was developed by i.v. injection of B16F10 cells into 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice. Ten days later, MSC transduced with rAAV-IFN-α or green fluorescent protein were intravenously injected. One cohort of mice was sacrificed to determine the effects of the therapy at an earlier time point, and another cohort was observed for long-term survival. Results indicated that systemic administration of MSC producing IFN-α reduced the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells and significantly prolonged survival. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the tumors from MSC-IFN-α-treated animals indicated an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in proliferation and blood vasculature. These data demonstrate the potential of adult MSC constitutively producing IFN-α to reduce the growth of lung metastasis in melanoma.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.