bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of scoring patterns at national level eventing competitions in the UK
Authors: Whitaker TC , Hill J
Published: November 2005

Eventing is a three-phased discipline with a stratified progressive performance structure. Sample data (10%) were analysed from all horses competing within the UK (n = 53 890) during 2003 at all five levels of competition (intro, pre-novice, novice, intermediate, advanced). Five performance penalty score contributors were examined (dressage score, show jumping time faults, show jumping jump faults, cross-country jumping faults and cross-country time faults – independent variables) with regard to their effect on final ranking in competition (dependent variable). Percentage accruement of penalty points showed dressage to be the largest contributor (69%) at the intro level, falling to 53% at the advanced level. The show jumping phase was the smallest percentage contributor (greatest influence seen at the novice level, 9%). The influence of cross-country increased as the level of competition became more difficult (greatest at the advanced level, 42%). Linear regression analysis was undertaken with the use of a standardized linear model. The models accounted for between 75 and 83% of all variance dependent on level. Accession of data to the model was almost identical from novice level upwards, with cross-country time and dressage faults exerting the greatest influence. At the lower levels of competition a more complex picture of accession was observed. The use of regression analysis supported the stated sporting aims of eventings governing bodies.
LogoBar: bar graph visualization of protein logos with gaps
Authors: Pérez-Bercoff Åsa , Koch Johan , Bürglin Thomas R.
Published: November 2005

Summary: LogoBar is a Java application to display protein sequence logos. In our software gaps are accounted for when calculating the information content present at each residue position in a multiple alignment. The resulting logo is displayed as a graph consisting of bars, although traditional letter representation is also possible. Amino acids are displayed from the bottom up with decreasing frequencies i.e. the most abundant residue is placed at the bottom of the logo. The bars can be color-coded according to user specifications. Gaps in the alignment are also displayed, either on top or at the bottom of the logo. Furthermore, residues can either be arranged according to their relative abundance or grouped according to user criteria to emphasize the conserved nature of particular positions.

Availability: LogoBar and further documentation is available at

Contact:  thomas.burglin@biosci.ki.se
An efficient comprehensive search algorithm for tagSNP selection using linkage disequilibrium criteria
Authors: Qin Zhaohui S. , Gopalakrishnan Shyam , Abecasis Gonçalo R.
Published: November 2005

Motivation: Selecting SNP markers for genome-wide association studies is an important and challenging task. The goal is to minimize the number of markers selected for genotyping in a particular platform and therefore reduce genotyping cost while simultaneously maximizing the information content provided by selected markers.

Results: We devised an improved algorithm for tagSNP selection using the pairwise r2 criterion. We first break down large marker sets into disjoint pieces, where more exhaustive searches can replace the greedy algorithm for tagSNP selection. These exhaustive searches lead to smaller tagSNP sets being generated. In addition, our method evaluates multiple solutions that are equivalent according to the linkage disequilibrium criteria to accommodate additional constraints. Its performance was assessed using HapMap data.

Availability: A computer program named FESTA has been developed based on this algorithm. The program is freely available and can be downloaded at

Contact:  qin@umich.edu

Supplementary information:
Glucose-sensing neurons of the hypothalamus
Authors: Burdakov Denis , Luckman Simon M , Verkhratsky Alexei
Published: November 2005

Specialized subgroups of hypothalamic neurons exhibit specific excitatory or inhibitory electrical responses to changes in extracellular levels of glucose. Glucose-excited neurons were traditionally assumed to employ a ‘β-cell’ glucose-sensing strategy, where glucose elevates cytosolic ATP, which closes K
ATP
channels containing Kir6.2 subunits, causing depolarization and increased excitability. Recent findings indicate that although elements of this canonical model are functional in some hypothalamic cells, this pathway is not universally essential for excitation of glucose-sensing neurons by glucose. Thus glucose-induced excitation of arcuate nucleus neurons was recently reported in mice lacking Kir6.2, and no significant increases in cytosolic ATP levels could be detected in hypothalamic neurons after changes in extracellular glucose. Possible alternative glucose-sensing strategies include electrogenic glucose entry, glucose-induced release of glial lactate, and extracellular glucose receptors. Glucose-induced electrical inhibition is much less understood than excitation, and has been proposed to involve reduction in the depolarizing activity of the Na
+
/K
+
pump, or activation of a hyperpolarizing Cl
−
current. Investigations of neurotransmitter identities of glucose-sensing neurons are beginning to provide detailed information about their physiological roles. In the mouse lateral hypothalamus, orexin/hypocretin neurons (which promote wakefulness, locomotor activity and foraging) are glucose-inhibited, whereas melanin-concentrating hormone neurons (which promote sleep and energy conservation) are glucose-excited. In the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, excitatory actions of glucose on anorexigenic POMC neurons in mice have been reported, while the appetite-promoting NPY neurons may be directly inhibited by glucose. These results stress the fundamental importance of hypothalamic glucose-sensing neurons in orchestrating sleep-wake cycles, energy expenditure and feeding behaviour.
Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase: a target and generator of oxidative stress
Authors: Tretter Laszlo , Adam-Vizi Vera
Published: November 2005

Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) is a highly regulated enzyme, which could determine the metabolic flux through the Krebs cycle. It catalyses the conversion of α-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA and produces NADH directly providing electrons for the respiratory chain. α-KGDH is sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of this enzyme could be critical in the metabolic deficiency induced by oxidative stress. Aconitase in the Krebs cycle is more vulnerable than α-KGDH to ROS but as long as α-KGDH is functional NADH generation in the Krebs cycle is maintained. NADH supply to the respiratory chain is limited only when α-KGDH is also inhibited by ROS. In addition being a key target, α-KGDH is able to generate ROS during its catalytic function, which is regulated by the NADH/NAD
+
ratio. The pathological relevance of these two features of α-KGDH is discussed in this review, particularly in relation to neurodegeneration, as an impaired function of this enzyme has been found to be characteristic for several neurodegenerative diseases.
Antioxidant effects and the therapeutic mode of action of calcium channel blockers in hypertension and atherosclerosis
Authors: Godfraind Théophile
Published: November 2005

Drugs currently known as calcium channel blockers (CCB) were initially called calcium antagonists because of their ability to inhibit calcium-evoked contractions in depolarized smooth muscles. Blocking the entry of calcium reduces the active tone of vascular smooth muscle and produces vasodilatation. This pharmacological property has been the basis for the use of CCBs in the management of hypertension and coronary heart disease. A major question is whether drugs reducing blood pressure have other effects that help prevent the main complications of hypertension, such as atherosclerosis, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure and end-state renal disease. Experimental studies that focus on this question are reviewed in the present paper.
The mating pair stabilization protein, TraN, of the F plasmid is an outer-membrane protein with two regions that are important for its function in conjugation
Authors: Klimke William A. , Rypien Candace D. , Klinger Barbara , Kennedy R. Alexander , Rodriguez-Maillard J. Manuel , Frost Laura S.
Published: November 2005

F plasmid TraN (602 aa, processed to 584 aa with 22 conserved cysteines), which is essential for F plasmid conjugation, is an outer-membrane protein involved in mating pair stabilization (MPS). Unlike R100 TraN, F TraN requires OmpA in the recipient cell for efficient MPS. The authors have identified three external loops (aa 172–187, 212–220 and 281–284) in the highly divergent region from aa 164 to aa 333 as candidates for interaction with OmpA. These loops were identified using both site-directed and random TnphoA/in mutagenesis to insert epitopes (31-aa or c-myc) into TraN and monitor their effect on sensitivity to external proteases and on mating ability. TraN is a hallmark protein of F-type IV secretion systems as demonstrated byblastsearches of the databases. The C-terminal region is highly conserved and contains five of the six completely conserved cysteines. Mutation of these residues to serine demonstrated their importance in TraN function. TraN appears to require both intra- and intermolecular disulfide bond formation for its stability and structure as demonstrated by its instability in adsbAmutant and its aberrant migration on SDS-polyacrylamide gels under non-reducing conditions or by cross-linking with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS3). Thus, F TraN appears to have two domains: the N-terminal region is involved in OmpA interaction with OmpA during MPS; and the C-terminal region, which is rich in conserved cysteine residues, is essential for conjugation.
Regulation of expression of type I signal peptidases in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Raynaud Catherine , Charbit Alain
Published: November 2005

The role of type I signal peptidases (SPases I) is to remove the signal peptides of preproteins exported by the general secretory pathway. The genome ofListeria monocytogenescontains a locus encoding three contiguous SPases I (denoted SipX, SipY and SipZ). The authors recently showed that SipX and SipZ perform distinct functions in protein secretion and bacterial pathogenicity. Here, the regulation ofsipgene expression in broth and in infected eukaryotic cells was studied. The results show that expression of the threesipgenes is (i) controlled by two distinct promoter regions that respond differently to growth phase and temperature variations, and (ii) influenced by PrfA (the transcriptional activator regulating most of the virulence genes ofL. monocytogenes) and the stress proteins ClpC and ClpP. It was found thatsipgene expression was strongly upregulated upon infection of eukaryotic cells when bacteria were still entrapped in the phagosomal compartment. This upregulation is compatible with the need ofL. monocytogenesto optimize its production of virulence factors in the early stage of the intracellular cycle.
The trans-acting flagellar regulatory proteins, FliX and FlbD, play a central role in linking flagellar biogenesis and cytokinesis in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Muir Rachel E. , Easter Jesse , Gober James W.
Published: November 2005

The FliX/FlbD-dependent temporal transcription of late flagellar genes inCaulobacter crescentusrequires the assembly of an early, class II-encoded flagellar structure. Class II flagellar-mutant strains exhibit a delay in the completion of cell division, with the accumulation of filamentous cells in culture. It is shown here that this cell-division defect is attributable to an arrest in the final stages of cell separation. Normal cell morphology could be restored in class II mutants by gain-of-function alleles of FliX or FlbD, suggesting that the timely completion of cell division requires thesetrans-acting factors. In synchronized cultures, inhibition of cell division by depleting FtsZ resulted in normal initial expression of the late, FlbD-dependentfliKgene; however, the cell cycle-regulated cessation of transcription was delayed, indicating that cell division may be required to negatively regulate FlbD activity. Interestingly, prolonged depletion of FtsZ resulted in an eventual loss of FlbD activity that could be bypassed by a constitutive mutant of FlbD, but not of FliX, suggesting the possible existence of a second cell cycle-dependent pathway for FlbD activation.
ESCRT-I components of the endocytic machinery are required for Rim101-dependent ambient pH regulation in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Blanchin-Roland Sylvie , Costa Grégory Da , Gaillardin Claude
Published: November 2005

Ambient pH signalling involves a cascade of conserved Rim or Pal products in ascomycetous yeasts or filamentous fungi, respectively. Insertional mutagenesis in the yeastYarrowia lipolyticaidentified two components of the endosome-associated ESCRT-I complex involved in multivesicular body (MVB) vesicle formation, YlVps28p and YlVps23p. They were shown to be required at alkaline pH, like Rim factors, for transcriptional activation of alkaline-induced genes and repression of acid-induced genes. The constitutively activeYlRIM101-1119allele, which suppresses the pH-signalling defects ofYlrimmutations, also suppressesYlvpsdefects in pH response, but not in endocytosis. The contribution of the ESCRT-III component Snf7p could not be assessed due to the essential nature of this component inY. lipolytica. Unlike Rim factors, YlVps4p, a component of the MVB pathway acting downstream from ESCRT complexes, seems not to be required for the alkaline response. InY. lipolytica, allvpsmutations including those affectingYlVPS4, affected growth at acidic pH, a feature not exhibited byYlrimmutations. These results suggest that Rim and Vps pathways cooperate in ambient pH signalling and that this relation is conserved across the full range of hemiascomycetous yeasts.
Identification of a novel two-component system SenS/SenR modulating the production of the catalase-peroxidase CpeB and the haem-binding protein HbpS in Streptomyces reticuli
Authors: Lucana Darío Ortiz de Orué , Zou Peijian , Nierhaus Marc , Schrempf Hildgund
Published: November 2005

The Gram-positive soil bacterium and cellulose degraderStreptomyces reticulisynthesizes the mycelium-associated enzyme CpeB, which displays haem-dependent catalase and peroxidase activity, as well as haem-independent manganese-peroxidase activity. The expression of thefurS–cpeBoperon depends on the redox regulator FurS and the presence of the haem-binding protein HbpS. Upstream ofhbpS, the neighbouringsenSandsenRgenes were identified. SenS is a sensor histidine kinase with five predicted N-terminally located transmembrane domains. SenR is the corresponding response regulator with a C-terminal DNA-binding motif. Comparative transcriptional and biochemical studies with a designedS. reticuli senS/senRchromosomal disruption mutant and a set of constructedStreptomyces lividanstransformants showed that the presence of the novel two-component system SenS/SenR negatively modulates the expression of thefurS–cpeBoperon and thehbpSgene. The presence of SenS/SenR enhances considerably the resistance ofS. reticulito haemin and the redox-cycling compound plumbagin, suggesting that this system could participate directly or indirectly in the sensing of redox changes. Epitope-tagged HbpS (obtained from anEscherichia colitransformant) as well as the nativeS. reticuliHbpS interactin vitrospecifically with the purified SenS fusion protein. On the basis of these findings, together with data deduced from theS. reticuli hbpSmutant strain, HbpS is suggested to act as an accessory protein that communicates with the sensor protein to modulate the corresponding regulatory cascade. Interestingly, close and distant homologues, respectively, of the SenS/SenR system are encoded within theStreptomyces coelicolorA3(2) andStreptomyces avermitilisgenomes, but not within other known bacterial genomes. Hence the SenS/SenR system appears to be confined to streptomycetes.
Surface ultrastructure and elasticity in growing tips and mature regions of Aspergillus hyphae describe wall maturation
Authors: Ma Hui , Snook Laelie A. , Kaminskyj Susan G. W. , Dahms Tanya E. S.
Published: November 2005

This study reports the first direct, high-resolution physical and structural evidence of wall changes during hyphal tip growth, visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) inAspergillus nidulans. Images from AFM and cryo-scanning electron microscopy provided comparable information, but AFM was also able to image and physically probe living cells. AFM images showed changes in the surface ultrastructure ofA. nidulanshyphae, from newly deposited walls at hyphal tips to fully mature walls, as well as additional changes at young branches arising from mature walls. Surface architecture during wall maturation correlated with changes in the relative viscoelasticity (compliance per unit applied force) of walls measured by force spectroscopy (FS) in growingA. nidulanshyphae. Growing tips showed greater viscoelasticity than mature walls, despite equal support from turgor. Branch tips had comparable viscoelasticity to hyphal tips, unlike the mature wall from which they grew. FS also revealed differences in surface hydrophilicity between newly deposited and mature walls, with the tips being more hydrophilic. The hydrophilicity of young branch tips was similar to that of hyphal tips, and different from that of mature walls. Taken together, AFM images and FS data suggest that theA. nidulanswall matures following deposition at the hyphal tip.
Dichlorooxo(quinoline-8-thiolato-κ2
N,S)(triphenylphosphine oxide-κO)rhenium(V) acetone solvate
Authors: Miyashita Yoshitaro , Ohashi Tetuya , Imai Akiomi , Amir Nagina , Fujisawa Kiyoshi , Okamoto Ken-ichi
Published: November 2005

The complex molecule in the title compound, [Re(C9H6NS)Cl2O(C18H15OP)]·C3H6O, has distorted octahedral geometry. The Re=O bond occupies the position trans to the triphenylphosphine oxide O atom. The Re—Cl bond trans to the thiolate S atom is longer than that trans to the quinoline N atom, implying a stronger trans influence of the S atom. Intra- and intermolecular π–π interactions are also observed between the π rings in the complex.
Why magnesium is five-coordinate in methanol(phthalocyaninato)magnesium(II)
Authors: Guzei Ilia A. , McGaff Robert W. , Kieler Heidi M.
Published: November 2005

The square-pyramidal Mg center in the title compound, [Mg(C32H16N8)(CH4O)], is five-coordinate due to the formation of back-to-back π–π dimers that saturate the vacant apical site of the metal coordination sphere. Each complex is a member of a back-to-back and a face-to-face dimer; the latter are tethered by two strong O—H...N hydrogen bonds. The dimers form columns that likely determine the solid-state packing. The phthalocyaninate ligands are essentially planar, with a slight `hat visor' conformation character.
(RS)-6-Ethyl 2-carboxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroazulene-6-carboxylate
Authors: Hussain Zakir , Oeser Thomas , Hopf Henning
Published: November 2005

The title compound, C14H16O4, was obtained during the synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted azulene derivatives. In the partially reduced azulene skeleton, the absence of a H atom at the ester substitutent position of the seven-membered ring, as well as lengthened double bonds, indicate a conjugative stabilized system with two overlaid tautomers.
[Di-2-pyridyl ketone N
4,N
4-(butane-1,4-diyl)thiosemicarbazonato-κ3
N,N′,S]dioxovanadium(V)
Authors: Philip Varughese , Manoj E. , Prathapachandra Kurup M. R. , Nethaji Munirathinam
Published: November 2005

The VV atom in the title complex, [V(C16H16N5S)O2], is five-coordinate in a highly distorted square-pyramidal geometry, with the pyridyl N, the azomethine N and the thiolate S atoms of the di-2-pyridyl ketone N
4,N
4-(butane-1,4-diyl)thiosemicarbazone ligand and one oxo ligand occupying the basal coordination positions, while the second oxo ligand occupies the apical position. The molecules are interconnected by weak intermolecular interactions, mainly of the C—H...O type, involving the oxo atoms.
Inclusion of diprotonated [2.2.2]cryptand in the cavity of uranyl-complexed p-phenyltetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene
Authors: Masci Bernardo , Levi Mortera Stefano , Thuéry Pierre
Published: November 2005

In the title compound, 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazoniabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane dioxo[7,13,21,27-tetraphenyl-3,17-dioxapentacyclo[23.3.1.15,9.111,15.119,23]ditriaconta-1(29),5,7,9(30),11(31),12,14,19(32),20,22,25,27-dodecaene-29,30,31,32-tetraolato]uranium dimethyl sulfoxide trisolvate, (C18H38N2O6)[U(C54H40O6)O2]·3C2H6OS, the uranyl ion is bound to the four phenoxide groups of the deprotonated p-phenyltetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene ligand in a cone conformation, resulting in a dianionic complex. The diprotonated [2.2.2]cryptand counter-ion is located in the cavity defined by the eight aromatic rings of the homooxacalixarene, where it is held by cation–anion, cation–π and possibly C—H...π interactions. Dimerization in the packing leads to the formation of sandwich assemblages in which two diprotonated [2.2.2]cryptands are encompassed by two uranyl complexes.
(Z)-2-(3-Methoxybenzylidene)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-one
Authors: Sonar Vijayakumar N. , Parkin Sean , Crooks Peter A.
Published: November 2005

The crystal structure of the title compound, C15H17NO2, contains two nearly identical but crystallographically independent molecules, each with a double bond connecting an azabicyclic ring system to a 3-methoxybenzylidene moiety. The space group is triclinic P\overline{1}. The benzene ring is twisted by 18.44 (5) and 22.35 (4)° with respect to the plane of the double bond connected to the azabicyclic ring system for the two molecules. In addition to C—H...π interactions, molecules are held together in the solid state by van der Waals interactions.
Dichlorotetrakis[3-(4-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole]cobalt(II) acetonitrile tetrasolvate: an infinite hydrogen-bonded network, in an instant
Authors: Davies Graham M. , Adams Harry , Ward Michael D.
Published: November 2005

Reaction of 3-(4-pyridyl)pyrazole (4pypz) with cobalt(II) chloride in acetonitrile affords the title complex, [CoCl2(C8H7N3)4]·4CH3CN, within seconds of addition, as purple X-ray quality crystals. The molecule has C4 symmetry. The metal ion exhibits a trans-N4Cl2 octahedral geometry, with the four 3-(4-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole ligands coordinating through their pyridyl N-atom donors; one coordinated chloride ion forms hydrogen bonds with the pyrazole rings from four separate units. This configuration creates an infinite three-dimensional coordination network containing channels that are filled with acetonitrile solvent molecules.
Suppression of cancer phenotypes through a multifunctional actin‐binding protein, calponin, that attacks cancer cells and simultaneously protects the host from invasion
Authors: Taniguchi Shun’ichiro
Published: November 2005

Quantitative and/or qualitative alteration of actin cytoskeletal molecules, involved in the regulation of cellular dynamic functions, should be intimately related with cancer phenotypes. Based on several lines of experimental evidence from our group, and others, this report proposes a strategy to simultaneously attack cancer cells and protect the host from cancer invasion, with one molecule. Calponin h1, an actin‐stabilizing protein that is also intimately related to signal transduction, is very often suppressed in vascular smooth muscle cells of malignant human tumors and in mesothelial cells by coexisting cancer cells. We generated mice deficient for calponin h1, exhibiting fragility in blood vessels and peritoneal membranes. Hematogenous cancer metastasis occurred more easily in the calponin h1‐deficient mice than in wild‐type mice, and the peritoneal dissemination was extremely enhanced. The fragility was rescued by the exogenous introduction of the calponin h1 gene into mesothelial cells of the peritoneum. Furthermore, calponin h1 gene transfer into several transformed cell lines resulted in a suppression of malignancy. The peritoneal dissemination of intraperitoneally‐injected B16‐F10 cells was suppressed by the calponin h1 gene, given to target both cancer cells and the mesothelial cells of the host. The multifunctional nature of the molecule, as a machinery player of cytoskeleton and mediator of signal transduction, probably resulted in a favorable recipient‐discriminating effect on cancerous and normal cells. Thus, we believe that if we use adequate multifunctional molecules for therapy, it is possible to simultaneously suppress cancer phenotypes and protect normal cells from the attack of cancer cells. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 738 –746)
Different cytokine profiles in patients with a history of gangrenous or phlegmonous appendicitis
Authors: Rubér M , Berg A , Ekerfelt C , Olaison G , Andersson R E
Published: November 2005

Appendicitis is one of the most common and costly acute abdominal states of illnesses. Previous studies suggest two types of appendicitis which may be different entities, one which may resolve spontaneously and another that progresses to gangrene and perforation. Gangrenous appendicitis has a positive association to states of Th1 mediated immunity whereas Th2 associated immune states are associated with lower risk of appendicitis. This study investigated the inflammatory response pattern in patients previously appendicectomized for gangrenous (n = 7), or phlegmonous appendicitis (n = 8) and those with a non-inflamed appendix (n = 5). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analysed with ELISPOT analysis for number of spontaneous or antigen/mitogen stimulated IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 secreting cells or with ELISA for concentration of spontaneous or antigen/mitogen stimulated IFN-γ, IL-5 and IL-10. Spontaneously IL-10 secreting cells/100 000 lymphocytes were increased in the gangrenous group compared to the phlegmonous group (P = 0·015). The median concentration of IL-10 secreted after Tetanus toxoid (TT)-stimulation were higher in the gangrenous group and the control group, than the phlegmonous group (P = 0·048 and P = 0·027, respectively). The median concentration of TT induced IFN-γ secretion was higher for the gangrenous group compared to both the phlegmonous group and the control group (P = 0·037 and P = 0·003). Individuals with a history of gangrenous appendicitis demonstrated ability to increased IL-10 and IFN-γ production. The increased IFN-γ may support the notion of gangrenous appendicitis as an uncontrolled Th1 mediated inflammatory response and increased IL-10 may speculatively indicate the involvement of cytotoxic cells in the progression to perforation.
The impact of maternal stress on pregnancy outcome in a well‐educated Caucasian population
Authors: Krabbendam Lydia , Smits Luc , De Bie Rob , Bastiaanssen Janneke , Stelma Foekje , Van Os Jim
Published: November 2005

The aim of the study was to examine the association between stress and pregnancy outcome after adjustment for possible confounding and mediating variables. A prospective cohort study of 5511 pregnancies was conducted in 2001–03 in the Netherlands. A standardised questionnaire collecting demographics and mental health data was administered at 14 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Medical data on the pregnancy and delivery were obtained from obstetricians and midwives. The results showed that a high level of perceived stress at 14 weeks of pregnancy increased the risk for delivery of an infant that was small‐for‐gestational‐age (OR = 1.26 [95% CI 1.01, 1.56]), but the association was reduced after adjustment for the possible confounding effects of demographic variables (OR = 1.16 [95% CI 0.92, 1.47]). The results do not support a direct relationship between perceived stress and adverse pregnancy outcome. Demographic variables may explain the association between psychosocial stress and pregnancy outcome to a significant degree.
Does reducing infant mortality depend on preventing low birthweight? An analysis of temporal trends in the Americas
Authors: Kramer Michael S. , Barros Fernando C. , Demissie Kitaw , Liu Shiliang , Kiely John , Joseph K. S.
Published: November 2005

Low birthweight (LBW) is highly associated with death during infancy, and countries with the highest LBW rates also have the highest infant mortality rates. We compared temporal trends in LBW with both overall and birthweight‐specific infant mortality in United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay over two time periods, using cohort and cross‐sectional analysis of national population‐based vital statistics for 1985–89 and 1995–98. Infant mortality diminished substantially (RR = 0.60–0.80 for the later vs. earlier periods) and to a similar degree in all birthweight categories in all five study countries, despite an increase in LBW in the US and Uruguay, minimal changes in Canada and Argentina, and a decrease in Chile. The strength of the (positive) association between LBW and overall infant mortality diminished over the two time periods (from rs = +0.80 to +0.25 and RR per SD increase in LBW rate from 2.13 [2.09, 2.17] to 1.76 [1.74, 1.79]). The proportion of infant deaths occurring among LBW infants was negatively correlated with overall infant mortality in both time periods (rs = −0.30 and −0.60, RR = 0.68 [0.67, 0.68] and 0.47 [0.46, 0.47]). Developed and less developed countries in the Americas have succeeded in reducing infant mortality in all birthweight groups despite inconsistent changes in LBW rates, and none has achieved this success primarily by reducing LBW. Although our results are not necessarily generalisable to the least developed countries in South Asia and sub‐Saharan Africa, it is likely that all countries can substantially reduce their infant mortality rates by improving the care of infants at normal and low birthweights.
Two ways of linking economic activity to human rights
Authors: Leader Sheldon
Published: November 2005

The modern enterprise is ambivalently both sensitive and insensitive to the demands of human rights. To some extent, this is a matter of discrepancy between words and deeds. This article, however, focuses on another, more fundamental difficulty. The obstacle facing attempts to turn the moral impulse behind corporate social responsibility into a plausible result arises from fundamental clashes between the fundamental principles that drive the institutions designed to protect certain fundamental rights and the fundamental principles that fix the norms of performance for commercial life. To assess whether the conflict is irreconcilable, the problem needs to be seen in terms of the divergent ways in which adequate respect for and protection of those rights and obligations is understood. Certain resolutions of competition among fundamental rights – based on “functional” or “consensual” justification – can carry hidden bias, while others – based on “civic” justification – might allow the full potential of such rights to be realised. The test for compatibility between human rights and the economy is therefore whether economic imperatives can integrate the demands of civic justification.
Can Welfare Case Management Increase Employment? Evidence from a Pilot Program Evaluation
Authors: Peck Laura R. , Scott Ronald J.
Published: November 2005

Welfare reform has increased the importance of employment over simple eligibility determination. Research has focused on strategies for enhancing employment among welfare recipients, and this article adds to the literature by examining specifically the effects of using an assessment tool to assist case managers in targeting services to a heterogeneous client population. Analysis indicates that clients of case managers who used the screener, compared with a set of clients of case managers who did not use it, received more services and had higher program participation rates but experienced no improvement in short‐term employment outcomes. This suggests that the instrument as a tool in case management is effective at identifying client needs, which is the first step to achieving more favorable employment‐related outcomes in the long run.
Policy Research: The Field Dimension
Authors: Mead Lawrence M.
Published: November 2005

Field research, defined as an unstructured contact with public problems and programs, is essential to realistic policy research. Research linking governmental action to good outcomes is rare, because those who study government and those whose who analyze public problems are seldom the same. Field inquiry can help give policy research more governmental content. A lack of field contact is one reason why much of the research surrounding welfare reform has been incorrect. Ideally, the connections between policy and outcomes that respondents claim during field research should be verified by statistical analyses that use program data. Unfortunately, field research is discouraged by academic incentives favoring rigor at the expense of realism.
The Formation of Large‐scale Collaborative Resource Management Institutions: Clarifying the Roles of Stakeholders, Science, and Institutions
Authors: Heikkila Tanya , Gerlak Andrea K.
Published: November 2005

This article explores the emergence of collaborative institutional arrangements for managing natural resources in large‐scale and complex resource settings, among numerous political jurisdictions and stakeholders. It examines four regional institutions in the United States: the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Fish and Wildlife Program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the CALFED Bay‐Delta Program, and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. While a wealth of literature has looked at the emergence of smaller‐scale resource management institutions, and some literature has begun to look at the characteristics and successes of these regional institutions, theory is lacking to explain the formation of these regional institutions. We first introduce three relevant streams of literature—on common pool resources management, on policy entrepreneurs and social capital, and on science and information in policy change—to frame our analysis. The comparisons of the cases point to the importance of integrating key insights from the literature for understanding the formation of collaborative resource governance. We emphasize how science, leadership, and prior organizational experience interact in facilitating institutional change, particularly in the process of raising awareness about resource management problems. In tracing the formation of these institutions, we also identify how external institutional triggers can help spur collaborative governance.
Excitatory effects of serotonin on rat striatal cholinergic interneurones
Authors: Blomeley Craig , Bracci Enrico
Published: November 2005

We investigated the effects of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT, serotonin) in striatal cholinergic interneurones with gramicidin‐perforated whole‐cell patch recordings. Bath‐application of serotonin (30 μm) significantly and reversibly increased the spontaneous firing rate of 37/45 cholinergic interneurones tested. On average, in the presence of serotonin, firing rate was 273 ± 193% of control. Selective agonists of 5‐HT1A, 5‐HT3, 5‐HT4 and 5‐HT7 receptors did not affect cholinergic interneurone firing, while the 5‐HT2 receptor agonist α‐methyl‐5‐HT (30 μm) mimicked the excitatory effects of serotonin. Consistently, the 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (10 μm) fully blocked the excitatory effects of serotonin. Two prominent after‐hyperpolarizations (AHPs), one of medium duration that was apamin‐sensitive and followed individual spikes, and one that was slower and followed trains of spikes, were both strongly and reversibly reduced by serotonin; these effects were fully blocked by ketanserin. Conversely, the depolarizing sags observed during negative current injections and mediated by hyperpolarization‐activated cationic currents were not affected. In the presence of apamin and tetrodotoxin, the slow AHP was strongly reduced by 5‐HT, and fully abolished by the calcium channel blocker nickel. These results show that 5‐HT exerts a powerful excitatory control on cholinergic interneurones via 5‐HT2 receptors, by suppressing the AHPs associated with two distinct calcium‐activated potassium currents.
ADRIAN: A Software for Computing the Stiffness of Automotive Joints and its Application in the Product Development Process
Authors: Bylund Nicklas
Published: November 2005

The development of complex mechanical structures such as a car body is an iterative process, alternating between design and analysis. Traditionally, these are made in different departments, making the loops between design and analysis slow and costly. This paper presents a method with accompanying software for the design engineer/draftsman to do preliminary mechanical analysis himself, which not only makes design loops shorter but also means they can be made in parallel. This speeds up the development process, while at the same time allowing exploration of more alternative solutions.
Extension of a Mesh Quality Metric for Elements With a Curved Boundary Edge or Surface
Authors: Branets Larisa , Carey Graham F.
Published: November 2005

The formulation of a local cell quality metric [Branets, L., and Carey, G. F., 2003, Proceedings of the 12th International Meshing Roundtable, Santa Fe, NM, pp. 371–378;Engineering with Computers (in press)] for standard elements defined by affine maps is extended here to the case of elements with quadratically curved boundaries. We show for two-dimensional and three-dimensional simplex elements with quadratically curved boundaries that all cases of map degeneracy can be identified by the metric. Moreover, we establish a “maximum principle” which allows estimating the bounds on the quality metric. The nondegeneracy conditions for biquadratic quadrilaterals with one curved edge are also determined. The metric is implemented in an untangling/smoothing algorithm for improving unstructured meshes including simplex elements that have curved boundary segments. The behavior and efficiency of this algorithm is illustrated for numerical test problems in two and three dimensions.
Conformal Refinement and Coarsening of Unstructured Hexahedral Meshes
Authors: Benzley Steven E. , Harris Nathan J. , Scott Michael , Borden Michael , Owen Steven J.
Published: November 2005

This paper describes recently developed procedures for local conformal refinement and coarsening of all-hexahedral unstructured meshes. Both refinement and coarsening procedures take advantage of properties found in the dual or “twist planes” of the mesh. A twist plane manifests itself as a conformal layer or sheet of hex elements within the global mesh. We suggest coarsening techniques that will identify and remove sheets to satisfy local mesh density criteria while not seriously degrading element quality after deletion. A two-dimensional local coarsening algorithm is introduced. We also explain local hexahedral refinement procedures that involve both the placement of new sheets, either between existing hex layers or within an individual layer. Hex elements earmarked for refinement may be defined to be as small as a single node or as large as a major group of existing elements. Combining both refinement and coarsening techniques allows for significant control over the density and quality of the resulting modified mesh.
Full Bicycle Dynamic Model for Interactive Bicycle Simulator
Authors: He Qichang , Fan Xiumin , Ma Dengzhe
Published: November 2005

An interactive bicycle simulator with six degrees of freedom motion system could bring the rider a very realistic riding feeling. An important component of the simulator is the full bicycle dynamic model that simulated the two-wheeled bicycle dynamics. It consists of two slightly coupled submodels: The stability submodel and the vibration submodel. The stability submodel solves the stability of the bicycle under rider’s active maneuvers and the vibration submodel evaluates the vibration response of the bicycle due to uneven road surface. The model was validated by several experiments and successfully applied to the interactive bicycle simulator.
Endoscopy waiting times and impact of the two week wait scheme on diagnosis and outcome of upper gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Spahos T , Hindmarsh A , Cameron E , Tighe M R , Igali L , Pearson D , Rhodes M , Lewis M P N
Published: November 2005

The NHS has introduced the two week wait scheme to detect upper gastrointestinal cancers at an early stage and improve survival rates The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this scheme and changes in endoscopy waiting times on tumour stage and resection rates over a four year period. Data were analysed prospectively for all patients diagnosed with oesophagogastric cancer between September 1998 and September 2002 and from those referred under the two week wait scheme since its introduction in 2000. Of those tumours diagnosed by this scheme (15%) only 5% were early disease (stage 1 or 2). Patients with early cancer, mainly diagnosed by routine gastroscopy, do not present with symptoms meeting the two week wait criteria. An increase in the resection rates for early disease will most probably be seen with a reduction in routine endoscopy waiting times.
Access and equity to cancer care in the USA: a review and assessment
Authors: Siminoff L A , Ross L
Published: November 2005

Cancer represents a serious threat to the health of women and men living in the USA. As the second leading cause of death, it claims about 500 000 lives annually. Health disparities occur when there are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease among specific sub-populations within a specified region. For decades, disparities have been reported among Americans from racial/ethnic minority groups and those from low income groups. African Americans, the largest racial minority group in the USA, have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the USA; it is about 10% higher in African Americans than in white people. Inequities in insurance status among Americans adversely affect their ability to obtain the entire range of cancer care. Those who are members of ethnic minorities and the working poor are especially apt to have poorer access to care and reduced quality of cancer care services as a result.
A rare cause of mediastinal expansion with a massive pleural effusion
Authors: Šubrt Z , Ferko A , Papík Z , Vacek Z , Sedláček Z
Published: November 2005

The authors present a case of a 53 year old woman, who was admitted to hospital because of an unusual cause of massive pleural effusion. During diagnostic examination the mediastinal propagation of the pancreatic pseudocyst was discovered as a complication of the chronic calcifying pancreatitis. The patient was operated on and the pseudocyst was resolved by Roux-en-Y cystjejunostomy. The diagnostics and treatment of this unusual pancreatic pseudocyst spreading is discussed.
Is the paraneoplastic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in lung cancer always attributable to the small cell variety?
Authors: Tho L M , Ferry D R
Published: November 2005

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion is a well recognised paraneoplastic phenomenon and the vast majority are associated with small cell lung carcinoma. Rarely however, the non-small cell variety can sometimes be responsible and this report describes such an occurrence. Uniquely in this case, after chemotherapy the paraneoplastic SIADH improved in parallel with a tumour response and this has not been reported previously.
RESHUFFLING SPINS WITH SHORT RANGE INTERACTIONS: WHEN SOCIOPHYSICS PRODUCES PHYSICAL RESULTS
Authors: SOUSA A. O. , MALARZ K. , GALAM S.
Published: November 2005

Galam reshuffling introduced in opinion dynamics models, is investigated under the nearest neighbor Ising model on a square lattice using Monte Carlo simulations. While the corresponding Galam analytical critical temperature TC≈3.09 [J/kB] is recovered almost exactly, it is proved to be different from both values, not reshuffled (TC=2/ arcsinh (1)≈2.27 [J/kB]) and mean-field (TC=4 [J/kB]). On this basis, gradual reshuffling is studied as function of 0≤p≤1 where p measures the probability of spin reshuffling after each Monte Carlo step. The variation of TCas function of p is obtained and exhibits a nonlinear behavior. The simplest Solomon network realization is noted to reproduce Galam p =1 result. Similarly to the critical temperature, critical exponents are found to differ from both, the classical Ising case and the mean field values.
HOW TO COUNT TREES?
Authors: PIEC SEBASTIAN , MALARZ KRZYSZTOF , KUŁAKOWSKI KRZYSZTOF
Published: November 2005

We propose a new topological invariant of unlabeled trees of N nodes. The invariant is a set of N×2 matrices of integers, with ∑j kdi, j and vi as the matrix elements, where di, j are the elements of the distance matrix and vi denotes ith node's degree and k∈ℕ. To compare the invariant calculated for possibly different graphs, the matrix rows are ordered with respect to the first column, and, if necessary, with respect to the second one. We use the new invariant to evaluate from below the number of topologically different unlabeled trees up to N =17. The results slightly exceed the asymptotic evaluation of Otter.
INSTABILITY OF HUMAN SOCIETIES AS A RESULT OF CONFORMITY
Authors: EFROS A. L. , DÉSESQUELLES P.
Published: November 2005

We introduce a new model that mimics the strong and sudden effects induced by conformity in tightly interacting human societies. Such effects range from mere crowd phenomena to dramatic political turmoil. The model is a modified version of the Ising Hamiltonian. We have studied the properties of this Hamiltonian using both a Metropolis simulation and analytical derivations. Our study shows that increasing the value of the conformity parameter, results in a first order phase transition. As a result a majority of people begin to honestly support the idea that may contradict the moral principles of a normal human beings though each individual would support the moral principle without tight interaction with the society. Thus, above some critical level of conformity our society destabilizes with respect to ideas that might be doubtful. Our model includes, in a simplified way, human diversity with respect to loyalty to the moral principles.
ENERGETICS OF THE SUPERFLARE FROM SGR1806-20 AND A POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED GRAVITATIONAL WAVE BURST
Authors: HORVATH J. E.
Published: November 2005

We discuss in this paper the energetics of large gamma-ray superflares observed from Soft-Gamma Repeater sources. The last recorded event has in fact ruled out some models for the energy release. For the first time actual information about a possible associated gravitational wave emission may have been gathered from the LIGO data, even in the case that most of the energy was emitted in gamma-rays. Even upper limits on the amplitude of the latter h at the expected frequency fc≤2 kHz may be useful to further constrain the remaining mechanisms.