bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure ulcer patients in long-term care. A follow-up study
Authors: Lepistö Mervi , Lauri Sirkka , Eriksson Elina , Vahlberg Tero
Published: May 2005

Pressure ulcers (PU) may cause intolerable suffering to the patient. Not only do they affect patients but they also increase nursing workload. In Finnish studies, PU prevalence was 5.4–22% depending on the type of institution caring for the patient. The same level of prevalence is reported from other European countries. In 2000, it was reported that PUs, as the main diagnosis, were responsible for over 20000 bed days in Finnish long-term care hospitals, at a cost of approximately 3 million EUROs a year. In England, it was estimated that a 600-bed general hospital spends 600000 to 3 million GB£/year to care for PUs. Some US statistics estimate that nearly 2 million American patients acquire a PU during the course of their care, and the cost to treat one wound is from 2000 US$ to 70000 US$. Prevention is therefore not only beneficial for the patient but obviously cost-effective for the health care system.
On termination of meta-programs
Authors: SEREBRENIK ALEXANDER , DE SCHREYE DANNY
Published: May 2005

The term meta-programming refers to the ability of writing programs that have other programs as data and exploit their semantics. The aim of this paper is presenting a methodology allowing us to perform a correct termination analysis for a broad class of practical meta-interpreters, including negation and performing different tasks during the execution. It is based on combining the power of general orderings, used in proving termination of term-rewrite systems and programs, and on the well-known acceptability condition, used in proving termination of logic programs. The methodology establishes a relationship between the ordering needed to prove termination of the interpreted program and the ordering needed to prove termination of the meta-interpreter together with this interpreted program. If such a relationship is established, termination of one of those implies termination of the other one, i.e. the meta-interpreter preserves termination. Among the meta-interpreters that are analysed correctly are a proof trees constructing meta-interpreter, different kinds of tracers and reasoners.
A treatment of higher-order features in logic programming
Authors: NADATHUR GOPALAN
Published: May 2005

The logic programming paradigm provides the basis for a new intensional view of higher-order notions. This view is realized primarily by employing the terms of a typed lambda calculus as representational devices and by using a richer form of unification for probing their structures. These additions have important meta-programming applications but they also pose non-trivial implementation problems. One issue concerns the machine representation of lambda terms suitable to their intended use: an adequate encoding must facilitate comparison operations over terms in addition to supporting the usual reduction computation. Another aspect relates to the treatment of a unification operation that has a branching character and that sometimes calls for the delaying of the solution of unification problems. A final issue concerns the execution of goals whose structures become apparent only in the course of computation. These various problems are exposed in this paper and solutions to them are described. A satisfactory representation for lambda terms is developed by exploiting the nameless notation of de Bruijn as well as explicit encodings of substitutions. Special mechanisms are molded into the structure of traditional Prolog implementations to support branching in unification and carrying of unification problems over other computation steps; a premium is placed in this context on exploiting determinism and on emulating usual first-order behaviour. An extended compilation model is presented that treats higher-order unification and also handles dynamically emergent goals. The ideas described here have been employed in the Teyjus implementation of the $\lambda$Prolog language, a fact that is used to obtain a preliminary assessment of their efficacy.
Specialization of functional logic programs based on needed narrowing
Authors: ALPUENTE MARÍA , LUCAS SALVADOR , VIDAL GERMÁN , HANUS MICHAEL
Published: May 2005

Many functional logic languages are based on narrowing, a unification-based goal-solving mechanism which subsumes the reduction mechanism of functional languages and the resolution principle of logic languages. Needed narrowing is an optimal evaluation strategy which constitutes the basis of modern (narrowing-based) lazy functional logic languages. In this work, we present the fundamentals of partial evaluation in such languages. We provide correctness results for partial evaluation based on needed narrowing and show that the nice properties of this strategy are essential for the specialization process. In particular, the structure of the original program is preserved by partial evaluation and, thus, the same evaluation strategy can be applied for the execution of specialized programs. This is in contrast to other partial evaluation schemes for lazy functional logic programs which may change the program structure in a negative way. Recent proposals for the partial evaluation of declarative multi-paradigm programs use (some form of) needed narrowing to perform computations at partial evaluation time. Therefore, our results constitute the basis for the correctness of such partial evaluators.
Ärztliche Weiterbildung in der Gerontopsychiatrie - eine fähigkeitsorientierte Leitlinie
Authors: Gutzmann Hans , Ihl Ralf
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung: Das hier vorliegende Dokument enthält eine Leitlinie zur Fort- und Weiterbildung im Fach Gerontopsychiatrie, die einen Konsens führender europäischer Fachvertreter darstellt. Es ist getragen von der gemeinsamen Auffassung, dass alle europäischen Länder sich der Herausforderung des demografischen Wandels stellen müssen und deshalb dringend qualifizierter Spezialisten auf dem Gebiet der Gerontopsychiatrie bedürfen. Hier wird ein erster Schritt in Richtung auf die Formulierung eines Kern-Curriculums unternommen, bei dem der Bereich der gerontopsychiatrischen Subspezialität abgesteckt werden soll. Die Aktualität des Themas beleuchtet die Tatsache, dass im Januar diesen Jahres im gemeinsamen Beschluss des Bundestages zum 4. Altenbericht nicht nur die Bedeutung der Altersforschung unterstrichen wurde, sondern besonders die logische Analogie der Gerontopsychiatrie zur Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie im Blick auf die universitäre Repräsentanz hervorgehoben wird.
Depressive Störungen im Alter - Symptombesonderheiten und körperliche Erkrankungen
Authors: Haupt Martin
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung: Depressive Störungen sind neben den Hirnleistungsstörungen die häufigsten psychischen Störungen im höheren Lebensalter. Dennoch ist die Qualität der Versorgung niedrig; sie lässt vor allem in der Erkennung und wirksamen Behandlung zu wünschen übrig. Auch im Alter ist das biopsychosoziale Modell zur Erklärung des Zustandekommens der Störungen am besten geeignet. Zu den Symptombesonderheiten depressiver Syndrome im Alter zählen insbesondere die kognitiven Einbußen, die dysexekutiven Beeinträchtigungen und die subdiagnostischen Symptome; zudem sind depressive Störungen im Alter eng verknüpft mit Erkrankungen des kardio- und zerebrovaskulären Systems. In der primärärztlichen Versorgung, der zutreffenden Erkennung affektiver Symptome bei älteren Menschen und in der adäquaten pharmakologischen und psychosozialen Therapie verpflichten diese Symptombesonderheiten den behandelnden Arzt und Facharzt zu individuellen Lösungsstrategien.
Indizierte Prävention von Essstörungen:
Authors: Köster Grit , Dannigkeit Nora , Tuschen-Caffier Brunna
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung. Einzelne Symptome einer Essstörung, wie ein restriktives Essverhalten oder starke Sorgen um Gewicht und Figur treten bei Mädchen immer häufiger und früher auf. So ergibt sich eine hohe gesundheitspolitische Relevanz und Handlungsnotwendigkeit im Sinne einer Prävention von Essstörungen für Risikogruppen. Mit dem Ziel der indizierten Prävention von Essstörungen haben die Autorinnen dieses Beitrags ein ambulantes Gruppenprogramm für junge Frauen mit Esstörungssymptomen entwickelt. Das Programm besteht aus 10 wöchentlichen Sitzungen à 90 Minuten. Basierend auf den in der Literatur diskutierten Risiko- und protektiven Faktoren bei der Entstehung von Essstörungen sind vier Programmbausteine vorgesehen: (1.) Kognitive Interventionen zum Schönheitsideal, (2.) Gesunde Ernährung und Essstörungen, (3.) Körperbild und (4.) Konflikt-/Stressbewältigung. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Konzeption des Programms und erste Erfahrungswerte einer Pilotstudie vorgestellt und diskutiert.
Familiale und soziokulturelle Faktoren bei Essstörungssymptomen
Authors: Geissner Edgar , Schary Katrin
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung. In der Studie wird untersucht, inwiefern gegenwärtig existierende soziokulturelle Vorstellungen zu körperlicher Attraktivität und Schlankheit sowie daraus resultierend Erwartungen zu (gezügeltem) Essen und (niedrigem) Gewicht via intrafamilialer Vorgänge an Kinder (hier: Töchter) vermittelt werden, wodurch bei diesen Essstörungssymptome begünstigt werden könnten. Vorangegangene Studien belegten zum einen die Rolle der mütterlichen Modellwirkung, zum anderen Ermahnungen an die Tochter oder zum dritten allgemeine, indirekt an die Töchter adressierte Äußerungen zum schlanken Aussehen. In dieser Studie wurden ausgehend von einer Basisstichprobe von knapp 500 jungen Frauen (M = 21.5 Jahre) zwei Gruppen gebildet (1) N = 37 Pbn mit klarer Essstörungssymptomatik, (2) N = 44, die eindeutig keine Essstörungssymptome aufwiesen. Diese erteilten auch die Erlaubnis zu einer Untersuchung der Mutter (Rest: Uneindeutig zuordenbar oder keine Erlaubnis). Analysierte Zielmerkmale (Zeitrahmen: Alter der Tochter 14-18 J.) waren (a) “Vorgelebte Figurunzufriedenheit und strenges Gewichtsregulationsverhalten“ (nur bei Müttern untersucht) sowie (b) “Soziokulturelle Vorstellungen zu Schlankheit“ und (c) “Ermahnungen bzgl. Essen, Gewicht und Figur“. Merkmal (b) und (c) wurde zum einen bei den Müttern erhoben, zum anderen wurden Töchter befragt, wie sie ihre Mütter in (b) und (c) damals wahrnahmen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Mütter von Töchtern mit einer heutigen Essstörungssymptomatik im Jugendalter der Töchter ein ausgeprägtes Muster an Einstellungen/Verhaltensweisen und Sprachäußerungen in Richtung soziokultureller Schlankheits- und Gewichtsvorstellungen aufwiesen. Sie unterschieden sich hierin deutlich von Müttern von Töchtern ohne Essstörungssymptomatik. Die Ergebnisse legen den Schluss nahe, dass neben anderen Bedingungsfaktoren auch ein übertriebenes und einseitiges Muster an schlankheits-, essens- und gewichtsbezogenen Erziehungseinflüssen zu einer späteren Essstörungssymptomatik führen kann. Intrafamilial übernommene und weitergegebene Normvorstellungen und spezifische Erwartungen könnten somit als Risikofaktoren auch für klinisch manifeste Essstörungen im engeren Sinne in Betracht kommen.
Elterlicher Alkoholmissbrauch
Authors: Baltruschat Nicole , Geissner Edgar , Klein Michael
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: In den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten wurden die psychischen Auswirkungen elterlichen Alkoholismus auf deren Kinder (children of alcoholics) verstärkt betrachtet. Fragestellung: Hintergrund der Studie ist die Frage, ob das Aufwachsen in einer Familie, in der ein Elternteil an einer Alkoholstörung erkrankt ist, insbesondere für die Töchter das Risiko erhöht, an einer Essstörung zu erkranken. Vorausgegangene Studien analysierten, (a) inwieweit bei essgestörten Frauen eine Alkoholstörung bei deren Eltern vorlag bzw. (b) ob bei alkoholerkrankten Eltern die Rate töchterlicher Essstörungen erhöht war. Die bis heute uneindeutige Befundlage sollte in der Studie eruiert werden. Methode: Es wurden zwei Ansätze verfolgt: (a) Untersuchung 100 essgestörter Frauen (13-26 J.) mittels klinischer Interviews und Fragebögen ([1] Familiengeschichte, [2] Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST)), (b) Untersuchung 47 alkoholerkrankter Elternteile über wahrgenommene Essstörungssymptome der Töchter ([1] klinische Interviews, [2] Eating Attitudes Test 26 - Fremdauskunft, [3] Subskalen des Eating Disorder Inventory EDI - Fremdauskunft; sowie Befragung von deren Töchtern (N = 54) [EAT-26, EDI, CAST]. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse können unsere Hypothese, dass es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Essstörung der Töchter und dem Alkoholabusus der Eltern gibt, stützen. Für Untersuchungsstichprobe (a) (Töchter) ergab sich eine Rate elterlicher Alkoholerkrankungen von 47% (Grundrate in der Allgemeinbevölkerung 1.1-4%). Für Untersuchungsstichprobe (b) (Eltern mit Alkoholerkrankung) wurde eine töchterliche Rate an Essstörungssymptomen von ca. 40% ermittelt (Essstörungsraten bei jungen Frauen z.B. 3% für Bulimie, 10% für subklinische Essstörungssymptome). Schlussfolgerung: Elterlicher Alkoholabusus stellt einen bedeutsamen Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung einer Essstörung bei Töchtern dar. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund familiärer Sozialisation und der allgemeinen Transmission psychischer Störungen diskutiert.
Ist primäre Prävention von Essstörungen langfristig wirksam?
Authors: Dannigkeit Nora , Köster Grit , Tuschen-Caffier Brunna
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung. Die Prävention von Essstörungen ist ein Forschungsthema von hoher gesundheitspolitischer Relevanz: Chronifizierte Essstörungen sind mit schwerwiegenden körperlichen Folgen für die Betroffenen verbunden. Außerdem sind subklinische Formen von Essstörungen in immer jüngeren Altersgruppen weit verbreitet. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die langfristige Effektivität primärer Prävention von Essstörungen zu überprüfen. Dazu ist ein zehnstündiges Trainingsprogramm für Schülerinnen und Schüler entwickelt und über einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren hinweg evaluiert worden. Das Programm ist unterteilt in ein jeweils fünfstündiges Grundtraining in der 6. Klasse und ein Auffrischungstraining zwei Jahre später (8.Klasse). Inhaltliche Schwerpunkte des Programms sind die kritische Reflexion über das Schönheitsideal in den Medien, Informationen zu gesunder Ernährung und Essstörungen sowie ein Training in Problemlösefähigkeiten und sozialer Kompetenz. Das Programm wurde in einem Prä-Post-Kontrollgruppen-Design mit Follow-up an 204 Schülerinnen und Schülern auf seine Effektivität hin überprüft. Hier zeigte sich im Anschluss an die Programmteilnahme ein signifikanter Zuwachs an ernährungsrelevantem Wissen bei den Programmteilnehmern im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe. Im langfristigen Verlauf konnten außerdem signifikante Gruppenunterschiede im Essverhalten sowie im Selbstwertgefühl nachgewiesen werden. Diese Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf ihren Beitrag für eine effiziente Vorbeugung von Essstörungen diskutiert.
Reduktion von Risikofaktoren für gestörtes Essverhalten:
Authors: Jacobi Corinna , Morris Lisette , Beckers Christina , Bronisch-Holtze Janina , Winter Jana , Winzelberg Andrew J. , Taylor Craig Barr
Published: May 2005

Zusammenfassung. Eine erhöhte Bedeutsamkeit von Figur und Gewicht sowie Diätverhalten gehören zu den am besten bestätigten und bedeutungsvollsten Risikofaktoren, die bei jungen Frauen zu einem erhöhten Risiko für spätere Essstörungssymptome oder -syndrome führen. Präventive Interventionen sollten daher versuchen, diese Faktoren zu reduzieren, um die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Entwicklung einer Essstörung zu verringern. Die vorliegende Untersuchung beschreibt die Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit eines für den deutschen Sprachraum adaptierten Internet-gestützten Präventionsprogramms (“Student Bodies“) zur Reduktion von Risikofaktoren für gestörtes Essverhalten bzw. Essstörungen. 100 Studentinnen von zwei Universitäten wurden per Zufall entweder einer Interventionsgruppe oder einer Wartekontrollgruppe zugewiesen. Die Dauer der Intervention betrug 8 Wochen. Zum Post-Zeitpunkt konnte die Wirksamkeit des adaptierten Programms im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe gut bestätigt werden. Die Effekte waren deutlich höher für eine Subgruppe von Frauen mit erhöhtem Risiko für Essstörungen.
ERP Responses to Smile-Provoking Pictures
Authors: Gierych Ewa , Milner Rafa , Michalski Andrzej
Published: May 2005

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to search for event-related potential (ERP) correlates of processing pictures commonly described as “funny” but not preceded by the apparent “context-setting” phase. Three pairs of stimuli were used: (1) famous cartoon characters and images of household objects, (2) pictures reminiscent of a recently seen joke and similar pictures that did not produce such associations, (3) funny caricatures and drawings of neutral human faces. ERP differences in each pair were analyzed in two experiments. In the first experiment, both stimuli were targets in an “oddball” procedure, presented among the more frequent green disks. In the second experiment, they were both nontargets whereas the green disks were task-relevant. Both experiments and all pairs of stimuli produced similar results. ERPs for funny pictures were consistently more positive within the broad latency windows, resembling the effects of emotional arousal. Negative deflections, typical for incongruity processing, were not found. Such results indicated that these types of “humorous” images belonged to the class of affective stimuli that produced attentional reallocation of processing resources. The cognitive phase during which incongruity is detected and resolved was probably reduced to minimum or even absent.
Variations in the Arctic's multiyear sea ice cover: A neural network analysis of SMMR‐SSM/I data, 1979–2004
Authors: Belchansky Gennady I. , Douglas David C. , Eremeev Vladimir A. , Platonov Nikita G.
Published: May 2005

A 26‐year (1979–2004) observational record of January multiyear sea ice distributions, derived from neural network analysis of SMMR‐SSM/I passive microwave satellite data, reveals dense and persistent cover in the central Arctic basin surrounded by expansive regions of highly fluctuating interannual cover. Following a decade of quasi equilibrium, precipitous declines in multiyear ice area commenced in 1989 when the Arctic Oscillation shifted to a pronounced positive phase. Although extensive survival of first‐year ice during autumn 1996 fully replenished the area of multiyear ice, a subsequent and accelerated decline returned the depletion to record lows. The most dramatic multiyear sea ice declines occurred in the East Siberian, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas.
Medium‐ and small‐scale ionospheric irregularities detected by GPS radio occultation method
Authors: Tsybulya K. , Jakowski N.
Published: May 2005

The radio occultation technique is used to study plasma irregularities in the F2 layer ionosphere and below. The data, acquired by the GPS receiver onboard the geophysical research satellite CHAMP for more than three years, allow to study ionospheric irregularities under different geophysical conditions on a global scale. The dual‐frequency GPS signals provide a possibility to trace irregularities with a spatial size ranging from about 20 to 250 km. Whereas the irregularities characterized by longer wavelengths dominate at low latitudes, the shorter scale perturbations are very intense at high latitudes. It is found that the high latitude irregularities occur mostly at night time when the ionization level is low.
Feasibility of ocean fertilization and its impact on future atmospheric CO2 levels
Authors: Zeebe R. E. , Archer D.
Published: May 2005

Iron fertilization of macronutrient‐rich but biologically unproductive ocean waters has been proposed for sequestering anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). The first carbon export measurements in the Southern Ocean (SO) during the recent SO‐Iron Experiment (SOFeX) yielded ∼900 t C exported per 1.26 t Fe added. This allows the first realistic, data‐based feasibility assessment of large‐scale iron fertilization and corresponding future atmospheric CO2 prognosis. Using various carbon cycle models, we find that if 20% of the world's surface ocean were fertilized 15 times per year until year 2100, it would reduce atmospheric CO2 by ≲15 ppmv at an expected level of ∼700 ppmv for business‐as‐usual scenarios. Thus, based on the SOFeX results and currently available technology, large–scale oceanic iron fertilization appears not a feasible strategy to sequester anthropogenic CO2.
Electrokinetic effect of the Loma Prieta earthquake calculated by an entire‐Earth FDTD solution of Maxwell's equations
Authors: Simpson Jamesina J. , Taflove Allen
Published: May 2005

We report what we believe to be the first three‐dimensional computational solution of the full‐vector Maxwell's equations for hypothesized pre‐seismic electromagnetic phenomena propagated within the entire Earth‐ionosphere cavity. Periodic boundary conditions are used in conjunction with a variable‐cell finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) space lattice wrapping around the complete Earth‐sphere and extending ±100 km radially from sea level. This technique permits a direct time‐domain calculation of round‐the‐world ULF/ELF propagation accounting for arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities/anisotropies of the excitation, ionosphere, lithosphere, and oceans. In this study, we model electrokinetic currents at depths of 2.5 km and 17 km near the hypocenter of the Loma Prieta earthquake and compare the FDTD‐calculated surface magnetic field to analytical results and measurements previously reported in the literature. We accommodate the complete physics introduced by impulsive electromagnetic wave propagation through the conductive Earth, and hence illustrate the importance of solving the full Maxwell's equations when modeling current sources within the Earth's crust. Our calculated spectra agree qualitatively with those reported by Fraser‐Smith et al. (1990).
SO‐3, a new O‐superfamily conopeptide derived from Conus striatus, selectively inhibits N‐type calcium currents in cultured hippocampal neurons
Authors: Wen Lei , Yang Sheng , Qiao Haifa , Liu Zhenwei , Zhou Wenxia , Zhang Yongxiang , Huang Peitang
Published: May 2005

Whole‐cell currents in cultured hippocampal neurons were recorded to investigate the effects of SO‐3, a new O‐superfamily conopeptide derived from Conus striatus, on voltage‐sensitive channels.

SO‐3 had no effect on voltage‐sensitive sodium currents, delayed rectifier potassium currents, and transient outward potassium currents.

Similar to the selective N‐type calcium channel blocker ω‐conotoxin MVIIA (MVIIA), SO‐3 could concentration‐dependently inhibit the high voltage‐activated (HVA) calcium currents (ICa).

MVIIA(3 μM), 10 μM nimodipine, and 0.5 μM ω‐agatoxin IVA (Aga) could selectively block the N‐, L‐, and P/Q‐type ICa, which contributed ∼32, ∼38, and ∼21% of the HVA currents in hippocampal neurons, respectively. About 31% of the total HVA currents were inhibited by 3 μM SO‐3. SO‐3 (3 μM) and 3 μM MVIIA inhibited the overlapping components of HVA currents, whereas no overlapping component was inhibited by 3 μM SO‐3 and 10 μM nimodipine, or by 3 μM SO‐3 and 0.5 μM Aga. Also, 3 μM SO‐3 had no effect on R‐type currents.

SO‐3 had less inhibitory effects on non‐N‐type HVA currents than MVIIA at higher concentrations (30 and 100 μM).

The inhibitory effects of SO‐3 and MVIIA on HVA currents were almost fully reversible. However, the recovery from block by MVIIA was more rapid than recovery from block by SO‐3.

It is concluded that SO‐3 is a new ω‐conotoxin selectively targeting N‐type voltage‐sensitive calcium channels. Considering the significance of N‐type calcium channels for pain transduction, SO‐3 may have therapeutic potential as a novel analgesic agent.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 728–739. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706223
Carbon monoxide‐releasing molecules (CO‐RMs) attenuate the inflammatory response elicited by lipopolysaccharide in RAW264.7 murine macrophages
Authors: Sawle Philip , Foresti Roberta , Mann Brian E , Johnson Tony R , Green Colin J , Motterlini Roberto
Published: May 2005

The enzyme heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) is a cytoprotective and anti‐inflammatory protein that degrades heme to produce biliverdin/bilirubin, ferrous iron and carbon monoxide (CO). The anti‐inflammatory properties of HO‐1 are related to inhibition of adhesion molecule expression and reduction of oxidative stress, while exogenous CO gas treatment decreases the production of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). CO‐releasing molecules (CO‐RMs) are a novel group of substances identified by our group that are capable of modulating physiological functions via the liberation of CO. We aimed in this study to examine the potential anti‐inflammatory characteristics of CORM‐2 and CORM‐3 in an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated murine macrophages.

Stimulation of RAW264.7 macrophages with LPS resulted in increased expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and production of nitrite. CORM‐2 or CORM‐3 (10–100 μM) reduced nitrite generation in a concentration‐dependent manner but did not affect the protein levels of iNOS. CORM‐3 also decreased nitrite levels when added 3 or 6 h after LPS exposure.

CORM‐2 or CORM‐3 did not cause any evident cytotoxicity and produced an increase in HO‐1 expression and heme oxygenase activity; this effect was completely prevented by the thiol donor N‐acetylcysteine.

CORM‐3 also considerably reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α, another mediator of the inflammatory response.

The inhibitory effects of CORM‐2 and CORM‐3 were not observed when the inactive compounds, which do not release CO, were coincubated with LPS.

These results indicate that CO liberated by CORM‐2 and CORM‐3 significantly suppresses the inflammatory response elicited by LPS in cultured macrophages and suggest that CO carriers can be used as an effective strategy to modulate inflammation.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 800–810. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706241
Substrate‐induced modulation of glutamate uptake in human platelets
Authors: Begni Barbara , Tremolizzo Lucio , D'Orlando Cristina , Bono Maria Serena , Garofolo Rosanna , Longoni Marco , Ferrarese Carlo
Published: May 2005

In the central nervous system (CNS), glutamate rapidly upregulates the activities of different excitatory amino‐acid transporter subtypes (EAATs) in order to help protect neurons from excitotoxicity. Since human platelets display a specific sodium‐dependent glutamate uptake activity, and express the three major glutamate transporters, which may be affected in neurological disorders, we investigated whether platelets are subject to substrate‐induced modulation as described for CNS.

A time‐ and dose‐dependent upregulation of [3H]‐glutamate uptake (up to two‐fold) was observed in platelets preincubated with glutamate. There was an increase in maximal velocity rate without affinity changes. Glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists did not modulate this upregulation and preincubation with glutamate analogues failed to mimic the glutamate effect. Only aspartate preincubation increased the uptake, albeit ∼35% less with respect to glutamate.

The effect of glutamate preincubation on the expression of the three major transporters was studied by Western blotting, showing an increase of ∼70% in EAAT1 immunoreactivity that was completely blocked by cycloheximide (CEM). However, L‐serine‐O‐sulphate, at a concentration (200 μM) known to block EAAT1/3 selectively, did not completely inhibit the effect of glutamate stimulation, indicating the possible involvement of EAAT2.

In fact, glutamate stimulation was completely abolished only when, following CEM pre‐incubation, the experiment was run in the presence of the selective EAAT2 inhibitor dihydrokainic acid. Since surface biotinylation experiments failed to show evidence of EAAT2 translocation, our results suggest the existence of a different way of regulating EAAT2 activity.

These findings indicate that human platelets display a substrate‐dependent modulation of glutamate uptake mediated by different molecular mechanisms and confirm that ex vivo platelets are a reliable model to investigate the dysfunction of glutamate uptake regulation in patients affected by neurological disorders.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 792–799. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706242
Pharmacodynamics of propiverine and three of its main metabolites on detrusor contraction
Authors: Wuest Melinda , Hecht Juliane , Christ Torsten , Braeter Manfred , Schoeberl Christian , Hakenberg Oliver W , Wirth Manfred P , Ravens Ursula
Published: May 2005

Besides its antimuscarinic effects, propiverine may possess an additional mode of action. We compared the effects of propiverine, three of its metabolites (M‐5, M‐6, M‐14) and atropine in human, pig and mouse urinary bladder preparations in order to elucidate the nature of a possible additional mode of action.

Like the parent compound, M‐5, M‐6 and M‐14 reduced to variable degrees the contractions elicited by electric field stimulation (EFS) of isolated, urothelium‐denuded detrusor strips. In mouse the atropine‐resistant and therefore the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic component of contractile response to EFS was reduced by M‐5, M‐14 and propiverine, but was hardly affected by M‐6.

Atropine, propiverine and M‐6 significantly shifted the cumulative concentration–response curves for carbachol (CCh) to higher concentrations. Atropine and M‐6 did not affect the maximum tension induced by CCh. Propiverine, M‐5 and M‐14 reduced the maximum CCh effect, suggesting at least one additional mode of action. This pattern of response was observed in all the three species, albeit with some differences in sensitivity to the various agents.

In freshly isolated human detrusor smooth muscle cells, propiverine and M‐14 inhibited the nifedipine‐sensitive L‐type calcium current (ICa) in a concentration‐dependent manner. In contrast, the effects of M‐5 and M‐6 on ICa were insignificant in the concentration range examined.

The investigated responses to propiverine and its metabolites suggest that impairment of maximum CCh‐induced contractions is due to strong effect on ICa and that this may be associated with the presence of the aliphatic side chain.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 608–619. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706244
Modulation of Ca2+‐dependent and Ca2+‐independent miniature endplate potentials by phorbol ester and adenosine in frog
Authors: Searl Timothy J , Silinsky Eugene M
Published: May 2005

Phorbol esters and adenosine modulate transmitter release from frog motor nerves through actions at separate sites downstream of calcium entry. However, it is not known whether these agents have calcium‐independent sites of action. We therefore characterised calcium independent miniature endplate potentials (mepps) generated in response to 4‐aminoquinaldine (4‐AQA) and then compared the modulation of these mepps by phorbol esters and adenosine with that of normal calcium dependent mepps.

Application of 30 μM 4‐AQA resulted in the appearance of a population of mepps with amplitudes greater than twice the total population mode (mepp>2M). In the presence of 4‐AQA, K+ depolarisation or hypertonicity increased the numbers of normal amplitude mepps (meppN) but had no effect on the frequency of mepp>2M events, suggesting that mepp>2M are not dependent on calcium.

Treatment with the botulinum toxin (Botx) fractions C, D, or E (which selectively cleave syntaxin, synaptobrevin and SNAP‐25, respectively) produced equivalent reductions in both normal and 4‐AQA induced mepps, suggesting that both mepp populations have equal dependence on the intact SNARE proteins.

Phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu, 100 nM) increased the frequencies of both populations of mepps recorded in the presence of 4‐AQA. Adenosine (25 μM) selectively reduced the numbers of meppN with no effect on the frequency of mepp>2M events.

These results suggest that mepp>2M events released in response to 4‐AQA are dependent on intact forms of syntaxin, synaptobrevin and SNAP‐25, but unlike meppN are independent of a functional calcium sensor. The selective action of adenosine, to reduce the numbers of normal amplitude mepps without effecting the frequency of mepp>2M events, suggests that adenosine normally inhibits transmitter release through a mechanism that is dependent on the presence of a functional calcium sensor.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145, 954–962. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706248
10Modeling of cantilever deflection for sensors and actuators: Role of Poisson’s ratio for a unified theory
Authors: Iannotti V. , Ausanio G. , Hison C. , Lanotte L.
Published: May 2005

We construct a theory of the deflection of a bimorph cantilever, applicable to both the isotropic and anisotropic cases, and also including noise effects. The proposed formulation gives the correct expressions for the longitudinal and transverse deflections of a magnetoelastic cantilever for an arbitrary ratio of the thickness of the two components. The optimization of the cantilever as a sensor as a function of the thickness of the two components is discussed and also some results of the cantilever as an actuator are reported.
Multiscale versus micromagnetic calculations of the switching field reduction in FePt∕FeRh bilayers with perpendicular exchange spring
Authors: Garcia-Sanchez F. , Chubykalo-Fesenko O. , Mryasov O. N. , Chantrell R. W. , Guslienko K. Yu.
Published: May 2005

Calculations of magnetisation reversal via a perpendicular exchange spring in soft-hard bilayers are presented using the example of an FePt∕FeRh bilayer which has recently been proposed as an alternative medium for heat-assisted magnetic recording applications. We show that the standard three-dimensional micromagnetic model fails to describe the coercivity reduction due to the fact that at low interface exchange value, the domain wall penetration into the hard layer is not correctly described within the continuous approach. A multiscale model based on atomic level simulations near the interface and a micromagnetic approach far from it is proposed. This leads to improved calculations of the exchange spring at the interface, allowing a detailed study of the magnetisation reversal dynamics. As a result, the coercivity is found to saturate at an interfacial exchange value of 4% of the bulk value, the practical applications of which are discussed. In addition, the granular structure in an FePt medium with different intergrain exchange parameters is considered.
Origin of the fast magnetization tunneling in the single-molecule magnet [Ni(hmp)(t-BuEtOH)Cl]4
Authors: Kirman C. , Lawrence J. , Hill S. , Yang E.-C. , Hendrickson D. N.
Published: May 2005

We present high-frequency angle-dependent EPR data for crystals of [NixZn1−x(hmp)(t-BuEtOH)Cl]4 (x=1 and 0.02). The x=1 complex behaves as a single-molecule magnet at low temperatures, displaying hysteresis and exceptionally fast magnetization tunneling. We show that this behavior is related to a fourth-order transverse crystal-field interaction, which produces a significant tunnel splitting (∼10MHz) of the ground state of this S=4 system. The magnitude of the fourth-order anisotropy, and the dominant axial term (D), can be related to the single-ion interactions (Di and Ei) at the individual NiII sites, as determined for the x=0.02 crystals.
Neutron-diffraction study of magnetization avalanches in Pr0.50Ca0.50Mn1−xNixO3
Authors: Garcia-Muñoz J. L. , Bellido N. , Frontera C. , Hernández-Velasco J. , Ritter C. , Yaicle C. , Martin C. , Maignan A.
Published: May 2005

The magnetization avalanches under field have been investigated at low temperature in Pr0.50Ca0.50Mn1−xNixO3 (x=0.05). In zero field, a 5% of Ni at the Mn site provokes the coexistence of three types of magnetic∕structural mesoscopic domains at low temperature: ferromagnetic metallic (majority phase), pseudo-CE and CE-type (minority phase). The ultrasharp steps observed in the low-temperature isothermal magnetization and resistivity curves were investigated by neutron powder diffraction in magnetic fields up to 5T. At 3T an abrupt growth of ferromagnetic microclusters occurs at the expenses of the two types of antiferromagnetic orbital-ordered domains (CE and pseudo-CE regions).
Electron spin resonance study of Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 single crystals
Authors: Angappane S. , Pattabiraman M. , Rangarajan G. , Sethupathi K.
Published: May 2005

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements in Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 single crystals provide evidence for the existence of spin and lattice correlated clusters above and below TC=205K. The ESR linewidth deviates from the quasilinear “universal” temperature dependence of the linewidth observed in several manganites. A linear temperature dependence of the linewidth is attributed to the spin-phonon interaction. Thus the linewidth of the paramagnetic resonance line indicates the presence of a strong spin-phonon interaction rather than the spin-spin interaction seen in other manganites. The gradual increase observed in the g value above TC is attributed to the presence of orbital correlations. The split in the ESR spectra only below 180K (TC=205K) and more noise in the spectra between 150 and 180K are ascribed to the strong competition between localization due to lattice distortions and delocalization of charge carriers.
Current-sensitive electroresistance and the response to a magnetic field in La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 epitaxial thin films
Authors: Gao J. , Hu F. X.
Published: May 2005

The influence of a transport dc current on the resistivity of La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 epitaxial thin films and their response to a magnetic field has been investigated. We found that when the applied dc current exceeds a threshold value, the electric resistivity in these films could be significantly enhanced. Such observations are completely repeatable. More attractive is that the enhanced resistance turns out to be sensitive to a weak current in a wide temperature range from 10 to 300 K. Even a very small dc current could remarkably depress the high resistance, showing a colossal electroresistance (ER) effect. ER reaches ∼1175% at temperatures lower than ∼50K, and ∼705% at 300 K for a current changing from 0.72 to 10.5 μA. A highly nonlinear behavior of the I–V curves persists even to room temperature. Significant influence of the magnetic field on the electric transports was also observed. It is found that a low field of 0.25 T could remarkably affect the I–V curves, resulting in a considerable magnetoresistance (MR).
In situ epitaxial growth of ordered FePt (001) films with ultra small and uniform grain size using a RuAl underlayer
Authors: Shen W. K. , Judy J. H. , Wang Jian-Ping
Published: May 2005

In situ epitaxial growth of ordered FePt thin films with small and uniform grain size using RuAl underlayer is reported. A transmission electron microscopy image of a 20-nm RuAl layer deposited on a glass substrate revealed small (D∼5.0nm) and uniform (ΔD∕D∼15%) grains. The (001) texture was formed in RuAl films at a substrate temperature higher than 100 °C. The FePt L10 (001) texture with mean grain size of 6.63 nm and narrow size distribution (17%) has been successfully induced using a RuAl underlayer at a substrate temperature of 400 °C. The influences of the RuAl composition ratio and Pt interlayer were studied.
Grain-boundary control and low-field magnetoresistance in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3
Authors: Patil S. I. , Ogale Anjali S. , Shinde S. R. , Kundaliya Darshan C. , Ogale S. B. , Bhagat S. M. , Venkatesan T.
Published: May 2005

Sintered La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 ceramics were prepared by standard solid-state reaction route. Some of these pellets were again heated to 850 °C and quenched to room temperature. These samples were then studied for low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR) effects. Remarkably, upon quenching from high temperature the polycrystalline as well as the crystalline samples are seen to exhibit a dramatic change in LFMR with the emergence of a large positive MR. In the quenched samples a positive LFMR as high as 48% was noted in a field of 200 Oe. This positive MR effect was found to show time-dependent relaxation.
Origin of exchange decoupling effects in high-coercivity air-annealed CoPd multilayers
Authors: Egelhoff W. F. , McMichael R. D. , Mallett J. J. , Shapiro A. J. , Powell C. J. , Bonevich J. E. , Judy J. H. , Thomas J. H. , Svedberg E. B.
Published: May 2005

We have achieved excellent exchange decoupling of grains in CoPd multilayers by annealing in air at 300°C. Samples exhibit a slope in the hysteresis loop close to 1.0, nucleation fields as large as 11kOe, and coercivities as large as 16kOe. These are among the best properties ever achieved for CoPd multilayers. In samples of the general type seed layer\(0.3nmCo\1nmPd)×15\capping layer, it appears that atoms diffuse rapidly up and down the grain boundaries at 300°C. From x-ray photoelectron and Auger depth profiling, we have found that when Co atoms arrive at the surface they become oxidized and remain at the surface, leaving the grain boundaries depleted in Co and apparently nonmagnetic. If the annealing is carried out in vacuum, exchange decoupling of the grains does not occur. This result supports our conclusion that the presence of oxygen plays a crucial role. When Au or Pt atoms are present in the seed layer or capping layer, they diffuse into the CoPd grain boundaries and apparently enhance the exchange decoupling of grains.
Metastable resistivity and nonlinear conductivity in low-doped Pr1−xSrxMnO3 single crystals
Authors: Jung G. , Markovich V. , Yuzhelevskii Y. , Rozenberg E. , Gorodetsky G. , Mukovskii Ya. M.
Published: May 2005

Transport properties of Pr1−xSrxMnO3 single crystals doped close to the percolation threshold have been investigated. It was found that the resistivity of x=0.22 crystal obeys the Arrhenius law above TC. Below TC, the dynamic resistance starts to depend strongly on bias current and a drop of the activation energy points to a change in the conduction mechanism. The results resemble closely features of the previously investigated La1−xCaxMnO3 manganites.
Magnetocrystalline anisotropies and magnetostriction of ultrathin Fe films on GaAs with Cr overlayers
Authors: Morley N. A. , Tang S. L. , Gibbs M. R. J. , Ahmad E. , Will I. G. , Xu Y. B.
Published: May 2005

In this article we present data which show that Cr overlayers on epitaxial Fe films on GaAs substrates change the magnetic properties of the films in comparison to Au overlayers. For films thinner than 50 ML, the presence of the Cr overlayer reduced the magnitude of the uniaxial anisotropy in the Fe film, while for a 150 ML film, there was still a strong uniaxial anisotropy present. The anisotropy constants were determined using a modified energy density model, and were found to be smaller than those for Au overlayer films. The absolute magnetizations were measured on a vibrating sample magnetometer. It was determined that for the same thickness of Fe the magnetization with a Cr overlayer was 75% of that for a Au overlayer. This was either due to the Cr alloying with the Fe at the interface, or the Cr forming CrO2 on the surface of the film. The magnetostriction constant was determined using the Villari effect. For all the films the saturation magnetostriction constant was more negative than the bulk Fe value.
C
-axis oriented L1 phase FePt thin films by plasma-assisted diffusion
Authors: Katayama Nobuhiro , Maekawa Tomoaki , Liu Xiaoxi , Morisako Akimitsu , Matsumoto Mitsunori
Published: May 2005

L 1 0 phase FePt thin films with different crystal orientation have been prepared by deposition of Fe and Pt separately from the corresponding targets using dc magnetron sputtering and in situ substrate heating. The codiffusion of the Fe and Pt atoms are attributed by the surface bombardment from high energy ions in plasma. The transformation temperature for L10 phase FePt is as low as 250°C by this technique. The crystal orientation of the obtained FePt films with L10 structure is determined by the orientation of the initial Fe layer.
Texture development and magnetic properties of sputter-deposited FePt–MgO nanocomposite films
Authors: Kim Han Jae , Lee Seong-Rae
Published: May 2005

We investigated the relationship among the development of out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy, the L10 ordering reaction, and the texture development in multilayered (FePt∕MgO)n films that were sputter deposited on a Si substrate. A large out-of-plane coercivity (Hc) of about 9.8kOe and a heteroepitaxially grown nearly perfect L10 face-centered-tetragonal (001) texture were obtained for annealed (FePt2.8nm∕MgO3.2nm)6 films. The development of an L10FePt(002) texture, which is the primary condition for out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy, depends strongly on the degree of face-centered-cubic FePt (200) and MgO (200) texture development in the as-deposited state. The magnetic anisotropy of the FePt film could be controlled from in-plane to out-of-plane by varying the thickness of the FePt and MgO sublayers.
Fully dense anisotropic nanocomposite Sm(Co,Fe,Zr,Cu,B)z (z=7.5–12) magnets
Authors: Huang M. Q. , Turgut Z. , Wheeler B. , Lee D. , Liu S. , Ma B. M. , Peng Y. G. , Chu S. Y. , Laughlin D. E. , Horwath J. C. , Fingers R. T.
Published: May 2005

Fully dense anisotropic nanocomposite Sm(Co0.58Fe0.31Zr0.05Cu0.04B0.02)z (z=7.5–12) magnets have been synthesized via rapid hot pressing and hot deformation processes. The highest (BH)max∼10.6MGOe was observed for a magnet with z=10. X-ray diffraction and M-H measurements indicated that the easy magnetization direction of magnets prefers to be in the hot pressing direction. Transmission electron microscopy investigation confirmed that plastic deformation is an important route for forming magnetic anisotropy in the Sm–Co-type nanocomposite magnets. Some stripe and/or platelike patterns have been observed inside the nanograins (50–200nm), which may present as twins, and stacking faults. The (0001) twins have been observed in the 2:17R phase.
Room-temperature resistance switching and temperature hysteresis of Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 junctions
Authors: Sakai Joe , Imai Syozo
Published: May 2005

Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of Ag∕Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3(PCMO)∕YBa2Cu3O7−δ(YBCO) junctions fabricated on LaAlO3 (001) substrates were measured. Nonlinear, asymmetric, and hysteretic I–V curves, that are considered to be the nature of the resistance memory effect previously reported, were observed. In some junctions the I–V characteristics were switched between linear and nonlinear by its thermal hysteresis. Room-temperature I–V characteristics, originally being linear, turned to be nonlinear after cooling to 100K, and returned to be linear after heating to 400K.
Analysis of interfacial magnetic anisotropy in Co∕Pt and Co∕Pd multilayer films
Authors: Nemoto Hiroaki , Hosoe Yuzuru
Published: May 2005

Analysis of Co∕Pt and Co∕Pd multilayer films was performed to investigate the dependence of interfacial magnetic anisotropy (IMA) and induced magnetization on the thickness of the laminated Pd or Pt layers. For the Co∕Pd films, the IMA energy increased as the thickness of the laminated Pd layer was increased up to ∼0.8nm and depended proportionally on the amount of the induced magnetization. This suggests that the whole magnetic moment induced in a few Pd atomic layers contributed to the IMA. In contrast, for the Co∕Pt films, this proportional relationship only held when the thickness of the Pt layer was less than ∼0.2nm. Since one Pt monolayer is 0.225nm thick, the amount of the IMA energy in the Co∕Pt films is proportional to the number of Pt–Co atomic contacts. This difference between Co∕Pt and Co∕Pd multilayer films is attributed to the difference in the latent ferromagnetism between Pt and Pd.
Structural and magnetic properties of (Sm,Pr)3(Fe1−xAlx)27.5Ti1.5 [x=0.1,0.2,0.3]
Authors: Venkatesh S. , Markandeyulu G. , Rama Rao K. V. S.
Published: May 2005

The structural and magnetic properties of (Sm0.9Pr0.1)3(Fe1−xAlx)27.5Ti1.5 [x=0.1,0.2,0.3] compounds have been investigated by x-ray diffraction, magnetization, and Curie temperature measurements. The lattice parameters are found to increase with increasing Al concentration. The saturation magnetization is seen to decrease with the substitution of Al and is attributed to the modification in the DOS by Al. The Curie temperature increased for low concentrations of Al and then decreased. The easy direction of magnetization (EMD) in all the compounds is normal to the (204) plane. The anisotropy fields decrease with increasing Al concentration.