bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefit packages and individual behavior: choices over discrete goods with multiple attributes
Authors: Boening Mark Van , Blackstone Tanja F. , McKee Michael , Rutstrom Elisabet
Published: September 2006

Managers and employers use an array of rewards to attract and retain quality employees. An increasingly significant component of the overall compensation is the employee's benefits package. Flexible packages offer more choice but also incur higher decision costs. We conduct an experiment on choices over stylized benefits packages where discrete ‘goods’ have multiple attributes affecting the payoff function. We investigate the degree to which these complications affect choices. Eighty subjects play an individual‐choice decision‐cost game where they are implicitly asked to solve a complex programming problem. Our main results are that: (a) individual subjects respond to the relative tradeoff between the attributes, (b) some combinations of the attributes (apparently) entice subjects to search more and thus earn more, and (c) most subjects appear to adopt a heuristic that approximates the optimal solution. Further, subjects appear to value the right to make choices, as they rarely choose a fixed payoff option with a known payoff and low decision cost, even when the fixed payoff is 80% of the maximum possible under the decision‐making task. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elastoplastic medium for foundation settlements and monotonic soil–structure interaction under combined loadings
Authors: Conniff Dawn E. , Kiousis Panos D.
Published: September 2006

Foundation settlements and soil–structure interaction are important problems to structural and geotechnical engineers. This study introduces a novel elastoplastic three‐degree‐of‐freedom medium which models foundations settlements under combined loadings. A soil–structure interaction problem can then be solved by replacing the soil mass with this three‐degree‐of‐freedom elastoplastic medium, thus reducing significantly the size of the problem. The model was developed by extending the classical plasticity concepts to the force‐deformation level. Its ability to predict foundation deformations was evaluated using finite element solutions of a typical shallow foundation problem and was found reasonably accurate while producing significant time savings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization and over‐expression of chaperonin t‐complex proteins in colorectal cancer
Authors: Coghlin C , Carpenter B , Dundas SR , Lawrie LC , Telfer C , Murray GI
Published: September 2006

The chaperonins are key molecular complexes, which are essential in the folding of proteins to produce stable and functionally competent protein conformations. One member of the chaperonin group of proteins is TCP1 (chaperonin containing t‐complex polypeptide 1, or CCT), but little is known about this protein in tumours. In this study, we used comparative proteomic analysis to show that t‐complex protein subunits TCP1 beta and TCP1 epsilon are over‐expressed in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Monoclonal antibodies to these proteins were developed and the expression and cellular localization of these two proteins in colorectal cancer were analysed by immunohistochemistry on a colorectal cancer tissue microarray. In colorectal cancer, TCP1 beta cellular localization was exclusively cytoplasmic, whereas TCP1 epsilon staining was seen in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Both cytoplasmic TCP1 beta and cytoplasmic TCP1 epsilon were significantly over‐expressed (p < 0.001 for each protein) in primary colorectal cancer and also showed increased expression with advancing Dukes' stage (p = 0.018 for TCP1 beta and p = 0.045 for TCP1 epsilon). A trend was also identified between over‐expression of cytoplasmic TCP1 beta and reduced patient survival (p = 0.05). These results show that both TCP1 beta and TCP1 epsilon are over‐expressed in colorectal cancer and indicate a role for TCP1 beta and TCP1 epsilon in colorectal cancer progression. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TLR‐2‐mediated induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cartilage in septic joint disease
Authors: Varoga D , Paulsen F , Mentlein R , Fay J , Kurz B , Schütz R , Wruck C , Goldring MB , Pufe T
Published: September 2006

Bacterial arthritis is a progressive joint disease which includes rapid destruction of articular cartilage even after clearance of the causal factor. The resulting post‐infectious arthropathy is mainly characterized by self‐perpetuating joint destruction and extensive angiogenesis in the emerging pannus‐like synovial membrane, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of the bacteria‐initiated process remain incompletely understood. This study was conducted to elucidate the expression and regulation of angiogenic and cartilage‐destructive vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in septic arthritis. For that purpose, aspirates of synovial fluid from patients with pyogenic arthritis were examined for VEGF levels by ELISA. In vitro studies with primary and immortalized chondrocytes were performed to determine whether Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria induce VEGF expression, by using real‐time RT‐PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Activation of the transcription factor AP‐1 was assessed by EMSA experiments. The necessity of the Toll‐like receptor‐2 (TLR‐2), ERK‐1/‐2, and AP‐1 pathway for infectious VEGF induction in chondrocytes was examined by using specific blocking reagents. ELISA experiments revealed that aspirates of synovial fluid from patients with pyogenic arthritis contain elevated levels of VEGF. The in vitro results confirmed the transcriptional induction of VEGF in chondrocytes after bacterial challenge by real‐time RT‐PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. This activation was mediated by a TLR‐2‐, ERK‐1/‐2‐, and AP‐1‐dependent pathway. The findings demonstrate the expression of Toll‐like receptors on mesenchymal articular chondrocytes and reveal TLR‐2‐mediated VEGF induction in human chondrocytes after Gram‐positive bacterial sensing. Since VEGF is a potent angiogenic and tissue remodelling factor, evidence that Toll‐like receptors contribute to destructive arthropathy after microbial joint infection is provided. VEGF may be a therapeutic target in the future for the prevention of post‐infectious cartilage degradation in articular joints. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Renal prothrombin mRNA is significantly decreased in a hyperoxaluric rat model of nephrolithiasis
Authors: Grover PK , Miyazawa K , Coleman M , Stahl J , Ryall RL
Published: September 2006

Although urinary prothrombin fragment 1 (UPTF1) possesses several hallmarks expected of a regulatory protein in urolithiasis, its precise role remains unknown. To determine the relationship between renal prothrombin (PT), the parent molecule of UPTF1, and lithogenesis, this study quantified and compared levels of renal PT mRNA in healthy rats (n = 10) and rats rendered lithogenic (n = 10) by ingestion of 0.75% ethylene glycol for 8 weeks. Studies included morphological and histological examination of the kidneys with scanning electron microscopy of the urinary filtrates of control and experimental animals. Haematuria and calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals occurred in the urine of all experimental rats, but not in those of controls. Histological examination showed birefringent nephroliths and associated damage in kidneys of lithogenic rats, which were not seen in the control group. The amounts of total RNA extracted from both groups of rats were similar, but the median ratio of PT to β‐actin transcript of 11.14 × 10−4(10.65 × 10−4 ± 2.24 × 10−4) in the control rats was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced to 6.47 × 10−4(6.57 × 10−4 ± 2.72 × 10−4) in the lithogenic group. These results demonstrate that renal PT mRNA is reduced by ∼42% in lithogenic rats and confirm the existence of a direct association between renal PT synthesis and calculogenesis. Attempts to compare renal PT and urinary levels of PTF1 were unsuccessful because of interference from hepatic PT circulating in the blood, haematuria, and the presence of urinary CaOx crystals. This is the first report of a significant reduction in the renal expression of a urinary protein well documented to inhibit CaOx crystal growth and aggregation in undiluted human urine in vitro. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolution of VHL tumourigenesis in nerve root tissue
Authors: Vortmeyer AO , Tran MGB , Zeng W , Gläsker S , Riley C , Tsokos M , Ikejiri B , Merrill MJ , Raffeld M , Zhuang Z , Lonser RR , Maxwell PH , Oldfield EH
Published: September 2006

Haemangioblastomas are the key central nervous system manifestation of von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease, which is caused by germline mutation of the VHL gene. We have recently shown that ‘tumour‐free’ spinal cord from patients with VHL disease contains microscopic, poorly differentiated cellular aggregates in nerve root tissue, which we descriptively designated ‘mesenchymal tumourlets’. Here we have investigated spinal cord tissue affected by multiple tumours. We show that a small subset of mesenchymal tumourlets extends beyond the nerve root to form proliferative VHL‐deficient mesenchyme and frank haemangioblastoma. We thus demonstrate that tumourlets present potential, but true precursor material for haemangioblastoma. We further show that intraradicular tumourlets consist of scattered VHL‐deficient cells with activation of HIF‐2α and HIF‐dependent target proteins including CAIX and VEGF, and are associated with an extensive angiogenic response. In contrast, activation of HIF‐1α was only observed in the later stages of tumour progression. In addition, ultrastructural examination reveals gradual transition from poorly differentiated VHL‐deficient cells into vacuolated cells with a ‘stromal’ cell phenotype. The evolution of frank haemangioblastoma seems to involve multiple steps from a large pool of precursor lesions. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
C/EBPbeta is over‐expressed in gastric carcinogenesis and is associated with COX‐2 expression
Authors: Regalo G , Canedo P , Suriano G , Resende C , Campos ML , Oliveira MJ , Figueiredo C , Rodrigues‐Pereira P , Blin N , Seruca R , Carneiro F , Machado JC
Published: September 2006

The CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) transcription factor has been associated with several cancer models. In this study, the expression of C/EBPbeta was analysed in a series of 90 gastric carcinomas (GCs). We also assessed the effect of C/EBPbeta on COX‐2 expression. In normal gastric mucosa, C/EBPbeta expression was restricted to cells in the proliferative zone. In intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and GC of the intestinal and atypical subtypes, C/EBPbeta was over‐expressed (p < 0.0001, for the association with histological type). C/EBPbeta and Ki67, a marker of cell proliferation, were also co‐expressed in primary GC. We also observed an overlap between C/EBPbeta and COX‐2 expression in GC. Using GC cell lines we show that C/EBPbeta can regulate the expression of endogenous COX‐2 and transactivate the promoter of the COX‐2 gene, depending on its methylation status. These results suggest that C/EBPbeta may be a marker of neoplastic transformation and also play an active role in gastric tumourigenesis by regulating COX‐2 expression. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk of local adverse events by gender following cardiac catheterization
Authors: Tavris Dale R. , Gallauresi Beverly Albrecht , Dey Syamal , Brindis Ralph , Mitchel Kristi
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To assess the reason for the relative high risk of local complications for women following cardiac catheterization by evaluating the associations between gender, sheath size, and local adverse outcomes following cardiac catheterization.

Methods

The data used in this study were obtained from a portion of the American College of Cardiology‐National Cardiovascular Data Registry™ (ACC‐NCDR™), which included 13 878 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization at one of 59 participating cardiac catheterization institutions throughout the United States during late 2003. Rates of serious local vascular adverse events were calculated by gender following cardiac catheterization, by type of vascular hemostasis used, stratified by arterial sheath size.

Results

Serious local vascular events were reported in 3.54% of patients, most commonly hematoma (2.00%). The relative risk for women of any vascular complication was 1.40 [95%CI = 1.17, 1.67, p = 0.0002]. A statistically significant relative risk for woman was evident when collagen plug devices or manual compression alone were used as the first method for hemostasis. The rate of vascular complications increased progressively with increasing sheath size, more so in women than in men.

Conclusions

High relative risk for women of local vascular complications following cardiac catheterization was demonstrated with use of manual compression, as well as with collagen plug devices to control femoral artery bleeding. Large sheath size is associated with both a relatively high absolute risk and a high relative risk for women. Knowledge of this information should be considered by interventional cardiologists in making decisions on how to achieve hemostasis following cardiac catheterization. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanostructured thermoset epoxy resin templated by an amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) diblock copolymer
Authors: Guo Qipeng , Chen Fei , Wang Ke , Chen Ling
Published: September 2006

An amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PEO–PDMS) diblock copolymer was used to template a bisphenol A type epoxy resin (ER); nanostructured thermoset blends of ER and PEO–PDMS were prepared with 4,4′‐methylenedianiline (MDA) as the curing agent. The phase behavior, crystallization, hydrogen‐bonding interactions, and nanoscale structures were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. The uncured ER was miscible with the poly(ethylene oxide) block of PEO–PDMS, and the uncured blends were not macroscopically phase‐separated. Macroscopic phase separation took place in the MDA‐cured ER/PEO–PDMS blends containing 60–80 wt % PEO–PDMS diblock copolymer. However, the composition‐dependent nanostructures were formed in the cured blends with 10–50 wt % PEO–PDMS, which did not show macroscopic phase separation. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) microdomains with sizes of 10–20 nm were dispersed in a continuous ER‐rich phase; the average distance between the neighboring microdomains was in the range of 20–50 nm. The miscibility between the cured ER and the poly(ethylene oxide) block of PEO–PDMS was ascribed to the favorable hydrogen‐bonding interaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3042–3052, 2006
Structural investigations of poly(amido amine) dendrimers in methanol using molecular dynamics
Authors: Opitz Armin W. , Wagner Norman J.
Published: September 2006

The molecular structure of poly(amido amine) dendrimers is investigated with molecular dynamics simulations using the Amber 7 modeling package. A method for defining residues for complex molecules is developed, and it enables the study of the effects of protonation of the primary and tertiary amines. The effects of implicit solvents versus explicit solvents as well as the pH of the solution on the molecular structure are calculated. Good agreement with experimental results for the radius of gyration measured in methanol by X‐ray scattering is observed for simulations with an explicit solvent and protonation of the primary amines. Calculations of the intramolecular atomistic pair correlation function show a dense core, as well as the presence of voids filled with the solvent inside the molecule. The primary amines (end groups) are shown to access the molecular interior by backfolding. Comparisons with experiments and other reported simulation results highlight the advantages of the approach developed here. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3062–3077, 2006
Influence of Portland cement amendment on soil pH and residual soil termiticide performance
Authors: Richman Dina L , Tucker Cynthia L , Koehler Philip G
Published: September 2006

Soil adjacent to new brick veneer work is likely to have a higher pH owing to the mixture of cement with the soil. In the Gainesville, FL, area, soil samples taken from such locations had a range of pH values from 9.0 to 10.1; similar soils used in bioassays had a pH of 5.6 before the addition of cement. Addition of 15 mg of Portland cement to 33 g of soil increased the pH to 6, and addition of 291 mg of Portland cement increased the pH to 9. The pH of soil amended with cement was stable for the first 5 months. After 10 months, soil pH values decreased from alkaline to near neutral in all cases. Eastern subterranean termite workers, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), were exposed to the treated soil at pH 6–9 for 24 h, and percentage mortality was recorded at 5 days, 5 months and 10 months. Termite mortality significantly decreased at higher soil pHs for bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, fipronil and imidacloprid treatments at 5 months and similarly for bifenthrin, permethrin, chlorpyrifos, fipronil and imidacloprid treatments at 10 months. There was an inverse linear relationship between soil pH and mortality. Increased soil pH diminished residual activity of termiticide in the following order: imidacloprid > fipronil > chlorpyrifos = bifenthrin > permethrin > cypermethrin. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Assessment of novel inhibitors of Helicoverpa aminopeptidases as anti‐insect agents
Authors: Duncan Ann‐Maree , Ren Hua , Bound Fleur , Tully Jon , Chandler David S , Sandeman R Mark
Published: September 2006

Helicoverpa species present problems worldwide as pests on a variety of agricultural crops. In Australia, the costs of controlling H. armigera (Hübn.) and H. punctigera (Wall.) are a major burden on the cotton industry, and novel mechanisms are continually sought to combat these pests. Potential new targets for insecticides are the digestive proteases of the insect, including the aminopeptidases (APs). A variety of compounds, designed to be similar in structure to known AP inhibitors, were synthesized and screened for activity in inhibiting H. armigera larval growth and AP activity. The most effective compounds in both assays proved to be hydroxamic acids and methylphosphonic acids. Compounds that incorporated both of these groups were also found to have significant potential as control agents. The most inhibitory compounds included valine methylphosphonic acid and a leucine methylphosphonic acid/hydroxamic acid derivative. The valine methylphosphonic acid compound was tested further in vitro, with the aim of producing a new active capable of restricting the viability of Helicoverpa populations on commercial crops. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel α‐conotoxins identified by gene sequencing from cone snails native to Hainan, and their sequence diversity
Authors: Luo Sulan , Zhangsun Dongting , Zhang Ben , Quan Yaru , Wu Yong
Published: September 2006

Conotoxins (CTX) from the venom of marine cone snails (genus Conus) represent large families of proteins, which show a similar precursor organization with surprisingly conserved signal sequence of the precursor peptides, but highly diverse pharmacological activities. By using the conserved sequences found within the genes that encode the α‐conotoxin precursors, a technique based on RT‐PCR was used to identify, respectively, two novel peptides (LiC22, LeD2) from the two worm‐hunting Conus species Conus lividus, and Conus litteratus, and one novel peptide (TeA21) from the snail‐hunting Conus species Conus textile, all native to Hainan in China. The three peptides share an α4/7 subfamily α‐conotoxins common cysteine pattern (CCX4CX7C, two disulfide bonds), which are competitive antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs). The cDNA of LiC22N encodes a precursor of 40 residues, including a propeptide of 19 residues and a mature peptide of 21 residues. The cDNA of LeD2N encodes a precursor of 41 residues, including a propeptide of 21 residues and a mature peptide of 16 residues with three additional Gly residues. The cDNA of TeA21N encodes a precursor of 38 residues, including a propeptide of 20 residues and a mature peptide of 17 residues with an additional residue Gly. The additional residue Gly of LeD2N and TeA21N is a prerequisite for the amidation of the preceding C‐terminal Cys. All three sequences are processed at the common signal site ‐X‐Arg‐ immediately before the mature peptide sequences. The properties of the α4/7 conotoxins known so far were discussed in detail. Phylogenetic analysis of the new conotoxins in the present study and the published homologue of α4/7 conotoxins from the other Conus species were performed systematically. Patterns of sequence divergence for the three regions of signal, proregion, and mature peptides, both nucleotide acids and residue substitutions in DNA and peptide levels, as well as Cys codon usage were analyzed, which suggest how these separate branches originated. Percent identities of the DNA and amino acid sequences of the signal region exhibited high conservation, whereas the sequences of the mature peptides ranged from almost identical to highly divergent between inter‐ and intra‐species. Notably, the diversity of the proregion was also high, with an intermediate percentage of divergence between that observed in the signal and in the toxin regions. The data presented are new and are of importance, and should attract the interest of researchers in this field. The elucidated cDNAs of these toxins will facilitate a better understanding of the relationship of their structure and function, as well as the process of their evolutionary relationships. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The square lattice shuffle
Authors: Håstad Johan
Published: September 2006

We show that the operations of permuting columns and rows separately and independently mix a square matrix in constant time. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Limit laws for embedded trees: Applications to the integrated superBrownian excursion
Authors: Bousquet‐Mélou Mireille
Published: September 2006

We study three families of labeled plane trees. In all these trees, the root is labeled 0 and the labels of two adjacent nodes differ by 0,1, or −1.

One part of the paper is devoted to enumerative results. For each family, and for all j ∈ ℕ, we obtain closed form expressions for the following three generating functions: the generating function of trees having no label larger than j; the (bivariate) generating function of trees, counted by the number of edges and the number of nodes labeled j; and finally the (bivariate) generating function of trees, counted by the number of edges and the number of nodes labeled at least, j. Strangely enough, all these series turn out to be algebraic, but we have no combinatorial intuition for this algebraicity.

The other part of the paper is devoted to deriving limit laws from these enumerative results. In each of our families of trees, we endow the trees of size n with the uniform distribution and study the following random variables: Mn, the largest label occurring in a (random) tree; Xn(j), the number of nodes labeled j; and X(j), the number of nodes labeled j or more. We obtain limit laws for scaled versions of these random variables.

Finally, we translate the above limit results into statements dealing with the integrated superBrownian excursion. In particular, we describe the law of the supremum of its support (thus recovering some earlier results obtained by Delmas) and the law of its distribution function at a given point. We also conjecture the law of its density (at a given point). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
Covariates missing by design: comparison of the efficient score to other weighted methods
Authors: D'Angelo Gina , Weissfeld Lisa
Published: September 2006

This paper addresses the modelling of missing covariate data with the logistic regression model. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the properties of an efficient score for logistic regression in a two‐phase design. Simulation studies show that the efficient score is more efficient than two other pseudo‐likelihood methods when the correlation between the missing covariate and its surrogate is high or the sampling proportion is small. These methods are illustrated with data from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group. Results from the example confirm the simulation study findings with the exception that the pseudo‐likelihood approach produces more reliable estimates than the weighted pseudo‐likelihood approach. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of optimal dynamic anticoagulation regimes from observational data: a regret‐based approach
Authors: Rosthøj Susanne , Fullwood Catherine , Henderson Robin , Stewart Syd
Published: September 2006

A complication of long‐term anticoagulation is that the optimal dose level varies not only between patients but over time within patients, in response to short‐term changes in lifestyle. Consequently, doseage needs to be adaptive but there are as yet no accepted decision rules. Since anticoagulant use is increasing worldwide there is a need for more objective and routine procedures. In this paper, we describe an analysis of observational longitudinal anticoagulant data, aimed at determining an optimal reactive dose‐changing strategy. We use the regret parameterization approach advocated by Murphy (J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B 2003; 65:331–366). Practical problems encountered in the implementation of the approach are discussed and illustrated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formation of CdS Nanoparticle Necklaces with Functionalized Dendronized Polymers
Authors: Zhang Yanhong , Chen Yongming , Niu Haijun , Gao Mingyuan
Published: September 2006

A one‐dimensional assembly of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles was prepared by using functionalized polymers with pendant Fréchet‐type dendritic wedges of different generation. The novel dendronized polymers acted as both nanoreactors for the formation of CdS nanoparticles and a template to arrange the nanoparticles into a necklace. The polymers of different dendron generation were applied to stabilize CdS particles and the effect of dendron size was observed. CdS nanoparticle necklaces were obtained successfully when polymers bearing second‐generation dendrons were applied.
Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Ordered Cobalt–Magnetite Nanocable Arrays
Authors: Daly Brian , Arnold Donna C. , Kulkarni Jaideep S. , Kazakova Olga , Shaw Matthew T. , Nikitenko Sergey , Erts Donats , Morris Michael A. , Holmes Justin D.
Published: September 2006

Magnetically tunable, high‐density arrays of coaxial nanocables within anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have been synthesized. The nanocables consist of magnetite nanowires surrounded by cobalt nanotube sheaths and cobalt nanowires surrounded by magnetite nanotube sheaths. These materials are a combination of separate hard (Co) and soft (Fe3O4) magnetic materials in a single nanocable structure. The combination of two or more magnetic materials in such a radial structure is seen as a very powerful tool for the future fabrication of magnetoresistive, spin‐valve and ultrafast spin‐injection devices with nonplanar geometries. The nanocable arrays were prepared using a supercritical‐fluid inclusion process, whereby the nanotube was first deposited onto the pore walls of the nanoporous membranes and subsequently filled with core material to form coaxial nanocables. In essence, this paper describes a technique for placing novel magnetic technologies into well‐defined building blocks that may ultimately lead to new multifunctional devices, such as spin valves and high‐density magnetic storage devices.
Lessons learned from unsuccessful modelling interventions
Authors: Eskinasi Martijn , Fokkema Eppie
Published: September 2006

This paper reports several related failures of modelling interventions. Atrivé, an organizational consulting company, set out to adapt a canonical housing association model named ITS to the specific circumstances of its clients. The ITS adaptation process, however, demonstrated rather annoying dynamics and finally had to be terminated due to negative business results. This paper provides a background on the relevance of failure case studies and ventures into the symptoms and warning signs. We reflect on a systems thinking intervention within Atrivé to learn from these experiences and improve business strategy. The problems encountered correspond to several archetypes. We end this paper by summarizing several known and one possibly new factor in explaining failure of modelling projects and pose several questions for further research. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Causation and constitution in system dynamics: modelling a socially constituted world
Authors: van der Smagt Ton
Published: September 2006

This paper discusses the claim that System Dynamics models are unable to represent constitutional change. They do represent state transitions, but not constitutional transitions. Because the latter kind of transitions is the rule rather than the exception in the study of social phenomena, this inability has serious consequences. First of all, it leads to a neglect of constitutional issues; causal models blind us for constitutional change. Secondly, and even more seriously, it implies a direct threat to the validity of the causal models, themselves. These consequences are discussed and illustrated by referring to two case studies. Finally, the question is discussed of whether Group Model Building handles constitutional issues any better than System Dynamics does. Although Group Model Building does contribute important epistemological insights, it fails, just as is the case in System Dynamics, to deal with constitutional change. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concomitant administration of Moringa oleifera seed powder in the remediation of arsenic‐induced oxidative stress in mouse
Authors: Gupta Richa , Dubey D.K. , Kannan G.M. , Flora S.J.S.
Published: September 2006

Contamination of ground water by arsenic has become a cause of global public health concern. In West Bengal, India, almost 6 million people are endemically exposed to inorganic arsenic by drinking heavily contaminated groundwater through hand‐pumped tube wells. No safe, effective and specific preventive or therapeutic measures for treating arsenic poisoning are available. We recently reported that some of the herbal extracts possess properties effective in reducing arsenic concentration and in restoring some of the toxic effects of arsenic in animal models. Moringa oleifera Lamarack (English: Horseradish‐tree, Drumstick‐tree, Hindi: Saijan, Sanskrit: Shigru) belongs to the Moringaceae family, is generally known in the developing world as a vegetable, a medicinal plant and a source of vegetable oil.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seed powder could restore arsenic induced oxidative stress and reduce body arsenic burden. Exposure to arsenic (2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 6 weeks) led to a significant increase in the levels of tissue reactive oxygen species (ROS), metallothionein (MT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) which were accompanied by a decrease in the activities in the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in mice. Arsenic exposed mice also exhibited liver injury as reflected by reduced acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and altered heme synthesis pathway as shown by inhibited blood δ‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ‐ALAD) activity.

Co‐administration of M. oleifera seed powder (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally) with arsenic significantly increased the activities of SOD, catalase, GPx with elevation in reduced GSH level in tissues (liver, kidney and brain). These changes were accompanied by approximately 57%, 64% and 17% decrease in blood ROS, liver metallothionein (MT) and lipid peroxidation respectively in animal co‐administered with M. oleifera and arsenic. Another interesting observation has been the reduced uptake of arsenic in soft tissues (55% in blood, 65% in liver, 54% in kidneys and 34% in brain) following administration of M. oleifera seed powder (particularly at the dose of 500 mg/kg). It can thus be concluded from the present study that concomitant administration of M. oleifera seed powder with arsenic could significantly protect animals from oxidative stress and in reducing tissue arsenic concentration. Administration of M. oleifera seed powder thus could also be beneficial during chelation therapy with a thiol chelator.
A saurischian dinosaur braincase from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) near Oxford, England: from the theropod Megalosaurus or the sauropod Cetiosaurus?
Authors: GALTON P. M. , KNOLL F.
Published: September 2006

A dinosaur braincase from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Oxfordshire (England) is described. The specimen, which has historical significance, has been erratically attributed to either a sauropod or a theropod on the basis of vague phenetic resemblances. It is here re-interpreted in the light of recent cladistic analyses of dinosaurs, allowing the first proper character-based discussion of its affinities. It resembles those of ornithischian and prosauropod dinosaurs in the absence of a prominent, caudolaterally directed bony sheet from either the crista tuberalis (as in all theropods) or the crista prootica (as in all sauropods except juveniles of the eusauropod Shunosaurus). This braincase shows two synapomorphic characters of the Eusauropoda: the region of the cranium is rostrocaudally shortened and the long axis of the supratemporal fenestra is transversely oriented. For these characters, ornithischians, theropods, and prosauropods retain the plesiomorphic condition. It is concluded that the specimen is an important exemplar of a Middle Jurassic sauropod braincase and it is suggested that it could be from the eusauropod Cetiosaurus.
Exhumation of high-pressure rocks under continuous compression: a working hypothesis for the southern Hellenides (central Crete, Greece)
Authors: CHATZARAS V. , XYPOLIAS P. , DOUTSOS T.
Published: September 2006

Combined kinematic, structural and palaeostress (calcite twinning, fault-slip data) analyses are used to study the exhumation mechanism of the high-pressure rocks exposed on the island of Crete (southern Aegean, Greece). Our study shows that the evolution of windows in central Crete was controlled by two main contractional phases of deformation. The first phase (D1) was related to the ductile-stage of exhumation. NNW–SSE compression during D1 caused layer- and transport-parallel shortening in the upper thrust sheets, resulting in nappe stacking via low-angle thrusting. Synchronously, intracontinental subduction led to high-pressure metamorphism which, however, did not affect the most external parts of the southern Hellenides. Subsequent upward ductile extrusion of high-pressure rocks was characterized by both down-section increase of strain and up-section increase of the pure shear component. The second phase (D2) was associated with the brittle-stage of exhumation. D2 was governed by NNE–SSW compression and involved conspicuous thrust-related folding, considerable tectonic imbrication and formation of a Middle Miocene basin. The major D2-related Psiloritis Thrust cross-cuts the entire nappe pile, and its trajectory partially follows and reworks the D1-related contact between upper and lower (high-pressure) tectonic units. Eduction and doming of the Talea Window was accompanied by gravity sliding of the upper thrust sheets and by out-of-the-syncline thrusting. Late-orogenic collapse also contributed to the exhumation process. Therefore, it seems that the high-pressure rocks of central Crete were exhumed under continuous compression and that the role of extension was previously overestimated.
Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Swiss organic and conventional production systems
Authors: Roesch Markus , G Doherr Marcus , Schären Walter , Schällibaum Melchior , Blum Jürg W
Published: September 2006

The objective was to compare the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SM) and of udder pathogens in 60 Swiss organic (OP) and 60 conventional production systems (CP). Cows (n=970) were studied for SM prevalence and udder pathogens at median 31 d and 102 d post partum. Cows showing a [ges ]1+ positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) in at least one quarter were considered to have SM. Cow-level prevalences of SM for visits at 31 d and 102 d post partum (39% and 40% in OP and 34% and 35% in CP) were similar, but quarter-level prevalences of SM were higher (P<0·02) in OP than CP (15% and 18% in OP and 12% and 15% in CP). Median somatic cell counts in milk at 31 d post partum were higher (P<0·05) in OP than CP cows (43000 and 28000 cells/ml, respectively), but were similar at 102 d post partum in OP and CP cows (45000 and 38000 cells/ml, respectively). In milk samples from quarters showing a CMT reaction [ges ]2+ the prevalences of coagulase negative staphylococci were lower (P<0·05) at 102 d post partum, whereas prevalences of non-agalactiae streptococci were higher (P<0·05) in OP than in CP cows at 31 d and 102 d post partum. In conclusion, under Swiss conditions, subclinical mastitis is a greater problem in organic than in conventional production systems, but differences are not marked.
Catastrophe, Opportunism, Contestation: The Fractured Politics of Reconstructing Tokyo following the Great Kantô Earthquake of 1923
Authors: SCHENCKING J. CHARLES
Published: September 2006

‘Earthquake and fire destroyed the greater part of Tokyo. Thoroughgoing reconstruction needed. Please come immediately if possible, even if for a short stay.’ So cabled Viscount Gotô Shinpei, former mayor of Tokyo (1920–1923) and current Home Minister to his long-time friend and Director of the New York Bureau of Municipal Research, Charles A. Beard. Six days earlier, on 1 September 1923, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude between 7.9 and 8.2 devastated much of Tokyo and the surrounding Kantô region. The quake and the resulting fires, conflagrations that burned for over two days, destroyed nearly 70% of all structures in Tokyo, inflicted damage with a monetary cost upwards of 5.5 billion yen, killed more than 120,000 citizens, and rendered just over 1.5 million people homeless: it was an urban catastrophe surpassed in scope only by the devastation wrought by aerial bombing during the Second World War. The Kantô Daishinsai was Japan's most deadly, economically costly, and physically destructive natural catastrophe in history. Within a world history context moreover, the 1923 earthquake was one of the most devastating and disruptive natural disasters of the 20th century, yet it is also one of the least studied.
The Commemorative Character of Thai Historiography: The 1942–43 Thai Military Campaign in the Shan States Depicted as a Story of National Salvation and the Restoration of Thai Independence
Authors: MURASHIMA EIJI
Published: September 2006

Thailand has a long, well-established practice of publishing books to commemorate events and personages. Among these are volumes commemorating deceased persons which are distributed to participants at cremation ceremonies. They contain obituaries written by the deceased's superiors, peers, and subordinates as well as relatives. Commemorative books are also published by government agencies, private companies, schools and individuals. While most are published in the Thai language, Chinese communities in Thailand also produce a large number of such books in Chinese. There has been no slackening of the practice; rather the publication of commemorative books has been gaining strength over the past decades.
Emotional and Domestic Territories: The Positionality of Women as Reflected in the Landscape of the Home in Contemporary South Asian Women's Writings
Authors: LAU LISA
Published: September 2006

The division of domestic space within South Asian households is indicative, and even reflective, of the social status of South Asian women. This article argues the dependence of South Asian women's positionality upon their position within the confines of the home, making a case for the correlation between women's domestic roles and their (self and social) identities.

Through an analysis of the contemporary literature written by South Asian women, this article will analyse the joint family system, with its particular gendered spaces and hierarchies of power, exploring how these dictate and limit the interaction of its members, and pattern the relationships formed within them.

The positionality of second wives will also be investigated, to trace exactly how the newcomers establish themselves in relatively hostile environments. The body language of the women will be paid particularly close attention, as much of what is being investigated is often not directly verbalised.

This article also examines how the private spaces of home can be both sanctuary and prison for South Asian women. It will be seen that for South Asian women, not only their identities, but their survival, may be dependent on their successful staking out of positions within their domestic territories.
Clonal propagation and the fast generation of karyotype diversity: anin vitro Leishmaniamodel
Authors: DUJARDIN J.-C. , DE DONCKER S. , JACQUET D. , BAÑULS A.-L. , BALAVOINE M. , VAN BOCKSTAELE D. , TIBAYRENC M. , AREVALO J. , LE RAY D.
Published: September 2006

In the present work we studied the karyotype stability during long-termin vitromaintenance in 3 cloned strains ofLeishmania (Viannia) peruviana,Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensisand a hybrid between both species. Only theL. (V.) peruvianastrain showed an unstable karyotype, even after subcloning. Four chromosomes were studied in detail, each of them characterized by homologous chromosomes of different size (heteromorphy). Variations in chromosome patterns duringin vitromaintenance were rapid and discrete, involving loss of heteromorphy or appearance of additional chromosome size variants. The resulting pattern was not the same according to experimental conditions (subinoculation rate or incubation temperature), and interestingly, this was associated with differences in growth behaviour of the respective parasites. No change in total ploidy of the cells was observed by flow cytometry. We discuss several mechanisms that might account for this variation of chromosome patterns, but we favour the occurrence of aneuploidy, caused by aberrant chromosome segregation during mitosis. Our results provide insight into the generation of karyotype diversity in natural conditions and highlight the relativity of the clone concept in parasitology.
Eukaryotic expression of recombinant Pso o 1, an allergen fromPsoroptes ovis, and its localization in the mite
Authors: NISBET A. J. , MacKELLAR A. , McLEAN K. , BRENNAN G. P. , HUNTLEY J. F.
Published: September 2006

A cDNA encoding the immunogen Pso o 1 fromPsoroptes oviswas obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The amplicon contained the entire coding sequence for the prepro-enzyme in an open reading frame (ORF) of 966 bp. This gene encoded a predicted protein of 322 amino acids (aa) with 64% aa identity (80% similarity) to the major house dust mite faecal allergen Der f 1. The pro-enzyme form of Pso o 1 was expressed as a recombinant protein in thePichia pastoris-eukaryotic expression system. Maturation of the recombinant pro-enzyme by autocatalytic activation was not observed, and such maturation could not be achieved using a number of techniques known to activate recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 expressed in the same system. Serum raised against recombinant Pso o 1 cross-reacted with mature Der p 1 and allowed Pso o 1 to be immunolocalized to the gut ofP. ovis.
The endophenotype concept in psychiatric genetics
Authors: FLINT JONATHAN , MUNAFÒ MARCUS R.
Published: September 2006

The idea that some phenotypes bear a closer relationship to the biological processes that give rise to psychiatric illness than diagnostic categories has attracted considerable interest. Much effort has been devoted to finding such endophenotypes, partly because it is believed that the genetic basis of endophenotypes will be easier to analyse than that of psychiatric disease. This belief depends in part on the assumption that the effect sizes of genetic loci contributing to endophenotypes are larger than those contributing to disease susceptibility, hence increasing the chance that genetic linkage and association tests will detect them. We examine this assumption by applying meta-analytical techniques to genetic association studies of endophenotypes. We find that the genetic effect sizes of the loci examined to date are no larger than those reported for other phenotypes. A review of the genetic architecture of traits in model organisms also provides no support for the view that the effect sizes of loci contributing to phenotypes closer to the biological basis of disease is any larger than those contributing to disease itself. While endophenotype measures may afford greater reliability, it should not be assumed that they will also demonstrate simpler genetic architecture.