bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Properties of Scores on Three Black Racial Identity Scales
Authors: Simmons Crystal , Worrell Frank C. , Berry Jane M.
Published: March 2008

In this study, we examined the internal consistency and the structural validity of scores on the African Self-Consciousness Scale (ASCS), the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI), and the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS). Participants consisted of 225 African American college students—75 attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and 150 attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Internal consistency estimates were above .60 for scores on one ASCS subscale, six MIBI subscales, and six CRIS subscales. Exploratory factor analytic procedures supported a two-factor structure for ASCS scores, a five-factor structure for MIBI scores, and a six-factor structure for CRIS scores. Implications for Black racial identity and scale development are discussed.
Forward to the Past: The Intractable Problems of Romania's Media System
Authors: Gross Peter
Published: March 2008

Romania's accession to European Union membership in January 2007 did not inhibit the country's corrupt political and media elites from turning back the clock on the already disappointing evolution of the media system and the laws, values, attitudes, and behaviors that underline its daily functioning.The article outlines the Romanian media's multiple problems and the regression the media experienced since the country became a member of the European Union. It concludes that no major alterations to the media system and its function will occur until the culture of the political elites, media owners, and the citizenry evolves in a more liberal, democratic direction. Romania's media will continue down a path that began in feudal times and will seek to adjust to the twenty-first century only at some later date.
Local Newspaper Coverage of the Presidency
Authors: Eshbaugh-Soha Matthew
Published: March 2008

Scholarly research says much about national news coverage of the presidency. But there has been little exploration into local news coverage of the presidency, with much research focusing on presidential campaigns or a small subset of presidential news, his local visits. Based on a sample of 288 stories taken from 1995 of the Bill Clinton and 2003 of the George W. Bush administrations, I answer the following questions: What explains the amount of local newspaper coverage of the presidency and what influences the likelihood that local newspapers will cover the presidency, daily? Support for the president, corporate ownership, newspaper resources, and the location of the story itself affect the amount of local newspaper coverage of the president and the likelihood that a newspaper will publish a story on the presidency.
Adaptive diffusion kernel learning from biological networks for protein function prediction
Authors: Sun Liang , Ji Shuiwang , Ye Jieping
Published: March 2008

Background

Machine-learning tools have gained considerable attention during the last few years for analyzing biological networks for protein function prediction. Kernel methods are suitable for learning from graph-based data such as biological networks, as they only require the abstraction of the similarities between objects into the kernel matrix. One key issue in kernel methods is the selection of a good kernel function. Diffusion kernels, the discretization of the familiar Gaussian kernel of Euclidean space, are commonly used for graph-based data.

Results

In this paper, we address the issue of learning an optimal diffusion kernel, in the form of a convex combination of a set of pre-specified kernels constructed from biological networks, for protein function prediction. Most prior work on this kernel learning task focus on variants of the loss function based on Support Vector Machines (SVM). Their extensions to other loss functions such as the one based on Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, which is more suitable for mining biological networks, lead to expensive optimization problems. By exploiting the special structure of the diffusion kernel, we show that this KL divergence based kernel learning problem can be formulated as a simple optimization problem, which can then be solved efficiently. It is further extended to the multi-task case where we predict multiple functions of a protein simultaneously. We evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms using two benchmark data sets.

Conclusion

Results show that the performance of linearly combined diffusion kernel is better than every single candidate diffusion kernel. When the number of tasks is large, the algorithms based on multiple tasks are favored due to their competitive recognition performance and small computational costs.
Multiple immunofluorescence labelling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue
Authors: Robertson David , Savage Kay , Reis-Filho Jorge S , Isacke Clare M
Published: March 2008

Background

Investigating the expression of candidate genes in tissue samples usually involves either immunohistochemical labelling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections or immunofluorescence labelling of cryosections. Although both of these methods provide essential data, both have important limitations as research tools. Consequently, there is a demand in the research community to be able to perform routine, high quality immunofluorescence labelling of FFPE tissues.

Results

We present here a robust optimised method for high resolution immunofluorescence labelling of FFPE tissues, which involves the combination of antigen retrieval, indirect immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. We demonstrate the utility of this method with examples of immunofluorescence labelling of human kidney, human breast and a tissue microarray of invasive human breast cancers. Finally, we demonstrate that stained slides can be stored in the short term at 4°C or in the longer term at -20°C prior to images being collected. This approach has the potential to unlock a large in vivo database for immunofluorescence investigations and has the major advantages over immunohistochemistry in that it provides higher resolution imaging of antigen localization and the ability to label multiple antigens simultaneously.

Conclusion

This method provides a link between the cell biology and pathology communities. For the cell biologist, it will enable them to utilise the vast archive of pathology specimens to advance their in vitro data into in vivo samples, in particular archival material and tissue microarrays. For the pathologist, it will enable them to utilise multiple antibodies on a single section to characterise particular cell populations or to test multiple biomarkers in limited samples and define with greater accuracy cellular heterogeneity in tissue samples.
The Songbird Neurogenomics (SoNG) Initiative: Community-based tools and strategies for study of brain gene function and evolution
Authors: Replogle Kirstin , Arnold Arthur P , Ball Gregory F , Band Mark , Bensch Staffan , Brenowitz Eliot A , Dong Shu , Drnevich Jenny , Ferris Margaret , George Julia M , Gong George , Hasselquist Dennis , Hernandez Alvaro G , Kim Ryan , Lewin Harris A , Liu Lei , Lovell Peter V , Mello Claudio V , Naurin Sara , Rodriguez-Zas Sandra , Thimmapuram Jyothi , Wade Juli , Clayton David F
Published: March 2008

Background

Songbirds hold great promise for biomedical, environmental and evolutionary research. A complete draft sequence of the zebra finch genome is imminent, yet a need remains for application of genomic resources within a research community traditionally focused on ethology and neurobiological methods. In response, we developed a core set of genomic tools and a novel collaborative strategy to probe gene expression in diverse songbird species and natural contexts.

Results

We end-sequenced cDNAs from zebra finch brain and incorporated additional sequences from community sources into a database of 86,784 high quality reads. These assembled into 31,658 non-redundant contigs and singletons, which we annotated via BLAST search of chicken and human databases. The results are publicly available in the ESTIMA:Songbird database. We produced a spotted cDNA microarray with 20,160 addresses representing 17,214 non-redundant products of an estimated 11,500–15,000 genes, validating it by analysis of immediate-early gene (zenk) gene activation following song exposure and by demonstrating effective cross hybridization to genomic DNAs of other songbird species in the Passerida Parvorder. Our assembly was also used in the design of the "Lund-zfa" Affymetrix array representing ~22,000 non-redundant sequences. When the two arrays were hybridized to cDNAs from the same set of male and female zebra finch brain samples, both arrays detected a common set of regulated transcripts with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.895. To stimulate use of these resources by the songbird research community and to maintain consistent technical standards, we devised a "Community Collaboration" mechanism whereby individual birdsong researchers develop experiments and provide tissues, but a single individual in the community is responsible for all RNA extractions, labelling and microarray hybridizations.

Conclusion

Immediately, these results set the foundation for a coordinated set of 25 planned experiments by 16 research groups probing fundamental links between genome, brain, evolution and behavior in songbirds. Energetic application of genomic resources to research using songbirds should help illuminate how complex neural and behavioral traits emerge and evolve.
Novel aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase genes from coastal marine sediments of Patagonia
Authors: Lozada Mariana , Riva Mercadal Juan P , Guerrero Leandro D , Di Marzio Walter D , Ferrero Marcela A , Dionisi Hebe M
Published: March 2008

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), widespread pollutants in the marine environment, can produce adverse effects in marine organisms and can be transferred to humans through seafood. Our knowledge of PAH-degrading bacterial populations in the marine environment is still very limited, and mainly originates from studies of cultured bacteria. In this work, genes coding catabolic enzymes from PAH-biodegradation pathways were characterized in coastal sediments of Patagonia with different levels of PAH contamination.

Results

Genes encoding for the catalytic alpha subunit of aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (ARHDs) were amplified from intertidal sediment samples using two different primer sets. Products were cloned and screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Clones representing each restriction pattern were selected in each library for sequencing. A total of 500 clones were screened in 9 gene libraries, and 193 clones were sequenced. Libraries contained one to five different ARHD gene types, and this number was correlated with the number of PAHs found in the samples above the quantification limit (r = 0.834, p < 0.05). Overall, eight different ARHD gene types were detected in the sediments. In five of them, their deduced amino acid sequences formed deeply rooted branches with previously described ARHD peptide sequences, exhibiting less than 70% identity to them. They contain consensus sequences of the Rieske type [2Fe-2S] cluster binding site, suggesting that these gene fragments encode for ARHDs. On the other hand, three gene types were closely related to previously described ARHDs: archetypical nahAc-like genes, phnAc-like genes as identified in Alcaligenes faecalis AFK2, and phnA1-like genes from marine PAH-degraders from the genus Cycloclasticus.

Conclusion

These results show the presence of hitherto unidentified ARHD genes in this sub-Antarctic marine environment exposed to anthropogenic contamination. This information can be used to study the geographical distribution and ecological significance of bacterial populations carrying these genes, and to design molecular assays to monitor the progress and effectiveness of remediation technologies.
Rapid EST isolation from chromosome 1R of rye
Authors: Zhou Ruo-Nan , Shi Rui , Jiang Shu-Mei , Yin Wei-Bo , Wang Huang-Huang , Chen Yu-Hong , Hu Jun , Wang Richard RC , Zhang Xiang-Qi , Hu Zan-Min
Published: March 2008

Background

To obtain important expressed sequence tags (ESTs) located on specific chromosomes is currently difficult. Construction of single-chromosome EST library could be an efficient strategy to isolate important ESTs located on specific chromosomes. In this research we developed a method to rapidly isolate ESTs from chromosome 1R of rye by combining the techniques of chromosome microdissection with hybrid specific amplification (HSA).

Results

Chromosome 1R was isolated by a glass needle and digested with proteinase K (PK). The DNA of chromosome 1R was amplified by two rounds of PCR using a degenerated oligonucleotide 6-MW sequence with aSau3AI digestion site as the primer. The PCR product was digested withSau3AI and linked with adaptor HSA1, then hybridized with theSau3AI digested cDNA with adaptor HSA2 of rye leaves with and without salicylic acid (SA) treatment, respectively. The hybridized DNA fragments were recovered by the HSA method and cloned into pMD18-T vector. The cloned inserts were released by PCR using the partial sequences in HSA1 and HSA2 as the primers and then sequenced. Of the 94 ESTs obtained and analyzed, 6 were known sequences located on rye chromosome 1R or on homologous group 1 chromosomes of wheat; all of them were highly homologous with ESTs of wheat, barley and/or other plants inGramineae, some of which were induced by abiotic or biotic stresses. Isolated in this research were 22 ESTs with unknown functions, probably representing some new genes on rye chromosome 1R.

Conclusion

We developed a new method to rapidly clone chromosome-specific ESTs from chromosome 1R of rye. The information reported here should be useful for cloning and investigating the new genes found on chromosome 1R.
Design of a zinc finger protein binding a sequence upstream of the A20 gene
Authors: Wei Yong , Ying Dajun , Hou Chunli , Cui Xiaoping , Zhu Chuhong
Published: March 2008

Background

Artificial transcription factors (ATFs) are composed of DNA-binding and functional domains. These domains can be fused together to create proteins that can bind a chosen DNA sequence. To construct a valid ATF, it is necessary to design suitable DNA-binding and functional domains. The Cys2-His2 zinc finger motif is the ideal structural scaffold on which to construct a sequence-specific protein. A20 is a cytoplasmic zinc finger protein that inhibits nuclear factor kappa-B activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated programmed cell death. A20 has been shown to prevent TNF-induced cytotoxicity in a variety of cell types including fibroblasts, B lymphocytes, WEHI 164 cells, NIH 3T3 cells and endothelial cells.

Results

In order to design a zinc finger protein (ZFP) structural domain that binds specific target sequences in the A20 gene promoter region, the structure and sequence composition of this promoter were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The target sequences in the A20 promoter were submitted to the on-line ZF Tools server of the Barbas Laboratory, Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), to obtain a specific 18 bp target sequence and also the amino acid sequence of a ZFP that would bind to it. Sequence characterization and structural modeling of the predicted ZFP were performed by bioinformatics methods. The optimized DNA sequence of this artificial ZFP was recombined into the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP to construct pIRES2-EGFP/ZFP-flag recombinants, and the expression and biological activity of the ZFP were analyzed by RT-PCR, western blotting and EMSA, respectively. The ZFP was designed successfully and exhibited biological activity.

Conclusion

It is feasible to design specific zinc finger proteins by bioinformatics methods.
Influence of ultra-low dose Aprotinin on thoracic surgical operations: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Apostolakis Efstratios , Panagopoulos Nikolaos , Koletsis Efstratios N. , Crockett James , Stamou-Kouki Helen , Sourgiadaki Efrosini , Filos Kriton , Dougenis Dimitrios
Published: March 2008

Background

The blood saving effect of aprotinin has been well documented in cardiac surgery. In thoracic surgery, very few recent studies, using rather high doses of aprotinin, have shown a similar result. In a randomized prospective trial, we have tested the influence of aprotinin using an ultra-low dose drug regime.

Methods

Fifty-nine patients, mean age 58 ± 13.25 years (mean ± SD) undergoing general thoracic procedures were randomized into placebo (Group A) and treatment group (Group B). The group B (n = 29) received 500.000 IU of aprotinin after induction to anesthesia and a repeat dose immediately after chest closure. A detailed protocol with several laboratory parameters was recorded. Patients were transfused when perioperative Ht was less than 26%.

Results

The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, diagnosis, pathology, co-morbidity and operations performed. The mean drainage of the first and second postoperative day in group B was significantly reduced (412.6 ± 199.2 vs. 764.3 ± 213.9 ml, p < 0.000, and 248.3 ± 178.5 vs. 455.0 ± 274.6, p < 0.001). Similarly, the need for fresh frozen plasma transfusion was lower in group B, p < 0.035. Both the operation time and the hospital stay were also less for group B but without reaching statistical significance (84.6 ± 35.2 vs 101.2 ± 52.45 min. and 5.8 ± 1.6 vs 7.2 ± 3.6 days respectively, p < 0.064). The overall transfusion rate did not differ significantly. No side effects of aprotinin were noted.

Conclusion

The perioperative ultra-low dose aprotinin administration was associated with a reduction of total blood losses and blood product requirements. We therefore consider the use of aprotinin safe and effective in major thoracic surgery.
Stimulation of the primary anti-HIV antibody response by IFN-α in patients with acute HIV-1 infection
Authors: Adalid-Peralta Laura , Godot Véronique , Colin Céline , Krzysiek Roman , Tran Thi , Poignard Pascal , Venet Alain , Hosmalin Anne , Lebon Pierre , Rouzioux Christine , Chene Genevieve , Emilie Dominique
Published: March 2008

Type I IFNs are needed for the production of antiviral antibodies in mice; whether they also stimulate primary antibody responses in vivo during human viral infections is unknown. This was assessed in patients acutely infected with HIV-1 and treated with IFN-α2b. Patients with acute HIV-1 infection were randomized to receive antiretroviral therapy alone (Group A, n=60) or combined for 14 weeks with pegylated-IFN-α2b (Group B, n=30). Emergence of anti-HIV antibodies was monitored during 32 weeks by Western blot (WB) analyses of serum samples. IFN-α2b treatment stimulated the production of anti-HIV antibodies. On Week 32, 19 weeks after the last IFN-α2b administration, there were 8.5 (6.5–10.0) HIV WB bands (median, interquartile range) in Group B and 7.0 (5.0–10.0) bands in Group A (P=0.054), and band intensities were stronger in Group B (P<0.05 for p18, p24, p34, p40, and p55 HIV antigens). IFN-α2b treatment also increased circulating concentrations of the B cell-activating factor of the TNF family (P<0.001) and ex vivo production of IL-12 (P<0.05), reflecting its effect on innate immune cells. Withdrawal of antiretroviral treatment on Week 36 resulted in a lower rebound of HIV replication in Group B than in Group A (P<0.05). Therefore, type I IFNs stimulate the emerging anti-HIV immune response in patients with acute HIV-1 infection, resulting in an improved control of HIV replication. Type I IFNs are thus critical in the development of efficient antiviral immune responses in humans, including the production of antiviral antibodies.
Phase I Trial of the Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen–Directed Immunoconjugate MLN2704 in Patients With Progressive Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Galsky Matthew D. , Eisenberger Mario , Moore-Cooper Sandra , Kelly W. Kevin , Slovin Susan F. , DeLaCruz Anthony , Lee Yih , Webb Iain J. , Scher Howard I.
Published: March 2008

Purpose

MLN2704 is an immunoconjugate designed to deliver the maytansinoid antimicrotubule agent drug maytansinoid-1 directly to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–expressing cells via the PSMA-targeted monoclonal antibody MLN591. This novel immunoconjugate has shown cytotoxic anti–prostate cancer activity. This study investigated the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and preliminary antitumor activity of MLN2704.

Patients and Methods

Patients with progressive, metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer received MLN2704 intravenously over 2.5 hours. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity were assessed.

Results

Twenty-three patients received MLN2704 at doses of 18 to 343 mg/m2. Eighteen of these patients received ≥ three doses at 4-week intervals. Pharmacokinetics of conjugate levels were dose proportional. There was no correlation between clearance and body-surface area. MLN2704 was nonimmunogenic. Study drug–related grade 3 toxicities occurred in three (13%) of 23 patients, including uncomplicated febrile neutropenia (the only DLT) in one patient, reversible elevations in hepatic transaminases, leukopenia, and lymphopenia. No grade 4 toxicities were observed. The most frequent grade 1 or 2 toxicities included fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. Neuropathy occurred in eight (35%) of 23 patients, including five of six patients treated at 343 mg/m2. Two (22%) of the nine patients treated at 264 or 343 mg/m2 had sustained a more than 50% decrease in prostate-specific antigen versus baseline, accompanied by measurable tumor regression in the patient treated at 264 mg/m2.

Conclusion

Therapeutic doses of MLN2704 can be administered safely on a repetitive basis. An MTD was not defined. MLN2704 is being administered at more frequent intervals in ongoing trials to determine an optimal dosing schedule.
Tryptophan Neutral Radical Brings along Photochemical Crystallization
Authors: Furuta Kenji , Tanizawa Yoshinori , Horiuchi Hiroaki , Hiratsuka Hiroshi , Okutsu Tetsuo
Published: March 2008

The mechanism of the photochemically induced nucleation of lysozyme was investigated. Radical cations and neutral radicals of tryptophan residue of lysozyme were observed by transient absorption measurements. The radical cation was found to be in equilibrium with the neutral radical, and the pKa of the radical cation in UV–vis wide range buffer solution was estimated to be ca. 3.2. The dimer formation was confirmed by SDS-PAGE for the solutions with pH value higher than this pKa value. The photochemically induced nucleation was also observed for these solutions. The number of crystals increased with increase of the dimer.
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between Cationic Porphyrins Accelerated with DNA as a Template
Authors: D’Souza Francis , Rogers Lisa M , Islam D-M Shafiqul , Araki Yasuyuki , Ito Osamu , Wada Takehiko
Published: March 2008

Resonance energy transfer between two cationic porphyrins, viz., (meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin and its zinc derivative, along a model DNA, poly(dA-dT) as a template is demonstrated. The rate of energy transfer (kEnT), quantum yield (ΦEnT), and critical transfer distance are evaluated to be 1.78×109 s−1, 0.74, and 23 Å, respectively, indicating efficient energy transfer process.
Higher Water Repellency Caused by a Reduced Employment of Low Surface Energy Structures
Authors: Fang Bing , Wei Haiyang , Wang Kang , Li Xinxin , Wu Pingping , Han Zhewen
Published: March 2008

Fluorine-containing random copolymers based on methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FAEA) have been prepared by solution polymerization. Super-hydrophobic surface was attained by casting the polymer solution from a fluorine-containing solvent at a constant temperature. The contact angles of water drops on the prepared surface were measured. SEM was adopted to detect the fine structures of the prepared polymeric surface. The mechanism of forming these films was studied.
Syntheses and Properties of Thiophene-inserted [3]Dendralenes with Redox-active 1,3-Dithiol-2-ylidene Units
Authors: Hasegawa Masashi , Fujioka Atsushi , Kubo Takashi , Honda Tomohito , Miyamoto Hisakazu , Misaki Yohji
Published: March 2008

Novel dendralene type cross-conjugate molecules based on 1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene units with thiophene have been prepared. The conjugation in the oxidized stage is mainly through the thiophene core, while the cross-conjugated nature is observed in the neutral state. The CT complex of 2a with TCNQF4 shows moderated electrical conductivity of 10−4 S cm−1.
The Hidden Perils of Career Concerns in R&D Organizations
Authors: Siemsen Enno
Published: March 2008

This research examines how certain economic incentives can lead agents to prefer difficult solutions to their organizational tasks that reduce their likelihood of obtaining a successful task outcome. Drawing on the career concerns literature, I model a decision context in which agents have the operational autonomy to choose among different solutions. Analyzing this model reveals that agents with career concerns will, under certain conditions, deliberately reduce their likelihood of succeeding with a task by choosing a solution that makes their task more difficult. These findings suggest that highly capable agents prefer moderately difficult tasks to showcase their capability, while less-capable agents prefer highly difficult tasks to mask their lack of capability. The robustness of these results is examined in various extensions. Furthermore, the paper provides insights on how incentives can be designed to alleviate this problem.
The Impact of Uncertain Intellectual Property Rights on the Market for Ideas: Evidence from Patent Grant Delays
Authors: Gans Joshua S. , Hsu David H. , Stern Scott
Published: March 2008

This paper considers the impact of the intellectual property (IP) system on the timing of cooperation/licensing by start-up technology entrepreneurs. If the market for technology licenses is efficient, the timing of licensing is independent of whether IP has already been granted. In contrast, the need to disclose complementary (yet unprotected) knowledge, asymmetric information or search costs may retard efficient technology transfer. In these cases, reductions in uncertainty surrounding the scope and extent of IP rights may facilitate trade in the market for ideas. We employ a data set combining information about cooperative licensing and the timing of patent allowances (the administrative event when patent rights are clarified). Although preallowance licensing does occur, the hazard rate for achieving a cooperative licensing agreement significantly increases after patent allowance. Moreover, the impact of the patent system depends on the strategic and institutional environment in which firms operate. Patent allowance plays a particularly important role for technologies with longer technology life cycles or that lack alternative appropriation mechanisms such as copyright, reputation, or brokers. The findings suggest that imperfections in the market for ideas may be important, and that formal IP rights may facilitate gains from technological trade.
A Generic Characterization of Equilibrium Speed-Flow Curves
Authors: Li Michael Z. F.
Published: March 2008

By introducing the concept of speed elasticity of flow and density, this paper provides a generic characterization for a class of well-behaved equilibrium speed-flow curves that are differentiable and backward bending and possess monotone speed-density curves. We start with a comprehensive review on classical models, including Greenberg, Greenshields, and Underwood. A major limitation of these models is that the specification is uniquely determined by three road-specific parameters: the free-flow speed, the capacity flow, and the corresponding speed at the capacity flow, which makes the empirical application difficult due to lack of flexibility. Through a careful review of Del Castillo and Benitez [Del Castillo, J. M., F. G. Benitez. 1995. On the functional form of the speed-density relationship—I: General theory, II: Empirical investigation. Transportation Res. Part B 29 373–406], we have provided a new characterization for the Newell-Frankin model and made a connection between the family of rational generating functions and the Greenshields-type models. Based on three primitive regularity conditions, we derive a generic characterization for well-behaved macroscopic equilibrium speed-flow curves that integrate all classical models. Using the generic characterization, we show that the equilibrium speed-flow curves derived from the car-following models can be classified as a two-parameter extension of the Greenshields-type model. We have also made an attempt in proposing a plausible rectification to the speed-flow models from the Highway Capacity Manual 2000 so that they possess the backward-bending property. A formal linkage between the generic characterization of speed-flow curves and the theory of congestion pricing is also established.
Routing for Relief Efforts
Authors: Campbell Ann Melissa , Vandenbussche Dieter , Hermann William
Published: March 2008

In the aftermath of a large disaster, the routing of vehicles carrying critical supplies can greatly impact the arrival times to those in need. Because it is critical that the deliveries are both fast and fair to those being served, it is not clear that the classic cost-minimizing routing problems properly reflect the relevant priorities in disaster relief. In this paper, we take the first steps toward developing new methodologies for these problems. We focus specifically on two alternative objective functions for the traveling salesman problem (TSP) and the vehicle routing problem (VRP): one that minimizes the maximum arrival time (minmax) and one that minimizes the average arrival time (minavg). To demonstrate the potential impact of using these new objective functions, we bound the worst-case performance of optimal TSP solutions with respect to these new variants and extend these bounds to include multiple vehicles and vehicle capacity. Similarly, we examine the potential increase in routing costs that results from using these alternate objectives. We present solution approaches for these two variants of the TSP and VRP, which are based on well-known insertion and local search techniques. These are used in a series of computational experiments to help identify the types of instances in which TSP and VRP solutions can be significantly different from optimal minmax and minavg solutions.
Modelling Robust Flight-Gate Scheduling as a Clique Partitioning Problem
Authors: Dorndorf Ulrich , Jaehn Florian , Pesch Erwin
Published: March 2008

This paper considers the problem of assigning flights to airport gates. We examine the general case in which an aircraft serving a flight may be assigned to different gates for arrival and departure processing and for optional intermediate parking. Restrictions to this assignment include gate closures and shadow restrictions, i.e., the situation in which certain gate assignments may cause the blocking of neighboring gates. The objectives include maximization of the total assignment preference score, minimization of the number of unassigned flights during overload periods, minimization of the number of tows, as well as maximization of the robustness of the resulting schedule with respect to flight delays. We are presenting a simple transformation of the flight-gate scheduling (FGS) problem to a graph problem, i.e., the clique partitioning problem (CPP). The algorithm used to solve the CPP is a heuristic based on the ejection chain algorithm by Dorndorf and Pesch [Dorndorf, U., E. Pesch. 1994. Fast clustering algorithms. ORSA J. Comput. 6 141–153]. This leads to a very effective approach for solving the original problem.
Synthesis of optically active heterocyclic compounds using Pd-catalyzed asymmetric reactions as a key step
Authors: Sodeoka Mikiko , Hamashima Yoshitaka
Published: March 2008

Highly enantioselective Pd(II)-catalyzed Michael addition, Mannich-type reaction, aldol reaction, fluorination, conjugate addition of amine, and conjugate reduction have been developed. Asymmetric synthesis of biologically interesting heterocyclic compounds, calycotomine, BMS-204352, torcetrapib, and warfarin, was achieved by using these Pd-catalyzed asymmetric reactions as a key step.
Patients' Perspective on Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: A Qualitative Inquiry in a Chinese Context
Authors: Ma Joyce L. C.
Published: March 2008

This article presents a qualitative study of the subjective experiences of 24 Chinese adolescents and young women who have been suffering from anorexia nervosa and who have received family treatment from a university‐based family treatment centre in Hong Kong. In‐depth post‐treatment interviews were conducted and have been transcribed and thematised using content analysis. The narratives that have emerged have facilitated hearing the clients' and their family members' voices, especially in the areas of (a) perceived concepts of family therapy, (b) the perceived therapeutic relationship and its linkage to positive change, (c) perceived intervention strategies as employed in family treatment, and (d) the participants' own role in problem‐solving. The study has enabled the author to refine the family treatment model, which has been adapted from the Micucci's (1998) model, with additional components introduced by the author to enhance family treatment in a Chinese context.
Experimental Determination of the Effect of Wet/Dry Ballast on Dynamic Railway Sleeper/Ballast Interaction
Authors: Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Remennikov Alex M.
Published: March 2008

As one of the main components of ballasted railway tracks, the concrete sleeper is a cross-tie beam utilized to dissipate the dynamic axle load from the rails to the ballast and the sub-ballast. It interacts with the ballast support under dynamic conditions. This paper presents the dynamic effect on the in-situ concrete sleeper of ballast in wet and dry states. A panel of concrete sleeper laid on an in-situ railway track, constructed at the University of Wollongong, has been chosen to evaluate its dynamic properties using a modal analysis technique. Since the nature of the ballast itself is to have very high drainage properties, the experiments are focused on both dry and very soaked conditions. The moisture content at the sleeper soffit in the former case is approximately 0 %. In the latter case, the ballast is sprayed using ambient-temperature tap water at the rate of 10 mm/h for half an hour. The average moisture content of the ballast sampled after the modal testing at the soffit of the sleeper is 2.63 %. Modal testing was performed before and after spraying in the frequency range between 0 and 1600 Hz. The modal results representing the dynamic railway sleeper/ballast interactions are highlighted.
A Test Fixture for Fully Reversed Axial Fatigue Characterization of Composites
Authors: Strauch E. C. , Rachau C. L. , Koudela K. L.
Published: March 2008

Fatigue of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites has been studied exhaustedly over the years. However, most fully reversed fatigue testing has concentrated on flexural fatigue. The resulting stress state through the laminate thickness is non-uniform and as such may give rise to unconservative life estimates. Fully reversed (R=−1) axial testing has not been heavily reported due to the difficulties associated with precluding local or global buckling of the axial specimen. The few reported fully reversed axial tests utilize either cylindrical specimens or fixturing that is very large, expensive to fabricate, and difficult to handle. Herein we report on a simple side support fixture that allows the use of standard ASTM tensile test specimens (D3039 or D638, depending on test material), which are readily prepared. The fixture allows fully reversed axial fatigue testing as well as static baseline compression and residual compression strength characterization. Also presented herein are tension-tension (R=0.1) and fully reversed tension-compression (R=−1) S-N diagrams for an E-glass/epoxy composite.
Phosphorylation of Sodium Channel Nav1.8 by p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Increases Current Density in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
Authors: Hudmon Andy , Choi Jin-Sung , Tyrrell Lynda , Black Joel A. , Rush Anthony M. , Waxman Stephen G. , Dib-Hajj Sulayman D.
Published: March 2008

The sensory neuron-specific sodium channel Nav1.8 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are potential therapeutic targets within nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in inflammatory, and possibly neuropathic, pain. Nav1.8 channels within nociceptive DRG neurons contribute most of the inward current underlying the depolarizing phase of action potentials. Nerve injury and inflammation of peripheral tissues cause p38 activation in DRG neurons, a process that may contribute to nociceptive neuron hyperexcitability, which is associated with pain. However, how substrates of activated p38 contribute to DRG neuron hyperexcitability is currently not well understood. We report here, for the first time, that Nav1.8 and p38 are colocalized in DRG neurons, that Nav1.8 within DRG neurons is a substrate for p38, and that direct phosphorylation of the Nav1.8 channel by p38 regulates its function in these neurons. We show that direct phosphorylation of Nav1.8 at two p38 phospho-acceptor serine residues on the L1 loop (S551 and S556) causes an increase in Nav1.8 current density that is not accompanied by changes in gating properties of the channel. Our study suggests a mechanism by which activated p38 contributes to inflammatory, and possibly neuropathic, pain through a p38-mediated increase of Nav1.8 current density.
Evidence for Muscle-Dependent Neuromuscular Synaptic Site Determination in Mammals
Authors: Vock Vita M. , Ponomareva Olga N. , Rimer Mendell
Published: March 2008

Recent evidence challenges the prevalent view that neural factors induce the formation of ade novopostsynaptic apparatus during development of the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. The latest experiments suggest an alternative model in which the muscle fiber induces a nascent postsynaptic apparatus and sets the location of the future synapse. On axonal contact, these sites, laid out in a prepattern in the central area of developing muscle fibers, mature into synapses by the combined action of neural factors such as agrin and ACh. We sought to test in mammals these two models of neuromuscular synaptogenesis. Previously, we showed that continuous prenatal muscle expression of constitutively active ErbB2 (CAErbB2) led to synaptic loss, exuberant axonal sprouting, and lethality at birth. Here, we transiently induced CAErbB2 during midgestation and examined synapse restoration after inducer withdrawal. Centrally enriched ACh receptor (AChR) transcription and clustering were abolished after transient CAErbB2 induction. After inducer withdrawal, synapses were restored but were distributed widely over the entire diaphragm muscle. Under the nerve-dependent model, this distribution is explained by the wide pattern of axonal sprouting triggered by CAErbB2. Yet, in the absence of the nerve, introduced in our animals by mating toHb9+/−mice, a very similar, wide distribution of aneural AChR clusters resulted. Thus, transient expression of CAErbB2 in skeletal muscles leads to reprogramming of the endogenous muscle AChR prepattern. This, and not the nerve, seems primarily responsible for the widely distributed pattern of synapses in our experimental animals.
Patterns of Bidirectional Communication between Cortex and Basal Ganglia during Movement in Patients with Parkinson Disease
Authors: Lalo Elodie , Thobois Stéphane , Sharott Andrew , Polo Gustavo , Mertens Patrick , Pogosyan Alek , Brown Peter
Published: March 2008

Cortico-basal ganglia networks are considered to comprise several parallel and mostly segregated loops, where segregation is achieved in space through topographic connectivity. Recently, it has been suggested that functional segregation may also be achieved in the frequency domain, by selective coupling of related activities at different frequencies. So far, however, any coupling across frequency in the human has only been modeled in terms of unidirectional influences, a misplaced assumption given the looped architecture of the basal ganglia, and has been considered in static terms. Here, we investigate the pattern of bidirectional coupling between mesial and lateral cortical areas and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) at rest and during movement, with and without pharmacological dopaminergic input, in patients with Parkinson's disease. We simultaneously recorded scalp electroencephalographic activity and local field potentials from depth electrodes and deduced patterns of directed coherence between cortical and STN levels across three frequency bands [sub-β (3–13 Hz), β (14–35 Hz), γ (65–90 Hz)] in the different states. Our results show (1) asymmetric bidirectional coupling between STN and both mesial and lateral cortical areas with greater drives from cortex to STN at frequencies <35 Hz, (2) a drop of β band coupling driven from mesial cortex to STN during movement, and (3) an increase in symmetrical bidirectional drives between STN and mesial cortex and in lateral cortical drive to STN in the γ band after dopaminergic therapy. The results confirm a bidirectional pattern of cortico-basal ganglia communication that is differentially patterned across frequency bands and changes with movement and dopaminergic input.
Lipid-Laden Macrophage Index Is Not an Indicator of Gastroesophageal Reflux-Related Respiratory Disease in Children
Authors: Rosen Rachel , Fritz Julia , Nurko Ariela , Simon Dawn , Nurko Samuel
Published: March 2008

BACKGROUND. The lipid-laden macrophage index has been used to evaluate for gastroesophageal reflux-related respiratory disease, but the relationship between reflux detected by pH probe and the lipid-laden macrophage index is uncertain despite widespread use of the lipid-laden macrophage index in clinical decision-making. It was the aim of this study to correlate reflux as detected by multichannel intraluminal impedance with the lipid-laden macrophage index.

METHODS. Patients undergoing both pH multichannel intraluminal impedance testing and bronchoscopy between January 2002 and January 2006 were identified. Baseline characteristics were compared by using parametric and nonparametric testing. Reflux profiles were correlated with the lipid-laden macrophage index by using Spearman correlations.

RESULTS. There was no significant correlation between the lipid-laden macrophage index and the number of acid or nonacid reflux events. There also was no significant correlation between the lipid-laden macrophage index and the amount of full-column reflux. There was no significant difference between the mean lipid-laden macrophage index in patients with and without esophagitis. Finally, in patients who underwent fundoplication (n = 13) for intractable respiratory disease, there was no significant difference in any of the reflux parameters between patients who did and did not experience clinical improvement after fundoplication. There was, however, a higher lipid-laden macrophage index in patients with no symptomatic improvement compared with patients with symptomatic improvement.

CONCLUSIONS. Lipid-laden macrophage index lacks the specificity necessary to detect reflux-related respiratory disease.
How theory is put into practice: the analysis of in-treatment drug users under “treatment alternative to prison” in an outpatient centre in Budapest
Authors: Rácz József , Melles Katalin , Márványkövi Ferenc , Lencse Menyhért
Published: March 2008

A „büntetés helyett kezelés” elve a szakirodalomban élénken vitatott kérdés. Kábítószer-bűncselekményekben ezt a lehetőséget Magyarországon az 1993. évi büntető törvénykönyv módosítása teremtette meg. 2003-ban jelentősen kibővült ez a jogi lehetőség.
Célkitűzés:
Bemutatni, hogyan érvényesül egy fővárosi, drogbetegekkel foglalkozó kezelőintézmény gyakorlatában ez az elv 2001–2005 között; valóban kezelésre szoruló drogbetegek kerülnek-e ilyen módon a kezelőrendszerbe, illetve eléri-e ez a jogintézmény a kezelésre szoruló célcsoportokat.
Módszer:
A szerzők egy fővárosi drogambulancia 2001 és 2005 között kezelésre jelentkező betegeinek addikciós súlyossági index interjú alapján nyert adatait elemezték (
n
= 628). A „büntetés helyett kezelés”-t választók és a többi drogbeteg súlyossági indexének összehasonlítása klaszterelemzéssel és kétmintás statisztikai T-próbával történt.
Eredmények:
2003-at követően a „büntetés helyett kezelésben” részt vevők aránya 24%-ról 72,6%-ra nőtt (szignifikáns eltérés). Jól elkülöníthető egy betegcsoport (a vizsgálati minta fele), amely nem bír kezelést igénylő problémával. 2003-tól ebben a „problémamentes” betegpopulációban magas azoknak az aránya (60%), akik a „büntetés helyett kezelést” választották.
Következtetések:
A szerzők indokoltnak tartják a „büntetés helyett kezelés” elvének pszichiátriai-addiktológiai átgondolását.
Distribuição espacial dos casos novos de tuberculose em Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo, no período entre 2000 e 2005
Authors: Vieira Rafael da Cruz Araújo , Prado Thiago Nascimento do , Siqueira Maria Guimarães , Dietze Reynaldo , Maciel Ethel Leonor Noia
Published: March 2008

Realizou-se um estudo ecológico com a análise da distribuição espacial dos 979 novos casos de tuberculose entre 2000 e 2005. Utilizou-se o Método Bayesiano Empírico Local para estimação do risco. O Índice de Moram Local foi calculado para avaliação das autocorrelações entre as incidências de bairros limítrofes. Observou-se que a tuberculose distribui-se heterogeneamente entre os bairros, sendo possível identificar regiões com alto risco de adoecimento.
Atenção Pré-Natal no Município de Quixadá-CE segundo indicadores de processo do SISPRENATAL
Authors: Grangeiro Gisele Ribeiro , Diógenes Maria Albertina Rocha , Moura Escolástica Rejane Ferreira
Published: March 2008

Pesquisa descritiva, documental, que objetivou analisar os indicadores de processo do Sistema de Informação do Pré-natal (SISPRENATAL), em Quixadá-CE. Estudaram-se 1.544 cadastros de gestantes no período de 2001 a 2004. Os dados foram coletados de fevereiro a abril de 2005 no SISPRENATAL, implantado no setor de Epidemiologia da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Os resultados foram apresentados em tabela única e analisados à luz da literatura atual e experiência acumulada das autoras. Verificou-se percentual crescente de gestantes com indicador de, no mínimo, seis consultas, todos os exames básicos, teste anti-HIV, imunização antitetânica e consulta puerperal de 2001 a 2004, ou seja, zero, 2,6, 5,68 e 21,11%, respectivamente. É necessário, pois, uma melhora na utilização do Sistema, assim como a leitura sistemática dos indicadores de processo, no sentido de obter subsídios para a melhoria da qualidade da assistência pré-natal.
Representações sociais das famílias e dos usuários sobre participação de pessoas com transtorno mental
Authors: Jorge Maria Salete Bessa , Ramirez Ana Raquel Alves , Lopes Consuelo Helena Aires Freitas , Queiroz Maria Veraci Oliveira , Bastos Vanessa Barreto
Published: March 2008

O objetivo da pesquisa foi investigar as representações sociais das famílias e dos usuários dos serviços de saúde mental acerca de sua participação no tratamento de pessoas com transtorno mental severo. O estudo foi fundamentado na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Para a coleta de dados: teste de associação livre de palavras e entrevista com roteiro junto aos familiares e usuários de dois hospitais-dia, situados em Fortaleza-CE, Brasil. Conforme os resultados revelaram, os sujeitos da pesquisa consideram vantajoso o cuidado neste tipo de serviço e o apoio familiar essencial para o progresso no tratamento de pessoas com transtorno mental.