bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Property rights protection and access to bank loans
Authors: Bai Chong‐En , Lu Jiangyong , Tao Zhigang
Published: September 2006

Poor protection of private property has limited the access to bank loans by private enterprises in developing and transition economies. Under those circumstances, private entrepreneurs have resorted to various ways of enhancing the de facto protection of private property. Using a dataset of 3,073 private enterprises in China, this paper empirically investigates the impact of political participation and philanthropic activities – informal substitutes for the lack of formal protection of private property – on the access to bank loans.
The Headache-Inducing Effect of Cilostazol in Human Volunteers
Authors: Birk S , Kruuse C , Petersen KA , Tfelt-Hansen P , Olesen J
Published: September 2006

We have previously shown that nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) may cause headache and migraine. However, not all findings in previous studies can be explained by an activation of the NO-cGMP pathway. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) causes headache and migraine in migraine patients, but CGRP receptor activation causes an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). In order to investigate the role of cAMP in vascular headache pathogenesis, we studied the effect of cilostazol, an inhibitor of cAMP degradation, in our human experimental headache model. Twelve healthy volunteers were included in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study. Placebo or cilostazol (200 mg p.o.) was administered on two separate study days. Headache was scored on a verbal rating scale (0-10) and mechanical pain thresholds were measured with von Frey hairs. The median peak headache score 0-16 h postdose was 0 (range 0-2) after placebo and 3.5 (range 0-7) after cilostazol ( P = 0.003). The median headache curve peaked at 6-9 h postdose. The headaches induced were usually bilateral and pulsating. Nausea occurred in two volunteers, photo- and phonophobia were not seen. Two volunteers had a headache that fulfilled International Headache Society criteria for migraine without aura after cilostazol. No change in mechanical pain thresholds in the forehead was seen ( P = 0.25). The headache after cilostazol was equal to or more severe than headache induced by glyceryl trinitrate in previous experiments. The present study thus indicates that increased levels of cAMP may play a role in headache and migraine pathogenesis.
Intravital Microscopy on a Closed Cranial Window in Mice: A Model to Study Trigeminovascular Mechanisms Involved in Migraine
Authors: Gupta S , Akerman S , van den Maagdenberg AMJM , Saxena PR , Goadsby PJ , MaassenVanDenBrink A
Published: September 2006

The purpose of the study was to develop a mouse model to study trigeminovascular mechanisms using intravital microscopy on a closed cranial window. In addition, we studied exogenous and endogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-mediated vasodilation in dural arteries. Arteries in C57BL/6Jico mice were constricted with endothelin-1, which reduced the baseline diameter by 65-75%. Subsequently, vasodilation was induced by α-CGRP, capsaicin or transcranial electrical stimulation of perivascular trigeminal nerves in the absence or presence of different concentrations of BIBN4096BS or sumatriptan. Both α-CGRP and capsaicin induced vasodilation in preconstricted arteries. Transcranial electrical stimulation also induced current-dependent relaxation of dural arteries with 100 μA producing maximal dilation in the control group. BIBN4096BS blocked the responses evoked by ä-CGRP and capsaicin, as well as electrical stimulation, whereas sumatriptan attenuated only vasodilation induced by electrical stimulation. This model is likely to prove useful in dissecting elements of the trigeminovascular system and for exploring pathophysiological aspects of migraine, especially in future studies using transgenic mice with mutations relevant to those observed in patients with migraine.
Co‐Additions of TiO2 and SiO2 Crystalline Fillers to Tailor the Properties of BaO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 Glass for Application to Barrier Ribs of Plasma Display Panels
Authors: Shin Hyunho , Kim Sang‐Gon , Park Jong‐Sung , An Jae‐Sul , Hong Kug Sun , Kim Hyungsun
Published: September 2006

The influence of co‐additions of crystalline TiO2 and SiO2 fillers (10 wt% addition in total) to BaO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 glass on resultant properties was investigated from the viewpoint of applying the material to the barrier ribs of plasma display panels. The substitution of SiO2 for TiO2 reduced the dielectric constant significantly, while it maintained high optical reflectance and appropriate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the case when TiO2 alone was used. A 5–7.5 wt% SiO2 addition with 2.5–5 wt% TiO2 under the constraint of 10 wt% total fillers demonstrated an optical reflectance of about 55%, a CTE of about 8.3 × 10−6 K−1 (compatible with glass panels), and a dielectric constant of about 7.5, which are promising properties for the barrier rib application.
Mineralizing Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Formation With B2O3
Authors: Bhattacharya G. , Zhang S. , Smith M. E. , Jayaseelan D. D. , Lee W. E.
Published: September 2006

B2O3 mineralizes spinel formation from stoichiometric (1:1 mole ratio) calcined magnesia and alumina. After 3 h at 1100°C, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) shows the mineralization effect of B2O3 is limited to 1.5 wt% additions with higher B2O3 contents leading to Mg3B2O6 formation and reduced spinel content. Boron nuclear magnetic resonance, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD reveal formation of a boron‐containing liquid. Energy dispersive spectroscopy in the TEM and EPMA of the glassy phases formed from solidification of the liquid reveal that initially it is Mg borate, later becoming a magnesia‐modified boroaluminate, composition suggesting dissolution–precipitation as opposed to templated growth as the mechanism of this liquid phase mediated mineralization.
An Aqueous Gelcasting Process for Sintered Silicon Carbide Ceramics
Authors: Ganesh Ibram , Jana D. C. , Shaik Shamshad , Thiyagarajan N.
Published: September 2006

An aqueous gelcasting process for the preparation of dense as well as porous‐sintered SiC ceramics has been described in this paper. A commercial silicon carbide powder coated with phenolic resin was used in this investigation. For the purpose of comparison, a pure SiC powder was also studied. ς potential and viscosity studies revealed that the pure SiC powder requires an electro‐steric stabilization, whereas the phenolic resin‐coated powder requires an electrostatic stabilization in order to produce their corresponding aqueous slurries with high solids content. Thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis techniques have been used to study the decomposition behavior of phenolic resin. Aqueous slurries containing 25–50 vol% SiC powder were gelcast and sintered at 2150°C for 1 h. The sinterability of gelcast SiC samples was found to be highly influenced by the SiO2 formed on the surface of SiC during aqueous processing, as confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study. The results obtained from various characterization techniques suggest that in order to make dense SiC parts with >3.13 g/mL bulk density (a theoretical density of 97.5%) by an aqueous gelcasting process, the starting phenolic resin (∼5%)‐coated SiC powder should possess a median particle size of <11.0 μm, surface area of >3.2 m2/g, a compact (green) density of >1.67 g/mL, and a B content of >0.5%. Further, by using polyethylene granules and organic foaming agents, sintered SiC foam with a porosity of >80%, a compressive strength of >16 MPa and a coefficient of thermal expansion of 4.574 × 10−6/°C between 30° and 700°C can be prepared by an aqueous gelcasting process, followed by sintering at 2150°C for 1 h.
Improvement of Microwave Loss Tangent and Tunability of Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3/MgO Composites Using the Heterogeneous Precipitation Method
Authors: Liang Rui‐Hong , Dong Xian‐Lin , Chen Ying , Cao Fei , Wang Yong‐Ling
Published: September 2006

Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3/MgO composites were successfully prepared by the heterogeneous precipitation method and their structural, surface morphological, tunable properties, and dielectric properties at microwave frequency were systemically investigated. Compared with the sample prepared by the traditional solid‐state method, the sample prepared by the heterogeneous precipitation method exhibits a smaller grain size, more uniform microstructure, higher tunability, and lower microwave loss, and these properties are very beneficial to the development of the microwave tunable devices application. Moreover, the effects of La2O3 doping on the dielectric and tunable properties of BST/MgO composites are investigated. The result shows that the La3+‐doped sample has higher tunability and lower microwave loss than the undoped one.
The Solid Solubility of Holmium in BaTiO3 Under Reducing Conditions
Authors: Makovec Darko , Samardžija Zoran , Drofenik Miha
Published: September 2006

The solid solubility of Ho3+ in BaTiO3 fired under the reducing conditions of a nitrogen atmosphere containing 10% of hydrogen was studied by quantitative electron‐probe microanalysis using wavelength‐dispersive spectroscopy. The solubility was found to depend mainly on the starting composition. In the TiO2‐rich samples, the solubility of the Ho3+ donors at the Ba lattice sites was measured to be ∼4 mol% HoBa (Ba0.96Ho0.04TiO3−δ at 1400°C), which is much higher than after sintering in air. In the BaO‐rich compositions, the solubility of the Ho3+ acceptors at the Ti sites (solubility limit

at 1500°C) decreased compared with that in air. Like with sintering in air, under reducing conditions, the highest solubility of holmium in BaTiO3 was determined when it was incorporated at both lattice sites (solubility limit
).
Fabrication of Functionally Graded Materials Via Inkjet Color Printing
Authors: Wang Jiwen , Shaw Leon L.
Published: September 2006

A new method for fabricating functionally graded materials (FGMs) via inkjet color printing is reported in this paper. Al2O3 and ZrO2 aqueous suspensions were stabilized electrostatically and placed in different color reservoirs in inkjet cartridges. The volume and composition of the suspensions printed in droplets at a small area were controlled by the inkjet cyan–magenta–yellow–black color printing principle. The analysis of energy‐dispersive spectrometry shows that with multi‐layer printing, the composition profile of the printed FGM is consistent with the designed profile. The new method shows the potential for fabricating FGMs with arbitrarily designed three‐dimensional composition profiles.
Thermochemical Interaction of Thermal Barrier Coatings with Molten CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CMAS) Deposits
Authors: Krämer Stephan , Yang James , Levi Carlos G. , Johnson Curtis A.
Published: September 2006

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are increasingly susceptible to degradation by molten calcium–magnesium alumino silicate (CMAS) deposits in advanced engines that operate at higher temperatures and in environments laden with siliceous debris. This paper investigates the thermochemical aspects of the degradation phenomena using a model CMAS composition and ZrO2–7.6%YO1.5 (7YSZ) grown by vapor deposition on alumina substrates. The changes in microstructure and chemistry are characterized after isothermal treatments of 4 h at 1200°–1400°C. It is found that CMAS rapidly penetrates the open structure of the coating as soon as melting occurs, whereupon the original 7YSZ dissolves in the CMAS and reprecipitates with a different morphology and composition that depends on the local melt chemistry. The attack is minimal in the bulk of the coating but severe near the surface and the interface with the substrate, which is also partially dissolved by the melt. The phase evolution is discussed in terms of available thermodynamic information.
Delamination‐Indicating Thermal Barrier Coatings Using YSZ:Eu Sublayers
Authors: Eldridge Jeffrey I. , Bencic Timothy J. , Spuckler Charles M. , Singh Jogender , Wolfe Douglas E.
Published: September 2006

Nondestructive diagnostic tools that can reliably assess thermal barrier coating (TBC) delamination are needed to provide protection against premature TBC failure as well as to reduce the costs associated with unnecessary TBC replacement. A coating design for a TBC that is self‐indicating for delamination has been successfully implemented by incorporating a europium‐doped yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) luminescent sublayer beneath the overlying undoped YSZ TBC. It was demonstrated that incorporation of the europium‐doped YSZ layer could be achieved without disrupting TBC columnar growth by using multiple ingot electron beam physical vapor deposition. Both scanning luminescence mapping as well as luminescence imaging revealed greatly enhanced detected luminescence from scratch‐induced delaminated regions. This enhanced detected luminescence arises due to high internal reflectivity of both excitation and emission wavelengths at the interface between the luminescent sublayer and the delamination crack. In particular, imaging of the enhanced luminescence associated with TBC delamination was fast and simple to implement, therefore showing great promise as a practical tool for inspecting for TBC delamination.
Centrifugal Sintering of a Barium Titanate Thick Film
Authors: Kinemuchi Y. , Xiang P. H. , Kaga H. , Watari K. , Ishiguro H.
Published: September 2006

A highly packed barium titanate film with a thickness of 30 μm was prepared under 1000 gn (gn, standard acceleration of free fall) via centrifugal sintering. Here, BaTiO3 particles were used as the source material, and LiF flux was co‐added as a grain growth enhancer. The film was originally printed on a substrate by screen printing, and subsequently sintered. As the amount of flux increased, the film density also increased with remarkable grain growth. However, it was difficult to remove pores in conventional sintering even by the heavy addition of flux such as 20 wt%. In contrast, centrifugal sintering successfully compacted films (90% of theoretical density). The centrifugally sintered film possessed a relatively smooth surface and showed no flux segregation. These features of a centrifugally sintered film are thought to be attributed to the enhancement of particles' rearrangement at an elevated temperature by a centrifugal force.
Surface Modification of Titania Nanoparticles Using Ultrathin Ceramic Films
Authors: Hakim Luis F. , McCormick Jarod A. , Zhan Guo‐Dong , Weimer Alan W. , Li Peng , George Steven M.
Published: September 2006

Surface modification of titania nanoparticles was achieved by coating them with ultrathin alumina films using atomic layer deposition. The coating process was performed in a fluidized bed reactor at low pressure and under mechanical vibration. Films were deposited using self‐limiting, sequential surface reactions of trimethylaluminum and water. The composition of alumina‐coated particles was verified using infrared spectroscopy. The deposited films had an average growth rate of 0.2 nm/coating cycle and were highly uniform and conformal as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray spectroscopy. Deposited alumina films were amorphous as verified through X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution electron microscopy. The coating process did not promote particle sintering as validated via particle size and surface area analysis.
Structural Analysis on Planar Defects Formed in WC Platelets in Ti‐Doped WC–Co
Authors: Lay Sabine , Loubradou Marc , Schubert Wolf‐dieter
Published: September 2006

Platelet‐reinforced WC–Co alloys are processed by liquid‐phase sintering from very fine‐grained WC powders in the presence of small amounts of TiC. Large and flat WC grains develop in the material. The microstructure of these platelets is investigated by high‐resolution electron microscopy in order to obtain information on their formation mechanism. Inside the grains, an extended defect parallel to the basal plane is observed. It can be described by a pair of stacking faults with a shear vector equal to 1/3 〈0‐110〉 occurring in two successive (0001) planes. At the level of the faults, the plane spacing is slightly reduced. The defect area is similar to a thin cubic layer about 0.5 nm thick at the interior of the platelet. The enhanced grain growth of the platelets is likely related to the presence of the defect area.
Addition of GeO2 to Reduce the Viscosity of Parent Glasses for Low‐Expansion, Transparent Glass–Ceramics Containing High‐Quartz Solid Solutions
Authors: Shyu Jiin‐Jyh , Lue Chun‐Yuan , Jean Ren‐Der
Published: September 2006

Parent glasses for fabricating glass–ceramics with nanometer‐sized crystals usually have high viscosities, resulting in high processing temperatures. In this study, GeO2 was added to a transparent, near‐zero thermal‐expansion Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 glass–ceramic to reduce the viscosity of the parent glass. The effects of this compositional modification on the viscosity and crystal‐nucleation rate of the parent glasses, and on the crystal size, thermal expansion, and optical transparency of the resulting glass–ceramics were investigated. It was found that addition of GeO2 was useful in reducing the glass viscosity. Owing to the reduced nucleating rate with the increase in the GeO2 content, the nucleating times required for reaching the smallest crystal size, the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion, and the highest transparency were all increased. With increasing GeO2 content, the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion that can be reached for glass–ceramics increased (0.14–2.9 × 10−6 K−1). The highest transparency of the GeO2‐containing glass–ceramics is almost as good as that of the GeO2‐free glass–ceramic and is almost independent of GeO2 content when the crystal size is smaller than about 65 nm.
Characterization and Electrophoretic Deposition of Poly(Phenylsilsesquioxane)–Titania Hybrid Particles Prepared by the Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Takahashi Kenji , Tadanaga Kiyoharu , Tatsumisago Masahiro , Matsuda Atsunori
Published: September 2006

Poly(phenylsilsesquioxane)–titania (PhSiO3/2–TiO2) hybrid particles were prepared from phenyltriethoxysilane and titanium tetra‐n‐butoxide by the sol–gel method. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that PhSiO3/2 and the TiO2 components were hybridized through Si–O–Ti bonds. The refractive index of the particles was monotonically increased from 1.57 to 1.62 with an increase in the TiO2 content. The PhSiO3/2–TiO2 particles were electrophoretically deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass substrates to form opaque, thick films about 3 μm in thickness. When the mole ratio x in (1−x)PhSiO3/2·xTiO2 was equal to or less than 0.05, the deposited PhSiO3/2–TiO2 films became transparent with a heat treatment at 400°C because of the thermal sintering of the particles.
Prognostic value of plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in Danish patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (REOC)
Authors: BEGUM FARAH DIBA , HØGDALL ESTRID V. S. , RIISBRO RIKKE , CHRISTENSEN IB JARLE , ENGELHOLM SVEND A. , JØRGENSEN MORTEN , PEDERSEN BENT NØRGAARD , HØGDALL CLAUS K.
Published: September 2006

The level of the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is elevated in tumour tissue from several types of cancer. This is the first study aiming to predict the prognosis for survival by the use of a pre‐chemotherapeutic plasma suPAR value in 71 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (REOC). For determination of suPAR, pre‐chemotherapeutic blood samples from the patients with REOC were processed into plasma (EDTA) within one working day from venipuncture. The plasma suPAR level is not correlated with performance status (p=0.41), FIGO stage (p=0.09), treatment‐free interval (TFI) of 12 months (p=0.26), site of recurrence (peritoneum, p=0.50 or pelvis, p=0.44), age (p=0.43), or serum CA125 (p=0.09). Univariate as well as multivariate analyses cannot demonstrate that high pre‐chemotherapeutic levels of plasma suPAR (p=0.22, p=0.80) are associated with shorter survival of REOC patients. Multivariate analysis showed that only TFI of 12 months (p=0.001) and performance score status of 2 (p=0.02) were independent prognostic factors. Our study indicates that pre‐chemotherapeutic measurement of plasma suPAR level in REOC patients may not be useful to identify a subgroup of patients with poor prognosis.
Immune response in rhesus macaques after mixed modality immunisations with DNA, recombinant adenovirus and recombinant gp120 from human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Authors: VINNER LASSE , THERRIEN DOMINIC , WEE EDD , LAURSEN INGA , HANKE TOMÀŠ , CORBET SYLVIE L. , FOMSGAARD ANDERS
Published: September 2006

The establishment of effective regimens for a vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) is urgently needed. In the present study we have produced HIV‐1 gp120 from a vaccine‐relevant primary R5 isolate in recombinant vaccinia (rVV)‐infected Vero cells. We have investigated the effect of boosting with this protein in mixed modality immunisations of rhesus macaques following different immunisation. As reported earlier, animals were primed with codon‐optimised HIV‐1BX08env DNA delivered as plasmid or as replication‐deficient recombinant human adenovirus type 5 (rAd5), which both induced specific antibody and cellular immune responses (1). Boosting with rAd5 temporarily had increased the anti‐gp120 antibody titres approximately 1 log (rAd5+rAd5) or 3 log (DNA+rAd5) (1). However, secondary rAd5 boosting showed less effect due to the induced vector‐specific immunity. To further boost the antibody response, the rgp120BX08 was injected with Quadri A saponin adjuvant. The protein boosting resulted in a 1–2 log antibody increase and also boosting of the cell‐mediated immune response. Neutralising antibodies to the heterologous HIV‐1MN were detected; however, neutralising antibodies to the primary HIV‐1Bx08 isolate were seen only transiently after rAd5 but not the rgp120 immunisation. It is concluded that the rgp120Bx08 reagent from rVV‐infected Vero cells is functional and immunogenic in macaques, inducing both antibody and cellular immunity. The rgp120Bx08 is a relevant model antigen that may be used to boost antibody and cellular immunity in mixed modality vaccine regimens against HIV‐1 in higher animals.
Glomerular C3c deposition and intravascular macrophage accumulation in early humoral renal allograft rejection signifies a poor short‐term outcome
Authors: MÖLNE JOHAN , NYBERG GUDRUN , BLOHMÉ INGEMAR , RYDBERG LENNART , BREIMER MICHAEL E. , SVALANDER CHRISTIAN T.
Published: September 2006

C4d deposition in the walls of peritubular capillaries is considered the key phenomenon in the histopathological diagnosis of humoral, i.e. antibody‐mediated, allograft rejection. We have earlier proposed that deposition of C3c in glomerular capillaries and simultaneous intravascular accumulation of macrophages in allografts with immediate or early humoral rejection indicates a potentially serious condition with very poor prognosis. The clinical outcome of 45 cadaveric grafts with this phenomenon among 1960 renal allografts transplanted at our centre during 1984–1999, and the recipients of the contralateral kidneys, was retrospectively evaluated. Graft failure occurred in 44/45 grafts within 3 weeks, with graft loss in 33/45 (77%) within 4 months and 37/45 (82%) within 1 year. From the contralateral kidneys, 5/33 (15%) were lost within 1 year. In a recent series of early biopsies, we recognised that of 13 cases showing C4d positivity in peritubular capillaries but lacking C3c in glomeruli, 10/13 (77%) were still functioning after 4 months. The mean number of CD68+ macrophages per glomerular profile, i.e. the glomerular macrophage index, shows a significant difference between C4d+C3c− and C4d+C3c+ cases (p<0.001). Our results indicate the existence of a clinically important subgroup of early humoral rejection with particular morphological features.
Comparative study of monoclonal antibody B72.3 and gross cystic disease fluid protein‐15 as markers of apocrine carcinoma of the breast
Authors: HONMA NAOKO , TAKUBO KAIYO , ARAI TOMIO , YOUNES MAMOUN , KASUMI FUJIO , AKIYAMA FUTOSHI , SAKAMOTO GOI
Published: September 2006

Gross cystic disease fluid protein‐15 (GCDFP‐15) is a commonly used apocrine marker; however, its expression was recently found to decrease in infiltrating, larger, or metastasizing apocrine carcinomas of the breast. In the breast, monoclonal antibody (MAb) B72.3 has been reported to be useful as an apocrine marker although it is used for that purpose much less frequently than GCDFP‐15. In the search for a more consistent apocrine marker, immunoreactivity for MAb B72.3 was examined in apocrine carcinomas at different stages and compared with GCDFP‐15. 47 of 51 apocrine carcinomas (92%) and 9 of 62 ordinary carcinomas (15%) were MAb B72.3 positive, while 39 of 51 apocrine carcinomas (76%) and 13 of 62 ordinary carcinomas (21%) were GCDFP‐15 positive. Thus, both sensitivity and specificity were higher for MAb B72.3. Furthermore, unlike GCDFP‐15, MAb B72.3 exhibited positivity irrespective of infiltrating status, tumor size, or metastatic status. There was no correlation between MAb B72.3‐immunoreactivity and GCDFP‐15‐expression. The combined usage of MAb B72.3 with GCDFP‐15 was useful to confirm the diagnosis of apocrine carcinoma, especially for advanced tumors, with only two cases being negative for both MAb B72.3 and GCDFP‐15. Whether these two cases should be differentiated from ordinary apocrine carcinomas remains to be investigated.
Modulation of ABH histo‐blood group antigen expression in normal and myasthenic human thymus
Authors: SARAFIAN VICTORIA S. , MARINOVA TSVETANA T.
Published: September 2006

The role of ABH histo‐blood group antigens (HBGA) in intercellular communication during normal and pathological processes is still uncertain. The present work investigates the expression of ABH HBGA in epithelial cells and lymphocytes in normal thymus, and characterizes the modulation of their immunoreactivity during myasthenic transformation. Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy were applied on normal young thymus and on myasthenia gravis‐associated thymomas and thymic hyperplasias. The Hassall's corpuscules in the thymus of young individuals were homogeneously stained for HBGA, while in hyperplastic glands only their central part was positive. Stromal epithelial cells permanently expressed HBGA in all tissue samples. In thymomas, mainly the lymphocytes in close proximity to antigen expressing epithelial cells were positive, while in the hyperplastic gland the most intensely stained lymphocytes were those within Hassall's corpuscules. Novel evidence for modulation of ABH antigen reactivity in normal and myasthenic human thymus is presented. It suggests that HBGA might participate in the regulation of the cross‐talk in the thymocyte microenvironment throughout the ontogeny, as well as during the myasthenic transformation.
Individually determined dosing of filgrastim after autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant lymphoma – results of a prospective multicentre controlled trial
Authors: Faber Edgar , Pytlík Robert , Slabý Jiří , Zapletalová Jana , Kozák Tomáš , Raida Luděk , Papajík Tomáš , Žikešová Eva , Marešová Ivana , Hamouzová Marie , Indrák Karel , Trněný Marek
Published: September 2006

Abstract:  Objectives: To explore the safety and effectiveness of the individually determined application granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Methods: The administration of G‐CSF from day +5 (arm A) was compared in a randomised, controlled trial with delayed, individually determined administration (G‐CSF started when WBC ≥ 0.5 × 109/L and ANC ≥ 0.1 × 109/L or at day +10; arm B), and with placebo (arm C). Results: One hundred and six patients, median age 45 (range 21–64), all with malignant lymphoma treated with BEAM chemotherapy were analysed. A significant difference in the time to neutrophil engraftment and in the duration of neutropenia <0.5 × 109/L and <1.0 × 109/L was observed between the arms (P = 0.04–<0.0001) with a 1‐d prolongation of the median durations in arm B in comparison with arm A but a 2–4‐d prolongation in the placebo arm C in comparison with arm B. The median number and range of days to neutrophil engraftment >0.5 × 109/L after graft re‐infusion was 10 (9–14) in arm A; 11 (9–19) in arm B; and 14 (10–30) in arm C (P < 0.0001). Engraftment of platelets to >20 × 109/L and >50 × 109/L was significantly delayed in the arms using G‐CSF in comparison with placebo (P = 0.04–0.002) without any increase in bleeding or in transfusion requirement. There was no difference in the incidence and duration of transplant‐related complications and their treatment between the arms. Conclusions: Our study has confirmed the safety of individually determined administration of G‐CSF. The optimal timing of G‐CSF application after ASCT in patients with good‐quality grafts is shortly before expected spontaneous engraftment.
Crystal structure and enzymatic properties of a bacterial family 19 chitinase reveal differences from plant enzymes
Authors: Hoell Ingunn A. , Dalhus Bjørn , Heggset Ellinor B. , Aspmo Stein I. , Eijsink Vincent G. H.
Published: September 2006

We describe the cloning, overexpression, purification, characterization and crystal structure of chitinase G, a single‐domain family 19 chitinase from the Gram‐positive bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Although chitinase G was not capable of releasing 4‐methylumbelliferyl from artificial chitooligosaccharide substrates, it was capable of degrading longer chitooligosaccharides at rates similar to those observed for other chitinases. The enzyme was also capable of degrading a colored colloidal chitin substrate (carboxymethyl‐chitin–remazol–brilliant violet) and a small, presumably amorphous, subfraction of α‐chitin and β‐chitin, but was not capable of degrading crystalline chitin completely. The crystal structures of chitinase G and a related Streptomyces chitinase, chitinase C [Kezuka Y, Ohishi M, Itoh Y, Watanabe J, Mitsutomi M, Watanabe T & Nonaka T (2006) J Mol Biol358, 472–484], showed that these bacterial family 19 chitinases lack several loops that extend the substrate‐binding grooves in family 19 chitinases from plants. In accordance with these structural features, detailed analysis of the degradation of chitooligosaccharides by chitinase G showed that the enzyme has only four subsites (− 2 to + 2), as opposed to six (− 3 to + 3) for plant enzymes. The most prominent structural difference leading to reduced size of the substrate‐binding groove is the deletion of a 13‐residue loop between the two putatively catalytic glutamates. The importance of these two residues for catalysis was confirmed by a site‐directed mutagenesis study.
Monomeric solution structure of the helicase‐binding domain of Escherichia coli DnaG primase
Authors: Su Xun‐Cheng , Schaeffer Patrick M. , Loscha Karin V. , Gan Pamela H. P. , Dixon Nicholas E. , Otting Gottfried
Published: September 2006

DnaG is the primase that lays down RNA primers on single‐stranded DNA during bacterial DNA replication. The solution structure of the DnaB‐helicase‐binding C‐terminal domain of Escherichia coli DnaG was determined by NMR spectroscopy at near‐neutral pH. The structure is a rare fold that, besides occurring in DnaG C‐terminal domains, has been described only for the N‐terminal domain of DnaB. The C‐terminal helix hairpin present in the DnaG C‐terminal domain, however, is either less stable or absent in DnaB, as evidenced by high mobility of the C‐terminal 35 residues in a construct comprising residues 1–171. The present structure identifies the previous crystal structure of the E. coli DnaG C‐terminal domain as a domain‐swapped dimer. It is also significantly different from the NMR structure reported for the corresponding domain of DnaG from the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus. NMR experiments showed that the DnaG C‐terminal domain does not bind to residues 1–171 of the E. coli DnaB helicase with significant affinity.
Graduated Drivers License Programs and Rural Teenage Motor Vehicle Fatalities
Authors: Morrisey Michael A. , Grabowski David C.
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACT: 
Context: Graduated drivers license (GDL) programs have been shown to reduce motor vehicle fatalities among 15‐ to 17‐year‐olds. However, the 20 most rural states have been the least likely to enact more stringent GDL policies. Purpose: Estimate the relationship of GDL programs and the number of traffic fatalities among 15‐ to 17‐year‐olds on rural interstate and noninterstate roadways. Methods: Analysis of 1992‐2002 Fatality Analysis Reporting System data and a compendium of state laws using a conditional negative binominal regression model with full fixed effects to control for unobservable differences across states and years. Findings: Overall, GDL programs were associated with a 7.8% reduction in rural traffic fatalities among 15‐ to 17‐year‐olds. Virtually all of this reduction took place on noninterstate roadways. The most stringent GDL programs were associated with a nearly 22% reduction in this age group and were the only programs associated with reductions in fatalities among 15‐ to 17‐year‐old drivers. Conclusions: Rural states should consider enacting stringent GDL programs. Had the 19 of the 20 most rural states without such programs all adopted the most stringent GDL programs in 2002, the analysis suggests that 64 traffic deaths among 15‐ to 17‐years‐olds could have been prevented.
Differential Effectiveness of Depression Disease Management for Rural and Urban Primary Care Patients
Authors: Adams Scott J. , Xu Stanley , Dong Fran , Fortney John , Rost Kathryn
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACT: 
Context: Federally qualified health centers across the country are adopting depression disease management programs following federally mandated training; however, little is known about the relative effectiveness of depression disease management in rural versus urban patient populations. Purpose: To explore whether a depression disease management program has a comparable impact on clinical outcomes over 2 years in patients treated in rural and urban primary care practices and whether the impact is mediated by receiving evidence‐based care (antidepressant medication and specialty care counseling). Methods: A preplanned secondary analysis was conducted in a consecutively sampled cohort of 479 depressed primary care patients recruited from 12 practices in 10 states across the country participating in the Quality Enhancement for Strategic Teaming study. Findings: Depression disease management improved the mental health status of urban patients over 18 months but not rural patients. Effects were not mediated by antidepressant medication or specialty care counseling in urban or rural patients. Conclusions: Depression disease management appears to improve clinical outcomes in urban but not rural patients. Because these programs compete for scarce resources, health care organizations interested in delivering depression disease management to rural populations need to advocate for programs whose clinical effectiveness has been demonstrated for rural residents.
The State of Diabetes Care Provided to Medicare Beneficiaries Living in Rural America
Authors: Weingarten Joseph P. , Brittman Susan , Hu Wenrong , Przybyszewski Chris , Hammond Judith M. , FitzGerald Dawn
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACT: 
Context: Diabetes poses a growing health burden in the United States, but much of the research to date has been at the state and local level. Purpose: To present a national profile of diabetes care provided to Medicare beneficiaries living in urban, semirural, and rural communities. Methods: Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes aged 18‐75 were identified from Part A and Part B claims data from 1999 to 2001. A composite of 3 diabetes care indicators was assessed (annual hemoglobin A1c test, biennial lipid profile, and biennial eye examination). Findings: Over 77% had a hemoglobin A1c test, 74% a lipid profile, and 69% an eye examination. Patterns of care were considerably different across the urban‐rural continuum at the state, Census division, and regional levels. States in the northern and eastern portions of the country had higher indicator rates for rural than for urban residents. States in the South had much lower rates for rural residents than their urban counterparts. Despite these within‐state differences, across‐state comparisons found that several states tended to have low indicator rates in every level of the urban‐rural continuum. A common feature of these states was the relatively high concentration of nonwhite beneficiaries. For example, southern states had much higher concentrations of nonwhite beneficiaries relative to other areas in the country and demonstrated low rates in every level of the urban‐rural continuum. Conclusions: Urban‐rural quality of care differences may be a function not just of geography but also of the presence of a large nonwhite population.
Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs: owners’ perspectives on management with phenobarbitone and/or potassium bromide
Authors: Chang Y. , Mellor D. J. , Anderson T. J.
Published: September 2006

Objectives:To explore seizure management from the perspective of the owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

Methods:Questionnaires were mailed to owners of 29 dogs under management for suspected or diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy through the clinics of the Small Animal Hospital of the University of Glasgow Veterinary School, using either phenobarbitone or potassium bromide alone or in combination.

Results:The postal survey had an 86 per cent response rate. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that “the dog’s quality of life”, “adequate seizure frequency” and “acceptable side effects of antiepileptic drugs” were the three greatest concerns for owners; 52 per cent of owners strongly agreed that the seizure management for their dog was adequate, though the seizure frequency reported varied within this group; the majority of owners did not consider the administration of medication a nuisance. However, approximately 60 per cent of owners reported that caring for an epileptic dog had an effect on the organisation of their free time, though this was not dependent on perception of seizure control. Opinions as to the value of further diagnostic procedures, in particular intracranial imaging, were significantly affected by having pet health insurance.

ClinicalSignificance:From the owners’ perspective, adequacy of seizure control is determined by the balance between “the dog’s quality of life”, “adequate seizure frequency” and “acceptable side effects of antiepileptic drugs”. A frequency of less than one seizure every three months is associated with the perception by owners of adequate seizure control.
Trace gases, CO2, climate, and the greenhouse effect
Authors: Aubrecht Gordon J.
Published: September 2006

Weather is driven by the sun’s energy input and the difference between insolation per unit area of the poles and the equator. The energy flux of the Earth is in long-term balance—as much is radiated away by the Earth as is absorbed, or the mean temperature would have to increase or decrease steadily (and, of course, this is not observed). CO2 and other ‘‘trace gases’’ can cause the Earth’s mean temperature to rise through the Greenhouse Effect. The mean temperature in the Little Ice Age was only 1 °C cooler, but large effects were felt, especially toward the poles. The CO2 which stays in the atmosphere will raise Earth’s mean temperature, with effects which are relatively certain: a lot of warming at the poles, and a very small amount of warming at the equator.
Elevated Eocene Atmospheric CO
2
and Its Subsequent Decline
Authors: Lowenstein Tim K. , Demicco Robert V.
Published: September 2006

Quantification of the atmospheric concentration of CO2 ([CO2]atm) during warm periods of Earth's history is important because burning of fossil fuels may produce future [CO2]atm approaching 1000 parts per million by volume (ppm). The early Eocene (~56 to 49 million years ago) had the highest prolonged global temperatures of the past 65 million years. High Eocene [CO2]atm is established from sodium carbonate minerals formed in saline lakes and preserved in the Green River Formation, western United States. Coprecipitation of nahcolite (NaHCO3) and halite (NaCl) from surface waters in contact with the atmosphere indicates [CO2]atm > 1125 ppm (four times preindustrial concentrations), which confirms that high [CO2]atm coincided with Eocene warmth.
Response to Comment on "Asymmetric Coevolutionary Networks Facilitate Biodiversity Maintenance"
Authors: Bascompte Jordi , Jordano Pedro , Olesen Jens M.
Published: September 2006

Mutualistic networks are characterized by weak and asymmetric interactions, which a simple model predicts will facilitate species coexistence. Holland
et al
. propose a more complex model and argue that coexistence is independent of mutualism strength. However, we show that mutualism strength still plays an important role in their model and that it significantly decreases with species richness as predicted.
Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics at Water Interfaces
Authors: McGuire John A. , Shen Y. Ron
Published: September 2006

Time-resolved sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy permits the study of hitherto neglected ultrafast vibrational dynamics of neat water interfaces. Measurements on interfacial bonded OH stretch modes revealed relaxation behavior on sub-picosecond time scales in close resemblance to that of bulk water. Vibrational excitation is followed by spectral diffusion, vibrational relaxation, and thermalization in the hydrogen-bonding network. Dephasing of the excitation occurs in ≤100 femtoseconds. Population relaxation of the dangling OH stretch was found to have a time constant of 1.3 picoseconds, the same as that for excitation transfer between hydrogen-bonded and unbonded OH stretches of water molecules surrounded by acetone.
The Politics of Hope--Dreaming in a Genomic Age
Authors: Lee Sandra Soo-Jin
Published: September 2006

The Troubled Dream of Genetic Medicine
. Ethnicity and Innovation in Tay-Sachs, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sickle Cell Disease.
By Keith Wailoo and Stephen Pemberton
. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, 2006. 259 pp. $60, £40. ISBN 0-8018-8325-3. Paper, $21.95, £14.50. ISBN 0-8018-8326-1.

The authors explore how "racial ideologies, cultural politics, and conflicting beliefs about the power of genetics shape disparate health care expectations and experiences."
Soluble Mn(III) in Suboxic Zones
Authors: Trouwborst Robert E. , Clement Brian G. , Tebo Bradley M. , Glazer Brian T. , Luther George W.
Published: September 2006

Soluble manganese(III) [Mn(III)] has been thought to disproportionate to soluble Mn(II) and particulate Mn
IV
O
2
in natural waters, although it persists as complexes in laboratory solutions. We report that, in the Black Sea, soluble Mn(III) concentrations were as high as 5 micromolar and constituted up to 100% of the total dissolved Mn pool. Depth profiles indicated that soluble Mn(III) was produced at the top of the suboxic zone by Mn(II) oxidation and at the bottom of the suboxic zone by Mn
IV
O
2
reduction, then stabilized in each case by unknown natural ligands. We also found micromolar concentrations of dissolved Mn(III) in the Chesapeake Bay. Dissolved Mn(III) can maintain the existence of suboxic zones because it can act as either an electron acceptor or donor. Our data indicate that Mn(III) should be ubiquitous at all water column and sediment oxic/anoxic interfaces in the environment.
An Ointment for the Fly
Authors: Venter J. Craig
Published: September 2006

Won for All
. How the
Drosophila
Genome Was Sequenced.
By Michael Ashburner
. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 2006. 123 pp. $19.95, £11. ISBN 0-87969-802-0.

The author offers a short, lively account (almost resembling diary extracts) of the collaborative effort that sequenced the
Drosophila
genome.
GEODESIC FLOWS, VON NEUMANN EQUATION AND QUANTUM MECHANICS ON NONCOMMUTATIVE CYLINDER
Authors: GUHA PARTHA
Published: September 2006

We study quantum mechanics on the noncommutative cylinder via Moyal deformed geodesic flows on the group of area preserving diffeomorphism. This equation coincides exactly with the von Neumann equation. Using discretization techniques of Kemmoku and Saito we obtain the discrete Schrödinger equation on noncommutative cylinder. Thus we reproduce the result of Balachandran et al.1
ON A NOTION OF MAPS BETWEEN ORBIFOLDS I: FUNCTION SPACES
Authors: CHEN WEIMIN
Published: September 2006

This is the first of a series of papers which is devoted to a comprehensive theory of maps between orbifolds. In this paper, we define the maps in the more general context of orbispaces, and establish several basic results concerning the topological structure of the space of such maps. In particular, we show that the space of such maps of Crclass between smooth orbifolds has a natural Banach orbifold structure if the domain of the map is compact, generalizing the corresponding result in the manifold case. Motivations and applications of the theory come from string theory and the theory of pseudoholomorphic curves in symplectic orbifolds.
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS, DOCKING, DENSITY FUNCTIONAL, AND ADMET STUDIES OF HIV-1 REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS
Authors: DA SILVA CARLOS H. T. P. , CARVALHO IVONE , TAFT CARLTON A.
Published: September 2006

Molecular dynamics, density functional with correlation, as well as docking studies of inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) are reported. We propose in this work a novel potential HIV-1 RT inhibitor (RTI), which theoretically appears to bind in a similar mode as other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and in addition, it introduces a new hydrogen bond interaction with Trp229. Our novel RTI has high docking scores and the molecular dynamics studies, as well as the analysis of the ligand-receptor interactions in the active site and the ADMET properties suggest advantages and specificities for this potential RTI.
STUDIES OF FINDING LOW ENERGY CONFIGURATIONS IN OFF-LATTICE PROTEIN MODELS
Authors: LIU JINGFA , HUANG WENQI
Published: September 2006

We studied two three-dimensional off-lattice protein models with two species of monomers, hydrophobic and hydrophilic. Low energy configurations in both models were optimized using the energy landscape paving (ELP) method and subsequent gradient descent. The numerical results show that the proposed methods are very promising for finding the ground states of proteins. For all sequences with lengths 13 ≤ n ≤ 55, the algorithm finds states with lower energy than previously proposed putative ground states.
ELECTRON DENSITY ANALYSIS OF WEAK VAN DER WAALS COMPLEXES
Authors: PAKIARI A. H. , FAKHRAEE S.
Published: September 2006

The nature of weak van der Waals interactions in different complexes of some atmospheric molecules such as CO2, N2O , and N2was examined. Ab initio calculation was carried out at MP2 level of theory using Dunning's aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Bader's theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) was employed to analyze electron density and to characterize the nature and properties of van der Waals interactions. A set of criteria, having been proposed in the context of AIM theory, was examined for these complexes. In spite of the parameter kinetics energy, per electron density is expected to be greater than unity for closed-shell interactions; we obtained values less than unity for many of these polyatomic systems. A set of limitations has also been outlined for the values of two AIM quantities: total energy density, H(r), and Laplacian of electron density, ∇2ρ, which correspond to different bond natures.