bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Electrocatalytic Oxidation of L‐Cysteine at Glassy Carbon Electrode by (FcM)TMA and Its Electrochemical Kinetics
Authors: Gao Zuo‐Ning , Yao Hui‐Qin , Liu Wan‐Yi
Published: November 2004

The electrocatalytic oxidation of L‐cysteine by (ferrocenylmethyl)trimethylammonium at a glassy carbon electrode in 0.1 M Na2SO4 aqueous solution has been studied. The rate constant for the catalytic reaction was evaluated as (4.28±0.05)×103 M−1 s−1 by chronoamperometry. Experimental conditions, which maximize the current efficiency of the electrocatalytic oxidation, such as pH value and the concentration of the catalyst, were also investigated. The experimental results of electrocatalytic kinetics of L‐cysteine oxidation on GCE in the presence of (ferrocenylmethyl)trimethylammonium obviously support the reaction mechanism proposed and the rate determining step assumed in scheme described in this work.
Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanoelectrode Arrays: Fabrication, Evaluation, and Application in Voltammetric Analysis
Authors: Tu Yi , Lin Yuehe , Yantasee Wassana , Ren Zhifeng
Published: November 2004

Fabrication, electrochemical characterization, and applications of low‐site density carbon nanotubes based nanoelectrode arrays (CNTs‐NEAs) are reported in this work. Spin‐coating of an epoxy resin provides a new way to create the electrode passivation layer effectively reducing electrode capacitance and current leakage. Cyclic voltammetry showed the sigmoidal shape curves with low capacitive current and scan‐rate‐independent limiting current. Square‐wave voltammetry showed well‐defined peak shapes in voltammograms of K3Fe(CN)6 and 4‐acetamidophenol (acetaminophen) and the peak currents to be proportioned to their concentrations, demonstrating the feasibility for voltammetric analysis of the CNTs‐NEAs. The CNTs‐NEAs were also used successfully for voltammetric detection of trace concentrations of lead(II) at ppb level at first‐time. The CNTs‐NEAs provide an excellent platform for ultra sensitive electrochemical sensors for chemical and biological sensing.
Effect of oxidation pretreatment by hydrogen peroxide on iron removal from wastewater of a sulfuric acid iron‐pickling process
Authors: Vlyssides A. , Moutsatsou A. , Mai S. , Barampouti E.M.
Published: November 2004

In this paper, a new method for the treatment of wastewater from a sulfuric acid iron‐pickling process is described. A two‐stage treatment process that includes a hydrogen peroxide oxidation first step based on Fenton reactions, and a lime precipitation second step, was compared with the one‐stage conventional treatment process that includes only lime precipitation. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the beneficial effect of oxidation as a pretreatment method because the conventional treatment method cannot meet the Greek Emission Limit Values for effluent disposal to surface waters at any pH, whereas the proposed method can. Complete removal of iron (<1 mg/L) and sulfates (<500 mg/L) can be achieved. In contrast, at the same pH using the conventional method, the concentrations of iron and sulfates in the effluent are greater than 500 and 2500 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, COD and BOD are reduced by the proposed process (>90%) as a result of oxidation. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
Pilot‐scale biofiltration of waste gases containing aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, cresols, and other volatile organic compounds
Authors: Wieczorek Andrzej
Published: November 2004

Long‐term tests were performed on a waste gas biofiltration pilot plant to determine its efficiency in eliminating organic contaminants. Gases from a varnishing process containing over 50 compounds, mostly aliphatic (C5–C8) and aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, C3‐benzenes), and phenols were treated. The composition of the feed stream varied to some extent with time. The inlet concentration of a single compound was not usually higher than 100 mg/m3. The temperature of the gases at the biofiltration installation inlet did not exceed 45° C, and the gas superficial flow rates did not exceed 0.022 m/s. The biofiltration efficiency varied from 50 to 100%, depending on the flow rate. A reduction of up to 30% was observed in the concentration of some organic compounds in the humidifier that preceded the biofilter. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2004
Characterizing multiple independent behavioral correlates of cell firing in freely moving animals
Authors: Burgess Neil , Cacucci Francesca , Lever Colin , O'Keefe John
Published: November 2004

The heterogeneous sampling of behavioral states by freely moving animals hinders our ability to relate neuronal firing rates to behavioral variables by introducing dependencies between them. We specifically consider the animal's location and orientation, although our analyses may generalize to other behavioral variables, such as speed of movement. A maximum‐likelihood approach is presented for producing estimates of the separate histograms relating firing rate to multiple independent causes. Examples show that the method can be used to avoid the artifactual behavioral correlates of place and head direction‐cell firing produced by standard analyses; to characterize the independent influences of both location and orientation in a third cell type (Cacucci et al., 2004); and to demonstrate the location‐independence of the directional firing of head‐direction cells. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) neurotoxicity: enhancement by protein‐deﬁcient diet
Authors: Levine Seymour , Saltzman Arthur
Published: November 2004

Large doses of pyridoxine cause injury to the primary sensory neurons in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia of animals and patients subjected to megavitamin therapy. The increased hazard to subjects with reduced renal excretory function has been explored previously. In the present work, the neurotoxicity of pyridoxine for rats was found to be increased by dietary protein deﬁciency. A mere 3 or 7 days of pretreatment with either of two protein‐deﬁcient diets were sufﬁcient to accelerate and intensify the clinical neurological signs and histological lesions from pyridoxine injections. These results are caused, at least in part, by loss of body weight, decreased protein binding in serum and decreased consumption of water and decreased volume of urine, which reduce the urinary losses of the toxicant. The vitamers related to pyridoxine (pyridoxal, pyridoxamine) and the coenzyme (pyridoxal 5‐phosphate) did not cause clinical signs or lesions similar to those produced by pyridoxine even when injected in maximum tolerated doses. Neither a protein‐deﬁcient diet nor bilateral nephrectomy changed the results with the vitamers. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Components of diesel exhaust particles differentially affect lung expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 related to bacterial endotoxin
Authors: Inoue Ken‐ichiro , Takano Hirohisa , Yanagisawa Rie , Ichinose Takamichi , Sadakane Kaori , Yoshino Shin , Yamaki Kouya , Uchiyama Kazuhiko , Yoshikawa Toshikazu
Published: November 2004

We have reported previously that components of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) differently affect acute lung injury related to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. This study examined the effects of components of DEP on the lung expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1 and ‐2 in the presence or absence of LPS. ICR mice were divided into six experimental groups that received vehicle, LPS (2.5 mg kg−1), organic chemicals in DEP (DEP‐OC) extracted with dicloromethane (4 mg kg−1), residual carbonaceous nuclei after the extraction (washed DEP: 4 mg kg−1), DEP‐OC (4 mg kg−1) + LPS (2.5 mg kg−1) or washed DEP (4 mg kg−1) + LPS (2.5 mg kg−1) intratracheally. The expression of mRNA for both COXs in the lung was evaluated 4 h after the intratracheal administration. The magnitude of COX‐1 mRNA expression was not altered in each group. The LPS treatment enhanced the COX‐2 gene expression compared with vehicle treatment. Washed DEP combined with LPS further increased its expression compared with LPS alone. In contrast, combined treatment of DEP‐OC with LPS decreased COX‐2 gene expression compared with LPS alone. These results suggest that the residual carbonaceous nuclei of DEP predominantly enhance lung expression of COX‐2 rather than the extracted organic chemicals from DEP in the presence of LPS, which is concomitant with the magnitude of acute lung injury in our previous study. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative sensitivity of Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis as test species for the FETAX model
Authors: Fort Douglas J. , Rogers Robert L. , Thomas John H. , Buzzard Brody O. , Noll Andra M. , Spaulding Clinton D.
Published: November 2004

The use of Xenopus tropicalis as an alternative test species for the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay — Xenopus (FETAX) model was evaluated. Five test substances with varying developmental toxicity potential were evaluated using the traditional FETAX (X. laevis) and a modiﬁed assay to accommodate the use of X. tropicalis. Two separate deﬁnitive concentration–response tests were performed with ethanol, semicarbazide, copper, 6‐aminonicotinamide (6‐AN) and atrazine. In order to evaluate the impact of culture temperature on species sensitivity, tests with X. tropicalis were performed concurrently at 27 °C (optimum temperature) and 23 °C (traditional FETAX temperature). Tests with X. laevis were performed only at 23 °C (optimal for X. laevis). Regardless of culture temperature, tests with X. laevis and X. tropicalis indicated that each of the compounds possessed teratogenic potential: semicarbazide>6‐AN>atrazine≈copper>ethanol. Results from these studies indicated that these two species responded similarly to the test compounds. Xenopus tropicalis was somewhat less sensitive to 6‐AN, semicarbizide and atrazine when tested at 27 °C than at 23 °C. Ethanol, copper and atrazine were reasonably equipotent in X. tropicalis and X. laevis in terms of teratogenic response (ec50 for malformation), whereas 6‐AN and semicarbizide were less potent in X. tropicalis than in X. laevis. No substantial differences (order of magnitude) in potency were observed between X. laevis and X. tropicalis with any of the test materials evaluated. Malformation syndromes induced in both species were similar in X. tropicalis and X. laevis. These results suggested that X. tropicalis could be used effectively as a test organism for the FETAX model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microscale multilayer cocultures for biomimetic blood vessels
Authors: Tan Wei , Desai Tejal A.
Published: November 2004

Living tissues have complex and well‐organized microstructures. Although microtechnology has been used to create in vivo‐like cell microstructures in vitro, most available microscale systems are two‐dimensional, and few three‐dimensional (3D) systems have been explored. This article demonstrates a 3D hierarchical biomimetic multilayer microsystem created by a generally applicable technique. The technique employs layer‐by‐layer microfluidics to build layers of cells and biopolymers in microchannels, allowing controlled patterning of cells and their microenvironments in the x, y, and z‐dimension. As a prototype, a multilayer system was created using three vascular cell types within heterogeneous types of biopolymers to mimic the structure and composition of a blood vessel wall. The effects of matrix composition and multilayer configurations on 3D cell–cell interactions and cell biology were revealed. Cell migration in the z‐dimension, matrix remodeling, intercellular adhesion molecule expression and actin organization were examined under different 3D coculture conditions. A more biomimetic coculture was found to reproduce a more stable structure and in vivo‐like function. This approach provides a method to fabricate microscale hierarchical “neotissues” with 3D configurations of matrix materials and multiple cell types, and an in vitro cell coculture model to understand 3D processes of cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 72A: 146–160, 2005
A new vision for the field: Introduction to the second special issue on the unified theory
Authors: Henriques Gregg R.
Published: November 2004

This is the second of two issues of the Journal of Clinical Psychology focused on the validity and usefulness of a new theoretical vision for the field (Henriques, 2003). The first two contributions from Rand and Ilardi and Geary both enrich the argument that psychology needs to be effectively connected with biology and physics and that the unified theory (via Behavioral Investment Theory) is highly successful in this way. The authors of the subsequent three articles—Shaffer, Quackenbush, and Shealy—show that the Tree of Knowledge System (through the Justification Hypothesis) is deeply commensurate with the dominant paradigms in the social sciences. Thus, the group of authors of these five articles demonstrates the viability of the unified theory both from bottom‐up and top‐down viewpoints. In the sixth article, the author addresses some important problems that potentially arise with the development of a clearly defined discipline. In the concluding article I address the concerns about the proposal raised by the contributors to the two special issues and articulate how the unified theory lays the foundation for the development of a useful mass movement in psychology. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
The motivation to control and the origin of mind: Exploring the life–mind joint point in the Tree of Knowledge System
Authors: Geary David C.
Published: November 2004

The evolved function of brain, cognitive, affective, conscious‐psychological, and behavioral systems is to enable animals to attempt to gain control of the social (e.g., mates), biological (e.g., prey), and physical (e.g., nesting spots) resources that have tended to covary with survival and reproductive outcomes during the species' evolutionary history. These resources generate information patterns that range from invariant to variant. Invariant information is consistent across generations and within lifetimes (e.g., the prototypical shape of a human face) and is associated with modular brain and cognitive systems that coalesce around the domains of folk psychology, folk biology, and folk physics. The processing of information in these domains is implicit and results in automatic bottom‐up behavioral responses. Variant information varies across generations and within lifetimes (e.g., as in social dynamics) and is associated with plastic brain and cognitive systems and explicit, consciously driven top‐down behavioral responses. The fundamentals of this motivation‐to‐control model are outlined and links are made to Henriques' (2004) Tree of Knowledge System and Behavioral Investment Theory. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
T2‐weighted spine imaging with a fast three‐point dixon technique: Comparison with chemical shift selective fat suppression
Authors: Ma Jingfei , Singh Sanjay K. , Kumar Ashok J. , Leeds Norman E. , Zhan Jiping
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To develop a phased‐array coil‐compatible, fast three‐point Dixon (TPD) technique, and compare its performance in T2‐weighted spine imaging with that of the standard chemical shift selective (CHESS) fat suppression technique.

Materials and Methods

We acquired T2‐weighted spine images of 27 patients using essentially identical scanning parameters with the fast TPD technique and standard fast spin echo (FSE) with CHESS fat suppression. A phased‐array coil‐compatible image reconstruction algorithm was developed to generate separate water and fat images from the data acquired with the fast TPD technique. Three neuroradiologists independently scored the images from the two different techniques for uniformity of fat suppression and lesion conspicuity using a four‐point system (1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = best).

Results

The reviewers' mean scores were 3.2 and 2.1 for the uniformity of fat suppression, and 3.0 and 2.0 for the lesion conspicuity for the fast TPD and the CHESS fat suppression techniques, respectively. The fast TPD technique was statistically superior to the CHESS technique at P < 0.0005.

Conclusion

The fast TPD technique provides superior fat suppression and lesion conspicuity, and potentially can be used as an alternative to T2‐weighted imaging of the spine. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:1025–1029. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of brain tumor angiogenesis inhibitors using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging: Quality and analysis results of a phase I trial
Authors: Akella N. Shastry , Twieg Donald B. , Mikkelsen Tom , Hochberg Fred H. , Grossman Stuart , Cloud Gretchen A. , Nabors L. Burt
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To determine thresholds of quality for a T2*‐weighted perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study and evaluate the effects of an angiogenesis inhibitor on relative blood flow and volume changes in brain tumor patients in a multi‐institution setting.

Materials and Methods

A total of 36 volunteers from four participating institutions with clinically diagnosed malignant gliomas were studied using perfusion MRI protocols. These included a baseline study and follow‐up studies every eight weeks to evaluate the effect of an anti‐angiogenic agent on tumor perfusion. Quality tests were performed on the perfusion imaging data by defining statistical thresholds of acceptance. Region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed on tumors and kinetic parameters were normalized with respect to normal tissue.

Results

Statistical thresholds for goodness of the gamma variate fit, T2* recovery, and mean signal full‐width half‐minimum (FWHMin) were computed for our data sets with a 99% one‐sided confidence interval; these were 6.91%, 79.48%, and 23.35 seconds, respectively. Decreases inblood volume and flow measurements were observed in patients with documented clinical response.

Conclusion

Malignant brain tumors have altered perfusion parameters that may be used to understand and monitor neovascularization. This permits non‐invasive assessment of the efficacy of angiogenesis inhibiting drugs. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:913–922. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The SENSE ghost: Field‐of‐view restrictions for SENSE imaging
Authors: Goldfarb James W.
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To describe a known (but undocumented) limitation in parallel imaging using simulation and experiment. This limitation consists of an artifact that appears when the imaging field of view (FOV) is less than the object size. This study demonstrates this artifact in the phase‐ and partition‐encoding dimensions.

Materials and Methods

One‐dimensional simulations as well as in vivo experiments were performed with FOVs greater and less than the object being imaged. Full‐FOV, reduced‐FOV, and SENSE reconstructions were visually compared.

Results

Image artifacts occurred when the final SENSE FOV was smaller than the object being imaged. This artifact, termed the SENSE ghost, was a residual fold‐over/aliasing artifact. Its location was in the central portion of the image rather than at the edges of the image.

Conclusion

This image artifact results from an FOV being smaller than the imaged object. The SENSE reconstruction cannot unfold this additional fold‐over, and will place it in a predictable image location based on the SENSE reduction factor. Knowledge of this artifact is necessary when prescribing SENSE acquisitions and interpreting the resulting images. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:1046–1051. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI of the pancreas: Initial results in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Coenegrachts Kenneth , Van Steenbergen Werner , De Keyzer Frederik , Vanbeckevoort Dirk , Bielen Didier , Chen Feng , Dockx Steven , Maes Frederik , Bosmans Hilde
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To characterize pancreatic perfusion in volunteers and patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) by dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI.

Materials and Methods

Pancreatic enhancement after bolus injection of Gd‐DTPA with a three‐dimensional ultrafast partial‐Fourier radiofrequency (RF) spoiled gradient‐echo (GE) acquisition was examined prospectively. An acquisition volume of the pancreatic parenchyma was obtained every 4.2 seconds during a single breath‐hold in 31 volunteers and 19 patients with CP. We calculated the wash‐in rate and a newly defined parameter, the “time‐to‐inflow deceleration” (TID). A statistical analysis of the differences between both groups was performed with the use of Student's t‐test.

Results

Significant differences in the TID and wash‐in rate were found for the head and body of the pancreas: the TID was 22.4 sec ± 4.4 sec and 23.5 sec ± 6.1 sec in the pancreatic head and body of the healthy volunteers, and 29.8 sec ± 8.6 sec and 29.4 sec ± 3.8 sec in patients with CP. The wash‐in rate was 96 ± 37 sec−1 and 101 ± 27 sec−1 in controls, and 62 ± 17 sec−1 and 75 ± 27 sec−1 in CP.

Conclusion

CP can be identified by semiquantitative changes on DCE‐MRI. Whether DCE‐MRI of the pancreas can be used to detect early CP remains to be validated. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:990–997. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vertebral neoplastic compression fractures: Assessment by dual‐phase chemical shift imaging
Authors: Eito Kozawa , Waka Saito , Naoko Nishi , Makoto Arnanuma , Atsuko Heshiki
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To compare normal vertebrae with vertebrae with neoplastic compression fractures by means of opposed‐phase (OP) and in‐phase (IP) gradient‐echo (GRE) imaging.

Materials and Methods

On OP and IP T1‐W GRE images (obtained at 1.5 T with the fast low‐angle shot (FLASH) technique) of dual‐phase chemical shift sequences, we compared the signal intensity ratios (SIRs) of normal and compression‐fractured vertebrae in 108 patients. Dual‐phase chemical shift sequences were measured in three groups of vertebral bone marrow in terms of the relative SIR in OP and IP images: group 1: normal vertebrae (N = 30 with 90 vertebrae); group 2: non‐neoplastic compression‐fractured vertebrae (N = 58 with 73 vertebrae); and group 3: neoplastic compression‐fractured vertebrae (N = 20 with 27 vertebrae). The presence of compressed vertebrae was ascertained based on the consensus of two experienced radiologists. The mean SIRs among the three groups were compared by means of the Tukey‐Kramer test.

Results

The mean SIRs of the three groups (group 1: 0.46 ± 0.14; group 2: 0.63 ± 0.21; and group 3: 1.02 ± 0.11) were significantly different according to the Tukey‐Kramer test (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

OP and IP T1‐W GRE MRI of vertebral SI abnormalities can help predict the nature of compression fractures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:1020–1024. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stroke patients' evolving symptoms assessed by tractography
Authors: Yamada Kei , Ito Hirotoshi , Nakamura Hisao , Kizu Osamu , Akada Wataru , Kubota Takao , Goto Mariko , Konishi Jyunya , Yoshikawa Kenji , Shiga Kensuke , Nakagawa Masanori , Mori Susumu , Nishimura Tsunehiko
Published: November 2004

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that an interval evolution in the location of the depicted sensorimotor tract relative to the infarct (the “tract–infarct relationship”) may be related to stroke victims' symptom progression.

Materials and Methods

Patients (N = 7) who underwent multiple diffusion‐tensor imaging (DTI) studies during symptomatic progression were included in this study. DTI was performed using a single‐shot echo‐planar imaging (EPI) technique with a motion‐probing gradient in six orientations, a b‐value of 800 seconds/mm2, and six image averages. The total scan time was four minutes and 24 seconds. Fiber‐tracking of the sensorimotor pathways was performed, and the locations of these tracts were retrospectively assessed in relation to the evolution of the symptoms.

Results

Five of the seven patients showed an interval enlargement of the infarct on diffusion‐weighted (DW) images. In two of these cases the lesion enlarged to involve the sensorimotor tracts, while in three cases the lesion enlarged only so far to come into close proximity to the sensorimotor tract. In the remaining two cases there was no interval enlargement of the infarct, and therefore the tract–infarct relationship could not account for the evolution of the symptoms in these cases.

Conclusion

A tract–infarct relationship can be observed with the use of a fiber‐tracking technique, and the results may improve our understanding of the symptom progression seen in stroke victims. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:923–929. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sydney multicenter study of Parkinson's disease: Non‐L‐dopa–responsive problems dominate at 15 years
Authors: Hely Mariese A. , Morris John G.L. , Reid Wayne G.J. , Trafficante Robert
Published: November 2004

One‐third of the 149 people recruited 15 to 18 years ago in the Sydney Multicenter Study of Parkinson's disease have survived. The original study compared low‐dose levodopa with low‐dose bromocriptine. We now report the problems experienced by people who survive 15 years from diagnosis. The standardized mortality ratio is significantly elevated at 1.86 and is not significantly different between treatment arms. Falls occur in 81% of patients, and 23% sustained fractures. Cognitive decline is present in 84%, and 48% fulfill the criteria for dementia. Hallucinations and depression are experienced by 50%. Choking has occurred in 50%, symptomatic postural hypotension in 35%, and urinary incontinence in 41%. No patient is still employed, and 40% of patients live in aged care facilities. Although approximately 95% have experienced L‐dopa–induced dyskinesia/dystonia and end of dose failure of medication, in the majority, these symptoms are not disabling. Dyskinesia and dystonia were delayed by early use of bromocriptine, but end‐of‐dose failure appeared at a similar time once L‐dopa was added. The rate of disease progression is similar in both arms of the study. We conclude that the most disabling long‐term problems of Parkinson's disease relate to the emergence of symptoms that are not improved by L‐dopa. Neuroprotective interventions in Parkinson's disease should be judged by their ability to improve non‐L‐dopa–responsive aspects of the disease, rather than just by their capacity to delay the introduction of L‐dopa or reduce its associated side effects. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Strict nonblockingness of reduced shuffle‐exchange networks
Authors: Hwang F. K. , Zhang Binwu
Published: November 2004

The shuffle‐exchange network is one of the most well‐studied multistage interconnection networks. Whether a (2n − 1)‐stage shuffle‐exchange network is rearrangeable has been a challenging conjecture for some 30 years, and only recently a proof was claimed. In this article, we use the analysis method developed for EGSN networks to show that the shuffle‐exchange network can be strictly nonblocking by deleting some inputs and outputs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 45(1), 4–8 2005
Personality terms of abuse in three cultures: type nouns between description and insult
Authors: De Raad Boele , Van Oudenhoven Jan Pieter , Hofstede Merle
Published: November 2004

In this study terms of abuse are investigated in three different cultures. Spontaneous verbal aggression is to a certain extent reminiscent of the values of a certain culture. One hundred and ninety‐two male subjects from Spain, Germany and the Netherlands were asked to write down terms of abuse that they would use given a certain stimulus situation, and in addition to give their rating of the offensive character of those terms. A total set of 830 useful expressions was thus collected. The frequencies of the expressions were established, and the total list of expressions was categorized in terms of what they were about. In Spanish abusive language is typically about family and relations, in Germany it is typically about anal aspects, and in the Netherlands it is mainly about genitals. Explanations are provided in terms of dimensions on which the three cultures differ. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconciling the fundamental phenomenological expression of the strain energy of rubber with established experimental facts
Authors: Beda T.
Published: November 2004

The fundamental Rivlin expression of the strain energy function of rubber materials is readjusted and expanded to an optimal and efficient number of terms, and then stress–stretch behavior relations are derived to provide an accurate prediction of different modes of deformation. An analysis of the effect of deformation on simple and shear reduced stresses has permitted strain invariants I1 and I2 to be taken into consideration when the strain energy function is modeled and has permitted their effects to be highlighted over the entire range of states of strain. With the proposed model, the fit of the experimental data has been shown to provide an accurate response and predictive description in simple extension, biaxial extension, and pure shear. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 125–134, 2005
Dislocation core parameters
Authors: Lothe J. , Hirth J. P.
Published: November 2004

Recent results have shown that different methods to obtain line integrals for the energies of dislocation loops, and, by extension, of arbitrary dislocation configurations, give different results when a constant core cutoff parameter is used. We show that a self‐consistent choice of different cutoff parameters for the different methods removes the disparity in energy. The choice of cutoff parameter is discussed in the context of core–core interactions, important in the correlation of elastic estimates of energies with atomistic results. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
In vitro anti‐tyrosinase activity of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2‐furfural isolated from Dictyophora indusiata
Authors: Sharma Vinay K. , Choi Jinsuk , Sharma Niti , Choi Mieyoung , Seo Sung‐Yum
Published: November 2004

The inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by methanolic extract of Dictyophora indusiata was evaluated and the bioactive component was characterized and identiﬁed as 5‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2‐furfural (HMF) by chromatographic and spectroscopic means. Kinetic studies revealed it to be a noncompetitive inhibitor for the oxidation of L‐DOPA. On the basis of these ﬁndings some related analogues were also tested for their anti‐tyrosinase activity, in order to gain more insight into structure and activity relationship among these heterocyclic compounds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant effect of EGb 761 on hydrogen peroxide‐induced lipoperoxidation of G‐6‐PD deﬁcient erythrocytes
Authors: Sarikçioğlu Süreyya Bïlmen , Öner Gülsen , Tercan Evren
Published: November 2004

In order to reduce the haemolytic susceptibility of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G‐6‐PD) deﬁcient erythrocytes, Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) and vitamin E (vit E) were used as antioxidant agents and their effects compared. The erythrocyte suspensions from control and G‐6‐PD deﬁcient patients were subjected to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) incubation for 1 h. The produced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels measured as nmol/g Hb were compared with those of the erythrocytes administered 250 µg/mL EGb 761 or vit E previously or concomitantly with H2O2. Preincubation with EGb 761 reduced the TBARS levels from 317.14 ± 25.27 to 160.09 ± 21.97 nmol/g Hb in controls and from 348.24 ± 7.79 to 205.60 ± 14.22 nmol/g Hb in deﬁcient erythrocytes. Concomitant application of EGb 761 with H2O2 resulted in similar but less reduction. The antioxidative effects of vitamin E were comparable to those of EGb 761. Contrary to the results obtained from oxidant conditions, the antioxidant characteristics of EGb 761 and vitamin E were not observed when they were applied directly to the erythrocytes without oxidative stress. The ﬁndings demonstrate that irrespective of administration time, EGb 761 signiﬁcantly reduced TBARS levels in the erythrocytes of control and G‐6‐PD deﬁcient patients subjected to oxidative stress. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant activity of supercritical extract of Melissa ofﬁcinalis subsp. ofﬁcinalis and Melissa ofﬁcinalis subsp. inodora
Authors: Marongiu Bruno , Porcedda Silvia , Piras Alessandra , Rosa Antonella , Deiana Monica , Dessì Maria Assunta
Published: November 2004

The antioxidant activity of Melissa ofﬁcinalis subsp. ofﬁcinalis and of Melissa ofﬁcinalis subsp. inodora extracts, obtained by using carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions was investigated. The samples were prepared in two steps. A preliminary extraction at 90 bar and 50 °C eliminated the essential oil, then a further extraction at 300 bar and 50 °C obtained the high molecular mass extract. These samples were tested for autoxidation and the iron or EDTA‐mediated oxidation of linoleic acid at 37 °C in the absence of solvent, in in vitro systems. During linoleic acid autoxidation and its EDTA‐mediated oxidation both M. ofﬁcinalis and M. inodora extracts showed an antioxidant activity, and no signiﬁcant differences in their efﬁcacy were observed. None showed any prooxidant activity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo and in vitro activities of the seed extract of Piper guineense Schum. and Thonn. against skin and gill monogenean parasites of goldﬁsh (Carassius auratus auratus)
Authors: Ekanem A. P. , Wang M. , Simon J. E. , Obiekezie A. I. , Morah F.
Published: November 2004

Methanol extracts of the seeds of Piper guineense (Piperaceae) were active against goldﬁsh (Carassius auratus auratus L. Pisces Cyprinidae) monogenean parasites. The seed extract of P. guineense was administered at different concentrations (0.5–2.0 mg/L) under in vivo and in vitro conditions. There was a higher efﬁcacy of the effects of the extracts against ﬁsh parasites under in vitro situations than under in vivo. Three major compounds (piperanine, N‐isobutyl (E,E)‐2,4 decadienamide and Δα,β‐dihydrowasanine) were identiﬁed from the seed extract of Piper guineense by LC‐MS analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunopotentiating effect of a ‘Yang’‐promoting formula of traditional Chinese medicine on aged female BALB/c mice
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Yu , Wang Li‐Zhong , Gao Xiao‐Ming
Published: November 2004

The ‘Yang’‐promoting traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are used to boost vigor and enhance immunity in humans. In this study, the immunopotentiating effect of VI‐28, a ‘Yang’‐promoting TCM formula containing extracts of radix ginseng, cornu Cervi pantotrichum and radix Salvia miltiorrhizae, was investigated. Groups of 8‐month‐old female ex‐breeder BALB/c mice were fed on ordinary mouse food or food containing a low (0.5%) or high (2%) dose VI‐28 for up to 18 weeks. From week 6, mice on the TCM‐containing diet were much healthier, stronger and more alert than those on the normal mouse food. Furthermore, their thymuses were signiﬁcantly bigger and heavier than those of the control mice. Histological examination revealed structural changes typical of thymic involution in mice of the control group, whilst the microstructure of thymuses from mice taking TCM‐containing food was comparable to that of mice of a much younger age, indicating a positive effect of VI‐28 on slowing down thymic involution. Functional analysis of splenocytes from mice of different groups suggested that oral administration of VI‐28 corrected the hyporesponsiveness of T lymphocytes in aged mice. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms of the immunoboosting effect of TCM. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of oral chronic isoﬂavones supplementation on male rat sexual performances and sexual hormone plasma levels
Authors: Cicero Arrigo F. G. , Derosa Giuseppe , Arletti Rossana
Published: November 2004

The aim of our study was to evaluate how a chronic isoﬂavones oral supplementation could affect male rat sexual behavior in relationship to cause eventual change in plasma sexual hormone concentrations. Isoﬂavones were administered in the form of a standardized dry extract of soybeans. Three groups of 20 sexually experienced male rats were consecutively treated with saline 2 ml, or isoﬂavones 0.4 mg/kg−1 or 0.8 mg/kg−1 soybean dried extract via gastric tube for 40 days. No signiﬁcant differences were found as regards sexual performances of the three studied groups at the baseline levels nor at the end of the study: in relationship to the base‐line value, only mount frequency increased in the control group (z = −2.047, p = 0.041), while intromission frequency in the high dosage isoﬂavones group (z = ‐2.484, p = 0.13). At the base‐line test 23.08% of rats in each group were not able to conclude their performance in the standard time, while at the end of the study only 15.38% of the control group rats were not able to do this. No signiﬁcant difference has been observed as regards FSH, progesterone, androstenedione plasma levels, either between groups or between baseline and study end. Slight differences were found regards LH and testosterone plasma level. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard against experimentally‐induced gastric ulcers
Authors: Shah Mamta B. , Goswami S. S. , Santani D. D.
Published: November 2004

Effects of the ﬂavonoid rich fraction of the stem bark of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard, have been studied on ethanol, ethanol‐indomethacin and pylorus ligated gastric ulcers in experimental animals. Oral administration of the ethyl acetate extract (extract A3) inhibited the formation of gastric lesions induced by ethanol in a dose dependent manner. The protective effect of extract A3 against ethanol induced gastric lesions was not abolished by pretreatment with indomethacin (10 mg kg−1). Further, extract A3 inhibited increase in vascular permeability due to ethanol administration. Extent of lipid peroxidation was signiﬁcantly reduced in animals treated with extract. Extract A3 also inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers induced by pylorus ligation, when administered both orally and intraperitoneally. Moreover, pretreatment with extract A3 increased mucus production and glycoprotein content, which was evident from the rise in mucin activity and TC: PR ratio. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antibacterial potentiality of Mesua ferrea Linn. flowers
Authors: Mazumder Rupa , Dastidar Sujata G. , Basu S. P. , Mazumder Avijit , Singh S. K.
Published: November 2004

The antibacterial efﬁcacy of the methanol extract of whole ﬂowers of Mesua ferrea Linn. was studied against various strains of bacteria. It could inhibit a large number of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria at concentration ranges of 100 to 50 µg/ml, or even lower, as against vibrios and Escherichia coli. In in vivo tests, used at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/g of body weight, it offered signiﬁcant protection to Swiss strain of albino mice when challenged with 50 MLD of a virulent strain Sulmonella typhimurium ATCC 6539. Mortality in mice due to these two dosages of the extract alone was insigniﬁcant. The extract at 200 µg/g body weight dosage, could signiﬁcantly reduce the viable count of the strain Sulmonella typhimurium ATCC 6539 in liver, spleen and heart blood of the extract treated challenged mice. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pople's Gaussian‐3 model chemistry applied to an investigation of (H2O)8 water clusters
Authors: Day Mary Beth , Kirschner Karl N. , Shields George C.
Published: November 2004

The Gaussian‐3 method developed by Pople and coworkers has been used to calculate the free energy of neutral octamer clusters of water, (H2O)8. The most energetically stable structures are in excellent agreement with those determined from experiment and those predicted from previous high‐level calculations. Cubic structures are favored over noncubic structures over all temperature ranges studied. The D2d cubic structure is the lowest free energy structure and dominates the potential energy and free energy hypersurfaces from 0 K to 298 K. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Theoretical study of structure of catalytic copper site in nitrite reductase
Authors: Källrot Niklas , Nilsson Kristina , Rasmussen Torben , Ryde Ulf
Published: November 2004

The catalytic copper site in nitrite reductase contains a Cu2+ ion bound to three histidine (His) ligands and a solvent molecule. Sites from various sources show a conspicuous variation in the structure. In some proteins, it is close to tetrahedral (even more so than are blue copper proteins), whereas in other proteins, it has a structure more similar to that expected for a type 2 copper site. We have studied this site with a number of theoretical methods, ranging from vacuum optimizations, combined quantum and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) optimization, quantum refinement (X‐ray crystallography supplemented by quantum chemical calculations), and accurate energy calculations. We show that the difference in the structure arises from a movement of the solvent molecule and that this movement is determined by a compromise between its hydrogen bond interactions and the intrinsic preferences of the copper site. If the solvent molecule is deprotonated, the two structures have a similar energy, whereas if it is protonated, the more tetrahedral structure is energetically favorable. Neither of the structures involves a π interaction as in the blue copper proteins; instead, both are strongly distorted tetragonal structures with σ bonds to all four ligands. We have also examined the position of hydrogen atoms shared between second‐sphere carboxylate groups and the first‐sphere solvent molecule and one of the His ligands. In the oxidized state, the structure with the solvent deprotonated but the His residue protonated seems to be most stable. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Market Means and Welfare Ends: The UK Welfare State Experiment
Authors: TAYLOR-GOOBY PETER , LARSEN TRINE , KANANEN JOHANNES
Published: November 2004

The UK is distinctive in having the most liberal market-oriented welfare system in the European Union and the most majoritarian governmental system, capable of rapid and decisive action. The 1997 New Labour government abandoned the traditional neo-Keynesian/social democratic approach of the party and embarked on a programme of market-oriented welfare state reform. This reflects many aspects of policy direction (pursued more gradually and under different circumstances) elsewhere in Europe, and advocated in the European Employment Strategy and OECD proposals. The UK is thus a suitable test case to assess the impact of a new departure in welfare policy: welfare ends through market means. This paper shows that New Labour has achieved real successes in mobilising the workforce, broadening opportunities for women and reducing poverty. However, the approach faces intractable problems in stimulating and regulating private providers of welfare, and limitations in the extent to which it is able to reduce poverty among those of working age who are not in the labour market. These result from the incompatibility between welfare and market objectives: secure, adequate incomes for all, and work incentives for citizens and market freedom for providers.
Discharging Responsibilities? Delayed Hospital Discharges and the Health and Social Care Divide
Authors: GLASBY JON
Published: November 2004

With the introduction of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003, delayed discharges from hospital have become a key area of government concern within UK health and social services. Under the Act, social services departments will be fined for any patient who remains in hospital when they are medically fit to leave but are unable to do so due to a delay in arranging a social care package. Against this background, this article reviews the extensive literature on hospital discharge in the UK, identifying key themes within the research evidence and citing examples from relevant studies to illustrate the key issues at stake. This analysis is then used to inform a new framework for understanding and responding to the problems associated with delayed hospital discharge and of partnership working between health and social care more generally.
Negotiating Family Support? The ‘Generational Contract’ between long-term Care and Inheritance
Authors: IZUHARA MISA
Published: November 2004

Using qualitative interviews with 54 older people, this article explores the changing patterns of the ‘generational contract’ in contemporary Britain and Japan. In particular, this article presents a cross-national comparison concerning the exchange of housing assets and long-term care between older parents and their adult children in the context of different laws, cultures, social policy and housing markets. The concepts of intergenerational solidarity, reciprocity and ambivalence were used to aid the analysis of the household data. The research found there were significant cross-national differences in areas such as autonomy and decision-making process regarding bequests, and choice of beneficiaries. In both societies, however, no strong link was found between bequest motives and family support for long-term care. The model of intergenerational solidarity (willingness to help children) thus appeared to override the reciprocal dimension of the ‘generational contract’.
Late Cretaceous paleolatitude of the Hawaiian Hot Spot: New paleomagnetic data from Detroit Seamount (ODP Site 883)
Authors: Doubrovine P. V. , Tarduno J. A.
Published: November 2004

Paleomagnetic data from Detroit Seamount of the Emperor seamount chain (northwestern Pacific Ocean) provide a direct way to estimate the latitudinal position of the Hawaiian hot spot in the Late Cretaceous (75–81 Ma), providing important constraints on geodynamic models for Hawaiian plume motion. Crystalline basement of Detroit Seamount was sampled at four drill sites by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Legs 145 (Sites 883 and 884) and 197 (Sites 1203 and 1204). Here we report detailed thermal and alternating field (AF) demagnetization data collected from basalt lava flows recovered at ODP Site 883. Most samples showed two nearly antiparallel components of natural remanent magnetization (NRM). AF demagnetization was often insufficient to separate the magnetization components; therefore thermal demagnetization data were used to define their directions. Both magnetization components are chemical remanent magnetizations (CRMs) carried by single‐domain to pseudo‐single‐domain titanomaghemite produced by low‐temperature oxidation of titanomagnetite. Rock magnetic experiments suggest that the normal polarity component is a CRM which pseudomorphs the primary thermal remanent magnetization (TRM) of parental titanomagnetite. In contrast, the reversed polarity component is a CRM self‐reversed with respect to a primary TRM [Doubrovine and Tarduno, 2004]. Inclination data analysis of characteristic remanence (normal polarity component) results in the five distinct inclination groups and an average inclination of 57.7°−13.8°+12.3° (95% confidence limits quoted). The angular dispersion of paleomagnetic directions suggests that the Site 883 basalts adequately average paleosecular variation and that the inclination average represents the time‐averaged geomagnetic field. Combining all available paleomagnetic data from the four sites on Detroit Seamount, a revised paleolatitude of 34.4°−5.8°+3.2° was calculated. This estimate is significantly north of the present latitude of the Hawaiian hot spot (∼19°N), suggesting that the hot spot moved southward from Late Cretaceous to Paleogene times (81–47 Ma) at rates of ∼33–67 mm/yr. If the inclination results from ODP Site 883 represent the best estimate among the data available from Detroit Seamount, rates at the higher range of values are favored. Because such rates are comparable to the velocities of lithospheric plates, the new data from ODP Site 883 present a strikingly different view on hot spot stability.