bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desempenho da produção familiar de tilápias no semi-árido potiguar
Authors: Silva Márcio Ribeiro da , Medeiros Josemar Xavier de , Marcelino Gileno Fernandes
Published: December 2007

A produção de tilápias vem se destacando como uma atividade capaz de propiciar oportunidades aos produtores familiares de regiões semi-áridas, visto a produção de peixes em açudes, poços e lagoas, sendo esta fundamental à sobrevivência das comunidades e produtores familiares da região. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é avaliar o desempenho das organizações familiares produtoras de tilápias, representantes da realidade produtiva na região semi-árida no Rio Grande do Norte. A metodologia utilizada foi o estudo de caso, com amostragem intencional de organizações de produção familiar, representantes da realidade produtiva de tilápias na região semi-árida potiguar. Para análise do desempenho foi utilizado o ferramental de "Escala de Likert", identificando indicadores de competitividade para os diferentes segmentos da cadeia produtiva, podendo influenciar o desempenho global da cadeia produtiva. Em complemento, utilizou-se a matriz de importância e desempenho de Slack, visando ordenar os graus de importância e de influência destes no desempenho geral. Por fim, este trabalho mostra a possibilidade de se utilizar as ferramentas de análises, normalmente utilizadas para grandes sistemas agroindustriais, para a produção familiar, visando destacar suas condições e dificuldades. Ainda, indica itens relevantes para pesquisas específicas a cadeia produtiva de tilápias, no âmbito de produção familiar.
Angiografia in vivo para avaliação da vascularização do casco de eqüinos
Authors: Brunner Carlos Henrique Maciel , Martins Maria de Fátima Monteiro , Bovino Enio Eduardo
Published: December 2007

A proposta deste trabalho foi estabelecer a angiografia digital palmar como método de avaliação qualitativa in vivo da vascularização distal laminar em eqüinos em posição quadrupedal. Foram realizadas 15 angiografias de eqüinos mestiços, sendo seis machos castrados e nove fêmeas, com idade variando entre seis e oito anos. As angiografias foram realizadas, após bloqueio anestésico perineural do nervo digital palmar lateral ou medial, por meio da aplicação de 20mL de contraste na veia digital palmar lateral ou medial garroteada por atadura elástica e torniquete. Imediatamente depois, foi realizada a primeira exposição radiológica em incidência dorso-palmar. Após a dispersão do contraste, o mesmo procedimento foi realizado com o casco submetido ao tratamento térmico com água aquecida e com água resfriada. Em quatro animais, obteve-se imagem radiopaca, com bordas maldefinidas, de aspecto sombreado, ao redor de cada lâmina dérmica, que foi creditada à vasodilatação ocasionada pelo calor. Quando da vasoconstrição ocasionada pelo tratamento com frio, observou-se redução da imagem radiopaca laminar. Esse aspecto pôde ser comprovado em quatro radiografias, porém não se repetiu em todas as angiografias realizadas. Em sete radiografias, houve falha de preenchimento de contraste, o que inviabilizou a comparação entre tratamentos térmicos, sendo que as radiografias realizadas sem nenhum tratamento térmico possuíam preenchimento de contraste adequado. A angiografia digital em eqüinos mostrou-se um método sensível para evidenciar vasoconstrição e vasodilatação in vivo dentro do estojo córneo, porém inúmeros fatores podem contribuir para o aparecimento de artefatos de técnica, o que inviabiliza a comparação de alterações da perfusão laminar do casco por esse método.
Superação da dormência de sementes de Schinopsis brasiliensis
Authors: Oliveira Maria da Conceição Prado de , Oliveira Geraldo José de
Published: December 2007

Schinopsis brasiliensis Engler (Anacardiaceae), popularmente conhecida como baraúna ou brauna, é uma árvore típica da caatinga, tem sementes de germinação difícil e demorada. O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a germinação das sementes de S. brasiliensis e indicar técnicas que tornem mais eficiente esse processo. Os frutos foram coletados em novembro de 2001 (período de frutificação), na Fazenda Juriti, município de Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brasil, na região semi-árida. Foram utilizados frutos recém-coletados, testando-se: frutos com e sem epicarpo e mesocarpo, lavados e sem lavar. Diferentes metodologias foram usadas para superar a dormência do endocarpo de frutos armazenados por trinta dias em saco de papel Kraft, em câmara fria e seca (15±2°C, 50%UR). Em função dos resultados apresentados, pode-se concluir que a melhor maneira de se obter uma germinação mais regular, rápida e completa das sementes de S. brasiliensis é a remoção do epicarpo e do mesocarpo e a realização da semeadura após 25 a 30 dias de armazenamento (pré-secagem) em areia úmida.
Desafios da organização e da regulação da educação superior em Timor-Leste e a questão da capacitação institucional
Authors: Pazeto Antonio Elizio
Published: December 2007

Este trabalho aborda aspectos da educação superior, no âmbito do Ministério da Educação e das instituições, em Timor-Leste. As questões e objetivos desta abordagem dizem respeito à organização e à regulação da educação superior e à capacitação institucional. Para abordar tais questões, foi feita uma análise dos principais documentos oficiais relativos ao tema, associada à atuação deste autor em grupos de trabalho e em programas de capacitação e assessoramento no Ministério, em 2004 e 2005. As ações desenvolvidas e a presente análise levaram em consideração aspectos da realidade histórico-cultural do país e procedimentos conjuntos com as "contrapartes" timorenses. Em decorrência dessa concepção, foram alcançados os seguintes resultados: elaboração dos termos de referência para a organização do Ministério; definição de agenda para estruturação da educação superior; elaboração de proposta da legislação educacional para o Ministério da Educação; finalização do Plano de Política Nacional de Educação 2005-2010; elaboração de proposta de Estatuto para a Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e - UNTL. Não obstante as limitações em relação aos quadros humanos, recursos técnicos e financeiros e das peculiaridades histórico-culturais e políticas daquele país, encontram-se delineadas as bases de referência para a organização, regulação e capacitação institucional no âmbito do Ministério da Educação e, em particular, da educação superior.
Variations of snow cover in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in China between 1960 and 1999
Authors: Jianping Yang , Yongjian Ding , Shiyin Liu , Feng Liu Jun
Published: December 2007

Variations in annual maximum and accumulated snow depths, snow-cover duration, precipitation and air temperature have been analyzed using daily snow depth, monthly air temperature and monthly precipitation data from 1960 to 1999 from six meteorological stations in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in China. Annual maximum snow depth, snow-cover duration and precipitation increased by ~0.23, ~0.06 and ~0.05% a–1, respectively, during the study period, while annual accumulated snow depth increased by ~2.4% a–1. Annual mean air temperature increased by ~0.6°C over the study period. An unusually heavy snow cover in 1985 coincided with historically low air temperatures. Data from Tuotuohe and Qingshuihe meteorological stations are used to examine inter-station variability. The annual maximum and accumulated snow depths increased by ~0.35 and ~10.6% a–1 at Tuotuohe, and by ~0.42 and ~2.3%a–1 at Qingshuihe. However, from the late 1980s until 1999 the climate in the study region has become warmer and drier. The precipitation decrease in the 1990s (and not the rapid rise in measured temperature) is thought to be the primary cause of the decrease in snow depth in those years.
Decrease in DEET repellency caused by nitric oxide in Rhodnius prolixus
Authors: Sfara Valeria , Zerba Eduardo N. , Alzogaray Raúl A.
Published: December 2007

N,N‐diethyl‐3‐methylbenzamide (DEET) is widely used as an insect repellent; however, little is known about its mode of action. On the other hand, nitric oxide (NO) participates in the olfaction transduction pathway of insects. In this work, nitroso‐acetyl‐cysteine (SNAC), a nitric oxide donor, or dibutyril‐cyclic‐GMP (db‐cGMP), the cyclic nucleotide analog, were applied on fifth instar nymphs of Rhodnius prolixus before exposing them to DEET, to obtain information about the possible role of NO/cGMP system in the olfaction process. In the first place, we exposed the nymphs to several DEET concentrations (70, 700, 1,750, and 3,500 μg/cm2). All these concentrations produced a repellent effect. A decrease in repellency during the course of the experiment was observed when the nymphs were exposed to high concentrations of DEET (700 and 1,750 μg/cm2), suggesting an adaptation phenomenon. The pre‐treatment of the insects with 15 μg /insect of SNAC or 2 μg/insect of db‐cGMP produced a reduction of the repellency. An increase in locomotor activity was observed in insects exposed to 350 or 700 μg/cm2 DEET. Although exposure to 70 μg/cm2 DEET produced a high repellency response, it did not modify the insects' locomotor activity. Insects treated with two doses of SNAC before being exposed to 350 μg/cm2 of DEET showed no differences in locomotor activity compared to controls. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 67:1–8, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experiments with transitive dictionary translation and pseudo‐relevance feedback using graded relevance assessments
Authors: Lehtokangas Raija , Keskustalo Heikki , Järvelin Kalervo
Published: December 2007

In this article, the authors present evaluation results for transitive dictionary‐based cross‐language information retrieval (CLIR) using graded relevance assessments in a best match retrieval environment. A text database containing newspaper articles and a related set of 35 search topics were used in the tests. Source language topics (in English, German, and Swedish) were automatically translated into the target language (Finnish) via an intermediate (or pivot) language. Effectiveness of the transitively translated queries was compared to that of the directly translated and monolingual Finnish queries. Pseudo‐relevance feedback (PRF) was also used to expand the original transitive target queries. Cross‐language information retrieval performance was evaluated on three relevance thresholds: stringent, regular, and liberal. The transitive translations performed well achieving, on the average, 85–93% of the direct translation performance, and 66–72% of monolingual performance. Moreover, PRF was successful in raising the performance of transitive translation routes in absolute terms as well as in relation to monolingual and direct translation performance applying PRF.
Assessment of Contamination Characteristics in Waters of the Kütahya Plain, Turkey
Authors: Kavaf Nuray , Nalbantcilar M. Tahir
Published: December 2007

The contamination characteristics of surface water and groundwaters in the Kütahya plain, one of the most important plains in Turkey, are investigated. In this region, waters of the Porsuk river are used by thousands of people in the city of Eskisehir. A total of 44 spring, river and groundwater samples collected from the region were analyzed for their Ag, Al, As, B, Br, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, U and Zn contents. A wastewater treatment plant, solid waste disposal site, industrial areas, agricultural activities and aquifers composed of metalliferous rocks are the main pollutants in the study area. It was determined that various elements in spring, river and groundwaters result in different degrees of contamination. According to EPA (2003) standards, all the waters exceed the maximum contaminant level. These waters are carried by the Porsuk river to the Eskisehir basin, and the resulting situation creates a serious health problem for people who live in the cities of Kütahya and Eskisehir.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ protects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: Kuboki Satoshi , Shin Thomas , Huber Nadine , Eismann Thorsten , Galloway Elizabeth , Schuster Rebecca , Blanchard John , Zingarelli Basilia , Lentsch Alex B.
Published: December 2007

The function of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) in hepatic inflammation and injury is unclear. In this study, we sought to determine the role of PPARγ in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. Male mice were subjected to 90 minutes of partial hepatic ischemia followed by up to 8 hours of reperfusion. PPARγ was found to be constitutively activated in hepatocytes but not in nonparenchymal cells. Upon induction of ischemia, hepatic PPARγ activation rapidly decreased and remained suppressed throughout the 8-hour reperfusion period. This reduced activation was not a result of decreased protein availability as hepatic nuclear PPARγ, retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα), and PPARγ/RXRα heterodimer expression was maintained. Accompanying the decrease in PPARγ activation was a decrease in the expression of the natural ligand 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2. This was associated with reduced interaction of PPARγ and the coactivator, p300. To determine whether PPARγ activation is hepatoprotective during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, mice were treated with the PPARγ agonists, rosiglitazone and connecting peptide. These treatments increased PPARγ activation and reduced liver injury compared to untreated mice. Furthermore, PPARγ-deficient mice had more liver injury after ischemia/reperfusion than their wild-type counterparts.

Conclusion:

These data suggest that PPARγ is an important endogenous regulator of, and potential therapeutic target for, ischemic liver injury. (Hepatology 2007.)
Impact of childhood cancer on parental employment and sources of income: A Canadian pilot study
Authors: Limburg Heather , Shaw Amanda K. , McBride Mary L.
Published: December 2007

Background

Loss of income and out of pocket expenses related to childhood cancer care can account for over 25% of a family's total disposable income, adding to the stress of facing a life‐threatening disease. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the impact of childhood cancer on employment and sources of income within families.

Procedure

A retrospective postal‐administered questionnaire was used to collect information from parents of children diagnosed with cancer before 20 years of age between 1990 and 1996 in the province of British Columbia (n = 111).

Results

Among full or part‐time employed parents, 64% of mothers and 16% of fathers left their job after their child's diagnosis. The large majority of parents who left their jobs were away for less than 1 year (65% of mothers; 78% of fathers) and nearly all were able to return to the same job if they chose to do so (80% of mothers; 89% of fathers). Parents with children <10 years of age at diagnosis and those with leukemia were most likely to take leave from their jobs. There was considerable change in sources of income between the time of diagnosis and survey with more families relying on employment insurance, social assistance or other financial support at diagnosis. Reliance on sources of income other than salary decreased with time since diagnosis.

Conclusions

It appears that the diagnosis of childhood cancer may cause an important but short‐term impact on the employment and income sources of affected families. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:93–98. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gekoppelte molekulare Schalter
Authors: Repp Jascha , Liljeroth Peter , Meyer Gerhard
Published: December 2007

Auf der Suche nach immer kleineren elektronischen Geräten greifen die Wissenschaftler nach einzelnen Molekülen als elektronische Bauteile. Naphthalocyanin‐Moleküle eignen sich als molekulare Schalter, die man – anders als die bisher bekannten molekularen Schalter – untereinander koppeln kann.
Wellenringe auf der Wasseroberfläche lassen tief blicken
Authors: Schlichting H. Joachim
Published: December 2007

Ob ein Stein oder ein Tropfen auf eine Wasseroberfläche fällt, macht insofern keinen Unterschied, als in beiden Fällen Systeme von Ringwellen entstehen. Und doch “erzählen” die Ringe in beiden Fällen eine etwas andere physikalische Geschichte.
Die Primelemente des Maschinenbaus
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: December 2007

Seine erste große wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichung schreibt er großteils von der Tafel ab: Als Student hört er Vorlesungen bei Ferdinand Redtenbacher, einem Urgestein des Maschinenbaus, und verwendet dessen Tafelbilder, didaktisch in neue Formen gegossen, flott für eine eigene “Konstruktionslehre für den Maschinenbau”. Die gibt er mit gerade mal 25 Jahren zusammen mit einem Kommilitonen heraus.
Magnetische Wirbel in Festkörpern
Authors: Van Aken Bas B. , Fiebig Manfred
Published: December 2007

Forschern der Universitäten Bonn und Genf und des Berliner Max‐Born‐Instituts ist es gelungen, die Domänen eines vierten ferroischen Ordnungszustands optisch nachzuweisen. Dieser wird als Ferrotoroidizität bezeichnet und beschreibt die einheitliche Anordnung magnetischer Wirbel. Ferrotoroidische Materialien können Quelle starker magnetoelektrischer Effekte sein und die Manipulation magnetischer Eigenschaften durch elektrische Felder ermöglichen.
Synthesis, self‐assembly and adsorption of PEO–PLA block copolymers onto colloidal polystyrene
Authors: Murphy Karen A. , Eisenhauer Jessica M. , Savin Daniel A.
Published: December 2007

A series of amphiphilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(lactide) were synthesized and their solution properties studied using static and dynamic light scattering. These materials self‐assemble in aqueous media with the hydrodynamic radius increasing with increasing hydrophobic fraction in the copolymer. To ascertain the potential for use of these materials as degradable coatings in delivery applications, block copolymers of varying compositions were adsorbed onto a series of colloidal polystyrene particles with varying radii, and the thickness of the adsorbed layer was determined from changes in the hydrodynamic size. The adlayer thicknesses ranged from 3 to 14 nm with varying block copolymer compositions, and colloid radii. The trends fit well with theoretical models for adlayer thickness, with the exception of the smallest colloids. In these systems, we propose that the colloids may become encapsulated into the block copolymer assembly. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 244–252, 2008
Exhaled nitric oxide for monitoring childhood asthma inflammation compared to sputum analysis, serum interleukins and pulmonary function
Authors: Paro‐Heitor Maria Luisa Z. , Bussamra Maria Helena C.F. , Saraiva‐Romanholo Beatriz M. , Martins Milton A , Okay Thelma Suely , Rodrigues Joaquim Carlos
Published: December 2007

The level of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is significantly elevated in uncontrolled asthma and decreases after anti‐inflammatory therapy. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the behavior of FENO in the follow‐up and management of the inflammation in asthmatic pediatric patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), compared to sputum cellularity, serum interleukins (IL), and pulmonary function. Twenty‐six clinically stable asthmatic children aged from 6 to 18 years, previously treated or not with ICS were included. Following an international consensus (GINA), the patients were submitted to standard treatment with inhaled fluticasone for 3 months according to the severity of the disease. During this period, each patient underwent three assessments at intervals of approximately 6 weeks. Each evaluation consisted of the measurement of FENO, determination of serum interleukins IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐13, and interferon γ (INF‐γ), spirometry and cytological analysis of spontaneous or induced sputum. A significant reduction in mean FENO and IL‐5, without concomitant changes in FEV1, was observed along the study. There was no significant correlation between FeNO and FEV1in the three assessments. A significant correlation between FeNO and IL‐5 levels was only observed in the third assessment (r = 0.499,P = 0.025). In most patients, serum IL‐10, IL‐13, and INF‐γ concentrations were undetectable throughout the study. Sputum samples were obtained spontaneously in 11 occasions and in 56 by induction with 3% hypertonic saline solution (success rate: 50.8%), with 39 (69.9%) of them adequate for analysis. Only two of the 26 patients produced adequate samples in the three consecutive evaluations, which impaired the determination of a potential association between sputum cellularity and FeNO levels throughout the study. In conclusion, among the parameters of this study, it was difficult to perform and to interpret the serial analysis of spontaneous or induced sputum. Serum interleukins, which remained at very low or undetectable levels in most patients, were not found to be useful for therapeutic monitoring, except for IL‐5 that seems to present some correlation with levels of FeNO exhaled. Monitoring of the mean FEV1indicated no significant variations during the treatment, demonstrating that functional stability or the absence of obstruction may not reflect the adequate management of asthma. Serial measurement of FeNO seemed to best reflect the progressive anti‐inflammatory action of ICS in asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:134–141. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Counting alleles in single lesions of prostate tumors from ethnically diverse patients
Authors: Morikawa Aki , Varma Vijay , W. Gillespie Theresa , Lyles Robert H. , Goodman Michael , Bostick Roberd M. , Mandel Jack S. , Zhou Wei
Published: December 2007

BACKGROUND

The presence of racial disparities in incidence and mortality rates are well‐documented for prostate cancer. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether such disparities are due to genetic alterations that are involved in prostate cancer initiation. Here, we evaluated chromosome 8p allelic loss in a racially diverse cohort.

METHODS

Laser‐capture microdissection was used to isolate tumors cells from individual lesions in 153 prostate cancer patients, and 8p allelic status was determined by “counting alleles.” Statistical analyses examined the association between pathologic predictors and biochemical recurrence.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Thirty percent of prostate lesions were missing an 8p allele at tumor initiation, while 51% of lesions lost an 8p allele during tumor progression. Biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy could be reliably predicted by surgical margin status only in lesions with extensive 8p allelic loss. There was, however, no racial disparity in 8p allelic loss at tumor initiation or during tumor progression, suggesting that the molecular event involved was similar between Caucasians and Africa Americans (CA and AA). Nonetheless, racial differences were present in values of prognostic factors for recurrence. Gleason score was the most important predictor of recurrence (HR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.1, 9.2) in AA, while among CA, pathologic stage (HR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.5, 7.6) and surgical margin (HR = 4.7, 95% CI = 1.8, 12.6) were the most important. Therefore, racial disparity in prostate cancer may be due to other factors that are involved in prostate cancer development. Prostate 68: 231–240, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Power and Public Participation in a Hazardous Waste Dispute: A Community Case Study
Authors: Culley Marci R. , Hughey Joseph
Published: December 2007

Qualitative case study findings are presented. We examined whether public participation in a hazardous waste dispute manifested in ways consistent with theories of social power; particularly whether participatory processes or participants’ experiences of them were consistent with the three‐dimensional view of power (Gaventa, Power and powerlessness: quiescence and rebellion in an appalacian valley, 1980; Lukes, Power: A radical view, 1974; Parenti, Power and the powerless, 1978). Findings from four data sources collected over 3 years revealed that participatory processes manifested in ways consistent with theories of power, and participants’ experiences reflected this. Results illustrated how participation was limited and how citizen influence could be manipulated via control of resources, barriers to participation, agenda setting, and shaping conceptions about what participation was possible. Implications for community research and policy related to participation in hazardous waste disputes are discussed.
ON THE SIGNATURE OF COHERENT SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: Triantafyllou Ioannis S. , Koutras Markos V.
Published: December 2007

In the present article we provide a formula that facilitates the evaluation of the signature of a reliability structure by a generating function approach. A simple sufficient condition is also derived for proving the nonpreservation of the IFR property for the system's lifetime (when the components are IFR) by exploiting the signature of the system. As an application of the general results, we deduce recurrence relations for the signature of a linear consecutive k-out-of-n: F system. We establish a simple relation between the signature of a linear and a circular system and investigate the IFR preservation property under the formulation of such systems.
RENEWAL THEORY WITH EXPONENTIAL AND HYPERBOLIC DISCOUNTING
Authors: van der Weide J. A. M. , Suyono  , van Noortwijk J. M.
Published: December 2007

To determine optimal investment and maintenance decisions, the total costs should be minimized over the whole life of a system or structure. In minimizing life-cycle costs, it is important to account for the time value of money by discounting and to consider the uncertainties involved. This article presents new results in renewal theory with costs that can be discounted according to any discount function that is nonincreasing and monotonic over time (such as exponential, hyperbolic, generalized hyperbolic, and no discounting). The main results include expressions for the first and second moment of the discounted costs over a bounded and unbounded time horizon as well as asymptotic expansions for nondiscounted costs.
A year and a day in the Australian Law Librarians' Association
Authors: Woodman Sue
Published: December 2007

This article comes from Sue Woodman, the outgoing Chair of ALLA and brings us up to date with developments down under
Bosnia: Reclaiming Local Power from International Authority
Authors: Knoll Bernhard
Published: December 2007

Powers of High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina ‘reminiscent of a totalitarian regime’ – February 2007: Constitutional Court challenges decisions of the High Representative for being contrary to Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights – Order of the High Representative: execution of the Court's decision contrary to Article 25 UN Charter – Ruling by command may lastingly hinder democratic development
The Emerging Czech Constitutional Doctrine of European Law
Authors: Zemánek Jiří
Published: December 2007

Influence of the Czech accession to the European Union on the judicial ideology of Czech courts – Questions regarding the constitutional status of European Union law in the Czech Republic – Czech Constitutional Court: no testing of so-called necessitated implementing provisions, except when core constitutional values and principles are at stake – Extension of this doctrine to non-Community Union law – An act contrary to Union law is not as such also contrary to the Czech Constitution
Steric height variability in the Nordic Seas
Authors: Siegismund F. , Johannessen J. , Drange H. , Mork K. A. , Korablev A.
Published: December 2007

The variability of steric height in the Nordic Seas is analyzed on seasonal, interannual, and decadal timescales using a comprehensive data set of temperature and salinity observations for the second half of the twentieth century. Results from a regional Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) are used to assess the reliability of the averaging and the temporal interpolation of the inhomogeneous distributed observation data. The annual cycle explains only a minor part of the monthly variability for most of the region. The analysis on interannual to decadal timescales confined to the Norwegian Sea displays a clear rising trend starting at the end of the 1960s with particularly strong changes along the Barents Sea opening (6 to 7 cm). Moreover, a general freshening is found for the entire Norwegian Sea. In addition, a north‐south dipole of the thermal component of the steric height variability is identified. This dipole elevates the general rising trend along the Barents Sea opening and reduces it in the southern Norwegian Sea. The bulk of the interannual variability in steric height is governed by variations in the local meridional wind stress that determine the relative distribution of Atlantic and Arctic waters in the Norwegian Sea. In addition, reduced heat loss to the atmosphere strongly correlates with the North Atlantic Oscillation winter index. This, in turn, may in particular explain the large steric height increase found at the Barents Sea opening.
Impact of the Amended Indian Patent Act on the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Bakthavathsalan , Raghuvanshi Poonam
Published: December 2007

It has been more than two years since the Indian Patent Act of 1970 (the Act) was amended to make it compliant with the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. The amendments were made amidst much expectation, protest and confusion. Despite having had ten years to put the amendments together, the Indian Government had to resort to a hurried Presidential Ordinance in December 2004 to amend the Patent Act. In March 2005, after an invigorating public debate involving all stakeholders, legislators were able to come out with amendments that attempted to strike a balance between promoting innovation and ensuring that Indians had continued access to affordable medicines and so that India remained the ‘pharmacy’ of the developing world. The amendments changed the paradigm under which most, if not all, Indian pharmaceutical companies built their businesses. Now that the first product patent in the pharmaceutical sector has been granted (Patent No. 198952 granted on 21st February, 2006 to Roche, on pegylated interferon-α conjugates) and a challenge to a key amendment has come to an unsuccessful end at the Madras High Court, this paper takes a look at what the impact of the amendments have been so far and what they could be in the future.
Recent acceleration of human adaptive evolution
Authors: Hawks John , Wang Eric T. , Cochran Gregory M. , Harpending Henry C. , Moyzis Robert K.
Published: December 2007

Genomic surveys in humans identify a large amount of recent positive selection. Using the 3.9-million HapMap SNP dataset, we found that selection has accelerated greatly during the last 40,000 years. We tested the null hypothesis that the observed age distribution of recent positively selected linkage blocks is consistent with a constant rate of adaptive substitution during human evolution. We show that a constant rate high enough to explain the number of recently selected variants would predict (i) site heterozygosity at least 10-fold lower than is observed in humans, (ii) a strong relationship of heterozygosity and local recombination rate, which is not observed in humans, (iii) an implausibly high number of adaptive substitutions between humans and chimpanzees, and (iv) nearly 100 times the observed number of high-frequency linkage disequilibrium blocks. Larger populations generate more new selected mutations, and we show the consistency of the observed data with the historical pattern of human population growth. We consider human demographic growth to be linked with past changes in human cultures and ecologies. Both processes have contributed to the extraordinarily rapid recent genetic evolution of our species.
AdeIJK, a Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division Pump Effluxing Multiple Antibiotics in
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Damier-Piolle Laurence , Magnet Sophie , Brémont Sylvie , Lambert Thierry , Courvalin Patrice
Published: December 2007

We have identified a second resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type efflux pump, AdeIJK, in clinical isolate
Acinetobacter baumannii
BM4454. The
adeI, adeJ
, and
adeK
genes encode, respectively, the membrane fusion, RND, and outer membrane components of the pump. AdeJ belongs to the AcrB protein family (57% identity with AcrB from
Escherichia coli
). mRNA analysis by Northern blotting and reverse transcription-PCR indicated that the genes were cotranscribed. Overexpression of the cloned
adeIJK
operon was toxic in both
E. coli
and
Acinetobacter
. The
adeIJK
genes were detected in all of the 60 strains of
A. baumannii
tested. The two latter observations suggest that the AdeIJK complex might contribute to intrinsic but not to acquired antibiotic resistance in
Acinetobacter
. To characterize the substrate specificity of the pump, we have constructed derivatives of BM4454 in which
adeIJK
(strain BM4579),
adeABC
(strain BM4561), or both groups of genes (strain BM4652) were inactivated by deletion-insertion. Determination of the antibiotic susceptibility of these strains and of BM4652 and BM4579, in which the
adeIJK
operon was provided in
trans
, indicated that the AdeIJK pump contributes to resistance to β-lactams, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, lincosamides, fluoroquinolones, fusidic acid, novobiocin, rifampin, trimethoprim, acridine, safranin, pyronine, and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The chemical structure of these molecules suggests that amphiphilic compounds are the preferred substrates. The AdeABC and AdeIJK efflux systems contributed in a more than additive fashion to tigecycline resistance.
A Sphingolipid Inhibitor Induces a Cytokinesis Arrest and Blocks Stage Differentiation in
Giardia lamblia
Authors: Sonda Sabrina , Štefanić Saša , Hehl Adrian B.
Published: December 2007

Sphingolipid biosynthesis pathways have recently emerged as a promising target for therapeutic intervention against pathogens, including parasites. A key step in the synthesis of complex sphingolipids is the glucosylation of ceramide, mediated by glucosylceramide (GlcCer) synthase, whose activity can be inhibited by PPMP (1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol). In this study, we investigated whether PPMP inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of the pathogenic parasite
Giardia lamblia
, the major cause of parasite-induced diarrhea worldwide. PPMP was found to block in vitro parasite replication in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 3.5 μM. The inhibition of parasite replication was irreversible at 10 μM PPMP, a concentration that did not affect mammalian cell metabolism. Importantly, PPMP inhibited the completion of cell division at a specific stage in late cytokinesis. Microscopic analysis of cells incubated with PPMP revealed the aberrant accumulation of cellular membranes belonging to the endoplasmic reticulum network in the caudal area of the parasites. Finally, PPMP induced a 90% reduction in
G. lamblia
differentiation into cysts, the parasite stage responsible for the transmission of the disease. These results show that PPMP is a powerful inhibitor of
G. lamblia
in vitro and that as-yet-uncharacterized sphingolipid biosynthetic pathways are potential targets for the development of anti-
G. lamblia
agents.
Transcriptional Profiling Reveals that Daptomycin Induces the
Staphylococcus aureus
Cell Wall Stress Stimulon and Genes Responsive to Membrane Depolarization
Authors: Muthaiyan Arunachalam , Silverman Jared A. , Jayaswal Radheshyam K. , Wilkinson Brian J.
Published: December 2007

Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic that has recently been approved for treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. The mode of action of daptomycin is not yet entirely clear. To further understand the mechanism transcriptomic analysis of changes in gene expression in daptomycin-treated
Staphylococcus aureus
was carried out. The expression profile indicated that cell wall stress stimulon member genes (B. J. Wilkinson, A. Muthaiyan, and R. K. Jayaswal, Curr. Med. Chem. Anti-Infect. Agents 4:259-276, 2005) were significantly induced by daptomycin and by the cell wall-active antibiotics vancomycin and oxacillin. Comparison of the daptomycin response of a two-component cell wall stress stimulon regulator VraSR mutant,
S. aureus
KVR, to its parent N315 showed diminished expression of the cell wall stress stimulon in the mutant. Daptomycin has been proposed to cause membrane depolarization, and the transcriptional responses to carbonyl cyanide
m
-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and nisin were determined. Transcriptional profiles of the responses to these antimicrobial agents showed significantly different patterns compared to those of the cell wall-active antibiotics, including little or no induction of the cell wall stress stimulon. However, there were a significant number of genes induced by both CCCP and daptomycin that were not induced by oxacillin or vancomycin, so the daptomycin transcriptome probably reflected a membrane depolarizing activity of this antimicrobial also. The results indicate that inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis, either directly or indirectly, and membrane depolarization are parts of the mode of action of daptomycin.
MULTIFRACTALITY AND MULTIFRACTAL PIONIC SPECIFIC HEAT IN NUCLEAR COLLISIONS — TARGET EXCITATION DEPENDENCE
Authors: GHOSH DIPAK , DEB ARGHA , DUTTA SRIMONTI
Published: December 2007

This paper deals with the target excitation dependence of the multifractal specific heat of pions produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions at 60 and 200 AGeV. Fluctuation pattern of pions is studied in two dimensions considering anisotropy of phase space. The parameter characterizing the anisotropy of phase space, Hurst exponent, is extracted by fitting one-dimensional factorial moment saturation curves. Values of intermittency exponent αq and generalized dimension Dq are determined. The fluctuation pattern reveals multifractal behavior at all target excitations at both energies. The multifractal specific heat c is found to depend on target excitation and the dependence is found to be more pronounced at lower energy. The results are discussed in detail.
MATHEMATICAL IMAGING USING CHEMICAL REACTIONS DISCRETE CHAOTIC DYNAMICS
Authors: GONTAR V. , GRECHKO O.
Published: December 2007

A specific system of difference equations derived from chemical reactions discrete chaotic dynamics (CRDCD) was used for generating visual images. Examples of symmetrical images generated by the proposed method were used to illustrate the impact of different color palettes on the resulting images. The image quality could be improved by applying an interpolation scheme.
Recombinant Immunoproapoptotic Proteins with Furin Site Can Translocate and Kill HER2-Positive Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhao Jing , Ren Jun-Lin , Zhang Li , Wen Wei-Hong , Zhang Rui , Qin Wei-Wei , Jia Lin-Tao , Yao Li-Bo , Zhang Ying-Qi , Chen Si-Yi , Yang An-Gang
Published: December 2007

We previously reported the selective killing of HER2-positive tumor cells by a class of immunoproapoptotic proteins containing single-chain antibody, translocation domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (domain II; PEA II), and constitutively active human apoptotic molecules. In this study, a novel class of antitumor immunoproapoptotic proteins was explored to mediate tumor-specific apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Three furin cleavage sequences, including a synthetic polyarginine tract, and two furin cleavable sequences from PEA and diphtheria toxin were respectively used to replace PEA II in the previously constructed immunoproapoptotic protein. When produced and secreted by the genetically modified Jurkat cells, the novel targeted proapoptotic proteins selectively bound to HER2, which is often overexpressed on tumor cell surface. Followed by receptor-mediated endocytosis and furin cleavage in the endosome, the recombinant proteins could translocate into the cytosol, leading to irreversible cell death. Moreover, delivery of these proteins by either i.m. plasmid injection or i.v. injection of plasmid-expressing Jurkat cells led to tumor regression and prolonged animal survival in a nude mouse xenograft tumor model, indicating in vivo antitumor activity of the recombinant proteins. We conclude that the new class of immunoproapoptotic proteins show comparable activity with PEA II–containing counterpart and provide an attractive therapeutic alternative as they contain much less exogenous fragments. [Cancer Res 2007;67(24):11830–39]
In vitroexpansion of human breast cancer epithelial and mesenchymal stromal cells: optimization of a coculture model for personalized therapy approaches
Authors: Veneziani Bianca Maria , Criniti Vittoria , Cavaliere Carla , Corvigno Sara , Nardone Agostina , Picarelli Silvia , Tortora Giampaolo , Ciardiello Fortunato , Limite Gennaro , De Placido Sabino
Published: December 2007

Molecularly targeted, customized therapies are designed based on the molecular portraits of cancer tissue. The efficacy of targeted therapy in individual patients depends on the contribution of single individual cancer cells within the context of their microenvironment. We have developed an in vitro model of human mammary epithelial-stromal cocultures to answer specific clinical questions related to breast cancer, to provide a tool with which to identify a signature in each breast tumor, and to identify the metabolic molecular targets of therapy in an attempt to optimize the efficacy of targeted therapy in each patient. Fifty-five human breast cancer samples were obtained through surgery. Epithelial and stromal cells were isolated from tissue specimens by differential centrifugation, and cryopreserved. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR were used to identify the tissue-specific expression patterns of cancer cells. Dose-response curves were constructed for the aromatase inhibitor formestane and for herceptin, and a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was done for combined treatment. We collected and cryopreserved, for future use, viable living cells from 55 breast tumor specimens from which we derived short-term cocultures. The presence of cytokeratins and vimentin was evaluated in 20 samples, and pHER2/neu and aromatase were evaluated in 4 cocultures. Formestane and herceptin had a cumulative growth-inhibitory effect on cocultures expressing epidermal growth factor receptors and aromatase. The in vitro model of human mammary epithelial-stromal cocultures reported herein can be used to examine, and to store, a patient's tumor-derived, living cells that retain the characteristics of the mother-tissue and respond, in vitro, to therapy. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(12):3091–100]
Hadramis in Hyderabad: From Winners to Losers
Authors: Manger Leif
Published: December 2007

The paper describes and analyses the Hadrami migration to and adaptations in Hyderabad, India. The various adaptive niches exploited by the Hadramis in Hyderabad before the merger with India in 1948 are outlined, particularly the ones relating to the military field. Hadrami officers and soldiers were a typical features of the Nizam's army. But this was to change with the Indian take-over in 1948. The second part of the paper outlines these changes as they relate to Hyderabad in general and to the new adaptive strategies adopted by the Hadramis in particular. The new evolving adaptations during the 1950s was based on petty trade and represented a downward turn in the fortunes of the Hadramis. During this period the Hadrami identity was fading and they tended to disappear among the other Muslims in the city. In the 1970s, however, labour migration to the Gulf helped improve the economic status of the Hadrami families, and it lead to a strengtheneing of the diasporic organisations that could facilitate the migration and which also strengthened the Hadrami diasporic identity.
Inter-Professional Conflict and Strategic Alliance Between Traditional Healers and Oncologists in Pakistan
Authors: Broom Alex , Tovey Philip
Published: December 2007

There are increasing calls from global health organisations for the promotion of traditional medicines (TM) as one method of addressing the health needs of populations in poorer countries. However, little research has been done to explore the interactions (and potential conflicts between) traditional healthcare systems and biomedical services. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 46 cancer patients in Lahore, Pakistan, this article examines patients' experiences of the inter-professional dynamics associated with the range of traditional and biomedical cancer treatments. Results illustrate a complex set of 'cross sectoral' relationships. On the one hand, significant professional distancing was identified between certain traditional healers and biomedical clinicians, as was the deployment of discursive and regulatory gate-keeping tactics at a grassroots level. However, there was also evidence of selective strategic alliance between one traditional practice —

Dam Darood

, and biomedicine; a relationship deeply embedded in shared religious beliefs and their seemingly compatible therapeutic objectives. It is concluded that, for the development of culturally-appropriate health policy, there is the need for a multifaceted understanding of the socio-cultural processes underpinning the relationships between different treatment modalities.
Obstructive uropathy as the only manifestation of flare in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-phospholipid syndrome
Authors: Asia S. , Martellotto G. , Belén R. , Sesín A. Maria , Gamróm S. , Drenkard C.
Published: December 2007

Chronic interstitial cystitis and ureteral stenosis has occasionally been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus, mostly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. We report a case of obstructive uropathy associated to chronic interstitial cystitis as the only manifestation of lupus flare in a patient with SLE and anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) who had been in remission for many years. The development of chronic interstitial cystitis in patients with SLE and APS has not been previously reported. Histopathological study of her urinary bladder and ureteral meatus showed chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the subepithelium. Lack of significant lower urinary tract symptoms and gastrointestinal involvement were some of the factors that could have prevented an earlier diagnosis. Obstructive uropathy and renal insufficiency initially improved with immunosuppressive treatment and endoureteral protheses, but poor compliance to the therapy led to ominous ending.
Integrating crowd-behavior modeling into military simulation using game technology
Authors: McKenzie Frederic D. , Petty Mikel D. , Kruszewski Paul A. , Gaskins Ryland C. , Nguyen Quynh-Anh H. , Seevinck Jennifer , Weisel Eric W.
Published: December 2007

Crowds of noncombatants play a large and increasingly recognized role in modern military operations and often create substantial difficulties for the combatant forces involved. However, realistic models of crowds are essentially absent from current military simulations. To address this problem, the authors are developing a crowd simulation capable of generating crowds of noncombatant civilians that exhibit a variety of realistic individual and group behaviors at differing levels of fidelity. The crowd simulation is interoperable with existing military simulations using a standard, distributed simulation architecture. Commercial game technology is used in the crowd simulation to model both urban terrain and the physical behaviors of the human characters that make up the crowd. The objective of this article is to present the design and development process of a simulation that integrates commercially available game technology with current military simulations to generate realistic and believable crowd behavior.