bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Social Regulatory Policy: State and Federal Hate Crime Policy and Implementation Effort
Authors: Haider-Markel Donald P.
Published: January 2007

Research suggests there has been a rise in the number of hate crimes since 1985. At the same time, legislatures at the local, state, and national level have enacted policies that both track and regulate hate crime. This article is an effort to determine the factors influencing hate crime policy and implementation efforts. The project is divided into three sections: In the first section, the characteristics and extent of hate crime are discussed. Section two describes hate crime policy as social regulatory policy and uses this theoretical framework to explain state variation in laws con cerning hate crimes. In section three, I present a model of policy imple mentation to predict state implementation efforts of federal hate crime policy Based on the variables suggested by these theoretical frameworks, I present hypotheses and conduct a multiple regression analysis using a fifty-state data set. The results indicate hate crime policies and imple mentation efforts are largely attempts by politicians to satisfy organized interests in competitive political systems. I discuss the implications of these findings and suggest avenues for future research.
On the Coattails of a Contract: RNC Activities and Republican Gains in the 1994 State Legislative Elections
Authors: Little Thomas H.
Published: January 2007

In 1994, the Republican party initiated an unprecedented effort by a modem American political party to coordinate issues in subnational cam paigns. They made a concerted effort to persuade state Republican party leaders to adopt electoral contracts similar to the "Republican Contract with America," reflecting basic Republican values, but tailored to the par ticular needs of each state. About half of the states holding elections in 1994 responded by developing such documents. The purpose of this study is to determine if these contracts had coattails in the midterm state legis lative elections similar to those generally provided by popular presiden tial or gubernatorial candidates during their elections. The results indicate that many Republican state legislative candidates may indeed have rid den their electoral contracts to historic seat gains, even controlling for such traditional predictors as presidential popularity, economic evalua tion, variations in voter turnout and partisan financial support. These results suggest that politicians might reconsider how they have tradition ally conducted legislative campaigns and to scholars that they reevaluate how they study them.
Establishing Judicial Review? Schooner Peggy and the Early Marshall Court
Authors: Graber Mark A.
Published: January 2007

United States vs. Schooner Peggy supports claims that the Marshall Court twisted law to reach rulings that would not antagonize political adversaries. Federalist justices at the turn of the nineteenth century followed the election returns. Ellsworth Court justices consistently reached conclusions congenial to Federalist party interests; the Marshall Court in its first years always reached the result favored by the Jefferson administration. Schooner Peggy, Marbury, and other early Court rulings belie the common assertion that the justices became independent of the executive branch during the Jefferson adminis tration. Both Schooner Peggy and Marbury seek to preserve judicial power by asserting its existence, thus establishing precedents for future use, while not actually attempting to challenge executive or legislative authority in any con troversial way. The real test for a more independent judicial power would come later, when the justices began ordering some elected officials to take actions they did not want to take.
Explaining the Gender Gap in U.S. Presidential Elections, 1980-1992
Authors: Chaney Carole Kennedy , Alvarez R. Michael , Nagler Jonathan
Published: January 2007

This article compares the voting behavior of women and men in presi dential elections since 1980. We test whether the different levels of salience which men and women attribute to different issues or the different pref erences men and women have on issues best accounts for the gender gap. Utilizing theories of different issue emphasis between men and women, we use a multivariate model to demonstrate that a combination of re spondent views on the economy, social programs, military action, abor tion, and ideology can consistently explain at least three-fourths of the gender gap in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 elections. We show that, consis tent with prior research on individual elections, women placed more emphasis on the national economy than men, and men placed more em phasis on pocketbook voting than women. We add evidence showing that women have consistently more negative assessments of the economy than do men, suggesting that a part of what has been considered a Re publican-Democratic gender gap is really an anti-incumbent bias on the part of women. We also clarify the interpretation of partisan identifica tion in explaining the gender gap.
A New Perspective on the Foreign Policy Views of American Opinion Leaders in the Cold War and Post-Cold War Eras
Authors: Rosati Jerel A. , Link Michael W , Creed John
Published: January 2007

This article breaks new ground in the study of the foreign policy views of American opinion leaders by using a systematic content analysis of writings published in leading foreign policy journals. It is in such jour nals that the debate on the nature and direction of American foreign policy is often played out. Such an approach allows us to examine the level of diversity in the foreign policy thought of opinion leaders and to provide an initial assessment of the level of continuity and change in this thought since the end of the Cold War. The findings do not suggest the formation of a new consensus over the direction of American foreign policy anytime soon. Rather, between the Cold War eighties and the post-Cold War nine ties foreign policy attitudes have been marked by both persistence and change, resulting in a greater diversity and complexity of thought, as well as greater optimism for the future of U.S. foreign policy The study high lights the importance of developing alternative research strategies and data sources which both supplement and complement more traditional survey research approaches in order to more fully capture and under stand the foreign policy thought of American opinion leaders.
Explaining Executive Success in the U.S. Supreme Court
Authors: McGuire Kevin T.
Published: January 2007

The solicitor general is widely believed to occupy a special status among the parties appearing in the U.S. Supreme Court. A broad array of theo retical advantages are thought to contribute to the federal government's influence, but scholars have no direct evidence of their impact. More importantly, virtually all existing research has failed to measure directly the influence of those advantages across other parties, as well. Estimating a series of probit models of executive success in the Court under both Democratic and Republican administrations, I test the impact of one such advantage, litigation experience, measured for all parties across all cases. The results suggest that, notwithstanding the conventional wisdom, there is nothing distinctive about the solicitor general's influence. Thus, exist ing explanations regarding the solicitor general's institutional prestige appear to overstate the importance of the executive's role in the Court.
More Time With My Money: Leaving The House and Going Home In 1992 and 1994
Authors: Clarke Harold D. , Feigert Frank B. , Seldon Barry J. , Stewart Marianne C.
Published: January 2007

Before the 1992 congressional elections, 66 members of the House of Representatives retired -the highest number since the end of World War II. Fully 53 of the 1992 retirees did not seek another elective office. Previous studies of the retirement surge have emphasized a combination of adverse political circumstances, including the House banking scandal that lessened offenders' reelection prospects, and unique financial opportunities for some members created by a combination of pension monies and convertible campaign funds. This article argues that the 1992 political context was such that, although retiring members in both parties were susceptible to the lure of spending “more time with their money,” the bad-check scandal affected only Republicans, not Democrats. Check-kiting members in both parties who decided to run and were reelected in 1992 factored this information into their 1994 retirement decisions as evidence of electoral strength, not weakness. In 1994, as in 1992, anticipated retirement income was equally attractive to both Democrats and Republicans.
Win, Lose, or Draw: Predicting the Outcome of Civil Wars
Authors: Mason T. David , Weingarten Joseph P , Fett Patrick J.
Published: January 2007

What characteristics of a civil war determine whether it will end in a government victory, a rebel victory, or a negotiated settlement? To explore this question we present an expected utility model of the choice rebels and governments face between accepting a settlement or continuing to fight. The model implies that a settlement becomes more likely as (1) estimates of the probability of victory decline; (2) costs of conflict increase; (3) estimates of the time required to win increase; or (4) the utility from a settlement increases relative to that of victory. Factors that (1) increase one party's probability of victory; (2) increase its payoffs from victory; (3) reduce the costs of conflict; and/or (4) reduce the time required to achieve victory increase that party's probability of winning and decrease the likelihood of a settlement. We test these propositions with a multinomial choice model that correctly predicts the outcome in 86 percent of the cases.
Congressional Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Measuring Fiscal Behavior in the Changing House of Representatives
Authors: Gill Jeff , Thurber James A.
Published: January 2007

We evaluate fiscal behavior in the 103rd and 104th Houses using a newly defined dependent variable which separates roll-call votes by how much each bill costs or saves in federal government expenditures. This allows us to analyze how members view these as fundamentally different expressions of budgetary preferences. Party groups are shown to trade-off and substitute goals across spending and saving over time based upon majority status, leadership goal, and exogenous political pressure. The impact of region interacting with party is diminished, implying that Southern Democrats are not uniquely cross-pressured as a result of realignment.
State Legislators as Congressional Candidates:The Effects of Prior Experience on Legislative Recruitment and Fundraising
Authors: Berkman Michael , Eisenstein James
Published: January 2007

Prior research on congressional recruitment establishes that “experi enced” or “quality” candidates compete more successfully for votes and money Little research, however, inquires into how type of prior experi ence affects strategic decisions on when to run or success once a race is undertaken. This research explores the impact of type of prior experi ence, focusing on state legislators who run for the U.S. House. We exam ine how experience affects decisions to run and money raised for all non incumbent general election House candidates between 1988 and 1994. We find that type of prior experience matters. In particular, state legisla tors, especially those serving in professionalized legislatures, are more risk averse in deciding when to run. They also raise more of their money from PACs, and even more as the density of their state's interest group structure and professionalism of their legislature increases.
The Congressional Black Caucus and Vote Cohesion:Placing the Caucus Within House Voting Patterns
Authors: Pinney Neil , Serra George
Published: January 2007

Roll-call votes of African American representatives are explored to dis cern more explicitly the ideological cohesiveness of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and factors that affect vote choice. We use adjusted Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) scores. The adjustment corrects for changes in the ADA's scale from year to year. The analysis is carried out focusing on CBC coherence with respect to ideological voting and potential influences on Caucus unity We pool the CBC data from the period under investigation (1971-1996) to address the impact of vari ables identified as affecting roll call voting. The findings suggest that while there is considerably more diversity within the CBC than we some times imagine, African American representatives are more cohesive with the Black Caucus on roll call behavior than they are with either their regional or state party delegations. In addition, analyses suggest that sen iority, correspondence between the president's party and the CBC, presi dential policy preferences, percent black voters in the district, and elec toral margin of victory in the district may help explain variation in Caucus unity Finally, we conclude high vote cohesion is meaningful for the CBC and the representation of black interests in Congress.
Expensive Lessons: Education and the Political Economy of the American State
Authors: Smith Kevin B. , Rademacker J. Scott
Published: January 2007

Economic development has long been an important focus of state politics; and political scientists have devoted considerable effort to analyzing the ability of policymakers to influence local economic conditions. Unfortunately, analysis in this area of state politics has been hampered by the lack of a stable and generalizable model of state-level political economy. We seek to contribute to such a model by arguing that previous research theoretically and empirically under-specifies a crucial element of the explanatory framework—education. We provide a theoretical argument for a more complex relationship between education and local economic conditions and find strong support for our arguments in a pooled analysis of state-level productivity
Work and Welfare in the American States: Analyzing the Effects of the JOBS Program
Authors: Morgan David R. , Kickham Kenneth
Published: January 2007

This research seeks to determine whether the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills GOBS) program (established under the 1988 Family Support Act) was successful in reducing the number of welfare recipients among U.S. states for the period 1984 to 1996. Within the context of two theoretical perspectives-developmental and rational choice-we assess the impact of JOBS on AFDC participation rates using a pooled time-series design. At best, JOBS had a minimal effect. We estimate that states with higher proportions of their AFDC populations enrolled in JOBS programs had only slightly lower rates of participation in AFDC. Other forces were far more influential in reducing welfare participation. In particular, states with higher per capita income, lower female unemployment rates, lower poverty rates, and higher wages for low-paying jobs had the lowest welfare recipiency The AFDC participation rates of neighboring states had a significant effect, as well. The analysis showed that more generous AFDC benefits exerted strong upward pressure on a state's welfare rolls.
Regulation of spindle orientation and neural stem cell fate in the Drosophila optic lobe
Authors: Egger Boris , Boone Jason Q , Stevens Naomi R , Brand Andrea H , Doe Chris Q
Published: January 2007

Background

The choice of a stem cell to divide symmetrically or asymmetrically has profound consequences for development and disease. Unregulated symmetric division promotes tumor formation, whereas inappropriate asymmetric division affects organ morphogenesis. Despite its importance, little is known about how spindle positioning is regulated. In some tissues cell fate appears to dictate the type of cell division, whereas in other tissues it is thought that stochastic variation in spindle position dictates subsequent sibling cell fate.

Results

Here we investigate the relationship between neural progenitor identity and spindle positioning in the Drosophila optic lobe. We use molecular markers and live imaging to show that there are two populations of progenitors in the optic lobe: symmetrically dividing neuroepithelial cells and asymmetrically dividing neuroblasts. We use genetically marked single cell clones to show that neuroepithelial cells give rise to neuroblasts. To determine if a change in spindle orientation can trigger a neuroepithelial to neuroblast transition, we force neuroepithelial cells to divide along their apical/basal axis by misexpressing Inscuteable. We find that this does not induce neuroblasts, nor does it promote premature neuronal differentiation.

Conclusion

We show that symmetrically dividing neuroepithelial cells give rise to asymmetrically dividing neuroblasts in the optic lobe, and that regulation of spindle orientation and division symmetry is a consequence of cell type specification, rather than a mechanism for generating cell type diversity.
Effects of Loss of Classical Estrogen Response Element Signaling on Bone in Male Mice
Authors: Syed Farhan A. , Fraser Daniel G. , Spelsberg Thomas C. , Rosen Clifford J. , Krust Andree , Chambon Pierre , Jameson J. Larry , Khosla Sundeep
Published: January 2007

The role of estrogen signaling in the male skeleton via estrogen receptor (ER)-α is now well established. ERα can elicit responses through either classical estrogen response elements (ERE) pathways or nonclassical, non-ERE pathways. In the present study, we examined the effects of either the attenuation or loss of classical ERα signaling on the murine male skeleton. To accomplish this, we crossed male mice heterozygous for a knock-in mutation [nonclassical ERα knock-in (NERKI)], which abolishes the ERE-mediated pathway with female heterozygous ERα knockout mice (ERα+/−) and studied the F1 generation ERα+/+, ERα+/−, ERα +/NERKI, and ERα−/NERKI male progeny longitudinally using bone density and histomorphometry. The only ERα allele present in ERα−/NERKI mice is incapable of classical ERE-mediated signaling, whereas the heterozygous ERα+/NERKI mice have both one intact ERα and one NERKI allele. As compared with ERα+/+ littermates (n = 10/genotype), male ERα+/NERKI and ERα−/NERKI mice displayed axial and appendicular skeletal osteopenia at 6, 12, 20, and 25 wk of age, as demonstrated by significant reductions in total bone mineral density (BMD) at representative sites (areal BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar vertebrae and femur and volumetric BMD by peripheral quantitative computed tomography at the tibia; P < 0.05–0.001 vs. ERα+/+). The observed osteopenia in these mice was evident in both trabecular and cortical bone compartments. However, these decreases were more severe in mice lacking classical ERα signaling (ERα−/NERKI mice), compared with mice in which one wild-type ERα allele was present (ERα+/NERKI mice). Collectively, these data demonstrate that classical ERα signaling is crucial for the development of the murine male skeleton.
Obestatin Partially Affects Ghrelin Stimulation of Food Intake and Growth Hormone Secretion in Rodents
Authors: Zizzari Philippe , Longchamps Romaine , Epelbaum Jacques , Bluet-Pajot Marie Thérèse
Published: January 2007

Administration of ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR 1a), induces potent stimulating effects on GH secretion and food intake. However, more than 7 yr after its discovery, the role of endogenous ghrelin remains elusive. Recently, a second peptide, obestatin, also generated from proteolytic cleavage of preproghrelin has been identified. This peptide inhibits food intake and gastrointestinal motility but does not modify in vitro GH release from pituitary cells. In this study, we have reinvestigated obestatin functions by measuring plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels in a period of spontaneous feeding in ad libitum-fed and 24-h fasted mice. Whereas fasting resulted in elevated ghrelin levels, obestatin levels were significantly reduced. Exogenous obestatin per se did not modify food intake in fasted and fed mice. However, it inhibited ghrelin orexigenic effect that were evident in fed mice only. The effects of obestatin on GH secretion were monitored in superfused pituitary explants and in freely moving rats. Obestatin was only effective in vivo to inhibit ghrelin stimulation of GH levels. Finally, the relationship between octanoylated ghrelin, obestatin, and GH secretions was evaluated by iterative blood sampling every 20 min during 6 h in freely moving adult male rats. The half-life of exogenous obestatin (10 μg iv) in plasma was about 22 min. Plasma obestatin levels exhibited an ultradian pulsatility with a frequency slightly lower than octanoylated ghrelin and GH. Ghrelin and obestatin levels were not strictly correlated. In conclusion, these results show that obestatin, like ghrelin, is secreted in a pulsatile manner and that in some conditions; obestatin can modulate exogenous ghrelin action. It remains to be determined whether obestatin modulates endogenous ghrelin actions.
Daily Rhythm in Pineal Phosphodiesterase (PDE) Activity Reflects Adrenergic/3′,5′-Cyclic Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate Induction of the PDE4B2 Variant
Authors: Kim Jong-So , Bailey Michael J. , Ho Anthony K. , Møller Morten , Gaildrat Pascaline , Klein David C.
Published: January 2007

The pineal gland is a photoneuroendocrine transducer that influences circadian and circannual dynamics of many physiological functions via the daily rhythm in melatonin production and release. Melatonin synthesis is stimulated at night by a photoneural system through which pineal adenylate cyclase is adrenergically activated, resulting in an elevation of cAMP. cAMP enhances melatonin synthesis through actions on several elements of the biosynthetic pathway. cAMP degradation also appears to increase at night due to an increase in phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, which peaks in the middle of the night. Here, it was found that this nocturnal increase in PDE activity results from an increase in the abundance of PDE4B2 mRNA (∼5-fold; doubling time, ∼2 h). The resulting level is notably higher (>6-fold) than in all other tissues examined, none of which exhibit a robust daily rhythm. The increase in PDE4B2 mRNA is followed by increases in PDE4B2 protein and PDE4 enzyme activity. Results from in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that these changes are due to activation of adrenergic receptors and a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A mechanism. Inhibition of PDE4 activity during the late phase of adrenergic stimulation enhances cAMP and melatonin levels. The evidence that PDE4B2 plays a negative feedback role in adrenergic/cAMP signaling in the pineal gland provides the first proof that cAMP control of PDE4B2 is a physiologically relevant control mechanism in cAMP signaling.
Evaluation of metered dose inhaler (MDI) formulations of ciclosporin
Authors: Marijani Rukia , Shaik Madhu Sudhan , Chatterjee Abhijit , Singh Mandip
Published: January 2007

Our purpose was to evaluate metered dose inhaler (MDI) formulations of ciclosporin (cyclosporine) for aerodynamic properties, chemical stability and bioactivity. Ciclosporin formulations (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0% w/w) were prepared in hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants (134a and 227) containing 3 and 6% ethanol. Aerodynamic properties of the MDI formulations were analysed using an eight-stage Andersen cascade impactor and respirable mass and non-respirable mass, mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were determined from the impaction profiles. The chemical stability of 0.1% ciclosporin in HFA 227 containing 3% ethanol formulation stored at room temperature and 40°C was evaluated by HPLC at 0, 14, 30 and 90 days. The bioactivity of ciclosporin MDI formulations was evaluated by determining the ciclosporin-mediated inhibition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) release from human Jurkat cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). As ethanol concentration increased from 3 to 6%, respirable mass decreased from 2.3 mg per five actuations to 0.04 mg per five actuations for HFA 227 formulations, and from 1.5 mg to 0.09 mg per five actuations for HFA 134a formulations. The MMAD for both HFA 134a and 227 formulations increased with an increase in ciclosporin concentration. HPLC analysis showed ciclosporin to be extremely stable in HFA 227 at room temperature and 40°C. Stimulation of Jurkat cells with PMA released significant amounts of IL-2, which was inhibited by ciclosporin in a dose-dependent manner. This study shows the feasibility of developing chemically stable and bioactive HFA-based MDI formulations of ciclosporin.
The influence of non-disintegrating tablet dimensions and density on their gastric emptying in fasted volunteers
Authors: Podczeck F , Course N C , Newton J M , Short M B
Published: January 2007

The aim of this work was to identify the influence of tablet density on their gastric emptying in fasted subjects and to compare the findings with those of a previous study using the same subjects with tablets of a larger diameter. Tablets of 6.6 mm diameter and densities of 1.41 and 2.85 g cm−3 were labelled with 99mTc and 111In. They were coated with ethyl cellulose to ensure that they remained intact within the gastrointestinal tract. Their position within the gastrointestinal tract of fasted healthy subjects was monitored with a double-headed gamma camera at 1-min time intervals. The median gastric emptying time and the interquartile range were derived from the Bernoulli random event distribution. It was found that the dense tablets had a significantly longer gastric emptying time than the light tablets. Comparison with the results from the previous study gave a clear indication that irrespective of tablet density, the 6.6-mm tablets had longer gastric emptying times than the 12.0-mm tablets.
Uptake characteristics of liposomes by rat alveolar macrophages: influence of particle size and surface mannose modification
Authors: Chono Sumio , Tanino Tomoharu , Seki Toshinobu , Morimoto Kazuhiro
Published: January 2007

The influence of particle size and surface mannose modification on the uptake of liposomes by alveolar macrophages (AMs) was investigated in-vitro and in-vivo. Non-modified liposomes of five different particle sizes (100, 200, 400, 1000 and 2000 nm) and mannosylated liposomes with 4-aminophenyl-α-D-mannopyranoside (particle size 1000 nm) were prepared, and the uptake characteristics by rat AMs in-vitro and in-vivo were examined. The uptake of non-modified liposomes by rat AMs in-vitro increased with an increase in particle size over the range of 100–1000 nm, and became constant at over 1000 nm. The uptake of non-modified liposomes by AMs after pulmonary administration to rats in-vivo increased with an increase in particle size in the range 100–2000 nm. The uptake of mannosylated liposomes (particle size 1000 nm) by rat AMs both in-vitro and in-vivo was significantly greater than that of non-modified liposomes (particle size 1000 nm). The results indicate that the uptake of liposomes by rat AMs is dependent on particle size and is increased by surface mannose modification.
Enantioselectivity of thalidomide serum and tissue concentrations in a rat glioma model and effects of combination treatment with cisplatin and BCNU
Authors: Murphy Susan , Boyle Frances M , Davey Ross A , Gu Xiao-Qing , Mather Laurence E
Published: January 2007

Thalidomide is currently under evaluation as an anti-angiogenic agent in cancer treatment, alone and in combination with cytotoxic agents. Thalidomide is a racemate with known pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic enantioselectivity. In a previous study with thalidomide combination chemotherapy, we found evidence of anti-tumour synergy. In this study, we examined whether the synergy involved altered pharmacokinetics of thalidomide enantiomers. Adult female F344 rats were implanted with 9L gliosarcoma tumours intracranially, subcutaneously (flank), or both. Effectiveness of oral thalidomide alone, and with intraperitoneal BCNU or cisplatin combination chemotherapy, was assessed after several weeks treatment. Presumed pseudo steady-state serum, tumour and other tissues, collected after treatment, were assayed for R- and S-thalidomide by chiral HPLC. Both serum and tissue concentrations of R-thalidomide were 40–50% greater than those of S-thalidomide. Co-administration of BCNU or cisplatin with thalidomide did not alter the concentration enantioselectivity. Poor correlation of concentration with subcutaneous anti-tumour effect was found for individual treatments, and with all treatments for intracranial tumours. The consistency of the enantiomer concentration ratios across treatments strongly suggests that the favourable anti-tumour outcomes from interactions between thalidomide and the cytotoxic agents BCNU and cisplatin did not have altered enantioselectivity of thalidomide pharmacokinetics as their basis.
Study of potential systemic oxidative stress animal models for the evaluation of antioxidant activity: status of lipid peroxidation and fat-soluble antioxidants
Authors: Hermans Nina , Cos Paul , De Meyer Guido R Y , Maes Louis , Pieters Luc , Berghe Dirk Vanden , Vlietinck Arnold J , De Bruyne Tess
Published: January 2007

Although many compounds have already been tested in-vitro to determine their antioxidant profile, it is necessary to investigate the in-vivo effect of potential antioxidants. However, representative models of systemic oxidative stress have been poorly studied. Here, different potential systemic oxidative stress animal models have been investigated. These included a vitamin E-deficient rat, a diabetic rat and an atherosclerotic rabbit model. Plasma/serum malondialdehyde was measured as a parameter of oxidative damage. Plasma/serum fat-soluble antioxidants were determined as markers of antioxidant defence. We demonstrated that vitamin E-deficient rats were not suitable as a model of systemic oxidative stress, whereas diabetic and atherosclerotic animals showed increased systemic oxidative damage, as reflected by significantly augmented plasma/serum malondialdehyde. Moreover, plasma coenzyme Q9 increased by 80% in diabetic rats, confirming systemic oxidative stress. In view of these observations and economically favouring factors, the diabetic rat appeared to be the most appropriate systemic oxidative stress model. These findings have provided important information concerning systemic oxidative stress animal models for the in-vivo study of antioxidants.
Prednisolone phosphate-containing TRX-20 liposomes inhibit cytokine and chemokine production in human fibroblast-like synovial cells: a novel approach to rheumatoid arthritis therapy
Authors: Harigai Takashi , Hagiwara Hitomi , Ogawa Yumi , Ishizuka Takanobu , Kaneda Shinichi , Kimura Junji
Published: January 2007

To evaluate the potential of using prednisolone phosphate (PSLP)-containing 3,5-dipentadecyloxybenzamidine hydrochloride (TRX-20) liposomes to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we examined their ability to bind human fibroblast-like synovial (HFLS) cells and their effects in these cells. To test for binding, Lissamine rhodamine B-1, 2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (rhodamine)-labelled PSLP-containing TRX-20 liposomes were added to HFLS cells, and the fluorescence intensity of the rhodamine bound to the cells was evaluated. Rhodamine-labelled PSLP-containing liposomes without TRX-20 were used as a negative control. To evaluate the uptake of liposomes by the HFLS cells, we used TRX-20 liposomes containing 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS) and p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide (DPX), and observed the cells by fluorescence microscopy. The effects of the PSLP in TRX-20 liposomes on HFLS cells were assessed by the inhibition of the production of two inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and one inflammatory chemokine (interleukin 8). The interaction of the PSLP-containing TRX-20 liposomes with HFLS cells was approximately 40 times greater than that of PSLP-containing liposomes without TRX-20. PSLP-containing TRX-20 liposomes bound to HFLS cells primarily via chondroitin sulfate. TRX-20 liposomes taken up by the cell were localized to acidic compartments. Furthermore, the PSLP-containing TRX-20 liposomes inhibited the production of the inflammatory cytokines and the chemokine more effectively than did the PSLP-containing liposomes without TRX-20. These results indicate that PSLP-containing TRX-20 liposomes show promise as a novel drug delivery system that could enhance the clinical use of glucocorticoids for treating RA.
Advances in Adhesive Joining of Carbon Fibre/Polymer Composites to Steel Members for Repair and Rehabilitation of Bridge Structures
Authors: Hollaway L. C. , Zhang L. , Photiou N. K. , Teng J. G. , Zhang S. S.
Published: January 2007

Generally, it is relatively easy to obtain a high joint strength with most modern bonding systems if these are cured under ideal factory conditions. However, civil engineering construction joints are cured on site and are required to last the lifetime of the structural member in harsh environmental conditions. This implies that site joints might not be constructed and cured as well as those fabricated in the factory.

The paper compares two possible methods for bonding an FRP composite patch/plate to a steel adherend suitable for construction sites. The first method utilises the accepted technique of bonding two dissimilar materials using a two-part cold cure adhesive. The second method employs a pre-impregnated FRP composite plate in conjunction with a compatible film adhesive; these comparisons are undertaken by examining the results of double-strap butt joint tests. A possible site technique using the pre-impregnated FRP composite to upgrade a steel beam whilst it is under a low frequency vibration load is investigated; this represents the repair of a steel bridge constantly under traversing traffic.

The butt joint test results show that on average, the pre-impregnated composite in conjunction with the film adhesive leads to a failure load which is 15% higher than that of the cold setting adhesive technique. The results of the rehabilitated beam tests show that the bonded joint between the pre-impregnated CFRP composite and the steel adherend did not suffer any significant damage from the low frequency vibrations imposed upon the steel beam during the cure period.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Behaviour and Strength of Composite Steel-CFRP Members
Authors: Al-Emrani Mohammad , Kliger Robert
Published: January 2007

The use of advanced composite materials to strengthen and repair existing structures is increasing rapidly. One specific area in which the technique has recently been introduced is the strengthening of metallic structures with bonded carbon-fibre laminates. In this paper, the behaviour of composite steel-CFRP members is studied experimentally and using FE analysis. A new type of test specimen has been developed to examine the effect of various material parameters on the behaviour and strength of bonded steel-CFRP elements. Finite element analysis of the tested elements was also employed to examine the type and magnitude of interfacial stresses in the bond line of these elements. Moreover, different types of fracture mode could be examined by testing composite elements with different combinations of CFRP-laminates and adhesives. The tested composite elements displayed different behaviour and a large difference in strength and ductility could be observed.
Prevalence of Overweight Among Deaf Children
Authors: Dair Jessica , Ellis M. Kathleen , Lieberman Lauren J.
Published: January 2007

The study examined the prevalence of overweight cases in a sample of 151 deaf children aged 6-11 years. Participants were deaf students attending six elementary schools, both regular and special, in four states. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using height and weight, plotted on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) U.S. BMI-for-age growth charts, then compared to national values for same age and gender (CDC, 2006a, 2006b; National Center for Health Statistics, 2005). The results indicated that the prevalence of overweight deaf children aged 6-11 years was above the national percentage for same age and gender. A larger percentage of boys was overweight (24.7%) than girls (20.4%). After age 8 years, girls showed a consistent decrease in BMI with increasing age, a trend not demonstrated by boys. As a group, deaf children demonstrate a higher prevalence of overweight than national averages.
Interaction Between the Teacher and the Congenitally Deafblind Child
Authors: Vervloed Mathijs P. J , Dijk Rick J. M. van , Knoors Harry , Dijk Jan P. M. van
Published: January 2007

Empirical data on the development of interaction, communication, and language in deafblind children is very rare. To fill this gap, a case study was conducted in which the interaction between a teacher and a deafblind boy age 3 years 4 months was analyzed. Sequential analysis of their interaction confirmed some general clinical impressions about interaction with deafblind children, and provided the basis for suggestions on how the interaction pattern might be changed.
Notable Encounters
Authors: Pontalis J. B. , Miqueu-Baz Christine
Published: January 2007

In this "self-presentation," the author begins by reviewing the history of exchanges between French and British analysts and how the British Psychoanalytic Society has served as a "point of reference" for analysts in France. He then proceeds to recount his "notable encounters" with Sartre, Lacan, and Merleau-Ponty, which have been formative in his professional development. Attention is given to his work as the editor of the Nouvelle revue de psychanalyse and to the role of this journal in disseminating the ideas of Winnicott and other members of the British "Middle Group" in France. The paper concludes by reflecting on the author's encounters with patients, which have often been a source of inspiration for his writings, and with the inexhaustible texts of Freud.
Pragmatism, Tradition, and Truth in Psychoanalysis
Authors: Hanly Charles
Published: January 2007

It is argued that neither tradition nor its opposite, novelty, provides us with any reliable assurance as to where the truth lies in psychoanalysis or in any other body of knowledge. Both traditional ideas or new ideas may be true, but not because they are traditional or novel. It is because they can be shown to be true or false either deductively, by reason alone (i.e., by inference from an idea known to be true) or inductively by reason and observation. Of these two methods, the second is more fundamental. In a variety of ways, in the arguments seek to place psychoanalysis in the context of the history of ideas and science.
Sharp Strichartz estimates on nontrapping asymptotically conic manifolds
Authors: Hassell Andrew , Tao Terence , Wunsch Jared
Published: January 2007

We obtain the Strichartz inequalities ║u║ L q t L r x ([0,1]× M ) ≥ C║ u (0) L 2 ║( M ) for any smooth n -dimensional Riemannian manifold M which is asymptotically conic at infinity (with either short-range or long-range metric perturbation) and nontrapping, where u is a solution to the Schrödinger equation iu t + 1/2 Δ M u = 0, and 2 < q, r ≥ ∞ are admissible Strichartz exponents (2/ q + n/r = n /2). This corresponds with the estimates available for Euclidean space (except for the endpoint ( q, r ) = (2, 2 n/n -2) when n > 2). These estimates imply existence theorems for semi-linear Schrödinger equations on M , by adapting arguments from Cazenave and Weissler and Kato. This result improves on our previous result, which was an L 4 t,x Strichartz estimate in three dimensions. It is closely related to results of Staffilani-Tataru, Burq, Robbiano-Zuily and Tataru, who consider the case of asymptotically flat manifolds.
Grothendieck polynomials via permutation patterns and chains in the Bruhat order
Authors: Lenart Cristian , Robinson Shawn , Sottile Frank
Published: January 2007

We give new formulas for Grothendieck polynomials of two types. One type expresses any specialization of a Grothendieck polynomial in at least two sets of variables as a linear combination of products of Grothendieck polynomials in each set of variables, with coefficients Schubert structure constants for Grothendieck polynomials. The other type is in terms of chains in the Bruhat order. We compare this second type to other constructions of Grothendieck polynomials within the more general context of double Grothendieck polynomials and the closely related H-polynomials. Our methods are based upon the geometry of permutation patterns.
Long-time existence for semi-linear Klein-Gordon equations with small Cauchy data on Zoll manifolds
Authors: Delort J.-M. , Szeftel J.
Published: January 2007

We prove a long time existence result for semi-linear Klein-Gordon equations with small Cauchy data on Zoll manifolds. This generalizes a preceding result concerning the case of spheres, obtained in an earlier paper by the authors. The proof relies on almost orthogonality properties of products of eigenfunctions of positive elliptic selfadjoint operators on a compact manifold and on the specific distribution of eigenvalues of the laplacian perturbed by a potential on Zoll manifolds.
Spectral cluster estimates for C 1,1 metrics
Authors: Smith Hart F.
Published: January 2007

In this paper, we establish L p norm bounds for spectral clusters on compact manifolds, under the assumption that the metric is C 1,1 . Precisely, we show that the L p estimates proven by Sogge in the case of smooth metrics hold under this limited regularity assumption. It is known by examples of Smith-Sogge that such estimates fail for C 1,α metrics if α < 1.
Small schemes and varieties of minimal degree
Authors: Eisenbud D. , Green M. , Hulek K. , Popescu S.
Published: January 2007

We prove that if X ⊂ P r is any 2-regular scheme (in the sense of Castelnuovo-Mumford) then X is small . This means that if L is a linear space and Y := L ∩ X is finite, then Y is linearly independent in the sense that the dimension of the linear span of Y is deg Y + 1. The converse is true and well-known for finite schemes, but false in general. The main result of this paper is that the converse, "small implies 2-regular", is also true for reduced schemes (algebraic sets). This is proven by means of a delicate geometric analysis, leading to a complete classification: we show that the components of a small algebraic set are varieties of minimal degree, meeting in a particularly simple way. From the classification one can show that if X ⊂ P r is 2-regular, then so is X red , and so also is the projection of X from any point of X . Our results extend the Del Pezzo-Bertini classification of varieties of minimal degree, the characterization of these as the varieties of regularity 2 by Eisenbud-Goto, and the construction of 2-regular square-free monomial ideals by Fröberg.
On tangential cohomology of Riemannian foliations
Authors: Mümken Bernd
Published: January 2007

We prove Künneth formula, Poincaré duality, Hopf formula and index theorem for tangentially oriented compact Riemannian foliations.
Classification, construction, and similitudes of quadratic forms
Authors: Shimura Goro
Published: January 2007

We present a theory of classifying quadratic forms over an algebraic number field which is a reformulation of Eichler's methods and different from the traditional theory of Hasse. As applications we determine all possible values of the discriminant of an integer-valued quadratic form over Q with a given dimension and index, and also the number of genera of such forms. We also investigate purely algebraic problems on the Clifford groups and similitudes of quadratic forms.
Dancing with the Gods: The Myth of the Chariot in Plato's Phaedrus
Authors: Belfiore Elizabeth S.
Published: January 2007

In Plato's Phaedrus, Socrates compares the soul to a team of two horses, one obedient and one unruly, driven by a human charioteer. This article argues that essential clues to the psychological ideas expressed in this myth are provided by the imagery of the dance and that of the unruly horse, which resembles not only a satyr but also Socrates himself. Satyrs are daimonic beings with the ability to mediate between mortals and gods. They can thus represent qualities that are essential to the psychic equilibrium of a soul moving in what Socrates characterizes as choral dances led by the gods.
Plutarch's Themistocles and the Poets
Authors: Zadorojnyi Alexei V
Published: January 2007

This article focuses on the relationships between Themistocles and the lyric poets Simonides of Ceos and Timocreon of Rhodes in Plutarch's Life of Themistocles. It is argued that Plutarch expects the reader to connect explicit references to the poets and their works with stories located outside the narrative in the anecdotal biographic tradition. Through an implicit synkrisis with the protagonist, the poets' anecdotal personae create a narrative counterbalance that suggests a faultline in Themistocles' characterization that, in turn, reflects the model of the "timocratic" man in Plato's Republic.
To Sit in Solemn Silence? Thronosis in Ritual, Myth, and Iconography
Authors: Edmonds Radcliffe G. (Radcliffe Guest)
Published: January 2007

To explain Strepsiades' initiation in Aristophanes' Clouds, recent scholars
have referred to a thronosis ritual at the Eleusinian mysteries to describe the
process wherein the initiate sits on a stool with head covered. The term thronosis, however, properly belongs to Korybantic initiation ritual, not to the Eleusinian Mysteries. Not only are the terms employed to describe the rituals different, but the iconographic representations of the ritual and the mythic paradigms are different as well. The purificatory silent sitting of the Eleusinian initiate should not be confused with the bewildering and terrifying treatment of the enthroned initiate in a Korybantic initiation.
The New Simonides and the Question of Historical Elegy
Authors: Sider David
Published: January 2007

In this paper I question the validity of the notion of "historical elegy"
as a genre of classical Greek elegy. My approach is to view elegy as a whole in
order to understand first how the Greeks themselves used the term "elegy" and
then what we can learn of the contents of other classical elegies that touched
upon historical subjects. I show that the Greeks never attached any descriptive
label to "elegy," whether "historical" or otherwise, and that an elegy that included historical matters could also incorporate myth and look forward to the future, while including as well themes now thought of as sympotic.
Sculpted Meanings, Talking Statues: Some Observations on Posidippus 142.12 A-B (=XIX G-P) ÎÎ±Î¹ ÎµÎ½ Î ÏÎ¿Î¸ÏÏÎ¿Î¹Ï ÎÎ·ÎºÎµ ÎÎ¹Î´Î±ÏÎºÎ±Î»Î¹Î·Î½
Authors: Prauscello L. (Lucia)
Published: January 2007

The aim of this paper is to contextualize Posidippus' Kairos epigram (=142 AâB) within the discursive strategies of representation enacted by Hellenistic ecphrastic poetry. From this perspective I will focus on the much-debated line 12 of the Kairos epigram, arguing for a possible metaphorical interpretation of ÎºÎ±Î¯ á¼Î½ ÏÏÎ¿Î¸á½»ÏÎ¿Î¹c Î¸á¿ÎºÎµ Î´Î¹Î´Î±ÎºÎ±Î»Î¯Î·Î½. This interpretation of line 12 sheds light also on Posidippus' involvement in the broader intellectual debates of his time and allows us to contextualize his epigram against the roughly coeval Epicurean reflection on the "right time."