bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new apoptosis inhibitor, CIAPIN1 (cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1), mediates multidrug resistance in leukemia cells by regulating MDR-1, Bcl-2, and Bax
Authors: Li Xiaohua , Hong Liu , Zhao Yunping , Jin Haifeng , Fan Rui , Du Rui , Xia Lin , Luo Guanhong , Fan Daiming
Published: November 2007

We investigated the role of cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1), a newly identified apoptosis inhibitor, in leukemia cell multidrug resistance (MDR) and its possible underlying mechanisms. CIAPIN1 was found to be overexpressed at the mRNA and protein levels in the vincristine-induced multidrug-resistant leukemia cell line HL-60/VCR, compared with HL-60, its parental cell line. In this study, we transfected HL-60 with a eukaryotic expression vector of CIAPIN1. In vitro drug sensitivity assays suggested that HL-60-CIAPIN1 cells conferred resistance to both P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-related and -unrelated drugs. Blocking CIAPIN1 expression in HL-60/VCR cells by CIAPIN1-specific small interfering RNA increased the cells' sensitivity to various chemotherapeutic drugs. Flow cytometry results suggested that CIAPIN1 expression could suppress adriamycin-induced apoptosis, accompanied by a decreased accumulation and increased release of adriamycin. Semiquantitative RT–PCR, Western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assays suggested that CIAPIN1 could significantly upregulate the expression of MDR-1 and Bcl-2, the transcription of the MDR-1 gene, as well as downregulate the expression of Bax. Additionally, the inhibition of CIAPIN1 expression by RNA interference or P-gp inhibitor could partially reverse CIAPIN1-mediated MDR. Taken together, our findings suggest that downregulating CIAPIN1 could sensitize leukemia cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by downregulating MDR-1 and Bcl-2 and by upregulating Bax, yet not altering either glutathione-S-transferase activity or intracellular glutathione content in leukemia cells. Further study of CIAPIN1's function may reveal more of the mechanisms of leukemia MDR and result in the development of strategies to treat leukemia.
PAK: an essential motif for forming β-turn structures and exhibiting the thrombolytic effect of P6A and its analogs
Authors: Zhao Ming , Jia Xin , Wang Chao , Li Qin , Zhou Kexiang , Wang Lili , Liu Hu , Peng Shiqi
Published: November 2007

Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (ARPAK; also known as P6A) and 19 of its analogs were synthesized, and their thrombolytic activities were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The solution structures of 12 of the P6A analogs were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The thrombolytic activity and conformational structure relationship was analyzed. We found that the Pro-Ala-Lys (PAK) sequence was essential for thrombolytic activity and was also responsible for the β-turn structure found in the P6A analogs studied. The well defined β turn may act as a binding head with the protruding lysine side-chain (positively charged) found at the target site for target recognition. Additionally, the N-terminal residue may be critical for thrombolytic activity, which for PAK-containing peptides, is likely achieved via a plasminogen-dependent pathway.
Excitation pressure regulates the activation energy for recombination events in the photosystem II reaction centres ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Pocock Tessa , Sane P. V. , Falk S. , Hüner N. P.A.
Published: November 2007

Using in vivo thermoluminescence, we examined the effects of growth irradiance and growth temperature on charge recombination events in photosystem II reaction centres of the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We report that growth at increasing irradiance at either 29 or 15 °C resulted in comparable downward shifts in the temperature peak maxima (TM) for S2QB–charge pair recombination events, with minimal changes in S2QA–recombination events. This indicates that such growth conditions decrease the activation energy required for S2QB–charge pair recombination events with no concomitant change in the activation energy for S2QA–recombination events. This resulted in a decrease in the ΔTMbetween S2QA–and S2QB–recombination events, which was reversible when shifting cells from low to high irradiance and back to low irradiance at 29 °C. We interpret these results to indicate that the redox potential of QBwas modulated independently of QA, which consequently narrowed the redox potential gap between QAand QBin photosystem II reaction centres. Since a decrease in the ΔTMbetween S2QA–and S2QB–recombination events correlated with growth at increasing excitation pressure, we conclude that acclimation to growth under high excitation pressure narrows the redox potential gap between QAand QBin photosystem II reaction centres, enhancing the probability for reaction center quenching in C. reinhardtii. We discuss the molecular basis for the modulation of the redox state of QB, and suggest that the potential for reaction center quenching complements antenna quenching via the xanthophyll cycle in the photoprotection of C. reinhardtii from excess light.
Molecular studies of the initiation and termination steps of the anionic polymerization of P=C bonds
Authors: Gillon Bronwyn H , Noonan Kevin JT , Feldscher Bastian , Wissenz Jennifer M , Kam Zhi Ming , Hsieh Tom , Kingsley Justin J , Bates Joshua I , Gates Derek P
Published: November 2007

The initiation and termination steps of the anionic polymerization of P=C bonds have been modeled. The initiation step was investigated through the stoichiometric reaction of MesP=CPh2 (1) with RLi (R = Me or n-Bu). In each case, the addition was highly regioselective with the formal attack of R– at phosphorus to give the carbanion Li[Mes(R)P–CPh2] (3a, R = Me; 3b, R = n-Bu). To simulate the termination step in the anionic polymerization of 1, carbanions 3a and 3b were quenched in situ with various electrophiles. Through these reactions, several new tertiary phosphines have been prepared, namely, Mes(Me)P–CPh2H (4a), Mes(n-Bu)P–CPh2H (4b), Mes(Me)P–CPh2Me (6a), Mes(Me)P–CPh2–P(NEt2)2 (7a), Mes(Me)P–CPh2–SiMe2H (8a), and Mes(Me)P–CPh2–SiMe3 (9a). In addition, compounds 4a, 7a, 8a, and 9a were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Most of the metrical parameters are typical of tertiary phosphines; however, the P–CPh2H bonds were elongated in all cases reflecting the considerable steric bulk surrounding this bond. Unexpectedly, an unusually large 31P–31P coupling constant (2JPP > 200 Hz) was observed for 7a both in solution and the solid state. This observation may be rationalized by a through space P···P interaction. This rationale is further supported by the short P···P distance [P(1)—P(2) = 2.966(1) Å; cf. Σ rvdw = 3.7 Å] and a small P–C–P bond angle for 7a [P(1)–C(11)–P(1) = 99.17(9)°].Key words: phosphaalkenes, phosphorus polymers, phosphines, anionic polymerization.
GENERATION OF SYMMETRIC PERIODIC ORBITS BY A HETEROCLINIC LOOP FORMED BY TWO SINGULAR POINTS AND THEIR INVARIANT MANIFOLDS OF DIMENSIONS 1 AND 2 IN ℝ3
Authors: CORBERA MONTSERRAT , LLIBRE JAUME
Published: November 2007

In this paper we will find continuous periodic orbits passing near infinity for a class of polynomial vector fields in ℝ3. We consider polynomial vector fields that are invariant under a symmetry with respect to a plane Σ and that possess a "generalized heteroclinic loop" formed by two singular points e+ and e- at infinity and their invariant manifolds Γ and Λ. Γ is an invariant manifold of dimension 1 formed by an orbit going from e- to e+, Γ is contained in ℝ3 and is transversal to Σ. Λ is an invariant manifold of dimension 2 at infinity. In fact, Λ is the two-dimensional sphere at infinity in the Poincaré compactification minus the singular points e+ and e-. The main tool for proving the existence of such periodic orbits is the construction of a Poincaré map along the generalized heteroclinic loop together with the symmetry with respect to Σ.
VISION BASED MOTION CONTROL AND TRAJECTORY TRACKING FOR MICROASSEMBLY ROBOTS
Authors: WANG MIN , LV XIADONG , HUANG XINHAN
Published: November 2007

This paper presents a vision based motion control and trajectory tracking strategies for microassembly robots including a self-optimizing visual servoing depth motion control method and a novel trajectory snake tracking strategy. To measure micromanipulator depth motion, a normalized gray-variance focus measure operator is developed using depth from focus techniques. The extracted defocus features are theoretically distributed with one peak point which can be applied to locate the microscopic focal depth via self-optimizing control. Tracking differentiators are developed to suppress noises and track the features and their differential values without oscillation. Based on the differential defocus signals a coarse-to-fine self-optimizing controller is presented for micromanipulator to precisely locate focus depth. As well as a novel trajectory snake energy function of robotic motion is defined involving kinematic energy, curve potential and image potential energy. The motion trajectory can be located through searching the converged energy distribution of the snake function. Energy weights in the function are real-time adjusted to avoid local minima during convergence. To improve snake searching efficiency, quadratic-trajectory least square estimator is employed to predict manipulator motion position before tracking. Experimental results in a microassembly robotic system demonstrate that the proposed strategies are successful and effective.
Using virtual environments to assess time-to-contact judgments from pedestrian viewpoints
Authors: Seward A. Elizabeth , Ashmead Daniel H. , Bodenheimer Bobby
Published: November 2007

This paper describes the use of desktop and immersive virtual environments to study judgments that pedestrians make when deciding to cross a street. In particular, we assess the ability of people to discriminate and estimate time-to-contact (TTC) for approaching vehicles under a variety of conditions. Four experiments observing TTC judgments under various conditions are described. We examine the effect of type of vehicle, viewpoint, presentation mode, and TTC value on TTC judgments. We find no significant effect of type of vehicle or of viewpoint, extending prior work to cover all views typically encountered by pedestrians. Discrimination of short values for TTC judgments is generally consistent with the literature, but performance degrades significantly for long TTC values. Finally, we find no significant difference between judgments made in a desktop environment versus a head-mounted display, indicating that tracking the approaching vehicle with one's head does not aid discrimination. In general, people appear to use strategies similar to those that pedestrians use to make real-world, street-crossing decisions.
Categorization of natural scenes
Authors: Vogel Julia , Schwaninger Adrian , Wallraven Christian , Bülthoff Heinrich H.
Published: November 2007

Categorization of scenes is a fundamental process of human vision that allows us to efficiently and rapidly analyze our surroundings. Several studies have explored the processes underlying human scene categorization, but they have focused on processing global image information. In this study, we present both psychophysical and computational experiments that investigate the role of local versus global image information in scene categorization. In a first set of human experiments, categorization performance is tested when only local or only global image information is present. Our results suggest that humans rely on local, region-based information as much as on global, configural information. In addition, humans seem to integrate both types of information for intact scene categorization. In a set of computational experiments, human performance is compared to two state-of-the-art computer vision approaches that have been shown to be psychophysically plausible and that model either local or global information. In addition to the influence of local versus global information, in a second series of experiments, we investigated the effect of color on the categorization performance of both the human observers and the computational model. Analysis of the human data suggests that color is an additional channel of perceptual information that leads to higher categorization results at the expense of increased reaction times in the intact condition. However, it does not affect reaction times when only local information is present. When color is removed, the employed computational model follows the relative performance decrease of human observers for each scene category and can thus be seen as a perceptually plausible model for human scene categorization based on local image information.
Cognitive science implications for enhancing training effectiveness in a serious gaming context
Authors: Greitzer Frank L. , Kuchar Olga Anna , Huston Kristy
Published: November 2007

Serious games use entertainment principles, creativity, and technology to meet government or corporate training objectives, but these principles alone will not guarantee that the intended learning will occur. To be effective, serious games must incorporate sound cognitive, learning, and pedagogical principles into their design and structure. In this paper, we review cognitive principles that can be applied to improve the training effectiveness in serious games and we describe a process we used to design improvements for an existing game-based training application in the domain of cyber security education.
Skip graphs
Authors: Aspnes James , Shah Gauri
Published: November 2007

Skip graphs are a novel distributed data structure, based on skip lists, that provide the full functionality of a balanced tree in a distributed system where resources are stored in separate nodes that may fail at any time. They are designed for use in searching peer-to-peer systems, and by providing the ability to perform queries based on key ordering, they improve on existing search tools that provide only hash table functionality. Unlike skip lists or other tree data structures, skip graphs are highly resilient, tolerating a large fraction of failed nodes without losing connectivity. In addition, simple and straightforward algorithms can be used to construct a skip graph, insert new nodes into it, search it, and detect and repair errors within it introduced due to node failures.
Finding the
k
shortest simple paths
Authors: Hershberger John , Maxel Matthew , Suri Subhash
Published: November 2007

We describe a new algorithm to enumerate the
k
shortest simple (loopless) paths in a directed graph and report on its implementation. Our algorithm is based on a
replacement paths
algorithm proposed by Hershberger and Suri [2001], and can yield a factor Θ(
n
) improvement for this problem. But there is a caveat: The fast replacement paths subroutine is known to fail for some directed graphs. However, the failure is easily detected, and so our
k
shortest paths algorithm optimistically uses the fast subroutine, then switches to a slower but correct algorithm if a failure is detected. Thus, the algorithm achieves its Θ(
n
) speed advantage only when the optimism is justified. Our empirical results show that the replacement paths failure is a rare phenomenon, and the new algorithm outperforms the current best algorithms; the improvement can be substantial in large graphs. For instance, on GIS map data with about 5,000 nodes and 12,000 edges, our algorithm is 4--8 times faster. In synthetic graphs modeling wireless ad hoc networks, our algorithm is about 20 times faster.
Improved online algorithms for buffer management in QoS switches
Authors: Chrobak Marek , Jawor Wojciech , Sgall Jiří , Tichý Tomáš
Published: November 2007

We consider the following buffer management problem arising in QoS networks: Packets with specified weights and deadlines arrive at a network switch and need to be forwarded so that the total weight of forwarded packets is maximized. Packets not forwarded before their deadlines are lost. The main result of the article is an online 64/33 ≈ 1.939-competitive algorithm, the first deterministic algorithm for this problem with competitive ratio below 2. For the 2-uniform case we give an algorithm with ratio ≈ 1.377 and a matching lower bound.
A geometric approach to monitoring threshold functions over distributed data streams
Authors: Sharfman Izchak , Schuster Assaf , Keren Daniel
Published: November 2007

Monitoring data streams in a distributed system is the focus of much research in recent years. Most of the proposed schemes, however, deal with monitoring simple aggregated values, such as the frequency of appearance of items in the streams. More involved challenges, such as the important task of feature selection (e.g., by monitoring the information gain of various features), still require very high communication overhead using naive, centralized algorithms.

We present a novel geometric approach which reduces monitoring the value of a function (vis-à-vis a threshold) to a set of constraints applied locally on each of the streams. The constraints are used to locally filter out data increments that do not affect the monitoring outcome, thus avoiding unnecessary communication. As a result, our approach enables monitoring of arbitrary threshold functions over distributed data streams in an efficient manner.

We present experimental results on real-world data which demonstrate that our algorithms are highly scalable, and considerably reduce communication load in comparison to centralized algorithms.
Inverting schema mappings
Authors: Fagin Ronald
Published: November 2007

A schema mapping is a specification that describes how data structured under one schema (the source schema) is to be transformed into data structured under a different schema (the target schema). Although the notion of an inverse of a schema mapping is important, the exact definition of an inverse mapping is somewhat elusive. This is because a schema mapping may associate many target instances with each source instance, and many source instances with each target instance. Based on the notion that the composition of a mapping and its inverse is the identity, we give a formal definition for what it means for a schema mapping M′ to be an inverse of a schema mapping M for a class S of source instances. We call such an inverse an S-
inverse
. A particular case of interest arises when S is the class of all source instances, in which case an S-inverse is a global inverse. We focus on the important and practical case of schema mappings specified by source-to-target tuple-generating dependencies, and uncover a rich theory. When S is specified by a set of dependencies with a finite chase, we show how to construct an S-inverse when one exists. In particular, we show how to construct a global inverse when one exists. Given M and M′, we show how to define the largest class S such that M′ is an S-inverse of M.
High variability design for software agents
Authors: Penserini Loris , Perini Anna , Susi Angelo , Mylopoulos John
Published: November 2007

Many classes of distributed applications, including e-business, e-government, and ambient intelligence, consist of networking infrastructures, where the nodes (peers)—be they software components, human actors or organizational units—cooperate with each other to achieve shared goals. The multi-agent system metaphor fits very well such settings because it is founded on intentional and social concepts and mechanisms. Not surprisingly, many agent-oriented software development methods have been proposed, including GAIA, PASSI, and
Tropos
. This paper extends the
Tropos
methodology, enhancing its ability to support high variability design through the explicit modelling of alternatives, it adopts an extended notion of agent capability and proposes a refined
Tropos
design process. The paper also presents an implemented software development environment for
Tropos
, founded on the Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) framework and standards. The extended
Tropos
development process is illustrated through a case study involving an e-commerce application.
Placement of defect-tolerant digital microfluidic biochips using the T-tree formulation
Authors: Yuh Ping-Hung , Yang Chia-Lin , Chang Yao-Wen
Published: November 2007

Droplet-based microfluidic biochips have recently gained much attention and are expected to revolutionize the biological laboratory procedures. As biochips are adopted for the complex procedures in molecular biology, its complexity is expected to increase due to the need of multiple and concurrent assays on a chip. In this article, we formulate the placement problem of digital microfluidic biochips with a tree-based topological representation, called
T-tree
. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first work that adopts a topological representation to solve the placement problem of digital microfluidic biochips. We also consider the defect tolerant issue to avoid to use defective cells due to fabrication. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach is more efficient and effective than the previous unified synthesis and placement framework.
Mobile IP and the IETF
Authors: Perkins Charles E.
Published: November 2007

IETF 41 was a time for consolidation of several existing efforts, and one new thread that shows good promise. Mobile IP has several new documents that have been accepted as Proposed Standards, and the IPv6 mobility support document has reached consensus on all major points within both the IPng working group and the Mobile IP working group. Within the Service Location Protocol areas of interest, there has been a new and hopefully final release of SLP version 2, and a Birds of Feather (BOF) about "wide-area" service location. Lastly, consideration of Mobile IP is spreading to other appropriate groups such as PPP-extensions, roamops, and ion.
Scanning the literature
Authors: Li Bo
Published: November 2007

There are inherent difficulties in supporting mobility in ATM networks, due to its connection oriented nature. Once mobile users moves out of certain geographic areas, the ongoing connections for the mobile users have to be rerouted. A suitable connection rerouting schemes must exhibit a number of features including: low handoff latency, efficient routes, minimal disruption to the network traffic as well as the necessary route updates. This paper propose and studies 5 different connection rerouting schemes in ATM-based wireless networks. Extensive experiments show that one of the schemes demonstrates superior performance, seems to be ideally suited for the connection rerouting. This scheme is executed in two phrases, real-time and non-real-time: 1) to execute very fast handoff (reroute) scheme using chaining in a real-time with measured time of 6.5 ms; and 2) reroute the connection in non-real-time to achieve more efficient routes if necessary. The conclusion this paper reaches is that simple handoff schemes coupled with a suitable connection management architecture are sufficient for low-bit-rate multimedia application in the ATM-based wireless networks.
The ATM forum
Authors: Rajagopalan Bala
Published: November 2007

The main development in the Portland meeting is the clear definition of the Release 1.0 WATM capability set [1]. The baseline text of the specifications prior to the Portland meeting was rather comprehensive indicating several scenarios for WATM access and deployment, including ad-hoc networking. The capability set for Release 1.0 is an edited version of the original baseline, with a limited number of reference configurations. Furthermore, the Release 1.0 features for handover and location management reflect a more realistic view of what can be achieved in the short term by the working group. Specifically, the handover requirements do not call for lossless delivery of cells during handover [2] and the location management architecture is restricted to a simple, two-level configuration of location servers [3].
Mobile IP and the IETF
Authors: Perkins Charles E.
Published: November 2007

At the 43rd IETF mobile-ip working group meeting in Orlando, there were a number of new developments of importance. In fact, the meeting was much too short to actually do justice to the list of subjects, and we could have made good use of a second working group meeting. The following topics were covered:

• private addresses

• Cellular IP, regionalized registration

• Ericsson's telephony requirements draft

• Mobile IPv6

• RAT

• mobile PPP/L2TP
Credit Card Forensics
Authors: Berghel Hal
Published: November 2007

Decoding the magnetic attraction of criminals to swiping.
PowerPoint at 20
Authors: Gaskins Robert
Published: November 2007

Let simplicity inspire, and resist the lure of unreadable fonts, stock clip art, sound effects, and flying bullet points.
Role of mitochondria in spontaneous rhythmic activity and intracellular calcium waves in the guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle
Authors: Balemba Onesmo B. , Bartoo Aaron C. , Nelson Mark T. , Mawe Gary M.
Published: November 2007

Mitochondrial Ca2+handling has been implicated in spontaneous rhythmic activity in smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal. In this investigation we evaluated the effect of mitochondrial inhibitors on spontaneous action potentials (APs), Ca2+flashes, and Ca2+waves in gallbladder smooth muscle (GBSM). Disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential with carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone, carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone, rotenone, and antimycin A significantly reduced or eliminated APs, Ca2+flashes, and Ca2+waves in GBSM. Blockade of ATP production with oligomycin did not alter APs or Ca2+flashes but significantly reduced Ca2+wave frequency. Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+uptake and Ca2+release with Ru360 and CGP-37157, respectively, reduced the frequency of Ca2+flashes and Ca2+waves in GBSM. Similar to oligomycin, cyclosporin A did not alter AP and Ca2+flash frequency but significantly reduced Ca2+wave activity. These data suggest that mitochondrial Ca2+handling is necessary for the generation of spontaneous electrical activity and may therefore play an important role in gallbladder tone and motility.
Apoptotic myocytes generate monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and mediate macrophage recruitment
Authors: Kobara Miyuki , Sunagawa Nahoko , Abe Masaki , Tanaka Nana , Toba Hiroe , Hayashi Hironori , Keira Natsuya , Tatsumi Tetsuya , Matsubara Hiroaki , Nakata Tetsuo
Published: November 2007

The mechanisms by which apoptotic myocytes are removed by macrophages have not been fully elucidated. This study examined whether apoptotic myocytes actively recruit macrophages by generating monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in experiments in vitro and in vivo. Neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were incubated for 4 h in the presence or absence of staurosporine (STS, 0.2–1 μmol/l), an apoptosis inducer. Nuclear staining with DAPI showed that STS induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. STS (1 μmol/l) caused extensive DNA fragmentation and increased caspase-3 activity compared with a serum-deprived control. MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels in myocytes increased twofold and fourfold, respectively, on STS treatment, and immunochemical staining revealed that apoptotic myocytes expressed MCP-1. To elucidate the role of MCP-1 expressed in apoptotic myocytes to recruit macrophages/monocytes, rat monocytes were incubated in the supernatant of STS-treated myocytes using a trans-well system. The culture medium of STS-treated myocytes recruited monocytes in a MCP-1-dependent fashion. In addition, experiments were performed in vivo using ischemia-reperfused rat hearts. Rats were subjected to 30 min of ligation of the left coronary artery followed by 24 h of reperfusion. After the reperfusion, in the ischemic border myocardium, 17.1 ± 1.1% of myocytes were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) positive. Moreover, double staining using the TUNEL technique and immunohistochemistry with MCP-1 antibody showed that 69.8 ± 3.9% of TUNEL-positive myocytes expressed MCP-1 protein. Concomitantly, activated macrophages infiltrated the areas of apoptosis remarkably. These results suggest that apoptotic myocytes produce MCP-1, which have a critical role in the active recruitment of macrophages.
Effects of Round Window Dexamethasone on Residual Hearing in a Guinea Pig Model of Cochlear Implantation
Authors: James David P. , Eastwood Hayden , Richardson Rachael T. , O’Leary Stephen J.
Published: November 2007

To study electric acoustic stimulation, we have developed a model of guinea pig cochlear implantation via a cochleostomy. Thirty minutes prior to implantation, a hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose bead, loaded with either dexamethasone or normal saline, was placed upon the round window membrane. Animals that did not receive beads acted as controls. Pure-tone auditory brainstem response thresholds were estimated before and after electrode insertion, and 1 and 4 weeks later. Selected cochlear histology was performed. Results: Dexamethasone could be detected in the cochlea for 24 h after cochlear implantation. Thresholds were elevated across frequencies in all animals immediately after surgery. These thresholds recovered completely at and below 2 kHz, and partially at higher frequencies by 1 week after implantation. At 32 kHz, but not the lower frequencies, the presence of dexamethasone had a significant protective effect upon hearing, which increased in magnitude over time. The protection was greatest in difficult implantations where an intractable resistance to electrode insertion was met. There was a persistent foreign body reaction at the site of implantation of saline-treated implanted ears but not in the dexamethasone-treated implanted ears. Conclusion: Short-term preoperative delivery of dexamethasone through the round window can protect residual hearing during cochlear implantation, especially during technically difficult surgery.
Suppression of Pro-inflammatory Adhesion Molecules by PPAR-δ in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Fan Yanbo , Wang Ying , Tang Zhihui , Zhang Hong , Qin Xiaomei , Zhu Yi , Guan Youfei , Wang Xian , Staels Bart , Chien Shu , Wang Nanping
Published: November 2007

Objective—

Endothelial activation is implicated in atherogenesis and diabetes. The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPAR-δ) in endothelial activation remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of PPAR-δ and the mechanism involved.

Methods and Results—

In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the synthetic PPAR-δ ligands GW0742 and GW501516 significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α–induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin (assayed by real-time RT-PCR and Northern blotting), as well as the ensuing endothelial-leukocyte adhesion. Activation of PPAR-δ upregulated the expression of antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, and thioredoxin and decreased reactive oxygen species production in ECs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that GW0742 switched the association of BCL-6, a transcription repressor, from PPAR-δ to the vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 promoter. Small interfering RNA reduced endogenous PPAR-δ expression but potentiated the suppressive effect of GW0742 on EC activation, which suggests that the nonliganded PPAR-δ may have an opposite effect.

Conclusions—

We have demonstrated that ligand activation of PPAR-δ in ECs has a potent antiinflammatory effect, probably via a binary mechanism involving the induction of antioxidative genes and the release of nuclear corepressors. PPAR-δ agonists may have a potential for treating inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes.
Interracial Outposts in Siberia: Nerchinsk, Kiakhta, and the Russo-Chinese Trade in the Seventeenth/Eighteenth Centuries
Authors: Stolberg Eva-Maria
Published: November 2007

This essay underlines the essential role of Russo-Chinese border trade in the creation of the multiethnic identity of Siberian outposts such as Nerchinsk and Kiakhta. In the seventeenth/early eighteenth century-under Tsar Peter the Great-Siberia became a meeting place for Russian, Central Asian and Chinese cultures. Furthermore, the Russo-Chinese trade was an important parameter of European economic expansion. Europe and the Far East met territorially only along the Eurasian frontier between Siberia and the Manchu Empire. Profitable trade, however, experienced a severe decline in the 1720s. Peter I's rigid fiscal policy choked off private initiative and prevented Siberia from becoming a major commercial entrepot between the West and East.
Tambaram: the West African Experience
Authors: Ludwig Frieder
Published: November 2007

Tambaram 1938, held near Madras in South India, was the first conference of the International Missionary Council in which a significant number of Africans took part. It offered, therefore, a unique opportunity for the fifteen delegates from the continent. For the first time, West Africans exchanged views with South Africans about African Independent Churches, for the first time, they discussed issues such as the tolerance of polygamy in an international setting. The Africans were impressed by the efforts towards church union in India and by Gandhi's national movement. This article describes the experiences of three of the West African delegates, Alexander Babatunde Akinycle (Nigeria), Moses Odutola Dada (Nigeria) and Christian Goncalves Baeta (Gold Coast/Ghana). Baëta subsequently made a very significant contribution to West African Christianity as a church leader, theologian and academic.
Tempora Et Mores: Family Values and the Possessions of a Post-Apartheid Countryside
Authors: White Hylton
Published: November 2007

This paper examines a set of ritual responses to the challenges that post-apartheid South Africa's political economy poses to projects of domestic reproduction in the former Bantustan countryside of Zululand, where unemployment has limited the capacities of young men to create marital households. In the case study on which the paper is based, one such man's misfortunes are connected by divination to the spirit of an older kinsman who disappeared while working as a labor migrant. I argue that this connection and the rituals meant to confront it turn on fraught symbolic relations between the present and two pasts: the past of apartheid migrancy and a projected past of custom. Like the ghosts by which they are manifest, these times trouble domestic life in the present because of contradictory developments forcing unemployed migrants back on the values of private spheres while they undermine the bases of rural households.
Philosophie Und Physik Zwischen Notwendigem Und Hypothetischem Wissen Zur Wissenstheoretischen Bestimmung Der Physik in Der Philosophia Des Wilhelm Von Conches
Authors: Niederberger Andreas , Fidora Alexander
Published: November 2007

A number of studies have investigated how the renewed interest in Plato's Timaeus led twelfth-century natural philosophers to take a growing interest in the material aspects of nature. By contrast, the implications of the resulting theories for the development of scientific knowledge have so far received but scant attention. But, as is shown in this paper, William of Conches, one of the most important natural philosophers of that age, not only broadened the material understanding of nature in his early text Philosophia, but also introduced a systematic distinction between the particular validity claims of philosophy and of physics. As we demonstrate, this distinction allowed for the formation of different disciplines, each having its particular methodology and explanatory force. Thus philosophy and physics could consider the same object, viz. the generation of the world, under the different and partly even contradictory perspectives of divine creation and the nature(s) of beings. This article analyzes the range of application of this distinction and its systematic consequences for the study of nature (e.g. the elements) as well as its importance for the elaboration of a theory of knowledge.
Nutaf Min Al-ΗΙYal: a Partial Arabic Version of Pseudo-Aristotle's Problemata Mechanica
Authors: Abattouy Mohammed
Published: November 2007

This article investigates the Arabic tradition of the Problemata Mechanica, a Greek text of mechanics ascribed to Aristotle, of which it has often been said that Arabic classical culture had been ignorant of it. Against this prevailed claim, it is shown that the Arabo-Muslim scholars had access to the text at least in the form of an abridged version entitled Nutaf min al-iyal edited by al-Khāzinī (twelfth century) in Kitāb mīzān al-ikma (Book of the Balance of Wisdom). The article includes the critical edition of the Arabic text of the Nutaf on the basis of the two extant manuscripts and its English translation. Finally, the mechanical theory in the Nutaf is characterized briefly.
Time and Motion in Walter Burley's Late Expositio On Aristotle's Physics
Authors: Dekker Dirk-Jan
Published: November 2007

Walter Burley (1274/75-1344/45) is mostly known for his defense of realism against William of Ockham. The concept of time that he developed in his late literal commentary on Aristotle's Physics has even been labelled 'extremely realistic,' in contrast to William of Ockham's so-called 'extremely subjectivistic' alternative. However, as is shown in this article, when Burley's concept of time is viewed against the background of medieval theories of time, it appears that it is mainly a restatement and further elaboration of opinions held by Averroes. A detailed investigation of Burley's explanation of the reality, definition, and unicity of time, as well as of the relation between time and the intellective soul shows that his realism is certainly far less extreme than it has been believed.
Paracelsianism and the Orthodox Lutheran Rejection of Vital Philosophy in Early Seventeenth-Century Denmark
Authors: Shackelford Jole
Published: November 2007

Paracelsian medicine and natural philosophy was formed during the Radical Reformation and incorporated metaphysical propositions that were incompatible with the Lutheran confession as codified in the Confessio Augustana and elaborated in the ultra-orthodox Formula of Concord. Although Paracelsian ideas and practices were endorsed by important philosophers and physicians in late-sixteenth century Denmark without raising serious alarm, the imposition of strict Lutheran orthodoxy in the Danish Church and a concomitant resurgence of Aristotelian philosophy drew attention to the religious heterodoxies inherent in Paracelsianism. Unacceptable theological and religious propositions, which reached Denmark in Rosicrucian texts and were implicit in certain medical and philosophical treatises, were in many cases inseparable from core Paracelsian concepts, with the result that Danish academic philosophers, physicians, and theologians rejected Paracelsian ideas except where they could be accommodated to acceptable Galenic and Aristotelian interpretations. When this was done, such ideas are arguably no longer Paracelsian in any meaningful way.
Psychotherapy and Religious Problems
Authors: van Uden Marinus H.F.
Published: November 2007

In the Netherlands religion on the one hand and mental health care on the other, have grown apart in the process of secularisation. Nowadays however one can witness a growing need amongst counselors and psychotherapists to be educated in the field of religion, meaning giving and world views (Van der Lans, Pieper, Van Uden, 1993; Raaijmakers, 1994). That religion is back in the focus of attention can also be concluded from the fact that in the latest version of the diagnostic bible, the DSM IV, a separate code (code: V 62.89) has been included for religious or spiritual problems (Lukoff, Lu, Turner, 1992). The case study of a patient with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, which we will present is meant as a contribution to this educational process. We will show how important it is to look at the religious frame of reference of a patient and how this can be handled in the psychotherapeutic treatment. The case will be put within the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism (Mead, 1934).
The Effect of Twinship on the Mysticism of Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): A Vergotean Analysis
Authors: Shackle Emma
Published: November 2007

Catherine of Siena (Caterina) was a twin whose twin sister, Giovanna, died around the age of two. It is argued that a conflict relating to her lasting relationship with her dead twin is the key to a psychological understanding of the mysticism of Catherine of Siena. She was torn between her survivor-guilt and her desire to be re-united with her lost twin. This ‘Vergotean’ thesis is supported by contemporary psychological knowledge relating to the social construction of twinship and the impact of the death of a twin on the surviving twin. This conflict was played out in her (twin) relationship to Jesus within the social context of her becoming an important religious and political leader of a ‘family’ of followers, including her biographer, the Dominican, Raymond of Capua.
A kind of Religious Coping: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Consolation in the Lutheran Tradition
Authors: Hummel Leonard M.
Published: November 2007

Building on the theoretical research of community psychology and cultural psychology, I focus in this paper on these two questions: What kind of religious coping is practiced by some members of the Lutheran tradition? What does an understanding of the relationship between the tradition and religious coping of these members indicate that may be distinctive or unexpected about their religious coping? I do this by: reviewing the background of my research in community psychology, cultural psychology, and tradition-specific research on religious coping – particularly in the United States; outlining a method for a qualitative study of nine Lutheran co-researchers in the United States who had experienced a significant negative event; reporting some of the results of that study; using the results of the study to discuss the two questions above; concluding with some suggestions for future research of the specific religious traditions in which religious coping phenomena may occur, and of the phenomena of religious coping in specific religious traditions.
Nature: a Neglected Theme in Practical Theology
Authors: Dreyer Jaco S. , Van Der Ven Johannes A. , Pieterse Hendrik J.C.
Published: November 2007

Generally speaking, nature is supposed to have disappeared from theology when the natural sciences emerged after the beginning of modernity. The gap between these sciences became wider and wider, with the effect of lacking almost all contact. Several factors played a role in the rejection of theology in general of philosophical-theological attempts in which themes such as nature and creation could flourish. In practical theology it is possible to broaden our theology of communicative action in such a way that our communication with nature and about nature can also be taken into account. Then we have to take both divine gift and divine challenge in nature seriously, with 'gift' and 'challenge' being communicative terms, and make a distinction between nature's divine gift and nature's divine challenge. Theology speaks of two books where we can find knowledge about God: the book of nature and the book of the Word of God. A hermeneutically mediated experience of God happens when the revelation in nature is inscribed into the texts of the Bible, and the texts of the Bible are inscribed into the book of nature. Our traditional speaking about God should therefore be complemented by both aniconic and nonanthropomorphic speaking about him, because it implies a way to experiencing God in nature - especially for those who are unchurched, and among the unchurched especially for those who define themselves as 'enlightened' and 'modern' people inclined to free, abstract thinking and cherishing their autonomy.
The Homosexual Body Without Apology : a Positive Link Between the Canaanite Woman in Matthew 15:21-28 and Homosexual Interpretation of Biblical Texts
Authors: Nortjé-Meyer Lilly
Published: November 2007

A homosexual reading of biblical texts involves the rereading and re-examining of those passages that condemn homosexuals. It is the questioning of traditional interpretation of these passages and the identification of heterosexism and homophobia of biblical scholars. Homosexual persons are searching for positive links between the Bible and homosexuality. In this article, two models, namely the purity and family systems set as examples of a theology of inclusion and resistance, are illustrated by the story of the Canaanite woman. She places herself outside the patriarchal structures by being unclean, silent and passive. Although, this woman is framed by culture and doctrine, she is resisting exclusivity from the community of believers.
A Fuzzy Interpretation of the Bible: Going Beyond Modernism and Postmodernism
Authors: Van Dyk Peet J.
Published: November 2007

Many contemporary biblical exegetes choose to work only within the protected environment of their own methodology. This has led to a lack of methodological integration. This article wishes to introduce the idea of fuzzy logic as a possible way ofsolving the deadlock between methodologies, especially between modernism and postmodernism. Influenced by Aristotelian philosophy, contemporary scholars still, largely work with binary categories. Fuzzy logic questions this assumption in a fundamental way: A fuzzy view of reality prohibits total relativity ('everything goes'), because it accepts the possibility of some degree of objectivity. It also appreciates that different perspectives are not necessarily totally exclusive. It is therefore the task of the reader to attempt to integrate perspectives on a higher level of abstraction.
Methodology, Healing, Story, and Ideology Response To the Articles By Pieter f cRaffert and Johan m sTrijdom
Authors: Crossan John Dominic
Published: November 2007

I am grateful to both those preceding scholars for their articles and for allowing me the privilege of a reply. It is also a special pleasure to recall their hospitality and generosity at the University of South Africa during the seminar on which these papers mere first presented. My reply takes up those topics in my title, the first two from Pieter Craffert, the latter two from Johan Strijdom.
Returning From Exile: Exploring John Dominic Crossan's Concept of the Passion-Resurrection Narratives as Prophecy Historicised1
Authors: Kriel Jacques R.
Published: November 2007

The modern and post-modern worldviews are inimical to the worldview of theistic religions and the fundamental assumptions and credal articulations of the Christian faith. John Shelbey Spong has characterised the situation of Christians who take seriously the (post)modern worldview as well as their commitment to Jesus of Nazareth and the biblical tradition as 'living in exile.' In this article I explore to what extent the insights of New Testament historical scholarship, specifically John Dominic Crossan's concept of the passion-resurrection narratives as prophecy-historicised, as well as his historical construct of Jesus as the founder of the Kingdom Movement, could enable a reformulation of basic Christian concepts so that commitments to Christianity and (post)modernism can be held in a creative and meaningful tension. It is suggested that Christians in exile can return and contribute to the Christian community and tradition, and to the transformation of the (post)modern world, if the Church recognizes that different interpretations of Jesus can exist creatively side by side within the tradition. On the basis of Crossan's research-findings it is argued that that is exactly what happened at the birth of Christianity. It remains a possibility today.