bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whipple's disease with muscle impairment
Authors: Puget Marie , Iwaz Jean , Tristan Anne , Streichenberger Nathalie
Published: September 2006

A 67‐year‐old man presented with myalgia, muscle atrophy, and a history of seronegative polyarthritis. Blood tests showed inflammation but no hematologic or immunologic abnormalities. Muscle biopsy revealed no vasculitis or myositis but Tropheryma whipplei was detected by polymerase chain reaction in muscle, blood, and duodenum specimens; this was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Ceftriaxone led to clinical improvement. Although rare, Whipple's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diffuse myopathy. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Proapoptotic factor Bax is increased in satellite cells in the tibialis anterior muscles of old rats
Authors: Krajnak Kristine , Waugh Stacey , Miller Roger , Baker Brent , Geronilla Kenneth , Alway Stephen E. , Cutlip Robert G.
Published: September 2006

Aging impairs the ability of muscle to adapt to exercise or injury. The goal of this study was to determine whether age‐related changes in muscle adaptability could be the result of satellite cell apoptosis. Ten days after exposure to an injury protocol, estimates of edema in the exposed tibialis anterior muscles were higher in old (30 months) than young (3 months) rats, and isometric force levels were lower in old rats. Both young and old rats displayed an increase in MyoD labeling in the exposed muscle, indicating that injury induced satellite‐cell activation. However, there were more MyoD‐labeled cells that coexpressed the proapoptotic factor, Bax, in old than in young rats, suggesting that decrements in muscle recovery may be associated with an increase in satellite‐cell apoptosis. Based on these findings we conclude that reducing satellite‐cell apoptosis in aged animals may improve muscle recovery after injury. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Expanding the phenotypes of the Pro56SerVAPBmutation: Proximal SMA with dysautonomia
Authors: Marques Vanessa D. , Barreira Amilton A. , Davis Mary B. , Abou‐Sleiman Patrick M. , Silva Wilson A. , Zago Marco A. , Sobreira Claudia , Fazan Valéria , Marques Wilson
Published: September 2006

The phenotype of 16 members of a family affected by a late‐onset, dominant, progressive, motor and autonomic disorder is described. TheVAPB(Pro56Ser) mutation was detected in Brazilian families with different phenotypes of motor neuron disorders. In this family, proximal and axial muscle weakness and atrophy, associated with abdominal protrusion, defined the motor phenotype. Death occurred in 10–15 years due to respiratory insufficiency. Tone and tendon reflexes were decreased and a distal tremor was common. Sensation was preserved. Autonomic abnormalities were also present, including choking, chronic intestinal constipation, sexual dysfunction, and sudomotor abnormalities, and on nerve morphology there was involvement of unmyelinated fibers. Electromyography disclosed ongoing denervation and reinnervation. Isolated dysfunction of motor and autonomic neurons is unusual among the spinal muscular atrophies. On this basis, this condition seems to represent a new category of disease. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Hip joint position modulates volitional knee extensor muscle activity after stroke
Authors: Lewek Michael D. , Schmit Brian D. , Hornby T. George , Dhaher Yasin Y.
Published: September 2006

Evidence from animal and human models has demonstrated the importance of hip proprioceptors and vestibular inputs in modulating lower‐extremity muscle activity through reflex pathways. Comprehension of the role of these sensory inputs following stroke may be important in understanding pathological muscle activity during functional activities. We therefore examined the influence of both hip and head/trunk position on volitional quadriceps activity in chronic stroke and control subjects. With the knee held at 60°, maximal voluntary isometric quadriceps contractions were elicited with trunk orientation (head position) and hip angle systematically positioned at 0°, 45°, and 90°. Integrated electromyographic activity from the quadriceps was compared between groups and conditions. Vasti activity in the stroke group was greater in a seated upright posture (hip flexed) than supine (hip neutral). Controlling for vestibular input, the stroke group demonstrated greater quadriceps activity (VL and RF) with a neutral hip compared to flexion. Such findings may have implications for understanding inappropriate muscle activity during walking after stroke, as hip extension occurs immediately prior to toe off, when inappropriate quadriceps activity is commonly observed. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Metalloprotease‐induced ectodomain shedding of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)
Authors: Hinkle C. Leann , Diestel Simone , Lieberman Jeffrey , Maness Patricia F.
Published: September 2006

Transmembrane forms of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM140, NCAM1801) are key regulators of neuronal development. The extracellular domain of NCAM can occur as a soluble protein in normal brain, and its levels are elevated in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia; however the mechanism of ectodomain release is obscure. Ectodomain shedding of NCAM140, releasing a fragment of 115 kD, was found to be induced in NCAM‐transfected L‐fibroblasts by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, but not phorbol esters. Pervanadate‐induced shedding was mediated by a disintegrin metalloprotease (ADAM), regulated by ERK1/2 MAP kinase. In primary cortical neurons, NCAM was shed at high levels, and the metalloprotease inhibitor GM6001 significantly increased NCAM‐dependent neurite branching and outgrowth. Moreover, NCAM‐dependent neurite outgrowth and branching were inhibited in neurons isolated from a transgenic mouse model of NCAM shedding. These results suggest that regulated metalloprotease‐induced ectodomain shedding of NCAM down‐regulates neurite branching and neurite outgrowth. Thus, increased levels of soluble NCAM in schizophrenic brain have the potential to impair neuronal connectivity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Pre‐/post‐otic rhombomeric interactions control the emergence of a fetal‐like respiratory rhythm in the mouse embryo
Authors: Borday C. , Coutinho A. , Germon I. , Champagnat J. , Fortin G.
Published: September 2006

How regional patterning of the neural tube in vertebrate embryos may influence the emergence and the function of neural networks remains elusive. We have begun to address this issue in the embryonic mouse hindbrain by studying rhythmogenic properties of different neural tube segments. We have isolated pre‐ and post‐otic hindbrain segments and spinal segments of the mouse neural tube, when they form at embryonic day (E) 9, and grafted them into the same positions in stage‐matched chick hosts. Three days after grafting, in vitro recordings of the activity in the cranial nerves exiting the grafts indicate that a high frequency (HF) rhythm (order: 10 bursts/min) is generated in post‐otic segments while more anterior pre‐otic and more posterior spinal territories generate a low frequency (LF) rhythm (order: 1 burst/min). Comparison with homo‐specific grafting of corresponding chick segments points to conservation in mouse and chick of the link between the patterning of activities and the axial origin of the hindbrain segment. This HF rhythm is reminiscent of the respiratory rhythm known to appear at E15 in mice. We also report on pre‐/post‐otic interactions. The pre‐otic rhombomere 5 prevents the emergence of the HF rhythm at E12. Although the nature of the interaction with r5 remains obscure, we propose that ontogeny of fetal‐like respiratory circuits relies on: (i) a selective developmental program enforcing HF rhythm generation, already set at E9 in post‐otic segments, and (ii) trans‐segmental interactions with pre‐otic territories that may control the time when this rhythm appears. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Intrastriatal administration of human immunodeficiency virus‐1 glycoprotein 120 reduces glial cell‐line derived neurotrophic factor levels and causes apoptosis in the substantia nigra
Authors: Nosheny Rachel L. , Bachis Alessia , Aden Sadia A. , De Bernardi Maria A. , Mocchetti Italo
Published: September 2006

Uninfected neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) degenerate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients through an unknown etiology. The HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) causes apoptotic neuronal cell death in the rodent striatum, but its primary neurotoxic mechanism is still under investigation. Previous studies have shown that gp120 causes neurotoxicity in the rat striatum by reducing brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Because glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and BDNF are neurotrophic factors crucial for the survival of dopaminergic neurons of the SN, we investigated whether gp120 reduces GDNF and BDNF levels concomitantly to induce apoptosis. Rats received a microinjection of gp120 or vehicle into the striatum and were sacrificed at various time intervals. GDNF but not BDNF immunoreactivity was decreased in the SN by 4 days in gp120‐treated rats. In these animals, a significant increase in the number of caspase‐3‐ positive neurons, both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive and ‐negative, was observed. Analysis of TH immunoreactivity revealed fewer TH‐positive neurons and fibers in a medial and lateral portion of cell group A9 of the SN, an area that projects to the striatum, suggesting that gp120 induces retrograde degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons. We propose that dysfunction of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system associated with HIV may be caused by a reduction of neurotrophic factor expression by gp120. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006
Kinetic model of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of styrene in seeded emulsion
Authors: Peklak A. David , Butté Alessandro
Published: September 2006

A detailed model describing the kinetics of living polymerization mediated by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) in seeded emulsion polymerization is developed. The model consists of a set of population balance equations of the different radical species in the aqueous phase and in the particle phase (accounting for radical segregation) as well as for the dormant species in the particle phase. The entire population of radicals was divided into several distinguished species, based on their length and their chain end group. The model results are helpful in understanding inhibition and retardation phenomena that are typical for RAFT emulsion polymerizations. While inhibition is due to the radical loss in form of the RAFT leaving group, retardation is mostly caused by a small amount of short dormant chains in the particle phase, leading to a slight increase of radical loss via RAFT exchange with radicals entering a particle. The model results are compared to a series of experiments, using cumyl dithiobenzoate as a RAFT agent in polymerizations of styrene. The agreement between experimental and model results is good and, notably, the only parameters considered adjustable were the RAFT exchange rate coefficients. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6114–6135, 2006
Copolymerization of propylene and disubstituted diallylsilanes involving intramolecular cyclization with stereoselective zirconocene catalysts
Authors: Naga Naofumi
Published: September 2006

The copolymerization of propylene and disubstituted diallylsilanes [(CH2 CHCH2)2R2Si (R = CH3 or C6H5)] was investigated with isoselective and syndioselective zirconocene catalysts with methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. The syndioselective catalyst showed a higher reactivity for disubstituted diallylsilanes than the isoselective catalysts. Diallyldimethylsilane was incorporated into the polymer chain via cyclization insertion preferentially and formed 3,5‐disubstituted dimethylsilacyclohexane units in the polypropylene main chain. In the copolymerization with diallyldiphenylsilane, diallyldiphenylsilane was copolymerized via both cyclization insertion and 1,2‐insertion, which formed a pendant allyl group. The structures of isolated silacyclohexane units, determined by 13C NMR and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer spectroscopy, proved that the 1,2‐insertion of diallylsilanes proceeded with enantiomorphic site control; however, the diastereoselectivity of the cyclization reaction was independent of the stereoselectivity of the catalysts used, and cis‐silacyclohexane units were mainly formed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6083–6093, 2006
Is lGnRH‐III the most potent GnRH analog containing only natural amino acids that specifically inhibits the growth of human breast cancer cells?
Authors: Herédi‐Szabó Krisztina , Murphy Richard F. , Lovas Sándor
Published: September 2006

Analogs of the decapeptide, gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), used in the treatment of hormone‐dependent tumors, contain numerous unnatural amino acids, giving rise to many adverse effects. lGnRH‐III, a natural isoform of GnRH isolated from the sea lamprey, is a weak agonist of GnRH in the pituitary, but inhibits the growth of human cancer cells in micromolar concentrations. As lGnRH‐III is not a natural ligand in humans, it is possible that a more potent peptide, also containing only natural amino acids, can be synthesized. A positional scanning peptide library, focused on the variable region of the GnRH family of peptides, residues 5–8, was synthesized. The synthesized peptides were analyzed in competitive binding experiments and six new analogs were designed on the basis of the results. Their biological activities were evaluated in cell growth experiments. The only natural sequence selected was chicken GnRH‐II. The synthetic library did not yield a more potent peptide than lGnRH‐III. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Purification and characterization of the central segment of prothymosin‐α: methodology for handling highly acidic peptides
Authors: Wilson Christopher L. , Monteith William B. , Danell Allison S. , Burns Colin S.
Published: September 2006

Prothymosin‐α is a highly acidic protein consisting of 110 amino acids. The central segment of this protein, residues 51–89, is thought to be involved in metal binding which may be necessary for its physiological function. To carry out studies of this peptide, this central segment was synthesized in a linear fashion using Fmoc‐based methods on rink amide MBHA resin. However, this peptide could not be purified with the typical straightforward approach of RP HPLC followed by negative mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). This was attributed to the high proportion of acidic residues: 26 out of the 39 residues are aspartic and glutamic acids. The acidity of the peptide prevented retention on the RP HPLC column. Additionally, the ability of the highly negatively charged peptide to retain sodium ions prevented molecular weight determination with ESI‐MS. A systematic approach to the purification of this highly acidic peptide was undertaken. Ultimately, strong anion exchange chromatography was used to purify the peptide. Extensive desalting using dialysis was required prior to ESI‐MS, and the choice of the buffer proved to be critical. In the end, a purification method was devised that yielded a highly purified peptide and is readily compatible with analysis by ESI‐MS. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and biological activity of homoarginine‐containing opioid peptides
Authors: Izdebski Jan , Kunce Danuta , Schiller Peter W. , Chung Nga N. , Gers Tomasz , Zelman Monika , Grabek Monika
Published: September 2006

Two tris‐alkoxycarbonyl homoarginine derivatives, Boc‐Har{ω,ω′‐[Z(2Br)]2}‐OH and Boc‐Har{ω,ω′‐[Z(2Cl)]2}‐OH, were prepared by guanidinylation of Boc‐Lys‐OH, and used for the synthesis of neo‐endorphins and dynorphins. The results were compared with that obtained in the synthesis in which Boc‐Lys(Fmoc)‐OH was incorporated into the peptide chain, and after removing Fmoc protection, the resulting peptide‐resin was guanidinylated with N,N′‐[Z(2Br)]2‐ or N,N′‐[Z(2Cl)]2‐S‐methylisourea. The peptides were tested in the guinea‐pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) assays. The results indicated that replacement of Arg by Har may be a good avenue for the design of biologically active peptides with increased resistance to degradation by trypsin‐like enzymes. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Afterglow, TL and IRSL in beta‐irradiated HPHT type Ib synthetic diamond
Authors: Meléndrez R. , Schreck M. , Chernov V. , Preciado‐Flores S. , Pedroza‐Montero M. , Barboza‐Flores M.
Published: September 2006

The presence of nitrogen or other impurities in HPHT type Ib synthetic diamond may produce shallow or deep localized trapping states for electrons (holes) with activation energies below the conduction (above the valence) band. The present work deals with room temperature afterglow (AG), thermoluminescence (TL) and infrared‐stimulated luminescence (IRSL) in HPHT type Ib diamond. The existence of vacancy impurity‐related defects gives rise to a characteristic AG, TL and IRSL in beta‐irradiated samples. The AG luminescence decays fast, decreasing to about 103 of its initial intensity value in 100 s. The deconvoluted TL glow curve is composed of a 1.4‐order peak at 375 K and three first‐order kinetics peaks at 442, 475 and 514 K. The IRSL was excited with 830 nm light releasing electrons from the trapping states with different efficiencies. The TL glow curve was found to be non‐reproducible because the multiple impurity‐related defects induced by irradiation are unstable at temperatures around 800 K. The peculiar AG and TL behavior observed in the investigated HPHT type Ib synthetic diamond may hinder its application in TL dosimetry. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Growth of nanocrystalline diamond films deposited by microwave plasma CVD system at low substrate temperatures
Authors: Potocky S. , Kromka A. , Potmesil J. , Remes Z. , Polackova Z. , Vanecek M.
Published: September 2006

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were grown by microwave plasma CVD in hydrogen‐based gas mixture. Deposition experiments were performed at different temperatures varying from 370 to 1100 °C. Before growth step, silicon (100) oriented substrates were nucleated by bias enhanced nucleation procedure and glass substrates were pretreated in ultrasonic bath. Optical, structural and morphological properties of NCD films were systematically studied by using an optical spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. NCD films were optically transparent in wide range and had high refractive index of 2.34. All deposited samples exhibited diamond characteristic line in the Raman spectrum. The growth kinetic was attributed to the hydrogen abstraction model. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electrochemical oxidation and reduction processes at diamond electrodes of varying phase purity
Authors: Foord John , Hu Jing Ping
Published: September 2006

Diamond electrodes were prepared by MWCVD, using varying methane‐to‐hydrogen feedstock ratios to form both micro‐ and nano‐crystalline samples. Although Raman spectroscopy indicated substantial concentrations of non‐diamond carbon in the nanodiamond forms, XPS and ELS measurements confirm that the area‐averaged concentration of such material in the outer layers is very low. Nonetheless, pronounced electrochemical signatures associated with disordered sp2 carbon phases are detected, at sites which are highly aggregated in the grain boundaries. Potential cycling in nitric acid presents an effective route for the complete removal of sp2 carbon material from the electrodes, but this then leads to the formation, of what electrochemically, are completely inactive nanodiamond phases. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An investigation of structural and electrical properties of boron doped and undoped nanocrystalline diamond films
Authors: Hikavyy A. , Clauws P. , Maes J. , Moshchalkov V. V. , Butler J. E. , Feygelson T. , Williams O. A. , Daenen M. , Haenen K.
Published: September 2006

Nanocrystalline and microcrystalline undoped and boron doped diamond films are investigated by means of SEM, Raman and photocurrent techniques. SEM measurements on nanocrystalline diamond show the typical diamond columnar structure whereas for microcrystalline diamond such structure is not observed. Raman investigation shows a clear diamond peak at 1332 cm–1 for all investigated films and a Fano resonance is observed for the microcrystalline sample prepared with 2000 ppm of boron in the gas mixture indicating a transition into the semi‐metallic state. Photocurrent measurements also show a presence of boron in some films. It is found that when temperature is decreased lower than 80 K, the boron photocurrent threshold in the case of NCD material behaves differently compared to bulk diamond. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Bulk and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy of nitrogen‐doped ultrananocrystalline diamond films
Authors: Vlasov I. I. , Ralchenko V. G. , Goovaerts E. , Saveliev A. V. , Kanzyuba M. V.
Published: September 2006

Ultrananocrystalline diamond films (UNCD) grown in an Ar‐rich microwave plasma with nitrogen gas added in amounts of 0–25% were studied by Raman spectroscopy using 514.5 and 413.1 nm laser excitation. Besides the Raman spectra of diamond, the first and second order Raman scattering of disordered graphite and polyacetylene were detected and analyzed for samples with different nitrogen content. With surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) a variety of surface vibrational modes was observed: (i) CHx stretching vibrations of sp3 and sp2 hybridized carbon in the range of 2800–3100 cm–1; (ii) the sp2 and sp1 hybridized CC(CN) stretching modes in the range of 1600–2300 cm–1; and (iii) lines in the range of 200–1250 cm–1 related to different kinds of vibrations of substituted aromatic rings. These results indicate that in N‐doped UNCD films the intergrain material is a well connected mixture of predominantly sp2 phase with some amount of sp1 phase of carbon and nitrogen that is suggested to provide high electrical conductivity. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical study on the adsorption of armchair carbon nanotubes on the hydrogenated surface of diamond
Authors: Sque Stephen J. , Jones Robert , Öberg Sven , Briddon Patrick R.
Published: September 2006

First‐principles density‐functional theory has been used to investigate the interaction of (metallic) (7,7) carbon nanotubes with the hydrogenated (001) surface of diamond. There is no evidence for a significant chemical interaction between the nanotubes and the diamond surface, although an appreciable binding energy is obtained. The corresponding electronic band structures are indicative of moderate electron transfer from the diamond substrate to the nanotube, which would in practice leave behind a mobile layer of holes. These results suggest that carbon nanotubes may, like buckminsterfullerene, act as suitable p‐type transfer dopants for diamond. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Photoelastic constants in diamond and silicon
Authors: Hounsome L. S. , Jones R. , Shaw M. J. , Briddon P. R.
Published: September 2006

Ab Initio calculations, using density functional theory within the AIMPRO code, have been performed on bulk diamond and silicon in order to calculate the change in the dielectric constant due to strain, and hence the values of the photoelastic tensors. A combination of compressive and tensile strain has been applied to two atom unit cells of Si and diamond and the tensors relating to p 11 + 2p 12, p 12 – 2p 11 and p 44 extracted. Good agreement is found with experimental results for absolute values and frequency dependence of the constants for silicon. Results are also given for diamond where experimental data is much more limited and scattered. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Seeding, growth and characterization of nanocrystalline diamond films on various substrates
Authors: Daenen M. , Williams O. A. , D'Haen J. , Haenen K. , Nesládek M.
Published: September 2006

By optimizing seeding techniques and plasma parameters for deposition, nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were deposited on different sorts of substrates with varying parameters such as temperature and methane content. Results of this optimization process were analysed by SEM, XRD, Raman, and transmission measurements. Experiments with titanium interlayers lead to a better understanding of the nucleation step and can enhance the nucleation density. This research resulted in homogeneously coalesced NCD films of less than 100 nm thickness over 3 inch Si wafers. It is also shown that it is possible to grow on different sorts of glass, using a low temperature process. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Influence of boron concentration on the XPS spectra of the (100) surface of homoepitaxial boron‐doped diamond films
Authors: Ghodbane S. , Ballutaud D. , Deneuville A. , Baron C.
Published: September 2006

As‐grown (100) homoepitaxial diamond films with boron concentrations [B] from 4.6 × 1016 to 1.5 × 1021 cm–3 have been analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their C 1s core levels contain a dominant component around 284.17 ± 0.2 eV ascribed to sp3 C and a main secondary component around 284.88 ± 0.2 eV ascribed to CHx (x ≥ 2) on surface defects. Their relative concentration decreases and increases, respectively, as [B] increases. A significant component around 286.4 ± 0.2 eV ascribed to ether group (C–O–C) remains nearly constant up to [B] ≈ 3 × 1020 cm–3, then increases for greater boron concentrations. Other components around 283.0 ± 0.2, 287.69 ± 0.2 and 288.76 ± 0.2 eV ascribed, respectively, to sp2 C, carbonyl (C=O) and carboxyl (HO–C=O) on surface defects remain with low concentrations. The occurrence of these XPS components, their assignments and their relative concentrations are satisfactorily compared to those previously found for IIb crystals with (100) surface and for polycrystalline films with [B] around 1019 and 7 × 1020 cm–3. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Unusual morphological features of natural diamond samples characterized with Micro Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Sachdev Hermann , Kramlich Erwin
Published: September 2006

In the present study, unusual morphological features of natural diamonds were characterized by Micro Raman Spectroscopy. The growth of diamond crystallites through secondary nucleation was observed in microscopic cracks in natural specimens. The protrusion of small gaps in the diamond crystal by the growth medium was leading to the formation of 2nd and higher generation crystallites without the deposition of additional phases. This fact clearly indicates that a highly mobile and volatile flux system has to be held responsible for the secondary diamond growth. Specific features of natural diamond samples can be interpreted as growth forms from volatile or highly mobile liquid species in the C–H–O‐system, thus merging CVD and hydrothermal conditions in the latter system. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical study on the adsorption of armchair carbon nanotubes on the hydrogenated surface of diamond
Authors: Sque Stephen J. , Jones Robert , Öberg Sven , Briddon Patrick R.
Published: September 2006

The cover picture from the article [1] is the electronic band structure calculated by first‐principles density‐functional theory for a metallic (7,7) nanotube adsorbed on the (001)‐(2 × 1):H diamond surface. Occupied and empty levels are shown as thick dark and thin lighter lines, respectively, while the shaded regions indicate the valence and conduction bands of bulk diamond. The dashed horizontal line is the electron chemical potential. Due to the electron transfer from the diamond to the nanotube a hole is created at the top of the diamond valence band.

This issue contains papers presented at SBDD XI. After the celebration of the 10th edition of the successful series of meetings in 2005, this year the 11th International Workshop on Surface and Bulk Defects in CVD Diamond Films was hosted in Diepenbeek–Hasselt, Belgium.
New world of Gossamer superconductivity
Authors: Maki Kazumi , Haas Stephan , Parker David , Won Hyekyung , Dora Balazs , Virosztek Attila
Published: September 2006

The cover picture of this issue of physica status solidi (c) has been taken from the article [1].
Depressive Symptomatology among HIV‐Positive Women in the Era of HAART: A Stress and Coping Model
Authors: Remien Robert H. , Exner Theresa , Kertzner Robert M. , Ehrhardt Anke A. , Rotheram-Borus Mary Jane , Johnson Mallory O. , Weinhardt Lance S. , Kittel Lauren E. , Goldstein Rise B. , Pinto Rogério M. , Morin Stephen F. , Chesney Margaret A. , Lightfoot Marguerita , Gore-Felton Cheryl , Dodge Brian , Kelly Jeffrey A. ,   NIMH Healthy Living Project Trial Group
Published: September 2006

Objective: An enhanced stress and coping model was used to explain depression among HIV‐positive women in healthcare and community settings where highly active anti‐retroviral treatment (HAART) was commonplace. Method: HIV‐infected women in four cities (N=978) were assessed, cross‐sectionally, for mental and physical health, stress, social support, and other background factors. Results: Self‐reported level of depressive symptomatology was high. Number of physical symptoms, illness intrusiveness, and perceived stress were positively associated with depressed mood, while coping self‐efficacy and social support were negatively associated. Stress mediated the effect of health status on depression and coping self‐efficacy mediated the effect of psychosocial resources on depression. Our enhanced stress and coping model accounted for 52% of variance in depressive symtpomatology. Conclusions: Interventions focused on improving coping self‐efficacy, bolstering social supports, and decreasing stress in the lives of HIV‐positive women may help to reduce the negative effects of HIV disease on mood.
Microtubular and actin cytoskeletons and ultrastructural characteristics of the potentially pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast Malassezia pachydermatis
Authors: David Marek , Gabriel Miroslav , Kopecká Marie
Published: September 2006

Microtubular and actin cytoskeletons were investigated in the lipophilic yeast Malassezia pachydermatis by fluorescence and electron microscopy. To detect microtubules by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal anti‐tubulin antibody, a prolonged incubation with lysing enzymes was necessary due to its very thick cell wall. Cytoplasmic microtubules were detected in interphase and a spindle with astral microtubules was seen in M‐phase. The disintegration of cytoplasmic microtubules and migration of the nucleus to the bud before mitosis were characteristic features of the basidiomycetous yeast Malassezia pachydermatis. The visualisation of F‐actin structures (patches, cables and cytokinetic rings) by fluorescence microscopy using both monoclonal anti‐actin antibody and rhodamine‐phalloidin failed, but actin was detected by electron microscopy with immunogold labelling. Clusters of gold particles indicating actin structures were detected at the plasma membrane of cells with unique cortical ultrastructural features characteristic of the genus Malassezia. A possible association of these with the actin cytoskeleton is suggested.
Nitric oxide affects preimplantation embryonic development in a rotating wall vessel bioreactor simulating microgravity
Authors: Cao Yu‐jing , Fan Xun‐jun , Shen Zheng , Ma Bao‐hua , Duan En‐kui
Published: September 2006

Microgravity was simulated with a rotating wall vessel bioreactor (RWVB) in order to study its effect on pre‐implantation embryonic development in mice. Three experimental groups were used: stationary control, rotational control and clinostat rotation. Three experiments were performed as follows. The first experiment showed that compared with the other two (control) groups, embryonic development was significantly retarded after 72 h in the clinostat rotation group. The second experiment showed that more nitric oxide (NO) was produced in the culture medium in the clinostat rotation group after 72 h (P < 0.05), and the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in this group was significantly higher than in the controls (P < 0.01). In the third experiment, we studied apoptosis in the pre‐implantation mouse embryos after 72 h in culture and found that Annexin‐V staining was negative in the normal (stationary and rotational control) embryos, but the developmentally retarded (clinostat rotation) embryos showed a strong green fluorescence. These results indicate that microgravity induced developmental retardation and cell apoptosis in the mouse embryos. We presume that these effects are related to the higher concentration of NO in the embryos under microgravity, which have cause cytotoxic consequences.
Connective tissue growth factor and fibronectin secretion in renal tubular epithelial cells induced by TGF‐β1: Suppressive effects of troglitazone
Authors: Wei Jia‐li , Peng You‐ming , Liu Fuyou
Published: September 2006

Although some studies have suggested that troglitazone could retard the progression of glomerulosclerosis, its effects on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis have not been completely clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of troglitazone on the secretion of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and fibronectin (FN) in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK‐2) cells induced by transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1). The mRNA of CTGF and FN were measured by semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR. CTGF and FN protein were detected by Western blot and ELISA, respectively. Our results revealed that troglitazone could inhibit CTGF and FN expression in a dose‐dependent manner in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells induced by TGF‐β1, which may be one of the mechanisms of troglitazone contributing to retard the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
Overexpression of cyclin D1 is associated with elevated levels of MAP kinases, Akt and Pak1 during diethylnitrosamine‐induced progressive liver carcinogenesis
Authors: Parekh Palak , Rao K.V.K.
Published: September 2006

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multi‐factorial and multi‐step process. However, the molecular mechanisms, which play a pivotal role during progressive development of HCC, are not known. Accordingly Sprague—Dawley rats were administered diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for one to three months in order to understand the molecular alterations during progressive development of liver tumor. In this study involvement of G1/S regulatory proteins, MAP kinases and cell survival factors were analyzed using RT‐PCR, western blotting and in vitro kinase assays. The data showed overexpression of cyclin D1 and increased expression and activation of ERK1/2, p38 kinase and JNK1/2 with progression of tumor suggesting that MAP kinases play an important role during tumorigenesis. These molecular alterations were supported by Akt upregulation and increase in the levels of inactive GSK3β with progression of liver tumor. Further, p21‐actived kinase1 (Pak1) was found to be upregulated with tumor progression, which is a novel observation during progressive liver carcinogenesis. These results indicate that elevated levels of all the three MAP kinases (ERK1/2, p38 and JNK1/2), Akt/GSK3β and Pak1 are associated with cyclin D1 upregulation, which helps in the disruption of the G1/S regulatory point of the cell cycle and leads to abnormal cell proliferation during progressive hepatocarcinogenesis.
Dancing with desire: cultural embodiment in Tijuana's Nor-tec music and dance
Authors: MADRID ALEJANDRO L.
Published: September 2006

Nor-tec music was created at the Tijuana–San Diego border as a hybrid that incorporates the sounds of traditional music from the North of Mexico to computer-based styles of dance music. Through a distinct process of do-it-yourself distribution, Nor-tec quickly became a worldwide phenomenon in the underground electronic music scene. Based on extensive ethnographic work in Tijuana, Los Angeles and Chicago, this article compares different Nor-tec scenes in an attempt to identify how different transnational communities appropriate this music in order to imagine and conciliate notions of identity, modernity and tradition according to their specific social context. I focus on the relationship between discourses about Latinidad and Latino bodies, and their influence on the way different Latino communities dance and move to the Nor-tec beats.
‘The dancing front’: dance music, dancing, and the BBC in World War II
Authors: BAADE CHRISTINA
Published: September 2006

This paper offers a case history of the BBC's ambivalent engagement with dance music during the Second World War. It examines what ‘dance music’ meant to the BBC, musicians, and the public, and how they contested and performed those meanings in the context of new social dance practices and the growing popularity of what became known as ‘swing’ in Britain. Although broadcasting in effect disembodied music closely associated with the physical, the BBC was a primary way for people to access dance music which supported their bodily acts of leisure and regimentation. The BBC's study and regulation of dance music centred around two goals: pleasing important groups in national service and broadcasting morale-boosting music. The problem of whether these goals were congruent lay at the heart of the issue, for the youth active in national service emerged as the primary audience for the two genres – ‘swing’ and ‘sentimentality’ – about which the BBC felt most dubious.
Out on the floor: the politics of dancing on the Northern Soul scene
Authors: WALL TIM
Published: September 2006

The Northern Soul scene is a dance-based music culture that originated in the English North and Midlands in the early 1970s. It still thrives today with a mix of forty-year-olds and new converts, and its celebration of 1960s' soul has an international following. Centred on the detail of the dance techniques, and musical and cultural context, the analysis presented here is developed from an ethnographic study. It uses a concept of competence and the example of a classic record to explore the meanings of dance for the scene's participants. The importance of solidarity, senses of identity through gender, place and ethnicity, and the relationship of the scene with African–American culture are explored. The study draws conclusions about the way that dance can be theorised and analysed, and argues that a full analysis requires an exploration of the relationship of physical movement to space, music and senses of identity.
The riddim method: aesthetics, practice, and ownership in Jamaican dancehall
Authors: MANUEL PETER , MARSHALL WAYNE
Published: September 2006

The Jamaican system of recording and performance, from the 1950s to the present, constitutes a distinctive approach to notions of composition, originality and ownership. Emerging from a tradition of live performance practice mediated by (and informing) sound recordings, the relative autonomy of riddims and voicings in the Jamaican system challenges conventional ideas about the integrity of a song and the degree to which international copyright law applies to local conceptions, as enshrined in decades of practice, of musical materials as public domain. With the spread of the ‘riddim method’ to the sites of Jamaican mass migration, as evidenced by similar approaches in hip hop, reggaeton, drum'n'bass and bhangra, reggae's aesthetic system has found adherents among artists and audiences outside of Jamaica. This paper maps out, through historical description, ethnographic data, and musical analysis, the Jamaican system as a unique and increasingly influential approach to music-making in the digital age.
‘Understand us before you end us’: regulation, governmentality, and the confessional practices of raving bodies
Authors: MARSH CHARITY
Published: September 2006

In this article I investigate how power is (re)produced on and through the body, specifically on Toronto's raving bodies during the summer of 2000. Toward the end of 1999 and throughout 2000, Toronto's rave culture came under intense surveillance by institutional and discursive authorities such as city councillors, police, parents, community health organisations, public intellectuals, and the mass media. What ensued was a temporary ban of raves in Toronto on city-owned property. In response to this ban, Toronto ravers relied on liberal approaches such as educational programmes and state lobbying as a way to protect their ‘freedom to dance’. In light of these reactions, one of my primary questions is: As rave becomes more normative, what are its own disciplinary mechanisms or techniques of control that are asserted at the site of the raving body?
Indirect Assessment of Attitudes with Response-Time-Based Measures
Authors: Degner Juliane , Wentura Dirk , Rothermund Klaus
Published: September 2006

Abstract: We review research on response-latency based (“implicit”) measures of attitudes by examining what hopes and intentions researchers have associated with their usage. We identified the hopes of (1) gaining better measures of interindividual differences in attitudes as compared to self-report measures (quality hope); (2) better predicting behavior, or predicting other behaviors, as compared to self-reports (incremental validity hope); (3) linking social-cognitive theories more adequately to empirical research (theory-link hope). We argue that the third hope should be the starting point for using these measures. Any attempt to improve these measures should include the search for a small-scale theory that adequately explains the basic effects found with such a measure. To date, small-scale theories for different measures are not equally well developed.
Psi-Land
Authors: Frey Andreas , Blunk Hannah Adrienne , Banse Rainer
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: Auf Grundlage des kommerziell vertriebenen Computerspiels Quake III Arena® wurde eine dreidimensionale, interaktive, virtuelle Umgebung (VU) zur Untersuchung des Interaktionsverhaltens von romantischen Paaren entwickelt. Das Interaktionsverhalten von 64 Paaren wurde anhand objektiver Verhaltensparameter von durch den Partner bzw. die Partnerin gesteuerten Spielfiguren in einer Reihe partnerschaftsrelevanter Spielsituationen quantifiziert. Die mittlere Distanz der Spielfiguren zueinander, die Häufigkeit des Blicks zum/r PartnerIn und die Häufigkeit des gegenseitigen Blickkontakts zeigten substanzielle und theoretisch sinnvolle Zusammenhänge mit der expliziten Einstellung zum/r PartnerIn und Maßen partnerschaftlicher Kommunikationsmuster, nicht jedoch mit Beziehungszufriedenheit und spezifischen Maßen der Partnerbindung. Die Höhe der Korrelationen entsprach etwa den typischerweise in der Partnerschaftsliteratur berichteten Zusammenhängen zwischen Fragebogendaten und Verhaltensbeobachtungsdaten. Die Befunde bestätigen die Validität der VU als methodische Alternative zur ungleich aufwändigeren Verhaltensbeobachtungsstudie im Labor. Interindividuelle Unterschiede der Erfahrung mit ähnlichen Computerspielen zeigten keine Zusammenhänge mit den in der VU erfassten Verhaltensindikatoren. Das Auftreten von Cybersickness konnte durch eine geeignete graphische Gestaltung vermieden werden.
Analyse von Prozessen und Veränderungen
Authors: Christ Oliver , Schmidt Peter , Schlüter Elmar , Wagner Ulrich
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: Komplexe Veränderungen von sozialpsychologischen Merkmalen über längere Zeiträume können nur mittels aufwändiger Panel-Studien untersucht werden. Zur Analyse solcher Zusammenhänge werden angemessene Analysemodelle benötigt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag soll das von Bollen und Curran (2004) entwickelte autoregressive Wachstumskurvenmodell vorgestellt werden. Das Modell stellt eine Kombination von zwei etablierten Analysemethoden für Längsschnittdaten dar. Diese sind das autoregressive Modell und das latente Wachstumskurvenmodell. Es werden die Vorteile des autoregressiven Wachstumskurvenmodells gegenüber diesen beiden bewährten Analysemethoden diskutiert. Abschließend wird an einem aktuellen deutschen Panel-Datensatz die Anwendung des autoregressiven Wachstumskurvenmodells demonstriert. Dabei wird der Zusammenhang zwischen ethnischen Vorurteilen und diskriminierenden Verhaltensintentionen analysiert.
Multifacetten-Rasch-Analyse von Personenbeurteilungen
Authors: Eckes Thomas
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: Das Multifacetten-Rasch-Modell ( Linacre, 1989 ; Linacre & Wright, 2002 ) wird auf die Untersuchung von Personenbeurteilungen angewendet. Dazu werden Daten aus einer Studie zur Beurteilung der physischen Attraktivität ( Eckes & Hassebrauck, 1993 ) reanalysiert. Facetten der Urteilssituation sind Stimuluspersonen, Merkmale und Beurteiler/-innen. Wichtige Funktionen des Modells lauten: (a) simultane Messung der Attraktivität der Stimuluspersonen, der Evaluation der Merkmale und der Strenge bzw. Milde der Beurteiler/-innen, (b) Erfassung von Konsens und Dissens unter den Beurteilern/-innen und (c) Analyse von Interaktionen zwischen Stimuluspersonen, Merkmalen und Beurteilern/-innen. Die Ergebnisse werden im Kontext von Fragen der Genauigkeit, Dimensionalität und Fairness von Personenbeurteilungen diskutiert.
Analyse kategorialer Daten und die Beurteilung der Modellgültigkeit mit dem Pi-Star Index
Authors: Langeheine Rolf
Published: September 2006

Zusammenfassung: Bisher in der Analyse kategorialer Daten verwendete statistische Tests zur Prüfung der Modellgültigkeit sowie deskriptive Fit- Indizes haben gewisse Nachteile. Mit Pi* wird ein neuer, bislang wenig bekannter Index vorgestellt, der frei von diesen Nachteilen ist. Pi* teilt die Stichprobe in zwei Komponenten. Die erste Komponente enthält den Anteil der Daten, der durch das jeweils postulierte Modell erklärt wird, die zweite den Rest, so dass Pi* auf einer 0-1 Skala definiert ist. Die Anwendung wird an vier Beispielen demonstriert, die alle aus früheren Publikationen in der Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie stammen. Das Pi*- Konzept wird u. a. als alternative Prozedur zur Identifikation von Typen in der Konfigurationsfrequenzanalyse vorgestellt.
Alterseffekte bei der erweiterten Form des Rivermead Behavioural Memory Tests (RBMT-E)
Authors: Treitz F.H. , Brüninghaus T. , Daum I. , Suchan B.
Published: September 2006

Im Alter kommt es häufig zu Gedächtnisbeeinträchtigungen. Mit der erweiterten Form des Rivermead Behavioural Memory Tests (RBMT-E) existiert eine aktuelle Weiterentwicklung des RBMT, die es möglich machen soll, geringfügige Gedächtnisdefizite zu identifizieren. In der folgenden Untersuchung wurde der Frage nachgegangen, inwieweit der RBMT-E zwischen den Gedächtnisleistungen von jungen und älteren gesunden Personen in einer deutschen Stichprobe differenziert. Es wurden drei Altersgruppen (20-39, 40-59, 60-80 Jahre; N = 172) jeweils zur Hälfte mit Version 1 und Version 2 des RBMT-E untersucht. Beide Versionen waren hinsichtlich des Schwierigkeitsgrads der Untertests größtenteils vergleichbar. In Abhängigkeit vom Bildungsgrad war die Parallelität beider Versionen jedoch unzureichend. Die Untertests unterschieden sich teilweise in ihrem Potenzial zur Differenzierungsfähigkeit altersbedingter Gedächtnisveränderungen sowohl mit als auch ohne Berücksichtigung der Schulbildung. Die Untertests des RBMT-E zeigten sich allerdings sensitiv gegenüber Alterseffekten. Der Gesamtwert des RBMT-E ermöglichte ebenfalls eine sehr gute Differenzierung der altersbedingten Gedächtnisleistungen. Der RBMT-E ist somit eine sinnvolle Weiterentwicklung und Ergänzung des RBMT und erlaubt eine differenzierte Diagnostik altersassoziierter Gedächtnisveränderungen.