bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Properties of ASR-Affected Concrete Containing Fine or Coarse Reactive Aggregates
Authors: Smaoui N , Bissonnette B , Bérubé M-A , Fournier B , Durand B
Published: January 2006

This experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of the alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) on the mechanical properties of concrete, and in particular the strength and the modulus of elasticity under direct tension. Two highly reactive aggregates, a coarse (Québec City limestone) and a fine (Texas sand) were used. The results suggest that the effects of ASR on the mechanical properties of concrete may vary with the reactive aggregate involved. At least, they depend on the particle size and/or the degree of reactivity of this aggregate. The direct tensile strength was the mechanical property of concrete, the most affected and the most-rapidly affected by ASR. At 0.1 % expansion, for instance, concrete cylinders cast with the Québec City limestone showed moderate losses of 16 % in compressive strength and in splitting strength (Brazilian test), but as high as 48 % in direct tensile strength. The modulus of elasticity presented similar values in compression and in direct tension, and its reduction also gives a very good idea of the progress of the damage due to ASR. At 0.1 % expansion, for instance, concrete cylinders containing the Québec City limestone showed a loss in modulus of 19 % in direct tension and 23 % in compression.
Peripheral Myelin Protein 22 Is in Complex with α6β4 Integrin, and Its Absence Alters the Schwann Cell Basal Lamina
Authors: Amici Stephanie A. , Dunn William A. , Murphy Andrew J. , Adams Niels C. , Gale Nicholas W. , Valenzuela David M. , Yancopoulos George D. , Notterpek Lucia
Published: January 2006

Peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) is a tetraspan membrane glycoprotein, the misexpression of which is associated with hereditary demyelinating neuropathies. Myelinating Schwann cells (SCs) produce the highest levels of PMP22, yet the function of the protein in peripheral nerve biology is unresolved. To investigate the potential roles of PMP22, we engineered a novel knock-out (−/−) mouse line by replacing the first two coding exons ofpmp22with thelacZreporter. PMP22-deficient mice show strong β-galactosidase reactivity in peripheral nerves, cartilage, intestines, and lungs, whereas phenotypically they display the characteristics of tomaculous neuropathy. In the absence of PMP22, myelination of peripheral nerves is delayed, and numerous axon–SC profiles show loose basal lamina, suggesting altered interactions of the glial cells with the extracellular matrix. The levels of β4 integrin, a molecule involved in the linkage between SCs and the basal lamina, are severely reduced in nerves of PMP22-deficient mice. During early stages of myelination, PMP22 and β4 integrin are coexpressed at the cell surface and can be coimmunoprecipitated together with laminin and α6 integrin. In agreement, in clone A colonic carcinoma cells, epitope-tagged PMP22 forms a complex with β4 integrin. Together, these data indicate that PMP22 is a binding partner in the integrin/laminin complex and is involved in mediating the interaction of SCs with the extracellular environment.
Simultaneous NMDA-Dependent Long-Term Potentiation of EPSCs and Long-Term Depression of IPSCs in Cultured Rat Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Ivenshitz Miriam , Segal Menahem
Published: January 2006

A fundamental issue in understanding activity-dependent long-term plasticity of neuronal networks is the interplay between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic drives in the network. Using dual whole-cell recordings in cultured hippocampal neurons, we examined synaptic changes occurring as a result of a transient activation of NMDA receptors in the network. This enhanced transient activation led to a long-lasting increase in synchrony of spontaneous activity of neurons in the network. Simultaneous long-term potentiation of excitatory synaptic strength and a pronounced long-term depression of inhibitory synaptic currents (LTDi) were produced, which were independent of changes in postsynaptic potential and Ca2+concentrations. Surprisingly, miniature inhibitory synaptic currents were not changed by the conditioning, whereas both frequency and amplitudes of miniature EPSCs were enhanced. LTDi was mediated by activation of a presynaptic GABABreceptor, because it was blocked by saclofen andCGP55845[(2S)-3-{[(15)-1-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]amino-2-hydroxypropyl)(phenylmethyl)phosphinic acid]. The cAMP antagonist Rp-adenosine 3 ′, 5 ′ -cyclic monophosphothioate abolished all measured effects of NMDA-dependent conditioning, whereas a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor was ineffective. Finally, network-induced plasticity was not occluded by a previous spike-timing-induced plasticity, indicating that the two types of plasticity may not share the same mechanism. These results demonstrate that network plasticity involves opposite affects on inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission.
Splice Variants of the NR1 Subunit Differentially Induce NMDA Receptor-Dependent Gene Expression
Authors: Bradley John , Carter Sarah R. , Rao Vikram R. , Wang Jun , Finkbeiner Steven
Published: January 2006

Subunits of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) associate with many postsynaptic proteins that substantially broaden its signaling capacity. Although much work has been focused on the signaling of NR2 subunits, little is known about the role of the NR1 subunit. We set out to elucidate the role of the C terminus of the NR1 subunit in NMDAR signaling. By introducing a C-terminal deletion mutant of the NR1 subunit into cultured neurons fromNR1−/−mice, we found that the C terminus was essential for NMDAR inactivation, downstream signaling, and gene expression, but not for global increases in intracellular Ca2+. Therefore, whereas NMDARs can increase Ca2+throughout the neuron, NMDAR-dependent signaling, both local and long range, requires coupling through the NR1 C terminus. Two major NR1 splice variants differ by the presence or absence of a C-terminal domain, C1, which is determined by alternative splicing of exon 21. Analysis of these two variants showed that removal of this domain significantly reduced the efficacy of NMDAR-induced gene expression without affecting receptor inactivation. Thus, the NR1 C terminus couples to multiple downstream signaling pathways that can be modulated selectively by RNA splicing.
Arrestin Translocation Is Induced at a Critical Threshold of Visual Signaling and Is Superstoichiometric to Bleached Rhodopsin
Authors: Strissel Katherine J. , Sokolov Maxim , Trieu Lynn H. , Arshavsky Vadim Y.
Published: January 2006

Light induces massive translocation of major signaling proteins between the subcellular compartments of photoreceptors. Among them is visual arrestin responsible for quenching photoactivated rhodopsin, which moves into photoreceptor outer segments during illumination. Here, for the first time, we determined the light dependency of arrestin translocation, which revealed two key features of this phenomenon. First, arrestin translocation is triggered when the light intensity approaches a critical threshold corresponding to the upper limits of the normal range of rod responsiveness. Second, the amount of arrestin entering rod outer segments under these conditions is superstoichiometric to the amount of photoactivated rhodopsin, exceeding it by at least 30-fold. We further showed that it is not the absolute amount of excited rhodopsin but rather the extent of downstream cascade activity that triggers translocation. Finally, we demonstrated that the total amount of arrestin in the rod cell is nearly 10-fold higher than previously thought and therefore sufficient to inactivate the entire pool of rhodopsin at any level of illumination. Thus, arrestin movement to the outer segment leads to an increase in the free arrestin concentration and thereby may serve as a powerful mechanism of light adaptation.
A Critical Role for Dorsal Progenitors in Cortical Myelination
Authors: Yue Tao , Xian Kendy , Hurlock Edward , Xin Mei , Kernie Steven G. , Parada Luis F. , Lu Q. Richard
Published: January 2006

Much controversy regarding the anatomical sources of oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord and hindbrain has been resolved. However, the relative contribution of dorsal and ventral progenitors to myelination of the cortex is still a subject of debate. To assess the contribution of dorsal progenitors to cortical myelination, we ablated the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Olig2 in the developing dorsal telencephalon. InOlig2-ablated cortices, myelination is arrested at the progenitor stage. Under these conditions, ventrally derived oligodendrocytes migrate dorsally into theOlig2-ablated territory but cannot fully compensate for myelination deficits observed at postnatal stages. Thus, spatially restricted ablation of Olig2 function unmasks a contribution of dorsal progenitors to cortical myelination that is much greater than hitherto appreciated.
Barrel Cortex Microcircuits: Thalamocortical Feedforward Inhibition in Spiny Stellate Cells Is Mediated by a Small Number of Fast-Spiking Interneurons
Authors: Sun Qian-Quan , Huguenard John R. , Prince David A.
Published: January 2006

Inhibitory and excitatory neurons located in rodent barrel cortex are known to form functional circuits mediating vibrissal sensation. Excitatory neurons located in a single barrel greatly outnumber interneurons, and form extensive reciprocal excitatory synaptic contacts. Inhibitory and excitatory networks must interact to shape information ascending to cortex. The details of these interactions, however, have not been completely explored. Using paired intracellular recordings, we studied the properties of synaptic connections between spiny neurons (i.e., spiny stellate and pyramidal cells) and interneurons, as well as integration of thalamocortical (TC) input, in layer IV barrels of rat thalamocortical slices. Results show the following: (1) the strength of unitary excitatory connections of spiny neurons is similar among different targets; (2) although inhibition from regular-spiking nonpyramidal interneurons to spiny neurons is comparable in strength to excitatory connections, inhibition mediated by fast-spiking (FS) interneurons is 10 times more powerful; (3) TC EPSPs elicit reliable and precisely timed action potentials in FS neurons; and (4) a small number of FS neurons mediate thalamocortical feedforward inhibition in each spiny neuron and can powerfully shunt TC-mediated excitation. The ready activation of FS cells by TC inputs, coupled with powerful feedforward inhibition from these neurons, would profoundly influence sensory processing and constrain runaway excitationin vivo.
Almost Heaven Leadership, Decline and the Transformation of New Vrindaban
Authors: Rochford E. Burke , Bailey Kendra
Published: January 2006

An important if underdeveloped focus of scholars interested in the fate of new religions is in the factors that influence their success, decline, and failure. Among the factors most critical to the development of new religions is legitimate authority. We describe how a crisis of leadership authority at New Vrindaban, a renegade Hare Krishna community in West Virginia, brought about an exodus of community residents, financial decline, conflict, and the ultimate transformation of the community's mission. Findings from a 2003 survey are presented to assess how the community's membership has responded to New Vrindaban's transformed purpose as an institution of pilgrimage.

I can remember when I was struck with the concept of Srila Prabhupada wanting a new Vrndavana when I came in 1973. I sold myself out to that dream. The dream turned into a horrific nightmare for so many, through no fault of their own. I pray to give myself like that again. But instead I am hiding in a little closet even while I remain here [at New Vrindaban].
The 2012 Phenomenon New Age Appropriation of an Ancient Mayan Calendar
Authors: Sitler Robert K.
Published: January 2006

According to the ancient Mayan Long Count calendar, a cycle of more than 5,000 years will come to fruition on the winter solstice of 2012. While this date is largely unknown among contemporary Maya, some participants in the New Age movement believe it will mark an apocalyptic global transformation. Hundreds of books and Internet sites speculate wildly about the 2012 date, but little of this conjecture has a factual basis in Mayan culture. This paper provides an overview of the primary currents in the 2012 phenomenon, examines their sources, and speculates about developments as this highly anticipated date approaches.
Millennial Expectations in the Grail Movement
Authors: Vojtisek Zdenek
Published: January 2006

Although millennialism has recently been the subject of much scholarly discussion, no research has been done on the millennial expectations of the Grail Movement, which has been influential in Europe. This article describes the beginnings of this millennial group in central Europe before the Second World War and sums up the basics of the Grail Message. After the death of the founder and the restoration of religious freedom in postwar Europe, the Movement overcame disappointment by replacing the emphasis on the imminent millennial kingdom with an emphasis on individual spiritual evolution. The millennial expectations of the Grail Movement, however, are still alive, especially in offshoots. They were reintroduced in a dramatic way in the early 1990s by a Czech, Jan Dvorsky. The rise and the fall of his group, the Imanuelites, are described to show how millennial ideas can be renewed.
The 4E‐ms System of Producing Hybrid Wheat
Authors: Zhou Kuanji , Wang Shihong , Feng Yuqin , Liu Zhongxiang , Wang Genxuan
Published: January 2006

A cytogenetic method for producing hybrid seed using a nuclear gene for male sterility and an alien chromosome to obtain a pollination control system has been proposed in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Our objective was to transfer the alien chromosome 4E to the monogenic recessive male‐sterile mutant Lanzhou (LZ), and then to establish an efficient cytogenetic system of maintaining the male sterility of the LZ mutant. After crossing the 4E disomic addition line 81529 (2n = 44) as male to LZ [2n = 42(msms) = 42], we obtained the 4E monosomic addition line [2n = 43(msms)] in the F3 generation that had light‐blue seed color. The line was homozygous for the male‐sterile gene (msms) of the host wheat and also had good self‐fertility. The self‐fertilized seeds segregated into 64.3% white (nonblue) with genotype 2n = 42(msms), 32.1% light blue with genotype 2n = 43(msms) and 3.6% deep blue with genotype 2n = 44(msms) grains. All plants grown from the white grains were completely male sterile. All plants grown from the light‐blue grains had good self‐fertility whose progeny seeds segregated into white, light‐blue, and deep‐blue grains again in succeeding generations. All plants grown from the deep‐blue grains were self‐fertile and retained their deep‐blue color in the succeeding generations. When white grain male‐sterile lines were crossed using any cultivar as the male parent, the hybrid plants had male fertility restored. And, this is the basis for the 4E‐ms system of producing hybrid wheat.
Outcrossing in Annual Canarygrass
Authors: Matus‐Cádiz M. A. , Hucl P.
Published: January 2006

Currently recommended minimum isolation distances of 3 and 10 m for pedigreed seed production of annual canarygrass (Phalaris canariensis L.; 2n = 2x = 12) may not be sufficient to maintain the purity of seed lots. The objective of this study was to estimate outcrossing (OC) rates of annual canarygrass over various distances and directions, using the pubescent‐hulled trait as a dominant detectable marker. In 2001 and 2002, 5‐ × 5‐m pubescent‐hulled pollinator blocks (‘Cantate’) were sown and surrounded by recipient rows of glabrous‐hulled annual canarygrass (‘CDC Maria’) at Saskatoon, SK. At maturity, 0.5‐ × 5‐m strips were harvested at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 m along four transects (N, S, E, W) radiating out from the central pollinator block. Outcrossing from Cantate to recipient plants was identified by the expression of trichomes on the hulls of F1 derived seed. In both years, OC rates adjacent to the pollinator did not exceed ≤2.2%, while OC rates declined rapidly to 0% (2001) or trace levels (0.05%, 2002) at 30 m. Elevated OC to the N of the pollinator was associated with prevailing winds in both years. Maximum OC rates of ≤2.2% support the suggestion that annual canarygrass is predominantly self‐fertilizing. In both years, low OC rates of ≤0.07% were observed at 24 m, suggesting that currently recommended minimum isolation distances may be inadequate to reduce outcrossed derived off‐types to acceptable levels in pedigreed annual canarygrass seed.
Manipulating Stem Number, Tuber Set, and Yield Relationships for Northern‐ and Southern‐Grown Potato Seed Lots
Authors: Knowles N. Richard , Knowles Lisa O.
Published: January 2006

The ability to predict tuber set and size development for a particular lot of seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L) would facilitate the development of techniques for optimizing tuber grade. Toward this goal, stem number, tuber set, yield, and grade relationships were manipulated and modeled for northern‐ (Alberta, Canada) and southern‐grown (Montana and Washington) Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank seed potatoes. Seed‐tubers with a range in apical dominance were produced by varying the temperature (aging) at the beginning of a 200‐d storage period. Seed source affected stem numbers, tuber set, and size, with southern seed producing more but smaller tubers than northern seed; however, seed source had no effect on total and U.S. No. 1 tuber yields. Tuber set and size distributions were highly correlated with stem numbers, the latter increasing substantially when storage degree days were held constant but temperature was increased. Changes in tuber size distribution with increasing stems occurred with relatively little effect on total, U.S. No. 1, and marketable tuber yields. Therefore, in a long growing season area like the Columbia Basin, adding heat units to seed at the beginning of storage effectively alters tuber size distribution. The differential behavior of these seed sources, along with the ability to predict tuber set and size from mainstem numbers, provides an opportunity to adjust agronomic practices to optimize yield for specific markets.
Using Qualitative Methods to Evaluate and Make Change in the Work Environment
Authors: Roelofs Cora
Published: January 2006

The work environment is a particularly fertile field for the use of qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews and open-ended surveys. These methods are well suited to the task of unearthing complex authentic perspectives that in the work environment context are so often influenced by social and political forces. The results of such methods can be especially powerful in enhancing our understanding of why change to better protect workers' health and safety does or does not happen and to persuade policy makers of the importance of positive change.
Gender and Cleaner Production: Toward a Framework for Including Gender Analysis When Developing Strategies and Designing Solutions
Authors: Edwards Sally , Quinn Margaret
Published: January 2006

Environmental policies that do not consider global gender dimensions often create benefits for some people and ecosystems but result in costs for others, in particular women, at some point along the global chain of production and consumption. This article is intended to begin a dialogue about the importance of including gender analysis in the design of cleaner production strategies. We review global development policy and its critiques that have identified a need for gender awareness and analysis. This examination provides a backdrop for a discussion of how to include gender analysis in cleaner production planning and implementation. We invite researchers and practitioners to enter this dialogue to further the field and develop effective tools and policies to analyze gender dynamics, support gender equity, and find environmentally sound solutions that are sustainable for the long-term.
An Experimental Investigation of Sexual Discrimination in Hiring in the English Labor Market
Authors: Riach Peter A , Rich Judith
Published: January 2006

Pairs of carefully-matched, written applications were made to advertised job vacancies in England to test for sexual discrimination in hiring. Two standard résumés were constructed for each occupation to control for all relevant supply-side variables, such as qualifications, experience and age. Consequently any differential response recorded can be attributed to demand-side discrimination. Statistically significant discrimination against men was found in the `female occupation' - secretary, and against women in the `male occupation' - engineer. Statistically significant, and unprecedented, discrimination against men was found in two `mixed occupations' - trainee chartered accountant and computer analyst programmer.
The Marginal Cost of Funds from Public Sector Borrowing
Authors: Dahlby Bev
Published: January 2006

An expression for the welfare cost of a marginal increase in the public debt is derived using a simple AK endogenous growth model. This measure of the marginal cost of public funds (MCF) can be interpreted as the marginal benefit-cost ratio that a debt-financed public project needs in order to generate a net social gain. The model predicts an increase in the public debt ratio will have little effect on the optimal public expenditure ratio and that most of the adjustment will occur on the tax side of the budget.
Un-Muddling Homeland Security: Design Principles for National Security in a Complex World
Authors: Demchak Chris C.
Published: January 2006

Professor Demchak criticizes the current Homeland Security Agency proposal as a convenient piling together of overstretched small agencies. After identifying principles appropriate for designing complex systems, she then applies these principles for strategies to strengthen U.S. domestic security. She recommends developing an Atrium of information, or a semi-living database that captures, creates and shares knowledge across agencies rapidly. Such a system would also be capable of mitigating "rogue outcomes" that cannot be known beforehand under any circumstances. She closes by providing guidelines to assess progress in implementing these strategies.
George W. Bush's Presidential Project and Its Prospects
Authors: Schier Steven E
Published: January 2006

Professor Schier argues that the central aim of the Bush presidency is to complete the project of political reconstruction begun by Reagan, namely to dislodge liberal conceptions about the proper role of government and implant a conservative regime of military hawkishness, supply-side economics, and enhanced executive power at the expense of Congress. From a political perspective, the Bush team has done an admirable job reviving Reagan era initiatives by using political tactics that appeal to swing voters even as policies reflect the preferences of the conservative GOP base. Bush has successfully challenged institutional thickening that impedes genuine political change. Long term, however, Schier predicts a rift in the Republican Party over growing deficits, which threatens the presidential project to redefine government.
Red and Blue Scare: The Continuing Diversity of the American Electoral Landscape
Authors: Klinkner Philip A
Published: January 2006

Despite often breathless claims in the media, there is little evidence to suggest that the United States is becoming increasingly segregated along political lines. Most Americans continue to live in electorally competitive areas and where they have a great deal of exposure to members of the other party.
In the Wake of BCRA: An Early Report on Campaign Finance in the 2004 Elections
Authors: Corrado Anthony , Mann Thomas E.
Published: January 2006

Early experience with federal campaign finance reform suggests that the new law is fulfilling its primary objective of severing links between policymakers and large donors, and thus reducing the potential for corruption in the political process. Instead of languishing or seeking to circumvent the law, the national political parties have responded to the ban on soft money by increasing their hard money resources. While outside groups appear active, particularly on the Democratic side, their soft money financing should remain a small fraction of what candidates and parties will raise and spend in the 2004 Elections.
Will America Ever Pay? Racial Justice and Reparations
Authors: Tate Katherine
Published: January 2006

In this essay, I explore the question of how the government will likely respond to demands by Black activists to compensate the descendants of Black slaves for the historical injustice of slavery in the United States. Public opinion surveys reveal strong racial divisions on the question of whether the U.S. government should compensate or apologize to the descendants of Black slaves. Based on my efforts to gain an officers commission for my fathers military service in World War II as well as the recent case of discrimination against Black farmers by the Department of Agriculture, I argue that it is unlikely that the government will compensate Blacks monetarily for the historical injustice of slavery. However, I think that an apology by the U.S. government will ultimately be issued.
Bellwether Politics in Missouri
Authors: Robertson David Brian
Published: January 2006

Professor Robertson explains what makes Missouri a consistent bellwether state in presidential politics, and points to trends in the electorate that show why it will continue to be a microcosm of American politics. In describing recent state campaigns, he demonstrates how the deep urban-rural split in Missouri will endure far beyond the 2004 elections. Missouri Republicans have seized the advantage of a growing rural base and nurtured a rural-suburban alliance. While demographic and policy trends have weakened the Democrats, their ability to adapt has kept them competitive in statewide elections. Early returns in St. Louis County may indicate how Missouri will deliver its electoral votes.
Partisanship, Chauvinism, and Reverse Racial Dynamics in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Election
Authors: Sadow Jeffrey D.
Published: January 2006

Skinner and Klinkner (2004) argue that attitudes reflecting racial prejudice were present in the 2003 Louisiana governors race, and were even stronger in north Louisiana. Utilizing as did they aggregate data with an approach that better fits theory and available data, this study shows that they overstate the significance and importance of presumed racial prejudice in the election, especially statewide. Across the state, attitudes reflecting racial prejudice had no impact on the vote decision, and where they did in north Louisiana, the effects were small enough that they did not change the outcome of the contest. However, using individual-level data showed that partisan effects strongly controlled voting in this contest; in fact, non-Republicans displayed a chauvinistic tendency in their voting while a Republican partisanship negated this effect. Conflating various meanings to variables and inferior indicators explains the less-valid results and interpretations achieved by the use of aggregate data compared to the individual-level data.
Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty
Authors: Rothman Stanley , Lichter S. Robert , Nevitte Neil
Published: January 2006

This article first examines the ideological composition of American university faculty and then tests whether ideological homogeneity has become self-reinforcing. A randomly based national survey of 1643 faculty members from 183 four-year colleges and universities finds that liberals and Democrats outnumber conservatives and Republicans by large margins, and the differences are not limited to elite universities or to the social sciences and humanities. A multivariate analysis finds that, even after taking into account the effects of professional accomplishment, along with many other individual characteristics, conservatives and Republicans teach at lower quality schools than do liberals and Democrats. This suggests that complaints of ideologically-based discrimination in academic advancement deserve serious consideration and further study. The analysis finds similar effects based on gender and religiosity, i.e., women and practicing Christians teach at lower quality schools than their professional accomplishments would predict.
Social Science in the Public Interest: To What Extent Did the Media Cover "Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America"?
Authors: Baker Wayne
Published: January 2006

I consider the extent to which Culture War? reached its intended audiencethe general publicusing systematic data on print media coverage in the United States. Most major newspapers and national magazines cited the books findings. Coverage appears to be higher in the Northeast and South than in the Midwest and West. Proportionally more publications in blue states than in red states covered the book. Print media coverage peaked around the November 2004 elections. Overall, the book reached its target audience.
Primary Instability Paradox: The Ethics of Media Coverage in Presidential Nominations
Authors: Cline Andrew R
Published: January 2006

This essay explores the ethics of how the press covers presidential nomination campaigns. It considers the implications of a predictive model that demonstrates how the nomination process limits voters' choices. Nominees may be predicted with a high degree of success before voting begins. Horse-race press coverage of the pre-primary period dramatically characterizes the process as unstable and up for grabs. By doing so, the press paradoxically contributes to the stability and, therefore, is complicit in limiting voter choice. The essay argues for telling the story of the impact of policy and governance on citizens lives.
What Katrina Means for Emergency Management
Authors: Roberts Patrick S.
Published: January 2006

Taken alone, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina does not reveal much about the capacity of the federal government to address the usual disasters that occur each year, but it does point to the limits of the governments current capacity to address catastrophe. Policymakers should use the window of opportunity following Katrina to deliberate about how much responsibility the federal government, and therefore taxpayers, will bear for major disasters. Surely the government must step in when states and localities are overwhelmed by catastrophe. But disaster preparation and response also requires cooperation between states, localities, and the private sector. Strengthening the disaster profession will help provide a common language of preparedness to be shared by the diverse public and private authorities who prepare for and respond to disasters.
Teaching Through Storytelling: An Exemplar
Authors: Cangelosi Pamela R. , Whitt Karen J.
Published: January 2006

Many new faculty are being hired to fill the ever-increasing vacancies created by the attrition of current faculty members. To meet the diverse demands of today's educational climate, new faculty must develop an understanding of a variety of learning environments and skill in traditional and contemporary teaching strategies. This article presents storytelling as one strategy for educating potential new faculty in online instruction in an undergraduate nursing research course.
Using Imaginative Literature to Foster Cultural Sensitivity
Authors: Newcomb Patricia , Cagle Carolyn , Walker Charles
Published: January 2006

Readings from two novels, Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, were included in maternal-child clinical courses as part of a pilot project to identify potentially effective strategies for increasing student cultural sensitivity and reflective thinking skills. The authors analyzed student journals to determine student values and beliefs during maternal-child clinical experiences. The study sample consisted of 40 young women enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program in a private, liberal arts university. These young women consistently interpreted `the other' in their own image. They responded most strongly to themes of belonging, including the struggles of immigrants to `fit in,' the ways of being acceptable and valued in U.S. society, and the process through which students as nurses learn to accept and care for others who are different.
Effect of withholding feed on concentration and composition of plasma very low density lipoprotein and serum nonesterified fatty acids in horses
Authors: Frank Nicholas , Sojka Janice E. , Latour Mickey A.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To measure and compare the concentration and composition of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in plasma and selected lipids in serum of horses fed mixed grass hay ad libitum or denied feed for 36 hours.

Animals—4 healthy adult mares.

Procedure—Mares were either fed mixed grass hay ad libitum or denied feed for 36 hours beginning at 8:00 AM. Blood samples were collected every 2 hours during the study period and analyzed for nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), triglyceride (TG), VLDL, and glucose concentrations and composition of VLDL.

Results—Withholding feed significantly increased mean serum concentrations of NEFA. By 36 hours, a 16-fold increase in mean serum NEFA concentration and 2-fold increase in mean plasma VLDL concentration, compared with baseline values, were detected. Mean plasma TG concentrations significantly increased with time in feed-deprived horses. Significantly lower overall mean plasma glucose concentrations were detected in feed-deprived horses. Mean percentage of protein in VLDL was significantly lower in feed-deprived horses. Plasma VLDL concentrations varied widely among horses in response to withholding feed. Plasma TG and VLDL concentrations remained unaltered in 2 horses.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Withholding feed significantly increases blood lipid concentrations in horses, but individual horses respond differently. Serum NEFA concentrations were increased in all 4 horses denied feed, indicating mobilization of tissue triglyceride stores. Variation in plasma VLDL concentration in response to withholding feed suggests that its metabolism is strongly influenced by other, as yet undetermined, factors in horses. Differences in the plasma VLDL concentrations among horses in response to withholding feed may be used as an indication of susceptibility to the hyperlipemic syndrome of Equidae. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1018–1021)
Laparoscopic-assisted cystopexy in dogs
Authors: Rawlings Clarence A. , Howerth Elizabeth W. , Mahaffey Mary B. , Foutz Tim L. , Bement Shannon , Canalis Chanda
Published: January 2006

Objective—To develop a laparoscopic-assisted technique for cystopexy in dogs.

Animals—8 healthy male dogs, 7 healthy female dogs, and 3 client-owned dogs with retroflexion of the urinary bladder secondary to perineal herniation.

Procedure—Dogs were anesthetized, and positive pressure ventilation was provided. In the healthy male dogs, the serosal surface of the bladder was sutured to the abdominal wall. In the healthy female dogs, the serosa and muscular layer of the bladder were incised and sutured to the aponeurosis of the external and internal abdominal oblique muscles. Dogs were monitored daily for 30 days after surgery.

Results—All dogs recovered rapidly after surgery and voided normally. In the female dogs, results of urodynamic (leak point pressure and urethral pressure profilometry) and contrast radiographic studies performed 30 days after surgery were similar to results obtained before surgery. Cystopexy was successful in all 3 client-owned dogs, but 1 of these dogs was subsequently euthanatized because of leakage from a colopexy performed at the same time as the cystopexy.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—The laparoscopic-assisted cystopexy technique was quick, easy to perform, and not associated with urinary tract infection or abnormalities of urination. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1226–1231).
Short-term effect of therapeutic shoeing on severity of lameness in horses with chronic laminitis
Authors: Taylor Danny , Hood David M. , Wagner Ilka P.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To evaluate the short-term effects of 4
therapeutic shoeing systems on lameness and voluntary
limb-load distribution in horses with chronic
laminitis.

Animals—10 horses with chronic laminitis.

Procedures—A clinical trial was conducted that used
a concurrent control, crossover design to evaluate
the relative effectiveness of a standard flat shoe,
fullered egg-bar shoe, heart-bar shoe, and modified
equine digital support system to alleviate chronic
lameness in horses. Therapeutic success was
assessed during a 7-day period by use of subjective
(Obel grade and clinical score) and objective (forceplate
data) evaluations.

Results—Comparison of pretreatment and intertreatment
control data indicated that disease status of the
horses did not change during the course of the study.
None of the therapeutic shoeing treatments used
resulted in a significant change in severity of lameness.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results were
interpreted to imply that substantial clinical improvement
should not be expected during the first 7 days
after therapeutic shoeing for the specific shoes tested
in this study. On the basis of our results, we
hypothesize that when used as the lone indicator of
therapeutic success, severity of lameness may not be
a valid indicator. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1629–1633)
Spontaneous in vitro contractile activity of specimens from the abomasal wall of healthy cows and comparison among dairy breeds
Authors: Zulauf Marc , Spring Cécile , Eicher Richard , Meylan Mireille , Hirsbrunner Gaby , Scholtysik Günter , Steiner Adrian
Published: January 2006

Objective—To characterize and compare in vitro contractility patterns of sections of abomasal wall harvested from cattle of 3 dairy breeds.

Sample Population—Longitudinal and circular smooth muscle preparations harvested from the antrum and body of the abomasum of 30 recently slaughtered Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental X Red Holstein cows.

Procedure—Spontaneous isometric contractions of specimens in tissue baths of modified Krebs solution were recorded during a 4-hour period. Maximal amplitude, frequency of contractions, and change of basal tension were used to characterize contractility. Statistical analyses were used to test for differences among time periods, among breeds, between specimen locations, and between fiber orientations.

Results—Myoactivity patterns of abomasal smooth muscle preparations are highly variable and differ on the basis of location and fiber orientation. Frequency of contractions differed significantly among time periods for longitudinally oriented specimens with decreasing frequencies of contractions over time. Maximal amplitude of the longitudinally oriented specimens from the antrum increased significantly, whereas maximal amplitude of the circularly oriented specimens from the antrum decreased significantly. Values did not differ significantly among breeds.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Patterns of spontaneous contractility of abomasal wall specimens are not homogeneous. During a 4-hour recording period, maximal amplitude and frequency of contractions of specimens varied significantly with respect to orientation and location; however, spontaneous contractile myoactivity did not differ significantly among breeds. Therefore, breed predisposition for displaced abomasum is not correlated with spontaneous activity of smooth muscle specimens. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1687–1694)
Effect of desmopressin acetate administration on primary hemostasis in Doberman Pinschers with type-1 von Willebrand disease as assessed by a point-of-care instrument
Authors: Callan Mary Beth , Giger Urs
Published: January 2006

Objective—To evaluate primary hemostasis following administration of desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) to Doberman Pinschers with type-1 von Willebrand disease (vWD).

Animals—16 nonanemic Doberman Pinschers with type-1 vWD.

Procedure—Closure time (CT), defined as time required for occlusion of an aperture by a platelet plug assessed within the point-of-care instrument, plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentration, and buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) were determined before and 1 hour after administration of DDAVP (1 µg/kg, SC).

Results—Baseline closure times measured with adenosine diphosphate ([ADP-CT], 108 to > 300 seconds; reference range, 52 to 86 seconds) and epinephrine ([EPI-CT], 285 to > 300 seconds; 97 to 225 seconds) as platelet agonists were prolonged in all dogs. Following DDAVP administration, ADP-CT (59 to 186 seconds) was significantly shortened from baseline, but there was no decrease in EPI-CT. Although mean plasma vWF concentration increased significantly after DDAVP administration, only 1 dog had an increase of > 35 U/dL. There was no correlation between increase in plasma vWF concentration and shortening of the ADP-CT. Baseline BMBT was prolonged in 12 of 14 dogs, with significant shortening of BMBT after DDAVP administration in 6 of 7 dogs. In vitro replacement of vWF-deficient plasma with plasma from an unaffected dog shortened the ADP-CT, whereas in vitro addition of DDAVP had no effect.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of DDAVP to Doberman Pinschers with type-1 vWD resulted in improved hemostatic function, as assessed by the point-of-care instrument and shortening of BMBT, despite minimal increase in plasma vWF concentration. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1700–1706)
Sound signature for identification and quantification of upper airway disease in horses
Authors: Cable Christina S. , Ducharme Norm G. , Hackett Richard P. , Erb Hollis N. , Mitchell Lisa M. , Soderholm L. Vincent
Published: January 2006

Objective—To investigate whether upper airway sounds of horses exercising with laryngeal hemiplegia and alar fold paralysis have distinct sound characteristics, compared with unaffected horses.

Animals—6 mature horses.

Procedure—Upper airway sounds were recorded in horses exercising on a high-speed treadmill at maximum heart rate (HRMAX) under 3 treatment conditions (ie, normal upper airway function [control condition], and after induction of left laryngeal hemiplegia or bilateral alar fold paralysis) in a randomized crossover design. Fundamental frequency, spectrograms using Gabor transform, and intensity characteristics of acquired sounds (peak sound level [soundpeak] and highest frequency of at least –25 dB sound intensity [F25max]) were evaluated.

Results—Evaluation of the fundamental frequency of the time domain signal was not useful. Sensitivity and specificity (83 and 75%, respectively) of spectrograms were greatest at maximal exercise, but the exact abnormal condition was identified in evaluation of only 12 of 18 spectrograms. Increased accuracy was obtained using soundpeakand F25maxas discriminating variables. The use of soundpeakdiscriminated between control and laryngeal hemiplegia conditions and F25maxbetween laryngeal hemiplegia and alar fold paralysis conditions. This increased the specificity of sound analysis to 92% (sensitivity 83%) and accurately classified the abnormal state in 92% of affected horses.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Sound analysis might be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of horses with upper airway obstruction, but would appear to require close attention to exercise intensity. Multiple measurements of recorded sounds might be needed to obtain sufficient accuracy for clinical use. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1707–1713)
Prevalence and importance of internal tandem duplications in exons 11 and 12 of c- kit in mast cell tumors of dogs
Authors: Downing Sue , Chien May B. , Kass Philip H. , Moore Peter F. , London Cheryl A.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To determine the prevalence of activating internal tandem duplications (ITDs) in exons 11 and 12 of c-kitin mast cell tumors (MCTs) of dogs and to correlate these mutations with prognosis.

Sample Population—157 formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded MCTs from dogs in the pathology database of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis.

Procedure—Genomic DNA was isolated from tumor specimens and a polymerase chain reaction procedure was performed to determine whether there were ITDs in exons 11 and 12.

Results—We identified ITDs in 1 of 12 (8%) grade-I, 42 of 119 (35%) grade-II, and 9 of 26 (35%) grade-III tumors (overall prevalence, 52 of 157 [33%]). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of grade-II and -III tumors possessing an ITD were approximately 5 times greater than that for grade-I tumors, although these odds did not differ significantly. Although MCTs possessing an ITD were twice as likely to recur after excision and twice as likely to result in metastasis as those without an ITD, these values also did not differ significantly.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—These results provide evidence that ITDs in c-kitoccur frequently in MCTs of dogs. The high prevalence of c-kitactivating mutations in MCTs of dogs combined with the relative abundance of mast cell disease in dogs provide an ideal naturally developing tumor in which to test the safety and efficacy of novel small-molecule kinase inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate. (Am J Vet Res2002;63:1718–1723)
In vitro effects of oxytocin, acepromazine, detomidine, xylazine, butorphanol, terbutaline, isoproterenol, and dantrolene on smooth and skeletal muscles of the equine esophagus
Authors: Wooldridge Anne A. , Eades Susan C. , Hosgood Giselle L. , Moore Rustin M.
Published: January 2006

Objective—To characterize the in vitro effects of
oxytocin, acepromazine, xylazine, butorphanol,
detomidine, dantrolene, isoproterenol, and terbutaline
on skeletal and smooth muscle from the
equine esophagus.

Animals—14 adult horses without digestive tract disease.

Procedure—Circular and longitudinal strips from
the skeletal and smooth muscle of the esophagus
were suspended in tissue baths, connected to
force-displacement transducers interfaced with a
physiograph, and electrical field stimulation was
applied. Cumulative concentration-response curves
were generated for oxytocin, acepromazine,
xylazine, detomidine, butorphanol, isoproterenol,
terbutaline, and dantrolene. Mean maximum twitch
amplitude for 3 contractions/min was recorded and
compared with predrug-vehicle values for the
skeletal muscle segments, and area under the
curve (AUC) for 3 contractions/min was compared
with predrug-vehicle values for the smooth muscle
segments.

Results—No drugs caused a significant change in
skeletal muscle response. In smooth muscle, isoproterenol,
terbutaline, and oxytocin significantly
reduced AUC in a concentration-dependent manner.
Maximum reduction in AUC was 69% at 10–4M for
isoproterenol, 63% at 10–5M for terbutaline, and
64% at 10–4M for oxytocin.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Isoproterenol,
terbutaline, and oxytocin cause relaxation of the
smooth muscle portion of the esophagus. The clinical
relaxant effects on the proximal portion of the esophagus
reported of drugs such as oxytocin, detomidine,
and acepromazine may be the result of centrally mediated
mechanisms. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1732–1737)