bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Retrospective of Comparative Historical Sociology of Empires
Authors: Norkus Zenonas
Published: April 2008

The article discusses the problem that was recently raised in Lithuanian historical literature and public discourse by G. Beresnevi?ius, A. Bumblauskas, S.C. Rowell: was the medieval Lithuanian state (Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL) an empire? Traditional historiography did not use concepts of ``empire" and ``imperialism" in the work on GDL. For Non-Marxist Russian historians, GDL was simply another Russian state, so there could not be Russian imperialism against Russians. For Marxist historians, imperialism was a phase in the ``capitalist formation," immediately preceding the socialist revolution and bound to the specific period of world history, so the research on precapitalist empires and imperialism was suspect of anachronism. For the opposite reason, deriving from the hermeneutic methodology, the talk about how the medieval Lithuanian empire and imperialism was an anachronism for Non-Marxist Polish and German historians too, because they considered as Empires only polities that claimed to be successors to Roman Empire. However, the Lithuanian political elite never raised such claims, although theory of the Lithuanian descent from Romans (Legend of Palemon) could be used for this goal. Using the recent work in comparative historical sociology of empires by S.N. Eisenstadt, I. Wallerstein, A. Motyl, B. Buzan, R. Little, A. Watson, M. Beissinger, Ch. Tilly, Th.J. Barfield and M. Doyle, the author argues that GDL was an empire because it was (1) the greatest state in Europe in the late 14-early 15th century, (2) militarily expansive in all directions if not held in check by superior military power, (3) displayed the territorial structure characteristic for empires, consisting of metropole and periphery, (4) had an informal empire and sphere of hegemony, (5) established imperial ``Pax Lituanica" on broad territories securing long-distance trade roads. Typologically, it was a patrimonial empire, typologically distinct from the ``barbarian kingdoms" created by ancient Germans and Vikings. After the internal crisis in 1432-1440 that is interpreted as ``Augustan threshold" (in M. Doyle's sense), the Lithuanian empire evolved into a federal state by the early 16th century. Drawing on the distinction between ``primary empires" and ``shadow empires" proposed by Th.J. Barfield, GDL is classified as subtype of ``shadow empires," called ``vulture empires." GDL started as a ``vulture empire," using for its expansion a geopolitical situation created by the decline of the Mongol empire and aspiring to unite under its power all lands of the former Kiev Russia. The most important outcome of the failure of the Lithuanian imperial project is the emergence of the three different Eastern Slave peoples (Belorussian, Ukrainian, Great Russian), while the probable outcome of its success would be the continuation of the undivided old Russian ethnicity.
Vector Order Statistics Operators As Edge Detectors of Objects in Noised Colour Images
Authors: Niedziela Tadeusz , Krukar Wojciech
Published: April 2008

Vector Order Statistics Operators As Edge Detectors of Objects in Noised Colour Images

The paper offers review of most effective methods of detecting edges in noised colour images. Presented has been effectiveness of vector order operators and vector difference operators, as well as variants thereof enriched with filters of different types. Detectors gained in this way are complicated to different degrees from the viewpoint of computations, and resistant to impulsive and Gaussian noises. In the case of DV operators, addition of filtering elements significantly increases resistance thereof to the presence of noise. Best effects of edge extraction in noised images have been gained using the DV_α-trim operator.
Wybrane Charakterystyki Funkcjonalne Stopu Ni-Ti Z pamięcią Kształtu W Warunkach Obciążeń Termomechanicznych
Authors: KUŚ Krzysztof
Published: April 2008

Wybrane Charakterystyki Funkcjonalne Stopu Ni-Ti Z pamięcią Kształtu W Warunkach Obciążeń Termomechanicznych

Niniejszy artykuł dotyczy badania wybranych charakterystyk funkcjonalnych (głównie zmian odkształceń odzyskiwanych i trwałych) w stopie Ni-Ti w trakcie cyklicznego obciążania termomechanicznego. Efekt pamięci kształtu (SME) był oceniany na zestawie pomiarowym, w którym deformacja materiału odbywała się przez zginanie. SME był indukowany wskutek obciążeń termomechanicznych o różnych profilach. Wstępne wyżarzanie w różnych warunkach umożliwiło uzyskanie określonych temperatur krytycznych przemian fazowych w badanym stopie. Przemiany fazowe oceniano za pomocą różnicowej analizy kalorymetrycznej (DSC). Z kolei identyfikację fazową po obróbce wyżarzania przeprowadzono przy użyciu metody dyfrakcji promieniowania rentgenowskiego (XRD). Ustalono, że na zmiany badanych odkształceń mają wpływ różne stosowane profile obciążeń termomechanicznych, zwłaszcza realizacja odzysku kształtu w polu naprężen. Nie bez znaczenia są także zachodzące zmiany w mikrostrukturze materiału poddanego obciążeniom cyklicznym.
Effects of Low, Adequate and High Dietary Zinc Intake on Metabolic Interactions between Zinc, Copper and Iron in Different Mongolian Gerbil Tissues
Authors: Cerovic A. , Miletic I. , Blagojevic D. , Sobajic S. , Vasiljevska M. , Poznanic M. , Radusinovic M.
Published: April 2008

This study examined the influence of low, adequate and high dietary zinc intake on the growth and metabolic interactions between zinc, copper and iron in different Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) tissues. Animals were fed a basal diet (for 3 wk) containing a low-zinc level (8 mg/kg diet, LZ-group), adequate zinc level (25 mg/kg diet, AZ-group) and saturated zinc level (38 mg/kg diet, SZ-group). After comparing the body weight of gerbils, the present study demonstrated that the LZ-group (51.68 g ± 3.35) showed growth retardation, contrary to the AZ- and SZ-groups (58.03 g ± 2.18 and 62.35 g ± 2.04, respectively). Concentrations of zinc in the liver, kidneys and testes in the LZ-group (41.28, 19.58, 22.55 mg/kg, respectively) were significantly lower than in the AZ-group (57.27, 23.73, 28.79 mg/kg, respectively) and the SZ-group (73.06, 30.07, 34.52 mg/kg, respectively). Results also showed that copper and iron concentrations in the kidney, heart and liver were significantly higher in the LZ-group (Cu 11.45, 7.01, 7.95 mg/kg; Fe 116.19, 126.07, 299.47 mg/kg) than in the AZ-group (Cu 8.72, 5.6, 6.5 mg/kg; Fe 97.27, 97.27, 250.25 mg/kg) and the SZ-group (Cu 6.48, 4.15, 4.8 mg/kg; Fe 74.95, 77.95, 200.27 mg/kg). There was an increase of testis copper concentration in the LZ-group (4.9 mg/kg) compared to the AZ- and SZ-groups (3.99 and 3.05 mg/kg, respectively), and there was no significant difference in testis iron concentration between animals in different diet groups. These results showed that a low-zinc diet had negative effects on growth and the concentration of zinc in the kidneys, liver and testes. This also affected homeostasis of copper and iron by increasing its distribution in the kidneys, liver and heart tissue. However, in testes only copper concentration was increased.
Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on the Haemagglutination Inhibitor Titre Vaccinated against Newcastle Disease in T-2 Toxin Challenged Chickens
Authors: Weber M. , Fodor J. , Balogh K. , Wágner I. , Erdélyi M. , Mézes M.
Published: April 2008

The effect of T-2 toxin contaminated feed (2.35 mg kg-1) and/or vitamin E supplementation in drinking water (10.5 mg/animal day-1) for 14 days on the haemagglutination inhibition titres against Newcastle disease virus was investigated in repeatedly vaccinated (on 23 days of age) broiler chicken. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) treated with vitamin E; (3) fed a T-2 toxin contaminated feed; (4) fed a T-2 toxin contaminated diet and treated with vitamin E. Blood samples were taken on days 7 and 14 of the experiment for determination of sera titres and vitamin E content, liver samples were also taken on the same days for vitamin E determination. It was found that haemagglutination titres increased in comparison to the controls as an effect of vitamin E supply and also a low dose T-2 toxin challenge. The combination of both treatments showed some synergistic effect. The utilization of vitamin E decreased by the feeding of T-2 toxin contaminated diet, particularly in the liver.
Do Statins Influence the Activity of c-fos Gene Following Transient Forebrain Ischaemia in the Adult Rat Hippocampus?
Authors: Halašová E. , Drgová A. , Matáková T. , Tatarková Z. , Sivoňová M. , Franeková M. , Lehotský J. , Szépe P. , Dobrota D.
Published: April 2008

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been associated with stroke prevention. This stroke prevention appears to occur apart from cholesterol lowering effects. A number of mechanisms have been postulated for this prevention. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of simvastatin on the c-fos gene activity and its relation to delayed neuronal death in CA1 region of hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia in the adult rat hippocampus. A total of 17 male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into three groups: 5 sham-operated animals; 6 ischemised rats without statin pre-treatment and 6 ischemised rats with statin pre-treatment. We used simvastatin at the dose of 20 mg/kg during 14 days prior to the ischemic attack. Fifteen min long transient forebrain ischemia was induced by the four-vessel occlusion. Two and a half h reperfusion was used for the c-Fos activity detection using immunostaining and 72 h reperfusion was used for the determination of neurons surviving using haematoxylin/eosin staining. The average neuronal density in the CA1 region of hippocampus in the sham-operated rats, in ischemised rats without pre-treatment and in ischemised rats with statin pre-treatment was 47.03 ± 3.09/0,025 mm2, 9.05 ± 2.46/0,025 mm2 and 16.45 ± 2.78/025 mm2, respectively. A significant neuroprotective effect was observed in the pre-treated ischemic group (P < 0.001) in comparison to the ischemic group without pre-treatment. The average of c-Fos positive nuclei density in the CA1 region of hippocampus in the sham-operated rats, in ischemised rats without pre-treatment and in ischemised rats with statin pre-treatment was 0.266 ± 0.074/025 mm2, 28.2 ± 2.053/025 mm2, 30.3 ± 4.816/025 mm2, respectively. A highly significant difference in c-Fos positivity (P < 0.001) was found between the sham operated group and both ischemic groups (with and without pre-treatment). No significant difference in c-Fos positivity was observed between untreated ischemic and pre-treated ischemic groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that simvastatin provides protection against CA1 hypoxic neuronal injury, which is independent of c-fos activation. We can conclude that simvastatin neuroprotection may be mediated by multiple mechanisms as can be expected based on its pleiotropic effects.
Sebaceous Adenocarcinoma in a Cat
Authors: Kapakin K. A. Terim , Bozkurt F. , Haziroğlu R.
Published: April 2008

In this study, the sebaceous gland adenocarcinoma was presented in the external auditory canal of a 10-year-old female tabby cat. There were three tumoural masses located macroscopically in the external auditory canal in the dimensions of 0.2 × 0.5, 0.3 × 0.5, and 0.1 × 0.1 cm, and they were of hard consistency. The cut sections of these tumoural masses were of multilobular appearance and ranged from white to yellow colour. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of oval or round shaped tumour cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and cytoplasmic lipid vacuoles that were divided by fibrous tissue into lobules. Atypism and mitosis were not significant. Irregular necrotic areas and mononuclear cell infiltrations composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes were also observed. In conclusion, our laboratory service confirms that the sebaceous gland adenocarcinoma is a rarely occurring tumour in cats with specific histopathological lesions.
Organic Pollutant Contamination of the River Tichá Orlice as Assessed by Biochemical Markers
Authors: Havelková M. , Svobodová Z. , Kolářová J. , Krijt J. , Némethová D. , Jarkovský J. , Pospíšil R.
Published: April 2008

This study used biochemical markers to assess contamination at two contaminated sites (Králíky and Lichkov) and one control site (Červená Voda) on the River Tichá Orlice, a left-side tributary of the River Elbe. The brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) was selected as an indicator species. Enzymes of the first stage of xenobiotic conversion, namely cytochrome P450 (CYP 450) and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) in the liver were selected as biochemical markers. Blood plasma vitellogenin concentrations were used to evaluate xenoestrogenic effects of contamination. Results were compared with the most important inductors of these markers, i.e. with organic pollutants (PCB, HCH, HCB, OCS and DDT and their metabolites in fish muscle and with PAH concentrations in bottom sediments). The highest contamination with organic pollutants was at Králíky, and this was reflected in increased cytochrome P450, EROD activity and vitellogenin concentrations. Significant differences were demonstrated in EROD activity and vitellogenin concentrations between Králíky and Červená Voda (P < 0.001). At the most contaminated site (Králíky), a significant negative correlation (rs = -0.964) between EROD activity and vitellogenin concentrations was demonstrated. This relationship was discussed from the point of view of a possible induction or inhibition of the assessed biomarkers at persistently highly contaminated sites.
Masked Symptoms: Mid-life Women, Health, and Work
Authors: Abramson Zelda
Published: April 2008

Data from the Canadian Labour Force Survey (1997) reveal that relatively few mid-life women offer ill health as a reason for leaving their job or downshifting to part-time employment, implying that the role of ill health may be inconsequential in effecting changing patterns in mid-life women's labour force activity. In contrast, interviews with 30 mid-life women (aged 40 to 54 years) illustrate that, although they do not offer illness as their main reason for leaving their job or working part-time, health is a determining factor. This research also maps the complex relationship between work and ill health, showing that stressful working conditions (due to funding cuts and policy changes) affected the mental and physical health of this group of mid-life women, which, in turn, influenced their decision to change their labour force activity. The author concludes that policy makers must recognize that ill health may be under-reported among mid-life women in large surveys and that research is needed that specifically examines women's working conditions as they relate to health. Such research should not be based solely on large surveys but must also include qualitative studies that capture women's experiences.
L'hébergement institutionnel d'un parent âgé ayant des pertes cognitives
Authors: Belleau Hélène
Published: April 2008

This study examines the decision of institutionalizing an elderly parent suffering from cognitive impairments and the various people involved in this process: the elderly person, the informal caregiver, certain family members and health and social service professionals. Based on a qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with 16 elderly people and their family networks, this study reveals the importance of considering the point of view of everyone involved. The results show that one of the main reasons behind the decision to institutionalize an elderly person is the appearance of disturbing behaviours related to his or her cognitive impairments. Diverse strategies used by family members and health and social service professionals in order to bring about the institutionalization of an elderly person when he or she is opposed to it are presented as well as the ethical dilemmas this raises. We conclude with a presentation of research and intervention recommendations.
Physical and Psychological Correlates of Disability among a Cohort of Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Marks Ray
Published: April 2008

While the physical correlates of knee osteoarthritis are well documented, less well documented are aspects of psychological functioning that may affect overall health and functional status. This paper describes the findings of a cross-sectional analysis that examined the strength of the relationship between selected psychological factors and the walking ability of adults with knee joint osteoarthritis. The variables assessed were pain, depression, levels of self-efficacy for pain and other-symptoms management, walking endurance, walking speed, and perceived exertion when walking. The sample, including 57 persons with unilateral and 43 persons with bilateral radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, mean age, 69.9 ± 1 years, underwent standard assessment procedures on a single test occasion using several validated questionnaires and a series of walking tests on level ground. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses revealed that (a) higher pain and other-symptoms self-efficacy scores were associated with lower levels of pain (r= −0.29, −0.20.), perceived exertion during a walking task (r= −0.29, −0.31), and depression scores (r= −0.46, −0.54) (p< 0.001); (b) subjects with higher levels of self-efficacy for managing symptoms other than pain also recorded faster and fast speed walking velocities than those with lower self-efficacy scores (r= 0.30, 0.31) (p< 0.001); (c) self-efficacy for pain was the strongest predictor of pain intensity, and self-efficacy for symptom management was the strongest predictor of perceived exertion during walking, depression, and pain self-efficacy. Although no cause–effect relationship can be deduced from a cross-sectional analysis, these data imply that efforts to heighten self-efficacy for pain and other-symptoms management may influence the affective status, function, and effort-related perceptions of people with knee osteoarthritis quite significantly.
Can They Keep Going on Their Own? A Four-Year Randomized Trial of Functional Assessments of Community Residents
Authors: Thomas Roger , Worrall Graham , Elgar Frank , Knight John
Published: April 2008

Objectives:Are people 75 or over enabled to stay at home longer through annual assessments and referrals to health/social services than through assessments only or without assessments?

Design:randomized controlled trial

Participants:520 people 75 or over living in their own homes

Intervention:Four annual RAI-HC computerized functional assessments. Intervention group 1: elders and primary caregivers received the results and were invited to take appropriate actions. Intervention group 2: elders and primary caregivers were offered referrals to health/social services.

Measurements/Outcomes:death, institutionalization, home care services, RAI-HC scores, self-rated health, perceived self-efficacy, caregiver burden

Results:By the end of the study, annual functional assessment and offers of referrals to health/social services led to a greater use of home care (6.3%) than did assessment alone (1.8%), but there were no significant differences in death rates, institutionalization, perceived self-efficacy, self-rated health status, or caregiver burden scores between groups.

Conclusion:We discovered that this was a group of healthy seniors. Multi-dimensional functional assessment is time- and labour-intensive and should be targeted at the minority of least self-reliant seniors.
Ways That Families Engage with Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Gladstone James W. , Dupuis Sherry L. , Wexler Evelyn
Published: April 2008

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore styles of engagement used by families with staff in long-term care facilities. Data were gathered through personal interviews with 35 family members. Five styles of engagement were identified: positive, negative, peremptory, cautious, and limited. Factors associated with these different styles were also identified. Implications for practice are discussed.
Susan M. Enguídanos. Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults. New York: Haworth Press, 2006.
Authors: Dalby Dawn M.
Published: April 2008

Les fournisseurs faisant partie d'environnements communautaires participent de plus en plus à l'instauration de meilleures pratiques en matière de soins aux adultes plus âgés. Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults offre une vue d'ensemble de la structure de la médecine factuelle, donne des exemples concrets sur la façon de mettre cette médecine en oeuvre, et discute des défis et des barrières inhérentes à ce type de processus. Bien que le présent guide offre une excellente introduction aux concepts liés à la médecine factuelle communautaire pour les adultes plus âgés, il est moins pratique pour les fournisseurs à la recherche de stratégies détaillées leur permettant de mettre en oeuvre la médecine fondée sur des preuves.
Investigating the specificity of periosteal reactions in pathology museum specimens
Authors: Weston Darlene A.
Published: April 2008

The relationship between periosteal new bone formation and a number of infectious and metabolic conditions frequently seen in archeological human skeletal remains was investigated by studying human long bones demonstrating periosteal new bone formation archived in two London, UK, pathology museums: the St. George's Hospital Pathology Museum and the Hunterian Museum. The samples were subjected to macroscopic and radiographic analysis to determine if the characteristics of their periosteal lesions were specific to the corresponding disease states. The results demonstrated that no qualitative or quantitative characteristics of the periosteal reactions emerged that were specific to individual disease states. It was established that disease progression, rather than disease type, was the most important determinant of periosteal lesion appearance. A critical analysis of the bioarcheology literature pertaining to the recording and interpretation of periosteal reactions determined that the varied pathogenesis of periosteal new bone formation has been largely ignored in favor of a diagnosis of “nonspecific infection.” Assumptions regarding the infectious etiology of periosteal lesions have become embedded into the bioarcheology literature potentially skewing the results of skeletal population‐based paleoepidemiological studies. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterocyclische Carbene – Synthese und Koordinationschemie
Authors: Hahn F. Ekkehardt , Jahnke Mareike C.
Published: April 2008

Die Chemie der heterocyclischen Carbene hat sich in den letzten Jahren stürmisch entwickelt. Nach den Imidazolin‐2‐ylidenen wurden weitere cyclische Diaminocarbene mit unterschiedlichen Ringgrößen beschrieben. Neben den Diaminocarbenen sind auch P‐heterocyclische Carbene sowie Derivate mit nur einem oder gar keinem Heteroatom im Carbenring bekannt. Gleichzeitig sind zahlreiche neue Methoden zur Synthese von Komplexen heterocyclischer Carbene, wie die oxidative Addition oder die Cyclisierung von β‐funktionalisierten Isocyaniden an einem Metalltemplat, etabliert worden. Dieser Aufsatz fasst die Fortschritte bei der Synthese von heterocyclischen Carbenen und ihren Komplexen zusammen.
Nonisothermal crystallization behavior of LLDPE/glass fiber composite
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Yang Qi , Li Guangxian
Published: April 2008

The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)/glass fiber (GF) composite was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was observed that the crystallization temperature peak (Tp) of LLDPE composite containing 5.0 wt % GF (LLDPE/GF5) was higher than that of the pure LLDPE at various cooling rates. The half‐time of crystallization (t1/2) of LLDPE/GF5 composite was shortened under the effect of GF. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of LLDPE and LLDPE/GF5 composite were analyzed through the Avrami, Ozawa, and Mo equations. The results indicated that the data of the nonisothermal crystallization for LLDPE and LLDPE/GF5 composite calculated based on the Ozawa equation did not have the good linear relationship, but the nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of LLDPE and LLDPE/GF5 composite could be successfully described by the modified Avrami and Mo methods. The crystallization rate Zc of the modified Avrami parameter of LLDPE/GF5 composite was higher than that of pure LLDPE at the same cooling rate. The Mo parameter F(T) of LLDPE/GF5 composite was lower than that of LLDPE at the same degree of crystallinity. Through the Kissinger equation, the activation energies Ed of LLDPE and LLDPE/GF5 composite were evaluated, and their values were 312.3 and 251.2 kJ/mol, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis and characterization of interpenetrating polymer networks from polyurethane and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate
Authors: Jin Hua , Yoon Sung Soo , Kim Sung Chul
Published: April 2008

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) combining polyurethane (PU) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) networks were prepared with simultaneous polymerization. PU was synthesized from biocompatible and biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol, and the hydroxyl group of poly(ethylene glycol) was substituted with a crosslinkable acrylate group. The effects of the PU/PEGDA compositions and the crosslink density of PU and PEGDA on the thermal properties, swelling ratio, surface energy, mechanical properties, and morphologies were investigated. The mechanical properties of PEGDA networks were improved by the presence of PU networks, particularly in the 75% PU/25% PEGDA IPNs. All PU/PEGDA IPNs showed a microphase‐separated structure with cocontinuous morphology, as observed by atomic force microscopy, which was in agreement with the results of swelling ratio and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis measurements. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Electrical aging of polyurethane under ac voltage
Authors: Nedjar M. , Beroual A.
Published: April 2008

The electrical aging of polyurethane under ac voltage has been investigated using Weibull statistical analysis. It is shown that the time to breakdown characteristic (V‐t) of this polymer includes three zones corresponding, respectively, to the youth defects, the statistical dispersion of the intrinsic defects, and the real aging of the polymer. The variation of slope of the V‐t curve is related to the change of the degradation mechanism. This degradation is governed by the action of partial discharges according to three stages: (1) the appearance of very fast discharges within the cavities; (2) the initiation of discharges resulting of a very thin layer of oxidation products; and (3) the formation of crystals having small dimensions leading to degradation by electrical tree. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Structural propensities in the heme binding region of apocytochrome b5. I. Free peptides
Authors: Davis Ronald B. , Lecomte Juliette T. J.
Published: April 2008

The water‐soluble domain of rat microsomal cytochrome b5 is a small globular hemoprotein. Under native conditions, the apoprotein consists of a well‐folded hydrophobic core and a 42‐residue loop, which is substantially disordered in solution. Association with the heme cofactor causes the loop to organize into a second well‐folded hydrophobic core encompassing four short helices, H2‐H5. Of these, H3 and H4 are recognized as intrinsically disordered by algorithms that analyze primary structures for folding propensities. Three peptides, spanning H2‐H5, H2‐H3, and H4‐H5, were designed, synthesized, and characterized to identify local structural preferences in the isolated loop. In addition, two replacements (D60R and N57P, which are known to stabilize holocytochrome b5) were introduced individually in the H4‐H5 peptide. Helical content measured by nuclear magnetic resonance and far‐UV circular dichroism spectroscopy in solutions of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol revealed that H4 possessed a lower propensity to form the holoprotein structure than H3. Both replacements in H4 resulted in measurable changes in observed overall helical propensities. It was concluded that the prediction of intrinsic disorder was reliable. Furthermore, the stability of the holoprotein did not correlate simply with helical propensities in the disordered regions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 90: 544–555, 2008.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Charge‐dependent and charge‐independent contributions to ion‐protein interaction
Authors: Ciferri Alberto
Published: April 2008

The thermodynamic framework and recent molecular descriptions of protein‐salt interactions are critically reviewed. A reanalysis of earlier and recent data describing the role of salts on the thermal stability of collagen I over a wide range of concentration evidences the complex encroachment of charge‐dependent and charge‐independent interactions. Charge‐independent interactions, operationally quantified by dilution parameters and association constants, are found to be the overriding factor for the large stabilization observed with nonbinding salts and for the large destabilization observed when strong salt binding occurs. Charge‐dependent interactions, namely screening and selective ion adsorption, are instead the prevailing components at low ionic strength and nonisoelectric pH. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 700–709, 2008.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Organization of the songbird basal ganglia, including area X
Authors: Person Abigail L. , Gale Samuel D. , Farries Michael A. , Perkel David J.
Published: April 2008

Area X is a songbird basal ganglia nucleus that is required for vocal learning. Both Area X and its immediate surround, the medial striatum (MSt), contain cells displaying either striatal or pallidal characteristics. We used pathway‐tracing techniques to compare directly the targets of Area X and MSt with those of the lateral striatum (LSt) and globus pallidus (GP). We found that the zebra finch LSt projects to the GP, substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and pars compacta (SNc), but not the thalamus. The GP is reciprocally connected with the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and projects to the SNr and motor thalamus analog, the ventral intermediate area (VIA). In contrast to the LSt, Area X and surrounding MSt project to the ventral pallidum (VP) and dorsal thalamus via pallidal‐like neurons. A dorsal strip of the MSt contains spiny neurons that project to the VP. The MSt, but not Area X, projects to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and SNc, but neither MSt nor Area X projects to the SNr. Largely distinct populations of SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons innervate Area X and surrounding the MSt. Finally, we provide evidence consistent with an indirect pathway from the cerebellum to the basal ganglia, including Area X. Area X projections thus differ from those of the GP and LSt, but are similar to those of the MSt. These data clarify the relationships among different portions of the oscine basal ganglia as well as among the basal ganglia of birds and mammals. J. Comp. Neurol. 508:840–866, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Well‐posedness for the FENE dumbbell model of polymeric flows
Authors: Masmoudi Nader
Published: April 2008

We prove local and global well‐posedness for the FENE dumbbell model for a very general class of potentials. Indeed, in prior local or global well‐posedness results, conditions on the strength of the singularity (or on the parameter b) were made. Here we give a proof in the general case. We also prove global existence results if the data is small or if we restrict to the co‐rotational model in dimension 2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonequilibrium scaling limit for a tagged particle in the simple exclusion process with long jumps
Authors: Jara Milton
Published: April 2008

We prove an invariance principle for a tagged particle in a simple exclusion process with long jumps out of equilibrium. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Automated FISH analysis using dual‐fusion and break‐apart probes on paraffin‐embedded tissue sections
Authors: Alpár Donát , Hermesz Judit , Pótó László , László Renáta , Kereskai László , Jáksó Pál , Pajor Gábor , Pajor László , Kajtár Béla
Published: April 2008

Detecting balanced translocations using tissue sections plays an important diagnostic role in cases of hematological malignancies. Manual scoring is often problematic due to truncation and overlapping of nuclei. Reports have described automated analysis using primarily tile sampling. The aim of this study was to investigate an automated fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis method using grid sampling on tissue sections, and compare the performance of dual‐fusion (DF) and break‐apart (BA) probes in this setting. Ten follicular, 10 mantle cell lymphoma, and 10 translocation‐negative samples were used to set the threshold of false positivity using IGH/CCND1, IGH/BCL‐2 DF, and IGH BA probes. The cut‐off distances of red and green signals to define fusion signals were 0.5, 1.0, and 1.2 μm for the IGH/CCND1, IGH/BCL‐2 DF, and IGH BA probes, respectively. The mean false positivity of grid units was 5.3, 11.4, and 28.1%, respectively. Ten to 14 additional samples analyzed blindly and were correctly classified using each probe. Discriminating positive and negative samples using automated analysis and grid sampling was possible with each probe, although different definitions of fusion signals were required due to the different physical distances between the DNA probes. Using the DF probes resulted in lower false positivity, which was less affected by signal numbers per grid units. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
TLR4 and S1P receptors cooperate to enhance inflammatory cytokine production in human gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Eskan Mehmet A. , Rose Beate G. , Benakanakere Manjunatha R. , Zeng Qun , Fujioka Daisuke , Martin Michael H. , Lee Menq‐Jer , Kinane Denis F.
Published: April 2008

Toll‐like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors for highly conserved microbial molecular patterns. Activation of TLR is a pivotal step in the initiation of innate, inflammatory, and immune defense mechanisms. Recent findings indicate that G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCR) may modulate TLR signaling, but it is unclear which GPCR are involved in this process. One such cooperation between GPCR and TLR can be attributed to the sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) receptor family. The S1P receptors (S1P1–5) are a family of GPCR with a high affinity for S1P, a serum‐borne bioactive lipid associated with diverse biological activities such as inflammation and healing. In this study, we show that pro‐inflammatory cytokine production, including IL‐6 and IL‐8, was increased with LPS and concomitant S1P stimulation. Furthermore, elevated cytokine production following LPS and S1P challenge in human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC) was significantly reduced when TLR4, S1P1 or S1P3 signaling was blocked. Our study also shows that S1P1 and S1P3 expression was induced by LPS in HGEC, and this elevated expression enhanced the influence of S1P in its cooperation with TLR4 to increase cytokine production. This cooperation between TLR4 and S1P1 or S1P3 demonstrates that TLR4 and GPCR can interact to enhance cytokine production in epithelial cells.
Restoring the balance: Harnessing regulatory T cells for therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Flores‐Borja Fabian , Mauri Claudia , Ehrenstein Michael R.
Published: April 2008

Treg play a vital role in the maintenance of tolerance to self antigens, thereby preventing disease through the active suppression of proliferation and pro‐inflammatory cytokine production by autoreactive T cells. Here we discuss strategies aimed at enhancing Treg function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the ultimate aim of restoring lasting tolerance but without increasing the risk of infections or cancer.

See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838108
The critical contribution of TGF‐β to the induction of Foxp3 expression and regulatory T cell function
Authors: Shevach Ethan M. , Tran Dat Q. , Davidson Todd S. , Andersson John
Published: April 2008

Stimulation of mouse CD4+ T cells in the presence of TGF‐β results in the expression of Foxp3 and induction of Treg function. Stimulation of human CD4+ T cells under similar conditions results in the expression of Foxp3, but the cells lack regulatory cell function. TGF‐β expressed on the surface of Treg also induces Foxp3 expression and Treg function in responder cells. Both of these mechanisms may play a role in vivo in the induction of antigen‐specific extra‐thymic Treg.

See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200738109
Combined neonatal stress and young‐adult glucocorticoid stimulation in rats reduce BDNF expression in hippocampus: Effects on learning and memory
Authors: Choy Kwok Ho Christopher , de Visser Yvonne , Nichols Nancy R. , van den Buuse Maarten
Published: April 2008

Epidemiological studies suggest that multiple developmental disruptions are involved in the etiology of psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia. In addition, altered expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in these illnesses. In the present study, we examined the combined long‐term effect of an early stress, in the form of maternal deprivation, and a later stress, simulated by chronic young‐adult treatment with the stress hormone, corticosterone, on BDNF expression in the hippocampus of rats. To assess whether there were behavioral effects, which may correlate with the BDNF changes, learning and memory was tested in the Y‐maze test for short term spatial memory, the Morris water maze for long‐term spatial memory, and the T‐maze test for working memory. Four groups of rats received either no stress, maternal deprivation, corticosterone treatment, or both. Dorsal hippocampus sections obtained from parallel groups were used for BDNF mRNA in situ hybridization. Rats which had undergone both maternal deprivation and corticosterone treatment displayed a unique and significant 25–35% reduction of BDNF expression in the dentate gyrus (DG), and similar trends in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. These “two‐hit” animals exhibited a learning delay in the Morris water maze test, a marked deficit in the Y‐maze, but little change in the T‐maze test. However, some aspects of cognition were also altered in rats with either maternal deprivation or corticosterone treatment. This study demonstrates a persistent effect of two developmental disruptions on BDNF expression in the hippocampus, with parallel, but not completely correlative changes in learning and memory. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinico‐pathologic features and outcome of Japanese patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Niitsu Nozomi , Okamoto Masataka , Nakamine Hirokazu , Aoki Sadao , Motomura Shigeki , Hirano Masami
Published: April 2008

We studied the clinico‐pathologic features and treatment outcome of patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL). This study included 215 patients with T/natural killer (NK)‐cell lymphoma, including 59 with PTCL‐unspecified (PTCL‐U), 42 with angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AILT) and 20 with anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma (ALCL). Most of the analyses were performed on patients with AILD, ALCL and PTCL‐U. The patients with AILT and PTCL‐U tended to be older than those with ALCL. Stage III/IV disease was seen in 90.5% of the AILT cases, 55% of the ALCL cases and 67.8% of the PTCL‐U cases. In addition, 61.9% of the AILT cases had an international prognostic index (IPI) of H‐I or H risk. The 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 72.2 and 76.1% among the ALCL cases, 40.7 and 42.2% among the PTCL‐U cases and 31.2 and 49.3% among the AILT cases, respectively. Among the patients with PTCL‐U, the 5‐year PFS and OS rates in group low (L), low‐intermediate (L‐I), high‐intermediate (H‐I) or high (H) risk group of IPI were: 47.6 and 56.1%, 55.6 and 53.8%, 42.4 and 40.1% and 9.1 and 9.1%, respectively. The 5‐year PFS and OS rates in group 1, 2, 3 or 4 by prognostic index of PTCL‐U (PIT) were: 88.9 and 85.7%, 57.1 and 54.9%, 33.5 and 28.8% or 13.3 and 13.3%, respectively. The 5‐year PFS and OS rates among patients who received CHOP therapy, CyclOBEAP [cyclophosphamide (CPA), vincristine (VCR), bleomycine, etoposide, doxorubicin (DXR), prednisone (PDN)] therapy or autologous stem cell transplantation were: 22 and 25.7%, 59 and 61.7% or 33.3 and 60%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the PIT score was associated with OS and PFS. These results indicate that the presence of bone marrow (BM) involvement is an independent prognostic factor which may predict both OS and PFS. PTCL‐U is a heterogeneous disease with regard to histological type and pathological state. Because PTCL‐U is generally not responsive to CHOP therapy, new treatment strategies need to be developed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enterolactone restricts the proliferation of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line in vitro
Authors: McCann Mark J. , Gill Chris I. R. , Linton Trevor , Berrar D. , McGlynn Hugh , Rowland Ian R.
Published: April 2008

Ecological data suggest a long‐term diet high in plant material rich in biologically active compounds, such as the lignans, can significantly influence the development of prostate cancer over the lifetime of an individual. The capacity of a pure mammalian lignan, enterolactone (ENL), to influence the proliferation of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line was investigated as a function of cell density, metabolic activity, expression and secretion of prostate specific antigen (PSA), cell cycle profile, and the expression of genes involved in development and progression of prostate cancer. Treatment with a subcytotoxic concentration of ENL (60 μM for 72 h) was found to reduce: cell density (57.5%, SD 7.23, p < 0.001), metabolic activity (55%, SD 0.03, p < 0.001), secretion of PSA (48.50% SD 4.74, p = 0.05) and induce apoptosis (8.33‐fold SD 0.04, p = 0.001) compared to untreated cells. Cotreatment with 10 μM etoposide was found to increase apoptosis by 50.17% (SD 0.02, p < 0.001). Additionally, several key genes (e. g. MCMs, survivin and CDKs) were beneficially regulated by ENL treatment (p < 0.05). The data suggest that the antiproliferative activity of ENL is a consequence of altered expression of cell cycle associated genes and provides novel molecular evidence for the antiproliferative properties of a pure lignan in prostate cancer.
Technical strategies to reduce the amount of “false significant” results in quantitative proteomics
Authors: Fuxius Sandra , Eravci Murat , Broedel Oliver , Weist Stephanie , Mansmann Ulrich , Eravci Selda , Baumgartner Andreas
Published: April 2008

When the p‐value is set at <0.05 in statistical group comparisons, a 5% rate of “false significant” results is expected. In order to test the reliability of our 2‐DE method, we loaded each of 24 gels with equal‐sized samples (200 μg protein from pooled rat brain, pH 4–7, stained with ruthenium fluorescent stain for visualization) and statistically compared the first 12 gels with the last 12. In numerous experiments the rate of significant differences found far exceeded 5%. Several factors were identified as causing the following rates of false significant differences in spot intensities: (i) running samples in two different 2‐DE runs (42%), (ii) running second dimension gels produced in two different gel casters (16%), (iii) normalizing the entire gel instead of separately normalizing several different gel zones (11%), (iv) using IPG strips from different packages (19%), (v) dividing the whole sample into subgroups during software analysis (9%). After controlling for all these factors, the rates of “false positive” results in our experiments were regularly reduced to approximately 5%. This is an indispensable prerequisite for avoiding too high a rate of false positive results in experiments in which different subgroups are compared statistically.
Cliffordized NAC supersymmetry and PT‐symmetric Hamiltonians
Authors: Toppan F.
Published: April 2008

It is shown that non‐anticommutative supersymmetry can be described through a Cliffordization of the superspace fermionic coordinates. A NAC supersymmetric quantum mechanical model is shown to be a PT‐symmetric hamiltonian.
Einsatz von hochfesten Stählen und Betonen bei Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen
Authors: Hanswille Gerhard , Lippes Martin
Published: April 2008

Es wird über experimentelle und theoretische Untersuchungen zum Einsatz von hochfesten Stählen und Betonen bei Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen berichtet. Basierend auf den Nachweisverfahren in Eurocode 4‐1‐1 und DIN 18800‐5 wird ein modifiziertes vereinfachtes Nachweisverfahren für Verbundstützen mit Hochleistungswerkstoffen hergeleitet. Für Rundvollprofile, die bei hohen Tragfähigkeitsanforderungen als Einstellprofile verwendet werden, werden spezielle Untersuchungen zu den Eigenspannungen aus dem Abkühlprozess bei der Herstellung vorgestellt und die Einflüsse auf die Tragfähigkeit von Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen erläutert.
Psychometric reevaluation of the scientific attitude inventory‐revised (SAI‐II)
Authors: Lichtenstein Michael J. , Owen Steven V. , Blalock Cheryl L. , Liu Yan , Ramirez Kacy A. , Pruski Linda A. , Marshall Carolyn E. , Toepperwein Mary Anne
Published: April 2008

The central purposes of this study were to review the development and evolution of the Scientific Attitude Inventory (SAI) and then reevaluate the psychometric properties of the revised form of the SAI, the Scientific Attitude Inventory II (SAI‐II). The SAI‐II was administered to a convenience sample of 543 middle and high school students from five teachers in four schools in four school districts in San Antonio, Texas, at the beginning of the 2004–2005 school year. Confirmatory factor analysis on the full data set failed to support the existence of a 12‐factor structure (as proposed by the scale developers) or a one‐factor structure. The data were then randomly divided into exploratory [exploratory factor analysis (EFA)] validation and confirmatory [confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)] cross‐validation sets. Exploratory and confirmatory models yielded a three‐factor solution that did not fit the data well [χ2 (321) = 646, p < .001; RMSEA = .061 (.90 CI = .054–.068); and CFI = .81]. The three factors were labeled “Science is About Understanding and Explaining” (13 items), “Science is Rigid” (6 items), and “I Want to Be a Scientist” (8 items). The α‐coefficients for these three factors ranged from 0.59 to 0.85. Whether these identified subscales are valid will require independent investigation. In this sample, and consistent with prior publications, the SAI‐II in its current form did not have satisfactory psychometric properties and cannot be recommended for further use. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 600–616, 2008