bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastric Mucosal Changes Caused by Lugol's Iodine Solution Spray: Endoscopic Features of 64 Cases on Screening Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Authors: Tsurumaru Daisuke , Utsunomiya Takashi , Matsuura Shuji , Komori Masahiro , Kawanami Satoshi , Ishibashi Tatsuyuki , Honda Hiroshi
Published: April 2010

Aim. To clarify the endoscopic mucosal change of the stomach caused by Lugol's iodine solution spray on screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).Methods. Sixty-four consecutive patients who underwent EGD for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma screening were included in this study. The records for these patients included gastric mucosa findings before and after Lugol's iodine solution was sprayed. The endoscopic findings of the greater curvature of the gastric body were retrospectively analyzed based on the following findings: fold thickening, exudates, ulcers, and hemorrhage.Results. Mucosal changes occurred after Lugol's solution spray totally in 51 patients (80%). Fold thickening was observed in all 51 patients (80%), and a reticular pattern of white lines was found on the surface of the thickened gastric folds found in 28 of the patients (44%). Exudates were observed in 6 patients (9%).Conclusion. The gastric mucosa could be affected by Lugol's iodine; the most frequent endoscopic finding of this effect is gastric fold thickening, which should not be misdiagnosed as a severe gastric disease.
A Novel Solution for the Glauert‐Jet Problem by Variational Iteration Method‐Padé Approximant
Authors: Shahmohamadi Hamed , Rashidi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: April 2010

We will consider variational iteration method (VIM) and Padé approximant, for finding analytical solutions of the Glauert‐jet (self‐similar wall jet over an impermeable, resting plane surface) problem. The solutions are compared with the exact solution. The results illustrate that VIM is an attractive method in solving the systems of nonlinear equations. It is predicted that VIM can have a found wide application in engineering problems.
Force Transmission between Synergistic Skeletal Muscles through Connective Tissue Linkages
Authors: Maas Huub , Sandercock Thomas G.
Published: April 2010

The classic view of skeletal muscle is that force is generated within its muscle fibers and then directly transmitted in-series, usually via tendon, onto the skeleton. In contrast, recent results suggest that muscles are mechanically connected to surrounding structures and cannot be considered as independent actuators. This article will review experiments on mechanical interactions between muscles mediated by such epimuscular myofascial force transmission in physiological and pathological muscle conditions. In a reduced preparation, involving supraphysiological muscle conditions, it is shown that connective tissues surrounding muscles are capable of transmitting substantial force. In more physiologically relevant conditions of intact muscles, however, it appears that the role of this myofascial pathway is small. In addition, it is hypothesized that connective tissues can serve as a safety net for traumatic events in muscle or tendon. Future studies are needed to investigate the importance of intermuscular force transmission during movement in health and disease.
Estimating the Conditional Tail Expectation in the Case of Heavy‐Tailed Losses
Authors: Necir Abdelhakim , Rassoul Abdelaziz , Zitikis Ričardas
Published: April 2010

The conditional tail expectation (CTE) is an important actuarial risk measure and a useful tool in financial risk assessment. Under the classical assumption that the second moment of the loss variable is finite, the asymptotic normality of the nonparametric CTE estimator has already been established in the literature. The noted result, however, is not applicable when the loss variable follows any distribution with infinite second moment, which is a frequent situation in practice. With a help of extreme‐value methodology, in this paper, we offer a solution to the problem by suggesting a new CTE estimator, which is applicable when losses have finite means but infinite variances.
Šolc-Type Wavelength Filters Based on TE↔TM Mode Conversion Utilizing Periodically Poled Ti-Diffused Lithium Niobate Channel Waveguides
Authors: Jung Hongsik
Published: April 2010

We have demonstrated the Šolc-type wavelength filters in a 52 mm long periodically poled Ti-diffused lithium niobate channel waveguide which has a domain period of 16.6 μm. At room temperature, the center wavelength and the full-width at half maximum of the filter were about 1272.49 nm and 0.23 nm, respectively. The nearest side-lobe is about 7 dB. New structure of optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) utilizing Šolc-type TE↔TM mode converters was proposed for the first time.
Regulation of IB Function and NF-B Signaling: AEBP1 Is a Novel Proinflammatory Mediator in Macrophages
Authors: Majdalawieh Amin , Ro Hyo-Sung
Published: April 2010

NF-B comprises a family of transcription factors that are critically involved in various inflammatory processes. In this paper, the role of NF-B in inflammation and atherosclerosis and the regulation of the NF-B signaling pathway are summarized. The structure, function, and regulation of the NF-B inhibitors, IB and I, are reviewed. The regulation of NF-B activity by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling and IB sumoylation is also discussed. This paper focuses on the recently reported regulatory function that adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) exerts on NF-B transcriptional activity in macrophages, in which AEBP1 manifests itself as a potent modulator of NF-B via physical interaction with IB and a critical mediator of inflammation. Finally, we summarize the regulatory roles that recently identified IB-interacting proteins play in NF-B signaling. Based on its proinflammatory roles in macrophages, AEBP1 is anticipated to serve as a therapeutic target towards the treatment of various inflammatory conditions and disorders.
Molecular Surface Mesh Generation by Filtering Electron Density Map
Authors: Giard Joachim , Macq Benoît
Published: April 2010

Bioinformatics applied to macromolecules are now widely spread and in continuous expansion. In this context, representing external molecular surface such as the Van der Waals Surface or the Solvent Excluded Surface can be useful for several applications. We propose a fast and parameterizable algorithm giving good visual quality meshes representing molecular surfaces. It is obtained by isosurfacing a filtered electron density map. The density map is the result of the maximum of Gaussian functions placed around atom centers. This map is filtered by an ideal low‐pass filter applied on the Fourier Transform of the density map. Applying the marching cubes algorithm on the inverse transform provides a mesh representation of the molecular surface.
Four Breeding Females in a Free-Ranging Group of Buffy-Headed Marmosets (Callithrix flaviceps)
Authors: Hilário Renato R. , Ferrari Stephen F.
Published: April 2010

The reproductive patterns recorded in a free-ranging group of Callithrix flaviceps were unique in a number of ways, including 4 females breeding simultaneously, a non-breeding dominant female, and a well-defined birth season. In addition, all observed copulations involved extragroup individuals. The more socially dominant breeding female had more births and more surviving offspring, on average, than subordinate females, and was implicated in at least 1 infanticide. All 4 females carried their own infants for relatively long periods following the births, apparently as a defence mechanism related to the risk of infanticide. It remains unclear whether the unusual number of breeding females in the group represents a species-specific pattern, or the result of specific local circumstances.
Propranolol as a Novel Treatment for Congenital Visceral Haemangioma
Authors: Vanlander Arnaud , Decaluwe Wim , Vandelanotte Michel , Van Geet Christel , Cornette Luc
Published: April 2010

Haemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumours in infancy, occurring in approximately 5–10% of 1-year-old children. Current drug-based therapeutic options for large haemangiomas include corticosteroids, α-interferon and vincristin, all of which can result in harmful side effects. Recently, promising results have been reported using the non-cardio-selective β-blocker propranolol for the treatment of cutaneous capillary haemangiomas, in which a spectacular size reduction was observed during the first 7 days of treatment. We here report a similar significant and rapid inhibitory effect of propranolol on the growth of a viscerally located congenital haemangioma.
In vitro Phosphorylation of Key Metabolic Enzymes from Bacillus subtilis: PrkC Phosphorylates Enzymes from Different Branches of Basic Metabolism
Authors: Pietack Nico , Becher Dörte , Schmidl Sebastian R. , Saier Jr. Milton H. , Hecker Michael , Commichau Fabian M. , Stülke Jörg
Published: April 2010

Phosphorylation is an important mechanism of protein modification. In the Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, about 5% of all proteins are subject to phosphorylation, and a significant portion of these proteins is phosphorylated on serine or threonine residues. We were interested in the regulation of the basic metabolism in B. subtilis. Many enzymes of the central metabolic pathways are phosphorylated in this organism. In an attempt to identify the responsible protein kinase(s), we identified four candidate kinases, among them the previously studied kinase PrkC. We observed that PrkC is indeed able to phosphorylate several metabolic enzymes in vitro. Determination of the phosphorylation sites revealed a remarkable preference of PrkC for threonine residues. Moreover, PrkC often used several phosphorylation sites in one protein. This feature of PrkC-dependent protein phosphorylation resembles the multiple phosphorylations often observed in eukaryotic proteins. The HPr protein of the phosphotransferase system is one of the proteins phosphorylated by PrkC, and PrkC phosphorylates a site (Ser-12) that has recently been found to be phosphorylated in vivo. The agreement between in vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of HPr on Ser-12 suggests that our in vitro observations reflect the events that take place in the cell.
ChpR Is a Chlorpyrifos-Responsive Transcription Regulator in Sinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: Whangsuk Wirongrong , Dubbs James M. , Sallabhan Ratiboot , Somsongkul Kumpanart , Mongkolsuk Skorn , Loprasert Suvit
Published: April 2010

The broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF)-inducible locus, chpAB, was identified on the endogenous plasmid pSymB in Sinorhizobium meliloti. The S. meliloti chpA promoter was highly induced by CPF and was induced at much lower levels by diazinon and ethion. Transcription of chpA was dependent on chpR, a CadC family transcriptional regulator located upstream of, and divergently transcribed from, chpAB. ChpR was able to mediate the CPF-inducible expression of the S. melilotichpA promoter in Escherichia coli through direct interaction with the chpAB promoter. The chpR-chpA intergenic regions of several bacterial chpRAB operons were aligned and a putative ChpR-binding sequence was proposed. Both the ChpR transcription factor and chpA promoter constitute a good candidate system for genetic-based biosensor development.
Molecular Pathology in Early Hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Effendi Kathryn , Sakamoto Michiie
Published: April 2010

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors characterized by an obvious multistage process of tumor development. Remarkable progress in diagnostic imaging has led to the discovery of small equivocal lesions, now widely recognized as dysplastic nodule, or early HCC. Early HCC is considered a key step in HCC development and progression. However, the molecular pathology involved in early hepatocarcinogenesis remains unclear due to a lack of corresponding experimental models, difficulty in obtaining fresh samples, and an inconsistency in diagnostic criteria. With gene expression profiling, we have currently identified the overexpression of heat-shock protein 70 and cyclase-associated protein 2 as early HCC signatures. We also recently identified the overexpression of the stemness gene Bmi-1 in early HCC. This overexpression was subsequently found to correlate with ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 expression. These findings give new insight into the mechanism of early hepatocarcinogenesis. Nevertheless, further analysis is still necessary to carefully evaluate the roles of these molecular pathology candidates in early hepatocarcinogenesis.
Implementation of SintromacWeb®, a new internet-based tool for oral anticoagulation therapy telecontrol: Study on system consistency and patient satisfaction
Authors: Mira Yolanda , Contreras María Teresa , Aguado Cristina , Aznar José Antonio , Ferrando Fernando
Published: April 2010

Most computer- or internet-assisted systems for oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) telemanagement have limitations when it comes to implementation within a healthcare center. It was the objective of this study to evaluate convenience and patient satisfaction with the use of SintromacWeb→, a new OAT telecontrol system, compared with the conventional control. SintromacWeb® consists of a point-of-care device for patient international normalized ratio (INR) self-testing and software that allows internet mediated interaction with physicians. Patients initiated the use of SintromacWeb→ and were followed up during a three-month period. A score-based questionnaire was completed in three controlled visits, and data were subsequently analysed. A total of 102 patients were enrolled. At first visit, 55.7% of the patients had their INR within normal range, and 64.9% at the final visit. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was good (Cronbach‘s α: 0.79). Scores in the questionnaire were independent of patient’s age, education level, working status and INR value. The most valued features of SintromacWeb® were: fewer visits to the hospital, simplicity and convenience of the system, and time administration for control tasks (86.7%, 82.7% and 77.6% of very satisfied patients, respectively). Also, patients showed indifference or were dissatisfied with the conventional system. At the final visit, 99% of patients declared that they were satisfied with their OAT control. Moreover, all patients continued using Sintrom -acWeb→ after completion of the study. In conclusion, SintromacWeb→ telecontrol is a new model for management of anticoagulated patients. It was highly accepted and can be used by all patients regardless of their sociodemographic characteristics.
The majority of circulating platelet-derived microparticles fail to bind annexin V, lack phospholipid-dependent procoagulant activity and demonstrate greater expression of glycoprotein Ib
Authors: Exner Thomas , Ma David Dang Fung , Joseph Joanne Emily , Connor David Ewan
Published: April 2010

It has been widely accepted that microparticles expose phosphatidylserine which in turn binds annexin V. It was the objective of this study to compare the antigenic characteristics and phospholipid-dependent procoagulant activity of annexin V positive and -negative subpopulations of platelet-derived microparticles. Annexin V positive and -negative microparticles were identified and characterised using flow cytometry and procoagulant activity was measured by a phospholipid-dependent assay (XACT). In unstimulated platelet-poor plasma, 80% of platelet-derived microparticles failed to bind annexin V. Varying the assay constituents (buffer, calcium and annexin V concentration) did not alter annexin V binding. The proportion of microparticles that bound annexin V was dependent upon the agonist, with physiological agonists such as collagen resulting in fewer annexin V binding microparticles than non-physiological agonists such as ionophore. CD42b (glycoprotein Ib) expression was significantly decreased and CD62p and CD63 expression were significantly increased in annexin V positive compared to annexin V negative subpopulations. There was no significant difference in CD41, CD61, CD42a and CD40L expression between annexin V positive and -negative subpopulations. A significant correlation between annexin V binding and XACT was found (p=0.033). Annexin V inhibited greater than 95% of phospholipid activity, suggesting that annexin V binding was a true reflection of procoagulant activity. The majority of platelet-derived microparticles in unstimulated plasma failed to bind annexin V and showed significantly increased levels of CD42b compared to annexin V positive events. Phospholipid-dependent procoagulant activity is limited to the annexin V positive subpopulation and is agonist-dependent. The significance of annexin V negative microparticles is unclear, however, it is possible that they possess other activities aside from procoagulant phospholipid activity.
Thrombophilic risk factors and peripheral arterial disease severity
Authors: Favaretto Elisabetta , Legnani Cristina , Cini Michela , Conti Eleonora , Amato Alfio , Palareti Gualtiero , Sartori Michelangelo
Published: April 2010

Few data are available on thrombophilic risk factors and progression of atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Thrombophilic alterations can be an aggravating factor when arterial stenoses are present. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the presence of the thrombophilic factors fibrinogen, homocysteine, factor (F)VIII, lupus anticoagulant (LAC), FII G20210A, and FV R506Q mutations in 181 patients with PAD at Fontaine’s stage II (claudication), in 110 patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI), and in 210 controls. Fibrinogen was higher in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls (427.9 ± 10.5 vs. 373.1 ± 5.2 vs. 348.9 ± 7.0 p=0.001, respectively). Homocysteine and FVIII were higher in patients with PAD than in controls, but were similar in patients with CLI and claudication. The prevalence of LAC increased in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls (21.4% vs. 7.8% vs. 5.2% p<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of FII 20210A allele was higher in patients with CLI vs. those with claudication and controls. Using a logistic model, FII G20210A mutation (odds ratio [OR] 19.8, confidence interval [CI] 4.5–87.1, p=0.001), LAC (OR 2.7, CI1.1–6.5, p=0.032), and fibrinogen (OR 1.01, CI 1.00–1.01, p=0.001) were associated with CLI, whereas homocysteine, FVIII, and FV R506Q mutation were not. CLI risk increased according to the number of thrombophilic alterations. In conclusion, altered levels of some important thrombophilic risk factors are independently associated with PAD severity. These data suggest that the presence of two or more thrombophilic risk factors raise the likelihood of PAD being more severe, justifying the need for larger longitudinal studies.
Prolonged effect of GlycoPEGylated rFVIIa (40k-PEG-rFVIIa) in rabbits correlates to activity in plasma
Authors: Bjørn Søren E. , Agersø Henrik , Thorup Inger , Hermit Mette B. , Sørensen Brit B. , Stennicke Henning R. , Ezban Mirella , Tranholm Mikael , Johansen Peter B.
Published: April 2010

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 40k-PEG-rFVIIa, a GlycoPEGylated derivative of recombinant wild-type FVIIa, were compared with rFVIIa in rabbits. The procoagulant effect was determined as the weight of the clot formed in a defined segment of a facial vein. A time course study was conducted where ligation was made 10 minutes, 12 or 24 hours after i.v. injection of equimolar doses of 40k-PEG-FVIIa or rFVIIa (2 mg/kg). This dose was selected based on a dose response study and a duration of effect study with rFVIIa. The clot weight increased with increasing doses of rFVIIa, and the duration of effect correlated with the plasma FVIIa clot activity. The plasma half-life of 40k-PEG-rFVIIa measured as FVIIa clot activity was found to be 25 hours, which was 5–6 times longer than rFVIIa. The aPTT and PT were reduced, and the measured increase in thrombin-antithrombin correlated to the effect on clot formation. Thus, the effect was similar at ligation 10 minutes after administration of 40k-PEG-rFVIIa or rFVIIa. At 12 hours, the effect of rFVIIa was absent while significant effect was seen 12 and 24 hours post dosing with 40k-PEG-rFVIIa. No consumption of platelets or fibrinogen was found and no thrombi formation was seen in histological examination of various organs. In conclusion, 40k-PEG-rFVIIa has shown prolonged duration of effect that correlated to various plasma markers and FVIIa clot activity. In perspective, the data support further clinical development of 40k-PEG-rFVIIa to potentially become a long-acting recombinant treatment option for prophylaxis in haemophilia patients with inhibitors.
Erythropoietin Suppresses the Formation of Macrophage Foam Cells
Authors: Lu Kuo-Yun , Ching Li-Chieh , Su Kuo-Hui , Yu Yuan-Bin , Kou Yu Ru , Hsiao Sheng-Huang , Huang Yu-Chu , Chen Chien-Yu , Cheng Li-Ching , Pan Ching-Chian , Lee Tzong-Shyuan
Published: April 2010

Background—

In addition to the hematopoietic effect of erythropoietin, increasing evidence suggests that erythropoietin also exerts protective effects for cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of erythropoietin and its underlying mechanism in macrophage foam cell formation are poorly understood.

Methods and Results—

Compared with wild-type specimens, erythropoietin was increased in atherosclerotic aortas of apolipoprotein E–deficient (apoE
−/−
) mice, mainly in the macrophage foam cells of the lesions. Erythropoietin levels in culture medium and macrophages were significantly elevated in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, erythropoietin markedly attenuated lipid accumulation in oxidized low-density lipoprotein–treated macrophages, a result that was due to an increase in cholesterol efflux. Erythropoietin treatment significantly increased ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC) A1 and ABCG1 mRNA and protein levels without affecting protein expression of scavenger receptors, including scavenger receptor-A, CD36, and scavenger receptor-BI. The upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 by erythropoietin resulted from liver X receptor α activation, which was confirmed by its prevention on expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 after pharmacological or small interfering RNA inhibition of liver X receptor α. Moreover, the erythropoietin-mediated attenuation on lipid accumulation was abolished by such inhibition. Finally, reduced lipid accumulation and marked increase in ABCA1 and ABCG1 were demonstrated in erythropoietin-overexpressed macrophages.

Conclusion—

Our data suggest that erythropoietin suppresses foam cell formation via the liver X receptor α–dependent upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1.
Acute Cardiovascular Effects of Apelin in Humans
Authors: Japp A.G. , Cruden N.L. , Barnes G. , van Gemeren N. , Mathews J. , Adamson J. , Johnston N.R. , Denvir M.A. , Megson I.L. , Flapan A.D. , Newby D.E.
Published: April 2010

Background—

Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the novel G protein–coupled receptor APJ, has major cardiovascular effects in preclinical models. The study objectives were to establish the effects of acute apelin administration on peripheral, cardiac, and systemic hemodynamic variables in healthy volunteers and patients with heart failure.

Methods and Results—

Eighteen patients with New York Heart Association class II to III chronic heart failure, 6 patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography, and 26 healthy volunteers participated in a series of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Measurements of forearm blood flow, coronary blood flow, left ventricular pressure, and cardiac output were made by venous occlusion plethysmography, Doppler flow wire and quantitative coronary angiography, pressure wire, and thoracic bioimpedance, respectively. Intrabrachial infusions of (Pyr
1
)apelin-13, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside caused forearm vasodilatation in patients and control subjects (all
P
<0.0001). Vasodilatation to acetylcholine (
P
=0.01) but not apelin (
P
=0.3) or sodium nitroprusside (
P
=0.9) was attenuated in patients with heart failure. Intracoronary bolus of apelin-36 increased coronary blood flow and the maximum rate of rise in left ventricular pressure and reduced peak and end-diastolic left ventricular pressures (all
P
<0.05). Systemic infusions of (Pyr
1
)apelin-13 (30 to 300 nmol/min) increased cardiac index and lowered mean arterial pressure and peripheral vascular resistance in patients and healthy control subjects (all
P
<0.01) but increased heart rate only in control subjects (
P
<0.01).

Conclusions—

Acute apelin administration in humans causes peripheral and coronary vasodilatation and increases cardiac output. APJ agonism represents a novel potential therapeutic target for patients with heart failure.
A Double-Blind, Dose-Response Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Olmesartan Medoxomil in Children and Adolescents with Hypertension
Authors: Hazan Lydie , Hernández Rodriguez Oscar A. , Bhorat As'ad E. , Miyazaki Koichi , Tao Ben , Heyrman Reinilde
Published: April 2010

The current study investigated the efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil in children with hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure measured at or above the 95th percentile (90th percentile for patients with diabetes, glomerular kidney disease, or family history of hypertension) for age, gender, and height while off any antihypertensive medication. The active treatment phase was conducted in 2 periods, with 2 cohorts in each period (cohort A, 62% white; cohort B, 100% Black). In period 1, patients stratified by weight received low-dose (2.5 or 5 mg) or high-dose (20 or 40 mg) olmesartan medoxomil daily for 3 weeks. In period 2, patients maintained their olmesartan medoxomil dose or initiated placebo washout for an additional 2 weeks. Period 1 efficacy results showed a dose-dependent, statistically significant reduction in seated trough systolic and diastolic blood pressure for both cohorts, with mean blood pressure reductions numerically smaller in cohort B than in cohort A. The olmesartan medoxomil dose response remained statistically significant when adjusted for body weight. In period 2, blood pressure control decreased in those patients switching to placebo, whereas patients continuing to receive olmesartan medoxomil therapy maintained consistent blood pressure reduction. Adverse events were generally mild and unrelated to study medication. Olmesartan medoxomil was safe and efficacious in children with hypertension, resulting in significant blood pressure reductions.
Portal Osmopressor Mechanism Linked to Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 and Blood Pressure Control
Authors: McHugh Julia , Keller Nancy R. , Appalsamy Martin , Thomas Steven A. , Raj Satish R. , Diedrich André , Biaggioni Italo , Jordan Jens , Robertson David
Published: April 2010

Human subjects with impaired baroreflex function cannot buffer rises or falls in blood pressure (BP), thus allowing BP effects of endogenous or environmental stimuli that previously escaped detection to emerge dramatically. Studies in these patients led us to discover that water ingestion induced a robust increase in BP and vascular resistance. Here, using a mouse model of baroreflex impairment, we show that the increase in blood pressure after water ingestion is mediated through sympathetic nervous system activation and that the osmosensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel (
Trpv4
) is an essential component of the response. Although portal osmolality decreases after water ingestion in both wild-type and
Trpv4
−/−
mice, only the wild-type animals show a pressor response. The same volume of physiological saline does not elicit an increase in BP, suggesting osmolality as the stimulus. The osmopressor response to water, and
Trpv4
thus represent new factors now implicated in the physiology of BP regulation.
CPI Mismeasurements and Their Impacts on Economic Management in Korea
Authors: Chung Chul , Gibson John , Kim Bonggeun
Published: April 2010

We estimate the consumer price index (CPI) bias in Korea by employing the approach of Engel's Law as suggested by Hamilton (2001). Using Korean panel data (Korean Labor and Income Panel Study) and following Hamilton's model with a non-linear specification correction, our estimation result shows that the CPI bias over the sample period (2000–05) averaged at least 0.7 percent annually, which implies that about 21 percent of the inflation rate during the sample period can be attributed to the bias. This CPI bias has caused a substantial understatement of the growth in real GDP and contributes to excessive transfers from younger taxpayers to the elderly through indexed pension payments. We discuss the implications of the CPI bias for economic management and policies in Korea.
The Global Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences
Authors: McKibbin Warwick J. , Stoeckel Andrew
Published: April 2010

This paper models the global financial crisis as a combination of shocks to global housing markets and sharp increases in risk premia of firms, households, and international investors; and finds that the shocks observed in financial markets can generate in the in the G-Cubed model (an intertemporal global model) the severe economic contraction in global trade and production currently being experienced in 2009. Our investigation shows that the distinction between the production and trade of durable and non-durable goods plays a key role in explaining the much larger contraction in trade than GDP experienced by most economies; and that the future of the global economy depends critically on whether the shocks to risk are expected to be permanent or temporary.
The Role of Public Works in the Political Business Cycle and the Instability of the Budget Deficits in Japan
Authors: Yoshino Naoyuki , Mizoguchi Tetsuro
Published: April 2010

This paper discusses the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) ability to maintain a majority of seats in the Diet after WWII by focusing on the role of public investment. The paper discusses three periods, namely, (i) the high-growth period (1950 to 1985), (ii) the asset bubble period (1986 to 1990), and (iii) the period of economic downturn after the bubble (post 1990). During the high-growth period, government investment had a strong positive output effect and it increased the tax revenue in the medium and long run. The high rate of private capital formation boosted growth and tax revenue even further. During the asset bubble period of the late 1980s, Japanese tax revenue increased due to high asset and property prices, and growth stayed high because of strong aggregate demand. The Japanese economy experienced slower growth after the asset bubble burst. The LDP continued its high-spending policy by issuing Japanese government bonds (JGB) to finance the deficits but has not been able to revive growth to previous levels. Accumulated government debt now amounts to 180 percent of GDP and it will be difficult to issue any more JGB. Fiscal policy in post-bubble Japan no longer fulfilled the stability conditions that were identified by Blinder and Solow (1974).
“That School Had Become All About Show”: Image Making and the Ironies of Constructing a Good Urban School
Authors: Niesz Tricia
Published: April 2010

The last two decades have seen dramatic change in U.S. schooling as a response to high-stakes accountability and market-based reform movements. Critics cite a number of unfortunate consequences of these movements, especially for students in urban schools. This article explores the troubling ironies related to one strategy for survival in this environment: constructing an image of a “good school.” Drawing from an ethnographic study of an urban middle school, the author argues that the administration developed and promoted an image of a good school in the public sphere but this image did not reflect the experiences of students and teachers. The author develops this argument by drawing out four ironies that resulted from image-building in a climate of high-stakes accountability and market-driven reform.
In the Eyes of the Beholder: Urban Student Perceptions of Zero Tolerance Policy
Authors: McNeal Laura , Dunbar Christopher
Published: April 2010

Zero tolerance policy was created as a result of the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994. Varied views exist on zero tolerance policy that include its substantive impact, for whom it is intended, and its viability to address the problem of school violence. Parents, politicians, principals, and teachers have stated their views on the issues. However, there is a voice that is conspicuously absent in this dialogue—that is, students for whom the policy was created to protect. Therefore, in an effort to understand the impact of zero tolerance policy, this study examines urban student perceptions regarding their sense of safety in their schools.
The Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Single Oral Doses of RO5068760, an MEK Inhibitor, in Healthy Volunteers: Assessment of Target Suppression
Authors: Lee Lucy , Niu Huifeng , Goelzer Petra , Rueger Ruediger , Deutsch Jonathan , Busse‐Reid Rachel , DeSchepper Stefanie , Blotner Steve , Barrett Joanne , Weissgerber Georges , Peck Richard
Published: April 2010

RO5068760, a substituted hydantoin, represents a new class of potent, highly selective, non‐adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–competitive MEK1/2 inhibitors. The study aimed to determine the safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single ascending doses of RO5068760 in human healthy volunteers. All participants received a single dose followed by 48 hours of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety/tolerability assessments. The pharmacodynamics were measured by changes in ERK phosphorylation (pERK) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, ex vivo stimulated by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA). Forty‐eight participants received 6 doses (50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 mg). RO5068760 was well tolerated up to 800 mg. There were no clinically significant safety findings, including laboratory, electrocardiogram, ophthalmological assessment, and fecal occult blood tests. Of the total 13 adverse events (n = 12), 11 were mild, 2 were moderate, and none were severe, and only 5 were considered by the investigator as possibly related to treatment. RO5068760 was absorbed with a tmax of 2 hours. Disposition appeared to be biphasic with a terminal elimination t1/2 of 5 to 9 hours. The variability was moderate to high, ranging from 38% to 62% for Cmax and 41% to 69% AUC. Within the dose range tested, pERK inhibition was relatively modest with a mean maximal pERK suppression of 55%.
Correctional Remediation Meets Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Authors: Ross Erin H. , Hoaken Peter N.S.
Published: April 2010

Many correctional services have dedicated considerable effort toward offender rehabilitation programs that aim to reduce recidivism. During the past three decades, cognitive-skills-based programs have been the foundational remediation offered within correctional facilities. These programs appear to reduce recidivism in the range of 10%. One potential for further reductions is to address deficits in offenders’ executive cognitive functioning (ECF), a constellation of abilities that includes planning, inhibition, and thought flexibility. The documented ECF deficits of offenders resemble the deficits experienced by individuals with acquired brain injury or diagnosed with schizophrenia. The body of literature addressing rehabilitation efforts of these two distinct populations provides innovative and empirically supported behavioral treatment strategies that may enrich current offender rehabilitation. Recommendations for assessment and rehabilitation of ECF deficits are discussed.
The return of political theology
Authors: Benhabib Seyla
Published: April 2010

Increasingly in today’s world we are experiencing intensifying antagonisms around religious and ethno-cultural differences. The confrontation between political Islam and the so-called ‘West’ has replaced the rhetoric of the Cold War against communism. This new constellation has not only challenged the hypothesis that ‘secularization’ inevitably accompanied modernity but has also placed on the agenda political theology as a potent force in many societies. This article analyzes the contemporary revival of political theology by focusing on the headscarf debate in comparative constitutional perspective. It compares the well-known decision of the French Parliament banning the wearing of the headscarf in public schools (2004) with the decision of the German Constitutional Court concerning whether Fereshta Ludin, an Afghani-German teacher wearing the hijab, could teach in German schools (2003) and with the more recent judgment of the Turkish Constitutional Court (summer 2008) upholding the ban on the wearing of the scarf or the turban in institutions of higher learning. At stake in these debates is not only the meaning of fundamental human rights but also why women and their bodies become the object of disciplinary conflicts in culture, law and religion.
Islam: the test of globalization
Authors: Char Abdelmajid
Published: April 2010

Globalization has consequences for the religious sphere, but it does not constitute a break with the previous situation. It constitutes rather an acceleration of a process begun with the birth of nation-states. The impact of the values of modernity is general, since even those in power, whatever their tendency, invoke values of democracy, progress, freedom and justice, whereas submission is what was required of subjects. Nevertheless, people today look to religion for fixed reference points, because of the brutal transition from the Middle Ages to the 20th and 21st centuries, and because modernity is not a endogenous phenomenon. Islam then is playing the role of bulwark against western hegemony. It is also instrumentalized both by the powers that be and by the oppositions, all of whom give themselves over to displays of one-upmanship over fidelity to Islam.

Does Islam then maintain its relevance in the context of globalization? The fact is that the bases on which social relations are now founded no longer permit discrimination on the ground of sex or religion, and that there is a loosening of the grip of traditional ritualism and that more and more Muslims are looking for an understanding of the faith that is freed from old-fashioned dogmas. These new givens are being demonstrated particularly when it comes to the exercise of power and the condition of women. As a result, traditional conceptions are destined to evolve, particularly concerning the status of the Koran, the growing awareness of the historical process that made the Koran into a juridical code, the archetype that has been stuck to the person of the Prophet, and the alienation that consists in the sacralization of every human act.
Reflexive pluralism
Authors: Ferrara Alessandro
Published: April 2010

Reflexive pluralism is here put forward as the conception that is most reasonable for supporters of political liberalism to hold at a period when the reasons justifying acceptance of political and religious pluralism seem inadequate.
Foreign nationals, enemy penology and the criminal justice system
Authors: Fekete Liz , Webber Frances
Published: April 2010

In recent years, European governments have introduced a series of measures aimed at clamping down on foreign nationals within criminal justice systems. Such measures have included policies of automatic deportation on completion of prison sentences of a certain length, harsher sentencing, prison segregation, and restrictions on access to citizenship and rights to permanent settlement. This article argues that such measures constitute a separate criminal justice system for foreign nationals, the creation of which has been driven by ‘penal populism and racist campaigns by extreme-Right political parties, against Muslims, asylum seekers and Roma in particular. Many of those designated as foreign criminals are guilty only of new offences specifically created to criminalise undocumented migration; many others are young refugees who have never been helped to deal with the trauma they experienced in their countries of origin. Historically, the European Court of Human Rights has set a high threshold for the deportation of a foreign national following a conviction, particularly with regard to young people. But this has been bypassed by European governments, even in cases of‘virtual nationals , those born and brought up in a European country but, owing to jus sanguinis citizenship laws in some EU countries, holding a non-EU passport. Moreover, there are attempts to curtail the freedom of movement rights of EU citizens, such as Romanian Roma, on the grounds that they are a serious threat to public order.
In the city of hunger: Barisal, Bangladesh
Authors: Seabrook Jeremy
Published: April 2010

The city of Barisal in the south of Bangladesh, on the flood plain of the Bay of Bengal, reveals in microcosm the injuries inflicted on the poor and dispossessed of the world by imperialism, colonial expropriation and globalism. The loss of peasant land to the Meghna, exacerbated by corruption, greed and outright theft, has driven many to eking out the most marginal living in this poorest of cities or migrating onwards to the grim brickfields and garment factories of Dhaka.
Military Keynesianism today: an innovative discourse
Authors: Custers Peter
Published: April 2010

The term 'military Keynesianism' refers to economic policies in which the government devotes large amounts of spending to the military in order to foster economic growth. In this article, a number of crucial distinctions are made between different forms of military Keynesian policy, providing a more sophisticated picture of the practices of US and EU governments. It is argued that a form of military Keynesianism can be said to be operating even where it is not the primary means for regulating the business cycle. And the particular effects of externalised military Keynesianism, in which the state encourages other countries to purchase arms from domestic manufacturers, are considered. As Keynes s ideas are revived in response to the financial crisis, this article concludes by asking what a genuinely ecological alternative to military Keynesianism would look like.
Captive labour: asylum seekers, migrants and employment in UK immigration removal centres
Authors: Burnett Jon , Chebe Fidelis
Published: April 2010

The steady growth in the use of immigration detention under the UK's New Labour government has been, it is argued here, mirrored by the concurrent development of a new form of labour market within immigration removal centres (IRCs). This market has grown out of the long history of what some label as exploitative employment practices used amongst the wider prison population. It relies upon a subtle form of coercion which ensures compliance and discipline and, in so doing, provides a cheap and easily exploitable pool of labour for private sector companies. The research for this article draws on findings from prison inspection reports and the annual reports of independent monitoring boards.
Birth Control Sabotage and Forced Sex: Experiences Reported by Women in Domestic Violence Shelters
Authors: Thiel de Bocanegra Heike , Rostovtseva Daria P. , Khera Satin , Godhwani Nita
Published: April 2010

Women who experience intimate partner violence often experience birth control sabotage, forced sex, and partner’s unwillingness to use condoms. We interviewed 53 women at four domestic violence shelters. Participants reported that their abusive partners frequently refused to use condoms, impeded them from accessing health care, and subjected them to birth control sabotage, infidelity, and forced sex. However, women also reported strategies to counteract these actions, particularly against birth control sabotage and attempts to force them to abort or continue a pregnancy. Domestic violence counselors can focus on these successful strategies to validate coping skills and build self-esteem.
Studies of the Toxicological Potential of Capsinoids, XI: Pharmacokinetic and Tissue Distribution Study of 14C-Dihydrocapsiate and Metabolites in Rats
Authors: Bernard Bruce K. , Ubukata Kazuyuki , Mihara Ryuichi , Sato Yoshiaki , Nemoto Hiroyuki
Published: April 2010

Pharmacokinetics of a single gavage dose of 14C-labeled dihydrocapsiate (10 mg/kg) were investigated in male rats. Maximal plasma concentration was achieved in 40 minutes and exhibited an apparent half-life of 2.4 hours. Excretion of radioactivity in the urine, feces, and expired air was 78.2%, 19.4%, and 0.5% of the dose, respectively. Highest tissue concentrations were achieved in the kidney, liver, and blood; the data indicate that radioactivity accumulation following daily exposure at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight is unlikely. Radioactivity in the plasma was associated with metabolites and their conjugates, probably vanillyl alcohol, vanillic acid, glucuronide of vanillyl alcohol, sulphate of vanillyl alcohol, and sulphate of vanillic acid. These results suggest dihydrocapsiate is metabolized by hydrolysis in the gut, or esterase or other enzymes in the blood, and the metabolites were rapidly absorbed and converted to their conjugates in the liver and eliminated by the kidneys into the urine.
Studies of the Toxicological Potential of Capsinoids, XII: Pharmacokinetic Study of Capsinoid-Containing CH-19 Sweet Extract in Rats
Authors: Shirai Yoshiaki , Ueno Satoko , Nakayama Akira , Ikeuchi Kiyoko , Ubukata Kazuyuki , Mihara Ryuichi , Bernard Bruce K.
Published: April 2010

Pharmacokinetics of the main capsinoid components of CH-19 Sweet extract (capsiate, dihydrocapsiate, and nordihydrocapsiate) were investigated in rats receiving a single gavage dose of extract containing 10 or 100 mg of capsinoids per kilogram in medium-chain triglyceride. Resultant blood levels of these capsinoids and a capsinoid metabolite, vanillyl alcohol, were measured in portal vein and systemic blood. Capsinoids were never detected. Portal compartment vanillyl alcohol concentrations and area under the plasma concentration versus time curve increased approximately with dose, whereas the time to maximum concentration of vanillyl alcohol was independent of dose (30 minutes post dosing), suggesting that precipitation in the stomach or intestines was unlikely. Vanillyl alcohol levels were just barely detectable in systemic plasma (5 minutes post dosing). Significant levels of vanillyl alcohol conjugates, sulfate, and glucuronide were detected in the systemic blood. Given that the orally administered capsinoids were never detected in the portal vein or systemic circulation, these compounds must be broken down (chemically or enzymatically) to vanillyl alcohol.
(Un)funny women: TV comedy audiences and the gendering of humour
Authors: Kalviknes Bore Inger-Lise
Published: April 2010

Based on data from an empirical study of TV comedy audiences in Britain and Norway, this article examines the ways in which focus group participants constructed gendered distinctions in relation to comedy. Analysing talk about two sketch shows dominated by female performers, it argues that both male and female participants represented such ‘women’s comedy’ as having limited appeal for male viewers. The article explores the assumptions underlying this perspective, and highlights a perceived conflict between femininity and comedic performance. Focusing in on the minority of participants who explicitly devalued female comedy performers, it examines how these viewers employed discursive strategies to promote this view while negotiating the focus group setting. The article draws on feminist work on humour and comedy, as well as studies of taste and television audiences.