bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mouse, Endemic Rodents and Human Settlement in the Canary Islands
Authors: Michaux Jacques
Published: May 2008

This article postulates a method of determining the date of human settlement in the Canary Islands by establishing when species of mice, which are commensal with human beings and hence in all likelihood migrated with them, arrived in the archipelago. At the same time, the extinction of several species of endemic rodents may also correlate with such arrivals. The study establishes the outer limits for the arrival of the mouse species, between the 5th millennium BCE and the 15th century CE, but, while indicative archaeological evidence indicates human settlement was established by around the middle of the 1st millennium BCE, the absence of conclusive dating of fossil mice remains leaves a definitive conclusion for the start of such settlement still open.
Migrations or Nomadism: How Glaciation Reveals Historical Models of Mobility
Authors: Legrand Jacques
Published: May 2008

This paper forms part of a project to describe and analyse historically and anthropologically nomadic pastoralism. It reflects on mobility, its forms and scale, and more especially on the critique of predominant classical, even banal ideas which assimilate nomadism to mobility. Nomadic pastoral mobility occurs in a context that separates it radically from migratory movement. In fact, nomadic mobility constitutes a strategy that stabilizes resources and populations and whose basic foundation is the appropriation of a territorial base that is established as durably as possible. Just as, and following sedentary settlement, nomadic pastoralism puts an end to migratory mobility. Thus it seems that a single idea of mobility is inappropriate to describe the two fundamentally independent phenomena represented by transcontinental migration, partly arising from the effects of the ice age, and nomadic pastoralism.
The Presidential Addresses of Sir William Jones: The Asiatick Society of Bengal and the ISCSC
Authors: Palencia-Roth Michael
Published: May 2008

The Asiatick Society of Bengal, founded by Sir William Jones in Calcutta in 1784, blazed the trails and mapped them for subsequent travellers in the discipline now called the comparative study of civilizations. This paper analyzes Jones' Presidential addresses to show how the founding of the Asiatick Society reflected and at the same time influenced a new conception of human history, whose cultural and political manifestations had to encompass much more than the Greco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian world. This essay brings Jones' works to our attention and should make us more aware of the importance of his work for the comparative study of civilizations and cultures.
Civilizations over the Long Term: Past Realities, Present Challenges
Authors: Aymard Maurice
Published: May 2008

The last few decades have upset the old balance that had long been the inspiration of historians. Historians and others who recorded their thoughts and research with the long term in mind, thinking of permanence and continuity, were encouraged to place emphasis on communication and circulation. In their eyes both of these were questioning the fragmentations of the local, changing acquired habits, requiring dialogue and exchange - in the peaceful mode of commercial trade or the violent one of war and looting. This paper claims that today's view is fundamentally different, since the threat has changed place and nature: standardization has replaced isolation. So the question facing us today with particular force is: can history and knowledge of the past still claim to help us understand the present?
Urban Adolescents' Postschool Aspirations and Awareness
Authors: Scanlon David , Saxon Karyn , Cowell Molly , Kenny Maureen E. , Pérez-Gualdrón Leyla , Jernigan Maryam
Published: May 2008

The young adult years (approximately the age when one leaves high school to age 23) are pivotal to adult life success. They are the years when adolescents typically assume dramatic increases in responsibility for self-direction in areas such as socialization, independent living, citizenship, employment, education, and mental and physical health. From initial experiences in those years, the young adult lays foundations for how his or her life will progress in various domains. The purpose of the present study is to document urban adolescents' understanding of their aspirations and means for reaching them in their young adult years while still early in their high school years. The authors investigate whether there are differences based on if the students have a learning disability.
Pleural Effusion: Beta-Trace Protein in Diagnosing Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Complications
Authors: Born Mark , Reichling Stefanie , Schirrmeister Jörg
Published: May 2008

Catheter dysfunction is a common complication with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Apart from infection, obstruction, and leakage, migration of the shunt tip may cause particular problems. Pleural effusion is easily classified as a shunt complication if a transdiaphragmatic migration of a shunt can be demonstrated. If, however, the tip of the shunt is found adjacent to the diaphragm, it is difficult to decide if the effusion is caused by the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Different diagnostic methods can be used in this situation. Below we report a case of pleural effusion—without shunt migration—which was revealed to be a shunt complication by quantifying beta-trace protein in the effusion.
Three-Dimensional Body Scan Data Analysis
Authors: Petrova Adriana , Ashdown Susan P.
Published: May 2008

Three-dimensional body scanning technology was used to analyze fit of women's pants and to measure garment ease at various locations. Special test pants constructed with adjustable Velcro sections were used to provide custom fit for each study participant. Twenty-four subjects, ages 35 to 55, represented three body shape groups (straight, medium, curvy) determined by the hip-to-waist circumferences ratio, and four size groups covering Misses size range 4 to 16. Scans of a subject wearing minimal clothing and of the same subject wearing the test pant, adjusted by the researchers for best fit in a standing position, were compared. The differences between the pant and body scans (ease) were determined for circumference, slice area, surface area, and volume measurements at various locations and analyzed for size and shape dependence. Decrease in percent ease differences with increasing size was observed for several variables; no clear dependence on shape was found. Size dependences were used to propose a way of pattern grading with grade intervals variable by size and body location.
Do Insurance Sector Growth and Reforms Affect Economic Development? Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Vadlamannati Krishna Chaitanya
Published: May 2008

A well-developed insurance sector is necessary for the economic development of an emerging economy like India, as it provides long-term funds for physical and social infrastructure, while simultaneously strengthening risk-taking abilities. The investment requirements for India in the coming years are well-known and the rapid growth of the insurance sector in the post-liberalisation period is seen as a good sign as it can, to some extent, facilitate investment in infrastructure development to help sustain the economic growth of the country. Against this backdrop, this paper raises an important question: what has been the contribution of insurance sector growth to economic development in India? The paper further examines the economic growth effects of insurance sector reforms and the rate of growth of insurance reforms. The claims brought forward by this study are mixed. The contribution of the insurance sector to economic development is positive and exhibits a long-run equilibrium relationship. We find that reforms exert no strong relationship, but the rate of growth of reforms has a positive influence on economic development. The study therefore suggests that in order to make the insurance sector a more important component of the financial intermediation process, complete deregulation and an increase in the pace of reforms are the need of the hour.
Supporting grid-based clinical trials in Scotland
Authors: Sinnott R.O. , Stell A.J. , Ajayi O.
Published: May 2008

A computational infrastructure to underpin complex clinical trials and medical population studies is highly desirable. This should allow access to a range of distributed clinical data sets; support the efficient processing and analysis of the data obtained; have security at its heart; and ensure that authorized individuals are able to see privileged data and no more. Each clinical trial has its own requirements on data sets and how they are used; hence a reusable and flexible framework offers many advantages. The MRC funded Virtual Organisations for Trials and Epidemiological Studies (VOTES) is a collaborative project involving several UK universities specifically to explore this space. This article presents the experiences of developing the Scottish component of this nationwide infrastructure, by the National e-Science Centre (NeSC) based at the University of Glasgow, and the issues inherent in accessing and using the clinical data sets in a flexible, dynamic and secure manner.
Living with a Reluctant Hegemon: The Transatlantic Conflict Over Multilateral Arms Control
Authors: Fehl Caroline
Published: May 2008

Scholars and commentators have long debated a `unilateralist' tendency in US foreign policy, but have largely neglected the question of how other states attempt to deal with the problem, particularly with increasing US opposition to multilateral treaty intiatives. This article describes and explains European responses to US unilateralism in three transatlantic conflicts over multilateral arms control agreements: the AntiPersonnel Landmines Ban, the UN Process on Small Arms, and the Biological Weapons Protocol. The article shows that European responses have varied between accommodation and resistance, and tests hypotheses about four potential determinants of European choices: expected treaty effectiveness, transatlantic rivalry, consensus norms, and the influence of non-government activists. The findings suggest that European responses reflect a strong concern for treaty effectiveness, but are also constrained by norms of consensual decision-making. Activist pressure can overcome this `compromise bias' of government diplomacy.
Arrested Development: The Fight to End Commercial Whaling as a Case of Failed Norm Change
Authors: Bailey Jennifer L.
Published: May 2008

The International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling took effect in 1986, seemingly marking the adoption of a new norm, that commercial whaling was no longer acceptable. But this norm has failed to become institutionalized. This article uses the norm life-cycle approach as developed by Finnemore and Sikkink (1998) to account for this failure. The effort ran aground because the norm proved unexpectedly ambiguous, a supporting epistemic community failed to emerge, the norm conflicted with other powerful norms, the prestige of the key anti-whaling states declined relative that of whaling states, and NGO tactics failed to win over the publics in key whaling states and instead created a counter-boomerang effect. The attempt may have resulted in the emergence of an alternative norm, but actors must act now to institutionalize it.
Pupils' perceptions of and experiences in team invasion games: A case study of a Scottish secondary school and its three feeder primary schools
Authors: Gray Shirley , Sproule John , Wang C.K. John
Published: May 2008

It has been claimed that young children in schools in Scotland cannot relate to the activities that are taught in the more `traditional' PE curriculum, activities that predominately include team invasion games (TIG) such as basketball, soccer and hockey (Scottish Executive, 2004). However, one of the issues with this claim is that it does not appear to derive from any empirical, Scottish-based, research. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate pupils' perceptions of and experiences in TIG within the PE curriculum in Scotland, specifically their perception of competence, enjoyment and the value they attach to games such as soccer and basketball. We gathered data from three year groups, primary 7 (P7) (age = 11 ± 0.8 yrs), secondary 2 (S2) (age = 13.5 ± 0.5 yrs) and secondary 4 (S4) (age = 15 ± 0.4 yrs) from one urban state school in Edinburgh and its three feeder primary schools ( n = 285). All of the pupils in this study completed a questionnaire and a sample from each year group took part in a focus group interview. We found that P7 pupils valued the role of TIG within their PE curriculum more highly than the S4 pupils. For all of the year groups in this study, there was a positive relationship between their perception of competence and enjoyment of TIG and the value they attached to them. These findings warrant further research into the ways in which TIG are delivered in Scottish schools to understand more fully why pupils in Scottish schools value the role of TIG less as they move from P7 to S4.
Pedagogical practices of reflection in tertiary dance education
Authors: Leijen Äli , Lam Ineke , Simons P. Robert-Jan , Wildschut Liesbeth
Published: May 2008

The three different perspectives on reflection in education are embedded in the philosophical traditions of pragmatism, critical social theory and Kant. We aimed to describe the pedagogical practices of reflection, and to develop a descriptive model of the practices of reflection in tertiary dance education which can be used by dance educators to support their students' reflection activities. Data about the reflection practices were collected from 13 dance teachers in the Netherlands. The developed model of pedagogical practices consists of five types of reflection based on the Kantian and pragmatists' notions of reflection.
`Gagged Grief and Beleaguered Bereavements?' An Analysis of Multidisciplinary Theory and Research Relating to Same Sex Partnership Bereavement
Authors: Green Lorraine , Grant Victoria
Published: May 2008

This article evaluates and synthesizes research and literature from the social sciences, in order to theorize a much neglected area, same sex partnership bereavement. Traditional psychological theories of bereavement are analysed and critiqued, alongside sociological insights not only related to death, dying and grief, but to stigma, emotion work and invoked notions of contamination and pollution. Mainstream psychological theories of bereavement are exposed as being inherently flawed unless modified in relation to `disenfranchised grief'. This concept bridges sociological and psychological understandings, and can also accommodate the potential impact of historical and contemporary oppression on people of diverse sexualities. Traditional identity and postmodern `queer' perspectives, related to sexuality, are also incorporated in order to avoid homogenizing the experiences of people bereaved within same sex relationships and to make explicit both diversity and similarity. Overall, the article demonstrates how and why bereaved gay people may be particularly at risk of stigmatized and disenfranchised grief, whilst simultaneously highlighting the need for more empirical and theoretical attention to be paid to this important issue.
The transcription factor Nfixis essential for normal brain development
Authors: Campbell Christine E , Piper Michael , Plachez Céline , Yeh Yu-Ting , Baizer Joan S , Osinski Jason M , Litwack E David , Richards Linda J , Gronostajski Richard M
Published: May 2008

Background

The Nuclear Factor I (NFI) multi-gene family encodes site-specific transcription factors essential for the development of a number of organ systems. We showed previously that Nfia-deficient mice exhibit agenesis of the corpus callosum and other forebrain defects; Nfib-deficient mice have defects in lung maturation and show callosal agenesis and forebrain defects resembling those seen in Nfia-deficient animals, while Nfic-deficient mice have defects in tooth root formation. Recently the Nfix gene has been disrupted and these studies indicated that there were largely uncharacterized defects in brain and skeletal development in Nfix-deficient mice.

Results

Here we show that disruption of Nfix by Cre-recombinase mediated excision of the 2nd exon results in defects in brain development that differ from those seen in Nfia and Nfib KO mice. In particular, complete callosal agenesis is not seen in Nfix-/- mice but rather there appears to be an overabundance of aberrant Pax6- and doublecortin-positive cells in the lateral ventricles of Nfix-/- mice, increased brain weight, expansion of the cingulate cortex and entire brain along the dorsal ventral axis, and aberrant formation of the hippocampus. On standard lab chow Nfix-/- animals show a decreased growth rate from ~P8 to P14, lose weight from ~P14 to P22 and die at ~P22. If their food is supplemented with a soft dough chow from P10, Nfix-/- animals show a lag in weight gain from P8 to P20 but then increase their growth rate. A fraction of the animals survive to adulthood and are fertile. The weight loss correlates with delayed eye and ear canal opening and suggests a delay in the development of several epithelial structures in Nfix-/- animals.

Conclusion

These data show that Nfix is essential for normal brain development and may be required for neural stem cell homeostasis. The delays seen in eye and ear opening and the brain morphology defects appear independent of the nutritional deprivation, as rescue of perinatal lethality with soft dough does not eliminate these defects.
Amygdala and fusiform gyrus temporal dynamics: Responses to negative facial expressions
Authors: Britton Jennifer C , Shin Lisa M , Barrett Lisa Feldman , Rauch Scott L , Wright Christopher I
Published: May 2008

Background

The amygdala habituates in response to repeated human facial expressions; however, it is unclear whether this brain region habituates to schematic faces (i.e., simple line drawings or caricatures of faces). Using an fMRI block design, 16 healthy participants passively viewed repeated presentations of schematic and human neutral and negative facial expressions. Percent signal changes within anatomic regions-of-interest (amygdala and fusiform gyrus) were calculated to examine the temporal dynamics of neural response and any response differences based on face type.

Results

The amygdala and fusiform gyrus had a within-run "U" response pattern of activity to facial expression blocks. The initial block within each run elicited the greatest activation (relative to baseline) and the final block elicited greater activation than the preceding block. No significant differences between schematic and human faces were detected in the amygdala or fusiform gyrus.

Conclusion

The "U" pattern of response in the amygdala and fusiform gyrus to facial expressions suggests an initial orienting, habituation, and activation recovery in these regions. Furthermore, this study is the first to directly compare brain responses to schematic and human facial expressions, and the similarity in brain responses suggest that schematic faces may be useful in studying amygdala activation.
Minisequencing mitochondrial DNA pathogenic mutations
Authors: Álvarez-Iglesias Vanesa , Barros Francisco , Carracedo Ángel , Salas Antonio
Published: May 2008

Background

There are a number of well-known mutations responsible of common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases. In order to overcome technical problems related to the analysis of complete mtDNA genomes, a variety of different techniques have been proposed that allow the screening of coding region pathogenic mutations.

Methods

We here propose a minisequencing assay for the analysis of mtDNA mutations. In a single reaction, we interrogate a total of 25 pathogenic mutations distributed all around the whole mtDNA genome in a sample of patients suspected for mtDNA disease.

Results

We have detected 11 causal homoplasmic mutations in patients suspected for Leber disease, which were further confirmed by standard automatic sequencing. Mutations m.11778G>A and m.14484T>C occur at higher frequency than expected by change in the Galician (northwest Spain) patients carrying haplogroup J lineages (Fisher's Exact test, P-value < 0.01). The assay performs well in mixture experiments of wild:mutant DNAs that emulate heteroplasmic conditions in mtDNA diseases.

Conclusion

We here developed a minisequencing genotyping method for the screening of the most common pathogenic mtDNA mutations which is simple, fast, and low-cost. The technique is robust and reproducible and can easily be implemented in standard clinical laboratories.
Electroacupuncture activates corticotrophin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalammus to alleviate edema in a rat model of inflammation
Authors: Li Aihui , Lao Lixing , Wang Yi , Xin Jiajia , Ren Ke , Berman Brian M , Tan Ming , Zhang Ruixin
Published: May 2008

Background

Studies show that electroacupuncture (EA) has beneficial effects in patients with inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the mechanisms of EA anti-inflammation, using a rat model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced hind paw inflammation and hyperalgesia.

Design

Four experiments were conducted on male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6–7/per group). Inflammation was induced by injecting CFA into the plantar surface of one hind paw. Experiment 1 examined whether EA increases plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. Experiments 2 and 3 studied the effects of the ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonists, ACTH(11–24) and astressin, on the EA anti-edema. Experiment 4 determined whether EA activates CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalammus. EA treatment, 10 Hz at 3 mA and 0.1 ms pulse width, was given twice for 20 min each, once immediately post and again 2 hr post-CFA. Plasma ACTH levels, paw thickness, and paw withdrawal latency to a noxious thermal stimulus were measured 2 h and 5 h after the CFA.

Results

EA significantly increased ACTH levels 5 h (2 folds) after CFA compared to sham EA control, but EA alone in naive rats and CFA alone did not induce significant increases in ACTH. ACTH(11–24) and astressin blocked EA anti-edema but not EA anti-hyperalgesia. EA induced phosphorylation of NR1, an essential subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor, in CRH-containing neurons of the paraventricular nucleus.

Conclusion

The data demonstrate that EA activates CRH neurons to significantly increase plasma ACTH levels and suppress edema through CRH and ACTH receptors in a rat model of inflammation.
Refined study of the interaction between HIV-1 p6 late domain and ALIX
Authors: Lazert Carine , Chazal Nathalie , Briant Laurence , Gerlier Denis , Cortay Jean-Claude
Published: May 2008

The interaction between the HIV-1 p6 late budding domain and ALIX, a class E vacuolar protein sorting factor, was explored by using the yeast two-hybrid approach. We refined the ALIX binding site of p6 as being the leucine triplet repeat sequence (Lxx)4 (LYPLTSLRSLFG). Intriguingly, the deletion of the C-terminal proline-rich region of ALIX prevented detectable binding to p6. In contrast, a four-amino acid deletion in the central hinge region of p6 increased its association with ALIX as shown by its ability to bind to ALIX lacking the proline rich domain. Finally, by using a random screening approach, the minimal ALIX391–510 fragment was found to specifically interact with this p6 deletion mutant. A parallel analysis of ALIX binding to the late domain p9 from EIAV revealed that p6 and p9, which exhibit distinct ALIX binding motives, likely bind differently to ALIX. Altogether, our data support a model where the C-terminal proline-rich domain of ALIX allows the access of its binding site to p6 by alleviating a conformational constraint resulting from the presence of the central p6 hinge.
Determinants of late disease-stage presentation at diagnosis of HIV infection in Venezuela: A case-case comparison
Authors: Bonjour Maeva A , Montagne Morelba , Zambrano Martha , Molina Gloria , Lippuner Catherine , Wadskier Francis G , Castrillo Milvida , Incani Renzo N , Tami Adriana
Published: May 2008

Background

Although Venezuela has a National Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Program offering free diagnosis and treatment, 41% of patients present for diagnosis at a later disease-stage, indicating that access to care may still be limited. Our study aimed to identify factors influencing delay in presenting for HIV-diagnosis using a case-case comparison. A cross-sectional survey was performed at the Regional HIV Reference Centre (CAI), Carabobo Region, Venezuela. Between May 2005 and October 2006 225 patients diagnosed with HIV at CAI were included and demographic, behavioural and medical characteristics collected from medical files. Socio-economic and behavioural factors were obtained from 129 eligible subjects through interviews. "Late presentation" at diagnosis was defined as patients classified with disease-stage B or C according to the 1993 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, USA) classification, and "early presentation" defined as diagnosis in disease-stage A.

Results

Of 225 subjects, 91 (40%) were defined as late presenters. A similar proportion (51/129) was obtained in the interviewed sub-sample. Older age (>30 years), male heterosexuality, lower socio-economic status, perceiving ones partner to be faithful and living ≥ 25 km from the CAI were positively associated with late diagnosis in a multivariate model. Females were less likely to present late than heterosexual males (odds ratio = 0.23, P = 0.06). The main barriers to HIV testing were low knowledge of HIV/AIDS, lack of awareness of the free HIV program, lack of perceived risk of HIV-infection, fear for HIV-related stigma, fear for lack of confidentiality at testing site and logistic barriers.

Conclusion

Despite the free Venezuelan HIV Program, poverty and barriers related to lack of knowledge and awareness of both HIV and the Program itself were important determinants in late presentation at HIV diagnosis. This study also indicates that women; heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual men might have different pathways to testing and different factors related to late presentation in each subgroup. Efforts must be directed to i) increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and the Program and ii) the identification of specific factors associated with delay in HIV diagnosis per subgroup, to help develop targeted public health interventions improving early diagnosis and prognosis of people living with HIV/AIDS in Venezuela and elsewhere.
Nav1.7 Expression is Increased in Painful Human Dental Pulp
Authors: Luo Songjiang , Perry Griffin M , Levinson S Rock , Henry Michael A
Published: May 2008

Background:

Animal studies and a few human studies have shown a change in sodium channel (NaCh) expression after inflammatory lesions, and this change is implicated in the generation of pain states. We are using the extracted human tooth as a model system to study peripheral pain mechanisms and here examine the expression of the Nav1.7 NaCh isoform in normal and painful samples. Pulpal sections were labeled with antibodies against: 1) Nav1.7, N52 and PGP9.5, and 2) Nav1.7, caspr (a paranodal protein used to identify nodes of Ranvier), and myelin basic protein (MBP), and a z-series of optically-sectioned images were obtained with the confocal microscope. Nav1.7-immunofluorescence was quantified in N52/PGP9.5-identified nerve fibers with NIH ImageJ software, while Nav1.7 expression in myelinated fibers at caspr-identified nodal sites was evaluated and further characterized as either typical or atypical as based on caspr-relationships.

Results:

Results show a significant increase in nerve area with Nav1.7 expression within coronal and radicular fiber bundles and increased expression at typical and atypical caspr-identified nodal sites in painful samples. Painful samples also showed an augmentation of Nav1.7 within localized areas that lacked MBP, including those associated with atypical caspr-identified sites, thus identifying NaCh remodeling within demyelinating axons as the basis for a possible pulpal pain mechanism.

Conclusion:

This study identifies the increased axonal expression and augmentation of Nav1.7 at intact and remodeling/demyelinating nodes within the painful human dental pulp where these changes may contribute to constant, increased evoked and spontaneous pain responses that characterize the pain associated with toothache.
Changes in γ-secretase activity and specificity caused by the introduction of consensus aspartyl protease active motif in Presenilin 1
Authors: Carter Donald B , Dunn Edwige , Pauley Adele M , McKinley Denise D , Fleck Timothy J , Ellerbrook Brenda R , Stratman Nancy C , Zhou Xiangdong , Himes Carol S , Nye Jeffrey S , Tomasselli Alfredo , Yan Riqiang
Published: May 2008

Presenilin (PS1 or PS2) is an essential component of the active γ-secretase complex that liberates the Aβ peptides from amyloid precursor protein (APP). PS1 is regarded as an atypical aspartyl protease harboring two essential aspartic acids in the context of the sequence D257LV and D385FI, respectively, rather than the typical DTG...DTG catalytic motif of classical aspartyl proteases. In the present studies, we introduced the sequence DTG in PS1 at and around the catalytic D257 and D385 residues to generate three PS1 mutants: D257TG, D385TG, and the double-mutant D257TG/D385TG. The effects of these changes on the γ-secretase activity in the presence or absence of γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators were investigated. The results showed that PS1 mutants having D385TG robustly enhanced Aβ42 production compared to the wild type (wt), and were more sensitive than wt to inhibition by a classical aspartyl protease transition state mimic, and fenchylamine, a sulfonamide derivative. Unlike wt PS1 and some of its clinical mutants, all three PS1 artificial mutants decreased cleavage of Notch S3-site, suggesting that these artificial mutations may trigger conformational changes at the substrate docking and catalytic site that cause alteration of substrate specificity and inhibition pattern. Consistent with this notion, we have found that NSAID enzymatic inhibitors of COX, known modulators of the γ-secretase activity, cause PS1 mutants containing D385TG to produce higher levels of both Aβ38 and Aβ42, but to reduce levels of Aβ39, showing a pattern of Aβ formation different from that observed with wild type PS1 and its clinical mutants. This study provides an important structural clue for the rational design of drugs to inhibit processing of APP at the γ-site without interfering with Notch processing.
Sleep structure and sleepiness in chronic fatigue syndrome with or without coexisting fibromyalgia
Authors: Togo Fumiharu , Natelson Benjamin H , Cherniack Neil S , FitzGibbons Jennifer , Garcon Carmen , Rapoport David M
Published: May 2008

Introduction

We evaluated polysomnograms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients with and without fibromyalgia to determine whether patients in either group had elevated rates of sleep-disturbed breathing (obstructive sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome) or periodic leg movement disorder. We also determined whether feelings of unrefreshing sleep were associated with differences in sleep architecture from normal.

Methods

We compared sleep structures and subjective scores on visual analog scales for sleepiness and fatigue in CFS patients with or without coexisting fibromyalgia (n = 12 and 14, respectively) with 26 healthy subjects. None had current major depressive disorder, and all were studied at the same menstrual phase.

Results

CFS patients had significant differences in polysomnograpic findings from healthy controls and felt sleepier and more fatigued than controls after a night's sleep. CFS patients as a group had less total sleep time, lower sleep efficiency, and less rapid eye movement sleep than controls. A possible explanation for the unrefreshing quality of sleep in CFS patients was revealed by stratification of patients into those who reported more or less sleepiness after a night's sleep (a.m. sleepier or a.m. less sleepy, respectively). Those in the sleepier group reported that sleep did not improve their symptoms and had poorer sleep efficiencies and shorter runs of sleep than both controls and patients in the less sleepy group; patients in the less sleepy group reported reduced fatigue and pain after sleep and had relatively normal sleep structures. This difference in sleep effects was due primarily to a decrease in the length of periods of uninterrupted sleep in the a.m. sleepier group.

Conclusion

CFS patients had significant differences in polysomnographic findings from healthy controls and felt sleepier and more fatigued than controls after a night's sleep. This difference was due neither to diagnosable sleep disorders nor to coexisting fibromyalgia but primarily to a decrease in the length of periods of uninterrupted sleep in the patients with more sleepiness in the morning than on the night before. This sleep disruption may explain the overwhelming fatigue, report of unrefreshing sleep, and pain in this subgroup of patients.
Targeting β-Cell Mass in Type 2 Diabetes: Promise and Limitations of New Drugs Based on Incretins
Authors: Salehi Marzieh , Aulinger Benedikt A. , D'Alessio David A.
Published: May 2008

Progressive insulin secretory defects, due to either functional abnormalities of the pancreatic β-cells or a reduction in β-cell mass, are the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes. Incretin-based drugs hold the potential to improve glucose tolerance by immediate favorable effect on β-cell physiology as well as by expanding or at least maintaining β-cell mass, which may delay the progression of the disease. Long-term studies in humans are needed to elaborate on these effects.
The FLEXICON co-simulation tools applied to a marine application
Authors: Thompson H A , Ramos-Hernandez D , Fu Jun , Jiang Lin , Nu Jianyong , Dobinson D
Published: May 2008

Development of distributed control systems requires tools that can deal with high complexity, integration of design information from multiple domains, and analysis support for the overall design covering both technical and commercial performance. Currently, no integrated set of multidisciplinary design tools exist that can do this. The FLEXICON project created a toolset for marine, automotive, and aerospace (MAA) applications, allowing simulation and assessment of system performance prior to implementation and support for rapid prototyping. In this paper the application of the FLEXICON MAA co-simulation toolset to a Rolls—Royce high-speed ship demonstrator is described. Results collected by Rolls—Royce during the demonstration activities showed that a reduction of 30 per cent in the development time could be achieved using the toolset.
Expression and Localization of Lectin-like Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 (LOX-1) in Murine and Human Placentas
Authors: Satoh Hiroo , Kiyota Emi , Terasaki Yasuhiro , Sawamura Tatsuya , Takagi Katsumasa , Mizuta Hiroshi , Takeya Motohiro
Published: May 2008

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is one of the scavenger receptors that recognizes oxidized low-density lipoprotein as a major ligand. The placenta is a major source of prooxidant during pregnancy, and the level of placental oxidative stress increases rapidly at the end of the first trimester and tapers off later in gestation. In our study, we evaluated placental expression of LOX-1 during different gestational stages in mice and humans. We used immunohistochemistry and ISH to identify LOX-1–expressing cells in murine and human placentas. In both species, higher expression of LOX-1 mRNA during early to midgestational stages compared with late gestation—corresponding to the increased oxidative stress in early pregnancy—was shown by real-time RT-PCR. In murine placenta, we showed that LOX-1–expressing cells were fibroblast-like stromal cells in metrial glands and decidua basalis and that they were glycogen trophoblast cells in the junctional and labyrinth zones. In the human, LOX-1 expression was detected in villous cytotrophoblasts in both first trimester and term placentas. These localization patterns of LOX-1 in murine and human placentas suggest the possible involvement of LOX-1 in high oxidative stress conditions of pregnancy.
Evaluation of Finishing Processes for Linen Fabrics Using the Kawabata Evaluation System
Authors: Namligöz E. S. , Bahtiyari M. İ , Körlü A. E. , Çoban S.
Published: May 2008

The main problems of linen textiles are roughness, stiffness, and wrinkling tendency. To solve these problems, different finishing processes are necessary. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different finishing processes such as enzymatic treatment with cellulases, softening process with micro-silicone softener, and wrinkle resistance treatment with modified-DMDHEU (dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea), on the mechanical properties of linen fabric. The bio-polishing of linen fabrics was performed in laboratory type exhausting machine. The softening and wrinkle resistance processes were realized with laboratory padder for impregnation and laboratory stenter for drying and curing. The Kawabata Evaluation System was used to test tensile, bending, and shearing properties of linen fabric treated with different finishing processes. Moreover, the wrinkle recovery angles (WRAs) of untreated and treated samples were also investigated according to DIN 53890. It was found that the bio-polishing process is important like softening processes in accordance with the softness feel of linen fabric. While the WRA of the treated fabrics had increased, the mechanical properties (tensile, shear, and bending) of fabrics did not change significantly.
Halbleitende Polymere als Funktionswerkstoffe für gedruckte Optoelektronik – Neue Möglichkeiten und Besonderheiten (Semiconducting Polymers for Printed Opto Electronics – Opportunities and Special Features)
Authors: Sariciftci Niyazi Serdar
Published: May 2008

Die konjugierten Polymere als organische Halbleiter sind besondere Werkstoffe: Sie vereinen die Vorteile eines “Plastik”-Werkstoffes wie z.B. die Löslichkeit, Verarbeitungsfähigkeit, Dünnschichtherstellung, mechanische Flexibilität usw. und die elektrischen und optischen Eigenschaften eines Halbleiters und Metalls. Demnach werden diese Werkstoffe als aktive Substanzen in der gedruckten Optoelektronik interessant sein.
Design of Printed Circuits – New Requirements and New Opportunities (Entwurf gedruckter Schaltungen – Neue Anforderungen und neue Möglichkeiten)
Authors: Kempa Heiko , Hambsch Mike , Voigt Sven
Published: May 2008

Design of printed circuits becomes an increasingly important research field as applications of this emerging technology come into sight. However, significant demand of research and development exists because new technology-related requirements apply as well as new opportunities evolve. We illustrate recent progress and future developments in terms of device modelling, circuit design and simulation as well as circuitry concepts using practical examples.
Einsatz eines Physikmodells zur Simulation des Materialflusses einer Produktionsanlage (Application of a Physical Model for the Simulation of the Material Flow of a Manufacturing Plant)
Authors: Zäh Michael F. , Spitzweg Michael , Lacour Frédéric-Felix
Published: May 2008

Die Idee der virtuellen Inbetriebnahme wird von Werkzeugmaschinen auf materialflussintensive Produktionsanlagen übertragen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Materialfluss für die Aussagekraft der Simulation wesentlich ist. Ausgehend vom CAD-Modell wird ein reduziertes Geometriemodell um ein Physik- und Kinematikmodell erweitert. Auf Basis dieses Modells wird die Simulation für die virtuelle Inbetriebnahme durchgeführt. Anhand eines realitätsnahen Anwendungsszenarios wird die praktische Nutzbarkeit gezeigt.
Corticosterone stress response in tree swallows nesting near polychlorinated biphenyl- and dioxin-contaminated rivers
Authors: Franceschini Melinda D , Custer Christine M , Custer Thomas W , Reed J. Michael , Romero L. Michael
Published: May 2008

We assayed baseline and stress-induced corticosterone concentrations from adult female and nestling tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, from New England, USA, sites with different levels of contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Corticosterone was compared over 2 years from a highly contaminated PCB site along the Housatonic River (Berkshire County, MA, USA), a midrange contaminated site upstream, and a reference site. Adult females (n = 29), sampled only in 2003, showed an inverted-U association with PCBs, with higher stress-induced corticosterone with midrange contamination than at the high-contamination site. In nestlings, stress-induced corticosterone was highest for the highly contaminated site compared with the other sites in 2003 (n = 53, 29 nests), with no difference among sites in 2004 (n = 93, 27 nests). In 2004, we began testing mechanisms underlying these changes in nestlings at the high- and low-PCB sites. Corticosterone response to dexamethasone injection (used to test negative feedback) was not different between sites, but stress-induced corticosterone was reduced at the contaminated site after adrenocorticotropin hormone injection (used to test adrenal responsiveness), suggesting an inhibited ability to mount a stress response. We also compared nestlings from a stretch of the Woonasquatucket River, Rhode Island, USA, heavily contaminated with TCDD (n = 80, 43 nests) with nestlings from an upstream site that had lower levels of TCDD and the Berkshire County reference site. Although there were no stress-induced differences, baseline corticosterone was lower at the higher TCDD site than at the reference site. Altogether these findings suggest that tree swallows chronically exposed to high PCB and TCDD levels exhibit altered baseline and stress-induced corticosterone responses, but the patterns of alteration might not be predictable.
Influence of electrolyte species and concentration on the aggregation and transport of fullerene nanoparticles in quartz sands
Authors: Wang Yonggang , Li Yusong , Pennell Kurt D
Published: May 2008

The potential toxicity of nanoscale particles has received considerable attention, but the fate of engineered nanomaterials in the environment has been studied only under a limited set of conditions. In the present study, batch and column experiments were performed to assess the aggregation and transport of nanoscale fullerene (nC60) particles in water-saturated quartz sands as a function of electrolyte concentration and species. As the electrolyte concentration increased from 1 to 100 mM, the change in nC60 particle diameter was minimal in the presence of NaCl but increased by more than sevenfold in the presence of CaCl2. The latter effect was attributed to the agglomeration of individual nC60 particles, consistent with a net attractive force between particles and suppression of the electrical double layer. At low ionic strength (3.05 mM), nC60 particles were readily transported through 40- to 50-mesh quartz sand, appearing in the column effluent after introducing less than 1.5 pore volumes of nC60 suspension, with approximately 30% and less than 10% of the injected mass retained in the presence of CaCl2 or NaCl, respectively. At higher ionic strength (30.05 mM) and in finer Ottawa sand (100–140 mesh), greater than 95% of the introduced nC60 particles were retained in the column regardless of the electrolyte species. Approximately 50% of the deposited nC60 particles were recovered from 100- to 140-mesh Ottawa sand after sequential introduction of deionized water adjusted the pH to 10 and 12. These findings demonstrate that nC60 transport and retention in water-saturated sand is strongly dependent on electrolyte conditions and that release of deposited nC60 requires substantial changes in surface charge, consistent with retention in a primary energy minimum.
Effect of commonly used herbicides on the virulence factor CDR1 in Candida albicans
Authors: Schmidt Martin , Barker Stephanie , Essmann Michael , Larsen Bryan
Published: May 2008

The ubiquitous yeast Candida albicans becomes a troublesome pathogen by inducing virulence factors in response to environmental stimuli. Among these virulence factors is a drug-exporting transport protein, Cdr1p, which renders cells resistant to certain antifungal drugs. The expression of the CDR1 gene responds to a wide spectrum of stimuli, including drugs, heat shock, and steroid hormones. The aim of the present study is to characterize the effects of commonly used herbicides on the expression of CDR1. Following exposure of C. albicans cultures to varying doses of herbicides and azole drugs, CDR1 expression was quantified by flow cytometry using a reporter strain in which expression of a green fluorescent protein is under the control of the CDR1 promoter. Correlating CDR1 expression with cell growth and survival revealed that—similar to antifungal azole drugs— herbicides induce CDR1 expression only at inhibitory doses. It is concluded that none of the tested herbicides mimics the worrisome action of hormones, which increase virulence without reducing survival.
Interrelationships Between Cyclooxygenases and Aromatase: Unraveling the Relevance of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer
Authors: Diaz-Cruz Edgar S. , Brueggemeier Robert W.
Published: May 2008

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and ranks second among cancer deaths in women. Approximately 60% of all breast cancer patients have hormone-dependent breast cancer, which contains estrogen receptors and requires estrogen for tumor growth. Estradiol is biosynthesized from androgens by the cytochrome P450 enzyme complex called aromatase. Aromatase is found in several tissues in the body and aromatase (CYP19) gene expression is regulated in a tissue-specific manner via use of alternative promoters. Aromatase transcript expression and activity in breast tumor tissue is greater than that in the normal breast tissue, and prostaglandins can increase CYP19 expression and aromatase activity in breast cancer cells. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a key enzyme in the production of prostaglandins. Studies have shown higher levels of COX-2 isoform in breast cancer tissue when compared to normal breast tissue, and this is accompanied by high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Previous studies suggest a strong association between CYP19 gene expression and the expression of COX genes. While studies have shown that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have beneficial effects on breast cancer, the mechanism by which this occurs is still unclear. Studies have shown that COX inhibitors decrease aromatase activity in breast cancer cells and this effect starts at the transcriptional level. Real time PCR data shows that this molecular mechanism involves promoters I.4 and II, the promoters involved in the development of breast cancer. High levels of COX-2 expression result in higher levels of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE2), which in turn increases CYP19 expression through increases in intracellular cyclic AMP levels and activation of promoter II. Thus, PGE2 produced via COX may act locally in paracrine and autocrine fashion to increase the biosynthesis of estrogen by aromatase in hormone-dependent breast cancer development.