bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of a reinforced viscoelastic plate
Authors: Andrianov Igor V. , Awrejcewicz Jan , Pasichnik Irina V.
Published: June 2006

Oscillations and static bending deformation of a viscoelastic reinforced plate are considered. Analytical solutions are derived. An asymptotic technique, based on the homogenization method, is used for this purpose. In addition, a special perturbation approach is employed. An example is given for the purpose of illustration. The approximate analytical expressions are shown to adequately meet the requirements of optimal structural design.
On the RF‐pair operations for the exact solution of some classes of nonlinear Volterra integral equations
Authors: Darania P. , Hadizadeh M.
Published: June 2006

We study the exact solution of some classes of nonlinear integral equations by series of some invertible transformations and RF‐pair operations. We show that this method applies to several classes of nonlinear Volterra integral equations as well and give some useful invertible transformations for converting these equations into differential equations of Emden‐Fowler type. As a consequence, we analyze the effect of the proposed operations on the exact solution of the transformed equation in order to find the exact solution of the original equation. Some applications of the method are also given. This approach is effective to find a great number of new integrable equations, which thus far, could not be integrated using the classical methods.
Antiphospholipid antibodies and hyperhomocysteinaemia in patients with vascular occlusive disease
Authors: Meschengieser Susana , Gennari Laura , Alberto Maria , Sanchez-Luceros Analia , Blanco Alicia , Lazzari Maria , Casais Patricia
Published: June 2006

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are independent risk factors for thrombosis. Even though risks are cumulative, the clinical impact of the association is unknown. Preliminary data suggested that HHcy might be associated with transient LA and ACA, disappearing after lowering HHcy. We prospectively evaluated the association of HHcy and LA/ACA, the effect of lowering HHcy with folic acid in LA behavior, and the correlation of the initial dRVVT with LA behavior after folic acid in 210 patients with thrombosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Prevalence of HHcy among patients with LA/ACA was 40%. Thirty-one patients exhibited only HHcy (15%; Group 1), 106 (50%; Group 2) had only LA/ACA, while 73 (35%; Group 3) had both. After therapy, 63% and 64% of LA/ACA remained positive in Group 3 and 2, respectively. We observed a trend towards a more positive dRVVT in persistent LA after lowering HHcy. No differences in clinical presentation or in outcomes after two years of followup were observed among the groups. Even though the association of HHcy and LA/ACA is common in patients with thrombosis, it might have no prognostic implications if Hcy levels are lowered. Currently, no laboratory findings correlate with LA behavior, which is independent of homocysteine levels and vitamin treatment.
Factor V Leiden mutation and pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism: What is the exact risk?
Authors: Schved Jean-Francois , Daures Jean-Pierre , Biron-Andreani Christine
Published: June 2006

The magnitude of the association of factor V Leiden mutation with pregnancy-related venous thrombosis remains unclear. Our objective was to undertake a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the literature to estimate precisely the association of factor V Leiden mutation with the risk of first,or recurrent,pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism. Studies published before October 2005 were identified by Medline®. Using both fixed and random effect models, odds ratios (OR) with accompanying 95% confidential intervals (CI) were calculated for the factor V Leiden mutation and the clinical end-point (Yusuf-Peto adaptation of the Mantel-Haenszel, DerSimonian and Laird method).We identified 13 studies including 7 cohorts and 6 case control studies relating to factor V Leiden and pregnancy-related venous thrombosis.The results from the cohorts showe a pooled OR of 4.46 (95% CI,1.82–10.94;7,879 pooled women), with no evidence of statistical heterogeneity (p=0.36), for the risk of a first venous thromboembolism during pregnancy or the postpartum period associated with the factor V Leiden mutation.Case-control studies revealed a higher risk ( OR 8.6,95% CI, 5.85–12.63; 1,524 pooled women) with significant heterogeneity (p<0.005). Because of insufficient data, an analysis for the risk of recurrence could not be performed. Our findings emphasize the fact that limited data are available on this topic.This meta-analysis provides clinicians with an estimate of the average risk of a first thrombosis occurring during pregnancy in women carrying the factor V Leiden to assist the management of such women.
Detection and quantification of mature circulating endothelial cells using flow cytometry and immunomagnetic beads: A methodological comparison
Authors: Goon Patrick , Boos Christopher , Stonelake Paul , Blann Andrew , Lip Gregory
Published: June 2006

Mature circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are novel cellular markers of endothelial damage/dysfunction. The two main techniques of CEC enumeration are flow cytometry (FC) and immunomagnetic bead (IB) isolation. Both quantify CECs accurately, but a direct comparison of both methods has not been reported. We sought to assess the agreement between the two methods in two patient populations, and a group of healthy subjects, with emphasis given to methodological issues. We included 34 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 60 patients with primary breast cancer (PBC) and 30 healthy controls (HC). We quantified CECs using the IB method [CD146 and FITCUlex europaeus lectin-1] and FC [CD45, CD34 and CD146]. Bland-Altman plots suggested reasonable agreement (<5% of events >2 standard deviations from the mean) between FC and the IB methods for CEC quantification in whole blood in the two disease groups (ACS and PBC), but not among the HCs. There were no statistically significant differences in CEC levels by the two methods amongst all three patient groups. There is reasonable agreement between the FC and the IB methods for mature CEC quantification in whole blood, especially amongst disease groups. The agreement between the two methods appears to weaken in healthy controls, and at lower and higher absolute CEC counts.
Experimental Validation of Dependence Map based Control in Liquid Composite Molding
Authors: Lawrence Jeffrey M. , Hughes Patrice , Advani Suresh G.
Published: June 2006

Liquid composite molding (LCM) processes offer composite makers the environmental benefits realized by the closed molding process, and can provide better dimensional tolerances as well as part complexity. One drawback is the unpredictability in the flow behavior during the filling stage due to material and process variability that can result in resin void areas, or dry spots. Parts containing dry spots must be discarded, thus adding superfluous cost to the process. Flow control has demonstrated the ability to correct those flow anomalies to eliminate dry spots. Previous efforts developed a hybrid on-line–off-line flow controller for the LCM process and detailed the development and application of the methodology. In this study, the methodology is summarized, and the technique is applied in a manufacturing environment. A resin transfer molding workstation is developed and built to meet the needs of the control technique. A series of experiments with three different geometries with increasing complexity is conducted to validate the new flow control methodology. The results are compared with experiments without flow control to gauge the usefulness of the methodology proposed.
Finite Element Methods for the Frequency Response Prediction of Bonded Composite Structures
Authors: Lips John A. , Kasper Eric P. , Welsh Jeffry S.
Published: June 2006

The present study examines the effect bonded lap joints have on the frequency response of a given structure. The test article developed consist of carbon fiber composite sections joined with epoxy single-lap joints. The motivation for this study stems from the initial findings of previous works conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory. This work shows the key factors affecting the influence of bonded lap joints on the system frequency to be: section stiffness, bond configuration and type, boundary conditions, and mass distribution.

In addition, sensitivity analyses conducted give direction to the level of detail necessary to model bonded lap joints with adequate efficiency and accuracy. To aid in determining an effective and accurate methodology, the following sensitivity studies are conducted: element formulation, composite ply angle, and mesh discretization. Validation of these studies with experimental data for various configurations allow for an uncertainty assessment of the numerical data presented.
United States Arms Policy toward Jordan, 1963–68
Authors: Levey Zach
Published: June 2006

In 1964 the USA decided that the Soviet Union's offer to supply Amman with modern arms left it no alternative to selling tanks to Jordan and in early 1966 added jets to the military hardware it consented to supply to that country. The decision to arm Jordan was a turning point in US Middle East policy, placing the USA in the role of its principal supplier, deepening the American commitment to King Hussein and at the same time accelerating US weapons sales to Israel. The article examines the reasons for the Johnson administration's desire to withhold advanced weapons from Jordan and the strategic exigencies that nevertheless brought the USA to sell it tanks and jets.
Emerging Definitions of Leadership in Higher Education
Authors: Eddy Pamela L. , VanDerLinden Kim E.
Published: June 2006

The higher education literature suggests that alternative leadership styles are replacing the traditionally held definitions of leadership and provide new and different (and possibly superior) ways to understand leadership. This article looks for parallels within the current leadership literature to see if community college administrators use the alternative language or emerging definitions of leadership to self-describe their own leadership or if their self-descriptions fit the more traditional hierarchical ideal of the positional or “hero” leader
Skating on Thin Ice
Authors: Frohlich Norman , Oppenheimer Joe
Published: June 2006

The behavioral assumptions upon which Public Choice, and Game Theory are built, are false. This may not seem to be ‘too serious’ since many theories are only approximations. But a broad spectrum of experimental results has shown the problem to be greater than one of workable proportions. We illustrate the problems by examining some anomalous results in both voluntary contribution games and dictator games. We argue that there are difficulties with both the content and structure of the preferences posited in the standard model, sketch the outlines of a possible solution, and discuss some of the implications of this new perspective for knowledge and theory construction.
Dyadic Myth and Monadic Advantage
Authors: Dai Xinyuan
Published: June 2006

How do democratic institutions influence international trade policy? This article highlights conceptual challenges confronting the study of democracy and trade. Using a game theoretic model, I aim to spell out the precise effect of democratic legislative constraints on trade. In contrast to the dyadic argument that legislative constraints enable democracies to better cooperate with each other to liberalize trade, I argue that effective legislative constraints give a democracy a monadic bargaining advantage in international trade negotiations. This advantage is associated with a lower level of trade barriers abroad and a higher level of trade barriers at home. Thus, rather than dyadically cooperative, a democracy may be monadically competitive.
‘Ajīb and Gharīb
Authors: Rabbat Nasser
Published: June 2006

In the prodigious medieval Arabic historical output the mention of specific art objects reveals unfamiliarity with elementary aesthetic vocabulary. The authors usually refrain from judging the quality of art, unlike their expert discussion of literary works. This article uses a famous, relatively long and oft-quoted text from al-Maqrīzī's Khiṭaṭ describing three examples of Fatimid painting to explore how the Arab historians saw the visual arts, and why. It explores the linguistic roots of the most frequently used terms, such as ‘ajīb and gharīb, in twelfth- to fifteenth-century texts and how they were transposed from their semantic fields to the description of art objects. It then examines the sources’ reticence vis-à-vis the description of art and seeks an explanation in the intellectual formation of the historians and class distinction between historians and artists.
The Uses, Roles, and Contents of Intranets in Multinational Companies in Finland
Authors: Lehmuskallio Sari
Published: June 2006

Intranets are fast and cost-effective channels for internal business communication. They are especially suitable for situations in which a company needs to offer the same information or news simultaneously to the entire staff at various company locations despite geographic distances and time differences. But, communication via intranet is not uncomplicated, and certain issues may be critical to the intranet's success within multinational companies, including access, language, and content. This article reports the results of a questionnaire surveying these critical areas and intranets' roles and functions within 25 of the largest multinational companies operating in Finland.
Ari, R U There? Reorienting Business Communication for a Technological Era
Authors: Reinsch N. Lamar , Turner Jeanine Warisse
Published: June 2006

As technology changes business practices, it becomes even more important that our students—and we ourselves—think rhetorically. Our pedagogy should help students look at (not just through) new media to understand how new media reshape the rhetorical situation (audience, exigency, constraints) and to use them effectively. Furthermore, new digital technologies that capture and preserve business messages create opportunities and raise new research questions. Viewing business practices through the lens of rhetoric can provide a valuable perspective for research and emphasize the community-shaping aspects (and thus an ethical dimension) of business. Therefore, in this commentary, the authors call for a reorientation of the field of business communication.
Rhetorical Figures and the Digital Editing of Radio Speech
Authors: Spinelli Martin
Published: June 2006

In the age of authentically digital radio, traditional semiological approaches to radio speech may have outlived their usefulness. Such approaches cannot adequately describe the workings of today’s most ambitious radio producers, although they remain dominant in both the language of radio production practice and radio’s critical discourse. An alternative approach, more suited to radio’s digital present and future, is offered and investigated in this article. Rooted in the critical histories of rhetoric and poetics, this article profiles a radio constructed not as linear narrative but as a set of palimpsestual and polyvalent opportunities for interpretation. It borrows the notion of auricular figures from the early-modern courtier George Puttenham’s writing to help describe and analyse numerous permutations of the digital audio editing of radio speech found in the work of contemporary practitioners such as Christof Migone, Gregory Whitehead, John Oswald, Sherre DeLys, Antony Pitts, Bonnie Greer and Miguel Macias. Ultimately, this article proposes a new, open-ended taxonomy for the tropes of digital audio editing. This taxonomy expands our understanding both of the digital potentials for aural density and montage, and of how the digital audio edit activates a novel relationship with a radio audience.
Using ancestry-informative markers to define populations and detect population stratification
Authors: Enoch Mary-Anne , Shen Pei-Hong , Xu Ke , Hodgkinson Colin , Goldman David
Published: June 2006

A serious problem with case-control studies is that population subdivision, recent admixture and sampling variance can lead to spurious associations between a phenotype and a marker locus, or indeed may mask true associations. This is also a concern in therapeutics since drug response may differ by ethnicity. Population stratification can occur if cases and controls have different frequencies of ethnic groups or in admixed populations, different fractions of ancestry, and when phenotypes of interest such as disease, drug response or drug metabolism, also differ between ethnic groups.

Although most genetic variation is inter-individual, there is also significant inter-ethnic variation. The International HapMap Project has provided allele frequencies for approximately three million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Africans, Europeans and East Asians. SNP variation is greatest in Africans. Statistical methods for the detection and correction of population stratification, principally Structured Association and Genomic Control, have recently become freely available. These methods use marker loci spread throughout the genome that are unlinked to the candidate locus to estimate the ancestry of individuals within a sample, and to test for and adjust the ethnic matching of cases and controls.

To date, few case-control association studies have incorporated testing for population stratification. This paper will focus on the debate about the quantity and methods for selection of highly informative marker loci required to characterize populations that vary in substructure or the degree of admixture, and will discuss how these theoretically desirable approaches can be effectively put into practice.
Contribution of allelic variations in transporters to the phenotype of drug response
Authors: Kirchheiner Julia , Gründemann Dirk , Schömig Edgar
Published: June 2006

Pharmacogenomics seeks to explain the variability in drug response. Neurotransmitter transporters from the SLCA6 family are direct or indirect targets for psychotropic drugs, and their genetic variations may directly influence response to antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs. Furthermore, drug transporters located in natural barriers, such as the blood brain barrier, may influence response to psychoactive substrates.

In the 5′-upstream regulatory region of the neuronal serotonin transporter lays a 44-base pair insertion/deletion polymorphism resulting in a long and a short variant. Several studies have reported a better response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in individuals carrying two long alleles, however, some studies report contradictory results. Moreover, several genetic variants are known in the human norepinephrine transporter gene, and though one study reports differences in antidepressant response due to the NET G1287A polymorphism, results should be replicated by others before conclusions can be drawn.

Dopamine transporters play an important role in psychotropic drug response, and a variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism in the 3′-untranslated region of the dopamine transporter gene has been studied in regards to possible correlation with antipsychotic drug response but without showing an association. P-glycoprotein has been shown to influence drug concentrations in CNS but so far, the studies on genetic polymorphisms did not show effects on the phenotype of response.

Thus, several studies have looked at the influence of genetic polymorphisms on psychotropic drug response gaining different results. Best evidence exists for the serotonin transporter polymorphism influencing the response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors but the effects are relatively small. So far, transporter genotypes are not yet eligible for individual prediction of drug response.
The neuronal noradrenaline transporter, anxiety and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Esler Murray , Alvarenga Marlies , Pier Ciaran , Richards Jeff , El-Osta Assam , Barton David , Haikerwal Deepak , Kaye David , Schlaich Markus , Guo Ling , Jennings Garry , Socratous Flora , Lambert Gavin
Published: June 2006

Panic disorder can serve as a clinical model for testing whether mental stress can cause heart disease. Potential neural mechanisms of cardiac risk are the sympathetic activation during panic attacks, continuing release of adrenaline as a co-transmitter in the cardiac sympathetic nerves, and impairment of noradrenaline neuronal reuptake, augmenting sympathetic neural respnses.

The phenotype of impaired neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline: an epigenetic mechanism? We suspect that this phenotype, in sensitizing people to heart symptom development, is a cause of panic disorder, and by magnifying the sympathetic neural signal in the heart, underlies increased cardiac risk. No loss of function mutations of the coding region of the norepinephrine transporter (NET) are evident, but we do detect hypermethylation of CpG islands in the NET gene promoter region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation methodology demonstrates binding of the inhibitory transcription factor, MeCP2, to promoter region DNA in panic disorder patients.

Cardiovascular illnesses co-morbid with panic disorder. Panic disorder commonly coexists with essential hypertension and the postural tachycardia syndrome. In both of these cardiovascular disorders the impaired neuronal noradrenaline reuptake phenotype is also present and, as with panic disorder, is associated with NET gene promoter region DNA hypermethylation. An epigenetic ‘co-morbidity’ perhaps underlies the clinical concordance.

Brain neurotransmitters. Using internal jugular venous sampling, in the absence of a panic attack we find normal norepinephrine turnover, but based on measurements of the overflow of the serotonin metabolite, 5HIAA, a marked increase (six to sevenfold) in brain serotonin turnover in patients with panic disorder. This appears to represent the underlying neurotransmitter substrate for the disorder. Whether this brain serotonergic activation is a prime mover, or consequential on other primary causes of panic disorder, including cardiac sensitization by faulty neuronal noradrenaline reuptake leading to cardiac symptoms and the enhanced vigilance which accompanies them, is unclear at present.
Application of microarray technology in psychotropic drug trials
Authors: Murphy Greer M.
Published: June 2006

Microarrays can be manufactured to detect hundreds of thousands of polymorphisms in DNA from patients in psychotropic drug trials. Some of these polymorphisms may be useful as pharmacogenetic predictors of treatment outcomes. We tested a microarray designed to detect common polymorphisms in the CYP2D6 gene that encodes debrisoquine hydroxylase (DH). DH is involved in the hepatic metabolism of many psychotropics. CYP2D6 genotypes predicted plasma steady state concentrations of nortriptyline, a classic DH substrate, in a sample of geriatric patients with major depression. However, in a sample of 246 geriatric patients treated with paroxetine or mirtazapine, both of which are metabolized in part by DH, CYP2D6 genotypes determined with microarrays did not predict discontinuations due to adverse events or severity of adverse events. For modern antidepressants such as paroxetine and mirtazapine, pharmacokinetic factors that are regulated by CYP2D6 such as plasma drug concentrations may be less important than pharmacodynamic factors in determining outcomes. Studies of single candidate genes such as CYP2D6 have only begun to utilize the potential of microarrays for pharmacogenetic prediction. Yet, there is controversy as to whether genome-wide studies designed to detect millions of genotypes with microarrays will lead to new pharmacogenetic discoveries, or whether a more focused, hypothesis-driven approach is better.
The glucocorticoid receptor: part of the solution or part of the problem?
Authors: Pariante Carmine M.
Published: June 2006

Clinical studies have demonstrated hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and increased levels of cortisol in patients with major depression, because of an impairment of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated negative feedback (glucocorticoid resistance). Moreover, clinical and experimental studies have shown that antidepressants increase GR function, thus leading to resolution of glucocorticoid resistance. Interestingly, a number of studies have also demonstrated that manipulating GR function with both agonists and antagonists has an antidepressant effect, and indeed that other drugs targeting the HPA axis and cortisol secretion – even drugs with opposite effects on the HPA axis – have antidepressant effects. These studies do not support the notion that cortisol has ‘negative’ effects on the brain. On the contrary, this paper concludes that a lack of the ‘positive’ effects of cortisol on the brain, because of glucocorticoid resistance, is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of depression.
From genomics to drug targets
Authors: Dahl Svein G. , Sylte Ingebrigt
Published: June 2006

The era of molecular biology and cloning brought new knowledge about the structure and function of drug receptors, and demonstrated that the term ‘receptor’ must be distinguished from other molecular drug targets such as enzymes, transporters and ion channels. Analysis of the targets of all current therapeutic drugs has shown that more than 95% of these are proteins.

The DNA sequencing of the entire human genome has led to identification of many previously unknown proteins that may represent potential drug targets. In order to understand fully the functional mechanisms of a protein, it is crucial to know its three-dimensional molecular structure. This may be determined experimentally by x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy or electron microscopy, and computationally by structural bioinformatics and molecular modelling.

The molecular targets of nearly all current psychotropic drugs are membrane proteins. These have proven extremely difficult to purify and crystallize due to their amphipathic surface, with a hydrophobic area in contact with membrane phospholipids and polar surface areas in contact with the aqueous phases on both sides of the membrane.

We have used molecular modelling methods, based on crystal structures of related proteins, to model various neurotransmitter receptors and transporters. The receptor and transporter models have been used to study their structural properties, functional mechanisms and the molecular mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs. Our results demonstrate the large structural flexibility of transporter and receptor proteins, with substantial movements and conformational changes taking place during substrate translocation in transporters, and by agonist induced receptor stimulation.
Competition and Quality as Dynamic Processes in the Balkans of American Health Care
Authors: Hammer Peter J.
Published: June 2006

The American health care system embodies a complex amalgamation of fractured and conflicting parts. As such, any call to enhance quality or competition necessarily presupposes some ability to introduce greater harmony and coordination. But how does one make a complicated system work well? Dynamic theories of economics stress the significance of section mechanisms, learning, and adaptive modes of behavior in directing markets toward more efficient outcomes under conditions of uncertainty. Unfortunately, the American health care sector suffers from intense factional divisions. Policy makers need a more self-conscious understanding of the interactive and often conflicting effects of regulation if the health care system is to be reshaped in a manner that will generate more desired social outcomes. Evolutionary theories of economics can provide the conceptual framework in which such a restructuring could take place. This article examines how health care quality and competition can be improved through a better understanding of dynamic economic processes and evaluates the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice 2004 report Improving Health Care: A Dose of Competition in light of these perspectives.
Antitrust and Hospital Mergers: Does the Nonprofit Form Affect Competitive Substance?
Authors: Greaney Thomas L.
Published: June 2006

Following a string of government losses in cases challenging hospital mergers in federal court, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice issued their report on competition in health care seeking to set the record straight on a number of issues that underlie the judiciary's resolution of these cases. One such issue is the import of nonprofit status for applying antitrust law. This essay describes antitrust's role in addressing the consolidation in the hospital sector and the subtle influence that the social function of the nonprofit hospital has had in merger litigation. Noting that the political and social context in which these institutions operate is never far from the surface, it takes issue with the proposal to cabin merger doctrine so as to deny the significance of nonprofit status in merger analysis. Given the dynamic change in the regulatory climate and heterogeneity of local health care markets, it advises courts not to accept the FTC's preemptive standard regarding the significance of hospitals' nonprofit status and keep open the possibility of fashioning new presumptive rules tailored to more complete economic accounts of nonprofit firm behavior.
Arylcyanation of Norbornene and Norbornadiene Catalyzed by Nickel
Authors: Nakao Yoshiaki , Yada Akira , Satoh Jun , Ebata Shiro , Oda Shinichi , Hiyama Tamejiro
Published: June 2006

Aryl cyanides add to norbornene and norbornadiene under nickel catalysis to give (2R*,3S*)-3-aryl-2-cyanobicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and (2R*,3S*)-3-aryl-2-cyanobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes in good yields with a general substrate scope. On the other hand, the reaction of an aryl cyanide with triethoxy(vinyl)silane gives a Heck-type arylation product, suggesting the arylnickelation pathway in the catalytic cycle.
Enantioselective Assembly Structures of Copper(II) Complexes with the 1:1 Condensation Products of Dl-Phenylalanine and Either 2- or 5-Methyl-4-formylimidazole
Authors: Iihoshi Tomotaka , Imatomi Shinya , Hamamatsu Takefumi , Kitashima Ryoko , Matsumoto Naohide
Published: June 2006

Copper(II) complexes with the 1:1 condensation products of Dl-phenylalanine and either 2- or 5-methyl-4-formylimidazole, [CuCl(HL2-Me)] (1) and [CuCl(HL5-Me)]·MeOH (2), were prepared, and their assembly structures were determined. Both complexes assumed two-dimensional (2D) assembly structures due to a helical chain structure constructed by the intermolecular imidazole–carboxylate hydrogen bond and interchain Cu*–Cl coordination bond. 2 crystallized in acentrosymmetric space group C2221 showing a spontaneous resolution, while 1 crystallized in centrosymmetric space group P21/a.
Supramolecular Chirality and Isomerism in Cinchonidine Crystals: Hierarchical Analysis on the Basis of the Asymmetric 21 Helical Columnar Assembly
Authors: Watabe Tsuyoshi , Yoshikawa Daisuke , Hisaki Ichiro , Tohnai Norimitsu , Miyata Mikiji
Published: June 2006

We obtained the first cinchonidine inclusion crystal with benzene as a neutral guest. Comparison of the inclusion and guest-free crystal structures by the qualitative hierarchical analysis clarified their supramolecular isomerism of asymmetric 21 helical columnar assembly with supramolecular chirality.
Can Information Heterogeneity Explain the Exchange Rate Determination Puzzle?
Authors: Bacchetta Philippe , van Wincoop Eric
Published: June 2006

Empirical evidence shows that most exchange rate volatility at short to medium horizons is related to order flow and not to macroeconomic variables. We introduce symmetric information dispersion about future macroeconomic fundamentals in a dynamic rational expectations model in order to explain these stylized facts. Consistent with the evidence, the model implies that (a) observed fundamentals account for little of exchange rate volatility in the short to medium run, (b) over long horizons, the exchange rate is closely related to observed fundamentals, (c) exchange rate changes are a weak predictor of future fundamentals, and (d) the exchange rate is closely related to order flow.
Investment Behavior, Observable Expectations, and Internal Funds
Authors: Cummins Jason G , Hassett Kevin A , Oliner Stephen D
Published: June 2006

We use earnings forecasts from securities analysts to construct a new measure of the neoclassical fundamentals that drive investment spending. We find that investment responds significantly to our new measure of fundamentals but is insensitive to cash flow, even for firms typically thought to be liquidity constrained. These results have two key implications. First, fundamentals may be more important for investment spending than would be suggested by the results to date from investment-q models. Second, the positive cash-flow effects obtained in such models may reflect a failure to control properly for fundamentals rather than the presence of financial constraints.
General versus Specific Skills in Labor Markets with Search Frictions and Firing Costs
Authors: Wasmer Etienne
Published: June 2006

Human capital investments are not independent of the aggregate state of labor markets: frictions and slackness of the labor market raise the returns to specific human capital investments relative to general investments. We build a macroeconomic model with two pure strategy regimes. In the pure G-regime, workers invest in general skills. This occurs when they face high turnover labor markets and in the absence of employment protection. The pure 5-regime in which workers invest in skills specific to their job appears when employment protection is high enough. Implications for a characterization of Europe-United States differences are provided in conclusion.
Incarceration Length, Employment, and Earnings
Authors: Kling Jeffrey R
Published: June 2006

This paper estimates effects of increases in incarceration length on employment and earnings prospects of individuals after their release from prison. I utilize a variety of research designs including controlling for observable factors and using instrumental variables for incarceration length based on randomly assigned judges with different sentencing propensities. The results show no consistent evidence of adverse labor market consequences of longer incarceration length using any of the analytical methods in either the state system in Florida or the federal system in California.
Will International Rules on Subsidies Disrupt the World Trading System?
Authors: Bagwell Kyle , Staiger Robert W
Published: June 2006

We provide a first formal analysis of the international rules that govern the use of subsidies to domestic production. Our analysis highlights the impact of the new subsidy disciplines that were added to GATT rules with the creation of the WTO. While GATT subsidy rules were typically viewed as weak and inadequate, our results suggest that the key changes introduced by the WTO subsidy rules may ultimately do more harm than good to the multilateral trading system by undermining the ability of tariff negotiations to serve as the mechanism for expanding market access to more efficient levels.
Preferential Trade Agreements as Stumbling Blocks for Multilateral Trade Liberalization: Evidence for the United States
Authors: Limão Nuno
Published: June 2006

Most countries are members of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). The effect of these agreements has attracted much interest and raised the question of whether PTAs promote or slow multilateral trade liberalization, i.e., whether they are a “building block” or “stumbling block” to multilateral liberalization. Despite this long-standing concern with PTAs and the lack of theoretical consensus, there is no systematic evidence on whether they are actually a stumbling block to multilateral liberalization. We use detailed data on U.S. multilateral tariffs to provide the first systematic evidence that the direct effect of PTAs was to generate a stumbling block to its MTL. We also provide evidence of reciprocity in multilateral tariff reductions.
Regulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Germany
Authors: Dederer Hans-Georg
Published: June 2006

Human embryonic stem cells (hES-cells) have two distinctive properties: they are able to replicate in an artificial medium more or less indefinitely, and they are capable of differentiating into each of the cell types which make up the human body. They do not have, however, the ability to develop into a complete and functioning human organism. hEScells are, therefore, not considered human embryos.
Informed Consent and Psychotherapy: The Travails of Consistency (Part II)
Authors: Choong Kartina A
Published: June 2006

This complexity is aggravated further by the fact that when the
Bericht über die AG Orthographietheorie und Rechtschreibunterricht der DGfS-Jahrestagung 2004
Authors: Haße Regina
Published: June 2006

„Linguistik in der Schule“ – so hieß in diesem Jahr das Rahmenthema, unter dem die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft vom 25. bis 27. Februar an die Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz einlud. Neben Plenarvorträgen von Peter Eisenberg und Utz Maas und einer Podiumsdiskussion, moderiert von Annette Leßmöllmann, zu verschiedenen Aspekten des Themas, kamen bei dieser 26. Jahrestagung Interessierte – nicht nur aus Hochschule, sondern auch aus Schule – in 13 Arbeitsgruppen zusammen. So untersuchte die Sektion
Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeiten und das Problem der Netzplagiate
Authors: Beißwenger Michael
Published: June 2006

Die Geschichte plagiierter oder kompilierter Hausarbeiten beginnt sicherlich nicht erst mit dem World Wide Web. Auch früher wurde bisweilen aus Büchern, Fachbeiträgen oder den Arbeiten von KommilitonInnen abgeschrieben in der Hoffnung, dem Seminarleiter sei die verwendete (und bibliographisch unterschlagene) Quelle nicht bekannt. Nachdem immer mehr wissenschaftliche Artikel und Seminararbeiten auch im Netz zur Verfügung stehen, aus welchem sich per WWW-Browser bequem Texte und Textteile herauskopieren, in ein Textverarbeitungsprogramm übernehmen und dort ggf. verändern, umformatieren und neu zusammenfügen lassen, hat die Zahl der Plagiate allem Anschein nach jedoch deutlich zugenommen. Zumindest werden immer häufiger Plagiatsversuche als solche enttarnt, da nicht wenige Lehrende mittlerweile für das Thema „Hausarbeitenbörsen“ sensibilisiert sind und für den Versuch des Nachweises von Plagiaten prinzipiell auf dieselben Ressourcensammlungen oder Hilfsmittel (z.B. Suchmaschinen) zugreifen können, derer sich auch die Verfasser „verdächtiger“ Arbeiten bedient haben. Wo einerseits durch das Internet das Plagiieren enorm vereinfacht wird, ist somit andererseits auch die Chance einer Entlarvung deutlich höher als bei traditionellen Plagiaten.
Wörterbücher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft (= WSK)
Authors: Schierholz Stefan J , Wiegand Herbert Ernst
Published: June 2006

Die WSK-Reihe enthält thematisch gegliederte Fachwörterbücher, die zum Wörterbuchtyp „fachliches Lern- und Konsultationswörterbuch“ gehören, und ab 2008 fortlaufend erscheinen sollen.
Internationales Germanistenlexikon 1800–1950
Authors: Knobloch Clemens
Published: June 2006

Herausgegeben und eingeleitet von Christoph König. Drei Bände, Berlin, New York: de Gruyter 2003. LXXXV plus 2200 Sp., mit einer CD-ROM. 498,- Euro, ab 1.2.2004 578,- Euro. [ISBN 3-11-017588-6]

Lexika und Nachschlagwerke vorzustellen, ist eine undankbare Aufgabe. Jeder Praktiker weiß, dass sie nach Auswahl der Einträge und Aufbau der Artikel auf weitgehend „mechanisierbaren” Kriterien beruhen müssen. Dem Einzelfall - sei das nun ein Lexem wie im Sprachwörterbuch oder eine „germanistische” Person wie im vorliegenden Falle - wird die Anwendung mechanisierbarer Kriterien nur ausnahmsweise gerecht. Der Rezensent hat also, salopp gesagt, immer viel zu meckern und wird doch, wenn er das Geschäft kennt, immer auch zu Nachsicht neigen. Zudem begleitet ihn immer das Gefühl, die wenigen Punkte, die er für seine Kommentare auswählt, seien mehr oder minder zufällig. Zu groß sind auf einem thematischen Flickenteppich, wie ihn die Germanistik nun einmal darstellt, die weißen Flecken, von denen der Rezensent nun wirklich gar nichts versteht. Der folgende Text sucht seinen
Population Models of Genomic Imprinting. II. Maternal and Fertility Selection
Authors: Spencer Hamish G , Dorn Timothy , LoFaro Thomas
Published: June 2006

Under several hypotheses for the evolutionary origin of imprinting, genes with maternal and reproductive effects are more likely to be imprinted. We thus investigate the effect of genomic imprinting in single-locus diallelic models of maternal and fertility selection. First, the model proposed by Gavrilets for maternal selection is expanded to include the effects of genomic imprinting. This augmented model exhibits novel behavior for a single-locus model: long-period cycling between a pair of Hopf bifurcations, as well as two-cycling between conjoined pitchfork bifurcations. We also examine several special cases: complete inactivation of one allele and when the maternal and viability selection parameters are independent. Second, we extend the standard model of fertility selection to include the effects of imprinting. Imprinting destroys the “sex-symmetry” property of the standard model, dramatically increasing the number of degrees of freedom of the selection parameter set. Cycling in all these models is rare in parameter space.
Quantitative Trait Loci for Locomotor Behavior inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Jordan Katherine W , Morgan Theodore J , Mackay Trudy F C
Published: June 2006

Locomotion is an integral component of most animal behaviors and many human diseases and disorders are associated with locomotor deficits, but little is known about the genetic basis of natural variation in locomotor behavior. Locomotion is a complex trait, with variation attributable to the joint segregation of multiple interacting quantitative trait loci (QTL), with effects that are sensitive to the environment. We assessed variation in a component of locomotor behavior (locomotor reactivity) in a population of 98 recombinant inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster and mapped four QTL affecting locomotor reactivity by linkage to polymorphic roo transposable element insertion sites. We used complementation tests of deficiencies to fine map these QTL to 12 chromosomal regions and complementation tests of mutations to identify 13 positional candidate genes affecting locomotor reactivity, including Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), which catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine. Linkage disequilibrium mapping in a population of 164 second chromosome substitution lines derived from a single natural population showed that polymorphisms at Ddc were associated with naturally occurring genetic variation in locomotor behavior. These data implicate variation in the synthesis of bioamines as a factor contributing to natural variation in locomotor reactivity.
Evaluation of the efficacy of a peroxygen disinfectant-filled footmat for reduction of bacterial load on footwear in a large animal hospital setting
Authors: Dunowska Magdalena , Morley Paul S. , Patterson Gage , Hyatt Doreene R. , Van Metre David C.
Published: June 2006

Objective—To compare the efficacy of a peroxygenbased disinfectant used in footbaths with the efficacy of the same disinfectant used in footmats for reducing bacterial contamination of footwear in a large animal hospital.

Design—Prospective study.

Sample Population—Bacteria recovered from the soles of rubber boots after experimental microbial contamination and exposure to disinfectant solutions or water (water-treated control boots) or no treatment (untreated control boots).

Procedures—Investigators contaminated boots by walking through soiled animal bedding. Swab samples were collected from the sole of 1 untreated boot (right or left); the other boot was treated as investigators stepped through a disinfectant-filled footbath, a disinfectant-filled footmat, or water-filled footmat. Samples were collected 10 minutes after each treatment. Differences in numbers of bacteria recovered from treated and untreated boots were analyzed.

Results—Mean bacterial counts from peroxygentreated boots were 1.3 to 1.4 log10 lower (95.4% to 99.8%) than the counts from untreated boots. Results were similar for footmat- and footbath-treated boots. In contrast, there were no statistically detectable differences in mean bacterial counts in samples collected from water-treated or untreated boots.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that footmats and footbaths containing peroxygenbased disinfectant are effective in reducing bacterial contamination on the soles of boots when used in conditions representative of large animal hospitals. Similar results were achieved with use of either footmats or footbaths. The use of footbaths and footmats containing effective disinfectants may help decrease the risk for spread of nosocomial infection but should not be expected to sterilize footwear.
Protein profiling of sickle cell versus control RBC core membrane skeletons by ICAT technology and tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Chou Jose , Choudhary Pankaj , Goodman Steven
Published: June 2006

A proteomic approach using a cleavable ICAT reagent and nano-LC ESI tandem mass spectrometry was used to perform protein profiling of core RBC membrane skeleton proteins between sickle cell patients (SS) and controls (AA), and determine the efficacy of this technology. The data was validated through Peptide/Protein Prophet and protein ratios were calculated through ASAPratio. Through an ANOVA test, it was determined that there is no significant difference in the mean ratios from control populations (AA1/AA2) and sickle cell versus control populations (AA/SS). The mean ratios were not significantly different from 1.0 in either comparison for the core skeleton proteins (α spectrin, β spectrin, band 4.1 and actin). On the natural-log scale, the variation (standard deviation) of the method was determined to be 14.1% and the variation contributed by the samples was 13.8% which together give a total variation of 19.7% in the ratios.
Heavy Metals in PM10 Sampled in the Urban Area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, Southern Italy)
Authors: Buccolieri Alessandro , Buccolieri Giovanni , Cardellicchio Nicola , Dell'Atti Angelo
Published: June 2006

The following paper shows results of PM10 level and Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations present in this fraction for filters collected in the urban area of Campi Salentina (Apulia, Southern Italy) in 2004 in order to inquire into air quality.

PM10 and lead concentrations did not exceed the standard values sanctioned by Italian Legislature with average values equal to 36.54 ± 14.57 μg·m‐3 and 9.19 ± 5.24 ng·m‐3 respectively.

Significant correlations have been found between the pairs Fe‐Mn, Ni‐V, Cr‐Ni and Cd‐Cr. This suggests that these metals have a similar pollution source probably due to metallurgical activity.

Multivariate statistical analysis showed that it is possible to distinguish the PM10 samples collected in sampling periods with different meteorological conditions. Indeed, metals concentration increases for samples characterized by scarce rains or by winds prevailing from North or North‐West and is reduced due to different meteorological conditions, although there are some exceptions.