bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philology versus linguistics and Aramaic phonology
Authors: GELLER M. J.
Published: April 2006

The recent publication of The Cambridge Encylopedia of the World's Ancient Languages provides an occasion for assessing the present state of our knowledge of ancient languages. Any assessment, however, will inevitably be influenced by methodology and point of view, depending upon whether the reader is a linguist or a philologist. The present author would broadly define the difference in the following way, at least as far as ancient languages are concerned: linguists tend to focus on the rules of language and general theories about language which can be generated from these rules, while philologists, although concerned with formal grammar, tend to scrutinize the textual evidence upon which a grammar is based. These two approaches are sometimes difficult to reconcile.
Interactions of viral pathogens on hospital admissions for pneumonia, croup and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: results of a multivariate time-series analysis
Authors: UPSHUR R. E. G. , MOINEDDIN R. , CRIGHTON E. J. , MAMDANI M.
Published: April 2006

Co-circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza has made the partitioning of morbidity and mortality from each virus difficult. Given the interaction between chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and pneumonia, often one can be mistaken for the other. Multivariate time-series methodology was applied to examine the impact of RSV and influenza on hospital admissions for bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and COPD. The Granger Causality Test, used to determine the causal relationship among series, showed that COPD and pneumonia are not influenced by RSV (P=0·2999 and 0·7725), but RSV does influence bronchiolitis (P=0·0001). Influenza was found to influence COPD, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis (P<0·0001). The use of multivariate time series and Granger causality applied to epidemiological data clearly illustrates the significant contribution of influenza and RSV to morbidity in the population.
Widths of suprathermal pitch angle distributions during solar electron bursts: ACE observations
Authors: de Koning Curt A. , Gosling J. T. , Skoug Ruth M. , Steinberg John T.
Published: April 2006

Solar active processes frequently produce electron bursts which, as observed at 1 AU, extend down to energies less than 1.4 keV. The characteristics of these solar electron bursts vary considerably from event to event due in part to the physical processes involved in their propagation to Earth. We present a thorough survey of 71 low‐energy solar electron bursts that extended down to least 713 eV as observed by ACE/SWEPAM in 2002. This study characterizes properties of these bursts, including the preburst and maximum burst intensity, and the burst duration, as well as properties of the solar electron pitch angle distributions, including preburst strahl width and maximum burst beam width. Approximately 60% of bursts observed down to at least 713 eV have, on average, broader beams than the preceding strahl. Our analysis shows that all bursts in this survey have similar preburst strahl widths and electron intensities. Consequently, we conclude that beam broadening does not depend on preburst conditions. Furthermore, we find preferential associations between bursts that exhibit increased beam widths and several burst characteristics, namely, (1) high‐intensity bursts, (2) bursts observable below 519 eV, and (3) long‐duration bursts. Broadening of the pitch angle distribution function during solar electron bursts almost certainly results from particle scattering. Since the broadening of the pitch angle distribution function during bursts does not depend on preburst conditions and it does depend on burst characteristics, we suggest that scattering may result from self‐generated fluctuations which should increase in magnitude as the energy density of the burst beam increases. Finally, we describe two sources of wave‐particle interactions that offer plausible explanations for broadening of the electron pitch angle distribution during solar bursts.
Scale-free topologies and activatory-inhibitory interactions
Authors: Gómez-Gardeñes J. , Moreno Y. , Floría L. M.
Published: April 2006

A simple model of activatory-inhibitory interactions controlling the activity of agents (substrates) through a “saturated response” dynamical rule in a scale-free network is thoroughly studied. After discussing the most remarkable dynamical features of the model, namely fragmentation and multistability, we present a characterization of the temporal (periodic and chaotic) fluctuations of the quasi-stasis asymptotic states of network activity. The double (both structural and dynamical) source of entangled complexity of the system temporal fluctuations, as an important partial aspect of the correlation structure-function problem, is further discussed in light of the numerical results, with a view on potential applications of these general results.
Centrality in networks of urban streets
Authors: Crucitti Paolo , Latora Vito , Porta Sergio
Published: April 2006

Centrality has revealed crucial for understanding the structural properties of complex relational networks. Centrality is also relevant for various spatial factors affecting human life and behaviors in cities. Here, we present a comprehensive study of centrality distributions over geographic networks of urban streets. Five different measures of centrality, namely degree, closeness, betweenness, straightness and information, are compared over 18 1-square-mile samples of different world cities. Samples are represented by primal geographic graphs, i.e., valued graphs defined by metric rather than topologic distance where intersections are turned into nodes and streets into edges. The spatial behavior of centrality indices over the networks is investigated graphically by means of color-coded maps. The results indicate that a spatial analysis, that we term multiple centrality assessment, grounded not on a single but on a set of different centrality indices, allows an extended comprehension of the city structure, nicely capturing the skeleton of most central routes and subareas that so much impacts on spatial cognition and on collective dynamical behaviors. Statistically, closeness, straightness and betweenness turn out to follow similar functional distribution in all cases, despite the extreme diversity of the considered cities. Conversely, information is found to be exponential in planned cities and to follow a power-law scaling in self-organized cities. Hierarchical clustering analysis, based either on the Gini coefficients of the centrality distributions, or on the correlation between different centrality measures, is able to characterize classes of cities.
The effect of oxidation on the structure of styryl-substituted sexithiophenes: A resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory study
Authors: Clarke Tracey M. , Gordon Keith C. , Officer David L. , Grant Daina K.
Published: April 2006

The structures and vibrational properties of a series of styryl-substituted sexithiophenes and their charged species have been examined using resonance Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. The calculated geometries of the radical cations and dications indicate that the quinoidal charged defects are more strongly localized in the center of the thiophene backbone than is observed in other sexithiophenes. This defect confinement, induced by the positions of the styryl substituents, is particularly evident in the dication species. However, the defect confinement weakens when alkoxy groups are added onto the phenyl rings by causing the extension of the charged defect into the styryl groups. The Raman spectra of the neutral styryl sexithiophenes are dominated by intense thiophene symmetrical stretching modes in both the measured and predicted spectra. Oxidation generates radical cations and dications, both of which can be observed in the solution state resonance Raman spectra. Unlike other sexithiophenes, which generally show a downshift of the intense thiophene stretching mode from the radical cation to the dication, a small upshift is observed for the styryl-substituted sexithiophenes. The theoretical spectra predict an insignificant change during this transition and the eigenvector for this mode reveals that it is localized over the same area occupied by the confined defect. In contrast, the solid state resonance Raman spectra of electrochemically oxidized films reveal evidence of solely radical cations and there is an appreciable downshift of the intense thiophene stretching mode compared with the corresponding mode in the solution spectra. This implies that the increase in the effective conjugation length from the solution to the solid state is greater for the radical cations than for the neutral species. It therefore appears that the radical cations form π stacks in the solid film and the resulting intermolecular interactions effectively allow a further extension of the electron delocalization.
Structure of the electromagnetic field in three-dimensional Hall magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Dmitruk Pablo , Matthaeus W. H.
Published: April 2006

Numerical simulations of freely evolving three-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are performed, with and without the Hall term in Ohm’s law. The parameter controlling the presence of the Hall term is the ratio of the ion skin depth to the macroscopic scale of the turbulence. The ion skin depth is set to be slightly larger than the dissipation length scale (controlled by the resistivity) for the Hall MHD simulations, while it is set to zero for non-Hall MHD simulations. Small initial cross helicity, hybrid helicity, and magnetic helicity are considered. The system is left to evolve for a few turbulent characteristic times and the magnetic field and electric field are analyzed in real and wavenumber space. Distributions (histograms) of the fields are also computed. It is found that the turbulent magnetic field (as well as the velocity field) is almost unaffected by the presence of the Hall term, while the electric field is affected at scales smaller than the ion skin depth, that is, close to the dissipation range in these simulations. The importance of each term in Ohm’s law for the electric field is analyzed in wavenumber space. Furthermore, reconnection-like zones are identified, where the importance of each term in Ohm’s law can be seen in real space. Reconnection-like zones with magnetic field B=0 (or small) and B≠0 are found within the turbulent state of the system.
Second-harmonic generation from Si∕SiO2∕Hf(1−x)SixO2 structures
Authors: Carriles R. , Kwon J. , An Y. Q. , Miller J. C. , Downer M. C. , Price J. , Diebold A. C.
Published: April 2006

Optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) is used to characterize thin films of Hf(1−x)SixO2 (x=0, 0.3, 0.45, 0.65, and 1) deposited by atomic layer epitaxy at 375°C on Si substrates with 11Å SiO2 buffer layers. Reflected SHG intensity measured at room temperature increases monotonically with Hf content for as-deposited samples and varies strongly with the temperature (600–1000°C) of postdeposition rapid anneals in NH3. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the variable SHG component peaks at SH photon energy of 3.37eV—the bulk silicon E1 critical point energy—a clear signature of electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation in the bulk Si space-charge region. The results suggest that SHG is a sensitive, potentially in situ, probe of internal electric fields attributable to composition- and annealing-dependent fixed charge in the oxide layers.
No-tillage adoption decisions in southern Australian cropping and the role of weed management
Authors: D'Emden F. H. , Llewellyn R. S.
Published: April 2006

Adoption of no-tillage sowing systems has increased rapidly in many Australian grain growing regions over the past decade. The extent of herbicide resistant weed populations in these regions has also increased over the same period. A survey of growers in the South and Western Australian cropping regions was conducted to identify opportunities for more effective tillage and weed-related extension. Trends in sowing system use are determined, as are growers’ perceptions of the long-term effects of no-tillage on herbicide costs, herbicide resistance, and soil erosion. The results suggest a major expansion in the adoption of no-tillage sowing in most South Australian cropping regions over the next 5 years, although growers expect increased herbicide costs in no-tillage systems and an increased risk of herbicide resistance. Herbicide resistance and weed control issues are the main reasons given for reducing no-tillage use. A key research and extension challenge is to develop and implement weed management strategies that are able to sustain long-term no-tillage use in a cropping environment where growers place a high value on the soil and production benefits of no-tillage, but over-reliance on herbicides can rapidly lead to resistance in major crop weeds.
Forced Dimerization of gp130 Leads to Constitutive STAT3 Activation, Cytokine-independent Growth, and Blockade of Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Stuhlmann-Laeisz Christiane , Lang Sigrid , Chalaris Athena , Krzysztof Paliga , Enge Sudarman , Eichler Jutta , Klingmüller Ursula , Samuel Michael , Ernst Matthias , Rose-John Stefan , Scheller Jürgen
Published: April 2006

The mode of activation of glycoprotein 130 kDa (gp130) and the transmission of the activation status through the plasma membrane are incompletely understood. In particular, the molecular function of the three juxtamembrane fibronectin III-like domains of gp130 in signal transmission remains unclear. To ask whether forced dimerization of gp130 is sufficient for receptor activation, we replaced the entire extracellular portion of gp130 with the c-jun leucine zipper region in the chimeric receptor protein L-gp130. On expression in cells, L-gp130 stimulates ligand-independent signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation. gp130 activation could be abrogated by the addition of a competing peptide comprising the leucine zipper region of c-fos. When stably expressed in the interleukin-3–dependent Ba/F3 murine pre-B-cells, these cells showed constitutive STAT3 activation and cytokine-independent growth over several months. Because gp130 stimulation completely suppressed differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro, we also stably expressed L-gp130 in these cells, which completely blocked their differentiation in the absence of cytokine stimulation and was consistent with high constitutive expression levels of the stem cell factor OCT-4. Thus, L-gp130 can be used in vitro and in vivo to mimic constitutive and ligand-independent activation of gp130 and STAT3, the latter of which is frequently observed in neoplastic diseases.
Bradyrhizobia isolated from root nodules of Parasponia (Ulmaceae) do not constitute a separate coherent lineage
Authors: Lafay Bénédicte , Bullier Erika , Burdon Jeremy J.
Published: April 2006

Rhizobial bacteria almost exclusively nodulate members of the families Fabaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpiniaceae, but are found on a single non-legume taxon, Parasponia (Ulmaceae). Based on their host-range, their nitrogen-fixing ability and strain competition experiments, bacterial strains isolated from Parasponia were thought to constitute a separate lineage that would account for their exceptional host affinity. This hypothesis was investigated by focusing on four isolates that are representative of the morphological and cultural types of Parasponia-nodulating bradyrhizobia. Their evolutionary relationships with other rhizobia were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequences and their nodulation properties were explored using the nodA gene as a proxy for host-range specificity. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and nodA gene sequences revealed that bacterial isolates from Parasponia species are embedded among other bradyrhizobia. They did not cluster together in topologies based on the 16S rRNA or nodA gene sequences, but were scattered among other bradyrhizobia belonging to either the Bradyrhizobium japonicum or the Bradyrhizobium elkanii lineages. These data suggest that the ability of some bradyrhizobia to nodulate species of the genus Parasponia does not represent a historical relationship that predates the relationship between rhizobia and legumes, but is probably a more recent host switch for some rhizobia.
Candida heliconiae sp. nov., Candida picinguabensis sp. nov. and Candida saopaulonensis sp. nov., three ascomycetous yeasts from Heliconia velloziana (Heliconiaceae)
Authors: Ruivo Carla C. C. , Lachance Marc-André , Rosa Carlos A. , Bacci Maurício , Pagnocca Fernando C.
Published: April 2006

Strains belonging to three novel yeast species, Candida heliconiae (four isolates), Candida picinguabensis (three isolates) and Candida saopaulonensis (two isolates), were recovered in the year 2000 from water of flower bracts of Heliconia velloziana L. Emigd. (Heliconiaceae) found in a forest ecosystem site in an Atlantic rainforest of south-eastern Brazil. C. picinguabensis and C. saopaulonensis were nearly identical in morphology and physiology, but sequence divergence in the D1/D2 domain of the large-subunit rDNA indicated that they should be regarded as different species. They belong to the Metschnikowiaceae clade. C. heliconiae had affinities to Pichia mexicana and related species, but was genetically isolated from all currently accepted species in that group. The type strains are C. heliconiae UNESP 00-91C1T (=CBS 10000T=NRRL Y-27813T), C. picinguabensis UNESP 00-89T (=CBS 9999T=NRRL Y-27814T) and C. saopaulonensis UNESP 00-99T (=CBS 10001T=NRRL Y-27815T).
A meta‐analysis of trials comparing Cypher and Taxus stents in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease
Authors: Sidhu S. , Shafiq N. , Malhotra S. , Pandhi P. , Grover A.
Published: April 2006

Aims

Drug‐eluting stents have been shown to be superior to bare metal stents in reducing restenosis rates. Recently head‐to‐head trials comparing sirolimus‐eluting stents and paclitaxel‐eluting stents have been reported. An early combined analysis of these comparative trials is needed. The present meta‐analysis was carried out to compare the effects of sirolimus‐eluting stents with paclitaxel‐eluting stents on the restenosis rate, major adverse cardiac events and late loss of arterial lumen diameter in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.

Methods

Electronic (Medline, Cochrane and Embase) and manual search (Index Medicus and cross references of retrieved articles) were carried out for all the relevant articles up till March 2005. Only randomized trials with adequate data for calculation of odds ratio for restenosis rates and major adverse cardiac events using the method of DerSimonian & Laird and standardized mean difference for late loss of arterial lumen diameter were included.

Results

Four studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Restenosis rate and late loss of arterial lumen diameter were significantly reduced by sirolimus‐eluting stents as compared with paclitaxel‐eluting stents (OR 0.598, 95% CI 0.400, 0.893, pooled mean difference −0.414, 95% CI −0.492, 0.336, respectively). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events was less with sirolimus‐eluting stents as compared with paclitaxel‐eluting stents (OR 0.727, 95% CI 0.518–1.018) but the results were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Sirolimus‐eluting stents are superior to paclitaxel‐eluting stents in decreasing restenosis rate and late loss of arterial lumen diameter. However, no statistically significant difference in major adverse cardiac events was noted between the two stents.
Insights into von Willebrand factor proteolysis: clinical implications
Authors: Bowen D. J. , Collins P. W.
Published: April 2006

The proteolysis of von Willebrand factor (VWF) by the recently discovered metalloprotease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats), is a normal processing step in VWF biochemistry. Emerging data indicate that this step may be influenced by a variety of factors, some of which favour increased proteolysis and some of which compromise proteolysis. The former may predispose to bleeding, whilst the latter appears to be the underlying mechanism for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The new insights support the concept of ‘risk’ in bleeding, particularly in the case of type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD), in much the same way that risk is considered in venous thrombosis. This review presents relevant current knowledge of VWF proteolysis by ADAMTS13, and a novel model of how this may be implicated in type 1 VWD is proposed, based on events at the vessel wall at a time of haemostatic challenge.
A mathematical method for estimating patterns of flower‐to‐flower gene dispersal from a simple field experiment
Authors: CRESSWELL J. E. , HOYLE M.
Published: April 2006

Pollination is a principal means of gene dispersal in animal‐pollinated plants. Theoretically, gene dispersal can be predicted from pollinator movements and their associated patterns of flower‐to‐flower gene dispersal, or paternity shadow, but quantifying the paternity shadow under field conditions is problematic.

We developed a mathematical method to quantify the paternity shadow from a simple field experiment by initially stating the problem in matrix algebra, then using a least‐squares regression to find the paternity shadow that best explained the observed spatial distribution of gene dispersal, given the observed pollinator movements.

We applied the method to data on the dispersion of a marker gene along rows of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) pollinated by bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and thereby produced the first field‐based paternity shadow. When coupled with observed movements of bumble bees, this paternity shadow explained virtually all (r2 = 90%) of the dispersion of the marker gene.

Close similarity between our result and a paternity shadow obtained for B. napus in a separate laboratory experiment suggests that the paternity shadow is a fundamental attribute of the Bombus–B. napus interaction.
Supercooling point frequency distributions in Collembola are affected by moulting
Authors: WORLAND M. R. , LEINAAS H. P. , CHOWN S. L.
Published: April 2006

Many arthropods depress the freezing point of their body fluids (supercool) to avoid freezing at subzero temperatures. This is normally a seasonal response and is achieved by the production of specific biomolecules including cryoprotectants, a cessation in feeding, and the removal or masking of ice‐nucleating material from their bodies.

In springtails, the mid‐gut is shed during moulting which results in the complete evacuation of the gut and a concomitant reduction in the supercooling point (SCP). We determined whether this non‐adaptive explanation could account for the variability observed in the SCP of summer‐acclimatized springtails.

Moult preparation resulted in a highly significant reduction in the SCP. Feeding after moulting restored the SCP to previous high levels.

Significant differences in SCP between springtails sampled from vegetation and the soil surface, on different days, and at different sites on the same day were also documented, demonstrating that not all variation in SCP is environmentally induced.

Investigations of the responses of the SCP to environmental variation in springtails and other arthropods should take into account the effects of moulting before solely adaptive conclusions are drawn.
Cost of prolonged diapause and its relationship to body size in a seed predator
Authors: MATSUO Y.
Published: April 2006

Although metabolic resource losses are maintained at low rates during diapause, the accumulation of losses over a long period negatively affects organisms with prolonged diapause usually extending beyond 1 year. The seed‐predatory weevil Exechesops leucopis (Jordan) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) enters winter diapause at the final‐instar larval stage within seeds of Styrax japonica Sieb. et Zucc. (Styracaceae) at a density of one larva per seed. After diapause, larvae pupate within the seeds and then emerge as adults.

The adult emergence pattern of a single cohort of E. leucopis was monitored for 5 years under seminatural conditions in the laboratory. The duration of diapause varied from 1 year (single winter) to 4 years (four winters). Adults that emerged after 1 year were smaller than those that emerged after 2 years or more. When temperature was not decreased experimentally in winter, no adults emerged in the following season.

Metabolic resource losses during diapause were examined by comparing adult body sizes between controls and groups in which emergence was delayed by 1 year under manipulated winter temperature regimes. Adults that emerged after an additional year in the larval stage were smaller than those in the control group. Moreover, the rates of reduction in body size as a consequence of diapause being extended experimentally were greater in smaller individuals. Thus smaller individuals have disadvantages in longer diapause, suggesting that weevils may vary the duration of diapause depending on individual body size.

Exechesops leucopis shows sexual dimorphism in the degree of eye protrusion. Eyestalk length affects male fitness through intrasexual selection. The duration of diapause affected the length of the eyestalks: when an additional year was spent in diapause, eyestalk length was nearly maintained in larger males but was greatly decreased in smaller males. In all females eyestalk length decreased according to the duration of diapause.
Improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities: outcomes of a health screening programme after 1 year
Authors: Cooper S.‐A. , Morrison J. , Melville C. , Finlayson J. , Allan L. , Martin G. , Robinson N.
Published: April 2006

Background People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have a higher level of health needs, a higher level of which is unmet, compared with the general population. Health screening can detect unmet health needs, but it is unknown whether it effects beneficial health outcomes in the longer term. People with IDs are reliant on health management by proxy and there are many potential access barriers that may prevent health needs identified at screening from subsequently being met. This study aims to determine whether health gains can be detected 1 year after a health screening programme specific to the needs of adults with IDs.

Methods A total of50 participants offered the health screen intervention were individually matched for gender, age and level of IDs with 50 control participants who received standard treatment only. Outcome measures after 1 year were semi‐structured review of medical case notes, and semi‐structured assessment with the people with IDs and their carer.

Results During the 1‐year period, the incidence of health need detection was more than twice as great for intervention, compared with control participants (mean number of new needs was 4.80 compared with 2.26;P < 0.001), and the level of met new health needs was greater (mean of 3.56 compared with 2.26;P = 0.001). The level of met health promotion needs was also greater (P < 0.001), and more health monitoring needs were met for intervention compared with control participants (P = 0.039).

Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate sustained benefits in health outcomes from a clinical intervention for adults with IDs compared with standard treatment alone. Its routine implementation is feasible, and would reduce health inequalities.
The rationale for using apoA‐I as a clinical marker of cardiovascular risk
Authors: BARTER P. J. , RYE K.‐A.
Published: April 2006

An inverse relationship between the concentration of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the risk of developing cardiovascular is well established. There are several documented functions of HDLs that may contribute to a protective role of these lipoproteins. These include the ability of HDLs to promote the efflux of cholesterol from macrophages and foam cells in the artery wall and to anti‐inflammatory/antioxidant properties of these lipoproteins. The fact that the main apolipoprotein of HDLs, apoA‐I, plays a prominent role in each of these functions adds support to the view that apoA‐I should be measured as a component of the assessment of cardiovascular risk in humans.
Functional properties and regional differences of human masseter motor units related to three‐dimensional bite force
Authors: OGAWA T. , KAWATA T. , TSUBOI A. , HATTORI Y. , WATANABE M. , SASAKI K.
Published: April 2006

summary  The aim of this study was to estimate numerically the properties of masseter motor units (MUs) in relation to bite force magnitude and direction three‐dimensionally and to confirm the hypothesis that the properties differ between different parts of the muscle by means of simultaneous recording of MU activity along with the MU location and three‐dimensional (3D) bite force. The MU activity of the right masseter of four healthy men was recorded using a monopolar needle electrode in combination with a surface reference electrode. The location of the needle electrode was estimated stereotactically with the aid of magnetic resonance images and a reference plate. The magnitude and direction of the bite force was recorded with a custom‐made 3D bite force transducer. The recorded bite force was displayed on a signal processor, which enabled the participant to adjust the direction and magnitude of the force. The activities of 65 masseter MUs were recorded. Each MU had specific ranges of bite force magnitude and direction (firing range: FR) and an optimum direction for recruitment (minimum firing threshold: MFT). There was a significant negative correlation between MFT and FR width. There were functional differences in MU properties between the superficial and deep masseter and between the superficial layer and deep layer in the superficial masseter. These results indicate that the contribution of human masseter motor units to bite force production is heterogeneous within the muscle.
Reproducibility of the masseteric exteroceptive suppression period using stimulus–response curves
Authors: KOMIYAMA O. , WANG K. , SVENSSON P. , ARENDT‐NIELSEN L. , DE LAAT A.
Published: April 2006

summary  The present study evaluated the reproducibility of the late exteroceptive suppression period (ES2) and of pain perception. The surface electro‐myogram (EMG) was recorded from the left masseter muscle in 12 males and 12 females (22–31 year). Thirteen fixed stimulus intensities from 5 to 25 mA with 2·5 mA intervals were applied at random to the left mental area, and stimulus–response (S–R) curves were built for each subject. The first stimulation intensity at which the ES2 appeared was defined the reflex threshold, while the lowest stimulus intensity the subjects scored as painful, was called the pain threshold. Using the S–R curves, the other reflex parameters (appearance level, saturation level, slope from appearance to saturation, maximum duration of ES2, and maximum suppression degree) were also determined. Two measurement sessions were scheduled. Both the reflex and the pain sensation appeared at significantly lower stimulus intensity in females than males (P < 0·05). The reflex threshold, the reflex appearance and saturation level showed a significant decrease from the first to second session (P < 0·05), while the pain threshold was significantly higher during the second session (P < 0·01). By contrast, a good reproducibility was found for the maximum duration and suppression degree of ES2. Consequently, if S–R curves would be used to study the relation between the ES2 parameters and stimulus intensity in normal subjects for their applicability in clinical conditions, maximum duration and maximum suppression degree should be focused upon, in order to avoid session and gender effects as confounding factors.
Human complement‐activating immunoglobulin (Ig)G3 antibodies are essential for porcine endothelial cell activation
Authors: Sæthre Marit , Lea Tor , Borgen Merethe S. , Fiane Arnt E. , Michaelsen Terje E. , Thorsby Erik , Haraldsen Guttorm , Mollnes Tom E.
Published: April 2006

Sæthre M, Lea T, Borgen MS, Fiane AE, Michaelsen TE, Thorsby E, Haraldsen G, Mollnes TE. Human complement‐activating immunoglobulin (Ig)G3 antibodies are essential for porcine endothelial cell activation. Xenotransplantation 2006; 13: 215–223. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2006

Abstract:  Background:  Complement‐activating naturally occurring anti‐porcine endothelial cell antibodies (Abs) are responsible for hyperacute rejection in porcine‐to‐primate transplantation, whereas the role of complement in acute vascular rejection, characterized by type II endothelial cell activation, is less well understood. We previously demonstrated a correlation between porcine type II endothelial cell activation, as detected by E‐selectin expression, and human immunoglobulin (Ig)G3 anti‐Galα1‐3Gal (Gal) Abs, which was not seen for IgG1, IgG2 or IgG4. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between human anti‐porcine IgG3 Abs and porcine endothelial cell activation.

Methods:  IgG3 was isolated employing a Protein A column to 98.3% purity. Porcine endothelial cells were incubated with isolated human IgG3 or the combination of IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4. E‐selectin expression and complement activation were investigated by flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively.

Results:  Purified IgG3, in contrast to the other IgG subclasses, induced a substantial increase in E‐selectin expression. This activation was accompanied by complement activation as detected by C3 cleavage, and was abolished by heat inactivation or by adding the complement inhibitor FUT‐175. Depletion of anti‐Gal Abs reduced E‐selectin expression by 60%, consistent with the presence of complement‐activating anti‐porcine non‐Gal Abs of the IgG3 subclass.

Conclusions:  Collectively, these data strengthen the hypothesis that human anti‐porcine endothelial cell Abs of the IgG3 subclass are essential for endothelial cell activation in porcine‐to‐human species grafts and demonstrate such activation to be partly independent of Gal epitopes.
One woman’s journey is a journey we all may share
Authors: Kerridge I. H. , McGrath C. , White K.
Published: April 2006

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need to take account of the patient’s own experience of illness. Although this is to be welcomed, it is also important to hear the stories of those most affected by the patient’s illness, their partners, their families, their communities and those who care for them. ‘On being both professional and human: one woman’s journey’ provides a powerful example of how narrative may assist clinicians to learn about communication, care, presence and the effect of illness and death on those left behind.
Therapeutic aspects of growth hormone and insulin‐like growth factor‐I treatment on visceral fat and insulin sensitivity in adults
Authors: Yuen K. C. J. , Dunger D. B.
Published: April 2006

Growth hormone (GH) is generally considered to exert anti‐insulin actions, whereas insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) has insulin‐like properties. Paradoxically, GH deficient adults and those with acromegaly are both predisposed to insulin resistance, but one cannot extrapolate from these pathological conditions to determine the normal metabolic roles of GH and IGF‐I on glucose homeostasis. High doses of GH treatment have major effects on lipolysis, which plays a crucial role in promoting its anti‐insulin effects, whereas IGF‐I acts as an insulin sensitizer that does not exert any direct effect on lipolysis or lipogenesis. Under physiological conditions, the insulin‐sensitizing effect of IGF‐I is only evident after feeding when the bioavailability of circulating IGF‐I is increased. In contrast, many studies in GH deficient adults have consistently shown that GH replacement improves the body composition profile although these studies differ considerably in terms of age, the presence or absence of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, and whether GH deficiency was childhood or adult‐onset. However, the improvement in body composition does not necessarily translate into improvements in insulin sensitivity presumably due to the anti‐insulin effects of high doses of GH therapy. More recently, we have found that a very low dose GH therapy (0.1 mg/day) improved insulin sensitivity without affecting body composition in GH‐deficient adults and in subjects with metabolic syndrome, and we postulate that these effects are mediated by its ability to increase free ‘bioavailable’ IGF‐I without the induction of lipolysis. These results raise the possibility that this low GH dose may play a role in preventing the decline of β‐cell function and the development of type 2 diabetes in these “high risk” subjects.
‘Resisting Creativity, Creating the New’. A Deleuzian Perspective on Creativity
Authors: Jeanes Emma L.
Published: April 2006

Create/Innovate or die. This is the taken‐for‐granted ‘truth’ in the social, political and economic context in which we currently live. In fact, so accepted is this mantra that criticism seems foolish; mere evidence of the entrenched conservatism that needs to be challenged. This article posits an alternative view of creativity, drawing in particular on the thinking of the philosopher Gilles Deleuze. The writing of Deleuze is used to explore our understanding of creativity, in terms of what ‘creativity’ is (and what it is not), and the destructive (and sometimes pointless) nature of creativity. In doing so it is hoped that this article challenges clichéd representations of ‘creativity’, the typical ‘creativity is wonderful and we need a lot more of it . . .’ type arguments and assist scholars to become more creative (or at least more reflective) in their own practice.
Microsatellite markers for Fragaria from ‘Strawberry Festival’ expressed sequence tags
Authors: BASSIL N. V. , GUNN M. , FOLTA K. , LEWERS K.
Published: April 2006

We present 37 microsatellite primer pairs developed from a cDNA library of Fragaria xananassa Duch. cv. Strawberry Festival. Polymorphism was high and the number of presumptive alleles of 13 expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeats (EST–SSRs) in 70 strawberry cultivars ranged from five to 32 per primer pairs, averaging 16.1. Cross‐species amplification was also high and ranged from 89% in Fragaria vesca L. to 100% in the progenitor species of octoploid strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch. and Fragaria virginiana Duch.
autoinfer1.0: a computer program to infer biogeographical events automatically
Authors: ZHANG AI‐BING , TAN SHENGJIANG , SOTA TEIJI
Published: April 2006

autoinfer is a computer program for biogeographical inference based on nested clade analysis. To reduce the obscurity caused by manual inference, we defined geographically concordant clades and intermediate geographical areas between two clades. The program will perform most of the inferences automatically with a minimum of input from the user. We believe that autoinfer will save much time for the user compared with using the inference key by hand and, furthermore, will reduce the errors of inference resulting from different criteria in deduction.
Effect of acute exercise on low molecular weight thiols in plasma
Authors: Zinellu A. , Sotgia S. , Caria M. A. , Tangianu F. , Casu G. , Deiana L. , Carru C.
Published: April 2006

An important defence against free radicals is represented by plasma low molecular weight (LMW) thiols that compose a dynamic system of reduced and oxidized forms able to act as a buffer redox system. This study examined the effect of an acute graded exercise bout on LMW thiols in 16 young subjects (six sedentaries and 10 athletes). Blood analysis was performed before and immediately after the exercise and total and reduced thiols were measured in order to evaluate the thiol redox status. Findings suggested that the exercise test proposed was not enough to imbalance the redox status of all LMW thiols. However, when the redox status was evaluated for each thiol, it was evident that homocysteine (Hcy) redox status was significantly different after physical activity. In particular, we found a lower level of reduced Hcy after the exercise test both in sedentaries and in athletes. We concluded that duration and intensity of the proposed exercise were not enough to promote a reactive oxygen species production able to imbalance the redox thiols status and that the lowering of the reduced Hcy form may be due to the effect produced during the effort on the synthesis and/or removal processes of Hcy.
Eccentric exercise in treatment of Achilles tendinopathy
Authors: Nørregaard J. , Larsen C. C. , Bieler T. , Langberg H.
Published: April 2006

Aim: Prognosis and treatment of Achilles tendon pain (achillodynia) has been insufficiently studied. The purpose of the present study was to examine the long‐term effect of eccentric exercises compared with stretching exercises on patients with achillodynia.

Methods: Patients with achillodynia for at least 3 months were randomly allocated to one of two exercise regimens. Exercise was performed daily for a 3‐month period. Symptom severity was evaluated by tendon tenderness, ultrasonography, a questionnaire on pain and other symptoms, and a global assessment of improvement. Follow‐up was performed at time points 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks and 1 year.

Results: Of 53 patients with achillodynia 45 patients were randomized to either eccentric exercises or stretching exercises. Symptoms gradually improved during the 1‐year follow‐up period and were significantly better assessed by pain and symptoms after 3 weeks and all later visits. However, no significant differences could be observed between the two groups. Women and patients with symptoms from the distal part of the tendon had significantly less improvement.

Conclusions: Marked improvement in symptoms and findings could be gradually observed in both groups during the 1‐year follow‐up period. To that extent this is due to effect of both regimens or the spontaneous improvement is unsettled.
Herpes zoster in HIV infection with osteonecrosis of the jaw and tooth exfoliation
Authors: Siwamogstham P , Kuansuwan C , Reichart PA
Published: April 2006

Background:  Herpes zoster (HZ) infection of the trigeminal nerve is associated with complications such as postherpetic neuralgia, facial scarring, loss of hearing ability and conjunctivitis. Until 2005, postherpetic alveolar necrosis and spontaneous tooth exfoliation have been described in 20 cases unrelated to HIV infection.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to describe HIV infection in patients (two women, two men, average age 30 years) who suffered from HZ attacks to their trigeminal nerves.

Main outcome measures:  None of the patients had received antiherpetic medications or antiretroviral therapy. HIV infection was only diagnosed after the development of HZ. Facial scarring with depigmentation and hyperesthesia (postherpetic neuralgia) was diagnosed in all four patients. Oral findings consisted of spontaneous loss of both maxillary or mandibular teeth. Osteonecrosis of varying extent was also found. Treatment consisted of extractions of teeth and administration of antibiotics and analgesics. Healing of alveolar wounds was unremarkable.

Conclusion:  Complications affecting the alveolar bone and teeth seem to be rare in HIV‐infected patients.
A Methodology Study to Develop and Validate a Screener for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Leiblum Sandra , Symonds Tara , Moore Jeffrey , Soni Paresh , Steinberg Sussane , Sisson Melanie
Published: April 2006

Introduction

Current methods for diagnosing hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) can be complicated and time-consuming. A previous study reported validity and reliability of a structured diagnostic method created for clinical trials that can be performed in approximately 1 hour.

Methods

A more succinct tool is needed for incorporation into busy physician practices. Therefore, a brief HSDD screening tool was developed consisting of four self-report questions with an interpretable cut-score and concise confirmatory physician interview.

Main Outcome Measures

Accuracy of the HSDD screener cut-score alone, and in combination with physician interview, was then separately evaluated when compared with in-depth interview diagnosis.

Results

The results showed good agreement between the two diagnoses (kappa of 0.669 and 0.562 for cut-score alone and cut-score in combination with physician interview, respectively).

Conclusions

The HSDD screener can reliably detect the likely presence of HSDD in postmenopausal women.
Treatment-Seeking Behavior of Erectile Dysfunction Patients in Europe: Results of the Erectile Dysfunction Observational Study
Authors: Haro Josep Maria , Beardsworth Anthony , Casariego Joaquin , Gavart Sandra , Hatzichristou Dimitrios , Martin-Morales Antonio , Schmitt Henry , Mirone Vincenzo , Needs Nicola , Riley Alan , Varanese Lucio , Von Keitz Alex , Kontodimas Stathis
Published: April 2006

Introduction

The Erectile Dysfunction Observational Study (EDOS) is a 6-month, pan-European prospective, observational study of health outcomes designed to assess patients’ profiles and characteristics and the effectiveness of erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment in routine clinical practice

Aim

To present baseline characteristics and treatment-seeking behavior of a large sample of ED patients recruited in real-life clinical settings.

Methods

Men aged 18 years and older who visited a physician to initiate or change any ED treatment were enrolled in EDOS. They were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months as part of their normal course of care in nine European countries.

Main Outcome Measures

Sexual health outcomes using the short form of the Psychological and Interpersonal Relationship Scales. Treatment effectiveness and satisfaction were assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire, Global Assessment Questions, and further single-item questions.

Results

Of the 8,186 patients enrolled by 904 investigators (69% general practitioners [GPs]) across nine European countries, 8,055 patients were eligible for analysis at baseline; 63.9% were ED treatment-naive. Of the total patient population, mean age was 56.5 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.2 kg/m2, 18.3% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), 42.5% had severe ED, and there was a high frequency of comorbidities and concomitant medication use. A similar proportion of the treatment-naive patients were seen by GPs (62.9%) and specialists (65.8%). In the treatment-naive group, there was a higher frequency of severe ED among ex-smokers, obese patients, and in those who drank no alcohol or excessive amounts of alcohol.

Conclusions

Unmet need of treatment in ED is high; 66% of patients had experienced ED symptoms for 1 year or longer when they were looking for treatment. Severity seems to be related to treatment seeking.
Engaging Physics Students Using Environmental Lab Modules
Authors: Pratte John M.
Published: April 2006

This paper discusses multi-week activity modules that use civic engagement1 to increase student interest and learning in physics. The modules consist of a mixture of hands-on, field, and Internet-based activities that allow students to investigate their impact on the environment and to examine changes that they can make in their lifestyle to lessen this impact. Assessments of student learning and interest using the modules show that they achieved their goals.