bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Independence and interdependence of group judgments: Xenophobia and minority influence
Authors: Mugny Gabriel , Sanchez‐Mazas Margarita , Roux Patricia , Pérez Juan Antonio
Published: May 2007

A first experiment examined the effects of two methods of dividing resources between Swiss nationals and foreign residents in a study involving 118 subjects. Subjects gave judgments involving either interdependent allocation (resources allocated to the outgroup cannot be allocated to the ingroup) or independent allocation. The results indicated that the socio‐cognitive functioning preferred by subjects varies as a function of their view of outsiders. Interdependence of judgments was more characteristic of the most xenophobic subjects, whereas the least xenophobic were more likely to reason in terms of independence. On the other hand, intermediate subjects (those who were clearly neither for nor against outsiders) were sensitive to these modalities of judgment: interdependence engendered an ingroup favoritism, while independence counteracted this bias. A second experiment further analysed the influence of a more or less imperative minority argument on the attitudes of 109 more xenophobic subjects. Independent as compared to interdependent judgment facilitated a latent influence by the source, especially when the source employed a more imperative rhetoric to urge a more favourable attitude to foreigners.
Innovation in health care teams
Authors: West Michael A. , Wallace Michaela
Published: May 2007

While there has been much research on organizational innovation and on individual creativity, little research has examined the social psychological factors predicting work group innovation. In this exploratory study, using a new measure of innovativeness, eight health care teams were studied. Members of five ‘innovative’ and three ‘traditional’ teams (comprising 43 health care professionals) completed questionnaires examining aspects of individual and group work experience, and produced inventories of innovation reports. On the basis of these inventories, team innovativeness was rated by experienced health care professionals. Team innovation was predicted by climate for innovation (in particular tolerance of diversity), team commitment and team collaboration. The content of health care team innovations was also examined to reveal current trends.
Majority and minority influence in inductive reasoning: A preliminary study
Authors: Legrenzi Paolo , Butera Fabrizio , Mugny Gabriel , Perez Juan
Published: May 2007

Ninety‐three students were exposed to majority and minority influence in an inductive reasoning task. The former induced convergent thinking processes, though its effects were not reducible to mere compliance. The latter activated more divergent constructive processes, supporting the predictions of Conversion Theory.
Social influences on remembering: Intellectual, interpersonal and intergroup components
Authors: Stephenson Geoffrey M. , Kniveton Bromley H. , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: May 2007

When people recall an event collaboratively we may expect the product to be influenced by the combined cognitive resources of the group, interpersonal acquaintance of the members, and social competition engendered by salient intergroup considerations. Using undergraduate students and serving police officers as subjects, a range of experimental conditions was established which varied on the three factors of cognitive resources of the participants (Cognitive Resources), interpersonal acquaintance of the participants (Interpersonal Acquaintance) and professional salience (Professional Salience) of the recall material. Participants answered a questionnaire concerning a police interrogation they had witnessed, and rated how much confidence they had in their answers. Multiple regression revealed statistically significant associations between (i) Cognitive Resources and number of correct answers, (ii) Interpersonal Acquaintance and confidence for implicational errors, and (iii) Professional Salience and (a) number of implicational errors and (b) confidence in confusional errors. The theoretical implications for our understanding of memory as a social process are discussed, and the practical implications for courtroom testimony briefly described.
Priming aggressive thoughts: The effect of the anticipation of a violent movie upon the aggressive behaviour of the spectators
Authors: Leyens Jacques‐Philippe , Dunand Muriel
Published: May 2007

In order to examine the effects of filmed violence expectancy, male subjects were induced to think that they would watch an aggressive or neutral movie. The behavioural measures of aggression of the potential viewers were collected via an interaction aggressometer that allowed subjects to manipulate the level of aversiveness of electric shocks supposedly delivered to others. Main results indicated that the mere anticipation of viewing an aggressive movie was already effective in producing the usual instigation effect of filmed violence. Evidence was also provided indicating that degree of physical provocation influenced subjects' aggressive responses. The results are discussed in terms of Berkowitz' (1984) cognitive‐neoassociation analysis; anticipating a violent movie may prime aggressive behaviour.
Cognitions and behaviour in a hierarchy: Mulder's power theory revisited
Authors: Bruins J. Jan , Wilke Henk A. M.
Published: May 2007

In this study, Mulder's power theory consisting of the power distance reduction tendency (PDR) of less powerful group members towards more powerful others, and the power distance enlargement tendency (PDE) of more powerful group members towards less powerful others, is investigated. In particular, two different interpretations of the relationships Mulder hypothesized between power distance and power tendencies are examined. In Experiment 1 no support was found for the interpersonal interpretation. Evidence for the intrapersonal interpretation was found only for the PDE.

The most remarkable difference between these results and the results of previous experiments was that we did not find any consistent support for an increased interpersonal PDR with smaller power distance. Therefore, in Experiment 2 a more extensive investigation was undertaken focusing on interpersonal measures similar to the one used earlier by Mulder and his co‐workers. Results of these measures yielded support for the interpersonal interpretations of both tendencies. In the discussion an explanation for the obtained results is offered that departs from the (in) stability of the power hierarchy.
Ingroup bias as a function of salience, relevance, and status: An integration
Authors: Mullen Brian , Brown Rupert , Smith Colleen
Published: May 2007

This paper reports the results of a meta‐analytic integration of the results of 137 tests of the ingroup bias hypothesis. Overall, the ingroup bias effect was highly significant and of moderate magnitude. Several theoretically informative determinants of the ingroup bias effect were established. This ingroup bias effect was significantly stronger when the ingroup was made salient (by virtue of proportionate size and by virtue of reality of the group categorization). A significant interaction between the reality of the group categorization and the relative status of the ingroup revealed a slight decrease in the ingroup bias effect as a function of status in real groups, and a significant increase in the ingroup bias effect as a function of status in artificial groups. Finally, an interaction between item relevance and ingroup status was observed, such that higher status groups exhibited more ingroup bias on more relevant attributes, whereas lower status groups exhibited more ingroup bias on less relevant attributes. Discussion considers the implications of these results for current theory and future research involving the ingroup bias effect.
Status protection in high status minority groups
Authors: Ellemers Naomi , Doosje Bertjan , Van Knippenberg Ad , Wilke Henk
Published: May 2007

The present study investigated the conditions under which group members try to obtain membership in another group, or are motivated to protect their group membership when they risk losing it. One hundred and twenty‐nine high school students participated as subjects in a laboratory experiment. Subjects were divided into two groups, allegedly on the basis of their problem solving style. The relative size (minority/majority) and status position (high/low) of the subject's group, as well as the permeability of group boundaries (permeable/impermeable) were manipulated as independent variables in a 2×2×2 factorial design. The main dependent variables were the extent to which individuals valued their group membership, and identified with their group. The main results are that membership in a group with high status is considered more attractive than membership in a low status group, This differential evaluation of high and low status groups is more extreme in minority groups than in groups of majority size. Furthermore, when group boundaries are permeable, members of high status minorities show relatively strong ingroup identification, indicating a strengthening of ties with their own group when an alternative (majority) group affiliation is possible. However, our expectation that permeable group boundaries would result in diminished ingroup identification in low status minorities was not confirmed. Some additional data suggest that unsatisfactory membership in a low status group is resolved in a different way.
Prototypicality of arguments and conformity to ingroup norms
Authors: Knippenberg Daan Van , Wilke Henk
Published: May 2007

Social categorization is claimed to elicit a tendency to conform to ingroup norms, which may result in attitude change after exposure to information on the opinions of other ingroup members. It was hypothesized that the degree to which arguments represented ingroup norms, i.e., were prototypical, would affect their potential influence on attitudes, such that prototypical arguments would be perceived as being of higher quality and would elicit more attitude change. Moreover, prototypical arguments were expected to elicit more argument elaboration. Two experiments were designed to test these predictions. In Experiment 1 subjects were exposed to both a set of pro and a set of contra arguments, while one of the sets was allegedly prototypical of ingroup attitudes. In Experiment 2 subjects were exposed to either prototypical or a‐prototypical pro or contra arguments allegedly originating from in‐ or outgroup. In both studies conformity to ingroup norms was observed. In addition, prototypical ingroup arguments elicited higher quality ratings in the first study. Indications of higher elaboration of prototypical ingroup arguments were found.
Framing in terms of ‘high‐risk groups’ versus ‘risky practices’ and prognoses of HIV infection
Authors: Spears R. , Abraham S. C. S. , Abrams D. , Sheeran P.
Published: May 2007

A quasi‐experimental field‐study (n = 314) investigated the consequences of framing the problem of HIV infection in terms of ‘risky practices’ versus ‘high risk groups’. It was reasoned that respondents in the risky practices frame would be more conscious of the risks to people in general leading them to make more pessimistic prognoses of HW spread than those for whom the issue had been framed in terms of high risk groups. This hypothesis was strongly supported on three related indices, and results also indicated more pessimistic prognoses by female than male respondents. The implications of these findings for framing AIDS related issues are discussed.
Cognitive models of stereotype change: (2) Perceptions of homogeneous and heterogeneous groups
Authors: Hewstone Miles , Johnston Lucy , Aird Peter
Published: May 2007

The reported study compared change in stereotypic perceptions of homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, when subjects were presented with a pattern of stereotype‐inconsistent information that was either concentrated in two extreme group members or dispersed across six members. Results pro vided some support for the ‘conversion’ model (in which stereotypes change in response to salient instances) in the case of a homogeneous group, where stereotypical responding was lower in concentrated than dispersed conditions. In the heterogeneous‐group conditions, there was no effect of pattern. In addition, subjects' estimates of stereotype‐consistent information were higher, and of inconsistent information were lower, and they perceived more members as typical, and fewer as atypical, when the target group was heterogeneous versus homogeneous. There was also support for the ‘subtyping’ model (in which disconfirming individuals are isolated from other group members) in the concentrated conditions. A theoretical account of these findings is given in terms of stereotype change via salience for homogeneous groups, and the need to integrate research on cognitive models of stereotype change and perceived group variability.
Self‐denial as a paradox of political and regional social identity: Findings from a study of 16– and 18–year‐olds
Authors: Abrams Dominic , Emler Nicholas
Published: May 2007

Data from a survey of 4591 16‐19‐year‐olds from four parts of Britain demonstrate that a North‐South divide is manifested both economically and politically. Southerners are materially better off and more supportive of the Conservative party. Adopting a social identity analysis of sectional effects, we hypothesized that party political support is a manifestation of identification with locality, and also that political support, rather than perceived deprivation, would be associated with intentions to stay in or move out of ones locality. Results revealed that Labour supporters in the north of England, and Conservative supporters in the south were most committed to their locality. In Scotland, where nationalism is more directly linked to political parties, those who supported the Scottish Nationalist Party or Labour Party identified more strongly with Scotland and had less intention to leave, but also perceived their situation as more disadvantaged than did Conservatives. These findings are interpreted as supporting a social identity approach to political support and geographical occupational mobility. We suggest that despite the apparent irrationality of self‐denying perceptions and choices, these may also serve self‐preserving functions in the longer term.
Asking Difficult Questions: Task Complexity Increases the Impact of Response Alternatives
Authors: Bless Herbert , Bohner Gerd , Hild Traudel , Schwarz Norbert
Published: May 2007

In providing behavioural frequency reports, respondents use the range of the response alternatives as a frame of reference, resulting in higher estimates on scales that offer high rather than low values. The present study demonstrates that the size of this effect increases with increasing question difficulty.
Counterfactual processing and the correspondence between events and outcomes: Normality versus value
Authors: Bouts Patrick , Spears Russell , Van Der Pligt Joop
Published: May 2007

Kahneman and Tversky (1982) have proposed a simulation heuristic such that perceivers tend to substitute ‘normal’ antecedent events for exceptional ones in psychologically ‘undoing’ a given outcome. Recently Gavanski and Wells (1989) have demonstrated that exceptional outcomes tend to be perceived as caused by exceptional events and normal outcomes by normal events, a finding more in line with the representativeness heuristic than this ‘normalization’ principle. We argue that representativeness may be determined by the evaluative tone of events as well as by probability—namely that positive events are assumed to underlie positive outcomes and negative events, negative outcomes. Both normality and value were independently manipulated in order to test the relative effects of each of these factors. In contrast to Gavanski and Wells our data indicate that preference was given to the similarity of value between events and outcome for undoing both positive and negative and normal and exceptional outcomes. Some implications of these findings for counterfactual processing are discussed.
Positive‐negative asymmetry in normative data
Authors: Tuohy A. P. , Stradling S. G.
Published: May 2007

Three samples, consisting of 200 traits, 200 nouns and 200 verbs taken from the Toglia et al. (1978) verbal norms, were analysed for evidence of positive‐negative asymmetry. Within each sample the items were ordered on a general positive‐negative index, and a systematic series of dichotomizations was carried out, ranging from S per cent negative to 95 per cent negative. It was found that the partial correlation of pleasingness with the positive‐negative dichotomization increased as a linear function of the informational complexity of the negative class of words, for all three word types. The partial correlation of familiarity increased as a similar function of the positive class of words, but only for traits. The results are discussed in terms of Peeters and Czapinski's (1990) positive‐negative asymmetry model, and Scherer's (1984) component model of emotion.
Mood effects on the organization of person information
Authors: Bless Herbert , Hamilton David L. , Mackie Diane M.
Published: May 2007

Subjects in a positive, neutral, or negative mood were presented with behaviour descriptions exemplifying different categories to investigate mood effects on the organization of person information. Subjects were instructed either to form an impression about the person performing the behaviours (impression set) or to memorize the behaviours (memory set). Neutral mood subjects showed higher recall and more clustering under impression instructions than under memory instructions, replicating previous findings. Regardless of instructions, subjects in both positive and negative mood showed recall as high as that shown by those in a neutral mood under impression set. Subjects in a positive mood showed considerable clustering regardless of instruction set, whereas subjects in a negative mood showed little clustering regardless of instructional set. Thus, recall appeared to be mediated by different processes in the positive and negative mood conditions. Results are consistent with the interpretation that different affective states influence processing styles which in turn mediate recall.
Dissonance reduction and causal explanation in a forced compliance situation
Authors: Beauvois Jean‐Léon , Rainis Natacha
Published: May 2007

In a free choice forced compliance situation, subjects had to perform a tedious task. Then, just before having to evaluate the task's interest, certain subjects were provided an arbitrary positive feedback regarding their performance, others a negative feedback and others no information at all concerning their performance. Afterwards, all subjects were administered a questionnaire concerning their theories of causal explanations, which enabled us to compute an externalization score. Evaluation of the task was affected by the feedback's nature: Subjects who received the negative feedback found the task more interesting. Causal theories, however, were only affected by actual performance: the most efficient subjects were those who presented the more external orientation of causal theories. These results are in agreement with the radical conception of dissonance theory.
Computation of turbulent flows using a finite calculus–finite element formulation
Authors: Oñate E. , Valls A. , García J.
Published: May 2007

We present a formulation for analysis of turbulent incompressible flows using a stabilized finite element method (FEM) based on the finite calculus (FIC) procedure. The stabilization terms introduced by the FIC approach allow to solve a wide range of fluid flow problems at different Reynolds numbers, including turbulent flows, without the need of a turbulence model. Examples of application of the FIC/FEM formulation to the analysis of 2D and 3D incompressible flows at large Reynolds numbers exhibiting turbulence features are presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calculation of nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of a wing using a 3‐D panel method
Authors: Cho Jeonghyun , Cho Jinsoo
Published: May 2007

The nonlinear aerodynamic characteristic of a wing is investigated using the frequency‐domain panel method. To calculate the nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of a three‐dimensional wing, the iterative decambering approach is introduced into the frequency‐domain panel method. The decambering approach uses the known nonlinear aerodynamic characteristic of airfoil and calculates two‐variable decambering function to take into consideration the boundary‐layer separation effects for the each section of the wing. The multidimensional Newton iteration is used to account for the coupling between the different sections of wing. The nonlinear aerodynamic analyses for a rectangular wing, a tapered wing, and a wing with the control surface are performed. Present results are given with experiments and other numerical results. Computed results are in good agreement with other data. This method can be used for any wing having different nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil. The present method will contribute to the
analysis of aircraft in the conceptual design because the present method can predict the nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of a wing with a few computing resources and significant time. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preliminary clinical measurement of the expression of B‐cell activating factor in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Lin Zhou , Dan‐Rong Yang , Xiao‐Qing Tu , Hao Wang , Hong‐Lian Geng , Xian‐Tao Kong , Ren‐Qian Zhong , Jiyu Li
Published: May 2007

It has recently been found that excessive serum B‐cell activating factor (BAFF) production triggers severe autoimmune disorders in mice resembling systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whether such dysregulation in circulating levels of BAFF results from overexpression of BAFF gene in clinical patients with SLE is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of BAFF and SLE. Here, circulating levels of BAFF were measured in 59 Chinese patients with SLE using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, we have quantified the specific mRNA levels of BAFF in unstimulated peripheral‐blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum samples of all SLE patients were also assayed for quantitative immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and anti‐double‐stranded DNA (anti‐dsDNA) antibody levels, and compared with samples from 40 healthy control subjects. Serum BAFF levels in all SLE patients were significantly elevated (P<0.001) and correlated with the levels of IgG and the titers of anti‐dsDNA antibody (r=0.442, r=0.85, P<0.00). More importantly, 66% (39/59) of these SLE patients had significantly higher levels of blood BAFF mRNA, closely paralleling with serum BAFF levels (r=0.652, P<0.001). Dysregulation of BAFF is relatively common in Chinese patients with SLE. Excessive serum BAFF production may result from overexpression of the BAFF gene. BAFF also plays an important role in activating specific autoreactive B cells and modulating the production of autoantibodies. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:183–187, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved method to calculate the antibody avidity index
Authors: Perciani C.T. , Peixoto P.S. , Dias W.O. , Kubrusly F.S. , Tanizaki M.M.
Published: May 2007

The methods currently used to determine the immunoglobulin avidity index (AI) require the choice of a reference point in the ELISA titration curve. Since both curves, with and without denaturating reagents, seldom run in parallel, the AI value becomes highly dependent on this reference. The new method for AI calculation presented here takes into account the whole data of the ELISA titration curve in which the final numerical AI is the average of each point. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:201–206, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐molecular intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic liver diseases
Authors: Ooi Kinue , Shiraki Katsuya , Morishita Yoshitaka , Nobori Tsutomu
Published: May 2007

The presence of high‐molecular intestinal alkaline phosphatase (HIALP) different from bone ALP detected in the α2β region was recently clarified. In this study we used a novel method in which HIALP was detected after conversion to ALP5 by protease to investigate the clinical significance of the appearance of HIALP in patients with chronic liver disease. The subjects were 241 patients with chronic liver disease. When a decrease in ALP3 in the α2β region and an increase in ALP5 in the β region were noted, the patient was judged HIALP‐positive. In the patients with chronic liver disease, the total ALP activity (T‐ALP) increased with progression of the pathology in the order of chronic hepatitis (CH), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC). HIALP appeared in 22.4% and 49.3% of patients with CH and LC, respectively, but the positivity rate decreased to 30.4% in HCC. As autoimmune liver diseases, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were investigated. T‐ALP was lower in PBC+AIH than in LC and HCC, but the HIALP‐positive rate was high (44.4%). The HIALP‐positive rate was dependent on ABO blood groups, and was high in blood groups B and O. In conclusion, the HIALP‐positive rate was particularly high in patients with chronic liver disease, and was related to the pathological progression, which suggests that the method is clinically useful. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:133–139, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sustainable development and institutional change: evidence from the Tiogo Forest in Burkina Faso
Authors: Dulbecco Philippe , Yelkouni Martin
Published: May 2007

The management of forest resources in developing countries is often inefficient and this is particularly the case when forests are a public good managed by the state. These inefficiencies are generally the result of both externalities and free‐riding behaviour. The solution usually considered is to change the property rights structure of the resource, that is, privatisation of forests. It appears, however, that privatisation also has inefficiencies of its own, particularly when it is imposed on local populations. The aim of our contribution is to go beyond the usual state management versus privatisation debate, and to propose instead a property rights structure and related co‐ordination scheme which take into account the specific institutional circumstances of the economic setting in which the natural resources are being exploited. The purpose is to suggest solutions based on the need to attain coherence between the external institutional structure and the behaviour of local players. In others words, the challenge is to establish the conditions necessary for an induced—rather than imposed—institutional change. A property rights structure of a resource must consequently be analysed from two perspectives. The first, and more traditional one, sees property rights as an efficient institutional structure of production enabling a reduction in transaction costs. The second proposes to evaluate any given property rights structure from the standpoint of its ability to offer a solution to the issue of an effective link between the legal framework and the behaviour of the players. Our analysis will make use of our knowledge of the forest of Tiogo in Burkina Faso based on a survey organised in 12 riverside villages, and using a sample of 300 households. The case of the Tiogo Forest suggests that institutional change needs to follow an incremental and path‐dependent process within which the state is invited to play a major role together with the local communities. Indeed the institutional choices of the Tiogo Forest households indicate that they favour an inclusion of the local population in resource management and co‐administration of forestry resources with the state. Such an institutional structure favours a negotiated rather than an imposed scheduling of measures, and seeks a minimum of consensus to ensure the adhesion of actors and users to the new institutional arrangements, whilst limiting the number of bad players. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
1H MRS identifies specific metabolite profiles associated with MYCN‐amplified and non‐amplified tumour subtypes of neuroblastoma cell lines
Authors: Peet Andrew C. , McConville Carmel , Wilson Martin , Levine Barry A. , Reed Michelle , Dyer Sara A. , Edwards Emma C. , Strachan Mary C. , McMullan Dominic J. , Wilkes Timothy M. , Grundy Richard G.
Published: May 2007

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid malignancy in children. The disease possesses a broad range of clinical phenotypes with widely varying prognoses. Numerous studies have sought to identify the associated genetic abnormalities in the tumour, resulting in the identification of useful prognostic markers. In particular, the presence of multiple copies of the MYCN oncogene (referred to as MYCN amplification) has been found to confer a poor prognosis. However, the molecular pathways involved are as yet poorly defined. Metabolite profiles generated by in vitro 1H MRS provide a means of investigating the downstream metabolic consequences of genetic alterations and can identify potential targets for new agents. Thirteen neuroblastoma cell lines possessing multiple genetic alterations were investigated; seven were MYCN amplified and six MYCN non‐amplified. In vitro magic angle spinning 1H MRS was performed on cell suspensions, and the spectra analysed to obtain metabolite concentration ratios relative to total choline (tCho). A principal component analysis using these concentration ratios showed that MYCN‐amplified and non‐amplified cell lines form separate classes according to their metabolite profiles. Phosphocholine/tCho and taurine/tCho were found to be significantly raised (p < 0.05) and glycerophosphocholine/tCho significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the MYCN‐amplified compared with the MYCN non‐amplified cell lines (two‐tailed t test). 1H MRS of the SH‐EP1 cell line and an isogenic cell line transfected with the MYCN oncogene also showed that MYCN oncogene over‐expression causes alterations in phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine and taurine concentrations. Molecular pathways of choline and taurine metabolism are potential targets for new agents tailored to MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multivariate optimisation of microwave‐assisted extraction of capsaicin from Capsicum frutescens L. and quantitative analysis by 1H‐NMR
Authors: Nazari Fatemeh , Ebrahimi Samad Nejad , Talebi Mohammad , Rassouli Ali , Bijanzadeh Hamid Reza
Published: May 2007

A simple and rapid microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) procedure combined with 1H‐NMR spectrometry was developed and optimised for the extraction and quantitative determination of capsaicin in Capsicum frutescens. The influence of experimental variables, including irradiation power, extraction temperature and dynamic extraction time before reaching the selected extraction temperature, on the performance of the extraction procedure was systematically studied using a Box–Behnken experimental design followed by a conventional central composite design approach. Statistical treatment of the results together with results from some additional experiments suggested optimum extraction conditions as 120°C and 150 W, for 15 min with acetone as extractant. The optimised MAE method provides extracts that can be analysed quantitatively using 1H‐NMR without any preliminary clean‐up or derivatisation steps. In the 1H‐NMR spectrum of the crude extracts the doublet signal in the δ range 4.349–4.360 ppm was well separated from other resonances in deuterated chloroform. The quantity of the compound was calculated from the relative ratio of the integral value of the target peak to that of a known amount of dimethylformamide as internal standard. In comparison with traditional Soxhlet extraction, the proposed method is less labour‐intensive and provides a drastic reduction of extraction time and solvent consumption. In addition, MAE showed higher extraction yield and selectivity, with comparable reproducibility and recovery, relative to both conventional Soxhlet and sonication methods. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiblock poly(4‐vinylpyridine) and its copolymer prepared with cyclic trithiocarbonate as a reversible addition–fragmentation transfer agent
Authors: Zhang Lushuai , Wang Qi , Lei Ping , Wang Xin , Wang Chaoyang , Cai Lei
Published: May 2007

The polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine was conducted in the presence of a cyclic trithiocarbonate (4,7‐diphenyl‐[1,3]dithiepane‐2‐thione) as a reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization agent, and a multiblock polymer with narrow‐polydispersity blocks was prepared. Two kinds of multiblock copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine, that is, (ABA)n multi‐triblock copolymers with polystyrene or poly(4‐vinylpyridine) as the outer blocks, were prepared with multiblock polystyrene or poly(4‐vinylpyridine) as a macro‐RAFT agent, respectively. GPC data for the original polymers and polymers cleaved by amine demonstrated the successful synthesis of amphiphilic multiblock copolymers of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine via two‐step polymerization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2617–2623, 2007
Novel UV‐induced photografting process for preparing poly(tetrafluoroethylene)‐based proton‐conducting membranes
Authors: Asano Masaharu , Chen Jinhua , Maekawa Yasunari , Sakamura Takahiro , Kubota Hitoshi , Yoshida Masaru
Published: May 2007

A novel process comprising the UV‐induced photografting of styrene into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films and subsequent sulfonation has been developed for preparing proton‐conducting membranes. Although under UV irradiation the initial radicals were mainly generated on the surface of the PTFE films by the action of photosensitizers such as xanthone and benzoyl peroxide, the graft chains were readily propagated into the PTFE films. The sulfonation of the grafted films was performed in a chlorosulfonic acid solution. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the grafted and sulfonated membranes. With a view to use in fuel cells, the proton conductivity, water uptake, and mechanical properties of the prepared membranes were measured. Even through the degree of grafting was lower than 10%, the proton conductivity in the thickness direction of the newly prepared membranes could reach a value similar to that of a Nafion membrane. In comparison with γ‐ray radiation grafting, UV‐induced photografting is very simple and safe and is less damaging to the membranes because significant degradation of the PTFE main chains can be avoided. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2624–2637, 2007
Fabrication of polymer hollow nanospheres by a swelling–evaporation strategy
Authors: Han Jie , Song Genping , Guo Rong
Published: May 2007

A general route, involving swelling–evaporation processes, is proposed for the generation of polymer hollow nanospheres derived from polymer nanoparticles for the first time. Different swelling reagents, such as ethanol, o‐toluidine, toluene, and carbon tetrachloride, have been used to study their effect on the morphology of the resultant polymer hollow structures. The evaporation conditions, such as the temperature and pressure, can be used to tune the size and shell thickness of the polymer hollow structures. The chemical structures of the polymer have been characterized with X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2638–2645, 2007
Missing row reconstructed (110), (211) and (311) surfaces for FCC transition metals
Authors: Zhang Jian‐Min , Li Hong‐Yan , Xu Ke‐Wei
Published: May 2007

Modified embedded atom method (MEAM) has been used to ascertain the change in the surface energy density of (1 × 2) missing row (MR) reconstruction from initial (1 × 1) ideal (110), (211) and (311) surfaces for seven FCC transition metals Au, Pt, Ag, Pd, Rh, Cu and Ni. The results show that the MR reconstruction can be formed naturally on the Au (110), Pt (110) and Pt (311) surfaces and are better than calculated results of the embedded atom method (EAM) while comparing with experimental results. In addition to the surface energy explanation, the results are also explained in terms of the valence electron structure and surface topography. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of bottom‐fermenting yeast genes expressed during lager beer fermentation
Authors: Yoshida Satoshi , Hashimoto Kaori , Shimada Emiko , Ishiguro Tatsuji , Minato Toshiko , Mizutani Satoru , Yoshimoto Hiroyuki , Tashiro Kosuke , Kuhara Satoru , Kobayashi Osamu
Published: May 2007

It has been proposed that bottom‐fermenting yeast strains of Saccharomyces pastorianus possess at least two types of genomes. Sequences of genes of one genome [S. cerevisiae (Sc)‐type] have been found to be highly homologous (more than 90% identity) to S. cerevisiae S288C sequences, while those of the other [Lager (Lg)‐type] are less so. To identify and discriminate Lg‐type from Sc‐type genes expressed during lager beer fermentation, normalized cDNA libraries were constructed and analysed. From approximately 22 000 ESTs, 3892 Sc‐type and 2695 Lg‐type ORFs were identified. Expression patterns of Sc‐ and Lg‐type genes did not correlate with particular cell functions in KEGG classification system. Moreover, 405 independent clones were isolated that have no significant homology with sequences in the S288C database, suggesting that they include the bottom‐fermenting yeast‐specific (BFY) genes. Most of BFY genes have significant homology with the S. bayanus genome. The DNA sequences of S. pastorianus non‐Sc‐type ORFs were submitted to DDBJ/GenBank/EMBL under Accession Nos CJ992285‐CJ998763. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zur Theorie des stationären Verdichtungsstoßes
Authors: Schubert Feodor
Published: May 2007

Aus den dimensionslos gemachten Grundgleichungen werden einige für die Berechnung von Verdichtungsstößen wichtige Verhältnisgrößen hergeleitet. Die sich dabei ergebende einfache Abhängigkeit von den Stoßbedingungen erlaubt es, den allgemeinen stationären Verdichtungsstoß im wesentlichen wie einen ihm äquivalenten geraden zu behandeln und die Änderungen der Zustandsgrößen in leicht zu erzeugenden Diagrammen darzustellen.
Der starre Kreiszylinder im isotropen elastischen Medium
Authors: Reutter F.
Published: May 2007

Aus dem elastischen Halbraum z > 0 wird ein solcher Raumteil ausgespart, daß in ihn ein starrer Kreiszylinder eingepaßt werden kann. Die kleinen Verschiebungen, die die Punkte des elastischen Mediums durch das Eindrücken dieses Zylinders erfahren, werden bestimmt. Ihre Ermittlung führt auf zwei lineare Integralgleichungen erster Art, deren Lösung durch Zurückführung auf ein System von unendlichvielen linearen Gleichungen mit unendlichvielen Unbekannten gelingt.
Der Spannungszustand der biegungsssteifen Kegelschale mit linear veränderlicher Wandstärke unter beliebiger Belastung
Authors: Nollau H.
Published: May 2007

Die vorliegende Arbeit entwickelt eine Methode zur Berechnung der biegungssteifen Kegelschale bei beliebiger Belastung und enthält die Berechnung der Kreiszylinderschale und der Kreisplatte als Sonderfälle. Die Darstellungsweise und die Erläuterung der Theorie durch ein ausführliches Zahlenbeispiel bezwecken, die Ergebnisse der Abhandlung technisch verwendbar zu machen.
Zur praktischen Berechnung der Eigenwerte linearer Integralgleichungen
Authors: Lösch Friedrich
Published: May 2007

Es wird ein Verfahren zur Berechnung der Eigenwerte linearer Integralgleichungen dargestellt, das für den Fall des symmetrischen Kerns mit dem bekannten Grammelschen Verfahren übereinstimmt. Seine Brauchbarkeit auch bei unsymmetrischem Kern wird an dem Beispiel der Transversalschwingungen eines einseitig eingespannten Stabs von veränderlichem Querschnitt gezeigt.
Zur Berechnung der Unterschallströmung um ein beliebiges dünnes Profil
Authors: Hantzsche W. , Wendt H.
Published: May 2007

Die Berechnung der zweiten Näherung für die Unterschallströmung um dünne Profile nach der Verallgemeinerung der Prandtlschen Regel wurde bisher nur für spezielle Profilformen (Kreisbogen, Ellipse usw.) durchgeführt. Es wird hier die Aufgabe gelöst, in dieser Näherung die Unterschallströmung um ein beliebiges Profil zu bestimmen. Dabei zeigt es sich, daß man die Geschwindigkeitsverteilung am Profil berechnen kann, wenn für die konforme Abbildung des Außengebietes des Profils auf das eines Kreises die Zuordnung von Profil und Kreispunkten bekannt ist.
Grenzen der Grenzschichtbeeinflussung
Authors: Pretsch J.
Published: May 2007

Es wird die Gesamtheit derjenigen ähnlich verlaufenden Geschwindigkeitsverteilungen in der laminaren Grenzschicht exakt ermittelt, die sich bei starkem Absaugen oder Ausblasen asymptotisch einstellen.
Prospective treatment in carnitine–acylcarnitine translocase deficiency
Authors: Pierre G. , Macdonald A. , Gray G. , Hendriksz C. , Preece M. A. , Chakrapani A.
Published: May 2007

Carnitine–acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) deficiency is a rare disorder that results in long‐chain fatty acids being unavailable for mitochondrial β‐oxidation and ketogenesis. It can present in the neonatal period or infancy with a severe clinical form, typically with convulsions, hypothermia, encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy and liver dysfunction, or with a milder phenotype with episodes of hypoglycaemia and hyperammonaemia during intercurrent illness. Investigations show hypoketonaemia, intermittent dicarboxyluria and hypocarnitinaemia with grossly elevated acylcarnitines. Enzyme assay or DNA analysis confirms the diagnosis. The severe phenotype results in severe disability or death. The less severe phenotype can also cause significant disability secondary to hypoglycaemia and/or hyperammonaemia at presentation. We report the outcome of two siblings with CACT deficiency. The index patient presented at the age of 2 months during a respiratory illness with hypoglycaemia, hyperammonaemia and cardiorespiratory collapse. Acylcarnitine profiles showed decreased free carnitine but striking elevations of long‐chain acylcarnitines. Urine organic acids showed dicarboxylic aciduria. Fatty acid oxidation studies showed reduced oleate and myristate oxidation. His acylcarnitine profile normalized after he was started on a medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT) low‐fat diet and carnitine supplementation. Low CACT activity on enzyme assay confirmed the diagnosis. He has resulting profound developmental delay and epilepsy. The sibling was prospectively treated with a low‐fat MCT diet and carnitine supplementation. Acylcarnitine profile at birth also showed elevated long‐chain acylcarnitines. Fatty acid oxidation studies confirmed the diagnosis. To date he has normal development and has not had any significant periods of hypoglycaemia or hyperammonaemia.
Adjuvant effect of caffeine on acetylsalicylic acid anti‐nociception: Prostaglandin E2 synthesis determination in carrageenan‐induced peripheral inflammation in rat
Authors: Fernández‐Dueñas Víctor , Sánchez Sílvia , Planas Eulàlia , Poveda Raquel
Published: May 2007

In the present study, we report a synergistic interaction between acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and caffeine (CAF) on the inhibition of nociception in a model of peripheral inflammation in rat; on the contrary no interaction have been found on anti‐inflammatory effects and peripheral prostaglandin E2 (PGE‐2) synthesis inhibition. Acute inflammation was induced by the subplantar injection of carrageenan into the right hind paw, and the effects of the drugs were evaluated from 0 to 5h. Nociception was assessed using the Randall & Selitto test, and the inflammatory response by plethismometry. Oral administration of ASA (10–400mg/kg) induced dose‐related anti‐nociceptive and anti‐inflammatory effects. On the other hand, oral CAF administration (5–50mg/kg) did not show a dose‐related inhibitory effect, neither on the inhibition of nociception nor on the inflammatory response. To analyze a possible interaction between both drugs a dose—response curve to ASA plus a fixed dose of CAF (5mg/kg) was obtained 3h after the injection of carrageenan, when the inflammatory pain peaked. A fixed dose of CAF was able to improve the anti‐nociceptive, but not the anti‐inflammatory, effects of ASA. We also assessed, by enzyme immunoassay, the effects of the combination on peripheral PGE‐2 levels: CAF did not alter the inhibitory effect of ASA on PGE‐2 synthesis. Our results corroborate the well‐known clinical effects of combining ASA and CAF; on the other hand, we rule out that prostaglandin synthesis inhibition at peripheral sites would be the mechanism responsible of the adjuvant anti‐nociceptive effect of CAF.
Functional characterization of Littorina littorea (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) blood cells
Authors: Gorbushin Alexander M. , Iakovleva Nadya V.
Published: May 2007

The main functional characteristics of haemocytes from the common periwinkle Littorina littorea
(phagocytic ability, acid phosphatase activity, cytotoxic properties and generation of reactive oxygen intermediates)
were investigated. The blood cells of L. littorea demonstrated phagocytic activity for zymozan
particles in both plasma and seawater. However, the level of phagocytosis in plasma was higher than in
seawater, suggesting the presence of some soluble factors with opsonizing activity for yeast cell walls in the
snail haemolymph. Acid phosphatase was detected in haemocytes following phagocytosis of zymosan.
Zymosan particles as well as soluble inducers of respiratory burst (mannan, phorbol-myristate acetate,
lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli) were shown to trigger superoxide anion production in L. littorea
blood cells as evidenced by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction. Haemocytes exposed simultaneously
to both inducer and the superoxide scavenger enzyme—superoxide dismutase demonstrated a lower ability
to reduce nitrobluetetrazolium. Periwinkle blood cells showed plasma-independent cytotoxic activity for
human erythrocytes which may be due to the release of superoxide intermediates into the extracellular
environment. These results, together with previously obtained data, suggest that haemocytes are the main
effectors in the internal defence system of L. littorea, with humoral factors playing an accessory role in
recognition and elimination of pathogens.
Localized field effects of drainage water from abandoned coal mines on intertidal rocky shore seaweeds at St Monans, Scotland
Authors: Woolsey Sharon , Wilkinson Martin
Published: May 2007

This is the first account of the effects of drainage water from an abandoned coal mine on the seaweed
community of the intertidal rocky shore in the British Isles. At St Monans, Scotland, along a 250 m
transect, the brown climax species Fucus spiralis showed a low abundance in sampling quadrats (17.5%)
and small plant size (3.5 cm), close to the outfall, compared to stations at increasing distance from the
drainage source. Immediately below the outfall the fucoid community was replaced by a mixture of 12
species of freshwater, brackish and marine Chlorophyta, which did not occur, or only scarcely occurred,
at any other transect station. At high tide, ferrous iron concentrations in the water were highest near the
source (15.5 mg/l), while salinity was at its lowest (1.1 psu). Accordingly, iron tissue concentrations of apical
segments of F. spiralis were also at their highest (12 mg Fe/g dry weight). Reproductive development of
F. spiralis may have been inhibited close to the source.