bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Minocycline neuroprotects, reduces microgliosis, and inhibits caspase protease expression early after spinal cord injury
Authors: Festoff Barry W. , Ameenuddin Syed , Arnold Paul M. , Wong Andrea , Santacruz Karen S. , Citron Bruce A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractMinocycline, a clinically used tetracycline for over 40 years, crosses the blood–brain barrier and prevents caspase up‐regulation. It reduces apoptosis in mouse models of Huntington's disease and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is in clinical trial for sporadic ALS. Because apoptosis also occurs after brain and spinal cord (SCI) injury, its prevention may be useful in improving recovery. We analyzed minocycline's neuroprotective effects over 28 days following contusion SCI and found significant functional recovery compared to tetracycline. Histology, immunocytochemistry, and image analysis indicated statistically significant tissue sparing, reduced apoptosis and microgliosis, and less activated caspase‐3 and substrate cleavage. Since our original report in abstract form, others have published both positive and negative effects of minocycline in various rodent models of SCI and with various routes of administration. We have since found decreased tumor necrosis factor‐α, as well as caspase‐3 mRNA expression, as possible mechanisms of action for minocycline's ameliorative action. These results support reports that modulating apoptosis, caspases, and microglia provide promising therapeutic targets for prevention and/or limiting the degree of functional loss after CNS trauma. Minocycline, and more potent chemically synthesized tetracyclines, may find a place in the therapeutic arsenal to promote recovery early after SCI in humans.
Limited‐Access Consumption of Ascending Ethanol Concentrations in Alcohol‐Preferring, Nonpreferring, and Sprague–Dawley Rats
Authors: Martinetti Margaret P. , Lowery Emily G. , Vona Sally R. , Wichnick Alison M. , Adler Reid A. , Finch Daniel G. 
Published: April 2006

Background: Ethanol intake and preference differences between the selectively bred alcohol‐preferring (P) and nonpreferring (NP) rats have generally been studied in a continuous‐access paradigm using 10% ethanol. Little is known about the consumption of lower concentrations of ethanol in these lines or consumption of a wide range of ethanol concentrations in limited‐access paradigms. Recently, limited‐access paradigms have been used to study the biological and pharmacological mechanisms of ethanol consumption in animal models. Such research would be informed by studies investigating ethanol oral self‐administration within a limited‐access context. Therefore, the current study addressed P, NP, and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats' consumption of a wide range of ethanol concentrations in a 2‐bottle‐choice, limited‐access procedure.Methods: Male P, NP, and SD rats were given concurrent access to water and ethanol solutions for 1 h/d, 7 d/wk. Ethanol solutions were presented in an ascending series ranging from 0.01 to 20% (v/v) over 55 days. Ethanol intakes (g/kg), volumes of solutions consumed (mL/kg), and preference ratios were assessed for each rat line at each concentration.Results: Clear differences among the 3 types of rats emerged at an ethanol concentration of 4%, although differences between P and NP rats emerged at concentrations as low as 1.8%. Alcohol‐preferring rats almost exclusively preferred ethanol solutions over water at ethanol concentrations of 4% and above, whereas SD and NP rats' preference ratios were more variable.Conclusions: The results suggest that differences between P and NP rats exist at ethanol concentrations lower than those previously studied in continuous‐access paradigms. They also provide a current description of the ranges of ethanol concentrations preferred by P, NP, and SD rats.
Impact of Alcohol Exposure After Pregnancy Recognition on Ultrasonographic Fetal Growth Measures
Authors: Handmaker Nancy S. , Rayburn William F. , Meng Chen , Bell Jordan B. , Rayburn Brittany B. , Rappaport Valerie J. 
Published: April 2006

Background: More than 3 decades after Jones and Smith (1973) reported on the devastation caused by alcohol exposure on fetal development, the rates of heavy drinking during pregnancy remain relatively unchanged. Early identification of fetal alcohol exposure and maternal abstinence led to better infant outcomes. This study examined the utility of biometry for detecting alcohol‐related fetal growth impairment.Methods: We obtained fetal ultrasound measures from routine ultrasound examinations for 167 pregnant hazardous drinkers who were enrolled in a brief alcohol intervention study. The fetal measures for women who quit after learning of their pregnancies were compared with measures for women who continued some drinking throughout the course of their pregnancies. Because intensity of alcohol consumption is associated with poorer fetal outcomes, separate analyses were conducted for the heavy (average of ≥5 drinks per drinking day) alcohol consumers. Fetal measures from the heavy‐exposed fetuses were also compared with measures from a nondrinking group that was representative of normal, uncomplicated pregnancies from our clinics. Analyses of covariance were used to determine whether there were differences between groups after controlling for influences of gestational age and drug abuse.Results: Nearly half of the pregnant drinkers abstained after learning of their pregnancies. When women reportedly quit drinking early in their pregnancies, fetal growth measures were not significantly different from a non–alcohol‐exposed group, regardless of prior drinking patterns. Any alcohol consumption postpregnancy recognition among the heavy drinkers resulted in reduced cerebellar growth as well as decreased cranial to body growth in comparison with women who either quit drinking or who were nondrinkers. Amphetamine abuse was predictive of larger cranial to body growth ratios.Conclusions: Alterations in fetal biometric measurements were observed among the heavy drinkers only when they continued drinking after becoming aware of their pregnancies. Although the reliance on self‐reported drinking is a limitation in this study, these findings support the benefits of early abstinence and the potential for ultrasound examinations in the detection of fetal alcohol effects.
ICT and agricultural productivity: evidence from cross‐country data
Authors: Lio Monchi , Liu Meng‐Chun 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis article carries out agricultural production function estimations, based on data for the period 1995–2000 on 81 countries, to present empirical evidence on the relationship between the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) and agricultural productivity. It is found that new ICT has a significantly positive impact on agricultural productivity. The evidence suggests that the adoption of modern industrial inputs in agricultural production relies on the information and communication infrastructure. However, the empirical evidence from this study also suggests that new ICT could be a factor for the divergence between countries in terms of overall agricultural productivity. Not only do we find that the ICT adoption levels of the richer countries are much higher than those of the poorer countries, but also that returns from ICT in agricultural production of the richer countries are about two times higher than those of the poorer countries. A plausible explanation for the poorer countries' relatively low productivity elasticity of ICT is the lack of important complementary factors, such as a substantial base of human capital.
It is where you are that matters: the spatial determinants of rural poverty in India
Authors: Palmer‐Jones Richard , Sen Kunal 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe spatial patterns of poverty in India are of considerable importance in themselves and for development theory and practice. This article examines the determinants of rural poverty in India using spatial econometric methods. It finds that while agricultural growth is the key determinant of rural poverty declines, there is significant spatial dependence in the growth rates of agricultural output. Irrigation is the primary driver of agricultural growth, and spatial variations in irrigation development seem to be associated with agro‐ecological conditions which may be vastly different within Indian states, parts of which may be similar to those prevailing in geographically contiguous states. Poverty reduction strategies need to be designed in the light of spatial factors and using spatial methods.
Did Swift measure gamma-ray burst prompt emission radii?
Authors: Lyutikov M. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The Swift X-Ray Telescope often observes a rapidly decaying X-ray emission stretching to as long as t ∼ 103 s after a conventional prompt phase. This component is most likely due to a prompt emission viewed at large observer angles θ &gt; 1/Γ, where θ ∼ 0.1 is a typical viewing angle of the jet and Γ ⩾ 100 is the Lorentz factor of the flow during the prompt phase. This can be used to estimate the prompt emission radii, rem ⩾ 2t c/θ2 ∼ 6 × 1015 cm. These radii are much larger than is assumed within the framework of a fireball model. Such large emission radii can be reconciled with a fast variability, on time-scales as short as milliseconds, if the emission is beamed in the bulk outflow frame, e.g. because of a random relativistic motion of ‘fundamental emitters’. This may also offer a possible explanation for X-ray flares observed during early afterglows.
Is tennis a predisposing factor for degenerative shoulder disease? A controlled study in former elite players
Authors: Maquirriain J , Ghisi J P , Amato S 
Published: April 2006

Background:High demands imposed to the shoulder during tennis activity can decrease the efficiency of static and dynamic constraints. Subtle or frank instability of the glenohumeral joint may occur, and long term degenerative changes may be expected.Objective:To determine and compare the prevalence of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis in senior tennis players and matched controls.Study design:Cross sectional controlled study.Methods:18 asymptomatic senior tennis players were studied (17 male; mean (SD) age, 57.2 (8.8) years) with no history of shoulder surgery or major trauma. There were 18 matched controls. Radiographs were used to determine glenohumeral osteoarthritic changes: joint space narrowing, humeral and glenoid subchondral sclerosis, humeral and glenoid juxta-articular cysts, osteophytes, humeral and glenoid flattening, humeral posterior displacement and glenoid posterior erosion. Findings were classified as normal, minimal, moderate, or severe changes.Results:33% of the players (95% confidence interval (CI), 13% to 59%) had osteoarthritic changes in their dominant shoulder (n = 6; five with minimal changes, one with moderate changes), and 11% of the controls (95% CI, 1% to 34%) had articular degeneration on their dominant side (n = 2; both minimal changes) (p = 0.04, Wilcoxon test). The osteoarthritic group was significantly older than the players without degenerative changes (p = 0.008).Conclusions:The prevalence of glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the dominant shoulder was greater in former elite tennis players than in sedentary controls. Prolonged intensive tennis practice may be a predisposing factor for the development of mild degenerative articular changes in the dominant shoulder.
Tennis specific limitations in players with an ACL deficient knee: Table 1
Authors: Maquirriain J , Megey P J 
Published: April 2006

Background:Complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) causes significant alteration of knee joint kinematics. Untreated patients often develop joint instability, chronic articular degeneration, and knee dysfunction. Demands on the ACL produced by playing tennis have not been investigated.Objective:To identify subjective sport-specific limitations in tennis players with isolated unilateral ACL deficiency.Study design:Prospective case–control study.Methods:16 players (mean (SD) age, 39.9 (2.3) years; 14 men) with a chronic unilateral ACL deficient knee and 16 healthy controls (38.25 (8.47) years; 14 men) were recruited. ACL deficiency was confirmed by clinical and magnetic resonance imaging. A Lysholm score was obtained in all patients, together with subjective evaluation of their current tennis performance compared with pre-injury levels, applying a 0–100% visual scale. Both groups completed a questionnaire on tennis specific abilities.Results:Lysholm scores were: 85.6 (10.3) points in the study group and 100 (0) points in the control group (p<0.001,ttest for independent samples). Injured players evaluated their current tennis performance as 66.8 (15.2)% compared with 100% pre-injury level (p<0.005,ttest for dependent samples). Abilities affected in the ACL deficient group were landing after a smash stroke (p<0.001); stopping abruptly and changing (p<0.001); playing a three set singles match (p<0.05); and playing on a hard court surface (p<0.001, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test).Conclusions:There are specific limitations associated with complete isolated ACL rupture, including subjective tennis performance impairment, limitations landing after a smash, stopping and changing step direction, difficulties playing a three set singles match, and playing on hard court surfaces.
Exploration of biological network centralities with CentiBiN
Authors: Junker Björn H , Koschützki Dirk , Schreiber Falk 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The elucidation of whole-cell regulatory, metabolic, interaction and other biological networks generates the need for a meaningful ranking of network elements. Centrality analysis ranks network elements according to their importance within the network structure and different centrality measures focus on different importance concepts. Central elements of biological networks have been found to be, for example, essential for viability.

Results
CentiBiN (Cent ralities i n Bi ological N etworks) is a tool for the computation and exploration of centralities in biological networks such as protein-protein interaction networks. It computes 17 different centralities for directed or undirected networks, ranging from local measures, that is, measures that only consider the direct neighbourhood of a network element, to global measures. CentiBiN supports the exploration of the centrality distribution by visualising central elements within the network and provides several layout mechanisms for the automatic generation of graphical representations of a network. It supports different input formats, especially for biological networks, and the export of the computed centralities to other tools.

Conclusion
CentiBiN helps systems biology researchers to identify crucial elements of biological networks. CentiBiN including a user guide and example data sets is available free of charge at http://centibin.ipk-gatersleben.de/. CentiBiN is available in two different versions: a Java Web Start application and an installable Windows application.
Differential regulation of NF-κB activation and function by topoisomerase II inhibitors
Authors: Campbell Kirsteen J , O'Shea John M , Perkins Neil D 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
While many common chemotherapeutic drugs and other inducers of DNA-damage result in both NF-κB nuclear translocation and DNA-binding, we have previously observed that, depending on the precise stimulus, there is great diversity of the function of NF-κB. In particular, we found that treatment of U-2 OS osteosarcoma cells with the anthracycine daunorubicin or with ultraviolet (UV-C) light resulted in a form of NF-κB that repressed rather than induced NF-κB reporter plasmids and the expression of specific anti-apoptotic genes. Anthracyclines such as daunorubicin can induce DNA-damage though inhibiting topoisomerase II, intercalating with DNA and undergoing redox cycling to produce oxygen free radicals. In this study we have investigated other anthracyclines, doxorubicin and aclarubicin, as well as the anthracenedione mitoxantrone together with the topoisomerase II inhibitor ICRF-193, which all possess differing characteristics, to determine which of these features is specifically required to induce both NF-κB DNA-binding and transcriptional repression in U-2 OS cells.

Results
The use of mitoxantrone, which does not undergo redox cycling, and the reducing agent epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) demonstrated that oxygen free radical production is not required for induction of NF-κB DNA-binding and transcriptional repression by these agents and UV-C. In addition, the use of aclarubicin, which does not directly inhibit topoisomerase II and ICRF-193, which inhibits topoisomerase II but does not intercalate into DNA, demonstrated that topoisomerase II inhibition is not sufficient to induce the repressor form of NF-κB.

Conclusion
Induction of NF-κB DNA-binding and transcriptional repression by topoisomerase II inhibitors was found to correlate with an ability to intercalate into DNA. Although data from our and other laboratories indicates that topoisomerase II inhibition and oxygen free radicals do regulate NF-κB, they are not required for the particular ability of NF-κB to repress rather than activate transcription. Together with our previous data, these results demonstrate that the nature of the NF-κB response is context dependent. In a clinical setting such effects could profoundly influence the response to chemotherapy and suggest that new methods of analyzing NF-κB function could have both diagnostic and prognostic value.
Prevention of coronary heart disease in people with severe mental illnesses: a qualitative study of patient and professionals' preferences for care
Authors: Wright Christine A , Osborn David PJ , Nazareth Irwin , King Michael B 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
People with severe mental illness (SMI) are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and there is growing emphasis on the need to monitor their physical health. However, there is little consensus on how services for the primary prevention of CHD should be organised for this patient group. We explored the views of people with SMI and health professionals from primary care and community mental health teams (CMHTs) on how best to provide these services.

Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients with SMI (n = 31) and staff from primary care (n = 10) and community mental health teams (n = 25) in North Central London. Transcripts of the qualitative interviews were analysed using a 'framework' approach to identify the main themes in opinions regarding various service models.

Results
Cardiovascular risk factors in people with SMI were of concern to participants. However, there was some disagreement about the best way to deliver appropriate care. Although staff felt that primary care should take responsibility for risk factor screening and management, patients favoured CHD screening in their CMHT. Problems with both approaches were identified. These included a lack of familiarity in general practice with SMI and antipsychotic side effects and poor communication of physical health issues to the CMHT. Lack of knowledge regarding CHD risk factor screening and difficulties in interpreting screening results and implementing appropriate interventions exist in secondary care.

Conclusion
Management of physical health care for people with SMI requires complex solutions that cross the primary-secondary care interface. The views expressed by our participants suggest that neither primary nor secondary care services on their own can provide a comprehensive service for all patients. The increased risk of CHD associated with SMI and antipsychotic medications requires flexible solutions with clear lines of responsibility for assessing, communicating and managing CHD risks.
Recomposition and Retransition in Beethoven's String Quintet, op. 4
Authors: BURSTEIN L. POUNDIE 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT
In revising his Wind Octet, op. 103, into his String Quintet, op. 4, Beethoven substantially altered the retransition to the main thematic return in each of the movements. The various retransitions of op. 4 are refashioned so as to become points of structural focus as well as of poetic expression. Throughout his career, Beethoven would continue to revisit strategies seen in op. 4's revised retransitions, including not only their specific aspects (such as the use of E♭/E♮ conflicts as a means of problematizing a return to the main key) but also more generally through his highlighting of the contrast between control and disruption at these critical formal junctures. Accordingly, the revised re-transitions of op. 4 suggest a new stage in the development not only of Beethoven's compositional technique but also of his artistic outlook.
Architecture and Music Reunited: A New Reading of Dufay's Nuper Rosarum Flores and the Cathedral of Florence
Authors: Trachtenberg Marvin 
Published: April 2006

The proportions of the voices are harmonies for the ears; those of the measurements are harmonies for the eyes. Such harmonies usually please very much, without anyone knowing why, excepting the student of the causality of things.—Palladio(1567)The chiasmatic themes of architecture as frozen music and music as singing the architecture of the world run as leitmotifs through the histories of philosophy, music, and architecture. Rarely, however, can historical intersections of these practices he identified. This study proposes a transient nexus of architecture, sacred music, and theology in early modern Florence.
Periodical Peace Conferences
Authors: Sillac M. Jarousse de 
Published: April 2006

“ The law of nations is naturally based upon the principle that different nations in time of peace shall do each other the most good and in time of war the least evil possible.” — Montesquieu, Esprit des Lois, iii. I.When Count Mouravieff, at the order of the Emperor of Russia, convoked the first peace conference by the circular of the 12th/24th August, 1898, hardly any one foresaw the importance which this first move was to take, which seemed then in the opinion of the writer Mommsen like “ a printer’s error in the history of the world.”In order to realize the extent of the development to which coming periodical peace conferences are destined it is sufficient to examine the facts of yesterday and the road already traversed.The object of the first Russian project was very limited; its purpose was to call together a certain number of Powers to study the possibility of “ putting a limit ” on armament for the purpose of diminishing the financial burdens of the states, but the exchanges of opinion which preceded the assembly of these “ disarmament conferences ” having shown that the chances of success were very feeble, a second circular by Mouravieff (January 11, 1899) extended the first program by attaching thereto particularly “the possibility of preventing armed conflicts by pacific means ” and the reduction of “ the laws and customs of war ” to a system of rules. These two new subjects changed the character of the assembly, the title of which even was modified. It was called thenceforth the “ Peace Conference.” And, in fact, the conference in obedience to the very force of things soon completed the transformation of accession to principle, subordinated the premature question of disarmament, and applied its efforts towards justifying its title by concentrating all its force on the matter of pacific adjustment of international conflicts.