bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
EXTRACELLULAR SIGNAL‐REGULATED KINASE PATHWAYS MAY MEDIATE THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS AGAINST ISCHAEMIA–REPERFUSION INJURY OF THE GASTRIC MUCOSA
Authors: Zhang Yong‐Mei , Wei Er‐Qing , Li Li , Qiao Wei‐Li , Wang Lin , Zhang Jian‐Fu 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARY

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in mediating the effects of electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on apoptosis and proliferation induced by gastric ischaemia–reperfusion injury (GI/RI).
To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic PVN on gastric mucosal apoptosis and proliferation in response to ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R), we used a GI/RI model by clamping the coeliac artery for 30 min and then reperfusing the artery for 30 min or 1, 3 or 6 h. We used immunohistochemistry and western blotting to investigate the expression, activation and distribution of ERKs and the dynamic changes in their downstream cellular factors Bcl‐2 and Bax at different times subsequent to electrical stimulation of the PVN in the I/R‐injured gastric mucosa.
Electrical stimulation of the PVN markedly attenuated GI/RI at 30 min and 1 and 3 h after reperfusion. Electrical stimulation decreased gastric mucosal apoptosis, increased gastric mucosal proliferation and promoted the expression and activation of phosphorylated (p)‐ERK1/2 30 min after reperfusion. Electrical stimulation increased the expression of Bcl‐2 and decreased the expression of Bax at 30 min and 1 and 3 h after reperfusion. In contrast, inhibition of ERK1/2 activity by the specific upstream mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 produced similar effects at 1 h after reperfusion in rats subjected to I/R with or without electrical stimulation of the PVN. Administration of PD98059 aggravated gastric mucosal injury, increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation in gastric mucosal cells, decreased the expression and activity of p‐ERK1/2 and Bcl‐2 expression and increased Bax expression.
These results indicate that the PVN protects against GI/RI and that this protection is associated with the inhibition of cellular apoptosis and the promotion of proliferation in the gastric mucosa, probably by activating the ERK pathway.
Learning overhypotheses with hierarchical Bayesian models
Authors: Kemp Charles , Perfors Andrew , Tenenbaum Joshua B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractInductive learning is impossible without overhypotheses, or constraints on the hypotheses considered by the learner. Some of these overhypotheses must be innate, but we suggest that hierarchical Bayesian models can help to explain how the rest are acquired. To illustrate this claim, we develop models that acquire two kinds of overhypotheses – overhypotheses about feature variability (e.g. the shape bias in word learning) and overhypotheses about the grouping of categories into ontological kinds like objects and substances.
Preschool children learn about causal structure from conditional interventions
Authors: Schulz Laura E. , Gopnik Alison , Glymour Clark 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe conditional intervention principle is a formal principle that relates patterns of interventions and outcomes to causal structure. It is a central assumption of experimental design and the causal Bayes net formalism. Two studies suggest that preschoolers can use the conditional intervention principle to distinguish causal chains, common cause and interactive causal structures even in the absence of differential spatiotemporal cues and specific mechanism knowledge. Children were also able to use knowledge of causal structure to predict the patterns of evidence that would result from interventions. A third study suggests that children's spontaneous play can generate evidence that would support such accurate causal learning.
Sensitivity to sampling in Bayesian word learning
Authors: Xu Fei , Tenenbaum Joshua B. 
Published: April 2007

Abstract We report a new study testing our proposal that word learning may be best explained as an approximate form of Bayesian inference (Xu & Tenenbaum, in press). Children are capable of learning word meanings across a wide range of communicative contexts. In different contexts, learners may encounter different sampling processes generating the examples of word–object pairings they observe. An ideal Bayesian word learner could take into account these differences in the sampling process and adjust his/her inferences about word meaning accordingly. We tested how children and adults learned words for novel object kinds in two sampling contexts, in which the objects to be labeled were sampled either by a knowledgeable teacher or by the learners themselves. Both adults and children generalized more conservatively in the former context; that is, they restricted the label to just those objects most similar to the labeled examples when the exemplars were chosen by a knowledgeable teacher, but not when chosen by the learners themselves. We discuss how this result follows naturally from a Bayesian analysis, but not from other statistical approaches such as associative word‐learning models.
Story contexts increase susceptibility to the DRM illusion in 5‐year‐olds
Authors: Dewhurst Stephen A. , Pursglove Rhian C. , Lewis Charlie 
Published: April 2007

Abstract False recognition in children aged 5, 8, and 11 years was investigated using the standard version of the Deese‐Roediger‐McDermott (DRM) procedure and an alternative version in which the DRM stimuli were embedded in stories designed to emphasize their overall theme. Relative to the 8‐ and 11‐year‐olds, the 5‐year‐olds falsely recognized fewer critical lures when the DRM stimuli were presented in lists, but falsely recognized more critical lures when the stimuli were presented in stories. Levels of false recognition in the 8‐ and 11‐year‐olds were not affected by study format. We argue that the story context enhanced the ability of the 5‐year‐olds to make inferences based on the theme of the DRM stimuli. The 5‐year‐olds then showed higher levels of false recognition than the older children owing to their inability to reject lure words consistent with the stories.
Writing texts with Radical Change characteristics
Authors: Pantaleo Sylvia 
Published: April 2007

AbstractResearch has revealed how students draw upon other texts when writing their own texts. This article explores how the writing of Alyssa, a 10‐year‐old Grade 5 student, was influenced by her engagement with literature with Radical Change characteristics, as well as by her knowledge of and experience with other texts. Dresang's Radical Change taxonomy is used as a framework for analysing the storybook created by Alyssa. The article concludes with discussions of the intertextual nature of the literature used in the study, and the social nature of intertextuality in the research classroom.
“Busting with blood and gore and full of passion”: the impact of an oral retelling of theIliadin the primary classroom
Authors: Reedy David , Lister Bob 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper describes the impact of an oral retelling of Homer'sIliadon pupils' learning in Key Stage 2 classrooms (children aged 9–11) in schools in East London. We argue that the oral nature of the retelling and responses promoted high levels of engagement and inclusion, leading to enhanced understanding by the pupils. The use of a complex and emotionally powerful text also encouraged a changing of the nature of the discourse between teachers and pupils. Finally we argue for the use of texts like theIliadas an integral part of the literacy curriculum.
Handwriting: what do we know and what do we need to know?
Authors: Medwell Jane , Wray David 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHandwriting has a low status and profile in literacy education in England and in recent years has attracted little attention from teachers, policy‐makers or researchers into mainstream educational processes. This article identifies a substantial programme of research into handwriting, including studies located in the domains of special needs education and psychology, suggesting that it is time to re‐evaluate the importance of handwriting in the teaching of literacy. Explorations of the way handwriting affects composing have opened up new avenues for research, screening and intervention, which have the potential to make a significant contribution to children's progress in learning to write. In particular, the role of orthographic motor integration and automaticity in handwriting is now seen as of key importance in composing. Evidence from existing studies suggests that handwriting intervention programmes may have a real impact on the composing skills of young writers. In particular, they could positively affect the progress of the many boys who struggle with writing throughout the primary school years.
Synthetic phonics and the teaching of reading: the debate surrounding England's ‘Rose Report’
Authors: Wyse Dominic , Styles Morag 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe Rose Report, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Education for England, recommended in March 2006 that early reading instruction must include synthetic phonics. This paper evaluates the extent to which research evidence supports this recommendation. In particular, a review of international research into the teaching of early reading shows that the Rose Report's main recommendation on synthetic phonics contradicts the powerful body of evidence accumulated over the last 30 years. In this paper it is argued that action already taken by the UK government to change the National Curriculum in line with the Rose Report's recommendations represents a change in pedagogy not justified by research.
Suburbanisation, Mobility and the ‘Good Life in the Country’: A Lifestyle Approach to the Sociology of Urban Sprawl in Germany
Authors: Jetzkowitz Jens , Schneider Jörg , Brunzel Stefan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIt seems to be almost a law of nature that cities are expanding into their hinterlands and that networks of low density settlements are forming along transport routes. What is driving this process? Who is settling in the urban sprawl, and why? These questions are explored in the following article. In the suburbanised region to the north of Frankfurt am Main in Germany, a total of 1359 households in 67 locations were investigated with respect to their lifestyles and mobility habits. The results show that the spread of urban sprawl is not due to the living preferences of the general populace. The assumption can be made that elements of the common societal structure, such as the financing structure of communities and municipalities, promote the urban sprawl in Germany. Furthermore, the usefulness of the lifestyle approach is discussed.
ARE LONG‐RUN PRICE STABILITY AND SHORT‐RUN OUTPUT STABILIZATION ALL THAT MONETARY POLICY CAN AIM FOR?
Authors: Fontana Giuseppe , Palacio‐Vera Alfonso 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTA central tenet of the so‐called new consensus view in macroeconomics is that there is no long‐run trade‐off between inflation and unemployment. The main policy implication of this principle is that all monetary policy can aim for is (modest) short‐run output stabilization and long‐run price stability, i.e. monetary policy is neutral with respect to output and employment in the long run. However, research on the different sources of path dependency in the economy suggests that persistent but nevertheless transitory changes in aggregate demand may have a permanent effect on output and employment. If this is the case, then, the way monetary policy is run does have long‐run effects on real variables. This paper provides an overview of this research and explores conceptually how monetary policy should be implemented once these long‐run effects are acknowledged.
EVOLUTION IN IMPERFECT COMMITMENT BARGAINING—STRATEGIC VERSUS IGNORANT TYPES
Authors: Fischer Sven , Güth Werner , Pull Kerstin 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTTo commit in bargaining is crucial: in the ultimatum game with its one‐sided commitment power the ‘proposer’ (almost) receives the whole pie while the ‘responder’ is left with (almost) nothing. When bargaining parties commit simultaneously the symmetric Nash (Econometrica, 1950, vol. 18, pp. 155–162) bargaining solution predicts equal shares. Continuously connecting these two games yields a one‐parameter family of games (Fischer et al., Experimental Economics, 2006, vol. 9, pp. 17–33) for which we distinguish two behavioral dispositions, namely (1) neglecting commitment power and (2) reacting to it strategically. Their pay‐off implications define the evolutionary set‐up for which we derive the evolutionarily stable behavioral disposition. Our analysis sheds light on the hypothesis that in experiments participants neglect strategic aspects such as commitment power.
Use of nonparametric statistical tests in defining the number of periods to include in an intertemporal DEA analysis
Authors: Sowlati Taraneh 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn any type of intertemporal efficiency analyses either locally or globally, units in different periods are compared against each other, and therefore it is assumed that no frontier shift exists within the periods of study. This assumption extends in window analysis to each window. In almost all studies in the past, the number of periods included in an intertemporal data envelopment analysis or the width of a window in a window analysis is determined without validating this assumption analytically. This is a problem which has not been fully addressed in the literature. This paper presents a new approach using nonparametric statistical tests to examine a frontier shift and determine the number of periods to include in an intertemporal analysis. The case of sawmills in Vancouver, Canada is used to demonstrate how to apply this new approach.
Flash flooding in Spain: geomorphological approaches supporting flood frequency analysis, and the implications for the design of structures
Authors: López‐Avilés Alma 
Published: April 2007

AbstractConventional methods for the estimation of flood frequency are generally based on the statistical analysis of data series resulting from the measurement of water levels at specific locations, which are translated into discharges (m3/s) using standard stage/discharge relationships. Subsequently, these gauged flows are used to identify the largest flood event experienced by a river or catchment, and to produce growth curves used in the estimation of the return periods of specific flood events, as well as in the calculation of discharges for specific required design events (e.g. return period 1 in 100 year). In areas where gauging data records are scarce, and/or the data series are short or interrupted, geomorphological interpretation of the physical environment, dating of fluvial deposits and flooding episodes and hydraulic reconstruction of past flood events can be used as complementary tools aiding conventional hydrological and flood frequency analysis methods. This paper will discuss the undertaking of this approach in the Guadalope Catchment in northeast Spain. It will examine the findings in relation to the inadequate design of existing structures such as dams, spillways, canals and reservoirs, and will also look at the potential risks associated with flooding at present.
Why did China Benefit from a Joint Venture Policy? A Case Study of Shanghai
Authors: Bishop Bernard 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMandatory joint venture requirements have played an important role in many developing countries’ foreign investment policies. However, such policies have been criticized in some of the economic literatures on the grounds that they deter investment and lead to the development of inefficient industries. A significant amount of foreign direct investment in Shanghai has been in the form of joint ventures. Yet, by many measures, Shanghai has benefited enormously. This article argues that there are three reasons to explain Shanghai's successful use of the joint venture for its industrial development. First, local firms and industries have had the capability and willingness to learn from joint ventures and other foreign invested firms. Second, the joint venture policy has been more likely than not to have “crowded in” local investment rather than crowd it out. Third, investment authorities in Shanghai have had sufficient bureaucratic capacity and political insulation to prevent the joint venture policy from being manipulated by rent seekers.
Developing Language Awareness Materials for Nonlinguists: Lessons Learned from the Do You Speak American? Curriculum Development Project
Authors: Reaser Jeffrey , Adger Carolyn 
Published: April 2007

AbstractCurrent work in linguistics is not well represented in the school curriculum in the USA, partly because of a mismatch with traditional foci in the K‐12 (kindergarten through twelfth grade) standard course of studies and because there are very few materials for teaching about the nature of language and language variation. This article sketches the process of developing curricular materials to accompany the 3‐hour video documentary, Do You Speak American? and suggests some of the decisions that must be made in developing materials for educational settings concerning scientific knowledge about language.
Diabetes mellitus reduces the therapeutic effectiveness of interferon‐α2b plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Konishi Ichiro , Horiike Norio , Hiasa Yoichi , Tokumoto Yoshio , Mashiba Toshie , Michitaka Kojiro , Miyake Yasuyuki , Nonaka Suguru , Joukou Kouji , Matsuura Bunzo , Onji Morikazu 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) often have diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is unknown whether DM affects patient response to interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of DM on the outcome of IFN‐α2b plus ribavirin therapy.Methods:  In a cohort of 110 patients with CHC, the outcome of 6 months of IFN‐α2b plus ribavirin therapy was evaluated by comparing the patients with and without DM.Results:  There were 46 sustained‐responders; 64 patients did not become sustained responders. Higher age (P = 0.015), lower platelet counts (P = 0.036), hepatitis C virus (HCV) serotype 1 (P = 0.001), advanced liver fibrosis (P = 0.004), and the presence of DM (P = 0.007) were significantly associated with not becoming a sustained‐responder. Seventeen CHC (15%) patients had DM. Sex ratio, age, body mass index, alanine aminotransferase levels, HCV‐RNA titer, and HCV serotypes did not significantly differ between the patients with and without DM, while fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c and liver histological staging were significantly different. On multiple logistic regression analysis, HCV serotype 1 (odds ratio 8.743, 95% confidence interval 2.215–34.517; P = 0.002) and the presence of DM (odds ratio 8.657, 95% confidence interval 1.462–51.276; P = 0.014) were independently associated with not becoming a sustained‐responder.Conclusions:  The findings indicate that DM reduces the response to IFN‐α2b plus ribavirin therapy in CHC patients.
Hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in Myanmar: Predominance of genotype 6 and existence of new genotype 6 subtype
Authors: Lwin Aye Aye , Shinji Toshiyuki , Khin Myo , Win Ne , Obika Mikako , Okada Shigeru , Koide Norio 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  This study was performed to determine the prevalence and distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Myanmar.Methods:  A total of 1333 peripheral blood samples were collected from four different border cities of Myanmar. The anti‐HCV antibody‐positive serum samples were identified. HCV was genotyped by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, direct DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis on the partial core genome.Results:  The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 11.6% (154/1333). Regionally, it was 13.5% (47/349) in the north‐eastern city, 12.8% (64/501) in the north‐western city, 4.2% (16/380) in the southern city and 26.2% (27/103) in the western city. HCV was genotyped in 145/154 (94.2%) samples. Genotype 6 was the most prevalent genotype in this study (71/145, 49%), followed by genotype 3 (57/145, 39.3%), genotype 1 (16/145, 11%), and genotype 2 (1/145, 0.7%). Genotype 6 was mostly found in the northern cities and genotype 3 in the southern and western cities of Myanmar. Multiple HCV genotypes/subtypes were successfully characterized as 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 6m, 6n, and a new 6 subtype. Among them, subtype 6n was the most predominant subtype (38.6%), followed by subtype 3b (29.7%), 3a (9.6%), 6m (9%), 1b (6.9%), 1a (4.1%), new 6 subtype (1.4%) and 2a (0.7%). Subtype 6n was more widely distributed in the northern cities whereas subtype 3b was more common in the western city. The newly discovered genotype 6 subtype was from the northern cities.Conclusions:  The results indicate there are regional differences of HCV genotype distribution in Myanmar. There is a distinct geographic variation from other South‐East Asian countries in terms of the existence of the new genotype 6 subtype.
Isoniazid Induces Its Own Resistance in Nonreplicating
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Siddiqi Salman , Takhar Param , Baldeviano Christian , Glover William , Zhang Ying 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Isoniazid (INH) resistance is most frequent among drug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
clinical isolates. This study was conducted to investigate whether INH could induce its own resistance. During INH susceptibility testing in BACTEC 12B and MGIT 960 media, weekly subcultures were made from the drug-containing media into fresh medium without drug and susceptibility testing was performed. Rifampin (RIF) was used as a control drug.
M. tuberculosis
H37Rv and three clinical isolates were tested in this study. INH-resistant subcultures were analyzed for catalase activity, INH susceptibility, and mutations associated with INH resistance. With inoculum size (10
4
bacilli) smaller than a size that contains spontaneously INH-resistant mutants, INH was found to induce resistance to itself in INH-tolerant persisters but not to other drugs. The minimum time required for induction of INH resistance was 5 to 6 days. In contrast, RIF did not induce RIF resistance. Eight subcultures with INH-induced resistance were analyzed, and two had a MIC of 0.4 μg/ml INH and six had MICs of over 2 μg/ml INH. Four of the eight subcultures with INH-induced resistance had lost catalase activity, with three having
katG
mutations. Despite being a powerful frontline tuberculosis drug, INH has the potential drawback of inducing its own stable genetic resistance in INH-tolerant persisters. This finding helps to explain the higher frequency and prevalence of INH-resistant isolates than isolates with resistance to other drugs in patients.
Antiplasmodial Activity of Aryltetralone Lignans from
Holostylis reniformis
Authors: de Andrade-Neto Valter F. , da Silva Tito , Lopes Lucia M. Xavier , do Rosário Virgílio E. , de Pilla Varotti Fernando , Krettli Antoniana U. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Extracts from
Holostylis reniformis
were tested in vivo against
Plasmodium berghei
and in vitro against a chloroquine-resistant strain of
Plasmodium falciparum
. The hexane extract of the roots was the most active, causing 67% reduction of parasitemia in vivo. From this extract, six lignans, including a new (7′
R
,8
S
,8′
S
)-3′,4′-methylenedioxy-4,5-dimethoxy-2,7′-cyclolignan-7-one, were isolated and tested in vitro against
P. falciparum.
The three most active lignans showed 50% inhibitor concentrations of ≤0.32 μM. An evaluation of minimum lethal dose (30%) values showed low toxicity for these lignans in a hepatic cell line (Hep G2A16). Therefore, these compounds are potential candidates for the development of antimalarial drugs.