bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Light microscopy and computer three‐dimensional reconstruction of the blood capillaries of the enamel organ of rat molar tooth germs
Authors: Cerri Paulo Sérgio , De Faria Flávio Paulo , Villa Ricardo Gazoni , Katchburian Eduardo 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe performed a light microscope and a computer three‐dimensional reconstruction study of serial sections of the molar enamel organ of 3‐ and 5‐day‐old rats perfused with Indian ink through the arterial system. The tooth germs were fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. For the three‐dimensional reconstruction, light micrographs of the serial sections were digitized, and aligned using the serial EM Align software downloaded from http://synapses.bu.edu/tools/. After alignment, the boundaries of the India‐ink‐filled blood vessels were manually traced with a mouse using the software IGL trace (version 1.26b), also downloaded from the above website. After tracing, a three‐dimensional representation of the blood vessel contours was generated in a VRML format and visualized with the help of the software Cortona Web3D viewer (version 4.0) downloaded from http://www.parallelgraphics.com/products/cortona/. Our results showed that in regions where ameloblasts are polarized the capillaries are arranged in three distinct levels: (1) penetrating and leaving capillaries in relation to the outer enamel epithelium; (2) capillaries crossing and branching inside the stellate reticulum; and (3) capillaries branching and anastomosing profusely within the stratum intermedium, thereby forming an extensive capillary plexus intimately associated with the cells of the stratum intermedium. The existence of a conspicuous capillary plexus intermingled with cells of the stratum intermedium, as shown in our results, suggests that some molecules produced by cells of the stratum intermedium could be released into the capillary plexus and thereafter carried to the dental follicle.
Aromatase immunolocalization in human ductuli efferentes and proximal ductus epididymis
Authors: Carpino A. , Romeo F. , Rago V. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractCytochrome P450 aromatase is a terminal enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens into oestrogens. This study investigated the immunohistochemical localization of aromatase in human efferent ductules and proximal ductus epididymis using a mouse anti‐human monoclonal P450arom IgG as primary antibody and a goat anti‐mouse biotinylated IgG as secondary antibody. A strong immunoreaction was observed in the epithelial cell cytoplasm of both ductuli efferentes and proximal ductus epididymis, whereas the smooth muscle cells were immunonegative in the two regions. The results show, for the first time in humans, that epithelial cells of ductuli efferentes and proximal caput epididymis express aromatase, suggesting that locally produced oestrogens may have a role in epididymal function.
The Chinese Visible Human (CVH) datasets incorporate technical and imaging advances on earlier digital humans
Authors: Zhang Shao‐Xiang , Heng Pheng‐Ann , Liu Zheng‐Jin , Tan Li‐Wen , Qiu Ming‐Guo , Li Qi‐Yu , Liao Rong‐Xia , Li Kai , Cui Gao‐Yu , Guo Yan‐Li , Yang Xiao‐Ping , Liu Guang‐Jiu , Shan Jing‐Lu , Liu Ji‐Jun , Zhang Wei‐Guo , Chen Xian‐Hong , Chen Jin‐Hua , Wang Jian , Chen Wei , Lu Ming , You Jian , Pang Xue‐Li , Xiao Hong , Xie Yong‐Ming , Cheng Jack Chun‐Yiu 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe report the availability of a digitized Chinese male and a digitzed Chinese female typical of the population and with no obvious abnormalities. The embalming and milling procedures incorporate three technical improvements over earlier digitized cadavers. Vascular perfusion with coloured gelatin was performed to facilitate blood vessel identification. Embalmed cadavers were embedded in gelatin and cryosectioned whole so as to avoid section loss resulting from cutting the body into smaller pieces. Milling performed at −25 °C prevented small structures (e.g. teeth, concha nasalis and articular cartilage) from falling off from the milling surface. The male image set (.tiff images each of 36 Mb) has a section resolution of 3072 × 2048 pixels (∼170 µm, the accompanying magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography data have a resolution of 512 × 512, i.e. ∼440 µm). The Chinese Visible Human male and female datasets are available at http://www.chinesevisiblehuman.com. (The male is 90.65 Gb and female 131.04 Gb). MPEG videos of direct records of real‐time volume rendering are at: http://www.cse.cuhk.edu.hk/~crc
How has a shortage of census and geological information impeded the regularization of artisanal and small‐scale mining?
Authors: Hilson Gavin , Maponga Oliver 
Published: February 2004

Abstract There is growing consensus that a combination of laissez‐faire policies, ad hoc regulation and debilitating support services has perpetuated socio‐economic and environmental deterioration in the artisanal and small‐scale mining (ASM) industry. However, a lack of anthropological and geological information on ASM prevents many governments both from improving the policy environment of the industry, and from providing more robust extension services to its operators. This article aims to examine more precisely how a deficiency of baseline census and geological data has inhibited industry formalization and undermined many of the measures implemented to address pressing problems at ASM sites. Specifically, it is argued that insufficient knowledge of artisanal mining populations — including their demographic structure — and of areas suitable for ASM activities affects the ability of a government to regularize, as well as to improve, the organization of this largely informal sector of industry. Case studies of Ghana and Zimbabwe are used to illustrate how the undertaking of low‐budget projects in areas of geological prospecting and population analysis could improve the efficiency of ASM assistance.
The Transformation of Urban Political Leadership in Western Europe
Authors: Borraz Olivier , John Peter 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThis overview article sets out the broad themes behind the transformation of local political leadership, in particular the forces that have led to the introduction of stronger forms of local executive, such as directly elected mayors. After setting out the role of local political leadership in traditional local government and different traditions and patterns across Western Europe, the article sets out the likely factors driving the changes toward a stronger form of leadership in the more complex pattern of governing described as local governance: complex networks, the ‘new political culture’, Europeanization of public policy and institutional mimetism. The article observes that the articles in this symposium do not fully confirm these hypotheses, showing the complexity of the responses and the different contexts across Western Europe. The concluding sections draw together the implications of the stronger forms of local executive for the current practice and functioning of local politics and policy‐making: the legitimacy crisis that may have emerged from more autonomous political leaders, which combines with the decline in the conventional measures of local political participation; the lack of complementary institutional resources to assist the performance of the enhanced executive function; and the emergence of a new north‐south divide in governing styles.Cet article général expose les grands thèmes qui sous‐tendent la transformation de l'autorité politique locale, notamment les forces qui ont conduit à l'introduction de formes d'exécutif local plus puissantes, comme l'élection des maires au suffrage direct. Après avoir expliqué le rôle d'une autorité politique locale dans un contexte classique et selon plusieurs traditions ou modèles d'Europe occidentale, l'étude s'intéresse aux facteurs susceptibles de tendre vers une forme plus forte d'autorité dans le cadre pluscompliqué d'une gouvernance locale intégrant réseaux complexes, ‘nouvelle culture politique’, européanisation des politiques publiques et mimétisme institutionnel. Les articles proposés pour ce symposium ne confirment pas totalement ces hypothèses, révélant la sophistication des réponses et la multiplicité des contextes européens. La conclusion déduit ce qu'implique le renforcement de l'exécutif local dans la pratique et le fonctionnement actuels de la politique et du processus décisionnel locaux: crise de légitimité, éventuellement née de leaders politiques plus autonomes, combinée au déclin des dispositifs classiques de participation locale; manque de ressources institutionnelles complémentaires qui faciliteraient la mise en œuvre de la nouvelle fonction exécutive; émergence d'une scission nord‐sud dans les styles de gouvernement.
Rings of Steel, Rings of Concrete and Rings of Confidence: Designing out Terrorism in Central London pre and post September 11th
Authors: Coaffee Jon 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThis article is a reaction to the rapid changes many urban areas are undertaking in attempts to counter the contemporary terrorist threat since the devastating events of September 11th. The response of central London authorities both pre‐ and post‐ September 11th is used as the lens through which to view attempts to reduce the real and perceived threat of terrorist attack through the adoption of territorial approaches to security, both physical and technological, which are increasingly being utilized at ever‐expanding spatial scales. It argues that this situation all too often produces a scenario of ‘splintered urbanism’ as security rings are thrown up around carefully selected sections of cities deemed most at risk. It further argues for a balance to be struck between competing concerns for freedom of access, mobility and other democratic freedoms, and the need for cities to adopt increasingly militarized security perspectives in their counter‐terrorism efforts.Cet article présente une réaction aux rapides changements que de nombreuses zones urbaines entreprennent afin de contrer la menace terroriste actuelle depuis les ravages du 11 septembre. La réponse des autorités du centre de Londres, à la fois avant et après cette date, sert ainsi de loupe permettant d'observer les efforts de minimisation de cette menace d'agression, tant subjective que réelle. Il s'agit de démarches territoriales à l'égard de la sécurité (matérielle et technologique) appliquées de plus en plus souvent à des échelles spatiales sans cesse élargies. De cette situation, naît trop souvent un scénario ‘d'urbanisme fragmenté’, les anneaux de sécuritéétant jetés autour de portions soigneusement sélectionnées de villes jugées le plus en danger. L'article défend la nécessité de trouver un équilibre entre les préoccupations opposées que sont les liberté d'accès, mobilité ou autres libertés démocratiques et le besoin des villes d'adopter des perspectives sécuritaires de plus en plus militarisées dans leurs tentatives contre le terrorisme.
Determinants of interregional mobility in Russia
Authors: Andrienko Yuri , Guriev Sergei 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThe paper studies the determinants of internal migration in Russia. Using panel data on gross region‐to‐region migration flows in 1992–99, we estimate the effect of economic, political and social factors. Although overall migration is rather low, it turns out that its intensity does depend on economic factors even controlling for fixed effects for each origin–destination pair. People move from poorer and job scarce regions with worse public good provision to those which are richer and prospering better both in terms of employment prospects and public goods. Migration is, however, constrained by the lack of liquidity; for the poorest regions, an increase in income raises rather than decreases outmigration. Our estimates imply that up to a third of Russian regions are locked in poverty traps.
Patching up the Pact
Authors: Buiter Willem H. , Grafe Clemens 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThe paper considers the implications for the EU accession candidates of Central and Eastern Europe of the fiscal‐financial constraints imposed by the Stability and Growth Pact and the Maastricht Treaty. Our findings apply also to those current EU members whose initial conditions (e.g., infrastructure and progress in state pension reform) or other structural characteristics (e.g., demographic structure, growth potential, Balassa‐Samuelson equilibrium real exchange rate appreciation) differ significantly from the EU average. We find the existing criteria to be seriously flawed and propose an alternative rule, the Permanent Balance Rule, based on a strong form of tax smoothing.
Spontaneous (non)emergence of property rights
Authors: Polishchuk Leonid , Savvateev Alexei 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThe paper analyses preferences of private owners over the degree of property rights protection. It is shown that inequality in resource ownership and/or relative inefficiency of production technologies could make wealthier agents favour less than full protection of property rights. If such agents control the choice of a property rights regime, fully secured property rights will not emerge from the grassroots. This conclusion is consistent with the failure to create an efficient property rights system in Russia.
Passive protection with immunoglobulin A antibodies against tuberculous early infection of the lungs
Authors: Williams Ann , Reljic Rajko , Naylor Irene , Clark Simon O. , Falero‐Diaz Gustavo , Singh Mahavir , Challacombe Stephen , Marsh Philip D. , Ivanyi Juraj 
Published: February 2004

SummaryWe report on a new approach toward protection against tuberculosis, based on passive inoculation with immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies. In a mouse model of tuberculous lung infection, intranasal inoculations of mice with an IgA monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the α‐crystallin antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis reduced up to 10‐fold the lung bacterial counts at nine days after either aerosol‐ or intranasal challenge. This effect involved synergism between mAb inoculations shortly before and 3 days after infection. Monomeric IgA reduced the colony‐forming unit counts to the same extent as the polymeric IgA, suggesting antibody targeting to Fcα, rather than poly‐immunoglobulin receptors on infected lung macrophages. The protective effect was of short duration, presumably due to the rapid degradation of the intranasally applied IgA. Our results provide evidence of an alternative approach which could be further developed toward immunoprophylaxis against tuberculosis in immunocompromised subjects.
Platelets as an innate defence mechanism against Schistosoma mansoni infections in mice
Authors: Stanley Ronald G. , Ngaiza Justinian R. , Wambayi Edith , Lewis Jennifer , Doenhoff Michael J. 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYThe interaction between Schistosoma mansoni and platelets of non‐immune mice has been studied in vivo and in vitro. A moderate thrombocytopaenia was observed in mice 2 days after they had been infected percutaneously with 200 cercariae. A rabbit anti‐mouse platelet antiserum, 25 µL of which injected subcutaneously induced a nearly 90% reduction in blood platelet count 24 h later, was used to investigate the effects of severe thrombocytopaenia on S. mansoni infections. In replicate experiments worm burdens were significantly increased in mice that were thrombocytopaenic at the time of infection when compared with untreated mice. Induction of thrombocytopaenia on day 4 after infection had no effect on worm count. Platelets isolated from non‐immune mice were shown to adhere to the surfaces of and kill mechanically transformed schistosomula in vitro. Platelets may thus be an innate mechanism of defence against schistosome infection, and the thrombocytopaenia that occurs during patent schistosome infections may be a strategy that helps secondarily incoming parasites evade this type of host defensiveness.
The pulmonary and extra‐pulmonary effects of high‐dose formoterol in COPD: A comparison with salbutamol
Authors: Goldkorn Alexandra , Diotto Patricia , Burgess Carl , Weatherall Mark , Holt Shaun , Beasley Richard , Siebers Robert 
Published: February 2004

Objectives:  Formoterol, a β2 agonist with a rapid onset of effect and long duration of action, can be used as maintenance and reliever medication for asthma and COPD. We compared the pulmonary and extra‐pulmonary effects of cumulative doses of formoterol and salbutamol in patients with COPD to assess efficacy and safety.Methodology:  In a randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over study, 12 patients with moderate to severe COPD inhaled, via Turbuhaler®, 10 doses of formoterol (total metered dose, 120 µg, equivalent to a 90‐µg delivered dose), salbutamol (total metered dose 2000 µg) or placebo at 2‐min intervals on separate days. The effects on lung function (FEV1 and PEF), heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, corrected QT interval (QTc), T‐wave height and plasma potassium were assessed before each dose, 15 min after each dose, and at half‐hourly intervals for 3 h following the final dose.Results:  Inhalation of formoterol or salbutamol resulted in significant improvement in lung function (measured 30 min after the last dose) when compared with placebo. There were no clinically important or statistically significant changes in heart rate, QTc, T‐wave height, plasma potassium, oxygen saturation, or systolic and diastolic blood pressures with formoterol or salbutamol. One patient developed ventricular trigeminy after both formoterol and salbutamol. She had had ventricular ectopics on her screening electrocardiogram.Conclusion:  Formoterol and salbutamol both produced significant improvement in lung function and were similarly well tolerated in high doses, as might be taken by a patient for relief of COPD symptoms.
Randomized trial of yoga as a complementary therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Visweswaraiah Naveen K. , Telles Shirley 
Published: February 2004

Objective:  The present prospective, randomized trial compared the efficacy of anti‐tuberculosis treatment (ATT) with two separate programs (yoga and breath awareness), on lung capacities and bacteriological status in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Methodology:  A total of 1009 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were screened and 73 were alternately allocated, to yoga (n = 36) or breath awareness (n = 37) groups, with 48 patients completing the 2‐month trial. Patients aged between 20 and 55 years, who were sputum‐positive on three consecutive examinations, had no prior ATT, and no comorbidities or extrapulmonary tuberculosis were included. In addition to ATT, one group practised yoga (n = 25) and the other practised breath awareness (n = 23) for 6 h per week, each session being 60 min. The main outcome measures were: symptom scores, bodyweight, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, sputum microscopy, sputum culture, and postero‐anterior view of the CXR.Results:  At the end of 2 months, the yoga group showed a significant reduction in symptom scores (88.1%), and an increase in weight (10.9%), FVC (64.7%) and FEV1 (83.6%) (P = 0.001, in all comparisons, paired t‐test). The breath awareness group also showed a significant (paired t‐test) reduction in symptom scores (16.3%, P= 0.02), and an increase in weight (2.1%, P= 0.003) and FEV1 (63.8%, P= 0.04). Significantly more patients in the yoga group showed sputum conversion based on microscopy on days 30 and 45 compared to the breath awareness group (P = 0.045 and P= 0.002, respectively, χ2 test). Ten of 13 in the yoga group had negative sputum culture after 60 days compared with four of 19 in the breath awareness group (P = 0.005, χ2 test). Improvement in the radiographic picture occurred in 16/25 in the yoga group compared to 3/22 in the breath awareness group on day 60 (P = 0.001, χ2 test).Conclusions:  The improved level of infection, radiographic picture, FVC, weight gain and reduced symptoms in the yoga group suggest a complementary role for yoga in the management of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Vasoactive mediators (VEGF and TNF‐α) in patients with malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions
Authors: Hamed Enas A. , El‐Noweihi Amira M. , Mohamed Ashraf Z. , Mahmoud Azza 
Published: February 2004

Objective:  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell‐specific mitogen that promotes angiogenesis, vascular hyperpermeability, and vasodilatation by autocrine mechanisms involving nitric oxide (NO). This study was undertaken to determine the potential role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of pleural effusions, and its relationship with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and NO in the pleural fluid and serum of patients with tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions.Methodology:  Pleural fluid and serum (SE) VEGF, TNF‐α and NO levels were measured in 30 patients with exudative pleural effusion (15 with malignancies and 15 with tuberculosis). Control pleural fluid was obtained from 10 patients with transudative pleural effusion due to congestive heart failure and control serum samples were obtained from 10 healthy individuals. VEGF and TNF‐α were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and NO by a colorimetric method. Pleural biopsy, cytology or microbiological methods were used to make the final diagnosis.Results:  In patients with exudative pleural effusions, the mean pleural fluid and serum VEGF levels and their ratios (P < 0.0001 for all) and TNF‐α levels (P < 0.01, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05) were significantly elevated compared to those with transudative pleural effusion. In malignant effusions, pleural fluid and serum VEGF levels were significantly elevated (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001) while pleural fluid, and serum levels and their ratios of TNF‐α (P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) were significantly lower than those in tuberculosis. NO levels did not distinguish between tuberculous and malignant effusions.Conclusions:  In patients with malignant pleural effusions, levels of VEGF were significantly higher, while levels of TNF‐α were significantly lower, than in patients with tuberculous effusions. In malignant pleural effusions, the elevated pleural fluid levels of VEGF and TNF‐α are noteworthy. Our data support the hypothesis that blockade of VEGF, might benefit cancer patients with recurrent ascites or pleural fluid accumulation.
Neutral theory and community ecology
Authors: Chave J. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractI review the mathematical and biological aspects of Hubbell's (2001) neutral theory of species abundance for ecological communities, and clarify its historical connections with closely related approaches in population genetics. A selective overview of the empirical evidence for and against this theory is provided, with a special emphasis on tropical plant communities. The neutral theory predicts many of the basic patterns of biodiversity, confirming its heuristic power. The strict assumption of equivalence that defines neutrality, equivalence among individuals, finds little empirical support in general. However, a weaker assumption holds for stable communities, the equivalence of average fitness among species. One reason for the surprising success of the neutral theory is that all the theories of species coexistence satisfying the fitness equivalence assumption, including many theories of niche differentiation, generate exactly the same patterns as the neutral theory. Hubbell's neutral theory represents an important synthesis and a much needed demonstration of the pivotal role of intraspecific variability in ecology. Further improvements should lead to an explicit linking to niche‐based processes. This research programme will depend crucially on forthcoming theoretical and empirical achievements.