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Monosaccharides such as L-arabinose (Ara) and D-tagatose (derived from D-galactose, Gal) are low-calorie sweeteners associated with improved glycaemic and insulin control compared to disaccharides such as sucrose. However, alternative sources and better sugar-sugar separation methods are needed to improve the sustainability and economics of their production. Here, these sugars were obtained from purified and ultrafiltered compression screw pressate (CSP) of thermo-mechanical pulping of softwood (Pinus radiata) and orange peels (OPs). Basubstituted zeolite X (BaX) molecular sieves showed superior separation performance of Ara from other sugars compared to conventional Ca-form ion exchange resin. To facilitate subsequent separation of sugars, OP hydrolysates were fermented to leave just Ara and Gal, while OP pectin was hydrolysed to generate a Gal-rich mixture. Overall, BaX has good potential for separating Ara from Ara-rich hydrolysates containing several different sugars. It is also suited for separating Ara and another monosaccharide such as Gal or Xyl in the absence of other sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) may limit oral drug absorption of substrate drugs due to intestinal efflux. Therefore, regulatory agencies require investigation of new chemical entities as possible inhibitors of P-gp in vitro. Unfortunately, inter-laboratory and inter-assay variability have hindered the translatability of in vitro P-gp inhibition data to predict clinical drug interaction risk. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of potential IC 50 discrepancies between two commonly utilized assays, i.e., bi-directional Madin-Darby Canine Kidney-MDR1 cell-based and MDR1 membrane vesicle-based assays. When comparing vesicle- to cell-based IC 50 values (n = 28 inhibitors), non-P-gp substrates presented good correlation between assay formats, whereas IC 50 s of P-gp substrates were similar or lower in the vesicle assays. The IC 50 s obtained with a cell line expressing relatively low P-gp aligned more closely to those obtained from the vesicle assay, but passive permeability of the inhibitors did not appear to influence the correlation of IC 50 s, suggesting that efflux activity reduces intracellular inhibitor concentrations. IC 50 s obtained between two independent laboratories using the same assay type showed good correlation. Using the G-value (i.e., ratio of estimated gut concentration-to-inhibition potency) >10 cutoff recommended by regulatory agencies resulted in minimal differences in predictive performance, suggesting this cutoff is appropriate for either assay format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pituitary is involved in the regulation of endocrine homeostasis. Therefore, animal models of pituitary disease based on a thorough knowledge of pituitary anatomy are of great importance. Accordingly, we aimed to perform a qualitative and quantitative description of polypeptide hormone secreting cellular components of the Göttingen minipig adenohypophysis using immunohistochemistry and stereology. Estimates of the total number of cells immune-stained for adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) were obtained with the optical fractionator technique using Stereo Investigator software. Moreover, 3D reconstructions of cell distribution were made. We estimated that the normal minipig adenohypophysis contains, on average, 5.6 million GH, 3.5 million PRL, and 2.4 million ACTH producing cells. The ACTH producing cells were widely distributed, while the PRL and GH producing cells were located in clusters in the central and lateral regions of the adenohypophysis. The morphology of the hormone producing cells also differs. We visualized a clear difference in the numerical density of hormone producing cells throughout the adenohypophysis. The relative proportions of the cells analyzed in our experiment are comparable to those observed in humans, primates, and rodents; however, the distribution of cells differs among species. The distribution of GH cells in the minipig is similar to that in humans, while the PRL and ACTH cell distributions differ. The volume of the pituitary is slightly smaller than that of humans. These data provide a framework for future large animal experimentation on pituitary function in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleus accumbens dopamine plays a key role in reward‐directed approach. Past findings suggest that dopamine's role in the expression of learned behavior diminishes with extended training. However, little is known about the central substrates that mediate the shift to dopamine‐independent reward approach. In the present study, rats approached and inserted the head into a reward compartment in response to a cue signaling food delivery. On days 4 and 5 of 28‐trial‐per‐day sessions, D1 receptor antagonist R(+)‐7‐chloro‐8‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐3‐benzazepine hydrochloride (SCH23390) infused to the NAc core reduced the probability and speed of cued approach. The disruptive effect of D1 receptor blockade was specific to the nucleus accumbens core and not seen with drug infusions to nearby dopamine target regions. In rats that received drug infusions after extended training (days 10 or 11), accumbens core D1 receptor blockade produced little effect on the expression of the same behavior. These results could have been due to a continued accumbens mediation of cued approach even after the behavior had become independent of accumbens D1 receptors. However, accumbens core ionotropic glutamate receptor blockade disrupted cued approach during early but not late stages of training, similar to the effects of D1 antagonist infusions. The results suggest that with extended training, a nucleus accumbens D1‐dependent behavior becomes less dependent not only on nucleus accumbens D1 transmission but also on excitatory transmission in the nucleus accumbens. These findings fill an important gap in a growing literature on reorganization of striatal function over the course of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on Ball State University Libraries (BSUL), which support student pursuits for expanding access to library collections and services using small-screen devices. These small-screen devices are portable, have Internet connectivity, and all of them have browsers to surf the web. However, these mobile devices lacked easy access to the resources and services of BSUL's web site. A one-year mobile development project was launched to research and devise a mobile-device interface to BSUL's resources. Findings show that library Web sites can be adapted to the limited power, memory, and bandwidth of mobile devices, and small screen mobile devices are acceptable for showing Web services that are easy to read, navigate, and provide timely information.

It is of great challenge to predict human brain penetration for substrates of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), 2 major efflux transporters at blood-brain barrier. Thus, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model with the incorporation of in vitro MDR1 and BCRP transporter function data and transporter protein expression levels has been developed. As such, it is crucial to generate MDR1 and BCRP substrate data with a high fidelity. In this study, 2 widely used human MDR1 cell lines from Borst and National Institutes of Health laboratories were evaluated using rodent brain penetration data, and the study suggested that the MDR1 expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line from National Institutes of Health laboratory predicted brain penetration better, particularly for compounds with a high passive permeability. In addition, human BCRP-MDCK cell line with 1 μM PSC833, a specific MDR1 inhibitor, demonstrated the ability to identify BCRP substrates without the confounding of endogenous canine Mdr1. Comparison of human BCRP and mouse Bcrp transporter functions revealed that the functional differences of BCRP between the 2 species is minimal. The incorporation of both the validated MDR1 and BCRP assays into our brain PBPK model has significantly improved the prediction for the brain penetration of MDR1 and BCRP substrates across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay argues that critics have overlooked the importance of the 1970s in David Foster Wallace's The Pale King. Critical focus on the novel's depiction of 1980s neoliberalism downplays the way it asks readers to consider that decade's changes to be dependent on the transformation of civic ideals in the 1970s. This can be seen most clearly in Chris Fogle's narrative, which this essay argues is an emblematic 1970s story, incorporating the decade's tropes of malaise, uncertainty, self-examination, and surveillance. While Fogle's conversion from selfish student to IRS worker may be seen to run counter to the growth of individualism and suspicion of institutions in the 1970s, this essay argues that Wallace uses it to revive and ventriloquize arguments about civic-mindedness that took place in the 1970s, ultimately offering a definition of civic-mindedness that echoes the work of writers such as Christopher Lasch and Robert N. Bellah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including University of Southern Mississippi's de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, being gay in southern U.S., and life in rural Florida in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Morphing aircraft offer the promise of performance that can be optimized for a range of flight profiles. But such capability places challenging demands on the morphing system that cannot easily be met with conventional actuators or smart materials. Electrolaminates use electrostatic forces controlled by the application of a voltage (typically high-voltage but extremely low-current) to controllably bond or unbond layers of a laminated composite structure together. Such on-demand bonding can be used to effectively change the stiffness of the structure or control elongation or twist of the structure. This technology has multiple benefits compared to other smart material or conventional actuator-driven approaches; it is thin and light, has very low energy requirements, and offers rapid response capabilities controlled by simple electronics. These capabilities can enable bio-inspired morphing with large numbers of degrees of freedom and high spatial resolution. We designed, fabricated, and tested a fully functional morphing-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with telescoping wings and a splaying, bird-like tail enabled by electrolaminates. Key features of the current UAV configuration include: a variable wingspan of 1.2–2.4 m with a corresponding change in the wing area of nearly a factor of four; no vertical tail; and a horizontal tail area variable by a factor of three. The ability to asymmetrically control the tail area allows for independent pitch and body circulation control. The tail area is changed by a separate electrolaminate clamping mechanism. The variable-area tail uses 'feathers' that can be overlapped or splayed as needed. The practical shape-changing is enabled by electrolaminate materials that can rapidly lock the orientation of the feathers. The electrolaminate clutches support more than 5 nm of torque and are sufficient to resist expected flight loads. We also designed, fabricated, and tested other morphing-wing designs enabled by electrolaminate technology to create a wing with smoothly sliding skin that is capable of changing chord and camber with a single linear actuator. Our results suggest that electrolaminates can practically enable bio-inspired, small (Group 1 and 2) morphing UAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses U.S. author John S.C. Abbott's views about female education during the Antebellum period of American history, and it mentions Abbott's book "The Mother at Home" which was published in 1833. The concept of pseudo-training for women is examined, along with books for children and the various schools for girls that Abbott and his brothers operated. Author Nancy J. Chodorow's book "Feminism and Psychoanalytic Theory" is assessed, also with sexism in the nineteenth century.

Journalists and politicians play different roles in the functional structure of the Habermasian public sphere; as such, they might be expected to have different understandings of what knowledge production and transmission might mean. This difference of understanding is more than a conflict over definitions; it is an epistemic divergence à la Fuller (2002:220), where already defined groups hold divergent understandings of what constitutes understanding. While a substantial body of work has been based on the idea of epistemic communities in the context of science and expert organizations in general, little empirical research exists to demonstrate the validity and adaptability of the concept of epistemic communities in comparative political communication research. Here, we show the cross-national validity of the concept of epistemic communities in the context of professional groups of politicians and political journalists in Austria, Finland, France, Denmark, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cullins belong to a family of scaffold proteins that assemble multi-subunit ubiquitin ligase complexes to recruit protein substrates for ubiquitination via unique sets of substrate adaptor, such as Skp1 or Elongin B, and a substrate-binding protein with a conserved protein-protein interacting domain, such as leucine-rich repeats (LRR), a WD40 domain, or a zinc-finger domain. In the case of the Cullin3 (Cul3), it forms a BTB-Cul3-Rbx1 (BCR) ubiquitin ligase complex where it is believed that a BTB domain-containing protein performs dual functions where it serves as both the substrate adaptor and the substrate recognition protein. Results: Tandem affinity purification and LC/MS-MS analysis of the BCR complex led to the identification of 10,225 peptides. After the SEQUEST algorithm and CDART program were used for protein identification and domain prediction, we discovered a group of Cul3-bound proteins that contain either the LRR or WD40 domain (CLWs). Further biochemical analysis revealed that the LRR domain-containing CLWs could bind both Cul3 and BTB domain-containing proteins. The dual binding role for the LRR domain-containing CLWs results in causing the BTB-domain protein to become a substrate instead of an adaptor. To further distinguish potential substrates from other components that are part of the BCR ubiquitin ligase complex, we altered the parameters in the SEQUEST algorithm to select for peptide fragments with a modified lysine residue. This method not only identifies the potential substrates of the BCR ubiquitin ligase complex, but it also pinpoints the lysine residue in which the post-translational modification occurs. Interestingly, none of the CLWs were identified by this method, supporting our hypothesis that CLWs were not potential substrates but rather additional components of the BCR ubiquitin ligase complex. Conclusion: Our study identified a new set of Cul3-binding proteins known as CLWs via tandem affinity purification and LC/MS-MS analysis. Subsequently, our biochemical analysis revealed that some CLWs modify binding of BTB domain-containing proteins to the complex, causing degradation of the BTB domain-containing protein. As these CLWs were excluded from our list of substrates, we propose that CLWs serve as unique Cul3 binding proteins that provide an alternative regulatory mechanism for the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin preparations from kraft and sulfite pulping, steam explosion, and enzyme saccharification processes were assessed as substrates for lignin polymerization catalyzed by Trametes hirsuta laccase (ThL). Oxygen consumption associated with laccase catalyzed oxidation of the selected lignins was measured using a microplate-based oxygen assay. Laccase-induced changes in the molecular masses of the lignin polymers were assessed with aqueous-alkaline size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and changes in monomeric phenolics by reversephase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Obtaining consistent results in the lignin-laccase assay system required careful pH monitoring and control. All lignin preparations were oxidized by ThL, the rate being highest for steam-exploded eucalypt and lowest for enzymesaccharified lignin. Comparing lignins, higher lignin-laccase reactivity was correlated with lower lignin molecular mass and higher amounts of monomeric phenolics. Solubility was not an indicator of reactivity. Steamexploded and lignosulfonate-treated pine preparations were further fractionated by ultrafiltration to determine what molecular mass fractions were the most reactive in ThL catalyzed oxidation. Both retentate (> 3kDa), and to a lesser degree permeate (< 3kDa), fractions were reactive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A commonly accepted assumption is that scientific knowledge on the part of the general public would increase in an era of increasing ease of access to all forms of information. This argument suggests that the public only needs to take an advantage of an inexpensive laptop computer to be superbly informed. However, what appears to be the case is that the public appears to be more prone than ever to misinformation, partial truths, and "spin" Research shows that, even when it comes to scientific knowledge, we have socially-mediated preferences; we prefer those beliefs that we like and that are considered reasonable by our peers. Importantly, our "peers" can in our hyperlocal world be virtual or real. Thus, social group membership merges with our individual likes and dislikes to shape what we take as "knowledge" Groups, therefore, become platforms of social epistemologies. We examine our argument from the viewpoint of the United States using a large data set from the General Social Survey. We employ the 2008 topical module to examine the relationships between attitudes and knowledge concerning science and technology, the relationship between media use, demographic group variables, and group-related attitudes toward science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full penetration-dyed solid wood has the advantage that furniture or other items fabricated from it do not require additional painting or staining. However, anatomical barriers along potential dye infiltration pathways may result in unsatisfactory dyeing in terms of depth of dye penetration or colour intensity and uniformity. Dyed wood items, even those intended for interior use, should also possess a certain degree of water fastness. In the present paper, full-thickness dyeing of radiata pine blocks was achieved with fibre-reactive and direct dyes as well as pine tannin. Leaching of the treated blocks in cold water removed excess dye but the target colours were well retained. Pectinase pre-treatment of wood blocks was shown to increase the uptake of fibre-reactive and direct dyes by tracheid cell walls and the uptake of tannin by rays, resin canals, and tracheid lumina. In the case of a direct dye and pine tannin, pectinase treatment markedly increased the intensity of the target colours. Combining tannin with laccase to achieve covalent bonding of tannin to wood lignin was associated with a small, albeit not statistically significant, shift towards the target colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bordered pits are structures in the cell walls of softwood tracheids which permit the movement of water between adjacent cells. These structures contain a central pit membrane composed of an outer porous ring (margo) and an inner dense and pectin-rich disc (torus). The membrane is overarched on each side by pit borders. Pits may be aspirated, a condition where the torus seals against the pit border, effectively blocking the pathway between cells. In living trees this maintains overall continuity of water conduction in xylem by sealing off tracheids containing air. Drying of timber results in further pit aspiration, which reduces wood permeability to liquid treatment agents such as antifungal chemicals. One possible way to increase permeability is by treating wood with pectin lyase to modify or remove the torus. The effectiveness of this treatment was initially evaluated using light microscopy (LM) of toluidine blue stained wood. Pectic material is coloured pink-magenta with this stain, and loss of this colour after treatment has been interpreted as indicating destruction of the torus. However, correlative light (LM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopic observations of identical areas of toluidine blue stained sections revealed that many unstained pits had intact but modified tori when viewed with SEM. These observations indicate that LM alone is not sufficient to evaluate the effects of pectin lyase on pit membranes in wood. Combining LM and SEM gives more complete information [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The concept of casting concrete in fabrics, fabric formwork technology, has resurfaced at various times and in different forms throughout the past century. The following paper traces developments that have used fabrics for concrete formwork, including different types of flexible formwork, controlled permeability formwork and pneumatic formwork. This paper presents a comprehensive historical overview of fabric formwork, listing key innovators, technological developments and their advantages, and offering examples of structures built with these methods. The information gathered is used to present a taxonomy of these related formwork technologies as well as a formal definition of the term 'fabric formwork' that encompasses them. The paper is intended to introduce readers to these technologies and offer readers already familiar with these methods additional historical background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and his appreciation for children's literature. Biographical information on Roosevelt is provided, including his reading habits as a child in New York City. The author explains that Roosevelt favored the adventure stories written by Mayne Reid. How having children of his own made Roosevelt develop a fresh interest in children's literature is also discussed. Subjects of the article also include the library in the Roosevelt house, Roosevelt's contributions to "St. Nicholas" magazine, and letters he wrote to his children.

Abstract: Synaptic changes occur early in the course of Alzheimer''s disease and are key to understanding the initial events in associated neurodegenerative processes. The quantitative analysis of synaptic morphology in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer''s disease can provide important insights into these processes. To this end, the total number and the distribution of the diameters of synaptic contacts in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region of the hippocampus of 12-month-old APP/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice and wild type littermates have been evaluated by applying design-based stereological methods to material prepared for electron microscopy. Although there were no differences in the size of the synaptic contacts, the total number of synaptic contacts was significantly larger in the transgenic mice, suggesting that the transgenic effect at this age is synaptotrophic and that the presence of amyloid plaques and an elevated Abeta42/40 ratio are not necessarily detrimental to populations of synapses. The potential of this type of data in evaluating synaptic changes related to Alzheimer''s disease is discussed and the methodology described in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a comparative study of legal education in Japan. It discusses the old system of training Japanese lawyers and some of the forces that led to the breakdown of that system. It then details and analyzes the new system, much of which was borrowed from the U.S. after careful investigation. The shift to the American structure for law schools has been accompanied by an increased interest in American pedagogic techniques. The change in Japanese legal education was propelled by the perceived need to increase the number of people who pass the bar examination and become practicing lawyers. Moreover, it offers a few words about Japanese gangsters, the yakuza, because the story suggests similarities between lawyers and their illegal counterparts.

A television content analysis and survey of 419 community respondents supports the hypothesis that media stereotypes affect public attitudes toward mental health issues. A content analysis of network, prime-time television demonstrates that portrayals are violent, false, and negative. The mentally disordered are portrayed as 10 times more likely to be a violent criminal than nonmentally disordered television characters. A survey demonstrates that as television viewing increases so does the belief among viewers that locating mental health services in residential neighborhoods will endanger the residents. Viewers who watch television news are less likely to support living next to someone who is mentally ill. The survey also tests the third-person effect, and finds that viewers believe television portrayals of mental illness affect others more than themselves. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bush administration's public discourse after September 11 weaves a new story embedded in the national myth of the Old West. Seen in its historical context of a frontier political mentality reaching back to the early 19th century, and in its broader communication context as the rhetorical narration of a defining cultural myth, the tactical narration of the frontier justice story gains its fullest gravity. Bush and Cheney's proliferation of this rhetorical vision is not merely a quantitative increase in frontier references from past presidencies. Instead, this essay argues that an appreciably different character of narration is underway, one that tactically deploys and directs frontier mythology as a fantasy theme at discrete audiences: to cope with a national crisis, reassure a partisan political base, and discipline international allies for a controversial war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have created two knock-in mouse models to study the mechanisms that regulate p27 in normal cells and cause misregulation of p27 in tumors: p27S10A, in which Ser10 is mutated to Ala; and p27CK-, in which point mutations abrogate the ability of p27 to bind cyclins and CDKs. These two mutant alleles identify steps in a pathway that controls the proteasomal degradation of p27 uniquely in quiescent cells: Dephosphorylation of p27 on Ser10 inhibits p27 nuclear export and promotes its assembly into cyclin-CDK complexes, which is, in turn, necessary for p27 turnover. We further show that Ras-dependent lung tumorigenesis is associated with increased phosphorylation on Ser10 and cytoplasmic mislocalization of p27. Indeed, we find that p27S10A is refractory to Ras-induced cytoplasmic translocation and that p27S10A mice are tumor resistant. Thus, phosphorylation of p27 on Ser10 is an important event in the regulation of the tumor suppressor function of p27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroconvulsive seizure (ECS)-treatment, a model for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been shown to induce proliferation of endothelial cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult rats. Here we quantified the net angiogenic response after chronic ECS-treatment in the molecular layer (ML) of the dentate gyrus. Patients undergoing ECT are routinely oxygenated to prevent hypoxia, a known inducer of angiogenesis. Therefore we also examined the effect of oxygenation on ECS-induced proliferation of endothelial cells. Methods: Total endothelial cell numbers and vessel length were estimated utilizing design based stereological analysis methods. Endothelial cell proliferation in the DG after ECS with or without oxygenation was assessed using bromodeoxyuridine. Results: The total number of endothelial cells and total vessel length was increased. Oxygenation did not abolish the ECS-induced proliferation of endothelial cells in the DG. Conclusions: ECS-treatment induces a dramatic increase in endothelial cell proliferation leading to a 30% increase in the total number of endothelial cells. The increase in cell number resulted in a 16% increase in vessel length. These findings raise the possibility that similar vascular growth is induced by clinically administered ECT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The bovine creatine transporter (CreaT) has been purified from membranes of HEK293 cells stably expressing high levels of the transporter. Membranes were solubilized with decyl maltoside and the CreaT was purified (¿90% pure) by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)¿Sepharose and gel-filtration. The CreaT was shown to be an approximately 70kDa glycoprotein by SDS¿polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Identification of the CreaT was confirmed by sequencing tryptic peptides by mass spectrometry. Laser light scattering showed the majority of the CreaT to be present as a 224kDa species. Additional purification was obtained when the Creat was eluted from the WGA column and purified by gel-filtration in Fos-choline 12 instead of decyl maltoside, followed by a second WGA affinity step to exchange the detergent for sodium cholate. This resulted in a 30-fold purification (¿95% purity) of the ~70kDa CreaT, with a yield of 15%. From this, it is estimated that the CreaT comprises ~3% of total HEK293-CreaT membrane protein. Gel-filtration showed the transporter to migrate with an apparent molecular mass of 210kDa. Circular dichroism showed a predominantly a-helical structure, consistent with the 12 transmembrane domains predicted for the transporter. This work has enabled the purification of the CreaT in amounts (~100µg) that make it feasible to consider structural studies of a member of the Na+- and Cl--dependent neurotransmitter transporter family. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research on public deliberation overlooks imperfect forms of face-to-face deliberation that occur outside the mainstream. Such deliberation may be oriented toward the development of a counternarrative rather than a broader conception of the common good; however, it may have some of the same characteristics and effects ascribed to more refined deliberative forums. This paper explores the possibility of such deliberation by exploring the world trade protests that occurred in Seattle and Prague in 1999 and 2000. Participant observations and in-depth ethnographic interviews with three participants are used to probe the experiences of planning and participating in the demonstrations in relation to the qualities and effects of face-to-face deliberation. Despite portrayals of the protests as primarily violent street battles, the observations and interviews show evidence of public deliberation and, for the participants, increases in both political efficacy and future civic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study of hippocampal neurons in aging and AD [Lancet 344 (1994) 769], we demonstrated that the loss of neurons in the CA1 region was disease-specific and not related to aging. In the present study, we examined for loss of hippocampal neurons in preclinical AD, a period during which there are abundant amyloid deposits in the brain but no evidence of cognitive decline. We examined the postmortem brains of 33 subjects from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Using unbiased stereology, we estimated the total number of neurons in the granule cell layer, hilus, CA3-2, CA1, and subiculum of AD (n=14), preclinical AD (n=8), and age-matched control subjects (n=11). The results from the present study confirm our previous finding of significant neuronal losses in the CA1 (48%), hilus (14%), and subiculum (24%) in AD [Lancet 344 (1994) 769]. However, we did not observe a significant loss of neurons in CA1 or any of the other subdivisions of the hippocampus in preclinical AD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The tumor suppresser p27Kip1 is an inhibitor of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes and plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation. However, p27Kip1 also has cell cycle-independent functions. Indeed, we find that p27Kip1 regulates cell migration, as p27Kip1-null fibroblasts exhibit a dramatic decrease in motility compared with wild-type cells. The regulation of motility by p27Kip1 is independent of its cell-cycle regulatory functions, as re-expression of both wild-type p27Kip1 and a mutant p27Kip1 (p27CK- ) that cannot bind to cyclins and CDKs rescues migration of p27-/- cells. p27-/- cells have increased numbers of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. This is reminiscent of cells in which the Rho pathway is activated. Indeed, active RhoA levels were increased in cells lacking p27Kip1. Moreover, inhibition of ROCK, a downstream effector of Rho, was able to rescue the migration defect of p27-/- cells in response to growth factors. Finally, we found that p27Kip1 binds to RhoA, thereby inhibiting RhoA activation by interfering with the interaction between RhoA and its activators, the guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Together, the data suggest a novel role for p27Kip1 in regulating cell migration via modulation of the Rho pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the lost property regime of Japan, which has one of the most impressive reputations in the world for returning lost property to its rightful owner, and compares it with that of the United States. Folk legend attributes Japanese lost-and-found success to honesty and other-regarding preferences. In this article, I focus on another possible explanation: legal institutions that efficiently and predictably allocate and enforce possessory rights. These recognized, centuries-old rules mesh with norms, institutional structures, and economic incentives to reinforce mutually the message that each sends and yields more lost-property recovery than altruism alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any functional change in cigarette filter design warrants a rigorous assessment to ensure comparability to existing filter functionality. This study compares the functionality of a standard CA filter with a novel cellulose-based alternative using a combination of emissions, in silico approaches, pre-clinical assessments and behavioural studies. We assess the challenges faced with a significant filtration change, the substantiation of this change and the limitations of such assessments. We explore cigarette emission chemical profiles; assess the potential toxicological impacts (in vitro and statistical modelling) of the differing chemical profiles of cigarette smoke aerosol resulting from the respective filter types; and, finally investigate the behavioural aspects associated with use of the novel filter as compared to the traditional one. The aim of the study was to establish a weight of evidence assessment framework for the comprehensive evaluation of a novel cigarette filter design as part of robust stewardship approach. The data show comparability to a standard CA filter across all assessments and highlight potential areas of investigation for future novel filter product iterations. The approach demonstrates the applicability of a comprehensive step-wise assessment framework to identify any potential increased toxicant emissions and exposures associated with using the novel filter. [Display omitted] • A substantial technology change requires a comprehensive step-wise toxicological evaluation. • A novel filter was assessed as an alternative to a standard cellulose acetate (CA) filter. • Data showed comparable performance to between filter technologies. • Changing a fundamental design aspect can have significant implications. • Regulation needs to consider the implications of significant product change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commentators often assert that low levels of litigation in Japan are the result of either (a) social norms or (b) institutional and structural factors such as high litigation costs. This article examines another cause of nonlitigiousness: an alternative dispute resolution system that handles many cases that might otherwise become lawsuits. While the system applies to all pollution disputes, I examine a particular subset in detail: karaoke noise-related complaints. Relying on interviews and quantitative analyses in the karaoke context, I argue that an examination of both institutional factors and social capital (and their interaction) provides a significantly richer and more accurate account of Japanese dispute resolution patterns than one set of factors alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the convergence between the corporate law of Japan and the United States. Impact of globalization on the convergence of corporate law; Factors influencing statutory development; Insights on the development of corporate law.

Examines the theoretical underpinnings of the elimination of national borders in the Southern League in the U.S. Efforts of the European Union to create free-trade zones; Rise of the secessionist movements in the modern times; Political goals of the secessionist movement.

Presents a debate over stereological methods of counting neural structures. Definition of an optical dissector; Cost-effectiveness of three-dimensional cell counting; Validity of stereological methods.

Examines the relationship between television exposure and beliefs about violent crime rates in North Carolina. Television viewers' estimation of murder and burglary rates; Cultivation hypothesis; Poisson regression analysis.

Describes a research project that intersects architecture, engineering, teaching, surrealist methods of collage and construction technology using analogue materials and reinforced concrete structures in flexible fabric membranes. Goals of the project; Modeling techniques used; Virtues of concrete structures with flexible molds.

Analyzes the organization and efficiency of the Dojima Rice Exchange, the world's first organized futures exchange in Osaka, Japan. History of the Exchange; Why the world's first organized futures exchange began at Dojima and not elsewhere; Governance and anti-manipulation institutions of the Exchange; Examination of the effect of state-provided dispute resolution at Dojima.

Provides theoretical and empirical support for the claim that organized crime competes with the state to provide property rights enforcement and protection services. Discussion on how organized crime operates in Japan; Areas in private property ordering system in which organized crime thrive; Analysis on the data pertaining to the activities of organized crime in Japan.

The lateral preoptic area is implicated in numerous aspects of substance use disorder. In particular, the lateral preoptic area is highly sensitive to the pharmacological properties of psychomotor stimulants, and its activity promotes drug‐seeking in the face of punishment and reinstatement during abstinence. Despite the lateral preoptic area's complicity in substance use disorder, how precisely lateral preoptic area neurons signal the individual components of drug self‐administration has not been ascertained. To bridge this gap, we examined how the firing of single lateral preoptic area neurons correlates with three discrete elements of cocaine self‐administration: (1) drug‐seeking (pre‐response), (2) drug‐taking (response) and (3) receipt of the cocaine infusion. A significant subset of lateral preoptic area neurons responded to each component with a mix of increases and decreases in firing‐rate. A majority of these neurons signal the operant response with increases in spiking, though responses during the drug‐seeking, taking and reciept windows were highly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the fundamental differences between the design-based counting techniques and assumption-based techniques when use to make estimates of the total numbers of neurons and synapses in a neural structure. Fundamental approaches to making estimates of total number; Sources of biases in estimation procedures; Indirect counting techniques based on geometrical assumptions. INSETS: Box 1. Variants of disector counting;Box 2. Sample size: how many disectors, how many sections and....

Examines the role of sexual repression in the campaign of Anthony Comstock to censor children's dime novels. Background of Comstock; Actions against pornography; Preservation of childhood innocence.

Objective: This study developed and compared separate estimates of the number of heavy drinkers (the in-need population for alcohol treatment interventions) across eight local regions in Queensland. Method: Estimates were based on: (i) a self-report population survey of alcohol consumption; and (ii) an application of the Ledermann log-normal distribution of consumption model to liquor sale figures. Results: Estimates based on the 1989–1990 National Health Survey (NHS) data indicated that 10.98% (n = 83 880) of adult male drinkers and 1.25% (n = 6581) of adult female drinkers in Queensland (total = 90 461) were on average drinking the equivalent of six or more standard drinks a day in the week prior to the survey (4.74% of Queensland adult drinkers, n = 90,461). Estimates based on the Ledermann model indicated that 12.18% of adult Queensland drinkers (n = 232,283) were drinking six or more standard drinks a day. Estimates based on the Ledermann model were 157% larger than estimates based on NHS data (i.e. a difference of 141 821 heavy drinkers), with large variations in the two estimates across local regions. Conclusion: The NHS data appears to underestimate the population of heavy drinkers, whereas the Ledermann model overestimates it. In this situation, it seems preferable to use the more conservative self-report survey estimates. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 1998; 32:504–510. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the distinction between neurogenerative changes that accompany normal aging and those that characterise Alzheimer's disease. Details of a study that compared the regional pattern of neuronal cell loss in the hippocampus related to normal aging to that associated with Alzheimer's disease; Use of modern serological techniques to conduct the study.

Purpose: Ritlecitinib, an inhibitor of Janus kinase 3 and tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma family kinases, is in development for inflammatory diseases. This study assessed the impact of ritlecitinib on drug transporters using a probe drug and endogenous biomarkers. Methods: In vitro transporter-mediated substrate uptake and inhibition by ritlecitinib and its major metabolite were evaluated. Subsequently, a clinical drug interaction study was conducted in 12 healthy adult participants to assess the effect of ritlecitinib on pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin, a substrate of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3). Plasma concentrations of coproporphyrin I (CP-I) and pyridoxic acid (PDA) were assessed as endogenous biomarkers for OATP1B1 and OAT1/3 function, respectively. Results: In vitro studies suggested that ritlecitinib can potentially inhibit BCRP, OATP1B1 and OAT1/3 based on regulatory cutoffs. In the subsequent clinical study, coadministration of ritlecitinib decreased rosuvastatin plasma exposure area under the curve from time 0 to infinity (AUCinf) by ~ 13% and maximum concentration (Cmax) by ~ 27% relative to rosuvastatin administered alone. Renal clearance was comparable in the absence and presence of ritlecitinib coadministration. PK parameters of AUCinf and Cmax for CP-I and PDA were also similar regardless of ritlecitinib coadministration. Conclusion: Ritlecitinib does not inhibit BCRP, OATP1B1, and OAT3 and is unlikely to cause a clinically relevant interaction through these transporters. Furthermore, our findings add to the body of evidence supporting the utility of CP-I and PDA as endogenous biomarkers for assessment of OATP1B1 and OAT1/3 transporter activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a technique for replacement of the aortic valve in selected patients undergoing redo surgery in the presence of patent coronary artery bypass grafts and occluded native coronary arteries that affords optimal myocardial protection, limited dissection of the heart and minimal risk of injury to existing grafts, in particular, the internal mammary artery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]