bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“It's exercise or nothing”: a qualitative analysis of exercise dependence
Authors: Bamber D , Cockerill I M , Rodgers S , Carroll D
Published: July 2002

Objectives—To explore, using qualitative methods, the concept of exercise dependence. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with subjects screened for exercise dependence and eating disorders.

Methods—Female exercisers, four in each case, were allocated a priori to four groups: primary exercise dependent; secondary exercise dependent, where there was a coincidence of exercise dependence and an eating disorder; eating disordered; control, where there was no evidence of either exercise dependence or eating disorder. They were asked about their exercise and eating attitudes and behaviour, as well as about any history of psychological distress. Their narratives were taped, transcribed, and analysed from a social constructionist perspective using QSR NUD*IST.

Results—Participants classified as primary exercise dependent either showed no evidence of exercise dependent attitudes and behaviour or, if they exhibited features of exercise dependence, displayed symptoms of an eating disorder. Only the latter reported a history of psychological distress, similar to that exhibited by women classified as secondary exercise dependent or eating disordered. For secondary exercise dependent and eating disordered women, as well as for controls, the narratives largely confirmed the a priori classification.

Conclusions—Where exercise dependence was manifest, it was always in the context of an eating disorder, and it was this co-morbidity, in addition to eating disorders per se, that was associated with psychological distress. As such, these qualitative data support the concept of secondary, but not primary, exercise dependence.
Reproducibility and clinical utility of tendon palpation to detect patellar tendinopathy in young basketball players
Authors: Cook J L , Khan K M , Kiss Z S , Purdam C R , Griffiths L
Published: July 2002

Background—Palpation is an important clinical test for jumper's knee.

Objectives—To (a) test the reproducibility of palpation tenderness, (b) evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of palpation in subjects with clinical symptoms of jumper's knee, and (c) determine whether tenderness to palpation may serve as a useful screening test for patellar tendinopathy. The yardstick for diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy was ultrasonographic abnormality.

Methods—In 326 junior symptomatic and asymptomatic athletes' tendons, palpation was performed by a single examiner before ultrasonographic examination by a certified ultrasound radiologist. In 58 tendons, palpation was performed twice to test reliability. Tenderness to palpation was scored on a scale from 0 to 3 where 0 represented no pain, and 1, 2, and 3 represented mild, moderate, and severe tenderness respectively.

Results—Patellar tendon palpation was a reliable examination for a single examiner (Pearsonr= 0.82). In symptomatic tendons, the positive predictive value of palpation was 68%. As a screening examination in asymptomatic subjects, the positive predictive value of tendon palpation was 36–38%. Moderate and severe palpation tenderness were better predictors of ultrasonographic tendon pathology than absent or mild tenderness (p<0.001). Tender and symptomatic tendons were more likely to have ultrasound abnormality than tenderness alone (p<0.01).

Conclusions—In this age group, palpation is a reliable test but it is not cost effective in detecting patellar tendinopathy in a preparticipation examination. In symptomatic tendons, palpation is a moderately sensitive but not specific test. Mild tenderness in the patellar tendons in asymptomatic jumping athletes should be considered normal.
Cyclist's iliac syndrome: temporary relief by balloon angioplasty
Authors: Wijesinghe L D , Coughlin P A , Robertson I , Kessel D , Kent P J , Kester R C
Published: July 2002

External iliac stenosis due to endofibrosis is a rare condition that predominantly affects top level cyclists. Short term symptomatic relief is reported in an Olympian after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, which was performed to allow the patient to return to training without delay.
Coeliac disease in the father affects the newborn
Authors: Ludvigsson J F , Ludvigsson J
Published: July 2002

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Untreated coeliac disease in the mother is associated with lower birth weight. We examined the risk of adverse neonatal outcome when the infant's mother, father, or other relative suffered from known coeliac disease.

METHODS

Mothers answered a questionnaire a few days after the birth of their infant. Of a total of 10597 single birth infants from Southeast Sweden, 53 infants had a mother with coeliac disease (father 27, sibling 70, other close relative 442). Adjusted odds ratios and adjusted differences for neonatal outcome were calculated.

RESULTS

Infants whose father suffered from coeliac disease had a lower birth weight (95% adjusted confidence interval (CI) −459, −72 g), more often belonged to the low birth weight (LBW) category (LBW ⩽2499 g) (95% CI adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.48–17.18), and had a shorter pregnancy duration (95% adjusted CI −1.53, −0.08 weeks) than non-coeliac controls. They also weighed less than infants whose father suffered from other autoimmune diseases (95% CI −549, −93 g). Infants whose mother suffered from coeliac disease had a lower birth weight (95% adjusted CI −370, −74 g) and more often belonged to the LBW category (95% CI AOR 2.60–15.08) than non-coeliac controls. These infants were more often in the LBW category than infants whose mother suffered from non-diabetic autoimmune diseases (95% CI AOR 1.24–9.65). Coeliac disease in other relatives was not associated with any adverse effect on neonatal outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that even treated coeliac disease, in either of the parents, has a negative effect on pregnancy, resulting in lower birth weight and perhaps shorter duration of pregnancy.
Would you like to know what is wrong with you? On telling the truth to patients with dementia
Authors: Marzanski Marek
Published: July 2002

Objectives—To discover what dementia sufferers feel is wrong with them; what they have been told and by whom, and what they wish to know about their illness.

Background—Ethical guidelines regarding telling truth appear to be equivocal. Declarations of cognitively intact subjects, attitudes of family members and current psychiatric practice all vary, but no previous research has been published concerning what patients with dementia would in fact like to know about their diagnosis and prognosis.

Design—Questionnaire study of the patients' opinions.

Setting—Old Age Psychiatry Service in Worcester.

Participants—30 consecutive patients with dementia.

Results—The quality of information received has been poor and many patients have no opportunity to discuss their illness with anybody. Despite that almost half of the participants in this study had adequate insight and a majority declared that they would like to know more about their predicament.

Conclusions—Although many patients would like to know the truth, the rights of those who do not want to know should also be respected. Therefore the diagnosis of dementia should not be routinely disclosed but (just as in other disorders) health care professionals should seek to understand their patients' preferences and act appropriately according to their choice.
Priorities in care and services for elderly people: a path without guidelines?
Authors: Bergmark Åke , Parker Marti G , Thorslund Mats
Published: July 2002

The growing gap between demands and resources is putting immense pressure on all government spending in Sweden. The gap is especially apparent in care and services for elderly people in light of the rapid aging of the population. The article considers the decisions and priorities concerning resource allocation in the welfare sector in general and in elderly care in particular. The aim is to describe the political and administrative setting and to provide a conceptual structure that outlines the nature of the problem. Various levels of decision making are identified and discussed in the context of political accountability. Current transitions in elderly care are described with respect to service provision, marketisation, coverage rates, and eligibility standards. Basic principles of distribution are highlighted in order to clarify some central concepts of efficiency and justice, and a number of strategies for actual prioritising are identified. The article concludes with an endorsement of more conscious decisions in resource allocation. Existing knowledge and information concerning the effects of various strategies must be utilised, and the values and assumptions used for setting priorities must be made explicit.
Ethical dilemmas in palliative care: a study in Taiwan
Authors: Chiu Tai-Yuan , Hu Wen-Yu , Cheng Shao-Yi , Chen Ching-Yu
Published: July 2002

Objectives—To investigate the incidence and solution of ethical dilemmas in a palliative care unit.

Design—Health care workers recorded daily all dilemmas in caring for each patient.

Setting—Palliative care unit of National Taiwan University Hospital in Taiwan.

Patients—Two hundred and forty-six consecutive patients with terminal cancer during 1997-8.

Main measurement—Ethical dilemmas in the questionnaire were categorised as follows: telling the truth; place of care; therapeutic strategy; hydration and nutrition; blood transfusion; alternative treatment; terminal sedation; use of medication, and others.

Results—The type and frequency of ethical dilemmas encountered were: place of care (33.3%); truth-telling (32.1%); hydration and nutrition (25.2%); therapeutic strategy (24.8%), and use of medication (19.1%). Ethical problems relating to the place of care and to therapeutic strategy were unlikely to be solved with increased hospital stay and some ethical dilemmas remained unsolved even in the final week in hospital, including place of care (23.2%), truth-telling (17.1%) and therapeutic strategy (11.4%). Problems of truth-telling occurred in nearly half (42.6%) of patients over sixty-five-years-old. Conflicts about blood transfusion were experienced in all patients below 18-years-old, and the dilemmas concerning the place of care occurred most frequently with head and neck cancer patients (43.8%).

Conclusions—The solution of ethical dilemmas required refocusing by medical professionals on the importance of continuing communication. Improved ethical training for professionals would contribute to solving the moral dilemmas of palliative care.
Consumerism in prenatal diagnosis: a challenge for ethical guidelines
Authors: Henn Wolfram
Published: July 2002

The ethical guidelines for prenatal diagnosis proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as by national regulations, only refer to paternity and gender of the fetus as unacceptable, disease-unrelated criteria for prenatal selection, as no other such parameters are at hand so far. This perspective is too narrow because research on complex genetic systems such as cognition and ageing is about to provide clinically applicable tests for genetic constituents of potentially desirable properties such as intelligence or longevity which could be misused as parameters for prenatal diagnosis. Moreover, there is an increasing number of prenatally testable genetic traits, such as heritable deafness, which are generally regarded as pathological but desired by some prospective parents and taken into account as parameters for pro-disability selection. To protect prenatal diagnosis from ethically unacceptable genetic consumerism, guidelines must be clarified as soon as possible and updated towards a worldwide restriction of prenatal genetic testing to immediately disease-determining traits.
How should doctors approach patients? A Confucian reflection on personhood
Authors: Tsai Daniel Fu-Chang
Published: July 2002

The modern doctor-patient relationship displays a patient-centred, mutual-participation characteristic rather than the former active-passive or guidance-cooperation models in terms of medical decision making. Respecting the wishes of patients, amounting to more than mere concern for their welfare, has become the feature central to certain modern bioethics theories. A group of ethical principles such as respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice has been proposed by bioethicists and widely adopted by many medical societies as an ethical guide to how doctors, in their daily practice, should treat their patients. However, seeing patients as persons who are rational, self-conscious beings capable of valuing their own lives, and who are consequently entitled to the liberty and rights to choose for themselves, is in general the backbone of Western bioethical principles.

Since Confucian philosophy has long been a representative of the East-Asia cultural tradition and Confucian bioethics has recently been developed as a theory of applied ethics, examining Confucius's idea of “persons” may shed some light on the current bioethical debates. Confucius's concept of persons, which is best interpreted via his theories of “chun-tze”, (the morally ideal person) encapsulating a two-dimensional approach, (the “autonomous person” and the “relational person”), provides a more comprehensive model regarding what a person is and how he/she should be treated. This two-dimensional approach sees a person not only as a rational, autonomous agent but also as a relational, altruistic identity whose self actualisation involves incessant participating in and promoting of the welfare of his fellow persons. Hence this may balance the current bioethical trend whereby “respect for autonomy” often triumphs.
Cross sectional study of a workforce exposed to hand-arm vibration: with objective tests and the Stockholm workshop scales
Authors: McGeoch Kenneth L , Gilmour W Harper
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

Medical surveillance of workforces exposed to vibration has been recommended with the Stockholm workshop scales. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate how the results of the objective tests individually and jointly associated with the final Stockholm workshop staging, (b) how this staging related to the history of exposure to vibration, and(c)how different trades were affected by the hazards from vibrating tools.

METHODS

All workers exposed to vibration in a heavy engineering company were examined with a questionnaire and a battery of tests. An assessment of staging by the Stockholm workshop scales was made. Estimates of the daily exposure and lifetime dosage of vibration of the various trades were reached.

RESULTS

The average years of tool use was 23.3 years (range 3–47 years) and the mean lifetime exposure was 11 022 (range 1012–46 125) hours. The individual neurological tests were all strongly associated with the Stockholm neurological staging but the cold provocation test was not associated with the Stockholm vascular staging. Neurological staging was significantly associated with age, years of tool use, and total hours of exposure to vibration, but not with trade or smoking. Vascular staging was significantly associated with age, years of tool use, total hours of exposure to vibration, and trade, but not with smoking. The mean neurological latent period was 19.7 (range 2–40) years and for the vascular component 19.1 (range 2–40) years. These means varied significantly by trade. The overall prevalence of neurological findings of 62% was greater than the overall prevalence of vascular findings, which was 33%.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The neurological objective tests were found to be of use in neurological staging. The cold provocation test was not associated with the vascular staging and therefore was of little value. (2) Years of tool use was the exposure variable most significantly associated with evidence of damage to neurological component while years of tool use and trade were the variables most associated with vascular damage. (3) The prevalence of neurological symptoms (62%) was greater than the prevalence of vascular symptoms (33%). (4) Dressers and welders have shorter latent periods than platers and fitters.
Personal air sampling and biological monitoring of occupational exposure to the soil fumigantcis-1,3-dichloropropene
Authors: Brouwer E J , Verplanke A J W , Boogaard P J , Bloemen L J , Van Sittert N J , Christian F E , Stokkentreeff M , Dijksterhuis A , Mulder A , De Wolff F A
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

To assess exposure of commercial application workers to the nematocidecis-1,3-dichloropropene (cis-DCP).

METHODS

The study was conducted during the annual application season, August to 15 November, in the starch potato growing region in The Netherlands. 14 Application workers collected end of shift urine samples on each fumigation day (n=119). The mercapturic acid metabolite N-acetyl-S-(cis-3-chloro-2-propenyl)-L-cysteine (cis-DCP-MA) in urine was used for biological monitoring of thecis-DCP uptake. Inhalatory exposure was assessed by personal air sampling during a representative sample (n=37) of the fumigation days. Extensive information was collected on factors of possible relevance to the exposure and the application workers were observed for compliance with the statutory directions for use. The inhalatory exposure during all fumigation days was estimated from the relation between the personal air sampling data and the biological monitoring data. Exposure levels were correlated with the general work practice. The fumigation equipment and procedures were in accordance with the statutory directions of use, with the exception of the antidrip systems. Two antidrip systems were used: antidrip nozzles or a compressed air system.

RESULTS

The geometric mean exposure of the application workers was 2.7 mg/m3(8 hour time weighted average); range 0.1–9.5 mg/m3. On 25 days (21%) the exposure exceeded the Dutch occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 5 mg/m3. This could mainly be explained by prolonged working days of more than 8 hours. The general work practice of the application workers was rated by the observers as good or poor. No difference in exposure tocis-DCP was found in the use of none, one, or two antidrip systems. Malfunctioning of the antidrip systems and lack of experience with the compressed air system were identified as possible causes for the lack of effectiveness of these antidrip systems. The use of personal protection was not always in accordance with the statutory directions of use. Dermal exposure to liquidcis-DCP was found four times during repair and maintenance, but the biological monitoring data did not suggest a significant increase incis-DCP uptake.

CONCLUSIONS

The application ofcis-DCP in the potato growing industry can be performed at exposure concentrations below the Dutch OEL of 5 mg/m3if the working days are limited to 8 hours. An injector equipped with either kind of antidrip system which is in good working order, as well as the consistent use of personal protection in accordance with the statutory directions of use, may ensure exposure concentrations below the Dutch OEL.
Exposure to high concentrations of nitrosamines and cancer mortality among a cohort of rubber workers
Authors: Straif Kurt , Weiland Stephan K , Bungers Martina , Holthenrich Dagmar , Taeger Dirk , Yi Sun , Keil Ulrich
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

To examine if the occurrence of different cancers was increased among rubber workers, as the highest known exposures of humans to nitrosamines have occurred in the rubber industry.

METHODS

A cohort of 8933 rubber workers (hired after 1 January 1950, still active or retired on 1 January 1981 and employed for at least 1 year in one of five study factories) was followed up for mortality from 1 January 1981 to 31 December 1991. Work histories were reconstructed with routinely documented cost centre codes, which allowed identification by employment in specific work areas. For each cost centre code time and factory specific, semi-quantitative exposures to nitrosamines (three levels: low, medium, high) and other compounds were estimated by industrial hygienists. Rate ratios for medium (RRm) and high (RRh) exposures and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated with Cox's proportional hazards models with the low exposure as reference.

RESULTS

Exposure to nitrosamines was significantly associated with an increased mortality from cancers of the oesophagus (13 deaths: RRm1.7, 95% CI 0.3 to 10.3; RRh7.3, 95% CI 1.9 to 27.8) and of the oral cavity and pharynx (17 deaths: RRm0.8, 95% CI 0.2 to 4.1; RRh3.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 11.1). A non-significant trend of increasing mortality with exposure to higher concentrations of nitrosamines was found for mortality from cancer of the prostate (26 deaths: RRm1.4, 95% CI 0.5 to 3.8; RRh2.2, 95% CI 0.9 to 5.6), and the brain (six deaths: RRm3.9, 95% CI 0.3 to 42.6; RRh6.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 57.6). No association was found between exposure to nitrosamines and cancer of the stomach (RRm0.8, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.8; RRh1.2, 95% CI 0.5 to 2.5) or lung (RRm1.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.5; RRh1.0, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.6).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to high concentrations of nitrosamines is associated with increased mortality from cancers of the oesophagus, oral cavity, and pharynx, but not with increased mortality from cancers of the stomach or lung.
Reconstruction of occupational mercury exposures at a chloralkali plant
Authors: Williams P L , Frumkin H , Pierce M L , Manning C C , Elon L , Sanders A G
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVE

To reconstruct historical workplace exposure to mercury (Hg) from 1956 to 1994 at a large chloralkali factory for use in a current epidemiology study of the factory.

METHODS

All job activities of the employees were classified into one of 16 exposure categories, and the dates of changes in the processes were identified. Exposures to Hg for each job category, at each period of the plant's operation, were then reconstructed from several data sources. A job-time period-exposure matrix was created, and the individual exposures of former workers were calculated. Data on exposure to Hg in air were compared with modelled concentrations of Hg in air and data on urinary Hg of the employees.

RESULTS

Within an exposure category, concentrations of Hg in air were fairly constant for the first 20 years of the factory's operation, but began to increase in the late 1970s. Employees working in the cell room had the greatest exposures to Hg. The exposure estimates had significant correlations (p<0.001) with the urinary data and were well within the modelled range of concentrations of Hg in air.

CONCLUSIONS

The highest exposures occurred from 1987 until the plant closed in early 1994 with some exposure categories having time weighted average exposures to Hg greater than 140 μg/m3.
Exposures and cancer incidence near oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador
Authors: Sebastián M San , Armstrong B , Córdoba J A , Stephens C
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

To examine environmental exposure and incidence and mortality of cancer in the village of San Carlos surrounded by oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador.

METHODS

Water samples of the local streams were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). A preliminary list of potential cancer cases from 1989 to 1998 was prepared. Cases were compared with expected numbers of cancer morbidity and mortality registrations from a Quito reference population.

RESULTS

Water analysis showed severe exposure to TPHs by the residents. Ten patients with cancer were diagnosed while resident in the village of San Carlos. An overall excess for all types of cancer was found in the male population (8 observedv3.5 expected) with a risk 2.26 times higher than expected (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.97 to 4.46). There was an overall excess of deaths for all types of cancer (6v1.6 expected) among the male population 3.6 times higher than the reference population (95% CI 1.31 to 7.81).

CONCLUSIONS

The observed excess of cancer might be associated with the pollution of the environment by toxic contaminants coming from the oil production.
Neurobehavioural testing in workers occupationally exposed to lead: systematic review and meta-analysis of publications
Authors: Goodman M , LaVerda N , Clarke C , Foster E D , Iannuzzi J , Mandel J
Published: July 2002

Although the toxic effects of lead on the central nervous system have been well described, the blood concentration at which lead begins to exert adverse effects remains the focus of debate. A meta-analysis of occupational studies was conducted evaluating the association between neurobehavioural testing results and moderate blood lead concentrations.
Not if, but how: one way to talk with patients about forgoing life support
Authors: Löfmark Rurik , Nilstun Tore
Published: July 2002

May the common clinical conversation be used to explore whether or not seriously ill patients want to talk about possible limitations of life support? In order to answer this question, a series of 20 seriously ill patients took part in an interview. The clinical conversations were taped and transcribed, and recurrent themes were identified and organised into categories. After talking about their diagnosis and prognosis, most patients said it was natural to talk about possible limitations of life support, and a substantial number immediately indicated that they did not want any life-sustaining treatment. Although their emotional reactions were different, no one seemed to be upset by talking about such issues. Many but not all patients said that they wanted a family member and possibly also a nurse to participate in the conversation. Every doctor learns to conduct a clinical conversation and this approach may be applied when talking with seriously ill patients about difficult treatment decisions.
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: a clinical review
Authors: Iqbal Mobeen , Rossoff Leonard J , Steinberg Harry N , Marzouk Kamel A , Siegel David N
Published: July 2002

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are a rare clinical entity. Most of them are associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. The usual clinical presentation is exertional dyspnoea and hypoxaemia. The initial test of choice for screening is the 100% oxygen method. A pulmonary angiogram is needed to define the anatomy and guide transcatheter embolisation (TCE). TCE has been shown to be effective and safe with a very low recanalisation rate and has largely replaced surgery for PAVMs. Computed tomography of the chest can be used for the follow up of asymptomatic PAVMs and TCE.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Authors: Seneviratne Udaya
Published: July 2002

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder encompassing a heterogeneous group of pathological and clinical entities. Antecedent infections are thought to trigger an immune response, which subsequently cross reacts with nerves leading to demyelination or axonal degeneration. Both intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and plasma exchange have been found to be equally beneficial. Several factors are useful in predicting the outcome of these patients.
Enteral feeding. Nasogastric, nasojejunal, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or jejunostomy: its indications and limitations
Authors: Pearce C B , Duncan H D
Published: July 2002

The following article is intended to provide a review of the current state of enteral feeding; a rapidly changing and developing field. It covers the type of feed, the routes of access, and the problems that can occur with enteral feeding.
Osmotic and ionic effects of NaCl on germination, early seedling growth, and ion content of Atriplex halimus (Chenopodiaceae)
Authors: Bajji Mohammed , Kinet Jean-Marie , Lutts Stanley
Published: July 2002

The effects of salt and osmotic stresses on the germination processes in seeds of the perennial halophyte species Atriplex halimus L. were compared using iso-osmotic concentrations of NaCl and mannitol. The lowest stress intensity delayed germination, while higher doses of NaCl and mannitol reduced final germination percentages. No significant difference occurred between the effects of these solutes on germination percentages or seedling dry weights. At an external osmotic potential of 0.7 MPa, however, the water content of mannitol-treated seedlings was reduced compared to that of seedlings that developed from NaCl-exposed seeds. The K, Mg, and Pi content decreased in seedlings that developed from mannitol-treated seeds while calcium concentration was strongly reduced in those arising from NaCl-treated seeds. Inhibited seeds were able to germinate at levels similar to those of the control after rinsing in deionized water and imbibition in control conditions. Seedlings produced from NaCl pre-treated seeds had a lower Ca and a higher Na content than control seedlings. The effect of salinity on the germination phase of development is mainly due to its osmotic component, and inhibition of germination is reversible. Both salt and osmotic stresses may have an impact on the mobilization of minerals from the seeds to the young seedling, but this effect does not have any consequence on growth processes analysed on a short-term basis.Key words: Atriplex halimus, halophyte, osmotic stress, recovery of seed germination, salinity.
Nature of the basement to Quesnel Terrane near Christina Lake, southeastern British Columbia
Authors: Acton S L , Simony P S , Heaman L M
Published: July 2002

The character of the Paleozoic basement of Quesnel Terrane and the position of the terrane accretion surface that separates Quesnel and Kootenay terranes from rocks of the ancient North American margin are subjects of debate. To address these problems, detailed mapping and UPb geochronologic studies were carried out in the Christina Lake area to define the relationship of the Mollie Creek assemblage, Josh Creek diorite, and Fife diorite to similar lithologies in the Greenwood  Grand Forks and Rossland regions, and to place limits on the ages of regional deformation and local position of the terrane accretion surface. Deformed metasedimentary rocks of the Mollie Creek assemblage may correlate with sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian to Early Triassic Mount Roberts Formation in the Rossland area. The Mollie Creek assemblage is intruded by the foliated Late Triassic Josh Creek diorite. The Josh Creek diorite and Mollie Creek assemblage have been deformed together as a result of phase two deformation, following the intrusion of the Josh Creek diorite in the Late Triassic and prior to the intrusion of the Fife diorite and deposition of the overlying Rossland Group in the Early Jurassic. Based on relative age, structural position, and lithological similarities to other units within Quesnel Terrane, the Mollie Creek assemblage, Josh Creek diorite, and Fife diorite are a part of Quesnel Terrane and lie above the terrane accretion surface in the Christina Lake area. Therefore, Quesnel Terrane does not unconformably overlie basement rocks of known North American affinity in this region.
Linkage mapping of genes controlling resistance to white rust (Albugo candida) inBrassica rapa(syn.campestris) and comparative mapping toBrassica napusandArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kole C , Williams P H , Rimmer S R , Osborn T C
Published: July 2002

Genes for resistance to white rust (Albugo candida) in oilseed Brassica rapa were mapped using a recombinant inbred (RI) population and a genetic linkage map consisting of 144 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers and 3 phenotypic markers. Young seedlings were evaluated by inoculating cotyledons with A. candida race 2 (AC2) and race 7 (AC7) and scoring the interaction phenotype (IP) on a 09 scale. The IP of each line was nearly identical for the two races and the population showed bimodal distributions, suggesting that a single major gene (or tightly linked genes) controlled resistance to the two races. The IP scores were converted to categorical resistant and susceptible scores, and these data were used to map a single Mendelian gene controlling resistance to both races on linkage group 4 where resistance to race 2 had been mapped previously. A quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping approach using the IP scores detected the same major resistance locus for both races, plus a second minor QTL effect for AC2 on linkage group 2. These results indicate that either a dominant allele at a single locus (Aca1) or two tightly linked loci control seedling resistance to both races of white rust in the biennial turnip rape cultivar Per. The map positions of white rust resistance genes in B. rapa and Brassica napus were compared and the results indicate where additional loci that have not been mapped may be located. Alignment of these maps to the physical map of the Arabidopsis genome identified regions to target for comparative fine mapping using this model organism.Key words: plant disease, oilseed Brassica, molecular markers.
The suitability of leaves from different canopy layers for a generalist herbivore (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) foraging on sugar maple
Authors: Fortin Michel , Mauffette Yves
Published: July 2002

Variations of leaf suitability within forest canopies may have important consequences for the biology of phytophagous insects. In this study we examined over 4 consecutive years (19941997), the influence of vertical stratification of leaves within a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stand on biological performance and feeding preference of Malacosoma disstria Hbn. Each year, 10 healthy sugar maple trees and about 15 understory sugar maple seedlings were selected. Leaves were collected from the lower (36 m above ground) and the upper crown (2025 m above ground) sections of the trees and from seedlings. Sampled leaves were set in Petri dishes for insect rearings in controlled environment. The performance of the insect, especially pupal masses and the number of eggs of adult females, was higher when larvae were fed with leaves from the upper crown section of trees. Results for the feeding preference tests showed that larvae of fourth instars consumed more surface area from leaves collected in the upper crown section of the trees. More total nitrogen found in leaves from the upper tree crown could explain the higher performance of this insect. Our results confirm the importance of the heterogeneity in leaf suitability along a vertical stratification in forests by its influence on biological performance and feeding preference of M. disstria.
Microhabitat use by the snow vole Chionomys nivalis in alpine environments reflects rock-dwelling preferences
Authors: Luque-Larena Juan José , López Pilar , Gosálbez Joaquim
Published: July 2002

Environmental conditions in mountainous regions have influenced the nature of some adaptations among small mammals and this may apply to strategies of habitat use in alpine biotopes. In the present paper, microhabitat use in relation to microhabitat availability of a population of snow voles Chionomys nivalis Martins, 1842, a nonhibernating microtine rodent that inhabits high-mountain environments exclusively, was studied. The results show that C. nivalis did not use microhabitats in proportion to availability, suggesting a preference for certain habitat characteristics. Chionomys nivalis strongly used scree areas at all times, whereas the use of available areas of mixed shrubs (Juniperus communis and Cytisus oromediterraneus) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was lower than expected. Factors other than food, such as favourable microclimate or refuge from predators, might determine regular use of rocky microhabitats. The results also revealed differences in the use of rocky structures related to sex and reproductive condition, suggesting different strategies of spatial use related to reproductive tasks. Juveniles and reproductive females used central zones of the scree and areas with scree junipers (J. communis) significantly more than expected, whereas reproductive males and nonreproductive adults used scree areas in proportion to availability. Based on its unique morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics, C. nivalis can be considered a rock-dwelling specialist of alpine environments.
A synthesis of tissue-preservation effects on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures
Authors: Sarakinos Helen C , Johnson Michael L , Zanden M Jake Vander
Published: July 2002

Stable-isotope analysis is a powerful method for characterizing flows of mass and energy through ecosystems. Long-term food-web studies using stable isotopes are valuable but rare because the required samples are not readily available. We examine the feasibility of using preserved specimens from natural-history collections as a source of long-term data for food-web studies and test whether chemical preservation affects the stable-isotope signature of tissues. We experimentally determined the effects of tissue preservation and fixation with 75% ethanol and 10% formalin, respectively, on δ13C and δ15N of three aquatic consumers: Sacramento sucker, Catostomus occidentalis, Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, and a caddisfly, Hydropsyche sp. Using both our results and previously published literature results, we characterize preservation effects across many different consumer taxa including invertebrates, fish, and birds. Overall, only formalin fixation systematically affected isotope signature, causing an average depletion of 1.65 in δ13C, a bias that can easily be corrected for prior to interpreting data. Preservation affected mean δ15N values with far lower frequency and magnitude, although variability increased with preservation for some taxa but not others. These findings suggest that preserved specimens may be used for stable-isotope analysis and open up the possibility of using archived collections to reconstruct food webs and biogeochemical changes at scales of tens to hundreds of years.
QUANTIZATION AND SUPERSELECTION SECTORS II: DIRAC MONOPOLE AND AHARONOV-BOHM EFFECT
Authors: LANDSMAN N.P.
Published: July 2002

The quantization procedure of the preceding paper is applied to study two generic topological quantum effects, viz. the charge quantization induced by (abelian) magnetic monopoles, and the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Prior to these applications, a general procedure is given for reducing unitary representations of a locally compact G which are induced by nontrivial unitary representations of H⊂G. This involves the use of spherical trace functions, and is useful in the determination of the eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian of the particle in a given superselection sector. Such Hamiltonians, implementing the time-evolution on the given abstract C*-algebra, are explicitly constructed and analyzed. The relevant quantum effects are found to be a consequence of the representation theory of the appropriate algebras of observables. In this way a group- and operator-theoretic elucidation of the mathematical structure of the given systems is attempted. This paper may be read independently of its predecessor.
LIE BI-SUPERALGEBRAS AND THE GRADED CLASSICAL YANG-BAXTER EQUATION
Authors: GOULD M. D. , ZHANG R. B. , BRACKEN A. J.
Published: July 2002

The theory of Lie bi-superalgebras and its connection with the graded classical Yang-Baxter equation are studied. The classical double construction is developed in some detail in the graded case; this allows the embedding of any given finite dimensional Lie bi-superalgebra in a quasitriangular Lie bi-superalgebra. A universal formula for the classical r-matrix is obtained in an explicit form.
GROUP THEORETIC FORMULATION OF THE SEGAL-WILSON APPROACH TO INTEGRABLE SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
Authors: HAAK G. , SCHMIDT M. , SCHRADER R.
Published: July 2002

A general group theoretic formulation of integrable systems is presented. The approach generalizes the discussion of the KdV equations of Segal and Wilson based on ideas of Sato. The starting point is the construction of commuting flows on the group via left multiplication with elements from an abelian subgroup. The initial data are then coded by elements, called abstract scattering data, in a certain coset space. The resulting equations of motion are then derived from a suitably formulated Maurer-Cartan equation (zero curvature condition) given an abstract Birkhoff factorization. The resulting equations of motion are of the Zakharov-Shabat type. In the case of flows periodic in x-space, the integrals of motion have a natural group theoretic interpretation. A first example is provided by the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation, first studied by Fordy and Kulish with integrals of motion which may be local or nonlocal. A suitable reduction gives the mKdV equations of Drinfeld and Sokolov. On the level of abstract scattering data the generalized Miura transformation from solutions of the mKdV equations to the KdV type equations is then just the canonical map from a coset space to a double coset space.

This group theoretic approach is related to the algebraic geometric discussion of integrable systems via an affine map from the abelian group describing flows restricted to a suitable set of abstract scattering data, called algebraic geometric, onto a connected component of the Picard variety.
ADÈLIC PATH SPACE INTEGRALS
Authors: BLAIR ALAN D.
Published: July 2002

A framework for the study of path integrals on adèlic spaces is developed, and it is shown that a family of path space measures on the localizations of an algebraic number field may, under certain conditions, be combined to form a global path space measure on its adèle ring. An operator on the field of p-adic numbers analogous to the harmonic oscillator operator is then analyzed, and used to construct an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck type process on the adèle ring of the rationals.
NETS OF SUBFACTORS
Authors: LONGO R. , REHREN K.-H.
Published: July 2002

A subtheory of a quantum field theory specifies von Neumann subalgebras [Formula: see text] (the ‘observables’ in the space-time region [Formula: see text]) of the von Neumann algebras [Formula: see text] (the 'field' localized in [Formula: see text]). Every local algebra being a (type III1) factor, the inclusion [Formula: see text] is a subfactor. The assignment of these local subfactors to the space-time regions is called a ‘net of subfactors’. The theory of subfactors is applied to such nets. In order to characterize the ‘relative position’ of the subtheory, and in particular to control the restriction and induction of superselection sectors, the canonical endomorphism is studied. The crucial observation is this: the canonical endomorphism of a single local subfactor extends to an endomorphism of the field net, which in turn restricts to a localized endomorphism of the observable net. The method allows one to characterize, and reconstruct, local extensions ℬ of a given theory [Formula: see text] in terms of the observables. Various non-trivial examples are given. Several results go beyond the quantum field theoretical application.
LOW TEMPERATURE STATES IN THE FALICOV-KIMBALL MODEL
Authors: MESSAGER A. , MIRACLE-SOLE S.
Published: July 2002

The ground states and low temperature states of the Falicov-Kimball model are studied in the plane of chemical potentials of the two types of particles involved, for large values of the coupling constant, near the half-filled band. For this study, a cluster expansion is introduced which can be used to investigate the effective interaction energy between the static particles.
ASYMPTOTIC COMPLETENESS FOR THE SPIN-BOSON MODEL WITH A PARTICLE NUMBER CUTOFF
Authors: GÉRARD C.
Published: July 2002

We study the spin-boson model with a particle number cutoff. The spin-boson model is a simplified model of an atom interacting with a quantized photon field. An important physical phenomenon that one would like to understand rigorously on this model is the phenomenon of radiative decay, where the atom asymptotically relaxes to its ground state by emitting photons. One of the possible approaches to radiative decay is through scattering theory. For the cutoff spin-boson hamiltonian, we prove the existence and asymptotic completeness of the channel wave operators, which have natural interpretation in terms of the radiative decay property.
Functional Integral Representation of a Model in Quantum Electrodynamics
Authors: Hiroshima Fumio
Published: July 2002

This paper presents functional integral representations for heat semigroups with infinitesimal generators given by self-adjoint Hamiltonians (Pauli–Fierz Hamiltonians) describing an interaction of a non-relativistic charged particle and a quantized radiation field in the Coulomb gauge without the dipole approximation. By the functional integral representations, some inequalities are derived, which are infinite degree versions of those known for finite dimensional Schrödinger operators with classical vector potentials.
A Controlled Trial on Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain
Authors: Zhu Xue Man , Polus Barbara
Published: July 2002

To evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) acupuncture for chronic neck pain (CNP), a single blind, controlled, crossover, clinical trial was undertaken. Twenty-nine volunteers with CNP were randomly recruited into two groups. Both groups received two phases of treatment with a washout period between the two phases. Group A (14 volunteers) received CM acupuncture in the first phase and sham acupuncture in the second, while Group B (15 volunteers) received sham in the first and real in the second. CM acupuncture was individualized and consisted of nine sessions on both local and distal points. Manual twisting of the needle was applied on all points plus strong electrical stimulation of distal points in CM acupuncture. Sham acupoints (lateral to the real) and sham (weak) electrical stimulation was used in the control group. Comparison of subjective and objective measures between the two groups was made at different periods, including baseline, after each phase of treatment, after washout, and after the 16th week follow-up. The subjective measures included pain intensity, duration per day, analgesic medication count, visual analogue scales (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI). The objective measures consisted of neck range of motion (ROM) and pain threshold (PT). Both the real and sham treatments significantly reduced subjective pain, without significant differences between groups for most subjective measures. Objective measures showed no significant change for either group before and after each period or by inter-groups analysis. A minimum 16-week effect of both real and sham acupuncture was found for subjective measures in the follow-up periods. Further study is recommended with an increased sample size, a longer washout period, and a longer baseline period.
THE DIRAC FIELD IN TAUB–NUT BACKGROUND
Authors: COTĂESCU ION I. , VISINESCU MIHAI
Published: July 2002

We investigate the SO (4,1) gauge-invariant theory of the Dirac fermions in the external field of the Kaluza–Klein monopole, pointing out that the quantum modes can be recovered from a Klein–Gordon equation analogous to the Schrödinger equation in the Taub–NUT background. Moreover, we show that there is a large collection of observables that can be directly derived from those of the scalar theory. These offer many possibilities of choosing complete sets of commuting operators which determine the quantum modes. In addition there are some spin-like and Dirac-type operators involving the covariantly constant Killing–Yano tensors of the hyper-Kähler Taub–NUT space. The energy eigenspinors of the central modes in spherical coordinates are completely evaluated in explicit, closed form.