bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking circumferential resection margin (R1) resection rate for rectal cancer in the neoadjuvant era
Authors: Chambers W. , Collins G. , Warren B. , Cunningham C. , Mortensen N. , Lindsey I.
Published: April 2009

Aim  Circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement (R1) is used to audit rectal cancer surgical quality. However, when downsizing chemoradiation (dCRT) is used, CRM audits both dCRT and surgery, its use reflecting a high casemix of locally advanced tumours. We aimed to evaluate predictors of R1 and benchmark R1 rates in the dCRT era, and to assess the influence of failure of steps in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) process to CRM involvement.

Method  A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected rectal cancer data was undertaken. Patients were classified according to CRM status. Uni‐ and multivariate analysis was undertaken of risk factors for R1 resection. The contribution of the steps of the MDT process to CRM involvement was assessed.

Results  Two hundred and ten rectal cancers were evaluated (68% T3 or T4 on preoperative staging). R1 (microscopic) and R2 (macroscopic) resections occurred in 20 (10%) and 6 patients (3%), respectively. Of several factors associated with R1 resections on univariate analysis, only total mesorectal excision (TME) specimen defects and threatened/involved CRM on preoperative imaging remained as independent predictors of R1 resections on multivariate analysis. Causes of R1 failure by MDT step classification found that less than half were associated with and only 15% solely attributable to a suboptimal TME specimen.

Conclusion  Total mesorectal excision specimen defects and staging‐predicted threatened or involved CRM are independent strong predictors of R1 resections. In most R1 resections, the TME specimen was intact. It is important to remember the contribution of both the local staging casemix and dCRT failure when using R1 rates to assess purely surgical competence.
Stapled haemorrhoidopexy: 6 years’ experience of a referral centre
Authors: Sultan S. , Rabahi N. , Etienney I. , Atienza P.
Published: April 2009

Aim  To prospectively evaluate the long‐term results and assess patient satisfaction after stapled haemorrhoidopexy (HS).

Method  A total of 150 patients (121 male patients) with symptomatic grade II (n = 50) or III (n = 100) haemorrhoids underwent stapled HS. Patients were followed up during consultations at regular intervals, allowing prospective data collection. A final telephone follow up was also undertaken.

Results  Follow up data were obtained for 130 of 150 patients (86.6%). After a median follow up of 39 months (range, 12‐72), 90% of the patients were fully satisfied and 92% were free of haemorrhoidal symptoms. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative bleeding that required operation was observed in five patients (3.3%). Most late postoperative complications were benign and easily resolved: unexplained pain for over a month (n = 1), external haemorrhoidal thrombosis (n = 2), anal fissure (n = 6) one with hypertrophic papilla, anal fistula (n = 1), rectal stenosis (n = 1), anal incontinence for (n = 1). Eight patients needed rubber band ligation to treat persistent or recurrent symptomatic prolapse. Four patients (2.6%) were reoperated on during the follow up period but none for haemorrhoidal pathology.

Conclusion  Stapled HS procedure is effective and has low morbidity, high patient satisfaction and provided good long‐term control of haemorrhoidal symptoms in the treatment of second and third‐degree haemorrhoids.
Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: response rate, satisfaction and the value of preoperative investigation in patient selection
Authors: Vallet C. , Parc Y. , Lupinacci R. , Shields C. , Parc R. , Tiret E.
Published: April 2009

Objective  Before undergoing sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for faecal incontinence (FI), patients are investigated with morphologic, dynamic and electrophysiologic tests. The purpose of our study was to evaluate their value in the selection of patients who may benefit most from neuromodulation.

Method  If temporary stimulation resulted in a good objective response, a permanent neuromodulator was implanted. Patients were reviewed at 3 months and then at 6 monthly intervals. Asked by telephone, patient’s satisfaction was described as good, satisfactory or poor.

Results  Forty‐five consecutive patients (41 females, median age 59 years) with FI (Wexner 16.1 ± 2.9) underwent SNS. Temporary stimulation was successful in 32 (71)% patients. At a median follow‐up of 33 months, the neuromodulator remained in place in 25 (55%) patients, two do whom switched it off, leaving 23 (51%) with a functioning neuromodulator. There was no statistically significant difference between the characteristics (including manometry, ultrasound and electrophysiology) of patients undergoing implantation (n = 32) or not (n = 13) and those with or without a functioning stimulator (n = 23: n = 13). In the 23 patients with a functioning stimulator the result was good in 12, satisfactory in five and poor in six. There was no statistically significant difference in the patient characteristics between those with a good result (n = 12) and the remainder (n = 32).

Conclusion  The findings suggest that investigation for FI does not facilitate patient selection for SNS and cannot be used to predict outcome.
Extensive anal condylomatosis: prognosis in relation to viral and host factors
Authors: Sarzo G. , Mistro A. , Finco C. , Frayle‐Salamanca H. , Marino F. , Franzetti M. , Ferrara R. , Mistrangelo M. , Savastano S. , Vecchiato M. , Merigliano S.
Published: April 2009

Objective  To evaluate the clinical course of extensive anal condylomatosis in relation to treatment modalities, patient comorbidity and immune function, and associated papillomavirus (HPV) sequences.

Method  Clinical data, treatment modalities and follow‐up were recorded and analysed in relation to host and viral type. Histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses for HPV search and typing were performed on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples.

Results  Sixteen patients [14 males, median age 41.8 years (range 19–66)] affected by extensive anal condylomatosis [10 Buschke‐Lowenstein Tumors (BLT) and 6 condylomatosis] treated in three different Italian institutions were included. There was associated preoperative anal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (AIN3) in one and invasive carcinoma in three patients. After radical resection (n = 16) recurrence occurred in 4/10 (40%) BLT patients. Malignancy before or after treatment developed in 5/16 (31.25%) patients. HPV sequences were present in all the samples of 15 evaluable patients (types 6 or 11, 9 patients; type 16, 6 patients). A statistically significant association was found between presence of HPV type 16 and both malignancy and recurrence. Viral variant L83V was present in 3/4 HPV 16 positive recurrent cases.

Conclusion  Radical resection resulted in a favourable clinical course. Typing of HPV sequences in the management of patients affected by extensive anal condylomatosis may be useful.
Long term follow‐up of transcatheter coil embolotherapy for major colonic haemorrhage
Authors: Ahmed T. M. , Cowley J. B. , Robinson G. , Hartley J. E. , Nicholson A. A. , Lim M. , Ettles D. F. , Monson J. R. T.
Published: April 2009

Aim  Therapeutic angiography with embolization is fast becoming the preferred treatment modality for major bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal (LGI) tract. The aim of this study was to determine the long term outcome and complications of percutaneous coil embolization (PCE) and its efficacy as definitive therapy in patients with major LGI bleeding.

Methods  All patients presenting to our institution with a haemodynamically significant LGI tract bleed between 1995 and 2001 that were unresponsive to conservative measures were considered for emergency angiography and coil embolization where appropriate. The outcome of these individuals was determined by case note review and telephone interview.

Results  There were 20 patients (11 females) with a mean follow‐up period 72 months, mean age was 67 years. All underwent PCE following positive angiogram. The most common site of bleeding was the right colon (40%); haemostasis was successfully achieved in 16 (80%) patients. Five of the 20 patients died within 30 days of the intervention, three following PCE and two following surgery. None of the mortality following PCE was considered procedure related. On long term follow‐up four patients required readmission to hospital for further LGI bleeds at 1, 2, 12 and 16 months respectively. Ischaemic complications occurred in 23%.

Conclusion  Superselective embolization as the primary technique for the treatment of haemodynamically significant LGI bleeding is an effective, feasible and safe technique. Long term follow‐up in our series up to 72 months has shown that it should be considered as both a primary and potentially definitive treatment for life threatening LGI bleeds.
High‐throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping in wheat (Triticum spp.)
Authors: Bérard Aurélie , Le Paslier Marie Christine , Dardevet Mireille , Exbrayat‐Vinson Florence , Bonnin Isabelle , Cenci Alberto , Haudry Annabelle , Brunel Dominique , Ravel Catherine
Published: April 2009

Over the past few years, considerable progress has been made in high‐throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technologies, largely through the investment of the human genetics community. These technologies are well adapted to diploid species. For plant breeding purposes, it is important to determine whether these genotyping methods are adapted to polyploidy, as most major crops are former or recent polyploids. To address this problem, we tested the capacity of the multiplex technology SNPlex™ with a set of 47 wheat SNPs to genotype DNAs of 1314 lines that were organized in four 384‐well plates. These lines represented different taxa of tetra‐ and hexaploid Triticum species and their wild diploid relatives. We observed 40 markers which gave less than 20% missing data. Different methods, based on either Sanger sequencing or the MassARRAY® genotyping technology, were then used to validate the genotypes obtained by SNPlex™ for 11 markers. The concordance of the genotypes obtained by SNPlex™ with the results obtained by the different validation methods was 96%, except for one discarded marker. Furthermore, a mapping study on six markers showed the expected genetic positions previously described. To conclude, this study showed that high‐throughput genotyping technologies developed for diploid species can be used successfully in polyploids, although there is a need for manual reading. For the first time in wheat species, a core of 39 SNPs is available that can serve as the basis for the development of a complete SNPlex™ set of 48 markers.
Multiplex single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based genotyping in allohexaploid wheat using padlock probes
Authors: Edwards Keith J. , Reid Alex L. , Coghill Jane A. , Berry Simon T. , Barker Gary L. A.
Published: April 2009

Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common polymorphism in plant and animal genomes and, as such, are the logical choice for marker‐assisted selection. However, many plants are also polyploid, and marker‐assisted selection can be complicated by the presence of highly similar, but non‐allelic, homoeologous sequences. Despite this, there is practical and academic demand for high‐throughput genotyping in several polyploid crop species, such as allohexaploid wheat. In this paper, we present such a system, which utilizes public single nucleotide polymorphisms previously identified in both agronomically important genes and in randomly selected, mapped, expressed sequence tags developed by the wheat community. To achieve relatively high levels of multiplexing, we used non‐amplified genomic DNA and padlock probe pairs, together with high annealing temperatures, to differentiate between similar sequences in the wheat genome. Our results suggest that padlock probes are capable of discriminating between homoeologous sequences and hence can be used to efficiently genotype wheat varieties.
Colored-Speech Synaesthesia Is Triggered by Multisensory, Not Unisensory, Perception
Authors: Bargary Gary , Barnett Kylie J. , Mitchell Kevin J. , Newell Fiona N.
Published: April 2009

Although it is estimated that as many as 4% of people experience some form of enhanced cross talk between (or within) the senses, known as synaesthesia, very little is understood about the level of information processing required to induce a synaesthetic experience. In work presented here, we used a well-known multisensory illusion called the McGurk effect to show that synaesthesia is driven by late, perceptual processing, rather than early, unisensory processing. Specifically, we tested 9 linguistic-color synaesthetes and found that the colors induced by spoken words are related to what is perceived (i.e., the illusory combination of audio and visual inputs) and not to the auditory component alone. Our findings indicate that color-speech synaesthesia is triggered only when a significant amount of information processing has occurred and that early sensory activation is not directly linked to the synaesthetic experience.
Compensatory Conscientiousness and Health in Older Couples
Authors: Roberts Brent W. , Smith Jacqui , Jackson Joshua J. , Edmonds Grant
Published: April 2009

The present study tested the effect of conscientiousness and neuroticism on health and physical limitations in a representative sample of older couples ( N = 2,203) drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. As in past research, conscientiousness predicted better health and physical functioning, whereas neuroticism predicted worse health and physical functioning. Unique to this study was the finding that conscientiousness demonstrated a compensatory effect, such that husbands' conscientiousness predicted wives' health outcomes above and beyond wives' own personality. The same pattern held true for wives' conscientiousness as a predictor of husbands' health outcomes. Furthermore, conscientiousness and neuroticism acted synergistically, such that people who scored high for both traits were healthier than others. Finally, we found that the combination of high conscientiousness and high neuroticism was also compensatory, such that the wives of men with this combination of personality traits reported better health than other women.
Pathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8 to 18
Authors: Gentile Douglas
Published: April 2009

Researchers have studied whether some youth are “addicted” to video games, but previous studies have been based on regional convenience samples. Using a national sample, this study gathered information about video-gaming habits and parental involvement in gaming, to determine the percentage of youth who meet clinical-style criteria for pathological gaming. A Harris poll surveyed a randomly selected sample of 1,178 American youth ages 8 to 18. About 8% of video-game players in this sample exhibited pathological patterns of play. Several indicators documented convergent and divergent validity of the results: Pathological gamers spent twice as much time playing as nonpathological gamers and received poorer grades in school; pathological gaming also showed comorbidity with attention problems. Pathological status significantly predicted poorer school performance even after controlling for sex, age, and weekly amount of video-game play. These results confirm that pathological gaming can be measured reliably, that the construct demonstrates validity, and that it is not simply isomorphic with a high amount of play.
Experts on age estimation
Authors: VESTLUND JENNY , LANGEBORG LINDA , SÖRQVIST PATRIK , ERIKSSON MÅRTEN
Published: April 2009

The aim of this investigation was to study the biases and accuracy in age estimation of persons selling alcohol. Two experiments are reported, both suggesting that the accuracy in age estimation of Swedish alcohol salespersons is higher than that of control persons. This expertise in age estimation is probably the result of the extensive training Swedish alcohol salespersons go through as a natural part of their profession. Nonetheless, their estimates were not free from bias. Salespersons overestimated the age of target persons below 20 years of age and thus too young to buy alcohol. The results also revealed that controls, in contrast to salespersons, assimilated their estimates towards their own age (i.e. an own‐anchor effect). Furthermore, female participants were shown to estimate the age of old target persons (56–65 years) more accurately than male participants. These results are discussed in relation to previous findings on training in age estimation and present jurisdiction.
A NOTE ON THE FORMAL TREATMENT OF EXPLOITATION IN A MODEL WITH HETEROGENOUS LABOR
Authors: Duménil Gérard , Foley Duncan , Lévy Dominique
Published: April 2009

The paper presents a formal generalization of Marx's analysis of exploitation and prices in economies in which categories of labor are distinguished according to their unequal ability to create exchange value. Measures of exploitation of categories of labor which are consistent with both the Price of Net Product‐Unallocated Purchasing Power (PNP‐UPP) (New Interpretation) and the traditional interpretation of Marx's theory of value are defined which aggregate consistently over labor categories and sectors. In order to measure rates of exploitation from real economic data some additional assumption about relative rates of exploitation (which Marx often explicitly assumes to be equal) is required.
SPECIALIZATION, WAGE BARGAINING AND TECHNOLOGY IN A MULTIGOODS GROWTH MODEL
Authors: Cimoli Mario , Porcile Gabriel
Published: April 2009

This paper develops the Ricardian multigoods model in several directions with a view to studying the relationship between the technology gap, the pattern of specialization and the institutional framework that organizes technological learning and wage bargaining. The interaction between the technology gap and relative real wages endogenously defines the pattern of specialization, which is related to economic growth through the condition of equilibrium in current account (external constraint).
Fiscal Effects of Minimum Wages: An Analysis for Germany
Authors: Bauer Thomas K. , Schaffner Sandra , Kluve Jochen , Schmidt Christoph M.
Published: April 2009

Against the background of the current discussion of statutory minimum wages in Germany, this paper analyzes the potential employment and fiscal effects of such a policy. Based on estimated labor demand elasticities obtained from a structural labor demand model, the empirical results imply that minimum wages in Germany will be associated with significant employment losses among marginal and low- and semi-skilled full-time workers. Even though minimum wages will lead to increased public revenues from income taxes and social security benefits, they will result in a significant fiscal burden, due to increased unemployment benefits and decreased revenues from corporate taxes.
Research Productivity in Business Economics: A Reply
Authors: Fabel Oliver , Hein Miriam , Hofmeister Robert
Published: April 2009

We reply to a comment by Diamantopoulos and Wagner questioning the face validity of our research productivity ranking for the field ‘Marketing and Sales’.
Standardizing the World Income Inequality Database*
Authors: Solt Frederick
Published: April 2009

Objective. Cross‐national research on the causes and consequences of income inequality has been hindered by the limitations of existing inequality data sets: greater coverage across countries and over time is available from these sources only at the cost of significantly reduced comparability across observations. The goal of the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIID) is to overcome these limitations.

Methods. A custom missing‐data algorithm was used to standardize the U.N. University's World Income Inequality Database; data collected by the Luxembourg Income Study served as the standard.

Results. The SWIID provides comparable Gini indices of gross and net income inequality for 153 countries for as many years as possible from 1960 to the present, along with estimates of uncertainty in these statistics.

Conclusions. By maximizing comparability for the largest possible sample of countries and years, the SWIID is better suited to broad cross‐national research on income inequality than previously available sources.
Who REALLY Wants to be a Millionaire? Gender Differences in Game Show Contestant Behavior Under Risk*
Authors: Johnson Daniel K. N. , Gleason Tracy R.
Published: April 2009

Objective. On the popular game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire men appear to average higher winnings than women. This article investigates potential reasons, including different uses of information sources (lifelines) and different perceptions of risk.

Method. We analyzed the decisions and resultant winnings of 164 contestants (95 men and 69 women) over 42 episodes of the show.

Results. Gender‐based tests of Kahneman and Tversky's prospect theory demonstrated evidence of gender differences in the certainty effect and suggested the counterintuitive conclusion that men are rewarded for acting slightly more cautiously than do women.

Conclusions. These gender differences may be owing to self‐selection of contestants, particularly for women, and to different goals: whereas men play to maximize their winnings, women may be less concerned with profit than with the experience as a whole. These findings suggest that examination of gender‐related behavior in other risky, high‐profile contexts may be worthwhile.
Con Job: An Estimate of Ex‐Felon Voter Turnout Using Document‐Based Data*
Authors: Haselswerdt Michael V.
Published: April 2009

Objective. Ex‐felon voter turnout was estimated for the first time using government records rather than statistical models. Statistical models have estimated that 25–35 percent of eligible ex‐felons would vote in federal elections.

Methods. Six‐hundred‐sixty recently released ex‐felons in Erie County, NY, who would have been legally eligible to register and vote in 2004 or 2005, were compared with data from the Erie County Board of Elections to determine whether they registered and voted in either 2004 or 2005.

Results. Five percent this population of ex‐felons voted in either 2004 or 2005.

Conclusions. Single‐digit turnout among ex‐felons raises questions about the assumptions underlying statistical estimates, and it also suggests that elections would have to be very close for ex‐felons to have an impact on the results.
Same‐Sex Marriage and Negative Externalities*
Authors: Langbein Laura , Yost Mark A.
Published: April 2009

Objectives. Conventional theory regarding externalities and personal choices implies that in the absence of negative externalities, there is no economic rationale for government to regulate or ban those choices. We evaluate whether legally recognizing (or prohibiting) same‐sex marriage has any adverse impact on societal outcomes specifically related to “traditional family values.”

Methods. Using data from 1990 to 2004 in the U.S. states, with statistical controls appropriate for the particular model, and with fixed effects, we test the claim of the Family Research Council that same‐sex marriage will have negative impacts on marriage, divorce, abortion rates, the proportion of children born to single women, and the percent of children in female‐headed households.

Results. We find no statistically significant adverse effect from allowing gay marriage. Bans on gay marriage, when they are not overturned, appear to be associated with a lower abortion rate and a lower percentage of children in female‐headed households. However, allowing gay marriage also shows the same or stronger associations.

Conclusions. The argument that same‐sex marriage poses a negative externality on society cannot be rationally held. Although many might believe that this conclusion is so obvious that it does not warrant testing, many politicians use this argument as a fact‐based rationale to legitimize bans on same‐sex marriage.
Political Culture, Public Opinion, and Policy (Non)Diffusion: The Case of Gay‐ and Lesbian‐Related Issues in Arkansas*
Authors: Barth Jay , Parry Janine
Published: April 2009

Objectives. Just after three in four Arkansas voters endorsed a state constitutional amendment barring state recognition of same‐sex marriages, a comprehensive state‐level survey allowed a closer look into the attitudes of Arkansans on a variety of gay‐ and lesbian‐related issues. When placed in the context of Arkansas's political culture and ideological patters, this serves as a case study of the relationship between public opinion, specific policy issues, and the diffusion (or nondiffusion) of policies in an individual state.

Methods. The 2005 Arkansas Poll included a battery of questions gauging citizens' attitudes on gay/lesbian individuals and the morality of same‐sex relations, same‐sex partner recognition, bans on gay adoption and foster parenting, bans on gays openly serving in the U.S. military, and expansion of civil rights laws to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, among other policies. This article reports those survey results and employs regression/logistic analysis in analyzing them.

Results. The results reveal that while Arkansans are uncomfortable with homosexuality, they are surprisingly hesitant to prescribe state‐sanctioned discrimination.

Conclusions. This tightrope between libertarianism and angst about homosexuality that resulted in policy nondiffusion until three years after the data reported here is reflective of the state's political culture, which combines traditionalistic and individualistic elements.
Currents in a Stream: College Student Identities and Ethnic Identities and Their Relationship with Self‐Esteem, Efficacy, and Grade Point Average in an Urban University*
Authors: Jaret Charles , Reitzes Donald C.
Published: April 2009

Objectives. We investigate how college student identities and ethnic identities vary among black, white, and Asian students and among immigrant, second‐, and third‐generation students at a large public urban university (in counterpoint to recent studies at highly selective schools). In addition, we explore how those identities are related to college students' sense of self‐esteem and efficacy and their academic performance.

Methods. We use survey data from a sample (N=652) of students attending a large diverse public urban university to create new indexes for several dimensions of college identity and ethnic identity and use existing self‐esteem and efficacy indexes to compare black, white, and Asian students, as well as immigrant, second‐generation, and third‐generation students.

Results. Among several significant identity differences, we find: (1) whites are lower than blacks on college identity indexes, and immigrant students are higher than subsequent‐generation students on college student identity measures; (2) whites are lower than blacks and Asians on ethnic identity measures; only the ethnic activities index declines linearly from immigrant to second‐ to third‐generation students; (3) blacks have higher self‐esteem and efficacy than whites or Asians; whites have higher GPAs than blacks or Asians, while immigrant students have higher GPAs than third‐generation students; and (4) at least one college student identity dimension and one ethnic identity dimension is related to self‐esteem, efficacy, and GPA.

Conclusions. How young adults conceive of themselves as college students and the way they formulate their own racial‐ethnic identities is related to their self‐esteem, efficacy, and academic performance. Moreover, the pattern that these relationships take is somewhat different at a large diverse public urban university than at highly selective universities.
Sources of Support for Mandatory Military Service in the Context of the War on Terrorism: Survey Evidence Pre‐ and Post‐September 11, 2001*
Authors: Simon Christopher A. , Lovrich Nicholas P.
Published: April 2009

Objectives. The advent of the War on Terrorism raises the question of the short‐term impacts on public opinion of terrorist attacks with respect to the idea of universal military service in the United States. Previous studies indicate that international crises tend to produce a polarizing effect on public opinion with respect to military service.

Methods. Multinomial logistic regression analysis is used here to analyze an archival data set featuring survey data collected among 18,000+ citizens in 18 major U.S. metropolitan areas in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Results and Conclusions. This article offers further support for previous analyses into the principal sources of support for military service. However, the analysis also indicates that the initial impact of the War on Terrorism may have been to produce a decline in support for mandatory military service and a mild unifying effect on the distribution of attitudes rather than the expected polarization. Attitudes toward military service were more polarized in 2000 and 2001 than in the post‐9/11 2002 studies.
Linking Society and Environment: A Multilevel Model of Shifting Wildlife Value Orientations in the Western United States*
Authors: Manfredo Michael J. , Teel Tara L. , Henry Kimberly L.
Published: April 2009

Objective. Studies of attitudes and values can make important contributions to emerging multi‐level, interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problems. We test a multi‐level model using data from a 19‐state study on public thoughts toward wildlife in the western United States.

Methods. Data were collected via mail survey administered to residents in each state.

Results. Data support (1) a micro model that proposes values are oriented by two contrasting ideologies—domination versus mutualism—and that these different value orientations lead to different attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife; and (2) a macro model that links forces of modernization (income, education, urbanization) to a population‐level shift from domination to mutualism value orientations.

Conclusions. Such a shift would stimulate behavioral, ecological, and institutional effects that are critical in shaping society‐environment interactions. Findings suggest that examining human thought processes in relation to broader social and environmental factors holds great promise in extending the application of the social sciences.
The Culture of Academic Disciplines and the Sociopolitical Attitudes of Students: A Test of Selection and Socialization Effects*
Authors: Elchardus Mark , Spruyt Bram
Published: April 2009

Objective. Using cross‐sectional and panel data, this article estimates to what extent the association between students' choice of academic discipline and their sociopolitical attitudes is due to socialization and selection effects.

Methods. This is done on the basis of seven incoming cohorts of students and one panel of students. Changes in the panel are controlled for contextual influences by comparing them to a control group.

Results. Both selection and socialization effects are observed. The first are, however, much stronger than the second.

Conclusions. Although the literature, and particularly the more popular literature, highlights socialization effects, these turn out to be very modest. Future research should address the questions of how and why students select academic disciplines in a way that establishes strong relations between those disciplines and their sociopolitical attitudes.
Nondestructive, Stereological Estimation of Canopy Surface Area
Authors: Wulfsohn Dvoralai , Sciortino Marco , Aaslyng Jesper M. , García‐Fiñana Marta
Published: April 2009

Summary We describe a stereological procedure to estimate the total leaf surface area of a plant canopy in vivo, and address the problem of how to predict the variance of the corresponding estimator. The procedure involves three nested systematic uniform random sampling stages: (i) selection of plants from a canopy using the smooth fractionator, (ii) sampling of leaves from the selected plants using the fractionator, and (iii) area estimation of the sampled leaves using point counting. We apply this procedure to estimate the total area of a chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium L.) canopy and evaluate both the time required and the precision of the estimator. Furthermore, we compare the precision of point counting for three different grid intensities with that of several standard leaf area measurement techniques. Results showed that the precision of the plant leaf area estimator based on point counting is high. Using a grid intensity of 1.76 cm2/point we estimated plant and canopy surface areas with accuracies similar to or better than those obtained using image analysis and a commercial leaf area meter. For canopy surface areas of approximately 1 m2 (10 plants), the fractionator leaf approach with sampling fraction equal to 1/9 followed by point counting using a 4.3 cm2/point grid produced a coefficient of error of less than 7%. The smooth fractionator can be used to ensure that the additional contribution to the estimator variance due to between‐plant variability is small.
Variable Selection for Semiparametric Mixed Models in Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Ni Xiao , Zhang Daowen , Zhang Hao Helen
Published: April 2009

SummaryWe propose a double‐penalized likelihood approach for simultaneous model selection and estimation in semiparametric mixed models for longitudinal data. Two types of penalties are jointly imposed on the ordinary log‐likelihood: the roughness penalty on the nonparametric baseline function and a nonconcave shrinkage penalty on linear coefficients to achieve model sparsity. Compared to existing estimation equation based approaches, our procedure provides valid inference for data with missing at random, and will be more efficient if the specified model is correct. Another advantage of the new procedure is its easy computation for both regression components and variance parameters. We show that the double‐penalized problem can be conveniently reformulated into a linear mixed model framework, so that existing software can be directly used to implement our method. For the purpose of model inference, we derive both frequentist and Bayesian variance estimation for estimated parametric and nonparametric components. Simulation is used to evaluate and compare the performance of our method to the existing ones. We then apply the new method to a real data set from a lactation study.
Improving Power for Testing Genetic Association in Case–Control Studies by Reducing the Alternative Space
Authors: Joo Jungnam , Kwak Minjung , Zheng Gang
Published: April 2009

Summary To detect association between a genetic marker and a disease in case–control studies, the Cochran–Armitage trend test is typically used. The trend test is locally optimal when the genetic model is correctly specified. However, in practice, the underlying genetic model, and hence the optimal trend test, are usually unknown. In this case, Pearson's chi‐squared test, the maximum of three trend test statistics (optimal for the recessive, additive, and dominant models), and the test based on genetic model selection (GMS) are useful. In this article, we first modify the existing GMS method so that it can be used when the risk allele is unknown. Then we propose a new approach by excluding a genetic model that is not supported by the data. Using either the model selection or exclusion, the alternative space is reduced conditional on the observed data, and hence the power to detect a true association can be increased. Simulation results are reported and the proposed methods are applied to the genetic markers identified from the genome‐wide association studies conducted by the Wellcome Trust Case–Control Consortium. The results demonstrate that the genetic model exclusion approach usually performs better than existing methods under its worst situation across scientifically plausible genetic models we considered.
Bayesian Calibration of a Stochastic Kinetic Computer Model Using Multiple Data Sources
Authors: Henderson D. A. , Boys R. J. , Wilkinson D. J.
Published: April 2009

SummaryIn this article, we describe a Bayesian approach to the calibration of a stochastic computer model of chemical kinetics. As with many applications in the biological sciences, the data available to calibrate the model come from different sources. Furthermore, these data appear to provide somewhat conflicting information about the model parameters. We describe a modeling framework that allows us to synthesize this conflicting information and arrive at a consensus inference. In particular, we show how random effects can be incorporated into the model to account for between‐individual heterogeneity that may be the source of the apparent conflict.
Screening Guidelines for Coronary Heart Disease in Diabetes: Current Recommendations
Authors: Singh Sarabjeet , Duggal Jasleen , Khosla Natalia , Arora Rohit
Published: April 2009

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are so intertwined with one another that the presence of one prompts a search for the other. Diabetes has been considered to be equivalent to coronary heart disease (CHD), and conversely many patients with known CHD have concomitant diabetes or its pre‐states. This review has been compiled based on the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association, the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III), the European Society of Cardiology, and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. A systematic approach was developed by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes recently to help detect CHD in patients with diabetes and to detect metabolic diseases in patients with CHD.This article is intended for the clinician in everyday practice focusing on the impact of recent advances in the prevention and management of CHD in diabetic patients and the background behind it.
Fresh‐frozen vs. embalmed bone: is it possible to use formalin‐fixed human bone for biomechanical experiments on implants?
Authors: Cömert Ayhan , Kökat Ali Murat , Akkocaoğlu Murat , Tekdemir İbrahim , Akça Kιvanç , Çehreli Murat Cavit
Published: April 2009

Purpose: As formalin is an extremely reactive electrophilic chemical that reacts with tissues, the purpose of this study was to explore whether formalin fixation could potentially alter the mechanical properties of bone tissue and have an effect on the primary stability measurements of implants.

Material and methods: ∅3.3 × 8 mm, ∅4.1 × 8 mm, and ∅4.8 × 8 mm implants were placed on sockets prepared into the anterior surface of the radius of two fresh‐frozen human cadavers. The insertion torque of each implant was quantified using a strain‐gauged torque‐wrench connected to a data acquisition system at a sample rate of 10 KHz, and resonance frequency analysis measurements were also undertaken for each implant. The cadavers were then subjected to embalment with 10% formalin for 3 months, and the same experiments were undertaken on the contra lateral radius of the cadavers.

Results: The insertion torques before and after chemical fixation were similar for ∅3.3 mm (P>0.05), and higher values were obtained for ∅4.1 mm and ∅4.8 mm implants after chemical fixation (P<0.05). The resonance frequency analysis values before and after chemical fixation were similar for all implants (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Implants have higher insertion torque values in formalin‐fixed bone than fresh‐frozen human bone, but similar implant stability quotients in both cases. The insertion torque technique can detect the difference between formalin‐fixed and fresh‐frozen human bone, but resonance frequency analysis cannot.
Ridge preservation with the use of Bio‐Oss® collagen: A 6‐month study in the dog
Authors: Araújo Maurício G. , Lindhe Jan
Published: April 2009

Background: In previous short‐term studies, it was observed that while the placement of biomaterial in alveolar sockets may promote bone formation and ridge preservation, the graft may in fact also delay healing.

Aim: The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the more long‐term effect on hard tissue formation and the amount of ridge augmentation that can occur by the placement of a xenogeneic graft in extraction sockets of dogs.

Material and methods: Five beagle dogs were used. The third mandibular premolars were hemi‐sected. The distal roots were carefully removed. A graft consisting of Bio‐Oss® collagen was placed in one socket while the contra‐lateral site was left without grafting. After 6 months of healing, the dogs were euthanized and biopsies were sampled. From each experimental site, four ground sections – two from the mesial root and two from the healed socket – were prepared, stained and examined under a microscope.

Results: The placement of Bio‐Oss® collagen in the fresh extraction socket served as a scaffold for tissue modeling but did not enhance new bone formation. In comparison with the non‐grafted sites, the dimension of the alveolar process as well as the profile of the ridge was better preserved in Bio‐Oss®‐grafted sites.

Conclusion: The placement of a biomaterial in an extraction socket may modify modeling and counteract marginal ridge contraction that occurs following tooth removal.
A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant supported fixed dental prostheses with cantilever extensions after an observation period of at least 5 years
Authors: Aglietta Marco , Siciliano Vincenzo Iorio , Zwahlen Marcel , Brägger Urs , Pjetursson Bjarni E. , Lang Niklaus P. , Salvi Giovanni E.
Published: April 2009

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the survival rates of short‐span implant‐supported cantilever fixed dental prostheses (ICFDPs) and the incidence of technical and biological complications after an observation period of at least 5 years.

Material and methods: An electronic MEDLINE search supplemented by manual searching was conducted to identify prospective or retrospective cohort studies reporting data of at least 5 years on ICFDPs. Five‐ and 10‐year estimates for failure and complication rates were calculated using standard or random‐effect Poisson regression analysis.

Results: The five studies eligible for the meta‐analysis yielded an estimated 5‐ and 10‐year ICFDP cumulative survival rate of 94.3% [95 percent confidence interval (95% CI): 84.1–98%] and 88.9% (95% CI: 70.8–96.1%), respectively. Five‐year estimates for peri‐implantitis were 5.4% (95% CI: 2–14.2%) and 9.4% (95% CI: 3.3–25.4%) at implant and prosthesis levels, respectively. Veneer fracture (5‐year estimate: 10.3%; 95% CI: 3.9–26.6%) and screw loosening (5‐year estimate: 8.2%; 95% CI: 3.9–17%) represented the most common complications, followed by loss of retention (5‐year estimate: 5.7%; 95% CI: 1.9–16.5%) and abutment/screw fracture (5‐year estimate: 2.1%; 95% CI: 0.9–5.1%). Implant fracture was rare (5‐year estimate: 1.3%; 95% CI: 0.2–8.3%); no framework fracture was reported. Radiographic bone level changes did not yield statistically significant differences either at the prosthesis or at the implant levels when comparing ICFDPs with short‐span implant‐supported end‐abutment fixed dental prostheses.

Conclusions: ICFDPs represent a valid treatment modality; no detrimental effects can be expected on bone levels due to the presence of a cantilever extension per se.
Root caries patterns and risk factors of middle‐aged and elderly people in China
Authors: Du MinQuan , Jiang Han , Tai BaoJun , Zhou Yinghong , Wu Bei , Bian Zhuan
Published: April 2009

Abstract –  The objectives of this study were to describe root caries patterns of Chinese adults and to analyze the effect of selected demographic and socioeconomic factors on these patterns. A total sample of 1080 residents aged 35–44‐years‐old and 1080 residents aged 65–74‐years‐old from three urban and three rural survey sites in Hubei Province participated in both an oral health interview and a clinical oral health examination. Root surface caries prevalence rates were 13.1% in the middle‐aged group and 43.9% in the elderly group. The mean number of teeth affected by caries in the middle‐aged group was reported at 0.21 and 1.0 in the elderly group. Mean Root Caries Index (RCI) scores of the middle‐aged were reported at 6.29 and elderly subjects were reported at 11.95. Elderly people living in rural areas reported a higher RCI score (13.24) than those living in urban areas (10.70). A significantly higher frequency of root surface caries was observed in elderly participants (P < 0.001, OR = 3.80) and ethnic minorities (P < 0.001, OR = 1.93). In addition, smokers, nontea drinkers, and those with an annual household income of 10 000 yuan or less tended to have higher caries prevalence. RCI figures for the different tooth types ranged from 1% to 16%, indicating a wide variation in attack rates. In conclusion, our study suggests that root surface caries occurrence is high among the Chinese adult population, especially older adults. With an increasing number of retained teeth in both middle‐aged and elderly people, root caries is a growing disease in the People’s Republic of China which deserves more attention in future research.
Dental fear and adult oral health in Australia
Authors: Armfield Jason M. , Slade Gary D. , Spencer A. John
Published: April 2009

Abstract–  Objective:  This study aimed to investigate the association between dental fear and both dental caries and periodontal indicators.

Methods:  A three‐stage stratified clustered sample of the Australian adult population completed a computer‐assisted telephone interview followed by a clinical examination. Oral health measures were the DMFT index and its components, periodontitis and gingivitis. A total of 5364 adults aged 18–91 years were dentally examined.

Results:  Higher dental fear was significantly associated with more decayed teeth (DT), missing teeth (MT) and DMFT. There was an inverted ‘U’ association between dental fear and the number of filled teeth (FT). Periodontitis and gingivitis were not associated with dental fear. The association between dental fear and DMFT was significant for adults aged 18–29 and 30–44 years, but not in older ages. Dental fear was significantly associated with more DT, MT, and DMFT but with fewer FT after controlling for age, sex, income, employment status, tertiary education, dental insurance status and oral hygiene.

Conclusion:  This study helps reconcile some of the conflicting results of previous studies and establishes that dental fear is associated with more decayed and missing teeth but fewer FT. That people with higher dental fear have significantly more caries experience underlines the importance of identifying and then reducing dental fear as important steps in improving adult oral health.
Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder among people presenting for cosmetic dental treatment: a comparative study of cosmetic dental patients and a general population sample
Authors: De Jongh A. , Aartman I. H. A. , Parvaneh H. , Ilik M.
Published: April 2009

Abstract –  Objectives:  To determine appearance concerns of patients presenting for cosmetic treatment.

Methods:  This cross‐sectional comparative study included consecutive patients of six different cosmetic clinics (n = 170), and a sample of the general population (n = 878). A study‐specific self‐report questionnaire was administered to document demographic and appearance concerns. Presence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) was assessed based on DSM‐IV criteria.

Results:  Cosmetic dental patients did not differ from the reference sample with regard to happiness and satisfaction as regards their appearance. However, differences were found with regard to frequency of previous general cosmetic (16.5% versus 5.9%) and cosmetic dental (47.9% versus 24.8%) procedures. Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of the cosmetic dental patients sufficed for the two key screening criteria of BDD (9.5% versus 5.5%), and for the full diagnostic screening of BDD (4.2% versus 1.5%) compared with the respondents of the reference group.

Conclusions:  The results suggest that symptoms of BDD are relatively common among patients attending cosmetic clinics. It is important to assess the long‐term effects of comprehensive cosmetic procedures, particularly in patients with disproportionate appearance concerns.