bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Epoetin and Darbepoetin in Patients With Cancer: 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society of Hematology Clinical Practice Guideline Update
Authors: Rizzo J. Douglas , Somerfield Mark R. , Hagerty Karen L. , Seidenfeld Jerome , Bohlius Julia , Bennett Charles L. , Cella David F. , Djulbegovic Benjamin , Goode Matthew J. , Jakubowski Ann A. , Rarick Mark U. , Regan David H. , Lichtin Alan E.
Published: October 2007

Purpose

To update the American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society of Hematology (ASCO/ASH) recommendations for the use of epoetin. The guideline was expanded to address use of darbepoetin and thromboembolic risk associated with these agents.

Method

An Update Committee (“Committee”) reviewed and analyzed data published since 2002 through July 2007. MEDLINE and the Cochrane Collaboration Library databases were searched.

Recommendations

For patients with chemotherapy-associated anemia, the Committee continues to recommend initiating an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) as hemoglobin (Hb) approaches, or falls below, 10 g/dL, to increase Hb and decrease transfusions. ESA treatment continues to be recommended for patients with low-risk myelodysplasia for similar reasons. There is no evidence showing increased survival as a result of ESA treatment. Conclusive evidence is lacking that, absent clinical circumstances necessitating earlier treatment, initiating ESAs at Hb levels greater than 10 g/dL either spares more patients from transfusion or substantially improves their quality of life. Starting doses and dose modifications based on response or lack thereof should follow the package insert. Continuing ESAs beyond 6 to 8 weeks in the absence of response, assuming appropriate dose increase has been attempted in nonresponders as per US Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling, does not seem to be beneficial, and ESA therapy should be discontinued. The Committee recommends monitoring iron stores and supplementing iron intake for ESA-treated patients. ESAs should be used cautiously with chemotherapy, or in clinical states, associated with elevated risk for thromboembolic complications. The Committee also cautions against ESA use for patients with cancer who are not receiving chemotherapy, since recent trials report increased thromboembolic risks and decreased survival under these circumstances.
Photoactivatable GFP resolvesDrosophilamesoderm migration behaviour
Authors: Murray Michael J. , Saint Robert
Published: October 2007

Mesoderm migration is a pivotal event in the early embryonic development of animals. One of the best-studied examples occurs during Drosophilagastrulation. Here, mesodermal cells invaginate, undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and spread out dorsally over the inner surface of the ectoderm. Although several genes required for spreading have been identified, our inability to visualise mesodermal cells in living embryos has left us to speculate about the cell rearrangements involved. Several mechanisms, such as chemotaxis towards a dorsally expressed attractant, differential affinity between mesodermal cells and the ectoderm,and convergent extension, have been proposed. Here we resolve the behaviour of Drosophila mesodermal cells in live embryos using photoactivatable-GFP fused to α-Tubulin (PAGFP-Tub). By photoactivating presumptive mesodermal cells before gastrulation, we could observe their migration over non-fluorescent ectodermal cells. We show that the outermost(outer) cells, which are in contact with the ectoderm, migrate dorsolaterally as a group but can be overtaken by more internal (inner) cells. Using laser-photoactivation of individual cells, we then show that inner cells adjacent to the centre of the furrow migrate dorsolaterally away from the midline to reach dorsal positions, while cells at the centre of the furrow disperse randomly across the mesoderm, before intercalating with outer cells. These movements are dependent on the FGF receptor Heartless. The results indicate that chemotactic movement and differential affinity are the primary drivers of mesodermal cell spreading. These characterisations pave the way for a more detailed analysis of gene function during early mesoderm development.
Reciprocal endoderm-mesoderm interactions mediated byfgf24andfgf10govern pancreas development
Authors: Manfroid Isabelle , Delporte François , Baudhuin Ariane , Motte Patrick , Neumann Carl J. , Voz Marianne L. , Martial Joseph A. , Peers Bernard
Published: October 2007

In amniotes, the pancreatic mesenchyme plays a crucial role in pancreatic epithelium growth, notably through the secretion of fibroblast growth factors. However, the factors involved in the formation of the pancreatic mesenchyme are still largely unknown. In this study, we characterize, in zebrafish embryos, the pancreatic lateral plate mesoderm, which is located adjacent to the ventral pancreatic bud and is essential for its specification and growth. We firstly show that the endoderm, by expressing the fgf24 gene at early stages, triggers the patterning of the pancreatic lateral plate mesoderm. Based on the expression of isl1, fgf10 and meisgenes, this tissue is analogous to the murine pancreatic mesenchyme. Secondly,Fgf10 acts redundantly with Fgf24 in the pancreatic lateral plate mesoderm and they are both required to specify the ventral pancreas. Our results unveil sequential signaling between the endoderm and mesoderm that is critical for the specification and growth of the ventral pancreas, and explain why the zebrafish ventral pancreatic bud generates the whole exocrine tissue.
Design of small-scale quadrotor unmanned air vehicles using genetic algorithms
Authors: Ng T T H , Leng G S B
Published: October 2007

In the current paper, a new design methodology was proposed to automate the component selection, layout design and geometric sizing of small-scale quadrotor unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Instead of using the swash plate mechanism employed in most rotary-wing flight vehicle, the UAV was controlled by four fixed-pitch rotors/propellers. The objective of this design optimization problem is to select the most suitable set of components from a range of commercial-off-the-shelf products, and organize the vehicle components/payloads, such that the resulting flight vehicle has the most compact overall size without violating any given physical or mission constraint. Genetic algorithms are employed as the optimization engine because of their proven results.
Integrated design system for dynamic thermal protection system sizing
Authors: Bai D , Fan X-J
Published: October 2007

In order to obtain a minimized weight design for a hypersonic vehicle, a design system that involves integrating aeroheating analysis with thermal protection system (TPS) sizing has been developed. The design system has the capability to analyse aeroheating and TPS thermal response and to provide an optimization capability to determine the minimum thickness of the TPS materials required to prevent the underlying structure from exceeding its operating temperature limit. Features of this system are the extended capability to analyse thermal response of metallic multi-layer TPS with non-grey insulation and the smart TPS for next generation or future TPS design. The application of the above design system to a model spacecraft is presented, showing good agreement with previously obtained results, and proving its reliability for future design use. The application of the extended capabilities also shows that the above design system has strong applicability to the following generations of TPS materials.
Adaptive filtration algorithm with the filter gain correction applied to integrated INS/radar altimeter
Authors: Hajiyev Ch
Published: October 2007

In the current study, a new adaptive Kalman filter (KF) algorithm with the filter gain correction for the case of malfunctions in the estimation system is presented. In the adaptive KF algorithm, the detected faulty measurements are regarded with small weight. As a result, faults in the estimation system are corrected by the system, without affecting the good estimation behaviour. The developed adaptive KF is applied to the integrated navigation system, consisting of inertial and radar altimeters. In the open loop system, the inertial altimeter is the main source of information, and radar altimeter provides discrete aiding data to support the estimations. In case of abrupt faults, the performance of the integrated system is examined.
Almost periodic relative orbits under J2 perturbations
Authors: Damaren C J
Published: October 2007

The relative motion of two spacecraft orbiting the Earth in low orbits in nominally circular orbits is studied in the presence of the J2 perturbation. An iterative scheme is developed which ultimately leads to closure of the relative motion after one orbit. Although not truly periodic, a numerical example indicates that it is very nearly so. The method makes use of a state transition matrix for the relative motion that is developed in the presence of feedback control in order to render the iterative scheme convergent. The example shows that the calculated initial conditions are relatively insensitive to small errors.
Adhesive junction modelling of a super-pressure balloon
Authors: Selva P , Dalverny O , Mistou S , Alexis J , Karama M , Deramecourt A
Published: October 2007

Long duration super-pressure balloon design and manufacturing is a great challenge for the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales in scientific ballooning. They are made of 50 μm thick polymer films polyethylene terephtalate/polyamide/polyethylene terephtalate which are joined with 23 μm thick adhesive polyethylene terephtalate bands. To date, during flight missions, a major problem appears: some balloons explode prematurely. This is why this study deals with the mechanical behaviour of the stratospheric pressurized balloons and particularly with the assembly of the constitutive films material. First, a nanoindentation test campaign makes it possible to identify the elastic properties of the materials at two different temperatures. Then, a nominal assembly is simulated in two stages: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Finally, the factorial design method combined with finite-element simulations was used to study the influence of the various conception parameters on the mechanical behaviour of the assembly.
Fluoroscopy-based navigation system in spine surgery
Authors: Merloz P , Troccaz J , Vouaillat H , Vasile C , Tonetti J , Eid A , Plaweski S
Published: October 2007

The variability in width, height, and spatial orientation of a spinal pedicle makes pedicle screw insertion a delicate operation. The aim of the current paper is to describe a computer-assisted surgical navigation system based on fluoroscopic X-ray image calibration and three-dimensional optical localizers in order to reduce radiation exposure while increasing accuracy and reliability of the surgical procedure for pedicle screw insertion. Instrumentation using transpedicular screw fixation was performed: in a first group, a conventional surgical procedure was carried out with 26 patients (138 screws); in a second group, a navigated surgical procedure (virtual fluoroscopy) was performed with 26 patients (140 screws). Evaluation of screw placement in every case was done by using plain X-rays and post-operative computer tomography scan. A 5 per cent cortex penetration (7 of 140 pedicle screws) occurred for the computer-assisted group. A 13 per cent penetration (18 of 138 pedicle screws) occurred for the non computer-assisted group. The radiation running time for each vertebra level (two screws) reached 3.5s on average in the computer-assisted group and 11.5s on average in the non computer-assisted group. The operative time for two screws on the same vertebra level reaches 10 min on average in the non computer-assisted group and 11.9 min on average in the computer-assisted group. The fluoroscopy-based (two-dimensional) navigation system for pedicle screw insertion is a safe and reliable procedure for surgery in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine.
A Divergent Route to 3-Amino-2,3,6-trideoxysugars Including Branched Sugar: Synthesis of Vancosamine, Daunosamine, Saccharosamine, and Ristosamine
Authors: Doi Takayuki , Shibata Kazuaki , Kinbara Atsushi , Takahashi Takashi
Published: October 2007

Four 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxysugars were synthesized by a divergent route from a single enone 9a. The Migita–Stille coupling introduced a methyl group at the 3-position. Stereoselective reduction of enone and the Mitsunobu reaction provided both β- and α-hydroxy groups at the 4-position. Stereospecific radical cyclization of the C4 carbamoyl moiety furnished the desired 5a, 5b and 6a, 6b, respectively.
Antioxidant enzymes, glutathione and lipid peroxidation in peripheral blood of children affected by coeliac disease
Authors: Stojiljković Vesna , Todorović Ana , Radlović Nedeljko , Pejić Snez̆ana , Mladenović Marija , Kasapović Jelena , Pajović Snez̆ana B
Published: October 2007

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease. The aim of this study was to examine the modulation of the biochemical response to oxidative stress in untreated and treated coeliac disease.

Methods: The study involved peripheral blood samples from 39 paediatric patients (18 with active, 11 with silent form of the disease, 10 on gluten-free diet [GFD]) and 30 control subjects. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the concentrations of total glutathione (GSH) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were determined in patients and controls.

Results: In comparison to the controls, a significant increase in SOD activity was found in the active group ( P<0.05), while CAT activity was elevated in GFD group ( P<0.05). GPx activity was lower in patients than in controls (active and silent, P<0.001; GFD, P<0.01). GSH contents were significantly reduced in all patient groups ( P<0.001) as well, while the concentration of LOOH was elevated in active and silent group ( P<0.001). The concentration of LOOH correlated negatively with the activity of GPx ( r = -0.32, P<0.01) and the concentration of GSH ( r = -0.70, P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the concentration of GSH and the activity of GPx ( r = 0.57, P<0.001).

Conclusions: The results show evidence of increased oxidative stress in untreated coeliac disease. Although LOOH were not significantly elevated in the GFD group, changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH content demonstrate that oxidative stress persists even in treated patients.
Can serum free light chains replace urine electrophoresis in the detection of monoclonal gammopathies?
Authors: Beetham Robert , Wassell Julie , Wallage Michael J , Whiteway Alastair J , James Jacky A
Published: October 2007

Background: We investigated how sensitive serum free light chain (FLC) analysis was for the detection of Bence-Jones protein (BJP) and whether a serum κ/ λ ratio could replace urine electrophoresis as part of the investigation algorithm for monoclonal gammopathy.

Methods: Serum κ and λ FLC analysis was performed on 932 consecutive patients investigated for monoclonal gammopathy, along with serum electrophoresis, serum immunofixation where appropriate, and in 483 individuals urine immunofixation. A reference interval for the κ/ λ ratio was derived from all patients who had normal serum and urine electrophoresis and no B-cell dyscrasia ( n = 312).

Results: The 100% reference interval was 0.21-1.44 (median 0.50), lower than that previously published. From the 483 patients who provided urines, BJP was detected in 34, with an abnormal κ/ λ ratio in 26 of these. Using the reference interval, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of an abnormal κ/ λ ratio for the presence of BJP were 0.76, 0.96, 0.98 and 0.59 respectively. Seven patients had an abnormal κ/ λ ratio with no paraprotein.

Conclusion: All κ/ λ results should be interpreted against a reference interval appropriate for the analyser in use and the population under study. Some urines will be positive for BJP when the serum κ/ λ ratio is normal, but there is little difference in outcome whether urine for BJP or serum FLC analysis is included in the screening strategy for monoclonal gammopathies. On balance, we believe that it is not yet time to dispense with urine BJP in the investigation of patients with suspected monoclonal gammopathy.
Comparison of three commercial tests for buprenorphine screening in urine
Authors: Leino Aila , Loo Britt-Marie
Published: October 2007

Background: Rapid and sensitive tests for detecting buprenorphine and its metabolites for drug-screening situations have been long awaited. From the tests available, we have evaluated two on-site drugs-of-abuse testing devices using competitive binding immunoassays and one homogeneous enzyme immunoassay measured on an automated analyser.

Methods: A total of 49 urine specimens were tested using three different kits. Two were point-of-care devices, a cassette test, QuikPac II OneStep Buprenorphine Test, and a strip test, QuikStrip OneStep Buprenorphine Test. The other was the CEDIA® Buprenorphine Assay performed on a Roche Modular P analyser. The confirmation analyses were performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results: The sensitivities of the three methods ranged from 88% to 100% and specificities from 91% to 100%. All three kits, especially the cassette and strip devices differed markedly from each other with respect to interpretation of the test result and to clarity of the test performance. Increasing the read time of the QuikStrip device from 5 to 30 min resulted in an increase in false-negative test results.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that special care should be taken when selecting immunology-based point-of-care methods for measurement of buprenorphine.
Evaluation of a method for measuring tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase activity in healthy subjects
Authors: Matsushita Makoto , Irino Tsutomu , Kamiyama Kiyoshi , Muramoto Yoshimi , Kawaguchi Takeshi , Nakano Takanari , Komoda Tsugikazu
Published: October 2007

Background: Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) isozymes in the healthy human serum samples appears in two isoforms: normal-molecular-weight IAP (NIAP) and high-molecular-weight IAP (HIAP). We have demonstrated that the reference range for serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is higher in blood group B and O antigen secretors than in the tested other blood groups, for the appearance of these isoforms is depended on blood group B or O antigen secretors.

Methods: We assessed a diethanolamine-L-phenylalanine (DEA-Phe) method for measuring tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). This assays the sum of liver alkaline phosphatase and bone alkaline phosphatase activities as determined by an inhibiting IAP activity method with Phe. We classified 420 healthy subjects into two groups, a group of subjects who had blood group B or O antigen secretors ( n = 184) and a group of subjects who had other blood groups ( n = 236).

Results: ALP activity was higher in the B or O secretor group than in the other group: 20.9% higher ( P<0.001) by the N-methyl-D-glucamine method, 13.7% higher ( P<0.002) by 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol method, and 9.6% higher ( P<0.05) by the diethanolamine method, but there was no significant difference in TNAP activity between the two blood group when measured by the DEA-Phe method.

Conclusions: These results of this study support the expectation that the DEA-Phe method would be specific for TNAP activity. In addition, the reference range for TNAP activity did not vary with the differences in the tested all blood groups.
Stimulation of picornavirus replication by the poly(A) tail in a cell-free extract is largely independent of the poly(A) binding protein (PABP)
Authors: Svitkin Yuri V. , Costa-Mattioli Mauro , Herdy Barbara , Perreault Sandra , Sonenberg Nahum
Published: October 2007

Picornavirus infectivity is dependent on the RNA poly(A) tail, which binds the poly(A) binding protein (PABP). PABP was reported to stimulate viral translation and RNA synthesis. Here, we studied encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and poliovirus (PV) genome expression in Krebs-2 and HeLa cell-free extracts that were drastically depleted of PABP (96%–99%). Although PABP depletion markedly diminished EMCV and PV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation of a polyadenylated luciferase mRNA, it displayed either no (EMCV) or slight (PV) deleterious effect on the translation of the full-length viral RNAs. Moreover, PABP-depleted extracts were fully competent in supporting EMCV and PV RNA replication and virus assembly. In contrast, removing the poly(A) tail from EMCV RNA dramatically reduced RNA synthesis and virus yields in cell-free reactions. The advantage conferred by the poly(A) tail to EMCV synthesis was more pronounced in untreated than in nuclease-treated extract, indicating that endogenous cellular mRNAs compete with the viral RNA for a component(s) of the RNA replication machinery. These results suggest that the poly(A) tail functions in picornavirus replication largely independent of PABP.
MBNL binds similar RNA structures in the CUG repeats of myotonic dystrophy and its pre-mRNA substrate cardiac troponin T
Authors: Warf M. Bryan , Berglund J. Andrew
Published: October 2007

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a genetic disorder with multisystemic symptoms that is caused by expression (as RNA) of expanded repeats of CTG or CCTG in the genome. It is hypothesized that the RNA splicing factor muscleblind-like (MBNL) is sequestered to the expanded CUG or CCUG RNAs. Mislocalization of MBNL results in missplicing of a subset of pre-mRNAs that are linked to the symptoms found in DM patients. We demonstrate that MBNL can bind short structured CUG and CCUG repeats with high affinity and specificity. Only 6 base pairs are necessary for MBNL binding: two pyrimidine mismatches and four guanosine–cytosine base pairs in a stem. MBNL also has a preference for pyrimidine mismatches, but many other mismatches are tolerated with decreased affinity. We also demonstrate that MBNL binds the helical region of a stem–loop in the endogenous pre-mRNA target, the cardiac troponin T (cTNT) pre-mRNA. The stem–loop contains two mismatches and resembles both CUG and CCUG repeats. In vivo splicing results indicate that MBNL-regulated splicing is dependent upon the formation of stem–loops recognized by MBNL. These results suggest that MBNL may bind all of its RNA substrates, both normal and pathogenic, as structured stem–loops containing pyrimidine mismatches.
The wobble hypothesis revisited: Uridine-5-oxyacetic acid is critical for reading of G-ending codons
Authors: Näsvall S. Joakim , Chen Peng , Björk Glenn R.
Published: October 2007

According to Crick's wobble hypothesis, tRNAs with uridine at the wobble position (position 34) recognize A- and G-, but not U- or C-ending codons. However, U in the wobble position is almost always modified, and Salmonella enterica tRNAs containing the modified nucleoside uridine-5-oxyacetic acid (cmo5U34) at this position are predicted to recognize U- (but not C-) ending codons, in addition to A- and G-ending codons. We have constructed a set of S. enterica mutants with only the cmo5U-containing tRNA left to read all four codons in the proline, alanine, valine, and threonine family codon boxes. From the phenotypes of these mutants, we deduce that the proline, alanine, and valine tRNAs containing cmo5U read all four codons including the C-ending codons, while the corresponding threonine tRNA does not. A cmoB mutation, leading to cmo5U deficiency in tRNA, was introduced. Monitoring A-site selection rates in vivo revealed that the presence of cmo5U34 stimulated the reading of CCU and CCC (Pro), GCU (Ala), and GUC (Val) codons. Unexpectedly, cmo5U is critical for efficient decoding of G-ending Pro, Ala, and Val codons. Apparently, whereas G34 pairs with U in mRNA, the reverse pairing (U34-G) requires a modification of U34.
A bipartite U1 site represses U1A expression by synergizing with PIE to inhibit nuclear polyadenylation
Authors: Guan Fei , Caratozzolo Rose M. , Goraczniak Rafal , Ho Eric S. , Gunderson Samuel I.
Published: October 2007

U1A protein negatively autoregulates itself by polyadenylation inhibition of its own pre-mRNA by binding as two molecules to a 3′UTR-located Polyadenylation Inhibitory Element (PIE). The (U1A)2-PIE complex specifically blocks U1A mRNA biosynthesis by inhibiting polyA tail addition, leading to lower mRNA levels. U1 snRNP bound to a 5′ss-like sequence, which we call a U1 site, in the 3′UTRs of certain papillomaviruses leads to inhibition of viral late gene expression via a similar mechanism. Although such U1 sites can also be artificially used to potently silence reporter and endogenous genes, no naturally occurring U1 sites have been found in eukaryotic genes. Here we identify a conserved U1 site in the human U1A gene that is, unexpectedly, within a bipartite element where the other part represses the U1 site via a base-pairing mechanism. The bipartite element inhibits U1A expression via a synergistic action with the nearby PIE. Unexpectedly, synergy is not based on stabilizing binding of the inhibitory factors to the 3′UTR, but rather is a property of the larger ternary complex. Inhibition targets the biosynthetic step of polyA tail addition rather than altering mRNA stability. This is the first example of a functional U1 site in a cellular gene and of a single gene containing two dissimilar elements that inhibit nuclear polyadenylation. Parallels with other examples where U1 snRNP inhibits expression are discussed. We expect that other cellular genes will harbor functional U1 sites.
Analysis of the Biological Clock Decision
Authors: Keeney Ralph L. , Vernik Dinah A.
Published: October 2007

The decisions of if and when to have a first child are very important for any woman or couple. This paper develops a model to examine when a woman should begin trying to conceive, which depends on the personal circumstances and values of each woman. The model incorporates separate objectives for a woman's professional, social, and family aspects of life and integrates them into a quality-of-life function that includes the changing relative importance of these aspects with age over a woman's life. Descriptions of the relative quality of each of these three aspects of a woman's life are modeled over time for different cases. One case involves no child and other cases involve the woman giving birth at different ages from 21 to 50. The probabilities of conceiving when trying, as a function of a woman's age, are included. The relative pros and cons of waiting until the late thirties to have a child to avoid perceived detrimental impacts on one's career or social life are investigated. Several illustrations are included in the paper to demonstrate insights that can be generated using the model.
Influence Diagrams with Continuous Decision Variables and Non-Gaussian Uncertainties
Authors: Cobb Barry R.
Published: October 2007

The continuous decision MTE influence diagram (CDMTEID) uses mixtures of truncated exponentials (MTE) potentials to approximate probability density functions (pdfs) and utility functions, and develops a piecewise-linear decision rule for continuous decision variables. The operations for solving CDMTEIDs are defined, and the abilities of this model to identify nonmonotonic decision rules and accommodate discrete variables with continuous parents are demonstrated. The CDMTEID solution to a problem with a continuous decision variable and a non-Gaussian continuous chance variable is presented and compared to a benchmark solution and existing models. The CDMTEID improves the quality of the decision rule and the value of information, as compared to other methods for the example problem.
From the Editor…
Authors: Keller L. Robin
Published: October 2007

This issue begins with a multi-attribute utility model by Ralph L. Keeney and Dinah A. Vernik for a woman's decision to have a child when facing the biological clock. Then Barry R. Cobb presents a method for analysis of influence diagrams which contain continuous decision variables and non-Gaussian probability distributions. Next is an article by Johan René van Dorp, Salvador Cruz Rambaud, José García Pérez, and Rafael Herrerías Pleguezuelo, who introduce a probability elicitation procedure for the generalized trapezoidal distribution with a uniform central stage. This issue ends with an essay by Michael H. Rothkopf on why decision analysis, rather than game theory, is the right tool for auctions.
Decision Analysis: The Right Tool for Auctions
Authors: Rothkopf Michael H.
Published: October 2007

For bidders in standard sealed bid auctions, I believe that decision theory dominates game theory. Even in the design of auctions, decision theory competes well with game theory. This paper explains why I have reached these conclusions.
Studies of the Oxidation Dynamics of Turbine Oils—Initial Data from a New Form of the Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test
Authors: Selby T. W. , Froelicher S. W. , Secrist James
Published: October 2007

The importance of oxidation-resistant turbine oils in the various applications in which turbines are used is difficult to understate. Turbines in themselves are very costly energy-converting mechanisms which, among many other applications, provide much of the electricity for the power grids of modern society. Most critical to these turbines are the lubricants that are essential to their operation in long, dependable service. Equally critical, then, are the tests that determine the acceptability of these turbine oils and the understanding of the oxidation mechanisms that cause these oils to form deposits and otherwise lose their ability to properly lubricate the turbine. This paper is a first report on a new dry-bath approach to not only determine antioxidation characteristics of turbine oils in the well-known Rotating Pressure Vessel Oxidation Test (RPVOT) but to enable the direct study and modification of the oxidation process as it occurs. The instrument not only eliminates the hot oil-bath associated with the RPVOT but also allows the test fluid to be available for direct monitoring of temperature, chemical content, and the effects of injecting reactants. In the process of gathering the preliminary information for this paper, it was found that significant exotherms may develop in the turbine oil at a critical stage of oxidation response. These exotherms can vary in duration and temperature rise depending on the nature of the antioxidant system and other properties of the formulated turbine oil. Moreover, the fact that these exotherms seem to mark a certain level of the oxidation process, brings the opportunity to more thoroughly investigate and understand oxidation processes as well as the chemistries of other lubricants.
Surface Characterization Techniques in Wear of Materials
Authors: Miyoshi Kazuhisa , Ishibashi Kenichi , Suzuki Manabu
Published: October 2007

To understand the benefits that tribological engineering materials or surface modifications provide, and ultimately to devise better ones, it is necessary to study the topographical, mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics of surfaces. This paper reviews advanced surface analytical techniques for measuring surface topography and hardness of engineering surfaces. The primary emphases are on the use of these techniques as they relate to measurements of wear volume loss and nanohardness of materials using optical profilometry and nanoindentation in conjunction with atomic force microscopy, respectively.
Determination of Material Properties of Functionally Graded Plate Using the Dispersion of Guided Waves and an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Jiangong Yu , Bin Wu , Cunfu He
Published: October 2007

Using guided wave dispersion characteristics, an inverse method based on artificial neural network (ANN) is presented to determine the material properties of functionally graded materials (FGM) plates. The group velocities of several lowest modes at several lower frequencies are used as the inputs of the ANN model; the outputs of the ANN are the distribution function of the volume fraction of the FGM plate. The Legendre polynomials method is used to calculate the dispersion curves for the FGM plate. Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used as numerical optimization to speed up the training process of the ANN model.
Style Matters: Ethnography as Method and Genre
Authors: Sharman Russell Leigh
Published: October 2007

This article examines the potential for narrative style to reposition experience as central to the anthropological project. A disciplinary dichotomy between form and substance in ethnographic writing has privileged a discursive turn away from lived experience, the bedrock of ethnographic data. Drawing on the insights of experimental ethnography and pragmatist philosophy, this article critiques this dichotomy, arguing for the methodological importance of narrative style in ethnographic writing both as an evocation of fieldwork experience and as an act of authentic political engagement. This article will draw on examples from the author's work in Costa Rica and New York City.
Tools to Shape Texts: What Creative Nonfiction Can Offer Ethnography
Authors: Narayan Kirin
Published: October 2007

Drawing on the storytelling techniques of fiction to write about real events, creative nonfiction is a flourishing literary movement. This article examines how attention to the craft of creative nonfiction is potentially useful to ethnography. I present a few practical tools that may help ethnographers seeking to shape the materials of fieldwork: story, situation, persona, character, scene, and summary. I also ponder how to include background material without dense expository lumps. To show these tools in action, I offer a segment of my own ethnographic writing set in the Himalayan foothill region of Northwest India and present short selections from the writings of anthropologists who have reached wide interdisciplinary and popular audiences.
Ethnography in a Time of Blurred Genres
Authors: Behar Ruth
Published: October 2007

Drawing from Francine Prose's Reading Like a Writer (2006), this article offers suggestions for reading ethnographies in a new way: with an eye toward learning how they were written and what literary feats they accomplished. In a time of blurred genres, the line between fiction and nonfiction has become increasingly indistinct and it is no longer so clear where ethnography is to be positioned. It is therefore important to reassess the possibilities and limits of ethnography as a literary genre if we are to understand the idiosyncrasies of its “art.”
Fighting to Belong: Soviet WWII Veterans in Israel
Authors: Roberman Sveta
Published: October 2007

Focusing on a group of elderly immigrants from the former USSR living in Israel, this ethnographic study examines a matter that has received scant attention in the literature: immigration in old age and the complex relationship of older immigrants to the host country. Finding themselves in a situation of multiple marginality, these immigrants search for a means of belonging in their new country. In this particular group, a narrative of the past—that of their service in the Red Army during WWII—is the central symbolic resource mobilized in forging an identity of honor and esteem within the host society and in constructing their narrative of inclusion. By observing the present circumstances of the elderly immigrants' lives and exploring their pasts in light of sociopolitical factors and social memory frames of the former and host societies, the article demonstrates how a soldiering identity serves the veterans in restoring the rupture between past and present. The veterans' Victory Day parade held in Jerusalem, marking the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany, epitomizes their commemorative work and shows how their identity of belonging is constructed.
Epistemological Models and Culture Conflict: Menominee and Euro‐American Hunters in Wisconsin
Authors: Ross Norbert , Medin Doug , Cox Doug
Published: October 2007

We describe how Menominee Native Americans and Euro‐American hunters differ with respect to how they perceive and think about nature (here, specifically animals and plants of the forest) as well as the role of humans in it. We call these models epistemological frameworks—folk theories that allow individuals to make inferences in specific situations, guiding the acquisition and formation of new knowledge. Using an approach that combines ethnographic research from anthropology with experimental approaches from related cognitive sciences, we explore the within‐ and between‐cultural distributions of ideas, values, and beliefs and their behavioral consequences. Findings indicate that stereotyping of other groups is largely driven by differences in epistemological frameworks and resulting categorizations and interpretations of observed or assumed behaviors.
Charles Dickens's Families of Choice: Elective Affinities, Sibling Substitution, and Homoerotic Desire
Authors: Furneaux Holly
Published: October 2007

Holly Furneaux, “Charles Dickens's Families of Choice: Elective Affinities, Sibling Substitution, and Homoerotic Desire” (pp. 153–192)

This essay focuses upon one particularly rich strategy through which Charles Dickens and his contemporaries articulated the queer possibilities inherent within the putatively heterosexual family: in-lawing, in which prohibited desire for a member of the same-sex is quite transparently redirected or extended to an opposite-sex sibling. Such plots, which expose both female and male homoerotic motivations for courtship narratives, proliferate throughout Dickens's work. Focusing on Dickens's early career (The Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby, Martin Chuzzlewit), the essay suggests that explorations of in-lawing reflect and contribute to wider contemporary literary and biographical discourses about how Victorian families could accommodate same-sex desire. Dickens leans on—and then proceeds to expose the homoerotic possibilities within—two central Victorian beliefs about siblinghood: the expectation that sisters will imitate and fulfill their brother's desires, even and especially in the selection of a husband; and the perception of sibling parity or interchangeability, which was strikingly demonstrated in the Deceased Wife's Sister controversy. Recognizing the pervasiveness of homoerotic in-lawing in nineteenth-century works and lives, this essay builds upon recent developments in queer theory and histories of sexuality to propose that heterosexual bonds were not the only, or indeed the primary, erotic determinant of family formation in this period.
Edgar Allan Poe's (Meta)physics: A Pre-History of the Post-Human
Authors: Taylor Matthew A.
Published: October 2007

Matthew A. Taylor, “Edgar Allan Poe's (Meta)physics: A Pre-History of the Post-Human” (pp. 193–221)

Edgar Allan Poe partakes of a social imaginary pursuing a single, unified theory of the physical and metaphysical. In this essay I examine how Poe, rather than following the predominantly utopian, utilitarian, and self-affirming teleologies of many such contemporary discourses (mesmerism, spiritualism, etc.), pictures instead the unsettling implications for human ontology consequent upon the idea that persons are less autonomous or sovereign entities than mutable effects of external, inhuman forces. Routing my discussion through a critical reading of Martin Heidegger's Being and Time, I argue that Poe's cosmological poem-essay Eureka and much of his short fiction—including “Ligeia” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”—present a model of the universe and of the natural world that actively erodes the distinctions separating humanity from its physical environment, indeed that finally refuses the differentiation of subject and object altogether. My essay provides a brief genealogy for this macabre literalization of contemporary theories of the universe in Poe's writing and explores the implications that it has for a critical tradition (psychoanalytic, deconstructive, ideological) largely invested in the selves rather than the surroundings of Poe's tales.
Ethanol‐Induced Oxidative DNA Damage and CYP2E1 Expression in Liver Tissue ofAldh2Knockout Mice
Authors: Kim Yong‐Dae , Eom Sang‐Yong , Ogawa Masanori , Oyama Tsunehiro , Isse Toyohi , Kang Jong‐Won , Zhang Yan Wei , Kawamoto Toshihiro , Kim Heon
Published: October 2007

Ethanol‐Induced Oxidative DNA Damage and CYP2E1 Expression in Liver Tissue ofAldh2Knockout Mice: Yong‐Dae Kim,et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea—Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of many diseases including cancer. We evaluated oxidative DNA damage inAldh2+/+ andAldh2–/– mice after they had been subjected to acute ethanol exposure. Olive tail moment, which was measured using a comet assay, was not increased by ethanol treatment in bothAldh2+/+ andAldh2–/– mice. However, after controlling for the effect of ethanol exposure, theAldh2genotype was a significant determinant for Olive tail moments. Although the ethanol treatment significantly increased the hepatic 8‐OHdG generation in onlyAldh2+/+ mice, the level of 8‐OHdG was the highest inAldh2–/– ethanol treated mice. The increase in the level of 8‐OHdG was associated with hepatic expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1). The levels of Olive tail moment and the hepatic 8‐OHdG in theAldh2–/– control group were significantly higher than those of theAldh2+/+ control group. The level of CYP2E1 in liver tissue showed a similar pattern to those of the oxidative DNA damage markers. This study shows that acute ethanol consumption increases oxidative DNA damage and that expression of CYP2E1 protein may play a pivotal role in the induction of oxidative DNA damage. The finding that oxidative DNA damage was more intense inAldh2–/– mice than inAldh2+/+ mice suggests that ALDH2‐deficient individuals may be more susceptible than wild‐type ALDH2 individuals to ethanol‐mediated liver disease, including cancer.
Mass, Number and Surface Area Concentrations of α‐Quartz Exposures of Refractory Material Manufacturing Workers
Authors: Chen Jyh‐Larng , Su Li‐Fang , Tsai Ching‐Lang , Liu Hung‐Hsin , Lin Ming‐Hsiu , Tsai Perng‐Jy
Published: October 2007

Mass, Number and Surface Area Concentrations of α‐Quartz Exposures of Refractory Material Manufacturing Workers: Jyh‐Larng Chen, et al. Department of Environmental Engineering and Health, Yuanpei University College of Health Science, Taiwan—This study set out to assess the respirable mass, surface area, and number concentrations of the α‐quartz content particles (Cr‐m, Cr‐s and Cr‐n) to which workers were exposed in six different exposure groups, the raw material handling (n=10), crushing (n=12), mixing (n=12), forming (n=10), furnace (n=10), and packaging (n=10), in a refractory material manufacturing plant. For Cr‐m, the exposure values in sequence were found as: mixing (68.1 µg/ m3)>packaging (55.9 µg/m3)>raw material handling (53.3 µg/m3)>furnace (31.0 µg/m3)>crushing (29.8 µg/ m3)>forming (22.4 µg/m3). We also found that ~21.2–68.2% of the above Cr‐m exceeded the current TLV‐TWA for the α‐quartz content (50 µg/m3) suggesting a need for initiating control strategies immediately. We further conducted particle size‐segregating samplings in four workplaces: crushing (n=3), mixing (n=3), forming (n=3), and furnace (n=3). We found that all resultant particle size distributions shared a quite similar geometric standard deviation (σ g; =2.24–2.92), but the process area, associated with higher mechanical energy (i.e., crushing process), contained finer α‐quartz content particles (mass median aerodynamic diameter; MMAD=3.22 µm) than those areas associated with lower mechanical energy (i.e., mixing, forming, and furnace; MMAD=6.17, 5.95, and 8.92 µm, respectively). These results gave a ratio of Cr‐m in the above four exposure groups (i.e., crushing: mixing: forming: furnace=1.00: 2.30: 0.753: 1.04) which was quite different from those of Cr‐s (1.00: 1.74: 0.654: 0.530) and Cr‐n (1.00: 1.27: 0.572: 0.202). Our results clearly indicate the importance of measuring particle size distributions for assessing workers' free silica exposures.
Musculoskeletal Problems among Workers of an Iranian Rubber Factory
Authors: Choobineh Alireza , Tabatabaei Sayed Hamidreza , Mokhtarzadeh Abbas , Salehi Maryam
Published: October 2007

Musculoskeletal Problems among Workers of an Iranian Rubber Factory: Alireza Choobineh, et al. Occupational Health Department, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran—Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common health problem throughout the world and a major cause of disability among the work force. Assessment of exposure level to MSD risk factors can be an appropriate base for planning and implementing interventional ergonomic programs in the workplace. This study was conducted among workers of an Iranian rubber factory with the objectives of (a) determination of the prevalence of MSDs among production line workers, and (b) assessment of the level of exposure to MSD risks. In this study, all 16 production units of the factory were studied. In each unit, 50% of the workers were randomly selected and included in the study. A total of 454 workers participated. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to study the prevalence of MSDs and the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) technique was applied to assess physical exposure to the risks. The videotaping technique was used to collect the required data for each worker. The vast majority of the workers (73.6%) had suffered from some kind of musculoskeletal symptoms during the last 12 months. The highest prevalence was reported in the lower back (50.2%), knees (48.5%) and upper back (38.1%). In 85.5% of the workers studied, the QEC score was high or very high. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the QEC level of risk and MSDs symptoms (p<0.001). The most common ergonomics problems were found to be awkward postures and manual material handling. MSDs had occurred with a high rate among workers of this rubber factory. Corrective measures for reducing risk level seemed essential. Elimination of awkward postures and manual material handling in the workplace were recommended.
Treatment of Ichthyophthiriasis in Rainbow Trout and Common Carp with Common and Alternative Therapeutics
Authors: Lahnsteiner Franz , Weismann Thomas
Published: October 2007

The goal of this laboratory study was to provide better knowledge about the treatment of ichthyophthiriasis (causative agent: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a ciliate bacteria) in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio. The following questions were investigated: (1) the effectiveness of different chemicals (formalin, sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, Perotan, Virkon, Aquahumin, Baycox, and Ivomec) and at different concentrations and durations of application, (2) the number of treatments and the time intervals between treatments that were necessary to remove the parasite, and (3) how treatment effectiveness differed between the two species. The most effective treatment was a 37% stock solution of formalin at 110 μL/L of bath water for 1 h in rainbow trout and for 2 h in common carp. Aquahumin (150 μL/L for 2 h) was effective in slightly or moderately infected rainbow trout and at low water temperatures, but it was not effective for common carp. All other tested chemicals were ineffective. With formalin and Aquahumin, five treatments were necessary to remove I. multifiliis infestation. At 10 ± 1°C, the parasites were eradicated when the treatment was performed at 48-h intervals. At 18 ± 1°C the infestation was eliminated when treatment was performed at 24-h intervals but not at 48-h intervals. At 25 ± 1°C, treatment at 24-h intervals was ineffective; however, shorter intervals between treatments might improve treatment efficacy at this temperature. In contrast, the number of treatment repetitions played a minor role, and parasites were eliminated with five treatments in all experiments when the type of chemical and treatment interval were optimal.