bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of microglial/macrophage activation by macrophage inhibitory factor (TKP) or tuftsin (TKPR) attenuates the disease course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Bhasin Madhuri , Wu Muzhou , Tsirka Stella E
Published: July 2007

Background

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS). During the of progression of EAE, microglia, the immunocompetent cells of the brain, become activated and accumulate around demyelinated lesions. Microglial activation is mediated by the extracellular protease tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA), and mice lacking tPA display altered EAE progression. In this study, we have used pharmacological inhibitors and stimulators of microglial/macrophage activation to examine the temporal requirement for microglial activation in EAE progression and to determine whether such approaches might potentially be of therapeutic value.

Results

Intervention using the tripeptide macrophage/microglia inhibitory factor MIF (TKP) and the tetrapeptide macrophage/microglial stimulator tuftsin (TKPR) attenuated EAE symptoms and revealed that the timing of macrophage/microglial activation is critical for the clinical outcome of EAE. We show that the disease progression can potentially be manipulated favorably at early stages by altering the timing of microglial activation, which in turn alters the systemic immune response to favor upregulation of T helper cell 2 genes that promote recovery from EAE.

Conclusion

Preventative and therapeutic modulation of macrophage/microglial activity significantly alters the outcome of EAE at symptomatic stages. Specific molecular targets have been identified that represent potential avenues of exploration for the treatment and prevention of MS.
Short-term and one-year outcome of infective endocarditis in adult patients treated in a Finnish teaching hospital during 1980–2004
Authors: Heiro Maija , Helenius Hans , Hurme Saija , Savunen Timo , Engblom Erik , Nikoskelainen Jukka , Kotilainen Pirkko
Published: July 2007

Background

Previous studies on factors predicting the prognosis of infective endocarditis have given somewhat conflicting results. Our aim was to define the factors predicting the outcome of patients treated in a Finnish teaching hospital.

Methods

A total of 326 episodes of infective endocarditis in 303 patients treated during 1980–2004 were evaluated for short-term and 1-year outcome and complications.

Results

Infection of 2 native valves and the occurrence of neurological complications, peripheral emboli, or heart failure significantly predicted both in-hospital and 1-year mortality, while age ≥65 years or the presence of a major criterion or vegetation on echocardiography predicted death within 1 year. A significant trend was observed between the level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) on admission and both the short-term and 1-year outcome. In the patients who had CRP values ≥100 mg/l on admission, the hazard ratio for in-hospital death was 2.9-fold and the hazard ratio for 1-year death was 3.9-fold as compared to those with lower CRP values. Male sex and age < 64 years significantly predicted a need for both in-hospital and 1-year surgery, as did the development of heart failure or the presence of a major criterion or vegetation on echocardiography. Peripheral emboli were associated with a need for in-hospital surgery, while Streptococcus pneumoniae as the causative agent or infection of 2 native valves predicted a need for surgery within 1 year from admission.

Conclusion

Some of the factors (e.g. heart failure, neurological complications, peripheral emboli) predicting a poor prognosis and/or need for surgery were the same observed in previous studies. A new finding was that high CRP values (≥100 mg/l) on admission significantly predicted both short-term and 1-year mortality.
Lentiviral vectors encoding tetracycline-dependent repressors and transactivators for reversible knockdown of gene expression: a comparative study
Authors: Pluta Krzysztof , Diehl William , Zhang Xian-Yang , Kutner Robert , Bialkowska Agnieszka , Reiser Jakob
Published: July 2007

Background

RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated by the expression of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) has emerged as a powerful experimental tool for reverse genetic studies in mammalian cells. A number of recent reports have described approaches allowing regulated production of shRNAs based on modified RNA polymerase II (Pol II) or RNA polymerase III (Pol III) promoters, controlled by drug-responsive transactivators or repressors such as tetracycline (Tet)-dependent transactivators and repressors. However, the usefulness of these approaches is often times limited, caused by inefficient delivery and/or expression of shRNA-encoding sequences in target cells and/or poor design of shRNAs sequences. With a view toward optimizing Tet-regulated shRNA expression in mammalian cells, we compared the capacity of a variety of hybrid Pol III promoters to express short shRNAs in target cells following lentivirus-mediated delivery of shRNA-encoding cassettes.

Results

RNAi-mediated knockdown of gene expression in target cells, controlled by a modified Tet-repressor (TetR) in the presence of doxycycline (Dox) was robust. Expression of shRNAs from engineered human U6 (hU6) promoters containing a single tetracycline operator (TO) sequence between the proximal sequence element (PSE) and the TATA box, or an improved second-generation Tet-responsive promoter element (TRE) placed upstream of the promoter was tight and reversible as judged using quantitative protein measurements. We also established and tested a novel hU6 promoter system in which the distal sequence element (DSE) of the hU6 promoter was replaced with a second-generation TRE. In this system, positive regulation of shRNA production is mediated by novel Tet-dependent transactivators bearing transactivation domains derived from the human Sp1 transcription factor.

Conclusion

Our modified lentiviral vector system resulted in tight and reversible knockdown of target gene expression in unsorted cell populations. Tightly regulated target gene knockdown was observed with vectors containing either a single TO sequence or a second-generation TRE using carefully controlled transduction conditions. We expect these vectors to ultimately find applications for tight and reversible RNAi in mammalian cells in vivo.
Selective sigma-2 ligands preferentially bind to pancreatic adenocarcinomas: applications in diagnostic imaging and therapy
Authors: Kashiwagi Hiroyuki , McDunn Jonathan E , Simon Peter O , Goedegebuure Peter S , Xu Jinbin , Jones Lynne , Chang Katherine , Johnston Fabian , Trinkaus Kathryn , Hotchkiss Richard S , Mach Robert H , Hawkins William G
Published: July 2007

Background

Resistance to modern adjuvant treatment is in part due to the failure of programmed cell death. Therefore the molecules that execute the apoptotic program are potential targets for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. The sigma-2 receptor has been found to be over-expressed in some types of malignant tumors, and, recently, small molecule ligands to the sigma-2 receptor were found to induce cancer cell apoptosis.

Results

The sigma-2 receptor was expressed at high levels in both human and murine pancreas cancer cell lines, with minimal or limited expression in normal tissues, including: brain, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas and spleen. Micro-PET imaging was used to demonstrate that the sigma-2 receptor was preferentially expressed in tumor as opposed to normal tissues in pancreas tumor allograft-bearing mice. Two structurally distinct sigma-2 receptor ligands, SV119 and WC26, were found to induce apoptosis to mice and human pancreatic cancer cellsin vitroandin vivo. Sigma-2 receptor ligands induced apoptosis in a dose dependent fashion in all pancreatic cell lines tested. At the highest dose tested (10 μM), all sigma-2 receptor ligands induced 10–20% apoptosis in all pancreatic cancer cell lines tested (p < 0.05). In pancreas tumor allograft-bearing mice, a single bolus dose of WC26 caused approximately 50% apoptosis in the tumor compared to no appreciable apoptosis in tumor-bearing, vehicle-injected control animals (p < 0.0001). WC26 significantly slowed tumor growth after a 5 day treatment compared to vehicle-injected control animals (p < 0.0001) and blood chemistry panels suggested that there is minimal peripheral toxicity.

Conclusion

We demonstrate a novel therapeutic strategy that induces a significant increase in pancreas cancer cell death. This strategy highlights a new potential target for the treatment of pancreas cancer, which has little in the way of effective treatments.
RASSF1A promoter methylation and expression analysis in normal and neoplastic kidney indicates a role in early tumorigenesis
Authors: Peters Inga , Rehmet Kristina , Wilke Nadine , Kuczyk Markus A , Hennenlotter Jörg , Eilers Tyark , Machtens Stefan , Jonas Udo , Serth Jürgen
Published: July 2007

Background

Epigenetic silencing of the RAS association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) tumor suppressor gene promoter has been demonstrated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a result of promoter hypermethylation. Contradictory results have been reported forRASSF1Amethylation in normal kidney, thus it is not clear whether a significant difference betweenRASSF1Amethylation in normal and tumor cells of the kidney exists. Moreover, RASSF1A expression has not been characterized in tumors or normal tissue as yet.

Results

Using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) we compared RASSF1A methylation in 90 paired tissue samples obtained from primary kidney tumors and corresponding normal tissue. Bisulfite sequence analysis was carried out using both pooled amplicons from the tumor and normal tissue groups and subclones obtained from a single tissue pair. Expression of RASSF1A was analyzed by the use of tissue arrays and immunohistochemistry. We found significantly increased methylation in tumor samples (mean methylation, 20%) compared to corresponding normal tissues (mean methylation, 11%;P< 0.001). Densely methylated sequences were found both in pooled and individual sequences of normal tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant reduced expression of RASSF1A in most of the tumor samples. Heterogeneous expression patterns of RASSF1A were detected in a subgroup of histologically normal tubular epithelia.

Conclusion

Our methylation and expression data support the hypothesis thatRASSF1Ais involved in early tumorigenesis of renal cell carcinoma.
The economic burden of treating neonates in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Greece
Authors: Geitona Mary , Hatzikou Magdalini , Hatzistamatiou Zoi , Anastasiadou Aggeliki , Theodoratou T D
Published: July 2007

Background

In a period when a public-private mix in Greece is under consideration and hospital budgets become restrained, economic assessment is important for rational decision making. The study aimed to estimate the hospitalization cost of neonates admitted to the ICUs and demonstrate discrepancies with reimbursement.

Methods

Chosen methodology was based on the selection of medical records of all NICUs and intermediate care admissions within February to April 2004. Neonates (n = 99) were classified according to birthweight and gestational age.

Results

Mean cost per infant was estimated at €5.485 while reimbursement from social funds arises to €3.952. Costs per birthweight or gestational age show an inverse relationship. Personnel costs accounted for 59.9%, followed by enteral/parenteral feeding (16.14%) and pharmaceuticals expenses (11.10%) of all resources consumed. Sensitivity analysis increases the robustness of the results

Conclusion

Neonatal intensive care in Greece is associated with significant costs that exceed reimbursement from social funds. Reimbursement should be adjusted to make neonatal intensive care economically viable to private hospitals and thus, increase capacity of the services provided.
15d-PGJ2 induces apoptosis of mouse oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Authors: Xiang Zhongmin , Lin Tong , Reeves Steven A
Published: July 2007

Background

Prostaglandin (PG) production is associated with inflammation, a major feature in multiple sclerosis (MS) that is characterized by the loss of myelinating oligodendrocytes in the CNS. While PGs have been shown to have relevance in MS, it has not been determined whether PGs have a direct effect on cells within the oligodendrocyte lineage.

Methods

Undifferentiated or differentiated mouse oligodendrocyte precursor (mOP) cells were treated with PGE2, PGF2α, PGD2 or 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2). Cell growth and survival following treatment were examined using cytotoxicity assays and apoptosis criteria. The membrane receptors for PGD2 and the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the death mechanism were examined.

Results

PGE2 and PGF2α had minimal effects on the growth and survival of mOP cells. In contrast, PGD2 and 15d-PGJ2 induced apoptosis of undifferentiated mOP cells at relatively low micromolar concentrations. 15d-PGJ2 was less toxic to differentiated mOP cells. Apoptosis was independent of membrane receptors for PGD2 and the nuclear receptor PPARγ. The cytotoxicity of 15d-PGJ2 was associated with the production of ROS and was inversely related to intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. However, the cytotoxicity of 15d-PGJ2 was not decreased by the free radical scavengers ascorbic acid or α-tocopherol.

Conclusion

Taken together, these results demonstrated that 15d-PGJ2 is toxic to early stage OP cells, suggesting that 15d-PGJ2 may represent a deleterious factor in the natural remyelination process in MS.
Clear cell sarcoma of the soft parts arising in the rectus abdominis in a child – aspiration cytology of a rare case
Authors: Murugan Paari , Basu Debdatta , Kumar Surendra , Jagadish Sadasivan
Published: July 2007

Background

Clear cell sarcoma of soft parts is most commonly found associated with the tendons and aponeuroses of distal extremities in young adults with a peak incidence in the third decade. Location in the abdominal wall and in a child is very rare.

Case presentation

A nine-year-old female child presented with a swelling in the anterior abdominal wall in the suprapubic region. Fine needle aspiration revealed predominantly discrete cells with loose clustering at places. The cytoplasm was abundant, finely granular, and eosinophilic with some cells exhibiting clear vacuolated zones. No pigment was seen. The nuclei were rounded and eccentrically placed with a striking single eosinophilic macro nucleolus present in all the cells. Taking into consideration, the history, age of the patient, location of the tumor and absence of melanin pigment, a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma was made, the differential including Clear cell sarcoma. This was subsequently confirmed on histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry

Conclusion

The atypical presentation of the case made the cytological diagnosis rather challenging. Clear cell sarcoma should be considered when cytology of a soft-tissue tumor shows uncharacteristically high cellularity and relatively uniform cells with macronucleoli.
Micro-morphologic changes around biophysically-stimulated titanium implants in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Akca Kivanc , Sarac Ebru , Baysal Ugur , Fanuscu Mete , Chang Ting-Ling , Cehreli Murat
Published: July 2007

Background

Osteoporosis may present a risk factor in achievement of osseointegration because of its impact on bone remodeling properties of skeletal phsiology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate micro-morphological changes in bone around titanium implants exposed to mechanical and electrical-energy in osteoporotic rats.

Methods

Fifteen 12-week old sprague-dowley rats were ovariectomized to develop osteoporosis. After 8 weeks of healing period, two titanium implants were bilaterally placed in the proximal metaphyses of tibia. The animals were randomly divided into a control group and biophysically-stimulated two test groups with five animals in each group. In the first test group, a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation was administrated at a 0.2 mT 4 h/day, whereas the second group received low-magnitude high-frequency mechanical vibration (MECHVIB) at 50 Hz 14 min/day. Following completion of two week treatment period, all animals were sacrificed. Bone sites including implants were sectioned, removed en bloc and analyzed using a microCT unit. Relative bone volume and bone micro-structural parameters were evaluated for 144 μm wide peri-implant volume of interest (VOI).

Results

Mean relative bone volume in the peri-implant VOI around implants PEMF and MECHVIB was significantly higher than of those in control (P < .05). Differences in trabecular-thickness and -separation around implants in all groups were similar (P > .05) while the difference in trabecular-number among test and control groups was significant in all VOIs (P < .05).

Conclusion

Biophysical stimulation remarkably enhances bone volume around titanium implants placed in osteoporotic rats. Low-magnitude high-frequency MECHVIB is more effective than PEMF on bone healing in terms of relative bone volume.
Bias in phylogenetic tree reconciliation methods: implications for vertebrate genome evolution
Authors: Hahn Matthew W
Published: July 2007

Background

Comparative genomic studies are revealing frequent gains and losses of whole genes via duplication and pseudogenization. One commonly used method for inferring the number and timing of gene gains and losses reconciles the gene tree for each gene family with the species tree of the taxa considered. Recent studies using this approach have found a large number of ancient duplications and recent losses among vertebrate genomes.

Results

I show that tree reconciliation methods are biased when the inferred gene tree is not correct. This bias places duplicates towards the root of the tree and losses towards the tips of the tree. I demonstrate that this bias is present when tree reconciliation is conducted on both multiple mammal and Drosophila genomes, and that lower bootstrap cut-off values on gene trees lead to more extreme bias. I also suggest a method for dealing with reconciliation bias, although this method only corrects for the number of gene gains on some branches of the species tree.

Conclusion

Based on the results presented, it is likely that most tree reconciliation analyses show biases, unless the gene trees used are exceptionally well-resolved and well-supported. These results cast doubt upon previous conclusions that vertebrate genome history has been marked by many ancient duplications and many recent gene losses.
Living With Prostate Cancer: Patients' and Spouses' Psychosocial Status and Quality of Life
Authors: Northouse Laurel L. , Mood Darlene W. , Montie James E. , Sandler Howard M. , Forman Jeffrey D. , Hussain Maha , Pienta Kenneth J. , Smith David C. , Sanda Martin G. , Kershaw Trace
Published: July 2007

Purpose

Despite the high prevalence of prostate cancer, little information is available on the quality of life of men and their spouses during the phases of illness. This study assessed patients' and spouses' quality of life, appraisal of illness, resources, symptoms, and risk for distress across three phases of prostate cancer: newly diagnosed, biochemical recurrence, and advanced.

Patients and Methods

The sample consisted of 263 patient/spouse dyads. A stress-appraisal conceptual model guided the selection of variables which were then assessed with established instruments. Study variables were examined for phase effects (differences in dyads across three phases), role effects (patients v spouses), and phase-by-role interactions (differences within dyads across phases) using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results

More phase effects than role effects were found, indicating that the psychosocial experiences of patients and their spouses were similar, but differed from dyads in other phases. Dyads in the advanced phase were at highest risk for distress. These patients had the lowest physical quality of life, and their spouses had the lowest emotional quality of life of all participants. Dyads in the biochemical recurrence and advanced phases had more negative appraisals of illness and caregiving, greater uncertainty, and more hopelessness compared with dyads in the newly diagnosed phase. Spouses, in contrast to patients, had less confidence in their ability to manage the illness and perceived less support across all phases of illness.

Conclusion

Phase-specific programs of care are needed to assist both men with prostate cancer and their spouses to manage the effects of illness.
Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer Risk in the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study: A Report From EMBRACE, GENEPSO, GEO-HEBON, and the IBCCS Collaborating Group
Authors: Brohet Richard M. , Goldgar David E. , Easton Douglas F. , Antoniou Antonis C. , Andrieu Nadine , Chang-Claude Jenny , Peock Susan , Eeles Rosalind A. , Cook Margaret , Chu Carol , Noguès Catherine , Lasset Christine , Berthet Pascaline , Meijers-Heijboer Hanne , Gerdes Anne-Marie , Olsson Håkan , Caldes Trinidad , van Leeuwen Flora E. , Rookus Matti A.
Published: July 2007

Purpose

Earlier studies have shown that endogenous gonadal hormones play an important role in the etiology of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. So far, little is known about the safety of exogenous hormonal use in mutation carriers. In this study, we examined the association between oral contraceptive use and risk of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 carriers.

Patients and Methods

In the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort study (IBCCS), a retrospective cohort of 1,593 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers was analyzed with a weighted Cox regression analysis.

Results

We found an increased risk of breast cancer for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers who ever used oral contraceptives (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.87). HRs did not vary according to time since stopping use, age at start, or calendar year at start. However, a longer duration of use, especially before first full-term pregnancy, was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers (4 or more years of use before first full-term pregnancy: HR = 1.49 [95% CI, 1.05 to 2.11] for BRCA1 carriers and HR = 2.58 [95% CI, 1.21 to 5.49] for BRCA2 carriers).

Conclusion

No evidence was found among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers that current use of oral contraceptives is associated with risk of breast cancer more strongly than is past use, as is found in the general population. However, duration of use, especially before first full-term pregnancy, may be associated with an increasing risk of breast cancer among both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.
Notes from the Laboratories of Democracy: State Government Enactments of Market and State-Based Health Insurance Reforms in the 1990s
Authors: Barrilleaux Charles , Brace Paul
Published: July 2007

We identify two policy strategies that state governments pursue to reduce uninsurance, and we classify policies as being either state based or market based. The two policy strategies are distinguished by whether states rely on the institutional capabilities of the state or market processes to provide insurance. We develop and test models to explain states' adoptions of each type of policy. Using Poisson regression, we evaluate hypotheses suggested by the two strategies with data from U.S. states in the 1990s. The results indicate that institutionally more-capable state governments with strong liberal-party presence in the legislature adopt more state-based policies and fewer market-based policies. By contrast, the model of market-based, business-targeted reforms reveals that government capability plays a smaller role. Instead, these policies are driven by economic affluence, political competition, higher incomes, greater uninsurance, and more previous attempts to address the uninsurance problem.

These findings reveal distinct institutional, partisan, electoral and demographic influences that shape state-based and market-based strategies. First, policy choices can be driven by the presence or absence of state capability. The domain of feasible policy choices open to states with institutional capability may be decidedly different than that available to states with fewer institutional resources. Second, while market-based policy approaches may be the most feasible politically, they may be the least successful in remedying practical uninsurance issues. These results thus reveal that institutional characteristics of states create an important foundation for policy choice and policy success or failure. These results would suggest that the national government's strategy of pursuing market-based solutions to the problem will not result in its being solved.
New algorithm for calibration of instantaneous cutting-force coefficients and radial run-out parameters in flat end milling
Authors: Wan M , Zhang W H , Tan G , Qin G H
Published: July 2007

It is well recognized that the cutter run-out appearing in the milling process will cause an uneven redistribution of the instantaneous uncut chip thickness through the cutter flutes and thereby will generate an irregular distribution of the cutting forces in different tooth periods. This work aims to develop a new approach able to identify the cutter radial run-out and cutting-force coefficients in the flat end milling. It is shown that the total cutting forces can be considered as the sum of a nominal component that is independent of the run-out plus a perturbation component induced by the run-out. Mathematical formulations of both components are developed, accounting for the cutting geometry and the radial run-out parameters. Firstly, to calibrate the cutting-force coefficients, a generic procedure is proposed using the instantaneous value of the nominal component instead of the average value. Secondly, considering the fact that the perturbation component of the cutting force depends non-linearly upon the run-out parameters, the identification of run-out parameters is carried out by solving the linearized equation. In the identification procedure, some key techniques such as the calculation of the immersion boundary at any cutting instant and the reasonable selection of the depth of cut are discussed in detail. Finally, based on simulation and experimental results, the validity of the identification approach is demonstrated.
Hot isostatic pressing for the enhancement of copper dies incorporating a thermally sprayed protective layer
Authors: Kamara A M , Davey K
Published: July 2007

Recent efforts have considered the feasibility of using copper dies protected with a thermally sprayed coating layer in pressure die casting processes. Although such dies offer considerable advantage over traditional designs, particularly improved processing times, a particular drawback is the poor quality of the deposited layer. The coating layer of wearresistant material, which can be deposited on to a die-cavity surface using an arc-wire thermalspray process, can exhibit undesirable porosity, cracks, and inclusions. This in turn can result in poor in-service performance with castings of poor surface quality or dies with a reduced life.

As a route to identifying a suitable and effective coating treatment strategy to enhance coating performance on the die, the current paper presents work carried out to investigate the effectiveness of the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process towards the healing of porosity (i.e. coating densification) in chrome-steel coating and the enhancement of its hardness and bond strength on chrome-copper substrates.

The results of the investigation reveal significant improvement in coating densification and bond strength at all process conditions. Also investigated is the relationship between bond strength, densification, and HIP temperatures. The HIP process is also shown to reduce coating hardness to levels of hardness equivalent to that of traditional tool steel. On the whole, the investigation suggests that optimum performance could be achieved from chrome-steel coating on chrome-copper substrates if HIPped at a temperature of 925°C and a pressure of 100 MPa.
Disassembly sequence generation in recycling based on parts accessibility and end-of-life strategy
Authors: Dong J , Gibson P , Arndt G
Published: July 2007

Nowadays, global sustainability is the central issue in recycling and, increasingly, in manufacturing. Recycling used products can save energy, natural resources, and landfill space, and can reduce air pollution. It can give used products new lives. The study of disassembly is needed in order to make recycling economical, and disassembly sequence generation (DSG) plays an important role. An appropriate disassembly process plan can minimize the cost spent on the disassembly processes and maximize the benefits coming from the reused components. In the current paper, a new approach using Petri net modelling to generate an optimal disassembly sequence (ODS), based on accessibility and end-of-life (EOL) strategy, is described. The different life spans of the reusable components affect the disassembly order, especially in destructive disassembly, and the influence of components with different life spans on DSG is analysed. First, AND/OR graphs are used to generate all feasible disassembly sequences, and then AND/OR graphs are transferred into Petri net graphs while accessibility values and life span values of components are taken into account to obtain the ODS. A program using Microsoft C++ is developed to generate the ODS. The disassembly of a C-clamp is used as a trial example.
Alternate methods for sampling in coordinate metrology
Authors: Collins C E , Fay E B , Aguirre-Cruz J A , Raman S
Published: July 2007

A variety of inspection equipment exists in industry to capture the points on a surface that will envisage manufacturing form errors. Manufacturing inspection faces a problem of finding optimal methods to capture an evenly spread distribution of points on the surface. Sampling does not yield complete information about a surface. Each material removal process leaves a unique pattern on the surface of the workpiece, which has to be taken into consideration while developing the sampling strategy. For instance, round patterns left by face milling at low feeds on flat surfaces, and spiral patterns left during surface milling and turning operations on surfaces of revolution. Two new methods have been developed to improve sampling using the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) for inspection of flat and revolved surfaces. These are the Spiral, and Hamspi sampling methods.

The Spiral method focuses on the centre of the area and uses the Archimedean spiral. Hamspi is a method that combines both the Spiral and randomized Hammersley to measure points in the middle as well as the outer zone of the workpiece. Mathematical comparisons of these methods have been made to establish feasibility. An experiment was performed to determine the accuracy of these models using two dependent variables: inspection time and minimum zone. The minimum zone was (statistically) significantly affected by only two factors: sample size and workpiece shape. The sampling time was however affected by sample size, workpiece shape, and the interaction between them. This study observed that the beginning and ending cutting zones of spherical surfaces were the most significant regions to verify. It was found that the Spiral and Hamspi methods had similar point distributions as the Hammersley method while placing more emphasis on the origin of the workpiece.
Approach of using a ductile fracture criterion in deep drawing of magnesium alloy cylindrical cups under non-isothermal condition
Authors: Zheng W T , Zhang S H , Sorgente D , Tricarico L , Palumbo G
Published: July 2007

There have been many ductile fracture criteria published for predicting fractures in the isothermal metal-forming process, especially at room temperature. However, many materials, such as magnesium alloy and aluminium alloy, show an improved formability at elevated temperatures under non-isothermal conditions. It is significant to predict the occurrence of fracture in metal forming under these conditions since a forming limit diagram is almost powerless here. In the present work, an approach is proposed for extending the application of existent ductile fracture criteria in a non-isothermal metal-forming process. Using the new approach, combined with the finite element method (FEM), the deep drawing of magnesium alloy AZ31 cylindrical cups under non-isothermal condition is analysed. The fractures located in the punch radius region and in the cup wall close to the radius region of the female die resulting from the low and high punch temperatures, respectively, are predicted.
Non-linear and explicit finite element analysis in dynamic responses of handling sheet-metal parts
Authors: Liao Y Gene
Published: July 2007

Sheet metals are used extensively in automotive, aerospace, aircraft, appliance, and furniture industries. Automating material handling of these flexible sheet-metal parts in the stamping process requires attention due to its significant impact on product quality and productivity. The compliance of large sheet-metal blanks can cause their permanent deformation during handling. In addition, the fluctuated deformation on the sheet-metal edges during handling might be a safety issue, such as interfering with the operator or other equipment. This paper presents the use of the non-linear and explicit finite element (FE) technique to formulate a fully flexible dynamic sheet-metal handling model incorporating the motion condition. The influence of the holding end-effecter layout scheme and movability conditions on the final part quality is investigated.
Scheduling algorithms for parallel machines with sequence-dependent set-up and distinct ready times: Minimizing total tardiness
Authors: Kim Sang-Il , Choi Hyun-Seon , Lee Dong-Ho
Published: July 2007

This paper considers the problem of determining the allocation and sequence of jobs on parallel machines for the objective of minimizing total tardiness. Each job may have a sequence-dependent set-up time that depends on the type of job just completed and on the job to be processed as well as distinct ready times at which the job is available for processing. These make the parallel machine scheduling problem more difficult than ordinary ones. Due to the complexity of the problem, two types of search heuristic, tabu search, and simulated annealing are suggested that incorporate new methods to generate the neighbourhood solutions. Three methods of obtaining the initial solutions are also suggested. Computational experiments are done on a number of randomly generated test problems, and the results show that some of the search heuristics suggested in this paper outperform the existing ones.
Preparation of Pillared Carbons by Pyrolysis of Silylated Graphite Oxide
Authors: Matsuo Yoshiaki , Sakai Yoshimasa , Fukutsuka Tomokazu , Sugie Yosohiro
Published: July 2007

Pillared carbons containing silica between their carbon layers were first prepared by the pyrolysis of graphite oxide silylated by 3-aminopropyldiethoxymethylsilane between 450 and 550 °C under vacuum. They possessed both microporosities and mesoporosities existing between their carbon layers.
Elicitation from Large, Heterogeneous Expert Panels: Using Multiple Uncertainty Measures to Characterize Information Quality for Decision Analysis
Authors: Hoffmann Sandra , Fischbeck Paul , Krupnick Alan , McWilliams Michael
Published: July 2007

Decision analysts are frequently called on to help inform decision makers in cases involving considerable uncertainty. In such situations, expert elicitation of parameter values is frequently used to supplement more conventional research. Expert elicitations typically rely on small panels of experts. However, in cases where the information needed for risk management must draw on a broad range of disciplines or types of professional backgrounds and experience, a larger, more heterogeneous expert panel is needed. In this paper we develop a formal protocol and a suite of uncertainty measures for this work. The protocol uses formal survey methods to take advantage of variation in individual expert uncertainty and heterogeneity among experts as a means of quantifying and comparing sources of uncertainty about parameters of interest. We illustrate the use of this protocol with an expert elicitation on the distribution of foodborne illness in the United States across foods. In the survey, experts are asked to attribute illnesses associated with one of eleven major foodborne pathogens to the consumption of one of eleven categories of food. Results show how the distributions of multiple measures of uncertainty (e.g., agreement of experts and uncertainty in knowledge), made feasible by use of a large panel of experts, can help identify which of several types of risk management actions may be most appropriate.
Beyond ‘Polibation’ and towards ‘Prisi-Polibation’? Joint Agency Offender Management in the Context of the Street Crime Initiative
Authors: Mawby Rob C. , Crawley Peter , Wright Alan
Published: July 2007

This paper reflects on the trajectory in England and Wales towards greater criminal justice multi- and inter-agency cooperation with the objective of reducing crime. In particular we focus on the potential for the emergence of new forms of offender supervision that combine the close monitoring of specified groups of offenders with supportive resettlement programmes. We examine whether a new criminal justice practitioner is developing within this context, offering an ‘end-to-end’ service that blends and merges the operating practices of the participating agencies. We draw on Nash's concept of ‘polibation’, extend this to ‘prisi-polibation’, and consider these in relation to data derived from our evaluation of an inter-agency project that involved the joint agency (police/ probation/ prisons) management of street crime offenders in the English West Midlands. We suggest that although the cases for polibation and prisi-polibation are not proven, these conceptual models should not yet be dismissed and we conclude by speculating on their place in the future development of joint agency offender management.
Exploring Liability Profiles: A Proximate Cause Analysis of Police Misconduct: Part I
Authors: Kinnaird Brian A.
Published: July 2007

Recent history shows that a significant number of citizens, internationally, are now seeking litigation against police agencies when law enforcement officers violate their civil rights. Often these events occur due to poor training of these officers by their respective agencies ensuing from their social interactions with members of the communities they patrol. Hence, this study analysed past policies and training procedures that were in effect for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) during 1998 to determine if there was any liability of risk following evidence of officer misconduct. Mixed methodology, using a descriptive quantitative approach and based on a historical design, was used to determine whether or not the SFPD had appropriate policies, training and control measures in place to minimise potential citizen complaints against officers that could have led to misconduct allegations and, ultimately, civil litigation. Results showed that SFPD policies, recruit and in-service training and early warning system measures, caused a lower number of substantiated complaints of officer misconduct based upon clear policy, appropriate training and deployed early warning system measures. Consequently, the findings suggest that the SFPD created a lower liability profile in respect to random vs. non-random risks.
The City and the Police Force: Analysing Relative Efficiency in City Police Precincts with Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Barros Carlos Pestana
Published: July 2007

This paper analyses the efficiency of the Lisbon police force precincts with a 2-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA). In the first stage, we estimate the DEA efficiency scores and compare the precincts with each other. The aim of this procedure is to seek out those best practices that will lead to the improved performance of all of the precincts. We rank the precincts according to their efficiency for the period 2000–2002. In the second stage, we estimate a Tobit model in which the efficiency scores are regressed in socio-economic issues, identifying social causes which vary across the city and that affect deterrence policy. The economic implications arising from the study are considered.
Police Perceptions of the Long- and Short-Term Spatial Distribution of Residential Burglary
Authors: McLaughlin Lindsay M. , Johnson Shane D. , Bowers Kate J. , Birks Dan J. , Pease Ken
Published: July 2007

This paper seeks to explore police officer perception of the spatial distribution of residential burglary over different time periods. Using a survey of officers across three English police basic command units (BCUs), it examines the accuracy of their impressions of the locations of crime over the preceding year and the preceding two weeks. It also explores how these perceptions might affect the deployment of resources and police action. The results suggest that whilst officers have a good idea of where burglary occurred over the preceding year, they are less accurate for the recent distribution of risk because short-term hotspots are indeed significantly more unstable than long-term hotspots. The short-term predictive power of both one-year and two-week retrospective perceptions is very limited. Tactical advantages will only be afforded by the swift and routine identification of emerging short-term hotspots.
Book Reviews
Authors: VINCENT JOAN
Published: July 2007

Death of the Father: An Anthropology of the End in Political Authority. John Borneman, ed. New York: Berghahn Books, 2004. x + 240 pp., photographs, references, index.
Book Reviews
Authors: RYCENGA JENNIFER
Published: July 2007

Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African‐Inspired Traditions in the Americas. Randy P. Conner with David Haffield Sparks. Binghamton, NY: Harrington Park Press, 2004. xii + 390 pp., photographs, glossary, bibliography, index.
Book Reviews
Authors: COURTWRIGHT DAVID T.
Published: July 2007

Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History. Frederick H. Smith. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xviii + 339 pp., illustrations, graphs, tables, references, index.
Life as art, and seeing the promise of big bodies
Authors: LINDER FLETCHER
Published: July 2007

In this article, I illustrate how bodybuilding, a popular U.S. cultural practice concerned with aesthetics and self‐development, productively engages with social and cultural struggles facing late‐modern subjects, including how humans might connect with the world, each other, and ourselves. Ethnographic details are based on discourse analysis of bodybuilding media, interviews with amateur and professional bodybuilders, and participant‐observation in bodybuilding contests and gym training throughout the United States. My arguments and shifting narrative presentations draw on work on critique and postcritique in and beyond academic anthropology and suggest how seeing bodybuilding in a potentially positive light requires perceptual–ethical habits not currently fostered in the discipline.
Review essay: Reassessing anthropology's maverick: The archaeological fieldwork of Frank Hamilton Cushing
Authors: PAREZO NANCY J.
Published: July 2007

The Lost Itinerary of Frank Hamilton Cushing. Volume two of Frank Hamilton Cushing and the Hemenway Southwestern Archaeological Expedition, 1886–1889. Curtis M. Hinsley and David R. Wilcox, eds. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2002. xxxvi + 349 pp., illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.

The Lost Florida Manuscript of Frank Hamilton Cushing. Phyllis E. Kolianos and Brent R. Weisman, eds. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xiv + 281 pp., illustrations, appendixes, notes, bibliography, index.

The Florida Journals of Frank Hamilton Cushing. Phyllis E. Kolianos and Brent R. Weisman, eds. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xv + 161 pp., notes, illustrations, bibliography, index.

Anthropology has had many charismatic figures in its past whose work has bordered on genius and who have presaged contemporary anthropological theories, issues, the choice of research topics, methodologies, or ethical concerns. Although often marginalized in the history of anthropology, a few of these key individuals have captured our imagination and recent attention because long‐lost diaries, field notes, and reports have come to light, often after years of diligent searching by dedicated scholars. This review article assesses the contributions of three recent books on one of American anthropology's most fascinating and enigmatic individuals: Frank Hamilton Cushing. These works focus on Cushing's groundbreaking regional research in the American Southeast (Florida) and the Southwest (Arizona) and tell us much about the foundational values of our discipline.
“From sweet potatoes to God Almighty”: Roy Rappaport on being a hedgehog
Authors: HOEY BRIAN A. , FRICKE TOM
Published: July 2007

Recognized as a principal figure in ecological anthropology, Roy Rappaport is best known for his study Pigs for the Ancestors (1968). His work in the anthropology of religion has received less attention. Least acknowledged is Rappaport's role in defining an “engaged” anthropology. Drawn from interviews Tom Fricke conducted with Rappaport in the year before his death in October 1997, this article gives insight into these three facets of his professional life. Beginning with an account of Rappaport's fieldwork with the Tsembaga Maring, the discussion takes up his core themes, ideas that evolved out of his early field experience and with which he was engaged as he worked to finish his final book, Ritual and Religion in the Making of Humanity (1999).
Family History Predicts Stress Fracture in Active Female Adolescents
Authors: Loud Keith J. , Micheli Lyle J. , Bristol Stephanie , Austin S.Bryn , Gordon Catherine M.
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVE. Increased physical activity and menstrual irregularity have been associated with increased risk for stress fracture among adult women active in athletics. The purposes of this study were to determine whether menstrual irregularity is also a risk factor for stress fracture in active female adolescents and to estimate the quantity of exercise associated with an increased risk for this injury.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. A case-control study was conducted of 13- to 22-year-old females diagnosed with their first stress fracture, each matched prospectively on age and self-reported ethnicity with 2 controls. Patients with chronic illnesses or use of medications known to affect bone mineral density were excluded, including use of hormonal preparations that could alter menstrual cycles. The primary outcome, stress fracture in any extremity or the spine, was confirmed radiographically. Girls with stress fracture had bone mineral density measured at the lumbar spine by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS. The mean ± SD age of the 168 participants was 15.9 ± 2.1 years; 91.7% were postmenarchal, with a mean age at menarche of 13.1 ± 1.1 years. The prevalence of menstrual irregularity was similar among cases and controls. There was no significant difference in the mean hours per week of total physical activity between girls in this sample with stress fracture (8.2 hours/week) and those without (7.4 hours/week). In multivariate models, case subjects had nearly 3 times the odds of having a family member with osteoporosis or osteopenia. In secondary analyses, participants with stress fracture had a low mean spinal bone mineral density for their age.

CONCLUSIONS. Among highly active female adolescents, only family history was independently associated with stress fracture. The magnitude of this association suggests that further investigations of inheritable skeletal factors are warranted in this population, along with evaluation of bone mineral density in girls with stress fracture.