bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histopathological and molecular analysis of gastrectomy specimens from hereditary diffuse gastric cancer patients has implications for endoscopic surveillance of individuals at risk
Authors: Barber ME , Save V , Carneiro F , Dwerryhouse S , Lao‐Sirieix P , Hardwick RH , Caldas C , Fitzgerald RC
Published: July 2008

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is caused by germline E‐cadherin (CDH1) mutations in 25–40% of tested families. Management options for asymptomatic mutation carriers are fraught, since endoscopic surveillance can miss cancer foci and prophylactic gastrectomy has profound clinical sequelae. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of current surveillance practices on pre‐operative diagnosis and to characterize the microscopic lesions in gastrectomy specimens to better inform clinical practice. Histological assessment and mapping of endoscopic surveillance and gastrectomy specimens were performed for eight asymptomatic CDH1 mutation carriers. E‐cadherin expression and proliferation were analysed and evidence of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) was sought by immunohistochemistry for vimentin and cytokeratin 8/18. Four of eight patients had lesions detected at endoscopic surveillance. A median of 20.5 (range 0–66) signet ring foci were identified per gastrectomy (including in situ lesions and pagetoid spread). Foci were predominantly identified in the fundus and body (90% endoscopic biopsies and 85% in gastrectomy). The likelihood of detecting foci pre‐operatively was positively correlated with the number of biopsies taken and the number of lesions in the gastrectomy specimen. E‐cadherin expression in gastrectomy specimens was reduced or absent in all of the foci compared with the intervening gastric tissue, suggesting that these lesions are polyclonal. The foci had a low proliferative index (<2%) and there was no evidence for EMT. Multiple endoscopic biopsy sampling of the gastric mucosa increases the yield of microscopic cancer foci. The low proliferative index and lack of EMT suggests that these foci may represent an indolent stage of HDGC. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Superposed flow properties of ceramic powder‐filled polymer melts
Authors: Hausnerova Berenika , Honkova Natalie , Kitano Takeshi , Saha Petr
Published: July 2008

Complicated shape products from ceramic composite materials are nowadays intensively processed via flow molding technologies. Rheological properties of these materials are essential for the clarification of the deformation behavior through channels under various conditions. In this article, ceramic powder (zirconia) was mixed (10–50 vol%) with polypropylene, paraffin, and stearic acid in an elastic extruder. Parallel superposed steady and oscillatory shear flows were measured on a cone‐plate rheometer. Flow properties at high shear rates were evaluated on a capillary rheometer. The effects of powder content, shear rate/angular frequency, and temperature were clarified. The studied filled systems showed highly non‐Newtonian behavior and apparent yield stress; their viscoelastic properties were influenced remarkably under the superposed shear flow at low shear rate and angular frequency, and they showed significantly different behavior from unfilled and fiber‐filled systems. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of the grafted silane on the dispersion and orientation of clay in polyethylene nanocomposites
Authors: Qian Zhongzhong , Zhou Hu , Xu Xinfeng , Ding Yanfen , Zhang Shimin , Yang Mingshu
Published: July 2008

The CTAB ammonium intercalated montmorillonite clay, CMT, was modified by an alkylsilane, Dodecyltrimethoxylsilane, to improve the miscibility of organoclays with PE matrix, involving the grafting reaction between the silane and silanol groups on the edge of clay. The silane modified clays (DMT) exhibited improved thermal stability due to the replacement of the physically adsorbed ammonium by the covalently bonded silane. The clays were melt compounded with polyethylene. Compared with the composite of PE/CMT, the clay dispersion state was improved, and a unique orientation of the clay layered was observed in PE/DMT nanocomposites, which was confirmed by XRD and TEM studies. The dispersion state, orientation degree of clay and, as a result, the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were enhanced with the increasing amount of the grafted silane, indicating that the edge grafting of silane played a crucial role in controlling the structure and properties of nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Serial analyses of postmortem changes in human skeletal muscle: A case study of alterations in proteome profile, histology, electrolyte contents, water composition, and enzyme activity
Authors: Tavichakorntrakool Ratree , Prasongwattana Vitoon , Sriboonlue Pote , Puapairoj Anucha , Pongskul Jongruk , Khuntikeo Narong , Hanpanich Wattana , Yenchitsomanus Pa‐thai , Wongkham Chaisiri , Thongboonkerd Visith
Published: July 2008

Postmortem tissues are frequently used in forensic investigation, clinical studies, and biomedical research. It is well known that the shorter period from death to analyses provides the more accurate results. However, the longest postmortem interval that still provides the reliable data remains unclear. We performed serial analyses of postmortem changes in proteome profile, histology, electrolyte contents, water composition, and enzyme activity in human vastus lateralis muscle from a male cadaver (died from a motorcycle accident). This uninjured muscle was sectioned into several 1‐cm3 cubes and stored in individual closed tubes at 4 or 25°C for 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 or 48 h prior to proteomic, histological, chemical and biochemical analyses. At 4°C, the 2‐DE proteome profile remained unchanged until 24 h, when some poorly focused protein spots and significant decrease in the total number of visualized spots were observed. These changes were detectable earlier (12 h) in the samples stored at 25°C. Profound vacuolization and autolysis started at 24 and 6 h for the samples stored at 4ºC and 25°C, respectively. K and Mg contents began to increase at 12 and 48 h, respectively, for both temperatures. However, the increase in Na and Ca contents began at 24 h in the samples stored at 4°C, but started earlier (12 h) in those stored at 25°C. Water content started to decline at 48 and 24 h in the samples stored at 4 and 25°C, respectively. Muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity began to be out of range at 12 h for both temperatures. These findings demonstrate that storing the samples at 4°C could delay some of the aforementioned changes, which occurred more rapidly at 25°C. Our results also suggest that muscle proteome profile, histology, electrolyte contents, water composition, and enzyme activity should be analyzed within the optimal postmortem intervals, which vary among individual analyses, to obtain the most reliable data.
Structural, electronic and optical properties of lead zirconate
Authors: Baedi J. , Hosseini S. M. , Kompany A. , Kakhki E. Attaran
Published: July 2008

The structure, the band structure, the total density of states, the dielectric function, the extinction coefficient and the refractive index have been calculated for lead zirconate (PbZrO3) using density functional theory (DFT). The full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FL‐LAPW) method was used with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Calculations of the optical spectra have been performed for the energy range 0–28 eV. It is shown that the orthorhombic PbZrO3, which is optically negative, exhibits a biaxial birefringence and its refractive index is smallest along the a‐axis (na (0) = 2.32, nb (0) = 2.36 and nc (0) = 2.34) which is close to the experimental value. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Antiatherogenic property of triterpenoids‐enriched extract from the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: Zhang Qin , Chang Zai , Yang Jie , Wang Qiang
Published: July 2008

This study investigated the antiatherogenic activity and the chemical constituents of a triterpenoids‐enriched extract from the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The extract displayed a significant, dose‐responsive antiatherogenic effect on LDLR−/− mice after a 24‐week application in a daily dose 50, 100, 200, 1000 mg/kg, respectively. Pronounced systemic inflammation and cutaneous xanthomatosis inhibition effects of the extract, combined with hypocholesteremic and plaque stable properties, were shown in this study. At 200 mg/kg in the high dose treated group, the percent inhibitions of two inflammatory markers in serum, CRP and MCP‐1, were 47.6 ± 4.2% and 36.8 ± 5.0%, and significant reductions in aortic atherosclerotic lesion areas were 62.3 ± 3.9% (en face) and 77.8 ± 3.1% (cross section) compared with the model group. No abnormal behavior or lethality were observed with the extract up to 1000 mg/kg. Fifteen triterpenoids were separated and identified from the extract. This study provided new evidence of the antiatherogenic property of S. miltiorrhiza correlated with triterpenoids by an antiinflammatory mechanism. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metrological evaluation of signal formation in CD‐SEM—a quantitative computer simulation
Authors: Iyasu Takeshi , Kimura Yoshihide , Anazawa Norimichi , Shimizu Ryuichi
Published: July 2008

Recent progress in the study of secondary electron (SE) emission has enabled the secondary yields to be evaluated quantitatively for major part of material of practical interest, inorganic, and metrological substances.1

We have been involved in the development of quantitative computer‐simulation program to provide precise knowledge of SE‐signal formation in CD‐SEM (critical dimension scanning electron microscopy) by using the database on (k, α), describing the SE yield by

where (dE/dz)Ep is the energy dissipation in‐depth to be derived from Monte Carlo simulation for an incident electron of primary energy Ep.

This approach allows for the precise assessment of the edge positions of a mask pattern from the experimental δ profile. Applying different thicknesses of Cr to the mask pattern, Cr/SiO2, we obtained a calibration curve between the real position of Cr‐pattern edge and peak position of a theoretical δ‐profile to be measured with CD‐SEM. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparing the resource‐based and relational views: knowledge transfer and spillover in vertical alliances
Authors: Mesquita Luiz F. , Anand Jaideep , Brush Thomas H.
Published: July 2008

We compare resource‐based and relational perspectives to examine competitive advantages within the context of vertical learning alliances. Previous research has shown that through such alliances suppliers acquire knowledge to forge new capabilities and attain performance improvements. We ask whether such improvements are exclusive to the learning partnership, or are available in other average partnerships of this supplier. We posit that the extent to which such performance improvements are partnership exclusive depends on whether the newly forged capabilities lie entirely within the supplier firm's boundaries, or at the learning dyad level. As such, we untie two forms of performance improvements arising from learning dyads. While the resource‐based view helps explain the performance gains learning suppliers deploy across average partners, the relational view reveals the additional performance edge that remains exclusive to the learning partnership. Based on empirical evidence from a survey of 253 suppliers to the equipment industry, we find that partnership exclusive performance (i.e., ‘relational performance’), the true source of learning dyads' competitive advantage, is a function of suppliers acquiring know‐how within the dyad, developing dyad‐specific assets and capabilities, and structuring buyer‐supplier relational governance mechanisms. We discuss implications for research and practice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A survey and evaluation of tool features for understanding reverse‐engineered sequence diagrams
Authors: Bennett C. , Myers D. , Storey M.‐A. , German D. M. , Ouellet D. , Salois M. , Charland P.
Published: July 2008

Sequence diagrams can be valuable aids to software understanding. However, they can be extremely large and hard to understand in spite of using modern tool support. Consequently, providing the right set of tool features is important if the tools are to help rather than hinder the user. This paper surveys research and commercial sequence diagram tools to determine the features they provide to support program understanding. Although there has been significant effort in developing these tools, many of them have not been evaluated using human subjects. To begin to address this gap, a preliminary study was performed with a specially designed sequence diagram tool that implements the features found during the survey. On the basis of an analysis of the study results, we discuss the features that were found to be useful and relate these to the tasks performed. It concludes by proposing how future tools can be improved to better support the exploration of large sequence diagrams. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metadecision making: rehabilitating interdisciplinarity in the decision sciences
Authors: Matthews David
Published: July 2008

In his bookMetadecisions: Rehabilitating Epistemology, van Gigch makes the case for an expanded decision science. The aim of this paper is to continue the project which van Gigch initiated by first considering the limitations of the dominant ‘mathematical’ approach to the decision sciences and then rehabilitating the initial interdisciplinarity of the field. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Communication praxis for ethical accountability: the ethics of the Tree of Action: dialogue and breaking down the wall in Cyprus
Authors: Laouris Y. , Laouri R. , Christakis Aleco
Published: July 2008

This paper proposes the thesis that it is unethical to plan an action for social change without excavating the knowledge and wisdom of the people who are responsible for implementing the plans of action and the people whose lives will be affected. But the people, being immersed in contemporary complexity, do not know what they know until they know it as a consensus emerging from structured dialogue among a group which represents all stakeholders. We argue that the science of dialogic design may be used to achieve such an emergence. As a consequence, it satisfies the Özbekhan Axiom of Engagement and the Laouris Law of Requisite Action. The paper elaborates for the first time on the ethics of the ‘Tree of Action’, which some stakeholders participating in co‐laboratories have called the ‘Tree of Life’. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Communication on the paper ‘‘A reference‐dependent regret model for deterministic tradeoff studies’’
Authors: Wang Xiaoting , Triantaphyllou Evangelos , Kujawski Edouard
Published: July 2008

This communication focuses on a fundamental problem related to the recently introduced Reference‐Dependent Regret Model (RDRM) [E. Kujawski, Syst Eng 8(2) (2005), 119– 137] for deterministic multi‐criteria decision‐making. Kujawski asserted that the RDRM model satisfies three properties. The first of these properties, referred to as the ‘‘independence of dominated alternatives,’’ seems to be an intuitive one. According to this property, the RDRM model preserves the ranking of two alternatives Ai and Aj with ranking Ai>Aj when a new alternative dominated by Ai is introduced or an old alternative dominated by Aj is dropped. In this communication it is demonstrated algebraically and also by means of a numerical example that the RDRM model may fail to satisfy this property. The implication is that when the concepts of regret and/or rejoicing are considered and defined in terms of all the available alternatives in accordance with the RDRM, adding or dropping a dominated alternative can change the ranking of the alternatives and violate the independence of dominated alternatives property. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng.
Effect of hydrated fillers and red phosphorus on the limiting oxygen index of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl actate)‐poly(vinyl butyral) and low density polyethylene‐poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) blends
Authors: Burns Mara , Wagenknecht Udo , Kretzschmar Berndt , Focke Walter W.
Published: July 2008

The limiting oxygen index (LOI) values of EVA‐PVB and low density polyethylene (LDPE)‐poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) polymer blends containing hydrated filler‐type flame retardants and red phosphorus were measured. When used as the sole flame retardant, magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] and alumina trihydrate (ATH) performed best in EVA and PVB, respectively. Magnesium hydroxide addition had a limited effect on the LOI of plasticized PVB, and addition of red phosphorus made little difference. This result is attributed to a mismatch between the decomposition temperature of Mg(OH)2 and the temperature at which the PVB plasticizer vaporizes. Otherwise, low‐level addition of red phosphorus significantly improved LOI values. The presence of hydroxyl groups on the polymer backbone had a beneficial effect with respect to LOI values in ATH‐filled blends. An LOI value of 30 was achieved in EVOH with as little as 32% of ATH and 3% of red phosphorus. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Total Gastrectomy
Authors: Nobuoka Daisuke , Gotohda Naoto , Konishi Masaru , Nakagohri Toshio , Takahashi Shinichiro , Kinoshita Taira
Published: July 2008

Background

Pancreatic fistula (PF) is still one of the serious complications after total gastrectomy (TG). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for PF after TG and to evaluate our attempts to prevent PF.

Methods

From August 1992 to July 2006, 740 consecutive patients with gastric neoplasm underwent TG at the National Cancer Center Hospital East. Univariate and multivariate analyses of potential risk factors for the development of PF and the effectiveness of operative procedures to prevent PF were performed.

Results

Postoperative PF was identified in 130 patients (18%). On multivariate analysis, body mass index (P < 0.001) and the operative procedure (TG with pancreaticosplenectomy) (P = 0.001) were independent risk factors. In TG with splenectomy (pancreas‐preserving method), total preservation of the splenic artery was significantly correlated with a lower incidence of PF (P < 0.001). In TG with pancreaticosplenectomy, the use of a linear stapling device was an effective surgical technique for closure of the cut end of the pancreas, but there was no significant difference from conventional methods. Recently, the incidence decreased significantly for TG overall and TG with splenectomy.

Conclusions

PF after TG is more likely to occur in obese patients undergoing TG with pancreaticosplenectomy. When TG with splenectomy (pancreas‐preserving method) is performed, the splenic artery should be totally preserved. If TG with pancreaticosplenectomy is performed, the use of a linear stapling device for closure of the cut end of the pancreas should be suggested. These improvements in surgical techniques are useful to prevent PF.
Applications of quantum cascade lasers for sensitive trace gas measurements of CO, CH4, N2O and HCHO
Authors: Schiller C.L. , Bozem H. , Gurk C. , Parchatka U. , Königstedt R. , Harris G.W. , Lelieveld J. , Fischer H.
Published: July 2008

We describe here a sensitive quantum cascade laser absorption spectrometer (QCLAS) employed for aircraft based measurements during the GABRIEL 2005 and HOOVER 2006 and 2007 campaigns. This 3-channel instrument measures CO, HCHO, CH4 and N2O using a 64-m path double corner cube White cell. Performance of the instrument was examined for the four species and precisions for CO, N2O and CH4 were measured in the field to be 0.5, 0.5 and 0.7% respectively (2σ). The 1σ detection limit for HCHO was ∼500 pptv for a 2 s average, while signal averaging of the HCHO over a 2 min time interval resulted in a 150 pptv detection limit with a duty cycle of 60%.
The retrospective and prospective views on the compilations of dynastic complete works of literature
Authors: Shangjun CHEN
Published: July 2008

At the end of the Ming dynasty the initiative was taken in the edition that collected together for complete works the total output of literature by period. The practice remained up to the Qing dynasty when there came out Quantangshi and Quantangwen, etc., and commanded popular attention in academic circles. And since modern times Chinese scholars have poured out tremendous enthusiasm for the compilation of such types of works especially for the last twenty years. The works, to their knowledge, have achieved more than forty types, which were published one after another or whose compilations are well under way. The range almost includes works of all genres composed in different historical period. Such publications in vast number are by no means certain to exert a dominant influence on the twenty-first century study of Chinese literature and history, and scholars should place the overwhelming importance on some common problems that have come up from such compilations.
HDL Composition Regulates Displacement of Cell Surface‐Bound Hepatic Lipase
Authors: Rouhani Naghmeh , Young Elizabeth , Chatterjee Cynthia , Sparks Daniel L.
Published: July 2008

HDL is able to displace cell surface‐bound hepatic lipase (HL) and stimulate vascular triglyceride (TG) hydrolysis, much like heparin. Displacement appears to be a result of a high‐affinity association of HL and apoA‐I. HDL varies in its ability to displace HL, and therefore experiments were undertaken to evaluate the impact of HDL composition and structure on HL displacement from cell surface proteoglycans. HDL apolipoprotein and lipid composition directly affect HL displacement. ApoA‐II and apoC‐I significantly increase HL displacement from the cell surface. While changes in HDL cholesteryl ester and fatty acid content have no effect on HL displacement, increases in HDL phospholipid and TG content significantly inhibit HL displacement. HDL fractions from hyperlipidemic patients are unable to displace HL from the cell surface. These results indicate that the structure and composition of HDL particles in plasma are central to regulation of HL displacement and the hydrolytic activity of HL.
Geometric expansion, Lyapunov exponents and foliations
Authors: Saghin Radu , Xia Zhihong
Published: July 2008

We consider hyperbolic and partially hyperbolic diffeomorphisms on compact manifolds. Associated with invariant foliation of these systems, we define some topological invariants and show certain relationships between these topological invariants and the geometric and Lyapunov growths of these foliations. As an application, we show examples of systems with persistent non-absolute continuous center and weak unstable foliations. This generalizes the remarkable results of Shub and Wilkinson to cases where the center manifolds are not compact.
An optimal partial regularity result for minimizers of an intrinsically defined second-order functional
Authors: Scheven Christoph
Published: July 2008

For a compact Riemannian manifold

N

and a domain

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{m}

, we consider the intrinsic bi-energy

\mathcal{E}_{2}(u): = \int \limits_{\Omega }|\mathrm{∇}Du|^{2}\:dx

for maps

u\::\Omega \rightarrow N

. We prove that the minimizers of

\mathcal{E}_{2}

constructed by R. Moser satisfy

u∊W_{\mathrm{loc}}^{2,2}(\Omega ,N)

. Furthermore, we apply a dimension reduction argument in order to show

\mathcal{H}\text{-}\mathrm{\dim }(\mathrm{\sin g}(u))⩽m−5

for all minimizers

u∊W^{2,2}(\Omega ,N)

of the functional

\mathcal{E}_{2}

. This result is optimal since we show that the map

u_{0}\::B^{m}\rightarrow S^{m−1}

,

x\mapsto \frac{x}{|x|}

minimizes

\mathcal{E}_{2}

in its Dirichlet class for

m⩾5

.

Pour une variété riemanienne compacte et un domaine

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{m}

, nous considérons la bi-énergie intrinsèque

\mathcal{E}_{2}(u): = \int \limits_{\Omega }|\mathrm{∇}Du|^{2}\:dx

pour les applications

u\::\Omega \rightarrow N

. Nous démontrons que les minimiseurs de

\mathcal{E}_{2}

construée par R. Moser satisfont

u∊W_{\mathrm{loc}}^{2,2}(\Omega ,N)

. En outre, nous utilisons une méthode de réduction de la dimension pour prouver

\mathcal{H}\text{-}\mathrm{\dim }(\mathrm{\sin g}(u))⩽m−5

pour tout minimiseur

u∊W^{2,2}(\Omega ,N)

de la fonctionnelle

\mathcal{E}_{2}

. Ce résultat est optimal parce que nous démontrons que l'application

u_{0}\::B^{m}\rightarrow S^{m−1}

,

x\mapsto \frac{x}{|x|}

minimise

\mathcal{E}_{2}

dans sa classe de Dirichlet pour

m⩾5

.
Regularity of the optimal shape for the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian with volume and inclusion constraints
Authors: Briançon Tanguy , Lamboley Jimmy
Published: July 2008

We consider the well-known following shape optimization problem:

\lambda _{1}(\Omega ^{ \ast }) = \min\limits_{{}_{\Omega \subset D}^{|\Omega | = a}}\lambda _{1}(\Omega ),

where

\lambda _{1}

denotes the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition, and
D
is an open bounded set (a box). It is well-known that the solution of this problem is the ball of volume
a
if such a ball exists in the box
D
(Faber–Krahn's theorem).

In this paper, we prove regularity properties of the boundary of the optimal shapes

\Omega ^{ \ast }

in any case and in any dimension. Full regularity is obtained in dimension 2.
A halorhodopsin‐overproducing mutant isolated from an extremely haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natronomonas pharaonis
Authors: Ihara Kunio , Narusawa Akihiro , Maruyama Keita , Takeguchi Masashi , Kouyama Tsutomu
Published: July 2008

The halorhodopsin (hR)‐overproducing mutant strain KM‐1 was isolated from the extremely haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natronomonas pharaonis type strain DSM2160T. hR‐enriched membranes were easily obtained by washing the cells with distilled water. The membranes were claret colored owing to two pigments: hR and bacterioruberin. The hR component in the absorption spectra changed from blue to purple upon the addition of Cl− and had a K
m value of 1.7 mM. Overexpression of hR in strain KM‐1 might be caused by the point mutation Asp324 → Asn in the bacteriorhodopsin activator homologues of N. pharaonis. The mutation changed the hR‐expression pattern from inducible to constitutive in the late exponential phase.
Molecular imaging reveals a correlation between 2′‐CH3‐MPTP‐induced neonatal neurotoxicity and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in adult transgenic mice
Authors: Ho Gideon , Kumar Saravana , Zhang Chunyan , Kng Yin Ling , Zhuo Lang
Published: July 2008

We previously reported that a single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of the neurotoxicant, 1‐methyl‐4‐(2′‐methylphenyl)‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine or 2′‐CH3‐MPTP, to postnatal day 4 (PD4) mice caused acute and transient gliosis in the brain, which can be noninvasively monitored during a course of 8 h immediately after the dosing [Ho, G., Zhang, C.Y., Zhuo, L., 2007. Non‐invasive fluorescent imaging of gliosis in transgenic mice for profiling developmental neurotoxicity. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 221, 76–85]. In the current study, we examined the consequence of PD4 mice receiving multiple injections (4 × 8 mg/kg, s.c. in 2 h intervals) of the same neurotoxicant 24–72 h after the last injection. Here we showed that the multiple dosing scheme (with a higher cumulative dose) triggered a severe gliosis not only in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), but also in hippocampus and cerebellum when examined by noninvasive in vivo imaging and by immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively, in the PD5 to PD7 mice. When neonates treated with the neurotoxicant at PD4 were allowed to develop to 10 weeks of age and examined with IHC, a majority of the dopaminergic (DA) neurons were found to be permanently depleted from the adult SNpc. Our findings suggest that neurotoxicant‐elicited neonatal gliosis can be used as an early molecular signature to predict the permanent loss of DA neurons in the developed brain. Since 2′‐CH3‐MPTP is an inducer of Parkinsonism in mice, the molecular imaging method described here is a relatively simple and powerful tool for longitudinally studying the developmental aspect of Parkinsonism.
Prediction of autistic disorder using neuro fuzzy system by applying ANN technique
Authors: Arthi K. , Tamilarasi A.
Published: July 2008

The major challenge in medical field is to diagnose disorder rather than a disease. In this paper, a neuro fuzzy based model is designed for identification or diagnosis of autism. The problematic areas are gathered from every individual and the related linguistic inputs are converted into fuzzy input values which are in turn given as input to feed forward multilayer neural network. The network is trained using back propagation training algorithm and tested for its performance with the expertise.
“State administration” vs. self-government in the Slovak and Czech Republics
Authors: Bryson Phillip J.
Published: July 2008

In the transition experience, the Czech and Slovak Republics have made some effort to achieve fiscal decentralization. From independence to EU accession, the devolution of power designed to strengthen the autonomy of local governments according to the principles of subsidiarity have also included a reform of public administration. The nature of reform efforts and their implications for fiscal decentralization are analyzed. The failure to achieve a robust autonomy for subnational governments is due to the ongoing adherence to the notion of “state administration” as opposed to self-government in both republics.
Recent trends and patterns in fertility in Australia
Authors: Borrie W. D.
Published: July 2008

The fall in the birth rate in Australia, from 23·6 per 1000 population in 1946 to 19·4 in 1967 is analysed according to various biosocial factors: the age composition of the female population and the age incidence of marriage in relation to it, the timing of births, the size of completed family and the overall effect of the variables.
Do Child Welfare Clinics Influence Growth?
Authors: Desai Patricia , Clarke Leotta M. , Heron Catherine E.
Published: July 2008

Child welfare clinics established in a rural Jamaican community for research purposes are described. These special clinics were able to devote more resources to the care of their children than is usual, yet the growth and health of these children were very similar to those in another group to whom this service was not available and who attended routine government welfare clinics only infrequently.
Non-Marital Pregnancies in Australia since 1947
Authors: Ruzicka L. T.
Published: July 2008

In this paper, non-marital pregnancies are defined as the sum of ex-nuptial confinements and the first nuptial confinements delivered within the first 8 months of marriage. Analysis is based on the annual statistics of live births, marriages and female non-married population as enumerated in the 1947–71 censuses. The incidence of non-marital pregnancies increased significantly in Australia between 1947 and 1971. This was found to be mainly due to rising ex-nuptial fertility rates, and, to a much lesser extent, to increased frequency of pre-marital pregnancies. A lesser proportion of pregnant non-married women were married before delivery in 1971 than in 1947. Some of the social implications are discussed.
Recent Trends in Teenage Pregnancy in England and Wales
Authors: Teper Sue
Published: July 2008

Data published annually by the Registrar General for England and Wales indicate that over the past 10 years the numbers of births—and, since 1968, of legal therapeutic abortions—to teenagers have increased substantially. During much of the same period the fertility of older women declined. This paper examines the recent demographic trends in teenage pregnancy, and compares the fertility of these teenagers with that of older women.
Sex Ratios in Large Sibships, in the Presence of Twins and in Jewish Sibships
Authors: James William H.
Published: July 2008

It is argued that the author's hypothesis relating timing of insemination (and hence coital rate) to the sex ratio of the resulting children is supported by the available data on the variation of sex ratio with (1) sibship size, (2) the presence of twin sibs, and (3) parental adherence to the Jewish faith.
Nursing Practices and Lactation Amenorrhoea
Authors: Elias Marjorie F. , Teas Jane , Johnston Johanna , Bora Carolyn
Published: July 2008

The study examines the effects of nursing practices on the duration of lactation in middle-class American women. Thirty-two nursing mothers were followed for 2 years post-partum, data being collected at eight home visits by interview and by nursing records kept by the mothers. Those women who nursed frequently (>8/day) during exclusive breastfeeding remained amenorrhoeic longer than infrequent nursers, introduced supplements later and did not resume menses as promptly thereafter. They continued an hour or more of night nursing during supplemented nursing. Duration of exclusive nursing and night nursing after supplementation were the major influences on duration of amenorrhoea. Mothers' age, weight-for-height, and nursing frequency before supplementation showed no significant effect but night nursing after supplementation was a major factor in post-supplementation duration of amenorrhoea. Those women who both supplemented later and maintained an hour of night nursing after supplementing remained amenorrhoeic for 6–10 months longer than those who supplemented early and/or reduced subsequent night nursing.
Characteristics of Users of Traditional Contraceptive Methods in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir M. , Uddin M. M. , Chowdhury S. R. , Ahmed T.
Published: July 2008

The 1981 Bangladesh Contraceptive Prevalence Survey found that 55% of ever-married women had some knowledge of traditional methods of contraception and the overall level of ever use was 23%. There was a positive relationship between use and socioeconomic variables. Current use of traditional methods at 7·7% was only slightly below the figure for modern methods (10·9%). It is suggested that traditional methods still have an important role in family planning and that this should not be disregarded.
Canadian Fertility Trends in Perspective
Authors: Needleman Lionel
Published: July 2008

This paper examines the broad movements of Canadian period and cohort fertility over the last hundred years or so, and compares them with corresponding trends in the United States and other industrialized countries. The main movement in Canada was a decline in fertility extending from the nineteenth century to the present time, interrupted in the 1940s and 1950s by a ‘baby boom’. The long decline in cohort fertility is largely explained by the decrease in the proportions of families of six or more children. This decrease continued during the baby boom, but in these years was more than offset, though not for Catholics, by the effects of increases in the proportions of families with three, four, and five children.
Social and Environmental Influences on Child Mortality in Brazil: Logistic Regression Analysis of Data from Census Files
Authors: Victora Cesar G. , Smith Peter G. , Vaughan J. Patrick
Published: July 2008

Census data were used to investigate the influences of socioeconomic and environmental variables on child mortality rates in southern Brazil. By multivariate logistic regression analysis the effects of correlated factors were distinguished, after adjustment for maternal age and parity. Low family income and, to a lesser degree, low employment status of the head of the family were associated with high child mortality levels. Place of residence, education of the mother and of the head of the family, availability of piped water in the home, access to a toilet and type of housing were all associated with childhood mortality variation, even after allowing for the effects of income and employment. The contributions of the source of the water supply and type of sanitation facilities, however, were less clear and tended to become unimportant after controlling for the socioeconomic variables. There was also no apparent advantage in being covered by government health insurance.
Bedtimes and Sleep Duration in Relation to Smoking Behaviour in 14-year-old English Schoolchildren
Authors: Macgregor I. D. M. , Balding J. W.
Published: July 2008

Data from a survey of 3727 14-year-old children from 31 secondary schools in England in 1984–85 were analysed to obtain information about smoking habits, bedtimes and times of rising in the morning, on a weekday during school term. Subjects completed a questionnaire, anonymously, in class. Twenty percent of respondents reported that they currently smoked cigarettes. Smokers went to bed significantly later, and spent significantly less time in bed, than non-smokers. Twice as many smokers as non-smokers went to bed at or after 22.30, went to bed after midnight, and spent 7·5 hr or less in bed. Possibly, some adolescent smokers may be at risk from loss of sleep.
Characterisation of Health and Social Development
Authors: Almeida Renan M. V. R. , Thamer Mae , Attinger Ernst O.
Published: July 2008

The relative performance of less developed countries in their health, demographic and economic sectors was assessed by means of comparative indices constructed with the help of a factor analysis. This approach reduces the problems usually associated with such indices, like the arbitrary weighting of their components.
Effect of Son Mortality on Contraceptive Practice in Bangladesh
Authors: Johnson Nan E. , Sufian A. J. M.
Published: July 2008

This study based on the 1975–76 Bangladesh Fertility Survey showed that the mortality of sons, and not daughters, was associated with a lower rate of female contraceptive initiation of use and a higher rate of discontinuation.
Breast-Feeding in London, 1905–19
Authors: Fildes Valerie
Published: July 2008

Medical Officer of Health reports for London boroughs, 1900–19, are analysed to determine the incidence of neonatal breast-feeding, duration of lactation, reasons for early supplementation and premature weaning, and their relationship with infant mortality. In a sample of 222,989 infants, breast-feeding rates were very high. Over 90% were breast-fed in the first month, almost 80% at 3 months, and over 70% at 6 months. The poorest boroughs had the highest rates of neonatal breast-feeding, but also a higher incidence of early supplementation and premature weaning. There was a significant positive correlation between breast-feeding and infant mortality due to poor maternal diet and health, poor nutritional quality of supplementary and substitute foods, and the use of an unhygienic feeding bottle. Energetic campaigns to counteract these problems probably contributed to the fall of infant mortality in this period.
Fertility and Suicide Rates: A Time Series Analysis in the United States
Authors: Lester David , Yang Bijou
Published: July 2008

In a time series study of the USA from 1933 to 1984, fertility rates were associated with the suicide rates of those aged 15–44. The higher the fertility rate the lower the suicide rate for these age groups, for both whites and non-whites, and for both men and women. The results were seen as supporting Durkheim's theory of suicide.
Changes in Age at Marriage of Women in Rural North India
Authors: Singh Mohan
Published: July 2008

There has been a dramatic increase in age at marriage for women in a rural area of north India. Age at marriage rose from under 12 years before 1930 to about 19 years in 1988, mainly as a result of socioeconomic development and advances in education of women.
Recent trends and patterns of non-Maori fertility in New Zealand
Authors: Basavarajappa K. G.
Published: July 2008

The birth rates per 1000 married females of specified ages and durations of marriage generally attained their post-war maxima in 1946–47 and then declined. While this declining trend was a brief one for females of younger ages and shorter durations of marriage, it continued for females of older ages and longer durations. Since 1961 the rates for all (younger and older) women have declined markedly. Does this recent decline in annual fertility, especially that for females of younger ages and shorter durations of marriage, herald a decline in the total fertility of cohorts who have not yet completed their childbearing? Many believe it to be so. However, an examination of the cumulative fertility of cohorts marrying since 1936 showed that (a) the total fertility of cohorts who have completed their childbearing varied between a narrow range of 2500–3000 and (b) the cumulative fertility up to 5 or 10 years of marriage duration of later cohorts was considerably higher (13–40% higher) than that of earlier cohorts. These facts, and similar ones for Australia covering a wider period (Basavarajappa, 1964), are thought to suggest that the total fertility of cohorts who have not yet completed their childbearing might not be far outside the limits of 2500 and 3000.
Family planning clinics in sheffield, 1967
Authors: Ward Audrey W. M.
Published: July 2008

A survey was made of the new patients at the family planning clinics in Sheffield during 4 months in the first half of 1967. Two hundred and forty-two visited clinics at the outset of marriage and 806 had been married at least 6 months. The FPA had 894 patients and the LA 154. The wives of non-manual workers were over-represented at the FPA clinics but not at the LA clinics. The wives of semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers were generally under-represented. There is some evidence that relative accessibility affects clinic attendance. The most commonly used methods of contraception used before the clinic visit were condom and coitus interrupts—there were variations among different occupational groups. Among those able to give a firm answer there had been more unplanned pregnancies than planned, but not amongst the non-manual groups. 96 of the perimarital and 20 of the other patients were working full-time. The perimarital patients were equally divided in their choice of clinic methods—pill or cap. Among the other patients 49 were prescribed the pill, 27 IUD and 24 the cap.
Gypsy isolates in Slovenia
Authors: Avčin Marij
Published: July 2008

Data are presented on the ethnological, demographic, reproductive, immunological and medical characteristics of the gypsy isolates in Slovenia. It is concluded that the Slovenian gypsies are a different ethnic group from the surrounding panmictic Slav population and on the basis of anthropological, linguistic, sociological and psychological characteristics their settlements can be characterized as isolates in the population genetics sense.
Estimation of illegal abortions
Authors: Goodhart C. B.
Published: July 2008

Figures published in the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (1967), and also for a population of known size in Aberdeen, confirm a previous conclusion, derived primarily from mortality statistics, that currently accepted estimates of 100,000 illegal abortions in Great Britain each year before the Abortion Act 1967 came into operation are much exaggerated. A National Opinion Polls estimate of 31,000 is also regarded as too high, and the Aberdeen data suggest that the true figure probably did not exceed 20,000. It is important to arrive at an accurate estimate for the proper assessment of the demographic and other effects of the change in the law. The Registrar General's figures for legal terminations during the first months' operation of the Act are discussed in a postscript.
The sociobiological aspects of the National Survey on Fecundity and Fertility in Belgium
Authors: Cliquet R. L.
Published: July 2008

In 1966, a National Survey on Fecundity and Fertility was organized in Belgium. Approximately 3000 married women under 41 years of age and living with their husbands were interviewed and asked about their reproductive histories. The present paper records the sociobiological aims and methods and some preliminary results of this survey. The aims were to:

(1) study the influences of contraception on human needs and qualities, in this case mainly potential fecundity;

(2) study the influence of attempts to increase the potential fecundity level in modern society on fecundity gene frequencies;

(3) study the influences of the overall socio-cultural environment on fecundity and fertility variables with particular reference to differences in social status in Western society;

(4) analyse the role of social assortment of fecundity and fertility variables on the biological structure, and possibly the composition, of modern populations.

A relatively large, but far from complete body of data has been collected on a number of individual fecundity and fertility variables, on the medical processes employed to increase fecundity, on contraception, and on a number of conventional sociological and demographic variables.

The principles underlying the present approach to the study of fecundity are explained, and a few preliminary results for one of the general fecundity classifications are shown.

The information collected on contraception has been qualitatively analysed and a correction and evaluation method is described. Data on the use of the different contraceptive methods show that substantial sections of the Belgian population are limiting their family size in a way which is inefficient, from both sexual and familial standpoints.
Illegitimate Fertility of Psychotic Women
Authors: Stevens Barbara C
Published: July 2008

Earlier studies on psychotic patients suggested that their illegitimate fertility was lower than expected on the basis of general population trends. The present findings were part of a study on marriage and fertility of women suffering from schizophrenia and affective disorders since the impact of community orientated psychiatry; 1300 women were selected from admissions to a London hospital during 1955–63 and followed up until August 1966.

The proportion of total live births which were illegitimate was 19·1% among the schizophrenics, 7·5% among the affectives and 12·7% in the general population of London during 1961. The high illegitimate fertility of schizophrenics is probably related to their low probability of marriage; more births occurred before than after admission, especially among the older group of women suffering from affective disorders. Most of the births were the result of a serious relationship rather than casual promiscuity, and they were more frequent among Jamaican patients and patients with probable psychopathic personalities in both clinical groups. The genetic and social relevance of the study is discussed.
Malnutrition, Infection and Child Growth in Jamaica
Authors: Miall W. E , Desai Patricia , Standard K. L
Published: July 2008

A semi-longitudinal study of factors influencing child growth in a rural community in Jamaica provided an opportunity to explore the relationships between diarrhoea, respiratory infections and body weight.

Respiratory infections and diarrhoea both reached peak incidences between the ages of 6 and 24 months when children are at highest risk of malnutrition. Respiratory infections had no demonstrable influence on growth. Diarrhoea was more common in boys than in girls and more common in underweight children. It had no influence on long-term weight increases, though it did have the expected influence on short-term increments.

The findings suggested that much of the diarrhoea seen in this community of children may have been secondary to undernutrition rather than a cause of it.