bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age at Menarche and First Pregnancy Among Psychosocially At-Risk Adolescents
Authors: Dunbar Jessica , Sheeder Jeanelle , Lezotte Dennis , Dabelea Dana , Stevens-Simon Catherine
Published: September 2008

We sought to determine which factors influence the association between menarche and conception among adolescent study participants (n = 1030), who demonstrated an earlier age of menarche than did national samples. Age at first sexual intercourse (coitarche) mediated the relationship between age at menarche and first pregnancy among White girls, whereas gynecologic age at coitarche (age at coitarche minus age at menarche) and age at menarche explained the timing of the first pregnancy among Black and Hispanic girls. Pregnancy prevention interventions to delay coitarche should also include reproductive education and contraception.
Ethics in American Health 1: Ethical Approaches to Health Policy
Authors: Ruger Jennifer Prah
Published: September 2008

I trace the evolution of ethical approaches to health policy in the United States and examine a number of critical unresolved issues pertaining to the current set of frameworks. Several themes emerge.

First, fair procedures claim more attention than substantive and procedural principles. Second, in the case of public deliberation, more focus has been placed on factors such as procedural mechanisms than on understanding how individuals and groups value different aspects of health and agree on health-related decisions.

Third, the nation needs workable frameworks to guide collective choices about valuable social ends and their trade-offs; purely procedural strategies are limited in illuminating overarching health policy and ethics questions. There is a need to integrate consequential and procedural approaches to health ethics and policy.
The Impact of Universal Access to Antiretroviral Therapy on HIV Stigma in Botswana
Authors: Wolfe William R. , Weiser Sheri D. , Leiter Karen , Steward Wayne T. , Percy-de Korte Fiona , Phaladze Nthabiseng , Iacopino Vincent , Heisler Michele
Published: September 2008

Objectives. We sought to examine the impact of treatment access on HIV stigma in Botswana 3 years after the introduction of a national program of universal access to antiretroviral therapy.

Methods. We studied the prevalence and correlates of HIV stigma in a population-based study of 1268 adults in Botswana in 2004. We used multivariate logistic regression to assess correlates of stigmatizing attitudes and a new measure, anticipated HIV stigma.

Results. Overall, 38% of participants had at least 1 stigmatizing attitude: 23% would not buy food from a shopkeeper with HIV; 5% would not care for a relative with HIV. Seventy percent reported at least 1 measure of anticipated stigma: 54% anticipated ostracism after testing positive for HIV, and 31% anticipated mistreatment at work. Perceived access to antiretroviral therapy was strongly and independently associated with decreased odds of holding stigmatizing attitudes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24, 0.74) and of anticipated stigma (AOR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.30).

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that antiretroviral therapy access may be a factor in reducing HIV stigma. Nevertheless, the persistence of stigmatizing attitudes and significant anticipated stigma suggest that HIV stigma must be a target for ongoing intervention.
Determinants of Skilled Birth Attendant Utilization in Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mayhew Maureen , Hansen Peter M. , Peters David H. , Edward Anbrasi , Singh Lakhwinder P. , Dwivedi Vikas , Mashkoor Ashraf , Burnham Gilbert
Published: September 2008

Objectives. We sought to identify characteristics associated with use of skilled birth attendants where health services exist in Afghanistan.

Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study in all 33 provinces in 2004, yielding data from 617 health facilities and 9917 women who lived near the facilities and had given birth in the past 2 years.

Results. Only 13% of respondents had used skilled birth attendants. Women from the wealthiest quintile (vs the poorest quintile) had higher odds of use (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.4, 8.9). Literacy was strongly associated with use (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 2.0, 3.2), as was living less than 60 minutes from the facility (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1, 2.0) and residing near a facility with a female midwife or doctor (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.8). Women living near facilities that charged user fees (OR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.6, 1.0) and that had male community health workers (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.5, 0.9) had lower odds of use.

Conclusions. In Afghanistan, the rate of use of safe delivery care must be improved. The financial barriers of poor and uneducated women should be reduced and culturally acceptable alternatives must be considered.
Perceived Discrimination During Prenatal Care, Labor, and Delivery: An Examination of Data From the Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 1998–1999, 2000, and 2001
Authors: De Marco Molly , Thorburn Sheryl , Zhao Weiyi
Published: September 2008

Although recent research has examined discrimination in health care, no studies have investigated women's experiences during prenatal or obstetrical care. Analyses of data from the Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System showed that 18.53% of mothers reported discrimination by providers during prenatal care, labor, or delivery, most commonly because of age or insurance status. Perceived discrimination was associated with maternal characteristics such as age, marital status, and type of insurance, but not with number of subsequent well-baby visits.
Trends in US Women's Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services, 1995–2002
Authors: Frost Jennifer J.
Published: September 2008

I examined the 1995 and 2002 National Survey of Family Growth for patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services by US women according to type of provider. The percentage of women reporting receipt of contraceptive services rose between 1995 and 2002 (from 36% to 41%), and the level and mix of services received varied considerably according to type of provider. Women visiting publicly funded providers received a broader mix of services than did clients of private providers.
Multivariate Analysis of State Variation in Breastfeeding Rates in the United States
Authors: Kogan Michael D. , Singh Gopal K. , Dee Deborah L. , Belanoff Candice , Grummer-Strawn Laurence M.
Published: September 2008

Objectives. We sought to determine the impact of sociodemographic and behavioral factors and state legislation on breastfeeding initiation (child ever fed breastmilk) and duration.

Methods. We used data from a nationally representative study of children aged 6 to 71 months (N = 33 121); we calculated unadjusted and adjusted state estimates for breastfeeding initiation and duration. We used logistic regression models to examine factors associated with never breastfeeding or breastfeeding less than 6 months. We conducted a multilevel analysis of state legislation's role.

Results. There were wide state variations in breastfeeding initiation and duration. The western and northwestern states had the highest rates. Covariate adjustment accounted for 25% to 30% of the disparity. Multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted odds of not being breastfed were 2.5- to 5.15-times greater in southern states compared with Oregon (reference). Children in states without breastfeeding legislation had higher odds of not being breastfed.

Conclusions. Sociodemographic and maternal factors do not account for most breastfeeding rate variation. The association with breastfeeding legislation should be explored and may reflect cultural norms.
“Having Another Child Would Be a Life or Death Situation for Her”: Understanding Pregnancy Termination Among Couples in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Gipson Jessica D. , Hindin Michelle J.
Published: September 2008

Objectives. We conducted a mixed-method study in rural southwestern Bangladesh, a country in which an estimated 730 000 elective pregnancy terminations occur each year, to explore women's and couples’ motivations to terminate pregnancies.

Methods. Quantitative data derived from a 1998 cross-sectional survey and a longitudinal demographic surveillance system (1998–2003) were combined with qualitative data gathered through 84 in-depth interviews conducted with 19 couples during 2004–2005.

Results. Quantitative results indicated that 11% of couples reported a pregnancy termination in the study period; the rate was highest among couples who reported in 1998 that they wanted no more children (29%). Both wives’ and husbands’ fertility preferences independently and significantly predicted pregnancy termination. Qualitative findings showed that more than half of the participants had attempted to terminate a pregnancy at least once in their lifetime.

Conclusions. Our results highlight the importance of collecting data from both partners and the influence of husbands’ fertility preferences on reproductive decisionmaking. The prevalence of reported pregnancy terminations in our population, along with the use of informal methods in termination attempts, highlights the need for continued provision of contraceptives and access to safe and affordable pregnancy termination services in this setting.
“Write a Chapter and Change the World” How the Boston Women's Health Book Collective Transformed Women's Health Then—and Now
Authors: Heather Stephenson , Zeldes Kiki
Published: September 2008

Working together informally, the core group of women who would later form the Boston Women's Health Book Collective wrote a book that would become the bible of women's health, selling more than 4 million copies. They also created an organization that would carry their mission forward. From the first newsprint edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, which became an underground sensation, to the brand new book, Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth, released in March 2008, the group has educated women and men, critiqued the medical system, examined inequalities based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class, and other categories, and urged readers to move from individual self-help to collective action promoting social policies that support the health of women and communities.
Medication Abortion in Canada: A Right-to-Health Perspective
Authors: Erdman Joanna N. , Grenon Amy , Harrison-Wilson Leigh
Published: September 2008

The right to health under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, to which Canada is a signatory, entitles women to available, accessible, and acceptable abortion care. Abortion care in Canada currently fails this standard. Medication abortion (the use of drugs to terminate a pregnancy) could improve abortion care in Canada, but its potential remains unrealized.

This is in part attributable to the unavailability of mifepristone, the safest and most effective pharmaceutical for medication abortion. Given that it could improve abortion care, we investigated why mifepristone remains unapproved in Canada, whether its unavailability is attributable to government inaction, and whether Canada is therefore failing to fulfill its obligations under the right to health.
Multiphase-Flow Modeling Based on Experimental Testing: An Overview of Research Facilities Worldwide and the Need for Future Developments
Authors: Falcone G. , Teodoriu C. , Reinicke K. M. , Bello O. O.
Published: September 2008

Multiphase-flow models for the oil and gas industry are required to investigate and understand the cocurrent or countercurrent flow of different fluid phases under a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions and in several different flow configurations in well-bores, pipelines, and risers and through the surface facilities. Experimental measurements are required to develop and validate the multiphase-flow models under controlled conditions and assess their range of applicability. This is why a large number of multiphase-flow loops exist around the world. However, there are numerous varieties of multiphase-flow occurrences because of differences in pressure and temperature; fluid types; flow regimes; pipe geometry, inclination, and diameter; and whether the flow is steady-state or transient.

Building a flow loop that reproduces real hydrocarbon wells, including the reservoir inertia and the complex heat transfer process taking place between the wellbore and the reservoir, is not feasible. Thus, downscaling typical field parameters is necessary to study multiphase flows at laboratory conditions.

This paper presents a critical review of multiphase-flow loops around the world, highlighting the pros and cons of each facility with regard to reproducing and monitoring different multiphase-flow situations.

The authors suggest a way forward for new developments in this area.
The Use of QRA To Inform the Design of a High-Pressure Onshore Pipeline
Authors: Nelson Stacy , Caulfield Margaret , Cosham Andrew
Published: September 2008

The management of onshore-pipeline safety in the United Kingdom is governed by the Pipelines Safety Regulations, 1996. This requires pipeline operators to design, build, and operate pipelines to ensure that they are safe, so far as is reasonably practicable. This is achieved, in part, by applying good practice and designing the pipeline to recognized onshore-pipeline design codes. Where the proposed design falls outside code guidance, a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) provides an effective means of demonstrating a safe design.

This paper describes a study that was carried out to define the design requirements for the onshore section of a multiphase pipeline. The proposed pipeline will have a design pressure of 380 barg. However, onshore design codes PD 8010-1 (2004) and IGE/TD/1 (Steel Pipelines 2001) do not provide guidance on the design of pipelines with pressures exceeding 100 barg. Experience from other projects indicates that it is important to consider the implications of such high design pressures early in a project.

The QRA considered a number of different design options. The safety risks of the proposed pipeline options were compared with those from a typical 100-barg-gas-transmission pipeline of the same diameter. This means that the risk of the proposed pipeline can be compared in a relative manner, to an acceptable design, and in an absolute manner to limits on individual and societal risk.

The results of QRAs of the different design options are summarized and discussed. The effects of mitigation measures, such as reducing the pipeline-design factor (the ratio of the hoop stress to the specified minimum yield strength), increasing the wall thickness, and incorporating a pressure-limiting system at the landfall, are illustrated.

It is shown that the proposed design is feasible. The individual and societal risks for the proposed design were lower than that of a typical 100-barg-gas-transmission pipeline. The individual risk was in the broadly accepted region of risk, as defined by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the societal risk was below the acceptance criterion given in IGE/TD/1 (Steel Pipelines 2001).
Pipeline Walking—Understanding the Field Layout Challenges and Analytical Solutions Developed for the Safebuck JIP
Authors: Carr M. , Sinclair F. , Bruton D.
Published: September 2008

This paper addresses the phenomenon of pipeline walking, which can cause cumulative axial displacement of a whole pipeline, leading to potential failures at tie-ins or risers. This phenomenon can massively complicate the design of deepwater flowlines and has significantly affected field layouts on a number of recent projects.

The Safebuck joint-industry project (JIP) has developed new analytical equations from first principles that predict the rate of walking. These equations have been successfully validated against finite element (FE) models and bring welcome simplicity to conceptual design assessments.
Interaction Model for Steel Compliant Riser on Soft Seabed
Authors: Aubeny C. , Biscontin G.
Published: September 2008

The use of catenary steel-compliant-riser (SCR) systems has increased as hydrocarbon production has moved progressively farther offshore and into deeper waters. The issue of fatigue damage caused by cyclic interaction of a riser with the seabed has gained prominence with the widespread use of SCRs and with the lengthening of the spans. The problem involves a number of complex factors, including trench configuration, nonlinear soil stiffness, breakaway of the riser from the seafloor, and degradation of soil resistance during cyclic loading. This paper presents a soil-interaction model capable of modeling these complexities, using input parameters that can be obtained with reasonable expenditure. Model simulations for typical offshore soft-soil conditions indicate that the model is capable of realistic predictions of cyclic bending moments. The degradation of soil resistance has a major effect on cyclic bending moments, particularly when uplift motions at the riser touchdown point (TDP) are large.
Heart Rate Dynamics during Shambhavi Mahamudra- A Practice of Isha Yoga
Authors: Selvaraj Nandakumar , Shivplara Nandeeshwara B , Bhatia Manvir , Santhosh Jayashree , Deepak Kishore Kumar , Anand Sneh
Published: September 2008

This study was designed to quantify and compare the instantaneous changes of heart rate variability (HRV) during Shambhavi Mahamudra, a practice of Isha yoga. It includes major stages viz. Sukha pranayam, 'AUM' chanting, rapid breathing, and relaxed sitting. The standard lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were acquired from eight healthy, yoga practitioners while performing various stages of Shambhavi Mahamudra. The short-term HRV were extracted from ECG, and analyzed using time, frequency-domain and Poincaré plot methods. The results showed a combination of increased sympathetic tone and withdrawal of vagal tone during Sukha pranayam, an increased sympathetic tone during `AUM' chanting, and withdrawal of vagal tone during rapid breathing. The HRV descriptors were not significantly different during relaxed sitting.
SPANISH ADAPTATION AND ANALYSIS BY STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING OF AN INSTRUMENT FOR MONITORING OVERTRAINING: THE RECOVERY-STRESS QUESTIONNAIRE (RESTQ-SPORT)
Authors: González-Boto René , Salguero Alfonso , Tuero Concepción , Márquez Sara , Kellmann Michael
Published: September 2008

This study was aimed at examining the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport; Kellmann & Kallus, 2000), and determining relationships between specific and overall dimensions of stress and recovery. A sample of Spanish athletes from various sports completed the instrument. Two factors were obtained in both the general (Sport Non-Specific Stress and Sport Non-Specific Recovery) and the specific module of the questionnaire (Sport Specific Stress and Sport Specific Recovery). A recursive model with a satisfactory fit, in which all factors would explain a total stress dimension, a total recovery dimension and a stress-recovery state, was developed. Results support the internal validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the RESTQ-Sport, and allow for the establishment of relationships among the various different constructs that form the basis of the questionnaire.
DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY OF PERCEIVED PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS FROM INFANCY TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD
Authors: Yerkes Melissa J. , Pettijohn Terry F.
Published: September 2008

We predicted that physical attractiveness ratings of individuals at birth, 6, 12, and 18 years of age would be relatively stable and females would rate babies as more attractive than would males, due to their socialization to care for infants (Berman, 1980).
INVESTIGATION OF TURKISH TRAINEE TEACHERS' EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS
Authors: Oğuz Aytunga
Published: September 2008

The aim of this study was to determine Turkish trainee teachers' epistemological beliefs and to examine them with respect to some variables. The study group was composed of 331 Turkish trainee teachers studying at Dumupınar University Education Faculty. Data were collected
using the Turkish version of the Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire (Deryakulu & Büyüköztürk, 2002, 2005; Schommer, 1990). It was found that trainee teachers' beliefs that learning depends on effort rather than ability were sophisticated compared to their other
beliefs; while the belief that there is only one unchanging truth was naïve compared to their other beliefs. Turkish trainee teachers' epistemological beliefs differed significantly in terms of gender. That is, female students believed more than did males that learning depends on
effort rather than ability.
Terbutaline and the Prevention of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Cooperberg Benjamin A. , Breckenridge Suzanne M. , Arbelaez Ana Maria , Cryer Philip E.
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVE—Bedtime administration of 5.0 mg of the β2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline prevents nocturnal hypoglycemia but causes morning hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes. We tested the hypothesis that 2.5 mg terbutaline prevents nocturnal hypoglycemia without causing morning hyperglycemia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This was a randomized double-blind crossover pilot study (placebo, 2.5 mg terbutaline, and 5.0 mg terbutaline) in 15 patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESULTS—Mean ± SE nadir nocturnal plasma glucose concentrations were 87 ± 14 mg/dl following placebo, 100 ± 14 mg/dl following 2.5 mg terbutaline, and 122 ± 13 mg/dl following 5.0 mg terbutaline (P < 0.05 vs. placebo). Nadir levels were <50 mg/dl in 5, 2, and 0 patients (P < 0.05 vs. placebo), respectively. Morning levels were 113 ± 18, 127 ± 17, and 183 ± 19 mg/dl (P < 0.02 vs. placebo), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS—Terbutaline may be shown to be effective and safe in the prevention of nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes in a suitably powered randomized controlled trial.
Metformin, Sulfonylureas, or Other Antidiabetes Drugs and the Risk of Lactic Acidosis or Hypoglycemia
Authors: Bodmer Michael , Meier Christian , Krähenbühl Stephan , Jick Susan S. , Meier Christoph R.
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVE—Lactic acidosis has been associated with use of metformin. Hypoglycemia is a major concern using sulfonylureas. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia among patients with type 2 diabetes using oral antidiabetes drugs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This study is a nested case-control analysis using the U.K.-based General Practice Research Database to identify patients with type 2 diabetes who used oral antidiabetes drugs. Within the study population, all incident cases of lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia were identified, and hypoglycemia case subjects were matched to up to four control patients based on age, sex, practice, and calendar time.

RESULTS—Among the study population of 50,048 type 2 diabetic subjects, six cases of lactic acidosis during current use of oral antidiabetes drugs were identified, yielding a crude incidence rate of 3.3 cases per 100,000 person-years among metformin users and 4.8 cases per 100,000 person-years among users of sulfonylureas. Relevant comorbidities known as risk factors for lactic acidosis could be identified in all case subjects. A total of 2,025 case subjects with hypoglycemia and 7,278 matched control subjects were identified. Use of sulfonylureas was associated with a materially elevated risk of hypoglycemia. The adjusted odds ratio for current use of sulfonylureas was 2.79 (95% CI 2.23–3.50) compared with current metformin use.

CONCLUSIONS—Lactic acidosis during current use of oral antidiabetes drugs was very rare and was associated with concurrent comorbidity. Hypoglycemic episodes were substantially more common among sulfonylurea users than among users of metformin.
Mesomorphic, dielectric, and optical properties of fluorosubstituted biphenyls, terphenyls, and quaterphenyls
Authors: Kula P. , Spadło A. , Dziaduszek J. , Filipowicz M. , Dąbrowski R. , Czub J. , Urban S.
Published: September 2008

Compounds with moderate and large negative dielectric anisotropy (Δɛ) are very attractive liquid crystal (LC) for vertical alignment mode (VA). Materials with such properties can be achieved by lateral substitution of a polar group into a mesogenic molecule. We synthesized some new LC materials with a negative value of Δɛ, a moderately high birefringence (Δn), and a low viscosity. The mesomorphic and physical behaviour of the novel biphenyls, terphenyls and quaterphenyls fluorosubstituted in the rigid core and also with fluorinated alkyl and alkoxy chains are investigated. The prepared series of four LC compounds are promising for new LC mixtures for various applications. Examples of nematic mixtures with Δɛ∼−3.25 will be presented.
Dispersion error of a beam splitter cube in white-light spectral interferometry
Authors: Hlubina P. , Luňáček J. , Ciprian D. , Chlebus R.
Published: September 2008

We revealed that the phase function of a thin-film structure measured by a white-light spectral interferometric technique depends on the path length difference adjusted in a Michelson interferometer. This phenomenon is due to a dispersion error of a beam splitter cube, the effective thickness of which varies with the adjusted path length difference. A technique for eliminating the effect in measurement of the phase function is described. In a first step, the Michelson interferometer with same metallic mirrors is used to measure the effective thickness of the beam splitter cube as a function of the path length difference. In a second step, one of the mirrors of the interferometer is replaced by a thin-film structure and its phase function is measured for the same path length differences as those adjusted in the first step. In both steps, the phase is retrieved from the recorded spectral interferograms by using a windowed Fourier transform applied in the wavelength domain.
Static dielectric pretransitional effects in thermotropic liquid crystals
Authors: Jadżyn J. , Czechowski G.
Published: September 2008

The paper presents a review of recent results on static dielectric behaviour in vicinity of weakly first order transition from isotropic liquid to a liquid crystalline nematic phase of compounds used in opto-electronic devices. Temperature behaviour of static permittivity and its derivative are interpreted in terms of a basic thermodynamic quantities increment (internal energy, entropy and Helmholtz free energy) induced by a probing electric field.
John Lloyd Williams (1854–1945): profile of a Snowdonian botanist
Authors: Jones Dewi
Published: September 2008

John Lloyd Williams was an authority on the arctic-alpine flora of Snowdonia during the late nineteenth century when plant collecting was at its height, but unlike other botanists and plant collectors he did not fully pursue the fashionable trend of forming a complete herbarium. His diligent plant-hunting in a comparatively little explored part of Snowdonia led to his discovering a new site for the rare Killarney fern (Trichomanes speciosum), a feat which was considered a major achievement at the time. For most part of the nineteenth century plant distribution, classification and forming herbaria, had been paramount in the learning of botany in Britain resulting in little attention being made to other aspects of the subject. However, towards the end of the century many botanists turned their attention to studying plant physiology, a subject which had advanced significantly in German laboratories. Rivalry between botanists working on similar projects became inevitable in the race to be first in print as Lloyd Williams soon realized when undertaking his major study on the cytology of marine algae.
Trilobites and Linnaeus: the first fossil reconstruction from 1759
Authors: Stilwell Jeffrey D.
Published: September 2008

A paper by renowned eighteenth century Swedish naturalist, Carl Linnaeus, published in 1759, contained the first fossil reconstruction of what was later called a trilobite and was an early milestone in invertebrate palaeontology. The earliest work devoted solely to Palaeozoic trilobites (Arthropoda), Linnaeus' “Petrificatet Entomolithus paradoxus …” delved, in great detail, into the classification of this genus intermedium between known marine crustaceans. Linnaeus depicted on two folding, copper-engraved plates the fossil animal (comprising the cephalon, thorax and pygidium with pleural spines and furrows) from the best-preserved material in limestone thus far recovered, including an erroneous interpretation of antennae in relation to this Swedish material – however, confirmed in the latter part of the nineteenth century with well-preserved Silurian trilobites.
A recently discovered seventeenth century French encyclopaedia of ornithology
Authors: Birkhead T. R. , Butterworth E. , van Balen S.
Published: September 2008

We describe the contents of an unpublished seventeenth century French encyclopaedia of ornithology by Jean-Baptiste Faultrier dated 1660, located in the library of The Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall, England. The manuscript appears to have escaped the attention of ornithologists and historians and as a result has not previously been evaluated in terms of its contribution to the history of ornithology. The manuscript is based closely on Belon's (1555) encyclopaedia but contains descriptions of many more species or forms. A full evaluation of the ornithological significance of Faultrier's manuscript is needed.
The ornithological cabinet of Jean-Baptiste Bécoeur and the secret of the arsenical soap
Authors: Rookmaaker L. C. , Morris P. A. , Glenn I. E. , Mundy P. J.
Published: September 2008

The use of arsenical soap to reliably preserve bird skins was one of the most significant advances in the development of ornithology, but the inventor of this material never published the secret of its composition and remains largely unknown. Jean-Baptiste Bécoeur (1718–1777), pharmacist in Metz (France), had a cabinet of European birds, which was only generally described during his lifetime. The collection was sold to Duke Karl III of Zweibrücken to be incorporated in the cabinet in Karlsberg. Although specimens may have been transferred to Mannheim or Metz around 1795, none can now be recognized. Bécoeur experimented with a variety of chemicals to discover a way to stop insect attacks on the skins. Believing to have succeeded in 1743, he tried to advertise the efficacy of his method by distributing treated bird skins to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris and some influential cabinet owners. He died without publishing the recipe of the arsenical soap. It appeared again early in the nineteenth century in publications by Daudin and Dufresne, who were connected with the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. It is argued that Bécoeur's method was guarded by François Levaillant (1753–1828), who sold the recipe together with his collection to the French government in 1797.
The bird collections of C. J. Andersson in southern Africa, 1850–1867
Authors: Dean W. R. J. , Sandwith M. , Milton S. J.
Published: September 2008

A number of bird specimens, including at least 53 type specimens, were collected by C. J. Andersson (or credited to him as the collector) mainly in Namibia, but also in Angola, Botswana and South Africa, between 1850 and July 1867. Although much of the original material collected by Andersson has been lost, 2,523 bird study skins and sets of eggs collected by him are currently in museum collections; of them 58 are without any data except species name, 202 have the country only, 367 have country and a vague locality (Damaraland, Cape Colony and Ovamboland), and 1,896 have detailed locality data. Although 757 specimens are without dates, another 1,666 have at least month and year, and a further 100 have year only, or can be dated to a particular year. A list of collecting sites and dates when they were visited is given. Of particular interest are the type specimens collected by Andersson and his colleagues as some of these include species with incorrect or vague type localities.
Stubbs's “Drill and albino hamadryas baboon” in conjectural historical context
Authors: Rolfe W. D. Ian , Grigson Caroline
Published: September 2008

This painting by George Stubbs (1724–1806) was probably commissioned by John Hunter (1728–1793) as a visual record of two poorly known exotic primates, the drill, Mandrillus leucophaeus (F. Cuvier), and a hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas (L.), at a time when there was confusion about the different kinds of apes and monkeys. The drill is supported in his erect posture by a staff, which can be read as proof of this ape's proximity to man, but also of its less-than-human status. At that time, Rousseau and Monboddo viewed apes as progenitors of mankind, while David Hume's concept of conjectural history attempted to reconstruct how human nature might have changed during savage man's passage from nature to culture. Hunter, with his many preparations of monkeys and apes and his views on gradation, was interested in this topic. Stubbs's depictions of two other macaques, a crab-eating macaque, Macaca fascicularis (Raffles), and a Barbary ‘ape’, Macaca sylvanus (L.), indicate that he had seen the three main types of monkey and ape as perceived in the eighteenth century: monkey, baboon and ‘ape’, creatures then discriminated by their tails. His painting of a crab-eating macaque holding a peach may symbolize monkeys' muteness – a supposed indication of their higher rationality.
Birds, including extinct species, encountered by the Malaspina Expedition on Vava'u, Tonga, in 1793
Authors: Olson Storrs L.
Published: September 2008

Four drawings and a short manuscript reference from the Spanish Malaspina Expedition provide certain records of five species of birds on the island of Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga, in 1793. Three of these are extant species known historically on Vava'u: Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Purple-capped Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), and Blue-crowned Lorikeet (Vini australis). Also depicted is what is believed to be an extinct rail, probably flightless, of the genus Gallirallus, with possible relatives known from bones on ‘Eua, Tongatapu Group, and from an historical account on Tahiti. Another drawing appears to represent a male of the extinct parrot Eclectus infectus, recently described from bones from ‘Eua and from Lifuka and ‘Uiha in the Ha'apai Group. Thus, this parrot and an extinct rail appear to have survived on Vava'u as late as the end of the eighteenth century.
An unpublished eighteenth century treatise on the birds of Colonial Mexico
Authors: Maldonado J. L. , Puig-Samper M. Á.
Published: September 2008

Between 1783 and 1803, Martín de Sessé and José Mariano Mociño led the Real Expedición Botánica a Nueva España and explored the major part of the territory. Upon their return to Spain, towards the end of 1803, they began to reorganize the materials the expedition had collected, trying to gather together all the paintings, manuscripts and specimens in order to publish them. Some material was published during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. But the “Descripción de distintas especies de aves del Reino de Nueva España, según sus órdenes y familias” remained unknown until 1998, when it was discovered at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid. This manuscript is probably the expedition's major contribution to the field of zoology. In this article, we attempt to look at the context in which this manuscript was written. We hope to reconstruct the events of the expedition, as well as to assess its potential scientific contribution, despite its being unknown to the scientific establishment of the time.
Notes on Sowerby'sThe genera of recent and fossil shells(1821–1834)
Authors: Petit Richard E.
Published: September 2008

The authorship, artists, format and publication dates of Sowerby's The genera of recent and fossil shells are discussed in detail. The original part numbers are given for all included genera together with the plate numbers assigned in the Quaritch reprint of 1875. The plates from the Genera reproduced in Reeve's Conchologia systematica are noted.
Prefixation and stress in Old English In memoriam Richard Hogg (1944–2007)
Authors: Minkova Donka
Published: September 2008

Some questions not usually answered in the Old English (OE) philological and linguistic canon are: to what extent is the prosodic behavior of OE prefixes attributable to their lexical form vs. the morphosyntactic nature of the bases they attach to, what taxonomy covers the distribution of stressed and unstressed forms best, how do OE prefixes compare to Present Day English (PDE) prefixes, and what do stacked prefixes reveal about the morphology-prosody interface. The paper reexamines these questions, expands considerably the empirical data-base for their discussion, and offers an account of the observed stress patterns in terms of Optimality Theory (OT).
Neo- and Neo-Latin
Authors: Rainer Franz
Published: September 2008

The prefix (or combining form) neo- is treated in Marchand (1969) as a revival of Ancient Greek [Formula: see text] `new'. In the present article it is argued that in reality most uses of neo- in the modern languages have not been taken from ancient Greek directly, but from Neo-Latin. European languages are shown to differ considerably with respect to the number of Neo-Latin patterns which they have integrated.
The interaction between word structure and grammaticalization. Evidence from word-formation with French entre- and Dutch tussen-
Authors: Van Goethem Kristel
Published: September 2008

The central topic of this paper 1 1. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the workshop `Approches récentes de la préposition' at the Université d'Artois (Arras, 30 March 2007). In completing this paper, I benefited from the comments of the participants of this meeting, as well as from the valuable suggestions of Ludo Melis, Kristin Blanpain, Antonine Cappaert and two anonymous referees. is the interaction between two forces: on the one hand, the grammaticalization process by which prepositions may develop into prefixes and, on the other hand, French and Dutch word structure. French compounds typically adopt the word order Head-Modifier (e.g. timbre-poste lit. `seal-post = stamp'), while Dutch usually manifests the inverse word order, i.e. Modifier-Head (e.g. postzegel lit. `post-seal = stamp'). It will be shown that these typological differences between French and Dutch word structure may have a strong impact on the grammaticalization of prepositions introducing P-V and P-N compounds. The theoretical assumptions are applied to a specific case study: the French preposition entre `between' and its Dutch counterpart tussen used as bound morphemes in P-V and P-N compounds.
Could “Empathetic Refutation” Help Clinicians Sway Vaccine Skeptics?
Authors: Anderer Samantha
Published: April 2024

This Medical News article discusses an intervention that uses empathy to address vaccine hesitancy in the clinic.
Rejuvenating aged stem cells: therapeutic strategies to extend health and lifespan
Authors: Matteini Francesca , Montserrat‐Vazquez Sara , Florian M. Carolina
Published: April 2024

Aging is associated with a global decline in stem cell function. To date, several strategies have been proposed to rejuvenate aged stem cells: most of these result in functional improvement of the tissue where the stem cells reside, but the impact on the lifespan of the whole organism has been less clearly established. Here, we review some of the most recent work dealing with interventions that improve the regenerative capacity of aged somatic stem cells in mammals and that might have important translational possibilities. Overall, we underscore that somatic stem cell rejuvenation represents a strategy to improve tissue homeostasis upon aging and present some recent approaches with the potential to affect health span and lifespan of the whole organism.
Monte Carlo evaluation of uncertainties in photon and electron TG‐51 absorbed dose calibration
Authors: McDermott Patrick N.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The accuracy of dose delivery to all patients treated with medical linacs depends on the accuracy of beam calibration. Dose delivery cannot be any more accurate than this. Given the importance of this, it seems worthwhile taking another look at the expected uncertainty in TG‐51 photon dose calibration and a first look at electron calibration. This work builds on the 2014 addendum to TG‐51 for photons and adds to it by also considering electrons. In that publication, estimates were made of the uncertainty in the dose calibration. In this paper, we take a deeper look at this important issue.

Methods

The methodology used here is more rigorous than previous determinations as it is based on Monte Carlo simulation of uncertainties. It is assumed that mechanical QA has been performed following TG‐142 prior to beam calibration and that there are no uncertainties that exceed the tolerances specified by TG‐142.

Results/Conclusions

Despite the different methodology and assumptions, the estimated uncertainty in photon beam calibration is close to that in the addendum. The careful user should be able to easily reach a 95% confidence interval (CI) of ± 2.3% for photon beam calibration with standard instrumentation. For electron beams calibrated with a Farmer chamber, the estimated uncertainties are slightly larger, and the 95% CI is ±2.6% for 6 MeV and slightly smaller than this for 18 MeV. There is no clear energy dependence in these results. It is unlikely that the user will be able to improve on these uncertainties as the dominant factor in the uncertainty resides in the ion chamber dose calibration factor . For both photons and electrons, reduction in the ion chamber depth uncertainty below about 0.5 mm and SSD uncertainty below 1 mm have almost no effect on the total dose uncertainty, as uncertainties beyond the user's control totally dominate under these circumstances.
Backstepping based adaptive iterative learning control for non‐strict feedback systems with unknown input nonlinearities
Authors: Shi Huihui , Chen Qiang , Li Yaqian , He Xiongxiong
Published: April 2024

The initial state inconsistency and iteration‐varying trajectory problems are considered in adaptive iterative learning control (AILC) to enhance the tracking performance of the non‐strict feedback systems with unknown input nonlinearities. Through constructing an error reference trajectory independence of the reference signal, the restrictions on the initial condition and reference trajectory are both relaxed. Subsequently, a backstepping‐based AILC methodology is systematically presented to ensure that the error reference trajectory can be followed by the actual tracking error. Integral Lyapunov functions are employed to design the recursive controllers, avoiding potential singularity problems resulting from the differentiation of gain functions. Rigorous analysis is provided without imposing constraints on the control gain functions to demonstrate tracking error convergence. Numerical simulations are included to illustrate the efficacy of the proposed method.
Influence of Increasing Density of Microstructures on the Self‐Propagating Reaction of Al/Ni Reactive Nanoscale Multilayers
Authors: Jaekel Konrad , Riegler Sascha Sebastian , Sauni Camposano Yesenia Haydee , Matthes Sebastian , Glaser Marcus , Bergmann Jean Pierre , Schaaf Peter , Gallino Isabella , Müller Jens , Bartsch Heike
Published: April 2024

Surface structuring methods are crucial in semiconductor manufacturing, as they enable the creation of intricate structures on the semiconductor surface, influencing the material's electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Herein, one such structuring method known as reactive ion etching to create black Si structures on silicon substrates is employed. After thermal oxidation, their influence on the reaction of Al/Ni nanoscale multilayers is studied. It reveals distinct reactive behaviors without corresponding differences in energy release during differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Higher oxidized black Si structure densities result in elevated temperatures and faster reaction propagation, showing fewer defects and reduced layer connections in cross‐sectional analyses. The properties of the reactive multilayers (RML) on high structure density show the same performance as a reaction on flat thermal SiO2, causing delamination when exceeding 23 structures per μm2. Conversely, lower structure density ensures attachment of RML to the substrate due to an increased number of defects, acting as predetermined breaking points for the AlNi alloy. By establishing the adhesion between the reacted multilayer and the substrate, surface structuring could lead to a potential increase in bond strength when using RML for bonding.
Influence of Oxide Formation Following Ultrashort Pulsed Laser Micromachining on Self‐Propagating Reactions in Free‐Standing Ni/Al Reactive Multilayer Foils
Authors: Martins Maria Amélia , Schäfer Christian , Mücklich Frank , Pauly Christoph
Published: April 2024

Reactive metallic multilayers, renowned for their exothermic self‐propagating reactions, show a distinct ability to achieve minimal thermal influence in processes such as welding and soldering, where minimizing the thermal impact on the material being joined is crucial. Ultrashort pulsed lasers offer precision micromachining with negligible thermal damage, making them ideal for processing such sensitive materials. However, the formation and redeposition of oxide phases is a commonly observed side effect, especially when structuring in ambient air. This study investigates the effects of oxide formed after femtosecond laser treatment on self‐propagating properties, including propagation velocity and microstructure of Ni/Al reactive multilayer foils. Samples with varied line spacings between laser‐cut trenches are created. Scanning electron microscopy, high‐speed camera videography, and image analysis are employed to analyze the microstructure and quantify velocities. Thermal simulations enhance the understanding of the oxide's role in self‐propagating dynamics. The findings suggest that even a small oxide layer significantly decelerates the self‐propagating reaction. The oxide functions as a thermal ballast by absorbing the thermal energy generated during the reaction, without actively participating in the reaction mechanism.
Separated Electronic and Strain Interfaces in Core/Dual‐Shell Nanowires: Unlocking the Potential of Strained GaAs for Applications Across Near‐Infrared
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Pashkin Alexej , Moebus Finn , Hübner René , Winnerl Stephan , Helm Manfred , Dimakis Emmanouil
Published: April 2024

Semiconductor nanowires have inspired plenty of novel nanotechnology device concepts in photonics, electronics, and sensing, owing to their unique functionalities and integrability in heterogeneous platforms. Lattice‐mismatched core/shell heterostructures, in particular, open new avenues for strain engineering and material properties modification. A notable case is the widely tunable tensile strain in the core of GaAs/InxAl1‐xAs core/shell nanowires, which can be used to tailor the GaAs bandgap for applications across near‐infrared, like optical fiber telecommunication, imaging, photovoltaics, etc. As it is shown here, though, the bandgap narrowing under high tensile strain in the GaAs core is accompanied by fast non‐radiative recombination, which is undesirable for any device application. The limiting role of the lattice‐mismatched core/shell interface is revealed, and a novel core/dual‐shell heterostructure that employs an intermediate AlyGa1‐yAs shell (spacer) is proposed. This spacer decouples the GaAs/AlyGa1‐yAs interface, which confines electrons and holes into GaAs, from the lattice‐mismatched AlyGa1‐yAs/InxAl1‐xAs one, whereas the strain in GaAs is unaffected. Choosing the optimal spacer thickness, the photoluminescence yield increases significantly, with longer emission decay lifetimes and slower carrier cooling rates. Besides unlocking the potential of GaAs for photonic applications across near‐infrared, the proposed heterostructure concept can also be adopted for other material systems.