bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Land Area and Population Growth: A New Scaling Relationship for Metropolitan Expansion
Authors: Marshall Julian D.
Published: September 2007

In most metropolitan regions throughout the globe, urbanised land area is increasing to accommodate increasing population size. This article provides a simple yet powerful mathematical description of this urban expansion. Specifically, the following scaling relationship is proposed: land area (A) increases proportionally to population size (P) raised to a power (n)— i.e. A ∝ P n. During 1950—2000, this relationship is found to hold well for US Census urban areas (UAs) with a greater than 10 per cent increase in population. Values for the parameter n vary among UAs, with a central tendency value of ∼ 2, suggesting that, on average, newcomers to urban areas occupy about twice the land area per capita of existing residents. If n were exactly equal to 2, then the parameter group P/√A (called `linear population density', or LPD) would be constant over time. LPD (units: people per metre) is the number of people in a metre-wide strip across an urban area. LPD is distinct from, and behaves somewhat differently than, population density. Distributions of LPD values among US UAs during 1950—2000 show surprisingly little variability over multidecade time-scales. For example, from 1950 to 2000, average population, land area and population density changed by more than a factor of 2, but average LPD changed less than 10 per cent. Few, if any, other attributes of urban form have remained so constant during this half-century time-period. International data corroborate the finding that LPD distributions are roughly constant over multidecadal time-scales. These results suggest an underlying pattern to how people arrange themselves within and among urban areas. For US UAs, rank—size rules similar to the generalised version of Zipf's rule hold for population, land area, LPD and population density. LPD is an important predictor of the emissions-to-inhalation relationship for motor vehicle emissions. Results presented here are important for theoretical, practical and empirical investigations of urban form and of how urban areas expand over time.
Consequences of the Plano Piloto: The Urban Development and Land Markets of Brasília
Authors: Dowall David E. , Monkkonen Paavo
Published: September 2007

Much has been written about what is perhaps the largest and most important city built entirely in the 20th century. By some, Brasília is seen as the epitome of modernism's failure and, by others, simply an example of an overregulated city unable to cope with rapid urbanisation and population growth. This paper argues that Brasília is not a typical case. The spatial structure of the metropolitan region of Brasília is completely different from comparable regions in Brazil and its land market exhibits several distinct patterns. Furthermore, it is argued that the region's unique origin and restrictive urban land development policies have led to the current sprawling form of the region. It is concluded that the urban form of Brasília is detrimental to the quality of life of its residents as it leads to higher housing and transport costs.
Evaluation of Organ Weights for Rodent and Non-Rodent Toxicity Studies: A Review of Regulatory Guidelines and a Survey of Current Practices
Authors: Michael Bindhu , Yano Barry , Sellers Rani S. , Perry Rick , Morton Daniel , Roome Nigel , Johnson Julie K. , Schafer Ken
Published: September 2007

The Society of Toxicologic Pathology convened a working group to evaluate current practices regarding organ weights in toxicology studies. A survey was distributed to pharmaceutical, veterinary, chemical, food/nutritional and consumer product companies in Europe, North America, and Japan. Responses were compiled to identify organs routinely weighed for various study types in rodent and non-rodent species, compare methods of organ weighing, provide perspectives on the value of organ weights and identify the scientist(s) responsible for organ weight data interpretation. Data were evaluated as a whole as well as by industry type and geographic location. Regulatory guidance documents describing organ weighing practices are generally available, however, they differ somewhat dependent on industry type and regulatory agency. While questionnaire respondents unanimously stated that organ weights were a good screening tool to identify treatment-related effects, opinions varied as to which organ weights are most valuable. The liver, kidneys, and testes were commonly weighed and most often considered useful by most respondents. Other organs thatbreak were commonly weighed included brain, adrenal glands, ovaries, thyroid glands, uterus, heart, and spleen. Lungs, lymph nodes, and other sex organs were weighed infrequently in routine studies, but were often weighed in specialized studies such as inhalation, immunotoxicity, and reproduction studies. Organ-to-body weight ratios were commonly calculated and were considered more useful when body weights were affected. Organ to brain weight ratios were calculated by most North American companies, but rarely according to respondents representing veterinary product or European companies. Statistical analyses were generally performed by most respondents. Pathologists performed interpretation of organ weight data for the majority of the industries.
Society of Toxicologic Pathology Position Paper: Organ Weight Recommendations for Toxicology Studies
Authors: Sellers Rani S. , Mortan Daniel , Michael Bindu , Roome Nigel , Johnson Julie K. , Yano Barry L. , Perry Rick , Schafer Ken
Published: September 2007

The evaluation of organ weights in toxicology studies is an integral component in the assessment of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and medical devices. The Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) has created recommendations for weighing organs in GLP general toxicology studies lasting from 7 days to 1 year. The STP recommends that liver, heart, kidneys, brain, testes, and adrenal glands be weighed in all multidose general toxicology studies. Thyroid gland and pituitary gland weights are recommended for all species except mice. Spleen and thymus should be weighed in rodent studies and may be weighed in non-rodent studies. Weighing of reproductive organs is most valuable in sexually mature animals. Variability in age, sexual maturity, and stage of cycle in non-rodents and reproductive senescence in female rodents may complicate or limit interpretation of reproductive organ weights. The STP recommends that testes of all species be weighed in multidose general toxicology studies. Epididymides and prostate should be weighed in rat studies and may be weighed on a case-by-case basis in non-rodent and mouse studies. Weighing of other organs including female reproductive organs should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Organ weights are not recommended for any carcinogenicity studies including the alternative mouse bioassays. Regardless of the study type or organs evaluated, organ weight changes must be evaluated within the context of the compound class, mechanism of action, and the entire data set for that study.
Improved detection of overrepresentation of Gene-Ontology annotations with parent–child analysis
Authors: Grossmann Steffen , Bauer Sebastian , Robinson Peter N. , Vingron Martin
Published: September 2007

Motivation: High-throughput experiments such as microarray hybridizations often yield long lists of genes found to share a certain characteristic such as differential expression. Exploring Gene Ontology (GO) annotations for such lists of genes has become a widespread practice to get first insights into the potential biological meaning of the experiment. The standard statistical approach to measuring overrepresentation of GO terms cannot cope with the dependencies resulting from the structure of GO because they analyze each term in isolation. Especially the fact that annotations are inherited from more specific descendant terms can result in certain types of false-positive results with potentially misleading biological interpretation, a phenomenon which we term the inheritance problem.

Results: We present here a novel approach to analysis of GO term overrepresentation that determines overrepresentation of terms in the context of annotations to the term's parents. This approach reduces the dependencies between the individual term's measurements, and thereby avoids producing false-positive results owing to the inheritance problem. ROC analysis using study sets with overrepresented GO terms showed a clear advantage for our approach over the standard algorithm with respect to the inheritance problem. Although there can be no gold standard for exploratory methods such as analysis of GO term overrepresentation, analysis of biological datasets suggests that our algorithm tends to identify the core GO terms that are most characteristic of the dataset being analyzed.

Availability: The Ontologizer can be found at the project homepage http://www.charite.de/ch/medgen/ontologizer

Contact:  peter.robinson@charite.de and vingron@molgen.mpg.de
Miocene whale-fall from California demonstrates that cetacean size did not determine the evolution of modern whale-fall communities
Authors: Pyenson Nicholas D , Haasl David M
Published: September 2007

Whale-fall communities support a deep-sea invertebrate assemblage that subsists entirely on the decaying carcasses of large cetaceans. The oldest whale-falls are Late Eocene in age, but these early whale-falls differ in faunal content and host cetacean size from Neogene and Recent whale-falls. Vesicomyid bivalves, for example, are major components of the sulphophilic stage in Miocene and Recent whale-fall communities, but they are absent from Palaeogene fossil whale-falls. The differences between Palaeogene and Neogene communities led to the hypothesis that the origin of modern whale-fall communities was linked with the evolution of extremely large mysticetes, which provided sufficient biomass and oil to sustain the modern complement of whale-fall invertebrates. Here, we describe a fossil whale-fall community from the Miocene of California, showing vesicomyid bivalves in direct association with a host mysticete smaller than the adult individuals of any living mysticete species. This association, which is the youngest yet reported from the Neogene of North America, demonstrates that body size is not a necessary factor for the formation of modern whale-fall communities. Instead, we suggest that high skeletal oil content may have been a more important factor, which, based on the age of the fossil whale-fall, evolved at least by the Late Miocene.
Monogamy on the fast track
Authors: Adkins-Regan Elizabeth , Tomaszycki Michelle
Published: September 2007

Social monogamy has evolved multiple times and is particularly common in birds. It is not well understood why some of these species are continuously and permanently paired while others occasionally ‘divorce’ (switch partners). Although several hypotheses have been considered, experimental tests are uncommon. Estrildid finches are thought to be permanently paired because being short-lived opportunistic breeders, they cannot afford the time to form a new pair relationship. Here it is shown through a controlled experimental manipulation that zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) allowed to remain with their partners to breed again are faster to initiate a clutch (by approx. 3 days) than birds separated from their mates that have to re-pair, supporting the hypothesis that continuous pairing speeds up initiation of reproduction, a benefit of long-term monogamy in a small, short-lived, gregarious species.
Entrapment of water by subunit c of ATP synthase
Authors: McGeoch Julie E.M , McGeoch Malcolm W
Published: September 2007

We consider an ancient protein, and water as a smooth surface, and show that the interaction of the two allows the protein to change its hydrogen bonding to encapsulate the water. This property could have made a three-dimensional microenvironment, 3–4 Gyr ago, for the evolution of subsequent complex water-based chemistry. Proteolipid, subunit c of ATP synthase, when presented with a water surface, changes its hydrogen bonding from an α-helix to β-sheet-like configuration and moves away from its previous association with lipid to interact with water surface molecules. Protein sheets with an intra-sheet backbone spacing of 3.7 Å and inter-sheet spacing of 6.0 Å hydrogen bond into long ribbons or continuous surfaces to completely encapsulate a water droplet. The resulting morphology is a spherical vesicle or a hexagonal crystal of water ice, encased by a skin of subunit c. Electron diffraction shows the crystals to be highly ordered and compressed and the protein skin to resemble β-sheets. The protein skin can retain the entrapped water over a temperature rise from 123 to 223 K at 1×10
−4
 Pa, whereas free water starts to sublime significantly at 153 K.
Hamiltonian interpretation of the Stroh formalism in anisotropic elasticity
Authors: Fu Y.B
Published: September 2007

Stroh's sextic formalism for static problems or steady motions in anisotropic elasticity is a formulation in which the equation of equilibrium/motion is written as a system of first-order differential equations for the displacement and traction in terms of one of the spatial variables. The so-called fundamental elasticity matrix
N
appearing in this formulation has the property that, when partitioned as a 2×2 block matrix, its 12- and 21-blocks are symmetric matrices and its 11-block is the transpose of its 22-block. This property gives rise to a large number of orthogonality and closure relations and is fundamental to the success of the Stroh formalism in solving a large variety of problems in general anisotropic elasticity. First, we show that the matrix
N
is guaranteed to have the above property by the fact that the Stroh formulation is in fact a Hamiltonian formulation with one of the spatial variables acting as the time-like variable. This interpretation provides a much desired guide in dealing with other problems for which the governing equations are different, such as incompressible elasticity and problems associated with anisotropic elastic plates as described by the Kirchhoff plate theory. We show that for the last two problems the Hamiltonian interpretation simplifies the derivations significantly, leading to a Stroh formulation in each case which is equivalent to, but much simpler than, what is available in the existing literature.
Enfleurage, lipid recycling and the origin of perfume collection in orchid bees
Authors: Eltz Thomas , Zimmermann Yvonne , Haftmann Jenny , Twele Robert , Francke Wittko , Quezada-Euan J. Javier G , Lunau Klaus
Published: September 2007

Enfleurage, the extraction of elusive floral scents with the help of a lipophilic carrier (grease), is widely used in the perfume industry. Male neotropical orchid bees (Euglossini), which accumulate exogenous fragrances as pheromone analogues, use a similar technique. To collect fragrances, the bees apply large amounts of straight-chain lipids to odoriferous surfaces from their cephalic labial glands, which dissolve the volatiles, and the mixture is then transferred to voluminous hind-leg pockets. Here, we show that males do in fact operate a lipid conveyor belt to accumulate and concentrate their perfume. From the hind-leg pockets of caged male
Euglossa viridissima
, deuterated derivatives of carrier lipids were consecutively sequestered, shuttled back to the labial glands and reused on consecutive bouts of fragrance collection. Such lipid cycling is instrumental in creating complex perfume bouquets. Furthermore, we found that labial glands of male orchid bees are strikingly similar to those of scent-marking male bumblebees in terms of size, form and structure. This, and a prominent overlap in secretory products, led us to propose that perfume collection evolved from scent-marking in ancestral corbiculate bees.
Differential effects of muscarinic receptor blockade in prelimbic cortex on acquisition and memory formation of an odor-reward task
Authors: Carballo-Márquez Anna , Vale-Martínez Anna , Guillazo-Blanch Gemma , Torras-Garcia Meritxell , Boix-Trelis Núria , Martí-Nicolovius Margarita
Published: September 2007

The present experiments determined the consequences of blocking muscarinic cholinergic receptors of the prelimbic (PL) cortex in the acquisition and retention of an odor-reward associative task. Rats underwent a training test (five trials) and a 24-h retention test (two retention trials and two relearning trials). In the first experiment, rats were bilaterally infused with scopolamine (20 or 5 μg/site) prior to training. Although scopolamine rats showed acquisition equivalent to PBS-injected controls, they exhibited weakened performance in the 24-h retention test measured by number of errors. In the second experiment, rats were injected with scopolamine (20 μg/site) immediately or 1 h after training and tested 24 h later. Scopolamine rats injected immediately showed severe amnesia detected in two performance measures (errors and latencies), demonstrating deficits in retention and relearning, whereas those injected 1 h later showed good 24-h test performance, similar to controls. These results suggest that muscarinic transmission in the PL cortex is essential for early memory formation, but not for acquisition, of a rapidly learned odor discrimination task. Findings corroborate the role of acetylcholine in consolidation processes and the participation of muscarinic receptors in olfactory associative tasks.
The central nucleus of the amygdala is essential for acquiring and expressing conditional fear after overtraining
Authors: Zimmerman Joshua M. , Rabinak Christine A. , McLachlan Ian G. , Maren Stephen
Published: September 2007

The basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) is critical for the acquisition and expression of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats. Nonetheless, rats with neurotoxic BLA lesions can acquire conditional fear after overtraining (75 trials). The capacity of rats with BLA lesions to acquire fear memory may be mediated by the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA). To examine this issue, we examined the influence of neurotoxic CEA lesions or reversible inactivation of the CEA on the acquisition and expression of conditional freezing after overtraining in rats. Rats with pretraining CEA lesions (whether alone or in combination with BLA lesions) did not acquire conditional freezing to either the conditioning context or an auditory conditional stimulus after extensive overtraining. Similarly, post-training lesions of the CEA or BLA prevented the expression of overtrained fear. Lastly, muscimol infusions into the CEA prevented both the acquisition and the expression of overtrained fear, demonstrating that the effects of CEA lesions are not likely due to the destruction of en passant axons. These results suggest that the CEA is essential for conditional freezing after Pavlovian fear conditioning. Moreover, overtraining may engage a compensatory fear conditioning circuit involving the CEA in animals with damage to the BLA.
The interpretation and clinical application of the word ‘parity’: a survey
Authors: Opara EI , Zaidi J
Published: September 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the term ‘parity’ in multiple pregnancies using a questionnaire survey. One hundred and fifty obstetricians and midwives in five maternity units in southeast Thames region of the London deanery were administered the questionnaire. One hundred and twenty‐six questionnaires were returned (84% response rate). Only 21% described twin delivery as a single parous experience. The improper clinical application of the word parity was shown in both obstetricians and midwives. Standardisation of the definition to ensure accuracy and uniformity in record keeping is necessary.
Identifying the performance criteria for appraisal of colposcopists: benchmarking Delphi
Authors: Thangaratinam S , Walker P , Freeman‐Wang T , Luesley D , Cruickshank M , Redman CWE
Published: September 2007

Background  Colposcopy forms an essential part of National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP). With an increased emphasis on accountability and improved performance, there is a need to identify the performance criteria that are essential to be satisfied by the colposcopists at the time of appraisal.

Objective  To identify the performance criteria essential for appraisal of colposcopists by two‐generational Delphi survey.

Design  Delphi survey.

Setting  Annual British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology conference (BSCCP 2005, Edinburgh, UK).

Population  Four hundred and ninety‐nine delegates attending the above conference.

Method  A two‐generational Delphi survey was undertaken to identify the criteria needed for appraisal. The participants were asked to rate the relevance of quality items that might be considered necessary for appraisal of performance of colposcopists. After the first round, the results were presented, and the respondents were given the chance to reflect on their response and change it if necessary.

Main outcome measures  Criteria considered to be essential for appraisal of colposcopists in areas of training, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects and communication.

Results  In the first round, 306/499 (61%) participants returned the completed questionnaire. Sixty percent (187/306) of participants returned their questionnaire in the second round. In addition to BSCCP certification, four other criteria were identified, which were quality of recorded findings, biopsy rate when atypia noted, proportion of biopsies histologically adequate and proportion of normal initial posttreatment follow‐up smears.

Conclusion  This Delphi survey has been the first to identify criteria to be used in the annual appraisal of professionals. It has resulted in a number of criteria that could be considered for the appraisal and possible revalidation of colposcopists practising in UK.
Economic evaluation of surgically trained assistant medical officers in performing major obstetric surgery in Mozambique
Authors: Kruk ME , Pereira C , Vaz F , Bergström S , Galea S
Published: September 2007

Objective To compare the training and deployment costs and surgical productivity of surgically trained assistant medical officers (técnicos de cirurgia) and specialist physicians (surgeons and obstetrician/gynaecologists) in Mozambique in order to inform health human resource planning in a developing country with low availability of obstetric care and severe physician shortages.Técnicos de cirurgiahave been previously shown to have quality of care outcomes comparable to physicians.

Design Economic evaluation of costs and productivity of surgically trained assistant medical officers and specialist physicians.

Setting Hospitals and health science training institutions in Mozambique.

Population Surgically trained assistants, medical officers, surgeons and obstetrician/gynaecologists in Mozambique.

Methods The costs of training and deploying the two cadres of health workers were derived from a review of budgets, annual expenditure reports, enrolment registers, and accounting statements from training institutions and interviews with directors and administrators. Productivity estimates were based on a hospital survey of physicians andtécnicos de cirurgia.

Main outcome measures Cost per major obstetric surgical procedure over 30 years in 2006 US dollars.

Results The 30‐year cost per major obstetric surgery was $38.9 fortécnicos de cirurgiaand $144.1 for surgeons and obstetrician/gynaecologists. Doubling the salaries oftécnicos de cirurgiaresulted in a smaller but still substantial difference in cost per surgery between the groups ($60.3 versus $144.1 per procedure). One‐way sensitivity analysis to test the impact of varying other inputs did not substantially change the magnitude of the cost advantage oftécnicos de cirurgia.

Conclusion Training more mid‐level health workers in surgery can be part of the response to the health worker shortage, which today threatens the achievement of the health Millennium Development Goals in developing countries.
Higher perinatal mortality in National Public Health System hospitals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 1999: a compositional or contextual effect?
Authors: Lansky S , Subramanian SV , França E , Kawachi I
Published: September 2007

Objective  In Brazil, it was previously reported that in hospital perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality rates are higher for hospitals contracted to the National Public Health System (SUS) compared with non‐SUS hospitals. We analyse whether this reflects a compositional effect (selection of patients) or a contextual effect.

Design  Population‐based cohort study.

Setting  Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 1999.

Population  A total of 36 469 births in 24 hospitals.

Methods  A multilevel analysis was carried out using information gathered at the individual level on maternal education (used as an indicator of socio‐economic status), maternal age, type of pregnancy and delivery, birthweight and sex of the fetus.

Main outcome measure  Perinatal death.

Results  Risk factors for perinatal death included male sex (OR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.01–1.55), birthweight of 1500–2500 g (OR = 7.65; 95% CI 5.74–10.20), birthweight of 500–1500 g (OR = 187.54; 95% CI 141.31–248.39), less than 4 years of maternal education (OR = 2.93; 95% CI 1.68–5.10), as well as birth at private‐SUS (OR = 2.92; 95% CI 1.87–4.54) or philanthropic‐SUS hospitals (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.12–2.92). After controlling for individual characteristics, there was still a significant variation in perinatal deaths between hospitals categories.

Conclusion  Independent of compositional (or individual) characteristics, hospital factors exert an influence on the risk of perinatal death, primarily hospital category related to SUS. Considering the highest proportion of births in SUS hospitals in Brazil, especially private‐SUS hospitals, improving hospital quality of care is an urgent priority for reducing the toll of perinatal and infant mortality, as well as inequalities in these outcomes.
Centralisation of services for the management of ovarian cancer: arguments against
Authors: Crawford SM , Brunskill PJ
Published: September 2007

In 2000, the Commissioning Guidance for gynaecological cancer services relied on a subset analysis within a retrospective study to support its requirement that surgery for carcinoma of the ovary be centralised. We have reviewed the literature covering this issue, especially that published in the past 6 years. There is no evidence for an advantage for specialist gynaecological oncologists over general gynaecologists for these women; studies that suggest that one exists fail to separate patients presenting to general surgeons, whose patients are at a clear disadvantage, from those seen by gynaecologists. There is evidence for the need for appropriate surgery in women with less extensive disease where the diagnostic difficulties are greatest. We argue for investment in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and the provision of services for its medical treatment over a prolonged period.
Fetal electrocardiogram: ST waveform analysis in intrapartum surveillance
Authors: Amer‐Wahlin I , Arulkumaran S , Hagberg H , Maršál K , Visser GHA
Published: September 2007

ST waveform analysis of fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) for intrapartum surveillance (STAN) is a newly introduced method for fetal surveillance. The purpose of this commentary is to assist in the proper use of fetal ECG in combination with cardiotocography (CTG) during labour. Guidelines and recommendations concerning CTG and ST waveform interpretation and classification are stated that were agreed on by the European experts on ST waveform analysis for intrapartum surveillance during a meeting in Utretcht, the Netherlands in January 2007.
Intimate partner violence and unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth among a national sample of Bangladeshi women
Authors: Silverman JG , Gupta J , Decker MR , Kapur N , Raj A
Published: September 2007

Objective  To estimate (1) lifetime prevalence of physical and sexual victimisation from husbands among a national sample of Bangladeshi women, (2) associations of unwanted pregnancy and experiences of husband violence, and (3) associations of miscarriage, induced abortion, and fetal death/stillbirth and such victimisation.

Design  Cross‐sectional, nationally representative study utilizing matched husband‐wife data from the 2004 MEASURE Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey.

Setting  Bangladesh.

Population  Married Bangladeshi women ages 13–40 years old (n = 2677).

Methods  Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Main outcome measures  Relations of intimate partner violence to unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, induced abortion and stillbirth.

Results  Three out of four (75.6%) Bangladeshi women experienced violence from husbands. Less educated, poorer, and Muslim women were at greatest risk. Women experiencing violence from husbands were more likely to report both unwanted pregnancy (ORsadj 1.46–1.54) and a pregnancy loss in the form of miscarriage, induced abortion, or stillbirth (ORsadj 1.43–1.69). Assessed individually, miscarriage was more likely among victimised women (ORadj 1.81). A nonsignificant trend was detected for increased risk of induced abortion (ORadj 1.64); stillbirth was unrelated to violence from husbands.

Conclusion  Intimate partner violence is extremely prevalent and relates to unwanted pregnancy and higher rates of pregnancy loss or termination, particularly miscarriages, among Bangladeshi women. Investigation of mechanisms responsible for these associations will be critical to developing interventions to improve maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. Such programmes may be vital to reducing the significant health and social costs associated with both husband violence and unwanted and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Risk factors for uterine rupture and neonatal consequences of uterine rupture: a population‐based study of successive pregnancies in Sweden
Authors: Kaczmarczyk M , Sparén P , Terry P , Cnattingius S
Published: September 2007

Objective  Uterine rupture is a rare but a catastrophic event. The aim of the present study was to explore the risk factors for uterine rupture and associated neonatal morbidity and mortality among a cohort of Swedish women attempting vaginal birth in their second delivery.

Design  Population‐based cohort study.

Setting  Sweden.

Population  A total of 300 200 Swedish women delivering two single consecutive births between 1983 and 2001.

Methods  Swedish population‐based registers were used to obtain information concerning demographics, pregnancy and birth characteristics, and neonatal outcomes. Logistic regression was used to analyse potential risk factors for uterine rupture and risk of neonatal mortality associated with uterine rupture. Odds ratios were used to estimate relative risks using 95% CI.

Main outcome measure  Uterine rupture and neonatal mortality in the second pregnancy.

Results  Compared with women who delivered vaginally in their first birth, women who underwent a caesarean delivery were, during their second delivery, at increased risk of uterine rupture (adjusted OR 41.79; 95% CI 29.73–57.00). Induction of labour, high (≥4000 g) birthweight, postterm (≥42 weeks) births, high (≥35 years) maternal age, and short (≤164 cm) maternal stature were also associated with increased risk of uterine rupture. Uterine rupture was associated with a substantially increased risk in neonatal mortality (adjusted OR 65.62; 95% CI 32.60–132.08).

Conclusion  The risk of uterine rupture in subsequent deliveries is not only markedly increased among women with a previous caesarean delivery but also influenced by induction of labour, birthweight, gestational age, and maternal characteristics.
A randomised comparison of patient satisfaction with vaginal and sublingual misoprostol for induction of labour at term*
Authors: Nassar AH , Awwad J , Khalil AM , Abu‐Musa A , Mehio G , Usta IM
Published: September 2007

Objective  To compare patient satisfaction with two routes of misoprostol for term labour induction.

Design  Prospective randomised trial.

Setting  Tertiary care hospital.

Population  A total of 170 women admitted at ≥37 weeks of gestation for induction of labour.

Methods  Women were randomised to receive 50 micrograms of either sublingual or vaginal misoprostol.

Main outcome measures  Patient satisfaction with the route of administration.

Results  Despite a similar proportion reporting the labour induction as more painful than expected in both groups, a significantly lower proportion mentioned that the pelvic examinations were very painful in the sublingual group (19.7 versus 36.1%, relative risk [RR] 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9). Request for analgesia was similar in both groups. More women in the sublingual group thought that the labour experience was better than expected (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.3), had a positive attitude towards induction in subsequent pregnancies (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.3) and preferred the same route in subsequent pregnancies (RR 3.1, 95% CI 2.2–4.5). Mean number of misoprostol doses, oxytocin augmentation, tachysystole and hyperstimulation, induction to vaginal delivery interval, vaginal delivery after a single dose, vaginal birth within 12 and 24 hours, and caesarean delivery rates were similar in both groups.

Conclusion  Sublingual misoprostol (50 micrograms) is associated with a significantly higher patient satisfaction rate compared with a similar dose of vaginal misoprostol. Sublingual administration offers additional choice to women, in particular those wishing to avoid vaginal administration.
Postnatal hydrocortisone treatment for chronic lung disease in the preterm newborn and long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up
Authors: Rademaker K J , de Vries L S , Uiterwaal C S P M , Groenendaal F , Grobbee D E , van Bel F
Published: September 2007

The benefits versus the risks of postnatal administration of steroids in preterm-born infants are still debatable. This review examines the literature on postnatal hydrocortisone treatment for chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm-born infants with a particular focus on the effects of such treatment on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Quantitative published evidence does not point to a clear advantage of treatment with hydrocortisone over dexamethasone with regard to the impact on long-term neurological outcomes. However, in the absence of a randomised comparison, a consensus may soon have to be reached on the basis of the best available evidence whether hydrocortisone should replace dexamethasone in the treatment of CLD.
OPINION SPREADING AND CONSENSUS FORMATION ON SQUARE LATTICE
Authors: LIU JIAN-GUO , WU ZHI-XI , WANG FENG
Published: September 2007

In this paper, we study a model of opinion spreading and consensus formation on a square lattice. Given a two-dimensional square lattice with periodic boundary condition, a total fraction p of the sites are occupied by agents. We take into account the drift ability of the focal agents whose opinions' difference is too large. The dynamics of the model is governed by the following two rules. At each time step, the agents (or individuals) can exchange their opinions with those of their neighbors if the difference between them is smaller than the "bounded confidence" ∊; Otherwise, one can move to a vacancy location if permitted (i.e., there are any empty sites existing among the focal agent's neighborhood). The distribution of opinions over the population evolves toward either a consensus state that all individuals share the same opinion or polarization and fragmentation states where two or more opinions can coexist. The statistical properties of this final state vary considerably as the parameters p and ∊ change. It is shown that, when dispersal abilities of the individuals are considered, the bounded confidence which is required to attain consensus can be remarkably decreased.
THE STUDY OF QUENCHED BOND RANDOMNESS BY WANG–LANDAU ALGORITHM
Authors: YAŞAR FATIH
Published: September 2007

Monte Carlo simulations using the recently proposed Wang–Landau algorithm are performed to the q = 8 state Potts model in two dimension with various degrees of randomness. We systematically studied the effect of quenched bond randomness to system which has first-order phase transition. All simulations and measurements were done from pure case r = 1 to r = 0.4. Physical quantities such as energy density and ground-state entropy were evaluated at all temperatures. We have also obtained probability distributions of energy to monitor softening of transitions. It appears quite feasible to simulate spin systems with quenched bond randomness by Wang–Landau algorithm.
EXPERT SYSTEM FOR THRESHOLD SPECTRA ANALYSIS OF SO2 MOLECULES
Authors: PETROVIĆ VIOLETA , BOČVARSKI V. , PETROVIĆ I.
Published: September 2007

In this paper an expert system is presented that was developed with the aim to analyze electron spectra on the threshold energies in collision with triatomic and polyatomic molecules. This expert system was made by updating the expert system for the analysis of the threshold spectra of two-atomic molecules. In contrast to the threshold spectra of two-atomic molecules, where were exist more or less defined structures of excited states, as well as vibrational levels, in the threshold spectra of triatomic molecules clearly defined structures almost do not exist. The application of the expert system in the process of triatomic and polyatomic molecules spectra analysis has an important role because it enables analysis of larger number of excited states, vibrational levels, and resonances, which can be missed in the analysis by classical methods, either because of low intensity or because of insufficiently defined separation of peaks in spectrum, which arise from the overlapping of a large number of peaks.
LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATION OF VISCOUS DISSIPATION IN ELECTRO-OSMOTIC FLOW IN MICROCHANNELS
Authors: CHAI ZHEN-HUA , SHI BAO-CHANG , ZHENG LIN
Published: September 2007

In this paper, the effects of viscous dissipation in electro-osmotic flow in microchannels are numerically analyzed with lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), and three different lattice Boltzmann models that can recover the macroscopic governing equations for electro-osmotic flow (EOF) are proposed. As the dimensions of the channels approach the microlevel, viscous dissipation could be significant due to a high velocity gradient in electric double layer (EDL). Numerical results show that viscous dissipation plays an important role in EOF in microchannels.
A GENERALIZED SUB-EQUATION EXPANSION METHOD AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION IN INHOMOGENEOUS OPTICAL FIBER MEDIA
Authors: LI BIAO
Published: September 2007

In this paper, a generalized sub-equation expansion method is presented for constructing some exact analytical solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations. Making use of the method and symbolic computation, we investigate the inhomogeneous nonlinear Schrödinger equation (INLSE) with the loss/gain and the frequency chirping and obtain rich exact analytical solutions. From our results, many known results of some nonlinear Schrödinger equations can be recovered by means of some suitable selections of the arbitrary functions and arbitrary constants. With computer simulation, the main soliton features of bright and dark solitons, Jacobi elliptic function solutions, and Weierstrass elliptic function solutions are shown by some figures. Nonlinear dynamics of the chirped soliton pulses is also investigated under the different regimes of soliton management. The method developed does provide a systematic way to generate various exact analytical solutions for INLSE with varying coefficients.
A NEW MODEL FOR COMPETITION BETWEEN MANY LANGUAGES
Authors: TUNCAY ÇAĞLAR
Published: September 2007

Time evolution of number of cities, population of cities, world population, and size distribution of present languages are studied in terms of a new model, where population of each city increases by a random rate and decreases by a random division. World population and size distribution of languages come out in good agreement with the available empirical data.
STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF CONFINED QUANTUM PARTICLES
Authors: BANNUR VISHNU M. , UDAYANANDAN K. M.
Published: September 2007

We develop statistical mechanics and thermodynamics of Bose and Fermi systems in relativistic harmonic oscillator (RHO) confining potential, which is applicable in quark gluon plasma (QGP), astrophysics, Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) etc. Detailed study of QGP system is carried out and compared with lattice results. Furthermore, as an application, our equation of state (EoS) of QGP is used to study compact stars like quark star.
RESULTS FROM THE ANITA EXPERIMENT
Authors:   The ANITA Collaboration, SILVESTRI ANDREA , BARWICK S. W. , BEATTY J. J. , BESSON D. Z. , BINNS W. R. , CAI B. , CLEM J. M. , CONNOLLY A. , COWEN D. F. , DOWKONTT P. F. , DU VERNOIS M. A. , EVENSON P. A. , GOLDSTEIN D. , GORHAM P. W. , HEBERT C. L. , ISRAEL M. H. , LEARNED J. G. , LIEWER K. M. , LINK J. T. , MATSUNO S. , MIOCINOVIC P. , NAM J. , NAUDET C. J. , NICHOL R. , PALLADINO K. , ROSEN M. , SALTZBERG D. , SECKEL D. , SILVESTRI A. , STOKES B. T. , VARNER G. S. , WU F.
Published: September 2007

The ANtarctic Impulse Transient Antenna (ANITA) is the first long-duration balloon experiment designed to search and measure the flux of Greisen–Zapsepin–Kuzmin (GZK) neutrinos. We present new limits on neutrinos fluxes of astronomical origin from data collected with the successful launch of a 2-antenna prototype instrument, called ANITA-lite, that circled the Antarctic continent for 18.4 days in January 2004. We performed a search for Ultra-High-Energy (UHE) neutrinos with energies above 3 × 1018 eV . No excess events above the background expectation were observed and a neutrino flux following E-2 spectrum for all neutrino flavors, is limited to [Formula: see text] for 1018.5 eV < Eν < 1023.5 eV at 90% confidence level. The launch of ANITA is scheduled for December 2006. Looking beyond ANITA, we describe a new idea, called ARIANNA (Antarctic Ross Iceshelf ANtenna Neutrino Array), to increase the sensitivity for GZK neutrinos by one order of magnitude better than ANITA.
FIVE-DIMENSIONAL VECTOR-COUPLED SUPERGRAVITY ON A MANIFOLD WITH BOUNDARIES
Authors: McREYNOLDS SEAN
Published: September 2007

We consider the bosonic and fermionic symmetries of five-dimensional Maxwell– and Yang–Mills–Einstein supergravity theories on a spacetime with boundaries (isomorphic to M×S1/ℤ2). Due to the appearance of the "Chern–Simons" term, the classical action is not generally invariant under gauge and supersymmetries. Once bulk vector fields are allowed to propagate on the boundaries, there is an "inflow" governed by the rank-3 symmetric tensor that defines the five-dimensional theories. We discuss the requirements that invariance of the action imposes on new matter content and boundary conditions.
ELECTROWEAK QUARK–LEPTON SYMMETRY AND WEAK TOPOLOGICAL-CHARGE CONFINEMENT IN THE STANDARD MODEL WITH DIRAC NEUTRINOS
Authors: MATUTE ERNESTO A.
Published: September 2007

The standard electroweak model with Dirac neutrinos is extended by way of the principles of electroweak quark–lepton symmetry and weak topological-charge confinement to account for quark–lepton charge relations which, if not accidental, are indicative of charge structures. A mixing in quarks and leptons of underlying integer local charges with integer weak topological charges associated with an additive group Z3, fixed by the anomaly cancellation requirement, is discussed. It is found that the electroweak difference between topological quarks and leptons is the nonequivalence between the topological vacua of their weak field configurations, produced by a four-instanton which carries the topological charge, induces the universal fractional piece of charge distinguishing quarks from leptons, and breaks the underlying symmetry. The constituent quarks of the standard model appear as coming from topological quarks, via the weak four-instanton event. Dual transitions occur for leptons. It is shown that several other fundamental problems left open in the standard electroweak model with Dirac neutrinos are solved: the one-to-one correspondence between quark and lepton flavors, the existence of three generations, the conservation and ungauging of B-L, the electric charge quantization, and the confinement of fractional electric charges.
NEMO: A PROJECT FOR A KM3 UNDERWATER DETECTOR FOR ASTROPHYSICAL NEUTRINOS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Authors: AMORE I. , AIELLO S. , AMBRIOLA M. , AMELI F. , ANGHINOLFI M. , ANZALONE A. , BARBARINO G. , BARBARITO E. , BATTAGLIERI M. , BELLOTTI R. , BEVERINI N. , BONORI M. , BOUHADEF B. , BRESCIA M. , CACOPARDO G. , CAFAGNA F. , CAPONE A. , CAPONETTO L. , CASTORINA E. , CERES A. , CHIARUSI T. , CIRCELLA M. , COCIMANO R. , CONIGLIONE R. , CORDELLI M. , COSTA M. , CUNEO S. , D'AMICO A. , DE BONIS G. , DE MARZO C. , DE ROSA G. , DE VITA R. , DISTEFANO C. , FALCHINI E. , FIORELLO C. , FLAMINIO V. , FRATINI K. , GABRIELLI A. , GALEOTTI S. , GANDOLFI E. , GIACOMELLI G. , GIORGI F. , GRIMALDI A. , HABEL R. , LEONORA E. , LONARDO A. , LONGO G. , LO PRESTI D. , LUCARELLI F. , MACCIONI E. , MARGIOTTA A. , MARTINI A. , MASULLO R. , MEGNA R. , MIGNECO E. , MONGELLI M. , MONTARULI T. , MORGANTI M. , MUSUMECI M. S. , NICOLAU C. A. , ORLANDO A. , OSIPENKO M. , OSTERIA G. , PAPALEO R. , PAPPALARDO V. , PETTA C. , PIATTELLI P. , RAIA G. , RANDAZZO N. , REITO S. , RICCO G. , RICCOBENE G. , RIPANI M. , ROVELLI A. , RUPPI M. , RUSSO G. V. , RUSSO S. , SAPIENZA P. , SEDITA M. , SHIROKOV E. , SIMEONE F. , SIPALA V. , SPURIO M. , TAIUTI M. , TERRENI G. , TRASATTI L. , URSO S. , VALENTE V. , VICINI P.
Published: September 2007

The status of the project is described: the activity on long term characterization of water optical and oceanographic parameters at the Capo Passero site candidate for the Mediterranean km3 neutrino telescope; the feasibility study; the physics performances and underwater technology for the km3; the activity on NEMO Phase 1, a technological demonstrator that has been deployed at 2000 m depth 25 km offshore Catania; the realization of an underwater infrastructure at 3500 m depth at the candidate site (NEMO Phase 2).
ONE-FORM ABELIAN GAUGE THEORY AS THE HODGE THEORY
Authors: MALIK R. P.
Published: September 2007

We demonstrate that the two (1+1)-dimensional (2D) free 1-form Abelian gauge theory provides an interesting field theoretical model for the Hodge theory. The physical symmetries of the theory correspond to all the basic mathematical ingredients that are required in the definition of the de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry. The conserved charges, corresponding to the above continuous symmetry transformations, constitute an algebra that is reminiscent of the algebra obeyed by the de Rham cohomological operators. The topological features of the above theory are discussed in terms of the BRST and co-BRST operators. The super-de Rham cohomological operators are exploited in the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST, (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations and the equations of motion for all the fields of the theory, within the framework of the superfield formulation. The derivation of the equations of motion, by exploiting the super-Laplacian operator, is a completely new result in the framework of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. In an Appendix, the interacting 2D Abelian gauge theory (where there is a coupling between the U(1) gauge field and the Dirac fields) is also shown to provide a tractable field theoretical model for the Hodge theory.
STRING GAS COSMOLOGY AND STRUCTURE FORMATION
Authors: BRANDENBERGER ROBERT H. , NAYERI ALI , PATIL SUBODH P. , VAFA CUMRUN
Published: September 2007

It has recently been shown that a Hagedorn phase of string gas cosmology may provide a causal mechanism for generating a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of scalar metric fluctuations, without the need for an intervening period of de Sitter expansion. A distinctive signature of this structure formation scenario would be a slight blue tilt of the spectrum of gravitational waves. In this paper we give more details of the computations leading to these results, and the assumptions underlying them.