bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome‐wide linkage scans for renal function and albuminuria in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Diabetes Heart Study
Authors: Freedman B. I. , Bowden D. W. , Rich S. S. , Xu J. , Wagenknecht L. E. , Ziegler J. , Hicks P. J. , Langefeld C. D.
Published: February 2008

Aims/hypothesis  Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), end‐stage renal disease and albuminuria are highly heritable. We performed a genome‐wide linkage scan in 416 Diabetes Heart Study (DHS) families to detect loci that contributed to renal function and albuminuria.

Materials and methods  A total of 1067 individuals (900 with Type 2 diabetes mellitus) from 348 European American and 68 African American DHS families had measures of urine albumin : creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine concentration and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated GFR (eGFR). Variance components quantitative trait linkage analysis (using SOLAR) was computed.

Results  Participants had mean ± sd age 61.4 ± 9.4 years; diabetes duration 10.5 ± 7.4 years; eGFR 1.15 ± 0.32 ml/sec; and urine ACR 15.8 ± 67.2 mmol/l (median 1.4). In all families, significant evidence for linkage of GFR was observed on chromosome 2p16 (log of the odds; LOD = 4.31 at 72.0 cM, ATA47C04P/D2S1352) and 1p36 (LOD = 3.81 at 45.0 cM, D1S3669/D1S3720), with suggestive evidence on 7q21 (LOD = 2.42 at 99.0 cM, D7S820/D7S821) and 13q13 (LOD = 2.28 at 28.0 cM, D13S1493/D13S894). The evidence for linkage to ACR was far weaker, on 13q21‐q22 (LOD = 1.84 at 50 cM, D13S1807/D13S800), 3p24‐p23 (LOD = 1.81 at 58 cM, D3S3038/D3S2432) and 10p11 (LOD = 1.78 at 71.0 cM, D10S1208/D10S1221).

Conclusions/interpretations  The eGFR linkage peaks on 2p16, 7q21 and 13q13 closely overlap with nephropathy peaks identified in family studies enriched for severe kidney disease. These diabetes‐enriched families provide an opportunity to map genes regulating renal function, potentially leading to the identification of genes producing nephropathy susceptibility in subjects with Type 2 diabetes.
Preserved heart rate variability in first‐degree relatives of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus without metabolic disorders
Authors: Neves F. J. , Bousquet‐Santos K. , Silva B. M. , Soares P. P. S. , Nóbrega A. C. L.
Published: February 2008

Aims  To investigate the influence of a family history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on resting heart rate variability in the absence of concomitant metabolic disorders.

Methods  We studied 55 first‐degree relatives (FDRs) of subjects with T2DM and 36 control subjects without any known family history of diabetes. FDRs were recruited from a University Hospital out‐patient diabetes clinic. The protocol included: oral glucose tolerance test (30, 60, 90 and 120 min after ingestion of 75 g glucose) blood glucose, plasma insulin, cholesterol and subfractions, triglycerides, leptin and C‐reactive protein. Heart rate variability (HRV) at rest was determined by spectral analysis of interbeat intervals recorded during 10 min in the supine position.

Results  HRV was lower in FDRs compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis identified cholesterol (P = 0.014) and triglycerides (P = 0.014) as significant independent predictors (model r = 0.40; P < 0.001) of HRV. Since FDRs had higher values for anthropometric and metabolic variables known to alter HRV, we performed an ancova adjusted for cholesterol and triglycerides and also another analysis in which the groups were comparable for anthropometric and metabolic characteristics. Comparison of FDRs and comparable control subjects revealed no significant difference in HRV (P > 0.05).

Conclusions  A family history of T2DM, in the absence of concomitant metabolic disorders, does not impair heart rate variability.
In Type 1 diabetic patients with good glycaemic control, blood glucose variability is lower during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion than during multiple daily injections with insulin glargine
Authors: Bruttomesso D. , Crazzolara D. , Maran A. , Costa S. , Dal Pos M. , Girelli A. , Lepore G. , Aragona M. , Iori E. , Valentini U. , Del Prato S. , Tiengo A. , Buhr A. , Trevisan R. , Baritussio A.
Published: February 2008

Aims  The superiority of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) over multiple daily injections (MDI) with glargine is uncertain. In this randomized cross‐over study, we compared CSII and MDI with glargine in patients with Type 1 diabetes well controlled with CSII. The primary end‐point was glucose variability.

Methods  Thirty‐nine patients [38.1 ± 9.3 years old (mean ± sd), diabetes duration 16.6 ± 8.2 years, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.6 ± 0.8%], already on CSII for at least 6 months, were randomly assigned to CSII with lispro or MDI with lispro and glargine. After 4 months they were switched to the alternative treatment. During the last month of each treatment blood glucose variability was analysed using glucose standard deviation, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE), lability index and average daily risk range (ADRR). As secondary end‐points we analysed blood glucose profile, HbA1c, number of episodes of hypo‐ and hyperglycaemia, lipid profile, free fatty acids (FFA), growth hormone and treatment satisfaction.

Results  During CSII, glucose variability was 5–12% lower than during MDI with glargine. The difference was significant only before breakfast considering glucose standard deviation (P = 0.011), significant overall using MAGE (P = 0.016) and lability index (P = 0.005) and not significant using ADRR. Although HbA1c was similar during both treatments, during CSII blood glucose levels were significantly lower, hyperglycaemic episodes were fewer, daily insulin dose was less, FFA were lower and treatment satisfaction was greater than during MDI with glargine. The frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes was similar during both treatments.

Conclusions  During CSII, glucose variability is lower, glycaemic control better and treatment satisfaction higher than during MDI with glargine.
Patient–provider perceptions of diabetes and its impact on self‐management: a comparison of African‐American and White patients
Authors: Tang T. S. , Stansfield R. B. , Oh M. , Anderson R. M. , Fitzgerald J. T.
Published: February 2008

Aims  To compare patient–provider differences in diabetes‐related perceptions between African‐American and White patients and to examine its association with self‐care behaviours.

Methods  One hundred and thirty patient–provider pairs were recruited from the greater Detroit area. Patients and providers completed a survey assessing perceptions about diabetes‐related concepts and demographic background. The Diabetes Semantic Differential Scale was used to measure diabetes‐related perceptions. Patients also reported the frequency of performing self‐care behaviours, including following a healthy eating plan, engaging in physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, and taking medication and/or insulin.

Results  There were a greater number of patient–provider differences in diabetes‐related perceptions for the African‐American patients (nine of 18 concepts) compared with the White patients (four of 18 concepts). Stepwise regression analyses found patients’ semantic differential scores to be significantly associated with five self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients and two self‐care behaviours for White patients. Providers’ semantic differential scores emerged as predictors of self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients, but not for White patients.

Conclusions  Our findings suggest that compared with White patients, African‐Americans differ in a greater number of diabetes‐related perceptions than their providers. Patients’ and providers’ perceptions of diabetes care concepts have a significant impact on a greater number of self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients than White patients.
Glycaemic control and body mass index in late‐adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population‐based study
Authors: Acharya S. H. , Philip S. , Viswanath A. K. , Boroujerdi M. , Waugh N. R. , Pearson D. W. M.
Published: February 2008

Aims  Studies of children with diabetes up to the age of 15 years report deteriorating glycaemic control in the early teenage years. The aim was to investigate glycaemia and body mass index in older teenagers and young adults.

Method  A Scottish, regional, population‐based, cross‐sectional study of 255 young people (117 female, 138 male) with Type 1 diabetes, aged 15–25 years (mean ±sd 19.8 ± 2.8 years, diabetes duration: 8.8 ± 5.4 years) registered on a diabetes database. Glycaemic control, body mass index (BMI) and insulin regimens were assessed in three age groups [group 1 (n = 96) 15–18 years; group 2 (n = 74) 18.1–22 years; and group 3 (n = 85) 22.1–25 years].

Results  Subjects in the oldest age group had a significantly lower mean HbA1c than those in the youngest age group (8.8 ± 1.7 vs. 9.9 ± 1.9%; P < 0.001). Mean BMI was higher in group 3 (25.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2) compared with group 1 (23.9 ± 3.1 kg/m2; P < 0.001). HbA1c levels were higher in the younger subjects and women. Lower HbA1c levels were associated with a higher BMI (r = −0.324, P < 0.001) in men only. Overall, 74% took three or more injections a day, of whom 60% were on basal/bolus therapy. The proportion on basal/bolus insulin therapy increased with age and duration of diabetes.

Conclusion  Compared with adolescents, young adults with Type 1 diabetes have better glycaemic control and higher BMI. This was associated with lower insulin requirements.
Beneficial effects of rosiglitazone on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kadoglou N. P. E. , Iliadis F. , Angelopoulou N. , Perrea D. , Liapis C. D. , Alevizos M.
Published: February 2008

Aim  Impaired exercise capacity, adiponectin, MMPs and TIMPs have all been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of rosiglitazone on these factors in diabetic patients.

Methods  Seventy individuals with Type 2 diabetes were assigned randomly to either a rosiglitazone group (8 mg/day, RG) or a control group (CG) for 6 months. All participants took gliclazide 160 mg plus metformin 1700 mg in stable dose. None of the individuals had diabetic complications or had previously participated in an exercise programme. Anthropometric parameters, VO2 peak, oxygen pulse, glycaemic indices, lipid profile, adiponectin, insulin resistance, blood pressure and serum MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, TIMP‐2 levels were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. After Bonferroni adjustment, a P‐value < 0.017 was assumed to be statistically significant.

Results  Rosiglitazone treatment significantly increased VO2 peak (P < 0.0001), the duration of the exercise test (P < 0.0001), oxygen pulse (P = 0.010) and TIMP‐2 levels (P = 0.008) in comparison with CG. Insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, diastolic blood pressure and MMP‐9 levels were also reduced (P < 0.017). Fat mass, lipid profile, TIMP‐1 levels and MMP9 : TIMP‐1 ratio were unaltered after rosiglitazone treatment. There were no significant changes in these parameters in control subjects. In univariate analysis, the rosiglitazone‐induced increment of VO2 peak was associated with alterations in plasma adiponectin (r = 0.691), HOMA‐IR (r = –0.782) and HbA1c (r = –0.676) (P < 0.017). These relationships retained significance after multiple regression analysis (P = 0.005).

Conclusions  Rosiglitazone treatment increases cardiorespiratory fitness and modulates favourably serum adiponectin, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 levels. Whether these effects produce cardiovascular benefits in the long term requires further investigation.
Distance decay of similarity among European urban floras: the impact of anthropogenic activities on β diversity
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , McKinney Michael L. , Pyšek Petr , Klotz Stefan , Rapson G.L. , Celesti‐Grapow Laura , Thompson Ken
Published: February 2008

Aim  We examine how two categories of non‐native species (archaeophyte and neophyte, introduced before and after ad 1500, respectively) have had different impacts on β diversity across European urban floras. Our goal is to use the unique biological perspective provided by urban areas, and the contrasting historical and geographical perspectives provided by archaeophytes and neophytes, to infer how non‐native species will impact upon β diversity in the future.

Location  Twenty‐two urban areas located in seven European countries.

Methods  We used the β‐sim dissimilarity index to estimate the level of β diversity for 231 unique pair‐wise combinations of 22 urban floras. We examined bivariate plots of dissimilarity by geographical separation of city centres to evaluate distance decay of similarity for native species, archaeophytes and neophytes.

Results  Based on average percentages, 52.8% (SD = 8.2%) of species in the urban floras were identified as non‐native with 28.3% (SD = 6.9%) classified as neophytes and 24.5% (SD = 4.9%) as archaeophytes. Relative to native species, across urban floras, archaeophytes were associated with higher compositional similarity and weaker distance decay patterns, whereas neophytes were associated with lower compositional similarity and stronger distance decay patterns.

Main conclusions  Across European urban floras, archaeophytes and neophytes occurred in similar numbers but archaeophytes were consistently associated with lower β diversity and neophytes with higher β diversity. Thus, the impact of non‐native species on β diversity can be determined, at least in part, through their historical and geographical associations with anthropogenic activities. If archaeophytes represent the long‐term biogeographical outcome for human commensal species, neophytes could develop similar patterns. The consequences, however, are likely to be more substantial ecologically and geographically due to the increasing numbers of neophytes and their global anthropogenic associations. Nevertheless, at present, our findings suggest that, based on occurrence information, neophytes have not achieved this state with European urban floras retaining regionally distinct assemblages of neophytes.
Moral Knowledge and Moral Uncertainty1
Authors: Hanfling Oswald
Published: February 2008

Applying a broadly Wittgensteinian view of knowledge and its relation to the conditions in which the word “know” is ordinarily used, the paper defends the claim that there can be knowledge (and thus also truth) in moral matters and rejects the idea that a cross‐culturally homogeneous moral language is a necessary condition for this. However, the fact that moral knowledge is available sometimes does not imply that it is available always. Taking issue in particular with Ronald Dworkin, the paper also argues that where moral questions are a matter of judgement, there may well be no right answer to them and, further, that this is a feature by no means unique to moral discourse.
What Is It to Make Clear the Working of Our Language?1
Authors: Dillard Peter Spotswood
Published: February 2008

In The Logical Basis of Metaphysics, Dummett articulates and develops his “fundamental assumption” that the introduction rules for a logical constant determine its meaning. According to Dummett, logical laws in harmony with the introduction rules are justified, while logical laws not in harmony with the introduction rules are unjustified. This powerful picture enables Dummett to criticise certain aspects of our linguistic practice, such as the Law of Excluded Middle and the metaphysics of realism he believes it embodies, as not remaining responsible to the meanings of the logical constants.

Against Dummett's fundamental assumption, I bring to bear what in the Tractatus Wittgenstein describes as his “fundamental thought” that the logical constants do not represent. Properly understood, Wittgenstein's point is that since the logical constants may be eliminated from the propositional signs of a fully precise logical notation, the constants do not express meanings to which our use of expressions containing the constants is responsible. I then apply Wittgenstein's fundamental thought to Dummett's proof‐theoretic notation to show that far from determining the meanings of the logical constants, the introduction rules merely allow the constants to be edited from certain inferences, leaving Dummett with no semantic kernel with which to criticise other sentences or inferences featuring the constants. Thus, his picture of what it is to make clear the working of our language collapses.
Toward a Perspicuous Presentation of “Perspicuous Presentation”1
Authors: Hutchinson Phil , Read Rupert
Published: February 2008

Gordon Baker in his last decade published a series of papers (now collected inBaker 2004), which are revolutionary in their proposals for understanding of later Wittgenstein. Taking our lead from the first of those papers, on “perspicuous presentations,” we offer new criticisms of ‘elucidatory’ readers of later Wittgenstein, such as Peter Hacker: we argue that their readings fail to connect with the radically therapeutic intent of the ‘perspicuous presentation’ concept, as an achievement‐term, rather than a kind of ‘objective’ mapping of a ‘conceptual landscape.’

Baker's Wittgenstein, far from being a ‘language policeman’ of the kind that often fails to influence mainstream philosophy, offers an alternative to the latent scientism of Wittgenstein's influential ‘elucidatory’ readers.
Words from Nowhere – Limits of Criticism
Authors: Bøyum Steinar
Published: February 2008

In the present essay, I aim to accentuate an analogy between the patterns of thought articulated by Berkeley's Hylas and those of Nagel in his philosophy of bats and aliens. The comparison has a critical purpose, with Philonous playing a role similar to that of Wittgenstein. I argue that Nagel's central claim comes down to statements that are marked by a peculiar form of emptiness. Towards the end, though, I will concede that this kind of Wittgensteinian criticism runs up against certain limits. The fantasies produced by Hylas or Nagel have as counterparts genuine philosophical expressions of experience, which are not vulnerable to the charges levelled at their theoretical parallels.
Non‐parametric Regression with Dependent Censored Data
Authors: GHOUCH ANOUAR EL , KEILEGOM INGRID VAN
Published: February 2008

Abstract.  Let (Xi,Yi) (i=1,…,n) be n replications of a random vector (X,Y ), where Y is supposed to be subject to random right censoring. The data (Xi,Yi) are assumed to come from a stationary α‐mixing process. We consider the problem of estimating the function m(x) =ℰ(φ(Y) | X=x), for some known transformation φ. This problem is approached in the following way: first, we introduce a transformed variable , that is not subject to censoring and satisfies the relation , and then we estimate m(x) by applying local linear regression techniques. As a by‐product, we obtain a general result on the uniform rate of convergence of kernel type estimators of functionals of an unknown distribution function, under strong mixing assumptions.
Family Talk about Internal States and Children's Relative Appraisals of Self and Sibling
Authors: Recchia Holly E. , Howe Nina
Published: February 2008

This study investigated associations between preschoolers' conversations about internal states and their spontaneous appraisals of self and sibling. Thirty‐two preschoolers (M age = 3.9 years) were observed during naturalistic home interactions with mothers and younger siblings. Various features of mothers' and children's internal state language were coded. Children who talked about internal states to the baby and who talked more about the baby's perspective tended to appraise their sibling negatively relative to self. In contrast, mothers' references to internal states, as well as their promotion and encouragement of the child's own internal state talk, were negatively related to the differences between children's negative appraisals of self and sibling. These results support the social‐constructivist notion that the quality of children's interactions with family members is related to how they construe themselves in comparison to their siblings.
Language variation and corpus linguistics
Authors: KACHRU YAMUNA
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT: Corpus linguistics deserves serious attention from linguists and applied linguists, since it is of direct relevance to linguistic description, language variation, lexicography, and language education. Linguists tend to be indifferent to corpora, however, as the predominant paradigm in linguistics is based on introspective data, i.e. native speaker intuition. Research has shown that intuitions are not 100 per cent reliable; the notion of ‘core’ grammar needs to be modified to accommodate the systematic differences across registers at all linguistic levels. Moreover, what linguists perceive as significant principles of linguistic organization may not coincide with their distribution in patterns of use. One goal of applied linguistics is to see what correspondences can be established between the two sets, i.e. the set of underlying principles of linguistic organization and the patterns of use of these principles revealed by analyses of corpora. Regrettably, applied linguists have not embraced corpus linguistics any more enthusiastically than formal linguists. Corpus linguistic analyses have their problems, too. This paper examines a set of data from the lexicon and grammar of world Englishes to suggest that a complete reliance on patterns of use may not solve all the problems of language description, study of variation, language instruction, translation, and lexicography. Furthermore, whereas analyses of corpora are effective in revealing dialect variation, they are not of great use in accounting for diatypic variation, i.e. the permanent characteristics of users of language and recurrent features of their language use, which are crucial for understanding human linguistic behavior.
The Englishes of English tests: bias revisited
Authors: HAMP‐LYONS LIZ , DAVIES ALAN
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT:  The two authors conducted a small empirical study to attempt to find support for − or evidence against − the view that international tests of English language proficiency are unfair to speakers of non‐standards forms of English, since these tests privilege standard forms. We explore the question of whose norms should be imposed in these tests, and what the consequences for test‐takers are if the norm imposed by the test is not the “normal” variety accepted in their own society. Data used for the study are written texts by English learners from six language backgrounds, scored by raters from their own language backgrounds as well as by native American English raters. Interesting patterns emerge, but we conclude that the complexity of the variables involved, the small n‐size, and the inherent unreliability of scoring productive samples prevent any definitive claims being made.1
Empowering Nigerian Pidgin: a challenge for status planning?
Authors: IGBOANUSI HERBERT
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT:  In spite of the fact that Nigerian Pidgin (NP) is probably the language with the highest population of users in Nigeria, it does not enjoy official recognition and is excluded from the education system. It lacks prestige because it is seen by many Nigerians as a “bad” form of English and associated with a socially deprived set of people. This paper explores the possibility of empowering NP (and its speakers) by raising the value of the language through status planning, especially in the education system. On the way to realising this goal, it analyses the attitudes of 200 educated Nigerians towards its use as well as towards steps aimed at empowering it. The results show that, although there is no consensus as to whether NP should be granted official status, a large majority of respondents did not favour its use in education. The study highlights three major problems associated with the promotion of NP: (1) lack of economic value, (2) perceived effects on the local languages, and (3) the effect of the use of NP on English language proficiency. The study discovers that empowering1 NP is a challenge, which will be very difficult to overcome in the near future, and it suggests the way forward.
“Coconuts” and “oreos”: English‐speaking Zulu people in a South African township
Authors: RUDWICK STEPHANIE
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT:  The pervasiveness of the “dangerous power of English” (de Kadt, 1993) has been variously discussed in the sociolinguistic dynamics of the South African context. By juxtaposing English with the indigenous African language isiZulu, this paper explores how such labels as “coconut” and “oreo” bear testimony to the intriguing relationship between language, culture, identity, and ethnicity in South Africa. Against the background of the unique sociolinguistic profile of the province of KwaZulu‐Natal, and by considering South Africa's inhuman history of apartheid, the paper interrogates the ethnolinguistic constructions of identities among isiZulu mother‐tongue speakers in a township environment. Based on a triangulated empirical approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research methods, the paper discusses how subjective individual meanings and inherent emic categories guide participants' views of who they are in relation to languages (isiZulu vis‐à‐vis English). The study reveals, among other things, that English is a powerful device in the creation of ethnolinguistic boundaries between individuals in the investigated South African township community. While participants recognize the economic power of English, those that adopt the language as the main medium of communication are perceived as outsiders of the township community.
Colinguals among bilinguals
Authors: SCHELL MARTIN
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT: Discussions about intranational uses of English tend to follow the predominant theme of international uses, namely communication between people who do not have the same native language (L1). But how often do compatriots who share an L1 speak L2 English with each other? In other words, how many of a country's bilinguals are alsocolinguals? If citizens are not speaking English with each other, does it make sense for their educators, literati, or politicians to claim that they have their own national variety? Is spoken discourse the prime mover that generates independent canons? That is, does abundance or lack of speech interaction in intranational contexts act as a touchstone for separating norm‐providing varieties (e.g. Indian English) from norm‐dependent varieties (e.g. so‐called “Japanese English”)? These questions serve to reinforce the tripartite classification of Kachru's model, with a focus on the similarities between the Inner and Outer Circles, counterbalancing the tendency to combine the Outer and Expanding Circles.
Endogenous Group Formation
Authors: AHN T. K. , ISAAC R. MARK , SALMON TIMOTHY C.
Published: February 2008

While the rules governing the formation of groups engaging in collective action may have significant impact on group size and behavior of members, most experiments on public goods have been conducted with the subjects in exogenously fixed groups or of fixed sizes. We study endogenous formation of groups in a public‐goods provision game by allowing subjects to change groups under three sets of rules: free entry/exit, restricted entry with free exit, and free entry with restricted exit. We find that the rules governing entry and exit do have a significant impact on individual behavior and group‐level outcomes.
Under‐reporting of Income and Labor Market Performance
Authors: KOLM ANN‐SOFIE , BO NIELSEN SØREN
Published: February 2008

To examine the effects on labor market performance of government tax and enforcement policies, this paper develops an equilibrium model featuring tax evasion, matching frictions, and worker–firm wage bargains. In the wage bargains, workers and firms can agree on the amount of remuneration that should not be reported to the tax authorities. We find that increased taxation actually reduces unemployment, whereas more zealous enforcement has the opposite effect.
Committees and Special Interests
Authors: FELGENHAUER MIKE , PETER GRÜNER HANS
Published: February 2008

This paper studies the aggregation of decentralized information in committees under open and closed voting in the presence of external influence. We show that under one‐sided influence decision quality may be nonmonotonic in the committee members' ability. Furthermore, restricting the information of interest groups may reduce the bias toward special interest politics. This result holds in a single and in a common agency setting, where opposing interest groups' activities do not cancel out in equilibrium. Moreover, there are cases where benefits from increasing the number of decision makers can only be reaped if the committee's sessions are not public.
Decentralizing Public Goods Production
Authors: LUNDHOLM MICHAEL
Published: February 2008

Decentralized decisions, to a bureau with a given budget, about the production of public goods is analyzed within a general equilibrium model with a representative agent and no pure profits. Contrary to previous results on decentralization it is shown that sequential decentralization (i) does not necessarily imply aggregate production efficiency and (ii) need not be optimal even if all public goods are neutral. Also, cost‐benefit criteria are derived and the marginal cost of public funds is characterized.
Condorcet Jury Theorem or Rational Ignorance
Authors: KITAHARA MINORU , SEKIGUCHI YOHEI
Published: February 2008

We analyze a symmetric model of an election in which voters are uncertain about which of two alternatives is desirable for them. Each voter must incur some cost to acquire information about the alternatives. We show that by focusing on unbiased voting strategies, general symmetric signal structures can be degenerated to a two‐signal model. In addition, we show that for any sequence of unbiased voting equilibria, if the second‐order derivative of the information cost function at no information is zero, then the probability of electing the desirable alternative converges to one, that is, the Condorcet Jury Theorem is valid. Otherwise, this probability converges to some value less than one; that is, the “rational ignorance” hypothesis is valid.
Wage Cuts as Investment in Future Wage Growth
Authors: Connolly Helen , Gottschalk Peter
Published: February 2008

Abstract.  Wage cuts are often presumed to reflect an adverse change in economic constraints. However, several theoretical models have shown they can be a form of investment in future wage growth. This paper provides empirical evidence of the latter by explicitly modeling the worker's job choice when the job offer consists of both a starting wage and expected future wage growth. We use our analytical model to estimate the distribution of job offers faced by workers who are searching across jobs differing in both initial wage and expected wage growth. For females, roughly one‐third of job changes that result in immediate wage cuts are transitions to jobs that have a higher value function than the existing job. For males, the corresponding value is one‐fifth.
Why Is Late‐Life Disability Declining?
Authors: SCHOENI ROBERT F. , FREEDMAN VICKI A. , MARTIN LINDA G.
Published: February 2008

Context:Late‐life disability has been declining in the United States since the 1980s. This study provides the first comprehensive investigation into the reasons for this trend.

Methods:The study draws on evidence from two sources: original data analyses and reviews of existing studies. The original analyses include trend models of data on the need for help with daily activities and self‐reported causes of such limitations for the population aged seventy and older, based on the National Health Interview Surveys from 1982 to 2005.

Findings:Increases in the use of assistive and mainstream technologies likely have been important, as have declines in heart and circulatory conditions, vision, and musculoskeletal conditions as reported causes of disability. The timing of the improvements in these conditions corresponds to the expansion in medical procedures and pharmacologic treatment for cardiovascular disease, increases in cataract surgery, increases in knee and joint replacements, and expansion of medications for arthritic and rheumatic conditions. Greater educational attainment, declines in poverty, and declines in widowhood also appear to have contributed. Changes in smoking behavior, the population's racial/ethnic composition, the proportion of foreign born, and several specific conditions were eliminated as probable causes.

Conclusions:The substantial reductions in old‐age disability between the early 1980s and early 2000s are likely due to advances in medical care as well as changes in socioeconomic factors. More research is needed on the influence of health behaviors, the environment, and early‐ and midlife factors on trends in late‐life disability.
Long‐term management of facial atopic eczema with pimecrolimus cream 1% in paediatric patients with mild to moderate disease
Authors: Zuberbier T , Bräutigam M
Published: February 2008

Background  The aim of this post hoc analysis was to evaluate whether treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with pimecrolimus cream 1% can decrease the development of flares necessitating the use of a topical corticosteroid on the face and thus reduce the need for use of topical corticosteroids in this sensitive skin area.

Patients and methods  In a controlled, double‐blind, multicentre study, 140 patients, aged 2 to 17 years, with facial involvement and mild to moderate disease after treatment of the initial flare with prednicarbate 0.25% cream were randomized to an intermittent treatment with pimecrolimus cream 1% twice daily or vehicle for 24 weeks. If a flare occurred, defined as an exacerbation (unacceptable severity of itching/scratching or onset of oozing) not controlled by study medication, patients were treated with prednicarbate 0.25% cream instead.

Results  Patients in the vehicle group needed prednicarbate treatment on the face on 20.7% of the days vs. 11.7% of the study days in the pimecrolimus group (P = 0.0024). Fifty per cent of patients in the pimecrolimus group had no flare on the face during the treatment period compared with 37.5% of patients in the vehicle group (P = 0.012). The median time to first flare in pimecrolimus‐treated patients was twice as long as in patients receiving vehicle (138 vs. 68 days, P = 0.01). Three adverse events (one case of skin burning) suspected to be related to use of the study medication were reported for three patients (3.9%) in the pimecrolimus group.

Conclusion  Long‐term intermittent treatment of facial AD in children and adolescents with pimecrolimus cream 1% does significantly reduce the need for topical corticosteroids.
Cutaneous metastases from different internal malignancies: a clinical and prognostic appraisal
Authors: Hu SC‐S , Chen G‐S , Lu Y‐W , Wu C‐S , Lan C‐CE
Published: February 2008

Background  Cutaneous metastases are perceived as a sign of advanced disease and are regarded as a grave prognostic indicator. In addition, few reports have focused on the cutaneous metastasis profiles of Asian patients.

Objectives  We seek to analyse the clinical and prognostic characteristics of cutaneous tumour metastases in a Taiwanese medical centre.

Methods  Clinical records from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital over the last 20 years (1986–2006) were reviewed, and cases of biopsy‐proven cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies identified. Survival rates were evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared by the log‐rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate analysis to determine the risk of mortality among different groups.

Results  A total of 141 cases of cutaneous metastases were identified. The clinical profiles were similar to those from western countries, although the frequencies of primary tumours were different. The duration of survival was usually short following diagnosis of cutaneous metastases, but prognosis is significantly better in breast cancer patients with metastases. Moreover, the survival was even longer for breast cancer patients when the metastasis was confined to the skin.

Conclusions  The risk of skin metastases depends largely on the characteristics of tumour cells, which is similar among different ethnic groups. In terms of prognosis, a subset of breast cancer patients has superior prognosis, even among breast cancer patients with stage IV disease. Physicians should consider this finding in clinical situations to avoid possible misinformation about the prognosis of the disease.
Nail alterations in 250 infant patients: a clinical study
Authors: Sarifakioglu E , Yilmaz AE , Gorpelioglu C
Published: February 2008

Aims  To investigate the frequency and the nature of nail alterations in infants.

Study design  A total of 250 infant patients from newborn to 2 years of age were evaluated from the outpatient clinics of paediatrics and dermatology departments, Fatih University Hospital. The nail alterations were documented. The data were presented as percentages, and for categorical comparisons, Chi‐squared or Fisher's Exact test were used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results  Of the 250 infant patients, nail alterations were seen in only 17 (6.8%). Most of the patients had toe nail involvement. In 12 of 17 (70.6%) infants, there was one type of nail alteration; in 4 of 17 (23.5%) infants, there was two type of nail alterations; and in 1 of 17 (5.9%) infants, there was three type of nail alterations. The most frequent diagnosis was onychoschizia in 6 of 17 (2.4%) and congenital hypertrophy of the lateral nail fold together with ingrown nail in 6 (2.4%) infants.

Conclusion  Because nail alterations could be a manifestation of systemic or dermatologic diseases in infants, fingernail and toenail examination should be a part of the paediatric dermatology examination.
IL‐1β induces proMMP‐9 expression via c‐Src‐dependent PDGFR/PI3K/Akt/p300 cascade in rat brain astrocytes
Authors: Wu Cheng‐Ying , Hsieh Hsi‐Lung , Sun Chi‐Chin , Tseng Ching‐Ping , Yang Chuen‐Mao
Published: February 2008

In a previous study, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) has been shown to induce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression through mitogen‐activated protein kinases and nuclear factor‐κB pathways in rat brain astrocytes. Moreover, transactivation of growth factor receptors and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt cascade has been mentioned in the expression of several inflammatory genes. Here, we first report that IL‐1β‐induced up‐regulation of proMMP‐9 was inhibited by genistein. IL‐1β also stimulated phosphorylation of several protein tyrosine kinases such as c‐Src and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), which was further confirmed by western blotting using an anti‐phospho‐c‐Src or anti‐phospho‐PDGFR antibody, respectively. IL‐1β‐stimulated c‐Src, PDGFR, and Akt phosphorylation and proMMP‐9 expression were attenuated by the inhibitors of c‐Src (PP1), PDGFR (AG1296), and PI3K (LY294002), respectively, or transfection with dominant negative plasmid of c‐Src or short hairpin RNAs of PDGFR and Akt. Moreover, IL‐1β‐induced proMMP‐9 expression was blocked by pre‐treatment with curcumin (a p300 inhibitor). We further confirmed that IL‐1β stimulated p300 recruitment to MMP‐9 promoter, and then acetylated histone H4 by immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation–PCR assays. The recruitment and activation of p300 in MMP‐9 promoter were inhibited by pre‐treatment with PP1, AG1296, and LY294002, respectively. Moreover, IL‐1β stimulated the c‐Src‐dependent transactivation of PDGFR/PI3K/Akt cascade is independent of nuclear factor‐κB pathway. These results indicated that in rat brain astrocytes cells, PI3K/Akt activation was mediated through c‐Src‐dependent transactivation of PDGFR promoted transcriptional co‐factor p300 recruitment and activation and eventually led to increased proMMP‐9 expression by IL‐1β.
2007 Carolyn Sherif Award Address: Spirita: Reclaiming Womanist Sacredness into Feminism
Authors: Comas-Diaz Lillian
Published: February 2008

I introduce Spirita, a womanist and mujerista spirituality. Spirita redefines spirituality as protest, resistance, and r/evolution. In contrast to feminist mainstream spirituality, Spirita places the interaction of race and gender at the center of women's lives. A way of knowing and being, Spirita endorses a universal perspective. Consequently, it promotes collective healing, international solidarity, and global social justice. Finally, I present how Spirita can enrich mainstream feminism by moving the subjective experiences of women of color from the margins to the center of feminist thought.
Intersectional Political Consciousness: Appreciation for Intragroup Differences and Solidarity in Diverse Groups
Authors: Greenwood Ronni Michelle
Published: February 2008

This article introduces an intersectional approach to political consciousness and presents data to demonstrate its importance for predicting solidarity in diverse social change organizations. Women activists ( N = 174) completed measures of political consciousness, diversity, and solidarity. As expected, women differed in the degree to which their political consciousness reflected intersectionality (sensitivity to intragroup differences arising from intersections of social identities, such as ethnicity with gender) and singularity (focus on intragroup similarities arising from a shared social identity, such as gender). Although high group diversity related to lower solidarity, the content of political consciousness moderated the negative association of diversity to solidarity. High diversity had a negative association with solidarity only when political consciousness reflected a high degree of singularity and a low degree of intersectionality. These findings challenge the common assumption that diversity undermines a group's ability to work together and suggest that, when appreciation of difference is an important aspect of an individual's identity, solidarity with a social change organization may be greater when group diversity is high rather than low.
Social Dominance Orientation, Right-Wing Authoritarianism, Sexism, and Prejudice Toward Women in the Workforce
Authors: Christopher Andrew N. , Wojda Mark R.
Published: February 2008

This study examined how social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) were related to two different forms of prejudice against working women: employment skepticism and traditional role preference. Three hundred forty-nine American adults completed measures of SDO, RWA, employment skepticism, traditional role preference, hostile sexism, and benevolent sexism. Multiple regression analyses revealed that SDO accounted for significant variability in both employment skepticism and traditional role preference, and that RWA accounted for significant variability in traditional role preference. Mediational analyses suggested that hostile sexism attenuated the relationship between SDO and employment skepticism, and benevolent sexism attenuated the relationship between RWA and traditional role preference. Results are discussed with respect to different forms of prejudice against working women and how each one might be rooted in different ideological preferences.
Structures of the Schedules of Racist and Sexist Events: Confirmatory Factor Analyses of African American Women's Responses
Authors: DeBlaere Cirleen , Moradi Bonnie
Published: February 2008

Use of the Schedule of Racist Events (SRE; Landrine & Klonoff, 1996 ) and the Schedule of Sexist Events (SSE; Klonoff & Landrine, 1995 ) has advanced research on experiences of perceived racism and sexism. The present study responds to calls for further investigation of the structural properties of data from these instruments and is the first study to do so using (a) responses of African American/Black women ( N = 246) and (b) confirmatory factor analysis. Regarding the SRE, results supported the unidimensional structures reported by Klonoff and Landrine (1999) for SRE Lifetime, SRE Recent, and SRE Appraisal data. Regarding the SSE, results supported the two-factor structures for SSE Lifetime and SSE Appraisal data and the three-factor structure for SSE Recent data derived by Matteson and Moradi (2005) . Thus, the present results support the structural stability of SRE and SSE data with African American/Black women and can inform future use of these measures with this population.
Do Coping Styles Moderate or Mediate the Relationship Between Internalized Heterosexism and Sexual Minority Women's Psychological Distress?
Authors: Szymanski Dawn M. , Owens Gina P.
Published: February 2008

The purpose of this study was to test tenets of both minority stress and lesbian feminist/sexual identity development theories by examining the potential moderating and mediating roles of individual coping styles (i.e., problem-solving and avoidant coping) in the relationship between internalized heterosexism and lesbian and bisexual (sexual minority) women's psychological distress. Participants included 323 sexual minority women who completed an Internet survey. Results revealed that avoidant coping partially mediated the relationship between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress. No support was found for the mediating role of problem-solving coping or for the moderating roles of problem-solving and avoidant coping in the link between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress. Feminist strategies that may be useful for clinicians working with clients to reduce internalized heterosexism are provided.
Stopping Domestic Violence: Detailing an Integrative Skill-Based Group Approach for Abusive Men
Authors: Langhinrichsen-Rohling Jennifer , Friend John
Published: February 2008

STOP Domestic Violence: Innovative Skills, Techniques, Options, and Plans for Better Relationships: Group Leader's Manual. DAVID B. WEXLER. New York: Norton, 2006. 211 pp., $32.00 (paperback), ISBN: 0393705145.
Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls: Expanded Perspectives
Authors: Rubin Linda J.
Published: February 2008

Violence and Exploitation Against Women and Girls. FLORENCE L. DENMARK, HERBERT H. KRAUSS, ESTHER HALPERN, & JERI A. SECHZER (EDS.). Boston: Blackwell, for the New York Academy of Sciences, 2006. 391 pp., $125.00 (paperback), ISBN 1–57331–667–9.
Where Are We Five Decades Later? A Scholarly Journey into the Nature of Prejudice
Authors: Mack Tabethah
Published: February 2008

On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years After Allport. JOHN F. DOVIDIO, PETER GLICK, & LAURIE A. RUDMAN (EDS.). Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2005. 488 pp., $74.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 1–40512750–3; $46.95 (paperback), ISBN: 1–40512751–1.
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD: A REPORT ON A MEETING ORGANISED BY FONDATION MÉRIEUX
Authors: PERREY CHRISTOPHE , WASSENAAR DOUGLAS , GILCHRIST SHAWN , IVANOFF BERNARD
Published: February 2008

This paper reports on a multidisciplinary meeting held to discuss ethical issues in medical research in the developing world. Many studies, including clinical trials, are conducted in developing countries with a high burden of disease. Conditions under which this research is conducted vary because of differences in culture, public health, political, legal and social contexts specific to these countries. Research practices, including standards of care for participants, may vary as a result. It is therefore not surprising that ethical issues emerge. This meeting sought to identify and discuss these issues from the perspectives of the many actors in such research, including community representatives, with a view to finding ethical and pragmatic solutions to these issues. Dialogue between these actors was also promoted, with a view to identifying the need to develop such dialogue in future.

Drawing from the experiences of the speakers, the colloquium attempted to outline some answers to several key questions characterising the field today. Experiences related to epidemiologic research, vaccine trials, drug trials, diagnostic tests and to some fundamental ethical issues in health research. Speakers were from different countries, disciplines and professions. The meeting provided a forum for consultation and debate between different ethics actors. Both encouraging findings and challenges emerged.