bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Off-label therapies in oncology
Authors: Telekes András
Published: February 2009

Az indikáción kívüli (off-label) kezelések speciális problémát jelentenek az onkológiában, mivel a jogi szabályozás és a szabad orvosi gyakorlat határterületén állnak. Bár Magyarországon az off-label kezelés a 2008. október végén életbe léptetett rendelet megjelenéséig engedély nélküli klinikai vizsgálatnak minősült, egyes szakemberek mégis azzal érveltek alkalmazása mellett, hogy a klinikai gyakorlat gyorsabban változik, mint az alkalmazási előirat. Mi több, a gyártók még megfelelő evidencia esetén sem kötelesek az indikáció bővítésére. Az off-label kezelések szabályozása egyaránt meg kell hogy feleljen a szabad orvosi gyakorlatnak, az evidencián alapuló medicinának, a betegek új esélyekhez való igényének és a hatóságok elvárásainak. A közleményben a hazai helyzet és a törvény bírálata, illetve a nemzetközi gyakorlat áttekintése után egy, a fenti szempontoknak megfelelő lehetséges szabályozás kereteit vázolja a szerző, külön-külön kifejtve a kezelőorvos és a hatóságok szerepét.
Microarray gene expression and immunohistochemistry analyses of adrenocortical tumors identify IGF2 and Ki-67 as useful in differentiating carcinomas from adenomas
Authors: Soon P S H , Gill A J , Benn D E , Clarkson A , Robinson B G , McDonald K L , Sidhu S B
Published: February 2009

The management of adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) is complex. The Weiss score is the present most widely used system for ACT diagnosis. An ACT is scored from 0 to 9, with a higher score correlating with increased malignancy. However, ACTs with a score of 3 can be phenotypically benign or malignant. Our objective is to use microarray profiling of a cohort of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) and adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) to identify discriminatory genes that could be used as an adjunct to the Weiss score. A cohort of Weiss score defined ACCs and ACAs were profiled using Affymetrix HGU133plus2.0 genechips. Genes with high-discriminatory power were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expression of IGF2, MAD2L1, and CCNB1 were significantly higher in ACCs compared with ACAs while ABLIM1, NAV3, SEPT4, and RPRM were significantly lower. Several proteins, including IGF2, MAD2L1, CCNB1, and Ki-67 had high-diagnostic accuracy in differentiating ACCs from ACAs. The best results, however, were obtained with a combination of IGF2 and Ki-67, with 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity in diagnosing ACCs. Microarray gene expression profiling accurately differentiates ACCs from ACAs. The combination of IGF2 and Ki-67 IHC is also highly accurate in distinguishing between the two groups and is particularly helpful in ACTs with Weiss score of 3.
New therapeutic advances in the management of progressive thyroid cancer
Authors: Woyach Jennifer A , Shah Manisha H
Published: February 2009

The spectrum of thyroid cancers ranges from one of the most indolent to one of the most aggressive solid tumors identified. Conventional therapies for thyroid cancers are based on the histologic type of thyroid cancers such as papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). While surgery is one of the key treatments for all such types of thyroid cancers, additional therapies vary. Effective targeted therapy for DTC is a decades-old practice with systemic therapies of thyroid stimulating hormone suppression and radioactive iodine therapy. However, for the iodine-refractory DTC, MTC, and ATC there is no effective systemic standard of care treatment. Recent advances in understanding pathogenesis of DTC and development of molecular targeted therapy have dramatically transformed the field of clinical research in thyroid cancer. Over the last five years, incredible progress has been made and phases I–III clinical trials have been conducted in various types of thyroid cancers with some remarkable results that has made an impact on lives of patients with thyroid cancer. Such history-making events have boosted enthusiasm and interest among researchers, clinicians, patients, and sponsors and we anticipate ongoing efforts to develop more effective and safe therapies for thyroid cancer.
Bi‐directional OLED microdisplay for interactive see‐through HMDs: Study toward integration of eye‐tracking and informational facilities
Authors: Vogel Uwe , Kreye Daniel , Richter Bernd , Bunk Gerd , Reckziegel Sven , Herold Rigo , Scholles Michael , Törker Michael , Grillberger Christiane , Amelung Jörg , Graupner Sven‐Thomas , Pannasch Sebastian , Heubner Michael , Velichkovsky Boris
Published: February 2009

Abstract—First prototypes of bi‐directional OLED microdisplay devices that combine both display and camera functionality on a single CMOS chip (OLED‐on‐CMOS) have been designed. The major goal of this integration is to provide capabilities for eye‐tracking in see‐through HMDs to achieve gaze‐based human‐display interaction,e.g., in augmented‐reality applications. The development of the prototype was accompanied by user studies with a simulated bi‐directional microdisplay consisting of a commercially available eye‐tracker and a see‐through HMD. These tests were aimed at providing basic minimum requirements in terms of temporal and spatial resolution of an eye‐tracker to be implemented within the prototype, as well as to evaluate ergonomics of an appropriate user‐interface design. A description of the current state of the hardware architecture and design aspects for bi‐directional OLED microdisplays are also presented.
LCD motion‐blur estimation using different measurement methods
Authors: Tourancheau Sylvain , Brunnström Kjell , Andrén Börje , Le Callet Patrick
Published: February 2009

Abstract— The primary goal of this study was to find a measurement method for motion blur which is easy to carry out and gives results that can be reproduced from one lab to another. This method should be able to also take into account methods for reduction of motion blur such as backlight flashing. Two methods have been compared. The first method uses a high‐speed camera that permits us to directly picture the blurred‐edge profile. The second one exploits the mathematical analysis of the motion‐blur formation to construct the blurred‐edge profile from the temporal step response. Measurement results and method proposals are given and discussed.
Charge carriers and triplets in OLED devices studied by electrically detected electron paramagnetic resonance
Authors: Pawlik Thomas D. , Kondakova Marina E. , Giesen David J. , Deaton Joseph C. , Kondakov Denis Y.
Published: February 2009

Abstract— Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) were investigated by an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique that uses the effective device conductance as the detection channel. This technique enables us to identify and study charge carriers and triplet excitons with high sensitivity. By using a series of model devices, it was demonstrated that this type of spectroscopy provides information regarding triplet energy transfer and the location of the recombination zone. The fundamental understanding about the extent of the recombination zone in various OLED architectures helps in the design of devices with improved performance.
Direct observation of the electrical activity of coincidence‐site lattice boundaries in location‐controlled silicon islands using scanning spread resistance microscopy
Authors: Matsuki Nobuyuki , Ishihara Ryoichi , Beenakker Kees
Published: February 2009

Abstract— Scanning spread resistance microscopy (SSRM) was used to investigate the electrical activity of coincidence‐site lattice (CSL) boundaries in location‐controlled silicon islands fabricated using the μ‐Czochralski (μ‐CZ) process. Using SSRM, the electrical activity of random and Σ3 and Σ9 CSL boundaries, which are determined by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, were observed. Quantitative evaluation of the microscopic current mapping by SSRM revealed that Σ3 and Σ9 CSL boundaries, of which most of them are coherent, have much less electrical activity than the random grain boundaries. Some of the Σ3 and Σ9 CLS boundaries seemed to be incoherent, while the number of such incoherent CSL boundaries are very much limited according to previous TEM investigation and showed increased activities; however, their activities are still lower than that of the random boundaries.
Equal rates of disturbance cause different patterns of diversity
Authors: Svensson J. Robin , Lindegarth Mats , Pavia Henrik
Published: February 2009

Empirical evidence suggests that disturbance has profound effects on the species diversity of aquatic and terrestrial assemblages. Conceptual ecological theories, such as the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH), predict maximum diversity at intermediate levels of disturbance. Tests of the predictive power and generality of these models are, however, hampered by the fact that the meaning and units of “disturbance” are not clearly defined. For example, it is seldom recognized that the rate of disturbance is the product of both frequency and extent (e.g., area or volume) of disturbance events. This has important consequences for the design and interpretation of experiments on disturbance. Here we present, for the first time, an experimental design that allows for unconfounded testing of combinations of area and frequency (i.e., regimes) for a given rate of disturbance. We tested the prediction that species richness responds differently to equal rates of disturbance, depending on the specific combination of frequency and area, on marine hard‐substratum assemblages. Five different rates of disturbance and two regimes (small frequent or large infrequent disturbances) were applied at three sites. The results showed that the effect of a certain rate of disturbance (1) varies strongly among assemblages and (2) also depends on the specific combination of frequency and area of disturbance events. Maximum species richness was observed at intermediate rates of disturbance at site 1 (i.e., support for the IDH), whereas there was a monotonic decline at site 2 and there was no evident pattern at site 3. The variable responses among sites were explained by differences in degree of competitive exclusion and rates of recruitment. At the site where the IDH was supported, the regime with a large proportion of the area disturbed infrequently showed higher richness, compared to the regime with a small proportion disturbed frequently. This was likely due to a stronger decrease of dominants, which allowed for the recruitment of new colonizing species. In summary, we conclude that tests and general syntheses of models of disturbance–diversity patterns would benefit from more explicit definitions of the components of disturbance, as well as a stronger focus on the importance of variation in inherent properties of natural assemblages.
Ecological mechanisms associated with the positive diversity–productivity relationship in an N‐limited grassland
Authors: Fornara D. A. , Tilman D.
Published: February 2009

In a 13‐year grassland biodiversity experiment in Minnesota, USA, we addressed two main questions: What set of ecological mechanisms caused aboveground productivity to become ∼340% greater in highly diverse plant mixtures than in the average monoculture? Why did the effect of diversity on productivity become so much stronger through time? Because our grassland system is N limited, we simultaneously measured critical variables associated with the storage and cycling of this element, such as plant and soil N pools, soil N availability, soil N mineralization rates, and plant N‐use efficiency, as well as the initial soil N concentration of each diversity plot when the experiment was established in 1994. We used linear and multiple regression analyses to test for potential effects of these variables on aboveground productivity and to address whether and how such variables were in turn affected by plant species diversity and functional composition across years and also at different time intervals within the same year.

We found that seven variables simultaneously controlled productivity: (1) initial total soil nitrogen (N) of each plot, (2) diversity‐dependent increases in total soil N through time, (3) soil N mineralization rates, (4) soil nitrate (NO3−) utilization, (5) increases in plant N‐use efficiency at greater plant diversity, (6) legume presence, and (7) higher species numbers. The surprising continued significance of higher plant diversity may occur because of its effects on seasonal capture of soil NO3− and moisture and on the accumulation of root‐N pools, all of which may have also increased productivity through time at higher species numbers.
Hierarchical models in ecology: confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and model selection using data cloning
Authors: Ponciano José Miguel , Taper Mark L. , Dennis Brian , Lele Subhash R.
Published: February 2009

Hierarchical statistical models are increasingly being used to describe complex ecological processes. The data cloning (DC) method is a new general technique that uses Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms to compute maximum likelihood (ML) estimates along with their asymptotic variance estimates for hierarchical models. Despite its generality, the method has two inferential limitations. First, it only provides Wald‐type confidence intervals, known to be inaccurate in small samples. Second, it only yields ML parameter estimates, but not the maximized likelihood values used for profile likelihood intervals, likelihood ratio hypothesis tests, and information‐theoretic model selection. Here we describe how to overcome these inferential limitations with a computationally efficient method for calculating likelihood ratios via data cloning. The ability to calculate likelihood ratios allows one to do hypothesis tests, construct accurate confidence intervals and undertake information‐based model selection with hierarchical models in a frequentist context. To demonstrate the use of these tools with complex ecological models, we reanalyze part of Gause's classicParameciumdata with state–space population models containing both environmental noise and sampling error. The analysis results include improved confidence intervals for parameters, a hypothesis test of laboratory replication, and a comparison of the Beverton‐Holt and the Ricker growth forms based on a model selection index.
A less field‐intensive robust design for estimating demographic parameters with mark–resight data
Authors: McClintock Brett T. , White Gary C.
Published: February 2009

The robust design has become popular among animal ecologists as a means for estimating population abundance and related demographic parameters with mark–recapture data. However, two drawbacks of traditional mark–recapture are financial cost and repeated disturbance to animals. Mark–resight methodology may in many circumstances be a less expensive and less invasive alternative to mark–recapture, but the models developed to date for these data have overwhelmingly concentrated only on the estimation of abundance. Here we introduce a mark–resight model analogous to that used in mark–recapture for the simultaneous estimation of abundance, apparent survival, and transition probabilities between observable and unobservable states. The model may be implemented using standard statistical computing software, but it has also been incorporated into the freeware package Program MARK. We illustrate the use of our model with mainland New Zealand Robin (Petroica australis) data collected to ascertain whether this methodology may be a reliable alternative for monitoring endangered populations of a closely related species inhabiting the Chatham Islands. We found this method to be a viable alternative to traditional mark–recapture when cost or disturbance to species is of particular concern in long‐term population monitoring programs.
Confirmatory path analysis in a generalized multilevel context
Authors: Shipley Bill
Published: February 2009

This paper describes how to test, and potentially falsify, a multivariate causal hypothesis involving only observed variables (i.e., a path analysis) when the data have a hierarchical or multilevel structure, when different variables are potentially defined at different levels of such a hierarchy, and when different variables have different sampling distributions. The test is a generalization of Shipley's d‐sep test and can be conducted using standard statistical programs capable of fitting generalized mixed models.
Functional‐diversity indices can be driven by methodological choices and species richness
Authors: Poos Mark S. , Walker Steven C. , Jackson Donald A.
Published: February 2009

Functional diversity is an important concept in community ecology because it captures information on functional traits absent in measures of species diversity. One popular method of measuring functional diversity is the dendrogram‐based method, FD. To calculate FD, a variety of methodological choices are required, and it has been debated about whether biological conclusions are sensitive to such choices. We studied the probability that conclusions regarding FD were sensitive, and that patterns in sensitivity were related to alpha and beta components of species richness. We developed a randomization procedure that iteratively calculated FD by assigning species into two assemblages and calculating the probability that the community with higher FD varied across methods. We found evidence of sensitivity in all five communities we examined, ranging from a probability of sensitivity of 0 (no sensitivity) to 0.976 (almost completely sensitive). Variations in these probabilities were driven by differences in alpha diversity between assemblages and not by beta diversity. Importantly, FD was most sensitive when it was most useful (i.e., when differences in alpha diversity were low). We demonstrate that trends in functional‐diversity analyses can be largely driven by methodological choices or species richness, rather than functional trait information alone.
Experimental evidence that phenotypic divergence in predators drives community divergence in prey
Authors: Palkovacs Eric P. , Post David M.
Published: February 2009

Studies of adaptive divergence have traditionally focused on the ecological causes of trait diversification, while the ecological consequences of phenotypic divergence remain relatively unexplored. Divergence in predator foraging traits, in particular, has the potential to impact the structure and dynamics of ecological communities. To examine the effects of predator trait divergence on prey communities, we exposed zooplankton communities in lake mesocosms to predation from either anadromous or landlocked (freshwater resident) alewives, which have undergone recent and rapid phenotypic differentiation in foraging traits (gape width, gill raker spacing, and prey size‐selectivity). Anadromous alewives, which exploit large prey items, significantly reduced the mean body size, total biomass, species richness, and diversity of crustacean zooplankton relative to landlocked alewives, which exploit smaller prey. The zooplankton responses observed in this experiment are consistent with patterns observed in lakes. This study provides direct evidence that phenotypic divergence in predators, even in its early stages, can play a critical role in determining prey community structure.
Preliminary overview of regional endemism in European Neogene ungulates
Authors: Costeur Loïc
Published: February 2009

The somewhat endemic condition of European mammals today in general, and thus of ungulates in particular, is a feature currently explained by fluctuating climatic conditions known from the late Pliocene to the present. All the existing ungulate families in Europe settled there during the course of the Miocene and replaced Oligocene-inherited faunas. Furthermore, the Neogene climatic deterioration played a crucial role in the decrease of ungulate diversity probably in turn setting the bases for the present depleted situation. The growing knowledge of Neogene ungulates has now become sufficient to investigate if today’s endemic situation can be traced back to the Miocene and if the endemism apparent in many mammalian faunas was randomly distributed over the European continent. A database of 695 localities spanning Europe from the early Miocene to the early Pliocene period allows a better understanding of the spatial and temporal evolution of endemism in ungulates. The results mainly point to a long and strong endemic history in southeastern Europe. The mechanisms behind this pattern may involve the particular geographic position of this area between three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe) as well as ecological isolation through different environmental conditions prevailing there. Pliocene and Pleistocene climatic cycles probably reinforced this situation later on and were not the only processes to control what is known nowadays.
What Iberian dinosaurs reveal about the bridge said to exist between Gondwana and Laurasia in the Early Cretaceous
Authors: Canudo José Ignacio , Barco José Luis , Pereda-Suberbiola Xabier , Ruiz-Omeñaca José Ignacio , Salgado Leonardo , Torcida Fernández-Baldor Fidel , Gasulla José Miguel
Published: February 2009

Some Cretaceous dinosaur taxa with a broad enough record on the continents of the northern hemisphere (Laurasia) or in the southern continents (Gondwana) have been interpreted as Laurasian or Gondwanan in origin. The occasional presence of these taxa outside Laurasia or Gondwana respectively has frequently been explained in terms of dispersal from their place of origin by means of land bridges that are indeterminate in location and character. One example of such a dispersal event is provided by the Early Cretaceous dinosaurs of Europe and Africa. Certain European taxa have been interpreted as having their origin in Gondwana. If we regard these presences common to both areas as being the result of a point of communication between Laurasia and western Gondwana or at least of sporadic flows in both directions during the Early Cretaceous, we may opt for dispersal as an explanation.

It has been assumed that there was an intercontinental bridge between Africa and Europe passing through the archipelago of which Iberia formed a part. This interpretation emerged from the idea that such a bridge existed in the Late Jurassic, explaining the presence of similar ornithopod dinosaurs in Africa and Europe. However, from the end of the Early Jurassic a period of “rift” began on the southern Iberian margin, entailing the formation of a sedimentary furrow with pelagic sedimentation in what is known as the Subbetic zone. Moreover, the differences in the observed dinosaur fauna between western Gondwana and the Iberian Peninsula in the Neocomian can be explained as the result of endemism and regional extinctions. The archipelago that formed the Iberian plate was Laurasia’s closest continental mass to Gondwana during the Neocomian, yet there was still a separation of several hundred kilometres of open ocean without islands. Such a barrier would seem difficult for dinosaurs to overcome. As such, we lack proof of communication between the two supercontinents via Iberia during the Neocomian.

The situation appears to change in the Barremian-Aptian transition. Some of the taxa present in the Hauterivian-Barremian of Europe are recorded in Gondwana from the Aptian onwards. This can possibly be explained in terms of the more complete record that exists, but it cannot be ruled out that a communication was established between Gondwana and Laurasia at the end of the Barremian. For the time being, we lack geological support for this bridge in Iberia, yet it might be located in Apulia, where there is a great development of shallow-shelf carbonates with dinosaur remains from the period in question.
Paraoxonase‐1 Activity in Subfertile Men and Relationship to Sperm Parameters
Authors: Verit Fatma Ferda , Verit Ayhan , Ciftci Halil , Erel Ozcan , Çelik Hakim
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility. Paraoxonase‐1 (PON‐1) is a high‐density lipoprotein—associated antioxidant enzyme that prevents oxidative modification of low‐density lipoprotein. Our aims in the study were to investigate 1) seminal PON‐1 activity in subfertile men and 2) whether seminal PON‐1 activity had any relationship to semen parameters. The study included 28 men with idiopathic subfertility, 32 subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters, and 30 fertile male volunteers. Seminal PON‐1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Seminal total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were determined by using colorimetric methods. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated as ([TOS/TAS] × 100). TOS and OSI were significantly higher and PON‐1 activity and TAS were significantly lower in subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters than in men with idiopathic subfertility and fertile donors. PON‐1 activity was also strongly correlated with sperm concentration (r = .68, P < .0001), motility (r = .58, P < .0001), and morphology (r = .62, P < .0001) in the overall group. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a high diagnostic value for PON‐1 activity with respect to male‐factor subfertility, with an area under curve of .95 (95% confidence interval = 0.89–1.01), sensitivity = 97%, and specificity = 88%. Men with abnormal semen parameters have decreased levels of PON‐1 activity in their seminal plasma. This may play an important role in the pathogenesis of male‐factor subfertility.
Comparing Expression of Progesterone and Estrogen Receptors in Testicular Tissue From Men With Obstructive and Nonobstructive Azoospermia
Authors: Han Yibing , Feng Huai L. , Sandlow Jay I. , Haines Christopher J.
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to identify and compare the expression profiles of progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the testes of men with obstructive azoospermia (OA), maturation arrest (MA), and Sertoli cell—only (SCO) histology. Testicular biopsies were obtained from 10 patients with OA, 10 patients with MA (either early or late arrest), and 8 patients with SCO who did not have hormonal abnormalities and varicoceles. Expression of PR and ERα was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. PR was expressed in the spermatogenic, Leydig, and Sertoli cells in the testes of OA patients. In the MA and SCO patients, the expression of PR was reduced in all cell types as compared with that in the OA patients. Western blot demonstrated that both the full‐size (120 KDa) and the truncated (52 KDa) isoforms of the PR were expressed in the OA and MA testes. However, in the SCO testes, only the truncated isoform of PR (52 KDa) was expressed. ERα (66 KDa) was expressed principally in the spermatogenic and Leydig cells in the OA testes. By immunohistochemistry staining, expression of ERα was decreased in the spermatogenic and Leydig cells of the MA testes, whereas its expression was enhanced in the Leydig cells of the SCO testes. However, by Western blot, expression of ERα was significantly reduced in the SCO testes as compared with that in the OA and MA testes. We conclude that PR and ERα may play a role in the pathogenesis of the MA and SCO phenotype in patients with infertility.
Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1α Is Constitutively Expressed in Murine Leydig Cells and Regulates 3β‐Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Promoter Activity
Authors: Lysiak Jeffrey J. , Kirby Jennifer L. , Tremblay Jacques J. , Woodson Robin I. , Reardon Michael A. , Palmer Lisa A. , Turner Terry T.
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT: Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) is a transcription factor that plays an essential role in oxygen homeostasis. HIF‐1α is constitutively made in cells; however, it is ubiquitinated and degraded under normoxic conditions. Hypoxia prevents the ubiquitination of HIF‐1α, resulting in stabilization of the protein and activation of target genes. Because of its vascular arrangement and the high metabolic demand of spermatogenesis, the testis has been described previously as functioning on the brink of hypoxia; thus, we have hypothesized that HIF‐1α is constitutively expressed and stabilized in the testis, where it could play a role in testicular homeostasis. Western blot analysis using nuclear proteins from liver, kidney, and testis revealed the presence of HIF‐1α only in the testis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed this result and revealed that HIF‐1α was specifically located in interstitial Leydig cells. Electromobility shift assays employing nuclear extracts from the TM3 Leydig cell line revealed that these cells express HIF‐1α that is capable of binding DNA under normoxic conditions. Furthermore, we found that protein levels can be increased further when the TM3 cells are cultured under hypoxic conditions. Finally, transient transfections of TM3 Leydig cells revealed that the promoter of the mouse 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (Hsd3b1) gene, which encodes a key enzyme in testosterone production, is a potential target of HIF‐1α. In conclusion, HIF‐1α is constitutively present in the Leydig cells of the murine testis, where it potentially regulates Hsd3b1 transcription, and thus male reproductive function.
The Principal-Agent Matching Market
Authors: Dam Kaniska , Perez-Castrillo David
Published: February 2009

We propose an agency model based on competitive markets in order to analyse an economy with several homogeneous principals and heterogeneous agents. We model the principal-agent economy as a two-sided matching game and characterise the set of stable outcomes (equilibria) of this market. In this regard we generalise the assignment game of Shapley and Shubik (1972). Unlike in the standard principal-agent theory, equilibrium payoffs of all the individuals are endogenous, equilibrium contracts are Pareto optimal, and the incremental surplus generated in a principal-agent relationship accrues to the tenant. We design a simple non-cooperative game which implements the set of stable outcomes in subgame perfect equilibrium. We also suggest policy measures in relation to efficiency and income distribution.
Flow Behaviors in a High-Flux Circulating Fluidized Bed
Authors: Wang Xiaofang , Jin Baosheng , Zhong Wenqi , Zhang Mingyao , Huang Yaji , Duan Feng
Published: February 2009

A high-flux circulating fluidized bed coal gasifier cold model which consists of a vertical riser (0.06m-I.D.×5m-high), two downcomers (0.04m-I.D.×3.5m-high and 0.1m-I.D.×3m-high), an inertial separator, a cyclone and two solid feeding devices were established. Geldart group B particles with mean diameters of 140 ?m and densities of 2700 kg/m3 were used as bed materials. Flow behaviors were investigated with the solid mass flux ranges from 108 to 395 kg/m2 and the superficial gas velocity ranges from 7.6 to 10.2 m/s. The pressure drop, apparent solids holdups, average slip velocity and solids-to-air mass flow ratio under different operating conditions were obtained. The results showed that the riser total pressure drop increased sharply with bed height in the low elevation but slowly in the high elevation, since the solids holdup was higher in the low region than that in the high region. The solids holdup increased with the increasing of solids mass flux while it decreased with increasing superficial gas velocity. A dense suspension upflow flow (DSU) structure was found only existing in the low elevation while the rest upper region was still in the dilute phase, and the length of DSU flow structure increased with solids mass flux. The average slip velocity was found to be the strong function of apparent solids holdup; increasing apparent solids holdup leads to the increase of slip velocity. The riser total pressure drop and apparent solids holdup increase with the solids-to-air mass flow ratio.
Letter: Regarding Voting for Charity's Sake
Authors: Kosnik Lea
Published: February 2009

Edlin et al.'s reason to "vote for charity's sake" was a valiant attempt to justify, for the hard-nosed logical economist, why to vote on election day. The answer as to why we vote, however, may be simpler than trying to come up with a hypothetical charity value.
Making Sense of the Aggregator Bank
Authors: Ausubel Lawrence M , Cramton Peter
Published: February 2009

On Tuesday, 10 February 2009, Treasury Secretary Geithner proposed the aggregator bank ("public-private investment fund") as a key instrument to resolve the financial crisis. He left out many details, so Lawrence Ausubel and Peter Cramton explain how an aggregator bank might operate in practice, and argue that with proper design, such a bank could be better than TARP.
A Two-Step Subsidy Scheme to Overcome Network Externalities in a Dynamic Game
Authors: Shichijo Tatsuhiro , Nakayama Yuji
Published: February 2009

Many goods have network externalities. When the number of agents possessing such goods is small, the agents may not gain sufficient utility from the goods. Agents then have an incentive to delay their purchasing decisions. Such delays have negative effects on the agents' utility, so equilibrium with delays is inefficient. We propose a method of resolving this problem using a two-step scheme with participation fees and subsidies. If this method is used, and certain conditions are satisfied, all agents purchase the good and the delay in equilibrium decreases.
Pierre Bourdieu - nekoliko elemenata (teorije) politickog polja
Authors: Biresev Ana
Published: February 2009

(francuski) Dans ce texte l'auteure interpr?te quelques articles de Pierre Bourdieu sur le champ politique publi?s par Actes de la recherche en sciences sociales. L'auteure se propose de r?examiner les apports et les limites d'une conceptualisation bourdieusienne de la politique en pr?tant une attention particuli?re ? l'analogie ?conomique qui se trouve ? sa base. La question essentielle qui se pose est celle de savoir comment penser la politique sans penser politiquement, d'une part, et sans ?tre pris au pi?ge de l'?conomisme, de l'autre.
State, freedom, knowledge
Authors: Nikitovic Aleksandar
Published: February 2009

This paper deals with Plato's problematisation of relation between state, freedom and knowledge in his analysis of different aspects of the model-state. Plato understands the state as a common good, and the purpose of establishing of the state is to compensate insufficiency that is immanent to every individual. Righteousness is present only if in the totality of polis are harmoniously bounded all different and individual abilities. Plato in his subtle analysis points out that for the existence of righteous state it is necessary that the will of the man who is in the class of guardians, is completely bonded with the good, that is, with the knowledge of good. This putting in one conditional structure of knowledge, will and good in the best way shows the absence of understanding that the will of man, because of its freedom of choice, truly is not under totally determinating influence of knowledge and good. Since man is always in the position of freedom of choice, he often makes choices that are opposite to his own knowledge and understanding of good. In the sphere of theory it is possible to give some good examples of interdependence of will, knowledge and good, because usually with the establishment of the believe that some knowledge is true, that sole believe pulls towards our will to stand with that knowledge. Plato understands that this connection could be transferred from the domain of theory to the sphere of praxis, from where comes his thought that the life of polis could be established on participation in the true world of ideas. But, it is right to rise a question is it possible to transfer completely this experience from the sphere of theory to the filed of practical life.
Others in post-conflict contexts
Authors: Djeric Gordana
Published: February 2009

Researches conducted so far within the project Spinning out of control: rhetoric and violent conflict. Representations of 'self' - 'other' in the Yugoslav successor states focused on exploring the relations towards the Other in a state of conflict. Moreover: most of the author's and coauthors' contributions were oriented towards discourse analysis in the context of violence. Except for the peaceful dismemberment of Montenegro and Serbia, proclamation of independence of other Yugoslav states did not go without violence, to a greater or lesser extent. The Other in these situations was predominantly the ethnic Other, and usually treated as enemy. For that reason, the greater part of our past work was oriented towards analysing media reports of the most stiking war events. Also, some of the contributions intentionally targeted media reportings of tense situations and those bearing the unpredictable outcomes, such as referenda or meetings discussing war and peace matters; or, we focused our inquiries on radical standpoints expressed by certain media or political parties - all that in order to explore the essencial forms of constructing and manifesting the Otherness on a rhetoric level. From a broader perspective, the analysed period, marked by the wars of ex - Yugoslavia in the last decade of 20th century, could be comprehended as the preiod of a state of emergency, where the old order had been brutally and radically destroyed and the new one was installed. In such a process, as it was shown, the relation towards the Other was also usually extreme and ethnically motivated. Now, after the constitution of seven new states where once former Yugoslavia was, new questions emerge. We are interested, as we were before, in the identity constructions, especially in the relations toward the Other, and Otherness in general, now in the period of transition and normalization of mutual relationships that these societies are undergoing. Along with the theories of ethnicity and identity construction, the key perspective remains discursive analysis. Our main question is What is happening with the phenomenon of Otherness in public discourse, in the peaceful times, or in the post conflict state? Do the ways of representing Others from the conflict times disappear, or do they 'freeze', that is to say, remain the same, or get manifested on some other levels and by different rhetorical tools? In short, what is happening with the Others in discourses that do not 'spin out of control'? Are the Others stable, mutable or flexible category and where are the imagological boundaries of Otherness? Who are the Others now? Are there any Others among us in ethnical sense? What is the nature of relation towards the common Yugoslav past, in other words, has the common past also become the Otherness for the people of former Yugoslavia? Are the 'refugees', 'cast-outs', 'displaced persons', 'returnees'... only the new names for the old display of Otherness? .
Optimal control in trajectory planning for a re-entry vehicle
Authors: Căruntu Bogdan , Negrea Romeo , Luminosu Ioan
Published: February 2009

The objective of this paper is to establish a desired trajectory for the Alflex reentry vehicle using stepwise and linear control functions, so that the oscillations of the pitch, roll and yaw rates are minimized. For the variations of the attack angle and pitch angle we find control functions for which the computed results are in a good agreement with those recorded experimentally.
Synthesis, coordination and biological aspects of organotin(IV) derivatives of 4-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)amino)]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid and 2-{[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)amino]carbonyl}benzoic acid
Authors: Shahid Khadija , Shahzadi Saira , Ali Saqib
Published: February 2009

New series of organotin(IV) complexes of aniline derivatives, R2SnL2 and R3SnL [where R = Me, n-Bu, Ph, n-Oct] have been synthesized by the reaction of HL1 and HL2 with respective organotin halides or oxides. Experimental details for the preparation and characterization (including elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR (1H-, 13C- and 119Sn-) spectra in CDCl3 and EI mass spectra of both series are provided. The binding sites of the ligands were identified by means of FTIR spectroscopic measurements. It was found that in all cases the organotin(IV) moiety reacts with the oxygen of COO- group to form new complexes. In the diorganotin complexes, the COO- group is coordinated to the organotin(IV) centres in a bidentate manner in the solid state. The 119Sn NMR data and the nJ(13C-119/117Sn) coupling constant support the tetrahedral coordination geometry of the organotin complexes in non-coordinating solvents. Biological activities (antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxicity, antileishmanial and insecticidal) of these compounds are also reported.
Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some substituted aldonitrones by quinolinium chlorochromate in aqueous DMF medium in the absence and presence of oxalic acid
Authors: Rajarajan Govindasamy , Jayachandramani Natesan , Manivarman Subramanian , Jayabharathi Jayaraman , Thanikachalam Venugopal
Published: February 2009

The kinetics of the oxidation of aldonitrones (nitrone) by quinolinium chlorochromate (QCC) was determined in 50 % DMF-water in the absence and presence of oxalic acid in order to study the effect of oxalic acid. It was considered worthwhile to investigate whether it undergoes co-oxidation or just functions as a catalyst in the reaction. The reaction was followed iodometrically. Under the employed experimental conditions, the reaction is first order each with respect to concentration of nitrone, QCC, and oxalic acid and fractional order with respect to H+ concentration. There was no discernible effect with increasing in ionic strength but the rate of oxidation decreased with decreasing dielectric constant of the medium. Addition of MnSO4 had a significant and acrylonitrile no effect on the reaction rate. A mechanism involving protonated nitrone and QCC as the reactive oxidant is proposed. The activation parameters were calculated and are presented.
Socio-demographic factors and cervical length in pregnancy
Authors: Petrovic Djordje , Novakov-Mikic Aleksandra , Mandic Vesna
Published: February 2009

The cervical length is an important factor in the risk evaluation of preterm delivery. The aim of this work was to determine the correlation between the cervical length and the demographic characteristics. A transversal type prospective study was done on a sample of 579 pregnant women at various gestational age of low risk mono-fetal pregnancy. The cervical length was measured by trans-vaginal ultrasound procedure within the regular pregnancy monitoring process. The following data were taken into consideration: the woman's age, her body mass at the beginning of the pregnancy and her height in order to calculate the body mass index as well as her smoking habit at the moment of conception. The mean cervical length was 34.3 mm and 35 mm in the group of women aged 30 and less and 31 and over, respectively. The cervix was insignificantly shorter in younger women (being 34.9 mm/35.9 mm in the 1st trimester, 34.5 mm/35.1 mm in the 2nd one and 33.9 mm/34.7 mm in the 3rd trimester). The sample of 579 pregnant women consisted of 448 non-smokers and 131 smokers. The difference in the length of the cervix in smokers and non-smokers was not significant (being 32.2 mm/35.9 mm; 35 mm/34 mm and 34.4 mm/33.5 mm in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively). The correlation between the body mass index and the cervical length was analyzed by trimesters. In the first trimester the increase in the body mass index was followed by the shortening of the cervix; the cervical length was not affected by the BMI in the second trimester, whereas the higher the body mass index the longer the cervix in the third trimester. Our study has shown that the cervical length is affected neither by the age of the woman nor her smoking habit but it is affected by the body mass index at the moment of conception, that linear trend being negative in the 1st trimester but positive in the 3rd one. Since the cervical length may be affected not only by the socio-demographic characteristics but the gynecologic obstetric history of the woman as well, we strongly suggest further investigations in this field.
The importance of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes: Determination of catalase activity in lymphocytes of diabetic patients
Authors: Zivic Sasa , Vlaski Jovan , Kocic Gordana , Pesic Milica , Ciric Vesna , Djuric Zlatko
Published: February 2009

Introduction. Type 1 diabetes is a protoype of disease with an intesive oxidative stress. The oxidative stress means disturbing dynamic balance between prooxidants and antioxidants, either due to the increased production of the oxygen free radicals or the decreased antioxidant activity. The antioxidative enzyme catalase diminishes free radical hydrogen-peroxyde, which can be very toxic to pancreatic cells. Material and methods. Our study included 40 children with type 1 diabetes. We analyzed the activity of enzyme catalase in lymphocytes in different phases of disease: at the beginning of diabetes, in remission period and in the later chronic course. Results There is a significant increase in the catalase activity during all phases of disease (p<0.00001) compared with the control group. The highest catalase activity occurs in the early course of disease (p<0.05) followed by a linear decrease and the lowest activity in chronic course. If metabolic control gets worse, the catalase activity gets higher with statistic significance at p<0.05. A higher residual beta cells secretion is associated with a lower catalase activity. Therefore, the catalase activity is in direct corelation with GHbA1 (r=0.895), and inverse correlation with C-peptide (r=-0.945). Discussion and conclusion. A significant increase in the catalase activity in all phases of type 1 diabetes indirectly confirms the importance of the oxidative stress in pathogenesis of disease. The activation of catalase is probably the secundary phenomenon. The fact that the catalase activity reaches its highest values at the beginning of diabetes could implicate the predictive value of catalase determination.
Distinguishing the athlete's heart syndrome from some pathological conditions
Authors: Popovic Dejana , Popovic Nada , Stojiljkovic Stanimir , Nesic Dejan , Scepanovic Ljiljana
Published: February 2009

The response of the body to vigorous physical activity is a multiorgan system phenomenon. As a result, the body undergoes profound morphologic and functional alterations, but as there are different kinds of physical activities, the degree of these changes is highly variable as well. Considering many sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is needless to say how important it is to know where the border of normal changes of the body due to physical activity is and when these changes become unhealthy. Also it is very important to distinguish physiological changes of the body due to physical activity and pathological changes due to some cardiac diseases. In order to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is very important to distinguish athletes heart syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomiopathy, dilatative cardiomiopathy, aritmogenic cardiomiopathy of the right ventricle and myocarditis. More frequent physical examinations of athletes are recommended.
Significance of screening tests in diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis
Authors: Kovacevic Gordana , Hrnjakovic-Cvjetkovic Ivana , Milosevic Vesna , Jerant-Patic Vera , Radovanov-Tadic Jelena , Kozoderovic Gordana
Published: February 2009

The investigation included 91 patients in who an acute or previous EBV infection was established by ELISA test. All patients were also subjected to the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test, while 20 patients were tested by the rapid screening test Clearview IM. The diagnosis of acute infective mononucleosis was in 61 patients (67%) confirmed by the Elisa test, and in 12 patients (19.67 %) by the Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test, while the rapid screening test Clearview IM demonstrated too low a detection of heterophile antibodies. The rapid screening test was not reliable. In 25% cases, the test was invalid, at early infection stages the rapid test failed to diagnose any case of the EBV virus infection. Paull-Bunell-Davidsohn was often negative, especially with young children. Therefore, priority should be given to virology tests based on the detection of specific antibodies to EBV antigen.