bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTERACTION OF ELF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS WITH VARIOUS MODELS OF THE HUMAN BODY
Authors: Karanikolos A. , Pantelakis P.K. , Kriezis E.E.
Published: February 2008

The interaction of ELF‐LF electric fields with the human body is examined with a method based on surface charge‐integral equations. The evaluation of the electric field intensity on the body surface is performed for a realistic model of the human body. Two examples for different postures of the model are given.
DISTRIBUTION OF HEATING POTENTIAL IN AN ECCENTRIC SPHERES MODEL OF A CRANIAL STRUCTURE
Authors: Skaropoulos N.C. , Chrissoulidis D.P.
Published: February 2008

We determine the electromagnetic (EM) field in a layered eccentric spheres model of the human head. The model allows for eccentricity between the inner and the outer sets of the concentric spherical layers that simulate brain and skull. Excitation is provided by an incident plane EM wave or by a nearby dipole. The induced EM field is determined through a compact formulation based on indirect mode matching. Numerical results are presented for models adapted to adult and infant heads. Interest is in the RF/microwave absorption characteristics of the head. Conditions for hot spot occurence are investigated too. Applications include EM hyperthermia and cellular phone side‐effects.
PROPERTIES OF COILED CORE MADE OF COLD ROLLED SHEETS WITH FREQUENCY UP TO 2000HZ
Authors: Buze Andrzej , Krawczyk Andrzej
Published: February 2008

Electrical properties of magnetic material are mainly defined by producers by means of magnetic characteristics H = ƒ(B) and loss characteristics p = ƒ(B), both for industry frequency, i.e. 50 or 60Hz. The curves defined in this manner are not compatible with those of higher frequency, i.e. far above 50Hz. The latter cases are of great importance when dealing with power electronics systems.
COMPUTATION OF FIELD ERRORS DUE TO POLOIDAL CUTS ON THE STABILIZING SHELL OF A FUSION DEVICE
Authors: Fiorentin P. , Marchiori G. , Masiello A. , Zollino G.
Published: February 2008

An analytical model, based on Fourier expansion of the eddy current components on a cylindrical shell, which was already developed and tested on a fusion device, has been further improved. It now allows for the analysis of the effects of azimuthal gaps when the shell reacts to a forcing field with any azimuthal and axial harmonic content, provided that the field is antimetric with respect to the equatorial plane. The model results have been validated with experimental tests on the RFX shell.
ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS ON TOKAMAK IN‐VESSEL COMPONENTS IN PLASMA OFF NORMAL CONDITIONS
Authors: Sakellaris John , Crutzen Yves
Published: February 2008

During plasma disruption events in tokamaks, a large amount of magnetic energy is associated to the transfer of plasma current in eddy currents into the passive structures. In the paper, the influence of the in‐vessel design, in terms of magnetic shielding and electrical insulation, on the magnitude and the flow pattern of the eddy currents is investigated.
THE USE OF FINITE ELEMENT ELECTROMAGNETICS PACKAGES IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Authors: Ashen R.A. , Colver R.E. , Rashid K.
Published: February 2008

CAD methods and purpose‐designed software packages are now widely used in engineering practice and it is important to introduce students of undergraduate courses to these in preparation for their future employment in this environment. In the areas of electronic circuit design and analysis this has already been done successfully using such packages as ORCAD and SPICE and a similar situation exists in simulation with MATLAB and ACSL, all of which are now used extensively in university courses. However, with a few notable exceptions, less progress has been made with finite element electromagnetics packages even though this subject area benefits greatly from the use of these. Experience shows that many students find such packages somewhat uninspiring and are only convinced of their value when they have seen them applied to problems involving real hardware. Accordingly, the approach described in this paper incorporates the use of a modern professional package into a suite of three laboratory experiments, so allowing comparisons to be made between computed, calculated and measured quantities. A further problem, that of the long time required to learn the operating system for such packages, which usually greatly exceeds the three hours or so generally allotted to such activities, is eased by providing pre‐compiled programme segments for the major procedures. By this means, while still proceeding through all the stages necessary in solving a real problem, students avoid the most time consuming and routine parts of these and so are able to progress quickly to a solution. This technique is described in some detail in a previous paper.
THE MULTIPLE MULTIPOLE METHOD (MMP)
Authors: HAFNER Ch. , BALLISTI R.
Published: February 2008

We present a semi‐analytic approach based on a multipole expansion for the solution of two‐dimensional, linear electrostatic problems with piecewise homogeneous regions. This method, called multiple multipole method, leads to more accurate solutions and requires less computation time than the usual numerical methods, especially in such problems where the capacitance of a system of electrodes with different dielectric rods in between, both of arbitrary cross section, is to be calculated with precision.
FINITE‐ELEMENT MESH GENERATION FROM GEOMETRIC MODELS
Authors: WÖrdenweber B.
Published: February 2008

This article describes a method for mesh generation, suitable for applications of the finite‐element method, which proceeds fully automatically from a geometric model of the object provided by a CAD‐system. It first generates a coarse mesh which is then adapted to fit the finite‐element problem. A resulting system of equations can be solved by a Gaussian‐type matrix method with as few computations as are necessary for a well‐banded matrix, but without the need for node or element numbering.
A successful gold cost reduction programme
Authors: Jacky G.F.
Published: February 2008

With an annual cost of gold exceeding 10 million dollars for its captive circuit board shop, Tektronix, Inc., established a task force to implement conservation. Elements included Purchasing, Material Control, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing and Engineering. Salient programme items were inventory reduction, material accountability, modification of processes, procedures, and equipment to improve uniformity of thickness, and elimination of non‐essential gold use. In addition, scrap‐handling procedures were modified to improve accountability and reclaim returns.
RECENT ADVANCES IN CATHODIC PROTECTION
Authors: Morgan J.H.
Published: February 2008

Cathodic protection is an electrical technique for preventing the rusting of iron and steel, a phenomenon which is usually considered a chemical reaction. Because of this the subject advances hand in hand with developments in electrical engineering and in the electrochemical industry and is modified in conjunction with advances in the chemical techniques for preventing corrosion. Magnesium, aluminium and zinc can be used as sacrificial anodes to provide cathodic protection and the greatest advance in this field has been the discovery of a new series of aluminium alloys which in sea‐water become cheap and effective sacrificial anodes. Impressed current techniques require a permanent anode and the plating of a very thin film of platinum on to a titanium substrate has been found to make an ideal anode. Much of the exploitation of this anode has taken place with new electrical techniques such as automatic control, the individual adjustment of anode current and a considerable improvement in the instrumentation. The extended experience of cathodic protection has given the contracting industry a very much greater knowledge of the design problems, of the spread of protection, of the degree of control and of the economic balance between the various techniques. A wider use of cathodic protection to supplement organic coatings and the development of coatings which work more readily with cathodic protection are two of the exceptional economic advances. Cathodic protection, unlike most anti‐corrosive treatments, is a continuous process, and as such it has to be maintained: the realisation of this has perhaps done more to produce the good results of which cathodic protection is capable, than any other single scientific discovery.
Vasopressin in catecholamine‐refractory shock in children
Authors: Meyer S. , Gortner L. , McGuire W. , Baghai A. , Gottschling S.
Published: February 2008

Severe septic and cardiogenic shock is associated with a high mortality in neonates, children and adolescents. Common therapies include the administration of fluids and the use of conventional inotropes. However, in severe forms of shock, cardio‐circulatory failure may be secondary to profound vasoparalysis and unresponsive to conventional therapies. We reviewed the literature on the use of arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) and terlipressin (TP) as a rescue therapy in neonates, children and adolescents with catecholamine‐refractory shock or cardio‐circulatory arrest. We identified 17 reports (11 case series, 6 case reports) on a total of 109 patients. Only two studies were prospective. The age of treated patients ranged from extremely low birth weight infants of 23 weeks' gestation to a 19‐year‐old adolescent. The most common indication for either drug was catecholamine‐refractory septic shock (nine reports). Commonly reported responses following AVP/TP administration were a rapid increase in systemic arterial blood pressure, an increase in urine output, and a decrease in serum lactate. In most reports, AVP and TP had a significant impact on the required dose of inotropes which could be reduced. Despite the use of AVP/TP, mortality was high (52/109). In view of the limited number of paediatric patients treated with AVP/TP, no definite recommendations on their use in children with severe forms of cardio‐circulatory failure can be issued. There is a need for larger prospective trials assessing the efficacy and safety profiles of these drugs in a defined setting. Until more data are available, and taking into consideration the detrimental impact catecholamine‐refractory shock has on children, the use of AVP/TP as a rescue therapy should be considered on an individual basis.
Decline in research publications from the United Kingdom in anaesthesia journals from 1997 to 2006
Authors: Feneck R. O. , Natarajan N. , Sebastian R. , Naughton C.
Published: February 2008

We undertook this survey to identify the trend in the published output of original research in anaesthesia emanating from the United Kingdom (UK) in a 10‐year period from 1997 to 2006, inclusive. We examined seven major anaesthetic journals for each of the 10 years, and four other specialist journals for the years 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006. We included papers on experimental research, randomised controlled clinical trials, large observational studies and case series, formal equipment and apparatus assessments, but we excluded editorials, comments, reviews including systematic reviews, special articles, small case series and case reports, questionnaire surveys of clinical practice and correspondence. We found a highly significant reduction in published research output from the UK in the period under study (% change per year; −5.7 (95% CI −7.4 to −4.0), a trend which was significantly different (p < 0.001) from the trend of changes in research publications worldwide (−1.0% change per year; 95% CI −1.7 to 0.0). We discuss the implications of these findings for UK anaesthesia research strategy.
Molecular characteristics of the porcine DLK1 and MEG3 genes
Authors: Li X. P. , Do K. T. , Kim J.‐J. , Huang J. , Zhao S. H. , Lee Y. , Rothschild M. F. , Lee C. K. , Kim K. S.
Published: February 2008

Imprinted genes play important roles in embryo survival and postnatal growth regulation. The DLK1 and MEG3 (previously GTL2) genes are linked and reciprocally imprinted in several mammals, but their imprinting status is still unknown in pigs. In this study, we report polymorphisms, imprinting status and QTL analyses of the porcine DLK1 and MEG3 genes. Muscle and adipose DNA and RNA samples from 30‐day‐old animals generated with reciprocal crosses between the Korean native pig (KNP) and Yorkshire breeds were used to analyse DLK1 and MEG3 variation and expression. The samples exhibited paternal expression of DLK1 and maternal expression of MEG3 in pigs. These results indicated that the imprinting status of the DLK1 and MEG3 genes is conserved across mammalian species. By linkage analyses, we assigned the DLK1 and MEG3 genes to the telomeric region of SSC7. By QTL analyses, we confirmed a significant polar overdominance (POD) effect in DLK1, which was previously detected for several growth traits in pigs. However, no significant POD effect was found with the MEG3 locus.
Trends in the methodological quality of published randomized controlled trials on antibacterial agents
Authors: Falagas Matthew E. , Pitsouni Eleni I. , Bliziotis Ioannis A.
Published: February 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are believed to be one of the best methods of clinical research because they can minimize systematic errors of various types.

• Temporal trends in the various aspects of RCTs have been studied in several medical fields (e.g. nephrology, hepatology, oncology).

• However, there is lack of data regarding the trends in the methodological quality of RCTs focusing on antimicrobial agents.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• Several important methodological aspects of RCTs on antibacterial agents, such as description of randomization, double blinding, description of the blinding and allocation concealment, have not improved during the last 30 years.

AIM

To investigate the trends of the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antimicrobial agents published during the last 30 years.

METHODS

We randomly selected from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database 70 RCTs of antibacterial agents that were published during a 30‐year study period (1975–2005); specifically, we randomly selected 10 RCTs published during each of the following years: 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. In each of the selected RCTs, we searched for information on various methodological aspects and graded the methodological quality of the RCTs to evaluate trends for possible improvement.

RESULTS

No improvement was noted in most of the analysed methodological aspects of the RCTs during the 30‐year study period. Description of randomization, double blinding, description of the blinding, and allocation concealment were rather scarce among the evaluated RCTs, without observing a trend for improvement during the study period. We noted improvement in reporting power of the study calculations, baseline data as well as in reporting the presence or not of statistical significance and the statistical cut‐off of significance. In only 1/70 RCTs were all 13 of the examined methodological quality aspects met and in one more RCT 12 of them were met.

CONCLUSIONS

We did not observe considerable improvement in the quality of the reporting and methodology of RCTs on antibacterial agents during the last 30 years. The methodological quality aspects that need most improvement are those that help safeguard against various types of biases.
A Novel Approach to Regulate Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis in Murine Macrophages using CCR5 siRNA
Authors: Bhattacharyya (Majumdar) S. , Dey R. , Majumder N. , Bhattacharjee S. , Majumdar S.
Published: February 2008

Early infection with Leishmania donovani during visceral leishmaniasis (VL) results in the enhanced expression of C‐C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) in macrophages. CCR5 expression at different time points of infection revealed increased expression at protein and mRNA level from 3 to 24 h and beyond 24 h expression of CCR5 is downregulated. To better understand the functional role of CCR5 during leishmania infection, RNA interference strategy has been used to modulate macrophage function by targeting the expression of CCR5 gene. We found that silencing of CCR5 receptor expression by transfection of CCR5‐specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in murine peritoneal macrophages restricted the parasitic burden up to 70% during early hours of infection. In addition, gene silencing of CCR5 prior to L. donovani infection enhanced the pro‐inflammatory response of the host macrophages in comparison with infection alone as shown by high nitric oxide generation and the TNF‐α:IL‐10 ratio. These findings suggest that CCR5 receptor plays a significant role in the entry and establishment of L. donovani in murine macrophages and CCR5 gene silencing would be a potent therapeutic approach to control VL by restricting parasite entry.
ELEVATED LEVELS OF CIRCULATING CORTISOL IN YOUNG NORMOTENSIVE ADULT MEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION
Authors: Matuszek Maria A , Boutcher Stephen H
Published: February 2008

Differences in blood lipids, glucose, insulin, amylin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, aldosterone, angiotensin II, metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrate, nitrite), asymmetric dimethyl arginine, endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, C‐reactive protein, homocysteine and oxidative status (urate, vitamin A, vitamin E, b‐carotene and total anti‐oxidant capacity) were investigated in men (aged 18–25 years) with (+) or without (–) a family history (FH) of hypertension.

In the present study, FH+ was defined as having at least one parent or grandparent taking medication for hypertension. Blood (60 mL) was sampled (0800–1000 hours) from a cannulated forearm vein after an overnight fast and 24 h abstinence from caffeine‐containing products and alcohol.

Comparing FH+ with FH–, systolic blood pressure (124 ± 1 vs 117 + 3 mmHg, respectively; n = 50 and 14, respectively; P < 0.05) and plasma cortisol (377 ± 23 vs 298 ± 24 nmol/L, respectively; n = 43 and 12, respectively; P < 0.05) were found to be significantly higher in the former group.

No significant difference was found between the two groups for body mass index, resting heart rate, diastolic and mean blood pressures or any of the biochemical measures studied.

A significant correlation was found between cortisol and ACTH (r = 0.73). No correlation was found between cortisol and any other parameter measured.

These data indicate that elevated cortisol levels are characteristic of young lean normotensive FH+ men. The future impact of this on their vascular health and hypertension remains to be determined.
CARDIAC TISSUE FACTOR: ROLES IN PHYSIOLOGY AND FIBROSIS
Authors: Davis Darren R , Erlich Jonathan H
Published: February 2008

The aim of the present review is to discuss: (i) the role of tissue factor (TF) in the heart and focus on its potential role in maintaining normal extracellular cardiac homeostasis; (ii) the means by which TF may be contributing to extracellular matrix regulation and vascular maintenance; and (iii) potential mechanisms whereby reduced TF expression leads to cardiac fibrosis.

Tissue factor is the main initiator of the coagulation cascade in response to tissue injury, but it is also involved in numerous other biological processes, including angiogenesis, cell migration, apoptosis, metastasis and inflammation.

Tissue factor is implicated in cardiovascular disease and its localization and level of expression in cardiomyocytes suggests a unique role in maintaining the structure and function of cardiac muscle.

It has been shown that TF−/– mice die in utero as a result of disrupted yolk sac vasculature. Low‐TF mice, which have transgenic expression of TF at less than 1% of normal levels, are rescued from lethality.

Low‐TF mice develop cardiac fibrosis in a gender‐dependent manner that may be dependent on differential expression of urokinase plasminogen activator.

Intracardiac bleeding in low‐TF mice may occur as a result of a primary haemostasis defect and/or as a result of disrupted vascular maintenance. The mechanism, when elucidated, will have important therapeutic implications and may provide novel strategies for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
Identity and typification of Navicula hasta (Bacillariophyceae)
Authors: Levkov Zlatko , Edlund Mark B. , Nakov Teofil
Published: February 2008

The name Navicula hasta is regularly applied to large, heavily silicified Navicula specimens with lanceolate outlines, protracted ends, and relatively coarse, radiate, and lineolate striae that are more irregularly spaced around the central area. As such, Navicula hasta has been reported from numerous localities such as brackish water fossil sediments, oligotrophic ancient lakes and postglacial lakes. When the data for distribution of Navicula hasta are summarized, this species appears to be geographically and temporally widespread with a broad range of ecologic tolerances. Published reports for size range show that diatomists during the last century have differing concepts of the species starting with the disagreement between the protologue and one of the figures given by Pantocsek. Furthermore, an informal ‘type’ of Navicula hasta reported in 1980 does not match the protologue and is not unambiguously based on material Pantocsek had in his hands when describing his new species. We studied published reports of Navicula hasta and investigated material reported to contain Navicula hasta and its allies from the type locality (Köpecz), one of the fossil deposits reported to contain N. hasta (Bodos) and from ancient and other younger lakes worldwide. From our analyses, we document the variation and underappreciated diversity within the Navicula hasta group and set the stage for formal recognition of new species in subsequent papers. Herein, we formally propose a lectotype from among the original illustrations and designate an epitype for Navicula hasta based on Pantocsek's Köpecz material. Additionally, two new species, Navicula krenneri spec. nov. and Navicula pseudohasta spec. nov. are described and a lectotype of Navicula superhasta Lange‐Bertalot and Metzeltin is proposed.
Profile and management of patients treated for the first time for lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia in four European countries
Authors: Fourcade Richard‐Olivier , Théret Nathalie , Taïeb Charles ,   the BPH USAGE Study Group
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE

To describe the profile and management of patients medically treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in primary care in four European countries, as the diagnosis and management of BPH have developed dramatically in the last decade, and recent information from actual practice is insufficient.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This observational, cross‐sectional study was carried out by general practitioners in France (141 patients), Spain (127) and Portugal (50), and by office‐based urologists in Germany (162 patients) between July 2005 and June 2006. The physicians were unaware of the study sponsor. Patients aged ≥50 years were recruited if a decision for medical treatment of BPH was taken for the first time on that day. The patient and the investigator had to complete one questionnaire each.

RESULTS

The physicians included 480 patients, with a mean (sd) age of 65.0 (7.8) years. The mean (sd) International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was 16.0 (7.3). There were geographical differences in age (P = 0.009; patients in Germany being the youngest), IPSS (P = 0.017; patients in Spain having the highest score), quality of life (QoL; IPSS item 8, P < 0.001, the least altered being in Germany), and sexual activity (P = 0.010; the highest proportion of sexually active patients being in Portugal), but not for comorbidities and concomitant medication. The IPSS correlated poorly with age (r = 0.21) and moderately with QoL (r = 0.47). Severe symptoms (IPSS > 19) were not linked with sexual activity (age‐adjusted P = 0.378). Serum prostate specific antigen testing, although not recommended for BPH, was widely used (83.8% overall). All other examinations were carried out disparately depending on the country (P < 0.001 each). Digital rectal examination (DRE) and excluding urinary tract infection (urine culture) were used in ≈75% of study patients, but only half the patients in France had a urine culture, and 52% in Portugal had a DRE. A standardized assessment of symptoms and/or QoL was reported in 45% of study patients, with wide discrepancies among countries, i.e. 77.2% in Germany and 6.0% in Portugal. α‐blocker monotherapy was the most frequently prescribed treatment (62.5% overall, 87.1% in Germany, 46.1% in France), followed by phytotherapy (23.5%), and 5α‐reductase inhibitor monotherapy (3.75%); combinations were rare. Treatment varied according to the severity of the symptoms (P = 0.008), phytotherapy being given to patients with the lowest IPSS, and combinations to those with the highest IPSS.

CONCLUSION

There were geographical discrepancies that could be attributed to either different cultural habits or merely organisational differences, e.g. the presence of office urologists in Germany or diverse modes of access to phytotherapy (prescription vs ‘over the counter’) in the various countries.
Can we predict future improvement in glycaemic control?
Authors: Singh R. , Press M.
Published: February 2008

Aims  To determine the factors responsible for poor glycaemic control in diabetes and whether any such factors are associated with likely improvement in glycaemic control.

Methods  A prospective cohort study of 130 diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥ 10.0%) with 1‐year follow‐up in a teaching hospital Diabetes Clinic. Changes in HbA1c were measured after 1 year.

Results  Poor glycaemic control was attributed to one of 15 possible causes. Those cases due to recent diagnosis of diabetes, inadequate treatment with diet, oral glucose‐lowering agents or insulin, exacerbation of co‐existent medical problems, recent stressful life‐events and missed clinic appointments were all associated with significant improvement in HbA1c at 12 months. Patients with low mood or alcohol excess, inadequate blood glucose monitoring, poor exercise/sedentary lifestyle, refusal to take tablets or underdosing and refusal to take insulin at all or to increase the dose were all associated with continuing poor glycaemic control at 12 months. The patients were divided almost equally between the two groups.

Conclusions  In patients with poor glycaemic control, it is possible by simple features identified at clinic to predict which individuals are likely to show improvement in control and which will not. These findings have not been reported previously and suggest that about half of individuals with poor control will improve within our current diabetes clinic practice. Additional strategies will be required to address those individuals who are not likely to respond.
Short‐term nocturnal hypoglycaemia increases morning food intake in healthy humans
Authors: Schmid S. M. , Jauch‐Chara K. , Hallschmid M. , Oltmanns K. M. , Born J. , Schultes B.
Published: February 2008

Aims  Hypoglycaemia during wakefulness increases hunger and food intake. Patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus are at high risk of recurrent hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Given the background of frequent hypoglycaemic episodes during night‐time sleep in diabetic patients, we investigated morning food intake after nocturnal hypoglycaemia.

Methods  We tested 16 healthy normal‐weight subjects (eight women) on three nights. A linear fall in plasma glucose to a nadir of 2.2 mmol/l within 60 min was induced by insulin infusion immediately after sleep onset (‘early hypo’) or after about 3.5 h of sleep (‘late hypo’). On a control night, no hypoglycaemia was induced. Spontaneous food intake at a breakfast buffet was registered on the subsequent morning.

Results  Compared with the control condition (700 ± 93 kcal), subjects ate more after ‘late hypo’ (867 ± 108 kcal; P = 0.041), but not after ‘early hypo’ (852 ± 111 kcal; P = 0.130). Analyses of macronutrient fractions revealed that in comparison with the control condition, subjects ate significantly more carbohydrates after both ‘late hypo’ (277 ± 25 kcal vs. 206 ± 23 kcal, P < 0.001) and ‘early hypo’ (245 ± 23 kcal, P = 0.048), with this effect being more pronounced after late than early nocturnal hypoglycaemia (P = 0.026).

Conclusions  In healthy subjects, nocturnal hypoglycaemia during sleep stimulates spontaneous food intake the following morning, with carbohydrate intake being especially affected. Effects were more pronounced after ‘late hypo’, suggesting the influence of temporal dynamics. Although healthy non‐diabetic subjects were studied, similar mechanisms may contribute to the frequently observed body weight gain in insulin‐treated diabetic patients.
Credible Governance? Transparency, Political Control, the Personal Vote and British Quangos
Authors: Bertelli Anthony M.
Published: February 2008

This article claims that special-purpose independent agencies such as quangos provide an avenue for understanding the ‘personal vote’ and political control of administrative policy making in Britain. Quangos make policies that directly influence particularistic concerns in an MP's constituency, generating incentives for MPs to meddle with their independence in order to capture the personal vote. A division of labor within the governing party relies on back-bench MPs to sound ‘fire alarms’ when their constituents find fault with quango activities. Once the alarms are sounded, the government has the incentive to manipulate quangos' independence, for example, by making their decision making transparent to provide information for the fire alarm mechanism in the future. This manipulation draws from the government's stock of political capital gained from a supportive electorate. Statistical analysis of transparency in British executive non-departmental public bodies from 2002 to 2005 suggests that increases in back-bench salience (personal vote) and public satisfaction with government (government strength) increase the transparency by which quangos make decisions, thus decreasing their independence. Public satisfaction with the status quo of public service provision, by contrast, decreases transparency, increasing independence. These results suggest that far from being fully independent, quasi-governmental organizations are subject to political control.
The Value of Believing in Free Will
Authors: Vohs Kathleen D. , Schooler Jonathan W.
Published: February 2008

Does moral behavior draw on a belief in free will? Two experiments examined whether inducing participants to believe that human behavior is predetermined would encourage cheating. In Experiment 1, participants read either text that encouraged a belief in determinism (i.e., that portrayed behavior as the consequence of environmental and genetic factors) or neutral text. Exposure to the deterministic message increased cheating on a task in which participants could passively allow a flawed computer program to reveal answers to mathematical problems that they had been instructed to solve themselves. Moreover, increased cheating behavior was mediated by decreased belief in free will. In Experiment 2, participants who read deterministic statements cheated by overpaying themselves for performance on a cognitive task; participants who read statements endorsing free will did not. These findings suggest that the debate over free will has societal, as well as scientific and theoretical, implications.
Extremal Edge
Authors: Palmer Stephen E. , Ghose Tandra
Published: February 2008

Extremal edges (EEs) are projections of viewpoint-specific horizons of self-occlusion on smooth convex surfaces. An ecological analysis of viewpoint constraints suggests that an EE surface is likely to be closer to the observer than the non-EE surface on the other side of the edge. In two experiments, one using shading gradients and the other using texture gradients, we demonstrated that EEs operate as strong cues to relative depth perception and figure-ground organization. Image regions with an EE along the shared border were overwhelmingly perceived as closer than either flat or equally convex surfaces without an EE along that border. A further demonstration suggests that EEs are more powerful than classical figure-ground cues, including even the joint effects of small size, convexity, and surroundedness.
Down but not out: marine turtles of the British Virgin Islands
Authors: McGowan A. , Broderick A. C. , Frett G. , Gore S. , Hastings M. , Pickering A. , Wheatley D. , White J. , Witt M. J. , Godley B. J.
Published: February 2008

We present the result of a multi‐annual assessment of the spatio‐temporal patterns of marine turtle nesting, and foraging in the Eastern Caribbean archipelago state of the British Virgin Islands. Despite exploitation over several centuries, three species (leatherback Dermochelys coriacea, green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles) are still nesting and green and hawksbill turtles are found foraging. Leatherback turtles are showing signs of a recovery co‐incident with the implementation of an effective moratorium on adult take. When compared with historical data we demonstrate an apparent reduction in nesting levels in green and hawksbill turtles and a nesting range contraction in green turtles. Despite current conservation steps, it will be a decade or more before evidence of recovery can be expected in the two hard‐shelled species. Coupled with wider biological knowledge, our findings offer insights into the relative resilience of the different species to exploitation pressure. Additionally, the intra‐annual temporal and spatial spread of nesting demonstrated underlines the difficulties of monitoring such a multi‐species assemblage in such a diffuse archipelago.
LA–ICP–MS, SEM–EDS AND EPMA ANALYSIS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN COPPER‐BASED ARTEFACTS: IMPACT OF CORROSION AND HETEROGENEITY ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE LA–ICP–MS COMPOSITIONAL RESULTS*
Authors: DUSSUBIEUX LAURE , DERAISME AURELIE , FROT GÉRARD , STEVENSON CHRISTOPHER , CREECH AMY , BIENVENU YVES
Published: February 2008

This study discusses the relevance of compositions obtained using laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) for the purpose of identifying the provenance of copper‐based artefacts found in Virginia at Native American sites dated from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Ten artefacts were investigated by scanning electron microscopy – energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS) to visualize the corrosion and characterize the heterogeneities in the metal and electron probe micro‐analysis (EPMA) to determine separately the compositions of the intact metal and of the corrosion product. It is shown that the corroded surfaces are highly depleted in zinc but that representative concentrations can be determined by sampling the deeper, uncorroded metal. In contrast, lead values are highly variable because of the heterogeneous distribution of this metal within the bulk copper. Despite these problems, brass is easily identifiable and American native copper and European smelted copper can be unambiguously distinguished with LA–ICP–MS on unprepared artefacts using As, Ag, Ni and Sb trace elements.
STONES FROM MEDIEVAL GLASSMAKING: A SUITABLE WASTE PRODUCT FOR RECONSTRUCTING AN EARLY STAGE OF THE MELTING PROCESS IN THE MT LECCO GLASS FACTORY*
Authors: BASSO E. , MESSIGA B. , RICCARDI M. P.
Published: February 2008

The Mt Lecco glass factory was one of the most important production centres in Liguria (Italy) during the 14th and 15th centuries. Archaeological evidence indicates that the whole production cycle took place here. During the glassworking process, production defects such as ‘stones’ were identified and discarded. Stones are partially melted, glass‐coated relics of raw materials or fragments of crucible. The study of the microtexture of stones together with microprobe analyses of phases provides a key for understanding the glassmaking procedure carried out in the Mt Lecco glass factory. The melting rate can be inferred from the compositional variability of glass, which suggests fractional melting of the batch. Glass composition indicates that the Mt Lecco production was a mixed‐alkali one, probably made of quartz‐bearing material as vitrifying agents, plant ashes as fluxing agents and dolomitic limestones as stabilizing agents.
Oesophageal leiomyosarcoma in dogs: surgical management and clinical outcome of four cases
Authors: Farese J. P. , Bacon N. J. , Ehrhart N. P. , Bush J. , Ehrhart E. J. , Withrow S. J.
Published: February 2008

Oesophageal leiomyosarcoma has yet to be reported in dogs. This retrospective case series describes the case management and clinical outcome of four dogs with oesophageal leiomyosarcoma treated by marginal excision alone. Histological features used to determine tumour grade included capsular invasion, percent necrosis, pleomorphism and mitotic rate. All tumours were designated grade 1 leiomyosarcoma. Excision of all grossly evident tumour tissue was achieved in two of the four cases; however, histopathologic evaluation showed tumour cells at the surgical margins in one of these two cases. Two dogs had grossly incomplete excision. Two dogs died from unrelated conditions, one 3 years and 5.5 months after surgery, the other at 65 days. One dog had persistent mega‐oesophagus and was lost to follow‐up 388 days after surgery and one dog is still alive (last follow‐up 405 days after surgery). Despite large tumour size and incomplete excision, surgical removal of low‐grade leiomyosarcomas can result in long‐term resolution of clinical signs.
NOD/SCID mouse model of canine T‐cell lymphoma with humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy: cytokine gene expression profiling and in vivo bioluminescent imaging
Authors: Nadella M. V. P. , Kisseberth W. C. , Nadella K. S. , Thudi N. K. , Thamm D. H. , McNiel E. A. , Yilmaz A. , Boris‐Lawrie K. , Rosol T. J.
Published: February 2008

Lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm arising from B or T lymphocytes. In dogs, one‐third of lymphomas are highly aggressive multicentric T‐cell lymphomas that are often associated with humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy (HHM). There are no cell lines or animal models to investigate the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma and HHM in dogs. We developed the first xenograft model by injecting lymphoma cells from an Irish Wolfhound intraperitoneally into NOD/SCID mice. The mice developed multicentric lymphoma along with HHM and increased parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) as occurs in dogs with T‐cell lymphoma. Using cytokine complementary DNA arrays, we identified genes that have potential implications in the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma. Quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of T‐cell lymphoma samples from hypercalcaemic canine patients showed that PTHrP likely plays a central role in the pathogenesis of HHM and that hypercalcaemia is the result of a combinatorial effect of different hypercalcaemic factors. Finally, we monitored in vivo tumour progression and metastases in the mouse model by transducing the lymphoma cells with a lentiviral vector that encodes a luciferase‐yellow fluorescent protein reporter and showed that in vivo trafficking patterns in this model were similar to those seen in dogs. This unique mouse model will be useful for translational research in lymphoma and for investigating the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma and HHM in the dog.
Sowing the Seeds of Progress: The Agricultural Biotechnology Debate in Africa
Authors: Zerbe Noah
Published: February 2008

Recent innovations in agricultural biotechnology raise a number of questions for the future of farming in both the developed and developing worlds. Conflicting international agreements, particularly tensions between the World Trade Organization's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, provoke debates between farmers, plant breeders, and indigenous communities over the extent of ownership rights in genetic resources. Further, trade disputes between the United States and the European Union help to shape the terrain on which biotechnology is developed. The future of agricultural biotechnology in Africa is largely a function of the outcome of these debates.
Healthcare Costs and Utilization of Vulnerable Elderly People Reported to Adult Protective Services for Self‐Neglect
Authors: Franzini Luisa , Dyer Carmel Bitondo
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVES:To assess differences between diagnoses, healthcare utilization, and healthcare costs of vulnerable elderly people reported to Adult Protective Services for self‐neglect and those of matched controls.

DESIGN:A case‐control study of 131 self‐neglect cases and 131 matched controls.

SETTING:All participants were patients in a public hospital geriatrics program.

PARTICIPANTS:Adult Protection Services referred the self‐neglect cases to an interdisciplinary geriatric medicine team. The controls were patients who used the same source of geriatric medical services and were matched on race or ethnicity, sex, and age.

MEASUREMENTS:Diagnoses, healthcare utilization, and Medicare reimbursable costs were compared in cases and controls for 1 year before and 1 year after the case medical referral.

RESULTS:Mental disorders were diagnosed more frequently in the self‐neglect group than in the control group. Self‐neglecters had lower healthcare utilization and medical costs than controls in the year before the medical referral, but utilization and costs were similar in the two groups in the year after the referral.

CONCLUSION:This study provides evidence that, once self‐neglecters are brought into the healthcare system, they are no more expensive than other similar patients. This result has important public policy implications and fills an important gap, because there is no published literature describing the financial effect of self‐neglect on the healthcare system.
The Role of Amoeboid Protists and the Microbial Community in Moss‐Rich Terrestrial Ecosystems: Biogeochemical Implications for the Carbon Budget and Carbon Cycle, Especially at Higher Latitudes1
Authors: ROGER ANDERSON O.
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT. Moss‐rich terrestrial communities are widely distributed in low‐ and high‐latitude environments, covering vast surface areas in the boreal forests and tundra. The microbial biota in these organic‐rich communities may contribute substantially to the carbon budget of terrestrial communities and the carbon cycle on a global scale. Recent research is reported on the carbon content of microbial communities in some temperate and high‐latitude moss communities. The total carbon content and potential respiratory carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux is reported for bacteria, microflagellates, naked amoebae, and testate amoebae within sampling sites at a northeastern forest and the tundra at Toolik, Alaska. Quantitative models of the predicted total CO2 efflux from the microbes, based on microscopic observations and enumeration of the microbiota in samples from the research sites, are described and predictions are compared with published field‐based data of CO2 efflux. The significance of the predictions for climate change and global warming are discussed.
Structural, Optical, and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Sprayed TiO2 Thin Films: Effect of Precursor Concentration
Authors: Shinde Pravin S. , Patil Pramod S. , Bhosale Popat N. , Bhosale Chandrakant H.
Published: February 2008

Thin films of titanium dioxide (TiO2) have been deposited from methanolic titanyl acetylacetonate precursor solution onto the preheated amorphous and fluorine‐doped tin oxide (F:SnO2)‐coated glass substrates at optimized substrate temperature of 470°C by a spray pyrolysis technique. The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of film thickness on the structural, optical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of TiO2 thin films by varying the precursor concentration from 0.05M, at the interval of 0.025M, to 0.125M. X‐ray diffraction shows that the films are polycrystalline with anatase phase having tetragonal crystal structure. Scanning electron microscopy reveals uniform and compact distribution of spherical clusters comprising nanoplatelets of size ∼200–400 nm. The films are nearly stoichiometric as confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. Atomic force microscopy study also reveals uniform distribution of grains of size ∼180–370 nm. The films are transparent (with %T>70) and film thickness varies over 162–758 nm range with increase in precursor concentration. The band gap energy varies from 3.31 to 3.36 eV. Thickness of the TiO2 films is shown to have an influence on the PEC performance and plays an important role in determining the efficiency of the PEC cell. The precursor concentration of 0.1M is optimized using PEC technique. Incident photon to current conversion efficiency of 71.24% is obtained for 600 nm thick TiO2 film.
New Approach to the β→α Polymorphic Transformation in Magnesium‐Substituted Tricalcium Phosphate and its Practical Implications
Authors: Carrodeguas Raúl García , De Aza Antonio H. , Turrillas Xavier , Pena Pilar , De Aza Salvador
Published: February 2008

The transformation β→α in Mg‐substituted Ca3(PO4)2 was studied. The results obtained showed that, contrary to common belief, there is, in the system Mg3(PO4)2–Ca3(PO4)2, a binary phase field where β+α‐Ca3(PO4)2 solid solutions coexist. This binary field lies between the single‐phase fields of β‐ and α‐Ca3(PO4)2 solid solution in the Ca3(PO4)2‐rich zone of the mentioned system. In the light of the results and the Palatnik–Landau's Contact Rule of Phase Regions, a corrected phase equilibrium diagram has been proposed. The practical implications of these findings with regard to the synthesis of pure α‐ and β‐ Mg‐substituted Ca3(PO4)2 powders and to the sintering of related bioceramics with improved mechanical properties are pointed out.
Application of the Iscan Method to Two‐ and Three‐Dimensional Imaging of the Sternal End of the Right Fourth Rib*
Authors: Dedouit Fabrice , Bindel Stéphanie , Gainza David , Blanc Anthony , Joffre Francis , Rougé Daniel , Telmon Norbert
Published: February 2008

Abstract: Age determination is a major field of interest in physical and forensic anthropology. Among the different methods based on macroscopic skeletal study, the Iscan method, which analyzes the sternal end of the right fourth rib, is one of the most reliable. We applied the Iscan method to two‐ and three‐dimensional multislice computed tomography (MSCT) reconstructions of the sternal end of the right fourth rib on 39 ribs. The intra‐observer variability on MSCT reconstructions was good (gamma coefficient equal to 0.86; value of the Krippendorff’s alpha reliability equal to 0.79); inter‐observer variability on MSCT reconstructions was also good (gamma coefficient ranging from 0.82 to 0.88; value of the Krippendorff’s alpha reliability ranging from 0.78 to 0.86). We demonstrated excellent agreement between the results of analysis of bone samples and those of the two‐ and three‐dimensional images, in particular regarding bone projections, morphology of the pit and of its rim. The accuracy of age estimation did not significantly differ between the Iscan method applied to dry bones and the same method applied to MSCT images. Determination of the Krippendorff’s alpha reliability coefficient for the inter‐error method confirmed the agreement between phase estimations obtained with the two methods (ranging from 0.55 to 0.71). The real civil age was comprised in 21 cases out of 36 for assessment performed on dry bones and in 23 cases out of 36 on MSCT reconstructions, which represented 58.3% and 63.9%, respectively. Use of MSCT reconstructions in forensic anthropology offers many advantages: no bone preparation, no damage to bone material, and the possibility of application to living individuals.