bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contradictions in municipal services in contemporary South Africa: Disciplinary commodification and self-disconnections
Authors: Ruiters Greg
Published: October 2007

In South Africa, the management of municipal services has been an ongoing dilemma for the new government because of what it terms `a culture' of non-payment among users. As a result, prepayment has been widely implemented in electricity, telephone and, more recently, water services. Hailed as the solution to the non-payment problem, but also as a new social `paradigm' for service delivery, prepayment has been made more palatable by the introduction of free basic water and electricity. This paper analyses the state's attempt to impose prepayment in order to regulate, manage and re-educate the poor in South Africa into a `payment culture'. These social control processes, however, have been resisted; they provide a window on to the ambiguities of neo-liberal social development and the re-assertion of class power in South Africa through the engineering of a market-based disciplinary society. The paper concludes that the analysis of neo-liberal class power in South Africa needs to take account of the reciprocal dynamics of the state and popular responses. Prepaid service delivery has only to a limited extent relieved absolute poverty, but more generally has become linked to negative outcomes such as intermittent services and increased household stresses. The article draws on state documents, local municipal records and case studies of prepayment.
Deconstructing `problem' researchers and `problem' families: A rejoinder to Garrett
Authors: Nixon Judy
Published: October 2007

In a recent article in this journal Paul Michael Garrett presents an ill-informed, selective and distorted view of our work on Intensive Family Support Projects (IFSPs) which provide specialist and intensive support to families at risk of eviction. In constructing a critique of IFSPs Garrett draws extensively on interim study findings mistakenly concluding that we are `docile' researchers lacking in critical reflexivity. In this response, we first challenge the way in which he crudely constructs IFSPs as state disciplinary mechanisms reflecting a lack of a nuanced understanding of the multiplicity of ways in which the `conduct of conduct' is performed. Secondly, we explore his use of a `disciplining gaze' to undermine the validity of both the study findings and our role as independent researchers. Finally, reflecting some of the contradictions inherent in the formation of women as gendered welfare subjects we strongly refute the allegation that our approach was gender blind and outline the various ways in which lone parent women resisted being constructed as the `anti-social other'.
Husbands Who Kill Their Wives
Authors: Adinkrah Mensah
Published: October 2007

This article addresses the current lack of research on uxoricides in non-Western societies by examining the phenomenon in Ghana, West Africa. Analysis of data from the 60 husband—wife killings reported in a national daily newspaper reveals that jealousy and suspicion of infidelity overwhelmingly provided the basis for wife murders. The findings also indicate that assailants and victims were of low socioeconomic background and the murders predominantly occurred in the rural areas of the country. Posthomicidal suicide by the assailant occurred in about one fourth of the cases. Overall, the results demonstrate that the patterns of uxoricide in Ghana are congruous in many significant ways with those noted in Western industrialized societies. It is concluded that additional research in non-Western societies is warranted to contribute to the development of sound conclusions about and remedies for uxoricide.
National Bibliographies: past, present and future — the Korean experience
Authors: Chung Yeon-Kyoung
Published: October 2007

This paper presents the history and the current situation in Korea in terms of the national bibliography, national union catalog, legal deposit and other bibliographic control. The National Library of Korea has been playing key roles in the provision of complete bibliographic records of the available publications in Korea. The national bibliographies are becoming more diversified in terms of including different types of material. The National Library of Korea plans special projects for promoting the legal deposit system and preparing to revise its legislation to include more types of material, in particular electronic publications, as well as public relations. Within the next few years, a revised legal deposit act will comprise all forms of published materials and will be fully in agreement with the International Conference on National Bibliographic Services (ICNBS) recommendations.
Acculturation Stress, Drinking, and Intimate Partner Violence Among Hispanic Couples in the U.S.
Authors: Caetano Raul , Ramisetty-Mikler Suhasini , Caetano Vaeth Patrice A. , Harris T. Robert
Published: October 2007

This article examines the cross-sectional association between acculturation, acculturation stress, drinking, and intimate partner violence (IPV) among Hispanic couples in the U.S. The data being analyzed come from a multicluster random household sample of couples interviewed as part of the second wave of a 5-year national longitudinal study. The overall survey response rate for the second wave is 72%. Participants are Hispanic couples 18 years of age or older ( N = 387). Results show that, among men, lower acculturation is positively associated with higher acculturation stress, which is directly related to a greater likelihood of involvement in IPV. These associations are also present among women. However, data for women show an additional path linking higher levels of acculturation directly to IPV. Drinking is not associated with IPV, independent of gender. Acculturation, directly or through acculturation stress, increases the likelihood of IPV.
Transposition of EU social policy in Poland: are there different `worlds of compliance' in East and West?
Authors: Leiber Simone
Published: October 2007

Recent studies on the implementation of EU social policy directives in the EU-15 demonstrate a considerable compliance gap. These findings lead to the question: What about the new member states? Will Eastern enlargement contribute to a further widening of this gap? This article provides a systematic comparison of the legal transposition of six selected EU social policy directives in Poland with transposition (problems) of the same directives in the EU-15. The article shows that policy effects of the EU social acquis in Poland were not higher than in the old member states. Extensive EU monitoring has contributed to an extremely high transposition performance of Poland. Recent research on compliance distinguishes three `worlds of compliance' in the EU-15. Analysing the legal transposition of EU social policy directives in Poland shows that, as yet, there are no signs of a particular fourth `Eastern world of compliance'.
Microworld Development
Authors: Fischer Mathias M. , Barnabè Federico
Published: October 2007

The article presents the outcomes of a group model-building project at a chemical company that produces calcium carbide. The project led not only to the creation of a system dynamics model describing the production process but also to a microworld, a computer-based interactive learning environment meant to reproduce most of the features of the operating and controlling software actually used in the company. The process of organizational learning, the gaining of a better common understanding of the production process, and the development of the different mental models of the plant operators were some of the project's main goals. Moreover, the method followed during the project can be considered as general and can be used mainly in a variety of production processes in most manufacturing industrial firms both for the modeling of production processes and for teaching and training the operators who manage such systems.
God of war, worldly ruler, and craft specialists in the Meroitic Kingdom of Sudan
Authors: Haaland Gunnar , Haaland Randi
Published: October 2007

Interpreting the archaeological remains from the Kushite civilization of Sudan is fraught with methodological difficulties. Egyptian, Greek, and Roman written sources give some clues, but the Meroitic script is still not interpreted. The large slag mounds in the ancient capital of Meroe indicate that iron production played an important role, but this cannot serve as a sufficient explanatory cause for the maintenance of centralized power. In addition to its iron production, written and archaeological remains both testify to the importance of the strategic location of Meroe in the trade networks between Africa and Egypt. However, maintenance of state power over a thousand years requires more than control over material resources. The stability of political centers is significantly dependent on a legitimating ideology. Here, we draw particular attention to the images and temples dedicated to the war god Apedemak; he is symbolically associated with rulers, as well as with iron production. Drawing on comparative ethnography and the sociology of caste we suggest that the material remains are consistent with a redistributive political economy based on caste-like principles.
Erwinia carotovora elicitors and Botrytis cinerea activate defense responses in Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Ponce de León Inés , Oliver Juan Pablo , Castro Alexandra , Gaggero Carina , Bentancor Marcel , Vidal Sabina
Published: October 2007

Background

Vascular plants respond to pathogens by activating a diverse array of defense mechanisms. Studies with these plants have provided a wealth of information on pathogen recognition, signal transduction and the activation of defense responses. However, very little is known about the infection and defense responses of the bryophyte, Physcomitrella patens, to well-studied phytopathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine: i) whether two representative broad host range pathogens, Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora (E.c. carotovora) and Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea), could infect Physcomitrella, and ii) whether B. cinerea, elicitors of a harpin (HrpN) producing E.c. carotovora strain (SCC1) or a HrpN-negative strain (SCC3193), could cause disease symptoms and induce defense responses in Physcomitrella.

Results

B. cinerea and E.c. carotovora were found to readily infect Physcomitrella gametophytic tissues and cause disease symptoms. Treatments with B. cinerea spores or cell-free culture filtrates from E.c. carotovora
SCC1 (CF(SCC1)), resulted in disease development with severe maceration of Physcomitrella tissues, while CF(SCC3193) produced only mild maceration. Although increased cell death was observed with either the CFs or B. cinerea, the occurrence of cytoplasmic shrinkage was only visible in Evans blue stained protonemal cells treated with CF(SCC1) or inoculated with B. cinerea. Most cells showing cytoplasmic shrinkage accumulated autofluorescent compounds and brown chloroplasts were evident in a high proportion of these cells. CF treatments and B. cinerea inoculation induced the expression of the defense-related genes: PR-1, PAL, CHS and LOX.

Conclusion

B. cinerea and E.c. carotovora elicitors induce a defense response in Physcomitrella, as evidenced by enhanced expression of conserved plant defense-related genes. Since cytoplasmic shrinkage is the most common morphological change observed in plant PCD, and that harpins and B. cinerea induce this type of cell death in vascular plants, our results suggest that E.c. carotovora CFSCC1 containing HrpN and B. cinerea could also induce this type of cell death in Physcomitrella. Our studies thus establish Physcomitrella as an experimental host for investigation of plant-pathogen interactions and B. cinerea and elicitors of E.c. carotovora as promising tools for understanding the mechanisms involved in defense responses and in pathogen-mediated cell death in this simple land plant.
Molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis B virus genotypes in Pakistan
Authors: Alam Muhammad Masroor , Zaidi Sohail Zahoor , Malik Salman Akbar , Shaukat Shahzad , Naeem Asif , Sharif Salmaan , Angez Mehar , Butt Javed Aslam
Published: October 2007

Background

Eight genotypes of Hepatitis B virus designated A-H, have been known but in Pakistan, no such data is available on the prevalent HBV genotypes. Therefore, the subject study was conducted to determine HBV genotypes in the indigenous Pakistani population.

Methods

A total of 690 individuals were enrolled for HBV screening with EIA and nested PCR. Positive samples were further analyzed to determine HBV genotypes (A-F) by multiplex-PCR using type specific primers.

Results

110 (15.94%) individuals were positive for HBV, including 64% males and 36% females. Out of these, 66 samples (65.34%) were classified into genotype D, 27 (26.73%) were of genotype B while 5(4.95%) had genotype A. In 3 (2.98%) samples, multiple genotypes were detected (genotype A+B; 2(1.99%) and genotypes B+D; 1(0.99%). Nine (8.18%) samples remained untyable.

Conclusion

In Asia, genotypes B and C are the most prevalent but our study reveals that genotype D is predominant and HBV infection constitutes a significant health problem in Pakistan.
High prevalence of lack of knowledge of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction inPakistan and its contribution to delayed presentationto the hospital
Authors: Khan Muhammad S , Jafary Fahim H , Faruqui Azhar M , Rasool Syed I , Hatcher Juanita , Chaturvedi Nish , Jafar Tazeen H
Published: October 2007

Background

We conducted an observational study to determine the delay in presentation to hospital, and its associates among patients experiencing first Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods

A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD) in Karachi. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The primary outcome was delay in presentation, defined as a time interval of six or more hours from the onset of symptoms to presentation to hospital. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with prehospital delay.

Results

A total of 720 subjects were interviewed; 22% were females. The mean age (SD) of the subjects was 54 (± 12) years. The mean (SE) and median (IQR) time to presentation was 12.3 (1.7) hours and 3.04 (6.0) hours respectively. About 34% of the subjects presented late. Lack of knowledge of any of the symptoms of heart attack (odds ratio (95% CI)) (1.82 (1.10, 2.99)), and mild chest pain (10.05 (6.50, 15.54)) were independently associated with prehospital delay.

Conclusion

Over one-third of patients with AMI in Pakistan present late to the hospital. Lack of knowledge of symptoms of heart attack, and low severity of chest pain were the main predictors of prehospital delay. Strategies to reduce delayed presentation in this population must focus on education about symptoms of heart attack.
High content image analysis for human H4 neuroglioma cells exposed to CuO nanoparticles
Authors: Li Fuhai , Zhou Xiaobo , Zhu Jinmin , Ma Jinwen , Huang Xudong , Wong Stephen TC
Published: October 2007

Background

High content screening (HCS)-based image analysis is becoming an important and widely used research tool. Capitalizing this technology, ample cellular information can be extracted from the high content cellular images. In this study, an automated, reliable and quantitative cellular image analysis system developed in house has been employed to quantify the toxic responses of human H4 neuroglioma cells exposed to metal oxide nanoparticles. This system has been proved to be an essential tool in our study.

Results

The cellular images of H4 neuroglioma cells exposed to different concentrations of CuO nanoparticles were sampled using IN Cell Analyzer 1000. A fully automated cellular image analysis system has been developed to perform the image analysis for cell viability. A multiple adaptive thresholding method was used to classify the pixels of the nuclei image into three classes: bright nuclei, dark nuclei, and background. During the development of our image analysis methodology, we have achieved the followings: (1) The Gaussian filtering with proper scale has been applied to the cellular images for generation of a local intensity maximum inside each nucleus; (2) a novel local intensity maxima detection method based on the gradient vector field has been established; and (3) a statistical model based splitting method was proposed to overcome the under segmentation problem. Computational results indicate that 95.9% nuclei can be detected and segmented correctly by the proposed image analysis system.

Conclusion

The proposed automated image analysis system can effectively segment the images of human H4 neuroglioma cells exposed to CuO nanoparticles. The computational results confirmed our biological finding that human H4 neuroglioma cells had a dose-dependent toxic response to the insult of CuO nanoparticles.
Quantum dot imaging for embryonic stem cells
Authors: Lin Shuan , Xie Xiaoyan , Patel Manishkumar R , Yang Yao-Hung , Li Zongjin , Cao Feng , Gheysens Oliver , Zhang Yan , Gambhir Sanjiv S , Rao Jiang Hong , Wu Joseph C
Published: October 2007

Background

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) hold increasing potential for cellular imaging both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, we aimed to evaluate in vivo multiplex imaging of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells labeled with Qtracker delivered quantum dots (QDs).

Results

Murine embryonic stem (ES) cells were labeled with six different QDs using Qtracker. ES cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation were not adversely affected by QDs compared with non-labeled control cells (P = NS). Afterward, labeled ES cells were injected subcutaneously onto the backs of athymic nude mice. These labeled ES cells could be imaged with good contrast with one single excitation wavelength. With the same excitation wavelength, the signal intensity, defined as (total signal-background)/exposure time in millisecond was 11 ± 2 for cells labeled with QD 525, 12 ± 9 for QD 565, 176 ± 81 for QD 605, 176 ± 136 for QD 655, 167 ± 104 for QD 705, and 1,713 ± 482 for QD 800. Finally, we have shown that QD 800 offers greater fluorescent intensity than the other QDs tested.

Conclusion

In summary, this is the first demonstration of in vivo multiplex imaging of mouse ES cells labeled QDs. Upon further improvements, QDs will have a greater potential for tracking stem cells within deep tissues. These results provide a promising tool for imaging stem cell therapy non-invasively in vivo.
Elevated extracellular matrix production and degradation upon bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) stimulation point toward a role for BMP-2 in cartilage repair and remodeling
Authors: Blaney Davidson Esmeralda N , Vitters Elly L , van Lent Peter LEM , van de Loo Fons AJ , van den Berg Wim B , van der Kraan Peter M
Published: October 2007

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been proposed as a tool for cartilage repair and as a stimulant of chondrogenesis. In healthy cartilage, BMP-2 is hardly present, whereas it is highly expressed during osteoarthritis. To assess its function in cartilage, BMP-2 was overexpressed in healthy murine knee joints and the effects on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis and degradation were evaluated. Moreover, the contribution of BMP in repairing damage induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1) was investigated. Ad-BMP-2 was injected intra-articularly into murine knee joints, which were isolated 3, 7, and 21 days after injection for histology, immunohistochemistry, and autoradiography. In addition, patellar and tibial cartilage was isolated for RNA isolation or measurement of PG synthesis by means of 35SO42- incorporation. To investigate the role for BMP-2 in cartilage repair, cartilage damage was induced by intra-articular injection of IL-1. After 2 days, Ad-BMP-2, Ad-BMP-2 + Ad-gremlin, Ad-gremlin, or a control virus was injected. Whole knee joints were isolated for histology at day 4 or patellae were isolated to measure 35SO42- incorporation. BMP-2 stimulated PG synthesis in patellar cartilage on all days and in tibial cartilage on day 21. Aggrecan mRNA expression had increased on all days in patellar cartilage, with the highest increase on day 7. Collagen type II expression showed a similar expression pattern. In tibial cartilage, collagen type II and aggrecan mRNA expression had increased on days 7 and 21. BMP-2 overexpression also induced increased aggrecan degradation in cartilage. VDIPEN staining (indicating matrix metalloproteinase activity) was elevated on day 3 in tibial cartilage and on days 3 and 7 in patellar cartilage, but no longer was by day 21. Increased NITEGE staining (indicating aggrecanase activity) was found on days 7 and 21. In IL-1-damaged patellar cartilage, BMP-2 boosted PG synthesis. Blocking of BMP activity resulted in a decreased PG synthesis compared with IL-1 alone. This decreased PG synthesis was associated with PG depletion in the cartilage. These data show that BMP-2 boosts matrix turnover in intact and IL-damaged cartilage. Moreover, BMP contributes to the intrinsic repair capacity of damaged cartilage. Increased matrix turnover might be functional in replacing matrix molecules in the repair of a damaged cartilage matrix.
The impact of infliximab treatment on quality of life in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Authors: Han Chenglong , Smolen Josef S , Kavanaugh Arthur , van der Heijde Désirée , Braun Jürgen , Westhovens René , Zhao Ning , Rahman Mahboob U , Baker Daniel , Bala Mohan
Published: October 2007

In this study, we compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and study the effect of treatment with infliximab on the HRQoL of patients with these diseases. Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) data from the placebo-controlled phases of 4 studies of infliximab in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (n = 1990) were evaluated. Data came from the Anti-TNF Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Concomitant Therapy (ATTRACT) (n = 428), the Safety Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis with REMICADE Therapy (START) (n = 1083), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Study for the Evaluation of Recombinant Infliximab Therapy (ASSERT) (n = 279), and the Infliximab Multinational Psoriatic Arthritis Clinical Trial II (IMPACT II) (n = 200). SF-36 assessments were made at weeks 0, 10, 30, and 54 in ATTRACT, weeks 0, 6, and 22 in START, weeks 0, 12, and 24 in ASSERT, and weeks 0 and 14 in IMPACT II. All patient populations had significantly impaired physical aspects of HRQoL at baseline relative to the general population of the United States, and the magnitude of impairment was similar across the diseases. Mean baseline physical component summary scores were 29 in the RA cohort, 32 in the PsA cohort, and 29 in the AS cohort. In all 3 diseases, patients who received infliximab showed significant improvement in physical component summary scores compared with those who received placebo. The magnitude of the difference of improvement (effect size, 95%CI) between infliximab and placebo groups was similar in the AS (10.1, 9.2–11.0), PsA (8.6, 7.8–9.4), and RA (10.1, 9.2–11.0) cohorts. Patients with RA and those with PsA treated with infliximab also showed greater improvement in the mental component summary score than those in the placebo group with an effect size of 4.6 (4.2–5.1) in RA and 2.7 (2.4–3.1) in PsA. Patients in large randomized controlled studies of infliximab in RA, PsA, and AS had similar impairment in physical aspects of HRQoL at baseline and showed significantly greater improvement in HRQoL after treatment with infliximab.
Site of Oncologic Specialty Care for Older Adolescents in Utah
Authors: Albritton Karen H. , Wiggins Charles H. , Nelson Harold E. , Weeks Jane C.
Published: October 2007

Purpose

Adolescents with cancer may access oncologic care from pediatric or adult medical centers, given overlapping age eligibility. However, some recent data suggest a benefit to adolescents with certain cancers when treated at pediatric centers or on pediatric protocols. We used a population-based registry to determine the site of care of children, adolescents, and young adults (age 0 to 24 years) with newly diagnosed cancer.

Patients and Methods

From the Utah Cancer Registry 1994 to 2000, new malignant cases in patients aged 0 to 24 years were chosen; data including diagnosis, home ZIP code and sites of oncologic care were abstracted. Distance between home ZIP code and Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC; Salt Lake City, Utah), the state's sole site of pediatric oncology care, was determined.

Results

Sixty-six percent of Utah 15- to 19-year-olds with cancer were never seen by a PCMC oncologist. Even among this narrow age range, utilization of the pediatric center dropped with each additional year of age. Not unexpectedly, few of those with epithelial malignancies in this age group were seen at PCMC. But surprisingly, 47% of the older adolescents with leukemia, 66% with brain tumors, and 71% with lymphoma never saw a pediatric oncologist. After consideration of age and diagnosis, distance the patient lived from PCMC had a negligible effect on the likelihood of an adolescent being seen there.

Conclusion

The referral of adolescents with cancer to a pediatric oncology center diminishes greatly with age, and is moderately influenced by diagnosis and minimally by distance from center. Further study should investigate reasons for referral patterns, and impact on outcomes.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest by Authors of Clinical Trials and Editorials in Oncology
Authors: Riechelmann Rachel P. , Wang Lisa , O'Carroll Aoife , Krzyzanowska Monika K.
Published: October 2007

Purpose

There is concern that financial relationships between sponsors and investigators may bias research results. Our objective was to evaluate the epidemiology of conflicts of interest (COIs) among authors of clinical trials and editorials in oncology and the relationship between COI disclosure and source of funding.

Methods

We did a cross-sectional survey of clinical trials and editorials of anticancer agents and supportive care medications published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) during a 1-year period.

Results

Of 1,533 articles published in JCO between January 1, 2005, and January 31, 2006, 332 met our inclusion criteria; 289 (87%) were clinical trials, and 43 (13%) were editorials. The pharmaceutical industry entirely or partially funded 44% of the clinical trials. At least one COI was disclosed in 69% of clinical trials and 51% of editorials. The most common types of COI reported by authors were consultancy fees, honoraria, and research funds. The highest monetary levels of interest reported by authors were for research grants, but the majority of authors with COIs received less than US$10,000. In multivariable analysis, authors of clinical trials conducted in North America (North America v Europe: odds ratio [OR] = 2.9, P = .002) and authors of trials funded entirely (industry only v nonprofit: OR = 13.8, P < .001) or partially (both industry and nonprofit v nonprofit only: OR = 5.8, P < .001) by industry were more likely to report personal COIs.

Conclusion

COIs are common in clinical cancer research and usually take the form of consultancy fees, honoraria, and research funds. Source of study funding was significantly associated with COI disclosure.
Glycosylation and Malonylation of Quercetin, Epicatechin, and Catechin by Cultured Plant Cells
Authors: Shimoda Kei , Otsuka Takanao , Morimoto Yoko , Hamada Hatsuyuki , Hamada Hiroki
Published: October 2007

Quercetin was converted to quercetin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl)-β-d-glucoside through the regioselective glucosylation at 3-position of quercetin and the following regioselective malonylation at 6-position of sugar moiety of quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucoside with cultured Nicotiana tabacum cells. On the other hand, N. tabacum cells glucosylated epicatechin and catechin to the corresponding 3′-, 5-, and 7-O-β-d-glucosides, respectively.
Reaction of Copper(II) Complexes with Na2S2. An Alternative Method for the Preparation of Disulfido–Dicopper(II) Complexes
Authors: Inosako Masayuki , Shimokawa Chizu , Sugimoto Hideki , Kihara Nobuhiro , Takata Toshikazu , Itoh Shinobu
Published: October 2007

The reaction of copper(II) complexes supported by β-diketiminate ligands with Na2S2 has been examined as an alternative method for the preparation of (μ-η2:η2-disulfido)dicopper(II) complexes.
A Novel Negative-working Photoimaging Material Based on a Base-amplifying Silicone Resin Tethering Phenylsulfonylethyl Groups
Authors: Inoue Satoru , Arimitsu Koji , Abe Yoshimoto , Ichimura Kunihiro
Published: October 2007

We have developed a base-sensitive silicone resin tethering phenylsulfonylethyl units as base-amplifying groups showing high thermal stability. The resin underwent a base proliferation reaction autocatalytically to generate amino groups on its side chains, which accelerated the base-catalyzed hydrolytic condensation of residual ethoxysilyl units in its main chain. Furthermore, a film of the resin sensitized with a photobase generator provided a negative-working photoimaging material with a high sensitivity.
Reversible Immobilization of Protein into Hydrogel Using Designed Coiled-coil Peptides
Authors: Murota Kazutoshi , Sakamoto Seiji , Kudo Kazuaki
Published: October 2007

By using a heteromeric coiled-coil interaction between peptides, both immobilization of a protein into polymer hydrogel and an efficient release of the protein from the hydrogel were achieved.
Process evaluation of a nurse-led telemonitoring programme for patients with asthma
Authors: Willems Daniëlle C M , Joore Manuela A , Hendriks Johannes J E , van Duurling Raymond A H , Wouters Emiel F M , Severens Johan L Y
Published: October 2007

We performed a process evaluation of a nurse-led telemonitoring programme for patients with asthma. The indicators used to evaluate the programme were feasibility, consistency of peak expiratory flow (PEF) tests, compliance and patient satisfaction. Patients in the intervention group received a home monitor in which spirometry results and symptoms could be recorded. They were asked to measure PEF in the morning and evening. A nurse studied the home monitoring data and took stepwise actions in accordance with the intervention protocol. During a 12-month study period, 55 patients were allocated to the intervention group (26 adults and 29 children). Although technical and logistical problems did occur, the dropout rate was low. At least 75% of the PEF manoeuvres were valid for two-thirds of the patients. Compliance with the study protocol was high. The average number of recorded PEF tests was 1.5 per day, which was less than the two tests per day that were required by the protocol. Patient satisfaction was high and, after one year, less than 20% of the participants chose to discontinue their participation. The results indicate that nurse-led telemonitoring for a motivated group of patients with mild to moderate asthma is feasible and reliable, and satisfying to patients.
Two-year experience with telemedicine in the follow-up of patients in home peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Gallar Paloma , Vigil Ana , Rodriguez Isabel , Ortega Olimpia , Gutierrez Magdalena , Hurtado Jesus , Oliet Aniana , Ortiz Milagros , Mon Carmen , Herrero Juan C , Lentisco Carolina
Published: October 2007

We evaluated the use of telemedicine in the long-term control of stable patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis at home. From September 2003 to August 2005, patients were randomly selected from current cases and invited to join study group A, in which they had telemedicine support. Patients not selected for this group, or who refused the invitation, were placed in study group B, and used for comparison. There were 25 patients in group A and 32 patients in group B. Videoconferencing equipment was installed in each patient's home, connected to a videoconferencing unit at the hospital by three ISDN lines. Patients in group A were followed for a mean of 8 months (range 3–24) with alternate months of teleconsultations and hospital visits. A total of 172 teleconsultations were conducted. A mean of 22 min (SD 9) were spent on each teleconsultation, significantly less than in hospital consultations, which took a mean of 33 min (SD 8) ( P<0.01). In 148 teleconsultations (89%) medical treatment was modified. In 4 cases (2%) patients needed a hospital visit. In all instances (100%) the condition of the catheter exit site and the presence of oedema could be evaluated. In group A, the estimated cost of telemedicine was €198 and that of a hospital visit was €177. The mean hospitalization rate was 2.2 days/patient/year in group A and 5.7 days/patient/year in group B ( P<0.05). Home telemedicine appears to be clinically useful in the long-term follow-up of stable patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, and the costs and savings also seem to be encouraging.
The junior doctor's virtual consulting room
Authors: Wood Eleanor , Rankin Alexandra , Berlingieri Pasquale , Epstein Owen
Published: October 2007

We assessed the usability of the Virtual Consulting Room (VCR), a Web-based guidance application providing direct access to specialist knowledge. The VCR guides the user through the patient journey from first presentation to final destination. Four pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) were informed of the availability of the VCR which was accessible from all ward computers at the Royal Free Hospital. During a six-week study, 52 patients were assessed by four PRHOs. The VCR was accessed for all 52 patients. A questionnaire was completed in 49 cases (94%). In 43 of the 49 cases (88%), the PRHOs reported that the VCR supported clinical decision-making, and in 46 cases (94%) it improved their knowledge. Use of the VCR altered the PRHOs investigations in 24 cases (49%), changed the management plan in 18 cases (37%) and the decision to refer in 10 cases (20%). The present study showed that the VCR was easy to use, educational, supported clinical decision-making and affected patient management.
Using an interactive module to enhance and understand 3D cavity navigation: a patient's view
Authors: Botero Francisco J Herrera , Newball Andrés A Navarro , Tobón Cesar A Marín
Published: October 2007

We examined the views of patients and health specialists about the value of simulations of endoscopic procedures. The simulators used were the Interactive Module for Cavity Navigation (IMCA) and the Web Environment for Surgical Skills Training in Otolaryngology (WESST-OT). Fourteen patients were given an explanation about the simulations and then completed a questionnaire. The majority of patients (86%) stated that they would feel confident after an explanation with the simulation environment and most of them (93%) said that they would like to have post-procedural information available via the Web. The majority of the specialists stated that they would use the simulation environment for patient education and most of them said that they would publish post-procedural information on the Web. The present study provides preliminary evidence that the IMCA and the WESST-OT simulation environments can be used to enhance the experience of patients both pre- and post-procedure.
Optimal Customer Relationship Management Using Bayesian Decision Theory: An Application for Customer Selection
Authors: Venkatesan Rajkumar , Kumar V. , Bohling Timothy
Published: October 2007

This study addresses significant challenges that practitioners face when using customer lifetime value (CLV) for customer selection. First, the authors propose a Bayesian decision theory–based customer selection framework that accommodates the uncertainty inherent in predicting customer behavior. They develop a joint model of purchase timing and quantity that is amenable for selecting customers using CLV. Second, the authors compare performance of the proposed customer selection framework (1) with the current customer selection procedure in the collaborating firm and (2) with different customer-level cost allocation rules that are necessary for computing CLV. The study finds that given a budget constraint, customers selected by means of a Bayesian decision theory–based framework (i.e., using the maximized expected CLV of a customer and the corresponding optimal marketing costs as an estimate of future costs) provide the highest profits. The study provides guidelines for implementation and illustrates how the proposed customer selection framework can aid managers in enhancing marketing productivity and estimating return on marketing actions.
Measuring Consumer and Competitive Impact with Elasticity Decompositions
Authors: Steenburgh Thomas J.
Published: October 2007

Marketing investments are designed to change consumer behavior in ways that help goods compete in the marketplace. Previous research has focused on using elasticity decompositions to measure how these investments affect either consumer decision making or competing goods. On the one hand, decision-based decompositions attribute the growth in own-good demand to changes in the consumers’ decision-making processes. On the other hand, unit-based and share-based decompositions attribute the same growth to either rivalrous or nonrivalrous sources. The objective of this article is to provide a clear and accurate method that simultaneously attributes the growth in own-good demand to changes in (1) consumers’ decisions, (2) competitive demand, and (3) competitive market share. The author accomplishes this by settling some confusion about what the decision- and share-based decompositions mean, by discussing how each of the decompositions are related to the others, and by discussing the research questions that each of the decompositions can answer. From a managerial perspective, the author discusses how this method can be used to simplify and clarify the data needed for decision making.
Form versus Function: How the Intensities of Specific Emotions Evoked in Functional versus Hedonic Trade-Offs Mediate Product Preferences
Authors: Chitturi Ravindra , Raghunathan Rajagopal , Mahajan Vijay
Published: October 2007

This article examines the emotional and behavioral consequences of making functional versus hedonic trade-offs. Building on the proposed correspondence between functionality and a prevention focus and between hedonics and a promotion focus, the authors predict that contexts involving functional versus hedonic trade-offs evoke a variety of both negative and positive emotions, including guilt/anxiety, sadness/ disappointment, cheerfulness/excitement, and confidence/security. These predictions are confirmed. Furthermore, an analysis of the intensities of these specific emotions reveals the following additional insights: (1) Under conditions in which the options in a choice set meet or exceed both functional and hedonic cutoffs, consumers attach greater importance to the hedonic attribute, and (2) whereas the functionally superior option is preferred in choice tasks, the hedonically superior one is preferred in willingness-to-pay tasks.
Book Reviews
Authors: LAUNAY ROBERT
Published: October 2007

The Illusion of Cultural Identity. Jean‐François Bayart, Steven Rendall, Janet Roitman, Cynthia Schoch, and Jonathan Derrick, trans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. xiii + 303 pp., notes, index.
Book Reviews
Authors: RETHMANN PETRA
Published: October 2007

Beyond Memory: The Crimean Tatar's Deportation and Return. Greta Lynn Uehling. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004. 294 pp., map, photographs, notes, references, index.
Neither here nor there: Mexican immigrant workers and the search for home
Authors: STRIFFLER STEVE
Published: October 2007

In this article, I explore how immigrant workers have understood the shift from seasonal migration between Mexico and California to permanent settlement in the U.S. South. I suggest not only that understandings, memories, and the physicality of places are produced in tension with one another but also that the ongoing experience of migration is itself key for shaping how subjectivities and places are constituted through the contradictions embedded in them. I also argue that even as immigrant settlers become more invested in the United States, the idea and experience of a community rooted in Mexico but spanning multiple places retains its appeal in part because it plays such a powerful role in daily life in the United States.
Advocacia em saúde no Brasil contemporâneo
Authors: Dallari Sueli Gandolfi , Barber-Madden Rosemary , Torres-Fernandes Marília de Castro , Shuqair Nur Shuqaira Mahmud Said Abdel Qader , Watanabe Helena Akemi
Published: October 2007

Apresenta-se o conceito de advocacia em saúde, por meio da descrição de seus elementos, sua prática e seus agentes. A necessidade da formulação de tal conceito surge da função que tem a universidade, entre outras, de identificar demandas sociais e oferecer alternativas que busquem a superação de obstáculos. A ênfase é centrada na participação social, assegurada na Constituição, promulgada em 1988, e que desde então tem sido tomada como referência no desenvolvimento dos mecanismos de construção da cidadania, especialmente quando relacionada à conquista do direito à saúde.
Epidemiologia dos acidentes por serpentes peçonhentas no Estado do Ceará - Brasil
Authors: Feitosa Regina Fátima Gonçalves , Melo Iva Maria Lima Araújo , Monteiro Helena Serra Azul
Published: October 2007

Foram notificados à Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Ceará, no período de 1992 a 1995, 688 acidentes causados por serpentes peçonhentas (média anual de 172 casos), com coeficiente de incidência variando entre 0,9 e 5,8 por 100.000 habitantes. Dentre 473 casos em que houve referência ao gênero da serpente 88,3% foram por Bothrops, 10,6% por Crotalus, 0,8% por Micrurus e 0,2% por Lachesis. Os meses de abril a setembro apresentaram maior incidência. Houve predominância de pacientes do sexo masculino (75,6%) e com idades entre 10 a 49 anos (72,3%). As regiões anatômicas mais freqüentemente picadas foram os membros inferiores (81,9%) e superiores (14,7%). O atendimento na unidade de saúde que notificou o acidente ocorreu dentro de seis horas em 66,9% dos casos. A letalidade foi de 0,7%. Os acidentados foram sobretudo agricultores (62,7%), a maioria dos casos ocorreu no próprio local de trabalho. Os autores reforçam que os acidentes ofídicos no Estado do Ceará podem ser considerados acidentes de trabalho, acometem principalmente os trabalhadores rurais e constituem causa de óbito.
Encontro de Panstrongylus megistus em ecótopo artificial: domiciliação ou mera visitação?
Authors: Nascimento Carlos , Marassá Ana M. , Curado Izilda , Piazza Roxane M.F.
Published: October 2007

No combate à doença de Chagas no Brasil, foi utilizado como primeira medida o controle químico, erradicando o Triatoma infestans, o mais importante vetor, tal combate vem favorecendo o aparecimento de vetores secundários, como Triatoma sordida and Panstrongylus megistus, espécies que podem eventualmente ser encontradas no domicílio, como os triatomíneos provenientes de Bernardino de Campos e Sete Barras por nós examinados que foram encontrados no domicílio e positivos para o T. cruzi, sugerindo que, apesar da doença de Chagas estar controlada no Estado de São Paulo, existe a necessidade de aprimorar os conhecimentos sobre o comportamento destes vetores para que mudanças nas medidas de controle sejam introduzidas.
Consolidômetro: equipamento pneumático-eletrônico para avaliação do estado de consolidação do solo
Authors: Silva Reginaldo Barboza da , Lanças Kleber Pereira , Junior Masquetto Batista
Published: October 2007

A obtenção da pressão de preconsolidação (sigmap) se dá a partir de um método denominado ensaio de consolidação, cuja definição consiste no processo de transferência gradual de uma carga aplicada ao solo até que todos os vazios deste sejam comprimidos. O ensaio de consolidação preconiza a utilização de um consolidômetro. Entretanto, esse equipamento não é ainda produzido no Brasil, e os modelos disponíveis para importação são de alto custo. Motivos como estes têm inviabilizado, em alguns casos, o acesso por parte de pesquisadores e agricultores às informações sobre a Capacidade de Suporte de Carga (CSC) do solo. Como alternativa, este trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver e avaliar um equipamento pneumático-eletrônico que possibilitasse a obtenção de sigmap. O equipamento foi desenvolvido no Núcleo de Estudos de Máquinas e Pneus Agrícolas (NEMPA) da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da Universidade Estadual Paulista, campus de Botucatu, SP. A sua avaliação se deu por meio de ensaios uniaxiais, os quais foram realizados em corpos-de-prova de duas camadas (superficial e subsuperficial) de um Latossolo Vermelho. O desempenho do equipamento foi constatado durante a sua avaliação; nas curvas de compressão do solo, verificaram-se incrementos dos valores de densidade do solo, isto é, variação no recalque dos corpos-de-prova em função do aumento dos níveis de pressão e de crescentes teores de água. A eficiência do equipamento na realização dos ensaios uniaxiais pôde ser comprovada pelo comportamento diferenciado tanto das curvas de compressão como das equações obtidas para os modelos de capacidade de suporte de carga, as quais foram capazes de detectar os diferentes graus de consolidação, assim como as distintas histórias de tensão da estrutura de cada camada do Latossolo Vermelho.
Hastes florais de helicônia sob deficiência de macronutrientes
Authors: Castro Ana Cecília Ribeiro de , Loges Vivian , Costa Andreza Santos da , Castro Mario Felipe Arruda de , Aragão Fernando Antônio Souza de , Willadino Lilia Gomes
Published: October 2007

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar características pós-colheita da primeira haste floral de plantas de Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata Aristeguieta, cultivar Golden Torch, sob deficiência de macronutrientes. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, mediante técnica do elemento faltante. As inflorescências produzidas do tratamento sob omissão de N apresentaram coloração laranja-pálido e deformação nas hastes florais. O comprimento e o diâmetro da haste floral e o comprimento da inflorescência foram reduzidos nos tratamentos com omissão de N, P ou K em até 31,23%, em relação ao tratamento completo. A massa de matéria seca e a durabilidade pós-colheita das hastes florais foram reduzidas em 67 e 38,46%, respectivamente, em ambos os tratamentos com omissão de N ou K. As deficiências desses macronutrientes reduziram, ainda, a produção de hastes florais, a partir do segundo perfilho emitido. Hastes florais com maior massa de matéria seca e diâmetro apresentaram maior durabilidade pós-colheita. O teor de carboidrato na parte subterrânea mostrou correlação positiva (0,90) com a massa de matéria seca das hastes florais. Hastes florais com maior teor de carboidratos solúveis nas folhas retardaram a emissão da inflorescência.
Dieter Henrich, leitor de Kant: sobre o fato legitimador na dedução transcendental das categorias
Authors: Klotz Christian , Nour Soraya
Published: October 2007

Este artigo reconstrói os momentos principais dos trabalhos de Dieter Henrich sobre a filosofia teórica de Immanuel Kant. Henrich procura esclarecer e recuperar os fundamentos da teoria do conhecimento de Kant, dos quais seus seguidores teriam se distanciado, a partir da análise da dedução transcendental das categorias. De início, Henrich investiga a estrutura da prova na dedução, comparando a primeira e a segunda edição da Crítica da Razão Pura. Em seguida, Henrich investiga no argumento kantiano a relação entre o princípio de identidade da consciência de si, por um lado, e objetividade, por outro. Por fim, estendendo a comparação à Crítica da Razão Prática, Henrich elucida o programa e a metodologia na dedução, mostrando como o "fato" legitimador se torna o elemento fundamental.