bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hindmilk and weight gain in preterm very low‐birthweight infants
Authors: OGECHI AMALI‐ADEKWU , WILLIAM OGALA , FIDELIA BODE‐THOMAS
Published: April 2007

Background: Feeding of own mother’s milk to preterm very low‐birthweight infants often results in suboptimal weight gain in these infants for whom energy requirements are high but in whom volume tolerance is limited. Therefore the purpose of the present paper was to investigate the effect of selective hindmilk feeding on the growth of preterm very low‐birthweight babies.

Methods: Preterm very low‐birthweight babies admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria between April 2000 and July 2001 were randomized to hindmilk and composite breast milk feeding for 2 weeks. End‐points were weight, occipitofrontal head circumference and length.

Results: For small‐for‐gestational‐age babies, the infants fed on hindmilk gained weight at a mean rate of 12.92 ± 10.95 g/kg per day as compared with a mean rate of 5.01 ± 17.37 g/kg per day for their controls on composite milk (P < 0.0001). For appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age babies, the mean rate of weight gain for the hindmilk group was 12.99 ± 10.75 g/kg per day while that for their controls on composite milk was 8.29 ± 20.56 g/kg per day (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the rates of increase in length and occipitofrontal head circumference between the groups. The lipid content of the hindmilk was 1.6‐fold that of composite milk.

Conclusion: Preterm very low‐birthweight babies fed hindmilk had a higher rate of weight gain compared to those fed composite milk. It is recommended that the hindmilk fraction of expressed breast milk be predominantly used for the feeding of preterm very low‐birthweight babies while in hospital to help shorten their duration of hospital stay.
Prenatal diagnosis of isolated non‐compaction of the ventricular myocardium: Study of six cases
Authors: ÖZKUTLU SÜHEYLA , BOSTAN ÖZLEM , KARAGÖZ TEVFIK , DEREN ÖZGÜR , TEKINALP GÜLSEVIN
Published: April 2007

Background: Isolated non‐compaction of the ventricular myocardium (INVM) is characterized by prominent and excessive trabeculations in one or more ventricular wall segments, with deep intertrabecular recesses communicating directly with the ventricular cavities. Diagnosis of the disease is based on the 2‐D echocardiographic features. Despite the fact that many cases of INVM have been reported in children and adults since the initial description of the disease, it has been diagnosed in only a few fetuses up to now. Therefore, failure to diagnose on fetal echocardiography is probably more common. There are different opinions about diagnosis of INVM on fetal echocardiography.

Method: In the present study, six cases of fetal INVM diagnosed between 1999 and 2004 were evaluated for prenatal diagnosis, clinical features and natural course.

Results: In four cases, diagnosis was made in the prenatal period, and in the other two cases it was done on postnatal echocardiography at the first day of life. Careful reevaluation of these two patient’s fetal echocardiographic recordings confirmed the postnatal diagnosis retrospectively.

Conclusions: The examiner should be aware of the existence of this rare anomaly. If echocardiographic examination shows ventricular hypertrophy and/or poor ventricular function, INVM should be considered and in order to see recesses, ventricle walls should be investigated by zooming in and comparing frame by frame.
Human heme oxygenase‐1 deficiency: A lesson on serendipity in the discovery of the novel disease
Authors: KOIZUMI SHOICHI
Published: April 2007

The first case of human heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 deficiency was reported by Yachie et al. at our laboratory in the Department of Pediatrics, Angiogenesis and Vascular Development, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, in 1999. In the present paper I would like to review this novel disease. Our studies into HO‐1 deficiency were called by us ‘Kanazawa version Project X’. From the story of our successful discovery we have learned that serendipity is a very important spiritual factor. Serendipity is the making of fortunate and unexpected discoveries by chance (from its possession by the heroes in the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip).
Risk factors for protein–energy malnutrition in children under 5 years: Study from Luangprabang province, Laos
Authors: PHENGXAY MANILAY , ALI MOAZZAM , YAGYU FUMIHIRO , SOULIVANH PHENGXAY , KUROIWA CHUSHI , USHIJIMA HIROSHI
Published: April 2007

Background: Laos is one of the poorest countries in which chronic malnutrition is highest. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of and to identify risk factors associated with protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) in children under 5 years of age in Luangprabang province, Laos.

Methods: This cross‐sectional study was undertaken from March to May 2004. Anthropometric measurements of 798 children were done and data were transformed into height‐for‐age, weight‐for‐age and weight‐for‐height ratios. Mothers were also interviewed with a semi‐structured questionnaire. Anthropometric data were entered into Nutstat in Epi‐Info 2000 and transferred to SPSS for analysis.

Results: There was a high prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting, that is, 54.6%, 35%, and 6% respectively. It was also noted that children aged 12–23 months and Khmu ethnic children had a higher prevalence of stunting (65% and 66%) and underweight (45% and 40%), respectively. However, it was also found that boys were more prone to be stunted and underweight. Furthermore, restricted intake of meats, vegetables during illness, and low maternal education were main risk factors for child malnutrition in the study area.

Conclusion: Socioeconomic‐demographic factors, low maternal education, poor nutrition knowledge for mother and feeding practices for sick children are affecting children’s health regarding stunting and underweight. It is recommended that an improvement in societal infrastructure, better maternal education and nutrition are needed to address the child malnutrition issue.
Factors determining prenatal HIV testing for prevention of mother to child transmission in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: KOMINAMI MAYUMI , KAWATA KIMIKO , ALI MOAZZAM , MEENA HENRY , USHIJIMA HIROSHI
Published: April 2007

Background: The objectives of the study were (i) to evaluate the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services in Temeke district, Tanzania and (ii) to identify factors for non‐acceptance of HIV testing among pregnant mothers in the area.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used in face‐to‐face interviews at five health centers in the district. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of the refusal of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing with risk factors.

Results: Two hundred and seventy‐three (68.1%) of the participants had already had HIV testing, while 128 (31.9%) had not. Participants’ general knowledge of HIV was high, but specific knowledge of mother to child transmission (MTCT) was relatively low. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, frequencies of antenatal clinic visits, awareness of MTCT and intensive family support were significantly and inversely associated with the refusal of HIV testing.

Conclusions: Frequency of antenatal care visits, spreading information on HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome especially MTCT, and husbands’ intensive support are significant factors for increase of HIV test acceptance among pregnant women in the study area.
Situational analysis of maternal and child health services for foreign residents in Japan
Authors: HOTTA MASANAKA , ALI MOAZZAM , USHIJIMA HIROSHI , LEE SETSUKO , NAKAMURA YASUHIDE , SHIGETA MASANOBU , KOBAYASHI NOBORU
Published: April 2007

Background: Since the 1980s, the number of foreign residents in Japan has continuously been on the rise. In order to improve the foreign resident support services infrastructure and effectiveness, a survey was conducted at a national level from February to August 2002. The survey was done via a mailed questionnaire to all municipalities in Japan.

Methods: For the purpose of the study, municipalities were divided into four groups based on level of urbanization and numbers of foreign residents in the area. The situation of the foreign maternal and child support programs were compared and the municipal administrations were evaluated. In addition, the attribution analysis and evaluation of the foreigner support program was conducted in each municipality group.

Results: The evaluation of the current service support program for foreigner was not judged positively in the majority (95%) of the municipalities. In the non‐urbanized municipalities with a low composition of foreigners, the foreigner mother and child support program were not functional compared with other regions. Additionally, various factors were highlighted based on attribution analysis among each group. Although most of the municipalities recognized the importance of the foreign resident support program, the evaluations showed a wide gap between intention and reality.

Conclusion: It is recommended that the barriers as identified in the research results are rectified, and the current situation improved based on municipality characteristics, local demands and the needs of the population. The efficient use of limited fiscal and human resources is also advocated by strengthening of cooperation with other official bodies and also employing foreign residents to work in public offices for facilitating the foreign residents support programs.
A case of pulmonary type of ovarian small cell carcinoma
Authors: Suzuki Nao , Kameyama Kaori , Hirao Takeshi , Susumu Nobuyuki , Mukai Makio , Aoki Daisuke
Published: April 2007

Small cell carcinoma is a rare form of ovarian cancer with a poor prognosis. It is divided into two types, the hypercalcemic and the pulmonary type, of which the latter is extremely rare. A 49‐year‐old woman presented with an acute abdomen and was suspected to have torsion of a left ovarian tumor, which was followed up with an emergency operation. Postoperative pathological examination gave a diagnosis of the pulmonary type of ovarian small cell carcinoma. Six courses of paclitaxel and carboplatin therapy were given as adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient has survived for 36 months without recurrence. Here we present an extremely rare patient with the pulmonary type of ovarian small cell carcinoma.
How does a concomitant surgery effect the outcomes of Burch colposuspension?
Authors: Sivaslioglu Ahmet A. , Haberal Ali , Dolen Ismail , Deveci Zehra S.
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To evaluate the outcomes of 90 Burch colposuspension procedures with or without concomitant surgery after a 6‐year follow‐up period.

Methods:  The study was carried out in the urogynecology department of Ankara Etlik Women's and Maternity Teaching Hospital, Turkey. Ninety women who were diagnosed as having genuine stress urinary incontinence (GSI) were enrolled in this study. The Burch colposuspension procedure was performed for the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence with or without a concomitant surgery

Results:  After a 6‐year follow‐up, it has been noted that concomitant surgeries have no effect on the outcome of continence (P > 0.05). Pelvic prolapse incidence was 7%. No voiding difficulty was observed.

Conclusion:  The study shows that concomitant surgeries have no effect on the outcome of continence. However, concomitant surgery can increase operational morbidity. Modified McCall culdoplasty does not seem to be a preventive measure for pelvic organ prolapse.
Hemodynamic vulnerability to acute hypoxia in day 10.5–16.5 murine embryos
Authors: Furukawa Seishi , Tinney Joseph P. , Tobita Kimimasa , Keller Bradley B.
Published: April 2007

Aim:  We tested the hypothesis that murine embryonic cardiovascular (CV) function is vulnerable to transient changes in maternal transplacental oxygen support during the critical period of CV morphogenesis.

Methods:  We measured maternal heart rate (MHR), maternal blood pressure (MBP), and embryonic heart rate (EHR) during mechanical ventilatory support, then induced transient maternal hypoxia daily from gestation day (ED) 10.5 to ED16.5 in pregnant ICR mice. Hypoxia was induced by suspending mechanical ventilation for 30 s or by the replacement of inspired oxygen with nitrogen (75% or 100%) for 30 s while maintaining ventilation.

Results:  We noted a rapid onset of maternal hypotension in response to hypoxia that quickly recovered following reoxygenation. Following a brief lag time that was not gestation specific, EHR decreased in response to hypoxia. The magnitude of embryo bradycardia and the rate of EHR decline and recovery displayed gestation specific patterns. The magnitude of embryo bradycardia was similar from ED10.5 to ED13.5 and then increased with gestation. Before ED13.5, only 40% of embryos recovered to the baseline EHR following transient maternal hypoxia (vs 80% of embryos after ED 13.5). EHR following recovery exceeded baseline EHR after ED15.5. Nitrogen inhalation (75% or 100%) produced changes in maternal and embryonic hemodynamics similar to suspended ventilation induced hypoxia.

Conclusions:  The mammalian embryo is vulnerable to transient decreases in maternal oxygenation during the critical period of organogenesis and the gestational specific EHR response to hypoxia may reflect both increased embryonic oxygen demand and the maturation of neurohumoral heart rate regulation.
Effect of maternal fasting on uterine arterial blood flow
Authors: Mirghani Hisham M. , Salem Muntha , Weerasinghe Sarath D.
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To determine the effect maternal diet pattern on the uterine artery Doppler flow velocimetry.

Methods:  This is a cross‐sectional observational study. The uterine artery Doppler flow velocimetry was measured between 20 and 24 weeks' gestation in healthy pregnant women observing Ramadan. For each fasting mother, a non‐fasting healthy pregnant woman was recruited as a control. Maternal blood glucose level was measured.

Results:  A total of 106 pregnant women were studied. The mean hours since last oral intake were significantly longer, and the maternal glucose level was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. The Mean (95% CI) of the uterine artery pulsatility index, resistance index, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and systolic/diastolic ratio was similar in both groups.

Conclusion:  Maternal fasting is not associated with significant changes in the uterine artery Doppler flow velocimetry.
Comparison of midline and Pfannenstiel incision for radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy in cervical carcinoma
Authors: Ayhan Ali , Dursun Polat , Gultekin Murat , Yuce Kunter
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To compare Pfannenstiel and midline incisions with respect to efficacy and early postoperative surgical site complications in patients with early stage cervical carcinoma.

Methods:  Patients with cervical carcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy during 1995–2004 are retrospectively reviewed. There were 40 patients in the Pfannenstiel group and 71 patients in the midline group. Patients' age, type of incision, operative time, hospitalization length, postoperative surgical site complications, pre and postoperative Hb levels, number of extracted pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes were the variables collected from the patients' files and oncology follow‐up forms.

Results:  Mean age (53.5 ± 6.96 vs 55.9 ± 10.5, P = 0.2) and preoperative Hb levels of patients (12.52 ± 1.48 vs 12.94 ± 1.34, P = 0.17) were not statistically different in midline and Pfannenstiel groups, respectively. Operative time (141.8 ± 36 vs 135.8 ± 31 min), number of extracted lymph nodes in pelvic (23.05 ± 9.7 vs 23.5 ± 8.07) and paraaortic areas (3.17 ± 1.68 vs 2.66 ± 1.15) were not significantly different among the midline and Pfannenstiel groups, respectively (P > 0.05). Although postoperative incisional complications were more common in the midline group, this difference did not reach a significant level (11.3% vs 7.5%, P = 0.52). Duration of hospitalization was not significantly different between the midline and Pfannenstiel groups, respectively (6.3 ± 2.69 vs 6.2 ± 2.72 days, P = 0.21). Multivariate analysis revealed postoperative Hb levels to be significantly different among the groups (P = 0.017, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.08–2.35).

Conclusion:  Pfannenstiel incision can be used for radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy in selected patients with cervical carcinoma, without any negative influence on optimal resectability of tumor and surgical morbidity.
Isolated torsion of fallopian tube in a premenarcheal 12‐year‐old girl
Authors: Goktolga Umit , Ceyhan Temel , Ozturk Haluk , Gungor Sadettin , Zeybek Nazif , Keskin Ugur , Çiftpinar Tolga , Baser Iskender
Published: April 2007

Isolated torsion of fallopian tubes should be considered even at premenarcheal ages in cases of acute pelvic pain, and prompt surgery can preserve the tube and thus fertility. It is an uncommon emergency event and a difficult condition to evaluate clinically. This report focuses on a 12‐year‐old premenarcheal girl who presented with acute pelvic pain of 2 days. Pelvic ultrasound showed an adnexal mass on the left side. Laparoscopy was performed and an isolated tubal torsion was discovered. The tube was necrotic and salpingectomy was performed. The appendix appeared to be hyperemic and erectile. Appendectomy was also performed to rule out appendicitis. It's our recommendation that in the differential diagnosis of acute lower abdominal pain of girls, isolated torsion of the fallopian tubes should be considered. Also, preservation of the tube and fertility should be possible with prompt surgical intervention.
Clinical pitfalls of pain recurrence in endometriosis arising in the posterior vaginal fornix
Authors: Tachibana Masahito , Murakami Takashi , Utsunomiya Hiroki , Terada Yukihiro , Yaegashi Nobuo , Okamura Kunihiro
Published: April 2007

Endometriotic nodules in the lower genital tract often cause dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. We report here a case of posterior vaginal fornix endometriosis that was overlooked for several years. We performed a trans‐vaginal resection after the associated pain was not relieved by repetitive gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy or abdominal surgery. After the resection, the patient's symptoms disappeared. The patient subsequently conceived and proceeded to a full‐term delivery. The pathological diagnosis was ‘endometriosis of the vagina.’ Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the progesterone receptor‐positive cells outnumbered the estrogen receptor‐positive cells. We emphasize that the existence of vaginal lesions should be considered in cases in which pain has not improved despite long‐term GnRHa administration, or in cases involving dyspareunia. To provide appropriate treatment, attentive evaluation and careful examination of the disease are necessary for a patient with prolonged unsatisfactory progress.
Comparative study of transperineal and transabdominal sonography in the diagnosis of placenta previa
Authors: Rani Peddireddy Reddi , Haritha Pandara Harihavan , Gowri Raju
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To assess the role of transperineal sonography (TPS) in the diagnosis of placenta previa in the third trimester and to compare it with transabdominal sonography (TAS).

Methods:  Seventy‐five suspected cases of placenta previa were subjected to TAS with half full bladder and to the TPS with empty bladder to visualize the inner surface of the cervix and inferior edge of the placenta. The presence or absence of placenta previa was confirmed at delivery.

Results:  TAS depicted the inferior edge of placenta in 98.7% of cases compared to 96% with TPS. Internal cervical os was visualized in 98.7% with TAS compared to 100% with TPS. Placenta previa was confirmed at delivery in 74 cases with one false positive in TPS, six false positive in TAS. The positive predictive value (PPV) value in the diagnosis of placenta previa was 92% with TAS compared to 98.6% with TPS. Accuracy of TPS in diagnosing placenta previa was 98.7%. PPV in the diagnosis of minor degree placenta previa was less 86.36% with TAS compared to TPS 100% though for major degree both are in agreement.

Conclusion:  TPS is a valuable procedure to compliment TAS in the diagnosis of placenta previa and helps to exclude false positive and to determine the mode of delivery, although it cannot replace TAS.
Severe, gestational, non‐familial, non‐genetic hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Eskandar Osama , Eckford Seumas , Roberts Tim L.
Published: April 2007

Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a rare condition in pregnancy. All the cases of severe gestational hypertriglyceridemia that have been reported previously in the literature were caused by genetic mutations or familial hypertriglyceridemia secondary to lipoprotein lipase deficiency or apolipoprotein C‐II deficiency. We report the first case of severe, non‐genetic, non‐familial, pregnancy‐induced hypertriglyceridemia. The genetic underlying causes were excluded by molecular genetic investigation. The reported case was managed solely by strict dietary control. Hypertriglyceridemia was diagnosed incidentally during pregnancy, in this case, while taking a blood sample to check her hemoglobin level. Acute pancreatitis, which is a relatively common life threatening complication of this condition, was avoided. This report reviews the subtypes of hyperlipidemia, clinical picture, antenatal management and its effect on pregnancy and vice versa. It is important that the clinician has a clear understanding of the normal lipid profile during pregnancy, the clinical picture, the potential complications, available treatment options of hypertriglyceridemia particularly during pregnancy. The timing and route of delivery should be individualized.
Is prostate‐specific antigen a potential new marker of androgen excess in polycystic ovary syndrome?
Authors: Vural Birol , Özkan Sebiha , Bodur Harika
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To determine whether serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels are increased in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the possibility of PSA to be used as a diagnostic marker of hyperandrogenism in females.

Methods:  A total of 43 women with PCOS and 43 age‐matched healthy females were recruited in this prospective case‐control study. The subjects were compared by means of demographic parameters, hormonal and metabolic measures and serum PSA levels. The correlations between this marker and a wide variety of hormonal, biochemical, anthropometric measures were evaluated. Student's t‐test, χ2‐test and Spearman's correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis where appropriate. Statistical significance was assumed with a value of P < 0.05.

Results:  Mean body mass index, waist/hip ratio, Ferriman–Gallwey scores (FG), lutenizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone ratio, insulin resistance, serum triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein levels were demonstrated to be significantly higher in PCOS (P = 0.02, P = 0.008, P ≤ 0.001, P ≤ 0.001, P = 0.007, P ≤ 0.001, P = 0.01, respectively). Total testosterone (TT), dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate (DHEAS) levels appeared to be significantly higher in PCOS (P = 0.002, P ≤ 0.001, respectively). Serum PSA levels were found to be significantly higher in PCOS (PSA: 0.026 ± 0.023 ng/mL in PCOS, PSA: 0.009 ± 0.008 ng/mL in control cases, P < 0.001). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was significantly lower in the subjects with PCOS (P < 0.001). Additionally, positive correlations between PSA and FG scores (r: 0.417, P ≤ 0.001), PSA and TT (r: 0.456, P = 0.03) and between PSA and DHEAS (r: 0.268, P = 0.02) were found. A negative correlation between SHBG and PSA was apparent (r : −0.40, P = 0.04).

Conclusion:  PSA is a well‐established tumor marker of prostatic adenocarcinoma. It is also shown to be produced by extraprostatic tissues and fluids. As the gene expression of PSA is upregulated by the androgens and progestins in hormonally responsive tissues, hyperandrogenic syndromes such as PCOS may be associated with elevated serum PSA levels. PSA appears to be a promising marker of endogenous androgen excess in females suffering from PCOS.
THE SCOTS MAY BE BRAVE BUT THEY ARE NEITHER HEALTHY NOR HAPPY
Authors: Bell David , Blanchflower David G.
Published: April 2007

On almost all measures of physical health, Scots fare worse than residents of any other region of the UK and often worse than the rest of Europe. Deaths from chronic liver disease and lung cancer are particularly prevalent in Scotland. The self‐assessed well‐being of Scots is lower than that of the English or Welsh, even after taking into account any differences in characteristics. Scots also suffer from higher levels of self‐assessed depression or phobia, accidental death and suicide than those in other parts of Great Britain. This result is particularly driven by outcomes in Strathclyde and is consistent with the high scores for other measures of social deprivation in this area. On average, indicators of social capital in Scotland are no worse than in England or Wales. Detailed analysis within Scotland, however, shows that social capital indicators for the Strathclyde area are relatively low. We argue that these problems need to be directly targeted as they seem unlikely to be fixed by more indirect policies aimed at raising economic growth.
MONEY, SEX AND RELIGION: THE CASE OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Authors: Smith Ian , Sawkins John W. , Mochrie Robert I.
Published: April 2007

This empirical study addresses whether the gender of a minister has any effect on remuneration in the Church of Scotland in 2004. The data set merges three cross‐sectional sources, namely denominational data, church census information and local geographic (postcode) characteristics. We find that male ministers are more likely to be matched to affluent churches permitted to pay a voluntary stipend premium all else equal. Moreover, conditional on eligibility, there is evidence that male clergy are more likely to receive this bonus. The data are unable to discriminate between demand and supply side explanations of these findings.
ENDOGENOUS ECONOMIC POLICY AND THE STRUCTURE OF PRODUCTION: THEORY AND EVIDENCE
Authors: Soo Kwok Tong
Published: April 2007

This paper develops and tests a model that predicts a positive relationship between absolute levels of capital stock and how favourable are policies toward capital. The theoretical model we use is a model of campaign contributions and electoral competition, extended to consider the implications for factor mobility and hence the structure of production. There are two main predictions. First, countries with more capital stock tend to implement more pro‐capital policies. Second, in a two‐country model, the country that initially has more capital will be able to attract capital inflows from the other country. Given additional assumptions on the production side, this yields the prediction that the more different are countries' policies, the more different will be the set of goods that they produce. These predictions of the model are confirmed using panel data on cross‐state differences in policies and economic outcomes in India.
MONETARY POLICY IN EMU WITH ASYMMETRIC TRANSMISSION AND NON‐TRADABLE GOODS
Authors: Gros Daniel , Hefeker Carsten
Published: April 2007

Which policy objective should a central bank pursue in a monetary union with asymmetric monetary transmission and different rates of inflation? Should it base its decisions on the EU‐wide average of inflation and growth or should it instead focus on (appropriately weighted) national utility losses based on national rates of inflation and growth? We find that a policy which minimises the sum of national utility losses leads to higher average utility if the variability of common shocks is large relative to idiosyncratic demand shocks in the non‐tradables sectors. We draw conclusions for the appropriate weight of common and national objectives in the union.
DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTY: ROBUST RULES IN MONETARY POLICY
Authors: Demertzis Maria , Tieman Alexander F.
Published: April 2007

We argue that in seeking to insure against model uncertainty, monetary policy makers are often ready to trade ex post performance for greater certainty in the outcome. They thus look for rules that although not optimal ex post, have certain properties that qualify them as robust. We apply first, Gul's approach of ‘disappointment’ aversion to describe policy makers' aversion to uncertainty and then define the properties the notion of ‘robustness’ entails. With these two tools we then link the desirability of such robust rules to the degree of policy makers' aversion to uncertainty. We thus show that provided such robust rules exist, a larger degree of disappointment aversion leads to a greater emphasis on robustness in policy implementation.
The Other Margin: Do Minimum Wages Cause Working Hours Adjustments for Low‐Wage Workers?
Authors: STEWART MARK B. , SWAFFIELD JOANNA K.
Published: April 2007

This paper estimates the impact of the introduction of the UK minimum wage on the working hours of low‐wage employees using difference‐in‐differences estimators. The estimates using the employer‐based New Earnings Surveys indicate that the introduction of the minimum wage reduced the basic hours of low‐wage workers by between one and two hours per week. The effects on total paid hours are similar (indicating negligible effects on paid overtime), and lagged effects dominate the smaller and less significant initial effects within this. Estimates using the employee‐based Labour Force Surveys are typically less significant.
Reluctant Kings and Christian Conversion in Seventh‐Century England
Authors: TYLER DAMIAN
Published: April 2007

This article challenges the generally accepted notion that conversion to Christianity was unambiguously beneficial for early Anglo‐Saxon kings. It argues that the behavioural requirements of conversion frequently clashed with the social and political norms of early English kingdoms and thus often made it an unattractive option. The article concentrates on the relationships between kings and politically powerful groups within their kingdoms. It is suggested that Christianity often posed a threat to the positions of these groups and that because kings relied on the support of the elites it was only under exceptional circumstances that a ruler would embrace the new religion.
Persistence, Principle and Patriotism in the Making of the Union of 1707: The Revolution, Scottish Parliament and the squadrone volante
Authors: PATRICK DEREK J. , WHATLEY CHRISTOPHER A.
Published: April 2007

Since the 1960s most historians of the Union of 1707 have considered it a less than glorious chapter in Scotland's history. Driven by ambition and greed, Scots politicians, covetous of English wealth and swayed by promises and bribes, bartered their nation's independence for personal gain. Those genuinely committed to political union were in a minority. The following article maintains that this interpretation is based on an essentially short‐term approach to the subject. Concentrating on the worsening relations between Scotland and England in the years immediately preceding the Union gives a distorted impression of what was a more enduring concern. It suggests the Revolution of 1688–9 had a far greater impact on the politics of union than previously anticipated, with the religious and political freedoms it guaranteed shaping the beliefs of a large number of Scots MPs who sat in Parliament 1706–7, almost half of whom had been members of King William's Convention Parliament with a majority supporting union. Focusing on the squadrone volante– one of the two much‐maligned Scots unionist parties – the article traces the ideological roots of its key members and illustrates the various factors that led them to endorse an incorporating union which offered security for presbyterianism and a solution to Scotland's economic underdevelopment. Not denying that management and ambition played a significant part in securing the Union, it highlights the fact that amongst the Scottish political elite there was also a degree of genuine commitment and principled support.
Interpretation of erosion rates on rock surfaces
Authors: Inkpen Rob
Published: April 2007

Simple linear regression is used to interpret erosion rates on two shore platforms from the Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. Using this analysis it is suggested that measured rates could be viewed as representatives of populations of erosion rates moving about a changing fitness landscape. The potential of such a view for understanding erosion rates is outlined.
Continuity and change: (re)constructing environmental geographies in late Soviet and post‐Soviet Russia
Authors: Graybill Jessica K
Published: April 2007

Environmental studies conducted worldwide often overlook the knowledge traditions of the locales where they are conducted. Addressing this issue, I investigated the geographic journal literature of late Soviet (1980–1989) and post‐Soviet (1990–2003) Russia. Notable trends are increasing criticism of environmental and resource management in Russia and a (re)turn to pre‐socialist Russian theorizations of society–nature interactions. Specifically, the noösphere, ethnogenesis and geosystems are trends in the literature that signify how Russian geographers (re)construct environmental knowledge. For non‐Russian geographers working in Russia, awareness of these trends situates place‐based knowledge relative to multiple cultures (ethnic, scientific) and time periods, promoting cross‐cultural understanding of different traditions of geographic inquiry.
Automated registration of high‐resolution satellite images
Authors: Zhang Chunsun , Fraser Clive S.
Published: April 2007

Automatic registration of remotely sensed imagery is an important technique in GIS as geographical databases need to undergo frequent updating due to rapid changes in the physical environment. While satellite imagery, with its recently enhanced spatial, spectral and temporal resolution, allows for accurate and reliable detection and characterisation of patterns of change, a key factor that dictates the validity and reliability of change detection results is the quality of image registration. There is a need to develop robust registration procedures for multitemporal, multi‐spectral and/or multiresolution imagery captured from different sensors to facilitate the change detection process. This paper discusses an approach for automated image registration based on a hierarchical image matching strategy. Following an initial feature‐point extraction phase, the method uses the similarity of grey levels to find homologous point candidates across the images. A hierarchical image pyramid is used to enhance both the success rate and reliability of matching while reducing the computational complexity. The adopted approach also uses contextual information to achieve locally consistent matches. Implementation and testing of the proposed method has involved imagery from different sensors. Here, results are reported for IKONOS and QuickBird data over test sites in Hobart, Australia and Thimphu, Bhutan. The potential of operational automatic image registration in the process of change detection is illustrated by means of these test results.
Occlusion‐Compensated True Orthorectification For High‐Resolution Satellite Images
Authors: Chen Liang‐Chien , Teo Tee‐Ann , Wen Jen‐Yu , Rau Jiann‐Yeou
Published: April 2007

This paper describes a method to generate true ortho‐images from high‐resolution satellite images. Multi‐view images are used to compensate for hidden areas. This work includes three steps: (1) the generation of traditional ortho‐images using a terrain model, (2) the relief correction for buildings, and (3) the detection of, and compensation for, hidden areas. A rational function model (RFM) is used to determine the geometric correspondence between the image space and the object space. In the generation of traditional ortho‐images, RFM parameters and a digital terrain model (DTM) are employed to rectify tilt displacements and relief displacements for the terrain. Then, using a digital building model (DBM), relief displacements for buildings are computed. The purpose of the detection of hidden areas is to avoid double mapping. Considering the satellite's small field of view, an efficient method for the detection of hidden areas and building rectification is proposed. The test area covers the city of Hsinchu in northern Taiwan. The test images are obtained from the QuickBird satellite.
Ngāi Tahu Historiography
Authors: Wanhalla Angela
Published: April 2007

This article outlines the trajectory of historical writing about Ngāi Tahu, the predominant Māori tribe of New Zealand's South Island. It is argued that the predominant concern of the literature has revolved around colonialism and colonisation, and within this, colonial practices of land alienation has been the preoccupation. These historic injustices have been acknowledged by the New Zealand government in a full and final settlement with Ngāi Tahu signed in 1999. With the resolution of the Ngāi Tahu land claim, the scholarship about colonialism can now be opened up to a definition that extends beyond colonial power and authority, to consider the multiple and diverse responses to encounter throughout the nineteenth century and beyond. This article argues for a revision of colonialism and encounter in Ngāi Tahu territory, which unites intimate experiences with colonial practices and policies. A focus on interracial marriage offers an opportunity to begin this revision.
The ‘Bring out a Briton’ Campaign of 1957 and British Migration to Australia in the 1950s
Authors: Hassam Andrew
Published: April 2007

In 1957, the Australian Government launched a new assisted migration scheme aimed at bolstering the proportion of British migrants entering Australia. The ‘Bring out a Briton’ campaign was directed at the Australian public rather than, as in previous migration campaigns, the potential migrants and the Government called on community groups to address public anxiety about the high proportion of non‐British European migrants entering Australia. The campaign focussed public debate on the future of Australia as a British country, with the Immigration Minister caught between an establishment intent on maintaining the British character of Australia through the inflow of people of ‘British stock’, and ‘New Australians’, Australians of European descent who objected to British preference. The debate reflected broader public uncertainty about Australia's place in the postwar world, and the pages of Australia's metropolitan daily newspapers witnessed the forging of the terms in which Australia's British values were recast as Australian Western values, enabling Australia to remain part of the British Commonwealth of Nations while developing a role independent of Britain within an anti‐Communist Western bloc.
Bounded Rationality
Authors: Grüne‐Yanoff Till
Published: April 2007

The notion of bounded rationality has recently gained considerable popularity in the behavioural and social sciences. This article surveys the different usages of the term, in particular the way ‘anomalosus’ behavioural phenomena are elicited, how these phenomena are incorporated in model building, and what sort of new theories of behaviour have been developed to account for bounded rationality in choice and in deliberation. It also discusses the normative relevance of bounded rationality, in particular as a justifier of non‐standard reasoning and deliberation heuristics. For each of these usages, the overview discusses the central methodological problems.
Musical Expressiveness
Authors: Matravers Derek
Published: April 2007

This article assesses the current state of the philosophical debate regarding the expression of emotion in music, or expressive properties of music. It defines the question, explores a few false‐starts and then considers the solution that expressive properties are a matter of a certain ‘way of appearing’ of the music. This solution is associated with Stephen Davies and Jerrold Levinson, whose work is discussed. It is argued that work in this area has reached an impasse, and it is not clear where we should go next.
Ontological Commitment1
Authors: Rayo Agustín
Published: April 2007

The paper has two main objectives. On the one hand, I offer an elucidation of the notion of ontological commitment. On the other, I assess the adequacy of criteria of ontological commitment for different languages. The paper ends with some speculative remarks about the significance of ontological commitment.
The institutionalisation of public opinion: Bentham’s proposed constitutional role for jury and judges
Authors: Ben-Dor Oren
Published: April 2007

Jeremy Bentham’s constitutional writings are innovative and radical. Unlike constitutional arrangements that sought to attain virtue though the institutional complexity entailed by the doctrine of Separation of Powers, Bentham’s constitution was socially dynamic and designed to facilitate constant and efficient interaction between amorphous public opinion and officials. Furthermore, it was in constant and free interaction between public opinion and officials that Bentham envisioned the determination and effectuation of constitutional limits, namely both the justification and limitation of coercion. The paper begins by outlining Bentham’s principles for a good constitution. It then discusses in detail Bentham’s proposals for incorporating public opinion into legal proceedings through radical reform to the jury. Such incorporation, he believed, would intensify and help to focus public gaze by which officials’ aptitude, and as a result a good government, would be attained with the minimal expense. The proposed institutionalisation of public opinion enabled Bentham to entrust the judiciary with a constitutional role. Judges were conceived as the interface between officialdom and focused manifestations of popular sovereignty. So entrusted, judges could determine constitutional limits, thus protecting against abuse of power. The reforms discussed in this paper are a testimony of the extent to which Bentham saw virtue both in the people and in free public debate.
The Paradox of Evil in Tiantai Buddhist Philosophy
Authors: Liu Jee Loo
Published: April 2007

A unique thesis of Tiantai Buddhism is the claim that human nature contains evil and that even the Buddha cannot be completely rid of his evil nature. The thesis was most vigorously defended and developed by a Tiantai monk, Zhili (ad 960–1028). This thesis has attracted a lot of discussion among Tiantai scholars. Their debate focuses on whether this thesis is truly representative of the original doctrine of the Tiantai founder, Zhiyi (of the sixth century ad). In 2000, Brook Ziporyn published a book Evil and/or/as the Good, which offers Tiantai's evil‐nature thesis a novel explanation and justification. This book sparked a series of discussion on whether evil is not only necessary but also ‘valuable’. This present project gives an overview of these debates and provides a fresh insight on the topic.
A Nav1.7 channel mutation associated with hereditary erythromelalgia contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability and displays reduced lidocaine sensitivity
Authors: Sheets Patrick L. , Jackson James O. , Waxman Stephen G. , Dib‐Hajj Sulayman D. , Cummins Theodore R.
Published: April 2007

Mutations in the TTX‐sensitive voltage‐gated sodium channel subtype Nav1.7 have been implicated in the painful inherited neuropathy, hereditary erythromelalgia. Hereditary erythromelalgia can be difficult to treat and, although sodium channels are targeted by local anaesthetics such as lidocaine (lignocaine), some patients do not respond to treatment with local anaesthetics. This study examined electrophysiological differences in Nav1.7 caused by a hereditary erythromelalgia mutation (N395K) that lies within the local anaesthetic binding site of the channel. The N395K mutation produced a hyperpolarized voltage dependence of activation, slower kinetics of deactivation, and impaired steady‐state slow inactivation. Computer simulations indicate that the shift in activation is the major determinant of the hyperexcitability induced by erythromelalgia mutations in sensory neurons, but that changes in slow inactivation can modulate the overall impact on excitability. This study also investigated lidocaine inhibition of the Nav1.7‐N395K channel. We show that the N395K mutation attenuates the inhibitory effects of lidocaine on both resting and inactivated Nav1.7. The IC50 for lidocaine was estimated at 500 μm for inactivated wild‐type Nav1.7 and 2.8 mm for inactivated Nav1.7‐N395K. The N395K mutation also significantly reduced use‐dependent inhibition of lidocaine on Nav1.7 current. In contrast, a different hereditary erythromelalgia mutation (F216S), not located in the local anaesthetic binding site, had no effect on lidocaine inhibition of Nav1.7 current. Our observation of reduced lidocaine inhibition on Nav1.7‐N395K shows that the residue N395 is critical for lidocaine binding to Nav1.7 and suggests that the response of individuals with hereditary erythromelalgia to lidocaine treatment may be determined, at least in part, by their specific genotype.
Independent vasomotor control of rat tail and proximal hairy skin
Authors: Tanaka Mutsumi , Ootsuka Youichirou , McKinley Michael J. , McAllen Robin M.
Published: April 2007

Quantitative differences are known to exist between the vasomotor control of hairy and hairless skin, but it is unknown whether they are regulated by common central mechanisms. We made simultaneous recordings from sympathetic cutaneous vasoconstrictor (CVC‐type) fibres supplying back skin (hairy) and tail (hairless) in urethane‐anaesthetized, artificially ventilated rats. The animal's trunk was shaved and encased in a water‐perfused jacket. Both tail and back skin CVC‐type fibres were activated by cooling the trunk skin, and independently by the resultant fall in core (rectal) temperature, but their thresholds for activation differed (skin temperatures 38.8 ± 0.4°C versus 36.8 ± 0.4°C, core temperatures 38.1 ± 0.2°C versus 36.8 ± 0.2°C, respectively; P < 0.01). Back skin CVC‐type fibres were more responsive to skin than to core cooling, while the reverse applied to tail fibres. Back skin CVC‐type fibres were less responsive than tail fibres to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) microinjected into the preoptic area. Spectral analysis showed no significant coherence between tail and back skin CVC‐type fibre activities during cooling. After preoptic PGE2 injection, a coherent peak at 1 Hz appeared in some animals; this disappeared after partialization with respect to ventilatory pressure, indicating that it was attributable to common ventilatory modulation. Neuronal inhibition in the rostral medullary raphé by microinjected muscimol (2 mm, 60–120 nl) suppressed both tail and back skin CVC‐type fibre activities, and prevented their responses to subsequent skin cooling. These results indicate that thermoregulatory responses of hairless and hairy skin vessels are controlled by independent neural pathways, although both depend on synaptic relays in the medullary raphé.
How the Brain Translates Money into Force: A Neuroimaging Study of Subliminal Motivation
Authors: Pessiglione Mathias , Schmidt Liane , Draganski Bogdan , Kalisch Raffael , Lau Hakwan , Dolan Ray J. , Frith Chris D.
Published: April 2007

Unconscious motivation in humans is often inferred but rarely demonstrated empirically. We imaged motivational processes, implemented in a paradigm that varied the amount and reportability of monetary rewards for which subjects exerted physical effort. We show that, even when subjects cannot report how much money is at stake, they nevertheless deploy more force for higher amounts. Such a motivational effect is underpinned by engagement of a specific basal forebrain region. Our findings thus reveal this region as a key node in brain circuitry that enables expected rewards to energize behavior, without the need for the subjects`awareness.