bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical management of anterior epistaxis: a national survey
Authors: Kara N , Spinou C , Gardiner Q
Published: June 2008

Introduction:

The use of nasal creams and ointments in the conservative management of anterior epistaxis is well documented and supported. This study set out to obtain a national opinion, in order to establish current practice.

Design:

A survey of all Scotland-based otolaryngology clinicians was conducted. Participants were asked which topical treatment they used in their practice, how often and for how long they advocated its use, and how they advised their patients to apply it.

Results:

The overall response rate was 91 per cent. We discuss and compare the varying responses for the questions posed, and discuss the possible reasons for these in greater detail.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates a high degree of variation in this practice, arising from a lack of concrete evidence and influenced by anecdotal experience and personal preferences. Definitive comparative studies are required if a ‘gold standard’ topical approach for the management of anterior epistaxis is to emerge.
Non-sphenopalatine dominant arterial supply of the nasal cavity: an unusual anatomical variation
Authors: Biswas D , Ross S K , Sama A , Thomas A
Published: June 2008

Objective:

We present a rare and clinically relevant anomaly of the sphenopalatine artery in relation to its blood supply of the nasal mucosa, with implications for the management of epistaxis.

Method:

Case report and review of the world literature, using Medline through Pub Med (1950–2005), EMBASE (1980–2005) and Ovid (1958–2005), searching for papers using a combination of terms including ‘spheno-palatine artery’, ‘anterior ethmoidal artery’ and ‘epistaxis’.

Results:

In the presented case of refractory epistaxis, endoscopic and subsequent endovascular management failed to identify a significant supply from the sphenopalatine arteries bilaterally. The main supply was found to be from the anterior ethmoidal arteries.

Conclusion:

After a detailed search, the authors failed to locate any similar case in the English literature.
Congenital cholesteatoma of occipital bone or intradiploic epidermoid cyst? One and the same disease
Authors: Clark M P A , Pretorius P M , Beaumont D , Milford C A
Published: June 2008

Objective:

We report an extremely rare case of congenital cholesteatoma affecting the occipital bone.

Methods:

We present a case report, plus a review of the world literature on similar lesions.

Results:

This case report describes the presentation and treatment of a congenital cholesteatoma arising in an apparently unique location within the occipital bone, with no effect on middle-ear structure or function. The different imaging characteristics of this lesion are described and illustrated. The discussion centres on the differentiation of this lesion from intradiploic epidermoid cysts, more commonly described in the neurosurgical literature. The possible methods of pathogenesis are discussed, along with treatment suggestions.

Conclusion:

Congenital cholesteatomas and intradiploic epidermoid cysts are indistinguishable both histologically and radiologically, and would appear to be the same disease.
Impact of oxygen concentration and laser power on occurrence of intraluminal fires during shared-airway surgery: an investigation
Authors: Dhar V , Young K , Nouraei S A R , Sandhu G S , Tatla T , Farrell R , Vaughan D
Published: June 2008

Objectives:

Airway fires pose a risk during laser microlaryngoscopy, and neurosurgical cotton patties, used to prevent tissue injury from stray laser beams, are a potential ignition source. Using a configuration approximating clinical practice, we experimentally assessed the relative impact of changing different ‘fire triad’ components on the occurrence of airway fires, in order to better inform patient care.

Methods:

The relative effects of wet vs dry neurosurgical patties, oxygen concentration and laser power setting on the patty ignition time were studied in a cadaveric porcine model. Data were analysed using t-test and two-way analysis of variance.

Results:

Dry patties ignited after 2.3 ± 1.2 seconds (average ± standard deviation) of continuous 5 W laser fire at 50 per cent oxygen concentration, compared with 63.9 ± 27.8 seconds for wet patties under the same laser and oxygen settings (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant reduction in the time to patty ignition when laser power settings were increased from 5 to 7.5 W, but no further reductions occurred when the power was further increased to 10 W (p < 0.05; Tukey test for multiple comparisons; two-way analysis of variance). There was no significant reduction in the time to ignition between oxygen concentrations of 50 and 75 per cent, but the time to ignition fell significantly when the oxygen concentration was further increased to 100 per cent.

Conclusion:

We suggest that surgical patties should always be soaked and should be used for relatively short periods, in order to prevent drying. If at all possible clinically, prolonged laser use at high power settings and ventilation with 100 per cent oxygen should be avoided.
Diagnostic delays in vestibular schwannoma
Authors: Teppo H , Heikkinen J , Laitakari K , Alho O-P
Published: June 2008

Objectives:

The literature on delays in vestibular schwannoma diagnosis is from the era before the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated such diagnostic delays and their impact on tumour size and on pre- and post-treatment morbidity, in a relatively recent patient series.

Study design:

Retrospective review.

Methods:

A two-centre study was conducted, including 91 consecutive vestibular schwannoma patients diagnosed between 1992 and 2006. Data on the presenting symptom and the initial medical visit were obtained from primary care records completed at the time of the initial visit; data on the tumour and the clinical course were obtained from review of the hospital chart. Data on diagnostic delays were available for 59 patients.

Results:

The median patient, professional and total diagnostic delays were three, four and 14 months, respectively. Unilateral hearing loss as the presenting symptom predicted an lengthened total diagnostic delay. Diagnostic delay had no impact on the tumour size at time of diagnosis or on the pre- and post-treatment morbidity.

Conclusions:

Delays in the diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma have shortened since the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging. Longer diagnostic delays do not seem to have significant consequences.
Patterns of admission to acute psychiatric in-patient facilities: a national survey in Italy
Authors: Preti A. , Rucci P. , Santone G. , Picardi A. , Miglio R. , Bracco R. , Norcio B. , de Girolamo G.
Published: June 2008

Background

A proper understanding of patterns of care represents a crucial step in improving clinical decision making and enhancing service provision. Only a few studies, however, have explored global patterns of psychiatric admissions nationwide, and none have been undertaken in Italy.

Method

Sociodemographic, clinical and treatment-related information was collected for 1577 patients admitted to 130 public and 36 private in-patient facilities in Italy during an index period in the year 2004. All patients were also rated using the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) rating scales.

Results

Non-affective psychoses (36%) were the most common diagnoses and accounted to a large extent for compulsory admissions. Private facilities were more likely to admit patients with organic mental disorders and substance abuse/dependence and less likely to admit patients with non-affective psychoses. Overall, 77.8% of patients had been receiving treatment by a mental health professional in the month prior to admission. In 54% of cases, the admission was solicited by patients' family members. The main factors preceding admission were impairment in work or social functioning, social withdrawal, and conflict with family members. Agitation, delusions and/or hallucinations, and the presence of multiple problems were associated with compulsory admissions, whereas depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with voluntary admissions.

Conclusions

In a mixed, public–private psychiatric care system, like the Italian one, public and private facilities admit patients with widely different clinical characteristics and needs. Family support represents an important resource for most patients, and interventions specifically addressed to relieving family burden are warranted.
Neurological soft signs and brain morphology in first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Thomann P. A. , Wüstenberg T. , Santos V. Dos , Bachmann S. , Essig M. , Schröder J.
Published: June 2008

Background

Although minor motor and sensory deficits, or neurological soft signs (NSS), are a well-established finding in schizophrenia, the cerebral changes underlying these signs are only partly understood. We therefore investigated the cerebral correlates of NSS by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Method

Forty-two patients, all receiving atypical neuroleptics, with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder and 22 healthy controls matched for age and gender were included. NSS were examined on the Heidelberg Scale after remission of the acute symptoms before discharge and correlated to density values by using optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM).

Results

NSS scores were significantly higher in patients than healthy controls. Within the patient group NSS were significantly associated with reduced grey or white-matter densities in the pre- and post-central gyrus, pre-motor area, middle and inferior frontal gyri, cerebellum, caudate nucleus and thalamus. These associations did not apply for the control group, in whom only the associations between NSS and reduced frontal gyri densities could be confirmed.

Conclusions

The pattern of cerebral changes associated with NSS clearly supports the model of ‘cognitive dysmetria’ with a disrupted cortico-cerebellar-thalamic-cortical circuit in schizophrenia. The variety of sites may correspond with the clinical diversity of NSS, which comprises both motor and sensory signs, and with the putative heterogeneity of the pathogenetic changes involved. That the respective associations did not apply for the healthy control group indicates that NSS in patients and controls refer to different pathogenetic factors.
Evidence for the cognitive mediational model of cognitive behavioural therapy for depression
Authors: Quilty L. C. , McBride C. , Bagby R. M.
Published: June 2008

Background

Although empirical support for the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) is well established, its mechanism of action is uncertain. In this investigation, we examined evidence for the cognitive mediational model in a randomized control trial involving CBT, interpersonal therapy (IPT) and pharmacotherapy (PHT) in patients with MDD.

Method

One hundred and thirty participants diagnosed with MDD were treated with CBT, IPT or PHT. Participants completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory – II and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale prior to and following treatment.

Results

The cognitive mediational model, in which dysfunctional attitudes are proposed to mediate depressive symptom reduction in response to treatment, provided a good fit to the data when contrasting CBT v. IPT, with results supporting a mediational role for dysfunctional attitude change in depressive symptom reduction. The complication model, in which dysfunctional attitudes are proposed to be a consequence of depressive symptom reduction, provided a good fit to the data when contrasting CBT v. PHT, with results supporting a mediational role for depressive symptom reduction in dysfunctional attitude change.

Conclusions

There was no evidence for a mediational role for dysfunctional attitude change in IPT. Changes in dysfunctional attitudes accompanied both CBT and PHT; however, empirical evidence suggests that the role of attitudes in treatment outcome may differ between these two treatments.
A population-based twin study of functional somatic syndromes
Authors: Kato K. , Sullivan P. F. , Evengård B. , Pedersen N. L.
Published: June 2008

Background

The mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of the functional somatic syndromes are largely unknown. No empirical study has explicitly examined how genetic and environmental factors influence the co-morbidity of these syndromes. We aimed to examine how the co-morbidity of functional somatic syndromes is influenced by genetic and environmental factors that are in common to the syndromes.

Method

A total of 31318 twins in the Swedish Twin Registry aged 41–64 years underwent screening interviews via a computer-assisted telephone system from 1998 to 2002. Four functional somatic syndromes (chronic widespread pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and recurrent headache) and two psychiatric disorders (major depression and generalized anxiety disorder) were assessed using structured questions based on standard criteria for each illness in a blinded manner.

Results

Multivariate twin analyses revealed that a common pathway model with two latent traits that were shared by the six illnesses fit best to the women's data. One of the two latent traits loaded heavily on the psychiatric disorders, whereas the other trait loaded on all four of the functional somatic syndromes, particularly chronic widespread pain, but not on the psychiatric disorders. All illnesses except the psychiatric disorders were also affected by genetic influences that were specific to each.

Conclusions

The co-occurrence of functional somatic syndromes in women can be best explained by affective and sensory components in common to all these syndromes, as well as by unique influences specific to each of them. The findings clearly suggest a complex view of the multifactorial pathogenesis of these illnesses.
A good approach to neural and behavioural development but would be even better if set in a broader context
Authors: Bateson Patrick
Published: June 2008

An attractive feature of Neuroconstructivism, Vol. I: How the Brain Constructs Cognition is its emphasis on the active role of the individual in neural and behavioural development and the importance of the interplay with the environment. Certain aspects of development are omitted, however, such as specializations for the distinctive ecologies of infancy and childhood and the scaffolding-like features of behaviour seen during development. It was also a pity that so little credit was given to many scientists who have contributed to just those aspects of development on which the authors focus.
Unimodal experience constrains while multisensory experiences enrich cognitive construction
Authors: Bremner Andrew J. , Spence Charles
Published: June 2008

Mareschal and his colleagues argue that cognition consists of partial representations emerging from organismic constraints placed on information processing through development. However, any notion of constraints must consider multiple sensory modalities, and their gradual integration across development. Multisensory integration constitutes one important way in which developmental constraints may lead to enriched representations that serve more than immediate behavioural goals.
Constructing minds: The development of mindreading abilities in typical and atypical trajectories
Authors: Campos Ruth , Sotillo María
Published: June 2008

From our deep interest in the neuroconstructivist framework, we would like to comment on two fundamental aspects of Mareschal et al.'s work: the role of neuroconstructivism for clinical work with people suffering from developmental disorders; and the relation between the process of progressive specialization and the increasing abstraction of representations in development.
A new manifesto for child development research
Authors: French Robert M.
Published: June 2008

This book is an excellent manifesto for future work in child development. It presents a multidisciplinary approach that clearly demonstrates the value of integrating modeling, neuroscience, and behavior to explore the mechanisms underlying development and to show how internal context-dependent representations arise and are modified during development. Its only major flaw is to have given short shrift to the study of the role of genetics on development.
Selectionistic neurocostructivism in evolution and development
Authors: Innocenti Giorgio M.
Published: June 2008

Neurocostructivism aims to illustrate and explain cognitive development in relation to the underlying neural structures, with the help of computational models. This enterprise should be grounded both in the evolutionary and in the developmental perspectives. In both, selection plays a fundamental role in the construction of neural and cognitive structures.
Representing development: models, meaning, and the challenge of complexity
Authors: Lickliter Robert
Published: June 2008

Neuroconstructivism(Mareschal et al. 2007a) provides a useful framework for how to integrate research from different levels of analysis to model the multidimensional dynamics of development. However, the authors overlook the topic ofmeaning, a fundamental feature of cognition and subjective experience and also downplay the nonlinear nature of developmental causality.Neuroconstructivismis overly optimistic on the point of how well current computational models can address the challenge of complexity in developmental science.
It's high time: Cognitive neuroscience lives
Authors: Pribram Karl
Published: June 2008

Neuroconstructivism (Mareschal et al. 2007a) heralds a departure from the standard “associationism” that has dominated the English speaking cognitive and neuroscience community for generations. Its central concept is context dependency: encellment, embrainment, embodiment and ensocioment. This reviewer welcomes the breath of fresh air in overcoming the “deconstructions” of postmodernism. The program is carried out with a carefully selected sample of empirical evidence with an emphasis on development. This review points to some of the books' strengths and shortcomings, and adds a few observations that carry the program further.
Mapping autism and schizophrenia onto the ontogenesis of social behaviour: A hierarchical-developmental rather than diametrical perspective
Authors: Behrendt Ralf-Peter
Published: June 2008

Co-morbidity of schizophrenia and autism is low because interpersonal concerns of schizophrenic patients presuppose developmental achievements that are absent in autism. Autism may arise if primary anxiety is not overcome at a key developmental stage by affective synchronisation between infant and caregiver. Schizophrenic patients will have learned to regulate primitive anxiety by affectively attuning to narrow social networks but remain highly vulnerable to exclusion from larger groups.
Animal models may help fractionate shared and discrete pathways underpinning schizophrenia and autism
Authors: Burne Thomas H. J. , Eyles Darryl W. , McGrath John J.
Published: June 2008

Crespi & Badcock (C&B) present an appealing and parsimonious synthesis arguing that schizophrenia and autism are differentially regulated by maternal versus paternal genomic imprinting, respectively. We argue that animal models related to schizophrenia and autism provide a useful platform to explore the mechanisms outlined by C&B. We also note that schizophrenia and autism share certain risk factors such as advanced paternal age. Apart from genomic imprinting, copy number variants related to advanced paternal age may also contribute to the differential trajectory of brain development associated with autism and schizophrenia.
Heterogeneity and hypothesis testing in neuropsychiatric illness
Authors: Deutsch Curtis K. , Ludwig Wesley W. , McIlvane William J.
Published: June 2008

The confounding effects of heterogeneity in biological psychiatry and psychiatric genetics have been widely discussed in the literature. We suggest an approach in which heterogeneity may be put to use in hypothesis testing, and may find application in evaluation of the Crespi & Badcock (C&B) imprinting hypothesis. Here we consider three potential sources of etiologic subtypes for analysis.
Creativity, psychosis, autism, and the social brain
Authors: Fitzgerald Michael , Hawi Ziarih
Published: June 2008

In the target article, Crespi & Badcock (C&B) propose a novel hypothesis based on observations that a large set of phenotypic traits exhibit diametrically opposite phenotypes in autism-spectrum versus psychotic-spectrum conditions. They propose that development of these conditions is mediated in part by alterations in “genomic imprinting.” This hypothesis is based on the model of the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes. The authors have produced a masterful discussion of the differences between psychosis and autism. Of course, another article could be written on the similarities.
Private speech, cognitive-computational control, and the autism-psychosis continuum
Authors: Frawley William
Published: June 2008

Autism and psychosis manifest private speech disruptions analogous to their diametrical opposition along the autism-psychosis continuum. Autism has naturally suppressed private speech with predictable structural deficits when it does surface; psychosis has overt but ineffectual private speech with similar structural deficits. These private speech oppositions are best understood in the context of the control processes of cognitive-computational architectures.
Imprinting and psychiatric genetics: Beware the diagnostic phenotype
Authors: Goos Lisa M.
Published: June 2008

Studies of the role of imprinted genes in psychological phenomena are long overdue. The target article is comprehensive, presenting a wealth of important and convergent evidence, and provides an excellent point of departure for further research. However, the authors' evidentiary grasp exceeds the explicatory capacity of the proposed model. Greater genotypic and phenotypic precision would significantly enhance its predictive power.
Kinship asymmetries and the divided self
Authors: Haig David
Published: June 2008

Imprinted genes are predicted to affect interactions among relatives. Therefore, variant alleles at imprinted loci are promising candidates for playing a causal role in disorders of social behavior. The effects of imprinted genes evolved in the context of patterns of asymmetric relatedness that existed within social groups of our ancestors.
Hypo- or hyper-mentalizing: It all depends upon what one means by “mentalizing”
Authors: Langdon Robyn , Brock Jon
Published: June 2008

By conceiving of autism and psychosis as diametrically opposite phenotypes of underactive and overactive mentalizing, respectively, Crespi & Badcock (C&B) commit themselves to a continuum view of intercorrelated mentalizing functions. This view fails to acknowledge dissociations between mentalizing functions and that psychotic people show a mixture of both hypo- and hyper-mentalizing.
A complete theory of psychosis and autism as diametric disorders of social brain must consider full range of clinical syndromes
Authors: Thakkar Katharine N. , Matthews Natasha , Park Sohee
Published: June 2008

We argue that autism and psychosis spectrum disorders cannot be conceptualized as polar extremes of mentalizing ability. We raise two main objections: (1) the autistic-psychotic continuum, as conceptualized by the authors, excludes defining features of schizophrenia spectrum: negative symptoms, which correlate more strongly with mentalizing impairments; and (2) little evidence exists for a relationship between mentalizing ability and positive symptoms.
Reunifying autism and early-onset schizophrenia in terms of social communication disorders
Authors: Tordjman Sylvie
Published: June 2008

Autism and early-onset schizophrenia share common dimensions of social communication deficits. The possible role of common genetic factors has to be seriously considered, such as the serotonin transporter gene that influences the severity of social communication impairments (negative symptoms) and hallucinations (positive symptoms). Autism and the negative syndrome of schizophrenia might be at one extreme of a continuum, and paranoid schizophrenia (positive symptoms) at the other extreme.
Psychosis and autism as two developmental windows on a disordered social brain
Authors: van Rijn Sophie , Swaab Hanna , Aleman André
Published: June 2008

With regard to social-cognitive deficits in autism and psychosis, Crespi & Badcock's (C&B's) theory does not incorporate the developmental context of the disorders. We propose that there is significant overlap in social-cognitive impairments, but that the exact manifestation of social-cognitive deficits is highly dependent on the dynamics of cognitive development and hence different in autism as compared to psychosis.
Evolutionary perspectives on psychoses and autism: Does genomic imprinting contribute to phenomenological antithesis?
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Ganesan
Published: June 2008

Crespi & Badcock (C&B) have presented a novel view that the influence of genomic imprinting causes diametrically opposite disorders: namely, psychoses and autism. I propose an extended hypothesis that while genomic imprinting is likely to have an influence on the pathogenesis of psychoses and autism, it might contribute to phenomenological antithesis between as well as within these disorders.
Ship's Fuzzy Domain – a Criterion for Navigational Safety in Narrow Fairways
Authors: Pietrzykowski Zbigniew
Published: June 2008

The concept of ship's domain plays an important role in navigating a ship. It is a criterion of safety in the process of making decisions by the navigator – in analyzing and assessing a navigational situation and in performing the right manoeuvre. This concept is particularly useful in restricted areas, including narrow fairways, which results from the fact that in such waters a manoeuvring area is restricted so that the criterion of the closest point of approach (CPA) cannot be used. This author has analyzed definitions of ship's domain and methods of its determination found in the literature on the subject. Then a method of navigational safety assessment using the fuzzy domain concept is proposed in reference to a ship in a restricted area. The concept and method of determination have been, respectively, defined and described. The method is based on relevant navigators' knowledge. The methods and tools for knowledge acquisition and representation make use of artificial intelligence. Ships and navigational areas of various size have been considered.
A Virtual Differential Map-Matching Algorithm with Improved Accuracy and Computational Efficiency
Authors: Liu Hongchao , Xu Hao , Scott Norville H. , Bao Yuanlu
Published: June 2008

This paper presents development and application of a real-time virtual differential map-matching approach which makes use of the slow drifting property of the GPS errors and the continuous and gradual evolving characteristic of map errors to improve the accuracy and computational efficiency. A differential vector is created to approximate the real-time deviation, which is corrected continuously along with the vehicle movement during the map-matching process. Real-life application of the algorithm to the City of Hefei, a metropolis of China, shows that it corrects both GPS errors and digital map errors reasonably well with improved computational efficiency.
The Safety and Security Systems of Maritime Navigation
Authors: Urbański J. , Morgaś W. , Kopacz Z.
Published: June 2008

This paper discusses the main issues of today's maritime navigation and its safety and security systems. Fast development of sciences and technologies, further fast development in the shipping industry, but mainly the appearance of the new very dangerous threats at sea that appeared at the beginning of this century, deeply influence the safety and security of maritime navigation and its systems. These factors are the main reasons for writing this paper.
e-Navigation and the Case for eLoran
Authors: Williams Paul , Basker Sally , Ward Nick
Published: June 2008

International discussions on the concept of e-navigation have identified a robust position-fixing system as one of the essential components. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are known to have vulnerabilities and onboard alternatives such as inertial systems have limitations. This paper considers the case for an enhanced version of the terrestrial radio-navigation system Loran to provide an alternative with performance comparable to GNSS. The paper reviews recent studies of inertial navigation systems and concludes that they do not present a fully capable backup to GNSS at present. Trials of enhanced Loran carried out in the UK by the General Lighthouse Authorities have shown that eLoran does have the potential to provide equivalent performance to GNSS over long periods and is a fully complementary system. The steps needed to provide eLoran on at least a regional basis, covering critical waterways, are considered. The international process for the specification and standardisation of eLoran is already underway and some projections are made about the timescale for full implementation, in the context of the introduction of e-Navigation. A version of this paper was first presented at NAV 07 held in Church House, London from 30th October – 1st November 2007.
Performance Evaluation of a Novel 4D Trajectory Prediction Model for Civil Aircraft
Authors: Porretta Marco , Dupuy Marie-Dominique , Schuster Wolfgang , Majumdar Arnab , Ochieng Washington
Published: June 2008

Future air traffic management will require a variety of automated decision support tools to provide conflict-free trajectories and their associated error margins. The ability to correctly forecast aircraft trajectories, i.e. trajectory prediction, is the central component of such automated tools, which will enable continued provision of safe and efficient services in increasingly congested skies. Current approaches for trajectory prediction, available in the open literature, make a number of assumptions in order to simplify the mathematical models of aircraft motion. Furthermore, many existing methods perform three-dimensional trajectory prediction, in which information on expected times of arrival at significant points along the intended aircraft route is not considered. This results in inaccurate trajectories not suitable for conflict detection and resolution. This paper presents a novel four-dimensional trajectory prediction scheme that makes full use of data on expected times of arrival. A three dimensional point-mass model for a standard civil aircraft is used to emulate aircraft dynamics, while the aircraft operating mode is characterised through a set of discrete variables. The aircraft performance model used relies on the EUROCONTROL Base of Aircraft Data (BADA) set and the computed trajectory accounts for the effects of wind. Inputs include navigation data and aircraft intent information, which unambiguously define the trajectory to be computed according to the flight plan. In the proposed model, aircraft intent information is summarised in a simple, but effective, set of instructions contained in a Flight Script. Furthermore, two key innovations to trajectory prediction are introduced. Firstly, a novel scheme to emulate the control system used for aircraft lateral guidance is proposed and secondly, on the basis of aircraft intent information, a new procedure to estimate speed is presented. The performance of the enhanced trajectory model proposed is quantified using a detailed operational dataset (real flight data) captured in a European airspace. The results show that, over an extended time-horizon, the enhanced model is more accurate than two representative existing methods, and that it is suitable for reliable trajectory prediction.
From Black-Grey-White Detention-based Lists of Flags to Black-Grey-White Casualty-based Lists of Categories of Vessels?
Authors: Degré Thomas
Published: June 2008

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) establishes each year in its annual report the traditional “Black-Grey-White” lists of flags. These tables are based on processed performances of flags over a 3-year period, showing the full spectrum between quality flags and flags with a poor performance. The performance of each flag is calculated by the Paris MoU on the basis of inspected and detained ships flying the considered flag, using binomial calculus. Furthermore, black listed flags are one of the criteria, among others, used by the Paris MoU for targeting vessels for their inspections. Using the same binomial calculation method as mentioned above but considering casualties instead of detentions and a multivariate approach instead of considering the flag only, it is possible to extend the Black-Grey-White lists of flags of the Paris MoU based on detentions, to Black-Grey-White lists of categories of vessels with regard to their observed casualties for a given period.

At the time when a correspondence group has been set up by the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation of IMO for defining “objectives, framework of mechanisms and methodology for a study on the combination of casualty and Port State Control related data”, this paper has the ambition to provide a valuable contribution to the group in discussions on the case for the necessity of combining casualty data and PSC related data with a view to complement current processing of flag State performance and the targeting criteria for ships inspections.
When Do Collision Regulations Begin to Apply?
Authors: Zhao Jinsong
Published: June 2008

The fundamental approaches for preventing collisions at sea are based on interpreting and understanding the Collision Regulations correctly. Although the Regulations are the technical standards of collision avoidance conduct at sea, they are also the code for dividing liability1. When one tries to apportion the collision liability between two parties, the first question faced is whether the Rules apply and if so, when do they apply? In order to answer this question, this paper has reviewed most of the English, American and Canadian cases in the past hundred plus years, which are related to this topic and outlined briefly four special circumstances where collision avoidance rules do not apply, even if there is a risk of collision.
Hei Wai Ora: A Photo Essay
Authors: Smith Huhana
Published: June 2008

The images presented document aspects of progress and growth for a significant wetland and coastal restoration project taking place at Kuku, Horowhenua, southwest coast of North Island, Aotearoa, New Zealand. The work is undertaken by representatives from various hapū known as Ngäti Te Rangitäwhia, Te Mateawa, Ngäti Manu, and Ngäti Kapumanawawhiti ki Kuku, who are affiliates of a larger tribal group, or iwi, Ngäti Tükorehe. The research project (undertaken while working as senior curator Mätauranga Mäori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington) links cultural landscape issues and activities to the concerns for cultural property as revered taonga with special qualities within museum collections. The term taonga is relevant to understanding culturally venerated items within museum holdings while honoring their associated peoples, tribal lands, and waterways from where they derive. As significant cultural material, taonga are valued because of their associations. Cultural landscapes are also well regarded as land-, sea-, and water-based taonga—an encompassing term that denotes their intrinsic value and intricate natural, cultural, and spiritual interrelationships. As museum professionals rethink cultural property issues in different ways, the academic research has also embraced the concept of land- and water-based taonga to bolster ecological, cultural, and spiritual contexts that persist in ancestral lands in tribal tenure.
Intellectual Property Rights Systems and theAssemblageof Local Knowledge Systems
Authors: Vermeylen Saskia , Martin George , Clift Roland
Published: June 2008

The mounting loss of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples presents environmental as well as ethical issues. Fundamental among these is the sustainability of indigenous societies and their ecosystems. Although the commercial expropriation of traditional knowledge grows, rooted in a global, corporate application of intellectual property rights (IPRs), the survival of indigenous societies becomes more problematic. One reason for this is an unresolved conflict between two perspectives. In the modernist view, traditional knowledge is a tool to use (or discard) for the development of indigenous society, and therefore it must be subordinated to Western science. Alternatively, in the postmodernist view, it is harmonious with nature, providing anewparadigm for human ecology, and must be preserved intact. We argue that this encumbering polarization can be allayed by shifting from a dualism of traditional and scientific knowledge to anassemblageof local knowledge, which is constituted by the interaction of both in a third space. We argue that IPR can be reconfigured to become the framework for creating such a third space.
Administrative Tribunal of Rouen, Decision No. 702737, December 27, 2007 (Maori Head case)
Authors: Bel Marine , Berger Michael , Paterson Robert K.
Published: June 2008

In October 2007, the mayor of the French city of Rouen agreed to return to New Zealand a preserved tattooed head of a Maori warrior (called toi moko by Maori) from that city's Museum of Natural History, whose collection the head had been part of since 1875. The decision to return the head was based on an initiative by the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), which has successfully secured the return of other such heads from museums in various European countries and the United States. Before the Rouen head could be handed over, however, the French Ministry of Culture intervened, arguing that its return was unauthorized under French law as being part of a French museum collection and thus inalienable.
In vitro fertilization in inbred BALB/c mice II: effects of lactate, osmolarity and calcium on in vitro capacitation
Authors: Kito Seiji , Ohta Yuki
Published: June 2008

To elucidate requirements for in vitro sperm capacitation in inbred BALB/c mice, osmolarity, calcium and lactate were optimized using modified simplex optimization medium (mKSOM). Modified human tubal fluid (mHTF), a capacitation-supporting medium, was used as a control. In the first series of experiments, the effects of calcium and osmolarity were studied in the presence of lactate. Although preincubation with ≥5 mM CaCl2 improved fertilization after insemination significantly, it was still significantly lower than incubation with mHTF. To obtain fertilization at the equivalent levels to that of mHTF, isotonic osmolarity (305 mOsmol) was required. Trehalose, an osmotic reagent, could substitute for NaCl partially. In the second series of experiments, the effects of lactate were examined using a concentration of 5 mM calcium and isotonic osmolarity. Preincubation with ≤2.5 mM lactate increased fertilization significantly (>75%), as well as the percentages of B (capacitated) pattern sperm (≥40%) in chlortetracycline (CTC) staining, as compared with incubation in mHTF (46% and 28%, respectively; p < 0.05). In the third series of experiments, the effects of osmolarity and calcium in the absence of lactate were examined. An increase in osmolarity during sperm preincubation increased both fertilization and B-pattern sperm significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Trehalose, sucrose and choline chloride could substitute for NaCl. An increase in CaCl2 concentration during preincubation had no effect on fertilization, but this increase reduced the percentages of B-pattern sperm. In vitro capacitation of inbred BALB/c mice is sensitive to lactate and osmolarity, but that sensitivity for calcium varies depending on the presence or absence of lactate.
Effects of follicular fluids on the growth of porcine preantral follicle and oocyte
Authors: Metoki T. , Iwata H. , Itoh M. , Kasai M. , Takajyo A. , Suzuki A. , Kuwayama T. , Monji Y.
Published: June 2008

We examined the effect of supplementing the culture medium with follicular fluid (FF) on the growth of porcine preantral follicles and oocytes. Firstly, preantral follicles were retrieved from ovaries and then FF was collected from all antral follicles that were 2–7 mm in diameter (AFF), which included large follicles of 4–7 mm in diameter (LFF) and small follicles of 2–3 mm in diameter (SFF). When preantral follicles with a diameter of 250 μm were cultured in medium containing AFF, the growth of follicles and oocytes was greater than when follicles were cultured in medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS). When this growth-promoting effect in AFF was compared for LFF and SFF, the LFF were shown to be significantly more effective than SFF. This LFF effect was lost, however, when the concentration of LFF in the medium was decreased from 5% to 0.5% or when LFF were heat treated (60 °C for 30 min) or trypsin was added. In contrast, a decrease in SFF concentration from 5% to 0.5% and heat treatment of the SFF enhanced preantral follicle growth. Furthermore, proteins obtained from LFF that had molecular weights greater than 10 kDa (LFF > 10 kDa) had similar, but relatively reduced, growth-promoting properties. The remaining three LFF protein fractions (<10 kDa or <100 kDa or >100 kDa), however, did not have these growth-promoting properties. In conclusion, the supplementation of medium with LFF, rather than serum, enhanced preantral follicle and oocyte growth. Factors that enhanced follicle development in LFF and factors that suppressed follicle development in SFF were proteins and these LFF factors ranged in size from 10 kDa to over 100 kDa.
Conserved sequences of sperm-activating peptide and its receptor throughout evolution, despite speciation in the sea star Asterias amurensis and closely related species
Authors: Nakachi Mia , Hoshi Motonori , Matsumoto Midori , Moriyama Hideaki
Published: June 2008

The asteroidal sperm-activating peptides (asterosaps) from the egg jelly bind to their sperm receptor, a membrane-bound guanylate cyclase, on the tail to activate sperm in sea stars. Asterosaps are produced as single peptides and then cleaved into shorter peptides. Sperm activation is followed by the acrosome reaction, which is subfamily specific. In order to investigate the molecular details of the asterosap–receptor interaction, corresponding cDNAs have been cloned, sequenced and analysed from the Asteriinae subfamily including Asterias amurensis, A. rubens, A. forbesi and Aphelasterias japonica, as well as Distolasterias nipon from the Coscinasteriinae subfamily. Averages of 29% and 86% identity were found from the deduced amino acid sequences in asterosap and its receptor extracellular domains, respectively, across all species examined. The phylogenic tree topology for asterosap and its receptor was similar to that of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. In spite of a certain homology, the amino acid sequences exhibited speciation. Conservation was found in the asterosap residues involved in disulphide bonding and proteinase-cleaving sites. Conversely, similarities were detected between potential asterosap-binding sites and the structure of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor. Although the sperm-activating peptide and its receptor share certain common sequences, they may serve as barriers that ensure speciation in the sea star A. amurensis and closely related species.
Secretion of stem cell factor and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor by mouse embryos in culture: influence of group culture
Authors: Contramaestre A. P. , Sifontes F. , Marín R. , Camejo M. I.
Published: June 2008

Previous studies showed that the addition of a growth factor to the culture medium could modulate embryo development. The possible secretion of different factors to the culture medium by the embryo itself, however, has been poorly evaluated. The present study was designed to investigate: (1) the influence of single or group culture on the development of 2-cell mouse embryos (strain CD-1) to the blastocyst stage; (2) the release of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) into the culture medium by the embryo; and (3) the levels of GM-CSF and SCF in the culture medium from both single and group embryos. Two-cell CD-1 mouse embryos were cultured for 96 h singly or in groups of five embryos per drop. GM-CSF and SCF were assayed by ELISA in the complete culture medium. It was found that embryos cultured in groups gave a higher percentage of total blastocyst formation and hatched blastocyst when compared with single embryo culture. The mouse embryos secreted GM-CSF and SCF to the culture medium. The concentration of these cytokines is significantly higher in the group cultures than the level found in single cultures. In conclusion, mouse embryos in culture secrete GM-CSF and SCF to the culture medium and the concentration of these cytokines increases during communal culture. These factors may be operating in both autocrine and paracrine pathways to modulate embryo development during in vitro culture.
Evaluation of chromatin integrity of motile bovine spermatozoa capacitatedin vitro
Authors: Reckova Z. , Machatkova M. , Rybar R. , Horakova J. , Hulinska P. , Machal L.
Published: June 2008

The efficiency ofin vitroembryo production is highly variable amongst individual sires in cattle. To eliminate that this variability is not caused by sperm chromatin damage caused by separation or capacitacion, chromatin integrity was evaluated. Seventeen of AI bulls with good NRRs but variable embryo production efficiency were used. For each bull, motile spermatozoa were separated on a Percoll gradient, resuspended in IVF–TALP medium and capacitated with or incubated without heparin for 6 h. Samples before and after separation and after 3-h and 6-h capacitacion or incubation were evaluated by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) and the proportion of sperm with intact chromatin structure was calculated. Based on changes in the non-DFI-sperm proportion, the sires were categorized as DNA-unstable (DNA-us), DNA-stable (DNA-s) and DNA-most stable (DNA-ms) bulls (n= 3,n= 5 andn= 9, respectively). In DNA-us bulls, separation produced a significant increase of the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion (p≤ 0.01), as compared with the value before separation. Capacitacion produced a significant decrease in the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion in H+sperm (p≤ 0.01). In DNA-s bulls, separation significantly increased the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion (p≤ 0.01) but during capacitacion, the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion remained almost unchanged. In DNA-ms bulls, neither separation nor capacitacion had any effect on the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion. It can be concluded that, although separation and capacitacion may produce some changes in sperm chromatin integrity, these are not associated with differentin vitrofertility of the bulls involved.
THEMES AND VARIATIONS
Authors: Dawson Michael C. , Bobo Lawrence D.
Published: June 2008

As we write this introduction, Senator Barack Obama, son of an African immigrant to the United States, is in the middle of a fierce fight to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Obama's candidacy brings into stark relief the fluid and evolving status of immigrants of color, regardless of either the outcome of the electoral battle or what one might think of the senator and his politics. Further, the Obama campaign is illuminating the complex and conflicted ways that racial and immigration politics intersect. Questions such as how our understandings of the constitution of racial groups are refigured, how the formation of arguably new racial groups proceeds, and what the role of racial and ethnic conflict and resentment are have all come into play during the course of the Democratic Party's contest. Obama's life story is a new one, in that it is the story of a descendent of an immigrant from a non-European part of the world, but the mythology of his story is also a very familiar one—the children of immigrants who take advantage of the opportunities available in this nation overcome large obstacles, and succeed in previously unimaginable ways.