bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Walk‐through surveys for child labor
Authors: Feingold Ellen , Wasser Janice
Published: April 2007

Child labor is increasing in both developing and developed countries. Walk‐through surveys were used to identify children, aged 8–15 years, working in six sites in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the largest cities in Israel. Of the 45 children who were interviewed, 20 were Jewish Israeli born, 19 were recent Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and six were Arabs from Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.

The majority of children were either too young for employment, according to the Israeli Child Labor Laws, and/or receiving less than the legal minimum wage. Many were performing physical labor that might be expected to interfere with normal growth and development. Many of the children had visible signs of impaired physical health. Some were subjected to physical and/or verbal abuse.

Walk‐through surveys are recommended as a tool for routine use for surveillance of hazardous working conditions, case‐finding, and evaluating the efficacy of preventive measures. The World Health Organization recommendations are emphasized to eliminate hazardous working conditions and to provide on‐the‐job health and social services to working children.
Neurobehavioral evaluation of venezuelan workers exposed to organic solvent mixtures
Authors: Escalona Evelin , Yanes Leopoldo , Feo Oscar , Maizlish Neil
Published: April 2007

To assess the applicability of the World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB), we evaluated 53 male and 29 female Venezuelan workers exposed to mixtures of organic solvents in an adhesive factory, and 56 male and 11 female workers unexposed to any type of neurotoxic chemical. The average age of unexposed workers was 30 years and 33 years for those exposed, average schooling for both groups was 8 years, and the mean duration of exposure was 7 years. The NCTB, which assesses central nervous system functions, is composed of seven tests that measure simple motor function, short‐term memory, eye‐hand coordination, affective behavior, and psychomotor perception and speed. The battery includes: profile of mood states (POMS); Simple Reaction Time for attention and response speed; Digit Span for auditory memory; Santa Ana manual dexterity; Digit‐Symbol for perceptual motor speed; the Benton visual retention for visual perception and memory; and Pursuit Aiming II for motor steadiness. In each of 13 subtests, the exposed group had a poorer performance than the nonexposed group. The range of differences in mean performance was between 5% and 89%. particularly in POMS (tension‐anxiety, anger‐hostility, depression‐rejection, fatigue‐inertia, confusion‐bewilderment), Simple Reaction Time, Digit‐Symbol, and Santa Ana Pegboard (p < .05). In multivariate regression analyses, controlling for the effects of age, sex, and education, significantly poorer performance in the exposed was found for tension‐anxiety, hostility, depression, and confusion moods in the POMS, and in digit‐symbol and simple reaction time (p < .05). These alterations were also dose‐related using years of exposure in analyses of covariance. Compared to the nonexposed, the exposed subjects demonstrated an increased frequency of subjective symptoms of fatigue, difficulties with memory, confusion, paresthesias in upper and lower extremities, and sleep disturbances. We conclude that the methodology is applicable to the population studied. The tests of the NCTB were accepted by the subjects and were administered satisfactorily, except for occasional difficulties in verbal comprehension in subtests of POMS, which is the only test that requires more demanding verbal skills. The magnitude of the behavioral deficits is consistent with the probable high level of exposure and with the range of deficits previously reported in workers with long‐term solvent exposures.
Occupational associations with lung cancer in two Ontario cities
Authors: Finkelstein Murray M.
Published: April 2007

A death certificate based case‐control study of lung cancer in two Ontario cities was performed to estimate the risk of lung cancer attributable to occupation in Ontario, and to estimate the proportion of occupational lung cancers receiving compensation from the Workers' Compensation Board. Occupation and industry were identified from the death certificate. A priori occupations for analysis were those whose members had received compensation for occupational cancer from the Ontario Workers' Compensation Board. Population attributable risks were computed using the relative risks observed in this study and employment data from the 1986 Census of Canada.

Subjects were all men (N = 967) between the ages of 45 and 75 years resident in the cities of Hamilton and Sault Ste‐Marie who died of lung cancer from 1979 to 1988. Controls (2,821) were matched on age, year of death, and city of residence.

In agreement with other studies, an increased risk of lung cancer was observed for workers in the construction sector, for miners, and for truck drivers. It was estimated that only a small proportion of lung cancers attributable to occupation are compensated in Ontario. It is believed that many occupational cancers go uncompensated because of the failure to file claims, rather than because claims are rejected by Compensation Boards. Physicians are in a position to advise patients about the possibility of compensable disease and to act as advocates for them. By recognizing compensable illness, physicians have the opportunity to ease the financial burden of patients and their families. The challenge is a difficult one, but it is well worth pursuing. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss. Inc.
Mortality study of gold miners exposed to silica and nonasbestiform amphibole minerals: An update with 14 more years of follow‐up
Authors: Steenland Kyle , Brown David
Published: April 2007

We have updated a study of 3,328 gold miners who worked underground for at least 1 year between 1940‐1965 in South Dakota, extending the follow‐up from 1977 to 1990. The exposures of concern were silica and nonasbestiform amphibole minerals. The lung cancer standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94‐1.36, 115 observed) when the U.S. population was used as the referent group, increasing to 1.25 (95% CI 1.03‐1.51) when the county was used as the referent, and to 1.27 (1.02‐1.55) for person‐time with more than 30 years potential latency. However, lung cancer mortality did not show a positive exposure‐response trend with estimated cumulative dust exposure. Data on smoking habits suggested that the miners smoked slightly more than the U.S. population in a 1960 cross‐sectional survey. In contrast to lung cancer, other diseases known to be associated with silica exposure (tuberculosis and silicosis) were significantly increased (SMR = 3.44 and 2.61) and exhibited clear exposure‐response trends. Nonmalignant renal disease, also associated with silica exposure, was elevated for those hired in early years and showed a significant positive exposure‐response trend. Multiple‐cause analysis revealed significant excesses of arthritis, musculoskeletal diseases (including systemic lupus and sclerosis), and skin conditions (including scleroderma and lupus), diseases of autoimmune origin which have been associated with silica exposure in other studies. Multiple cause analysis also showed a significant excess of diseases of the blood and blood‐forming organs.
Respiratory symptoms, ventilatory impairment, and bronchial reactivity in oil mist‐exposed automobile workers
Authors: Ameille Jacques , Wild Pascal , Choudat Dominique , Ohl Gérard , Vaucouleur Jean François , Chanut Jean Claude , Brochard Patrick
Published: April 2007

Studies concerning the respiratory effects of oil mists are sparse and contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the respective effects of occupational exposure to straight cutting oils and soluble mineral oils on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, ventilatory impairment, and bronchial reactivity.

The population study consisted of 308 male workers of a large French car‐making plant, including 40 subjects chronically exposed to straight cutting oils (group S), 51 subjects chronically exposed to soluble mineral oils (group E), 139 subjects with chronic dual exposure to straight cutting oils and soluble mineral oils (group D), and 78 unexposed assembly workers used as a control group (group C). Worker evaluation included a standardized questionnaire, measurement of pulmonary function, and a methacholine challenge. Oil mist concentration at the work place was determined by gravimetric analysis. The arithmetic mean concentration was 2.6 ± 1.8 mg/m3. The geometric mean concentration was 2.2 pm 1.9 mg/m3.

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms did not differ significantly among the four groups. However, the subjects exposed to straight cutting oils (group S + group D) had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm than the others (group E + group O): 25.7% vs. 16.3% (p = 0.048). Furthermore, the prevalence of cough and/or phlegm increased significantly (p = 0.03) with increasing duration of exposure to straight cutting oils after adjustment on smoking categories. Lung function tests did not differ significantly among the four groups but we observed a significant decrease of forced expiratory volume in 1 see (FEV1), forced expiratory flow during the middle half of forced vital capacity (FEF25‐75), and maximal flow rate at 50% and 25% of exhaled forced vital capacity (V50 and V25) according to duration of exposure among smokers exposed to straight cutting oils, suggesting a synergistic effect of tobacco and insoluble oils. No effect of exposure to mineral oils on bronchial reactivity was demonstrated.

It is concluded that despite low levels of pollution by oil mists, the present study has shown tenuous adverse chronic effects of straight cutting oils on respiratory symptoms and lung function. However, no adverse effect of soluble mineral oils was demonstrated. These results suggest that threshold limit values for mineral oils should be reassessed.
Proportionate mortality among construction laborers
Authors: Stern Frank , Schulte Paul , Sweeney Marie Haring , Fingerhut Marilyn , Vossenas Pamela , Burkhardt Greg , Kornak Mary‐Frances
Published: April 2007

This report presents the results of proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analyses and proportionate cancer mortality ratio (PCMR) analyses among the 11,685 members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), who died between 1985‐1988, using U.S. proportionate mortality rates as the comparison population. Statistically significant elevated mortality risks were observed for all malignant neoplasms (N = 3285, PMR = 1.13, CI = 1.09‐1.17), as well as for site‐specific neoplasms of the lung (N = 1208, PCMR = 1.06, CI = 1.00‐1.12), stomach (N = 170, PCMR = 1.44, CI = 1.23‐1.68), and thyroid gland (N = 10, PCMR = 2.24, CI = 1.07‐4.12). The PCMRs for these malignant neoplasms were elevated among both white and non‐white males, regardless of length of union membership, in most 10‐year categories of age at death above 40 and for the three largest LIUNA regions examined. The study also observed 20 mesothelioma deaths, which indicated that some LIUNA members had been previously exposed to asbestos. Statistically significant elevated risks were also observed for deaths from transportation injuries (N = 448, PMR = 1.37, CI = 1.25‐1.51), falls (N = 85, PMR = 1.34, CI = 1.07‐1.66), and other types of injuries (N = 245, PMR = 1.61, CI = 1.42‐1.83). The deaths due to injuries were most often observed among those members who had the shortest amount of time within the union, were younger, and first entered the union after 1955. This is the first study that has examined the general mortality experience limited to construction laborers only (Bureau of Census code 869). © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Repetitive industrial work and neck and upper limb disorders in females
Authors: Ohisson K. , Attewell R. G. , Pålsson B. , Karlsson B. , Balogh I. , Johnsson B. , Ahlm A. , Skerfving S.
Published: April 2007

A cross‐sectional study was performed in which physical examinations of the neck and upper limbs were conducted on 82 currently working female industrial workers with exposure to repetitive work tasks and on 64 currently working referent subjects without exposure to repetitive work tasks. Associations between results of symptom questions and physical examination were sought with variables related to the work environment and to the individuals. In a multivariate model, there were statistically significant associations between exposure to repetitive work and diagnoses in both the neck/shoulders (prevalence odds ratio, POR = 4.6) and elbows/hands (POR = 3.5). In addition, age (POR = 1.9, 75th vs. 25th percentiles), tendencies towards subjective muscular tension (POR = 2.3), and stress/worry (POR = 1.9) were also associated with diagnoses in the neck/shoulders; however, there was not an association between these variables and the prevalence of diagnoses in elbows/hands. Standardized evaluation of videotape recordings in 74 of the industrial workers revealed significant associations between neck flexion, and elevation and abduction of the arm and the prevalence of neck/shoulder diagnoses. In the multivariate model, neck flexion was significantly associated with diagnoses in the neck/shoulders (p = 0.005). In addition, low muscle strength, lack of emotional well‐being at work, and a variety of psychosomatic symptoms were associated with diagnoses in the neck/shoulders (all p < 0.001). Lack of strength was also associated with disorders of elbows/hands (p = 0.007). This study demonstrated a substantial prevalence of neck and upper limb disorders associated with repetitive work performed with a flexed neck and elevated and abducted arms, as well as a possible potentiation of these ergonomic factors by certain personal traits in some workers.
A detailed analysis of work‐related injury among youth treated in emergency departments
Authors: Knight Elizabeth B. , Castillo Dawn N. , Layne Larry A.
Published: April 2007

Telephone interviews were conducted with 146 14‐ to 16‐year‐olds who incurred an occupational injury treated in an emergency department during the period July through September 1992. Thirty‐two percent of the injuries occurred as the result of using equipment. Over half the workers reported not having received prior training on how to avoid injury. The injury limited normal activities for at least 1 day for 68% of the youth and for more than a week for 25%, corresponding to an estimated 6,208 (95% CI: 4,277, 8,139) and 2,639 (95% CI: 1,580, 3,699) youths nationwide, respectively. Employment in retail trades, equipment use, lack of training, and burn injuries were associated with increased limitation of normal activities. Nineteen percent of the youths appear to have been injured in jobs declared to be hazardous, or typically prohibited for their age (14‐and 15‐year‐olds) under federal child labor laws. The prohibited job directly contributed to the injury in 64% of these cases.
Potential Pitfall in Using Cumulative Exposure in Exposure‐Response Relationships: Demonstration and Discussion
Authors: Finkelstein Murray M.
Published: April 2007

Cumulative exposure is frequently used as a measure of exposure in the quantitative analysis of epidemiologic studies. It is recognized that the imposed symmetry between duration and intensity of exposure is a potential problem with this measure, but it is less widely recognized that the finding of an exposure‐response relationship, using cumulative exposure as the exposure metric, does not necessarily imply that exposures were accurately or even consistently estimated. This report describes a simulation study drawn from a nested case‐control analysis of mesothelioma in a cohort of asbestos cement workers. Intensity of exposure in the range of 0.1‐40 fibers/ml was randomly assigned to subjects. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that there was no association between mesothelioma risk and the randomly assigned intensity of exposure. However, in 171 (86%) of 200 trials, mesothelioma risk was significantly associated with cumulative exposure, even though intensity of exposure remained randomly assigned. A strong exposure‐response relationship might thus be misleading. One would be more confident about quantitative risk assessment when there are a large number of independent studies available for analysis. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glove‐induced dermal and respiratory symptoms among health care workers in one finnish hospital
Authors: Kujala Veikko M. , Reijula Kari E.
Published: April 2007

To evaluate the prevalence of skin and respiratory symptoms associated with the use of protective gloves in health care workers, an inquiry study was carried out on 534 hospital employees who used protective latex or vinyl gloves on a daily basis at work. The prevalence of skin disorders related to the usage of gloves was 56%. Rhinorrhea or nasal congestion was present in 13% of the workers who used powdered disposable gloves. The prevalence of both skin and respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among the workers who used gloves > 2 hours a day (p < 0.001). The skin disorders were more common in young employees. The findings indicate that most of the symptoms were caused by irritation or an immediate, IgE‐mediated allergy. We conclude that there is a positive correlation between the duration of daily glove usage at work and the skin and respiratory symptoms. In order to reduce skin disorders associated with the daily use of gloves, it is necessary to develop safer materials in the glove manufacturing process. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neurobehavioral effects of acute and chronic mixed‐solvent exposure in the screen printing industry
Authors: White Roberta F. , Proctor Susan P. , Echeverria Diana , Schweikert Janelle , Feldman Robert G.
Published: April 2007

This 2‐year prospective study examined the neurobehavioral effects of acute and chronic exposure to mixed solvents in workers in a screen printing business. A total of 30 subjects participated in the study in two field testings over a 12 month period. Each subject completed a detailed medical and occupational questionnaire, had a neurological examination, and underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. Industrial hygiene investigation identified the following chemical exposures as present: toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, mineral spirits, β‐ether, methylene chloride, and acetic acid. Different departments and jobs had varying degrees of exposure to these chemicals, the highest exposures being in the ink mix area and the screen washroom area. However, all exposure levels were below recommended threshold limit values. Persons categorized as having higher acute exposure demonstrated significantly impaired test performance on tasks involving manual dexterity, visual memory, and mood. Those with higher chronic exposure demonstrated significantly poorer performance on visual memory tasks and mood. Results suggest that the mixed solvents used in the screen printing industy have an effect on central nervous system functioning in the absence of obvious clinical disease.
Urinary excretion of tetrahydrophtalimide in fruit growers with dermal exposure to captan
Authors: de Cock Johan , Heederik Dick , Hoek Fred , Boleij Jan , Kromhout Hans
Published: April 2007

The relation between dermal and respiratory exposure and uptake into the body of captan, measured as 24 hr cumulative tetrahydrophtalimide (THPI) dose, was studied among 14 male fruit growers applying pesticides in orchards in the Netherlands. No contribution of respiratory exposure was observed on THPI in the urine. Dermal exposure, measured with skin pads, showed a clear relation with THPI in urine when exposure was estimated from exposure on skin pads of ankles and neck. No relation was found for total dermal exposure, calculated from measured exposure on skin pads of representative skin areas according to models described in the literature. Determinants of exposure such as use of a cabin on the tractor, use of gloves during mixing and loading, and use of rubber boots also explained THPI in urine very well. This finding corroborated the findings on measured dermal exposure. Results indicate that more attention should be paid to skin areas which are suspected to be most permeable for a chemical under study. It was concluded that dermal exposure data can be linked better to biological monitoring based on empirical findings as gathered in a pilot study on exposure of specific body areas than on estimations of total skin dose.
Asbestos‐induced visceral pleural fibrosis reduces pulmonary compliance
Authors: Valkila Eeva H. , Nieminen Markku M. , Moilanen Aimo K. , Kuusisto Paula A. , Lahdensuo Aarne H. S. , Karvonen Juha I.
Published: April 2007

To determine the nature of respiratory functional impairment caused by asbestos‐induced visceral pleural fibrosis (VPF) and to discover which pulmonary physiological variable best reveals it, we examined 59 asbestos‐exposed construction workers having asbestos‐related changes on chest radiographs. Computed tomography scans of the thorax were also performed. Visceral pleural fibrosis was diagnosed in 29 subjects: seven had only VPF, 17 had VPF and pleural plaques, and five had VPF, plaques, and asbestosis. In subjects without VPF, 23 had plaques, six had plaques and asbestosis, and one had only minor fibrotic parenchymal changes insufficient for a diagnosis of asbestosis. Flow‐volume spirometry, body plethysmography, static and dynamic compliance, and pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were measured. The subjects with VPF had significantly lower static (p = 0.005) and dynamic (p = 0.007) compliance values than those without. Other respiratory function variables failed to show any significant differences. We conclude that the measurement of static and dynamic compliance is a useful method in assessing pulmonary function impairment caused by visceral pleural fibrosis.
Mortality among workers at a plastics manufacturing and research and development facility: 1946–1988
Authors: Dell Linda , Teta M. Jane
Published: April 2007

Mortality through 1988 was studied for 5,932 male employees who worked between January 1, 1946 and December 31, 1967 at a New Jersey plastics manufacturing and research and development facility. The cohort was followed for an average of 32 years and included 1,859 deaths. Potential exposures included asbestos, formaldehyde, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Mortality rates for the cohort were compared to both U.S. and state mortality rates, and analyses were also performed by lagging duration of employment. Based on U.S. rates, mortality among hourly males (n = 3,853) from all cancers was similar to expected [standardized mortality ratio (SMR), 102; 95% confidence interval (CI), 92‐114]. Excess mortality among hourly workers was seen for pancreatic cancer (SMR, 146; 95% CI, 95–216) and “malignancies of other parts of the respiratory system” (SMR, 373; 95% CI, 121–870). The latter excess was due entirely to five deaths from pleural mesothelioma. There were no deaths identified due to nasal cavity or nasopharyngeal cancers, or angiosarcoma of the liver. Mortality from leukemia among research and development workers (n = 1,421) was significantly elevated (SMR, 265; 95% CI, 115–524) and related to assignment to process development. This study verifies the excess of pancreatic cancer among workers at the facility seen in earlier studies and observes excesses of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure and leukemia in process development workers.
Altered partition of t cell subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy workers exposed to flour dust
Authors: Kolopp‐Sarda Marie N. , Bene Marie C. , Massin Nicole , Wild Pascal , Faure Gilbert C.
Published: April 2007

Occupational exposure to organic compounds can induce obvious immunological disorders or more subtle modifications. We investigated peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in 34 bakers and 82 millers exposed to wheat flour dust, and 51 salt factory workers. Significantly decreased levels of CD4 +, CD8 +, CD57 + and CD8 + /57 + cells were noted in mill workers, and of CD57+ cells in bakers. CD29 + and CD4 + /CD29 + cells were significantly lower in millers, CD4 + /CD45RA + cells higher in all exposed workers. The lower numbers of positive cells noted in millers appeared associated to significantly higher (p<0.001) levels of CD29 and CD45RA expression as measured by fluorescence intensity. These data are opposite to those previously reported in asthmatic workers exposed to flour dust. Since the individuals tested here were clinically healthy, the alterations of T‐cell subsets observed could be interpreted as a successful attempt at immunoregulation maintaining homeostasis.
Effect of recall period on the reporting of occupational injuries among older workers in the health and retirement study
Authors: Zwerling Craig , Sprince Nancy L. , Wallace Robert B. , Davis Charles S. , Whitten Paul S. , Heeringa Steven G.
Published: April 2007

Studies of injury morbidity often rely on self‐reported survey data. In designing these surveys, researchers must chose between a shorter recall period to minimize recall bias and a longer period to maximize the precision of rate estimates. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, which employed a recall period of 1 year, we examined the effect of the recall period on rates of occupational injuries among older workers as well as upon rate ratios of these injuries for nine risk factors. We fit a stochastic model to the occupational injury rates as a function of time before the interview and used this model to estimate what the injury rates would have been had we used a 4‐week recall period. The adjusted occupational injury rate of 5.9 injuries per 100 workers per year was 36% higher than the rate based on a 1‐year recall period. Adjustment for recall period had much less effect on rate ratios, which typically varied by <10%. Our work suggests that self‐reported surveys with longer recall periods may be used to estimate occupational injury rates and also may be useful in studying the associations between occupational injuries and a variety of risk factors.
Investigation of variation in SNAP‐25 and ADHD and relationship to co‐morbid major depressive disorder
Authors: Kim J.W. , Biederman J. , Arbeitman L. , Fagerness J. , Doyle A.E. , Petty C. , Perlis R.H. , Purcell S. , Smoller J.W. , Faraone S.V. , Sklar P.
Published: April 2007

Synaptosomal‐associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP‐25), a protein involved in presynaptic neurotransmitter release, is a candidate gene for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous investigators have reported association initially with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3746544, rs1051312) and their associated haplotypes. Subsequently, additional SNPs across the region were also reported to be associated with ADHD. We attempted to replicate these observations in a sample of 229 families with ADHD offspring by genotyping 61 SNPs spanning the region containing SNAP‐25. A single SNP (rs3787283) which is in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs3746544 and rs1051312 (D′ = 0.89–0.94) resulted in a nominally significant association (P = 0.002). When we pooled our data with those from prior studies, results were modestly significant for rs3746544 (P = 0.048) and rs6077690 (P = 0.031). As an attempt to determine if specific ADHD‐related phenotypes may be more relevant to SNAP‐25 than the categorical diagnosis, we carried out exploratory subgroup analysis in our ADHD sample according to co‐morbid status. We found the strongest association result in the ADHD patients with co‐morbid major depressive disorder (MDD). Six SNPs were nominally associated with the ADHD and co‐morbid MDD cases (P = 0.012–0.045). Furthermore, a haplotype block located 11 kb 3′ of the gene showed positive evidence for association with this phenotype (global P = 0.013). In conclusion, we report some evidence supporting the association of previously implicated SNPs (rs3746544, rs1051312) of SNAP‐25 to ADHD. We further suggest that co‐morbidity with MDD may enhance detection of the association between SNAP‐25 and ADHD. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Establishment of vocal communication and discrimination between ewes and their lamb in the first two days after parturition
Authors: Sèbe Frédéric , Nowak Raymond , Poindron Pascal , Aubin Thierry
Published: April 2007

In sheep, the mother–young relationship is characterized by an exclusive bond that relies on the rapid establishment of mutual recognition. However, the role of acoustic cues has been underestimated and neglected in this early discrimination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was (1) to characterize the vocal behavior of ewes and their lambs during the first 15 days postpartum and (2) to investigate the ability of newborn lambs and their mothers to discriminate each other from alien subjects within the first 48 hr postpartum on the basis of acoustic cues only. Ewes started to vocalize in the last 3 hr preceding parturition, emitting mainly high‐pitched bleats. However, the bleating activity was highest during the first 3 hr following birth, consisting mainly of low‐pitched bleats. Thereafter it decreased sharply until 24 hr postpartum, with most of the activity coming from the mother. In a two‐choice test, ewes discriminated their own from an alien lamb on the basis of acoustic cues only at 24 hr postpartum, while lambs did so for their mother at 48 hr, which in both cases was much earlier than reported so far. We conclude that early vocal recognition between the ewe and her lamb may play an important role for the maintenance of mother–young contact. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 375–386, 2007.
Social influences on formula intake via suckling in 7 to 14‐week‐old‐infants
Authors: Lumeng Julie C. , Patil Namrata , Blass Elliott M.
Published: April 2007

To investigate social influences on human suckling behavior, 25 healthy, full term, 7 to 14‐week‐old infants were each bottle‐fed their own formula twice by their mother and once in each of four experimental conditions: (a) held, provided social interaction; (b) held, without interaction; (c) not held, provided interaction; (d) not held, without interaction. Volume intake (VI), Total Sucks, infant gaze direction, and time elapsed since the last feeding were determined. There were three major findings: (1) social interaction increased VI; (2) VI was linearly related to the time since the last feeding in held infants; (3) Total Sucks and VI were both highly correlated with privation length when infants did not look at the feeder and when fed by the mother. Thus, social influences exert strong immediate impacts on suckling. Accordingly, suckling functions to obtain both nutrition from and social information about the feeder. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 351–361, 2007.
The influence of training views on infants' long‐term memory for simple 3D shapes
Authors: Kraebel Kimberly S. , West Rebecca N. , Gerhardstein Peter
Published: April 2007

This investigation explored infants' ability to retrieve a memory for a simple 3D shape from a novel view following a 24‐hr delay. Tests of memory for shape in infancy have typically used extremely short delay intervals between familiarization and test in examining the ability to equate between substantially different views of a 3D object. The current study used longer delays to assess the content of a long‐term memory representation. Infants 3–4 months of age learned to kick to move a mobile displaying a simple 3D shape (brick or cylinder). Results of three experiments show that infants can recognize 3D shapes in a novel viewpoint across a 24‐hr delay, provided that experience with a sufficiently wide range of views is available during training. The results suggest a capacity for the perception of 3D shape that enables access, across long delays, to a memory representation of sufficient detail that discrimination between two simple shapes (i.e., a cylinder and a brick) is possible. The results suggest that this representation is of a sufficiently abstract nature that perception of the 3D form of the object, independent of the changes in specific features accompanying changes in viewpoint, is also possible. This finding suggests that infants, like adults, possess a functional memory system for the distal shape of simple 3D objects, and can transfer training to a novel view using long‐term memory, but that this ability is not as strong as in the mature system. These results have implications for the development of shape perception and for theories of object recognition in general. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 406–420, 2007.
Maximum likelihood criterion based space‐time linear precoding method for eigenmode SNR increasing
Authors: Narieda Shusuke , Yamashita Katsumi
Published: April 2007

This paper discusses a method for increasing the eigenmode SNR by using a space‐time linear precoder designed on a maximum likelihood (ML) basis (henceforth called the space‐time linear ML precoder). First, the effect of the length of the precoded signal generated in the ML precoder on the eigenmode SNR is studied. It is shown that the eigenmode SNR can be increased by varying the precoded signal length depending on the condition of the channel. Next, a transceiver configuration for increasing the eigenmode SNR by the space‐time linear ML precoder is presented. In the proposed method, error propagation may be generated due to the transceiver configuration and the BER characteristics may be degraded, even if the eigenmode SNR is increased. In this paper, in order to reduce the effect of the error propagation on the BER characteristics, the relationship between the average length of the error propagation and the precoded signal length in the proposed configuration is presented. It is demonstrated that the effect of error propagation can be minimized by limiting the region of search for the precoded signal length. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by numerical simulation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 90(10): 1– 8, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20304
Fast rate‐distortion optimized coding mode decision for H.264
Authors: Tanizawa Akiyuki , Koto Shinichiro , Chujoh Takeshi
Published: April 2007

In H.264/MPEG‐4 AVC a wide range of different prediction block forms and prediction signal generation methods are available. By selecting an optimal combination of coding modes from the multiple possible combinations of such modes, improvements in coding efficiency can be achieved. However, when using the rate‐distortion optimized coding mode decision method based on the Lagrange multipliers, at the same time as seeing a significant improvement in coding efficiency, we are faced with the problem that the mode decision procedure becomes extremely demanding computationally. The H.264/MPEG‐4 AVC high profile introduces adaptive block size transformations thereby making the number of combinations of coding mode that can be selected even larger than under the main profile. In this paper we investigate a method for hierarchically and adaptively reducing the number of mode combinations. Specifically we propose a method for quickly deciding the coding mode while limiting the reductions in coding efficiency by the correlation information between two mode decision cost functions in accordance with a quantization parameter. The results of experiments confirm that by using the proposed method, the encoding time excluding the motion search can be reduced by up to 4 times for the main profile and by up to 7 times for the high profile as compared to rate‐distortion optimized coding mode decision. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 90(9): 41– 55, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20342
Enzyme‐Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of 1,3‐anti‐Diol Monoesters – Efficient Preparation of Enantiomerically Highly Enriched and Unsymmetrically Substituted 1,3‐anti‐Diols
Authors: Jakob Florian , Schneider Christoph
Published: April 2007

Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB) catalyzed the highly enantioselective acetylation of 1,3‐anti‐diol monoesters which have been obtained through a zirconium‐catalyzed aldol‐Tishchenko reaction. The product 1,3‐anti‐diol diesters were formed in yields close to 50 % and >98 % ee. Separation from the unreactive enantiomers and subsequent hydrolysis furnished both enantiomers of unsymmetrically substituted 1,3‐anti‐diols in high optical purities. Alternatively, the kinetic resolution process can be performed on the free 1,3‐anti‐diols even more rapidly with equally good results. A slow acyl migration during the reaction slightly deteriorated the enantiomeric excess of the unreactive enantiomers. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Design and implementation of a new neural network‐based high speed distance relay
Authors: Sanaye‐Pasand M. , Khorashadi‐Zadeh H.
Published: April 2007

This paper presents a new neural network‐based transmission line distance protection module. The proposed module uses samples of voltage and current signals to learn the hidden relationship existing in the input patterns. Using a power system model, simulation studies are preformed and influence of changing system parameters such as fault resistance and power flow direction is studied. The proposed neural network has also been implemented on a digital signal processor (DSP) board and its behavior is investigated using suitable developed hardware. Details of the implementation and experimental studies are given in the paper. Performance studies results show that the proposed algorithm is able to distinguish various transmission line faults rapidly and correctly. It shows that the proposed network is fast, reliable, and accurate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How to find good finite‐length codes: from art towards science
Authors: Amraoui Abdelaziz , Montanari Andrea , Urbanke Ruediger
Published: April 2007

We explain how to optimise finite‐length LDPC codes for transmission over the binary erasure channel. Our approach relies on an analytic approximation of the erasure probability. This is in turn based on a finite‐length scaling result to model large scale erasures and a union bound involving minimal stopping sets to take into account small error events. We show that the performance of optimised ensembles as observed in simulations is well described by our approximation. Although we only address the case of transmission over the binary erasure channel, our method should be applicable to a more general setting. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On low‐complexity linear‐programming decoding of LDPC codes
Authors: Vontobel Pascal O. , Koetter Ralf
Published: April 2007

We consider linear‐programming (LP) decoding of low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) codes. While one can use any general‐purpose LP solver to solve the LP that appears in the decoding problem, we argue in this paper that the LP at hand is equipped with a lot of structure that can be exploited. Towards this goal, we study the dual LP and show how coordinate‐ascent methods lead to very simple update rules that are tightly connected to the min‐sum algorithm. Moreover, replacing minima in the formula of the dual LP with soft‐minima one obtains update rules that are tightly connected to the sum‐product algorithm. This shows that LP solvers with complexity similar to the min‐sum algorithm and the sum‐product algorithm are feasible. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single‐ and multicarrier transmission in up‐ and downlink scenarios with intersymbol interference: a comparison
Authors: Fischer Robert F. H. , Stierstorfer Clemens
Published: April 2007

Up‐ and downlink transmission over multiple‐input/multiple‐output (MIMO) channels where the trans‐ mission paths exhibit intersymbol interference (ISI) are studied. Equalisation schemes for multipoint‐to‐point scenarios (multiple access problem, uplink) and precoding schemes for point‐to‐multipoint scenarios (broadcast channel (BC), downlink) are investigated. In particular, singlecarrier modulation employing decision‐feedback equalisation (DFE)/precoding, multicarrier (MC) modulation employing BLAST/precoding per carrier and frequency‐division multiplexing (FDM) in disjoint frequency bands are considered. The rate regions, that is the region of admissible rates of the users, for these approaches are given and compared. It is shown, that despite single‐ and multicarrier transmission can achieve the same sum rate, in each case MIMO OFDM offers the largest rate region. The results are illustrated via numerical examples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of electronic dispersion compensation for step‐index polymer optical fibre by use of an advanced simulation model
Authors: Breyer Florian , Moerz Matthias , Hanik Norbert , Li Li , Randel Sebastian , Spinnler Bernhard
Published: April 2007

A novel system‐level simulation environment is presented for the evaluation of step‐index polymer optical fibre transmission systems. Key element is a new fibre model, which incorporates the three major attributes describing light propagation in SI‐POF: the mode‐dependent attenuation, the modal dispersion and the mode coupling process. Inter‐symbol interference (ISI) due to modal dispersion can be mitigated in the receiver by means of electronic dispersion compensation. In this work, we present the performance of an analog equaliser scheme based on a (sub‐)optimala‐posteriori‐probability (APP) technique, which increases the achievable fibre length for error‐free transmission at 1 Gbit/s from 11 to 53m. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using the wild bootstrap to quantify uncertainty in diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Whitcher Brandon , Tuch David S. , Wisco Jonathan J. , Sorensen A. Gregory , Wang Liqun
Published: April 2007

Estimation of noise‐induced variability in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is needed to objectively follow disease progression in therapeutic monitoring and to provide consistent readouts of pathophysiology. The noise variability of nonlinear quantities of the diffusion tensor (e.g., fractional anisotropy, fiber orientation, etc.) have been quantified using the bootstrap, in which the data are resampled from the experimental averages, yet this approach is only applicable to DTI scans that contain multiple averages from the same sampling direction. It has been shown that DTI acquisitions with a modest to large number of directions, in which each direction is only sampled once, outperform the multiple averages approach. These acquisitions resist the traditional (regular) bootstrap analysis though. In contrast to the regular bootstrap, the wild bootstrap method can be applied to such protocols in which there is only one observation per direction. Here, we compare and contrast the wild bootstrap with the regular bootstrap using Monte Carlo numerical simulations for a number of diffusion scenarios. The regular and wild bootstrap methods are applied to human DTI data and empirical distributions are obtained for fractional anisotropy and the diffusion tensor eigensystem. Spatial maps of the estimated variability in the diffusion tensor principal eigenvector are provided. The wild bootstrap method can provide empirical distributions for tensor‐derived quantities, such as fractional anisotropy and principal eigenvector direction, even when the exact distributions are not easily derived. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Obesity does not predispose to more aggressive prostate cancer either at biopsy or radical prostatectomy in European men
Authors: Gallina Andrea , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Hutterer Georg C. , Chun Felix K.‐H. , Briganti Alberto , Walz Jochen , Antebi Elie , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Suardi Nazareno , Graefen Markus , Erbersdobler Andreas , Salonia Andrea , Rigatti Patrizio , Huland Hartwig , Montorsi Francesco
Published: April 2007

Many investigators suggested that obesity predisposes to adverse prostate cancer characteristics and outcomes. We tested the effect of obesity on the rate of aggressive prostate cancer at either prostate biopsy or radical prostatectomy (RP). Clinical and pathological data were available for 1,814 men. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models addressed the rate of high grade prostate cancer (HGPCa) at either biopsy or final pathology. Clinical stage, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), percentage of free PSA and prostate volume were the base predictors. All models were fitted with and without body mass index (BMI), which quantified obesity. BMI and its reciprocal (InvBMI) were coded as cubic splines to allow nonlinear effects. Predictive accuracy (PA) was quantified with area under curve estimates, which were subjected to 200 bootstrap resamples to reduce overfit bias. Gains in PA related to the inclusion of BMI were compared using the Mantel–Haenszel test. HGPCa at biopsy was detected in 562 (31%) and HGPCa at RP pathology was present in 931 (51.3%) men. In either univariable or multivariable models predicting HGPCa at biopsy, BMI or InvBMI failed to respectively reach statistical significance or add to multivariable PA (BMI gain = 0%, p = 1.0; InvBMI gain = −0.2%, p = 0.9). Conversely, in models predicting HGPCa at RP, BMI and InvBMI represented independent predictors but failed to increase PA (BMI gain = 0.7%, p = 0.6; InvBMI gain = 0.5, p = 0.7%). Obesity does not predispose to moreaggressive prostate cancer at biopsy. Similarly, obesity doesnot change the ability to identify those who may harbor HGPCa at RP. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic significance of matrix metalloproteinases‐1, ‐2, ‐7 and ‐13 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hilska Marja , Roberts Peter J. , Collan Yrjö U. , Laine Veli Jukka O. , Kössi Jyrki , Hirsimäki Pirkko , Rahkonen Otto , Laato Matti
Published: April 2007

Strong expression of many matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been related to poor survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) has been associated with both a beneficial and a poor outcome and there is thus a need to further clarify the significance of MMPs and TIMPs in CRC. The prognostic significance of 4 MMPs and TIMPs in CRC was evaluated. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue arrayed samples of 351 patients with primary colon or rectal cancer of Dukes' stages A‐D were selected for immunohistochemical staining of MMP‐1, ‐2, ‐7 and ‐13, and TIMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4. High expression of MMP‐2 in the malignant epithelium as well as in the surrounding stroma was associated with reduced survival of colon cancer patients. Strong epithelial and stromal cytoplasmic staining of TIMP‐3 was associated with a longer survival in rectal cancer patients, and here the interobserver variation for evaluating the degree of staining was lower than for epithelial staining. Strong stromal cytoplasmic staining of TIMP‐4 predicted longer survival of rectal cancer patients. Multivariate analysis showed that stromal cytoplasmic TIMP‐3 staining was the only marker of independent prognostic value. MMP‐2 might be a useful prognostic marker in colon cancer, and TIMP‐3 and TIMP‐4 in rectal cancer, but the findings associated with stromal staining should be interpreted with some caution. Different biologic behavior or different genetic development may explain the differences between colon and rectal cancers regarding the expression of MMP‐2, TIMP‐3 and TIMP‐4. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.