bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notes on American Theridiid Spiders
Authors: Levi Herbert W.
Published: April 2008

About 195 species of theridiid spiders are known from north of
Mexico, about 800 in all the Americas. Among them are our commonest
spiders but also numerous rare species. This is the first addition
to my revisions of spiders of this family. Similar additions will
be made periodically as it becomes necessary to report on new species,
describe the other sex of species known from only males or females,
record habitat notes of rare species and make corrections.

For their assistance I want to thank Miss M. E. Galiano of Buenos
Aires, Mr. V. D. Roth of the Southwestern Research Station of the
American Museum of Natural History, who collected specimens of
rare Arizona species, and Dr. W. J. Gertsch, who made me aware of
an error in my revision of the genus Tidarren and facilitated the loan
of Latrodectus mactans hesperus. This research is in part supported
by Public Health Research Grant AI‐01944 from the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Visual and Acoustical Social Displays by the Grasshopper Arphia Conspersa (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Authors: Willey Robert B. , Willey Ruth L.
Published: April 2008

Many species of the Oedipodinae (band‐wing grasshoppers) exhibit
strikingly diverse social interactions invoking visual and acoustical
communication between the sexes and between individuals of the
same sex (Otte, 1968, 1969).

The present paper is an account of the communication system of
Arphia conspersa and will serve as an introduction to quantitative
and experimental analyses of specific aspects of the behavior of this
and other species.
Carbon Dioxide, a Releaser for Digging Behavior in Solenopsis Geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Hangartner Walter
Published: April 2008

The behavior of ants digging through sand or clay in the direction
of trapped nestmates has been described by Belt (1874) and Lafleur
(I940). Wilson (1958) showed that in Pogonomyrmex badius
(Latreille) this behavior pattern is released by a volatile substance
originating from the mandibular glands. Later, McGurk et al.
(1966) identified the responsible compound as 4‐methyl‐3‐heptanone.
At the same time, Blum and Warter (1966) isolated 2‐heptanone
from Conomyrma pyramica (Roger) and described its function as
the releaser of alarm and digging behavior. Spangler (1968) reported
that not only whole workers, but also amputated parts as well
as larvae and pupae of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Cresson) attract
workers of this species and release digging behavior. Forrest (1963)
studied Lasius flavus nearcticus and four species of Acanthomyops and
found that workers also dig to free ants of another species but attack
them as soon as they are released.

During studies on a colony of Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius),
I noticed that returning foragers started to remove a plug of cotton
used to block the entrance of an artificial nest immediately after its
mounting, even if the position of the entrance was rotated through
180°. During most of these actions, they used their mandibles to
chew away small pieces of the obstacle. The purpose of the present
paper is to report on the finding that this behavior is released by the
carbon dioxide produced by the ants trapped inside the nest.
The Larva of Acanthognathus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Wheeler George C. , Wheeler Jeanette
Published: April 2008

In 1953 Brown divided the tribe Dacetini into four subtribes:
Dacetiti, Orectognathi, Epopostrumiti and Strumigenitio. After studying
the larvae of eight dacetine genera (Daceton, Orectognathus, Epopostruma, Mesostruma, Alistruma, Clarkistruma, Strumigenys
and Smithistruma) representing all four subtribes, we concluded
(1954) that the larval similarities and differences confirmed the
grouping of the adults. But now, alas, our study of the larva of
Acanthognathus forces us to revise our conclusion.
The Genus Priotomis in Argentina(Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)
Authors: Porter Charles C.
Published: April 2008

The genus Priotomis (Townes, 1969, p. 292) was placed by its
author in the subtribe Lymeonina of the ichneumonid tribe Mesostenini.
While data provided by a study of the new species treated
in this article do not controvert that placement it is well to emphasize
that Priotomis shows a number of singularly aberrant characters
unparalleled among other genera of its subtribe. For example, the
presence of a series of teeth on the dorsal valve of the ovipositor tip
recalls the Baryceratina rather than the Lymeonina, whereas the
specialized, twisted mandibular apex is not found in any other mesostenine
genus.

Priotomis was described from a unique female collected in the
wet subtropical forest of Santa Catarina State in southern Brasil.
Now, however, another specimen has come to light, from the invernally
deciduous Chaco Forest o northwest Argentina, and this form,
while agreeing perfectly with Townes′ diagnosis of Priotoms, differs
in so many respects from its Brazilian congener that it must be
recognized as a separate species.
Young Larvae of Veromessor Pergandei(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)
Authors: Wheeler George C. , Wheeler Jeanette
Published: April 2008

Time was when it seemed every myrmecologist wanted to work on
Veromessor pergandei, but we can find no mention of it in the last
eight years of Zoological Record. When we lived with it in Death
Valley and southern Nevada it became one of our favorite ants.

To differentiate instars we would like the following specimens: a
first instar inside an egg; a second instar inside a first instar that is
ready to moult; a third instar inside a second ready to moult; etc; a
mature larva; a prepupa. Fortunately our V. pergandei material
meets all the requirements, except the first. V. pergandei is polymorphic,
which presents another problem: when does subcaste differentiation
begin? How can one tell whether a small larva is the
young of a major or a mature of a minim; or whether a mediumsized
larva is the mature of an intermediate worker or the halfgrown
larva of a major? In V. pergandei subcaste differences
apparently begin in the fourth instar and are manifested only in size.

V. pergandei presents another problem: there are two body
shapes for mature worker larvae. We have no explanation for this.
New Genera and Species of NeotropicalAmiseginae (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae)
Authors: Kimsey Lynn Siri
Published: April 2008

The Canadian National Collection (OTTAWA) has one of the
largest, if not the largest collection of neotropical Amiseginae in the
world. In a sample of about 700 unidentified specimens sent to me
by Lubomir Masher from this collection there were many new taxa,
including representatives of a new genus. In addition, material was
borrowed from the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard
University (J. M. Carpenter), Cambridge, Massachusetts, the American
Entomological Institute, Gainesville, Florida (H. Townes,
GAINESVILLE), and the U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C.
(K. V. Krombein, WASHINGTON). The new species of Adelphe are
described separately (Kimsey 1986). The remaining new taxa are
included below.

The following abbreviations are used: F = flagellomere, MOD = midocellus diameter, PD = puncture diameter and T = gastral tergum.
Chemical Defense of an OzaenineBombardier Beetle From New Guinea
Authors: Eisner Thomas , Ball George E. , Roach Braden , Aneschansley Daniel J. , Eisner Maria , Blankespoor Curtis L. , Meinwald Jerrold
Published: April 2008

We had occasion recently to study 3 live specimens of Pseudozaena
orientalis opaca, an ozaenine carabid beetle (subfamily Paussinae,
tribe Ozaenini) from New Guinea, and report here on the
biology and chemistry of its defensive spray mechanism. A number
of New World ozaenines had previously been studied chemically
and shown to be “bombardiers” that discharge a hot quinonoid
mixture (Aneshansley et al. 1969, 1983; Eisner and Aneshansley
1982; Eisner et al. 1977; Roach et al. 1979). Pseudozaena proved no
exception.
The Neotropical Orb‐Weaver Genera Epeiroides, Bertrana and Amazonepeira (Araneae: Araneidae).
Authors: Levi Herbert W.
Published: April 2008

Most Neotropical spider specimens preserved in museums were
collected by ornithologists, entomologists or amateur naturalists,
who picked up spiders when their preferred organisms could not be
found. Invariably such collectors bring back the biggest, showiest
spiders. Only in recent years have arachnologists themselves collected,
concentrating on the less conspicuous but often more interesting
spiders that previously were overlooked. Tiny spiders
frequently show greater diversity in structure than larger ones, and
have more species in the Holarctic region. At present we know much
less about the minute Neotropical Araneidae than about the larger
species.

For most of these spiders there is no literature other than catalog
citations. Often the second citation is a misidentification, and many
species, when found again, were given new names (e.g. Bertrana
striotaca), because making a new species is much easier than checking
previous descriptions and examining their types.
The Entomological Collection of Thomas Say
Authors: Mawdsley Jonathan R.
Published: April 2008

The 770 remaining specimens of the entomological collection of
Thomas Say presently housed in the Museum of Comparative
Zoology are catalogued for the first time, including 71 specimens
representing 56 species described by Say which are labelled in
Say′s handwriting and which are probably those specimens on
which Say′s species descriptions were based. The history of the
Say entomological collection is recounted. Based on signatures on
labels in the present Say collection material, it is apparent that Say
exchanged specimens with many European entomologists, including
Dupont, Germar, Laporte de Castelnau, Motschulsky, Schoenherr,
Sturm, and Wiedemann. A protocol for the designation of Say
lectotypes and neotypes is proposed.
Colony Composition of Two Malaysian Ponerine Ants, Platythyrea Tricuspidata and P. Quadridenta: Sexual Reproduction by Workersand Production of Queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Ito Fuminori
Published: April 2008

Colonies of ponerine ants Platythyrea quadridenta and P. tricuspidata were collected in the rainforest of West Malaysia. Two
colonies of P. tricuspidata were composed only of workers, and
three and eight workers were inseminated per colony, respectively.
However, active ovaries were found in one of the three, and two of
the eight mated workers. P. quadridenta also exhibited sexual
reproduction by workers, and there were many sterile mated workers.
The two largest colonies of P. quadridenta produced alate
queens. The significance of queen production and worker sexual
reproduction are discussed.
Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
Authors: Yokum Kevin A. , Angradi Ted R. , Tarter Donald C.
Published: April 2008

We examined the abundance, life history, and production of the stoneflies Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) in four forested headwater streams at the Fernow
Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia. Peltoperla arcuata was most abundant in the smallest watersheds (<100 ha), and was present at all sites. Tallaperla maria was most abundant in watersheds >200 hectares (ha), was restricted to sites with a base‐flow alkalinity of >2 mg L-1 CaCO3, and was the dominant peltoperlid only at sites with an alkalinity >15 mg L-1. We conclude that water chemistry overrides stream size as a determinant of species‐specific distribution of Fernow peltoperlids. Both taxa had semi‐voltine life cycles with an 18‐month naiadal period following a 6‐month egg diapause. Emergence was during May‐July for both species. Peltoperla arcuata had about 15 instars; T. maria had about 14 instars. Peltoperlid production was highest (509 mg m-2 y-1) in a 128 ha watershed where only P. arcuata was collected; P.
arcuata production was lowest (17 mg m-2 y-1) in a 4th order stream (1536 ha). Taltaperla maria production was highest (271 m-2 y-1) in a 257 ha watershed partially underlain by limestone. Production across streams was higher for P. arcuata (205 mg m-2y-1)
than for T. maria (91 mg m-2 y-1).
The Origin of Workerless Parasites in Leptothorax (S. Str.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Heinze Jürgen
Published: April 2008

The evolutionary origin of workerless parasitic ants parasitizing colonies of Leptothorax (s.str.) is investigated using data on morphology, chromosome number, and allozyme phenotype of both social parasites and their hosts. Of the three previously proposed pathways, the evolution of workerless parasites from guest ants or slave‐makers is unlikely, at least according to a phenogram obtained by UPGMA clustering of Nei′s similarities based on seven enzymes, lntraspecific evolution of the workerless parasites Doronomyrmex goesswaldi, D. kutteri, and D. pacis from their common host, Leptothorax acervorum cannot be excluded with the present data. The workerless parasite L. paraxenus, however, clearly differs from its host, L. cf. canadensis, in morphology and biochemistry, and most probably did not evolve from the latter species. It is proposed to synonymize Doronomyrmex under Leptothorax (s.str.).
Size‐Dependent Nest Site Choice by Cavity‐Dwelling Ants
Authors: Herbers Joan M. , Banschbac Valerie
Published: April 2008

Nest site choice by cavity‐dwelling ants of north temperate deciduous forests was studied at two sites in the northeastern
United States. The two numerically dominant ant species in these communities, Myrmica punctivenris and Leptothorax longispinosus, chose different cavity sizes in experiments employing artificial nest sites. These preferences for different cavity sizes should prove useful for studies involving experimental manipulation of cavity‐dwelling ant species.
Industrial Silicon Wafer Solar Cells
Authors: Neuhaus Dirk-Holger , Münzer Adolf
Published: April 2008

In 2006, around 86% of all wafer-based silicon solar cells were produced using screen printing to form the silver front and aluminium rear contacts and chemical vapour deposition to grow silicon nitride as the antireflection coating onto the front surface. This paper reviews this dominant solar cell technology looking into state-of-the-art equipment and corresponding processes for each process step. The main efficiency losses of this type of solar cell are analyzed to demonstrate the future efficiency potential of this technology. In research and development, more various advanced solar cell concepts have demonstrated higher efficiencies. The question which arises is “why are new solar cell concepts not transferred into industrial production more frequently?”. We look into the requirements a new solar cell technology has to fulfill to have an advantage over the current approach. Finally, we give an overview of high-efficiency concepts which have already been transferred into industrial production.
On Hilbert′s Inequality for Double Series and Its Applications
Authors: Yu Zhou , Mingzhe Gao
Published: April 2008

This study shows that a refinement of the Hilbert inequality for double series can be established by introducing a real function u(x) and a parameter λ. In particular, some sharp results of the classical Hilbert inequality are obtained by means of a sharpening of the Cauchy inequality. As applications, some refinements of both the Fejer‐Riesz inequality and Hardy inequality in Hp function are given.
Error Bound of Periodic Signals in the Hölder Metric
Authors: Singh Tikam , Mahajan Pravin
Published: April 2008

We obtain two theorems to determine the error bound between input periodic signals and processed output signals, whenever signals belong to Hω‐space and as a processor we have taken (C, 1)(E, 1)‐mean and generalized an early result of Lal and Yadav in (2001).
Automatic Bandwidth Adjustment for Content Distribution in MPLS Networks
Authors: Moltchanov D.
Published: April 2008

Aggregates of real‐time traffic may experience changes in their statistical characteristics often manifesting non stationary behavior. In multi protocol label switching (MPLS) networks this type of the traffic is assigned constant amount of resources. This may result in ineffective usage of resources when the load is below than expected or inappropriate performance when the load is higher. In this paper we propose new algorithm for dynamic resource adaptation to temporarily changing traffic conditions. Assuming that network nodes may reallocate resources on‐demand using automatic bandwidth adjustment capability of MPLS framework, the proposed algorithm, implemented at ingress MPLS nodes, dynamically decides which amount of resources is currently sufficient to handle arriving traffic with given performance metrics. This decision is then communicated to interior MPLS nodes along the label switched path. As a basic tool of the algorithm we use change‐point statistical test that signals time instants at which statistical characteristics of traffic aggregates change. The major advantage of the proposed approach is that it is fully autonomous, that is, network nodes do not need any support from hosts in terms of resource reservation requests. The proposed algorithm is well suited for traffic patterns experiencing high variability, especially, for non stationary type of the traffic.
Ordered Structures and Projections
Authors: Yazi M.
Published: April 2008

We associate a covering relation to the usual order relation defined in the set of all idempotent endomorphisms (projections) of a finite‐dimensional
vector space. A characterization is given of it. This characterization makes
this order an order verifying the Jordan‐Dedekind chain condition. We give
also a property for certain finite families of this order. More precisely, the
family of parts intervening in the linear representation of diagonalizable
endomorphism, that is, the orthogonal families forming a decomposition of
the identity endomorphism.
Critical Thinking about Adverse Drug Effects: Lessons from the Psychology of Risk and Medical Decision-Making for Clinical Psychopharmacology
Authors: Nierenberg Andrew A. , Smoller Jordan W. , Eidelman Polina , Wu Yelena P. , Tilley Claire A.
Published: April 2008

Systematic biases in decision-making have been well characterized in medical and nonmedical fields but mostly ignored in clinical psychopharmacology. The purpose of this paper is to sensitize clinicians who prescribe psychiatric drugs to the issues of the psychology of risk, especially as they pertain to the risk of side effects. Specifically, the present analysis focuses on heuristic organization and framing effects that create cognitive biases in medical practice. Our purpose is to increase the awareness of how pharmaceutical companies may influence physicians by framing the risk of medication side effects to favor their products.
Transition from Cognitively Impaired Not Demented to Alzheimer’s Disease: An Analysis of Changes in Functional Abilities in a Dementia Clinic Cohort
Authors: Hsiung Ging-Yuek R. , Alipour Sina , Jacova Claudia , Grand Jacob , Gauthier Serge , Black Sandra E. , Bouchard Rémi W. , Kertesz Andrew , Loy-English Inge , Hogan David B. , Rockwood Kenneth , Feldman Howard H.
Published: April 2008

Background: Patients with cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) are at an increased risk of progression to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Whether subtle impairments in functional or social abilities at the CIND stage can predict progression to AD is not yet fully determined. We evaluated whether impairments on the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) and Functional Rating Scale (FRS) can predict progression to AD. Methods: We examined 70 patients with CIND from the ACCORD cohort having complete DAD and FRS baseline and 2-year follow-up data. MANCOVA adjusted for age, sex, education and baseline MMSE score compared the baseline and 2-year change in DAD and FRS scores in CIND patients who progressed to AD versus non-progressors. Results: There were no significant differences between CIND progressors and non-progressors in baseline total DAD or FRS scores. FRS domain analysis revealed that greater impairment in social/occupational functioning significantly predicted progression, while there were no predictive DAD domains. In progressors, both DAD and FRS scores significantly declined over time with the largest changes in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Conclusion: While changes in IADL characterize the progression from CIND to AD, impairment in complex social-cognitive competency significantly predicts risk of progression and may mark early AD.
Gene Expression Profiles of Vascular Smooth Muscle Show Differential Expression of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways during Captopril Therapy of Heart Failure
Authors: Chen Frank C. , Brozovich Frank V.
Published: April 2008

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by increased vascular tone and an impairment in nitric-oxide-mediated vasodilatation. We have demonstrated that the blunted response to nitric oxide is due, in part, to a reduction in the leucine-zipper-positive isoform of the myosin-targeting subunit (MYPT1) of myosin light-chain phosphatase. Additionally, we have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, but not afterload reduction with prazosin, preserves leucine-zipper-positive MYPT1 isoform expression in vascular smooth muscle cells and normalizes the sensitivity to cGMP-mediated vasodilatation. We therefore hypothesized that in CHF, growth regulators and cytokines downstream of the angiotensin II receptor are involved in modulating gene expression in vascular tissue. Rats were divided into control and captopril-treated groups following left coronary artery ligation. Gene expression profiles in the aorta and portal vein at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI) were analyzed using microarray technology and quantitative real-time PCR. After MI, microarray analysis revealed differential mRNA expression of 21 genes in the aorta of captopril-treated rats 2 and 4 weeks after surgery when compared to gene expression profiles at baseline and without captopril therapy. Real-time PCR demonstrated that captopril suppressed the expression of protein kinases in the angiotensin-II-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, including Taok1 and Raf1. These data suggest that in CHF, captopril therapy modulates gene expression in vascular smooth muscle, and some of the beneficial effects of ACE inhibition may be due to differential gene expression in the vasculature.
Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors after Local Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis
Authors: Fischer Urs , Anca Diana , Arnold Marcel , Nedeltchev Krassen , Kappeler Liliane , Ballinari Pietro , Schroth Gerhard , Mattle Heinrich P.
Published: April 2008

Background: We aimed to assess quality of life (QOL) and its predictors in stroke survivors after local intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) as well as to measure QOL according to the site of pretreatment vessel occlusion. Methods: From January 2000 to April 2004, 175 consecutive patients underwent IAT for acute ischemic stroke. Clinical and radiological data were collected prospectively. We contacted 135 stroke survivors after a mean of 923 (±431) days, 132 responded. QOL, assessed with EuroQol (EQ-5D), and functional abilities, measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the Barthel Index, were compared, and predictors of QOL were analyzed. Results: Measured with EQ-5D, 56% of the patients reported a good QOL (EQ-5D Index ≥70). Low mRS and high Barthel Index scores at follow-up were associated with better overall QOL (Kendall’s tau >0.5). Nevertheless, 25% of the functionally independent patients (mRS 0–2) indicated a markedly impaired QOL (EQ-5D Index <70) and 10% of disabled patients indicated good QOL. QOL was significantly lower in patients with occlusion of the internal carotid artery compared to patients with occlusion of the basilar artery or the M1, M2 or M3/4 segment of the middle cerebral artery (EQ-5D Index: p = 0.005). A high National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score on admission and occlusion of the internal carotid artery were independent predictors of impaired QOL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: More than half of the stroke survivors treated with IAT reported a good QOL, mostly survivors with mild disabilities. QOL assessment gives information that is not provided by traditional outcome scores. Our results support guidelines to measure QOL in stroke research.
Haematological Evaluation of Weekly Therapy with Topotecan for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Resistant to Platinum-Based Therapy
Authors: Largillier R. , Valenza B. , Ferrero J.-M. , Novo C. , Creisson A. , Lesbats G. , Mari V. , Hebert C. , Chamorey E.
Published: April 2008

Topotecan is indicated in the treatment of advanced-stage ovarian cancers refractory to prior platinum-based regimen. The aim of this study was to compare the standard therapeutic strategy with a novel strategy of weekly administration of topotecan. The primary endpoints were dose density and overall tolerance. This retrospective cohort study included patients with ovarian cancer in relapse. During a first period (1998–2001), 24 patients received the standard topotecan dose of 1.5 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days with a 3-week interval between each treatment course. During a second period (2003–2006), 21 patients received a weekly topotecan dose of 4 mg/m2 for 3 weeks out of every 4. Grades III and IV haematological toxicities were more frequent with the standard strategy (p < 0.05), even after adjustment of the prescription of erythropoietin and G-CSF. With the weekly strategy, an increase in dose density and a reduction in the number of delayed doses were observed. No significant difference between the 2 strategies was found in terms of response to the treatment and specific survival. This study suggests that the weekly administration of topotecan 4 mg/m2, for 3 weeks out of every 4, results in a better maintenance of dose density and a reduction in haematological toxicity.
Safety and Activity of Sorafenib in Different Histotypes of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Procopio Giuseppe , Verzoni Elena , Gevorgyan Arpine , Mancin Maddalena , Pusceddu Sara , Catena Laura , Platania Marco , Guadalupi Valentina , Martinetti Antonia , Bajetta Emilio
Published: April 2008

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety in unresectable or advanced renal carcinoma treated with sorafenib, in a situation closely similar to the everyday medical practice. Patients and Methods: One hundred and thirty-six patients have been treated with 400 mg b.i.d. of sorafenib administered orally until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. They were either previously untreated or relapsed after one or more previous treatments with systemic therapy. Most of them had clear cell renal carcinoma (RCC), but other histological types such as papillary, chromophobe, Bellini ducts, sarcomatoid and mixed forms were also represented. Results: Overall disease control of 70.6% was achieved with 7.9% of partial remissions. Response was observed in the majority of patients with RCC, but also in some patients with non-clear cell RCC. Safety was acceptable, with the most common adverse events consisting of hand-foot skin reaction, cutaneous rash, diarrhoea, fatigue and hypertension. Conclusions: The results confirm previous ones reported in the literature concerning the efficacy and the safety of sorafenib as second-line treatment in patients with RCC. In addition, they disclose the hypothesis that sorafenib could be effective also in patients who underwent multiple previous treatments and in those with histology different from clear cells.
Expression of Interferon-Gamma-Inducible Protein 10 Related to Angiogenesis in Uterine Endometrial Cancers
Authors: Sato Eriko , Fujimoto Jiro , Tamaya Teruhiko
Published: April 2008

Objective: Angiogenesis is essential for the development, growth and advancement of solid tumors. Interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) regulates lymphocyte chemotaxis, mediates vascular pericyte proliferation and acts as an angiostatic agent, thus inhibiting tumor growth. This prompted us to study the clinical implications of IP-10 expression related to angiogenesis in uterine endometrial cancers. Method: Sixty patients underwent curative resection for uterine endometrial cancers. In the tissue of these cancers, the levels of IP-10, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the localization of IP-10 and counts of microvessels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Result: IP-10 is diffusely localized in the cancer cells, but not in the stromal cells. There was a significant, reverse correlation between microvessel counts and IP-10 levels in uterine endometrial cancers. The IP-10 levels significantly decreased with more advanced disease and significantly reverse-correlated with bFGF levels in uterine endometrial cancers. Conclusions: IP-10 might affect the suppression of angiogenesis associated with bFGF in advanced cancer. Furthermore, IP-10 activation might be effective in the suppression of regrowth or recurrence after intensive treatment for advanced endometrial cancers.
Ten Years of Measurements of Tropical Upper-Tropospheric Water Vapor by MOZAIC. Part II: Assessing the ECMWF Humidity Analysis
Authors: Luo Zhengzhao , Kley Dieter , Johnson Richard H. , Smit Herman
Published: April 2008

In a recent publication (Part I), the authors introduced a data source—Measurement of Ozone and Water Vapor by Airbus In-Service Aircraft (MOZAIC)—for monitoring and studying upper-tropospheric water vapor (UTWV) and analyzed 10 yr (1994–2004) of MOZAIC measurements of tropical UTWV in its climatology, variability, transport, and relation to deep convection. In this study (Part II), MOZAIC is used to assess the ECMWF humidity analysis over the tropics, taking advantage of the unique nature of the MOZAIC data, namely, the long data record, near-global coverage, and high accuracy.

In parallel to Part I, the ECMWF UTWV analysis is assessed against MOZAIC in the following five aspects: 1) annual cycle, 2) vertical structure, 3) probability density functions (PDFs), 4) moisture flux divergence, and 5) interannual variability. The annual cycle of the ECMWF UTWV shows a similar pattern as MOZAIC but has an overall dry bias of about 10%–30% relative humidity with respect to ice (RHi). The dry biases are larger in the deep tropics than the subtropics and larger over the Asian monsoon region than the tropical Atlantic region. The increase in RH with height (from about 300 to 200 hPa) as observed by MOZAIC is largely missing in the ECMWF analysis, which has a roughly constant RH profile. The bimodal distribution of tropical UTWV is well established in MOZAIC, but for ECMWF, the moist mode is abruptly cut off at 100% RHi due to the lack of ice supersaturation (ISS) in the forecast model. Lack of ISS capability is, however, not the only cause for the dry bias in the ECMWF; it also has more occurrences of lower humidity compared to MOZAIC. There is also evidence that ECMWF underestimates the range of upper-tropospheric humidity (UTH) variation. A comparison of moisture flux divergence is conducted to assess the ability of ECMWF to capture the divergent transport of water vapor. It is shown that the ECMWF can represent the distribution of this quantity fairly well, although the dry bias leads to some underestimate of the magnitude. Finally, the authors show a comparison of the ECMWF and MOZAIC depictions of the interannual variation of UTWV during the 1997/98 ENSO event as an illustration that UTWV variations are more difficult to capture than those of the UT temperature.
Limitations of Using a Single Postdose Midazolam Concentration to Predict CYP3A‐Mediated Drug Interactions
Authors: Penzak Scott R. , Busse Kristin H. , Robertson Sarah M. , Formentini Elizabeth , Alfaro Raul M. , Davey Richard T.
Published: April 2008

Midazolam is a common probe used to predict CYP3A activity, but multiple blood samples are necessary to determine midazolam's area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC). As such, single sampling strategies have been examined. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of single midazolam concentrations to predict midazolam AUC in the presence and absence of CYP3A modulation by Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE). Subjects received oral midazolam 8 mg before and after 28 days of GBE administration. Postdose blood samples were collected during both study periods and midazolam AUC determined. Linear regression was used to generate measures of predictive performance for each midazolam concentration. The geometric mean ratio (90% confidence intervals) of midazolam AUC0‐∞ post‐GBE/AUC0‐∞ pre‐GBE was 0.66 (0.49–0.84) (P = .03). Before and after GBE administration, optimal midazolam sampling times were identified at 3.5 to 5 hours and 2 to 3 hours, respectively. Single midazolam concentrations between 2 and 5 hours correctly predicted the reduction in midazolam AUC following GBE exposure, but confidence intervals were generally wide. Intersubject variability in CYP3A activity (either inherent or from drug administration) alters the prediction of optimal midazolam sampling times; therefore, midazolam AUC is preferred for assessing CYP3A activity in drug‐drug interaction studies.
Using Item Response Theory to Obtain Individual Information From Randomized Response Data: An Application Using Cheating Data
Authors: Fox Jean-Paul , Meijer Rob R.
Published: April 2008

The authors discuss a new method that combines the randomized response technique with item response theory. This method allows the researcher to obtain information at the individual person level without knowing the true responses. With this new method, it is possible to compare groups of individuals by means of analysis of variance or regression analysis. To illustrate the advantages of this new method, 349 students of a university in the Netherlands were surveyed with respect to frequency and reasons to cheat on exams, and students' attitudes toward cheating were investigated. Thirty-six items tapping different types of cheating behavior were used to measure attitude toward cheating, and responses to questions were obtained via a randomized response technique. The new method was used to explain differences among students' attitudes using different kinds of background information.
I Have Mastered the Challenge of Living With a Chronic Disease: Life Stories of People With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Stamm Tanja , Lovelock Linda , Stew Graham , Nell Valerie , Smolen Josef , Jonsson Hans , Sadlo Gaynor , Machold Klaus
Published: April 2008

Our aim with this study was to explore the narrative life story of individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. An open qualitative approach, namely narrative biographic methodology, was applied to include the life context of the participants and to deliberately exclude predefinitions of concepts. Ten people with rheumatoid arthritis who retired early because of the disease participated and were interviewed three times according to a narrative biographic interview style. The biographical data and the interview texts were analyzed both individually and in comparison to each other. Some participants regarded rheumatoid arthritis as a challenge for mastery in their lives, whereas others adapted to the disease and “made the best out of a bad situation.” Especially in countries where the medical model predominates in health care, our findings can be used to broaden the current view that some health professionals have toward patients, and stress the importance of patients being self-responsible.
The Role of Exercise Dependence for the Relationship between Exercise Behavior and Eating Pathology
Authors: Cook Brian J. , Hausenblas Heather A.
Published: April 2008

Our study examined the potential mediating or moderating effect of exercise dependence on the exercise—eating pathology relationship. Female university students ( N = 330) completed Internet-based self-report measures of exercise behavior, exercise dependence, and eating pathology. Exercise dependence served as a mediator for the relationship between exercise and eating pathology. This unidirectional causal model suggests that an individual's pathological motivation or compulsion to exercise is the critical mediating component in the exercise—eating pathology relationship. The best target for removing the link between exercise behavior and eating pathology may be reformulating exercise dependence symptoms.
Postpartum Smoking Cessation and Relapse Prevention Intervention
Authors: Röske K. , Schumann A. , Hannöver W. , Grempler J. , Thyrian J.R. , Rumpf H.-J. , John U. , Hapke U.
Published: April 2008

The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of a postpartum smoking cessation and relapse prevention intervention. Structural equation modeling techniques were applied to evaluate the impact of the intervention on smoking behavior and on non-behavioral variables derived from the Transtheoretical Model (TTM). Women were randomized to an intervention (I) and control group (C). Smoking status, TTM-variables, and control variables were assessed four weeks, six and 12 months postpartum. Membership in the intervention group significantly predicted non-smoking and higher self-efficacy six months, but not one year postpartum, after controlling for demographic, smoking, and postpartum risk variables.
A Markov gamma random field for modelling disease mapping data
Authors: Nieto-Barajas Luis E
Published: April 2008

In this paper we introduce a Markov gamma random field prior for modelling relative risks in disease mapping data. This prior process allows for a different dependence effect with different neighbours. We describe the properties of the prior process and derive posterior distributions. The model is extended to cope with covariates and a data set of respiratory infections of children in Mexico is used as an illustration.
Economic Assistance and Crime
Authors: Savage Joanne , Bennett Richard R. , Danner Mona
Published: April 2008

Many countries struggle with the question of appropriate social welfare spending. Here we test several hypotheses about the dynamics between social welfare spending and crime. We do so using pooled, cross-national time-series data. Our findings suggest that per capita social welfare spending is associated with lower rates of both theft and homicide. Time lagged analysis suggests that the current level of social welfare spending, not that of recent years, accounts for any possible suppression of crime. The data also suggest that, whereas high homicide rates do not appear to inspire increased social welfare generosity, lagged measures of theft rates are associated with subsequent increases in social welfare spending among high theft countries.
Optimizations for the EcoPod field identification tool
Authors: Manoharan Aswath , Stamberger Jeannie , Yu YuanYuan , Paepcke Andreas
Published: April 2008

Background

We sketch our species identification tool for palm sized computers that helps knowledgeable observers with census activities. An algorithm turns an identification matrix into a minimal length series of questions that guide the operator towards identification. Historic observation data from the census geographic area helps minimize question volume. We explore how much historic data is required to boost performance, and whether the use of history negatively impacts identification of rare species. We also explore how characteristics of the matrix interact with the algorithm, and how best to predict the probability of observing a previously unseen species.

Results

Point counts of birds taken at Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve between 2000 and 2005 were used to examine the algorithm. A computer identified species by correctly answering, and counting the algorithm's questions. We also explored how the character density of the key matrix and the theoretical minimum number of questions for each bird in the matrix influenced the algorithm. Our investigation of the required probability smoothing determined whether Laplace smoothing of observation probabilities was sufficient, or whether the more complex Good-Turing technique is required.

Conclusion

Historic data improved identification speed, but only impacted the top 25% most frequently observed birds. For rare birds the history based algorithms did not impose a noticeable penalty in the number of questions required for identification. For our dataset neither age of the historic data, nor the number of observation years impacted the algorithm. Density of characters for different taxa in the identification matrix did not impact the algorithms. Intrinsic differences in identifying different birds did affect the algorithm, but the differences affected the baseline method of not using historic data to exactly the same degree. We found that Laplace smoothing performed better for rare species than Simple Good-Turing, and that, contrary to expectation, the technique did not then adversely affect identification performance for frequently observed birds.
A comparison of oxidative stress in smokers and non-smokers: an in vivo human quantitative study of n-3 lipid peroxidation
Authors: Puri Basant K , Treasaden Ian H , Cocchi Massimo , Tsaluchidu Sofia , Tonello Lucio , Ross Brian M
Published: April 2008

Background

Cigarette smoking is believed to cause oxidative stress by several mechanisms, including direct damage by radical species and the inflammatory response induced by smoking, and would therefore be expected to cause increased lipid peroxidation. The aim was to carry out the first study of the relationship of smoking in humans to the level of n-3 lipid peroxidation indexed by the level of ethane in exhaled breath.

Methods

Samples of alveolar air were obtained from 11 smokers and 18 non-smokers. The air samples were analyzed for ethane using mass spectrometry.

Results

The two groups of subjects were matched with respect to age and gender. The mean cumulative smoking status of the smokers was 11.8 (standard error 2.5) pack-years. The mean level of ethane in the alveolar breath of the group of smokers (2.53 (0.55) ppb) was not significantly different from that of the group of non-smokers (2.59 (0.29) ppb; p = 0.92). With all 29 subjects included, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient between ethane levels and cumulative smoking status was -0.11 (p = 0.58), while an analysis including only the smokers yielded a corresponding correlation coefficient of 0.11 (p = 0.75).

Conclusion

Our results show no evidence that cigarette smoking is related to increased n-3 lipid peroxidation as measured by expired ethane.
Minireview: Nuclear Receptors and Breast Cancer
Authors: Conzen Suzanne D.
Published: April 2008

Until recently, the study of nuclear receptor (NR) function in breast cancer biology has been largely limited to estrogen and progesterone receptors. The development of reliable gene expression arrays, real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical techniques for studying NR superfamily members in primary human breast cancers has now revealed the presence and potential importance of several additional NRs in the biology of breast cancer. These include receptors for steroid hormones (including androgens and corticosteroids), fat-soluble vitamins A and D, fatty acids, and xenobiotic lipids derived from diet. It is now clear that after NR activation, both genomic and nongenomic NR pathways can coordinately activate growth factor signaling pathways. Advances in our understanding of both NR functional networks and epithelial cell growth factor signaling pathways have revealed a frequent interplay between NR and epithelial cell growth factor family signaling that is clinically relevant to breast cancer. Understanding how growth factor receptors and their downstream kinases are activated by NRs (and vice-versa) is a central goal for maximizing treatment opportunities in breast cancer. In addition to the estrogen receptor, it is predicted that modulating the activity of other NRs will soon provide novel prevention and treatment approaches for breast cancer patients.
Further lesion evidence for the neural basis of conceptual knowledge for persons and other concrete entities
Authors: Tranel Daniel , Feinstein Justin , Manzel Kenneth
Published: April 2008

The neural underpinnings of conceptual knowledge have been studied intensively, but many unanswered questions remain. In a previous study examining recognition of persons, animals, and tools in 116 participants with unilateral brain lesions, we found no instance of a patient who manifested defective recognition in all three categories. We reasoned that the spatial distribution of the lesion loci critical for the appearance of recognition defects for these different categories explained why this ‘three‐way’ defect could not be found in patients with unilateral lesions, and we proposed that only a suitable bilateral lesion would be likely to produce such a combined defect. In the study reported here, we tested this hypothesis by investigating recognition performances in 55 participants with bilateral cortical lesions. In support of the hypothesis, nine patients, all of whose lesions included bilateral occipitotemporal and/or temporal cortices, had a three‐way recognition impairment (persons, M=18.3%; animals, M=35.7%; tools, M=71.3%; all scores >2 SDs below normal). As expected, bilateral lesions to other neural sectors, for example prefrontal cortices, did not lead to recognition impairments. These findings provide further support for the notion that retrieval of knowledge for concrete entities from different conceptual categories depends on partially segregated neural systems, located in different sectors of occipitotemporal and temporal regions in right and left hemisphere.
Standardization of C-Peptide Measurements
Authors: Little Randie R , Rohlfing Curt L , Tennill Alethea L , Madsen Richard W , Polonsky Kenneth S , Myers Gary L , Greenbaum Carla J , Palmer Jerry P , Rogatsky Eduard , Stein Daniel T
Published: April 2008

Background: C-peptide is a marker of insulin secretion in diabetic patients. We assessed within- and between-laboratory imprecision of C-peptide assays and determined whether serum calibrators with values assigned by mass spectrometry could be used to harmonize C-peptide results.

Methods: We sent 40 different serum samples to 15 laboratories, which used 9 different routine C-peptide assay methods. We also sent matched plasma samples to another laboratory for C-peptide analysis with a reference mass spectrometry method. Each laboratory analyzed 8 of these samples in duplicate on each of 4 days to evaluate within- and between-day imprecision. The same 8 samples were also used to normalize the results for the remaining samples to the mass spectrometry reference method.

Results: Within- and between-run CVs ranged from <2% to >10% and from <2% to >18%, respectively. Normalizing the results with serum samples significantly improved the comparability among laboratories and methods. After normalization, the differences among laboratories in mean response were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.24), with least-squares means of 0.93–1.02.

Conclusions: C-peptide results generated by different methods and laboratories do not always agree, especially at higher C-peptide concentrations. Within-laboratory imprecision also varied, with some methods giving much more consistent results than others. These data show that calibrating C-peptide measurement to a reference method can increase comparability between laboratories.