bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homozygous Disruption of P450 Side-Chain Cleavage (CYP11A1) Is Associated with Prematurity, Complete 46,XY Sex Reversal, and Severe Adrenal Failure
Authors: Hiort Olaf , Holterhus Paul-Martin , Werner Ralf , Marschke Christine , Hoppe Ute , Partsch Carl-Joachim , Riepe Felix G. , Achermann John C. , Struve Dagmar
Published: January 2005

Disruption of the P450 side-chain cleavage cytochrome (P450scc) enzyme due to deleterious mutations of the CYP11A1 gene is thought to be incompatible with fetal survival because of impaired progesterone production by the fetoplacental unit. We present a 46,XY patient with a homozygous disruption of CYP11A1.

The child was born prematurely with complete sex reversal and severe adrenal insufficiency. Laboratory data showed diminished or absent steroidogenesis in all pathways. Molecular genetic analysis of the CYP11A1 gene revealed a homozygous single nucleotide deletion leading to a premature termination at codon position 288. This mutation will delete highly conserved regions of the P450scc enzyme and thus is predicted to lead to a nonfunctional protein. Both healthy parents were heterozygous for this mutation.

Our report demonstrates that severe disruption of P450scc can be compatible with survival in rare instances. Furthermore, defects in this enzyme are inherited in an autosomal-recessive fashion, and heterozygote carriers can be healthy and fertile. The possibility of P450scc-independent pathways of steroid synthesis in addition to the current concept of luteoplacental shift of progesterone synthesis in humans has to be questioned.
Adenoviral Gene Transfer Allows Smad-Responsive Gene Promoter Analyses and Delineation of Type I Receptor Usage of Transforming Growth Factor-β Family Ligands in Cultured Human Granulosa Luteal Cells
Authors: Kaivo-Oja Noora , Mottershead David G. , Mazerbourg Sabine , Myllymaa Samu , Duprat Sébastien , Gilchrist Robert B. , Groome Nigel P. , Hsueh Aaron J. , Ritvos Olli
Published: January 2005

In the human ovary, cell growth and differentiation are regulated by members of the TGF-β superfamily, including growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), TGF-β, and activin. TGF-β and activin are known to signal via Smad3 activation, and we have recently shown the involvement of Smad3 in cellular responses to GDF9. Recent studies with Smad3-deficient mice have also indicated a key role for this signaling mediator in ovarian folliculogenesis. We now demonstrate the use of a Smad3 reporter (CAGA-luciferase) adenovirus in primary cultures of human granulosa-luteal (hGL) cells to detect GDF9, TGF-β, and activin responses. In rodent granulosa cells, TGF-β and GDF9 signal through the TGF-β type I receptor or activin receptor-like kinase 5 (Alk5), whereas the effect of activin is mediated though the activin type IB receptor, also known as Alk4. We now show that the GDF9 response in hGL cells is markedly potentiated upon overexpression of Alk5 by adenoviral gene transduction, as measured by the CAGA-luciferase reporter activity. A similar response to Alk5 overexpression was observed for TGF-β, but not for activin. Adenoviral overexpression of the activin type IB receptor Alk4 in hGL cells specifically potentiated activin signaling, but not GDF9 or TGF-β signaling. Alk5 overexpression in hGL cells also potentiated the GDF9 response when inhibin B production was used as the read-out. These results indicate that the CAGA-luciferase adenovirus can be used to study Smad3 signaling in primary cultures of human cells, and that adenoviral overexpression of wild-type receptors of the TGF-β superfamily can be used to amplify the cellular response to ligands such as GDF9, TGF-β, and activin. Furthermore, these studies indicate the involvement of Alk5 in GDF9 signaling in human cells and therefore, along with other recent studies, highlight how a limited number of type I and II receptors cooperate to generate specificity of action within the TGF-β superfamily.
Growth Hormone (GH) Responses to GH-Releasing Hormone-Arginine Testing in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Lipodystrophy
Authors: Koutkia Polyxeni , Canavan Bridget , Breu Jeff , Grinspoon Steven
Published: January 2005

Prior studies suggest reduced overnight GH secretion in association with excess visceral adiposity among patients with HIV lipodystrophy (LIPO, i.e. with fat redistribution). We now investigate GH responses to standardized GHRH-arginine in LIPO patients (n = 39) in comparison with body mass index- and age-matched control groups [HIV patients without fat distribution (NONLIPO, n = 17)] and healthy subjects (C, n = 16). IGF-I [242 ± 17; 345 ± 38; 291 ± 27 ng/ml (P < 0.05 vs. NONLIPO)] was lowest in the LIPO group. Our data demonstrate failure rates of 18% for the LIPO group vs. 5.9% for the NONLIPO group and 0% for the C group, using a stringent criterion of 3.3 ng/ml for peak GH response to GHRH-arginine (P < 0.05 LIPO vs. C). Using less stringent cutoffs, the failure rate in the LIPO group rises to 38.5% at 7.5 ng/ml. Among the LIPO patients, the peak GH response to GHRH-arginine was significantly predicted by visceral adipose tissue (P = 0.008), free fatty acid (P = 0.04), and insulin level (P = 0.007) in regression modeling controlling for age, body mass index, sc fat area, and triglyceride level. These data demonstrate increased failure rates to standardized stimulation testing with GHRH-arginine in LIPO patients, in association with increased visceral adiposity. The effects of low-dose GH should be assessed in the large subset of LIPO patients with abnormal GH stimulation testing.
The machining of aluminium alloy 6351
Authors: Reis D D , Abrão A M
Published: January 2005

This paper aims to assess the machinability of aluminium alloy 6351 heat treated and artificially aged (T6) when subjected to continuous turning using cemented carbide, diamond-coated carbide, and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting tools. Cutting forces, surface finish, and machining temperature were investigated. The results indicated that the cutting forces decrease with increasing cutting speed and increase with increasing feed rate and depth of cut. The PCD tool presented the lowest tangential and axial forces, but the highest radial force. Surface roughness did not present a considerable variation with cutting speed but increased with increasing feed rate and depth of cut. The best surface finish was produced by the PCD tool material. Tool-chip interface temperatures increased linearly with increasing cutting speed but were less affected by the feed rate and depth of cut.
Multi-robot communication architecture for human guiding
Authors: Martinez-Garcia E A , Yoshida T , Ohya A , Yuta S
Published: January 2005

In this paper the architecture of a multi-robot communication system is described as a means of accomplishment of indoors human-guidance tasks. Communication in multi-robots is a critical issue both for localization in the formation and for sharing distributed sensory information. Both problems can be overcome as a cooperative framework, whereby the communication system is the key issue, and its architecture design as well as its implementation are presented in detail.
Geometric modelling of an elliptic ball-end mill
Authors: Lin Dain Psang , Lin Ming Fu
Published: January 2005

A novel ball-end milling without a helix flute (designated an elliptic ball-end mill) was introduced by Aoyama, Kishinami and Saito. The elliptic ball-end mill requires only two simple steps for grinding and one for re-sharpening, facilitating the process of manufacture. This paper aims to establish a mathematical model based on grinding parameters for the geometric modelling of the elliptic ball-end mill.
Simulation of key performance characteristics under uncertainty
Authors: Pons D J , Raine J K
Published: January 2005

The engineering designer frequently has to deal with multiple uncertainties, especially at the early design stages or when working on products for which the body of knowledge is incomplete. Wash performance of dishwashers is one such case. This paper demonstrates the application of the design for system integrity (DSI) methodology to create a model to help to predict wash performance. This is a complex problem because of the diverse uncertainties: stochastic, epistemic, and abstraction. The DSI model embodied the belief that two principal mechanisms contribute to wash performance: the effectiveness of soil removal, and the effectiveness of the rinse process (i.e. lack of re-deposition of soil). The model was calibrated against wash data from a known machine and then predicted the wash performance of a different brand of machine with qualitative differences in geometry. The results show that it is possible to develop models for highly uncertain systems, and this has important implications for early engineering design among other domains. Being able to simulate performance under considerable uncertainty, even if imperfectly, is potentially an important tool for the early design stages as it could indicate, firstly, promising design avenues and, secondly, the risk in the design and the degree to which design issues have been resolved.
A component-based control system for agile manufacturing
Authors: Lee S M , Harrison R , West A A
Published: January 2005

Increasing complexity and interdependency in manufacturing enterprises requires an agile manufacturing paradigm. This paper considers the characteristics that a component-based control system needs to embody to support agility in this context. The concept of a component that incorporates automation hardware, software, control services, and manufacturing-related services into a basic modular unit is reported. A component encapsulates low-level, real-time implementation and component-specific knowledge, which are abstracted and exposed as standard interfaces to enable it to be integrated into a manufacturing system as a common, reusable building block. The concept and control of the component is outlined in this paper and the methodology for the implementation of a component-based control system is illustrated. Finally, the implementation of the component-based concept at Johann A. Krause Maschinenfabrik GmbH, a major manufacturer of automotive assembly automation systems, is described.
Determination of an optimal assembly sequence using the psychoclonal algorithm
Authors: Tiwari M K , Prakash  , Kumar A , Mileham A R
Published: January 2005

Owing to conflicting objectives, assembly planning has become a difficult task for decision makers to devise an effective plan that can satisfy the majority of system goals. This is a tedious job and its quick and effective solution is the subject of much research. In recent years, artificial immune systems (AISs) have captured the attention of various researchers due to their ability to perform tasks such as learning and memory acquisition. The approach is suitable for solving multi-modal and combinatorial optimization problems. This paper extends the AIS approach by proposing a new methodology, termed the ‘psychoclonal algorithm’, to handle the assembly-planning problem. It inherits its traits from Maslow's need hierarchy theory and the theory of clonal selection. The special features of this algorithm are the various levels of needs, immune memory, and affinity maturation. Various levels of needs and immune memory help to preserve the feasibility of solution, whereas affinity maturation guides the solution to general rather than local optima. The algorithm has been initially validated on a known data set that had been previously solved using both the genetic algorithm and the immune algorithm approach. Using this data set the new psychoclonal algorithm was shown to provide a significant improvement over the other two approaches.
Coordinating for service delivery in public-private partnership and private finance initiative construction projects: Early findings from an exploratory study
Authors: Tranfield D , Rowe A , Smart P K , Levene R , Deasley P , Corley J
Published: January 2005

This paper presents the early findings of an extensive literature review and an exploratory empirical investigation into five UK construction organizations and outlines the management and organization design issues in introducing service delivery based on teamworking practices in construction. In particular, it highlights the challenges facing the industry in transitioning from prioritizing an asset delivery focus to a service delivery focus (SDF), especially when delivering private finance initiative and public private partnership types of project.

The paper argues that introducing SDF cultures requires addressing issues commonly encountered in today's dynamic business environment, driven by the need to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries over long complex project cycles. Cultural change in this context is argued to be an emergent phenomenon resulting from the interconnectedness of a web of networks coexisting at the industry, organization, and project levels in a dynamic open system, prone to constant reconfiguration. This paper articulates the preliminary findings of an exploratory study that initiates much-needed understanding of how whole-life serviceability can be leveraged in construction projects. In essence, a network perspective of organizational design is enunciated, which suggests that ‘teamworking’ is the key to coordinating ‘design for service delivery’ across projects, across functions, across organizations, and over time (often 30 years plus). This dominant networked organizational form on which teamworking practices are focused is identified as the ‘special-purpose vehicle’ (SPV), an intermediary organization that is often the fundamental mechanism for project delivery. Further areas of research associated with the operations of SPVs are highlighted.
The effects of cutting conditions on mixed ceramic and cubic boron nitride tool wear and on surface roughness during machining of X200Cr12 steel (60 HRC)
Authors: Yallese M A , Rigal J-F , Chaoui K , Boulanouar L
Published: January 2005

Alumina-based mixed ceramic (CC650) and cubic boron nitride-based (CBN) (CBN7020) tools are becoming mostly preferred for machining under severe conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cutting parameters on ceramic and CBN tool wear in the hard turning of X200Cr12 steel. The results indicate that the comparison span for both tool materials is limited to a speed of 180 m/min at which catastrophic ceramic cutting edge collapse took place. The tool life ratio rose from 4.37 to 17.14 when the cutting speed evolved from 90 to 180 m/min in favour of CBN, which resisted up to a cutting speed of 350 m/min. The feed rate effect on roughness (μm) is satisfactorily predicted by a power model deduced from experimental data and is compared with a theoretical model. A correlation between surface roughness and tool wear is proposed for the usual cutting speed ranges and for the two tested inserts respectively. The analysis also revealed that, under the allowable wear limit, the ceramic tool gave quality surfaces with higher roughness than the CBN tool. In conclusion, this work highlights the fact that 120 m/min is the optimal cutting speed value for machining X200Cr12 steel using CBN7020 while 60 m/min is the optimal cutting speed value for CC650 steel.
Self-excited vibratory drilling: A dimensionless parameter approach for guiding experiments
Authors: Peigné G , Kamnev E , Brissaud D , Gouskov A
Published: January 2005

Drilling assisted by axial vibrations at a low frequency is a promising machining process because, by naturally fragmenting chips, it can improve both productivity by cancelling stripping operations and workpiece quality by decreasing negative effects due to chip friction. Based on a theory of self-excited vibrations, a drilling device has been developed in the authors' laboratory. This technology is very compact and can be used on every conventional machine tool. However, experiments on these tools are quite difficult and long because of the numerous parameters influencing the vibrations. Therefore, in order to guide the experiments a dimensionless approach has been used to choose the cutting conditions and vibratory tool-holder properties. This approach permits the number of tests to be reduced since the machining process can be entirely described with only three dimensionless parameters instead of nine physical parameters. This paper presents the first experimental results on this new technology. In addition it shows the way that the dimensionless approach had been applied and validated to guide the experiments.
Synthesis of [2Fe–2S] and [4Fe–4S] Clusters Having Terminal Amide Ligands from an Iron(II) Amide Complex
Authors: Ohki Yasuhiro , Sunada Yusuke , Tatsumi Kazuyuki
Published: January 2005

The reaction of iron(II) bis-amide Fe{N(SiMe3)2}2 with elemental sulfur afforded a direct entry to new [Fe2S2] and [Fe4S4] clusters with terminal amide groups, Fe4S4{N(SiMe3)2}4 (1) and Fe2S2{N(SiMe3)2}2(tmtu)2 (2), whose structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Tetrameric cubane cluster 1 exhibits one reversible and one quasireversible processes in the cyclic voltammetry, whereas dimeric rhombus complex 2 reveals one irreversible reduction process.
Highly Sensitive Flow Analysis of Trace Level Arsenic in Water Based on Vaporization-collection In-line Preconcentration
Authors: Toda Kei , Ohba Takashi
Published: January 2005

Vaporization-collection in-line preconcentration (VCIP) is proposed for simple and highly sensitive measurement of vaporizable water pollutants. In this work, VCIP has been applied to arsenic analysis to develop an instrument for use in the field. The signal is 200 times higher than with conventional direct injection. Low ppb levels of As can be analyzed automatically in one step. This method is expected to be applicable to the measurement of very low levels of other water vaporizable pollutants as well.
A xylazine infusion regimen to provide analgesia in sheep
Authors: Grant C. , Summersides G. E. , Kuchel T. R.
Published: January 2005

The efficacy of continuous low-dose xylazine infusion following an initial loading dose in providing analgesia in sheep was examined using an algesimetry method based on a leg lifting response to an electrical stimulus. Sheep received a 5 mg intramuscular injection of xylazine followed by continuous infusion of intravenous xylazine (2 mg/h) for 90 min. This treatment resulted in significant increases in the level of current required to elicit a leg lifting response (287% of baseline) and steady state analgesia was maintained from 10 min after the start of the infusion until the end of the experimental period. This protocol appears to be a simple and effective regimen for providing steady state analgesia in sheep.
Investigation of excretion and absorption of different zinc salts in puppies
Authors: Özpinar H. , Abas I. , Bilal T. , Demirel G.
Published: January 2005

The effects of dietary zinc on zinc absorption and excretion were evaluated with six 12-week-old beagles. The dogs were fed a commercial dry food later supplemented with 2 and 4 mg/kg of body weight per day of either zinc sulphate, zinc acetate or zinc oxide. The concentrations of zinc in the urine and faeces of all treatment groups were increased depending on the type of zinc salts and the dosage in the diet (P < 0.05). The apparent absorption of zinc salts ranged from 0.20 to 0.36. The zinc salt supplements at both dosages did not affect the digestibility of crude protein, fat and fibre. The zinc concentration in plasma varied with the type of zinc salt and with the dosage. The mean concentrations ranged from 61 ± 1.46 µg to 73 ± 1.57 µg/dl in the unsupplemented groups, whereas it was 115 ± 2.33 µg/dl in the group supplemented with zinc acetate at the highest dosage.
Influence of buprenorphine analgesia on post-operative recovery in two strains of rats
Authors: Jablonski P. , Howden B. O. , Baxter K.
Published: January 2005

The objective of this study was to establish an effective post-operative analgesic regimen for Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Dark Agouti (DA) rats. Buprenorphine (0.01 or 0.05 mg/kg), a partial µ opioid agonist, was administered subcutaneously immediately on completion of a standardized surgical procedure, involving anaesthesia, laparotomy and visceral manipulation. Two of the four treatment groups and the saline control group received a second injection 9 h later. Behavioural observations by three independent observers provided no information in assessing pain in this model. All rats lost weight, consumed less food and water after surgery. On the first day, both SD and DA rats receiving buprenorphine lost less weight than untreated control groups. Using weight loss as an efficacy criterion, low-dose buprenorphine, given once or twice, provided effective analgesia in SD rats. A higher single dose provided no additional benefit and a second dose was detrimental, reducing body weight and food intake. In DA rats, the high dose, given twice, appeared to be more effective than the lower dose. All DA cage cohorts consumed <10% pre-operative food despite buprenorphine treatment, suggesting a higher dosage may be necessary. However, all SD and 80% DA rats who received no buprenorphine gained body weight on the second day, whereas most of the buprenorphine-treated rats continued to lose weight for another 2 days, despite increased food consumption by both strains. Buprenorphine may adversely affect intestinal function over a number of days due to its enterohepatic circulation; this effect may be more severe in DA rats. Adverse metabolic effects of buprenorphine and other opioids may preclude their use in the future if it can be shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provide equally effective analgesia.
Retrospective comparison of rat recovery weights using inhalation and injectable anaesthetics, nutritional and fluid supplementation for right unilateral neurosurgical lesioning
Authors: Hampshire V. A. , Davis J. A. , McNickle C. A. , Williams L. , Eskildson H.
Published: January 2005

Current veterinary standards of biomedical research support include refinements in animal models that are targeted at enhancing humane care and decreasing inter-animal variability. This ultimately results in fewer numbers of animals being used and reduction in animal experimentation through mitigation of waste as well as faster research results. 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioning of the substantia nigra using a stereotactic frame device is a common procedure and is routinely performed under pentobarbital anaesthesia with monitoring by 8 h workforces. Our programme supports the humane care and use of several protocols involving the unilateral stereotactic-lesioning of rats for the purposes of creating research models of Parkinsonianism. Such procedures are commonly performed as unilateral in order to minimize aphagia and other untoward effects of the lesion. Generally, this procedure is considered minor because it involves a small incision, a cranial burrhole, and penetration of the dura. Inflammation and/or irritation of the ear canal can occur secondarily to the earbar placement procedure. Human patients undergoing similar procedures typically complain of headaches from loss of intracranial pressure; which is a transient outcome. Despite the perception of minor insult, we provided aggressive periprocedural care, and our veterinary staff documented weight loss that was often greater than 15% body weight during the first 3 days. The goal of this study was to evaluate refinements to improve this outcome. For humane concerns, and because of the need to begin experimental testing one week following surgery, a goal in the recent past has been to enhance outcome for researchers and animals by refining postoperative support modalities as well as by seeking the best anaesthetic regimen to shorten postoperative deviations from baseline. Analysis of three groups of rat patients lesioned by the same investigative group over the course of refinements made in our programme indicate that an early return of homeostasis was achieved by the use of inhalation anaesthetics as replacements for barbiturates in these models. Comparison with pentobarbital recipients also indicated that homeostasis is achieved earlier when barbiturates are utilized with fluid therapy and analgesics immediately after operative procedures rather than the next morning.
Habituating pigs for in-pen, non-invasive biophysical skin analysis
Authors: Chilcott R. P. , Stubbs B. , Ashley Z.
Published: January 2005

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for habituating pigs ( Sus scrofa domestica, middle white strain) to enable non-invasive, biophysical measurements of dorsal skin to be obtained on a daily basis over a 7-week period, thus eliminating the need for anaesthesia or restraint. This was accomplished by associating measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin reflectance spectroscopy (SRS) with feeding times, and with positive reinforcement by allowing exercise outside the home pen. During the pig habituation period, a well-defined series of behavioural changes were observed that included dominant/submissive leadership changes. Values of TEWL (6.29 ± 1.25 g.m-2.h-1) were in agreement with previous studies (7.56 ± 2.90 g.m-2.h-1) obtained from unrestrained Yucatan hairless micro-pigs (Gabard et al. 1995). The coefficient of variance of TEWL and SRS measurements were comparable with those reported previously using anaesthetized pigs (Chilcott et al. 2000). These data imply that biophysical skin measurements obtained from unrestrained, conscious animals are comparable to those obtained from anaesthetized pigs and therefore, support the use of unrestrained pigs for non-invasive biophysical skin measurements. Habituating animals for in-pen, non-invasive, biophysical measurements has substantial implications for reducing and refining laboratory animal experiments in dermatological research without compromising animal welfare.
Oral endotracheal intubation of rats for intratracheal instillation and aerosol drug delivery
Authors: Lizio Rosario , Westhof Andreas , Lehr Claus-Michael , Klenner Thomas
Published: January 2005

As reported in the literature, oral endotracheal intubation of rats is considered to be very difficult. Specialised equipment and complicated techniques have been described to perform this procedure. In our experiment we adopted a simple method, which allowed—without any complicated equipment-the insertion of a relatively wide tube into the trachea of rats, allowing drug administration.
Deploying Common Systems Globally: The Dynamics of Control
Authors: Kirsch Laurie J.
Published: January 2005

In today's competitive environment, an increasing number of firms are building common information systems, which will be deployed globally, to support their strategic globalization initiatives. These systems are designed to meet the requirements of a diverse set of stakeholders with different business needs, priorities, and objectives. One managerial tool for addressing and reconciling such differences is control, which encompasses all attempts to motivate individuals to act in a manner that is consistent with organizational objectives. This paper examines two research questions. How do stakeholders exercise control during different phases of large IS projects? Why do control choices change across project phases? Results of two case studies suggest control is exercised differently for each phase. During the initial phase of a project, control is exercised as “collective sensemaking,” in which both IS and business stakeholders utilize mostly informal mechanisms of control. During development, “technical winnowing” of mechanisms occurs such that control is vested primarily in IS managers, who structure hierarchical relationships with subordinates and who rely extensively on formal control mechanisms. Both IS and business stakeholders employ formal and informal mechanisms during implementation to exercise control as “collaborative coordinating.” The results also suggest that changes in control choices from one project phase to another are triggered by factors in the project, stakeholder, and global contexts. As factors change across phases, so too do control choices. Further, problems that surface in one project phase trigger changes to controls in subsequent phases. These findings are integrated into a model of the dynamics of control. Implications of these results are drawn, and directions for future research are suggested.
A Decision Model for Software Maintenance
Authors: Krishnan M. S. , Mukhopadhyay Tridas , Kriebel Charles H.
Published: January 2005

In this paper we address the problem of increasing software maintenance costs in a custom software development environment, and develop a stochastic decision model for the maintenance of information systems. Based on this modeling framework, we derive an optimal decision rule for software systems maintenance, and present sensitivity analysis of the optimal policy. We illustrate an application of this model to a large telecommunications switching software system, and present sensitivity analysis of the optimal state for major upgrade derived from our model. Our modeling framework also allows for computing the expected time to perform major upgrade to software systems.
Editorial Notes
Authors: Kemerer Chris F.
Published: January 2005

This issue marks the end of the third and last year of my term as Editor-in-Chief of ISR. Three years ago I wrote an editorial for the first issue that set the tone and immediate goals for the journal, summarized as follows: “ISR has established itself as one of a small set of top-tier academic journals in the information systems discipline. Editorial policy changes have been designed to strengthen a number of aspects of the journal, particularly the timeliness of the work published, without having a negative impact on the journal's reputation for publishing high-quality work” (ISR website 2002).

Looking back at the past three years, these goals have been met—we have decreased turnaround time by more than 50%, and the journal's ratings are as strong as (or stronger than) they were before. In this editorial note I will highlight our current processes and provide some data regarding the journal's progress over the last three years.
Acculturation of South Asian adolescents in Australia
Authors: Ghuman Paul A. Singh
Published: January 2005

Background. This investigation is part of a wider research project on the acculturation and identity‐related issues of South Asian young people in Britain, Canada and the US. There has been no published research on the acculturation of this ethnic group in Australia. The project is embedded within Berry's (1994) theoretical framework of acculturation. Aims. There are two major aims of the research. Firstly, to discover any pattern of acculturation of South Asian young people and to compare it with that of their counterparts in Britain and Canada. Secondly, to validate the existing Acculturation Scale (Ghuman, 1975, 1997, 1999a) with a group of South Asian young people living in a different socio‐political context. Samples. The sample was drawn from three high schools ‐ two being in Newcastle City, and one in a rural setting of New South Wales, Australia. A representative sample of 75 boys and girls (aged 14 to 16) from two social class backgrounds took part in the research. Methods. The young people were requested to fill in a background questionnaire on their religion, languages spoken at home, best friend, frequency of visit to a temple, etc. They also completed the Aberystwyth Likert‐type Acculturation Scale. Results. Summated scores on the scale of two social class groups confirmed the previous finding that a non‐manual group shows a higher degree of acculturation compared with a manual group. But, contrary to expectations, girls show lower acculturation than boys. The Spearman‐Brown coefficient of reliability is 0.82 ‐ which is in line with the findings in England and Canada. Conclusions. The whole sample shows a lower degree of acculturation compared with their counterparts in Canada and England. This is fully contextualised: viz, at the time of research (March 1998) the socio‐political of Australia was anti‐Asian, due mainly to the impending general election in which immigration from Asia was a significant issue. The mean score of the sample reflects their bilingualism and biculturalism.
Effects of different forms of school contact on children's attitudes toward disabled and non‐disabled peers
Authors: Maras Pam , Brown Rupert
Published: January 2005

Background. There have been fluctuations in research interest into the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools over the last twenty years. It is still not clear what methods, practices and types of contact are most likely to promote positive attitudes in children toward disabled peers and disability generally. Aims. To consider two theoretical models of inter‐group contact, both claiming to identify precursors for generalised attitude change, in relation to the attitudes of non‐disabled children toward disabled peers as a function of different classroom contact. Sample. Participants were 256 non‐disabled school children aged 5‐11 years (128 girls and 128 boys). Methods. Measures of sociometric preference and the evaluation of psychological and physical attributes were used to ascertain children's perceptions of known and unknown peers with disabilities. Results. A relationship was found between the type of contact the children had with disabled peers, and their perceptions of psychological and physical attributes (stereotypes) of groups of unknown disabled and non‐disabled peers. Conclusions. Results show generalisation of stereotypic attitude/judgments from one type of disability to another as a consequence of the two types of contact situation. Findings have important implications for integrating disabled children into mainstream.
(Re‐) Constructing pre‐linguistic interpersonal processes to promote language development in young children with deviant or delayed communication skills
Authors: Smith Carolyn , Fluck Michael
Published: January 2005

Background. Approaches to intervention with young children with delayed or deviant communication skills have tended to focus directly on the production and comprehension of linguistic forms. Research in developmental psychology, however, has highlighted the role of joint attention and action within a mutually negotiated frame in early communicative development. Aims. An approach to intervention was developed which uses graded participation in such ‘ formats’ to promote language development in 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds with significant delays or deviance in communication skills. This study was designed to evaluate this in comparison with a more conventional approach. Sample. The sample comprised twenty 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds attending a diagnostic nursery or a speech and language support centre attached to a mainstream primary school. Method. In the intervention, developmentally ordered sequences of exchange games provided predictable ruled‐based and structured joint contexts of action, within which verbal and non‐verbal exchanges between an adult and child could be meaningfully used. In the control condition, participants received more conventional intervention focusing more directly on language per se. Level of participation in dyadic play was assessed in terms both of role and cognitive complexity, and for the present study language development was assessed using the verbal subtests of the WPPSI. The study entailed both a between‐ and a within‐subjects design. Results. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal comparisons confirmed that this form of intervention was significantly more effective than the control condition in increasing children's level of participation in social game formats and in promoting their language development; moreover, these were significantly correlated. Conclusions. The results indicate that the development of language skills can be promoted more effectively through (re‐) constructing the interpersonal framework of pre‐linguistic communicative development than through conventional intervention focusing directly upon language per se.
Parents’ education, cognitive ability, educational expectations and educational attainment: Interactive effects
Authors: Ganzach Yoav
Published: January 2005

Background. The models that have been used so far to describe the process underlying educational attainment have been almost always linear. Little research has been aimed at studying interactions among the determinants of educational attainment. Aim. The aim of the study is to examine the interactions between parents’ education, cognitive ability and educational expectations in determining educational attainment. Sample. Participants were 8570 Americans who were born between 1957 and 1964. Method. The information was taken from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Information about parents’ education, cognitive ability and educational expectations was taken from the 1979 survey. Information about educational attainment was taken from the 1991 survey. Results. The findings indicate that there is an offsetting relationship between the education of the two parents in the formation of expectations, but not in the determination of attainment; and that, both for expectations and for attainment, the cognitive ability of the child has an offsetting relationship with mother's education but not with father's education. The findings also indicate that there is a synergistic relationship between cognitive ability and educational expectations in determining educational attainment. Conclusions. There are theoretically meaningful interactions between the determinants of educational attainment. The pattern of these interactions capture some of the intricate psychological processes underlying the combined influence of background variables and children's characteristics on educational attainment.
Convergence in mean square of factor predictors
Authors: Krijnen Wim P.
Published: January 2005

Sufficient conditions for mean square convergence of factor predictors in common factor analysis are given by Guttman, by Williams, and by Schneeweiss and Mathes. These conditions do not hold for confirmatory factor analysis or when an error variance equals zero (Heywood cases). Two sufficient conditions are given for the three basic factor predictors and a predictor from rotated principal components analysis to converge to the factors of the model for confirmatory factor analysis, including Heywood cases. For certain model specifications the conditions are necessary. The conditions are sufficient for the existence of a unique true factor. A geometric interpretation is given for factor indeterminacy and mean square convergence of best linear factor prediction.
Comparing measures of the ‘typical’ score across treatment groups
Authors: Othman Abdul R. , Keselman H.J. , Padmanabhan Appaswamy R. , Wilcox Rand R. , Fradette Katherine
Published: January 2005

Researchers can adopt one of many different measures of central tendency to examine the effect of a treatment variable across groups. These include least squares means, trimmed means, M‐estimators and medians. In addition, some methods begin with a preliminary test to determine the shapes of distributions before adopting a particular estimator of the typical score. We compared a number of recently developed adaptive robust methods with respect to their ability to control Type I error and their sensitivity to detect differences between the groups when data were non‐normal and heterogeneous, and the design was unbalanced. In particular, two new approaches to comparing the typical score across treatment groups, due to Babu, Padmanabhan, and Puri, were compared to two new methods presented by Wilcox and by Keselman, Wilcox, Othman, and Fradette. The procedures examined generally resulted in good Type I error control and therefore, on the basis of this critetion, it would be difficult to recommend one method over the other. However, the power results clearly favour one of the methods presented by Wilcox and Keselman; indeed, in the vast majority of the cases investigated, this most favoured approach had substantially larger power values than the other procedures, particularly when there were more than two treatment groups.
A generalized estimating equations approach to mixed‐effects ordinal probit models
Authors: Johnson Timothy R. , Kim Jee‐Seon
Published: January 2005

Clustered ordinal responses, which are commonplace in behavioural and educational research, are often analysed using mixed‐effects ordinal probit models. Likelihood‐based inference for these models can be computationally burdensome, and may compromise the consistency of estimators if the model is misspecified. We propose an alternative inferential approach based on generalized estimating equations. We show that systems of estimating equations can be specified for mixed‐effects ordinal probit models that avoid the potentially heavy computational demands of maximum likelihood estimation, and can also provide inferences that are robust with respect to some forms of model misspecification—particularly serial effects in longitudinal data.
Statistical inference and Aristotle's Rhetoric
Authors: Macdonald Ranald R.
Published: January 2005

Formal logic operates in a closed system where all the information relevant to any conclusion is present, whereas this is not the case when one reasons about events and states of the world. Pollard and Richardson drew attention to the fact that the reasoning behind statistical tests does not lead to logically justifiable conclusions. In this paper statistical inferences are defended not by logic but by the standards of everyday reasoning. Aristotle invented formal logic, but argued that people mostly get at the truth with the aid of enthymemes—incomplete syllogisms which include arguing from examples, analogies and signs. It is proposed that statistical tests work in the same way—in that they are based on examples, invoke the analogy of a model and use the size of the effect under test as a sign that the chance hypothesis is unlikely. Of existing theories of statistical inference only a weak version of Fisher's takes this into account. Aristotle anticipated Fisher by producing an argument of the form that there were too many cases in which an outcome went in a particular direction for that direction to be plausibly attributed to chance. We can therefore conclude that Aristotle would have approved of statistical inference and there is a good reason for calling this form of statistical inference classical.
On the correlation of a naturally and an artificially dichotomized variable
Authors: Ulrich Rolf , Wirtz Markus
Published: January 2005

A method is suggested for estimating the correlation of a naturally (X) and an artificially (Y) dichotomized variable. It is assumed that a normal random variable (L) underlies the artificially dichotomized variable. The proposed correlation coefficient recovers the product moment correlation coefficient between X and L from a fourfold table of X and Y. The suggested correlation coefficient ν is contrasted with the phi correlation and the biserial η. The biserial η was proposed by Karl Pearson and is conceptually related to the new correlation coefficient. However, in addition, Pearson's biserial η invokes the assumption that the marginal distribution of L is normal, which contradicts its basic assumptions and thus does not recover the true correlation of L and X. Finally, an approximation is provided to simplify the calculation of ν and its standard error.
A multivariate projection‐type analogue of the Wilcoxon — Mann — Whitney test
Authors: Wilcox Rand R.
Published: January 2005

The problem of comparing two independent groups based on mulitivariate data is considered. Many such methods have been proposed, but it is difficult to gain a perspective on the extent to which the groups differ. The basic strategy here is to determine a robust measure of location for each group, project the data onto the line connecting these measures of location, and then compare the groups based on the ordering of the projected points. In the univariate case the method uses the same measure of effect size employed by the Wilcoxon — Mann — Whitney test. Under general conditions, the projected points are dependent, causing difficulties when testing hypotheses. Two methods are found to be effective when trying to avoid Type I error probabilities above the nominal level. The relative merits of the two methods are discussed. The projected data provide not only a useful (numerical) measure of effect size, but also a graphical indication of the extent to which groups differ.
Some results on extensions and modifications of the Theil — Sen regression estimator
Authors: Wilcox Rand R.
Published: January 2005

Many robust regression estimators have been proposed that have a high, finite‐sample breakdown point, roughly meaning that a large porportion of points must be altered to drive the value of an estimator to infinity. But despite this, many of them can be inordinately influenced by two properly placed outliers. With one predictor, an estimator that appears to correct this problem to a fair degree, and simultaneously maintain good efficiency when standard assumptions are met, consists of checking for outliers using a projection‐type method, removing any that are found, and applying the Theil — Sen estimator to the data that remain. When dealing with multiple predictors, there are two generalizations of the Theil — Sen estimator that might be used, but nothing is known about how their small‐sample properties compare. Also, there are no results on testing the hypothesis of zero slopes, and there is no information about the effect on efficiency when outliers are removed. In terms of hypothesis testing, using the more obvious percentile bootstrap method in conjunction with a slight modification of Mahalanobis distance was found to avoid Type I error probabilities above the nominal level, but in some situations the actual Type I error probabilities can be substantially smaller than intended when the sample size is small. An alternative method is found to be more satisfactory.
Examining time‐invariance in reliability in multi‐wave, multi‐indicator models: A covariance structure analysis approach accounting for indicator specificity
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Tisak John
Published: January 2005

A covariance structure analysis method for testing time‐invariance in reliability in multiwave, multiple‐indicator models in outlined. The approach accounts for observed variable specificity and permits, in addition, estimation of reliability in terms of ‘pure’ measurement error variance. The proposed procedure is developed within a confirmatory factor analysis framework and illustrated with data from a cognitive intervention study.
The development of mental models for auditory events: Relational complexity and discrimination of pitch and duration
Authors: Stevens Catherine , Gallagher Melinda
Published: January 2005

This experiment investigated relational complexity and relational shift in judgments of auditory patterns. Pitch and duration values were used to construct two‐note perceptually similar sequences (unary relations) and four‐note relationally similar sequences (binary relations). It was hypothesized that 5‐, 8‐ and 11‐year‐old children would perform unary level pitch and duration discrimination tasks accurately. Relational shift predicted a poorer performance of the younger age groups on binary relation tasks; relational primacy predicted no effect of age. Accuracy was operationalized as a discrimination index (DI: hit rate minus false alarm rate). Results supported relational shift: DI for all age groups exceeded chance on unary and binary relation tasks, with significantly poorer performance by all age groups on binary relation tasks. The 5‐years age group showed evidence of perceptual similarity. Relational complexity of auditory dimensions and tasks, and manipulation of domain specific musical knowledge in evaluating theories of relational processing, are discussed.