bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age-Related Changes in Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, Acute Phase Proteins and Cortisol Concentrations in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Llamas Moya S. , Boyle L.A. , Lynch P.B. , Arkins S.
Published: November 2006

Age-related changes have been described in the resting levels of cortisol and acute phase proteins in the neonatal pig. This study evaluated the plasma concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), the acute phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp), as well as cortisol during the first week of postnatal life in piglets. The influence of invasive managerial practices such as teeth clipping, ear notching and tail docking on possible age-related changes in the production of these inflammatory mediators was also assessed. A total of 96 piglets were selected from 24 litters at birth, and were randomly assigned to one of four sampling times over the first week of life and one of two treatments. Blood samples were taken at 1, 3, 5 or 7 days of age. Piglets were ear notched, teeth clipped and tail docked (NCD), or were left untreated (CON). Significant effects of age were found in plasma concentrations of TNF-α, SAA, Hp and cortisol (p < 0.001). Concentrations of TNF-α and Hp increased with age, and peak concentrations were found on day 5. SAA and cortisol levels were highest on day 1, decreasing gradually with age. NCD piglets tended to have higher levels of plasma Hp than CON animals (p = 0.066). However, no differences between NCD and CON piglets were found in any other parameter measured. Furthermore, age effects were not affected by these husbandry practices. These results indicate that age-related changes exist in several inflammatory mediators, and suggest that these managerial practices do not result in systemic inflammation in early postnatal life of piglets.
Annual Cycle of the Black-Capped Chickadee: Seasonality of Food-Storing and the Hippocampus
Authors: Hoshooley Jennifer S. , Phillmore Leslie S. , Sherry David F. , MacDougall-Shackleton Scott A.
Published: November 2006

Previous research presents a mixed picture of seasonal variation in the hippocampus of food-storing black-capped chickadees. One field study has shown an October peak in hippocampus volume, although laboratory studies conducted to determine whether photoperiod regulates this seasonal growth have failed to find changes in the size of the hippocampus. To resolve the discrepancy between field and lab reports we examined caching activity, hippocampal volume, and neurogenesis in adult male black-capped chickadees at four times over the annual cycle: October, January, April and July. We found that more birds stored food in October than at other times of year, but did not observe a significant change in the size of the hippocampus over the annual cycle. Telencephalon volume, however, was larger in October than in July. Hippocampal neuronal recruitment showed a significant peak in January, but there was no seasonal change in neuronal recruitment in the adjacent hyperpallium apicale. These results indicate that there might be seasonal variation in the recruitment of new neurons into the hippocampus of chickadees without overall seasonal change in hippocampal size.
Changes in Autonomic Modulation to the Heart and Intracellular Catecholamines
Authors: Guasti L. , Marino F. , Cosentino M. , Cimpanelli M. , Piantanida E. , Mainardi L.T. , Vanoli P. , De Palma D. , Bombelli R. , Ferrari M. , Crespi C. , Simoni C. , Klersy C. , Gaudio G. , Maroni L. , Grandi A.M. , Tanda M. , Bartalena L. , Cerutti S. , Lecchini S. , Venco A.
Published: November 2006

Background: The effects of thyroid deprivation on the autonomic modulation to the heart remain controversial. Methods: In this study in patients followed for thyroid carcinoma, we investigated (1) heart rate variability parameters and the baroreflex gain and (2) intracellular catecholamine levels in circulating lymphocytes during short-term hypothyroidism (phase 1) and after reinstitution of TSH-suppressive thyroid hormone replacement (phase 2). Results: The RR interval value (p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) were higher in phase 1 than in phase 2. The low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio was significantly lower in the hypothyroid state (p < 0.05), with a higher HF component (p < 0.05). After adjusting for mean RR interval in the regression model, the difference between the power of RR interval oscillations calculated in the two states was greater for the LF band (p = 0.005) and it was borderline significant for the HF band (p = 0.052). The baroreflex gain αLF index was similar in the two phases. The stimulus-induced cellular production of norepinephrine and epinephrine in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly higher in phase 2. Conclusion: The neurally-mediated influences on the sinus node and the study of intracellular catecholamine production suggest a reduced sympathoexcitation in hypothyroidism compared with the treatment phase. The early increase in blood pressure observed after thyroid hormone withdrawal is not due to impaired sensitivity of the baroreflex arc.
Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms in Hypocalcemic Vitamin D-Resistant Rickets Carriers
Authors: Nicolaidou Polyxeni , Papadopoulou Anna , Matsinos Y.G. , Georgouli Helen , Fretzayas Andreas , Papadimitriou Anastasios , Priftis Kostantinos , Douros Konstantinos , Chrousos George P.
Published: November 2006

Background/Aims: Hypocalcemic vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe rickets, hypocalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, elevated levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], and occasionally, alopecia. In most cases, the disease is associated with mutations in the gene of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), the mediator of 1,25(OH)2D3 action. The apparently healthy HVDRR heterozygotes express both normal and mutant VDR alleles, and they present higher levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 than their respective controls. Because VDR function, except for the disease-causative mutations, might be influenced by the presence of certain polymorphisms, we investigated the distribution of four common VDR polymorphisms – BsmI, ApaI, TaqI and FokI – in HVDRR carriers compared with their respective controls. Methods: Sixty-seven relatives of 2 HVDRR patients, all members of an extended Greek kindred, were included in the study. VDR allelic polymorphisms were assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms after specific polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results: The distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies differed between HVDRR carriers and their respective controls regarding BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms. The bb genotype and the T allele (presence of BsmI and absence of TaqI polymorphisms) were less frequent in the HVDRR carrier group than in the control group in a statistically significant manner (p = 0.029 and p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings showed that the apparently healthy HVDRR carriers present a different distribution of BsmI and TaqI VDR polymorphisms than their controls, suggesting that further investigation of the HVDRR carrier population may elucidate the implication of VDR alleles in VDR function and the vitamin D endocrine system.
Rethinking the Triggering Inflammatory Processes of Chronic Periaortitis
Authors: Meier Pascal , Vogt Bruno , Blanc Edouard
Published: November 2006

Chronic periaortitis (CP) is an uncommon inflammatory disease which primarily involves the infrarenal portion of the abdominal aorta. However, CP should be regarded as a generalized disease with three different pathophysiological entities, namely idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm and perianeurysmal RPF. These entities share similar histopathological characteristics and finally will lead to fibrosis of the retroperitoneal space. Beside fibrosis, an infiltrate with variable chronic inflammatory cell is present. The majority of these cells are lymphocytes and macrophages as well as vascular endothelial cells, most of which are HLA-DR-positive. B and T cells are present with a majority of T cells of the T-helper phenotype. Cytokine gene expression analysis shows the presence of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-2, IL-4, interferon-γ and IL-2 receptors. Adhesion molecules such as E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were also found in aortic tissue, and may play a significant role in CP pathophysiology. Although CP pathogenesis remains unknown, an exaggeratedinflammatory response to advanced atherosclerosis (ATS) has been postulatedto be the main process. Autoimmunity has also beenproposed as a contributing factor based on immunohistochemical studies. The suspected allergen may be a component of ceroid, which is elaborated within the atheroma. We review the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of CP, and its potential links with ATS. Clinically relevant issues are summarized in each section with regard to the current working hypothesis of this complex inflammatory disease.
Dialysis Membrane-Induced Oxidative Stress: Role of Heme Oxygenase-1
Authors: Bhaskaran Madhu , Radhakrishnan Neetu , Patni Hitesh , Singh Priyanka , Chaudhary Ahmad N. , Singhal Pravin C.
Published: November 2006

Dialysis membranes have been reported to induce monocyte apoptosis. We studied the role of oxidative stress in the induction of dialysis membrane-induced monocyte apoptosis. Superoxide dismutase, a superoxide scavenger, prevented dialysis membrane-induced monocyte apoptosis. Similarly, other antioxidants also inhibited dialysis membrane- induced apoptosis. In addition, the interaction of dialysis membranes with monocytes was associated with the generation of molecules leading to oxidative stress such as superoxide and TBARS. Interestingly, pre-induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by hemin prevented dialysis membrane-induced monocyte apoptosis, whereas inhibition of HO-1 activity (treatment with tin protoporphyrin, SN-P) enhanced dialysis membrane-induced monocyte apoptosis. We suggest that oxidative injury associated with dialysis membrane and monocyte interaction plays a role in monocyte injury. Pre-induction of HO-1 may attenuate dialysis membrane-induced monocyte apoptosis.
Extent of Glomerular Tubularization Is an Indicator of the Severity of Experimental Acute Kidney Injury in Mice
Authors: Isaac Jorge , Tögel Florian E. , Westenfelder Christof
Published: November 2006

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to ischemia continues to be a major clinical problem due to its high morbidity and mortality, and limited treatment options. Animal models are critical to both the study of the pathophysiology of AKI and the development of new interventions. Although histological changes at the glomerulotubular junction have been described in AKI, we examined here whether the extent of glomerular tubularization correlates with the degree of renal insufficiency in this condition. Methods: Groups of mice with ischemia/reperfusion AKI were utilized in which the severity of renal insufficiency was defined. The resulting level of glomerular tubularization was analyzed, and the involved cell type was identified by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: The extent of glomerular tubularization increased significantly with the degree of renal insufficiency. Low level glomerular tubularization was present in normal mouse kidneys, while it was more common and increasingly circumferential in mice with more severe loss of kidney function. The parietal monolayer of cuboidal cells in glomeruli was contiguous with proximal tubular cells, showing a well-developed luminal brush border and positive staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Lotus tetragonolobus, a proximal tubular cell-specific lectin. Conclusion: Increased levels of glomerular tubularization represent a poorly understood response to ischemic AKI in mice. As such, this glomerular ‘tubularization score’ may be useful to complement standard injury scores in experimental and, if detected, in clinical AKI.
Hyperventilation-Induced Cerebrovascular Reactivity among Hypertensive and Healthy Adolescents
Authors: Settakis Georgios , Páll Dénes , Molnár Csilla , Katona Éva , Bereczki Dániel , Fülesdi Béla
Published: November 2006

Background: It is known that cerebral vasoreactivity is altered in adult arterial hypertension but no information is available about cerebral arteriolar function in hypertensive adolescents. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to assess cerebral vasoreactivity responses in adolescent hypertension. Methods: 113 hypertensive and 58 normotensive adolescents were assessed with transcranial Doppler sonography by using voluntary hyperventilation (HV) as vasoconstrictory stimulus. Absolute blood flow velocities (systolic, mean and diastolic) and pulsatility indices (PIs) at rest and after HV, as well as percentage change of the blood flow velocities after HV were compared among the groups. Results: Blood flow velocities at rest were significantly higher in hypertensive individuals, while PIs were similar in the two groups. After HV, all blood flow velocity parameters were higher among hypertensive teenagers than in healthy controls, while PIs did not differ between the two groups. Taking the relative changes after HV into account, it was found that HV induced a more pronounced change of the systolic and mean blood flow velocities of the control subjects than in hypertensive adolescents. Conclusions: Cerebrovascular reactivity to hypocapnia is decreased in hypertensive adolescents as compared to healthy teenagers. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of altered cerebral microvascular function in adolescent hypertension.
The Importance of Being British? Imperial Factors and the Growth of British Imports, 1870–1960
Authors: Magee Gary B.
Published: November 2006

Between 1870 and the 1950s, the volume and proportion of British exports to the Empire and Commonwealth grew steadily. Many have attributed this trend to non-market advantages allegedly rooted in imperial rule and the inherent Britishness of these markets. Quantitative methods show, however, that in most periods, other considerations, most notably the economic growth of the importing markets, were of much greater importance in explaining the pattern of British exports.
From Cannibalism to Genocide: The Work of Denial
Authors: Gillison Gillian
Published: November 2006

In Cannibal Talk, Gananath Obeyesekere sets out to expose cannibalism as racist slander and anthropologists' perpetuation of a mistaken sense of “identity.” In the very act of denying its existence, however, he employs it as sheep's clothing for the beast of genocide and other atrocities, implying that they, too, can be classified as slander or treated as aberrations outside the bounds of social rules or analysis. In claiming to deconstruct centuries of falsehood and defamation, Obeyesekere paradoxically opens the door to revising real crimes-the global horrors that he compares with cannibalism-lending them the same aura of unreality.
Influence of Catalyst Pretreatments on the Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene Over Nanostructured Platinum Based Spent Catalyst
Authors: Shim Wang-Geun , Lee Jae-Wook , Kim Sang-Chai
Published: November 2006

In this study, we regenerated a nano-structured platinum based spent catalyst by applying thermal gas and acid pretreatment and examined the influence of treatment on the catalytic oxidation of toluene. The spent catalysts were pretreated with air, hydrogen and six different acid aqueous
solutions (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, H3PO4, CH3COOH and C2H2O4. The physicochemical properties of the parent and its modified catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, and ICP. The results of light-off
curves showed that air and hydrogen treated catalysts were more active than the parent catalyst. In addition, the catalytic activities of toluene oxidation for acid aqueous treated samples were identical with the order of Pt/Al ratio.
Measurement of Dispersion Stability of Surface-Modified Nanosized Carbon Black in Various Liquids
Authors: Jang Heang Sin , Park Dong-Wha , Shim Sang Eun
Published: November 2006

The dispersion stability of nano-sized carbon black produced by a thermal plasma process was investigated using a novel multiple light scattering method. The effect of surface modification of carbon black on the dispersion stability was monitored in various polar and non-polar liquids
including water, methanol, styrene, and toluene. The results show that carbon black functionalized with carboxylic anion groups has much improved colloidal stability in a polar solvent and the degree of dispersion stability is strongly related to the solubility parameter value of liquids.
In addition, the carbon black with carboxylic anions has a long-term stability without any auxiliary dispersion agent such as a surfactant due to electrostatic repulsion.
Between the State and the Market
Authors: Wahlström Mattias , Peterson Abby
Published: November 2006

This article brings together two research traditions: social movement theory and theories of corporate social responsibility. The study is an attempt to widen the perspective on the relationship between a business/business sector and its external stakeholders in order to include social movements. We depart from a three-part model of political opportunity structures, including state, cultural and economic opportunity structures. In order to illustrate our model, the article is centred on the case of the Swedish animal rights movements’ political pressure on domestic fur-farming. The animal rights movement has had considerable success by engaging with a relatively open cultural opportunity structure, winning a framing war in regard to the moral issues raised. Despite the fur industry’s attempts to counter-mobilize, the animal rights movement has found a hearing in formal political channels and has achieved considerable success. However, since the movement is faced with an economic opportunity structure that is not vulnerable to the demands of stakeholders, and where there is great inconsistency between the interests of the industry and the demands of the stakeholders, it is not surprising that the farmers have been non-compliant.
Work-Life ‘Balance’ in Europe
Authors: Crompton Rosemary , Lyonette Clare
Published: November 2006

Although work-life ‘balance’ is an EU policy priority, within Europe there are considerable variations in the nature and extent of supports that national governments have offered to dual-earner families. In general, the Nordic welfare states offer the highest level of supports, although other countries, such as France, have historically offered extensive childcare supports to working mothers. We examine national variations in reported levels of work-life conflict, drawing upon questions fielded in the 2002 Family module International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) surveys for Britain, France, Finland, Norway and Portugal. We find evidence of a ‘societal effect’ in the cases of Finland and Norway, in that significantly lower levels of work-life conflict are reported in these countries even after a range of factors have been controlled for. However, support for childcare in France does not appear to have had a similar impact. Further explorations of the data reveal that the domestic division of labour is relatively traditional in France, and that this is associated with higher levels of work-life conflict.
Colonial consciousness
Authors: Myers Perry
Published: November 2006

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), founder of Anthroposophy and the Waldorf schools, is one of many German intellectuals who have turned to the Orient in pursuit of poetic and philosophical inspiration, and religious rejuvenation. In my paper I argue that Steiner’s turn to the East is an attempt to reconstitute religious norms as a modernized, secular religion, and I show how Steiner’s thought manifests a different kind of colonial discourse from the one found in state-oriented Orientalism. Steiner sought to create a new ‘universal’ religion for mankind, and hence a colonialism based on a psychological type purportedly outside race, class and ethnicity. Yet Steiner’s occult science and the underlying Orientalism upon which he built it implicitly represent a discourse which designates Western cultural traditions as superior. As a result, Steiner’s analysis of the Bhagavad Gita can be approached most likely as a source for redefining a German national identity not necessarily tied to visions of the Enlightenment state and a reconstituted understanding of human beings. Though Steiner was certainly a well-meaning humanist and would-be humanitarian, his Orientalism selectively interprets and recontextualizes cultural meaning with biased discursive purposes and thus naturalizes a colonialist world-vision in a more subtle way than assumed for Western, and more specifically German, forms of colonialism.
Labyrinths of loss
Authors: Vidal Belén
Published: November 2006

This paper reframes prevailing discourses around realism and nostalgia in the heritage film through a close look at one particularly rich ‘figure’ in the film text: letters and letter-writing. By focusing on the figure of the letter in two romantic period dramas - The Age of Innocence (Martin Scorsese, 1993) and Onegin (Martha Fiennes, 1998) -this paper explores the visual rhetoric of the letter in the film text to articulate narratives of desire and deferral. Beyond its cultural and narrative significance, the letter stands for the motif of woman as the ‘unreachable/unreadable love object’ from which the films derive their emotional impact. However, by inscribing a figure of absence in the visual text the letter also rewrites the familiar realism of period reconstruction with the strangeness of the codes and rituals that enact these fantasy scenarios of desire and loss.
Multiple‐Dose Pharmacokinetics of the Selective Nicotinic Receptor Partial Agonist, Varenicline, in Healthy Smokers
Authors: Faessel Hélène M. , Gibbs Megan A. , Clark David J. , Rohrbacher Kevin , Stolar Marilyn , Burstein Aaron H.
Published: November 2006

Varenicline is a novel and selective α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist developed for smoking cessation. The primary objectives of this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐escalation study were to determine the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of multiple oral doses of varenicline given as tablets once (1 mg, 2 mg, and 3 mg) or twice (1 mg) daily to healthy adult smokers. Within each dose level, 8 subjects were randomized to varenicline and 4 subjects to placebo. Varenicline was well tolerated at doses up to and including 2 mg daily. Dose‐proportional increases in maximum observed plasma concentrations and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time zero to the end of the dosing interval values were observed between the 1‐mg and 2‐mg daily doses of varenicline. Once‐ and twice‐daily dosing resulted, on average, in an approximate 2‐ and 3‐fold increase in varenicline systemic exposure, respectively, compared with single dose. There was no evidence of concentration‐ or time‐dependent changes in the pharmacokinetics of varenicline upon repeat dosing.
Human Kinetics of Orally and Intravenously Administered Low‐Dose 1,2‐13C‐Dichloroacetate
Authors: Jia Minghong , Coats Bonnie , Chadha Monisha , Frentzen Barbara , Perez‐Rodriguez Javier , Chadik Paul A. , Yost Richard A. , Henderson George N. , Stacpoole Peter W.
Published: November 2006

Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a putative environmental hazard, owing to its ubiquitous presence in the biosphere and its association with animal and human toxicity. We sought to determine the kinetics of environmentally relevant concentrations of 1,2‐13C‐DCA administered to healthy adults. Subjects received an oral or intravenous dose of 2.5 μg/kg of 1,2‐13C‐DCA. Plasma and urine concentrations of 1,2‐13C‐DCA were measured by a modified gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method. 1,2‐13C‐DCA kinetics was determined by modeling using WinNonlin 4.1 software. Plasma concentrations of 1,2‐13C‐DCA peaked 10 minutes and 30 minutes after intravenous or oral administration, respectively. Plasma kinetic parameters varied as a function of dose and duration. Very little unchanged 1,2‐13C‐DCA was excreted in urine. Trace amounts of DCA alter its own kinetics after short‐term exposure. These findings have important implications for interpreting the impact of this xenobiotic on human health.
NXY‐059 Does Not Significantly Interact With Furosemide in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Strid Stig , Nilsson Dag , Borgå Olof , Wemer Johan , Grahnén Anders
Published: November 2006

NXY‐059 is a free radical—trapping neuroprotectant that reduces infarct size and preserves brain function in animal models of acute ischemic stroke. Acute ischemic stroke patients receiving NXY‐059 may also be exposed to diuretics for treatment of heart failure or hypertension. NXY‐059 and furosemide are partly eliminated by active tubular secretion via an organic anion transporter. This double‐blind, randomized, crossover, placebo‐controlled study investigated whether an infusion of NXY‐059 (15 mg/mL) during 12 hours affects the diuretic and saluretic effects of a 30‐mg intravenous bolus dose of furosemide (10 mg/mL) administered after 6 hours' infusion, in 13 male and 11 female healthy subjects. The net increase in urine volume and sodium excretion in the interval of 6 to 12 hours was 4.15 L and 178 mmol/L, respectively, during NXY‐059 treatment (P = .93) and 4.34 L and 190 mmol/L, respectively, during placebo treatment (P = .54). NXY‐059 reduced the renal clearance of furosemide by 19% (P = .019), and furosemide reduced the renal clearance of NXY‐059 by 8% (P = .005). NXY‐059 was well tolerated.
Antimalarial Drug Therapy: The Role of Parasite Biology and Drug Resistance
Authors: Daily Johanna P.
Published: November 2006

Malaria continues to affect public health and economic growth in many regions of the world. The number of infections continues to rise and is associated with increased mortality, despite basic science and public health efforts. Drug therapy remains the mainstay of treatment and prevention of this disease. Plasmodium has a complex life cycle involving an arthropod vector and distinct stages within the human host. Each parasite stage plays a unique role in transmission, disease, and latency. These different stages may vary in their response to the various antimalarial compounds. This article will review antimalarial therapies and drug resistance in the context of the parasites' biology.
Grapefruit‐Drug Interactions: Can Interactions With Drugs Be Avoided?
Authors: Mertens‐Talcott S. U. , Zadezensky I. , De Castro W. V. , Derendorf H. , Butterweck V.
Published: November 2006

Grapefruit is rich in flavonoids, which have been demonstrated to have a preventive influence on many chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, since the early 1990s, the potential health benefits of grapefruit have been overshadowed by the possible risk of interactions between drugs and grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Several drugs interacting with grapefruit are known in different drug classes, such as HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors, calcium antagonists, and immunosu‐pressives. Currently known mechanisms of interaction include the inhibition of cytochrome P450 as a major mechanism, but potential interactions with P‐glycoprotein and organic anion transporters have also been reported. This review is designed to provide a comprehensive summary of underlying mechanisms of interaction and human clinical trials performed in the area of grapefruit drug interactions and to point out possible replacements for drugs with a high potential for interactions.
Impact of an Educational Video on Patient Decision Making in Early Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Wilkins Edwin G. , Lowery Julie C. , Copeland Laurel A. , Goldfarb Sherry L. , Wren Patricia A. , Janz Nancy K.
Published: November 2006

Previous research suggests that patient education programs promoting shared decision making (SDM) may improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, yet controlled clinical trials are lacking. The authors evaluate the impact of an early breast cancer treatment educational video on patients' decisional preferences and behavior. Newly diagnosed stage I/stage II breast cancer patients were assigned to SDM video program or control groups in alternating months. Surveys were administered prior to the provider visit and 1 week following the treatment decision. Variables assessed included autonomy preferences, perceived involvement in care, satisfaction, and treatment choice. There were no significant intervention effects on informational/decisional preferences, anxiety, knowledge, or satisfaction. Although 25% of SDM patients chose mastectomy compared to 14% of controls, this difference was not statistically significant. Eventhough enthusiasm for SDM programs remains high among some patients and providers, this study found only modest benefits.
Misleading Measurements: Modeling the Effects of Blood Pressure Misclassification in a United States Population
Authors: Marshall Tom
Published: November 2006

Objective. The clinical diagnosis of hypertension is subject to misclassification, and this may be clinically important. This article calculates positive and negative predictive values for blood pressure measurement and assesses the frequency of clinically important blood pressure misclassification. Design, Setting, and Participants. A modeling study was carried out on 4763 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) population. True treatment eligibility was determined by applying Joint National Committee (JNC) VII criteria to individuals in the study population. Each individual was also allocated a series of blood pressures incorporating an error term reflecting day-to-day measurement variation. Test positives are persons classified as needing treatment on the basis of the mean of 2 blood pressure measurements. Measurements and Main Results. Positive predictive values of a diagnosis of hypertension based on 2 measurements were calculated for each age-sex group. Low-risk false positives and highrisk false negatives were categorized as clinically important errors. Positive predictive values are high in persons older than age 65. In persons ages 16 to 34, the positive predictive value is 0.24 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17–0.32) in men and 0.16 (95% CI: 0.06–0.26) in women. Persons younger than age 35 are almost always at low risk of cardiovascular disease, and therefore this misclassification is clinically important. Even with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement, positive predictive values in young adults are under 0.5. Conclusions. Blood pressure estimation is a poor diagnostic test in low-prevalence populations such as young adults. Estimation of blood pressure should be informed by prior estimation of cardiovascular risk.
Teaching Medical Decision Modeling: A Qualitative Description of Student Errors and Curriculum Responses
Authors: Smith Kenneth J. , Barnato Amber E. , Roberts Mark S.
Published: November 2006

Background. Novice medical decision modelers are prone to errors. The purpose of this article is to describe the common errors committed by decision modeling students and the changes made to a structured decision modeling project course in response. Curriculum. The decision modeling curriculum includes month-long segments in decision analysis, cost-effectiveness analyses, and a project course. In the project course, students solve a decision problem with prespecified assumptions and input variable values, with the expectation that all reach the same answer. At first, students worked in groups of 2 or 3 but more recently work individually; over time, there have been other changes in the course. Originally, the only assignment was an abstract and 10-minute presentation describing their solution, but now periodic homework monitors progress. Outcomes. Students' results frequently differed significantly from the expected answers. Errors were common in sensitivity analyses and model construction, among other areas. Defensible differences in structural programming decisions were rare. More recently, result ranges have narrowed as stepwise homework ensures progress and areas prone to error are emphasized. Student communication is timelier, facilitated by homeworkrelated questions. Individual, rather than group, work avoids potential problems with weaker students being carried by the more advanced. Student satisfaction has increased, with more beginning their own projects afterward. Conclusion. Solving a common decision problem is an efficient teaching tool. Closer supervision leads to increased satisfaction and decreased frustration, facilitated by a more structured approach and the anticipation of common errors.
Decision Curve Analysis: A Novel Method for Evaluating Prediction Models
Authors: Vickers Andrew J. , Elkin Elena B.
Published: November 2006

Background. Diagnostic and prognostic models are typically evaluated with measures of accuracy that do not address clinical consequences. Decision-analytic techniques allow assessment of clinical outcomes but often require collection of additional information and may be cumbersome to apply to models that yield a continuous result. The authors sought a method for evaluating and comparing prediction models that incorporates clinical consequences, requires only the data set on which the models are tested, and can be applied to models that have either continuous or dichotomous results. Method. The authors describe decision curve analysis, a simple, novel method of evaluating predictive models. They start by assuming that the threshold probability of a disease or event at which a patient would opt for treatment is informative of how the patient weighs the relative harms of a false-positive and a false-negative prediction. This theoretical relationship is then used to derive the net benefit of the model across different threshold probabilities. Plotting net benefit against threshold probability yields the “decision curve.” The authors apply the method to models for the prediction of seminal vesicle invasion in prostate cancer patients. Decision curve analysis identified the range of threshold probabilities in which a model was of value, the magnitude of benefit, and which of several models was optimal. Conclusion. Decision curve analysis is a suitable method for evaluating alternative diagnostic and prognostic strategies that has advantages over other commonly used measures and techniques.
Failure to Adopt Beneficial Therapies Caused by Bias in Medical Evidence Evaluation
Authors: Aberegg Scott K. , Arkes Hal , Terry Peter B.
Published: November 2006

Background. Although it is known that many evidencebased therapies are underutilized, the causes of the research-practice gap are not well understood. The authors sought to determine if there is a bias in the evaluation of new evidence that leads to low rates of adoption of beneficial therapies compared to abandonment of harmful ones. Methods. Two case vignettes describing hypothetical clinical trials were administered to 2 independent samples of pulmonary and critical care practitioners. Each vignette was presented in 2 different ways; in one version, the results of the hypothetical trial showed that a treatment was harmful, and in the other version, the same treatment was shown to be beneficial. Prospective respondents from each sample were randomized to receive 1 version of each vignette (intersubject design). The main outcome was respondent's willingness to apply the results of the hypothetical trial to patient care. Results. There were 174 participants for trial 1 and 138 participants for trial 2 (enrollment rates of 44.2% and 41.8%, respectively). For trial 1, respondents were 2.3 times less likely to change clinical practice based on results indicating benefit as opposed to harm (33.3% v. 76.5%; P < 0.0001). Similarly, for trial 2, respondents were 2.57 times less likely to change practice when trial results showed that early use was beneficial as opposed to showing that early use was harmful (37.1% v. 95.3%; P < 0.0001). Conclusions. When evaluating clinical trials, physicians demonstrate less willingness to adopt beneficial therapies than to abandon harmful ones. This difference may contribute to the research-practice gap.
Macromarketing as Agorology: Macromarketing Theory and the Study of the Agora
Authors: Mittelstaedt John D. , Kilbourne William E. , Mittelstaedt Robert A.
Published: November 2006

Twenty-five years of conceptual and empirical research in macromarketing can be synthesized in three fundamental, complementary principles: that markets are systems, that markets are heterogeneous, and the actions of market participants have consequences far beyond the boundaries of firms. Together, these principal findings form the foundation of a theory of macromarketing. The authors argue that macro-marketing, in contrast to micromarketing and microeconomics, is uniquely positioned to address many market-related questions of the coming century.
Historical Research in the Journal of Macromarketing, 1981–2005
Authors: Jones D. G. Brian , Shaw Eric H.
Published: November 2006

This article examines the development of historical research in the Journal of Macromarketing during the first twenty-five years of the journal's publication. Historical research has been an important part of the journal, especially since 1994, and the journal has been instrumental in nurturing historical research in marketing. Seventy-five historical publications were reviewed. The nature and scope of that historical research in the journal is described as it has changed over time.
Normative Perspectives for Ethical and Socially Responsible Marketing
Authors: Laczniak Gene R. , Murphy Patrick E.
Published: November 2006

This article presents a normative set of recommendations for elevating the practice of marketing ethics. The approach is grounded in seven essential perspectives involving multiple aspirational dimensions implicit in ethical marketing. More important, each basic perspective (BP), while singularly useful, is also integrated with the other observations as well as grounded in the extant ethics literature. This combination of BPs, adhering to the tenets of normative theory postulation, generates a connective, holistic approach that addresses some of the major factors marketing managers should consider if they desire to conduct their marketing campaigns with the highest levels of ethics and social responsibility.
Alleviating Poverty: A Macro/Micro Marketing Perspective
Authors: Kotler Philip , Roberto Ned , Leisner Tony
Published: November 2006

The poor represent not only a disgraceful human condition but also a huge potential market if marketers can find ways to serve their needs. But the poor differ greatly from each other in their needs, perceptions, and behavior. Marketers need to apply their skills in market segmentation to distinguish different poverty groups and thus to invoke effective plans and policies to alleviate poverty. Decisions must be made on which poverty segments to target and which social marketing solutions have the best chance of motivating poverty-escaping behavior, to the long-term welfare of individuals, nations, and the global community.
Focusing the Future of Macromarketing
Authors: Peterson Mark
Published: November 2006

The future of macromarketing could be a bright one if the macromarketing community seizes the current opportunity to distinctively define macromarketing as a transdiscipline focused on societal development of all countries. As trans-disciplinary scholars, macromarketers would be versed in the paradigmatic assumptions of two or more fields with the goal of making a more fundamental contribution to core disciplines and the boundaries that separate them. Doing transdisciplinary work calls scholars to see “the whole picture” and to holistically understand the ways many disciplines interconnect when one considers macro issues facing not only individual societies but the planet as well. Some examples of such macro issues that cut across disciplines would include globalization, environmental stewardship, and consumer sovereignty.
Books and Macromarketing
Authors: Dickinson Roger
Published: November 2006

This article offers some perspectives on the state of marketing and macromarketing education. Academics with a recognized interest in macromarketing were asked to designate books that were particularly helpful in enhancing their interest and understanding of macromarketing. The results are summarized. The book with the most mentions was Wroe Alderson's Marketing Behavior and Executive Action.
The Macromarketing Mosaic
Authors: Nason Robert W.
Published: November 2006

After twenty-five years of Journal of Macromarketing publication and thirty years since the first Annual Macromarketing Theory Seminar, the question remains, can macromarketing make a difference? There are three forces that have limited macromarketing and need to be addressed if macromarketing is to have a meaningful future—the lack of independence from the captive power of managerial marketing, the expanding academic compartmentalization of knowledge, and the uncritical acceptance of the notion that market-driven consumption is sustainable in the future. As painful as it might be, macromarketing study needs to break the marginalizing bond with micromarketing, focus on the systems level, and reimpose a sustainable societal screen on the objective function of the field.
Macromarketing as a Pillar of Marketing Thought
Authors: Wilkie William L. , Moore Elizabeth S.
Published: November 2006

This article addresses the appropriate centrality of the macromarketing perspective for the larger field of marketing scholarship. Eight topics are explored: (1) the treatment of the societal domain across the “Four Eras” of marketing thought development, (2) the recent trend to research specialization and an ensuing fragmentation of the mainstream of marketing thought, (3) the loss of knowledge and today's PhD education in marketing, (4) a current concern with the American Marketing Association's 2004 definition of marketing, (5) the challenge posed by the fact that research on marketing and society is itself fragmented, (6) challenges for research from the Brinberg/ McGrath framework, (7) the aggregate marketing system as a potential central organizing concept, and (8) a closing comment on the “pillar” status of macromarketing and the key role played by the Journal of Macromarketing in its first twenty-five years.
Macromarketing: Past, Present, and Possible Future
Authors: Layton Roger A. , Grossbart Sanford
Published: November 2006

In this article, we offer an overview of macromarketing from the mid–1960s to the present. Based on this overview, describe examples of the system elements that have been of interest in researching marketing systems (including those that relate to the environment and the components, attributes, and outcomes of marketing systems). Next, we consider where the field stands today and discuss twelve challenges in macromarketing that compose a possible scenario for future research. Finally, we note the scenarios links to intellectual and normative traditions in the field, its potential relevance for macromarketing scholarship, and its limitations.
Multi-robot Simultaneous Localization and Mapping using Particle Filters
Authors: Howard Andrew
Published: November 2006

This paper describes an on-line algorithm for multi-robot simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The starting point is the single-robot Rao-Blackwellized particle filter described by Hähnel et al., and three key generalizations are made. First, the particle filter is extended to handle multi-robot SLAM problems in which the initial pose of the robots is known (such as occurs when all robots start from the same location). Second, an approximation is introduced to solve the more general problem in which the initial pose of robots is not known a priori (such as occurs when the robots start from widely separated locations). In this latter case, it is assumed that pairs of robots will eventually encounter one another, thereby determining their relative pose. This relative attitude is used to initialize the filter, and subsequent observations from both robots are combined into a common map. Third and finally, a method is introduced to integrate observations collected prior to the first robot encounter, using the notion of a virtual robot travelling backwards in time. This novel approach allows one to integrate all data from all robots into a single common map.
Scaling Hard Vertical Surfaces with Compliant Microspine Arrays
Authors: Asbeck Alan T. , Kim Sangbae , Cutkosky M. R. , Provancher William R. , Lanzetta Michele
Published: November 2006

A new approach for climbing hard vertical surfaces has been developed that allows a robot to scale concrete, stucco, brick and masonry walls without using suction or adhesives.The approach is inspired by the mechanisms observed in some climbing insects and spiders and involves arrays of microspines that catch on surface asperities. The arrays are located on the toes of the robot and consist of a tuned, multi-link compliant suspension. The fundamental issues of spine allometric scaling versus surface roughness are discussed and the interaction between spines and surfaces is modeled. The toe suspension properties needed to maximize the probability that each spine will find a useable surface irregularity and to distribute climbing loads among many spines are detailed. The principles are demonstrated with a new climbing robot, SpinybotII, that can scale a wide range of flat exterior walls, carry a payload equal to its own weight, and cling without consuming power. The paper also reports how toe parameters scale with robot mass and how spines have also been used successfully on the larger RiSE robot.
Sampling-based Algorithm for Testing and Validating Robot Controllers
Authors: Kim Jongwoo , Esposito Joel M. , Kumar Vijay
Published: November 2006

The problem of testing complex reactive control systems and validating the effectiveness of multi-agent controllers is addressed. Testing and validation involve searching for conditions that lead to system failure by exploring all adversarial inputs and disturbances for errant trajectories. This problem of testing is related to motion planning. In both cases, there is a goal or specification set consisting of a set of points in state space that is of interest, either for finding a plan, demonstrating failure or for validation. Unlike motion planning problems, the problem of testing generally involves systems that are not controllable with respect to disturbances or adversarial inputs and therefore, the reachable set of states is a small subset of the entire state space. In this work, sampling-based algorithms based on the Rapidly-exploring Random Trees (RRT) algorithm are applied to the testing and validation problem. First, some of the factors that govern the exploration rate of the RRT algorithm are analysed, this analysis serving to motivate some enhancements. Then, three modifications to the original RRT algorithm are proposed, suited for use on uncontrollable systems. First, a new distance function is introduced which incorporates information about the system’s dynamics to select nodes for extension. Second, a weighting is introduced to penalize nodes which are repeatedly selected but fail to extend.Third, a scheme for adaptively modifying the sampling probability distribution is proposed, based on tree growth. Application of the algorithm is demonstrated using several examples, and computational statistics are provided to illustrate the effect of each modification. The final algorithm is demonstrated on a 25 state example and results in nearly an order of magnitude reduction in computation time when compared with the traditional RRT. The proposed algorithms are also applicable to motion planning for systems that are not small time locally controllable.