bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legal Aspects of Co‐makership
Authors: Smith Graham P.
Published: May 2006

The development of co‐makership in the UK raises important legal considerations as to the nature of the relationship between the parties concerned. These problems are discussed in detail and include competition law problems, contractual problems, confidentiality, industrial property ownership rights, product liability, and termination of the agreement and the settlement of disputes. The conclusions are that co‐makership does not present any insuperable legal problems, nor are these problems novel or difficult.
Brown trout spawning habitat selection preferences and redd characteristics in the Credit River, Ontario
Authors: Zimmer M. P. , Power M.
Published: May 2006

Brown trout Salmo trutta redds in the Credit River, Ontario, were enumerated and assessed for physical, location and cover feature characteristics during the 2002 spawning season. Hydraulic habitats were classified on the basis of channel morphology and availability recorded. Combined use and availability data were used to assess habitat selection preferences and test for significant differences. Significant preferences for upstream pool and riffle habitat were found, but all available habitat types were used to some degree. Non‐preferred habitat redds were significantly larger than those located in preferred habitats and more likely to be found in association with woody debris cover. Larger redds were interpreted as indicative of larger fish. The use of non‐preferred downstream habitats by larger fish was further interpreted in the context of overwinter habitat requirements to reflect possible trade‐offs between reproductive and adult over‐winter survival requirements resulting in the selection of habitat for multiple life‐history functions. Results suggest that redd density alone should not be used to infer critical autumn habitat requirements for brown trout.
The four members of the Drosophila metallothionein family exhibit distinct yet overlapping roles in heavy metal homeostasis and detoxification
Authors: Egli Dieter , Domènech Jordi , Selvaraj Anand , Balamurugan Kuppusamy , Hua Haiqing , Capdevila Mercè , Georgiev Oleg , Schaffner Walter , Atrian Sílvia
Published: May 2006

Four metallothionein genes are present in the Drosophila melanogaster genome, designated MtnA, MtnB, MtnC, MtnD, all of which are transcriptionally induced by heavy metals through the same metal‐responsive transcription factor, MTF‐1. Here we show, by targeted mutagenesis, that the four metallothionein genes exhibit distinct, yet overlapping, roles in heavy metal homeostasis and toxicity prevention. Among the individual metallothionein mutants, the most prominent distinction between them was that MtnA‐defective flies were the most sensitive to copper load, while MtnB‐defective flies were the most sensitive to cadmium. Using various reporter gene constructs and mRNA quantification, we show that the MtnA promoter is preferentially induced by copper, while the MtnB promoter is preferentially induced by cadmium. Such a metal preference is also observed at the protein level as the stoichiometric, spectrometric and spectroscopic features of the copper and cadmium complexes with MtnA and MtnB correlate well with a greater stability of copper‐MtnA and cadmium‐MtnB. Finally, MtnC and MtnD, both of which are very similar to MtnB, display lower copper and cadmium binding capabilities compared to either MtnA or MtnB. In accordance with these binding studies, Drosophila mutants of MtnC or MtnD have a near wild type level of resistance against copper or cadmium load. Furthermore, eye‐specific over‐expression of MtnA and MtnB, but not of MtnC or MtnD, can rescue a “rough eye” phenotype caused by copper load in the eye. Taken together, while the exact roles of MtnC and MtnD remain to be determined, the preferential protection against copper and cadmium toxicity by MtnA and MtnB, respectively, are the result of a combination of promoter preference and metal binding.
Plasmodium berghei calcium‐dependent protein kinase 3 is required for ookinete gliding motility and mosquito midgut invasion
Authors: Siden‐Kiamos Inga , Ecker Andrea , Nybäck Saga , Louis Christos , Sinden Robert E. , Billker Oliver
Published: May 2006

Apicomplexan parasites critically depend on a unique form of gliding motility to colonize their hosts and to invade cells. Gliding requires different stage and species‐specific transmembrane adhesins, which interact with an intracellular motor complex shared across parasite stages and species. How gliding is regulated by extracellular factors and intracellular signalling mechanisms is largely unknown, but current evidence suggests an important role for cytosolic calcium as a second messenger. Studying a Plasmodium berghei gene deletion mutant, we here provide evidence that a calcium‐dependent protein kinase, CDPK3, has an important function in regulating motility of the ookinete in the mosquito midgut. We show that a cdpk3– parasite clone produces morphologically normal ookinetes, which fail to engage the midgut epithelium, due to a marked reduction in their ability to glide productively, resulting in marked reduction in malaria transmission to the mosquito. The mutant was successfully complemented with an episomally maintained cdpk3 gene, restoring mosquito transmission to wild‐type level. cdpk3– ookinetes maintain their full genetic differentiation potential when microinjected into the mosquito haemocoel and cdpk3– sporozoites produced in this way are motile and infectious, suggesting an ookinete‐limited essential function for CDPK3.
Assembly and role of pili in group B streptococci
Authors: Dramsi Shaynoor , Caliot Elise , Bonne Isabelle , Guadagnini Stéphanie , Prévost Marie‐Christine , Kojadinovic Mila , Lalioui Lila , Poyart Claire , Trieu‐Cuot Patrick
Published: May 2006

Streptococcus agalactiae[group B streptococcus (GBS)] is the leading cause of neonatal pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. An in silico genome analysis indicated that GBS strain NEM316 encodes five putative sortases, including the major class A sortase enzyme and four class C sortases. The genes encoding the class C sortases are tandemly arranged in two different loci, srtC1‐C2 and srtC3‐C4, with a similar genetic organization and are thought to be involved in pilus biosynthesis. Each pair of sortase genes is flanked by LPXTG protein encoding genes, two upstream and one downstream, and a divergently transcribed regulatory gene located upstream from this locus. We demonstrated that strain NEM316 expresses only the srtC3‐C4 locus, which encodes three surface proteins (Gbs1474, Gbs1477 and Gbs1478) that polymerize to form appendages resembling pili. Structural and functional analysis of this locus revealed that: (i) the transcriptional activator RogB is required for expression of the srtC3‐C4 operon; (ii) Gbs1477, and either SrtC3 or SrtC4 are absolutely required for pilus biogenesis; and (iii) GBS NEM316 pili are composed of three surface proteins, Gbs1477, the bona fide pilin which is the major component, Gbs1474, a minor associated component, and Gbs1478, a pilus‐associated adhesin. Surprisingly, pilus‐like structures can be formed in the absence of the two minor components, i.e. the putative anchor Gbs1474 or the adhesin Gbs1478. Adherence assays showed that Gbs1478 confers adhesive capacity to the pilus. This study provides the first evidence that adhesive pili are also present in Gram‐positive pathogens.
Association of parental pretransplant psychosocial assessment with post‐transplant morbidity in pediatric heart transplant recipients*
Authors: Stone David , Banerjee Mousumi , Dupuis Joanne , Leleszi Jimmie , Allasio David , Singh Tajinder P.
Published: May 2006

Abstract:  Because parents assume the primary responsibility for providing ambulatory post‐transplant care to pediatric patients, pretransplant psychosocial evaluation in these recipients is usually focused on parents rather than on patients themselves. We sought to determine whether pretransplant parental psychosocial evaluation predicts post‐transplant medical outcome at current levels of psychosocial support. We compared relative risk (RR) of rejection and hospitalizations (days of all‐cause hospitalization) following initial discharge in patients in ‘risk’ and ‘control’ groups defined by their pretransplant parental psychosocial evaluation. We also compared the two groups of patients for the proportion of all outpatient trough cyclosporine A (CSA) or tacrolimus (FK) levels that were <50% of the target level (defined as the mid‐therapeutic range level). There were seven patients in the ‘risk’ group with a median age 0.25 yr (range 0.19–14.7 yr) and total follow up 20.5 patient‐yr. There were 21 patients in the ‘control’ groups with a median age of 2.1 yr (range 0.05–16.2 yr) and total follow up of 71.3 patient‐yr. There was no significant difference between the groups in rejection‐risk or days of all‐cause hospitalization early after transplant (first six months). During the late period (after the first six months), there were 11 rejection episodes in the ‘risk’ group over 17.4 patient‐yr and four rejection episodes in control group over 61.8 patient‐yr of follow up. After adjustment for age and race, patients in the ‘risk’ category had a RR of 3.4 for developing a rejection episode (p = 0.06) and 3.1 for being inpatient (p < 0.001) during the late period. Patients in the risk group were 2.9 times more likely to have subtherapeutic trough levels (<50% target level) of calcineurin inhibitor (CSA or FK) during both early and late periods (p < 0.01 for both periods) after adjustment for patient age and race. We conclude that pretransplant parental psychosocial risk assessment is associated with post‐transplant morbidity in children after cardiac transplantation. These patients may benefit from closer outpatient monitoring and a higher level of psychosocial support.
Demonstration of plasminogen‐like protein in amphioxus with implications for the origin of vertebrate liver
Authors: Liang Y. J. , Zhang S. C.
Published: May 2006

Plasminogen, the proenzyme of serine protease plasmin, is a plasma glycoprotein synthesized primarily in the liver, and its evolutionary origin in chordates remains unclear. We demonstrated here that the humoral fluid in amphioxus is capable of cross‐reacting with anti‐human or anti‐mouse plasminogen antibodies, and the hepatic diverticulum in amphioxus is the site of plasminogen‐like protein synthesis. The presence of plasminogen‐like protein in amphioxus pushes the origin of plasminogen to before the last common ancestor of vertebrates. In addition, the localization of plasminogen‐like protein in the hepatic diverticulum suggests that the diverticulum in amphioxus is functionally homologous to the vertebrate liver in respect of plasminogen synthesis, supporting the hypothesis that the vertebrate liver evolved from the hepatic diverticulum of an amphioxus‐like ancestor during early chordate evolution.
Efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended‐release in continent patients with overactive bladder and nocturia
Authors: NITTI VICTOR W. , DMOCHOWSKI ROGER , APPELL RODNEY A. , WANG JOSEPH T. , BAVENDAM TAMARA , GUAN ZHONGHONG ,   the 037 Study Group
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended‐release (ER) in continent patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and nocturia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A post hoc analysis was conducted of data from a 12‐week, double‐blind study of 850 patients randomized to tolterodine ER (4 mg once daily) or placebo, taken within 4 h of going to bed. Patients with a mean of ≥ 8 voids/24 h were enrolled, including a mean of ≥ 2.5 voids/night. Patients completed 7‐day voiding diaries, and for each void an urgency rating was assessed using a 5‐point scale (1, none; 5, urgency incontinence); 24‐h voids were categorized by urgency rating: total (1–5), non‐OAB (1–2), OAB (3–4), and severe OAB (4–5) voids. All adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS

The post hoc analysis included 513 patients (243 placebo; 270 tolterodine ER; 58% men) who were continent at baseline; 47% of 24‐h voids were classed as non‐OAB, and 12% as severe OAB. After 12 weeks of treatment, tolterodine ER significantly reduced mean urgency rating and 24‐h OAB, severe OAB, and total voids vs placebo. Tolterodine ER did not affect normal, non‐OAB voids, and there were no significant adverse events related to voiding. Other than dry mouth (tolterodine ER, 9% vs placebo, 2%), all the adverse events were reported in <3% of patients; <2% of patients receiving tolterodine ER withdrew because of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

In continent patients with OAB, tolterodine ER significantly improved urgency rating and reduced 24‐h OAB, severe OAB, and total voids, suggesting that it is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment option for this subpopulation. More studies are needed to better understand the clinical efficacy of tolterodine ER in this under evaluated group of OAB patients without incontinence.
Short‐ and long‐term efficacy of solifenacin treatment in patients with symptoms of mixed urinary incontinence
Authors: STASKIN DAVID R. , TE ALEXIS E.
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate urinary symptom relief in women with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) treated for up to 52 weeks with solifenacin succinate for overactive bladder (OAB), as MUI is a complex and distressing condition reported by about a third of incontinent women, and with confirmed efficacy in OAB‐related urge incontinence, anticholinergic agents are a reasonable therapeutic option for such women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with OAB (mean of ≥ 8 voids/24 h, plus ≥ 1 incontinence episode or ≥ 1 urgency episode/24 h) were pooled from four studies. A subgroup of 1041 patients reporting MUI at baseline were evaluated over 12 weeks in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, and up to a further 40 weeks in 433 in an open‐label solifenacin treatment (5 mg and 10 mg). Voiding frequency, episodes of incontinence and urgency, and volume voided per void, were collected from voiding diaries completed during the 3 days before each study visit.

RESULTS

Patients with a history of MUI treated with solifenacin for up to 12 weeks had statistically significant reductions in voiding frequency and episodes of incontinence and urgency vs placebo. In all, 43% and 49% (at 5 mg and 10 mg, respectively) of patients with a history of MUI regained continence after 12 weeks, vs 33% with placebo. Among patients in the open‐label study with mixed symptoms, 52% reported regaining continence, and 34% reported resolution of symptomatic urgency based on diary reporting at study end. Sustained improvements in quality of life and high satisfaction ratings accompanied symptom improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant reductions in OAB‐related frequency, incontinence and urgency were reported after 12 weeks of solifenacin treatment in patients with a history of MUI. Symptom improvement in this subgroup was maintained during long‐term treatment. These findings support the therapeutic potential of solifenacin for treating symptoms of MUI and the need to re‐evaluate classically defined MUI.
Endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava in renal cell carcinoma with retro‐ or suprahepatic caval thrombus
Authors: ZINI LAURENT , HAULON STEPHAN , LEROY XAVIER , CHRISTOPHE DECOENE , KOUSSA MOHAMED , BISERTE JACQUES , VILLERS ARNAULD
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) during surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with either retrohepatic (level II) or suprahepatic (level III) caval tumour thrombus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2000 to February 2005, 31 patients with renal vein/IVC involvement (T3b/c) of 278 who had a radical nephrectomy, were selected for review. Of these 31, 13 consecutive patients with RCC presenting a thrombus level II or III were prospectively treated with endoluminal occlusion of the free IVC cranial to the thrombus, to avoid dissection of the suprahepatic IVC or the subdiaphragmatic IVC. The occlusion balloon was positioned using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) control through a cavotomy at the ostium of the renal vein. Thrombectomy and radical nephrectomy were then performed. The operative duration, peri‐operative bleeding, and complications during and after surgery were assessed. Overall patient survival time, disease‐free survival and development of metastasis were calculated.

RESULTS

Caval thrombectomy was successful in all patients. The IVC needed to be replaced with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft in three patients and a patch closure after lateral cavectomy was used in four. There was no case of air embolism. One case of asymptomatic tumour migration was detected during the procedure by TEE. The mean (sd) and median (range) operative duration was 170 (29) and 170 (120–210) min, and the mean number of units of packed red cells transfused during hospitalization was 5 (5) and 3 (0–16). There was no peri‐operative mortality. The complications were one splenectomy and one early thrombosis of the IVC. The mean (range) follow‐up was 22.1 (2–50) months. Distant metastases occurred in seven patients; there was no local or IVC tumour recurrence. Four patients died from metastatic progression and six are alive with no progression.

CONCLUSION

Endoluminal occlusion of the IVC with TEE monitoring for level II and III thrombus avoided a suprahepatic or subdiaphragmatic approach to the IVC. This technique caused no major complications and was very reliable, due to TEE monitoring. Segmental resection and reconstruction of the IVC could also be used for adherent thrombi.
The beneficial effect of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily in ‘real‐life’ practice on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), quality of life and sexual dysfunction in men with LUTS and painful ejaculation
Authors: NICKEL J. CURTIS , ELHILALI MOSTAFA , EMBERTON MARK , VALLANCIEN GUY ,   FOR THE ALF‐ONE STUDY GROUP
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy and safety of the selective α1‐blocker alfuzosin in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and painful ejaculation, compared with those with LUTS only, as painful ejaculation is one of the most prevalent, differentiating and bothersome symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 4857 sexually active men with LUTS had an evaluable answer to the Danish Prostate Symptom Score for Sexual Symptoms question related to pain/discomfort on ejaculation at enrolment in a 6‐month open‐label study with alfuzosin 10 mg once daily. Efficacy was analysed at the endpoint in the intent‐to‐treat population.

RESULTS

Of the 4857 men, 997 (20.5%) had pain/discomfort on ejaculation and 889/997 (89.2%) considered it was a problem. At inclusion, men with painful ejaculation had more severe LUTS and bother than men with LUTS only. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and reduced ejaculation were more prevalent (74.5% and 71.9%, respectively) and bothersome in men with painful ejaculation than in those with no pain (59.6% and 57.4%, respectively). Under alfuzosin treatment, all variables in both groups significantly improved from baseline; men with painful ejaculation compared to LUTS‐only had similar improvements in weighted scores for LUTS (−7.8 vs −7.7), bother (−1.7 vs −1.7), and reduced ejaculate (−0.5 vs −0.4) but greater improvements in ED (−0.6 vs −0.4; P < 0.001). The weighted score for painful ejaculation decreased from 2.2 to 0.8 (P < 0.001). Alfuzosin was well tolerated in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This 6‐month open‐label study suggests that alfuzosin 10 mg once daily significantly improves LUTS, quality of life and sexual function in men with prostatitis‐like symptoms, and is well tolerated.
Comparison of the clinical outcome after hormonal therapy for prostate cancer between Japanese and Caucasian men
Authors: FUKAGAI TAKASHI , NAMIKI THOMAS S. , CARLILE ROBERT G. , YOSHIDA HIDEKI , NAMIKI MIKIO
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of race on the effectiveness of hormonal therapy in patients with prostate cancer, by comparing the outcomes of Caucasian men (CM) and Japanese‐American men (JAM) treated with hormonal therapy at one institution.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty‐nine CM and 105 JAM with prostate cancer were treated with hormonal therapy at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Age, stage, Gleason score, race, and pretreatment PSA levels were abstracted. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to construct overall and cause‐specific survival curves, which were compared using log‐rank statistics. These factors were assessed as to their interdependence and correlation with the clinical course using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Although there were no statistical differences in patient background, JAM who had received hormonal treatment had a better outcome than CM for overall and cause‐specific survival rate (P = 0.001 and 0.036, respectively). Race was one of the significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.03). The findings suggest a difference in the effectiveness of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer in JAM living in Hawaii compared to CM.

CONCLUSIONS

There were marked racial differences in clinical outcome after hormonal therapy between JAM and CM. A prospective study with more patients might be necessary to elucidate the differential effectiveness of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer in different races, especially between Japanese and Caucasians.
The Aliens Act 1905 and the Immigration Dilemma
Authors: Wray Helena
Published: May 2006

This article considers the political context, legal framework, and administrative structures of the Aliens Act 1905. It points out the contradictions and inconsistencies of the Act and argues that these represent a wider ambivalence about the merits of control and a conflict between exclusionary and inclusive impulses. These inconsistencies, rather than undermining the Act, permitted the Act to fulfil a number of conflicting unofficial purposes. The article argues that this ambivalence persists and governments continue to seek to satisfy all sides leading to apparently incoherent legal formulations which nonetheless provide for fragile compromises.
Aversive Parenting in China: Associations With Child Physical and Relational Aggression
Authors: Nelson David A. , Hart Craig H. , Yang Chongming , Olsen Joseph A. , Jin Shenghua
Published: May 2006

This study assessed the combined and differential contributions of Chinese mothers and fathers (in terms of spouse‐reported physically coercive and psychologically controlling parenting) to the development of peer‐reported physical and relational aggression in their preschool‐age children (mean age of 5 years). Results of the two‐group (boys and girls) latent sum and difference structural equation model showed that combined parenting effects were slightly more prevalent than differential effects in predicting aggression. Furthermore, physical coercion was predictive of aggression in boys whereas psychological control was primarily associated with aggression in girls. Findings extend our understanding of relational aggression and the meaning of aversive parenting, particularly within the Chinese cultural context.
Actor and Partner Effects of Adolescents' Romantic Working Models and Styles on Interactions with Romantic Partners
Authors: Furman Wyndol , Simon Valerie A.
Published: May 2006

The present study examined how adolescents' and their romantic partners' romantic working models and relational styles were related to their interactions with each other. Sixty‐five couples (M age=18.1 years) were observed interacting. Romantic working models were assessed in interviews about their romantic experiences; romantic styles were assessed by self‐report. Data were analyzed using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model. Working models of romantic relationships, especially girls' models, were predictive of their behavior, the partners' behavior, and the dyads' behavior. Fewer links were found between relational styles and observed behavior. The present study extends past work by showing that representations of romantic relationships influence or are influenced by romantic interactions, even as these representations and relationships are just developing.
Cooperative Activities in Young Children and Chimpanzees
Authors: Warneken Felix , Chen Frances , Tomasello Michael
Published: May 2006

Human children 18–24 months of age and 3 young chimpanzees interacted in 4 cooperative activities with a human adult partner. The human children successfully participated in cooperative problem‐solving activities and social games, whereas the chimpanzees were uninterested in the social games. As an experimental manipulation, in each task the adult partner stopped participating at a specific point during the activity. All children produced at least one communicative attempt to reengage him, perhaps suggesting that they were trying to reinstate a shared goal. No chimpanzee ever made any communicative attempt to reengage the partner. These results are interpreted as evidence for a uniquely human form of cooperative activity involving shared intentionality that emerges in the second year of life.
Unravelling phenotypic plasticity – why should we bother?
Authors: Bradshaw Anthony D.
Published: May 2006

The ability of a genotype to change its phenotype was once considered rather a nuisance – making it difficult to define a genotype. This led to the idea that there was a problem called ‘instability’. But quite early it was recognized that stability was under genetic control, and was a character like other attributes of an individual. From this realization came the idea that there were two sides to the character of ‘instability’, and that the ability to change could be important. This ability was thus given the title of ‘plasticity’. Once recognized, it became clear from surveys of different species and populations that plasticity can (i) be a complex character, and (ii) be selected to fit species to the particular demands of different environments. For plants, which cannot meet variations in environment like animals by behavioural responses, phenotypic plasticity can be very important. Plants should therefore be valuable tools for unravelling the mechanisms of plasticity whilst also demonstrating its contribution to fitness experimentally. We ought also to be able to demonstrate that appropriate genetic variability is available through which complex responses can be built up by selection. Genes must exist not only to determine character means, but also to determine character response, which adds interesting complexity to our ideas about evolution.
VCCEP Pilot: Progress on Evaluating Children's Risks and Data Needs
Authors: Williams Pamela R. D. , Patterson Jacqueline , Briggs Daniel W.
Published: May 2006

The Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) is designed to provide information to the public on children's potential health risks associated with chemical exposures. The key question of the VCCEP is whether the potential hazards, exposures, and risks to children have been adequately characterized, and, if not, what additional data are necessary. To answer this question, manufacturers or importers of 23 chemicals were asked by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to sponsor their chemicals in the first tier of a pilot program. These chemicals were selected for evaluation because they have been found as contaminants in human tissue or fluids (adipose tissue, blood, breath, breast milk, or urine); food and water children may eat and drink; or air children may breathe (including residential or school air). Under the VCCEP framework, sponsoring companies agree to prepare Tier 1 hazard, exposure, and risk assessments on the individual chemicals, and identify the need for additional data. These assessment documents are submitted to the U.S. EPA and subsequently undergo review by experts in an independent peer consultation meeting that is open to the public. Following this peer consultation process, the U.S. EPA reviews each submission and makes a data‐needs determination, which may include requesting further data collection or generation by the sponsor. Sponsoring companies then decide whether to volunteer for the next tier and collect or generate the requested data.

The purpose of this article is to describe the VCCEP process and to review and present the key findings from the first set of chemicals that have been fully or partially evaluated under the pilot program (vinylidene chloride, decabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, decane, undecane, and dodecane). Specifically, we provide a brief summary of the sponsors' submissions, the peer consultation panels' discussions, and the U.S. EPA's data‐needs decisions. Although we do not attempt to conduct independent analyses of the underlying data, we do identify a number of common themes that have emerged during implementation of the pilot program and discuss several key issues that could become important in the future. The information presented here should be useful for various parties interested in the progress of the VCCEP and the results of the initial (Tier 1) children's assessments.
Wal‐Mart and County‐Wide Poverty*
Authors: Goetz Stephan J. , Swaminathan Hema
Published: May 2006

Objectives. This study seeks to identify the independent effect of Wal‐Mart stores on changes in U.S. family‐poverty rates at the county level. We draw on the contributions of a number of disciplines to enhance our understanding of the broader forces that influence poverty.

Methods. A key innovation is that we estimate a two‐stage regression model, in which an instrument is created for new Wal‐Mart stores from a location equation; this reduces any potential endogeneity bias in the poverty‐change equation. In addition, we use spatial econometric methods to correct for spatial dependence bias.

Results. After controlling for other factors determining changes in the poverty rate over time, we find that counties with more initial (1987) Wal‐Mart stores and counties with more additions of stores between 1987 and 1998 experienced greater increases (or smaller decreases) in family‐poverty rates during the 1990s economic boom period.

Conclusions. Wal‐Mart creates both benefits and costs to communities in which the chain locates. These benefits and costs need to be weighed carefully by community decisionmakers in deciding whether to provide public subsidies to the chain.
College, Jobs, or the Military? Enlistment During a Time of War*
Authors: Kleykamp Meredith A.
Published: May 2006

Objective. This article questions what factors are associated with joining the military after high school rather than attending college, joining the civilian labor force, or doing some other activity. Three areas of influence on military enlistment are highlighted: educational goals, the institutional presence of the military in communities, and race and socioeconomic status.

Method. The analysis uses data from a recent cohort of high school graduates from the State of Texas in 2002, when the United States was at war, and employs multinomial logistic regression to model the correlates of post‐high‐school choice of activity in this cohort.

Results. Results confirm the hypothesis that a higher military institutional presence increases the odds of enlisting in the military relative to enrolling in college, becoming employed, or doing some other activity after high school. Additionally, college aspirations are clearly associated with the decision to enroll in college versus enlist and also increase the odds of joining the military rather than the civilian labor market, or remaining idle. Unlike previous studies, few racial and ethnic differences are found.

Conclusion. Voluntary military enlistment during wartime is associated college aspirations, lower socioeconomic status, and living in an area with a high military presence.
Religion and Public Opinion about Same‐Sex Marriage*
Authors: Olson Laura R. , Cadge Wendy , Harrison James T.
Published: May 2006

Objective.The goal of this article is to analyze the relationship between religion, measured in terms of religious affiliation and religiosity, and public opinion about same‐sex marriage, civil unions, and a federal constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriage.

Methods.We use logistic regression with calculated standardized coefficients to analyze data from a nationally representative survey of 1,610 respondents conducted in March–April 2004.

Results.Religious variables perform better than demographic measures in models of attitudes about same‐sex unions. Non‐Protestants are much more likely to support same‐sex unions than are Protestants, and individuals with conservative attitudes toward morality and secularism and (to a lesser extent) those who participate actively in religious life are more likely to oppose such unions. On the whole, religious variables play a weaker role in predicting support for a constitutional amendment to prevent gay marriage than they do in predicting attitudes toward same‐sex unions.

Conclusions.Religious variables play powerful roles in structuring attitudes about same‐sex unions. Moreover, homosexuality appears to be a major component of the “moral values” discourse that is currently so popular in American politics.
The Greater Complexity of Lived Race: An Extension of Harris and Sim*
Authors: Brown J. Scott , Hitlin Steven , Elder Glen H.
Published: May 2006

Objectives. Harris and Sim (2002) recently demonstrated the complexity of lived race by exploring patterns of racial self‐identification. They raised important sociological questions about the role of context in racial self‐identification, but offered an incomplete picture of ethnic fluidity by excluding Hispanics from their analyses. We address this limitation with data on Hispanics from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).

Methods. Our social‐psychological approach, using compositional analysis, focuses on the lived experience of race and ethnicity as qualitatively similar conceptual categories.

Results. Informed by the cognitive process of social categorization, we find that considerably more individuals show fluidity in racial and ethnic self‐identification across contexts than suggested by Harris and Sim.

Conclusions. Harris and Sim's thesis is even more strongly supported by these findings than in their original analysis, and our findings reinforce their challenge to the assumed stability of racial and ethnic measurement in sociology. We conclude by proposing a change in the measurement of race/ethnicity in America.
ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF δ13C, δ15N, AND δ34S “A FEEDING TALE” IN TEETH OF THE LONGBEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN, DELPHINUS CAPENSIS
Authors: Niño‐Torres Carlos Alberto , Gallo‐Reynoso Juan Pablo , Galván‐Magaña Felipe , Escobar‐Briones Elva , Macko Stephen A.
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Stable isotopic analyses of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur were performed on teeth of different ages and sexes of the longbeaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, from the Gulf of California. Similarities in diet are suggested between the sexes, with no significant differences in isotopic compositions being observed. Differences in the δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S signatures were found among the age groups (nursing calf, juvenile, subadult, and adult). These data suggest that this species is generally a coastal feeder, and that it changes its feeding habits with increasing age, drawing more nutrition from higher trophic level organisms later in life.
Selective Laser Sintering Process Optimization for Layered Manufacturing of CAPA® 6501 Polycaprolactone Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Authors: Partee Brock , Hollister Scott J. , Das Suman
Published: May 2006

Tissue engineering combines principles of the life sciences and engineering to replace and repair damaged human tissue. Present tissue engineering methods generally require the use of porous, bioresorbable scaffolds to serve as temporary three-dimensional templates to guide cell attachment, differentiation, proliferation, and subsequent regenerate tissue formation. Such scaffolds are anticipated to play an important role in allowing physicians to simultaneously reconstruct and regenerate damaged human tissues such as bone, cartilage, ligament, and tendon. Recent research strongly suggests that the choice of scaffold material and its internal porous architecture significantly influence regenerate tissue structure and function. However, a lack of versatile biomaterials processing and manufacturing methods capable of meeting the complex geometric and compositional requirements of tissue engineering scaffolds has slowed progress towards fully testing these promising findings. It is widely accepted that layered manufacturing methods such as selective laser sintering (SLS) have the potential to address these requirements. We have investigated SLS as a technique to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), one of the most widely investigated biocompatible, bioresorbable materials for tissue engineering applications. In this article, we report on our development of optimal SLS processing parameters for CAPA® 6501 PCL powder using systematic factorial design of experiments. Using the optimal parameters, we manufactured test scaffolds with designed porous channels and achieved dimensional accuracy to within 3%–8% of design specifications and densities approximately 94% relative to full density. Finally, using the optimal SLS process parameters, we demonstrated the successful fabrication of bone tissue engineering scaffolds based on actual minipig and human condyle scaffold designs.
Thermal Modeling for Laser-Assisted Machining of Silicon Nitride Ceramics with Complex Features
Authors: Tian Yinggang , Shin Yung C.
Published: May 2006

The feasibility of laser-assisted machining (LAM) and its potential to significantly reduce fabrication costs and improve product quality have been shown experimentally for various ceramic materials. However, no systematical investigation has been performed to expand LAMs capability to parts with complex features, although such capability is essential for industrial applications. This paper presents a transient, three-dimensional thermal model developed for LAM of workpieces with complex geometric features and its validation by in-process surface temperature measurements with an infrared camera. It is shown that the LAM experiments designed based on the predictions by the thermal model successfully produced silicon nitride parts with complex features, thus demonstrating the capabilities of LAM in fabricating ceramic parts suitable for industrial implementation.
Analysis and Optimal Design of Fixture Clamping Sequence
Authors: Qin Guohua , Zhang Weihong , Wan Min
Published: May 2006

Considering the great impacts of the application sequence of multiclamps on the workpiece machining accuracy, this paper analyzes and optimizes clamping sequence. A new methodology that takes into account the varying contact forces and friction force during clamping is presented for the first time. A new analysis model is established to capture the effect of clamping sequence on contact force distributions and workpiece machining accuracy. It reveals that the historical accumulation of clamping steps influences heavily the final distribution of contact forces in the workpiece-fixture system. Therefore, the present contact forces in each clamping step are solved incrementally in terms of contact forces of the precedent step by means of the principle of the total complementary energy. Furthermore, based on the fact that the variation of contact forces from one step to another results in different workpiece deformations and position, a novel design model is formulated to select optimally the clamping sequence in order to minimize the workpiece deformation and position errors. Workpieces of low stiffness and high stiffness are investigated separately in order to simplify the modeling of clamping sequence optimization. Some numerical tests are finally demonstrated to validate the proposed model and method. Computational results are discussed and compared with experimental results available in the reference.
Nitride-based ultraviolet metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors with low-temperature GaN cap layers and Ir∕Pt contact electrodes
Authors: Chang S. J. , Yu C. L. , Chen C. H. , Chang P. C. , Huang K. C.
Published: May 2006

Nitride-based ultraviolet (UV) metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (PDs) with low-temperature (LT) GaN cap layers and Ir∕Pt contact electrodes have been fabricated. It was found that both Ir∕Pt contact electrodes and LT GaN cap layers could effectively suppress the dark current of the PDs. We also achieved larger photocurrent to dark current contrast ratio and larger UV to visible rejection ratio from the PDs with LT GaN cap layers and Ir∕Pt contact electrodes.
Electrical isolation of electrodes with submicron separation in a digital optical switch
Authors: Ng S. , Abdalla S. , Syrett B. , Barrios P. , McKinnon W. R. , Delâge A. , Golub I. , Janz S. , Lapointe J.
Published: May 2006

The electrodes in a carrier-injection-based digital optical switch are separated by a gap of less than 1μm. Good switch performance requires minimal current spreading and effective electrical isolation of these two electrodes without perturbing the underlying guided optical fields. Two methods of such isolation are modeled and experimentally compared. One is the etching of an e-beam-defined 0.5-μm-wide trench down to an etch stop layer, and the other is the implanting of oxygen ions using the electrodes as a shadow mask. Electrical simulation results suggest that injected current magnitudes and carrier concentration profiles are similar with both the trench and the ion implant, and so they should be equally effective in preventing current flow between the two branches. However, experimental results show that ion implantation produces better switching contrasts of greater than 20dB. We attribute this to the fact that implantation using the electrodes as a shadow mask results in an injected carrier distribution that more accurately reproduces the shape of the overlying electrode.
Measurements of TiOx stress induced on InP∕InGaAs∕InGaAsP quantum well heterostructures
Authors: Francois A. , Aimez V. , Beauvais J. , Barba D.
Published: May 2006

Measurements of stress induced by TiOx layers on single quantum well InP based heterostructure are presented. Strain characterization has been performed by photoluminescence (PL) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. We present a comparison of the stress induced by TiOx and SiO2 layers which are commonly used as masking material for the quantum well intermixing process. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and PL revealed that TiO2 is creating a stress field in the top layers of the heterostructure, with a dependence on temperature and stressor thickness. A hysteresis phenomenon of the Raman shift has also been observed after measurements at low temperature (below 300 K) which shows that the stress created by TiOx exceeds the elastic limit of InP. On the other hand, there is no evidence that SiO2 is inducing stress. Rapid thermal annealing of samples covered with titanium oxide results in improvement of the thermal stability.
H-induced effects in luminescent silicon nanostructures obtained from plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition grown SiyO1−y:H(y>1∕3) thin films annealed in (Ar+5%H2)
Authors: Comedi D. , Zalloum O. H. Y. , Irving E. A. , Wojcik J. , Mascher P.
Published: May 2006

Si y O 1 − y : H (y=0.36 and 0.42) alloy films were fabricated by electron cyclotron resonance plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and subsequently annealed in (Ar+5%H2) at different temperatures. Glancing angle x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements revealed the formation of silicon nanoclusters (Si-ncl) in an amorphous SiO2 matrix for films annealed at temperatures of 900°C and above. Negligible photoluminescence (PL) was observed at room temperature for the as-grown samples; however, PL bands appeared in the visible after the annealing treatments. The PL intensities are much higher and the spectra skewed to the red as compared to data obtained for similar samples annealed in pure Ar. These effects are attributed to the passivation by H atoms of nonradiative recombination centers in the materials annealed in (Ar+5%H2). The overall analysis of the PL data indicates that both quantum confinement and defect states contribute to the luminescence. Two-step annealing procedures [in Ar and then in (Ar+5%H2)] were found to yield slightly higher passivation efficiencies than single annealing steps in (Ar+5%H2).
Hole mobility and electroluminescence properties of a dithiophene indenofluorene
Authors: Py C. , Gorjanc T. C. , Hadizad T. , Zhang J. , Wang Z. Y.
Published: May 2006

The development of organic laser diodes requires the availability of organic thin films that can attain high mobility without luminescence quenching. A dithiophene-substituted indenofluorene compound was designed as a compromise between luminous efficiency and mobility and has been studied in organic light-emitting diode and organic field-effect transistor devices. A relatively high luminous efficiency of 1cd∕A at a luminance of 1400cd∕m2 and a hole field-effect mobility of 1.2×10−2cm2∕Vs are reported in those two respective devices.
Vacuum science considerations for rapid reactor recovery with extremely low oxygen in low temperature low pressure chemical vapor deposition of Si1−xGex and Si1−x−yGexCy films
Authors: Enicks Darwin , Oleszek Gerald
Published: May 2006

The films for this study were grown in the AMAT Centura 5200 low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) reactor. Silicon germanium (SixGe1−x) and silicon germanium carbon (Si1−x−yGexCy) have widely been accepted as the materials of choice for a variety of uses in semiconductor devices. Most manufacturers utilize LPCVD for the low temperature growth of these films. Due to the reaction kinetics, oxygen incorporation in SiGe films may become substantial, especially following a major preventive maintenance (PM). Depending on the technology, elevated oxygen may be unacceptable due to process and device performance considerations. These considerations range from oxygen reaction with dopant source gases, thus minimizing dopant incorporation and activation, to minority carrier lifetime reduction in the base of a SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor due to oxygen related defects. To achieve low oxygen processes the engineer must have a clear picture of the mechanisms and the fundamental vacuum science as it relates to LPCVD processing. Outgassing and the all too familiar chamber leak rate are discussed as they relate to sorption and sorbtion effects and recommendations are made to facilitate very rapid PM recoveries with sustained in-film oxygen levels as good as attained with ultrahigh vacuum CVD. Secondary ion mass spectrometry profiles are presented, which demonstrate that a sustained sub-1017at.∕cc oxygen level in low temperature LPCVD SiGe processing is possible when these types of gas loads are addressed.