bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of oxygen on the work functions of Mo in vacuum and on ZrO2
Authors: Knizhnik A. A. , Iskandarova I. M. , Bagatur’yants A. A. , Potapkin B. V. , Fonseca L. R. C.
Published: March 2005

The electronic properties of molybdenum surfaces and interfaces with monoclinic zirconia (Mo∕m-ZrO2) of different stoichiometries are investigated through first-principles calculations. We show that oxygen adsorption on the Mo(110) surface strongly increases the Mo vacuum work function, and that a similar trend is observed for the Mo(110) work function on zirconia upon oxygenation of the stoichiometric Mo∕m-ZrO2 interface, albeit to a smaller extent. As expected, Mo∕m-ZrO2 interface reduction/oxidation decreases/increases the Mo effective work function. However, interface overoxidation leading to the formation of a thin MoOx layer between Mo and m-ZrO2 (Mo∕MoOx∕m-ZrO2) causes a work-function decrease with respect to the stoichiometric Mo∕m-ZrO2 interface value. This result is especially surprising because calculations indicate that subsurface oxidation of Mo slabs increases the Mo vacuum work function. Moreover, the calculated vacuum work function of rutile MoO2(110) slab is ∼6.0eV, considerably larger than that of Mo(110) (∼4.9eV). The physical origin of this effect is explained in terms of a partial cancellation interface dipoles.
Stalin and the Nuclear Age
Authors: Zubok Vladislav M.
Published: March 2005

Stalin understood the military and political significance of atomic weapons and directed all available Soviet resources to obtaining this weapon. However, he remained largely a statesman operating on the premises and experience of the pre‐nuclear age. For him, the emergence of atomic weapons made the prospect of a future war more terrifying, but no less likely. America's atomic monopoly in the first phase of the Cold War did not play a substantial role in deterring Stalin. He was determined to defend his spheres of influence and to dispel any sign of possible Soviet weakness in the face of America's atomic saber rattling. Stalin, a genius of state terror, power broking, and war diplomacy, was different from statesmen in the democratic countries, but his outlook on world politics was consistent with the realpolitik of the pre‐nuclear age. He had as much inclination as some of his ’liberal’ Western counterparts to regard nuclear power as a means of augmenting military power and, in larger terms, the power of the state.
The Nuclear Education of Nikita Khrushchev
Authors: Zubok Vladislav M. , Harrison Hope M.
Published: March 2005

Khrushchev was the first Soviet leader to realize that nuclear bipolarity dictated permanent ’peaceful coexistence’ between two antagonistic social systems. Although he never abandoned the idea of the usability of nuclear weapons, he regarded them primarily as a positive force and was eager to use them in his gamble for peace – an attempt to negotiate a permanent truce with the US, which would have liberated Soviet resources for the construction of communism and the assistance of ’progressive’ movements and regimes around the world. Khrushchev had little doubt that behind the nuclear shield, the Soviet Union would win a peaceful economic competition with the capitalist camp.
LIBERAL EDUCATION: THE UNITED STATES EXAMPLE
Authors: Appiah K. Anthony
Published: March 2005

Anthony Appiah’s essay on liberal education in the United States begins by identifying a distinctive feature of classical liberalism – namely, that the state must respect substantial limits with respect to its authority to impose restrictions on individuals, even for their own good. Nevertheless, Appiah points out, the primary aim of liberal education is to ‘maximize autonomy not to minimize government involvement’. Most of the essays in this volume, including Appiah’s, are attempts to address the question of what the liberal commitment to maximize personal autonomy means when it comes to the teaching of what Appiah refers to as ‘identity-related claims’. The aim of this chapter is to suggest how one might begin to think about some questions in the philosophy of education, guided by the liberal thought that education is a preparation for autonomy, and to show that this tradition is both powerful enough to help with this difficult question and rich enough to allow answers of some complexity.
SCHOOLING AND CULTURAL MAINTENANCE FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN THE LIBERAL STATE
Authors: Halstead J. Mark
Published: March 2005

This is the last of the four essays in Part II of the book on liberalism and traditionalist education; all four are by authors who would like to find ways for the liberal state to honour the self-definitions of traditional cultures and to find ways of avoiding a confrontation with differences. One of the tasks of the book is to separate out different kinds of affiliation and the extent to which the arguments made about cultural recognition can be extended to other objects of affiliation. Mark Halstead’s chapter on schooling (education) and cultural maintenance for religious minorities in the liberal state provides a catalogue of the different types of groups that are to be found in liberal societies, and the different kinds of cultural and educational claims that are typically attached to each of them. His definition of minority group is useful in conceptualizing many of the papers in the volume. The chapter falls into three sections: Section 10.1, which looks at four types of disadvantaged minorities, attempts to distinguish non-Western fundamentalist religious minorities living in the West from other minorities that may experience disadvantage of various kinds in liberal societies; Section 10.2, on religious minorities in the liberal state, explores some of the educational and other difficulties encountered by such religious minorities in more detail, and typical liberal responses; Section 10.3, on rethinking the liberal response, contains some proposals that are designed to meet the educational needs of both the liberal state and the religious minorities at the same time.
Arts and Minds
Authors: Currie Gregory
Published: March 2005

Thirteen essays, five not previously published, on the arts. These are philosophical essays, mostly concerned with the ways in which theories about mind and language can contribute to our understanding of art. Some explore the challenges posed by art to the empirical sciences of mind – linguistics and pragmatics, psychology and anthropology. Particular problems confronted include: the nature of literary works, genres, and fictional characters; whether there is coherent and useful concept of documentary; whether fiction can tell us anything interesting about time; what pragmatics tells us about interpretation; the prospects for cognitive film theory; the role of empathy in our engagement with fiction; the role of the unreliable narrator; the relations between children's pretend play and their mind reading skills; how we should decide whether animals engage in pretence; what biological and cultural evolution can tell us about the development of art.
Introduction
Authors: Bovens Luc , Hartmann Stephan
Published: March 2005

Introduces the topic of information-gathering from multiple independent sources through some well-known Genesis stories.
1Information
Authors: Bovens Luc , Hartmann Stephan
Published: March 2005

Shows how the degree of confidence that information from multiple sources is a function of the plausibility and the coherence of the information as well as of the reliability of the sources. There is a long-standing question in epistemology about how to construct a measure that yields a coherence ordering over sets of propositions and there are various proposals in the literature. Presents an impossibility result to the effect that there cannot exist such a measure. This has implications for the coherence theory of justification.
2Coherence
Authors: Bovens Luc , Hartmann Stephan
Published: March 2005

Shows how to construct a coherence quasi-ordering that respects the claim that the more coherent a set of propositions is, the greater the degree of confidence ought to be in its content, ceteris paribus. Applies this result to the problem of scientific-theory choice.
4Confirmation
Authors: Bovens Luc , Hartmann Stephan
Published: March 2005

Applies the models to the confirmation of scientific hypotheses by means of partially reliable test instruments. Shows that the variety-of-evidence thesis is false under certain plausible interpretations and assesses the Duhem–Quine thesis for positively relevant versus independent hypotheses and auxiliaries.
Epilogue
Authors: Bovens Luc , Hartmann Stephan
Published: March 2005

Presents some general reflections on the role and the challenges of probabilistic modelling in philosophy.
Which factors influence the number of gemeprost pessaries used in inducing second‐trimester abortions?
Authors: Kaasen Anne , NÆs Tormod , Haugen Guttorm
Published: March 2005

Background.  The course of second‐trimester abortions with the intention to use gemeprost as the only abortifacient is described.

Methods.  The report is based on 278 consecutive second‐trimester abortions, excluding missed abortions, during a 12‐year period in a tertiary referral center. The women were treated with 1 mg gemeprost pessaries every fourth hour with a maximum of five applications during 24 h. If abortion had not occurred, a new treatment of gemeprost was prescribed after an interval of 12 h.

Results.  The median number of gemeprost pessaries used was 4 (range 1–16) and the mean number (±SD) 4.09 (±1.90). Abortion occurred within 24 h in 78% of the women and within 48 h in 96%. The efficiency of gemeprost was highly dependent on previous vaginal deliveries (p < 0.001), with a mean number of applications of 4.63 (±2.04), 3.93 (±1.74), and 3.13 (±1.26) in those with none, one, and two or more previous vaginal deliveries, respectively. Previous spontaneous abortions were associated with a lower number of applications. Including previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions in a two‐way analysis of variance (anova), only the number of spontaneous abortions was marginally significant (p = 0.05). After excluding four patients with three or more spontaneous abortions from the analysis, the number of previous vaginal deliveries was significant (p = 0.010) whereas that of spontaneous abortions became nonsignificant. Postprocedure complications were reported in 13% of the women.

Conclusion.  The course of the abortions was dependent on previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions.
Smoking‐associated fetal morbidity among older gravidas: a population study
Authors: Salihu Hamisu M. , Shumpert M. Nicole , Aliyu Muktar H. , Kirby Russell S. , Alexander Greg R.
Published: March 2005

Background.  We set out to assess the influence of advanced maternal age on fetal morbidity associated with smoking during pregnancy in a population‐based retrospective study of 7 792 990 singleton live births between 1995 and 1997 in the United States with documented maternal smoking habit.

Methods.  The study group consisted of infants born to mothers aged ≥ 40 years (older mothers). Two maternal age categories (20–29, “younger mothers”; 30–39, “mature mothers”) were constructed as comparison groups. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) generated from logistic regression models were used to compare fetal morbidity indices associated with smoking across maternal age categories. Main outcome measures included preterm, very preterm, and small for gestational age (SGA).

Results.  The prevalence of smoking was 13.1%, and decreased with increasing maternal age. Regardless of maternal age, the risk for fetal morbidity was significantly elevated if the mother smoked. The risks for preterm and SGA associated with smoking were significantly higher among older gravidas as compared to younger mothers while mature mothers had risk estimates comparable to those of older mothers. Among smoking mothers only, the risk pattern for fetal morbidity was J‐shaped, with babies of older smokers having significantly higher fetal morbidity indices, while those of mature smokers showed lower levels of risk as compared to younger mothers.

Conclusion.  In an era of relatively lower prevalence of smoking during pregnancy, advanced maternal age still increases the risk of smoking‐associated fetal morbidity. Our findings reveal new information of elevated risk for very preterm births among older smoking mothers.
Fetal fibronectin as predictor of successful induction of mid‐trimester abortion
Authors: Mercorio Francesco , Mercorio Antonio , Votino Carmela , Sardo Attilio Di Spiezio , Barba Gian Vincenzo , Nappi Carmine
Published: March 2005

Background.  Fetal fibronectin (FFN) in cervical secretion is one of the most effective markers of pre‐term and term delivery. The presence of FFN in cervicovaginal secretions has recently been shown to reflect cervical state and an uncomplicated induction of labor at term. This study was designed to determine whether FFN could be a biochemical marker to predict the response to prostaglandins in early mid‐trimester abortion.

Methods.  The presence of cervical FFN was evaluated by means of qualitative rapid immunoassay in 270 patients, who required second trimester termination of pregnancy at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Naples ‘Federico II’. According to the standard protocol of our unit, women received 1.0 mg of gemeprost intravaginally at 3‐hr intervals up to a maximum of five suppositories. The induction‐to‐abortion interval and the percentage of successful abortions within 24 hr in women in the positive FFN group (n = 19) were compared with those in the negative FFN group (n = 251).

Results.  FFN in the cervical secretions was present in seven women (10.2%) at 16‐weeks gestation, in seven women (7.5%) at 17‐weeks gestation, and in five women (4.5%) at 18‐week gestation. Final termination rates were 13 (68.4%) in the fibronectin‐positive group and 177 (70.5%) in the fibronectin‐negative group. The median abortion interval was similar (14.7  versus 15.1 hr) in both groups.

Conclusions.  A positive cervical fetal fibronectin test does not predict a successful medical termination of pregnancy in second trimester abortion. In this setting, the role of fetal cervical fibronectin in cervical ripening is, therefore, questionable.
Changes in attitudes, knowledge and hormone replacement therapy use: a comparative study in two random samples with 6‐year interval
Authors: Thunell Louise , Stadberg Elisabeth , Milsom Ian , Mattsson Lars‐Åke
Published: March 2005

Objectives.  To study changes in: (i) the prevalence of hormone‐replacement therapy (HRT) and (ii) women's attitudes and knowledge about the climacteric.

Design.  Cross‐sectional comparison was performed on two populations of women both aged 46–62 years and resident in the same urban Swedish population over a period of 6 years.

Material and methods.  In 1992, a random sample of 5990 women, from five birth cohorts, 46, 50, 54, 58, and 62 years in the city of Göteborg, were assessed using a postal questionnaire technique. In 1998, the same technique was used and a similar questionnaire was sent to another cohort of women (n = 5411) of the same ages, resident in the city of Göteborg. The overall response rate was 76%. Information was obtained regarding climacteric symptoms, HRT use, and attitudes and knowledge.

Results.  The prevalence of HRT use with medium‐potency estrogens had increased from 13% (1992) to 31% (1998). The highest prevalence was reported in women 54 years of age (46%). The most common reasons why women started HRT were: hot flushes and sweats, depression/irritability, sleeping disturbances, and vaginal dryness. Forty‐four percent of the women in this study were prepared to consider extended HRT if the treatment was free from withdrawal bleedings (35%, 1992). Eighty percent believed that the risk of osteoporosis decreased during HRT use (61%, 1992) and 68% thought that the risk of breast cancer increased (58%, 1992).

Conclusions.  A marked increase in the use of HRT was reported between 1992 and 1998. Women's attitudes to HRT were more positive in 1998 compared to 1992. Knowledge about HRT among women had increased during the same 6‐year period.
G.H. Mead: Theorist of the Social Act
Authors: GILLESPIE ALEX
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT: There have been many readings of Mead's work, and this paper proposes yet another: Mead, theorist of the social act. It is argued that Mead's core theory of the social act has been neglected, and that without this theory, the concept of taking the attitude of the other is inexplicable and the contemporary relevance of the concept of the significant symbol is obfuscated. The paper traces the development of the social act out of Dewey's theory of the act. According to Mead, Dewey's theory does not sufficiently account for consciousness. Grappling with this problematic leads Mead to several key ideas, which culminate in his theory of the social act. The social act and taking the attitude of the other are then illustrated by the analysis of a game of football. The interpretation presented has two novel aspects: first, symbolisation arises not simply through self taking the attitude of the other, but through the pairing of this attitude with the complementary attitude in self; second, self is able to take the attitude of the other to the extent that self has in actuality or in imagination previously been in the social position of the other. From this standpoint the key issue is how the attitude of self and other become integrated. New directions for empirical research, aimed at advancing this question are outlined. Finally, the paper shows how the social act can contribute to our contemporary concerns about the nature of the symbolic.
Microstructure–Property Correlations in Industrial Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Kulkarni Anand A. , Goland Allen , Herman Herbert , Allen Andrew J. , Ilavsky Jan , Long Gabrielle G. , Johnson Curtis A. , Ruud Jim A.
Published: March 2005

This paper describes the results from multidisciplinary characterization/scattering techniques used for the quantitative characterization of industrial thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems used in advanced gas turbines. While past requirements for TBCs primarily addressed the function of insulation/life extension of the metallic components, new demands necessitate a requirement for spallation resistance/strain tolerance, i.e., prime reliance, on the part of the TBC. In an extensive effort to incorporate these TBCs, a design‐of‐experiment approach was undertaken to develop tailored coating properties by processing under varied conditions. Efforts focusing on achieving durable/high‐performance coatings led to dense vertically cracked (DVC) TBCs, exhibiting quasi‐columnar microstructures approximating electron‐beam physical‐vapor‐deposited (EB‐PVD) coatings. Quantitative representation of the microstructural features in these vastly different coatings is obtained, in terms of porosity, opening dimensions, orientation, morphologies, and pore size distribution, by means of small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering (USAXS) studies. Such comprehensive characterization, coupled with elastic modulus and thermal conductivity measurements of the coatings, help establish relationships between microstructure and properties in a systematic manner.
Passive‐Oxidation Kinetics of SiC Microparticles
Authors: Das D. , Farjas J. , Roura P.
Published: March 2005

We investigated the oxidation kinetics of SiC materials in the form of powders (average dimension 4 μm) in the temperature range 1100°–1500°C in dry air. The oxidation process was monitored through the relative mass gain in a thermobalance. As the specific surface area of the particles was measured, the recorded mass gain could be converted into the corresponding oxide thickness. The oxidation isotherms were fitted to a linear‐parabolic equation, and the parabolic rate constant was evaluated. Up to 1400°C, temperature dependence can be described by a single activation energy of 179 kJ/mol, which increases in the 1400°–1500°C temperature range. These results are compared with the oxidation behavior of sintered polycrystalline and monocrystalline SiC materials.
Children visiting adults in ITU – what support is available? A descriptive survey
Authors: Vint Pauline E
Published: March 2005

Traditionally, children appear to have been discouraged from visiting in adult intensive therapy units. Various reasons have been given, mostly unsubstantiated by research. There is minimal information specifically related to this topic, but all studies (and related studies) reviewed propose visiting as a method to help children cope with critical illness in an adult family member. This postal survey offers a general perspective of how units have responded to the nursing literature and previous recommendations to date. This appears to have been the first national study specifically exploring the support for children visiting (or who may wish to visit) a critically ill adult in an intensive therapy unit. This study highlights (perhaps for the first time) not only the lack of policy and staff education but also the lack of available information for visitors, regarding visits by children so that they can make informed choices together.
Regulation of dendritic cell interleukin-12 secretion by tumour cell necrosis
Authors: Kandil H , Bachy V , Williams D J , Helmi R , Gotch F M , Ibrahim M A A
Published: March 2005

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the induction and regulation of antigen-specific immunity. Studies have shown that, similar to infection, cellular necrosis can stimulate DC maturation. However, the ability of necrotic cell death to modulate DC cytokine secretion has yet to be explored. We investigated the regulation of interleukin (IL)-12 secretion by human DCs in response to tumour cell necrosis in an in vitro culture model. Two human tumour cell lines (K562 and JAr) were induced to undergo necrosis using heat injury and repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. Both types of tumour cells tested in this study, when injured, induced secretion of monomeric IL-12p40 by monocyte-derived DCs. Furthermore, priming DCs with necrotic cells augmented IL-12p70 secretion significantly in conjunction with CD40 cross-linking. This was physiologically relevant because cell death-pulsed DCs were more potent than non-pulsed DCs at stimulating T cells to proliferate and secrete interferon (IFN)-γ. The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) played a role in mediating the DC response to heat-killed, but not freeze/thaw-killed necrotic cells. For both methods of injury, proteins contributed to the effect of necrosis on dendritic cells, whereas DNA was involved in the effect of freeze/thawed cells only. These findings indicate that necrotic tumour cell death is not sufficient to induce bioactive IL-12p70, the Th1 promoting cytokine, but acts to augment its secretion via the CD40/CD40L pathway. The results also highlight that the mode of cell death may determine the mechanism of dendritic cell stimulation.
Generation of cytotoxic T cell responses directed to human leucocyte antigen Class I restricted epitopes from theAspergillusf16 allergen
Authors: Ramadan G , Davies B , Kurup V P , Keever-Taylor C A
Published: March 2005

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major cause of infection-related mortality in patients with haematological malignancies, especially in recipients of haematopoietic stem cell transplants. We have prepared overlapping pentadecapeptides (11-aa overlap with previous peptide) spanning the entire 427-aa coding region of the Aspergillus allergen, Asp f16 shown previously in mice to induce Th1-type cell responses in vivo and in humans to induce proliferative and cytotoxic CD4+ T cell responses. Mature dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with a complete pool of peptides were used to generate T cell lines. Two lines from HLA-B*3501+ donors were found to be strongly cytotoxic to autologous Asp f16-peptide pool- and Aspergillus culture extract-pulsed targets after 4–5 weekly primings. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) culture supernatant killed Aspergillus conidia, and cells directly killed Aspergillus hyphae. Cytotoxic activity and interferon (IFN)-γ production were mediated exclusively by CD8+ T cells in response to pool-pulsed targets. Interleukin (IL)-4 production was not detected. CTL activity was restricted by HLA-B*3501 and based on peptide prediction programmes was most probably directed to YFKYTAAAL (YFK), LPLCSAQTW (LPL) and GTRFPQTPM (GTR) in one donor, while only LPL was recognized by CTL from the second donor. Pool-pulsed B*3503+ BLCL but not B*3502+ or B*3508+ BLCL presented peptide to donor no. 1. B*3503+ BLCL presented YFK and to a lesser extent GTR, but not peptide LPL. Our data show that in addition to our previously identified Class II restricted peptide response, DC pulsed with a pentadecapeptide pool from Asp f16 are capable of inducing polyclonal, HLA-Class I-restricted, Aspergillus-specific T cells that may be capable of conferring immunity to IA.
Effect of patch occupancy on immigration in the common lizard
Authors: LE GALLIARD JEAN‐FRANÇOIS , FERRIÈRE RÉGIS , CLOBERT JEAN
Published: March 2005

Colonization is critical to invasion propensity and the viability of fragmented populations. This study evaluates the behavioural and demographic effects of patch occupancy on immigration in the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara).

We manipulated connected two‐patch systems during one year. Two treatments were contrasted: both patches initially occupied vs. one occupied patch connected to one empty patch. Effects of manipulation were measured on emigration from occupied patches, on settlement in arrival patches and on demographic parameters in residents and immigrants.

Settlement probability was not influenced by the presence of conspecifics, but unsettled lizards stayed longer in initially empty than in occupied patches. The relationship between yearlings’ body condition and emigration probability was affected by the manipulation, indicating that different yearlings disperse depending upon metapopulation structure.

Growth and maturation rate were influenced positively in juveniles colonizing empty patches, whereas there was no difference between immigrants to occupied patches and residents. Faster growth allowed female juvenile immigrants to reproduce earlier during colonization. No effect on growth or reproduction was detected in yearlings and adults. Selective benefits of colonization at the juvenile stage may provide an ultimate explanation for why natal dispersal prevails over breeding dispersal in this species.

At the population level, immigration and increased reproductive recruitment led to higher population growth in colonized patches. This may contribute to the species’ capacity to develop and maintain a wide geographical distribution.
Age at first breeding and fitness in goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Authors: KRÜGER OLIVER
Published: March 2005

Age at first breeding has a large influence on fitness and hence is crucial to the evolution of life‐history strategies. Goshawks Accipiter gentilis start breeding aged 1–4 years. Using 30 years of data and both lifetime reproductive success (LRS) and lind as a fitness estimate for 74 female goshawks, I showed that the optimal age at first reproduction was 3 years in this population.

Females that started to breed earlier had lower LRS and lind, not because of reduced life span, but because of lower reproduction at early ages.

The constraint hypothesis, which states that foraging or other skills improve with age was the most likely explanation for the higher reproduction with increasing age.

Incorporating habitat heterogeneity provided the mechanism that explained not only the fitness cost to early maturity, but also why this cost was heterogeneous. Females starting to breed aged 1 suffered a very high fitness cost if they were in a bad‐quality territory, but fitness costs were small when they were in a good‐quality territory. This explains why I found evidence for a nonlinear selection pressure on age at first breeding.

Population density also affected whether a female started to breed early or not: over the study period, population density increased and the percentage of females starting to breed aged 1 decreased.

The optimal age at first breeding seems to be a trait affected by a complex interplay between cost and benefits of early reproduction mediated by habitat heterogeneity and population density.
Population sex ratio variation in a monogamous long‐lived bird, the wandering albatross
Authors: WEIMERSKIRCH HENRI , LALLEMAND JOELLE , MARTIN JULIEN
Published: March 2005

Factors affecting population birth sex ratio and variations of sex ratios within population in very long‐lived animals are poorly known, apart for humans that have attracted much attention. We measured the age and sex structure of a population of a monogamous long‐lived seabird, the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, where reproductive performance of individuals is known, to examine factors affecting sex ratio variation and survival consequences of producing a particular sex.

The overall sex ratio at hatching is significantly biased toward the production of males. Very young and old parents tend to produce an excess of female offsprings, whereas intermediate‐aged birds, which represent the bulk of the population, produce an excess of males. Low‐quality parents (quality is measured as average breeding success over the cumulated past breeding life, and is not related to condition or age) produce more female chicks compared with high‐quality parents that represent the bulk of the population. The combined effect of age and quality of parents produce an extensive sex ratio variation at the level of the population.

The survival of male and female parents is influenced differently by their quality and by the sex of offspring. Male parents die in larger numbers when rearing a female chick, whereas low‐quality female parents have a lower survival, especially when they rear a male offspring, the sex needing higher parental investment. The differences between males and females parents’ survival are probably due their contrasted investment in parental care.

After fledging, during the 5–8‐year period of immaturity, there is a much higher mortality of males that balances the surplus of males at hatching and fledging and results in a similar number of males and females at the time of recruitment. However, the overall operational sex ratio is male biased due to the slightly higher mortality of adult females that results in an excess of old widowed males: excluding these post‐reproductive males leads to an unbiased operational sex ratio.

These results show that sex ratio at hatching varies extremely with the age and phenotypic quality of parents, and lead to a complex age and sex structure of the population in this strictly monogamous long‐lived species.
Trade‐offs in resistance to competitors and predators, and their effects on the diversity of tropical marine sponges
Authors: WULFF JANIE L.
Published: March 2005

Consistently very high regional diversity of tropical marine sponges reflects a combination of high within‐habitat diversity and distinctness of species composition among habitats. Distinctive sponge faunas of Caribbean coral reefs and mangroves seem to support the assumption that abiotic factors determine sponge diversity within habitats and faunal differences between habitats because these habitats differ greatly in abiotic characteristics and because lower species diversity on mangroves appears to reflect their inferiority as sponge habitat.

A way to test this assumption is provided by unusual mangrove cays in Belize that are inhabited by the typical Caribbean reef sponge fauna. Reciprocal transplant experiments, combined with caging (predator‐free space) and artificial substrata (competitor‐free space), demonstrated control of community membership by biological interactions for 12 common species: spongivorous predators excluded typical mangrove sponges from reef sponge assemblages, and reef sponges were excluded from mangrove sponge assemblages by competition.

Variation in growth rate was related inversely to variation in defences against predators in the species studied, suggesting a trade‐off between resistance to competitors and to predators.

This trade‐off influences community structure, as the key importance of competition for space among mangrove species results in lower within‐habitat diversity, while multiple challenges, including predation, may maintain high diversity of reef sponges. Differences in species composition between habitats are maintained, as this trade‐off precludes success of individual species as members of both faunas.

Most surprising is that typical faunas of mangroves and reefs are not tied to these habitats by abiotic factors. Greater sponge species diversity on the reef does not necessarily indicate superior conditions for sponges. Instead reefs may be a refuge for species that grow too slowly to coexist with typical mangrove species.
Testing the assumptions of the ideal despotic distribution with an unpredictable food supply: experiments in juvenile salmon
Authors: MACLEAN AMANDA , HUNTINGFORD FELICITY A. , RUXTON GRAEME D. , MORGAN IAN J. , HAMILTON JUDITH , ARMSTRONG JOHN D.
Published: March 2005

Models linking the behaviours of individual animals, their positions within socially complex groups and spatio‐temporal variation in resource distribution offer a promising base for predicting population responses to changing environments. The ideal free and despotic distributions and their derivatives are particularly influential in this regard.

Due to the difficulties of conducting work in the wild, for some groups of animals such models are often based on observations of animals in small‐scale systems under conditions that are well controlled, but unnaturally simple.

Using an experimental system based on field observations of home range size and variation in food availability, the present study tested whether models derived using small‐scale laboratory observations are valid for juvenile Atlantic salmon in more natural conditions.

Contrary to predictions, we found no differences in behaviour between the control fish (which experienced consistently rich feeding patches) and the experimental fish (which experienced unpredictable 10‐fold changes in patch quality).

Also contrary to predictions, in the variable condition, salmon used high quality patches (which were an order of magnitude better than low quality patches) only marginally (5%) more than would be expected if they were to forage at random. There was significant variation in foraging strategies between individual fish, with 28% of the population making non‐random use of foraging patches.

The only apparent systematic relationship between social rank and use of foraging patches was that fish that were both dominant and made many moves between feeding locations tended to leave rich patches less frequently than they left poor patches.

Despite the low correlation between patch quality and movement, there was substantial movement of fish among patches. Forty‐four per cent of moves followed aggressive interactions and most others were spontaneous, with no obvious motivating factor apparent.

The study exposes a discrepancy between expectations derived from the basic concepts of patch choice theory and the behaviour of Atlantic salmon in the conditions pertaining in the present study.

It is suggested that this discrepancy may arise both from the fact that applicability of patch choice models may be very sensitive to the stability of differences in patch quality and from uncertainties about the costs of habitat sampling.
Hallucinations in bipolar disorder: characteristics and comparison to unipolar depression and schizophrenia
Authors: Baethge Christopher , Baldessarini Ross J , Freudenthal Klaus , Streeruwitz Anna , Bauer Michael , Bschor Tom
Published: March 2005

Objective: As there is very little research on the topic, we compared the frequency and the type hallucinations among hospitalized patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BPD) versus other major psychiatric illnesses.

Methods: At admission, all patients hospitalized at the Department of Psychiatry at the Freie Universität Berlin (1981–2001) underwent comprehensive assessments using the standardizedAssociation for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry(AMDP) system. We used these data to compare risks and types of hallucinations and associated factors by bivariate and multivariate testing in patients diagnosed with BPD, major depression, or schizophrenia.

Results: At admission, the cross‐sectional prevalence of current hallucinations among 4972 hospitalized subjects ranked: schizophrenia (61.1%), bipolar mixed (22.9%), bipolar manic (11.2%), bipolar depressed (10.5%), unipolar depressed (5.9%). The most frequent hallucinations across all patients were auditory, followed by somatic and visual hallucinations. There were only minor age or sex differences in risk of hallucinations. Compared with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, hallucinations among patients with BPD were less severe, more visual and less often auditory. Characteristics of hallucinations were similar among manic and both bipolar‐ and unipolar‐depressed subjects. Among patients with major affective disorders, those with hallucinations were less well‐educated, had higher anxiety scores, less insight into the illness, and their hospitalizations averaged 17% longer. Across all diagnoses, hallucinations, particularly olfactory, were significantly associated with delusions. Hallucinations in BPD were most often accompanied by persecutory delusions; delusions of grandeur were least associated with hallucinations.

Conclusions: This study provides detailed descriptive data regarding the frequency (cross‐sectional) and characteristics of hallucinations in a large sample of patients with BPD, major depression or schizophrenia. Our results suggest a link of lower education and the presence of hallucinations in major affective disorders. The significance of this finding, as well as the role of anxiety in hallucinating patients, requires further study.
Validation of distinct amnesic and executive type memory deficit in a psychiatric sample based on retrieval performance
Authors: EGELAND JENS , LANDRØ NILS INGE , SUNDET KJETIL , ASBJØRNSEN ARVE , LUND ANDERS , RONESS ATLE , RUND BJØRN RISHOVD
Published: March 2005

Studies of localized brain dysfunctions have revealed connections between patterns of cognitive dysfunction and specific profiles of memory impairment. The amnesic type of memory impairment is defined by deficits in both free recall and recognition memory, whereas the dysexecutive memory impairment is characterized by retrieval deficits, i.e. a disproportional impairment in free recall relative to recognition memory. The present study tests whether classifications of psychiatric patients into recall impaired only (= RO group) and Recall and Recognition impaired (= RR group) correspond to the executive type and amnesic type of memory impairment. The alternative hypothesis is that the two groups merely differ in degree of neuropsychological and psychiatric disturbance. Forty‐four subjects impaired on California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) were selected from a larger database of 103 impaired and non‐impaired subjects with schizophrenia or recurrent major depression. Subjects were classified into RO and RR groups and compared on measures of memory strategy (recency effect and interference on CVLT), overall neuropsychological function (Stroop Test and WAIS‐R similarity) and psychiatric symptom load (positive and negative symptoms). Repeated measures ANOVA showed no effects of group, i.e. the RR group did not perform consistently below the RO group with regard to memory strategy, neuropsychological function or psychiatric symptom load. Two out of three analyses showed group × test interaction, supporting the dissociation of distinct executive and amnesic profiles among psychiatric patients. The RO group was more susceptible to interference but had better recency score than the RR group. The RO had higher negative symptoms while the RR group had higher positive symptoms.
MMPI‐2 subgroups in a sample of chronic pain patients
Authors: NORDIN H. , EISEMANN M. , RICHTER J.
Published: March 2005

MMPI‐2 scores of 307 female and 161 male chronic pain patients were analyzed by gender using a multivariate clustering method. Two subgroups were found for both sexes replicating previous results. The major subgroup corresponded to the classical “Conversion V” and the minor corresponded to the “Generally elevated” profile. The results also indicated a satisfactory internal consistency and a high discriminant validity of the Swedish version of the MMPI‐2.
Percutaneous Angioplasty of the Subclavian Artery in Patients with Mammary‐Coronary Bypass Grafts
Authors: RIBICHINI FLAVIO , MAFFÈ STEFANO , FERRERO VALERIA , COTRONEO ANTONIO , VASSANELLI CORRADO
Published: March 2005

Severe coronary artery disease often coexists with peripheral vascular atherosclerosis. The assessment of the supra‐aortic circulation in candidates for surgical coronary revascularization is of clinical relevance, and after intervention the patency of the supra‐aortic trunks should be regularly evaluated in the clinical follow‐up. We describe three cases of coronary artery disease treated with surgical revascularization using the internal mammary artery and concomitant atherosclerotic disease of the subclavian artery. The clinical presentation, the diagnostic procedures, and the therapeutic approach by means of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the subclavian artery are described and discussed.
The Use of Brachytherapy to Treat Renal Artery In‐Stent Restenosis
Authors: ELLIS KEITH , MURTAGH BLAITHNEAD , LOGHIN CATALIN , MUENCH ANDREAS , BOCCALANDRO FERNANDO , GO BRIAN , AHMAD MUHAMMAD , BURJONROPPA SUKESH , ROSALES OSCAR , SMALLING RICHARD W.
Published: March 2005

The percutaneous treatment of renal artery stenosis has become the accepted revascularization strategy by most physicians treating this disorder. Unfortunately, as renal artery angioplasty and stent implantation become increasingly prevalent the Achilles heel of angioplasty, in‐stent restenosis, also rises. There are currently no data suggestive of the optimal treatment strategy for renal artery in‐stent resenosis. However, given the similarities in the pathophysiology between renal artery and coronary artery in‐stent restenosis, brachytherapy is considered a reasonable option. This is the strategy that has been suggested and used by a number of operators. This case report describes two examples of renal artery in‐stent restenosis treated with angioplasty and brachytherapy.
Early Initiation of Statin Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: RONDINA MATTHEW T. , MUHLESTEIN JOSEPH B.
Published: March 2005

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), such as myocardial infarction and unstable angina, are leading causes of death in developed countries. The risk of recurrent adverse events, rehospitalization, and death remain high in the weeks to months following ACS. Large secondary prevention trials have shown that the initiation of statin therapy within 3–6 months after hospitalization for ACS decreases the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and death. Although the precise mechanisms behind these clinical benefits are unknown, data from human and animal studies have implicated statins in inflammatory response modulation, plaque stability, thrombus formation, and endothelial function. Several observational studies have demonstrated cardiovascular mortality and morbidity benefits in patients with ACS who were placed on statins within hours to days of their event. Three recent prospective controlled trials confirmed these benefits and demonstrated that moderate doses of statins are safe when used in patients with ACS. We recommend the initiation of statin therapy in all ACS patients prior to hospital discharge.
Electrical Conductivity and Thermoelectric Power of Uranium Dioxide
Authors: Ruello P. , Petot‐Ervas G. , Petot C. , Desgranges L.
Published: March 2005

The electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power of an uranium dioxide single crystal were measured between 908 and 1697 K and for PO2 included between 10−24 atm and the boundary UO2+x/U4O9. For T<1273 K and near stoichiometry, the electrical conductivity versus PO2 shows a plateau characteristic of an extrinsic regime. For T≥1273 K, the conductivity exhibits a minimum. The Seebeck coefficient Q̄UO2 also exhibits a behavior change when the temperature is increased. For T<1200 K, Q̄UO2 remains positive whatever the values of PO2. For T>1200 K, Q̄UO2 changes from negative to positive values when PO2 increases. This set of results shows that the stoichiometric oxide presents a p extrinsic to intrinsic transition near 1273 K. At T≤1273 K, the extrinsic conductivity values versus temperature confirm that the mobility of the holes occurs by a small polaron process, with an activation energy of 0.17 eV. At T>1273 K, the electrical conductivity minima are characteristic of a p→n transition. A band gap energy of 2.0 eV has been calculated from the temperature dependence of these conductivity minima values. Furthermore, this set of results has allowed us to determine the relative oxygen partial molar free energy of stoichiometric UO2.
Structural and Optical Properties of Sol–Gel‐Derived Au/BaTiO3 Nanocomposite Thin Films
Authors: Wang Changhai , Hu Jiangfeng , Chow Gan‐Moog , Hsu Pei‐Cheng , Hwu Yeu‐Kuang
Published: March 2005

Au/BaTiO3 nanocomposite thin films with different Au concentrations were prepared by a sol–gel process. The films were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, thermal analyses, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of Au concentration and annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of composite films were investigated. Gold doping lowered the crystallization temperature of as‐synthesized amorphous BaTiO3 and enhanced its crystallinity in post‐deposition annealing. The Au–BaTiO3 interface was also investigated and no alloying occurred between Au and BaTiO3. The evolution of Au surface plasmon resonance spectra with increasing annealing temperature was observed in the 10 mol% Au/BaTiO3 thin films. The variations of band‐gap energy for Au/BaTiO3 films were also discussed.
The Effect of Ionic Surfactant Adsorption on the Rheology of Ceramic Glaze Suspensions
Authors: Panya Preecha , Wanless Erica J. , Arquero Orn‐anong , Franks George V.
Published: March 2005

The rheological behavior of ceramic glaze suspensions containing limestone, quartz, feldspar, and kaolin, has been improved by the addition of either a cationic (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) or an anionic (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, SDBS) surfactant. Additional stability and lower viscosity can result from either electrical double layer repulsion or steric repulsion depending on the surfactant type, concentration, ionic strength, and pH. Underdosing may result in high viscosity due to charge neutrality and hydrophobic attraction between particles while overdosing may result in high viscosity possibly due to micelles in the solution. The situation is particularly complicated for glazes containing limestone and anionic surfactant at moderate to low pH where calcium carbonate is soluble. The anionic surfactant and calcium ions can form complexes that are poorly soluble and strongly adsorb to the surface of the particles. The resulting thick steric layer of complexes produces a significant repulsion and stable, low viscosity suspensions. ζ potential measurements and adsorption isotherms are used to interpret the rheological behavior.