bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Missing links: Product classification theory and the social characteristics of goods
Authors: Mason Roger
Published: September 2005

One of the most enduring concepts in the history of marketing thought relates to the classification of consumer goods. The product classification theory first proposed by Melvyn T. Copeland in 1923 has, with little modification, survived to the present day, and continues to be endorsed by both the American Marketing Association and the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing some 80 years after it was first published. In truth, Copeland’s classification is now outdated and bears little, if any, relevance to modern product advertising, retailing and consumption. In particular, it can not accommodate the fact that, in modern societies, consumer preoccupations with style, personal identity and status have meant that the social characteristics of goods, heavily promoted by brand managers who understand their markets, are key determinants of consumer choice and buyer behaviour. This article explores the reasons why product classification theory has been unresponsive to changes in market conditions over so many years and argues that its failure to embrace the many social influences on consumption and on consumer behaviour is now its most serious weakness.
Jesus as Power Tactician
Authors: Capps Donald
Published: September 2005

Psychological studies of Jesus have been neglected, but they may, in fact, make a contribution to historical Jesus studies. Jay Haley's 1969 essay, ‘The Power Tactics of Jesus Christ’, is suggestive in this regard. Haley emphasizes Jesus’ appeal to the poor through healings, his rhetorical skills against the establishment, and his creation of an organization of dedicated men. His views that Jesus’ organization was hierarchically ordered and that Jesus made a fateful miscalculation leading to his execution are evaluated and reinterpreted in light of more recent scholarship.
‘How I Stoppedworrying about Mel Gibson and Learned to Love the Quest for the Historical Jesus’: A Review of Mel Gibson’S the Passion of the Christ
Authors: Segal Alan
Published: September 2005

The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson has proven to be a mass-cultural phenomenon. This article compares it with the recent film The Gospel of Johnand then evaluates the film under three rubrics: (1) artistic and religious merit, (2) historical accuracy, and (3) anti-Semitism. The relationship between these two films and the problem of the historical Jesus is investigated.
A Matter of Horizons, The Passion through the Looking Glass: A Response to Alan F. Segal’S Review
Authors: Watts Rikk
Published: September 2005

While historical accuracy, the levels of violence and potential anti-Semitism are valid concerns of Alan Segal, The Passion needs also to seen as a testimony to one man’s Christian faith that is explicitly designed to engender a visceral response, and which unashamedly and openly engages in iconic artistry, symbol and interpretation.
The Gospel Community Debate: State of the Question
Authors: Klink Edward W.
Published: September 2005

For the last few decades the growing assumption has been that a community exists behind each of the four canonical Gospels. Elaborate reconstructions and reading techniques have been employed to draw out the characteristics of these communities, with the assumption that if we can see ‘behind the text’, we could better interpret the text itself. Recently the scholarly reconstruction of the communities behind the Gospels has been challenged by The Gospels for All Christians: Rethinking the Gospel Audiences, edited by Richard Bauckham. Since the publication of The Gospels for All Christians, several discussions have begun concerning the nature of the Gospel communities, as well as the overall methods for reading the Gospels. This article attempts to place the Gospel community debate in the current discussion and direct it toward future resolve.
The Book of Joshua—Part 1: Texts and Versions
Authors: Greenspoon Leonard
Published: September 2005

Over the past few decades there has been increased interest in, and research on, the text of the book of Joshua in the Masoretic tradition, the Septuagint, and other ancient versions, as well as the fragmentary remains from the Dead Sea Scrolls. This article provides a discussion of the ancient evidence and an analysis of the major modern theories. English translations of the various textual traditions are compared and discussed. Although the differences are not as extensive as in Jeremiah, and the Qumran material is relatively scant, contemporary scholars have devised a number of intriguing theories to explain the differences and to highlight their significance within the literary, textual, and theological development of this important biblical book. This article is the first half of a two-part treatment discussing recent scholarship on the book of Joshua.
Configuring Security and Justice
Authors: Brodeur Jean-Paul , Shearing Clifford
Published: September 2005

Surveys of public opinion conducted at different times in Canada and in the UK show that many more respondents believe in the criminal courts than in the police for controlling crime. The implications of this perceived gap in the crime control efficiency of punishing and of policing are examined through an analysis of the notions of penal justice and of security, considered as providing the theoretical underpinnings of two paradigms of crime control. These two concepts are discussed in terms of meaning, kinships, differences and the conflicts that their application may generate at the level of practice. It is concluded through the presentation of field experiments in the development of a new model of policing that justice and security may be complementary but their integration cannot be so complete as to abolish their difference.
GeneSeer: A sage for gene names and genomic resources
Authors: Olson Andrew J , Tully Tim , Sachidanandam Ravi
Published: September 2005

Background

Independent identification of genes in different organisms and assays has led to a multitude of names for each gene. This balkanization makes it difficult to use gene names to locate genomic resources, homologs in other species and relevant publications.

Methods

We solve the naming problem by collecting data from a variety of sources and building a name-translation database. We have also built a table of homologs across several model organisms:H. sapiens,M. musculus,R. norvegicus,D. melanogaster,C. elegans,S. cerevisiae,S. pombeandA. thaliana. This allows GeneSeer to draw phylogenetic trees and identify the closest homologs. This, in turn, allows the use of names from one species to identify homologous genes in another species. A websitehttp://geneseer.cshl.org/is connected to the database to allow user-friendly access to our tools and external genomic resources using familiar gene names.

Conclusion

GeneSeer allows access to gene information through common names and can map sequences to names. GeneSeer also allows identification of homologs and paralogs for a given gene. A variety of genomic data such as sequences, SNPs, splice variants, expression patterns and others can be accessed through the GeneSeer interface. It is freely available over the webhttp://geneseer.cshl.org/and can be incorporated in other tools through an http-based software interface described on the website. It is currently used as the search engine in the RNAi codex resource, which is a portal for short hairpin RNA (shRNA) gene-silencing constructs.
Cocaine-induced renal infarction: report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Bemanian Shahrooz , Motallebi Mazda , Nosrati Saeid M
Published: September 2005

Background

Cocaine abuse has been known to have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Its toxicity has been associated with myocardial ischemia, cerebrovascular accidents and mesenteric ischemia. The pathophysiology of cocaine-related renal injury is multifactorial and involves renal hemodynamic changes, alterations in glomerular matrix synthesis, degradation and oxidative stress, and possibly induction of renal atherogenesis. Renal infarction as a result of cocaine exposure, however, is rarely reported in the literature.

Case presentation

A 48 year-old male presented with a four-day history of severe right flank pain following cocaine use. On presentation, he was tachycardic, febrile and had severe right costovertebral angle tenderness. He had significant proteinuria, leukocytosis and elevated serum creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase. Radiographic imaging studies as well as other screening tests for thromboembolic events, hypercoagulability states, collagen vascular diseases and lipid disorders were suggestive of Cocaine-Induced Renal Infarction (CIRI) by exclusion.

Conclusion

In a patient with a history of cocaine abuse presenting with fevers and flank pain suggestive of urinary tract infection or nephrolithiasis, cocaine-induced renal infarction must be considered in the differential diagnosis. In this article, we discuss the prior reported cases of CIRI and thoroughly review the literature available on this disorder. This is important for several reasons. First, it will allow us to discuss and elaborate on the mechanism of renal injury caused by cocaine. In addition, this review will demonstrate the importance of considering the diagnosis of CIRI in a patient with documented cocaine use and an atypical presentation of acute renal injury. Finally, we will emphasize the need for a consensus on optimal treatment of this disease, for which therapy is not yet standardized.
A method to estimate cell cycle time and growth fraction using bromodeoxyuridine-flow cytometry data from a single sample
Authors: Eidukevicius Rimantas , Characiejus Dainius , Janavicius Ramunas , Kazlauskaite Nijole , Pasukoniene Vita , Mauricas Mykolas , Otter Willem Den
Published: September 2005

Background

Presently available flow cytometric methods of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labelling do not provide information on the cell cycle time (TC) and the growth fraction (GF). In this paper, we describe a novel and simple method to estimate TC and GF from flow cytometric analysis of a single tumour sample after BrdUrd labelling.

Methods

The proposed method is based on two assumptions: (1) the number of labelled cells traversing the cell cycle per unit time is constant and (2) the total number of labelled cells is constant throughout the cycle, provided that cells produced after division are excluded. The total numbers of labelled divided G1 cells, labelled divided S cells, labelled undivided S cells, and labelled undivided G2 cells were obtained for DNA histograms of BrdUrd-positive cells in a collected sample. These cell numbers were used to write equations to determine the durations of cell cycle phases, TC and GF. To illustrate the application of the proposed formulae, cell cycle kinetic parameters were analysed in solid SL2 tumours growing in DBA/2 mice and in human T-leukaemia Jurkat cells in culture.

Results

The suitability of the proposed method for estimating durations of the cell cycle phases, TC and GF was demonstrated. TC in SL2 tumours was found to be relatively constant at 4 and 10 days after tumour implantation (20.3 ± 1.1 h and 21.6 ± 0.9 h, respectively). GF in tumours at day 10 was lower than GF at day 4 (54.2 ± 7.7% vs. 79.2 ± 5.9%, p = 0.0003). Approximate values of TC and GF of cultured Jurkat cells were 23.9 h and 79.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed method is relatively simple and permits estimation of the cell cycle parameters, including TC and GF, from a single tumour sample after labelling with BrdUrd. We have shown that this method may be useful in preclinical studies, allowing estimation of changes in GF during growth of murine tumours. Experiments with human Jurkat cells suggest that the proposed method might also prove suitable for measurement of cell kinetics in human tumours. Development of suitable software enabling more objective interpretation of the DNA profile in this method would be desirable.
A population-based study of asthma, quality of life, and occupation among elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites: a cross-sectional investigation
Authors: Arif Ahmed A , Rohrer James E , Delclos George L
Published: September 2005

Background

The U.S. population is aging and is expected to double by the year 2030. The current study evaluated the prevalence of asthma and its correlates in the elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic white population.

Methods

Data from a sample of 3021 Hispanics and non-Hispanic White subjects, 65 years and older, interviewed as part of an ongoing cross-sectional study of the elderly in west Texas, were analyzed. The outcome variable was categorized into: no asthma (reference category), current asthma, and probable asthma. Polytomous logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the outcome variable and various socio-demographic measures, self-rated health, asthma symptoms, quality of life measures (SF-12), and various occupations.

Results

The estimated prevalence of current asthma and probable asthma were 6.3% (95%CI: 5.3–7.2) and 9.0% (95%CI: 7.8–10.1) respectively. The majority of subjects with current asthma (Mean SF-12 score 35.8, 95%CI: 34.2–37.4) or probable asthma (35.3, 34.0–36.6) had significantly worse physical health-related quality of life as compared to subjects without asthma (42.6, 42.1–43.1). In multiple logistic regression analyses, women had a 1.64 times greater odds of current asthma (95%CI: 1.12–2.38) as compared to men. Hay fever was a strong predictor of both current and probable asthma. The odds of current asthma were 1.78 times (95%CI: 1.24–2.55) greater among past smokers; whereas the odds of probable asthma were 2.73 times (95%CI: 1.77–4.21) greater among current smokers as compared to non-smokers. Similarly fair/poor self rated health and complaints of severe pain were independently associated with current and probable asthma. The odds of current and probable asthma were almost two fold greater for obesity. When stratified by gender, the odds were significantly greater among females (p-value for interaction term = 0.038). The odds of current asthma were significantly greater for farm-related occupations (adjusted OR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.00–4.39); whereas the odds were significantly lower among those who reported teaching as their longest held occupation (adjusted OR = 0.36, 95%CI = 0.18–0.74).

Conclusion

This study found that asthma is a common medical condition in the elderly and it significantly impacts quality of life and general health status. Results support adopting an integrated approach in identifying and controlling asthma in this population.
Safety of the methylene blue plus chloroquine combination in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young children of Burkina Faso [ISRCTN27290841]
Authors: Meissner Peter E , Mandi Germain , Witte Steffen , Coulibaly Boubacar , Mansmann Ulrich , Rengelshausen Jens , Schiek Wolfgang , Jahn Albrecht , Sanon Mamadou , Tapsoba Théophile , Walter-Sack Ingeborg , Mikus Gerd , Burhenne Jürgen , Riedel Klaus-Dieter , Schirmer Heiner , Kouyaté Bocar , Müller Olaf
Published: September 2005

Background

Safe, effective and affordable drug combinations against falciparum malaria are urgently needed for the poor populations in malaria endemic countries. Methylene blue (MB) combined with chloroquine (CQ) has been considered as one promising new regimen.

Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of CQ-MB in African children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Secondary objectives were to assess the efficacy and the acceptance of CQ-MB in a rural population of West Africa.

Methods

In this hospital-based randomized controlled trial, 226 children (6–59 months) with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were treated in Burkina Faso. The children were 4:1 randomized to CQ-MB (n = 181; 25 mg/kg CQ and 12 mg/kg MB over three days) or CQ (n = 45; 25 mg/kg over three days) respectively. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe haemolysis or other serious adverse events (SAEs). Efficacy outcomes were defined according to the WHO 2003 classification system. Patients were hospitalized for four days and followed up until day 14.

Results

No differences in the incidence of SAEs and other adverse events were observed between children treated with CQ-MB (including 24 cases of G6PD deficiency) compared to children treated with CQ. There was no case of severe haemolysis and also no significant difference in mean haemoglobin between study groups. Treatment failure rates were 53.7% (95% CI [37.4%; 69.3%]) in the CQ group compared to 44.0% (95% CI [36.3%; 51.9%]) in the CQ-MB group.

Conclusion

MB is safe for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria, even in G6PD deficient African children. However, the efficacy of the CQ-MB combination has not been sufficient at the MB dose used in this study. Future studies need to assess the efficacy of MB at higher doses and in combination with appropriate partner drugs.
Harm reduction-the cannabis paradox
Authors: Melamede Robert
Published: September 2005

This article examines harm reduction from a novel perspective. Its central thesis is that harm reduction is not only a social concept, but also a biological one. More specifically, evolution does not make moral distinctions in the selection process, but utilizes a cannabis-based approach to harm reduction in order to promote survival of the fittest. Evidence will be provided from peer-reviewed scientific literature that supports the hypothesis that humans, and all animals, make and use internally produced cannabis-like products (endocannabinoids) as part of the evolutionary harm reduction program. More specifically, endocannabinoids homeostatically regulate all body systems (cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, excretory, immune, nervous, musculo-skeletal, reproductive). Therefore, the health of each individual is dependant on this system working appropriately.
Neonatal Local Noxious Insult Affects Gene Expression in the Spinal Dorsal Horn of Adult Rats
Authors: Ren Ke , Novikova Svetlana I , He Fang , Dubner Ronald , Lidow Michael S
Published: September 2005

Neonatal noxious insult produces a long-term effect on pain processing in adults. Rats subjected to carrageenan (CAR) injection in one hindpaw within the sensitive period develop bilateral hypoalgesia as adults. In the same rats, inflammation of the hindpaw, which was the site of the neonatal injury, induces a localized enhanced hyperalgesia limited to this paw. To gain an insight into the long-term molecular changes involved in the above-described long-term nociceptive effects of neonatal noxious insult at the spinal level, we performed DNA microarray analysis (using microarrays containing oligo-probes for 205 genes encoding receptors and transporters for glutamate, GABA, and amine neurotransmitters, precursors and receptors for neuropeptides, and neurotrophins, cytokines and their receptors) to compare gene expression profiles in the lumbar spinal dorsal horn (LDH) of adult (P60) male rats that received neonatal CAR treatment within (at postnatal day 3; P3) and outside (at postnatal 12; P12) of the sensitive period. The data were obtained both without inflammation (at baseline) and during complete Freund's adjuvant induced inflammation of the neonatally injured paw. The observed changes were verified by real-time RT-PCR. This study revealed significant basal and inflammation-associated aberrations in the expression of multiple genes in the LDH of adult animals receiving CAR injection at P3 as compared to their expression levels in the LDH of animals receiving either no injections or CAR injection at P12. In particular, at baseline, twelve genes (representing GABA, serotonin, adenosine, neuropeptide Y, cholecystokinin, opioid, tachykinin and interleukin systems) were up-regulated in the bilateral LDH of the former animals. The baseline condition in these animals was also characterized by up-regulation of seven genes (encoding members of GABA, cholecystokinin, histamine, serotonin, and neurotensin systems) in the LDH ipsilateral to the neonatally-injured paw. The largest aberration in gene expression, however, was observed during inflammation of the neonatally injured hindpaws in the ipsilateral LDH, which included thirty-six genes (encoding numerous members of glutamate, serotonin, GABA, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neurotrophin, and interleukin systems). These findings suggest that changes in gene expression may be involved in the long-term nociceptive effects of neonatal noxious insult at the spinal level.
Lack of evidence for qualitative treatment by disease severity interactions in clinical studies of severe sepsis
Authors: Macias William L , Nelson David R , Williams Mark , Garg Rekha , Janes Jonathan , Sashegyi Andreas
Published: September 2005

Introduction

The design of clinical trials of interventions aimed at reducing mortality in patients with severe sepsis assumes that the relative treatment effect of the intervention is independent of the patients' risk for death. We reviewed published data from phase III clinical studies of severe sepsis to determine whether a relationship exists between risk for death and the relative benefit of the investigational agent. Such an interaction might warrant a change in the assumptions that underlie current trial designs.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of published phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock up to November 2004. All studies enrolled patients with known or suspected infection, evidence of a systemic response to the infection, and one or more organ dysfunctions resulting from the systemic response.

Results

Twenty-two publications, investigating 17 molecular entities, fulfilled criteria for phase III or equivalent studies aimed at reducing mortality in adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Three studies achieved the prospectively defined primary end-point of a statistically significant reduction in 28-day all-cause mortality. The control group mortality rates for these studies were 31%, 43% and 61%, indicating that the beneficial effects of adjunct therapies could be demonstrated over a wide range of illness severity. Analysis of subgroup data from failed studies provided no evidence that the efficacy of the therapeutics being investigated varied by baseline placebo mortality rates. Among all studies, interventions with anticoagulant activity or anti-inflammatory activity did not appear to be harmful in patients with evidence of less coagulopathy or less inflammation.

Conclusion

Our review of published clinical data does not support the hypothesis that mortality risk of the population studied alters the relative treatment effect associated with anti-inflammatory or other agents used to treat severe sepsis. Clinical studies in severe sepsis should continue to enroll patients over a wide range of disease severity, as long as patients enrolled have evidence of sepsis-induced organ dysfunction(s), patients are at an appreciable risk for death (e.g. as evidenced by admission to an intensive care unit), and the potential for benefit outweighs the potential for harm.
Pressure transient control: Part II—simulation and design of a positive surge protection device for building drainage networks
Authors: Swaffield JA , Campbell DP , Gormley M
Published: September 2005

Air pressure transient propagation within building drainage and vent systems may feature either, or both, positive and negative pressure changes in response to decelerating or accelerating flow conditions. Local venting, or the use of inwards relief air admittance valves, has traditionally suppressed negative transients. Positive transients have only been dealt with by the use of open roof terminations. This paper introduces an approach to positive air pressure transient suppression based upon the use of a flexible, variable volume containment vessel capable of reducing the rate of change of the entrained air following a system surcharge. The experimental programme to provide proof of concept, together with the simulation of the device utilizing the method of characteristics solution of the St Venant equations is detailed. Recommendations as to the suitability of bag materials and installation choices are presented, along with comparisons of surge relief efficiency.

Practical application: The control of air pressure transients in building drainage systems has been limited due to the need to attenuate positive pressure propagation via an open termination at roof level - a poor solution as the transient will have affected all system trap seals before reaching the relief vent. The Positive Air Pressure Attenuator - an expandable bag that controls the rate of change of entrained airflow within the system - reduces the possibility of trap-seal loss due to positive transient propagation. Potentially this is a major contribution to vent system design that could revolutionize 150 years of design methodology.
Comparison of the performance of a whole house low energy ventilation system in contrasting European climatic regions
Authors: McEvoy ME , Southall R
Published: September 2005

An experimental ‘whole house low energy ventilation system’ has been installed and tested in dwellings in Denmark and Poland. Both sites have adjacent houses of identical plan layout, which have been used as a control for the experimental dwellings. A weather station was installed adjacent to each site, and each of the dwellings, test and control, has been extensively monitored to measure indoor airflow and comfort conditions, and the amount of energy being supplied for heating in winter. The design of the systems was established by computer fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis and by a dynamic simulation using ESP-r. The low U-values that can be achieved by ‘air supply’ windows, suggested by previous tests and simulations, have been confirmed by the monitored results. Similarly the levels of preheat to ventilation air achieved by the windows have reached the percentages expected from the simulation models.

Practical application: This study is part of an ongoing investigation into the use of an innovative technology for whole house ventilation. Since this is the direction of the forthcoming revision to the UK Building Regulations it has obvious implications for practice.
Protective effect of melatonin on paraquat-induced cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: García-Rubio Lourdes , Matas Pura , Míguez María-Prado
Published: September 2005

Paraquat (PQ) is a known herbicide that causes acute cell injury by undergoing redox cycling. In previous reports, it has been reported that melatonin reduces PQ-induced hepatic toxicity in vivo, but, at the moment, there is no evidence that this effect occurs in this organ in vitro. In the present study we examined the effect of melatonin on PQ-induced oxidative damage in the liver using a hepatocyte suspension as a biological model. Preincubation of hepatocytes with melatonin (0.5, 1 or 2 mM), 30 min prior to PQ (10 mM) addition, prevented in a dose-and time-dependent manner the loss of viability, the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, depletion of intra-cellular glutathione and malondialdehyde accumulation induced by the herbicide. Melatonin at the highest dose assayed (2 mM) completely prevented cell damage caused by PQ. These effects of melatonin are similar to those described in studies carried out in vivo. These results confirm that melatonin confers protection against PQ-induced hepatic oxidative stress and show that freshly isolated hepatocyte suspension is an adequate in vitro system for evaluating the cytoprotective effects of melatonin on oxidative injury caused by xenobiotics.
Reproductive stimulation by low doses of xenoestrogens contrasts with the view of hormesis as an adaptive response
Authors: Weltje Lennart , vom Saal Frederick S , Oehlmann Jörg
Published: September 2005

We discuss the similarities and differences of two types of effects that occur at low but not high doses of chemicals: hormesis and stimulation by oestrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals or xenoestrogens. While hormesis is a general phenomenon evoked by many compounds, oestrogenic stimulation occurs for specific chemicals that disrupt actions of endogenous oestrogen. Both types of phenomena can induce an inverted-U dose-response curve, from low-dose stimulation of response, and thus challenge current methods of risk assessment. Hormesis is generally thought to be caused by an over-reaction of detoxification mechanisms, which is considered an adaptive response that should protect an organism from subsequent stress. One view of the hormetic low-dose stimulatory response, i.e., increased performance, is that it is beneficial. In contrast, we propose that for manmade xenoestrogens this is never the case. This is demonstrated with examples for low doses of the oestrogenic environmental chemicals bisphenol A and octylphenol, and the oestrogenic drug-response curves is underestimated by the current threshold model used in risk assessment, and this is likely to apply to other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Estrogens, autoimmunity and the heart
Authors: Cutolo M , Sulli A , Seriolo B
Published: September 2005

Systemic inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases are associated with a significantly increased rate of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Several mechanisms of accelerated atherosclerosis have been proposed, including abnormal lipid and lipoprotein profiles, oxidative stress, enhanced apoptosis, thrombophilia, immune complexes and increased mononuclear cell infiltration of atherosclerotic lesions, local generation of cytokines and female estrogen deficiency. However, the widely shared enthusiasm about the cardioprotective potential of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogens, has come to an abrupt halt since very recent randomized trials failed to show a cardiovascular risk reduction in postmenopausal women. Several factors might play a role in these discrepancies, in particular, parts of the striking discrepancy between observational and randomized data have been attributed to an estrogen-mediated adverse effect on inflammation (enhancement, possibly dose-related). In fact, estrogens potentially increase the inflammatory/immune response in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. New roles for estrogen peripheral metabolites (hydroxylated) and their increased formation in inflammatory sites, might partially introduce some explanations for several apparently contrasting evidences.
Cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Doria A , Iaccarino L , Sarzi-Puttini P , Atzeni F , Turriel M , Petri M
Published: September 2005

Pericarditis is the most common cardiac abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but lesions of the valves, myocardium and coronary vessels may all occur. In the past, cardiac manifestations were severe and life threatening, often leading to death. Therefore, they were frequently found in post-mortem examinations. Nowadays cardiac manifestations are often mild and asymptomatic. However, they can be frequently recognized by echocardiography and other noninvasive tests. Echocardiography is a sensitive and specific technique in detecting cardiac abnormalities, particularly mild pericarditis, valvular lesions and myocardial dysfunction. Therefore, echocardiography should be performed periodically in SLE patients. Vascular occlusion, including coronary arteries, may develop due to vasculitis, premature atherosclerosis or antiphospholipid antibodies associated with SLE. Premature atherosclerosis is the most frequent cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) in SLE patients. Efforts should be made to control traditional risk factors as well as all other factors which could contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development.
CRP is or is not a reliable marker of ischaemic heart disease?
Authors: Biasucci L M , Giubilato G , Graziani F , Piro M
Published: September 2005

In recent years a growing body of evidence has emphasized the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of future cardiovascular events. CRP is a pentameric molecule widely utilized as a marker of infections and inflammation. The evidence that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and in plaque destabilization has lead to use of CRP as a marker of cardiovascular disease as well. First described as a component of the inflammatory pathway in acute coronary syndromes, CRP has been consistently found to be associated with the risk of future events in no-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes, independently of other risk factors, including troponine. Subsequently CRP has been described as a powerful marker of risk of future events in large populations of apparently healthy subjects. So far there is very little doubt that CRP represents a reliable marker of cardiovascular events, but some issues remain unanswered such as why CRP is a good marker of cardiovascular events and whether or not a better inflammatory marker exists. It must be stressed that CRP, because of its analytical and biological properties and the large amount of available data, is the only inflammatory marker accepted for clinical use.
Cardiovascular effects of coxibs
Authors: Caporali R , Montecucco C
Published: September 2005

A new class of drugs, the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, or coxibs, have recently been marketed as an alternative to conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the basis of a lower risk of gastrointestinal side effects. The recent withdrawal of rofecoxib, along with safety concerns about other COX-2 selective inhibitors raises important questions about the cardiovascular toxicity of these drugs. Recently some concerns arose even for a possible cardiotoxicity of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. From data available so far, it seems that coxibs still remain a rational choice for patients with low cardiovascular risk and high gastrointestinal risk. Long-term studies with a cardiovascular endpoint involving both selective and nonselective anti-inflammatory drugs are warranted.
Three Rs of Interpersonal Consumer Guilt: Relationship, Reciprocity, Reparation
Authors: Dahl Darren W. , Honea Heather , Manchanda Rajesh V.
Published: September 2005

This article explores the role of consumer guilt in a retail context. The results of a field study indicate that a consumer's lack of purchase can lead to a guilt response when social connectedness with a salesperson exists and the consumer perceives he or she has control over the purchase decision. A subsequent laboratory study established that when consumers experience guilt, they intend to pursue reparative actions during future purchase interactions with the salesperson to reciprocate the initial connection they established. This reparation is directed specifically toward the salesperson and not the firm.
The Role of Anticipated Emotions in the Endowment Effect
Authors: Zhang Ying , Fishbach Ayelet
Published: September 2005

This research explored the role of anticipated negative feelings in the observed disparity between buying and selling prices for the same endowed object. We assumed that anticipated negative reactions to losses deter people from trading an endowed object and therefore psychological variables that attenuate the emotional response to negative events should further reduce the price disparity between buyers and sellers. In 3 studies, we tested whether factors that either decrease concern about negative feelings (e.g., positive mood, framing of the transaction as involving no action) or increase the anticipated negative reaction to failure to act (e.g., priming errors of omission) further eliminate the disparity between buying and selling prices. These studies provide a novel conceptualization of the endowment bias and, more generally, illustrate the role of anticipated negative feelings in decision making.
The One‐to‐One Constraint in Analogical Mapping and Inference
Authors: Krawczyk Daniel C. , Holyoak Keith J. , Hummel John E.
Published: September 2005

Theories of analogical reasoning have assumed that a 1‐to‐1 constraint discourages reasoners from mapping a single element in 1 analog to multiple elements in another. Empirical evidence suggests that reasoners sometimes appear to violate the one‐to‐one constraint when asked to generate mappings, yet virtually never violate it when asked to generate analogical inferences. However, few studies have examined analogical inferences based on nonisomorphic analogs, and their conclusions are suspect due to methodological problems. We sought to elicit mixed inferences that could result from combining information from 2 possible mappings. Participants generated 2‐to‐1 correspondences when asked for explicit mappings, but did not produce mixed inferences. Multiple correspondences appear to arise from multiple isomorphic mappings, rather than from a single homomorphic mapping.
Comparing Multiple Paths to Mastery: What is Learned?
Authors: Nokes Timothy J. , Ohlsson Stellan
Published: September 2005

Contemporary theories of learning postulate one or at most a small number of different learning mechanisms. However, people are capable of mastering a given task through qualitatively different learning paths such as learning by instruction and learning by doing. We hypothesize that the knowledge acquired through such alternative paths differs with respect to the level of abstraction and the balance between declarative and procedural knowledge. In a laboratory experiment we investigated what was learned about patterned letter sequences via either direct instruction in the relevant patterns or practice in solving letter‐sequence extrapolation problems. Results showed that both types of learning led to mastery of the target task as measured by accuracy performance. However, behavioral differences emerged in how participants applied their knowledge. Participants given instruction showed more variability in the types of strategies they used to articulate their knowledge as well as longer solution times for generating the action implications of that knowledge as compared to the participants given practice. Results are discussed regarding the implications for transfer, generalization, and procedural application. Learning theories that claim generality should be tested against cross‐scenario phenomena, not just parametric variations of a single learning scenario.
On the expected time to ruin and the expected dividends when dividends are paid while the surplus is above a constant barrier
Authors: Frostig Esther
Published: September 2005

We study the expected time to ruin in a risk process in which dividends are paid when the surplus is above the barrier. We consider the case in which the dividend rate is smaller than the premium rate. We obtain results for the classical compound Poisson risk process with phase-type claim size. When the ruin probability is 1, we derive the expected time to ruin and the expected dividends paid. When the ruin probability is less than 1, these quantities are derived conditioning on the event that ruin occurs.
The finite-time ruin probability of the compound Poisson model with constant interest force
Authors: Tang Qihe
Published: September 2005

In this paper, we establish a simple asymptotic formula for the finite-time ruin probability of the compound Poisson model with constant interest force and subexponential claims in the case that the initial surplus is large. The formula is consistent with known results for the ultimate ruin probability and, in particular, is uniform for all time horizons when the claim size distribution is regularly varying tailed.
Berry-Esseen bounds for combinatorial central limit theorems and pattern occurrences, using zero and size biasing
Authors: Goldstein Larry
Published: September 2005

Berry-Esseen-type bounds to the normal, based on zero- and size-bias couplings, are derived using Stein's method. The zero biasing bounds are illustrated in an application to combinatorial central limit theorems in which the random permutation has either the uniform distribution or one that is constant over permutations with the same cycle type, with no fixed points. The size biasing bounds are applied to the occurrences of fixed, relatively ordered subsequences (such as rising sequences) in a random permutation, and to the occurrences of patterns, extreme values, and subgraphs in finite graphs.
Subgeometric rates of convergence for a class of continuous-time Markov process
Authors: Hou Zhenting , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhang Hanjun
Published: September 2005

Let (Φt)t∈ℝ+ be a Harris ergodic continuous-time Markov process on a general state space, with invariant probability measure π. We investigate the rates of convergence of the transition function Pt(x, ·) to π; specifically, we find conditions under which r(t)||Pt(x, ·) − π|| → 0 as t → ∞, for suitable subgeometric rate functions r(t), where ||·|| denotes the usual total variation norm for a signed measure. We derive sufficient conditions for the convergence to hold, in terms of the existence of suitable points on which the first hitting time moments are bounded. In particular, for stochastically ordered Markov processes, explicit bounds on subgeometric rates of convergence are obtained. These results are illustrated in several examples.
Tax problems in the undiscounted case
Authors: Whittle P.
Published: September 2005

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the optimal policy (the Gittins index policy) for open tax problems of the type considered by Klimov in the undiscounted limit. In this limit, the state-dependent part of the cost is linear in the state occupation numbers for the multi-armed bandit, but is quadratic for the tax problem. The discussion of the passage to the limit for the tax problem is believed to be largely new; the principal novelty is our evaluation of the matrix of the quadratic form. These results are confirmed by a dynamic programming analysis, which also suggests how the optimal policy should be modified when resources can be freely deployed only within workstations, rather than system-wide.
A sufficient condition for the existence of an invariant probability measure for Markov processes
Authors: Costa O. L. V. , Dufour F.
Published: September 2005

In this paper, it is shown that the Foster-Lyapunov criterion is sufficient to ensure the existence of an invariant probability measure for both discrete- and continuous-time Markov processes without any additional hypotheses (such as irreducibility).
Jackson networks with unlimited supply of work
Authors: Weiss Gideon
Published: September 2005

We consider a Jackson network in which some of the nodes have an infinite supply of work: when all the customers queued at such a node have departed, the node will process a customer from this supply. Such nodes will be processing jobs all the time, so they will be fully utilized and experience a traffic intensity of 1. We calculate flow rates for such networks, obtain conditions for stability, and investigate the stationary distributions. Standard nodes in this network continue to have product-form distributions, while nodes with an infinite supply of work have geometric marginal distributions and Poisson inflows and outflows, but their joint distribution is not of product form.
The effect of service time variability on maximum queue lengths in MX/G/1 queues
Authors: Koole Ger , Nuyens Misja , Righter Rhonda
Published: September 2005

We study the impact of service time distributions on the distribution of the maximum queue length during a busy period for the MX/G/1 queue. The maximum queue length is an important random variable to understand when designing the buffer size for finite-buffer (M/G/1/n) systems. We show the somewhat surprising result that, for three variations of the preemptive last-come–first-served discipline, the maximum queue length during a busy period is smaller when service times are more variable (in the convex sense).
Syndecan regulates cell migration and axon guidance inC. elegans
Authors: Rhiner Christa , Gysi Stephan , Fröhli Erika , Hengartner Michael O. , Hajnal Alex
Published: September 2005

During nervous system development, axons that grow out simultaneously in the same extracellular environment are often sorted to different target destinations. As there is only a restricted set of guidance cues known,regulatory mechanisms are likely to play a crucial role in controlling cell migration and axonal pathfinding. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) carry long chains of differentially modified sugar residues that have been proposed to encode specific information for nervous system development. Here, we show that the cell surface proteoglycan syndecan SDN-1 functions autonomously in neurons to control the neural migration and guidance choices of outgrowing axons. Epistasis analysis suggests that heparan sulfate (HS) attached to SDN-1 can regulate guidance signaling by the Slit/Robo pathway. Furthermore, SDN-1 acts in parallel with other HSPG core proteins whose HS side chains are modified by the C5-epimerase HSE-5, and/or the 2O-sulfotransferase HST-2, depending on the cellular context. Taken together, our experiments show that distinct HS modification patterns on SDN-1 are involved in regulating axon guidance and cell migration in C. elegans.
The Trypanosoma brucei signal recognition particle lacks the Alu-domain-binding proteins: purification and functional analysis of its binding proteins by RNAi
Authors: Lustig Yaniv , Goldshmidt Hanoch , Uliel Shai , Michaeli Shulamit
Published: September 2005

Trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that have a major impact on human health and that of livestock. These parasites represent a very early branch in the eukaryotic linage, and possess unique RNA processing mechanisms. The trypanosome signal recognition particle (SRP) is also unusual in being the first signal recognition particle described in nature to be comprised of two RNA molecules, the 7SL RNA and a tRNA-like molecule. In this study, we further elucidated the unique properties of this particle. The genes encoding three SRP proteins (SRP19, SRP72 and SRP68) were identified by bioinformatics analysis. Silencing of these genes by RNAi suggests that the SRP-mediated protein translocation pathway is essential for growth. The depletion of SRP72 and SRP68 induced sudden death, most probably as a result of toxicity due to the accumulation of the pre-SRP in the nucleolus. Purification of the trypanosome particle to homogeneity, by TAP-tagging, identified four SRP proteins (SRP72, SRP68, SRP54 and SRP19), but no Alu-domain-binding protein homologs. This study highlights the unique features of the trypanosome SRP complex and further supports the hypothesis that the tRNA-like molecule present in this particle may replace the function of the Alu-domain-binding proteins present in many eukaryotic SRP complexes.
Chromosome architecture in the decondensing human sperm nucleus
Authors: Mudrak Olga , Tomilin Nikolai , Zalensky Andrei
Published: September 2005

Whereas recent studies demonstrated a well-defined nuclear architecture in human sperm nuclei, little is known about the mode of DNA compaction above the elementary structural unit of nucleoprotamine toroids. Here, using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) with arm-specific DNA probes of chromosomes 1, 2 and 5, we visualized arm domains and established hierarchical levels of sperm chromatin structures. The compact chromosome territories, which in sperm have a preferred intranuclear localization, have an extended conformation represented by a 2000 nm chromatin fiber. This fiber is composed of a 1000 nm chromatin thread bent at 180° near centromere. Two threads of 1000 nm, representing p-arm and q-arm chromatin, run in antiparallel fashion and join at the telomeres. Each 1000 nm thread, in turn, resolves into two rows of chromatin globules 500 nm in diameter interconnected with thinner chromatin strands. We propose a unified comprehensive model of chromosomal and nuclear architecture in human sperm that, as we suggest, is important for successful fertilization and early development.