bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Peptide Mass Fingerprinting-Based Protein Identification
Authors: Damodaran Senthilkumar , Wood Troy D. , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Rabin Richard A.
Published: February 2008

Identification of proteins by mass spectrometry (MS) is an essential step in proteomic studies and is typically accomplished by either peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) or amino acid sequencing of the peptide. Although sequence information from MS/MS analysis can be used to validate PMF-based protein identification, it may not be practical when analyzing a large number of proteins and when high-throughput MS/MS instrumentation is not readily available. At present, a vast majority of proteomic studies employ PMF. However, there are huge disparities in criteria used to identify proteins using PMF. Therefore, to reduce incorrect protein identification using PMF, and also to increase confidence in PMF-based protein identification without accompanying MS/MS analysis, definitive guiding principles are essential. To this end, we propose a value-based scoring system that provides guidance on evaluating when PMF-based protein identification can be deemed sufficient without accompanying amino acid sequence data from MS/MS analysis.
U7 snRNAs: A Computational Survey
Authors: Marz Manja , Mosig Axel , Stadler Bärbel M.R. , Stadler Peter F.
Published: February 2008

U7 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) sequences have been described only for a handful of animal species in the past. Here we describe a computational search for functional U7 snRNA genes throughout vertebrates including the upstream sequence elements characteristic for snRNAs transcribed by polymerase II. Based on the results of this search, we discuss the high variability of U7 snRNAs in both sequence and structure, and report on an attempt to find U7 snRNA sequences in basal deuterostomes and non-drosophilids insect genomes based on a combination of sequence, structure, and promoter features. Due to the extremely short sequence and the high variability in both sequence and structure, no unambiguous candidates were found. These results cast doubt on putative U7 homologs in even more distant organisms that are reported in the most recent release of the Rfam database.
Systemic Politics and the Origins of Great Power Conflict
Authors: BRAUMOELLER BEAR F.
Published: February 2008

Systemic theories of international politics rarely predict conflict short of cataclysmic systemic wars, and dyadic theories of conflict lack systemic perspective. This article attempts to bridge the gap by introducing a two-step theory of conflict among Great Powers. In the first stage, states engage in a dynamic, ongoing process of managing the international system, which inevitably produces tensions among them. In the second stage, relative levels of security-related activity determine how and when those tensions erupt into disputes. A test of the theory on Great Power conflicts from the nineteenth century supports the argument and, moreover, favors the deterrence model over the spiral model as a proximate explanation of conflict in the second stage.
Social Pressure and Voter Turnout: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment
Authors: GERBER ALAN S. , GREEN DONALD P. , LARIMER CHRISTOPHER W.
Published: February 2008

Voter turnout theories based on rational self-interested behavior generally fail to predict significant turnout unless they account for the utility that citizens receive from performing their civic duty. We distinguish between two aspects of this type of utility, intrinsic satisfaction from behaving in accordance with a norm and extrinsic incentives to comply, and test the effects of priming intrinsic motives and applying varying degrees of extrinsic pressure. A large-scale field experiment involving several hundred thousand registered voters used a series of mailings to gauge these effects. Substantially higher turnout was observed among those who received mailings promising to publicize their turnout to their household or their neighbors. These findings demonstrate the profound importance of social pressure as an inducement to political participation.
Gender, Property, and the “Autonomy Thesis” in Southeast Asia: The Endowment of Local Succession in Early Modern Vietnam
Authors: Tran Nhung Tuyet
Published: February 2008

The claim that Vietnamese inheritance patterns were bilateral and indicative of wider patterns of Southeast Asian women's autonomy or Vietnamese protonational uniqueness reflect major themes in the historiography on Vieệtnam. Past scholarship suggests that lawmakers of the Lê (1427–1783) and Mạc (1527–60) dynasties codified bilateral succession practices, attesting to the relative autonomy that Vietnamese women shared with their Southeast Asian counterparts. This essay challenges the claims of bilateralism and argues that Lê dynasty law, local custom, and legal practice preserved the principles of patrilineal succession. Though the language and adjudication of the law limited daughters' succession rights, ironically, these restrictions on their private rights enabled women to carve out spaces of authority in village economic and religious life. To avoid the transfer of their property to male relatives, some women instead transferred property to local institutions in order to lay claim over their personal property and to ensure the maintenance of their ancestral rites in perpetuity. In effect, rather than a system that elevated women's status, the property regime served as a site of contestation in which women could claim large economic and religious roles in local settings.
Case report of glomus jugulare tumour associated with a posterior fossa cyst
Authors: Keir J A , Wilbourn M , Anslow P , Milford C A
Published: February 2008

A subgroup of complex glomus jugulare tumours exists. This includes: multiple, giant or neuropeptide-secreting lesions; those associated with other lesions, such as dural arterio-venous malformation or an adrenal tumour; and tumours in which there has been previous treatment with adverse outcome. To our knowledge, we present the first case of a glomus jugulare tumour associated with a posterior fossa cyst. This entity should be included in the subgroup of complex glomus jugulare tumours.
Prevalence of pharyngeal and laryngeal complications in adult asthmatics using inhaled corticosteroids
Authors: Bhalla R K , Jones A S , Roland N J
Published: February 2008

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence in adults of pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms associated with the use of inhaled corticosteroids.

Design:

Prospective, observational and based on a structured, specifically designed postal questionnaire.

Setting:

University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK.

Participants:

The questionnaire was distributed to 190 patients on the basis of current inhaled corticosteroid use. Recruitment was from the databases of two local general practices. Individuals were classified as mild, moderate or severe asthmatics, using the guidelines of the British Thoracic Society.

Main outcome measures:

Demographic data, including smoking history, were recorded. The number, type, strength, dosing regime and duration of individual inhaler use were recorded. Specific pharyngeal and laryngeal side effects were enquired about. Co-morbidities and preventive measures were also recorded. Results were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistical tests.

Results:

There was a 75.8 per cent response rate (144/190 questionnaires); 63 (43.8 per cent) of respondents were male and 81 (56.2 per cent) were female. The majority of our patients were either mild or moderate asthmatics. Longer use of an inhaled corticosteroid predisposed to weak voice (p = 0.0016), hoarseness (p = 0.0001) and throat irritation (p = 0.008). Hoarseness, throat irritation, sore throat and cough were observed much more frequently than anticipated. Severe asthmatics were more likely to use a spacer device compliantly (p = 0.0487; odds ratio 1.53). Side effects were more prevalent as asthma severity worsened (p = 0.0049; odds ratio 1.87).

Conclusions:

Inhaled corticosteroids cause sore throats, throat irritation, hoarseness and cough. Further research in this area is required in order to elucidate the mechanism of inflammation. Only then can effective preventive measures be introduced and implemented.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone
Authors: Bibas A G , Ward V , Gleeson M J
Published: February 2008

Objective:

The aim of this study was to present the management and survival data of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone, and to discuss whether extensive surgery improves survival.

Patients and methods:

Retrospective, case-series review of 17 patients (18 cases) with temporal bone carcinoma (15 primary and three recurrent tumours), over a period of 20 years.

Setting:

Tertiary referral centre – university hospital.

Main outcome measures:

Disease-specific and overall five-year survival.

Results:

The mean age at presentation was 63 years, with a range of 39 to 75 years. Twelve cases ofde novotumour were managed by surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy in 10 cases, while three such patients were considered incurable from the outset and were given a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Of the three patients referred to our unit with recurrent disease, two were treated elsewhere with radical mastoidectomy and one with chemoradiation; all were subsequently managed by subtotal petrosectomy. The disease-specific and overall five-year survival for the entire cohort was 64.17 per cent (mean 89 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 62–117) and 47.06 per cent (mean 70 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 43–98), respectively. The disease-specific and overall survival for patients with advanced T3and T4tumours was 59 per cent (mean 83 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 53–113) and 40 per cent (mean 62; 95 per cent confidence interval, 33–91 months), respectively. All but one recurrence developed within 12 months of initiating treatment. No deaths occurred after 26 months of follow up.

Conclusions:

A lateral temporal bone resection is adequate treatment for T1and T2tumours. Post-operative radiotherapy should probably be offered for large T2tumours. For T3and T4tumours, a subtotal petrosectomy with parotidectomy followed by post-operative radiotherapy is adequate treatment, as it offers a similar outcome to that of more extensive procedures.
Blebs in inner and outer hair cells: a pathophysiological hypothesis
Authors: Ramírez-Camacho R , García-Berrocal J R , Trinidad A , Verdaguer J M , Nevado J
Published: February 2008

Introduction:

The ototoxic effects of cisplatin include loss of outer hair cells, degeneration of the stria vascularis and a decrease in the number of spiral ganglion cells. Scanning microscopy has shown balloon-like protrusions (blebs) of the plasma membrane of inner hair cells following cisplatin administration. The present study was undertaken to identify the possible role of inner and outer hair cell blebs in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Materials and methods:

Twenty-five guinea pigs were injected with cisplatin and their hearing tested at different time-points, before sacrifice and examination with scanning electron microscopy.

Results and analysis:

Seven animals showed blebs in the inner hair cells at different stages. Hearing thresholds were lower in animals showing blebs.

Discussion:

Cisplatin seems to be able to induce changes in inner hair cells as well as in other structures in the organ of Corti. Blebbing observed in animals following cisplatin administration could play a specific role in the regulation of intracellular pressure.
Endoscopic ‘cold steel’ versus laser dacryocystorhinostomy: completing the audit cycle
Authors: Lester S E , Robson A K , Bearn M
Published: February 2008

Introduction:

Dacryocystorhinostomy via an endonasal route has been adopted in our department. This audit study describes and compares our results for external, laser endonasal and ‘cold steel’ endonasal techniques. Success was defined as a subjective report of eye watering being ‘better’ or ‘cured’. Data were obtained from a retrospective review of the medical records of all patients undergoing primary dacryocystorhinostomy in our department.

‘Gold standard’:

External dacryocystorhinostomy performed by a consultant ophthalmologist was taken as our gold standard. In our study, the success rate for external dacryocystorhinostomy was 94 per cent.

First cycle – laser-assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy:

Our initial results for endonasal laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy produced a success rate of 64 per cent, which was significantly worse than that for external dacryocystorhinostomy. These results have been previously published.

Change in practice:

Evidence suggested that cold steel endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was more effective, and we adopted this as our technique of choice.

Second cycle – cold steel endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy:

Over a four-year period, 57 cases completed a full nine months' follow up. 93 per cent were completed as day cases and 39 per cent were performed under local anaesthetic. The success rate was 79 per cent (45/57). There was no difference in success rates when this procedure was compared with external dacryocystorhinostomy (p = 0.55). The type of anaesthetic used (i.e. local vs general) made no difference to the success rate (p = 0.93).

Change in practice:

Cold steel endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was as effective as the gold standard, i.e. external dacryocystorhinostomy. Laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy was significantly less successful than external dacryocystorhinostomy. Due to the benefits of decreased operating time, lower morbidity and success under local anaesthetic, we recommend cold steel endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy as our procedure of choice for the treatment of epiphora.
Congenital salivary fistula of accessory parotid gland: imaging findings
Authors: Gadodia A , Seith A , Sharma R , Thakar A
Published: February 2008

We report the imaging findings in a rare case of an accessory parotid gland fistula.

Material and methods:

An eight-year-old boy was presented with complaints of serous discharge from his left cheek since birth. As part of the radiological investigation, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography sialography with fistulography, and digital sialography with fistulography were performed.

Results:

Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the exact location of an accessory parotid gland but failed to demonstrate the accessory duct. The presence of an accessory gland was well delineated on computed tomography fistulography and computed tomography sialography. Fistulography revealed a small accessory parotid duct and gland. No communication between the ductal systems of both glands was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

In such cases, pre-operative imaging (with sialography, magnetic resonance sialography and computed tomography sialography with fistulography) is helpful for exact delineation of the ductal anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, only four previous cases of congenital accessory parotid gland fistula have been reported in the English literature.
Otoneurological findings in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients
Authors: Teggi R , Ceserani N , Luce F Lira , Lazzarin A , Bussi M
Published: February 2008

Objective:

To investigate vestibular function in human immunodeficiency virus positive subjects.

Methods:

We studied vestibular function in 60 human immunodeficiency virus positive subjects reporting dizziness. All three Center for Disease Control and Prevention categories of human immunodeficiency virus infection were represented in the study group (30 patients in class A, 20 in class B and 10 in class C). Subjects had had no previous history of acute vertigo. All subjects underwent: neurotological screening for spontaneous, positional and positioning nystagmus, using head-shaking and head-thrust (Halmagyi) tests; audiometrical examination; and electronystagmography with bithermal stimulation (Freyss' method). The results of the 30 class A subjects were compared with those of 30 human immunodeficiency virus negative patients reporting dizziness.

Results:

Abnormal otoneurological findings increased progressively from the A to C categories, particularly regarding increased central damage (3.3 per cent of class A, 35 per cent of class B and 100 per cent of class C subjects). In contrast, the incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders remained almost the same, comparing the three categories (33.3 per cent in class A and 50 per cent in classes B and C subjects). Moreover, a higher number of human immunodeficiency virus positive subjects showed abnormal otoneurological findings, compared with the dizzy, human immunodeficiency virus negative subjects.

Conclusions:

In our opinion, a vestibular disorder may occur in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients as a result of direct viral damage, even in the early phase of infection. Central vestibular damage may be established later on, and may be linked to different causes (e.g. superinfections, vascular causes and drug toxicity).
Public perceptions of the neglect and mistreatment of older people: findings of a United Kingdom survey
Authors: HUSSEIN SHEREEN , MANTHORPE JILL , PENHALE BRIDGET
Published: February 2008

Large surveys of the general population's perceptions of the neglect and mistreatment of older people are few. This article provides evidence about the public's awareness of ‘elder abuse’ at a time of considerable media and political interest in the subject in many countries. It presents the findings of a survey of 1,000 adults' knowledge of the neglect and mistreatment of older people in the UK. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to examine: variations in the perception of the existence of neglect or mistreatment of older people, the perceived relative prevalence of knowing an older person who had been subject to such experiences, the type and place of such experiences and knowledge of sources of help in such circumstances. The key findings are that older people believed that there is less neglect and mistreatment of older people than younger people, that women perceived more than men, and that there were regional variations in these perceptions. One-quarter said they knew an older person who had experienced neglect or mistreatment, and such reports were most likely among the middle aged and women. The most frequently reported locations of abuse were care homes and hospitals, and the most commonly reported form was inadequate or insufficient personal care. Most people said they would contact social services or paid carers if they encountered neglect or mistreatment. The findings are discussed in the light of increased policy attention to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, and the implications for research, practice and campaigning organisations are considered.
‘They ought to do this for their parents’: perceptions of filial obligations among immigrant and Dutch older people
Authors: de VALK HELGA A. G. , SCHANS DJAMILA
Published: February 2008

This paper presents a study of the perceptions of filial obligations among immigrant and Dutch older people in The Netherlands. It is first questioned how and to what extent these perceptions are determined by ethnic background or attributable to socio-demographic factors. Secondly, we study how filial obligations among immigrant older people differ by level of acculturation. Data from the main and migrant sample of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (2002–2003) for respondents aged 50–80 years in five ethnic groups are used. The analysis sample included 470 Dutch, 70 Turks, 73 Moroccans, 125 Surinamese and 59 Antilleans. Immigrant background was found to be an important determinant of the perception of a child's obligations towards parents. Immigrant elders generally expected more weekly visits and care from their children, and more facilitation of co-residence to parents than was the case for the Dutch. Among elderly people in all ethnic groups, including the Dutch, the attained level of education was related to perceptions of filial obligation, but marital status and current health status were not. Finally, it was found that different aspects of acculturation were related to the perception of filial obligations among older people with Mediterranean and Caribbean backgrounds.
The outcomes of rehousing older homeless people: a longitudinal study
Authors: CRANE MAUREEN , WARNES ANTHONY M.
Published: February 2008

Older people who become homeless have attracted increasing attention in North America, Western Europe and Australia over the last 20 years, but there have been few projects dedicated to their support, and even fewer studies of the outcomes. This paper reports a longitudinal study of the resettlement of 64 older people who were rehoused into permanent accommodation from homeless people's hostels in England. Their progress was monitored for two years by face-to-face interviews. The theoretical model was that the outcomes of rehousing are a function of personal factors and behaviour, the support that people receive, and the characteristics of the new home. After 24 months, 28 respondents were housed and ‘settled’, 10 were housed but ‘unsettled’, 11 had abandoned their accommodation, and six had been evicted (nine had died or ceased contact). The factors that significantly associated with remaining housed and settled included: previous stable accommodation histories, revived contacts with relatives, taking up activities, and regular help from housing-support workers. Unsettledness and tenancy failure associated with prolonged prior homelessness, worries about living independently, and continuing contacts with homeless people. Rehousing older homeless people successfully is difficult, particularly among those with long histories of homelessness and instability, and more needs to be known about the types of accommodation and the types of support that promote tenancy sustainment.
Problematic drug use, ageing and older people: trends in the age of drug users in northwest England
Authors: BEYNON CARYL M. , McVEIGH JIM , ROE BRENDA
Published: February 2008

In the United Kingdom (UK) and elsewhere, little is known about problematic drug use among older people (defined here as aged 50–74 years), either because few older drug users exist or because they represent a ‘hidden’ population. In this paper, we show that the average age of drug users in contact with treatment services and agency-based syringe exchange programmes (SEPs) in the counties of Cheshire and Merseyside in northwest England is rising. Between 1998 and 2004–05, the number of older male drug users in treatment increased from 80 to 310, and the number of older females rose from 46 to 117. Consequently, the median age rose from 30.8 years in 1998 to 34.9 years in 2004–05. Similarly, between 1992 and 2004, the number of older injectors accessing SEPs increased from three to 65 men and from one to nine women. The median age of SEP attenders was 27.0 years in 1992 and 34.9 years in 2004. Drug use amongst older people is associated with poor physical and psychological health and longer hospital stays. The future cost of the ageing of drug users may be considerable. Detailed research is needed to identify the characteristics and health needs of this vulnerable population.
Lay theories of quality of life in older age
Authors: BOWLING ANN , GABRIEL ZAHAVA
Published: February 2008

This paper presents findings from a national survey of quality of life (QoL) in older age. The main aim of the analyses was to examine the definitions of quality of life given by people aged 65 or more years and the underlying reasons. Open-ended questions were used to elicit their perceptions of QoL. These were followed by structured measures of self-rated QoL overall, and of domains of QoL commonly reported in the literature. The main things said by the respondents to give their lives quality were categorised into ‘themes’. These were: social relationships; social roles and activities; leisure activities enjoyed alone; health; psychological outlook and wellbeing; home and neighbourhood; financial circumstances; and independence. Thereasonspeople gave to explain why these things were important to their QoL focused on: the freedom to do the things they wanted to do without restriction (whether in the home or socially); pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction with life; mental harmony; social attachment and having access to companionship, intimacy, love, social contact and involvement, help; social roles; and feeling secure. This paper also presents data that demonstrates the ability of theoretically informed, structured survey indicators of QoL to predict respondents' self-rated overall QoL. Logistic regression analyses showed that most of these indicators were strong, independent predictors of self-ratings of QoL, although those that were not significant in the model did not fully incorporate lay reasons of QoL in their measurement scales. In conclusion, the indicators which were not significant in the model did not fully incorporate lay values in their measurement properties. It is also likely that those indicators that were significant could have been improved.
Bridging the gap: the creation of continuity by men on the verge of retirement
Authors: NUTTMAN-SHWARTZ ORIT
Published: February 2008

The aim of this study is to examine the means by which men on the verge of retirement create continuity or bridges between their past and present in their autobiographical narratives. Based on Whitbourne's ‘lifespan construct model of adaptation’, 56 Israeli men on the verge of retirement were asked to relate their ‘life stories’ and ‘life scenarios’ (their vision of the future). Their bridging strategies were examined using qualitative structural analyses, focusing on the ‘crossovers’ to the future in the ‘life stories’, and those to the past in their ‘life scenarios’. The findings show three main bridging patterns in the life stories and three in the life scenarios. Each was associated with differences in the ways that the men were coping emotionally with the transition to retirement, and pointed to the different ways by which they used continuity to cope with the anxieties aroused by their impending retirement. After trying to account for the greater frequency of bridging attempts in the ‘scenarios’ than the ‘life stories’, the discussion elaborates on the different bridging strategies and their associated features. The findings suggest that the identification of crossover patterns in life stories and life scenarios may be a useful tool for assessing a person's coping abilities and adjustment to difficult transitions.
Older male carers and the positive aspects of care
Authors: RIBEIRO OSCAR , PAÚL CONSTANÇA
Published: February 2008

Older men are becoming more visible in care-giving research but there are still few studies that focus expressly on the extent to which care-giving has made positive contributions to their life and has been rewarding. Drawing on data from in-depth personal interviews, this Portuguese study analyses the positive statements in the personal descriptions of the care-giving experience of 53 elderly men who were caring for chronically-ill wives. It also explores the differences between the positive references made by the men who were caring for a wife who had dementia and those made by men whose wives had physical impairments. Using open coding and content analysis, positive aspects were identified in 32 of the 53 care-giving situations. The most prevalent themes were ‘satisfaction’ and ‘perceived social honour’. The findings show that positive returns from the caring experience and role were strongly associated with previous good marital relationships and the husband's good self-rated health, and manifested in both specific coping strategies and global and situational meaning-making processes. The study demonstrates that much more can be learnt about the positive dimensions of care in older men's lives, and that such understanding can inform and strengthen formal and therapeutic support.
In sure and uncertain faith: belief and coping with loss of spouse in later life
Authors: COLEMAN PETER G. , McKIERNAN FIONNUALA , MILLS MARIE , SPECK PETER
Published: February 2008

This paper reports a study of the religious, spiritual and philosophical responses to spouse bereavement. Twenty-five bereaved spouses aged 60 or more years living in the south of England and from Christian backgrounds were followed from the first to the second anniversary of the loss. The participants expressed a range of attitudes, from devout religious belief to well-articulated secular conceptions of the meaning of life, but the largest group had moderate spiritual beliefs that were characterised by doubts as much as hopes. Uncertain faith was more often associated with depressive symptoms and low levels of experienced meaning. Nine case studies are presented that illustrate different levels of adjustment to bereavement and both changing and stable expressions of faith across the one year of observation. Attention is drawn to the importance of both secular agencies and religious organisations developing a better understanding of older people's spiritual responses to loss. Although to many British older people, practise of the Christian faith may be less evident now than in their childhood, quality of life assessment should not ignore sources of spiritual satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Moreover, previous and especially early-life religious experiences provide useful points of reference for understanding present religious and spiritual attitudes. The study suggests that there may be a substantial need for pastoral counselling among today's older people, especially those of uncertain or conflicted belief.
Health status and access to health care of British nationals living on the Costa Blanca, Spain
Authors: LA PARRA DANIEL , MATEO MIGUEL ANGEL
Published: February 2008

The aims of this paper are to review the health status of British nationals living on the Costa Blanca in the Province of Alicante, Spain, and to examine their access to health-care services. A sample of 155 of those that spent over three months a year in the area was interviewed. The results for those aged 45 or more years have been compared with those of the Health Survey for England 2003, the British Household Panel Survey 2004, the National Health Survey for Spain 2003, and the Spanish Household Panel Survey 2000. British nationals resident on the Costa Blanca appear to have a similar health profile to the Spanish and the British populations, and score higher than Spaniards and the British home population on some indicators: they have, for example, fewer mobility problems and a more positive perception of their state of health. These findings are consistent with the ‘healthy migrant hypothesis’. The Valencia Region Health Service provides health-care services to 62 per cent of this population. The total number of British residents' visits to a general practitioner is approximately the same as that of their Spanish neighbours. As for admissions to hospital, British residents on the Costa Blanca show trends similar to the population of the United Kingdom. The use of private health-care is relatively high, compared to the Spanish and the British populations.
Virtue is its own reward? Support-giving in the family and loneliness in middle and old age
Authors: DE JONG GIERVELD JENNY , DYKSTRA PEARL A.
Published: February 2008

Gerontologists have emphasised that older adults are not only recipients of support but also important support providers. Using data from the first wave of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study of 727 middle-generation adults aged 45 to 79 years, we examined the associations between loneliness and giving support up, across and down family lineages. Overall, the findings were consistent more with an altruism perspective, that giving brings rewards, than with an exchange perspective, which emphasises the costs of giving support. The results showed an inverse relationship between the number of generations supported and loneliness, and that those engaged in balanced exchanges with family members in three generations (parents, siblings and children) were generally the least lonely. As regards the direction of support giving, the findings showed that the association between giving support and loneliness was insignificant if the support was for parents, negative for support to siblings, and positive for support to children. Imbalanced support exchanges were differentially associated with loneliness, and depended on the type of family relationship involved. Non-reciprocated support made parents more vulnerable to loneliness, whereas non-reciprocated giving in sibling ties was associated with low levels of loneliness. Imbalanced support giving in relationships with parents was not associated with loneliness.
On Bernstein–Heinz–Chern–Flanders inequalities
Authors: BARBOSA J. L. M. , BESSA G. P. , MONTENEGRO J. F.
Published: February 2008

We give an interpretation of the Chern–Heinz inequalities for graphs in order to extend them to transversally oriented codimension one C2-foliations of Riemannian manifolds. It contains Salavessa's work on mean curvature of graphs and fully generalizes results of Barbosa–Kenmotsu–Oshikiri [3] and Barbosa–Gomes–Silveira [2] about foliations of 3-dimensional Riemannian manifolds by constant mean curvature surfaces. This point of view of the Chern–Heinz inequalities can be applied to prove a Haymann–Makai–Osserman inequality (lower bounds of the fundamental tones of bounded open subsets Ω ⊂ ℝ2 in terms of its inradius) for embedded tubular neighbourhoods of simple curves of ℝn.
Smooth Siegel disks without number theory
Authors: GEYER LUKAS
Published: February 2008

X. Buff and A. Chéritat proved that there are quadratic polynomials having Siegel disks with smooth boundaries. Based on a simplification of Avila, we give yet another simplification of their proof. The main tool used is a harmonic function introduced by Yoccoz whose boundary values are the sizes of the Siegel disks. The proof also applies to some other families of polynomials, entire and meromorphic functions.
Generating functions of orbifold Chern classes I: symmetric products
Authors: OHMOTO TORU
Published: February 2008

In this paper, for a possibly singular complex variety X, generating functions of total orbifold Chern homology classes of the symmetric products SnX are given. These are very natural “class versions” of known generating function formulae of (generalized) orbifold Euler characteristics of SnX. Our Chern classes work covariantly for proper morphisms. We state the result more generally. Let G be a finite group and Gn the wreath product G ∼ Sn. For a G-variety X and a group A, we show a “Dey–Wohlfahrt type formula“ for equivariant Chern–Schwartz–MacPherson classes associated to Gn-representations of A (Theorem 1ċ1 and 1ċ2). When X is a point, our formula is just the classical one in group theory generating numbers |Hom(A, Gn)|.
Some entries in Ramanujan's notebooks
Authors: DUKE W.
Published: February 2008

Some of Ramanujan's original discoveries about hypergeometric functions and their relation to modular integrals, especially Eisenstein series ofnegative weight, are still not very well understood. These discoveries take the form of identities that he recorded, without proof, as entries in his notebooks. In the following sections I will introduce some of these entries, discuss their status, give new proofs of several of them and also provide new results of a similar nature.
The fixed point theorem for simplicial nonpositive curvature
Authors: PRZYTYCKI PIOTR
Published: February 2008

We prove that for an action of a finite group G on a systolic complex X there exists a G–invariant subcomplex of X of diameter ≤5. For 7–systolic locally finite complexes we prove there is a fixed point for the action of any finite G. This implies that free products with amalgamation (and HNN extensions) of 7–systolic groups over finite subgroups are also 7–systolic.
Advanced Low Energy Focused Ion Beam Design Based on Immersion
Optics
Authors: M Rauscher , K Marianowski , B Degel , E Plies
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
A Local Absorptive Potential Multislice Approximation to Calculate
Intensity Contributions from Thermal Diffuse Scattering in Conventional
TEM
Authors: A Rosenauer
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Improved Performance of Electron Holography with Tecnai F20
Cs-corr
Authors: Geiger D , Lichte H , Linck M , Lehmann M , Freitag B , Haider M
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007.
Studies of core structures and strain fields of extended defects in GaN
using Exit-Wave-Reconstruction and numerical correction of lens
aberrations
Authors: T Niermann , D Mai , M Roever , J Malindretos , A Rizzi , M Seibt
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
A Relativistic Formalism and the Small Angle Approximation of Elastic
Electron Scattering in TEM
Authors: A Rother , K Scheerschmidt
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Non-conductive sample charging in SEM and ESEM
Authors: Fitting H-J , Touzin M , Cornet N , Goeuriot D , Juvé D , Guerret-Piécourt C
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Strategies for Collection of Secondary Electrons in the SEM
Authors: Konvalina I , Hovorka M , Wandrol P , Mika F , Müllerová I
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Answering questions in materials science using FIB/SEM dual beam
methods
Authors: Holzapfel C , Soldera F , Mücklich F
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Solving the dynamic inversion problem
Authors: Koch C T
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
CBED crystal polarity analysis of compound semiconductor
nanostructures
Authors: Spiecker E , Jäger W , Johnson E , Aagesen M , Sørensen C B , Lindelof P E
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
The Stability of High Tension Measured by Convergent Beam Electron
Diffraction as Base for High Accuracy of Lattice Parameter
Determination
Authors: Klein O , Chuvilin A , Biskupek J , Kaiser U
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Cryo-Electron Tomography of Intact Cells
Authors: Cyrklaff M , Sartori A , Baumeister W , Frischknecht F , Kudryashev M , Lepper S , Garvalov B , Bradke F , Chlanda P , Krijnse-Locker J , Griffiths G
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
3D Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Yeast Fatty Acid Synthase
Authors: Kumari P , Vonck J , Schröder R R , Kühlbrandt W
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
3D cryo-electron microscopy, molecular modelling and structural fitting
with recombinant expressed virus like particles as part of drug
design
Authors: Kuehne C , Gatsogiannis C , Klamp T , Sahin U , Meissner U
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Plants that Trap Animals: Microscopic Characteristics of Anti-Adhesive
Surfaces
Authors: Poppinga S , Barthlott W , Koch K
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Exploring Biomaterials by Atomic Force Microscopy: State-of-the-Art and
Perspectives for Tomorrow
Authors: Jacobs K
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Rapid Diagnostic EM in Infectious Diseases Emergencies: Update
2007
Authors: Gelderblom H R
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Study of Tooth Root Surface Treated with Various Techniques Using
Variable Pressure SEM.
Authors: Nedela V , Roubalíková L , Cernoch P
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
The Information Content of Tomograms of Nanoparticles
Authors: Saghi Z , Xu X , Möbus G
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Search for Ferroelectric Stray Fields around Ferroelectric Nanoparticles
by Means of HRTEM and Electron Holography
Authors: Weiß M , Berlin TU Dresden and TU , Germany  , DresdenGermany TU , University Tel Aviv , Israel
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
TEM and X-Ray Diffraction Studies on Copper Based Shape Memory Alloy
Martensites
Authors: Adiguzel O
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Quantitative Analysis of Ti-rich and Nb-rich Particles in Medium Carbon
Steel
Authors: Dremailova O , Gertsman V Y , Li J
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Structural, Chemical And Electronic Characterization Of Ceramic Materials
Using Quantitative (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy.
Authors: Bals S , Aert S Van , Verbeeck J , Tendeloo G Van
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Misorientations in [0 0 1] Magnetite Thin Films Studied by Electron
Backscatter Diffraction
Authors: Koblischka-Veneva A , Koblischka M R , Mücklich F , Hartmann U , Murphy S , Arora S K , Shvets I V
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Aluminum Tungsten Oxides with Novel Structures Related to the
ReO3-Type
Authors: Krumeich F , Patzke G R
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
From fuel cells to catalysts – new insights into chemical materials by
electron microscopy
Authors: Cox G
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Kirkendall-like Voids Produced by Surface Diffusion
Authors: Lotnyk A , Senz S , Hesse D
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Formation of rare earth zirconia pyrochlores on yttria-stabilized ZrO2
single crystals by solid state reactions
Authors: Schubert M A , Senz S , Hesse D
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
PCR–ELISA method for Mycoplasma contamination detection in veterinary vaccines
Authors: Ying Zhang , Jun-Bing Jiang , Jin-Ping Liu , Li-Yan Jia
Published: February 2008

A polymerase chain reaction–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) method was set up to detect Mycoplasma in live vaccines and to establish the optimal experimental conditions. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequences published in GenBank, which include Mycoplasma gallisepticum of chicken and M. hyopneumoniae, M. hyosynoviae and M. flocculare of swine (submitted nos: Mg AY744942, Mhp AE017244, Mhs AY973563 and Mf X63377), PCR primers, labelled with digoxin (Dig), and probe, labelled with biotin, were designed using the software DNAstar and Primer Premier 5.0. The system and conditions of PCR–ELISA were optimized using purified genomic DNA extracted from Mycoplasma as a template. Samples of 30 batches of Newcastle disease live vaccines (I strain), 30 batches of Newcastle disease live vaccines (La Sota strain) and 30 batches of swine fever live vaccine were tested by PCR-ELISA. Results showed that the detection rate of Mycoplasma contamination from different vaccines was higher (36.5%) with this technique than with PCR (24.4%). The PCR–ELISA appeared to be a simple, fast and reliable method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Mycoplasma. The practical use of PCR–ELISA as a kit to detect Mycoplasma contamination in live vaccine seems very promising.
Variation in biological characteristics of purified pea ferritin (Fer) transgenic rice
Authors: Hong-Xia Ye , Ze-Jian Guo , Mei Li , Xiao-Hui Xu , Jin-Song Bao , Sheng-Quan Shen
Published: February 2008

After seven generations of self-crossing assisted by β-glucuronidase (GUS) detection, 26 homozygous transgenic rice lines were obtained. Transgene effects on iron content, agronomic traits, rice quality and stress tolerance were studied. The results indicated that the average iron content in the milled grain of the transgenic (pea ferritin, Fer) rice (Oryza sativa) was 10.37 μg/g among all the homozygous lines, and only four lines (Fer34, Fer36, Fer39 and Fer65) had significantly higher iron contents than that of the control, Xiushui11 (6.46 μg/g). Significant differences in main agronomic traits, such as days from sowing to heading, plant height, main panicle length, total grains of main panicle, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, and yield per plant were observed among some homozygous lines, but similar flag leaf length and number of panicles per plant were found. This showed that insertion of the foreign gene (Fer) had a slight impact on the main agronomic traits, but that the transgene had no negative effects. The quality traits of homozygous rice lines, such as the percentage of brown rice, milled rice and full milled rice, grain length, grain width, ratio of grain length and width, and amylose content were all similar to those of the control. However, variations were noticed in chalkiness, translucency, alkali spreading value and gel consistency among partial homozygous lines. Responses of homozygous lines to low and high temperatures were not significantly correlated with the iron contents, and resistance to rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae), bacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae) and brown planthopper (Niaparvata lugens) were enhanced with increased iron contents.