bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment Escalation and Rise in HbA1c Following Successful Initial Metformin Therapy
Authors: Nichols Gregory A. , Alexander Charles M. , Girman Cynthia J. , Kamal-Bahl Sachin J. , Brown Jonathan B.
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE—To describe secondary failure of initial metformin therapy in patients who achieved initial HbA1c (A1C) <8% and to identify predictors of failure.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We identified 1,288 patients who achieved A1C <8% within 1 year of initiating metformin as their first-ever antihyperglycemic drug. Subjects were followed until they added/switched antihyperglycemics, they terminated health plan membership, or 31 December 2004. We defined secondary failure using two separate but overlapping approaches: 1) addition/switch to another antihyperglycemic drug or 2) first A1C measurement >8.0% after at least 6 months on metformin.

RESULTS—The best A1C achieved within 1 year of metformin initiation was the most powerful predictor of avoiding secondary failure. Approximately 50% of subjects whose best A1C was 7–7.9% added/switched antihyperglycemic drugs within 36 months, whereas it took >60 months for those in the 6–6.9% A1C category to reach a 50% failure rate. Those who achieved an A1C <6% did not reach a 50% rate of adding/switching drugs until 84 months. For the alternative secondary failure outcome, about half of those whose best A1C was 7.0–7.9% reached an A1C >8% within 24 months. Only ∼25% of subjects in the 6–6.9% category failed by 48 months, and >80% of subjects in the <6% category remained below 8% through 60 months.

CONCLUSIONS—Whether defined by adding/switching to another drug or by reaching an A1C of 8%, secondary failure is inversely associated with the reduction of A1C achieved within the 1st year of metformin monotherapy.
Long-Term Breast-Feeding in Women With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Stage Edna , Nørgård Hanne , Damm Peter , Mathiesen Elisabeth
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVE—Breast-feeding may be more difficult in women with diabetes because of neonatal morbidity and fluctuating maternal blood glucose values. The frequency of long-term breast-feeding and the possible predictors for successful breast-feeding were investigated.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—One hundred two consecutive women with type 1 diabetes were interviewed about breast-feeding using a semistructured questionnaire 5 days and 4 months after delivery. Clinical data were collected from the medical records.

RESULTS—Five days after delivery, 86% of the women were breast-feeding. Four months after delivery, 55 (54%) women were exclusively, 14 (14%) were partly, and 33 (32%) were not breast-feeding compared with 50, 26, and 24% in the background population (NS). Mothers exclusively breast-feeding at 4 months were characterized by previous experience with breast-feeding, a higher educational level, and vaginal delivery and included a high proportion of nonsmokers, whereas there were no associations with diabetes-related parameters such as white classes, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, and insulin dose at conception. Breast-fed offspring had a significantly higher birth weight and gestational age and were less often receiving glucose intravenously compared with the remaining offspring. Independent predictors of exclusive breast-feeding at 4 months were previous experience with breast-feeding (odds ratio 6.3 [95% CI 2.4–17]) and higher educational level (7.1 [2.4–21]). Cessation of breast-feeding was mainly due to common nursing problems, such as perceived milk supply, and not related to maternal diabetes status.

CONCLUSIONS—The majority of the women with type 1 diabetes initiated breast-feeding, and the prevalence of breast-feeding at 4 months was comparable to that in the background population. Independent predictors of exclusive breast-feeding at 4 months were previous experience with breast-feeding and higher educational level.
Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl–Ruthenium Catalysts for Regio‐ and Enantioselective Allylation of Nucleophiles
Authors: Bruneau Christian , Renaud Jean‐Luc , Demerseman Bernard
Published: May 2006

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand efficiently perform the activation of allylic carbonates and halides to generate cationic and dicationic ruthenium(IV) complexes. This activation has been transferred as a key step to the catalytic allylation of nucleophiles. The structural and electronic properties of the allylic moieties lead to the regioselective formation of chiral products resulting from nucleophilic addition to their most substituted terminus. The catalytic activity of various Ru(Cp*) precatalysts in several allylic substitutions by C and O nucleophiles will be presented. The enantioselective version that has been demonstrated by using optically pure bisoxazoline ligands will also be discussed.
Triphenylphosphine Polymer‐Bound/Iodine Complex: A Suitable Reagent for the Preparation of O‐Isopropylidene Sugar Derivatives.
Authors: Pedatella Silvana , Guaragna Annalisa , D'Alonzo Daniele , De Nisco Mauro , Palumbo Giovanni
Published: May 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Cryptofolione and Determination of Its Absolute Configuration.
Authors: Matsuoka Yuko , Aikawa Kohsuke , Irie Ryo , Katsuki Tsutomu
Published: May 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.
Catalysis in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Zhang Z. Conrad
Published: May 2006

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.
Preliminary data on the presence of mycotoxins (ochratoxin A, citrinin and aflatoxin B1) in black table olives “Greek style” of Moroccan origin
Authors: El Adlouni Chakib , Tozlovanu Marianne , Naman Fatima , Faid Mohammed , Pfohl‐Leszkowicz Annie
Published: May 2006

Many mould strains, in particular Aspergillus and/or Penicillium, are able to develop on olive and produce ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or citrinin (CIT) and/or aflatoxin B (AFB) after harvest, during drying and storage of olives. The development of fungi on olives is responsible for the reduction of nutritional quality of olive because they can disturb the synthesis of the fatty acids. OTA, CIT and AFB are particularly dangerous for health, inducing cancer of urinary tracts or liver carcinoma. In this study, ten olive samples bought at retailer and at supermarket in Morocco were analyzed for their OTA, CIT and AFB contents. These three mycotoxins were extracted simultaneously by a method based on solvent partition validated in‐house, then separated by HPLC coupled to a fluorescence detector. All olive samples contain OTA ranging from LOQ to 1.02 μg/kg. Respectively, 50 and 25% from retailer and supermarket samples were contaminated by more than 0.65 μg/kg. In addition, 80% of olive samples contained CIT above LOD, and 100% of olive tested contained AFB above 0.5 μg/kg. As simultaneous presence of these toxins increases toxic risks, it is thus essential to have a good control of the conservation of olives after harvest.
New therapeutic target for CNS injury? The role of retinoic acid signaling after nerve lesions
Authors: Mey Jörg
Published: May 2006

Experiments with sciatic nerve lesions and spinal cord contusion injury demonstrate that the retinoic acid (RA) signaling cascade is activated by these traumatic events. In both cases the RA‐synthesizing enzyme is RALDH‐2. In the PNS, lesions cause RA‐induced gene transcription, intracellular translocation of retinoid receptors, and increased transcription of CRBP‐I, CRABP‐II, and retinoid receptors. The activation of RARβ appears to be responsible for neurotrophic and neuritogenic effects of RA on dorsal root ganglia and embryonic spinal cord. While the physiological role of RA in the injured nervous system is still under investigation three domains of functions are suggested: (1) neuroprotection and support of axonal growth, (2) modulation of the inflammatory reaction by microglia/macrophages, and (3) regulation of glial differentiation. Few studies have been performed to support nerve regeneration with RA signalsin vivo, but a large number of experiments with neuronal and glial cell cultures and spinal cord explants point to beneficial effects of RA, so that future therapeutic approaches will likely focus on the activation of RA signaling. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 66: 757–779, 2006
Methods for detecting and identifying retinoids in tissue
Authors: Gundersen Thomas E.
Published: May 2006

Methods for retinoid analysis in tissue include direct spectrophotometry or fluorometry and retinoid responsive reporter constructs in the form of cell reporter assays or transgenic reporter animals, but chromatographic methods dominate and posses several superior features in quantitative analysis. The multitude of extraction protocols used can coarsely be divided into manual liquid‐liquid extraction protocols and semi‐ or fully automated solid phase extraction‐based protocols. Liquid chromatographic separation in reversed phase dominates although normal phase is also used. Detection is mainly performed with UV detectors although electrochemical and fluorescence detection is also used. Mass spectrometry in combination with LC is more often used in retinoid analysis and is likely to dominate in the future. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 66: 631–644, 2006
Retinoid signaling in inner ear development
Authors: Romand Raymond , Dollé Pascal , Hashino Eri
Published: May 2006

The inner ear originates from an embryonic ectodermal placode and rapidly develops into a three‐dimensional structure (the otocyst) through complex molecular and cellular interactions. Many genes and their products are involved in inner ear induction, organogenesis, and cell differentiation. Retinoic acid (RA) is an endogenous signaling molecule that may play a role during different phases of inner ear development, as shown from pathological observations. To gain insight into the function of RA during inner ear development, we have investigated the spatio‐temporal expression patterns of major components of RA signaling pathway, including cellular retinoic acid binding proteins (CRABPs), cellular retinoid binding proteins (CRBPs), retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (RALDHs), catabolic enzymes (CYP26s), and nuclear receptors (RARs). Although the CrbpI, CrabpI, and ‐II genes are specifically expressed in the inner ear throughout development, loss‐of‐function studies have revealed that these proteins are dispensable for inner development and function. Several Raldh and Cyp26 gene transcripts are expressed at embryological day (E) 9.0–9.5 in the otocyst and show mainly complementary distributions in the otic epithelium and mesenchyme during following stages. From Western blot, RT‐PCR, and in situ hybridization analysis, there is a low expression of Raldhs in the early otocyst at E9, while Cyp26s are strongly expressed. During the following days, there is an up‐regulation of Raldhs and a down‐regulation for Cyp26s. Specific RA receptor (Rar and Rxr) genes are expressed in the otocyst and during further development of the inner ear. At the otocyst stage, most of the components of the retinoid pathway are present, suggesting that the embryonic inner ear might act as an autocrine system, which is able to synthesize and metabolize RA necessary for its development. We propose a model in which two RA‐dependent pathways may control inner ear ontogenesis: one indirect with RA from somitic mesoderm acting to regulate gene expression within the hindbrain neuroepithelium, and another with RA acting directly on the otocyst. Current evidence suggests that RA may regulate several genes involved in mesenchyme‐epithelial interactions, thereby controlling inner ear morphogenesis. Our investigations suggest that RA signaling is a critical component not only of embryonic development, but also of postnatal maintenance of the inner ear. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 66: 687–704, 2006
Enrichment of the method of finite spheres using geometry‐independent localized scalable bubbles
Authors: Macri Michael , De Suvranu
Published: May 2006

In this paper, we report the development of two new enrichment techniques for the method of finite spheres, a truly meshfree method developed for the solution of boundary value problems on geometrically complex domains. In the first method, the enrichment functions are multiplied by a weight function with compact support, while in the second one a floating ‘enrichment node’ is introduced. The scalability of the enrichment bubbles offers flexibility in localizing the spatial extent to which the enrichment field is applied. The bubbles are independent of the underlying geometric discretization and therefore provide a means of achieving convergence without excessive refinement. Several numerical examples involving problems with singular stress fields are provided demonstrating the effectiveness of the enrichment schemes and contrasting them to traditional ‘geometry‐dependent’ enrichment strategies in which one or more nodes associated with the geometric discretization of the domain are enriched. An additional contribution of this paper is the use of a meshfree numerical integration technique for computing the J‐integral using the domain integral method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the need for combining complementary analyses to assess the effect of a candidate gene and the evolution of its polymorphism: the example of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in chicken
Authors: LOYWYCK VALERIE , DER LAAN MARIE-HELENE PINARD-VAN , GOLDRINGER ISABELLE , VERRIER ETIENNE
Published: May 2006

The aim of this paper is to combine different but complementary approaches to check the neutrality of a given locus in a selected population. Analysis was undertaken through the polymorphism's evolution compared with that predicted under the effect of drift and through the analysis of the variance components of the measured traits, considering the effect of the locus as either a fixed or a random effect. This study deals with the case of the MHC locus, using both data from experimental lines of chicken selected for three different criteria of immune response, and frequencies of the genotyped haplotypes over time. Both the evolution of the polymorphism and the variance components approach have led to the conclusion that the MHC locus has an effect on the trait affecting antibody production against the Newcastle disease virus. Results have also highlighted the interest in using various methods in the case of low allelic frequencies. However, none of the common hypotheses, overdominance or frequency-dependent selection, was sufficient to explain the observed variation of the MHC polymorphism, which was displayed by the temporal variation of the allelic frequencies.
Towards a better understanding of past fertility regimes: the ideas and practice of controlling family size in Chinese history
Authors: ZHAO ZHONGWEI
Published: May 2006

Thanks to the progress that has been made in the study of population history, it has been gradually accepted that fertility in historical China was only moderate in comparison with the recorded high fertility. However, scholars still disagree on whether the Chinese could have intentionally controlled their family size. This article first summarizes recent findings about fertility patterns in historical China. Then the author provides further evidence of people limiting their family size in the past, before discussing the impact of traditional beliefs on people's fertility behaviour and summarizing the antinatalist ideas and suggestions put forwarded by Chinese officials and intellectuals over China's long history. This evidence is then used to comment on a number of suggestions that have been made about China's traditional reproductive behaviour and culture. The article challenges the views that people's reproductive strategies aimed in the past to maximize the number of surviving offspring and that the demand for children (or sons) was always high in historical China.
The value of domestic labour in Russia, 1965–1986
Authors: TYAZHELNIKOVA VICTORIA
Published: May 2006

This article analyses the labour activities of urban households in Russia during the period from 1965 to 1986. Labour strategies were oriented towards domestic labour and participation in subsidiary agriculture in order to compensate for the persistent shortage of food, consumer goods and services. In spite of the highest women's employment in world history, such a situation helped to preserve the traditional pattern of labour-sharing at home between family members and led to significant gender differences in the time spent on domestic labour. Towards the end of the period, the time spent by women on domestic work was shortened by the advent of home appliances, rather than by any redistribution of tasks between genders.
Epidemiologie gastrointestinaler Blutungen bei älteren Patienten
Authors: Geyer  , Stamenic  , Bühler  , Bertschinger
Published: May 2006

In westlichen Ländern steigt der Anteil an alten, polymorbiden Patienten stetig. Inwieweit diese Tatsache die Manifestationsformen der Gastrointestinalblutungen (GIB) beeinflusst, wurde im Rahmen dieser prospektiven Studie am Stadtspital Waid während eines Jahres untersucht. Bei 7406 konsekutiv hospitalisierten Patienten wurden insgesamt 224 GIB registriert (53% Frauen; mittleres Alter 71 ± 16 Jahre, 63% mit relevanter Komorbidität). Von den 197 abgeklärten Patienten litten 51% an einer oberen GIB (OGIB), 37% an einer unteren GIB (UGIB), und 2% hatten sowohl eine OGIB wie auch UGIB. In 10% der Fälle blieb die Ursache unklar. Folgende Blutungsquellen wurden gefunden: Ulcera ventriculi und/oder duodeni 24%; Kolondivertikel 16%; Kolitiden 10%; Ösophagitiden 10%; Mallory-Weiss-Läsionen 6%; Varia 24%. Die Häufigkeit der GIB nahm mit zunehmendem Patientenalter signifikant zu (p < 0.001), insbesondere die Divertikelblutung, welche signifikant mit der Acetylsalicylsäure (ASS)-Einnahme assoziiert war. Die Prognose der Gastrointestinalblutungen war auch bei betagten Patienten mit einer blutungsassoziierten Mortalität von 3.1% insgesamt günstig.
Multiobjective design of water distribution systems under uncertainty
Authors: Kapelan Zoran S. , Savic Dragan A. , Walters Godfrey A.
Published: May 2006

The water distribution system (WDS) design problem is defined here as a multiobjective optimization problem under uncertainty. The two objectives are (1) minimize the total WDS design cost and (2) maximize WDS robustness. The WDS robustness is defined as the probability of simultaneously satisfying minimum pressure head constraints at all nodes in the network. Decision variables are the alternative design options for each pipe in the network. The sources of uncertainty are future water consumption and pipe roughness coefficients. Uncertain variables are modeled using probability density functions (PDFs) assigned in the problem formulation phase. The corresponding PDFs of the analyzed nodal heads are calculated using the Latin hypercube sampling technique. The optimal design problem is solved using the newly developed RNSGAII method based on the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGAII). In RNSGAII a small number of samples are used for each fitness evaluation, leading to significant computational savings when compared to the full sampling approach. Chromosome fitness is defined here in the same way as in the NSGAII optimization methodology. The new methodology is tested on several cases, all based on the New York tunnels reinforcement problem. The results obtained demonstrate that the new methodology is capable of identifying robust Pareto optimal solutions despite significantly reduced computational effort.
Asymmetric plume‐ridge interaction around Iceland: The Kolbeinsey Ridge Iceland Seismic Experiment
Authors: Hooft Emilie E. E. , Brandsdóttir Bryndís , Mjelde Rolf , Shimamura Hideki , Murai Yoshio
Published: May 2006

We present the results of a seismic refraction experiment that constrains crustal structure and thickness along 225 km of the Kolbeinsey Ridge and Tjörnes Fracture Zone and thus quantifies the influence of the Iceland hot spot on melt flux at the spreading center north of Iceland. North of the Iceland shelf, crustal thickness is relatively constant over 75 km, 9.4 ± 0.2 km. Along the southern portion of the Kolbeinsey Ridge, on the Iceland shelf, crustal thickness increases from 9.5 ± 0.1 km to 12.1 ± 0.4 km over 90 km. Gravity inversion indicates a residual crustal gravity anomaly that decreases by about 30–40 mGal toward Iceland. We infer that the variations in crustal thickness and gravity are accompanied by mantle temperature changes of 40° to 50°C. At similar distances from the Iceland hot spot, crustal thickness along the Kolbeinsey Ridge is 2–2.5 km less than at the Reykjanes Ridge, consistent with the asymmetry in plume‐ridge interaction that has been inferred from the axial depth and geochemistry of these ridges. Average lower crustal velocities are also higher along the Kolbeinsey Ridge, consistent with a lower degree of active upwelling than along the Reykjanes Ridge. Topography and crustal thickness patterns at the spreading centers around Iceland are consistent with isostatic support for normal crustal and mantle densities. However, we infer that the lower crust beneath central Iceland is considerably denser than that beneath the adjacent ridges. Crustal thickness and geochemical patterns suggest that deep melting is spatially limited and asymmetric about Iceland while shallow melting is enhanced over a broad region. This asymmetry may be due to a mantle plume that is tilted from south to north in the upper mantle and preferentially melts deeper enriched material beneath the Reykjanes Ridge.
Updated streamflow reconstructions for the Upper Colorado River Basin
Authors: Woodhouse Connie A. , Gray Stephen T. , Meko David M.
Published: May 2006

Updated proxy reconstructions of water year (October–September) streamflow for four key gauges in the Upper Colorado River Basin were generated using an expanded tree ring network and longer calibration records than in previous efforts. Reconstructed gauges include the Green River at Green River, Utah; Colorado near Cisco, Utah; San Juan near Bluff, Utah; and Colorado at Lees Ferry, Arizona. The reconstructions explain 72–81% of the variance in the gauge records, and results are robust across several reconstruction approaches. Time series plots as well as results of cross‐spectral analysis indicate strong spatial coherence in runoff variations across the subbasins. The Lees Ferry reconstruction suggests a higher long‐term mean than previous reconstructions but strongly supports earlier findings that Colorado River allocations were based on one of the wettest periods in the past 5 centuries and that droughts more severe than any 20th to 21st century event occurred in the past.
The Future of Lutheran Confessional Studies: Reflections in Historical Context
Authors: Wengert Timothy J. , Kolb Robert
Published: May 2006

Abstract:  The Augsburg Confession of 1530 inaugurated a new form of ecclesial self‐definition: confession binds the church together. The compilation of confessional documents that make up the Book of Concord of 1580 bind Lutherans around the world today, even though the historical paths from the 16th to the 21st century have been quite various. As Lutherans face the future, they find themselves in a pluralistic world where they enjoy no cultural privilege, or even shared understanding of fundamental theological commitments. The task of confession and apologetic mission will be most challenging.
The Usefulness of the Lutheran Confessions in the African World
Authors: Randrianasolo Joseph
Published: May 2006

Abstract:  The Malagasy Lutheran Church is one of the fastest growing churches in Africa. Maturing after having been seeded by Western missionaries, the confessional bond to Lutheran history is flowering differently within (1) the development of African contextual theologies and (2) ecumenical dynamics involving Lutherans and other Christian traditions.
Bank Mergers, Information, Default and the Price of Credit
Authors: Catalão‐ Lopes Margarida
Published: May 2006

This paper addresses the impact of bank mergers on the price of firm credit, through an information channel. It is shown that, as bank mergers imply a wider spreading of information among banks concerning firms’ past defaults, they may increase the expected revenue from lending. Therefore, interest rates may decline as long as a sufficiently competitive environment is preserved. A fall in interest rates, in turn, reduces the incentives for firms to strategically default, which reinforces the downward effect on the price of credit. The results are a function of the level of information sharing and of the sensitivity of the default probability to the interest rate.
Optimal Monetary Policy with Price and Wage Rigidities
Authors: Marzo Massimiliano
Published: May 2006

In this paper, I search for an optimal configuration of parameters for variants of the Taylor rule by using an accurate second‐order welfare‐based method within a fully microfounded dynamic stochastic model, with price and wage rigidities, without capital accumulation. A version of the model with distortionary taxation is also explicitly tested. The model is solved up to second‐order solution. Optimal rules are obtained by maximizing a conditional welfare measure, differently from what has been done in the current literature. Optimal monetary policy functions turn out to be characterized by inflation targeting parameter lower than in empirical studies. In general, the optimal values for monetary policy parameters depend on the degree of nominal rigidities and on the role of fiscal policy. When nominal rigidities are higher, optimal monetary policy becomes more aggressive to inflation. With a tighter fiscal policy, optimal monetary policy turns out to be less aggressive to inflation. Impulse‐response functions based on second‐order model solution show a non‐affine pattern when the economy is hit by shocks of different magnitude.
Temporal dynamics and growth of Actinophrys sol (Sarcodina: Heliozoa), the top predator in an extremely acidic lake
Authors: BELL ELANOR M. , WEITHOFF GUNTRAM , GAEDKE URSULA
Published: May 2006

1. The in situ abundance, biomass and mean cell volume of Actinophrys sol (Sarcodina: Heliozoa), the top predator in an extremely acidic German mining lake (Lake 111; pH 2.65), were determined over three consecutive years (spring to autumn, 2001–03).

2. Actinophrys sol exhibited pronounced temporal and vertical patterns in abundance, biomass and mean cell volume. Increasing from very low spring densities, maxima in abundance and biomass were observed in late June/early July and September. The highest mean abundance recorded during the study was 7 × 103 Heliozoa L−1. Heliozoan abundance and biomass were higher in the epilimnion than in the hypolimnion. Actinophrys sol cells from this acidic lake were smaller than individuals of the same species found in other aquatic systems.

3. We determined the growth rate of A. sol using all potential prey items available in, and isolated and cultured from, Lake 111. Prey items included: single‐celled and filamentous bacteria of unknown taxonomic affinity, the mixotrophic flagellates Chlamydomonas acidophila and Ochromonas sp., the ciliate Oxytricha sp. and the rotifers Elosa worallii and Cephalodella hoodi. Actinophrys sol fed over a wide‐size spectrum from bacteria to metazoans. Positive growth was not supported by all naturally available prey. Actinophrys sol neither increased in cell number (k) nor biomass (kb) when starved, with low concentrations of single‐celled bacteria or with the alga Ochromonas sp. Positive growth was achieved with single‐celled bacteria (k = 0.22 ± 0.02 d−1; kb = −0.06 ± 0.02 d−1) and filamentous bacteria (k = 0.52 ± <0.01 d−1; kb = 0.66 d−1) at concentrations greater than observed in situ, and the alga C. acidophila (up to k = 0.43 ± 0.03 d−1; kb = 0.44 ± 0.04 d−1), the ciliate Oxytricha sp. (k = 0.34 ± 0.01 d−1) and in mixed cultures containing rotifers and C. acidophila (k = 0.23 ± 0.02–0.32 ± 0.02 d−1; maximum kb = 0.42 ± 0.05 d−1). The individual‐ and biomass‐based growth of A. sol was highest when filamentous bacteria were provided.

4. Existing quantitative carbon flux models for the Lake 111 food web can be updated in light of our results. Actinophrys sol are omnivorous predators supported by a mixed diet of filamentous bacteria and C. acidophila in the epilimnion. Heliozoa are important components in the planktonic food webs of ‘extreme’ environments.
Robust Inference on Average Economic Growth*
Authors: Boswijk H. Peter , Franses Philip Hans
Published: May 2006

We discuss a method to estimate the confidence bounds for average economic growth, which is robust to misspecification of the unit root property of a given time series. We derive asymptotic theory for the consequences of such misspecification. Our empirical method amounts to an implementation of the subsampling procedure advocated in Romano and Wolf (Econometrica, 2001, Vol. 69, p. 1283). Simulation evidence supports the theory and it also indicates the practical relevance of the subsampling method. We use quarterly postwar US industrial production for illustration and we show that non‐robust approaches rather lead to different conclusions on average economic growth than our robust approach.
Recovery of reflectance spectra from CIE tristimulus values using a progressive database selection technique
Authors: Ansari K , Amirshahi S H , Moradian S
Published: May 2006

A procedure for creating efficient reflectance spectra from CIE tristimulus colour values is described using a modified linear model. By fixing certain criteria based on colour difference values, the proposed technique preliminarily selects a series of suitable samples from a main data set containing the reflectance values of a large number of different coloured samples, based on the colour specifications of a given sample. In this way, a series of different databases containing the reflectance values of confirmed samples relating to the particular samples are formed. Then, a well‐known principal components linear model is applied using three basis functions. This operation yields higher cumulative variances in comparison with the original database, having the same number of basis vectors. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using a different collection of samples and the resulting spectra show considerable improvements in terms of root mean square error as well as colour difference values under different illuminants.
The effects of porphyroblast growth on the effective viscosity of metapelitic rocks: implications for the strength of the middle crust
Authors: GROOME W.G. , JOHNSON S.E. , KOONS P.O.
Published: May 2006

Numerical models are used to examine the effects of porphyroblast growth on the rheology of compositionally layered rocks (metapelites and metapsammites) and by extension the middle crust during prograde metamorphism. As porphyroblast abundance increases during prograde metamorphism, metapelitic layers will strengthen relative to porphyroblast‐free metapelitic units, and potentially relative to quartzofeldspathic metapsammitic units. As metapelitic layers become stronger, the integrated strength of compositionally layered successions increases, potentially causing large volumes of mid‐crustal rock to strengthen, altering the strain‐rate distribution in the middle crust and affecting the geodynamic evolution of an orogenic belt. The growth of effectively rigid porphyroblasts creates strength heterogeneities in the layer undergoing porphyroblast growth, which leads to complex strain‐rate distributions within the layer. At the orogen scale, the strengthening of large crustal volumes (on the order of thousands of cubic kilometres) changes the strain‐rate distribution, which may change exhumation rates of high‐grade metamorphic rocks, the geothermal structure and the topography of the orogen. The presence of a strong zone in the middle crust causes strain‐rate partitioning around the zone, suppressed uplift rates within and above the zone and leads to the development of a basin on the surface.
Effect of Cataract Surgery on Falls and Mobility in Independently Living Older Adults
Authors: McGwin Gerald , Gewant Hilary D. , Modjarrad Kayvon , Hall Tyler Andrew , Owsley Cynthia
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of cataract surgery on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems in older adults with cataract.

DESIGN: Longitudinal follow‐up study.

SETTING: Clinical Research Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

PARTICIPANTS: Persons aged 55 and older with a cataract were recruited from 12 eye clinics in Alabama from October 1994 through March 1996. Participants were classified into two groups: those who had cataract surgery (surgery group, n=122) and those who had not (no‐surgery group, n=92).

MEASUREMENTS: At baseline and 1‐year follow‐up visits, information on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems was collected based on subjects' recall of events during the prior 12 months.

RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic, behavioral, medical, and visual characteristics, there was no difference between the two groups in the likelihood of falling (risk ratio (RR)=0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.64–1.42) or in having mobility (RR=0.81, 95% CI=0.55–1.18) or balance difficulties (RR=0.71, 95% CI=0.37–1.39).

CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery had no association with the occurrence of falls or mobility or balance problems in independently living older adults with a cataract.
Restorative Practices and Child Welfare: Toward an Inclusive Civil Society
Authors: Pennell Joan
Published: May 2006

Child welfare systems in the United States are failing to include families in making plans, and this reduces their success in stabilizing children's placements and promoting children's well‐being. A North Carolina study demonstrates how one restorative practice—family group conferencing (FGC)—advances family participation in child welfare planning. A sample of 27 conferences showed that the 221 family group members outnumbered the 115 service providers at the meetings. Family group members were usually satisfied with the conference process and decision and saw the plans as primarily reached through consensus, following a trusted leader, and bargaining. Satisfaction with the decision was reduced when bargaining was employed. Manipulation was more likely to occur when conference preparations were inadequate.
Victim Evaluations of Face‐to‐Face Restorative Justice Conferences: A Quasi‐Experimental Analysis
Authors: Strang Heather , Sherman Lawrence , Angel Caroline M. , Woods Daniel J. , Bennett Sarah , Newbury‐Birch Dorothy , Inkpen Nova
Published: May 2006

One major goal of face‐to‐face restorative justice (RJ) is to help heal the psychological harm suffered by crime victims (Braithwaite, 2002). Substantial evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has shown that this can be accomplished (Strang, 2002) and more trials are underway (Sherman & Strang, 2004). These outcomes are even more clearly, if less rigorously, demonstrated through retrospective interviews of victims about their feelings before and after RJ took place. We review the responses of victims (N= 210) who participated in trials in Canberra (Australia) and in London, Thames Valley, and Northumbria (UK). Despite substantial variations in offense types, social contexts, nation and race, before‐after changes revealed by qualitative and quantitative data are all in the same beneficial direction.
Restorative Justice and Procedural Justice: Dealing with Rule Breaking
Authors: Tyler Tom R.
Published: May 2006

This article identifies similarities among three approaches to dealing with rule breaking: the procedural justice model, the restorative justice model, and the study of moral development. Each argues that the long‐term goal when dealing with rule breaking is to motivate rule breakers to become more self‐regulating in their future conduct. This goal is undermined by punishment‐focused models of sanctioning. Sanction‐based models, which dominate current thinking about managing criminals, have negative consequences for the individual wrongdoer and for society. It is argued that greater focus needs to be placed on psychological approaches whose goal is to connect with and activate internal values within wrongdoers with the goal of encouraging self‐regulatory law‐related behavior in the future.
Differentiating CREF Performance
Authors: Gallo John G. , Lockwood Larry J. , Rodriguez Mauricio
Published: May 2006

We examine factors underlying the differences in commingled real estate fund (CREF) performance using a sample of 65 CREFs during 1985–2002. More than half of the individual CREFs underperformed the employed benchmark. However, portfolios of CREFs performed well in both up and down markets, smaller CREFs outperformed larger CREFs, and top performing CREFs continued to outperform. Differential CREF performance appears to be attributable to property selection, rather than allocation across real estate sectors. Liquidity‐constrained CREFs exhibited lower risk. CREFs with large benchmark tracking error experienced inferior performance. These findings indicate important cross‐sectional differences among CREFs and diversification opportunities for pensions employing multiple CREF investment strategies.
Closure Principles
Authors: Kvanvig Jonathan L.
Published: May 2006

A dispute in epistemology has arisen over whether some class of things epistemic (things known or justified, for example) is closed under some operation involving the notion of what follows deductively from members of this class. Very few philosophers these days believe that if you know thatp, andpentailsq, then you know thatq. But many philosophers think that something weaker holds, for instance that if you know thatp, andpentailsq, then you are in a position to know thatp, or if you know thatpand you competently deducepfromq, then you know thatq. However there are some considerations tracing back to Wittgenstein’sOn Certaintyand some early work by Fred Dretske that suggests even these weaker principles are false.
Endurance training has little effect on active muscle free fatty acid, lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglyceride net balances
Authors: Jacobs Kevin. A. , Krauss Ronald M. , Fattor Jill A. , Horning Michael A. , Friedlander Anne L. , Bauer Timothy A. , Hagobian Todd A. , Wolfel Eugene E. , Brooks George A.
Published: May 2006

We evaluated the hypothesis that net leg total FFA, LDL-C, and TG uptake and HDL-C release during moderate-intensity cycling exercise would be increased following endurance training. Eight sedentary men (26 ± 1 yr, 77.4 ± 3.7 kg) were studied in the postprandial state during 90 min of rest and 60 min of exercise twice before (45% and 65% V̇o2 peak) and twice after 9 wk of endurance training (55% and 65% posttraining V̇o2 peak). Measurements across an exercising leg were taken to be a surrogate for active skeletal muscle. To determine limb lipid exchange, femoral arterial and venous blood samples drawn simultaneously at rest and during exercise were analyzed for total and individual FFA (e.g., palmitate, oleate), LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG concentrations, and limb blood flow was determined by thermodilution. The transition from rest to exercise resulted in a shift from net leg total FFA release (−44 ± 16 μmol/min) to uptake (193 ± 49 μmol/min) that was unaffected by either exercise intensity or endurance training. The relative net leg release and uptake of individual FFA closely resembled their relative abundances in the plasma with ∼21 and 41% of net leg total FFA uptake during exercise accounted for by palmitate and oleate, respectively. Endurance training resulted in significant changes in arterial concentrations of HDL-C (49 ± 5 vs. 52 ± 5 mg/dl, pre vs. post) and LDL-C (82 ± 9 vs. 76 ± 9 mg/dl, pre vs. post), but there was no net TG or LDL-C uptake or HDL-C release across the resting or active leg before or after endurance training. In conclusion, endurance training favorably affects blood lipoprotein profiles, even in young, healthy normolipidemic men, but muscle contractions per se have little effect on net leg LDL-C, or TG uptake or HDL-C release during moderate-intensity cycling exercise. Therefore, the favorable effects of physical activity on the lipid profiles of young, healthy normolipidemic men in the postprandial state are not attributable to changes in HDL-C or LDL-C exchange across active skeletal muscle.
Thermal Capsulorrhaphy for the Treatment of Shoulder Instability
Authors: Miniaci Anthony , Codsi Michael J.
Published: May 2006

Thermal capsulorrhaphy has been used to treat many different types of shoulder instability, including multidirectional instability, unidirectional instability, and microinstability in overhead-throwing athletes. A device that delivers laser energy or radiofrequency energy to the capsule tissue causes the collagen to denature and the capsule to shrink. The optimal temperature to achieve the most shrinkage without causing necrosis of the tissue is between 65° and 75° centigrade. This treatment causes a significant decrease in mechanical stiffness for the first 2 weeks, and then, after the tissue undergoes active cellular repair from the surrounding uninjured tissue, the mechanical properties return to near normal by 12 weeks. If the thermal energy is applied in a grid pattern, then the tissue heals with more stiffness by 6 weeks. Clinical studies on thermal capsulorrhaphy for the treatment of multidirectional instability have shown a high rate of recurrent instability (12%-64%). The clinical studies on unidirectional instability showed much better recurrence rates (4%-25%), but because most of the patients also underwent concomitant Bankart repairs and superior labral anterior posterior lesion repairs, the efficacy of the thermal treatment cannot be ascertained. A randomized controlled trial would be needed to assess whether instability with Bankart lesions requires augmentation with thermal capsulorrhaphy. For the patients with microinstability who are overhead-throwing athletes, thermal capsulorrhaphy has shown varying results from a 97% rate of return to sports to a 62% rate of return to sports. Complications of this technique include temporary nerve injuries that usually involve the sensory branch of the axillary nerve and thermal necrosis of the capsule, which is rare.
Biodegradable and Metallic Interference Screws in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery Using Hamstring Tendon Grafts
Authors: Laxdal Gauti , Kartus Juri , Eriksson Bengt I. , Faxen Eva , Sernert Ninni , Karlsson Jon
Published: May 2006

Background

The use of biodegradable screws in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has grown in popularity.

Purpose

To compare the clinical and radiographic results in arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using 4-strand hamstring tendon grafts and either metallic (metal group) or biodegradable (PLLA group) interference screw fixation.

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods

A randomized series of 77 patients, all with a unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture, was included in the study. The preoperative assessments in both groups were similar in gender, Tegner activity level, Lysholm score, KT-1000 arthrometer measurements, and single-legged hop test results. In both groups, interference screw fixation of the graft was used at both ends, and 68 of 77 (88%) patients returned for a radiographic examination at 6 and 24 months, respectively.

Results

At follow-up, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups in KT-1000 arthrometer laxity measurements, Tegner activity level, or Lysholm score. The PLLA group had a significantly better outcome in the single-legged hop test and the final International Knee Documentation Committee classification (P=. 007 and P=. 03,respectively). At 6 and 24 months after the index operation, the PLLA group displayed significantly larger drill holes on the radiographs than did the metal group on both the tibial (8.1 vs 6.6 mm at 6 months [P=.0007]; 6.0 vs 3.2 mm at 24 months [.0001]) and femoral sides (7.8 vs 5.6 mm at 6 months [P <.0001]; 6.3 vs 1.9 mm at 24 months [P <.0001]).

Conclusion

There were significantly larger radiographically visible drill holes on both the tibial and femoral sides in the PLLA group compared with the metal group at 6 and 24 months. Clinical examination at 2 years revealed no major differences between the groups. The larger drill holes in the PLLA group did not correlate with inferior clinical results.
Thematic Apperception, Narrative Schemas, and Literacy
Authors: Blankman Cheryl , Teglasi Hedwig , Lawser Matthew
Published: May 2006

This study proposed that correlations among measures of reading comprehension, decoding, listening comprehension, and TAT story production would support emerging theories that argue for a broad conceptualization of literacy as involving cognitive processes that organize mental structures or schemas and would extend the construct validity of the TAT. Given the documented association between listening and reading comprehension, a deliberate over-sampling procedure was used to establish two groups of second and third graders with contrasting scores (average and above average) on listening comprehension. A substantial link (over 74% shared variance) emerged between listening comprehension and cognitive processes assessed with TAT stories (perceptual integration, cognitive integration, level of abstraction, and associative thinking). Moreover, this overlap between “comprehending” and “telling” stories applied to reading comprehension, with over 37% of the variance shared between storytelling and reading comprehension. The notion of shared mental processes was advanced further by the finding that decoding was about as closely correlated with storytelling and listening comprehension as it was with reading comprehension. An understanding of processes that predate reading failure is critical for the development of preventive interventions prior to the presumed mastery of decoding skills.
College-Sample Psychometric and Normative Data on a Short Form of the Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices Test
Authors: Arthur Winfred , Tubre Travis C. , Paul Don S. , Sanchez-Ku Maria L.
Published: May 2006

The Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices Test (APM) is a popular measure of higher-order general mental ability (g). Its use in both basic research and applied settings is partially attributable to its apparent low level of culture-loading. However, one disadvantage curtailing its more widespread use may be its protracted administration time. Arthur and Day addressed this issue by creating an APM short form. The present study provides college-sample normative data on this 12-item short form of the APM that demonstrates psychometric properties similar to those of the long form, but with a substantially shorter administration time. These data will facilitate the use and interpretation of short form test scores in research settings where administration time is a major concern.