bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the diurnal cycle of deep precipitating convection over land with cloud‐resolving models and single‐column models
Authors: Guichard F. , Petch J. C. , Redelsperger J.‐L. , Bechtold P. , Chaboureau J.‐P. , Cheinet S. , Grabowski W. , Grenier H. , Jones C. G. , Köhler M. , Piriou J.‐M. , Tailleux R. , Tomasini M.
Published: February 2005

An idealized case‐study has been designed to investigate the modelling of the diurnal cycle of deep precipitating convection over land. A simulation of this case was performed by seven single‐column models (SCMs) and three cloud‐resolving models (CRMs). Within this framework, a quick onset of convective rainfall is found in most SCMs, consistent with the results from general‐circulation models. In contrast, CRMs do not predict rainfall before noon. A joint analysis of the results provided by both types of model indicates that convection occurs too early in most SCMs, due to crude triggering criteria and quick onsets of convective precipitation. In the CRMs, the first clouds appear before noon, but surface rainfall is delayed by a few hours to several hours. This intermediate stage, missing in all SCMs except for one, is characterized by a gradual moistening of the free troposphere and an increase of cloud‐top height. Later on, convective downdraughts efficiently cool and dry the boundary layer (BL) in the CRMs. This feature is also absent in most SCMs, which tend to adjust towards more unstable states, with moister (and often more cloudy) low levels and a drier free atmosphere. This common behaviour of most SCMs with respect to deep moist convective processes occurs even though each SCM simulates a different diurnal cycle of the BL and atmospheric stability. The scatter among the SCMs results from the wide variety of representations of BL turbulence and moist convection in these models. Greater consistency is found among the CRMs, despite some differences in their representation of the daytime BL growth, which are linked to their parametrizations of BL turbulence and/or resolution. © Royal Meteorological Society, 2004. J. C. Petch's contribution is Crown copyright
An eddy‐diffusivity/mass‐flux parametrization for dry and shallow cumulus convection
Authors: Soares P. M. M. , Miranda P. M. A. , Siebesma A. P. , Teixeira J.
Published: February 2005

Recently, a new consistent way of parametrizing simultaneously local and non‐local turbulent transport for the convective atmospheric boundary layer has been proposed and tested for the clear boundary layer. This approach assumes that in the convective boundary layer the subgrid‐scale fluxes result from two different mixing scales: small eddies, that are parametrized by an eddy‐diffusivity approach, and thermals, which are represented by a mass‐flux contribution. Since the interaction between the cloud layer and the underlying sub‐cloud layer predominantly takes place through strong updraughts, this approach offers an interesting avenue of establishing a unified description of the turbulent transport in the cumulus‐topped boundary layer. This paper explores the possibility of such a new approach for the cumulus‐topped boundary layer. In the sub‐cloud and cloud layers, the mass‐flux term represents the effect of strong updraughts. These are modelled by a simple entraining parcel, which determines the mean properties of the strong updraughts, the boundary‐layer height, the lifting condensation level and cloud top. The residual smaller‐scale turbulent transport is parametrized with an eddy‐diffusivity approach that uses a turbulent kinetic energy closure. The new scheme is implemented and tested in the research model MesoNH. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Own-Brand and Cross-Brand Retail Pass-Through
Authors: Besanko David , Dubé Jean-Pierre , Gupta Sachin
Published: February 2005

In this paper we describe the pass-through behavior of a major U.S. supermarket chain for 78 products across 11 categories. Our data set includes retail prices and wholesale prices for stores in 15 retail price zones for a one-year period. For the empirical model, we use a reduced-form approach that focuses directly on equilibrium prices as a function of exogenous supply- and demand-shifting variables. The reduced-form approach enables us to identify the theoretical pass-through rate without specific assumptions about the form of consumer demand or the conduct of a category-pricing manager. Thus, our measurements of pass-through are not constrained by specific structure on the underlying economic model. The empirical pricing model includes costs of all competing products in the category on the right-hand side (not only the cost of the focal brand) and yields estimates of both own-brand and cross-brand pass-through rates.

Our results provide a rich picture of the retailer's pass-through behavior. We find that pass-through varies substantially across products and across categories. Own-brand pass-through rates are, on average, more than 60% for 9 of 11 categories, a finding that is at odds with the claims of manufacturers about retailers in general. Importantly, we find substantial evidence of cross-brand pass-through effects, indicating that retail prices of competing products are adjusted in response to a change in the wholesale price of any given product in the category. We find that cross-brand pass-through rates are both positive and negative. We explore determinants of own-brand and cross-brand pass-through rates and find strong evidence in multiple categories of asymmetric retailer response to trade promotions on large versus small brands. For example, brands with larger market shares, and brands that contribute more to retailer profits in the category, receive higher pass-through. We also find that trade promotions on large brands are less likely than small brands to generate positive cross-brand pass-through, i.e., induce the retailer to reduce the retail price of competing smaller products. On the other hand, small share brands are disadvantaged along three dimensions. Trade promotions on small brands receive low own-brand pass-through and generate positive cross-brand pass-through for larger competing brands. Moreover, small share brands do not receive positive cross pass-through from trade promotions on these larger competitors. We also find that store brands are similarly disadvantaged with respect to national brands.
A General Theory of Pass-Through in Channels with Category Management and Retail Competition
Authors: Moorthy Sridhar
Published: February 2005

I provide a general formulation of the channel pass-through problem as a comparative static of the retail price equilibrium, and I analyze the impact of category management and retail competition on pass-through, focusing on brand and retailer differences, and the nature of the cost change being passed through—whether it is brand specific, retailer specific, both, or neither.

With category management, a retailer's response to a brand-specific cost change is not limited to that brand; in general, a retailer will also change the prices of other brands. The cross-brand effect can be positive or negative, and, depending on its sign, it either enhances or attenuates pass-through. I explain the cross-brand effect as an interaction between two forces: a demand-substitution force that pushes for a negative cross-brand effect, and a strategic-complementarity force that pushes for a positive cross-brand effect. Retail competition adds another layer of strategic complementarity, causing other retailers to respond even for retailer-specific cost changes and increasing pass-through of categorywide cost changes. But its effect for brand-specific cost changes is ambiguous.

I apply the theory to two commonly used demand functions—linear demand and nested logit—and show that they have significantly different pass-through properties. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the theory relates to the empirical literature, including the companion piece by Besanko et al. (Besanko, D., J-P. Dubé, S. Gupta. 2005. Own-brand and cross-brand retail pass-through. Marketing Sci. 24(1) 123–137.)
Research Issues at the Boundary of Competitive Dynamics and Market Evolution
Authors: Soberman David , Gatignon Hubert
Published: February 2005

Building on the observation that competitive dynamics and market evolution are inextricably linked and underresearched, we propose a road map to guide and stimulate future research in the area. A number of rationales have been proposed to explain why there is relatively little research directed toward understanding the links between competitive dynamics and market evolution; these include the predominance of different research paradigms in each area, a lack of data appropriate for analyzing the two areas together, and the difficulty of obtaining robust and significant results with analysis that is by definition complex (it must consider factors and outcomes both across firms and over time). Using this last rationale as a starting point, we develop a series of research propositions related to key relationships where (a) insignificant or contradictory results have been obtained (in extant research) or (b) researchers have yet to delve. The propositions are designed to deepen our understanding of the relationship between the areas. Throughout the analysis, the key to developing the propositions is to recognize the importance of moderating factors, mediating factors, and covariates. In addition, where the approach to empirically test a proposition is new, we propose categories, measures, and comparisons that can be used.
Predicting Competitive Response to a Major Policy Change: Combining Game-Theoretic and Empirical Analyses
Authors: Ailawadi Kusum L. , Kopalle Praveen K. , Neslin Scott A.
Published: February 2005

This research uses Procter & Gamble's value pricing initiative as a context for testing whether actual competitor and retailer response to a major policy change can be predicted using a game-theoretic model. We first estimate demand functions for P&G and competitor brands from the period before value pricing was initiated. We then formulate a dynamic manufacturer-retailer Stackelberg model that includes P&G, a national-brand competitor, and a retailer. The model takes P&G's move as given and prescribes the price and promotion response of the competitors and the retailer. We substitute the estimated demand parameters into the model to obtain prescriptions for each competitor and the retailer, and see whether these prescriptions are related to the actual response. We find that the dynamic game-theoretic model calibrated with empirical estimates of demand parameters has significant predictive power. We also test the predictive power of two benchmark models. The first is based on the reaction function approach of Leeflang and Wittink (Leeflang, Peter S. H., Wittink, Dick R. 1992. Diagnosing competitive reactions using (aggregated) scanner data. Internat. J. Res. Marketing 9 39–57.), and the second is a simplification of our dynamic model where the retailer is not strategic. The dynamic game-theoretic model performs better than either benchmark.
Differences in Dynamic Brand Competition Across Markets: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Dubé Jean-Pierre , Manchanda Puneet
Published: February 2005

We investigate differences in the dynamics of marketing decisions across geographic markets empirically. We begin with a linear-quadratic game involving forward-looking firms competing on prices and advertising. Based on the corresponding Markov perfect equilibrium, we propose estimable econometric equations for demand and marketing policy. Our model allows us to measure empirically the strategic response of competitors along with economic measures such as firm profitability. We use a rich dataset that combines sales, marketing mix, factor cost, and advertising cost data for eighteen geographic markets in the frozen entrée category.

We find that larger markets tend to be less price-sensitive and more profitable than smaller markets. We also find evidence of positive carryover of own advertising on own demand. In terms of consumer substitution patterns, we find that the role of advertising (in our data) seems to be more category-building (complementary) than share-stealing (competitive). The complementary role is stronger in larger markets. On the supply side, we find that firms make smaller adjustments to own advertising as goodwill goes up. Consistent with cross-advertising effects on demand, firms make smaller (larger) adjustments to advertising in response to competitive goodwill in the less competitive larger (in the more competitive smaller) markets. Finally, we find that consumer welfare decreases (increases) in larger (smaller) markets when firms move to a zero-advertising regime.
Customer Targeting: A Neural Network Approach Guided by Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Kim YongSeog , Street W. Nick , Russell Gary J. , Menczer Filippo
Published: February 2005

One of the key problems in database marketing is the identification and profiling of households that are most likely to be interested in a particular product or service. Principal component analysis (PCA) of customer background information followed by logistic regression analysis of response behavior is commonly used by database marketers. In this paper, we propose a new approach that uses artificial neural networks (ANNs) guided by genetic algorithms (GAs) to target households. We show that the resulting selection rule is more accurate and more parsimonious than the PCA/logit rule when the manager has a clear decision criterion. Under vague decision criteria, the new procedure loses its advantage in interpretability, but is still more accurate than PCA/logit in targeting households.
Priority Auctions and Queue Disciplines That Depend on Processing Time
Authors: Kittsteiner Thomas , Moldovanu Benny
Published: February 2005

We analyze the allocation of priority in queues via simple bidding mechanisms. In our model, the stochastically arriving customers are privately informed about their own processing time. They make bids upon arrival at a queue whose length is unobservable. We consider two bidding schemes that differ in the definition of bids (these may reflect either total payments or payments per unit of time) and in the timing of payments (before or after service). In both schemes, a customer obtains priority over all customers, waiting in the queue or arriving while he is waiting, who make lower bids. Our main results show how the convexity/concavity of the function expressing the costs of delay determines the queue discipline (i.e., shortest-processing-time-first (SPT), longest-processing-time-first (LPT)) arising in a bidding equilibrium.
Moral Property Rights in Bargaining with Infeasible Claims
Authors: Gächter Simon , Riedl Arno
Published: February 2005

In many business transactions, labor-management relations, international conflicts, and welfare-state reforms, bargainers hold strong entitlements that are often generated by claims that are not feasible anymore. These entitlements seem to shape negotiation behavior considerably. By using the novel setup of a “bargaining with claims” experiment, we provide new systematic evidence tracking the influence of entitlements and obligations through the whole bargaining process. We find strong entitlement effects that shape opening offers, bargaining duration, concessions, and (dis)agreements. We argue that entitlements constitute a “moral property right” that is influential independent of negotiators' legal property rights.
An Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Information on Competitive Decision Making
Authors: Abramson Charles , Currim Imran S. , Sarin Rakesh
Published: February 2005

Managers often employ market response models as decision aids and historical information of competitors' market outcomes to aid their competitive decisions in oligopolistic settings. However, little is known about how access to a decision aid or the availability of competitors' market outcomes impact a firm's competitive decisions (e.g., prices) or market outcomes resulting from those decisions (e.g., profits), or how managers make these decisions across such informational conditions. Hence, the objective of this paper is twofold. First, we investigate whether access to a decision aid and historical information of competitors' outcomes yields more- or less-competitive decisions and outcomes. Second, we determine which learning constructs, such as choice reinforcement and beliefs about projected profits, best explain competitive actions across various information conditions. We find that relative to the availability of competitive information, access to a decision aid has a larger effect on lowering prices and profits. We also find that in two-firm markets, price competition is even more intense than in five-firm markets. Similarly, the availability of market share information leads to more aggressive pricing even when profits are held constant. Finally, we outline the implications of our findings in making managerial resource allocations to market research endeavors.
From the Editor
Authors: Argote Linda
Published: February 2005

This editorial describes major developments at Organization Science in 2004. An outgoing senior editor is acknowledged, and incoming senior editors and members of the editorial review board are introduced. The new online submission and review system is discussed, and feedback to improve the system is invited. Our efforts to be responsive to authors and provide quality, timely feedback are described. Special issues are announced. Members of the Organization Science community are thanked for making 2004 a successful year for the journal.
Single-stage open reduction through a medial approach and innominate osteotomy in developmental dysplasia of the hip
Authors: Baki C. , Sener M. , Aydin H. , Yildiz M. , Saruhan S.
Published: February 2005

We treated 15 hips (15 patients) with developmental dysplasia by a single-stage combination of open reduction through a medial approach and innominate osteotomy. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 20 months (13 to 30). The mean follow-up period was 9.6 years (4 to 14).

At the final follow-up, 14 hips were assessed clinically as excellent and one hip as good. Radiologically, ten hips were rated as class I, four as class II and one as class III according to the criteria of Severin. No avascular necrosis was seen. No patient required subsequent surgery. Our results indicate that satisfactory results can be obtained with the single-stage combination of open reduction by the medial approach and innominate osteotomy for developmental dysplasia of the hip in a selected group of children older than 12 months. To our knowledge, no similar combined technique has been previously reported.
Zoledronic acid causes enhancement of bone growth into porous implants
Authors: Bobyn J. D. , Hacking S. A. , Krygier J. J. , Harvey E. J. , Little D. G. , Tanzer M.
Published: February 2005

The effect of zoledronic acid on bone ingrowth was examined in an animal model in which porous tantalum implants were placed bilaterally within the ulnae of seven dogs. Zoledronic acid in saline was administered via a single post-operative intravenous injection at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. The ulnae were harvested six weeks after surgery. Undecalcified transverse histological sections of the implant-bone interfaces were imaged with backscattered scanning electron microscopy and the percentage of available pore space that was filled with new bone was calculated. The mean extent of bone ingrowth was 6.6% for the control implants and 12.2% for the zoledronic acid-treated implants, an absolute difference of 5.6% (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 10.1) and a relative difference of 85% which was statistically significant. Individual islands of new bone formation within the implant pores were similar in number in both groups but were 69% larger in the zoledronic acid-treated group. The bisphosphonate zoledronic acid should be further investigated for use in accelerating or enhancing the biological fixation of implants to bone.
Irradiated allograft bone for acetabular revision surgery
Authors: Buckley S. C. , Stockley I. , Hamer A. J. , Kerry R. M.
Published: February 2005

We report the results of the revision of 123 acetabular components for aseptic loosening treated by impaction bone grafting using frozen, morsellised, irradiated femoral heads and cemented sockets. This is the first large series using this technique to be reported. A survivorship of 88% with revision as the end-point after a mean of five years is comparable with that of other series.
Ankylosing neurogenic myositis ossificans of the hip
Authors: Carlier R. Y. , Safa D. M. L. , Parva P. , Mompoint D. , Judet T. , Denormandie P. , Vallée C. A. , Judet T. , Denormandie P.
Published: February 2005

Neurogenic myositis ossificans is a disabling condition affecting the large joints of patients with severe post-traumatic impairment of the central nervous system. It can result in ankylosis of the joint and vascular or neural compression. Surgery may be hazardous with potential haemorrhage, neurovascular injury, iatrogenic fracture and osteochondral injury. We undertook pre-operative volumetric CT assessment of 45 ankylosed hips with neurogenic myositis ossificans which required surgery. Helical CT with intravenous contrast, combined with two- and three-dimensional surface reconstructions, was the only pre-operative imaging procedure. This gave good differentiation of the heterotopic bone from the adjacent vessels. We established that early surgery, within 24 months of injury, was neither complicated by peri-operative fracture nor by the early recurrence of neurogenic myositis ossificans. Surgical delay was associated with a loss of joint space and a greater degree of bone demineralisation. Enhanced volumetric CT is an excellent method for the pre-operative assessment of neurogenic myositis ossificans and correlates well with the operative findings.
Vancomycin-supplemented impacted bone allografts in infected hip arthroplasty
Authors: Buttaro M. A. , Pusso R. , Piccaluga F.
Published: February 2005

Bone allografts can store and release high levels of vancomycin. We present our results of a two-stage treatment for infected hip arthroplasty with acetabular and femoral impaction grafting using vancomycin-loaded allografts. We treated 29 patients (30 hips) by removal of the implants, meticulous debridement, parenteral antibiotic therapy and second-stage reconstruction using vancomycin-supplemented impacted bone allografts and a standard cemented Charnley femoral component. The mean follow-up was 32.4 months (24 to 60). Infection control was obtained in 29 cases (re-infection rate of 3.3%; 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 17) without evidence of progressive radiolucent lines, demarcation or graft resorption. One patient had a further infection ten months after revision caused by a different pathogen. Associated post-operative complications were one traumatic periprosthetic fracture at 14 months, a single dislocation in two hips and four displacements of the greater trochanter. Vancomycin-supplemented allografts restored bone stock and provided sound fixation with a low incidence of further infection.
Rotationplasty type BI versus type BIIIa in children under the age of ten years
Authors: Hardes J. , Gosheger G. , Vachtsevanos L. , Hoffmann C. , Ahrens H. , Winkelmann W.
Published: February 2005

Type BI rotationplasty is currently indicated for children with tumours of the proximal femur whereas type BIIIa rotationplasty is reserved for those in which the entire femur has to be removed. Our aim was to compare these two types of rotationplasty and determine whether the knee should be preserved in children with tumours of the proximal femur. We compared the post-operative complications, oncological outcome, range of movement, Enneking score and radiographs of six children, who had undergone type BI rotationplasty with those of 12 who had undergone type BIIIa rotationplasty.

Patients with type BI rotationplasty had a mean Enneking score of 21.6 compared with 24.4 in those with type BIIIa rotationplasty, and worse mean results in all of the parameters investigated. We conclude that type BI rotationplasty has a worse functional outcome and more complications than type BIIIa rotationplasty in children under the age of ten years.
A postal survey of current thromboprophylactic practices of consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the treatment of fracture of the hip
Authors: Watts A. C. , Brenkel I. J.
Published: February 2005

Despite increasing scientific investigation, the best method for preventing post-operative deep-vein thrombosis remains unclear. In the wake of the publication of the Pulmonary Embolism Prevention trial and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) on the prevention of thromboembolism, we felt that it was timely to survey current thromboprophylactic practices. Questionnaires were sent to all consultants on the register of the British Orthopaedic Association. The rate of response was 62%. The survey showed a dramatic change in practice towards the use of chemoprophylaxis since the review by Morris and Mitchell in 1976. We found that there was a greater uniformity of opinion and prescribing practices in Scotland, consistent with the SIGN guidelines, than in the rest of the UK. We argue in favour of the use of such documents which are based on a qualitative review of current scientific literature.
Surgical treatment of late developmental displacement of the hip
Authors: Angliss R. , Fujii G. , Pickvance E. , Wainwright A. M. , Benson M. K. D.
Published: February 2005

The outcome of displaced hips treated by Somerville and Scott’s method was assessed after more than 25 years. A total of 147 patients (191 displaced hips) was reviewed which represented an overall follow-up of 65.6%. The median age at the index operation was two years. During the first five years, 25 (13%) hips showed signs of avascular change.

The late development of valgus angulation of the neck, after ten years, was seen in 69 (36%) hips. Further operations were frequently necessary. Moderate to severe osteoarthritis developed at a young age in 40% of the hips. Total hip replacement or arthrodesis was necessary in 27 (14%) hips at a mean age of 36.5 years. Risk factors identified were high dislocation, open reduction, and age at the original operation. Two groups of patients were compared according to outcome. All the radiographic indices were different between the two groups after ten years, but most were similar before. It takes a generation to establish the prognosis, although some early indicators may help to predict outcome.
The effect of hospital type and surgical delay on mortality after surgery for hip fracture
Authors: Weller I. , Wai E. K. , Jaglal S. , Kreder H. J.
Published: February 2005

Death during the first year after hip fracture may be influenced by the type of hospital in which patients are treated as well as the time spent awaiting surgery. We studied 57 315 hip fracture patients who were admitted to hospital in Ontario, Canada. Patients treated in teaching hospitals had a decreased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 0.97) compared with those treated in urban community institutions. There was a trend toward increased mortality in rural rather than urban community hospitals. In-hospital mortality increased as the surgical delay increased (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.16) for a one-day delay and higher (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.42 to 1.80) for delays of more than two days. This relationship was strongest for patients younger than 70 years of age and with no comorbidities but was independent of hospital status. Similar relationships were seen at three months and one year after surgery. This suggests that any delay to surgery for non-medical reasons is detrimental to a patient’s outcome.
Osteonecrosis in retrieved femoral heads after failed resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip
Authors: Little C. P. , Ruiz A. L. , Harding I. J. , McLardy-Smith P. , Gundle R. , Murray D. W. , Athanasou N. A.
Published: February 2005

We present the histological findings of bone retrieved from beneath the femoral components of failed metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasties. Of a total of 377 patients who underwent resurfacing arthroplasty, 13 required revision; for fracture of the femoral neck in eight, loosening of a component in three and for other reasons in two. None of these cases had shown histological evidence of osteonecrosis in the femoral bone at the time of the initial implantation.

Bone from the remnant of the femoral head showed changes of osteonecrosis in all but one case at revision. In two cases of fracture which occurred within a week of implantation, the changes were compatible with early necrosis of the edge of the fracture. In the remaining six fractures, there were changes of established osteonecrosis. In all but one of the non-fracture cases, patchy osteonecrosis was seen.

We conclude that histological evidence of osteonecrosis is a common finding in failed resurfaced hips. Given that osteonecrosis is extensive in resurfaced femoral heads which fail by fracture, it is likely to play a role in the causation of these fractures.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation at the knee using a bilayer collagen membrane with bone graft
Authors: Bartlett W. , Gooding C. R. , Carrington R. W. J. , Skinner J. A. , Briggs T. W. R. , Bentley G.
Published: February 2005

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a technique used for the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral defects of the knee. A variation of the original periosteum membrane technique is the matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) technique. The MACI membrane consists of a porcine type-I/III collagen bilayer seeded with chondrocytes. Osteochondral defects deeper than 8 to 10 mm usually require bone grafting either before or at the time of transplantation of cartilage. We have used a variation of Peterson’s ACI-periosteum sandwich technique using two MACI membranes with bone graft which avoids periosteal harvesting. The procedure is suture-free and requires less operating time and surgical exposure. We performed this MACI-sandwich technique on eight patients, five of whom were assessed at six months and one year post-operatively using the modified Cincinnati knee, the Stanmore functional rating and the visual analogue pain scores.

All patients improved within six months with further improvement at one year. The clinical outcome was good or excellent in four after six months and one year. No significant graft-associated complications were observed. Our early results of the MACI-sandwich technique are encouraging although larger medium-term studies are required before there is widespread adoption of the technique.
Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis
Authors: Winson I. G. , Robinson D. E. , Allen P. E.
Published: February 2005

We reviewed 116 patients who underwent 118 arthroscopic ankle arthrodeses. The mean age at operation was 57 years, 2 months (20 to 86 years). The indication for operation was post-traumatic osteoarthritis in 67, primary osteoarthritis in 36, inflammatory arthropathy in 13 and avascular necrosis in two. The mean follow-up was 65 months (18 to 144). Nine patients (10 ankles) died before final review and three were lost to follow-up, leaving 104 patients (105 ankles) who were assessed by a standard telephone interview. The pre-operative talocrural deformity was between 22° valgus and 28° varus, 94 cases were within 10° varus/valgus. The mean time to union was 12 weeks (6 to 20). Nonunion occurred in nine cases (7.6%). Other complications included 22 cases requiring removal of a screw for prominence, three superficial infections, two deep vein thromboses/pulmonary emboli, one revision of fixation, one stress fracture and one deep infection. Six patients had a subtalar fusion at a mean of 48 months after ankle fusion. There were 48 patients with excellent, 35 with good, 10 with fair and 11 with poor clinical results.
Longitudinal Patterns and Predictors of Alcohol Consumption in the United States
Authors: Moore Alison A. , Gould Robert , Reuben David B. , Greendale Gail A. , Carter M. Kallin , Zhou Kefei , Karlamangla Arun
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We examined demographic predictors of longitudinal patterns in alcohol consumption.

Methods. We used mixed-effects models to describe individual alcohol consumption and change in consumption with age, as well as the associations between consumption and birth year, national alcohol consumption, and demographic factors, among 14 105 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study.

Results. Alcohol consumption declined with increasing age, and individual consumption mirrored national consumption. Higher consumption was associated with male gender, being White, being married, having a higher educational level, having a higher income, being employed, and being a smoker. Faster age-related decline in consumption was associated with earlier cohorts, being male, being married, having a lower educational level, and being a smoker.

Conclusions. Compared with alcohol consumption among earlier cohorts, that among recent cohorts declined more slowly with increasing age, suggesting that negative health effects of alcohol could increase in the future.
Persistence of Effects of the Checkpoints Program on Parental Restrictions of Teen Driving Privileges
Authors: Simons-Morton Bruce G. , Hartos Jessica L. , Leaf William A. , Preusser David F.
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We describe intervention effects on parent limits on novice teenage driving.

Methods. We recruited parents and their 16-year-old children (n = 469) with learner’s permits and randomized them from August 2000 to March 2003. Intervention families received persuasive newsletters related to high-risk teenage driving and a parent–teenager driving agreement; comparison families received standard information on driver safety. We conducted interviews when the adolescents obtained a learner’s permit, upon licensure, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postlicensure.

Results. Intervention parents and teenagers reported stricter limits on teen driving compared with the comparison group at 12 months, with direct effects through 3 months and indirect effects through 12 months postlicensure.

Conclusions. A simple behavioral intervention was efficacious in increasing parental restriction of high-risk teen driving conditions among newly licensed drivers.
Relationship Between Drug Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence: A Longitudinal Study Among Women Receiving Methadone
Authors: El-Bassel Nabila , Gilbert Louisa , Wu Elwin , Go Hyun , Hill Jennifer
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We examined whether frequent drug use increases the likelihood of subsequent sexual or physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and whether IPV increases the likelihood of subsequent frequent drug use.

Methods. A random sample of 416 women on methadone was assessed at baseline (wave 1) and at 6 months (wave 2), and 12 months (wave 3) following the initial assessment. Propensity score matching and multiple logistic regression were employed.

Results. Women who reported frequent crack use at wave 2 were more likely than non–drug using women to report IPV at wave 3 (odds ratio [OR]=4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.1, 9.1; P<.01), and frequent marijuana users at wave 2 were more likely than non–drug users to report IPV at wave 3 (OR=4.5; 95% CI=2.4, 8.4; P<.01). In addition, women who reported IPV at wave 2 were more likely than women who did not report IPV to indicate frequent heroin use at wave 3 (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.1, 6.5; P=.04).

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the relationship between frequent drug use and IPV is bidirectional and varies by type of drug.
Homicide: A Leading Cause of Injury Deaths Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States, 1991–1999
Authors: Chang Jeani , Berg Cynthia J. , Saltzman Linda E. , Herndon Joy
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We identified risk factors for pregnancy-associated homicide (women who died as a result of homicide during or within 1 year of pregnancy) in the United States from 1991 to 1999.

Methods. Pregnancy-associated homicides were analyzed with data from the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Results. Six hundred seventeen (8.4%) homicide deaths were reported to the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. The pregnancy-associated homicide ratio was 1.7 per 100000 live births. Risk factors included age younger than 20 years, Black race, and late or no prenatal care. Firearms were the leading mechanism for homicide (56.6%).

Conclusions. Homicide is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated injury deaths.
Work-Related Pain and Injury and Barriers to Workers’ Compensation Among Las Vegas Hotel Room Cleaners
Authors: Scherzer Teresa , Rugulies Reiner , Krause Niklas
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of work-related pain and injury and explored barriers to and experiences of reporting among workers.

Methods. We surveyed 941 unionized hotel room cleaners about work-related pain, injury, disability, and reporting.

Results. During the past 12 months, 75% of workers in our study experienced work-related pain, and 31% reported it to management; 20% filed claims for workers’ compensation as a result of work-related injury, and 35% of their claims were denied. Barriers to reporting injury included “It would be too much trouble” (43%), “I was afraid” (26%), and “I didn’t know how” (18%). An estimated 69% of medical costs were shifted from employers to workers.

Conclusions. The reasons for underreporting and the extent of claim denial warrant further investigation. Implications for worker health and the precise quantification of shifting costs to workers also should be addressed.
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Common Mental Disorders Among Workers: Findings From the EMPIRIC Study of Ethnic Minority Groups in the United Kingdom
Authors: Bhui Kamaldeep , Stansfeld Stephen , McKenzie Kwame , Karlsen Saffron , Nazroo James , Weich Scott
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We measured perceived discrimination and its association with common mental disorders among workers in the United Kingdom.

Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of a national sample of 6 ethnic groups (n=2054). Discrimination was measured as reports of insults; unfair treatment at work; or job denial stemming from race, religion, or language. The outcome assessed was presence of common mental disorders.

Results. The risk of mental disorders was highest among ethnic minority individuals reporting unfair treatment (odds ratio [OR]=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2, 3.2) and racial insults (OR=2.3; 95% CI=1.4, 3.6). The overall greatest risks were observed among Black Caribbeans exposed to unfair treatment at work (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.2, 7.3) and Indian (OR=3.1; 95% CI=1.4, 7.2), Bangladeshi (OR=32.9; 95% CI=2.5, 436.0), and Irish (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.1, 7.6) individuals reporting insults.

Conclusions. Racial/ethnic discrimination shows strong associations with common mental disorders.
Underreporting of Maternal Deaths on Death Certificates and the Magnitude of the Problem of Maternal Mortality
Authors: Horon Isabelle L.
Published: February 2005

Objectives. I studied the extent to which maternal deaths are underreported on death certificates.

Methods. We collected data on maternal deaths from death certificates, linkage of death certificates with birth and fetal death records, and review of medical examiner records.

Results. Thirty-eight percent of maternal deaths were unreported on death certificates. Half or more deaths were unreported for women who were undelivered at the time of death, experienced a fetal death or therapeutic abortion, died more than a week after delivery, or died as a result of a cardiovascular disorder.

Conclusions. The number of maternal deaths is substantially underestimated when death certificates alone are used to identify deaths, and it is unlikely that the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the maternal mortality rate to no more than 3.3 deaths per 100000 live births by 2010 can be achieved. Increasing numbers of births to older women and multiple-gestation pregnancies are likely to complicate efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
Promoting Health for Transgender Women: Transgender Resources and Neighborhood Space (TRANS) Program in San Francisco
Authors: Nemoto Tooru , Operario Don , Keatley JoAnne , Nguyen Hongmai , Sugano Eiko
Published: February 2005

Transgender women are at high risk for HIV, substance abuse, and mental health problems. We describe a health promotion intervention program tailored to transgender women in San Francisco.

The program creates a safe space for providing transgender-sensitive education about HIV risk reduction, substance abuse prevention, and general health promotion. Transgender health educators conduct workshops and make referrals to appropriate substance abuse treatment programs and other services in the community.

Evaluation findings indicate that this community-tailored intervention may be an effective way to reach transgender women and reduce sexual risk behaviors, depression, and perceived barriers to substance abuse treatment.
Smoke-Free Airlines and the Role of Organized Labor: A Case Study
Authors: Pan Jocelyn , Barbeau Elizabeth M. , Levenstein Charles , Balbach Edith D.
Published: February 2005

Labor unions play an important role in debates about smoke-free worksites. We investigated the role of flight attendants and their unions in creating smoke-free air travel.

We used case study methodology to search tobacco industry documents and labor union periodicals and to interview key informants (i.e., people identified as having first-hand information and experience in the campaign to make airlines smoke free). We then compared findings across these data sources.

Tobacco industry strategies against the establishment of smoke-free worksites failed in the case of airlines, largely because of the efforts of flight attendants and their unions. Other factors contributed to the failure but likely would have been insufficient to derail industry efforts without strong stands by the flight attendants. This case illustrates the potential for successful partnerships between unions and tobacco control policy advocates when developing smoke-free worksite policies.
Inclusion of People With Disabilities in Telephone Health Surveillance Surveys
Authors: Kinne Susan , Topolski Tari D.
Published: February 2005

Objectives. Telephone survey data are widely used to describe population health, but some fear that people with disabilities cannot participate. We tested the hypothesis that a telephone survey would underrepresent adults with disabilities, and that the adults with disabilities who responded would report lower prevalences of sensory, mental, self-care, and multiple limitations than those observed in people with disabilities in the general population.

Methods. We compared characteristics of adults with disabilities identified by the 2001 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to Washington adults with disabilities in the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS), to 2 BRFSS Disability Supplements, and to the Washington State Population Survey. All except the C2SS are telephone surveys.

Results. Contrary to expectations, post hoc analyses of all telephone surveys found significantly higher prevalence of disability in the Washington adult population than did the C2SS. The hypothesis of more sensory, mental, and self-care limitation in telephone disability samples was supported in only 2 of 11 instances in which a disability sample was asked about 1 of these limitations. Findings were not explained by differences in disability definition or type of informant.

Conclusions. These results suggest that population telephone surveys do not underrepresent adults with disabilities. The counterintuitive finding of their higher survey participation raises further questions.
A Model Designed to Enhance Informed Consent: Experiences From the HIV Prevention Trials Network
Authors: Woodsong Cynthia , Karim Quarraisha Abdool
Published: February 2005

HIV prevention research in developing countries has resulted in increased attention to and discussion of ethical issues, particularly the issue of the quality of informed consent. We present a conceptual framework for an enhanced informed consent process, drawing on experiences garnered from domestic and international studies conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, funded by the National Institutes of Health.

This framework guides the development of an informed consent process designed to help ensure initial and continued comprehension of research participation, with an emphasis on HIV prevention research. Attention is focused at the individual and community levels and on 3 study phases: preenrollment, enrollment, and postenrollment.
Human Biomonitoring to Optimize Fish Consumption Advice: Reducing Uncertainty When Evaluating Benefits and Risks
Authors: Arnold Scott M. , Lynn Tracey V. , Verbrugge Lori A. , Middaugh John P.
Published: February 2005

National fish consumption advisories that are based solely on assessment of risk of exposure to contaminants without consideration of consumption benefits result in overly restrictive advice that discourages eating fish even in areas where such advice is unwarranted. In fact, generic fish advisories may have adverse public health consequences because of decreased fish consumption and substitution of foods that are less healthy.

Public health is on the threshold of a new era for determining actual exposures to environmental contaminants, owing to technological advances in analytical chemistry. It is now possible to target fish consumption advice to specific at-risk populations by evaluating individual contaminant exposures and health risk factors. Because of the current epidemic of nutritionally linked disease, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, general recommendations for limiting fish consumption are ill conceived and potentially dangerous.
The State Sets the Rate: The Relationship Among State-Specific College Binge Drinking, State Binge Drinking Rates, and Selected State Alcohol Control Policies
Authors: Nelson Toben F. , Naimi Timothy S. , Brewer Robert D. , Wechsler Henry
Published: February 2005

Objectives. We assessed the relationship between college binge drinking, binge drinking in the general population, and selected alcohol control policies.

Methods. We analyzed binge drinking rates from 2 national surveys, the Har-vard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Binge drinking data were linked to a summary measure of 7 salient alcohol control policies and a rating of resources devoted to law enforcement.

Results. State-level college and adult binge drinking rates were strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.43; P<.01). Attending college in states with the lowest binge drinking rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41, 0.97) and presence of more stringent alcohol control policies (adjusted OR=0.57; 95% CI=0.33, 0.97) were independent predictors of student binge drinking, after adjusting for state law enforcement and individual-, college-, and state-level covariates.

Conclusions. State of residence is a predictor of binge drinking by college students. State-level alcohol control policies may help reduce binge drinking among college students and in the general population.