bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SAS-4 is recruited to a dynamic structure in newly forming centrioles that is stabilized by the γ-tubulin–mediated addition of centriolar microtubules
Authors: Dammermann Alexander , Maddox Paul S. , Desai Arshad , Oegema Karen
Published: February 2008

Centrioles are surrounded by pericentriolar material (PCM), which is proposed to promote new centriole assembly by concentrating γ-tubulin. Here, we quantitatively monitor new centriole assembly in living Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, focusing on the conserved components SAS-4 and SAS-6. We show that SAS-4 and SAS-6 are coordinately recruited to the site of new centriole assembly and reach their maximum levels during S phase. Centriolar SAS-6 is subsequently reduced by a mechanism intrinsic to the early assembly pathway that does not require progression into mitosis. Centriolar SAS-4 remains in dynamic equilibrium with the cytoplasmic pool until late prophase, when it is stably incorporated in a step that requires γ-tubulin and microtubule assembly. These results indicate that γ-tubulin in the PCM stabilizes the nascent daughter centriole by promoting microtubule addition to its outer wall. Such a mechanism may help restrict new centriole assembly to the vicinity of preexisting parent centrioles that recruit PCM.
Loss of the BH3-only protein Bmf impairs B cell homeostasis and accelerates γ irradiation–induced thymic lymphoma development
Authors: Labi Verena , Erlacher Miriam , Kiessling Stephan , Manzl Claudia , Frenzel Anna , O'Reilly Lorraine , Strasser Andreas , Villunger Andreas
Published: February 2008

Members of the Bcl-2 protein family play crucial roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis by regulating apoptosis in response to developmental cues or exogenous stress. Proapoptotic BH3-only members of the Bcl-2 family are essential for initiation of cell death, and they function by activating the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax and/or Bak, either directly or indirectly through binding to prosurvival Bcl-2 family members. Bax and Bak then elicit the downstream events in apoptosis signaling. Mammals have at least eight BH3-only proteins and they are activated in a stimulus-specific, as well as a cell type–specific, manner. We have generated mice lacking the BH3-only protein Bcl-2–modifying factor (Bmf) to investigate its role in cell death signaling. Our studies reveal that Bmf is dispensable for embryonic development and certain forms of stress-induced apoptosis, including loss of cell attachment (anoikis) or UV irradiation. Remarkably, loss of Bmf protected lymphocytes against apoptosis induced by glucocorticoids or histone deacetylase inhibition. Moreover, bmf−/− mice develop a B cell–restricted lymphadenopathy caused by the abnormal resistance of these cells to a range of apoptotic stimuli. Finally, Bmf-deficiency accelerated the development of γ irradiation–induced thymic lymphomas. Our results demonstrate that Bmf plays a critical role in apoptosis signaling and can function as a tumor suppressor.
Predator (cat hair)-induced enhancement of hippocampal long-term potentiation in rats: Involvement of acetylcholine
Authors: Dringenberg Hans C. , Oliveira Daniel , Habib Diala
Published: February 2008

Extensive literature has demonstrated that arousal and fear modify memory acquisition and consolidation. Predator hair and odors increase arousal in rats and, therefore, may influence information encoding and synaptic plasticity in the rodent nervous system. In behavioral experiments, we confirm that laboratory-bred Long Evans rats avoid cat hair. Electrophysiological work in vivo showed that long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus induced by perforant path stimulation was enhanced for 5–7 days when LTP induction occurred in the presence of cat hair relative to fake hair. The muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (i.p.) reversed the cat hair–elicited LTP enhancement without affecting weaker LTP elicited in the presence of fake hair. Thus, exposure to a predator stimulus elicits a cholinergically-dependent state of heightened plasticity that may serve to facilitate information storage in hippocampal circuits.
Bioinformatic mining of EST‐SSR loci in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas
Authors: Wang Y. , Ren R. , Yu Z.
Published: February 2008

A set of expressed sequence tag‐simple sequence repeat (EST‐SSR) markers of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, was developed through bioinformatic mining of the GenBank public database. As of June 30, 2007, a total of 5132 EST sequences from GenBank were downloaded and screened for di‐, tri‐ and tetra‐nucleotide repeats, with criteria set at a minimum of 5, 4 and 4 repeats for the three categories of SSRs respectively. Seventeen polymorphic microsatellite markers were characterized. Allele numbers ranged from 3 to 10, and the observed and expected heterozygosity values varied from 0.125 to 0.770 and from 0.113 to 0.732 respectively. Eleven loci were at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE); the other six loci showed significant departure from HWE (P < 0.01), suggesting possible presence of null alleles. Pairwise check of linkage disequilibrium (LD) indicated that 11 of 136 pairs of loci showed significant LD (P < 0.01), likely due to HWE present in single markers. Cross‐species amplification was examined for five other Crassostrea species and reasonable results were obtained, promising usefulness of these markers in oyster genetics.
Does pharmacist‐led medication review help to reduce hospital admissions and deaths in older people? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Holland Richard , Desborough James , Goodyer Larry , Hall Sandra , Wright David , Loke Yoon K.
Published: February 2008

We set out to determine the effects of pharmacist‐led medication review in older people by means of a systematic review and meta‐analysis covering 11 electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials in any setting, concerning older people (mean age > 60 years), were considered, aimed at optimizing drug regimens and improving patient outcomes. Our primary outcome was emergency hospital admission (all cause). Secondary outcomes were mortality and numbers of drugs prescribed. We also recorded data on drug knowledge, adherence and adverse drug reactions. We retrieved 32 studies which fitted the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis of 17 trials revealed no significant effect on all‐cause admission, relative risk (RR) of 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87, 1.14, P = 0.92], with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 49.5, P = 0.01). Meta‐analysis of mortality data from 22 trials found no significant benefit, with a RR of mortality of 0.96 (95% CI 0.82, 1.13, P = 0.62), with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0%). Pharmacist‐led medication review may slightly decrease numbers of drugs prescribed (weighted mean difference = −0.48, 95% CI −0.89, −0.07), but significant heterogeneity was found (I2 = 85.9%, P < 0.001). Results for additional outcomes could not be pooled, but suggested that interventions could improve knowledge and adherence. Pharmacist‐led medication review interventions do not have any effect on reducing mortality or hospital admission in older people, and can not be assumed to provide substantial clinical benefit. Such interventions may improve drug knowledge and adherence, but there are insufficient data to know whether quality of life is improved.
Biologic response to subcutaneous and intranasal therapy with desmopressin in a large Amish kindred with Type 2M von Willebrand disease
Authors: SHARTHKUMAR A. , GREIST A. , DI PAOLA J. , WINAY J. , ROBERSON C. , HEIMAN M. , HERBERT S. , PARAMESWARAN R. , SHAPIRO A.
Published: February 2008

Summary.  The aim of this study was to characterize the adequacy and longevity of biological response to desmopressin (DDAVP) in a large Amish kindred of Type 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD) possessing C‐to‐T transition at nucleotide 4120 in exon 28 of A1 domain of von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene. Response to both intranasal (Stimate®) and subcutaneous DDAVP administration was assessed. Rise in ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo) ≥ 40% at 90‐min post‐Stimate® and 1–2 h after subcutaneous DDAVP was defined as initial response; response longevity was assessed only after subcutaneous dosing by measuring VWF:RCo levels at time‐points 1, 2, 4 and 6 h. Eleven patients (five males, six females; age range: 20–56 years) participated in intranasal and 9/11 (four males, five females) in subcutaneous testing. Baseline haemostatic profiles included: VWF:RCo < 15%, VWF:Ag < 40% and normal VWF multimers. Initial response was comparable by both intranasal (6/11; 54.5%) and subcutaneous (4/9; 44%) routes; sustained response (VWF:RCo > 40% for 2 h) was observed in only one in nine (11%) patients tested. Median VWF:RCo peak levels after intranasal (40%) and subcutaneous (39%) routes were equivalent. Peak VWF:Ag levels were significantly higher after subcutaneous than intranasal DDAVP (94% vs. 54%; P = 0.03). Area under the curve for VWF:RCo was significantly decreased (170 μg h mL−1) compared with VWF:Ag (471 μg h mL−1) and FVIII:C (624.60 μg h mL−1). This study suggests that in this population: (i) intra‐individual DDAVP response is consistent with subcutaneous and intranasal administration; and (ii) extending DDAVP challenge test up to at least 6 h is required to characterize adequacy and longevity of biologic response prior to using DDAVP as a sole haemostatic intervention.
Mapping local field enhancements at nanostructured metal surfaces by second‐harmonic generation induced in the near field
Authors: CELEBRANO M. , ZAVELANI‐ROSSI M. , POLLI D. , CERULLO G. , BIAGIONI P. , FINAZZI M. , DUÒ L. , LABARDI M. , ALLEGRINI M. , GRAND J. , ADAM P.‐M.
Published: February 2008

We report on an aperture scanning near‐field optical microscope in which femtosecond pulses are coupled to a hollow‐pyramid aperture sensor. Such probe displays high throughput and preserves pulse duration and polarization, enabling the achievement of sufficiently high peak power in the near field to perform nonlinear optics on the nanoscale. We use the system to observe the nonlinear optical response of nanostructured metal surfaces with sub‐100‐nm spatial resolution. We study second‐harmonic generation from gold nanoparticles both isolated and in high‐density patterns, highlighting a strong dependence of the generation efficiency on the shape and on the fine structure of the nanoemitter. In particular, we present results on closely packed gold triangles as well as on nanoellipsoids with different local surface plasmon resonances.
Development of apertureless near‐field scanning optical microscope tips for tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: KODAMA T. , UMEZAWA T. , WATANABE S. , OHTANI H.
Published: February 2008

In this study, we suggested two types of novel metallized tip for the apertureless near‐field scanning optical microscope probe. The first is a silver nanorod immobilized tip and the other is a double metallized probe. We calculated the electric field enhancement factor and the electric field distribution of a single sphere, aggregated spheres, an ellipse and a nanorod by the finite‐differential time‐domain method to improve the silver nanosphere immobilized tip developed in our previous studies. The enhanced field of the nanorod is localized at the external surfaces. The simulation results of the nanorod revealed that the position of the maximum peak is shifted to a longer wavelength and that its electric field enhancement factor increases as the aspect ratio increases. Thus, we developed the silver nanorod immobilized tip, and the tip‐enhanced Raman spectrum of rhodamine 6G molecule on the substrate could be measured by the tip though it could not be detected by the previous nanosphere immobilized tip. Further, the finite‐differential time‐domain calculation predicted that the double metallized tips considerably enhance the electric field and that its enhancement factor in the longer wavelength region (500–600 nm) does not decrease when the tip is rounded. The results show that the proposed metallized tips were useful for the apertureless near‐field scanning optical microscope system.
High NA particle‐ and tip‐enhanced nanoscale Raman spectroscopy with a parabolic‐mirror microscope
Authors: STANCIU C. , SACKROW M. , MEIXNER A.J.
Published: February 2008

Detecting efficiently the plasmon‐enhanced Raman signal of molecules created in the nanometre‐sized gap between a metal nanoparticle or the apex of a sharp tip and a metal surface is the key problem in particle‐ or tip‐enhanced local surface spectroscopy (Pettinger et al., 2004; Roth et al., 2006). The optical excitation field has to be polarized along the gap, and the field emerging from the gap has to be observed from the side. These geometrical restrictions usually limit the numerical aperture of the lens used for exciting the gap and collecting the scattered photons created in the gap. We present a novel method to overcome this problem. The solution is based on a confocal optical microscope with a high numerical aperture parabolic mirror for excitation and detection. Localized plasmons can be efficiently excited parallel to the surface normal by illuminating the parabolic mirror with a radially polarized doughnut mode and the field emerging sidewise from the gap can be efficiently collected by the rim of the parabolic mirror and directed to the detection system. First results on particle‐ and tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic measurements of benzotriazole molecules adsorbed on gold films are presented.
Scanning near‐field optical microscope based on a double resonant fibre probe montage and equipped with time‐gated photon detection
Authors: SEREBRYAKOV D. V. , SEKATSKII S. K. , CHERKUN A. P. , DUKENBAYEV K. , MOROZOV I. V. , LETOKHOV V. S. , DIETLER G.
Published: February 2008

We discuss scanning near‐field optical microscope based on original double resonant montage of a fibre probe onto the tuning fork and proprietary electronics capable of fast and precise measurements of the resonant frequency and the quality factor of sensor dithering. Special emphasis is given on the pulsed excitation/gated detection of optical signal. This option as well as the possibility of fast scanning facilitates a lot the problem of single fluorescence centres detection. To illustrate the performance of this microscope, we present first true single‐molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer scanning near‐field optical microscope images of single CdSe nanocrystals on glass slide surface and observation of an optical ‘pseudoresolution’ of densely packed 100‐nm‐diameter transfluorescent spheres in noisy conditions.
SNOM signal near plasmonic nanostructures: an analogy with fluorescence decays channels
Authors: FRANCS G. COLAS DES , GIRARD C. , BRUYANT A. , DEREUX A.
Published: February 2008

Scanning Near‐field Optical Microscope (SNOM) is based on local excitations of nanostructures deposited on a substrate (illumination mode). Ideally, the local source behaves like a dipolar emitter so that the SNOM signal is strongly similar to the fluorescence decay rates of an excited molecule that would be located at the SNOM tip position. We present here how the SNOM signal near plasmonic nanostructures can be used to analyze radiative and non‐radiative contribution to the fluorescence decay rate.
Involvement of DNA replication in phage lambda Red‐mediated homologous recombination
Authors: Poteete Anthony R.
Published: February 2008

Crosses between a non‐replicating linear bacteriophage lambda chromosome and a replicating plasmid bearing a short cloned segment of lambda DNA were monitored by extracting DNA from infected cells, and analysing it via restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blots. Recombinant formation resulting from the action of the Red homologous recombination system, observed directly in this way, was found to be fast, efficient, independent of the bacterial recA function and highly dependent upon replication of the target plasmid. These features of the experimental system faithfully model Red‐mediated recombination in a lytically infected cell in which phage DNA replication is occurring. Neither of the previously established mechanisms by which the Red system can operate – strand annealing or strand invasion – accounts well for these findings. A third mechanism, replisome invasion, involving replication directly in the recombination mechanism, is invoked as an alternative.
Mechanism of low CO2‐induced activation of the cmp bicarbonate transporter operon by a LysR family protein in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942
Authors: Nishimura Takashi , Takahashi Yukari , Yamaguchi Osamu , Suzuki Hiroshi , Maeda Shin‐ichi , Omata Tatsuo
Published: February 2008

The cmp operon of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942, encoding the subunits of the ABC‐type bicarbonate transporter, is activated under CO2‐limited growth conditions in a manner dependent on CmpR, a LysR family transcription factor of CbbR subfamily. The 0.7 kb long regulatory region of the operon carried a single promoter, which responded to CO2 limitation. Using the luxAB reporter system, three cis‐acting elements involved in the low‐CO2 activation of transcription, each consisting of a pair of LysR recognition signatures overlapping at their ends, were identified in the regulatory region. CmpR was shown to bind to the regulatory region, yielding several DNA–protein complexes in gel shift assays. Addition of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate (> 1 mM) or 2‐phosphoglycolate (> 10 μM) enhanced the binding of CmpR in a concentration‐dependent manner, promoting formation of large DNA–protein complexes. Given the involvement of O2 in adaptive responses of cyanobacteria to low‐CO2 conditions, our results suggest that 2‐phosphoglycolate, which is produced by oxygenation by ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate under CO2‐limited conditions, acts as the co‐inducer in the activation of the cmp operon by CmpR.
Interlocked feedback loops of the circadian clock of Neurospora crassa
Authors: Brunner Michael , Káldi Krisztina
Published: February 2008

Circadian clocks drive daily rhythms in physiology and behaviour, and thus allow organisms to better adapt to rhythmic changes in the environment. Circadian oscillators are cell‐autonomous systems, which generate via transcriptional, post‐transcriptional, translational and post‐translational control mechanisms a daily activity‐rhythm of a circadian transcription factor complex. According to recent models, this complex of transcription factors controls directly or indirectly expression of a large number of genes, and thus generates the potential to modulate physiological processes in a rhythmic fashion. The basic principles of the generation of circadian oscillation are similar in all eukaryotic systems. The circadian clock of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is well characterized at the molecular level. Focusing on the molecular properties, interactions and post‐translational modifications of the core Neurospora clock proteins WHITE COLLAR‐1, WHITE COLLAR‐2, FREQUENCY and VIVID, this review summarizes our knowledge of the molecular basis of circadian time keeping in Neurospora. Moreover, we discuss the mechanisms by which environmental cues like light and temperature entrain and reset this circadian system.
On the mechanism of loading the PCNA sliding clamp by RFC
Authors: Dionne Isabelle , Brown Nicola J. , Woodgate Roger , Bell Stephen D.
Published: February 2008

Sliding clamps play central roles in a broad range of DNA replication and repair processes. The clamps form circular molecules that must be opened and resealed around DNA by the clamp loader complex to fulfil their function. While most eukaryotes and many archea possess a homo‐trimeric PCNA, the PCNA of Sulfolobus solfataricus is a heterotrimer. Here, we exploit the asymmetry of S. solfataricus PCNA to create a series of circularly permuted PCNA subunit fusions, thereby covalently closing defined interfaces within the heterotrimer. Using these concatamers, we investigate the requirements for loading the clamp onto DNA and reveal that a single defined interface within the heterotrimer is opened during the loading process. Subunit–specific interactions between S. solfataricus RFC clamp loader and PCNA permit us to superimpose our data upon the structure of yeast RFC–PCNA complex, thereby presenting a general model for PCNA loading by RFC in archaea and eukaryotes.
Relation between stressful life events, neuropeptides and cytokines: results from the LISA birth cohort study
Authors: Herberth Gunda , Weber Annegret , Röder Stefan , Elvers Horst‐Dietrich , Krämer Ursula , Schins Roel PF , Diez Ulrike , Borte Michael , Heinrich Joachim , Schäfer Thomas , Herbarth Olf , Lehmann Irina ,   for the LISAplus study group
Published: February 2008

Stressful life events evidently have an impact on development of allergic diseases, but the mechanism linking stress to pathological changes of immune system function is still not fully understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between stressful life events, neuropeptide and cytokine concentrations in children. Within the LISAplus (Life style‐Immune system‐Allergy) study, blood samples from children of 6 yr of age were analysed for concentration of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), substance P (SP) and the Th1/Th2 cytokines interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin (IL)‐4. Life events such as severe disease or death of a family member, unemployment or divorce of the parents were assessed with a questionnaire filled in by the parents. For 234 children, blood analysis and questionnaire data regarding life events were available. Children with separated/divorced parents showed high VIP levels and high concentrations of the Th2 cytokine IL‐4 in their blood. Severe diseases and death of a family member were neither associated with neuropeptide levels nor with cytokine concentrations. Unemployment of the parents was associated with decreased IFN‐γ concentrations in children’s blood but not with neuropeptide levels, whereas children experiencing concomitant severe disease and death of a family member had reduced SP blood levels. The neuropeptide VIP might be a mediator between stressful life events and immune regulation contributing to the Th2 shifted immune response in children with separated/divorced parents. Unemployment of the parents was associated with immune regulation in children on the basis of a still unknown mechanism whereas reduced SP levels seem to have no effect on immune regulation.
Withanolide A is inherently de novo biosynthesized in roots of the medicinal plant Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Authors: Sangwan Rajender Singh , Chaurasiya Narayan Das , Lal Payare , Misra Laxminarain , Tuli Rakesh , Sangwan Neelam Singh
Published: February 2008

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal., Solanaceae) is one of the most reputed medicinal plants of Ayurveda, the traditional medical system. Several of its traditionally proclaimed medicinal properties have been corroborated by recent molecular pharmacological investigations and have been shown to be associated with its specific secondary metabolites known as withanolides, the novel group of ergostane skeletal phytosteroids named after the plant. Withanolides are structurally distinct from tropane/nortropane alkaloids (usually found in Solanaceae plants) and are produced only by a few genera within Solanaceae. W. somnifera contains many structurally diverse withanolides in its leaves as well as roots. To date, there has been little biosynthetic or metabolism‐related research on withanolides. It is thought that withanolides are synthesized in leaves and transported to roots like the tropane alkaloids, a group of bioactive secondary metabolites in Solanaceae members known to be synthesized in roots and transported to leaves for storage. To examine this, we have studied incorporation of 14C from [2‐14C]‐acetate and [U‐14C]‐glucose into withanolide A in the in vitro cultured normal roots as well as native/orphan roots of W. somnifera. Analysis of products by thin layer chromatography revealed that these primary metabolites were incorporated into withanolide A, demonstrating that root‐contained withanolide A is de novo synthesized within roots from primary isoprenogenic precursors. Therefore, withanolides are synthesized in different parts of the plant (through operation of the complete metabolic pathway) rather than imported.
Transgenic Cloned Mice Expressing Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Generated by Activation Stimuli Combined with 6‐dimethylaminopurine
Authors: Chen C‐H , Stone L , Ju J‐C , Lien W‐T , Liu M‐S , Tu C‐F , Lee K‐H
Published: February 2008

Contents

Most studies of mouse cloning successfully achieved activation of the reconstructed oocytes by strontium (Sr) combined with cytochalasin B (CB) treatment. A protein kinase inhibitor, 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP), was used to inhibit the activity of maturation promoting factor for activation of oocytes, but it has never been successfully applied in mouse cloning. This study investigates the activation efficiency of 6‐DMAP in mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Higher parthenogenetic blastocyst rates (71–72%, p < 0.05) were achieved in the oocytes treated with Sr6D (10 mM Sr combined with 2 mM 6‐DMAP for 4 h) and Sr6D + SrCB (Sr6D for 2 h then Sr combined with 5 μg/ml CB for another 2 h), and a higher rate of hatching and hatched blastocyst was observed in the Sr6D + SrCB group (31%, p < 0.01) compared with other treatment groups (1–8%). For mouse cloning, cumulus cells of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)‐expressed ESC chimera F1 were used as donor nuclei. Following activation, better development of the cloned embryos was observed in Sr6D + SrCB treatment. Moreover, different media, i.e. KSOM‐AA, MEM‐α and MK, for culturing cloned embryos were also compared in this study. Better morula/blastocyst (40%) and blastocyst (29%) rates were achieved in the embryos cultured in MEM‐α medium (p < 0.05). Consequently, four EGFP cloned mice were generated in the activation treatment containing 6‐DMAP following embryo transfer. In conclusion, treatment with 6‐DMAP in combination with other activation stimuli successfully activates mouse reconstructed oocytes and support full‐term development of the transgenic SCNT cloned embryos.
Relationships between working status and health or health‐care utilization among Japanese elderly
Authors: Tokuda Yasuharu , Ohde Sachiko , Takahashi Osamu , Shakudo Masaaki , Yanai Haruo , Shimbo Takuro , Fukuhara Shunichi , Hinohara Shigeaki , Fukui Tsuguya
Published: February 2008

Background:  As we have previously proposed redefining elderly from “65 years and over” to “75 and over” in Japan, many elderly Japanese now keep working beyond the traditional retirement age, around 60–65 years of age, in this rapidly aging society. It is important to assess the influence of working status on health and health‐care utilization among elderly Japanese.

Methods:  We evaluated a random sample of community‐dwelling Japanese elderly, aged 55–74 years. Data were collected using a health diary strategy. For health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), we used SF‐8 with a physical component summary (PCS8) and a mental component summary (MCS8). Health‐care utilization included visiting physicians as well as using dietary and physical complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Results:  Among 679 participants aged 65–74 years (40.6% men), there were 254 (37.4%) working and 425 (62.6%) non‐working. PCS8 and MCS8 were not significantly different between the working status groups. There were no differences in the rate for visiting physicians and using dietary and physical CAM between the working and non‐working, except for those aged 70–74 years, who exhibited a higher rate for visiting a physician among the non‐working. A higher annual personal income showed a significant association with better PCS8 (P = 0.031) and a trend towards better MCS8 (P = 0.055). The older participants were more likely to report better MCS8 than the young regardless of working status (P = 0.007).

Conclusion:  Working status itself does not appear to associate with health and health‐care utilization among elderly Japanese. Working with a higher income may potentially improve HRQOL.
Influence of diabetes mellitus on caregiver burden in home care: A report based on the Nagoya Longitudinal Study of the Frail Elderly (NLS‐FE)
Authors: Hirakawa Yoshihisa , Kuzuya Masafumi , Masuda Yuichiro , Enoki Hiromi , Iguchi Akihisa
Published: February 2008

Background:  Because little attention has so far been paid to the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on caregiver burden in community settings, we sought to confirm the influence of DM on perceived caregiver burden among caregivers providing care to a home elderly person using data from the Nagoya Longitudinal Study of the Frail Elderly (NLS‐FE).

Methods:  The NLS‐FE is a large prospective study of 1875 community‐dwelling elderly. A total of 1592 pairs of dependents and caregivers were included in the analysis. The data we used in this study included the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J‐ZBI), characteristics of caregivers and dependents, and caregiving situation. The pairs were sorted into one control and three DM groups: (i) no DM; (ii) DM taking no medications; (iii) DM taking oral medication only; and (iv) DM taking insulin. The differences in dependent and caregiver characteristics among the groups were assessed.

Results:  Two hundred and twenty‐eight dependents from the NLS‐FE study had DM. Of these, 25% took no medication to treat it, 55% took oral medications only, and 20% used insulin. No statistical differences were found in age, gender or kinship among caregivers. No differences were found among the DM categories in levels of caregiver burden according to the J‐ZBI, before and after adjusting for these baseline variables.

Conclusions:  Among the community‐dwelling frail elderly, DM is not an independent predictor of caregiver burden.
A NOTE ON OPTIMUM STRATIFICATION OF POPULATIONS FOR ESTIMATING THE POPULATION MEANS
Authors: Sethi V. K.
Published: February 2008

The note gives the results of a study carried out to find the optimum points of stratification (OPS) for estimating the population means of some standard distributions. The distributions considered here are the normal and the set of chi‐square distributions. The OPS for the various gamma distributions can be easily derived from the known OPS of the corresponding chi‐square distributions. The OPS depend on the type of allocation envisaged. In this note attention has been confined to the proportional, equal, and optimum allocations.

Tables of OPS are given for the distributions and allocations mentioned above. Some other interesting results follow:

(i) Equalization of stratum totals as suggested by Ransen, Hurwitz and Madow (1953) does not lead to OPS for any of the populations considered.

(ii) Equalization of {f(x)}½ dx gives an excellent approximabioii to the OPS for both equal and optimum allocations.

(iii) The OPS for equal and optimum allocations almost coincide. To put in other words, if strata are defined by OPS optimum allocation differs only slightly from equal allocation.

New rules are suggested for the family of distributions considered in this paper for all the three types of allocations.
THE DISPLACED POISSON DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Staff P. J.
Published: February 2008

Consideration of the number of events in a Poisson process in excess of a threshold value r, when it is assumed that at least r events do occur, leads to the Displaced Poisson Distribution. The recurrence relationship between successive probabilities is a simple generalization of that of the Poisson distribution. Accordingly the fitting of the distribution to data is straightforward, using either a desk machine or computer.

It is a highly flexible unimodal distribution catering for both under‐ and over‐dispersed data and generally fits Poisson type data well. Its properties have been discussed, moment and maximum likelihood estimators for the cases, r known and unknown have been given, together with several numerical examples.
EFFECTS OF CORRELATED ERRORS ON VARIATE‐ DIFFERENCE ESTIMATES OF ERROR VARIANCE*,1
Authors: Chew Victor
Published: February 2008

The variate‐difference method for estimating error variance is shown to be sensitive to departures from the assumption of uncorrelated errors. Biases in the estimates are obtained in the cases where the errors are generated by autoregressive or moving‐average stochastic processes.
A NOTE ON THE NUMBER OF DUST PARTICLES IN A SAMPLE OF AIR‐BORNE MINE DUST
Authors: Joffe A. D.
Published: February 2008

A stochastic model is proposed for the distribution of the number of particles in a sample of air‐borne mine dust, and it, is shown that in special circumstances the distribution will be that of a Poisson variate.

I am indebted to Professor Bartlett for drawing my attention to his own more general result and to the referee for the suggestion that led to the unconditional result of Section 4.
DECOMPOSITION OF A SEMI‐MARKOV PROCESS UNDER A MARKOVIAN RULE
Authors: Cinlar E.
Published: February 2008

Consider a semi‐Markov process {X(t), t>0} with transition epochs T0T1, T2…. Suppose that at each one of the epochs {Tn} one of R possible events, E1, E2,…, ERcan happen, where the occurrences of successive events form a Markov chain. for a fixed r, let the times the event Erhappens be UoU1, U2,…. In this paper we are interested in the process {Y(t), t>0)} where Y(t)=X(Uk) if and only if Uk≤t<Uk+1. It will be shown that {Y(t)} is a semi‐Markov process, and its properties with respect to those of {X(t)} will be examined.
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENT MATRIX OF A NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Kabe D. G.
Published: February 2008

In this paper we generalize a result of Kshirsagar's (1960, pp. 83–84) on the distribution of the regression coefficient matrix for a multivariate normal population.
A PERSPECTIVE IN STATISTICAL INFERENCE1
Authors: Verhagen A. M. W.
Published: February 2008

Incomplete understanding of fiducial theory has led to (i) spurious paradoxes, (ii) mistaken beliefs of equivalence with other theories of inference, and (iii) wrongly conceived limitations on the validity of fiducial probability. In the present paper these misapprehensions are analysed and rebutted, and also illustrated with elementary yet crucial examples.
ESTIMATING THE PARAMETERS OF NORMAL AND LOGISTIC DISTRIBUTIONS FROM CENSORED SAMPLES1
Authors: Tiku M. L.
Published: February 2008

Let g(z) be the ratio of the ordinate and the probability integral of the distribution of a variate z. The relation g(z)∼+βz is used to derive (i) estimators μr and s̀r of the parameters of a truncated normal distribution and (ii) estimators μc and s̀c of the mean and standard deviation of a logistic distribution from doubly censored samples. The variances and eovariances of these estimators are obtained. They are shown to be nearly as efficient as the maximum likelihood estimators and easier to compute.
The Effects of Variations in the Components of Change on the Size and Structure of The Australian Population: 1911‐66
Authors: M. ivamxtothy
Published: February 2008

The main aim of the study was to estimate separately the effects of the variations in the components of population change and the effects of their mutual interactions on the size and age structure and other characteristics of the Australian population during 1911‐66. The method proposed, called here the factorial projection method, is to project the population over the period under consideration, under different assumptions according to a 2×2×2 factorial design, utilizing the observed variations in fertility, mortality and migration. It was found that, apart from the effects of variations in the components occurring individually, the two factor interaction effects– the interaction effects of the changes occurring simultaneously in two of the components (viz. fertility and mortality or mortality and migration or fertility and migration)–on the population size, were considerable. The contribution of migration to the working age group was greater than its effect on the total size, and mortality improvement played a more prominent role in increasing the size of the old age population, while the reduction in fertility caused a higher proportion in the old age group and thus increased the mean age of the population both in the case of males and females. The two factor interaction effects were not negligible in changing the size of the school age population, population in the working age group and also in the old age group. But the interaction of migration and the decline in fertility was the only interaction effect which was important in changing the percentage age distribution and the mean age of the male and female population.
INTERACTION MODELS FOR THE LATIN SQUARE1
Authors: Milliken George A. , Graybill Franklin A.
Published: February 2008

This paper presents a general method for testing if a particular type of interaction is present in latin square models with one observation per cell.

Computing instructions are given along with a detailed numerical example.

A data analysis approach is explained where an experimenter can use various models to determine whether interaction is present. If there is interaction, then a procedure is given for examining a number of models to decide what factors (row, column, treatment) are interacting. In addition, a number of sets of latin square data from the literature are reanalysed to determine if they contain interaction.
ON THE BEHRENS–FISHER PROBLEM1
Authors: Fraser D. A. S. , Streit F.
Published: February 2008

In this article the Behrens‐Fisher problem is reformulated in terms of a structural model of inference. For this version of the problem a solution is obtained which is valid for arbitrary absolutely continuous error distributions. These results are further discussed for the standard normal distribution and for some other special cases with not normally distributed populations.
MONOTONE BOUNDS ON THE CHI‐SQUARED APPROXIMATION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF PEARSON'S XSTATISTICS12
Authors: Jensen D. R.
Published: February 2008

Monotone bounds, depending on the underlying multinomial probabilities and the sample size, are given for the chi‐squared approximation to the distribution of Pearson's statistic for goodness of fit for simple hypotheses. These bounds apply to the distribution of a single statistic and to the joint distribution of two statistics associated with the margins of a two‐way table, in both the central and non‐central cases.
CRITICAL VALUES FOR INFERENCE ABOUT NORMAL DISPERSION1
Authors: John S.
Published: February 2008

Let FN(.) be the density function of X2N. Values of C1/N, i= 1, 2, satisfying the twin conditions Pr (C1≤X2N≤C2)=1‐α and the conditional expectation of X2N given C1≤X2N≤C2 is N are tabulated for α=.2, .1, .05, .01, .005, .001, N=1(1)20(2)50(5)150(10)350. The second condition may be replaced by the condition

fN+2(C1)=fN+2V(C2).

The author has with him a bigger table giving C1 and C2 for α=.2, .1, .05, .01, .005, .001, N=1(1)350 to three decimals (to three significant digits, if some decimals are not significant). Several applications are mentioned. A practical application that is perhaps not obvious is to test whether two or more counts are distributed as independent Poisson variables. The new simple formulae used in the construction of the table are given and should prove useful in obtaining accurate values for omitted entries and in increasing the accuracy of entries.
SOME THEORY OF SAMPLING ON SUCCESSIVE OCCASIONS1
Authors: Sen A. R.
Published: February 2008

One of the important theoretical developments in successive sampling has been to provide an optimum estimate by combining two independent estimates (i) a double‐sampling regression estimate from the matched portion of the sample using one auxiliary variable with (ii) a mean per unit estimate based on the unmatched portion of the sample.

Theory has been generalized in the present paper to provide the optimum estimate by combining a double‐sampling multivariate ratio or regression estimate usingpauxiliary variables (p≥1) from the matched portion of the sample with a mean per unit estimate from the unmatched portion of the sample. Results have been presented for the more general and practical case when the samples on the two occasions are of unequal size.
A NOTE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUFFICIENCY IN THERMODYNAMICS
Authors: Chakrabarti C. G.
Published: February 2008

In this note the significance of sufficiency in the study of statistical thermodyna, mics has been investigated. Firstly, Mandelbrot's “Criteria of sufficiency” for the determination of temperature of a heat‐reservoir and the corresponding canonical distribution for thermal equilibrium of a system immersed in the heat‐reservoir have been studied from an inf ormation‐theoretic approach. Secondly, the fluctuation of temperature has been obtained from the notion of sufficiency.
EDITING A LARGE‐SCALE DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY–THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MELBOURNE FAMILY SURVEY1
Authors: Young C. M.
Published: February 2008

This paper discusses the editing procedures for a survey on family formation conducted in Melbourne during 1971. Examples are given of the incidence and types of inconsistencies revealed during the editing stage in the mainly quantitative variables concerning childbearing, numbers of children, and the demographic characteristics of the children. The principal point emphasized is the need for automatic detection and manual correction of coding deficiencies in a survey of this type, i.e. an intensive, “once‐off” survey, with a sample size of a few thousand, from which detailed and complex analyses are planned.
SERIAL CORRELATION AND SPECTRAL MOMENT STATISTICS1
Authors: Miller Kenneth S.
Published: February 2008

Distributions of ratios of weighted independent chi‐square variables are found in closed form. Such density functions are of interest in the theory of serial correlation and spectral moment estimation.
A NOTE ON A SEQUENTIAL GROUP t‐TEST
Authors: Searle G. C. L.
Published: February 2008

A sequential probability ratio test (SPET) of the mean of a normal distribution with unknown variance, based on an independent sequence of groups of observations, is investigated and its efficiency compared with that of the WAGE sequential t‐test, which is based on an invariantly sufficient sequence of test statistics.
EXACT TWO‐SAMPLE MEDIAN TESTS WHEN ONE “SAMPLE” VALUE POSSIBLY FROM A DIFFERENT POPULATION
Authors: Kelleher Grace J.
Published: February 2008

Random samples are assumed for the univariate two‐sample problem. Sometimes this assumption may be violated in that an observation in one “sample”, of size m, is from a population different from that yielding the remaining m—1 observations (which are a random sample). Then, the interest is in whether this random sample of size m—1 is from the same population as the other random sample. If such a violation occurs and can be recognized, and also the non‐conforming observation can be identified (without imposing conditional effects), then that observation could be removed and a two‐sample test applied to the remaining samples. Unfortunately, satisfactory procedures for such a removal do not seem to exist. An alternative approach is to use two‐sample tests whose significance levels remain the same when a non‐conforming observation occurs, and is removed, as for the case where the samples were both truly random. The equal‐tail median test is shown to have this property when the two “samples” are of the same size (and ties do not occur).
CHARLES HENRY WICKENS: 1872–1939
Authors: Lancaster H. O.
Published: February 2008

An account of the life of the second Commonwealth Statistician, Charles Henry Wickens (1872–1939), has been given. After a primary school education in a Victorian country centre, Wickens became Associate of the Institute of Actuaries. Having joined the public service of Western Australia in 1897, he was appointed Compiler in the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics in 1906; he served as Commonwealth Statistician and Actuary, 1922 to 1932, giving outstanding service as government adviser and head of an important government department. He was a leader among theoretical and practical economists. His contributions to the study of Australian demography, especially life tables and vital statistics, were of the highest quality and permanent value. He made also scholarly contributions to actuarial theory and to the popularization of the work of the Bureau.
THE FUNDAMENTAL FORMULA OF BLASCHKE IN INTEGRAL GEOMETRY AND GEOMETRICAL PROBABILITY, AND ITS ITERATION, FOR DOMAINS WITH FIXED ORIENTATIONS
Authors: Miles R. E.
Published: February 2008

The so‐called “principal formulae” of planar integral geometry are conventionally couched in terms of the “kinematic density”dxdydθ. Here a corresponding theory with respect to the “Lebesgue density”dxdy, that is with rotations suppressed, is developed. The only real difference is that the new “fundamental formula of Blaschke”contains a term depending upon the relative orientations of the two domains involved. In particular, the remarkable iteration property of these formulae carries over. The usual principal formulae follow as a corollary of the formulae given here, upon, averaging over orientations.
ALIGNING OF ESTIMATES: AN ALTERNATIVE TO EMPIRICAL BAYES METHODS
Authors: Maritz J. S.
Published: February 2008

The data that are used in constructing empirical Bayes estimates can properly be regarded as arising in a two‐stage sampling scheme. In this setting it is possible to modify the conventional parameter estimates so that a reduction in expected squared error is effected. In the empirical Bayes approach this is done through the use of Bayes's theorem. The alternative approach proposed in this paper specifies a class of modified estimates and then seeks to identify that member of the class which yields the minimum squared error. One advantage of this approach relative to the empirical Bayes approach is that certain problems involving multiple parameters are easily overcome. Further, it permits the use of relatively efficient methods of non‐parametric estimation, such as those based on quantiles or ranks; this has not been achieved by empirical Bayes methods.
RELATIONS BETWEEN ERGODICITY AND MEAN DRIFT FOR MARKOV CHAINS1
Authors: Tweedie Richard L.
Published: February 2008

If {Xn} is an irreducible aperiodic Markov chain on a state apace denote the mean one step change of position, or “drift”, of {Xn} at j. The main result of this note is to show that, when |µ(j)| is bounded, {Xn} admits a stationary distribution {πj}if and only if for some N > 0 and some state i, lim inf ∑when this holds, the limit infimum is in fact . Many of the known sufficient or necessary criteria for the existence of a stationary distribution can then be derived easily from this and related results.
A LINEAR MODEL WITH ERRORS LACKING A VARIANCE1
Authors: Chambers E. L. , Heathcote C. E.
Published: February 2008

The problem discussed is that of estimating β= (β1, …, βk) in the model Y=βX +ε when X has a specified multivariate distribution and the error ε does not necessarily have a finite second moment, for example, ε symmetric stable. We construct a moment estimator based on the empirical characteristic function and establish asymptotic unbiassedness and normality. Most of the paper is concerned with the case when X is normal. Forms of the suggested estimator are given in (2.5), (4.6) and (5.5).
RANKED SET SAMPLING THEORY WITH SELECTIVE PROBABILITY MATRIX1
Authors: Yanagawa T. , Shirahata S.
Published: February 2008

Banked set sampling theory introduced by Mclntyre (1952) is generalized by introducing a Selective Probability Matrix. The theory is intended to make full use of available information and is most useful in situations ‐where a random sample of small size can be readily ordered by visual inspection or other rough gauging methods, and the exact measurement of the sample is costly in time or effort.

In this paper an estimator of the population mean is constructed and several properties of it are investigated to demonstrate the advantages of the theory. The cases of perfect ranking and errors in ranking are discussed in detail and it is made clear that errors in ranking do not destroy the usefulness of the method.