bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Delicate’ Cutters: Gendered Self-mutilation and Attractive Flesh in Medical Discourse
Authors: Brickman Barbara Jane
Published: December 2004

In 1960, a relatively new ‘syndrome’ began appearing with growing frequency in psychiatric hospitals and in doctors’ offices. Eventually termed ‘delicate self-cutting’, this new model for typical self-mutilative behavior was developed in conjunction with a description of the ‘typical’ self-mutilator: young (adolescent to just post-adolescent), female, and almost always attractive. This article contends that, despite recent efforts to change the nature of research on self-mutilation, the myth of a typical mutilator, developed from a particular historical bias, continues to work in popular and medical discourses on the subject. I will begin with a detailed discussion of the medical discourse in an effort to ask how the myth was made. Noting that the female body, here, is singled out as pathological at a time when, specifically in the USA, the emergent Women’s Movement was beginning to contest certain gender lines, I would like to examine how the medical discourse and material bodies interrelate and interact with each other and with the cultural narratives around them. Finally, I end with examples from the 1999 film Girl, Interrupted, as well as other recent popular and medical accounts, to illustrate not only the perpetuation of the myth of the ‘typical’ self-mutilator but also the inability or refusal to recognize the biased nature of the medical discourse in the instance on self-mutilation.
Inter-role Relationships in Hospital-based Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Decision Making
Authors: Bagozzi Richard P. , Ascione Frank J. , Mannebach Mark A.
Published: December 2004

The interdependencies of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee members in 222 teaching hospitals were studied by use of the social relations model. Cooperation, influence, frustration and enjoyment were studied among four-person subgroups chosen from the five roles recommended for hospitals by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists: physician-chair, physician-nonchair, pharmacist, nurse and administrator. The results show that the elicitation and reception of cooperation, influence, frustration and enjoyment vary considerably by role (as manifest in actor and partner effects); small amounts of individual reciprocity (i.e. the association between actor and partner effects) were found for some measures of interdependence across roles, while small amounts of dyadic reciprocity (i.e. the association between reciprocal relationship effects) were found for many relationships. Significant group level (i.e. committee) effects were found as well.
Are Techniques Used in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Applicable to Behaviour Change Interventions Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour?
Authors: Hobbis Imogen C. A. , Sutton Stephen
Published: December 2004

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is increasingly being used to inform the development of interventions to promote health behaviour change. However, although the theory can be used to identify the determinants of particular health-related behaviours, it offers little guidance on how to change these determinants and hence how to promote behaviour change. There is evidence that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can be used to support health behaviour change. This article discusses the similarities and differences between the two approaches, and considers whether techniques used in CBT are applicable to interventions based on the TPB.
Is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Effective for Changing Health Behaviours? Commentary on Hobbis and Sutton
Authors: Michie Susan
Published: December 2004

Although Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has successfully combined procedures based on behavioural and cognitive theories to reduce emotional problems, there is limited research into the efficacy of CBT in changing health behaviours. Of the studies cited by Hobbis and Sutton (this issue), only one measured health behaviours. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour change techniques, it is essential that the endpoints are behaviours, rather than health or emotional outcomes. There are both theoretical and circumstantial reasons for believing that CBT may be effective for changing health behaviours. Hobbis and Sutton have considered CBT as an addition to the Theory of Planned Behaviour-based interventions. It may be even more effective as an alternative.
Response to Invited Commentaries: The Opportunity for Integration Remains
Authors: Hobbis Imogen C. A. , Sutton Stephen
Published: December 2004

The invited commentaries to Hobbis and Sutton (this issue) show that we achieved our aim of stimulating debate about the development of new approaches to health behaviour change. Diverse opinions were expressed, including discussion of the feasibility of integrating techniques used in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) into interventions based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), commenton the integration of the two models at a theoretical level and consideration of CBT as an alternative to the TPB in health behaviour change. While we felt that an apparent bias towards the TPB precluded acknowledgement of the potential benefits associated with utilizing techniques used in CBT, we were encouraged by the general recognition that further research linking these two approaches is warranted.
Message Framing and Pap Test Utilization among Women Attending a Community Health Clinic
Authors: Rivers Susan E. , Salovey Peter , Pizarro David A. , Pizarro Judith , Schneider Tamera R.
Published: December 2004

In a randomized experiment, women ( N = 441) watched either a loss- or gain-framed video emphasizing the prevention or detection functions of the Pap test to test the hypothesis that loss- and gain-framed messages differentially influence health behaviors depending on the risk involved in performing the behavior. As predicted, loss-framed messages emphasizing the costs of not detecting cervical cancer early (a risky behavior) and gain-framed messages emphasizing the benefits of preventing cervical cancer (a less risky behavior) were most persuasive in motivating women to obtain a Pap test.
‘You Sort of Switch Off’: Exploring Mindlessness in Injecting Drug Users’ Accounts of Blood
Authors: Treloar Carla
Published: December 2004

Risk of blood borne virus among injecting drug users is high and is a significant challenge for public health efforts. Mindlessness/mindfulness theory provides an alternative lens through which to understand social phenomena. Interview transcripts of 32 current and former injectors were explored for evidence of mindless injecting (or automatic behaviour). Mindlessness in injecting practices can be important as opportunities to reduce injecting risk can emerge from understanding ‘expert’ approaches to injecting. Further work is required to generate fuller understandings of this construct on injecting drug use and to incorporate carefully and sensitively this tool into health promotion efforts.
The relationship between medicine and the public: the challenge of concordance
Authors: Stevenson Fiona , Scambler Graham
Published: December 2004

Concordance is based on the idea that patients and practitioners should work together towards an agreement on treatment choice. This requires a redefinition of the relations and encounters between doctors and their patients. This redefinition emphasizes the need for patient involvement and participation. In this article we examine concordance against the background of wider social change, structural as well as interpersonal. We focus in particular on challenges to trust, noting that the almost instinctive trust that people formerly had for professional experts has for many reasons diminished. One consequence of this, we suggest, is that concordance is being espoused at a time when its accomplishment may be particularly threatened. In fact there are strong grounds for claiming that support for the notion of concordance could possibly result in a growth of ‘hidden’ communication pathologies by means of what the social theorist Habermas (1984) has termed ‘systematically distorted communication’.
Expectations, Emotions, and Medical Decision Making: A Case Study on the Use of Amniocentesis
Authors: Browner C. H. , Preloran H. Mabel
Published: December 2004

The medical decision-making literature has paid scant attention to how prior expectations of patients and clinicians can influence medical encounters and affect patients’ choices whether to accept or reject medical testing or treatment. To illuminate the issue, we offer a reflexive analysis of the experiences of a Mexican-American couple offered amniocentesis based on the woman’s age and prior pregnancy history. We examine the impact of three principal factors: incongruity between expectations and reality for both patient and clinicians; the actors’ ethnic backgrounds; and the history and nature of relationship dynamics between the patient and her male partner. We conclude that unmet expectations on the part of both patient and clinicians evoked powerful emotions that altered the woman’s previous intention to agree to amniocentesis.
Cultural Traits and Immigration: Hostility and Suicidality in Chinese Canadian Students
Authors: Aubert Pascale , Daigle Marc S. , Daigle Jean-Guy
Published: December 2004

Suicidality has been related to inwardly directed aggression. We compared convenience samples of 89 Canadian students of Chinese origin (CC) and 81 Canadian students from other backgrounds on measures of suicidality, hostility and aggression. The Chinese Canadian group reported higher levels of suicidality and hostility than the group of other Canadians. However, aggressive behaviors directed toward self or others were less frequent among Chinese Canadians. No differences were found between men and women. The results are interpreted by invoking the influence of Chinese culture on emotional restraint, particularly as regards aggressiveness.
Psychopathology and Mental Health Service Utilization by Immigrants’ Children and Their Families
Authors: Anagnostopoulos Dimitris C. , Vlassopoulou Maria , Rotsika Vasiliki , Pehlivanidou Helen , Legaki Lucia , Rogakou Efi , Lazaratou Helen
Published: December 2004

To investigate the psychopathology of immigrants’ children and psychiatric service utilization by the immigrant families, data were collected from the files of all 35 immigrant children seen over a 3-year period at the Community Mental Health Centre of the Athens University Psychiatric Department. Immigrant children were matched by age, gender and intake date with 70 Greek children. Data concerned information about the child’s place of birth, current living conditions, parents’ country of origin, social and economic situation, occupations and educational status, social insurance, psychiatric history, referral source, diagnostic and therapeutic services rendered, number of sessions and outcome. Utilization of services was assessed 6 months after intake. No significant differences were found regarding family’s structure and parents’ psychopathology. However, immigrant families had significantly worse economic situations, lower status jobs, worse housing and were usually uninsured. No significant differences were observed regarding service utilization parameters, except concerning ‘cooperation with other services’. No differences were found regarding frequency or type of psychiatric diagnosis. However, 91% of the immigrant group received a psychosocial diagnosis as opposed to 49% of the Greek group. Immigrant children did not present more serious or diverse psycho-pathology than did Greek children. Immigrant families had equal levels of service utilization as Greek families. However, it was apparent that immigrant families did not apply for help as readily as their Greek counterparts.
Pretend it works
Authors: Hope Tim
Published: December 2004

This article is about the use of evidence from evaluation research undertaken on, and as part of, the Home Office Reducing Burglary Initiative. More generally, it is a case study about the uses and status of ‘scientific’ evidence in politics. The article reports methods and findings regarding burglary reduction projects evaluated by the ‘Midlands Consortium’ of academic researchers. These are compared with interpretations derived from re-analysis of the data presented in reports published by the Home Office. Specifically, it illustrates what might happen when responsibility for validating policy - that is, for establishing ‘what works’ - is placed in the hands of (social) science, but the evidence produced is not, apparently, congenial to the particular ‘network of governance’ that is responsible for the policy. The outcome for evidence-based policy making in these circumstances is that scientific discourse and method itself falls victim to policy pressures and values. The concerns of this article are placed in the context of Ulrich Beck’s (1992) discussion of ‘reflexive scientization’ in the governance of risk society.
Outside of Place and Other than Optical: Walter Benjamin and the Geography of Critical Thought
Authors: Dubow Jessica
Published: December 2004

Walter Benjamin’s belief in the radical materiality of perception is fundamental to the Arcades Project, his unfinished history of modern urban experience in 19th-century Paris. Renouncing the presumptions of traditional historicism, Benjamin presents a view of the metropolis in which circuitous space and fractured sight opposes the logic ofterritoriality and specularity that underpins the Western philosophic tradition. If such critical inversions arise from Benjamin’s explicitly materialist intentions, this article suggests that they relate in profound, if unexpected, ways to certain key themes in a Judaic theology. Inparticular, it argues that not only does Judaism’s distinctive understanding of the spatial and the visual bear upon the historical analyses of the Arcades Project, but more generally it has relevance for themaking of critical thought itself.
Youth Gangs and Troublesome Youth Groups in the United States and the Netherlands
Authors: Esbensen Finn-Aage , Weerman Frank M.
Published: December 2004

A minority of adolescents are part of street-oriented groups in which illegal behaviour is common, groups that can be referred to as ‘youth gangs’ or ‘troublesome youth groups’. Such groups are a well-known phenomenon in the United States and recently have been reported in a number of European nations. Relatively few researchers, however, have endeavoured to explore such youth gangs from a comparative perspective. In this article, we examine characteristics of American and Dutch gangs and gang members. These cross-national comparisons are based on two school samples of 11-16-year-old youths in the USA ( N = 5935) and the Netherlands ( N = 1978). The students completed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires containing similar questions, which allow for comparison of Dutch and American adolescent experiences with youth gangs.
Film Blowing of a Narrow Molecular Weight Polyethylene
Authors: McLeody Michael A. , Mier Rodolfo
Published: December 2004

Blown film properties have been evaluated for four high density polyethylene homopolymers while varying stalk height in the blown film process. Of the four homopolymers, three have narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD) and differ in their melt indices; the fourth has a broad MWD. Narrow MWD film properties have been significantly affected by increasing the stalk height from zero die diameters to several die diameters. Water vapor transmission rates decrease by 50-70% and the films become hazy and dull. In contrast, stalk height’s influence on broad MWD film properties is slight. The narrow MWD resins are consistently clearer and glossier than the broad MWD resin.
Analysis of Costs, Length of Stay, and Utilization of Emergency Department Services by Frequent Users: Implications for Health Policy
Authors: Ruger Jennifer Prah , Richter Christopher J. , Spitznagel Edward L. , Lewis Lawrence M.
Published: December 2004

In efforts to decrease emergency department (ED) crowding and health care costs, frequent users of ED services have been targeted for interventions to decrease their utilization. Previous studies have had different definitions for “frequent users” and have considered all frequent users as a homogeneous group. To the authors' knowledge, no study has examined visit characteristics and resource utilization of different levels of frequent use. Objectives: 1) to determine the rates of ED utilization by five user groups defined by number of annual visits, 2) to examine variations in visit characteristics by frequency of ED use, and 3) to compare levels of resource utilization among frequent user groups. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross‐sectional study of clinical and financial records for all ED visits to an urban, academic hospital in 2001. Multinomial logistic and linear regression models were used for analyses. Estimates were corrected for multiple comparisons (with Bonferroni corrections), where applicable, and adjusted for clustering within individuals (with Huber‐White estimators). Outcome measures were triage acuity, diagnosis‐related group (DRG) severity, disposition status, primary complaint, medical diagnosis, hospital inpatient length of stay, payment method, costs, and demographics. Results: Patients with three to 20 visits were more likely to be admitted to the hospital than patients visiting once or twice. Patients visiting more than 20 times were less likely to require hospital admission and more likely to present with “nonurgent” conditions, have lower severity scores, and elope or leave the ED without medical attention than patients visiting the ED once. The group had fewer inpatient days and lower average costs than patients visiting once. Patients with six to 20 visits had traditional Medicaid coverage more often than those with one or two visits. Virtually no patients visiting more than 20 times had Medicare or Medicaid managed care, a health maintenance organization, or a preferred provider organization. Conclusions: Frequent ED users are a heterogeneous group. Many patients previously thought to overutilize the ED for socioeconomic or insignificant medical problems are as sick as less‐frequent ED users. There is a small subgroup with more than 20 visits who are less ill or injured but also incurred lower‐than‐average costs per visit.
The Validity of Chief Complaint and Discharge Diagnosis in Emergency Department–based Syndromic Surveillance
Authors: Fleischauer Aaron T. , Silk Benjamin J. , Schumacher Mare , Komatsu Ken , Santana Sarah , Vaz Victorio , Wolfe Mitchell , Hutwagner Lori , Cono Joanne , Berkelman Ruth , Treadwell Tracee
Published: December 2004

Objective: Emergency department (ED)–based syndromic surveillance systems are being used by public health departments to monitor for outbreaks of infectious diseases, including bioterrorism; however, few systems have been validated. The authors evaluated a “drop‐in” syndromic surveillance system by comparing syndrome categorization in the ED with chief complaints and ED discharge diagnoses from medical record review. Methods: A surveillance form was completed for each ED visit at 15 participating Arizona hospitals between October 27 and November 18, 2001. Each patient visit was assigned one of ten clinical syndromes or “none.” For six of 15 EDs, κ statistics were used to compare syndrome agreement between surveillance forms and syndrome categorization with chief complaint and ED discharge diagnosis from medical record review. Results: Overall, agreement between surveillance forms and ED discharge diagnoses (κ= 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52 to 0.59) was significantly higher than between surveillance forms and chief complaints (κ= 0.48; 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.52). Agreement between chief complaints and ED discharge diagnoses was poor for respiratory tract infection with fever (κ= 0.33; 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.39). Furthermore, pediatric chief complaints showed lower agreement for respiratory tract infection with fever when compared with adults (κ= 0.34 [95% CI = 0.20 to 0.47] vs. κ= 0.44 [95% CI = 0.28 to 0.59], respectively). Conclusions: In general, this syndromic surveillance system classified patients into appropriate syndrome categories with fair to good agreement compared with chief complaints and discharge diagnoses. The present findings suggest that use of ED discharge diagnoses, in addition to or instead of chief complaints, may increase surveillance validity for both automated and drop‐in syndromic surveillance systems.
Recent developments in monitoring of engines using acoustic emission
Authors: Steel J. A , Reuben R. L
Published: December 2004

The application of acoustic emission (AE) for monitoring internal combustion (IC) engines is reviewed in this paper. Recent developments in monitoring mechanical events and processes using AE are discussed. The high spatial and temporal fidelity of the AE signals acquired from engines in service make it possible to focus monitoring strategies on individual events and processes. This gives AE the advantages of earlier fault diagnosis and source location whereas other techniques generally monitor symptoms of faults. Monitoring of engine speed, event timing, and reconstitution of processes such as injection and combustion are also possible. These capabilities of AE monitoring are discussed with reference to the development of AE data handling and analysis approaches for engines.
Acoustic emission for fracture studies using moment tensor analysis
Authors: Yuyama S
Published: December 2004

Acoustic emission (AE) has been widely employed for fracture studies because of its high sensitivity to crack initiation and growth. A moment tensor analysis based on the measurement of P-wave amplitudes of detected AE waveforms is especially useful for quantitative evaluation of fractures in terms of crack orientation, direction of crack motions and crack type. A quantitative comparison between prediction and actual cracks has been made to validate the method. This paper deals with AE applications for fracture studies using moment tensor analysis. Effectiveness of the analysis in laboratory tests and field applications is demonstrated.
Current understanding of mechanisms of acoustic emission
Authors: Ono K
Published: December 2004

This article reviews recent advances in acoustic emission (AE) studies, primarily on mechanisms and modelling. Methods of signal analysis used in acoustic emission have improved significantly, allowing various AE signals to be evaluated critically. The understanding of AE from materials during fracture has advanced greatly, but that due to deformation processes remains elusive. Current status is summarized and new goals are discussed in conjunction with analytical, experimental, and electronic tools now available.
Willingness to pay for telemedicine assessed by the double-bounded dichotomous choice method
Authors: Bradford W David , Kleit Andrew N , Krousel-Wood M A , Re Richard M
Published: December 2004

We investigated the willingness of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) to pay for access to medical care via telemedicine, as an alternative to visits to a physician's office. Willingness to pay was estimated using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. One hundred and twenty-six patients were surveyed after their discharge from a CHF-related hospital stay. As expected, willingness to pay was negatively related to price. When people are presented with a survey question about value, particularly when the good being valued is not traded in the market, the question itself can affect the person's perception of value. However, the survey results showed no evidence of such a 'framing' effect. We found that 55% of the patients would be willing to pay $20 to access telemedicine instead of travelling to the physician's office, for at least some of their care. When the price was raised to $40, the proportion willing to pay fell to 19%. This suggests that telemedicine may be close to being commercially feasible in the USA.
Feasibility of tele-ophthalmology for screening for eye disease in remote communities
Authors: Chen Li-Sheng , Tsai Ching-Yao , Liu Tzeng-Ying , Tung Tao-Hsin , Chiu Yueh-Hsia , Chan Chang-Chuan , Liou Der-Ming , Chen Tony Hsiu-Hsi
Published: December 2004

We assessed the feasibility of tele-ophthalmology in a remote location, Tungyin, an island 200 km from Taiwan, which has no ophthalmologist. Screening for eye diseases was carried out among residents aged 40 years or more. A total of 113 subjects, approximately 31% of the whole population, were enrolled in the screening programme. Images were transmitted (via ADSL) to a retinal specialist in Taiwan for diagnosis. The average processing time, excluding the time for copying files, was 6.4 s (SD 2.1) per subject. Transmission took 60–90 s for most of the images (83%). The average time required to make a diagnosis for each subject, including data entry, was approximately 34 s (SD 18). In screening for retinopathy, the detection rate with digital imaging (8.8%) was two times higher than with indirect ophthalmoscopy (4.4%). In 12% of cases macular degeneration was identified, and in 6% there were mild or moderate problems with the optic disc. Community-based screening for four categories of eye disease was successfully demonstrated using store-and-forward tele-ophthalmology.
Development of an online, team-based programme in telecare
Authors: Atack Lynda , Luke Robert , Sanderson Duncan
Published: December 2004

Few health-care providers have experience of delivering telecare and access to formal training is limited. We therefore developed an online training programme in telecare. A participatory design approach was used and telecare providers were invited to participate in each stage of the course design cycle. The course content, learning activities and learning materials such as video were based on the results of interviews with providers from various health disciplines and observations in the telecare workplace. The approach led to the development of a six-week, multimedia, online course for members of the health-care team. Participants were asked to review the prototype course for completeness and accuracy of content, quality of course design and the utility of learning activities. Overall feedback was favourable. Learners found the course content and learning activities helpful, and it met their needs. The learning material was then reviewed by a panel of experts and further revisions were made. Including providers in the development process led to the creation of a course that appears likely to improve the implementation and practice of telecare.
A pre-tRNA carrying intron features typical of Archaea is spliced in yeast
Authors: DI SEGNI GIANFRANCO , BORGHESE LODOVICA , SEBASTIANI SILVIA , TOCCHINI-VALENTINI GLAUCO P.
Published: December 2004

Archaeal pre-tRNAs are characterized by the presence of the bulge–helix–bulge (BHB) structure in the intron stem-and-loop region. A chimeric pre-tRNA was constructed bearing an intron of the archaeal type and the mature domain of theSaccharomyces cerevisiaesuppressorSUP4tRNATyr. This pre-tRNAArchEukais correctly cleaved in several cell-free extracts and by purified splicing endonucleases. It is also cleaved and ligated inS. cerevisiaecells, providing efficient suppression of nonsense mutations in various genes.
Fast formation of the P3-P7 pseudoknot: A strategy for efficient folding of the catalytically active ribozyme
Authors: ZHANG LIBIN , XIAO MU , LU CHEN , ZHANG YI
Published: December 2004

Formation of the P3-P7 pseudoknot structure, the core of group I ribozymes, requires long-range base pairing. Study of the Tetrahymena ribozyme appreciates the hierarchical folding of the large, multidomain RNA, in which the P3-P7 core folds significantly slower than do the other domains. Here we explored the formation of the P3-P7 pseudoknot of the Candida ribozyme that has been reported to concertedly fold to the catalytically active structure with a rate constant of 2 min−1. We demonstrate that pseudoknot formation occurs during the rapid ribozyme compaction, coincident with formation of many tertiary interactions of the ribozyme. A low physiological concentration of magnesium (1.5 mM) is sufficient to fully support the pseudoknot formation. The presence of nonnative intermediates containing an unfolded P3-P7 region is evident. However, catalysis-based analysis shows these nonnative intermediates are stable and fail to convert to the catalytically active structure, suggesting that rapid pseudoknot formation is essential for folding of the active ribozyme. Interestingly, RNAstructure predicts no stable Alt P3 structure for the Candida ribozyme, but two stable Alt P3s for the Tetrahymena ribozyme, explaining the dramatic difference in folding of the P3-P7 core of these two ribozymes. We propose that rapid formation of the P3-P7 pseudoknot represents a folding strategy ensuring efficient production of the catalytically active structure of group I ribozymes, which sheds new light on the mechanism of effective ribozyme folding in vivo.
The 3′-untranslated region of cytochrome oxidase II mRNA functions in RNA editing of African trypanosomes exclusively as a cis guide RNA
Authors: GOLDEN DANIEL E. , HAJDUK STEPHEN L.
Published: December 2004

RNA editing in trypanosomes is a post-transcriptional process responsible for correcting the coding sequences of many mitochondrial mRNAs. Uridines are specifically added or deleted from mRNA by an enzymatic cascade in which a pre-edited mRNA is specifically cleaved, uridines are added or removed, and the corrected mRNA is ligated. The process is directed by RNA molecules, termed guide RNAs (gRNA). The ability of this class of small, noncoding RNA to function in RNA editing is essential for these organisms. Typically, gRNAs are transcribed independent of the their cognate mRNA and anneal to form a binary RNA complex . An exception for this process may be cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) mRNA since a gene encoding a trans acting gRNA has not been identified. Using an in vitro editing assay we find that the 3′ UTR of COII, indeed, functions as a guide for both the site and number of uridines added to the coding region of the COII mRNA. We further show that the guiding sequence within the COII 3′ UTR can only function in COII editing when contiguous with the editing substrate, indicating that the 3′ UTR of COII lacks sequence or structure information necessary to function as a trans-acting gRNA. While other RNAs have been shown to “guide” RNA processing reactions, our discovery that the COII 3′ UTR directs editing of its cognate mRNA in cis, is a unique function for a 3′ UTR. The findings described here have led us to propose a new model for the evolution of gRNAs in kinetoplastids.
Spectral Expansions for Asian (Average Price) Options
Authors: Linetsky Vadim
Published: December 2004

Arithmetic Asian or average price options deliver payoffs based on the average underlying price over a prespecified time period. Asian options are an important family of derivative contracts with a wide variety of applications in currency, equity, interest rate, commodity, energy, and insurance markets. We derive two analytical formulas for the value of the continuously sampled arithmetic Asian option when the underlying asset price follows geometric Brownian motion. We use an identity in law between the integral of geometric Brownian motion over a finite time interval [0, t] and the state at time t of a one-dimensional diffusion process with affine drift and linear diffusion and express Asian option values in terms of spectral expansions associated with the diffusion infinitesimal generator. The first formula is an infinite series of terms involving Whittaker functions M and W. The second formula is a single real integral of an expression involving Whittaker function W plus (for some parameter values) a finite number of additional terms involving incomplete gamma functions and Laguerre polynomials. The two formulas allow accurate computation of continuously sampled arithmetic Asian option prices.
Inventory Control with Limited Capacity and Advance Demand Information
Authors: Özer Özalp , Wei Wei
Published: December 2004

Manufacturers make production decisions and carry inventory to satisfy uncertain demand. When holding and shortage costs are high, carrying inventory could be even more expensive for a capacitated production system. Recent developments in information technology and sales strategies enabled firms to acquire, collect, or induce advance demand information. We address a periodic-review, stochastic, capacitated, finite and infinite horizon production system faced by a manufacturer who has the ability to obtain advance demand information. We establish optimal policies and characterize their behavior with respect to capacity, fixed costs, advance demand information, and the planning horizon. With a numerical study, we quantify the value of advance demand information and additional capacity for specific problem instances. We illustrate how advance demand information can be a substitute for capacity and inventory.
Optimal Cyclic Multi-Hoist Scheduling: A Mixed Integer Programming Approach
Authors: Leung Janny M. Y. , Zhang Guoqing , Yang Xiaoguang , Mak Raymond , Lam Kokin
Published: December 2004

In the manufacture of circuit boards, panels are immersed sequentially in a series of tanks, with upper and lower bounds on the processing time within each tank. The panels are mounted on carriers that are lowered into and raised from the tanks, and transported from tank to tank by programmable hoists. The sequence of hoist moves does not have to follow the sequence of processing stages for the circuit boards. By optimising the sequence of hoist moves, we can maximise the production throughput.

We consider simple cyclic schedules, where the hoist move sequence repeats every cycle and one panel is completed per cycle. Phillips and Unger (1976) developed the first mixed integer programming model for finding the hoist move schedule to minimise the cycle time for lines with only one hoist. We discuss how their formulation can be tightened, and introduce new valid inequalities. We present the first mixed integer programming formulation for finding the minimum-time cycle for lines with multiple hoists and present valid inequalities for this problem. Some preliminary computational results are also presented.
Emotion as a Connection of Physical Artifacts and Organizations
Authors: Rafaeli Anat , Vilnai-Yavetz Iris
Published: December 2004

This paper documents emotion as integral to stakeholders' sense making of a key organizational artifact, demonstrating that emotion toward artifacts blends into emotion toward the organization. Multiple stakeholders were interviewed about an artifact of a large public transportation organization. Sense making of the artifact is shown to involve emotion in interpretations that consider three dimensions of the artifact—instrumentality, aesthetics, and symbolism. Instrumentality relates to the tasks the artifact helps accomplish, aesthetics is the sensory reaction to the artifact, and symbolism regards associations the artifact elicits. The analysis demonstrates that sense making of these three dimensions includes unsolicited emotion both toward the artifact and toward the organization. Emotion that surfaces in sense making of organizational artifacts is, thus, suggested to be what links interpretation of artifacts and attitudes toward organizations. This paper lays foundations for a theory of organizational artifacts that can guide both thoughtful research and effective management of artifacts in organizations.
Culture and CEO Compensation
Authors: Tosi Henry L. , Greckhamer Thomas
Published: December 2004

The theory and research on chief executive officer (CEO) compensation tends to be dominated by assumptions and values reflective of those dominant in the national culture of the United States, where most of this work is done. This suggests that an underlying theme focuses on how CEO compensation is related to instrumental choices made in a competitive, capitalist culture. This study seeks to expand the understanding of CEO compensation by examining it in the context of other cultures, based on the premise that national culture plays a significant part in the nature of compensation strategies.

We relate cultural dimensions (uncertainty avoidance, power distance, individualism, and masculinity-femininity) developed by Hofstede (Hofstede 1980a, 2001) to several dimensions of CEO compensation. These dimensions are total CEO pay, the proportion of variable pay to total compensation, and the ratio of CEO pay to the lowest level employees. The main findings of our paper are (1) all of the different dimensions of CEO pay were related to power distance, leading us to infer that CEO pay in a culture is most reflective of the strength of the power structure in a society, and (2) total compensation and the ratio of variable pay to total pay are related to individualism.

We conclude that cultural dimensions can contribute to understanding cross-national CEO compensation. The implication of this conclusion is that there are different ways that CEO compensation fits into the cognitive schema of various cultures and, furthermore, that these cognitive schema vary across societies that affect the nature of the “cultural matrix into which [money] is incorporated” (Bloch and Parry 1989, p. 1). Moreover, our results imply that particular forms of CEO compensation do not mean the same thing in different cultures, but rather carry different symbolic connotations depending on the values dominant in a society. Thus, not only does the compensation structure of a firm within a culture have a symbolic meaning within organizations (e.g., Trice and Beyer 1993), but it can also be seen as an expression of deeper social values (Hofstede et al. 1990) that may differ across countries.
Integrating expectations, experiences, and psychological contract violations: A longitudinal study of new professionals
Authors: Sutton Gigi , Griffin Mark A.
Published: December 2004

This research investigated the relationships among pre‐entry expectations, post‐entry experiences and psychological contract violations. The goal was to clarify the conceptual distinctions between the constructs and to test their differential impact on job satisfaction. In a national longitudinal study, 235 final‐year occupational therapy students were surveyed immediately prior to entering the profession and again 14 months later. Post‐entry experiences regarding supervision were found to predict psychological contract violation. Post‐entry experiences and psychological contract violations were found to jointly predict job satisfaction, with psychological contract violations demonstrating the stronger relationship. Pre‐entry expectations were positively correlated with job satisfaction, but this relationship was fully mediated by post‐entry experiences. Met expectations, as measured by an interaction between pre‐entry expectations and post‐entry experiences, was not a predictor of psychological contract violation. Nor did met expectations predict job satisfaction after controlling for contract violations. The findings reinforce a positive relationship between job satisfaction and turnover. These findings support the use of separate and commensurate measures of pre‐entry expectations and post‐entry experiences, and the integration of all three constructs in models of job satisfaction.
Apoptosis in breast cancer: relationship with other pathological parameters.
Authors: Lipponen P
Published: December 2004

Apoptosis is a frequent phenomenon in breast cancer and it can be detected by light microscopy in conventional histopathological sections or by special staining techniques. The number of apoptotic cells as a percentage of cells present, or the number of apoptotic cells per square millimetre of neoplastic tissue, is usually described as the apoptotic index (AI). In breast cancer, the AI is not related to tumour size, axillary lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis at diagnosis. It is greater in invasive ductal carcinomas than in other histological types. High AI is also related to high histological grade, high nuclear grade, comedo-type necrosis, lack of tubule formation, and dense infiltration of the tumour by lymphocytes. Sex steroid receptor-negative tumours have greater AIs than the sex steroid receptor-positive ones. Aneuploid breast cancers with high S-phase fractions (SPFs) also have high AI values compared with diploid tumours with low SPFs. p53-Positive breast cancers have high AIs, whereas tumours that are Bcl-2 positive have low AIs. The AI shows a strong positive correlation to all direct or indirect indicators of cell proliferation, such as mitotic index and Ki67 immunolabelling. Univariate survival analyses show that a high AI is linked with unfavourable disease outcome in axillary lymph node-negative and -positive breast cancer, but multivariate analyses indicate that AI is not an independent prognostic factor. In conclusion, a high AI is related to malignant cellular features and indicators of invasiveness and cell proliferation in breast cancer.
Use of aromatase inhibitors in breast carcinoma.
Authors: Santen R J , Harvey H A
Published: December 2004

Aromatase, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens, is the major mechanism of estrogen synthesis in the post-menopausal woman. We review some of the recent scientific advances which shed light on the biologic significance, physiology, expression and regulation of aromatase in breast tissue. Inhibition of aromatase, the terminal step in estrogen biosynthesis, provides a way of treating hormone-dependent breast cancer in older patients. Aminoglutethimide was the first widely used aromatase inhibitor but had several clinical drawbacks. Newer agents are considerably more selective, more potent, less toxic and easier to use in the clinical setting. This article reviews the clinical data supporting the use of the potent, oral competitive aromatase inhibitors anastrozole, letrozole and vorozole and the irreversible inhibitors 4-OH androstenedione and exemestane. The more potent compounds inhibit both peripheral and intra-tumoral aromatase. We discuss the evidence supporting the notion that aromatase inhibitors lack cross-resistance with antiestrogens and suggest that the newer, more potent compounds may have a particular application in breast cancer treatment in a setting of adaptive hypersensitivity to estrogens. Currently available aromatase inhibitors are safe and effective in the management of hormone-dependent breast cancer in post-menopausal women failing antiestrogen therapy and should now be used before progestational agents. There is abundant evidence to support testing these compounds as first-line hormonal therapy for metastatic breast cancer as well as part of adjuvant regimens in older patients and quite possibly in chemoprevention trials of breast cancer.
Noninvasive localization procedures in ectopic hyperfunctioning parathyroid tumors.
Authors: Lumachi F , Zucchetta P , Varotto S , Polistina F , Favia G , D'Amico D
Published: December 2004

In primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), parathyroidectomy is the treatment of choice, but anatomic variations of ectopic glands may cause surgical failure. Reliable preoperative noninvasive localization procedures would have a positive impact on the operative time and increase recovery rate. We retrospectively evaluated 186 patients with pHPT who were studied before successful parathyroidectomy by double tracer scintigraphy (99mTc-pertechnetate+201TI chloride or 99mTc-pertechnetate +99mTc-sestamibi, 160 patients), ultrasonography (148 patients) and computerized tomography (CT) scan (92 patients). During bilateral neck exploration, 159 (85.5%) single adenomas, 6 (3.2%) parathyroid carcinomas, and 3 (1.6%) double adenomas were found. Moreover, 18 (9.7%) patients had diffuse chief cells parathyroid hyperplasia. Removed parathyroid glands were in ectopic sites in 41 (22.0%) cases, mainly localized in the upper mediastinum or behind the esophagus. The overall sensitivity was 83.5 and 85.2% for 99mTc-pertechnetate+201TI chloride and 99mTc-pertechnetate+99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy respectively, 80.4% for CT scan and 81.1% for ultrasonography. In patients with ectopic glands, sensitivity was 81.2, 79.5, 73.3 and 81.6% respectively. In 36 out of 41 patients with ectopic glands in whom the removed parathyroids were correctly localized, mean operative time was 95 min, and in 5 patients without preoperative localization it was 260 min. In conclusion, in pHPT, preoperative localization of an enlarged parathyroid is helpful, especially in ectopic adenomas and in anatomic variations in location, and it has been proved to reduce operative time and morbidity rate.
The regulation of aromatase activity in breast fibroblasts: the role of interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2.
Authors: Singh A , Purohit A , Ghilchik M W , Reed M J
Published: December 2004

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) or tumour necrosis factor a (TNFalpha) can regulate aromatase activity. In the present study we have compared their abilities to stimulate aromatase activity in fibroblasts derived from 'normal' breast adipose tissue proximal to a tumour or breast tumours. PGE2, TNFalpha and IL-6 plus its soluble receptor (IL-6sR) all increased aromatase activity in these cells. Basal aromatase activity and the degree of aromatase stimulation by these factors were greater in fibroblasts derived from 'normal' breast tissue than from breast tumours. The ability of IL-6+IL-6sR to increase aromatase activity was only marginally reduced by the PG synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, indicating that IL-6+IL-6sR does not appear to act via induction of PG synthesis. The ability of PGE2 to stimulate aromatase activity in fibroblasts derived from 'normal' breast tissue was potentiated by IL-6sR suggesting that PGE2 may act via induction of IL-6. This was confirmed by measurement of IL-6 in conditioned medium collected from these cells. A significant increase in IL-6 concentrations was detected in conditioned medium collected from cells treated with PGE2. It is concluded that in some fibroblasts PGE2 may exert part of its regulatory effect on breast tissue aromatase activity via induction of IL-6.
Aromatase inhibitors and their use in the sequential setting.
Authors: Coombes R C , Harper-Wynne C , Dowsett M
Published: December 2004

Over the past decade several novel aromatase inhibitors have been introduced into clinical practice. The discovery of these drugs followed on from the observation that the main mechanism of action of aminogluthemide was via inhibition of the enzyme aromatase thereby reducing peripheral levels of oestradiol in postmenopausal patients. The second-generation drug, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (formestane), was introduced in 1990 and although its use was limited by its need to be given parenterally it was found to be a well-tolerated form of endocrine therapy. Third-generation inhibitors include vorozole, letrozole, anastrozole and exemestane, the former three being non-steroidal inhibitors, the latter being a steroidal inhibitor. All are capable of inhibiting aromatase action by >95% compared with 80% in the case of 4-hydroxyandrostenedione. The sequential use of different generations of aromatase inhibitors in the same patients is discussed. Studies suggest that an optimal sequence of these compounds may well result in longer remission in patients with hormone receptor positive tumours.