bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evidence for a Johannine Corpus
Authors: Hill Charles E.
Published: April 2005

The five members of the Johannine corpus have been regarded as having taken quite distinct paths towards acceptance in the Church. In the second century, however, writers commonly used two, three, or more of the ‘Johannine’ writings as products of the same author, sometimes inter textually to interpret each other. This chapter examines the consciousness of a Johannine literary corpus in the second century and explores the possibility that there existed at one time a physical Johannine corpus, an edition of these writings in codex form. The ‘breakup’ of the Johannine corpus is then chronicled in the fluctuating fortunes of three of its members (2 and 3 John, and the Apocalypse) up to the time of the canon lists of the fourth and fifth centuries.
Models for Dynamic Macroeconomics
Authors: Bagliano Fabio-Cesare , Bertola Giuseppe
Published: April 2005

Introduces methodological tools for dynamic analysis of macroeconomic phenomena: consumption and investment choices, employment, and unemployment outcomes, and economic growth. Discrete‐time dynamic optimization under uncertainty is introduced in Ch. 1 and applied to intertemporal consumption theory, with particular attention to empirical implementation. Chapter 2 focuses on continuous‐time optimization techniques and discusses the relevant insights in the context of partial equilibrium investment models. Chapter 3 applies previous chapters’ tools to dynamic labour demand, deriving the labour market equilibrium when both firms and workers face dynamic adjustment problems. Chapter 4 studies continuous‐time equilibrium dynamics of representative‐agent economies featuring both consumption and investment choices, with applications to long‐run growth issues. The role of externalities in more recent models of endogenous growth is carefully discussed. Chapter 5 studies the determination of aggregate equilibria in markets with decentralized trading, discussing the possibility of coordination failures and multiple equilibria. A search model of the labour market, focussed on the flows into and out of unemployment, is then analyzed and the dynamics of frictional unemployment are discussed. Many exercises can be found both within and at the ends of chapters, with extended solutions.
Dynamic Models of Investment
Authors: Bagliano Fabio-Cesare , Bertola Giuseppe
Published: April 2005

Introduces continuous‐time Hamiltonian and stochastic calculus techniques in the presence of convex adjustment costs or irreversibility constraints. Dynamic optimality conditions and phase diagram illustrations formalize important qualitative insights as to the role of expectations in the study of firms’ investment decisions, highlighting their forward‐looking character.
Adjustment Costs in the Labor Market
Authors: Bagliano Fabio-Cesare , Bertola Giuseppe
Published: April 2005

Focusses on how uncertainty may be treated simply in a Markov chain environment where shocks occur with given probabilities across a well‐defined and stable set of possible states. Applications to dynamic labour demand and to the equilibrium dynamics of wages and employment are used to characterize the dynamic and average long‐run effects of mobility costs and employment protection legislation.
Seeing, Doing, and Knowing
Authors: Matthen Mohan
Published: April 2005

Seeing, Doing, and Knowing is a philosophical framework for thinking about sensory systems as active devices for data extraction B rather than, in the traditional way, as passive recorders of ambient energy patterns.

Sensory systems are automatic sorting machines that assign real-world objects to classes. A sense feature is the property of belonging to such a class. A sensory experience, or sensation, is a label that the system uses in order to allow the organism access to the classifications that it has performed. This Sensory Classification Thesis (SCT), discussed in Chs 1–3, inverts the normally assumed relationship between sensory classes and sensations. Philosophers standardly hold that red is to be defined in terms of the sensation of red; here, sensations derive from sensory classes and are thus unsuitable for defining them. SCT is a simplification: some sensory systems order real-world objects in relations of similarity, and do not just put them into discrete classes (Chs 4–5).

SCT makes sense of sensory specialization across species—different kinds of organisms employ different classification schemes to serve their idiosyncratic data-extraction needs (Chs 6–8). This leads to an output-driven account of sensory content. Sense features are defined in terms of their aptness for epistemic (not just sensorimotor) actions, and the content of sensations in terms of the features with which they are associated by an internal convention (Chs 9–11). This leads to a form of realism: sensory classifications are correct if the states of affairs in which they consistently occur are indeed right for the actions with which they are paired.

Finally, the nature of object perception is explored: Chs 12–13 speculate about the psychological origins of sensory reference and of the feeling in perception that external objects are present (by contrast, for instance, with objects depicted in paintings and photographs).
Sensory Classification: The View from Psychology
Authors: Matthen Mohan
Published: April 2005

Descartes realized that the retinal image would have to be transformed into Amovements of the brain@ and then into ideas before it could become material for sensory or mental operations; he discovered what today is called Atransduction@. The current neurocomputational paradigm goes further: it sees sensory systems as processing transduced signals in the search for the occurrence of specific events or conditions and discarding all information irrelevant to these. When a particular feature is detected, the system enters into a characteristic state: for instance, a neuron might fire to signal the detection of a particular feature. A perceiver gains access to this event through a conscious sensation, which is in no way an image or picture. The features that a system detects in this way are often objective characteristics of external things. This opens the door to realism with respect to sensory classification.
Sensory Concepts
Authors: Matthen Mohan
Published: April 2005

A number of influential positions in the philosophy of perception are grounded in the idea that the sensory image is raw and unprocessed. Dretske holds that sensation is analogue: he neglects neurophysiological evidence for data extraction and overlooks the role of attention. Goodman=s inference from the ‘density‘ of sensation to its unprocessed character ignores the process of analogue conversion, or supplementation, as he calls it. Some philosophers argue that sensation has no structure: in fact, it possesses something parallel to syntactic structure. Other philosophers argue, on the contrary, that sensation must be conceptually articulated, but insist that such articulation must be ‘spontaneous‘: it is shown that some level of spontaneity is indeed found in sub-personally generated sensory concepts. Finally, it is argued that, pace Richard Heck, sensation provides us with a means by which to construct a descriptive vocabulary for sense features.
The Disunity of Colour
Authors: Matthen Mohan
Published: April 2005

Colour vision has evolved independently in a variety of species. It is widely assumed that this is a case of convergence, of the same function appearing in separated phylogenetic paths. It is much more likely to be an instance of Darwin=s Principle of Divergence, that is, of a specialized function that enables a species to exploit an environmental resource unavailable to its less specialized ancestor. On this account, colour vision has a different function in phylogenetically unrelated occurrences. Moreover, it is much more closely integrated with its predecessor, that is, black-and-white vision, than we might intuitively think, the latter carrying a good deal of the burden in colour discrimination.
Visual Objects
Authors: Matthen Mohan
Published: April 2005

Vision presents features as located in environmental things. In this chapter, the structure of this feature-locating scheme is investigated. Austen Clark argues, correctly, that visual features are presented to us as properties that belong to certain subjects. Clark, however, thinks that these subjects are regions of space: it is argued here that they are material objects capable of motion, not mere regions of space. Thus, vision presents the world in material object-feature terms. Other modalities employ different structures: audition, for example, attributes features to sounds, not material objects. Such differences among sense modalities with regard to their representations of space and their attributions of features argue that a purely a priori or functional treatment will miss philosophically important characteristics of sensation.
Hegel and the Theology of His Time
Authors: Hodgson Peter C.
Published: April 2005

In the introductions to his lectures, Hegel orients himself to the culture, philosophy, and theology of his time. He takes account of the novelty of philosophy of religion as a discipline, arguing that its object is not only religion as an aspect of human experience but also the knowledge of God by reason alone; as such it is a necessary branch of philosophy. He provides an analysis of the characteristics of modernity, focusing on its secularism, agnosticism, and compartmentalization of religion, which together comprise ‘the discord of our times’. He assesses previous and concurrent theologies, which for the most part fail to address this discord: metaphysical or classical theology, rational theology (the Enlightenment), historical theology, agnostic and ethicotheology (Kant), theology of feeling (Schleiermacher, Jacobi), atheism (Feuerbach), pantheism (Spinoza).
2 Rationalizing the Commandments II: The Soloveitchikian Method
Authors: Rynhold Daniel
Published: April 2005

The apparently contrasting method of rationalization of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik is subjected to a detailed critical analysis. Following a summary of Soloveitchik’s general method of descriptive reconstruction as presented in The Halakhic Mind, we first consider the scientific model of rationalization that Lawrence Kaplan finds within Soloveitchik’s reflections on halakhah. Despite humanistic and hermeneutic strands reminiscent of those found in the later thought of Wilhelm Dilthey, it is argued that ultimately this method remains a scientific explanatory method that attempts to subsume particular instances under general laws. There is, however, a contrasting model of rationalization found in The Halakhic Mind that is far more Gadamerian in tone, focusing on the meaning of the commandments rather than on their explanation. Some of the implications of the differences between the two models are discussed, though both models are argued to be highly conservative and lacking the capacity for objectivity.
5 The Priority of Practice
Authors: Rynhold Daniel
Published: April 2005

We present the alternative to the PoT approach to practical justification, which we term the Priority of Practice approach (PoP). This is developed by applying conceptual categories provided by Aristotle and certain contemporary philosophers, in particular, Charles Taylor and Bernard Williams, to an analysis of faith drawn from the Jewish tradition and some of the tentative remarks that Soloveitchik makes in his second model of rationalization. Simply stated, the PoP theorist holds that the rationality of a practice cannot be reduced to that of a set of discursive principles. The practice itself rather than any alleged propositional representation of it contains its own rationality, a non-discursive form of rationality that is irreducibly practical. According to the PoP theorist, there is such a thing as practical knowledge in a substantive sense that cannot be reduced to knowledge of principles and that can only be fully understood by participation in the practice itself, which provides us with our reasoned confidence.
Preliminaries
Authors: Menezes Flavio M. , Monteiro Paulo K.
Published: April 2005

This chapter presents the concept of a Bayesian Nash equilibrium as defined by Harsanyi (1967). His approach was to transform a game of incomplete information into one of imperfect information; any buyer who has incomplete information about other buyers’ values is treated as if he were uncertain about their types. A brief introduction to auctions is provided, and how these can be viewed as games of incomplete information is explained. The notations that will be used throughout the book are defined.
Common Value
Authors: Menezes Flavio M. , Monteiro Paulo K.
Published: April 2005

This chapter discusses common value auction models where the value of the object being sold is the same for all players, but is not known at the time of the auction. Two examples are presented to illustrate the effects of the common value assumption in bidding behaviour and on the seller’s expected revenue. The first assumes that individual signals about the true value of the object are independently determined. In second example, signals are correlated.
Affiliated Values
Authors: Menezes Flavio M. , Monteiro Paulo K.
Published: April 2005

This chapter presents the notion of affiliation and analyses its implications for equilibrium bidding functions and revenue. The notion of affiliation in a general multivariate context, and how theorems are essential to understanding how affiliation works are discussed. Equilibrium behaviour is characterized in second-, and first-price, and English button auctions. The expected revenue comparisons for these three auction formats and the effects of risk aversion are examined.
Mechanism Design
Authors: Menezes Flavio M. , Monteiro Paulo K.
Published: April 2005

This chapter discusses how auction theory under independent types can be presented as a mechanism design problem. It is shown that any two mechanisms that allocate the object in the same way and yield the same expected surplus to the individual with the lowest type will generate the same expected revenue for the seller. A general version of the Revenue Equivalence Theorem is presented and the optimal auction is characterized.
Crystallization Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of (Al,Fe)2O3 Synthesized from Liquid Precursors
Authors: Polli Andrew D. , Lange Fred F. , Levi Carlos G. , Mayer Joachim
Published: April 2005

Aqueous solutions of Al3+ and Fe3+ nitrates were pyrolyzed to produce (Al,Fe)2O3 amorphous solid solutions with up to 50 mol% Fe2O3. Following subsequent heat treatments, all compositions first crystallized to γ‐(Al,Fe)2O3 and those with ≥20% Fe2O3 ultimately partitioned into a mixture of A12O3 and Fe2O3‐rich α phases as predicted by the equilibrium diagram. The transformation path between the γ phase and the final microstructure was dependent on composition. Materials with 10%–20% Fe2O3 formed extended α solid solutions which partitioned only sluggishly at 1100°C. In contrast, materials with compositions above ∼30% Fe2O3 formed an intermediate metastable orthorhombic phase (O) based on the equiatomic AlFeO3 compound. The O‐phase also decomposed into a mixture of two α phases upon further heating. It appears that the α1+α2 mixture may evolve directly from γ for compositions near 30% Fe2O3, but clearly forms from O as the Fe content increases. Resistance to partitioning also reaches a minimum at ∼30% Fe2O3. At 900°C, the size of the α grains was ≥1 μm for compositions ≤5% Fe2O3, and decreased to ≤200 nm for compositions ≥10% Fe2O3, reflecting the strong effect of Fe2O3 on grain refinement relative to pure A12O3. Contrary to literature, the formation of single‐phase α in compositions ≤20% Fe2O3 appears to occur without the prior nucleation of Fe2O3‐rich “seeds.” Partitioned α mixtures exhibit orientation relationships suggestive of epitaxial nucleation of one phase on the other. The present results bear on important thermodynamic and kinetic issues related to the synthesis of fine‐grained polycrystalline alumina fibers.
Mechanical Properties and Failure Analysis of Alumina‐Glass Dental Composites
Authors: Wolf William D. , Vaidya Kaushik J. , Francis Lorraine Falter
Published: April 2005

Strength measurements and fractography were used to investigate the failure of alumina‐glass dental composites containing 75 vol% alumina and 25 vol% glass. Alumina compacts were prepared by slip casting and sintering at 1100°C for 2 h. Dense composites were made by infiltrating partially sintered alumina with glass at 1150°C for 8 h. Young's modulus and the hardness of the composites were 270 GPa and 12 GPa, respectively. The mean strength (460 MPa) and fracture toughness (4.0 MPa·m1/2) of the composites were insensitive to the glass thermal expansion coefficient (αglass= 5.9 × 10−6 to 7.8 × 10−6°C−1). Typical flaws were pores and cracklike voids formed by poor particle packing and differential sintering near agglomerates of alumina in the composite. Crack deflection and crack bridging were observed in indentation cracks. Fracture toughness was single‐valued because the alumina particle size was small (∼3 μm). Alumina‐glass composites are promising new ceramics for dental crown and bridge applications, because their strength and fracture toughness are ∼2 times greater than those of current dental ceramics.
Citric Acid—A Dispersant for Aqueous Alumina Suspensions
Authors: Hidber Pirmin C. , Graule Thomas J. , Gauckler Ludwig J.
Published: April 2005

The interaction between citric acid and alumina in aqueous solution is characterized. Adsorption isotherms of the dispersant on the alumina surface, electrophoretic mobility of the alumina particles as a function of the citric acid concentration, and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy of the citratealumina surface complex have been used. The adsorption behavior of citric acid is dependent on the pH of the suspension and the concentration of the citric acid. The maximum amount of citric acid adsorbed on the alumina surface, 2.17 μ.mol/m2 at pH 3, decreases to 1.17 μmol/m2 at pH 8. The adsorption of citrate causes a highly negatively charged powder surface and a shift of the isoelectric point (IEP) to lower pH values. The IEP of alumina can be fixed at any pH value between 9 and 3 by proper adjustment of the citric acid concentration. In situ ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy of the citrate‐alumina surface complex gives evidence for a direct interaction between the carboxylate groups of the citrate and the surface aluminum(III) atoms. The rheological properties of alumina suspensions are studied as a function of the citric acid concentration. The data obtained from the viscosity and dynamic electrophoretic measurements correlate well and allow the construction of a stability map of alumina suspensions stabilized with citric acid. The influence of citric acid on the viscosity is discussed using the Derjaguin‐Landau‐Verwey‐Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The interaction potential between the particles is determined by the citrate adsorbed on the surface, leading to a negative particle charge, and the citrate anions remaining in the solution, resulting in an increase of the ionic strength. The adsorption of citric acid also creates a steric barrier that inhibits the complete mutual approach of the individual alumina particles.
Dissolution of Rising Helium Bubbles in a Soda‐Lime‐Silica Glassmelt
Authors: Kondos Pericles A. , Subramanian R. Shankar , Cole Robert , Weinberg Michael C.
Published: April 2005

The dissolution of helium bubbles that rise inside a soda‐lime‐silica glassmelt was studied experimentally at several temperatures for a wide range of bubble sizes. The bubbles dissolved at an increasing rate until they reached a constant size that corresponded to a very small fraction of their initial volume. Mathematical models for both a stationary and a rising bubble were written, with a suitable interfacial boundary condition, and solved by the method of finite differences. Experimental data for bubbles small enough to be considered stationary were used, with the equations for a stationary bubble, to estimate the relevant physical parameters through a least‐squares fitting technique. The same values of the parameters were used in the rising bubble model, which accurately predicted the behavior of all of the bubbles. The experiments reveal an initial period of slow dissolution that cannot be described adequately by existing models, which assume instantaneous equilibrium in gas concentration at the interface. An empirical fit of this initial behavior permitted the description of the entire dissolution process.
Novel mutations in epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunit genes and phenotypic expression of multisystem pseudohypoaldosteronism
Authors: Edelheit Oded , Hanukoglu Israel , Gizewska Maria , Kandemir Nurgun , Tenenbaum‐Rakover Yardena , Yurdakök Murat , Zajaczek Stanislaw , Hanukoglu Aaron
Published: April 2005

Objectives Multisystem pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) is a rare autosomal recessive aldosterone unresponsiveness syndrome that results from mutations in the genes encoding epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits α, β and γ. In this study we examined three PHA patients to identify mutations responsible for PHA with different clinical presentations.

Patients All three patients presented uniformly with symptoms of severe salt‐loss during the first week of life and were hospitalized for up to a year. Beyond infancy, one of the patients showed mild renal salt loss and had no lower respiratory tract infections until 8 years of age, while the other patients continue with a severe course.

Results We sequenced the complete coding regions and intron–exon junctions of the genes encoding α, β and γ subunits of ENaC for all patients. The results revealed that the mild case represents a novel compound heterozygote including a missense (Gly327Cys) mutation in the αENaC gene. Sequences of relatives over three generations confirmed that the missense mutation co‐segregates with PHA. This mutation was not found in 60 control subjects. The other patients with severe PHA had two homozygous mutations, a novel deletion mutation in exon 8 of the αENaC gene and a splice site mutation in intron 12 of the βENaC gene. Most of the PHA‐causing mutations appear in the αENaC gene located on chromosome 12 rather than in the β and γENaC genes located tandemly on chromosome 16. However, the frequency of sequence variants in patients and control subjects showed no difference between genes.

Conclusions Severe PHA cases are associated with mutations leading to absence of normal‐length α, β or γENaC, while a mild case has been found to be associated with a missense mutation in αENaC. The predominance of PHA‐causing mutations in the αENaC gene may be related to the function of this subunit.
A retrospective study of growth hormone use in adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hardin Dana S. , Ferkol Tom , Ahn Chul , Dreimane Daina , Dyson Maynard , Morse Martha , Prestidge Claude , Rice Julie , Seilheimer Dan K.
Published: April 2005

Objectives Studies of growth hormone (GH) effectiveness in prepubertal children with cystic fibrosis (CF) have been published previously. We present a retrospective study of GH treatment in adolescents with CF.

Study design We performed a retrospective evaluation of data from 25 pubertal adolescents (ages 13 years 4 months to 16 years 11 months, Tanner stage III or IV). Thirteen (4 F) were followed for 1 year, then received 1 year of treatment with GH (GHTX). We compared the results with a ‘control’ group of 12 (4 F) whose growth was followed for 1 year (NonTX) but who were not treated with GH at the time of this review. Anthropometric data included: height, weight, lean tissue mass (LTM) and bone mineral content (BMC). Pulmonary function, number of hospitalizations, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), random blood glucose levels, IGF‐I, oestradiol and testosterone levels are also reported.

Results There was no difference between the groups at baseline. After 1 year, GHTX had significantly greater height and weight velocity, height and weight Z‐scores, body mass index (BMI), LTM and BMC. Absolute pulmonary function was better and hospitalizations were fewer in the GHTX. No subject developed glucose intolerance or had any other side‐effects.

Conclusion These results suggest that GH use in pubertal adolescents with CF safely improves height, body weight, bone mineralization and clinical status.
Arg16Gly polymorphism in β2‐adrenergic receptor gene is not associated with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in Korean male patients with Graves’ disease
Authors: Kim Tae Yong , Song Ja Young , Kim Won Bae , Shong Young Kee
Published: April 2005

Background Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) occurs most frequently in Asian males and present with an acute episode of proximal muscle weakness in the setting of thyrotoxicosis. Despite the fact that mutations were described in genes encoding ion channels in familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, no definite genetic variants were found in TPP. β2‐adrenergic receptors (ADRB2s) are expressed in skeletal muscle and stimulate the sodium pump. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in ADRB2 gene were identified and may act as disease modifiers in various diseases.

Objective We were to demonstrate that ADRB2 gene might be a susceptibility gene for TPP in Korean male patients with Graves’ disease.

Design and Patients In a series of 28 male TPP patients and 31 control patients, three polymorphisms in ADRB2 gene have been studied: a T to C substitution at −47 (−47T/C), Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu. Control patients were male Graves’ patients without history of paralysis.

Results The distributions of the −47C, Gly16 and Glu27 alleles in all patients were 0·02, 0·34 and 0·02, respectively. The genotype Arg16/Arg16 was not significantly associated with TPP (odds ratio 0·53; 95% confidence interval, 0·19–1·50; corrected P = 0·897). Also, the frequency of genotype Gly16/Gly16 was not significantly different in TPP patients than in controls (0·07 vs. 0·23; odds ratio, 0·26; 95% confidence interval, 0·05–1·40; corrected P = 0·45). Allele frequencies of ADRB2 in patients with TPP did not differ from controls.

Conclusions The polymorphism of the ADRB2 gene may not confer genetic susceptibility to TPP in Korean male patients with Graves’ disease.
Improvement of intrinsic myocardial contractility and cardiac fibrosis degree in acromegalic patients treated with somatostatin analogues: a prospective study
Authors: Bogazzi Fausto , Di Bello Vitantonio , Palagi Caterina , Donne Maria Grazia Delle , Di Cori Andrea , Gavioli Silvia , Talini Enrica , Cosci Chiara , Sardella Chiara , Brogioni Sandra , Mariani Mario , Martino Enio
Published: April 2005

Background Acromegalic patients have increased left ventricular (LV) mass (M) and impaired diastolic function.

Aim Using ultrasonic cardiac tissue characterization, we evaluated the early changes in cardiac fibrosis (IBS) and intrinsic myocardial contractility (CVI) as well as their reversibility after treatment with somatostatin analogues (SMSA) in patients with acromegaly.

Patients and Methods Twenty‐two acromegalic patients with active untreated disease (AcroUNTR) underwent conventional Doppler echocardiography and integrated backscattering; 25 healthy subjects (controls) and eight patients with acromegaly in remission after pituitary adenomectomy (AcroREM) served as controls.

Results As expected, AcroUNTR at baseline had higher LVM than controls or AcroREM (P < 0·001); LVM reduced in acromegalic patients after SMSA (P < 0·005 vs. baseline) while LV ejection fraction did not change. LV diastolic function was reduced in all acromegalic patients, either at baseline or after SMSA therapy (E/A ratio, 0·96 ± 0·3 and 1·1 ± 0·3, respectively, P < 0·002 vs. controls, 1·6 ± 0·3). CVI was reduced in AcroUNTR (14·3 ± 5·8%, P < 0·003 vs. controls, 28·7 ± 7·5%) and greatly improved after SMSA (22·5 ± 4·5%, P < 0·003 vs. baseline). Cardiac fibrosis was increased in AcroUNTR (IBSMSI, 53·7 ± 5·3%P < 0·002 vs. controls) and reduced after SMSA (43·7 ± 4·2%P < 0·002 vs. baseline) albeit not reaching values observed in controls. More importantly, five of 22 (23%) AcroUNTR patients had normal LVM, but increased cardiac fibrosis as revealed by back scattering. IBS values and CVI% were related with serum GH and IGF‐1 (P < 0·0001) levels, and the estimated duration of disease (P < 0·005).

Conclusions The present study demonstrated that active acromegalic patients had early impairment of systolic function and increased cardiac fibrosis; increased fibrosis may precede LV hypertrophy; these changes are related to the activity of disease and might improve during treatment with SMSA.
An Investigation of Assessment Games During Fallow Deer Fights
Authors: Jennings Dómhnall J. , Gammell Martin P. , Payne Robert J. H. , Hayden Thomas J.
Published: April 2005

An improved understanding of the decision rules used by competing animals can be achieved by examining both the temporal structure and display rate of competitors during a contest. Current models of animal competition make different predictions regarding the behaviour of competing animals and the present study evaluates the predictions of three such models, the energetic war of attrition (eWOA), the sequential assessment game (SAG) and the cumulative assessment model (CAM) by applying them to the fighting behaviour of male fallow deer (Dama damaL.). There was no difference in rate at which the jump clash and backward push were recorded over fight duration; therefore, in terms of the temporal distribution of behavioural acts within fights, the jump clash and backward push conformed to the predictions of the SAG. There was a difference between winners and losers of fights for the frequency that the jump clash and backward push were recorded consistent with both the SAG and CAM. Analysis of bout duration showed that there was a decrease in the duration of subsequent bouts of fighting; this is only permitted under eWOA. In so far as current assessment models permit interpretation of the data, our results meet only a limited number of predictions of any one model. Given the difficulty in interpreting our data within the context of current assessment models, recommendations for the development of more complex models are presented.
Nest Hydrocarbons as Cues for Philopatry in a Paper Wasp
Authors: Sumana A. , Liebert Aviva E. , Berry Anne S. , Switz Ghislaine T. , Orians Colin M. , Starks Philip T.
Published: April 2005

Philopatric behavior has been demonstrated in a wide taxonomic spread of animals. In temperate environments, overwinteredPolisteswasp foundresses often return to their natal nest prior to initiating colony construction. Previous research has shown that these spring foundresses can identify the natal nest in the absence of landmark and gross morphological cues. Hydrocarbons are essential recognition cues forPolistesnest and nestmate discrimination, but cuticular hydrocarbon profiles can become homogenized when foundresses overwinter in mixed colony groups. We examined the hydrocarbon profiles ofPolistes dominulusfoundresses and nests before and after an overwintering period, and found that the hydrocarbon profiles of nests remain unique over time and that this uniqueness is influenced by the original foundresses. Our data raise the possibility that in returning to the natal nest, foundresses reacquire their colony‐specific signature, which may play a role in the formation of cooperative associations.
Prior Residence Influences Contest Outcome in Flocks of Non‐Breeding Birds
Authors: Snell‐Rood Emilie C. , Cristol Daniel A.
Published: April 2005

We sought to determine whether early arrival was a determinant of contest outcome in loosely organized, non‐breeding flocks of birds. In White‐throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) arrival date during autumn migration, i.e. within‐year prior residence, was a significant determinant of contest outcome for those birds that were not present on the study site in previous years. To determine whether the advantage of early arrival was due to prior residence per se, as opposed to some correlate of arrival date (e.g. condition), we experimentally delayed the arrival of 60 migrants. We found a significant effect of the delay: the outcome of contests between naturally arriving (control) birds and experimentally delayed birds was significantly related to the difference between the control bird's natural arrival date and the experimental bird's delayed arrival date. Thus, prior residence per se, and not some correlate of arrival date, had a significant effect on a naïve individual's ability to win contests. Interestingly, arrival date had no effect on contest outcome among birds that had wintered on the site in previous years. Because a prior residence advantage accumulates in a time‐dependent manner, our results suggest that fighting ability or perceived resource value increases with site familiarity. Thus, there may be selection on arrival date and site‐faithfulness as behavioral strategies to increase access to resources.
Ultrasonographic changes in malignant neck nodes during radiotherapy in head and neck squamous carcinoma
Authors: Correa PD , Arya S , Laskar SG , Shrivastava SK , Dinshaw KA , Gupta T , Agarwal JP
Published: April 2005

Limited information is available about the sonomorphological changes in metastatic neck nodes during radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of sonomorphological changes in metastatic neck nodes with radiotherapy. The study population consisted of 16 consecutive patients planned for radical radiotherapy to the head and neck. All patients were subjected to four ultrasound examinations: before therapy, at 46 Gy, at the conclusion of radiation and at first follow up. A total of 59 ultrasound examinations were performed on 16 patients. The difference between the mean number of nodes detected per patient before (10.6) and after (7.8) radiation was significant (P = 0.05). Sixteen nodes were categorized as malignant at first sonography, half of which reverted back to normal by the end of radiation. Changes in the sonomorphology of malignant cervical lymph nodes occur with radiotherapy with more that half demonstrating reversion to normal pattern. Future studies correlating this with histopathology should be considered.
Transjugular intrahepatic cavoportal shunt for Budd–Chiari syndrome
Authors: Ul Haq T , Munir K , Haider Z , Yaqoob J , Usman U
Published: April 2005

Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) is characterized by obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract. Therapeutic options for BCS are limited. We report a case of a 21‐year‐old woman with protein S and C deficiency with gross ascites. Treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was attempted, which revealed occluded hepatic veins, so transcaval TIPS was performed. No serious procedure‐related complication occurred. After successful shunt creation, the patient's symptoms subsided and she was discharged and followed up for 6 months.
Sclerosing mesenteritis
Authors: White B , Kong A , Chang A‐L
Published: April 2005

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare benign process involving mesenteric fat that has non‐specific histology and imaging characteristics, which are critical to the diagnosis. It has two different pathological variants: mesenteric panniculitis (acute or subacute) and retractile mesenteritis (chronic). This case study illustrates the radiological findings of sclerosing mesenteritis, describes certain signs that suggest the diagnosis and reviews recent published literature.
Paratubal cyst complicated by tubo‐ovarian torsion: Computed tomography features
Authors: Low S‐CA , Ong C‐L , Lam S‐L , Beh S‐T
Published: April 2005

Paratubal cysts complicated by tubo‐ovarian torsion are an uncommon cause of acute right iliac fossa pain in children and very rarely diagnosed accurately preoperatively. We report a constellation of diagnostic CT features in a 12‐year‐old pubertal girl.
Synovial osteochondromatosis: the spectrum of imaging findings
Authors: Ryan RS , Harris AC , O'Connell JX , Munk PL
Published: April 2005

Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of synovial osteochondromatosis, a proliferative disorder of the synovium with associated loose body formation. The aim of this pictorial review is to illustrate the radiographic, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance appearances of various stages of the disease.
Burnout in physicians: a case for peer‐support
Authors: Bruce S. M. , Conaglen H. M. , Conaglen J. V.
Published: April 2005

Background:  It is well documented that doctors experience a high level of stress in their profession, and that this can lead to physical, psychological, and emotional harm, in particular, burnout. Overseas (especially in the UK and USA), research investigating the levels of stress, burnout, and associated psychiatric morbidity in health professionals, across many specialities, has been carried out with a view to prevention of these adverse outcomes.

Aims:  To assess the level of burnout in a sample of New Zealand physicians, the associated work and personal characteristics, and the need for development of a support peer supervision or support system.

Methods:  Questionnaires that measured a number of work and personal characteristics, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, and additional questions regarding mistakes, and need for support, were sent to 83 physicians in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, with t‐tests for comparison with other studies, Pearson Product‐Moment correlations between variables and analysis of variance where appropriate.

Results:  Of the 50 respondents, 28% experienced high levels of two or three aspects of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, low personal accomplishment). Emotional exhaustion correlated with a greater need for support. Most respondents favoured a one‐to‐one support system.

Conclusion:  This study highlights the presence of significant workplace difficulties for physicians and the need to develop a preventative support system for the protection of physicians and the patients in their care. (Intern Med J 2005; 35: 272–278)
Towards a family process model of maternal and paternal depressive symptoms: exploring multiple relations with child and family functioning
Authors: Mark Cummings E. , Keller Peggy S. , Davies Patrick T.
Published: April 2005

Background: Research has focused on maternal dysphoria and child adjustment. However, family process models indicate gaps in the study of paternal dysphoria, broader family functioning, and diverse child outcomes.

Method: A community sample of 235 mothers and fathers of kindergarten children completed measures of depressive symptoms, family functioning and child adjustment. Teachers also provided measures of child adjustment.

Results: Supportive of pervasive effects even in a community sample, increased parental depressive symptomatology was related to increased marital conflict, insecure marital attachment, less parental warmth, more psychological control in parenting, and multiple child problems. Child gender moderated child outcomes differently for paternal and maternal dysphoria. Marital relations, but not parenting, mediated child outcomes.

Conclusions: Marital problems may be especially reactive to parental depressive symptomatology, so that mediational processes affecting child functioning become evident even in family contexts of relatively low risk.
Central coherence in typically developing preschoolers: does it cohere and does it relate to mindreading and executive control?
Authors: Pellicano Elizabeth , Maybery Murray , Durkin Kevin
Published: April 2005

Background:  Frith and Happé (1994) describe central coherence (CC) as the normal tendency to integrate individual elements into a coherent whole, a cognitive style which varies in the general popu‐lation. Individuals with autism are at the extreme (weak) end of the continuum of coherence. There has been debate over whether CC is independent from other psychological functions such as theory of mind and executive control.

Methods:  We examined the validity of the CC construct in 76 typically developing 4‐ and 5‐year‐old children using four visuospatial coherence tasks. We also investigated the extent to which individual differences in performance on CC measures were associated with individual differences on measures of mindreading and executive functioning (EF).

Results:  Unexpectedly, the CC variables were not highly intercorrelated and did not form a single coherence factor. Instead, the results revealed a two‐factor structure, one of which corresponded to visuospatial constructional ability. Correlations between the emerging factors of coherence and mindreading ability were weak, even when developmental differences in age and verbal and nonverbal ability were taken into account. In contrast, visuospatial constructional ability was reliably related to measures of EF, whilst correlations between EF and the second CC factor were very weak.

Conclusions:  CC in typically developing preschoolers is not a unitary construct. Whilst there is little relationship between CC and mindreading abilities in these young children, executive control appears to be associated with one aspect of coherence: visuospatial construction.
The Extinction Spasm Impending: Synergisms at Work
Authors: MYERS NORMAN
Published: April 2005

Abstract: We are well aware of the main mechanisms of extinction, especially those which derive from human activities. But these mechanisms tend to be studied in isolation from each other. We know much less and understand less still about the dynamic interplay between the discrete mechanisms. When we consider the likely outcome of several mechanisms operating at once, we can reasonably surmise that many of their effects will serve to amplify each other. These synergistic interactions are the subject of this exploratoy paper.

It is proposed that synergisms between discrete mechanisms, working collectively and with compounding impact on each other, will surely lead to a greater scale extinction episode ultimately. In the more immediate term, they may cause the episode to be telescoped in its time frame especially in the early phases. This means that a large‐scale elimination of species may occur even sooner than some observers anticipate. To the extent that this is so, there is all the greater premium on anticipatory planning and conservation measures, to be taken with due urgency.
Consequences and Costs of Conservation Corridors
Authors: SIMBERLOFF DANIEL , COX JAMES
Published: April 2005

Abstract: There are few controlled data with which to assess the conservation role of corridors connecting refuges. If corridors were used sufficiently, they could alleviate threats from inbreeding depression and demographic stochasticity. For species that require more resources than are available in single refuges, a network of refuges connected by corridors may allow persistence. Finally, a cowidor, such as a riparian foresc may constitute an important habitat in its own right. A dearth of information on the degree to which different species use corridors makes it difficult to tell which of these potential advantages will be realized in any particular case. Some experimental field studies suggest that certain species will use corridors, although lack of controls usually precludes a firm statement that cowidors will prevent extinction.

Corridors may have costs as well as potential benefits. They may transmit contagious diseases, fires, and other catastrophes, and they may increase exposure of animals to predaton, domestic animals, and poachers. Cowidors also bear economic costs. For example, a bridge that would maintain a riparian corridor costs about 13 times as much per lane‐mile as would a road that would sever the cowidor. Also, per‐unit‐area management costs may be latger for corridors than for refuges. It may be cheaper to manage some species by moving individuals between refuges rather than by buying and maintaining corridors.

Each case must be judged on its own merits because species‐environment interactions dtyfer. As an example, we used the case of the Florida panther (Felis concolor cotyq, of which there remain about 30. The Florida panther's potential inbreeding problems could possibly be stemmed somewhat by a corridor system, but it is far from certain that even an extensive system will save this animal, and the cost of such a system would lessen the resources that could be devoted to land acquisition and other means of aiding many other threatened species.
Use of a flexible thiopyrylium photosensitizer and competitive inhibitor for pathogen reduction of viruses and bacteria with retention of red cell storage properties
Authors: Wagner Stephen J. , Skripchenko Andrey , Cincotta Louis , Thompson‐Montgomery Dedeene , Awatefe Helen
Published: April 2005

BACKGROUND: Progress in developing photochemical methods for pathogen reduction of red blood cells (RBCs) has been hampered by hemolysis. A flexible, nucleic acid‐intercalating thiopyrylium (TP) dye that is only photochemically active in the bound state and a competitive inhibitor of RBC membrane binding, dipyridamole (DP), was used to reduce photoinduced hemolysis stemming from free‐ and membrane‐bound dye.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Oxygenated leukodepleted 20% hct RBC suspensions were deliberately inoculated with virus or bacteria, incubated with 200 µmol per L DP and less than or equal to 100 µmol per L TP, illuminated with 1.1 J/cm2 of red light, and titered. RBC suspensions containing 200 µmol per L DP and 160 µmol per L TP were identically phototreated, concentrated to 45% hct, and assayed for RBC storage properties.

RESULTS: In RBC suspensions containing DP, TP photoinactivated vesicular stomatitis virus, pseudorabies virus, duck hepatitis B virus, bovine virus diarrhea virus, extracellular human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the limit of detection and 6.2 log intracellular HIV. More than 5 log inactivation of 6 bacterial species was demonstrated. DP prevented approximately 30% of TP binding to RBCs. Phototreated RBCs that were subsequently stored for 42 days exhibited acceptable levels of hemolysis, morphology scores, extracellular pH, ATP, glucose utilization rates, and lactate production. Treated samples exhibited substantially increased potassium efflux compared to controls.

CONCLUSION: Use of TP photosensitizer and DP enables significant levels of pathogen reduction while retaining most, but not all RBC properties during 42 day storage.
Platelet alloimmunization after long‐term red cell transfusion in transfusion‐dependent thalassemia patients
Authors: Lo Shyh‐Chyi , Chang Jhy‐Sheng , Lin Susannah Whay‐Sue , Lin Dong‐Tsamn
Published: April 2005

BACKGROUND: The platelet (PLT) alloimminization status after long‐term red cell (RBC) transfusion in thalassemia patients was investigated, including antibodies against HLA antigens and PLT‐specific glycoprotein antigens.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples from a total of 60 thalassemia patients who routinely received washed RBCs were tested for the presence of HLA antibodies and PLT‐specific glycoprotein antibodies with a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit. All patients were rescreened at a follow‐up period of 12 to 15 months.

RESULTS: At the first year of study, 19 (31%) patients had HLA antibodies, 13 (22%) had HLA antibodies and PLT‐specific antibodies, and 1 (2%) had PLT‐specific antibodies. One patient showed weak reactive PLT autoantibody. The follow‐up study showed that 7 patients developed HLA antibodies, whereas 1 patient lost HLA antibody activity. Nine patients developed new PLT‐specific antibodies, yet 12 patients lost at least one of their PLT‐specific antibodies.

CONCLUSION: Long‐term RBC transfusions can induce PLT alloimmunization, both to HLA antigens and to PLT‐specific antigens. The residual PLTs and white blood cells in RBC components could be the sources of immunization. In our thalassemia patients, HLA antibodies likely sustain longer than PLT‐specific antibodies.