bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐rule quality control for the age‐related eye disease study
Authors: Caudill Samuel P. , Schleicher Rosemary L. , Pirkle James L.
Published: March 2008

The Age‐Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), sponsored by the National Eye Institute, was designed to study the natural history and risk factors of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract, and to evaluate the effect of high doses of antioxidants and zinc on eye disease progression. AMD and cataract are leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in the U.S., with frequency of both diseases increasing dramatically after age 65. Participants were randomly chosen to receive antioxidant or placebo tablets. Blood was drawn annually from a subset of patients, and serum concentrations of 17 different nutritional indicators were measured. Because of the complexity of the analytical methods, and possibility of instrument error due to failure of any one of many component parts, several different instruments were used for most analytes. In addition, to assure that the measurement systems were performing adequately across a wide range of concentrations, multiple control pools were monitored with analyte concentrations at low, medium, and high concentrations. We report here the multi‐rule quality control system (MRQCS) used during the later part of the trial (AREDS Phase III). This system was designed to monitor systematic error and random within‐ and among‐run error for analytical runs using 1–3 different quality control pools per run and 1–2 measurements of each pool per run. We demonstrate the features of the MRQCS using quality control (QC) data associated with vitamin C measurements. We also provide operating characteristics to demonstrate how the MRQCS responds to increases in systematic and/or random error. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage by 19 months of age: An evaluation of the impact of missing data resulting from record scattering
Authors: Smith Philip J. , Stevenson John
Published: March 2008

We describe how trends in the vaccination coverage at 19 months of age vary by race/ethnicity; explore the extent to which data required to evaluate a child's up‐to‐date vaccination status is missing as a result of the scattering of vaccination records among many vaccination providers; evaluate how the prevalence of that missing data varies by race/ethnicity; and evaluate the impact that the missing data has on estimated race/ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage. We analyzed data from 255 043 children sampled between 1995 and 2006 by the National Immunization Survey (NIS). Among children who had 2+ vaccination providers reporting, estimated vaccination coverage was significantly lower by approximately 15 per cent among children who did not have all of their providers reporting to the NIS compared with children who had all of their vaccination providers reporting to the NIS. By comparing coverage estimates that were adjusted for missing data to unadjusted estimates, we found that unadjusted estimates consistently underestimated vaccination coverage by as much as 4.9 per cent for Asians, 4.8 per cent for Hispanics, 4.1 per cent for American Indian/Alaska Natives, 3.3 per cent for non‐Hispanic blacks, and 2.8 per cent for non‐Hispanic white children. Estimates of disparities in estimated vaccination coverage did not depend on whether coverage estimates were adjusted for missing data. Hispanic and non‐Hispanic black children had estimated coverage rates that were significantly less than that of non‐Hispanic white children, with median disparities of 4 and 9 per cent, respectively. Regardless of whether estimates are adjusted, data from the NIS show that disparities in vaccination coverage that existed in the early 1990s persist. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A statistical methodology for drug–drug interaction surveillance
Authors: Norén G. Niklas , Sundberg Rolf , Bate Andrew , Edwards I. Ralph
Published: March 2008

Interaction between drug substances may yield excessive risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) when two drugs are taken in combination. Collections of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) related to suspected ADR incidents in clinical practice have proven to be very useful in post‐marketing surveillance for pairwise drug–ADR associations, but have yet to reach their full potential for drug–drug interaction surveillance. In this paper, we implement and evaluate a shrinkage observed‐to‐expected ratio for exploratory analysis of suspected drug–drug interaction in ICSR data, based on comparison with an additive risk model. We argue that the limited success of previously proposed methods for drug–drug interaction detection based on ICSR data may be due to an underlying assumption that the absence of interaction is equivalent to having multiplicative risk factors. We provide empirical examples of established drug–drug interaction highlighted with our proposed approach that go undetected with logistic regression. A database wide screen for suspected drug–drug interaction in the entire WHO database is carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. As always in the analysis of ICSRs, the clinical validity of hypotheses raised with the proposed method must be further reviewed and evaluated by subject matter experts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Mendelian randomization’ equals instrumental variable analysis with genetic instruments
Authors: Wehby George L. , Ohsfeldt Robert L. , Murray Jeffrey C.
Published: March 2008

Interest in instrumental variable (IV) analyses using genetic instruments has been growing over the past 4 years. The background, strength and weaknesses of this approach, which in the epidemiology literature has been referred to as ‘Mendelian randomization’, has been recently reviewed by Lawlor et al. (Statist. Med. 2007. DOI: 10.1002/sim.3034). We suggest a change in the nomenclature of ‘Mendelian randomization’ and discuss issues relevant to IV analysis including instrument validation, motivation of IV analysis and interpretation of IV estimates in order to motivate a more consistent and standard use of IV analysis across applications using genetic instruments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of a new bioassay technique using goldfish for assessment of water toxicity
Authors: Deguchi Yuya , Wu Nan Xiang , Toyoizumi Tomoyasu , Masuda Shuichi , Nagaoka Hiroaki , Watanabe Tetsushi , Totsuka Yukari , Wakabayashi Keiji , Kinae Naohide
Published: March 2008

There are a variety of chemicals in aquatic environment, so it is important to assess the toxicity. The biomarkers such as induction of DNA damage, micronuclei, vitellogenin, and hepatic P450 in fish are known to be effective for monitoring genotoxic and/or estrogenic chemicals. However, there is little study to use these biomarkers in same fish. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is widely used and is suitable in size to collect blood or organs. In this study, validity of multiple‐biomarkers in goldfish was checked using standard chemicals and applied in the river water. Ho River, which flows through the textile dyeing factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, was reported to show genotoxicity toward Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and YG1024. When the goldfish were exposed to Ho River, DNA damage, estrogenic activity, and CYP1A induction were observed. Through the study, it was assumed that not only mutagens/carcinogens but also endocrine disrupting chemicals and poly aromatic hydrocarbons were present in Ho River. Therefore, chemical identification should be required. We could evaluate both genotoxicity and estrogenic activity simultaneously, so goldfish might be a good experimental model for estimation of chemical contamination levels in aquatic environment. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008.
Surgical Training in the Netherlands
Authors: Borel‐Rinkes Inne H. M. , Gouma Dirk J. , Hamming Jaap F.
Published: March 2008

Surgical training in the Netherlands has traditionally been characterized by learning on the job under the classic master‐trainee doctrine. Over the past decades, it has become regionally organized with intensive structural training courses, and a peer‐based quality control system. Recently, the nationwide programme has been modernized further and now involves a systematic, competency‐based education with structural training courses, formalized assessment and room for reflection by residents under the supervision of surgical teaching groups. To this end, a uniform web‐based digital portfolio is being introduced to facilitate monitoring of the individual resident's progress. Though requiring inspirational leadership, commitment, and determination, this modernization has sparked enthusiasm among trainees and teachers.
Long‐term Outcome of a Cuffed Expanded PTFE Graft for Hemodialysis Vascular Access
Authors: Tsoulfas George , Hertl Martin , Ko Dicken S. C. , Elias Nahel , Delmonico Francis L. , Romano Linda , Fernandes Isabel , Schoenfeld David , Kawai Tatsuo
Published: March 2008

Background

Development of venous outflow stenosis has been a major obstacle in maintaining the patency of dialysis vascular grafts. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the long‐term results of cuffed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and non‐cuffed (standard) ePTFE grafts placed for hemodialysis access.

Materials and methods

A total of 67 patients who underwent placement of either cuffed (n = 41) or standard (n = 26) ePTFE grafts were retrospectively analyzed. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, gender, cause of end‐stage renal disease, and anatomic placement of the graft. Endpoints consisted of primary (without any intervention) and secondary (with radiological or surgical intervention) graft patency rates at 1–3 years.

Results

There was a trend toward better primary graft patency rates in the cuffed versus the standard ePTFE: 37.7% vs. 25.7% at 1 year, 35% vs. 10.3% at 2 years, 28% vs. 5.1% at 3 years, respectively (p = 0.086, Kaplan–Meier). Secondary patency rates in the cuffed group were significantly superior (p = 0.047) to those in the standard group (81.8% vs. 56.1% at 1 year, 61.8% vs. 46.3% at 2 years, 51.5% vs. 33.1% at 3 years, respectively). Thrombosis as a cause of complete graft failure was significantly higher (34%) in the standard group than in the cuffed group (9%) (p = 0.0125).

Conclusions

Compared to the standard ePTFE, the cuffed ePTFE graft provided better long‐term outcome, especially in terms of secondary patency rates after radiological intervention.
Value of Multidetector‐row Computed Tomography in Diagnosis of Portal Vein Invasion by Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Sugiura Teiichi , Nishio Hideki , Nagino Masato , Senda Yoshiki , Ebata Tomoki , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Igami Tsuyoshi , Oda Koji , Nimura Yuji
Published: March 2008

Background

Although knowledge of cancer invasion of the portal bifurcation is vitally important in planning an operation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, the diagnostic capability of multidetector‐row computed tomography (MDCT) for this purpose has not been assessed. We evaluated how well MDCT could identify cancer invasion of the portal bifurcation by perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

Between April 2003 and June 2005, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma was resected in 87 patients, 83 of whom underwent MDCT within 1 month before the surgery. Three‐dimensional volume‐rendered (3DVR) and multiplanar reformation (MPR) images were examined for evidence of portal vein invasion. Agreement with intraoperative and pathologic findings was assessed. Portal bifurcation findings by 3DVR and MPR were classified into no portal vein stenosis, unilateral stenosis, or more extensive stenosis, and also into tumor contact with the bifurcation in no, one of two, or two projections.

Results

For macroscopic portal vein invasion, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy were 81.5, 91.1, 81.5, 91.1, and 88.0% in 3D portography and 96.3, 92.6, 86.7, 98.1, and 94.0% in MPR, respectively. Findings by both 3DVR and MPR were significantly correlated with depth of cancer invasion (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

MDCT is useful in assessing cancer invasion of the portal vein bifurcation by perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Genetic variants of transferrin in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Marklová E. , Albahri Z. , Vaníček H. , Dědek P. , Vališ M. , Kopáčová M. , Vávrová V.
Published: March 2008

Background:

Genetic polymorphism of serum transferrin (Tf) was studied in order to differentiate between protein genetic variants and congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), further focusing on unusual findings.

Methods:

Screening of Tf hypoglycosylation was carried out by isoelectric focusing with direct immunofixation and Coomassie blue staining in 100 healthy controls and a group of 1247 patients with various symptoms and diagnoses.

Results:

Of the seven different genotypes detected, a significantly higher (p = 0.004) frequency of Tf C1C2 was found among 92 patients with cystic fibrosis; only the most severe DF508 mutation (in either homozygous or heterozygous form) was regularly present in the carriers of this Tf genotype, in contrast to those with the Tf C1C1 variant.

Conclusions:

Association of Tf C2 allele with various malfunctions has been noticed before, but is so far unresolved. This is the a report on increased frequency of Tf C1C2 genotype found in cystic fibrosis. Analysis of larger samples and independent confirmation of our results are needed.
In Situ Rheo‐NMR Measurements of Solid Fat Content
Authors: Mazzanti Gianfranco , Mudge Elizabeth M. , Anom Emmanuel Y.
Published: March 2008

The properties of crystallized fats depend on their solid fat content (SFC) and their fractal structures. The SFC and the structures are dramatically affected during crystallization under shear flow. A mini‐Couette cell was developed to crystallize fat samples under shear. The cell was tested with blends of canola stearin (CS) in canola oil (CO) in a 20‐MHz NMR spectrometer. The blends were placed in the cell, melted at 80 °C, and then crystallized under different shear rates (58–460 s−1) at 40 °C inside the spectrometer for 4 h. Time averaged NMR free induction decay (FID) curves were captured at 20 s intervals. SFC values were calculated using parameters determined by a calibration procedure. The SFC values determined by the direct method with and without the shaft of the Couette device were reasonably close. Similar results were observed with and without shear in the Couette device. The FID curves did not show a significant difference either. Therefore this system is accurate for in‐situ time‐resolved determination of SFC under shear flow. Furthermore, a combination of the direct and the indirect methods was successfully used to estimate the temperature increase due to viscous heating. The system developed will help in understanding the effects of shear flow on SFC of nanostructured lipid multicomponent systems. This will permit the optimization of the manufacturing processes.
Thermally-Actuated Microfluidic Systems
Authors: Anderson John C. , Welle Richard P.
Published: March 2008

A new system concept has been developed for microfluidic devices in which thermal actuation is used to achieve most or all fluid and reaction control functions (e.g., valves, pumps, mixers, separators, heaters, and coolers). Thermal actuation makes it possible to incorporate the fluid-containing components in a module that can be physically separated from the actuation elements, making the fluid-bearing module disposable. The actuation elements are embedded in a reusable module, reducing the complexity and cost of the disposable unit. The thermally-actuated valve is central to the system design, and has been well characterized. Thermal-actuation concepts for other fluid-handling functions have been developed and, in most cases, demonstrated. The approach is scalable from microchip to microtiter-plate formats. It can also be integrated into existing microchip technologies to expand functionality. Prototypes have been built and tested in combination with a DNA array for diagnostics of infectious diseases.
Low Nanoliter Acoustic Transfer of Aqueous Fluids with High Precision and Accuracy of Volume Transfer and Positional Placement
Authors: Harris David , Mutz Mitchell , Sonntag Maria , Stearns Richard , Shieh Jean , Pickett Siobhan , Ellson Richard , Olechno Joe
Published: March 2008

The utility of acoustic droplet ejection (ADE), originally used to transfer dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions, is expanded beyond the transfer of DMSO to a wide variety of aqueous solutions common to biochemical experiments and assays. Aqueous-based liquids are transferred with high precision (coefficient of variation <5% for volume transfers of 5–50 nL) and accuracy (within 5% of expected volume), similar to that seen with DMSO transfers. The precision and accuracy of the technique are measured via fluorescence. ADE transfers of aqueous solutions may facilitate the miniaturization of assays leading to increased throughput and reduced reagent usage.
Development of Flexible BioRobot Platform for Integrated Clinical Test
Authors: Choi Byung June , Jin Sung Moon , Shin Seung Hoon , Koo Ja Choon , Ryew Sung Moo , Kim JinHyun , Son Woong Hee , Ahn Ki Tak , Chung Wankyun , Choi Hyouk Ryeol
Published: March 2008

Recently, robotic automation in clinical test has become a subject of keen interest because it is a fusion of biotechnology and robotic technology. In this article, we present a new robotic platform for clinical test suitable for small- or medium-sized laboratories. The platform is designed to minimize the consumption of reagents, and to easily integrate various testing equipments because it is functionally modularized. It is aimed to accommodate 70 kinds of clinical tests, which are the most frequently conducted in hospitals. The BioRobot platform is developed, and its feasibility is validated experimentally.
Long-chainn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid from fish oil modulates aortic nitric oxide and tocopherol status in the rat
Authors: López Diego , Möller Matías , Denicola Ana , Casós Kelly , Rubbo Homero , Ruiz-Sanz José Ignacio , Mitjavila Maria Teresa
Published: March 2008

In spite of their high oxidisability, long-chainn-3 PUFA protect against CVD. Dietary fatty acids modulate the fatty acid composition of lipoproteins involved in atherosclerosis. We thought that if long-chainn-3 PUFA were able to increase NO production by the aorta, then by its antioxidant activity the NO will prevent lipid peroxidation. However, the beneficial effect of NOin vivoon VLDL+LDL oxidation would only be possible if NO could diffuse to their lipidic core. Rats were fed maize oil- or fish oil as menhaden oil- (MO) rich diets for 8 weeks, to study the effects of MO on aortic NO production, NO diffusion into VLDL+LDL, the extent of oxidation in native VLDL+LDL and their oxidisabilityex vivo. Aortic NO production and its α-tocopherol content were increased andn-3 PUFA were incorporated into the VLDL+LDL. In spite of the higher peroxidisability and the low α-tocopherol in native VLDL+LDL from rats fed MO, native VLDL+LDL from the two groups shared similar electrophoretic patterns, conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, total antioxidant capacity, and NO diffusibility on VLDL+LDL, indicative of anin vivoprotection against oxidation. However, these results do not correlate with theex vivooxidisability of VLDL+LDL, as NO is lacking. Thus, thein vivobeneficial effects can be explained by increased α-tocopherol in aorta and by a compensatory effect of NO on VLDL+LDL against the low α-tocopherol levels, which may contribute to the anti-atherogenic properties of fish oil.
A condition for simultaneous propagation of coaxial Gaussian electromagnetic beams in a plasma, without convergence or divergence
Authors: SODHA MAHENDRA SINGH , SHARMA ASHUTOSH , AGARWAL SUJEET KUMAR
Published: March 2008

For coaxial Gaussian electromagnetic beams of equal width, a relation between the weighted sum of axial irradiances and the width of the beams, which corresponds to the propagation in a plasma, without convergence or divergence has been obtained in the paraxial approximation. The collisional (with and without thermal conduction), ponderomotive and relativistic nonlinearities have been separately considered in this investigation. The investigation has relevance to the study and application of multi-wave interaction phenomena such as the growth of combination frequencies, plasma beat wave acceleration and enhanced penetration in an overdense plasma.
Taxonomic identification of dolphin love charms commercialized in the Amazonian region through the analysis of cytochrome b DNA
Authors: Sholl Thais Guimarães Corrêa , do Nascimento Fabrícia Ferreira , Leoncini Orilio , Bonvicino Cibele Rodrigues , Siciliano Salvatore
Published: March 2008

Previous studies identified the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) as the species frequently traded in public markets of Pará and Amazonas State (Brazil). In order to investigate the geographic origin and the taxonomic identification of these specimens we analysed 21 samples provided by residents of the city of Belém and vicinities (Pará State, Brazil), presumably purchased in the ‘Ver-o-Peso’ Market (Belém) or the Manaus Municipal Market. DNA was extracted from dehydrated genitalia or from genitalia conserved in alcohol and the cytochrome b gene was PCR-amplified. Phylogenetic analyses showed identical topologies in both MP and NJ trees, with Sotalia splitting into two groups, one clade comprising the estuarine dolphin (S. guianensis) and all eight haplotypes from market-samples and another one, comprising the tucuxi (S. fluviatilis) haplotypes from the GenBank. Our findings indicated that the marine species is under a stronger commercial pressure than the Amazonian river dolphin (I. geoffrensis) and the tucuxi (S. fluviatilis) in the region. Therefore population dynamic studies as well as population monitoring should be carried out in order to evaluate the effects of this commercial hunting on the species and its local populations. The marine dolphins have been incidentally captured in gill-nets in the region, suggesting that these activities must also be monitored at the same time that social programmes must be implemented in order to inform and clarify local community and people involved in fishery activity to avoid that more animals might be captured and killed.
Italian and Gallican alleluia psalmody
Authors: PFISTERER ANDREAS
Published: March 2008

One of the earliest forms of Christian psalmody, the alleluia psalmody, is difficult to explore since in most rites it is preserved only in part. Comparisons between direct and indirect traces of alleluia psalmody from Milan, Rome, Byzantium and Gaul as well as between alleluia psalmody and other genres of chant, especially the Mass alleluia, allow some conclusions about distinctive melodic characteristics. As one result, there seem to be common features in the Italian traditions that are missing in the Gallican tradition.
Tissue Doppler imaging in rheumatic carditis
Authors: Polat Tugcin Bora , Yalcin Yalim , Erdem Abdullah , Zeybek Cenap , Akdeniz Celal , Celebi Ahmet
Published: March 2008

Objective

Our study was undertaken to assess cardiac functions by tissue Doppler echocardiography in patient with primary episode of rheumatic carditis.

Methods

We divided 82 patients with rheumatic carditis were divided in two groups; 50 patients with mild and 32 patients with mitral regurgitation of grade two or more. A control group consisted of 30 healthy children free of any disease. All children underwent conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography initially and at the time of the follow-up examination.

Results

Myocardial systolic wave velocity of the mitral annulus was significantly higher in patients with mitral regurgitation of grade two or more when compared to the control group, but was not different between patients with mild mitral regurgitation and healthy subjects at the time of the initial attack. Myocardial precontraction time, myocardial contraction time, and the ratio of myocardial precontraction and contraction times were significantly prolonged, and the systolic myocardial velocity of the mitral annulus was significantly decreased in patients with mitral regurgitation of grade two or more at the time of the follow-up examination. The myocardial systolic wave velocity was significantly lower, and myocardial precontraction time, myocardial contraction time, and the ratio of the precontraction and contraction times, were significantly longer or greater between patients with grade two or more mitral regurgitation and the control group at follow-up examination.

Conclusion

We detected subclinical systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in children with a primary episode of rheumatic carditis due to ongoing ventricular volume overload. Tissue Doppler imaging provides a quantifiable indicator useful for cardiac monitoring of disease during the period of follow up.
Industry Watch: Language technology, meet social networking
Authors: DALE ROBERT
Published: March 2008

Here's a round-up of notable events in the commercial language technology space in the last quarter of 2007, organized by broad application category. A common thread that pops up throughout many of these is the integration of language technology into social networking applications and other related Web 2.0 themes. I'd put my money on this being a hot direction in 2008.
THE DUTY TO GOVERN
Authors: Green Leslie
Published: March 2008

Contemporary legal philosophers have focussed their attention on two aspects of the general theory of authority: the issue of legitimacy (or the right to govern) and the issue of obligation (or the duty to obey). In John Finnis's work we have a powerful statement of the importance of a third issue: the problem of governance (or the duty to govern). This paper explores the nature of this duty, its foundations, and its relation to the other aspects of a theory of authority.
MORALITY AND NORMATIVITY
Authors: Perry Michael J.
Published: March 2008

In this essay I elaborate a particular, and particularly important, morality: the morality of human rights. Next, I ask the ground-of-normativity question (as I call it) about the morality of human rights and go on to elaborate a religious response. Then, after explaining why one might be skeptical that there is a plausible secular response to the ground-of-normativity question (i.e., to the question asked about the morality of human rights), I comment critically on John Finnis's secular response. Finally, I consider what difference it makes if there is no plausible secular response to the ground-of-normativity question.
On Lunatics and Loving Sons: A textual study of the Mamlūk treatment of al-Ḥākim
Authors: HAIDER NAJAM
Published: March 2008

The Mamlūk historical tradition's depiction of al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allah (386-411/996-1021), the fifth Caliph of the Fāṭimid dynasty of Egypt (296-556/909-1171), is a contradictory amalgamation of awe, confusion, and horror. Al-Ḥākim assumes effective political power by murdering Barjawān, his guardian and tutor, who was pivotal to securing the young Caliph's succession in the face of powerful military opposition. Then we are witness to al-Ḥākim's steady decline into a kind of psychosis or madness. He sits alone in the candlelight or darkness for years and orders the sūqs (markets) to remain open throughout the night. His policies range from the patently absurd (e.g. banning cobblers from making women's shoes to keep them indoors or the killing of all dogs) to the outright tyrannical (e.g. forcing Jews and Christian to wear ten pound weights around their necks). The sources express horror when recounting al-Ḥākim's sudden killing sprees, but even his greatest critics acknowledge his selfless generosity. Most compilers assert that he proclaimed his own divinity and authorised missionaries to spread this message, while others deny this allegation, pointing towards his persecution of the early Druze. In the end, we are shown al-Ḥākim riding into the hills surrounding Cairo in solitary contemplation only to vanish into thin air.
Radio and the Raj: broadcasting in British India (1920–1940)
Authors: PINKERTON ALASDAIR
Published: March 2008

India offers special opportunities for the development of broadcasting. Its distances and wide spaces alone make it a promising field. In India's remote villages there are many who, after the day's work is done, find time hangs nearly enough upon their hands, and there must be many officials and others whose duties carry them into out-of-the-way places where they crave for the company of their friends and the solace of human companionship. There are of course, too, in many households, those whom social custom debars from taking part in recreation outside their own homes. To all these and many more broadcasting will be a blessing and a boon of real value. Both for entertainment and for education its possibilities are great, and yet we perhaps scarcely realise how great they are. Broadcasting in India is today in its infancy, but I have little doubt that before many years are past, the numbers of its audience will have increased tenfold, and that this new application of science will have its devotees in every part of India.
LEARNING FROM THE EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
Authors: GRANATO JIM , GUSE ERAN A. , WONG M. C. SUNNY
Published: March 2008

This paper explores the equilibrium properties of boundedly rational heterogeneous agents under adaptive learning. In a modified cobweb model with a Stackelberg framework, there is an asymmetric information diffusion process from leading to following firms. It turns out that the conditions for at least one learnable equilibrium are similar to those under homogeneous expectations. However, the introduction of information diffusion leads to the possibility of multiple equilibria and can expand the parameter space of potential learnable equilibria. In addition, the inability to correctly interpret expectations will cause a “boomerang effect” on the forecasts and forecast efficiency of the leading firms. The leading firms' mean square forecast error can be larger than that of following firms if the proportion of following firms is sufficiently large.
Predictors of trying to lose weight among overweight and obese Mexican-Americans: a signal detection analysis
Authors: Bersamin Andrea , Hanni Krista D , Winkleby Marilyn A
Published: March 2008

Objective

Signal detection analysis, a form of recursive partitioning, was used to identify combinations of sociodemographic and acculturation factors that predict trying to lose weight in a community-based sample of 957 overweight and obese Mexican-American adults (ages 18–69 years).

Design

Data were pooled from the 2004 and 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System conducted in a low-income, semi-rural community in California.

Results

Overall, 59 % of the population reported trying to lose weight. The proportion of adults who were trying to lose weight was highly variable across the seven mutually exclusive groups identified by signal detection (range 30–79 %). Significant predictors of trying to lose weight included BMI, gender, age and income. Women who were very overweight (BMI > 28·5 kg/m2) were most likely to be trying to lose weight (79 %), followed by very overweight higher-income men and moderately overweight (BMI = 25·0–28·5 kg/m2) higher-income women (72 % and 70 %, respectively). Moderately overweight men, aged 28–69 years, were the least likely to be trying to lose weight (30 %), followed by moderately overweight lower-income women (47 %) and very overweight lower-income men (49 %). The latter group is of particular concern since they have characteristics associated with medical complications of obesity (low education and poor access to medical care).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight opportunities and challenges for public health professionals working with overweight Mexican-American adults – particularly lower-income adults who were born in Mexico – who are not trying to lose weight and are therefore at high risk for obesity-related co-morbidities.
Association between commercial television exposure and fast-food consumption among adults
Authors: Scully Maree , Dixon Helen , Wakefield Melanie
Published: March 2008

Objective

To examine the association between television advertising exposure and adults’ consumption of fast foods.

Design

Cross-sectional telephone survey. Questions included measures of frequency of fast-food consumption at different meal times and average daily hours spent watching commercial television.

Subjects/setting

Subjects comprised 1495 adults (41 % response rate) aged ≥18 years from Victoria, Australia.

Results

Twenty-three per cent of respondents usually ate fast food for dinner at least once weekly, while 17 % consumed fast food for lunch on a weekly basis. The majority of respondents reported never eating fast food for breakfast (73 %) or snacks (65 %). Forty-one per cent of respondents estimated watching commercial television for ≤1 h/d (low viewers); 29 % watched for 2 h/d (moderate viewers); 30 % watched for ≥3 h/d (high viewers). After adjusting for demographic variables, high viewers were more likely to eat fast food for dinner at least once weekly compared with low viewers (OR = 1·45; 95 % CI 1·04, 2·03). Both moderate viewers (OR = 1·53; 95 % CI 1·01, 2·31) and high viewers (OR = 1·81; 95 % CI 1·20, 2·72) were more likely to eat fast food for snacks at least once weekly compared with low viewers. Commercial television viewing was not significantly related (P> 0·05) to fast-food consumption at breakfast or lunch.

Conclusions

The results of the present study provide evidence to suggest that cumulative exposure to television food advertising is linked to adults’ fast-food consumption. Additional research that systematically assesses adults’ behavioural responses to fast-food advertisements is needed to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms driving this association.
The Assessment of Fear of Flying: Elaboration and Validation of a Videotape as an Analogous Situation of a Flight1
Authors: Capafóns Juan I. , Sosa Carmen D. , Herrero Manuel , Viña Conrado
Published: March 2008

The results are presented for the validation of a videotape as an analogous situation for a flight. The video includes the most significant elements of a flight by air: confirmation of the flight, packing, going to the airport, checking-in, going through the metal-detector, departure lounge, boarding the plane, demonstration of the personal safety drills, interiors and exteriors during the flight and landing. Two physiological measures are used for validation (heart rate and temperature) and a subjective measure (situational anxiety, SA). The results (both t-tests and the discriminant analysis) indicate that the videotape is able to discriminate between phobics and non-phobics of flying in the three variables considered. With respect to sensitivity in detecting change produced by various treatments in clients with phobia of flying, the results are also satisfactory. A greater differentiation is produced between the pre-post treatment measures, both in subjective and in the physiological measures.
Use and Consequences of Assessments in the USA: Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues
Authors: Camara Wayne J.
Published: March 2008

Tests and assessments in the USA have taken on additional burdens as their uses have been greatly expanded by educators, employers, and policy makers. Increased demands are often placed on the same assessment, by different constituencies, to serve varied purposes (e. g., instructional reform, student accountability, quality of teaching and instruction). Such trends have raised considerable concerns about the appropriate use of tests and test data and testing is under increased scrutiny in education, employment and health care. This paper distinguishes among the legal, ethical and professional issues recently emerging from the increased demands of assessments and also identifies unique issues emanating from computer-based modes of test delivery and interpretation. Efforts to improve assessment practices by professional associations and emerging issues concerning the proper use of assessments in education are reviewed. Finally, a methodology for identifying consequences associated with test use and a taxonomy for evaluating the multidimensional consequential outcomes of test use within a setting are proposed.
Bias in the Assessment of Regulation Activities in Studying at the Level of Higher Education
Authors: Minnaert Alexander , Janssen Piet J.
Published: March 2008

This article presents the results of a comparison between two questionnaires about regulation activities related to studying in higher education. The questionnaire developed within a different educational setting appears to be less discriminative and predictive than an equally developed local version. Due to cultural bias, the external regulation activities cause the main difference. Nevertheless, the factorial structure of the regulation activity scales seems to be invariant over different domains of study within the same educational setting. The bias in the assessment of regulation activities is significantly stronger in the group of students with the lower and medium level of general thinking skills. Furthermore, we found that a higher level of regulation skills can compensate for a lower level of general thinking skills. Evidence is discussed that the specificity of metacognitive skills about studying is domain-independent, but situation-bounded.
Morphology and filling of incised submarine valleys on the continental shelf near the mouth of the Fly River, Gulf of Papua
Authors: Crockett J. S. , Nittrouer C. A. , Ogston A. S. , Naar D. F. , Donahue B. T.
Published: March 2008

Much historical perspective about terrestrial and marine processes can be obtained from examination of fluvial valleys formed during lower sea level on surfaces that are now continental shelves. The continental shelf near the mouth of the Fly River (Gulf of Papua) has three incised valleys, which were not extensively modified or filled during the Holocene Transgression. Multibeam mapping of the valleys documents their morphology; seismic profiling reveals stratigraphy of sediment fill; and coring within and near the valleys suggests mechanisms of filling. Kiwai Valley is deep (20–50 m relief), narrow (∼1 km wide), steep‐sided and meandering, due to river flows that caused its excavation through competent sedimentary deposits. Purutu Valley is shallow (10–20 m relief) and broad (>2 km wide). Umuda Valley is widest (∼14 km) and has multiple channels with variable incision depths, suggesting more extensive fluvial activity than the other two valleys. Valley filling has occurred in several ways, reflecting valley morphology and location relative to the present river mouth. Kiwai and Umuda valleys reveal three stages of infill: (1) hemipelagic sedimentation at distal sites, (2) gravity‐driven flows spreading down the valley, and (3) subsequent clinoform progradation that completely fills the valley. Purutu Valley fill is dominated by clinoform progradation. Clinoform progradation in Umuda Valley is driven by intense sediment reworking on the surrounding topset regions, and its large width allows progradation from the sides as well as down its axis. Most shelf valleys around the world were filled long ago, and available techniques have severe limitations for documenting the details of morphology and the mechanisms of filling. The shelf valleys described in this paper provide a unique perspective to terrestrial and marine processes before, during, and after the Holocene Transgression.
On the relationship between satellite‐estimated bio‐optical and thermal properties in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Jolliff Jason K. , Kindle John C. , Penta Bradley , Helber Robert , Lee Zhongping , Shulman Igor , Arnone Robert , Rowley Clark D.
Published: March 2008

Three years of Sea‐viewing Wide Field‐of‐view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean color data were combined with three‐dimensional thermal fields generated by the U.S. Navy's Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) in order to examine the interdependencies between bio‐optical fields and their relationship to seasonal and mesoscale changes in upper ocean thermal structure. The combined data set suggests that the oceanic boundary layer within the Gulf of Mexico may be broadly defined by two seasonally occurring bio‐thermal periods. A winter mixing period, characterized by net heat losses to the atmosphere, deepening of the isothermal layer depth, and annual maxima of satellite‐estimated colored detrital matter (CDM) absorption coefficients and surface pigment concentration, was followed by a thermally stratified period characterized by net surface ocean heating, reduced isothermal layer depths, and annual minima in surface bio‐optical fields. Variability in the interdependencies of ocean color products was used to diagnose an attendant shift in the size‐structure of surface phytoplankton communities as well as identify CDM as the constituent responsible for the majority of blue‐light absorption in Gulf of Mexico surface waters. The mesoscale circulation, as resolved by MODAS thermal fields into cold and warm‐core eddies, appears to significantly modulate the seasonal bio‐optical cycle of CDM absorption and surface pigment concentration. An empirical model was developed to describe CDM absorption as a function of upper ocean thermal energy. The model accounted for nearly half the variance in the satellite‐estimate of this bio‐optical variable. Large mismatches between the model and satellite data implied episodes of shelf water export to the deep Gulf of Mexico.
Different approaches to handling vertical and streamwise sorting in modeling river morphodynamics
Authors: Blom Astrid
Published: March 2008

This paper presents an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of four sediment continuity models for nonuniform sediment by applying these models to an aggradational flume experiment that is dominated by nonuniform sediment and dunes. The author makes simulations of the flume experiment using four numerical morphodynamic model systems to which the following sediment continuity models are applied: the commonly applied active layer model (A), a two‐layer model (B), a sorting evolution model while assuming bed form size to be regular (C1), and a sorting evolution model while taking into account the variability in bed form geometry (C2). The model systems that incorporate the variability of bed form geometry, i.e., the two‐layer model and the sorting evolution model with irregular dunes, show an improved prediction of the adaptation timescale of the composition of both the bed surface and the transported sediment, as well as the vertical sorting profile. This is because including the variability of bed form geometry enables the model system to account for sediment being stored (temporarily) at elevations that are exposed to the flow less frequently. Future application of both models to field cases is difficult, however, as the two‐layer model is not sufficiently generic and may lead to ellipticity of its set of equations, whereas the sorting evolution model requires a very small numerical time step.
Spacecraft observations of electromagnetic perturbations connected with seismic activity
Authors: Němec F. , Santolík O. , Parrot M. , Berthelier J. J.
Published: March 2008

Results of a statistical study of intensity of VLF electromagnetic waves observed in the vicinity of earthquakes are presented. A unique set of data obtained by the micro‐satellite DEMETER (altitude of about 700 km, nearly Sun‐synchronous orbit) and a robust two‐step data processing has been used. In the first step, all the measured data are used to construct a map of electromagnetic emissions containing a statistical description of wave intensity at a given point of the satellite orbit under given conditions. In the second step, the intensity measured close to earthquakes is analyzed using the statistical distribution of background intensity obtained in the first step. The changes of wave intensity caused by seismic activity are investigated and their statistical significance is evaluated. Altogether, more than 2.5 years of satellite data have been analyzed and about 9000 earthquakes with magnitudes larger than or equal to 4.8 that occurred all over the world during the analyzed period have been included in the study. It is shown that, during the night, there is a statistically significant decrease by 4 – 6 dB of the measured wave intensity shortly (0–4 hours) before an intense surface (depth less than or equal to 40 km) earthquake.
Characteristics of downward leader in a positive cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash observed by high‐speed video camera and electric field changes
Authors: Kong Xiangzhen , Qie Xiushu , Zhao Yang
Published: March 2008

Leader process in a positive single‐stroke cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash was captured by a high‐speed video camera with a time resolution of 1000 frames/s. The positive leader process and the intracloud discharge process before the return stroke, which lasted about 600 ms, are studied in detail by combining the data from fast and slow antenna. The channel branches seemed to develop horizontally with a speed of the order of 104 m/s during the initial stage just outside the thundercloud. The luminous duration of the leader was about 12 ms, and the luminous intensity at the tip was much stronger than the channel behind it, presented obviously a stepped‐like characteristic. The 2‐D propagation speed of the stepped‐like leader ranged from 0.1 × 105 m/s to 3.8 × 105 m/s. The time interval between 26 leader pulses during the last 0.5 ms just before the stroke was about 17 μs according to E‐field changes.
Time evolution of terrestrial gamma ray flashes
Authors: Grefenstette B. W. , Smith D. M. , Dwyer J. R. , Fishman G. J.
Published: March 2008

We present a study of the time evolution of TGFs observed by both RHESSI and BATSE and compare the data with Monte Carlo simulations of relativistic runaway electron avalanches that record the time of flight for individual photons. Our analysis of the RHESSI data shows that the average delay between the main, hard peak and the secondary, soft tail in the RHESSI data is 28 ± 3 μs. We show that this is consistent with Compton downscattering of hard photons in the atmosphere in our simulations when the source region is located at or below 21 km, which is consistent with previous spectroscopic analysis of the RHESSI data. We also show that the much longer delays (nominally 100 μs) reported for the BATSE TGFs can be understood by the same simulations that are consistent with the RHESSI data once the effects of instrumental deadtime are considered
Atmospheric conditions associated with oceanic convection in the south‐east Labrador Sea
Authors: Sproson David A. J. , Renfrew Ian A. , Heywood Karen J.
Published: March 2008

It has been speculated that low‐level reverse tip‐jets, caused by the interaction of synoptic‐scale atmospheric flow and Greenland, are an important mechanism for forcing open ocean convection in the south‐east Labrador Sea. Here float data and meteorological reanalysis fields from the winter of 1996/1997, in combination with a simple mixed‐layer ocean model, are used to show that, although relatively deep ocean convection did occur during this winter, the primary forcing mechanism was cold‐air outbreaks from the Labrador coast rather than the smaller scale reverse tip‐jets. During this winter, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was in a weak positive phase. Similar treatments of the winters of 1994/1995 (strong, positive NAO) and 1995/1996 (strong, negative NAO) suggest that the result is robust regardless of the state of the NAO.