bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE SILURIAN SUCCESSION IN LITHUANIA
Authors: Zdanaviciute O. , Lazauskiene J.
Published: October 2007

Petroleum potential is associated with Silurian reefal and carbonate build‐ups in southern and central Lithuania where non‐structural traps (reef‐associated, lithologic‐stratigraphic and combined) have been identified in intervals of Late Wenlock, Late Ludlow and Early Pridoli ages. Three oilfields (Kudirka, Siaures Bliudziai and Lapgiriai) have so far been discovered in this area. In addition, oil flows have been reported at wells in the Bebirva, Saukenai, Bliudziai and Pavasaris accumulations. Reefal build‐ups and patch reefs dated as belonging to the Minija Regional Stage of the Early Pridoli, up to 88 m thick, are considered to be the most prospective for hydrocarbons, and all the discoveries so far made occur in this stratigraphic interval.

New geochemical data indicate the presence of excellent Llandovery, Wenlock and Ludlow source rocks, composed of dark grey and black clayey marlstones and shales. Recent studies of the composition and maturation of Silurian source rocks indicate the predominance of sapropelic organic matter, present in higher amounts than in Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks. The maturity of Silurian source rocks increases from immature in eastern Lithuania to early oil‐phase in the centre and north, to peak oil generation in the west. Geochemical analyses of Silurian crude oils show that they are un‐ or only weakly biodegraded, in spite of their early emplacement (in the Palaeozoic) and the relatively low reservoir temperatures (40‐50°C).

The results of these geochemical studies of the Silurian source rocks and oils, incorporated with available geological data, were used to predict the hydrocarbon potential of the Silurian succession in Lithuania. The succession is estimated to have generated as much as 5.8 B tons of hydrocarbons. Previous studies indicate that 100 million tons may have accumulated in patch reefs assigned to the Minija Regional Stage. Estimated oil in‐place at the known oilfields totals about 1.77 million tons.
KINETICS OF HYDROCARBON GAS GENERATION FROM MARINE KEROGEN AND OIL: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORIGIN OF NATURAL GASES IN THE HETIANHE GASFIELD, TARIM BASIN, NW CHINA
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Wang Zhaoyun , Zhao Changyi , Wang Hongjun , Liu Jinzhong , Lu Jialan , Liu Dehan
Published: October 2007

In this paper we derive kinetic parameters for the generation of gaseous hydrocarbons (C1‐5) and methane (C1) from closed‐system laboratory pyrolysis of selected samples of marine kerogen and oil from the SW Tarim Basin. The activation energy distributions for the generation of both C1‐5 (Ea = 59‐72kcal, A = 1.0×1014 s−1) and C1 (Ea = 61‐78kcal, A = 6.06×1014 s−1) hydrocarbons from the marine oil are narrower than those for the generation of these hydrocarbons from marine kerogen (Ea = 50‐74kcal, A = 1.0×1014 s−1 for C1‐5; and Ea = 48‐72kcal, A=3.9×1013 s−1 for C1, respectively). Using these kinetic parameters, both the yields and timings of C1‐5 and C1 hydrocarbons generated from Cambrian source rocks and from in‐reservoir cracking of oil in Ordovician strata were predicted for selected wells along a north‐south profile in the SW of the basin. Thermodynamic conditions for the cracking of oil and kerogen were modelled within the context of the geological framework. It is suggested that marine kerogen began to crack at temperatures of around 120°C (or 0.8 %Ro) and entered the gas window at 138°C (or 1.05 %Ro); whereas the marine oil began to crack at about 140 °C (or 1.1 %Ro) and entered the gas window at 158 °C (or 1.6%Ro).

The main geological controls identified for gas accumulations in the Bachu Arch (Southwest Depression, SW Tarim Basin) include the remaining gas potential following Caledonian uplift; oil trapping and preservation in basal Ordovician strata; the extent of breaching of Ordovician reservoirs; and whether reservoir burial depths are sufficiently deep for oil cracking to have occurred.

In the Maigaiti Slope and Southwest Depression, the timing of gas generation was later than that in the Bachu Arch, with much higher yields and generation rates, and hence better prospects for gas exploration. It appears from the gas generation kinetics that the primary source for the gases in the Hetianhe gasfield was the Southwest Depression.
SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE BLUE NILE (ABAY) BASIN, ETHIOPIA
Authors: WOLELA A.
Published: October 2007

The Blue Nile Basin, a Late Palaeozoic ‐ Mesozoic NW‐SE trending rift basin in central Ethiopia, is filled by up to 3000 m of marine deposits (carbonates, evaporites, black shales and mudstones) and continental siliciclastics. Within this fill, perhaps the most significant source rock potential is associated with the Oxfordian‐Kimmeridgian Upper Hamanlei (Antalo) Limestone Formation which has a TOC of up to 7%. Pyrolysis data indicate that black shales and mudstones in this formation have HI and S2 values up to 613 mgHC/gCorg and 37.4 gHC/kg, respectively. In the Dejen‐Gohatsion area in the centre of the basin, these black shales and mudstones are immature for the generation of oil due to insufficient burial. However, in the Were Ilu area in the NE of the basin, the formation is locally buried to depths of more than 1,500 m beneath Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and Tertiary volcanics. Production index, Tmax, hydrogen index and vitrinite reflectance measurements for shale and mudstone samples from this areas indicate that they are mature for oil generation. Burial history reconstruction and Lopatin modelling indicate that hydrocarbons have been generated in this area from 10Ma to the present day.

The presence of an oil seepage at Were Ilu points to the presence of an active petroleum system. Seepage oil samples were analysed using gas chromatography and results indicate that source rock OM was dominated by marine material with some land‐derived organic matter. The Pr/Ph ratio of the seepage oil is less than 1, suggesting a marine depositional environment. n‐alkanes are absent but steranes and triterpanes are present; pentacyclic triterpanes are more abundant than steranes. The black shales and mudstones of the Upper Hamanlei Limestone Formation are inferred to be the source of the seepage oil.

Of other formations whose source rock potential was investigated, a sample of the Permian Karroo Group shale was found to be overmature for oil generation; whereas algal‐laminated gypsum samples from the Middle Hamanlei Limestone Formation were organic lean and had little source potential
Flexible enforcement and fine adjustment
Authors: Decker Christopher S.
Published: October 2007

This paper considers the level of, and changes in, optimal noncompliance penalties under the following conditions: (i) where the regulator responsible for setting policy parameters, such as a penalty, is different from (and thus may have a different objective from) the regulator responsible for enforcing existing regulations; and (ii) where enforcement behavior changes from one in which enforcers are unresponsive to overtures on the part of firms to increase compliance to one in which enforcers are responsive to such overtures. The model developed shows that when enforcers “switch” from unresponsive to responsive enforcement, the optimal penalties for noncompliance need to be reduced. The analysis also gives insights as to what variables dictate the degree of penalty reduction.
What's So Special about China's Exports? A Comment
Authors: Kumakura Masanaga
Published: October 2007

Dani Rodrik argues that China's exports are unusually sophisticated for a country at its income level. He also claims that China's export sophistication reflects the government's successful industrial policy and has been instrumental in the recent acceleration of its economic growth. Although Rodrik's interpretation of China's economic growth is broadly correct, the accuracy of his empirical analysis is questionable. This note identifies several problems regarding the “export sophistication” index used in his empirical work and casts doubt on his analysis.
Impact of China‐ASEAN Free Trade Area on China's International Agricultural Trade and Its Regional Development
Authors: Qiu Huanguang , Yang Jun , Huang Jikun , Chen Ruijian
Published: October 2007

This study aims to examine the impact of the China‐ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) on China's international agricultural trade and its regional agricultural development, using the Global Trade Analysis Project model and the China Agricultural Decision Support System. Our analysis showed that: (i) CAFTA will improve resource allocation efficiencies for both China and ASEAN and will promote bilateral agricultural trade and, hence, will have positive effects on the economic development of both sides; (ii) CAFTA will accelerate China's export of the agricultural commodities in which it has comparative advantages, such as vegetables, wheat and horticultural products, but at the same time bring about a large increase in imports of commodities such as vegetable oil and sugar; and (iii) CAFTA will have significantly varying impacts on China's regional agricultural development because of large differences in the agricultural production structure in each region. Our results indicate that agriculture in the northern, northeastern and eastern regions of China will benefit from CAFTA, whereas agriculture development in southern China will suffer. Those regional specific impacts are quite different from the effects brought by multilateral free trade treaties, such as those of the WTO, which usually have positive effects on south China but negative impacts on the northern and western parts of China.
Political Economy of US Trade Policy towards China
Authors: Liang Bibo
Published: October 2007

The trade relationship between China and the USA has become increasingly important to the economies of both countries. The recent trade conflicts and friction between China and the USA constitute obstacles in the way of US—Chinese bilateral trade relationship development, which is of considerable concern to both countries. Through an in‐depth analysis of the political process of US trade policy towards China, the present paper identifies the important determinants of US trade policy towards China. The influence of US trade policy on the trade relationship between the USA and China is assessed and implications for the trade relationship between the USA and China are discussed.
Curses and Cursing in the Ancient Near East
Authors: Kitz Anne Marie
Published: October 2007

As many extant texts demonstrate, the world of the Ancient Near East was replete with curses. They managed almost every feature of life from simple business affairs to complex international relations. Of significant importance for the survivability of any society at that time was the maintenance of the happiness of the local deity or deities whose ongoing presence and patronage was inexorably linked to the preservation of their respective tribe, city, or empire. Cursing importuned these patron deities, as well as personal deities, to injure others so that the well‐being of their tribal or city residents might be sustained. A curse's ultimate purpose was to inspire heavenly rage by soliciting supernatural powers to intercede in situations that were believed to be beyond mortal control such as injustices, disease, injury, or just plain bad luck. The following study will review the underlying features of all curses in the Ancient Near East. The deities, as will be shown, played a central role in the execution of maledictions. They were viewed as the agents who would, in one way or another, realize the requested punishment should they judge in the speaker's favor. This analysis will be followed by an examination of the most common types of curses the Ancient Near Easterners used.
Characterization of Edible Film Fabricated with Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Gelatin Extract Using Selected Pretreatment Methods
Authors: Zhang S. , Wang Y. , Herring J.L. , Oh J.‐H.
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT:  Farm‐raised catfish are important to the economy of the southeastern states in the United States, and catfish processing produces about 55% of by‐products for inexpensive sale. Therefore, the utilization of catfish by‐products is of great interest to the catfish industry. The objectives of this research were to determine the optimum pretreatment method to extract catfish gelatin for edible film application, and to characterize physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of edible films fabricated with catfish skin gelatin. Catfish skins obtained from a local plant were treated with 6 selected pretreatment methods. The main extraction was performed with deionized water at 50 °C after pretreatment. The gelatin yield was calculated and sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) was performed to characterize molecular weight (MW) profile. Color, tensile strength (TS), elongation, and water barrier property were determined to characterize the fabricated catfish gelatin films. From the results of gelatin yield, color, SDS‐PAGE, as well as mechanical and barrier properties of the film, the pretreatment method with 0.25 M NaOH and 0.09 M acetic acid, followed by extraction at 50 °C for 3 h, was determined as the optimum extraction method. The catfish gelatin exhibited higher MW fractions than commercial mammalian gelatin. The catfish gelatin extracts possessed film‐forming properties determined by TS, elongation, and water vapor permeability (WVP) comparable to those of commercial mammalian gelatin. The selected formula for catfish gelatin film was determined as 1% gelatin and 20% glycerol, resulting in greatest TS and lowest WVP.
Effects of Process Parameters on Quality Changes of Shrimp During Drying in a Jet‐Spouted Bed Dryer
Authors: Niamnuy C. , Devahastin S. , Soponronnarit S.
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT:  The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of various parameters, that is, concentration of salt solution (2%, 3%, 4%[w/v]), boiling time (3, 5, 7 min), drying air temperature (80, 100, 120 °C), and size of shrimp, on the kinetics of drying and various quality attributes of shrimp, namely, shrinkage, rehydration ability, texture, colors, and microstructure, during drying in a jet‐spouted bed dryer. In addition, the effects of these processing parameters on the sensory attributes of dried shrimp were also investigated. Small shrimp (350 to 360 shrimp/kg) and large shrimp (150 to 160 shrimp/kg) were boiled and then dried until their moisture content was around 25% (d.b.). It was found that the degree of color changes, toughness, and shrinkage of shrimp increased while the rehydration ability decreased with an increase in the concentration of salt solution and boiling time. Size of shrimp and drying temperature significantly affected all quality attributes of dried shrimp. The conditions that gave the highest hedonic scores of sensory evaluation for small dried shrimp are the concentration of salt solution of 2% (w/v), boiling time of 7 min, and drying air temperature of 120 °C. On the other hand, the conditions that gave the highest hedonic scores of sensory evaluation for large dried shrimp are the concentration of salt solution of 4% (w/v), boiling time of 7 min, and drying air temperature of 100 °C. The quality attributes of dried shrimp measured by instruments correlated well with the sensory attributes, especially the color of dried shrimp.
Decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica on Blueberries Using Ozone and Pulsed UV‐Light
Authors: Bialka K.L. , Demirci A.
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT:  Efficacy of gaseous ozone, aqueous ozone, and pulsed UV‐light was evaluated for the purpose of decontaminating blueberries artificially contaminated with either Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella. Blueberries were exposed to 4 different gaseous ozone treatments: continuous ozone exposure, pressurized ozone exposure, and 2 combined treatments. Maximum reductions of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 after 64‐min pressurized or 64‐min continuous exposure were 3.0 and 2.2 log10 CFU/g, respectively. Aqueous ozone experiments were conducted at 20 °C and 4 °C and zero plate counts were observed for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella after 64 min of ozone exposure at 20 °C. Finally, pulsed UV‐light was evaluated at 3 different distances from the light. Maximum reductions of 4.3 and 2.9 log10 CFU/g were observed at 8 cm from the light after 60 s of treatment for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. A sensory analysis as well as color analysis was performed on blueberries from each treatment agent; neither analysis detected a difference between treated and untreated blueberries. The results presented in this study indicate that ozone and pulsed UV‐light are good candidates for decontamination of blueberries.
Fermentation of Calcium‐Fortified Soymilk with Lactobacillus: Effects on Calcium Solubility, Isoflavone Conversion, and Production of Organic Acids
Authors: Tang A.L. , Shah N.P. , Wilcox G. , Walker K.Z. , Stojanovska L.
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT:  The objective of this study was to enhance calcium solubility and bioavailability from calcium‐fortified soymilk by fermentation with 7 strains of Lactobacillus, namely, L. acidophilus ATCC 4962, ATCC33200, ATCC 4356, ATCC 4461, L. casei ASCC 290, L. plantarum ASCC 276, and L. fermentum VRI‐003. The parameters that were used are viability, pH, calcium solubility, organic acid, and biologically active isoflavone aglycone content. Calcium‐fortified soymilk made from soy protein isolate was inoculated with these probiotic strains, incubated for 24 h at 37 °C, then stored for 14 d at 4 °C. Soluble calcium was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA). Organic acids and bioactive isoflavone aglycones, including diadzein, genistein, and glycetein, were measured using HPLC. Viability of the strains in the fermented calcium‐fortified soymilk was > 8.5 log10 CFU/g after 24 h fermentation and this was maintained for 14‐d storage at 4 °C. After 24 h, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in soluble calcium. L. acidophilus ATCC 4962 and L. casei ASCC 290 demonstrated the highest increase with 89.3% and 87.0% soluble calcium after 24 h, respectively. The increase in calcium solubility observed was related to lowered pH associated with production of lactic and acetic acids. Fermentation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the level of conversion of isoflavones into biologically active aglycones, including diadzein, genistein, and glycetein. Our results show that fermenting calcium‐fortified soymilk with the selected probiotics can potentially enhance the calcium bioavailability of calcium‐fortified soymilk due to increased calcium solubility and bioactive isoflavone aglycone enrichment.
Calcium Fortificants: Overview and Strategies for Improving Calcium Nutriture of the U.S. Population
Authors: Rafferty K. , Walters G. , Heaney R.P.
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT: Despite more than 20 y of awareness of the importance of calcium to health, U.S. calcium intakes remain suboptimal. Fortification of foods with shortfall nutrients is probably the optimal strategy for dealing with widespread nutrient deficiencies, as it has the best chance of reaching the population segments most at risk, as contrasted with attempts at changing individuals' food choices or relying on voluntary supplement taking. Given the wide array of potential calcium fortificants and fortification levels, there is not much to guide manufacturers interested in improving the nutritional value of their products. In this review, we assemble the calcium salts/complexes that have been used or proposed for use as fortificants and describe certain of their measured characteristics that relate to incorporation into foods, particularly what is known of their absorbability. The calcium salts most commonly used as supplements or fortificants exhibit similar absorbability when tested in pure chemical form. Choice of salt will depend mainly upon cost, compatability with the manufacturing process, and consumer acceptability. However, interaction with food, tablet, or beverage matrices can degrade intrinsic absorbability substantially. As a consequence, each product must be explicitly tested to establish the degree to which its calcium is available to consumers.
Quality assurance in the transfusion service
Authors: Ouellet P.
Published: October 2007

Along the complex chain that accompanies a secure transfusion to a patient, a multitude of important points have to be defined, tracked and scrutinized along the way. After these different steps are in place with the help of quality team, it is at this moment that the auditing (internal or external) will give a final verdict to the process. A description of the necessary steps to get to the quality assurance will be detailed. To obtain such a quality management, every piece of the puzzle will give its contribution and competence in the erection of the building. This team effort will be followed by satisfying rewards and new challenges.
e‐Learning and transfusion medicine
Authors: Peterson D. , Robinson K. , Verrall T. , Quested B. , Saxon B.
Published: October 2007

Audits of clinical transfusion practice have consistently demonstrated deficiencies in knowledge and practice that impact on patient safety and in some cases result in death. These deficiencies include transfusion being prescribed inappropriately, administration of blood components using poor processes, documentation deficiencies and inadequate identification of potential transfusion recipients.

Improvement needs to be driven by a multifaceted approach that includes robust systems and mechanisms to ensure compliance combined with education of staff. However, education of medical, nursing and other staff involved in the transfusion chain can be difficult. Large numbers of staff, shiftwork, varying levels of background knowledge and limited resources create significant challenges. Consideration of these problems and informal needs analysis defined a web‐based or on‐line learning tool (e‐learning) as being a suitable mechanism to assist hospitals to increase knowledge of staff.

An effective e‐learning tool must be engaging, replicate an authentic learning environment, cater for various learning styles and engage the learner in the learning process. This requires knowledge of on‐line learning best‐practice, learner profiles, learning styles and the learning environment, as well as consideration of interface design, motivational tools and knowledge retention strategies.

Funding was provided by the South Australian Department of Health, under the BloodSafe programme, to develop an e‐learning tool. This has resulted in a multimedia‐rich programme utilizing video, audio, animations, and case studies and didactic instruction in order to create an authentic learning environment. Learning content includes expert and peer education, case studies, interactive games and puzzles and modelling of best‐practice processes. A flexible learning pathway gives learners control over learning sequence, content viewed and assessment. Learner demographics, progress and assessment tools and records are stored in an SQL database.

This tool is available for use by hospitals and healthcare institutions and professionals. Initial use has demonstrated a high degree of acceptance with participants providing strong feedback on the content, learning pathway and ease of use. Further development is being undertaken to add additional modules offering advanced content and/or a broader audience base.

The initial implementation of this e‐learning tool is directed at an Australian audience, however, the content is relevant to the wider transfusion scene in the Asia‐Pacific region (and beyond) as a mechanism for educating staff involved in all steps of the transfusion chain.
Hospital transfusion committee
Authors: Ouellet P.
Published: October 2007

Transfusion is a complex science with evidence‐based guidelines that need improvement and constant research. A lot of physicians can prescribe transfusion products and some physicians will not be frequent users.

Because of these uncertainties and because of transfusion past history, a central forum is needed in the hospital to set forward discussions, consensus and to create links between the transfusion centre, the blood bank and the clinical staff.

Description of the membership, mandate, and responsibilities are described and commented.
Dendritic cells therapy
Authors: Ovali E.
Published: October 2007

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent regulators of the immune system. Today, much research is being done trying to understand how DCs can be harnessed to induce immunity and how we can better exploit their potentials. Here, the present understanding of DC biology, function and use is summarized.
The recipient side of TRALI – the role of patient neutrophils
Authors: Fung L.
Published: October 2007

Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious and potentially fatal complication of blood transfusions. The fact that TRALI has been the top cause of transfusion‐related mortalities in the USA over the last 3 years (2004–06) [1] provides irrefutable evidence of the clinical significance of this syndrome. From this perspective, its importance in transfusion complications surpasses that of blood‐borne viruses and bacterial infections. Despite this, we still do not clearly understand the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of TRALI. This paper presents a TRALI patient or recipient perspective by discussing how thorough serological investigations can be utilized to provide evidence that patient neutrophils are the target cell and to identify the implicated donation/s when there are multiple associated donations.
Regulatory oversight of cellular therapies
Authors: Farrugia A.
Published: October 2007

The agencies charged with the oversight of the mainstream therapeutics industry are challenged by the need to develop appropriate models for the regulation of emerging biological therapies. While banked tissue is subject to some level of alignment to manufacturing standards such as Good Manufacturing Practices, many of the traditional concepts for assuring safety, quality and efficacy have not been applied to most of the products derived from human cells and tissues. With the products of higher level manipulation such as tissue engineering and cell vaccines, a fit into the paradigm for regulating devices and medicines has presented difficulties for the regulator and regulated alike. These products have been viewed as being part of medical practice rather than as the result of mainstream pharmaceutical manufacture. Furthermore, their unique source makes them difficult to assess in traditional regulatory systems based on the tenets of pharmaceutical quality control. These considerations have led the established regulatory agencies of the developed world to develop new regulatory paradigms for the products of transplantation practice. While a number of concerns have driven these developments, the minimization of infectious disease risk remains the paramount driver for introducing these regulatory systems. More than the regulation of medicines and medical devices manufactured in traditional pharmaceutical modes, the regulation of cell and tissue products is intimately linked to areas of public health policy and funding. This places regulators in a challenging position as they attempt to reconcile their roles as independent assessors with the needs of the overall public health framework.
Direct antiglobulin test reactive with complement only in warm type autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Authors: SHVIDEL L. , SHTALRID M. , DUEK A. , HARAN M. , BERREBI A. , SIGLER E.
Published: October 2007

Direct antiglobulin test (DAT) with only complement detected on red blood cells is a rare laboratory finding, and its significance in the setting of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is controversial. During 2 years (2003–2004) 277 patients with positive DAT were recorded in the blood bank registries, 17 of them had DAT reactive with C3 alone with no cold agglutinin or other nonimmune causes for hemolysis diagnosed. Red cell eluate disclosed small amounts of IgG in two patients. In nine patients no signs of clinical hemolysis were found, however, all these patients had underlying conditions that are known to be associated with red cells autoantibodies (autoimmune disorder or malignancy). Eight patients developed AIHA, seven of them with severe hemolysis. Three patients had idiopathic AIHA, and the others have been diagnosed with infectious, lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders. In two patients with acute infection the hemolytic process spontaneously resolved, three responded to corticosteroid therapy, while three patients were refractory to two lines of drug therapy and underwent splenectomy. Reticulocytopenia was found in four patients. Our results emphasize that AIHA with DAT reactive with complement alone is a rare disorder and might be accompanied by severe, refractory to conventional treatment and life‐threatening hemolysis.
Networks of Meaning: Intergroup Relations, Cultural Worldviews, and Knowledge Activation Principles
Authors: Mendoza‐Denton Rodolfo , Hansen Nina
Published: October 2007

In this article, we bring advances in the fields of social cognition, personality, and culture to bear on the topic of intergroup relations. Specifically, principles of knowledge activation (Higgins, 1996), and of the architecture of knowledge networks (Cervone, 2005; Mischel & Shoda, 1995) are applied to understanding how cultural groups develop divergent worldviews. We discuss these principles within a recently proposed model of culture and person dynamics, the Cultural Cognitive‐Affective Processing System (Mendoza‐Denton & Mischel, 2007). It is argued that the underlying psychological principles that govern knowledge acquisition and activation may be universal, but that the manifestations of these processes are culture specific. More precisely, culture impacts the availability, applicability, and accessibility of knowledge, as well as the organizational relationships among constructs. Together, these processes give rise to complex networks of meaning that, despite diverging across cultures, can nevertheless be communicated and understood by non‐natives of that culture.
Social Psychology and Multiculturalism
Authors: Verkuyten Maykel
Published: October 2007

Questions of multiculturalism give rise to lively and important debates in many countries and in many spheres of life. Diversity is considered desirable and necessary for the development of secure ethnic identities and positive intergroup relations, but is also challenged for being inequitable and a threat to social cohesion. After considering conceptions of multiculturalism and relevant country differences, the paper discusses social psychological research on multicultural attitudes and the effect of multiculturalism on intergroup relations. Subsequently, three issues are addressed that are central in debates about multiculturalism and that present additional topics for social psychological research. The first concerns the importance of intragroup processes, the second the nature of religious identity and Islam in particular, and the third issue relates to tolerance and civil liberties.
Social Constraints on Disclosure and Adjustment to Cancer
Authors: Lepore Stephen J. , Revenson Tracey A.
Published: October 2007

This article introduces the concept of social constraints on disclosure, puts it in a theoretical framework, and examines how it can affect adjustment to major life stressors using the exemplar of cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It is often life threatening, disfiguring, and unpredictable; hence, it can undermine people's basic and often positive beliefs and expectations about themselves, their future, and social relationships. For many people with cancer, it is important to come to terms psychologically with the illness – to make sense of or somehow accept the reality of it. People often do this by thinking about different aspects of the disease and its implications for their life, but also through socially processing, or talking about, their cancer‐related thoughts, feelings, and concerns with others. When people experience social constraints on their disclosure of cancer‐related thoughts and feelings, it can adversely affect how they think and talk about their illness, their coping behaviors, and psychological adjustment. In addition to discussing mechanisms and consequences of social constraints on disclosure, we discuss some of its determinants and future research directions.
Personality, Affective Processing, and Self‐Regulation: Toward Process‐Based Views of Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Agreeableness
Authors: Robinson Michael D.
Published: October 2007

Personality psychology seeks to be explanatory rather than merely descriptive, and the purpose of this review is to examine the viability of a cognitive processing approach to personality traits. In support of this goal, a multistage cognitive processing model is introduced. The review then seeks to link extraversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness to distinct processing operations. It is suggested that extraversion and neuroticism are systematically related to affective memory structures favoring positive and negative affect, respectively. On the other hand, it is suggested that agreeableness appears to be less closely linked to accessibility processes and more closely linked to affect and emotion control following activated hostile thoughts. Finally, recent data support developmental suggestions that individual differences in executive function appear to play an important role in moderating the neuroticism‐distress relationship. In total, the review documents recent developments in understanding the processing basis of extraversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness.
Smoking reduction and cessation reduce chronic cough in a general population: the Inter99 study
Authors: Pisinger Charlotta , Godtfredsen Nina S. , Jørgensen Torben
Published: October 2007

Background:  Chronic cough can be the first sign of chronic obstructive disease. A few, and mostly selected, studies exploring the effect of reduced daily tobacco consumption have shown a small effect on pulmonary symptoms.

Aim:  The aim of this study was to examine if smoking reduction (SR) (≥50% of daily tobacco consumption) or smoking cessation (SC) had an effect on chronic cough and phlegm.

Methods:  A total of 2408 daily smokers were included in a Danish population‐based intervention study, Inter99. In the analyses, we included smokers with self‐reported chronic cough or phlegm at baseline who also attended the 1‐year follow‐up. We investigated if SR or SC had improved the self‐reported pulmonary symptoms, using logistic regression analyses.

Results:  Almost 34% of the smokers had chronic cough at baseline and 24.5% had chronic phlegm. Thirty‐seven persons with cough at baseline and 24 with phlegm at baseline achieved substantial SR at 1‐year follow‐up. The corresponding numbers for SC were 63 and 39, respectively. In adjusted analyses, quitting or reducing smoking was associated with less reporting of cough [odds ratio (OR): 14.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.9–34.4] and (OR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.7–8.0), respectively, compared with unchanged smoking habits. It was also significantly more likely not to report phlegm at 1‐year follow‐up for those who had quit (OR: 7.1; 95% CI: 2.8–18.0), whereas SR was not significantly associated with termination of phlegm (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 0.9–6.4) when compared with continuous smoking.

Conclusion:  SC significantly improved self‐reported chronic cough and phlegm as expected. Substantial SR was achieved by few smokers but had a significantly positive effect on chronic cough.

Please cite this paper as: Pisinger C, Godtfredsen NS and Jørgensen T. Smoking reduction and cessation reduce chronic cough in a general population: the Inter99 study. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 41–46.
‘You have to learn to live with it’: a qualitative and quantitative study of older people with asthma
Authors: Goeman Dianne P. , O'Hehir Robyn E. , Jenkins Christine , Scharf Simon L. , Douglass Jo A.
Published: October 2007

Introduction:  Asthma mortality has declined overall because of a range of public health initiatives. In western countries, the majority of asthma deaths now occur in people over the age of 50. The reasons for the poorer response of older age groups to public health asthma initiatives are not known.

Objectives:  We undertook a study to investigate the disease perspectives of older people with asthma and barriers which may exist and prevent optimal asthma care.

Methods:  Fifty‐five participants (16 male and 39 female) aged over 50 from an inner city, suburban area and a rural region were recruited. Lung function was measured, and questionnaire data on asthma symptoms, knowledge and control, medication use and respiratory health were collected. Participants were also interviewed in‐depth, and the quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated.

Results:  Participants with a duration of asthma for >30 years reported significantly fewer symptoms and better quality of life irrespective of asthma severity, indicating less appreciation of symptoms in those with a long asthma duration. Interviews revealed this was related to previous asthma management strategies when treatment options were limited. Participants with a recent diagnosis sought understanding of asthma and the reason for their illness. Initiatives to improve asthma care in older people need to reflect these findings.

Conclusions:  Self‐management strategies for older people need to be tailored according to the time of disease onset and the duration of disease.

Please cite this paper as: Goeman DP, O’Hehir RE, Jenkins C, Scharf SL and Douglass JA. ‘You have to learn to live with it’: a qualitative and quantitative study of older people with asthma. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2007; 1:99–105.
Diagnosis of small hepatic nodules detected by surveillance ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis: Comparison between contrast‐enhanced ultrasound and contrast‐enhanced helical computed tomography
Authors: Dai Ying , Chen Min Hua , Fan Zhi Hui , Yan Kun , Yin Shan Shan , Zhang Xiao Peng
Published: October 2007

Aim:  To investigate the diagnostic value for the diagnosis of small (1–2 cm) hepatic nodules detected by surveillance ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis using contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared with that of contrast‐enhanced helical computed tomography (CECT).

Methods:  Seventy‐two liver cirrhosis patients with 103 small hepatic nodules (1–2 cm) detected by surveillance ultrasound were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent CEUS with SonoVue as well as CECT. Nodules which appeared by contrast enhancement during the arterial phase and contrast wash‐out during the late phase on CEUS or CECT were diagnosed as malignant (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]). Histopathology obtained from biopsy or surgery served as the gold standard.

Results:  According to the above diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity (i.e. rate of correct diagnosis of HCC) was 91.1% (51/56 HCC) for CEUS and the specificity (i.e. the rate of correct exclusion of HCC) was 87.2% (41/47 regenerative nodules [RN]).Therefore, the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS was 89.3% (92/103 all nodules). Using the same diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CECT were 80.4% (45/56 HCC), 97.9% (46/47 RN), and 88.4% (91/103 all nodules). Overall, there was no significant difference between CEUS and CECT in the diagnostic confidence of small hepatic nodules. Eighty‐six nodules (45 HCC and 41 RN) were correctly diagnosed by both modalities and six (five HCC and one RN) were misdiagnosed by both.

Conclusion:  The ability of CEUS in the characterization of small nodules (1–2 cm) detected by surveillance US in patients with liver cirrhosis is similar to that of CECT.
Significance of chymase‐dependent angiotensin II formation in the progression of human liver fibrosis
Authors: Komeda Koji , Jin Denan , Takai Shinji , Hayashi Michihiro , Takeshita Atsushi , Shibayama Yuro , Tanigawa Nobuhiko , Miyazaki Mizuo
Published: October 2007

Aim:  Angiotensin II may contribute to liver fibrogenesis. In addition to angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE), chymase, which is expressed by mast cells, is also known to be an angiotensin II‐forming enzyme. However, it is unclear which of these two angiotensin II‐forming enzymes plays a more important role in liver cirrhosis progression. In the present study, the role of angiotensin II‐forming enzymes in the progression of liver cirrhosis was clarified.

Methods:  A total of 77 patients (16 in F0 stage, 10 in F1 stage, 22 in F2 stage, 12 in F3 stage, and 17 in F4 stage) were classified according to the new Inuyama classification into a non‐cirrhosis (F0) group, an early cirrhosis (F1 + F2) group, and a chronic cirrhosis (F3 + F4) group.

Results:  Both chymase and total angiotensin II‐forming activities were significantly higher in chronic cirrhosis patients than in the other two groups. However, there was nodifference among the three groups in ACE activity. On immunohistology, the number of chymase‐ and angiotensin II‐positive cells was significantly higher in the chronic cirrhosis group than in the non‐cirrhosis and early cirrhosis groups. There were significant correlations between the number of chymase‐positive cells and the number of angiotensin II‐positive cells, between the number of chymase‐positive cells and the degree of fibrosis, and between the number of angiotensin II‐positive cells and the degree of fibrosis.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that chymase‐dependent angiotensin II formation may play an important role in hepatic fibrosis of patients with cirrhosis.
Competition as a selective mechanism for larger offspring size in guppies
Authors: Bashey Farrah
Published: October 2007

Highly competitive environments are predicted to select for larger offspring. Guppies Poecilia reticulata from low‐predation populations have evolved to make fewer, larger offspring than their counterparts from high‐predation populations. As predation co‐varies with the strength of competition in natural guppy populations, here I present two laboratory experiments that evaluate the role of competition in selecting for larger offspring size. In the first experiment, paired groups of large and small newborns from either a high‐ or a low‐predation population were reared in mesocosms under a high‐ or a low‐competition treatment. While large newborns retained their size advantage over small newborns in both treatments, newborn size increased growth only in the high‐competition treatment. Moreover, the increase in growth with size was greater in guppies derived from the low‐predation population. In the second experiment, pairs of large and small newborns were reared in a highly competitive environment until reproductive maturity. Small size at birth delayed maturation and the effect of birth size on male age of maturity was greater in the low‐predation population. These results support the importance of competition as a selective mechanism in offspring size evolution.
Heart rate variability in mice: a theoretical and practical guide
Authors: Thireau J. , Zhang B. L. , Poisson D. , Babuty D.
Published: October 2007

The mouse is the animal model principally used to study biological processes in mammals. The mutation, overexpression or knockout of one or several genes can provide insight into human disease. In cardiovascular research, evaluation of autonomic nervous function is an essential tool for a better understanding of the pathophysiological conditions in which cardiomyopathy arises and develops. Analysis of heart rate variability is the least invasive method to evaluate the sympathovagal balance on the sino‐atrial level. The need to perform this technique on freely moving mice emerged in the 1990s, but despite previous studies it has been difficult to set up and standardize a common protocol. The multitudes of techniques used, plus subtle differences in methodology, impede the comparison and clear interpretation of results. This article aims to make a survey of heart rate variability analysis and to establish a standardized protocol for the assessment of the autonomic neural regulation of heart rate in mice.
Characterization of tracked radiofrequency ablation in phantom
Authors: Chen Chun‐Cheng R. , Miga Michael I. , Galloway Robert L.
Published: October 2007

In radiofrequency ablation (RFA), successful therapy requires accurate, image‐guided placement of the ablation device in a location selected by a predictive treatment plan. Current planning methods rely on geometric models of ablations that are not sensitive to underlying physical processes in RFA. Implementing plans based on computational models of RFA with image‐guided techniques, however, has not been well characterized. To study the use of computational models of RFA in planning needle placement, this work compared ablations performed with an optically tracked RFA device with corresponding models of the ablations. The calibration of the tracked device allowed the positions of distal features of the device, particularly the tips of the needle electrodes, to be determined to within of uncertainty. Ablations were then performed using the tracked device in a phantom system based on an agarose‐albumin mixture. Images of the sliced phantom obtained from the ablation experiments were then compared with the predictions of a bioheat transfer model of RFA, which used the positional data of the tracked device obtained during ablation. The model was demonstrated to predict 90% of imaged pixels classified as being ablated. The discrepancies between model predictions and observations were analyzed and attributed to needle tracking inaccuracy as well as to uncertainties in model parameters. The results suggest the feasibility of using finite element modeling to plan ablations with predictable outcomes when implemented using tracked RFA.
Calculation of dose decrease in a finite phantom of a point source
Authors: Melchert Corinna , Kohr P. , Schmidt R.
Published: October 2007

The purpose of this study was to calculate the dose decrease in a finite phantom of a ‐point source by using a new algorithm based on field theory. The methods used included the phenomenological application of the principle “mirror image of an electric point source in front of a dielectric semi‐plateau” to a radioactive source in a finite phantom results in a function to calculate the dose decrease near the surface. Measurements were done in a water phantom in three different experimental setups. To verify the calculated results Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of dose distribution of a point source in water were carried out. The strength of mirror source was found of the real source. A lack scatter function was necessary to handle the dose decrease very close to surface. The measured and calculated dose values differed less than 0.9%. Both MC simulations and the new algorithm show the dose decrease near phantom surface with differences less than 2% between each other. The new algorithm based on field theory calculated the dose decrease of a point source in a finite phantom with a very good agreement to measured and simulated data. A clinical example, which affects only a single planar boundary, is given by using molds in the treatment of skin tumors. This was calculated with the new algorithm presented in this article. The comparison with the common algorithm demonstrates the differences that might cause an overestimation of the dose, which probably leads an underdosing of the tumor. The general use of the new algorithm in brachytherapy where a variety of boundary shapes are encountered has to be verified seriously.