bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical absorption spectra of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in beryl crystals
Authors: Spinolo G. , Fontana I. , Galli A.
Published: July 2007

A variety of beryls, inclusive of blue aquamarine, heliodor and goshenite, spanning an iron concentration range of more than one order of magnitude, has been studied by absorption spectroscopy down to 16 K and in the energy range 3000–50000 cm–1. The weak spin‐forbidden transitions of Fe2+ as well as the allowed charge‐transfer transitions, ligand‐to‐metal, mainly due to Fe3+, have been observed for the first time in these diluted systems. The comparison with reference spectra of aqueous solutions containing Fe2+ and Fe3+ allowed to reach, by the aid of d6 (Fe2+) and d5 (Fe3+) Tanabe‐Sugano diagrams for octahedral symmetry, a satisfactory interpretation of the spectra. The colour centres absorption, their thermal instability and contribution to the colour of these crystals has also been considered. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Optical absorption spectra of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in aqueous solutions and hydrated crystals
Authors: Fontana I. , Lauria A. , Spinolo G.
Published: July 2007

Absorption spectra of aqueous solutions containing Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions and hydrated crystals are studied up to 50000 cm–1. Charge‐transfer transitions for both hydrated ions are here measured for the first time. The weak Fe2+ spin‐forbidden transitions which up to now have received little attention in diluted systems, are put in evidence: as a consequence, we have proposed for the lower energy transitions different attributions respect to the commonly accepted ones. It is further shown that the step by step oxidation process of Fe2+ to Fe3+, starting from Fe(BF4)2 solution, allows us to quantitatively correlate the oscillator strength of the various spin‐allowed, spin‐forbidden and charge‐transfer transitions of both ions. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Tuning of electron transport through molecular bridge systems: A study of shot noise
Authors: Maiti Santanu K.
Published: July 2007

We study electron transport characteristics through a single phenalenyl molecule attached with two nonsuperconducting electrodes by the use of Green's function technique. Parametric calculations are given based on the tight‐binding model to characterize the electron transport through such molecular bridge system. It is observed that the electron transport properties are significantly influenced by (a) the interference effect and (b) the molecule‐to‐electrodes coupling strength. In this context we also describe the noise power of the current fluctuations that provides an important information about the electron correlation, which is obtained by calculating the Fano factor (F). The knowledge of this current fluctuations gives a key idea for fabrication of efficient molecular devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Lattice vacancy effects on electron transport in multiterminal graphene nanodevices
Authors: Jayasekera Thushari , Mintmire J. W.
Published: July 2007

We investigate the effect of single lattice vacancies on the electron transport of graphene nanoribbon devices using the Landauer formalism within a tight binding approach. For a zigzag nanoribbon, a single lattice vacancy creates conductance dips in the low energy region, due to quasi bound states around the vacancy site. The energy of the bound state is related to the position of the lattice vacancy relative to the edge of the ribbon. We carried out calculations of electron transport properties in a T‐junction device with lattice vacancies. We find that the effect of the vacancies depends on how energetically favorable the lattice vacancy is, which can be studied in terms of the alternate atomic structure of the graphene lattice. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Simulated structure and energetics of endohedral complexes of noble gas atoms in buckminsterfullerene
Authors: Albert Victor V. , Sabin John R. , Harris Frank E.
Published: July 2007

Classical molecular dynamics simulations were run for noble gas atoms confined within a buckminsterfullerene cage. The simulations indicated that all the endohedral complexes X@C60 (X = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) were stable relative to C60 + X, with the Ar complex being the most stable. Except for the He complex, the minimum‐energy configuration was with the endoatom at the geometric center of the cage. The minimum‐energy position of the He atom in He@C60 was off‐center in a high‐symmetry direction, but the energy lowering relative to a centered He atom was found to be small relative to the zero‐point energy of the He atom within the cage. The simulations were checked by comparison of static energy computations with the fullerene fixed in its equilibrium geometry as determined alternatively from experimental data and from empty‐fullerene calculations. The small differences between the alternative geometries were sufficient to cause significant quantitative changes in the computed binding energies but, except for predicting Xe@C60 to be unstable, did not fundamentally alter our qualitative description of the results. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Temperature dependence of oxygen isotope acid fractionation for modern and fossil tooth enamels
Authors: Passey Benjamin H. , Cerling Thure E. , Levin Naomi E.
Published: July 2007

The oxygen isotope ratio of CO2 liberated from structural carbonate in tooth enamel apatite was measured at phosphoric acid reaction temperatures of 25°C, 60°C and 90°C, and it was found that apparent acid fractionation factors for pristine enamel, fossilized enamel, and calcite follow different temperature relationships. Using sealed vessel reactions normalized to α25 = 1.01025 (the fractionation factor for calcite at 25°C), the apparent fractionation factor at 90°C (α*90) for pristine enamel ranged between 1.00771 and 1.00820, and between 1.00695 and 1.00772 for fossilized enamel. Apparent fractionation factors for common acid bath reactions are similar to those for sealed vessel reactions. A significant correlation exists between α*90 and F− content, suggesting that change in the acid fractionation factor may be related to the replacement of OH− with F− during fossilization of bioapatite. These results have important implications for making accurate comparisons between modern and fossil tooth enamel δ18O values, and for the uniformity of isotope data produced in different laboratories using different acid reaction temperatures. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Axial focusing following low kinetic energy pulsed extraction from a miniature linear ion trap
Authors: Dobson Gareth S. , Enke Christie G.
Published: July 2007

Using an axial focusing miniature linear ion trap with tubular end cap lenses (MLIT) we have investigated spatial focusing on ion ejection using low kinetic energy pulsed extraction methods. Ion packet widths focused to ca. 1 mm (in both the radial and axial planes) are produced following collisional cooling with helium buffer gas in an MLIT. Small axial and radial packet widths as well as application of DC extraction voltages allow different ion focusing techniques to be used on batch ion extraction. In particular, controlling the position of the space focus plane (commonly used in time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry) following low kinetic energy (∼10 eV) ion ejection from an MLIT through the application of DC extraction voltages is illustrated. Prior to simultaneous ion ejection, induced axial ion oscillation through a change in the DC potential well shape is also shown to be useful for separating and controlling different mass/charge ion packet spatial distributions in the region of an orthogonal time‐of‐flight (o‐TOF) push pulse. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elucidation of the complex molecular structure of wheat straw lignin polymer by atmospheric pressure photoionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Banoub Joseph H. , Benjelloun‐Mlayah Bouchra , Ziarelli Fabio , Joly Nicolas , Delmas Michel
Published: July 2007

Wheat straw lignin was extracted using the novel CIMV procedure which selectively separates the cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Solid‐state 13C NMR experiments using cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) were carried out on the extracted wheat straw lignin and some structural indices were revealed. Atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI‐MS) has proven to be a powerful analytical tool capable of ionizing small to large lignin oligomers, which cannot be ionized efficiently by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI). The APPI mass spectra of the extracted wheat straw lignin were recorded in the positive and negative ion modes. Positive ion mode APPI‐MS indicated the exact presence of 39 specific oligomeric ions. Negative ion APPI‐MS indicated the additional presence of at least 18 specific oligomeric ions. The structural characterization of this novel and complete series of 57 specific related oligomers was achieved by calculating the exact molecular masses measured by high‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (QqToF‐MS). Some oligomeric species photoionized in both the positive and negative ion modes to form the respective protonated and deprotonated molecules. Low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometric analyses performed with a QqToF‐MS/MS hybrid instrument provided unique dissociation patterns of the complete series of novel precursor ions. These MS/MS analyses provided diagnostic product ions, which enabled us to determine the exact molecular structures and arrangement of the selected 57 different related ionic species. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scientific explanations: Characterizing and evaluating the effects of teachers' instructional practices on student learning
Authors: McNeill Katherine L. , Krajcik Joseph
Published: July 2007

Teacher practices are essential for supporting students in scientific inquiry practices, such as the construction of scientific explanations. In this study, we examine what instructional practices teachers engage in when they introduce scientific explanation and whether these practices influence students' ability to construct scientific explanations during a middle school chemistry unit. Thirteen teachers enacted a project‐based chemistry unit, How can I make new stuff from old stuff?, with 1197 seventh grade students. We videotaped each teacher's enactment of the focal lesson on scientific explanation and then coded the videotape for four different instructional practices: modeling scientific explanation, making the rationale of scientific explanation explicit, defining scientific explanation, and connecting scientific explanation to everyday explanation. Our results suggest that when teachers introduce scientific explanation, they vary in the practices they engage in as well as the quality of their use of these practices. We also found that teachers' use of instructional practices can influence student learning of scientific explanation and that the effect of these instructional practices depends on the context in terms of what other instructional practices the teacher uses. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 53–78, 2008
Evaluation of distribution and bioavailability of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in the waters of the upper course of the Lerma River
Authors: Avila‐Pérez P. , Zarazúa G. , Tejeda S. , Barceló‐Quintal I. , Díaz‐Delgado C. , Carreño‐León C.
Published: July 2007

Distribution and bioavailability of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb in the waters of the upper course of the Lerma River (UCLR), Mexico, were evaluated by means total reflection x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry. The surface water samples were collected from eight sites distributed along the flow direction of the river. Four sampling campaigns were carried out in each site during a one‐year period. The water samples were analyzed in triplicate, using a TXRF Spectrometer ‘TX‐2000 Ital Structures’ with a Si(Li) detector and a resolution of 140 eV (FWHM) at Mn Kα. A Mo tube (40 kV, 30 mA) with 17.4 KeV excitation energy was used for a counting time of 500 s. Results show that the concentration ranges of heavy metals in the water are the following: Cr, from < 5 to 56 µg/l; Mn, from 9 to 788 µg/l; Fe, from 98 to 8474 µg/l; Cu, from 10 to 225 µg/l; Zn, from 23 to 189 µg/l and Pb, from < 3 to 30 µg/l. There are significant statistical differences in the concentration of heavy metals between the different sampling sites and between the different sampling campaigns. The Pearson correlation results indicate a strong correlation between some heavy metals in the water, this significant correlation (p < 0.05) indicating a natural or/and a shared contamination source for these metals. Metal concentration in the water mostly did not exceed the guide values given by Mexican regulation for agricultural use. Only Cu, Mn and Fe in total water phase exceeded the maximum permissible limits for irrigation proposes at some sites. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Study of Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Chronic Anal Fissure: Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Extent of Internal Anal Sphincter Division During Lateral Sphincterotomy
Authors: Elsebae Magdy M. A.
Published: July 2007

Background

Troublesome fecal incontinence following a lateral internal sphincterotomy is often attributed to faulty surgical technique. However, it may be associated with coexisting occult sphincter defects. Whether continence is related to the extent of sphincterotomy remains debatable. The aim of the study is to identify fecal incontinence related to chronic anal fissure before and after lateral internal sphincterotomy and its relationship to the extent of internal anal sphincter division.

Methods

One hundred eight patients with chronic anal fissure were prospectively studied before and after lateral internal sphincterotomy. A questionnaire was completed for each patient before and after surgery with regard to any degree of fecal incontinence. Fecal incontinence severity index was assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score. The patients with preoperative perfect continence were randomized into two groups (46 patients in each group): Group 1 underwent traditional lateral internal sphincterotomy (up to the dentate line) and Group 2 were underwent a conservative internal anal sphincterotomy (up to the height of the fissure apex or just below it).

Results

Minor degrees of incontinence were present before surgery in 16 patients (14.8%). Results of the randomized trial revealed that temporary postoperative incontinence was newly developed in 6/92 of patients (6.52 %) who did not have it before surgery. Five of the six (10.86%) were in Group 1 one (2.17%) was in Group 2 (p = 0.039). Persistent incontinence occurred in two in Group 1 (4.35%). All of them were females. All have had a history of one or more vaginal deliveries.

Conclusion

A mild degree of fecal incontinence may be associated with chronic anal fissure at presentation rather than as a result of internal sphincterotomy. Troublesome fecal incontinence after lateral internal sphincterotomy is uncommon. Sphincterotomy up to the dentate line provided faster pain relief and faster anal fissure healing, but it was associated with a significant postoperative alteration in fecal incontinence than was sphincterotomy up to the fissure apex. Care should be exercised in female patients with a history of previous obstetric trauma, as internal anal sphincter division may further compromise sphincter function.
Liver Manipulation Causes Hepatocyte Injury and Precedes Systemic Inflammation in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection
Authors: van de Poll Marcel C. G. , Derikx Joep P. M. , Buurman Wim A. , Peters Wilbert H. M. , Roelofs Hennie M. J. , Wigmore Stephen J. , Dejong Cornelis HC
Published: July 2007

Background

Liver failure following liver surgery is caused by an insufficient functioning remnant cell mass. This can be due to insufficient liver volume and can be aggravated by additional cell death during or after surgery. The aim of this study was to elucidate the causes of hepatocellular injury in patients undergoing liver resection.

Methods

Markers of hepatocyte injury (AST, GSTα, and L‐FABP) and inflammation (IL‐6) were measured in plasma of patients undergoing liver resection with and without intermittent inflow occlusion. To study the separate involvement of the intestines and the liver in systemic L‐FABP release, arteriovenous concentration differences for L‐FABP were measured.

Results

During liver manipulation, liver injury markers increased significantly. Arterial plasma levels and transhepatic and transintestinal concentration gradients of L‐FABP indicated that this increase was exclusively due to hepatic and not due to intestinal release. Intermittent hepatic inflow occlusion, anesthesia, and liver transection did not further enhance arterial L‐FABP and GSTα levels. Hepatocyte injury was followed by an inflammatory response.

Conclusions

This study shows that liver manipulation is a leading cause of hepatocyte injury during liver surgery. A potential causal relation between liver manipulation and systemic inflammation remains to be established; but since the inflammatory response is apparently initiated early during major abdominal surgery, interventions aimed at reducing postoperative inflammation and related complications should be started early during surgery or beforehand.
Brief report: Risky sexual behavior of adolescents in Belgrade: Association with socioeconomic status and family structure
Authors: Vukovic Dejana S. , Bjegovic Vesna M.
Published: July 2007

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and family structure with risky sexual behaviors in adolescents.

Methods

A total of 1782 15‐year‐old Belgrade schoolchildren (47.5% boys and 52.5% girls) completed a questionnaire from the WHO study, “Health behavior of schoolchildren”.

Results

Adolescents with a higher weekly disposable income, those who perceived their family as wealthy, and those with difficulties in communication with their mothers were more likely to have had been sexually active (odds ratios (OR)=2.497, 1.876, and 1.253, respectively). Adolescents with a higher weekly disposable income were more likely to use contraception (OR=0.233), but those who perceived their families as better‐off and those living with only one parent were more likely not to use contraception (OR=4.794, 22.295 [living with father], and 6.169 [living with mother], respectively).

Conclusions

The perceived family wealth was significantly associated with having sexual intercourse and having sexual intercourse without using contraception. Family structure had a limited independent association with sexual behavior.
Second-order elliptic integro-differential equations: viscosity solutions' theory revisited
Authors: Barles Guy , Imbert Cyril
Published: July 2007

The aim of this work is to revisit viscosity solutions' theory for second-order elliptic integro-differential equations and to provide a general framework which takes into account solutions with arbitrary growth at infinity. Our main contribution is a new Jensen–Ishii's lemma for integro-differential equations, which is stated for solutions with no restriction on their growth at infinity. The proof of this result, which is of course a key ingredient to prove comparison principles, relies on a new definition of viscosity solution for integro-differential equation (equivalent to the two classical ones) which combines the approach with test-functions and sub-superjets.
Differential prognostic importance of QRS duration in heart failure and acute myocardial infarction associated with left ventricular dysfunction
Authors: Fosbøl Emil Loldrup , Seibæk Marie , Brendorp Bente , Møller Daniél Vega , Ersbøll Mads , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Køber Lars ,   for the Danish Investigations and Arrhythmia ON Dofetilide (DIAMOND) study group
Published: July 2007

Background/Aims

Studies of the prognostic importance of QRS duration in patients with heart failure (HF) have shown conflicting results and few studies have estimated the importance after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

The Danish Investigations and Arrhythmia ON Dofetilide (DIAMOND) study randomised 3028 patients to dofetilide (class III antiarrhythmic) or placebo. The study consisted of two almost identical trials conducted simultaneously. One trial included 1518 patients with chronic HF and the other trial 1510 patients with a recent MI. All patients had left ventricular dysfunction. Dofetilide did not influence mortality in either trial. QRS duration was systematically measured at randomisation and was available in 2972 patients.

Results

Over a 10 year observation period 1037 (70%) patients in the MI study and 1324 (87%) in the HF study died. In the MI study, risk of death increased 6% for each 10 ms increase in QRS duration (HR=1.06/10 ms increase in QRS (CI=1.04–1.09), p<0.0001) whereas QRS duration had no influence in the HF study after multivariable adjustment. The difference between HF and MI was significant (p<0.0004 for interaction).

Conclusion

QRS duration predicts death in patients with left ventricular dysfunction who have suffered MI. In patients with HF QRS duration is not predictive of mortality.
Treatment with beta‐blockers in nurse‐led heart failure clinics: Titration efficacy and predictors of failure
Authors: Gustafsson Finn , Schou Morten , Videbæk Lars , Nielsen Tonny , Ulriksen Hans , Markenvard John , Svendsen Tage Lysbo , Ryde Henrik , Vigholt Else , Hildebrandt Per ,   on behalf of the Danish Heart Failure Clinics Network
Published: July 2007

Background:

Beta‐blockers (BBs) are a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF), but several surveys have documented that many patients are not offered treatment or are not titrated to target doses. In part to address this problem, specialized, nurse‐led HF clinics have been initiated in many countries. However, little information is available to describe if such programs are successful in initiating and up‐titrating BBs in daily clinical practice.

Aims:

To assess the proportion of patients with HF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction on BB treatment three months after referral to a nurse‐led HF clinic, and to identify baseline predictors of treatment failure.

Methods:

Consecutive records from 14 Danish nurse‐led HF clinics were used.

Results:

1533 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 68.7 years and 72= were men. Three months after the initial HF clinic visit 63= of the patients were being treated with a BB. Mean dose (relative to target dose) was 63 (±35)= in patients receiving a BB and target dose was reached by 21=. Patients who were not on BBs were more often female, elderly and in NYHA class III–IV. In a multivariable model only lower age predicted BB use at three months (P<0.05). Younger age (P<0.001) and higher systolic blood pressure (P<0.001) were associated with higher doses of BB.

Conclusion:

BB up‐titration continues to be a challenge even in specialized clinics dedicated to this task. Elderly patients appear to be less likely to receive treatment.
The TatBC complex formation suppresses a modular TatB‐multimerization in Escherichia coli
Authors: Behrendt Jana , Lindenstrauß Ute , Brüser Thomas
Published: July 2007

Twin‐arginine translocation (Tat) systems allow the translocation of folded proteins across biological membranes of most prokaryotes. In proteobacteria, a TatBC complex binds Tat substrates and initiates their translocation after recruitment of the component TatA. TatA and TatB belong to one protein family, but only TatB forms stable complexes with TatC. Here we show that TatB builds up TatA‐like modular complexes in the absence of TatC. This TatB ladder ranges from about 100 to over 880 kDa with 105 ± 10 kDa increments. TatC alone can form a 250 kDa complex which could be a scaffold that can recruit TatB to form defined TatBC complexes.
3H‐serotonin as a marker of oscillatory insulin secretion in clonal β‐cells (INS‐1)
Authors: Deeney Jude T. , Bränström Robert , Corkey Barbara E. , Larsson Olof , Berggren Per-Olof
Published: July 2007

Serotonin release from preloaded pancreatic β‐cells has been used as a marker for insulin release in studying exocytosis from single cells using the amperometric technique. We found that single pancreatic β‐cells exhibited oscillations in exocytosis with a period of 1–1.5 min as measured amperometrically by serotonin release. We also show that 3H‐serotonin can be used to monitor exocytosis from intact and streptolysin‐O permeabilized clonal insulin‐secreting cells preloaded with labeled serotonin and that serotonin release correlated with insulin secretion in the same cells. The use of 3H‐serotonin provides a real‐time indicator of exocytosis from populations of clonal insulin‐secreting cells.
Corrective Osteotomy for Volar Instability of the Distal Radioulnar Joint Associated with Radial Shaft Malunion
Authors: ODA T. , WADA T. , ISOGAI S. , IBA K. , AOKI M. , YAMASHITA T.
Published: July 2007

Volar instability of the distal radioulnar joint is an uncommon wrist disorder. We report three cases of recurrent volar instability of the distal radioulnar joint secondary to fracture of the radial shaft. In all cases, X-rays showed a volar apex deformity of the radial shaft. Opening wedge osteotomy and iliac bone grafting was performed on the distal diaphysis of the radius instead of on the radial shaft, in order to adjust the distal radioulnar joint more easily. Pre-operative dislocations and painful clunks disappeared in all three patients. However, slight instability of the distal radioulnar joint remained in all cases. Osteoarthritis of the distal radioulnar joint was noted in one patient 31 months after the operation. All of the patients were satisfied with the results and did not desire further operations.
Intrathecal Fluorescein in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
Authors: Tabaee Abtin , Placantonakis Dimitris G. , Schwartz Theodore H. , Anand Vijay K.
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES

Reconstruction following endoscopic skull base surgery requires a high degree of success to avoid the morbidity of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The impact on outcomes of CSF visualization with intrathecal fluorescein, however, is unknown.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review of patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery with intrathecal fluorescein. A possible correlation between intraoperative fluorescein identification and postoperative CSF leak was analyzed.

RESULTS

61 patients underwent surgery for a variety of lesions including pituitary adenoma (55.7%), encephalocele (14.8%), and meningioma (9.8%). Seven (19.4%) of the 37 patients with intraoperative fluorescein leak experienced postoperative CSF leak compared to 0 of the 24 patients who did not have intraoperative fluorescein leak (P = 0.02). All cases of CSF leak resolved with lumbar drainage alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of intraoperative fluorescein leak‐age correlates strongly with a low risk for postoperative CSF leak. This can be used to stratify the extent of skull base reconstruction required during endoscopic skull base surgeries.
Monopolar and Bipolar Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation of Inferior Turbinates: 20‐Month Follow‐up
Authors: Cavaliere Matteo , Mottola Giampiero , Iemma Maurizio
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVE

We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and morbidity of monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of inferior turbinates during a 20‐month follow‐up.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 150 patients randomly assigned into two groups of 75 each. In group A, we used the bipolar device “Coblator II ENT” (Arthrocare Corp, Sunnyvale, CA) and in group B the monopolar device Somnoplasty (Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA). Nasal endoscopy, visual analog scale, anterior active rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, and saccharin tests were used to assess the outcomes of the treatments.

RESULTS

Turbinate edema and nasal obstruction decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) in group A seven days after surgery and in group B from month 1. The nasal symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups from the first month (P < 0.0001). A significant increase (P < 0.0001) in nasal volume and decrease in nasal resistance were detected in the first month. No difference was found from three to 20 months after surgery (P > 0.5).

CONCLUSION

We have shown that both methods of RFVTR can produce a long‐term improvement on symptoms and on maintenance of nasal function.
Allergen Vial Mixing and Immunotherapy: Risks of Infections and Vial Contamination
Authors: Lay P. Chase , Bass Richard , Lin Sandra Y.
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVE

To study the risks of vial contamination and infection associated with immunotherapy vial mixing and injection.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of patient immunotherapy records from January 2000‐June 2006.

SETTING

Tertiary care outpatient otolaryngology clinic.

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy‐two patients were given 26,795 injections (average of 98.5 injections per patient). Three hundred ninety‐nine total local reactions were reported by the subjects (1.49%; 95% CI 1.34%‐1.63%). The majority (82%) of the local reactions occurred during escalation dosing. There were 23 episodes of wheezing or shortness of breath after injections (9.6 of 10,000). No patients experienced anaphylaxis. There was no documented skin or systemic infections as a result of the allergy injections. None of the patients experienced fever, discharge from the injection site, cellulitis, or required antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

This review of immunotherapy records revealed no complications of infection from the preparation and administration of immunotherapy performed in an outpatient clinic.
U.S. Phase I Preliminary Results of Use of the Otologics MET Fully‐Implantable Ossicular Stimulator
Authors: Jenkins Herman A. , Atkins James S. , Horlbeck Drew , Hoffer Michael E. , Balough Ben , Arigo Joseph V. , Alexiades George , Garvis William
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES

The safety of the Otologics Fully‐Implantable MET Ossicular Stimulator was assessed in adult patients with bilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss.

METHODS

Surgical implantation of the ossicular stimulator was performed. A repeated‐measure, within‐subjects design assessed safety and aided sound field thresholds and speech performances with the subject's own, appropriately fitted, walk‐in hearing aid(s) and the Otologics Fully‐Implantable MET Ossicular Stimulator.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were implanted and activated as part of the Phase I clinical trial. Results demonstrated 10–20 dB of functional gain across audiometric frequencies. Pure tone averages and monaural word recognition scores were slightly better for the walk‐in—aided condition, while patient benefit scales favored the postoperative implant‐aided conditions.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

Although monaural word scores and aided thresholds favored the walk‐in—aided condition, preliminary results indicate that the Otologics MET Fully‐Implantable Ossicular Stimulator is an alternative to currently available hearing aids in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.
Kimura Disease: Diagnosis and Prognostic Factors
Authors: Iwai Hiroshi , Nakae Kaoru , Ikeda Koshi , Ogura Manabu , Miyamoto Makoto , Omae Mariko , Kaneko Toshihiko , Yamashita Toshio
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES

To establish a preoperative diagnostic system and examine prognostic factors for Kimura disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Hospital records were reviewed for nine cases of Kimura disease treated in our department. Preoperative eosinophil counts for 74 cases with untreated malignancy in the parotid gland were also examined.

RESULTS

Parotid swelling with inhomogeneities and subcutaneous invasion on magnetic resonance imaging and eosinophils > 10.5 percent in Asian patients clearly indicates Kimura disease. Eosinophils > 50 percent, serum IgE levels > 10,000 IU/mL, and multifocal lesions outside salivary glands are prognostic factors suggesting disease recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

A preoperative decision based on our diagnostic criteria and prognostic factors should lead to better therapeutic outcomes for Kimura disease, for which a definitive treatment policy has never been determined.
Use of Antibiotics and Penicillin‐Resistant Pneumococci: What Can We Learn from Iceland?
Authors: Lous Jørgen
Published: July 2007

A few months ago, I evaluated an interesting thesis by Vilhjalmur Ari Arason of Iceland with the title: “Use of antimicrobials and carriage of penicillin‐resistant pneumococci in children: Repeated cross‐sectional studies covering 10 years.” (Available at http://landspitali.openrepository.com/lsh/handle/2336/6005). The results of the thesis deserve further dissemination because we can all learn a great deal about the relationship between use of antibiotics and bacteria susceptability in the community.
Distraction Osteogenesis in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Lin Samuel J. , Roy Saswata , Patel Pravin K.
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES

Distraction osteogenesis has been described routinely in the mandible for the advancement of bony segments. Complications, though infrequent, may include postoperative infection, implant extrusion, nonunion of the bony segments, device malfunction, cranial nerve paresis, and premature consolidation.

METHODS

Seventy‐eight distractions of the mandible were performed over 10 years. The technique in placement of these internal microdistraction devices involves making intraoral and extraoral incisions and beginning distraction after a latency period of 3 days. Following this latency period, distraction occurs at 1 mm/day.

RESULTS

In this series of patients, distraction was accomplished successfully. There was a 2.6% rate of wound infection in this series; 2.6% also had bony nonunion; 3.8% had premature bony consolidation; and 3.8% had facial nerve complications. In the three patients with facial nerve paresis, we followed the facial nerve clinically and each paresis resolved within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Distraction of the mandible may be accomplished in the pediatric population. As with any intervention, inherent perioperative complications may still arise.
Depressive Symptoms Underestimated in Vertiginous Patients
Authors: Ketola Sirpa , Havia Mari , Appelberg Björn , Kentala Erna
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of depression in a group of vertiginous patients gathered by the use of a questionnaire.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective study on 100 randomly selected vertiginous individuals, who were invited for further investigations to the Helsinki University ENT clinic. They also filled in a Beck Depression Index, Zung anxiety scale and DIP‐Q, which are self‐rating scales to investigate psychiatric symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression was 19%, and affected more men than women No significant differences appeared in ENT diagnoses or symptoms between depressed and nondepressed patients. Depression correlated positively with vertiginous relatives (P < 0.01) and subjective sense of disability (P < 0.01). Of depressed vertiginous patients, 89% were without appropriate antidepressive care.

CONCLUSION

Nearly 20% of vertiginous patients also have depressive symptoms. Assessment of psychiatric and psychosomatic symptoms should accompany neuro‐otologic evaluation to achieve the best treatment strategy and prevent chronic outcome.
Medical Culture in Transition: Mughal Gentleman Physician and the Native Doctor in Early Colonial India
Authors: ALAVI SEEMA
Published: July 2007

The essay explores a Greco-Arabic healing tradition that arrived in India with the Muslims and evolved with the expansion of the Mughal Empire. It came to be known as unani in the sub-continent. It studies unani texts and its practitioners in the critical period of transition to British rule, and questions the idea of ‘colonial medicine’ being the predominant site of culture and power. It shows that in the decades immediately preceding the early 19th century British expansion, unani underwent a critical transformation that was triggered by new influences from the Arab lands. These changes in local medical culture shaped the later colonial intrusions in matters related to health. The essay concludes that the pro-active role of the English Company and the wide usage of the printing press only added new contenders to the ongoing contest over medical authority. By the 1830s this complex interplay moved health away from its previous focus on individual aristocratic virtue, to the new domain of societal well being. It also projected the healer not merely as a gentleman physician concerned with individual health, but as a public servant responsible for the well being of society at large. These changes were rapid and survived the reforms of 1830s. They ensured that ‘colonial medicine’ remained entangled in local contestations over medical authority.
COUNTERFACTUAL SUCCESS AND NEGATIVE FREEDOM
Authors: DOWDING KEITH , VAN HEES MARTIN
Published: July 2007

Recent theories of negative freedom see it as a value-neutral concept; the definition of freedom should not be in terms of specific moral values. Specifically, preferences or desires do not enter into the definition of freedom. If preferences should so enter then Berlin's problem that a person may enhance their freedom by changing their preferences emerges. This paper demonstrates that such a preference-free conception brings its own counter-intuitive problems. It concludes that these problems might be avoided if the description of the constraints which specify an agent's lack of freedom include the intentions of those who constrain the agents.
PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS IN COST–BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Authors: HANSSON SVEN OVE
Published: July 2007

Cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is much more philosophically interesting than has in general been recognized. Since it is the only well-developed form of applied consequentialism, it is a testing-ground for consequentialism and for the counterfactual analysis that it requires. Ten classes of philosophical problems that affect the practical performance of cost–benefit analysis are investigated: topic selection, dependence on the decision perspective, dangers of super synopticism and undue centralization, prediction problems, the indeterminateness of our control over future decisions, the need to exclude certain consequences for moral reasons, bias in the delimitation of consequences, incommensurability of consequences, difficulties in defending the essential requirement of transferability across contexts, and the normatively questionable but equally essential assumption of interpersonal compensability.
A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LOTTERY EQUIVALENTS METHOD
Authors: OLIVER ADAM
Published: July 2007

Numerous instruments have been developed to elicit numerical values that represent the strength of preference for different health states. However, relatively few studies have attempted to analyse the reasoning processes that people employ when they are asked to answer questions based on these elicitation methods. The lottery equivalents method is a preference elicitation instrument that has recently received some attention in the literature. This study attempts a qualitative analysis of the use of this instrument on a group of 25 relatively highly educated respondents. For each of three health states considered in the study, a substantial number of respondents refused to trade the chance of survival for a possible improvement in the health state. Therefore, many respondents violated an assumption that is necessary for the lottery equivalents instrument to generate cardinal health state values. These findings place a question mark against the usefulness of the lottery equivalents method, and add weight to the suspicion that ‘preferences’ are constructed according to how questions are framed.
VALUING PROCESSES
Authors: SANDBU MARTIN E.
Published: July 2007

Conventional economic theory assumes that people care only about ultimate outcomes and are indifferent to the decision and allocation processes by which outcomes are brought about. Building on Sen (1997), I relax this assumption, and investigate the formal and philosophical issues that arise. I extend the formal apparatus of preference theory to analyse how processes may enter preferences, and investigate whether traditional invariance requirements like the Weak Axiom of Revealed Preference are still satisfied in this new setting. I show that it is, provided certain conditions of separability hold, and I discuss the plausibility of these conditions. Further, I argue that processes are often valued in a mode that diverges from the conventional modes of instrumental and intrinsic/independent valuation. I introduce the notion of dependent non-instrumental valuation, and show how processes could depend on their instrumental function for their value – making their value dependent – and yet derive their value from something else – making it non-instrumental. Dependent non-instrumental value, I argue, can be explained by symbolic and evidential relations between processes and outcomes.
Regular Partitions of Hypergraphs: Regularity Lemmas
Authors: RÖDL VOJTĚCH , SCHACHT MATHIAS
Published: July 2007

Szemerédi's regularity lemma for graphs has proved to be a powerful tool with many subsequent applications. The objective of this paper is to extend the techniques developed by Nagle, Skokan, and the authors and obtain a stronger and more ‘user-friendly’ regularity lemma for hypergraphs.
Regular Partitions of Hypergraphs: Counting Lemmas
Authors: RÖDL VOJTĚCH , SCHACHT MATHIAS
Published: July 2007

We continue the study of regular partitions of hypergraphs. In particular, we obtain corresponding counting lemmas for the regularity lemmas for hypergraphs from our paper ‘Regular Partitions of Hypergraphs: Regularity Lemmas’ (in this issue).
Convection under a lid of finite conductivity in wide aspect ratio models: Effect of continents on the wavelength of mantle flow
Authors: Grigné C. , Labrosse S. , Tackley P. J.
Published: July 2007

Mantle convection in the Earth and Mars are dominated by large‐scale flow, and this can be due at least in part to the effect of thermally insulating continent‐like heterogeneities. Indeed, the presence of a finitely conducting lid on top of a convective isoviscous fluid at infinite Prandtl number induces the formation of a zone of hot upwelling centered beneath the lid and a large horizontal cellular circulation on each side of the lid. In a previous paper, this lateral cellular circulation was limited in size by the dimensions of the model. We now use very large aspect ratio models in order for this circulation to be unhampered. The large‐scale circulation consists of the constructive superposition of hot and cold plumes attracted to and expelled from, respectively, the conductive lid. The width of the cellular circulation increases with the Rayleigh number of the fluid, and we propose a scaling law to explain this expansion. Scaling laws for the velocity of the plumes and heat transfer by this large‐scale circulation are also developed. Although the model used is much simpler than actual planetary mantles, the driving mechanism for the large‐scale circulation must operate in a similar fashion. Important implications in terms of heat transfer can therefore be predicted.
Imaging of structure at and near the core‐mantle boundary using a generalized radon transform: 2. Statistical inference of singularities
Authors: Ma P. , Wang P. , Tenorio L. , de Hoop M. V. , van der Hilst R. D.
Published: July 2007

We present the second part of our approach to high‐resolution imaging of deep Earth's interfaces with large volumes of broadband, three‐component seismograms. We focus on the lowermost mantle, also referred to as D″ region, but the methodology can be applied more generally. The first part describes the generalized radon transform (GRT) of broadbandScSdata (comprising main arrival, precursors, and coda). The GRT produces “image gathers,” which represent multiple images of medium contrasts at the same image point near the base of the mantle. With a method for statistical inference we use this redundancy (1) to enhance the GRT images through improved recovery of weak contrasts and through suppression of spurious oscillations in the GRT image gathers and (2) to provide uncertainty estimates that can be used to identify the robust features in the images. Using the image gathers from paper 1 as input, we use mixed effects statistical modeling to produce the best estimates of reflectivity along with their uncertainty. In this framework, random noise in the signal is separated into white and coherent components using the geometry of the (GRT) imaging operators and a generalized cross‐validation method. With synthetic data we show that conventional GRT images deteriorate substantially, in some cases to the point at which weak reflectors can no longer be detected, due to effects of uneven sampling, wave phenomena that are not accounted for in the underlying single scattering approximation, or errors in the assumed background wave speed model. We demonstrate that even in these circumstances, statistical analysis can yield adequate estimates of the true model. GRT imaging produces robust images of the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) beneath Central America and suggests the presence of several structures in the D″ region, in particular between 100 and 200 and between 270 and 320 km above the CMB proper. Most of these structures are significant at the 1σ(that is, 68%) level, but at 2σ(95%) confidence the images show, at various depths above the CMB, intermittent instead of laterally contiguous features.
Trans‐Pacific upper mantle shear velocity structure
Authors: Tan Ying , Helmberger Don V.
Published: July 2007

We use 50 Tonga‐Fiji events recorded at the broadband TriNet array, southern California, to develop a pure path upper mantle shear velocity model across the Pacific. At the epicentral distances of 70°–95°, multibounce S waves up to S5 are observed, including their triplicated branches, which become particularly clear after stacking. Since these S wave multiples turn at various depths, simultaneously modeling their differential traveltimes and waveforms provides strong constraints on the radial velocity structure. We parameterize the velocity model according to a priori information from the previous oceanic models, so that we can take a grid search approach, to fully investigate possible interdependencies among the model parameters. We construct synthetics with a reflectivity code and study both the SH and SV components. By modeling the whole recordings from events at different depths, with different mechanisms, we are able to separate shallow low‐velocity zone (LVZ) features from deeper structure. Our preferred model (PAC06) contains a fast lid (Vsh = 4.78 km s−1, Vsv = 4.58 km s−1) with a thickness of ∼60 km. The underlying LVZ is prominent with the lowest velocities Vsh = 4.34 km s−1, and Vsv = 4.22 km s−1 occurring at a depth of ∼160 km. These velocities are below the estimates of solid‐state LVZ, suggesting the presence of partial melt. The anisotropy (Vsv < Vsh) of PAC06 extends to ∼300 km depth, which is constrained by S5 turning at this depth. Besides the 406 km and 651 km discontinuities, PAC06 also has a small (∼1%) velocity jump at ∼516 km. We consider these main features of PAC06 to be well determined, since PAC06 explains a large data set from various events. Therefore it is ideally suited for comparing with mineralogical models.