bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous tracheostomy in patients with severe liver disease and a high incidence of refractory coagulopathy: a prospective trial
Authors: Auzinger Georg , O'Callaghan Gerry P , Bernal William , Sizer Elizabeth , Wendon Julia A
Published: October 2007

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) performed by experienced operators in critically ill patients with liver disease and coagulopathy.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in a 10-bed specialist liver intensive care unit of a tertiary university teaching hospital. The study consisted of 60 consecutive patients in need of tracheostomy insertion. Patients were categorized as having refractory coagulopathy if their platelet count was less than or equal to 50 × 109 cells/L or their international normalized ratio (INR) was greater than 1.5 on the day of PDT and for the 72 hours afterward despite clotting support.

Results

Twenty-five patients fulfilled the definition criteria of refractory coagulopathy. There was no significant difference in the number of adverse incidents between groups. Only one patient in the coagulopathy group had a severe bleeding complication, but this did not require open surgical intervention. The rate of clinically relevant early complications in all patients was not higher than expected (n = 7, 12%). Resource utilisation was higher for patients with coagulopathy who received significantly more platelet transfusions over the 3-day period (80 versus 49 units; p = 0.009) and who demonstrated a trend toward increased fresh frozen plasma requirements (p = 0.059). The number of patients requiring platelet transfusion was higher in the coagulopathy group (21/25 versus 20/35; p = 0.029). Hospital survival did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

PDT is safe and not contraindicated in patients with severe liver disease and refractory coagulopathy.
Phase I and Pharmacodynamic Trial of the DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitor Decitabine and Carboplatin in Solid Tumors
Authors: Appleton Kim , Mackay Helen J. , Judson Ian , Plumb Jane A. , McCormick Carol , Strathdee Gordon , Lee Chooi , Barrett Sophie , Reade Sarah , Jadayel Dalal , Tang Adrian , Bellenger Katharine , Mackay Lynsay , Setanoians Albert , Schätzlein Andreas , Twelves Chris , Kaye Stanley B. , Brown Robert
Published: October 2007

Purpose

The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (decitabine) induces DNA demethylation and re-expression of epigenetically silenced genes, and increases carboplatin sensitivity of tumor xenograft models. We designed a clinical study to determine the feasibility of delivering a dose of decitabine, combined with carboplatin, that would be capable of producing equivalent biologic effects in patients with solid tumors.

Patients and Methods

In a two-stage design, 33 patients received escalating doses of decitabine administered as a 6-hour infusion on day 1 followed by carboplatin, area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) 5 (cohort 1) and AUC 6 (cohort 2), on day 8 of a 28-day cycle. Pharmacodynamic analyses included 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine levels, MAGE1A CpG island methylation, and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression.

Results

The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Dose limiting toxicities, prolonged grade 4 neutropenia (one patient), and sepsis and grade 3 anorexia/fatigue (one patient), were seen in two of four patients treated with decitabine 135 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC 5. Dose limiting toxicity comprising neutropenic sepsis (one patient) and grade 3 fatigue (one patient) was seen in two of 10 patients treated at decitabine 90 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC 6. Decitabine induced dose-dependent, reversible demethylation in peripheral-blood cells (PBCs) maximally at day 10. Furthermore, decitabine 90 mg/m2 induced demethylation of the MAGE1A CpG island in PBCs, buccal cells, and tumor biopsies, as well as elevation of HbF expression.

Conclusion

Decitabine can be combined safely with carboplatin at a dose and schedule that causes epigenetic changes equivalent to or greater than that observed in mice with carboplatin-sensitized xenografts. The recommended dose/schedule for phase II trials is decitabine 90 mg/m2 (day 1) followed by carboplatin AUC 6 (day 8) every 28 days.
Degradable Network Polymers Based on Di(meth)acrylates
Authors: Matsukawa Daisaku , Okamura Haruyuki , Shirai Masamitsu
Published: October 2007

Degradable di(meth)acrylates were synthesized. Di(meth)acrylates were polymerizable by both photo-irradiation and thermal treatment to form insoluble networks. The networks were decomposed by photo-assisted thermolysis. The decomposed networks were completely soluble in solvents.
Development of an Oxygen Sensor Based on Visual Observation of Luminescence Color Change
Authors: Katoh Ryuzi , Nakamura Masayuki , Sasaki Yaeko , Furube Akihiro , Yokoyama Toshiro , Nanjo Hiroshi
Published: October 2007

With oxygen sensors based on luminescence quenching, the intensity or lifetime of the luminescence has to be measured precisely with a photodetector coupled with an electronic circuit. Thus, practical application of such sensors is limited by the photodetection systems. We propose here a new type of oxygen sensor based on visual observation of luminescence color change. In our sensor, red luminescence was observed under oxygen-free conditions, and the color changed to blue at 5% oxygen content.
Hydrophobization of Metal Surfaces by Covalent Grafting of Aromatic Layer via Aryldiazonium Chemistry and Their Application in the Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Authors: Pan Qinmin , Wang Min , Chen Weitao
Published: October 2007

Superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared on iron and zinc plates by means of displacement deposition of copper and subsequent attachment of aromatic layers via diazonium chemistry.
Adsorption Mechanism of Selenite (Se4+) by Redox within Condensed-tannin Gel under Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid Solution
Authors: Kim Yeon-Ho , Ogawara Youhei , Ogata Takeshi , Nakano Yoshio
Published: October 2007

Se4+ is adsorbed and retained as a reduced elemental Se0 on tannin gel network through redox reaction mechanism in very strong hydrochloric acid solution.
Asymmetric Bis(alkoxycarbonylation) Reaction of Cyclic Olefins Catalyzed by Palladium in the Presence of Copper(I) Triflate
Authors: Aratani Takahiro , Tahara Kenji , Takeuchi Susumu , Ukaji Yutaka , Inomata Katsuhiko
Published: October 2007

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric bis(alkoxycarbonylation) reaction of cyclic olefins in the presence of copper(I) triflate was achieved by using a chiral bioxazoline ligand under normal pressure of carbon monoxide and oxygen to give the corresponding optically active cis-dicarboxylates with enantioselectivities up to 94% ee. The carbonylated product was well applied to the synthesis of a biologically active hexahydrobenz[e]isoindole derivative.
Stability of oleander extract and oleandrin in sera stored in plastic serum separator tubes
Authors: Dasgupta Amitava , White Dollett
Published: October 2007

Introduction: Oleander poisoning is common in the southern parts of the United States as well as part of Europe and South East Asia. The fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for digoxin cross-reacts with oleandrin, the major poison of oleander extract and can be used for rapid detection of oleander poisoning. However, for medicolegal investigation, the presence of oleandrin should be confirmed by a more sophisticated analytical technique such as liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry. We studied stability of oleander extract as well as oleandrin in serum samples stored in Becton Dickinson plastic serum separator tubes (SSTs) by comparing values obtained in parallel specimens stored in plain glass tubes and in red-topped plastic tubes.

Method: Oleander leaves were extracted using absolute ethanol, and drug-free serum pools were supplemented with oleander extract or ethanolic solution of pure oleandrin. Aliquots of the supplemented pools were then stored in plain glass tubes, red-topped plastic tubes or SSTs and the stability of oleander extract or oleandrin in sera were studied by the FPIA digoxin assay for varying times up to seven days.

Results: We observed no statistically significant change in apparent digoxin concentrations in specimens stored in SSTs even after seven days of storage compared to original values observed in the supplemented serum pools.

Conclusions: Specimens can be stored in SSTs for up to seven days prior to analysis of oleandrin concentration.
Role of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and glomerular basement membrane antibodies in the diagnosis and monitoring of systemic vasculitides
Authors: Sinclair David , Stevens Judith M
Published: October 2007

Systemic vasculitis, although rare, is often diagnosed late and long after the onset of symptoms. The small vessel vasculitides are recognized clinically by their multisystem presentation, markers of inflammation and evidence for an acute glomerulonephritis (GN), with the most apparent organ involved directing referral to secondary care. Routine laboratory tests are usually non-specific in systemic vasculitis but the use of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies can aid diagnosis, treatment and monitoring decisions. These antibodies are detected and quantified by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), usually in combination for ANCA, and ELISA systems (or direct IIF on kidney biopsy) for GBM antibodies. The presence or absence of ANCA does not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of systemic vasculitis but negative and positive predictive values will be strongly influenced by clinical presentation. Various large studies have been unable to conclude that following serial ANCA titres has great clinical utility in each case but each patient must be considered on its own merits; for example the reappearance of ANCA in a patient who was rendered ANCA negative following treatment is more likely to indicate relapse. The adoption of consensus guidelines that direct testing towards patients with rapidly progressive GN, pulmonary haemorrhage, persistent and destructive ear, nose and upper airways problems, such as subglottic tracheal stenosis, a retro-orbital mass and cutaneous vasculitis with systemic features or peripheral neuropathy, will greatly increase the clinical utility and positive predictive value of these tests.
The impact of newborn hearing screening on communication development
Authors: Fitzpatrick Elizabeth , Durieux-Smith Andrée , Eriks-Brophy Alice , Olds Janet , Gaines Robin
Published: October 2007

Objective: Universal newborn hearing screening has become standard practice in many countries. The primary goal of this study was to assess the impact of early identification of permanent childhood hearing loss on oral communication development.

Setting: Participants were recruited from three clinical programmes in two cities in the province of Ontario, Canada. The study sample was born during two consecutive periods of newborn hearing screening. The first period, prior to 2002, was targeted on high-risk infants only, and the second, from 2002, included both high- and standard-risk infants (universal newborn hearing screening – UNHS). All children were enrolled in rehabilitation programmes focused on oral language development.

Methods: In this multicentre observational study, 65 children under the age of five years with onset of hearing loss before six months of age, 26 identified through systematic newborn screening (14 through targeted screening and 12 through UNHS) and 39 without screening, were assessed with an extensive battery of child- and parent-administered speech and language measures. The degree of hearing loss ranged from mild to profound with 22 children in the mild, moderate and moderately severe categories and 43 in the severe and profound categories. Data are reported for the three-year study period.

Results: The screened group of children was identified at a median age of 6.6 (interquartile range, 3.0–8.2) months and children referred from sources other than newborn screening were diagnosed at a median age of 16.5 (interquartile range, 10.2–29.0) months. Assessment of oral communication development showed no significant difference between the screened and unscreened groups. The communication outcomes for children identified before 12 months of age did not differ from those of later identified children.

Conclusions: Systematic screening of newborn hearing results in earlier identification and intervention for children with permanent hearing loss. Superior language outcome following newborn screening was not demonstrable in the setting of this study.
Improving patient services by alternative prescribing: experience with radioiodine treatment
Authors: Singh Rajiv , Aitken Mark
Published: October 2007

Background: Improvements in health service provision need not be costly and indeed may save money. Administration of radio iodine (131I) to patients with thyrotoxicosis in the UK is often delayed because few endocrinologists have appropriate Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) certification. Hence referral must be made to an oncologist. We tried to reduce the time to treatment by acquiring an appropriate licence for an endocrinologist and hence eliminating need for further referral.

Methods: An observational study of 414 doses of 131I administered to 353 patients for benign thyroid disorders at a district general hospital by either endocrinologist or oncologist. After decision to treat had been made, the time taken for treatment to be given was compared between the groups.

Results: An endocrinologist licensed to prescribe 131I reduced the time taken from referral to administration of 131I from 28 to 12 days ( P < 0.001) compared with oncologists. A further group seen by another endocrinologist and then referred to the licensed endocrinologist also had their delay reduced to 19 days. Treatment was administered within three weeks in 88% of treatments by the endocrinologist, 62% by the non-licensed endocrinologist and only 28% by oncologists.

Conclusions: Improving treatment times for patients were achieved at no extra cost and indeed freed up time for oncologists. Encouraging alternative means of delivering services can result in not only better services but also in cost savings. As certification is simple, endocrinologists should be encouraged to deliver 131I themselves rather than devolving care to other practitioners.
Health information Websites: characteristics of US users by race and ethnicity
Authors: Miller E A , West D M , Wasserman M
Published: October 2007

We conducted a national public opinion survey of adults aged 18 years or older in the continental US to determine their use of health Websites. Of the 928 individuals contacted, 868 (94%) reported their race/ethnicity. More non-Hispanic Whites reported using the Internet (34%) than African Americans (31%) and Hispanics (20%). We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios describing the relationship between Website usage and covariates across the racial/ethnic subgroups. Whereas better perceived health was associated with greater Website use among Hispanics and Whites, stronger health literacy was associated with greater use among Hispanics. No African American or Hispanic respondent aged 65 years or older reported going online. The relationship between education and use was more than twice as strong for African Americans and Hispanics than other groups. That some minority groups are less likely to use the World Wide Web for health information may further compound existing disparities. One place where this problem may be addressed is in the nation's schools.
Low-cost printing of computerised tomography (CT) images where there is no dedicated CT camera
Authors: Tabari Abdulkadir M
Published: October 2007

Many developing countries still rely on conventional hard copy images to transfer information among physicians. We have developed a low-cost alternative method of printing computerised tomography (CT) scan images where there is no dedicated camera. A digital camera is used to photograph images from the CT scan screen monitor. The images are then transferred to a PC via a USB port, before being printed on glossy paper using an inkjet printer. The method can be applied to other imaging modalities like ultrasound and MRI and appears worthy of emulation elsewhere in the developing world where resources and technical expertise are scarce.
A trial of telecare for supporting care to the elderly in Liverpool
Authors: Reeves Andrew A , Barnes Nigel M , Mizutani Tom , Brown Steve J
Published: October 2007

A pilot telecare system was trialled in Liverpool. It was used to support the provision of care to 21 of the city council's elderly and frail social services clients. A typical installation consisted of about 20 wireless, ambient sensors in the client's home. A home gateway device ran alerting algorithms designed to learn the normal patterns of user behaviour and to identify deviations from this in real-time. When deviations were detected, social service delivery teams were alerted to a possible cause for concern. The pilot service ran for about 30 months and included a period of examination by independent evaluators. The evaluation found that overall the people who used the service – both users and carers – were overwhelmingly pleased with it and viewed it as a great success.
E-health and diabetes care
Authors: Ekroos Nora , Jalonen Kari
Published: October 2007

A study was designed to develop e-health knowledge in Finland, and create quantitative evidence of the benefits of e-health for productivity in the health-care process. First, a literature review was conducted. Then a multiple case study methodology was employed. This involves an interview study and a quantitative analysis of process data in order to understand the primary care processes concerning diabetes. Based on the results from the literature review, e-health has the potential to provide evidence-based, interactive tools to empower patient self-management, enhance practice/provider efficiency and work flow, and improve patient-provider communication. The effects of e-health in chronic disease management seem to be positive. Research is needed in order to evaluate the most efficient methods of handling routine communication and basic care online. We believe that e-health based services will offer effective ways of managing chronic diseases in future.
Lifestyle monitoring as a predictive tool in telecare
Authors: Hanson Julienne , Osipoviĉ Dorota , Hine Nick , Amaral Telmo , Curry Richard , Barlow James
Published: October 2007

Six people with multiple health problems living in an extra care housing scheme for older people with vision impairment agreed to take part in a telecare trial. An average of 14.8 sensors was installed in each of the flats. The monitoring period began in January 2006 and lasted for 10 months. The data acquired by the sensors installed in each flat was transmitted from the home unit to a central computer. Four interviews were conducted with each participant. Halfway through the study we created a number of case studies of sensor activity at the time of known events in the lives of the participants, together with an attempt to interpret these patterns of activity with the benefit of available contextual information. Although our investigation showed that sensors are capable of identifying some changes in daily routines at the time of important events, the interpretation of such changes requires a large amount of contextual information and the involvement of participants themselves. Various technical and operational difficulties will need to be resolved before it will be possible to use lifestyle monitoring predictively.
Diagnostic decision support in ophthalmology
Authors: Odufuwa T O Bola , Solebo Lola , Low Sancy
Published: October 2007

Isabel is a Web-based, diagnostic decision support tool designed to provide a differential diagnosis of a patient's condition for interpretation by a qualified health-care professional. We investigated the accuracy of the Isabel system in ophthalmic primary care. A total of 100 case histories were prospectively collected from ophthalmic primary care clinic records. The patient demographics and clinical features of each case were then entered into the Isabel system, and the results generated by the decision support tool for each case were compared with the diagnosis reached by the ophthalmic team. Of the 100 cases in the dataset, there was no matching diagnosis in the first 2 pages of Isabel results in 40 cases. Of the 60 cases in which there was a matching diagnosis on the first 2 pages of results, 31 had a >50% match between the terms of the query and the Isabel diagnosis reminder system's database. It remains to be established whether this is high enough to be clinically useful in a practice setting. Inclusion of specific ophthalmic knowledge would probably improve the accuracy of the Isabel clinical diagnostic decision support system.
Review of the use of telemedicine in South America
Authors: Keane Margaret Geraldine
Published: October 2007

Specialist health care in South America is based largely in the main cities. However, patients often live at great distances from their nearest hospital and transport links are often poor. A Medline database search was conducted which identified 39 peer-reviewed articles reporting the use of telemedicine in South America. Telemedicine had been used by 20 individual projects in seven different South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) and a wide variety of specialties. The majority of groups concluded that telemedicine was an economically viable and beneficial way of supplying good specialist health care throughout South America. However, only two groups (10%) had implemented a sustainable telemedicine service. In future, with backing from governments, the wider use of telemedicine can be expected in providing medical education, as well as in the assessment and treatment of patients.
Access to efficient health services for tourists - an evaluation of the economic benefits
Authors: Schemken Hans-Willi , Au Heike , Dobrev Alexander , Stroetmann Karl A , Jones Tom , Stroetmann Veli N
Published: October 2007

In 2003, a large German public health insurance fund launched the GesundheitsCard Europa (GCE) or Health Card Europe. Staff in the 14 participating hospitals along the Dutch and Belgium coast could use a multilingual Website to confirm immediately the insurance status of patients presenting a GCE. Reimbursement was speeded up by using the Web portal in co-operation with the insurance partners. A thorough analysis of the economic performance of the GCE service, accounting for all stakeholders was conducted. The number of paper forms issued by the insurer for travel to The Netherlands fell from about 200,000 annually to about 40,000 per year. In 2004, three years after the project started, cumulative benefits exceeded cumulative costs. The investment was about €500,000 and the annual running costs were about €150,000. In comparison, the overall annual net benefits were about €450,000. The GCE is a proprietary, but generalisable solution to a specific European problem: low acceptance of health insurance certificates.
Design of a trial of Internet-based self-management for diabetes
Authors: Armstrong Natalie , Powell John , Hearnshaw Hilary , Dale Jeremy
Published: October 2007

We designed a study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of an Internet-based self-management system for diabetes. The Virtual Clinic allows a patient to communicate with health professionals, find information and participate in peer-to-peer discussions. Three focus groups were conducted with patients, and there were six interviews with health-care professionals and an expert workshop to gather consensus. All the people who were consulted were enthusiastic about the Virtual Clinic concept and perceived clear benefits in terms of improved self-management. The principal study design problems were: (1) choice and design of intervention; (2) outcome measures; (3) how much of the study is Internet-based; (4) data security and confidentiality. Our results suggest that a well-designed intervention study is possible. It will allow the evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention in the context of the UK National Health Service.
Methods in clinical ethics: a time for eclectic pragmatism?
Authors: Hurst Samia A , Chevrolet Jean-Claude , Loew François
Published: October 2007

Background Although methods proposed for the conduct of ethics consultation tend to be viewed as competing approaches, they may in fact function in a complementary manner.

Methods We describe the experience of ethics consultation in two ethics committees at the University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.

Results Both committees provide case consultation by a multi-disciplinary team of committee members, but with different processes. These differences in process do not necessarily lead to differences in outcome.

Discussion Different methods of ethics consultation are not mutually exclusive, and can co-exist within the same institution. The practical application of one method of ethics consultation can lead to substantial variations in process between different groups of consultants.

Conclusion Despite the importance of clarifying theoretical groundings, and consultation and deliberation processes, in ethics consultation, choosing between different processes may not be pressing. To assist these choices, exploration of the practical strengths and weaknesses of different methods will be necessary to assist clinical ethicists, and clinical ethics committees, in acquiring a flexible and evidence-based set of approaches to their work.
Vioxx and other pharmaceutical product withdrawals: ethical issues in ensuring the integrity of drug and medical device research, development and commercialization
Authors: Phua K L , Achike F I
Published: October 2007

The Vioxx drug recall and other cases of withdrawals of approved pharmaceutical products as a result of reports of serious harm to users indicate that there are many problems associated with the process of getting these products to the end user the ordinary person in the street. The problems include those related to drug/medical device research and development, clinical trials, presentation and publication of research results, approval by regulatory authorities, preparation of clinical practice guidelines, marketing of products by commercial companies and post-marketing surveillance. This article discusses threats to the integrity of each of these processes and argues that the steady stream of drug recalls indicates the existence of a systemic problem. It concludes with a discussion of possible solutions to these problems.
Why parents have no duty to select 'the best' children
Authors: Scott R
Published: October 2007

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is available where there is a 'significant risk of a serious genetic condition being present in the embryo', the criteria established by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and Human Genetics Commission (HGC). There are a number of controversies about this practice, notably to what extent people can agree on the term 'serious' and whether 'serious' should only mean 'serious for the possible child' or whether it might also, or sometimes instead, mean 'serious for the prospective parents'. This paper moves into different controversial territory by considering the scope of reproductive autonomy beyond selection against serious genetic conditions. Here I consider the argument that parents might actually be morally required to select children with what are sometimes called 'enhanced' features or traits to select 'the best' as this has been described. Reflection on the realities and costs of an attempt to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) and PGD to select 'the best' possible child rebuts the argument in favour of any such 'maximizing' duty on behalf of prospective parents.
A Model of Consumer Learning for Service Quality and Usage
Authors: Iyengar Raghuram , Ansari Asim , Gupta Sunil
Published: October 2007

In many services (e.g., the wireless service industry), consumers choose a service plan according to their expected consumption. In such situations, consumers experience two forms of uncertainty. First, they may be uncertain about the quality of their service provider and can learn about it after repeated use of the service. Second, they may be uncertain about their own usage of minutes and learn about it after observing their actual consumption. The authors propose a model to capture this dual learning process while accounting for the nonlinearity of the pricing scheme used in wireless services. The results show that both quality learning and quantity learning are important. The authors conduct several policy experiments to capture the effects of consumer learning, pricing, and service quality on customer lifetime value (CLV). They find that consumer learning can result in a win–win situation for both consumers and firm; consumers leave less minutes on the table, and the firm experiences an increase in overall CLV. For example, the authors find that there is a 35% increase (approximately $75) in overall CLV with consumer learning than without. The key driver of this result is the change in the retention rate with and without learning.
Brand-Level Effects of Stockkeeping Unit Reductions
Authors: Zhang Jie , Krishna Aradhna
Published: October 2007

When retailers make product assortment changes by eliminating certain stockkeeping units (SKUs), how does this affect sales of individual brands? This is the main question the authors address in this article. Using data from an online retailer that implemented a permanent systemwide SKU reduction (SR) program, the authors investigate how the program affected various components of purchase behavior for individual brands. They find substantial variations in the SR effects across brands, categories, and consumers. They explore possible drivers for these differences and find that higher-market-share, higher-priced, and more frequently promoted brands tend to gain share and that reduction in the number of sizes, reduction in the number of SKUs, and change in SKU share in the category are important in affecting change in a brand's purchase share after the SR. They also find that SRs lead to an increase in category purchase incidence and quantity for highly state-dependent consumers and frequent buyers but a decrease in category purchase and quantity for mildly state-dependent consumers and infrequent buyers. In addition, SRs tend to cause more changes in brand choice probabilities among consumers of lower state dependence and higher price and promotion sensitivity. These findings are of importance both to retailers wanting to make product assortment changes and to manufacturers affected by them.
An Econometric Model of Location and Pricing in the Gasoline Market
Authors: Chan Tat Y. , Padmanabhan V. , Seetharaman P.B.
Published: October 2007

The authors propose an econometric model of both the geographic locations of gasoline retailers in Singapore and price competition among retailers conditional on their geographic locations. Although market demand for gasoline is not observed, the authors are able to infer the effects of such demand from stations’ locations and pricing decisions using available data on local market-level demographics. Using the proposed location model, which is based on the assumption of social welfare maximization by a policy planner, the authors find that local potential gasoline demand depends positively on the local demographic characteristics of the neighborhood. Using the proposed pricing model, which is based on the assumption of Bertrand competition between retail chains, the authors find that retail margins for gasoline are approximately 21%. The authors also find that consumers are willing to travel up to a mile for a savings of $.03 per liter. Using the estimates of the proposed econometric model, the authors answer policy questions pertaining to a recent merger between two firms in the industry. Answering these questions has important policy implications for both gasoline firms and policy makers in Singapore.
Book Reviews
Authors: HORST HEATHER A.
Published: October 2007

True‐Born Maroons. Kenneth M. Bilby. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xix + 501 pp., foreword, figures, photographs, list of narrators and locations, notes, glossary, references, index.
Book Reviews
Authors: O'DONNELL MARY ANN
Published: October 2007

Desiring China: Experiments in Neoliberalism, Sexuality, and Public Culture. Lisa. Rofel. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2007. ix + 251 pp., references, index.
Book Reviews
Authors: SIU LOK C. D.
Published: October 2007

The Chinese in Silicon Valley: Globalization, Social Networks, and Ethnic Identity. Bernard Wong. Boulder, CO: Rowman and Littlefield Press, 2006. vii + 267 pp., tables, glossary, bibliography, index.
Review essay: Violence, language, and everyday life
Authors: MARTIN EMILY
Published: October 2007

Life and Words: Violence and the Descent into the Ordinary. Veena Das. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007. 296 pp., maps, tables, notes, acknowledgments, index.

Living with Violence: An Anthropology of Events and Everyday Life. Roma Chatterji, and Deepak Mehta. London: Routledge, 2007. 204 pp., bibliography, index.
Ethnography of Rural North America
Authors: Adams Jane
Published: October 2007

This article surveys the history of anthropological research in rural North America in the 20th and 21st centuries. Anthropologists have studied rural North America since at least the 1920s, when the Rockefeller Foundation funded SSRC spurred inter‐disciplinary research on a range of social issues, developing the “community studies” approach. Anthropologists in the U.S. Department of Agriculture were integral to New Deal rural studies. After WWII, funding dried up and aside from studies in the peripheral regions of Appalachia and the Ozarks, economically‐driven positivist studies dominated the rural social sciences. Beginning in the 1960s, with rural America radically transformed by the massive post‐WWII capitalization of agriculture, ethnographers used new research paradigms in ecological, feminist, political economic, interpretive, and historical anthropology to again study North American farming and rural communities.
Queering the Disaster: A Presidential Session
Authors: Leap William L. , Lewin Ellen , Wilson Natasha
Published: October 2007

The 2007 SANA meetings on “Unnatural Disasters” used Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath as the focus of its scheduled sessions, and for scholarly and activist reflection on this theme. As the planning for the conference unfolded, we recognized that a very important component of the Katrina experience, related to our own work in North American anthropology, needed to be part of the conference program. New Orleans is a city with a long‐standing queer counter‐culture, many of whose participants are black and many of whom were hardest hit by the hurricane and flooding. We organized a session “Queering the Disaster,” designed to document the queer presence in the Katrina experience, and, thereby draw attention to the need to include attention to marginal sexualities in anthropological studies of unnatural disasters
Locating the Voices of the Sterilized
Authors: KLUCHIN REBECCA M.
Published: October 2007

Scholars have been studying eugenics and sterilization for years, but only recently have some begun to examine these issues from the point of view of those sterilized. This is in large part because so few records containing the voices of the sterilized exist or are accessible to scholars. This essay examines my own effort to recover the voices of women sterilized in the post–baby boom United States from the “bottom up” and includes my own experience researching and writing Fit to Be Tied?: Sterilization and Reproductive Rights in America, 1960–1984. It represents the beginning of a discussion about locating and using sources containing the voices of the sterilized and working with the limitations inherent to them.
Exhibiting Eugenics: Response and Resistance to a Hidden History
Authors: BRAVE RALPH , SYLVA KATHRYN
Published: October 2007

Human Plants, Human Harvest: The Hidden History of California Eugenics is the first-ever exhibition on the history of eugenics in California. The disappearance of this history for half a century, and the consequent absence of a “collective memory,” were the primary factors determining the exhibit's structure and content. Responses to the exhibit confirmed that most visitors “never knew” about this history. The exhibit is described in some detail, with selected imagery from the exhibit reproduced. After the initial exhibition, responses of other museums and foundation officials revealed a continuing resistance to this history being publicly displayed, though the sources of resistance varied.
Resistência de Biomphalaria glabrata à infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni: variações no período pré-patente e na compatibilidade
Authors: Guimarães Carlos Tito , Soares Delza de Moura , Andrade Zilton de Araújo , Souza Cecília Pereira de
Published: October 2007

Biomphalaria glabrata de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, criada no laboratório, apresenta 90% de taxa de infecção com 20 miracídios da cepa LE, autóctone. O período pré-patente normal varia de 5 a 7 semanas enquanto 5 a 10% dos moluscos expostos não eliminam cercárias. Os descendentes de exemplares negativos foram novamente submetidos à infecção individual com 20 miracídios. A média de infecção da F14 a F20 foi de 43,6%. Cortes histológicos de moluscos da F12, F14 e F15 mostraram reações teciduais nos exemplares eliminando menos de 10 cercárias. Um período pré-patente prolongado, 17 a 32 semanas, foi observado em 35 (17,9%) dos 195 exemplares infectados. Os índices de cercárias da F12, F13 e F15 baixaram de extremamente compatíveis (classe VI) para muito compatíveis e compatíveis (classes V e III) mostrando a compatibilidade menor dos moluscos selecionados.
Mobilidade de íons em solo ácido com aplicação de calcário, ácido orgânico e material vegetal em superfície
Authors: Moraes Milton Ferreira , Cantarella Heitor , Quaggio José Antonio , Coscione Aline Reneé
Published: October 2007

Há controvérsias quanto à eficiência da correção da acidez da camada subsuperficial pela aplicação de calcário na presença de materiais vegetais de plantas de cobertura e faltam informações sobre os mecanismos envolvidos no processo. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar a contribuição dos materiais vegetais de plantas de cobertura, com ênfase nos seus conteúdos de ácidos orgânicos de baixa massa molar e nutrientes solúveis, sobre a mobilização, no perfil do solo, dos produtos da dissolução do calcário aplicado em superfície. Foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos em laboratório, usando colunas de PVC de 30 cm de altura com amostras deformadas de um Latossolo Vermelho textura muito argilosa. Os tratamentos constituíram-se da aplicação isolada ou conjunta de calcário para atingir 80 % de saturação por bases (6,1 t ha-1) e de materiais vegetais (20 t ha-1) de nabo forrageiro e aveia-preta, bem como de soluções de ácidos orgânicos e sais neutros aproximadamente equivalentes ao conteúdo dessas espécies. A calagem isolada ou em associação com os materiais vegetais promoveu a redução da acidez somente na camada superficial (0-8 cm). A baixa taxa de recuperação dos ácidos orgânicos adicionados (< 7,2 %) indica que essas substâncias presentes na massa seca do nabo forrageiro foram rapidamente degradadas por microrganismos ou adsorvidas aos colóides do solo, tendo pouca influência na mobilização de cátions. Parte substancial do efeito sobre a mobilização de íons pela aplicação de material vegetal de nabo forrageiro se deveu à composição química do material, em vista da alta solubilidade em água dos cátions (65 a 71 %) e ânions (84 %). Além disso, a solução de sais foi o tratamento mais eficiente para deslocar o Al do solo para as soluções percoladas. A adição de materiais vegetais teve pouca influência na mobilização no perfil do solo dos produtos da dissolução do calcário aplicado em superfície.
Interação entre resistência genética parcial e fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja
Authors: Silva Valdirene Aparecida Stabile , Juliatti Fernando Cezar , Silva Luís Antônio Stabile
Published: October 2007

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a interação de diferentes cultivares de soja com fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática, em duas épocas de semeadura. O experimento foi realizado em condições de campo, de setembro de 2005 a maio de 2006. Foram analisadas as características: incidência, severidade (porcentagem de área foliar infectada e nota visual da parcela), número de pústulas por centímetro quadrado, peso de mil sementes e produtividade. A área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD) foi calculada para os dados da doença. Foram observados efeitos significativos das cultivares, dos fungicidas, e da interação entre esses fatores, tanto nos valores de AACPD quanto no peso de mil sementes e produtividade. As cultivares IAC-100, Potenza e UFUS-Impacta apresentaram, em ambas as épocas de semeadura, a presença de resistência parcial à ferrugem asiática, evidenciada pelos valores baixos da AACPD. O fungicida do grupo dos triazóis (cyproconazole) e sua mistura com um fungicida do grupo das estrobilurinas (azoxystrobina e cyproconazole) apresentam controle eficiente sobre a ferrugem asiática.
Doxa e crença entre os antropólogos
Authors: Sigaud Lygia
Published: October 2007

Para explicar como uma interpretação se torna hegemônica e como se reproduzem os fenômenos de crença coletiva, o artigo centra foco na recepção do Ensaio sobre o dom, de Marcel Mauss, e dos diários de Malinowski. A comparação entre os casos permite examinar os fundamentos do crédito que se atribui a certos intérpretes, bem como a dinâmica da estruturação e da difusão de uma doxa.
Amostragem descritiva no apreçamento de opções européias através de simulação Monte Carlo: o efeito da dimensionalidade e da probabilidade de exercício no ganho de precisão
Authors: Saliby Eduardo , Gouvêa Sergio Luiz Medeiros Proença de , Marins Jaqueline Terra Moura
Published: October 2007

O objetivo deste trabalho é o de avaliar o efeito da dimensionalidade e da probabilidade de exercício de uma opção de compra européia, no ganho de precisão obtido com o uso da Amostragem Descritiva no apreçamento destas opções através de Simulação Monte Carlo, em lugar da abordagem tradicional da Amostragem Aleatória Simples. Após confirmar a ausência de viés nas estimativas, sua precisão foi avaliada pelo erro padrão destas estimativas. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a eficiência estatística das duas técnicas não é afetada pelo aumento da dimensionalidade do problema, não sofrendo perda de precisão com esta variação. No entanto, em relação ao preço de exercício, embora a Amostragem Descritiva tenha se mostrado mais eficiente do que a Amostragem Aleatória Simples, observou-se uma redução do ganho de precisão à medida que a probabilidade de exercício diminui. Embora os resultados aqui apresentados se atenham ao caso particular de uma opção européia, há evidências de que o mesmo tipo de comportamento em relação à dimensionalidade do problema e à probabilidade de exercício também se manifeste nos demais tipos de opção.
Um modelo de otimização para o problema integrado de dimensionamento de lotes e programação da produção em fábricas de refrigerantes
Authors: Toledo Claudio F. M. , França Paulo M. , Morabito Reinaldo , Kimms Alf
Published: October 2007

O presente artigo apresenta, modela matematicamente e soluciona um problema multi-nível integrado de dimensionamento de lotes e programação da produção em um ambiente industrial com máquinas paralelas que apresentam restrições de capacidade, custos e tempos de preparo dependentes da seqüência. O problema é motivado pela realidade encontrada em alguns setores industriais, em particular o de fabricação e engarrafamento de bebidas. Nesse tipo de indústria a produção envolve dois níveis interdependentes com decisões relativas à armazenagem das matérias-primas e ao engarrafamento das bebidas. As diversas matérias-primas são armazenadas em tanques de onde escoam para as linhas de engarrafamento. O desafio é determinar simultaneamente o dimensionamento e a programação de custo mínimo das matérias-primas nos tanques e o envasamento de bebidas nas linhas, onde tempos e custos de trocas dependem do tipo de item previamente armazenado e envasado. É proposto um modelo matemático inteiro-misto que introduz diversas restrições combinadas que até então costumavam ser tratadas separadamente na literatura. A não existência de testes com modelos similares nos obrigou a criar um conjunto de instâncias para avaliar o modelo e as técnicas de solução propostas. As instâncias foram solucionadas otimamente por meio do pacote computacional GAMS/Cplex. A solução exata se mostrou viável apenas em instâncias de pequena dimensão devido à complexidade do problema em estudo. Os resultados computacionais obtidos pelo GAMS/Cplex são apresentados e analisados.
O caráter religioso e profano das festas populares: Corumbá, passagem do século XIX para o XX
Authors: Souza João Carlos de
Published: October 2007

Neste artigo, analisamos as características das festas populares de São João e do Carnaval em Corumbá (MS, antigo MT), na passagem do século XIX para o XX. A população pobre vivia a cidade à sua moda, produzindo lazer e festas, espaços de intensa sociabilidade. Os rituais que as constituíam situavam-se entre os universos religioso e profano, o que conferia maior autonomia para a população operar nesses espaços. Assim, elementos simbólicos, como a água e o fogo, sofreram re-atualizações (re-significações), consideradas supersticiosas pela Igreja Católica.
Padrões alimentares em mudança: a cozinha italiana no interior paulista
Authors: Oliveira Flávia Arlanch Martins de
Published: October 2007

Este artigo analisa como, com a chegada do imigrante italiano ao interior de São Paulo quando da grande imigração que se deu a partir de meados da década de 1880, teve início uma troca de hábitos alimentares, tanto em meio a esses imigrantes como na sociedade hospedeira. Para tanto, restringimos nosso estudo à cidade de Jaú, uma vez que esse município, no período em questão, recebeu um representativo fluxo de imigrantes italianos.
Historiadores e cronistas e a paisagem da colônia Brasil
Authors: Corrêa Dora Shellard
Published: October 2007

Este artigo discute a paisagem da colônia Brasil no primeiro século da colonização. Analisamos as descrições da paisagem elaboradas por Capistrano de Abreu e aprimoradas por Caio Prado Júnior, as quais ainda são reproduzidas pela historiografia nacional. Comparamos esses quadros com as narrativas feitas por cronistas do século XVI e início do XVII. Objetivamos mostrar através do levantamento de dados sobre as formas indígenas de ocupação e utilização da terra e de seus recursos - os quais conformavam o cenário visualizado e relatado pelos cronistas - que estamos diante de uma zona de fronteira.
O Compadre Governador: redes de compadrio em Vila Rica de fins do século XVIII
Authors: Venâncio Renato Pinto , Sousa Maria José Ferro de , Pereira Maria Teresa Gonçalves
Published: October 2007

Analisamos neste artigo as relações políticas e sociais formalizadas no sacramento de batismo entre os membros da elite vilarriquenha, no período de 1777-1789. Para tanto, escolhemos os registros de batismo da paróquia de Nossa Senhora do Pilar do Ouro Preto e de suas capelas filiais, como testemunhos do estabelecimento e renovação dos laços de compadrio.