bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Management Performance a Factor in Municipal Bond Credit Ratings? The Case of Texas School Districts
Authors: DENISON DWIGHT V. , YAN WENLI , ZHAO ZHIRONG (JERRY)
Published: November 2007

Municipal bond ratings are an important determinant of interest costs that a bond issuer must pay. The three major bond rating firms profess that economic and management factors are considered in assigning a bond rating. The management component is of particular interest to public administrators because they can exert more direct control over management factors. Management factors have not been studied empirically in the literature because management performance is generally difficult to quantify. However, the public education sector has seen advances in performance measures and at the same time has increasingly relied on municipal bonds to finance construction. The ordered probit estimation provides support that management performance, as measured in the districts performance on standardized test scores and success in student college admission rates, does influence Texas school district bond credit ratings.
Determinants of Pay‐as‐You‐Go Financing of Capital Projects: Evidence from the States
Authors: WANG WEN , HOU YILIN , DUNCOME WILLIAM
Published: November 2007

Although states have long practiced pay‐as‐you‐go in financing their capital projects as a supplement to debt, academia has paid scarce attention to pay‐go financing. This study fills in the niche by providing empirical evidence on what determines the use of pay‐go in financing capital projects. It develops a model that considers the preferences of both voters and politicians when they make capital financing decisions in a given institutional setting. The empirical results suggest that the use of pay‐go is affected by a state's income level, its economic conditions, the presence of a divided government, as well as its budgetary institutions.
More of a Bridge than a Gap: Gender Differences in Arab‐American Political Engagement*
Authors: Read Jen'nan Ghazal
Published: November 2007

Objective.Research on immigrant women's economic and cultural adaptation has increasingly come to the fore of immigration research, yet relatively little remains known about their engagement in the political arena. This study examines this question among Arab Muslims, a group that has been at the center of much public debate but little scholarly discourse.

Methods.Using nationally representative data on Arab Muslims, this study examines gender differences in political consciousness and activity and assesses the degree to which different dimensions of religious identity contribute to differences in men's and women's attitudes and behaviors.

Results.Both women and men have high levels of political engagement, in part reflecting their relatively affluent socioeconomic positions. Men are slightly more involved than women, and this is explained by their greater participation in religious activities and higher levels of political religiosity. In contrast, subjective dimensions of religiosity—or being a devout Muslim—have no effect on political engagement.

Conclusions.Overall, there are few gender differences in Arab Muslim political engagement, suggesting that collective identity based on ethnicity and religion is more salient for the political mobilization of this group. Further, religion is not uniformly associated with political activity, varying by gender and the dimension of religious identity in question, suggesting that future research needs to focus on how different facets of religion influence U.S. political involvement.
Globalization and Political Change in the Women's Movement: The Politics of Scale and Political Empowerment in the World March of Women*
Authors: Dufour Pascale , Giraud Isabelle
Published: November 2007

Objective. The objective of the article is to show that in order to understand the ongoing transnational mobilizations of the European wing of the World March of Women (WMW) between 2000 and 2006 we also need to consider the politics of scale of the transnational social movements' mobilizations. The WMW is a transnational collective action that integrates women from grassroots organizations, labor unions, and leftist political parties in over 150 countries (approximately 6,000 groups) into a process of transnationalization of solidarities.

Method. The method is based on the analysis of internal documents of the international and European wings of the movement, interviews with key actors and militants, and direct observations over the years 1998–2005.

Results. The results are twofold: we investigate the shift in the politics of scale of the movement, from using the same scale as the political authorities with which they interact to the creation of its own scales of action (first part); we focus on the articulation of different scales of protest, showing how, by constructing networks and coalitions, actions, and demands under the WMW umbrella, grassroots women's groups are becoming empowered and are regaining political power over the definition, dissemination, and resolution of gender issues (second part).

Conclusion. The conclusion is that this specific process of empowerment helps to explain why feminist activists pursue transnationalization actions despite all the material, ideological, and relational difficulties that accompany such actions.
Risk Compensation or Risk Reduction? Seatbelts, State Laws, and Traffic Fatalities*
Authors: Houston David J. , Richardson Lilliard E.
Published: November 2007

Objective. The risk compensation hypothesis suggests that drivers enjoying greater safety will drive more recklessly and thereby impose greater risks on nonoccupants. We provide a test of the risk compensation hypothesis in the context of state seatbelt laws and belt use rates.

Methods. Fixed‐effects models with policy and demographic variables are estimated using annual state data from 1985 to 2002 to test the effect of seatbelt laws and seatbelt use rates on logged fatality rates for occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and all nonoccupants in separate models.

Results. Contrary to the risk compensation hypothesis, the results indicate that both occupants and nonoccupants enjoy greater safety due to state mandatory use laws and increased safety belt use rates.

Conclusion. Overall, seatbelt laws and the higher belt use these laws induce do not increase nonoccupant risk exposure. If anything, these laws and the accompanying increase in belt use result in safer driving behavior.
Voting for Catholic Candidates: The Evolution of a Stereotype*
Authors: McDermott Monika L.
Published: November 2007

Objectives. This article looks at the effects of candidate Catholicism on individual voters, turning the traditional inquiry into voters' religion on its head. Specifically, it hypothesizes that individuals stereotype Catholic candidates based on the voting behavior of Catholics in general, and that these stereotypes help voters make a decision in elections with Catholic candidates.

Methods. Using data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), this article argues that citizens hold stereotypes of Catholics based on actual Catholic political behavior—solidly Democratic from the 1950s to the 1970s, but trending Republican starting in the 1980s. It also tests these stereotypes with Gallup data on hypothetical Catholic candidates and analyzes, through election‐day exit polls, the impact on voters of the Catholic conversion of a sitting U.S. Senator.

Results. The data analyses strongly support the article's hypothesis, demonstrating that partisan attitudes toward hypothetical Catholic candidates shifted direction as the Catholic electorate shifted. In addition, Senator Sam Brownback's (R‐KS) conversion to Catholicism increased partisan polarization in his support—indicating a conservative shift in perceptions.

Conclusions. Candidate religion plays a role in elections. Specifically, voters stereotype candidates based on candidate religion and use this stereotyped information to help them make an electoral decision. This article demonstrates this effect for Catholicism, but other religions should evidence similar impacts.
Grandparents Responsible for Grandchildren in Native‐American Families*
Authors: Mutchler Jan E. , Baker Lindsey A. , Lee SeungAh
Published: November 2007

Objectives. The primary goal of this article is to examine factors associated with grandparent care giving within the American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) population.

Methods. Data from the 2000 Census of Population, 5% Public Use Microdata Sample, are used to evaluate a multivariate logistic regression model focusing on living with and caring for grandchildren. Particular emphasis is placed on characteristics that may reflect culturally‐based ideas about grandparents' responsibility for the care of their grandchildren.

Results. Indicators related to Native‐American identity—specifically, reporting race as AIAN only rather than mixed race, reporting tribal membership, and living in a nonmetropolitan area of an “Indian” state—increase the likelihood of being responsible for a grandchild among Native‐American singles and couples aged 45 and over.

Conclusions. Cultural and resource characteristics combine to produce high levels of grandparent care giving within the AIAN population. Inasmuch as those with lower educational and economic resources are especially likely to have responsibility for a grandchild, special attention should be directed toward ensuring adequate support for these caregivers.
Adolescent Religiosity and School Contexts*
Authors: Barrett Jennifer B. , Pearson Jennifer , Muller Chandra , Frank Kenneth A.
Published: November 2007

Objectives. Schools serve as the primary social organizations for adolescents, structuring their lives and conveying a variety of skills, norms, and values, but relatively little is known about how schools influence the development of religious belief, attitudes, and behavior during adolescence. We explore how schools' religious norms, coupled with adolescents' pursuit of social status through conformity, affect public and private religiosity.

Methods. Employing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we use multilevel modeling to examine the impact of school context on adolescents' public and private religiosity.

Results. We find that school norms are influential in shaping both public religious expressions and private devotional activities, but pursuit of social status is a motivation for change across religious contexts only of public religious activity. The effect of social status as a motivator of religious change was moderated by the strength of the adolescent's identification with the school, especially for private religiosity.

Conclusions. Schools play a key role in the social development of adolescents, and students' religious beliefs and behaviors are influenced systematically and observably by the type of religious climate within the school.
Racial Representation and U.S. Senate Apportionment*
Authors: Malhotra Neil , Raso Connor
Published: November 2007

Objectives. This research note explores whether the system of assigning each state equal representation in the U.S. Senate adversely affects racial minorities, groups that often have common political interests. We also project changes in minority representation over the next 20 years using Census data.

Methods. We develop a new method of assessing racial bias due to apportionment, which calculates the number of seats lost by groups due to equal representation, a more substantively meaningful statistic than correlational measures.

Results. We find that both African Americans and Hispanics are substantially underrepresented due to their greater presence in high‐population states as compared to in low‐population states. Whereas bias against African Americans appears to be falling, the demographic patterns of Hispanics will make them even more underrepresented in coming years.

Conclusions. These findings are especially consequential considering that malapportionment has important public policy implications, including greater per‐capita distributive benefits for smaller states. Further, given that the Senate serves as a major veto point in U.S. politics, racial bias due to equal apportionment may have a significant impact on current and future political debates relevant to minority groups.
Fatigue Damage in Ceramic Coatings From Cyclic Contact Loading With a Tangential Component
Authors: Zhang Yu , Kim Jae‐Won , Kim Joo‐Hyung , Lawn Brian R.
Published: November 2007

The role of a tangential load component in cyclic contact‐induced failure of a brittle coating layer is investigated. Tests are conducted on model bilayer systems consisting of glass plates bonded to polymeric substrates, using a spherical indenter in periodic off‐axis loading, in a water environment. The principal damage is that of a partial cone crack which forms in the wake of the contact and propagates steeply through the coating layer with continued loading. The critical number of cycles required to propagate the cone cracks through the coating is substantially reduced in off‐axis relative to axial loading, and diminishes rapidly with increasing peak load. It is confirmed that the superposition of sliding tractions at the contact can have a profoundly deleterious effect on coating lifetime.
Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis: a longitudinal clinical study
Authors: Norrsell Kerstin , Sjödell Lena
Published: November 2007

Purpose:  To carry out a longitudinal study of patients with Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis (FHU) in western Sweden and to establish the factors responsible for diagnostic delay.

Methods:  A sample of 54 patients, 51 with monocular and three with binocular FHU, were followed for periods ranging from 8 months to 15 years. Firm diagnostic criteria were set. A detailed anamnesis regarding ocular and extraocular symptoms was taken. The eyes were repeatedly examined. Toxoplasma serology was analysed. Complications were noted.

Results:  The delay between the first visit to an ophthalmologist and diagnosis was 0−26 years. The most common first symptom was floaters. Iris heterochromia was absent in 11 patients and discrete in 26. Iris atrophy (a diagnostic criterion) was easy to miss. Chorioretinal scars were found in six patients. Toxoplasma serology was positive in 18 (35%) patients. The only serious complication was glaucoma.

Conclusions:  The most important reason for delay in diagnosis of FHU is, in our opinion, failure to consider the disease as a diagnosis. This failure may occur because heterochromia is often missing or discrete, iris atrophy is easily overlooked, and vitreous opacities are common, often cause early symptoms and can explain prolonged workup and therapy. A connection with toxoplasmosis in individual cases cannot be excluded but toxoplasmosis cannot be considered a major aetiological factor. If detailed anamnesis is negative and diagnostic criteria are fulfilled, no further workup is required.
Relevance of resonance frequency analysis to evaluate dental implant stability: simulation and histomorphometrical animal experiments
Authors: Ito Yoshihiro , Sato Daisuke , Yoneda Satoshi , Ito Daisuke , Kondo Hisatomo , Kasugai Shohei
Published: November 2007

Background: Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is applied to evaluate implant stability, and the clinical relevance of this application is accepted. However, a discrepancy between resonance frequency (RF) and other parameters of implant stability such as implant insertion torque and bone mineral density at the insertion site has been reported. In addition, the relation between RF and histological implant–bone contact has not been well documented.

Purpose: To explain this discrepancy and to clarify the relation between RF and histological implant–bone contact, we conducted the present study.

Materials and methods: A hydroxyapatite‐coated implant, 4 mm diameter and 10 mm length, was used. We placed the implant in a small plastic box vertically and fixed the implant in the box with small screws at different height positions. An ‘Osstell’ transducer was mounted on the implant and RF was measured with or without loosening the screws. Twenty‐four implants were placed in the tibiae of four mini‐pigs. The animals were sacrificed 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the placement, and the RF of each implant was measured. Ground sections were prepared and implant–bone contact was histomophometrically measured.

Results: Loosening the screw at the neck region of the implant remarkably decreased RF compared with the screws of the other regions. Correlation between RF and implant–bone contact, which was measured all around the implant, was not significant (r=0.221, P=0.299). However, the correlation coefficient increased to ‘0.361’ when implant–bone contact was measured at the neck of the implant (P=0.0835), although these two parameters were not statistically correlated.

Conclusions: Although RF did not correlate with histological implant–bone contact, the present results demonstrated that a connection between the implant and bone at the neck region of the implant affects RF the most effectively, further suggesting the superiority of RFA in the process of implant treatment and the follow‐up. The present results could explain the discrepancy between RFA and other parameters of implant stability.
Knowledge of emergency management of avulsed teeth among young physicians and dentists
Authors: Abu‐Dawoud Maha , Al‐Enezi Basmah , Andersson Lars
Published: November 2007

Abstract –  This study was designed to investigate the knowledge and attitude of newly graduated physicians and dentists regarding emergency management of avulsed teeth. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. Thirty physicians and 30 dentists who graduated during the period 2000–2004 were surveyed. They all served in either hospitals or dental centres with emergency settings. All the participants that were asked were willing to participate. The majority of the physicians (83.3%) surveyed had not received information on what to do if a tooth is knocked‐out and 96.6% did not have any dental health education course during their study. In contrast, nearly all the dentists (93.3%) had received information on what to do if a tooth is knocked‐out. Regarding knowledge level, eight of the physicians (26.6%) demonstrated low knowledge while the remaining 22 (73.3%) had some knowledge; none of the physicians showed a high knowledge level. In sharp contrast, 22 dentists (78.5%) had high knowledge, six (21.4%) showed some knowledge and none demonstrated low knowledge. We conclude that emergency dental treatment is sometimes required to be provided by a physician before any dental contact. Unfortunately, the findings from this survey clearly suggest that very few physicians would provide appropriate emergency treatment. All medical staff personnel need to receive simple instructions about management of dental trauma. Most dentists had high knowledge regarding this issue; nevertheless, a few dentists, not graduated in Kuwait, were found to have limited knowledge, which needs to be improved.
Why second‐wave feminism has gone soft
Authors: Edelstein Jean
Published: November 2007

Younger generations of feminists have mistakenly focused on work‐life balance and gender‐related pay gaps rather than the hard issues of sexual violence and subjugation of women. We are now experiencing the consequences, argues Jean Edelstein
Research Article: pso@autodock: A Fast Flexible Molecular Docking Program Based on Swarm Intelligence
Authors: Namasivayam Vigneshwaran , Günther Robert
Published: November 2007

On the quest of novel therapeutics, molecular docking methods have proven to be valuable tools for screening large libraries of compounds determining the interactions of potential drugs with the target proteins. A widely used docking approach is the simulation of the docking process guided by a binding energy function. On the basis of the molecular docking program autodock, we present pso@autodock as a tool for fast flexible molecular docking. Our novel Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms varCPSO and varCPSO‐ls are suited for rapid docking of highly flexible ligands. Thus, a ligand with 23 rotatable bonds was successfully docked within as few as 100 000 computing steps (rmsd = 0.87 Å), which corresponds to only 10% of the computing time demanded by autodock. In comparison to other docking techniques as gold 3.0, dock 6.0, flexx 2.2.0, autodock 3.05, and sodock, pso@autodock provides the smallest rmsd values for 12 in 37 protein–ligand complexes. The average rmsd value of 1.4 Å is significantly lower then those obtained with the other docking programs, which are all above 2.0 Å. Thus, pso@autodock is suggested as a highly efficient docking program in terms of speed and quality for flexible peptide–protein docking and virtual screening studies.
Research Article: In vivo Evaluation of Indolyl Glyoxamides in the Phenotypic Sea Urchin Embryo Assay
Authors: Semenova Marina N. , Kiselyov Alex S. , Titov Ilia Y. , Raihstat Mikhail M. , Molodtsov Maxim , Grishchuk Ekaterina , Spiridonov Ilia , Semenov Victor V.
Published: November 2007

We have devised a ‘one‐pot’ phenotypic in vivo assay for the rapid evaluation of potential tubulin inhibitors using the sea urchin embryo model. An effect of a small molecule on two specific developmental stages of sea urchin embryo, namely: (i) fertilized egg test for antimitotic activity and (ii) behavioral monitoring of a free‐swimming blastulae for changes in the embryo swimming pattern could be quantified by a threshold concentration resulting in respective abnormalities. Derivatives of the clinical candidate D‐24851 featured good correlation between activity in tubulin polymerization assay and our in vivo data. Importantly, we demonstrated that in these series, the N‐substitution of indole is non‐essential to attain profound in vitro and cellular effects.
Cardio-Protection in Acute Stroke
Authors: Sharma Jagdish C. , Ross Ian , Vassallo Michael
Published: November 2007

Background:

Measures of damage limitation for acute stroke have not produced substantial benefit to reduce stroke mortality. Search continues for measures to reduce stroke mortality.

Methods:

Literature review for influence of cardiovascular factors, specifically the value of NT proBNP (a sensitive index of cardiac impairment) for stroke mortality.

Results:

Cardiovascular factors, in particular cardiac failure, adversely influence acute stroke mortality. There is evidence of cardiological abnormality in acute strokes as indicated by ECG changes and tachycardia secondary to neurohumoral changes in acute strokes. Patients with ECG abnormality, tachycardia, dysrrhythmia and elevated levels of nor-epi-nephrine in acute stroke phase have higher mortality. Recent studies reveal that Troponin (measure of cardiac injury) and NT-proBNP (measure of cardiac function impairment) are elevated in acute stroke patients, in response to the activated Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System and other neurohumoral changes, as a protective mechanism for sympathoinhibitory activity. Patients with elevated troponin have a higher mortality. Similarly elevated NT-proBNP has been reported to be associated with higher short and long-term mortality. In one study all patients who died at 4 months had NT-proBNP levels above the median, no patient with NT-proBNP below the median value died. Two studies revealed that NT-proBNP is more significant than clinical stroke severity for stroke mortality. Protection of myocardium in stroke patients may be possible by the use of drugs such as beta-blockers and the drugs acting on RAAS. Reduction of mortality in studies of candesartan (ACCESS study) and prior beta-blockers is one such example. Heart is at risk in acute strokes and protecting heart makes sense to reduce stroke mortality.

Conclusion:

Some stroke patients die due to occult cardiac damage and functional impairment in acute phase due to common risk factors. This relationship between brain and heart needs evaluation. Protection of heart with currently available or new drugs in acute strokes is worth investigating since this intervention could be applied to a large proportion of acute stroke patients over a wide time window.
The STRokE DOC Trial Technique: ‘Video Clip, Drip, and/or Ship’
Authors: Meyer B. C. , Raman R. , Rao R. , Fellman R. D. , Beer J. , Werner J. , Zivin J. A. , Lyden P. D.
Published: November 2007

Rationale

To describe the clinical trial methods of a site-independent telemedicine system used in stroke.

Aims

A lack of readily available stroke expertise may partly explain the low rate of rt-PA use in acute stroke. Although telemedicine systems can reliably augment expertise available to rural settings, and may increase rt-PA use, point-to-point systems do require fixed base stations. Site-independent systems may minimize delay. The STRokE DOC trial assesses whether site-independent telemedicine effectively and efficiently brings rt-PA to a remote population.

Design

STRokE DOC is a 5–year, 400–participant, noninvasive trial, comparing two consultative techniques at four remote sites. Participants are randomized to acute ‘STRokE DOC telemedicine’ or ‘telephone’ consultations. Treatment decision accuracy is adjudicated at two time points, using three levels of data availability and an independent auditor.

Study outcomes

The primary outcome measure is whether there was a ‘correct decision to treat or not to treat using rt-PA’ at each of three adjudication levels (primarily at Level #2). Secondary outcomes include the number of thrombolytic recommendations, intracerebral hemorrhage, and 90–day outcomes. Using the STRokE DOC system (or telephone evaluation), medical history, neurologic scales, CT interpretations, and recommendations have been completed on over 200 participants to date. Of the initial 11, nonrandomized, ‘run-in’ patients, six (65%) were evaluated wirelessly, and five (45%) were evaluated with a site-independent LAN or cable modem. Three (27%) received rt-PA. The adjudication methodology was able to show both agreements and disagreements in these 11 cases. It is feasible to perform site-independent stroke consultations, and adjudicate those cases, using the STRokE DOC system and trial design. Telemedicine efficacy remains to be proven.
Local and systemic cytokine and chemokine responses after parenteral influenza vaccination
Authors: Eriksson Jens‐Christian , Cox Rebecca Jane , Szyszko Ewa , Davidsson Åke , Brokstad Karl Albert
Published: November 2007

Background and Objective  In this study we investigated the levels of cytokines and chemokines produced locally and systemically after influenza vaccination of patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

Methods  Blood and saliva were collected prior to, and 1 or 2 weeks after vaccination at the time of the tonsillectomy. The cytokine and chemokine concentrations were determined in both unstimulated (whole blood, serum and saliva) and in vitro influenza stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and tonsillar lymphocyte (TMC) cultures.

Results  We found that influenza vaccination elicited protective levels of serum haemagglutination inhibition antibodies and a significant local antibody response in the saliva. No significant differences were observed in the cytokine or chemokine levels 1 or 2 weeks post‐vaccination in either the serum or saliva. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the gene expression levels in PBMC after vaccination, but interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, γ‐interferon and transforming growth factor‐β were slightly elevated at 1 week post‐vaccination but decreased by 2 weeks post‐vaccination. In contrast, increased concentrations of a mixture of type 1, type 2 and inflammatory cytokines were produced 1 and 2 weeks after influenza vaccination by in vitro‐stimulated PBMC and TMC.

Conclusion  We show that cytokine responses can be measured after influenza vaccination in in vitro‐stimulated lymphocytes but not directly in the blood or saliva. These results will provide a useful baseline that can be used for comparison of the immune response in human volunteers involved in clinical trials of novel influenza vaccines.
Effect of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion and Enhanced Ultraviolet Radiation on Marine Bacteria at Palmer Station, Antarctica in the Early Austral Spring
Authors: Pakulski J. Dean , Kase Jason P. , Meador Jarah A. , Jeffrey Wade H.
Published: November 2007

We investigated the interactions between ozone‐depleted air masses and subsequent changes in UVB on marine bacterial abundance and production at Palmer Station, Antarctica from September to November 1999. During periods of low total column ozone (TCO), bacterial cell concentrations declined by 57%. Photoinhibition of bacterial [3H]‐leucine (Leu) and [3H]‐thymidine (TdR) incorporation due to UVB was greatest during periods of low TCO in September and early October. During diel (∼28 h) exposure experiments, light treatment samples exhibited >75–100% inhibition of TdR incorporation by mid‐afternoon. Leu incorporation exhibited maximum inhibition (50–100%) at sunset and early evening hours. Leu and TdR incorporation in light treatment samples did not exhibit recovery during subsequent periods of darkness. Bacterial Leu and TdR incorporation rates were inversely related to Setlow Dose during a period of recovery from low TCO. These data further suggested a threshold exposure below which bacterial Leu and TdR incorporation recovered rapidly. Recovery of bacterial production after acute Setlow Dose exposures lagged recovery of TCO and was linearly related to TCO measured 2 days previously. This lag in recovery may have resulted from the energetically expensive repair of UVR‐induced DNA damage acquired during periods of low TCO.
Characteristics of Porphyry Cu Mineralization at Waisoi (Namosi District), Viti Levu, Fiji
Authors: Imai Akira , Ohbuchi Yukiko , Tanaka Takayuki , Morita Seiya , Yasunaga Kentaro
Published: November 2007

The porphyry Cu deposits at Waisoi in Namosi district, Viti Levu are separated into two deposits: the Waisoi East deposit and the Waisoi West deposit. In the Waisoi East deposit, quartz porphyry is exposed and in the Waisoi West deposit, diorite porphyry is sporadically exposed in addition to a small body of quartz porphyry. The mineralization in the Waisoi East deposit is characterized by the bornite–chalcopyrite–pyrite assemblage associated with traces of molybdenite and native gold. Polyphase fluid inclusions in stockwork quartz veinlets show homogenization temperatures ranging from 210 to >500°C. The high‐grade Cu mineralization in the Waisoi West deposit is characterized by the bornite–chalcopyrite–pyrite assemblage accompanied with sheeted and stockwork quartz veinlets. Polyphase fluid inclusions occasionally containing hematite flakes in quartz veinlets in the center of the Waisoi West deposit homogenize at temperatures ranging from 450°C to >500°C. However, fluid inclusions in stockwork quartz veinlets in the periphery, homogenize at lower temperatures around 210°C. Both in the Waisoi East and Waisoi West deposits, primary bornite–chalcopyrite–pyrite assemblage in the high Cu‐grade zone was deposited at the upper stability limit of chalcopyrite with respect to sulfur fugacity. Thus, the principal Cu mineralization at the Waisoi deposits occurred at a relatively high sulfur fugacity, that is, in a high‐sulfidation environment.
Concentration of Gold(I) Thiosulfate Complex Ions on the Surface of Alumina Gel and their Change in Chemical State: Preliminary Experiment in the Elucidation of the Formation Mechanism of Epithermal Gold Deposits
Authors: Yonezu Kotaro , Yokoyama Takushi , Okaue Yoshihiro , Imai Akira , Watanabe Koichiro
Published: November 2007

In order to elucidate the formation mechanism of low‐sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, the adsorption of [Au(S2O3)2]3− (a model compound for gold(I) complex ion) on alumina gel (a model compound for the aluminum‐bearing minerals) and change in chemical state of [Au(S2O3)2]3− after adsorption on the surface of alumina gel were investigated as a basic model experiment. In the pH range from 4 to 6, the amount of [Au(S2O3)2]3− adsorbed on alumina gel decreased with increasing pH and decreased drastically between pH 6 and 7, and then approached zero above pH 8 at 30°C. At 60°C, the amount of gold adsorbed above pH 7 was enhanced compared with that at 30°C. This adsorption tendency indicates that [Au(S2O3)2]3− is mainly adsorbed by electrostatic interaction between negative charges of [Au(S2O3)2]3− and positive charges of alumina gel because of its isoelectric point around pH 9. The chemical state of gold after adsorption of [Au(S2O3)2]3− on alumina gel was examined using X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). The result showed that [Au(S2O3)2]3− was spontaneously reduced to elemental gold even in the absence of specific reducing agents after adsorption on alumina gel. This reduction reaction might occur by two steps: (i) disproportionation of the adsorbed [Au(S2O3)2]3− at the surface of alumina gel, and (ii) spontaneous reduction of the resulting gold(III) complex ions on the surface of alumina gel. The experimental results suggest that aluminum plays an important role in the concentration of gold(I) complex ions and subsequent reduction of gold during the formation of low‐sulfidation epithermal gold deposits.
Angélica Copper Deposit: Exotic Type Mineralization in the Tocopilla Plutonic Complex of the Coastal Cordillera, Northern Chile
Authors: Zambra José , Kojima Shoji , Espinoza Sergio , Definis Andres
Published: November 2007

The Angélica copper deposit is situated at the southernmost sector of the Jurassic Tocopilla plutonic complex in the North Chilean Coastal Cordillera. This deposit occurs in monzonitic to monzodioritic rocks, and has platelike orebodies with no appreciable hydrothermal alteration nor sulfide mineralization. The mineralized zones are located in the western side of the two main normal faults with NE and NW orientations, and are characterized principally by impregnation of supergene copper products of atacamite and minor amounts of chrysocolla, lavendulan and “black copper”. Generally, chrysocolla is more abundant at a distal NE sector of the deposit. The black copper is Cu‐Fe‐Mn‐Si‐Cl‐rich multimineral aggregates composed of atacamite with minor amounts of quartz, pseudomalachite, dioptase, neotocite, gypsum, paratacamite and melanothallite, and its surface exhibits nanometer‐sized cylindrical morphologies. All these characteristics suggest an exotic origin for the Angélica copper deposit. A few vein‐type copper deposits situated at the southwestern sector along the NE‐oriented fault are inferred as the possible source of the Angélica copper deposit.
Role of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in stroke
Authors: Sarkar Sanjukta , Ghosh Sujoy , Ghosh Sandip Kumar , Collier Andrew
Published: November 2007

Transcranial Doppler sonongraphy is a non-invasive, non-ionising, inexpensive, portable and safe technique that uses a pulsed Doppler transducer for assessment of intracerebral blood flow. This article deals with the principles and technique of transcranial Doppler sonography. It gives a brief overview of its use in evaluation of intracranial steno-occlusive disease, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and extracranial diseases including carotid artery disease and subclavian steal syndrome. The role of transcranial Doppler in detection of microembolic signals and evaluation of right to left shunts is also dealt with. Finally, its use in acute stroke is briefly outlined.
An evaluation of the effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung training in patients with symptomatic heart failure: a randomised controlled pilot study
Authors: Barrow D E , Bedford A , Ives G , O'Toole L , Channer K S
Published: November 2007

Objective

To study the effect of Tai Chi on exercise tolerance in patients with moderate heart failure.

Design

Randomised parallel group study balanced for baseline variables.

Setting

Cardiology Department, Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Patients and methods

52 patients 42 men, mean age 68.9 years, range 46–90 years, and 10 women, mean age 70.0 years, range 58–82 with chronic heart failure New York Heart Association symptom class II–III were studied. Patients were randomised to Tai Chi Chuan twice a week for 16 weeks or to standard medical care without exercise rehabilitation.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was the change in the distance walked in the shuttle walk test. Secondary outcome measures were changes in symptom scores and quality of life indices.

Results

Objective measures of exercise tolerance did not improve significantly with Tai Chi, but patients having Tai Chi exercise had an improvement in symptom scores of heart failure measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire comparison of deltas, −2.4 control vs −14.9; p = 0.01, and depression scores measured by the SCL-90-R questionnaire (−2.9 vs −6.8; p = 0.12) compared with those patients in the control group.

Conclusion

In patients with chronic heart failure, 16 weeks of Tai Chi training was safe, with no adverse exercise related problems. It was enjoyed by all taking part and led to significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.
Psoriasis: advances in pathophysiology and management
Authors: MacDonald A , Burden A D
Published: November 2007

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects 1–3% of Caucasian populations and may be persistent, disfiguring and stigmatising. There is a range of severity, but even when the affected body surface area is relatively limited the impact on day-to-day activities and social interactions may be significant. An understanding of the psychological burden and an appreciation that many patients are currently dissatisfied with their management has driven the development of more effective treatment. In recent years psoriasis has been the focus of intense investigation resulting in an improved understanding of the immunopathogenesis, and the development of new, targeted biological treatments.
The challenges of managing cancer related venous thromboembolism in the palliative care setting
Authors: Noble S
Published: November 2007

Cancer patients with venous thromboembolism VTE pose particular management challenges since they have an increased risk of bleeding and recurrent thrombosis compared to the non-cancer population. Also, as the disease progresses so do the hazards of anticoagulation, and patients in the palliative stages of their cancer could be viewed as a separate disease group with respect to diagnosis and management. As the focus from curative treatment moves towards symptom control, physicians face several challenges in providing the most appropriate care. Palliative care patients have rarely been included in research on VTE and the supporting evidence needs to be extrapolated cautiously. Quality of life aspects of VTE and their management may be a more appropriate outcome measure in this stage of disease than radiological end points. This paper looks at the challenges facing professionals in the management of VTE in the advanced cancer patient.
DO N-PLANET SYSTEMS HAVE A BOUNDARY BETWEEN CHAOTIC AND REGULAR MOTIONS?
Authors: ZHOU JI-LIN , SUN YI-SUI
Published: November 2007

Planetary systems consisting of one star and n planets with equal planet masses μ and scaled orbital separation are referred as EMS systems. They represent an ideal model for planetary systems during the post-oligarchic evolution. Through the calculation of Lyapunov exponents, we study the boundary between chaotic and regular regions of EMS systems. We find that for n ≥ 3, there does not exist a transition region in the initial separation space, whereas for n = 2, a clear borderline occurs with relative separation ∼ μ2/7 due to overlap of resonances (Wisdom, 1980). This phenomenon is caused by the slow diffusion of velocity dispersion (∼ t1/2, t is the time) in planetary systems with n ≥ 3, which leads to chaotic motions at the time of roughly two orders of magnitude before the orbital crossing occurs. This result does not conflict with the existence of transition boundary in the full phase space of N -body systems.
ASYMMETRIC HEAT CONDUCTION IN A ONE-DIMENSION DISSIMILAR CHAIN COMPOSED OF FRENKEL-KONTOROVA MODEL AND φ4 MODEL
Authors: HE D. , YANG L. , ZHANG Y.
Published: November 2007

We find the asymmetric heat conduction in a 1D dissimilar chain composed of Frenkel-Kontorova model and φ4 model. We also demonstrate that there is no reverse of asymmetric heat conduction in this case. Understanding for these behaviors is proposed.
COOPERATION IN EVOLUTIONARY SNOWDRIFT GAME: NETWORKING EFFECTS
Authors: HUI P. M. , XU CHEN , ZHENG DA-FANG
Published: November 2007

We study the effects of networking on the extent of cooperation emerging in an evolutionary snowdrift game, which is a possible alternative to the well-known Prisoner's Dilemma game. The model is studied in the Newman-Watts network that spans the regular, small-world, and random networks through randomly added links. For a wide range of payoffs, the added links are found to suppress cooperation, when compared with a well-mixed or fully connected system. We identify extinction payoffs that characterize the emergence of a homogeneous steady state and study how these payoffs depend on the extent of addition of links to the network.
MINORITY GAME WITH INERTIAL AGENTS
Authors: CHAU H. F. , MAN W. C.
Published: November 2007

Many agents in the real world are reluctant to change their mind. Such an “inertial” behavior may affect the dynamics and cooperation of agents. Here we study the effect of “inertia” in the framework of Minority Game by requiring agents to choose their strategies via hypothesis testing. We find both numerically and semi-analytically that the presence of “inertial” agents greatly improves global cooperation of the system.
USING BIOPHOTONICS TO STUDY SIGNALING MECHANISMS IN A SINGLE LIVING CELL
Authors: CHANG DONALD C.
Published: November 2007

To illustrate the power of the biophysical approach in solving important problems in life science, I present here one of our current research projects as example. We have developed special biophotonic techniques to study the dynamic properties of signaling proteins in a single living cell. This study allowed us to gain new insight into the signaling mechanism regulating programmed cell death.
β CELLS IN PANCREATIC ISLETS AND GLUCOSE REGULATION
Authors: JO J. , KANG H. , CHOI M. Y. , KOH D.-S.
Published: November 2007

We present a model for oscillatory behaviors of β cells in pancreatic islets and glucose regulation. With attention to the noise induced by channel-gating stochasticity and coupling via gap junctions, we obtain via extensive numerical simulations complex oscillations including clusters of bursting action potentials, slow and fast oscillations of calcium and insulin secretion, and so on.
HIERARCHICAL MODULARITY OF THE FUNCTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK ORGANIZED BY SPIKE TIMING DEPENDENT SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
Authors: SHIN CHANG-WOO , KIM SEUNGHWAN
Published: November 2007

We study the emergent functional neural network organized by synaptic reorganization by the spike timing dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP). We show that small-world and scale-free functional structures organized by STDP, in the case of synaptic balance, exhibit hierarchial modularity.
EFFECTS OF A LARGE-SCALE MEAN FLOW IN A SHELL MODEL OF TURBULENT CONVECTION
Authors: CHING EMILY S. C. , GUO H.
Published: November 2007

The possible effects of a large-scale mean flow, represented as a non-zero mean velocity in the shell of the largest scale, are studied using a shell model of turbulent convection. In the regime where buoyancy is dynamically important, flow reversals are not observed. On the other hand, flow reversals are found in the regime where buoyancy is not dynamically important. In both regimes, the presence of such a large-scale mean flow does not change the scaling behavior of the velocity and temperature fluctuations.
SPATIAL TUNING OF BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATIONS
Authors: DONG GUANGJIONG
Published: November 2007

We briefly review our recent work on spatial tuning of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). We first study spatially periodic tuning of the s-wave scattering length for controlling the propagation of a BEC matter wave, and find matter wave limiting processing and bistability. Second, we show that a stable BEC with natural attractive interaction could be formed by tuning the s -wave scattering length with a Gaussian optical field, but the condensed atom number should be less than a critical value. Further, we apply Thomas-Fermi approximation to obtain a formula for this critical value.
ARITHMETIC GEOMETRY OVER HYPERTRANSCENDENTAL FIELDS
Authors: CHIN C. H.
Published: November 2007

An overview of hypertranscendency in sciences is discussed. The theoretical framework comes to be articulated.
The Integrative Role of CNS Fuel-Sensing Mechanisms in Energy Balance and Glucose Regulation
Authors: Sandoval Darleen , Cota Daniela , Seeley Randy J.
Published: November 2007

The incidences of both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are rising at epidemic proportions. Despite this, the balance between caloric intake and expenditure is tremendously accurate under most circumstances. Growing evidence suggests that nutrient and hormonal signals converge and directly act on brain centers, leading to changes in fuel metabolism and, thus, stable body weight over time. Growing evidence also suggests that these same signals act on the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate glucose metabolism independently. We propose that this is not coincidental and that the CNS responds to peripheral signals to orchestrate changes in both energy and glucose homeostasis. In this way the CNS ensures that the nutrient demands of peripheral tissues (and likely of the brain itself) are being met. Consequently, dysfunction of the ability of the CNS to integrate fuel-sensing signals may underlie the etiology of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Comparison of longitudinal leukocyte gene expression after burn injury or trauma-hemorrhage in mice
Authors: Lederer James A. , Brownstein Bernard H. , Lopez M. Cecilia , MacMillan Sandra , Delisle Adam J. , MacConmara Malcolm P. , Choudhry Mashkoor A. , Xiao Wenzhong , Lekousi Steven , Cobb J. Perren , Baker Henry V. , Mannick John A. , Chaudry Irshad H.
Published: November 2007

A primary objective of the large collaborative project entitled “Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury” was to identify leukocyte genes that are differentially expressed after two different types of injury in mouse models and to test the hypothesis that both forms of injury would induce similar changes in gene expression. We report here the genes that are expressed in white blood cells (WBCs) and in splenocytes at 2 h, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after burn and sham injury or trauma-hemorrhage (T-H) and sham T-H. Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 GeneChips were used to profile gene expression, and the results were analyzed by dCHIP, BRB Array Tools, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. We found that the highest number of genes differentially expressed following burn injury were at day 1 for both WBCs (4,989) and for splenocytes (4,715) and at day 1 for WBCs (1,167) and at day 3 for splenocytes (1,117) following T-H. The maximum overlap of genes that were expressed after both forms of injury were at day 1 in WBCs (136 genes) and at day 7 in splenocytes (433 genes). IPA revealed that the cell-to-cell signaling, cell death, immune response, antiapoptosis, and cell cycle control pathways were affected most significantly. In summary, this report provides a database of genes that are modulated in WBCs and splenocytes at sequential time points after burn or T-H in mice and reveals that relatively few leukocyte genes are expressed in common after these two forms of injury.