bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A proposal for an international retinoblastoma staging system
Authors: Chantada Guillermo , Doz François , Antoneli Celia B.G. , Grundy Richard , Clare Stannard F.F. , Dunkel Ira J. , Grabowski Eric , Leal‐Leal Carlos , Rodríguez‐Galindo Carlos , Schvartzman Enrique , Popovic Maja Beck , Kremens Bernhard , Meadows Anna T. , Zucker Jean‐Michel
Published: December 2005

Background

Although intra‐retinal tumor has long been staged presurgically according to the Reese–Ellsworth (R–E) system, retinoblastoma differs from other pediatric neoplasms in never having had a widely accepted classification system that encompasses the entire spectrum of the disease. Comparisons among studies that consider disease extension, risk factors for extra‐ocular relapse, and response to therapy require a universally accepted staging system for extra‐ocular disease.

Procedure

A committee of retinoblastoma experts from large centers worldwide has developed a consensus classification that can encompass all retinoblastoma cases and is presented herein. Patients are classified according to extent of disease and the presence of overt extra‐ocular extension. In addition, a proposal for substaging considering histopathological features of enucleated specimens is presented to further discriminate between Stage I and II patients.

Results

The following is a summary of the classification system developed—Stage 0: Patients treated conservatively (subject to presurgical ophthalmologic classifications); Stage I: Eye enucleated, completely resected histologically; Stage II: Eye enucleated, microscopic residual tumor; Stage III: Regional extension [(a) overt orbital disease, (b) preauricular or cervical lymph node extension]; Stage IV: Metastatic disease [(a) hematogenous metastasis: (1) single lesion, (2) multiple lesions; (b) CNS extension: (1) prechiasmatic lesion, (2) CNS mass, (3) leptomeningeal disease]. A proposal is also presented for substaging of enucleated Stages I and II eyes.

Conclusions

The proposed staging system is the product of an international effort to adopt a uniform staging system for patients with retinoblastoma to cover the whole spectrum of the disease. Pediatric Blood Cancer 2006;47:801–805. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensorineural hearing loss in a case of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Imashuku Shinsaku , Kohdera Urara , Teramura Tomoko , Ueda Ikuyo , Morimoto Akira , Naya Mayumi , Kuroda Hiroshi
Published: December 2005

Severe sensorineural hearing loss (bilateral >80 dB) was diagnosed in a case of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). The female patient developed HLH at 3 months of age and underwent allogeneic cord blood transplantation at 11 months of age following 7 months of immuno‐chemotherapy. The type 2 FHL patient had a homozygous perforin gene mutation of 1090–1091delCT, and was noted to have hearing loss at 3.5 years of age. Retrospective evaluation did not clarify the exact causes of hearing loss. Reports on Kawasaki disease, suggesting a correlation between severe inflammatory status in infancy and the development of sensorineural hearing loss, may shed some light on this rare complication in this case of FHL. Considering the markedly improved prognosis of FHL due to recent advances made in the molecular diagnosis and in the management including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, auditor by screening might be warranted for surviving FHL patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:856–858. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polymerization of 4‐methylpentene and vinylcyclohexane by amine bis(phenolate) titanium and zirconium complexes
Authors: Gendler Shimrit , Groysman Stanislav , Goldschmidt Zeev , Shuster Michael , Kol Moshe
Published: December 2005

The polymerization of the substituted olefins 4‐methylpentene and vinylcyclohexane by dibenzyl titanium and zirconium complexes of three amine bis(phenolate) ligands is reported. The ligands featured a dimethylamino side‐arm donor and either electron‐withdrawing (Cl and Br) or methyl phenolate substituents. After activation with B(C6F5)3, the zirconium catalysts exhibited a higher activity than the titanium catalysts toward these bulky olefins. Very high weight‐average molecular weight poly(4‐methylpentene) was obtained with the zirconium catalysts. The zirconium catalysts were employed in 1‐hexene polymerization, and their activity was found to be the highest ever reported for catalysts of the amine bis(phenolate) family. The catalysts featuring methyl phenolate substituents showed a higher activity toward these substituted olefins than the electron‐poor catalysts; this trend was opposite to their activity toward 1‐hexene. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1136–1146, 2006
Depression in paediatric cancer: an overview
Authors: DeJong Margaret , Fombonne Eric
Published: December 2005

Research into depression in paediatric cancer is in its early stages, but nevertheless has presented interesting challenges regarding the recognition and measurement of depression in a medically ill population. In this article we discuss the complex interaction between physical and psychological variables, and the diagnostic difficulties arising from this. We review the epidemiological findings regarding prevalence, evaluating the apparently low prevalence rate in the light of methodological weaknesses. Hypotheses put forward to explain the findings are discussed. We conclude by highlighting areas for future research. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A self‐stabilized model of the chymotrypsin catalytic pocket. The energy profile of the overall catalytic cycle
Authors: Hudáky Péter , Perczel András
Published: December 2005

A model of the catalytic triad of chymotrypsin is built assuring the arrangement and properties as they are within the complete enzyme. The model contains 18 amino acid residues of chymotrypsin and its substrate. A total of 135 atoms (including 70 heavy atoms) were subjected to full ab initio geometry optimizations through 127 individual steps along the reaction coordinate of the complete catalytic mechanism. It was shown that the described model of the catalytic apparatus forms a self‐stabilized molecule ensemble without the rest of the enzyme and substrate. According to the calculations, the formations of the first and second tetrahedral intermediates in the model have 20.3 and 15.7 kcal/mol activation energy barriers, respectively. Removing elements of the catalytic apparatus such as the (1) catalytic aspartate or (2) the anion hole, as well as (3) inserting a water molecule “early” in the catalytic process, or (4) introducing conformational rigidity of the substrate, results in an increase of the above energy barrier of the first catalytic step in the model by 6.4, 13.7, 3.7, and 4.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Based on the calculated process one can conclude that the catalytic reaction in this model is much more similar to the reaction in the enzyme than to the reference reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first model system that mimics the complete catalytic mechanism. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ambient air concentrations of pesticides used in potato cultivation in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Authors: White Louise M , Ernst William R , Julien Gary , Garron Christine , Leger Martin
Published: December 2005

Ambient air concentrations of nine selected pesticides used in potato cultivation were investigated on Prince Edward Island by collecting samples during the summer of 1998 at three potato farm sites and one non‐agricultural site. In 1999, air samples were collected at a single potato farm site during local application of pesticides. The fungicide chlorothalonil was the only pesticide detected in every sample in both years, even in samples with a duration as little as 5 h. In 1998, maximum (45–458 ng m−3) and mean (22–193 ng m−3) concentrations of chlorothalonil from composite 42 h samples were one to two orders of magnitude greater at agricultural sites than at the non‐agricultural site (3.9 and 2.5 ng m−3, respectively). Maximum and mean concentrations of chlorothalonil from combined 24 h samples at the farm site in 1999 were higher than those measured in 1998 (636 and 284 ng m−3, respectively). The ubiquitous presence in air of relatively high concentrations of chlorothalonil in agricultural areas on Prince Edward Island is likely related to its repeated use on potato farms where fungicides account for 80–90% of pesticides applied. Eight of nine pesticides were detected at farm sites in 1998 and they are ranked by mean concentration from highest to lowest as follows: chlorothalonil, methamidophos, azinphos‐methyl, α‐endosulfan, β‐endosulfan, pirimicarb, metobromuron, metribuzin, metalaxyl and fluazifop‐P‐butyl. Concentrations of metalaxyl, pirimicarb, metobromuron and fluazifop‐P‐butyl in air are among the first reported values for these pesticides. Five pesticides were detected at the Summerside farm in 1999, but only two fungicides (chlorothalonil and metalaxyl) were used locally, while the presence of metribuzin, α‐endosulfan and methamidophos in air was not associated with local application. Evidence of pesticide drift was observed for chlorothalonil, α‐endosulfan and methamidophos, and these pesticides were identified as being of high concern in terms of potential wildlife exposure on the Island. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Interaction of indole derivatives and tryptophan peptides with interfaces of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles
Authors: Imamura Takeyoshi , Konishi Kazue , Konishi Katsutoshi
Published: December 2005

The free energies of transfer for indole and tryptophan derivatives and pentapeptides having single tryptophan residues from aqueous to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar phases have been systematically studied using the conventional method of ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry. The free energies for the position isomers of methyl indoles varied depending on the substitution positions. Thus, the contribution of the methyl group to the binding affinity of the 4‐methyl indole to the micelle was about twice that of the 2‐ and 7‐methyl indoles. The free energy changes with the introduction of halogen groups to the indole rings were correlated to the nonpolar water‐accessible surface area (ΔAnp) of the halogen moieties, which were regarded as hydrophobic. The relationships followed straight lines passing through the origins. Position dependence having tendencies similar to the methyl indoles was observed among the magnitudes of the slopes of the straight lines. These results strongly suggest that the indole rings of the derivatives residing in the micellar interface regions direct their imino moieties NH toward the micellar surfaces. Experiments using model tryptophan pentapeptides showed that the magnitude of free energy change per methylene unit of an alkyl amino acid residue in the pentapeptide increased with elongation of the alkyl moiety and was not a constant value as reported for various alkyl compounds. When the peptides distribute to the SDS micelles, the peptide backbones are anchored in aqueous phases and the amino acid side chains in the interfaces extend their alkyl groups toward the micellar centers. Thus, the free energy changes can be connected to the positions of the alkyl groups of the amino acid residues in the micelles. Copyright © 2005 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biochemical and genetic characterization of Hmi1p, a yeast DNA helicase involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Monroe Danny S. , Leitzel Adelaide K. , Klein Hannah L. , Matson Steven W.
Published: December 2005

The HMI1 gene encodes a DNA helicase that localizes to the mitochondria and is required for maintenance of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Identified based on its homology with E. coli uvrD, the HMI1 gene product, Hmi1p, has been presumed to be involved in the replication of the 80 kb linear S. cerevisiae mtDNA genome. Here we report the purification of Hmi1p to apparent homogeneity and provide a characterization of the helicase reaction and the ATPase reaction with regard to NTP preference, divalent cation preference and the stimulatory effects of different nucleic acids on Hmi1p‐catalysed ATPase activity. Genetic complementation assays indicate that mitochondrial localization of Hmi1p is essential for its role in mtDNA metabolism. The helicase activity, however, is not essential. Point mutants that lack ATPase/helicase activity partially complement a strain lacking Hmi1p. We suggest several possible roles for Hmi1p in mtDNA metabolism. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction and characterization of a series of vectors for Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Adams C. , Haldar D. , Kamakaka R. T.
Published: December 2005

A set of vectors was created to allow cloning and expression studies in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. These vectors had a uniform backbone with an efficient Sz. pombe ARS, ARS3002, but different selectable markers—his3+, leu1+, ade6+ and ura4+. The vectors functioned efficiently as autonomously replicating plasmids that could also be converted into integrating vectors. The ura4+‐containing vector was used to construct a Sz. pombe genomic library. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of ancestral populations on postzygotic isolation in allopatric speciation
Authors: Hayashi Takehiko I. , Kawata Masakado
Published: December 2005

Postzygotic isolation evolves due to an accumulation of substitutions (potentially deleterious alleles in hybrids) in populations that have become geographically isolated. These potentially deleterious alleles might also be maintained in ancestral populations before geographic isolation. We used an individual‐based model to examine the effect of the genetic state of an ancestral population on the evolution of postzygotic isolation after geographic isolation of a population. The results showed that the number of loci at which degenerative alleles are fixed in an ancestral population at equilibrium significantly affects the evolutionary rates of postzygotic isolation between descendant allopatric populations. Our results suggest that: (1) a severe decrease in population size (e.g., less than ten individuals) is not necessary for the rapid evolution of postzygotic isolation (e.g., <10,000 generation); (2) rapid speciation can occur when there is a large difference in the equilibrium number of accumulated degenerative alleles between ancestral and descendant populations; and (3) in an ancestral population maintained at a small effective population size for a long period of time, postzygotic isolation rarely evolves if back mutations that restore the function of degenerative alleles are limited.
A survey of general practitioners’ knowledge of symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia
Authors: Verdoux Hélène , Cougnard Audrey , Grolleau Sabrina , Besson Rachel , Delcroix Françoise
Published: December 2005

Objective

To explore general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge of the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia, and the GPs' characteristics associated with level of knowledge.

Methods

Survey questionnaires exploring practice in patients with early psychosis were mailed to all GPs in South-Western France (N = 3829). GPs were asked to fill out questions anonymously on the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia.

Results

The response rate was 23.6%. GPs had a fair theoretical knowledge of schizophrenia symptoms, but underestimated the prevalence and the risk of suicide. Recent attendance at a continuing medical education (CME) course on schizophrenia was the main predictor of level of knowledge on epidemiological figures, although its impact was relatively modest. Regarding risk factors, the implication of genetic factors was considered as null or modest by more than half of the GPs, while a large proportion of them stated that mother–baby interactional disturbances were frequently implicated in the aetiology of the disorder.

Conclusions

GPs' level of knowledge on the public health impact and risk factors for schizophrenia needs to be improved in order to promote the delivery of accurate and destigmatising information to primary care patients.
Factor structure and cultural factors of disruptive behaviour disorders symptoms in Italian children
Authors: Zuddas Alessandro , Marzocchi Gian Marco , Oosterlaan Jaap , Cavolina Pina , Ancilletta Bernadette , Sergeant Joseph
Published: December 2005

Objective:

Poor parent and teacher awareness for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the scepticism of many clinicians on the prevalence of the disorder, make Italy an interesting environment in which to verify neuropsychological constructs generated in a predominantly Northern American cultural contest. The aim of the study was to verify, by factor confirmatory analysis, the empirical validity of the DSM constructs underlying the diagnostic criteria for developmental disruptive behaviour disorders in Italian school-age children.

Methods:

Scores for DSM-IV inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and for conduct disorder (CD) symptoms in 6–12 years old Italian children were analysed from 1575 parent and 1085 teacher forms of the disruptive behaviour disorders questionnaires collected in four different Italian regions.

Results:

Reliability indicates high internal consistencies for both parent and teacher rating of inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and oppositionality, but not for conduct problems. In accordance with the literature, a relatively low inter-rater convergent and discriminant validity correlation was observed comparing measures obtained by between parents and teachers. Confirmatory factor analysis of both parent and teacher data showed a better fit for a four-factor model, indicating a factor structure in accordance with the DSM-IV taxonomy. When completed by parents and teachers of clinically assessed ADHD, dyslexic or normal children, the disruptive behavioural disorder questionnaires showed a significant predictive diagnostic value.

Conclusion:

Although an informant variance higher that dimensional (trait) variance was observed, the study provides support for DSM-IV taxonomy for developmental disruptive disorders, showing construct validity of ADHD. ODD and CD could also be distinguished from each other.
9α,11β‐PGF2 and its stereoisomer PGF2α are novel agonists of the chemoattractant receptor, CRTH2
Authors: Sandig Hilary , Andrew David , Barnes Ashley A. , Sabroe Ian , Pease James
Published: December 2005

CRTH2 is a recently described chemoattractant receptor for the prostaglandin, PGD2, expressed by Th2 cells, eosinophils and basophils, and believed to play a role in allergic inflammation. Here we describe the potency of several PGD2 metabolites at the receptor to induce cell migration and activation. We report for the first time that the PGD2 metabolite, 9α,11β‐PGF2, and its stereoisomer, PGF2α, are CRTH2 agonists. 9α,11β‐PGF2 is a major metabolite produced in vivo following allergen challenge, whilst PGF2α is generated independently of PGD synthetase, with implications for CRTH2 signalling in the presence or absence of PGD2 production.
RNA editing sites in plant mitochondria can share cis‐elements
Authors: van der Merwe Johannes A. , Takenaka Mizuki , Neuwirt Julia , Verbitskiy Daniil , Brennicke Axel
Published: December 2005

RNA editing in flowering plant mitochondria alters numerous C nucleotides in a given mRNA molecule to U residues. To investigate whether neighbouring editing sites can influence each other we analyzed in vitro RNA editing of two sites spaced 30 nt apart. Deletion and competition experiments show that these two sites carry independent essential specificity determinants in the respective upstream 20–30 nucleotides. However, deletion of a an upstream sequence region promoting editing of the upstream site concomitantly decreases RNA editing of the second site 50–70 nucleotides downstream. This result suggests that supporting cis‐/trans‐interactions can be effective over larger distances and can affect more than one editing event.
Mortality of sand whiting (Sillago ciliata) released by recreational anglers in an Australian estuary
Authors: Butcher Paul A. , Broadhurst Matt K. , Brand Craig P.
Published: December 2005

The mortality of hooked-and-released sand whiting (Sillago ciliata) and the key contributing factors were determined during a recreational fishing event in northern New South Wales, Australia. Participating anglers caught 124 sand whiting, of which 60 were tagged with plastic t-bar anchor tags, and then released into replicate sea cages. In all, 109 sand whiting were seined (54 were tagged) and similarly released into replicate sea cages for use as controls. All fish were monitored for mortalities over 7 days. There were no measurable effects of confinement in the sea cages on the stress (measured as concentrations of plasma glucose) of hooked or seined fish. Ten hooked-and-released (four non-tagged, six tagged) and two control (both tagged) sand whiting died during the monitoring period and mostly within 48 h of capture, providing adjusted mortality rates (i.e. accounting for mortalities of control fish) of approximately 6% for total, tagged, and non-tagged fish. Anatomical hook location (oesophagus-ingested hooks) and bait type (beach worms, Australonuphis teres) were significant predictors of mortality (p > 0.05). The results support current recreational fishing gears and practices for the catch and release of sand whiting.
Fecundity variation in Icelandic summer-spawning herring and implications for reproductive potential
Authors: Óskarsson Guðmundur J. , Taggart Christopher T.
Published: December 2005

An exploration of fish fecundity aimed at estimating the reproductive potential of a stock requires comprehensive and quantitative examinations of the influencing factors. Here, Icelandic summer-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) are used to quantify potential fecundity (FP, number of eggs) and relative fecundity [RFP = FP (body weight − ovary weight)−1] as functions of length (L) and weight (W) in mature prespawning herring. Using a coupled examination of atresia (oocyte degeneration in the ovary) and the maturation stage of oocytes as characterized by size, we show that atresia has no meaningful effect on fecundity estimates if determined near the spawning time. Among prespawning herring, FP is a strong function of L or W (r2 = 0.84 in either case). Fulton's condition factor K (=100WL−3) explains a trivial (1.5%) but significant (p < 0.0001) amount of the residual variation in FP, and appears to have the greatest effect among smaller length classes. RFP is also a function of L (r2 = 0.56), and oocyte diameter explains 36% of the residual variation (p < 0.001). Therefore, stock-specific total egg production in herring can diverge from the assumed proportionality between total egg production and spawning-stock biomass through variations in the length structure of the stock, and to a lesser extent through the condition of prespawning herring.
Improved Sensory Relearning after nerve Repair Induced by Selective Temporary Anaesthesia – A New Concept in Hand Rehabilitation
Authors: ROSÉN B. , BJÖRKMAN A. , LUNDBORG G.
Published: December 2005

The outcome after nerve repair in adults is generally poor. We hypothesized that forearm deafferentation would enhance the sensory outcome by increasing the cortical hand representation. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to investigate the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory re-education on the outcome after ulnar or median nerve repair. During a 2 week period, a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA®) ( n = 7) or placebo ( n = 6) was applied repeatedly onto the flexor aspect of the forearm of the injured arm and combined with sensory re-education. Evaluation of sensory function was carried out at regular intervals and at 4 weeks after the last EMLA®/placebo session. The EMLA®group showed significant improvement compared to placebo in perception of touch/pressure, tactile gnosis and in the summarized outcome after 6 weeks. These results suggest that cutaneous forearm anaesthesia of the injured limb, in combination with sensory re-education, can enhance sensory recovery after nerve repair.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lateral Nail Fold
Authors: FIGUS A. , KANITKAR S. , ELLIOT D.
Published: December 2005

The digital nail complex is occasionally involved by squamous cell carcinoma. The published literature has either been indiscriminating of the site of origin of this tumour within the nail complex or has concentrated attention on the nail bed as the site of pathology. Tumours originating in the lateral nail fold can be clearly differentiated from those of the nail bed itself. This study identifies six cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in the lateral nail fold. While surgical convention remains to amputate the digital tip for squamous cell carcinoma of any part of the nail complex, the dermatological literature identifies that local surgery can be curative for these tumours, when presenting early and without bone involvement, although offering no discussion of reconstruction. Reconstruction is desirable and methods of achieving this following local excision of lateral nail fold tumours are illustrated in this series.
Meta‐analysis of the relationship between quality management practices and firm performance—implications for quality management theory development
Authors: Nair Anand
Published: December 2005

Quality management (QM) has received a high degree of attention in extant literature. Several research papers attribute superior firm performance to adoption of QM practices. The availability of a large number of research papers that investigate the impact of QM practices on performance provide an ideal setting for theory extension and refinement using meta‐analysis techniques. In this paper a meta‐analytic study is presented that fulfills two objectives. First, the paper formalizes performance implications of adopting QM practices and present hypothesized relationship between QM practices and performance. Second, a meta‐analysis of correlation (Hunter and Schmidt, 1990) approach is used to examine the empirical research in QM to determine which QM practices are positively related to improved performance. The study also examines the presence of moderating factors in the association between QM practices and performance. The results support many hypothesized relationships and also point towards the presence of moderating factors in almost all QM practice–performance relationships. A discussion of the findings is presented and directions for further development of QM theory are proposed.
Mediating effects of computer‐aided design usage: From concurrent engineering to product development performance
Authors: Tan Chong Leng , Vonderembse Mark A.
Published: December 2005

As the rates of market change accelerate and customer expectations grow, product development becomes an increasingly important activity. In this environment, the performance of the product development process and the impact of product design on costs are critical factors for organizational success. To respond, firms are adding resources such as computer‐aided design (CAD) to enhance product development efforts. The use of CAD technology is expected to enhance product development performance (development time, product quality, and design productivity) and to reduce product and manufacturing costs. To investigate these relationships, data were collected from 175 manufacturing firms regarding CAD usage, product development performance, and cost performance. From these data, valid and reliable instruments were developed to measure CAD usage. Structural model tests indicated that CAD usage has a positive impact on product development performance and cost performance.
A large-scale screening of the normalized mammalian mitochondrial gene expression profiles
Authors: ANISIMOV SERGEY V.
Published: December 2005

Mammalian mitochondrial genomes are organized in a conserved and extremely compact manner, encoding molecules that play a vital role in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and carry out a number of other important biological functions. A large-scale screening of the normalized mitochondrial gene expression profiles generated from publicly available mammalian serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) datasets (over 17·7 millions of tags) was performed in this study. Acquired SAGE libraries represent an extensive range of human, mouse, rat, bovine and swine cell and tissue samples (normal and pathological) in a variety of conditions. Using a straightforward in silico algorithm, variations in total mitochondrial gene expression, as well as in the expression of individual genes encoded by mitochondrial genomes are addressed, and common patterns in the species- and tissue-specific mitochondrial gene expression profiles are discussed.
Mapping segregation distortion loci and quantitative trait loci for spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: WANG CHUNMING , ZHU CHENGSONG , ZHAI HUQU , WAN JIANMIN
Published: December 2005

Markers with segregation ratio distortion are commonly observed in data sets used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. In this study, a multipoint method of maximum likelihood (ML) was newly developed to estimate the positions and effects of the segregation distortion loci (SDLs) in two F2 populations of rice (Oryza sativa L.), i.e. Taichung65/Bhadua (TB; japonica–indica cross) and CPSLO17/W207-2 (CW; japonica–japonica). Of the four parents, W207-2 and Bhadua were found to be spikelet semi-sterile and stably inherited through selfing, and spikelet fertility segregated in the two populations. Therefore, recombination frequencies were recalculated after mapping the SDLs by using the multipoint method, and the molecular linkage maps of the two F2 populations were constructed to detect QTLs underlying spikelet fertility. As a result, five SDLs in the TB population were mapped on chromosomes 1, 3, 8 and 9, respectively. Two major QTLs underlying spikelet fertility, namely qSS-6a and qSS-8a, were detected on chromosomes 6 and 8, respectively. In the CW population, a total of 12 SDLs were detected on all 12 chromosomes except 1, 5, 7 and 11. Three QTLs underlying spikelet sterility, namely qSS-2, qSS-6b and qSS-8b on chromosomes 2, 6 and 8, were determined on the whole genome scale. Interestingly, both qSS-6a and qSS-6b, detected in the two F2 populations respectively, were located on a similar position as the S5 gene on chromosome 6; while qSS-8a and qSS-8b were also simultaneously detected on similar positions of the short arm of chromosome 8 in the two populations, which should be a new sterility gene showing the same type of zygotic selection.
Dependability of Position Solutions in Celestial Sight-Run-Sight Cases – Part 1
Authors: Zevering K. H.
Published: December 2005

The sight-run-sight case involves a series of two or more sights in which each sight is ‘run on’ to the time of the last sight. There are several known techniques to account for the run, which is for convenience assumed to be at a constant course. It is argued that only the GHA-Dec updating technique (GD-UT) will give a correct position solution, whereas the pre-electronic Intercept Method (IM)-based technique and its modern least-squares variant (LSQ) and the Altitude updating technique (A-UT), are proxy techniques that may yield significant deviations in position solution. GD-UT can be used in combination with a double-sight solution method for two sights and with LSQ for two or more sights. IM, LSQ and a geometric or algebraic double sight solution method applied to simultaneous double sights give identical results but the simultaneous sights case is generally an abstraction and strictly not applicable on a moving vessel.
Optimising the Integration of Terrain Referenced Navigation with INS and GPS
Authors: Groves Paul D , Handley Robin J , Runnalls Andrew R
Published: December 2005

The benefits of integrated INS/GPS systems are well known. However, the knowledge required to jam GPS is becoming public and the hardware to achieve this is basic. When GPS data are unavailable and a low grade INS is used, navigation accuracy quickly degrades to an unacceptable level. The addition of one or more terrain referenced navigation (TRN) systems to an integrated INS/GPS navigation system enables the INS to be calibrated during GPS outages, increasing the robustness of the overall navigation solution. TRN techniques are compared and integration architectures are reviewed. For the initial studies of INS/GPS/TRN integration, radar altimeter based terrain contour navigation (TCN) with a batch processing algorithm is used in conjunction with a centralised integration filter. Four different approaches for using these TCN fixes to calibrate the INS are compared. These are a best fix method, a weighted fix method using a probabilistic data association filter (PDAF) and single and multi-hypothesis versions of the Iterative Gaussian Mixture Approximation of the Posterior (IGMAP) method. Simulation results are presented showing that the single hypothesis IGMAP technique offers the best balance between accuracy, robustness and processing efficiency.
Arctic Offshore Loading Downtime Due to Variability in Ice Drift Direction
Authors: Bonnemaire Basile
Published: December 2005

Four arctic offshore loading concepts are selected, loading from the corner of a platform, loading in the wake of a loading tower, Submerged Turret Loading (STL) and Single Anchor Loading (SAL). The influence of variations in the ice drift direction on the performance of these concepts is discussed and critical drift events are determined. Ice drift measurements from eight ARGOS/GPS buoys deployed in the Pechora Sea in winters 1995 and 1998 are analysed to estimate downtime rates of these loading systems due to ice drift heading changes. Depending on the location in the Pechora Sea and the chosen concept, downtime rates range from 6 to 72%. A discussion on how these rates will vary with different assumptions, different ice conditions or different ice management is given. Finally the loading concepts are compared through a qualitative risk analysis.
MEMS Based Pedestrian Navigation System
Authors: Cho Seong Yun , Park Chan Gook
Published: December 2005

In this paper we present a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) based pedestrian navigation system (PNS) for seamless positioning. The sub-algorithms for the PNS are developed and the positioning performance is enhanced using the modified receding horizon Kalman finite impulse response filter (MRHKF). The PNS consists of a biaxial accelerometer and a biaxial magnetic compass mounted on a shoe. The PNS detects a step using a novel technique during the stance phase and simultaneously calculates walking information. Step length is estimated using a neural network whose inputs are the walking information. The azimuth is calculated using the magnetic compass, the walking information and the tilt compensation algorithm. Using the proposed sub-algorithms, seamless positioning can be accomplished. However, the magnetic compass based azimuth may have an error that varies according to the surrounding magnetic field. In this paper, the varying error is compensated using the MRHKF filter. Finally, the performance enhanced seamless positioning is achieved, and the performance is verified by experiment.
Flight Test of Attitude Determination System using Multiple GPS Antennae
Authors: Jang Jaegyu , Kee Changdon
Published: December 2005

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or inexpensive airplanes, such as a Cessna single engine aircraft, require a navigation system with a cheap, compact and precise sensor. Over the past ten years, GPS receivers have begun to be used as primary or alternative navigation sensors, because their use can significantly reduce the overall system cost. This paper describes a navigation system incorporating a velocity-based attitude estimation system with an attitude determination system using multiple antennae, which was implemented and tested using a UAV. The main objective was to obtain precise attitude information using low cost GPS OEM boards and antennae. Attitude boundaries are derived from the relationship between the body frame and the wind coordinates, which are used to validate the resolved cycle ambiguity in an Euler angle domain. Angular rate based on Doppler measurements was used to exclude the degenerate pseudo-roll angle information during severe uncoordinated flight. Searching for cycle ambiguity at every epoch of the flight showed that the developed system gave reliable cycle integer solutions, although the carrier phase measurement was subject to additional errors, such as multipath, external interference, and phase centre variation. A flight test was performed using a 1/4-scale Piper J3 Cub model, CMC Allstar OEM boards, OEM AT575-70 antennae, and 700 MHz PC104 board.
Ubiquitous Positioning Technologies for Modern Intelligent Navigation Systems
Authors: Retscher Guenther , Kealy Allison
Published: December 2005

Recently new location technologies have emerged that can be employed in modern advanced navigation systems. They can be employed to augment Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning techniques and dead reckoning as they offer different levels of positioning accuracies and performance. An integration of other technologies is especially required in indoor and outdoor-to-indoor environments. The paper gives an overview of the newly developed ubiquitous positioning technologies and their integration in navigation systems. Furthermore two case studies are presented, i.e., the improvement of land vehicle safety using Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and pedestrian navigation services for the guidance of users to certain University offices. In the first case study the integration of map matching into a Kalman filter approach is performed (referred to as “Intelligent Vehicle Navigation”) and its principle is briefly described. This approach can also be adapted for the pedestrian navigation service described in the second case study.
Longitudinal Collision Risk for ATC Track Systems: A Hazardous Event Model
Authors: Brooker Peter
Published: December 2005

This paper presents a collision risk model and operational concepts for longitudinal separated aircraft in the North Atlantic Region air traffic control track system, and indicates how it might be used to reduce separation minima safely, and hence deliver cost savings. It is an event-based model: it is easy to see what is being assumed, to understand the role of the main parameters, and to incorporate collision detection and hazard analysis. A potential future operation, with a 7-minute separation and a strategic lateral offset system, is sketched using the model.
AIS and Long Range Identification and Tracking
Authors: Kingsley F A
Published: December 2005

There is a significant error in the equation referring to the rule of thumb for ‘line-of-sight’ analogue transmissions given in the paper by William Cairns, in the May 2005 issue (Cairns, 2005). This incorrect formula has previously been quoted in other sources, and possibly the author obtained it from one of these. In addition, the term ‘line-of-sight’ implies geometrical optics, whereas use of the term ‘radio horizon’ would be more appropriate since this takes account of the extension of radio wave transmission distance over the earth's surface caused by the normal water vapour content of the lower atmosphere over sea.
State Autonomy and American Political Development: How Mass Democracy Promoted State Power
Authors: DeCanio Samuel
Published: December 2005

In the 1980s, many scholars of both comparative and American politics argued that states often act autonomously from social demands. Rejecting reductionist assumptions regarding the primacy of social groups for public policy, both groups of scholars examine how government actors and preexisting institutional constraints influenced policy implementation. Since then, however, while the state has been retained as the primary unit of analysis for most studies of American political development, interest in the autonomy of the state has dwindled, and scholars have increasingly focused on how social groups and electoral outcomes explain state formation and public policy, especially in the nineteenth century. In some instances, scholars have even denied that state autonomy is a relevant concept for the study of American political development.
States, Race, and the Decline of New Deal Liberalism
Authors: Weir Margaret
Published: December 2005

There is no escaping the New Deal's pivotal place in studies of twentieth-century American politics. Social scientists have vigorously debated the causes of the New Deal's distinctive features and continue to argue about its consequences for subsequent American political development. The predominant perspective advances a coherent linear history in which the central features of New Deal reform shape the understanding of political developments both before and after the 1930s. The era of Progressive reform is viewed as a precursor to the expanded public power and the practice of activist government that was consolidated in the 1930s. The Great Society is the effort to extend the benefits of liberal reform to African Americans, who had reaped only scant benefits from the central achievements of New Deal reform. When this effort went “too far,” it resulted in a far-reaching backlash against activist government. The “rise and fall” of a New Deal order that had the creation of active government at its core has thus provided a central narrative for the study of twentieth-century politics.
Financing the Welfare State: Elite Politics and the Decline of the Social Insurance Model in America
Authors: Campbell Andrea Louise , Morgan Kimberly J.
Published: December 2005

While there is a vast and rich literature on the benefits and services provided by the welfare state, few scholars have investigated how these programs are financed. The tax side of the budget equation is crucial for the ability of welfare states to exist and expand; without a stable and growing source of revenues, the welfare state can neither meet its existing obligations nor increase its responsibilities. The mode of finance can be particularly important, as some taxes are more visible or contested, and thus more difficult to raise. For example, because there are limits to how much revenue can be raised with progressive income taxes, many industrialized countries finance large social programs through contributory finance, that is, payroll taxes. Levied over a broad swath of the population, these taxes generate a large amount of revenue, yet are politically acceptable because people see them as payments that entitle them to benefits in return.
Hartz and Minds: The Liberal Tradition after the Cold War
Authors: Holland Catherine A.
Published: December 2005

The Liberal Tradition in America is truly an exceptional book. Its conceptual framework has been widely criticized as wrongheaded, and each of its organizing theses has been held to be historically inaccurate. Nonetheless, it continues to figure as a central text for scholars in political studies and American studies. We teach it regularly in graduate seminars, allow the problems it raises to shape our research agendas, and organize symposia to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of its publication. Indeed, it is tempting to suggest that, if nothing else, Louis Hartz long ago proved that it is more desirable to be interesting than to be right. To that end, I write here to register an appreciation of his work even as I acknowledge the aptness of much of the criticism to which it has been subjected. To my mind, a Hartz who has been refined and reframed by decades of criticism can still offer valuable insight into America and America's engagement with the world, particularly in a moment of caustic political and sharp economic divisions that would seem to belie the consensus he emphasized, and in the midst of the emergence of forthrightly illiberal doctrines shaping both American domestic and foreign policy.
TERM BREECH DELIVERY
Authors: HERBST ANDREAS , KÄLLÉN KARIN
Published: December 2005

In October 2000, Hannah et al published a randomised controlled trial comparing perinatal and maternal outcome between planned vaginal and planned caesarean deliveries of term breech pregnancies. The study was closed after an interim analysis, showing a reduced perinatal morbidity and mortality with planned caesarean section. The result was not unexpected, although a trial like this had been called for over many years to resolve the issue. Many cohort- and case-control studies, and two small randomised studies had been performed since 1959, when Wright reported a reduced perinatal mortality and morbidity with CS. A few large registry studies had shown a better perinatal outcome with caesarean delivery, whereas smaller studies often showed no statistically significant difference in outcome, often with the conclusion that vaginal delivery (VD) is safe.
Overlap of the plasmasphere and ring current: Relation to subauroral ionospheric heating
Authors: Gurgiolo C. , Sandel B. R. , Perez J. D. , Mitchell D. G. , Pollock C. J. , Larsen B. A.
Published: December 2005

The overlap of the ring current with the outer plasmasphere is thought to play a major role in storm‐time related increases in the subauroral ambient topside electron temperature. Instabilities generated within the overlap region, Coulomb collisions of plasmaspheric electrons with the ring current ions, and charge exchange are all thought to work either individually or together to generate a downward heat flux into the ionosphere to produce the increase in temperature. Analysis of IMAGE two‐dimensional ring current and plasmasphere density maps together with in situ DMSP ambient electron temperature data shows that the heating generally occurs over a small radial extent within the plasmasphere/ring current overlap region and may be significantly earthward of the plasmapause. This argues against collisional heat conduction as the source of the heat flux and for an instability‐based process. The finding that the heating occurs within well‐defined ratios of the cold plasmasphere to hot ring current density strengthens this supposition.
An efficient algorithm for double‐difference tomography and location in heterogeneous media, with an application to the Kilauea volcano
Authors: Monteiller Vadim , Got Jean‐Luc , Virieux Jean , Okubo Paul
Published: December 2005

Improving our understanding of crustal processes requires a better knowledge of the geometry and the position of geological bodies. In this study we have designed a method based upon double‐difference relocation and tomography to image, as accurately as possible, a heterogeneous medium containing seismogenic objects. Our approach consisted not only of incorporating double difference in tomography but also partly in revisiting tomographic schemes for choosing accurate and stable numerical strategies, adapted to the use of cross‐spectral time delays. We used a finite difference solution to the eikonal equation for travel time computation and a Tarantola‐Valette approach for both the classical and double‐difference three‐dimensional tomographic inversion to find accurate earthquake locations and seismic velocity estimates. We estimated efficiently the square root of the inverse model's covariance matrix in the case of a Gaussian correlation function. It allows the use of correlation length and a priori model variance criteria to determine the optimal solution. Double‐difference relocation of similar earthquakes is performed in the optimal velocity model, making absolute and relative locations less biased by the velocity model. Double‐difference tomography is achieved by using high‐accuracy time delay measurements. These algorithms have been applied to earthquake data recorded in the vicinity of Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes for imaging the volcanic structures. Stable and detailed velocity models are obtained: the regional tomography unambiguously highlights the structure of the island of Hawaii and the double‐difference tomography shows a detailed image of the southern Kilauea caldera–upper east rift zone magmatic complex.