bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The political work of narratives
Authors: Whooley Owen
Published: September 2007

Tied to meaning-making, narratives are saturated with political relevance. Narratives do political work on both the individual and collective levels. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the political work performed by a given narrative, both the historical context and local context must be analyzed. This paper uses a comparative dialogic analysis derived from M. M. Bakhtin to illuminate the different types of political work that narratives can accomplish. I compare two slave narratives, each recalling an incident of violence against a slave. Although the narratives describe similar events, their portrayals of slavery differ greatly because of the different political work they perform in their respective contexts. One narrative, produced in conjunction with the abolitionist movement, serves as a piece of political propaganda that frames slavery in an uncompromisingly harsh light. The other narrative, taken from a WPA interview in the 1930s, reveals narrative as a site of political conflict between blacks and whites during the Jim Crow era.
“Here started the rift we see today”
Authors: Goldberg Tsafrir , Porat Dan , Schwarz Baruch
Published: September 2007

The story about the collective past, which is embedded in the students’ minds, may serve a significant role in learning history. The fit between students preconceived narratives and the official narrative in textbooks might considerably influence their ability to understand and use the official narrative as a cultural tool. 105 12th grade students wrote narratives about the Melting Pot policy in the absorption of the “Great Aliyah” (Mass immigration) to Israel in the 1950’s, a corner stone of Israeli collective identity. The students’ narratives were analyzed in order to identify overt opinions, and basic narrative characteristics, such as plot schemes, agency and recurrent themes. The narratives were compared to the central characteristics of the official narrative of the Great Aliyah mediated through history textbooks. Students’ dominant narrative stood in opposition to the textbooks narrative, putting forward a highly critical perspective of the immigration absorption. Additional findings show students of “Ashkenazi” (European-Jewish) origin to be significantly more critical towards the Melting Pot policy and it’s consequences for the Mizrahi Jews than students of “Mizrahi” (Arab-Jewish) origins. The authors seek to explain their findings within the framework of socio-cultural theory, as evidence of the students’ use of social representation of the past as a cultural tool for explaining a problematic present. The personal historical narrative seems to serve as a tool for positioning the individual in relation to the past and in constructing potentialities of responsibility to contemporary reality.
Towards an experientialist model of terminological metaphorisation
Authors: Alexiev Boyan
Published: September 2007

This paper proposes an experientialist model of terminological metaphorisation based on a combined terminological and experientialist approach to that phenomenon. The model is derived from the combination of the basic premises of the Concept Theory of Terminology and the Concept Theory of Experientialism, with establishing the common threads between the two theories and filtering out only those elements of experientialism that are compatible with basic principles of terminological analysis. A conclusion is drawn that a modern theory of terminology, which is assumed to be still in the making, should be constructed both on cognitive and terminological foundations. The theoretical assumptions are exemplified with a representative corpus of metaphorical mining terms.
Automatic acquisition and classification of terminology using a tagged corpus in the molecular biology domain
Authors: Collier Nigel , Nobata Chikashi , Tsujii Junichi
Published: September 2007

This article describes our work to identify and classify terms in the domain of molecular biology according to examples that have been marked up by a domain expert in a corpus of abstracts taken from a controlled search of the Medline database. Automatic acquisition of biomedical term lists has so far been slow due to high variability in both the terms and their classification scheme, which we attribute to the diversity of research disciplines involved. Nevertheless, the explosive growth in online molecular biology literature makes a persuasive case for automating many tasks. This includes acquisition of records for gene-product databases such as SwissProt which are currently updated by human experts, a task that is both time consuming and often highly idiosyncratic. In this article we report results from a tool based on a hidden-Markov model for extracting and classifying terms that can be used as a key component in an information extraction system. We discuss the results in light of lexical, syntactic and semantic properties of terms that were revealed by our study.
Exploring terms and their linguistic environment in text
Authors: Fulford Heather
Published: September 2007

The proliferation of specialist texts over recent decades has exacerbated the need for term extraction software to assist terminologists in compiling terminology collections. To this end, an automated approach to English term extraction is presented, which, in keeping with the multidisciplinary working environments of many contemporary terminologists, is designed to be domain independent. Based on observations made of the linguistic features of terms and their linguistic environment in text, this approach identifies single- and multi-word terms spanning a range of word classes. An implementation of the approach (denoted ‘Textprobe’) is described and evaluated by measuring its term extraction efficiency against the manual scanning output of both domain experts and terminologists. Results obtained in the evaluation suggest that a high proportion of single-and multi-word terms can successfully be extracted from special language texts. It is anticipated that the approach will be portable to other European languages.
A two-level grammar of the reduction processes of French complex terms in discourse
Authors: Collet Tanja
Published: September 2007

The aim of this paper is to offer an outline of a descriptive grammar — as yet unfinished — of two reduction processes, namely elliptic anaphor and lexical elision, which delete constituents of reiterated complex terms in French LSP texts. After an examination of these reduction processes and the term variants they generate, the paper presents the main building blocks of the grammar. The architecture of these building blocks, i.e. of the deep and surface structure rules which constitute the two levels of the grammar, is derived from the structural and semantic properties of French complex terms. The ordering of the rules in the grammar, on the other hand, is based on characteristics of elliptic anaphor and lexical elision as well as on properties of the term variants produced by these context-conditioned transformations.
Lexical functions to represent derivational relations in specialized dictionaries
Authors: Jousse Anne-Laure , Bouveret Myriam
Published: September 2007

We present in this paper a model of derivation encoded by means of Lexical Functions (Mel’č uk et al. 1984–1999, Mel’čuk et al. 1995, Wanner 1996). It is based on semantic derivation as in the Explanatory and Combinatorial Lexicology, but we examine the category of morphological derivatives in order to organize sets of derivatives around a key term. Lexical functions express linguistic relations between words and allow a rigorous encoding. We use Standard Lexical functions and also discuss the usefulness of non-standard Lexical Function such as {avant}, {à distance}, {réciprocité} for the specific needs of some derivatives found in the corpus. We describe the structuration of such a terminology for the purpose of a specialized dictionary.
Open Trial of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Robertson Michael , Rushton Paul , Batrim Dee , Moore Elizabeth , Morris Philip
Published: September 2007

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of adapting group-based interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) for patients with chronic post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: Thirteen subjects with DSM-IV-defined PTSD, with symptom duration greater than 12 months, entered the study, an 8-week treatment programme conducted in a clinical setting using IPT-G modified for the treatment of PTSD. Data obtained were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Results: All 13 subjects completed the treatment programme and showed significant improvement in social functioning, general wellbeing and depressive symptoms. Treatment completers demonstrated a moderate reduction in the avoidant symptom cluster of PTSD. These improvements appeared stable at 3-month follow-up. Benefits appeared to be associated with perceived intra-therapy progress in resolving identified IPT problem areas. Qualitative analysis found that themes of ‘reconnection’ and ‘interpersonal efficacy’ were core parts of the experience of the treatment.

Conclusion: IPT-G modified for PTSD appears to be of modest symptomatic benefit, but may lead to improvement in social functioning, general psychological wellbeing and enhanced interpersonal functioning. Further studies are indicated.
Overview of Psychiatric Ethics VI: Newer Approaches to the Field
Authors: Robertson Michael , Walter Garry
Published: September 2007

Objective: The aim of this paper is to consider two recent approaches to moral philosophy – postmodernism and discourse ethics – and evaluate their potential contribution to psychiatric ethics.

Conclusion: Postmodern ethics arose from the perceived moral failures of the grand theories of ethics, as evident in the horrors of the twentieth century. As a result, such approaches to ethics emphasize the individual's moral situation in a particular context, such as the doctor–patient relationship. Postmodern approaches have some relevance to current and future psychiatric practice. Discourse ethics sees ethical norms generated by a process of a discourse procedure, in which all members of a discourse are able to express their views. Discourse ethics allows the generation of moral ‘norms’, which are universal in as far as all those affected by them can accept their consequences. Applied to professional ethics, psychiatrists are members of a large group engaged in a discourse with diverse parts of society, yet exist within small moral communities in which micro-discourses are compatible with different individual ethical positions.
Medicare Item 319 after 10 Years: A Range of Concerns
Authors: Anaf Gil , Jewell Paul
Published: September 2007

Objective: The aim of this paper was to re-examine, via a risk benefit analysis, the rationale of restrictions to long-term intensive psychotherapy and psychoanalytic treatment through the mechanism of the Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Scheme (CMBS) in light of side effects on patients’ access to treatment, their self-esteem, and their privacy.

Conclusion: The application of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and the specificity of CMBS Item 319 on individual patients’ medical records carry risks that are not offset by demonstrable communal benefits that were predicted when the item was introduced 10 years ago.
TRUST IN THE EURO: EXPLORING THE GOVERNANCE OF A SUPRA-NATIONAL CURRENCY
Authors: Kaelberer Matthias
Published: September 2007

This article starts from a pervasive puzzle that characterises the use of all money: Why would anyone actually exchange real goods and services for a piece of paper, a token coin or an electronic blip? The author of this article argues that market participants accept money in an exchange based on the trust that others will do exactly the same. While it is the basis of any existing monetary order, trust becomes particularly relevant in the case of a newly created currency such as the euro. In addition to being new, the euro is also a supra-national currency and, therefore, lacks some of the political and cultural factors that help facilitate trust in single nation-states. How can one conceptualise the formation of trust in the euro under these circumstances? This article examines the evolution of trust along two dimensions: horizontal and vertical trust. Horizontal trust gets established through mimesis and identity. Vertical trust relies on institutional mechanisms – in particular the interaction between a specifically assigned agent of monetary trust (the European Central Bank) and guardians of trust (other political actors as well as societal players).
Medline search engine for finding genetic markers with biological significance
Authors: Xuan Weijian , Wang Pinglang , Watson Stanley J. , Meng Fan
Published: September 2007

Motivation: Genome-wide high density SNP association studies are expected to identify various SNP alleles associated with different complex disorders. Understanding the biological significance of these SNP alleles in the context of existing literature is a major challenge since existing search engines are not designed to search literature for SNPs or other genetic markers. The literature mining of gene and protein functions has received significant attention and effort while similar work on genetic markers and their related diseases is still in its infancy. Our goal is to develop a web-based tool that facilitates the mining of Medline literature related to genetic studies and gene/protein function studies. Our solution consists of four main function modules for (1) identification of different types of genetic markers or genetic variations in Medline records (2) distinguishing positive versus negative linkage or association between genetic markers and diseases (3) integrating marker genomic location data from different databases to enable the retrieval of Medline records related to markers in the same linkage disequilibrium region (4) and a web interface called MarkerInfoFinder to search, display, sort and download Medline citation results. Tests using published data suggest MarkerInfoFinder can significantly increase the efficiency of finding genetic disorders and their underlying molecular mechanisms. The functions we developed will also be used to build a knowledge base for genetic markers and diseases.

Availability: The MarkerInfoFinder is publicly available at: http://brainarray.mbni.med.umich.edu/brainarray/datamining/MarkerInfoFinder

Contact:  mengf@umich.edu
Hermann Bondi. 1 November 1919 — 10 September 2005
Authors: Roxburgh I. W.
Published: September 2007

Hermann Bondi was an applied mathematician of distinction who will be remembered by fellow scientists for his outstanding contributions to astronomy, cosmology and General Relativity, and particularly for his pioneering contributions to our understanding of gravitational waves, his foundational work on accretion, and as co–creator with Tommy Gold and Fred Hoyle of the steady state theory of cosmology. But Hermann had an equally important second career in scientific administration: advising the UK Government on the Thames Barrier, as Director General of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO; now the European Space Agency (ESA)), as Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Defence and then on Energy, as Chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and finally as Master of Churchill College, Cambridge. He was knighted in 1973. He continued his research on gravitational radiation throughout his administrative career and published his 16th paper in the series on gravitational waves in 2004. Hermann will be remembered not only for his contributions to science and administration but also for his outstanding communication skills and as a charismatic, warm, and stimulating person.
Ernest Frederick Gale. 15 July 1914 — 7 March 2005
Authors: Reynolds P. E.
Published: September 2007

Scientists will remember Ernest Gale for his roles in emphasizing, at an early stage in his career, the chemical and enzymatic basis of microbial activities at a time when many cellular components and biochemicals were ill defined, and secondly for his leadership of a team of colleagues who investigated the molecular basis of antibiotic action and in so doing elucidated many basic aspects of bacterial metabolism.
Hans Albrecht Bethe. 2 July 1906 — 6 March 2005
Authors: Lee Sabine , Brown Gerry E.
Published: September 2007

Hans Albrecht Bethe, who died on 6 March 2005 at the age of 98 years, was one of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century, a giant among giants whose legacy will remain with physics and the wider science community for years to come. He was universally admired for his scientific achievement, his integrity, fairness and for deeply felt concern for the progress of science and humanity which made him the ‘conscience of science’. Be the studied theoretical physics with many of the greatest minds within the physics community including Sommerfeld, Ewald and Bohr. His Jewish background made a career in Germany all but impossible, and after a brief spell in England between 1933 and 1935 he emigrated to the USA. He took up a post at Cornell University, where he remained, except for his work at Los Alamos and several sabbaticals, until the end of his career. Hans Bethe was a universalist who contributed to scientific research for more than seven decades. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on energy production in stars. Many other of his discoveries would have been worthy of a Nobel Prize, for instance his work on the Lamb shift or his work on the nuclear many–body problem. Like many of his colleagues who had contributed to the development of nuclear weapons, Hans Bethe devoted much of his time and energy to the control of these weapons, to nuclear disarmament and to the promotion of greater understanding between East and West, most notably through his activities within the framework of the Pugwash Movement.
Joseph (Józef) Rotblat. 4 November 1908 — 31 August 2005
Authors: Hinde R. A. , Finney J. L.
Published: September 2007

Joseph Rotblat, having suffered considerable hardships in his youth in Warsaw, graduated in physics from the Free University of Warsaw. On a fellowship to work with James (later Sir James) Chadwick FRS in Liverpool, he joined the Manhattan Project early in 1944. Resigning as a matter of conscience when he learned that the bomb was not needed as a deterrent against Hitler's Germany, he subsequently devoted the rest of his life to radiation physics and radiobiology and to the abolition of nuclear weapons and of war itself. He was one of the founders and the moving spirit of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, with whom he shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.
Biological control and sustainable food production
Authors: Bale J.S , van Lenteren J.C , Bigler F
Published: September 2007

The use of biological control for the management of pest insects pre-dates the modern pesticide era. The first major successes in biological control occurred with exotic pests controlled by natural enemy species collected from the country or area of origin of the pest (classical control). Augmentative control has been successfully applied against a range of open-field and greenhouse pests, and conservation biological control schemes have been developed with indigenous predators and parasitoids. The cost–benefit ratio for classical biological control is highly favourable (1 : 250) and for augmentative control is similar to that of insecticides (1 : 2–1 : 5), with much lower development costs. Over the past 120 years, more than 5000 introductions of approximately 2000 non-native control agents have been made against arthropod pests in 196 countries or islands with remarkably few environmental problems. Biological control is a key component of a ‘systems approach’ to integrated pest management, to counteract insecticide-resistant pests, withdrawal of chemicals and minimize the usage of pesticides. Current studies indicate that genetically modified insect-resistant Bt crops may have no adverse effects on the activity or function of predators or parasitoids used in biological control. The introduction of rational approaches for the environmental risk assessment of non-native control agents is an essential step in the wider application of biological control, but future success is strongly dependent on a greater level of investment in research and development by governments and related organizations that are committed to a reduced reliance on chemical control.
The effect of brief interventions on alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers in a general hospital setting
Authors: Holloway Aisha S. , Watson Hazel E. , Arthur Antony J. , Starr George , McFadyen Angus K. , McIntosh Jean
Published: September 2007

Aims  (i) To evaluate the effect of receiving one of two brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption among general hospital patients compared with usual care. (ii) To assess whether a brief intervention of self‐efficacy enhancement was superior to a self‐help booklet in reducing alcohol consumption.

Design  A three‐arm cluster randomized controlled trial.

Setting  Seven general medical, six general surgical, one dermatology and two otolaryngology wards of a large teaching hospital covering a large urban and rural area.

Participants  A total of 215 of 789 in‐patients aged 18–75 years, who screened positive for alcohol consumption in excess of national recommended limits according to a 7‐day retrospective drinking diary.

Interventions  Participants were allocated to receive one of three interventions: (i) face‐to‐face self‐efficacy enhancement; (ii) a self‐help booklet; or (iii) usual care.

Measurements  The primary outcome measure was change in reported alcohol consumption at 6‐month follow‐up as measured by a 7‐day retrospective drinking diary. Secondary outcomes were change in: number of alcohol drinking days in last week; the maximum units of alcohol consumed on any one day in last week; and Drinking Refusal Self‐efficacy Expectancy Questionnaire score.

Findings  Compared to the usual care group the self‐efficacy enhancement group (−10.1 units 95% CI −16.1 to −4.1) and the self‐help booklet group (−10.0 units 95% CI −16.0 to −3.9) had greater reductions in self‐reported weekly alcohol consumption. There was no evidence that self‐efficacy enhancement was superior to the self‐help booklet (P = 0.96).

Conclusions  Brief interventions delivered in hospital offer simple means of helping heavy drinkers to reduce their alcohol consumption.
Peer acceleration: effects of a social network tailored substance abuse prevention program among high‐risk adolescents
Authors: Valente Thomas W. , Ritt‐Olson Anamara , Stacy Alan , Unger Jennifer B. , Okamoto Janet , Sussman Steve
Published: September 2007

Objective To test whether a social network tailored substance abuse prevention program can reduce substance use among high‐risk adolescents without creating deviancy training (iatrogenic effects).

Methods A classroom randomized controlled trial comparing control classes with those receiving an evidence‐based substance use prevention program [Towards No Drug Abuse (TND)] and TND Network, a peer‐led interactive version of TND. Students (n = 541, mean age 16.3 years) in 75 classes from 14 alternative high schools completed surveys before and approximately 1 year after curriculum delivery. Past‐month use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine were assessed.

Results Overall, TND Network was effective in reducing substance use. However, the program effect interacted with peer influence and was effective mainly for students who had peer networks that did not use substances. Students with classroom friends who use substances were more likely to increase their use.

Conclusions A peer‐led interactive substance abuse prevention program can accelerate peer influences. For students with a peer environment that supports non‐use, the program was effective and reduced substance use. For students with a peer environment that supports substance use, an interactive program may have deleterious effects.
Managing the 2004/05 anthrax outbreak in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks, Uganda
Authors: Wafula Mapesa Moses , Patrick Atimnedi , Charles Tumwesigye
Published: September 2007

In August 2004, hippo mortality in the waters of Kazinga Channel, Lakes George and Edward within Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) was observed. Veterinary investigation confirmed the disease killing hippos to be anthrax, using clinical, postmortem and laboratory diagnosis, including the polymerase chain reaction technique. Anthrax is believed to have occurred in QENP in 1959, 1962 and 1991 amongst Hippopotamus amphibious but these was not as devastating as the outbreak of 2004–2005. During the outbreak, 306 hippopotami representing 11.63%, 63 zebras representing 1.47%, 60 buffaloes representing 0.9%, thirteen warthogs representing 0.69%, twelve kobs representing 0.07%, three waterbucks representing 0.09% and five elephants representing 0.02% died. A multisectoral National Taskforce was set up, to among other things contain the disease at source and halt its spread. Carcass disposal by burying and burning, decontamination of disposal sites by 10% formaldehyde, ring vaccination of cattle and sheep using blanthrax vaccine and community sensitization, were carried out by the taskforce. A surveillance programme is in place.
Serum and urinary myoglobin following an aborted malignant hyperthermia reaction
Authors: Laurence A. S. , Vanner G. K. , Collins W. , Hopkins P. M.
Published: September 2007

A 13‐year‐old boy presenting for correction of bat ears was anaesthetised with thiopentone and suxamethonium, the administration of which was followed by jaw spasm, poor peripheral perfusion (without cyanosis) and marked tachycardia. The procedure was abandoned, dantrolene and Ringer lactate IL were given intravenously and the patient regained consciousness I h later. Levels of serum myoglobin, urinary myoglobin and creatine kinase were followed until they returned to normal. Despite a peak serum myoglobin of 58 000 μg.l−1 and peak urinary level of 446 000 μg.1−1, no renal impairment occurred. Subsequent testing for susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia proved positive for the patient and four other members of the family.
Management of Caesarean delivery in the presence of a large pelvic vascular malformation
Authors: Gray C. , Richmond M. N. , Duncan S. L. B.
Published: September 2007

Caesarean section is associated with significant cardiovascular disturbances. We present a patient known to have a large pelvic arteriovenous malformation who underwent elective Caesarean section. To assist in the monitoring and management of the anticipated haemodynamic changes a flow directed pulmonary artery catheter with the capacity to allow continuous cardiac output measurement was used.
The laryngeal mask airway for thyroid and parathyroid surgery
Authors: Hobbiger H. E. , Allen J. G. , Greatorex R. G. , Denny N. M.
Published: September 2007

The role of the laryngeal mask airway for thyroid and parathyroid surgery was studied in 97 consecutive patients. In 50% the technique combined electrical stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve with visualisation of vocal cord movement via a fibreoptic bronchoscope. Stimulation was required in 10% to assist in identifying recurrent laryngeal nerve position during difficult surgical dissection. In the remaining 40% stimulation was used to confirm nerve integrity and for teaching purposes. Tracheal intubation was required for seven patients but in only two of these was intubation unplanned. The incidence of postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction was zero. These data suggest that the technique offers a safe alternative in airway management and may provide advantages in terms of preservation of recurrent laryngeal nerve function.
A comparison between the Macintosh and the McCoy laryngoscope blades
Authors: Cook T. M. , Tuckey J. P.
Published: September 2007

The view of the larynx using the Macintosh laryngoscope and the McCoy levering laryngoscope was assessed in 177 adult patients. The view with the McCoy blade in the neutral position and in the position (neutral or elevated) that gave the ‘best’ view were recorded. The McCoy blade in the neutral position was associated with a lower incidence of grade 1 views and a higher incidence of grade 2 views than the Macintosh blade. There was no difference in the incidence of grade 3 views. When views for each patient using the different blades were compared, the McCoy blade in the neutral position produced a worse view than the Macintosh blade (p < 0.0001). The view obtained with the McCoy blade in its ‘best’ position and the Macintosh blade were similar. In the 152 patients in whom the vocal cords were seen using the Macintosh blade, the view was worse using the McCoy blade in its ‘best’ position more often than it was better (p = 0.06). In 25 patients, the vocal cords could not be seen with the Macintosh blade; in these patients the view was better with the McCoy blade (the cords were visible) on 14 occasions and worse in one (p = 0.001). We conclude that the McCoy blade in its neutral position does not behave identically to the Macintosh blade. The McCoy blade is a useful aid to difficult intubation but should not replace the Macintosh blade as the first choice laryngoscope.
Vertebral fracture assessment in patients presenting with incident nonvertebral fractures
Authors: Howat Isobel , Carty David , Harrison Joyce , Fraser Mayrine , McLellan Alastair R.
Published: September 2007

Background  Patients with fractures should be prioritized for assessment for osteoporosis so that they can benefit from treatment for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Assessment is seldom offered to patients with vertebral fractures because these fractures are typically not diagnosed. Vertebral fractures can be identified by vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) using current dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanners.

Objective  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of vertebral fractures, using VFA, in patients presenting with nonvertebral fractures and to assess whether this impacts on the management of these patients.

Design  A cohort study undertaken in 577 patients aged 50 years or over including 455 women, who presented with nonvertebral fractures and who underwent routine post‐fracture assessment by a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS).

Measurements  The numbers and severity of vertebral fractures were assessed in evaluable vertebrae from TV4 to LV4 in addition to bone mineral density (BMD) assessment.

Results  Using DXA, 76% of vertebrae could be evaluated by VFA. Of the men and women with nonvertebral fractures, 19–20% had at least one vertebral fracture. The prevalence ranged from 6% in men with humeral fractures to 32% among women with hip fractures. The prevalence of vertebral fractures correlated most strongly with increasing age and with severity of reduction of BMD. Using local treatment protocols, VFA would result in only 3% more patients receiving treatment for fracture secondary prevention.

Conclusions  In patients with nonvertebral fractures, VFA identifies a substantial burden of prevalent vertebral fractures that have not hitherto been recognized. Nevertheless, VFA seldom influences the need for treatment for fracture secondary prevention after a nonvertebral fracture.
Glycohaemoglobin as a determinant of increased fibrinogen concentrations and low‐grade inflammation in apparently healthy nondiabetic individuals
Authors: Rogowski Ori , Shapira Itzhak , Peretz Hava , Berliner Shlomo
Published: September 2007

Objective  To determine the potential role of glycohaemoglobin as a possible determinant of increased fibrinogen concentrations and low‐grade inflammation in a group of apparently healthy, nondiabetic individuals not expressing clinically overt atherothrombosis.

Design and Main Outcome Measures  We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of the concentrations of glycohaemoglobin alongside the concentrations of quantitative fibrinogen and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP). In all, 1511 males and 757 apparently healthy females, without diabetes mellitus or clinically evident atherothrombotic disease, were enrolled in the study during their routine annual health check‐up.

Results  Glycohaemoglobin entered the linear regression models as a significant determinant of quantitative fibrinogen in both genders and of hs‐CRP in men. We found this to be true even following the inclusion of multiple variables known to influence the intensity of low‐grade inflammation, such as age, gender, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, medications, hormone therapy, glucose levels (normal or impaired fasting glucose), smoking habits, family history of coronary artery disease, lipid profile as well as alcohol consumption and sports intensity. We found glycohaemoglobin to be a significant determinant of fibrinogen concentrations in apparently healthy nondiabetic individuals not yet presenting with evident atherothrombosis.

Conclusions  This observation supports the idea that glycohaemoglobin might have an effect on fibrinogen concentrations in both genders and on hs‐CRP in men. Moreover, our results suggest that glycohaemoglobin should be perceived as a continuous variable without a ‘normal’ cut‐off point, as it may exhibit a detrimental role even when present in relatively low levels.
Clinicopathological correlations of Bcl‐xL and Bax expression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Martínez‐Brocca M. Asunción , Castilla Carolina , Navarro Elena , Amaya M. José , Travado Paulino , Japón Miguel A. , Sáez Carmen
Published: September 2007

Objective  The Bcl‐2 family proteins are essential mediators in the apoptotic process. Our aim was to investigate whether anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐xL and pro‐apoptotic Bax were over‐expressed in a large series of differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) and to study their association with tumour presentation at diagnosis and prognosis.

Design and Patients  We examined the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl‐xL and Bax in benign nodular thyroid disease (BNTD) and DTC and their association with clinicopathological parameters. Thyroid tissue samples were collected from an unselected series of patients undergoing surgical resection for DTC (n = 74) or BNTD (n = 15).

Results  Among DTC cases, expression of Bcl‐xL was found to be high in 43·2% and low or absent in 56·8%. Expression of Bax was high in 75·7% and low or absent in 24·3%. Non‐neoplastic thyroid tissue was largely unstained for both proteins. Among BNTD cases, expression of Bcl‐xL was high in 13·3% and low or absent in 86·6%. Expression of Bax was high in 14·3% and low or absent in 86·6%. A significant association was found between Bcl‐xL expression and the presence of high‐risk histological subtype (P < 0·05), and regional lymph node (P < 0·01) and distant metastases (P < 0·01). The association between high Bcl‐xL expression levels and a longer time of persistent disease after radioiodine ablation was also significant (P < 0·01). Bcl‐xL expression was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor for persistent disease in DTC (relative risk, 2·5; 95% confidence interval, 1·1–5·9; P < 0·05).

Conclusions  Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl‐xL might be a valuable tool in the prediction of tumour aggressiveness in DTC.
Presence of spondyloarthropathy and its clinical profile in patients with hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Goswami Ravinder , Ray Debarti , Sharma Raju , Tomar Neeraj , Gupta Rajiva , Gupta Nandita , Sreenivas Vishnubhatla
Published: September 2007

Background  Though spondyloarthropathy has been described in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH), the clinical profile is not known.

Objectives  To describe the clinical profile including radiological features of spondyloarthropathy and prevalence of HLA‐B27 allele in patients with hypoparathyroidism, and to identify any differences from ankylosing spondylitis.

Subjects and methods  Clinical characteristics and radiographs of pelvis and spine were assessed in 40 consecutive patients with SIH. Radiographs were assessed by radiologist (RS) and rheumatologist (RG) for the features of spondyloarthropathy including sacroiliitis, syndesmophytes and hip joint calcification, and so on. HLA‐B27 genotyping was carried out in patients with SIH, and 195 healthy controls using duplex PCR. Fourteen control radiographs were from age‐matched normal individuals.

Results  Three patients with SIH had clinically overt spondyloarthropathy which closely resembled ankylosing spondylitis. Fourteen (eight females and six males) of the 40 patients with SIH showed radiological changes including syndesmophytes in lower dorsal or dorso‐lumbar spine (n = 6), sacroiliitis and new bone formation at the acetabular rim of the hip joint (n = 10). Though all six patients demonstrating syndesmophytes had new bone formation at hip, sacroiliitis was seen in only three of them. None of the 14 controls had syndesmophytes, sacroiliitis or hip joint calcification.

The mean (SD) duration of illness (15·4 ± 8·7 vs. 6·5 ± 5·9 years, P < 0·01), BMI (24·1 ± 5·2 vs. 20·8 ± 3·7 kg/m2, P = 0·04) and frequency of basal ganglia calcification was higher (100%vs. 57·7%, P < 0·01) in patients who showed changes of spondyloarthropathy in comparison to those without these changes. On multiple logistic regression analysis, only duration of hypoparathyroid illness was associated with spondyloarthropathy with an odds ratio of 1·17 (95% CI = 1·05–1·30, P < 0·01) per year increase in the duration. The mean age, serum total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and serum intact PTH (iPTH) levels were not significantly different between SIH patients with and without spondyloarthropathy. The frequency of HLA‐B27 allele was comparable between SIH and the control groups.

Conclusions  Thus, spondyloarthropathy is a distinct clinical entity in patients with SIH. Its salient clinical features include presence of syndesmophytes at the thoracic or thoraco‐lumbar spine, mild sacroiliitis, calcification at the acetabular margin of hip, preserved bone density, equal distribution in both sexes and lack of HLA‐B27 association. Presence of spondyloarthropathy, like basal ganglia calcification, is associated with longer duration of hypoparathyroidism. It is important to differentiate hypoparathyroid‐related spondyloarthropathy from ankylosing spondylitis because the management for the two disorders is different.
Material stiffness, branching pattern and soil matric potential affect the pullout resistance of model root systems
Authors: Mickovski S. B. , Bengough A. G. , Bransby M. F. , Davies M. C. R. , Hallett P. D. , Sonnenberg R.
Published: September 2007

Understanding of the detailed mechanisms of how roots anchor in and reinforce soil is complicated by the variability and complexity of both materials. This study controlled material stiffness and architecture of root analogues, by using rubber and wood, and also employed real willow root segments, to investigate the effect on pullout resistance in wet and air‐dry sand. The architecture of model roots included either no laterals (tap‐root) or a single pair at two different locations (herringbone and dichotomous). During pullout tests, data on load and displacement were recorded. These studies were combined with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) image analysis of the model root‐soil system at a transparent interface during pullout to increase understanding of mechanical interactions along the root. Model rubber roots with small stiffness had increasing pullout resistance as the branching and the depth of the lateral roots increased. Similarly, with the stiff wooden root models, the models with lateral roots embedded deeper showed greatest resistance. PIV showed that rubber model roots mobilized their interface shear strength progressively whilst rigid roots mobilized it equally and more rapidly over the whole root length. Soil water suction increased the pullout resistance of the roots by increasing the effective stress and soil strength. Separate pullout tests conducted on willow root samples embedded in sand showed similar behaviour to the rigid model roots. These tests also demonstrated the effect of the root curvature and rough interface on the maximum pullout resistance.
A review and reassessment of lake phosphorus retention and the nutrient loading concept
Authors: BRETT MICHAEL T. , BENJAMIN MARK M.
Published: September 2007

1. We conducted a statistical reassessment of data previously reported in the lake total phosphorus (TP) input/output literature (n = 305) to determine which lake characteristics are most strongly associated with lake phosphorus concentration and retention. We tested five different hypotheses for predicting lake TP concentrations and phosphorus retention.

2. The Vollenweider phosphorus mass loading model can be expressed as: TPout = TPin/(1 + στw), where TPin is the flow‐weighted input TP concentration, τw is the lake hydraulic retention time and σ is a first‐order rate constant for phosphorus loss.

3. The inflow‐weighted TP input concentration is a moderately strong predictor (r2 = 0.71) of lake phosphorus concentrations when using log–log transformed data. Lake TP retention is negatively correlated with lake hydraulic retention time (r2 = 0.35).

4. Of the approaches tested, the best fit to observed data was obtained by estimating σ as an inverse function of the lake's hydraulic retention time. Although this mass balance approach explained 84% of the variability in log–log transformed data, the prediction error for individual lakes was quite high.

5. Estimating σ as the ratio of a putative particle settling velocity to the mean lake depth yielded poorer predictions of lake TP (r2 = 0.77) than the approach described above, and in fact did not improve model performance compared with simply assuming that σ is a constant for all lakes.

6. Our results also demonstrate that changing the flow‐weighted input concentration should always have a directly proportionate impact on lake phosphorus concentrations, provided the type of phosphorus loaded (e.g. dissolved or particulate) does not vary.
Size‐fractionated phytoplankton biomass and its implications for the dynamics of an oligotrophic tropical lake
Authors: ADAME MARÍA FERNANDA , ALCOCER JAVIER , ESCOBAR ELVA
Published: September 2007

1. Size‐fractionated phytoplankton biomass was examined in relation to the hydrodynamics of tropical Lake Alchichica from 1999 to 2002.

2. Alchichica is a warm monomictic lake, in which mixing takes place from late December to early March. The lake is oligotrophic (mean total chlorophyll‐a concentration 4.2 ± 4.2 μg L−1) and its phytoplankton biomass is dominated (72.3 ± 16.4%) by large individuals (>2 μm). The degree of dominance of the large size class (nano‐ and microplankton) over the small size class (picoplankton) throughout the year is mainly determined by the availability of silicate and the Si/N ratio in the hypolimnion prior to the mixing period.

3. This is the first record of an oligotrophic tropical lake dominated by large size fractions of phytoplankton. Because of this dominance, the fate of most primary productivity is rapid sedimentation to the bottom followed by decomposition that promotes an anoxic hypolimnion.

4. Our findings in tropical Lake Alchichica challenge the idea that oligotrophic waters are dominated by small phytoplankton, as has been well established for the oligotrophic ocean and temperate lakes.
Life‐history constraints and warning signal expression in an arctiid moth
Authors: OJALA K. , LINDSTRÖM L. , MAPPES J.
Published: September 2007

Traditionally, large pattern elements in conspicuous warning signals are assumed to be selected by predation because increasing signal strength enhances education and avoidance of predators. However, variation in the colour pattern of a warningly coloured species often exists even within a location, and many warning signals have relatively small pattern elements. This suggests that there must be opposing selection pressures that can constrain warning signal expression, resulting in variation in warning signals as well as suboptimal signals for predator education.

We quantified the variation in the warning signal ofParasemia plantaginis‐moth larvae. With a full‐sib rearing experiment, we tested whether this variation has a genetic as well as an environmental component, by measuring the warning signal size of the developing larvae that were reared on eitherRumexor an artificial diet. We also measured whether signal development was correlated to other life‐history variables.

We show that the relative size of the warning signal varies among families but increases with larval age. The signal development also has an environmental component, since signal size develops more slowly and remains smaller in larvae feeding on the artificial diet than in those feeding onRumex. Also, larvae with a short development time produced large warning signals. We also found that the larvae with a large orange signal were more likely to survive to adulthood.

Our results suggest that diet and life‐history correlates can constrain development of the warning signal. Our study underlines the importance of considering life‐histories of animals, not only predation, when studying the evolution of warning signals. Constraints of multiple selection pressures should be incorporated into the theory of the evolution of aposematism.
Experimental analysis of body size and shape during critical life‐history events of hatchling slider turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans
Authors: MYERS E. M. , TUCKER J. K. , CHANDLER C. H.
Published: September 2007

A fundamental goal of examining life‐histories is to identify those traits that enable organisms to move from one stage of life to another; however, traits that are important in one stage or event may not be important in subsequent cases. For long‐lived taxa like turtles, studies of early life stages might be especially revealing because mortality is high during those times.

In this study, we examined several morphological characters in hatchling turtles to assess their relationships with hatchling performance and survival. We assessed hatchling plastron shape and body size during a release–recapture field experiment and in subsequent swimming performance trials in the laboratory.

Hatchling mass and plastron shape were correlated. Heavier turtles were relatively shorter and wider than lighter turtles.

Hatchling mass had a significant positive correlation with both recapture rate, a proxy measure of survivorship, and with swimming speed.

Plastron shape and recapture probability were not significantly correlated, but shape was a significant predictor of swimming performance. Shorter, wider turtles swam faster than longer, skinnier individuals. We hypothesize that this may be advantageous for quick‐start swimming to escape predation, a function of longer legs, or improved range of motion.

These data support previous studies that demonstrated the importance of hatchling size for survival in the critical overland migration from nests to the water and also document the impact of body shape on basic life‐history traits for neonatal turtles.