bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New indication for endoscopic treatment of colorectal carcinoma with submucosal invasion
Authors: SHIMOMURA TETSUYA , ISHIGURO SHINGO , KONISHI HIDEYUKI , WAKABAYASHI NAOKI , MITSUFUJI SHOJI , KASUGAI TSUTOMU , MANOU MASAYUKI , KODAMA TADASHI
Published: December 2003

Background and Aims:  Although an increasing number of early colorectal cancers (CRC) have been curatively treated by endoscopy, there have been no definitive criteria to decide the effectiveness of such therapy. We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological factors to establish criteria for curative endoscopic treatment of early CRC.

Methods:  First, risk factors of lymph node metastasis were analyzed in 171 patients who received surgery with postoperative histology of CRC submucosal invasion. The resultant new criteria were evaluated in another 60 patients who experienced endoscopic resection of CRC and surgery according to the current criteria most often used in Japan.

Results:  In the first substudy, lymph node metastasis was present in 18 of 171 patients (10.5%). Lymphatic permeation, sprouting and infiltrative growth of cancer cells were identified as histological factors significantly related to lymph node metastasis, and observed in much higher rates when the depth of submucosal invasion was beyond 1500 micron. The minimum depth with positive lymph nodes was 1075 micron. In the second group of 60 patients, lymph node metastasis was recorded in none of nine patients who met our new criteria of complete endoscopic treatment: submucosal invasion below 1500 micron in depth, and no lymphatic permeation, sprouting or infiltrative growth pattern on tumor histology. Lymph node metastasis was positive in three of the other cases who did not meet our new criteria.

Conclusions:  The present study showed that endoscopic treatment of early CRC may be considered complete when submucosal invasion beyond 1500 micron, lymphatic permeation, sprouting, and infiltrating growth are all denied.
Absence of hemochromatosis associated Cys282Tyr HFE gene mutation and low frequency of hemochromatosis phenotype in nonalcoholic chronic liver disease patients in India
Authors: THAKUR V , GUPTAN RC , HASHMI AZ , SAKHUJA P , MALHOTRA V , SARIN SK
Published: December 2003

Background and Aim:  Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is an autosomal recessive disorder causing primary iron overload syndrome and chronic liver disease (CLD). This genetic disease is commonly associated with C282Y mutation of the HFE gene, commonly seen in the Northern European population. Minor reports on HHC are available from Asia, however, so far no genetic study is available from India. We prospectively studied the prevalence of C282Y mutation in CLD patients and healthy subjects in a tertiary care referral center in India.

Methods:  A total of 249 consecutive biopsy proven CLD (HBV = 112, HCV = 72, cryptogenic = 65) patients and 134 age matched healthy controls were included. Cases of secondary iron overload, pregnancy, chronic alcoholism, age < 30 years and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were excluded. A transferrin saturation index (TSI) of >60% was suggestive of a phenotypic presentation of HHC. C282Y mutation was studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using genomic DNA. The 387 bp fragment obtained after polymerase chain reaction was digested with 10 units of endonuclease Rsa1. The mutation was detected by creation of an additional restriction site, giving rise to fragments of 247 111 and 29 bp.

Results:  While the mean TSI was comparable, serum ferritin was significantly higher in CLD patients compared to controls (38 ± 16%vs 28 ± 13%; p = not significant (NS), and 125 ± 18 vs 42 ± 25 ng/mL; p < 0.001). A TSI of >60% was detected in 24 (9.64%) patients. Only one restriction site was found for endonuclease Rsa1, giving rise to two fragments of 247 and 140 bp, suggesting absence of C282Y mutation in the HFE gene in all patients.

Conclusions:  Almost 10% of nonalcoholic CLD patients in India have iron overload, but this is independent of C282Y mutation of the HFE gene. Large population based studies are recommended to investigate the prevalence of this rare disorder in India.
Three different subsite classification systems for carcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ, but is it all one disease?
Authors: DOLAN KEVIN , MORRIS ANTHONY I , GOSNEY JOHN R , FIELD JOHN K , SUTTON ROBERT
Published: December 2003

Background and Aim:  Currently there are three different subsite classification systems for carcinomas in the region of the gastroesophaeal junction (GEJ), namely ICD‐O, Munich and Liverpool. The aim of the present study was to compare clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features of adenocarcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ, classified according to their position with respect to the GEJ initially, and then classified according to ICD‐O, Munich and Liverpool classifications.

Methods:  Forty‐seven adenocarcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ were subdivided into groups 1 (exclusively within esophagus), 2 (mainly within esophagus but extending distally across GEJ), 3 (equally present in esophagus and stomach) or 4 (mainly in stomach but extending proximally across GEJ), and analysis of their clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features was performed. Molecular characterization included loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability analyses.

Results:  Group 3 carcinomas were younger than other carcinomas in the proximity of the GEJ, but otherwise these carcinomas were similar in their clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features. There were no significant differences between esophageal (groups 1 and 2) and gastric (groups 3 and 4) carcinomas as classified by ICD‐O. Munich types I (groups 1 and 2), II (group 3) and III (group 4) carcinomas of the GEJ were also similar. LOH at the site of the Rb tumor suppressor gene and at 17p11.1‐p12 was more common in GEJ (groups 2, 3 and 4) than lower third (group 1) esophageal carcinomas classified according to the Liverpool system.

Conclusion:  Overall, adenocarcinomas of the lower esophagus and adenocarcinomas involving the GEJ have similar clinicoepidemiological, pathological and molecular features no matter which subsite classification is used, adding further evidence that they represent the same disease.
A prospective study of the effects of regular sports practice on mortality among the elderly in a rural community in Japan: An 8‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Kim Hunkyung , Suzuki Takao , Iwasa Hajime , Yoshida Hideyo
Published: December 2003

Background: Regular exercise and sports practice are considered effective to maintain the health and quality of life of the elderly, and even to decrease mortality. The present study aimed to clarify the relation between regular sports practice and relatively long‐term mortality among the community‐dwelling elderly and to determine whether regular sports practice is an independent risk factor for all‐cause mortality.

Methods: In  a population‐based prospective study, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Longitudinal Interdisciplinary Study on Aging (TMIG‐LISA), 748 community‐dwelling persons aged 65 and older who participated in the baseline survey in August 1992 were followed annually for 8 years with respect to mortality.

Results: Excluding 22 early deaths that occurred during the first two years of follow‐up, a total of 158 deaths (83 males and 75 females) were confirmed during the 8‐year follow‐up period. Univariate analysis showed that subjects practicing sports regularly a had significantly higher score for instrumental activities of daily living (I‐ADL), higher alcohol drinking rate, and faster usual walking speed (P < 0.001). To determine the independent risk factors for mortality, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was conducted using sex, age, regular sports practicing habit, current smoking habit, current alcohol drinking habit, I‐ADL (from the subscale of TMIG‐Index of Competence), and usual walking speed. Regular sports practice did not reduce the risk of death, while sex (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), I‐ADL (P < 0.05), and usual walking speed (P < 0.001) were identified as significant independent predictors for all‐cause mortality among the elderly people living in the rural community.

Conclusion: Regular sports practice has no significant effect on mortality; however, keeping a higher walking speed in daily life is a strongly relevant capability for regular sports practice and a significant predictor of prolonged active live expectancy.
Prevalence of depressive symptoms among the elderly: A longitudinal study
Authors: Niino Naoakira , Ihara Kazushige , Suzuki Takao , Shibata Hiroshi
Published: December 2003

Aim:  Depression is a common psychiatric problem in late life. The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community‐dwelling elderly, both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally.

Methods:  This study was a part of the community study in a large cohort of elderly people aged 65 and over in Nangai Village, Japan. Data on depressive symptoms from the fifth survey in 2000 were analyzed cross‐sectionally and also combined with data from the first survey in 1992 to assess aging and cohort effects. Depressive symptoms were measured by the short form of Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results:  Among 1195 respondents at the fifth survey, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22.3%. In 457 subjects who responded at both surveys, mean depression score or prevalence of depressive symptoms tended to be higher at the fifth survey than at the first survey. The difference in prevalence between the first survey and the fifth survey among individuals of the same age groups was significant only in the oldest group (77 years and over).

Conclusion:  Among Japanese community‐dwelling elderly people, aging effects on depressive symptoms were found, though marked cohort effects were not confirmed.
Factorial invariance of the physical performance measures in longitudinal study of aging: A simultaneous analysis approach
Authors: Sugiura Miho , Furuna Taketo , Nishizawa Satoshi , Nagasaki Hiroshi , Itoh Hajime , Kinugasa Takashi , Okuzumi Hideyuki , Suzuki Takao
Published: December 2003

In this study, we examined the factorial structure of the physical performance measures and the longitudinal invariance of elderly people in the community. The subjects were investigated in Akita as part of TMG‐LISA. Data used in this study were from 463 older adults who participated in all the physical performance tests, both in the baseline (1992) and the 4‐year follow‐up (1996) investigation. The test battery consisted of six items (hand power, walking, and balance). There were longitudinal aging changes in gender and age in all of the measurements between the baseline research and the follow‐up research, except for the one‐leg standing with eyes closed test. The factorial invariance of the structure in these measures taken in 1992 and 1996 was confirmed through the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the structural equation modeling, controlled for gender and age. As a preliminary step for analysis of factorial invariance, we analyzed the fitting basic motor ability model to cross‐sectional data of the baseline and follow‐up. As a result of the analysis, the fitness levels of each data of the models were good. Then, we applied simultaneous analysis and analyzed longitudinal changes in the factorial structure of measurements. The results were that there were the same factors in the factorial structure model of physical performance measured in both the baseline and follow‐up investigation, and that their arrangements were identical. Furthermore, we find that there was no difference in all factor‐loading in both models being investigated. These results statistically indicated that there were no signs of aging changes in factorial structure of the measures between the baseline investigations and the follow‐up 4 years later in spite of the longitudinal decline of the values of physical performance tests. Moreover, it was indicated that the simultaneous analysis, which this research used, was applicable for statistical analysis procedure of factorial invariance of various repeated measures on studies of aging, as a longitudinal study.
Effects of osteoporotic fractures on quality of life‐related variables in the community elderly in Japan: An 8‐year follow‐up study in TMIG‐LISA
Authors: Yoshida Hideyo , Suzuki Takao , Kim Hunkyung , Yukawa Harumi , Watanabe Shuichiro , Kumagai Shu , Shinkai Shoji , Ishizaki Tatsuro
Published: December 2003

Background:  The purpose of this study was to investigate the long‐term influence of osteoporotic fractures on (1) self‐rated health (SRH); (2) instrumental activity of daily living (I‐ADL); and (3) state of depression, all of which are the major variables related to quality of life (QOL) in the elderly.

Methods:  The subjects were 504 men and women who participated in the Longitudinal Interdisciplinary Study on Aging conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG‐LISA) from 1992 to 2000. Among those interviewed, 50 participants (15 males and 35 females) who sustained fractures spontaneously or by minor trauma were diagnosed as having osteoporotic fractures.

A nested case‐control (1 : 1) study with sex‐and age‐matched controls was conducted as statistical analysis to identify the effects of osteoporotic fractures on QOL‐related variables.

Results:  For self‐rated health, the frequency of ‘poor’ self‐rated health increased significantly in the cases from 19.6% at baseline (1992) to 42.6% at the 8‐year follow‐up (2000). In the controls, there was no significant increase in frequency of ‘poor’ rating.

The proportion of subjects with impaired I‐ADL during 8 years increased significantly in the cases from 12.0% in 1992 to 38.0% in 2000, and also in the controls from 14.0% in 1992 to 36.0% in 2000.

The prevalence of depressive status increased in the cases from 32.6% to 50.0%. There was, however, no statistically significant difference between cases and controls.

Conclusion:  The results suggest that osteoporotic fractures at any site are associated with serious and remarkable decline of overall QOL‐related variables among the community elderly.
Changes in TMIG‐Index of Competence by subscale in Japanese urban and rural community older populations: Six years prospective study
Authors: Fujiwara Yoshinori , Shinkai Shoji , Kumagai Shu , Amano Hidenori , Yoshida Yuko , Yoshida Hideyo , Kim Hunkyung , Suzuki Takao , Ishizaki Tatsuro , Watanabe Shuichiro , Haga Hiroshi , Shibata Hiroshi
Published: December 2003

Objective:  To examine the longitudinal changes in higher‐level functional capacity in Japanese urban and rural community older populations.

Design:  Population‐based cross‐sectional, and prospective cohort studies.

Setting:  Koganei city in a suburb of Tokyo, and Nangai village, Akita Prefecture, Japan.

Participants:  One thousand, five hundred and six older persons (793 in Koganei and 713 in Nangai) aged 65–83 years living at home.

Main outcome measures:  Disability in Instrumental Self‐Maintenance (IADL), Intellectual Activity or Social Role, measured by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence.

Results:  At baseline, older men and women in the rural area, Nangai, had higher prevalence of disability in Intellectual Activity compared with respective counterparts in the urban area, Koganei. By contrast, disability in Social Role was more prevalent among elderly people in Koganei than in Nangai. In both areas older men and women had lowest prevalence of disability in IADL among three subscales. The six‐year longitudinal survey on older persons who had initially no disability in all three subscales demonstrated that in urban Koganei older persons were most likely to be disabled in Social Role with advancing age, followed in turn by Intellectual Activity and IADL. By contrast, elderly people in rural Nangai were most likely to be disabled in Intellectual Activity, followed by Social Role and instrumental ADL. The Cox‐proportional hazard model analysis for those who had no IADL disability at baseline revealed that the baseline level of Intellectual Activity or Social Role predicted significantly future onset of IADL disability in both areas even after controlling for sex, age, and chronic medical conditions.

Conclusions:  In both urban and rural community older populations, disability in Social Role and Intellectual Activity preceded IADL disability, and predicted significantly the future onset of IADL disability.
Aging‐related changes of food intake in elderly subjects living in an urban community and relation with vital prognosis: Results of an 8‐year longitudinal study (TMIG‐LISA)
Authors: Yukawa Harumi , Suzuki Takao
Published: December 2003

Purpose:  We conducted an 8‐year longitudinal study to investigate aging‐related changes in food and nutrient intake in a cohort of elderly subjects living in an urban community, and attempted to relate food intake with vital prognosis.

Procedures:  The first (baseline) nutrition survey was conducted in 1991 on 161 subjects (72 males and 89 females; aged 65–79) living in Koganei City. The second nutrition survey was conducted 8 years later in 1999. Excluding death or illness, 98 subjects (61%) were available for follow‐up. Nutrition survey was conducted by a three‐day dietary record method with daily home visits by dieticians. Aging‐related changes in physical attributes, food intake, nutrient intake, and intake adequacy were analyzed. The relationship between nutrition intake and mortality was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard model.

Results:  (i) Weight and body mass index in females decreased significantly accompanying aging. (ii) Among all food groups, consumption of fruits was significantly lowered in males and females. (iii) Significantly decreased intake of protein, fats, carbohydrate, iron, sodium was observed in females. (iv) No change in protein–fat–carbohydrate energy ratio was observed. (v) Nutrient intake was greater than the recommended dietary allowances at baseline and also eight years later. (vi) A significant correlation was observed between vegetable protein intake and vital prognosis in males.

Conclusion:  In the present cohort, although nutrient and food intake changed with aging, nutrient intake was higher than the recommended dietary allowances. These results show that a ‘diet for healthy longevity’ is achieved by continuing to maintain the recommended dietary allowances despite age advancement.
Information content, audit reports and going‐concern: an Australian study
Authors: Bessell Max , Anandarajan Asokan , Umar Ahson
Published: December 2003

Research conducted on the information content of going concern ‘modified’ reports in the USA and UK indicates that a modified audit report does not appear to have information content to users if the going concern contingency is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. In the present study, we provide evidence from Australia. We examine whether modification/qualification by an auditor in Australia (an ‘Emphasis of Matter’ and an ‘Except for’ report, respectively) has information content to a user. The results indicate that for a company in a state of financial distress, the modification, in either form, does not appear to significantly enhance either perceptions of risk or decision‐making.
Investment manager characteristics, strategy, top management changes and fund performance
Authors: Gallagher David R.
Published: December 2003

The present study examines the performance of Australian investment management organisations with direct reference to their specific characteristics and strategies employed. Using a unique information source, performance is evaluated for actively managed institutional balanced funds, Australian share funds and Australian bond funds. For balanced mandates, performance is evaluated with respect to the investment strategy adopted, the experience and qualifications held by investment professionals, and the tenure of the key investment professionals. The present study examines the performance of top management and the impact on returns when turnover arises. The research documents that a significant number of active Australian equity managers earned superior risk‐adjusted returns in the period, however, active managers perform in line with market indices for balanced funds and Australian bond funds. A number of manager characteristics are also found to predict risk‐adjusted returns, systematic risk and investment expenses for balanced funds.
Knowledge transfer costs and dependence as determinants of financial reporting
Authors: Hay David
Published: December 2003

Abstract This paper examines the circumstances in which financial reporting exists. Jensen and Meckling (1995) observe that where there are high knowledge transfer costs, then decentralisation is necessary; and that where decentralisation occurs there is a control problem, which can be addressed by providing a control system. I predict that where there are high knowledge transfer costs there will be a control system; if the control system uses financial reports, these will occur for activities with high knowledge transfer costs. The ability to decentralise is reduced where dependence makes it potentially costly to allow a subordinate to make decisions about the activity. The paper predicts that high dependence will be negatively associated with the existence of financial reports. The results confirm the predictions that financial reports are positively associated with knowledge transfer costs and negatively associated with dependence.
The tick/volatility ratio as a determinant of the compass rose: empirical evidence from decimalisation on the NYSE
Authors: McKenzie Michael D. , Frino Alex
Published: December 2003

Recent research suggests that volatility has an important role to play in the appearance of the compass rose pattern. The introduction of decimal prices on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides an ideal opportunity to test this hypothesis using actual market data. The empirical evidence presented in this paper suggests that the 85 per cent reduction in the tick/volatility ratio resulting from the decimalisation of prices was not sufficient to eliminate the compass rose pattern.
An analysis of the implications of diversity for students’ first level accounting performance
Authors: Rankin Michaela , Silvester Mark , Vallely Mark , Wyatt Anne
Published: December 2003

The present study investigates the impact of student diversity on performance of first‐year undergraduate accounting students. The paper is motivated by (i) increasing diversity amongst the accounting student cohort because of the trend to internationalise education services in industrialised countries; and (ii) inconsistent and inconclusive prior evidence on the determinants of accounting student performance. The major contribution of the present paper is to provide a theoretical framework from the published educational literature that can explain much of the variation in the findings of prior studies. We employ this framework to develop and test several propositions in relation to students’ prior content and metacognitive knowledge. The results indicate students studying on‐campus significantly outperform students studying by distance education. On average, international students studying on‐campus perform better than domestic students (studying either on‐ or off‐campus), with international students studying off‐campus performing worst of all. Prior high school accounting, tertiary entrance score and motivation (reflected by both major of study and tutorial attendance) also influence student performance.
Exchange Rates and Cohesion: Historical Perspectives and Political‐Economy Considerations
Authors: EICHENGREEN BARRY , LEBLANG DAVID
Published: December 2003

We consider the political economy of exchange rate choice and its implications for economic growth from an historical perspective. Previous studies have tended to find only a weak association between the choice of exchange rate regime on the one hand and growth and cohesion on the other. Our findings confirm this negative result, but then go on to explain it by showing that the implications of the exchange rate regime for growth and cohesion are context‐specific. They show that the choice of entry rate is important and that when the global monetary regime operates as an engine of deflation it is inadvisable for countries to link up to it. We draw out the implications of these findings for the debate over Britain and the euro.
Monetary Union and the Economic Geography of Europe
Authors: MIDELFART KAREN‐HELENE , OVERMAN HENRY G. , VENABLES ANTHONY J.
Published: December 2003

Monetary union is likely to change the spatial structure of economic activity in the EU. This article reviews what is known about these effects and discusses the implications for EMU. We argue that EMU is likely to promote a modest increase in specialization amongst EU countries, although industry‐specific shocks are sufficiently small for this not to pose further difficulties for macroeconomic management. Improvements in market access are likely to raise income levels in insiders relative to outsiders. Taking a very long‐term view, the urban structure of the EU might be expected to become more polarized, developing a steeper size distribution.
Social Union, Convergence and Migration
Authors: SINN HANS‐WERNER , OCHEL WOLFGANG
Published: December 2003

The forces of the market and systems competition bring about economic and social convergence in Europe, and there is no need for social policies at the EU level. Social harmonization would distort migration flows and slow down the speed of economic convergence. National welfare states will be threatened by the free migration of people in Europe. The race to the bottom is a serious risk. However, to contain this risk, neither harmonization of welfare payments nor constraints on migration are needed. The adoption of the principle of selectively delayed integration is a better alternative.
Perceived flavour changes in blue mould cheese after tasting white wine‡
Authors: Nygren Ingemar T. , Gustafsson Inga‐Britt , Johansson Lisbeth
Published: December 2003

The object of this study was to evaluate by descriptive sensory analysis how prior tasting of dry white wine affects the sensory perception of blue mould cheese. Two blue mould cheeses, a Swedish one, Bredsjö Blå (Bredsjö Mjölkfår AB, Sweden), and a French one, Roquefort (Roquefort Société, France), were tasted in combination with five commercial dry white wines. Nine trained assessors assessed the cheeses and the wines in sequential order, with the cheese being assessed before and after tasting the wines. The main findings were that the most pronounced characteristics of the Bredsjö Blå, such as buttery and woolly flavours, and the saltiness and sour taste of the Roquefort, decreased after tasting dry white wine.
Quality changes during the storage of sous vide processed soybean sprouts soup
Authors: Koo Kyoung‐Mo , Lyu Eun Soon , Kim Jae Cherl , Lee Dong Sun , Paik Hyun‐Dong
Published: December 2003

Soybean sprouts soup was made by mixing 100 g blanched soybean sprouts with 400 mL tap water containing 0.8% salt. The soup was vacuum packed in a plastic bag and cooked at 97°C with subsequent rapid cooling. Packaged samples were stored in a refrigerating chamber at 3 and 10°C. Sous vide (cook‐chill) soybean sprouts soup was evaluated for physicochemical quality changes and microbial safety during storage to examine the possibility of shelf‐life extension and industrial application. The physicochemical changes examined were colour, texture and concentration of ascorbic acid. More deterioration in the quality of the soybean sprouts soup was found when stored at 10°C than at 3°C. Initial numbers of aerobic, anaerobic and psychrophilic bacteria were high but those of heat resistant bacteria, yeast and molds were low in the raw soybean sprouts. Finally no microorganisms were detected after sous vide processing. The sous vide soybean sprouts soup received high scores in all sensory evaluations and did not differ significantly from the freshly cooked soup. We conclude that soybean sprouts soup prepared in the described manner may be stored for at least 6 days under chilled conditions and used by the food service industry with good quality characteristics.
Better than their reputation? – Do hotel and restaurant students drink more?‡
Authors: Larsen Svein , Jørgensen Helge
Published: December 2003

It has been suggested that workers in the hotel and restaurant sector are high consumers of alcohol. Larsen (1994), for example, reported that students in restaurant and hotel administration programmes obtained higher scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) than other students. The present study was designed to test whether the self‐selection or the learning and socialization explanation better accounts for these findings. Students (n = 172) studying for various careers within the service sector were surveyed. Students in tourism (including hotel and restaurant) programmes and students who had had some work experience from the industry obtained the highest AUDIT scores. However, when controlling for age in a multiple regression model predicting alcohol use, the effects of study group and work experience disappeared. These results are inconclusive, although if workers in the tourism, hotel and restaurant industries actually drink more, the results may be interpreted as supportive of the socialization hypothesis.
Widening HACCP implementation in the catering industry
Authors: Worsfold Denize , Griffith Christopher J.
Published: December 2003

It is anticipated that new European Union requirements will make Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) controls mandatory for every food business other than primary producers, irrespective of size. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set itself the targets of a reduction in foodborne disease of 20% by 2006 and 30% of food businesses to be operating such controls by 2004. Although it has been argued that HACCP is not well suited for the catering industry, the FSA has formulated an action plan for this sector, which includes training, provision of guidance materials, business support and monitoring. The FSA in Wales has funded local authorities to raise the HACCP awareness of caterers by a variety of methods. An evaluation of caterers’ perceptions of HACCP and hygiene was undertaken. Results indicate that the understanding of risk, hazards and risk management was low but caterers were not hostile to this system of food hygiene management. A sector‐specific hygiene and HACCP course was designed, delivered and evaluated. The reactions and performance of caterers on the free course were good. The short‐ and longer‐term evaluation of this approach may contribute to the widening HACCP strategy.
A comparative analysis of ‘plated’ and ‘bulk trolley’ hospital food service systems*
Authors: Hartwell Heather J. , Edwards John S. A.
Published: December 2003

It has been recognized that hospital food service could be improved with malnutrition a target concern. The hypothesis of this study is that a food service system that enables patients to see and smell the food on offer and interact with the staff serving the meals will result in better patient nutritional intake and increased meal satisfaction. Data were collected from two wards, Women's Health and Orthopaedic (patients n = 31 in each study), over two 3‐day consecutive periods. First, for a pre‐ordered, plated meal service; and second, 9 months later, for a trolley service offering choice at the point of consumption. Food was weighed before and after the meal experience. Questionnaires were also administered and interviews were conducted with the patients (n = 614) to evaluate patients’ acceptability of both catering systems. Results show that nutritional intake was not dependent on the catering systems and that possibly in hospital, unlike other ‘eating out’ situations, there are barriers to ‘complete nutrition’. However, patient satisfaction was improved with the trolley system, where 93% of patients were satisfied compared to 76% with the plate system. This research indicates that nutritionally, the method of meal delivery is immaterial but patients do prefer choice at the point of consumption.
A three‐factor approach to understanding food quality: the product, the person and the environment*
Authors: Meiselman Herbert L.
Published: December 2003

Food quality and food acceptability were judged from the product alone in the early 20th century, and from the product and consumer beginning in the middle of the 20th century. Later we began to realize the importance of the context or environment in judgments of product quality and assessments of product acceptability. This paper reviews the growth of the three factor approach to understanding quality and acceptability, and presents an example of current research in each. Meal context, expectations, and eating location research are reviewed as examples of the three factor approach. The importance of context is emphasized throughout the review.
Domestic cooking practices and cooking skills: findings from an English study*
Authors: Short Frances
Published: December 2003

This paper reports on a study that came about in response to a rising interest in and concern about the increased availability and use of preprepared foods in Britain and the effect this might have on people's cooking abilities, their health, family relationships and well‐being, and the food industry. The qualitative study of 30 domestic cooks living in England, aimed to examine the nature of cooking skills and cooking practices and the beliefs, values and opinions of domestic cooks. It did so in order to establish a theoretical and empirically based ‘way of thinking’ about domestic cooking and cooking skills that could be used to develop current academic and popular discourses about cooking and inform policy makers and researchers. The findings revealed a complexity that has not previously been clearly acknowledged. It was found that cooking skills can be seen as either task‐centred or as person‐centred and contextual (and hence as specifically ‘domestic’ or ‘professional’) and as consisting of perceptual, conceptual and organizational skills as well as practical, mechanical skills and academic knowledge. Not only was the highly individual nature of approaches to cooking revealed but also an intricate and shared ‘domestic cooking culture’. Further, it was found that there is no simple, clear cut relationship between the domestic cooks’ skills and knowledge and their domestic cooking practices and food choices (frequency of cooking, techniques applied, use of preprepared and fresh, raw foods and so on).
Measurement of elastic nonlinearity of soft solid with transient elastography
Authors: Catheline S. , Gennisson J.-L. , Fink M.
Published: December 2003

Transient elastography is a powerful tool to measure the speed of low-frequency shear waves in soft tissues and thus to determine the second-order elastic modulus μ (or the Young’s modulus E). In this paper, it is shown how transient elastography can also achieve the measurement of the nonlinear third-order elastic moduli of an Agar-gelatin-based phantom. This method requires speed measurements of polarized elastic waves measured in a statically stressed isotropic medium. A static uniaxial stress induces a hexagonal anisotropy (transverse isotropy) in solids. In the special case of uniaxially stressed isotropic media, the anisotropy is not caused by linear elastic coefficients but by the third-order nonlinear elastic constants, and the medium recovers its isotropic properties as soon as the uniaxial stress disappears. It has already been shown how transient elastography can measure the elastic (second-order) moduli in a media with transverse isotropy such as muscles. Consequently this method, based on the measurement of the speed variations of a low-frequency (50-Hz) polarized shear strain waves as a function of the applied stress, allows one to measure the Landau moduli A, B, C that completely describe the third-order nonlinearity. The several orders of magnitude found among these three constants can be justified from the theoretical expression of the internal energy.
Thermal effects on acoustic streaming in standing waves
Authors: Hamilton Mark F. , Ilinskii Yurii A. , Zabolotskaya Evgenia A.
Published: December 2003

Acoustic streaming generated by standing waves in channels of arbitrary width is investigated analytically. In a previous paper by the authors [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 113, 153–160 (2003)], a purely viscous fluid in a two-dimensional channel was considered. That analysis is extended here to a gas in which heat conduction and dependence of the viscosity on temperature are taken into account. Calculations are presented for typical working gases used in thermoacoustic engines at standard temperature and pressure. In channels that are very wide in comparison with the viscous penetration depth, which is the Rayleigh streaming regime, the influence of the two thermal effects is comparable but small. The same is true in very narrow channels, having widths on the order of the viscous penetration depth. In channels having intermediate widths, 10–20 times the viscous penetration depth, the effect of heat conduction can be substantial. The analysis is performed for cylindrical tubes as well as two-dimensional channels, and the results are found to be qualitatively the same.
Acoustic field of a wedge-shaped section of a spherical cap transducer
Authors: Ketterling Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2003

The acoustic pressure field at an arbitrary point in space is derived for a wedge-shaped section of a spherical cap transducer using the spatial impulse response (SIR) method. For a spherical surface centered at the origin, a wedge shape is created by taking cuts in the X–Y and X–Z planes and removing the smallest surface component. Analytic expressions are derived for the SIR based on spatial location. The expressions utilize the SIR solutions for a spherical cap transducer [Arditi et al., Ultrason. Imaging 3, 37–61 (1981)] with additional terms added to account for the reduced surface area of the wedge. Results from the numerical model are compared to experimental measurements from a wedge transducer with an 8-cm outer diameter and 9-cm geometric focus. The experimental and theoretical −3-dB beamwidths agreed to within 10%±5%. The SIR model for a wedge-shaped transducer is easily extended to other spherically curved transducer geometries that consist of combinations of wedge sections and spherical caps.
On the application of the reciprocity principle to coupled-mode propagation (L)
Authors: McDaniel Suzanne T.
Published: December 2003

The reciprocity principle is applied to the derivation of coefficients describing the coupling of acoustic normal modes in waveguides characterized by range-dependent density gradients and discontinuities. The requirement of reciprocity alone is found insufficient to determine the mode-coupling coefficients. The stronger requirement of continuity of pressure and particle velocity at horizontal discontinuities of the waveguide is shown to provide coupling coefficients in agreement with those of Fawcett [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 92, 290–295 (1992)].
Transient fluid–structure interaction of elongated bodies by finite-element method using elliptical and spheroidal absorbing boundaries
Authors: Bhattacharyya S. K. , Premkumar R.
Published: December 2003

In a domain method of solution of exterior scalar wave equation, the radiation condition needs to be imposed on a truncation boundary of the modeling domain. The Bayliss, Gunzberger, and Turkel (BGT) boundary dampers, which require a circular cylindrical and spherical truncation boundaries in two-(2D) and three-(3D)-dimensional problems, respectively, have been particularly successful in the analysis of scattering and radiation problems. However, for an elongated body, elliptical (2D) or spheroidal (3D) truncation boundaries have potential to reduce the size of modeling domain and hence computational effort. For harmonic problems, such extensions of the first- and second-order BGT dampers are available in the literature. In this paper, BGT dampers in both elliptical and spheroidal coordinate systems have been developed for transient problems involving acoustic radiation as well as fluid–structure interaction and implemented in the context of finite-element method based upon unsymmetric pressure-displacement formulation. Applications to elongated radiators and shells are reported using several numerical examples with excellent comparisons. It is demonstrated that significant computational economy can be achieved for elongated bodies with the use of these dampers.
Factors affecting the duration effect in pitch perception for unresolved complex tones
Authors: White Louise J. , Plack Christopher J.
Published: December 2003

Previous research has shown that fundamental frequency (F0) discrimination thresholds for complex tones containing unresolved harmonics decrease as the duration of the tone increases [White and Plack, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 2051–2063 (1998)]. In this paper F0 discrimination was measured as a function of duration for complexes with F0s of 62.5, 125, and 250 Hz, bandpass filtered into two spectral regions (2750–3750 and 5500–7500 Hz). The harmonics were summed either in sine phase (SINE) or with alternating sine-cosine phase (ALT), which affects the envelope of the waveform and the pitch of the complex. Tone duration was 20, 40, 80, and 160 ms. The improvement in F0 discrimination with duration increased with decreasing F0. When harmonics where spectrally filtered between 2750 and 3750 Hz, for complexes with an F0 of 62.5 Hz, F0 discrimination thresholds decreased from approximately 30% for a 20-ms tone to approximately 3% for a 160-ms tone. For complexes with an F0 of 250 Hz, thresholds decreased from 3% for a 20-ms tone to 1% for a 160-ms tone: a lower envelope repetition rate led to a larger change in performance with increasing duration. The phase manipulation also affected the size of the duration effect, in that the effect was less for an ALT complex compared to a SINE complex with the same F0, consistent with the change in envelope repetition rate. Overall, the results suggest that for unresolved complex tones it is primarily envelope repetition rate, not spectral region, that determines both the F0 discrimination threshold and the size of the duration effect.
High-rate conditioning pulse trains in cochlear implants: Dynamic range measures with sinusoidal stimuli
Authors: Hong Robert S. , Rubinstein Jay T.
Published: December 2003

The addition of a continuous, unmodulated, high-rate pulse train to the electrical signals of cochlear implant recipients results in statistically significant increases in psychophysical dynamic range (41 out of 46 electrode pairs tested). The observed increases in dynamic range are thought to result from nerve conditioning by appropriate levels of high-rate pulse train. Five dynamic range profiles are characterized, defining the different responses of dynamic range observed with increasing levels of the conditioner. Four of the five profiles demonstrate increases in dynamic range, with three showing behavior consistent with stochastic resonance. One profile depicts evidence of adaptation in response to higher levels of the conditioner, with a recovery period lasting throughout the duration (on the scale of tens of minutes) of experimentation. Dynamic range profiles are shown to be similar across sinusoidal frequencies (202, 515, and 1031 Hz) but potentially different across electrode pairs (electrodes 1-2, 7-8, and 15-16). Correlation analysis does not reveal any predictors of optimal conditioner level or amount of dynamic range increase with the conditioner.
Relative importance of temporal envelope and fine structure in lexical-tone perception (L)
Authors: Xu Li , Pfingst Bryan E.
Published: December 2003

The relative importance of temporal envelope and fine structure in speech and music perception was investigated by Smith et al. [Nature (London) 416, 87–90 (2002)] using “auditory chimera” in which the envelope from one sound was paired with the fine structure of another. Smith et al. found that, when 4 to 16 frequency bands were used, recognition of English speech was dominated by the envelope, whereas recognition of melody was dominated by the fine structure. In the present study, Mandarin Chinese monosyllables were divided into 4, 8, or 16 frequency bands and the fine structure and envelope of one tone pattern were exchanged with those of another tone pattern of the same monosyllable. Five normal-hearing native Mandarin Chinese speakers completed a four-alternative forced-choice tone-identification task. In the vast majority of trials, subjects based their identification of the monosyllables on the fine structure rather than the envelope. Thus, the relative importance of envelope and fine structure for lexical-tone perception resembled that for melody recognition rather than that for English speech recognition. Delivering fine-structure information in cochlear implant stimulation could be particularly beneficial for lexical-tone perception.
Temporal masking of multidimensional tactual stimuli
Authors: Tan Hong Z. , Reed Charlotte M. , Delhorne Lorraine A. , Durlach Nathaniel I. , Wan Natasha
Published: December 2003

Experiments were performed to examine the temporal masking properties of multidimensional tactual stimulation patterns delivered to the left index finger. The stimuli consisted of fixed-frequency sinusoidal motions in the kinesthetic (2 or 4 Hz), midfrequency (30 Hz), and cutaneous (300 Hz) frequency ranges. Seven stimuli composed of one, two, or three spectral components were constructed at each of two signal durations (125 or 250 ms). Subjects identified target signals under three different masking paradigms: forward masking, backward masking, and sandwiched masking (in which the target is presented between two maskers). Target identification was studied as a function of interstimulus interval (ISI) in the range 0 to 640 ms. For both signal durations, percent-correct scores increased with ISI for each of the three masking paradigms. Scores with forward and backward masking were similar and significantly higher than scores obtained with sandwiched masking. Analyses of error trials revealed that subjects showed a tendency to respond, more often than chance, with the masker, the composite of the masker and target, or the combination of the target and a component of the masker. The current results are compared to those obtained in previous studies of tactual recognition masking with brief cutaneous spatial patterns. The results are also discussed in terms of estimates of information transfer (IT) and IT rate, are compared to previous studies with multidimensional tactual signals, and are related to research on the development of tactual aids for the deaf.
Are conical segments useful for vocal-tract simulation? (L)
Authors: Strube Hans Werner
Published: December 2003

A time-domain model for nonuniform tubes is considered which is of similar simplicity as the Kelly–Lochbaum model but based on conical segments. Using the bilinear transform or wave digital filters for representing the reflections at the segment boundaries, stability is proved and numerical instabilities can be overcome. The transfer functions are modeled better than with cylindrical segments but about equally well as with half-length cylinders, requiring about the same computational expense. Thus, in most cases there is no real advantage in using cones.