bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histopathology of mast cells and cytokines during healing of human mucosal leishmaniasis
Authors: AMATO V. S. , TUON F. F. , NICODEMO A. C. , DUARTE M. I. S.
Published: July 2008

Mast cells (MCs) are associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. However, there is no study evaluating the importance of MCs in the mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). The aim of this study was to quantify the most important cytokines associated with mucosal leishmaniasis, before and after disease treatment, correlating with the healing. A cohort of 12 patients with ML was evaluated, and biopsies were taken before and after the treatment. A quantitative estimation of MCs and some cytokines was analysed by density of the labelled cells through immunohistochemistry. The MCs count in the tissue from patients with ML before treatment showed a mean of 29·3 ± 37·9 cells/mm2. The MCs count in patients with ML after healing decreased to 14·8 ± 23·9 cells/mm2. There was an inverse relation of MCs with IFN‐γ and IL‐4 expression (r2 = 29·4 and r2 = 22·3 with P < 0·05). The expression of IL‐10 and TNF‐α was not related with MCs count. MCs decrease after treatment associated with decrease of IL‐4 and IFN‐γ. The explanations of cytokine correlation are discussed in the article.
A quantitative and morphometric study of mast cells in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: TUON F. F. , DUARTE M. I. S. , AMATO V. S.
Published: July 2008

Background 
Mast cells (MCs) are related with healing process in chronic inflammatory diseases, although in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) its importance is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of MC with clinical findings in patients with the localized form of CL.

Methods 
A cohort of 85 patients with CL was evaluated. MCs count was performed in pre‐treatment biopsies and correlation with clinical findings and Leishmania species determined by PCR were performed.

Results 
The MCs count in patients with CL caused by Leishmania (V.) braziliensis was 14·3 ± 9·8 cells/mm2, and 7·0 ± 6·5 cells/mm2 in patients with L. (L.) amazonensis (P < 0·05). The linear regression of MCs count with the age showed a tendency of cell number decreasing, according to ageing of the patient (r2 = 0·05; P < 0·05). The association of disease's duration and MCs count was positive (r2 = 0·11; P < 0·05). There was not any association of MCs count with number of lesions neither with Leishmania antigen expression. The MCs count was higher in patients with earlier healing after treatment (P < 0·05).

Conclusion 
MC can be important in CL and related with healing lesion.
Being ‘fat’ in today’s world: a qualitative study of the lived experiences of people with obesity in Australia
Authors: Thomas Samantha L. , Hyde Jim , Karunaratne Asuntha , Herbert Dilinie , Komesaroff Paul A.
Published: July 2008

Objective  To develop an in‐depth picture of both lived experience of obesity and the impact of socio‐cultural factors on people living with obesity.

Design  Qualitative methodology, utilizing in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with a community sample of obese adults (body mass index ≥30). Community sampling methods were supplemented with purposive sampling techniques to ensure a diverse range of individuals were included.

Results  Seventy‐six individuals (aged 16–72) were interviewed. Most had struggled with their weight for most of their lives (n = 45). Almost all had experienced stigma and discrimination in childhood (n = 36), as adolescents (n = 41) or as adults (n = 72). About half stated that they had been humiliated by health professionals because of their weight. Participants felt an individual responsibility to lose weight, and many tried extreme forms of dieting to do so. Participants described an increasing culture of ‘blame’ against people living with obesity perpetuated by media and public health messages. Eighty percent said that they hated or disliked the word obesity and would rather be called fat or overweight.

Discussion and Conclusion  There are four key conclusions: (i) the experiences of obesity are diverse, but there are common themes, (ii) people living with obesity have heard the messages but find it difficult to act upon them, (iii) interventions should be tailored to address both individual and community needs and (iv) we need to rethink how to approach obesity interventions to ensure that avoid recapitulating damaging social stereotypes and exacerbating social inequalities.
Comparative Immunolocalization of Heat Shock Proteins (Hsp)‐60, ‐70, ‐90 in Boar, Stallion, Dog and Cat Spermatozoa
Authors: Volpe S , Galeati G , Bernardini C , Tamanini C , Mari G , Zambelli D , Seren E , Spinaci M
Published: July 2008

Contents

Heat shock proteins (Hsp)‐60, ‐70 and ‐90 are important testis chaperones that fulfil several functions during sperm cell maturation. In post‐meiotic cells, their expression may change or may be undetectable and in some species it may be evident in mature spermatozoa. The aims of this study were to verify whether Hsp60, ‐70 and ‐90 are present in the sperm, and to compare their localization in boar, stallion, cat and dog spermatozoa by immunofluorescence. Hsp‐60 immunoreactivity was detected in sperm midpiece in all the species examined. In stallion sperm, Hsp70 signal was localized in the sub‐equatorial band, whereas immunoreactivity was evident on the neck of dog spermatozoa and on both neck and sub‐equatorial region of cat spermatozoa. In agreement with our previous observations, a triangular fluorescent signal in the equatorial segment of fresh boar sperm was detected. Hsp90 immunoreactivity was present in different portions of sperm tail: in the midpiece of both boar and cat spermatozoa and in the neck and throughout the tail in dog and stallion spermatozoa, respectively. When capacitation and acrosome reaction were induced in boar, stallion and dog spermatozoa, no changes in both Hsp60 and ‐90 were recorded by either Western blot or immunofluorescence. After induction of acrosome reaction, a Hsp70 redistribution in boar spermatozoa and an increased percentage of stallion spermatozoa showing the post‐acrosomal signal were observed although no changes were recorded by Western blot; in dog spermatozoa, no changes in Hsp70 were found by Western blot and immunofluorescence after capacitation and acrosome reaction.
Feed Intake and Sperm Morphology in Ogaden Bucks Supplemented with Either Agro‐industrial By‐products or Khat (Catha edulis) Leftover
Authors: Mekasha Y , Tegegne A , Rodriguez‐Martinez H
Published: July 2008

Contents

In this study, feed intake and sperm morphology were evaluated in Ogaden bucks supplemented with either agro‐industrial by‐products or khat leftover. Thirty‐five bucks at about 1 year of age, and 15 ± 1.5 kg initial body weight, were involved in a 12‐week feeding programme that had four diet groups. The control (C) diet comprised grass hay alone, fedad libitum; treatment 1 (T1) comprised grass hayad libitumsupplemented with a mix of agro‐industrial by‐products at 1% of body weight (BW); treatment 2 (T2) comprised grass hayad libitumsupplemented with khat leftovers at 1% of BW; and treatment 3 (T3) comprised khat leftover alone, fedad libitum. Bucks in T1–T3 consumed the highest (p < 0.001) dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM) and gross energy (GE) compared with control. Among the treatment groups, DM, OM and GE intakes were higher (p < 0.05) in T3 and T2, while CP intake was highest (p < 0.05) in T1. T1 and T3 improved (p < 0.001) the percentage of morphologically‐normal spermatozoa in comparison with C, with bucks in T3 being best. The proportion of total abnormal sperm head shapes and proximal cytoplasmic droplets was lowest (p < 0.01) in T1 and T3 and highest in C. Although feeding with T1 improved feed intake and sperm morphology, feeding with T3 showed the highest response. Thus, we conclude that T3 and T1 could be utilized as feedstuff to improve sperm morphology in goats under the smallholder farming system in Ethiopia.
Malignant transformation of supratentorial clear cell ependymoma
Authors: Kurimoto Masanori , Nagai Shoichi , Hamada Hideo , Tsuboi Yoshifumi , Hayashi Nakamasa , Kubota Toshihiko , Endo Shunro
Published: July 2008

Recurrence of clear cell ependymoma is not a rare condition, but malignant transformation of clear cell ependymoma has not yet been well presented. The authors report a 44‐year‐old man who presented with progressive right hemiparesis. A brain tumor in the left frontal premotor area was removed and an initial pathological diagnosis of oligodendroglioma was made. The tumor recurred 4 months later, and reoperation of the tumor and adjuvant local radiotherapy were performed. The patient subsequently underwent surgical removal of recurrent tumors on another four occasions (6 times in total) during a period of 11 years and finally died of the original disease. Histopathological studies of all surgical and autopsy specimens were carried out. The first and second surgical specimens did not contain any ependymal rosettes or pseudorosettes, and thus a diagnosis of oligodendroglioma was made. However, the third surgical specimen showed pseudorosettes. At this time, the tumor had an ultrastructural appearance compatible with ependymoma. Thereafter, the recurrent tumors showed anaplastic features such as nuclear pleomorphisms and necrosis with pseudopallisading. The autopsy specimens resembled a feature of glioblastoma but the tumor was sharply demarcated from the surrounding parenchyma.
Tumor‐to‐tumor metastasis to the central nervous system
Authors: Takei Hidehiro , Powell Suzanne Z.
Published: July 2008

Tumor‐to‐tumor metastasis is a well‐recognized phenomenon. Meningioma is the most common intracranial host tumor, with the breast and lung being the most common primary sites. We report herein two such cases of metastasis from pulmonary adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma (MM) of vulva, respectively. Case 1: a 69‐year‐old female smoker who had a history of right upper lobectomy of lung for adenocarcinoma presented with a headache and altered mental status, and was found to have a left temporal contrast‐enhancing mass with massive surrounding edema on MRI. The resection specimen revealed foci of metastatic adenocarcinoma within a microcystic meningioma. Case 2: a 75‐year‐old woman with a history of radical vulvectomy for MM died of widespread systemic metastasis of MM. At autopsy, a 2.5 × 2 × 2 cm firm nodule attached to the falx was incidentally found, with focal black discoloration at the periphery of the mass. Histologic examination showed a fibroblastic meningioma with a focus of metastatic MM. Case 1 is the first case report describing a microcystic variant of meningioma harboring metastatic carcinoma. Although MM is one of the most common metastatic brain tumors, MM‐to‐meningioma metastasis is reportedly extremely rare, but can occur.
The ‘rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumor’ of the fourth ventricle
Authors: Joseph Vivek , Wells Adam , Kuo Yu‐Hung , Halcrow Steve , Brophy Brian , Scott Grace , Manavis J. , Swift Jeff , Blumbergs Peter C.
Published: July 2008

Tumors containing both neuronal and glial components are a rare heterogeneous group with unique features that require further subclassification. The rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle is one of a number of recently described glioneuronal tumors, which has been accorded official WHO nosologic status only in 2007. We describe the clinical and pathologic features of two patients with rare rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumors of the fourth ventricle, one of which was associated with dysgenetic tricho‐rhinopharyngeal type I syndrome.
Genetic alterations of protein‐o‐mannosyltransferase‐1 in glioneuronal and glial brain tumors with subarachnoid spread
Authors: Snoei Julia , Urbach Horst , Engels Gudrun , Fassunke Jana , Von Lehe Marec , Becker Albert J. , Majores Michael
Published: July 2008

Leptomeningeal spread is a casual but conspicuous finding in both low‐ and high‐grade gliomas. We hypothesized a compromised integrity of the glia limitans‐basal lamina complex due to glycosylation defects by loss of protein‐o‐mannosyltransferase‐1 (POMT1) activity, also a well‐known feature in developmental brain disorders with leptomeningeal heterotopia. Hypothesizing it as analogous in gliomas, we have performed a comprehensive polymerase chain reaction‐single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) analysis of the POMT1 gene in 41 brain tumor specimens. Each specimen was subjected to laser capture microdissection analyses to dissect: (i) subarachnoid tumor components; (ii) deeply localized tumor areas; and (iii) histologically unaffected CNS fragments. In addition, leukocyte DNA of healthy Caucasians served as controls (n = 100). Sequence alterations were found in exons 7, 9, 15 and 18. Exon 7 bore two sequence alterations, one 751C > T transition with amino acid exchange of arginine by tryptophane (Arg251Trp) (n = 12/41 in Tu vs n = 7/82 in Co) and a 752G > A transition with replacement of arginine by glutamine (Arg251Gln) (n = 3/41 in Tu vs n = 0/82 in Co) that were significantly increased in the tumor specimens compared to controls (P < 0.05). A 979G > A transition in exon 9 resulted in a valine to isoleucine switch (Val327Ile) (n = 6/40 in Tu vs n = 4/84 in Co). Individual specimens revealed a 1565G > A (Arg522Lys) transition in exon 15 and a 1922C > T (Ala641Val) transition in exon 18. Two gangliogliomas only revealed sequence alterations in the superficial area but not in intraparenchymal and adjacent control specimens. We conclude that a significant increase of POMT1 missense mutations may indicate a functional role in neoplastic conditions in individual tumors. Future studies will be important to evaluate a functional impact of POMT1 alterations in human brain tumors.
DJ‐1 immunoreactivity in human brain astrocytes is dependent on infarct presence and infarct age
Authors: Mullett Steven J. , Hamilton Ronald L. , Hinkle David A.
Published: July 2008

DJ‐1 is a protein with anti‐oxidative stress and anti‐apoptotic properties that is abundantly expressed in reactive CNS astrocytes in chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Pick's disease. Genetic mutations which eliminate DJ‐1 expression in humans are sufficient to produce an early‐onset form of familial PD, PARK7, suggesting that DJ‐1 is a critical component of the neuroprotective arsenal of the brain. Previous studies in parkinsonism/dementia brain tissues have revealed that reactive astrocytes within and surrounding incidentally identified infarcts were often robustly immunoreactive for DJ‐1, especially if the infarcts showed histological features consistent with older age. Given this, we sought to evaluate astrocytic DJ‐1 expression in human stroke more extensively, and with a particular emphasis on determining whether immunohistochemical DJ‐1 expression in astrocytes correlates with histological infarct age. The studies presented here show that DJ‐1 is abundantly expressed in reactive infarct region astrocytes in both gray and white matter, that subacute and chronic infarct region astrocytes are much more robustly DJ‐1+ than are acute infarct and non‐infarct region astrocytes, and that DJ‐1 staining intensity in astrocytes generally correlates with that of the reactive astrocyte marker GFAP. Confocal imaging of DJ‐1 and GFAP dual‐labelled human brain sections were used to confirm the localization to and expression of DJ‐1 in astrocytes. Neuronal DJ‐1 staining was minimal under all infarct and non‐infarct conditions. Our data support the conclusion that the major cellular DJ‐1 response to stroke in the human brain is astrocytic, and that there is a temporal correlation between DJ‐1 expression in these cells and advanced infarct age.
Longtime performance and reliability of two different PtcCO2 and SpO2 sensors in neonates
Authors: BERNET VERA , DÖLL CARSTEN , CANNIZZARO VINCENZO , ERSCH JÖRG , FREY BERNHARD , WEISS MARKUS
Published: July 2008

Objectives:  Blood gas monitoring is necessary in treatment of critically ill neonates. Whereas SaO2 can be estimated by pulse oximetry, PaCO2 is still most often assessed from blood samples.

Aim:  To compare long time performance of an ear sensor for combined assessment of transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO2) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) (TOSCA Monitor; Radiometer, Switzerland) with a conventional PtcCO2 monitor (MicroGas 7650‐500 rapid, Radiometer, Switzerland) in critically ill neonates.

Methods:  Prospective, observational study. Twenty critically ill neonates were monitored for PtcCO2 and SpO2 using the Tosca and the MicroGas monitor for 24 h. TOSCA ear sensor was changed to the other ear lobe after 12 h and the MicroGas sensor four hourly on the trunk. Values obtained were compared with SaO2 and PaCO2 from arterial blood gas analysis using Bland–Altman analysis. Data are presented as median (range).

Results:  Eighty‐two paired measurements were obtained. Median age of the 20 patients was 4.5 days (1–26 days) and weight was 3.05 kg (0.98–3.95 kg). Bias and precision between PaCO2 and PtcCO2 were 0.14 and 1.45 kPa for the Tosca monitor and −0.08 and 1.2 kPa for the MicroGas monitor, respectively. The two biases were significantly different (P = 0.0036). SpO2 assessment by TOSCA was comparable to SaO2 values (bias 0.26% and precision 4.14%).

Conclusion:  The TOSCA monitor allows safe estimation of PtcCO2 and SaO2 in neonates. Measurements of PtcCO2 were less reliable with TOSCA compared with conventional monitoring but still allow assessing a trend of ventilation status in newborn patients.
Sizes and depths of endotracheal tubes for cleft lip and palate children undergoing primary cheiloplasty and palatoplasty
Authors: KOHJITANI ATSUSHI , IWASE YOKO , SUGIYAMA KAZUNA
Published: July 2008

Background:  Appropriate sizes (internal diameters) and insertion depths of uncuffed preformed endotracheal tubes in children with cleft lip and palate, who generally have delayed growth and development in early infancy have not been elucidated.

Methods:  The sizes and insertion depths of endotracheal tubes in patients who received primary cheiloplasty and/or palatoplasty in relation to age, height, and weight were retrospectively analyzed. Tube sizes were determined using an appropriate air leakage at an airway pressure of 15–20 cmH2O. Tube insertion depths were confirmed by auscultation of bilateral breathing sounds at several tube depths, placing the tip 1.5 cm above the carina. Obtained data sets were compared with previously published studies.

Results:  The number of cases analyzed was 236 in total. The mean age, height, and weight were 327.4 ± 199.2 days, 69.7 ± 7.5 cm, and 8.2 ± 1.8 kg, respectively (mean ± sd). Neither the tube size nor tube depth in cleft lip and palate children was smaller or shorter than those of normal subjects. Discrepancies between the preformed bend and the tube insertion depth increased as the tube size increased.

Conclusions:  The current findings suggest that it is reasonable to apply the currently available standards for normal children, e.g. Motoyama’s general guide, to predict the tube size and insertion depth for Japanese cleft lip and palate children, and that the use of the uncuffed preformed endotracheal tube is associated with a risk of endobronchial intubation, which appears to increase with age.
The Elusive Importance Effect: More Failure for the Jamesian Perspective on the Importance of Importance in Shaping Self‐Esteem
Authors: Marsh Herbert W.
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
Following William James (1890/1963), many leading self‐esteem researchers continue to support the Individual‐importance hypothesis—that the relation between specific facets of self‐concept and global self‐esteem depends on the importance an individual places on each specific facet. However, empirical support for the hypothesis is surprisingly elusive, whether evaluated in terms of an importance‐weighted average model, a generalized multiple regression approach for testing self‐concept‐by‐importance interactions, or idiographic approaches. How can actual empirical support for such an intuitively appealing and widely cited psychological principle be so elusive? Hardy and Moriarty (2006), acknowledging this previous failure of the Individual‐importance hypothesis, claim to have solved the conundrum, demonstrating an innovative idiographic approach that provides clear support for it. However, a critical evaluation of their new approach, coupled with a reanalysis of their data, undermines their claims. Indeed, their data provide compelling support against the Individual‐importance hypothesis, which remains as elusive as ever.
Real Evidence for the Failure of the Jamesian Perspective or More Evidence in Support of It?
Authors: Hardy Lew , Leone Christopher
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
Hardy and Moriarty (2006) presented evidence in support of James's (1890) individual importance hypothesis using a new methodology. Marsh (in press) criticized the Hardy and Moriarty approach, claiming that it did not constitute a valid test of the hypothesis and that in his article he had produced more evidence against it. In this article, we refute both these claims and argue instead that Marsh's individually weighted‐averages method does not constitute a valid test of the hypothesis. We also assert that his new analyses actually offer further evidence in support of the Jamesian perspective. Finally, we direct attention toward questionable assumptions that appear to underpin Marsh's approach, and we try to point a way forward for future research in this area.
Ritual Behavior in Obsessive and Normal Individuals
Authors: Boyer Pascal , Liénard Pierre
Published: July 2008

Ritualized behavior is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is also observed in other, nonclinical contexts such as children's routines and cultural ceremonies. Such behaviors are best understood with reference to a set of human vigilance–precaution systems in charge of monitoring potential danger and motivating the organism toward appropriate precautions. Ritualized behavior focuses attention on low-level representations of actions, probably leading to some measure of intrusion suppression. Cultural rituals too may be understood in this framework.
Sensory-Specific Satiety Is Intact in Amnesics Who Eat Multiple Meals
Authors: Higgs Suzanne , Williamson Amy C. , Rotshtein Pia , Humphreys Glyn W.
Published: July 2008

What is the relationship between memory and appetite? We explored this question by examining preferences for recently consumed food in patients with amnesia. Although the patients were unable to remember having eaten, and were inclined to eat multiple meals, we found that sensory-specific satiety was intact in these patients. The data suggest that sensory-specific satiety can occur in the absence of explicit memory for having eaten and that impaired sensory-specific satiety does not underlie the phenomenon of multiple-meal eating in amnesia. Overeating in amnesia may be due to disruption of learned control by physiological aftereffects of a recent meal or to problems utilizing internal cues relating to nutritional state.
Error-Monitoring Ability Predicts Daily Stress Regulation
Authors: Compton Rebecca J. , Robinson Michael D. , Ode Scott , Quandt Lorna C. , Fineman Stephanie L. , Carp Joshua
Published: July 2008

This study examined whether individual differences in error-related self-regulation predict emotion regulation in daily life, as suggested by a common-systems view of cognitive and emotional self-regulation. Participants (N = 47) completed a Stroop task, from which error-related brain potentials and behavioral measures of error correction were computed. Participants subsequently reported on daily stressors and anxiety over a 2-week period. As predicted by the common-systems view, a physiological marker of error monitoring and a behavioral measure of error correction predicted emotion regulation in daily life. Specifically, participants higher in cognitive control, as assessed neurally and behaviorally, were less reactive to stress in daily life. The results support the notion that cognitive control and emotion regulation depend on common or interacting systems.
Interracial Roommate Relationships
Authors: Shook Natalie J. , Fazio Russell H.
Published: July 2008

This study investigated how automatically activated racial attitudes are affected by relatively long-term interracial relationships. A natural field experiment was conducted in a college dormitory system. Participants were White freshmen who had been randomly assigned to either a White or an African American roommate. Students participated in two sessions during the first 2 and last 2 weeks of their first quarter on campus. During these sessions, they answered questions about their satisfaction and involvement with their roommates and completed an inventory of intergroup anxiety and an implicit measure of racial attitudes. Participants in interracial rooms reported less satisfaction and less involvement with their roommates than did participants in same-race rooms. However, automatically activated racial attitudes and intergroup anxiety improved over time among students in interracial rooms, but not among students in same-race rooms. Thus, the results suggest that interracial roommate relationships, although generally less satisfying and involving than same-race roommate relationships, do produce benefits.
EU Enlargement and Inward FDI
Authors: Alguacil Maite , Cuadros Ana , Orts Vicente
Published: July 2008

The authors attempt to highlight the effects of the recent surge of FDI in the enlargement states on domestic investment and growth. A similar analysis is carried out for the EU‐15 in order to ascertain whether this type of capital inflow has a differential impact in these two regions of the European Union. Empirical analysis, based on dynamic panel data models, suggests the existence of a positive contribution of FDI to greater domestic investment and economic growth in the new member states. The evidence obtained for the EU‐15 old member countries confirms the FDI‐growth nexus but does not suggest a positive impact of FDI on domestic investment, which would be consistent with these capital inflows being of a different nature for these more advanced economies.
Unemployment Hysteresis in Transition Countries: Evidence using Stationarity Panel Tests with Breaks
Authors: Camarero Mariam , Carrion‐i‐Silvestre Josep Lluís , Tamarit Cecilio
Published: July 2008

The authors test hysteresis versus the natural rate hypothesis in unemployment using panel data for transition countries covering the period 1991:1–2003:11. The advantages of the stationarity tests applied is that they exploit the cross‐section variations of the series and, additionally, allow for a different number of endogenous breakpoints in the unemployment series. They do not impose independence on the panel members, so that the critical values are simulated based on their specific panel sizes and time periods. The findings stress the importance of accounting for exogenous shocks in the series and give support to the shifting natural‐rate hypothesis of unemployment for all the countries analyzed.
SIX WAYS TO LEAVE UNEMPLOYMENT
Authors: Portugal Pedro , Addison John T.
Published: July 2008

This paper uses a unique Portuguese dataset to examine the effect of access to unemployment benefits (UBs) and their maximum potential duration on escape rates from unemployment. In examining the time profile of transitions out of unemployment, the principal contributions of the paper are twofold. First, it provides a detailed state space of potential outcomes: open‐ended employment, fixed‐term contracts, part‐time work, government‐provided jobs, self employment, and labour force withdrawal. Second, it is able to exploit major exogenous discontinuities in the maximum duration of unemployment benefits to identify disincentive effects. While confirming strong disincentive effects, it is shown that use of an aggregate hazard function regression model compounds very different and even contradictory effects of the determinants of unemployment.
CROSS‐COUNTRY EVIDENCE ON OUTPUT GROWTH VOLATILITY: NONSTATIONARY VARIANCE AND GARCH MODELS
Authors: Fang WenShwo , Miller Stephen M. , Lee ChunShen
Published: July 2008

This paper revisits the issue of conditional volatility in real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates for Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Previous studies find high persistence in the volatility. This paper shows that this finding largely reflects a nonstationary variance. Output growth in the six countries became noticeably less volatile over the past few decades. In this paper, we employ the modified iterated cumulative sum of squares (ICSS) algorithm to detect structural change in the variance of output growth. One structural break exists in each of the six countries after identifying outliers and mean shifts in the growth rates. We then use generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) specifications, modeling output growth and its volatility with and without the break in volatility. The evidence shows that the time‐varying variance falls sharply in Canada and Japan, and disappears entirely in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, once we incorporate the break in the variance equation of output for the six countries. That is, the integrated GARCH (IGARCH) effect proves spurious and the GARCH model demonstrates misspecification, if researchers neglect a nonstationary variance. Moreover, we also consider the possible effects of our more correct measure of output volatility on output growth as well as the reverse effect of output growth on its volatility. The conditional standard deviation possesses no statistical significance in all countries, except a significant negative effect in Japan. The lagged growth rate of output produces significant negative and positive effects on the conditional variances in Germany and Japan, respectively. No significant effects exist in Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Geo‐ontology Tools: The Missing Link
Authors: Albrecht Jochen , Derman Brandon , Ramasubramanian Laxmi
Published: July 2008

Numerous authors have presented ontology building tools that have all been developed as part of academic projects and that are usually adaptations of more generic tools for geo‐spatial applications. While we trust that these tools do their job for the special purpose they have been built, the GIScience user community is still a long way away from off‐the‐shelf ontology builders that can be used by GIS project managers. In this article, we present a comparative study of ontology building tools described in some twenty peer‐reviewed GIScience journal articles. We analyze them from the perspective of two application domains, crime analysis and transportation/land use. For the latter, we developed a database schema, which is substantially different from the three main templates commonly used. The crime analysis application uses a rule base for an agent‐based model that had no precursor. In both cases, the currently available set of tools cannot replace manual coding of ontologies for use with ESRI‐based application software. Based on these experiences, we outline a requirements list of what the tools described in the first part of the article are missing to make them practical from an applications perspective. The result is an R&D agenda for this important aspect of GIScience.
Modeling the Pre‐Euroamerican Landscape with Government Land Office Surveys and Geostatistics
Authors: Weih Robert C , Dick Aaron J
Published: July 2008

Forested areas in the United States have been altered since the time of European settlement. There is increasing interest in comparing present day vegetation with that of the Pre‐Euroamerican era to understand what changes have occurred in some of our more outstanding natural areas. Studies have been conducted using Government Land Office (GLO) notes to understand historic vegetation surveys, but past studies focused on species present/absent lists. The GLO surveys included information about tree species, tree diameter and other physical features. This study used indicator kriging to interpolate the probability of tree species on the landscape using the GLO data from 62 townships. Once continuous probability models were developed, vegetation spatial patterns were analyzed throughout the sub‐basin. This technique provided insight into what the vegetation pattern (spatially) was like prior to Euroamerican settlement within the Buffalo River sub‐basin. It provided the base information necessary to quantify vegetation change and the spatial extent of that change. Based on this research it appears that post‐Euroamerican fire suppression and agricultural practices with other human activities have been major contributors to change. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperious virginiana) and hickory (Carya sp.) have increased, while oak species (Quercus sp.) have decreased. Additionally 19% of the sub‐basin has changed to non‐forest.
Ways of attenuating agency in Russian
Authors: Divjak Dagmar , Janda Laura A.
Published: July 2008

This article focuses on grammatical constructions that attenuate or eliminate the expression of agency in Russian, using the frameworks of Radical Construction Grammar and Cognitive Grammar. Emphasis is on the organization of these constructions in larger networks of related personal and impersonal constructions, with impersonal constructions as peripheral members of the system. More specifically, we compare the role of the dative case in impersonal constructions containing a finite verb and an infinitive and demonstrate that there are two such constructions, which has implications for the concepts of main verb‐hood and agentivity. This type of nuanced analysis takes into account factors such as case semantics and relationships among constructions in assessing how agency is assigned or avoided in Russian impersonal constructions, hence makes it possible to tease apart the differences between two impersonal constructions that appear identical in structure.
Estimating population parameters in a threatened arctic fox population using molecular tracking and traditional field methods
Authors: Meijer T. , Norén K. , Hellström P. , Dalén L. , Angerbjörn A.
Published: July 2008

Comprehensive population parameter data are useful for assessing effective conservation actions. The Fennoscandian arctic fox Alopex lagopus is critically endangered and the population size is estimated at 120 individuals that are fragmented into four isolated populations. Here, we use molecular tracking and visual observations to estimate population size and survival in one of the populations on the Swedish mountain tundra during a year of low food availability. We collected 98 arctic fox faecal samples during the winter of 2006 and recorded visual observations of ear‐tagged individuals during the summer of 2005 and 2006. The faecal samples were analysed for variation in nine microsatellite loci and matched to the genetic profiles of previously ear‐tagged individuals from 2001 to 2005. During winter 2006, the minimum number alive was 12 individuals using visual observations, 30 using molecular tracking and 36 by combining the datasets. Population size was estimated through mark–recapture for the molecular tracking and visual observation datasets and through rarefaction analyses for molecular tracking data. The mark–recapture estimate for visual observations was uninformative due to the large confidence interval (CI) (i.e. 6–212 individuals). Based on the molecular tracking dataset combined with the minimum number alive for visual observations and molecular tracking, we concluded a consensus population size of 36–55 individuals. We also estimated the age‐specific finite survival rate during 1 year (July 2005 to July 2006) by combining molecular tracking with visual observations. Juvenile survival on a yearly basis was 0.08 (95% CI 0.02–0.18) while adults had a survival of 0.59 (95% CI 0.39–0.82). Juveniles displayed a lower survival than the adults during autumn (P<0.01) whereas no age‐specific survival difference during spring was found. The risk of negative effects due to the small population size and low juvenile survival is accordingly considerable.
Lower red blood cell counts in middle‐aged subjects with shorter peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length
Authors: De Meyer Tim , De Buyzere Marc L. , Langlois Michel , Rietzschel Ernst R. , Cassiman Peter , De Bacquer Dirk , Van Oostveldt Patrick , De Backer Guy G. , Gillebert Thierry C. , Van Criekinge Wim , Bekaert Sofie ,   on behalf of the Asklepios Investigators
Published: July 2008

Although telomere biology was revealed to play an important role in several hematopoietic disorders, its impact on the age‐dependent dynamics of regular hematopoiesis is poorly understood. In vitro results suggest that particularly the erythropoietic capacity might be limited by critically short telomere length (TL). However, it remains unclear whether TL also affects erythropoiesis in healthy individuals in vivo. Therefore, we analyzed the associations between relevant hematopoietic parameters and peripheral blood leukocyte TL in the apparently healthy Asklepios study population, aged approximately 35–55 years (N > 2500). Our data indicate a clear positive, age and paternal age at birth adjusted, correlation between TL and red blood cell count, both in men (p < 0.001) and women (p = 0.011). This association was particularly significant in the older segment of the population (> 45 years old, both sexes: p = 0.003) and in younger men (p = 0.013), but not in younger women (p = 0.521). Further adjustment for known determinants in a general linear model revealed that peripheral blood leukocyte TL is most probably an independent predictor of red blood cell count (p < 0.001), suggesting that critical telomere shortening might also limit erythropoiesis in vivo. While negligible in a middle‐aged population, the clinical consequences might be important in the elderly (e.g. in anemia of chronic disease). Further studies are required to confirm the impact of our results.
Determinacy and Learnability of Monetary Policy Rules in Small Open Economies
Authors: LLOSA LUIS‐GONZALO , TUESTA VICENTE
Published: July 2008

This paper evaluates under which conditions different Taylor‐type rules lead to determinacy and expectational stability (E‐stability) of rational expectations equilibrium in a simple “New Keynesian” small open economy model, developed by Gali and Monacelli (2005). In particular, we extend Bullard and Mitra (2002) results of determinacy and E‐stability in a closed economy to this small open economy framework. Our results highlight an important link between the Taylor principle and both determinacy and learnability of equilibrium in small open economies. More importantly, the degree of openness coupled with the nature of the policy rule adopted by the monetary authorities might change this link in important ways. A key finding is that, contrary to Bullard and Mitra, expectations‐based rules that involve the consumer price inflation and/or the nominal exchange rate limit the region of E‐stability and the Taylor Principle does not guarantee E‐stability. We also show that some forms of managed exchange rate rules can help to alleviate problems of both indeterminacy and expectational instability, yet these rules might not be desirable since they can promote greater volatility in the economy.
Absorptive Capacity and Source‐Recipient Complementarity in Designing New Products: An Empirically Derived Framework*
Authors: Abecassis‐Moedas Celine , Mahmoud‐Jouini Sihem Ben
Published: July 2008

Numerous publications are dedicated to absorptive capacity and new product development (NPD). Most are centered on the recipient team, and very few consider the effects of the source team knowledge characteristics on the knowledge absorption and the NPD performance. This paper analyzes the type of the external knowledge sourced from outside the organization and the process through which it is used by the recipient firm and the effect on NPD performance. This is done through a specific type of source team knowledge, the design, and through the NPD process in industries (clothing and construction) where it plays a key role. NPD cases were analyzed and clustered in three categories of design absorption processes. From these categories, a conceptual framework of the source‐recipient knowledge complementarity and its impact on the NPD performance is proposed. The main result is that the complementarity between the recipient and the source knowledge is a critical aspect of the absorption process and therefore of the NPD performance. From a managerial perspective, this research highlights the role of design in the NPD process and how the combination of design knowledge with prior knowledge (marketing or technological) is related to NPD performance.
Regional Endocardial Left Atrial Voltage and Electrogram Fractionation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: KATRITSIS DEMOSTHENES , SOUGIANNIS DEMETRIOS , GIAZITZOGLOU ELEFTHERIOS , KOURLABA GEORGIA , ELLENBOGEN KENNETH A.
Published: July 2008

Introduction: Heterogeneities in electrophysiological properties may contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation, and regional disparities in endocardial voltage in the left atrium have been related to arrhythmogenic mechanisms. This study aimed at investigating endocardial voltage in different regions of the left atrium in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and Results: Thirty‐six patients (aged 56 ± 7 years, 10 female) scheduled for circumferential ablation for paroxysmal AF were studied. Voltage measurements were performed during AF and with constant right ventricular pacing in the anterior, posterior, superior and inferior walls outside the antrum of the left (LPV), and right (RPV) pulmonary veins, by means of electroanatomical mapping. There was a high agreement among measurements performed in the endocardium of the posterior atrial wall (ICC > 0.70), and moderate agreement among measurements performed in the superior and inferior walls (0.50 < ICC< 0.70), outside both PV antra. The posterior left atrial wall demonstrated significantly higher voltages both outside the LPV antrum (1.29 ± 1.36 mV) and the RPV antrum (1.20 ± 0.63 mV) compared to the inferior, anterior and superior walls (0.47 ± 0.49, 0.68 ± 0.69, and 0.61 ± 0.83 mV outside the LPV antrum, and 0.39 ± 0.23, 0.65 ± 0.49, and 0.49 ± 0.24 mV outside the RPV antrum, respectively). Fractionated electrograms were mainly identified at the posterior left atrial wall, outside the right PV antrum.

Conclusion: During AF, the posterior wall displays significantly higher voltage and electrogram fractionation compared with other parts of the left atrial endocardium outside the antra of both pulmonary veins in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Who Should Run Elections in the United States?
Authors: Alvarez R. Michael , Hall Thad E. , Llewellyn Morgan
Published: July 2008

Much has been said since the 2000 presidential election regarding the administration of elections in the United States, particularly about how election administrators are selected and to whom they are responsive. Unfortunately, there has been little research on the different administrative structures that are possible and the preferences of Americans regarding these different administrative options. In this article we present the results from a national survey of American adults in which we asked them their preference for whether elections should be run by partisan or nonpartisan officials, whether the officials should be elected or appointed, and whether the administration of elections should be by a single unitary executive or by an election board. In addition to eliciting the basic preferences of Americans about these administrative choices, we also undertake a deeper analysis of these data to determine the underlying patterns in support for the different administrative options.
Policy Instrument Choices for Growth Management and Land Use Regulation
Authors: Feiock Richard C. , Tavares António F. , Lubell Mark
Published: July 2008

What factors account for local government land use practices and their choices among specific growth management policy instruments? We apply the political market framework to examine how land use policy choices in Florida are shaped by institutional features of county governments and the demands of organizations and interests in a community. Local policy decisions reflect a balance of the conflicting interests and responses to economic and political pressures. The results demonstrate that county government structure and election rules play critical roles in the adoption of urban service boundaries, incentive zoning, and transfer of development rights programs. We report evidence consistent with the argument that these “second‐generation” growth management policies are motivated by exclusionary goals.
Perpendicularly Oriented Polycrystalline BaFe11.1Sc0.9O19 Hexaferrite with Narrow FMR Linewidths
Authors: Chen Yajie , Nedoroscik Michael J. , Geiler Anton L. , Vittoria Carmine , Harris Vincent G.
Published: July 2008

We demonstrate low ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidths and high remanence magnetization in polycrystalline M‐type Sc‐doped Ba ferrites having anisotropy fields of ∼8 kOe and perpendicular orientation of the spontaneous magnetization vector. This is a result of applying a unique processing technique that makes use of a polymer network‐assisted alignment of hexaferrite particles in high magnetic fields. The resulting compacts exhibit high squareness (Mr/Ms∼92%) and low FMR linewidths (∼530 Oe) at X‐band and Ka‐band. This represents an ∼74% decrease in linewidth compared with previous reports for polycrystalline BaM ferrites using conventional processes. We also have detailed origins of the FMR linewidth broadenings in terms of some important theoretical models. These materials have potential for use in low frequency self‐biased microwave/millimeter devices such as circulators and isolators.
Psychopathy in a Mixed Gender Sample of Adult Stalkers
Authors: Reavis James A. , Allen Elizabeth K. , Meloy J. Reid
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  The authors present data on a mixed gender sample of 78 adult stalking perpetrators, each of whom was assessed with the Psychopathy Checklist:Screening Version (PCL:SV). Results indicate a generally low frequency of psychopathy in this group, although 15% of the sample was composed of psychopaths. Comparisons between this sample and other forensic samples indicate that both the frequency and degree of psychopathy were lower in the stalking group. The findings support previous theory and empirical findings, including the concept that underlying attachment pathology among stalkers and psychopaths is quite different, and psychopathy—in contrast to other areas of violence risk assessment—is usually not relevant when evaluating dangerousness among stalkers.
Sudden Unexpected Death Due to a Previously Undiagnosed Plasma Cell Dyscrasia
Authors: Hamilton Rebecca A. , Wolf Barbara C.
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  The plasma cell dyscrasias are a diverse group of disorders characterized by the production of a clonal paraprotein. Sudden death is a recognized complication of the plasma cell dyscrasias, most commonly in individuals with cardiac involvement by amyloidosis. However, the current forensic literature has no reported cases in which sudden death resulted from complications of a plasma cell dyscrasia that was first diagnosed by postmortem histologic examination. We present the case of a woman whose sudden and unexpected death resulted from a seizure. Postmortem examination revealed no evidence of trauma or a grossly identifiable natural disease process that would have accounted for her death. However, microscopic and immunohistologic studies revealed a previously undiagnosed plasma cell dyscrasia, the clonality of which was determined by immunohistochemical studies for immunoglobulin light chains, that was not associated with amyloid deposition. This case elucidates a previously unrecognized cause of sudden unexpected death and illustrates the importance of microscopic studies in selected cases examined in medical examiner/coroner offices.