bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TNF‐α SNP haplotype frequencies in equidae
Authors: Brown J. J. , Ollier W. E. R. , Thomson W. , Matthews J. B. , Carter S. D. , Binns M. , Pinchbeck G. , Clegg P. D.
Published: April 2006

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. In all vertebrate species the genes encoding TNF‐α are located within the major histocompatability complex. In the horse TNF‐α has been ascribed a role in a variety of important disease processes. Previously two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported within the 5′ un‐translated region of the equine TNF‐α gene. We have examined the equine TNF‐α promoter region further for additional SNPs by analysing DNA from 131 horses (Equus caballus), 19 donkeys (E. asinus), 2 Grant's zebras (E. burchellii boehmi) and one onager (E. hemionus). Two further SNPs were identified at nucleotide positions 24 (T/G) and 452 (T/C) relative to the first nucleotide of the 522 bp polymerase chain reaction product. A sequence variant at position 51 was observed between equidae. SNaPSHOT™ genotyping assays for these and the two previously reported SNPs were performed on 457 horses comprising seven different breeds and 23 donkeys to determine the gene frequencies. SNP frequencies varied considerably between different horse breeds and also between the equine species. In total, nine different TNF‐α promoter SNP haplotypes and their frequencies were established amongst the various equidae examined, with some haplotypes being found only in horses and others only in donkeys or zebras. The haplotype frequencies observed varied greatly between different horse breeds. Such haplotypes may relate to levels of TNF‐α production and disease susceptibility and further investigation is required to identify associations between particular haplotypes and altered risk of disease.
Interleukin‐18 promoter polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Pawlik A. , Kurzawski M. , Czerny B. , Gawronska‐Szklarz B. , Drozdzik M. , Herczynska M.
Published: April 2006

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which interleukin (IL)‐18 plays an important role. However, there are controversial reports on IL‐18 promoter polymorphism as an independent marker of RA susceptibility. The aim of present study was to examine the IL‐18 promoter polymorphism in patients with RA, and its association with disease susceptibility, activity and severity. We examined 309 patients with RA from a Polish population diagnosed according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology. An allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction was used for analysis of the polymorphisms in positions − 137 and − 607 in promoter region of IL‐18 gene. A significantly decreased number of subjects with AC/AC and AG/AG diplotypes was observed among RA patients as compared with healthy controls (OR – 0.51, 95%CI 0.28–0.95, P = 0.045) and (OR – 0.12, 95% CI 0.02–0.97, P = 0.042), respectively. Nevertheless, there was no significant association with disease activity, joint erosions, extra‐articular manifestations, rheumatoid factor. Above results suggest that IL‐18–137 and − 607 promoter polymorphisms are not the significant factors influencing RA course and severity in a Polish population.
Microscale modelling of cleavage fracture at low temperatures: influence of heterogeneities at the granular scale
Authors: MATHIEU J.‐P. , BERVEILLER S. , INAL K. , DIARD O.
Published: April 2006

A methodology is proposed in this paper to compute local probability of fracture of a representative volume element from microstructural and fractographic information. A microscale approach is reported for cleavage fracture modelling of bainitic reactor pressure vessel steel. A fine metallographic and micro‐mechanical characterization has been performed. Morphological information has been used to generate realistic three‐dimensional (3D) aggregates and a suitable calibration process has been set up to identify an accurate crystal plasticity model for A508 bainitic steel. Simulation results have been successfully compared with macroscopic stress–strain curve. Taking benefits of a fine mechanical description of local stress and strain fields in aggregates, a post‐processing has been implemented to compute stress to failure values, for several realizations of an experimental carbides sizes distribution. A cumulative probability of fracture is proposed for this steel.
Generalized stress intensity factors due to steady and transient thermal loads with applications to welded joints
Authors: FERRO P. , BERTO F. , LAZZARIN P.
Published: April 2006

This paper deals with the elastic and plastic stress fields induced by thermal loads in the vicinity of sharp V‐notch tips in plates. Under the hypothesis of steady‐state heat transfer and plane‐strain conditions, the thermal and mechanical problem requires the numerical solution of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) system, obtained by extending the ‘stress function approach’. The intensity of the stress distributions ahead of V‐notch tips can be expressed in terms of thermal notch stress intensity factors (thermal NSIFs), as for external loads.

The problem becomes much more demanding in the presence of transient thermal loads. The residual asymptotic stress distribution arising from the solidification of a fusion zone during an arc welding process is obtained by considering different boundary conditions. An aluminium butt‐welded joint is analysed after having modelled the weld toe region as a sharp V‐notch. A finite element (FE) simulation of the welding process is carried out by means of SYSWELD code (version 2004.1) modelling the arc welding torch by means of Goldak's source. Near the weld toe, the intensity of the residual stress field is given in terms of elastic or elastic—plastic generalized NSIFs.
Comparison of outcomes in elective partial vs radical nephrectomy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma of 4–7 cm
Authors: DASH ATREYA , VICKERS ANDREW J. , SCHACHTER LEE R. , BACH ARIADNE M. , SNYDER MARK E. , RUSSO PAUL
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of patients who had a elective partial nephrectomy (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN) for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of 4–7 cm.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From March 1998 to July 2004, 45 and 151 patients underwent PN and RN, respectively, for clear cell RCC. A multivariate Cox model was constructed for disease‐free survival with adjustment for markers of disease severity, and a propensity‐score approach used as a confirmatory analysis.

RESULTS

In the PN and RN cohorts the treatment failed in one and 20 patients, respectively; the median follow‐up was 21 months. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for PN after adjusting for disease severity was 0.36 (0.05–2.82; P = 0.3). Using planned PN as a predictor (intent‐to‐treat analysis) the hazard ratio was 1.06 (0.32–3.53; P = 0.9). In the propensity‐score model, planned PN was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.75 (0.50–6.14; P = 0.4). The serum creatinine level 3 months after surgery was significantly lower in patients who had PN, with a difference between the means of 0.36  (0.23–0.48; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Renal function was preserved after PN for 4–7 cm clear cell RCC tumours. When comparing the outcomes of PN and RN it is important to consider the intended operation as an independent variable. There was no clear evidence that PN was associated with worse cancer control, although a continued follow‐up of this and other cohorts is warranted.
Third‐generation cryotherapy for prostate cancer in the UK: a prospective study of the early outcomes in primary and recurrent disease
Authors: CRESSWELL JOANNE , ASTERLING SUSAN , CHAUDHARY MOAZZAM , SHEIKH NAEEM , GREENE DAMIAN
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To present the early results of the use of third‐generation cryotherapy in primary and recurrent prostate cancer at one UK centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Over a 14‐month period 51 patients underwent cryotherapy for prostate cancer. In 31 patients cryotherapy was used as the primary treatment and in 20 as a salvage treatment after radiotherapy or hormone ablation. Data were collected prospectively and the median follow‐up was 9 months.

RESULTS

The prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level decreased to <0.5 ng/mL in 79% of patients undergoing primary treatment and in 67% of patients undergoing salvage treatment. A higher Gleason grade and PSA levels were associated with a poorer outcome. No patient developed a fistula, 4% developed urinary retention requiring transurethral prostatectomy and 4% had persistent incontinence. The rates of erectile dysfunction were high (86%). The median inpatient stay was 2 days.

CONCLUSION

Early results suggest that cryotherapy offers a safe alternative for primary and recurrent prostate cancer, particularly for older and less fit patients. Long‐term data are required to assess the durability of response and the effect on survival.
α‐blocker monotherapy in the treatment of nocturia in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective study of response prediction
Authors: PAICK JAE‐SEUNG , KU JA HYEON , SHIN JAE WOOK , YANG JI HYUN , KIM SOO WOONG
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of an α‐adrenoceptor antagonist, terazosin, in reducing nocturia in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and to identify the factors predicting treatment outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 100 patients were treated with 2 mg of terazosin once daily for the first 7 days, and continued to receive 4 mg of terazosin once daily for the following 3 weeks. The men were assessed at baseline and at the end of treatment using uroflowmetry, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the degree of nocturia estimated from a frequency‐volume chart (FVC) and objectively.

RESULTS

On the FVC, 27 patients reported that the terazosin treatment reduced their nocturia by more than half, and 14 reported a reduction of 25–49%. On the IPSS, 31 patients reported that the treatment reduced their nocturia by more than half and 27 reported a reduction of 25–49%. On multivariate regression analysis, only the actual number of nightly voids on the FVC was associated with a 2.1‐fold chance of an improvement of >25% in objective nocturia (P = 0.016). Using a comparable model, a greater nocturia score on the IPSS was associated with a higher likelihood of improvement in subjective nocturia (odds ratio, 1.653; 95% confidence interval, 1.079–2.533; P = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with terazosin can reduce patients’ episodes of nocturia both subjectively and objectively in some men with LUTS. Our results suggest that both subjective and objective numbers of nocturia episodes are associated with improvements in subjective and objective nocturnal frequencies, respectively.
Renal cell carcinoma local recurrences: impact of surgical treatment and concomitant metastasis on survival
Authors: BRUNO J. JAMES , SNYDER MARK E. , MOTZER ROBERT J. , RUSSO PAUL
Published: April 2006

The local recurrence of renal cancer is an uncommon event, but it is often tempting to remove such recurrences surgically. Authors from the USA analysed the survival benefit of such a strategy in the presence and the absence of concomitant metastatic disease. They found that, in the absence of metastases, complete surgical resection of local recurrences is associated with improved survival.

Authors from the same institution compared outcomes in elective partial vs radical nephrectomy for renal cancers of 4.7 cm. They found no clear evidence that partial nephrectomy was associated with worse cancer control, but suggest that continued follow‐up of this cohort is required.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the survival benefit of resecting local recurrence (LR) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the presence and absence of concomitant metastasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1989 to 2004 we identified 34 patients with LRs (2.9%) of the 1165 radical nephrectomies performed for T1–4N0M0 disease. Of these, 18 (53%) had no evidence of metastasis (isolated LR incidence, 1.5%) and 16 (47%) had synchronous metastasis. Of the 18 patients with no metastasis, 11 had complete surgical resection (group I) and seven had nonsurgical therapy (group II). Of the 16 patients with synchronous metastasis, five had surgery (group III) and 11 did not (group IV). Survival was projected using the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test for each group.

RESULTS

Eight of the 34 patients (24%) were symptomatic. The T stage of the initial nephrectomy was T1a in two cases, T1b in six, T2 in five, T3a in six, T3b in eight, T4 in six and unknown in one; 22 patients (65%) had clear cell histology. There were no significant differences in median time to LR or the LR size among the groups. The median (range) follow‐up was 16.9 (0.5–103.6) months. Of the 11 patients in group I, three remain with no evidence of disease, three are alive with metastatic disease, and five died from disease. By contrast, 21 of the 23 patients (91%) in groups II, III and IV died from disease. The overall estimated 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year survivals were 63%, 31% and 18%. The median survival time was 71.4 months for group I, 9.9 for II, 16.3 for III, and 11.8 for IV (P < 0.01) with a 5‐year survival of 62% for group I and 0% for groups II, III, and IV.

CONCLUSIONS

LR after radical nephrectomy is rare (2.9%) and has a poor prognosis. The presence of synchronous metastasis and nonoperative therapy are related to these low survival rates. However, if there is no metastatic disease, complete surgical resection of LRs is associated with improved survival.
Integral spectrophotometric analysis of 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐induced fluorescence cytology of the urinary bladder
Authors: TAUBER STEPHAN , STEPP HERBERT , MEIER RICHARD , BONE AGNETA , HOFSTETTER ALFONS , STIEF CHRISTIAN
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether tumour cells can be detected in bladder lavage fluid samples by an objective spectrofluorometric method, as 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)‐induced fluorescence endoscopy (AFE) and cytology are promising valuable tools for detecting transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (TCCB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After instilling ALA into the urinary bladder, lavage samples were collected and their sediments analysed spectroscopically under blue excitation at ≈ 400 nm wavelength. During AFE, biopsies were taken. From 62 cases, 24 patients had a histologically confirmed TCCB (group A), 28 had a history of TCCB but no evidence of disease (group B) and 10 were negative for TCCB (group C).

RESULTS

Lavage sediments of all patients fluoresced in the green spectral range, typical of cellular autofluorescence. Sediments of all patients of group A caused red fluorescence peaking at 635 nm, indicating protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). The PPIX signals derived from bleaching spectra were significantly different between benign and malignant findings (P = 0.001). There was another red fluorescence peak at ≈ 620 nm; in 19 cases its intensity exceeded the intensity of the PPIX signal.

CONCLUSIONS

Spectrofluorometric analysis of lavage sample sediments can be used to detect tumour‐associated red fluorescence of PPIX in TCCB. Immediate significant and objective measurements are possible, which could be further automated for the rapid diagnosis of TCCB.
Clinical trials in patients with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer
Authors: LIN AMY M. , RINI BRIAN I. , SMALL ERIC J.
Published: April 2006

In this section there is a wide diversity of mini‐reviews, covering several areas of interest for readers. Authors from the USA write about clinical trials in patients with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer, again bridging the divide between medical oncologists and urologists who specialise in urological oncological surgery. The second paper is a joint one from Germany and the USA, bringing the reader up to date with advances in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Finally there are two papers from Australia describing the use of positron emission tomography in renal cancer and in prostate cancer.
Immunostaining for placental alkaline phosphatase on fine‐needle aspiration specimens to detect noninvasive testicular cancer: a prospective evaluation in cryptorchid men
Authors: TAVOLINI IVAN M. , BETTELLA ANDREA , BERTO RAFAEL BOSCOLO , BASSI PIER F. , LONGO RAFFAELE , MENEGAZZO MASSIMO , GAROLLA ANDREA , FORESTA CARLO
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To assess, in a 12‐year prospective study, the potential for early detection of testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS) by immunocytochemistry, using anti‐placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) monoclonal antibodies on testicular fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimens taken from a group of formerly cryptorchid patients, as such men are at greater risk of developing testicular cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty‐eight men who had had orchidopexy at the Urological Department of the University of Padova between 1975 and 1983 were evaluated first in 1993, by a protocol including a history, physical examination, testicular ultrasonography and serum tumour markers, to eliminate the presence of testicular cancer. In 57 of the 68 men, specimens taken from bilateral testicular FNAC were stained immunocytochemically using anti‐PLAP monoclonal antibodies. After 8 years, the same protocol was repeated on the 57 men, and the follow‐up was prolonged until March 2005 for men with previous positive PLAP immunostaining.

RESULTS

In 1993, six of the 57 men, (10.5%) had unilateral positive immunostaining for PLAP. By 2001, none of these men had developed testicular cancer, while of the other 51 men, only one developed a nonseminomatous tumour. The uninterrupted surveillance of PLAP‐positive men showed no overt cancer until March 2005.

CONCLUSION

The present findings do not seem to confirm the reliability of PLAP immunostaining of testicular specimens from FNAC for detecting CIS. These findings might depend on the geographical variability of both CIS and testicular cancer incidence, as well as on the variable relationship between CIS and successive occurrence of invasive testis cancer.
Disease progression and survival in patients with prostate carcinoma and positive lymph nodes after radical retropubic prostatectomy
Authors: KROEPFL DARKO , LOEWEN HEINRICH , ROGGENBUCK ULLA , MUSCH MICHAEL , KLEVECKA VIRGILIUS
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To determine disease progression and survival in patients with lymph node‐positive prostate carcinoma after ascending radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymphadenectomy with different forms of postoperative adjuvant treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analysed 82 patients with lymph node metastases at the time of surgery and who had a RP between 1993 and 2002. Data from clinical records and follow‐up questionnaires were used. Overall survival, time to clinical disease progression and time to biochemical progression were used as endpoints to assess the outcome. Clinical progression was defined as documented local recurrence or distant metastases, and biochemical as an increase in prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) of ≥ 0.4 ng/mL. Variables analysed included PSA level, Gleason score before and after RP, clinical and pathological stage, number of positive lymph nodes and hormone therapy after RP. The statistical assessment included univariate regression analysis, and to analyse the distribution of clinical findings in different groups, Mantel–Haenszel statistics were used to test for differences in the numbers of patients. Survival and progression‐free interval were assessed by Kaplan–Meier estimates and differences between groups calculated by log‐rank statistics and Cox regression models.

RESULTS

The median (range) follow‐up was 55  (10–125) months. Adjuvant hormonal treatment was used in 77 patients, five of whom had immediate adjuvant radiotherapy, and nine delayed radiotherapy because of local progression or symptomatic bone metastases; five had no additional treatment. The rates for 5‐ and 10‐year overall survival, clinical progression‐free survival and biochemical progression‐free survival were 84% and 79%, 83% and 77%, and 70% and 60%, respectively. Ten patients died (12%), eight (10%) of them from the cancer; bone metastases were detected in nine (11%). Local recurrences developed in three (4%) patients, 10 (12%) had a PSA increase of ≥ 0.4 ng/mL alone and 58 (71%) had no signs of progression, but two died from other causes.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with prostate cancer who had RP and pelvic lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant hormone therapy, and who had lymph node metastases at the time of surgery, had excellent overall and progression‐free survival in the long term.
Physiological fatigue of smooth muscle contractions in rat urinary bladder
Authors: PAGALA MUARLI , LEHMAN DANIEL S. , MORGAN MICHAEL P. , JEDWAB JOSHUA , WISE GILBERT J.
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the physiological fatigue in bladder smooth muscles that can occur within 60 s of stimulation, which is closer to the duration of normal voiding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Longitudinal and transverse strips of rat bladder were used; the muscles were mounted in an in vitro multi‐muscle chamber, and the decline in contractile tension recorded during continuous electrical stimulation at frequencies of 5–30 Hz for 60 s. The effect of muscle length on fatigue was assessed by monitoring the decline in tension during 30 Hz stimulation at rest length, and at 60% and 100% stretched lengths of the bladder strips. To assess some of the factors involved in the development of fatigue, tension responses of fatigued muscles were monitored on exposure to 80 mm potassium or 1 µm bethanechol.

RESULTS

In both longitudinal and transverse bladder strips stimulated at 30 Hz, peak contractile tension declined to 50% of original after ≈ 33 s, and to 30% after 60 s of stimulation. After 10 s rest, 60% of the original tension was recovered. Increasing the frequency of fatigue stimulation from 5 to 30 Hz significantly increased the extent of the decline in tension and reduced the time to a 50% decrease in tension. Stretching the bladder strips from rest length to 100% stretched length significantly reduced the extent of tension decline and increased the time to a 50% decrease in tension. Exposure of fatigued muscles to high potassium or bethanechol generated more tension than electrical stimulation.

CONCLUSION

Contractile fatigue occurs in both longitudinal and transverse strips of the bladder smooth muscles within the duration of normal voiding. Increasing the frequency of stimulation from 5 to 30 Hz increased the degree and rate of fatigue. Stretching the bladder strips from rest length by 60–100% reduced the degree and rate of fatigue. Bladder fatigue may be caused by decreased depolarization of the smooth muscle membranes, reduced release of acetylcholine from presynaptic nerve terminals, or by other yet undetermined mechanisms.
Phasic non‐micturition contractions in the bladder of the anaesthetized and awake rat
Authors: STRENG TOMI , HEDLUND PETTER , TALO ANTTI , ANDERSSON KARL‐ERIK , GILLESPIE JAMES I.
Published: April 2006

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the contractile activity that occurs in the bladder during the filling phase of the micturition cycle (non‐micturition contractions, NMCs), which generate transient rises in intravesical pressure not associated with urine flow.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiments were conducted using anaesthetized (chloral hydrate) and un‐anaesthetized rats. In un‐anaesthetized rats bladder contractile activity was measured using an intravesical cannula implanted under full surgical anaesthesia 3 days previously. In the anaesthetized rats the bladder was exteriorized and a cannula inserted through the dome. In these experiments electrical activity within the detrusor was also measured with a suction electrode on the bladder surface. For each rat, the experimental protocol involved filling the bladder at a constant rate (10 mL/h) to evoke micturition cycles, or infusion of a fixed volume and recording made under effective isovolumetric conditions.

RESULTS

In both anaesthetized and un‐anaesthetized rats there were transient rises in bladder pressure (0.5–3 cmH2O). In the anaesthetized rats the amplitude of the transients increased throughout the filling phase, with little change in frequency. The phasic NMCs generating these pressure transients were accompanied by electrical changes in the detrusor. In the middle phase of bladder filling the slow pressure changes were accompanied by slow waves of electrical activity which changed in the pressure cycles immediately before micturition to high‐frequency low‐amplitude signals. In the un‐anaesthetized rats there was a period immediately after voiding where there was no activity. As filling proceeded, low‐amplitude low‐frequency NMCs appeared that gradually increased in frequency and amplitude during the filling phase. However, the frequency of the transients decreased immediately before micturition despite an increase in amplitude. Similar responses were seen during isovolumetric recording.

CONCLUSION

The present results show the presence of NMCs in the rat bladder, identify volume‐dependent changes in the pattern of this activity during the micturition cycle, and show that NMCs are accompanied by electrical changes in the detrusor. The physiological significance of NMCs is not known but it might be linked to the generation of afferent discharge from mechanoreceptors in the wall, so contributing to sensations related to bladder volume.
Networks of Agri‐Environmental Action: Temporality, Spatiality and Identity in Agricultural Environments
Authors: Lockie Stewart
Published: April 2006

Engineering new networks between state agencies, farmers and other actors is central to contemporary agri‐environmental policy. This article examines relationships between network membership, identity and changes in farming practice from the perspective of three different conceptualisations of social networks. These include social network analysis, the network society thesis and actor‐network theory. Despite their common reliance on the metaphor of ‘networks’ to focus sociological analysis, these approaches are based on divergent ontological assumptions and suggest a number of different research foci. The paper finds that while social networks embedded in group membership and interactions among farmers appear to have had dramatic impacts on the expression of personal and group identities – particularly in relation to women – their impact on the adoption of more overtly environmentally sound farming practices has been limited in several important ways. By contrast, less visible relationships of knowledge and expertise that extend beyond the co‐present interactions of producers appear to shape farming identities and practices ‘at a distance’, in ways that contribute to the limited impact of agri‐environment group membership.
Estimating the Prevalence of Male Clients of Prostitute Women in Vancouver With a Simple Capture–Recapture Method
Authors: Roberts John M. , Brewer Devon D.
Published: April 2006

Capture–recapture techniques are widely used to estimate the size of difficult-to-count human populations. Applications often focus on the overlap between two or more samples, but another type of data that is encountered in human studies involves only the number of times that particular individuals were encountered in the study period. We present a method for estimating the population size in this situation. This method is simple and technically accessible and allows for entries and exits by individuals and for a difference between probabilities of initial and subsequent contacts. We apply the method to arrest data on male clients of prostitute women in Vancouver.
Reducing Bias in Ecological Studies: An Evaluation of Different Methodologies
Authors: Lancaster Gillian A. , Green Mick , Lane Steven
Published: April 2006

Statistical methods of ecological analysis that attempt to reduce ecological bias are empirically evaluated to determine in which circumstances each method might be practicable. The method that is most successful at reducing ecological bias is stratified ecological regression. It allows individual level covariate information to be incorporated into a stratified ecological analysis, as well as the combination of disease and risk factor information from two separate data sources, e.g. outcomes from a cancer registry and risk factor information from the census sample of anonymized records data set. The aggregated individual level model compares favourably with this model but has convergence problems. In addition, it is shown that the large areas that are covered by local authority districts seem to reduce between-area variability and may therefore not be as informative as conducting a ward level analysis. This has policy implications because access to ward level data is restricted.
The Formation and Outcomes of Cohabiting and Marital Partnerships in Early Adulthood: The Role of Previous Partnership Experience
Authors: Steele Fiona , Kallis Constantinos , Joshi Heather
Published: April 2006

We estimate a joint model of the formation and dissolution of cohabiting and marital unions among British women who were born in 1970. The focus of the analysis is the effect of previous cohabitation and marriage on subsequent partnership transitions. We use a multilevel simultaneous equations event history model to allow for residual correlation between the hazards of moving from an unpartnered state into cohabitation or marriage, converting a cohabiting union into marriage and dissolution of either form of union. A simultaneous modelling approach allows for the joint determination of these transitions, which may otherwise bias estimates of the effects of previous partnership outcomes on later transitions.
Calibrating Remotely Sensed Chlorophyll-A Data by Using Penalized Regression Splinesa
Authors: Clarke E. D. , Speirs D. C. , Heath M. R. , Wood S. N. , Gurney W. S. C. , Holmes S. J.
Published: April 2006

The distribution and biomass of phytoplankton in the upper layers of the ocean are important indicators of productivity and carbon cycling. Large scale perturbations in phytoplankton are linked to global climate change, so accurate monitoring is increasingly important. The chlorophyll-a pigment concentration in the water is routinely measured as an index of algal biomass. Direct water sampling from ships and moorings provides accurate data, but woefully poor spatial and temporal coverage of the oceans. In contrast, multispectral sea surface reflectance data from orbiting satellite-borne sensors, which in principle can be used to derive pigment concentration, give the prospect of globally detailed spatial and temporal coverage. Unfortunately, there are some locally variable confounding factors, which the algorithms for converting reflectance data to ocean chlorophyll-a concentration do not take into account. Hence, statistical methods are needed to obtain accurate predictions of chlorophyll-a concentration by using data from both these sources. We use penalized regression splines to model water sample data as a three-dimensional function of satellite measurements, seabed depth and time of year. The models are effectively complex calibrations of the satellite data against the bottle data. We compare the results by using thin plate regression splines and tensor product splines using generalized cross-validation to choose the relative amounts of smoothing for each of the covariates. Since the thin plate spline penalty functional is isotropic, this requires the introduction of two scaling parameters, which are also chosen by generalized cross-validation, to scale the covariates relatively to one another. The tensor product spline smooths each covariate appropriately by use of separate smoothing parameters for each covariate. The models are tested by application to data from the north-east Atlantic, first randomly subsampling the data to achieve even coverage over the entire region. Both approaches perform equally well, achieving R2≈65%, both for the data that are used to fit the model and for a validation data set. Of particular concern in this application is that monthly predictions from the models should be biologically plausible over the whole region, describing the broad regional features that are apparent in the satellite data and extrapolating sensibly where satellite data are not available. To achieve this, the satellite data must be one of the covariates in the model; spatiotemporal covariates alone are not sufficient to extrapolate sensibly into areas where no data are available.
Analysing Survey Data with Incomplete Responses by Using a Method Based on Empirical Likelihood
Authors: Leung Denis H. Y. , Qin Jing
Published: April 2006

In many surveys, missing response is a common problem. As an example, Zahner, Jacobs, Freeman and Trainor analysed data from a study of child psychopathology in the State of Connecticut, USA. In that study, the response variable, psychopathology, was inferred from questions that were addressed to teachers of the children and was subject to a high level of missingness. However, the missing responses were supplemented by surrogate information that was provided by the parents and/or the primary care providers of the children. In such a situation, it is conceivable that the supplemental information can be used to recover some of the information that has been lost in the cases with missing response. This paper considers a method using empirical likelihood. Empirical likelihood is well known in providing nonparametric inference. But its application has largely been confined to complete-data situations. The method proposed exploits the semiparametric nature of empirical likelihood. The method gives consistent estimates if the cases with non-missing responses form a random sample of the population. In large samples, the method behaves similarly to a regression estimate that is applied to estimating equations. The method is easy to implement with standard statistical packages. In a small sample study, the method was found to give favourable results, when compared with existing methods.
Inference of a Hidden Spatial Tessellation from Multivariate Data: Application to the Delineation of Homogeneous Regions in an Agricultural Field
Authors: Guillot Gilles , Kan-King-Yu Denis , Michelin Joël , Huet Philippe
Published: April 2006

In a precision farming context, differentiated management decisions regarding fertilization, application of lime and other cultivation activities may require the subdivision of the field into homogeneous regions with respect to the soil variables of main agronomic significance. The paper develops an approach that is aimed at delineating homogeneous regions on the basis of measurements of a categorical and quantitative nature, namely soil type and resistivity measurements at different soil layers. We propose a Bayesian multivariate spatial model and embed it in a Markov chain Monte Carlo inference scheme. Implementation is discussed using real data from a 15-ha field. Although applied to soil data, this model could be relevant in areas of spatial modelling as diverse as epidemiology, ecology or meteorology.
Legal Pluralism and the European Union
Authors: Barber N. W.
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  This article advances a pluralist model of a legal system. It claims that a legal system is pluralist when it contains inconsistent rules of recognition that cannot be legally resolved from within the system. The first part of the article sets out the model, demonstrating why it requires a departure from the classical accounts of law advanced by writers such as Hart and Kelsen. The second half applies this model to actual legal orders: first, to Rhodesia during the crisis of 1965, and then to the legal orders of the European Union. It is argued that there are interesting and important points of similarity between the two.
Age Discrimination Law in a Country with a Communist History: The Example of Poland
Authors: Zysk Małgorzata
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  This article offers an overview of the legal responses to age discrimination in Poland. It explores the system of legal protection before the accession of Poland to the European Union, and looks too at the situation after the implementation of Council Directive 2000/78/EC. It argues that Community law has enhanced protection against age discrimination significantly, but that legislation remains far from perfect, and that the effective eradication of this form of discrimination in Poland is impeded by a range of difficulties typically found in countries with a Communist past.
Rhetoric or Reality? ‘New Governance’ in EU Environmental Policy
Authors: Holzinger Katharina , Knill Christoph , Schäfer Ansgar
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  When scrutinising the literature on EU environmental policy, it becomes apparent that there has been a comprehensive transition in underlying governance ideas during the last two decades. At the core of these changes is the abolition of traditional patterns of interventionist command‐and‐control regulation in favour of economic instruments and ‘context‐oriented’ governance. In view of these developments, this article has two objectives: first, it looks into which causes and factors initiated these discussions; second, it analyses the effects these reform ideas had on actual patterns of governance. As will be shown, changes in governance ideas are only partially expressed in changes in policy instruments.
Shooting from the Hip: Proposed Minimum Rights in Criminal Proceedings throughout the EU
Authors: Lööf Robin
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  EU action in the field of procedural rights in criminal proceedings was expected. The effects on procedural rights of the EU‐propelled increase of repressive, cross‐border efficiency with the application of the principle of mutual recognition could not fail to be noticed, and doctrinal opinion has been outspokenly critical of the current predominance of the ‘security’‐element over the other two in the ‘area of freedom, security and justice’. Unfortunately, the proposed Framework Decision on certain procedural rights in criminal proceedings throughout the EU is a double failure: first, the Commission's methodological choices betray a cavalier attitude to the limits of EU competence in this area. Second, it is also a substantive failure in that the rights selected as being ‘so fundamental that they should be given priority at this stage’ do little to solve the problems actually besetting the application of the principle of mutual recognition in criminal matters.
Talking politics: Perils and promise
Authors: GOODIN ROBERT E.
Published: April 2006

Abstract. In its recent ‘deliberative’ turn, democratic theory has forgotten a conventional wisdom, once widely appreciated, that there is much in politics that is better not discussed. In this article, the author catalogues what topics might be deemed ‘politically undiscussable’, and why, as a first step toward showing how and to what extent talking about such matters might help or hinder their resolution. One important way discussion helps is by information‐pooling to establish the truth of the matter. Even where that is not a viable aspiration, discussion might nonetheless serve a ‘premise‐revealing’ function, showing one another that we are reasonable agents and thus helping to desensitize contentious issues.
State institutions, political power and social policy choices: Reconstructing the origins of Nordic models of social policy
Authors: LIN KA , CARROLL EERO
Published: April 2006

Abstract.  The origins of the Nordic social policy model(s) need to be viewed broadly and historically from its late nineteenth‐century initiation to the immediate postwar period (1940s to the early 1960s), when a social democratic model began to consolidate. In reference to the alternate social policy traditions of British poor relief and German occupational insurance, this article analyzes the sociopolitical contexts that finally prevented Scandinavian states from developing similarly, instead enabling development of universalistic social policy. The historical narratives are arranged with respect to four analytical aspects: policy development; the configuration of state institutions; the strength of liberal, conservative and leftist power blocs; and intra‐Nordic divergence in all these respects. Such an approach integrates state‐centred and power‐resources‐focused analyses of Nordic welfare.
CYANOPHYTA‐BACTERIA SYSTEMS: EFFECTS OF ADDED CARBON COMPOUNDS OR PHOSPHATE ON ALGAL GROWTH AT LOW NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS1
Authors: Lange Willy
Published: April 2006

Planktonic blue‐green algae are known to be always associated with bacteria. Earlier work has shown that the addition of a bacteria‐assimilable carbon source to a normal Zehnder‐Gorham culture medium (No. 11) will produce enhanced growth of these algae when atmospheric CO2 has become the limiting factor. In new work, phosphate‐rich culture media were diluted so that they simulated nutrient levels found in the Great Lakes, e.g., Lake Erie. At these low concentrations and when atmospheric CO2 was not available in a sufficient supply, the addition of sucrose to either a 1/100 or a 1/1000 diluted Z‐G, medium (10 mg or 2 mg of sucrose, respectively) also produced enhanced, growth of the tested blue‐green algae. The stimulation of algal growth was apparently due to an increased bacterial production of CO2 and possibly other carbon compounds approaching the composition of the CO2 molecule. The literature suggests that during vigorous algal growth in lakes, atmospheric CO2 will be severely limiting. Productive lakes always contain nonliving organic matter. The presence of bacteria‐assimilable matter is probably one of the important factors leading to algal bloom.
EVALUATIONS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SOURCES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FOR ALGAE1
Authors: Fitzgerald George P.
Published: April 2006

Techniques are compared for the evaluation of nutrient sources in which the potential nutrients are in contact with algae over their entire culture period versus relatively short‐term exposure tests. Different nitrogen and phosphorus compounds were shown to be utilized in darkness as well as in light and were equally available at pH 7 and 9. The availability of relatively insoluble nutrients–iron‐phosphorus compounds and teeth for phosphorus, hair for nitrogen iron pyrites for iron, and marble for carbon–indicates that in many cases the equilibrium between soluble and insoluble forms allows algae to compete successfully with insoluble forms for nutrients. Apparently, factors other than mere insolubility prevent algae from obtaining available nitrogen or phosphorus from phosphate rock or lake muds. Live algae or aquatic weeds with adequate or surplus nitrogen or phosphorus were shown to not share their nutrients with nitrogen‐ or phosphorus‐limited algae, whereas the nutrients of killed algae or aquatic weeds were readily used by nutrient‐limited algae. The facts–(1) that live algae and aquatic weeds do not share their adequate or surplus nutrients with nutrient‐limited algae and (2) that lake muds do not provide readily available nitrogen or phosphorus–indicate that once lake waters are stripped of available nutrients by plant production, further plant production will depend upon nutrients from continuous sources of nutrients, such as wastewater effluents.
NOTES ON SEVERAL MYRIONEMATACEAE FROM CALIFORNIA USING CULTURE STUDIES1
Authors: Loiseaux Susan
Published: April 2006

A revision of several of the Myrionemataceae described by Setchell & Gardner in 1922 from the Pacific Coast of North America has been undertaken. Collections at different seasons, on different substrates, and comparisons with the types and isotype material, as well as culture studies, show that many of these species are merely different stages of a few algae. Twenty‐seven species or forms have been grouped into 4 species and several changes of genus have been made. Life histories observed are simple, generally asexual except for Hecatonema streblonematoides, which shows a “Microsyphar”‐ like gametophyte.
THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH RATES IN BOREAL‐SUBARCTIC CRUSTOSE CORALLINES1
Authors: Adey Walter H.
Published: April 2006

A number of boreal‐subarctic crustose corallines were kept in natural seawater tanks at temperatures ranging from 0 to 19 C and, using fluorescent lamps at light intensities, ranging from 7 to 750 lux with periods of 8 and 14 hr/day. The resultant growth rates as a function of temperature and light are presented and discussed in relation to the ecology of the plants.

All of the Lithothamnieae studied had growth maxima at temperatures from 9 to 15 C. Growth in these species showed little light dependence below 4–6 C, but had a strong light dependence at higher temperatures. The one Lithophyllum species examined gave a flatter growth‐temperature curve than the Lithothamnieae and showed little light dependence.

The effects of temperature variation, salinity, and current on growth rates were also examined and are discussed. It was found to be especially important in studying growth rates of crustose corallines to allow time for growth stabilization following temperature change. In general, growth was found to exhibit a hysteresis effect, increased rates with the raising of temperatures 5–10 C and decreased rates with lowering temperatures.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARPOSPOROPHYTE OF SCINAIA PSEUDOJAPONICA YAMADA ET TANAKA (NEMALIALES, CHAETANGIACEAE)1
Authors: Chiang Young‐Meng
Published: April 2006

The development of the carposporophyte of Scinaia pseudojaponica Yamada et Tanaka is described for the first time. The carpogonial branch is 3‐celled. Before fertilization the hypogynous cell divides into a group of 4 cells. Concurrently the cell beneath the hypogynous cells also produces initials which, following fertilization, develop into branched filaments that envelop the carposporophyte. After fertilization the gonimoblast initial is produced laterally from the basal part of the carpogonium. Carposporangia are produced in chains from the free ends of the gonimoblast filaments which grow toward the surface of the thyllus. A very thick pericarp surrounds the mature carposporophyte.
A MONOECIOUS ISOLATE OF RHODOCHORTON PURPUREUM1
Authors: West John A.
Published: April 2006

Although most sexually reproducing strains of Rhodochorton purpureum are dioecious, an isolate from Chile is monoecious. The tetrasporophyte of the monoecious strain differentiates directly from the fertilized carpogonium as in the dioecious strains but it differs slightly in its development.
THE ALGAE OF WAIMANGU CAULDRON (NEW ZEALAND): DISTRIBUTION IN RELATION TO pH1
Authors: Brock Thomas D. , Brock M. Louise
Published: April 2006

The pH of the main body of thermal water and of the outlet of Waimangu Cauldron (Frying Pan Lake) is 3.8, whereas hot springs flowing into this lake are alkaline, pH 8.2–8.7. Where these waters meet there are pH gradients, and it is possible to find a series of habitats differing in pH but having approximately the same temperature (54–56 C). Where the pH is above 4.8 the blue‐green alga Mastigocladus laminosus is present, and where the pH is below this value the eucaryotic alga Cyanidium caldarium is the sole photosynthetic microorganism at temperatures less than 55 C. Rocks resting on the bottom of Waimangu Cauldron surrounded by water of pH 3.8 have Mastigocladus laminosus growing on them, but measurements of pH directly in these algal mats showed that the microenvironment of the alga was actually above pH 4.8. A simple experiment showed that it is probably the rock, per se, that initiates a tiny island of alkalinity in the acid lake, permitting M. laminosus to become established. The outlet of Waimangu Cauldron is a hot acid stream which becomes progressively alkaline as it descends through Waimangu Valley, due to inflow of alkaline water from springs and a cold stream. Blue‐green algae were found in this stream when the pH was greater than 5.0 and C. caldarium when the pH was less than 4.0. In one region where the pH was between 4.0 and 5.0, both blue‐green algae and C. caldarium were seen, although in moribund state. These data, provide further information on the lowest pH values at which blue‐green algae are able to grow.