bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic eruption forecasting and the call for an evacuation
Authors: Marzocchi Warner , Woo Gordon
Published: November 2007

One of the most critical practical actions to reduce volcanic risk is the evacuation of people from threatened areas during volcanic unrest. Despite its importance, this decision is usually arrived at subjectively by a few individuals, with little quantitative decision support. Here, we propose a possible strategy to integrate a probabilistic scheme for eruption forecasting and cost‐benefit analysis, with an application to the call for an evacuation of one of the highest risk volcanoes: Vesuvius. This approach has the following merits. First, it incorporates a decision‐analysis framework, expressed in terms of event probability, accounting for all modes of available hazard knowledge. Secondly, it is a scientific tool, based on quantitative and transparent rules that can be tested. Finally, since the quantitative rules are defined during a period of quiescence, it allows prior scrutiny of any scientific input into the model, so minimizing the external stress on scientists during an actual emergency phase. Whilst we specifically report the case of Vesuvius during the MESIMEX exercise, the approach can be generalized to other types of natural catastrophe.
Multisatellite determination of the relativistic electron phase space density at geosynchronous orbit: An integrated investigation during geomagnetic storm times
Authors: Chen Y. , Friedel R. H. W. , Reeves G. D. , Cayton T. E. , Christensen R.
Published: November 2007

An integrated investigation method, which can study the relativistic electron phase space density distribution and check the reliability of employed magnetic field models simultaneously, is developed and applied to the geosynchronous orbit region for 53 geomagnetic storms during a ∼190‐d period. First, to test how the magnetospheric magnetic field affects the study of phase space density, two approaches are taken on handling the magnetic field model: One is to use an existing empirical model through the whole storm period; the other is to select one from a list of existing magnetic field models for each time bin during the period by fitting to multipoint in situ measurements. The magnetic field models in both approaches are again tested by Liouville's theorem, which requires the conserved phase space density for fixed phase space coordinates given no local losses and sources. Then on the basis of the selected magnetic field model, the phase space density is calculated by transforming the flux data from three Los Alamos National Laboratory geosynchronous satellites. By following the procedure developed here and using the cross‐satellite calibration achieved in previous work, we deduce the storm time electron phase space density distribution for the region near geosynchronous orbit, covering a range of L shells with L* centered ∼6. This work establishes the radial phase space density gradient at constant adiabatic invariants as a function of universal time during storm times, and three types of geomagnetic storms are defined according to the degree of energy‐dependent enhancements of energetic electrons during recovery phases. Initial results from this study suggest a source outside geosynchronous orbit for low‐energy electrons and a major source inside for high‐energy electrons.
Modeling elves observed by FORMOSAT‐2 satellite
Authors: Kuo Cheng‐Ling , Chen A. B. , Lee Y. J. , Tsai L. Y. , Chou R. K. , Hsu R. R. , Su H. T. , Lee L. C. , Cummer S. A. , Frey H. U. , Mende S. B. , Takahashi Y. , Fukunishi H.
Published: November 2007

The ISUAL experiment on the FORMOSAT‐2 satellite has confirmed the existence of ionization and Lyman‐Birge‐Hopfield (LBH) band emissions in elves. In this paper, an in‐depth study of the ISUAL recorded elves was carried out. Numerical simulation results of elves based on an electromagnetic finite difference time domain (FDTD) model of the emissions between 185–800 nm and of their spatial‐temporal evolution are presented. To account for the effect of atmospheric attenuation, three major attenuation mechanisms: O2, O3, and molecular Rayleigh scattering are considered. Validations of the electromagnetic FDTD model were conducted in three ways: by comparing the calculated and observed photon fluxes in the ISUAL spectrophotometric channels, by directly comparing the simulated and observed morphologies of elves, and by comparing the computed photon counts of the ISUAL Imager based on the derived peak currents for two elve‐associated NLDN (National Lightning Detection Network) cloud‐to‐ground discharges (CGs) with those recorded by the ISUAL Imager. In all three ways, very good agreement was achieved.
Bioluminescence in a complex coastal environment: 1. Temporal dynamics of nighttime water‐leaving radiance
Authors: Moline Mark A. , Oliver Matthew J. , Mobley Curtis D. , Sundman Lydia , Bensky Thomas , Bergmann Trisha , Bissett W. Paul , Case James , Raymond Erika H. , Schofield Oscar M. E.
Published: November 2007

Nighttime water‐leaving radiance is a function of the depth‐dependent distribution of both the in situ bioluminescence emissions and the absorption and scattering properties of the water. The vertical distributions of these parameters were used as inputs for a modified one‐dimensional radiative transfer model to solve for spectral bioluminescence water‐leaving radiance from prescribed depths of the water column. Variation in the water‐leaving radiance was consistent with local episodic physical forcing events, with tidal forcing, terrestrial runoff, particulate accumulation, and biological responses influencing the shorter timescale dynamics. There was a >90 nm shift in the peak water‐leaving radiance from blue (∼474 nm) to green as light propagated to the surface. In addition to clues in ecosystem responses to physical forcing, the temporal dynamics in intensity and spectral quality of water‐leaving radiance provide suitable ranges for assessing detection. This may provide the information needed to estimate the depth of internal light sources in the ocean, which is discussed in part 2 of this paper.
Correlated biofilm imaging, transport and metabolism measurements via combined nuclear magnetic resonance and confocal microscopy
Authors: McLean Jeffrey S , Ona Ositadinma N , Majors Paul D
Published: November 2007

Bacterial biofilms are complex, three-dimensional communities found nearly everywhere in nature and are also associated with many human diseases. Detailed metabolic information is critical to understand and exploit beneficial biofilms as well as combat antibiotic-resistant, disease-associated forms. However, most current techniques used to measure temporal and spatial metabolite profiles in these delicate structures are invasive or destructive. Here, we describe imaging, transport and metabolite measurement methods and their correlation for live, non-invasive monitoring of biofilm processes. This novel combination of measurements is enabled by the use of an integrated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). NMR methods provide macroscopic structure, metabolic pathway and rate data, spatially resolved metabolite concentrations and water diffusion profiles within the biofilm. In particular, current depth-resolved spectroscopy methods are applied to detect metabolites in 140–190 nl volumes within biofilms of the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 and the oral bacterium implicated in caries disease, Streptococcus mutans strain UA159. The perfused sample chamber also contains a transparent optical window allowing for the collection of complementary fluorescence information using a unique, in-magnet CLSM. In this example, the entire three-dimensional biofilm structure was imaged using magnetic resonance imaging. This was then correlated to a fluorescent CLSM image by employing a green fluorescent protein reporter construct of S. oneidensis. Non-invasive techniques such as described here, which enable measurements of dynamic metabolic processes, especially in a depth-resolved fashion, are expected to advance our understanding of processes occurring within biofilm communities.
The Rapid Decrease in Astrocyte-Associated Dystroglycan Expression by Focal Cerebral Ischemia is Protease-Dependent
Authors: Milner Richard , Hung Stephanie , Wang Xiaoyun , Spatz Maria , del Zoppo Gregory J
Published: November 2007

During focal cerebral ischemia, the detachment of astrocytes from the microvascular basal lamina is not completely explained by known integrin receptor expression changes. Here, the impact of experimental ischemia (oxygen—glucose deprivation (OGD)) on dystroglycan expression by murine endothelial cells and astrocytes grown on vascular matrix laminin, perlecan, or collagen and the impact of middle cerebral artery occlusion on αβ-dystroglycan within cerebral microvessels of the nonhuman primate were examined. Dystroglycan was expressed on all cerebral microvessels in cortical gray and white matter, and the striatum. Astrocyte adhesion to basal lamina proteins was managed in part by α-dystroglycan, while ischemia significantly reduced expression of dystroglycan both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, dystroglycan and integrin α6β4 expressions on astrocyte end-feet decreased in parallel both in vivo and in vitro. The rapid loss of astrocyte dystroglycan during OGD appears protease-dependent, involving an matrix metalloproteinase-like activity. This may explain the rapid detachment of astrocytes from the microvascular basal lamina during ischemic injury, which could contribute to significant changes in microvascular integrity.
Greater Hypoxia-Induced Cell Death in Prenatal Brain after Bacterial-Endotoxin Pretreatment is not Because of Enhanced Cerebral Energy Depletion: A Chicken Embryo Model of the Intrapartum Response to Hypoxia and Infection
Authors: Wang Xiaolan , Carmichael David W , Cady Ernest B , Gearing Oliver , Bainbridge Alan , Ordidge Roger J , Raivich Gena , Peebles Donald M
Published: November 2007

Infection is a risk factor for adult stroke and neonatal encephalopathy. We investigated whether exposure to bacterial endotoxin increases hypoxia-induced brain cell death and impairs cerebral metabolic compensatory responses to hypoxia. Prehatching chicken embryos (incubation day 19) were exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (3 mg Salmonella typhimurium LPS per egg) or hypoxia (4% ambient O2 for 1 h), alone or in combination with LPS, followed 4 h later by hypoxia. Cerebral cell death and glial activation were assessed histologically. Further, chicken embryo brains were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) to assess haemodynamic and metabolic responses. In most brain areas, combined LPS/hypoxia resulted in a 30- to 100-fold increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling -positive cells, compared to control and single-insult groups. Glial activation correlated with the severity of cell death and was significantly greater in the combined-insult group ( P<0.05). Hypoxia was associated with a 10-fold increase in lactate/ N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), an ˜20% increase in total creatine/NAA, rapid decreases in T2 and T2+, and a reduction in direction-averaged brain-water diffusion ( Dav) by ˜15%. Liposaccharide pretreatment did not alter the magnitude or timing of these responses, but engendered baseline shifts (increased Cho/NAA, Cr/NAA, and Dav, and reduced T2+). In conclusion, LPS greatly increased hypoxia-induced brain damage in this model and induced changes in baseline haemodynamics and metabolism but did not affect the magnitude of the glycolytic response to hypoxia. The damage-enhancing effects of LPS are not because of additional energy depletion but because of a synergistic toxic component.
Measurement of the energy distribution of trapped and free electrons in a current-free double layer
Authors: Takahashi K. , Charles C. , Boswell R. W. , Kaneko T. , Hatakeyama R.
Published: November 2007

In the high potential plasma, upstream of the double layer, the measured electron energy distribution function (EEDF) shows a very clear change in slope at energies (εbreak) corresponding to the double layer potential drop. Electrons with lower energy are Maxwellian with a temperature of 8eV, whereas those with higher energy have a temperature of 5eV. The EEDF in the downstream plasma has a temperature of 5eV. Over the range of pressures wherein the double layer and accelerated ion beam are detected by analysis of a retarding field energy analyzer, the strength of the double layer corresponds to the energy where the slope changes in the EEDF (εbreak). We deduce that the downstream electrons come from upstream electrons that have sufficient energy to overcome the potential of the double layer, and that only a single upstream plasma source is required to maintain this phenomenon.
Unified linear response function for zonal flows with full finite orbit effects
Authors: Watari T. , Hamada Y. , Nishizawa A. , Todoroki J.
Published: November 2007

A new formulation of the linear response function of electrostatic potential to nonlinear drive (due to turbulence) is presented in this paper; zonal flows play important roles in the self-regulation of turbulence and their basic physics are contained in response functions. Two branches of zonal flows [stationary zonal flow and geodesic acoustic mode (GAM)] are known to exist in the low and high frequency ranges. However, they have been analyzed separately using different approximations due the difference in their frequency ranges. This paper visits this problem and gives a unified expression of the response function by taking full account of finite orbit effects. The drift kinetic equation is integrated along particle orbits by expanding them in Fourier series. Thus, a separate handling of passing and trapped particles is facilitated revealing some important aspects of zonal flows: (1) neoclassical poloidal mode coupling due to finite orbit effects, (2) enhancement of the nonuniform potential field due to reduced parallel transport, and (3) the presence of two propagation bands of GAM as the quadratic dispersion relation is solved.
Strong tip effects in near-field scanning optical tomography
Authors: Sun Jin , Carney P. Scott , Schotland John C.
Published: November 2007

A model for the interaction of the scanning probe in near-field scanning optical microscopy is presented. Multiple scattering of the illuminating field with the probe is taken into account. The implications of this so-called strong tip model for the solution of the associated inverse scattering problem are studied through simulations.
Optimizing the growth of vanadyl-phthalocyanine thin films for high-mobility organic thin-film transistors
Authors: Yu X. J. , Xu J. B. , Cheung W. Y. , Ke N.
Published: November 2007

To achieve high-mobility organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), growth of vacuum-evaporated vanadyl-phthalocyanine (VOPc) thin films as the active layer was studied and optimized by varying the process conditions of the substrate temperature, deposition rate, and dielectric type. On the popularly used SiO2 gate dielectric, the surface morphology of the VOPc thin film exhibited closely packed terraced grains when the substrate temperature and deposition rate were carefully controlled. The VOPc OTFTs with terraced grains on SiO2 showed a high mobility of 0.04−0.06 cm2∕V s. Terraced VOPc grains were also obtained on Ta2O5 and Al2O3∕SiO2 gate dielectrics, where larger and more regular grains were formed. As a result, a higher mobility of 0.05−0.10 cm2∕V s was obtained for the VOPc OTFT with Ta2O5, and 0.06−0.14 cm2∕V s for the VOPc OTFT with Al2O3∕SiO2. The high mobility along with the merits of good stability and low cost makes VOPc a promising candidate for applications in organic electronics.
Static properties of relaxor ferroelectric thin films
Authors: Eliseev E. A. , Glinchuk M. D.
Published: November 2007

A model for calculations of relaxor ferroelectrics thin films static properties is proposed within the framework of the random field theory. We took into account the misfit strain between the film and the substrate as well as the surface piezoelectric effect that causes the built-in electric field in the strained films. The dependence of the order parameter and dielectric susceptibility on the film thickness, temperature, and random field distribution function halfwidth was obtained. It was shown that the fraction of long-range polar order in relaxor films decreases with a thickness decrease so that it has to be a dipole glass state for free standing films or an electretlike state with residual polarization originated from the built-in field for the films with a thickness less than some critical value.
Through the Looking Glass: How the Relationship between an Object and its Reflection Affects the Perception of Distance and Size
Authors: Jones Luke A , Bertamini Marco
Published: November 2007

This is the first study to test the extent to which reflections help locate objects in space and perceive their size. For planar mirrors, the relative size of a target and its reflection is informative about the absolute distance of the target in units of the distance between target and mirror surface. When the target is near the mirror, target and reflection are similar in size; as the target moves away from the mirror, the difference in size increases. Observers saw a pair of objects in front of a mirror and judged relative size and distance (separately). Other visual cues to size and distance were eliminated, except lateral offset, which was tested in experiment 3. Experiment 2 controlled for the presence of directional feedback. Results showed orderly psychophysical functions for both size and distance with steeper slopes for distance judgments. In experiments 4 and 5 stereograms were used. Even when binocular information was present, the additional cue provided by reflections increased the accuracy of size and distance judgments. The same pattern of results was observed in the absence of feedback.
β cell-specific deficiency of the stimulatory G protein α-subunit G
s
α leads to reduced β cell mass and insulin-deficient diabetes
Authors: Xie Tao , Chen Min , Zhang Qing-Hong , Ma Zheng , Weinstein Lee S.
Published: November 2007

The G protein α-subunit G
s
α is required for hormone-stimulated cAMP generation. In pancreatic β cells, G
s
α mediates the signaling of glucagon-like peptide 1 and other incretin hormones, which are implicated as important regulators of β cell survival and insulin release. Studies have suggested that G
s
α/cAMP mediates these actions by stimulating insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) expression. Mice with β cell-specific G
s
α deficiency (βGsKO) were generated by mating G
s
α-floxed mice to rat insulin II promoter-cre recombinase mice. βGsKO mice had poor survival and postnatal growth with low serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. βGsKO mice also developed severe hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance with severe hypoinsulinemia and reduced islet insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin release. βGsKO mice had markedly reduced average islet size and β cell mass, which was partially explained by reduced β cell size. In addition, βGsKO mice had significantly reduced β cell proliferation and increased β cell apoptosis and markedly reduced expression of the cell cycle protein cyclin D2. The effects on β cell mass and proliferation, but not apoptosis, were present from birth. Unexpectedly expression of
Irs2
and the downstream gene
Pdx1
were unaffected. These results show that G
s
α/cAMP pathways are critical regulators of β cell function and proliferation that can work through IRS2-independent mechanisms.
In search of an optimal ring to couple microtubule depolymerization to processive chromosome motions
Authors: Efremov Artem , Grishchuk Ekaterina L. , McIntosh J. Richard , Ataullakhanov Fazly I.
Published: November 2007

Mitotic chromosome motions are driven by microtubules (MTs) and associated proteins that couple kinetochores to MT ends. A good coupler should ensure a high stability of attachment, even when the chromosome changes direction or experiences a large opposing force. The optimal coupler is also expected to be efficient in converting the energy of MT depolymerization into chromosome motility. As was shown years ago, a “sleeve”-based, chromosome-associated structure could, in principle, couple MT dynamics to chromosome motion. A recently identified kinetochore complex from yeast, the “Dam1” or “DASH” complex, may function as an encircling coupler
in vivo
. Some features of the Dam1 ring differ from those of the “sleeve,” but whether these differences are significant has not been examined. Here, we analyze theoretically the biomechanical properties of encircling couplers that have properties of the Dam1/DASH complex, such as its large diameter and inward-directed extensions. We demonstrate that, if the coupler is modeled as a wide ring with links that bind the MT wall, its optimal performance is achieved when the linkers are flexible and their binding to tubulin dimers is strong. The diffusive movement of such a coupler is limited, but MT depolymerization can drive its motion via a “forced walk,” whose features differ significantly from those of the mechanisms based on biased diffusion. Our analysis identifies key experimental parameters whose values should determine whether the Dam1/DASH ring moves via diffusion or a forced walk.
Beyond aerobic glycolysis: Transformed cells can engage in glutamine metabolism that exceeds the requirement for protein and nucleotide synthesis
Authors: DeBerardinis Ralph J. , Mancuso Anthony , Daikhin Evgueni , Nissim Ilana , Yudkoff Marc , Wehrli Suzanne , Thompson Craig B.
Published: November 2007

Tumor cell proliferation requires rapid synthesis of macromolecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleotides. Many tumor cells exhibit rapid glucose consumption, with most of the glucose-derived carbon being secreted as lactate despite abundant oxygen availability (the Warburg effect). Here, we used
13
C NMR spectroscopy to examine the metabolism of glioblastoma cells exhibiting aerobic glycolysis. In these cells, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was active but was characterized by an efflux of substrates for use in biosynthetic pathways, particularly fatty acid synthesis. The success of this synthetic activity depends on activation of pathways to generate reductive power (NADPH) and to restore oxaloacetate for continued TCA cycle function (anaplerosis). Surprisingly, both these needs were met by a high rate of glutamine metabolism. First, conversion of glutamine to lactate (glutaminolysis) was rapid enough to produce sufficient NADPH to support fatty acid synthesis. Second, despite substantial mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, pyruvate carboxylation was suppressed, and anaplerotic oxaloacetate was derived from glutamine. Glutamine catabolism was accompanied by secretion of alanine and ammonia, such that most of the amino groups from glutamine were lost from the cell rather than incorporated into other molecules. These data demonstrate that transformed cells exhibit a high rate of glutamine consumption that cannot be explained by the nitrogen demand imposed by nucleotide synthesis or maintenance of nonessential amino acid pools. Rather, glutamine metabolism provides a carbon source that facilitates the cell's ability to use glucose-derived carbon and TCA cycle intermediates as biosynthetic precursors.
Social and cultural capital in educational research: issues of operationalisation and measurement
Authors: Vryonides Marios
Published: November 2007

This article aims to contribute to the debate of how theoretical concepts can be operationalised when researching educational issues. Specifically, it examines the application of the concepts of social and cultural capital in empirical research seeking to provide explanations for educational processes relating to post‐secondary school choice making in contemporary Cyprus. The article argues that there are limitations in the various ways social and cultural capital are operationalised quantitatively in empirical research as often they do not capture adequately the full extent of the social dynamics that they draw attention to. Instead the use of qualitative methods where the researcher probes for details into the practices, habits, beliefs, and attitudes of individuals are seen as having powerful exploratory and explanatory potentials to address these limitations.
Interest and the Marginal Product of Capital: A Critique of Samuelson
Authors: Murphy Robert P.
Published: November 2007

The association of the equilibrium real rate of interest with the marginal product of capital is a staple of modern mainstream economics. Indeed, when graduate students are asked to find a typical model's equilibrium values of the real wage and interest rate, there is apparently nothing more natural than calculating the derivative of the production function with respect to labor and capital, respectively. This seems to make perfect economic sense, because under competitive conditions, the laborer gets paid the marginal product of his labor, while the capitalist gets paid the marginal product of his capital. Students can even derive the “factor-price frontier” (developed in, for example, Samuelson 1953) to show the inverse relationship between real wages and the real rate of interest, where the “factors” are, of course, labor and capital.
Prediction of perinatal mortality at an early stage of pregnancy
Authors: Gaižauskienė Aldona , Padaiga Žilvinas , Starkuvienė Skirmantė , Mizerienė Rūta
Published: November 2007

Aim: To define the probability of foetal and neonatal death (PFND) in Lithuania by means of the Medical Birth registry. Methods: The Medical Birth registry for the year 2002 (29,619 pregnancies resulting in delivery) was used, covering social, environmental, health behaviour factors, obstetric history, health status of pregnant women, and delivery. Results: A statistically significant model has been obtained in which 12 out of 45 analysed factors were significant for the risk of perinatal mortality (PM). In the case of previous neonatal pathology, e.g. damage to CNS, the risk of PM (OR 5.2; 95% CI=2.1—13.3) was similar to the reported manual work or harmful working conditions during pregnancy (OR 4.8; 95% CI=1.9—12.1 and OR 4.5; 95% CI=1.3—15.2, respectively). The influence of father's alcohol abuse (OR 2.6; 95% CI=1.4— 4.7) was comparable to that of the stillborns or premature deliveries. The combination of several factors increased PFND significantly: maternal smoking during pregnancy and paternal smoking and alcohol abuse raised PFND to 0.03 (OR 6.8), mother's hard manual work in combination with harmful conditions during pregnancy increased OR more than 10 times (PFND 0.32) as compared with the situation when only one of those factors was present. Conclusions: The influence of social, environmental, and behavioural factors on the risk of PM was comparable to that of some of the complications during a previous pregnancy. The combination of risk factors significantly increased PFND. Using modelling, the individual prognosis may be presented to every pregnant woman at an early stage of pregnancy to potentially decrease the impact of unfavourable risk factors on PM.
No difference in lifestyle changes by adding individual counselling to group-based rehabilitation RCT among coronary heart disease patients
Authors: Mildestvedt Thomas , Meland Eivind , Eide Geir Egil
Published: November 2007

Aims: First, to examine whether autonomy-supportive and self-efficacy-enhancing individual lifestyle counselling was associated with improved maintenance of heart-protective diets and smoking cessation compared with group-based counselling. Second, to investigate to what extent reported motivation was associated with maintenance of dietary changes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial and longitudinal study of predictor variables in a four-week heart rehabilitation setting with two years follow-up. A total of 176 (38 female) patients were included, mainly with coronary heart disease. The main outcome measures were dietary changes and smoking cessation. Motivational factors were tested for predictive power in the three dietary outcomes: daily intake of fruit and vegetables, a low saturated fat diet, and weekly intake of fish dinners. Results: No clinically significant difference in improvement of dietary maintenance was found between the two groups. The between-group difference in smoking status change was statistically insignificant (p=0.12). Both groups showed an improvement in their dietary measures. Self-efficacy predicted an increased frequency of eating fish dinners (p=0.001) and more daily units of fruit and vegetables (p<0.001). Autonomous motivation had a marginal association with increased intake of fruits and vegetables (p=0.08) and was significantly associated with a lower saturated fat diet (p=0.001). Conclusions: Among this highly motivated group of rehabilitation patients, no effect was found of adding autonomy-supportive, individual counselling to group-based interventions. Based on longitudinal documentation, this cardiac rehabilitation programme improves long-term maintenance of dietary changes, and this maintenance is related to autonomous motivation and self-efficacy.
Review Article: Prestige and its significance for medical specialties and diseases
Authors: Norredam Marie , Album Dag
Published: November 2007

Aims: The aim of this paper is to review the literature concerning the existence of prestige hierarchies for medical specialities and diseases. Moreover, the implications of prestige for priority setting in healthcare systems are discussed. Methods: The study is based on a review of the literature. Papers were obtained through the National Library of Medicine, PubMed. The search was conducted on 14 July 2005, and included articles from 1950 until that date. The medical subject headings ``disease'', ``illness'', and ``medical specialities'' were combined with the search word ``prestige''. A total of 183 papers were found. Only studies focusing on prestige hierarchies for medical specialities and diseases were included. The final search identified 20 articles, six of which specifically established hierarchies for medical specialities and diseases. Results: The review documented prestige hierarchies for medical specialities and diseases. Explanatory characteristics behind the distribution of prestige were identified. It was demonstrated that active, specialized, biomedical, and high-technological types of medicine practised on organs in the upper part of the bodies of young or middle-aged people were accorded high levels of prestige. Medicine with the opposite characteristics had low levels of prestige. Conclusions: Medical specialities and diseases differ with regard to prestige. Characteristics related to specialties and diseases determine their prestige. The authors suggest that differences in prestige bear consequences for actual priority setting in healthcare systems, and contend that this should be further investigated.
Review Article: Critiques of the risk concept — valid or not?
Authors: Nexøe Jørgen , Halvorsen Peder Andreas , Kristiansen Ivar Sønbø
Published: November 2007

The increasing use of the risk concept in healthcare has caused concern among medical doctors, especially general practitioners (GPs). Critics have claimed that risk identification and intervention create unfounded anxiety, that the concept of risk is not useful at the individual patient level, that patients' risk concept is different from an epidemiological one, that resources are better spent elsewhere, or that commercial interests take advantage of risk information to promote sales. In this paper the authors discuss the concept of risk and address the critique. There is evidence that commercial interests promote risk interventions, that patients may misunderstand risk information, and that risk information can cause unnecessary anxiety. The authors have found no empirical data on the amount of time primary healthcare providers spend on risk interventions, and have not identified any valid arguments that risk information is not useful for the individual patient. Decision-making under uncertainty is a core element of medical practice, and GPs need to be suitably trained to inform patients such that they make good decisions when they are faced with uncertainty. The concept of risk is therefore useful for GPs, and in fact a key issue. It is concluded that risk critique should be based on sound theory and empirical data. Critics may do well in making clear distinctions between facts and value judgements.
Personal health documents in school health education: A feasibility study
Authors: Jerdén Lars , Bildt-Ström Pia , Burell Gunilla , Weinehall Lars , Bergström Erik
Published: November 2007

Aims: To examine the feasibility of a school intervention using a personal health document adapted for adolescents. Methods: The health document was developed in close cooperation with groups of adolescents and tested among seventh-grade students at two junior high schools (n=339). The document was presented to the students by their regular teachers. For evaluation, an adolescent questionnaire was used at baseline and after one year. Results: After one year, 87% of adolescents reported having written in the health document, and 77% reported having had classes with discussions on subjects in the document. The health document was perceived as useful by 35% of the adolescents. Factors significantly related to personal usefulness were being born outside Sweden, experiencing fair treatment by teachers, being a non-smoker, and having a positive school experience. Conclusions: Implementation of a personal health document in junior high-school health education was feasible and well accepted.
HIV testing in the Danish population: A national representative survey, 2000
Authors: Lemcke Asja , Kjøller Mette , Ekholm Ola , Smith Else
Published: November 2007

Aims: To describe the accumulated prevalence of HIV testing in the Danish population until and including the year 2000. Methods: The study was based on nationally representative data from the Danish Health Interview Survey 2000. Multiple logistic regression analysis investigated the association between HIV testing and background variables, such as gender, age, marital status, educational level, and sexual orientation. Results: Overall 28.5% of the Danish population aged over 16 years have ``ever been tested for HIV''. More females (29.4%) than males (27.6%) were tested; 12.6% might not be aware of their blood being HIV tested when donating blood. More males (17.1%) than females (13.8%) had donated blood after 1985. Although males 30—39 years old were the most tested, males 50—59 years old had the highest odds of having donated blood after 1985. Concerning education, the less education one had, the less likely one was to have been HIV tested. Of men having sex with men, only 44% were ``ever HIV tested''. Conclusions: Positive association between extent of HIV testing and some sociodemographic factors was seen. Heterosexuals are HIV tested at lower rates than men having sex with men. Yet, stronger promotion of HIV testing among men having sex with men is recommended. Targeting prevention efforts towards other known risk groups is also recommended.
Differences in child injury hospitalizations in Sweden: The use of time-trend analysis to compare various community injury-prevention approaches
Authors: De Leon Antonio Ponce , Svanström Leif , Welander Glenn , Schelp Lothar , Santesson Per , Ekman Robert
Published: November 2007

Aim: Sweden's child injury fatality rates are among the lowest in the world. The country has engaged in a number of community injury-prevention programmes. The purpose of this study was to compare child injury hospitalization rates from the Skaraborg District with the rest of Sweden. Our study hypothesis was that municipalities that offered comprehensive child injury-prevention programmes would see significant decreases in their child injury hospitalization rates, compared with other areas. Methods: The study areas comprised three groups, consisting of municipalities in Skaraborg that had adapted the Safe Communities approach to injury prevention programmes, other municipalities in the District, and the rest of Sweden. The aim of the analysis was twofold: (1) to fit time trends for children's injuries in various areas in an integrated manner; and (2) to compare time trends across locations between community safety-promotion programmes as well as with the control areas. Panel data models and parametric splines were used. Results: There were differences between incidence rates in the study areas and with regard to gender. There was a steep decrease in injury rates in one of the Safe Communities study areas for both genders. Conclusions: The methods applied in this analysis reveal more detailed and sophisticated time trends than the usual simple linear regression approach. The model provided a clearer view of the interactions of gender, area, and time as they impacted on children's injuries, and allowed for better insight into the impact of safety programmes.
Prospective Tests on Biological Models of Acupuncture
Authors: Shang Charles
Published: November 2007

The biological effects of acupuncture include the regulation of a variety of neurohumoral factors and growth control factors. In science, models or hypotheses with confirmed predictions are considered more convincing than models solely based on retrospective explanations. Literature review showed that two biological models of acupuncture have been prospectively tested with independently confirmed predictions: The neurophysiology model on the long‐term effects of acupuncture emphasizes the trophic and anti‐inflammatory effects of acupuncture. Its prediction on the peripheral effect of endorphin in acupuncture has been confirmed. The growth control model encompasses the neurophysiology model and suggests that a macroscopic growth control system originates from a network of organizers in embryogenesis. The activity of the growth control system is important in the formation, maintenance and regulation of all the physiological systems. Several phenomena of acupuncture such as the distribution of auricular acupuncture points, the long‐term effects of acupuncture and the effect of multimodal non‐specific stimulation at acupuncture points are consistent with the growth control model. The following predictions of the growth control model have been independently confirmed by research results in both acupuncture and conventional biomedical sciences: (i) Acupuncture has extensive growth control effects. (ii) Singular point and separatrix exist in morphogenesis. (iii) Organizers have high electric conductance, high current density and high density of gap junctions. (iv) A high density of gap junctions is distributed as separatrices or boundaries at body surface after early embryogenesis. (v) Many acupuncture points are located at transition points or boundaries between different body domains or muscles, coinciding with the connective tissue planes. (vi) Some morphogens and organizers continue to function after embryogenesis. Current acupuncture research suggests a convergence of the neurophysiology model, the connective tissue model and the growth control model. The growth control model of acupuncture set the first example of a biological model in integrative medicine with significant prediction power.
Bankers, Industrialists, and their Cliques: Elite Networks in Mexico and Brazil during Early Industrialization
Authors: Musacchio Aldo , Read Ian
Published: November 2007

The historiographies of Mexico and Brazil have implicitly stated that business networks were crucial for the initial industrialization of these two countries. Recently, differing visions on the importance of business networks have arisen. In the case of Mexico, the literature argues that entrepreneurs relied heavily on an informal institutional structure to obtain necessary resources and information. In contrast, the recent historiography of Brazil suggests that after 1890 the network of corporate relations became less important for entrepreneurs trying to obtain capital and concessions, once the institutions promoted financial markets and easy entry for new businesses. Did entrepreneurs in Brazil and Mexico organize their networks differently to deal with the different institutional settings? We examine whether in Mexico businessmen relied more on networks of interlocking boards of directors and other informal arrangements to do business than in Brazil. Our hypothesis is confirmed by three related results: (1) the total number of connections (i.e., the density of the network) was higher in Mexico than Brazil; (2) in Mexico, there was one dense core network, while in Brazil we find fairly dispersed clusters of corporate board interlocks; and most importantly, (3) politicians played a more important role in the Mexican network of corporate directors than their counterparts in Brazil. Interestingly, even though Brazil and Mexico relied on very different institutional structures, both countries had similar rates of growth between 1890 and 1913. However, the dense and exclusive Mexican network might have ended up increasing the social and political tensions that led to the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920).
A decrease in the proportion of infections by pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Hat Yai Hospital, southern Thailand
Authors: Wootipoom Nutthakul , Bhoopong Phuangthip , Pomwised Rattanaruji , Nishibuchi Mitsuaki , Ishibashi Masanori , Vuddhakul Varaporn
Published: November 2007

Infection by the pandemic clone of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is prevalent in southern Thailand. This study actively surveyed the incidence of V. parahaemolyticus infection in this area. A total of 865 isolates of V. parahaemolyticus was obtained from patients at Hat Yai Hospital, the main public hospital in Songkhla Province, Thailand, from 2000 to 2005. The isolates were examined by group-specific PCR (GS-PCR) specific for the pandemic clone, and for the presence of two major virulence genes, tdh and trh, and the O : K serotype. Representative isolates were also examined by antibiogram pattern and DNA fingerprinting using an arbitrarily primed PCR method to determine the clonal relationships between isolates. The total number of isolates was less in 2000 and more in 2004 and 2005 than in the years 2001–2003. The increase in the numbers of infections in 2004 and 2005 was not due to the emergence of a particular clone having unique characteristics, but was probably due to climate change. From 2000 to 2003, the percentages of pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus, defined as GS-PCR-positive tdh
+
trh
−, was stable at 64.1, 67.5, 69.7 and 67.7 % of the total isolates each year, respectively. However, in 2004 and 2005, the percentages decreased to 56.1 and 55.5 %, respectively. The O : K serotypes of the pandemic isolates remained unchanged. The proportional decrease in infections caused by the pandemic strains are probably due to the population in this area gradually developing immunity to the pandemic clone whilst continuing to be susceptible to other strains.
Chlamydia trachomatis: Genome sequence analysis of lymphogranuloma venereum isolates
Authors: Thomson Nicholas R. , Holden Matthew T.G. , Carder Caroline , Lennard Nicola , Lockey Sarah J. , Marsh Pete , Skipp Paul , O’Connor C. David , Goodhead Ian , Norbertzcak Halina , Harris Barbara , Ormond Doug , Rance Richard , Quail Michael A. , Parkhill Julian , Stephens Richard S. , Clarke Ian N.
Published: November 2007

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections in the UK, a statistic that is also reflected globally. There are three biovariants of C. trachomatis: trachoma (serotypes A–C) and two sexually transmitted pathovars; serotypes D–K and lyphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Trachoma isolates and the sexually transmitted serotypes D–K are noninvasive, whereas the LGV strains are invasive, causing a disseminating infection of the local draining lymph nodes. Genome sequences are available for single isolates from the trachoma (serotype A) and sexually transmitted (serotype D) biotypes. We sequenced two isolates from the remaining biotype, LGV, a long-term laboratory passaged strain and the recent “epidemic” LGV isolate-causing proctitis. Although the genome of the LGV strain shows no additional genes that could account for the differences in disease outcome, we found evidence of functional gene loss and identified regions of heightened sequence variation that have previously been shown to be important sites for interstrain recombination. We have used new sequencing technologies to show that the recent clinical LGV isolate causing proctitis is unlikely to be a newly emerged strain but is most probably an old strain with relatively new clinical manifestations.
TEnest: Automated Chronological Annotation and Visualization of Nested Plant Transposable Elements
Authors: Kronmiller Brent A. , Wise Roger P.
Published: November 2007

Organisms with a high density of transposable elements (TEs) exhibit nesting, with subsequent repeats found inside previously inserted elements. Nesting splits the sequence structure of TEs and makes annotation of repetitive areas challenging. We present TEnest, a repeat identification and display tool made specifically for highly repetitive genomes. TEnest identifies repetitive sequences and reconstructs separated sections to provide full-length repeats and, for long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, calculates age since insertion based on LTR divergence. TEnest provides a chronological insertion display to give an accurate visual representation of TE integration history showing timeline, location, and families of each TE identified, thus creating a framework from which evolutionary comparisons can be made among various regions of the genome. A database of repeats has been developed for maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and barley (Hordeum vulgare) to illustrate the potential of TEnest software. All currently finished maize bacterial artificial chromosomes totaling 29.3 Mb were analyzed with TEnest to provide a characterization of the repeat insertions. Sixty-seven percent of the maize genome was found to be made up of TEs; of these, 95% are LTR retrotransposons. The rate of solo LTR formation is shown to be dissimilar across retrotransposon families. Phylogenetic analysis of TE families reveals specific events of extreme TE proliferation, which may explain the high quantities of certain TE families found throughout the maize genome. The TEnest software package is available for use on PlantGDB under the tools section (http://www.plantgdb.org/prj/TE_nest/TE_nest.html); the source code is available from http://wiselab.org.