bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods of quantifying circulating IgE
Authors: MERRETT T. G. , MERRETT J.
Published: April 2006

Four radioimmunoassay techniques, two conventional and two sandwich, have been used to measure circulating IgE levels in 100 sera. The test sera had IgE levels ranging From 1.0 to 20,000 u/ml, and each was measured at live dilutions, ranging from threefold to 400‐fold. The same IgE standards were used throughout, and the optimal range for each assay was determined by assessing data for quality control sera and the WHO standard 69/204. To be of general use in the United Kingdom an IgE test must measure accurately levels as low as 20‐30 u IgE/ml. The Phadebas RIST method failed to meet this criterion, and of the remaining tests the double antibody method had the most useful operating range and produced the most reliable results. However, the double antibody method is not available commercially and so, for the majority of laboratories, the Phadebas PRIST technique should be the method chosen.
Aerobiological studies based in Derby
Authors: BROWN H. MORROW , JACKSON F. A.
Published: April 2006

A simplified version of the Hirst automatic volumetric spore trap has been developed in Derby for aerobiological studies. In comparative trials, the numbers of spores retained by the Morrow Brown trap were similar in the case of larger spores such as Alternaria (102%), rather higher in the case of grass pollen (136%) and considerably higher (166–201%) for very small spores such as Sporobolomyces and Tilletiopsis. Impaction efficiency has been improved by using a narrower slit. The trap designed in Derby is simple to produce and presents advantages in design over the Hirst version.
Aerobiological studies based in Derby
Authors: BROWN H. MORROW , JACKSON F. A.
Published: April 2006

The air spora of two sites on the east coast of Britain and one on the west coast were compared with each other and with the regular sampling site in Derby by the simultaneous operation of volumetric spore traps. Concentrations of airborne spores and pollen were found to be usually less at the coastal sites tham in Derby. The effect of wind direction was shown to be important at coastal sites because daily counts often showed rises and falls corresponding to off‐ and on‐shore winds respectively. Counts at the west coast site were nearly always lower than those on the east. These findings, together with the prevalence of westerly winds over Britain and the different land use in the east and west, suggest that fewer airborne allergens may be encountered on the west coast.
Circulating immune complexes in patients with house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive bronchial asthma
Authors: NAKAGAWA T. , YOSHINOYA S. , SAKAMOTO Y. , ITO K. , MIYAMOTO T.
Published: April 2006

Sera from forty patients with house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive bronchial asthma were examined for the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) by the sensitive and quantitative CIq solid‐phase radioimmunoassay (Clq‐SP) and a monoclonal rheumatoid factor solid‐phase radioimmunoassay (mRF‐SP). Compared to fifteen normal individuals, the asthmatic patients showed significantly higher mean values of Clq‐reactive materials; however, there was no difference between the results from the patients treated by immunotherapy using Dermatophagoides farinae extract and those not so treated. Moreover, immune complexes in eight patients before and after immunotherapy showed that the amount of the complexes tend to decrease during immunotherapy. Furthermore, the presence of complexes had no relationship with the amounts of mite‐specific IgG antibody. Similar results were also obtained in tests using mRF‐SP. These data suggest that complexes in the sera of the house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive asthmatic patients are not necessarily associated either with immunotherapy or with the mite‐specific IgG antibodies.
Sodium cromoglycate in histamine and methacholine reactivity in asthma
Authors: PATEL K. R.
Published: April 2006

The effect of increasing concentrations of inhaled sodium cromoglycate (SCG) (2, 10, 20 and 40 g/l) on histamine and methacholine bronchial reactivity was studied in nine patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma. The responses to histamine and methacholine were expressed in terms of provocative concentrations producing 20% fall in the FEV1 (PC20)‐ The PC20 for histamine and methacholine was unaffected by all the concentrations of SCG used in the study. These results suggest that the effect of SCG on the bronchial smooth muscle or on the muscarinic receptors is minimal.
A comparison of the available methods for the measurement of histamine in sputum
Authors: MOODLEY I. , ZHONG N.S. , MORGAN D.J.R. , DAVIES R.J.
Published: April 2006

Sputum samples from patients with chronic bronchitis were assayed for histamine content using a bioassay, and/or fluorometric assay and single or double radioenzymatic techniques. Comparison showed that all the assays produced significant differences in the measurement of sputum histamine. Similarly, it was observed that the assays all showed significant differences in the measurement of histamine released from human basophils. In general the fluorometric assay give the highest values for histamine in sputum and the double‐isotope radioenzymatic assay the lowest. In contrast, no differences were found between the bioassay, fluorometric assay and the single‐isotope radioenzymatic assay for the measurement of histamine added to Tyrode's solution. These results suggest that in biological samples some of the assays may additionally be measuring metabolites of histamine or other components present in the samples and underline the need to measure the levels of histamine and its metabolites separately in sputum.
Occupational allergy due to inhalation of ipecacuanha dust
Authors: LUCZYNSKA CHRISTINA M. , MARSHALL PAMELA E. , SCARISBRICK D.A. , TOPPING M. D.
Published: April 2006

A number of workers packing ipecacuanha tablets were complaining of allergic symptoms. Skin‐prick tests, RAST and an assessment of clinical history by interview were used to confirm the presence of work‐related allergy. Specific IgE antibodies to ipecacuanha were detected and the occurrence of antibodies correlated with the incidence of allergic symptoms. The individuals with positive RAST scores had been employed, on average, longer than those with negative scores. It was found that atopy did not predispose the workers to work‐related allergy and that there was no correlation between smoking and respiratory symptoms in this population.
Monitoring of maximum expiratory peak flow rates and histamine inhalation tests in the investigation of occupational asthma
Authors: CARTIER A. , PINEAU L. , MALO J. ‐L.
Published: April 2006

A 49 year old carpenter developed asthma after he was employed in a new workshop. Specific inhalation tests carried out in a laboratory with presswood sawdust and the different glues used at work were negative. Monitoring peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) at work revealed a progressive fall on consecutive days with recovery after periods off‐work. Histamine inhalation tests showed a definite increase in bronchial hyperexcitability after working periods. Monitoring of PEFR in conjunction with histamine inhalation tests can thus help in confirming occupational asthma.
Multiparity Reveals the Blunting Effect of Breastfeeding on Physiological Reactivity to Psychological Stress
Authors: Tu M. T. , Lupien S. J. , Walker C.‐D.
Published: April 2006

Rat studies show that hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) responsiveness to physical and emotional stressors is attenuated during lactation, although situations evoking pup endangerment can supersede this phenomenon. In the human population, blunted cortisol responses are seen in primiparous breastfeeding compared to bottlefeeding mothers following physical stress, but not after psychosocial stress. It is currently unknown whether stressor salience (child‐related versus nonrelated stressor) has a differential effect on cortisol reactivity as a function of infant feeding choice and whether HPA responses to stress could be modified by parity. We investigated the impact of infant feeding type and maternal parity on salivary cortisol and alpha‐amylase response to stress in 5–20‐week postpartum mothers using exposure to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and to an emotional film evoking threats to a child. Analyses show that alpha‐amylase responses were similar in all groups and for both types of stress, suggesting that sympathetic reactivity was independent of infant feeding type and parity. By contrast, cortisol response was affected by these variables. In primiparous mothers, cortisol reactivity to psychological stressors did not vary as a function of infant feeding type while, among multiparous mothers, breastfeeding was associated with reduced responsiveness to the TSST and child‐related stressor. We speculate that changes in neural mechanisms occurring as a result of pregnancy and lactation and that modulate the HPA axis in women might be exacerbated with multiple repeats of the pregnancy/lactation period. This would serve to ‘desensitise’ stress circuits and reduce the overall stress‐induced cortisol secretion after multiple births.
Selection of different 5′ untranslated region hepatitis C virus variants during post‐transfusion and post‐transplantation infection
Authors: Gallegos‐Orozco J. F. , Arenas J. I. , Vargas H. E. , Kibler K. V. , Wilkinson J. K. , Nowicki M. , Radkowski M. , Nasseri J. , Rakela J. , Laskus T.
Published: April 2006

Summary.  Background:  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) translation is initiated in a cap‐independent manner by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR). Sequence changes in this region could affect translation efficiency and presumably viral replication.

Aim:  To determine translation efficiency of 5′UTR variants developing during post‐transfusion hepatitis C in two immunocompetent subjects and in two immunosuppressed liver recipients with recurrent HCV.

Methods:  Sequential samples were screened for 5′UTR changes by single‐strand conformation polymorphism followed by cloning and sequencing whenever band pattern suggested sequence changes. 5′UTR variants were tested for IRES activity using a bicistronic dual luciferase expression plasmid transfected into HepG2 and Huh7 cell‐lines.

Results:  In the transfused patients, translation efficiency of 5′UTR variants from early post‐transfusion samples was 5.1‐ to 13.7‐fold higher than that of predominant variants found in late follow‐up samples. Post‐transplant variants in the other two patients had 2.6‐ to 5.9‐fold higher translation efficiency than those present only in pretransplant samples.

Conclusion:  In the immunocompetent host there may be selection of low translation efficiency HCV variants over the course of infection. However, in immunosuppressed subjects the opposite seems to be true as low translation efficiency variants are superseded by high translation efficiency variants.
Evidence for a substantial role of sharing of injecting paraphernalia other than syringes/needles to the spread of hepatitis C among injecting drug users
Authors: Mathei C. , Shkedy Z. , Denis B. , Kabali C. , Aerts M. , Molenberghs G. , Van Damme P. , Buntinx F.
Published: April 2006

Summary. In industrialized countries, transmission of hepatitis C occurs primarily through injecting drug use. Transmission of hepatitis C in injecting drug users is mainly associated with the sharing of contaminated syringes/needles, although evidence for risk of hepatitis C infection through sharing of other injecting paraphernalia is increasing. In this paper, the independent effects of sharing paraphernalia other than syringes/needles have been estimated. The prevalence and force of infection were modelled using three serological data sets from drug users in three centres in Belgium as a function of the sharing behaviour. It was found that sharing of materials other than syringes/needles indeed seemed to contribute substantially to the spread of hepatitis C among injecting drug users.
Virological analysis, genotypes and mutational patterns of the HBV precore/core gene in HBV/HCV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: De Mitri M. S. , Cassini R. , Morsica G. , Bagaglio S. , Andreone P. , Loggi E. , Muratori P. , Bernardi M.
Published: April 2006

Summary.  We investigated the replicative profile of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses and the mutational pattern of the HBV precore/core (pre‐C/C) domain in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty‐eight consecutive patients with HCC were included in the study – 18 of them with HBV/HCV co‐infection and 20 with HBV single infection. Twenty‐three additional patients with co‐infection, without HCC were recruited as the control group. Replication activity was evaluated by detecting and quantitating both HBV and HCV genomes. The HBV pre‐C/C region, encompassing the pregenome encapsidation signal involved in viral replication, was analysed by direct sequencing. HBV viraemia levels were significantly lower (P = 0.04) in patients with co‐infection in comparison with single‐infected HCC, whereas two different HBV viraemia profiles were detected in co‐infection with or without circulating HCV. HBV genotype D was prevalent in the three groups and HCV genotype 1b was found to be the infecting strain in all patients. Lower variability in the pre‐C/C region was found in co‐infection in comparison with HBV single infection (P = 0.0004). A synonymous T1936C mutation was found in all co‐infected HCC cases not related to the presence or absence of circulating HCV, and a hypermutated pre‐C strain, characterized by the same mutational pattern, was identified in three HCC cases. The mutational pattern of the pre‐C/C region was closely related to HBV replication efficiency, and specific HBV mutations selectively associated with HCV co‐infection could be linked with accelerated HBV/HCV‐related disease progression.
Staff gender ratio and aggression in a forensic psychiatric hospital
Authors: Daffern Michael , Mayer Maggie , Martin Trish
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT:  Gender balance in acute psychiatric inpatient units remains a contentious issue. In terms of maintaining staff and patient safety, ‘balance’ is often considered by ensuring there are ‘sufficient’ male nurses present on each shift. In an ongoing programme of research into aggression, the authors investigated reported incidents of patient aggression and examined the gender ratio on each shift over a 6‐month period. Contrary to the popular notion that a particular gender ratio might have some relationship with the likelihood of aggressive incidents, there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of male staff working on the shifts when there was an aggressive incident compared with the shifts when there was no aggressive incident. Further, when an incident did occur, the severity of the incident bore no relationship with the proportion of male staff working on the shift. Nor did the gender of the shift leader have an impact on the decision to seclude the patient or the likelihood of completing an incident form following an aggressive incident. Staff confidence in managing aggression may be influenced by the presence of male staff. Further, aspects of prevention and management may be influenced by staff gender. However, results suggest there is no evidence that the frequency or severity of aggression is influenced by staff gender ratio.
Verbal and social interactions in Swedish forensic psychiatric nursing care as perceived by the patients and nurses
Authors: Rask Mikael , Brunt David
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT:  Patients and nurses in a Swedish forensic psychiatric unit filled in a questionnaire Verbal and Social Interactions designed to survey patients’ and nurses’ views on the frequency and importance of nursing interactions in forensic psychiatric care. The patients perceived the ‘supportive/encouraging interactions’ and the ‘reality orientation interactions’ as the most frequent interactions and the ‘supportive/encouraging interactions’ and the ‘social skills training’ as the most important interactions. The nurses perceived the ‘supportive/encouraging interactions’ and the ‘practical skills training’ as the most frequent and the ‘supportive/encouraging interactions’, ‘interpretative interactions’ and the ‘practical skills training’ as the most important interactions. There were significant differences between patients’ and nurses’ perceptions about the frequency of all the different groups of interactions, but greater agreement as to the importance. In general, the patients perceived that the interactions occurred less frequently than the nurses. The differences between patients’ and nurses’ perceptions on the interactions as well as the clinical implications of these differences are discussed.
Psychiatric nurses’ ethical stance on cigarette smoking by patients: Determinants and dilemmas in their role in supporting cessation
Authors: Lawn Sharon , Condon Judith
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT:  It has been argued that psychiatric nurses are ideally placed to provide smoking cessation interventions to patients with mental illness. This assumes that psychiatric nurses actively support smoking cessation. The current paper articulates some of the reasons why this has not occurred, in particular, some of the ethical beliefs held by nurses that may prevent such activity. Such an assumption also discounts the evidence that confirms psychiatric nurses to have among the highest smoking rates in nursing and in the health professions in general. The role and impact of the institution are also considered. In‐depth interviews with seven community and inpatient psychiatric nurses were thematically analysed. Extensive individual and group discussions were also held with inpatient nurses from open and locked psychiatric settings during participant observation of the settings. The findings suggest that psychiatric nurses can be more effective in the primary care role of supporting patients’ smoking cessation if they receive adequate institutional support to do so.
A conversation: Challenging the relevance and wisdom of separate mental health legislation
Authors: Wand Timothy , Chiarella Mary
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT:  This paper explores the dilemmas encountered by mental health nurses when working with mental health legislation. The concerns and considerations of an expert mental health nurse, complemented by the opinion of an expert in health‐care and legal issues are presented. It is argued that there is currently a distorted perception with regard to the function and sentiment of mental health legislation, and this paper aims to restore balance in interpreting and working with such law. Viewing mental health legislation primarily as a mechanism for involuntary hospitalization effectively removes any power or recourse given to mental health consumers by the law. Principles of mental health care and legislation are examined as well as the relationship the law has with dangerousness to self or others and mental ill health. A dialogue is established between the two authors to assist the exploration of these legal and clinical issues. The continued relevance of specific mental health legislation is brought into question. It is proposed that the existence of such legislation constitutes discrimination and contributes to stigma associated with mental illness. An alternative legislation for all circumstances where an individual is deemed incompetent is proposed as the most significant step towards mainstreaming of mental health care and an end to discrimination.
Treading lightly: Spirituality issues in mental health nursing
Authors: Wilding Clare , Muir‐Cochrane Eimear , May Esther
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT:  Spirituality has been recognized as an important part of nursing practice since its early beginnings. However, debate continues about whether and how nurses and other mental health professionals should include spirituality within their daily work. This paper aims to contribute to the discussion of spirituality within mental health nursing, through considering findings from a Heideggerian phenomenological study conducted with six people with mental illness living in regional Australia. This study aimed to provide a greater understanding of the phenomenon of spirituality by answering a primary research question, ‘What does spirituality mean for people with a mental illness?’ Participants were interviewed and data analysed using an iterative approach. Findings emerged through multiple readings and meanings were gradually constructed from the data into themes. The themes describe that spirituality is experienced uniquely for the participants, and that spirituality became vitally important to them when they became mentally unwell. In addition, issues of interest to mental health nurses were raised but not completely addressed by the study. The issues relate to potential interactions about spirituality between nurses and their patients. Although participants wanted to discuss their experiences of spirituality with others, they raised concerns about whether their mental health care providers would be accepting of their beliefs. Spirituality was deemed to be a highly individual phenomenon; it could be experienced as a journey and it was life‐sustaining. For these reasons, it is proposed that mental health professionals must be prepared to discuss patients’ spiritual needs in the context of their health concerns.
Crenarchaeal community assembly and microdiversity in developing soils at two sites associated with deglaciation
Authors: Nicol Graeme W. , Tscherko Dagmar , Chang Lisa , Hammesfahr Ute , Prosser James I.
Published: April 2006

Non‐thermophilic Crenarchaeota are recognized as ubiquitous and abundant components of soil microbial communities. Previous studies of the foreland of the receding Rotmoosferner glacier in the Austrian Central Alps have demonstrated that crenarchaeal communities in soil at different stages of development are distinct from each other, with Group 1.1b crenarchaeal populations dominating throughout the successional gradient, while Group 1.1c crenarchaea are present in mature soils only. To determine whether this highly structured succession was unique to the Rotmoosferner glacier foreland, 1.1b and 1.1c communities were compared with those present along a successional gradient at Ödenwinkelkees glacier, 125 km away, by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction products. Similarities in community structure were observed; 1.1b communities were present throughout both successional gradients (though lacking the defined structure at Ödenwinkelkees) and 1.1c communities were present only in mature soil. Comigration of bands on DGGE gels indicated that a number of similar crenarchaeal populations were present at both sites. To compare populations, and examine microscale diversity, 16S rRNA genes and complete 16S‐23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions representing six major band positions in DGGE analysis were amplified, cloned and sequenced and represented four 1.1b and two 1.1c lineages. The data provide no evidence of endemism, but large differences in the rate of sequence divergence in the ITS region (relative to that in 16S rRNA genes) were observed. Two of the 1.1b lineages (each possessing > 98% 16S rRNA gene similarity) had relatively long and highly divergent ITS sequences. In contrast, two other 1.1b and two 1.1c lineages (each possessing > 99% 16S rRNA gene similarity) exhibited markedly less variation in their respective 16S‐23S ITS regions. The results reveal common patterns in the ecology and assembly of crenarchaeal communities in spatially separated soil systems and may indicate different evolutionary rates between soil crenarchaea lineages.
Differential gene expression in response to phenol and catechol reveals different metabolic activities for the degradation of aromatic compounds in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Tam Le Thi , Eymann Christine , Albrecht Dirk , Sietmann Rabea , Schauer Frieder , Hecker Michael , Antelmann Haike
Published: April 2006

Aromatic organic compounds that are present in the environment can have toxic effects or provide carbon sources for bacteria. We report here the global response of Bacillus subtilis 168 to phenol and catechol using proteome and transcriptome analyses. Phenol induced the HrcA, σB and CtsR heat‐shock regulons as well as the Spx disulfide stress regulon. Catechol caused the activation of the HrcA and CtsR heat‐shock regulons and a thiol‐specific oxidative stress response involving the Spx, PerR and FurR regulons but no induction of the σB regulon. The most surprising result was that several catabolite‐controlled genes are derepressed by catechol, even if glucose is taken up under these conditions. This derepression of the carbon catabolite control was dependent on the glucose concentration in the medium, as glucose excess increased the derepression of the CcpA‐dependent lichenin utilization licBCAH operon and the ribose metabolism rbsRKDACB operon by catechol. Growth and viability experiments with catechol as sole carbon source suggested that B. subtilis is not able to utilize catechol as a carbon‐energy source. In addition, the microarray results revealed the very strong induction of the yfiDE operon by catechol of which the yfiE gene shares similarities to glyoxalases/bleomycin resistance proteins/extradiol dioxygenases. Using recombinant His6‐YfiEBs we demonstrate that YfiE shows catechol‐2,3‐dioxygenase activity in the presence of catechol as the metabolite 2‐hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was measured. Furthermore, both genes of the yfiDE operon are essential for the growth and viability of B. subtilis in the presence of catechol. Thus, our studies revealed that the catechol‐2,3‐dioxygenase YfiE is the key enzyme of a meta cleavage pathway in B. subtilis involved in the catabolism of catechol.
Diversity of polyketide synthase genes from bacteria associated with the marine sponge Pseudoceratina clavata: culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approaches
Authors: Kim Tae Kyung , Fuerst John A.
Published: April 2006

Diverse ketosynthase (KS) genes were retrieved from the microbial community associated with the Great Barrier Reef sponge Pseudoceratina clavata. Bacterial isolation and metagenomic approaches were employed. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA of culturable sponge‐associated bacterial communities comprised eight groups over four phyla. Ten KS domains were amplified from four genera of isolates and phylogenetics demonstrated that these KS domains were located in three clusters (actinobacterial, cyanobacterial and trans‐AT type). Metagenomic DNA of the sponge microbial community was extracted to explore community KS genes by two approaches: direct amplification of KS domains and construction of fosmid libraries for KS domain screening. Five KS domains were retrieved from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using sponge metagenome DNA as template and five fosmid clones containing KS domains found using multiplex PCR screening. Analysis of selected polyketide synthase (PKS) from one fosmid showed that the PKS consists of two modules. Open reading frames located up‐ and downstream of the PKS displayed similarity with membrane synthesis‐related proteins such as cardiolipin synthase. Metagenome approaches did not detect KS domains found in sponge isolates. All KS domains from both metagenome approaches formed a single cluster with KS domains originating from metagenomes derived from other sponge species from other geographical regions.
A Web‐Centric Information Model for Managing Road Infrastructure Data
Authors: Capuruço Renato A. C. , Tighe Susan L.
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  Managing infrastructure data is a very complex task due to the heterogeneous nature of the several processes involved. In this article, a web information model based on extensible markup language (XML) is introduced to demonstrate the benefits that such a framework can bring to the road infrastructure data management scene. To build this model, a two‐step strategy is identified and described in this article. This includes using novel computer modeling techniques based on the unified modeling language to build conceptual models of XML vocabulary for improved data description. A case study is provided to illustrate the concepts and strategies. This study delves into the application derived from current practices employed by transportation agencies to deal with their road infrastructure data at early stages of the life cycle management processes. The advantages, limitations, and future expectations of the new methodology are discussed. Based on this research, the proposed model can be adapted to different types of civil infrastructure assets, with great potential to improve data integration, accessibility, reusability, and interoperability of several infrastructure management processes.
Follow‐up of basal cell carcinomas: an audit of current practice
Authors: Mc Loone NM , Tolland J , Walsh M , Dolan OM
Published: April 2006

Background  Follow‐up of patients after treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) allows for monitoring of recurrence and detection of new tumours, but adds a significant burden to outpatient clinics. At the skin tumour clinic in the dermatology department, the Royal Hospitals, Belfast, all patients are reviewed for 2 years after surgical excision of a low‐risk primary BCC.

Objectives  An audit was undertaken to determine the quality of data set recorded relating to prognostic factors for BCCs to determine the rate of recurrence and number of new primary tumours detected and to determine the completeness of follow‐up by patients.

Method  Patients who had primary BCCs treated by excision were identified from a database held at the clinic. Medical charts were reviewed to determine data recorded about lesions, the number of recurrent BCCs and new tumours detected, and the number of patients completing follow‐up.

Results  Between January 1999 and December 2000, 114 patients had 121 primary BCCs excised. BCC location and size were recorded in 100% and 35% of cases, respectively. Histological type was stated for morphoeic or multifocal lesions. Two years of follow‐up was completed by 53% of patients and 1 year by 78% of patients. The rate of recurrence was low, with 2 BCC recurring within 2 years of excision. The risk of developing a new BCC was 11.6% in the first year and 6.3% in the second year.

Conclusions  Follow‐up of patients after excision of a low‐risk BCC at the clinic has been reduced to 1 year. A proforma has been developed to encourage documentation of prognostic factors.
Development in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a prospective study
Authors: Landa Rebecca , Garrett‐Mayer Elizabeth
Published: April 2006

Background:  Autism is rarely diagnosed before three years of age despite evidence suggesting prenatal abnormalities in neurobiological processes. Little is known about when or how development becomes disrupted in the first two years of life in autism. Such information is needed to facilitate early detection and early intervention.

Methods:  This prospective study of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) examined development using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) in 87 infants tested at target ages 6, 14, and 24 months. Participants came from infants at high risk (siblings of children with autism) and low risk (no family history of autism) groups. Based on language test scores, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and clinical judgment at 24 months of age, participants were categorized as: unaffected, ASD, or language delayed (LD). Longitudinal linear regression and ANOVA models were applied to MSEL raw scores, and estimates were compared between the three diagnostic groups.

Results:  No statistically significant group differences were detected at 6 months. By 14 months of age, the ASD group performed significantly worse than the unaffected group on all scales except Visual Reception. By 24 months of age, the ASD group performed significantly worse than the unaffected group in all domains, and worse than the language delayed group in Gross Motor, Fine Motor, and Receptive Language. The developmental trajectory of the ASD group was slower than the other groups’, and showed a significant decrease in development between the first and second birthdays.

Conclusions:  Variations from typical and language delayed development are detectable in many children with ASD using a measure of general development by 24 months of age. Unusual slowing in performance occurred between 14 and 24 months of age in ASD.
Annotation: Tourette syndrome: a relentless drumbeat – driven by misguided brain oscillations
Authors: Leckman James F. , Vaccarino Flora M. , Kalanithi Paul S.A. , Rothenberger Aribert
Published: April 2006

Objective:  This annotation reviews recent evidence that points to the likely role of aberrant neural oscillations in the pathogenesis of Tourette syndrome (TS).

Methods:  The available anatomic and electrophysiological findings in TS are reviewed in the context of an emerging picture of the crucial role that neural oscillations play in maintaining normal central nervous system (CNS) function.

Results:  Neurons form behavior‐dependent oscillating networks of various sizes and frequencies that bias input selection and facilitate synaptic plasticity, mechanisms that cooperatively support temporal representation as well as the transfer and long‐term consolidation of information. Coherent network activity is likely to modulate sensorimotor gating as well as focused motor actions. When these networks are dysrhythmic, there may be a loss of control of sensory information and motor action. The known electrophysiological effects of medications and surgical interventions used to treat TS likely have an ameliorative effect on these aberrant oscillations. Similarly, a strong case can be made that successful behavioral treatments involve the willful training regions of the prefrontal cortex to engage in tic suppression and the performance of competing motor responses to unwanted sensory urges such that these prefrontal regions become effective modulators of aberrant thalamocortical rhythms.

Conclusions:  A deeper understanding of neural oscillations may illuminate the complex, challenging, enigmatic, internal world that is TS.
Inner speech impairments in autism
Authors: Whitehouse Andrew J.O. , Maybery Murray T. , Durkin Kevin
Published: April 2006

Background:  Three experiments investigated the role of inner speech deficit in cognitive performances of children with autism.

Methods:  Experiment 1 compared children with autism with ability‐matched controls on a verbal recall task presenting pictures and words. Experiment 2 used pictures for which the typical names were either single syllable or multisyllable. Two encoding conditions manipulated the use of verbal encoding. Experiment 3 employed a task‐switching paradigm for which performance has been shown to be contingent upon inner speech.

Results:  In Experiment 1, children with autism demonstrated a lower picture‐superiority effect compared to controls. In Experiment 2, the children with autism showed a lower word‐length effect when pictures were presented alone, but a more substantial word‐length effect in a condition requiring overt labelling. In Experiment 3, articulatory suppression affected the task‐switching performance of the control participants only.

Conclusions:  Individuals with autism have limitations in their use of inner speech.
Co‐occurrence of conduct disorder and depression in a clinic‐based sample of boys with ADHD
Authors: Drabick Deborah A.G. , Gadow Kenneth D. , Sprafkin Joyce
Published: April 2006

Background:  Children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for the development of comorbid conduct disorder (CD) and depression. The current study examined potential psychosocial risk factors for CD and depression in a clinic‐based sample of 203 boys (aged 6–10 years) with ADHD.

Methods:  The boys and their mothers participated in an evaluation that involved assessments of cognitive, behavioral, academic, and family functioning. Potential predictors of CD and depression involved four domains: parenting behaviors, family environment, academic/cognitive functioning, and peer relations. ADHD groups were defined using mother‐ and teacher‐report of DSM‐IV symptoms. Mother‐ratings of DSM‐IV symptoms were obtained for a subsample of 91 boys approximately 5 years after the initial assessment.

Results:  For both mother‐ and teacher‐defined ADHD groups, social problems were related to depression symptoms; hostile, inconsistent, and detached parenting behaviors were related to CD symptoms; and family environment characterized by low cohesion, high conflict, and low marital satisfaction was related to CD and depression symptoms. For the teacher‐defined ADHD group, parenting variables also predicted depression symptoms. Academic and cognitive variables did not predict CD or depression symptoms when parenting, family, and peer relationship variables were taken into account. Depression prospectively predicted CD, but not the reverse, and parental hostile control and familial conflict prospectively predicted CD for the teacher‐defined ADHD group only.

Conclusions:  Source‐specificity is a useful consideration when describing the relation of parenting and home environment with CD and depression symptoms in boys with ADHD. Intervention efforts that address these parenting, family, and peer relationship variables may aid in preventing the development of comorbid conditions.
Polymorphic microsatellite loci in Linum usitatissimum
Authors: ROOSE‐AMSALEG C. , CARIOU‐PHAM E. , VAUTRIN D. , TAVERNIER R. , SOLIGNAC M.
Published: April 2006

We report the characterization of 28 polymorphic microsatellite markers in Linum usitatissimum that allow distinguishing almost all cultivars of both flax and linseed. Polymorphism was low, ranging from two to 10 alleles per locus in the 93 cultivars screened. Linkage disequilibrium was found at about a third of the pairs of loci likely due to self‐fertilization and strong selection by breeders. We tested these loci for cross‐amplification in nine additional species of Linum and found that three species amplified a majority of loci.
EST‐SSR markers from Fragaria vesca L. cv. Yellow Wonder
Authors: BASSIL NAHLA V. , NJUGUNA WAMBUI , SLOVIN JANET P.
Published: April 2006

Fourteen microsatellite primer pairs were developed from a cDNA library of heat‐treated seedlings of Fragaria vesca cv. yellow wonder. Transferability to 13 species of Fragaria ranged from 71% in diploid species F. gracilis Losinsk., F. iinumae Makino, F. nilgerrensis Schltdl. ex J. Gay and F. nipponica Makino, to 100% in octoploid domestic strawberry and its progenitors. Polymorphism was high in polyploid Fragaria species. However, polymorphism and heterozygosity of eight EST‐SSRs (expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeats) was low in 14 F. vesca genotypes.
Characterization of microsatellite loci in Brachyderes rugatus, the Canary Islands pine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: FORGIE SHAUN A. , GOODACRE SARA L. , TAYLOR MARTIN I. , EMERSON BRENT C.
Published: April 2006

The Canary Island pine weevil Brachyderes rugatus (Wollaston) consists of four allopatric subspecies that are thought to have arisen from several historic colonization events within the archipelago. We have isolated and optimized seven microsatellite loci from Brachyderes rugatus calvus from Gran Canaria. Six of these loci are polymorphic within B. rugatus (11–22 alleles per locus; heterozygosity between 0.43 and 0.84). There is no evidence for heterozygote deficit within populations or for linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci. These molecular markers are likely to prove useful tools for quantifying the genetic variability of bottlenecked island populations.
Identification and characterization of nuclear microsatellites in Mediterranean cedars (Cedrus sp.)
Authors: CHAIB J. , DANAN S. , JOUAUD B. , HAGEN L. S. , LEFEVRE F. , FADY B.
Published: April 2006

We developed primers for the amplification of six polymorphic nuclear microsatellites in Mediterranean Cedrus taxa. Microsatellites originated from two Cedrus atlantica genomic libraries enriched for TC (four markers) and TG (two markers) motifs. No distortion from Mendelian segregation was observed. There were up to eight alleles per locus and mean expected heterozygosity was 0.75. Four microsatellites also amplified in the Himalayan cedar. These markers should be helpful for species identification, diversity studies, parentage analysis and genome mapping and to monitor biodiversity in endangered Mediterranean Cedrus forests.
Characterization and cross‐species amplification of microsatellite loci in a Cyprinodon species flock
Authors: STRECKER ULRIKE
Published: April 2006

In this study, two new microsatellite loci from a library of Cyprinodon beltrani from Laguna Chichancanab, Mexico, were characterized. Additionally, cross‐species amplification with primer pairs developed for other Cyprinodon species was performed. The 11 markers show moderate to high levels of polymorphism (two to 33 alleles) in six species of the Cyprinodon flock from Laguna Chichancanab and in their sister species Cyprinodon artifrons. These loci were characterized for population genetic study to detect gene flow between the different endemic pupfish species.
RELATIONSHIPS AND UNDERWRITER SPREADS IN THE EUROBOND FLOATING RATE NOTE MARKET
Authors: Kollo Michael G. , Sharpe Ian G.
Published: April 2006

We examine the role of issuer‐underwriter relationships in determining underwriter spreads for Eurobond floating rate notes from 1992 to 2002. Financial and nonfinancial firms with long‐term relationships pay a higher underwriter spread. Financial issuers that switch underwriters receive a discounted spread that is invariant to the underwriter's reputation and quality of the issue. However, the discount is not evident for nonfinancial firms. For both financial and nonfinancial firms, spreads are higher for noninvestment grade issues and, within investment grade, increase as quality declines. We also find higher spreads when underwriting is syndicated, and a strong negative time trend consistent with increasing competitive pressures.
INDUSTRY EFFECTS OF ANALYST STOCK REVISIONS
Authors: Akhigbe Aigbe , Madura Jeff , Newman Melinda
Published: April 2006

We examine the industry valuation effects of analyst stock revisions and identify the variables that influence these effects. Our results show that industry rivals experience significant abnormal returns in response to revision announcements. Although the mean stock price response suggests contagion effects, there is also evidence of significant competitive effects. The valuation effects are influenced by the magnitude of the rated firm's announcement return, along with analyst‐specific and industry‐specific characteristics. However, the sensitivity of the valuation effects to these characteristics is conditioned on whether the industry effects are contagious or competitive.
DIRECT EVIDENCE ON THE MARKET‐DRIVEN ACQUISITION THEORY
Authors: Ang James S. , Cheng Yingmei
Published: April 2006

We provide direct empirical evidence that share overvaluation is an important motive for firms to make stock acquisitions. We find that more overvalued firms are more likely to acquire with stock, and acquirers are more overvalued in successful stock mergers than in withdrawn mergers. Acquirers' overvaluation, on average, exceeds the targets' premium‐adjusted overvaluation. Shareholders of stock acquirers, whose overvaluation is greater than their targets' premium‐adjusted overvaluation, realize sustained wealth gains from one day before the merger announcement up to three years after the merger completion, as compared with a matching sample of similarly overvalued but nonacquiring firms.
MUTUAL FUND MORTALITY, 12B‐1 FEES, AND THE NET EXPENSE RATIO
Authors: Dukes William P. , English Philip C. , Davis Sean M.
Published: April 2006

The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently reviewing Rule 12b‐1, which governs how fund advisors may pay for the distribution of fund shares. We provide evidence that even after adjusting for economies of scale, funds with 12b‐1 fees have higher expense ratios net of the 12b‐1 fees than do funds without such fees. This finding suggests that 12b‐1 fees are more than just a deadweight cost. We also demonstrate that 12b‐1 fees are highest for funds that ultimately fail, that the proportion of funds with 12b‐1 fees is increasing over time, and that the level of those fees is also increasing over time.
Ethnographies in the Front End: Designing for Enhanced Customer Experiences*
Authors: Rosenthal Stephen R. , Capper Mark
Published: April 2006

Ethnographic research, carefully planned and implemented, is an effective method for providing user‐centered perspectives early in the product innovation cycle. This article contributes operational perspectives on ethnographic inquiry in general and, in particular, on its effective integration in the front end of the product development process. It also explores issues of cost–benefit analysis in deciding when and how extensively to employ this mode of inquiry in the product innovation context. Based on a review of ethnographic approaches, in‐depth case descriptions of two projects of this type and a review of twelve other projects, this article addresses three questions: (1) What key process steps and alternative approaches lead to insightful identification of relevant customer experiences? (2) What critical dimensions of customer experience offer hidden opportunities for innovative product design? (3) How are ethnographic studies planned, executed, and leveraged in the front end of the product development process when defining new product concepts? An analysis of these projects and related literature suggests particular kinds of product insights expected to be achieved from ethnographic inquiry, along with lessons for planning, conducting, and leveraging ethnographies. A successful ethnography may call attention to design opportunities not obvious at the outset but arising instead through appreciation of unconscious concerns or desires of the consumer. Accepting the notion of initial ambiguity helps ensure that such studies incorporate a broad coverage of potential kinds of issues and provide time and opportunities for serendipitous learning. Successful planning for ethnographies calls for an open mind coupled with explicit procedures for screening for diversity in respondents, gaining access to the desired range of respondents, and selecting a suitable ethnography team. Ethnographies use multiple observation and inquiry techniques in the field, often in combination with other techniques traditionally used in marketing research. They require teamwork, capturing relevant visual accounts, flexible probing for insights when surprises arise, and skill in modifying the ethnographic guide as needed during the study. The findings from ethnographies in the front end may be leveraged through traditional market research, innovation workshops, and formal product concept development.