bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementary and alternative medicine in urology
Authors: Dreikorn Kurt
Published: November 2005

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes various practices, measures and products which are not presently considered to be a part of conventional (mainstream) medicine. Herbal products, vitamins, minerals and amino acids are increasingly popular as dietary supplements for the treatment, improvement and prophylaxis of urological diseases, and to improve general health and well‐being. As these products are freely available without prescription, conventional healthcare providers are often unaware that their patients are using CAM. It is essential to know that some herbal supplements may act in the same way as chemical drugs, and that they originate ‘from nature’ does not mean that they are safe and/or with no potential harmful effects and/or toxicity. Eventual interactions with conventional medications and contamination with prescription drugs and metals have been reported. The active components of many phytotherapeutic preparations and their mechanism(s) of action are still being determined and evaluated. There is scientific evidence for the effectiveness of some CAM treatments, but for most there are important key questions yet to be answered through basic research and well‐designed studies according to established guidelines. Because of the increasing popularity and use of CAM, conventional healthcare providers, including urologists, should not ignore it, and be well informed about the benefits and potential risks of dietary supplements, so that they can advise their patients about this developing field. Whenever necessary and possible, lifestyle and behavioural changes should be recommended before using CAM, and eventually be supplemented by CAM as a second step.
Takeover activity in Australia: endogenous and exogenous influences
Authors: Finn Frank , Hodgson Allan
Published: November 2005

The present paper analyses the population of takeover bids for listed Australian companies using quarterly data over a 25‐year period to re‐examine the predictability of takeover activity and to determine if there is a flow on impact on macroeconomic variables. We examine whether takeover activity: (i) is endogenous; that is, determined by own activity; (ii) is jointly determined by macroeconomic and capital market variables; and (iii) has an exogenous spillover impact across the economy. We find that stock prices and takeover activity share a long‐term common trend, the relative success of takeover bids is independent of sharemarket activity, and conclude that aggregate takeover activity is driven by fundamental economic factors rather than by speculative activity.
Religion and Unforgivable Offenses
Authors: Cohen Adam B. , Malka Ariel , Rozin Paul , Cherfas Lina
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT
The value of forgiveness is emphasized in many religions, but little is known about how members of distinct religious cultures differ in their views of forgiveness. We hypothesized and found that Jews would agree more than Protestants that certain offenses are unforgivable and that religious commitment would be more negatively correlated with belief in unforgivable offenses among Protestants than among Jews (Studies 1 and 2). Dispositional forgiveness tendencies did not explain these effects (Studies 1 and 2). In Study 3, Jews were more inclined than Protestants to endorse theologically derived reasons for unforgivable offenses (i.e., some offenses are too severe to forgive, only victims have the right to forgive, and forgiveness requires repentance by the perpetrator). Differential endorsement of these reasons for nonforgiveness fully mediated Jew‐Protestant differences in forgiveness of a plagiarism offense and a Holocaust offense.
Homogeneous Models and Heterogeneous Voters
Authors: Bartle John
Published: November 2005

Most models assume that voting behaviour can be summarised by a single additive equation. There are good reasons, however, for believing that some voters place more weight on some considerations than others or use different decision rules. In both cases, a single additive equation will produce misleading accounts of the causal processes. Modellers should therefore allow for such differences. In order to illustrate these propositions, I examine evidence from the 2001 British Election Study, which suggests that some voters place more weight on leaders than others. I end by calling for attention to shift from causal complexity to causal diversity.
Norms, Interests and Institutional Change
Authors: Dimitrakopoulos Dionyssis G.
Published: November 2005

This paper provides a norms-based account of institutional change. It compares two cases of attempted change, one successful and one unsuccessful. The argument advanced is that norm-based change occurs when the norms are congruent with the perceived interests of the actors who have the power to take on the decision. Norms affect the process of institutional change not only by providing legitimacy to some forms of political action, but also by shaping the actors' perception of their interests as well their strategies. It is argued that norms, in that sense, help political actors combine Max Weber's zweckrational (goal-orientated) and wertrational (value-orientated) categories of behaviour. Empirical evidence drawn from the context of the evolving European Union supports this argument.
Leasehold or Freehold? Leader-Eviction Rules in the British Conservative and Labour Parties
Authors: Quinn Thomas
Published: November 2005

This paper examines how leader-eviction rules affect the security of tenure of party leaders in the British Conservative and Labour parties. It sets out a framework for analysing and comparing eviction rules based on the political risks and institutional costs incurred by challengers and selectors alike in removing incumbents. Entering a contest entails mobilisation costs as challengers seek the backing of allies. Political risks are increased for the incumbent's rivals if they must stand directly against the incumbent in a contest. In contrast, rules that separate incumbent eviction and replacement enable rivals to freeride on the evicting efforts of other actors, significantly diminishing the incumbent's security of tenure. This paper looks at three systems: the Labour Party's electoral college, the Conservative Party's parliamentary ballot system and the Tories' new parliamentary mass-membership hybrid. High nomination barriers and the necessity to challenge the incumbent directly make Labour leaders secure. Eviction costs are lower in the two Conservative systems. This paper also argues that a party's eviction rules must be viewed in the context of its broader internal distribution of power: as party leaders gain more power over decision-making, raising barriers to challengers may simply encourage internal opponents to rebel or exit.
THE STRUCTURE OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HISTORY
Authors: HELLIE RICHARD
Published: November 2005

Path dependency is most valuable tool for understanding Russian history since 1480, which coincides with the ending of the “Mongol yoke,” Moscow's annexation of northwest Russia, formerly controlled by Novgorod, and the introduction of new method for financing the cavalry—the core of new service class. The cavalry had to hold off formidable adversaries (first Lithuania, then the Crimean Tatars, then the Livonians, the Poles, the Swedes, and the Ottomans) for Muscovy to retain its independence. Russia in 1480 was poor country lacking subsurface mineral resources and with very poor climate and soil for the support of agriculture. These basic problems inspired autocratic power and by 1515 an ideology was in place justifying it. Religion, literature, and law were employed to support the autocracy. A variant of caste society was created to support the army. This made up the substance of the first service‐class revolution in which all resources (human and intellectual) were mobilized to support garrison state. After 1667 the external threats to Muscovy diminished, but the service class kept its privileges, especially the land fund and the peasant‐serfs.

Russia faced major foreign threats again in 1700 and in the 1920s and 1930s. Those threats precipitated the second and third service‐class revolutions. The second and third service‐class revolutions broadly paralleled the first. Reinvigorated service classes were created with state institutions to support them. As society became more complex, so did the service classes and their privileges. Ideologies (Russian Orthodoxy and then Marxism‐Leninism) were converted into devices to support the infallible autocratic ruler and his elites. Almost the entire population was bound to state service, either directly, working to support the service state, or paying taxes. The church and clergy were harnessed first by Peter's Holy Synod and then Stalin's Department 5 of the Secret Police after he revived the church during World War II. Writers and artists were also put into uniform, until they finally rebelled—but the arts retained their civic functions, first supporting the regime, and then criticizing it. Finally, law retained its traditional programmatic functions in regimes themselves beholden to no law. As the foreign threats diminished, the service classes lost their function, but the elite servicemen kept their privileges as the service states disintegrated and the service classes lost their collective élan. Both the Russian Empire (in 1917) and then the Soviet Empire (in 1991) collapsed almost without whimper.
The Geographic Distribution of Physicians Revisited
Authors: Rosenthal Meredith B. , Zaslavsky Alan , Newhouse Joseph P.
Published: November 2005

Context. While there is debate over whether the U.S. is training too many physicians, many seem to agree that physicians are geographically maldistributed, with too few in rural areas.

Objective. Official definitions of shortage areas assume the market for physician services is based on county boundaries. We wished to ascertain how the picture of a possible shortage changes using alternative measures of geographic access. We measure geographic access by the number of full‐time equivalent physicians serving a community divided by the expected number of patients (possibly both from within the community and outside) receiving care from those physicians. Moreover, we wished to determine how the geographic distribution of physicians had changed since previous studies, in light of the large increase in physician numbers.

Design. Cross‐sectional data analyses of alternative measures of geographic access to physicians in 23 states with low physician–population ratios.

Results. Between 1979 and 1999, the number of physicians doubled in the sample states. Although most specialties experienced greater diffusion everywhere, smaller specialties had not yet diffused to the smallest towns. Multiple measures of geographic access, including physician‐to‐population ratios, average distance traveled to the nearest physician, and projected average caseload per physician, confirm that residents of metropolitan areas have better geographic access to physicians. Physician‐to‐population ratios exhibit the largest degree of geographic disparity, but ratios in rural counties adjacent to metropolitan areas are smaller than in those not adjacent to metropolitan areas. Distance‐traveled and caseload models that allow patients to cross county lines show less disparity and indicate that residents of isolated rural counties have less access than those living in counties adjacent to metropolitan areas.

Conclusion. Geographic access to physicians has continued to improve over the past two decades, although some smaller specialties have not diffused to the most rural areas. While substantial variation in the supply of physicians across communities remains, current measures of geographic access to physicians overstate the extent of maldistribution and yield an incorrect ranking of areas according to geographic accessibility of physicians.
Exploratory Factor Analyses of the CAHPS®Hospital Pilot Survey Responses across and within Medical, Surgical, and Obstetric Services
Authors: O'Malley A. James , Zaslavsky Alan M. , Hays Ron D. , Hepner Kimberly A. , Keller San , Cleary Paul D.
Published: November 2005

Objectives.To estimate the associations among hospital‐level scores from the Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Hospital pilot survey within and across different services (surgery, obstetrics, medical), and to evaluate differences between hospital‐ and patient‐level analyses.

Data Source.CAHPS Hospital pilot survey data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Study Design.Responses to 33 questionnaire items were analyzed using patient‐ and hospital‐level exploratory factor analytic (EFA) methods to identify both a patient‐level and hospital‐level composite structures for the CAHPS Hospital survey. The latter EFA was corrected for patient‐level sampling variability using a hierarchical model. We compared results of these analyses with each other and to separate EFAs conducted at the service level. To quantify the similarity of assessments across services, we compared correlations of different composites within the same service with those of the same composite across different services.

Data Collection.Cross‐sectional data were collected during the summer of 2003 via mail and telephone from 19,720 patients discharged from November 2002 through January 2003 from 132 hospitals in three states.

Principal Findings.Six factors provided the best description of inter‐item covariation at the patient level. Analyses that assessed variability across both services and hospitals suggested that three dimensions provide a parsimonious summary of inter‐item covariation at the hospital level. Hospital‐level factor structures also differed across services; as much variation in quality reports was explained by service as by composite.

Conclusions.Variability of CAHPS scores across hospitals can be reported parsimoniously using a limited number of composites. There is at least as much distinct information in composite scores from different services as in different composite scores within each service. Because items cluster slightly differently in the different services, service‐specific composites may be more informative when comparing patients in a given service across hospitals. When studying individual‐level variability, a more differentiated structure is probably more appropriate.
Patterns of Unit and Item Nonresponse in the CAHPS® Hospital Survey
Authors: Elliott Marc N. , Edwards Carol , Angeles January , Hambarsoomians Katrin , Hays Ron D.
Published: November 2005

Objective. To examine the predictors of unit and item nonresponse, the magnitude of nonresponse bias, and the need for nonresponse weights in the Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Hospital Survey.

Methods. A common set of 11 administrative variables (41 degrees of freedom) was used to predict unit nonresponse and the rate of item nonresponse in multivariate models. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the impact of nonresponse on CAHPS Hospital Survey ratings and reports.

Results. Unit nonresponse was highest for younger patients and patients other than non‐Hispanic whites (p<.001); item nonresponse increased steadily with age (p<.001). Fourteen of 20 reports of ratings of care had significant (p<.05) but small negative correlations with nonresponse weights (median −0.06; maximum −0.09). Nonresponse weights do not improve overall precision below sample sizes of 300–1,000, and are unlikely to improve the precision of hospital comparisons. In some contexts, case‐mix adjustment eliminates most observed nonresponse bias.

Conclusions. Nonresponse weights should not be used for between‐hospital comparisons of the CAHPS Hospital Survey, but may make small contributions to overall estimates or demographic comparisons, especially in the absence of case‐mix adjustment.
Measuring Hospital Care from the Patients' Perspective: An Overview of the CAHPS® Hospital Survey Development Process
Authors: Goldstein Elizabeth , Farquhar Marybeth , Crofton Christine , Darby Charles , Garfinkel Steven
Published: November 2005

Objective. To describe the developmental process for the CAHPS® Hospital Survey.

Study Design. A pilot was conducted in three states with 19,720 hospital discharges.

Methods of Analysis. A rigorous, multi‐step process was used to develop the CAHPS Hospital Survey. It included a public call for measures, multiple Federal Register notices soliciting public input, a review of the relevant literature, meetings with hospitals, consumers and survey vendors, cognitive interviews with consumer, a large‐scale pilot test in three states and consumer testing and numerous small‐scale field tests.

Findings. The current version of the CAHPS Hospital Survey has survey items in seven domains, two overall ratings of the hospital and five items used for adjusting for the mix of patients across hospitals and for analytical purposes.

Conclusions. The CAHPS Hospital Survey is a core set of questions that can be administered as a stand‐alone questionnaire or combined with a broader set of hospital specific items.
The Reliability of Survey Assessments of Characteristics of Medical Clinics
Authors: Marsden Peter V. , Landon Bruce E. , Wilson Ira B. , McInnes Keith , Hirschhorn Lisa R. , Ding Lin , Cleary Paul D.
Published: November 2005

Objective. To assess the reliability of survey measures of organizational characteristics based on reports of single and multiple informants.

Data Source. Survey of 330 informants in 91 medical clinics providing care to HIV‐infected persons under Title III of the Ryan White CARE Act.

Study Design. Cross‐sectional survey.

Data Collection Methods. Surveys of clinicians and medical directors measured the implementation of quality improvement initiatives, priorities assigned to aspects of HIV care, barriers to providing high‐quality HIV care, and quality improvement activities. Reliability of measures was assessed using generalizability coefficients. Components of variance and clinician–director differences were estimated using hierarchical regression models with survey items and informants nested within organizations.

Principal Findings. There is substantial item‐ and informant‐related variability in clinic assessments that results in modest or low clinic‐level reliability for many measures. Directors occasionally gave more optimistic assessments of clinics than did clinicians.

Conclusions. For most measures studied, obtaining adequate reliability requires multiple informants. Using multiple‐item scales or multiple informants can improve the psychometric performance of measures of organizational characteristics. Studies of such characteristics should report the organizational level reliability of the measures used.
Failure of ICD‐9‐CM Codes to Identify Patients with Comorbid Chronic Kidney Disease in Diabetes
Authors: Kern Elizabeth F. O. , Maney Miriam , Miller Donald R. , Tseng Chin‐Lin , Tiwari Anjali , Rajan Mangala , Aron David , Pogach Leonard
Published: November 2005

Objective. To determine prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes, and accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes to identify such patients.

Data Sources/Study Setting. Secondary data from 1999 to 2000. We linked all inpatient and outpatient administrative and clinical records of U.S. veterans with diabetes dually enrolled in Medicare and the Veterans Administration (VA) health care systems.

Study Design. We used a cross‐sectional, observational design to determine the sensitivity and specificity of renal‐related ICD‐9‐CM diagnosis codes in identifying individuals with chronic kidney disease.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods. We estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from serum creatinine and defined CKD as Stage 3, 4, or 5 CKD by eGFR criterion according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. Renal‐related ICD‐9‐CM codes were grouped by algorithm.

Principal Findings. Prevalence of CKD was 31.6 percent in the veteran sample with diabetes. Depending on the detail of the algorithm, only 20.2 to 42.4 percent of individuals with CKD received a renal‐related diagnosis code in either VA or Medicare records over 1 year. Specificity of renal codes for CKD ranged from 93.2 to 99.4 percent. Patients hospitalized in VA facilities were slightly more likely to be correctly coded for CKD than patients hospitalized in facilities reimbursed by Medicare (OR 5.4 versus 4.1, p=.0330)

Conclusions. CKD is a common comorbidity for patients with diabetes in the VA system. Diagnosis codes in administrative records from Medicare and VA systems are insensitive, but specific markers for patients with CKD.
Opioid dysphoria in three dogs
Authors: Hofmeister Erik H. , Herrington Jennifer L. , Mazzaferro Elisa M.
Published: November 2005

Objective:To describe the clinical manifestations and response to management of opioid dysphoria in 3 dogs.

Case summary:Three dogs being managed for post‐operative pain were evaluated. All 3 dogs had been managed with various opioids including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl following the surgical procedure. The 3 dogs exhibited vocalization that did not respond to interaction and did not change with administration of analgesic and anxiolytic agents. The dogs were treated with naloxone and, within 5 minutes of its administration, ceased vocalizing, and became aware and interactive with their environment. Further pain management consisted of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medications, alpha‐2 (α2) receptor agonists or the partial μ‐receptor opioid agonist, buprenorphine.

New and unique information provided:Vocalization and lack of response to interaction with humans are clinical signs which can be seen in dogs with opioid dysphoria, and generally are not responsive to analgesics or sedation. Reversal with naloxone results in rapid resolution of vocalization and opioid‐induced dysphoria.
Uterus masculinus: an unusual complication in a case of feline urethral obstruction
Authors: Sfiligoi Gabriella , Drobatz Kenneth J. , Mark Saunders H.
Published: November 2005

A 6‐year‐old, male castrated domestic short hair cat presented for urethral obstruction. Despite passage of a urinary catheter, urine could not be drained through the catheter, but urine flow was noted around the catheter. Special imaging studies, including ultrasound and fluoroscopy, revealed that the catheter had been passed into an abnormal small bicornuate structure that entered the urethra from dorsally within the pelvic canal. This structure was believed to be a uterus masculinus or remnants of the Mullerian ducts. The anomalous structure was not felt to be related to the cause of the urethral obstruction, but was simply an incidental finding which resulted in difficult catheterization.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Two‐Dimensional Probabilistic Risk Assessment Model Using Analysis of Variance
Authors: Mokhtari Amirhossein , Frey H. Christopher
Published: November 2005

This article demonstrates application of sensitivity analysis to risk assessment models with two‐dimensional probabilistic frameworks that distinguish between variability and uncertainty. A microbial food safety process risk (MFSPR) model is used as a test bed. The process of identifying key controllable inputs and key sources of uncertainty using sensitivity analysis is challenged by typical characteristics of MFSPR models such as nonlinearity, thresholds, interactions, and categorical inputs. Among many available sensitivity analysis methods, analysis of variance (ANOVA) is evaluated in comparison to commonly used methods based on correlation coefficients. In a two‐dimensional risk model, the identification of key controllable inputs that can be prioritized with respect to risk management is confounded by uncertainty. However, as shown here, ANOVA provided robust insights regarding controllable inputs most likely to lead to effective risk reduction despite uncertainty. ANOVA appropriately selected the top six important inputs, while correlation‐based methods provided misleading insights. Bootstrap simulation is used to quantify uncertainty in ranks of inputs due to sampling error. For the selected sample size, differences in F values of 60% or more were associated with clear differences in rank order between inputs. Sensitivity analysis results identified inputs related to the storage of ground beef servings at home as the most important. Risk management recommendations are suggested in the form of a consumer advisory for better handling and storage practices.
Dangerous Climate Change: The Role for Risk Research
Authors: Lorenzoni Irene , Pidgeon Nick F. , O'Connor Robert E.
Published: November 2005

The notion of “dangerous climate change” constitutes an important development of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It persists, however, as an ambiguous expression, sustained by multiple definitions of danger. It also implicitly contains the question of how to respond to the complex and multi‐disciplinary risk issues that climate change poses. The invaluable role of the climate science community, which relies on risk assessments to characterize system uncertainties and to identify limits beyond which changes may become dangerous, is acknowledged. But this alone will not suffice to develop long‐term policy. Decisions need to include other considerations, such as value judgments about potential risks, and societal and individual perceptions of “danger,” which are often contested. This article explores links and cross‐overs between the climate science and risk communication and perception approaches to defining danger. Drawing upon nine articles in this Special Issue of Risk Analysis, we examine a set of themes: limits of current scientific understanding; differentiated public perceptions of danger from climate change; social and cultural processes amplifying and attenuating perceptions of, and responses to, climate change; risk communication design; and new approaches to climate change decision making. The article reflects upon some of the difficulties inherent in responding to the issue in a coherent, interdisciplinary fashion, concluding nevertheless that action should be taken, while acknowledging the context‐specificity of “danger.” The need for new policy tools is emphasised, while research on nested solutions should be aimed at overcoming the disjunctures apparent in interpretations of climate change risks.
Institutional Legitimacy Building in a Context of Transition: The South African Land Claims Court
Authors: Farmbry Kyle , Harper Raina
Published: November 2005

The success of societal transformation often depends on the legitimacy of the government institutions developed to mediate the transition. This article examines one case of institutional development and legitimacy building, the South African Land Claims Court. Formed in 1996 to help South Africa resolve land‐claim concerns that surfaced as the nation transitioned to a postapartheid society, the court demonstrates the challenges of developing an institution in the context of large‐scale societal transformation, reconciliation, and governmental legitimacy building. By tracing the evolution of the court and analyzing its first five years of activities, the article presents the challenges and opportunities of legitimacy building for entities working in transitional political and administrative settings.
Understanding Mission Expansion in the Federal Home Loan Banks: A Return to Behavioral‐Choice Theory
Authors: Hoffmann Susan M. , Cassell Mark K.
Published: November 2005

Congress established the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs) in 1932 to pursue the public purpose of homeownership. Recently, three views of their mission have emerged; one is that their purpose is to help small banks to remain viable. Why did their mission expand in this direction? We argue that mission expansion is a process that is better understood in terms of behavioral choice than public choice. Change began when expert attention was directed to small banks in rural areas and officials innovated within the existing rules to address their needs. Recognizing the FHLBs' usefulness, community bankers sought a more fundamental change in their practice. Responding to the general interest in preserving small banks' viability, legislative entrepreneurs advanced permissive rule changes. These were implemented to different extents in individual FHLBs in response to local needs. The case illustrates the usefulness of the behavioral‐choice paradigm for understanding change in public agencies and suggests legitimacy for mission change and the value of maintaining publicly directed administrative capacity.
The Citizen Deliberator
Authors: Moon M. Jae , Schachter Hindy Lauer
Published: November 2005

Books reviewed in this article:

Bruce Ackerman and James S. Fishkin, Deliberation Day

Ethan Leib, Deliberative Democracy in America: A Proposal for a Popular Branch of Government
American Risk Perceptions: Is Climate Change Dangerous?
Authors: Leiserowitz Anthony A.
Published: November 2005

Public risk perceptions can fundamentally compel or constrain political, economic, and social action to address particular risks. Public support or opposition to climate policies (e.g., treaties, regulations, taxes, subsidies) will be greatly influenced by public perceptions of the risks and dangers posed by global climate change. This article describes results from a national study (2003) that examined the risk perceptions and connotative meanings of global warming in the American mind and found that Americans perceived climate change as a moderate risk that will predominantly impact geographically and temporally distant people and places. This research also identified several distinct interpretive communities, including naysayers and alarmists, with widely divergent perceptions of climate change risks. Thus, “dangerous” climate change is a concept contested not only among scientists and policymakers, but among the American public as well.
Pleomorphic lipoma of the face: case report
Authors: Prado FO , Ito FA , Di Hipólito O , Vargas PA , de Almeida OP , Lopes MA
Published: November 2005

Pleomorphic lipoma is an uncommon variant of lipoma, which microscopically may resemble a liposarcoma. However, it is a slow‐growing and well‐circumscribed lesion with a benign behavior. Therefore, recognizing this entity is extremely important to perform the proper treatment. We present an additional case of pleomorphic lipoma in the face, which to our knowledge seems to be the 11th case reported in the English‐language literature.
The relationship between dietary intake and the number of teeth in elderly Japanese subjects
Authors: Yoshihara Akihiro , Watanabe Reiko , Nishimuta Mamoru , Hanada Nobuhiro , Miyazaki Hideo
Published: November 2005

Objective:  This study used a precise weighing method to assess whether tooth loss was related to nutrient intake in elderly Japanese subjects.

Material and methods:  Fifty‐seven subjects aged 74 years were randomly selected from a longitudinal interdisciplinary study of ageing. Complete 3‐day food intake data were obtained by a precise weighing method. The dietary intakes of energy and nutrients were calculated based on the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (5th ed.). A clinical evaluation of the number of teeth present was carried out. Multiple regression standardised coefficients for each nutrient was estimated based on a continuous scale adjusted for gender, smoking habits, and educational level. After dividing the subjects into two groups according to the number of teeth present (0–19, 20+), the difference in the intake of nutrients and the amount of food consumed per day was evaluated.

Results:  The number of teeth present had a significant relationship with the intake of several nutrients. In particular, total protein, animal protein, sodium, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, niacin, and pantothenic acid were significantly associated with the number of teeth present and with the two groups (0–19, 20+). The intake of vegetables and fish, shellfish, and their products was significantly lower among subjects with fewer teeth.

Conclusion:  This study suggests that there was a significant relationship between nutrient intake, such as minerals and vitamins from food, and tooth loss.
Impact of dry mouth conditions on oral health‐related quality of life in older people
Authors: Gerdin Elisabeth Wärnberg , Einarson Susanne , Jonsson Margareta , Aronsson Kerstin , Johansson Ingegerd
Published: November 2005

Objective:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of dry mouth conditions on oral health‐related quality of life in frail old people, residents at community care centers. Further, reliability and validity of a visual analogue scale (VAS) for dry mouth symptoms were determined within the study cohort.

Background:  In old people functional, social and psychological impacts of oral conditions are associated with an overall sense of well being and general health. Subjective dry mouth and reduced saliva flow are common disorders in old people caused by disease and medication. Thus, dry mouth conditions may be determinants for compromised oral health‐related quality of life in old people.

Method:  In total, 50 old people living at service homes for the old people were asked to answer questionnaires on subjective dry mouth (VAS) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) for oral health‐related quality of life. Saliva flow was estimated by absorbing saliva into a pre‐weighed cotton roll.

Results:  The final study cohort comprised 41 old people (aged 83–91 years). Significant associations were identified between both objective and subjective dry mouth and overall or specific aspects of oral health‐related quality of life.

Conclusion:  Dry mouth (objective and subjective) is significantly associated with oral health‐related quality of life strengthening the value of monitoring dry mouth conditions in the care of frail old people.
Discovery of a strong magnetic field on the O star HD 191612: new clues to the future of θ1 Orionis C
Authors: Donati J.-F. , Howarth I. D. , Bouret J.-C. , Petit P. , Catala C. , Landstreet J.
Published: November 2005

From observations made with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter, recently installed on the 3.6-m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, we report the discovery of a strong magnetic field in the Of?p spectrum variable HD 191612 - only the second known magnetic O star (following θ1 Ori C). The stability of the observed Zeeman signature over four nights of observation, together with the non-rotational shape of line profiles, argues that the rotation period of HD 191612 is significantly longer than the 9-d value previously proposed. We suggest that the recently identified 538-d spectral variability period is the rotation period, in which case the observed line-of-sight magnetic field of −220 ± 38 G implies a large-scale field (assumed dipolar) with a polar strength of about −1.5 kG. If confirmed, this scenario suggests that HD 191612 is, essentially, an evolved version of the near-zero-age main-sequence magnetic O star θ1 Ori C, but with an even stronger field (about 15 kG at an age similar to that of θ1 Ori C). We suggest that the rotation rate of HD 191612, which is exceptionally slow by accepted O-star standards, could be due to angular momentum dissipation through a magnetically confined wind.
Comparative Study of the Dissolution Kinetics of Electrolytic Ni and Electroless NiP Layers by Molten Sn3.5Ag Solder Alloy
Authors: Islam M. N. , Chan Y. C. , Alam M. O. , Sharif A.
Published: November 2005

Sn-based, Pb-free solders with high a Sn content and high melting temperature often cause excessive interfacial reactions at interfaces. Sn-3.5Ag solder alloy has been used to identify its interfacial reactions with two-metal layer flexile substrates. In this paper the dissolution kinetics of Sn3.5Ag solder on the electrolytic Ni and electroless NiP layer are investigated. It is found that during 1 min reflow the electrolytic Ni layer dissolves much less than the electroless NiP layer due to the formation of Ni3Sn and Ni3Sn2 intermetallic compounds (IMCs) on the electrolytic Ni layer. The faster nucleation of Ni3Sn4 IMC on the NiP layer is proposed as the main reason for the higher initial dissolution rate of the electroless NiP layer. A P-rich Ni layer is formed underneath the Ni3Sn4 IMC due to the solder-assisted reactions. This P-rich Ni layer acts as a good diffusion barrier layer, which decreases the dissolution rate of the NiP layer as compared to that of the Ni layer, but weakens the interface of solder joints and reduces the ball shear load and reliability. Below a certain thickness, the P-rich Ni layer breaks and an increase in the diffusion of Sn atoms through the fractured P-rich Ni layer occurs that increases the growth rate of IMCs again, and thus the dissolution rate of the NiP layer becomes higher again than for the Ni layer. It is found that a 3μm thick NiP layer cannot protect the Cu layer for more than 120 min reflow at 250°C. An electrolytic Ni∕solder system has a relatively higher shear load, a lower dissolution rate of the Ni layer, and is more protective for the Cu layer during extended times of reflow.
Rapid Temperature Cycling (RTC) Methodology for Reliability Assessment of Solder Interconnection in Tape Ball Grid Array (TBGA) Assembly
Authors: Chen B. L. , Shi X. Q. , Li G. Y. , Ang K. H. , Pickering Jason P.
Published: November 2005

In this study, a thermoelectric cooler-based rapid temperature cycling (RTC) testing method was established and applied to assess the long term reliability of solder joints in tape ball grid array (TBGA) assembly. This RTC testing methodology can significantly reduce the time required to determine the reliability of electronic packaging components. A three-parameter Weibull analysis characterized with a parameter of failure free time was used for assembly reliability assessment. It was found that the RTC not only speedily assesses the long-term reliability of solder joints within days, but also has the similar failure location and failure mode observed in accelerated temperature cycling (ATC) test. Based on the RTC and ATC reliability experiments and the modified Coffin-Manson equation, the solder joint fatigue predictive life can be obtained. The simulation results were found to be in good agreement with the test results from the RTC. As a result, a new reliability assessment methodology was established as an alternative to ATC for the evaluation of long-term reliability of electronic packages.
Meso Scale Pulsating Jets for Electronics Cooling
Authors: Garg Jivtesh , Arik Mehmet , Weaver Stanton , Wetzel Todd , Saddoughi Seyed
Published: November 2005

Microfluid devices are conventionally used for boundary layer control in many aerospace applications. Synthetic jets are intense small-scale turbulent jets formed from periodic entrainment and expulsion of the fluid in which they are embedded. The jets can be made to impinge upon electronic components thereby providing forced convection impingement cooling. The small size of these devices accompanied by the high exit air velocity provides an exciting opportunity to significantly reduce the size of thermal management hardware in electronics. A proprietary meso scale synthetic jet designed at GE Global Research is able to provide a maximum air velocity of 90m∕s from a 0.85 mm hydraulic diameter rectangular orifice. An experimental study for determining the cooling performance of synthetic jets was carried out by using a single jet to cool a thin foil heater. The heat transfer augmentation caused by the jets depends on several parameters, such as, driving frequency, driving voltage, jet axial distance, heater size, and heat flux. During the experiments, the operating frequency for the jets was varied between 3.4 and 5.4 kHz, while the driving voltage was varied between 50 and 90VRMS. Two different heater powers, corresponding to approximately 50 and 80 °C, were tested. A square heater with a surface area of 156mm2 was used to mimic the hot component and detailed temperature measurements were obtained with a microscopic infrared thermal imaging technique. A maximum heat transfer enhancement of approximately 10 times over natural convection was measured. The maximum measured coefficient of performance was approximately 3.25 due to the low power consumption of the synthetic jets.
Board Level Drop Impact—Fundamental and Parametric Analysis
Authors: Wong E. H. , Mai Y-W , Seah S. K. W.
Published: November 2005

A fundamental understanding of the dynamics of the PCB assembly when subjected to a half-sine acceleration has also been obtained through analyzing the PCB as a spring mass system, a beam, and a plate, respectively. The magnitude of stresses in solder interconnection due to flexing of the PCB is two orders higher than the magnitude of the stresses induced by acceleration and inertia loading the IC package. By ignoring the inertia loading, computational effort to evaluate the interconnection stresses due to PCB flexing can be reduced significantly via a two-step dynamic-static analysis. The dynamic analysis is first performed to evaluate the PCB bending moment adjacent the package, and is followed by a static analysis where the PCB bending moment is applied around the package. Parametric studies performed suggest a fundamental difference in designing for drop impact and designing for temperature cycling. The well-known design rules for temperature cycling—minimizing package length and maximizing interconnection standoff—does not work for drop impact. Instead, drop impact reliability can be enhanced by increasing the interconnection diameter, reducing the modulus of the interconnection materials, reducing the span of the PCB, or using either a very thin or a very thick PCB.
Flip-Chip Ball Grid Array Lead-Free Solder Joint Under Reliability Test
Authors: Jen Ming-Hwa R. , Liu Lee-Cheng , Wu Jenq-Dah
Published: November 2005

The work is aimed to investigate the mechanical responses of bare dies of the combination of pure tin∕Al–NiV–Cu Under bump metallization (UBM) and packages of pure tin∕Al–NiV–Cu UBM/substrate of standard thickness of aurum. The mechanical properties under multiple reflow and long term high temperature storage test (HTST) tests at different temperatures and the operational life were obtained. A scanning electron microscope was used to observe the growth of IMC and the failure modes in order to realize their reaction and connection. From the empirical results of bare dies, the delamination between IMC and die was observed due to the tests at 260 °C multiple reflow. However, their mechanical properties were not affected. Nevertheless, the bump shear strength of bare dies were decreased by HTST tests. In package, all the results of mechanical properties by multiple reflow test and HTST test were significantly lowered. It was shown that the adhesion between bump and die reduced obviously as tests going on. As for high temperature operational life test in the conditions of 150 °C and 320 mA (5040A∕cm2), the average stable service time of the package was 892 h, and the average ultimate service time of the package was 1053 h.
FATOU–BIEBERBACH DOMAINS
Authors: WOLD ERLEND FORNÆSS
Published: November 2005

We show that for any m ∈ ℕ ∪ {∞}, there exist m disjoint FB (Fatou–Bieberbach) domains whose union is dense in ℂk. In fact, we show that any point not in the union is a boundary point for all the domains. We construct FB domains that contains arbitrary countable collections of subvarieties of ℂk, and we construct FB domains that intersect elements of countable collections of affine subspaces of ℂk in connected proper subsets. Moreover, we show that any Runge FB domain is the attracting basin for a sequence of automorphisms of ℂk, although not necessarily if you only allow iteration of one automorphism. We also show that an increasing sequence of Runge ℂk's is a ℂk.
CLASSIFICATION OF REAL ALGEBRAIC VECTOR BUNDLES OVER THE REAL ANISOTROPIC CONIC
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL , NAGARAJ D. S.
Published: November 2005

We give a complete classification of isomorphism classes of real algebraic vector bundles over the scheme defined by a nondegenerate anisotropic conic defined over the field of real numbers.
EXTENSIONS AND RANK-2 VECTOR BUNDLES ON IRREDUCIBLE NODAL CURVES
Authors: ARCARA D.
Published: November 2005

We generalize Bertram's work on rank two vector bundles to an irreducible projective nodal curve C. We use the natural rational map [Formula: see text] defined by [Formula: see text] to study a compactification [Formula: see text] of the moduli space [Formula: see text] of semi-stable vector bundles of rank 2 and determinant L on C. In particular, we resolve the indeterminancy of ϕL in the case deg L = 3,4 via a sequence of three blow-ups with smooth centers.
CLASSIFICATION OF APPROXIMATELY INNER ACTIONS OF DISCRETE AMENABLE GROUPS ON STRONGLY AMENABLE SUBFACTORS
Authors: MASUDA TOSHIHIKO
Published: November 2005

We give the classification theorem of approximately inner actions of discrete amenable groups on strongly amenable subfactor of type II1by means of the characteristic invariant and ν invariant. To prove this theorem, we also give the classification theorem when the inner part and the centrally trivial part of actions coincide.
SIGNATURES OF COLORED LINKS WITH APPLICATION TO REAL ALGEBRAIC CURVES
Authors: FLORENS V.
Published: November 2005

We construct the signature of a μ-colored oriented link, as a locally constant integer valued function with domain (S1 - {1})μ. It restricts to the Tristram–Levine's signature on the diagonal and the discontinuities can occur only at the zeros of the colored Alexander polynomial. Moreover, the signature and the related nullity verify the Murasugi–Tristram inequality. This gives a new necessary condition for a link to bound a smoothly and properly embedded surface in B4, with given Betti numbers. As an application, we achieve the classification of the complex orientations of maximal plane non-singular projective algebraic curves of degree 7, up to isotopy.
TRIPLE POINT NUMBERS OF TWIST SPUN KNOTS
Authors: YASHIRO TSUKASA
Published: November 2005

The present paper gives an improved upper bound of triple point numbers for some family of twist-spun knots. The upper bound is obtained by deforming surface diagrams, which contain special sub-diagrams.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINIMAL LATTICE KNOTS AND MINIMAL CUBE KNOTS
Authors: MANN CASEY , MCLOUD-MANN JENNIFER
Published: November 2005

Lattice knots have been studied in recent years, especially in ℤ3 and with respect to how many edges are required to form a knot. Knots formed from cubes have also been investigated for their ability to tessellate space. In this article, we demonstrate that there is a relationship between the minimum number of edges required to form a lattice knot and the minimum number of cubes required to form the same kind of knot. We further investigate the relationship in the face-centered cubic lattice.
VIRTUAL CROSSING REALIZATION
Authors: NELSON SAM
Published: November 2005

We study virtual isotopy sequences with classical initial and final diagrams, asking when such a sequence can be changed into a classical isotopy sequence by replacing virtual crossings with classical crossings. An example of a sequence for which no such virtual crossing realization exists is given. A conjecture on conditions for realizability of virtual isotopy sequences is proposed, and a sufficient condition for realizability is found. The conjecture is reformulated in terms of 2-knots and knots in thickened surfaces.
THE INTEGRALITY OF DIHEDRAL QUANDLE COCYCLE INVARIANTS
Authors: ASAMI SOICHIRO
Published: November 2005

We calculate the dihedral quandle cocycle invariants of twist-spins of alternating odd pretzel knots. The calculation leads us to the conclusion that there exist non-ribbon 2-knots which admit a non-trivial coloring by the dihedral quandle Rp and all of whose cocycle invariants derived from ℤp-valued 3-cocycles on Rp take value in ℤ ⊂ ℤ[ℤp] for any odd prime integer p.