bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial XRF distribution characteristics associated with polarized EDXRF spectrometry
Authors: Zhan Xiuchun , Luo Liqiang , Fan Xingtao
Published: April 2007

An experiment was designed and carried out to measure the XRF yield distribution over the area irradiated by the target's x‐rays in a polarized EDXRF spectrometer. A small solder disc, which was made of mainly lead and tin and with a diameter of about 3 mm, was scanned manually with equal displacements over the area. XRF spectra excited by radiation from three typical targets, namely, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), Mo and Al2O3, were collected. Intensities of Sn Kα and Lα and Pb Lα and Mα lines were obtained and used to describe the XRF yield distributions from different targets. The results showed that the total areas contributing to the XRF signal were over 2 cm2 for the above three targets. Also, Pb Mα and Sn Kα maps irradiated by HOPG and Al2O3, respectively, showed very high intensities in the central parts, while they were very low in the periphery. The sum of intensities from four spots in central area (corresponding to about 7 × 7 mm2) represents about 50% of overall integrated intensities of the 33 measured spots. Also, the sharpest areas of Pb Mα and Sn Kα were slightly shifted. Pb Lα maps obtained using the Mo target showed much larger distribution areas, with center being the most intense and becoming weaker gradually toward the outer parts. The relatively small irradiation areas of the polarized targets may require better sample homogeneity, and care should be taken when small pieces of samples are to be analyzed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection (Starr) to Reverse the Anatomic Disorders of Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia
Authors: Pechlivanides George , Tsiaoussis John , Athanasakis Elias , Zervakis Nikolaos , Gouvas Nikolaos , Zacharioudakis George , Xynos Evaghelos
Published: April 2007

Anterior rectocele and rectoanal intussusception are anatomic disorders related to excessive straining during defecation that usually manifest with symptoms of obstructive defecation. Stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR), a newly described surgical method for correcting these disorders, is considered a good alternative to the traditional transrectal approaches. The aim of the present study was to assess the early postoperative functional results of STARR. A total of 16 patients (13 female) were subjected to the STARR procedure during a period of 12 months. The presence of anatomic disorders of the anorectum was verified by dynamic defecography. Preoperative assessment also included colonic transit time, anal sphincter ultrasonography, and anorectal stationary manometry. Postoperative assessment included the same battery of tests. Altogether, 12 patients had rectoanal intussusception of > 2 cm and rectocele. In eight of them the anterior component of the rectocele was 2 to 4 cm, and in four it was > 4 cm. Four patients had a 1‐ to 2‐cm internal intussusception and a rectocele of < 2 cm. All of them reported evacuation difficulties, but none had significant incontinence. Preoperative endoscopy did not reveal the presence of a solitary ulcer in any of the patients. All females had had normal vaginal deliveries, and four of them were multiparous. No complications were encountered postoperatively, and the need for analgesics was minimal. At defecography, rectoanal anatomy was seen to be restored in all patients. Obstructive defecation symptoms remained rather unaffected in seven, disappeared in three, and improved significantly in the remaining six patients. The seven failures showed anismus at manometry and had biofeedback treatment with satisfactory results in five of them. Failure of the operation and biofeedback sessions to treat symptoms in those two cases was attributed to coexisting enterocele, which had been missed preoperatively. Immediately after surgery, most of the patients complained of urgency and frequent small motions that resolved spontaneously within 3 to 5 weeks in all but two cases. STARR is a safe, well tolerated surgical procedure that effectively restores anatomy and function of the anorectum in patients with anterior mucosal prolapse and rectoanal intussusception. Additional biofeedback treatment is usually necessary for further functional improvement. Failure may be the result of other coexisting anatomic and functional abnormalities of the pelvic floor.
Experience with Transtrapezium Approach for Transverse Carpal Ligament Release in Patients with Coexisted Trapeziometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Sless Yury , Sampson Steven P.
Published: April 2007

An experience with transtrapezium approach for carpal tunnel release is reported. This technique seems to be successful in cases when carpal tunnel syndrome and first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis coexist and surgical treatment is indicated for both conditions. The transtrapezium approach to carpal tunnel release allows for complete carpal tunnel release without increasing the risk of surgical complications.
Effect of excessive iodine exposure on the placental deiodinase activities andHoxc8expression during mouse embryogenesis
Authors: Yang Xue F. , Xu Jian , Guo Huai L. , Hou Xiao H. , Hao Li P. , Liu Lie G. , Sun Xiu F.
Published: April 2007

Excessive iodine induces thyroid dysfunction. However, the effect of excessive iodine exposure on maternal–fetal thyroid hormone metabolism and on the expression of genes involved in differentiation, growth and development is poorly understood. Since a thyroid hormone receptor response element was found in theHoxc8promoter region,Hoxc8expression possibly regulated by excessive iodine exposure was firstly investigated. In the present study, Balb/C mice were given different doses of iodine in the form of potassium iodate (KIO3) at the levels of 0 (sterile water), 1·5, 3·0, 6·0, 12·0 and 24·0 μg/ml in drinking water for 4 months, then were mated. On 12·5 d postcoitum, placental type 2 and type 3 deiodinase activities and fetalHoxc8expression were determined. The results showed that excessive iodine exposure above 1·5 μg/ml resulted in an increase of total thyroxine and a decrease of total triiodothyronine in the serum of maternal mice, which was mainly associated with the inhibition of type 1 deiodinase activity in liver and kidney. Placental type 2 deiodinase activity decreased, showing an inverse relationship with maternal thyroxine level.Hoxc8 mRNA and protein expression at 12·5 d postcoitum embryos were down regulated. BecauseHoxc8plays an important role in normal skeletal development, this finding provides a possible explanation for the skeletal malformation induced by excessive iodine exposure and also provides a new clue to study the relationship between iodine or thyroid hormones andHoxgene expression pattern.
A randomised comparison of increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration after 4 weeks of daily oral intake of 10 μg cholecalciferol from multivitamin tablets or fish oil capsules in healthy young adults
Authors: Holvik Kristin , Madar Ahmed A. , Meyer Haakon E. , Lofthus Cathrine M. , Stene Lars C.
Published: April 2007

Many types of vitamin supplements are available on the market, but little is known about whether cholecalciferol obtained from fat-containing capsules differs in bioavailability from that of solid tablets. Our objective was to test whether 4 weeks of daily supplementation with 10 μg cholecalciferol given as a fish oil capsule produces a larger increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) concentration compared with the same dose of cholecalciferol given as a multivitamin tablet. A total of seventy-four healthy subjects aged 19–49 years were initially included and fifty-five of these completed the study and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After completing a self-administered questionnaire about diet and sunshine exposure and having a non-fasting venous blood sample drawn, participants were randomised to receive daily multivitamin tablets (n 28) or fish oil capsules (n 27), each containing equal doses of cholecalciferol. A second blood sample was drawn after 28 d. Mean baseline s-25(OH)D was 40·3 (sd 22·0) nmol/l in the multivitamin group and 48·5 (24·8) nmol/l in the fish oil group. When controlling for baseline s-25(OH)D, mean 4-week increase in s-25(OH)D was 35·8 (95 % CI 30·9, 40·8) nmol/l in the multivitamin group and 32·3 (95 % CI 27·3, 37·4) nmol/l in the fish oil group; the mean difference was 3·5 (95 % CI − 3·6, 10·6) nmol/l (P = 0·33). The results were unaltered by statistical adjustment for BMI, ethnic background, age and sex. We conclude that fish oil capsules and multivitamin tablets containing 10 μg cholecalciferol administered over a 4-week period produced a similar mean increase in s-25(OH)D concentration.
Effect of raw or roasted whole soybeans on early lactational performance and ruminal and blood metabolites in Iranian cows
Authors: FATHI NASRI M. H. , DANESH MESGARAN M. , NIKKHAH A. , VALIZADEH R. , KEBREAB E. , FRANCE J.
Published: April 2007

The current study evaluated responses of early lactation Iranian Holstein cows to feeding roasted whole soybeans (SB) plus cottonseed meal (CSM), raw SB plus CSM and soybean meal (SBM) plus cottonseed (CS) in diets with lucerne hay and maize silage as the primary forage source. Treatments consisted of a total mixed ration that included 387 g forage/kg, supplemented with: (1) 120 g roasted SB/kg and 82 g CSM/kg, (2) 120 g raw SB/kg and 82 g CSM/kg, or (3) 120 g SBM/kg and 82 g CS/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis. Diets were offered to 14 multiparous Holstein cows (body weight=617·0 kg, days in milk=16·9) that were assigned randomly to one of three experimental diets for a 45-day trial. Dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher for the roasted SB plus CSM diet than for the raw SB plus CSM diet but the difference between the SB plus CSM diets and SBM plus CS was not significant. Yields of milk and 35 g fat-corrected milk (FCM)/kg and milk fat were significantly higher for the roasted SB plus CSM diet than for raw SB plus CSM and also for the SB plus CSM diets than for SBM plus CS. Milk protein concentration was significantly increased by about 2·0 g/kg by the SBM plus CS diet, but milk protein yield was the same for cows fed SBM plus CS, roasted SB plus CSM and raw SB plus CSM diets. Rumen ammonia N, plasma urea N (PUN) and milk urea N (MUN) concentrations were lower when the roasted SB plus CSM diet was fed. Ruminal pH and plasma glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were not affected by dietary treatments. Plasma concentrations of essential amino acids (EAA), except Leu and Phe, were higher in cows fed the roasted SB plus CSM diet than in those fed raw SB plus CSM. The cows fed the SBM plus CS diet had the same concentrations of EAA, except Phe, as cows fed SB plus CSM diets. For diets based on lucerne hay and maize silage as the primary forage source, roasting of SB provides additional benefits over raw SB.
Isolating the ‘farmer’ effect as a component of the advantage of growing genetically modified varieties in developing countries: a Bt cotton case study from Jalgaon, India
Authors: MORSE S. , BENNETT R. , ISMAEL Y.
Published: April 2007

The present paper explores the ‘farmer’ effect in economic advantages often claimed for Bt cotton varieties (those with the endotoxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis conferring resistance to some insect pests) compared to non-Bt varieties. Critics claim that much of the yield advantage of Bt cotton could be due to the fact that farmers adopting the technology are in a better position to provide inputs and management and so much of any claimed Bt advantage is an artefact rather than reflecting a real advantage of the variety per se. The present paper provides an in-depth analysis of 63 non-adopting and 94 adopting households of Bt cotton in Jalgaon, Maharashtra State, India, spanning the seasons 2002 and 2003. Results suggest that Bt adopters are indeed different from non-adopters in a number of ways. Adopters appear to specialize more on cotton (at least in terms of the land area they devote to the crop), spend more money on irrigation and grow well-performing non-Bt varieties of cotton (Bunny). Taking gross margin as the basis for comparison, Bt plots had 2·5 times the gross margin of non-Bt plots in both seasons. If only adopters are considered then the gross margin advantage of Bt plots reduces to 1·6 times that of non-Bt plots. This is still a significant advantage and could well explain the popularity of Bt in Maharashtra. However, it is clear that great care needs to be taken with such comparative studies.
Characterization of the antibody isotype response in serum and milk of heifers vaccinated with a Staphylococcus aureus bacterin (LysiginTM)
Authors: Luby Christopher D , Middleton John R , Ma Jianneng , Rinehart Carol L , Bucklin Scott , Kohler Caroline , Tyler Jeff W
Published: April 2007

The objective was to characterize the antibody isotype responses to vaccination with a commercial Staphylococcus aureus bacterin in dairy heifers. Twenty-five Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers were assigned at random to one of two groups, vaccinates (n=14) or controls (n=11). Vaccinates received two 5-ml doses of Lysigin 28 d apart in late gestation. Both groups were challenged with a heterologous serotype 5 strain of Staph. aureus by aseptic intramammary infusion on days 6, 7 and 8 of lactation. Samples for serum antibody isotype (IgG, IgG1, IgG2 and IgM) determinations were taken before each vaccination, immediately prior to challenge (6 d post-calving) and at the end of the study (28 d post-calving). Samples for milk antibody isotype determinations were taken immediately prior to challenge and at the end of the study. Antibody isotype sample-to-positive ratios (S[ratio ]P ratio=(mean test sample OD−mean within-plate negative control OD)/(mean within-plate positive control OD−mean within-plate negative control OD)) were determined in milk and serum using a series of ELISAs coated with different strains of Staph. aureus belonging to capsular polysaccharide (CP) serotype 5 or 8 or surface polysaccharide (SP) serotype 336. Vaccinates had higher mean serum IgG1 and IgG2 S[ratio ]P ratios than controls against all three strains of Staph. aureus (P[les ]0·023). Vaccinates had higher mean milk IgG S[ratio ]P ratios than controls against CP8 and SP336 strains of Staph. aureus (P[les ]0·030). Hence, a humoural immune response to the vaccine was detected in serum and milk, but responses varied according to strain and antibody isotype tested.
Dairy cow cleanliness and milk quality on organic and conventional farms in the UK
Authors: Ellis Kathryn A , Innocent Giles T , Mihm Monika , Cripps Peter , McLean W Graham , Howard C Vyvyan , Grove-White Dai
Published: April 2007

A subjective cow cleanliness scoring system was validated and used to assess the cleanliness score of dairy cows at different times in the year. A longitudinal study followed a number of farms from summer to winter, and a larger, cross-sectional study assessed a greater number of farms during the housed winter period. The scoring system was demonstrated to be both a repeatable and practical technique to use on-farm and showed that cows become dirtier in the transition from summer grazing to winter housing. Although farming system (organic or conventional) had no effect on cow cleanliness when cows were at grass, when housed in the winter, organic cows were significantly more likely to be cleaner. There was a link between cow cleanliness scores and milk quality, with herds having lower bulk tank somatic cell counts (BTSCC) tending to have a lower (cleaner) median cow cleanliness score; with this relationship strongest for the organic herds. There was no significant link between cleanliness score and Bactoscan (BS) count or clinical mastitis incidence. No major mastitis pathogens were cultured from bulk tank milk samples from the quartile of herds with the cleanest cows in contrast to the quartile of herds with the dirtiest cows, where significant mastitis pathogens were cultured. Based on this study, all farms, especially organic systems, should attempt to keep cows clean as part of subclinical mastitis control.
Lactation induction as a predictor of post-parturition transgene expression in bovine milk
Authors: Powell Ann , Kerr David , Guthrie David , Wall Robert
Published: April 2007

The bovine's long generation interval results in a delay of several years when evaluating mammary specific transgenes in genetically engineered animals. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of reducing that waiting period. Lactation was induced in prepubertal bull and heifer calves as a means of predicting transgene behaviour during subsequent post-parturient lactations in the heifers themselves, and in daughters sired by the bulls. The animals carry a lactation-specific transgene encoding lysostaphin, an antimicrobial protein that kills Staphlococcus aureus, a mastitis-causing pathogen. Oestrogen, progesterone and dexamethasone were administered as previously described (Ball et al. 2000) to nine heifers (five transgenics) ranging in weight from 80 to 145 kg. Eight bull calves (seven transgenics) weighing 81–178 kg received additional oestrogen and progesterone injection prior to dexamethasone treatment. All nine heifers responded to the milk induction scheme yielding between 19 ml and 4·5 l over 5 d. Milk volume from the four responding males (30 μl to 2·5 ml) was significantly less than that harvested from females (P=0·025). Only bull calves >117 kg had a positive response. Lysostaphin was detected in all transgenic prepubertal heifers and in two transgenic prepubertal bull calves induced. A positive relationship was observed between lysostaphin's stapholytic activity in the two types of lactations (r2=0·907, P<0·001) thus providing a useful means of predicting subsequent lysostaphin production in post-partum milk.
A comprehensive analysis of the biogeography of the thelastomatoid pinworms from Australian burrowing cockroaches (Blaberidae: Geoscapheinae, Panesthiinae): no evidence of coevolution
Authors: JEX A. R. , SCHNEIDER M. A. , ROSE H. A. , CRIBB T. H.
Published: April 2007

We report 21 thelastomatoid species parasitizing 31 described and 5 undescribed geoscapheine and panesthiine cockroaches, representing all but 1 of the known species of these subfamilies in Australia. The nematodes have 3 distinct patterns of host distribution: dominant, moderate and rare. The 4 dominant species, Cordonicola gibsoni, Leidynemella fusiformis, Travassosinema jaidenae and Aoruroides queenslandensis, are highly prevalent, found in nearly all host species examined, and broadly distributed. The 8 moderate species have lower prevalences but are still widely distributed. Many of these species are more common in one host subfamily than the other. The remaining 9 rare species have highly restricted host and geographical distributions. Six of the 21 species are exclusive to geoscapheines, 5 to panesthiines and 10 are shared. These patterns suggest that most of the reported thelastomatoid species are generalists rather than specialists, that host-specificity within this group is low and that co-evolutionary speciation has had little, if any, impact on structuring the thelastomatoid fauna of Australian burrowing cockroaches. In a broader context, this study provides the first comprehensive examination of the role of coevolutionary speciation and host specificity in regulating the distribution of pinworms in arthropods.
Predictors, clinical characteristics, and outcome of conduct disorder in girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a longitudinal study
Authors: MONUTEAUX MICHAEL C. , FARAONE STEPHEN V. , MICHELLE GROSS LARA , BIEDERMAN JOSEPH
Published: April 2007

Background

Research on the overlap between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD) in males has provided useful information on the etiology, correlates, course, and nosology of this co-morbid condition. However, it is unclear how these results extend to females. Our aim was to examine the predictors, clinical characteristics, and functional outcome of CD in a sample of female youth with and without ADHD.

Method

We conducted a blind, 5-year prospective longitudinal study of girls with (n=140) and without (n=122) ADHD, aged 6–18 years at baseline. At the 5-year follow-up, 123 (88%) and 112 (92%) of the ADHD and control children respectively were reassessed at a mean age of 16·7 years. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using blind structured diagnostic interviews.

Results

Baseline ADHD was a significant risk factor for lifetime CD throughout childhood and adolescence [hazard ratio (HR) 5·8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·9–11·5, p<0·001]. Among ADHD girls, childhood-onset (<12 years) CD was predicted by paternal antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), while adolescent-onset CD (⩾12 years) was predicted by family conflict. In addition, lifetime CD significantly predicted academic, psychiatric and sexual behavior problems in girls with ADHD at follow-up.

Conclusions

ADHD is a significant risk factor for CD in girls. CD is associated with increased risk for academic, psychiatric and sexual behavior problems compared to ADHD girls without CD. Given that the therapeutic approaches indicated by ADHD and CD differ, these findings highlight the importance of improved efforts aimed at early identification and treatment of CD in girls with ADHD.
Mild cognitive impairment as predictor for Alzheimer's disease in clinical practice: effect of age and diagnostic criteria
Authors: Visser P. J. , Verhey F. R. J.
Published: April 2007

Background

We investigated whether the predictive accuracy of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for Alzheimer-type dementia (AD) in a clinical setting is dependent on age and the definition of MCI used.

Method

Non-demented subjects older than 40 (n=320) who attended a memory clinic of a university hospital were reassessed 5 years later for the presence of AD. MCI was diagnosed according to the criteria of amnestic MCI, mild functional impairment (MFI), ageing-associated cognitive decline (AACD), and age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). The main outcome measure was the area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Analyses were conducted on the entire sample and on subgroups of subjects aged 40–54, 55–69 and 70–85 years.

Results

A diagnosis of AD at follow-up was made in 58 subjects. Four of them were in the 40–54 age group, 29 in the 55–69 age group and 25 in the 70–85 age group. The diagnostic accuracy in the entire sample was low to moderately high with AUCs ranging from 0.56 (AACD) to 0.75 (amnestic MCI). A good predictive accuracy with an AUC >0.80 was only observed in subjects aged 70–85 using the criteria of amnestic MCI (AUC=0.84).

Conclusions

The predictive accuracy of MCI for AD is dependent on age and the definition of MCI used. The predictive accuracy is good only for amnestic MCI in subjects 70–85 years. As subjects with prodromal AD are often younger than 70, the usefulness of MCI as predictor of AD in clinical practice is limited.
Litterfall production and fluvial export in headwater catchments of the southern Amazon
Authors: Selva Evandro Carlos , Couto Eduardo Guimarães , Johnson Mark S. , Lehmann Johannes
Published: April 2007

Resolving the carbon (C) balance in the Amazonian forest depends on an improved quantification of production and losses of particulate C from forested landscapes via stream export. The main goal of this work was to quantify litterfall, the lateral movement of litter, and the export of coarse organic particulate matter (>2 mm) in four small watersheds (1–2 ha) under native forest in southern Amazonia near Juruena, Mato Grosso, Brazil (10°25′S, 58°46′W). Mean litterfall production was 11.8 Mg ha−1 y−1 (5.7 Mg C ha−1 y−1). Litterfall showed strong seasonality, with the highest deposition in the driest months of the year. About two times more C per month was deposited on the forest floor during the 6-mo dry season (0.65 Mg C ha−1 mo−1) compared with the rainy season (0.3 Mg C ha−1 mo−1). The measured C concentration of the litterfall samples was significantly greater in the dry season than in the rainy season (49% vs. 46%). The lateral movement of litter increased from the plateau (upper landscape position) towards the riparian zone. However, the trend in C concentration of laterally transported litter samples was the opposite, being highest on the plateau (44%) and lowest in the riparian zone (42%). Stream-water exports of particulate C were positively correlated with streamflow, increasing in the rainiest months. The export of particulate C in streamflow was found to be very small (less than 1%) in relation to the amount of litterfall produced.
The effect of gut processing on the quality of mistletoe seed dispersal
Authors: Roxburgh Lizanne
Published: April 2007

Disperser effectiveness is the contribution that a disperser makes to the future reproduction of a plant (Schupp 1993), and it has two components: quality and quantity of dispersal. Quantity of dispersal is a function of the number of visits that a disperser makes to a fruiting plant and the number of seeds that are dispersed during each visit. Quality of dispersal is a function of the treatment that a seed receives from its disperser and the site that the seed is finally deposited in. The quality of seed dispersal of the mistletoe Phragmanthera dschallensis (Engl.) M.G. Gilbert (Loranthaceae) by frugivorous birds was examined in this study.
Fungal endophytes nearly double minimum leaf conductance in seedlings of a neotropical tree species
Authors: Arnold A. Elizabeth , Engelbrecht Bettina M. J.
Published: April 2007

Drought strongly influences plant phenology, growth and mortality in tropical forests, thereby shaping plant performance, population dynamics and community structure (Bunker & Carson 2005, Condit et al. 1995). Microbial symbionts of plants profoundly influence host water relations (Lösch & Gansert 2002), but are rarely considered in studies of tropical plant physiology. In particular, plant–fungus associations, which are ubiquitous in plant communities and especially common in tropical forests, play important and varied roles in plant water status. Fungal pathogens associated with roots, vascular tissue and foliage may interfere with water uptake and transport, increase rates of foliar transpiration, and induce xylem embolism and tissue death (Agrios 1997). In contrast, rhizosphere mutualists such as ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may benefit hosts by increasing surface area for water uptake, enhancing stomatal regulation of water loss, and increasing root hydraulic conductivity (Auge 2001, Lösch & Gansert 2002).
Shoreline vegetation distribution in relation to wave exposure and bay characteristics in a tropical great lake, Lake Victoria
Authors: Azza Nicholas , van de Koppel Johan , Denny Patrick , Kansiime Frank
Published: April 2007

We investigated the presumption that wind-wave exposure is a major regulator of vegetation distribution within lakes. Along a 675-km stretch of shore in northern Lake Victoria (Uganda), the pattern of vegetation distribution in relation to shoreline features, and the variation of shoreline swamp area along a gradient of wave exposure were examined. The ability of wave exposure, when combined with bay morphometric characteristics, to predict the lakeward limit of vegetation distribution was assessed. Data were collected through a shoreline survey and from maps. Maximum effective fetch, computed from topographic maps, was used as a surrogate for wave exposure. Our results reinforce and amplify the notion that wave exposure is an important regulator of the within-lake distribution of vegetation. We found shoreline plants to either occupy stretches of shore shielded by coastal islands or hidden by convolutions of the lake margin. The area of shoreline swamps declined exponentially with increasing wave exposure. Of the coastal characteristics examined, bay area had the strongest influence on the lakeward expansion of vegetation. Wave exposure acting together with bay area, accounted for 64.4% of the variance in the limit of lakeward vegetation advancement.
Finite volume methods for hyperbolic conservation laws
Authors: Morton K. W. , Sonar T.
Published: April 2007

Finite volume methods apply directly to the conservation law form of a differential equation system; and they commonly yield cell average approximations to the unknowns rather than point values. The discrete equations that they generate on a regular mesh look rather like finite difference equations; but they are really much closer to finite element methods, sharing with them a natural formulation on unstructured meshes. The typical projection onto a piecewise constant trial space leads naturally into the theory of optimal recovery to achieve higher than first-order accuracy. They have dominated aerodynamics computation for over forty years, but they have never before been the subject of an Acta Numerica article. We shall therefore survey their early formulations before describing powerful developments in both their theory and practice that have taken place in the last few years.
Filters, mollifiers and the computation of the Gibbs phenomenon
Authors: Tadmor Eitan
Published: April 2007

We are concerned here with processing discontinuous functions from their spectral information. We focus on two main aspects of processing such piecewise smooth data: detecting the edges of a piecewise smooth f, namely, the location and amplitudes of its discontinuities; and recovering with high accuracy the underlying function in between those edges. If f is a smooth function, say analytic, then classical Fourier projections recover f with exponential accuracy. However, if f contains one or more discontinuities, its global Fourier projections produce spurious Gibbs oscillations which spread throughout the smooth regions, enforcing local loss of resolution and global loss of accuracy. Our aim in the computation of the Gibbs phenomenon is to detect edges and to reconstruct piecewise smooth functions, while regaining the high accuracy encoded in the spectral data.

To detect edges, we utilize a general family of edge detectors based on concentration kernels. Each kernel forms an approximate derivative of the delta function, which detects edges by separation of scales. We show how such kernels can be adapted to detect edges with one- and two-dimensional discrete data, with noisy data, and with incomplete spectral information. The main feature is concentration kernels which enable us to convert global spectral moments into local information in physical space. To reconstruct f with high accuracy we discuss novel families of mollifiers and filters. The main feature here is making these mollifiers and filters adapted to the local region of smoothness while increasing their accuracy together with the dimension of the data. These mollifiers and filters form approximate delta functions which are properly parametrized to recover f with (root-) exponential accuracy.
Numerical aspects of special functions
Authors: Temme Nico M.
Published: April 2007

This paper describes methods that are important for the numerical evaluation of certain functions that frequently occur in applied mathematics, physics and mathematical statistics. This includes what we consider to be the basic methods, such as recurrence relations, series expansions (both convergent and asymptotic), and numerical quadrature. Several other methods are available and some of these will be discussed in less detail. Examples will be given on the use of special functions in certain problems from mathematical physics and mathematical statistics (integrals and series with special functions).
The potential effect of iron defortification on iron-deficiency anaemia in the US population
Authors: Tao Min , Pelletier David L , Miller Dennis D
Published: April 2007

Objective

To quantify the potential effect of iron defortification in the USA on iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA).

Methods

Monte Carlo models were built to simulate iron nutrition in the US population. A hypothetical cohort of 15 000 persons from the general population was used in 15-year simulations to compare the prevalence of IDA with and without fortification.

Results

With iron fortification, the prevalence of IDA was 2.4% for children aged 3–5 years, 5.4% for women aged 20–49 years, and 0.14% for men aged 20–49 years. The corresponding IDA estimates under iron defortification were 4.5%, 8.2% and 0.46%, respectively. Defortification had little effect on the distribution of iron indicators at or above the 50th percentile within each of these three groups and little effect on the distributions of iron indicators among adult men.

Conclusion

Iron defortification is likely to increase IDA among children and women of reproductive age, but is not likely to have meaningful effects on the iron status of men or the majority of women and children.
American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG). Clinical trials include:

ACOSOG Z1031: A randomized phase III trial comparing 16–18 weeks of neoadjuvant exemestane (25mg daily), letrozole (2.5mg), or anastrozole (1mg) in postmenopausal women with clinical stages II and III estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.

ACOSOG Z0010: A prognostic study of sentinel node and bone marrow micrometastases in women with clinical T1 or T2 N0 M0 breast cancer.

ACOSOG Z0011: A randomized trial of axillary node dissection in women with clinical T1–2 N0 M0 breast cancer who have a positive sentinel node.
Breast European Adjuvant Studies Team (BREAST)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by Breast European Adjuvant Studies Team (BREAST). Clinical trials include:

An intergroup phase III trial to evaluate the activity of docetaxel, given either sequentially or in combination with doxorubicin, followed by CMF, in comparison to doxorubicin alone or in combination with cyclophos-phamide, followed by CMF, in the adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer patients. BIG 02-98/TAX 315

HERA: A randomized three-arm multi-centre comparison of 1 year and 2 years of Herceptin versus no Herceptin in women with HER2-positive primary breast cancer who have completed adjuvant chemotherapy. BIG 01-01/B016348

Adjuvant trial with lapatinib and trastuzumab* (BIG) *trial title/acronym not available at time of publication.
Finnish Breast Cancer Group (FBCG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by Finnish Breast Cancer Group (FBCG). Clinical trials include:

Comparison of vinorelbine versus docetaxel, and trastuzumab versus no trastuzumab as adjuvant treatments of early breast cancer. FinHer study

Randomized phase III study comparing single-agent docetaxel followed by 5-FU, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) to docetaxel plus Xeloda followed by cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and Xeloda (CEX) as adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer. FinXX Study

A multicenter phase III open randomised trial of the efficacy of exercise in the prevention of long-term adverse effects of adjuvant treatments and breast cancer recurrences in women with primary breast cancer. BREX 01-2004 Study
Grupo Brasileiro Cooperativo de Pesquisa em Oncologia Clínica (GBOC)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a list of recent or ongoing clinical trials that the Grupo Brasileiro Cooperativo de Pesquisa em Oncologia Clínica (GBOC) participate in with other clinical trials groups, if applicable.
International Collaborative Cancer Group (ICCG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by International Collaborative Cancer Group (ICCG). Clinical trials include:

Epirubicin plus tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone in postmenopausal node-positive primary breast cancer. C/4/87

Adjuvant cyclophosphamide methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) versus 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) in premenopausal node-positive primary breast cancer. (CMF/FEC N+). C/2/84

Adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) versus 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) in women with node-negative, poor-risk primary breast cancer. C/6/89

Adjuvant FEC50 versus FEC75 with or without the additional benefit of sequential hormone therapy (HT) in node-positive premenopausal primary breast cancer. C/9/91

High-dose therapy with PBCS support in primary breast cancer. C/10/92 – C/32/96

Randomized double-blind trial in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer who have received adjuvant tamoxifen for 2–3 years, comparing subsequent adjuvant exemestane treatment with further tamoxifen. BIG 02-97/Study No. 96 OEXE 031-C/13/96

A multicentre-randomized trial of sequential epirubicin and docetaxel versus epirubicin in node-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients. C/14/96

A phase III multicentre double-blind randomized trial of celecoxib versus placebo in primary breast cancer patients. An intergroup study from the International Collaborative Cancer Group and the German Breast Group (GBG). BIG 1-03 – ICCG/C/20/01 – GBG 27
Italian Trials in Medical Oncology (ITMO)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a list of recent or ongoing clinical trials that the Italian Trials in Medical Oncology (ITMO) participate in with other clinical trials groups, if applicable.
Japan Breast Cancer Research Group (JBCRG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by Japan Breast Cancer Research Group (JBCRG). Clinical trials include:

Study of CEF-DOC as primary systemic chemotherapy for operable breast cancer.

Study of FEC-DOC100 as primary systemic chemotherapy for operable breast cancer.

DOC-FEC as primary systemic chemotherapy.
Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). Clinical trials include:

Docetaxel and vinorelbine plus filgrastim with weekly trastuzumab for HER-2 positive, stage IV breast cancer. S0215

Phase III trial of continuous schedule AC + G versus q 2-week schedule AC, followed by paclitaxel given either q 2 weeks or weekly for 12 weeks as post-operative adjuvant therapy in node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer. S0221

Phase III randomized trial of anastrozole versus anastrozole and fulves-trant as first line therapy for postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. S0226

Phase III trial of LHRH analog administration during chemotherapy to reduce ovarian failure following chemotherapy in early stage, hormone-receptor negative breast cancer. S0230

Phase III trial of bisphosphonates as adjuvant therapy for primary breast cancer. S0307

Phase II trial of simple oral therapy (continuous oral cyclophosphamide and capecitabine) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. S0430

A phase II study of goserelin plus anastrozole for the treatment of male patients with hormone-receptor positive metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. S0511

Randomized placebo-controlled biomarker modulation trial using celecoxib in premenopausal women at high risk for breast cancer. Phase IIb. S0300
West Midlands Breast Group (WMBG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by West Midlands Breast Group (WMBG). Clinical trials include:

aTTom – adjuvant Tamoxifen Treatment – offer more?

Sequencing of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in adjuvant breast cancer. SECRAB

A phase III randomized trial of gemcitabine in paclitaxel-containing, epirubicin-based, adjuvant chemotherapy for women with early stage breast cancer. tAnGo

Tamoxifen and Exemestane Adjuvant Multicentre trial TEAM

Neoadjuvant trial of preoperative exemestane or letrozole ± celecoxib in the treatment of ER positive postmenopausal early breast cancer NEO-EXCEL

A neoadjuvant study of sequential epirubicin + cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel ± gemcitabine in the treatment of high risk early breast cancer with molecular profiling, proteomics and candidate gene analysis. Neo-tAnGo
West German Study Group (WSG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by West German Study Group (WSG). Clinical trials include:

WSG and AGO-Mamma Intergroup Study: Randomized phase III trial of EC-Doc: adjuvant chemotherapy of breast carcinoma with 1–3 positive lymph nodes. (AM02)

WSG Study: Randomized phase III trial of adjuvant CEF/TAC chemotherapy +/− Darbepoetin alfa for patients with primary breast cancer and more than 3 positive axillary lymph nodes. ARA Plus (AM03)

ICE – Study: Ibandronate with or without capecitabine in elderly patients with early breast cancer. BIG 4-04 / GBG 32. (see also description under GBG)
Yorkshire Breast Cancer Research Group (YBCRG)
Authors:   The Breast International Group
Published: April 2007

This section provides current contact details and a summary of recent or ongoing clinical trials being coordinated by Yorkshire Breast Cancer Research Group (YBCRG). Clinical trials include:

Does adjuvant zoledronic acid reduce recurrence in patients with high risk localized breast cancer? – The AZURE Trial. BIG 1-04

Cost-effective use of BISphosphonates in metastatic bone disease: A comparison of bone MARKer directed zoledronic acid therapy to a standard schedule – The BISMARK Trial.
Laboratory simulation of UV irradiation from the Sun on amino acids. I: irradiation of tyrosine
Authors: Scappini F. , Casadei F. , Zamboni R. , Monti S. , Giorgianni P. , Capobianco M.L.
Published: April 2007

The effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on water solutions of tyrosine (HO—C6H4—CH2—CHNH2—COOH) have been investigated using a Xe lamp in the region 200–800 nm. This is a step in laboratory simulation towards reproducing the action of the Solar radiation on the building blocks of life, specifically α-amino acids, in the primitive Earth anoxic conditions. Results are presented showing the photostability of tyrosine against different UV doses. Degradation products partly maintain life building capability and partly do not. A tendency towards structure complexification was observed. The analysis of the irradiated tyrosine solutions was conducted using various spectroscopic and analytic techniques. The laboratory results are discussed in the light of a primordial life-emerging scenario.
Two-dimensional electron systems with strong interaction in silicon MOSFETs
Authors: Dolgopolov V. T.
Published: April 2007

The results of experimental research on a strongly interacting two-dimensional Fermi liquid in silicon field-effect structures are briefly reviewed. By extrapolation of the experimental data from the metallic region it is concluded that the effective mass of the electrons diverges and the total spin polarization vanishes at a finite electron density.
Photoconductivity oscillations for a Rashba two-dimensional system in a microwave magnetic field
Authors: Lyapilin I. I. , Patrakov A. E.
Published: April 2007

The response of a nonequilibrium two-dimensional electron system to a dc measuring electric field is investigated in the case when the system is taken out of equilibrium by a microwave magnetic field, which leads to combined transitions involving the spin-orbit coupling. It is shown that such a perturbation of the electron system causes new oscillations of the diagonal components of the conductivity tensor, which depend on the ratio of the radiation frequency to the cyclotron frequency.
Contributions of the electron–electron interaction and weak localization to the conductance of p-Ge∕Ge1−xSix heterostructures
Authors: Arapov Yu. G. , Gudina S. V. , Karskanov I. V. , Neverov V. N. , Harus G. I. , Shelushinina N. G.
Published: April 2007

We separate the contributions to the conductance from disorder-modified electron–electron interaction and weak localization for p-Ge∕Ge1−xSix heterostructures with low carrier mobility at magnetic fields 0⩽B⩽2T for fixed temperatures 0.2K⩽T⩽4.2K. The contribution of the Zeeman splitting to the magnetoresistance is taken into account in the electron–electron interaction, making it possible to get reasonable values of the energy relaxation time (dephasing time τφ) and to obtain its theoretically predicted power-law temperature dependence. Values are estimated for the parameters of these effects: Hartree interaction constant F0σ=−0.51, amplitude of the Fermi-liquid interaction λ=0.40, and Landé factor g=12.0.
Vertical spin transport in semiconductor heterostructures
Authors: Sankowski P. , Kacman P. , Majewski J. A. , Dietl T.
Published: April 2007

The Landauer–Büttiker formalism combined with the tight-binding transfer matrix method is employed to model vertical coherent spin transport within magnetization-modulated semiconductor heterostructures based on GaAs. This formalism provides excellent physical description of recent experiments concerning the high tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in (Ga,Mn)As-based trilayers and highly polarized spin injection in p-(Ga,Mn)As∕n-GaAs Zener diodes. For both the TMR and the Zener spin current polarization, the calculated values compare well with those observed in the experiments, and the formalism reproduces the strong decrease of the observed effects with external bias. We ascribe this decrease to band structure effects. The role played in the spin-dependent tunneling by carrier concentration and magnetic ion content is also studied.
Contact induced deformation of enamel
Authors: He Li Hong , Swain Michael V.
Published: April 2007

Teeth survive millions of contact cycles with relatively limited damage and wear, despite high local contact stresses. In this letter, the authors investigated the influence of enamel microstructure and specifically the role of the minor protein component on contact induced deformation. They assume that protein is responsible for the nonlinear contact stress-strain relationship. The extremely low contact stresses to induce inelastic contact deformation result in high contact induced energy loss which is indenter geometry dependent. A simple model shows that shear strain in protein layer is 16 times higher than the contact strain, and is where most deformation is dissipated.
Hole-mediated interactions of Mn acceptors on GaAs (110) (invited)
Authors: Kitchen D. , Richardella A. , Roushan P. , Tang J.-M. , Flatté M. E. , Yazdani A.
Published: April 2007

A scanning-tunneling-microscopy-substitution technique is used to incorporate single Mn atoms into Ga sites in GaAs (110) surfaces. The electronic states near a single Mn in the acceptor configuration produce a strong in-gap resonance associated with the acceptor level. The isolated Mn acceptor is probed in both p-type and n-type environments to access the neutral and ionized acceptor configurations. The Mn acceptor at the surface substitution site shares bulk characteristics that compare well with tight-binding calculations. The anisotropic structure of the Mn hole state plays an important role in hole-mediated interactions between the Mn acceptors. Isolated Mn pairs show a strong interaction dependence on crystal orientation and spacing. Certain pair orientations produce a strong splitting of the acceptor level into two levels with bondinglike and antibondinglike symmetries. A tight-binding model relates the acceptor level splitting and the spin-spin interaction energy J.