bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous benchmarking of ground- and excited-state properties with long-range-corrected density functional theory
Authors: Rohrdanz Mary A. , Herbert John M.
Published: July 2008

We present benchmark calculations using several long-range-corrected (LRC) density functionals, in which Hartree–Fock exchange is incorporated asymptotically using a range-separated Coulomb operator, while local exchange is attenuated using an ansatz introduced by Iikura et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 3540 (2001)]. We calculate ground-state atomization energies, reaction barriers, ionization energies, and electron affinities, each as a function of the range-separation parameter μ. In addition, we calculate excitation energies of small- and medium-sized molecules, again as a function of μ, by applying the LRC to time-dependent density functional theory. Representative examples of both pure and hybrid density functionals are tested. On the basis of these results, there does not appear to be a single range-separation parameter that is reasonable for both ground-state properties and vertical excitation energies. Reasonable errors in atomization energies and barrier heights are achieved only at the expense of excessively high excitation energies, at least for the medium-sized molecules, whereas values of μ that afford reasonable excitation energies yield some of the largest errors for ground-state atomization energies and barrier heights in small molecules. Notably, this conclusion is obscured if the database of excitation energies includes only small molecules, as has been the case in previous benchmark studies of LRC functionals.
Single switch surface hopping for a model of pyrazine
Authors: Lasser Caroline , Swart Torben
Published: July 2008

The single switch trajectory surface hopping algorithm is tested for numerical simulations of a two-state three-mode model for the internal conversion of pyrazine through a conical intersection of potential energy surfaces. The algorithm is compared to two other surface hopping approaches, namely, Tully’s method of the fewest switches [J. Chem. Phys. 93, 1061 (1990)] and the method by Voronin et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 102, 6057 (1998)]. The single switch algorithm achieves the most accurate results. Replacing its deterministic nonadiabatic branching condition by a probabilistic accept-reject criterion, one obtains the method of Voronin et al. without momentum adjustment. This probabilistic version of the single switch approach outperforms the considered algorithms in terms of accuracy, memory requirement, and runtime.
Basis set limit Hartree–Fock and density functional theory response property evaluation by multiresolution multiwavelet basis
Authors: Sekino Hideo , Maeda Yasuyuki , Yanai Takeshi , Harrison Robert J.
Published: July 2008

We describe the evaluation of response properties using multiresolution multiwavelet (MRMW) basis sets. The algorithm uses direct projection of the perturbed density operator onto the zeroth order density operator on the real space spanned by the MRMW basis set and is applied for evaluating the polarizability of small molecules using Hartree–Fock and Kohn–Sham density functional theory. The computed polarizabilities can be considered to be converged to effectively complete space within the requested precision. The efficiency of the method against the ordinary Gaussian basis computation is discussed.
Contrasting effects of a hot and a cool system in anger regulation on cooperative behaviours
Authors: Lok Men H. , Bond Alyson J. , Tse Wai S.
Published: July 2008

Angry mood and aggression are strongly associated. However, it is not socially acceptable to express strong aggression. Non‐cooperative behaviours might be another aspect of aggressive behaviour. The present study examines the expression of non‐cooperative behaviours after angry mood induction. Eighty‐five university students were randomly assigned to hot or cool focus recall of a past angry event. At baseline, trait aggression and rejection sensitivity were evaluated. Just before the recall task, participants' state of angry mood was measured by the Anger Mood Scale. Then they engaged in either hot or cool focus recall of a past rejection event. Immediately after the mood induction, angry mood was measured again. They were then instructed to play the Mixed Motive game with an unknown person. Participants in both groups became angrier after the mood induction. One‐way analysis of covariance, controlling for trait anger and rejection sensitivity, showed that the hot‐focus participants gave significantly fewer points to the other person than the cool‐focus participants. Participants high on trait aggression sent more verbally aggressive messages. The findings suggest that non‐cooperative behaviour is another form of anger related aggression and might be more socially important than overt aggression.
Context Effects on Musical Chord Categorization: Different Forms of Top‐Down Feedback in Speech and Music?
Authors: McMurray Bob , Dennhardt Joel L. , Struck‐Marcell Andrew
Published: July 2008

A critical issue in perception is the manner in which top‐down expectancies guide lower level perceptual processes. In speech, a common paradigm is to construct continua ranging between two phonetic endpoints and to determine how higher level lexical context influences the perceived boundary. We applied this approach to music, presenting participants with major/minor triad continua after brief musical contexts. Two experiments yielded results that differed from classic results in speech perception. In speech, context generally expands the category of the expected stimuli. We found the opposite in music: The major/minor boundary shifted toward the expected category, contracting it. Together, these experiments support the hypothesis that musical expectancy can feed back to affect lower‐level perceptual processes. However, it may do so in a way that differs fundamentally from what has been seen in other domains.
Real saddle-node bifurcation from a complex viewpoint
Authors: Misiurewicz Michał , Pérez Rodrigo
Published: July 2008

During a saddle-node bifurcation for real analytic interval maps, a pair of fixed points, attracting and repelling, collide and disappear. From the complex point of view, they do not disappear, but just become complex conjugate. The question is whether those new complex fixed points are attracting or repelling. We prove that this depends on the Schwarzian derivative

S
S

at the bifurcating fixed point. If

S
S

is positive, both fixed points are attracting; if it is negative, they are repelling.
Comparison between clonal and sexual plantlets ofDetarium microcarpumGuill. & Perr., a savanna tree species in Burkina Faso
Authors: Ky‐Dembele Catherine , Tigabu Mulualem , Bayala Jules , Ouédraogo Sibiri Jean , Odén Per Christer
Published: July 2008

An understanding of the proportion of true seedlings, seedling sprouts and root suckers in the forest is essential for directing the genetic composition of the future crop. We conducted a study to determine the difference between these plantlets ofDetarium microcarpumbased on morphological characters and carbohydrate contents in leaves and roots. For individuals ≤50 cm in height, root suckers had the highest values for height, stem length, internode number, root diameter, rachis length and leaflet number. The concentrations of starch and total nonstructural carbohydrates in the roots of seedling sprouts were superior. Plantlets did not differ in the concentration of leaf carbohydrates. For individuals >50 cm in height, root suckers had larger values for stem length, root diameter, leaflet length and width. Roots of seedling sprouts showed higher concentrations of soluble sugars and total soluble sugars. True seedlings were distinguished from seedling sprouts and root suckers using all morphological traits except collar diameter and leaflet number. Root suckers and seedling sprouts showed a closer morphological resemblance; thus resulted in slightly more than 50% discrimination success. In conclusion, discrimination between seedling sprouts and root suckers appeared to be more difficult than between true seedlings and clonal plantlets.
Detection of inner tube defects in co‐axial circle and Bain breathing systems: a comparison of occlusion and Pethick tests
Authors: Szypula K. A. , Ip J. K. , Bogod D. , Yentis S. M.
Published: July 2008

The performance of the occlusion and Pethick tests in detecting faulty inner tubes in co‐axial circle and Bain systems was compared. Twelve co‐axial circle and 12 Bain anaesthetic breathing systems were tested using the occlusion and the Pethick tests. For each system, three tubes were intact, and the remaining nine had a defect deliberately created in the inner tube (three proximal, three middle and three distal). The investigators were blinded to which of the tubes were defective, and to each other’s results. The results showed 100% specificity for both tests. The sensitivity of the occlusion test for detecting faulty breathing systems was found to be good (98%). Our results suggest that the occlusion test should be performed in preference to the Pethick test when testing co‐axial circle and Bain systems.
Morph‐dependent form of asymmetry in mandibles of the stag beetleProsopocoilus inclinatus(Coleoptera: Lucanidae)
Authors: OKADA YASUKAZU , FUJISAWA HIROAKI , KIMURA YOUSUKE , HASEGAWA EISUKE
Published: July 2008

Abstract1. The form of asymmetry in bilateral organs usually follows the same pattern within single populations. However, some exceptions may occur when a population consists of different phenotypes that are from different ontogenic backgrounds and under different selective pressures. We investigated the asymmetric patterns of mandibles of larvae, females, and males in the stag beetleProsopocoilus inclinatus.

2. Larval mandibles exhibited directional asymmetry both in length and cross direction, whereas female mandibles showed directional asymmetry in cross direction. These asymmetric structures might be more effective in cutting wood fibres.

3. For the relation of male mandible length to body size, a model with a switch point showed a better fit to the data than a convex curve model. This shows that the males are dimorphic with two distinct morphs.

4. The form of asymmetry in male mandible length differed between the morphs. The smaller males exhibited left‐biased directional asymmetry in common with larvae, whereas the larger males exhibited fluctuating asymmetry.

5. This is a novel finding of a morph‐dependent asymmetry. The morph‐dependent asymmetry in males may be as a result of different selection on each morph or a developmental constraint from larval mandibles to adult ones.
The comparative accuracy of different pleural biopsy techniques in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Attanoos R L , Gibbs A R
Published: July 2008

Aims:  To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of closed and open pleural biopsies in diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Methods and results:  The autopsy study group comprised 45 malignant mesotheliomas. All prior pleural biopsy investigations were reviewed. Forty‐one of 45 (91%) had had an antemortem diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. In these 41 cases, 57 prior diagnostic pleural biopsies had been performed [36 closed needle biopsies: 31 blind; five computed tomography (CT)‐guided and 21 open pleural biopsies]. For definitive diagnosis open pleural biopsy yielded a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 100%. For definitive diagnosis closed blind pleural biopsies yielded a sensitivity of 16% and specificity of 94%. Thirty‐two per cent of ‘blind’ biopsies were inadequate. CT‐guided pleural biopsies yielded a definitive diagnostic accuracy of 100% (5/5). Biopsy specimen size was important in obtaining a positive definitive diagnosis. Diagnosis was attained in 75% of specimens >10 mm in size compared with 8% <10 mm in size.

Conclusions:  Overall, all procedures had utility but definitive diagnostic accuracy for ‘blind’ closed pleural biopsy was low (16%), dependent on biopsy specimen size and tumour subtype. Sarcomatoid subtype malignant mesothelioma yielded the lowest diagnostic accuracy. For all subtypes of malignant mesothelioma, open pleural biopsy produced the highest diagnostic accuracy (100% sensitivity, 95% specificity).
Influence of physiographic and climatic factors on spatial patterns of acorn production in Maryland and Virginia, USA
Authors: Fearer Todd M. , Norman Gary W. , Pack Sr James C. , Bittner Steve , Healy William M.
Published: July 2008

Aim  The aims of this study were to identify the effects physiographic differences have on the spatial synchrony of acorn production within red (Quercus rubra) and white (Quercus alba) oak subgenus groups, to identify climatic factors associated with acorn production patterns, and to assess if and how these relationships vary across a distinct physiographic boundary.

Location  Maryland and Virginia in the eastern United States.

Methods  Using data from 36 survey sites in Virginia (1973–2000) and Maryland (1977–2000), we described the spatial synchrony of annual acorn production based on Mantel tests and modified correlograms at three spatial scales: (1) the entire study area, (2) within two ecological regions (mountain and Piedmont), and (3) between these ecoregions. Using climate data obtained from the National Climate Data Centre, we described the relationship between climate and acorn production within each ecological region using linear regression.

Results  Spatial synchrony in the white oak group acorn production was strong among sites closest together, and declined with distance. The average April temperature during the year of acorn drop was positively related to acorn crop size within the mountain and Piedmont ecoregions. Spatial synchrony in the red oak group was strong among sites closest together and declined with distance in the mountain region. Synchrony was weaker in the Piedmont than in the mountain ecoregion and declined slightly with increasing distance. Between the mountain and Piedmont ecoregions, synchrony was not detected among the closest sites, but was detected with increasing strength as the distance between site pairs increased. In the Piedmont ecoregion, the number of April freeze events and total July precipitation, both 2 years prior to acorn drop, were negatively related to red oak acorn production. In the mountains, average July temperature 2 years prior to acorn drop was positively related to acorn production.

Main conclusions  Physiographic differences affected the spatial acorn production synchrony in the red oak but not in the white oak subgenus group. Climatic factors related to annual acorn production variability differed between subgenus groups and physiographic regions. The physiographic differences between the mountain and Piedmont ecoregions may define spatial patterns of acorn production synchrony in some oak species and mediate climatic influences on acorn production.
Patient falls: acute care nurses’ experiences
Authors: Rush Kathy L , Robey‐Williams Cathy , Patton Laura Michelle , Chamberlain Debra , Bendyk Heather , Sparks Teresa
Published: July 2008

Aim.  To describe the findings from a qualitative study exploring acute care nurses’ experiences with patient falls.

Background.  Patient falls continue to be a problem in acute care settings for nurses at the point of care. Despite the growing body of knowledge related to risk factors and interventions for fall prevention, minimal attention has been given to nurses’ perspectives of patient falls.

Design.  A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Method.  Focus group discussions were conducted with nurses working on a cross‐section of inpatient acute care settings. Audio‐taped sessions were transcribed and analysed thematically.

Results.  Nurses described their experience of falls as ‘knowing the patient as safe’, an ongoing affirmation that the patient was free from harm. In this focused, narrowly defined and highly specific knowing, nurses employed the key strategies of assessment, monitoring and communicating. Variable conditions influenced whether these strategies were effective in giving nurses the knowledge they needed to keep the patient safe. When strategies failed to provide nurses with knowledge of their patients as safe and patients fell, this created considerable stress for nurses and prompted them to use a range of coping strategies.

Conclusion.  Knowing the patient as safe has the potential to resolve the tension between patient safety and independence. The critical, often taken for granted, activities used by nurses in this knowing must be expanded to include the meaning falls have for patients and attend to factors beyond nurses control such as environmental redesign and staffing.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses play an important role in fall prevention through knowing the patient as safe but must be supported through the use of a multi‐faceted approach extending from the individual nurse to the institutional level.
Structural frameworks for considering microbial protein‐ and nucleic acid‐dependent motor ATPases
Authors: Thomsen Nathan D. , Berger James M.
Published: July 2008

Many fundamental cellular processes depend on enzymes that utilize chemical energy to catalyse unfavourable reactions. Certain classes of ATPases provide a particularly vivid example of the process of energy conversion, employing cycles of nucleotide turnover to move and/or rearrange biological polymers such as proteins and nucleic acids. Four well‐characterized classes of ATP‐dependent protein/nucleic acid translocases and remodelling factors are found in all three domains of life (bacteria, archaea and eukarya): additional strand catalytic ‘E' (ASCE) P‐loop NTPases, GHL proteins, actin‐fold enzymes and chaperonins. These unrelated protein superfamilies have each evolved the ability to couple ATP binding and hydrolysis to the generation of motion and force along or within their substrates. The past several years have witnessed the emergence of a wealth of structural data that help explain how such molecular engines link nucleotide turnover to conformational change. In this review, we highlight several recent advances to illustrate some of the mechanisms by which each family of ATP‐dependent motors facilitates the rearrangement and movement of proteins, protein complexes and nucleic acids.
Erythromycin‐induced ribosome stalling and RNase J1‐mediated mRNA processing in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Yao Shiyi , Blaustein Joshua B. , Bechhofer David H.
Published: July 2008

Addition of erythromycin (Em) to a Bacillus subtilis strain carrying the ermC gene results in ribosome stalling in the ermC leader peptide coding sequence. Using ΔermC, a deletion derivative of ermC that specifies the 254 nucleotide ΔermC mRNA, we showed previously that ribosome stalling is concomitant with processing of ΔermC mRNA, generating a 209 nucleotide RNA whose 5′ end maps to codon 5 of the ΔermC coding sequence. Here we probed for peptidyl‐tRNA to show that ribosome stalling occurs after incorporation of the amino acid specified by codon 9. Thus, cleavage upstream of codon 5 is not an example of ‘A‐site cleavage’ that has been reported for Escherichia coli. Analysis of ΔermC mRNA processing in endoribonuclease mutant strains showed that this processing is RNase J1‐dependent. ΔermC mRNA processing was inhibited by the presence of stable secondary structure at the 5′ end, demonstrating 5′‐end dependence, and was shown to be a result of RNase J1 endonuclease activity, rather than 5′‐to‐3′ exonuclease activity. Examination of processing in derivatives of ΔermC that had codons inserted upstream of the ribosome stalling site revealed that Em‐induced ribosome stalling can occur considerably further from the start codon than would be expected based on previous studies.
Constitutive SOS expression and damage‐inducible AddAB‐mediated recombinational repair systems for Coxiella burnetii as potential adaptations for survival within macrophages
Authors: Mertens Katja , Lantsheer Letty , Ennis Don G. , Samuel James E.
Published: July 2008

Coxiella burnetii, a Gram‐negative obligate intracellular pathogen, replicates within an parasitophorous vacuole with lysosomal characteristics. To understand how C. burnetii maintains genomic integrity in this environment, a database search for genes involved in DNA repair was performed. Major components of repair, SOS response and recombination were identified, including recA and ruvABC, but lexA and recBCD were absent. Instead, C. burnetii possesses addAB orthologous genes, functional equivalents to recBCD. Survival after treatment with UV, mitomycin C (MC) or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), as well as homologous recombination in Hfr mating was restored in Escherichia coli deletion strains by C. burnetii recA or addAB. Despite the absence of LexA, co‐protease activity for C. burnetii RecA was demonstrated. Dominant‐negative inhibition of C. burnetii RecA by recA mutant alleles, modelled after E. coli recA1 and recA56, was observed and more apparent with expression of C. burnetii RecAG159D mutant protein. Expression of a subset of repair genes in C. burnetii was monitored and, in contrast to the non‐inducible E. coli recBCD, addAB expression was strongly upregulated under oxidative stress. Constitutive SOS gene expression due to the lack of LexA and induction of AddAB likely reflect a unique repair adaptation of C. burnetii to its hostile niche.
Grain‐size information from the statistical properties of digital images of sediment
Authors: BUSCOMBE DANIEL , MASSELINK GERHARD
Published: July 2008

The autocorrelation technique for estimating grain‐size from digital images of sand beds has been extended and validated for use on coarse sand (0·7 mm) and gravel (up to ∼20 mm). A number of aspects of the technique have been explored and some potential improvements suggested. Autocorrelation is just one suitable statistical method sensitive to the grain‐size of sediment in digital images; four additional techniques are presented and their relative merits discussed. A collective suite of techniques applicable to the general problem of grain‐size estimation from digital images of sediment might broaden the applicability to more sedimentary environments, as well as improve its accuracy. These techniques are compared using a large data set from a gravel barrier beach in southern England. Based on over 180 samples, mean grain‐size of sieved and imaged sediments correspond to within between 8% and 16%. Some theoretical aspects of the spatial arrangement of image intensity in digital images of natural sediments are addressed, including the fractal nature of sediments in images, which has potential implications for derivation of grain‐size distributions from images of sand‐sized material through segmentation and thresholding. The methods outlined in this contribution may also find application in further uncovering the geometric structure of sediment beds, as well as in the simulation of sedimentation processes.
Tectonic implications of new U–Pb zircon ages of the Ladakh batholith, Indus suture zone, northwest Himalaya, India
Authors: Upadhyay Rajeev , Frisch Wolfgang , Siebel Wolfgang
Published: July 2008

We determined U–Pb ages on zircons from Ladakh granitoid samples of three previously undated plutons and deduced four distinct age groups between c. 67 and c. 45 Ma (66.6 ± 2.1, 57.6 ± 1.4, 53.4 ± 1.8, 52.50 ± 0.53 and 45.27 ± 0.56 Ma). This suggests that the Ladakh batholith grew by addition of at least four distinct subduction‐related magma pulses at c. 67, 58, 53 and 45 Ma, thus indicating that the belt was continuously active throughout the Palaeocene and the Middle Eocene (Lutetian). The 45.27 ± 0.56 Ma pluton at Daah‐Hanu is the last major calcalkaline arc magmatic pulse in the Ladakh batholith. Thereafter, the subduction‐related major plutonism gradually waned. The earlier estimate for the youngest pluton within the Ladakh batholith is 49.8 ± 0.8 Ma for the Leh pluton (J. Geol., 2000, 108, 303).
Multiple hydro‐fracturing by boron‐rich fluids in the Late Miocene contact aureole of eastern Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy)
Authors: Dini A. , Mazzarini F. , Musumeci G. , Rocchi S.
Published: July 2008

In eastern Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy), a shallow crustal level felsic, tourmaline‐bearing, dyke‐sill swarm of Late Miocene age is associated with abundant tourmaline‐quartz hydrothermal veins and metasomatic masses. Development of these veins and masses in the host rocks demonstrates multiple hydro‐fracturing by magmatic, boron‐rich saline fluid. Tourmalines in felsic dykes are schorl, whereas in veins and metasomatic masses, tourmaline composition ranges from schorl‐dravite through dravite to uvite. This compositional shift is evidence for an increasing contribution to the magmatic boron‐rich fluids by a Mg‐Ca‐Ti‐rich external component represented by biotite‐rich and amphibolite host rocks. This system can be envisaged as an exposed proxy of the high temperature hydrothermal system presently active in the deepest part of the Larderello‐Travale geothermal field (Tuscany).
Propagators and ridge jumps in a back‐arc basin, the West Philippine Basin
Authors: Deschamps Anne , Shinjo Ryuichi , Matsumoto Takeshi , Lee Chao‐Shing , Lallemand Serge E. , Wu Shiguo ,   Scientific party of KR03‐04 and KR04‐14 cruises
Published: July 2008

We explore the tectono‐magmatic processes in the western West Philippine Basin, Philippine Sea Plate, using bathymetric data acquired in 2003 and 2004. The northwestern part of the basin formed through a series of northwestward propagating rifts. We identify at least five sequences of propagating rifts, probably triggered by mantle flow away from the mantle thermal anomaly that is responsible for the origin of the Benham and Urdenata plateaus. Gravitational forces caused by along‐axis topographic gradient and a ∼30° ridge reorientation appear to also be driving the rift propagations. The along‐axis mantle flow appears to be reduced and deflected along the Luzon‐Okinawa fracture zone, because the spreading system remained stable west of this major fault zone. North‐east of the Benham plateau, a left‐lateral fracture zone has turned into a NE–SW‐trending spreading axis. As a result, a microplate developed at the triple junction.
Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.42/6:1 for perioperative plasma volume replacement in children: preliminary results of a European prospective multicenter observational postauthorization safety study (PASS)
Authors: SÜMPELMANN ROBERT , KRETZ FRANZ‐JOSEF , GÄBLER RALF , LUNTZER ROBERT , BARONCINI SIMONE , OSTERKORN DIRK , HAEGER MICHAELA CARINA , OSTHAUS WILHELM ALEXANDER
Published: July 2008

Background:  Several clinical studies have shown that hydroxyethyl starch (HES) may be as effective and safe as, but less expensive than, albumin when used for perioperative plasma volume replacement (PVR) in children. The new third generation HES 130/0.42 solution was designed to reduce adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and improve safety while maintaining efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this prospective multicenter observational postauthorization safety study (PASS) was to evaluate the perioperative use of HES 130/0.42 in 1000 children with a particular focus on possible ADRs.

Methods:  Approximately 300 of 1000 pediatric patients aged up to 12 years with ASA risk scores of I–III receiving perioperative HES 130/0.42 (Venofundin 6%; Braun, Melsungen, Germany) should be enrolled for interims analysis in the first year. The statistical sample size calculation showed that this number of patients would be sufficient to detect a 1% incidence of ADRs. Following approval by local ethics committee, patient demographics, data relating to HES 130/0.42 use, the procedures performed, anesthesia, and ADRs were documented with a particular focus on cardiovascular stability, hemodilution, acid–base balance, renal function, blood coagulation, and hypersensitivity.

Results:  Three hundred and sixteen children (ASA I–III, age 3 ± 3.4 [range, day of birth–12 years], body weight 13 ± 10.5 [range, 1.1–60 kg]) were studied at five centers in Germany, Austria, and Italy from May 2006 until August 2007. Forty‐five percent of the patients underwent abdominal surgery, 12.4% urologic procedures, 11.4% thoracic surgery, 7.6% orthopedic procedures, and 7% cardiovascular surgery. The mean volume of infused HES 130/0.42 was 11 ± 4.8 ml·kg−1 (range, 5–42). Cardiovascular stability was maintained in all cases. After HES infusion, hemoglobin (11.5 vs 10.25 g·dl−1), base excess (−2 vs −2.7 mmol·l−1), anion gap (12.9 vs 11.2 mmol·l−1), and strong ion difference (34.3 vs 31.4 mmol·L−1) decreased, and chloride (105.7 vs 107.8 mmol·l−1) increased significantly (P < 0.05). No serious ADRs (i.e., anaphylactoid reaction, renal failure, clotting disorders) were observed.

Conclusion:  Moderate doses of HES 130/0.42 help to maintain cardiovascular stability and lead to only moderate changes in hemoglobin concentration and acid–base balance in children. The probability of serious ADRs is lower than 1%. Therefore, HES 130/0.42 for PVR seems to be safe and effective even in neonates and small infants with normal renal function and coagulation.
Lower cuff pressures improve the seal of pediatric laryngeal mask airways
Authors: LICINA ANA , CHAMBERS NEIL A. , HULLETT BRUCE , ERB THOMAS O. , Von UNGERN‐STERNBERG BRITTA S.
Published: July 2008

Background:  Hyperinflation of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) cuffs may be harmful because of the exertion of high pressures on pharyngeal and laryngeal structures. Although cuff manometers may be used to monitor cuff pressure, their use is not routine in many institutions and clinical endpoints are used instead. Furthermore, it is common clinical practice to add air to the cuff in the presence of an air leak to obtain a better seal.

Methods:  In a prospective audit, the authors assessed air leakage around pediatric sized LMAs (n = 200) following inflation guided by common clinical endpoints (slight outward movement of the LMA) and then following adjustment of the cuff pressure to the recommended pressure range (<60 cmH2O) according to institutional guidelines with the use of a calibrated cuff manometer, directly after induction of anesthesia. Following induction, all children were gently ventilated with pressure control ventilation with 10 cmH2O and a positive end‐expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O.

Results:  Following inflation of the cuff guided by clinical endpoints, the median initial cuff pressure (LMA size 1–3) was 92 (size 3) to >120 cmH2O (size 1) and the median leakage around the cuff ranged from 0.66 to 1.07 ml·kg−1. Following cuff pressure adjustment according to the recommended pressure range (<60 cmH2O), the leakage decreased significantly to 0.51–0.79 ml·kg−1 (P = 0.002 for size 1, P < 0.001 for size 1.5–3).

Conclusion:  The use of clinical endpoints to inflate LMA cuffs is not only associated with significant hyperinflation in the majority of patients but also with an increased leakage around the LMA cuff when compared with adjusted LMA cuff pressures. Therefore, cuff manometers should routinely be used not only to avoid unnecessary hyperinflation but also to improve cuff sealing of LMA in children.
Spontaneous contractions of the pig urinary bladder: the effect of ATP‐sensitive potassium channels and the role of the mucosa
Authors: Akino Hironobu , Chapple Christopher R. , McKay Neil , Cross Rebecca L. , Murakami Shigetaka , Yokoyama Osamu , Chess‐Williams Russell , Sellers Donna J.
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of the mucosa on the inhibitory effects of the ATP‐sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel) opener, cromakalim, on the spontaneous contractions of pig bladder strips from the bladder dome and trigone. Little is known about the influence of the mucosa on spontaneous contractions and whether the nature of these contractions differs between the bladder dome and trigone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Paired longitudinal strips of female pig bladders were isolated from the dome and trigone. The mucosa was removed from one strip per pair and tissues were set up in organ baths. Spontaneous activity was allowed to develop and recorded, and then cumulative concentration–response curves to cromakalim were obtained. The time needed for spontaneous contractions to develop, the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions, and the effect of cromakalim were analysed. The strips of mucosa removed from the dome to produce denuded strips were also analysed by immunofluorescence using antibodies specific for vimentin and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA).

RESULTS

In the dome removal of the mucosa delayed the development of spontaneous contractions compared with mucosa‐intact strips, whilst the trigone strips developed spontaneous contractions soon after set up in the organ baths irrespective of the presence or absence of mucosa. In the dome, cromakalim was more potent in suppressing spontaneous contractions when the mucosa was absent; whilst in the trigone the effects of cromakalim were similar in mucosa‐intact and denuded strips. Upon examination of the strips of mucosa by immunofluorescence these strips were shown to contain cells positive for α‐SMA or vimentin and cells positive for both, suggesting the presence of not only urothelium but also suburothelium and some detrusor smooth muscle bundles.

CONCLUSION

In the dome, the urothelium and suburothelium reduce the inhibitory effect of cromakalim on spontaneous contractions, whilst in the trigone these structures appear to have little influence. The mechanism for generating spontaneous contractions in the intact strips seems to be linked to the urothelium and suburothelium in the dome but not in the trigone.
Perceived control over ejaculation is central to treatment benefit in men with premature ejaculation: results from phase III trials with dapoxetine
Authors: Shabsigh Ridwan , Patrick Donald L. , Rowland David L. , Bull Scott A. , Tesfaye Fisseha , Rothman Margaret
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVES

To assess the utility of perceived control over ejaculation (‘control’) in the evaluation of treatment benefit in men with premature ejaculation (PE), and to compare effects associated with a two‐category or greater increase in this variable between men receiving dapoxetine and placebo.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This subanalysis used combined data from all treatment groups in an integrated analysis of two identically designed, 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials of dapoxetine. Men (2614) met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition, text revision) criteria for PE, had a stopwatch‐measured intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) of ≤2 min in ≥75% of events in a 2‐week baseline period, and self‐reported moderate or severe PE. Men received placebo or dapoxetine 30 or 60 mg, 1–3 h before intercourse. The stopwatch‐measured IELT was recorded for each episode; the patient‐reported global impression of change (PGI; 7‐point scale, ‘much worse’ to ‘much better’), control and satisfaction with sexual intercourse (5‐point scales, ‘very poor’ to ‘very good’) were assessed monthly. The utility of a two‐category or greater increase in control was evaluated by examining the relationship of this variable with IELT and satisfaction with sexual intercourse.

RESULTS

Of 2341 men with baseline and endpoint assessments, 96.8% reported ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’ control at baseline, and 748 (32%) reported a two‐category or greater increase in control after treatment. More than 95% of those men rated their PE as ‘slightly better’, ‘better’, or ‘much better’ on the PGI; 67.1% gave ratings of ‘better’ or ‘much better.’ They also had greater improvements in IELT than men with less than a two‐category increase in control, with a mean (sd) change from baseline of 3.7 (4.3) vs 0.77 (1.8) min, respectively, and a greater percentage reported good or very good satisfaction with sexual intercourse than men with less than a two‐category increase in control (74% vs 19%, respectively). Nausea, headache and upper respiratory tract infection were the most common adverse events reported by men with a two‐category or greater increase in control (15.8%, 7.4% and 6.6%, respectively) and those without (8.5%, 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively). The proportions of men with a two‐category or greater increase in control with dapoxetine 30 and 60 mg were 36.3% and 44.5%, respectively (vs 15% with placebo).

CONCLUSIONS

A two‐category or greater increase in control (5‐point scale) is useful for assessing the treatment benefit in men with PE; it corresponds with improvements in the man’s perception of his condition, substantially greater prolongation of IELT, and higher levels of satisfaction with sexual intercourse.
Resources and Student Achievement—Evidence from a Swedish Policy Reform*
Authors: Fredriksson Peter , Öckert Björn
Published: July 2008

A policy change is used to estimate the effect of teacher density on student performance. We find that an increase in teacher density has a positive effect on student achievement. The baseline estimate—obtained by using the grade‐point average as the outcome variable—implies that resource increases corresponding to the class‐size reduction in the STAR experiment (a reduction of seven students) improves performance by 2.6 percentile ranks (or 0.08 standard deviations). When we used test‐score data for men, potentially a more objective measure of student performance, the effect of resources appears to be twice as large.
Trade Integration and Business Cycle Convergence: Is the Relation Robust across Time and Space?*
Authors: Abbott Andrew , Easaw Joshy , Xing Tao
Published: July 2008

In this paper we investigate the relationship between trade intensity and the business cycle correlation using a panel data set taken from 24 countries over the period 1959–2003. Most previous studies did not account for the possibility that the business cycle correlation may be influenced by unobservable country‐pair specific effects. Our estimates, using both fixed‐ and random‐effects methodologies, suggest that trade intensity and the business cycle correlation are positively related to one another. However, detailed investigation shows that this relationship exists mainly for the European countries.
Moral Hazard, Income Taxation and Prospect Theory*
Authors: Kanbur Ravi , Pirttilä Jukka , Tuomala Matti
Published: July 2008

The standard theory of optimal income taxation under uncertainty has been developed under the assumption that individuals maximise expected utility. However, prospect theory has now been established as an alternative model of individual behaviour, with empirical support. This paper explores the theory of optimal income taxation under uncertainty when individuals behave according to the tenets of prospect theory. It is seen that many of the standard results are modified in interesting ways. The first‐order approach for solving the optimisation problem is not valid over the domain of losses, and the marginal tax schedule offers full insurance around the reference consumption level. The implications of non‐welfarist objectives under income uncertainty are also examined.
Stress that Doesn't Pay: The Commuting Paradox*
Authors: Stutzer Alois , Frey Bruno S.
Published: July 2008

People spend a lot of time commuting and often find it a burden. According to standard economics, the burden of commuting is chosen when compensated either on the labor or on the housing market so that individuals' utility is equalized. However, in a direct test of this strong notion of equilibrium with panel data, we find that people with longer commuting time report systematically lower subjective well‐being. This result is robust with regard to a number of alternative explanations. We mention several possibilities of an extended model of human behavior able to explain this “commuting paradox”.
Do Slotting Allowances Harm Retail Competition?*
Authors: Foros Øystein , Jarle Kind Hans
Published: July 2008

Slotting allowances are fees paid by manufacturers to get access to retailers' shelf space. Both in the USA and Europe, the use of slotting allowances has attracted attention in the general press as well as among policy makers and economists. One school of thought claims that slotting allowances are efficiency enhancing, while another school of thought maintains that slotting allowances are used in an anti‐competitive manner. In this paper, we argue that this controversy is partially caused by inadequate assumptions of how the retail market is structured and organized. Using a formal model, we show that there are good reasons to expect anti‐competitive effects of slotting allowances. We further point out that competition authorities tend to use an unsatisfactory basis for comparison when analyzing welfare consequences of slotting allowances.
Relative Wage Variation and Industry Location in the United Kingdom*
Authors: Bernard Andrew B. , Redding Stephen J. , Schott Peter K. , Simpson Helen
Published: July 2008

This paper shows that both relative wages and industry structure vary considerably across regions of the United Kingdom. In accordance with the neoclassical model of trade, regions abundant in a factor (i) exhibit lower relative prices of that factor than regions scarce in the factor, and (ii) tend to specialize in a mix of industries intensive in the use of the factor. We show that this specialization leads UK regions to be asymmetrically exposed to external macroeconomic or international trade shocks.
Why Do Price Limits Exist in Stock Markets? A Manipulation‐Based Explanation
Authors: Kim Kenneth A. , Park Jungsoo
Published: July 2008

Numerous stock market regulators around the world impose daily price limits on individual stock price movements. We derive a simple model that shows that price limits may deter stock market manipulators. Based on our model's implications, we predict that regulators impose price limit rules for markets where the likelihood of manipulation is high. We present empirical evidence consistent with this hypothesis. Our study is the first to formally propose a manipulation‐based rationale for the existence of price limits in stock markets.
Internal Capital Markets and Capital Structure: Bank Versus Internal Debt
Authors: Dewaelheyns Nico , Van Hulle Cynthia
Published: July 2008

We argue that domestic business groups are able to actively optimise the internal/external debt mix across their subsidiaries. Novel to the literature, we use bi‐level data (i.e. data from both individual subsidiary financial statements and consolidated group level financial statements) to model the bank and internal debt concentration of non‐financial Belgian private business group affiliates. As a benchmark, we construct a size and industry matched sample of non‐group affiliated (stand‐alone) companies. We find support for a pecking order of internal debt over bank debt at the subsidiary level which leads to a substantially lower bank debt concentration for group affiliates as compared to stand‐alone companies. The internal debt concentration of a subsidiary is mainly driven by the characteristics of the group's internal capital market. The larger its available resources, the more intra‐group debt is used while bank debt financing at the subsidiary level decreases. However, as the group's overall debt level mounts, groups increasingly locate bank borrowing in subsidiaries with low costs of external financing (i.e. large subsidiaries with important collateral assets) to limit moral hazard and dissipative costs. Overall, our results are consistent with the existence of a complex group wide optimisation process of financing costs.
Fluctuations in abundance of large herbivore populations: insights into the influence of dry season rainfall and elephant numbers from long‐term data
Authors: Valeix M. , Fritz H. , Chamaillé‐Jammes S. , Bourgarel M. , Murindagomo F.
Published: July 2008

In some African protected areas, elephant populations have reached high densities causing concern about their influence on other forms of biodiversity, and in particular, other large herbivores. This has led to a debate whether management of elephant populations might need to be implemented. Surprisingly, few studies have focused on the influence of elephants on other herbivores and the existing results are conflicting. We investigated such influence in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, where elephants were culled and maintained at low density up to 1986, and have more than doubled since then, thus providing the opportunity to explore their possible influence on other herbivore species. Trends of different herbivore populations were obtained using long‐term waterhole census data, with these results also being correlated to changes in dry season rainfall, as another fundamental determinant of herbivore population fluctuations. While our study did not allow us to properly disentangle the role of elephants and rainfall, it provided valuable insights. For five out of the 13 herbivore species studied, the population increased between 1973 and 1986 (high dry season rainfall; relatively low elephant abundance), then decreased between 1987 and 1995 (extremely low dry season rainfall; increase in the elephant population), and finally have increased since 1996 (high dry season rainfall; high elephant abundance). These results are consistent with an important role of dry season rainfall on herbivore population dynamics. Additionally, for four other species, the population increased between 1973 and 1986 and has decreased since then. As most herbivore declines occurred simultaneously with increase in the elephant population in the 1987–1995 period, and with the recent increase in most populations happening at a lower rate than the 1973–1985 period, our results suggest the possible existence of a negative influence of high elephant densities on other herbivores. We discuss what the possible underlying mechanisms can be and how to investigate them.
Professor Aristides Leão. Much More Than Spreading Depression
Authors: Maranhão‐Filho Péricles , Vincent Maurice
Published: July 2008

Professor Leão described cortical spreading depression (CSD) in 1944 and changed the way migraine pathophysiology is scientifically conceived. This Brazilian professor and researcher developed his career in Rio de Janeiro. Because of him, the city once became the CSD world capital, attracting scientists from many laboratories around the globe. Aristides Leão was first and foremost a naturalist, a man genuinely interested in birds, fishes, plants, shells, and neuroscience. He could easily fascinate whoever would come for a chat, leaving no question without answers. He was born in 1914 and died in 1993. This report focuses on his life, family, habits, and hobbies, describing a little of Leão apart from CSD and the year of 1944.
Intracranial Hypertension and Levofloxacin: A Case Report
Authors: Lardizabal David V.
Published: July 2008

This is a case report of a 15‐year‐old boy who developed benign intracranial hypertension after 3 weeks of levofloxacin intake. The headache, diplopia, and papilledema resolved within a week after levofloxacin was withdrawn. Physicians must be aware that quinolone antibiotics can potentially cause intracranial hypertension.
Sound Level of Environmental Music and Drinking Behavior: A Field Experiment With Beer Drinkers
Authors: Guéguen Nicolas , Jacob Céline , Le Guellec Hélène , Morineau Thierry , Lourel Marcel
Published: July 2008

Objective:  It had been found that environmental music was associated with an increase in alcohol consumption. The presence versus absence of music, high versus slow tempo and the different styles of environmental music is associated with different level of alcohol consumption. However, the effect of the level of the environmental music played in a bar still remained in question.

Methods:  Forty male beer drinkers were observed in a bar. According to a random distribution, patrons were exposed to the usual level of environmental music played in 2 bars where the experiment was carried out or were exposed to a high level.

Results:  The results show that high level volume led to increase alcohol consumption and reduced the average amount of time spent by the patrons to drink their glass.

Conclusions:  The impact of environmental music on consumption was discussed and the “arousal” hypothesis and the negative effect of loud music on social interaction were used to explain our results.