bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of chemosensory, auditory and visual event‐related potential amplitudes
Authors: OLOFSSON JONAS K. , ERICSSON EVA , NORDIN STEVEN
Published: April 2008

To enhance understanding of neuropsychological processing underlying chemosensory event‐related potentials (CSERPs), the objective of the present study was to compare CSERPs with auditory (AERPs) and visual event‐related potentials (VERPs), and to approach the question of similarities in neuropsychological processing by means of correlation and cluster analyses. A multisensory ERP protocol was used, in which olfactory/chemosomatosensory (pyridine), auditory (1000‐Hz tone) and visual (white circle) stimuli were presented in a pseudo‐randomized sequence to 18 young, healthy adults. The results show (1) a morphological relation between P2 and P3 components that is different for the chemosensory than for the auditory and visual modalities, (2) a relatively weak association between the chemosensory and auditory/visual modalities for P3 in terms of both correlation and cluster, and (3) a P2/P3 cluster for the chemosensory but not auditory or visual modality. This supports the claim that the chemosensory P2 and P3 components reflect similar neuropsychological processes.
Providing developmental feedback to individuals from different ethnic minority groups using expert systems
Authors: Biggs David , Sagheb‐Tehrani Mehdi
Published: April 2008

Abstract: The paper is an account of a commercially successful and viable expert system entitled FRED (Feedback Reporter Evaluating Development). Expert systems offer a consistent approach to providing feedback to individuals that people with personal biases and emotions may find difficult to achieve. The text used in the expert system is sensitive and carefully worded by a team of skilled professionals, many of whom were from ethnic and cultural minorities. This is especially important when dealing with internal applicants from ethnic minorities as feedback given is consistent, fair, non‐judgemental and devoid of possible ethnic prejudices and emotional statements. FRED offers a sensitive, comprehensive and cost‐effective method of producing feedback reports for individuals from an ethnic minority and the paper details FRED's design, use and evaluation in an organizational setting. Future research is recommended in utilizing expert systems to provide feedback in assessment and development settings.
Environment classification using Kohonen self‐organizing maps
Authors: Burn Kevin , Home Geoffrey
Published: April 2008

Abstract:This paper describes a new method for classifying three‐dimensional environments in real time using Kohonen self‐organizing maps (SOMs). The method has been developed to enable autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to navigate without human intervention in previously unexplored subsea environments, but can be generalized to unmanned aircraft equipped with appropriate sensors flying over unchartered terrains, or spacecraft exploring remote planets, subject to appropriate pre‐mission training. The method involves a fuzzy comparison between a SOM created in real time using accumulated sensor data and a class atlas of SOMs derived from previously trained and manually classified environments. This enables mission‐ and environment‐appropriate AUV navigation strategies to be selected in real time. Simulation results using real‐world, three‐dimensional environment data acquired from digital elevation maps are presented, which demonstrate the potential of the method.
Online expert systems for fault diagnosis in technical processes
Authors: Angeli Chrissanthi
Published: April 2008

Abstract: It is generally accepted that there has been an increasing interest in online fault detection and diagnosis techniques for technical processes during the last few years. These techniques come from the artificial intelligence field or are classical numerical methods in combination with artificial intelligence methods. This paper presents a survey of recent research work in online expert systems for fault detection and diagnosis in technical processes. In addition, a short reference to other recent artificial intelligence methods for online fault detection is included and the main advantages and limitations of each method are illustrated.
Combining wavelet‐based feature extractions with relevance vector machines for stock index forecasting
Authors: Huang Shian‐Chang , Wu Tung‐Kuang
Published: April 2008

Abstract: The relevance vector machine (RVM) is a Bayesian version of the support vector machine, which with a sparse model representation has appeared to be a powerful tool for time‐series forecasting. The RVM has demonstrated better performance over other methods such as neural networks or autoregressive integrated moving average based models. This study proposes a hybrid model that combines wavelet‐based feature extractions with RVM models to forecast stock indices. The time series of explanatory variables are decomposed using some wavelet bases and the extracted time‐scale features serve as inputs of an RVM to perform the non‐parametric regression and forecasting. Compared with traditional forecasting models, our proposed method performs best. The root‐mean‐squared forecasting errors are significantly reduced.
Implementing wavelet transform/mixture of experts network for analysis of electrocardiogram beats
Authors: Übeyli Elif Derya
Published: April 2008

Abstract: Mixture of experts (ME) is a modular neural network architecture for supervised learning. This paper illustrates the use of the ME network structure to guide model selection for classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) beats. The expectation maximization algorithm is used for training the ME so that the learning process is decoupled in a manner that fits well with the modular structure. The ECG signals were decomposed into time–frequency representations using discrete wavelet transforms and statistical features were calculated to depict their distribution. The ME network structure was implemented for ECG beats classification using the statistical features as inputs. To improve classification accuracy, the outputs of expert networks were combined by a gating network simultaneously trained in order to stochastically select the expert that is performing the best at solving the problem. Five types of ECG beats (normal beat, congestive heart failure beat, ventricular tachyarrhythmia beat, atrial fibrillation beat, partial epilepsy beat) obtained from the Physiobank database were classified with an accuracy of 96.89% by the ME network structure. The ME network structure achieved accuracy rates which were higher than those of the stand‐alone neural network models.
Data mining technique for medical informatics: detecting gastric cancer using case‐based reasoning and single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Chun Se‐Chul , Kim Jin , Hahm Ki‐Baik , Park Yoon‐Joo , Chun Se‐Hak
Published: April 2008

Abstract: Although data mining and knowledge discovery techniques have recently been used to diagnose human disease, little research has been conducted on disease diagnostic modelling using human gene information. Furthermore, to our knowledge, no study has reported on diagnosis models using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) information. A disease diagnosis model using data mining techniques and SNP information should prove promising from a practical perspective as more information on human genes becomes available. Data mining and knowledge discovery techniques can be put to practical use detecting human disease, since a haplotype analysis using high‐density SNP markers has gained great attention for evaluating human genes related to various human diseases. This paper explores how data mining and knowledge discovery can be applied to medical informatics using human gene information. As an example, we applied case‐based reasoning to a cancer detection problem using human gene information and SNP analysis because case‐based reasoning has been applied in medicine relatively less often than other data mining techniques. We propose a modified case‐based reasoning method that is appropriate for associated categorical variables to use in detecting gastric cancer.
What Is Quality of Government? A Theory of Impartial Government Institutions
Authors: ROTHSTEIN BO , TEORELL JAN
Published: April 2008

The recent growth in research on “good governance” and the quality of government institutions has been propelled by empirical findings that show that such institutions may hold the key to understanding economic growth and social welfare in developing and transition countries. We argue, however, that a key issue has not been addressed, namely, what quality of government (QoG) actually means at the conceptual level. Based on analyses of political theory, we propose a more coherent and specific definition of QoG: the impartiality of institutions that exercise government authority. We relate the idea of impartiality to a series of criticisms stemming from the fields of public administration, public choice, multiculturalism, and feminism. To place the theory of impartiality in a larger context, we then contrast its scope and meaning with that of a threefold set of competing concepts of quality of government: democracy, the rule of law, and efficiency/effectiveness.
The Evolution of a Global Labor Governance Regime
Authors: HASSEL ANKE
Published: April 2008

During the last decade, the approach by businesses and governments toward labor and social issues at the global level has fundamentally changed. Industrial relations are rapidly internationalizing by developing new actors and forms of governance to deal with the regulation of labor. This article looks at the evolution of self‐regulatory standards in the global labor governance debate. Key is that notwithstanding problems with the lacking legal framework of global regulation and enforceability, patterns of local self‐regulation, norm‐setting, and international codes lead not only to higher expectations of the behavior of transnationally operating firms but also to an indirect pattern of regulation. The article argues that particularly the adoption of the core labor standards by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the setup of the Global Compact by the UN serve as points of convergence. A plethora of voluntarist initiatives that converge over time toward a shared understanding of labor standards is part of the transformation of global labor governance institutions.
In the Wake of ‘Good Governance’: Impact Assessments and the Politicisation of Statutory Interpretation
Authors: Munday Roderick
Published: April 2008

For some time ‘regulatory reform’ has been a government watchword, and the streamlining and improved quality of regulation its professed ambition. Impact assessments (formerly known as regulatory impact assessments) are a significant ingredient in these governmental initiatives, now promoted by the newly created Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Just as they have come to refer rather freely to the Explanatory Notes that now accompany all public Acts of Parliament, judges have also begun to invoke impact assessments when construing legislation. This paper investigates the extent of this practice and the manner in which judges employ impact assessments. It warns of the potential consequences if the judiciary avails itself too readily of these highly politicised, and sometimes deceptive, documents.

‘The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say.’

G. K. Chesterton, Daily News 22 April 1905
A Role For Wind-Up in Trigeminal Sensory Processing: Intensity Coding of Nociceptive Stimuli in the Rat
Authors: Coste J , Voisin DL , Luccarini P , Dallel R
Published: April 2008

Wind-up is a progressive, frequency-dependent increase in the excitability of trigeminal and spinal dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) nociceptive neurons evoked by repetitive stimulation of primary afferent nociceptive C-fibres. The correlate of wind-up in humans is temporal summation, which is an increase in pain perception to repetitive constant nociceptive stimulation. Although wind-up is widely used as a tool for studying the processing of nociceptive information, including central sensitization, its actual role is still unknown. Here, we recorded from trigeminal WDR neurons using in vivo electrophysiological techniques in rats and assessed the wind-up phenomenon in response to stimuli of different intensities and frequencies. First, we found that the amplitude of C-evoked responses of WDR neurons to repetitive stimulation increased progressively to reach a peak, then consistently showed a stable or slightly decreasing plateau phase. Only the first phase of this time course fitted in with the wind-up description. Therefore, to assess wind-up, we measured a limited number of initial responses. Second, we showed that wind-up, i.e. the slope of the frequency-dependent increase in the response to C-fibre stimulation, was linearly correlated to the stimulus intensity. Intensities of brief C-fibre inputs were thus coded into frequencies of action potentials by second-order neurons through frequency-dependent potentiation of the evoked responses. Third, wind-up also occurred at stimulation intensities below the threshold for C-evoked responses in WDR neurons, suggesting that wind-up can amplify subthreshold C-fibre inputs to WDR neurons. This might account for the observation that sparse, subliminal, neuronal activity in nociceptors can become painful via central integration of neural responses. Altogether, the present results show that wind-up can provide trigeminal WDR neurons with the capability to encode the intensity of short-duration orofacial nociceptive stimuli and to detect subthreshold nociceptive input. Thus, not only may wind-up play a physiological role in trigeminal sensory processing, but its enhancement may also underlie the pathophysiology of chronic orofacial pain conditions.
The Incidence and Prevalence of Cluster Headache: A Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Studies
Authors: Fischera M , Marziniak M , Gralow I , Evers S
Published: April 2008

Cluster headache is a trigemino-autonomic cephalgia with a low prevalence. Several population-based studies on its prevalence and incidence have been performed, but with different methodology resulting in different figures. We analysed all available population-based epidemiological studies on cluster headache and compared the data in a meta-analysis. The pooled data showed a lifetime prevalence of 124 per 100 000 [confidence interval (CI) 101, 151] and a 1-year prevalence of 53 per 100 000 (CI 26, 95). The overall sex ratio was 4.3 (male to female), it was higher in chronic cluster headache (15.0) compared with episodic cluster headache (3.8). The ratio of episodic vs. chronic cluster headache was 6.0. Our analysis revealed a relatively stable lifetime prevalence, which suggests that about one in 1000 people suffers from cluster headache, the prevalence being independent of the region of the population study. The sex ratio (male to female) is higher than published in several patient-based epidemiological studies.
Japanese parents’ estimates of their own and their children's multiple intelligences: Cultural modesty and moderate differentiation
Authors: FURNHAM ADRIAN , FUKUMOTO SARA
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  A total of 198 Japanese parents completed a questionnaire concerning their own and their children's estimated overall general (g), and multiple intelligences. Japanese parents’ self‐estimates were somewhat lower than those found in the Western populations but males (fathers) rated their own overall “g” score and seven Gardner multiple intelligences, significantly higher than did females (mothers). There were few sex differences, however, when parents rated sons or daughters. Parents’ own IQ estimate was the best predictor of the first (eldest) child's estimated IQ. A regression analysis indicated that the best predictors of self‐estimated overall “g” intelligence were self‐estimated verbal and numeric intelligences. Children's age and sex, and parents’ age and sex, were all non‐significant predictors of the overall “g” score estimates of the first two children. There were no sex differences in experience of, or attitudes towards, intelligence testing. A number of cultural differences were found compared with other studies in Western cultures.
An evaluation of camera traps for inventorying large‐ and medium‐sized terrestrial rainforest mammals
Authors: Tobler M. W. , Carrillo‐Percastegui S. E. , Leite Pitman R. , Mares R. , Powell G.
Published: April 2008

Mammal inventories in tropical forests are often difficult to carry out, and many elusive species are missed or only reported from interviews with local people. Camera traps offer a new tool for conducting inventories of large‐ and medium‐sized terrestrial mammals. We evaluated the efficiency of camera traps based on data from two surveys carried out at a single site during 2 consecutive years. The survey efforts were 1440 and 2340 camera days, and 75 and 86% of the 28 large‐ and medium‐sized terrestrial mammal species known to occur at the site were recorded. Capture frequencies for different species were highly correlated between the surveys, and the capture probability for animals that passed in front of the cameras decreased with decreasing size of the species. Camera spacing and total survey area had little influence on the number of species recorded, with survey effort being the main factor determining the number of recorded species. Using a model we demonstrated the exponential increase in survey effort required to record the most elusive species. We evaluated the performance of different species richness estimators on this dataset and found the Jackknife estimators generally to perform best. We give recommendations on how to increase efficiency of camera trap surveys exclusively targeted at species inventories.
Importance of the premigratory areas for the conservation of lesser kestrel: space use and habitat selection during the post‐fledging period
Authors: De Frutos Á. , Olea P. P.
Published: April 2008

The conservation importance of the post‐fledging period in migratory birds has been scarcely assessed. In this study, we examined the space use and habitat selection of radio‐tagged lesser kestrels Falco naumanni at two spatial scales during summer in north‐western Spain, where premigratory aggregations of around 1000 lesser kestrels occur. Space use was estimated by kernel accounting for the spatiotemporal autocorrelation of the radio locations, and habitat selection was analysed by weighted compositional analysis accounting for the intensity of use. Kestrels moved within 9 km around roosts during daylight and returned daily during sunset to the same roosts, exhibiting refuging behaviour. They foraged on average 3.7 km from the roost in an area of 346.8 ha (home range), 92.7 ha of which were used intensively (core area). Within these areas, lesser kestrels intensively used more farmland than any land‐scale habitat. Within farmland, kestrels significantly avoided the irrigated crops. This avoidance seemed to be due to the difficulty of prey access and/or scarcity of prey available. Conservation plans of lesser kestrel should include the post‐fledging period by legally protecting roost sites and maintaining dry farmland systems around the communal roosts.
Molecular phylogeny of Pseudokeronopsis (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Urostylida), with reconsideration of three closely related species at inter‐ and intra‐specific levels inferred from the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene and the ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region sequences
Authors: Yi Z. , Chen Z. , Warren A. , Roberts D. , Al‐Rasheid K. A. S. , Miao M. , Gao S. , Shao C. , Song W.
Published: April 2008

In order to address the confused taxonomy of morphotypes within the genus Pseudokeronopsis, the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SS rRNA) gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1)‐5.8S‐ITS2 region for 13 populations/clones of morphologically similar Pseudokeronopsis species, Pseudokeronopsis flava, Pseudokeronopsis rubra and Pseudokeronopsis carnea, were sequenced and compared at inter‐ and intra‐specific levels. Different geographical/time interval isolates belonging to the same species were slightly divergent, while clones from the same strain had identical SS rRNA gene sequences. Compared with the SS rRNA gene sequence, the sequence of the ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region of Pseudokeronopsis revealed higher diversity, with nucleotide dissimilarities of 3.9–4.9% at the intra‐specific level and 8.0–10.5% at the inter‐specific level. There were several minor differences among ITS2 secondary structures of three Pseudokeronopsis species, while three Pseudok. carnea populations were identical. Phylogenetic analyses using multiple algorithms and different species selections confirm that Pseudok. flava, Pseudok. rubra and Pseudok. carnea form a monophyletic group within the urostylids. The result also supports the closest relationship of Pseudokeronopsis and Pseudourostyla that forms the so‐called Acaudalia Berger (2006).
Importance of rare habitats and riparian zones in a tropical forest fragment: preferential use by Tayassu pecari, a wide‐ranging frugivore
Authors: Keuroghlian A. , Eaton D. P.
Published: April 2008

In forest fragments, rare habitats contribute to heterogeneity and may provide unique resources for frugivorous species like peccaries with spatially and temporally complex patterns of range use. This study examined seasonal habitat use by two sympatric peccary species (Tayassu pecari and Tayassu tajacu) in an Atlantic forest fragment on the plateau region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Previous studies showed that range use by T. pecari was highly nonrandom, and that both species persisted at population densities typical of larger forest fragments. To explain this, we quantified the use and availability of habitats and riparian zones with compositional analysis. Use by T. pecari was nonrandom with respect to availability. Habitat preferences were different during dry and wet seasons and corresponded closely with seasonal movements, core range and fruit use. Although aquatic habitats made up a small proportion of the herd home range, they were most preferred by T. pecari during both seasons. Headwater palmito Euterpe edulis swamps were most favored in the dry season, whereas swamps and marshes near larger streams were preferred in the wet season. Tayassu pecari preferred riparian zones <50 m from streams over drier zones. These habitats were important sources of fruits, travel routes and corridors between forest patches in the agricultural matrix. The least‐preferred habitat of T. pecari during both seasons was disturbed forest edge dominated by bamboo. Habitat and riparian zone use were herd‐specific for T. tajacu and related to habitat quality and composition where stable home ranges had been established. The persistence of viable peccary populations after 75 years of fragmentation‐associated pressures is related to preservation of rare habitats and overall habitat diversity. Thus, T. pecari is an indicator of high habitat diversity in forest fragments and will function as an umbrella species when targeted for conservation.
Combination therapy with transductive anti‐death FNK protein and FK506 ameliorates brain damage with focal transient ischemia in rat
Authors: Katsura Ken‐ichiro , Takahashi Kumiko , Asoh Sadamitsu , Watanabe Megumi , Sakurazawa Makoto , Ohsawa Ikuroh , Mori Takashi , Igarashi Hironaka , Ohkubo Seiji , Katayama Yasuo , Ohta Shigeo
Published: April 2008

Many practical therapies have been explored as clinical applications for ischemic cerebral infarction; however, most are still insufficient to treat acute stroke. We show here a potential combination therapy in a rat focal ischemic model to improve neurological symptoms as well as to reduce infarct volumes at the maximum level. We applied protein transduction technology using artificial anti‐death Bcl‐xl derivative with three amino acid‐substitutions (Y22F, Q26N and R165K) (FNK) protein fused with a protein‐transduction‐domain peptide (PTD‐FNK). When PTD‐FNK was administrated 1 h after initiating ischemia followed by the administration of an immunosuppressant FK506 with a 30‐min time lag, infarct volumes of the total brain and cortex were markedly reduced to 27% and 14%, respectively. This procedure not only reduced the infarct volume and edema, but also markedly improved neurological symptoms. The therapeutic effect continued for at least 1 week after ischemia. FK506 inhibited the transduction of PTD‐FNK in vitro, which explains the requirement of a time lag for the administration of FK506. An additional in vitro experiment showed that PTD‐FNK, when administered 30 min before FK506, gave the maximal protective effect by reducing the intracellular calcium concentration. We propose that this combination therapy would provide a synergistic protective effect by both drugs, reducing adverse the effects of FK506.
Thiazolidinedione derivatives in diabetes and cardiovascular disease: an update
Authors: Sarafidis Pantelis A.
Published: April 2008

As the incidence and the public health impact of type 2 diabetes are constantly rising, treatment of hyperglycemia, prevention of diabetes‐related complications are currently top medical priorities. Within the last decade several new classes of oral hypoglycemic agents were added to our armamentarium against diabetes. Among these new classes, the group of thiazolidinediones, which act through reduction of insulin resistance is perhaps the most widely used. For about 20 years, numerous background and clinical studies have evaluated the beneficial and adverse effects of these compounds. Current knowledge suggests that thiazolidinediones are as effective as metformin or sulfonylurea derivatives in improving glycemic control and exert several other beneficial metabolic and vascular effects, such as improvement in lipid profile, blood pressure lowering, redistribution of body fat away from the central compartment, microalbuminuria regression, reduction in subclinical vascular inflammation and others. On the other hand, currently used thiazolidinediones have well‐established side effects, most important of which are fluid retention leading to weight gain and heart failure deterioration. Further, in the expectance of proper outcome studies to clarify the effects of these agents in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, data from recent meta‐analyses suggest that rosiglitazone may increase the risk for some cardiovascular outcomes. This article will discuss all the above issues attempting to provide an updated overview of this expanding field.
Asylum and the Expansion of Deportation in the United Kingdom
Authors: Gibney Matthew J.
Published: April 2008

Deportation has traditionally been seen as a secondary instrument of migration control, one used by liberal democratic states relatively infrequently and with some trepidation. This secondary status has been assured by the fact that deportation is both a complicated and a controversial power. It is complicated because tracking individuals down and returning them home are time-consuming and resource-intense activities; it is controversial because deportation is a cruel power, one that sometimes seems incompatible with respect for human rights. In the light of these constraints, how can one explain the fact that since 2000 the United Kingdom has radically increased the number of failed asylum seekers deported from its territory? I argue in the article that this increase has been achieved through a conscious and careful process of policy innovation that has enabled state officials to engage in large-scale expulsions without directly violating liberal norms.
The External Dimension of EU Refugee Policy: A New Approach to Asylum?
Authors: Haddad Emma
Published: April 2008

This article first looks at developments in the external dimension of EU migration and refugee policy, as highlighted by a succession of Commission Communications and Council or European Council conclusions that have emphasized the need to integrate migration and asylum more firmly into the Union's external policies. It then looks at one particular recent experiment with externalizing refugee policy, namely the invention of ‘Regional Protection Programmes’. Finally it asks what this concept of regional protection has meant in normative terms, before suggesting ways in which the space afforded protection has been altered.
Another Brick in the Wall? Neo-Refoulementand the Externalization of Asylum by Australia and Europe
Authors: Hyndman Jennifer , Mountz Alison
Published: April 2008

Insecurity and fear in the global North produce political space to advance security measures, including the externalization of asylum. States in the global North make it increasingly difficult for asylum seekers to reach sovereign territory where they might make a refugee claim. While legal protection remains intact under the Refugee Convention, extra-legal measures employ geography to restrict access to asylum and keep claimants at bay through a variety of tactics. This article probes the ways in which fear of uninvited asylum seekers is securitized and looks at the tactics utilized to keep them at bay, far from the borders of states that are signatories to the UN Refugee Convention. Drawing on research in Europe and Australia, we demonstrate how states are promoting ‘protection in regions of origin’ through practices of de facto neo-refoulement. Neo-refoulementrefers to a geographically based strategy of preventing asylum by restricting access to territories that, in principle, provide protection to refugees.
Refugee Advocacy, Traumatic Representations and Political Disenchantment
Authors: Pupavac Vanessa
Published: April 2008

Most studies of how refugees are represented focus on negative media representations. Less attention has been paid to sympathetic counter-representations. This article explores the representations preferred by refugee advocacy organizations and how they tend to exclude the mass of ordinary refugees and the difficult arguments required to defend refugee rights. The article outlines the rise of the health paradigm for understanding the conditions of refugees. The contemporary representation of refugees as traumatized victims is inspired by compassion. However, the trauma framework implies impaired capacity and the need for individuals to surrender their welfare to expert authorities. The article argues that casting refugees in the sick role risks compromising their rights. The article is informed by the writing of the sociologist Talcott Parsons on the sick role and the philosopher Hannah Arendt on refugees.
Forced Migration, Land and Sovereignty
Authors: Stepputat Finn
Published: April 2008

Land is a key issue in the aftermath of wars. The return or resettlement of displaced populations accentuates land-related problems, and international support seeks to strengthen the state's administration of land. This article explores ethnographically a land conflict in Guatemala between returning refugees and former members of a civil defence patrol, including the intervention of state and international institutions. In dialogue with Carl Schmitt's idea that land appropriation, first measurements and division are constitutive of the order and orientation of political community, the analysis suggests that bodily presence at the land, potential use of violence and negotiated measurement, continue to be features of post-colonial states despite attempts to solve land problems once and for all.
Introduction
Authors: Hedman Eva-Lotta E. , Gibney Matthew J.
Published: April 2008

This special issue presents scholarly research which, in distinctive ways, explores the intersection of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and the study of forced migration. The outcome of an international workshop hosted by the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford in May 2007, this volume features individual research trajectories focused on a range of important issues, including asylum and deportation, migration control and regional cooperation, internal displacement and sovereignty, in productive encounters with theory and method. Read together, the scholarly articles collected here also span the traditional divide between ‘North’ and ‘South’, including case studies from Australia, Canada, and Europe, as well as from South Africa, Guatemala, and Malaysia.
Refuge, Governmentality and Citizenship: Capturing ‘Illegal Migrants’ in Malaysia and Thailand
Authors: Hedman Eva-Lotta E.
Published: April 2008

This article directs attention to dynamics of refuge and governmentality in a region of the ‘global South’, South-East Asia, and brings into focus the major recipients of (forced) migrants, Malaysia and Thailand, neither of which is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, or the 1967 Protocol. Against the backdrop of the illuminating contrast offered by the Thai case, this article argues that, in the case of Malaysia, the mobilization of ‘volunteers of the nation’ in campaigns against ‘illegal migrants’ serves as a performative (re)enactment of ethnic identity and national citizenship in the making of Malays and Malaysians in this postcolonial ‘plural society’. The article explores the wider consequences of the (re)production of (il)legality and identity as a social reality experienced not merely by (forced) migrants, and not only at the border, but also by government officials and national citizens actively mobilized in high-profile campaigns to flush out ‘illegal migrants’ from markets, construction and plantation sites, as well as dwellings inkampongneighbourhoods, city blocks and jungle sites across Malaysia.
Intra‐aortic Balloon Pump‐induced Pulsatile Flow Reduces Coagulative and Fibrinolytic Response to Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Onorati Francesco , Esposito Antonio , Comi Maria Caterina , Impiombato Barbara , Cristodoro Lucia , Mastroroberto Pasquale , Renzulli Attilio
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  The aim of this study is to evaluate if a simple intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP)‐induced pulsatile perfusion reduces activation of coagulative system during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Ninety‐six patients undergoing preoperative IABP were randomized to nonpulsatile CPB with IABP discontinued during cardioplegic arrest (Group A) or IABP‐induced pulsatile CPB (Group B). White blood cells (WBC), hematocrit (Ht), platelets (PLTs), International Normalized Ratio (INR), fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), antithrombin III (AT‐III) activity, and D‐dimer were measured at the end of surgery (ES) and postoperatively. Chest drainage, need for reexploration, and transfusions were compared. Group B showed lower chest drainage (1st day P = 0.038; 2nd day P = 0.044), transfusions (P = 0.031), WBC (P < 0.05 at all time points), and INR (P < 0.05 at all time points), together with a higher Ht (P < 0.05 at ES, 12 h), platelets (P < 0.04 at all time points), fibrinogen (P < 0.05 at ES, 12 h, 24 h), and aPTT (P < 0.05 at all time points). AT‐III activity lowered in Group A (P = 0.001 at ES, 12 h, 24 h), together with higher D‐dimer levels (P < 0.05 at all time points). IABP‐induced pulsatile perfusion ameliorates coagulative system activation following CPB.
Flow Behavior Within the 12‐cc Penn State Pulsatile Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device: An Experimental Study of the Initial Design
Authors: Manning Keefe B. , Wivholm Brandon D. , Yang Ning , Fontaine Arnold A. , Deutsch Steven
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  Planar particle image velocimetry was used to explore the flow behavior of the newly designed 12‐cc Penn State pneumatic pediatric assist pump. Wall shear maps complemented the velocity data. Bjork‐Shiley Monostrut 17‐mm mechanical heart valves were used in the inlet and outlet ports. In comparison with larger Penn State pumps, the 12‐cc device is not only smaller but has reduced valve effective orifice areas and more highly angled valve ports. In contrast to results from the larger pumps, the flow field was highly three dimensional during early diastole with poorer penetration by the valve inlet jet. This led to a later start to a “wall washing” rotational pattern. A significant separation region, never before observed, was created upstream of the outlet valve leaflet during late diastole—effectively reducing the area and increasing the pressure drop through the valve. Wall shear maps suggest that regions of low shear might persist throughout the cycle at the bottom of the pump on the outlet side. An attempt to improve the flow field characteristics by exploring different valves, valve orientations and inlet valve angles, systolic/diastolic flow timing, and perhaps a larger outlet valve was planned.
Development of Watertight and Bioabsorbable Synthetic Dural Substitutes
Authors: Mukai Tomokazu , Shirahama Noriaki , Tominaga Ben , Ohno Kikuro , Koyama Yoshihisa , Takakuda Kazuo
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  We have developed novel watertight and bioabsorbable synthetic dural substitutes. The substitutes were designed such that they had a three‐layered structure, and each layer comprised a bioabsorbable copolymer prepared from l‐lactide, glycolide, and ε‐caprolactone. Various copolymers were synthesized, and appropriate compositions were selected for preparing the substitutes based on the results of leakage tests. Experimental substitutes that prevented the leakage of saline through the suture lines between the substitutes and dura mater were prepared. An in vitro study was performed in which the substitutes were sutured to porcine dura mater, and the amount of saline leakage was measured. It was demonstrated that leakage through the suture line could be completely suppressed by using the substitutes we developed along with favorable suturing techniques.
Antithrombogenic Properties of a Monopivot Magnetic Suspension Centrifugal Pump for Circulatory Assist
Authors: Yamane Takashi , Maruyama Osamu , Nishida Masahiro , Kosaka Ryo , Chida Takahiro , Kawamura Hiroshi , Kuwana Katsuyuki , Ishihara Kazuhiko , Sankai Yoshiyuki , Matsuzaki Mio , Shigeta Osamu , Enomoto Yoshiharu , Tsutsui Tatsuo
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) monopivot magnetic suspension centrifugal pump (MC105) was developed for open‐heart surgery and several weeks of circulatory assist. The monopivot centrifugal pump has a closed impeller of 50 mm in diameter, supported by a single pivot bearing, and is driven through a magnetic coupling to widen the fluid gap. Design parameters such as pivot length and tongue radius were determined through flow visualization experiments, and the effectiveness was verified in preliminary animal experiments. The maximum overall pump efficiency reached 18%, and the normalized index of hemolysis tested with bovine blood was as low as 0.0013 g/100 L. Animal experiments with MC105 were conducted in sheep for 3, 15, 29, and 35 days in a configuration of left ventricle bypass. No thrombus was formed around the pivot bearing except when the pump speed was reduced by 20% of normal operational speed, which reduced the pump flow by 40% to avoid inlet suction. Subsequently, the antithrombogenic design was verified in animal experiments for 5 weeks at a minimum rotational speed of greater than 1500 rpm and a minimum pump flow greater than 1.0 L/min; no thrombus formation was observed under these conditions.
A New Method of Providing Pulsatile Flow in a Centrifugal Pump: Assessment of Pulsatility Using a Mock Circulatory System
Authors: Herreros Jesús , Berjano Enrique J. , Sales‐Nebot Laura , Más Pedro , Calvo Irene , Mastrobuoni Stefano , Mercé Salvador
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  Previous studies have demonstrated the potential advantages of pulsatile flow as compared with continuous flow. However, to date, physiologic pumps have been technically complex and their application has therefore remained in the experimental field. We have developed a new type of centrifugal pump, which can provide pulsatile as well as continuous flow. The inner wall of a centrifugal pump is pulsed by means of a flexible membrane, which can be accurately controlled by means of either a hydraulic or pneumatic driver. The aim of this study was to assess the hydraulic behavior of the new pump in terms of surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE). We conducted experiments using a mock circulatory system including a membrane oxygenator. No differences were found in the pressure–flow characteristics between the new pump and a conventional centrifugal pump, suggesting that the inclusion of the flexible membrane does not alter hydraulic performance. The value of SHE rose when systolic volume was increased. However, SHE dropped when the percentage of ejection time was reduced and also when the continuous flow (programed by the centrifugal console) increased. Mean flow matched well with the continuous flow set by the centrifugal console, that is, the pulsatile component of the flow was exclusively controlled by the pulsatile console, and was therefore independent of the continuous flow programed by the centrifugal console. The pulsatility of the new pump was ∼25% of that created with a truly pulsatile pump.
Migraine Disability Awareness Campaign in Asia: Migraine Assessment for Prophylaxis
Authors: Wang Shuu‐Jiun , Chung Chin‐Sang , Chankrachang Siwaporn , Ravishankar K. , Merican Julia Shahnaz , Salazar Gerard , Siow Charles , Cheung Raymond Tak‐Fai , Phanthumchinda Kammant , Sakai Fumihiko
Published: April 2008

Objectives.— This study aimed to survey the headache diagnoses and consequences among outpatients attending neurological services in 8 Asian countries.

Methods.— This survey recruited patients who consulted neurologists for the first time with the chief complaint of headache. Patients suffering from headaches for 15 or more days per month were excluded. Patients answered a self‐administered questionnaire, and their physicians independently completed a separate questionnaire. In this study, the migraine diagnosis given by the neurologists was used for analysis. The headache symptoms collected in the physician questionnaire were based on the diagnostic criteria of migraine proposed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition (ICHD‐2).

Results.— A total of 2782 patients (72% females; mean age 38.1 ± 15.1 years) finished the study. Of them, 66.6% of patients were diagnosed by the neurologists to have migraine, ranging from 50.9% to 85.8% across different countries. Taken as a group, 41.4% of those patients diagnosed with migraine had not been previously diagnosed to have migraine prior to this consultation. On average, patients with migraine had 4.9 severe headaches per month with 65% of patients missing school, work, or household chores. Most (87.5%) patients with migraine took medications for acute treatment. Thirty‐six percent of the patients had at least one emergency room consultation within one year. Only 29.2% were on prophylactic medications. Neurologists recommended pharmacological prophylaxis in 68.2% of patients not on preventive treatment. In comparison, migraine prevalence was the highest with ICHD‐2 “any migraine” (ie, migraine with or without migraine and probable migraine) (73.3%) followed by neurologist‐diagnosed migraine (66.6%) and ICHD‐2 “strict migraine” (ie, migraine with or without aura only) (51.3%). About 88.6% patients with neurologist‐diagnosed migraine fulfilled ICHD‐2 any migraine but only 67.1% fulfilled the criteria of ICHD‐2 strict migraine.

Conclusions.— Migraine is the most common headache diagnosis in neurological services in Asia. The prevalence of migraine was higher in countries with higher referral rates of patients to neurological services. Migraine remains under‐diagnosed and under‐treated in this region even though a high disability was found in patients with migraine. Probable migraine was adopted into the migraine diagnostic spectrum by neurologists in this study.
Value of Fibrosis Markers for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Precirrhotic Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Lieber Charles S. , Weiss David G. , Paronetto Fiorenzo ,   for the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 391 Group
Published: April 2008

Background:  Our aim was to identify markers predictive of fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Percutaneous liver biopsy is the recommended standard for histologic assessment of liver fibrosis. Seven serum markers (tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 {TIMP1}, tenascin, collagen VI, amino‐terminal propeptide of type III collagen {PIIINP}, matrix metalloproteinases {MMP2}, laminin, and hyaluronic acid {HA}) representing various aspects of collagen and extracellular matrix deposition and degradation, have been proposed as noninvasive surrogates for liver biopsy. Moreover, a diagnostic algorithm including 3 serum markers (TIMP1, PIIINP, HA) and age has been proposed to accurately detect fibrosis with acceptable levels of sensitivity/specificity in a chronic hepatitis C subgroup.

Methods:  To determine variability of these markers in liver fibrosis with different etiologies, we conducted an evaluation of their correlative properties in a subgroup of patients (n = 247) with biopsy confirmed liver fibrosis resulting from long‐term heavy alcohol consumption. Patients were participants in a recently completed VA multicenter clinical trial followed over 2 years with liver biopsy at baseline and 24 months, and with markers assessed every 3 months.

Results:  Among the markers measured in this alcoholic subgroup all except collagen VI displayed significant correlation with degrees of fibrosis. Three markers, TIMP1, PIIINP and HA adjusted for age, emerged as the most promising predictors of the degree of fibrosis in a population of alcoholics. However, there was little change over time as related to change in fibrosis. The lower than expected accuracy of these markers based on receiver operating curves (ROC) also showed their limited use in this etiologic subgroup.

Conclusion:  In alcoholic patients, various markers have limited value in predicting and diagnosing the stages of fibrosis compared to liver biopsy. Thus, further prospective studies are required to better define the usefulness of each marker or their combination which are possibly affected by alcohol metabolism.
Analysis of a high‐throughput HLA antibody screening assay for use with platelet donors
Authors: Fadeyi Emmanuel , Adams Sharon , Peterson Brett , Hackett Julia , Byrne Phyllis , Klein Harvey G. , Marincola Francesco M. , Leitman Susan F. , Stroncek David F.
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Passive infusion of HLA antibodies has been implicated in transfusion reactions. A rapid, inexpensive method of screening blood donors for HLA antibodies might reduce the incidence of reactions. A high‐throughput microbead‐flow analyzer HLA antibody detection technique was compared with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety‐six apheresis platelet (PLT) donors were tested for antibodies to Class I and II HLA antigens with mixed‐antigen microbead‐flow analyzer and ELISAs. For both assays, samples reactive in the mixed‐antigen assay were tested with a panel‐reactive antibody (PRA) assay. Samples reactive in both the mixed‐antigen and the PRA assays were considered positive.

RESULTS: In the mixed‐antigen microbead assay, 46 (48%) samples were reactive to Class I antigens and 20 (21%) to Class II. Further testing in the microbead PRA assay revealed that 34 (35%) had antibodies to Class I antigens, 18 (19%) to Class II, and 42 (44%) to either Class I or Class II. Class I antibodies were present in 56 percent of females and 36 percent of males. In the mixed‐antigen ELISA, 4 samples were reactive with Class I antigens, 4 with Class II antigens, and 5 with Class I or Class II. All 5 reactive samples were also reactive in the ELISA PRA assay and were from females.

CONCLUSION: The microbead assay was more sensitive than the ELISA and detected antibodies in a large proportion of donors. Samples reactive in the mixed‐antigen microbead assay should be confirmed by a second assay before concluding that antibodies are present.