bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meeting ‘Valuing People’ health targets: recommendations from a research workshop
Authors: Mir Ghazala
Published: March 2007

Accessible summary

This paper is about a workshop held by researchers from the University of Leeds.

The researchers looked at one area to see if people were doing things about health that the Government said they should inValuing People.

The research found out that there is still a lot of work to do in the area to meet these targets.

People came to a workshop to talk about this. They thought that:

Learning disability services should lead the way and draw up a plan about what needs to happen.

People who run health services should make sure they set targets for GPs and hospitals that fit in with the plan.

Government should make sure that the targets they set for GPs also fit in withValuing Peopletargets.

This research is important because it can show what helps health services improve for people with learning disabilities and what gets in the way.

Research at the University of Leeds has evaluated how well changes to healthcare proposed in the Government White PaperValuing People(Department of Health 2001) were being implemented in one locality and their impact on people with learning disabilities. The project had a developmental aspect and incorporated two workshops over the course of the study to disseminate preliminary findings. These were used to help key stakeholders evaluate progress and to inform discussions about what should happen next in the fieldwork area.

This paper discusses recommendations from the first research workshop at which preliminary findings from the study were presented. The workshop involved health and social care providers and managers, people with learning disabilities, voluntary and community organizations. It gives an overview of local issues relevant to the White Paper health targets and highlights those that need to be resolved before these targets can be achieved. These issues are likely to be replicated in other areas of England and Wales and have implications for leadership, strategy, the allocation of resources and structures of accountability in health and social care agencies.
Indirect Taxes on International Aviation*
Authors: Keen Michael , Strand Jon
Published: March 2007

There has recently been much discussion of the possible use of internationally coordinated indirect taxes, or equivalent charges, on international aviation, whether as a source of finance for development or as part of a response to heightened concerns with climate change. This paper considers the strengths and weaknesses of the leading candidate instruments of this kind. It argues that, on both policy and administration grounds, the case for increasing indirect taxes on international aviation is strong: the indirect tax burden on international aviation is very low, yet aviation contributes significantly to border‐crossing environmental damage, is just as proper an object of taxation as any other commodity, and incipient tax competition is likely to result in these taxes being set at inefficiently low levels. But the form(s) in which such taxes are levied matters: a tax on aviation fuel would address the key border‐crossing externalities most directly; a tax on final ticket values would have greater revenue potential, and perhaps some distributional advantage; departure/arrival taxes face the least legal obstacles, but are much blunter instruments. Optimal policy, it is shown, typically requires deploying both a fuel tax and a ticket tax, and the paper explores, both in principle and by simulation, the key considerations and trade‐offs involved in designing a suitable indirect tax regime for international aviation.
Who Benefits from the Reform of Pension Taxation in Germany?*
Authors: Fehr Hans , Jess Heinrich
Published: March 2007

The present paper quantifies the revenue, distributional and efficiency effects of the recent reform of pension taxation in Germany. The starting point is the new legislation, which has introduced a switch to the deferred taxation of retirement benefits starting in 2005. We compare this reform with an alternative transition proposed by the Federation of German Pension Insurance Institutes (VDR), where double taxation is avoided at the cost of higher revenue losses.

Our simulations indicate significant growth and efficiency gains from the new tax legislation. Winners from the reform are mainly younger workers, while older workers, civil servants and the self‐employed will lose. The VDR proposal would have resulted in higher efficiency gains, but also in stronger distributional consequences.
Is Government Expenditure Volatility Harmful for Growth? A Cross‐Country Analysis*
Authors: Furceri Davide
Published: March 2007

The aim of the paper is to analyse the relationship between government expenditure volatility and long‐run growth. Using cross‐country panel data from 1970 to 2000, the paper finds that countries with higher government expenditure business‐cycle volatility have lower growth, even after controlling for other country‐specific growth correlates such as investment, government expenditure, human capital, population growth and output volatility. This relation is robust to different measures of business cycles. Moreover, considering different subsamples, the paper finds that while government volatility significantly affects long‐run growth for developing countries, it has a small effect for OECD countries.
The Limits of ‘Securitization’: Power, Politics and Process in US Foreign Economic Policy
Authors: Phillips Nicola
Published: March 2007

The concept of ‘securitization’ has become particularly influential in the post-9/11 world. This paper aims to scrutinize and, ultimately, reject an emerging set of claims about political economy which draw upon this framework. The contention that US foreign economic policy is increasingly subject to a process of securitization misrepresents the substance of contemporary US foreign policy, the political environment in which it is articulated and the process by which it is made. Pursuing this argument, the paper sets out a framework within which to understand the evolution of contemporary US policy, paying attention to distinctive forms of the economic–security nexus; the form of ‘ad hoc reactivism’ that has consistently characterized US foreign economic policy; the set of commercial and wider economic goals to which policy responds; and the dynamics of competition for leadership in key regions.
Institutionalization of Party Systems? Stability and Fluidity among Legislative Parties in Africa's Democracies
Authors: Lindberg Staffan I.
Published: March 2007

Using Sartori's and Mainwaring and Scully's work on consolidation and institutionalization of party systems as touchstones, this article analyses the evolution of party systems with regard to stability and fluidity of legislative party configurations in Africa's democratic states. It examines the key issue of whether there is any stabilization of party systems in Africa today, and if so, under what circumstances such stabilization occurs. This article questions previous studies, arguing that we have not yet sufficiently solved the question of whether party systems as stable interactions exist in Africa. Providing a detailed analysis of elections in Africa's established and emerging democracies, and making a distinction between democratic and undemocratic countries, this study classifies Africa's 21 electoral democracies as fluid, de-stabilized, or stable party systems. A key finding is that institutionalization of these party systems has not occurred over an extended period, but rather, institutionalized party system configurations have been stable from the onset of multiparty elections. Conversely, the other large group of countries with non-institutionalized party systems seems to be perpetually fluid systems despite, in many cases, several successive multiparty elections.
Body Weight Distributions for Risk Assessment
Authors: Portier Kenneth , Keith Tolson J. , Roberts Stephen M.
Published: March 2007

Precise age‐specific average body weight estimates are necessary for deterministic risk assessments, and an accurate body weight distribution is equally important in probabilistic risk assessments. Age‐specific body weight distributions for U.S. residents are estimated using NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data collected in four surveys over the last 24 years. The weighted mean and standard deviation of natural log‐transformed body weights are computed for single‐year age groups and population age‐specific weight patterns further described using piece‐wise polynomial spline functions and nonparametric age‐smoothed trend lines. These functions are used to compare distributional changes in age‐specific body weight in the United States from the first NHANES survey in 1976–1980 to the most recent in 1999–2002. Analysis demonstrates that age‐ and sex‐specific average body weight changes over this time period are not uniform. Use of these functions to compute body weight distributions for selected child‐age categories is demonstrated.
Laypeople's and Experts' Perception of Nanotechnology Hazards
Authors: Siegrist Michael , Keller Carmen , Kastenholz Hans , Frey Silvia , Wiek Arnim
Published: March 2007

Public perception of nanotechnology may influence the realization of technological advances. Laypeople's (N= 375) and experts' (N= 46) perception of 20 different nanotechnology applications and three nonnanotechnology applications were examined. The psychometric paradigm was utilized and applications were described in short scenarios. Results showed that laypeople and experts assessed asbestos as much more risky than nanotechnology applications. Analyses of aggregated data suggested that perceived dreadfulness of applications and trust in governmental agencies are important factors in determining perceived risks. Similar results were observed for experts and laypeople, but the latter perceived greater risks than the former. Analyses of individual data showed that trust, perceived benefits, and general attitudes toward technology influenced the perceived risk of laypeople. In the expert sample, confidence in governmental agencies was an important predictor of risks associated with nanotechnology applications. Results suggest that public concerns about nanotechnology would diminish if measures were taken to enhance laypeople's trust in governmental agencies.
Industrial Machine Systems Risk Assessment: A Critical Review of Concepts and Methods
Authors: Etherton John R.
Published: March 2007

Reducing the risk of work‐related death and injury to machine operators and maintenance personnel poses a continuing occupational safety challenge. The risk of injury from machinery in U.S. workplaces is high. Between 1992 and 2001, there were, on average, 520 fatalities per year involving machines and, on average, 3.8 cases per 10,000 workers of nonfatal caught‐in‐running‐machine injuries involving lost workdays.(1) A U.S. task group recently developed a technical reference guideline, ANSI B11 TR3, “A Guide to Estimate, Evaluate, & Reduce Risks Associated with Machine Tools,” that is intended to bring machine tool risk assessment practice in the United States up to or above the level now required by the international standard, ISO 14121. The ANSI guideline emphasizes identifying tasks and hazards not previously considered, particularly those associated with maintenance; and it further emphasizes teamwork among line workers, engineers, and safety professionals. The value of this critical review of concepts and methods resides in (1) its linking current risk theory to machine system risk assessment and (2) its exploration of how various risk estimation tools translate into risk‐informed decisions on industrial machine system design and use. The review was undertaken to set the stage for a field evaluation study on machine risk assessment among users of the ANSI B11 TR3 method.
Understanding the Economic Costs and Benefits of Catastrophes and Their Aftermath: A Review and Suggestions for the U.S. Federal Government
Authors: Greenberg Michael R. , Lahr Michael , Mantell Nancy
Published: March 2007

The number and magnitude of devastating natural and human events make it imperative that we actively and systematically estimate the costs and benefits of policy decisions in affected localities, regions, states, and nations. Such strategic risk management preparedness efforts should forecast well into the future and include scenarios with and without enhanced engineered structures; with reduced vulnerability through land‐use planning and design; with the impact of resiliency and mitigation; with evacuation and relocation; and with the costs and benefits of recovery and restoration. We describe different kinds of regional economic models that can be used in these preparedness planning efforts, explore critical data needs, and advocate a shared federal‐state‐local strategic planning effort to accomplish the objective.
Statistical Distributions of Daily Breathing Rates for Narrow Age Groups of Infants and Children
Authors: Arcus‐Arth Amy , Blaisdell Robert J.
Published: March 2007

Children may be more susceptible to toxicity from some environmental chemicals than adults. This susceptibility may occur during narrow age periods (windows), which can last from days to years depending on the toxicant. Breathing rates specific to narrow age periods are useful to assess inhalation dose during suspected windows of susceptibility. Because existing breathing rates used in risk assessment are typically for broad age ranges or are based on data not representative of the population, we derived daily breathing rates for narrow age ranges of children designed to be more representative of the current U.S. children's population. These rates were derived using the metabolic conversion method of Layton (1993) and energy intake data adjusted to represent the U.S. population from a relatively recent dietary survey (CSFII 1994–1996, 1998). We calculated conversion factors more specific to children than those previously used. Both nonnormalized (L/day) and normalized (L/kg‐day) breathing rates were derived and found comparable to rates derived using energy estimates that are accurate for the individuals sampled but not representative of the population. Estimates of breathing rate variability within a population can be used with stochastic techniques to characterize the range of risk in the population from inhalation exposures. For each age and age‐gender group, we present the mean, standard error of the mean, percentiles (50th, 90th, and 95th), geometric mean, standard deviation, 95th percentile, and best‐fit parametric models of the breathing rate distributions. The standard errors characterize uncertainty in the parameter estimate, while the percentiles describe the combined interindividual and intra‐individual variability of the sampled population. These breathing rates can be used for risk assessment of subchronic and chronic inhalation exposures of narrow age groups of children.
A Risk‐Based Method for Modeling Traffic Fatalities
Authors: Bhalla Kavi , Ezzati Majid , Mahal Ajay , Salomon Joshua , Reich Michael
Published: March 2007

We describe a risk‐based analytical framework for estimating traffic fatalities that combines the probability of a crash and the probability of fatality in the event of a crash. As an illustrative application, we use the methodology to explore the role of vehicle mix and vehicle prevalence on long‐run fatality trends for a range of transportation growth scenarios that may be relevant to developing societies. We assume crash rates between different road users are proportional to their roadway use and estimate case fatality ratios (CFRs) for the different vehicle‐vehicle and vehicle‐pedestrian combinations. We find that in the absence of road safety interventions, the historical trend of initially rising and then falling fatalities observed in industrialized nations occurred only if motorization was through car ownership. In all other cases studied (scenarios dominated by scooter use, bus use, and mixed use), traffic fatalities rose monotonically. Fatalities per vehicle had a falling trend similar to that observed in historical data from industrialized nations. Regional adaptations of the model validated with local data can be used to evaluate the impacts of transportation planning and safety interventions, such as helmets, seat belts, and enforcement of traffic laws, on traffic fatalities.
Risk Perception and Personality Facets
Authors: Chauvin Bruno , Hermand Danièle , Mullet Etienne
Published: March 2007

The present study examined the relationship between personality facets and risk perception using the Big Five model. A broad range of hazards was considered: energy production, pollutants, sex, deviance, addictions, weapons, common individual hazards, outdoor activities, medical care, and psychotropic drugs. Key personality facets that were most predictive of risk perception compared to (or in association with) age, gender, educational level, and personality factors were identified. They were moderation and tranquility (associated with energy production or pollutants), rationality and efficiency (associated with pollutants, sex, deviance, addictions, or weapons), creativity, imagination, and reflection (associated with energy production, pollutants, or common individual hazards), self‐disclosure (associated with outdoor activities), and nurturance and tenderness (associated with sex, deviance, addictions, or medical care). These facets may be recommended for use in future studies on risk perception.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Risks from Illegally Imported Meat Contaminated with Foot and Mouth Disease Virus to Great Britain
Authors: Hartnett Emma , Adkin Amie , Seaman Miles , Cooper John , Watson Eamon , Coburn Helen , England Tracey , Marooney Christophen , Cox Anthony , Wooldridge Mavion
Published: March 2007

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is considered by many as the most important animal disease in the world. FMD is highly contagious and outbreaks incur significant costs as affected countries are severely limited in their ability to trade. A number of trade commodities may be contaminated with FMD virus (FMDV) including animal products, for example, meat. As a member of the European Union, Great Britain (GB) has put in place a number of regulations to prevent the importation of pathogens in imported meat products. However, the illegal importation of meat provides a route by which safety controls may be circumvented and meat from FMD affected areas may be imported. This study assesses the FMD infection risk posed to the livestock population of GB from the illegal importation of meat, and estimates the major contributors to this overall risk, through the development of a quantitative risk assessment model. From model results, the total amount of illegal meat entering GB each year is estimated on average to be 11,875 tonnes. with 90% certainty that this is between 4,398 and 28,626 tonnes per year; of which between 64.5 and 565 kg are contaminated with FMDV. This flow of illegal meat results in an estimate of a frequency of FMD infection in GB livestock of 0.015 cases of infected animals per year, with 90% certainty it is between 0.0017 and 0.053. Imports from the region Near and Middle East account for 47% of this risk, and 68% of the risk is attributed to bone‐in and dried de‐boned products.
Combining Experts' Risk Judgments on Technology Performance of Phytoremediation: Self‐Confidence Ratings, Averaging Procedures, and Formative Consensus Building
Authors: Scholz Roland W. , Hansmann Ralf
Published: March 2007

Expert panels and averaging procedures are common means for coping with the uncertainty of effects of technology application in complex environments. We investigate the connection between confidence and the validity of expert judgment. Moreover, a formative consensus building procedure (FCB) is introduced that generates probability statements on the performance of technologies, and we compare different algorithms for the statistical aggregation of individual judgments. The case study refers to an expert panel of 10 environmental scientists assessing the performance of a soil cleanup technology that uses the capability of certain plants to accumulate heavy metals from the soil in the plant body (phytoremediation). The panel members first provided individual statements on the effectiveness of a phytoremediation. Such statements can support policymakers, answering the questions concerning the expected performance of the new technology in contaminated areas. The present study reviews (1) the steps of the FCB, (2) the constraints of technology application (contaminants, soil structure, etc.), (3) the measurement of expert knowledge, (4) the statistical averaging and the discursive agreement procedures, and (5) the boundaries of application for the FCB method. The quantitative statement oriented part of FCB generates terms such as: “The probability that the concentration of soil contamination will be reduced by at least 50% is 0.8.” The data suggest that taking the median of the individual expert estimates provides the most accurate aggregated estimate. The discursive agreement procedure of FCB appears suitable for deriving politically relevant singular statements rather than for obtaining comprehensive information about uncertainties as represented by probability distributions.
Modeling Individual Cell Lag Time Distributions for Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Standaert Arnout R. , Francois Kjell , Devlieghere Frank , Debevere Johan , Van Impe Jan F. , Geeraerd Annemie H.
Published: March 2007

The food industry faces two paradoxical demands: on the one hand, foods need to be microbiologically safe for consumption and on the other hand, consumers want fresh, minimally processed foods. To meet these demands, more insight into the mechanisms of microbial growth is needed, which includes, among others, the microbial lag phase. This is the time needed by bacterial cells to adapt to a new environment (for example, after food product contamination) before starting an exponential growth regime. Since food products are often contaminated with low amounts of pathogenic microorganisms, it is important to know the distribution of these individual cell lag times to make accurate predictions concerning food safety. More precisely, cells with the shortest lag times (i.e., appearing in the left tail of the distribution) are largely decisive for the outgrowth of the population. In this study, an integrated modeling approach is proposed and applied to an existing data set of individual cell lag time measurements of Listeria monocytogenes. In a first step, a logistic modeling approach is applied to predict the fraction of zero‐lag cells (which start growing immediately) as a function of temperature, pH, and water activity. For the nonzero‐lag cells, the mean and variance of the lag time distribution are modeled with a hyperbolic‐type model structure. This mean and variance allow identification of the parameters of a two‐parameter Weibull distribution, representing the nonzero‐lag cell lag time distribution. The integration of the developed models allows prediction of a global distribution of individual cell lag times for any combination of environmental conditions in the interpolation domain of the original temperature, pH, and water activity settings. The global fitting quality of the model is quantified using several measures indicating that the model gives accurate predictions, erring slightly on the fail‐safe side when predicting the shortest lag times.
Relative flight responses of Rhagoletis indifferens as influenced by crowding, sex, and resources
Authors: Senger Susan E. , Roitberg Bernard D. , Thistlewood Howard M.A.
Published: March 2007

Although flight is believed to be the primary mechanism for dispersal in the Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), an orchard pest of both sweet (Prunus avium L.) and sour (Prunus cerasus L.) (Rosaceae) cherry crops, the movement of these flies between host patches is difficult to quantify in the field. A tethered flight mill system was used in the laboratory to examine the flight behaviour of sexually mature flies exposed to different levels of conspecific contact and resource availability. A complete 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design compared the relative influence of the factors ‘context’ (crowded, isolated), ‘sex’ (female, male), and ‘resources’ (low = food only; medium = food + leaf; high = food + leaf + cherries) on flight performance measures including distance flown, net trial time, and stopping patterns. Rather than using a minimum time or distance to determine trial length, flight observations were continued for each fly until a behavioural protocol based on stopping time was met. In this protocol each successful trial was composed of three consecutive flight intervals and included a minimum of three stops lasting a combined total of 5 min. Of the 160 flies tested, 86.9% flew <500 m on the flight mill. Individuals from both sexes were capable of maximum flights in the same order of magnitude, ca. 3 km on the flight mill. Distance flown was significantly influenced by ‘context’ such that crowded individuals flew >1.5‐fold farther than isolated individuals. Sex influenced the frequency and duration of stops made, with females stopping more often and longer than males. Although females and males in high resource treatments had the shortest net trial times, the factor ‘resources’ did not produce any highly significant main effects, but did generate significant interaction terms with the factors ‘context’ and ‘sex’, suggesting that past experience with ‘resources’ modifies individual flight behaviour. We have shown for the first time using a tethered flight mill system that R. indifferens flight behaviour is context dependent and sensitive to adult crowding. The implications of this study for improved field experiments on dispersal are discussed.
Ovariectomy ameliorates dextromethorphan ‐ induced memory impairment in young female rats
Authors: Jahng Jeong Won , Cho Hee Jeong , Kim Jae Goo , Kim Nam Youl , Lee Seoul , Lee Yil Seob
Published: March 2007

We have previously found that dextromethorphan (DM), over‐the‐counter cough suppressant, impairs memory retention in water maze task, when it is repeatedly administrated to adolescent female rats at high doses. In this study we examined first if ovariectomy ameliorates the DM‐induced memory impairment in female rats, and then whether or not the DM effect is revived by estrogen replacement in ovariectomized female rats. Female rat pups received bilateral ovariectomy or sham operation on postnatal day (PND) 21, and then intraperitoneal DM (40 mg/kg) daily during PND 28–37. Rats were subjected to the Morris water maze task from PND 38, approximately 24 h after the last DM injection. In probe trial, goal quadrant dwell time was significantly reduced by DM in the sham operated group, however, the reduction by DM did not occur in the ovariectomy group. When 17β‐estradiol was supplied to ovariectomized females during DM treatment, the goal quadrant dwell time was significantly decreased, compared to the vehicle control group. Furthermore, a major effect of estrogen replacement was found in the escape latency during the last 3 days of initial learning trials. These results suggest that ovariectomy may ameliorate the adverse effect of DM treatment on memory retention in young female rats, and that estrogen replacement may revive it,i.e.estrogen may take a major role in DM‐induced memory impairment in female rats.
The epigenetic reprogramming of poorly aggressive melanoma cells by a metastatic microenvironment
Authors: Seftor Elisabeth A. , Meltzer P.S. , Kirschmann D.A. , Margaryan N.V. , Seftor R.E.B. , Hendrix Mary J.C.
Published: March 2007

A dynamic, complex relationship exists between tumor cells and their microenvironment, which plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, yet remains poorly understood. Particularly perplexing is the finding that aggressive melanoma cells express genes associated with multiple cellular phenotypes, in addition to their ability to form vasculogenic‐like networks in three‐dimensional matrix ‐ called vasculogenic mimicry, which is illustrative of tumor cells plasticity. This study addressed the unique epigenetic effect of the microenvironment of aggressive melanoma cells on the behavior of poorly aggressive melanoma cells exposed to it. The data show significant changes in the global gene expression of the cells exposed to 3‐D matrices preconditioned by aggressive melanoma cells, including the acquisition of a vasculogenic cell phenotype, upregulation of ECM remodeling genes, and increased invasive ability ‐ indicative of an epigenetic, microenvironment‐induced reprogramming of poorly aggressive melanoma cells. However, this epigenetic effect was completely abrogated when a highly cross‐linked collagen matrix was used, which could not be remodeled by the aggressive melanoma cells. These findings offer an unique perspective of the inductive properties associated with an aggressive melanoma microenvironment that might provide new insights into the epigenetic regulation of tumor cell plasticity and differentiation, as well as mechanisms that could be targeted for novel therapeutic strategies.
Prevalence of Sexual Problems and Its Association with Social, Psychological and Physical Factors among Men in a Malaysian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Quek Kia Fatt , Sallam Atiya Abdul , Ng Chai Heng , Chua Chong Beng
Published: March 2007

Introduction

Sexual problems are common in the general population. Studies have shown that most of these sexual problems are related to their social lives, medical illnesses, and psychological status. Among the sexual problems in men, premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most frequent, yet it is the least well-understood of the sexual dysfunctions of men.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of sexual problem particularly PE and erectile dysfunction (ED) among people living in urban areas and to investigate the characteristics associated with these sexual problems in a Malaysian population.

Main Outcome Measure

The PE which is defined as an intravaginal ejaculation latency time less than 2 minutes was assessed in the ED and non-ED group.

Methods

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale is used as a measure of the psychological status [30]. The ED status was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of self-reported sexual problems for ED and PE were 41.6% and 22.3%, respectively. In those subjects with ED, 33.5% reported to have PE. Of the total of 430 subjects, anxiety was present in 8.1%, while depression was 5.3%. The prevalence of PE accounted for 25% anxiety and 14.6% for depression respectively in the population. EDs were associated with diabetes and hypertension (OR [95% CI]: 5.33 [2.33, 10.16], 3.40 [1.76, 6.57], P <0.05), respectively, while factors associated with PE were anxiety and depression (OR [95% CI]: 1.29 [0.68, 2.45], 1.39 [0.69, 2.78]), respectively.

Conclusion

Prevalence of ED is associated with medical symptoms such as diabetes and hypertension and a rise in the prevalence of age while psychological distress such as anxiety and depression also contribute to a higher PE rate.
Repair of large periapical radiolucent lesions of endodontic origin without surgical treatment
Authors: Broon Norberto Juárez , Bortoluzzi Eduardo Antunes , Bramante Clovis Monteiro
Published: March 2007

The aim of this paper is to present two case reports of pulp necrosis and radiolucent periapical lesions, which were treated without surgical treatment. The first was a mandibular molar with periapical lesion of endodontic origin extending towards the furcation in a 20‐year‐old woman, and the second affected a maxillary right lateral incisor with a large periapical lesion in a 22‐year‐old woman. The endodontic treatments were carried out in two sessions, with crown‐down instrumentation, irrigation with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and intracanal medication with calcium hydroxide paste. After 30 days, the root canals were filled with gutta‐percha and Sealapex® sealer by the lateral condensation technique. The clinical and radiographic examination after 1 year revealed complete repair. The appropriate diagnosis of lesions of endodontic origin and the treatment and obturation of the infected canals allowed complete repair of these large radiolucent periapical lesions without surgical treatment.
Comparison of the percentage of gutta‐percha‐filled area obtained by Thermafil and System B
Authors: De‐Deus G. , Maniglia‐Ferreira C.M. , Gurgel‐Filho E.D. , Paciornik S. , Machado A.C.R. , Coutinho‐Filho T.
Published: March 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of gutta‐percha‐filled area (GPFA) obtained by Thermafil and System B techniques using light microscopy and digital image processing. Forty‐five human mandibular first molars were prepared and obturated as follows: Group 1: lateral condensation (n = 15); Group 2: System B (n = 15); and Group 3: Thermafil system (n = 15). Horizontal sections were cut 4 and 6 mm from the apical foramen of each tooth. The samples were metallographically prepared and taken through photomicrographs. Using digital analysis, the cross‐sectional area of the canal and the gutta‐percha areas were measured. The GPFA data obtained for the three groups were analysed using the non‐parametric Friedman and Wilcoxon Signed‐Ranks tests. Significant differences were found between Group 3 and Group 2–Group 1. No significant difference was found between Group 2 and Group 1. The Thermafil system produced significantly higher GPFAs than lateral condensation and System B techniques (P < 0.01). This result suggests that the Thermafil system can reduce sealer and voids.
Evaluation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution and gel for smear layer removal*
Authors: Dotto Sidney Ricardo , Travassos Rosana Maria Coelho , De Oliveira Elias Pandonor Motcy , De Lima Machado Manoel Eduardo , Martins José Luiz
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the efficacy of 24% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) gel and 17% EDTA solution in cleaning dentine walls after root canal instrumentation. Thirty human canine teeth were divided into three groups of 10 teeth each. In Group 1, 1% sodium hypochlorite was used as the irrigating solution; in Group 2, 1% sodium hypochlorite was used with 17% EDTA solution; and in Group 3, 1% sodium hypochlorite was used with 24% EDTA gel. The presence of a smear layer was analysed after instrumentation using scanning electron microscopy. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed a statistical difference (P < 0.05) between Groups 1 and 2, and also between Groups 1 and 3. No difference was observed between Groups 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). The results indicate that 1% sodium hypochlorite alone does not remove the smear layer and that there was no statistical difference between EDTA gel and EDTA solution in smear layer removal.
Comparative SEM study of the marginal adaptation of white and grey MTA and Portland cement
Authors: Bidar Maryam , Moradi Saeed , Jafarzadeh Hamid , Bidad Salma
Published: March 2007

The use of a suitable substance that prevents egress of potential contaminants into the periapical tissues is important in endodontic surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare the marginal adaptation of three root‐end filling materials (white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), grey MTA and Portland cement), using scanning electron microscopy. Seventy‐five single‐rooted extracted human teeth were used. The canals were instrumented and filled with gutta‐percha. Following root‐end resection and cavity preparation, root‐end cavities were filled with white MTA, grey MTA or Portland cement. Using a diamond saw, roots were longitudinally sectioned into two halves. Under scanning electron microscopy, the gaps between the material and dentinal wall were measured. The data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis test. The mean of the gap in grey MTA, white MTA and Portland cement was 211.6, 349 and 326.3 µm, respectively. The results indicate that the gap between grey MTA and the dentinal wall is less than other materials, but there was no significant difference between the materials tested in this study (P > 0.05).
Effect of the oestral cycle on respiratory mechanics in the rat
Authors: Rubini A. , Bondì M.
Published: March 2007

Aim:  To assess the effect of the oestral cycle on the respiratory mechanics of the rat.

Methods:  We measured the main mechanical respiratory parameters, namely respiratory system and lung resistances and compliances, by the end‐inflation occlusion method on two populations of female rats, during proestrous–oestrous and metaoestrous–diestrous phases.

Results:  Inflation–deflation loops of the lungs were found to be statistically higher in rats during metaoestrous–diestrous phase. No other statistically significant difference was found in the measured mechanical respiratory parameters.

Conclusion:  Our results suggest that the naturally occurring fluctuations in serum sexual hormone levels during the sexual cycle influence the lung's hysteresis but do not influence the respiratory system and lung resistances or static compliances. A possible effect of female sexual hormones on surfactant activity is also suggested.
Vacuolar H+‐ATPase expression is increased in acid‐secreting intercalated cells in kidneys of rats with hypercalcaemia‐induced alkalosis
Authors: Wang W. , Praetorius J. , Li C. , Praetorius H. A. , Kwon T.‐H. , Frøkiær J. , Nielsen S.
Published: March 2007

Aims:  Hypercalcaemia is known to be associated with systemic metabolic alkalosis, although the underlying mechanism is uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether hypercalcaemia was associated with changes in the expression of acid–base transporters in the kidney.

Methods:  Rats were infused with human parathyroid hormone (PTH, 15 μg kg−1 day−1), or vehicle for 48 h using osmotic minipumps.

Results:  The rats treated with PTH developed hypercalcaemia and exhibited metabolic alkalosis (arterial HCO: 31.1 ± 0.8 vs. 28.1 ± 0.8 mmol L−1 in controls, P < 0.05, n = 6), whereas the urine pH of 6.85 ± 0.1 was significantly decreased compared with the pH of 7.38 ± 0.1 in controls (P < 0.05, n = 12). The observed alkalosis was associated with a significantly increased expression of the B1‐subunit of the H+‐ATPase in kidney inner medulla (IM, 233 ± 45% of the control level). In contrast, electroneutral Na+‐HCO cotransporter NBCn1 and Cl−/HCO anion exchanger AE2 expression was markedly reduced in the inner stripe of the outer medulla (to 26 ± 9% and 65 ± 6%, respectively). These findings were verified by immunohistochemistry.

Conclusions:  (1) hypercalcaemia‐induced metabolic alkalosis was associated with increased urinary excretion of H+; (2) the increased H+‐ATPase expression in IM may partly explain the enhanced urinary acidification, which is speculated to prevent stone formation because of hypercalciuria and (3) the decreased expression of outer medullary AE2 suggests a compensatory reduction of the transepithelial bicarbonate transport.
Governing the ungovernable: The challenge of a global disaggregation of authority
Authors: Rosenau James N.
Published: March 2007

The processes of globalization have led to a proliferation of spheres of authority and significant challenges for global governance. In this paper is discussed the concept of spheres of authority, the factors that encourage their proliferation, and the prospects for global governance in a world of disaggregated authority. The proliferation of spheres of authority does not mean that global governance is impossible, but that it will not result from a global government. Instead, governance will emerge from the interaction of overlapping spheres of authority; regulation will be achieved not through centralized authority but through the spread of norms, informal rules, and regimes.
Regulation by generalization
Authors: Schauer Frederick , Zeckhauser Richard
Published: March 2007

Both criminal and regulatory laws have traditionally been skeptical of what Jeremy Bentham referred to as evidentiary offenses – the prohibition (or regulation) of some activity not because it is wrong, but because it probabilistically (but not universally) indicates that a real wrong has occurred. From Bentham to the present, courts and theorists have worried about this form of regulation, believing that certainly in the criminal law context, but even with respect to regulation, it is wrong to impose sanctions on a “Where there’s smoke there’s fire” theory of governmental intervention. Yet, although this kind punishment by proxy continues to be held in disrepute both in courts and in the published work, we argue that this distaste is unwarranted. Regulating – even through the criminal law – by regulating intrinsically innocent activities that probabilistically, but not inexorably, indicate not‐so‐innocent activities is no different from the vast number of other probabilistic elements that pervade the regulatory process. Once we recognize the frequency with which we accept probabilistic but not certain burdens of proof, probabilistic but not certain substantive rules, and probabilistic but not certain pieces of evidence, we can see that defining offenses and regulatory targets in terms of non‐wrongful behavior that is evidence of wrongful behavior is neither surprising nor inadvisable.
From government to governance: External influences on business risk management
Authors: Hutter Bridget M. , Jones Clive J.
Published: March 2007

The influence of external organizations and pressures on business risk management practices has hitherto been examined through the influence of state regulatory regimes on businesses. This article concentrates on key socio‐legal concerns about the influence of the law in social and economic life. We know that the sources of regulation and risk management are diversifying beyond the state. What we donothave is much empirically informed research about the range of sources influencing the business world and in particular the weighting of influence exercised by them. In this paper we explore the understandings regulatory actors have of the different external pressures on business risk management through an empirical study of the understandings of those in the food retail sector about the management of food safety and food hygiene risks. A broader objective is to throw some further light onto the debate about regulation within and beyond the state.
Information technology and public commenting on agency regulations
Authors: Balla Steven J. , Daniels Benjamin M.
Published: March 2007

In this research, we assess whether the number of public comments filed in response to proposed agency rules has dramatically increased as a result of the automation of the submission process. Specifically, we compare the volume of comment activity across two large sets of rules issued by the Department of Transportation, one that occurred before the launch of an agency‐wide electronic docket system and another that occurred after this launch in 1998. Our analysis shows that, contrary to expectations held by many researchers and practitioners, the overall levels and patterns of stakeholder behavior showed a remarkable degree of similarity across the two periods. This finding implies that public involvement in rulemaking is not likely to become vastly more prevalent in the information age, confounding both hopes of democratization of the process and fears of costly and harmful mass participation.
SPERNER COLLECTIONS ON SETS OF REAL VARIABLES
Authors: Levine E. , Lubell D.
Published: March 2007

Let X be a finite set of positive real variables. For each subset A of X, let πA =πXɛA x, and let s̀m denote the elementary symmetric polynomial of degree m in X. A Sperner collection on X is a family of subsets such that no one contains another. Two unrelated proofs that ΣAɛΓπA/s̀|A|≤ 1 are provided, where Γ is a Sperner on X, and |A| denotes the cardinality of A. This and other results which represent generalizations of a theorem of E. Sperner are discussed.
Development of complementary expression patterns of E‐ and N‐cadherin in the mouse liver
Authors: Doi Yoshinori , Tamura Shinji , Nammo Takao , Fukui Koji , Kiso Shinichi , Nagafuchi Akira
Published: March 2007

Aim:  Cadherins, Ca2+‐dependent cell adhesion molecules, are known to play essential roles in morphogenesis and organogenesis. However, the role of cadherins in liver organogenesis remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the expression patterns and levels of these cadherins in the developing and maturing mouse liver.

Methods:  The expression of E‐ and N‐cadherin was investigated immunohistochemically and levels were determined by immunoblots.

Results:  In the hepatic primordia E‐cadherin, but not N‐ cadherin, was weakly expressed. As development proceeded, N‐cadherin became coexpressed with E‐cadherin in a single hepatocyte. The expression was uniform throughout the liver and the amount of these cadherins gradually increased. In the first postnatal week during the initial formation of the architecture of the liver lobule, the distribution of these cadherins gradually changed to the complementary pattern of the adult type, i.e. E‐cadherin was expressed in the periportal zones, while N‐cadherin was expressed in the perivenous zones.

Conclusion:  The complementary expression patterns of E‐ and N‐cadherin between the periportal and perivenous zones developed gradually after birth. This specific regional localization of each cadherin may serve as an aid in defining different functional regions in the mouse liver lobule.
Effect of Chinese traditional compound, Gan‐fu‐kang, on CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms
Authors: Xu Ting‐Ting , Jiang Miao‐Na , Li Cong , Che Ying , Jia Yu‐Jie
Published: March 2007

Aim:  To explore the antifibrotic effect of traditional Chinese medicine compound Gan‐fu‐kang (GFK) on CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable mechanisms.

Methods:  The effects of GFK on CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis were tested in rats. The liver histopathology was examined by light microscope, polaring microscope and electron microscope. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assayed and the content of albumin (ALB) and hydroxyproline in the liver was measured. The expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and laminin (LN) was determined by immunohistochemistry. Semi‐quantitive computation of collagen types I and III and laminin was done. The expression of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 was assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

Results:  Upon pathological examination, GFK treatment had significantly reversed liver fibrosis. Hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition was significantly reduced, as evidenced by the reduction of the content of hydroxyproline, collagen types I and III, and laminin. Hepatic function was improved by GFK treatment, as evidenced by the increase of plasma ALB and A/G, and by the decrease of serum ALT and AST. TGF‐β1 in liver was significantly reduced. A significant expression of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 mRNA in liver were downregulated after GFK treatment.

Conclusion:  The traditional Chinese medicine compound recipe GFK has an antifibrotic effect on CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis in rats, which improves hepatic function and lessens the deposition of collagen in the liver. The probable antifibrotic mechanisms were: inhibiting the expression of TGF‐β1 and decreasing expressions of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1.