bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Norbert Elias's Post-Philosophical Sociology: From ‘Critique’ to Relative Detachment
Authors: Kilminster Richard
Published: July 2011

This paper argues that Elias's work presupposes a radical abandonment of philosophy as a vestige of magical–mythical thinking that has been rendered obsolete by the rise of sociology. For Elias, attempts by philosophers to claim a continuing non-empirical area of investigation are spurious and reflect only professional interests. The origins of Elias's position are traced to his rejection of neo-Kantianism and his participation in the Wissenssoziologie of Karl Mannheim in Weimar Germany. Focusing on the traditional ethical or normative questions, the paper shows how Elias's conception of the ‘detour via detachment’ enabled him to transcribe these issues (as well as traditional epistemological and ontological questions) into sociologically manageable terms. His strategy is further clarified through a comparison with the all-pervasive Critical Sociology approach to these matters, which emerges as severely handicapped by its reliance upon quasi-metaphysical, transcendental arguments. Also, its attributions of social blame generate fear images that reinforce conflict and its negative overstatements strengthen anxiety and frustration, thereby bolstering precisely what it is trying to change. The paper reveals the tacit function as a leftist code-word that the term ‘critical’ performs for many sociologists. Neo-Marxist ‘critique’ is shown to be a profoundly flawed attempt to deal with issues of theory and practice.
On Doubly Periodic Standing Wave Solutions of the Coupled Higgs Field Equation
Authors: Fan E.‐G. , Chow K.‐W. , Li J.‐H.
Published: July 2011

In this paper, we derive a class of doubly periodic standing wave solutions for a coupled Higgs field equation by employing the Hirota bilinear method and theta function identities. Such solutions are expressed in terms of theta functions with variable separation form. Moreover, it is shown that these solutions can be converted into Jacobi elliptic function representations, and their long‐wave limit yields collision of dark solitons. In comparing with known solutions of the canonical evolution equation, three new aspects will be developed in this paper. First, the periods in the spatial and temporal directions, measured in terms of the theta function parameters τ and τ1, are independent of each other, quite unlike most similar solutions found earlier in the literature. Second, the doubly periodic wave solutions possess two families of the local maxima, whose locations and types are then examined in detail. Third, we obtain new doubly periodic standing wave solutions for the Davey–Stewartson equation through its similarity transformation to the coupled Higgs field equation.
Firm‐level Evidence on Gender Wage Discrimination in the Belgian Private Economy
Authors: Vandenberghe Vincent
Published: July 2011

In this paper we explore a matched employer–employee data set to investigate the presence of gender wage discrimination in the Belgian private economy labour market. Contrary to many existing papers, we analyse gender wage discrimination using an independent productivity measure. Using firm‐level data, we are able to compare direct estimates of a gender productivity differential with those of a gender wage differential. We take advantage of the panel structure to identify gender‐related differences from within‐firm variation. Moreover, inspired by recent developments in the production function estimation literature, we address the problem of endogeneity of the gender mix using a structural production function estimator alongside instrumental variable‐general method of moments (IV‐GMM) methods where lagged value of labour inputs are used as instruments. Our results suggest that there is no gender wage discrimination inside private firms located in Belgium, on the contrary.
Assessment of Atrial Conduction Time in Patients with Coronary Artery Ectasia
Authors: SENGUL CIHAN , CEVIK CIHAN , OZVEREN OLCAY , SUNBUL AYSEGUL , KILICARSLAN FETHI , ODUNCU VECIH , CAN MEHMET , SEMIZ ENDER , DINDAR ISMET
Published: July 2011

Background:
 Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is associated with increased sympathetic activity, plasma levels of inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. These factors can also cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial conduction abnormalities in patients with CAE have not been investigated in terms of atrial electromechanical delay obtained by tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Methods:
 Ninety patients with pure CAE (n = 30), nonobstructive coronary artery disease (NO‐CAD) (n = 30), and angiographically normal coronary arteries “controls” (n = 30) were compared in terms of electrocardiographic P‐wave measurements, echocardiographic atrial electromechanical coupling (AEC) parameters, and interatrial conduction delay.

Results:
 The mean left atrium diameter in the CAE group was similar to the NO‐CAD group but significantly greater than the control group (3.62 ± 0.28 vs 3.46 ± 0.32 vs 3.41 ± 0.31 cm, P = 0.021). P maximum and P‐wave dispersion were significantly increased in the CAE group compared to the NO‐CAD group and the control group (108.6 ± 6.6 vs 97.9 ± 6.6 vs 93.5 ± 6.2, P = 0.0001; 34.4 ± 7.6 vs 23.2 ± 7.8 vs 19.4 ± 7.7 ms, P < 0.0001). Mitral AEC, septal AEC, and tricuspid AEC were significantly higher in the CAE group than the NO‐CAD group and the control group (68 ± 4.5 vs 57 ± 4.5 vs 53 ± 4.6 ms, P < 0.0001; 50.7 ± 7 vs 42.7 ± 7 vs 41.7 ± 7.2 ms, P = 0.0001; 47 ± 6.7 vs 39.1 ± 6.7 vs 38.1 ± 6.6 ms, P < 0.0001). Interatrial conduction delay was significantly increased in the CAE group compared to the NO‐CAD group and the control group (21 ± 5.5 vs 17.8 ± 5.6 vs 15 ± 5.6 ms, P < 0.0001).The correlation analysis demonstrated that the interatrial conduction delay and P‐wave dispersion (Pd) were positively correlated with number of ectatic segments (ESN) (r = 0.41, P = 0.024 vs r = 0.49, P = 0.006). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the ESN was the only independent determinants of interatrial conduction delay (P = 0.024).

Conclusion:
 Pd and interatrial conduction delay are prolonged in patients with CAE compared to NO‐CAD patients and the healthy controls. (PACE 2011; 34:1468–1474)
The Effect of Maximum Bite Force, Implant Number, and Attachment Type on Marginal Bone Loss around Implants Supporting Mandibular Overdentures: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Geckili Onur , Mumcu Emre , Bilhan Hakan
Published: July 2011

Background: There remains controversy regarding the clinical reasons for late‐implant bone loss, which is a critical factor in the long‐term success of implant‐supported overdentures.

Purpose: Assessment of the effect of such factors as attachment type, number of implants, gender, age, and maximum bite force (MBF) on marginal bone loss (MBL) around implants supporting mandibular overdentures.

Materials and Methods: Sixty‐two edentulous patients rehabilitated with two‐, three‐, or four‐implant‐supported mandibular overdentures at a university clinic between January 2006 and January 2007 and having a digital panoramic radiograph at the time of loading, were included in this study. All patients received digital panoramic radiographs, and MBL was measured by subtracting bone levels from the first radiograph. MBF was measured using a bite force transducer.

Results: The amount of bone loss 48 months after loading was found to be unrelated to gender, age, implant number, attachment type, and splinting (p = .741, p = .953, p = .640, p = .763, p = .370, respectively). A significant correlation was observed between the MBF and the MBL of distal implants on the right side (p < .01, 79.9%) and the MBF and the MBL of distal implants on the left side (p = .011, 34.6%).

Conclusions: MBL around implants supporting mandibular overdentures seems not to be affected by number of implants, attachment type, age, or gender; however, MBL is affected by MBF.
The tidal downsizing hypothesis for planet formation and the composition of Solar system comets
Authors: Nayakshin Sergei , Cha Seung-Hoon , Bridges John C.
Published: July 2011

Comets are believed to be born in the outer Solar system where the temperature is assumed to have never exceeded T ∼ 100 K. Surprisingly, observations and samples of cometary dust particles returned to Earth showed that they are in fact made of a mix of ices, as expected, but also of materials forged at high temperatures (T ∼ 1500 K). We propose a radically new view regarding the origin of the high-temperature processed materials in comets, based on the recent ‘tidal downsizing’ hypothesis for planet formation. In the latter, the outer protoplanetary disc is gravitationally unstable and forms massive giant planet embryos (GEs). These hot (T ∼ 100–2000 K) and dense regions, immersed in the background cold and low-density disc, are eventually disrupted. We propose that both planets and the high-temperature materials in comets are synthesized inside the GEs. Disruption of GEs separates planets and small solids as the latter are ‘frozen-in’ into gas and are peeled off together with it. These small solids are then mixed with the ambient cold disc containing ices before being incorporated into comets. Several predictions of this picture may be testable with future observations of the exoplanets.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test should Be Performed after Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Lindsberg Perttu J. , Tuomi Tiinamaija , Kaste Markku
Published: July 2011

Diabetes mellitus predicts an increased risk of stroke, and acute hyperglycemia during acute stroke predicts the presence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Based on recent investigations, 28% of previously nondiabetic stroke or transient ischemic attack patients have undetected diabetes mellitus, and 29% have impaired glucose tolerance, while only 43% have normal glycemic control. Oral glucose tolerance test is a far more sensitive and reliable test of diabetes mellitus than fasting blood glucose or HbA1c, and is recommended in the World Health Organization criteria for diagnosing diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. Secondary prevention of stroke is different in patients with diabetes mellitus and the detection of impaired glucose tolerance would ring alarm bells of impending diabetes mellitus and promote lifestyle changes. As screening with inexpensive oral glucose tolerance test would have a hit rate of one in three patients in revealing undetected diabetes mellitus and another one in three in revealing impaired glucose tolerance, it should be implemented in guidelines as an inexpensive test for monitoring stroke and transient ischemic attack patients.
Improved diagnostic yield with severity of bleeding
Authors: PARIKH Dhavan A , MITTAL Mohit , LEUNG Felix W , MANN Surinder K
Published: July 2011

OBJECTIVE:  Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is an important tool for non‐invasive imaging of the small bowel. Whether there is a dose‐related effect of anemia severity on the diagnostic yield of VCE is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of anemia severity on VCE outcome measures.

METHODS:  VCE studies from the Sacramento Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 300 consecutive patients were retrospectively screened. Those with anemia were selected. Patients were grouped as mildly, moderately or severely bleeding. Outcomes data including completion of study, diagnostic yield and further intervention were compared.

RESULTS:  Of the 300 patients, 210 (70%) were found to have anemia. Overall 32 (15.24%) patients were mildly, 145 (69.05%) were moderately and 33 (15.71%) were severely bleeding. The diagnostic yield was significantly higher in severe (72.73%) relative to moderate (32.41%) and mild bleeding (12.50%); P = 0.0001. Significantly more angioectasias were detected in severely bleeding patients (42.42%) than in those bleeding moderately (14.48%) and mildly (0.00%), P = 0.0001. The ability of VCE to guide further intervention was significantly higher in patients bleeding severely (69.70%, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS:  Our data showed a significant increase in diagnostic yield with the increasing degree of anemia. Relative difference in hemoglobin rather than absolute values may be a better predictor. The ability of VCE to guide further intervention reached significance in severely bleeding patients. The hypothesis that use of VCE prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy in the severely bleeding group deserves to be evaluated.
Diving dentistry: a review of the dental implications of scuba diving
Authors: Zadik Y , Drucker S
Published: July 2011

In light of the overwhelming popularity of self‐contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving, general dental practitioners should be prepared to address complications arising as a result of diving and to provide patients with accurate information. The aim of this article was to introduce the concepts of diving medicine and dentistry to the dentist, and to supply the dental practitioner with some diagnostic tools as well as treatment guidelines. The literature was reviewed to address diving barotrauma (pressure‐induced injury related to an air space) to the head, face and oral regions, as well as scuba mouthpiece‐related oral conditions. The relevant conditions for dentists who treat divers include diving‐associated headache (migraine, tension‐type headache), barosinusitis and barotitis‐media (sinus and middle ear barotrauma, respectively), neuropathy, trigeminal (CN V) or facial (CN VII) nerve baroparesis (pressure‐induced palsy), dental barotrauma (barometric‐related tooth injury), barodontalgia (barometric‐related dental pain), mouthpiece‐associated herpes infection, pharyngeal gag reflex and temporomandibular joint disorder (dysfunction). For each condition, a theoretical description is followed by practical recommendations for the dental practitioner for the prevention and management of the condition.
Age‐related differences in work motivation
Authors: Inceoglu Ilke , Segers Jesse , Bartram Dave
Published: July 2011

This paper examines age‐related differences in work motivation in two samples of 9,388 and 2,512 individuals who completed a comprehensive motivation questionnaire for selection or development purposes. In the first sample, age differences were examined by controlling for gender and investigating whether relationships between age and motivation were non‐linear. Statistically significant relationships between motivation and age were found for most motivation scales, explaining up to 12% of the variance in specific scales. The second sample was used to confirm these results and to determine whether differences on these motivation scales could be explained by additional demographic variables, which were not available in the first sample. When controlling for demographic variables, such as gender, managerial experience, and university education, the pattern of results was similar in the second data set although effects were smaller. Results generally support propositions from the literature, which suggest a shift in people's motives rather than a general decline in motivation with age: older employees were less motivated by extrinsically but more by intrinsically rewarding job features.
The effect of lip-reading on primary stream segregation
Authors: Devergie Aymeric , Grimault Nicolas , Gaudrain Etienne , Healy Eric W. , Berthommier Frédéric
Published: July 2011

Lip-reading has been shown to improve the intelligibility of speech in multitalker situations, where auditory stream segregation naturally takes place. This study investigated whether the benefit of lip-reading is a result of a primary audiovisual interaction that enhances the obligatory streaming mechanism. Two behavioral experiments were conducted involving sequences of French vowels that alternated in fundamental frequency. In Experiment 1, subjects attempted to identify the order of items in a sequence. In Experiment 2, subjects attempted to detect a disruption to temporal isochrony across alternate items. Both tasks are disrupted by streaming, thus providing a measure of primary or obligatory streaming. Visual lip gestures articulating alternate vowels were synchronized with the auditory sequence. Overall, the results were consistent with the hypothesis that visual lip gestures enhance segregation by affecting primary auditory streaming. Moreover, increases in the naturalness of visual lip gestures and auditory vowels, and corresponding increases in audiovisual congruence may potentially lead to increases in the effect of visual lip gestures on streaming.
P1-S3.07 Relation between female infertility and sexually transmitted genital infections
Authors: Almanza C , Ricardo M , González A
Published: July 2011

Background

Sexually transmitted genital infections can bring about severe consequences, among them the leading cause of pelvic inflammatory desease (PID), which can lead to infertility. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between female infertility and sexually transmitted genital infections.

Methods

An analytic study of cases and controls was carried out in Ramón González Coro Gyneco-obstetric Hospital, Cuba, 2009. The studied cases were 89 infertile women with tube obstruction who were assessed in infertility consultations, and the controls were carried out in 100 pregnant women who were about to give birth. Vaginal and endocervical secretion samples were taken. Genital micoplasma was present; it was determined through bacteriological culture techniques.Trichomonas vaginalis,Candidaspp, Bacterial vaginosis,Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Chlamydia trachomatis, as well as the presence of other genital pathologicals; were investigated. The test of exact probabilities of Fisher was carried out. A t student test was also done to determine significant defferencies among age averages. The RR was estimated by means of OR in tables 2×2, and its statistic meaning was determined through a CI at 95%, the aproximation of Woolf was used.

Results

The age average in infertile women was of 30.4 years and in fertile woman 24.3 years. (4.486 -07), which is a highly significant difference. Bacterial vaginosis was detected in 72% of the infertile women and 30.9 % of pregnant women.Candidaspp in 20% of infertile women and 65.4% of the controlled group. The presence of a highly significant statistic difference was proved when Fisher Test was applied. This difference was related to the distribution of microrganisms in both groups (p<0.0001).Mycoplasma hominiswas isolated in 17% of infertile women and in 10% of fertile women. In the group of infertile women,Ureaplasma urealyticumwas obtained in 42.70% of positive cultures; while in pregnant women, 2% was obtained.U urealyticumwas not isolated in 57.30% of the infertile woman and in 98% of the pregnant ones. OR 83.92. CL for OR at 95% (17.37 to 397.05) statistically significant. In 54.30% of the infertile women and 98% of the pregnant ones,Chlamydia trachomatiswas not isolated.

Conclusions

The presence of bacterial vaginosis,U urealyticum,C trachomatisresulted to be a risk factor of female infertility.
O3-S3.04 Self-administeredNeisseria gonorrheaeandChlamydia trachomatistesting in the pharynx and rectum among men who have sex with men in Washington, DC
Authors: Sexton M , Baker J , Perkins R , Nakagawa K , Jucha B , Baker D , Slack R , Arora S , Plankey M
Published: July 2011

Background

Recent studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of pharyngeal (P) and rectal (R)Neisseria gonorrheae(GC) andChlamydia trachomatis(CT) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), which is concerning given the potential for harmful sequelae and their relationship to increased HIV transmission. CDC guidelines advocate testing MSM at least annually for these infections, but surveys of medical providers suggest that adherence to these guidelines is minimal. Because providers cite limited time and staff as common reasons for not following the guidelines, we evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of performing self-administered testing for GC and CT.

Methods

286 clients who attended Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, DC for HIV/STI testing participated in the study. Enrolled clients had a mean age of 36±11, represented a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds with 52.8% identifying as Caucasian, and had an average of two male partners in the last 30 days. Clients performed screening using the GenProbe APTIMA 2 Combo (AC2) kit after viewing written and pictorial instructions. A trained provider also performed the testing with the order of client vs provider randomised to adjust for any training effect. This provider remained in the room while the client performed screening to observe, but did not provide assistance.

Results

The overall prevalence of GC and CT in this sample was 8.9% for P-GC, 8.5% for R-GC, 1.77% for P- CT, and 13.3% for R-CT. McNemar tests were performed stratified by type of infection and anatomic site to evaluate concordance of the client vs provider results. Clients were found to be significantly better at identifying P-GC (91.3% vs 94.4%; 8.8% vs 5.6%; p=0.01) and R-GC (91.5% vs 94.3%; 8.5% vs 5.7%; p=0.03) and to have results equivalent to providers for P-CT (98.3% vs 98.9%; 1.8% vs 1.1%; p=0.50) and R-CT (88.7% vs 88.2%; 13.3% vs 11.9%, p=0.25) detection.

Conclusions

The positive predictive value of the AC2 test makes it unlikely that clients obtained false positives, and observation of subjects while they performed screening ruled out cross-contamination of samples. Therefore, the higher detection rate among the clients is most likely attributable to a more rigorous swabbing technique that sampled an increased surface area. These results suggest that individuals are capable of performing their own STI screening and that allowing them to do so may increase infection detection rates and treatment.
O3-S5.03 High-dose valacyclovir decreases plasma HIV-1 levels more than standard dose acyclovir in HIV-1, HSV-2 positive persons: a randomised, crossover trial
Authors: Perti T , Baeten J , Johnston C , Diem K , Ochbamichael N , Huang Meei-Li , Selke S , Magaret A , Corey L , Wald A
Published: July 2011

Background

Standard doses of HSV suppressive therapy reduce plasma HIV-1 levels (0.25-0.5 log10 copies/mL) among HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected persons, and modestly slow disease progression. Putative mechanisms for this effect include direct inhibition of HIV-1 by acyclovir or indirect reduction by decreasing HSV-associated inflammation. We hypothesised that higher-dose anti-HSV therapy would result in greater reduction in plasma HIV-1 RNA, and that the effect would be mediated by greater suppression of HSV shedding.

Methods

34 participants with HIV-1 and HSV-2 who were not on antiretroviral therapy were enrolled into a randomised, open-label cross-over trial with valacyclovir 1000 mg twice daily or acyclovir 400 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. After a 2 week wash-out, they were crossed over to the alternate treatment arm for 12 weeks. HSV PCR was performed on self-collected genital swabs obtained daily during the first 4 weeks of each treatment period. Plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured weekly throughout the study.

Results

Among the 26 participants who completed both arms of the study, the mean age was 44; 21 were men. At entry, mean CD4 count was 525 cells/mm3 (range, 242–1055) and mean plasma HIV-1 RNA 3.9 log10 copies/ml (range 1.2–5.5). The mean plasma HIV RNA was 3.86 log10 copies/ml during acyclovir administration compared with 3.57 log10 copies/ml on valacyclovir; a 0.29 log10 copies/ml reduction (p=0.002). One week after initiation of valacyclovir, plasma HIV RNA decreased by a mean of 0.40 log10 copies/ml. Valacyclovir reduced HIV-1 RNA by ≥0.25 log10 copies/ml in 14 (54%) participants, compared with 3 (12%) on acyclovir. Neither the HSV shedding rate (8.92% vs 8.98% of days, p=0.94), nor the genital lesion rate (4.3% vs 1.1%; p=0.18) differed on acyclovir vs valacyclovir.

Conclusions

High-dose valacyclovir reduces plasma HIV-1 RNA levels more effectively than standard dose acyclovir in HIV-1, HSV-2 seropositive persons not receiving antiretroviral therapy. High dose valacyclovir does not provide more potent suppression of HSV reactivation in HIV-1 infected persons than acyclovir, suggesting that the effect of valacyclovir on HIV-1 RNA may not be mediated via HSV suppression.
ON ANGULAR ORDERING IN MEDIUM-INDUCED RADIATION
Authors: TYWONIUK KONRAD
Published: July 2011

As an attempt to understand color coherence effects in medium from first principles, we calculate the double differential spectrum of medium-induced gluon emission off a quark–antiquark antenna in the framework of perturbative QCD. Within this setup we find a soft singularity, analogous to the vacuum spectrum, yet, as opposed to the vacuum, the collinear singularity is regulated by the pair opening angle, leading to a strict anti-angular ordering. We comment on the possible consequences of this new contribution for reconstructed jet observables in heavy-ion collisions.
The Natural History and Outcomes of the Patients with Carcinosarcoma Involving Kidney and Renal Pelvis
Authors: Wang Jue , Wang Fen Wei , Kessinger Anne
Published: July 2011

Background. The objective of this paper was to examine the epidemiology, natural history, and prognostic factors of carcinosarcoma of the kidney and renal pelvis (CSKP) using population-based registry.Patients and Methods. Forty-three patients with CSKP, diagnosed between January 1973 and December 2007, were identified from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and reviewed.Results. 79% of all patients with known SEER stage were classified as having regional or distant stage; almost all the patients with known histology grade had poorly or undifferentiated histology. The median cancer specific survival was 6 months (95% CI 4–9). The 1-year cancer-specific survival rate for entire cohort was 30.2%. There were no differences in terms of age at diagnosis, histological grade, tumor stage on presentation, and frequency of nephrectomy between carcinosarcoma of kidney (CSK) or renal pelvis (CSP). In multivariate analysis, age at diagnosis, tumor stage, and year of diagnosis were found to be significant predictors for cancer-specific survival.Conclusion. CSKP commonly presented as high-grade, advanced stage disease, and was associated with a poor prognosis regardless of location.
Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency in Five Arab Kindreds with Homozygous Point Mutations of the ACTH Receptor (MC2R): Genotype and Phenotype Correlations
Authors: al Kandari Hessa M. , Katsumata Noriyuki , al Alwan Ibrahim , al Balwi Mohammed , Rasoul Majedah S. Abdul
Published: July 2011

Background/Aims: Familial glucocorticoid deficiency type 1 (FGD1) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder resulting from defective ACTH receptor (melanocortin receptor type 2, MC2R). Individuals with this condition usually present in infancy or early childhood with the signs and symptoms of isolated glucocorticoid deficiency. To date, hypothyroidism has been reported as an associated feature in a few cases. The clinical findings along with MC2R genetic analysis of five Arab kindreds are described. Subjects/Methods: The subjects were children with the clinical and biochemical features of FGD1. Three patients had associated thyroid dysfunction and two patients had associated growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Mutation analysis of MC2R was performed by direct gene sequencing. Results: Analysis of the MC2R gene revealed a homozygous insertion of a cytosine nucleotide between codons 153 and 154 (c.459_460insC) in all of the patients. This mutation would be expected to cause a translation frame shift after codon 154 and a premature termination codon at 248 of the MC2R mRNA (p.I154fsX248). Conclusions: Associated thyroid dysfunction and GHD were clinical features in the Bedouin patients with FGD1 caused by identical homozygous frameshift mutation in the MC2R gene.
Impact of Enamel Defects on Early Caries Development in Preschool Children
Authors: Carvalho J.C. , Silva E.F. , Gomes R.R. , Fonseca J.A.C. , Mestrinho H.D.
Published: July 2011

Quantitative defects of the enamel are considered risk factors for caries development at the cavitated level. Since caries risk assessment and control should be implemented as early as possible in order to prevent operative treatment, it seemed interesting to investigate the relationship between enamel defects and caries development in the stages of progression that precede cavitation. The impact of enamel defects and selected child-mother indicators on early caries development was investigated in a cohort of Brazilian preschool children. The null hypothesis that developmental defects of the enamel and dental caries are independent and that an association between them occurs by chance was tested. The sample (n = 1,718) was made up of 2- to 5-year-olds. Developmental defects of enamel and caries on buccal surfaces were identified in 48 and 26% of the children, respectively. Bivariate analyses at the surface level showed neither an association between demarcated/diffuse opacity and caries experience (p ≧ 0.64, GLM), nor between the presence of hypoplastic surfaces and non-cavitated lesions (p = 0.29, GLM). The multivariate analyses indicated that in the mouths of individual children, hypoplastic surfaces were more likely to present filled surfaces and non-cavitated/cavitated lesions than non-hypoplastic surfaces (within-child p = 0.03, GEE). However, children having teeth with hypoplastic surfaces were not at higher caries risk than those children who did not present hypoplastic surfaces (between-child p = 0.23, GEE). The null hypothesis could not be accepted for quantitative defects such as hypoplasia, since they had a significant impact on the within-child prevalence of filled surfaces and non-cavitated/cavitated lesions.
A Randomized Controlled Study of Uncomplicated Gallstone Disease with a 14-Year Follow-Up Showed that Operation Was the Preferred Treatment
Authors: Schmidt Malte , Søndenaa Karl , Vetrhus Morten , Berhane Tewelde , Eide Geir Egil
Published: July 2011

Background/Aims: Cholecystectomy is considered the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstone disease. Some patients abstain from surgery and provide the opportunity to study the natural history of cholelithiasis. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility and safety of observation after extended long-term follow-up in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 137 patients (40.5% of those assessed) were randomized to observation or cholecystectomy and followed up for 14 years. The prevalence of symptomatic events or major complications after treatment was the primary end point. A secondary end point was completion of randomized treatment. Results: There were no differences in outcome between the observation group and the surgical group (p = 0.298). Virtually no cholecystectomy was performed after 5 years of follow-up, and no clear escalation in the severity of the disease was observed. A total of 50.7% of patients from the observation group and 88.2% from the surgical group underwent surgery. The group randomized to surgery completed their designated treatment significantly more often (p < 0.001), especially among patients younger than 70 years of age (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Cholecystectomy was the preferred treatment after extended long-term follow-up, but conservative management for symptomatic gallstone disease is an alternative to surgery in the elderly.
An Investigation of Sea Surface Temperature Influence on Microwave Refractivity: The Wallops-2000 Experiment
Authors: Thompson William T. , Haack Tracy
Published: July 2011

The Wallops-2000 experiment took place in April and May 2000 in the vicinity of Wallops Island, Virginia, to collect high-resolution measurements of microwave propagation and coincident meteorological parameters in a complex coastal environment. These data are used in conjunction with a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model to examine the impact of sea surface temperature (SST) on microwave ducting. Analysis of time series of meteorological fields at the location of an instrumented buoy indicates reliable forecast skill. Statistics from vertical profiles and of derived ducting characteristics (duct frequency, duct strength, duct-base height, and duct thickness) show that the model reproduced observed duct characteristics with modest accuracy, allowing for a 3–6-h error in synoptic airmass transitions. In addition to the control run, two experiments are conducted to examine the impact of SST on ducting. In one experiment a climatological SST field is used, and in the other a diurnal variation in SST is imposed. The higher SST in the diurnally varying simulations promotes stronger turbulent mixing, deep boundary layers, and small vertical gradients in mixing ratio in comparison with the control, which lead to reduced duct frequency and strength in many cases. The study further reveals that, while advection of large-scale air masses (vertical and horizontal) plays a crucial role in determining whether an environment is favorable for microwave ducting, diurnal variations in SST can be influential in determining the onset of ducting and the frequency of surface-based ducting in coastal regions.
Christian Corpses for Christians!
Authors: Aleksiun Natalia
Published: July 2011

In this article, the author analyzes the campaign that captured the attention of medical colleges at Polish Universities in Warsaw, Vilno, Cracow, and Lvov during the 1920s and 1930s. The author discusses calls made by right-wing students for a regular supply of Jewish corpses matching their percentage among the students, and the ways in which university authorities and Polish Jewish communal leaders responded to these demands. Clearly, driving Jews out of the medical profession combined traditional prejudicial thinking about Jews with modern racial science and corresponded with the more general call to remove Jews from free professions. However, the issue of Jewish corpses took this line of thinking into the realm of pathology. The author argues that taking issue with Jewish access to “Christian corpses” echoed perceptions of Jewish impurity. It implied that Jewish students constituted a danger not only to their Polish colleagues but even to the corpses of Christians, which they could somehow contaminate or violate. Thus, this campaign was based on the notion of essential difference between Jews and non-Jews even in death. It suggests a vision of society in which any contact between Jews and non-Jews was perceived as contaminating and dangerous.
Cognitive enhancement and education
Authors: Buchanan Allen
Published: July 2011

Cognitive enhancement — augmenting normal cognitive capacities — is not new. Literacy, numeracy, computers, and the practices of science are all cognitive enhancements. Science is now making new cognitive enhancements possible. Biomedical cognitive enhancements (BCEs) include the administration of drugs, implants of genetically engineered or stem-cell grown neural tissue, transcranial magnetic stimulation, computer/brain interface technologies, and (perhaps someday) modification of human embryos by genetic engineering and/or synthetic biology techniques. The same liberal—democratic values that support education as a public institutional endeavor also supply reasons for institutionalizing and publicly supporting BCE. Pursuing the goals of education may require changing what we have hitherto regarded as the individual’s ‘natural’ potential, even in the case of normal individuals, and this may require recourse to BCE. The prospect of BCE raises no novel issues of distributive justice. Like other beneficial innovations, BCEs have the potential to worsen existing unjust inequalities, but they also have the potential to ameliorate them.
Funds of knowledge for the poor and forms of capital for the rich? A capital approach to examining funds of knowledge
Authors: Rios-Aguilar Cecilia , Kiyama Judy Marquez , Gravitt Michael , Moll Luis C.
Published: July 2011

Educational researchers have assumed that the concept of funds of knowledge is related to specific forms of capital. However, scholars have not examined if and how these theoretical frameworks can complement each other when attempting to understand educational opportunity for under-represented students. In this article, we argue that a funds of knowledge approach should also be studied from a capital perspective. We claim that bridging funds of knowledge and capital has the potential to advance theory and to yield new insights and understandings of students’ educational opportunities and experiences. Finally, we provide a discussion of key processes — (mis)recognition, transmission, conversion, and activation/mobilization — to which educational researchers need to pay closer attention when attempting to understand the attainment of goals in under-represented students’ lives.
Design and control for rotor-fixed wing hybrid aircraft
Authors: Wang Xinhua , Lin Hai
Published: July 2011

This article presents a model of rotor-fixed wing hybrid aircraft, which can operate as a helicopter as well as transition to fixed-wing flight. The control mission includes: hover, vertical take-off and landing, forward flight, from hover to forward flight, and vice versa. A backstepping-based control method for the aircraft is designed to keep the flying height invariant during mode transitions from hover to forward flight and vice versa. The other control missions mentioned are not considered in this article.
Proteome-wide evidence for enhanced positive Darwinian selection within intrinsically disordered regions in proteins
Authors: Nilsson Johan , Grahn Mats , Wright Anthony PH
Published: July 2011

Background

Understanding the adaptive changes that alter the function of proteins during evolution is an important question for biology and medicine. The increasing number of completely sequenced genomes from closely related organisms, as well as individuals within species, facilitates systematic detection of recent selection events by means of comparative genomics.

Results

We have used genome-wide strain-specific single nucleotide polymorphism data from 64 strains of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces paradoxus) to determine whether adaptive positive selection is correlated with protein regions showing propensity for different classes of structure conformation. Data from phylogenetic and population genetic analysis of 3,746 gene alignments consistently shows a significantly higher degree of positive Darwinian selection in intrinsically disordered regions of proteins compared to regions of alpha helix, beta sheet or tertiary structure. Evidence of positive selection is significantly enriched in classes of proteins whose functions and molecular mechanisms can be coupled to adaptive processes and these classes tend to have a higher average content of intrinsically unstructured protein regions.

Conclusions

We suggest that intrinsically disordered protein regions may be important for the production and maintenance of genetic variation with adaptive potential and that they may thus be of central significance for the evolvability of the organism or cell in which they occur.
Preference Minorities and the Internet
Authors: Choi Jeonghye , Bell David R.
Published: July 2011

Offline retailers face trading area and shelf space constraints, so they offer products tailored to the needs of the majority. Consumers whose preferences are dissimilar to the majority—”preference minorities”—are underserved offline and should be more likely to shop online. The authors use sales data from Diapers.com , the leading U.S. online retailer for baby diapers, to show why geographic variation in preference minority status of target customers explains geographic variation in online sales. They find that, holding the absolute number of the target customers constant, online category sales are more than 50% higher in locations where customers suffer from preference isolation. Because customers in the preference minority face higher offline shopping costs, they are also less price sensitive. Niche brands, compared with popular brands, show even greater offline-to-online sales substitution. This greater sensitivity to preference isolation means that these brands in the tail of the long tail distribution draw a greater proportion of their total sales from high–preference minority regions. The authors conclude with a discussion of implications for online retailing research and practice.
The Incentive and Selection Roles of Sales Force Compensation Contracts
Authors: Lo Desmond (HO-FU) , Ghosh Mrinal , Lafontaine Francine
Published: July 2011

Designing compensation plans with an appropriate level of incentives is a key decision faced by managers of direct sales forces. The authors use data on individual salesperson compensation contracts to show that firms design their pay plans to both discriminatingly select (i.e., attract and retain) salespeople and provide them with the right level of incentives. Consistent with standard agency arguments, the authors find that firms use higher-powered incentives as the importance of agent effort increases. At the same time, the authors find strong support for the selection role of these contracts. Specifically, agents with greater selling ability and lower risk aversion are associated with jobs offering higher-powered incentives. Finally, consistent with prior findings on incentive contracts, the authors find no support for the insurance implication of the typical agency model. The authors rule out alternative explanations for this anomalous result and find that the selection role of contracts best explains the result in their context.
Gravure contact printing of flexible, high-performance polymer light emitting diodes for large-area displays and lighting
Authors: Campbell Alasdair J. , Chung Dae-Young , Huang Jingsong , Leem Dong-Seok , Bradley Donal D. C.
Published: July 2011

Gravure contact printing is the highest volume, large area printing technique known. It is ideally suited for the fabrication of large-area polymer light emitting diode (PLED) based lighting, backlights and displays. Here we show how gravure can be used to fabricate the poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) : poly(styrene sulfonate) hole injection layer and the light emitting polymer emissive layer in a conventional PLED, as well as the cesium carbonate electron injection layer in an inverted PLED. The performance equals or exceeds that of devices where these layers are deposited by conventional spin-coating.
Nano-TiO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Optimization, Production and Market
Authors: Baraton Marie-Isabelle
Published: July 2011

Since the beginning of the 20th century, titanium dioxide (titania, TiO2) has essentially been commercialized as white powder pigment. But, titania, as one of the most efficient photocatalysts, is also used in many other applications, such as photodegradation of pollutants and photocatalytic water splitting. Moreover, titania is a semiconductor and is used as gas sensing material. Nanosized titania particles (nano-TiO2) are preferred over conventional particles in applications where greater surface area, higher reactivity, and quantum confinement effects matter. For example, in the field of clean energy, acceptable energy conversion efficiencies for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can only be achieved with nanostructured semiconductors, and particularly with nanostructured titania. Research on DSSCs based on nano-TiO2 has been extensively pursued, and the number of papers and patents published in this area has grown exponentially over the last ten years. However, at present, commercial devices are produced in limited quantities and small sizes, and address niche markets. Research efforts have largely focused on the optimization of the dye, but recently the TiO2 electrode itself has attracted more attention. It has been shown that particle size and shape, crystallinity, surface morphology and chemistry of the TiO2 material are key parameters to be controlled for optimized performance of the solar cell. After an overview of the state-of-the-art on nano-TiO2 for application in DSSCs and the commercial potential of these devices, our approach to the control of the nano-TiO2 surface chemistry for improvement of the DSSC performance is briefly introduced.
The Effect of Poor Parenting on Male and Female Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization
Authors: Tyler Kimberly A. , Brownridge Douglas A. , Melander Lisa A.
Published: July 2011

This study examines the effects of poor parenting on dating violence perpetration and victimization among approximately 900 males and females from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results revealed that more physical abuse and low parental warmth were linked to greater substance use and higher rates of delinquency. In addition, low parental warmth, more neglect, and greater delinquency had positive direct effects on dating violence perpetration, whereas more physical abuse, low parental warmth, and increased delinquency were all positively associated with dating violence victimization. Finally, delinquency mediated the link between low parental warmth and dating violence perpetration and victimization. The results provide some support for both social learning theory and an antisocial orientation perspective.
Investigating the Validity of a Multirater Assessment of Family Functioning in China
Authors: Liu Xi , Zhang Jianxin , Yeh Chen-Yu Linus
Published: July 2011

The validity of a multirater assessment of family functioning in 1-child Chinese families was examined using the Relationship-Specific Chinese Family Assessment Instrument (RS-CFAI), developed based on the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument (Shek, 2001, 2002). Data were collected
from 506 families in Beijing consisting of 2 parents and 1 child. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) models and the dyadic-level CFA models were tested in the framework of the multitrait multirater strategy to demonstrate the validity of the RS-CFAI. The results indicated that there are
3 factors (activity, affect, and control) in the RS-CFAI within different family subsystems. The social relations model (SRM) was also used to explain the characteristics of the 1-child family, providing evidence of the convergent and discriminative validity of the RS-CFAI. The goodness-of-fit
of the SRM and CFA models indicates that the RS-CFAI is a valid tool for assessing family functioning among 1-child families in China.