bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin ameliorates methionine‐ and choline‐deficient diet‐induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats
Authors: Tahan Veysel , Atug Ozlen , Akin Hakan , Eren Fatih , Tahan Gulgun , Tarcin Ozlem , Uzun Hafize , Ozdogan Osman , Tarcin Orhan , Imeryuz Nese , Ozguner Fehmi , Celikel Cigdem , Avsar Erol , Tozun Nurdan
Published: March 2009

Abstract:  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may progress to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Mainly, oxidative stress and excessive hepatocyte apoptosis are implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive NASH. Melatonin is not only a powerful antioxidant but also an anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic agent. We aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on methionine‐ and choline‐deficient diet (MCDD)‐induced NASH in rats. Thirty‐two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Two groups were fed with MCDD while the other two groups were fed a control diet, pair‐fed. One of the MCDD groups and one of the control diet groups were administered melatonin 50 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally, and the controls were given a vehicle. After 1 month the liver tissue oxidative stress markers, proinflammatory cytokines and hepatocyte apoptosis were studied by commercially available kits. For grading and staging histological lesions, Brunt et al.’s system was used. Melatonin decreased oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines and hepatocyte apoptosis. The drug ameliorated the grade of NASH. The present study suggests that melatonin functions as a potent antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic agent in NASH and may be a therapeutic option.
Melatonin down‐regulates HIF‐1α expression through inhibition of protein translation in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Park Jong‐Wook , Hwang Mi‐Sun , Suh Seong‐Il , Baek Won‐Ki
Published: March 2009

Abstract:  Melatonin, the main secretory product of the pineal gland, has been shown to exert an oncostatic activity in cancer cells. Recently, several studies have shown that melatonin has antiangiogenic properties. However, the mechanism by which melatonin exerts antiangiogenenic effects is not understood. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)‐1 is a transcription factor which mediates adaptive response to changes in tissue oxygenation. HIF‐1 is a heterodimer formed by the association of a constitutively expressed HIF‐1β subunit and a HIF‐1α subunit, the expression of which is highly regulated. In this study, pharmacologic concentrations of melatonin was found to inhibit expression of HIF‐1α protein under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in DU145, PC‐3, and LNCaP prostate cancer cells without affecting HIF‐1α mRNA levels. Consistent with the reduction in HIF‐1α protein levels, melatonin inhibited HIF‐1 transcriptional activity and the release of vascular endothelial growth factor. We found that the suppression of HIF‐1α expression by melatonin correlated with dephosphorylation of p70S6K and its direct target RPS6, a pathway known to regulate HIF‐1α expression at the translational level. Metabolic labeling assays indicated that melatonin inhibits de novo synthesis of HIF‐1α protein. Taken together, these results suggest that the pharmacologic concentration of melatonin inhibits HIF‐1α expression through the suppression of protein translation in prostate cancer cells.
Examining the Lives of Navajo Native American Teenage Mothers in Context: A 12‐ to 15‐Year Follow‐Up
Authors: Dalla Rochelle L. , Jacobs‐Hagen Susan B. , Jareske Betsy K. , Sukup Julie L.
Published: March 2009

In 1992 and 1995, data were collected from 29 Navajo, reservation‐residing teenage mothers. In 2007, follow‐up data from 69% (n= 20) of the original sample were collected. Intensive interviews, grounded in ecological systems theory (U. Bronfenbrenner, 1989), allowed for contextual examination of the women’s developmental trajectories. Significant educational accomplishments and a strong work ethic (i.e., individual level) exemplified the majority of respondents. Relationships with families of origin and intimate partners (i.e., microsystems) and connections between these (i.e., mesosystems) promoted and challenged participants’ optimal development and were significantly influenced by macrosystem factors (e.g., economic constraints, physical isolation). Implications for service provision and continued research are discussed.
Navigating Interdependence: How Adolescents Raised Solely by Grandparents Experience Their Family Relationships
Authors: Dolbin‐MacNab Megan L. , Keiley Margaret K.
Published: March 2009

This study examined how adolescents raised solely by grandparents navigated their relationships with their parents and grandparents and how these relationships were influenced by the caregiving context. Forty‐one adolescents participated in qualitative, semistructured interviews. Findings suggest that relationships with parents were primarily companionate or marked by distance and distrust. Grandchildren had strong emotional bonds to their grandparents, although they also negotiated several sources of stress. Participants also reported feelings of gratitude because of the positive influence their grandparents had on their lives. Caregiving context shaped grandchildren’s interdependence with their parents and grandparents in numerous ways. Findings highlight the complexity of grandchildren’s family relationships and underscore the value of a systemic approach to understanding youth who are being raised by grandparents.
Do Job Demands Undermine Parenting? A Daily Analysis of Spillover and Crossover Effects
Authors: Bass Brenda L. , Butler Adam B. , Grzywacz Joseph G. , Linney Kirsten D.
Published: March 2009

Using data collected over 14 consecutive days, we examined the impact of work hours and job demands on parent‐child interactions for mothers and fathers in nonprofessional couples. Wives and husbands evaluated their interactions with their children similarly, such that changes in a spouse’s evaluation of parent‐child interactions typically matched those reported by the other spouse. Greater daily work hours were related to less time spent on child care and less time spent on leisure with children, but higher positive interactions with children were reported. Greater wife perceived job demands were associated with husbands having more positive interactions with children. The findings add to our limited understanding of daily experiences of work‐family issues for parents within nonprofessional, dual‐earner households.
Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Sun Chiao‐Yin , Lee Chin‐Chan , Wu Mai‐Szu
Published: March 2009

The aim of our study was to determine if different hypoglycemic therapies are associated with more frequent episodes of hypoglycemia in diabetes patients undergoing long‐term hemodialysis. We conducted a prospective cohort study that included 102 diabetes patients who were undergoing long‐term hemodialysis. The frequency of symptomatic hypoglycemic episodes, intradialytic hypotension, antihypertension medication, hypoglycemic therapy regimens, dialysate contents, and laboratory data were reviewed. The duration of follow‐up was three months. Fifty‐four (52.9%) patients were categorized as hypoglycemic and 48 (47.1%) patients as non‐hypoglycemic. The serum albumin levels of the hypoglycemic and non‐hypoglycemic patients were 3.18 ± 0.34 g/dL and 3.44 ± 0.33 g/dL respectively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of intradialytic hypotension is significantly higher in the hypoglycemic patients (44.4%) than in the non‐hypoglycemic patients (20.8%) (P = 0.012). The risk of hypoglycemia differed significantly between the patients taking oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) and those receiving purely insulin therapy (P = 0.035). Multivariate analysis revealed that the serum albumin (odds ratio [OR] 0.093, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.021–0.409), intradialytic hypotension (OR 2.755, 95% CI 1.048–7.228), and OHA therapy (OR 0.337, 95% CI 0.128–0.888) were independent factors of hypoglycemia. The patients treated only with meglitinides as hypoglycemic therapy had a significantly lower risk of hypoglycemia than those receiving mixed insulin therapy (P = 0.016). Frequent episodes of intradialytic hypotension and hypoalbuminemia are powerful clinical predictors of hypoglycemia in diabetes patients undergoing hemodialysis. It was also found that OHAs do not pose a higher risk of hypoglycemia than insulin in diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Early Antibody‐Mediated Rejection of the Renal Allograft: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Slatinska Janka , Honsova Eva , Burgelova Marcela , Slavcev Antonij , Viklicky Ondrej
Published: March 2009

Antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) is a rare complication which often results in the loss of the kidney graft. The objective of this retrospective single center study was to evaluate two different approaches to AMR. We retrospectively evaluated data files from 936 patients who had undergone renal transplantation in 2002–2006. In 2002–2003, patients with AMR were treated with five plasmapheresis sessions (PP group, N = 13), and in 2004–2006 they received five plasmapheresis session along with intravenous immunoglobulin 0.5 g/kg (PP+IVIg group, N = 11). Twelve months of follow‐up data was analyzed. First year graft survival was significantly higher in the PP+IVIg group than in the PP group (90.9% vs. 46.2%; P = 0.044); similarly, patient survival was higher in the PP+IVIg group (100% vs. 76.9%; P = 0.056). The incidence of infectious complications was similar in both groups. In re‐biopsies, patients in the PP group often suffered from cellular rejection. The deposition of C4d complement was similar in re‐biopsies in both groups. In this large single center study we proved the superiority of plasmapheresis with intravenous immunoglobulin administration in the treatment of early AMR of renal allografts.
Low Density Lipoprotein Apheresis in Pediatric Patients With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Coker Mahmut , Ucar Sema Kalkan , Simsek Damla Goksen , Darcan Sukran , Bak Mustafa , Can Sule
Published: March 2009

The aim of the present study is to clarify the low density lipoprotein apheresis procedure for pediatric patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in terms of efficacy, adverse effects and difficulties. The follow‐up was carried out using an open, prospective uncontrolled clinical design. Data were collected from 10 patients (with an average age of 8.4 ± 4.7 years) with FH treated with double filtration plasmapheresis. The total time span of follow‐up covered five years (30.2 ± 17.8 months [range 9–60 months]) and more than 600 sessions (62.1 ± 35.5 sessions per patient [range 18–120 sessions]) were evaluated. The mean low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) pre‐treatment value was 375.5 ± 127.5 mg/dL, and the post‐treatment value was 147.5 ± 73.9 mg/dL. This corresponded to a 62.8 ± 10.3% (43–73%) acute reduction of LDL‐C, while the mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol losses amounted to 41%. The chronic reduction in LDL‐C ranged from 18 to 52%, with a mean level of 36.4 ± 11.7%. The most frequently occurring technical problems were related to blood lines: puncture difficulties (4.5%), insufficient blood flow (3.5%), and obturation of the blood lines (2.4%). The main clinical adverse effects were hypotension (0.2%), chills/feeling cold (0.1%), and nausea and vomiting (0.2%). We observed that the low pediatric patient tolerance is the main problem in compliance with treatment. In conclusion, LDL apheresis, started under the age of eight years, combined with lipid‐lowering drugs, provides a safe and effective lowering of the mean LDL‐C levels in pediatric homozygous FH; and there are more problems with compliance for pediatric LDL apheresis than in the adult population.
Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis Therapy Modulates Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cell Function in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Iwakami Yuko , Sakuraba Atsushi , Sato Toshiro , Takada Yasuhiro , Izumiya Motoko , Ichikawa Hitoshi , Hibi Toshifumi
Published: March 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GMA). We investigated the alterations in circulating monocyte subsets and monocyte‐derived dendritic cell (moDC) function after GMA therapy in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Eighteen patients with UC were enrolled: 14 patients were responders, and 4 patients were non‐responders. Peripheral venous blood was obtained within 5 min before and 5 min after GMA therapy. Flow cytometric analysis for monocyte markers (CD14/CD16) was then performed. Monocyte‐derived dendritic cells were obtained and alterations in their phenotype were analyzed by flow cytometry. Their function was also analyzed in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay between allo‐naïve T lymphocytes. Flow cytometric analysis for intracellular interferon (IFN)‐γ (T‐helper 1 cells) and interleukin (IL)‐4 (T‐helper 2 cells) was then performed for the stimulated T lymphocytes. In patients who responded to GMA, the average numbers of monocytes, especially CD16+ monocytes, were significantly decreased after therapy (P < 0.05). In responders, post‐GMA moDCs expressed significantly lower CD80 and B7‐DC, which are one of the stimulation and maturation markers of dendritic cells, compared to pre‐GMA moDCs. CD83, CD86 and human leukocyte antigen‐DR also showed a tendency to decrease. In responders, naïve T lymphocytes stimulated with post‐GMA moDCs produced significantly less IFN‐γ and IL‐4 compared to those stimulated with pre‐GMA moDCs. The results of our study show that some of the immunosuppressive effects of GMA therapy may be associated with the modulation of monocyte subsets and moDC function.
Financial Economists Roundtable Statement on Reforming the Role of the Rating “Agencies” in the Securitization Process
Authors: Herring Richard J. , Kane Edward J.
Published: March 2009

Assets securitized by private companies reached a peak of nearly $12 trillion in 2008, an amount nearly equal to the entire stock of credit intermediated in traditional ways by the world's banking systems. Failures of care and diligence in the origination, rating, and securitization of subprime mortgages led to a collapse in the prices of securitized assets and the public's confidence in the reliability and integrity of the process by which securities are rated. This decline in confidence has in turn undermined prices and credit flows in every market where investors and regulators rely on the credit ratings provided by Statistical Ratings Organizations (SROs) to certify the quality of debt.

With the aim of rebuilding confidence in the securitization process, this statement drafted and signed by 30 distinguished academic economists recommends three kinds of reform that are designed to improve the incentives faced by the SROs. First, to increase accountability for ratings mistakes, the analytic work of SROs must be made more transparent and their managements must accept liability for errors of negligence. Second, explicit reliance on ratings should be eliminated from risk management regulations issued by government agencies. By effectively “outsourcing” public authority to private firms, such regulations have had the effect of intensifying SRO conflicts of interest. Finally, SROs should be required to calculate and state express margins for error in the ratings for every tranche of securitized instruments. This would help investors appreciate the differences in the degree of leverage embedded in various categories of securitized debt.
Brazil's Experiment with Corporate Governance
Authors: Chavez Gonzalo A. , Silva Ana Cristina
Published: March 2009

The adoption of special listing segments by the São Paulo Stock Exchange in the year 2000 was an important step forward for the Brazilian equity market. Bovespa's introduction of the Novo Mercado and its Special Corporate Governance Levels 1 and 2 provided concrete, standardized certification of corporate commitments to higher governance standards that could be readily observed and verified by all market participants.

What evidence do we have that this experiment in corporate governance has been a success? One indication is the performance of the Brazilian stock market itself, along with its ability to attract foreign investors. From 2002 to mid‐2008, the market capitalization of Bovespa companies increased by over 700%, while average daily volume grew almost tenfold. And as of June 2008, international investors represented 37% of total value, up from 26% in 2002.

What's more, the growth in the three differentiated governance segments has been even more remarkable. Starting with 15 companies in 2001, the special governance segments had a total of 161 listings by early 2009. And by the end of 2008, the companies listed in the three differentiated segments accounted for more than 60% of Bovespa's total market capitalization and 73% of all trades. Perhaps even more telling, over 70% of the Brazilian IPOs issued between 2001 and 2008 were placed in the special governance segments.

In this article, the authors summarize the findings of their study of the reaction of stock prices to the announcement by 31 Brazilian companies of their intent to list on one of the special governance exchanges. Their analysis showed that the companies choosing to list in these segments experienced an increase in both the value and the liquidity of their shares.

In light of this evidence, such corporate decisions can be seen as functioning as publicly verifiable signals of commitment to greater transparency and investor protection. And the fact that the listing requirements of the special segments are stricter than those of Brazilian securities legislation means that stock exchanges—and the companies that choose to list on them— effectively have the option to initiate or lead investor protection reforms, as opposed to just complying with them. Thus, in countries where governance legislation is weak and the progress of reform is slow, stock markets can play a key role in helping companies differentiate themselves through exchange‐defined governance codes.
Corporate Insurance and Debt: The Case of China*
Authors: Zou Hong , Adams Mike B.
Published: March 2009

Finance theorists have long argued that corporate purchases of property insurance can reduce the probability and hence the expected costs of financial distress. And by so doing, the corporate use of insurance can reduce borrowing costs and/ or increase debt capacity, reduce the overall cost of capital, and increase firm value. This article attempts to apply this argument to the case of publicly traded companies in China, which provides a particularly interesting environment given the significant presence of both foreign direct investment and state shareholdings in its corporate sector.

From their study of several hundred Chinese companies during the period 1997‐2003, the authors report the following conclusions:

Companies with higher borrower costs tend to purchase more property insurance, which in turn has the effect of increasing their debt capacity.

Smaller companies are more likely than larger firms both to insure their assets and to purchase more property insurance (as a percentage of assets), reflecting their greater vulnerability to financial shocks and larger potential benefit from insurers' real advisory services (such as loss prevention advice).

Companies with more and larger growth opportunities are more likely to purchase insurance, reflecting their higher expected costs of financial distress (from possible underinvestment) than firms with limited growth opportunities.

Companies with higher levels of state ownership tend to insure their assets to a greater extent, suggesting that the managers of such companies insure to protect their job security, particularly as the availability of state subsidies to the Chinese corporate sector has declined since market reforms were initiated in 1978.
Thinking Like Adam Smith*
Authors: Muller Jerry Z.
Published: March 2009

This article aims to correct a number of popular misconceptions about the man who wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments as well as The Wealth of Nations—notably, that the unfettered pursuit of self‐interest and personal liberty is a reliable prescription for prosperity, and that regulatory constraints on market forces are unnecessary or unimportant. Viewed in its entirety, Smith's work is seen as a lifelong attempt to design social institutions— government agencies as well as families, churches, schools, and joint‐stock companies—so as to harness “destructive passions” and channel self‐interest in ways that lead to the greatest public good. Although the workings of the market are viewed as the main engine of prosperity, one of Smith's purposes in writing The Wealth of Nations was to encourage politicians to resist the pressures of economic groups attempting to use political power to advance their own interests. And Smith himself is described as pursuing a “program of cultivating men of public spirit who would be moved to participate in government”—men who, armed with Smith's science of political economy, would recognize not only the role of markets in securing the greatest public good, but also the importance of an extensive framework of public services to allow markets to function effectively.
‘Here we go again’: Christchurch's antiracism rally as a discursive crisis
Authors: Kobayashi Audrey
Published: March 2009

Abstract:   An antiracist rally in Christchurch, New Zealand in May 2004 was organized by Asian immigrants to protest and advocate for an end to everyday racism in their dealings with long settled New Zealanders, but public debate focused not on the experiences of recent migrants but on the question of whether Christchurch is racist. A discursive crisis, indicated by heavy media coverage in the weeks immediately before and after the event, is characterized by discourses of denial, affront and whiteness that indicate the social context in which racialization occurs. Such discourses are similar to those of ‘new racism’ in other immigrant societies.
Is Financial Development Another Source of Comparative Advantage? Evidence from China
Authors: Bao Qun , Yang Jiayu
Published: March 2009

Using panel data for 29 provinces in China during 1990–2004, the present paper attempts to explore a possible link between financial development and China's foreign trade. Three measures of comparative advantage in manufactured goods have been applied in our study, including Balassa's revealed comparative advantage, the net manufactured export index, and the Michaely index. We also use four indicators of financial development to identify the different functions of regional financial development, and to determine both size and efficiency features of financial institutions. The estimation results suggest that besides factor endowments, foreign firms and infrastructure, financial development has a quantitatively large and robust effect on China's manufactured goods trade. Therefore, further reform of China's financial system should be encouraged to fully exploit the comparative advantage of China's foreign trade.
What Tree Rings Can Tell About Earth‐Surface Processes: Teaching the Principles of Dendrogeomorphology
Authors: Stoffel Markus , Bollschweiler Michelle
Published: March 2009

A detailed understanding of how the earth surface is being continuously shaped and why it looks the way it does are essential prerequisites for an appraisal of geomorphic processes and related changes in space and time. Data on the occurrence of past geomorphic events remains, however, scarce and predictions on how the expected climate change may affect the frequency and volume of earth‐surface processes have to be based on limited datasets. Tree rings have on varied occasions proved to be a reliable tool for the acquisition of data on past events. In this article, examples are provided on how the recurrence of events can be assessed (how often?) or their timing determined with yearly and sometimes even monthly precision (when?). Based on the mapping of trees on the study site, it is also possible to determine the reach and lateral spread of events (how far?). Movement rates can be reconstructed (how fast?) or the magnitude of incidences assessed (how big?). In combination with meteorological, hydrological and/or seismological data, results from tree‐ring studies can be consulted to identify triggers of previous events (why?).
Agrarian Angst: Rural Resistance in Southeast Asia
Authors: Turner Sarah , Caouette Dominique
Published: March 2009

Southeast Asia has witnessed dramatic transformations in the rural sector over the past 60 years, first with the Green Revolution, and more recently with diverse multi‐scalar economic and socio‐political processes including the growth of cash crops, export processing zones, land conversions, genetically modified crops, free trade agreements, and the growing complexity of rural‐urban connections. With such a multiplicity of changes, many directly linked to globalisation, come numerous forms of resistance, as individuals and communities struggle against what they see as unjust consequences. These different resistance measures to rural transformations are the focus of this article. While critiquing the literature on different conceptualisations of resistance, from rural resistance at the micro level, through to collective action and open protest, revolutionary movements, and even regional and global transnational movements, we propose three core arguments. First, in order to capture the diversity of forms of contemporary rural resistance, one needs to use a multi‐scalar approach. Previous analytical constructs such as ‘local’ and ‘global’ are inadequate to examine and explain the forms of resistance taking place. Second, rural resistance comes in a complexity of forms, is diversifying rapidly, and is never static. Resistance measures are context contingent, shaped by different worldviews and shift according to local circumstances, the opening and closing of opportunities structures, and the endogenous peculiarities of resistance dynamics. Third, a focus on resistance to contemporary agrarian change in Southeast Asia must recognise agency. We demonstrate that there is much to be gained by taking an interactive standpoint, arguing that local, national, regional, and even global resistance has as much to do with how the actors’ themselves define their field of protest as with the specific nature of their targets.
Conceptualising Scale in Regional Studies and Catchment Science – Towards an Integrated Characterisation of Spatial Units
Authors: MacKinnon Danny , Tetzlaff D.
Published: March 2009

This article examines conceptualisations of scale in catchment science and regional studies as the basis for the development of an integrated characterisation of spatial units. Our starting point is the apparent similarity in the scalar terminology utilised in the two fields, pointing to an area of potential conceptual overlap between physical and human geography. While our aim is not to produce an overarching theory of scale, we seek to advance understanding within both catchment science and regional studies by comparing their approaches to the analysis and understanding of spatial units. We also describe underlying principles of heterogeneity and complexity in the functioning and behaviour of catchments and regions. After clarifying scale definitions, this article examines notions of ‘scaling’ and ‘rescaling’ in each field and assesses catchments and regions as complex and open systems. In the penultimate section of this article, we develop an analytical framework based on the identification of certain dynamic attributes and concepts of integration, drawing upon the meta‐theoretical language of complexity science.
Urban Primacy: Reopening the Debate
Authors: Short John Rennie , Pinet‐Peralta Luis Mauricio
Published: March 2009

This paper reviews the empirical and theoretical material on urban primacy. The problems with data are highlighted. A measure of primacy is estimated and calculated for most countries in the world. Countries with relatively high rates of primacy are noted. The hyperprimacy of Thailand is discussed as well as the high primacy in middle‐income Latin American countries, low‐income African countries, and selected European countries. Countries with very low primacy rates are identified. A retheorization of urban primacy is suggested with more emphasis on history, geography and scale.
Orientalism and the Study of the Philippine Polity
Authors: Hodder Rupert
Published: March 2009

Although a critique of orientalism in the study of the Philippine polity has emerged comparatively late in the day, it has stimulated a lively, and often acerbic, debate. The aim of this paper is to report on aspects of the original debate, and to comment on its implications for subsequent analyses. The argument that American scholarship has transformed Philippine politics into a negative ‘other’ and ‘essentialized’ political behavior, and the equally forthright responses to these criticisms, have brought home in a very direct, immediate, and emotional sense, the significance of the Philippine polity's dimensionality. The business of then accommodating that dimensionality – the multiple qualities of any given actor, and the multiple roots, ramifications, and meanings of any given practice or understanding – requires detailed conceptual and methodological development, and presents an important challenge to Philippine studies.
Impact of Karl Pearson's Work on Statistical Developments in India
Authors: Nayak Tapan K.
Published: March 2009

Karl Pearson's work greatly inspired P. C. Mahalanobis's interest in statistics, who was at the centre of modern statistical developments in India. Mahalanobis learned statistics on his own, reading Pearson's articles and his journal, and encouraged others to study Pearson's papers. Pearson was a Honorary Fellow of the Indian Statistical Institute, which has been a leading statistical training and research center in India. The statistical revolution that Pearson brought also facilitated the training and research of many Indian statisticians.
Karl Pearson and the Scandinavian School of Statistics
Authors: Guttorp Peter , Lindgren Georg
Published: March 2009

The relationship between Karl Pearson and the Scandinavian statisticians was more of a competitive than a collaborative nature. We describe the leading statisticians and stochasticists of the Scandinavian school, and relate some of their work to the work of Pearson.
Understanding Karl Pearson's Influence on Italian Statistics in the Early 20th Century
Authors: Borroni Claudio Giovanni
Published: March 2009

Karl Pearson's work strongly influenced the development of Italian statistics in the early 20th century. This paper reports some Italian contributions following Pearson's thought, which are probably less known outside Italy; for other Italian work, which was more successful internationally, just a brief description is given. Pearsonian topics are divided into three categories: curve systems, interpolation and correlation. For the first category, the contribution by F. De Helguero and F. Insolera is outlined. The former worked on dimorphic curves and developed a new family as a modification of the normal model; the latter dealt primarily with the problems arising when Pearson's curve system is applied to data that do not meet its basic assumptions. For interpolation, we recall a remarkable work by C. Gini, where Pearson's idea of minimizing geometrical distances of points from an interpolating line is discussed and extended. Contributions by G. Pietra and G. Bortolotti are discussed. Regarding correlation, where the Italian contribution was large, the paper focuses on the work by C.E. Bonferroni and G. Parenti, who extended Pearson's product‐moment correlation r and Pearson's correlation ratio η to the general case of polynomial dependence. A discussion on the correct interpretation of η by Parenti is reported.
Pearson's Statistics in the Netherlands and the Astronomer Kapteyn
Authors: Stamhuis Ida H. , Seneta Eugene
Published: March 2009

In 1903 the well‐known Dutch astronomer Kapteyn published a paper in which he discussed statistical methods which he thought would be relevant for biologists. His motivation was the 1895 paper of Pearson on skew frequency curves. Kapteyn had concluded that the theory was open to grave objections and was not adapted to nonmathematical readers. He was then led to an independent investigation of the subject. This publication would lead to a heated dialogue between Kapteyn and Pearson, in which they accused each other of inappropriate starting points, of plagiarism and of making serious mathematical mistakes. This article evaluates these claims. In addition, Kapteyn's struggle to make his work accessible to biologists is discussed.
Candesartan Improves Maximal Exercise Capacity in Hypertensives: Results of a Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Trial
Authors: De Rosa Maria Leonarda , Chiariello Massimo
Published: March 2009

Cardiac hypertrophy and remodelling in hypertension has been associated with impaired exercise capacity. The authors tested whether an angiotensin receptor blocker, candesartan, improved exercise peak oxygen volume (VO2) in this population. A total of 154 untreated hypertensive patients, aged 40 to 66 years, with World Health Organization stage I or II hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, were randomized to receive placebo, candesartan (32 mg), each of these plus aspirin (300 mg/d), or the same preparations in a reverse order, for 3 weeks, with a 3‐week washout period between treatments. The authors measured maximal workload and oxygen reserve with an exercise test, 24 hour‐ambulatory blood pressure, and echocardiography at the end of each treatment. Hypertensive patients did not achieve the maximal workload (116 [99–133] W vs 132 (AMA style = no period on vs) [116–149] W; P=.01). This impaired exercise capacity was in a multiple regression analysis related to lower oxygen reserve (r=0.49, P<.001), and the lower oxygen reserve to higher left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography (β=−0.34), respectively. The use of candesartan alone or with aspirin resulted in an improvement of peak VO2 and exercise tolerance, when compared with controls. Patients with hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy cannot achieve a predicted maximal workload. The use of an angiotensin receptor blocker in therapy may represent a useful treatment in these patients for its effect on exercise peak VO2 and exercise tolerance. The use of aspirin did not affect outcome.
Blood Pressure Goals and Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Liew YinPing , Rafey Mohammed A. , Allam Sridhar , Arrigain Susana , Butler Robert , Schreiber Martin
Published: March 2009

The association of optimal blood pressure (BP) control and arterial stiffness was evaluated in 172 patients with chronic kidney disease. The authors compared the augmentation index (AIx) of patients who achieved a recommended BP goal (<130/80 mm Hg) with those who did not (≥130/80 mm Hg). The median age was 57 years, 60% were male, and 70% were Caucasian. One‐third of patients had achieved a BP goal of <130/80 mm Hg. AIx was significantly lower in patients who achieved BP goal than in those who did not (median AIx, 19% vs 23%; P=.04). AIx remained significantly lower in patients who achieved the BP goal, after adjusting for age, sex, and height (mean effect on AIx, −3.3%; 95% confidence interval, −6.1% to −0.4%; P=.03). Achievement of BP goal of <130/80 mm Hg in chronic kidney disease patients is associated with significantly lower AIx and may reflect a reduction in overall arterial stiffness.
The Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Primary Care Patients Following an Episode of Severe Hypertension
Authors: Ewen Edward , Zhang Zugui , Kolm Paul , Jurkovitz Claudine , Jackson Joseph , Fidan Dogan , Weintraub William S.
Published: March 2009

This retrospective study of office and hospital electronic medical records from June 1991 to June 2007 examines the occurrence of severe blood pressure (BP) elevation (>180/110 mm Hg) and the subsequent risk of cardiovascular events in a diverse set of primary care practices. A total of 18,747 patients were categorized according to BP using 3 methodologies based on the highest historical value, the first recorded value, and time‐averaged antecedent values. During the follow‐up period (median 3.8 years) there were 949 cardiovascular events and 80 cardiovascular‐related deaths. Severe BP elevation occurred in 1566 (8.4%) patients. The age‐adjusted incidence of cardiovascular events per 1000 patient‐years was 5.9 in the normal BP group, 10.1 in the mild group, 15.1 in the moderate group, and 25.0 in the severe group. An episode of severe BP elevation is common in primary care practice and is associated with substantial excess cardiovascular morbidity.
Relevance of insulin‐like growth factor 2 in the etiopathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy: Possible roles of phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine as regulators of repair
Authors: SIREESHA Movva , SAMBASIVAN Venkatasubramanian , KUMAR Vattam Kiran , RADHA Sistla , RAJ Ahuja Yog , QURRATULAIN Hasan
Published: March 2009

Background:  Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a devastating complication of diabetes, the exact molecular pathophysiology of which is not well established. Hyperglycemia increases insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs), especially IGF2, which acts via the IGF1 receptor present on renal cells. Elevated glucose levels damage the kidney, which is repaired by modulators such as secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC). Hence, it was hypothesized that IGF2 and SPARC may have an important role in the etiology of DN.

Methods:  Human renal biopsies, histopathologically categorized as normal, early Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or established DN, were analyzed for the localization and expression of IGF2, its negative regulator phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN), and SPARC.

Results:  Expression of IGF2, PTEN, and SPARC was increased in renal biopsies from T2DM patients compared with normal samples. Although IGF2 protein was increased in biopsies from DN patients, PTEN and SPARC levels were decreased. Real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction indicated that transcript levels of IGF2 and PTEN were greater than those of β‐actin in all human renal biopsy samples.

Conclusion:  The results suggest the following molecular etiopathophysiology of DN: (i) hyperglycemia upregulates IGF2, which initiates PTEN, a regulator of IGF2 signaling; (ii) loss of this IGF2–PTEN feedback loop causes changes that are characteristic of DN; and (iii) lowered expression of the repair modulator SPARC results in the development and/or progression of DN. Hence, targeting relevant modulators, such as like IGF2, PTEN, and SPARC, may be important in the management of DN.
Institutionalization of the Family and Marriage: Questioning Their Cognitive and Relational Realities
Authors: Sprey Jetse
Published: March 2009

This paper argues that to explain the institutionalization processes named the family and marriage, it is necessary to recognize the ontological distinction between their cognitive and relational realities. Institutionalization is an ordering process analogous to instinct in animal societies. In that capacity the human family and marriage collectively order the care and social placement of offspring. Given the biology of Homo sapiens, the family preceded the onset of the human race by millions of years, whereas marriage, the contract that legitimates the social placement of offspring, represents a strictly cultural aspect of human social evolution. The current state and uncertain future of the cognitive and relational components of the institutions of the family and marriage are addressed.
Skilled Support Within Intimate Relationships
Authors: Rafaeli Eshkol , Gleason Marci E. J.
Published: March 2009

The literature on social support within dyadic intimate relationships raises a seeming paradox: The availability of support tends to reduce distress, but its actual receipt is often unhelpful and at times engenders feelings of inadequacy, indebtedness, and inequity—unintended but potent side effects of the support transaction. Our review organizes this literature in order to solve the apparent paradox. Specifically, we theorize that, because support attempts are often unskilled and miscarried, they lead to greater costs than benefits. We identify four ways in which dyadic support can be unskillful, ways pertaining to its timing, content, process, or reciprocation. We suggest that when these are addressed, support can regain its intended goals of enhancing dyadic coping, reducing stress, and strengthening relationships.
Leaving an Abusive Partner: Exploring Boundary Ambiguity Using the Stages of Change Model
Authors: Khaw Lyndal Bee Lian , Hardesty Jennifer L.
Published: March 2009

The Stages of Change Model has helped researchers and practitioners explore the process of leaving an abusive partner, but it does not account for the changes in relational boundaries unique to this process. In this paper, we integrate the concept of boundary ambiguity into the Stages of Change Model to explore potential sources of boundary ambiguity in the process of leaving. We theorize that Boss’s two types of boundary ambiguity may be present at different points of the leaving process and are perceptual barriers to leaving permanently. We also theorize that potential sources of boundary ambiguity emerge from women and their partners’ decisions and actions in the process of leaving. Implications and future directions for research and practice are discussed.
Incentive Contracts in Projects with Unforeseeable Uncertainty
Authors: Sommer Svenja C. , Loch Christoph H.
Published: March 2009

Designing incentive contracts that constructively guide employee efforts is a particularly difficult challenge in novel innovation initiatives, where unforeseen events may occur. Empirical studies have observed a variety of incentive structures in innovation settings: “time and material contracts” (compensation for executing orders), “downside protection” (target‐driven incentives with protection from unexpected risks), and “upside rewards” (additional remuneration for pursuing opportunities). This paper develops a model of incentives in presence of unforeseen events and offers a theoretical prediction of which of the empirically observed incentive structures should be used under which circumstances. The combination of three key influences drives the shape of the best incentive contract. First, the presence of unforeseeable uncertainty, or the occurrence of events that cannot possibly be foreseen at the outset. These may force a change in the project's plan, making pure target setting insufficient. Second, fairness concerns dictate that the employee's expected compensation cannot be shifted downward by unforeseen events, because it would cause demotivation, hostility, and defection. Third, management may not be able to observe the detailed actions of the employee (moral hazard) nor whether a positive or negative unforeseen event has occurred (asymmetric information).
Product Positioning in a Two‐Dimensional Market Space
Authors: Lacourbe Paul , Loch Christoph H. , Kavadias Stylianos
Published: March 2009

This paper examines the optimal product portfolio positioning for a monopolist firm in a market where consumers exhibit vertical differentiation for product performance and horizontal differentiation for product feature. Our key results are as follows: (i) Variable costs drive vertical differentiation. In the presence of significant volume‐dependent manufacturing costs, the optimal portfolio contains a mix of vertically and horizontally differentiated products and an increase in the variable cost makes adding vertically differentiated products relatively more profitable; if fixed volume‐independent design costs dominate, the portfolio exhibits solely horizontal differentiation. (ii) Horizontal differentiation is the main profit lever, and vertical differentiation brings only a marginal benefit; this is true even when most of the consumers exhibit low willingness to pay for performance, which is often used as an excuse to offer low‐end products. (iii) There are more low‐quality products than high‐quality ones, and market coverage increases when the willingness to pay for performance increases. In summary, the model shows how portfolio composition decisions depend on the product cost structure and the consumer preferences.
Simulation of Liquid Jet Breakup of a Swirl-Type Fuel Injector for Automobile Engines
Authors: Ishii Eiji , Ishikawa Toru , Tanabe Yoshiyuki
Published: March 2009

To simulate multi-scale free surfaces, we developed a hybrid particle/grid method by which the free surfaces within sub-grid regions are simulated by the particle method, and other regions are simulated with the grid method. The particle method uses two types of particles to model gas and liquid fluids in order to simulate the interaction between them. We tested the new method on fragmentation of a water column, and the predicted configurations of the water column are consistent with measurements of Koshizuka and Oka. We also simulated the fuel spray near the outlet of an automobile-engine fuel injector and found that this method qualitatively simulated the breakup of the liquid film.
Development of a Household Vacuum Cleaner With a New Cyclone Dust Collector
Authors: Hayashi Shoji , Watanabe Masatoshi , Iwase Yukiji , Kanno Kyoichi , Fujimori Keiichi
Published: March 2009

A household vacuum cleaner named “Tatsumaki cyclone” with a new cyclone dust collector was developed. It has a unique horizontal layout called the inverted cyclone layout that features a dust bunker adjacent to a cyclone cylinder with an up-draught airflow. It also has a new airflow arrangement called triple-suction airflow that separates airflow after removing dust at the cyclone cylinder. The main suction airflow is exhausted from the main port (which is downstream of the cyclone cylinder) through an inner cylinder. The sub-suction airflow is exhausted from the dust bunker after it heavily compresses the dust (sub port). The center suction airflow is exhausted from the center port. In this study, we used the Cartesian grid system to simulate the flow field inside the dust collector. This system uses only rectangular parallelepiped meshes; profiles of the dust collector were represented by stepped surfaces of cubic meshes. Each mesh was generated based on whether it was inside or outside the solid body of the dust collector. High-performance computers have recently been used to help generate super-fine meshes that fit closely the smooth shape of a dust collector. The Cartesian grid system has the advantage of being able to quickly generate square-meshes of complex shape that can be converted directly from the CAD data. We simulated the velocity distribution of single-suction, twin-suction and triple-suction models. The single-suction model had only a main port to exhaust airflow, the twin-suction model had a main port, and a sub port, and the triple-suction model had a main port, a sub port, and a center port. In this study, a Cartesian grid system with a finite difference method was used to correct the unsteady three-dimensional flows. After the simulation, we experimented with pressure losses and measured change in air quantity by the dust load of each model. These steps enabled us to develop a new cyclone dust collector called Tatsumaki cyclone as part of a compact household vacuum cleaner with lower pressure loss and a larger capacity dust bunker.