bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preferred Coach Leadership Behaviour in Elite Soccer in Relation to Success and Failure
Authors: Høigaard Rune , Jones Gareth W. , Peters Derek M.
Published: September 2008

Multidimensional models of leadership in sport suggest that in order to maximize performance there should be congruence between the actual coaching behaviour and behaviours preferred by players. This study examined the preferred coaching leadership behaviours in prolonged periods of perceived success and failure in eighty-eight elite soccer players in Norway using the Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS). The three preferred behaviours were Positive Feedback, Training & Instruction, and Democratic Behaviour in both scenarios. All preferred behaviours (except Autocratic Behaviour) were higher in the unsuccessful scenario (p <.01). Negative relationships existed between age/experience and Social Support, Democratic Behaviours and Positive Feedback in the successful scenario and between age/experience and Social Support and Democratic Behaviours in the unsuccessful scenario (p <.05). The findings therefore have implications for adapting coaching leadership behaviours when players of different ages and with different levels of experience encounter prolonged periods of success or failure.
Anxiety and Coping of Hungarian National Ice Hockey Players
Authors: Géczi Gábor , Bognár József , Tóth László , Sipos Kornél , Fügedi Balázs
Published: September 2008

The purpose of this study was to identify those major psychological factors that affect ice hockey performance. The exploration of the differences in CSAI-2, ACSI-28 and STPI-Y psychometric measures targeted the adult national team members and the U-18 age-group of ice hockey players in Hungary. U-18 (n = 27) and adult national ice hockey players (n = 25) filled out the tests during a training camp before international preliminary round matches. It was found that State Anxiety, Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic A-State were significantly lower in the adult national team players than in the U-18 group of players. Also, the adult team demonstrated a significantly higher score in relation to Peaking under Pressure and also in Freedom from Worry than the 18 year-old group. Discriminant analysis showed that Cognitive A-State, Trait Curiosity, Coachability, State Anger, Freedom from Worry, and State Depression differentiate the adult team from the U-18 players. We can conclude that the members of the adult team are generally in a more beneficial state from the standpoint of anxiety pressure, and worry than the U-18 group. It seems that the experienced players can better manage unexpected events (stress situations) than the younger players.
Sources of Expectancy Information among College Coaches: A Qualitative Test of Expectancy Theory
Authors: Solomon Gloria B. , Rhea Deborah J.
Published: September 2008

Expectancy theorists contend that coaches utilize a variety of impression cues for information-gathering tasks. The purpose of this study was to examine college coaches' perceptions of athletes by exploring the sources that coaches use to assess athlete achievement. Eighteen NCAA Division intercollegiate head coaches participated in semi-structured interviews. An inductive/deductive content analysis revealed the existence of six expectancy dimensions for coaches: personality, performance, personal, cognitive, mistakes, and knowledge from others. The most salient dimensions were personality and performance cues comprising 42% and 32% of the raw data quotes respectively. Team and individual sport coaches agreed that work ethic and motor skills were very important, whereas they differed on the importance of team qualities, mental strategy and sport-specific skills. Future research directions include the creation of a quantitative assessment tool to access sources of expectancy information among college coaches and intervention techniques useful in the sport setting.
Image Processing and Interactive Visualization of Confocal Microscopy Images
Authors: Min Tang , Hui-Nan Wang
Published: September 2008

The essence and methodology is proposed for image processing and interactive visualization of confocal microscopy images. Firstly, an intensity compensation algorithm is applied to reduce noises resulted from light absorption and scattering by objects and particles in the volume through which light passed. Secondly, a deconvolution algorithm based on Maximum A Posteriori is applied to improve the image stacks' quality. Lastly, the ray-casting algorithm is used to reconstruct the fine details in the volume. Furthermore, interactive control panel is integrated to provide users an intuitive interface to view the cells and its structures through translation, rotation and zoom in/out operations. Experimental results demonstrate that the speed and versatility of the program allows for convenient, fast, interactive examination of unknown cell structures even on commodity PC without any other special hardware. The program is also able to visualize dynamically changing temporary structures conveniently in addition to static images.
Numerical Solutions of Two Forms of Blasius Equation on a Half-Infinite Domain
Authors: Ertürk Vedat Suat , Momani Shaher
Published: September 2008

A numerical method for solving two forms of Blasius equation is proposed. The Blasius equation is a third order nonlinear ordinary differential equation, which arises in the problem of the two-dimensional laminar viscous flow over a half-infinite domain. The approach is based on differential transform method and Padé approximations. In this scheme, the solution takes the form of a convergent series with easily computable components. The obtained series solution is combined with the diagonal Padé approximations to handle the boundary condition at infinity for only one of these forms. The numerical results demonstrates the validity and applicabilty of the method and a comparison is made with existing results.
Affine General Equilibrium Models
Authors: Eraker Bjørn
Published: September 2008

No-arbitrage models are extremely flexible modelling tools but often lack economic motivation. This paper describes an equilibrium consumption-based CAPM framework based on Epstein-Zin preferences, which produces analytic pricing formulas for stocks and bonds under the assumption that macro growth rates follow affine processes. This allows the construction of equilibrium pricing formulas while maintaining the same flexibility of state dynamics as in no-arbitrage models. In demonstrating the approach, the paper presents a model that incorporates inflation such that asset prices are nominal. The model takes advantage of the possibility of non-Gaussian shocks and model macroeconomic uncertainty as a jump-diffusion process. This leads to endogenous stock market crashes as stock prices drop to reflect a higher expected rate of return in response to sudden increases in risk. The nominal yield curve in this model has a positive slope if expected inflation growth negatively impacts real growth. This model also produces asset prices that are consistent with observed data, including a substantial equity premium at moderate levels of risk aversion.
Natural Selection in Financial Markets: Does It Work?
Authors: Yan Hongjun
Published: September 2008

Can investors with incorrect beliefs survive in financial markets and have a significant impact on asset prices? My paper addresses this issue by analyzing a dynamic general equilibrium model where some investors have rational expectations, whereas others have incorrect beliefs concerning the mean growth rate of the economy. The main result is that an investor can survive if and only if he has the lowest survival index, which is a function of his belief accuracy, patience parameter, and relative risk aversion coefficient. If preferences are held constant across all investors, then those with incorrect beliefs cannot survive in the limit, although calibrations reveal that the selection process is excessively slow. However, if preferences vary across investors, even slightly, it becomes possible for an irrational investor to dominate the market even if his beliefs persistently and substantially deviate from the truth.
Different Missions and Commitment Power in R&D Organizations: Theory and Evidence on Industry-University Alliances
Authors: Lacetera Nicola
Published: September 2008

This paper proposes a theory for why firms conduct some research activities in-house but outsource other projects to independent partners and for why firms retain different degrees of control over collaborative research projects. The focus is on the determinants of a company's choice to outsource research projects to academic organizations. Because of the different institutional missions of academic organizations, outsourcing a project to a university allows a firm to commit not to terminate or alter a scientifically valuable project before it is complete. This commitment is potentially valuable for the firm in an environment where scientific value and economic value may not coincide, and scientific workers are responsive to the incentives defined by their community of peers. An economic model that formalizes these arguments is developed. Empirical hypotheses are then formulated about the kind of research activities firms will outsource to universities and activities on which they will exert stronger control. Evidence from a sample of industry-university research agreements, as well as from other large-sample and case studies, shows patterns consistent with the predictions of the model.
Human Resources, Human Resource Management, and the Competitive Advantage of Firms: Toward a More Comprehensive Model of Causal Linkages
Authors: Chadwick Clint , Dabu Adina
Published: September 2008

We maintain that human resources are strategically significant in at least three cases, when these resources (1) help create traditional Ricardian rents; (2) function as components of organizational capabilities that generate nontraditional Ricardian rents; and (3) are the source of technological and managerial innovations that produce entrepreneurial rents. Human resource management (HRM) activities, on the other hand, assume strategic significance by supporting the three cases above through a process that we call managerial entrepreneurship. Furthermore, HRM takes on different forms when supporting each of these types of rents. Hence, this rent-based view has greater potential to help explain the contribution of human resources to firms' competitive advantages than approaches that are grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, which primarily reflects the Ricardian view of rents. Moreover, a rent-based approach suggests fruitful new ways to address many of the theoretic challenges confronting the strategic human resource management (SHRM) literature.
Social representations of electricity network technologies: Exploring processes of anchoring and objectification through the use of visual research methods
Authors: Devine‐Wright Hannah , Devine‐Wright Patrick
Published: September 2008

The aim of this study was to explore everyday thinking about the UK electricity network, in light of government policy to increase the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. Existing literature on public perceptions of electricity network technologies was broadened by adopting a more socially embedded conception of the construction of knowledge using the theory of social representations (SRT) to explore symbolic associations with network technologies. Drawing and association tasks were administered within nine discussion groups held in two places: a Scottish town where significant upgrades to the local transmission network were planned and an English city with no such plans. Our results illustrate the ways in which network technologies, such as high voltage (HV) pylons, are objectified in talk and drawings. These invoked positive as well as negative symbolic and affective associations, both at the level of specific pylons, and the ‘National Grid’ as a whole and are anchored in understanding of other networks such as mobile telecommunications. We conclude that visual methods are especially useful for exploring beliefs about technologies that are widespread, proximal to our everyday experience but nevertheless unfamiliar topics of everyday conversation.
The effects of private and collective self‐priming on visual search: Taking advantage of organized contextual stimuli
Authors: Rice Stephen , Clayton Krisstal D. , Trafimow David , Keller David , Hughes Jamie
Published: September 2008

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that priming the collective self improves some visual search tasks. In both experiments, participants searched for an O among Qs. The pattern of distracters was manipulated across experiments to allow the possibility of grouping (Experiment 1) or to disallow this possibility (Experiment 2). Consistent with expectations, collective self‐priming increased visual search speed when grouping was possible but it had no effect on visual search speed when grouping was not possible. In combination, the data support the notion that collective self‐priming makes people more likely to utilize a pattern to facilitate visual search when there is a pattern present to be perceived.
A preliminary study of negative appraisals and dysfunctional coping associated with post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms following myocardial infarction
Authors: Ayers Susan , Copland Claire , Dunmore Emma
Published: September 2008

Objectives. To investigate associations between post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following myocardial infarction (MI) and subjective experience of MI, negative perception of consequences, negative appraisals of symptoms, and use of dysfunctional coping strategies, as described by Ehlers and Clark's (2000) model of PTSD.

Design. Cross‐sectional questionnaire study of people who experienced a MI within the previous 12 weeks (N = 74; 51% response rate).

Methods. Participants completed questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms, subjective experience of MI, perception of consequences, appraisal of symptoms, and dysfunctional coping strategies.

Results. Of the participants, 16% met DSM‐IV criteria for PTSD and a further 18% reported moderate to severe PTSD symptoms. People with PTSD symptoms also had more somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. PTSD symptoms were associated with perceived severity and danger of MI, a history of psychological problems, previous trauma, negative appraisal of symptoms, perceived severe consequences, and dysfunctional coping strategies. These variables were entered into a regression with MI and past history variables on Step 1, and appraisal and coping variables on Step 2. This showed that perceived consequences and dysfunctional coping were strongly associated with PTSD symptoms after controlling for MI and past history variables.

Conclusion. The results of this preliminary study suggest perception of consequences and dysfunctional coping may be important in PTSD symptoms following MI.
Understanding the coping process from a self‐determination theory perspective
Authors: Ntoumanis Nikos , Edmunds Jemma , Duda Joan L.
Published: September 2008

PurposeTo explore conceptual links between the cognitive‐motivational‐relational theory (CMRT) of coping (Lazarus, 1991) and self‐determination theory (SDT) of motivation (Deci & Ryan, 1985).

MethodWe present a very brief overview of the two theories. We also discuss how components from the two theories can be examined together to facilitate research in the health/exercise domain. To this effect, we offer a preliminary integrated model of stress, coping, and motivation, based on the two aforementioned theories, in an attempt to illustrate and instigate research on how motivational factors are implicated in the coping process.

ConclusionWe believe that the proposed model can serve as a platform for generating new research ideas which, besides their theoretical relevance, may have important applied implications.
Ego‐pathology, body experience, and body psychotherapy in chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Röhricht Frank. , Papadopoulos Nina. , Suzuki Iris. , Priebe Stefan.
Published: September 2008

Objectives. In a recent pilot RCT, looking at the efficacy of body oriented psychological therapy (BPT) in patients with chronic schizophrenia, a marked improvement in negative symptoms was found in the treatment group. To date, there have been no studies to evaluate the therapeutic processes, correlates and predictors of change in‐patients receiving BPT. The aims of this study are to address three specific questions, namely how: (1) Ego‐pathology and (2) Body experiences, may change during the treatment (BPT). We also looked at: (3) If these pathologies, and/or changes in them, or other characteristics are associated with specific clinical outcomes.

Design. Analysis of data obtained within a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Method. In a sample of patients with a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia, allocated to receive a course of body oriented group psychotherapy, certain parameters were assessed pre‐ and post‐treatment: (1) Ego‐pathology, using the ego‐pathology inventory (EPI); (2) Body experiences, (size perception/image marking procedure – IMP, body image/body distortion questionnaire – BDQ, and body cathexis/visual‐analogue‐scales – VAS); and (3) Common symptom factors, using the Positive And Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). Subjective experiences were also recorded.

Results. Four out of six ego‐pathology symptom scores improved over the course of therapy (t=2.9–3.5, p<.05–.01). Amongst the measures of body experiences, only the body perception indices of the lower extremities changed significantly from underestimation pre‐therapy (BPI median 92.3), becoming accurate estimates post therapy (BPI median 101.1). Contrary to the hypothesis a reduction of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients was not associated with systematic improvements of ego‐pathology or body experiences. The strongest predictor of change was a high score of ego‐demarcation pre‐treatment (β=0.89, p<.001).

Conclusions. In patients with chronic schizophrenia, body oriented psychological interventions may be effective for both positive therapeutic changes in ego‐pathology and negative symptoms, even though these effects are not necessarily related. High scores of ego‐pathology at baseline predicted a poor treatment outcome. This finding deserves more systematic studies, as it could potentially identify patients with poorer prognosis and underpin the development of new intervention strategies. Further studies are required to clarify more precisely the exact nature of the processes in BPT.
Hotel Security and the Routine Activities Approach
Authors: Brock Deon , Walker Darin
Published: September 2008

This article describes a project to examine hotel security from the routine activities perspective of Cohen and Felson (1979). The dominant focus is on the extent to which many patrons lack capable guardians of their possessions and personal Well-being and also set themselves up as suitable targets. The peripheral focus is on staff offending. Drug use and theft by the staff are addressed. Finally, a look at preventing such problems as these is discussed.
Night-Time Economy: Cooperation between Formal and Informal Social Control (Case Study of Margate)
Authors: Graça Sofia
Published: September 2008

In recent years, heightened attention has been given to the control and management of the so-called ‘night-time economy‘. This refers to the entertainment industry that operates during the evening and night-time, that flourishes in many UK city centres and consists mostly of licensed establishments. This type of entertainment has brought with it problems in terms of binge-drinking and antisocial behaviour which pose more demands on the already strained resources of the police forces in these areas. The thriving industry and the communities' demands for more public order are the basis of this study.

The literature review presented here was made with the example of Margate in the southeast of England in mind. Nevertheless, the examples given here are all too common in other areas of the UK and the discussion can easily be imported to these other areas in order to solve similar problems. This study will be focusing on some of the key stakeholders of the night-time economy and possible ways of formal and informal control, and town and community engagement.
Association of Soluble Cell Adhesion Molecules with Ankle-Brachial Index in a Biethnic Cohort of Predominantly Hypertensive Individuals
Authors: Khaleghi Mahyar , Ali Zeenat , Mosley Thomas H , Turner Stephen T , Kullo Iftikhar J
Published: September 2008

Background: Higher plasma concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules have been shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. We investigated the association of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) with ankle-brachial index (ABI), a measure of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), in a biethnic cohort of adults without known coronary heart disease or stroke.

Methods: Participants included 1102 blacks (mean age, 63 years; 74% women) and 1013 non-Hispanic whites (mean age, 58 years; 59% women) belonging to sibships ascertained on the basis of hypertension. We measured plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 using high-sensitivity immunoassays and ABI using a standard protocol; PAD was defined as ABI <0.9. We used generalized estimating equations to assess whether sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were associated with ABI and PAD, independently of conventional risk factors.

Results: After adjustment for conventional risk factors, blacks with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the highest quartiles had lower ABIs than those in the lowest quartiles (mean ABI 1.02 vs 0.98, P = 0.007, vs 1.02 vs 0.99, P = 0.003, respectively). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations in the highest quartiles were each associated with a higher odds ratio of having PAD, compared with the lowest quartiles: odds ratio (95% CI): 5.2 (1.8–15.2) and 2.2 (1.0–4.8), respectively. In contrast, in non-Hispanic whites, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations were not associated with ABI or PAD.

Conclusions: Higher sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations were independently associated with lower ABI and PAD in blacks, but not in non-Hispanic whites.
Liquid-Based Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Assay for Detection of ERBB2 Gene Amplification in Patients with Breast Cancer3
Authors: Yeh Chen-Hsiung , Whitmire William A , Albitar Maher
Published: September 2008

Background: Current reference methods for evaluating gene amplification and expression of ERBB2 (also known as HER-2)—cell-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC)—are subjective and influenced by methods of tissue preparation and fixation. We developed and evaluated a novel, quantitative liquid-based FISH (L-FISH) assay that uses flow cytometry to detect ERBB2 gene amplification in breast cancer patients.

Methods: DNA was extracted from serum or tissue, biotinylated, hybridized to differentially labeled probes for ERBB2 and a chromosome 17–specific single-copy sequence (17-SSC), and immobilized to streptavidin-coated microspheres. The ERBB2/17-SSC signal ratio measured by flow cytometry was used to evaluate ERBB2 amplification. We used L-FISH to test 122 stored formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples and 22 serum samples from randomly selected breast cancer patients; results were compared with those obtained with conventional FISH and IHC.

Results: The inter- and intraassay imprecisions were 3.7%–18.9% for FFPE tissue and 2.8%–6.3% for serum. Overall, L-FISH analyses of FFPE tissues demonstrated 84.4% concordance with results obtained with conventional FISH (P < 0.001) and 78.8% concordance with IHC results (P < 0.001). L-FISH analyses of serum samples showed 91% concordance with tissue-based IHC/FISH results (P = 0.038).

Conclusions: Our data indicate that this PCR-free L-FISH method can be used to evaluate ERBB2 amplification in both cell-containing (paraffin-embedded tissue) and cell-free (serum) samples. This approach provides more objective results and is amenable to automation and quantitative measurement.
A Framework for Identifying (and Avoiding) Fraudulent Financial Reporting*
Authors: Smieliauskas Wally
Published: September 2008

This commentary analyzes the relationship of fraud risk assessments to other risk assessments by auditors. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board notes that this is a problem area of current practice. Effective detection of fraudulent financial reporting requires an integrative accounting/auditing conceptual framework. As a result, this paper is as much about accounting theory as it is about auditing. To simplify the development of such an integrated framework, this paper uses an expanded risk model. This effectively results in a risk perspective on fraudulent financial reporting. There are many potential implications but the major findings are as follows. First, the study identifies the crucial role of benchmarks based on acceptable levels of risk to help differentiate between intentional and unintentional misstatements. Such differentiation is critical to successfully implementing the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 99 and international standards ISA Nos. 240, 540, and 700. Second, the paper shows the importance of not allowing the major categories of risks identified here from getting too high. This paper explains the need to set acceptable levels of these risks, either by standard‐setters as a matter of broad policy, or by individual practitioners as part of the terms of specific engagements. I propose that a major factor in the concept of “present fairly” be the acceptable levels of accounting risks that are defined here, especially the risks due to intentional forecast errors. Third, this paper clarifies how the fraud risk of SAS No. 99, and similar international standards, relates to the current audit risk model framework.
Double Two*
Authors: Brooks Albie , Vesty Gillian
Published: September 2008

Double Two is a privately owned clothing manufacturer based in the United Kingdom. The case portrays the historical development of the company, with specific emphasis on the last 20 years. The case outlines the structural and strategic management accounting issues confronting the company particularly over the last 20 years. Students are exposed to issues associated with balanced scorecard construction and implementation and the use of return on investment to measure divisional performance.
Iron and calcium translocation from pure gypsum and iron-amended gypsum by two brown rot fungi and a white rot fungus
Authors: Schilling Jonathan S. , Bissonnette Kaitlyn M.
Published: September 2008

Wood-degrading fungi commonly grow in contact with calcium (Ca)-containing building materials and may import Ca and iron (Fe) from soil into forest woody debris. For brown rot fungi, imported Ca2+ may neutralize oxalate, while Fe3+ may facilitate Fenton-based degradation mechanisms. We previously demonstrated, in two independent trials, that degradation of spruce by wood-degrading fungi was not promoted when Ca or Fe were imported from gypsum or metallic Fe, respectively. Here, we tested pine wood with lower endogenous Ca than the spruce blocks used in prior experiments, and included a pure gypsum treatment and one amended with 1% with FeSO4. Electron microscopy with microanalysis verified that brown rot fungi Serpula himantioides and Gloeophyllum trabeum and the white rot fungus Irpex lacteus grew on gypsum and produced iron-free Ca-oxalate crystals away from the gypsum surface. Wood cation analysis verified significant Fe import by both brown rot isolates in Fe-containing treatments. Wood degradation was highest in Fe-gypsum-containing treatments for all three fungi, although only wood degraded by I. lacteus had significant Ca import. We suggest that Fe impurities may not exacerbate brown rot, and that both brown and white rot fungi may utilize Ca-containing materials.
Action of fungal β-glucosidase on the mono-O-methylated p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside 2nd ICC 2007, Tokyo, Japan, October 25–29, 2007
Authors: Nishimura Takeshi , Ishihara Mitsuro
Published: September 2008

The action of β-glucosidase on the methyl derivatives of p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (pNP-β-Glc), which were regio-specifically substituted at O-2, O-3, O-4, and O-6 positions, was studied. Specifically, several β-glucosidases isolated from brown-rot, white-rot, soft-rot fungi, and almond were investigated. These β-glucosidases did not act on the 2, 3, and 4-O-methyl derivatives, while the 6-O-methyl one was hydrolyzed by all the enzymes to some extent. The results indicate that the methyl group at O-2, O-3, and O-4 of the glucopyranoside strongly inhibits the recognition by the β-glucopyranoside, while the enzymes do not discriminate the structure difference between pNP-β-Glc and its methyl derivative at O-6.
Winning Solar Races with Interface Design
Authors: Hilliard Antony , Jamieson Greg A.
Published: September 2008

Solar car racing is both a highly competitive sport and a test arena for tomorrow's renewable-energy applications. This article describes the design of a graphical interface for solar car race strategy planning. The coupling, unpredictability, and size of the solar car racing environment present tough challenges to racing strategy teams. Representation-aiding techniques provide a useful approach for managing this complexity, translating difficult problems into visual analogues that are better suited to human information processing.
Bone turnover and metabolism in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with systemic glucocorticoids
Authors: Vihinen Marianne K , Kolho Kaija-Leena , Ashorn Merja , Verkasalo Matti , Raivio Taneli
Published: September 2008

Objective

We investigated circulating markers of bone turnover before and during systemic glucocorticoid treatment in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

Twenty-two children (mean age, 12.3 years) with IBD necessitating peroral steroid therapy were studied, with special reference to bone formation and resorption markers amino-terminal type I collagen propeptide (PINP) and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) respectively. In addition, GH-related IGF-I and sex hormone-binding protein (SHBG) were measured. Bone markers were analyzed at the initiation of the glucocorticoid treatment, at 2 and 5 weeks thereafter and at 1 month following the withdrawal of the steroid. Control group comprised 22 IBD patients in remission.

Results

PINP and IGF-I were already lower before glucocorticoid treatment serum in children with active IBD as compared with control children with IBD in remission (median PINP 271 vs 535 μg/l, P<0.05; IGF-I 23 vs 29 nmol/l, P<0.05). After 2 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment serum PINP levels had declined further, from 271 to 163 μg/l (P<0.001), serum ICTP from 14.2 to 9.6 μg/l (P<0.001), and SHBG from 54 to 35 nmol/l (P<0.001) respectively. By contrast, serum IGF-I increased from 23 to 37 nmol/l (P<0.001). One month after the withdrawal of the glucocorticoid, all bone markers restored to levels similar to the controls.

Conclusions

Bone formation in children with active IBD appears compromised and systemic glucocorticoid treatment further suppresses bone turnover. After the cessation of the glucocorticoid the bone markers show immediate improvement.
Inactivation of glucocorticoids by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes increases during the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes
Authors: Webb Rachel J , Sunak Neera , Wren Lisa , Michael Anthony E
Published: September 2008

Recent reports have shown that glucocorticoids can modulate oocyte maturation in both teleost fish and mammals. Within potential target cells, the actions of physiological glucocorticoids are modulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B) isoenzymes that catalyse the interconversion of cortisol and cortisone. Hence, the objective of this study was to establish whether HSD11B enzymes mediate cortisol–cortisone metabolism in porcine oocytes and, if so, whether the rate of glucocorticoid metabolism changes during oocyte maturation. Enzyme activities were measured in cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) and denuded oocytes (DOs) using radiometric conversion assays. While COCs and DOs oxidised cortisol to inert cortisone, there was no detectable regeneration of cortisol from cortisone. The rate of cortisol oxidation was higher in expanded COCs than in compact COCs containing germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes (111±6 vs 2041±115 fmol cortisone/oocyte.24 h; P<0.001). Likewise, HSD11B activities were 17±1 fold higher in DOs from expanded COCs than in those from compact COCs (P<0.001). When GV stage oocytes were subject to a 48 h in vitro maturation protocol, the enzyme activities were significantly increased from 146±18 to 1857±276 fmol cortisone/oocyte.24 h in GV versus MII stage oocytes respectively (P<0.001). Cortisol metabolism was inhibited by established pharmacological inhibitors of HSD11B (glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone), and by porcine follicular and ovarian cyst fluid. We conclude that an HSD11B enzyme (or enzymes) functions within porcine oocytes to oxidise cortisol, and that this enzymatic inactivation of cortisol increases during oocyte maturation.
A Survey to Determine the Presence and Distribution of Largemouth Bass Virus in Wild Freshwater Bass in New York State
Authors: Groocock G. H. , Grimmett S. G. , Getchell R. G. , Wooster G. A. , Bowser P. R.
Published: September 2008

During 2004 and 2005 a survey was conducted to investigate the presence and geographic distribution of largemouth bass virus (LMBV) in New York State. This iridovirus is widely distributed across the eastern United States; however, it had not previously been reported in New York State. Two hundred and eighty-three wild largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and 8 smallmouth bass M. dolomieu were collected from 37 locations across the state. No clinical signs of LMBV or mortalities attributable to the virus were observed in the fish collected. Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) method, we detected LMBV in 28 fish from 13 locations. Viral cytopathic effect in cell culture was observed in 5 fish from 3 locations. The virus isolated from cell culture was confirmed to be LMBV by an independent PCR method. Statistical analysis of the largemouth bass samples collected during 2005 revealed a wide difference in prevalence between the QPCR results and the cell culture results. Analysis of possible predictors, including age, sex, and month collected, showed no significant associations with the QPCR results. This survey confirms the presence and wide distribution of a potentially pathogenic form of LMBV in multiple water systems across New York State.
Comparisons between Consumption Estimates from Bioenergetics Simulations and Field Measurements for Walleyes from Oneida Lake, New York
Authors: Lantry Brian F. , Rudstam Lars G. , Forney John L. , VanDeValk Anthony J. , Mills Edward L. , Stewart Donald J. , Adams Jean V.
Published: September 2008

Daily consumption was estimated from the stomach contents of walleyes Sander vitreus collected weekly from Oneida Lake, New York, during June‐October 1975, 1992, 1993, and 1994 for one to four age‐groups per year. Field rations were highly variable between weeks, and trends in ration size varied both seasonally and annually. The coefficient of variation for weekly field rations within years and ages ranged from 45% to 97%. Field estimates were compared with simulated consumption from a bioenergetics model. The simulation averages of daily ration deviated from those of the field estimates by −20.1% to +70.3%, with a mean across all simulations of +14.3%. The deviations for each time step were much greater than those for the simulation averages, ranging from −92.8% to +363.6%. A systematic trend in the deviations was observed, the model producing overpredictions at rations less than 3.7% of body weight. Analysis of variance indicated that the deviations were affected by sample year and week but not age. Multiple linear regression using backwards selection procedures and Akaike's information criterion indicated that walleye weight, walleye growth, lake temperature, prey energy density, and the proportion of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum in the diet significantly affected the deviations between simulated and field rations and explained 32% of the variance.
Thresholds for Survival of Brown Trout during the Spring Flood Acid Pulse in Streams High in Dissolved Organic Carbon
Authors: Serrano Ignacio , Buffam Ishi , Palm Daniel , Brännäs Eva , Laudon Hjalmar
Published: September 2008

The survival of brown trout Salmo trutta embryos and first‐year juveniles was studied using in situ bioassays during the snowmelt‐driven spring flood in 12 streams in northern Sweden. Unlike in most previous studies on the impact of acidity on brown trout, the streams in this study were high in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and as a result organic acids play a primary role in controlling pH. During the spring flood period DOC concentrations increased strongly in most streams and, in combination with dilution of acid‐neutralizing capacity, resulted in a decrease in pH and an increase in total and inorganic monomeric aluminum. High mortality of brown trout juveniles occurred during the spring flood and was best correlated to the high H+ concentration. No toxic effect could be directly attributed to measured inorganic aluminum concentrations. An empirical model to predict juvenile brown trout mortality in DOC‐rich streams was developed, and based on these predictions a critical chemical threshold of pH 4.8‐5.4 is proposed for first‐year juveniles. There was high embryo and yolk sac fry survival during the spring flood, even at sites with pH as low as 4.0, suggesting that the pH threshold in DOC‐rich waters is lower than the previously established threshold for low‐DOC systems. We discuss the complex role that DOC has in humic‐rich surface waters, where it both causes a pH decrease and protects against aluminum toxicity in fish. The results suggest that first‐year juveniles are likely to be the stage most vulnerable to the effects of episodic pH depression associated with the snowmelt period in northern boreal systems. This results from asynchrony in the seasonality of the spring flood acid pulse and the seasonality of trout embryo development, which is slow in cold northern waters.
Comparison of Reef Fish Catch per Unit Effort and Total Mortality between the 1970s and 2005‐2006 in Onslow Bay, North Carolina
Authors: Rudershausen Paul J. , Williams Erik H. , Buckel Jeffrey A. , Potts Jennifer C. , Manooch Charles S.
Published: September 2008

Stock assessments indicate many reef fish species have declined in size and abundance in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern coast of the United States. However, commercial fishers often state that stock assessments do not match their observations. We compared fishery‐independent catch per unit effort (CPUE) and species composition data between the 1970s and 2005‐2006 for reef fishes in the vicinity of Onslow Bay, North Carolina. Additionally, total mortality (Z) was estimated by means of a length‐based catch‐curve analysis. Effort (drops) by rod and reel focused on three sites, two inshore (30 m deep) and one offshore (125 m). The CPUE was compared between periods within each site and larger area (inshore, offshore). The CPUEs of red porgyPagrus pagrus, vermilion snapperRhomboplites aurorubens, black sea bassCentropristis striata, and gray triggerfishBalistes capriscuswere greater in the 1970s than in 2005‐2006 at specific capture sites. Conversely, the CPUEs of red grouperEpinephelus morio, white gruntHaemulon plumieri, and bank sea bassC. ocyurawere greater in 2005‐2006 than in the 1970s. The CPUEs of snowy grouperE. niveatus, blueline tilefishCaulolatilus microps, and gagMycteroperca microlepisremained steady or increased between periods. Estimates ofZfor snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, red porgy, white grunt, and vermilion snapper were generally greater in 2005‐2006 than in the 1970s. Apex species caught in the 1970s but not in 2005‐2006 included red snapperLutjanus campechanus, silk snapperL. vivanus, warsaw grouperE. nigritus, and speckled hindE. drummondhayi. Catch rates and composition may have differed owing to differences in captains' skills and electronics despite efforts to standardize the fishing methods between periods. Estimates of total mortality are generally inconsistent with fisher observations and agree with recent stock assessments concluding that important reef species are overfished. Altogether, our results suggest that fishing and possibly other variables have affected the abundance and mortality of major species in this fishery.
Dental Anomalies of Number in the Permanent Dentition of Patients with Bilateral Cleft Lip: Radiographic Study
Authors: da Silva Ana Paula Ramos Bernardes , Costa Beatriz , de Carvalho Carrara Cleide Felício
Published: September 2008

Objective:

To radiographically evaluate the prevalence of dental anomalies in patients with complete and incomplete bilateral cleft lip, comparing the prevalence of anomalies between genders and cleft types.

Setting:

Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.

Participants:

150 randomly selected panoramic radiographs of individuals with complete or incomplete bilateral cleft lip; patient age 12 to 25 years (mean age 13.8 years).

Results:

Data were statistically analyzed to compare the possible association between presence of hypodontia and supernumerary teeth, according to gender and cleft type. Among the 150 patients evaluated, 80 (53.3%) were male and 70 (46.6%) were female. Since no statistically significant difference was found in hypodontia between genders, data were grouped for analysis, revealing prevalence of 31.6% for complete clefts and 26.8% for incomplete clefts. Concerning supernumerary teeth, the prevalence for the male patients was 28.2% for complete cleft lip and 29.2% for incomplete cleft lip. For female patients, the prevalence was significantly (p  =  .006) lower for complete cleft lip (17.5%) than for incomplete cleft lip (46.6%).

Conclusions:

The present results suggest that the prevalence of hypodontia was higher in patients with complete cleft lip, and the prevalence of supernumerary teeth was higher in patients with incomplete cleft lip, in agreement with previous studies.
Staphylococcus Aureus Transmission Through Oronasal Fistula in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Bahar Tuna E. , Topçuoglu Nursen , Ilhan Banu , Gençay Koray , Kulekçi Güven
Published: September 2008

Objective:

To determine the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in a nasal flora and oral environment, the correlation between frequency of transmission of S. aureus and oronasal fistula size, and the pattern of methicillin resistance on S. aureus strains in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

Design:

Thirty-two CLP children with and without oronasal fistulas, ranging in age from 5 to 13 years were examined for oronasal fistula presence and size. Stimulated saliva samples and nasal swab samples were taken and investigated for S. aureus presence. S. aureus presence and counts were correlated with fistula presence and size.

Results:

Saliva samples showed statistical differences between the groups with and without oronasal fistulas with an area ranging from 0.80 to 28.26 mm2. The S. aureus counts were significantly higher ( r  =  .535, p  =  .002) in saliva samples from children with larger oronasal fistula. The S. aureus count was not significantly different ( r  =  –.013, p  =  .942) in nasal samples compared with oronasal fistula size. Methicillin resistance with disk-diffusion method was recorded as sensitive (≥13 mm) in all S. aureus strains.

Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate a positive correlation between fistula size and S. aureus transmission to one oral environment through oronasal fistulae, and a positive correlation between frequency of S. aureus transmission and fistula size. All S. aureus strains were sensitive to methicillin. These results may have implications for preventive treatment of CLP children.
Preferential Associations between Oral Clefts and Other Major Congenital Anomalies
Authors: Rittler Monica , López-Camelo Jorge S. , Castilla Eduardo E. , Bermejo Eva , Cocchi Guido , Correa Adolfo , Csaky-Szunyogh Melinda , Danderfer Ron , De Vigan Catherine , De Walle Hermien , da Graça Dutra Maria , Hirahara Fumiki , Martínez-Frías María Luisa , Merlob Paul , Mutchinick Osvaldo , Ritvanen Annukka , Robert-Gnansia Elisabeth , Scarano Gioacchino , Siffel Csaba , Stoll Claude , Mastroiacovo Pierpaolo
Published: September 2008

Objectives:

To identify preferential associations between oral clefts (CL  =  cleft lip only, CLP  =  cleft lip with cleft palate, CP  =  cleft palate) and nonoral cleft anomalies, to interpret them on clinical grounds, and, based on the patterns of associated defects, to establish whether CL and CLP are different conditions.

Design And Settings:

Included were 1416 cleft cases (CL  =  131, CLP  =  565, CP  =  720), among 8304 live- and stillborn infants with multiple congenital anomalies, from 6,559,028 births reported to the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research by 15 registries between 1994 and 2004. Rates of associated anomalies were established, and multinomial logistic regressions applied to identify significant associations.

Results:

Positive associations with clefts were observed for only a few defects, among which anencephaly, encephaloceles, club feet, and ear anomalies were the most outstanding. Anomalies negatively associated with clefts included congenital heart defects, VATER complex (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, tracheoesophageal fistula, and radial and renal dysplasia), and spina bifida.

Conclusion:

The strong association between all types of clefts and anencephaly seems to be attributable to cases with disruptions; the association between CP and club feet seems to be attributable to conditions with fetal akinesia. Some negative associations may depend on methodologic factors, while others, such as clefts with VATER components or clefts with spina bifida, may depend on biological factors. The different patterns of defects associated with CL and CLP, indicating different underlying mechanisms, suggest that CL and CLP reflect more than just variable degrees of severity, and that distinct pathways might be involved.