bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and sonographic parameters at 37 weeks' gestation for predicting the risk of primary Cesarean delivery in nulliparous women
Authors: Kim S. N. , Park K. H. , Jung H. J. , Hong J. S. , Shin D. M. , Kang W. S.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

To identify the clinical and sonographic parameters at 37 weeks' gestation that predict the risk of Cesarean delivery in labor for nulliparas.

Methods

This prospective observational study recruited nulliparas with singleton pregnancies at 37 weeks' gestation. Determination of the Bishop score, ultrasound measurement of the cervical length, and fetal biometry were performed. The clinical parameters studied were maternal age, height and weight and Bishop score. The sonographic parameters included fetal biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal circumference (AC), estimated fetal weight (EFW), amniotic fluid index and cervical length.

Results

Four hundred and fifty‐three women were examined; 57 women (12.6%) underwent an emergency Cesarean delivery in labor. Logistic regression analysis identified maternal age and height and fetal AC and EFW, but not cervical length or Bishop score, as the best predictors of Cesarean delivery. Of these predictors, maternal age and height and fetal AC at 37 weeks were included in a final model for risk scoring. The model was shown to have an adequate goodness of fit (P = 0.473), and the area under the receiver–operating characteristics curve was 0.758, indicating reasonably good discrimination.

Conclusions

Maternal age and height and fetal AC and EFW at 37 weeks' gestation are the most important parameters in predicting the risk of Cesarean delivery in nulliparas; sonographic measurement of the cervical length and the Bishop score were not predictive of Cesarean delivery. A predictive model using these parameters at 37 weeks provides useful information in the decision‐making process regarding the mode of delivery. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian inference: an approach to statistical inference
Authors: Fraser D.A.S.
Published: June 2010

The original Bayes used an analogy involving an invariant prior and a statistical model and argued that the resulting combination of prior with likelihood provided a probability description of an unknown parameter value in an application; the combination in particular contexts with invariance can currently be called a confidence distribution and is subject to some restrictions when used to construct confidence intervals and regions. The procedure of using a prior with likelihood has now, however, been widely generalized with invariance being extended to less restrictive criteria such as non‐informative, reference, and more. Other generalizations are to allow the prior to represent various forms of background information that is available or elicited from those familiar with the statistical context; these can reasonably be called subjective priors. Still further generalizations address an anomaly where marginalization with a vector parameter gives results that contradict the term probability; these are Dawid, Stone, Zidek marginalization paradoxes; various priors for this are called targeted priors. A special case where the prior describes a random source for the parameter value is however just probability analysis but is frequently treated as a Bayes procedure. We survey the argument in support of probability characteristics and outline various generalizations of the original Bayes proposal. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Bayesian Methods and Theory
Comparative functional analysis of the OCH1 mannosyltransferase families in Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Lambou Karine , Perkhofer Susanne , Fontaine Thierry , Latge Jean‐Paul
Published: June 2010

α1,6‐linked mannans are an essential component of the Aspergillus fumigatus galactomannan, which is either GPI‐anchored to the plasma membrane or covalently bound to the polysaccharide core of the cell wall. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the OCH1 gene encodes an α1,6‐mannosyltransferase that initiates the synthesis of the α1,6 linked‐mannan. In the A. fumigatus genome, four orthologous genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScOCH1 gene were identified. Single deletion and the quadruple deletion mutants (Afoch1‐4Δ) were constructed in A. fumigatus. No phenotype different from the wild‐type strain was observed in all single and the quadruple mutants. The corresponding cDNAs of the AfOCH1‐4 A. fumigatus orthologues were expressed in the S. cerevisiae Scoch1Δ mutant. Among the four orthologues, only AfOCH1 complemented the aggregation phenotype, the growth inhibition, the hypersensitivity to hygromycin and the protein glycosylation defects observed in the Scoch1Δmutant. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differences in activation of MAP kinases and variability in the polyglutamine tract of Slt2 in clinical and non‐clinical isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: de Llanos Rosa , Hernández‐Haro Carolina , Barrio Eladio , Querol Amparo , Fernández‐Espinar María Teresa , Molina María
Published: June 2010

The concept of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an emerging opportunistic pathogen is relatively new and it is due to an increasing number of human infections during the past 20 years. There are still few studies addressing the mechanisms of infection of this yeast species. Moreover, little is known about how S. cerevisiae cells sense and respond to the harsh conditions imposed by the host, and whether this response is different between clinical isolates and non‐pathogenic strains. In this regard, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways constitute one of the major mechanisms for controlling transcriptional responses and, in some cases, virulence in fungi. Here we show differences among clinical and non‐clinical isolates of S. cerevisiae in the level of activation of the MAPKs Kss1, which controls pseudohyphal and invasive growth, and Slt2, which is required for maintaining the integrity of the cell wall under stress conditions and in the absence of stimulating conditions. Moreover, we report for the first time the existence of length variability in SLT2 alleles of strains with a clinical origin. This is due to the expansion in the number of glutamine‐encoding triplets in the microsatellite region coding for the polyglutamine (poly‐Q) tract of this gene, which range from 12 to more than 38 repetitions. We suggest that this variability may influence biological features of the Slt2 protein, allowing it to adapt swiftly in order to survive in unusual environments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamics of births and juvenile recruitment in Mara–Serengeti ungulates in relation to climatic and land use changes
Authors: Ogutu Joseph O. , Piepho Hans‐Peter , Dublin Holly T. , Bhola Nina , Reid Robin S.
Published: June 2010

Natality and recruitment govern animal population dynamics, but their responses to fluctuating resources, competition, predation, shifting habitat conditions, density feedback and diseases are poorly understood. To understand the influences of climatic and land use changes on population dynamics, we monitored monthly changes in births and juvenile recruitment in seven ungulate species for 15 years (1989–2003) in the Masai Mara Reserve of Kenya. Recruitment rates declined for all species but giraffe, likely due to habitat alteration and increasing vulnerability of animals associated with recurrent severe droughts, rising temperatures, unprecedentedly strong and prolonged El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episodes, expansion of settlements, cultivation and human population growth in pastoral ranches adjoining the reserve. Birth rate showed strong and humped relationships with moving averages of monthly rainfall, whereas recruitment responded strongly to cumulative past rainfall. Increasing livestock incursions into the reserve depressed recruitment rate for quarter‐grown topi. Expansion of pastoral settlements depressed birth rate in impala, zebra and giraffe. Frequent ENSO‐related droughts caused progressive habitat desiccation and hence nutritional shortfalls for ungulates. The responses to climatic, land use and resource influences did not reflect body size, migratory or resident lifestyle, dietary guild, digestive physiology or degree of synchrony of breeding of the ungulate species.
Reduction of Graininess Formation in Beef Tallow‐Based Plastic Fats by Chemical Interesterification of Beef Tallow and Canola Oil
Authors: Meng Zong , Liu Yuanfa , Shan Liang , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: June 2010

To manufacture beef tallow (BT)‐based shortening and margarine with a reduced tendency to developing sandiness, BT/canola oil (CaO) blend (80:20 w/w), selected from the BT and CaO blends mixed in different ratios from 60:40 to 85:15 with 5% increments, was subjected to chemical interesterification (CIE) with sodium methoxide as the catalyst. The interesterified products were compared with the starting mixture in terms of solid fat content (SFC), and contents of high‐melting point 1,3‐disaturated long‐chain fatty acid 2‐monounsaturated long‐chain fatty acid triacylglycerols (SUS TAGs) including 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (StOSt), 1,3‐dipalmitoy‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP), and 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐3‐stearoyl‐glycerol (POSt). Under the selected conditions: 60 °C, 0.6% CH3ONa, 90 min, the CIE product had a SFC profile that meets suggested bakery fat requirements, besides a content of SUS TAGs which is 22.14% lower than that of the non‐interesterified blend. Also the fat produced had stable β′ polymorphs, crystal morphology, crystal sizes (<20 μm), and could resist temperature fluctuations. The CIE product obtained herein has an increased potential for manufacturing bakery shortenings and margarines with reduced graininess formation, increasing the possibilities for the commercial use of BT and CaO.
Evaluation of crude hydatid cyst fluid antigens for the serological diagnosis of hydatidosis in cattle
Authors: Golassa Lemu , Abebe Tamrat , Hailu Asrat
Published: June 2010

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by adult or larval (metacestode) stages of cestodes belonging to the genusEchinococcus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antigenic ability of hydatid cyst fluid antigen for the diagnosis of hydatidosis in cattle using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect haemagglutination test (IHA). The source of the antigens for the serological tests was fertile crude cyst fluids collected from naturally infected sheep at the Addis Ababa abattoir. A total of 502 sera were collected from 329 uninfected cattle and 173 hydatid-infected cattle which were confirmed by post-mortem examination. Most cysts were sterile and multiple organ infection predominated. Of 173 infected cattle, 166 (96.0%; confidence interval (CI) 91.8–98.4) were positive using ELISA while 7 (4.0%) were negative. Of 329 sera from uninfected cattle, 274 (83.3%; CI 78.8–87.2) were found to be negative and the remaining 55 (16.7%) were positive by ELISA. Of 173 infected cattle, 151 (87.3%; CI 81.4–91.9) were positive and 22 (12.7%) were negative by IHA. Of 329 negative sera tested using IHA, 266 (80.9%; CI 76.2–85.0) were negative and the remaining 63 (19.1%) were positive. The false positive and negative values of ELISA were 4.0 and 16.7%, respectively, and the corresponding values of IHA were 12.7 and 19.1%. The sensitivity and diagnostic efficiency of IHA were 87.2 and 83.6%, respectively. Crude hydatid cyst fluid antigen seems to have reasonable antigenic properties and hence could be employed for epidemiological surveillance of cattle hydatidosis.
Bare nominals and incorporating verbs in Spanish and Catalan
Authors: ESPINAL M. TERESA , McNALLY LOUISE
Published: June 2010

This paper presents an analysis of bare nominals unmarked for number (BNs) occurring in object position in Spanish and Catalan, on which the BN is a syntactic complement to the verb, but not a semantic argument. After describing the properties that distinguish BNs from other indefinite expressions (bare plurals, indefinite singulars preceded byun‘a’, and bare mass terms), we argue that these BNs occur in a monadic syntactic configuration in the sense of Hale & Keyser (1998), that they denote first-order properties, and that they are combined with the verb via a modified version of Dayal's (2003) semantics for pseudo-incorporation. Specifically, the proposal consists of a lexical rule that generates the class of verbs that productively accept BN objects, plus a composition rule that treats the BN as modifier of the verb. We point out the advantages of this analysis over three other well-known semantic analyses for combining verbs with property-type nominals. Finally, we show how the analysis can be naturally extended to existential sentences, which combine with BNs although, prima facie, they do not appear to meet the lexical conditions for doing so.
‘The Myriad-Pencil of the Photographer’: Seeing, Mapping and Situating Burma in 1855
Authors: JARVIS ANDREW
Published: June 2010

In the 1850s photography was a nascent technology. Linnaeus Tripe's photographs and the Burmese Konbaung polity were perceived to be new and/or novel. They were defined and interpreted in relation to things that were established and better-known, as Tripe sought to understand photography and culturally locate ‘Burma’. Tripe was not simply a ‘colonial’ functionary, but an exploratory photographer attempting to classify the subjects of visual representation—mainly Buddhist architecture—and explore photography itself. He strove to be systematic and methodical in his ‘mapping’ of locales: he photogenically captured specimens of architecture, which could then be compared with specimens from elsewhere and located in a ‘Linnaean system’. The lack of clearly defined expectations gave him room for experimentation in his delineations of unphotographed locales, which meant that he could ultimately decide for himself what was worthy of being represented. It takes a concerted effort today to see his photographs as they might have been seen in the 1850s. They can be interpreted in myriad ways and a limitless number of meanings can be ascribed to them, reflecting the ambiguous nature of the medium. Interpretations are shaped by archival contexts and microhistories of circulation and presentation; when viewing the prints today it is important not to posthumously infer Tripe's intentions and motivations without adequately considering the circumstances in which he operated.
Misfortune, misfits and what the city gave and took: the stories of South-Indian child labour migrants 1935–2005
Authors: IVERSEN VEGARD , GHORPADE YASHODHAN
Published: June 2010

We use a primary data-set comprising the work-life histories of 90 individuals from Coastal and central Karnataka who migrated for work to Mumbai, Bangalore and other destinations sometime between 1935 and 2005. These migrants were all below the age of 15 at the time of leaving home, and their work-life histories provide a unique platform for studying persistence, change and spatial variation in relation to the incidence and causes of child labour migration, in the intrahousehold agreements and dissent that preceded these migration events, and in the workplace experiences and other outcomes awaiting these very young migrants. While migration prior to 1975 was mostly from the Coastal belt, it was often prompted by financial distress and usually targeted small, South-Indian eating places in Mumbai. More recent migration frequently involves educational ‘misfits’. In spite of their young age when leaving home, our informants typically came to regard migration as a transformative and attitude-changing experience that opened new avenues for acquiring work-related and other skills, languages included. This transformative potential varied across time, destinations and occupations and is, we suggest, intimately linked to leisure becoming a reality. Limitations are identified for those who migrated early, for agricultural labourers whose social lives would often be confined to caste-fellows from their native place and for girls working as domestic servants. This paper illustrates how early migrants to Mumbai were uniquely placed, in that migration for work improved their educational opportunities. Their accounts of the Kannada Night Schools they attended provide a useful corrective to official documents and evaluations.
The plants and birds of Stoltenhoff and Middle Islands, Tristan da Cunha
Authors: Ryan Peter G. , Glass Norman , Ronconi Robert A.
Published: June 2010

Few scientific observations have been made at Middle and Stoltenhoff Islands, small (ca 10 ha) islands off the north coast of Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha. We recorded vascular plants and numbers of breeding birds on both islands in December 2009. Despite being smaller and more isolated than Middle Island, Stoltenhoff supported more species of plants, including Cotula moseleyi, previously thought to be endemic to Nightingale Island. Only one alien plant was found, Sonchus oleraceus. Populations of two albatross species apparently have decreased by at least half over the last 40 years, presumably due to mortality at sea. Stoltenhoff probably has the least disturbed habitat in the Tristan group, and strict controls are needed to prevent accidental introductions by anyone going ashore.
Précis ofDoing without Concepts
Authors: Machery Edouard
Published: June 2010

Although cognitive scientists have learned a lot about concepts, their findings have yet to be organized in a coherent theoretical framework. In addition, after twenty years of controversy, there is little sign that philosophers and psychologists are converging toward an agreement about the very nature of concepts.Doing without Concepts(Machery 2009) attempts to remedy this state of affairs. In this article, I review the main points and arguments developed at greater length inDoing without Concepts.
Two uneliminated uses for “concepts”: Hybrids and guides for inquiry
Authors: Gonnerman Chad , Weinberg Jonathan M.
Published: June 2010

Machery's case against hybrids rests on a principle that is too strong, even by his own lights. And there are likely important generalizations to be made about hybrids, if they do exist. Moreover, even if there were no important generalizations about concepts themselves, the term picks out an important class of entities and should be retained to help guide inquiry.
Defending the concept of “concepts”
Authors: Hayes Brett K. , Kearney Lauren
Published: June 2010

We critically review key lines of evidence and theoretical argument relevant to Machery's “heterogeneity hypothesis.” These include interactions between different kinds of concept representations, unified approaches to explaining contextual effects on concept retrieval, and a critique of empirical dissociations as evidence for concept heterogeneity. We suggest there are good grounds for retaining the concept construct in human cognition.
Concepts are a functional kind
Authors: Lalumera Elisabetta
Published: June 2010

This commentary focuses on Machery's eliminativist claim, that “concept” ought to be eliminated from the theoretical vocabulary of psychology because it fails to denote a natural kind. I argue for the more traditional view that concepts are a functional kind, which provides the simplest account of the empirical evidence discussed by Machery.
Where are nature's joints? Finding the mechanisms underlying categorization
Authors: Markman Arthur B.
Published: June 2010

Machery argues that concepts are too heterogeneous to be a natural kind. I argue that the book does not go far enough. Theories of concepts assume that the task of categorizing warrants a unique set of cognitive constructs. Instead, cognitive science must look across tasks to find a fundamental set of cognitive mechanisms.
Concepts versus conceptions (again)
Authors: Rey Georges
Published: June 2010

Machery neglects the crucial role of concepts in psychological explanation, as well as the efforts of numerous “externalists” of the last 40 years to provide an account of that role. He rightly calls attention to the wide variation in people's epistemic relations to concepts – people'sconceptionsof things – but fails to appreciate how externalist and kindred proposals offer the needed stability in concepts themselves that underlies that variation.
Banishing the thought
Authors: Strohminger Nina , Moore Bradley W.
Published: June 2010

The first seven chapters of Doing without Concepts offer a perfectly reasonable view of current research on concepts. The last chapter, on which the central thesis of the book rests, provides little actual evidence that using the term “concept” impedes scientific progress. It thus fails to demonstrate that this term should be eliminated from the scientific vernacular.
Are prototypes and exemplars used in distinct cognitive processes?
Authors: Virtel James , Piccinini Gualtiero
Published: June 2010

We argue that Machery provides no convincing evidence that prototypes and exemplars are typically used in distinct cognitive processes. This partially undermines the fourth tenet of the Heterogeneity Hypothesis and thus casts doubts on Machery's way of splitting concepts into different kinds. Although Machery may be right that concepts split into different kinds, such kinds may be different from those countenanced by the Heterogeneity Hypothesis.
Doing with development: Moving toward a complete theory of concepts
Authors: Vlach Haley A. , Krogh Lauren , Thom Emily E. , Sandhofer Catherine M.
Published: June 2010

Machery proposes that the construct of “concept” detracts from research progress. However, ignoring development also detracts from research progress. Developmental research has advanced our understanding of how concepts are acquired and thus is essential to a complete theory. We propose a framework that both accounts for development and holds great promise as a new direction for thinking about concepts.
The theoretical indispensability of concepts
Authors: Weiskopf Daniel A.
Published: June 2010

Machery denies the traditional view that concepts are constituents of thoughts, and he more provocatively argues that concepts should be eliminated from our best psychological taxonomy. I argue that the constituency view has much to recommend it (and is presupposed by much of his own theory), and that the evidence gives us grounds for pluralism, rather than eliminativism, about concepts.
Unity amidst heterogeneity in theories of concepts
Authors: Edwards Kevan
Published: June 2010

This commentary raises two concerns with Machery's approach in Doing without Concepts. The first concern is that it may be possible to preserve a unified theory of concepts by distinguishing facts about concept individuation from facts about cognitive structures and processes. The second concern questions the sharpness of the distinction Machery draws between psychological and philosophical conceptions of concepts.
Hybrid vigor and conceptual structure
Authors: Keil Frank
Published: June 2010

Machery rightly points out a diverse set of phenomena associated with concepts that create challenges for many traditional views of their nature. It may be premature, however, to give up such views completely. Here I defend the possibility of hybrid models of concept structure.
Eliminating the “concept” concept
Authors: Harnad Stevan
Published: June 2010

Machery suggests that the concept of “concept” is too heterogeneous to serve as a “natural kind” for scientific explanation, so cognitive science should do without concepts. I second the suggestion and propose substituting, in place of concepts, inborn and acquired sensorimotor category-detectors and category-names combined into propositions that define and describe further categories.
Conceptual atomism rethought
Authors: Schneider Susan
Published: June 2010

Focusing on Machery's claim that concepts play entirely different roles in philosophy and psychology, I explain how one well-known philosophical theory of concepts, Conceptual Atomism (CA), when properly understood, takes into account both kinds of roles.
Latent variables and the network perspective
Authors: Belzung Catherine , Billette de Villemeur Etienne , Lemoine Mael , Camus Vincent
Published: June 2010

We discuss the latent variables construct, particularly in regard to the following: that latent variables are considered as the sole explanatory factor of a disorder; that pragmatic concerns are ignored; and that the relationship of these variables to biological markers is not addressed. Further, we comment on the relationship between bridge symptoms and causality, and discuss the proposal in relationship to other constructs (endophenotypes, connectionist-inspired networks).
The rocky road from Axis I to Axis II: Extending the network model of diagnostic comorbidity to personality pathology
Authors: Bornstein Robert F.
Published: June 2010

Although the network model represents a promising new approach to conceptualizing comorbidity in psychiatric diagnosis, the model applies most directly to Axis I symptom disorders; the degree to which the model generalizes to Axis II disorders remains open to question. This commentary addresses that issue, discussing opportunities and challenges in applying the network model to DSM-diagnosed personality pathology.
Comorbid science?
Authors: Danks David , Fancsali Stephen , Glymour Clark , Scheines Richard
Published: June 2010

We agree with Cramer et al.'s goal of the discovery of causal relationships, but we argue that the authors' characterization of latent variable models (as deployed for such purposes) overlooks a wealth of extant possibilities. We provide a preliminary analysis of their data, using existing algorithms for causal inference and for the specification of latent variable models.
Questions about networks, measurement, and causation
Authors: Markus Keith A.
Published: June 2010

Cramer et al. present a thoughtful application of network analysis to symptoms, but certain questions remain open. These questions involve the intended causal interpretation, the critique of latent variables, individual variation in causal networks, Borsboom's idea of networks as measurement models, and how well the data support the stability of the network results.
Symptoms as latent variables
Authors: McFarland Dennis J. , Malta Loretta S.
Published: June 2010

In the target article, Cramer et al. suggest that diagnostic classification is improved by modeling the relationship between manifest variables (i.e., symptoms) rather than modeling unobservable latent variables (i.e., diagnostic categories such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder). This commentary discusses whether symptoms represent manifest or latent variables and the implications of this distinction for diagnosis and treatment.
Comorbidity: Cognition and biology count!
Authors: Rubinsten Orly , Henik Avishai
Published: June 2010

We agree with Cramer et al. that pure cases of behavioral disorders with no symptom overlaps are rare. However, we argue that disorders do exist and the network idea is limited and limiting. Networks of symptoms are observed mainly at behavioral levels. The core deficit is commonly at the cognitive or brain levels, and there the story is completely different.
The missing developmental dimension in the network perspective
Authors: Wass Sam , Karmiloff-Smith Annette
Published: June 2010

We welcome network theory as a tool for modelling the multi-directional interactions that characterise disease. However, we feel that Cramer et al. have neglected one important aspect: how diseases change over developmental time. We discuss principles such asfan in,fan out,bottlenecks, andcommon pathways, and argue that modelling these developmental aspects can be vital, particularly in deriving properly targeted treatments.
Visualizing genetic similarity at the symptom level: The example of learning disabilities
Authors: Davis Oliver S. P. , Plomin Robert
Published: June 2010

Psychological traits and disorders are often interrelated through shared genetic influences. A combination of maximum-likelihood structural equation modelling and multidimensional scaling enables us to open a window onto the genetic architecture at the symptom level, rather than at the level of latent genetic factors. We illustrate this approach using a study of cognitive abilities involving over 5,000 pairs of twins.
An agenda for symptom-based research
Authors: Fleeson William , Furr R. Michael , Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield
Published: June 2010

The network approach proposed by Cramer et al. suggests fascinating new directions of research on mental disorders. Research is needed to find evidence for the causal power of symptoms, to examine symptoms thoroughly, to investigate individual differences in edge strength, to discover etiological processes for each symptom, and to determine whether and why symptoms cohere into distinct mental disorders.
Looking at comorbidity through the glasses of neuroscientific memory research: A brain-network perspective
Authors: Staniloiu Angelica , Markowitsch Hans J.
Published: June 2010

As psychiatric illnesses have correlates in the brain, it is surprising that Cramer et al. make almost no reference to the brain's network character when proposing a network approach to comorbidity of psychiatric diseases. We illustrate how data from combined neuropsychological and functional and structural brain-imaging investigations could inform theoretical models about the role played by overlapping symptoms in the etiology of psychiatric comorbidity and the pathways from one disorder to another.
Comorbidity in the context of neural network properties
Authors: Yordanova Juliana , Kolev Vasil , Kirov Roumen , Rothenberger Aribert
Published: June 2010

Cramer et al.'s network approach reconceptualizes mental comorbidity on the basis of symptom space originating from psychometric signatures. We argue that the advantages of this approach need to be regarded in the context of the multi-level functional organization of the neural substrate, ranging from neurogenetic to psychometric. Neuroelectric oscillations are proposed as a level-integrating principle.
Low-molecular-weight heparins: Pharmacoeconomic decision modeling based on meta-analysis data
Authors: Kadusevicius Edmundas , Kildonaviciute Gabriele , Varanaviciene Birute , Jankauskiene Danguole
Published: June 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare efficacy, safety, and consumption of low-molecular-weight heparins with unfractionated heparin, and to develop a pharmacoeconomic decision model based on meta-analysis data.

Methods: Review and meta-analysis were performed of published randomized control trials directly comparing the safety and efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs)—that is, nadroparin, enoxaparin, and dalteparin—and unfractionated heparin (UFH) was performed by two reviewers using inclusion/exclusion criteria based on the research objectives. The value of fixed effects and random effects odds ratio (95 percent confidence interval) was calculated for each trial for the composite end point. Subsequently, a pharmacoeconomic decision modeling based on reference pricing methodology was implemented.

Results: In comparison to UFH, all LMWHs have independently demonstrated greater safety and effectiveness. None of the LMWHs demonstrated a significant superiority over each other; therefore, the group of LMWHs was interchangeable and suitable for cost minimization analysis and reference price implementation. Being the least expensive option, dalteparin single DDD price was set as the reference. Introduction of reference pricing for LMWHs would decrease the total expenditure on LMWHs of approximately 30 percent and would result in total savings of 1.830–2.070 thousand LTL in the country of Lithuania (approximately 0.8 million USD) per year.

Conclusions: The meta-analysis results of LMWHs could be used to support a policy on reference-based pricing and pharmacoeconomic decision modeling in healthcare institutions, which would allow a decrease in healthcare expenditures.
Capsule endoscopy in Italy: An unbalanced review of the literature
Authors: Spada Cristiano , de Franchis Roberto , Pennazio Marco , Marmo Riccardo , Rondonotti Emanuele , Riccioni Maria Elena , Rossini Francesco Paolo , Costamagna Guido
Published: June 2010

We read the recently published study by Lo Scalzo et al. (4). The study is a short version of a more extensive report published on the Italian Ministry of Health Web site (1). A careful evaluation of both documents reveals several critical issues that cast doubts on the correctness of their conclusions. Usually, decisions about clinical practice should be based on levels of evidence in literature and on the strength of recommendations issued in the guidelines of international scientific societies, many of which rely on the Oxford system (Oxford Center for Evidence based Medicine) (http://cebm.jr2.ox.ac.uk/docs/level.html). As far as diagnostic tests are concerned, the Oxford system assigns the highest level of evidence to systematic reviews supported by homogeneous results. The same system assigns the second highest level of evidence to the “independent blind comparison of an appropriate spectrum of consecutive patients all of whom have undergone both the diagnostic test and the reference standard,” while the expert's opinion ranks at the lowest level. Surprisingly, the authors flatly dismissed all sequential studies that fulfill the criteria of independent blind comparison, based on the fact that they were not randomized. At the same time, they cited as source data the results of a questionnaire presented to the attendees of an Italian meeting, never published in literature, which is plainly an “expert opinion.”
Building sites for science
Authors: Mäkelä Marjukka
Published: June 2010

Scientific journals bring researchers' findings to their colleagues and other audiences, mediate advances in methodology, and facilitate understanding by dialogue. Differences of opinion can be talked through and mistakes clarified. In some fields, these debates take place rapidly, on the net or in weekly publications. Quarterly journals, such as this, discuss at a slower pace.
ACQUISITION OF DUTCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
Authors: Van der Slik Frans W. P.
Published: June 2010

This study reports on the impact of 11 West European first languages on the acquisition of Dutch. Using data from nearly 6,000 second-language learners, it was found that the mother tongue had a rather large impact on two language skills—namely, oral and written proficiency—as measured by the scores received by these learners on the State Examination of Dutch as a Second Language. Multilevel analyses showed that the effect of the mother tongue can adequately be modeled by means of the cognate linguistic distance measure, adopted from McMahon and McMahon (2005). The explanative power of the genetic linguistic distance measure (Cavalli-Sforza, Menozzi, & Piazza, 1994), on the other hand, was rather poor. Additionally, learner characteristics (age of arrival, length of residence, hours studying Dutch, education, and gender) and context characteristics (quality of schooling in the country of origin and multilingual country of origin) explained part of the variation in Dutch speaking and writing skills.
LEARNING WITHOUT AWARENESS REVISITED
Authors: Hama Mika , Leow Ronald P.
Published: June 2010

The role of awareness or consciousness in learning has been a relatively contentious issue in non-SLA fields (e.g., cognitive psychology). With the publications of Williams (2004, 2005), a similar debate appears to be brewing in the field of SLA. Contrary to Leow (2000), who reported that unawareness did not appear to play an important role in second or foreign language development, Williams (2005) offered empirical evidence that learning without awareness appears to be feasible. At the same time, it is also noted that Leow’s and Williams’s (2005) research designs measured unawareness at different stages (online encoding and offline retrieval, respectively) of the acquisitional process. The present study revisited and extended Williams’s (2005) study by using a hybrid design to gather concurrent data at the stage of encoding and during the testing phase as well as nonconcurrent data after the experimental exposure. Some methodological changes were also implemented to probe deeper into learners’ thought processes. The quantitative analyses performed on the data of 34 carefully screened participants revealed that, at the encoding stage, unaware learners do not appear capable of selecting or producing the correct determiner-noun combination when required to do so from options that include both animacy and distance information. The qualitative data underscore the importance of not only situating the measurement of the construct (un)awareness from different stages—that is, both online and offline—but also triangulating data from several sources in any report on its role in learning. Plausible explanations for the differences in findings are discussed.
Risk factors for ceftiofur resistance inEscherichia colifrom Belgian broilers
Authors: PERSOONS D. , HAESEBROUCK F. , SMET A. , HERMAN L. , HEYNDRICKX M. , MARTEL A. , CATRY B. , BERGE A. C. , BUTAYE P. , DEWULF J.
Published: June 2010

A cross-sectional study on 32 different Belgian broiler farms was performed in 2007 and 2008 to identify risk factors for ceftiofur resistance inEscherichia coli. On each farm, oneE. colicolony was isolated from 30 random birds. Following susceptibility testing of 14 antimicrobials, an on-farm questionnaire was used to obtain information on risk factors. Using a multilevel logistic regression model two factors were identified at the animal level: resistance to amoxicillin and to trimethoprim–sulfonamide. On the farm level, besides antimicrobial use, seven management factors were found to be associated with the occurrence of ceftiofur resistance inE. colifrom broilers: poor hygienic condition of the medicinal treatment reservoir, no acidification of drinking water, more than three feed changes during the production cycle, hatchery of origin, breed, litter material used, and treatment with amoxicillin. This study confirms that not only on-farm antimicrobial therapy, but also management- and hatchery-related factors influence the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance.
Are we hitting immunity targets? The 2006 age-specific seroprevalence of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus in Belgium
Authors: THEETEN H. , HUTSE V. , HENS N. , YAVUZ Y. , HOPPENBROUWERS K. , BEUTELS P. , VRANCKX R. , VAN DAMME P.
Published: June 2010

Susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases in Belgium in 2006 was estimated from a serum survey. Immunoglobulins against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and diphtheria at all available ages (1–65 years), and against tetanus in >40-year-olds, were measured by ELISA. Age-standardized overall seronegativity for MMR was low (3·9%, 8·0%, 10·4%, respectively). However, the World Health Organization's targets for measles elimination were not met in 5- to 24-year-olds and about 1 in 7 women at childbearing age (15–39 years) were seronegative for rubella. In adults >40 years, tetanus immunity (87·2%, >0·16 IU/ml) largely exceeded diphtheria immunity (20–45%, >0·1 IU/ml). Despite free universal vaccination against MMR for more than 20 years and against diphtheria and tetanus for almost 60 years, our study revealed specific age groups remaining at risk for infection with these pathogens.
Using the internet for rapid investigation of an outbreak of diarrhoeal illness in mountain bikers
Authors: GRIFFITHS S. L. , SALMON R. L. , MASON B. W. , ELLIOTT C. , THOMAS D. Rh. , DAVIES C.
Published: June 2010

In summer 2008, we investigated an outbreak of diarrhoeal illness in participants of a mountain-bike event in Wales (UK) which had been affected by heavy rain. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the cause using an internet-based questionnaire. Fifty-three percent of those contacted responded, and 161 (46·5%) out of the 347 responders, reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Median day of onset was 3 days following the event. Ten riders reported receiving a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis ofCampylobacter. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the inadvertent ingestion of mud (OR 2·5, 95% CI 1·5–4·2,P<0·001) and eating ‘other’ food during the event (OR 2·1, 95% CI 1·2–3·6,P=0·01) as significant risk factors for illness. We concluded that the outbreak was caused byCampylobacter, spread to the riders by the inadvertent ingestion of mud which had been contaminated with sheep faeces from the rural course. Mountain-bike race organizers should consider microbiological hazards when risk-assessing potential race courses. The internet is an efficient tool for the investigation of outbreaks in computer-literate populations.
Giardiasis outbreak at a camp after installation of a slow-sand filtration water-treatment system
Authors: KARON A. E. , HANNI K. D. , MOHLE-BOETANI J. C. , BERETTI R. A. , HILL V. R. , ARROWOOD M. , JOHNSTON S. P. , XIAO L. , VUGIA D. J.
Published: June 2010

In July and August 2007, a giardiasis outbreak affected attendees of a private recreational camp in California. Twenty-six persons had laboratory-confirmed giardiasis; another 24 had giardiasis-like illness with no stool test. A retrospective cohort study determined that showering was associated with illness (adjusted odds ratio 3·1, 95% confidence interval 1·1–9·3). Two days before the outbreak began, the camp had installed a slow-sand water filtration system that included unsterilized sand. Review of historical water-quality data identified substantially elevated total coliform and turbidity levels in sand-filtered spring water used for showering during the suspected exposure period. Unfiltered spring water tested at the same time had acceptable coliform and turbidity levels, implicating the filtration system as the most likely contamination source. To prevent waterborne illness, slow-sand water filtration systems should use sterilized sand, and slow-sand-filtered water should not be used for any purpose where inadvertent ingestion could occur until testing confirms its potability.
Introduction: Aftershocks: Violence in Dissolving Empires after the First World War
Authors: EICHENBERG JULIA , NEWMAN JOHN PAUL
Published: June 2010

This special issue deals with the phenomenon of the emergence of radical violence in what might be called ‘shatter zones’ of empires after the end of the First World War. It argues that the emergence of violence was due to the absence of functioning state control and facilitated by the effects of experiencing mass violence during the First World War. In the multi-ethnic regions of the former empires, the rising wave of nationalism directed this violent potential against ethnic and religious minorities.
Beyond Istanbul's ‘Laz Underworld’: Ottoman Paramilitarism and the Rise of Turkish Organised Crime, 1908–1950
Authors: GINGERAS RYAN
Published: June 2010

Although the Turkish mafia is increasingly recognised as a powerful force in the ongoing trade in weapons, narcotics and people in Europe and beyond, there are few critical histories of organised crime's origins in Turkey. Rather than present some pedantic general survey of the history of organized crime in modern Turkey, this essay attempts to address two broader critical points of departure. First, how did Anatolia's journey from imperial to republican rule impact, and how was it impacted by, criminal gangs? Second, how do we situate the experience of modern gangs in Turkey in a global context? In attempting to answer these questions, this paper looks at the development of criminal syndicates among Laz migrants in the greater Istanbul area during the first half of the twentieth century. The case of the Laz shows particularly how war, migration, imperial politics, urbanisation and the rise of the international drug trade shaped the parallel development of organised crime and the nascent Turkish Republic.
The Great War and Paramilitarism in Europe, 1917–23
Authors: GERWARTH ROBERT , HORNE JOHN
Published: June 2010

In this comparative conclusion, the authors consider some of the most influential trends in the historiography of political and paramilitary violence, with particular reference to the relationship between wartime and post-war violence. The heuristic value of the ‘aftershocks’ metaphor is considered, as are the advantages (and potential pitfalls) of the contributors’ transnational approach. Finally, the authors suggest an agenda for future research on paramilitary violence, which looks at the phenomenon in a global perspective.
Relationship of serum carotenoids and retinol with anaemia among pre-school children in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam
Authors: Khan Nguyen Cong , Van Huan Phan , Van Nhien Nguyen , Tuyen Le Danh , de Pee Saskia , Semba Richard D
Published: June 2010

Objective

To characterize the relationship between serum carotenoids, retinol and anaemia among pre-school children.

Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two groups: anaemic and non-anaemic. Serum levels of retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were measured in the study subjects.

Setting

Six rural communes of Dinh Hoa, a rural and mountainous district in Thai Nguyen Province, in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

Subjects

A total of 682 pre-school children, aged 12–72 months, were recruited.

Results

Geometric mean serum concentrations of carotenoids (μmol/l) were 0·056 for α-carotene, 0·161 for β-carotene, 0·145 for β-cryptoxanthin, 0·078 for lycopene, 0·388 for lutein and 0·075 for zeaxanthin. The mean levels of Hb and serum retinol were 108·8 g/l and 1·02 μmol/l, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency was 53·7 % and 7·8 %, respectively. After adjusting for sex and stunting, serum retinol concentrations (μmol/l; OR = 2·06, 95 % CI 1·10, 3·86,P= 0·024) and total provitamin A carotenoids (μmol/l; OR = 1·52, 95 % CI 1·01, 2·28,P= 0·046) were independently associated with anaemia, but non-provitamin A carotenoids (μmol/l; OR = 0·93, 95 % CI 0·63, 1·37,P= 0·710) were not associated with anaemia.

Conclusions

Among pre-school children in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, the prevalences of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia are high, and serum retinol and provitamin A carotenoids are independently associated with anaemia. Further studies are needed to determine if increased consumption of provitamin A carotenoids will reduce anaemia among pre-school children.
Pathological implications of cell cycle re-entry in Alzheimer disease
Authors: Bonda David J. , Lee Hyun-pil , Kudo Wataru , Zhu Xiongwei , Smith Mark A. , Lee Hyoung-gon
Published: June 2010

The complex neurodegeneration underlying Alzheimer disease (AD), although incompletely understood, is characterised by an aberrant re-entry into the cell cycle in neurons. Pathological evidence, in the form of cell cycle markers and regulatory proteins, suggests that cell cycle re-entry is an early event in AD, which precedes the formation of amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Although the exact mechanisms that induce and mediate these cell cycle events in AD are not clear, significant advances have been made in further understanding the pathological role of cell cycle re-entry in AD. Importantly, recent studies indicate that cell cycle re-entry is not a consequence, but rather a cause, of neurodegeneration, suggesting that targeting of cell cycle re-entry may provide an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, multiple inducers of cell cycle re-entry and their interactions in AD have been proposed. Here, we review the most recent advances in understanding the pathological implications of cell cycle re-entry in AD.