bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of deformation timing on the prospectivity of the Middle Magdalena sub-thrust, Colombia
Authors: Sassi William , Graham Rod , Gillcrist Ralph , Adams Mike , Gomez Ramon
Published: July 2007

Once deeply buried rocks are elevated in thrust belts, the resulting effects on reservoir evolution, source-rock maturity, hydrocarbon phase and charge history pose major problems for thrust belt exploration. To understand the geometrical evolution and burial history of thrust belts, successive structural restorations and dynamic basin modelling are needed. The forward modelling program ‘Thrustpack’ provides a semi-quantitative way forward, and this paper presents a ‘Thrustpack’ case study. The area considered is Rio Horta in the western foothills of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera, where westward-directed frontal structures break out onto the foreland basin of the Middle Magdalena Valley. A large sub-thrust anticline underlies the frontal thrusts and provides a substantial exploration lead. Following conventional models of back-thrusting and ‘fish-tailing’, the structure can be interpreted as entirely late, post-dating the overlying thrusts and once buried by the entire sedimentary megasequence of the Magdalena foreland basin. This would imply that the prospective section had been buried to a depth of about 12 km before uplift, and suggest a hydrocarbon graveyard, or, at best, dry gas in fractured, tight rock and potential overpressure. If the structure formed early, there is a chance of preserving both original porosity and liquid hydrocarbon in the structure, and charge risk is lessened because hydrocarbons were able to migrate into a structure that already existed. Hints from geological maps and the (generally poor quality) seismic data suggest that this is the more likely situation. It is consistent with the idea of an evolving palaeo-landscape and a mountain front with a very long history, where the structure remained relatively elevated during later sedimentation and thrusting. The modelling of these two alternative possible structural histories in ‘Thrustpack’ tests their viability and quantifies the hydrocarbon maturation, migration history and porosity evolution. The model in which the structure develops early presents real exploration opportunity whereas the alternative presents unacceptable exploration risk.
Structural geometry and development of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa
Authors: Beach Alastair , Smith Roric
Published: July 2007

The Witwatersrand Basin is an Archaean basin situated on the Kaapvaal Craton of Southern Africa. The results presented here focus on the structural geometry and development of the basin. Detailed structural sections across the western and northwestern parts of the basin are presented, using seismic data integrated with borehole, mine and outcrop information. The structural development of the basin can be expressed in simple terms, and in a manner that is standard practice within the oil industry. There are several clearly identified stages in basin evolution. The basin was initiated as a rift during Dominion Group times (
c.
3074 Ma), with post-rift thermal subsidence during the early part of West Rand Group times. Thermal subsidence would have been completed by late West Rand Group times (
c.
2900 Ma). Minor volcanic interludes within the West Rand Group sequence may testify to the existence of phases of extension during West Rand Group times. Onset of compression and thrusting outside the thermal basin generated a flexural load and clastic input into the basin as it evolved from thermal sag to foreland basin during late West Rand Group times (
c.
2950 Ma). Foreland basin development culminated in Central Rand Group times, with an increasingly coarse-grained clastic input, and thrust systems that progressively encroached on the basin margins, profoundly influencing structural styles. Thrusting was interrupted during Klipriviersberg Group times (2714 Ma) by the accumulation of basic volcanic rocks. Further thrusting occurred at the end of Klipriviersberg Group times. The basin then returned to an extensional tectonic setting during the Platberg Group rifting (2709 Ma), a major rift event across much of the area. Thermal subsidence related to this rift phase occurred during late Platberg Group times. The overprint of Platberg Group extensional faults breaks up the structural continuity of the Central and West Rand Group sediments within, and adjacent to, the basin, and it is difficult to elucidate the earlier compressional thrust-fold structures. Careful integration of seismic, borehole, mine and outcrop data allows structures from the thrusting event be recognized and more complete sections drawn. These present a larger-scale view of the structure of the basin than has previously been obtained.
Effect of chronic elevated carbon dioxide on the expression of acid-base transporters in the neonatal and adult mouse
Authors: Kanaan Amjad , Douglas Robert M. , Alper Seth L. , Boron Walter F. , Haddad Gabriel G.
Published: July 2007

Several pulmonary and neurological conditions, both in the newborn and adult, result in hypercapnia. This leads to disturbances in normal pH homeostasis. Most mammalian cells maintain tight control of intracellular pH (pHi) using a group of transmembrane proteins that specialize in acid-base transport. These acid-base transporters are important in adjusting pHiduring acidosis arising from hypoventilation. We hypothesized that exposure to chronic hypercapnia induces changes in the expression of acid-base transporters. Neonatal and adult CD-1 mice were exposed to either 8% or 12% CO2for 2 wk. We used Western blot analysis of membrane protein fractions from heart, kidney, and various brain regions to study the response of specific acid-base transporters to CO2. Chronic CO2increased the expression of the sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1) and electroneutral sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBCn1) in the cerebral cortex, heart, and kidney of neonatal but not adult mice. CO2increased the expression of electrogenic NBC (NBCe1) in the neonatal but not the adult mouse heart and kidney. Hypercapnia decreased the expression of anion exchanger 3 (AE3) in both the neonatal and adult brain but increased AE3 expression in the neonatal heart. We conclude that: 1) chronic hypercapnia increases the expression of the acid extruders NHE1, NBCe1 and NBCn1 and decreases the expression of the acid loader AE3, possibly improving the capacity of the cell to maintain pHiin the face of acidosis; and 2) the heterogeneous response of tissues to hypercapnia depends on the level of CO2and development.
Age-related changes in conducted vasodilation: effects of exercise training and role in functional hyperemia
Authors: Bearden Shawn E. , Linn Erik , Ashley Blair S. , Looft-Wilson Robin C.
Published: July 2007

Conducted vasodilation may coordinate blood flow in microvascular networks during skeletal muscle contraction. We tested the hypotheses that 1) exercise training enhances conducted vasodilation and 2) age-related changes in the capacity for conduction affect muscle perfusion during contractions. To address hypothesis 1, young (4–5 mo), adult (12–14 mo), and old (19–21 mo) C57BL6 male mice were sedentary or given access to running wheels for 8 wk. Voluntary running distances were significantly different (in km/day): young = 5.8 ± 0.1, adult = 3.9 ± 0.1, old = 2.2 ± 0.1 ( P < 0.05). In gluteus maximus muscles, conducted vasodilation was greater in adult than in young or old mice ( P < 0.05) and greater in young sedentary than in old sedentary mice but was not affected by exercise training. Citrate synthase activity was greater with exercise training at all ages ( P < 0.05). mRNA for endothelial nitric oxide synthase did not differ among ages, but endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression was greater in adult and old mice with exercise training ( P < 0.05). Connexin 37, connexin 40, and connexin 43 mRNA were not affected by exercise training and did not differ by age. To address hypothesis 2, perfusion of the gluteus maximus muscle during light to severe workloads was assessed by Doppler microprobe at 3–26 mo of age. Maximum perfusion decreased linearly across the lifespan. Perfusion at the highest workload, absolute and relative to maximum, decreased across the lifespan, with a steeper decline beyond ∼20 mo of age. In this model, 1) exercise training does not alter conducted vasodilation and 2) muscle perfusion is maintained up to near maximum workloads despite age-related changes in conducted vasodilation.
Long-Term Potentiation in the Hippocampal CA1 Region Does Not Require Insertion and Activation of GluR2-Lacking AMPA Receptors
Authors: Gray Erin E. , Fink Ann E. , Sariñana Joshua , Vissel Bryce , O'Dell Thomas J.
Published: July 2007

Activity-dependent insertion of AMPA-type glutamate receptors is thought to underlie long-term potentiation (LTP) at Schaffer collateral fiber synapses on pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region. Although it is widely accepted that the AMPA receptors at these synapses contain glutamate receptor type 2 (GluR2) subunits, recent findings suggest that LTP in hippocampal slices obtained from 2- to 3-wk-old rodents is dependent on the transient postsynaptic insertion and activation of Ca2+-permeable, GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors. Here we examined whether LTP in slices prepared from adult animals exhibits similar properties. In contrast to previously reported findings, pausing synaptic stimulation for as long as 30 min post LTP induction had no effect on LTP maintenance in slices from 2- to 3-mo-old mice. LTP was also not disrupted by postinduction application of a selective blocker of GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors or the broad-spectrum glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenate. Although these results suggest that the role of GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors in LTP might be regulated during postnatal development, LTP in slices obtained from 15- to 21-day-old mice also did not require postinduction synaptic stimulation or activation of GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors. Thus the insertion and activation of GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors do not appear to be fundamental processes involved in LTP at excitatory synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Plasticity of Reflexes From the Foot During Locomotion After Denervating Ankle Extensors in Intact Cats
Authors: Frigon Alain , Rossignol Serge
Published: July 2007

Although sensory feedback is important in regulating the timing and magnitude of muscle activity during locomotion few studies have evaluated how it changes after peripheral nerve lesions. To assess this, reflexes evoked by stimulating a nerve before and after denervating other nerves can be quantified to determine changes. The aim of this study was to investigate consequences of denervating ankle extensor muscles, the lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus (LGS) on reflexes from the plantar foot surface evoked by stimulating the tibialis (Tib) nerve. Three cats ( n = 3) were trained to walk on a treadmill and chronically implanted with electrodes in 14 hindlimb muscles bilaterally to record EMG activity. A stimulating cuff electrode was placed around the left Tib nerve (Tib) nerve at the ankle to evoke reflexes. Several control values of EMGs, limb kinematics, and Tib nerve reflexes were obtained during locomotion for at least 3 wk before the left LGS nerve was cut. We found that the locomotor EMG bursts of several muscles was altered, with a large increase in amplitude in the early days postneurectomy followed by a gradual decrease toward intact values later on. There were changes in the stimulated locomotor EMG bursts (Tib nerve reflexes) of ipsilateral flexors and extensors and of contralateral ankle extensors, which dissociated from changes in baseline locomotor EMG (e.g., nonstimulated bursts during reflex trials). The functional significance of these changes in muscle activity and reflex pathways on the recovery of locomotion after denervating ankle extensors is discussed.
Characterization of the Heteromeric Potassium Channel Formed by Kv2.1 and the Retinal Subunit Kv8.2 in Xenopus Oocytes
Authors: Czirják Gábor , Tóth Zsuzsanna E. , Enyedi Péter
Published: July 2007

Kv8.2 (KCNV2) subunits do not form homotetrameric potassium channels, although they coassemble with Kv2.1 to constitute functional heteromers. High expression of Kv8.2 was reported in the human retina and its mutations were linked to the visual disorder “cone dystrophy with supernormal rod electroretinogram.” We detected abundant Kv8.2 expression in the photoreceptor layer of mouse retina, where Kv2.1 is also known to be present. When the two subunits were coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes in equal amounts, Kv8.2 abolished the current of Kv2.1. If the proportion of Kv8.2 was reduced then the current of heteromeric channels emerged. Kv8.2 shifted the steady-state activation of Kv2.1 to more negative potentials, without affecting the voltage dependence of inactivation. This gave rise to a window current within the −40 to −10 mV membrane potential range. Ba2+ inhibited the heteromeric channel and shifted its activation to more positive potentials. These electrophysiological and pharmacological properties resemble those of the voltage-gated K+ current (named IKx) described in amphibian retinal rods. Furthermore, oocytes expressing Kv2.1/Kv8.2 developed transient hyperpolarizing overshoots in current-clamp experiments, whereas those expressing only Kv2.1 failed to do so. Similar overshoots are characteristic responses of photoreceptors to light flashes. We demonstrated that Kv8.2 G476D, analogous to a disease-causing human mutation, eliminated Kv2.1 current, if the subunits were coexpressed equally. However, Kv8.2 G476D did not form functional heteromers under any conditions. Therefore we suggest that the custom-tailored current of Kv2.1/Kv8.2 functionally contributes to photoreception, and this is the reason that mutations of Kv8.2 lead to a genetic visual disorder.
Model of Birdsong Learning Based on Gradient Estimation by Dynamic Perturbation of Neural Conductances
Authors: Fiete Ila R. , Fee Michale S. , Seung H. Sebastian
Published: July 2007

We propose a model of songbird learning that focuses on avian brain areas HVC and RA, involved in song production, and area LMAN, important for generating song variability. Plasticity at HVC → RA synapses is driven by hypothetical “rules” depending on three signals: activation of HVC → RA synapses, activation of LMAN → RA synapses, and reinforcement from an internal critic that compares the bird's own song with a memorized template of an adult tutor's song. Fluctuating glutamatergic input to RA from LMAN generates behavioral variability for trial-and-error learning. The plasticity rules perform gradient-based reinforcement learning in a spiking neural network model of song production. Although the reinforcement signal is delayed, temporally imprecise, and binarized, the model learns in a reasonable amount of time in numerical simulations. Varying the number of neurons in HVC and RA has little effect on learning time. The model makes specific predictions for the induction of bidirectional long-term plasticity at HVC → RA synapses.
A Mononuclear and a Mixed-Valence Chain Polymer Arising from Copper(II) Halide Chemistry and the Use of 2,2'-Pyridil
Authors: Milios Constantinos J. , Raptopoulou Catherine P. , Terzis Aris , Perlepes Spyros P. , Papaefstathiou Giannis S.
Published: July 2007

Reactions of2,2'-pyridil (pyCOCOpy) withCuCl2⋅2H2OandCuBr2in EtOH yielded the mononuclear complex[Cu(pyCOOEt)2Cl2]⋅H2O(1) and the one-dimensional, mixed-valence complex[Cu2ICuII(pyCOOEt)2Br4]n(2), respectively. Both complexes crystallize in the triclinic space group P1¯. The lattice constants area=8.382(2),b=9.778(2),c=7.814(2),α=101.17(1),β=114.55(1),γ=94.14(1)∘for1anda=8.738(1),b=9.375(2),c=7.966(1),α=79.09(1),β=64.25(1),γ=81.78(1)∘for2.2,2'-pyridil undergoes a metal-assisted alcoholysis and oxidation leading to decomposition and yielding the ethyl picolinate (pyCOOEt) ligand. The autoredox process associated with the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) in the case of complex2is discussed in terms of the increased redox activity of the copper(II) bromide system relative to the copper(II) chloride system.
Eight-Bit Semiflash A/D Converter
Authors: Dimitrov D. P. , Vasileva T. K.
Published: July 2007

An 8-bit semiflash ADC is reported that uses a single array of 15 comparators for both
the coarse and the
fine conversion. Conversion is implemented in two steps. First, an estimate is made of the 4 most
significant bits, which are then memorized in the output latch. Next, the remaining 4 bits are
evaluated by the same array of comparators. The auto-zeroed comparators also perform the
function of a sample-and-hold circuit. In the proposed 8-bit semiflash ADC, there are no
sample-and-hold circuit, no DAC, no subtraction circuit, and no residue amplifier. As a result,
a moderate conversion speed has been combined with a drastically reduced power
consumption. The ADC was fabricated in a standard 0.6 μm double-poly, double-metal CMOS process. Experimental results show
monotonic conversion with very low integral and differential nonlinearities. These
features, combined with the ultra-low power consumption, make the proposed circuit very
suitable for low-power mixed-signal applications.
Apoptosis Induction in Human Melanoma Cells by Inhibition of MEK Is Caspase-Independent and Mediated by the Bcl-2 Family Members PUMA, Bim, and Mcl-1
Authors: Wang Yu Fang , Jiang Chen Chen , Kiejda Kelly Anne , Gillespie Susan , Zhang Xu Dong , Hersey Peter
Published: July 2007

Purpose: Given that inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) are being introduced into treatment for melanoma, the present study was carried out to better understand the mechanism by which they may induce apoptosis of melanoma cells.

Experimental Design: A panel of human melanoma cell lines and fresh melanoma isolates was assessed for their sensitivity to apoptosis induced by the MEK inhibitor U0126. The apoptotic pathways and regulatory mechanisms involved were examined by use of the inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) techniques.

Results: Inhibition of MEK induced apoptosis in the majority of melanoma cell lines through a mitochondrial pathway that was associated with the activation of Bax and Bak, release of mitochondrial apoptogenic proteins, and activation of caspase-3. However, apoptosis was independent of caspases and instead was associated with mitochondrial release of AIF as shown by the inhibition of apoptosis when AIF was knocked down by siRNA. Inhibition of MEK resulted in the up-regulation of the BH3-only proteins PUMA and Bim and down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. These changes were critical for the induction of apoptosis by U0126 as siRNA knockdown of PUMA or Bim inhibited apoptosis, whereas siRNA knockdown of Mcl-1 increased apoptosis particularly in the apoptosis-resistant cell lines.

Conclusions: Apoptosis of melanoma cells induced by the inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway is mediated by the up-regulation/activation of PUMA and Bim and down-regulation of Mcl-1. Release of AIF rather than the activation of caspases seems to be the mediator of apoptosis. Our results suggest that cotargeting Mcl-1 and the MEK/ERK pathway may further improve treatment results in melanoma.
The Politics of Citizenship Formation: Political Participation of Mental Health Service Users in Hong Kong
Authors: Chiu Marcus , Chan Kenneth
Published: July 2007

In Hong Kong as elsewhere, there have been calls for an active and inclusive notion of citizenship to empower people affected by mental illness service users (hereinafter users) in addition to conventional altruistic or non-discrimination principles in policy initiatives. In this paper we take a somewhat different perspective to consider how the users may contribute individually and collectively to empower themselves, and how political participation might help to re-assert the status and practice of citizenship. It shows that participation matters in the formation of citizenship for the users. We further assume that political participation is attributable to individual resources, motivations for getting involved and the presence of advocacy agencies to facilitate participation. We then proceed to analyse the level of political participation by the users and the general public based on data from two comparable surveys. We argue that voter empowerment is the most essential factor in bringing about a stronger sense of citizenship among the users. The findings will be discussed in the light of the practice of citizenship and the implications for public policy development.
Spatial characterization of a foraging area for immature hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Cuevas Eduardo , de los Ángeles Liceaga-Correa María , Garduño-Andrade Mauricio
Published: July 2007

The submarine habitats in the Rio Lagartos Sea Turtle Sanctuary, Mexico, are
an important feeding and development area for juvenile Hawksbill turtles
(Eretmochelys imbricata). The characterization of these critical habitats is
an important and urgent issue to attend for the conservation of this species
in Mexico. The objective of this study is to identify, locate and describe
the marine benthic habitats in this area, and explain the distribution of
the juvenile Hawksbill turtles in the study area. We used submarine
techniques such as videotransects and spot checks to characterize the bottom
types in the area, and geostatistic techniques to elaborate thematic maps of
the different benthic components, integrating all of them into a GIS. We
obtained the bottom type map with eight submarine habitats at different
depth ranges. We found juvenile Hawksbill turtles distributed mainly on hard
bottom sites covered by octocorals, such as Pseudopterogorgia, and sponges
of the genera Chondrilla and Spheciospongia. We estimated habitat ranges for
the captured turtles and the bottom types occupied by them, then we
calculated the distribution densities of juvenile Hawksbill turtles by
bottom type. We concluded that the combination of spatial techniques and
multivariate statistics is efficient for mapping the marine bottom types in
the area, and recommend the generation of specific conservation strategies
to protect this area because of the natural marine resources and process
ocurring in it.
The effect of funnel trap type and size of pitfall trap on trap success: implications for ecological field studies
Authors: Maritz Bryan , Masterson Gavin , Mackay Darian , Alexander Graham
Published: July 2007

Funnel and pitfall traps that are set in association with drift fences are
powerful tools for field herpetologists. Innovations in trapping techniques
continue to improve capture rates, portability and affordability of trap
materials, and to decrease construction and installation time. In this paper
we test a new design for funnel traps and test the effect of pitfall trap
size on trap success. Our new funnel trap design was significantly easier
and quicker to construct, but captured fewer specimens than the traditional
design. There was no significant difference in the capture rates of the two
sizes of pitfall trap that we tested. This finding was confirmed by a
second, more extensive field survey. The implications of trap efficacy on
ecological investigations are discussed.
Population genetics of the Amazonian tortoises, Chelonoidis denticulata and C. carbonaria, (Cryptodira: Testudinidae) in an area of sympatry
Authors: Farias Izeni Pires , Jerozolimski Adriano , Melo Afrânio , das Neves Viana Maria , Martins Marcio , dos Santos Monjeló Luis Alberto
Published: July 2007

We conducted a population genetic analysis of the two Amazonian tortoises, Chelonoidis denticulata (n = 40) and Chelonoidis carbonaria (n = 39) in a region of sympatry within the Xingú River basin. High levels of gene flow among sampled localities indicated lack of population structure for both species. Genetic parameters indicated a moderate level of genetic diversity in C. denticulata and neutrality tests suggested that populations of this species were in demographic equilibrium with respect to mitochondrial DNA. On the other hand, C. carbonaria presented low levels of genetic diversity and a signal of population expansion. Most records of C. denticulata are from areas of humid forest while those for C. carbonaria are from areas of semi-deciduous forests and transitional areas between humid and semi-deciduous forests. Therefore, the demographic expansion observed in C. carbonaria population could reflect an increase in the availability of suitable habitats for this species due to anthropogenic or natural processes. Additionally, we observed haplotype sharing between these two tortoise species indicating hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting.
Elevated tongue-flicking rate to cricket surface chemicals by the arthropodivorous rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus
Authors: Cooper William
Published: July 2007

The rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus is a dietary specialist on insects and other arthropods. In a laboratory experiment, I tested chemosensory responses to chemical cues from several taxa palatable to other snakes and two control stimuli presented on cotton swabs. The snakes tongue-flicked at significantly higher rates in response to cues from crickets than from any of the other stimuli, and none of the other potential prey types elicited more tongue-flicks than cologne, the control for response to an odorous substance irrelevant to feeding. These findings are consistent with existing data for a few other species of snakes that are prey specialists, suggesting that correlated evolution may occur between diet specialization and chemosensory responsiveness to cues from the specialized prey. Tests of additional species of prey specialists are needed to establish whether this hypothesis is correct.
Was Dust Their Food and Clay Their Bread? Grave Goods, the Mesopotamian Afterlife, and the Liminal Role of Inana/Ishtar
Authors: Barrett Caitlín
Published: July 2007

Many literary texts portray the Mesopotamian netherworld as unrelievedly bleak, yet the archaeological evidence of grave goods suggests that there may also have existed an alternative way of thinking about the afterlife. An analysis of the types of objects found in burials indicates that many people may have anticipated a less harsh form of existence after death. Furthermore, iconographic allusions to the goddess Inana/Ishtar in certain burials raise the possibility that this deity may have been associated with the descent of human dead to the netherworld. The occasional presence of her image and iconography in funerary contexts does not necessarily imply a belief that Inana/Ishtar would personally grant the deceased a happy afterlife, but it may provide an allusion to her own escape from the undesirable netherworld of literary narrative. Inana/Ishtar's status as a liminal figure and breaker of boundaries also may have encouraged Mesopotamians to associate her with the transition between life and death.
Comprehension of idiomatic verb + particle constructions in 6- to 11-year-old children
Authors: Crutchley Alison
Published: July 2007

The ability to comprehend non-literal language is still developing throughout the school years. This study analysed the responses of a large stratified sample of 6- to 11-year-old children to a forced-choice picture selection task testing a common type of idiomatic expression: verb+particle constructions such as `look up' and `call off'. Effects for frequency were found in children's comprehension of particular verb+particle constructions. Furthermore, distractor analysis revealed that children may not have been applying simple decompositional semantic strategies in their attempts to comprehend unfamiliar verbs. It seemed that syntactic features of the verbs were also taken into account, and that children made use of contextual information only in certain circumstances. It is argued that children's choices of distractors indicated that they employed a holistic rather than an analytic approach to comprehension of unfamiliar particle verbs.
Physician discussions with terminally ill patients: a cross-national comparison
Authors: Cartwright Colleen , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D. , Williams Gail , Faisst Karin , Mortier Freddy , Nilstun Tore , Norup Michael , van der Heide Agnes , Miccinesi Guido
Published: July 2007

A major issue in the care of terminally ill patients is communication and information provision. This paper reports the extent to which physicians in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland discuss topics relevant to end of life care with terminally ill patients and their relatives (without first informing the patient), and possible associations between physician-specific characteristics and such discussions. Response rates to the postal survey ranged from 39% to 68% (n =10139). Physicians in most of the countries except Italy `in principle, always' discuss issues related to terminal illness with their patients but not with patients' relatives without first informing the patient, unless the relatives ask. Cross-national differences remained strong after controlling for physician characteristics. The majority of physicians appeared to support the principle of patient-centred care to terminally ill patients, consistent with palliative care philosophy and with the law and/or professional guidelines in most of the countries studied. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 295—303
Are anxiety and depressed mood related to physical symptom burden? A study in hospitalized advanced cancer patients
Authors: Teunissen S.C.C.M. , de Graeff A. , Voest E.E. , de Haes J.C.J.M.
Published: July 2007

Background : Anxiety and depressed mood are common symptoms in hospitalized advanced cancer patients. It is often presumed that anxiety and depression affect the occurrence and experience of physical symptoms. Purpose : To analyse the relation between anxiety, depressed mood and the presence and intensity of physical symptoms. Patients and methods : Anxiety and depressed mood were assessed in a hospitalized advanced cancer population (n = 79) primarily by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and also by a single-item question `Are you anxious and/or depressed?' and by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Physical symptoms were assessed by a semi-structured interview and by the ESAS. Results : Thirty-four percent of the patients reported anxiety, 56% depressed mood and 29% both, as assessed by the HADS. The correlations between HADS, the single-item question and the ESAS were low. No association was found between anxiety or depressed mood and the presence of physical symptoms. Patients who were anxious or depressed had higher ESAS scores for insomnia and drowsiness; scores for pain, anorexia, asthenia, nausea and dyspnea were independent of anxiety and/or depressed mood. Conclusion : The relationship between anxiety, depressed mood and the presence and intensity of physical symptoms in hospitalized advanced cancer patients is very limited. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 341—346
An evaluation of a physiotherapy led non-pharmacological breathlessness programme for patients with intrathoracic malignancy
Authors: Connors Sonia , Graham Sheila , Peel Tim
Published: July 2007

The outcomes of the first 4 years of a physiotherapy led non-pharmacological breathlessness management programme for patients with intrathoracic malignancy are described. Of the 169 patients enrolling, only 14 completed the full 4-week programme. All reported improvements in some parameters measured though these did not reach statistical significance. These patients tended to be fitter, had longer median survival and the mechanism of their breathlessness was not progressive cancer. The 155 patients who did not complete the programme had a short median survival (95 days), and tended to have cancer related breathlessness. Of these, 131 were seen, 85 receiving part of the programme, 15 needing other services and 31 started but died during the programme. Objective post intervention scores could not be made in this group, but anecdotal quotes suggested benefit. In a group whose natural history is a relentless deterioration over a period of months, pre- and post-intervention symptom scoring is difficult to achieve. It is suggested that a qualitative approach might be more sensitive at identifying which aspects of the service are most appropriate. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 285—287
The safety of quetiapine: results of a post-marketing surveillance study on 1728 patients in England
Authors: Twaites Beverley R. , Wilton Lynda V. , Shakir Saad A. W.
Published: July 2007

The safety of the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine as used in general practice in England was examined by prescription-event monitoring (PEM). Patients were identified from dispensed National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions issued by general practitioners (GPs) for quetiapine between October 1997 and July 1999. The outcome data were event reports obtained by sending questionnaires (`green forms') to the prescribing doctor at Least 6 months after the first prescription for an individual patient.

Green forms with clinically usefuL information on 1728 patients (median age 39 years (IQR 30—56); 53% female) were received. The most frequently reported event during the first month of treatment was `drowsiness/sedation' (47; 3% cohort). This was also the most frequently reported specified adverse drug reaction (ADR) to quetiapine (7; 11% of 65 reported ADRs) and the highest reported clinical reason for stopping quetiapine (51; 6% of the 734 reported reasons for stopping).

There was a Low incidence of extrapyramidal disease (21 during treatment, 1% of cohort) and hyperprolactinaemia (three during treatment, 0.2%) in this study. Three cases of diabetes mellitus in this cohort were reported to be a new diagnosis.

Six pregnancies were reported during treatment with quetiapine, five of which were exposed during the first trimester only. There were four Live births with no reported congenital abnormaLities.

Fifty-six deaths were reported during this study (3% cohort). The most frequently reported causes of death reLated to the cardiovascular (18) and respiratory (15) systems.

The results of this post-marketing surveillance study demonstrated that quetiapine is generally well-tolerated when used in general practice.
Minimising metabolic and cardiovascular risk in schizophrenia: diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemia
Authors: Barnett A.H. , Mackin P. , Chaudhry I. , Farooqi A. , Gadsby R. , Heald A. , Hill J. , Millar H. , Peveler R. , Rees A. , Singh V. , TayLor D. , Vora J. , Jones P.B.
Published: July 2007

People with schizophrenia are at greater risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension than the general population. This results in an increased incidence of cardiovascuLar disease (CVD) and reduced Life expectancy, over and above that imposed by their mentaL illness through suicide. Several Levels of evidence from data Linkage analyses to clinical trials demonstrate that treatment-related metabolic disturbances are commonplace in this patient group, and that the use of certain second-generation antipsychotics may compound the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and CVD. In addition, smoking, poor diet, reduced physical activity and alcohol or drug abuse are prevalent in people with schizophrenia and contribute to the overall CVD risk. Management and minimization of metaboLic risk factors are pertinent when providing optimal care to patients with schizophrenia. This review recommends a framework for the assessment, monitoring and management of patients with schizophrenia in the UK clinical setting.
Locke's state of nature
Authors: Hindess Barry
Published: July 2007

Scholarly discussion has treated the account of the state of nature which Locke presents in his Second Treatise as neither an hypothesis nor a description but rather as a fiction. John Dunn, for example, claims that it is a `theoretical analysis of the fundamental relations of right and duty which obtain between human beings, relations which are logically prior to the particular historical situations in which all actual human beings always in fact find themselves'. Here Dunn presents a misleading account of Locke's argument, presumably, as the title of his paper suggests, in order to mount an argument of his own about the `political relevance' of Locke's work to a time when no one takes seriously the early modern idea of the state of nature. However, this article also has a more serious concern. I argue that the representation of the state of nature as a merely imaginary, `theoretical analysis' of social relations obscures the significance of the early modern idea of a state of nature, not only for the work of Locke and his near contemporaries, but also, more importantly, for the broader development of western social and political thought. The idea of an original condition of freedom and equality played a central role in Locke's argument, serving as a means both to undermine the view that humans were born into a natural condition of subjection to the rule of others and to justify European expropriation of land in the Americas. It also represented one end of a developmental continuum, running from the original, most primitive, condition of humanity through to the societies of contemporary western Europe, which was thought to encompass all sections of humanity. While the idea of an original asocial condition on which this continuum was based was later brought into question, a closely related developmental framework nevertheless informed later movements in history and the social sciences. After being abandoned in its original form, this category was finally revived in 20th-century political theory, this time precisely in the form that Dunn mistakenly ascribes to Locke. The article concludes by speculating on the relationship between these normative and empirical perspectives on the state of nature.
Alfred Weber's essay `The Civil Servant' and Kafka's `In the Penal Colony': the evidence of an influence
Authors: Harrington Austin
Published: July 2007

In 1977 a German literary scholar, Astrid Lange-Kirchheim, published an article announcing an astonishing discovery: credible evidence exists to suggest that Kafka's famous disturbing short story, `In the Penal Colony', published in 1919 but first written in 1914, echoes and reworks, in several of its key images and turns of phrase, elements of an essay published in 1910 in the German literary magazine, Die neue Rundschau, bearing the title `Der Beamte' (`The Civil Servant', or `The Official' or `The Functionary') by Alfred Weber, younger brother of Max Weber. Most Kafka scholars today accept Lange-Kirchheim's findings and recognize the importance of `Der Beamte' as at least one crucial reference point for Kafka's writing. Yet little wider awareness of the connection seems to exist among historians of sociology and other scholars of the history of the human sciences. This article comprises a summary of Lange-Kirchheim's analysis together with a complete annotated translation of `Der Beamte' by Alfred Weber in English.
Constructions of racism in the Australian parliamentary debates on asylum seekers
Authors: Every Danielle , Augoustinos Martha
Published: July 2007

The proliferation of the subtle and slippery nature of the new racism has made it increasingly difficult to define racism and to develop an effective anti-racist rhetoric with which to challenge it. To explore the implications of the new racism for anti-racist discourse, this article uses discourse analysis to examine the parliamentary speeches of politicians opposing Australia's new asylum-seeking laws for what these refugee advocates challenge and make accountable as racist. Using a corpus of the 2001 Australian Hansard speeches on the MV Tampa, amendments to the Migration Act, and the Border Protection Bill 2001 as data we identify four ways in which the government's representation of asylum seekers was constructed as racist. These included: the use of categorical generalizations in talk about asylum seekers, the unequal treatment of asylum seekers compared with other categories of `illegal' immigrants, talk about the nation and cultural-difference-talk. We demonstrate how articulating these constructions of racism in political discourse (and no doubt, in everyday talk) is a socially delicate conversational act that was carefully managed. We suggest that anti-racism strategies must take this issue of the complex nature of making an accusation of racism into account, and search for ways to articulate such accusations in a hostile political climate.
Evaluating a Stage Model in Predicting Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Latinas' Cervical Cancer Screening Practices: The Role of Psychosocial and Cultural Predictors
Authors: Arredondo Elva Maria , Pollak Kathryn , Costanzo Philip R.
Published: July 2007

The goals of this study are to evaluate (a) the effectiveness of a stage model in predicting Latinas' self-report of obtaining a Pap test and (b) the unique role of psychosocial/cultural factors in predicting progress toward behavior change. One-on-one structured interviews with monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinas ( n = 190) were conducted. Most participants (85%) intended to obtain a Pap smear within 1 year; therefore, staging women based on intention was not possible. Moreover, results from the polychotomous hierarchical logistic regression suggest that psychosocial and cultural factors were independent predictors of Pap test history. A stage model may not be appropriate for predicting Pap test screening among Latinas. Results suggest that unique cultural, psychosocial, and demographic factors may inhibit cervical cancer screening practices. Clinicians may need to tailor messages on these cultural and psychosocial factors to increase Pap testing among Latinas.
Community-Institutional Partnerships: Understanding Trust Among Partners
Authors: White-Cooper Sharrice , Dawkins Nicola U. , Kamin Stephanie L. , Anderson Lynda A.
Published: July 2007

This study examines perceptions about trust among people engaged in community-institutional partnerships. Focus groups were conducted with community, health department, and academic representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Prevention Research Centers Program. When asked to describe expectations about working with partners, the main themes identified were skepticism, optimism, and anticipation of challenges for community, health department, and academic representatives, respectively. Key themes identified as facilitating trust were related to characteristics of individuals (e.g., building interpersonal relationships), while barriers to trust were associated with organizational characteristics (e.g., academic reward systems). When explicitly asked, participants depicted the “object” of trust as residing at the individual level. Findings highlight the importance of partners' initial expectations in developing or eroding trust, the differences in factors that facilitate and hinder trust, and the important distinction between individuals and organizations as the object of trust.
Assessing children with autism, mental retardation, and typical development using the Playground Observation Checklist
Authors: Ingram Daniel H. , Mayes Susan Dickerson , Troxell Lucinda B. , Calhoun Susan L.
Published: July 2007

Elementary school children with normal intelligence and autism ( n = 20), mental retardation and no autism ( n = 24), and typical development ( n = 37) were observed for 15 minutes during recess at school. Ten behaviors were scored as present or absent using the Playground Observation Checklist. Children with autism were distinguished from children with mental retardation and typical development by their social problems, whereas children with typical development and mental retardation did not differ significantly in social competency. The four social behaviors on the checklist correctly identified 94 percent of the children as having or not having autism. All of the children with autism and all of the typical children were correctly classified. Our pilot findings suggest that the Playground Observation Checklist has potential as a simple and clinically useful component of a comprehensive evaluation for possible autism.
Representing the ways of the world: How children under three start to use syntax in graphic signs
Authors: Lancaster Lesley
Published: July 2007

This article reports on some of the findings of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project that looks at the mark-making of children under three years old. The data were all collected in the children's homes, and multimodal transcription and analyses were used. The project focused on an investigation of the principles that children use when they first start to construct signs that associate the making of marks with the representation of personal meanings, including those that relate to systems of writing. The article is set in the wider context of discussion of related educational practice. Two findings are discussed in detail, with a presentation of exemplar evidence from analyses of the mark-making of two of the children. In the first, the relationship between marks made by young children, and systems and notations of drawing, writing and number is considered; evidence from this research suggests that while they draw on these systems, young children produce graphic signs that have an independent status, and that have relational structures that refer to other signs within the text, as well as to external objects and experiences. The second finding looks at how children use everyday social and bodily experiences to evolve predictable mark-making structures, and examines this process of grammaticization in a child's construction of an inventory.
Good practice for pupils learning English as an additional language: Lessons from effective literacy teachers in inner-city primary schools
Authors: Flynn Naomi
Published: July 2007

This article presents observations and discussion of the successful teaching of English to pupils, in English primary schools, for whom English is an additional language (EAL). It draws on research in Year 2 (6—7-year old) classes in three inner-city primary schools carried out in 2003 and 2005. Three recognized, effective teachers of literacy were selected for case study; all worked in successful schools where results for literacy, measured by national tests, were in line with or better than national averages. Following analyses of lesson observations and interviews with the teachers, their head teachers and the EAL coordinators in the schools, a number of common elements in their practice emerged. Discussion centres on how these pedagogical features supported effective learning environments for the early literacy development of bilingual children, and on the implications for the practice of teaching English to all pupils.
Authenticity and the assessment of modern language learning
Authors: Israel John
Published: July 2007

In this article authenticity is defined by componential concepts, common to spoken and written communication through language, which frame assessments of interchanges produced for `high-stakes' examination purposes. They are referents for analysis and critique of International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme evaluations of second and foreign language performance in international contexts. Experimental data derived from wide-ranging, criterion-referenced measurements triangulate results for IB-derived assessments. Within this system, potential improvements to practice in evaluating interactive language use are explored. Through focussing on communicative authenticity, validity and reliability problems in grading students' language proficiency are investigated. Greater consistency in test-task and criteria design for qualitative assessment of language use, it is argued, better matches production samples with programme aims and objectives. The overall credibility of typical evaluation systems may thereby be enhanced.