bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Complicated Transition to Broadcast Digital Television in the United States
Authors: Castañeda Mari
Published: May 2007

This article examines three major policy issues surrounding the transition to broadcast digital television (B-DTV): digital transmission and programming, interoperability and compatibility, and copyright protection. By examining these issues in the B-DTV transition, this article aims to show the discontinuity between the current B-DTV changeover and the most commonly referred to changeovers in TV history, color television. The comparison points to the transformation of television as an important component in the national and global information infrastructures. The article suggests that the long, complicated journey to B-DTV demonstrates the limitations of broadcast policy in its attempts to reconfigure the technological, political, economic, and cultural features of analog media to reach the digital promise land. With the features of traditional television in flux and the contradictions of global capital quite apparent, the changeover to B-DTV is going to be more drawn out and costly than the transition to color TV.
Cultural Outlaws
Authors: Costello Victor , Moore Barbara
Published: May 2007

A web-based survey was used to collect qualitative data about online fans' use of the internet for keeping up with a favorite television program and for interacting with other fans. The textual responses from 757 participants were coded for patterns and themes related to theories of audience activity. The results reveal a continuum of activity from “lurkers” to a thriving, interpretive community of “outlaw” fans involved in the consumption and production of favored cultural texts. In contrast to historical images of rabid television fans, the researchers discovered a sophisticated audience, devoted to programs that make them think and that inspire meaningful exchanges in online discussions. Internet technologies have empowered these fans to more effectively organize en masse as resistors and shapers of commercial television narratives.
The O of Han Ju
Authors: Ma Sheng-mei
Published: May 2007

One of the climaxes in Han Ju, “the Korean Wave” in Mandarin, is women's confession of love for men. However, such emotional outbursts invariably are contained by rather than destabilizing the patriarchal tradition. In Asia, while Korean women's daring confession captivates the audience, who are burdened by the heritage of feminine passivity, it may signify less a feminist breakthrough than an underhanded boost to the male ego that withholds its affection until the “weaker” sex confides first. The best metaphor for the paradox of Han Ju's female repression and confession lies in the leading actresses' often full, sensuous lips painted and even overpainted beyond lips proper to intimate a rebelliousness or transgressiveness, even as lipstick connotes femininity. The tiny fraction of bright, striking color taints beyond the lower and the upper lips; this border crossing verges on the indecent. This motif in Korean dramas lies at the core of its appeal to the Asian female audience as well as to the volatile Asian communities juggling tradition and modernization.
It's a Political Jungle Out There
Authors: Eko Lyombe
Published: May 2007

/ This article analyses cartoon images of African political leaders published in three African satirical newspapers: Le Cafard libéré (The Liberated Cockroach) of Senegal, Le Messager Popoli (Popoli Messenger) of Cameroon and Le Marabout (The Marabou) of Burkina Faso, and one `traditional newspaper', The Daily Nation of Nairobi, Kenya, during the post-Cold War period (1995—2004). The cartoons used transilience, the African narrative device whereby human beings are given animal attributes for purposes of satire, and `deterritorialization', whereby they are symbolically taken out of their natural `territories' in order to denounce the excesses of authoritarianism. Transilience and deterritorialization are counter-discourses that present the idea that authoritarianism is animalistic and self-destructive.
Geolinguistic Regions and Diasporas in the Age of Satellite Television
Authors: Albizu Josu Amezaga
Published: May 2007

Studies of the globalization processes in the communications media have frequently emphasized the planetary-scale diffusion of the dominant cultural and linguistic models. This is undoubtedly a clearly observable tendency of our age. However, at the same time different tendencies can be observed through which globalization is also affecting other languages and cultures, which have no choice but to globalize themselves since they belong to less favoured communities. This is the case, for example, of the languages that migrant and diasporic populations take with them on their journeys. A detailed analysis of the world panorama of satellite television makes this phenomenon clearly apparent, where the presence of those other languages makes it possible to speak of the formation of geolinguistic regions that cross geographical spaces and the frontiers of the nation-state.
Unhappy Engineers of the European Soul
Authors: Bourdon Jérôme
Published: May 2007

This article recounts the history of the numerous attempts to create or promote a European identity through television and explores the reasons for their failure. From the 1950s, engineers of the European soul, with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) playing a central part, resorted to a variety of technologies and genres: simultaneous live broadcasts in Eurovision, news exchange, later satellite television, highbrow drama and popular entertainment notably with the Eurovision song contest. Even when they reached an audience, these attempts failed with respect to their main aim, as they were based on a false, deterministic view of television as a medium and on a dated, communicative view of the nation where media have the power to shape collective identities.
Hanryu Sweeps East Asia
Authors: Hanaki Toru , Singhal Arvind , Min Wha Han  , Do Kyun Kim  , Chitnis Ketan
Published: May 2007

The present article analyzes the popularity of Winter Sonata (a South Korean television series) among Japanese audiences, especially among middle-aged women, and the impact of the accompanying hanryu phenomenon (the current fad for every aspect of South Korean popular culture) on Japanese society. Various types of primary and archival data were collected including in-depth qualitative interview surveys from 33 female Japanese viewers of Winter Sonata. The interpretive analysis of the data reveals the reasons for Winter Sonata's popularity in Japan, and how this television drama and the hanryu phenomenon have influenced Japanese perceptions of Korean residents living in Japan, South Koreans and North Koreans. In light of the troubled historical relationship between Japan and Korea (given Japan had colonized the Korean peninsula for several decades), the impact of Winter Sonata and the hanryu phenomenon is especially noteworthy.
Framing Immigration and Integration
Authors: Vliegenthart Rens , Roggeband Conny
Published: May 2007

This article examines how the salience and framing of political issues in the press and in parliament influence each other and how this salience and framing is influenced by key events outside the media and parliamentary realms. The case focused on is the debate on immigration and integration in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2004. The empirical analyses are based on a computer-assisted content analysis of both parliamentary documents and newspaper articles. Results show bidirectional causal relationships between media and parliament. In the case of salience only long-term influence relationships are found, while framing influences follow an interesting pattern: an increase in the use of a frame in one arena leads to an increase in the other arena only if this frame has already been used regularly in the latter arena. External events have more considerable and consistent impact on issue salience and framing in both arenas.
Effect of Coextrusion On Pp/Ldpe Bicomponent Blown Films
Authors: Gururajan G. , Ogale A.A.
Published: May 2007

The effect of coextrusion on the microstructure of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bilayer films was investigated by the use of Raman spectroscopy. The onset crystallization-time difference for PP versus LDPE components is an important parameter that controls the orientation and morphology of the coextruded films. Although the overall molecular orientation of PP and LDPE was not significantly different in multilayer films, single-layer LDPE films displayed some row-nucleation of crystals that was not observed in the LDPE layer in coextruded films. Also, there was a slight decrease of crystalline a-axis orientation for coextruded LDPE layer relative to that obtained for single-layer LDPE films.
Melt Fracture Analysis Using an in-Line Camera
Authors: McLeod Michael A.
Published: May 2007

A low melt flow rate metallocene polypropylene is cast into film with and without melt fracture. Using an in-line camera, melt fracture is quantitatively described using real-time measurements of film defects. Melt fracture causes more variation in light transmittance, leading to a higher defect count. This measure of film optics is more sensitive to melt fracture than haze or gloss.
Effect of Atmospheric Plasma Treatment On Polymer Surface Energy and Adhesion
Authors: Thurston Rachel M. , Clay John D. , Schulte Michael D.
Published: May 2007

This study describes experiments to quantify polymer surface energy changes after exposure to atmospheric plasma. Atmospheric plasma treatment permits surface functionalization at near-ambient temperatures. Polyethylene and polystyrene are treated with an atmospheric plasma unit. The increased surface energy and improved wetting characteristics lead to a significant adhesion improvement with adhesives that cannot be used without surface treatment.
Relating destabilizing regions to known functional sites in proteins
Authors: Dessailly Benoît H , Lensink Marc F , Wodak Shoshana J
Published: May 2007

Background

Most methods for predicting functional sites in protein 3D structures, rely on information on related proteins and cannot be applied to proteins with no known relatives. Another limitation of these methods is the lack of a well annotated set of functional sites to use as benchmark for validating their predictions. Experimental findings and theoretical considerations suggest that residues involved in function often contribute unfavorably to the native state stability. We examine the possibility of systematically exploiting this intrinsic property to identify functional sites using an original procedure that detects destabilizing regions in protein structures. In addition, to relate destabilizing regions to known functional sites, a novel benchmark consisting of a diverse set of hand-curated protein functional sites is derived.

Results

A procedure for detecting clusters of destabilizing residues in protein structures is presented. Individual residue contributions to protein stability are evaluated using detailed atomic models and a force-field successfully applied in computational protein design. The most destabilizing residues, and some of their closest neighbours, are clustered into destabilizing regions following a rigorous protocol. Our procedure is applied to high quality apo-structures of 63 unrelated proteins. The biologically relevant binding sites of these proteins were annotated using all available information, including structural data and literature curation, resulting in the largest hand-curated dataset of binding sites in proteins available to date. Comparing the destabilizing regions with the annotated binding sites in these proteins, we find that the overlap is on average limited, but significantly better than random. Results depend on the type of bound ligand. Significant overlap is obtained for most polysaccharide- and small ligand-binding sites, whereas no overlap is observed for most nucleic acid binding sites. These differences are rationalised in terms of the geometry and energetics of the binding site.

Conclusion

We find that although destabilizing regions as detected here can in general not be used to predict binding sites in protein structures, they can provide useful information, particularly on the location of functional sites that bind polysaccharides and small ligands. This information can be exploited in methods for predicting function in protein structures with no known relatives. Our publicly available benchmark of hand-curated functional sites in proteins should help other workers derive and validate new prediction methods.
Developmental biologists' choice of subjects approximates to a power law, with no evidence for the existence of a special group of 'model organisms'
Authors: Davies Jamie A
Published: May 2007

Background

This report describes an unexpected aspect of the structure and development of developmental biology research, rather than the development of a specific embryo. Descriptions of modern developmental biology emphasize investigators' concentration on a small number of 'model' organisms and it is assumed that a clear division exists between the attention paid to these 'model' organisms and that paid to other species. This report describes a quantitative analysis of the organisms that were the subjects of studies reported in developmental biology journals published in the years 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005, chosen to represent five decades of modern developmental biology.

Results

The results demonstrate that the distribution of attention paid to different organisms has a smooth distribution that approximates to a scale-free power law, in which there is no clear discontinuity that divides organisms into 'models' and the rest. This is true for both individual years and for the aggregate of all years' data. In other systems (eg connections in the World Wide Web), such power-law distributions arise from mechanisms of preferential attachment ('the rich get richer'). Detailed analysis of the progress of different organisms over the years under study shows that, while preferential attachment may be part of the mechanism that generates the power law distribution, it is insufficient to explain it.

Conclusion

The smoothness of the distribution suggests that there is no empirical basis for dividing species under study into 'model' organisms and 'the rest', and that the widely-held view about organism choice in developmental biology is distorted.
Effects of lamivudine on serum albumin levels correlate with pretreatment HBV-DNA levels in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Nakamuta Makoto , Kotoh Kazuhiro , Enjoji Munechika , Kajiwara Eiji , Shimono Junya , Masumoto Akihide , Maruyama Toshihiro , Furusyo Norihiro , Nomura Hideyuki , Sakai Hironori , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Azuma Koichi , Shimoda Shinji , Tanabe Yuichi , Hayashi Jun
Published: May 2007

Background

Lamivudine treatment has been recently demonstrated to increase the serum albumin levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia by lamivudine may be attributable to the reduction of HBV replication itself, rather than to cessation of hepatitis. In order to confirm this hypothesis, in this study we evaluated factors which correlated with the increase in serum albumin levels. Fifty-four patients (Child-Pugh A/B/C, 35/9/10) with HBV-related liver cirrhosis who had been treated with lamivudine for more than 12 months were evaluated. We analyzed the correlation between the increase in serum albumin levels at month 12 after starting treatment (Δ-albumin) and various pretreatment variables. We also analyzed the correlation between Δ-albumin and the reduction in serum levels of HBV-DNA (Δ-HBV-DNA) or alanine aminotransferase (Δ-ALT) at month 12.

Results

The average Δ-albumin was 0.38 g/dL and only serum HBV-DNA levels before treatment correlated significantly with Δ-albumin. We also analyzed the correlation in patients whose alanine aminotransferase levels were normalized after 12 months so that the possible influence of breakthrough hepatitis could be excluded. Even among this subgroup of patients, there was no significant correlation between Δ-albumin and either pretreatment alanine aminotransferase levels or Δ-ALT. In contrast, in patients whose serum HBV-DNA was undetectable at month 12, we found a significant correlation between Δ-albumin and both pretreatment serum HBV-DNA levels and Δ-HBV-DNA.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that albumin levels are associated with pretreatment HBV-DNA but not with alanine aminotransferase levels.
Primary isolated extramedullary plasmacytoma of colon
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Nahak Brindaban , Sakhuja Puja , Agarwal Anil K , Kumar Nirmal , Mishra Pramod K
Published: May 2007

Background

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an uncommon entity that most commonly involves nasopharynx or upper respiratory tract. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract occurs in approximated 10% of cases. Isolated primary plasmacytoma of colon is rare and only 7 well documented cases have been reported in the literature.

Case presentation

We present a case of 42 year male who presented with diarrhea. Multiple colonic strictures were found on investigation. Colonoscopic biopsy was not helpful in making any specific diagnosis. Patient underwent subtotal colectomy. Isolated primary colonic plasmacytoma was found on histopathological examination.

Conclusion

Plasmacytoma is known to occur in extra osseous sites. Primary colonic plasmacytoma, however, is a rare clinical entity. Primary colonic plasmacytoma may have varying clinical presentations including multiple colonic strictures that may mimic colonic tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease. Although these cases are rare, treating physician as well as radiologist, and pathologist should be aware of this entity.
ngLOC: an n-gram-based Bayesian method for estimating the subcellular proteomes of eukaryotes
Authors: King Brian R , Guda Chittibabu
Published: May 2007

We present a method called ngLOC, an n-gram-based Bayesian classifier that predicts the localization of a protein sequence over ten distinct subcellular organelles. A tenfold cross-validation result shows an accuracy of 89% for sequences localized to a single organelle, and 82% for those localized to multiple organelles. An enhanced version of ngLOC was developed to estimate the subcellular proteomes of eight eukaryotic organisms: yeast, nematode, fruitfly, mosquito, zebrafish, chicken, mouse, and human.
Improving Rural Access to Emergency Physicians
Authors: Handel Daniel A. , Hedges Jerris R. ,   For the SAEM IOM Task Force
Published: May 2007

The recent Institute of Medicine report entitled The Future of Emergency Care in the United States Health System acknowledges workforce issues in rural America but does not adequately address the current shortage of emergency medicine residency–trained and board‐certified emergency physicians in rural America. Areas worthy of further attention to ameliorate this threat include 1) government and hospital support of emergency medicine resident educational debt load, 2) modification of residency review committee for emergency medicine guidelines to permit modified training programs that are rural focused, and 3) support of pilot projects designed to modify the delivery of rural emergency care under remote supervision by academic medical center–based practitioners. The authors discuss these potential solutions to help guide policy makers seeking to enhance rural emergency care delivery through a stronger emergency medicine workforce.
Neurotoxicity From Oxaliplatin Combined With Weekly Bolus Fluorouracil and Leucovorin As Surgical Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II and III Colon Cancer: NSABP C-07
Authors: Land Stephanie R. , Kopec Jacek A. , Cecchini Reena S. , Ganz Patricia A. , Wieand H. Samuel , Colangelo Linda H. , Murphy Kate , Kuebler J. Philip , Seay Thomas E. , Needles Burton M. , Bearden James D. , Colman Lauren K. , Lanier Keith S. , Pajon Eduardo R. , Cella David , Smith Roy E. , O'Connell Michael J. , Costantino Joseph P. , Wolmark Norman
Published: May 2007

Purpose

The randomized, multicenter, phase III protocol C-07 compared the efficacy of adjuvant bolus fluorouracil and leucovorin (FULV) versus FULV with oxaliplatin (FLOX) in stage II or III colon cancer. Definitive analysis revealed an increase in 4-year disease-free survival from 67.0% to 73.2% in favor of FLOX. This study compares neurotoxicity between the treatments.

Patients and Methods

Neurotoxicity was recorded for all patients using standard adverse event reporting. Patients at select institutions completed a neurotoxicity questionnaire through 18 months of follow-up.

Results

A total of 2,492 patients enrolled onto C-07 and 400 patients enrolled onto the patient-reported substudy. Mean patient-reported neurotoxicity was higher with oxaliplatin throughout the 18 months of study (P < .0001). During therapy, patients receiving oxaliplatin experienced significantly more hand/foot toxicity (eg, “quite a bit” of cold-induced hand/foot pain 26% FLOX v 2.6% FULV) and overall weakness (eg, moderate weakness in 27.4% FLOX v 16.2% FULV). At 18 months, hand neuropathy had diminished, but patients who received oxaliplatin experienced continued foot discomfort (eg, moderate foot numbness and tingling for 22.1% FLOX v 4.6% FULV). Observer-reported neurotoxicity was low grade and primarily neurosensory rather than neuromotor. Sixty-eight percent in the FLOX group v 8% in the FULV group had neurotoxicity at their first on-treatment assessment. Time to resolution was significantly longer for those receiving oxaliplatin, and continued beyond 2 years for more than 10% in the oxaliplatin group.

Conclusion

Oxaliplatin causes significant neurotoxicity. It is experienced primarily in the hands during therapy and in the feet during follow-up. In a minority of patients the neurotoxicity is long lasting.
Phase I-II Trial of Prone Accelerated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the Breast to Optimally Spare Normal Tissue
Authors: Formenti Silvia C. , Gidea-Addeo Daniela , Goldberg Judith D. , Roses Daniel F. , Guth Amber , Rosenstein Barry S. , DeWyngaert Keith J.
Published: May 2007

Purpose

To report the clinical feasibility of a trial of accelerated whole-breast intensity modulated radiotherapy, with the patient in prone position, optimally to spare the heart and lung.

Patients and Methods

Patients with stages I or II breast cancer, excised by breast conserving surgery with negative margins, were eligible for this institutional review board–approved prospective trial. Computed tomography simulation was performed with the patient prone on a dedicated breast board, in the exact position used for treatment. A dose of 40.5 Gy, delivered at 2.7 Gy in 15 fractions, was prescribed to the index breast with an additional concomitant boost of 0.5 Gy delivered to the tumor bed, for a total dose of 48 Gy to the lumpectomy site. Physics constraints consisted of limiting ≤ 5% of the heart volume to receive ≥ 18 Gy and ≤ 10% of the ipsilateral lung volume to receive ≥ 20 Gy.

Results

Between September 2003 and August 2005, 91 patients were enrolled on the study. Median length of follow-up was 12 months (range, 1 to 28 months). In all patients the technique was feasible and heart and lung sparing was achieved as prescribed by the protocol. Acute toxicities consisting mostly of reversible grades 1-2 skin dermatitis (67%) and fatigue (18%) occurred in 75 patients. One patient sustained a regional recurrence rapidly followed by distant metastases.

Conclusion

Accelerated whole breast intensity modulated radiotherapy in the prone position is feasible and it permits a drastic reduction in the volume of lung and heart tissue exposed to significant radiation.
INTENSIVE AND QUOTATIVEALL: SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Authors: Rickford John R. , Wasow Thomas , Zwicky Arnold , Buchstaller Isabelle
Published: May 2007

This article presents a synchronic and diachronic investigation of the lexeme all in its intensifier and quotative functions. We delimit the new from the old functions of the lexeme and present a variationist account of all's external and internal constraints in various syntactic environments. our analysis is based on a variety of data sets, which include traditional sociolinguistic interviews as well as data culled from internet searches and a new Google-based search tool. on the basis of these data sets, we show that intensifier all is not new but has expanded in syntactic environments. We further pinpoint the syntactic and semantic niches which all has appropriated for itself among California adolescents and compare its patterning with that of other intensifiers in our data and the data of other researchers. All's extension to quotative function, however, is new, apparently originating in California in the 1980s. our investigation of its development spans across data sets from 15 years. using variable rule analysis and other quantitative techniques, we examine the distribution of quotative all vis-à-vis its competitor variants (including be like, say, and go) and show that the constraints on quotative all have undergone a marked shift in recent years and that quotative all is in decline right now, after peaking in the 1990s.
ACCENT, (ING), AND THE SOCIAL LOGIC OF LISTENER PERCEPTIONS
Authors: Campbell-Kibler Kathryn
Published: May 2007

This article reports on the relationship between the English variable (ING) and two divergent accents (Southern and gay) as they are conceptualized and given social meaning in listeners' perceptions of spontaneous speech. The study used an expanded form of the Matched Guise Technique, using recordings collected through sociolinguistic interviews with 8 speakers from North Carolina and California. Excerpts were digitally manipulated to create 32 matched pairs differing only in tokens of (ING), which were used to collect responses in group interviews (N = 55) and a Web-based experiment (N = 124). The alveolar variant -in increased the perceived strength of Southern accents and dampened an accent heard as gay and urban. The influence of (ING) on these accents is linked to shared social meanings of the alveolar form -in and Southern accents on the one hand (lack of education, the country, and the term “redneck”) and the velar variant -ing and the gay accent on the other (lowered masculinity, the city, and the term “metrosexual”). These two accents are contrasted with a third variety, heard as nonaccented and aregional. These effects demonstrate the status of the three linguistic objects, the two accents and (ING), as social objects as well.
ANAYFOR ANAH: LANGUAGE OF SURVIVAL IN AFRICAN AMERICAN NARRATIVE COMEDY
Authors: Rahman Jacquelyn
Published: May 2007

In narratives prepared for primarily African American audiences, African American comedians highlight and exaggerate linguistic features that index traits they attribute to the African American community as well as to the white middle-class establishment. Most prominent among the segmental features that the comedians emphasize is the diphthongal variable/ai/. They produce a monophthongal [a] variant when constructing African American characters and a highly fronted [ai] when portraying the establishment middle class. Characters from both groups appear in situations where their attitudes and behavior highlight the traits attributed to them. African American characters are cast as humanly and culturally rich survivors whose common sense and resilience allow them to “make a way out of no way.” In contrast, establishment characters appear as narrowly logical, ethnically bland, and ineffectual. The positive portrayal of African Americans is itself a tool of survival that stems from a self-empowering community ideology that serves as a buffer against the effects of perceived racism.
High-performance Nanofiber-reinforeced Composite from All Bio-based Materials
Authors: Imai Naokichi , Kageyama Hiroshi , Uyama Hiroshi
Published: May 2007

An all bio-based polymer composite consisting of poly(l-lactic acid) nanofibers and network polymers of epoxidized soybean oil has been developed. The mechanical properties improved as compared with those of each solo material, and the composite showed relatively good transparency.
Thin Film of a Spin Crossover Complex [Fe(dpp)2](BF4)2
Authors: Matsuda Masaki , Tajima Hiroyuki
Published: May 2007

Thin film of a spin crossover complex [Fe(dpp)2](BF4)2 (dpp = 2,6-di(pyrazollyl)pyridine) has been fabricated by a spin-coating method. The obtained film exhibits spin transition at around 260 K. The absorption spectra and the electrical resistance change with the spin transition. These phenomena are reproducible through both cooling and heating process.
Reverse Vesicles of Salt-free Catanionic Surfactants in Toluene/Water Mixtures
Authors: Li Hongguang , Hao Jingcheng
Published: May 2007

Stable reverse vesicles (RV) of salt-free catanionic surfactant system of tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH) and lauric acid (LA) in toluene/water mixtures were prepared for the first time, which should broaden the potential applications of reverse vesicles.
A Novel Vanadyl Alkylporphyrins from Geological Samples: A Possible Derivative of Divinylchlorophylls or Bacteriochlorophyll a?
Authors: Kashiyama Yuichiro , Shiro Motoo , Tada Ryuji , Ohkouchi Naohiko
Published: May 2007

A novel C30 vanadyl alkylporphyrins, 13,15-ethano-3-ethyl-2,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrin (i.e., 8-nor-deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin; 8-nor-DPEP) has been isolated from a Middle Miocene siliceous shale. The structure of intact vanadyl porphyrins was determined by X-ray crystallography. The structure suggests it to be originated from specific chloropigments such as chlorophylls a2, b2, c2, and c3 or bacteriochlorophyll a, hence potentially being a biomarker of specific photoautotrophs.
Synthesis and Solution-processed Field Effect Transistors of Liquid Crystalline Oligothiophenes
Authors: Ashizawa Minoru , Kato Reizo , Takanishi Yoichi , Takezoe Hideo
Published: May 2007

An organic field-effect transistor (OFET), showing a mobility 0.015 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an on/off ratio 104, which are as high as those of a dry-processed OFET of oligothiophenes, has been built by wet process using a solution of a newly synthesized quaterthiophenes-base liquid crystalline molecule.
One-step Preparation and Photosensitivity of Size-quantized Cadmium Chalcogenide Nanoparticles Deposited on Porous Zinc Oxide Film Electrodes
Authors: Okazaki Ken-ichi , Kojima Norihisa , Tachibana Yasuhiro , Kuwabata Susumu , Torimoto Tsukasa
Published: May 2007

Size-quantized cadmium chalcogenide nanoparticles were effectively deposited on a porous zinc oxide particulate film electrode by a one-step hydrothermal method in which an increase in the concentration of 3-mercaptopropionic acid reduced the size of deposited nanoparticles. The photoelectrochemical properties of the resulting electrodes varied depending on the kind of metal chalcogenide nanoparticles deposited and their size.
What do children learn about biology from factual information? A comparison of interventions to improve understanding of contagious illnesses
Authors: Myant Katherine A. , Williams Joanne M.
Published: May 2007

Background. Children have been shown to hold misconceptions about illness, and previous work has indicated that their knowledge can be improved through the use of interventions.

Aims. This study aims to evaluate interventions based on the provision of factual information for improving understanding of contagious illness.

Sample. The participants were 96 children from two age groups: 7 and 11 years.

Methods. During the pre‐test, the children were asked about three contagious illnesses and one novel illness. There were three intervention conditions, differing in the level of factual information provided: explanations provided, no explanations provided and scientific factual style. The interventions were focused on contagious illnesses (cold, chickenpox). A post‐test was conducted 6 weeks later.

Results. Results from the pre‐test show that the older children have more sophisticated understanding of illness than the younger children. Mean pre‐ to post‐test change was calculated and analyses revealed that there is greater pre‐ to post‐test change in the explanation and scientific fact conditions when compared with that in the no‐explanation condition. The improvements in knowledge generalized to other contagious illnesses, and the older children showed more improvements than the younger children.

Conclusions. These findings add to the literature on children's understanding of contagious illnesses and contribute towards discussions on the best approach to health education.
Turnover of highly educated R&D professionals: The role of pre‐entry cognitive style, work values and career orientation
Authors: Chang Jae Yoon , Choi Jin Nam , Kim Myung Un
Published: May 2007

Retention of key R&D experts has been recognized as a critical managerial challenge for many technology‐based companies. In this study, we propose that turnover of highly educated professional workers is meaningfully related to individual characteristics such as cognitive style, work values and career orientation. We tested the hypotheses using data collected from a sample of 132 R&D professionals with PhD degrees in engineering or natural science in a Korean electronics firm. The time‐dependent risk of turnover was estimated by survival analysis using a proportional hazards regression model. The results showed that over the 7‐year period after their organizational entry, R&D professionals with high levels of intrinsic values and cosmopolitan orientation were more likely to leave the organization than were their counterparts with low levels of intrinsic values and cosmopolitan orientation. The hazard function showed that the positive effect of intrinsic work values on turnover was particularly salient in the third and fourth year of R&D professionals' organizational tenure. We found that the positive effect of cosmopolitan orientation on turnover increased over time, introducing a greater risk of turnover with increasing tenure. The present findings have practical implications for the retention of highly educated R&D professionals in a corporate setting.
Maternal Antibodies in Breast Milk Protect the Child From Enterovirus Infections
Authors: Sadeharju Karita , Knip Mikael , Virtanen Suvi M. , Savilahti Erkki , Tauriainen Sisko , Koskela Pentti , Åkerblom Hans K. , Hyöty Heikki ,   and the Finnish TRIGR Study Group
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE. Enterovirus infections are frequent in infants and may cause severe complications. We set out to assess whether breastfeeding can protect against these infections and whether such an effect is related to maternal antibodies in breast milk or in the peripheral circulation of the infant.

METHODS. One hundred fifty infants who were prospectively followed up from birth were monitored for enterovirus infections. The duration of breastfeeding was recorded, and maternal breast milk and blood samples were regularly taken at 3-month intervals for the detection of enterovirus antibodies and RNA. Maternal serum was available from early pregnancy, delivery, and 3 months postpartum.

RESULTS. Enterovirus infections were frequent and were diagnosed in 43% of infants before the age of 1 year and in 15% of the mothers during pregnancy. Infants exclusively breastfed for >2 weeks had fewer enterovirus infections by the age of 1 year compared with those exclusively breastfed for ≤2 weeks (0.38 vs 0.59 infections per child). High maternal antibody levels in serum and in breast milk were associated with a reduced frequency of infections. This effect was seen only in those infants breastfed >2 weeks, indicating that breast milk antibodies mediate this effect. Enterovirus RNA was not found in any of the breast milk samples.

CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that breastfeeding has a protective effect against enterovirus infections in infancy. This effect seems to be mediated primarily by maternal antibodies in breast milk.
Pain Reduction During Pediatric Immunizations: Evidence-Based Review and Recommendations
Authors: Schechter Neil L. , Zempsky William T. , Cohen Lindsey L. , McGrath Patrick J. , McMurtry C. Meghan , Bright Nancy S.
Published: May 2007

The pain associated with immunizations is a source of anxiety and distress for the children receiving the immunizations, their parents, and the providers who must administer them. Preparation of the child before the procedure seems to reduce anxiety and subsequent pain. The limited available data suggest that intramuscular administration of immunizations should occur in the vastus lateralis (anterolateral thigh) for children <18 months of age and in the deltoid (upper arm) for those >36 months of age. Controversy exists in site selection for 18- to 36-month-old children. A number of studies suggest that the ventrogluteal area is the most appropriate for all age groups. Longer needles are usually associated with less pain and less local reaction. During the injection, parental demeanor clearly affects the child's pain behaviors. Excessive parental reassurance, criticism, or apology seems to increase distress, whereas humor and distraction tend to decrease distress. Distraction techniques vary with the age, temperament, and interests of the child, but their efficacy is well supported in the literature. Sucrose solution instilled directly into the mouth or administered on a pacifier reduces evidence of distress reliably in children <6 months of age and should be used routinely. Although there is no perfect topical anesthetic available at this time, selective use for children who are particularly fearful or who have had negative experiences in the past is highly endorsed. Pressure at the site, applied with either a device or a finger, clearly reduces pain. Finally, in the era of multiple injections, it seems that parents prefer that multiple injections be given simultaneously, rather than sequentially, if there are enough personnel available. Immunizations are stressful for many children; until new approaches are developed, systematic use of available techniques can significantly reduce the burden of distress associated with these procedures.
Duration of Poverty and Child Health in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development: Longitudinal Analysis of a Birth Cohort
Authors: Séguin Louise , Nikiéma Béatrice , Gauvin Lise , Zunzunegui Maria-Victoria , Xu Qian
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVES. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of poverty and the health of preschool children in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development birth cohort.

METHODS. Data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development for 1950 children who were followed annually up to age 3 years were analyzed. Poverty was defined as having an income below the low-income cutoff from Statistics Canada. Five health indicators were examined: asthma attacks, infections, growth delay, a cumulative health-problems index, and maternal perception of the child's health. The association between duration of poverty and child health was explored with logistic regression modeling controlling for child and mother characteristics, including the mother's level of education, social support, and physical violence.

RESULTS. In this birth cohort, 13.7% (268) 3-year-old children from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development experienced intermittent poverty since birth (1–2 episodes), and another 14.4% (280) experienced chronic poverty (3–4 episodes). Children from families with chronic poverty had more frequent asthma attacks and had a higher cumulative health-problems index score, whereas children with intermittent poverty were more often perceived to be in less than very good health by their mothers. These associations remained statistically significant when controlling for child and mother characteristics. No association was observed between duration of poverty and infections or growth delay.

CONCLUSIONS. Chronic poverty affects a large number of children and has negative consequences for preschool children's health, although universal health care is available. The effects of chronic poverty may vary according to different health indicators and the age of the child.
Effects of Managed Care on Service Use and Access for Publicly Insured Children With Chronic Health Conditions
Authors: Davidoff Amy , Hill Ian , Courtot Brigette , Adams Emerald
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to estimate the effects of managed care program type on service use and access for publicly insured children with chronic health conditions.

METHODS. Data on Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program managed care programs were linked by county and year to pooled data from the 1997–2002 National Health Interview Survey. We used multivariate techniques to examine the effects of managed care program type, relative to fee-for-service, on a broad array of service use and access outcomes.

RESULTS. Relative to fee-for-service, managed care program assignment was associated with selected reductions in service use but not with deterioration in reported access. Capitated managed care plans with mental health or specialty carve-outs were associated with a 7.4-percentage-point reduction in the probability of a specialist visit, a 6.3-percentage-point reduction in the probability of a mental health specialty visit, and a 5.9-percentage-point decrease in the probability of regular prescription drug use. Reductions in use associated with primary care case management and integrated capitated programs (without carve-outs) were more limited, and integrated capitated plans were associated with a reduction in unmet medical care need. We failed to find significant effects of special managed care programs for children with chronic health conditions.

CONCLUSIONS. Managed care is associated with reduced service use, particularly when capitated programs carve out services. This finding is of key policy importance, as the proportion of children enrolled in plans with carve-out arrangements has been increasing over time. It is not possible to determine whether reductions in services represent better care management or skimping. However, despite the reductions in use, we did not observe a corresponding increase in perceived unmet need; thus, the net change may represent improved care management.
Childhood Cancer and Birthmarks in the Collaborative Perinatal Project
Authors: Johnson Kimberly J. , Spector Logan G. , Klebanoff Mark A. , Ross Julie A.
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE. Three previous retrospective studies noted a positive association between birthmarks and childhood cancer. The objective of this study was to determine whether the incidence of cancer is increased in children with birthmarks relative to those without birthmarks using data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project cohort, a large, prospective study.

METHODS. Our study population comprised 49503 US children who were born between 1959 and 1968. Birthmarks were documented as definite or suspected during the first year through history or medical examinations and included hemangiomas (port-wine, strawberry, or cavernous), pigmented nevi, lymphangiomas, and café-au-lait spots. The association between birthmarks and childhood cancer was determined using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS. In the Collaborative Perinatal Project, 2505 individuals had a documented definite or suspected birthmark, including 7 of 47 children who developed cancer. Birthmarks were associated with a significant increase in the risk for cancer. There was a slight attenuation of the risk estimate when cases that were diagnosed in the first year of life were excluded. No specific childhood malignancies were notably affected by birthmarks.

CONCLUSIONS. Although this study was based on a small number of cases, we found birthmarks to be in excess in children who received a diagnosis of cancer using prospective data. These findings provide additional support for the possibility of a shared etiology between birthmarks and childhood cancer that could offer insight into the pathogenesis of pediatric malignancy.
Need for and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs
Authors: Chung Paul J. , Garfield Craig F. , Elliott Marc N. , Carey Colleen , Eriksson Carl , Schuster Mark A.
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE. Parents of children with special health care needs are especially vulnerable to work–family conflicts that family leave benefits might help resolve. We examined leave-taking among full-time–employed parents of children with special health care needs.

METHODS. We identified all children with special health care needs in 2 large inpatient/outpatient systems in Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, and randomly selected 800 per site. From November 2003 to January 2004, we conducted telephone interviews with 1105 (87% of eligible and successfully contacted) parents. Among the sample's 574 full-time–employed parents, we examined whether leave benefits predicted missing any work for child illness, missing >4 weeks for child illness, and ability to miss work whenever their child needed them.

RESULTS. Forty-eight percent of full-time–employed parents qualified for federal Family and Medical Leave Act benefits; 30% reported employer-provided leave benefits (not including sick leave/vacation). In the previous year, their children averaged 20 missed school/child care days, 12 doctor/emergency department visits, and 1.7 hospitalizations. Although 81% of parents missed work for child illness, 41% reported not always missing work when their child needed them, and 40% of leave-takers reported returning to work too soon. In multivariate regressions, parents who were eligible for Family and Medical Leave Act benefits and aware of their eligibility had 3.0 times greater odds of missing work for child illness than ineligible parents. Parents with >4 weeks of employer-provided leave benefits had 4.7 times greater odds of missing >4 weeks than parents without benefits. Parents with paid leave benefits had 2.8 times greater odds than other parents of missing work whenever their child needed them.

CONCLUSIONS. Full-time–employed parents of children with special health care needs experience severe work–family conflicts. Although most have leave benefits, many report unmet need for leave. Access to Family and Medical Leave Act benefits and employer-provided leave may greatly affect leave-taking.
Developmental Outcome After Epilepsy Surgery in Infancy
Authors: Loddenkemper Tobias , Holland Katherine D. , Stanford Lisa D. , Kotagal Prakash , Bingaman William , Wyllie Elaine
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVES. Our goals were to determine the effect of epilepsy surgery in infants (<3 years of age) on development and describe factors associated with postoperative developmental outcome.

METHODS. We identified 50 infants among 251 consecutive pediatric patients (<18 years old) undergoing epilepsy surgery. Charts were reviewed for clinical data and neurodevelopmental testing with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. A developmental quotient was calculated to compare scores of children at different ages.

RESULTS. Complete data were available on 24 of 50 infants. Surgeries included 14 hemispherectomies and 10 focal resections. Seventeen patients became seizure free; 5 patients had >90% seizure reduction, 1 had >50% seizure reduction, and 1 had no change. The developmental quotient indicated modest postoperative improvement of mental age. The preoperative and postoperative development quotients correlated well. Younger infants had a higher increase in developmental quotient after surgery. Patients with epileptic spasms were younger and had a lower developmental quotient at presentation, but increase in developmental quotient was higher in this subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS. After surgery, seizure frequency and developmental quotient improved. Developmental status before surgery predicted developmental function after surgery. Patients who were operated on at younger age and with epileptic spasms showed the largest increase in developmental quotient after surgery.