bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genotypic Variation in the Response of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and its Physiological Basis
Authors: De Costa W. A. J. M. , Weerakoon W. M. W. , Chinthaka K. G. R. , Herath H. M. L. K. , Abeywardena R. M. I.
Published: March 2007

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (Ca) is one aspect of global change that will have a significant impact on the productivity of agricultural crops. Crop yields have been shown to increase with increasing Ca. The magnitude of yield response to increased Ca could vary depending on genotypic and environmental factors. The objective of this study was to determine the genotypic variation of yield response and its physiological basis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through an initial varietal screening using 16 genotypes. The genotypes were grown under two concentrations of Ca, i.e. 370 ± 28 (ambient) and 570 ± 42 (elevated) μmol mol−1, in open top chambers under lowland field conditions at the Rice Research and Development Institute in Sri Lanka (7°50′N, 80°50′E) from May to August 2001 (yala season) and from November 2001 to March 2002 (maha). Ca within chambers was maintained around target concentrations by a computer‐based real‐time data acquisition and control system. There was significant variation between genotypes in the response of yield to elevated Ca, with absolute increases up to 530 g m−2 in yala and 347 g m−2 in maha. In relative terms, percentage yield increases from ambient to elevated Ca ranged from 4 % to 175 % in yala and from 3 % to 64 % in maha. Genotypic variation in yield showed significant positive correlations with light‐saturated net photosynthetic rate of the flag leaf during the grain‐filling stage. This indicated that increased assimilate supply and its genotypic variation contributed to the observed genotypic variation in yield response to elevated Ca. Furthermore, the capacity to develop a larger reproductive sink through increased panicle number per m2 and increased number of grains per panicle contributed to greater yield at elevated Ca. There was a significant genotype × season interaction with genotypes responding differentially to increased Ca in the two seasons. This was mainly due to inter‐seasonal variation in incident radiation during the grain‐filling stage. Our results demonstrate the significant genotypic variation that exists within the rice germplasm, in the response to increased Ca of yield and its correlated physiological parameters. A subset of genotypes from screening trials such as the present study can be used for more in‐depth analysis of the influence of elevated Ca on processes responsible for yield determination in rice and for molecular studies to elucidate the genetic basis of the response to increased Ca. This could pave the way for breeding genotypes which are more productive in a future high CO2 environment, provided that genotypes with greater flexibility in their physiology are selected to counter the genotype × environmental interaction.
Painful ejaculation
Authors: Ilie Cristian P. , Mischianu Dan L. , Pemberton Richard J.
Published: March 2007

The first mini‐review in this section is a systematic literature review on postorgasmic pain in the male. The authors found a significant incidence of this problem and have suggested that studies are required into aetiology and treatment.

The issue of saturation biopsy of the prostate is discussed in the second article, followed by papers on basal cell carcinoma of the prostate, and finally, a discussion of screening for prostate cancer, and particularly new efforts at targeting special groups.

We reviewed previous publications on post‐orgasmic pain with reference to prevalence, epidemiology and treatment options, using the Ovid and PubMed (updated May 2006) databases to comprehensively search MEDLINE for reports on post‐orgasmic pain that included peer‐reviewed English‐language articles. Official proceedings of internationally known scientific societies were also assessed. Because of the heterogeneity of the studies we did not apply meta‐ analytic techniques to the data. The incidence of post‐orgasmic pain is 1–9.7%. The ejaculatory pain is associated with prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and ejaculatory duct obstruction; it is also described in patients after procedures like radical prostatectomy. Aetiopathogenic theories include those referring to bladder neck closure and pudendal neuropathy. The treatment options vary from self‐care, a ‘perineal hyperprotection programme’ to medication with the α‐blocker, topiramate, and even surgical procedures like removing a section of the sacrotuberous ligament, neurolysis of the pudendal nerve or removing a section of the sacrospinous ligament. This is the first update of the subject, with reference to prevalence, epidemiology and treatment options. There is a need for adequately powered, prospective randomized trials on aetiology and treatment options.
Colon pouch (Mainz III) for continent urinary diversion
Authors: Stolzenburg Jens‐Uwe , Schwalenberg Thilo , Liatsikos Evangelos N. , Sakelaropoulos George , Rödder Kilian , Hohenfellner Rudolph , Fisch Margit
Published: March 2007

Authors from Germany present data on the Mainz III pouch, where a colon segment is used. The results were very encouraging, with excellent continence rates. They suggest that this technique of continent urinary diversion should be considered as a suitable alternative to other methods.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of a continent cutaneous pouch made exclusively of colon (Mainz pouch III), as excellent results with the Mainz pouch III in irradiated patients suggested that the indication for this type of urinary diversion could be extended.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The outcome of 24 patients with continent cutaneous urinary diversions using colon segments (Mainz pouch III) was investigated retrospectively. Overall, 22 of the patients had a malignant disease and two a benign disease; 16 had a hysterectomy and pelvic exenteration for gynaecological tumours; two men with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate had a radical cystoprostatectomy; one woman had pelvic exenteration for bladder cancer; one man had a simultaneous rectum resection due to infiltrating rectal cancer, and another a left nephrectomy with cystectomy for concomitant kidney and bladder tumour. Benign indications were hyper‐reflexive bladder after polytrauma and two cases of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Eighteen patients had radiotherapy (32–48 Gy) before the urinary diversion.

RESULTS

The mean (range) follow‐up was 35 (12–65) months. The mean pouch capacity was 293.8 mL. Three patients died during the follow‐up (two from disease progression and one suicide); 20 patients were fully continent, four with reduced pouch capacity (<300 mL) had slight incontinence and are wearing a protective pad (band‐aid at the umbilicus). All patients use intermittent self‐catheterization (mean catheterization frequency 6.8/day, range 6–12). Complications related to the pouch were one outlet stenosis that required revision. Postoperative pouchograms showed asymptomatic reflux in four patients. None of the patients developed metabolic acidosis or diarrhoea.

CONCLUSIONS

The Mainz pouch III is an alternative to other types of continent urinary diversion
Acute acrolein‐induced cystitis in mice
Authors: Bjorling Dale E. , Elkahwaji Johnny E. , Bushman Wade , Janda Lindsay M. , Boldon Kyle , Hopkins Walter J. , Wang Zun‐Yi
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE

To develop a method of direct intravesical administration of acrolein and evaluate the severity of cystitis in response to increasing doses of acrolein in female C57BL/6N (C57) mice, with further studies to compare the severity of acute acrolein‐induced cystitis among C57, C3H/HeJ (HeJ), and C3H/OuJ (OuJ) strains of mice, as chemical cystitis produced by the systemic administration of cyclophosphamide is thought to result from renal excretion of hepatic metabolites, particularly acrolein.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Doses of acrolein (0–1000 µg, 15 µL total volume) were instilled into the bladders of C57 female mice; the bladders were removed 4 or 24 h later, weighed, and processed for histology. Acrolein (6 or 10 µg; 15 µL) was instilled into the bladders of C57, HeJ and OuJ female mice, the bladders removed 4 or 24 h later, weighed, and processed for standard histology and immunohistochemical detection of uroplakin.

RESULTS

Increasing doses of acrolein up to 100–200 µg caused a linear increase in bladder weight and greater histological evidence of inflammation. Doses of >200 µg caused submaximal increases in bladder weight, apparently due to structural damage of the bladder. Bladder weight and submucosal oedema were consistently greater in C57 and HeJ than OuJ mice. Treatment with acrolein caused loss of urothelium along with uroplakin in some areas of all bladder sections 4 h after treatment. Bladders from C57 mice had some loss of urothelium 24 h after instillation of 6 or 10 µg acrolein, but urothelium and uroplakin covered nearly all the surface of bladders of HeJ and OuJ mice 24 h after treatment. There were significantly more white blood cells in bladders from C57 or HeJ mice than in bladders from OuJ mice 24 h after an instillation of 6 or 10 µg acrolein.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravesical instillation of acrolein produces dose‐dependent cystitis in mice. OuJ mice appear relatively more resistant to irritant effects of intravesical acrolein than C57 or HeJ mice, and future studies will be directed at identifying genetic causes for these differences.
The meatal mobilization technique for coronal/subcoronal hypospadias repair
Authors: Seibold Joerg , Boehmer Angela , Verger Andreas , Merseburger Axel S. , Stenzl Arnulf , Sievert Karl‐Dietrich
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE

To describe meatal mobilization (MEMO) by distal urethral preparation as an improved surgical technique for distal hypospadias repair, including glanular, coronal and subcoronal location of the meatus, with or without chordee.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From May 2002 to June 2006, 46 patients (mean age 3.8 years, range 1.5–14) had a repair of glanular, coronal and subcoronal hypospadias using the MEMO technique. A description of the procedure and the results are presented.

RESULTS

The mean duration of surgery was 73 min; there were no complications during surgery

in any of the patients. The follow‐up was 28.5 months; after surgery one patient developed a haematoma, which resolved with no further treatment. There was neither recurrence nor any new episode of chordee or meatal stenosis. None of the patients developed a urethral fistula. In one patient the meatus retracted but remained in the glans.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications were minimal and the cosmetic results excellent using the MEMO technique for correcting most of distal hypospadias.
Systematic review of early vs deferred hormonal treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Boustead Gregory , Edwards Steven J.
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of hormonal treatment (luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone agonists and/or antiandrogens) as an early or as a deferred intervention for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC), as radiotherapy is currently the standard treatment for LAPC, with hormonal treatment considered a reserve option.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with LAPC treated with standard care (radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, and/or watchful waiting) or standard care plus hormonal treatment. Outcomes assessed were mortality and objective disease progression. The meta‐analysis used a fixed‐effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 108 trials identified, seven met the inclusion criteria and were of sufficient quality to be included in the analysis. Early intervention with hormonal treatment significantly reduced all‐cause mortality compared with deferred treatment (relative risk, RR, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.82–0.91; P < 0.001). Similarly, early vs deferred use of hormonal treatment significantly reduced: prostate cancer‐ specific mortality (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.65–0.79); overall progression (RR 0.74; 0.69–0.78); local progression (RR 0.65; 0.57–0.73); and distant progression (RR 0.67; 0.61–0.74; all P < 0.001). Results were robust to changes in inclusion/exclusion criteria and use of a random‐effects model for the meta‐analyses. Heterogeneity and publication bias had no significant effect on the analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Early intervention with hormonal treatment for patients with LAPC provides significantly lower mortality and objective disease progression than deferring their use until standard care has failed.
Potential environmental determinants of physical activity in adults: a systematic review
Authors: Wendel‐Vos W. , Droomers M. , Kremers S. , Brug J. , Van Lenthe F.
Published: March 2007

The objective of this systematic review of observational studies was to gain insight into potential determinants of various types and intensities of physical activity among adult men and women. Studies were retrieved from Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Social scisearch. The ANGELO framework was used to classify environmental factors. In total, 47 publications were identified. Social support and having a companion for physical activity were found to be convincingly associated with different types of physical activity [(neighbourhood) walking, bicycling, vigorous physical activity/sports, active commuting, leisure‐time physical activity in general, sedentary lifestyle, moderately intense physical activity and a combination of moderately intense and vigorous activity]. Availability of physical activity equipment was convincingly associated with vigorous physical activity/sports and connectivity of trails with active commuting. Other possible, but less consistent correlates of physical activity were availability, accessibility and convenience of recreational facilities. No evidence was found for differences between men and women. In conclusion, supportive evidence was found for only very few presumed environmental determinants. However, most studies used cross‐sectional designs and non‐validated measures of environments and/or behaviour. Therefore, no strong conclusions can be drawn and more research of better quality is clearly needed.
Empirical Matching Functions: Searchers, Vacancies, and (Un‐)biased Elasticities
Authors: SUNDE UWE
Published: March 2007

This paper shows that conventional empirical estimates of matching functions are systematically biased, because unobservable and endogenous search behaviour, such as on‐the‐job search by workers or the use of different search channels by firms, is neglected. I propose an approach for recovering unbiased elasticities under different scenarios of competition for workers and jobs without the need for constructing proxies for unobserved stocks of searchers and vacancies. Using German administrative data, I estimate the biases affecting conventional studies and derive bias‐corrected estimates of the matching elasticities under different scenarios.
The Employment of Married Mothers in Great Britain, 1974–2000
Authors: GREGG PAUL , GUTIÉRREZ‐DOMÈNECH MARIA , WALDFOGEL JANE
Published: March 2007

This paper analyses the increase in mothers' employment in Britain over 1974–2000 using the General Household Survey. We isolated those birth cohorts whose mothers experienced significant increases in employment and compared those increases to changes in policies. The results suggest that maternity rights have had a profound effect on employment, but this effect varies by the wage opportunities of mothers. Maternity rights have induced a behaviour change in when mothers return to work. Many who previously would not have gone back to work until their children were age 3–5 are now returning to work within the first year. This effect has been most marked among better educated and higher paid mothers.
Welfare‐Improving Employment Protection
Authors: BELOT MICHÈLE , BOONE JAN , VAN OURS JAN
Published: March 2007

This paper derives new results on the welfare effects of employment protection. Using data from 17 OECD countries, we show that there exists an inverse U‐shape relationship between employment protection and economic growth. Using a simple theoretical model with non‐contractible specific investments, we show that over some range increasing employment protection does indeed raise welfare. We also show that the optimal level of employment protection depends on other labour market features, such as the bargaining power of workers and the existence of wage rigidities like the minimum wage.
Comparison of Demodex folliculorum density in haemodialysis patients with a control group
Authors: Yagdiran Düzgün O , Aytekin S
Published: March 2007

Background  Demodex folliculorum (DF) is resident in human pilosebaceous follicles. Mite density is low in healthy skin. Many cases of demodicosis in association with immunosuppression have been reported. Patients undergoing haemodialysis are also immunosuppressed.

Objective  We aimed to compare the Demodex folliculorum density in haemodialysis patients and healthy subjects.

Methods  Mite density of 87 patients undergoing haemodialysis was compared with that of age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Two samples of standardized skin surface biopsies were taken from each subject from the forehead, cheek and nose. The number of mites counted on the surface area of 1 cm2 was accepted as the density of DF. The length and width of mites were measured by oculometer.

Results  DF density was found in 17 (19.54%) of the 87 dialysis patients and in 9 (10.34%) of 87 controls. A mean mite density of 5.11 ± 5.65 was found in dialysis patients and of 2.55 ± 1.6 in controls. Differences between the two groups in mite density were not statistically significant (P = 0.13). There was also no significant difference in mite length between the two groups (P = 0.06). There was, however, a significant difference in mite width (P = 0.018).

Conclusion  Despite the presence of sebaceous gland atrophy in haemodialysis patients, the higher density of DF in these patients than controls supports the supposition that this mite can increase immunosuppression.
Unanswered questions: cultural assumptions in text interpretation
Authors: Murata Kumiko
Published: March 2007

This article investigates the role of cultural assumptions in text interpretation by focusing on readers’ perspectives, a focus which has been lacking in Critical Discourse analytic approaches. It examines the influence of cultural assumptions by administering a reading comprehension questionnaire to two different cultural groups, Japanese and non‐Japanese. The results show the complex nature of readers’ text interpretation in that the respondents were influenced by the interaction of their cultural assumptions, prior knowledge and co‐textual information in interpreting a text. This points to the need for Critical Discourse Analysis to recognise variability in interpretation more and how this is affected also by cultural factors. The article then discusses possible implications of the findings for language pedagogy.
Power distance in English lingua franca email communication1
Authors: Bjørge Anne Kari
Published: March 2007

This study investigates level of formality in international students’ emails sent to academic staff. National cultures have different traditions when it comes to adopting an egalitarian or a more distant student–professor relationship. Hofstede's cultural dimension of power distance (PD) is used to distinguish between relatively high and relatively low PD cultures. The students’ choice of initial greeting and complimentary close is discussed with respect to PD ranking, rapport management and the sociopragmatic conventions set out in business communication literature. The analysis is based on 344 emails written by 110 students in Norway, a low PD culture. The findings indicate that students from relatively high PD cultures are more likely to opt for formal alternatives, concluding that national culture is an aspect to take into account when analysing lingua franca English communication.
The German Democratic Republic: State Power and Everyday Life
Authors: Witkowski Gregory
Published: March 2007

Scholars continue to debate the relationship of state and society in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) over fifteen years after the demise of that communist state. After briefly tracing the western historiography during the Cold War, this article concentrates its analysis on conceptual frameworks employed after the fall of the East German regime. Historians who emphasize the totalitarian power of the state argue that no independent society existed as the regime played an important role in all sectors of society, while those who focus on everyday life declare there was more individual agency in the former GDR. I argue that a more useful paradigm than state and society may be a breakdown between center and periphery as at the local level, state representatives often had more in common with their neighbors than with leaders in Berlin.
Using Surveys in Public Participation Processes for Risk Decision Making: The Case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public Debate
Authors: Pidgeon Nick F. , Poortinga Wouter , Rowe Gene , Horlick‐Jones Tom , Walls John , O'Riordan Tim
Published: March 2007

This article takes as its case study the “GM Nation?” public debate, a major participation process on the commercialization of agricultural biotechnology, which occurred in Britain during the summer of 2003. We investigate possible self‐selection biases in over 36,000 open questionnaire responses on the risks and benefits of genetically modified crops and food obtained during GM Nation? A comparison sample of equivalent responses from a statistically representative sample (n= 1,363) of the British general public obtained shortly after the conclusion of the debate is reported. This comparison shows that the GM Nation? open responses were indeed not fully representative of British “public opinion” regarding agricultural biotechnology. Rather, such opinion is not a unitary whole, but fragmented, with considerable ambivalence coexisting alongside outright opposition to GM agriculture. The methodological implications for multistage participation processes are discussed: in particular, the need to anticipate outcomes of complex design decisions, and to include representative public surveys as standard where measures of broader public attitudes to risk are an important objective.
Utility of Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry for the Diagnosis of Palpitations, Presyncope, Syncope, and the Assessment of Therapy Efficacy
Authors: OLSON JEFFREY A. , FOUTS ANDREW M. , PADANILAM BENZY J. , PRYSTOWSKY ERIC N.
Published: March 2007

Introduction: Continuous mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT) may have several advantages over traditional ambulatory monitoring systems in the diagnostic evaluation of symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, and syncope. However, only limited published data are available showing its advantages.

Methods and Results: We reviewed the records of 122 consecutive patients evaluated using MCOT for palpitations, presyncope/syncope, or to monitor the efficacy of a specific antiarrhythmic therapy. Ten of 17 patients (59%) studied for presyncope/syncope had a diagnosis made with MCOT. Eight of these 17 patients had a previous negative evaluation for presyncope/syncope and five had an event correlated with the heart rhythm during the monitoring period. Nineteen patients monitored for palpitations or presyncope/syncope were asymptomatic during monitoring but had a prespecified arrhythmia detected. When MCOT was used as the first ambulatory monitoring system to evaluate palpitations (n = 18), 73% of patients correlated their symptoms with the underlying cardiac rhythm. Seven of 21 patients monitored for medication titration had dosage adjustments during outpatient monitoring.

Conclusions: MCOT can detect asymptomatic clinically significant arrhythmias, and was especially useful to identify the cause of presyncope/syncope, even in patients with a previous negative workup. This outpatient monitoring system allows patients to undergo daily medication dose titration in the outpatient setting, thus avoiding hospitalization.
Electrophysiologic Manifestations of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias Provoking Appropriate Defibrillator Interventions in High‐Risk Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: CHA YONG‐MEI , GERSH BERNARD J. , MARON BARRY J. , BORIANI GIUSEPPE , SPIRITO PAOLO , HODGE DAVID O. , WEIVODA PEGGY L. , TRUSTY JANE M. , FRIEDMAN PAUL A. , HAMMILL STEPHEN C. , REA ROBERT F. , SHEN WIN‐KUANG
Published: March 2007

Introduction: Our objective was to determine features of ventricular tachyarrhythmias triggering appropriate implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) interventions in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods and Results: The study cohort was 68 high‐risk HCM patients who received ICDs for primary sudden cardiac death prevention from 1995 to 2003. All episodes of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias identified by stored intracardiac electrograms were analyzed. Nine patients had 51 episodes of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmic events that required device therapy (mean follow‐up, 3.4 ± 2.2 years; cumulative event rate, 3.2% per year): five had 47 episodes of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT); four each had one episode of ventricular fibrillation (VF). Sinus tachycardia or atrial fibrillation was the initiating rhythm in five of nine patients and in 43 of 51 episodes of events. Of the 17 episodes of monomorphic VT detected in the VT zone, 16 (94%) were terminated by antitachycardia pacing. Thirty episodes of monomorphic VT were detected in the VF zone and were terminated by defibrillation.

Conclusion: Sustained monomorphic VT is common in a high‐risk cohort with HCM. Sinus tachycardia is often the initiating rhythm, suggesting that high sympathetic drive may be proarrhythmic when a susceptible substrate is present. Antitachycardia pacing is highly effective in terminating VT in this patient population.
Laser Lead Extraction in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: KHAIRY PAUL , ROUX JEAN‐FRANÇOIS , DUBUC MARC , THIBAULT BERNARD , GUERRA PETER G. , MACLE LAURENT , MERCIER LISE‐ANDRÉE , DORE ANNIE , ROY DENIS , TALAJIC MARIO , PAGÉ PIERRE
Published: March 2007

Background: In adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), lead extraction procedures are expected to parallel increasing transvenous pacemaker and defibrillator implantations. We sought to assess the safety and feasibility of laser lead extraction in ACHD.

Methods and Results: All laser lead extractions (Spectranectics, Colorado Springs, CO, USA) performed at the Montreal Heart Institute between September 2000 and August 2005 were prospectively registered. Efficacy and complications in patients with ACHD were compared to the larger cohort. Laser lead extraction was attempted on 270 leads in 175 patients. In ACHD, 23 (five atrial, 15 ventricular pacing, and three defibrillator) leads were targeted in 16 patients. Indications were: infection 44%, dysfunction 25%, upgrade 25%, and pain 6%. Patients with ACHD were younger (43.0 ± 13.5 vs 63.7 ± 14.7 years, P < 0.0001) and had a higher proportion of active fixation leads (74% vs 37%, P = 0.0013). Lead age in patients with and without ACHD was 9.0 ± 5.2 vs 7.7 ± 5.2 years (P = 0.2713). Overall, 21 of 23 leads (91%) were successfully extracted in ACHD compared with 220 of 247 leads (89%) (P = 0.7405). One major complication (6.3%) occurred in ACHD (tricuspid valve laceration) compared with five major (3.0%) and eight minor (5.0%) complications in patients without ACHD. Presence of ACHD did not modulate procedural success (OR 1.3, 95% CI [0.3, 5.8]) or complications (OR 1.0, 95% CI [0.2, 4.4]). Median procedural time was 27 minutes longer in ACHD (127 vs 100 minutes, P = 0.0595).

Conclusion: In selected patients with ACHD, laser lead extraction may be performed with a safety and efficacy profile comparable to patients without ACHD.
Magnetic Navigation in Left‐Sided AV Reentrant Tachycardias: Preliminary Results of a Retrograde Approach
Authors: THORNTON ANDREW S. , RIVERO‐AYERZA MAXIMO , KNOPS PAUL , JORDAENS LUC J.
Published: March 2007

Introduction: A novel magnetic navigation system allows remote guidance of floppy radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheters. We evaluated the feasibility of mapping and ablation of left‐sided accessory pathways (APs) using the retrograde transaortic approach with this system. This might open the gate to retrograde ablation of left atrial arrhythmias.

Methods and Results: Twenty consecutive patients were included. A Helios II was used in five and in 15 a Celsius RMT RF catheter with higher magnetic mass and different flexibility was used. Mapping and ablation were attempted. The learning curve was analyzed. Ablation was acutely successful in 60% of the patients using the Helios II and in 80% using the Celsius RMT. Median procedure time was 158 minutes, with median patient and physician fluoroscopy times of 26 and 4 minutes. In the last 10 patients, procedure times became significantly shorter (median 122 minutes, only Celsius RMT catheters) and standard catheters had to be used only twice. No complications occurred.

Conclusions: Remote retrograde transaortic RF ablation of left‐sided APs is feasible, safe, and reduces the physician's fluoroscopy exposure. There is a very steep initial learning curve, with the success rate increasing from 50% in the first 10 cases to 80% in the last 10 cases. Different catheter configurations may influence the outcome.
Murine leukemia following irradiation conditioning for transplantation of lentivirally‐modified hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Siapati Elena K. , Bigger Brian W. , Kashofer Karl , Themis Mike , Thrasher Adrian J. , Bonnet Dominique
Published: March 2007

Emerging reports are conclusively demonstrating the mutagenic risks involved in using retroviral vectors for gene therapy. Animal studies, as well as cases from a human clinical trial, have proven the potential of insertional leukemogenesis caused by a retroviral vector. Here, we report the observation of six T‐lymphoblastic leukemia cases arising during the course of a gene therapy study for hemophilia B after transplantation of ex vivo transduced hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by a lentivirus vector. Three of these animals comprised secondary recipients of the same donor and LAM‐PCR was performed to identify the vector integration loci. We located integrations in repeat elements of known genes, including a candidate brain‐tumor locus, but none of these clones could be tracked in the leukemic blasts. Although transduced clones with an intact proviral cassette were detected in the spleen of the leukemic animals, they comprised a very small proportion, not correlating to the levels of leukemic blasts. After propagation of the latter in NOD/SCID mice, we could no longer detect the proviral cassette suggesting that the leukemic blasts were untransduced. We did, however, detect increased levels of reverse transcriptase activity in the leukemic blasts which may suggest activation of endogenous retroviruses. This study demonstrates that tumors arising in these type of gene therapy protocols are not necessarily due to vector insertional mutagenesis and highlights the importance of careful functional studies to delineate the nature of tumorigenesis.
A Full‐Scale Porous Reactive Wall for Prevention of Acid Mine Drainage
Authors: Benner Shawn G. , Blowes David W. , Ptacek Carol J.
Published: March 2007

The generation and release of acidic drainage containing high concentrations of dissolved metals from decommissioned mine wastes is an environmental problem of international scale. A potential solution to many acid drainage problems is the installation of permeable reactive walls into aquifers affected by drainage water derived from mine waste materials. A permeable reactive wall installed into an aquifer impacted by low‐quality mine drainage waters was installed in August 1995 at the Nickel Rim mine site near Sudbury, Ontario. The reactive mixture, containing organic matter, was designed to promote bacterially mediated sulfate reduction and subsequent metal sulfide precipitation. The reactive wall is installed to an average depth of 12 feet (3.6 m) and is 49 feet (15 m) long perpendicular to ground water flow. The wall thickness (flow path length) is 13 feet (4 m). Initial results, collected nine months after installation, indicate that sulfate reduction and metal sulfide precipitation is occurring. Comparing water entering the wall to treated water exiting the wall, sulfate concentrations decrease from 2400 to 4600 mg/L to 200 to 3600 mg/L; Fe concentrations decrease from 250 to 1300 mg/L to 1.0 to 40 mg/L; pH increases from 5.8 to 7.0; and alkalinity (as CaCO3) increases from 0 to 50 mg/L to 600 to 2000 mg/L. The reactive wall has effectively removed the capacity of the ground water to generate acidity on discharge to the surface. Calculations based on comparison to previously run laboratory column experiments indicate that the reactive wall has potential to remain effective for at least 15 years.
The Impact of Credit Counseling on Subsequent Borrower Behavior
Authors: ELLIEHAUSEN GREGORY , CHRISTOPHER LUNDQUIST E. , STATEN MICHAEL E.
Published: March 2007

The study examined the impact of individualized credit counseling delivered to nearly 8,000 consumer clients during 1997. Credit bureau data provided objective measures of credit performance at a variety of margins between 1997 and 2000 for counseled clients, relative to a comparison group of uncounseled borrowers. Receipt of counseling was associated with a positive change in borrower credit profiles. Techniques to control for self‐selection into counseling reveal that much of the improvement was attributable to characteristics unique to consumers who sought counseling. But counseling itself was associated with substantial reductions in debt and account usage, and appeared to provide the greatest benefit to those borrowers who had the least ability to handle credit prior to counseling.
Consumer Experiences with Predatory Lending Practices
Authors: HILL RONALD PAUL , KOZUP JOHN C.
Published: March 2007

This investigation examines how consumers perceive and experience predatory lenders. Findings reveal that industry practices are carried out to the detriment of persons typically defined as “vulnerable,” such as elderly, impoverished, and African American consumers. Using a series of personal interviews with a geographically diverse set of respondents, data reveal thematic categories that include the friendly veneer, the rules of engagement, and an aggressive response, which capture the nuances of this exchange relationship from the perspective of these unwitting consumers. The closing section provides implications for scholars and regulators seeking workable solutions to limit additional financial exploitation.
The Impact of Warnings, Disclaimers, and Product Experience on Consumers’ Perceptions of Dietary Supplements
Authors: MASON MARLYS J. , SCAMMON DEBRA L. , FANG XIANG
Published: March 2007

Two experiments explored the impact of disclosures (warning and disclaimer) and product experience (heavy, light, and nonusers) on consumers’ perceptions of dietary supplements. In general, the government‐mandated disclaimer did not impact consumers’ beliefs about either the efficacy or the safety of dietary supplements; for most consumers, the disclaimer is unlikely to achieve its intended results. However, when product experience was examined, analyses show that heavy product users responded differently to the disclosures than did light product users and nonusers. Results point to the importance of understanding the influence of individual differences on the interpretation of product disclosures by specific consumer segments.
The Privacy Paradox: Personal Information Disclosure Intentions versus Behaviors
Authors: NORBERG PATRICIA A. , HORNE DANIEL R. , HORNE DAVID A.
Published: March 2007

Impelled by the development of technologies that facilitate collection, distribution, storage, and manipulation of personal consumer information, privacy has become a “hot” topic for policy makers. Commercial interests seek to maximize and then leverage the value of consumer information, while, at the same time, consumers voice concerns that their rights and ability to control their personal information in the marketplace are being violated. However, despite the complaints, it appears that consumers freely provide personal data. This research explores what we call the “privacy paradox” or the relationship between individuals’ intentions to disclose personal information and their actual personal information disclosure behaviors.
Promotingi‐Safety: Effects of Privacy Warnings and Privacy Seals on Risk Assessment and Online Privacy Behavior
Authors: LAROSE ROBERT , RIFON NORA J.
Published: March 2007

Using social cognitive theory, this study experimentally examines the effects of explicit privacy warnings, a clear, conspicuous, and concise presentation of the benefits and risks associated with database information practices stated in a Web site’s privacy policy. Warnings increased perceptions of the risks associated with information practices and decreased disclosures, but not in the presence of a privacy seal. The effects were also moderated by consumer privacy self‐efficacy and involvement with privacy. The results support the development of privacy warnings as a part of consumer privacy self‐regulatory efforts and the use of a social cognitive paradigm for understanding consumer privacy behaviors.
The Death Care Industry: A Review of Regulatory and Consumer Issues
Authors: KOPP STEVEN W. , KEMP ELYRIA
Published: March 2007

Although virtually every person in the United States will purchase or consume a funeral‐related product or service, relatively little is understood about the processes a consumer undertakes in making these expensive decisions in stressful circumstances. Regulation of the industry has been contentious from the outset, and there have been numerous questions as to regulatory effectiveness. This article outlines and discusses issues related to the death care industry with particular attention to consumer interests.
TWO ASPECTS OF THE EXPORT OF MANUFACTURED GOODS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: MURAKAMI ATSUSHI
Published: March 2007

In this paper the author aims to identify the existence of two types of export markets of manufactured goods from developing countries, and then to argue for the necessity of two corresponding export policies. The major theories of industrialization policy are outlined in Section I. This description reveals the fact that in order to overcome difficulties in import substitution, export‐oriented industrialization is required. In Section II, a case study is undertaken to show the existence of two export markets— those of developed and developing countries—available to developing countries. Here the author tries to indicate that the difference between export markets is related to the features of the export commodities throughout countries studied. As long as two export markets exist, export policy also should have two aspects. Directions of and recommendations for export policy in relation to both aspects are discussed in Section III.
JOSÉ RIZAL: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL VIEW OF HISTORY AND NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Authors: IKEHATA SETSUHO.
Published: March 2007

The rewriting of the history of the Philippines from the standpoint of the Filipinos is today one of the major subjects of research in the history of that country. A perspective on Philippine history from the standpoint of the Filipino people themselves and free from the bias of the colonialists, was first attempted in the era of the Propaganda Movement, 1882–1896. In this paper, I should like to probe into the process of the formation of the historical view of the Filipino people taken by the greatest thinker of the Propaganda Movement era, José Rizal, and into the notion of the national solidarity of the people of the Philippines (i. e., their national consciousness), which that historical view heightened.
COMPILATION AND PUBLICATION OF KOREAN HISTORICAL MATERIALS UNDER JAPANESE RULE (1910–1945)
Authors: CHOI KYONG‐RAK
Published: March 2007

The years 1910–1945, during which the Japanese‐controlled Sōtokufu (Government‐General) dominated the Korean political scene, are commonly imagined as uniformly tragic and ruinous years for the Korean people. Little attention has so far been given to the positive accomplishments in the realm of historical scholarship made by both Japanese and Korean scholars during this period. Some idea of the scope of the compilation and republication activities undertaken during the years of Japanese occupation will be had from a review of the list enumerated below, although the tremendous significance for Korean culture of the works actually rescued from the process of decay and disintegration will not easily be grasped by someone unfamiliar with works themselves. To correct this deficiency, I have appended to each heading in the list a brief description of the contents. In addition, there are summarized below the great names in the field of Korean cultural studies whose efforts we see crystallized in the bibliographical output that is the main subject of this paper. That many Japanese scholars have earned a place among the guardians of Korea's cultural tradition is something that ought not to be forgotten when we Koreans look back upon our colonial past.
INCOME INEQUALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1961–91
Authors: ESTUDILLO Jonna P.
Published: March 2007

Household income inequality in the Philippines remains high and the trends for three decades have been fairly stable except for a sharp decline in the mid‐1980s. Gini coefficient of income inequality has been consistently close to 0.50. Urbanization and education of household head are the most important factors determining the level of income inequality while the contribution of age of head is limited. The increase in the number of urban households results in an increase of overall inequality while the increase in the number of household heads with a college education tends to decrease the inequality. Among the household income sources, wage income is the largest contributor to total income inequality. Wage rate inequality appears to be a major source of wage income inequality.
POLITICAL DEMOCRATIZATION AND KMT PARTY‐OWNED ENTERPRISES IN TAIWAN
Authors: MATSUMOTO Mitsutoyo
Published: March 2007

This article will study how the existence of KMT party‐owned enterprises (POEs) and their development are related to Taiwan's democratization. POEs are profit‐making enterprises managed by the KMT, the former ruling party. All previous studies about the relationship between democratization and POEs only draw attention to the economic resource aspects of POEs. But the POEs were also KMT political resources in the form of enterprises and became policy tools to the ruling party. This study will argue that the existence of the POEs was a factor that maintained the KMT government and supported its stable management during the process of democratization. Moreover, POEs as political resources enabled Lee Teng‐hui as KMT chairman to demonstrate strong leadership and push ahead with the completion of democratization. But Lee's political mobilization of POEs expanded money politics and perpetuated these enterprises as one of the “authoritarian legacies” in Taiwan's democratic politics.
M&As AND THE GLOBAL STRATEGIES OF TNCs
Authors: CANTWELL JOHN , SANTANGELO GRAZIA D.
Published: March 2007

Most of the motivations for M&As that feature in the global strategies of transnational corporations (TNCs) are a means of reshaping competitive advantages within their respective industries. They have some effect on the TNCs of all or most industries and so to that extent they are not necessarily sector‐specific. However, it may be that some of the motives which we outline affect some industries more than others, and in that sense they can be expected to be associated with a greater intensity of M&As in certain sectors than others. We identify the likelihood of M&As across industries, and discuss how the general factors that have promoted the recent M&A wave have had a bigger impact on the global strategies of TNCs in the industries in which the propensity to engage in M&As has been the highest. The regional dimension is also considered.
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION AND CHANGES IN CORPORATE CONTROL IN LATIN AMERICA
Authors: DE PAULA GERMANO MENDES , FERRAZ JOÃO CARLOS , IOOTTY MARIANA
Published: March 2007

This article analyzes ownership restructuring and changes in corporate control in four large Latin American countries—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico—during the 1990s. Drawing on original firm‐level data, this is a comparative study aimed at identifying cross‐country differences and regularities. It focuses on transactions associated with privatizations and private mergers and acquisitions (M&As)—their evolution, relative importance, and sectoral incidence—as well as the role played by different types of investors: local, foreign, and joint ventures. A specially built database was used in the analysis, comprising 3,085 private M&As and 329 privatization transactions. Although similar to processes occurring elsewhere, it is argued that ownership restructuring in Latin America was facilitated and fostered by specific changes in policy‐associated institutional framework conditions. That is, the wide‐ranging process of ownership restructuring is strongly associated with economic liberalization, which has become the main feature of Latin American national regimes of incentives and regulation.
REARGUARD POLITICS: HONG KONG'S MIDDLE CLASS
Authors: LUI TAI‐LOK
Published: March 2007

This paper reports on the emergence of the middle class in contemporary Hong Kong First, it gives the historical background of the rise of the middle class in the 1970s. This historical background is important to our understanding of Hong Kong's middle class because it highlights its symbolic significance—the realization of the so‐called Hong Kong dream—in the context of the local society. It is also relevant to our understanding of the shaping of its political outlook. The second section explores why the middle class stayed away from politics when the future of Hong Kong and democratization were the main topics in the political agenda of the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, the paper rounds up its discussion by reporting on the new grievances of the middle class amid the economic downturn after the Asian Financial Crisis.
THE EMERGENCE AND POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IN SINGAPORE
Authors: TAMURA KEIKO T.
Published: March 2007

Singapore is an example showing that economic development, the affluence it creates, the emergence of a large middle class do not inevitably lead to liberal democracy. This study examines the present situation and problem of Singapore's middle class. It first describes the emergence and the characteristics of this class. It then examines the political control of the People's Action Party government, which has crushed democratic movements in the bud, and the government's discriminatory policies, such as in education and housing, which favor the growing middle class. Lastly, it discusses new problems that are arising from the middle class's mammonism and resultant political passivity In conclusion, this study foresees that to keep the supply of material goods flowing to the middle class, the government will have to push for even greater economic development, which means that the role of the state in Singapore is likely to become even greater than before.