bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demanding Supply Management and Supplying Demand Management
Authors: Lautze Jonathan , Giordano Mark
Published: August 2007

The emphasis of the world's transboundary water law has gradually shifted in the past half century from water resources development to water resources management and environmental protection. This change in institutional focus is a natural outcome of changing resource conditions, in particular the high levels of water resources development achieved in many regions as well as rising economic prosperity and associated changes in environmental perception. Surprisingly, this analysis reveals that transboundary water law in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) follows these global trends even though SSA's levels of water resources development, economic prosperity, and food security are significantly lower than any other region in the world. These findings suggest that the nature of SSA's transboundary water law may be largely “handed down” from other parts of the world with different realities than those present in SSA. Recognizing this relationship can provide important lessons for improving transboundary water governance in the region.
The Effects of Forestry Decentralization on Access to Livelihood Assets
Authors: Larson Anne M. , Pacheco Pablo , Toni Fabiano , Vallejo Mario
Published: August 2007

Despite its argued theoretical benefits, forestry decentralization in practice can have detrimental effects on forest-dependent peoples, but little is understood about the specific paths by which decentralization affects livelihoods. This article, based on data from research in 2005 in Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, presents a working conceptual model for analyzing these interactions. The research found that vulnerability increased when decentralization was not combined with policies addressing structural inequities-that is, increased municipal government control over land and forests must be accompanied by policies increasing poor local people's access rights and security. At the same time, increased municipal government authority over forest management and monitoring can facilitate access to these and other assets needed for forest livelihoods, but this new responsibility must also be accompanied by improved controls over local authorities. The needed changes rarely come about without specific organized demands of local actors' associations and movements.
Perceptual Learning and Auditory Training in Cochlear Implant Recipients
Authors: Fu Qian-Jie , Galvin John J.
Published: August 2007

Learning electrically stimulated speech patterns can be a new and difficult experience for cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Recent studies have shown that most implant recipients at least partially adapt to these new patterns via passive, daily-listening experiences. Gradually introducing a speech processor parameter (eg, the degree of spectral mismatch) may provide for more complete and less stressful adaptation. Although the implant device restores hearing sensation and the continued use of the implant provides some degree of adaptation, active auditory rehabilitation may be necessary to maximize the benefit of implantation for CI recipients. Currently, there are scant resources for auditory rehabilitation for adult, postlingually deafened CI recipients. We recently developed a computer-assisted speech-training program to provide the means to conduct auditory rehabilitation at home. The training software targets important acoustic contrasts among speech stimuli, provides auditory and visual feedback, and incorporates progressive training techniques, thereby maintaining recipients' interest during the auditory training exercises. Our recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted auditory training in improving CI recipients' speech and music perception. Provided with an inexpensive and effective auditory training program, CI recipients may find the motivation and momentum to get the most from the implant device.
Binaural-Bimodal Fitting or Bilateral Implantation for Managing Severe to Profound Deafness: A Review
Authors: Ching T.Y.C. , van Wanrooy E. , Dillon H.
Published: August 2007

There are now many recipients of unilateral cochlear implants who have usable residual hearing in the non-implanted ear. To avoid auditory deprivation and to provide binaural hearing, a hearing aid or a second cochlear implant can be fitted to that ear. This article addresses the question of whether better binaural hearing can be achieved with binaural/bimodal fitting (combining a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in opposite ears) or bilateral implantation. In the first part of this article, the rationale for providing binaural hearing is examined. In the second part, the literature on the relative efficacy of binaural/bimodal fitting and bilateral implantation is reviewed. Most studies on comparing either mode of bilateral stimulation with unilateral implantation reported some binaural benefits in some test conditions on average but revealed that some individuals benefited, whereas others did not. There were no controlled comparisons between binaural/bimodal fitting and bilateral implantation and no evidence to support the efficacy of one mode over the other. In the third part of the article, a crossover trial of two adults who had binaural/bimodal fitting and who subsequently received a second implant is reported. The findings at 6 and 12 months after they received their second implant indicated that binaural function developed over time, and the extent of benefit depended on which abilities were assessed for the individual. In the fourth and final parts of the article, clinical issues relating to candidacy for binaural/ bimodal fitting and strategies for bimodal fitting are discussed with implications for future research.
Advances in Cochlear Implant Telemetry: Evoked Neural Responses, Electrical Field Imaging, and Technical Integrity
Authors: Mens Lucas H. M.
Published: August 2007

During the last decade, cochlear implantation has evolved into a well-established treatment of deafness, predominantly because of many improvements in speech processing and the controlled excitation of the auditory nerve. Cochlear implants now also feature telemetry, which is highly useful to monitor the proper functioning of the implanted electronics and electrode contacts. Telemetry can also support the clinical management in young children and difficult cases where neural unresponsiveness is suspected. This article will review recent advances in the telemetry of the electrically evoked compound action potential that have made these measurements simple and routine procedures in most cases. The distribution of the electrical stimulus itself sampled by “electrical field imaging” reveals general patterns of current flow in the normal cochlea and gross abnormalities in individual patients; models have been developed to derive more subtle insights from an individual electrical field imaging. Finally, some thoughts are given to the extended application of telemetry, for example, in monitoring the neural responses or in combination with other treatments of the deaf ear.
Creating and Managing Interorganizational Learning Networks To Achieve Sustainable Ecosystem Management
Authors: Manring Susan L.
Published: August 2007

Effective and sustainable ecosystem management is becoming a vital societal issue. Increasingly, there is a growing mandate among all sectors of society—public, governmental, business, civic, and environmental—to become collaborative stakeholders in dialogues about the management of ecosystem resources. What has been missing, however, is an explicit analysis of interorganizational networks for sustainable ecosystem management as emerging learning organizations. This article demonstrates the explanatory and diagnostic power of applying the concepts of virtual learning networks to sustainable ecosystem management to guide stakeholders in cocreating a shared conceptual infrastructure for generative learning, consensus building, and collaborative decision making. Related dynamics of collaboration and power and the diffusion of rules and practices are also explored. Next steps are indicated for further development, demonstration, and documentation of the applicability and utility of this model to sustainable ecosystem management.
The Voluntary Adoption of Green Electricity By Ontario-Based Companies
Authors: Berkhout Tom , Rowlands Ian H.
Published: August 2007

Organizational values and organizational context have been shown to influence the willingness of businesses to voluntarily adopt environmental initiatives. This study explores how these factors support the adoption of an initiative that is not associated with a clear “win-win” outcome for the firm. Using a matched-pair research method to establish a degree of pretest equivalence, the authors compare the organizational values and organizational structural context of firms in Ontario, Canada, that had voluntarily adopted green electricity (e.g., wind, solar, and small hydro) with firms that had not. They find that the firms that had adopted green electricity were more likely to value improved environmental performance as more than a means to earn demonstrable financial gains, more likely to make public their environmental performance metrics, and more likely to integrate formal environmental responsibilities within their organization. In concluding, the authors argue that their evidence supports the efficacy of actualizing espoused proactive environmental values through formalized organizational structures.
A Pilot Investigation of Teachers' Perceptions of Psychotropic Drug Use in Schools
Authors: Lien My T. , Carlson John S. , Hunter-Oehmke Shana , Knapp Kelly A.
Published: August 2007

Objective: Children's behavior at school often leads to parental interest in seeking physician treatment. This study examines teachers' knowledge and perceptions of psychotropic drug use in schools. Method: Structured interviews were conducted with 27 general education teachers from a diverse representation of elementary schools within central Michigan. Information on (a) current use of psychotropic medications by their students, (b) consultation and collaboration with parents and mental health professionals, and (c) knowledge of the properties and side effects of Ritalin was gathered. Results: Teachers report limited knowledge of how and why medication treatment works despite reporting that 11.5% of their students were currently being prescribed a psychotropic medication. Teachers indicate little communication with parents or professionals regarding medication use or the side effects associated with their use. Conclusion: Issues related to the amount of knowledge that school professionals should have about this increasingly used treatment remain unresolved and warrant further research. ( J. of Att. Dis. 2007; 11(2) 172-178)
ADHD Prevalence in Adult Outpatients With Nonpsychotic Psychiatric Illnesses
Authors: Almeida Montes Luis Guillermo , Hernández García Ana Olivia , Ricardo-Garcell Josefina
Published: August 2007

Objective: The prevalence of ADHD in the general adult population has been estimated to be about 4.4%. However, few studies exist in which the prevalence of ADHD in psychiatric adult outpatient samples has been estimated. These studies suggest that the prevalence is higher than in the general population. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of ADHD in a psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatient sample and to compare this data with the prevalence of a group of nonclinical participants. Method: The structured clinical interview Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.-Plus) was applied to 161 consecutive nonpsychotic psychiatric adult outpatients and to 149 healthy participants from the community. In addition, clinical rating scales were applied to measure the severity of general psychopathology such as mania, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and alcohol consumption in both groups. Results: The prevalence of ADHD in psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatients was 16.80% and 5.37% in nonclinical participants. In male psychiatric outpatients the prevalence of ADHD was 8.5% and for females was 21.6%. Conclusion: This study concludes that a higher prevalence of ADHD exists in psychiatric nonpsychotic adult outpatients compared with nonclinical participants. In the psychiatric adult outpatients, females showed a higher prevalence of ADHD than males. Implications and limitations are discussed. ( J. of Att. Dis. 2007; 11(2) 150-156)
Listening to service users: young homeless people's experiences of a new mental health service
Authors: Taylor Helen C. , Stuttaford Maria C. , Broad Bob , Vostanis Panos
Published: August 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate young homeless people's experiences of `Strong Minded', a new mental health service set up within selected homeless shelters and run by a voluntary sector organization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 residents from five homeless shelters across the UK. All of the young people who had accessed Strong Minded had benefited from their engagement. The young people also identified several key inherent and important aspects of Strong Minded relating to both the practical, supportive therapeutic approach and the flexibility of the interventions offered, which contributed to the service's success. This service model of engaging vulnerable young people in transition could have useful implications for the future interface between voluntary and statutory mental health services.
Peer victimization in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Humphrey Jamie L. , Storch Eric A. , Geffken Gary R.
Published: August 2007

This study examined the correlation of peer victimization to psychosocial adjustment in a sample of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 303 files of youth who received a psycho-educational assessment were reviewed; of these, 116 had an ADHD diagnosis. The data collected included the Child Behavior Checklist (which includes items assessing peer victimization), Conner's Parent Rating Scale, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and Children's Depression Inventory. Peer victimization was positively correlated with parent reports of anxiety, depression, social problems, delinquent behavior and aggressive behavior. Children with a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis with ADHD reported higher rates of peer victimization than those without a comorbid diagnosis. Children diagnosed with ADHD along with a comorbid externalizing psychiatric diagnosis experienced higher rates of peer victimization than those with a comorbid internalizing psychiatric diagnosis. The implications of this study concerning peer victimization and psychosocial adjustment in children with ADHD are discussed.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Pericardial Effusion
Authors: Peters Priscilla J. , Schuck Jacqueline
Published: August 2007

Echocardiography is routinely used to evaluate diseases of the pericardium, including effusion, tamponade, and, to a lesser extent, constriction. Doppler evaluation provides information regarding the attendant alterations of cardiac filling. This review details the role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of common abnormalities of the pericardium.
Sonographic Evaluation of an Ocular Pellet Gun Injury
Authors: Guthrie Joy D.
Published: August 2007

Penetrating eye injuries are a very frightening finding at any age and for any reason. Most eye injuries can be avoided if proper safety measures are in place. This ophthalmic sonogram demonstrated a penetrating eye injury from a pellet gun with significant vitreous hemorrhage, total retinal detachment, and pellet fragments seen in the posterior sclera adjacent to the optic nerve. Gray-scale ophthalmic sonographic imaging using standard linear array transducers is an effective, noninvasive method to determine the location and size of a foreign body and associated vitreous and orbital pathology. If clinically indicated, color and spectral analysis can be used to evaluate blood flow in the vessels supplying the orbit.
Hydrosalpinx in a Woman With a Partial Hysterectomy
Authors: Burke Liz
Published: August 2007

Hydrosalpinx is a condition where the fallopian tube becomes obstructed and fills with fluid. Bilateral hydrosalpinx is most commonly associated with a pelvic infection. However, there may also be an association between partial hysterectomy and hydrosalpinx, which typically presents unilaterally. Although it is often difficult to visualize a normal fallopian tube, endovaginal sonography has proven to be a useful tool in the visualization and diagnosis of hydrosalpinx and other fallopian tube abnormalities. It is important to consider hydrosalpinx in the differential diagnosis when presented with a patient with a history of partial hysterectomy with associated pelvic pain. This case presents a woman with severe right lower quadrant pain with a history of partial hysterectomy. A pelvic sonogram revealed evidence of a unilateral hydrosalpinx. Postsurgical findings confirmed the diagnosis of right-sided hydrosalpinx and pelvic adhesions.
Perineal Sonography to Localize Airgun Pellet
Authors: Krishna Murthy Raju Iderapalli , Abdulnabi Mithal
Published: August 2007

A teenage boy presented to the emergency department with an accidental self-inflicted airgun injury to his perineum. Examination showed a small entry wound in the scrotal skin and the testes were normal. X-ray of the pelvis showed the pellet in the perineum without definite localization. Perineal sonography was performed preoperatively, which precisely localized the pellet in the perineal soft tissues for easy exploration and removal.
Relapse following discontinuation of imatinib mesylate therapy for FIP1L1/PDGFRA-positive chronic eosinophilic leukemia: implications for optimal dosing
Authors: Klion Amy D. , Robyn Jamie , Maric Irina , Fu Weiming , Schmid Laura , Lemery Steven , Noel Pierre , Law Melissa A. , Hartsell Marilyn , Talar-Williams Cheryl , Fay Michael P. , Dunbar Cynthia E. , Nutman Thomas B.
Published: August 2007

Although imatinib is clearly the treatment of choice for FIP1L1/PDGFRA-positive chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL), little is known about optimal dosing, duration of treatment, and the possibility of cure in this disorder. To address these questions, 5 patients with FIP1L1/PDGFRA-positive CEL with documented clinical, hematologic, and molecular remission on imatinib (400 mg daily) and without evidence of cardiac involvement were enrolled in a dose de-escalation trial. The imatinib dose was tapered slowly with close follow-up for evidence of clinical, hematologic, and molecular relapse. Two patients with endomyocardial fibrosis were maintained on imatinib 300 to 400 mg daily and served as controls. All 5 patients who underwent dose de-escalation, but neither of the control patients, experienced molecular relapse (P < .05). None developed recurrent symptoms, and eosinophil counts, serum B12, and tryptase levels remained suppressed. Reinitiation of therapy at the prior effective dose led to molecular remission in all 5 patients, although 2 patients subsequently required increased dosing to maintain remission. These data are consistent with suppression rather than elimination of the clonal population in FIP1L1/PDGFRA-positive CEL and suggest that molecular monitoring may be the most useful method in determining optimal dosing without the risk of disease exacerbation. This trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as no. NCT00044304.
Vibration characteristics of the capillary in ultrasonic wire bonders
Authors: Hu C M , Guo N Q , Du H J , Lin R M , Chen M
Published: August 2007

Currently ultrasonic wire bonders with precision capillary tips are widely used in the packaging industry for bonding wires to ICs and circuits. However, the quality and strength of a bond are affected significantly by the vibration of the bonding capillary. It is, therefore, necessary to study the vibration characteristics of the capillary for better understanding and for developing a non-perturbative and low-cost monitoring device for improving bonding quality control. In this paper, the vibration characteristics of the capillary are presented in terms of natural frequency and vibration modes using finite-element models. The predicted displacement profile along the capillary is compared with the measurement using a non-contact laser interferometer. In general, a good agreement between the prediction and measurement is obtained, and it shows that the interferometer may be a good monitoring tool for characterization of capillary tip vibration, as well as providing a reference for other monitoring devices.
Three-dimensional elasticity solution for laminated cross-ply panel under localized moment
Authors: Alibeigloo A , Shakeri M
Published: August 2007

Three-dimensional elasticity solutions have been presented for thick laminated crossply circular cylindrical panel. The panel is under localized patch moment in axial direction and is simply supported at all edges with finite length. Ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients are obtained by means of Fourier series expansion for displacement field and loading in the circumferential and axial directions. Resulting ordinary differential equations are solved using Taylor series. Numerical results are presented for (0/90°) and (0/90/0°) lay-up, and compared with the results for simple form of loading published in literatures.
Comprehensive wagon-track modelling for simulation of three-piece bogie suspension dynamics
Authors: Sun Y Q , Cole C
Published: August 2007

A wagon-track dynamics interaction model has been developed to investigate the dynamics of suspensions with friction wedge dampers that are widely used in three-piece bogie wagons in Australia. The wagon is modelled using 66 degrees-of-freedom, accounting for the three-dimensional movements of all wagon components. The mass of the wedge has also been modelled. The track is modelled with rails as Timoshenko beams and discretely supported by the spring and damper elements representing the elasticity of pads, fasteners, and ballast. An assumed track geometry irregularity, i.e. top surface profile, is used for the analysis of suspension dynamics. The simulation results of the wagon-track dynamics interaction model have been compared with those from a VAMPIRE model. The VAMPIRE model uses the normal user level approaches without special subroutine development. Effects of the wedge friction conditions and the effect of track geometry irregularity have been investigated for the better understanding of dynamic performance of three-piece bogie suspensions.
New insights into the collapsing of cylindrical thin-walled tubes under axial impact load
Authors: Shakeri M , Mirzaeifar R , Salehghaffari S
Published: August 2007

The current paper presents further investigations into the crushing behaviour of circular aluminium tubes subjected to axial impact load. Experiments prove that in order to achieve the real collapsing shape of tubes under axial loads in numerical simulations, an initial geometric imperfection corresponding to the plastic buckling modes should be introduced on the tube geometry before the impact event. In this study, it is shown that the collapsing shape of tube is affected by this initial imperfection and consequently it is shown that by applying an initial geometric imperfection similar to the axisymmetric plastic buckling mode, the tubes tend to collapse in a concertina mode. This phenomenon is studied for circular tubes subjected to axial impact load and two design methods are suggested to activate the axisymmetric plastic buckling mode, using an initial circumferential edge groove and using one- and two-rigid rings on the tube. In each case the broadening of the concertina collapsing region is estimated using numerical simulations. Experimental tests are performed to study the influence of cutting the edge groove on the collapsing mode.

In order to optimize the crashworthiness parameters of the structure such as the absorbed energy, maximum deflection in axial direction, maximum reaction force, and mean reaction force, a system of neural networks is designed to reproduce the crushing behaviour of the structure, which is often non-smooth and highly non-linear in terms of the design variables (diameter, thickness, and length of tube). The finite-element code ABAQUS/Explicit is used to generate the training and test sets for the neural networks. The response surface of each objective function (crashworthiness parameters) against the change of design variables is calculated and both single-objective and multi-objective optimizations are carried out using the genetic algorithm.
Thermodynamic analysis of an α-type Stirling engine with variable phase angle
Authors: Çinar C
Published: August 2007

In this study, a variable phase angle, α-type Stirling engine was described and analysed from kinematic and thermodynamics point of view. Kinematic relations were described for the calculation of hot and cold cylinder volumes. The instantaneous temperature distribution of the working fluid, through the heating—cooling passages and regenerator, was calculated by preparing a nodal analysis in FORTRAN. Effect of phase angle variation on work generation was examined. By using three different convective heat transfer coefficient, which were 200, 300, and 400 W/m2 K, variation of work generation with working fluid mass was examined. For the same values of convective heat transfer coefficient, variation of engine power versus the engine speed was examined.
Primer interfaced algorithm for non-linear optimization of engineering systems
Authors: Hegde G S , Madhu G M
Published: August 2007

Majority of engineering system designs are deemed to be optimization problems with unknown multiple variables that are more than the known information and data. Several numerical algorithms have been evolved in the past half a decade in an attempt to improve the accuracy of results. The aim of this paper is to provide a perfect solver for the non-linear, single objective, and multi-variable optimization problems. The algorithm termed primer interfaced algorithm for non-linear optimization (PIANO) is a resolved solution methodology based on Hegde's primer value theorem. The methodology is formulated and developed by computing a primer adapter, which is interfaced with coefficient of the terms of constraints and objective functions to arrive at the decision vector. To demonstrate the procedure, two problems from the mechanics of structure are considered as exercises. The results are compared with the results recently published in the literature. The chosen examples for the optimization are a four bar truss and a simply supported beam with uniformly distributed load. The results of PIANO are compared with the results of fuzzy dynamic programming, and crisp optimal solutions are reported in the literature. The authors are sure of absolute contained perfection in the application of PIANO. To the authors' understanding, PIANO is original, new, and different.
Bipolar Host Materials for Green Triplet Emitter in Organic Light-emitting Diodes
Authors: Jeon Ji Young , Park Tae Jin , Jeon Woo Sik , Park Jung Joo , Jang Jin , Kwon Jang Hyuk , Lee Jae Yeol
Published: August 2007

We have developed novel bipolar host materials for high efficiency green phosphorescent OLEDs (PHOLEDs). Phenyl moieties were inserted in a 9,9′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyl)dicarbazole (CBP) compound to provide much easier electron injection and to increase electron mobility. The efficiency increase and voltage reduction by this modification were observed in green PHOLEDs. At a given constant luminance of 1000 cd/m2, the power efficiency was enhanced about twenty percent in the general green PHOLED devices.
Electrochemistry of d-Gluconate 2-Dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter frateurii on Indium Tin Oxide Electrode Surface
Authors: Tsujimura Seiya , Abo Tomohiko , Ano Yoshitaka , Matsushita Kazunobu , Kano Kenji
Published: August 2007

Direct electron-transfer-type bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of d-gluconate is studied with d-gluconate dehydrogenase (GADH, EC 1.1.99.3, from Gluconobacter frateurii) at indium tin oxide electrodes. The adsorbed GADH gives a surface-redox wave attributable to the heme c site in the absence of the substrate and clear catalytic oxidation current in the presence of the substrate. The enzyme kinetics, the surface electron transfer kinetics, and the adsorption characteristics of GADH have been analyzed by voltammetry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements.
Wide Polarized Potential Windows at the Interface between Water and an Ionic Liquid, Tetraheptylammonium Tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate
Authors: Ishimatsu Ryoichi , Nishi Naoya , Kakiuchi Takashi
Published: August 2007

Wide polarized potential windows against interfacial ion transfer are available at the interface between a hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), tetraheptylammonium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate ([THpA+][TFPB−]) and an aqueous electrolyte solution (W) of MgSO4. The width of the potential window, 1.1 V at 60 °C, enables electrochemical studies of charge transfer at the IL/W interface for a variety of ions and redox couples.
Two-Year Treatment With Denosumab (AMG 162) in a Randomized Phase 2 Study of Postmenopausal Women With Low BMD
Authors: Lewiecki E Michael , Miller Paul D , McClung Michael R , Cohen Stanley B , Bolognese Michael A , Liu Yu , Wang Andrea , Siddhanti Suresh , Fitzpatrick Lorraine A
Published: August 2007

Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody to RANKL. In this randomized, placebo-controlled study of 412 postmenopausal women with low BMD, subcutaneous denosumab given every 3 or 6 mo was well tolerated, increased BMD, and decreased bone resorption markers for up to 24 mo. Continued study of denosumab is warranted in the treatment of low BMD in postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits RANKL, a key mediator of osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling. This prespecified exploratory analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of denosumab through 24 mo in the treatment of postmenopausal women with low BMD.

Materials and Methods: Four hundred twelve postmenopausal women with lumbar spine BMD T-scores of −1.8 to −4.0 or femoral neck/total hip T-scores of −1.8 to −3.5 were randomly assigned to receive double-blind, subcutaneous injections of placebo; denosumab 6, 14, or 30 mg every 3 mo; denosumab 14, 60, 100, or 210 mg every 6 mo; or open-label oral alendronate 70 mg once weekly. Outcome measures included BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, distal one-third radius, and total body; bone turnover markers; and safety.

Results: Denosumab increased BMD at all measured skeletal sites and decreased concentrations of bone turnover markers compared with placebo at 24 mo. At the lumbar spine, BMD increases with denosumab ranged from 4.13% to 8.89%. BMD changes with denosumab 30 mg every 3 mo and ≥60 mg every 6 mo were similar to, or in some cases greater than, with alendronate. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the placebo, denosumab, and alendronate treatment groups. Exposure-adjusted adverse events over 2 yr of treatment were similar to those reported during the first year of treatment.

Conclusions: In these postmenopausal women with low BMD, treatment with denosumab for 2 yr was associated with sustained increases in BMD and reductions in bone resorption markers compared with placebo.
Wnt10b Increases Postnatal Bone Formation by Enhancing Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Bennett Christina N , Ouyang Hongjiao , Ma Yanfei L , Zeng Qingqiang , Gerin Isabelle , Sousa Kyle M , Lane Timothy F , Krishnan Venkatesh , Hankenson Kurt D , MacDougald Ormond A
Published: August 2007

Overexpression of Wnt10b from the osteocalcin promoter in transgenic mice increases postnatal bone mass. Increases in osteoblast perimeter, mineralizing surface, and bone formation rate without detectable changes in pre-osteoblast proliferation, osteoblast apoptosis, or osteoclast number and activity suggest that, in this animal model, Wnt10b primarily increases bone mass by stimulating osteoblastogenesis.

Introduction: Wnt signaling regulates many aspects of development including postnatal accrual of bone. Potential mechanisms for how Wnt signaling increases bone mass include regulation of osteoblast and/or osteoclast number and activity. To help differentiate between these possibilities, we studied mice in which Wnt10b is expressed specifically in osteoblast lineage cells or in mice devoid of Wnt10b.

Materials and Methods: Transgenic mice, in which mouse Wnt10b is expressed from the human osteocalcin promoter (Oc-Wnt10b), were generated in C57BL/6 mice. Transgene expression was evaluated by RNase protection assay. Quantitative assessment of bone variables was done by radiography, μCT, and static and dynamic histomorphometry. Mechanisms of bone homeostasis were evaluated with assays for BrdU, TUNEL, and TRACP5b activity, as well as serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX). The endogenous role of Wnt10b in bone was assessed by dynamic histomorphometry in Wnt10b−/− mice.

Results: Oc-Wnt10b mice have increased mandibular bone and impaired eruption of incisors during postnatal development. Analyses of femoral distal metaphyses show significantly higher BMD, bone volume fraction, and trabecular number. Increased bone formation is caused by increases in number of osteoblasts per bone surface, rate of mineral apposition, and percent mineralizing surface. Although number of osteoclasts per bone surface is not altered, Oc-Wnt10b mice have increased total osteoclast activity because of higher bone mass. In Wnt10b−/− mice, changes in mineralizing variables and osteoblast perimeter in femoral distal metaphyses were not observed; however, bone formation rate is reduced because of decreased total bone volume and trabecular number.

Conclusions: High bone mass in Oc-Wnt10b mice is primarily caused by increased osteoblastogenesis, with a minor contribution from elevated mineralizing activity of osteoblasts.
An In Vivo Confocal Raman Study of the Delivery of Trans-Retinol to the Skin
Authors: Pudney Paul D. A. , Mélot Mickaël , Caspers Peter J. , van der Pol Andre , Puppels Gerwin J.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this study is to monitor in vivo the delivery of trans-retinol into human skin. Delivery to real systems, such as skin, can be extremely difficult to execute and is problematic to confirm and measure. So far, methods for studying the delivery of compounds through the skin are mostly ex vivo and so inherently influence the skin and may not translate directly to the in vivo situation. Raman spectroscopy is uniquely placed to be able to measure biological processes in vivo, and this paper shows that the trans-retinol penetration into the skin can successfully be measured in vivo using this technique. This study measured the volar forearm of volunteers treated with 0.3% trans-retinol in propylene glycol (PG)/ethanol and 0.3% trans-retinol in caprylic/capric acid triglyceride (MYRITOL®318), an oil found in skin creams. Solutions were applied and then confocal Raman depth profiles were obtained of the stratum corneum (SC) and into the viable epidermis (VE) up to 10 hours after treatment. Remarkable differences between a penetrating and a non-penetrating solution can clearly be observed. Treating with trans-retinol in PG/ethanol results in trans-retinol penetrating through the SC and into the VE. Its penetration was also observed to be highly correlated with the depth of penetration of the PG, which is well known as an efficient penetration enhancer. In contrast, while treating with trans-retinol in MYRITOL®318, trans-retinol hardly penetrates at all. For the first time, the penetration of trans-retinol has been monitored directly after application of solutions, in vivo without skin excision. Here, the effect of two different solutions on the delivery of trans-retinol into the skin was measured very effectively in vivo by Raman spectroscopy.
Fluorescence Spectrum of 2-Trifluoromethyl-1,1,1,2,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-3-pentanone
Authors: Gustavsson Jonas P. R. , Segal Corin
Published: August 2007

A perfluorinated ketone, 2-trifluoromethyl-1,1,1,2,4,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-3-pentanone, has been investigated to determine several physical and spectroscopic properties. It was found to exhibit fluorescence similar to that of acetone, emitting over the 360–550 nm range with a peak near 420 nm when excited at 355 nm. This compound's emission is nearly unaffected over a wide range of temperature and pressure in an argon bath gas. Its fluorescence efficiency was found to be three times higher than that of acetone. Combined with low reactivity and thermal stability up to 500 8C, this makes the material an excellent tracer for spectroscopic measurement techniques.
Raman Spectroscopic Discrimination of Cell Response to Chemical and Physical Inactivation
Authors: Escoriza Maria Fernanda , Van Briesen Jeanne M. , Stewart Shona , Maier John
Published: August 2007

Raman spectroscopy was applied to study Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis cells that were inactivated by different chemicals and stress conditions including starvation and high temperature. E. coli cells exposed to starvation conditions over several days lost viability at the same rate that spectral bands assigned to DNA and RNA bases decreased in intensity. Band intensities correlate with standard plate counts with R2 = 0.99 and R2 = 0.97, respectively. Principal components analysis and discriminant analysis multivariate statistical techniques were used to evaluate the spectral data collected. Significant changes were observed in the spectra of treated cells in comparison with their respective controls (samples without treatment). As a result, there was a significant differentiation between viable and non-viable cells (treated and non-treated cells) in the first and second principal component plots for all the treatments. Discriminant analysis was used along with PCA to estimate a classification rate based on viability status of the cells. Non-viable cells were differentiated from viable cells with classification rates that ranged between 60 and 90% for specific treatments (i.e., EDTA-treated cells versus control cells). The classification rate obtained considering all the treatments (non-viable cells) and controls (viable cells) at the same time for each of the species studied was 86%. The classification rate based on species differentiation when all the spectra (viable and non-viable) were used was 87%. These results suggest that Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool that can be used to evaluate viability and to study metabolic changes in microorganisms. It is a robust method for bacterial identification even when high spectral variations are introduced.
Shift-Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy—Difference Deconvolution Method for the Luminescence Background Rejection from Raman Spectra of Solid Samples
Authors: Osticioli Iacopo , Zoppi Angela , Castellucci Emilio Mario
Published: August 2007

The feasibility of the shift-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy–difference deconvolution (SERDS-DDM) method for fluorescence suppression from Raman spectra of solid samples is discussed. For SERDS measurements a tunable diode laser source with an emission band centered at 684 nm is coupled to a conventional micro-Raman apparatus and a monochromator device is used for checking the excitation frequency stability. The shifted Raman spectra are then mathematically treated and a deconvolution procedure is used to reconstruct the Raman spectrum devoid of fluorescence. Two different cases are presented. In the first one, fluorescence is intrinsic to the sample and the Raman spectrum of cinnabar pigment is finally reconstructed. In the second, the presence of an external luminescence background in the spectrum of a pure sulfur crystal is considered. The SERDS-DDM reconstructed spectra are compared with spectra obtained via multi-point baseline subtraction and a significant improvement in the detection of weak bands is demonstrated. Practical insights for the application of this method are presented as well.
Phonon Confinement in SiC Nanocrystals: Comparison of the Size Determination Using Transmission Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Havel M. , Baron D. , Mazerolles L. , Colomban Ph.
Published: August 2007

Silicon carbide fibers of different generation/processing routes (NLM-Nicalon and Tyranno SA3) were thermally treated to trigger the growth of nanocrystals, which were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanocrystals were also aged in molten sodium nitrate to investigate their reactivity. The spatial correlation model has been used to model the Raman spectra and extract accurate and statistical information on the nanocrystallites' structure and dimension. For the NLM fibers, an average size of 2.5 to 7.0 nm was calculated, which was in good agreement with TEM observations. For the Tyranno SA3 fiber, despite the heavily faulted stacking sequence, the Raman peaks remained sharp, indicating that the crystallite dimension calculated from the Raman spectra is only dependent on the actual size of the nanocrystals and is not affected by the sequence of the stacking faults.
Rape, Prostitution and Consent
Authors: Sullivan Barbara
Published: August 2007

Sex workers are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault. However, until recently, there were significant barriers to the prosecution of those who raped sex workers. Prostitutes were seen as ‘commonly’ available to men, as always consenting to sex and thus as incapable of being raped. This article examines 51 judgments — from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand — where evidence of prostitution was presented between 1829 and 2004. It demonstrates an important change in the 1980s and 1990s when, for the first time, men began to be prosecuted and convicted for raping sex workers.This change was partly due to rape law reform, but also to feminist activism and broader changes in social attitudes to rape. The article argues that sex workers have recently been ‘re-made’ in law as women vulnerable to rape, as individuals able to give and withhold sexual consent. This development needs to be taken seriously so that law and policy addressed to the sex industry works to enlarge (not reduce or constrain) the making of prostitutes as subjects with consensual capacity. This necessarily involves attention to more legal rights for prostitutes, as workers, and calls into question the conceptualisation of prostitution as always involving rape.
Parental Shaming and Adolescent Delinquency: A Partial Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory
Authors: Losoncz Ibolya , Tyson Graham
Published: August 2007

The past decade has seen an increase in the application of Braithwaite's reintegrative shaming theory as a framework for restorative justice programs. However, to date the theory has received little empirical attention. The current study set out to contribute to the empirical testing of the theory by exploring the appropriateness of the causal model put forward by Braithwaite. One-hundred-and-seventy Year 9 and Year 10 high school students from 2 government high schools in the Australian Capital Territory completed a survey capturing projected delinquency, delinquent peers and family processes. Principal component analysis found an overlap between aspects of shaming with reintegration and stigmatisation. Furthermore, not all facets of reintegration and stigmatisation were found to be discrete concepts. Results from subsequent structural equation modelling were largely supportive of RST, particularly the theory's emphasis on the harmful effects of stigmatisation and the beneficial effects of reintegration. However, shaming, as defined in the theory, may not affect predatory crime in the way it is predicted by RST.
Does Australia Need a Specific Institution to Correct Wrongful Convictions?
Authors: Weathered Lynne
Published: August 2007

In recent years, hundreds of people have been exonerated overseas after demonstrating that they were wrongly convicted of crimes for which they spent many years in prison, and these are only the ones uncovered to date. Australia has its own sampling of known wrongful convictions. England, Canada and the United States have introduced different mechanisms to address in some fashion, the facilitation of exonerations. This article considers the current situation for the wrongly convicted in Australia, placing it within this international context. This comparison will demonstrate that Australia has fallen behind these other common law countries by failing to deliver new mechanisms, establish new bodies or incorporate new avenues that would enable the correction of wrongful conviction to occur. Wrongful conviction must now be recognised as an unenviable but inevitable part of any criminal justice system and a problem that should not be tolerated. Australia's criminal justice system must meet the challenge to update its provisions rather than continue to proceed under provisions other countries have identified as failing to meet the needs of the wrongly convicted.
Genetics of Body Mass Stability and Risk for Chronic Disease: A 28-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Franz Carol E. , Grant Michael D. , Jacobson Kristen C. , Kremen William S. , Eisen Seth A. , Xian Hong , Romeis James , Thompson-Brenner Heather , Lyons Michael J.
Published: August 2007

We examined the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to body mass index (BMI) over approximately 28 years. Participants were 693 male, predominantly middle-class, twins (355 monozygotic, 338 dizygotic) from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. The phenotypic correlation between age 20 and age 48 BMI was 0.52; the genetic correlation was 0.60. Most of the remaining variance at both times was accounted for by nonshared environmental factors. Since genetic factors are not perfectly correlated, this indicates that other genes affect BMI at one or both time points, leaving room for further exploration of the genetics of body mass stability. Mean BMI increased significantly from 22.7 (normal) to 27.8 (overweight). Overweight BMI at age 20 predicted midlife adult onset diabetes (adjusted odds ratio = 4.62, 95% CI 1.91 to 11.18), but not hypertension. Depending on one's vantage point, the results indicate elements of both stability and change in BMI. Very similar phenotypic and genetic correlations were observed over a similar time period in a WW II twin sample, but without the substantial mean increase in BMI. It seems unlikely that different genes influence BMI in the two cohorts. Therefore, we argue that nonshared environmental factors are probably primarily responsible for the secular increase in midlife BMI. Our results also provide prospective evidence that early excess BMI may have serious long-term health consequences, and that this risk is not limited to minorities or adults of lower socioeconomic status.
Examining the Heritability of a Laboratory-Based Smoking Endophenotype: Initial Results From an Experimental Twin Study
Authors: Ray Lara A. , Rhee Soo Hyun , Stallings Michael C. , Knopik Valerie , Hutchison Kent E.
Published: August 2007

The objective of this study was to examine the heritability of an endophenotype relevant to nicotine dependence, namely tension reduction after smoking. This study also examined whether common genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental factors influence this endophenotype measured repeatedly during an experimental paradigm. Twin and sibling pairs, all of whom were regular smokers, completed a laboratory paradigm in which they reported on levels of tension at baseline and after smoking each of 3 cigarettes. Univariate twin analyses suggested a sizeable role of additive genetic effects on tension reduction, with heritability estimates ranging between 47 and 68%. Result of multivariate Cholesky analyses indicated that there were additive genetic influences common to tension reduction assessed after cigarettes 1, 2, and 3. Multivariate models including genetic and nonshared environmental effects provided the best fit to the data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the genetic basis of a laboratory smoking endophenotype, in this case tension reduction after smoking. Implications for genetic association studies are discussed.