bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of YjeQ from
Thermotoga maritima
contains a circularly permuted GTPase domain
Authors: Shin Dong Hae , Lou Yun , Jancarik Jaru , Yokota Hisao , Kim Rosalind , Kim Sung-Hou
Published: August 2004

We have determined the crystal structure of the GDP complex of the YjeQ protein from
Thermotoga maritima
(
Tm
YjeQ), a member of the YjeQ GTPase subfamaily.
Tm
YjeQ, a homologue of
Escherichia coli
YjeQ, which is known to bind to the ribosome, is composed of three domains: an N-terminal oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding fold domain, a central GTPase domain, and a C-terminal zinc-finger domain. The crystal structure of
Tm
YjeQ reveals two interesting domains: a circularly permutated GTPase domain and an unusual zinc-finger domain. The binding mode of GDP in the GTPase domain of
Tm
YjeQ is similar to those of GDP or GTP analogs in ras proteins, a prototype GTPase. The N-terminal oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding fold domain, together with the GTPase domain, forms the extended RNA-binding site. The C-terminal domain has an unusual zinc-finger motif composed of Cys-250, Cys-255, Cys-263, and His-257, with a remote structural similarity to a portion of a DNA-repair protein, rad51 fragment. The overall structural features of
Tm
YjeQ make it a good candidate for an RNA-binding protein, which is consistent with the biochemical data of the YjeQ subfamily in binding to the ribosome.
Chemical cytometry on a picoliter-scale integrated microfluidic chip
Authors: Wu Hongkai , Wheeler Aaron , Zare Richard N.
Published: August 2004

An integrated microfluidic device has been fabricated for analyzing the chemical contents of a single cell (chemical cytometry). The device is designed to accomplish four different functions: (
i
) cell handling, (
ii
) metering and delivering of chemical reagents, (
iii
) cell lysis and chemical derivatization, and (
iv
) separating derivatized compounds and detecting them by laser-induced fluorescence. These functions are accomplished with only two valves, formed by multilayer soft lithography. A new kind of three-state valve and a picopipette are described; these elements are crucial for minimizing the reaction volume and ensuring optimal shape of the channel for electrophoresis injection. By using these valves, a reaction volume of ≈70 pl is achieved for the lysis and derivitization of the contents of a single Jurkat T cell (≈10 μm diameter). As a demonstration of the use of this integrated microfluidic device, electropherograms of amino acids from individual Jurkat T cells are recorded and compared with those collected from a multiple-cell homogenate.
Adiposity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in mice with targeted deletion of phospholipid scramblase 3 (
PLSCR3
)
Authors: Wiedmer Therese , Zhao Ji , Li Lilin , Zhou Quansheng , Hevener Andrea , Olefsky Jerrold M. , Curtiss Linda K. , Sims Peter J.
Published: August 2004

The phospholipid scramblases (PLSCR1 to PLSCR4) are a structurally and functionally unique class of proteins, which are products of a tetrad of genes conserved from
Caenorhabditis elegans
to humans. The best characterized member of this family, PLSCR1, is implicated in the remodeling of the transbilayer distribution of plasma membrane phospholipids but is also required for normal signaling through select growth factor receptors. Mice with targeted deletion of
PLSCR1
display perinatal granulocytopenia due to defective response of hematopoietic precursors to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor. To gain insight into the biologic function of another member of the
PLSCR
family, we investigated mice with targeted deletion of PLSCR3, a protein that like PLSCR1 is expressed in many blood cells but which, by contrast to PLSCR1, is also highly expressed in fat and muscle.
PLSCR3
-/-
mice at 2 months of age displayed aberrant accumulation of abdominal fat when maintained on standard rodent chow, which was accompanied by insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. Primary adipocytes and cultured bone-marrow-derived macrophages from
PLSCR3
-/-
mice were engorged with neutral lipid, and adipocytes displayed defective responses to exogenous insulin. Plasma of
PLSCR3
-/-
mice was elevated in non-high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, and leptin, whereas adiponectin was low. These data suggest that the expression of PLSCR3 may be required for normal adipocyte and/or macrophage maturation or function and raise the possibility that deletions or mutations affecting the
PLSCR3
-/-
gene locus may contribute to the risk for lipid-related disorders in humans.
Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with blood pressure in a Mediterranean population with a high vegetable-fat intake: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Study
Authors: Alonso Alvaro , de la Fuente Carmen , Martín-Arnau Ana M. , de Irala Jokin , Alfredo Martínez J. , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel
Published: August 2004

There is evidence that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables reduces blood pressure (BP). Characteristically, the Mediterranean diet is rich in plant-derived foods and also in fat, but studies conducted in Mediterranean countries to relate diet to BP are scarce. We studied the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and BP in a cross-sectional analysis of 4393 participants in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Study, an ongoing dynamic cohort study in Spain. Diet was measured using a food-frequency questionnaire previously validated in Spain. Fat represented more than 37% total energy intake. Subjects were considered to have undiagnosed hypertension if they reported systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, and not a medical diagnosis of hypertension. The adjusted prevalence odds ratio of undiagnosed hypertension (upper v. lowest quintile) was 0·58 (95% CI 0·36, 0·91; P for trend 0·01) for vegetable consumption and 0·68 (95% CI 0·43, 1·09; P for trend 0·10) for fruit consumption. Comparing those in the highest quintile of both fruit and vegetable consumption with those in the lowest quintile of both food groups, the prevalence odds ratio was 0·23 (95% CI 0·10, 0·55; P=0·001), after adjusting for risk factors for hypertension and other dietary exposures. In a Mediterranean population with an elevated fat consumption, a high fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with BP levels.
Other people, other drugs: the policy response to petrol sniffing among Indigenous Australians
Authors: D'ABBS PETER H. , BRADY MAGGIE
Published: August 2004

This paper examines the policy response of Australian governments to petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities from the 1980s until the present. During this period, despite the formation of numerous inquiries, working parties and intergovernmental committees, there has been little accumulation of knowledge about the nature and causes of sniffing, or about the effectiveness of interventions. Policies are fragmentary; programmes are rarely evaluated, and most rely on short‐term funding. The paper sets out to explain why this should be so. It draws upon a conceptual framework known as ‘analytics of government’ to examine the ways in which petrol sniffing comes to the attention of government agencies and is perceived as an issue; the mechanisms deployed by governments to address petrol sniffing; ways in which knowledge about sniffing is generated; and the underlying assumptions about people that inform policy‐making. Drawing upon case studies of policy responses, the paper argues that a number of structural factors combine to marginalize petrol sniffing as an issue, and to encourage reliance on short‐term, one‐off interventions in place of a sustained policy commitment. Four recommendations are advanced to help overcome these factors: (1) agreements should be reached within and between levels of government on steps to be taken to reduce risk factors before the eruption of petrol‐sniffing crises; (2) the evidence base relevant to petrol sniffing (and other inhalants) should be improved by funding and directing one or more existing national drug research centres to collate data on inhalant‐caused mortality and morbidity, and to conduct or commission research into prevalence patterns, effectiveness of interventions and other gaps in knowledge; (3) the current pattern of short‐term, pilot and project funding should be replaced with longer‐term, evidence‐based interventions that address the multiple risk and protective factors present in communities; and (4) insistence by governments that communities must take ‘ownership’ of the problem should be replaced by a commitment to genuine partnerships involving governments, non‐government and community sectors.
Naltrexone maintenance for heroin dependence: uptake, attrition and retention
Authors: TUCKER THAMIZAN K. , RITTER ALISON J. , MAHER CLAIRE , JACKSON HENRY
Published: August 2004

With naltrexone registered only recently in Australia in 1999, it is important to examine the rate of uptake of naltrexone treatment, early attrition and retention rates during treatment, in order to inform the way naltrexone is used in Australian practice. Of 317 people screened for the study, 97 participants were recruited post‐withdrawal from opiates and were inducted to naltrexone after a period of at least 5 days of abstinence. While in treatment, participants received a 50‐mg dose of naltrexone daily, with daily dispensing for the first 7 days, and weekly dispensing for the following 11 weeks. For the naltrexone‐treated sample as a whole, the rate of uptake of naltrexone treatment was 30%, with 30% retained in treatment for the entire 12‐week program. Attrition from treatment was found to be steady throughout the 12 weeks. The authors conclude that further research is required to improve withdrawal and naltrexone induction techniques and to improve medication compliance and treatment retention.
The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion
Authors: Harding Alan
Published: August 2004

The Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion has been one of the neglected strands in the eighteenth-century Evangelical Revival. This is surprising, since the Connexion was one of the most significant of the non-Wesleyan groups within the Revival. Its importance lay less in its ministry to the upper classes, than as a grass-roots religious movement. It had its own training college (one of the first such institutions in England specifically directed to the development of ministerial skills) and formed a network of chapels across the country. Like Wesley, Lady Huntingdon started her religious life as a member of the Church of England, and clergymen played an important part in her Connexion throughout her life. But events led the Connexion to secede from the Established Church and to establish its own ordination and articles of religion. Through its preachers, congregations, and example, the Connexion made a significant contribution to the revival of Dissent in England in the late eighteenth century. This book examines in detail how the Connexion worked: who its preachers were, where their hearers came from, how chapels came to be built, and who provided the money. It examines the relations between the Connexion and other religious groupings: with the Church of England, with Dissent, with other Calvinist evangelicals, and with the Wesleyans. It shows a popular religious movement in operation, and thereby provides an important insight into English religious life at the time.
A discontinuous finite element method for hyperbolic thermal wave problems
Authors: Ai X. , Li B.Q.
Published: August 2004

This paper presents an unstructured discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for the solution of hyperbolic heat conduction problems that have found a wide range of applications in the pulsating laser treatment of thin films for electronic and MEMS applications. The mathematical formulation is described in detail and computational procedures are given. The computational algorithm is validated using the analytical solution for 1D thermal wave equations. Numerical simulations are made for 2D and 3D thermal wave propagations in regular and complex geometric configurations exposed to ultra‐short laser pulses. The stability of the algorithm is also studied using the matrix eigenvalue method and appropriate time step is determined for simulations. The numerical solutions exhibit strong wave behavior and reflection and interactions of thermal waves at the boundaries in multi‐dimensions. Simulations also show that the thermal wave behavior disappears and the classical Fourier heat conduction resumes when there is an instantaneous response between the heat flux and temperature gradient.
Preform optimal design in metal forging using genetic algorithms
Authors: Poursina M. , António C.A.C. , Castro C.F. , Parvizian J. , Sousa L.C.
Published: August 2004

A numerical method for shape optimisation in forging is presented. The goal of the optimisation is to eliminate work‐piece defects that may arise during the forging process. A two‐dimensional finite element code has been developed for the simulation of the mechanical process. The material is incompressible and it follows the Norton‐Hoff law. To deal with contact constraint the velocity projection algorithm is used. The optimisation process is conducted using a genetic algorithm supported by an elitist strategy. A new genetic operator called adaptive mutation has been developed to increase the efficiency of the search. The developed scheme is used to design optimal preform shapes for several axisymmetric examples. Continuous and discrete design variables are considered. The objective function of the optimisation problem is associated with the quality of the final product. Comparing the obtained optimal results with the literature validates the proposed optimisation method.
Corporate social accounting disclosure in Thailand
Authors: Kuasirikun Nongnooch , Sherer Michael
Published: August 2004

Little is known of the actualities or possibilities of corporate social reporting in Thailand. This study aims to move towards an appreciation of this neglected but important area. This survey focuses on the annual reports of Thai companies, and thereby contributes to a tradition of related prior empirical work upon corporate social accounting practices which has to date largely focused upon English‐speaking and Western contexts. Its concern is to gain insights into and to critically appraise various dimensions of these annual reports, so as to construct a critique of corporate social disclosure in Thailand. Pursuing a critical perspective sensitive to the context of Thailand, it is concluded that the various aspects of the Thai accounting disclosure that are analysed are disabling, and more generally that the Thai practices explored fall short of their potential to function as enabling communication.
An empirical study of facility layout using a modified SLP procedure
Authors: Chien Te‐King
Published: August 2004

Although many new technologies have been developed in facilities design, the systematic layout planning (SLP) procedure is the most widely used among enterprises and the academic world. The practical applications in a traditional SLP require intricate steps yet their results lack stability. It is difficult to attain reasonable results from alternatives derived via traditional SLP. This study proposes concepts and algorithms such as grouping, compounding, and hypothetical distance to modify procedures and enhance practicality in traditional SLP. The proposed modifications were applied to a case study. The results were superior to solutions derived from computer software simulations and by supervisors of the case company. This study believes that the proposed modifications and procedures can enhance the enterprise's ability in facility design.
Designs for Single‐ or Multiple‐Agent Phase I Trials
Authors: Conaway Mark R. , Dunbar Stephanie , Peddada Shyamal D.
Published: August 2004

Summary Phase I trials of cytotoxic agents in oncology are usually dose‐finding studies that involve a single cytotoxic agent. Many statistical methods have been proposed for these trials, all of which are based on the assumption of a monotonic dose–toxicity curve. For single‐agent trials, this is a valid assumption. In many trials, however, investigators are interested in finding the maximally tolerated dose based on escalating multiple cytotoxic agents. When there are multiple agents, monotonicity of the dose–toxicity curve is not clearly defined. In this article we present a design for phase I trials in which the toxicity probabilities follow a partial order, meaning that there are pairs of treatments for which the ordering of the toxicity probabilities is not known at the start of the trial. We compare the new design to existing methods for simple orders and investigate the properties of the design for two partial orders.
Bayesian Modeling of Multiple Lesion Onset and Growth from Interval‐Censored Data
Authors: Dunson D. B. , Holloman C. , Calder C. , Gunn L. H.
Published: August 2004

SummaryIn studying rates of occurrence and progression of lesions (or tumors), it is typically not possible to obtain exact onset times for each lesion. Instead, data consist of the number of lesions that reach a detectable size between screening examinations, along with measures of the size/severity of individual lesions at each exam time. This interval‐censored data structure makes it difficult to properly adjust for the onset time distribution in assessing covariate effects on rates of lesion progression. This article proposes a joint model for the multiple lesion onset and progression process, motivated by cross‐sectional data from a study of uterine leiomyoma tumors. By using a joint model, one can potentially obtain more precise inferences on rates of onset, while also performing onset time‐adjusted inferences on lesion severity. Following a Bayesian approach, we propose a data augmentation Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for posterior computation.
Tests for Establishing Compatibility of an Observed Genotype Distribution with Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium in the Case of a Biallelic Locus
Authors: Wellek Stefan
Published: August 2004

Summary The classical χ2‐procedure for the assessment of genetic equilibrium is tailored for establishing lack rather than goodness of fit of an observed genotype distribution to a model satisfying the Hardy–Weinberg law, and the same is true for the exact competitors to the large‐sample procedure, which have been proposed in the biostatistical literature since the late 1930s. In this contribution, the methodology of statistical equivalence testing is adopted for the construction of tests for problems in which the assumption of approximate compatibility of the genotype distribution actually sampled with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) plays the role of the alternative hypothesis one aims to establish. The result of such a construction highly depends on the choice of a measure of distance to be used for defining an indifference zone containing those genotype distributions whose degree of disequilibrium shall be considered irrelevant. The first such measure proposed here is the Euclidean distance of the true parameter vector from that of a genotype distribution with identical allele frequencies being in strict HWE. The second measure is based on the (scalar) parameter of the distribution first introduced into the present context by Stevens (1938, Annals of Eugenics8, 377–383). The first approach leads to a nonconditional test (which nevertheless can be carried out in a numerically exact way), the second to an exact conditional test shown to be uniformly most powerful unbiased (UMPU) for the associated pair of hypotheses. Both tests are compared in terms of the exact power attained against the class of those specific alternatives under which HWE is strictly satisfied.
Prentice's Approach and the Meta‐Analytic Paradigm: A Reflection on the Role of Statistics in the Evaluation of Surrogate Endpoints
Authors: Alonso Ariel , Molenberghs Geert , Burzykowski Tomasz , Renard Didier , Geys Helena , Shkedy Ziv , Tibaldi Fabián , Abrahantes José Cortiñas , Buyse Marc
Published: August 2004

Summary We put a perspective on the strengths and limitations of statistical methods for the evaluation of surrogate endpoints. Whereas using several trials overcomes some of the limitations of a single‐trial framework (Prentice, 1989, Statistics in Medicine8, 431–440), arguably the evaluation of surrogate endpoints can never be done using only statistical evidence but such evidence should be seen as but one component in a decision‐making process that involves, among others, a number of clinical and biological considerations. We briefly present a hierarchical framework that incorporates ideas from Prentice's work and is uniformly applicable to different types of surrogate and true clinical outcomes.
Bayesian Multivariate Logistic Regression
Authors: O'Brien Sean M. , Dunson David B.
Published: August 2004

SummaryBayesian analyses of multivariate binary or categorical outcomes typically rely on probit or mixed effects logistic regression models that do not have a marginal logistic structure for the individual outcomes. In addition, difficulties arise when simple noninformative priors are chosen for the covariance parameters. Motivated by these problems, we propose a new type of multivariate logistic distribution that can be used to construct a likelihood for multivariate logistic regression analysis of binary and categorical data. The model for individual outcomes has a marginal logistic structure, simplifying interpretation. We follow a Bayesian approach to estimation and inference, developing an efficient data augmentation algorithm for posterior computation. The method is illustrated with application to a neurotoxicology study.
Shared Frailty Models for Recurrent Events and a Terminal Event
Authors: Liu Lei , Wolfe Robert A. , Huang Xuelin
Published: August 2004

SummaryThere has been an increasing interest in the analysis of recurrent event data (Cook and Lawless, 2002,Statistical Methods in Medical Research11,141–166). In many situations, a terminating event such as death can happen during the follow‐up period to preclude further occurrence of the recurrent events. Furthermore, the death time may be dependent on the recurrent event history. In this article we consider frailty proportional hazards models for the recurrent and terminal event processes. The dependence is modeled by conditioning on a shared frailty that is included in both hazard functions. Covariate effects can be taken into account in the model as well. Maximum likelihood estimation and inference are carried out through a Monte Carlo EM algorithm with Metropolis–Hastings sampler in the E‐step. An analysis of hospitalization and death data for waitlisted dialysis patients is presented to illustrate the proposed methods. Methods to check the validity of the proposed model are also demonstrated. This model avoids the difficulties encountered in alternative approaches which attempt to specify a dependent joint distribution with marginal proportional hazards and yields an estimate of the degree of dependence.
Dynamic Analysis of Multivariate Failure Time Data
Authors: Aalen Odd O. , Fosen Johan , Weedon‐Fekjær Harald , Borgan Ørnulf , Husebye Einar
Published: August 2004

SummaryWe present an approach for analyzing internal dependencies in counting processes. This covers the case with repeated events on each of a number of individuals, and more generally, the situation where several processes are observed for each individual. We define dynamic covariates, i.e., covariates depending on the past of the processes. The statistical analysis is performed mainly by the nonparametric additive approach. This yields a method for analyzing multivariate survival data, which is an alternative to the frailty approach. We present cumulative regression plots, statistical tests, residual plots, and a hat matrix plot for studying outliers. A program in R and S‐PLUS for analyzing survival data with the additive regression model is available on the web sitehttp://www.med.uio.no/imb/stat/addreg. The program has been developed to fit the counting process framework.
Bayesian Variable Selection in Multinomial Probit Models to Identify Molecular Signatures of Disease Stage
Authors: Sha Naijun , Vannucci Marina , Tadesse Mahlet G. , Brown Philip J. , Dragoni Ilaria , Davies Nick , Roberts Tracy C. , Contestabile Andrea , Salmon Mike , Buckley Chris , Falciani Francesco
Published: August 2004

Summary Here we focus on discrimination problems where the number of predictors substantially exceeds the sample size and we propose a Bayesian variable selection approach to multinomial probit models. Our method makes use of mixture priors and Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to select sets of variables that differ among the classes. We apply our methodology to a problem in functional genomics using gene expression profiling data. The aim of the analysis is to identify molecular signatures that characterize two different stages of rheumatoid arthritis.
Marginal Analysis of Incomplete Longitudinal Binary Data: A Cautionary Note on LOCF Imputation
Authors: Cook Richard J. , Zeng Leilei , Yi Grace Y.
Published: August 2004

SummaryIn recent years there has been considerable research devoted to the development of methods for the analysis of incomplete data in longitudinal studies. Despite these advances, the methods used in practice have changed relatively little, particularly in the reporting of pharmaceutical trials. In this setting, perhaps the most widely adopted strategy for dealing with incomplete longitudinal data is imputation by the “last observation carried forward” (LOCF) approach, in which values for missing responses are imputed using observations from the most recently completed assessment. We examine the asymptotic and empirical bias, the empirical type I error rate, and the empirical coverage probability associated with estimators and tests of treatment effect based on the LOCF imputation strategy. We consider a setting involving longitudinal binary data with longitudinal analyses based on generalized estimating equations, and an analysis based simply on the response at the end of the scheduled follow‐up. We find that for both of these approaches, imputation by LOCF can lead to substantial biases in estimators of treatment effects, the type I error rates of associated tests can be greatly inflated, and the coverage probability can be far from the nominal level. Alternative analyses based on all available data lead to estimators with comparatively small bias, and inverse probability weighted analyses yield consistent estimators subject to correct specification of the missing data process. We illustrate the differences between various methods of dealing with drop‐outs using data from a study of smoking behavior.
The Relevance of Ontological Commitments in Social Sciences: Realist and Pragmatist Viewpoints
Authors: KIVINEN OSMO , PIIROINEN TERO
Published: August 2004

The article discusses the relevance of ontology, the metaphysical study of being, in social sciences through a comparison of three distinct outlooks: Roy Bhaskar's version of critical realism, a pragmatic realist approach the most renowned representatives of which are Rom Harré and Hilary Putnam, and the authors’ own synthesis of the pragmatist John Dewey's and the neopragmatist Richard Rorty's ideas, here called methodological relationalism. The Bhaskarian critical realism is committed to the heavy ontological furniture of metaphysical transcendentalism, resting on essentialist presumptions of causality and social structures, tacitly creating a dualism between individuals and society. Pragmatic realists, for their part, carry much lighter metaphysical baggage than critical realists and, much in a pragmatist vein, accept the idea that social scientists should study society by studying social life—the interwoven activities of individuals. Nevertheless, pragmatic realists only reluctantly, if at all, renounce the subject–object dualism and its ontological implications. Drawing on the ideas of Donald Davidson and Richard Rorty, the writers outline their own antirepresentationalist, antiessentialist approach to social sciences. The proposed methodological relationalism is a pragmatist approach of Deweyan origin. Based on a Darwinian understanding of human beings as organisms trying to cope with their environment, it emphasises the insight that one can neither step outside one's own action, nor withdraw from the actor's point of view, just as one cannot cognitively step outside language.
Growth and survival of European whitefish larvae under enhanced UV‐B irradiance
Authors: Ylönen O. , Karjalainen J.
Published: August 2004

Two laboratory rearing experiments with newly hatched European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus larvae were performed to study the effects of UV‐B (280–315 nm) radiation on their survival and growth. The results indicate that under normal circumstances in Finnish lakes, enhanced UV irradiance will not be a threat to the survival of newly hatched European whitefish larvae.
Variation in the diet of Genypterus blacodes(Ophidiidae) around the Falkland Islands
Authors: Nyegaard M. , Arkhipkin A. , Brickle P.
Published: August 2004

The diet change with size, season and area was investigated using the stomachs of 496 kingclip Genypterus blacodes collected around the Falkland Islands (south‐west Atlantic) between August 2001 and September 2002. The key prey species were rockcod Patagonotothen spp., benthic isopods and Patagonian grenadier Macruronus magellanicus. Kingclip <50 cm total length (LT) fed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. With size the diet shifted away from crustaceans towards Patagonotothen spp. in kingclip 50–100 cm LT, and finally towards larger fishes such as M. magellanicus and Micromesistius australis australis in kingclip >100 cm LT. The niche breadth was highest in fish >100 cm LT and the lowest in fish <50 cm LT. The larger kingclip generally selected larger individuals of the same prey species, with the exception of the Patagonian squid Loligo gahi, where all ingested squid were of similar size, regardless of the predator length. The importance of the main prey species varied substantially between five consequent seasons studied, and appeared to follow the seasonal abundance and availability of prey. The spatial variability in the diet was found in kingclip caught in regions occupied by transformed temperate and sub‐Antarctic waters. The rockcod, which is available throughout the year around the Falkland Islands, was the most important prey in the kingclip diet. Kingclip takes advantage of other seasonally abundant prey species during their seasonal migrations (e.g. L. gahi) and also scavenge on discards from fishing vessels when available.
Seasonal occurrence of sea liceLepeophtheirus salmonison sea trout in two north Norwegian fjords
Authors: Rikardsen A. H.
Published: August 2004

Seasonal occurrence of the parasitic copepodLepeophtheirus salmonis(sea lice) was studied from March to December 2001 in two large north Norwegian sill fjords without fish farming activity, the Ranafjord and the Balsfjord. Anadromous brown troutSalmo trutta(sea trout) in both fjords had a low infestation rate during all sampling periods, but followed a seasonal pattern. During early and late winter (November to December and March to April) and spring (May to June), the prevalence varied from 0 to 25% and the abundance was <0·5 sea lice. Adults dominated (92%) during this period, particularly gravid females. In both fjords, the highest prevalence was during September (80–81%, all stages represented). In Ranafjord, the abundance and mean intensity during this month was 6·8 and 8·6 sea lice, respectively, while in Balsfjord it was 3·6 and 4·5 sea lice, respectively. Fish were captured at temperatures down to 1° C and at full strength sea water which is supposed to cause osmoregulatory problems for the fish. This observation has implications for the understanding of high‐latitude sea trout behaviour and can also make the fish more vulnerable to heavy sea lice infestation during this period. It is suggested that winter running sea trout help to maintain a self replicating local population of sea lice within such fjord systems where other possible hosts (e.g. farmed Atlantic salmonSalmo salar) are not present during a whole year cycle.
Influence of growth and temperature on strontium deposition in the otoliths of Atlantic salmon
Authors: Clarke L. M. , Friedland K. D.
Published: August 2004

Sr : Ca ratios measured in the otoliths of sea‐caged Atlantic salmon Salmo salar showed distinct seasonal peaks that were unrelated to water temperature and somatic growth, suggesting other factors have a greater influence on strontium deposition. Atlantic salmon remained in the sea‐cages for two seasons, or equivalent to two‐seawinter fish in the wild and were subjected to seasonally varying temperatures. Water temperature appeared to be inversely related to the Sr : Ca ratios, but this relationship was statistically not significant. Furthermore, water temperature could not explain the distinct increase in the strontium during the second year. The intensity of the Sr peaks increased in the second season while average winter water temperatures were consistent between years. Additionally, strontium deposition in the otoliths was unrelated to somatic growth. Somatic growth, as evidenced by circuli spacings on the scales, was largely invariant and therefore could not explain the observed peaks. Though not explicitly measured, the data are consistent with the notion that strontium deposition is a function of maturity state in Atlantic salmon.
Ultraviolet reflectivity in three species of Lake Malaŵi rock‐dwelling cichlids
Authors: Jordan R. , Kellogg K. , Juanes F. , Howe D. , Staufferals J. , Loew E. , Losey G.
Published: August 2004

The body colouration extending into ultraviolet wavelengths in three species of Lake Malaŵi rock‐dwelling cichlids, Metriaclima zebra, Metriaclima benetos and Metriaclima barlowi was quantified. All three species were ultraviolet reflective with interspecific differences in reflectivity. In addition, individuals were able to behaviourally mediate their reflectivity.
Differential population history in the migratory catfishes Brachyplatystoma flavicans and Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum(Pimelodidae) from the Bolivian Amazon assessed with nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers
Authors: S. Coronel J. , Maes G. E. , Claus S. , Van Damme P. A. , Volckaert F. A. M.
Published: August 2004

The catfishes Brachyplatystoma flavicans(n = 49) and Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum(n = 69) showed comparable low allozyme diversities (He = 0·012 and 0·009–0·028, respectively), but contrasting PCR‐RFLP restriction site mitochondrial DNA diversities (three haplotypes: π = 0·034–0·092 and five haplotypes: π = 0·001–0·023, respectively) in the Rio Ichilo and Beni (Bolivia). Genetic homogeneity between samples was high for B. flavicans and lower for P. fasciatum. Based on mitochondrial diversity, both species probably experienced a historic population reduction but at different time scales.
Florida's Pension Election: From DB to DC and Back
Authors: Milevsky Moshe A. , Promislow S. David
Published: August 2004

Abstract

During the year 2002, the State of Florida's 600,000 public employees were given the choice of converting their traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plan into an individual‐account defined contribution (DC) plan with full control over asset allocation and investment decisions. To mitigate some of the risk and uncertainty in the decision, the State granted each employee electing the DC plan an additional option to switch back (i.e., change their mind once) at any point prior to retirement. This option has been labeled the 2nd election by the State and the cost of reentry is fixed at the accumulated benefit obligation of their pension entitlement, which is the present value of the life annuity. Our article presents some original analytic insights relating to the optimal time and financial value of this unique 2nd election. Although our model is deterministic in nature, we believe that it provides a number of intuitive insights that are quite robust. Our results can be contrasted with Lachance, Mitchell, and Smetters (2003). We estimate that the increase in retirement wealth that arises from having the 2nd election is equivalent to at most 30 percent in future value, and only when utilized optimally. Furthermore, for most State employees above the age of 45, the 2nd election has little economic value because the DB plan dominates the DC plan from day one. Of course, it remains to be seen what percent of Florida's 600,000 employees will elect to behave rationally with their newfound pension autonomy.
The Determinants of Financial Health of Asian Insurance Companies
Authors: Chen Renbao , Wong Kie Ann
Published: August 2004

Abstract

Previous studies of financial health of insurance companies are mainly focused on insurers operating in the United States and developed economies. This article focuses on the solvency of general (property‐liability) and life insurance companies in Asia using firm data and macro data separately. It uses different classification methods to classify the financial status of both general and life insurance companies. With the exception of Japan, failures of insurers in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan are nonexistent. We find that, first, the factors that significantly affect general insurers' financial health in Asian economies are firm size, investment performance, liquidity ratio, surplus growth, combined ratio, and operating margin. Second, the factors that significantly affect life insurers' financial health are firm size, change in asset mix, investment performance, and change in product mix, but the last three factors are more applicable to Japan. Third, the financial health of insurance companies in Singapore seems to be significantly weakened by the Asian Financial Crisis. As the insurance industry in different Asian economies is at different stages of development, they require different regulatory guidelines.
The measurement of test severity, significance tests for resolution, and a unified philosophy of phylogenetic inference
Authors: Queiroz Kevin de
Published: August 2004

The philosopher Karl Popper described a concept termeddegree of corroboration,C, for evaluating and comparing hypotheses according to the results of their tests.Cis, fundamentally, a comparison of two likelihoods:p(e|hb), the likelihood of the hypothesis (h) in conjunction with the background knowledge (b), andp(e|b), the likelihood ofbalone.Cis closely related to the likelihood ratio of nested hypotheses. When phylogenetic analysis is interpreted as an attempt to assessCfor a phylogenetic tree (the hypothesis,h), several interpretations have been given forp(e|b). Here I describe a new interpretation that equatesp(e|b) with the probability of the data in the absence of a hypothesis of phylogenetic resolution, that is with the likelihood of an unresolved or polytomous tree. Under this interpretation,Cfor a fully or partially resolved phylogenetic tree is the likelihood of that tree minus the likelihood of the corresponding unresolved tree. These same two likelihoods can be used in a likelihood ratio test (LRT) to assess the significance of the degree of corroboration of the hypothesis of phylogenetic resolution. This LRT for resolution is closely related to permutation tests for phylogenetic structure in the data, because data that evolved on a true polytomous tree are expected to be phylogenetically randomized. It therefore reconciles the interpretation of the evidence (e) as the distribution of character states among taxa (rather than the score of the optimal tree) with the interpretation of permutation tests as methods for assessingC.Likelihood methods are (contrary to the views of some commentators) central to understanding how Popper'sCapplies to phylogenetic hypotheses, and they form the foundation of a unified and inclusive philosophy of phylogenetic inference.
Morphological and molecular taxonomic analysis of the Encarsia meritoria species‐complex (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae), parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) of economic importance
Authors: Polaszek Andrew , Manzari Shahab , Quicke Donald L. J.
Published: August 2004

Five closely related species of Encarsia, belonging to the luteola species‐group, are analysed taxonomically using morphological and molecular techniques. Four of these belong to the meritoria‐complex, and all species have a complicated taxonomic history of repeated misidentification and confusion. Morphological analysis is focused on morphometric characters of the female antennae using principal component and canonical discriminant analyses. DNA sequence data for the D2 region of 28S nuclear ribosomal genes were obtained for 13 populations of the luteola‐group, with a further seven population sequences being obtained from GenBank. The combination of morphological and molecular study enables us to resolve the complex to a large extent, and to correct the previous confusion surrounding this group of species. Two species —E. californica and E. dispersa— are described as new. A proposal to place E. brasiliensis (Hempel) in synonymy with E. hispida DeSantis (the more recently described taxon) is presented. A lectotype is designated for E. haitiensis Dozier. Diagnoses or descriptions, and illustrations, of all included species are provided to facilitate the identification of females belonging to this complex. All known data concerning hosts and geographical distribution are presented.
Cutaneous inflammatory pseudotumor – a spectrum of various diseases?
Authors: Shabrawi‐Caelen Laila El , Kerl Katrin , Cerroni Lorenzo , Soyer H. Peter , Kerl Helmut
Published: August 2004

Background:  Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) also known as inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) or plasma cell granuloma (PCG) has been rarely reported in the skin.

Methods:  We describe five patients with cutaneous IPT and present clinicopathologic features along with detailed immunohistochemical analysis including anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐1.

Results:  The patients age ranged from 15 to 89 years with a median of 56 years. All patients presented with solitary, firm, papules and nodules. There was no evidence of constitutional symptoms, local recurrence, or lymph node involvement. Histopathological examination revealed two distinct patterns; one type (n = 3) displayed dense, lymphoplasmacytoid infiltrates containing lymphoplasmacytoid cells and plasma cells with occasional germinal centers and hyalinized collagen bundles but was devoid of a myofibroblastic component. It showed features of tumors previously described as cutaneous PCG. Although an infectious etiology, including Borrelia burgdorferi‐specific DNA, could not be demonstrated, we observed many features that overlapped with those of fibrous nodules of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. The other pattern (n = 2) revealed spindled myofibroblasts focally arranged in a fascicular pattern, an admixed lymphoplasmacytoid infiltrate set in a background of thickened collagen bundles, findings akin to the conventional type of IMT. The cases with a myofibroblastic component (n = 2) did not show any evidence of ALK‐1 reactivity.

Conclusions:  We believe that the term cutaneous IPT subsumes lesions of diverse etiology. Tumors with detectable myofibroblasts represent true cases of IMT. Cutaneous PCG is a discrete disorder biologically distinct from conventional IMT representing a reaction pattern that is also found in disorders, such as spirochete‐induced fibroid nodules and localized chronic fibrosing vasculitis.
Corporate Data and Future Cash Flows
Authors: Al‐Attar Ali , Hussain Simon
Published: August 2004

Abstract:  This article examines the ability of current accounting data to explain future cash flows for UK firms, as disclosed under FRS1(1991). Rather than examining price data — from which cash flow implications have to be inferred — we follow the more direct approach used in several recent US studies, in which actual future cash flow data are examined. Specifically, our methodology is a development of the OLS regression framework employed by Barth et al. (2001). We provide a replication of their main OLS analysis, and then extend this to deal with fixed effects and time trends in the levels of cash flow data. Our study finds that the disaggregation of earnings into cash flows and accruals, generates superior explanatory power with regard to future cash flows.
Net Present Value‐Consistent Investment Criteria Based on Accruals: A Generalisation of the Residual Income‐Identity
Authors: Pfeiffer Thomas
Published: August 2004

Abstract:  In recent years, many firms have favoured residual income for value based management. One main argument for this measure is its identity with the net present value rule and that this compatibility with the net present value rule holds true for all possible depreciation schedules selected. In this article, we analyse whether there are other, undiscussed, accrual accounting numbers that enable net present value‐consistent investment decisions for all possible depreciation schedules. Our analysis provides an if‐and‐only‐if characterisation of the entire class of net present value‐consistent investment criteria, based on accounting information. This provides new insights into the residual income concept, hurdle rates, opening and closing error conditions achieved by applying more common performance measure structures, and allocation rules. Moreover, our analysis shows the limits of constructing such investment criteria.
Two Mid‐pregnancy Interventions to Increase the Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Forster Della , McLachlan Helen , Lumley Judith , Beanland Christine , Waldenström Ulla , Amir Lisa
Published: August 2004

Abstract:  Background: Despite high levels of breastfeeding initiation in Australia, only 46 percent of women are still breastfeeding (exclusively or partially) 6 months later, with marked differences between social groups. This study aimed to determine the influence of mid‐pregnancy breastfeeding education on the proportions of women breastfeeding at hospital discharge, and on the duration of breastfeeding. Methods: A randomized controlled trial to compare two strategies for increasing the initiation and duration of breastfeeding was conducted, in which 981 primiparas who attended a public, tertiary women's hospital in Melbourne, Australia, were randomized to one of two interventions or to standard care (327 in each group). The interventions were a 1.5‐hour class on practical aspects of breastfeeding using a previously tested tool (Practical Skills), and two 1‐hour classes exploring family and community attitudes toward, and experiences of, breastfeeding (Attitudes). Both interventions took place in interactive small groups when women were in mid‐pregnancy. Breastfeeding initiation was ascertained by interview 2 to 4 days after birth, and breastfeeding duration was assessed by telephone interview 6 months after birth. Results: Neither intervention increased breastfeeding initiation or duration compared with standard care. Rates at initiation were 97 percent (296/306) for the Practical Skills intervention, 95 percent (291/308) for the Attitudes intervention, and 96 percent (297/310) for standard care. Rates at 6 months were, respectively, 55 percent (162/297), 50 percent (146/293), and 54 percent (162/299). Conclusions: In settings where breastfeeding initiation is already high, neither study intervention could be recommended as an effective strategy to increase breastfeeding initiation or duration.