bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study abroad as a process of learning intercultural competence in nursing
Authors: Koskinen Liisa , Tossavainen Kerttu
Published: May 2004

The aim of this research was to describe an international student exchange programme as a context of learning intercultural competence in nursing. Twelve Finnish nursing students who had participated in an exchange programme in the United Kingdom participated. The data consisted of group interviews, learning documents, background questionnaires and research diary notes, and the method of inductive content analysis was used. Study abroad as a process of learning intercultural competence consisted of three ethno‐categories: transition from one culture to another, adjustment to the difference and gaining intercultural sensitivity. The exchange programme as a context of learning intercultural competence was characterized by a problematic orientation phase, a study abroad phase that involved stressful but rewarding adjustment to the intercultural differences and an inadequate re‐entry debriefing phase. In order for the international experience of nursing students to have an impact on their understanding of diversity, they need assistance in each phase of the programme. Particularly, the students need intercultural tutoring and mentoring to venture into encounters with local people, including direct client contacts, during their study abroad.
Opportunities for an improved role for nurses in psychoactive substance use: Review of the literature
Authors: Nkowane Annette M , Saxena Shekhar
Published: May 2004

Nurses form a core component of many health care systems so their role in responding to problems related to psychoactive substance use is crucial. They are often under‐utilized, mainly because of anxieties concerning role adequacy, legitimacy, lack of support and failure to implement interventions in a variety of settings. Nurses have unique opportunities through interactions they have with young people, families and significant others. Training and career preparation should encompass development of innovative strategies, taking a leading role in management of substance use patients, involvement in the treatment of the homeless mentally ill, HIV‐infected individuals and persons with dual disorders of mental health and substance use. Future directions should focus on developing skills for critical thinking, preventive and therapeutic interventions, clinical judgement, effective organizational capacity and team work. Barriers such as scope of practice, authority, ethical and legal issues surrounding health care for substance use need to be addressed.
Attention disorders in schizophrenia
Authors: SUWA HIROSHI , MATSUSHIMA EISUKE , OHTA KATSUYA , MORI KATSUMI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  In order to clarify the feature of attention disorders in schizophrenia, two tasks (X and AX) of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were given to 36 schizophrenic patients and 25 healthy controls. The schizophrenic patients performed considerably less well than normal controls. Performances were expressed in indices such as omission and commission errors, reaction time and discriminability. Among errors, omission in both the X and AX tasks was found to be an index that varied in reaction time, indicating difficulty in sustaining attention. Omission was found to act as a state‐dependent index of schizophrenia in relation to inattentiveness in clinical settings and emotional disturbance in interpersonal situations. Commission, in contrast, differed between the two tasks, acting as an index of disinhibition of reaction in the X task, and of disturbance of the capacity and allocation of attention in the AX task. Commission was also thought to be an index related to thought disorder during episodes of acute schizophrenia, that is, it reflects an essential pathology in schizophrenia.
Long‐term seizure outcome following resective surgery at National Epilepsy Center in Shizuoka, Japan
Authors: MIHARA TADAHIRO , MATSUDA KAZUMI , TOTTORI TAKAYASU , OTSUBO TOSHIAKI , BABA KOICHI , NISHIBAYASHI HIROKI , INOUE YUHSHI , YAGI KAZUICHI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  We analyzed the seizure outcome of 357 patients who were followed for at least 2 years after resective surgeries; 282 underwent temporal lobe resection and 75 had extratemporal lobe resection. This study confirmed that resective surgery provides sustained, positive benefits with a high seizure‐free rate of nearly 80% for most medically refractory patients. In patients with no MRI‐detectable lesion who underwent extratemporal lobe resection, however, Engel's class I–II (seizure‐free or rare seizures) was achieved in less than 50% of patients. High‐resolution MRI should be performed at the early stage of disease in all patients with partial epilepsies. The findings would certainly urge clinicians to actively select surgical intervention.
Liver metastasis from rectal cancer with prominent intrabile duct growth
Authors: Takamatsu Susumu , Teramoto Kenichi , Kawamura Tohru , Kudo Atsushi , Noguchi Norio , Irie Takumi , Ochiai Takanori , Kumagai Jiro , Koike Morio , Arii Shigeki
Published: May 2004

Intrabiliary growth of liver metastases from colorectal cancer has rarely been studied. A surgically resected case of a metastatic liver tumor with prominent intrabiliary growth derived  from  rectal  cancer  is  reported.  The  patient  was  a 62‐year‐old man who had received a low anterior resection for rectal cancer in March 2000. He was re‐admitted due to obstructive jaundice in January 2003, and was diagnosed with hepatic malignancy in segment II of the liver with an intrabiliary tumor extending from the intrahepatic bile duct of segment II to the common hepatic duct. He underwent a left hepatectomy, a partial resection of segment VI, and an extrahepatic bile duct resection with reconstruction of the biliary tract. In the resected specimen, there were whitish tumors of 3 cm and 1.5 cm in diameter in segments II and VI, respectively, and an intrabiliary tumor originating from the main tumor in segment II extended to the common hepatic duct. Both the liver tumors and the intrabiliary tumor consisted of a well‐ to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, which showed the same histological features as the rectal cancer. The immunohistochemical findings strongly supported that these tumors, including the intrabiliary growth, were liver metastasis from the rectal cancer. The intrabiliary invasion and growth of metastatic liver tumors has generally been overlooked, notwithstanding their frequently observed biological behavior. The present case is informative, and further investigation into this type of metastatic liver tumor may be warranted.
Ureteral leiomyoma causing hydronephrosis in Type 1 multiple endocrine neoplasia
Authors: Ikota Hayato , Tanimoto Akihide , Komatsu Hideki , Ozawa Yasunori , Matsushita Hiroshi
Published: May 2004

A rare case of leiomyoma of the ureter in a patient with type 1 multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is reported. The case is of a Japanese man in his forties who had a past history of parathyroid gland hyperplasia, pancreatic islet cell tumors, and bilateral adrenocortical nodular hyperplasia. The leiomyoma, measuring 15 × 13 × 12 mm, was located in the right upper ureter, obstructing the lumen and causing hydronephrosis. Three small leiomyomas were also detected in the lower portion. Furthermore, histological examination revealed three tiny leiomyomatous nodules embedded in the muscular layer. It has been reported that type 1 MEN is often complicated by multiple leiomyoma in many organs, including the esophagus, stomach, lung, uterus, and skin. However, it is believed that this is the first report of leiomyomatosis of the ureter occurring in a patient with type 1 MEN. It should be recognized that multiple ureteral leiomyomas may develop in patients of type 1 MEN and can potentially result in hydronephrosis. The multiple development of leiomyoma suggests a causal relationship to MEN1 gene alteration.
Malignant transformation of atypical endometrial hyperplasia after progesterone therapy showing germ‐cell tumor‐like differentiation
Authors: Yasuda Masanori , Matsui Naruaki , Kajiwara Hiroshi , Osamura R. Yoshiyuki , Miyamoto Tsuyoshi , Murakami Masaru , Shinozuka Takao , Itoh Johbu
Published: May 2004

A 31‐year‐old woman was treated for atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) with high‐dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy to preserve fertility. The AEH was found by repeated cytologic and histologic examinations to have completely disappeared with the therapy, but 3 years after her last follow up she required emergency surgery to treat severe genital bleeding. The hysterectomied uterus consisted mostly of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, G3 endometrioid type. Minor AEH was present in the exophytic area, in which some glands were cystically dilated. Part of the AEH had transformed into other histologic features with germ‐cell‐like differentiation, demonstrated by immunohistochemical positive reaction of placental alkaline phosphatase, alpha‐fetoprotein, and human chorionic gonadotrophin. Recurrent AEH had undergone malignant transformation, resulting in the development of well‐ and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and tumor exhibiting germ‐cell‐like differentiation. The patient died of a massive tumor extension 7 months after surgery. The AEH before MPA therapy and the recurrent tumors had genetically different characteristics based on evidence of a loss of heterozygosity, detected at D8S1132 (chromosomal locus, 8q22.1) in the latter but not in the former, by analysis of genetic alterations using microsatellite markers.
Diet and bone health
Authors: Phillips Frankie
Published: May 2004

The aim of this report is to bring together, in a user‐friendly format, the progress and results of recent European Union funded projects that have investigated some of the nutritional aspects of bone health. This report provides an overview of some of the reasons why nutrition is important for healthy bones and focuses on the prevention of osteoporosis. As an introduction, some background information on bone physiology, and the nutrients which are needed for healthy bones, is provided.
Primetime television impacts on adolescents’ impressions of bodyweight, sex appeal, and food and beverage consumption
Authors: Hampl Jeffrey S. , Wharton Chris M. , Taylor Christopher A. , Winham Donna M. , Block Jillian L. , Hall Rick
Published: May 2004

Television viewing is ubiquitous in adolescent culture, but the influence of television characters on adolescent behaviours and social norms is not well understood. We conducted a content analysis of 10 television programmes frequently watched by 12‐ to 17‐year‐olds in the US media market. From these data, a survey was developed to determine how adolescents interact with, and are influenced by, television programmes, especially in relation to bodyweight, sex appeal, and food and beverage consumption. The survey was posted online, and students (12–19 years) from across the state of Arizona, USA, completed it electronically (n = 524). Data were assessed by tabulation, principal axis factor analysis and linear regression analysis. The results showed 12% of sample members had a body mass index (BMI)‐for‐age over the 95th percentile, 50% reported watching >2 h of television each day, and 59% reported accruing < 60 min of exercise and physical activity each day. Over 35% of respondents indicated eating pizza and pasta frequently. Beer and wine were seen as the most frequently consumed beverages on television, while 63.9% of sample members reported soda as their personal beverage of choice. Factor extraction from the survey indicated a three‐factor solution (‘sex appeal’, ‘TV viewers and perceivers’, ‘TV viewers and doers’) provided the best conceptual explanation of the data, accounting for 34.7% of the total variance. Significant predictors (r2 = 0.448) of BMI‐for‐age included urbanicity (β = 5.6), gender (β = −14.5) and survey questions related to bodyweight perceptions. Our data showed that television's focus on sex appeal, thinness and alcohol may have a powerful impact on adolescents’ self‐esteem, body satisfaction and health behaviours. Innovative approaches related to decreased television viewing, household eating environment and media literacy warrant further exploration.
Agricultural Exports: Important Issues for Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Kandiero Tonia , Randa John
Published: May 2004

Abstract:  The central argument of this paper is that African countries stand to benefit more from the goodwill currently being shown by industrialized countries who have committed themselves to further opening up of their markets for commodities from the region. However, more needs to be done by African governments and the international community if these benefits are to trickle down to the African farmers and result in attaining the goal of poverty reduction. This paper identifies the issues that need to be addressed by all parties involved. At the macro level, our results find that the distortion in the macro environment is a major factor hindering African exports. At the micro level, our results show that for farmers to benefit from the opening up of the international market, they would need more access to market information, easier road access to the markets for both their output and inputs, improve their farming techniques by utilizing modern scientific farming methods and inputs, and to increase their productivity. At the international level, our study finds strong results indicating that foreign tariff rate, price support (PNAC) and standards act as a market barrier to African agricultural exports.
Velocity Effects of Increased Variability in Monetary Growth in Egypt: A Test of Friedman's Velocity Hypothesis
Authors: Baliamoune‐Lutz Mina , Haughton Jonathan
Published: May 2004

Abstract:  This paper tests Friedman's hypothesis that increased variability in the growth of money supply causes velocity to decline, using Egyptian data from the period 1960–99. The monetary aggregates M1 and M2 are decomposed into anticipated and unanticipated components and the variability of money growth is computed as the standard deviation of five years of monetary growth rates. Cointegration tests show that there is a statistically significant long‐run relationship between the variability in money growth and velocity, for both M1 and M2. However, while increased variability in the growth of M2 is found to be associated with lower velocity — supporting Friedman's velocity hypothesis — increased variability in the growth of M1 seems to have no influence on velocity, possibly because the definition of M1 has changed over time. The findings also suggest that anticipated movements in M2 volatility are not neutral, in the sense that they do affect velocity. An important implication is that the scope for discretionary monetary policy in Egypt is somewhat circumscribed in the short run. However, if the Central Bank of Egypt were to make its decisions more transparent and pre‐announce its policies, then velocity would be more predictable and monetary policy more potent.
Production Alimentaire et Environnement au Togo: Une Analyse Econometrique
Authors: Koffi‐Tessio Egnonto M.
Published: May 2004

Résumé:  Au Togo, la production alimentaire est en baisse continue et l’état de l’environnement est marqué entre autres par la dégradation des ressources naturelles. La présente étude vise àévaluer la contribution des facteurs environnementaux à la croissance alimentaire. L’hypothèse fondamentale est que la croissance alimentaire au Togo est moins liée aux aléas climatiques qu’aux investissements en capital physique et humain. L’étude aboutit à la conclusion que la variable environnementale n’est pas déterminante dans l’explication de la variation de la production alimentaire ce qui confirme notre hypothèse initiale. En conséquence, les politiques de production alimentaire futures au Togo ne doivent pas privilégier les variables du capital physique au détriement de la variable environnementale. Il convient donc de rechercher à l’avenir la combinaison optimale des facteurs du capital physique et du capital humain et de l’environnement qui garantisse de manière durable la production alimentaire dans le cadre de la formulation de la politique de sécurité alimentaire au Togo.
Financial Resource Base of Sub‐national Governments and Fiscal Decentralization in Ghana
Authors: Inanga Eno L. , Osei‐Wusu David
Published: May 2004

Abstract:  The past two decades have witnessed numerous attempts in developing countries at institutionalizing decentralization. Political leaders tended, before then, to believe that centralized planning was the key to economic growth and development. Ghana has not been excluded from this wave towards the transfer of power, competences, resources and functions from the centre to local levels of government. While Ghana has achieved significant political and administrative decentralization as well as decentralized planning, fiscal decentralization has been the unyielding component of the process. This paper examines the desirability, or otherwise, of fiscal decentralization in the context of funding arrangements. It uses the funding regime model as a basis for analysing how regulatory provisions, political and economic factors and practices, determine financial capacity of sub‐national governments. Evidence in the paper leads to the conclusion that sub‐national governments in Ghana do not support fiscal autonomy. They, instead, prefer being served and financed by the central government.
Intentional action and nearly certain success
Authors: Gert Joshua
Published: May 2004

Many philosophers have argued that a necessary condition on an action's being intentional is that the agent has the ability to alter the probabilities of the relevant outcome. These philosophers would hold that this condition is what allows us to deny that an agent, for example, intentionally rolls something other than five fives with a set of dice, despite that agent's being virtually sure that this will be the outcome of the roll. The current paper uses some examples to cast this explanation, and the necessity of the associated condition, into doubt. It then suggests that what actually differentiates intentional from unintentional action – in the examples that falsify the hypothesis about control – is to be found in the agent's representation of the processes by which the relevant outcomes are produced. In particular, the agent must represent the outcome as happening because of what she does.
Horwich on meaning and use
Authors: Katzav Joel
Published: May 2004

Paul Horwich claims that theories of meaning ought to accommodate the commonsense intuition that meanings play a part in explaining the use of words. Further, he argues that the view that best does so is that according to which the meaning of a word is constituted by a disposition to accept, in some circumstances, sentences in which it features. I argue that if meanings are construed thus, they will in fact fail to explain the use of words. I also argue that if we insist, as Horwich does, on the commonsense assumption that meanings are a species of entity, all versions of the view that meaning is constituted by our dispositions to use words will have to be rejected. I do not, however, claim that such theories ought to be rejected. My point is that they are incompatible with the requirements of commonsense. Further, I suggest that it is premature to impose such requirements on theories of meaning.
Gödelian time‐travel and anthropic cosmology
Authors: Richmond Alasdair M.
Published: May 2004

This paper looks at Kurt Gödel's causally‐pathological cosmological models (derived from general relativity), in the light of anthropic explanations. If a Gödelian world is a possible world, could anthropic reasoning shed any light on whether or not our world is Gödelian? This paper argues that while there are some good anthropic reasons why our world ought to be Gödelian, too many observations suggest that our world can’t possibly be Gödelian in fact. If Gödel's world is a possible one, anthropic teleology alone cannot explain why it isn’t the world we inhabit. Furthermore, if our world were Gödelian, anthropic arguments against the existence of extraterrestrial intelligences would imply a bleak human future. En route, some general objections to relativistic causal pathologies are addressed and some anthropic arguments to the effect that Gödelian worlds couldn’t sustain life are also addressed and dismissed.
An objection to gareth evans’ account of self‐identity
Authors: Roos Andrew
Published: May 2004

In chapter seven ‘Self Identification’ of his challenging book The Varieties of Reference, Gareth Evans attempts to give an account of how it is that one is able to think about oneself self‐consciously. On Evans’ view, when one attempts to think of oneself self‐consciously that person is having what he calls an ‘I’ thought. Since these ‘I’ thoughts are a case of reference, more specifically self‐reference, Evans thinks that these thoughts can be explained by employing the same theoretical framework that he uses to explain other kinds of reference.

Evans thinks all thoughts are essentially structured, and this means that they must fall under his ‘generality constraint’. Since ‘I’ thoughts are also ‘thoughts’ they are essentially structured as well, and they too must be subject to the generality constraint. The radical implication of this is that Evans thinks that if ‘I’ thoughts are subject to the generality constraint, then he can show that self‐reference must be reference to a thing which we can locate on a spatio‐temporal map.

In this article I hope to accomplish three things. First, I will spell out in detail the argument Evans uses to arrive at his claim that self‐reference must be reference to something located on a spatio‐temporal map. Second, I will raise an objection, which states that Evans’ conclusion that self‐reference must involve spatio‐temporal location is not a consequence of the generality constraint. Finally I will argue that Evans’ conclusion that self‐reference must involve spatio‐temporal location is in fact in tension with the generality constraint, rather than being an implication of it.
In vivo exposure to carbon monoxide causes delayed impairment of activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide in rat brain cortex and cerebellum
Authors: Hernández‐Viadel Mariluz , Castoldi Anna F. , Coccini Teresa , Manzo Luigi , Erceg Slaven , Felipo Vicente
Published: May 2004

Carbon monoxide induces delayed neurological and neuropathological alterations, including memory loss and cognitive impairment. The bases for the delay remain unknown. Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide modulates some forms of learning and memory. Carbon monoxide binds to soluble guanylate cyclase, activating it but interfering with its activation by nitric oxide. The aim of this work was to assess whether exposure of rats to carbon monoxide alters the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase or its modulation by nitric oxide in cerebellum or cerebral cortex. Rats exposed chronically or acutely to carbon monoxide were killed 24 h or 7 days later. Acute carbon monoxide exposure decreased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) content and reduced activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide. Cortex was more sensitive than cerebellum to chronic exposure, which reduced activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide in cortex. In cerebellum, chronic exposure induced delayed impairment of soluble guanylate cyclase activation by nitric oxide. Acute exposure effects were also stronger at 7 days than at 24 h after exposure. This delayed impaired modulation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide may contribute to delayed memory loss and cognitive impairment in humans exposed to carbon monoxide.
Enhanced G‐protein activation by a mixture of Aβ(25–35), Aβ(1–40/42) and zinc
Authors: Molnár Zs. , Kovács P. , Laczkó I. , Soós K. , Fülöp L. , Penke B. , Lengyel I.
Published: May 2004

β‐Amyloid peptides (Aβs) bind to several G‐protein coupled receptor proteins and stimulate GTPase activity in neurons. In this study we determined the effects of Aβ(1–42), Aβ(1–40), Aβ(25–35) and their mixtures on [35S]GTP binding in rat brain cortical membranes in the absence and presence of zinc. We found that the Aβs alone induced a concentration‐dependent activation of G‐proteins (IC50∼ 10−6 m), while aggregated Aβ fibrils only affected GTP binding at concentrations above 10−5 m. Mixing Aβ(25–35) with Aβ(1–42) or Aβ(1–40) induced a several‐fold increase in GTP‐binding. This potentiation followed a bell shaped curve with a maximum at 50 : 50 ratios. No potentiating effect could be seen by mixing Aβ(1–40) and Aβ(1–42) or highly aggregated Aβs. Zinc had no effect on Aβ(1–40/42) but strongly potentiated the Aβ(25–35) or the mixed peptides‐induced GTP‐binding. Changes in secondary structure accompanied the mixed peptides or the peptide/zinc complexes induced potentiation, revealing that structural alterations are behind the increased biological action. These concentration dependent potentiating effects of zinc and the peptide mixtures could be physiologically important at brain regions where peptide fragments and/or zinc are present at elevated concentrations.
Reconsidering the Impact of Gender Stereotypes on the Advancement of Women in Organizations
Authors: Agars Mark D.
Published: May 2004

Over the last 30 years, gender issues in the workplace have received much attention. A review of this literature, however, reveals limited investigation of the impact of gender stereotypes on personnel decisions and the demographic differences present in upper management. In fact, this issue has rarely received serious attention. A misinterpretation of the small effect size typically reported when describing the relationship between stereotypes and evaluations of performance is a likely reason, and a hypothetical demonstration elucidates the more severe impact of stereotypes on women's advancement. Considered cumulatively, stereotypes are a certain and meaningful contributor to the limited presence of women in high-level positions. Renewed consideration of the role of stereotypes in organizational decision making is required, and recommendations for researchers are presented. Other applied issues for which the misinterpretation of gender-based effect sizes has hindered research are discussed.
Correlates of Postassault Self-Defense/Assertiveness Training Participation for Sexual Assault Survivors
Authors: Brecklin Leanne R. , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: May 2004

Past research has shown that self-defense/assertiveness training may have positive implications for sexual assault survivors. However, little is known about the correlates of self-defense/assertiveness training participation for sexually victimized women. In this study we examined the assault characteristics and experiences that relate to women's enrollment in postassault training using data from 1,623 female college sexual assault survivors. It appears that more violent attacks may lead survivors to enroll in postassault training, especially when their resistance was less effective. Postassault training participants were marginally more likely to have told someone about their assault, experienced less supportive reactions from others, exhibited marginally less current anxiety, and reported more postassault suicidal ideation than nonparticipants. These survivors may enroll in training to exercise control over future assaults occurring and as a way of healing from sexual assault. Suggestions for future research and the development of self-defense training programs for sexual assault survivors are presented.
Exploring the Relationship Between Positive Work Experiences and Women's Sense of Self in the Context of Partner Abuse
Authors: Lynch Shannon M. , Graham-Bermann Sandra A.
Published: May 2004

In this study we examined the relationships among partner abuse, work quality, and women's sense of self. In particular, we explored the potential for women's work to serve as an alternative source of feedback for the self in the context of partner abuse. The sample consisted of 100 working women who reported experiencing a range of partner abuse. Relationships among partner abuse, work quality, and three self constructs were tested using multivariate multiple regression. Work quality was significantly and positively associated with self at work and general self-esteem and approached significance for self at home. There were no significant associations between partner abuse and self at work. Partner abuse was negatively and significantly associated with self at home and approached significance for self-esteem. These varied results support the importance of assessing multiple aspects of the self and the potential of women's work to be a resource in the context of partner abuse.
A Stress and Coping Perspective on Confronting Sexism
Authors: Kaiser Cheryl R. , Miller Carol T.
Published: May 2004

In this study we tested a stress and coping model of confronting sexism. One hundred fourteen university women completed measures of optimism, cognitive appraisals about the prospects of confronting discrimination (expectations of the costs and benefits of confrontation as well as confrontation-related anxiety), and reported on the extent to which they behaved confrontationally in two recent encounters with sexism. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that an optimistic outlook on life was associated with more more benign appraisals of the consequences of confronting discrimination, which in turn was associated with greater reports of confrontational responses to prejudice. This study suggests that silence in the face of prejudice does not necessarily or generally represent contentment with the status quo and emphasizes the importance of understanding how appraisals of the costs and benefits of confronting discrimination relate to this process.
Elections: Voter Support and Partisans’ (Mis)Perceptions of Presidential Candidates’ Abortion Views in 2000
Authors: Brians Craig Leonard , Greene Steven
Published: May 2004

Although the 2000 Republican and Democratic national party platforms show the parties at opposite poles on abortion policy, Governor George W. Bush publicly supported a vaguely defined “culture of life,” rather than the constitutional amendment barring abortion that was advocated by his party. In light of Bush's campaign strategy, this article uses national survey data to examine the accuracy of citizens’ knowledge of the candidates’ abortion policy positions. Interestingly, pro‐choice Republican voters were much less likely to defect from their party in 2000 than in 1996, suggesting that the Bush campaign's efforts to avoid public opposition to his abortion position were successful.
Source Material: The Truth Is Out There: The Recently Released NSC Institutional Files of the Nixon Presidency
Authors: Siniver Asaf
Published: May 2004

This article reviews the recent release of material concerning the National Security Council by the Nixon presidential material staff in NARA. The new collection covers a wide array of issues relating not only to the structural and procedural developments of the council during the Nixon‐Kissinger years, but also to the activities of its many interagency groups. Following an evaluation of the collection's sub‐series, the article will demonstrate the significance of the findings by analyzing a particular document, suggesting that the new NSC series offers researchers a unique opportunity to reconstruct the story of the Nixon‐Kissinger dyad and their control of the foreign policy machinery between 1969 and 1974.
The International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course at the University of Toronto: a 4‐year evolution
Authors: Sibbald R Gary , Orsted Heather
Published: May 2004

The International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course at the University of Toronto was designed to emphasise interdisciplinary collaboration, examine the evidence base and develop wound care opinion leaders across Canada and internationally. There is a need to translate the new wound care evidence base for diagnosis and treatment into patient care and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Fournier's gangrene exposed
Authors: Harper Dl , Banwell Pe
Published: May 2004

Necrotising fasciitis is a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Fournier‘s gangrene is a variant of the condition affecting the perineum. Although presentation is usually acute, it may also present in an insidious manner. Following radical surgical debridement, meticulous attention to wound management is required.
Development of an experimental model of infected skin ulcer
Authors: Tachi Masahiro , Hirabayashi Shinichi , Yonehara Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Yasutoshi , Bowler Philip
Published: May 2004

A model of infected skin ulceration could prove useful in assessing the clinical effectiveness of antimicrobial ointments and dressings. However, no such models have been previously established. Three types of wound were induced in rats: full‐thickness wounds covered with gauze, burn wounds and wounds resulting from mechanical trauma. Wounds were inoculated with S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. Persistent infected wounds were observed only in full‐thickness wounds covered with gauze. In a second experiment, colonies of P. aeruginosa or S. aureus were counted within 15 × 15 mm full‐thickness wounds covered with gauze. Wounds were inoculated with 1·0 × 106 colony‐forming units (CFU) of P. aeruginosa or S. aureus and then sealed to ensure an enclosed environment. Tissue bacterial counts exceeded 106 CFU/g from the next day until day 9 after infection. Bacterial counts exceeded 108 CFU/ml in wound exudate collected between days 1 and 7. We have developed a model of wound infection in which persistence of infection can be achieved for 9 days following ulceration due to the application of gauze to the base of a full‐thickness wound.
Spinning eggs—which end will rise?
Authors: Sasaki Ken
Published: May 2004

We examine the spinning behavior of egg-shaped axisymmetric bodies whose cross sections are described by several oval curves similar to real eggs with thin and fat ends. We use the gyroscopic balance condition of Moffatt and Shimomura and analyze the slip velocity of the bodies at the point of contact as a function of θ, the angle between the axis of symmetry and the vertical axis, and find the existence of the critical angle θc. When the bodies are spun with an initial angle θinitial>θc, θ will increase to π, implying that the body will spin at the thin end. Alternatively, if θinitial<θc, then θ will decrease. For some oval curves, θ will reduce to 0 and the corresponding bodies will spin at the fat end. For other oval curves, a fixed point at θf is predicted, where 0<θf<θc. Then the bodies will spin not at the fat end, but at a new stable point with θf. The empirical fact that eggs more often spin at the fat than at the thin end is explained.
Teaching a single physics module through Problem Based Learning in a lecture-based curriculum
Authors: van Kampen Paul , Banahan Caroline , Kelly Michael , McLoughlin Eilish , O’Leary Eoin
Published: May 2004

We report on the design of an introductory thermal physics module taught through Problem Based Learning (PBL) within a lecture-based curriculum and discuss how some of the potential benefits of PBL, in particular, effective mixed-ability teaching and increased student motivation, can be realized within such a framework. We describe how the transition from lecture-based to PBL teaching has taken place and illustrate the development and implementation of our methodology with two problems from the module.
An acoustic radiometer
Authors: Denardo Bruce , Simmons Timothy G.
Published: May 2004

In contrast to Crookes’ radiometer, which rotates due to electromagnetic radiation, the analogous acoustic radiometer demonstrates radiation pressure. The apparatus consists of two panes attached to opposite ends of a horizontal arm that is pivoted at its center. One side of either pane is acoustically reflective and the other absorptive. The apparatus rotates when placed in an enclosure of high-intensity acoustic noise. Experimental values of the terminal angular velocity are in reasonable agreement with approximate theoretical predictions based on radiation pressure.
Teaching neutrino oscillations
Authors: Waltham Chris
Published: May 2004

Neutrino oscillations are purely quantum mechanical effects that occur over macroscopic time and distance scales. I present the physics of this phenomenon in words, pictures, and analogies rather than mathematics.
Connecting thermodynamics to students’ calculus
Authors: Cannon Joel W.
Published: May 2004

I describe subtle calculus ideas that are essential for thermodynamics, but are typically not encountered by students in calculus or prior physics classes. I argue that these previously unencountered subtleties are a substantial cause of the difficulty that many students encounter in learning thermodynamics and that thermodynamics can be taught more effectively by introducing the subtleties within an environment with which students are familiar rather than insisting that students learn them at the same time that they encounter new physics concepts such as entropy and thermodynamic potentials. I show how Legendre transforms can be used to illustrate the important calculus concepts and the nature of thermodynamics calculations. An added advantage of this approach is that it provides a coherent picture of the thermodynamic potentials.
Critical slowing down at a bifurcation
Authors: Tredicce J. R. , Lippi G. L. , Mandel Paul , Charasse B. , Chevalier A. , Picqué B.
Published: May 2004

Critical slowing down near a bifurcation or limit point leads to a dynamical hysteresis that cannot be avoided by sweeping a control parameter slowly through the critical point. This paper analytically illustrates, with the help of a simple model, the bifurcation shift. We describe an inexpensive experiment using a semiconductor laser where this phenomenon occurs near the threshold of a semiconductor laser.
A dunking bird of the second kind
Authors: Abraham Nadine , Palffy-Muhoray Peter
Published: May 2004

The conventional dunking bird is a heat engine that relies on the temperature difference between the head and the tail of the bird for its operation. We describe a new type of dunking bird that is not a heat engine, but one that directly uses the chemical potential difference between liquid water and its vapor.
Classroom demonstrations: Learning tools or entertainment?
Authors: Crouch Catherine , Fagen Adam P. , Callan J. Paul , Mazur Eric
Published: May 2004

We compared student learning from different modes of presenting classroom demonstrations to determine how much students learn from traditionally presented demonstrations, and whether learning can be enhanced by simply changing the mode of presentation to increase student engagement. We find that students who passively observe demonstrations understand the underlying concepts no better than students who do not see the demonstration at all, in agreement with previous studies. Learning is enhanced, however, by increasing student engagement; students who predict the demonstration outcome before seeing it, however, display significantly greater understanding.
Resource Letter NSST-1: The nature and status of string theory
Authors: Marolf Donald
Published: May 2004

This Resource Letter provides a guide to some of the introductory and review literature in string theory. It is in no way complete, though it is intended to be of use to students at several levels. Owing to the nature of the subject, even much of the introductory literature is quite technical by the standards of many Resource Letters, requiring prior knowledge of quantum field theory and general relativity. This Resource Letter is thus somewhat different from others. The first part describes a few more popular accounts of string theory, which are primarily addressed to the general public, but those with an understanding of basic physics will be able to read them more deeply and obtain a useful rough orientation to the field. The second part describes resources that are available at the advanced undergraduate level, and the balance describes string resources for more advanced students. The last ranges from general introductions to recent review articles on branes and black holes, gauge/gravity duality, string field theory, noncommutative geometry, non-BPS branes, tachyon condensation, phenomenology, brane worlds, orbifolds, Calabi–Yau manifolds, and holography.
Nuclear Translocation of Papillomavirus Minor Capsid Protein L2 Requires Hsc70
Authors: Florin Luise , Becker Katrin A. , Sapp Cornelia , Lambert Carsten , Sirma Hüseyin , Müller Martin , Streeck Rolf E. , Sapp Martin
Published: May 2004

Minor capsid protein L2 of papillomaviruses plays an essential role in virus assembly by recruiting viral components to PML bodies, the proposed sites of virus morphogenesis. We demonstrate here that the function of L2 in virus assembly requires the chaperone Hsc70. Hsc70 was found dispersed in naturally infected keratinocytes and cultured cells. A dramatic relocation of Hsc70 from the cytoplasm to PML bodies was induced in these cells by L2 expression. Hsc70-L2 complex formation was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation. The complex was modulated by the cochaperones Hip and Bag-1, which stabilize and destabilize Hsc70-substrate complexes, respectively. Cytoplasmic depletion of Hsc70 caused retention of wild-type and N-terminally truncated L2, but not of C-terminally truncated L2, in the cytoplasm. This retention was partially reversed by overexpression of Hsc70 fused to green fluorescent protein but not by ATPase-negative Hsc70. Hsc70 associated with L1-L2 virus-like particles (VLPs) but not with VLPs composed either of L1 alone or of L1 and C-terminally truncated L2. Moreover, displacement of Hsc70 from L1-L2 VLPs by encapsidation of DNA, generating pseudovirions, was found. These data indicate that Hsc70 transiently associates with viral capsids during the integration of L2, possibly via the L2 C terminus. Completion of virus assembly results in displacement of Hsc70 from virions.
Conformational Changes in the Nuclear Lamina Induced by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Require Genes U
L
31 and U
L
34
Authors: Reynolds Ashley E. , Liang Li , Baines Joel D.
Published: May 2004

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) U
L
31 and U
L
34 proteins are dependent on each other for proper targeting to the nuclear membrane and are required for efficient envelopment of nucleocapsids at the inner nuclear membrane. In this work, we show that whereas the solubility of lamins A and C (lamin A/C) was not markedly increased, HSV induced conformational changes in the nuclear lamina of infected cells, as viewed after staining with three different lamin A/C-specific antibodies. In one case, reactivity with a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope in the lamin tail domain was greatly reduced in HSV-infected cells. This apparent HSV-induced epitope masking required both U
L
31 and U
L
34, but these proteins were not sufficient to mask the epitope in uninfected cells, indicating that other HSV proteins are also required. In the second case, staining with a rabbit polyclonal antibody that primarily recognizes epitopes in the lamin A/C rod domain revealed that U
L
34 is required for HSV-induced decreased availability of epitopes for reaction with the antibody, whereas U
L
31 protein was dispensable for this effect. Still another polyclonal antibody indicated virtually no difference in lamin A/C staining in infected versus uninfected cells, indicating that the HSV-induced changes are more conformational than the result of lamin depletion at the nuclear rim. Further evidence supporting an interaction between the nuclear lamina and the U
L
31/U
L
34 protein complex includes the observations that (i) overexpression of the U
L
31 protein in uninfected cells was sufficient to relocalize lamin A/C from the nuclear rim into nucleoplasmic aggregates, (ii) overexpression of U
L
34 was sufficient to relocalize some lamin A/C into the cytoplasm, and (iii) both U
L
31 and U
L
34 could directly bind lamin A/C in vitro. These studies suggest that the U
L
31 and U
L
34 proteins modify the conformation of the nuclear lamina in infected cells, possibly by direct interaction with lamin A/C, and that other proteins are also likely involved. Given that the nuclear lamina potentially excludes nucleocapsids from envelopment sites at the inner nuclear membrane, the lamina alteration may reflect a role of the U
L
31/U
L
34 protein complex in perturbing the lamina to promote nucleocapsid egress from the nucleus. Alternatively, the data are compatible with a role of the lamina in targeting the U
L
31/U
L
34 protein complex to the nuclear membrane.
T-Cell Epitopes in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus Spike Protein Elicit a Specific T-Cell Immune Response in Patients Who Recover from SARS
Authors: Wang Yue-Dan , Sin Wan-Yee Fion , Xu Guo-Bing , Yang Huang-Hua , Wong Tin-yau , Pang Xue-Wen , He Xiao-Yan , Zhang Hua-Gang , Ng Joice Na Lee , Cheng Chak-Sum Samuel , Yu Jing , Meng Li , Yang Rui-Feng , Lai Sik-To , Guo Zhi-Hong , Xie Yong , Chen Wei-Feng
Published: May 2004

The immunogenicity of HLA-A2-restricted T-cell epitopes in the S protein of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and of human coronavirus strain 229e (HCoV-229e) was analyzed for the elicitation of a T-cell immune response in donors who had fully recovered from SARS-CoV infection. We employed online database analysis to compare the differences in the amino acid sequences of the homologous T epitopes of HCoV-229e and SARS-CoV. The identified T-cell epitope peptides were synthesized, and their binding affinities for HLA-A2 were validated and compared in the T2 cell system. The immunogenicity of all these peptides was assessed by using T cells obtained from donors who had fully recovered from SARS-CoV infection and from healthy donors with no history of SARS-CoV infection. HLA-A2 typing by indirect immunofluorescent antibody staining showed that 51.6% of SARS-CoV-infected patients were HLA-A2 positive. Online database analysis and the T2 cell binding test disclosed that the number of HLA-A2-restricted immunogenic epitopes of the S protein of SARS-CoV was decreased or even lost in comparison with the homologous sequences of the S protein of HCoV-229e. Among the peptides used in the study, the affinity of peptides from HCoV-229e (H77 and H881) and peptides from SARS-CoV (S978 and S1203) for binding to HLA-A2 was higher than that of other sequences. The gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release Elispot assay revealed that only SARS-CoV-specific peptides S1203 and S978 induced a high frequency of IFN-γ-secreting T-cell response in HLA-A2+donors who had fully recovered from SARS-CoV infection; such a T-cell epitope-specific response was not observed in HLA-A2+healthy donors or in HLA-A2−donors who had been infected with SARS-CoV after full recovery. Thus, T-cell epitopes S1203 and S978 are immunogenic and elicit an overt specific T-cell response in HLA-A2+SARS-CoV-infected patients.