bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating Stroke-Free and Total Life Expectancy in the Presence of Non-Ignorable Missing Values
Authors: Van Den Hout Ardo , Matthews Fiona E.
Published: September 2009

A continuous time three-state model with time-dependent transition intensities is formulated to describe transitions between healthy and unhealthy states before death. By using time continuously, known death times can be taken into account. To deal with possible non-ignorable missing states, a selection model is proposed for the joint distribution of both the state and whether or not the state is observed. To estimate total life expectancy and its subdivision into life expectancy in health and ill health, the three-state model is extrapolated beyond the follow-up of the study. Estimation of life expectancies is illustrated by analysing data from a longitudinal study of aging where individuals are in a state of ill health if they have ever experienced a stroke. Results for the selection model are compared with results for a model where states are assumed to be missing at random and with results for a model that ignores missing states.
The role of mercantilism in Anglo‐Dutch political relations, 1650–74
Authors: ROMMELSE GIJS
Published: September 2009

The three Anglo‐Dutch wars of the seventeenth century are traditionally seen as mercantile confrontations. This view has been challenged by political historians. Firstly, this article discusses the historiographic developments in this field. Secondly, it aims to explore the relationship between Anglo‐Dutch mercantile competition and political and diplomatic relations in the period 1650 to 1674. It favours an integrated approach in which all these dimensions are taken into account. The article argues that the 1667 Peace Treaty of Breda was a major turning point in Anglo‐Dutch relations after which mercantilism ceased to dominate Anglo‐Dutch political relations.
Stuart London's standard of living: re‐examining the Settlement of Tithes of 1638 for rents, income, and poverty
Authors: BAER WILLIAM C.
Published: September 2009

The Settlement of Tithes of 1638 can be tested for biases in its London rents. Even so, it proves to be a relatively good source for seventeenth‐century London, and for calculating associated median and mean rents, as well as a Gini coefficient of inequality for the distribution of resources. Through other evidence in the Settlement, rent/income ratios for London can be approximated, and from them estimates made of London's median income. Median rents and income also allow estimates of the percentage of Londoners in poverty. Though the last is inevitably disputable, the estimate holds up well to testing by other evidence.
Retail growth and consumer changes in a declining urban economy: Antwerp (1650–1750)
Authors: BLONDÉ BRUNO , VAN DAMME ILJA
Published: September 2009

This article examines the interplay between retail changes and transformations in the material culture of Antwerp, a provincial town in the southern Netherlands. We argue that major changes in the eighteenth‐century material culture and retail sector were not significantly linked to preconditions of economic growth and urbanization. The Antwerp ‘retail paradox’ is that of a shrinking economic horizon running parallel to material culture and retail transformations, usually connected to expanding urban economies and societies. Changing retail and consumer practices explain the growing and prospering retail sector, rather than a growing economy.
Spreading Depression: From Serendipity to Targeted Therapy in Migraine Prophylaxis
Authors: Ayata C
Published: September 2009

Despite the relatively well-characterized headache mechanisms in migraine, upstream events triggering individual attacks are poorly understood. This lack of mechanistic insight has hampered a rational approach to prophylactic drug discovery. Unlike targeted abortive and analgesic interventions, mainstream migraine prophylaxis has been largely based on serendipitous observations (e.g. propranolol) and presumed class effects (e.g. anticonvulsants). Recent studies suggest that spreading depression is the final common pathophysiological target for several established or investigational migraine prophylactic drugs. Building on these observations, spreading depression can now be explored for its predictive utility as a preclinical drug screening paradigm in migraine prophylaxis.
Cortical Spreading Depression—New Insights and Persistent Questions
Authors: Charles A , Brennan KC
Published: September 2009

Since its original extensive description by Leao in 1944, thousands of publications have characterized the phenomenon of cortical spreading depression (CSD). Despite the attention that CSD has received over more than six decades, however, many fundamental questions regarding its initiation, propagation, functional consequences, and relationship to migraine and other human disorders remain unanswered. Advances in genetics and cellular imaging have led to important insights into the basic mechanisms of CSD, with increasing attention focused on specific neuronal ion channels, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. In addition, there is growing recognition that astrocytes and the vasculature may play an active, rather than simply a passive or reactive role in CSD. Several recent descriptions of CSD in humans in the setting of brain injury provide definitive evidence that this phenomenon can occur and have important functional consequences in the human brain. Although the exact role of CSD in migraine has yet to be conclusively established, there is strong evidence that the investigation of CSD in animal models can provide meaningful information about migraine that can be translated into the clinical setting. This review will briefly address the extensive work that has been done on CSD over more than half a century, but focus primarily on more recent studies with a particular emphasis on relevance to migraine.
Cluster-like headache. A comprehensive reappraisal
Authors: Mainardi F , Trucco M , Maggioni F , Palestini C , Dainese F , Zanchin G
Published: September 2009

Among the primary headaches, cluster headache (CH) presents very particular features allowing a relatively easy diagnosis based on criteria listed in Chapter 3 of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II). However, as in all primary headaches, possible underlying causal conditions must be excluded to rule out a secondary cluster-like headache (CLH). The observation of some cases with clinical features mimicking primary CH, but of secondary origin, led us to perform an extended review of CLH reports in the literature. We identified 156 CLH cases published from 1975 to 2008. The more frequent pathologies in association with CLH were the vascular ones (38.5%, n = 57), followed by tumours (25.7%, n = 38) and inflammatory infectious diseases (13.5%, n = 20). Eighty were excluded from further analysis, because of inadequate information. The remaining 76 were divided into two groups: those that satisfied the ICHD-II diagnostic criteria for CH, ‘fulfilling’ group (F), n = 38; and those with a symptomatology in disagreement with one or more ICHD-II criteria, ‘not fulfilling’ group (NF), n = 38. Among the aims of this study was the possible identification of clinical features leading to the suspicion of a symptomatic origin. In the differential diagnosis with CH, red flags resulted both for F and NF, older age at onset; for NF, abnormal neurological/general examination (73.6%), duration (34.2%), frequency (15.8%) and localization (10.5%) of the attacks. We stress the fact that, on first observation, 50% of CLH presented as F cases, perfectly mimicking CH. Therefore, the importance of accurate, clinical evaluation and of neuroimaging cannot be overestimated.
A Variable‐Sized Sliding‐Window Approach for Genetic Association Studies via Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Tang Rui , Feng Tao , Sha Qiuying , Zhang Shuanglin
Published: September 2009

Recently with the rapid improvements in high‐throughout genotyping techniques, researchers are facing the very challenging task of analysing large‐scale genetic associations, especially at the whole‐genome level, without an optimal solution. In this study, we propose a new approach for genetic association analysis that is based on a variable‐sized sliding‐window framework and employs principal component analysis to find the optimum window size. With the help of the bisection algorithm in window‐size searching, our method is more computationally efficient than available approaches. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method by comparing it with two other methods—a single‐marker method and a variable‐length Markov chain method. We demonstrate that, in most cases, the proposed method out‐performs the other two methods. Furthermore, since the proposed method is based on genotype data, it does not require any computationally intensive phasing program to account for uncertain haplotype phase.
‘Eyewitnessing’? History and Visual Sources
Authors: Horsley Jessica
Published: September 2009

If history has experienced a ‘pictorial’ or visual turn in the past two decades, how widespread is this shift and how deep does it run? What is the relationship of the discipline of history to visual sources? This article assesses the current state of the field by investigating Peter Burke’s book Eyewitnessing. It considers not just the original edition but also its various translations to illuminate aspects of visual sources and the historian’s approach to them.
The Changing Fortunes of Britain’s ‘Heritage’ of Historic Buildings since 1945
Authors: Inglis Janet
Published: September 2009

The past 60 years have seen a dramatic turnaround in public attitudes to historic buildings in the UK, shifting from contempt to veneration. This has resulted in a corresponding change in fortunes; buildings that would have been carelessly demolished 50 years ago are now protected and cherished. The historiographical literature of the period is largely dominated, in the post‐war years, by despairing pleas for greater attention, funding and respect for historic buildings, written by those who championed the seemingly hopeless cause of preservation and conservation. From the mid 1970s, the climate became increasingly favourable to ‘heritage’ and conservation, and several restoration narratives were published by those who rebuilt ruinous historic buildings for reoccupation. In the 1980s, the circle began to turn as an ‘anti‐heritage’ literature sprang up to challenge the conservationists; ‘heritage’ still has almost comic connotations in some academic circles. The current conservation debate among architectural historians and heritage supporters, crudely put, is a polarized stand‐off between the Ruinists and the Restorers, with economics now edging in as a justification for interventions.
Loved Labor’s Losses: The Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Effects of McCarthyism
Authors: Breitzer Susan Roth
Published: September 2009

The years immediately following World War II were ones of far‐reaching fear in American society and politics that resulted from chilling relations with the then Soviet Union and the fear of the international and domestic spread of Communism. To deal with the Communist threat, perceived, and actual the American government stepped‐up an earlier anti‐Communist crusade that soon permanently took on the name McCarthyism after its most feared proponent, Wisconsin Senator Joseph R. McCarthy. Although few sectors of American society were untouched by McCarthyism in the 1940s and 1950s, American labor was hit especially hard, and one of its chief organizations, the Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO) chose to purge its most‐left leaning unions, a move that both failed to protect the American labor movement from McCarthyism and cost it its militant edge, all to the long‐term detriment of American working people. Nonetheless, historians traditionally defended the CIOs purge as a necessary and even laudable effort to rid the American labor movement of the menace of Communism. As the long‐term effects of the taming of American labor have become more apparent, however, historians have begun to take a more critical look at the reasons for the purge, as well as seeking more nuanced explanations for the political climate that made the purge possible.
Evaluation of antimicrobial peptides as novel bactericidal agents for room temperature–stored platelets
Authors: Mohan Ketha V.K. , Rao Shilpakala Sainath , Atreya Chintamani D.
Published: September 2009

BACKGROUND: A single cost‐effective pathogen inactivation approach would help to improve the safety of our nation's blood supply. Several methods and technologies are currently being studied to help reduce bacterial contamination of blood components. There is clearly need for simple and easy‐to‐use pathogen inactivation techniques specific to plasma, platelets (PLTs), and red blood cells.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this report, we introduce a novel proof of concept: using known therapeutic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as bactericidal agents for room temperature–stored PLT concentrates (PCs). Nine synthetic AMPs, four from PLT microbicidal protein‐derived peptides (PD1‐4) and five Arg‐Trp (RW) repeat peptides containing one to five repeats, were tested for bactericidal activity in plasma and PC samples spiked with Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus cereus. A 3‐log reduction of viable bacteria was considered as the bactericidal activity of a given peptide.

RESULTS: In both plasma alone and PCs, RW3 peptide demonstrated bactericidal activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae; PD4 and RW2 against P. aeruginosa; and RW4 against K. pneumoniae. The activity of each of these four peptides against the remaining bacterial species in the test panel resulted in less than a 3‐log reduction in the number of viable bacteria and hence considered ineffective.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a new approach to improving the safety of blood components, demonstrating the potential usefulness of screening therapeutic AMPs against selected bacteria to identify suitable bactericidal agents for stored plasma, PCs, and other blood products.
Side Balloon Stenting of the Left Main Bifurcation: A Three‐Year Angiographic Follow‐Up
Authors: LATIF FAISAL , HELDMAN ALAN W. , HENNEBRY THOMAS A.
Published: September 2009

None of the currently used interventional techniques yield durable results for coronary bifurcation lesions. We successfully treated a patient with unprotected left main bifurcation disease using a side balloon stent technique with a drug‐eluting stent (DES). This technique produced excellent immediate and long‐term results.
One‐Year Follow‐Up of Nonrandomized Comparison between Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery and Drug‐Eluting Stent for the Treatment of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Elderly Patients (Aged ≥75 Years)
Authors: GHENIM RABEH , RONCALLI JÉRÔME , TIDJANE AMIR M. , BONGARD VANINA , ZIANI ABDELKADER , BOUDOU NICOLAS , DUMONTEIL NICOLAS , MARCHEIX BERTRAND , LÉOBON BERTRAND , CARRIÉ DIDIER
Published: September 2009

Purpose:

The present observational study compares in‐hospital and 12‐month clinical outcomes in elderly patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease treated either with coronary artery bypass grafting or drug‐eluting stent.

Methods:

From January 2004 to December 2007, 211 patients (pts) with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, aged 75 or older, underwent coronary revascularization either with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (106 pts) or drug‐eluting stent (DES) (105 pts). The decision to treat with CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was dependent on the patient's and the physician's choice. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE: death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke) and revascularizations was recorded after 1 year of follow‐up. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using a propensity score method to take potential baseline differences between groups into account.

Results:

In‐hospital MACCE rates were 5.7% and 3.8% in the CABG and PCI groups, respectively (P = 0.748). After 1 year of follow‐up, these rates were, respectively, 13.9% and 14.9% (P = 0.841), and rates for target vessel revascularization at 12 months were 1.0% and 13.9% (P < 0.001). The PCI group was significantly associated with older age, dyslipidemia, history of cancer, high Euroscore, elevated creatininemia, single‐vessel disease, fewer chronic occlusions of the left anterior descending artery, and more LMCA stenosis ≥70%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was adjusted for age, diabetes, left ventricular ejection fraction, Euroscore, and plasma creatininemia and stratified on the score of propensity to be treated with PCI. In the subgroup below median propensity score, the adjusted odds ratio for 1‐year MACCE was OR = 0.91 (95% confidence interval: 0.14 to 5.98; P = 0.924) whereas OR was 0.16 (0.04–0.69; P = 0.013) in the subgroup above median propensity score.

Conclusions:

In patients with a high probability of being treated with PCI (older age, high Euroscore, high creatininemia, single‐vessel disease, …), the 1‐year risk of MACCE was significantly lower in PCI‐ than in CABG‐treated subjects. No significant difference was found in other cases.
Fishing for a Living but Catching HIV: AIDS and Changing Patterns of the Organization of Work in Fisheries in Uganda
Authors: Seeley Janet , Tumwekwase Grace , Grosskurth Heiner
Published: September 2009

Over the last decade evidence has emerged suggesting that fisherfolk, as an occupational group, are at greater risk to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than other groups in many countries, including Uganda. In this paper we argue that the organization of work in fisheries on Lake Victoria, both now and in the past, encourages patterns of sexual behavior among men and women involved in fishing, trading, and servicing the industry which over the last 20 years has promoted the spread of the HIV among those working in fisheries. We use a case study of a family, Kiwanuka's, to illustrate how patterns of behavior practiced in the past (by Kiwanuka) have much more disastrous consequences now (for his children) because of the existence of HIV. Kiwanuka was a fisherman on Lake Victoria during the 1960s. During that time fish were plentiful and he earned enough to purchase land and establish himself as a coffee farmer. Two of his sons are currently employed as daily laborers at the lake. They complain of poor fish catches and their inability to make money. One daughter, who is HIV‐positive, is a dried fish trader. This family's experience illustrates the far‐reaching effects of economic and health conditions generated by the fishing industry on distant rural areas and across generations. Rising HIV rates are severely affecting fishers and related occupations already hit by falling fish stocks. The findings show how the same patterns of sexual behavior and wealth generation practiced by the older generation in their youth now represent a deadly risk to their children, a population in urgent need of better access to treatment, prevention, and care.
Kinetics and sensitivity of ELISA IgG pertussis antitoxin after infection and vaccination with Bordetella pertussis in young children
Authors: HALLANDER HANS O. , LJUNGMAN MARGARETHA , STORSAETER JANN , GUSTAFSSON LENNART
Published: September 2009

Sera from 96 young children in a vaccine trial were analysed for kinetics of ELISA IgG anti‐pertussis toxin (anti‐PT) after a laboratory‐verified pertussis infection. The antibody decay curves after infection were biphasic and similar in shape to those after vaccination. The change from a rapid to a slower decay after the peak occurred about 4–5 months from the first day of cough. In a group of children given a two‐ or a five‐component acellular pertussis vaccine the proportion of sera above the tentative cut‐off values for anti‐PT of 20, 50 or 100 EU/ml 12 months after onset of the infection were 19%, 0% and 0% respectively. Corresponding figures for a whole‐cell or placebo vaccine group of infected children were significantly higher, 73%, 39% and 30%, i.e. the antibody decay after infection in young children depends on vaccination status as well as on the pertussis vaccine given. In a large group of non‐infected children vaccinated with the same five‐component acellular vaccine 13%, 0% and 0% had sera above 20, 50 and 100 EU/ml at 12 months after the third vaccine dose and all were below the minimum level of detection 2 years after vaccination. In conclusion, knowledge about anti‐PT kinetics is essential for the interpretation of seroepidemiological data but hardly offers the possibility to establish valid cut‐off values for anti‐PT in single sample serology. An option would be to identify a grey zone between the positive and negative ends of the distribution for follow‐up testing by a second serum.
Is the prevalence of overweight and obesity declining among 4‐year‐old Swedish children?
Authors: Bergström Erik , Blomquist Hans K:son
Published: September 2009

Aim:  To investigate the trend in overweight and obesity prevalence among 4‐year‐old Swedish children.

Methods:  Height and weight data registered at the regular health check up at the child health centres in the county of Västerbotten during the years 2007/2008 (2225 boys and 2156 girls) were analysed and compared with data from 2002/2003 (2231 boys and 2176 girls). Overweight and obesity were estimated using the International Obesity Task Force cut‐off values (ISO BMI).

Results:  In both boys and girls, overweight prevalence (ISO BMI > 25) decreased over the 5‐year period, boys from 17.2% to 14.2% and girls from 22.3% to 19.0%. Among girls, there was also a decrease in obesity prevalence (ISO BMI > 30) from 5.7% to 3.1%.

Conclusion:  The result of this study indicates that the overweight and obesity epidemic among Swedish pre‐school children may be levelling off.
Early high C‐reactive protein in infants with open abdominal wall defects does not predict sepsis or adverse outcome
Authors: Ramadan G , Rex D , Okoye B , Kennea NL
Published: September 2009

Aim:  To study CRP values and relate it to outcome in infants with antenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis, exomphalos and other surgical conditions.

Methods:  Over five years, infants admitted to our neonatal unit with gastroschisis, exomphalos and other surgical diagnoses were identified. Serum CRP measurements in first 5 days were studied. Group one included 33 gastroschisis patients, group two, 18 exomphalos patients, and group three, 38 patients with other surgical diagnoses. Outcome measures included TPN days, time to full feeds and duration of hospitalization.

Results:  Infants with gastroschisis were more premature (36.9 vs 38.1 weeks) with lower birth weights (2515 vs 3078 g), than infants with exomphalos. CRP values on admission in gastroschisis group were significantly higher than exomphalos and other diagnoses groups (33.7 ± 6.4 vs 8.8 ± 6.0 vs 5.7 ± 2.0, respectively, p < 0.05). All blood cultures were sterile. There was no relationship between high CRP and death or adverse outcome (TPN days, time to full feeds or duration of hospitalization) in the gastroschisis group.

Conclusion:  Infants with gastroschisis exhibit high early CRP, which may not indicate sepsis or adverse outcome. This increase can complicate the assessment of these infants. Clinicians should be aware of this finding as it could inform management decisions in this group.
Cervical infection secondary to pyriform sinus fistula of branchial origin
Authors: Madana J. , Yolmo Deeke , Gopalakrishnan S. , Saxena Sunil Kumar
Published: September 2009

Complete third branchial arch anomalies are rare and have been described only in case reports, affecting mainly children and typically presenting as a cervical inflammatory process. Anomalies of the third and fourth branchial apparatus, though rare, usually present as sinuses/incomplete fistulas of pyriform sinus or recurrent suppurative thyroiditis. A 6‐year‐old girl presented with a small opening on the left side of her anterior neck, which had been present since birth and was associated with recurrent infection. She had no history of incision and drainage of swelling. Computed tomography with contrast injection into the cervical opening revealed a fistulous tract extending from the cervical neck skin to the pyriform fossa. Complete excision of the fistulous tract and left hemithyroidectomy were performed. There was no recurrence at 22 months of follow‐up.
Haptoglobin binds the antiatherogenic protein apolipoprotein E – impairment of apolipoprotein E stimulation of both lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and cholesterol uptake by hepatocytes
Authors: Cigliano Luisa , Pugliese Carmela R. , Spagnuolo Maria S. , Palumbo Rosanna , Abrescia Paolo
Published: September 2009

Haptoglobin (Hpt) binds apolipoprotein A‐I (ApoA‐I), and impairs its stimulation of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). LCAT plays a major role in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), like ApoA‐I, promotes different steps of RCT, including LCAT stimulation. ApoE contains amino acid sequences that are homologous with the ApoA‐I region bound by Hpt and are involved in the interaction with LCAT. Therefore, Hpt was expected to also bind ApoE, and inhibit the ApoE stimulatory effect on LCAT. Western blotting and ELISA experiments demonstrated that the Hpt β‐subunit binds ApoE. The affinity of Hpt for ApoE was higher than that for ApoA‐I. High ratios of Hpt with either apolipoprotein, such as those associated with the acute phase of inflammation, inhibited, in vitro, the stimulatory effect of ApoE on the cholesterol esterification activity of LCAT. Hpt also impaired human hepatoblastoma‐derived cell uptake of [3H]cholesterol from proteoliposomes containing ApoE or ApoA‐I. We suggest that the interaction between Hpt and ApoE represents a mechanism by which inflammation affects atherosclerosis progression. Hpt might influence ApoE function in processes other than RCT.

Structured digital abstract

 MINT‐7258778: Hpt beta chain (uniprotkb:P00738) binds (MI:0407) to APOE (uniprotkb:P02649) by filter binding (MI:0049)

 MINT‐7258829, MINT‐7258868: Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) binds (MI:0407) to APOA1 (uniprotkb:P02647) by competition binding (MI:0405)

 MINT‐7258848, MINT‐7258819, MINT‐7258877: APOE (uniprotkb:P02649) binds (MI:0407) to Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) by competition binding (MI:0405)

 MINT‐7258791: Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) binds (MI:0407) to APOE (uniprotkb:P02649) by pull down (MI:0096)

 MINT‐7258760: Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) physically interacts (MI:0915) with APOE (uniprotkb:P02649) by pull down (MI:0096)

 MINT‐7258811: Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) binds (MI:0407) to APOA1 (uniprotkb:P02647) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (MI:0411)

 MINT‐7258801: Hpt (uniprotkb:P00738) binds (MI:0407) to APOE (uniprotkb:P02649) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (MI:0411)
Plasma carnitine ester profiles in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients with different IGR2230a_1 genotypes
Authors: Talián G. , Lakner L. , Bene J. , Komlósi K. , Horváth K. , Gasztonyi B. , Miheller P. , Figler M. , Mózsik G. , Tulassay Z. , Melegh B.
Published: September 2009

An association has been repeatedly demonstrated between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the IBD5 locus in the 5q31 chromosomal region. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of the IGR2230a_1 intronic nucleotide polymorphism of the slc22a5 gene (coding for the OCTN2 carnitine transporter protein) lying within this region, and its possible relationship with the carnitine metabolism in Hungarian IBD patients and controls. We genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism 200 Crohn's disease (CD) and 246 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, as well as 187 healthy controls. From plasma samples we determined detailed carnitine ester profiles of 76 CD, 43 UC patients and 45 control persons using electrospray ionization triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometry. The distribution of the genotypes was not significantly different in the CD or the UC group compared with the controls. We found no significant alterations of the carnitine profile in the carrier/non‐carrier or the homozygote/non‐homozygote comparisons in both the CD and the UC groups, stratified by IGR2230a_1 genotype. Our data suggest that this polymorphism alone is not associated with CD and UC in the Hungarian population, and has no effect on the carnitine metabolism.
Analysis of the complete genomic sequence of HLA‐A alleles in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Zhu F. , He Y. , Zhang W. , He J. , He J. , Xu X. , Yan L.
Published: September 2009

To analyse the complete genomic sequences and investigate the intron polymorphism of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐A locus, the full‐length nucleotide sequences of each major allelic group of HLA‐A in the Chinese Han population were determined, including HLA‐A*01, A*02, A*03, A*11, A*23, A*24, A*26, A*29, A*30, A*31, A*32, A*33, A*34, A*68, A*69. More than 3.0‐kb DNA fragment of HLA‐A locus was amplified from 5′‐untranslated region to 3′‐noncoding region for sequencing. Full‐length sequences of the HLA‐A alleles were determined using an ABI BigDye® Terminator Cycle Sequencing kit and the HLA‐A phylogenetic tree was analysed by dnaman software. Full‐length nucleotide sequences of 15 HLA‐A alleles (GenBank Accession numbers EU445470–EU445484) were obtained. HLA‐A*110101, A*2301, A*300101, A*310102, A*330301, A*340101, A*680102 and A*6901 alleles were firstly reported for complete genomic sequences. Total 247 polymorphism positions were found in the complete genomic sequences of HLA‐A alleles and a insertion of 17 nucleotides within intron 3 was observed in several allelic groups. According to the phylogenetic tree of the full‐length nucleotide sequences, HLA‐A locus was classified into seven major allelic lineages. In this study, complete genomic sequences of common HLA‐A alleles were obtained and the data will help us understand the evolution of HLA‐A.
A retrospective study of the MRI findings in 18 dogs with stifle injuries
Authors: Barrett E. , Barr F. , Owen M. , Bradley K.
Published: September 2009

Objectives:To make an objective assessment of the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal damage and cranial cruciate ligament disease in the canine stifle by comparing magnetic resonance imaging findings with surgical findings.

Methods:Magnetic resonance images of 18 stifles from 18 dogs which had undergone magnetic resonance imaging for the investigation of stifle disease were reviewed. For every stifle, the menisci and cranial cruciate ligaments were assessed according to predetermined criteria. The magnetic resonance imaging findings were compared with the reported surgical findings and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated using the surgical findings as the gold standard. Kappa analysis was used as an objective measure of agreement between surgical and magnetic resonance imaging findings. For 11 stifles, meniscal evaluation by three different observers was used to measure interobserver agreement using Kappa analysis.

Results:Magnetic resonance imaging was demonstrated to be an accurate technique in the detection of meniscal injury (k=0·86), with excellent interobserver agreement (k=0·89 to 1·0). Disruption of cranial cruciate ligament continuity and an increase in ligament intensity were found to be useful criteria in the diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

ClinicalSignificance:Magnetic resonance imaging offers a non‐invasive alternative to exploratory surgery in the evaluation of cranial cruciate ligament and meniscal disease.
Integrating Knowledge: The Key Challenge for a New Paradigm in River Management
Authors: Hillman Mick
Published: September 2009

Claims for the arrival of a new paradigm in river management argue that substantial progress has been made away from top‐down, reach‐scale engineering towards catchment‐scale planning, community participation, ecosystem science and adaptive management. Implementing these new principles is widely seen as essential in reversing damage to river systems and in promoting sustainable management. However, the appraisal of a shift in river management is far from straightforward across the range of biophysical and social contexts involved. Literature from the philosophy and sociology of science suggests that such transitions are usually patchy and uneven. In particular, a paradigm shift requires recognition and integration of three levels of knowledge: technical, scientific and what Aristotle referred to as ‘phronesis’– contextualised and place‐based wisdom built on experience and incorporation of cultural values. The application of these forms of knowledge to river management is considered by reference to recent reviews and case studies from Europe, North America and Australasia. The conclusion is that integration is still proving elusive. Claims for a wholesale paradigm shift in river management must therefore be treated with considerable caution.
Evolutionary genomics of human intellectual disability
Authors: Crespi Bernard , Summers Kyle , Dorus Steve
Published: September 2009

Previous studies have postulated that X‐linked and autosomal genes underlying human intellectual disability may have also mediated the evolution of human cognition. We have conducted the first comprehensive assessment of the extent and patterns of positive Darwinian selection on intellectual disability genes in humans. We report three main findings. First, as noted in some previous reports, intellectual disability genes with primary functions in the central nervous system exhibit a significant concentration to the X chromosome. Second, there was no evidence for a higher incidence of recent positive selection on X‐linked than autosomal intellectual disability genes, nor was there a higher incidence of selection on such genes overall, compared to sets of control genes. However, the X‐linked intellectual disability genes inferred to be subject to recent positive selection were concentrated in the Rho GTP‐ase pathway, a key signaling pathway in neural development and function. Third, among all intellectual disability genes, there was evidence for a higher incidence of recent positive selection on genes involved in DNA repair, but not for genes involved in other functions. These results provide evidence that alterations to genes in the Rho GTP‐ase and DNA‐repair pathways may play especially‐important roles in the evolution of human cognition and vulnerability to genetically‐based intellectual disability.
Spatial socioeconomic data as a cost in systematic marine conservation planning
Authors: Ban Natalie Corinna , Klein Carissa Joy
Published: September 2009

A common objective in identifying conservation areas is to minimize conservation costs while achieving a set of conservation targets. Recent literature highlights the importance of incorporating socioeconomic costs into conservation planning. Here, we review how costs have been used in systematic marine conservation planning. Four approaches emerged from the literature: (1) uniform cost or area as a proxy for human use, (2) opportunity costs, (3) multiple socioeconomic costs, and (4) measures of naturalness or ecological impact of human activities. Most marine systematic conservation planning projects that used a spatially explicit socioeconomic cost focused on fisheries as the opportunity cost. No study has incorporated transaction or management costs into the design of marine protected areas using systematic conservation planning software. Combining multiple costs into one cost is one of the primary challenges of incorporating socioeconomic costs into conservation planning decision support tools. Combining many costs is feasible when each cost is measured in the same unit (e.g., dollars), but this information is rarely available in marine planning. Where the objective of the planning exercise is to minimize impacts on multiple stakeholder groups, the use of separate scenarios or multi‐zone software may be a viable option.
Cacao boom and bust: sustainability of agroforests and opportunities for biodiversity conservation
Authors: Clough Yann , Faust Heiko , Tscharntke Teja
Published: September 2009

Cacao cultivation holds a sweet promise, not only for chocolate consumers and cacao farmers but also for conservationists who argue that diverse cacao agroforests may be used to sustain both livelihoods of smallholders and ecological benefits such as the conservation of biodiversity within human‐dominated tropical landscapes. However, regional boom‐and‐bust cycles are the rule in global cacao production: after initial forest conversion to cacao agroforests, sustaining production is difficult due to dwindling yields as trees age and pest and disease pressure increases. The failure to revitalize plantations often leads to a shift of cacao production to other regions. Shade removal dynamics within these cycles substantially reduce most of the biodiversity benefits. We investigate the conservation implications of these processes. Using examples from the current cacao crisis in Indonesia, we show that until now commitments to sustainability by the cacao‐chocolate sector have not been successful, which endangers remaining forests. Conservation can be combined with smallholder cacao production, but if this is to be achieved, greater quantitative and qualitative efforts to halt cacao cycles are needed on the part of the industry by making use of existing opportunities to combine sustainability, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation.
ZERO MODE OF GRAVITINO ON SCALAR FLAT THICK BRANES
Authors: ZHANG LI-JIE , WU SHAO-FENG , YANG GUO-HONG
Published: September 2009

The localization of the spin-3/2 gravitino field on thick branes with a Yukawa coupling is studied in this paper. We show that, for spin-3/2 fermionic field, there exist normalizable zero modes which can be localized on the flat thick branes under certain conditions.
NEUTRON ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENT AT FIXED TOPOLOGY
Authors: LIU K. F.
Published: September 2009

We describe the finite volume effects of CP-odd quantities, such as the neutron electric dipole moment and the anapole moment in the θ-vacuum, under different topological sectors. We evaluate the three-point Green's functions for the electromagnetic current in a fixed nontrivial topological sector in order to extract these CP-odd observables. We discuss the role of zero modes in the CP-odd Green's function and show that, in the quenched approximation, there is a power divergence in the quark mass for CP-odd quantities at finite volume.
LOOKING FOR NEW PHYSICS IN B → K*π AND B → ρK DECAYS
Authors: CHIANG CHENG-WEI , LONDON DAVID
Published: September 2009

B → K*π and B → ρK decays involve the same quark-level processes as B → πK. Analyzing the measurements of the former decays might be able to shed additional light on the new-physics hints in the current B → πK data. We perform fits to B → K*π and B → ρK decays, and find that the data can be accommodated within the standard model. However, this agreement is due principally to the large errors in the data, particularly the CP-violating asymmetries. If the errors on the B → K*π and B → ρK observables can be reduced, one will have a clearer sense of whether new physics is present in these decays.
WELL-POSEDNESS AND FINITE ELEMENT APPROXIMABILITY OF TIME-HARMONIC ELECTROMAGNETIC BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS INVOLVING BIANISOTROPIC MATERIALS AND METAMATERIALS
Authors: FERNANDES PAOLO , RAFFETTO MIRCO
Published: September 2009

A boundary value problem for the time harmonic Maxwell system is investigated through a variational formulation which is shown to be equivalent to it and well-posed if and only if the original problem is. Different bianisotropic materials and metamaterials filling subregions of the problem domain with Lipschitz continuous boundaries are allowed. Well-posedness and finite element approximability of the variational problem are proved by Lax–Milgram and Strang lemmas for a class of material configurations involving bianisotropic materials and metamaterials. Belonging to this class is not necessary, yet, for well-posedness and finite element approximability. Nevertheless, the material configurations of many radiation or scattering problems and many models of microwave components involving bianisotropic materials or metamaterials belong to the above class. Moreover, none of the other available tools commonly used to prove well-posedness seems to be able to cope with the material configurations left out by our treatment.
STEADY STATES OF THE HINGED EXTENSIBLE BEAM WITH EXTERNAL LOAD
Authors: COTI ZELATI MICHELE , GIORGI CLAUDIO , PATA VITTORINO
Published: September 2009

We analyze from both the physical and the analytical viewpoints the equation [Formula: see text] the solutions represent the equilibria of a thin extensible beam subject to external load.
ASYMMETRY AND DISORDER: A DECADE OF PARRONDO'S PARADOX
Authors: ABBOTT DEREK
Published: September 2009

In 1996, Parrondo's games were first constructed using a simple coin tossing scenario, demonstrating the paradoxical situation where individually losing games combine to win. Parrondo's principle has become paradigmatic for situations where losing strategies or deleterious effects can combine to win. Intriguingly, there are deep connections between the Parrondo effect and a range of physical phenomena, as it turns out that Parrondo's original games are a discrete-time and discrete-space version of a flashing Brownian ratchet. This has been formally established via discretization of the Fokker–Planck equation. Over the past decade, many examples ranging from physics to population genetics have been reported in the literature pointing to the generality of Parrondo's principle. In general terms, the Parrondo effect occurs where there is a nonlinear interaction of random behavior with an asymmetry, and can be mathematically understood in terms of a convex linear combination. Many effects, where randomness plays a constructive role, such as stochastic resonance, volatility pumping, the Brazil nut paradox, etc., can be viewed as being in the class of Parrondian phenomena. We will briefly review the history of Parrondo's paradox, recent developments, and connections to related phenomena.
NOVEL ENSEMBLE TECHNIQUES FOR REGRESSION WITH MISSING DATA
Authors: HASSAN MOSTAFA M. , ATIYA AMIR F. , GAYAR NEAMAT EL , EL-FOULY RAAFAT
Published: September 2009

In this paper, we consider the problem of missing data, and develop an ensemble-network model for handling the missing data. The proposed method is based on utilizing the inherent uncertainty of the missing records in generating diverse training sets for the ensemble's networks. Specifically we generate the missing values using their probability distribution function. We repeat this procedure many times thereby creating a number of complete data sets. A network is trained for each of these data sets, thereby obtaining an ensemble of networks. Several variants are proposed, and we show analytically that one of these variants is superior to the conventional mean-substitution approach for the limit of large training set. Simulation results confirm the general superiority of the proposed methods compared to the conventional approaches.
A NEW DISSIMILARITY MEASURE FOR CUT DETECTION USING BIPARTITE GRAPH MATCHING
Authors: GUIMARÃES SILVIO JAMIL FERZOLI , DO PATROCÍNIO ZENILTON KLEBER GONÇALVES , DE PAULA HUGO BASTOS , DA SILVA HENRIQUE BATISTA
Published: September 2009

Cut detection is part of the video segmentation problem, and consists in identifying the boundary between two consecutive shots. In this case, when two consecutive frames are similar, they are considered to be in the same shot. This work presents an approach to cut detection using a new simple and efficient dissimilarity measure (which is also invariant to rotation and translation) based on the size of a bipartite graph matching. To establish some parameter values, a machine learning approach is used. Experimental results provides a comparison between the new approach and other popular algorithms from the literature, showing that the new algorithm is robust and has a high performance compared to other methods for cut detection.
Hypertext 2009
Authors: Strohmaier Markus
Published: September 2009

The 2009 ACM Hypertext Conference was held in Torino, Italy, from June 29
th
to July 1
st
. The conference venue was beautifully located on a hill overlooking the city, providing an excellent environment for attending talks, discussing posters, serendipitous meetings and watching the beautiful scenery. An increase of 70% in submissions and 150 registered participants reflected the strong interest of the community in the conference, and in advancing and discussing the state of hypertext research. Logistically, the conference was structured into to three main tracks: Track 1 focused on "Information Structure and Presentation". Track 2 focused on "People, Resources and Annotations" and Track 3 focused on "Hypertext and Community". Combined, 37 peer-reviewed papers (acceptance rate of 32) were presented at the conference.
Up and coming SIGWEB supported conferences
Authors: Deshpande Yogesh
Published: September 2009

SIGWEB supports several specialized conferences, short courses, and workshops, as well as the Annual Hypertext Conference. SIGWEB sponsored conferences focus on timely topics in applied and computational hypertext and Web disciplines and provide a place for members and the entire applied Hypermedia and Web community to exchange ideas and to meet with and expand their network of colleagues. In this article, we provide a brief overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SIGWEB.
Multicomponent Control Strategy Underlying Production of Maximal Hand Velocity During Horizontal Arm Swing
Authors: Kim Young-Kwan , Hinrichs Richard N. , Dounskaia Natalia
Published: September 2009

Movement control responsible for generation of maximal hand velocity was studied on the example of horizontal arm swing that is a component of various sports activities. The movement was performed with the nondominant arm in similarity with the baseball bat swing. The task was to generate maximum hand velocity at a target. The movement included trunk long-axis rotation and horizontal shoulder and elbow extension. Kinematics and torque analyses were performed to study the organization of fastest movements and to compare trials representing the best and worst performance in each subject. Results revealed complex control strategy, with the trunk, shoulder, and elbow playing unique roles in generation of maximal hand velocity. The trunk provided a crucial contribution, directly, rotating the entire arm, and indirectly, exerting interaction torque that caused swift elbow extension. The major role of the shoulder was to transfer the mechanical effect of trunk motion to the elbow. However, the shoulder became the primary motion generator when the trunk reached its limits of rotation, revealing sequential organization of control. The role of the elbow was to maximally comply with passive influence of proximal joints. The findings are discussed in light of the leading joint hypothesis that offers a straightforward interpretation of control of horizontal arm swing as well as practically efficient recommendations for increases in movement speed. The revealed role of intersegmental dynamics in production of high movement speed suggests that movement slowness characteristic for some motor disorders may be partially a compensatory strategy that facilitates regulation of interaction torque.