bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tribological Characteristics of SiC Ceramics in High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Water
Authors: Kitaoka Satoshi , Tsuji Toshihide , Katoh Toshio , Yamaguchi Yoshimi , Kashiwagi Kazumi
Published: March 2005

The effects of temperature and sliding speed on the tribological behavior of a SiC ceramic by sliding on the same material in deoxygenated water were investigated from room temperature to 300°C under the corresponding saturated vapor pressures. The friction coefficient and specific wear rates of both plates and disks increased at elevated temperatures at all sliding speeds, but decreased with increasing sliding speed at 120° and 300°C. Fine mirrorlike worn surfaces were observed without wear debris under all sliding conditions. The wear mechanism appears to consist of hydrothermal oxidation of SiC and dissolution of reaction products such as silica.
Effect of Glass Additions on BaO–TiO2–WO3 Microwave Ceramics
Authors: Takada Takahiro , Wang Sea Fue , Yoshikawa Shoko , Jang Sei‐Joo , Newnham Robert E.
Published: March 2005

The effect of glass addition on the properties of BaO–TiO2‐WO3 microwave dielectric material N‐35, which has Q= 5900 and K= 35 at 7.2 GHz for samples sintered at 1360°C, was investigated. Several glasses including B2O3, SiO2, 5ZnO–2B2O3, and nine other commercial glasses were selected for this study. Among these glasses, one with a 5 wt% addition of B2O3 to N‐35, when sintered at 1200°C, had the best dielectric properties: Q= 8300 and K= 34 at 8.5 GHz. Both Q and K increased with firing temperature as well as with density. The Q of N‐35, when sintered with a ZnO–B2O3 glass system, showed a sudden drop in the sintering temperature to about 1000°C. The results of XRD, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy indicated that the chemical reaction between the dielectric ceramics and glass had a greater effect on Q than on the density. The effects of the glass content and the mixing process on the densification and microwave dielectric properties are also presented. Ball milling improved the densification and dielectric properties of the N‐35 sintered with ZnO–B2O3.
Sol–Gel Route to Synthesis of Microporous Ceramic Membranes: Preparation and Characterization of Microporous TiO2 and ZrO2 Xerogels
Authors: Xu Qunyin , Anderson Marc A.
Published: March 2005

This paper focuses on the preparation and characterization of pure TiO2 and ZrO2 xerogels. The preparation method is based on a sol–gel technique using metal tert‐amyloxides as precursors to produce nano‐sized metal oxide particles which are subsequently packed in a gelation process, eventually resulting in microporous xerogele. The unsupported TiO2 and ZrO2 xerogele produced in this manner have a mean pore diameter less than 2 nm and more than 50% microporosity. However, these gels, in their pure form, are thermally stable only to 350°C. Improved thermal stabilities of mixed metal oxide xerogels will be reported elsewhere.
Metastable Phase Selection and Partitioning for Zr(1−x)AlxO(2−x/2) Materials Synthesized with Liquid Precursors
Authors: Balmer Mari Lou , Lange Fred F. , Levi Carlos G.
Published: March 2005

Aqueous solutions of zirconium acetate and aluminum nitrate were spray pyrolyzed at 250°C and upquenched to different temperatures to yield metastable solid solutions of composition Zr(1−x)AlxO(2−x/2). An amorphous oxide forms first during pyrolysis which subsequently crystallizes as a single phase for x ≤ 0.57 (≤40 mol% Al2O3). The crystallization temperature increased with Al2O3 content. Electron diffraction, supported by Raman spectroscopy, indicates that the initial phase is tetragonal. At higher temperatures, the initial solid solation partitions to other metastable phases, viz., t‐ZrO2+γ‐Al2O3, prior to achieving their equilibrium phase assemblage, m‐ZrO2+α‐Al2O3. Partitioning yields a nanocomposite microstructure with grain sizes of 20–100 nm, compared to the 3 to 5 nm in the initial, single phase. Compositions containing 45 to 50 mol% Al2O3 concurrently crystallize and partition. The structure selected during crystallization and the partitioning phenomena are discussed in terms of diffusional constraints during crystallization, which are conceptually similar to those operating during rapid solidification.
Processing of Tape–Cast Laminates Prepared from Fine Alumina/Zirconia Powders
Authors: Plucknett Kevin P. , Cáceres Carlos H. , Hughes Christopher , Wilkinson David S.
Published: March 2005

This paper addresses the effect of thermocompression pressure, shear deformation of green laminates, and postsinter HIPing on the microstructural homogeneity of cast tapes and laminates prepared from fine Al2O3, and Al2O3/ ZrO2, powders. Green density increases with increasing thermo–compression pressure. Sintered densities, however, depend more on the macroscopic uniformity in the green tapes. When density gradients develop within the individual green tapes (because of improper drying), sintering is constrained in two dimensions and densities remain low. Postsinter HIPing does not significantly increase the sintered densities because of the retention of open porosity within the individual tape–cast layers. The use of a revised thermocompression process involving shear deformation results in higher sintered densities and complete densification after HIPing. Sintered densities increase with the degree of shear strain during green–state deformation processing. Thus, green‐state deformation can improve homogeneity in laminates. A further variation of the shear deformation process has also been developed that allows the formation of complex shapes from tape–cast laminates in the green state, while retaining layer integrity.
Pentacoordinate Silicon Complexes as Precursors to Silicate Glasses and Ceramics
Authors: Kansal Pallavi , Laine Richard M.
Published: March 2005

The recent discovery that pentacoordinate alkali glycolato silicates such as monomeric MSi(OCH2CH2O)2OCH2‐CH2OH or dimeric M2Si2(OCH2CH2O)s (where M = Li, Na, K, or Cs) can be synthesized directly from SiO2, ethylene glycol, and MOH suggests that these compounds may serve as useful, inexpensive precursors to alkali silicate glasses or ceramics, either by sol–gel processing or by simple pyrolysis. We report here studies on the chemical changes and phase transformations that occur during the pyrolytic transformation of these compounds to ceramic and glassy materials. The evolutionary processes encountered as the materials are heated to selected temperatures were followed by X‐ray powder diffraction, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and thermal analysis techniques. In general, the crystalline compounds oxidatively decompose at temperatures above 300°C to form amorphous materials. At higher temperatures, the line compounds M2Si2O5 begin to crystallize. During the transformation process, ligand oxidation forms CO2 and H2O, which react with the alkali metals to form small amounts of carbonates as seen by DRIFTS. At higher temperatures, the carbonates decompose with coincident formation of the primary crystalline phase, except in the case of the potassium compound, which exhibits some phase segregation.
Pretransplant helper T‐lymphocyte determination in bone marrow donors: acute graft‐versus‐host disease prediction and relation with long‐term survival
Authors: Winandy M. , Lewalle P. , Deneys V. , Ferrant A. , De Bruyère M.
Published: March 2005

Helper T‐lymphocyte precursor (HTLp) frequency from 19 allogeneic bone marrow donors was tested to detect weak antigenic differences with the recipient, and then compared to the outcome. HTLp frequency was estimated in limiting dilution cultures, and HLA‐DR and CD 80 expression by stimulating cells was measured by flow cytometry. 12/19 patients experienced acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) grade II–IV. A good correlation was found between high pretransplant HTLp frequency and grade II–IV aGVHD (median: 1/55848 PBMNC for II–IV GVHD versus 1/184346 for 0–I GVHD; P = 0.008). Sensitivity was 82%, specificity 63%, negative predictive value 71% and positive predictive value 75%. Long‐term survivors also had a lower HTLp median frequency (1/143354) when compared with patients who died as a result of the transplant procedure (1/22100, P < 0.001). No correlation was found between HTLp frequency and HLA‐DR or CD80 expression by patient's cells. We conclude that HTLp frequency estimation can predict, although poorly, acute GVHD risk and long‐term survival.
Characterization of T‐cell receptor β chain mRNA expression in IFN‐α‐responsive chronic myelogenous leukaemia patients
Authors: Shimomura Taizo , Fujii Shin‐ichiro , Ezaki Ichiko , Osato Motomi , Fujimoto Koji , Takatsuki Kiyoshi , Yamamoto Kazuhiko , Kawakita Makoto
Published: March 2005

Interferon‐α (IFN‐α) has shown promise in the treatment of chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). IFN‐α has also been found to indirectly up‐regulate the expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens, and to directly increase the activity of lymphocytes against tumour cells. To elucidate whether IFN‐α induces anti‐leukaemic activity of the autologous T cells in CML patients, we analysed the accumulation of T‐cell receptor (TCR) in each Vβ family using the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) followed by single‐strand conformation (SSCP) analysis. We found the predominant expression of the Vβ 10, 12, and 14 families in the peripheral blood (PB) of CML patients, in contrast to healthy donors. Especially, in IFN‐α‐responsive patients, we observed an enhancement of the accumulation of the Vβ 9 and 20 families, suggesting that T cells enhanced by IFN‐α may react with a discrete set of antigens on the surface of malignant cells. These findings may demonstrate that CML cells possess the heterogenous antigens and the clonal expansion of Vβ 9+ and Vβ 20+ T cells may be a prognostic indicator of the immune responsiveness to IFN‐α.
Recruitment of primitive peripheral blood cells: synergism of interleukin 12 with interleukin 6 and stem cell factor
Authors: Grafte‐Faure Stéphanie , Leveque Catherine , Vasse Marc , Soria Claudine , Vannier Jean‐Pierre
Published: March 2005

Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), a heterodimeric cytokine with potent biological activity, was evaluated for effects on proliferation of human immature progenitor cells in vitro. In vitro proliferation of 5‐FU‐resistant CD34+ (G0) peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in response to sequential cytokine stimulation was examined in the presence and absence of 100 ng/ml IL‐12. PBSC were found to include a subpopulation of cells that were resistant to 25 μg/ml 5‐FU and required a combination of IL‐12, IL‐6 and SCF for the production of morphologically recognizable clonogenic elements at day 14 in semisolid medium. Furthermore, addition of IL‐6 soluble receptor (IL‐6Rs) to IL‐6 and SCF led to a similar recruitment. We also demonstrated a significant production of IL‐6Rs by CD34+ cells stimulated by IL‐12. We noted that glucocorticoids and aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid, had a positive effect on recruitment, but neither mineralocorticoid nor glucocorticoids induced IL‐6Rs production by CD34+ cells. The recruitment mechanism by steroids seemed to be different from that used by IL‐12. These results confirm previous findings which showed the involvement of IL‐12 on immature PBSCs and suggest that IL‐12 might play a key role in early haemopoiesis.
A novel translocation t(1;7)(p36;q34) in three patients with acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Specchia G. , Cuneo A. , Liso V. , Contino R. , Pastore D. , Gentile E. , Rocchi M. , Castoldi G. L.
Published: March 2005

Studies of large numbers of patients have enabled the identification of relatively infrequent chromosome changes, such as inv(3)(q21;q26), t(6;9)(p23;q34) and t(8;16)(p11;p11), whose clinico‐biological significance is gradually becoming clearer. Translocations involving chromosomes 1 and 7 are relatively rare in myeloid neoplasias, being found in far less than 1% of cases; the rearrangement that occurs most frequently consists of an unbalanced translocation [t(1;7)(p11; p11)], resulting in complete loss of 7q, associated with therapy‐related or environmentally‐induced high‐risk myelodysplasia. We recently observed three cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with a previously unreported balanced translocation t(1;7) (p36;q34). Case 1 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation and remains alive in CR; cases 2 and 3 relapsed after 10 and 4 months, respectively. The response to chemotherapy observed in our cases suggests that variable clinical features might be present in the broad cytogenetic category usually referred to as ‘7q abnormalities’ and contributes to an interesting previous observation of prolonged disease‐free survival in a subset of AMLs with 7q− as the isolated chromosome change.
Significance of electron‐dense deposits in the mitochondrial matrix of erythroid precursors in aplastic anaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Bessho Fumio , Ohnishi Hiroaki , Tabuchi Ken , Kobayashi Miyuki , Hayashi Yasuhide
Published: March 2005

Recently the number of long‐term survivors of aplastic anaemia has increased, with some of these cases evolving into myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Because it is difficult to discriminate between aplastic anaemia and hypoplastic MDS, it is unknown whether these patients have had MDS from the time of diagnosis of aplastic anaemia. Presence of ringed sideroblasts on an iron‐stained bone marrow smear is a characteristic of some cases of MDS. Amorphous electron‐dense deposits in the mitochondrial matrices of erythroid precursors observed with an electron microscope show ringed sideroblasts, and detection of this mitochondrial pathology is useful for confirming the presence of ringed sideroblasts because this mitochondrial pathology can be found not only in erythroblasts but also in reticulocytes, which is particularly useful in cases in which few erythroblasts are found. We found this mitochondrial pathology in two of nine children who had an initial diagnosis of aplastic anaemia and in three children with hypoplastic MDS. It is unknown at present whether the first two children had aplastic anaemia or hypoplastic MDS. Our results warrant further studies on more patients to confirm the significance of amorphous electron‐dense deposits in the mitochondrial matrices of erythroid precursors.
A metalloproteinase inhibitor prevents acute graft‐versus‐host disease while preserving the graft‐versus‐leukaemia effect of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Hattori Koichi , Hirano Takao , Miyajima Hiroaki , Yamakawa Norifumi , Ikeda Shoji , Yoshino Kohichiro , Tateno Masatoshi , Oshimi Kazuo , Kayagaki Nobuhiko , Yagita Hideo , Okumura Ko
Published: March 2005

We examined the effect of a hydroxamic acid‐based matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (KB‐R7785), which we previously demonstrated to have a potent ameliorating effect on acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), and on the graft‐versus‐leukaemia (GVL) effect of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). KB‐R7785 was administered to (C57BL/6 × BALB/c) F1 (CBF1) mice that had been inoculated with IgE‐producing B53 hybridoma cells of BALB/c origin as a model tumour, along with or without transplantation of C57BL/6 (B6) bone marrow cells and spleen cells (BMS). Administration of KB‐R7785 without BMS significantly prolonged the survival of B53‐inoculated CBF1 mice by inhibiting the infiltration of B53 cells into the liver and spleen. Transplantation of B6 BMS without KB‐R7785 resulted in the death of most recipients due to acute GVHD while efficiently eliminating B53 cells. Administration of KB‐R7785 along with B6 BMS resulted in a 50% survival of B53‐inoculated CBF1 mice over 50 d without histological manifestations of acute GVHD or residual B53 cells. These results indicate the beneficial effects of KB‐R7785 that inhibit tumour infiltration and prevent acute GVHD while preserving the GVL effect of allogeneic BMT.
Interleukin 4, interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 polymorphisms in children with acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Wu Kang‐Hsi , Peng Ching‐Tien , Li Tsai‐Chung , Wan Lei , Tsai Chang‐Hai , Lan Shou‐Jen , Chang Ming‐Cheng , Tsai Fuu‐Jen
Published: March 2005

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an immune‐mediated disorder. We investigated the polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)‐4 intron 3, IL‐6 (−572 G/C), and IL‐10 (−627 C/A) in 50 children with acute ITP, 30 children with chronic TIP, and 100 healthy individuals. There were significant differences in the RP1/RP2 genotype proportion (P = 0·04) and the RP2 allelic frequency (P = 0·03) of IL‐4 intron 3 and the A/C genotype proportion (P = 0·01) of IL‐10 (−627) between children with chronic ITP and controls. This finding suggests that the IL‐4 intron 3 and IL‐10 (−627) polymorphisms contribute to the susceptibility of developing childhood chronic ITP.
An evaluation of rapid D‐dimer assays for the exclusion of deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Gardiner Chris , Pennaneac'h Coralie , Walford Claire , Machin Samuel J , Mackie Ian J
Published: March 2005

We evaluated the performance of eight d‐assays for the exclusion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT); Biopool AutoDimer, Biopool MiniQuant, bioMèrieux MDA d‐Dimer, VIDAS, Dade Behring d‐Dimer Plus, Trinity Biotech AMAX, NycoCard d‐dimer and IL Test d‐Dimer. The assays were evaluated both as stand‐alone tests, and in combination with pretest probability (PTP). d‐dimer assays and PTP assessment were performed on 410 patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute DVT. DVT was diagnosed in 76 of 410 patients (18·5%) by compression ultrasound or other imaging techniques, as required. Receiver operator characteristics analysis established optimum cut‐off values and these were compared with manufacturer's cut‐off values where provided. As stand‐alone tests, the assays varied immensely regarding cut‐off value, negative predictive value (NPV 93–100%) and specificity (0–67%). At least one patient with confirmed DVT had a low d‐dimer level by each method: to achieve 100% sensitivity it would be necessary to reduce cut‐off values to levels below clinical usefulness. When low d‐dimer was used in combination with PTP, six of eight methods achieved ≥98% NPV, with a diagnosis of DVT excluded in 16–44% of patients without the requirement for diagnostic imaging. The highly variable diagnostic performance of these d‐dimer assays means that some assays are unsuitable for certain diagnostic strategies. However, our data suggest that the combination of sensitive d‐dimer assays with an assessment of PTP may be used to exclude a diagnosis of DVT.
Perceptions of resource users and managers towards fisheries management options in Kenyan coral reefs
Authors: McCLANAHAN T. R. , MAINA J. , DAVIES J.
Published: March 2005

Abstract  The perceptions of Kenyan resource users and managers towards gear and area management were examined through face‐to‐face interviews to identify areas of agreement and disagreement and compare with compliance. Opinions were sought about gears that sustained fish catch, gears discouraged by the government and traditional leaders, and the benefits of area management were sought. There was good agreement among most groups and traditional leaders about the gears discouraged by government, with beach seines and spear guns the most commonly listed. This indicates good agreement between government and traditions, promoted by recent government legislation, but compliance was poor since nearly two‐thirds of fishers used these recently prohibited gears. This was due, in part, to lesser agreement concerning gears that promote a sustainable fishery, with spear guns and beach seines scaled low, but moderately supported in this respect by those fishers that use these gears. These gears persist because of the lack of shared evidence about the yields and sustainability of the various gears and social and economic aspects, such as increased competitiveness and decreased costs of the gears. There is evidence that beach seines lower yields but this gear persists because it is more competitive and has lower costs to the user than the other gears. Spear guns also persist because young and poor fishermen, who cannot afford costs associated with other gears, use them. Government employees scaled the benefits of area, and particularly closed area, management, higher than fishers, which is an issue of conflict but, nonetheless, has good compliance because of the long history of closed area management. For both types of management, shared perceptions alone were insufficient to achieve high compliance, and active enabling and enforcement by managers is needed.
Takayasu's arteritis: what should the dentist know?
Authors: DUQUE C. , SILVA R. C. , SANTOS‐PINTO L.
Published: March 2005

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects large blood vessels, especially the aorta and/or its major branches. The condition presents with segmental lesions adjacent to normal, apparently unaffected, areas. The lesions include stenosis, occlusion, dilatations or aneurysm formations along the path of the affected artery. Because of the severity of the disease and the possibility of cardiovascular complications, patients with Takayasu's arteritis require medical treatment based on immunosuppressive and antihypertensive drugs, as well as regular follow up and surgical intervention in many instances. The aim of this paper was to describe the characteristics of Takayasu's arteritis, to report dental treatment carried out on an affected patient, and to discuss the main implications and care required during routine treatment for children in the dental office.
Seasonal Differences in the Secretion of Luteinising Hormone and Prolactin in Response to N‐Methyl‐dl‐Aspartate in Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)
Authors: Dawson A.
Published: March 2005

In birds, unlike mammals, seasonal changes in reproductive function are associated with marked changes in the amount of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) stored in the hypothalamus. Prolonged exposure to long photoperiods leads to photorefractoriness after the breeding season. Photorefractory birds have low hypothalamic concentrations of chicken GnRH‐I (cGnRH‐I). Exposure to short photoperiods results in renewed cGnRH‐I synthesis and increased hypothalamic stores. Birds are then photosensitive and subsequent exposure to an increase in photoperiod results in increased cGnRH‐I secretion and gonadal maturation. However, it is unclear whether the reverse is true at the time of gonadal regression during long photoperiods (i.e. that a decrease in GnRH‐I synthesis precedes regression). Hypothalamic stores of cGnRH‐I, and possibly therefore of releasable GnRH‐I, decrease after regression. Single injections of the glutamate agonist N‐methyl‐dl‐aspartate (NMA) were used as a probe to assess releasable stores of cGnRH‐I in male starlings at four physiologically different reproductive stages. Treatment induced the greatest increase in luteinising hormone (LH) in photosensitive birds in January, and a slight increase in sexually mature birds in April. There was a slight but significant increase in June, immediately after testicular regression, but no increase in fully photorefractory birds in September. These data confirm that photorefractoriness is associated with a lack of releasable cGnRH‐I, but that decreased synthesis of cGnRH‐I is not the proximate cause of regression. There was an increase in prolactin in response to NMA at all times. The magnitude of the response was proportional to pre‐treatment concentrations, with the greatest response in June. It is suggested that high circulating prolactin may fine‐tune the timing of gonadal regression in advance of the inhibition of cGnRH‐I synthesis.
Perforating disorder caused by salt‐water application and its experimental induction
Authors: Lee S. J. , Jang J. W. , Lee W. C. , Kim D. W. , Jun J. B. , Bae H. I. , Kim D. J.
Published: March 2005

Background   Perforating disorders are uncommon diseases characterized by transepidermal elimination histopathologically and include reactive perforating collagenosis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, Kyrle's disease and perforating folliculitis. In addition, perforating disorders can develop in patients with diabetes mellitus, renal failure and even by accidental exposure of calcium salts.

Methods   We report two cases of perforating disorder caused by chemical burn with commercially available salt‐water* application for self‐treatment of chronic dermatitis or pruritus.

Results   The commercially used salt water for making bean curd was analyzed and it consisted of calcium and other salts without harmful heavy metals. We induced a similar phenomenon by experimental application of commercial salt water on guinea pigs.

Conclusion   Bean curd is used as a food commonly in the Far‐East, allowing a greater chance of exposure to salt water accidentally or occupationally. Bean curd is becoming more popular even in Western countries. To confirm causation, we induced a similar phenomenon in guinea pigs by experimental application of commercial salt water.

*Salt water# (‘Kansoo’ in Korean) is used in the solidifying process of bean curd.
Solitary asymptomatic nodule of the great toe
Authors: Guarneri Claudio , Guarneri Fabrizio , Risitano Giovanni , Lentini Maria , Vaccaro Mario
Published: March 2005

Subungual exostosis is a benign osteocartilaginous tumor of the ungual apparatus, particularly of the toes. It affects both sexes equally, more frequently in the second and third decades of life. We describe a 6‐year‐old girl who came to our attention because of the enlargement of a pinkish nodule in the distal part of the nail bed of the first toe, progressively elevating the nail plate. History, X‐ray imaging and histopathologic examination led us to confirm our clinical suspicion, excluding any other possible cause of the subungual mass. The peculiar features of this clinical entity, and the possibility of effective treatment by practical surgical techniques, are discussed.
Boards of Directors: Utilizing Empirical Evidence in Developing Practical Prescriptions
Authors: Dalton Catherine M. , Dalton Dan R.
Published: March 2005

Boards of directors and corporate governance, more generally, continue to capture the attention of practitioners and scholars alike. There are now several reports, such as the Higgs Review, that offer both descriptions of past board structures and practices, and prescriptions for effective corporate governance practices going forward. This paper provides an overview of a series of research in which we have been involved that investigated the relationships between board structures (i.e. board composition, board leadership structure, board size and board member equity ownership) and firm financial performance. The paper demonstrates that not all current corporate governance ‘best practices’ are supported by empirical investigation. It also offer views on two means for installing independence in corporate boardrooms that hold considerable promise – installation of a lead independent director and reliance on an independent board of directors budget. Ultimately, however, no amount of structural prescription will guarantee effective boards of directors. Effective boards will install effective boardroom processes and be guided by individuals with the highest integrity and character.
Patient characteristics and costs associated with dyslipidaemia and related conditions in HIV‐infected patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Richter A , Pladevall M , Manjunath R , Lafata JE , Xi H , Simpkins J , Brar I , Markowitz N , Iloeje UH , Irish W
Published: March 2005

Background

Metabolic abnormalities are common in HIV‐infected individuals and, although multifactorial in origin, have been strongly associated with antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

Using automated claims and clinical databases, combined with medical record data, we evaluated the burden of dyslipidaemia (DYS) and associated metabolic abnormalities among a cohort of 900 HIV‐infected patients aged 18 years and older who received their care from a large multispecialty medical group between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 2002. A Cox proportional hazards model for DYS was developed. Resource use was compiled and subsequently costed with stratification to account for variable length of follow‐up.

Results

Mean follow‐up time was 3.3 years. DYS was present in 54% of the cohort and 3.4% experienced a cardiovascular (CV) event. Both unadjusted and adjusted results found patients with dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular events significantly more likely to have received protease inhibitor (PI) treatment for longer periods of time. In the Cox proportional hazards model the following factors were significantly associated with an increased risk for DYS: older age, white race, PI use and male sex. Diagnoses of hypertension, hepatitis C virus infection, depression or opportunistic infections were all negatively associated with a DYS diagnosis. When controlled for length of follow up, patients with DYS (and no CV‐related events) incurred greater median and mean total average costs than patients without DYS or CV‐related events. For patients with more than 2 years of follow up, these total cost differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that DYS is common among patients with HIV infection and is associated with increased use of medical resources.
Enhanced glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) response to oral glucose in glucose‐intolerant HIV‐infected patients on antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Andersen O , Haugaard SB , Holst JJ , Deacon CF , Iversen J , Andersen UB , Nielsen JO , Madsbad S
Published: March 2005

Objectives

We investigated whether the incretin hormones glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which are major regulators of glucose tolerance through the stimulation of insulin secretion, contribute to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) among HIV‐infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods

Eighteen HIV‐infected male patients (six lipodystrophic and 12 nonlipodystrophic) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were compared with 10 HIV‐infected male patients (eight lipodystrophic and two nonlipodystrophic) with IGT. Plasma concentrations of GLP‐1 and GIP were determined frequently during a 3‐h, 75‐g glucose tolerance test. Insulin secretion rates (ISRs) were calculated by deconvolution of C‐peptide concentrations.

Results

The incremental area under the curve (incrAUC) for GLP‐1 was increased by 250% in IGT patients compared with NGT patients (1455±422 vs. 409±254 pmol/L/180 min, respectively; P<0.05), whereas the incrAUC for GIP did not differ between the study groups (7689±1097 vs. 8041±998 pmol/L/180 min, respectively; not significant). In pooled study groups, the GIP incrAUC correlated positively with the ISR incrAUC without adjustment (r=0.38, P<0.05) and following adjustment for glucose incrAUC (r=0.49, P<0.01).

Conclusions

Our data suggest: (1) that glucose‐intolerant, HIV‐infected male patients may display enhanced GLP‐1 responses to oral glucose compared with normal glucose‐tolerant HIV‐infected male patients, which may represent a compensatory mechanism rather than explain the IGT; (2) that the GIP response may be associated with ISR independently of plasma glucose in nondiabetic HIV‐infected males on HAART.
Accessing mainstream: examining the struggle for parents of children who have learning difficulties
Authors: Kenny Mairin , Shevlin Michael , Walsh Patricia Noonan , McNeela Eileen
Published: March 2005

In the past decade Ireland has witnessed substantial changes in policy and provision for children with general learning difficulties as government policies and legislation increasingly underpin the move towards more inclusive provision. Despite this series of policy initiatives parents of children who experience Down syndrome and general learning difficulties can encounter serious obstacles in gaining access to mainstream education for their children.

This research project was a study of the experiences of a small sample of parents of children who experience Down syndrome and general learning difficulties in relation to their efforts to access appropriate education and education supports for their child in the mainstream school setting. These parents had to invest extraordinary levels of time, energy, and resources in their struggle to get these children into mainstream school and to support their progress there. At local school level these parents and children had positive experiences, but life has taught them that society offers acceptance as a favour, so they cannot confidently expect acceptance by schools and teachers as a right.
QUELQUES REMARQUES SUR ĽUTILISATION DES CALCULATEURS ELECTRONIQUES EN COMPTABILITE NATIONALE
Authors: Mayer J.
Published: March 2005

Cet article examine comment les calculateurs modernes servent ou pourraient servir en comptabilité nationale, soit pour ľutilisation des comptes, soit pour leur préparation.

Du premier point de vue ľauteur insiste ďabord sur la complexité croissante des comptes nationaux qui rend difficile leur usage à partir de la forme classique de tableaux imprimés et tend à rendre nécessaire leur transcription sous forme de cartes perforées, cequi permettra de faire à la machine un certain nombre de travaux élémentaires sur les comptes.

On peut également penser que les calculateurs permettraient des sondages rapides sur certains éléments des comptes en cours de préparation.

Enfin, les utilisations des calculateurs électroniques pour ľanalyse des comptes, ľétude des modèles de projection et leur résolution sont bien connues.

En ce qui concerne ľutilisation des calculateurs pour la préparation des comptes ľauteur montre que, étant donné le caractère imparfait du système statistique dans de nombreux pays, les comptes économiques des années passées sont en partie préparés àľaide de véritables modèles qui permettent de passer des données de base aux comptes et qui peuvent dans certains cas être résolus àľaide de calculateurs électroniques.

Là oùľinformation statistique est meilleure, des éléments des comptes peuvent être calculés directement par agrégation des données élémentaires. On peut donc penser qu'une époque viendra où la plus grande partie des comptes nationaux sera préparée àľaide de machines électroniques à partir des données de base.

On peut alors imaginer un monde où les transactions élémentaires seraient enregistrées au moment où elles seraient réalisées, rendant ainsi entièrement automatique la préparation des comptes nationaux. Mais alors les machines pourraient réunir les modèles de préparation et les modèles ďutilisation des comptes. Ľétape intermédiaire que constitue la préparation et la publication des comptes sous la forme actuelle deviendrait alors inutile.
REPORT OF A CONFERENCE ON THE PROPOSALS FOR REVISION OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS, HELD BY THE CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN INCOME AND WEALTH
Authors: Tice Helen Stone
Published: March 2005

This report summarizes the proceedings of a series of meetings called by the Conference on Research in Income and Wealth of the National Bureau of Economic Research in June of 1966. The major conclusions of the conference, as transmitted to the Statistical Office of the United Nations, were as follows: (1) The aim of integrating the various parts of the system of national accounts, including input‐output and financial transactions, is to be welcomed. (2) The more recently developed parts of the system need considerably more work to reach the same level of clarity and usefulness which the national income and product accounts have acquired. (3) Some simplification of the proposed basic system should be considered, involving the identification of a minimum of information that should and could be provided by all countries. (4) In line with the conference's overriding interest in national accounts as an instrument for economic analysis and a means of more informed policy formation, the proposed system needs considerable strengthening in the field of income distribution.
LA METHODE DE PROJECTION A MOYEN TERME DES CIRCUITS FINANCIERS UTILISEE DANS LA PREPARATION DU Ve PLAN FRANÇAIS
Authors: Barthelemy Serge
Published: March 2005

In the course of preparing the Fifth French Plan, it seemed necessary to study the problem of equilibrium in capital markets in the future. For this purpose, a projection was made of the financial needs and resources of the different economic agents. The method employed was not entirely new: some attempts at projection for the medium term had already been made in the preparation of the Fourth Plan, and each year short term projections are made in connection with the different national economic budgets. However, the work on the Fifth Plan departs somewhat from what has been done before. With respect to the Fourth Plan, the methods have been improved, and greater thought has been given to integrating financial problems into the framework of the national accounts. With respect to the short term projections, the problems which must be faced are somewhat different. But more important than the differences are the characteristics which this method shares with all projections based on national accounting which are used in France. It is a part, in the first place, of a very general effort looking toward the integration of all economic forecasts into the same description of the future, taking account of the interdependence of different kinds of phenomena. In the second place, as is the case generally for the different elements of the accounting sketches used in the preparation of the plan, the object of the work is to expose the probable difficulties which will be met in the future. What is sought is essentially methods tending to point out problems, rather than means of preparing unconditional forecasts.

In the presentation which follows of the method of medium term projection of financial flows, three parts will be distinguished. The work in question is part of a large structure of projections, and makes use of a formal scheme which is itself a part of the system of national accounts. It will therefore be convenient to make clear the framework in which the projection of financial flows is situated. In a second section, the method of projection used will be explained in general outline, and the last section will characterize the results obtained and present some reflections on the scope of the method.
U.S. REAL PRODUCT AND REAL FACTOR INPUT, 1929–1967
Authors: Christensen Laurits R. , Jorgenson Dale W.
Published: March 2005

The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual basis for separating social product and social factor input accounts into price and quantity components. Despite the essential similarity between concepts of real product and real factor input, the measurement of social factor outlay in constant prices is not well established in social accounting practice.

Production accounts are constructed for the United States in current and constant prices, including social product and social factor outlay, for the period 1929–1967. The resulting estimates are applied to the measurement of total factor productivity and the study of the responsiveness of product and factor intensities to price changes.
PRIM I: A MODEL OF THE PRICE AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM OF AN OPEN ECONOMY
Authors: Aukrust Odd
Published: March 2005

PRIM I is a numerical model which has been extensively used as a basis for an income policy in Norway in recent years. It is a static, cost‐push, input‐output model. Wage rates, agricultural prices, productivities and world market prices are treated as exogenous variables, and the model derives short‐term changes in income shares and in the national price level from changes in these exogenous variables. A key feature of the model is a distinction between “exposed industries” which are subject to strong foreign price competition, and “sheltered industries” which are relatively free of such competition. These two groups of industries are found to react with very different pricing policies in response to increases in costs; furthermore, possibly for technological reasons, the export industries have greater scope than the majority of the sheltered industries for compensating cost increases through productivity gains. These two facts are shown to have important implications for a price and income policy. It is demonstrated, i.a. that the goal of a stable national price level is, in general, inconsistent with the maintenance of stable income shares when exchange rates are kept constant.
INDEX NUMBERS AND THE COMPUTATION OF FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY1
Authors: Bergson Abram
Published: March 2005

For purposes of analyzing the nature and meaning of index number formulas to be used in the calculation of factor productivity, a distinction is made between interetemporal comparison of factor productivity for a single country and contemporaneous comparison of factor productivity in two different countries. In the former case, the country in question is supposed ideally to be realizing fully its production possibilities, and the concern is seen as appraisal of shifts in such possibilities over time due to the advance of technological knowledge. Following Moorsteen such an advance is taken to be represented by the change in capacity to produce a standard mix of outputs per unit of a standard mix of inputs. Any mix might be standard, but those actually realized at the times in question are of particular interest.

The index number formulas to be applied then depend on the assumed shape of the functions representing production possibilities. The conventional practice of aggregating output arithmetically and inputs geometrically, for example, is in order where production possibilities are given by an elaborated Cobb‐Douglas function, but achieves only more or less approximate results otherwise. The analysis necessarily bears also on the prices at which inputs and outputs are to be valued.

For the case of contemporaneous comparison of different countries, technological knowledge is taken ideally to be the same in the countries considered. Hence the concern is to gauge differences in production efficiency, i.e., realization of production possibilities. With production capacity understood to reflect any shortfall from possibilities, and hence production inefficiency in that sense, the analysis proceeds much as before, but given the fact of inefficiency determination of suitable prices for valuation of inputs and outputs becomes relatively difficult. Alternative expedients, none entirely satisfactory, are explored.
PROBLEMS OF RECORDING ENVIRONMENTAL PHENOMENA IN NATIONAL ACCOUNTING AGGREGATES
Authors: Drechsler László
Published: March 2005

Is it expedient or possible to modify the content of the national accounting aggregates like GDP so that they reflect also the effect of environmental changes like pollution and noise–this is the question the author tries to answer. He points to some analogies with other national accounting problems, where the basic question is also how far should we go in modifying our measuring scale, the market price, in order to get closer to the measurement of some kind of economic welfare.

Reviewing the various possibilities for modifications of the national accounting concepts, the author does not propose any substantial changes. The harm done to the environment as such cannot be measured in monetary terms. The cost of prevention is not a good approximation of the harm done to the environment, since the correlation between these two variables is not strong enough. Nor is the cost of restoration a good measure of the disfunction. Some damages, like noise, lung cancer caused by air pollution, cannot be restored. If–as proposed by some authors–the compensation for the disfunction (e.g. a swimming pool built to compensate for the water pollution) were deducted from GDP, this would not provide a good solution either, since the trouble is the disfunction itself and not the remedying action. (If no swimming pool is built, there is nothing to be deducted?) On the whole, there is no sufficiently sound basis for evaluating the monetary value of environmental damages.

The author attaches great importance to getting more information on environmental phenomena. However, he prefers to supplement the national accounting information by a series of physical, chemical, biological, etc., indicators, instead of changing the national accounting concepts themselves.
QUARTERLY ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL STOCKS IN THE U.S. PRIVATE DOMESTIC ECONOMY, BY MAJOR INDUSTRY GROUPS*
Authors: Kendrick John W. , Lee Kyu Sik
Published: March 2005

This paper describes a study designed to provide quarterly estimates of the real capital stock of the United States by sector and industry, which is being undertaken by the Conference Board. It surveys the history of wealth estimation in the United States, and goes on to describe work now in progress both in the Bureau of Economic Analysis and by private researchers. It then continues with a description of the methodology being used in the Conference Board study.
LOW INCOME IN CANADA
Authors: Love Roger , Oja Gail
Published: March 2005

This paper is divided into two sections‐the first section discusses the history and development of Canadian low income cut‐offs developed by Statistics Canada and the second examines problems relating to the adequacy of one year's income and the treatment of wealth in the low income data.

The first section summarizes the conceptual basis of the Statistics Canada low income cut‐offs that were first introduced for an analysis of 1961 Census data; a description of the data sources for specifying the cut‐offs and examining the low income population is presented; a recently incorporated revision is described; and uses and abuses of the Canadian low income cut‐offs are described.

The second section discusses two main issues. The first issue relates to the adequacy of one year's income as a poverty criterion. Between years there is a significant amount of movement in and out of low income status which varies by socio‐demographic characteristics.

The second issue relates to the effect of ignoring wealth in the derivation of the low income population.

The two concerns are examined empirically with data from the Canadian Survey of Consumer Finances.
THE EXTENSION OF THE UN SNA SUPPLY—DISPOSITION TABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY ANALYSIS1
Authors: Ward Michael
Published: March 2005

The relevance of national accounts data to the broad development planning process which spans varying time horizons is considered. Undue emphasis on aggregated conventional macro‐economic variables and recorded monetary values may have distorted the real vision and objectives of development. At the same time, other important and measurable problems like regional and distributive imbalances have often remained unquantified in traditional planning models. The UN “Supply‐Disposition” table permits a summary description of the basic structure of an economy which can be easily extended within the context of the complete SNA to embrace significant social features without resort to complex inter‐industry relationships. The table, however, loses few of the important dynamic economic properties of a full I–O system. It retains the means of checking the consistency of both overall policy objectives as well as basic data and it enables governments to ensure the necessary equilibrium between physical resource flows and financing capacity in formulating their development plans. The system's internal logic, combined with its potential for greater relevance and flexibility and capacity for fairly rapid and regular up‐dating, makes it a most useful tool for practical planning purposes. Case studies of Zambia, Fiji and Oman are used to illustrate the fundamental concepts and underlying schematic framework of the system and its flexibility.