bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age and the Desire to Marry
Authors: Mahay Jenna , Lewin Alisa C.
Published: April 2007

Understanding attitudes toward marriage at older ages is increasingly important as young adults delay marriage and large numbers of people return to the marriage market after divorce. This study examines age differences in the desire to marry among singles age 18 to 69 years, taking into account selection into marriage. Using data drawn from the General Social Survey (GSS), multinomial regressions show that single men and women age 55 to 69 years have less desire to marry than younger single men and women. This age difference in single people's desire to marry is not fully explained by differences in factors that are likely to affect the real or perceived gains from marriage, such as personal resources, children, experience of divorce, or religiosity.
Coresidence With Parents, Women's Economic Resources, and the Transition to Marriage in Japan
Authors: Raymo James M. , Ono Hiromi
Published: April 2007

Integrating three theoretical explanations for declining rates of marriage in Japan, the authors develop hypotheses in which linkages between benefits of coresidence with parents and marriage timing are moderated by women's own socioeconomic characteristics. To evaluate these hypothesized interactive relationships, data from a panel survey of Japanese women is used to estimate hazard models for the transition from the parental home to first marriage. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that limited domestic responsibilities contribute to later marriage among coresident women with higher levels of human capital. Less evidence is found for the hypothesis that limited living expenses are associated with later marriage among women whose potential husbands are likely to have more tenuous economic prospects. The authors conclude that coresidence with parents plays a potentially important role in the marriage behavior of economically independent women in societies where family formation is relatively incompatible with full-time work for women.
Matrilineal Family Ties and Marital Dissolution in Ghana
Authors: Takyi Baffour K. , Gyimah Stephen Obeng
Published: April 2007

Although previous work has attributed the instability of African marriages to the diffusion of Western norms and values in the region, fewer attempts have been made to empirically assess how Africa's internal institutional structures, such as extended kinship ties, impact marital outcomes. Guided by rational choice and exchange theories, we argue that the strong bonds that exist among matrilineal family members in particular, rather than within the conjugal unit, may be important to understanding the dynamics of marital processes in the region, and particularly divorce processes. We test our hypothesis with data from the 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys. Consistent with our hypothesis, the results indicate a significantly higher risk of divorce among matrilineal than nonmatrilineal women. The matrilineal effect persisted even after we controlled for sociocultural and demographic characteristics.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters for Assessing Risk of Recurrent Hamstring Injuries in Elite Athletes
Authors: Koulouris George , Connell David A. , Brukner Peter , Schneider-Kolsky Michal
Published: April 2007

Background

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has established its usefulness in diagnosing hamstring muscle strain and identifying features correlating with the duration of rehabilitation in athletes; however, data are currently lacking that may predict which imaging parameters may be predictive of a repeat strain.

Purpose

This study was conducted to identify whether any MR imaging-identifiable parameters are predictive of athletes at risk of sustaining a recurrent hamstring strain in the same playing season.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Forty-one players of the Australian Football League who sustained a hamstring injury underwent MR examination within 3 days of injury between February and August 2002. The imaging parameters measured were the length of injury, cross-sectional area, the specific muscle involved, and the location of the injury within the muscle-tendon unit. Players who suffered a repeat injury during the same season were reimaged, and baseline and repeat injury measurements were compared. Comparison was also made between this group and those who sustained a single strain.

Results

Forty-one players sustained hamstring strains that were positive on MR imaging, with 31 injured once and 10 suffering a second injury. The mean length of hamstring muscle injury for the isolated group was 83.4 mm, compared with 98.7 mm for the reinjury group (P = .35). In the reinjury group, the second strain was also of greater length than the original (mean, 107.5 mm; P = .07). Ninety percent of players sustaining a repeat injury demonstrated an injury length greater than 60 mm, compared with only 58% in the single strain group (P = .01). Only 7% of players (1 of 14) with a strain <60 mm suffered a repeat injury. Of the 27 players sustaining a hamstring strain >60 mm, 33% (9 of 27) suffered a repeat injury. Of all the parameters assessed, only a history of anterior cruciate ligament sprain was a statistically significant predictor for suffering a second strain during the same season of competition.

Conclusion

A history of anterior cruciate ligament injury was the only statistically significant risk factor for a recurrent hamstring strain in our study. Of the imaging parameters, the MR length of a strain had the strongest correlation association with a repeat hamstring strain and therefore may assist in identifying which athletes are more likely to suffer further reinjury.
Typologies of Abuse Among Afro-Trinidadian Women
Authors: Hadeed Linda F. , El-Bassel Nabila
Published: April 2007

This study examines typologies of abusive behaviors among Afro-Trinidadian women. A total of 17 women participated in a 2-hour, face-to-face interview. The findings suggest that women experience multiple types of abuse including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviors. This article discusses the implications of the findings for interventions with abused women.
Perceptions of Victims and Perpetrators in a Depicted Child Sexual Abuse Case
Authors: Rogers Paul , Davies Michelle
Published: April 2007

This study investigated the roles of respondent, perpetrator, and victim gender on attributions toward a 10- or 15-year-old victim and an adult perpetrator in a hypothetical sexual abuse case. It was predicted (a) that female respondents would be more provictim and antiperpetrator than men, (b) that 10-year-old victims would be deemed more credible than 15-year-olds, and (c) that men would deem a 15-year-old male victim more culpable when child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a female abuser. Three hundred thirty-seven respondents read a 350-word sexual abuse depiction in which victim age, victim gender, and perpetrator gender were varied between respondents. Respondents then completed a 14-item attribution scale, relating to victim blame, perpetrator blame, assault severity, and victim credibility. A series of ANOVAs revealed support for all predictions. Results are discussed in relation to gender role attitudes. Suggestions for future work also considered.
Typologies of Adolescent Dating Violence
Authors: Foshee Vangie A. , Bauman Karl E. , Linder Fletcher , Rice Jennifer , Wilcher Rose
Published: April 2007

Acts scales, the most common way of measuring partner violence, have been criticized for being too simplistic to capture the complexities of partner violence. An alternative measurement approach is to use typologies that consider various aspects of context. In this study, the authors identified typologies of dating violence perpetration by adolescents. They conducted in-depth interviews with 116 girls and boys previously identified by an acts scale as perpetrators of dating violence. They provided narrative descriptions of their dating violence acts. For boys and girls, many acts considered violent by the acts scale were subsequently recanted or described as nonviolent. From the narratives, they identified four types of female perpetration that were distinguished by motives, precipitating events, and the abuse history of the partners. One type of perpetration accounted for most acts by boys. The findings are discussed relative to dating violence measurement, prevention and treatment, and development of theory.
Associations of Dating Violence Victimization With Lifetime Participation, Co-Occurrence, and Early Initiation of Risk Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students
Authors: Eaton Danice K. , Davis Kristen S. , Barrios Lisa , Brener Nancy D. , Noonan Rita K.
Published: April 2007

This study examined the association of victimization in a physically violent dating relationship with risk behaviors, age of risk behavior initiation, and co-occurrence of risk behaviors among students in grades 9 through 12 in the United States. Data were from the 2003 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Nearly 9% of students reported experiencing dating violence victimization. Dating violence victimization was associated with alcohol use, marijuana use, and having ever had sexual intercourse among female students and having ever had sexual intercourse among male students. Dating violence victimization also was associated with early initiation of alcohol use among female students. The odds of dating violence victimization increased as the number of risk behaviors increased and as the number of lifetime sexual partners increased. These risk behavior patterns should serve as warning signs of elevated risk for dating violence victimization and may be helpful in identifying adolescents who could benefit from targeted, preventive interventions.
Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Mothers' Child Abuse Potential
Authors: Casanueva Cecilia E. , Martin Sandra L.
Published: April 2007

This research examines whether women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy have a higher child abuse potential than women who have not experienced IPV. Data were analyzed from a longitudinal investigation of IPV during pregnancy. This study recruited 88 pregnant women during prenatal care and followed them for 1½ years. IPV was assessed using the Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2). The woman's potential for child abuse was assessed using the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI). There was a significant positive association between IPV and child abuse potential scores ( p = .003), even after controlling for sociodemographics. The odds of having a high level of child abuse potential were 3 times greater for women who were victims of IPV compared to nonvictims. Higher child abuse potential scores of the victimized women resulted mainly from the Distress and Problems with Others CAPI scales.
Latent Profiles Among Sexual Assault Survivors
Authors: Macy Rebecca J. , Nurius Paula S. , Norris Jeanette
Published: April 2007

Rape resistance trainings need to prepare women to recognize and resist sexual assault across a range of experiences and contexts. To help address this need, this research used an investigation of 415 college women who completed a survey about their situational responding to an experience of acquaintance sexual assault. A previously established person-centered analysis model of four distinct risk and protective factor profiles was used to investigate the variability in women's responding. The profiling factors included women's prior victimization, alcohol consumption, relationship expectancies of the assailant, and assertive precautionary habits. Multivariate ANOVA was used to test for differences among the four profile groups on their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responding. Results showed that the profile groups significantly differed in their assault responses. The findings highlight the utility of holistic, multivariate analyses for understanding women's sexual assault responses and help inform tailored resistance and empowerment trainings.
Technology-Based Approaches to Preventing Youth Violence
Authors: Mareschal Patrice M. , McKee William L. , Jackson S. Eric , Hanson Katherine L.
Published: April 2007

This study uses implementation research and case study methodologies to evaluate the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service's Youth Initiative in four communities. In each location, information technology was used to involve stakeholders in developing solutions to the youth violence problem. The purpose of this article is to document the different approaches to program development and implementation across cases and provide feedback to policy makers and program stakeholders that can be used to make future improvements. The programs are assessed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention, and feedback for improvement is provided. The biggest successes include assessing the nature and extent of youth violence in local communities, identifying those who would benefit from intervention, and deciding how to reach out to participants. Establishing clear goals proved to be the biggest challenge.
Will They Tell? Weapons Reporting by Middle-School Youth
Authors: Brank Eve M. , Woolard Jennifer L. , Brown Veda E. , Fondacaro Mark , Luescher Jennifer L. , Chinn Ramona G. , Miller Scott A.
Published: April 2007

Adding to the body of research that describes students who will bring weapons to school, the current research examined middle-school students' willingness to report when they know someone has a weapon at school. The sample included 1,957 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from 27 schools in five states. Overall, a majority of students indicated that they would be willing to report; however, there were significant effects for the conditions of reporting (such as anonymity) and effects for some demographic characteristics. Furthermore, students who perceived adult or parental involvement in their lives were more willing to report. In contrast, students with delinquent involvement (self or peers) were significantly less likely to report the presence of weapons.
An IAP retrotransposon in the mouse ADAMTS13 gene creates ADAMTS13 variant proteins that are less effective in cleaving von Willebrand factor multimers
Authors: Zhou Wenhua , Bouhassira Eric E. , Tsai Han-Mou
Published: April 2007

Severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, a von Willebrand factor (VWF)–cleaving metalloprotease, causes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. When analyzed with VWF multimers, but not with an abbreviated VWF peptide (VWF73) as the substrate, the plasma ADAMTS13 activity levels of mouse strains segregated into a high and a low group that differed by approximately 10 fold. Low ADAMTS13 activity was detected in mice containing 2 alleles of intracisternal A-type particle (IAP) retrotransposon sequence in the ADAMTS13 gene. Molecular cloning of mouse ADAMTS13 identified 2 truncated variants (IAP-a and IAP-b) in the low-activity mice. Both of the IAP variants lacked the 2 carboxyl terminus thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR) and CUB domains of full-length ADAMTS13. The IAP-b variant also had splicing abnormalities affecting the spacer domain sequence and had miniscule enzymatic activity. Compared with full-length ADAMTS13, the IAP-a variant was approximately one ninth as active in cleaving VWF multimers but was only slightly less active in cleaving VWF73 peptide. Recombinant human ADAMTS13 was also less effective in cleaving VWF multimers than VWF73 when the C-terminal TSR sequence was deleted. In summary, the carboxyl terminus TSR sequence is important for cleaving VWF multimers. Assay results should be interpreted with caution when peptide substrates are used for analysis of variant ADAMTS13 proteins.
Comparison of Seven Serum Thyroglobulin Assays in the Follow-Up of Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer Patients
Authors: Schlumberger M. , Hitzel A. , Toubert M. E. , Corone C. , Troalen F. , Schlageter M. H. , Claustrat F. , Koscielny S. , Taieb D. , Toubeau M. , Bonichon F. , Borson-Chazot F. , Leenhardt L. , Schvartz C. , Dejax C. , Brenot-Rossi I. , Torlontano M. , Tenenbaum F. , Bardet S. , Bussière F. , Girard J. J. , Morel O. , Schneegans O. , Schlienger J. L. , Prost A. , So D. , Archambeaud F. , Ricard M. , Benhamou E.
Published: April 2007

Background: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is the marker of differentiated thyroid cancer after initial treatment and TSH stimulation increases its sensitivity for the diagnosis of recurrent disease.

Aim: The goal of the study is to compare the diagnostic values of seven methods for serum Tg measurement for detecting recurrent disease both during L-T4 treatment and after TSH stimulation.

Methods: Thyroid cancer patients who had no evidence of persistent disease after initial treatment (total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation) were studied at 3 months on L-T4 treatment (Tg1) and then at 9–12 months after withdrawal or recombinant human TSH stimulation (Tg2). Sera with anti-Tg antibodies or with an abnormal recovery test result were excluded from Tg analysis with the corresponding assay. The results of serum Tg determination were compared to the clinical status of the patient at the end of follow-up.

Results: Thirty recurrences were detected among 944 patients. A control 131I total body scan had a low sensitivity, a low specificity, and a low clinical impact. Assuming a common cutoff for all Tg assays at 0.9 ng/ml, sensitivity ranged from 19–40% and 68–76% and specificity ranged from 92–97% and 81–91% for Tg 1 and Tg2, respectively. Using assays with a functional sensitivity at 0.2–0.3 ng/ml, sensitivity was 54–63% and specificity was 89% for Tg1. Using the two methods with a lowest functional sensitivity at 0.02 and 0.11 ng/ml resulted in a higher sensitivity for Tg1 (81% and 78%), but at the expense of a loss of specificity (42% and 63%); finally, for these two methods, using an optimized functional sensitivity according to receiver operating characteristic curves at 0.22 and 0.27 ng/ml resulted in a sensitivity at 65% and specificity at 85–87% for Tg1.

Conclusion: Using an assay with a lower functional sensitivity may give an earlier indication of the presence of Tg in the serum on L-T4 treatment and may be used to study the trend in serum Tg without performing any TSH stimulation. Serum Tg determination obtained after TSH stimulation still permits a more reliable assessment of cure and patient’s reassurance.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysregulation and Memory Impairments in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Bruehl Hannah , Rueger Melanie , Dziobek Isabel , Sweat Victoria , Tirsi Aziz , Javier Elizabeth , Arentoft Alyssa , Wolf Oliver T. , Convit Antonio
Published: April 2007

Context: There is evidence of both hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the exact nature and the associations between these abnormalities remain unclear.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to characterize the nature of the HPA dysregulation in T2DM and ascertain whether impaired cognition in T2DM could be attributed to these abnormalities.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed, contrasting matched groups on HPA axis function and cognition by using the combined dexamethasone (DEX)/CRH test and a neuropsychological battery assessing declarative and working memory, attention, and executive function.

Setting: The study was conducted in a research clinic in an academic medical center.

Participants: Participants were volunteers functioning in the cognitively normal range. We studied 30 middle-aged individuals with T2DM, on average 7.5 yr since diabetes diagnosis, and 30 age-, gender-, and education-matched controls.

Main Outcome Measures: Basal cortisol levels, cortisol levels during the DEX/CRH test, and performance on neuropsychological tests were measured.

Results: Individuals with T2DM had elevated basal plasma cortisol levels, higher levels after DEX suppression, and a larger response to CRH (all P ≤ 0.005). Among individuals with T2DM, cortisol levels during the DEX/CRH test were positively associated with glycosylated hemoglobin (P = 0.05), independent of age, body mass index, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diabetic subjects showed cognitive impairments restricted to declarative memory. Across all subjects, declarative memory was inversely associated with cortisol levels; however, these associations were subsumed by glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin).

Conclusions: HPA hyperactivity and declarative memory deficits are present in T2DM. Both alterations may reflect the negative impact of poor glycemic control on the hippocampal formation.
Gold Electrodes Modified with Multilayers of M–TTF–Tetrathiolate (M = NiII and CuII, TTF = Tetrathiafulvalene)
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhu Qin-Yu , Bian Guo-Qing , Guo Wen-Juan , Lu Wen , Dai Jie
Published: April 2007

Gold electrodes, on which multilayered metal–TTF derivatives (M–TTFS4) were assembled, exhibit a redox activity, and the redox potentials are sensitive to the metal ions being coordinated. The M–TTFS4 showed broad and very strong absorbance in the range of near IR, attributed to the charge-transfer band between the metal ions and the ligand.
Nitrogen-linked Aromatic Poly(2,7-carbazole)s: Partially Annulated Poly(m-aniline)s
Authors: Michinobu Tsuyoshi , Kumazawa Hiroe , Shigehara Kiyotaka
Published: April 2007

Nitrogen-linked aromatic carbazole polymers were prepared by palladium-catalyzed amination reactions. They are classified as a partially annulated poly(m-aniline), and show a bathochromic shift of absorption maxima as well as reversible redox responses in solutions.
Methods of positioning fish for surgery or other procedures out of water
Authors: Brattelid Trond , Smith Adrian J.
Published: April 2007

Several methods are available for positioning fish and other aquatic species during surgery or other experimental procedures out of water. This paper reviews current methods in the light of criteria for humane handling, and suggests the implementation of a novel method, currently used for positioning mammals during surgery, that gives optimal support and a minimum of damage.
C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement in canine serum following experimentally-induced acute gastric mucosal injury
Authors: Otabe Kouji , Ito Tsuneo , Sugimoto Tetsuro , Yamamoto Shizuo
Published: April 2007

To establish the diagnostic significance of canine C-reactive protein (CRP) in gastrointestinal disorders, the serum canine CRP concentration was measured in dogs with experimentally-induced acute gastric mucosal injury.

Gastric injury was induced in one male and one female beagle by a single dose oral administration of acetylsalicylic acid (200 mg/kg body weight) or indomethacin (60 mg/kg body weight), or sodium chloride (1000 mg/kg body weight). CRP was measured prior to dose, and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after the administration of the drugs, together with the total leucocyte counts and serum iron.

Changes in the serum CRP in dogs with gastric injury were similar for the three test compounds, and reflected by the endoscopic findings. CRP values increased from 87 to 390 mg/l within 1 to 3 days after the compound administration but returned nearly to the predose levels within 14 days. Endoscopy revealed haemorrhagic erosion of the gastric mucosa in all dogs one day after dosing, with no evidence of the erosions observed after 7 days in many of the dogs. Changes of the total leucocyte and serum iron also occurred following gastric injury, but these changes were not as marked as those observed for CRP.

The results of this study suggest that serum CRP level may be a useful indicator of a gastrointestinal mucosal injury in dogs.
Transmission of rat and guineapig Haemophilus spp. to mice and rats
Authors: Boot R. , Thuis H. C. W. , Veenema J. L.
Published: April 2007

Mice and rats, free from Pasteurellaceae, were exposed to Haemophilus spp. (V-factor dependent pasteurellaceae) by housing in proximity to infected rats or guineapigs, and monitored by culture and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cross infection. A minority of mice became infected when exposed to Haemophilus-infected rats but none when exposed to guineapigs. Rats were readily infected when exposed to Haemophilus-infected guineapigs or rats. Although Pasteurellaceae infections are commonly considered as host specific, our data show that Haemophilus spp. can cross the species barrier from rats to mice and from guineapigs to rats.
Disturbance of cardiovascular circadian rhythms by pertussis vaccine in freely-moving rats
Authors: Vleeming W. , van de Kuil A. , te Biesebeek J. D. , van der Laan J. W. , de Wildt D. J. , van Amsterdam J. G. C.
Published: April 2007

Vaccination of young children with diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and pertussis (DTPoP) vaccine is effective in preventing outbreaks of whooping cough but adverse events sometimes occur. This pilot study shows that in freely-moving rats, multiple treatment with DTPoP (at day 0 and day 5, 6 ml/kg i.v.) increased heart rate (HR) for 5 days after the first treatment and decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for at least 26 days after the first treatment and inhibited the circadian rhythm of HR and DBP for at least 10 days. DTPo vaccine, containing no pertussis vaccine, was free of such effects. Thus, in rats, the pertussis component of DTPoP acts on the cardiovascular system and disturbs its circadian rhythm. The contribution of these findings to clinical adverse effects is as yet unknown and needs further research.
A refined method for sequential blood sampling by tail incision in rats
Authors: Fluttert Marc , Dalm Sergiu , Oitzl Melly S.
Published: April 2007

Levels of endogenous or administered substances can be estimated by blood sampling. This allows an evaluation of the relationship between clinical signs, physiological parameters, pharmacological treatments and behaviour of the animal. We show that blood samples can be taken occasionally as well as sequentially by means of a small incision at the end of the rats' tails. Up to 300 μl of blood can be collected within 90s. The advantages of this method are: (i) anaesthesia and surgery or restraint of the animal are not necessary, (ii) the procedure can be considered stress-free as indicated by the low, basal levels of the stress hormone corticosterone, even with frequent sequential blood sampling over 3 h, and (iii) it can be used for longitudinal studies allowing intra-individual comparisons over months and even years. Blood samples collected via an intravenous catheter and, at the same time, by our tail incision method resulted in comparable amounts of corticosterone. Moreover, we consider the tail incision method for rats to be 'animal-friendly' and a real alternative to other conventionally used blood sampling techniques.
Oral buprenorphine is anti-inflammatory and modulates the pathogenesis of streptococcal cell wall polymer-induced arthritis in the Lew/SSN rat
Authors: Volker D. , Bate M. , Gentle R. , Garg M.
Published: April 2007

This study was carried out to determine an effective regimen for pain management in streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis in female Lew/SSN rats. Forty weanling rats (in 2 groups) were trained to accept disks of jelly as part of their dietary regimen. At 8 weeks of age weighing 150 g, SCW arthritis was induced and sublingual buprenorphine tablets were incorporated into the jelly disks to alleviate the pain of acute arthritis, which developed 24 h post-induction. Group A rats received buprenorphine at a rate of 1 mg/kg 12 hourly. Group B rats received buprenorphine at a rate of 2 mg/kg 12 hourly. Both groups of rats were monitored for symptoms of distress using an adaptation of the Morton and Griffin scale of adverse reactions. Group A rats with severe arthritis required additional subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of buprenorphine to alleviate the adverse effects of arthritis. Group B rats, with twice the dose of buprenorphine did not require additional s.c. injections of buprenorphine. Histological sections of rat hocks indicated that the inflammation was suppressed in Group B rats. We concluded that oral administration of buprenorphine is an effective method of pain management in the pathogenesis of SCW-induced arthritis in Lew/SSN rats. In this model of arthritis, oral buprenorphine has a significant anti-inflammatory effect and appears to modulate the destructive arthritic phase in joints in this animal model of arthritis.
Reference data for the principal physiological indicators in three species of laboratory animals
Authors: Alemán C. L. , Noa M. , Más R. , Rodeiro I. , Mesa R. , Menéndez R. , Gámez R. , Hernández C.
Published: April 2007

This paper contains the reference data for the main physiological indicators of three species of laboratory animals: mice, rabbits and dogs. Data listed include the mean and the standard deviation of haematology, serum biochemistry and organ weight to body weight ratio. In addition, pathological studies including microscopical examination of organs and tissues were also done. Comparisons between sexes were analysed.
Transdermal fentanyl compared with parenteral buprenorphine in post-surgical pain in swine: a case study
Authors: Harvey-Clark C. J. , Gilespie K. , Riggs K. W.
Published: April 2007

The use of pigs as research animals in survival surgery has increased greatly in the last 15 years. Personnel conducting pig research have been hampered by a lack of proven long-acting analgesics for treatment of surgical pain of longer duration, and by a lack of reliable non-subjective parameters for the assessment of pain relief. The efficacy of the mixed opioid agonist-antagonist buprenorphine hydrochloride 0.10 mg/kg prn ( n = 2) in the treatment of post-thoracotomy pain was compared with that of a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) delivering 25 μg/h ( n = 3) or 50 μg/h ( n = 2) of the mu opioid agonist fentanyl hydrochloride. Food consumption, pain score, activity level and rate of movement were assessed under four conditions: normal pre-operative control (24 h), pre-operative with analgesic alone (24 h) and post-operative days 1, 2, 3 (72 h). Serum concentration-time curves for fentanyl in clinical cases revealed that female Yorkshire cross pigs weighing 26.2±2.1 kg achieved serum values in the recognized human therapeutic range when treated with TTS fentanyl at 50 μg/h and experienced adequate pain control. Pigs treated with 25 μg/h TTS fentanyl had serum levels below the human analgesic range, experienced less adequate analgesia, and required supplemental analgesia in some cases. Based on existing pharmacokinetic data for fentanyl in pigs, the rate of uptake of TTS fentanyl when attached on inter-scapular skin was lower than predicted. Clinical pain scores and time intervals between each major postural change were not affected by analgesics in the absence of pain, but increased in all groups after surgery regardless of treatment. Food consumption was unaffected by analgesic treatment alone but decreased in all groups after surgery regardless of treatment. Analgesic effects on postoperative activity level were variable. TTS fentanyl at appropriate doses is a cost effective means of delivering basal analgesia following major surgery in pigs.
Immunization of rabbits against Pasteurella multocida using a commercial swine vaccine
Authors: Suckow M. A.
Published: April 2007

Elaboration of heat-labile toxin (PMT) is an important virulence factor in some isolates of Pasteurella multocida from rabbits. Previously, we reported that immunization with inactivated PMT (IPMT) stimulated protective immunity to challenges from PMT. To test the hypothesis that immunization with a commercial swine vaccine containing IPMT stimulates similar protective immunity, groups of five rabbits were inoculated twice intramuscularly (i.m.), 10 days apart, with 0.5 ml of sterile saline or a commercial swine P. multocida bacterin-toxoid (BT). In addition, a group was inoculated intranasally with 5 μg of IPMT. Serum and nasal lavage samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after initial immunization and assayed by ELISA for anti-PMT antibody. Serum IgG and nasal lavage IgA were detectable by day 14 in BT and IPMT-immunized rabbits, but not in the saline controls. Groups of similarly inoculated rabbits were then challenged intranasally with 28 μg of PMT 21 days after initial immunization, and necropsied 7 days later, along with control challenged and non-challenged rabbits. Histological lesion severity was graded on a numerical scale. Nonimmunized and saline, challenged controls developed more severe pneumonia, pleuritis, nasal turbinate atrophy and testicular atrophy than IPMT and BT-immunized rabbits. The results confirm the hypothesis that immunization with a commercial swine P. multocida BT confers protective immunity in rabbits against challenges from PMT.
Comparison of clinical pathology parameters with two different blood sampling techniques in rats: retrobulbar plexus versus sublingual vein
Authors: Mahl Andreas , Heining Peter , Ulrich Peter , Jakubowski Josef , Bobadilla Maria , Zeller Walter , Bergmann Reinhard , Singer Thomas , Meister Lothar
Published: April 2007

Blood samples were taken from the retrobulbar venous plexus or the sublingual vein of male HanIbm:Wist rats to compare clinical pathology parameters between the two sampling techniques. By analogy with a pharmacokinetic study, blood was sampled six times during one day from unfasted animals. After 3 weeks of recovery, blood was taken from fasted animals on a single occasion. In addition, prolactin and corticosterone levels were determined to compare stress-related effects between the two sampling methods. Body weight development and food consumption were similar after single as well as after repeated blood sampling for the two blood sampling techniques. Haemotological evaluation showed a gradual decrease in erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit after repeated blood sampling. Repeated withdrawal of blood samples over 24 h corresponding to approximately 22% of the total blood volume resulted in a decrease in red blood cell parameters by up to 30%. The withdrawal of approximately 10% of the total blood volume was associated with a decrease in these parameters by up to 10% and should not be exceeded for animal welfare reasons and to allow a reliable evaluation of data in a study. Repeated blood sampling was associated with an initial decrease in the number of white blood cells, mainly due to a reduction in lymphocytes; white blood cell counts were slightly increased one day after. The decrease in lymphocytes and the increase in neutrophils after repeated sampling were generally slightly more pronounced in the blood from the retrobulbar plexus than from the sublingual vein. Comparison of serum clinical chemistry data showed significantly higher activities of creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase in samples from the retrobulbar plexus. These findings suggest a higher degree of tissue damage with blood sampling from the retrobulbar plexus than from the sublingual vein. Despite a large inter-individual variability, higher mean values of prolactin on each occasion and corticosterone after a single sample in fasted animals indicate a higher stress associated with blood sampling from the retrobulbar plexus.
Antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates from laboratory animal colonies naive to antibiotic treatment
Authors: Kornerup Hansen Axel , Velschow Sten
Published: April 2007

Antiobiogrammes were made of a number of isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pasteurella pneumotropica derived from rodent, rabbit or minipig colonies never treated with antibiotics. For S. aureus no differences between rats and mice were found in the percentage of resistant isolates. Gentamicin and erythromycin were found to be the most efficient, while the highest percentages of resistance were found to be against penicillins and sulphonamides. In general, the results from antibiogrammes on E. coli were rather uniform, with only slight differences between isolates from different species, except that more vancomycin and tetracycline-resistant minipig isolates were found. In almost all isolates of E. coli, resistance was shown against penicillin, fucidin, macrolides, lincosamides and tiamulin. For a number of antibiotics, mouse isolates of P. pneumotropica were more frequently found to be sensitive than rat isolates. The resistance patterns of E. coli from the minipigs were quite similar to resistance patterns found in farm pigs, but apart from this, the resistance patterns of the bacterial species tested did not resemble human or farm animal patterns in any of the animal species, and, therefore, these studies do not support the theory that S. aureus and E. coli in laboratory animal colonies derive from the normal flora of the human caretakers. The fact that rodent species of E. coli, in contrast to human and farm animal species, are sensitive to ampicillin, tetracyclines, and the combination of sulphonamides and trimethoprim, might be due to the fact that these antibiotics are not used in rodent populations.
Effects of acute blood removal via the sublingual vein on haematological and clinical parameters in Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Nahas K. , Provost J.-P. , Baneux Ph. , Rabemampianina Y.
Published: April 2007

Haematological and clinical effects were evaluated after multiple blood samplings over 24 h in the laboratory rat and for up to 22 days after collection to determine the time required for a return to baseline values. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 7/sex/group) were bled 4 times over 24 h and blood samples of 1.2, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.2 ml were taken. There were no adverse clinical signs and no statistically significant differences in body weight, body weight gain and food consumption. The acute effect on main haematological parameters of blood removal over 24 h consisted of reductions of red blood cell count, haemoglobin and haematocrit which were similar for blood removal exceeding 7.5% and less than 15% of circulating blood volume, and the reductions were positively related to the amount of blood loss beyond 15%. Time to recover to baseline values was also proportional to the initial blood collection volume and was estimated to range from 48h for amounts from 5% to below 7.5%, 12 days for amounts from 7.5% to up to 20% and 19 days for amounts above 20%. Recommendations are made concerning suitable blood collection regimes.
Transmission of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I into adult mice
Authors: Ohsugi T.
Published: April 2007

Human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-transformed rabbit T-cells, F647a, were intraperitoneally injected into eight 10-week-old C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mice (1 × 107 F647a cells/mouse), respectively. Antibody titres against HTLV-I increased to a peak at 1-3 months after injection in both C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mice. At 12 months after injection, antibody titres of two of the eight C3H/HeJ mice became undetectable, whereas those of all the C3H/He mice still ranged from 1:10 to 1:40. Sera from both seropositive C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mice reacted with HTLV-I core proteins, but not with the env protein. HTLV-I proviral sequences were detected in two of eight C3H/He mice and three of the eight C3H/HeJ mice. These results suggest that HTLV-I is able to infect an adult mouse.
Medication Safety: Effect of Content and Format of Prescription Drug Labels on Readability, Understanding, and Medication Use: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shrank William , Avorn Jerry , Rolon Cony , Shekelle Paul
Published: April 2007

Objective:

To evaluate the evidence regarding the optimal content and format of prescription labels that might improve readability, understanding, and medication use.

Data Sources:

We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews from MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database (1990–June 2005), supplemented by reference mining and reference lists from a technical expert panel.

Study Selection:

We selected studies that focused on the content of physician–patient communication about medications and the content and format of prescription drug iabels.

Data Extraction:

Two reviewers extracted and synthesized information about study design, populations, and outcomes,

Data Synthesis:

Of 2009 articles screened, 36 that addressed the content of physician–patient communication about medications and 69 that were related to the content or format of medication labels met review criteria. Findings showed that patients request information about a drug's indication, expected benefits, duration of therapy, and a thorough list of potential adverse effects. The evidence about label format supports the use of larger fonts, lists, headers, and white space, using simple language and logical organization to improve readability and comprehension. Evidence was not sufficient to support the use of pictographic icons. Little evidence linked label design or content to measurable health outcomes, adherence, or safety.

Conclusions:

Evidence suggests that specific content and format of prescription drug labels facilitate communication with and comprehension by patients. Efforts to improve the labels should be guided by such evidence, although additional study assessing the influence of label design on medication-taking behavior and health outcomes is needed. Several policy options exist to require minimal standards to optimize medical therapy, particularly in light of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
The local character expansion near a tame, semisimple element
Authors: Adler Jeffrey D , Korman Jonathan
Published: April 2007

Consider the character of an irreducible admissible representation of a p-adic reductive group. The Harish-Chandra-Howe local expansion expresses this character near a semisimple element as a linear combination of Fourier transforms of nilpotent orbital integrals. Under mild hypotheses, we describe an explicit region on which the local character expansion is valid. We assume neither that the group is connected, nor that the underlying field has characteristic zero.
Central critical values of modular L -functions and coefficients of half-integral weight modular forms modulo ℓ
Authors: Ahlgren Scott D , Boylan Matthew
Published: April 2007

If F(z) is a newform of weight 2λ and D is a fundamental discriminant, then let L(F ⊗ χD,s) be the usual twisted L-series. We study the algebraic parts of the central critical values of these twisted L-series modulo primes . We show that if there are two D (subject to some local conditions) for which the algebraic part of L(F ⊗ χD, λ) is not 0 (mod l), then there are infinitely many such D. These results depend on precise nonvanishing results for the Fourier coefficients of half-integral weight modular forms modulo l, which are of independent interest.
Using stacks to impose tangency conditions on curves
Authors: Cadman Charles
Published: April 2007

We define a Deligne-Mumford stack XD,r which depends on a scheme X, an effective Cartier divisor D ⊂ X, and a positive integer r. Then we show that the Abramovich-Vistoli moduli stack of stable maps into XD,r provides compactifications of the locally closed substacks of M g,n(X, β) corresponding to relative stable maps.
Uniqueness results for the moonshine vertex operator algebra
Authors: Dong Chongying , Griess Robert L. , Lam Ching Hung
Published: April 2007

It is proved that the vertex operator algebra V is isomorphic to the moonshine VOA V of Frenkel-Lepowsky-Meurman if it satisfies conditions (a,b,c,d) or (a',b,c,d). These conditions are: (a) V is the only irreducible module for itself and V is C2-cofinite; (a') dim Vn ≤ dim Vn for n ≥ 3; the central charge is 24; V1 = 0; V2 (under the first product on V) is isomorphic to the Griess algebra. Our two main theorems therefore establish weak versions of the FLM uniqueness conjecture for the moonshine vertex operator algebra. We believe that these are the first such results.
Calibrations and isoperimetric profiles
Authors: Grimaldi Renata , Pansu P. (Pierre)
Published: April 2007

We equip many noncompact nonsimply connected surfaces with smooth Riemannian metrics whose isoperimetric profile is smooth, a highly nongeneric property. The computation of the profile is based on a calibration argument, a rearrangement argument, the Bol-Fiala curvature dependent inequality, together with new results on the profile of surfaces of revolution and some hardware know-how.
Conformal deformations of the smallest eigenvalue of the Ricci tensor
Authors: Guan Pengfei , Wang Guofang
Published: April 2007

We consider deformations of metrics in a given conformal class such that the smallest eigenvalue of the Ricci tensor is a constant. It is related to the notion of minimal volumes in comparison geometry. Such a metric with the smallest eigenvalue of the Ricci tensor to be a constant is an extremal metric of volume in a suitable sense in the conformal class. The problem is reduced to solve a Pucci type equation with respect to the Schouten tensor. We establish a local gradient estimate for this type of conformally invariant fully nonlinear uniform elliptic equations. Combining it with the theory of fully nonlinear equations, we establish the existence of solutions for this equation.
Genus-2 Gromov-Witten invariants for manifolds with semisimple quantum cohomology
Authors: Liu Xiaobo
Published: April 2007

In this paper, we give a simple formula for the generating function of genus-2 Gromov- Witten invariants for manifolds with semisimple quantum cohomology, and use this formula to prove the genus-2 Virasoro conjecture.
Bounded domains which are universal for minimal surfaces
Authors: Martín Francisco , Meeks William , Nadirashvili Nikolai
Published: April 2007

We construct open domains in R3 which do not admit complete properly immersed minimal surfaces with an annular end. These domains can not be smooth by a recent result of Mart´ın and Morales.
HZ -algebra spectra are differential graded algebras
Authors: Shipley Brooke
Published: April 2007

We show that the homotopy theory of differential graded algebras coincides with the homotopy theory of HZ-algebra spectra. Namely, we construct Quillen equivalences between the Quillen model categories of (unbounded) differential graded algebras and HZ-algebra spectra. We also construct Quillen equivalences between the differential graded modules and module spectra over these algebras. We use these equivalences in turn to produce algebraic models for rational stable model categories. We show that basically any rational stable model category is Quillen equivalent to modules over a differential graded Q-algebra (with many objects).
Bronze for Gold: Subjectivity in Lucian's Dialogues of the Courtesans
Authors: Gilhuly Kate
Published: April 2007

This paper analyzes the construction of subjectivity in Lucian's Dialogues of the Courtesans. Lucian manipulates expectations by mingling the characters of comedy with the form of philosophy and thus produces a complex subject. A close reading of Dialogue 6 suggests that through a cryptic allusion to Plato and Homer, Lucian presents the courtesan through the lens of elite Greek masculine subjectivity. The subject that emerges in this dialogue through the interplay of male and female, past and present, and high and low culture embodies the anxieties of the sophist in the Roman empire.
Greek Ethnicity in Eusebius' Praeparatio Evangelica
Authors: Johnson Aaron P
Published: April 2007

This paper attempts an analysis of Eusebius' polemical construction of Greek identity in his fifteen-book apologetic text, the Praeparatio Evangelica (written c. 315 c.e.). In particular, I argue that to limit Greek identity in this text to a religious position fails to appreciate the ethnic nature of Greekness for Eusebius and hence misconstrues his argument. If we attend to the ethnic vocabulary in the Praeparatio, Eusebius' argumentation can be better analyzed. His argument is then shown to center upon a polemical retelling of Greek origins and a hostile portrayal of key Greek forefathers.