bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality, experience, and monopoly: the Soviet market for weapons under Stalin1
Authors: MARKEVICH ANDREI , HARRISON MARK 
Published: November 2005

SUMMARYMonopoly is a particular problem in markets where experience goods are traded, since the consumer cannot respond to bad experiences by switching repeat purchases to another supplier. New evidence shows how the defence ministry as buyer in the Soviet market for military goods responded to this problem by investing in an evaluation of quality prior to purchase, by showing reluctance to buy, and by exploiting the available non‐market means to influence the defence industry as supplier. The effectiveness of these stratagems was limited by the defence industry's counteractions and because the buyer had no choice but to come to a compromise with the supplier.
Survival after non‐aggressive obstetric management in cases of severe fetal anomalies: a retrospective study
Authors: Bijma Hilmar H. , Van Der Heide Agnes , Wildschut Hajo I.J. , van de Vathorst Suzanne , Tibboel Dick , Wladimiroff Juriy W. , van der Maas Paul J. 
Published: November 2005

Objective  Obstetricians may choose to refrain from interventions aimed at sustaining fetal life (i.e., non‐aggressive obstetric management) when the fetus has an extremely poor prognosis. However, if the infant is then born alive, crucial neonatal management decisions then have to be made. We sought empirical data concerning such perinatal end‐of‐life decisions. Firstly, to describe survival during delivery and after birth following non‐aggressive obstetric management, and secondly, to describe neonatal management in infants born alive after non‐aggressive obstetric management.Design  Retrospective descriptive study.Setting  Tertiary centre.Population  Eighty‐one infants born to women who opted for a non‐aggressive obstetric management policy because of sonographically diagnosed severe fetal anomaly.Methods  Data were collected from obstetric and neonatal records, as well as ultrasound reports.Main outcome measures  Survival, neonatal management and health status after birth.Results  Relevant data were available for 78/80 (98%) infants. Six (8%) infants died in utero, 16 (21%) died during delivery (11 from cephalocentesis) and 56 (72%) were born alive. Life‐sustaining neonatal treatment was initiated in 29 (52%) of the live‐born infants. Twenty‐three of these 29 (79%) infants died within six months of birth. Of the 27 live‐born infants who did not receive neonatal life‐sustaining treatment, 25 (93%) died. Eight infants survived; all with severe health problems.Conclusion  Life‐sustaining neonatal support after non‐aggressive obstetric management in the presence of severe fetal malformation has little impact on survival.
A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of self‐administered analgesia on women's experience of outpatient treatment at colposcopy
Authors: Cruickshank M.E. , Anthony G.B. , Fitzmaurice A. , McConnell D. , Graham W. , Alexander D.A. , Tunstall M. , Ross J.A.S. 
Published: November 2005

Objective  To evaluate the effect of self‐administered isoflurane and desflurane on women's experience of outpatient treatment at colposcopy.Design  A prospective double‐blinded randomised controlled trial.Setting  A colposcopy clinic serving a regional population.Population  Three hundred and ninety‐six women scheduled for treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) by large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ).Methods  Self‐administration of trial gas during a LLETZ procedure. One hundred and ninety‐eight women were randomised to use isoflurane and desflurane and 198 to use placebo.Main outcome measures  Patient satisfaction, pain and anxiety.Results  The mean pain score for cervical surgery was significantly lower for women using isoflurane and desflurane (22.4) than the placebo arm (29.6) (P= 0.003). There was no significant difference between arms in anxiety levels before or after treatment. More women using isoflurane and desflurane (78%) reported ‘total helpfulness’ of the trial gas than those using placebo (67%) (P= 0.012). A subgroup analysis of trial participants classified as anxious by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score at recruitment showed that using isoflurane and desflurane significantly increased total treatment acceptability, helpfulness of the gas and willingness to undergo a similar procedure at six‐month follow up.Conclusion  Satisfaction with outpatient treatment at colposcopy is generally high. The main effect of isoflurane and desflurane evaluated in this trial was to reduce pain. It appeared to be effective for women with clinically significant anxiety and could be offered as an alternative to general anaesthesia.
Mapping small areas using a low‐cost close range photogrammetric software package with aerial photography
Authors: Aguilar Manuel A. , Aguilar Fernando J. , Agüera Francisco 
Published: November 2005

AbstractGenerating maps of small areas using conventional aerial photography is of great interest for small engineering firms. The main problem is the high cost of the sophisticated digital photogrammetric workstations usually employed. In this paper, a low‐cost close range photogrammetric software package is used to measure the three‐dimensional coordinates of points on the land surface from a photogrammetric flight at a scale of approximately 1:5000. Furthermore, the influence of the type of scanner used to digitise photographs (consumer‐grade or photogrammetric scanner), the resolution of the digital images and the number of control points required are examined. The root mean square errors obtained at the check points, using a low‐cost close range software package, scanning aerial images with a photogrammetric scanner and 24 ground control points, were around 116 mm for X and Y coordinates, and 191 mm for Z. These levels of accuracy allow the generation of planimetric maps at a scale of 1:1500 and topographic maps with a contour interval of around 1 m. When the images were scanned with a consumer‐grade scanner, the root mean square errors were around 150 mm for X and Y, and 271 mm for Z.
Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Prevalence, Reliability, and Validity of Physical Examination Findings
Authors: Weiner Debra K. , Sakamoto Sara , Perera Subashan , Breuer Paula 
Published: November 2005

Objectives: To develop a structured physical examination protocol that identifies common biomechanical and soft‐tissue abnormalities for older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) that can be used as a triage tool for healthcare providers and to test the interobserver reliability and discriminant validity of this protocol.Design: Cross‐sectional survey and examination.Setting: Older adult pain clinic.Participants: One hundred eleven community‐dwelling adults aged 60 and older with CLBP and 20 who were pain‐free.Measurements: Clinical history for demographics, pain duration, previous lumbar surgery or advanced imaging, neurogenic claudication, and imaging clinically serious symptoms Physical examination for scoliosis, functional leg length discrepancy, pain with lumbar movement, myofascial pain (paralumbar, piriformis, tensor fasciae latae (TFL)), regional bone pain (sacroiliac joint (SIJ), hip, vertebral body), and fibromyalgia.Results: Scoliosis was prevalent in those with (77.5%) and without pain (60.0%), but prevalence of SIJ pain (84% vs 5%), fibromyalgia tender points (19% vs 0%), myofascial pain (96% vs 10%), and hip pain (48% vs 0%) was significantly different between groups (P < .001). Interrater reliability was excellent for SIJ pain (0.81), number of fibromyalgia tender points (0.84), and TFL pain (0.81); good for scoliosis (0.43), kyphosis (0.66), lumbar movement pain (0.75), piriformis pain (0.71), and hip disease by internal rotation (0.56); and marginal for leg length (0.00) and paravertebral pain (0.39).Conclusion: Biomechanical and soft tissue pathologies are common in older adults with CLBP, and many can be assessed reliably using a brief physical examination. Their recognition may save unnecessary healthcare expenditure and patient suffering.
Stimulating the Demand for Insurance
Authors: Hussels Stephanie , Ward Damian , Zurbruegg Ralf 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis article acts as a review and also a guide to policymakers who are interested in understanding the determinants of insurance demand and how it affects general economic development. By providing a synopsis and evaluation of existing empirical research on the development of insurance markets, this article provides a discussion of the factors that promote insurance market development. This article then highlights certain issues that both insurance companies and policymakers can utilize further in their own markets to design future policies that can be geared to promote insurance market development.
International Insurance Markets: A Credit Travel Study Course
Authors: Nielson Norma L. , Kleffner Anne E. , Lee Ryan B. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe Risk Management and Insurance faculty at the University of Calgary developed a new course in 2000‐2001 called International Insurance Markets. It was offered for the first time in 2001 and has been offered each year since, achieving its largest enrollment in 2004. In 2004 the course was selected as the winner of the Lester B. Strickler Innovation in Instruction award from the American Risk and Insurance Association. Below we provide an overview of the considerations in developing and delivering the course for students at the University of Calgary as well as other institutions.
Effects of predator confusion on functional responses
Authors: M. Jeschke Jonathan , Tollrian Ralph 
Published: November 2005

When confronted with a swarm of their prey, many predators become confused and are less successful in their attacks. To shed light on the ecological, ethological and evolutionary consequences of predator confusion, we here investigate its effects on predator functional responses. We develop the first functional response model that considers confusion and compare it (1) qualitatively as well as (2) quantitatively to empirical data from two predator–prey systems,Aeshna cyanea(Odonata)–Daphnia magna(Crustacea) andChaoborus obscuripes(Diptera)–Daphnia obtusa.(1) The qualitative comparisons show that, contrary to common belief, confusion does not necessarily lead to a dome‐shaped functional response. The response can alternatively remain qualitatively unchanged and be affected only quantitatively. A non‐dome‐shaped response is thus no indication for the absence of predator confusion. The same is true for other swarming effects reducing foraging success, such as early warning of approaching predators. Our results hence question studies that have equated the absence of a dome‐shaped response with the absence of a swarming effect. Our results also resolve the apparent paradox that swarming effects are quite common while dome‐shaped functional responses are rather uncommon.(2) There is a good quantitative match between a parameterized version of our model and the empirically measured functional response in theChaoborus‐Daphniasystem, suggesting that all crucial factors in this system are captured by the model.
Privacy Concerns of Patients and Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care—An APRNet Study
Authors: Olsen Douglas P. , Dixon Jane Karpe , Grey Margaret , Deshefy‐Longhi Terry , Demarest Jo Cecille 
Published: November 2005

PurposeThis study explores and compares the privacy concerns of primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients.Data sourcesPrivacy concerns were identified in separate focus groups of NPs and patients, and then parallel survey instruments were designed and administered to 27 NPs and 185 of their patients. All subjects were recruited through APRNet, a regional practice‐based research network of NPs in southern New England encompassing 58 practices.ConclusionsBoth groups demonstrated high levels of concern regarding privacy. While NPs and patients had similar levels of concern about most issues, there were some notable differences regarding breeches because of carelessness, disclosures for research, and which disorders require the most care in maintaining privacy.Implications for practiceThese results allow NPs to anticipate patient privacy concerns and to enhance trust in the clinical relationship. These results also indicate the need to educate patients regarding privacy rights and expectations.
A Case Study: Identifying a New Case of Wilson's Disease
Authors: Noble Jeannette A. 
Published: November 2005

PurposeTo present a case of Wilson's disease that presented with fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and splenomegaly. Patient information, diagnostic tests, etiology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, medical treatment, nursing interventions, patient education, and research findings related to Wilson's disease are discussed.Data SourcesCase study and scientific literature from Internet, journals, and medical textbooks.ConclusionsWilson's disease is a hereditary, autosomal‐recessive disease affecting copper excretion. As copper accumulates, signs and symptoms appear. Individuals often present with nonspecific findings, making diagnosis difficult.Implications for PracticeThis article reviews this rare but potentially devastating disease. Early diagnosis is vital to prevent copper accumulation leading to hepatic cirrhosis, basal ganglia degeneration, and irreversible organ damage.
Recursive Kinematics and Inverse Dynamics for a Planar 3R Parallel Manipulator
Authors: Khan Waseem A. , Krovi Venkat N. , Saha Subir K. , Angeles Jorge 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
We focus on the development of modular and recursive formulations for the inverse dynamics of parallel architecture manipulators in this paper. The modular formulation of mathematical models is attractive especially when existing sub-models may be assembled to create different topologies, e.g., cooperative robotic systems. Recursive algorithms are desirable from the viewpoint of simplicity and uniformity of computation. However, the prominent features of parallel architecture manipulators-the multiple closed kinematic loops, varying locations of actuation together with mixtures of active and passive joints-have traditionally hindered the formulation of modular and recursive algorithms. In this paper, the concept of the decoupled natural orthogonal complement (DeNOC) is combined with the spatial parallelism of the robots of interest to develop an inverse dynamics algorithm which is both recursive and modular. The various formulation stages in this process are highlighted using the illustrative example of a 3R Planar Parallel Manipulator.
Control of Flexible Structures Governed by the Wave Equation Using Infinite Dimensional Transfer Functions
Authors: Halevi Yoram 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
A method of noncollocated controller design for flexible structures, governed by the wave equation, is proposed. First an exact, infinite dimension, transfer function is derived and its properties are investigated. A key element in that part is the existence of time delays due to the wave motion. The controller design consists of two stages. The first one is an inner collocated rate loop. It is shown that there exists a controller that leads to a finite dimensional plus delay inner closed loop, which is the equivalent plant for the outer loop. In the second stage an outer noncollocated position loop is closed. It has the structure of an observer-predictor control scheme to compensate for the response delay. The resulting overall transfer function is second order, with arbitrarily assigned dynamics, plus delay.
A CCCH Zinc Finger Conserved in a Replication Protein A Homolog Found in Diverse Euryarchaeotes
Authors: Lin Yuyen , Robbins Justin B. , Nyannor Ernest K. D. , Chen Yi-Hsing , Cann Isaac K. O. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

We describe a CCCH type of zinc finger domain in a replication protein A (RPA) homolog found in members of different lineages of the
Euryarchaeota
, a subdomain of
Archaea
. The zinc finger is characterized by CX
2
CX
8
CX
2
H, where X is any amino acid. Using MacRPA3, a representative of this new group of RPA in
Methanosarcina acetivorans
, we made two deletion mutants: a C-terminal deletion mutant lacking the zinc finger and an N-terminal deletion mutant containing the zinc finger domain. Whereas the N-terminal deletion mutant contained zinc at a level comparable to the wild-type protein level, the C-terminal deletion mutant was devoid of zinc. We further created four different mutants of MacRPA3 by replacing each of the four invariable amino acids in the zinc finger with alanine. Each single mutation at an invariable position resulted in a protein containing less than 35% of the zinc found in the wild-type protein. Circular dichroism spectra suggested that although the mutation at the first cysteine resulted in minor perturbation of protein structure, mutations at the other invariable positions led to larger structural changes. All proteins harboring a mutation at one of the invariable positions bound to single-stranded DNA weakly, and this translated into reduced capacity to stimulate DNA synthesis by
M. acetivorans
DNA polymerase BI. By subjecting the protein and its mutants to oxidizing and reducing conditions, we demonstrated that ssDNA binding by MacRPA3 may be regulated by redox through the zinc finger. Thus, the zinc finger modules in euryarchaeal RPA proteins may serve as a means by which the function of these proteins is regulated in the cell.
Mutations That Activate the Silent
bgl
Operon of
Escherichia coli
Confer a Growth Advantage in Stationary Phase
Authors: Madan Ranjna , Kolter Roberto , Mahadevan S. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Wild-type strains of
Escherichia coli
are unable to utilize aromatic β-glucosides such as arbutin and salicin because the major genetic system that encodes the functions for their catabolism, the
bgl
operon, is silent and uninducible. We show that strains that carry an activated
bgl
operon exhibit a growth advantage over the wild type in stationary phase in the presence of the
rpoS819
allele that causes attenuated
rpoS
regulon expression. Our results indicate a possible evolutionary advantage in retaining the silent
bgl
operon by wild-type bacteria.
sinI- andexpR-Dependent Quorum Sensing inSinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: Gao Mengsheng , Chen Hancai , Eberhard Anatol , Gronquist Matthew R. , Robinson Jayne B. , Rolfe Barry G. , Bauer Wolfgang D. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACTQuorum sensing (QS) inSinorhizobium meliloti, the N-fixing bacterial symbiont ofMedicagohost plants, involves at least half a dozen differentN-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signals and perhaps an equal number of AHL receptors. The accumulation of 55 proteins was found to be dependent on SinI, the AHL synthase, and/or on ExpR, one of the AHL receptors. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry identified 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C14-HSL), C16-HSL, 3-oxo-C16-HSL, C16:1-HSL, and 3-oxo-C16:1-HSL as thesinI-dependent AHL QS signals accumulated by the 8530expR+strain under the conditions used for proteome analysis. The 8530expR+strain secretes additional, unidentified QS-active compounds. Addition of 200 nM C14-HSL or C16:1-HSL, two of the known SinI AHLs, affected the levels of 75% of the proteins, confirming that their accumulation is QS regulated. A number of the QS-regulated proteins have functions plausibly related to symbiotic interactions with the host, including ExpE6, IdhA, MocB, Gor, PckA, LeuC, and AglE. Seven of 10 single-crossover β-glucuronidase (GUS) transcriptional reporters in genes corresponding to QS-regulated proteins showed significantly different activities in thesinIandexpRmutant backgrounds and in response to added SinI AHLs. ThesinImutant and several of the single-crossover strains were significantly delayed in the ability to initiate nodules on the primary root of the host plant,Medicago truncatula, indicating thatsinI-dependent QS regulation and QS-regulated proteins contribute importantly to the rate or efficiency of nodule initiation. ThesinIandexpRmutants were also defective in surface swarming motility. ThesinImutant was restored to normal swarming by 5 nM C16:1-HSL.
Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus Sequence Repeats in Yersiniae: Genomic Organization and Functional Properties
Authors: De Gregorio Eliana , Silvestro Giustina , Petrillo Mauro , Carlomagno Maria Stella , Di Nocera Pier Paolo 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACTGenome-wide analyses carried out in silico revealed that the DNA repeats called enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences (ERICs), which are present in severalEnterobacteriaceae, are overrepresented in yersiniae. From the alignment of DNA regions from the wholly sequencedYersinia enterocolitica8081 andYersinia pestisCO92 strains, we could establish that ERICs are miniature mobile elements whose insertion leads to duplication of the dinucleotide TA. ERICs feature long terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) and can fold as RNA into hairpin structures. The proximity to coding regions suggests that mostY. enterocoliticaERICs are cotranscribed with flanking genes. Elements which either overlap or are located next to stop codons are preferentially inserted in the same (or B) orientation. In contrast, ERICs located far apart from open reading frames are inserted in the opposite (or A) orientation. The expression of genes cotranscribed with A- and B-oriented ERICs has been monitored in vivo. In mRNAs spanning B-oriented ERICs, upstream gene transcripts accumulated at lower levels than downstream gene transcripts. This difference was abolished by treating cells with chloramphenicol. We hypothesize that folding of B-oriented elements is impeded by translating ribosomes. Consequently, upstream RNA degradation is triggered by the unmasking of a site for the RNase E located in the right-hand TIR of ERIC. A-oriented ERICs may act in contrast as upstream RNA stabilizers or may have other functions. The hypothesis that ERICs act as regulatory RNA elements is supported by analyses carried out inYersiniastrains which either lack ERIC sequences or carry alternatively oriented ERICs at specific loci.
The Alternative Sigma Factor AlgT RepressesPseudomonas aeruginosaFlagellum Biosynthesis by Inhibiting Expression offleQ
Authors: Tart Anne H. , Wolfgang Matthew C. , Wozniak Daniel J. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosaposes a serious risk in individuals suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). Strains colonizing the CF lung are generally motile but frequently convert to a nonmotile phenotype as the disease progresses. In many cases, this is coordinately regulated with the overproduction of the exopolysaccharide alginate. Both the expression of alginate (mucoidy) and the loss of flagellum synthesis may provide the bacterium with a selective advantage in the CF lung. Previously published data showed that the regulation of alginate production and flagellum biosynthesis in the CF isolate FRD1 is inversely controlled by the alternative sigma factor AlgT. In this study, we observed that in CF isolates, the mucoid and the nonmotile phenotypes occur predominantly together. Using microarrays, we compared the transcriptomes of isogenic AlgT+and AlgT−P. aeruginosaand discovered that AlgT significantly downregulated the majority of flagellar genes. A pronounced inhibitory effect was observed in several genes essential for proper flagellum expression, includingfleQ, which encodes an essential flagellar regulator. The microarray data were confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR analysis and promoter fusion assays in isogenic AlgT+and AlgT−strains. Transmission electron microscopy, motility assays, and Western blots showed that ectopic expression of FleQ in mucoid, nonmotile CF isolates restored flagellum biosynthesis and motility. Together, these data show that AlgT mediates the negative control of flagellum expression by inhibiting the expression of the flagellar regulatorfleQ.