bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing Poisson Variation of Intestinal Tumour Multiplicity in Mice Carrying a Robertsonian Translocation
Authors: Newton Michael A. , Hastie David I. 
Published: November 2005

SummaryTumour multiplicity is a frequently measured phenotype in animal studies of cancer biology. Poisson variation of this measurement represents a biological and statistical reference point that is usually violated, even in highly controlled experiments, owing to sources of variation in the stochastic process of tumour formation. A recent experiment on murine intestinal tumours presented conditions which seem to generate Poisson-distributed tumour counts. If valid, this would support a claim about mechanisms by which the adenomatous polyposis coli gene is inactivated during tumour initiation. In considering hypothesis testing strategies, model choice and Bayesian approaches, we quantify the positive evidence favouring Poisson variation in this experiment. Statistical techniques used include likelihood ratio testing, the Bayes and Akaike information criteria, negative binomial modelling, reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and posterior predictive checking. The posterior approximation that is based on the Bayes information criterion is found to be quite accurate in this small n case-study.
Joint Modelling of Event Counts and Survival Times
Authors: Cowling B. J. , Hutton J. L. , Shaw J. E. H. 
Published: November 2005

SummaryIn studies of recurrent events, such as epileptic seizures, there can be a large amount of information about a cohort over a period of time, but current methods for these data are often unable to utilize all of the available information. The paper considers data which include post-treatment survival times for individuals experiencing recurring events, as well as a measure of the base-line event rate, in the form of a pre-randomization event count. Standard survival analysis may treat this pre-randomization count as a covariate, but the paper proposes a parametric joint model based on an underlying Poisson process, which will give a more precise estimate of the treatment effect.
Identification of conserved modes of expression profiles during hippocampal development and neuronal differentiation in vitro
Authors: Dabrowski Michal , Adach Alicja , Aerts Stein , Moreau Yves , Kaminska Bozena 
Published: November 2005

AbstractGene expression profiles can be regarded as sums of simpler modes, analogous to the modes of a vibrating violin string. Decomposition of temporal gene expression profiles into modes by singular value decomposition (SVD) was reported before, but the question as to what degree the SVD modes can be interpreted in terms of biology remains open. We report and compare the results of SVD of published datasets from hippocampal development, neuronal differentiation in vitro, and a control time‐series hippocampal dataset. We demonstrate that the first SVD mode reflects the magnitude of expression, interpretable on the Affymetrix platform. In the datasets from gene profiling of hippocampal development and neuronal differentiation, the second mode reflects a monotonous change in expression, either up‐ or down‐regulation, in the time course of experiment. We demonstrate that the top two SVD modes are conserved between datasets and therefore, likely reflect properties of the underlying system (gene expression in hippocampus) rather than of a particular experiment or dataset. Our results also indicate that the magnitude of expression, and the direction of change in expression during hippocampal development, are uncorrelated, suggesting that they are regulated by largely independent mechanisms.
Conventional protein kinase C isoforms mediate neuroprotection induced by phorbol ester and estrogen
Authors: Cordey Myriam , Pike Christian J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractRapid signal transduction pathways play a prominent role in mediating neuroprotective actions of estrogen in the CNS. We have previously shown that estrogen‐induced neuroprotection of primary cerebrocortical neurons from β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) toxicity depends on activation of protein kinase C (PKC). PKC activation with phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA) also provides neuroprotection in this paradigm. Because the PKC family includes several isoforms that have opposing roles in regulating cell survival, we sought to identify which PKC isoforms contribute to neuroprotection induced by PMA and estrogen. We detected protein expression of multiple PKC isoforms in primary neuron cultures, including conventional (α, βI, βII), novel (δ, ε, θ) and atypical (ζ, ι/λ) PKC. Using a panel of isoform‐specific peptide inhibitors and activators, we find that novel and atypical PKC isoforms do not participate in the mechanism of either PMA or estrogen neuroprotection. In contrast, a selective peptide activator of conventional PKC isoforms provides dose‐dependent neuroprotection against Aβ toxicity. In addition, peptide inhibitors of conventional, βI, or βII PKC isoforms significantly reduce protection afforded by PMA or 17β‐estradiol. Taken together, these data provide evidence that conventional PKC isoforms mediate phorbol ester and estrogen neuroprotection of cultured neurons challenged by Aβ toxicity.
Identification of a noradrenaline‐rich subdivision of the human nucleus accumbens
Authors: Tong Junchao , Hornykiewicz Oleh , Kish Stephen J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe nucleus accumbens, situated at the junction between rostral pre‐commissural caudate and putamen, is now considered to be critically involved in rewarding and motivational functions mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, in the human, the precise anatomical boundaries of this nucleus are still undetermined and controversy exists as to the extent to which nucleus accumbens activity is controlled by noradrenaline, a related neurotransmitter now much neglected (in favor of dopamine) by the scientific community. Here we resolve the question of noradrenaline in the human nucleus accumbens and identify, in autopsied brain of normal subjects, a small subdivision of the caudomedial portion of this nucleus that selectively contains strikingly high levels of noradrenaline and thus represents the only area in human brain having equally high levels of both noradrenaline and dopamine. The presence of very high, localized noradrenaline concentrations in the caudomedial nucleus accumbens implies a special biological role for this neurotransmitter in human brain motivational processes.
New polymorphic microsatellite loci in two fish species: bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei) and yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
Authors: CREER DOUGLAS A. , TREXLER JOEL C. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe identified four new polymorphic microsatellite loci in bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei) and five loci in yellow bullheads (Ameiurus natalis). We screened 400 killifish from 20 populations and 180 bullheads from nine populations, finding a high degree of polymorphism (nine to 54 alleles per locus; average expected heterozygosity 0.678–0.976). We found no evidence for linkage disequilibrium. Three of the loci found in bluefin killifish show heterozygote deficiency; the other loci do not deviate from Hardy–Weinberg expectations.
Immigrants in the British Labour Market*
Authors: Dustmann Christian , Fabbri Francesca 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe main objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive description of the economic outcomes and performance of Britain's immigrant communities today and over the last two decades. We distinguish between males and females and, where possible and meaningful, between immigrants of different origins. Our comparison group is white British‐born individuals. Our data source is the British Labour Force Survey. We first provide descriptive information on the composition of immigrants in Britain, and how this has changed over time, their socio‐economic characteristics, their industry allocation and their labour market outcomes. We then investigate various labour market performance indicators (labour force participation, employment, wages and self‐employment) for immigrants of different origins, and compare them with British‐born whites of the same age, region and other background characteristics. We find that over the last 20 years, Britain's immigrant population has changed in origin composition and has dramatically improved in skill composition — not dissimilar from the trend in the British‐born population. We find substantial differences in economic outcomes between white and ethnic minority immigrants. Within these groups, immigrants of different origins differ considerably with respect to their education and age structure, their regional distribution and their sector choice. In general, white immigrants are more successful in Britain, although there are differences between groups of different origins. The investigation shows that immigrants from some ethnic minority groups, and in particular females, are particularly disadvantaged, with Pakistanis and Bangladeshis at the lower end of this scale.
Does Germany Collect Revenue from Taxing the Normal Return to Capital?*
Authors: Becker Johannes , Fuest Clemens 
Published: November 2005

AbstractA widespread objection to the introduction of consumption tax systems claims that this would lead to high tax revenue losses. This paper investigates the revenue effects of a consumption tax reform in Germany. Our results suggest that the revenue losses would be surprisingly low. We find a maximum revenue loss of 1.6 per cent of annual GDP. In some years, we even find tax revenue gains. This implies that the current tax system collects little revenue from taxing the normal return to capital. Based on these results, we calculate a macroeconomic measure of the effective tax rate on capital income.
Early Education and Children's Outcomes: How Long Do the Impacts Last?*
Authors: Goodman Alissa , Sianesi Barbara 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe evaluate the effects of undergoing any early education (before the compulsory starting age of 5) and of pre‐school on a cohort of British children born in 1958. In contrast to most available studies, we are able to assess whether any effects on cognition and socialisation are long‐lasting, as well as to estimate their net impact on subsequent educational attainment and labour market performance.Controlling for a particularly rich set of child, parental, family and neighbourhood characteristics, we find some positive and long‐lasting effects from early education. Specifically, pre‐compulsory education (preschool or school entry prior to age 5) was found to yield large improvements in cognitive tests at age 7, which, though diminished in size, remained significant throughout the schooling years, up to age 16. By contrast, attendance of pre‐school (nursery or playgroup) was found to yield a positive but short‐lived impact on test scores. The effects on socialisation appear to be more mixed: we found some positive, though short‐lasting, effects of pre‐compulsory education on teachers' reports of social adjustment (only at age 7); on the other hand, we found some adverse behavioural effects according to parental reports at age 7 which persisted up to age 11.In adulthood, pre‐compulsory education was found to increase the probabilities of obtaining qualifications and of being employed at age 33. For both pre‐compulsory education and pre‐school per se, we found evidence of a marginally significant 3–4 per cent wage gain at age 33.
Is a Tax Cut on Cultural Goods Consumption Actually Desirable? A Microsimulation Analysis applied to Spain*
Authors: Prieto‐Rodriguez Juan , Romero‐Jordán Desiderio , Sanz‐Sanz José Felix 
Published: November 2005

AbstractProposals for tax cuts on cultural goods represent an ongoing debate in cultural policy. The main aim of this paper is to shed some light on this debate using microsimulation tools. First, we have estimated an Almost Ideal Demand System for 19 different groups of goods, including cultural goods. Expenditure and price elasticities have been obtained from this model. Using this information, three alternative cuts in the VAT rate on cultural goods have been microsimulated and evaluated in terms of revenue and welfare. These types of fiscal reforms will lead to welfare and efficiency gains that can be described as regressive.
Intraoperative Comparison of a Subthreshold Test Pulse with the Standard High‐Energy Shock Approach for the Measurement of Defibrillation Lead Impedance
Authors: SCHUCHERT ANDREAS , WINTER JOACHIM , BINNER LUDWIG , KÜHL MARTIN , MEINERTZ THOMAS ,   on behalf of the Reliance Investigators
Published: November 2005

There are two methods to measure shocking lead impedance: delivery of high‐energy shocks that require patient sedation, and the painless measurement of impedance from subthreshold test pulses. The aim of this study was to compare the two methods. Methods: The study included 131 patients implanted with a standard DR (n = 71) or VR (n = 60) ICD connected to either single‐coil (n = 39) or dual‐coil (n = 92) defibrillation leads. The noninvasive high‐energy impedance test was done using a 17 J shock after induction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and compared to a 0.4 μJ test pulse used by the ICD for the subthreshold measurements. Results: Defibrillation lead impedance measurements were not significantly different between patients with the same shocking vector configuration. In patients with a single‐coil defibrillation lead the impedance was 62 ± 9 Ω with the high‐energy shock and 62 ± 8 Ω with the subthreshold test pulses (P = 0.13). Patients with a dual‐coil configuration recorded average impedances of 40 ± 5 Ω from both tests (P = 0.44). While there was no difference in values recorded within each lead configuration, there was a significant difference in impedance between the single‐coil and the dual‐coil patient groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: There was no significant difference between shocking lead impedances measured with the high‐energy shock or the subthreshold test pulses. This offers the possibility of noninvasive, low‐energy serial measurements of shocking lead impedance at follow‐up visits and removing the need for sedation.
Hemodynamics and Autonomic Control of Heart Rate Turbulence
Authors: WICHTERLE DAN , MELENOVSKY VOJTECH , SIMEK JAN , MALIK JAN , MALIK MAREK 
Published: November 2005

Introduction: Late heart rate deceleration parallels the increase of systolic blood pressure during heart rate turbulence (HRT) after ventricular premature complexes (VPC). This is consistent with the involvement of baroreflex mechanism. Physiological background of systolic blood pressure dynamics is not known. Enhanced sympathetic activation and nonautonomic post‐VPC changes of stroke volume have been speculated on. Methods and Results: We studied 28 subjects (aged 56 ± 11 years; 20 males; 18 normal and 10 abnormal left ventricular (LV) function) with spontaneous occurrence of VPCs. HRT indices and baroreflex sensitivity were analyzed from the ECGs and finger arterial pressure recordings during 30 minutes of spontaneous respiration in supine position. Beat‐by‐beat stroke volume and peripheral vascular resistance were computed by a nonlinear, self‐adaptive model of aortic input impedance (Modelflow, Finapres Medical Systems, Arnhem, The Netherlands). Indices of HRT and baroreflex sensitivity were highly correlated. In patients with preserved LV function, there was no substantial dynamics of stroke volume in the late phase after VPC, while peripheral vascular resistance increased significantly. In patients with impaired LV function, potentiated first sinus beat after VPC triggered transient hemodynamic alternans. Dynamics of peripheral vascular resistance was attenuated and stroke volume was depressed in the late phase after VPC. Conclusions: Delayed sympathetically mediated vasomotor response to VPC produces systolic blood pressure overshoot. This subsequently induces vagally mediated late heart rate deceleration. Under physiologic conditions, there is no evidence of other hemodynamic and/or mechanical effect outside the autonomic reflex arch. In patients with LV dysfunction, both depressed vagal and sympathetic modulation and, indirectly, enhanced postextrasystolic potentiation account for attenuated HRT.
Safety of Sports Participation in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators:  A Survey of Heart Rhythm Society Members
Authors: LAMPERT RACHEL , CANNOM DAVID , OLSHANSKY BRIAN 
Published: November 2005

Introduction: The safety of sports participation for patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is unknown, and recommendations among physicians may vary widely. The purposes of this study were to determine current practice among patients with ICDs and their physicians regarding sports participation, and to determine how many physicians have cared for patients who have sustained adverse events during sports participation. Methods and Results: A survey was mailed to all 1,687 U.S. physician members of the Heart Rhythm Society. Among 614 respondent physicians, recommendations varied widely. Only 10% recommended avoidance of all sports more vigorous than golf. Seventy‐six percent recommended avoidance of contact, and 45% recommend avoidance of competitive sports. Most (71%) based restrictions on patients' underlying heart disease. Regardless of recommendations, most physicians (71%) reported caring for patients who participated in sports, including many citing vigorous, competitive sports, most commonly cited were basketball, running, and skiing. ICD shocks during sports were common, cited by 40% of physicians. However, few adverse consequences were reported. One percent of physicians reported known injury to patient (all but 3 minor); 5%, injury to the ICD system, and <1%, failure of shocks to terminate arrhythmia. The most common adverse event reported was lead damage attributed to repetitive‐motion activities, most commonly weightlifting and golf. Conclusions: Physician recommendations for sports participation for patients with ICDs varies widely. Many patients with ICDs do participate in vigorous and even competitive sports. While shocks were common, significant adverse events were rare.
Reanalysis of The “Pseudo A‐A‐V” Response to Ventricular Entrainment of Supraventricular Tachycardia: Importance of His‐Bundle Timing
Authors: VIJAYARAMAN PUGAZHENDHI , LEE BENJAMIN P. , KALAHASTY GAUTHAM , WOOD MARK A. , ELLENBOGEN KENNETH A. 
Published: November 2005

Background: The sequence of atrial and ventricular electrograms following termination of ventricular pacing during supraventricular tachycardia has been shown to reliably differentiate atrial tachycardia from atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). However in patients with long HV intervals, this may be misleading due to a pseudo “A‐A‐V” response. The aim of the present study is to see if inclusion of the timing of the His‐bundle in the electrogram response (ER) following ventricular pacing would reliably identify the mechanism of tachycardia in patients with long HV intervals. Methods: Eight patients (7 men) with AVNRT and underlying bundle branch block and long HV (>55 msec) intervals underwent ventricular pacing at 10–40 msec shorter than the tachycardia cycle length during SVT. The ER was classified as “A‐A‐H” or “A‐H” depending on the number of atrial electrograms (A) prior to His deflection following VEP. Results: The ER following ventricular pacing was classified as A‐H in all 8 patients. However, using conventional classification the response was A‐A‐V in 5 of 8 patients due to delayed ventricular activation secondary to long HV intervals and would erroneously suggest atrial tachycardia. The ER was A‐V in only 1 of 8 patients. In the remaining 2 patients the A and V electrograms were simultaneous. Conclusions: Incorporating the His‐bundle in the ER following ventricular pacing would eliminate the pseudo “A‐A‐V” response in patients with AVNRT and long HV intervals. Labeling the response to ventricular pacing as “A‐H” or “A‐A‐H” is simple and more accurate.
Hedonic Estimation and Policy Significance of the Impact of HOPE VI on Neighborhood Property Values
Authors: Bair Edward , Fitzgerald John M. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractHOPE VI was designed as a program to revitalize distressed public housing. This study uses hedonic methods to test whether projects that are rebuilt with HOPE VI funds have a positive effect on surrounding property values. Comparisons are made between HOPE VI and other types of public housing programs using data on property values by census block groups from the 2000 census. We find that HOPE VI had a statistically significant positive impact on surrounding property values on the order of 8–10% for every quarter‐mile closer that a housing unit was located to the development. Other public housing developments were found to have little if any effect on property values.
Voter Disenfranchisement and Policy toward Election Reforms
Authors: Friedman Anne Kiehl 
Published: November 2005

AbstractHow did poverty, race, population density, and other demographic characteristics affect disenfranchisement in the 2004 presidential election? I argue that there are two types of disenfranchisement: partisan disenfranchisement, which targets Democrats, and structural disenfranchisement, which targets members of low‐status groups. Drawing demographic data from the United States census in 2000, and voting data from the secretaries of state websites, I use a negative binomial regression to correlate these variables with the incidence of voter disenfranchisement as collected by the Election Incident Reporting System, for the three “swing” states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, with the “safe” states of California and Texas as controls. The results of this analysis indicate that disenfranchisement increases with population density, Black population, Democratic loyalty, and as the margin of victory decreases. Income and education also correlate with an increase in reported incidents of disenfranchisement, but that likely reflects the failings of self‐report data.
Gender Role Ideologies and Marriage Promotion: State Policy Choices and Suggestions for Improvement
Authors: Harris Deborah A. , Parisi Domenico 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) lists marriage as one of the major strategies for reducing welfare dependency among clients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program along with work requirements and time limits. President George W. Bush has allocated over $240 million to the individual states to create programs to promote and sustain marriages, with specific attention given to encouraging marriage among the low‐income, welfare‐reliant population. We suggest that this policy is based upon a specific gender ideology that seems to ignore the reality of the lives of poor women with children and may be, as some critics suggest, an attempt at “legislating patriarchy.” In this work, we trace the social changes that shaped this ideology, present the options the states have taken to encourage marriage, discuss flaws in the philosophy and implementation of these policies, and provide suggestions for improving program design.
Switching toward capital‐intensive technologies in Finnish dairy farms
Authors: Pietola Kyösti , Heikkilä Anna‐Maija 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe analyze dairy farmers' decisions to switch from the traditional labor‐intensive tied‐housing system to a more capital‐intensive free‐stall housing. The choice of the housing system is modeled as a sequence of interrelated choices. Errors that are consistent with the observed choices are simulated and used to control for serial correlation and farm‐specific fixed effects. The sequence of choices is estimated by the GHK simulation technique and simulated maximum likelihood (SML). The results suggest that the switch toward more capital‐intensive free‐stall housing responds positively and elastically to investment grants and a farmer's capital resources. In addition, positive revenue shocks significantly encourage switches to free‐stall housing.