bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SPLIT–PLOT DESIGN: MODEL AND ANALYSIS FOR COUNT DATA
Authors: Engel J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe analysis of count response data from designed experiments is well–known for independent response variables having the Poisson distribution. For experimental designs where responses are dependent, no general results seem to be available. An example of this type of design is the split–plot design, where sub–plot responses are essentially dependent within whole plots.In this paper, a model will be proposed for split–plot count data and a separate analysis for whole plot and sub–plot data will be presented. It is interesting to note, that the same model is used in the quite different context of consumer buying behaviour. It is derived by Goodhardt, Ehrenberg and Chatfield and it was called the ‘Dirichlet model’, as the Dirichlet multinomial distribution, together with the negative binomial distribution, build up the model.
A STOCHASTIC PROCESS THAT IS AUTOREGRESSIVE IN TWO DIRECTIONS OF TIME.
Authors: de Haan L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA continuous time stationary process is discussed that is maxautoregressive in one direction of time and sum–autoregressive in the other direction. A discrete time version of the process was discussed in Chemick (1981). A related continuous time process is discussed in Weiss (1980).
Characteristic properties of order statistics based on random sample size from an exponential distribution
Authors: Ahsanullah M. 
Published: April 2008

Suppose X1, X2, Xm is a random sample of size m from a population with probability density function f(x), x > 0), and let X1, m< × 2, m <… < Xm, m be the corresponding order statistics.We assume m is an integer‐valued random variable with P(m=k) =p (1‐p)k‐1, k= 1,2,… and 0 < p < 1. Two characterizations of the exponential distribution are given based on the distributional properties of Xl, m.
Recent Ph.D. Theses in the Netherlands
Authors: Dol Wietse 
Published: April 2008

Statistica Neerlandica has decided to encourage the reporting on theses in probability, statistics, biometrics, econometrics, and operations research, submitted to Dutch universities. The main purpose of this section is to inform the reader briefly of the nature, the practical and theoretical importance, the methods used, and the results presented in recent theses. It is understood that contributions to this section meet with the approval of the supervisor(s) of the thesis.Notes (not exceeding 300 words) should be sent to the column editor.
Building logistic models by means of a non parametric goodness of fit test: a case study
Authors: le Cessie S. , van Houwelingen J. C. 
Published: April 2008

A sequence of logistic models is fitted to data from a Dutch follow‐up study on preterm infants (POPS). To examine the adequacy of the model, a recently developed non parametric method to check goodness of fit is applied (le Cessie and Van Houwelingen (1991)). This method uses a test statistic based upon kernel regression methods.In this paper the problem of choosing a “best” bandwidth, corresponding to the greatest power of the test statistic, is avoided by computing the test statistic for a range of different bandwidths. Testing is then based upon the asymptotic distribution of the maximum of the test statistics.The testing method is used as a goodness of fit criterion, and the contribution of each individual observation to the test statistic is used as a diagnostic tool to localize deviations of the model, and to determine directions in which the model can be improved.
Efficiency of iterated WLS in the linear model with completely unknown heteroskedasticity
Authors: van der Genugten B. B. 
Published: April 2008

Iterated weighted least squares (IWLS) is investigated for estimating the regression coefficients in a linear model with symmetrically distributed errors. The variances of the errors are not specified; it is not assumed that they are unknown functions of the explanatory variables nor that they are given in some parametric way.IWLS is carried out in a random number of steps, of which the first one is OLS. In each step the error variance at time t is estimated with a weighted sum of m squared residuals in the neighbourhood of t and the coefficients are estimated using WLS. Furthermore an estimate of the co‐variance matrix is obtained. If this estimate is minimal in some way the iteration process is stopped.Asymptotic properties of IWLS are derived for increasing sample size n. Some particular cases show that the asymptotic efficiency can be increased by allowing more than two steps. Even asymptotic efficiency with respect to WLS with the true error variances can be obtained if m is not fixed but tends to infinity with n and if the heteroskedasticity is smooth.
Testing equality of variances in the analysis of repeated measurements
Authors: Kallenberg W. C. M. , Mudholkar G. S. , Subbaiah P. 
Published: April 2008

The problem of comparing the precisions of two instruments using repeated measurements can be cast as an extension of the Pitman‐Morgan problem of testing equality of variances of a bivariate normal distribution. Hawkins (1981) decomposes the hypothesis of equal variances in this model into two subhypotheses for which simple tests exist. For the overall hypothesis he proposes to combine the tests of the subhypotheses using Fisher's method and empirically compares the component tests and their combination with the likelihood ratio test. In this paper an attempt is made to resolve some discrepancies and puzzling conclusions in Hawkins's study and to propose simple modifications.The new tests are compared to the tests discussed by Hawkins and to each other both in terms of the finite sample power (estimated by Monte Carlo simulation) and theoretically in terms of asymptotic relative efficiencies.
TIME, PRESENCE, AND HISTORICAL INJUSTICE
Authors: BEVERNAGE BERBER 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe relationship between history and justice traditionally has been dominated by the idea of the past as distant or absent (and with that, irreversible). This ambiguous ontological status makes it very difficult to situate the often‐felt “duty to remember” or obligation to “do justice to the past” in that past itself, and this has led philosophers from Friedrich Nietzsche to Keith Jenkins to plead against an “obsession” with history in favor of an ethics aimed at the present. History's ability to contribute to the quest for justice, as a result, often seems very restricted or even nonexistent. The introduction of the “presence”‐paradigm in historiography can potentially alter this relation between history and justice. However, to do so it should be conceived in such a way that it offers a fundamental critique of the metaphysical dichotomy between the present and the absent and the underlying concept of time (chronosophy) that supports this dichotomy. The “presence”‐paradigm can be emancipatory and productive only if presence and absence are not perceived as absolute dichotomies. In the first part of this article I elaborate on the influence that the present/absent dichotomy has on the notion of justice by introducing a conceptual contrast between what I will call the “time of jurisdiction” and the “time of history.” The second part of the article focuses on the way certain aspects of the dominant Western chronosophy reinforce the present/absent dichotomy and thereby prevent us from thoroughly exploring the ambiguous but often very problematic presence of the past. Throughout the article I refer to the relatively recent phenomenon of truth commissions and the context of transitional justice to discuss some challenges for the “presence”‐paradigm.
MIGRATION AND POPULATION CHANGE WITHIN METROPOLITAN TORONTO, 1966–71
Authors: Ingram David R. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYAlthough net natural increase accounts for slightly more than half of the over‐all growth in the population of Metropolitan Toronto between 1966 and 1971, the redistribution of the 1966 population and the addition of people from outside the metropolitan area are more important in understanding spatial variations in population change. Longer‐term residents have tended to move away from the inner municipalities, but the pattern of a suburbanizing population has been obscured by the tendency of recent immigrants to reside in the inner areas.
Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding is not likely to be cost effective in West Africa. A randomized intervention study from Guinea‐Bissau
Authors: Jakobsen Marianne S. , Sodemann Morten , Biai Sidu , Nielsen Jens , Aaby Peter 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To evaluate the impact of promotion of exclusive breastfeeding on infant health in Guinea‐Bissau, West Africa, where mortality rates are high, breastfeeding is widely practiced but exclusive breastfeeding is rare.Method: At the Bandim Health Project in Guinea Bissau, West Africa, a birth cohort of 1721 infants were randomized to receive health education: promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4–6 months of life according to WHO recommendations at the time of the study. All children were followed from birth to 6 months of age.Results: Introduction of both water and weaning food was significantly delayed in the intervention group. However we found no beneficial health effects of the intervention; there was no reduction in mortality in the intervention group compared with the control group (mortality rate ratio: 1.86 (0.79–4.39)), weight at 4–6 months of age was significantly lower in the intervention group (7.10 kg vs. 7.25 kg; Wilcoxon two‐sample test: p = 0.03). There was no difference in diarrhoea morbidity and hospitalization rates.Conclusion: Although mothers were sensitive to follow new breastfeeding recommendations, it had no beneficial impact on infant health in this society with traditional, intensive breastfeeding. There seems to be little reason to discourage local practices as long as there are no strong data justifying such a change.
Lupin sensitization and clinical allergy in food allergic children in Norway
Authors: Lindvik Helene , Holden Lise , Løvik Martinus , Cvancarova Milada , Halvorsen Ragnhild 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate to what extent children in Norway sensitized to lupin had clinical lupin allergy, and to compare sensitization to lupin with sensitization to other legumes.Methods: Thirty‐five children with food allergy referred to a national referral hospital were evaluated with skin prick test (SPT) and analysis of serum‐specific IgE to lupin, peanut, pea and soy. The children with positive SPTs to lupin were offered oral food challenges with lupin flour.Results: Fifteen children (43%) had positive SPT and 17 children (49%) had serum‐specific IgE to lupin. Ten SPT‐positive children underwent oral food challenges and one experienced an allergic reaction to lupin flour. This child was one of six challenged children with IgE antibodies to peanut >15 kUA/L. There was a strong relationship between positive SPT to lupin flour and positive SPT to soy and between positive SPT to lupin and specific IgE to soy, pea and peanut.Conclusions: Children with sensitization to lupin are not likely to have a clinical lupin allergy. Avoidance of lupin on the basis of lupin sensitization or peanut allergy would lead to unnecessarily strict diets. Food challenge is currently necessary to diagnose lupin allergy.
Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a child: A case report
Authors: Garabedian Lara , Verryckt Ann , Panzer Joseph , Wolf Daniel De 
Published: April 2008

AbstractCatecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare arrythmogenic disease characterized by exercise – or stress – induced ventricular tachyarryhtmias, syncope, or sudden death, usually in the pediatric age group. Familial occurrence has been noted in about 30% of cases. Inheritance may be autosomal dominant or recessive, usually with high penetrance. The causative genes have been mapped to chromosome 1. Mutations of the cardiac ryanodine receptor gene (RyR2) have been identified in autosomal dominant pedigrees, while calsequestrin gene (CASQ2) mutations are seen in recessive cases.Conclusion: Due to its potential lethal outcome, exclusion or confirmation of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in children with physical and emotional syncope is mandatory. We report a case of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a three‐year‐old child only diagnosed by genetic mapping.
Assessment of the prevalence of microaspiration by gastric pepsin in the airway of ventilated children
Authors: Gopalareddy Vani , He Zhaoping , Soundar Sam , Bolling Laura , Shah Mansi , Penfil Scott , McCloskey John J , Mehta Devendra I 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: Mechanically ventilated patients are at risk for aspiration of gastric contents. The aim of this observational study was to determine the prevalence of micro‐aspiration in children with cuffed and uncuffed endotracheal (ET) tubes and with tracheostomies and to assess the effect of feeding status on aspiration. Micro‐aspiration was determined by measuring gastric pepsin in tracheal aspirates.Methods: We studied 27 children on ventilators in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and 10 children undergoing elective surgeries for various indications. Tracheal aspirates were collected from children on ventilatory support in the intensive care unit during medically indicated suctioning and from the group of children undergoing elective surgery in the operation room. Pepsin was detected by enzymatic assay.Results: Overall 70% of cases in PICU were positive for pepsin in at least one of the aspirates. Pepsin positivity was significantly lower in the cuffed group than in the uncuffed and tracheostomy groups. Tube feedings did not significantly influence the prevalence of pepsin positivity.Conclusions: Measurement of gastric pepsin in tracheobronchial fluid is a sensitive tool to detect aspirations in mechanically ventilated children and to assess the efficacy of preventive measures in PICU settings.
Skin conductance compared to a combined behavioural and physiological pain measure in newborn infants
Authors: Eriksson Mats , Storm Hanne , Fremming Asbjörn , Schollin Jens 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To assess the ability of galvanic skin response (GSR) to differentiate between tactile and painful stimulation in newborn infants, and to compare this with the ability of the premature infant pain profile (PIPP).Methods: Thirty‐two healthy full‐term infants undergoing routine blood sampling were recruited. In a randomized order they were subjected to tactile and painful stimulation. The three GSR variables conductance baseline level, number of waves per second and mean amplitude of the waves were recorded together with the behavioural and physiological variables of PIPP.Results: The GSR variables number of waves and amplitude of the waves increased more during painful stimulation than during tactile stimulation, as did also the PIPP score. Receiver operating characteristic curves analysis revealed no significant differences between the studied methods.Conclusion: GSR can differentiate painful from tactile stimulation, but more research is needed to achieve a clinically useful application.
Association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and breastfeeding behaviour
Authors: Chou Sze‐Yuan , Hsu Hua‐Hsuan , Kuo Hsien‐Hua , Kuo Hsien‐Wen 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: A cross‐sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between breastfeeding behaviour and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).Method: Questionnaires were collected from 552 women. Blood and urine specimens were taken from part of the population at the time of delivery. The study population was classified into two groups: those exposed to ETS and those unexposed, based on self‐reports from the subjects involved in the study. Cotinine levels in the urine and blood specimens were analysed by HPLC‐UV under strict quality control procedures.Results: There was a significant negative association between the exposure to ETS at home or in the workplace and the prevalence of breastfeeding in each of the 6 months following delivery using multiple logistic regression adjusted for other covariates. The cotinine levels in the urine and blood were dose‐dependent, but not significantly so. However, women with lower cotinine levels had a higher probability of breastfeeding than those with higher levels.Conclusion: Women who are exposed to ETS have a low likelihood of breastfeeding. It is necessary for the government to regulate ETS in public areas and confined spaces in order to reduce the levels of ETS that women are exposed to.
The rise of multiple births in Brazil
Authors: Homrich da Silva Clécio , Goldani Marcelo Zubaran , De Moura Silva Antônio Augusto , Agranonik Marilyn , Bettiol Heloísa , Barbieri Marco Antônio , Rona Roberto 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to assess the rise in multiple births and its influence on trends of low birth weight (LBW) rates in Porto Alegre, Brazil.Methods: This is a registry‐based study of live births from 1994 to 2005 obtained from the national live birth information system. Chi‐square tests for trends were assessed for LBW and multiple birth rates. The impact of multiple births on LBW trends was assessed by sequential modelling, including year and further adjustment for multiple births. Risk factors for multiple births were assessed using the Poisson regression.Results: A total of 263 252 live births were studied. The LBW rate increased from 9.70% to 9.88% (p < 0.001) and the multiple birth rate rose from 1.95% to 2.53% (p < 0.001). LBW rate increased among twins, from 57.14% to 63.46% (p = 0.001). The twin birth rate rose by 24.7%, while the rate of triplets or higher‐order increased by 150%. Multiple births may be responsible for 23.9% of the increase in the LBW rate over the period. Mothers with higher levels of schooling, older mothers and mothers delivering in private hospitals were more likely to deliver multiple births.Conclusions: It seems that both the increase in multiple births and in the LBW among multiple births contributed to this rise in overall LBW rate.
Outcome in six children with mucopolysaccharidosis type IH, hurler syndrome, after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
Authors: Malm Gunilla , Gustafsson Britt , Berglund Gunilla , Lindström Maria , Naess Karin , Borgström Birgit , Von Döbeln Ulrika , Ringdén Olle 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To follow‐up six children with severe mucopolysaccharidosis type IH, Hurler syndrome, who were treated before 24 months of age with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Methods: In Sweden, during the last 10‐year period, six consecutive children born with severe mucopolysaccharidoses type IH have been successfully transplanted using matched unrelated donors between the ages of 11 and 24 months (mean age 18 months). Three children received intravenous enzyme replacement therapy once a week, from diagnosis until engraftment of their bone marrow.Result: Two children developed chimerism and a progressive increase in recipient cells and later received a successful re‐transplantation. One to two years after transplantation the children demonstrated some developmental delays in cognitive function. Latterly this was followed by normalization. Orthopaedic operations on the spine and hips and carpal tunnel syndrome were still required following transplantation. Cardiac valve involvement remained progressive in the children.Conclusion: The outcome of six children in this study confirms that early haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in mucopolysaccharidosis type I, Hurler syndrome, preserves an affected child's mental ability. Consequently, it is essential that clinical recognition and early diagnosis take place, providing an additional challenge to paediatricians treating this condition.
Age Structure and Growth of Degraded Populus euphratica Floodplain Forests in North‐west China and Perspectives for Their Recovery
Authors: Westermann Janneke , Zerbe Stefan , Eckstein Dieter 
Published: April 2008

Abstract The Populus euphratica floodplain forests along the lower reaches of the Tarim River in continental‐arid Xinjiang (north‐west China) have been declining in recent decades as a result of dam constructions and the withdrawal of water from the river. Since 2000, controlled flooding has been carried out to counteract this process of degradation. However, the consequences of a changing water regime for the floodplain ecosystem are not yet sufficiently investigated. In 2004 we sampled a total of 150 P. euphratica trees along two transects at the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River to compare the age structure and growth of these two tree populations. The anthropogenic drawdown of the groundwater table had no effect on the average growth of the trees at the lower reaches. However, tree growth abruptly increased after controlled flooding, thus showing distinct signs of recovery.
In vitro Selection for Fusarium Wilt Resistance in Gladiolus
Authors: Nasir Idrees Ahmad , Riazuddin Sheikh 
Published: April 2008

Abstract Cormels pieces of four Fusarium susceptible Gladiolus cultivars (Friendship, Peter Pears, Victor Borge and Novalux) formed friable calli when cultured in vitro on Murashige and Skoog basal medium containing various concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. The friable calli established cell suspensions. Plantlet regeneration was obtained from the control callus, control cell suspension derived callus and in vitro selected Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. resistant cell‐lines of Friendship. The in vitro cormlets showed 85–95% germination after breaking dormancy of 8 weeks at 4 °C. Cell suspensions of all four Gladiolus cultivars were found to be highly sensitive to fusaric acid. Gradual increase in fusaric acid concentrations to the cell‐suspension cultures decreased cell growth considerably. One albino plant was found from the second generation of the in vitro selected cell line of Friendship. The albino plant was found to be highly susceptible to F. oxysporum. The cormlets of all in vitro selected cell lines of Friendship were inoculated with a conidial suspension of the F. oxysporum before planting and were also sprayed with the same spore suspension for further characterization when the height of plants was about 6 cm. The four selected cell lines showed the same response whether or not they were inoculated with conidia of the F. oxysporum. Plantlets of all of the selected cell lines exhibited significant growth as compared with the control after application of conidia of the F. oxysporum.