bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coordination knowledge engineering
Authors: OSSOWSKI SASCHA , OMICINI ANDREA 
Published: August 2003

By adopting a structured knowledge-level approach, coordination knowledge can be ascribed to groups (societies) of system components (agents) as a whole,
rather than to individuals, in order to effectively rationalise complex patterns of interaction within intelligent (multi-agent) systems. Be it either explicitly represented at the symbol-level or hard-coded within specific coordination algorithms, coordination knowledge is instrumented by a wide and heterogeneous variety of coordination models, abstractions and technologies. Coordination knowledge engineering is then about eliciting, modelling and instrumenting coordination knowledge in a principled and effective manner.In this introductory article, we briefly review two well-known frameworks to conceptualise coordination, then we discuss different dimensions along which coordination models can be classified, and
analyse their impact on the design of coordination mechanisms and their supporting coordination knowledge. Finally, we sketch our view on coordination knowledge engineering and introduce the different contributions to this special issue along this line.
Becoming a Scientist: Gender and Knowledge in Eighteenth-Century Italy
Authors: Findlen Paula 
Published: August 2003

ArgumentThis essay explores how and why women involved themselves in the sciences in eighteenth-century Italy. Using the case study of Diamante Medaglia Faini, a poet who attempted to become a mathematician, it argues that the image of the woman natural philosopher was shaped by the visible presence of woman in scientific institutions in the mid-eighteenth century and by the tradition of popular scientific writing, best embodied in the works of Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle and Francesco Algarotti, that made the woman natural philosopher an important literary protagonist. Becoming a scientist, in other words, was both a reality and a fiction. The tensions between these two different images shaped the terrain in which women pursued science.
Harmonious Investigators of Nature: Music and the Persona of the German Naturforscher in the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Jackson Myles 
Published: August 2003

ArgumentDuring the early nineteenth century, the German Association of Investigators of Nature and Physicians (Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte) drew upon the cultural resource of choral-society songs as a way to promote male camaraderie and intellectual collaboration. Investigators of nature and physicians wished to forge a unified, scientific identity in the absence of a national one, and music played a critical role in its establishment. During the 1820s and 30s, Liedertafel and folk songs formed a crucial component of their annual meetings. The lyrics of these tunes, whose melodies were famous folk songs, were rewritten to reflect the lives of investigators of nature and physicians. Indeed, the singing of these Liedertafel songs played an important part in the cultivation of the Naturforschers’ persona well into the twentieth century.
The influence of larval density, food availability and habitat longevity on the life history and population growth rate of the midge Chironomus riparius
Authors: Hooper Helen L. , Sibly Richard M. , Hutchinson Thomas H. , Maund Steve J. 
Published: August 2003

Despite long‐standing interest in the forms and mechanisms of density dependence, these are still imperfectly understood. However, in a constant environment an increase in density must reduce per capita resource availability, which in turn leads to reduced survival, fecundity and somatic growth rate. Here we report two population experiments examining the density dependent responses under controlled conditions of an important indicator species, Chironomus riparius.The first experiment was run for 35 weeks and was started at low density with replicate populations being fed three different rations. Increased ration reduced generation time and increased population growth rate (pgr) but had no effect on survival, fecundity and female body weight in the first generation. In the second generation there was a six‐fold increase in generation time, presumably due to the greatly reduced per capita resource availability as the estimated initial densities of the second generation were 300 times greater than the first. Juvenile survival to emergence, fecundity, adult body weight and pgr declined by 90%, 75%, 35% and 99%, respectively. These large between‐generation effects may have obscured the effects of the threefold variation in ration, as only survival to emergence significantly increased with ration in the second generation.These results suggest that some chironomid larvae survive a reduction in resource availability by growing more slowly. In the ephemeral habitats sometimes occupied by C. riparius, the effects of population density may depend crucially on the longevity of the environment. A second experiment was therefore performed to measure pgr from six different starting densities over an eight‐week period. The relationship between pgr and density was concave, viewed from above. At densities above 16 larvae per cm2, less than 1% of the population emerged and no offspring were produced. Under the conditions of experiment 2 – an 8‐week habitat lifespan – carrying capacity was estimated as 8 larvae per cm2.
Quadruple therapy containing amoxicillin and tetracycline is an effective regimen to rescue failed triple therapy by overcoming the antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Chi C.‐H. , Lin C.‐Y. , Sheu B.‐S. , Yang H.‐B. , Huang A.‐H. , Wu J.‐J. 
Published: August 2003

SummaryAim : To identify optimal antibiotics for second‐line quadruple therapy of Helicobacter pylori after failed 1‐week triple therapy.Methods : One hundred patients were enrolled in this study after the failure of 1‐week triple therapy. They were randomized to receive 1‐week quadruple therapy consisting of amoxicillin, omeprazole and bismuth salts, plus either metronidazole or tetracycline. Before quadruple therapy, the H. pylori culture of each patient was tested for metronidazole resistance or clarithromycin resistance by E‐test. Six weeks later, an endoscopy or 13C‐urea breath test was used to define the success of H. pylori eradication.Results : The H. pylori eradication rates by intention‐to‐treat and per protocol analysis were higher in the tetracycline group than in the metronidazole group (intention‐to‐treat: 78% vs. 58%, P < 0.05; per protocol: 89% vs. 67%, P < 0.05). In the metronidazole group, but not in the tetracycline group, the per protocol eradication rate of quadruple therapy was lower for the infected isolates with metronidazole resistance than for those without metronidazole resistance (77% vs. 33%, P < 0.05).Conclusion : Quadruple therapy, including tetracycline and amoxicillin, improves the H. pylori eradication rate after failed triple therapy.
Contemporary understanding and management of reflux and constipation in the general population and pregnancy: a consensus meeting
Authors: Tytgat G. N. , Heading R. C. , Müller‐Lissner S. , Kamm M. A. , Schölmerich J. , Berstad A. , Fried M. , Chaussade S. , Jewell D. , Briggs A. 
Published: August 2003

SummaryBackground : Gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and constipation have a major impact on public health; however, the wide variety of treatment options presents difficulties for recommending therapy. Lack of definitive guidelines in pharmacy and general practice medicine further exacerbates the decision dilemma.Aims : To address these issues, a panel of experts discussed the principles and practice of treating GERD and constipation in the general population and in pregnancy, with the aim of developing respective treatment guidelines.Results : The panel recommended antacids ‘on‐demand’ as the first‐line over‐the‐counter treatment in reflux, and as rescue medication for immediate relief when reflux breaks through with proton pump inhibitors. Calcium/magnesium‐based antacids were recommended as the treatment of choice for pregnant women because of their good safety profile. In constipation, current data do not distinguish a hierarchy between polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐based laxatives and other first‐line treatments, although limitations are associated with stimulant‐ and bulk‐forming laxatives. Where data are available, PEG is superior to lactulose in terms of efficacy. In pregnancy, PEG‐based laxatives meet the criteria for the ideal treatment.Conclusions : The experts developed algorithms that present healthcare professionals with clear treatment options and management strategies for GERD and constipation in pharmacy and general practice medicine.
Use of the bougie in simulated difficult intubation. 1. Comparison of the single‐use bougie with the fibrescope*
Authors: Hames K. C. , Pandit J. J. , Marfin A. G. , Popat M. T. , Yentis S. M. 
Published: August 2003

SummaryWe studied the success rates for tracheal intubation in 64 healthy patients during simulated grade III laryngoscopy after induction of anaesthesia, using either the single‐use bougie or oral flexible intubating fibrescope, both in conjunction with conventional Macintosh laryngoscopy. Patients were randomly allocated to either simulated grade IIIa or grade IIIb laryngoscopy, and also to one of the two study devices. Success rates for tracheal intubation (primary outcome measure) and times taken to achieve intubation (secondary outcome measure) were recorded. For the simulated grade IIIa laryngoscopy group, the fibreoptic scope was more successful than the bougie (16/16 successful intubations vs. 8/16; p = 0.02). For the simulated grade IIIb laryngoscopy group, the fibreoptic scope was also more successful than the bougie (8/16 successful intubations vs. 1/16; p = 0.02), but clearly use of the fibreoptic scope was not as successful as it had been in simulated grade IIIa laryngoscopy (p = 0.04). With either device, median (range) total tracheal intubation times for successful attempts with either grade of laryngoscopy were less than 60 s (19–109) and there were no clinically important differences. We conclude that the fibrescope used in conjunction with Macintosh laryngoscopy is a more reliable method of tracheal intubation than the single‐use bougie in both types of grade III laryngoscopy. This finding has implications for the management of patients in whom grade III laryngoscopy is encountered unexpectedly after induction of anaesthesia, and also for the management of patients previously known to have grade III view at laryngoscopy.
Effects of hypertonic saline (7.5%) on extracellular fluid volumes in healthy volunteers
Authors: Järvelä K. , Koskinen M. , Kööbi T. 
Published: August 2003

SummaryThis study evaluated the effects of 7.5% saline on plasma and other extracellular fluid volumes. After baseline measurements, eight healthy postmenopausal female volunteers received 4 ml.kg−1 of hypertonic saline over 30 min. After the fluid infusion, the volunteers were studied for 60 min. Plasma volume was measured using a dilution of 125‐iodine‐labelled human albumin. Extracellular water and cardiac output were measured by whole body impedence cardiography. The infused volume was 4 ml.kg−1 (average 260 ml). Plasma volume increased rapidly during the infusion (mean ± standard deviation, 442 ± 167 ml). At the end of the 1‐h follow‐up period, plasma volume had increased by on average 465 ml (SD 83). The increase of extracellular water at the end of infusion and at the end of study was 650 ml (SD 93) and 637 ml (SD 192), respectively. The highest serum sodium recorded in the volunteers was 158 mmol.l−1. The effect of 7.5% saline on plasma volume was rapid and lasted for at least 1 h. Plasma volume remained elevated by more than the infused volume at the end of the study. The increase in plasma and extracellular fluid volumes was partly achieved by mobilizing intracellular water to extracellular compartment.
1000 anaesthetic incidents: experience to date
Authors: James R. Hugh 
Published: August 2003

SummaryThe anaesthetic incident reporting scheme in Leicester has been running for 11 years and 1000 incidents have now been reported. The scheme has successfully highlighted weaknesses where a procedural change has been able to prevent repetition. It has provided advance notification of problems which could be overcome by publicity and has been a source of educational cases. The experience of this scheme supports the use of a definition which does not include blame and allows the possibility of anonymous reporting. The scheme has evolved, driven by hospital decisions on reporting risk management cases, by inclusion of the Royal College of Anaesthetists' incident categories and by progressive refinements. Summary figures are given for the different categories of incident. These show marked similarities with previous studies.
Why do Both Parents Incubate in the Kentish Plover?
Authors: Kosztolányi András , Székely Tamás , Cuthill Innes C. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractIncubation by both parents is a common parental behaviour in many avian species. Biparental incubation is expected if the survival prospects of offspring are greatly raised by shared care, relative to the costs incurred by each parent. We investigated this proposition in the Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinus, in which both parents incubate the clutch, but one parent (either the male or the female) usually deserts after hatching of the eggs. We carried out a mate‐removal and food supplementation experiment to reveal both the role of the sexes and food abundance in maintaining biparental incubation by removing either the male or the female from the nest for a short period of time. In some nests we provided supplementary food for the parent that remained at the nest to reduce the costs of incubation, whereas other nests were left unsupplemented. Although males spent more time on incubation after their mate had been removed, females’ incubation did not change. Notwithstanding the increased male incubation, total nest attentiveness was lower at uniparental nests than at biparental controls. However, incubation behaviour was not influenced by food supplementation. We conclude that offspring desertion during incubation is apparently costly in the Kentish plover, and this cost cannot be ameliorated with supplementary food.
Vertical Position Reflects Increased Feeding Motivation in Growth Hormone Transgenic Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Authors: Fredrik Sundström L. , Devlin Robert H. , Johnsson Jörgen I. , Biagi Carlo A. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractGrowth hormone (GH) gene transgenesis has allowed the production of salmon with an inherently increased growth potential, on average two to threefold higher compared with daily specific growth rates observed in normal, non‐transgenic fish. This difference quickly results in animals of very different sizes at age, and is associated with specific morphological effects and enhanced appetites in transgenic animals. However, less is known of the feeding and antipredator behaviour of GH‐transgenic fish, information that can help with predictions of potential ecological consequences of release or escape of transgenic fish into the wild. In a series of experiments, transgenic (T) and normal (N) coho salmon of varying age and size (from 0.5 to 40 g, 3.5–21 mo) were studied singly, in pairs, and in groups during feeding and simulated predation threat. Vertical position generally did not differ between T and N fry, but at larger size (>4 g) T fish remained closer to the surface than N fish both during feeding and predatory attacks, probably as a consequence of inherent differences in feeding motivation and later reinforcement by associative learning. This difference in vertical position was not the result of competition as it remained even after either fish in the pair had been removed. In nature, where predators may attack from above (birds) or below (fish), this kind of behaviour may translate into higher risk of predation, which could increase mortality and lower the fitness of transgenic fish, unless their increased growth rate can compensate for the increased risk‐taking.
Effect of Risk on Aspects of Escape Behavior by a Lizard, Holbrookia propinqua, in Relation to Optimal Escape Theory
Authors: Cooper William E. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractPrey must balance gains from activities such as foraging and social behavior with predation risk. Optimal escape theory has been successful in predicting escape behavior of prey under a range of risk and cost factors. The optimal approach distance, the distance from the predator at which prey should begin to flee, occurs when risk equals cost. Optimal escape theory predicts that for a fixed cost, the approach distance increases as risk increases. It makes no predictions about approach distance for prey in refuges that provide only partial protection or about escape variables other than approach distance, such as the likelihood of stopping before entering refuge and escape speed. By experimentally simulating a predator approaching keeled earless lizards, Holbrookia propinqua, the predictions of optimal escape theory for two risk factors, predator approach speed and directness of approach were tested. In addition, predictions that the likelihood of fleeing into refuge without stopping and the speed of escape runs increase with risk, in this case predator approach speed, and that lizards in incompletely protective refuges permit closer approach than lizards not in refuges were also tested. Approach distance increased with predator approach speed and directness of approach, confirming predictions of optimal escape theory. Lizards were more likely to enter refuge and ran faster when approached rapidly, verifying that predation risk affects escape decisions by the lizards for escape variables not included in optimal escape theory. They allowed closer approach when in incompletely protective refuges than when in the open, confirming the prediction that risk affects escape decisions while in refuge. Optimal escape theory has been highly successful, but testing it has led to relative neglect of important aspects of escape other than approach distance.
Motivational and Heritable Determinants of Dispersal Latency in Wild Male House Mice (Mus musculus musculus)
Authors: Krackow Sven 
Published: August 2003

AbstractDivergence of dispersal regimens has been suggested to be the selective basis for the evolutionary differentiation of agonistic phenotypes found in natural populations of house mice. Dispersal propensity may, therefore, be expected to exhibit heritable variation in wild house mice, ultimately related to motivational differences causing observable differences in agonistic behaviour. To test for heritable components in dispersal propensity in wild house mice, father–offspring regressions of dispersal latencies from residential social groups were determined in standardized seminatural social settings. To evaluate potential motivational causes of phenotypic variation in dispersal behaviour, all test animals (fathers, sons, and daughters) were scored prior to the dispersal experiment in a standardized behavioural test, at 60 d of age. Activities were monitored in a 1 m2 square test arena during 10‐min observation periods. Test arenas exhibited four equidistant openings leading to cages containing fresh, own, sibling, or foreign bedding material. The apparatus allowed for scoring anxiety, exploratory activity, and kin preference. Subsequently, test animals were exposed to a resident population in a semi‐natural enclosure providing a dispersal opportunity. Father–son regressions of dispersal latencies were significantly positive, but no significant relationship was found for daughters. Dispersal latency decreased with increasing exploratory activity scores in males, but increased in females. Anxiety as well as kin preferences did not affect dispersal propensity. Hence sex‐linked, motivational components reflect heritable social behaviour variation in male house mice that may ultimately be caused by diverging dispersal regimens.
Targeting T‐cell subsets to achieve remission
Authors: Christophers E 
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACTPatients with psoriasis have an increase in pathogenic CD45RO+ memory‐effector T cells during active disease. The genetically engineered fully human fusion protein alefacept has been developed to selectively target this subset of T cells. Alefacept binds to memory‐effector CD45RO+ T cells, inhibiting their activation and inducing T‐cell apoptosis. The selectivity of alefacept for memory‐effector CD45RO+ T cells was evaluated in 229 patients with chronic psoriasis in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study conducted at 22 centres in the USA. Patients received alefacept intravenously at doses of 0.025 mg/kg, 0.075 mg/kg, or 0.150 mg/kg, or placebo once weekly for 12 weeks. Two weeks after completing treatment, patients receiving alefacept showed significant improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) compared with those receiving placebo. Mean reductions in the PASI score were up to 53% lower than baseline scores in the alefacept treatment group, compared with a 21% decline from baseline in the placebo group (P < 0.001). In addition to the significant improvement in psoriasis, treatment with alefacept produced long‐term remission in some patients. Twelve weeks after completion of therapy, 28 patients became clear or almost clear. The therapy was well tolerated and nonimmunogenic. Importantly, during treatment, there was a correlation between improvement in psoriasis and a dose‐dependent reduction in peripheral blood CD45RO+ memory‐effector T cells, but not in CD45RA+ naive T cells. This correlation indicates a relationship between a specific T‐cell subset reduction (CD45RO+) and clinical outcome in psoriasis.
Approaches to studying and perceptions of academic quality in a short web‐based course
Authors: Richardson John T. E. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBoth the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and the Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (RASI) were administered to students who were taking an introductory web‐based course in computing. The constituent structure of both questionnaires was preserved in this distinctive context, and the students’ scores on the individual scales of the CEQ and the RASI shared over 80% of their variance. Students’ perceptions of academic quality were positively associated with their adoption of desirable approaches to studying and negatively associated with their adoption of undesirable approaches. Students’ academic attainment was positively associated with their perceptions of academic quality and their adoption of a strategic approach to studying and negatively associated with their adoption of a surface approach to studying.