Changes In Other Variables Research Articles

The Role of Information in the Rise in Consumer Bankruptcies

Consumer bankruptcies rose sharply over the last 20 years in the U.S. economy. During the same period, there was impressive technological progress in the information sector. This paper provides a theory to understand and quantify the role of improvements in information technologies in consumer credit markets. Informational frictions restrict the amount of debt that can be borrowed. In fact, in the equilibrium in which investing in information is too expensive, many households borrow such small amounts that the default risk is very low. When information costs drop and informational frictions vanish, those households borrow more and default is likely after a bad shock. Quantitative exercises show that information costs have a significant effect on the bankruptcy rate. Additionally, a drop in information costs generates changes in other variables (e.g. interest rate dispersion) similar to what has occurred over the last 20 years.

Longitudinal correlates of fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Objective To determine the predictors of longitudinal changes in fatigue based on pain, mood, and neurological impairment across multiple sclerosis (MS) subtypes. Background Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS but remains poorly understood. The New York State Multiple Sclerosis Consortium (NYSMSC) database offers a unique opportunity to longitudinally assess a variety of potential fatigue correlates in a very large and diverse MS sample. Design/Methods This study examined baseline and 1-year follow-up data on 2768 patients drawn from the NYSMSC database regarding fatigability, pain, depressive symptoms, MS subtype, and expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Correlates and predictors of fatigue were assessed in correlational and multiple regression analyses. Results Baseline fatigue, pain, and depression accounted for 34.6% of the variance in 1-year follow-up fatigue scores. Fatigue was lower in relapsing–remitting subjects than in other MS subtypes. Fatigue consistently correlated at baseline and follow-up with depressive symptoms, pain severity, and EDSS. Changes in fatigue correlated with changes in other variables. Conclusions Predictors of fatigue at 1 year include baseline fatigue, pain, mood, and EDSS. These symptoms are also correlated at baseline, follow-up, and in change scores. Identifying predictors of fatigue may facilitate patient management.

Wind onset and withdrawal of Asian summer monsoon and their simulated performance in AMIP models

This study defines the concepts of wind onset and wind withdrawal to describe the abrupt seasonal variations of wind direction and circulation of the Asian monsoon. The patterns of wind onset and withdrawal show that the earliest wind onset in the tropical monsoon regions is found over equator around 70°–100°E and the southernmost South China Sea (SCS) and western Kalimantan, and the wind withdrawal shows a southward progression in tropics compared to the wind onset. A notable temporal boundary is found around 25°N in the subtropical western North Pacific (WNP), which may be related to the northward advance and southward retreat of the western Pacific subtropical high. The angle amplitudes of wind vectors in wind onset and withdrawal have distinct regional differences in Asian monsoon regions. Since the process of monsoon onset (withdrawal) may include several onsets of different variables without simultaneity, the relationships of the wind onset and withdrawal with the abrupt change of other variables (e.g. reversal of zonal wind, reversal of meridional wind, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), precipitation) are investigated. The results indicate that the temporal discrepancies in different monsoon regions confirmed the asynchronous onsets. It also implies that the wind onset might be a good omen for monsoon precipitation in most regions since it is slightly earlier than rainy season onset. Seven Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) models from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) are validated against observations mentioned above. Generally, the simulations of the multi-model ensemble mean are better than any individual model results. And the simulations of wind withdrawal are better than those of wind onset. For wind onset, IAP-FGOALS-1.0g, MIROC3.2 (medres) and MPI-ECHAM5 simulate reasonably well. For wind retreat, most models can capture the behaviors in tropics. However, there are still some discrepancies in a few models to simulate the dates of sudden change of monsoon wind direction. Moreover, most of models cannot reproduce the onset and withdrawal of both rainfall and OLR. The relationship between these discrepancies and the shortcomings of precipitation simulation is crucial for further investigating in the future.

Changes of thrombin-antithrombin complex and other variables in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective To measure D-Dimer(DD) ,thrombin-antithrombin complex(TAT), lasmin-antiplasrain complex(PAP) and protein C(PC) in ARDS,to find the clinical significance of them,discuss the objective base in the early diagnosis of ARDS in the lab, and offer the serologic bases in the treatment and prognosis of ARDS.Methods 105 patients of ARDS were selected as the study group, and 105 people were selected as the control group, all of whom were healthy with no thrombus diseases. The venous blood of everyone in both groups was sampied,in order to take a quantitative determination of plasma prothrombin time(PT), prothrombin time(TT), kadin partial thromboplastin time(APTT), the amount of blood platelet, DD, TAT, PAP, PC. Results Serum concentratation of D-D, TAT, PAP was significantly higher in patients in ARDS group than that in control group(P＜0.01).Serum concentratation of PC was significantly lower in patients in ARDS group than that in control group (P＜0.01). Conclusion Measuring the concentration of DD, TAT, PAP and PC was very important, which not only did good to the early diagnosis of ARDS,but also had a clinic value. Key words: Respiratory distress syndrome,adult; Pyrimidine dimers; Thrombin; Antithrombins

The influence of simulated shipping conditions (24‐ or 30‐hr interruption of agitation) on the in vitro properties of apheresis platelets during 7‐day storage

Platelet (PLT) components undergo interruption of agitation during shipment. Studies have demonstrated maintenance of PLT quality of whole blood-derived PLT concentrates during a 24-hour interruption of agitation, but data are not available for apheresis PLTs in 100 percent plasma. Apheresis PLTs were collected with one of two commercially available separators (Amicus, Fenwal, Inc.; or Trima Accel, Gambro BCT) to provide two identical PLT products, each with approximately 3 x 10(11) to 4.5 x 10(11) PLTs. The control product was continuously agitated. The test product was subjected to a continuous 24- or 30-hour period of interrupted agitation between Day 2 and Day 3 of storage by placement in a standard shipping box at room temperature. Interrupting agitation for 24 or 30 hours influenced in vitro PLT properties to various degrees. After 5 days of storage, pH levels were judged to be well maintained after 24 hours without agitation for PLTs collected with both separators (pH < 6.2, Trima [0/12] and Amicus [0/12]). The changes in other variables associated with the retention of postinfusion viability were also considered limited and acceptable in units subjected to a 24-hour interruption of agitation. After 7 days of storage including a 24-hour interruption of agitation, Trima PLTs better maintained PLT properties compared to Amicus PLTs. With a 30-hour period, both Trima and Amicus PLTs were deemed satisfactory for pH at 5 days, but not at 7 days (pH < 6.2: Day 5, Trima [0/23] and Amicus [1/22]; Day 7, Trima [5/23] and Amicus [4/17]). Based on the retention of pH levels of at least 6.2, apheresis PLT quality was maintained for 5 days with a 24-hour and a 30-hour interruption of agitation.

A High-Fat Meal Enriched with Eicosapentaenoic Acid Reduces Postprandial Arterial Stiffness Measured by Digital Volume Pulse Analysis in Healthy Men ,

Diets rich in eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5(n-3)] are associated with decreased arterial stiffness, but postprandial effects on vascular function are unknown. We investigated whether an EPA-enriched high-fat meal could improve postprandial vascular function. Seventeen healthy men ingested 2 test meals (51 g fat), 1 wk apart, in random order: 5 g EPA plus high-oleic sunflower oil (HOS) vs. HOS only. A second high-fat meal (44 g fat), the same on both study days, was provided 4 h later. Blood pressure and arterial function were measured using digital volume pulse (DVP) to derive a stiffness index (DVP-SI) and reflection index in fasting subjects at 3 and 6 h following the test meal. Blood samples were taken following the test meal for plasma 8-isoprostane F2α, nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NOx), glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, and fatty acid analysis. The plasma EPA concentration (mean ± SD) reached a peak of 2.10 ± 0.99 mmol/L following the EPA meal (5 h) and did not rise above 0.27 ± 0.16 mmol/L 1 h following the placebo meal. ∆DVP-SI did not differ between the 2 test meals at 3 h but was greater at 6 h following EPA (6 h −0.65 ± 0.65 m/s) compared with placebo (6 h −0.33 ± 1.26 m/s). Plasma 8-isoprostane F2α concentrations increased by 48% at 6 h compared with baseline following the EPA meal and plasma NOx decreased following both meals, with no differences between the meals in the changes. Changes in other variables measured also did not differ after subjects consumed the 2 meals. In conclusion, adding EPA to a high-fat meal results in acute changes in vascular tone, independent of changes in oxidative stress.

Sildenafil Citrate Therapy in 22 Dogs with Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease condition characterized by abnormally increased pulmonary artery pressures and often is associated with a poor prognosis. Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that causes pulmonary arterial vasodilation and reduction in pulmonary artery pressures. Hypothesis: Treatment with sildenafil will improve echocardiographic determinants of PH in dogs, while also improving quality of life and survival. Animals: Twenty‐two dogs with clinical and echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Methods: A retrospective study evaluating the effects of sildenafil on physical examination, ECG and radiographic findings, blood pressure and echocardiographic findings of PH, clinical score, and outcome was completed. PH was defined as a peak tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity ?2.8 m/s or a peak pulmonic insufficiency flow velocity ?2.2 m/s. Results: Sixteen of 22 dogs with PH were elderly females of small body size. Their clinical score was significantly improved (P= .0003) with sildenafil treatment, but physical examination findings remained unchanged. Heart rate, respiratory rate, vertebral heart size, ECG heart rate, and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly with sildenafil treatment (P &gt; .05). Peak tricuspid regurgitation flow velocities did not change significantly with the treatment of sildenafil, but selected systolic time intervals were significantly improved. Survival times for all dogs ranged from 8 to &gt;734 days. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Sildenafil did not significantly lower the degree of measurable PH in dogs. Clinical improvement and increased quality of life was seen with sildenafil treatment, despite lack of significant change in other variables.

Why work is not a panacea: a decomposition analysis of EU-15 countries

Increasing the level of labour participation is one of the key objectives of the European Employment Strategy and the Lisbon agenda. Increasing the employment rate is generally considered crucially important to safeguarding the sustainability of the welfare state and achieving a number of other socio-economic objectives. This article examines the extent to which higher employment does result in lower unemployment, lower poverty rates, decreased dependence on social security and reductions in public expenditures on social protection. To this end, a decomposition analysis is performed concerning the evolution of the unemployment rate, poverty rate, benefit recipiency rate and social expenditure rate in the 15 original EU member states and the United States since the 1980s. Results of this analysis show that, in many cases, the favourable effects of increases in employment are partially (and sometimes even fully) offset by simultaneous changes in other variables, including labour supply, eligibility criteria, benefit generosity and the concentration of non-working people in work-poor households. The article concludes that increasing the employment rate is not a panacea for all socio-economic ills. European social policy should therefore focus less one-sidedly on employment and should address additional objectives, including benefit generosity and poverty. In addition, the process of benchmarking in the EU should be transformed from its current top-down character to one which proceeds from the bottom up.

Oral Glucosamine in Doses Used to Treat Osteoarthritis Worsens Insulin Resistance

Glucosamine is used to treat osteoarthritis. In animals, the compound is known to cause insulin resistance, the underlying abnormality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance in humans taking oral glucosamine in doses used for osteoarthritis has not been studied. Volunteer human subjects (n = 38) without known abnormality of glucose homeostasis had fasting serum glucose, insulin, and lipids determined before and after taking 1500 mg glucosamine by mouth every day for 6 weeks. Fasting insulin and glucose were used to calculate homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Vascular elasticity was measured by pulse wave analysis. The paired Student's t test was used to compare baseline with posttreatment values. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the relation of baseline HOMA-IR with changes in other variables. We found a rise in HOMA-IR after 6 weeks of glucosamine (2.8 versus 3.2, P < 0.04). The fall in HOMA-IR among the subjects was statistically related to a higher baseline HOMA-IR by Pearson's correlation(P < 0.01). A rise in serum triglycerides and a rise in LDL cholesterol were statistically related to baseline HOMA-IR. Small artery elasticity fell, and the decrease was higher in those with the highest baseline HOMA-IR. Notwithstanding its efficacy remaining in question, glucosamine is widely used as treatment for osteoarthritis, which is a condition associated with both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our data indicate that persons with underlying poorer insulin sensitivity are at risk for worsening insulin resistance and vascular function with the use of glucosamine in doses used to treat osteoarthritis.

What determines the direction of subliminal priming

Masked stimuli (primes) can affect the preparation of a motor response to subsequently presented target stimuli. Reactions to the target can be facilitated (straight priming) or inhibited (inverse priming) when preceded by a compatible prime (calling for the same response) and also when preceded by an incompatible prime. Several hypotheses are currently under debate. These are the self-inhibition (SI) hypothesis, the object-updating (OU) hypothesis, and mask-triggered inhibition (MTI) hypothesis. All assume that the initial activation of the motor response is elicited by the prime according to its identity. This activation inevitably leads to straight priming in some cases and the mechanisms involved are undisputed. The hypotheses differ, however, as to why inverse priming occurs. The self-inhibition (SI) hypothesis assumes that the motor activation elicited by a prime is automatically followed by an inhibition phase, leading to inverse priming if three conditions are fulfilled: perceptual evidence for the prime has to be sufficiently strong, it has to be immediately removed by the mask, and the delay between the prime and target has to be long enough for inhibition to become effective. The object-updating (OU) hypothesis assumes that inverse priming is triggered by the mask, provided that it contains features calling for the alternative response (i.e. the one contrasting with the response induced by the prime). The MTI hypothesis assumes that the inhibitory phase is triggered by each successive stimulus which does not support the perceptual hypothesis provided by the prime. Based mostly on our own experiments, we argue that (1) attempts to manipulate the three factors required by the SI hypothesis imply changes of other variables and that (2) indeed, other variables seem to affect priming: prime-mask perceptual interaction and temporal position of the mask. These observations are in favor of the MTI hypothesis. A limiting factor for all three hypotheses is that inverse priming is larger for arrows than for other shapes, making it doubtful as to what extent the majority of studies on inverse priming, due to their use of arrows, can be generalized to other stimuli.

Sildenafil Citrate Therapy In 22 Dogs with Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease condition characterized by abnormally increased pulmonary artery pressures and often is associated with a poor prognosis. Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that causes pulmonary arterial vasodilation and reduction in pulmonary artery pressures. Treatment with sildenafil will improve echocardiographic determinants of PH in dogs, while also improving quality of life and survival. Twenty-two dogs with clinical and echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension. A retrospective study evaluating the effects of sildenafil on physical examination, ECG and radiographic findings, blood pressure and echocardiographic findings of PH, clinical score, and outcome was completed. PH was defined as a peak tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity > or = 2.8 m/s or a peak pulmonic insufficiency flow velocity > or = 2.2 m/s. Sixteen of 22 dogs with PH were elderly females of small body size. Their clinical score was significantly improved (P = .0003) with sildenafil treatment, but physical examination findings remained unchanged. Heart rate, respiratory rate, vertebral heart size, ECG heart rate, and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly with sildenafil treatment (P > .05). Peak tricuspid regurgitation flow velocities did not change significantly with the treatment of sildenafil, but selected systolic time intervals were significantly improved. Survival times for all dogs ranged from 8 to > 734 days. Sildenafil did not significantly lower the degree of measurable PH in dogs. Clinical improvement and increased quality of life was seen with sildenafil treatment, despite lack of significant change in other variables.

Protective Effect of Gui Qi Mixture on the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Huang Qi (root of Astragalus membranaceus) and Dang Gui ( Angelica sinensis), two of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, have been proven to be effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Dang Gui and Huang Qi mixture (GQM) on the development of diabetic nephropathy in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM and the possible underlying molecular mechanism. The diabetic animal model was made by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ and then treated with GQM or benazepril. Blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine beta (2)-microglobin (beta (2)-MG), kidney/body weight (K/B) ratio, glomerular area (GA), renal transforming growth factor-beta (1) (TGF-beta (1)) mRNA expression and blood and renal angiotensin II (AngII) expression were determined 8 weeks after the treatment. The blood glucose, CHO and TG levels, BUN, SCr, Ccr. K/B ratio, GA, the excretion of beta (2)-MG, renal TGF-beta (1) mRNA expression and blood and renal AngII expression were significantly increased while the HDL level was decreased 8 week after STZ injection. The changes in blood glucose, TG, CHO and HDL were reversed by GQM, not by benazepril, whereas the changes in other variables were reversed by both GQM and benazepril. Our results suggest that GQM alleviates the disorder in blood glucose and lipids, protects against the progression of renal nephropathy in diabetic rats, probably by inhibiting the expression of AngII and TGF-beta (1) mRNA.

Goals and Intentions Mediate Efficacy Beliefs and Declining Physical Activity in High School Girls

According to theory, girls who set goals about increasing their physical activity and who are dissatisfied with their current activity level are likely to form intentions to be active and to carry out those intentions, especially if they have high efficacy and control beliefs about being physically active. We tested those ideas while observing naturally occurring change during high school. A cohort of 431 black and white girls was tested at the end of their 9th- and 12th-grade academic years. Confirmatory factor analysis established the structural invariance of the measures across the 3-year study period. Structural equation modeling and panel analysis were used to determine whether changes in goal setting and satisfaction would mediate relations of self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control with changes in intention and physical activity. Testing occurred between February and May in 1999 and 2004. Data were analyzed in 2006. Goal setting and intention mediated the indirect relation between self-efficacy and change in physical activity. Perceived behavioral control and physical activity change were related directly and also indirectly by a path mediated through satisfaction and intention. Black girls had lower self-efficacy, but changes in other variables were unrelated to race. These observations of longitudinal relations elaborate application of self-efficacy theory and the theory of planned behavior to physical activity by showing that goal setting and satisfaction mediate the relations of self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control with changes in intention and physical activity. The results encourage additional research to identify the sources and development of physical activity goals, and their attainment, among girls, and whether experimental manipulation of goals and intentions can mitigate the decline in girls' physical activity during high school.

Reduction in prevalence of invasive cervical cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: impact of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic

The bulk of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic continues to ravage the developing world, especially sub-Saharan countries. The HIV seroprevalence among women with invasive cervical cancer varies in different parts of the world. A comparison of women with cervical cancer was undertaken for epidemiologic data in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence. The two time periods of study were 1999 and 2003. The aim was to determine the trends of prevalence of invasive cervical cancer and HIV infection among such women. While the background prevalence of HIV infection among women with invasive cervical cancer in our setting has remained constant over the two time periods (21% and 21.8%), there has been a significant reduction in the number of women presenting with invasive cervical cancer to our center (672 to 271) over the two time periods, with no changes in other variables. On the contrary, the prevalence of HIV infection among antenatal attendees had risen from 32.5% to 38.5% in the 1999 and 2003 periods, respectively. Reasons for this dramatic trend are presented together with other epidemiologic data.

Evaluation of an Intervention Designed to Decrease the Rate of Nosocomial Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusInfection by Encouraging Decreased Fluoroquinolone Use

Society for Health Care Epidemiology guidelines recommend decreasing the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in institutions where methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic. We evaluated whether an intervention to limit fluoroquinolone use was associated with a lower rate of nosocomial MRSA infection and summarized changes in antibiotic use, changes in other variables potentially correlated with a lower rate of MRSA infection, and rates of nosocomial infections due to other pathogens. Single-center quasi-experimental design. A time series of nosocomial MRSA infections was measured at monthly intervals from July 2001 through June of 2004; there were 80 MRSA infections recorded. Segmented regression analysis (ie, quasi-Poisson generalized linear models) was used to evaluate variables possibly associated with the nosocomial MRSA infection rate. An 87-bed Veterans Affairs teaching hospital with an extended-care facility. A physician-directed computer-generated intervention designed to limit the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics was initiated, and institutional changes in antibiotic use and nosocomial MRSA infection rates were tracked. After the intervention, fluoroquinolone use decreased by approximately 34%, and levofloxacin use decreased by approximately 50%. Decreased fluoroquinolone use was offset by increased cephalosporin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole use. The nosocomial MRSA infection rate decreased from 1.37 to 0.63 episodes per 1,000 patient-days after the study intervention (P=.02). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Enterococcus infection rates also decreased. However, the rate of infection with gram-negative organisms increased. The rate of MRSA infection was positively correlated with levofloxacin use (P=.01) and azithromycin use (P=.08), whereas it was negatively correlated with summer season (P=.05). In a subsequent model, the rate of MRSA infection was negatively correlated with the study intervention (P=.04). Reduction in the institutional use of fluoroquinolones may be associated with a lower nosocomial MRSA infection rate.

Experimental Measurement of the Relative Importance of Controls on Shoreline Migration

Abstract Shoreline position in sedimentary rocks is a sensitive recorder of the interplay of several controlling factors. The most important of these are thought to be the stratigraphic trinity: eustatic sea level, subsidence, and sediment supply. In ancient rock sequences, it is generally difficult to disentangle the effects of these variables. Here we analyze the relative influence of sea level, subsidence, sediment supply, and other controlling variables on shoreline migration in an experimental basin equipped with a subsiding floor. The experiment used a linear-hinge type subsidence profile for which the rate was kept constant in time, constant overall sediment supply, and base-level variation on two time scales that were first applied separately and then superimposed. Although base level was the only controlling variable that was externally varied in time, the base-level changes induced changes in other variables indirectly (e.g., by changing the partitioning of sediment between the fluvial and offshore segments of the system). We examine the relative importance of measured direct and indirect changes in all the governing variables through the use of a moving-boundary equation for shoreline migration. When measured values are used for all the variables in the equation, shoreline migration rate throughout the run can be predicted with a maximum R2 of > 0.92. Starting with this optimal prediction of the observed shoreline behavior, we successively replace variables in the equation with their run-averaged values, degrading the prediction. The relative loss of prediction accuracy as each variable is replaced is a measure of the importance of that variable in accounting for the observed shoreline migration. By this measure, base level is the most important variable, followed in turn by sediment supply to the foreset, geometry of the foreset, and the average subsidence rate over the foreset. From the shoreline migration equation, we also derive a quantitative version of the often applied in sequence stratigraphy. The new formulation reduces to a form comparable to the traditional descriptive A/S ratio if changes in foreset slope, gain or loss of sediment to the fluvial system, and spatial variation in subsidence rate are all negligible.

Impacts of tillage, cover crop, and nitrogen on populations of earthworms, microarthropods, and soil fungi in a cultivated fragile soil

The impacts of tillage regime, cover crop, and nitrogen on various soil organisms inhabiting a fragile sandy soil (Brunosolic Gray Brown Luvisol) were determined. Soil samples were collected between 2000 and 2003 from a long-term tillage experiment, established in 1988 to determine the effect of tillage systems on yield of corn ( Zea mays), soil quality, and weed populations. Populations of several of the soil organisms studied were significantly affected by one or more agronomic treatments. A single earthworm species, Aporrectodea turgida, was found in the experimental area. Worm populations were generally low and dominated by juveniles. Spring-sampled populations were significantly higher in no-till plots than in conventionally tilled plots. Fall-sampled populations were not affected as greatly by tillage, but were generally higher in no-till plots not receiving additional nitrogen or in plots overseeded with a rye ( Secale cereale) cover crop. Soil microbial biomass, as represented by extractable soil DNA, was higher in the spring than in the fall. Populations of the soilborne stramenopile Pythium were generally higher in conventionally tilled plots, and were increased by a rye cover crop. Higher rates of nitrogen increased populations of total soil fungi but nitrogen had little effect on prostigmatid or cryptostigmatid mites; prostigmatid populations were generally higher in no-till plots. Spring populations of mesostigmatid mites were higher in plots with a rye cover crop than in plots without an overwintering plant cover. Conventional tillage stimulated populations of astigmatid mites during periods of high rainfall. Collembola populations were dominated by the families Onychiuridae and Isotomidae, but neither was greatly affected by any tillage treatment. Principal component analysis showed that populations of A. turgida and soil aggregation tended to be positively associated with one another, but that variations in populations of Onychiuridae springtails, prostigmatid mites, and Pythium tended not to be associated with changes in other variables. Overall, effects of tillage treatments on soil organisms were found to differ from previous reports in several respects, suggesting that soil type may impose conditions that over-ride the impacts of agronomic cultivation systems on populations of soil organisms.

Reduction in prevalence of invasive cervical cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: impact of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic

The bulk of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic continues to ravage the developing world, especially sub-Saharan countries. The HIV seroprevalence among women with invasive cervical cancer varies in different parts of the world. A comparison of women with cervical cancer was undertaken for epidemiologic data in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence. The two time periods of study were 1999 and 2003. The aim was to determine the trends of prevalence of invasive cervical cancer and HIV infection among such women. While the background prevalence of HIV infection among women with invasive cervical cancer in our setting has remained constant over the two time periods (21% and 21.8%), there has been a significant reduction in the number of women presenting with invasive cervical cancer to our center (672 to 271) over the two time periods, with no changes in other variables. On the contrary, the prevalence of HIV infection among antenatal attendees had risen from 32.5% to 38.5% in the 1999 and 2003 periods, respectively. Reasons for this dramatic trend are presented together with other epidemiologic data.

GIS Applications in Land Management: The Loss of High Quality Land to Development in Central Mississippi from 1987-2002

The socio-economic trends and history of Central Mississippi reveal a major rural influence based upon a dependence on agricultural activities as part of the economic engine driving the state's economy. Yet, in the last several years, the amount of agricultural land in the counties continues to decline. Similar changes in other variables associated with agricultural land use and the continuity of farming in the state have also been changing. Indeed, under the pressure of urban growth, some farmers are forced to use less productive soils or have abandoned the agricultural business. Considering the gravity of the problem and the implications for sustainable development, public concern has increased in the state of Mississippi that urbanization and other factors may be eroding potential farmland. Given the effects of the current trends on the future capacity to produce food items, there are concerns that the growing incidence of farmland loss may also erode the basis for sustainable use of agricultural land, biodiversity and protection of the state's ecological treasures. Notwithstanding the gravity of these trends, no major effort in the literature has aimed at documenting the incidence of agricultural land loss and the linkages to urbanization in the region of Central Mississippi. What changes have taken place in the size of agricultural land within the counties and what factors are responsible for it? This paper examines the issue of farmland loss in Central Mississippi with a focus at the county level between 1987 and 2002 from a temporal-spatial perspective. In terms of methodology, the paper uses a mixed scale approach based upon the existing literature. Data were drawn from the United States Census databases of Population and Agriculture. This information is analyzed with basic descriptive statistics and GIS with particular attention to the spatial trends at the county level. Results indicate that the counties under consideration have experienced considerable change in the amount of agricultural land and other variables associated with the use of farmland, due to urbanization. With the types of changes occurring, instituting effective policies anchored in sustainability, community participation, and growth management will go a long way in addressing the situation. Other strategies for farmland protection based upon land information inventory and mapping in the region, are also recommended. The paper stands as an update of the existing literature and offers a valuable tool for decision makers within the domain of natural resources management.

The MCID of the Transition Dyspnea Index is a Total Score of One Unit

The Baseline (BDI) and Transition (TDI) Dyspnea Indexes provide interview-based measurements of breathlessness related to activities of daily living. The BDI is a discriminative instrument that includes specific criteria for each of three components at a single point in time. The TDI is an evaluative instrument that includes specific criteria for each of three components to measure changes from a baseline state. Observational studies have shown that patients with COPD generally experience a gradual progression of breathing difficulty as measured by the TDI over time. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated excellent measurement characteristics of the TDI; these include responsiveness (ability to detect change) and construct validity (a change in the TDI correlates with changes in other variables). Supporting evidence for one unit as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the TDI is based on: expert preference; use of the physician's global evaluation score as an anchor; and distribution estimates (standard error of measurement and 0.5 of the standard deviation). As an alternative to the interview process, self-administered computerized (SAC) versions of the BDI/TDI have been developed to provide direct patient-reported ratings of dyspnea. To further establish the MCID of the interview-administered and/or the SAC TDI, we recommend that a patient's report of global ratings of change by used as an independent standard or anchor.