bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The application of δ18O and δD for understanding water pools and fluxes in a Typha marsh
Authors: BIJOOR NEETA S. , PATAKI DIANE E. , ROCHA ADRIAN V. , GOULDEN MICHAEL L.
Published: June 2011

The δ18O and δD composition of water pools (leaf, root, standing water and soil water) and fluxes [transpiration (T), evaporation (E)] were used to understand ecohydrological processes in a managed Typha latifolia L. freshwater marsh. We observed isotopic steady‐state T and deep rooting in Typha. The isotopic mass balance of marsh standing water showed that E accounted for 3% of the total water loss, T accounted for 17% and subsurface drainage (D) accounted for the majority (80%). There was a vertical gradient in water vapour content and isotopic composition within and above the canopy sufficient for constructing an isotopic mass balance of water vapour during some sampling periods. During these periods, the proportion of T in evapotranspiration (T/ET) was between 56 ± 17% and 96 ± 67%, and the estimated error was relatively high (>37%) because of non‐local, background sources in vapour. Independent estimates of T/ET using eddy covariance measurements yielded similar mean values during the Typha growing season. The various T/ET estimates agreed that T was the dominant source of marsh vapour loss in the growing season. The isotopic mass balance of water vapour yielded reasonable results, but the mass balance of standing water provided more definitive estimates of water losses.
Confidence in receiving medical care when seriously ill: a seven‐country comparison of the impact of cost barriers
Authors: Wendt Claus , Mischke Monika , Pfeifer Michaela , Reibling Nadine
Published: June 2011

Objective  This paper examines how negative experiences with the health‐care system create a lack of confidence in receiving medical care in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Methods  The empirical analysis is based on data from the Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey 2007, with nationally representative samples of adults aged 18 and over. For the analysis of the experience of cost barriers and confidence in receiving medical care, we conducted pairwise comparisons of group percentages as well as country‐wise multivariate logistic regression models.

Results  Individuals who have experienced cost barriers show a significantly lower level of confidence in receiving safe and quality medical care than those who have not. This effect is most pronounced in the United States, where people who have foregone necessary treatment because of costs are four times as likely to lack confidence as individuals without the experience of cost barriers (adjusted odds ratio 4.00). In New Zealand, Germany, and Canada, individuals with the experience of cost barriers are twice as likely to report low confidence compared with those without this experience (adjusted odds ratios of 1.95, 2.19 and 2.24, respectively). In the Netherlands and UK, cost barriers are only a marginal phenomenon.

Conclusions  The fact that the experience of financial barriers considerably lowers confidence indicates that financial incentives, such as private co‐payments, have a negative effect on overall public support and therefore on the legitimacy of health‐care systems.
Beech bark disease: an evaluation of the predisposition hypothesis in an aftermath forest
Authors: Cale J. A. , Letkowski S. K. , Teale S. A. , Castello J. D.
Published: June 2011

The beech bark disease (BBD) complex affecting American beech consists of the scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga, and one or more pathogenic fungi of the genus Neonectria. Following extensive above‐ground mortality of mature beech, stands can be defined by a characteristic set of conditions that are termed the aftermath zone. A long‐standing hypothesis states that C. fagisuga is a necessary predisposing factor for Neonectria infection. Although some evidence supports this in the killing front, the relationship has not been examined in the aftermath zone and other predisposing factors have been proposed. Using quantitative, tree‐level data, we found no significant relationships between C. fagisuga and Neonectria spp. in aftermath stands of central New York State. We propose that the pathosystem operating in the aftermath zone differs from that in the killing front in that C. fagisuga may not be the sole predisposing factor.
Population structure and colonization of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China, inferred from mtDNA COI sequences
Authors: Li Y. , Wu Y. , Chen H. , Wu J. , Li Z.
Published: June 2011

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is a serious pest of fruits and vegetables in South‐east Asia, and, because of quarantine restrictions, impedes international trade and economic development in the region. Revealing genetic variation in oriental fruit fly populations will provide a better understanding of the colonization process and facilitate the quarantine and management of this species. The genetic structure in 15 populations of oriental fruit fly from southern China, Laos and Myanmar in South‐east Asia was examined with a 640‐bp sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The highest levels of genetic diversity were found in Laos and Myanmar. Low to medium levels of genetic differentiation (FST ≤ 0.134) were observed among populations. Pooled populations from mainland China differed from those in Laos and Myanmar (FST = 0.024). Genetic structure across the region did not follow the isolation‐by‐distance model. The high genetic diversity observed in Laos and Myanmar supports the South‐east Asian origin of B. dorsalis. High genetic diversity and significant differentiation between some populations within mainland China indicate B. dorsalis populations have been established in the region for an extended period of time. High levels of genetic diversity observed among the five populations from Hainan Island and similarity between the Island and Chinese mainland populations indicate that B. dorsalis was introduced to Hainan from the mainland and has been on the island for many years. High genetic diversity in the recently established population in Shanghai (Pudong) suggests multiple introductions or a larger number of founders.
Post‐teneral nutrition as an influence on reproductive development, sexual performance and longevity of Queensland fruit flies
Authors: Taylor P. W. , Pérez‐Staples D. , Weldon C. W. , Collins S. R. , Fanson B. G. , Yap S. , Smallridge C.
Published: June 2011

Adult Queensland fruit flies, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), require adequate post‐teneral nutrition to complete reproductive development, to perform sexually and for maximum longevity. Recent research has focussed on nutritional requirements of adults released in sterile insect technique (SIT) programmes that are used to manage these pests. Several studies have suggested benefits of providing yeast hydrolysate (YH) in addition to sugar during the 24‐ to 48‐h pre‐release holding period. Current evidence suggests that provision of YH can induce faster development, increased mating probability, longer copulations, increased sperm storage by mates, higher levels of sexual inhibition in mated females and increased longevity. We here review research on adult B. tryoni nutritional requirements, assess the potential application of this information in the context of SIT programmes and highlight future research that will help to determine whether YH, or other supplements, should be included as pre‐release treatment in B. tryoni SIT.
What’s the catch? Patterns of cetacean bycatch and depredation in Hawaii‐based pelagic longline fisheries
Authors: Forney Karin A. , Kobayashi Donald R. , Johnston David W. , Marchetti Jamie A. , Marsik Michael G.
Published: June 2011

U.S. Pacific pelagic longline fisheries operating in the central North Pacific have been subject to a series of regulations to reduce bycatch of protected species, including seabirds and sea turtles. Cetaceans are also occasionally caught, and the bycatch of false killer whales, Pseudorca crassidens, in the Hawaii‐based deep‐set longline fishery currently exceeds allowable levels under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). In this study, we examined longline observer data collected between 1994 and 2009, with emphasis on 2003–2009, to identify patterns of cetacean bycatch and depredation in relation to area, time, vessel, habitat variables, fishing gear, and set characteristics. The objectives of these analyses were to identify relationships amongst fishery interaction rates and variables that could provide opportunities to reduce depredation by cetaceans, reduce the likelihood of incidentally catching a cetacean when present, or reduce the severity of injuries to cetaceans if caught. The results of this study were provided to the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team, convened under the MMPA, as they developed a plan to reduce serious injury and mortality of false killer whales in these fisheries. No correlates were identified that could markedly reduce depredation rates, but a slight (16%) reduction in repeat depredation within a fishing trip was evident when vessels moved at least 100 km following a depredation event. The most practical option for reducing bycatch of false killer whales was determined to be the use of small (14/0–16/0) circle hooks, which could result in an estimated 6% reduction in bycatch and a greater likelihood of releasing animals with non‐serious injuries. Additional research is needed to address unresolved questions relating to processes involved in depredation events and hookings or entanglements of false killer whales.
Effects of environmental gradients on sandy beach macrofauna of a semi‐enclosed bay
Authors: Cardoso Ricardo S. , Mattos Gustavo , Caetano Carlos H.S. , Cabrini Tatiana M.B. , Galhardo Ludmila B. , Meireis Felipe
Published: June 2011

Macrofauna of sheltered and pocket beaches located in embayments, estuaries or landward of protective reefs has not been adequately assessed in beach ecology. In this setting, the concurrent role of large‐scale morphodynamics and wave‐exposure gradients in shaping biological patterns is still uncertain. To examine variations in community descriptors and the influence of physical factors on macrofauna, 12 sandy beaches on five islands within Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil) were characterized in terms of beach morphodynamics and dimensions (length and width), such as geographical position relative to the bay mouth. A total of 80 species were collected and identified. Community descriptors of macrofauna responded to morphodynamics and exposure gradients. Increases in species richness, and abundance, from harsh reflective (coarse sands, steep slopes) to benign dissipative (fine sands, gentle slopes) beaches, and from the bay mouth (exposed beaches) towards the inner bay (sheltered beaches) were observed. Mollusks were the most abundant macrofaunal group, followed by crustaceans and polychaetes. Crustaceans dominated the beaches near the bay mouth, whereas mollusks were more abundant on the beaches farther from the bay mouth. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the degree of exposure, distance from the bay mouth, beach index, and beach length and width significantly affected the macrofauna distribution and abundance, creating an environmental gradient along Sepetiba Bay. Differences in macrofauna composition among the beaches studied were associated with beach length and width. In this sense, spatial variation of macrofauna among beaches can be a function of intertidal area. These results indicate that community characteristics in the sandy beaches studied are affected by several physical characteristics, but also by other factors that are affected by coastal processes.
iSNAP: a small RNA‐based molecular marker technique
Authors: Gui Yijie , Yan Guanghao , Bo Shiping , Tong Zhijun , Wang Yu , Xiao Bingguang , Lu Xiuping , Li Yongping , Wu Weiren , Fan Longjiang
Published: June 2011

With 4 figures and 3 tables

Endogenous non‐coding small RNAs usually consist of 20–24 nucleotides, are found ubiquitously throughout the genome and play important regulatory roles in most eucaryotes. In this study, a new kind of PCR‐based marker approach using multi‐mapped small RNA sequences, called inter small RNA polymorphism (iSNAP), was developed. iSNAP primers were designed based on multi‐mapped small RNA and its two end conserved flanking sequences. To demonstrate the marker system, 10 rice and 30 tobacco iSNAP primers were developed and used to construct a rice genetic map and to fingerprint eight tobacco varieties. The results indicate that this technique can be effectively applied in the mapping of rice and fingerprinting of species (such as tobacco) with extremely low genetic diversity and thus provides a new option of molecular marker techniques.
Effect of Linoleic Acid Albumin in a Dilution Solution and Long‐term Equilibration for Freezing of Bovine Spermatozoa with Poor Freezability
Authors: Takahashi T , Itoh R , Nishinomiya H , Katoh M , Manabe N
Published: June 2011

Contents

Despite normal eucrasia, mating desire and semen quality, sire bulls sometimes have spermatozoa with poor freezing tolerance. This study assessed effects of the addition of linoleic acid albumin (LAA) and long‐term (LT) equilibrium to frozen semen on their sperm freezing tolerance. Immediately after collection using an artificial vagina and a breeding mount, semen was diluted with yolk citrate buffer; then, it was cooled slowly to 4°C during more than 5 h. Equilibrium treatment at 4°C was applied using the same extender supplemented with glycerol. Semen of bull A, with low sperm freezing tolerance, was treated with 1 mg/ml of LAA added to the first extender. The equilibrium treatment at 4°C was prolonged to 30 h. Significantly higher motility rates were obtained for the LT + LAA‐treated sperm before and after freezing–thawing. However, for semen of bulls B and C with normal sperm freezing tolerance, the LT + LAA treatment barely exhibited a small effect on the motility rate. Almost no difference was found among bulls A, B and C in the motility rates of LT + LAA‐treated sperm after freezing–thawing. No difference of fertility was apparent on LT + LAA‐treated frozen sperm in comparison with normal sperm in embryonic collection and in vitro fertilization. It was not an aberration of fertility in vivo or in vitro. In addition, the conception rate of artificial insemination did not have a difference, and a normal calf was obtained. Results show that addition of LAA to an extender for frozen bovine spermatozoa and 30 h of low‐temperature equilibrium might improve the motility of freezing–thawing spermatozoa with poor freezability. Sperm exhibited normal fertilization capability and ontogenic capability.
Effect of Freezing on Sperm Nuclear DNA
Authors: Fraser L , Strzeżek J , Kordan W
Published: June 2011

Contents

Sperm DNA damage has a significant impact on reproductive outcomes. In recent years, the search for optimal molecular markers for the evaluation of semen quality has resulted in the increased focus on sperm nuclear DNA assessment. The primary aim of this article was to review and summarize the effects of freezing–thawing procedure on nuclear DNA integrity of boar spermatozoa. Using different sperm DNA integrity assays, it has been confirmed that the sperm DNA undergoes structural changes during the freezing–thawing process. Evidence has been shown that a significant proportion of frozen‐thawed spermatozoa with compromised chromatin integrity was highly susceptible to DNA fragmentation. Moreover, the possible mechanisms responsible for post‐thaw sperm DNA damage could be because of cryo‐induced oxidative stress and, to a lesser extent, to the activation of an apoptotic‐like phenomenon. This review also highlights the ongoing effort employed to develop optimal strategies to reduce sperm DNA damage following freezing–thawing of boar semen.
Chymotrypsin C mutations in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Zhou Jiayi , Sahin‐Tóth Miklós
Published: June 2011

Chronic pancreatitis is a persistent inflammatory disorder characterized by destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma, maldigestion, and chronic pain. Mutations in the chymotrypsin C (CTRC) gene encoding the digestive enzyme CTRC have been shown to increase the risk of chronic pancreatitis in European and Asian populations. Here, we review the biochemical properties and physiological functions of human CTRC, summarize the functional defects associated with CTRC mutations, and discuss mechanistic models that might explain the increased disease risk in carriers.
IMPACT OF TECHNICAL MODIFICATION OF ENDOSCOPIC PAPILLECTOMY FOR AMPULLARY NEOPLASM ON THE OCCURRENCE OF COMPLICATIONS
Authors: ITO KEI , FUJITA NAOTAKA , NODA YUTAKA , KOBAYASHI GO , OBANA TAKASHI , HORAGUCHI JUN , KOSHITA SHINSUKE , KANNO YOSHIHIDE , OGAWA TAKAHISA , KATO YUSUKE , YAMASHITA YASUNOBU
Published: June 2011

Aim:  To evaluate the usefulness of a modified technique of endoscopic papillectomy (EP) for lessening the occurrence of complications.

Methods:  Indications for EP were adenoma or well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma confined to the papilla of Vater (T1) without tumor spread into the bile/pancreatic duct. Sixteen patients underwent the modified technique, which consists of resection with the Endocut® mode, followed by biliary/pancreatic sphincterotomy and stenting (Group A). Twelve patients who had undergone EP, using a cutting current, followed by pancreatic duct stenting were included as control (Group B). The frequency of complications and clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared between the two groups.

Results:  Sixteen patients had adenoma, and 12 had adenocarcinoma. Early complications occurred in 36% of all patients (hemorrhage, 7; cholangitis, 3; perforation, 2; cholecystitis, 1). The frequency of early complications in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (6% vs 75%, odds ratio [OR] 0.022, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0020–0.25). Late complications occurred in 18% of the patients (bile duct stone, 3; hemorrhage, 1; pancreatitis, 1). There was no significant difference in the late complication rate between Group A and Group B (19% vs 17%). Local recurrences were found in 14% of the patients, without a significant difference between Group A and Group B (19% vs 8%) during a mean follow‐up period. All recurrent tumors were successfully treated with argon plasma coagulation.

Conclusions:  The modified technique of EP for ampullary neoplasm contributed to lessening the occurrence of early complications. However, further refinement of this technique is necessary for improving the clinical outcome.
Cyclic fracture behaviour of 304LN stainless steel under load and displacement control modes
Authors: ROY H. , SIVAPRASAD S. , TARAFDER S. , RAY K. K.
Published: June 2011

Attempts have been made to understand cyclic fracture behaviour of AISI 304LN stainless steel used for nuclear piping materials under load vis‐à‐vis displacement controlled fracture tests; the former closely simulate the seismic loading conditions. The load controlled tests indicate that a material fails in a limited number of cycles even when the load amplitudes are sufficiently below the maximum load in a monotonic J–R test. The displacement controlled tests, on the other hand, show that the energy absorbing ability of a material gets severely reduced under cyclic loading conditions. The obtained results on standard laboratory specimens have been compared with similar available results on components in order to provide guidelines for maximum load bearing capability of engineering components under cyclic loading.
Fatigue life assessment under a complex multiaxial load history: an approach based on damage mechanics
Authors: BRIGHENTI R. , CARPINTERI A. , VANTADORI S.
Published: June 2011

In order to assess the fatigue behaviour of structural components under a complex (cyclic or random) multiaxial stress history, methods based on damage mechanics concepts can be employed. In this paper, a model for fatigue damage evaluation in the case of an arbitrary multiaxial loading history is proposed by using an endurance function which allows us to determine the damage accumulation up to the final failure of the material. By introducing an evolution equation for the endurance function, the final collapse can be assumed to occur when the damage D is complete, that is when D reaches the unity. The parameters of this model, which adopts the stress invariants and the deviatoric stress invariants to quantify the damage phenomenon, are determined through a Genetic Algorithm once experimental data on the fatigue behaviour of the material being examined are known for some complex stress histories. With respect to traditional approaches to multiaxial fatigue assessment, the proposed model presents the following advantages: (1) the evaluation of a critical plane is not necessary; (2) no cycle counting algorithm to determine the fatigue life is required, because it considers the progressive damage process during the fatigue load history; (3) the model can be applied to any kind of stress history (uniaxial cyclic loading, multiaxial in‐phase or out‐of‐phase cyclic loading, uniaxial or multiaxial random loading).
Understanding inverse oxygenation responses during motor imagery: a functional near‐infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Holper Lisa , Shalóm Diego E. , Wolf Martin , Sigman Mariano
Published: June 2011

Motor imagery (MI) is described as the mental rehearsal of voluntary movements. We used wireless functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recorded over secondary motor areas during performance of MI and motor execution (ME) in 11 healthy subjects, who either executed or imagined two drawing tasks differing in shape and frequency, i.e. simple (circle, 0.2 Hz) and complex (curved shape, 0.333 Hz). At the group level, results showed that fNIRS is capable of discriminating between the task mode, i.e. MI vs. ME, and the task complexity, i.e. simple vs. complex. At the single‐subject level, we observed inverse oxygenation responses, i.e. a decrease in Δ[O2Hb] and/or increase in Δ[HHb]. These inverse responses only occurred during MI tasks and were highly correlated, in the first place, with task mode, and secondly with task complexity. Inverse Δ[O2Hb] responses are likely to reflect individual differences in performance‐related signals and may contribute to the commonly observed inter‐subject variability in fNIRS measurements. As MI is now widely used as a mental task in neurorehabilitative applications, the resulting oxygenation pattern may be of use for future developments. For this programme to be successful it is crucial to determine the sources of inter‐subject variability. Our study presents a first effort in this direction, indicating that MI‐related inverse Δ[O2Hb] responses are correlated, first, with task mode and, secondly, with task complexity.
Genetic differentiation, recombination and clonal expansion in environmental populations of Cryptococcus gattii in India
Authors: Chowdhary Anuradha , Hiremath Sanjay S. , Sun Sheng , Kowshik Tusharantak , Randhawa Harbans S. , Xu Jianping
Published: June 2011

Cryptococcus gattii is a ubiquitous eukaryotic pathogen capable of causing life‐threatening infections in a wide variety of hosts, including both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans. Since infections by C. gattii are predominantly obtained from environmental exposures, understanding environmental populations of this pathogen is critical, especially in countries like India with a large population and with environmental conditions conducive for the growth of C. gattii. In this study, we analysed 109 isolates of C. gattii obtained from hollows of nine tree species from eight geographic locations in India. Multilocus sequence typing was conducted for all isolates using nine gene fragments. All 109 isolates belonged to the VGI group and were mating type α. Population genetic analyses revealed limited evidence of recombination but unambiguous evidence for clonal reproduction and expansion. However, the observed clonal expansion has not obscured the significant genetic differentiation among populations from either different geographic areas or different host tree species. A positive correlation was observed between genetic distance and geographic distance. The results obtained here for environmental populations of C. gattii showed both similarities and differences with those of the closely related Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from similar locations and host tree species in India.
‘The disappeared’: Power over the dead in the aftermath of 9/11 (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Colwell‐Chanthaphoh Chip , Greenwald Alice M.
Published: June 2011

This article tells the story of how the remains of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center have been mistreated and misused over the past 10 years. The article focuses on the experiences of some of the victims' families as they have sought to recover human remains dumped in the Fresh Kills landfill and to engage with officials about plans to house unidentified remains in a museum complex. The story reveals the institutional violence of a process in which human remains are devalued and subject to continual control by both state authorities and a private museum, a process that has turned victims into victims yet again. This second victimization lies in the gap between the shared heritage of that tragic September day and the individual rights of American citizens to care for their kin.
CASE STUDY: TEN THOUSAND STRONG
Authors: Eckhart‐Queenan Jeri , Forti Matthew
Published: June 2011

When a philanthropic organisation funds a new initiative, it's often hard for anyone involved to discern how the project is working out, much less improve it. Jeri Eckhart‐Queenan and Matthew Forti believe that the rigour of corporate performance measurement should also be the standard in philanthropy.
ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: STEPPING OUT
Authors: Van De Ven Andrew
Published: June 2011

Andrew Van de Ven, the Vernon H Heath Professor of Organizational Innovation and Change at the Carlson School of the University of Minnesota, won the 2008 Terry Book Award from the Academy of Management for Engaged Scholarship: A Guide for Organizational and Social Research. During a visit to London Business School's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Van de Ven talked about the need he sees for researchers to step out and engage others.
WAVE OF CHANGES: NOTES ON THE FUTURE
Authors: Gratton Lydia
Published: June 2011

The world of work has been undergoing huge changes, and all of us are being propelled into a future shaped by astounding scientific and technological advances. Those changes have already impacted most, if not all, workplaces; but Lynda Gratton believes that the next wave of changes we face will be especially noteworthy.
BLAZING NEW TRAILS: EXPERIMENTS IN MANAGEMENT
Authors: Goddard Jules
Published: June 2011

Experimenting with management techniques sounds dangerous. Could something explode? Or, perhaps worse, implode?Jules Goddard assures us that trying new methods of management is the only way for businesses to thrive in the future.
THINK AGAIN: SUMMER 1993 THE STRUCTURE OF STRATEGY
Authors: Kay John
Published: June 2011

In this 1993 article, John Kay provided characteristically clear and concise insight into the reality of strategy. He took a view of strategy which disputed the common distinctions between formulation and implementation, and between programmed and adaptive strategies. Kay argued that corporate success derives from a competitive advantage which is based on distinctive capabilities, which is most often derived from the unique character of a firm's relationships with its suppliers, customers or employees, and which is precisely identified and applied to relevant markets. Strategy is that process.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE HASSLE FACTOR
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: June 2011

Anja Lambrecht and Catherine Tucker, ‘Paying with money or with effort: Pricing when customers anticipate hassle’, Working Paper, 2010.
Selection of weak VARMA models by modified Akaike's information criteria
Authors: Boubacar Maïnassara Y.
Published: June 2011

This article considers the problem of order selection of the vector autoregressive moving‐average (VARMA) models under the assumption that the errors are uncorrelated but not necessarily independent. These models are called weak VARMA by opposition to the standard VARMA models, also called strong VARMA models, in which the error terms are supposed to be i.i.d. We relax the standard independence assumption to extend the range of application of the VARMA models, allowing us to treat linear representations of general nonlinear processes. We propose a modified version of the Akaike information criterion for identifying the orders of weak VARMA models.
Meeting the challenge of China: the Vietnamese garment industry in the post MFA era
Authors: GOTO KENTA , NATSUDA KAORU , THOBURN JOHN
Published: June 2011

Although China has diversified into sophisticated, higher value‐added exports, it is still a formidable competitor in global markets for basic labour‐intensive products. It is the world's largest exporting country of textiles and garments, the archetypical driver of industrial growth both in developed countries in the past and in most newly industrializing countries more recently. When the export restrictions under the Multi‐Fibre Arrangement (MFA) ended at the start of 2005, it was predicted that China would greatly increase its market shares at the expense of most competitors, except perhaps India. Vietnam has proved to be an effective competitor in the garment industry in markets where China is dominant. In this article, we investigate how key export‐oriented garment suppliers of Vietnam have been coping with competitive challenges in the post MFA era at a time when global buyers have been reorganizing their international production networks. We emphasize the influence of different global value chains on upgrading since Vietnamese suppliers switched to the US market after the implementation of the US Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2001. We note the uneven performance of Vietnamese garment suppliers, with some lagging behind others in upgrading and competitiveness, and their different responses to Vietnam's growing labour shortages. We base the article mainly on interviews conducted over the 2001–2008 period with garment companies and global buyers in Vietnam, Hong Kong and China.
Informality, global production networks and the dynamics of ‘adverse incorporation’
Authors: PHILLIPS NICOLA
Published: June 2011

The neglect of questions of informality in the study of global production networks (GPNs) is curious given the scale and reach of informality in the contemporary global economy. In this article I advocate a tighter integration of informality into the questions and approaches we deploy in the study of GPNs, not simply as an empirical area of enquiry but also in theorizing, first, how GPNs work and, second, with what social consequences. Drawing on ‘structuralist’ insights into the relationship between informality and formality in capitalist economies, I argue for a recognition of the ways in which these are structurally blended with one another to the extent that their dichotomization is empirically and theoretically misconceived. I go on to explore the ways in which informality is created and exploited within GPNs in a ‘top–down’ manner – that is, by capital, firms, employers and states – and the ‘bottom–up’ dynamics of informality, which frequently are constitutive of ‘adverse incorporation’ in GPNs for large numbers of workers, generating and perpetuating forms of poverty, marginalization and vulnerability.
Physicochemical and biological aspects of macrophage‐mediated drug targeting in anti‐microbial therapy
Authors: Kunjachan Sijumon , Jose Sajan , Thomas Cinu A , Joseph Emil , Kiessling Fabian , Lammers Twan
Published: June 2011

Macrophages are important drug targets as they mediate a wide variety of infectious diseases. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), schistosomiasis, brucellosis, and salmonellosis are some of the well‐known infectious diseases in which macrophages play a prominent pathophysiological role. For instance, VL parasites exclusively house in the macrophages of liver and spleen. They are resistant to lysosomal degradation by unknown mechanisms, they survive and thrive safely within macrophages, they multiply, and they ultimately affect visceral organs, leading to severe pathological and sometimes even fatal conditions. The majority of routinely used drugs administered in free form distribute all over the body via systemic circulation, leading to relatively low therapeutic activity and a certain degree of toxicity. Unlike for nonmicrobial diseases, targeting parasites procuring resistance and ineffective therapeutic outcome can be obviously speculated in case of infectious disease. The preferential uptake by macrophages, intended to improve the balance between efficacy and toxicity, can be achieved by the use of nanomedicines, i.e. submicron‐sized macromolecular or particulate drug delivery systems. This insight has stimulated researchers to use nanomedicines – which tend to be recognized by macrophages as ‘foreign’ and consequently are taken up by the intended target cells much more effectively than their free drug counterparts – to improve the treatment of infectious diseases. The literature reports extensively on such approaches; however, there are several constraints that limit the application of nanomedicine in macrophage‐mediated drug targeting. Here, we briefly describe the strategies that are used to achieve effective drug targeting to macrophages, using VL as a model disease, and we also put forth an understanding of the most important limiting factors. Various physicochemical and biological factors used by researchers as reported in the literature are addressed, and the most important mechanisms and modes by which macrophage‐specific drug targeting can be achieved are summarized. Based on the evidence obtained to date, it can be concluded that targeting macrophages is a valuable and validated strategy for improving the treatment of infectious diseases.
Water demand management in Yemen and Jordan: addressing power and interests
Authors: ZEITOUN MARK , ALLAN TONY , AL AULAQI NASSER , JABARIN AMER , LAAMRANI HAMMOU
Published: June 2011

This paper investigates the extent to which entrenched interests of stakeholder groups both maintain water use practice, and may be confronted. The focus is on the agricultural sectors of Yemen and Jordan, where water resource policymakers face resistance in their attempts to reduce water use to environmentally sustainable levels through implementation of water demand management (WDM) activities. Some farmers in both countries that have invested in irrigated production of high‐value crops (such as qat and bananas) benefit from a political economy that encourages increased rather than reduced water consumption. The resultant over‐exploitation of water resources affects groups in unequal measures. Stakeholder analysis demonstrates that the more ‘powerful’ groups (chiefly the large landowners and the political elites, as well as the ministries of irrigation over which they exert influence) are generally opposed to reform in water use, while the proponents of WDM (e.g. water resource managers, environmental ministries and NGOs, and the international donor community) are found to have minimal influence over water use policy and decisionmaking. Efforts and ideas attempted by this latter group to challenge the status quo are classified here as either (a) influencing or (b) challenging the power asymmetry, and the merits and limits of both approaches are discussed. The interpretation of evidence suggests current practice is likely to endure, but may be more effectively challenged if a long‐term approach is taken with an awareness of opportunities generated by windows of opportunity and the participation of ‘overlap groups’.
Prospect Theory and Political Decision Making
Authors: Vis Barbara
Published: June 2011

Risk is a central feature of political decision making. Prospect theory, an empirically correct theory of choice under risk that deals precisely with this condition, therefore seems to have much to offer political science. Prospect theory's central finding is that individuals’ attitude toward risk depends on whether they face losses or gains. Confronting gains, individuals are risk averse in their decision making; confronting losses, they are risk accepting. Where do these preferences come from? Do they also hold for collective decision making? How can prospect theory help us to solve puzzles in political science? This article addresses these questions by discussing some advances in evolutionary biology, behavioural economics, psychology, neuro-economics and political science. The article shows that there is increasing evidence that prospect theory preferences have an evolutionary origin and that these preferences extend to collective decision making. Moreover, it demonstrates that political science can indeed gain from applying prospect theory, as insights from prospect theory help to solve puzzles such as why some governments pursue electorally risky welfare state reform but others do not.
Effect of Telcagepant on Spontaneous Ischemia in Cardiovascular Patients in a Randomized Study
Authors: Behm Martin O. , Blanchard Rebecca L. , Murphy M. Gail , Palcza John S. , Harris Dawn E. , Butterfield Kristin L. , Smith William B. , Preston Richard A. , Chodakewitz Jeffrey A. , Krucoff Mitchell W.
Published: June 2011

(Headache 2011;51:954‐960)

Objective.— The primary purpose of the study was to explore the safety and tolerability of telcagepant in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background.— Triptans are effective acute anti‐migraine drugs whose vasoconstrictive effects limit their use in patients at risk for adverse cardiovascular events. Telcagepant, a calcitonin gene‐related peptide receptor antagonist, is being developed for the acute treatment of migraine. Antagonism of calcitonin gene‐related peptide, which does not appear to cause vasoconstriction, may allow for treatment of migraine in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods.— In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study, patients with documented stable coronary artery disease were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment sequences: telcagepant then placebo, or placebo then telcagepant. In each treatment period, patients received 2 doses of telcagepant 300 mg or placebo 2 hours apart. They remained in the research center for 24 hours after receiving the first dose of each period, during which time continuous 12‐lead ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) monitoring was performed.

Results.— Twenty‐eight patients were enrolled; all patients completed the study and were included in all analyses. Telcagepant was generally well tolerated. No laboratory or serious adverse experiences were reported, and no patient discontinued due to an adverse experience. There were no consistent treatment‐related changes in laboratory, vital signs or electrocardiogram safety parameters. Three patients (2 after receiving placebo and 1 after receiving telcagepant) experienced ST segment depression during the study; none of these patients reported chest pain.

Conclusions.— Two doses of 300‐mg telcagepant, administered 2 hours apart, did not appear to exacerbate spontaneous ischemia and were generally well tolerated in a small cohort of patients with stable coronary artery disease. Results of this study support further evaluation of telcagepant in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
The Sexagenarian Woman With New‐Onset Cluster Headaches
Authors: May Arne , Evans Randolph W.
Published: June 2011

(Headache 2011;51:995‐998)
Chemical Mediators of Migraine: Preclinical and Clinical Observations
Authors: Gupta Saurabh , Nahas Stephanie J. , Peterlin B. Lee
Published: June 2011

Migraine is a neurovascular disorder, and although the pathophysiology of migraine has not been fully delineated, much has been learned in the past 50 years. This knowledge has been accompanied by significant advancements in the way migraine is viewed as a disease process and in the development therapeutic options. In this review, we will focus on 4 mediators (nitric oxide, histamine, serotonin, and calcitonin gene‐related peptide) which have significantly advanced our understanding of migraine as a disease entity. For each mediator we begin by reviewing the preclinical data linking it to migraine pathophysiology, first focusing on the vascular mechanisms, then the neuronal mechanisms. The preclinical data are then followed by a review of the clinical data which support each mediator's role in migraine and highlights the pharmacological agents which target these mediators for migraine therapy.
Genomic microdeletions associated with epilepsy: Not a contraindication to resective surgery
Authors: Catarino Claudia B. , Kasperavičiūtė Dalia , Thom Maria , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. , Martinian Lillian , Heinzen Erin L. , Dorn Thomas , Grunwald Thomas , Chaila Elijah , Depondt Chantal , Krämer Günter , Delanty Norman , Goldstein David B. , Sisodiya Sanjay M.
Published: June 2011

Purpose:  Several recent reports of genomic microdeletions in epilepsy will generate further research; discovery of more microdeletions and other important classes of variants may follow. Detection of such genetic abnormalities in patients being evaluated for surgical treatment might raise concern that a genetic defect, possibly widely expressed in the brain, will affect surgical outcome.

Methods:  A reevaluation was undertaken of clinical presurgical data, histopathology of surgical specimen, and postsurgical outcome in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) who have had surgical treatment for their drug‐resistant seizures, and who have been found to have particular genomic microdeletions.

Key Findings:  Three thousand eight hundred twelve patients with epilepsy were genotyped and had a genome‐wide screen to identify copy number variation. Ten patients with MTLE, who had resective epilepsy surgery, were found to have 16p13.11 microdeletions or other microdeletions >1 Mb. On histopathology, eight had classical hippocampal sclerosis (HS), one had nonspecific findings, and one had a hamartoma. Median postsurgical follow‐up time was 48 months (range 10–156 months). All patients with HS were seizure‐free after surgery, International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) outcome class 1, at last follow‐up; the patient with nonspecific pathology had recurrence of infrequent seizures after 7 years of seizure freedom. The patient with a hamartoma never became seizure‐free.

Significance:  Large microdeletions can be found in patients with “typical” MTLE. In this small series, patients with MTLE who meet criteria for resective surgery and harbor large microdeletions, at least those we have detected, can have a good postsurgical outcome. Our findings add to the spectrum of causal heterogeneity of MTLE + HS.
Scalene Muscle Injections for Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Case Series
Authors: Benzon Honorio T. , Rodes Meghan E. , Chekka Kiran , Malik Khalid , Pearce William H.
Published: June 2011

Abstract:  Scalene muscle injections are used to confirm the diagnosis of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and predict the response of patients to surgery. We performed a retrospective study to determine if relief of pain was related to brachial plexus blockade in these patients.

Methods:  We reviewed the charts of 12 patients who had anterior and middle scalene muscle injections, for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, between April 2009 and September 2010. The injections were performed under ultrasound guidance wherein 2 to 5 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine was injected into the belly of the anterior and scalene muscles. The following were noted: (1) sites of preprocedure pain; (2) volume injected into each of the anterior and middle scalene muscles; (3) presence of numbness after injection; and (4) presence and duration of pain relief.

Results:  All 12 patients had relief of their pain. Six of the twelve patients developed numbness, which ranged from blockade of the C4‐5, C6‐7, and C4‐T1 dermatomes. In the patients who developed numbness, there was no relationship between the duration of numbness and the duration of pain relief or the location of numbness and the location of pain relief.

Conclusions:  The relief from scalene muscle injections in patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is not related to blockade of the brachial plexus. ▪
Detecting bone loss along dental implants by subtraction of panoramic radiographs
Authors: Geraets Wil G. M. , Verheij Hans G. C. , Wismeijer Daniel , van der Stelt Paul F.
Published: June 2011

Objectives: To test an extended subtraction method for measuring changes in bone along dental implants depicted on non‐standardized panoramic radiographs.

Material and methods: The measuring method consisted of a subtraction module extended with modules correcting gray values, correcting geometry and defining the region of interest mesial and distal of dental implants. It was applied to an archive of panoramic radiographs of implant patients who had been monitored up to 16 years.

Results: Significant loss of gray value was demonstrated at a constant rate of 0.6 units per month throughout the study. This indicates gradual bone loss on the mesial and/or distal sides of the implants. Females were found to lose bone at a higher rate than males. Smokers and non‐smokers, and various implant strategies yielded the same rate of bone loss.

Conclusions: The measuring method is a helpful tool to monitor changes around implants even when non‐standardized radiographs are being used. Whereas changes of marginal bone level are increased five to eight times during the first year after surgery, the present method shows gradual loss of bone during 15 years after surgery.

To cite this article: Geraets WGM, Verheij HGC, Wismeijer D, van der Stelt PF. Detecting bone loss along dental implants by subtraction of panoramic radiographs. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23, 2012; 861–865. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02215.x
Calcium phosphate/poly(d,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) composite bone substitute materials: evaluation of temporal degradation and bone ingrowth in a rat critical‐sized cranial defect
Authors: van de Watering Floor C. J. , van den Beucken Jeroen J. J. P. , Walboomers X. Frank , Jansen John A.
Published: June 2011

Objectives: The present study aimed to provide temporal information on material degradation and bone formation using composite (C) bone defect filler materials consisting of calcium phosphate cement (CaP) and poly(d,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (20 or 30 wt%) in rat critical‐sized cranial defects.

Materials and methods: Critical‐sized bicortical cranial defects were created in 48 rats and CaP/PLGA cement composites were implanted for 4, 8 and 12 weeks (n=8).

Results: Histological analysis of the retrieved specimens revealed that implant degradation was significantly faster for C30% (remaining implant up to 89.4 ± 4.4% at 12 weeks) compared with C20% (remaining implant upto 94.8 ± 2.1% at 12 weeks), albeit that overall degradation was limited. Although bone formation was limited in both experimental groups (upto 685765.9 μm2 for C20% vs. 917603.3 μm2 for C30%), C30% showed a significant temporal increase of total bone formation. The percentage of defect bridging was comparable for C20% and C30% at all implantation periods (range 40 ± 25.5% at week 4 to 65 ± 20% at week 12 for C20%; range 51.8 ± 7.8% at week 4 to 70.5 ± 16.2% at week 12 for C30%).

Conclusion: The amount of PLGA‐microparticles in the CaP/PLGA cement composites demonstrated acceleration of material degradation, while bone formation was found not to be influenced. Further optimization of the composite material is necessary to increase control over degradation and tissue ingrowth.

To cite this article: van de Watering FCJ, van den Beucken JJJP, Walboomers XF, Jansen JA. Calcium phosphate/poly(d,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) composite bone substitute materials: evaluation of temporal degradation and bone ingrowth in a rat critical‐sized cranial defect. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23, 2012; 151–159.  doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02218.x