bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Processing of syllables during handwriting: Effects of graphomotor constraints
Authors: Sausset Solen , Lambert Eric , Olive Thierry , Larocque Denis
Published: September 2012

The processing of syllables during the writing of isolated words has been shown to occur either before or during the writing of the word containing them. To demonstrate that this difference is related to graphomotor constraints, participants copied bi- and trisyllabic words three times, in four conditions where graphomotor constraints were gradually increased. As expected, latencies were only affected by syllable number in the low-constraint condition. In all four conditions, interletter intervals at syllable boundaries were longer than intrasyllabic interletter intervals. The difference between inter- and intrasyllabic intervals increased with the level of graphomotor constraint. Taken together, these findings indicate that under low graphomotor-constraint conditions, all the syllable processing takes place prior to the writing of a word, whereas under higher graphomotor-constraint conditions, syllable processing is more sequential, each syllable being processed just before it is written.
Wishful Thinking: Retail Premiums in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America
Authors: Woloson Wendy A.
Published: September 2012

“Wishful Thinking” discusses the origins of retail premium schemes in America. An entirely new marketing strategy that began appearing in the early 1850s, giving away free things with purchases helped fuel the consumer revolution of the 19th century by inducing people to buy things they did not necessarily want or need. The article focuses on the three most prevalent forms of premiums – gift distributions, prize packages, and gift book establishments – and draws on scholarship from various fields, including advertising and marketing history and economic anthropology. In addition to describing various premium schemes and linking them to nascent consumerism, the article posits why they might have been so successful, despite the fact that many were clearly fraudulent.
Accounting for Taste: Regulating Food Labeling in the “Affluent Society,” 1945–1995
Authors: Frohlich Xaq
Published: September 2012

Accounting for Tasteexamines the history of the US Food and Drug Administration's regulation of markets through labels as a form of public–private infrastructure, built through the ceaseless work (and antagonisms) of public regulators, the food industry, and expert advisors. From public hearings on setting “standards of identity” for foods to rule making on informative labels like the Nutrition Facts panel, it links a narrow history of institutional change in food regulation to broader cultural anxieties of twentieth-century America, arguing that the recurrence to informative labels as a political solution reflects a transformation in not only scientific understandings of dietary risk but also cultural understandings about the responsibility of consumers. In describing this “informational turn” in food politics, the dissertation foregrounds the important role of intermediaries, specifically consumer and health experts, and intermediate spaces, such as labels, in the framing of political debates about the production and consumption of everyday goods.
First Report of Fusarium equiseti Causing Vascular Wilt of Cumin in India
Authors: Ramchandra S. , Bhatt P. N.
Published: September 2012

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is one of the important spices in the world after black pepper. Cumin is mainly used in flavoring foods for its distinctive aroma and ayurvedic medicines. The production of cumin seeds in India is estimated to be around 0.15 million tons annually. Wilt symptoms were observed on field-grown cumin during the winter of 2009 and 2010. Diseased plants exhibited symptoms including wilted leaves, stunted growth, and eventually, death. In severe cases, approximately 65% of the plants in the field died. Isolations of the pathogen were made from the discolored tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Rose Bengal after disinfestations in 0.1% HgCl2 for 2 min and dipping in 70% ethanol for 10 s. Petri dishes were then incubated in complete darkness at 26°C for 7 days. Typical growth characters observed were development of abundant white aerial mycelium that turned peach orange by incubating under light. Microconidia were single-celled, hyaline, non-septate and ovoid, and ranged from 9.5 to 12.5 × 3.5 to 5.25 μm. Macroconidia were mostly two- to three-septate, slightly curved at apex, and ranged from 28.0 to 30.5 × 3.5 to 5.25 μm. The fungus was identified as Fusarium equiseti based on colony characters and spore morphology (3). The identity was further confirmed by the Fungal Identification Service, Mycology and Plant Pathology Group Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India (Accession No. NFCCI-2157). The ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region of rDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers ITS1/ITS2 and sequenced (2). BLASTn analysis of the sequence obtained showed a 99.78% homology with F. equiseti at NCBI and FUSARIUM-ID v. 1.0 (1). The sequence was deposited at GenBank (Accession No. JN014954). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 10 healthy 1-month-old seedlings of cumin in a moist chamber. Plants were separately inoculated in pots with sterilized soil and 10 ml of F. equiseti isolate spore suspension (107 conidia/ml) at 25°C for 7 to 10 days. Control plants were inoculated with sterile soil without spore suspension. Within 10 days, inoculated plants developed leaf wilt, stunted growth, discolored vascular tissue on stems, and finally died, which is similar to that observed in the field. Control seedlings were symptom free. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolating the fungal pathogen, which was identified as F. equiseti causing vascular wilt on cumin reported in Israel (4). However; F. oxysporum f. sp. Cumini is the first reported vascular wilt of cumin. To our knowledge and on the basis of the literature, this the first report of vascular wilt of cumin caused by F. equiseti in India.

References: (1) D. M. Geiser et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473, 2004. (2) M. Korabecna. In: Communicating Current Research and Educational Topics and Trends in Applied Microbiology, p. 783, 2007. (3) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerrell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA, 2006. (4) R. Reuveni. Plant Dis. 66:498, 1982.
Olive Twig and Branch Dieback: Etiology, Incidence, and Distribution in California
Authors: Úrbez-Torres J. R. , Peduto F. , Vossen P. M. , Krueger W. H. , Gubler W. D.
Published: September 2012

Eighteen different fungal species were isolated from symptomatic wood of olive trees (Olea europaea) affected by twig and branch dieback in California and identified by means of morphological characters and multigene sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), a partial sequence of the β-tubulin gene, and part of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF1-α). These species included Diaporthe viticola, Diatrype oregonensis, Diatrype stigma, Diplodia mutila, Dothiorella iberica, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phomopsis sp. group 1, Phomopsis sp. group 2, and Schizophyllum commune, which are for the first time reported to occur in olive trees; Eutypa lata, Neofusicoccum luteum, Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme, and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, which are for the first time reported to occur in olive trees in the United States; and Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata, Neofusicoccum mediterraneum, and Trametes versicolor, which have been previously reported in olive trees in California. Pathogenicity studies conducted in olive cultivars Manzanillo and Sevillano showed N. mediterraneum and Diplodia mutila to be the most virulent species and Diatrype stigma and D. oregonensis the least virulent when inoculated in olive branches. Intermediate virulence was shown for the rest of the taxa. This study demystifies the cause of olive twig and branch dieback and elucidates most of the fungal pathogens responsible for this disease in California.
First Report of Phytophthora megasperma Associated with Decline and Death of Common Walnut Trees in Italy
Authors: Belisario A. , Luongo L. , Galli M. , Vitale S.
Published: September 2012

Common walnut (Juglans regia L.) is an important nut crop in Italy, which is the fifth largest producer of walnut in Europe. In recent years, walnut decline and subsequent death has increased in many Italian commercial orchards. In the summer of 2010, several declining trees were present in waterlogged area of a walnut orchard located in the Veneto region. Symptoms included sparse foliage, wilting, and shoot and branch dieback. By the next year, a larger area of about 1 ha with 20% of dead trees was present, and soil/root samples were subjected to azalea leaf baiting and successively cultured on PARBH medium (3). Isolates were identified as Phytophthora megasperma based on morphological characteristics (2) and DNA sequence analysis. Sporangia were 35.0 to 62.0 × 12.0 to 30.0 μm, nonpapillate, and noncaducous when produced in soil extract solution. Oogonia had an average diameter of 36 μm with mostly paragynous antheridia. Identity was confirmed by sequence comparison in NCBI database with 99% and 100% identity for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial partial COI (4) for cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, respectively. The sequences of the isolate AB199 were deposited in GenBank with the accession nos. HE805270 and HE805269 for ITS and COI, respectively. Pathogenicity tests were conducted in the greenhouse on six 1-year-old walnut shoots with two inoculation points each. Mycelial plugs cut from the margins of actively growing 8-day-old cultures on PDA were inserted through the epidermis to the phloem. Controls were treated as described above except for inoculation with sterile PDA plugs. After inoculation, shoots were incubated in test tubes with sterile water for 1 week in the dark at 22 ± 2°C. Lesions were evident at the inoculation points. P. megasperma was consistently reisolated from the margin of symptomatic tissues. Controls remained symptomless. P. megasperma is a polyphagous, ubiquitarious Phytophthora species that attacks many crops and fruit species including walnut. Although several other species of Phytophthora have been reported from Italy (1), to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Phytophthora decline on common walnut in Italy caused by P. megasperma.

References: (1) A. Belisario et al. Acta Hort. 705:401, 2006. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (3) G. C. Papavisas et al. Phytopathology 71:129, 1981. (4) G. P. Robideau et al. Mol. Ecol. Resour. 11:1002, 2011.
Intraoperative Neural Mobility and Postoperative Neurological Recovery in Anterior Cervical Decompression Surgery
Authors: Mihara Hisanori , Kondo Soichi , Katoh Shinya , Ono Masatoshi , Hachiya Masashi
Published: September 2012

Study Design:

A study using intraoperative sonography (IOS) was conducted for evaluating neural mobility in anterior cervical decompression surgery.

Objectives:

To analyze decompression status and mobility of the spinal cord and the nerve root during anterior cervical decompression and to clarify its relevance to the postoperative neurological recovery.

Summary of Background Data:

Several papers introduced the usefulness of IOS assessments; however, there have been no reports systematically evaluating the neural mobility in anterior cervical decompression surgery.

Methods:

Eighty-four consecutive patients with compressive myelopathy who underwent anterior cervical decompression procedures were studied. The decompression status of the spinal cord was evaluated with IOS and classified into 3 grades according to the restoration pattern of the space ventral to the cord. Pulsatile motion of the spinal cord in cranio-caudal direction was named “sliding pulsation” and graded into 3 groups. The nerve root pulsation was also assessed using the IOS short-axis views. This study analyzed whether those neural mobility in anterior cervical decompression surgery had relevance to postoperative neurological recovery, which was assessed by the Japan Orthopaedic Association score.

Results:

The mean recovery rate of the Japan Orthopaedic Association score was 59.1% in total. According to the decompression status in IOS, 67 patients who acquired space ventral to the spinal cord indicated 64.3% of the recovery rate which was significantly higher than 36.6% of the other patients on an average. As to the sliding pulsation of the cord, 10 patients who failed to show this particular motion indicated significantly lower recovery rate as 36.9%. In addition, 6 patients who did not exhibit nerve root pulsation indicated just 29.3% of recovery rate, and 4 of them failed to show the cord sliding motion.

Conclusions:

Sonographic evaluation during anterior cervical decompression surgery provided very useful information of neural decompression status that had significant correlation with postoperative neurological recovery.
Repelled from the wound, or randomly dispersed? Reverse migration behaviour of neutrophils characterized by dynamic modelling
Authors: Holmes Geoffrey R. , Anderson Sean R. , Dixon Giles , Robertson Anne L. , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos , Billings Stephen A. , Renshaw Stephen A. , Kadirkamanathan Visakan
Published: September 2012

Following neutralization of infectious threats, neutrophils must be removed from inflammatory sites for normal tissue function to be restored. Recently, a new paradigm has emerged, in which viable neutrophils migrate away from inflammatory sites by a process best described as reverse migration. It has generally been assumed that this process is the mirror image of chemotaxis, where neutrophils are drawn into the areas of infection or tissue damage by gradients of chemotactic cues. Indeed, efforts are underway to identify cues that drive neutrophils away by the reverse process, fugetaxis. By using photoconvertible pigments expressed in neutrophils in transparent zebrafish larvae, we were able to image the position of each neutrophil during inflammation resolutionin vivo. These neutrophil coordinates were analysed within a dynamic modelling framework, using different forms of the drift–diffusion equation with model selection and parameter estimation based on approximate Bayesian computation. This analysis revealed the experimental data were best fitted by a model incorporating a diffusion term but no drift term—where the presence of drift would indicate fugetaxis. This result, for the first time, provides rigorous data-driven evidence that reverse migration of neutrophilsin vivois not a form of fugetaxis, but rather a stochastic redistribution.
RFID adoption and implementation in warehousing
Authors: Osyk Barbara A. , Vijayaraman B.S. , Srinivasan Mahesh , Dey Asoke
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Large retailers and various government agencies have backed off from their earlier radio frequency identification (RFID) mandates. The RFID industry has also matured. The purpose of this paper is to examine RFID implementation in warehousing, utilizing empirical data to determine how the warehousing industry is changing with respect to RFID implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was sent to Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) members at manufacturing firms, third party warehousing/logistics providers, wholesaler/distributors, and retail firms, to determine whether they are implementing RFID technology and what challenges they are facing.

Findings

Compared to an earlier study, it was found that fewer organizations are considering the technology. The respondents in general were less optimistic and concerns still exist on return on investment (ROI), potential benefits, integration, and other issues. Some items are of less concern, including cost, standards, and security, perhaps reflecting the maturity of the industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to a relatively small sample of WERC members but should continue to be replicated in the future as RFID technology adoption matures.

Practical implications

For RFID to be widely adopted by manufacturers and other firms upstream in the supply chain, they must be convinced of a better ROI, through cost reduction or improved business processes.

Originality/value

RFID is not hype and continues to mature. Few companies expected a positive ROI from the technology. These experiences and opinions should be of interest to those researching or considering RFID adoption.
The impact of global economic crisis on SMEs
Authors: Soininen Juha , Puumalainen Kaisu , Sjögrén Helena , Syrjä Pasi
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in global economic crisis and whether it can mitigate the negative effects of economic crisis both on firm's operations and on firm's financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach is used to test the hypotheses. Principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis are used on the empirical survey data.

Findings

Results based on a sample of almost 200 Finnish small and medium‐sized enterprises indicated that the different dimensions of the EO can have diverging effects on how firms are impacted by the recession. In general, the more innovative and proactive the firm is, the less its operations are affected by the recession and the more risk‐taking the firm is, the more its profitability is affected by recession.

Research limitations/implications

A longitudinal design – rather than the current cross‐sectional design – would give a better premiss to explore the causal relationships among the research variables.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first works linking EO with the effects of recession at the firm's operational level and the paper expands prior knowledge by taking the EO‐performance relationship into the context of recession.
Sensors for extreme environments
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the techniques and technologies used in a selection of sensors which operate in extreme environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this paper discusses the technologies used in a range of sensors, principally accelerometers and pressure, temperature and displacement sensors, used in environments characterised by elevated temperatures, radiation and high shock and vibration levels.

Findings

The paper shows that a range of different strategies is employed to allow sensors to operate in extreme environments. These include specialised designs, novel sensing technologies and others which are inherently capable of withstanding extreme conditions and materials which can perform in, or which are resistant to, these environments. Several new technologies are under development which aim to extend sensor performance to new levels.

Originality/value

This paper provides details of the technologies used in a range of sensors aimed at applications in extreme environments.
A pressure mapping imaging device based on electrical impedance tomography of conductive fabrics
Authors: Yao A. , Soleimani M.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Electrical impedance measurement and imaging are techniques that are widely used in a range of applications. Electro‐conductive knitted structure is a major new development in wearable computing. The purpose of this paper is to carry out a preliminary investigation of applying electrical impedance analysis to predict the behavior of electro‐conductive knitted structure. This can potentially pave the way for a low‐cost solution for pressure mapping imaging.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been used as a mapping technique for deformation imaging in conductive knitted fabric. EIT is an imaging system used to generate a map of electrical conductivity. Pressure and deformation mapping scanner is being developed based on electrical conductivity imaging of the conductive area generated in a fabric. The results are presented using these new sensors with various deformations.

Findings

Experimental results show the feasibility of qualitative deformation imaging. In particular, it is promising that multiple deformations can be mapped using the proposed technique. The paper also demonstrates preliminary results regarding quantitative pressure and deformation mapping using EIT technique.

Research limitations/implications

The results presented in the paper are laboratory‐based experiments for proof of principle and will be evaluated in specific application areas in future.

Originality/value

The paper shows, for the first time, detection of multiple pressure points as well as quantifying the pressure map using the new imaging sensor. The sensor proposed here can be used for robotic touch sensing application, as well as some biomechanical observations.
Knowledge‐sharing hostility and governance mechanisms: an empirical test
Authors: Husted Kenneth , Michailova Snejina , Minbaeva Dana B. , Pedersen Torben
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims at further developing and empirically examining the concept of knowledge‐sharing hostility. It seeks to analyze reasons for hoarding knowledge, reasons for rejecting external knowledge, and attitudes towards mistakes, as well as the influence of these factors on actual knowledge‐sharing behavior. The paper aims to examine how two specific knowledge‐governance mechanisms – commitment‐based and transaction‐based mechanisms – affect knowledge sharing

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the hypotheses on a sample of 1,639 respondents in 15 organizations in Denmark.

Findings

The authors find that the use of transaction‐based mechanisms promotes knowledge‐sharing hostility by strengthening individuals' reasons for hoarding and rejecting knowledge, and by negatively affecting individuals' attitudes towards sharing knowledge about mistakes. In contrast, the use of commitment‐based mechanisms diminishes knowledge‐sharing hostility among individuals.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is two‐fold. First, it responds to the clear need to examine individual characteristics related to withholding knowledge in organizations. Second, by delineating specific organizational governance mechanisms that are critical for dealing with knowledge‐sharing hostility, the research responds to the call for research aimed at explaining and detailing problems that lie in the intersection of organization and knowledge processes.
Knowledge management: a personal knowledge network perspective
Authors: Amine Chatti Mohamed
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This article aims to introduce the personal knowledge network (PKN) model as an alternative model to knowledge management (KM) and to discuss whether personal knowledge management (PKM) is better adapted to the demands of the new knowledge environments. The PKN model views knowledge as a personal network and represents a knowledge ecological approach to KM.

Design/methodology/approach

KM and PKM have attracted attention over the past two decades and are considered as important means to increase organizational and individual performance. In this article, the author reviews previous models of KM and PKM and explores their failure to address the problem of knowledge worker performance and to cope with the constant change and critical challenges of the new knowledge era. The author further highlights the crucial need for new KM models that have the potential to overcome the shortcomings of previous models. In light of these shortcomings, the article introduces and discusses the PKN model as an alternative model to KM and PKM that is better adapted to the demands of the new knowledge environments.

Findings

Unlike traditional KM/PKM models which view knowledge as a thing or process, the PKN model views knowledge as a personal network and represents a knowledge ecological approach to KM.

Originality/value

The article focuses on personal knowledge and the links to networks and knowledge ecologies in an innovative way for consideration within KM.
The impact of housing environment attributes on children's academic performance at school: an empirical study of Hong Kong
Authors: Hin Li Ling
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of physical housing environments on the learning potential of children. The authors argue for housing design which is attentive to the need for open but personal space with “sufficient physical partitions”.

Design/methodology/approach

The research draws on an empirical study of students in two randomly selected Hong Kong secondary schools. The approach includes the use of multiple regression analysis to test the correlation between academic performance and a set of environmental attributes.

Findings

Housing design, aspect and size of housing are significant. Academic performance is not dependent on tenure type and this is partly related to mixed tenure, close proximity of differing socio‐economic neighborhoods and the sharing of social capital to provide equal opportunity. However, densely developed high housing is not desirable for children's academic development.

Research limitations/implications

The location of Hong Kong provides a very specific combination of small land mass, a history of high rise living and a social housing sector and the need to optimize physical space for social ends. Home ownership does not play a role of a stabilizer for children, as observed in other places.

Practical implications

This paper prompts a reassessment, by housing providers and commissioners, of the link between housing types and long term educational opportunities and the need to devise appropriate partnerships to ensure that housing adds to academic performance rather than undermine it.

Social implications

The study of the effects of high rise high density housing on children's learning is underdeveloped and should be reassessed in markets, such as that in the UK, where use of the private rented sector is increasingly used to house families who may in the past have been housed directly by the State.

Originality/value

This research attempts to apply quantitative techniques to provide evidence to policy makers that can be replicated in other housing contexts.
Patterns of formulaic language in Alzheimer's disease: implications for quality of life
Authors: Wray Alison
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how fundamental social and psychological drivers can affect the language used by people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their carers.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model is used to predict four ways in which communicative priorities in a given context will generate formulaic linguistic responses in interaction. Evidence from the language of both people with AD and their carers illustrates each point. Moreover, the model offers an explanation for several effective approaches for improving interaction.

Findings

The paper explains the dynamics of a downward spiral in interaction that features more and more “formulaic” language, and indicates how carers can help create a context for greater empowerment of people with AD.

Practical implications

Since people with AD need the stimulation of meaningful and targeted interaction, the downward spiral arising from carers' formulaic responses is potentially damaging. To improve the quality of communication between people with AD and their carers, the negative impact of formulaic language in interaction needs to be transformed into something more positive and productive. Indications are offered for how this can be achieved.

Originality/value

The paper offers significant new insights into the causes of the well‐recognised patterns of repetitive language in people with AD, and explains how they can trigger unhelpful responses in carers. The theoretical underpinning offers opportunities for understanding how best to support carers in engaging more positively with people with AD, resulting in a richer type of communication for the latter and reduced stress levels for the former.
The life experiences of Korean children and adolescents with complex congenital heart disease: A qualitative study
Authors: Lee Sunhee , Kim So‐Sun
Published: September 2012

This exploratory study analyzed the life experiences of Korean children and adolescents with complex congenital heart disease in a sociocultural context and undertook in‐depth interviews. Participants were 10 patients who ranged in age from 14 to 22 years, who were recruited at a hospital in Seoul, Korea. Our content analysis showed that the participants were initially unaware of the true nature of their conditions. After entering school, they realized that they were different from peers because of their physical limitations and their parents' overprotectiveness. Generally, health providers tend to convey information about congenital heart disease to parents, and not the patients. Therefore, most of our participants lacked knowledge about their disease and its management, and tended to have feelings of isolation and guilt. Healthcare providers of children and adolescents should provide disease and management information not only to parents, but also to patients, and should set aside specific times for communication with patients with complex congenital heart disease.
Consistency analysis of parenting styles in Thailand during children's first year
Authors: Phuphaibul Rutja , Wittayasooporn Jariya , Choprapawon Chanpen
Published: September 2012

This descriptive study identifies and examines the consistency of parenting styles during the first year of their children's lives. The data were collected from interviewing 4088 parents or primary care takers of the 6 month old infants during the third wave of data collection of The Prospective Cohort of Thai Children project. The instrument used was the Infant Parenting Styles Questionnaire, developed by the researchers, which reflected parental responses to infant care in five different situations. After the answers were categorized into controlling, reasoning, overprotection, and neglectful parenting styles, the weighted kappa was used for the consistency analysis. The findings revealed that during the first 6 months of life, the overprotection style was the most common, followed by the reasoning style. The controlling and neglectful styles were very seldom used. The consistency of the parental styles in the same care givers using the kappa values showed that agreement between each of the styles was very low (−0.0419 to 0.0688). This suggests that parenting styles during the first year of life seem to occur in random patterns.
Interpersonal psychotherapy‐oriented program for Chinese pregnant women: Delivery, content, and personal impact
Authors: Gao Ling‐ling , Luo Shu‐yuan , Chan Sally Wai‐chi
Published: September 2012

The interpersonal psychotherapy‐oriented childbirth education program has the potential to promote social support and maternal role competence and prevent postpartum depression in Chinese women. The present study explored the perceptions of Chinese women about the delivery, content, and personal impact of the interpersonal psychotherapy‐oriented childbirth education program. The study was conducted in a regional teaching hospital in China. The intervention was based on the principles of interpersonal psychotherapy, and consisted of two 90 min antenatal classes and a telephone follow up within 2 weeks after delivery. Ninety two women, pregnant for the first time, completed the program. The Program Satisfaction Questionnaires, with five open‐ended questions, was used for the process evaluation (n = 83), and a one‐on‐one, in‐depth interview was used for the outcome evaluation (n = 20). The findings suggested that the program could facilitate the participants' adjustment to motherhood, help to establish or improve their relationships, and enhance their perceived social support and maternal role competence. Future programs could be strengthened by lengthening the program and adding more interactive learning.
VITAL STATISTICS
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: September 2012

Numbers are the fuel which drives the Indian economy. They also shed light on the country's history and its dynamic economic future.
WHAT NEXT FOR INFOSYS?
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: September 2012

The Indian technology giant grew from a $250 loan to annual sales of $7 billion. But, over 30 years on from its inception and after years of headlong growth, what next for Infosys?Stuart Crainer reports.
INJECTING INTELLIGENCE
Authors: Kumar Nirmalya , Puranam Phanish
Published: September 2012

India's highly qualified workforce is enabling it to lead the way in process innovation. Nirmalya Kumar and Phanish Puranam examine how Indian companies inject intelligence into the often mundane.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: RUNNING IN THE FAMILY
Authors: Franks Julian , Mayer Colin , Volpin Paolo , Wagner Hannes F
Published: September 2012

Julian Franks, Colin Mayer, Paolo Volpin and Hannes F Wagner, ‘The life cycle of family ownership: International evidence’, The Review of Financial Studies, [published online] 23 December 2011 (DOI: 10.1093/rfs/hhr135).
Induced Abortion in Iran: Prevalence, Reasons, and Consequences
Authors: Ranji Azar
Published: September 2012

Introduction: The aims of this descriptive study were to determine the prevalence of illegal induced abortion among participants, the factors that influence decision making to have an abortion, and the health consequences of abortion in Iran.

Methods: Women who attended health centers or an antenatal clinic in Iran were interviewed to complete a questionnaire.

Results: Among the 2705 participants, 17% had experienced at least 1 illegal induced abortion. Education level, family income, religion, ethnicity, number of children, and age at marriage are associated with having an induced abortion. One‐third of abortions (33%) were performed by nonmedical providers. The desire to stop or postpone childbearing and family economic problems were the most common reasons for having an abortion. Most women (84%) experienced a complication of abortion that required hospitalization.

Discussion: Strategies to prevent abortion complications are needed and could include training midwives and general physicians to perform abortions and promoting the availability of post‐abortion care.
Diversity in the Scope and Practice of Hospital‐Based Midwives in the Netherlands
Authors: Cronie Doug , Rijnders Marlies , Buitendijk Simone
Published: September 2012

Introduction: Not all midwives in the Netherlands are independent practitioners. One in 4 midwives registered to practice is employed in the hospital setting, where 67% of all births occur. There has not yet been an in‐depth examination of hospital‐based midwives’ practice in the Netherlands, in the context of care in a higher‐risk environment. The primary aims of this study were to describe the diversity and scope of practice of hospital‐based midwives in the Netherlands.

Methods: This was an online survey of all hospitals throughout the Netherlands with labor/birthing rooms and employing hospital‐based midwives. The survey covered 5 topic areas: demographic/organizational details, duties, responsibilities, experience/additional qualifications, and how the midwife functioned within the multidisciplinary hospital team. Descriptive statistics are provided.

Results: A total of 59 secondary and tertiary level hospitals from a possible total of 98 were included for analysis (60% national response rate). Forty percent of all births occurring during the study period were managed solely by a hospital midwife. The provision of midwifery care in the hospital setting was not universal, and where present, hospital‐based midwives were not necessarily available 24 hours a day or 7 days a week. Hospital‐based midwives reported a high level of autonomy.

Discussion: Currently there is no universal provision of midwifery care in the hospital setting in the Netherlands. Where there are hospital‐based midwives, they appear to manage the majority of births. However, there are no nationally agreed‐upon standards for midwifery practice in the hospital setting, and no agreement exists over minimum requirements relating to additional education for midwives in these settings. A national evaluation and setting of minimum standards is needed.
Recent Trends in Clinicians Providing Care to Pregnant Women in the United States
Authors: Kozhimannil Katy Backes , Avery Melissa D. , Terrell Carrie Ann
Published: September 2012

Introduction: Health care needs of pregnant women are met by a variety of clinicians in a changing policy and practice environment. This study documents recent trends in types of clinicians providing care to pregnant women in the United States.

Methods: We used a repeat cross‐sectional design and data from the Integrated Health Interview Series (2000‐2009), a nationally representative data set, for respondents who reported being pregnant at the time of the survey (N = 3204). Using longitudinal logistic regression models, we analyzed changes over time in pregnant women's reported use of care from 1) obstetrician‐gynecologists; 2) midwives, nurse practitioners (NPs), or physician assistants (PAs); or 3) both an obstetrician‐gynecologist and a midwife, NP, or PA.

Results: The percentage of pregnant women who reported seeing an obstetrician‐gynecologist (87%) remained steady from 2000 through 2009. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables, the percentage who reported receiving care from a midwife, NP, or PA increased 4% annually (yearly adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.04; P < .001), indicating a cumulative increase of 48% over the decade. The percentage of pregnant women who received care from both an obstetrician‐gynecologist and a midwife, NP, or PA also increased (AOR 1.027; P < .001), for a cumulative increase of 30%.

Discussion: The increasing role of midwives, NPs, and PAs in the provision of maternity care suggests changes in the perinatal workforce and practice models that may promote collaborative care and quality improvement. However, better data collection is required to gather detailed information on specific provider types, these trends, and their implications.
Neuropsychiatric effects of Parkinson's disease treatment
Authors: Aarons Sallyanne , Peisah Carmelle , Wijeratne Chanaka
Published: September 2012

Advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease have led to significant improvement in many of the disabling motor symptoms of the disease, but often at the cost of neuropsychiatric side‐effects. These include psychosis, dopamine dysregulation syndrome, impulse control disorders, mood disorders and Parkinson's disease drug withdrawal syndromes. Such side‐effects can be as disabling and have as much impact on activities of daily living, quality of life, relationships and caregiver burden as motor symptoms. Awareness of these potential side‐effects is important both in terms of obtaining informed consent, and to aid early identification and intervention, as patients may not spontaneously report side‐effects because of lack of insight, or deny them out of shame or embarrassment. The challenge of treatment can be a trade off between the emergence of such side‐effects and the amelioration of parkinsonism, best mastered with an informed dialogue between clinician and patient.
Effect of ZrO2 (YPSZ) on Microstructure Characteristic and Wear Resistance of the Ti3Al/TiC Laser‐Cladded Ceramic Layer on Titanium Alloy
Authors: Li Jianing , Chen Chuanzhong
Published: September 2012

Laser cladding of the A3Ti + TiC preplaced powders on the Ti–6Al–4V alloy can form the Ti3Al/TiC ceramic layer, which improved the wear resistance of the substrate. In this study, the influence of 7 wt% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) on the surface performance of the Ti3Al/TiC ceramic layer was researched, and the Al3Ti + TiC/YPSZ laser‐cladded coating has been researched by means of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectrometer. It was found that laser cladding of YPSZ can control the cracks in the Ti3Al/TiC ceramic layer. Furthermore, due to the action of YPSZ, stratification was observed in this ceramic layer. The upper layer in this coating consisted of Al2O3, Ti3Al, t‐ZrO2, TiC, TiO2 and ZrSiO4, and Ti3Al/Al2O3 were the matrix of this region. This upper layer exhibited an excellent wear resistance due to its phase constituent. During the cladding process, YPSZ had a very marked trend to float on the surface of the coating. Therefore, the upper layer showed better wear resistance than that of the bottom layer due to the action of the high YPSZ content.
Integrons and gene cassettes: hotspots of diversity in bacterial genomes
Authors: Hall Ruth M.
Published: September 2012

Integrons are genetic units found in many bacterial species that are defined by their ability to capture small mobile elements called gene cassettes. Cassettes usually contain only one gene, potentially any gene, and an attC recombination site, and thousands of cassettes have been sequenced. A specialized IntI site–specific recombinase encoded by the integron recognizes attC and incorporates cassettes into an attI site located adjacent to the intI gene. Over 100 types of integrons have been found, most in bacterial chromosomes. They can all potentially share the same cassettes and, as recombination between attC in a cassette and an attI can occur repeatedly, an integron can contain from zero to hundreds of cassettes. Cassette arrays that are not located next to an intI gene, or solo cassettes at apparently random sites, are also seen. Hence, integrons contribute to generation of diversity in bacterial, plasmid, and transposon genomes and facilitate extensive sharing of information among bacteria.
Three‐dimensional architecture of the IgH locus facilitates class switch recombination
Authors: Kenter Amy L. , Feldman Scott , Wuerffel Robert , Achour Ikbel , Wang Lili , Kumar Satyendra
Published: September 2012

Immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination (CSR) is responsible for diversification of antibody effector function during an immune response. This region‐specific recombination event, between repetitive switch (S) DNA elements, is unique to B lymphocytes and is induced by activationinduced deaminase (AID). CSR is critically dependent on transcription of noncoding RNAs across S regions. However, mechanistic insight regarding this process has remained unclear. New studies indicate that long‐range intrachromosomal interactions among IgH transcriptional elements organize the formation of the S/S synaptosome, as a prerequisite for CSR. This three‐dimensional chromatin architecture simultaneously brings promoters and enhancers into close proximity to facilitate transcription. Here, we recount how transcription across S DNA promotes accumulation of RNA polymerase II, leading to the introduction of activating chromatin modifications and hyperaccessible chromatin that is amenable to AID activity.
Genome hyperevolution and the success of a parasite
Authors: Barry J. David , Hall James P. J. , Plenderleith Lindsey
Published: September 2012

The strategy of antigenic variation is to present a constantly changing population phenotype that enhances parasite transmission, through evasion of immunity arising within, or existing between, host animals. Trypanosome antigenic variation occurs through spontaneous switching among members of a silent archive of many hundreds of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) antigen genes. As with such contingency systems in other pathogens, switching appears to be triggered through inherently unstable DNA sequences. The archive occupies subtelomeres, a genome partition that promotes hypermutagenesis and, through telomere position effects, singular expression ofVSG. Trypanosome antigenic variation is augmented greatly by the formation of mosaic genes from segments of pseudo‐VSG, an example of implicit genetic information. Hypermutation occurs apparently evenly across the whole archive, without direct selection on individualVSG, demonstrating second‐order selection of the underlying mechanisms. Coordination of antigenic variation, and thereby transmission, occurs through networking of trypanosome traits expressed at different scales from molecules to host populations.
Exploitation and conservation of fish genetic resources in Africa: issues and priorities for aquaculture development and research
Authors: Lind Curtis E. , Brummett Randall E. , Ponzoni Raul W.
Published: September 2012

Africa harbours a rich biological diversity of native fish resources. Recognition of the potential to use these resources to make significant contributions towards improving African food security through aquaculture has existed for some time. A key challenge, however, is achieving compatibility between the two urgent, but sometimes conflicting, goals of reducing poverty and food insecurity in Africa through aquaculture development while paying due attention to the conservation of natural biodiversity and fish genetic resources (FiGR). In this paper we highlight the overarching challenges concerning the conservation and exploitation of FiGR for the long‐term development of aquaculture for food production in Africa. We address the major issues requiring attention in genetic improvement programs in order to take full advantage of the highly diverse wild FiGR in Africa, and we expand on strategies such as zoning, environmental risk analysis and molecular characterization approaches that can be used to minimize the potential harm to wild FiGR arising from aquaculture activities and future development. Finally, we discuss the challenge of strengthening local capacity. The enhancement of local capacity is essential because it will enable the fundamental link required to achieve the desired outcome of increasing the productivity of aquatic animals for food in Africa in a sustainable manner. We trust that this paper will provide a good basis for an in‐depth discussion of the subject, as well as guidance on future research and development priorities for the compatible exploitation and conservation of FiGR in Africa.
Canine Trypanosoma evansi infection introduced into Germany
Authors: Defontis Myriam , Richartz Janina , Engelmann Nina , Bauer Christian , Schwierk Viktoria Maria , Büscher Philippe , Moritz Andreas
Published: September 2012

A 9‐year‐old male Jack Russell Terrier with a history of travel to Thailand was presented with chronic lethargy, weight loss, unilateral anterior uveitis, pancytopenia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Numerous trypomastigotes were found on a blood smear, and using molecular methods the parasite was identified as Trypanosoma evansi. After initial response to treatment, the dog experienced a relapse with central neurologic signs 88 days after initial presentation and died. Antibodies to T evansi were detected in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a card agglutination test (CATT/T evansi), and PCR analysis of CSF for T evansi was positive. Findings at necropsy included marked non‐purulent meningoencephalitis. Chronic infection with T evansi in a dog that returned to Germany following international travel highlights the risk associated with introduction of foreign animal diseases to Europe and the possibility of these infections becoming endemic. Detection of chronic infection and curative therapy of trypanosomiasis are challenging, and infection is usually fatal in the dog.