bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The crucifix as a symbol of secular Europe: The surprising semiotics of the European Court of Human Rights (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Oliphant Elayne
Published: April 2012

In March of 2011, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled counter to current trends found in many European courts and legislatures as the ECHR affirmed the right of the Italian state to display crucifixes on the walls of its public school classrooms. Those who succeeded in arguing for the presence of crucifixes in Italian classrooms did so not by advocating for the now entrenched human right of the freedom of religious expression, but by suggesting that the crucifix was, in fact, not only a religious sign but also a cultural and historical one. The crucifix, according to many of the religious and governmental claimants to the case, is a symbol that stands not just for Christianity but also for “tolerance” and, therefore, as a sign of secularism. The petitions heard in the Court, its decision, and the concurring opinions are revealing of the ambiguity of the categories of religion and secularism in Europe today. In this article I use the ECHR ruling to explore the lack of agreement surrounding the distinction between the religious and the secular and the implications this shifting boundary holds for different
Indochine chic: Why is Vietnamese food so classy in Singapore? (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Carruthers Ashley
Published: April 2012

To someone from Sydney, Los Angeles, Paris or Vancouver there is something quite peculiar about the experience of eating Indochinese food in Singapore. In these former locations, it is largely present as an inexpensive ethnic cuisine whose high perceived authenticity and low cost are underwritten by communities of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Lao refugees and migrants. In Singapore, by contrast, Indochinese food is a chic, expensive, romantic, Frenchy, artsy, edgy haute‐cuisine. Given that the nation is Vietnam's second largest foreign investor, and that Ho Chi Minh City is a mere eighty minute budget flight away, why should it be that Vietnamese food is so rare and exotic a commodity in Singapore's multicultural culinary market? On the basis of participant observation, interviews conducted with restaurateurs and patrons, and electronic materials such as restaurant reviews and blogs, this paper will attempt to answer the question of just why Indochinese food signifies the way it does in Singapore.
Focusing on the major function‐oriented zone: A new spatial planning approach and practice in China and its 12th Five‐Year Plan 关注主体功能区——中国“十二五规划”新的空间规划探索与实践
Authors: Fan 樊杰 Jie , Sun 孙威 Wei , Yang 杨振山 Zhenshan , Fan 凡芃 Peng , Chen 陈东 Dong
Published: April 2012

For a long time, China has been focusing primarily on pursuing economic growth, with less concern about social and environmental development issues. This may make China's development unsustainable. In contrast to its current economic‐oriented approach predominated by economic growth, this research note presents a newly proposed approach of ‘major function‐oriented zone’ (MFOZ) that is designed by our research team and is largely accepted by the central government and incorporated into its 12th Five‐Year Plan. This approach tries to rationalise China's regional development and insists that each region should have its unique functions to perform, determined by its own characteristics, conditions and requirements. With this approach, the central government is able to monitor and coordinate regional and local developments, and hence the ‘Planning of MFOZ’ is seen by the central government as a tool to steer spatial arrangements for the country's long‐turn sustainable development.

长期以来，中国各地都着力于追求快速经济增长，较少关注社会发展和生态保护等问题，这种发展模式是不可持续的。本研究团队提出按照功能区进行国土空间组织，即不同地区应分别承担人口和工业化集聚、粮食安全保障、生态屏障建设等不同功能，实施差异化的发展模式。政策建议得到中央政府认可，主体功能区在“十二五”规划中上升为区域发展战略。本文在介绍主体功能区形成背景和研究框架基础上，对该团队在过去5年中所开展的研究工作进行阐释。包括发展类和保护类主体功能区分类、地域功能识别指标体系构成和内涵、采用单项指标评价和综合指标评价国土空间功能适宜性的缘由及结果、空间综合分析方法和主体功能区草案的研制等。最后简析主体功能区规划和战略实施的制度障碍，提出开展对主体功能区实施情况动态监测和评估的新研究命题。
Domestic and trade impacts of foot‐and‐mouth disease on the Australian beef industry
Authors: Tozer Peter , Marsh Thomas L.
Published: April 2012

Australia is the sixth largest producer of beef and the second largest exporter of beef. Average beef exports from Australia are approximately 65 per cent of the total amount of beef produced, about 1.3 million tonnes. Australia is particularly vulnerable to diseases that are not endemic to the country and could close or disrupt its export markets for beef. In this study, we construct a bioeconomic optimisation model of the Australian beef industry that captures production and consumption decisions, domestically and internationally, and the impacts on the beef industry of a potentially catastrophic disease, foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD). This study analyses localised to large‐scale outbreaks and suggests that changes in economic surplus because of FMD range from a positive net gain of $57 million to a net loss of $1.7 billion, with impacts on producers and consumers varying depending on the location of the outbreak, control levels and the nature of any trade ban.
Parallel Surface Reconstruction for Particle‐Based Fluids
Authors: Akinci G. , Ihmsen M. , Akinci N. , Teschner M.
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a novel method that improves the efficiency of high‐quality surface reconstructions for particle‐based fluids using Marching Cubes. By constructing the scalar field only in a narrow band around the surface, the computational complexity and the memory consumption scale with the fluid surface instead of the volume. Furthermore, a parallel implementation of the method is proposed. The presented method works with various scalar field construction approaches. Experiments show that our method reconstructs high‐quality surface meshes efficiently even on single‐core CPUs. It scales nearly linearly on multi‐core CPUs and runs up to fifty times faster on GPUs compared to the original scalar field construction approaches.
Selecting Coherent and Relevant Plots in Large Scatterplot Matrices
Authors: Lehmann Dirk J. , Albuquerque Georgia , Eisemann Martin , Magnor Marcus , Theisel Holger
Published: April 2012

The scatterplot matrix (SPLOM) is a well‐established technique to visually explore high‐dimensional data sets. It is characterized by the number of scatterplots (plots) of which it consists of. Unfortunately, this number quadratically grows with the number of the data set’s dimensions. Thus, an SPLOM scales very poorly. Consequently, the usefulness of SPLOMs is restricted to a small number of dimensions. For this, several approaches already exist to explore such ‘small’ SPLOMs. Those approaches address the scalability problem just indirectly and without solving it. Therefore, we introduce a new greedy approach to manage ‘large’ SPLOMs with more than 100 dimensions. We establish a combined visualization and interaction scheme that produces intuitively interpretable SPLOMs by combining known quality measures, a pre‐process reordering and a perception‐based abstraction. With this scheme, the user can interactively find large amounts of relevant plots in large SPLOMs.
Race, Ethnicity, and the Bible: Pedagogical Challenges and Curricular Opportunities
Authors: Byron Gay L.
Published: April 2012

Theological educators are now fostering dialogues, projects, and practices that are designed to acknowledge the challenges and opportunities resulting from the shifting racial and ethnic demographic climate in the U.S. and Canada. As well‐intentioned as these efforts are, most of the scholarship focuses on the contemporary experiences of underrepresented minorities, current institutional concerns, or practical classroom scenarios, leaving Scripture courses, which have long been the backbone of theological education, beyond the scope of critical engagement. In this article I argue that the existing scholarship on teaching and learning in general, and among biblical scholars in particular, does not adequately address the specific challenges that arise when questions about race and ethnicity are exposed in Scripture courses. Therefore, based on my own classroom experiences, I develop a pedagogy of (Emb)Racing the Bible that seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical readings and practical applications of ancient and contemporary discourses about race and ethnicity.
Creating a Public Space through Service‐Learning
Authors: Brigham Erin
Published: April 2012

In this paper, I suggest that community‐based learning can act as a “public space” for the exchange of religious and non‐religious identities. By providing a space for the collaboration between religiously‐affiliated Universities and non‐religiously affiliated community partners, community‐based learning offers the opportunity for the negotiation of what civic engagement means in a pluralistic society. This exchange can inform the conversation on the public role of religion by offering an example of how religious and secular communities can discover a common language through the realization of shared interests.
Teaching World Religions without Teaching “World Religions”
Authors: Locklin Reid B. , Tiemeier Tracy , Vento Johann M.
Published: April 2012

Tomoko Masuzawa and a number of other contemporary scholars have recently problematized the categories of “religion” and “world religions” and, in some cases, called for its abandonment altogether as a discipline of scholarly study. In this collaborative essay, we respond to this critique by highlighting three attempts to teach world religions without teaching “world religions.” That is, we attempt to promote student engagement with the empirical study of a plurality of religious traditions without engaging in the rhetoric of pluralism or the reification of the category “religion.” The first two essays focus on topical courses taught at the undergraduate level in self‐consciously Christian settings: the online course “Women and Religion” at Georgian Court University and the service‐learning course “Interreligious Dialogue and Practice” at St. Michael's College, in the University of Toronto. The final essay discusses the integration of texts and traditions from diverse traditions into the graduate theology curriculum more broadly, in this case at Loyola Marymount University. Such confessional settings can, we suggest, offer particularly suitable – if somewhat counter‐intuitive – contexts for bringing the otherwise covert agendas of the world religions discourse to light and subjecting them to a searching inquiry in the religion classroom.
The Neo‐Hegelian Theory of Freedom and the Limits of Emancipation
Authors: O'Connor Brian
Published: April 2012

This paper critically evaluates what it identifies as ‘the institutional theory of freedom’ developed within recent neo‐Hegelian philosophy (by Robert Pippin and, in a different way, Axel Honneth). While acknowledging the gains made against the Kantian theory of autonomy as detachment it is argued that the institutional theory ultimately undermines the very meaning of practical agency. By tying agency to institutionally sustained recognition it effectively excludes the exercise of practical reason geared toward emancipation from a settled normative order. Adorno's notion of autonomy as resistance is enlisted to develop an account of practical reason that is neither institutionally constrained nor without appropriate consideration of the historical location of the practical agent.
Individual information for pension contributors: Recommendations for Spain based on international experience
Authors: Regúlez‐Castillo Marta , Vidal‐Meliá Carlos
Published: April 2012

The aim of this article is to establish basic guidelines to support the possible design of an information letter to be sent to individuals who contribute to the Spanish state pension system, should a decision ever be taken to adopt such an instrument. Basing our work on international experience and published research in the field, we look into the concept of “individual pension information” and identify its most relevant features. We then give detailed descriptions of two models for the provision of individual pension information (the United States and Sweden), looking in particular at how these are structured, what aspects could be improved and their limitations. Finally, we offer recommendations for the design of a model for Spain.
Divergence in the development of public health insurance in Japan and the Republic of Korea: A multiple‐payer versus a single‐payer system
Authors: Jeong Hyoung‐Sun , Niki Ryu
Published: April 2012

Japan and the Republic of Korea achieved universal health insurance coverage for their populations in 1961 and 1989, respectively. At present, Japan continues to operate a multiple‐payer social health insurance system, while the Republic of Korea has moved to an integrated single‐payer national health insurance structure. This article analyzes the influence of political economy in shaping the policy divergence found between these two Bismarckian health insurance systems. Issues addressed include differences in political power, the policy influence of business, the extent to which regional autonomy has developed and regional traits have been preserved, the level of political democratization, the form of political leadership, and the scale of development of the health insurance system. The article offers policy lessons derived from the two countries' experiences.
Role of human papillomaviruses in persistent and glucocorticoid‐resistant juvenile phimosis
Authors: Pilatz A. , Altinkilic B. , Rusz A. , Izykowski N. , Traenkenschuh W. , Rische J. , Lehmann U. , Herbst C. , Maegel L. , Becker J. , Weidner W. , Jonigk D.
Published: April 2012

Background  In adults, human papillomaviruses (HPV), lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) and phimosis are considered to be major risk factors for penile cancer. In boys, a possible association between phimosis, LSA and HPV has been suggested.

Objective  To investigate the role of HPV in the persistence of phimosis in children.

Patients and methods  Out of a cohort of 420 boys presenting with foreskin problems, we prospectively sampled the preputial tissue of 82 patients during circumcision: 46 with steroid‐naïve and 36 with steroid‐resistant phimosis. All foreskins were assessed clinically and histopathologically with regard to appearance, inflammation, oedema, epithelial degeneration and fibrosis. The viral status of the foreskins was determined by immunohistochemistry and highly sensitive PCR, with subsequent subtyping by DNA hybridization (HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 42, 44, 45, 51–54, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 66–68, 70, 72, 73, 81–84, 90, 91).

Results  The foreskins appeared normal in 62 boys and suggestive of LSA in one single case. Small cracks or white scars were present in seven steroid‐naïve and 12 steroid‐resistant foreskins. LSA was diagnosed microscopically in two of the steroid‐naïve and six of the steroid‐pretreated group. No evidence of HPV was found in any of the juvenile foreskins.

Conclusions  Our prospective study has provided evidence that HPV is not usually present in the foreskin of boys with persistent phimosis after their first year of life and that topical glucocorticoid treatment failure is not associated with HPV or any specific histopathological changes.
Body capital and the geography of aging
Authors: Antoninetti Maurizio , Garrett Mario
Published: April 2012

The 2010 US Census recorded 40.3 million residents aged 65 years and older mostly living in urban environments that were not originally designed for older adults. This potential social and spatial mismatch is made worse by the unavoidable decline of physical adaptability that could come in older age. Ultimately, within residential settings that have remained mostly unaltered for decades, diminished physical and cognitive capacity can force older adults to face undesired and, most importantly, unplanned transformations of their established routines in everyday life. The article expands on Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus and body capital to advance the need for research on the interaction between bodies and places. By highlighting theoretical arguments that express dissonance between aging populations and built environments, the paper further explores the concept of habitus. Of importance is how diminished body capital not only changes habitus, but also changes how other people see older people, contributing towards ageism. The conclusion addresses how the European ENABLE‐AGE project and the World Health Organization Age‐Friendly cities are developing processes to mitigate this change.
CAN HOUSEHOLDS AND WELFARE STATES MITIGATE RISING EARNINGS INSTABILITY?
Authors: BARTELS CHARLOTTE , BöNKE TIMM
Published: April 2012

We compare the evolution of earnings instability in Germany and the United Kingdom, two countries which stand for different types of welfare states. Deploying data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel (SOEP) and the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), we estimate permanent and transitory variances of male income over the period 1984–2009 and 1991–2006, respectively. Studies in this literature generally use individual labor earnings. To uncover the role of welfare state and households in smoothening earnings shocks, we compute different income concepts ranging from gross earnings to net equivalent household income. We find evidence that the overall inequality of earnings in Germany and the United Kingdom has been rising throughout the period due to both higher permanent earnings inequality and higher earnings volatility. However, taking institutions of the welfare state and risk‐sharing households into account, we find that the volatility of net household income has remained fairly stable. Furthermore, redistribution and risk insurance provided by the welfare state is more pronounced in Germany than in the United Kingdom.
Self‐reported sleep and health among Norwegian hospital nurses in intensive care units
Authors: Bjorvatn Bjørn , Dale Sandra , Hogstad‐Erikstein Ruth , Fiske Eldbjørg , Pallesen Ståle , Waage Siri
Published: April 2012

Aim and background: Shift work, and especially night work, is associated with poor health. Nurses, work a variety of work schedules including night work. So far, few studies have specifically investigated sleep and health among intensive care nurses.

Design and methods: We investigated sleep, sleepiness, fatigue, subjective health complaints, anxiety and depression in 150 intensive care nurses (convenience sample representing a response rate of 56·2%). The nurses worked at two major University hospitals in Norway and answered a questionnaire survey.

Results: The intensive care nurses reported poorer sleep, more sleepiness, more fatigue, more anxiety and more depression compared to normative data. Poor sleep was reported by 70% and excessive sleepiness by 25% of the nurses; however, the design of the study did not allow us to determine the causes underlying these findings. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age was positively associated with sleep problems, fatigue, subjective health complaints and anxiety and depression. In contrast, shift work experience was negatively associated with sleep problems, suggesting better coping with shift work over time.

Conclusions: Nurses working in intensive care units reported poorer sleep, more sleepiness, more fatigue, more anxiety and more depression compared to Norwegian norm groups. Age was positively related to these complaints, whereas shift work experience was negatively related to poor sleep. More studies are needed on strategies to improve sleep and health in nurses.
Explaining Governance Outcomes: Epistemology, Network Governance and Policy Network Analysis
Authors: Fawcett Paul , Daugbjerg Carsten
Published: April 2012

This article focuses on two sets of literature that have developed out of a shared concern with networks: the network governance school, which has been engaged in a set of macro-level questions about the extent to which networks are changing the nature of state-society relations; and the policy network analysis school, which has focused on the relationship between processes of interest intermediation and their impact on policy-making outcomes. We examine how each school is underpinned by important epistemological differences between positivist, interpretivist and critical realist approaches. We argue that these differences complicate and make contestable what would otherwise seem to be an intuitively attractive argument in favour of combining these two schools. In seeking to understand better how these two schools might be combined, we adopt a critical realist approach and make a distinction between vertical coordination on the state-society axis and horizontal coordination on the interest integration axis. This produces a typology of governance arrangements, which are evaluated according to the level of input and output legitimacy that they are likely to generate, two criteria that are taken as overarching measures of how governance outcomes vary between different governance arrangements. This provides the basis for a broader discussion of how these outcomes are conditioned by both a network's structural characteristics and the way in which it is managed.
The Case for Theoretical and Methodological Pluralism in British Political Studies: New Labour's Political Memoirs and the British Political Tradition
Authors: Diamond Patrick , Richards David
Published: April 2012

This review article explores the memoirs of six major figures from the New Labour era, while also reflecting on the contribution made by this genre of memoirs and political autobiographies to the study of British politics. In so doing, it takes issue with the claim made by Rhodes that there is a tendency among political scientists in general, and UK political scientists in particular, to neglect political biographies or ‘life histories’ on the grounds that memoirs have little to offer the empirical study of politics. Contra Rhodes, the view presented here is that biography has made a tangible, yet often understated contribution to the field of political studies in Britain. We concentrate on what political biography can offer accounts that explore the complex relationship between ideas and institutions in British politics.
Arteriovenous Fistula Creation Using the Optiflow Vascular Anastomosis Device: A First in Man Pilot Study
Authors: Manson Roberto J , Ebner Adrian , Gallo Santiago , Chemla Eric , Mantell Mark , Deaton David , Roy‐Chaudhury Prabir
Published: April 2012

Although arteriovenous fistulae are the preferred form of dialysis vascular access they continue to have significant problems with maturation failure. The Optiflow device is a sutureless anastomotic conduit which could potentially reduce surgical time and also standardize the surgical procedure. We report herein on the “First in Man” experience with the Optiflow device.
A Novel X‐Chromosomal Microdeletion Encompassing Congenital Hemidysplasia with Ichthyosiform Erythroderma and Limb Defects
Authors: Raychaudhury Tanumay , George Renu , Mandal Kausik , Srivastava Vivi M. , Thomas Meera , Bornholdt Dorothea , Grzeschik Karl‐Heinz , Koehler Angelika
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  We report an unusual phenotype of congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects syndrome most likely resulting from a novel X‐chromosomal microdeletion encompassing the promoter region and exon 1 of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate steroid dehydrogenase‐like protein gene, the neighboring gene CETN2, and more than 10 kb of noncoding deoxyribonucleic acid.
Altered Expression of Cytokine Signaling Pathway Genes in Peripheral Blood Cells of Alcohol Dependent Subjects: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Beech Robert D. , Qu Jie , Leffert Janine J. , Lin Aiping , Hong Kwangik A. , Hansen Julie , Umlauf Sheila , Mane Shrikant , Zhao Hongyu , Sinha Rajita
Published: April 2012

Background

Preclinical and clinical studies have implicated changes in cytokine and innate immune gene‐expression in both the development of and end‐organ damage resulting from alcohol dependence. However, these changes have not been systematically assessed on the basis of alcohol consumption in human subjects.

Methods

Illumina Sentrix Beadchip (Human‐6v2) microarrays were used to measure levels of gene‐expression in peripheral blood in 3 groups of subjects: those with alcohol dependence (AD, n = 12), heavy drinkers (HD; defined as regular alcohol use over the past year of at least 8 standard drinks/wk for women and at least 15 standard drinks/wk for men, n = 13), and moderate drinkers (MD; defined as up to 7 standard drinks/wk for women and 14 standard drinks/wk for men, n = 17).

Results

Four hundred and thirty‐six genes were differentially expressed among the 3 groups of subjects (false discovery rate corrected p‐value < 0.05). Two hundred and ninety‐one genes differed between AD and MD subjects, 240 differed between AD and HD subjects, but only 6 differed between HD and MD subjects. Pathway analysis using DAVID and GeneGO Metacore® software showed that the most affected pathways were those related to T‐cell receptor and Janus kinase‐Signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK‐Stat) signaling.

Conclusions

These results suggest the transition from heavy alcohol use to dependence is accompanied by changes in the expression of genes involved in regulation of the innate immune response. Such changes may underlie some of the previously described changes in immune function associated with chronic alcohol abuse. Early detection of these changes may allow individuals at high risk for dependence to be identified.
Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Coal‐Fired Electricity Generation
Authors: Whitaker Michael , Heath Garvin A. , O’Donoughue Patrick , Vorum Martin
Published: April 2012

This systematic review and harmonization of life cycle assessments (LCAs) of utility‐scale coal‐fired electricity generation systems focuses on reducing variability and clarifying central tendencies in estimates of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Screening 270 references for quality LCA methods, transparency, and completeness yielded 53 that reported 164 estimates of life cycle GHG emissions. These estimates for subcritical pulverized, integrated gasification combined cycle, fluidized bed, and supercritical pulverized coal combustion technologies vary from 675 to 1,689 grams CO2‐equivalent per kilowatt‐hour (g CO2‐eq/kWh) (interquartile range [IQR]= 890–1,130 g CO2‐eq/kWh; median = 1,001) leading to confusion over reasonable estimates of life cycle GHG emissions from coal‐fired electricity generation. By adjusting published estimates to common gross system boundaries and consistent values for key operational input parameters (most importantly, combustion carbon dioxide emission factor [CEF]), the meta‐analytical process called harmonization clarifies the existing literature in ways useful for decision makers and analysts by significantly reducing the variability of estimates (−53% in IQR magnitude) while maintaining a nearly constant central tendency (−2.2% in median). Life cycle GHG emissions of a specific power plant depend on many factors and can differ from the generic estimates generated by the harmonization approach, but the tightness of distribution of harmonized estimates across several key coal combustion technologies implies, for some purposes, first‐order estimates of life cycle GHG emissions could be based on knowledge of the technology type, coal mine emissions, thermal efficiency, and CEF alone without requiring full LCAs. Areas where new research is necessary to ensure accuracy are also discussed.
Transaction Costs and Institutions' Efficiency: A Critical Approach
Authors: MARINESCU COSMIN
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Institutions cannot “work” by themselves, that is, without necessary efforts for enforcing, preserving, and improving them. For many economists, these efforts represent the costs of the economic system at work. Nowadays in institutional economics, the costs of running the economic system are generally called “transaction costs.” This article will offer a critical approach on the significance of transaction costs. This study highlights the necessity of subordinating the efficiency criterion to the ethics criterion, not only in the human action area, but mostly in institutions, as rules of the game in the society.
Spreading the Word: Transaction Cost Economics in the Conversation of Economics
Authors: PESSALI HUASCAR , FERNÁNDEZ RAMÓN
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Transaction cost economics is a key topic in many conversations in business and economics related disciplines, much as a result of Oliver Williamson's intellectual crusade. By claiming a “distinct worldview,” he develops arguments of association and differentiation to established worldviews, like traditional microeconomics, earlier institutionalism, Austrian and radical economics, and also within the new institutional economics itself, in order to advance his theory. His resourcefulness defies straight argumentative decisions, catering to different audiences whilst trying to break new ground. Surely Williamson has not pleased everyone, but his discourse is greatly responsible for placing TCE in the everyday parlance of economics.
Water administration and the risk of syncope and presyncope during blood donation: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: van den Berg Karin , Lam Jameson , Bruhn Roberta , Custer Brian , Murphy Edward L.
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Blood centers rely heavily on adolescent donors to meet blood demand, but presyncope and syncope are more frequent in younger donors. Studies have suggested administration of water before donation may reduce syncope and/or presyncope in this group.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to establish the effect of preloading with 500 mL of water on the rate of syncope and presyncope in adolescent donors. School collection sites in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were randomized to receive water or not. Incidence of syncope and presyncope was compared between randomization groups using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: Of 2464 study participants, 1337 received water and 1127 did not; groups differed slightly by sex and race. Syncope or presyncope was seen in 23 (1.7%) of the treatment and 18 (1.6%) of the control arm subjects. After adjusting for race, sex, age, and donation history, there was no difference in outcome between the water versus no water arms (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42‐1.53). Black donors had sevenfold lower odds of syncope or presyncope than their white counterparts (adjusted OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04‐0.47).

CONCLUSION: Preloading adolescent donors with 500 mL of water did not have a major effect in reducing syncope and presyncope in South African adolescent donors. Our adolescent donors had lower overall syncope and presyncope rates than similar populations in the United States, limiting the statistical power of the study. We confirmed much lower rates of syncope and presyncope among young black donors.
Noninvasive Electrocardiographic Mapping for Prediction of Tachycardia Mechanism and Origin of Atrial Tachycardia Following Bilateral Pulmonary Transplantation
Authors: ROTEN LAURENT , PEDERSEN MICHALA , PASCALE PATRIZIO , SHAH ASHOK , ELIAUTOU SANDRA , SCHERR DANIEL , SACHER FREDERIC , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL
Published: April 2012

ECG Mapping for Atrial Tachycardia. This is a case of atrial tachycardia 2 years after pulmonary transplantation. After excluding right atrial involvement, tachycardia origin was located in a scar region medial to the anastomosis of the left inferior pulmonary donor vein. Tachycardia mechanism was microreentry. Noninvasive electrocardiographic mapping performed before the ablation procedure matched with results of invasive Carto mapping and predicted both tachycardia mechanism and origin. We discuss arrhythmia mechanism found after pulmonary transplantation and benefit of noninvasive electrocardiographic mapping for procedure planning. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 553‐555, May 2012)
Differentiating Cardiac Amyloidosis and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy by Use of Three‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography
Authors: Baccouche Hannibal , Maunz Martin , Beck Torsten , Gaa Elisabeth , Banzhaf Michael , Knayer Ute , Fogarassy Peter , Beyer Martin
Published: April 2012

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are important differential diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to investigate if three‐dimensional (3D) speckle tracking‐derived functional parameters enabled differentiation of CA and HCM by a disease‐specific pattern. Methods: Twelve patients with CA and 12 patients with HCM were included. CA and HCM were diagnosed by contrast‐enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography with wall motion analysis was performed for strain (radial [RS(%)], longitudinal [LS (−%)], and circumferential [CS (−%)]), rotation (ROT [degree]), and twist (TWT [degree]). Intergroup comparison included normalized values from 49 healthy volunteers. Results: Averaged RS, LS, CS, ROT, and TWT were investigated at basal, midventricular, and apical levels. With some exceptions, 3D speckle tracking function parameters were mostly lower in the HCM and minimal in the CA group as compared to controls. Comparing CA and HCM, basal RS was significantly reduced in patients with amyloidosis (7.5 ± 19.7 vs. 22.3 ± 22.7; P < 0.0001), furthermore the “physiological” gradient of basoapically decreasing RS, which was reduced, but still preserved in HCM, showed a clear “inverse pattern” in patients with amyloidosis, comprising a gradual increase from base to apex. Correlation analysis of 3D speckle tracking function and CMR late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) revealed high inverse correlation of RS and LGE in CA (r =–0.82) and only mild correlation in HCM, followed by CS as second best parameter. An increasing/decreasing basoapical RS gradient yielded a sensitivity of 83% versus the CMR‐derived diagnosis “CA” and “HCM.” Conclusions: Three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography demonstrated significant differences in CA and HCM. The basoapical RS gradient displayed oppositional characteristics in CA and HCM, suggesting a “function‐pattern‐based” differentiation of amyloidosis and HCM. (Echocardiography 2012;29:668‐677)
Impact of Body Mass Index on Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Çil Habib , Bulur Serkan , Türker Yasin , Kaya Ahmet , Alemdar Recai , Karabacak Ahmet , Aslantaş Yusuf , Ekinözü İsmail , Albayrak Sinan , Özhan Hakan ,   for the MELEN Investigators
Published: April 2012

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the developed and developing world. It is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been demonstrated to be a strong predictor of heart failure. In the present study we aimed to assess the impact of body weight on LV diastolic function. Methods: The study was conducted on 2,228 participants (1,424 women, 804 men with a mean age of 49). Traditional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic examination were performed in all of the participants. The demographic and echocardiographic data were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent predictors of association of LV diastolic function. The study sample was divided into four groups: group 1 (body mass index [BMI] < 25.0 kg/m2), group 2 (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2), group 3 (BMI ≥ 30–39.9 kg/m2), and group 4 (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). Results: Septal E was significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (P = 0.003). Septal A and septal A’ were significantly higher whereas septal E’ and lateral E’ were significantly lower in the groups 2, 3, and 4 compared to the normal weight group (P < 0.001). Lateral A’, deceleration time, and ejection time were significantly higher in obese when compared to the normal weight (P = 0.025, P < 0.001, and P = 0.009, respectively). The E/E’ ratio was significantly higher in groups 2, 3, and 4 compared to the group 1 (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI (OR = 1.060 [95% CI = 1.040 and 1.080]; P < 0.001), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of LV diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion: BMI is an independent predictor of LV diastolic dysfunction along with age, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. (Echocardiography 2012;29:647‐651)
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities change among three stages of primary sand dune succession but do not alter plant growth
Authors: Sikes Benjamin A. , Maherali Hafiz , Klironomos John N.
Published: April 2012

Plant interactions with soil biota could have a significant impact on plant successional trajectory by benefiting plants in a particular successional stage over others. The influence of soil mutualists such as mycorrhizal fungi is thought to be an important feedback component, yet they have shown benefits to both early and late successional plants that could either retard or accelerate succession. Here we first determine if arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi differ among three stages of primary sand dune succession and then if they alter growth of plants from particular successional stages. We isolated AM fungal inoculum from early, intermediate or late stages of a primary dune succession and compared them using cloning and sequencing. We then grew eight plant species that dominate within each of these successional stages with each AM fungal inoculum. We measured fungal growth to assess potential AM functional differences and plant growth to determine if AM fungi positively or negatively affect plants. AM fungi isolated from early succession were more phylogenetically diverse relative to intermediate and late succession while late successional fungi consistently produced more soil hyphae and arbuscules. Despite these differences, inocula from different successional stages had similar effects on the growth of all plant species. Host plant biomass was not affected by mycorrhizal inoculation relative to un‐inoculated controls. Although mycorrhizal communities differ among primary dune successional stages and formed different fungal structures, these differences did not directly affect the growth of plants from different dune successional stages in our experiment and therefore may be less likely to directly contribute to plant succession in sand dunes.
Porphyromonas gingivalis infection at different gestation periods on fetus development and cytokines profile
Authors: Michelin MCAN , Teixeira SRL , Ando‐Suguimoto ES , Lucas SRR , Mayer MPA
Published: April 2012

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 648–654

Aim:  Infective agents may affect pregnancy outcomes by deregulating homeostasis.

Objectives:  The effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection before and at different gestation periods were evaluated.

Materials and Methods:  Wistar rats infected via subcutaneous with P. gingivalis W83, one week before mating (BM), days 1 (PR1) and 11 of gestation (PR11), and controls were evaluated, and samples were obtained at the end of gestation. P. gingivalis was detected by PCR. Cytokine was determined by ELISA.

Results:  Infected rats had lower maternal gain of weight. Implantation was not observed in 2/12 BM rats. PR11 presented more fetal‐placental resorptions and lower placenta/fetus weight than controls. P. gingivalis was detected in placenta and fetus. IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels were higher in placenta and serum of infected groups, except for TNF‐α in placenta of PR1. IL‐1β levels were higher in placenta of PR11, but lower in serum and placenta of PR1. There were no differences in IL‐10 and PGE2 concentrations among the groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  The experimental infection by P. gingivalis resulted in alterations in the gestational pattern and in fetal development. The consequences of infection at mid‐gestation were more severe than at the beginning, possibly due to the induction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the fetal compartment.
Seven into Two: Principal Components Analysis and the Olympic Heptathlon
Authors: Fanshawe Tom
Published: April 2012

Tom Fanshawe looks at the statistical theory that judges the winner of disciplines that combine several separate elements.
How Far to the Flame? Getting to the Point in 2012
Authors: Davies Neville , Marriott John , Richards Kate , Adams Lauren
Published: April 2012

The Olympic flame can inspire young people to take up sport and develop their bodies. Neville Davies, John Marriott, Kate Richards and Lauren Adams have a way to help it develop their minds as well. The project was awarded the London Olympics Inspire Mark in October 2011.
Oral healthcare issues in rural residential aged care services in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Tham Rachel , Hardy Susan
Published: April 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00652.x

Oral healthcare issues in rural residential aged care services in Victoria, Australia

Objectives:  To identify major issues in providing and accessing oral health care in Victorian rural residential aged care services from the perspectives of dentists, aged care staff and residents.

Methods:  Structured interviews were conducted with five dentists, nine aged care staff and six residents. Three focus groups were conducted with aged care staff. These data were thematically analysed independently by two researchers.

Results:  The challenges reported by dentists included complexity of care, infrastructure needs and need for skill development. Aged care staff reported lack of skills and confidence in providing oral hygiene care, especially in residents with natural teeth, and an increasing burden on their daily workload. Residents reported concern and shame regarding their declining oral health status and increased challenges accessing appropriate oral health care.

Conclusion:  These findings indicate the need to build and sustain aged care ‘oral health teams’ who are able to provide daily oral hygiene care for residents and mentor other staff. Rural dentists need access to gerodontic training, portable equipment and appropriate workspaces in aged care services. Aged care and oral health services need to establish clear referral and communication pathways.
International comparison of long‐term care resident dependency across four countries (1998–2009): A descriptive study
Authors: Boyd Michal , Bowman Clive , Broad Joanna B , Connolly Martin J
Published: April 2012

Aim:  To describe an international comparison of dependency of long‐term care residents.

Methods:  All Auckland aged care residents were surveyed in 1998 and 2008 using the ‘Long‐Term Care in Auckland’ instrument. A large provider of residential aged care, Bupa‐UK, performed a similar but separate functional survey in 2003, again in 2006 (including UK Residential Nursing Home Association facilities), and in 2009 which included Bupa facilities in Spain, New Zealand and Australia. The survey questionnaires were reconciled and functional impairment rates compared.

Results:  Of almost 90 000 residents, prevalence of dependent mobility ranged from 27 to 47%; chronic confusion, 46 to 75%; and double incontinence, 29 to 49%. Continence trends over time were mixed, chronic confusion increased, and challenging behaviour decreased.

Conclusion:  Overall functional dependency for residents is high and comparable internationally. Available trends over time indicate increasing resident dependency signifying care required for this population is considerable and possibly increasing.
The membrane anchor of penicillin‐binding protein PBP2a from Streptococcus pneumoniae influences peptidoglycan chain length
Authors: Helassa Nordine , Vollmer Waldemar , Breukink Eefjan , Vernet Thierry , Zapun André
Published: April 2012

The pneumococcus is an important Gram‐positive pathogen, which shows increasing resistance to antibiotics, including β‐lactams that target peptidoglycan assembly. Understanding cell‐wall synthesis, at the molecular and cellular level, is essential for the prospect of combating drug resistance. As a first step towards reconstituting pneumococcal cell‐wall assembly in vitro, we present the characterization of the glycosyltransferase activity of penicillin‐binding protein (PBP)2a from Streptococcus pneumoniae. Recombinant full‐length membrane‐anchored PBP2a was purified by ion‐exchange chromatography. The glycosyltransferase activity of this enzyme was found to differ from that of a truncated periplasmic form. The full‐length protein with its cytoplasmic and transmembrane segment synthesizes longer glycan chains than the shorter form. The transpeptidase active site was functional, as shown by its reactivity towards bocillin and the catalysis of the hydrolysis of a thiol‐ester substrate analogue. However, PBP2a did not cross‐link the peptide stems of glycan chains in vitro. The absence of transpeptidase activity indicates that an essential component is missing from the in vitro system.

Structured digital abstract

 PBP2a and PBP2a bind by cross‐linking study (View interaction)
Performance of the New South Wales Ambulance Service major trauma transport protocol (T1) at an inner city trauma centre
Authors: Dinh Michael M , Oliver Matthew , Bein Kendall J , Roncal Susan , Byrne Christopher M
Published: April 2012

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a newly implemented prehospital trauma triage (T1) protocol in New South Wales for patients transported to an inner city major trauma centre.

Methods: An observational study was conducted over 1 year. Prehospital data and injury characteristics were collected prospectively for all hospital trauma team activations and injury presentations transported by Ambulance Service of New South Wales. Univariate comparison of T1‐ and non‐T1‐transported patients was performed and sensitivity, specificity, overtriage and undertriage rates were calculated. The outcomes studied were Injury Severity Score >15 and major outcome (composite of in‐hospital death and/or transferred from the ED to operating theatre or intensive care unit). Factors associated with undertriage were determined with univariate analysis.

Results: A total of 2664 ambulance arrivals for trauma were studied with 767(29%) transported on the T1 protocol. T1‐transported patients were associated with more severe injury (23% vs 6%, P < 0.001) and major outcomes (30% vs 10%, P < 0.001) compared with non‐T1‐transported patients. The sensitivity of the T1 protocol for severe injury was 63% with a positive predictive value of 23%. The undertriage and overtriage rates for severe injury were 12% and 77%, respectively. Undertriaged patients were elderly with falls as the predominant mechanism of injury.

Conclusion: The sensitivity and undertriage rates associated with the T1 protocol indicate the ongoing need for secondary triage at designated trauma centres and refinement of the protocol to include age as a criterion.
Securing responsibility, achieving parity? The legal support for children leaving custody
Authors: Hollingsworth Kathryn
Published: April 2012

This paper examines the legal support available to incarcerated children when they leave custody. It argues that the current support provided to custody-leavers – which includes both ‘resettlement’ (provided by youth justice agencies) and duties owed to some custody-leavers under Pt III of the Children Act 1989 – may achieve criminal justice aims (such as preventing re-offending) but does not adequately protect the status and rights that all custody-leavers have qua child. When the child leaves custody her primary status is child, not offender, and therefore it is argued here that she should be entitled to the same legal rights as analogous groups of children; namely, care-leavers. It is suggested that the reason why care-leavers and custody-leavers are comparable groups to whom parity in legal rights should be accorded is because the four types of responsibility that underpin the state's obligations to care-leavers (reparatory, assumed, generational and equity-based) apply equally to custody-leavers.