bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous occurrence of photoageing‐like phenotypes in the dorsal skin of old SAMP1 mice, an oxidative stress model
Authors: Sakura Masaaki , Chiba Yoichi , Kamiya Emi , Furukawa Ayako , Kawamura Noriko , Niwa Masanao , Takeuchi Minoru , Hosokawa Masanori
Published: November 2012

Skin photoageing is a complex, multifactorial process and both intrinsic and extrinsic factors may contribute to its pathogenesis. The ultraviolet‐irradiated hairless mouse has been used as an animal model for photoageing, but this model mimics only the ‘extrinsic’ aspects. Here, we show that skin from old SAMP1 mice, a model for higher oxidative stress and senescence acceleration, exhibited histological and gene expression changes similar to those in human photoaged skin without ultraviolet irradiation. These changes include an increase in elastic fibre and glycosaminoglycan histologically, an upregulation of several proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, and an increase in lipid peroxide. We propose that SAMP1 mice are a spontaneous animal model for photoageing caused by an exaggerated intrinsic mechanism, namely, higher oxidative status. This mouse model is useful to explore the link between oxidative stress and photoageing, and to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidants.
Pharmacokinetics of cysteamine bitartrate following intraduodenal delivery
Authors: Dohil Ranjan , Cabrera Betty L. , Gangoiti Jon A. , Barshop Bruce A. , Rioux Patrice
Published: November 2012

Cysteamine is approved for the treatment of cystinosis and is being evaluated for Huntington's disease and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Little is known about the bioavailability and biodistribution of the drug. The aim was to determine plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and tissue (liver, kidney, muscle) cysteamine levels following intraduodenal delivery of the drug in rats pretreated and naïve to cysteamine and to estimate the hepatic first‐pass effect on cysteamine. Healthy male rats (n = 66) underwent intraduodenal and portal (PV) or jugular (JVC) venous catheterization. Half were pretreated with cysteamine, and half were naïve. Following intraduodenal cysteamine (20 mg/kg), serial blood samples were collected from the PV or the JVC. Animals were sacrificed at specific time points, and CSF and tissue were collected. Cysteamine levels were determined in plasma, CSF, and tissue. The Cmax was achieved in 5–10 min from PV and 5–22.5 min from JVC. The PV‐Cmax (P = 0.08), PV‐AUC0–t (P = 0.16), JVC‐Cmax (P = 0.02) and JVC‐AUC0–t (P = 0.03) were higher in naive than in pretreated animals. Plasma cysteamine levels returned to baseline in ≤120 min. The hepatic first‐pass effect was estimated at 40%. Peak tissue and CSF cysteamine levels occurred ≤22.5 min, but returned to baseline levels ≤180 min. There was no difference in CSF and tissue cysteamine levels between naïve and pretreated groups, although cysteamine was more rapidly cleared in the pretreated group. Cysteamine is rapidly absorbed from the small intestine, undergoes significant hepatic first‐pass metabolism, crosses the blood brain barrier, and is almost undetectable in plasma, CSF, and body tissues 2 h after ingestion. Sustained‐release cysteamine may provide prolonged tissue exposure.
Existence of multiple units with different accretionary and metamorphic ages in the Sanbagawa Belt, Sakuma–Tenryu area, central Japan
Authors: Tsutsumi Yukiyasu , Miyashita Atsushi , Horie Kenji , Shiraishi Kazuyuki
Published: November 2012

U–Pb ages of detrital zircons and white mica K–Ar ages are obtained from two psammitic schists from the western and eastern units of the Sanbagawa Metamorphic Belt located in the Sakuma–Tenryu area. The detrital zircons in the sample from the western unit (T1) show an age cluster around 95 Ma, and the youngest age in the detrital zircons is 94.0 ± 0.6 Ma. The detrital zircons in the sample from the eastern unit (T5) show a main age cluster in the Late Cretaceous with some older ages, and the youngest age in the detrital zircons is 72.8 ± 0.9 Ma. The youngest zircon ages restrict the older limit of the depositional ages of each sample. White mica K–Ar ages of T1 and T5 are 69.8 ± 1.5 Ma and 56.1 ± 1.2 Ma, respectively, which indicate the age of exhumation and restrict the younger limit on the depositional age of each sample. The results show that the western and eastern units were different in their depositional and exhumation ages, suggesting the episodic subduction and exhumation of the Sanbagawa Belt in the Sakuma–Tenryu area. These results also suggest simultaneous existence of subduction and exhumation paths of metamorphic rocks in the high‐P/T Sanbagawa Metamorphic Belt.
Does species‐level resolution matter? Taxonomic sufficiency in terrestrial arthropod biodiversity studies
Authors: Timms Laura L. , Bowden Joseph J. , Summerville Keith S. , Buddle Chris M.
Published: November 2012

Taxonomic sufficiency, or the suitability of substituting higher level taxonomic designations as response variables in community ecology analyses, is important in biodiversity studies from practical and fundamental perspectives. While there are many studies of taxonomic sufficiency in aquatic systems, there are few studies with terrestrial arthropods that examine the effects of taxonomic resolution on the interpretation of multivariate community data.

We analysed data sets from three major arthropod orders (Araneae,Coleoptera, andLepidoptera) using multivariate methods to determine whether altering the level of taxonomic resolution (species, genus, or family) affected patterns in community composition and beta diversity under various forest disturbance treatments.

Overall patterns of community composition and beta diversity did not differ across taxonomic levels; however, patterns in group structure and significance of treatment effects were often stronger at species and/or genus level.

The similarity between the outcomes of multivariate analyses at different levels of taxonomic resolution was related to within‐group taxonomic ratios; results were less consistent across levels of taxonomic resolution in groups with higher taxonomic ratios (i.e. more species per genus).

We conclude that higher levels of taxonomic resolution will be sufficient for detecting the impacts of disturbance in lineages of terrestrial arthropods with higher levels of phylogenetic constraint, although this does not negate the necessity and importance of species‐level identifications in situations with sufficient resources and where study questions demand alpha taxonomy.
Investigation of a prolonged APTT. Different approaches taken by laboratories to achieve the same diagnosis
Authors: Jennings I. , Kitchen D. P. , Kitchen S. , Woods T. A. L. , Walker I. D.
Published: November 2012

Introduction

The APTT is widely employed as part of a coagulation screening panel, used as a pre‐operative assessment of bleeding risk, to detect hereditary and acquired haemostatic defects and to monitor anticoagulant therapy. External quality assessment (EQA) exercises assess laboratory performance of individual tests, but rarely assess the approach to investigation of an abnormal result.

Methods

A multicentre exercise was carried out to investigate the ability of laboratories to identify the cause of a prolonged APTT. A sample was distributed with a request to carry out whichever tests were considered necessary to achieve a probable diagnosis.

Results

One hundred and ten centres in the UK NEQAS programme took part, and all 104 centres providing an interpretation correctly identified deficiency of FVIII in the sample. However, of these, 10 centres reported additional defects, including lupus anticoagulant, FIX deficiency, FXII deficiency and a FVIII inhibitor.

Conclusions

A markedly varied approach to investigation of a prolonged APTT was observed, although a lack of clinical information may have contributed to this finding.
Dissemination of Panton–Valentine leukocidin‐positive methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Okinawa, Japan
Authors: Mine Yoshiko , Nakasone Isamu , Yamamoto Yuichi , Utani Atsushi , Yamane Nobuhisa , Uezato Hiroshi , Takahashi Kenzo
Published: November 2012

Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore‐forming cytotoxin that is produced by Staphylococcus aureus closely associated with skin and soft‐tissue infections (SSTI). PVL‐positive S. aureus strains have been identified worldwide, including in the USA; however, few studies have reported the presence of these strains in Japan. In this study, we prospectively investigated the prevalence of PVL in S. aureus strains from outpatients presenting with SSTI in Okinawa and characterized the PVL‐positive S. aureus strains by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). From 2008–2010, 499 clinical samples were obtained from 497 people. S. aureus was identified in 274 samples, and 36% (99 of 274) were methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Seventeen (6.2%) PVL‐positive S. aureus strains were detected by PCR, and 12 of the 17 PVL‐positive strains were MRSA. Most PVL‐positive S. aureus caused furuncles or carbuncles. Nine of the 17 PVL‐positive isolates had an ST8 MRSA genotype and most harbored SCCmec type IVa and the arcA gene of the arginine catabolic mobile element, which is identical to the USA300 clone prevalent in the USA. PVL‐positive S. aureus strains were more likely to be resistant to erythromycin (65%) and levofloxacin (53%). PVL‐positive S. aureus strains have emerged and are spreading as a causative pathogen for SSTI in Okinawa.
Evaluation of a programme to increase referrals to stop‐smoking services using Children's Centres and smoke‐free families schemes
Authors: McEwen Andy , Hackshaw Lucy , Jones Laura , Laverty Louise , Amos Amanda , Robinson Jude
Published: November 2012

Aims

To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a new service using referral liaison advisers to increase the number of referrals of parents/carers at selected Children's Centres to National Health Service (NHS) Stop Smoking Services (SSS) and/or smoke‐free families schemes (SFS).

Design

This mixed‐methods pilot study collected numerical data on indicators of smoking behaviours and carried out face‐to‐face and telephone interviews.

Settings

Thirteen Children's Centres in Liverpool and Nottingham using local providers of smoking cessation services, from September 2010 to April 2011.

Participants

Parents and carers registered with, and staff working for, Children's Centres.

Measures

Number of smokers referred to smoking cessation services and/or smoke‐free family schemes and the views of service providers and users on the new service.

Findings

In Liverpool, 181 referrals to NHS SSS were made from 331 identified smokers (54.7%); extrapolated to 12 months, this represents a 182% increase in referrals from baseline and a similar extrapolation indicates a 643% increase from baseline of referrals to smoke‐free families schemes. There were no reliable baseline data for Nottingham; 31 referrals were made (30.7% of smokers) to SSS and 44 referrals to SFS from 52 contacts (84.6%). The interviews highlighted the need for sustained personal contact with parents/carers to discuss smoking behaviours and concerns and their willingness to be referred to SFS as part of caring for their child.

Conclusions

Routine recording of smoking status and appropriate follow‐up by trained staff in Children's Centres can lead to significant numbers of clients attending stop‐smoking services, although relatively few stop smoking.
The analgesic efficacy and safety of neuraxial magnesium sulphate: a quantitative review
Authors: Albrecht E. , Kirkham K. R. , Liu S. S. , Brull R.
Published: November 2012

Eighteen published trials have examined the use of neuraxial magnesium as a peri‐operative adjunctive analgesic since 2002, with encouraging results. However, concurrent animal studies have reported clinical and histological evidence of neurological complications with similar weight‐adjusted doses. The objectives of this quantitative systematic review were to assess both the analgesic efficacy and the safety of neuraxial magnesium. Eighteen trials comparing magnesium with placebo were identified. The time to first analgesic request increased by 11.1% after intrathecal magnesium administration (mean difference: 39.6 min; 95% CI 16.3–63.0 min; p = 0.0009), and by 72.2% after epidural administration (mean difference: 109.5 min; 95% CI 19.6–199.3 min; p = 0.02) with doses of between 50 and 100 mg. Four trials monitored for neurological complications: of the 140 patients included, only a 4‐day persistent headache was recorded. Despite promising peri‐operative analgesic effect, the risk of neurological complications resulting from neuraxial magnesium has not yet been adequately defined.
Glacial survival and post‐glacial recolonization of an arctic–alpine freshwater insect (Arcynopteryx dichroa, Plecoptera, Perlodidae) in Europe
Authors: Theissinger Kathrin , Bálint Miklós , Feldheim Kevin A. , Haase Peter , Johannesen Jes , Laube Irina , Pauls Steffen U.
Published: November 2012

Aim

General models for understanding the climate‐driven processes of post‐glacial colonization in European arctic–alpine species are mainly derived from studies on temperate terrestrial taxa. However, cold‐adapted freshwater species may tolerate or even thrive under colder climatic conditions as flowing water habitats are thermally buffered against freezing and extremely cold temperatures. Here, we investigate the European Pleistocene and Holocene history of the arctic–alpine stonefly Arcynopteryx dichroa.

Location

Europe.

Methods

We used two genetic data sets (mitochondrial sequence data and nuclear microsatellite data) to investigate the glacial survival and post‐glacial recolonization routes of A. dichroa. We used species distribution models to critically evaluate our genetic data and phylogeographical interpretations.

Results

Among 344 sequenced individuals from eight European mountain ranges, 80 unique haplotypes were detected. Of these, 77 haplotypes were endemic to a single mountain range, indicating almost complete lineage sorting. Both sequence and microsatellite data suggested strong population differentiation between mountain ranges. The genetic hotspots were found in the Carpathians, the Balkans and the eastern Alps. The Black Forest and Fennoscandian populations exhibited shared and closely related haplotypes, indicating ancestral polymorphism in two populations that became disjunct due to vicariance or resulting from rare long‐distance dispersal among disjunct northern and southern periglacial populations.

Main conclusions

Arcynopteryx dichroa is a glacial relict that survived glacial cycles through elevation shifts in isolated periglacial populations in the Pyrenees, the central European highlands, the Carpathians, the Balkans and the eastern Alps. The species probably recolonized the formerly glaciated Fennoscandian range from a refugium in the central European highlands, following the retreat of the ice sheet. This study suggests that aquatic organisms may have reacted differently to Pleistocene climate change compared with terrestrial species.
Delirium in older patients: a diagnostic study of NEECHAM Confusion Scale in surgical intensive care unit
Authors: Matarese Maria , Generoso Stefano , Ivziku Dhurata , Pedone Claudio , De Marinis Maria Grazia
Published: November 2012

Aims and objectives

To estimate the diagnostic value and determine the feasibility of the NEECHAM Confusion Scale on critically ill older patients.

Background

Delirium is a common syndrome in hospitalised older patients, especially in surgical intensive care units, and the consequences of under‐detection can be very serious for older people. Therefore, assessment of the cognitive status of older patients using a valid instrument is important in intensive care units.

Design

A descriptive prospective design was used.

Methods

Consecutive nonintubated patients aged 65 and older, admitted to a surgical intensive care unit of an Italian hospital during a seven months period, were assessed for delirium using the NEECHAM scale and the Confusion Assessment Method for intensive care unit, once per shift, for 48 hours after admission. Cohen's kappa coefficient, ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity were estimated. An open ended questionnaire was used to assess user‐friendliness of the scale.

Results

A sample of 41 older patients with a mean age of 78·3 years was studied. The kappa coefficient was 0·95. The sensitivity was 99·19%, specificity 95% at cut‐off of 25, and the area under the curve was 0·99 (CI 0·99–1·00). Nurses evaluated positively the scale as they were able to collect data during care process in maximum 10 minutes, but experienced problems in rating the appearance behaviour and physiological control items of the scale.

Conclusions

Findings from this study confirm the good diagnostic value and ease of application of the NEECHAM scale with nonventilated intensive care patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

The NEECHAM scale can be used to detect delirium during the routine nursing assessment of nonintubated older patients as it requires minimal demand and stress on the patient as well as on the bedside nurse.
Organizing a dermatology service mission
Authors: Ramirez‐Fort Marigdalia K. , Lastra‐Vicente Rosana , Levitt Jacob O. , Sanchez Jorge L. , Reizner George T.
Published: November 2012

Background

There are few published guidelines that describe the forethought and logistical considerations needed to create a dermatology‐specific medical mission.

Objective

To report the experience of planning and executing a successful medical mission to an underserved community in Puerto Rico.

Methods

We identified an area of need and projected the volume of patients and diseases to be treated. After recruiting medical staff, pharmaceutical and surgical supplies were collected. Important concerns included establishing the scope of medical and educational services to be rendered, advertising the clinic, arranging for biopsy processing, ensuring follow‐up, and selecting a method for medical documentation. We tracked the number of patients seen, diagnoses made, and materials used to prepare for future missions.

Results

We recruited 12 physicians and 25 ancillary (i.e. nonlicensed physician) staff members, including: six dermatologists, four internists, one pathologist, one psychiatrist, 23 medical students, and two medical assistants. We secured 12 examination rooms in an existing medical facility. Two pharmaceutical companies and two pathology companies provided the medications and surgical supplies with the remainder coming from the volunteer physicians' offices. Three thousand dollars were raised and used toward purchasing additional supplies. Advertising via public announcements resulted in the attendance of 166 patients during the 1‐day clinic. A total of 41 procedures were performed, including 14 biopsies, five excisions, three incisions and drainage, and 19 electrodessications and curettage.

Conclusion

Proper planning is critical in creating a successful dermatology mission. Documenting the care given and supplies used helps to identify needs and optimize limited resources for future missions. The goal of a self‐sustaining public health service starts with patient education and coordination with the local healthcare providers.
Biweekly sunitinib regimen reduces toxicity and retains efficacy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A single‐center experience with 31 patients
Authors: Neri Bruno , Vannini Agnese , Brugia Marco , Muto Andrea , Rangan Sheila , Rediti Mattia , Tassi Renato , Cerullo Carmine
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Sunitinib is the standard care for first‐line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether a sunitinib regimen of 50 mg/day 2‐weeks on/1‐week off could maintain the same dose‐intensity as the standard 4‐weeks on/2‐weeks off schedule, and provide the same efficacy in terms of objective response, progression‐free survival and overall survival, while reducing drug‐related toxicity.

Methods

A total of 31 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma received sunitinib orally at the dose of 50 mg/day in a 2‐weeks on/1‐week off regimen until disease progression or intolerable toxicities occurred.

Results

All enrolled patients were assessable in terms of toxicity and response. They received treatment for a median of 16 months (range 2.0–36.0+ months). A total of 13 patients (42%) obtained an objective response; disease stabilization was achieved in 10 patients (32%), whereas eight patients (26%) experienced disease progression. The most important toxicities were anemia, gastrointestinal effects, fatigue and hypertension, but they were all controlled.

Conclusions

Sunitinib 50 mg given orally in a 2‐weeks on/1‐week off regimen can provide a high response rate and avoid drug‐related toxicities, achieving the same dose intensity as the standard schedule, and probably longer disease control.
Potential tumor markers of renal cell carcinoma: α‐Enolase for postoperative follow up, and galectin‐1 and galectin‐3 for primary detection
Authors: Kaneko Naoki , Gotoh Akinobu , Okamura Noboru , Matsuo Ei‐ichi , Terao Shuji , Watanabe Makoto , Yamada Yuji , Hamami Gaku , Nakamura Tsutomu , Ikekita Masahiko , Okumura Katsuhiko , Nishimura Osamu
Published: November 2012

The diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma is currently based on imaging techniques, mainly because there is no blood marker available for its detection. Thus, there is still the need for the development of novel tumor markers. We examined plasma levels of eight proteins in 15 renal cell carcinoma patients before and after surgery, and in 51 healthy controls using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma levels of α‐enolase, calnexin, galectin‐1, galectin‐3 and lectin mannose‐binding 2 were significantly higher in renal cell carcinoma patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Among these proteins, the sensitivities for galectin‐1 and galectin‐3 were higher than those for calnexin and lectin mannose‐binding 2 in the specificity range from 80% to 100%. A combined use of galectin‐1 and galectin‐3 showed 98% specificity and 47% sensitivity. In addition, the assays showed that plasma α‐enolase levels decreased significantly 4 weeks after nephrectomy (P = 0.0034), and this tendency continued until 12 weeks after nephrectomy (P = 0.0156). These findings suggest that α‐enolase could be used in the postoperative follow up of renal cell carcinoma patients, whereas the combined use of galectin‐1 and galectin‐3 might represent a useful tool for primary detection.
Histological chronic prostatitis and high‐grade prostate intra‐epithelial neoplasia do not influence urinary prostate cancer gene 3 score
Authors: De Luca Stefano , Passera Roberto , Milillo Angela , Coda Renato , Randone Donato Franco
Published: November 2012

Study Type – Diagnostic (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

While the relationship between PCA3 score and clinical or histological prostatitis was quite proven even in small patient groups, conversely the relationship between PCA3 score and HG‐PIN is still under debate.

We demonstrated in a large series (432 patients) that histologically documented chronic prostatitis and HG‐PIN have similar PCA3 scores to patients with BPH and/or normal parenchyma at biopsy.

Objective

To determine whether histological chronic prostatitis and high‐grade prostate intra‐epithelial neoplasia (HG‐PIN) influence the prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) score in Italian patients with an elevated prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level and a negative digital rectal examination (DRE) who were undergoing a first or repeat prostate biopsy.

Patients and Methods

A urinary PCA3 test was prospectively performed in 432 consecutive patients who were admitted to Gradenigo Hospital (Turin, Italy) between January and December 2011 and scheduled for first or repeat prostate biopsy as a result of an elevated PSA level and negative DRE.

A comparison of the PCA3 score and patients with a negative biopsy (normal parenchyma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis, HG‐PIN) or positive biopsy was performed.

Results

PCA3 median (range) scores varied significantly (P < 0.001) in men with a negative vs positive biopsy: 33 (2–212) and 66 (5–324), respectively.

By contrast, men with chronic prostatitis and HG‐PIN showed no significant difference with respect to PCA3 score compared to other negative biopsy patients.

No correlation was found between the number of positive cores for chronic prostatitis, HG‐PIN and PCA3 score.

Of all patients with a positive biopsy, 23 (20%) of 114 men had a PCA3 score ≤35.

In total, 79 (40%) of 197 men with a negative biopsy (normal parenchyma and benign prostatic hyperplasia), 24 (37.5%) of 64 men with chronic prostatitis and 19 (39.6%) of 48 men with HG‐PIN had a PCA3 score >35.

Conclusion

At this early stage of clinical evaluation, cancer specificity of the urinary PCA3 test appears to be maintained in the face of chronic prostatitis and HG‐PIN.
The acceptability to Aboriginal Australians of a family‐based intervention to reduce alcohol‐related harms
Authors: Calabria Bianca , Clifford Anton , Shakeshaft Anthony , Allan Julaine , Bliss Donna , Doran Christopher
Published: November 2012

Introduction and Aims

Cognitive–behavioural interventions that use familial and community reinforcers in an individual's environment are effective for reducing alcohol‐related harms. Such interventions have considerable potential to reduce the disproportionately high burden of alcohol‐related harm among Aboriginal Australians if they can be successfully tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. The overall aim of this paper is to describe the perceived acceptability of two cognitive–behavioural interventions, the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), to a sample of Aboriginal people.

Design and Methods

Descriptive survey was administered to 116 Aboriginal people recruited through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service and a community‐based drug and alcohol treatment agency in rural New South Wales, Australia.

Results

Participants perceived CRA and CRAFT to be highly acceptable for delivery in their local Aboriginal community. Women were more likely than men to perceive CRAFT as highly acceptable. Participants expressed a preference for counsellors to be someone they knew and trusted, and who has experience working in their local community. CRA was deemed most acceptable for delivery to individuals after alcohol withdrawal and CRAFT for people who want to help a relative/friend start alcohol treatment. There was a preference for five or more detailed sessions.

Discussion and Conclusions

Findings of this study suggest that CRA and CRAFT are likely to be acceptable for delivery to some rural Aboriginal Australians, and that there is potential to tailor these interventions to specific communities.
Personalized medicine in women's obesity prevention and treatment: implications for research, policy and practice
Authors: Yang N. , Ginsburg G. S. , Simmons L. A.
Published: November 2012

The prevalence of obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions, and obesity among women is particularly concerning. Severe obesity (body mass index ≥35 kg m−2) is more prevalent in women than men. Further, women have sex‐specific risk factors that must be considered when developing preventive and therapeutic interventions. This review presents personalized medicine as a dynamic approach to obesity prevention, management and treatment for women. First, we review obesity as a complex health issue, with contributing sex‐specific, demographic, psychosocial, behavioural, environmental, epigenetic and genetic/genomic risk factors. Second, we present personalized medicine as a rapidly advancing field of health care that seeks to quantify these complex risk factors to develop more targeted and effective strategies that can improve disease management and/or better minimize an individual's likelihood of developing obesity. Third, we discuss how personalized medicine can be applied in a clinical setting with current and emerging tools, including health risk assessments, personalized health plans, and strategies for increasing patient engagement. Finally, we discuss the need for additional research, training and policy that can enhance the practice of personalized medicine in women's obesity, including further advancements in the ‘‐omics’ sciences, physician training in personalized medicine, and additional development and standardization of innovative targeted therapies and clinical tools.
Why Nudges Matter: A Reply to Goodwin
Authors: Mills Chris
Published: November 2012

This article argues that, contrary to Goodwin's recent arguments, nudges are compatible with the coalition government's stated aspiration to further self-empowerment. This is because, despite its libertarian roots, nudging is compatible with the promotion of personal autonomy and thus can be used to promote self-empowerment in a non-paternalistic fashion. Further, I argue that nudging may play a valid role in tackling large-scale social problems in tandem with other traditional policy measures. Consequently, Goodwin is wrong to reject choice architecture for these reasons.
Intergenerational Persistence in Income and Social Class: The Effect of Within-Group Inequality
Authors: Blanden Jo , Gregg Paul , Macmillan Lindsey
Published: November 2012

Family income is found to be more closely related to sons’ earnings for a cohort born in 1970 compared with a cohort born in 1958. This result is in stark contrast with the finding on the basis of social class; intergenerational mobility for this outcome is found to be unchanged. Our aim here is to explore the reason for this divergence. We derive a formal framework which relates mobility as measured by family income or earnings to mobility as measured by social class. Building on this framework we then test several alternative hypotheses to explain the difference between the trends. We find evidence of an increase in the intergenerational persistence of the permanent component of income that is unrelated to social class. We reject the hypothesis that the observed decline in income mobility is a consequence of the poor measurement of permanent family income in the 1958 cohort.
Are Big Charities Becoming More Dominant?: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Perspectives
Authors: Backus Peter , Clifford David
Published: November 2012

There is a debate surrounding the implications of big charities’ increasing dominance of total charitable income, but no empirical work which assesses whether indeed big charities are becoming increasingly dominant. We provide this assessment from both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives, using a panel data set with information on charities’ income in England and Wales between 1997 and 2008. From a cross-sectional perspective, examining trends in income concentration ratios, there is no evidence that the biggest charities account for a growing share of total charity income over the period of analysis. However, the longitudinal perspective, which relates income growth over the period to initial size, shows that initially large charities have significantly higher median relative growth rates than the initially small. Substantively, these results are relevant to government plans for the ‘Big Society’, which rest in part on the ability of smaller, community-based charities as well as the bigger voluntary bodies to thrive and grow. Methodologically, for studies which examine trends in the distribution of income, these results illustrate the additional insights that are provided by the longitudinal perspective which cannot be inferred from repeated cross-sectional information.
Forecasting the European Carbon Market
Authors: Koop Gary , Tole Lise
Published: November 2012

In an effort to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union has introduced a cap-and-trade scheme where mandated companies are allocated permits to emit carbon dioxide. Financial markets have developed that allow companies to trade these carbon permits. Several recent studies have attempted to model their prices. There are many institutional features that potentially impact on carbon prices and associated financial futures, making such an undertaking quite different from modelling conventional financial assets traded in mature markets. We forecast the carbon markets by using dynamic model averaging, which is a recently developed statistical method which has three advantages over conventional approaches. First, it allows the coefficients on the predictors in a forecasting model to change over time. Second, it allows for the entire forecasting model to change over time. Third, it surmounts statistical problems which arise from the large number of potential predictors that can explain carbon prices. Our empirical results indicate that there are both important policy and statistical benefits with our approach. Statistically, we present strong evidence that there is substantial turbulence and change in the carbon markets. We find that dynamic model averaging can model these features and forecast accurately compared with conventional approaches.
The Influence of Central Bank Transparency on Labor Market Regulation
Authors: Hefeker Carsten , Neugart Michael
Published: November 2012

The paper develops a theory about the relation between monetary uncertainty and government incentives to implement reforms to reduce structural distortions in labor markets. We show that uncertainty about the central bank's behavior leads to more reforms. Empirical tests employing recently developed measures of central bank transparency around the world support our main propositions.
Complementary Alliances in Composite Good Markets with Network Structure
Authors: Hattori Keisuke , Hsin Lin Ming
Published: November 2012

This paper investigates the feasibility of full/partial complementary alliances in composite goods markets with network structure. There are multiple producers who each provide a complementary component of the composite good. In another related market, one single firm (a monopolist) produces another composite good which could be a substitute or complement of the composite good. The analysis shows that even a full alliance cannot be profitable when the number of producers is small and the two goods are close substitutes or complements. Moreover, none of the profitable alliances is stable, except the full alliance with two component producers.
R&D Cooperation with Entry
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Siddhartha , Mukherjee Arijit
Published: November 2012

We show the effects of entry by a non‐innovating firm on the innovating firms' incentive for undertaking cooperative R&D, highlighting the implications of knowledge spillover. Entry by a non‐innovating firm may either increase or decrease the incentive for cooperative R&D compared with no entry, depending on the innovating and the non‐innovating firms' gains from knowledge spillover. The entry deterrence motive, which has so far been ignored in the literature, plays an important role in determining R&D organization in our analysis.
Regulating Political Donations by Companies: Challenges and Misconceptions
Authors: Williams Richard
Published: November 2012

This paper analyses the regulation of company political donations in the UK. It argues that UK policy makers have failed to understand the nature of company donors and, consequently, that the UK Companies Act 2006 requirement for shareholder consent for company donations is not an effective solution to concerns about company donors. To this end, the paper presents a comprehensive empirical analysis of company donations to show that the vast majority of donor companies are closely held or owner‐managed entities where shareholder consent rules are ineffective. The paper highlights particular concerns that arise with donation by such companies and argues for a more accurate understanding of company donations in order to formulate effective policy responses to concerns about the role of company donors.
The Normativity of the Private Ownership Form
Authors: Dorfman Avihay
Published: November 2012

One of the most acute charges against private property observes that ownership generates a trespassory duty of exclusion that far exceeds the requirements of a commitment to values such as freedom and well‐being, and accordingly there exists an analytical mismatch between the form of protecting ownership and the functions that this protection may serve. This article develops a novel account of ownership's normativity, maintaining that, apart from the functions it may render to external values, the form of ownership is initselfa source of value, in virtue of the society it may engender between free and equal persons. Any gap between the form and the function of ownership need not plague private ownership, because the functions of ownership do not exhaust the explanation of its good. The formal core of private property is a distinctively social one, even in the most isolated case of trespass to property.
Paradoxes and Failures: ‘New Governance’ Techniques and the Financial Crisis
Authors: Black Julia
Published: November 2012

This article examines the performance of four ‘new governance’ techniques of regulation in the period leading up to the financial crisis: principles based regulation, risk based regulation, meta‐regulation and enrolment. These techniques have been advocated on the basis that they are responsive, flexible, and in enrolling others in the regulatory project thereby expand its capacity, and even its legitimacy. However, experience in the crisis revealed that in their implementation they can be out of touch or indulgent, focus heavily on auditable systems and processes, and that in enrolling others they can increase vulnerabilities and the potential for negative endogenous effects. The argument is not that there should be a return to adversarial ‘command and control’ regulation, rather that experience of these strategies in the crisis suggests a need to understand in greater depth the refractive effects of the organisational, technical/functional and cognitive dimensions of regulatory governance, if we are to understand and adapt its performance in different contexts.
The career path to instructional design project management: an expert perspective from the US professional services sector
Authors: Williams van Rooij Shahron
Published: November 2012

There are well‐documented competency standards for instructional/training designers and for project managers. However, there is little research about what skills and abilities employers expect from those seeking to become instructional/training design project managers, particularly within specific industry sectors. Focusing on the US professional services sector, the sector in which firms have a global impact and in which human capital is the largest asset, this article addresses the ‘must have’ skills/competencies, characteristics and organizational conditions associated with career advancement from instructional designer to instructional design project manager by means of an expert study that is grounded in an in‐depth literature review. In addition to enhancing knowledge of instructional designers’ competency development for career advancement in the professional services sector, this study also offers some concrete recommendations and implications for research and practice.
A neuroimaging pattern‐recognition approach in pediatric intracranial calcifications
Authors: PORETTI ANDREA , VALK JAAP , HUISMAN THIERRY AGM
Published: November 2012

This commentary is on the original article by Livingston et al. on pages 46–57 of this issue.
The relation between implicit theories of personality and forgiveness
Authors: NG AUDREY S. , TONG EDDIE M. W.
Published: November 2012

This research examined the effect of implicit theories of personality on interpersonal forgiveness and the mediating mechanism underlying this effect. Two experiments show that incremental personality theorists are less forgiving than entity personality theorists and that this difference can be explained by the incremental theorists’ stronger tendency to appraise the transgressor as responsible for causing the hurtful event. The same findings were obtained regardless of whether forgiveness was measured by self‐report or assessed as responses to anger words in a latency response task.
The influence of parent conflict style on children
Authors: BECK STEPHENSON J. , LEDBETTER ANDREW M.
Published: November 2012

Families constantly manage tension between autonomy from and connection to family members (T. C. Sabourin, 2003). Family conflict is an important maintenance behavior where this tension often plays out. Specifically, we hypothesized that the negotiation of family conflict between parents and children will be an important factor in the willingness of a young adult child to identify with family. Using a sample of young adults from 2 U.S. locations, regression analysis indicated that conflict styles mediated the association between family communication patterns and shared family identity. Specifically, the level of conformity orientation within the family emerged as moderator of the pattern of mediation. Additionally, findings suggested the avoiding conflict style may be particularly detrimental to shared family identity.
The residual risk of transfusion‐related acute lung injury at the American Red Cross (2008‐2011): limitations of a predominantly male‐donor plasma mitigation strategy
Authors: Eder Anne F. , Dy Beth A. , Perez Jaime M. , Rambaud Michele , Benjamin Richard J.
Published: November 2012

Background

The American Red Cross began preferentially distributing plasma from male donors in 2007 and subsequently observed an 80% decrease in reported cases of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) after plasma transfusion. Plasma distributions from male donors now exceed 99% for groups A, B, and O, but only approximately 60% for group AB. We evaluated the ongoing risk of TRALI and the ABO blood group of involved plasma donors.

Study Design and Methods

The rate of suspected TRALI per distributed components before (2006) and after (2008‐2011) implementing the predominantly male‐donor plasma strategy is compared.

Results

The risk of TRALI from the general inventory of distributed plasma decreased significantly from 18.6 cases per million units in 2006 to 4.2 cases per million units in 2008 to 2011 (p < 0.0001). However, the risk from AB plasma did not change (26.3 cases per million units) and was significantly greater than group A, B, and O plasma in 2008 to 2011 (1.8 per million units; odds ratio 14.5; 95% confidence interval, 6.8‐30.9). Group AB plasma from female donors with HLA or HNA antibodies accounted for 14 of 28 (50%) of TRALI cases but less than 4% of all plasma units distributed in 2008 to 2011.

Conclusion

The risk of TRALI after plasma transfusion has been markedly reduced for blood groups A, B, and O but not for AB, reflecting continued reliance on group AB plasma from female donors to meet increasing demand.
Implementation intentions intervention among temporarily deferred novice blood donors
Authors: Godin Gaston , Amireault Steve , Vézina‐Im Lydi‐Anne , Sheeran Paschal , Conner Mark , Germain Marc , Delage Gilles
Published: November 2012

Background

Approximately 12% to 15% of blood donors are temporarily deferred from giving blood because they fail relevant medical criteria. Temporary deferral has a profound negative impact on subsequent donation. To our knowledge, an implementation intentions intervention has never been tested among temporarily deferred donors. We hypothesized that return rates would be higher among participants exposed to an implementation intentions intervention compared to those in a control condition that is mere measurement of related cognitions.

Study Design and Methods

Participants were assigned to implementation intentions or mere measurement conditions; whether or not participants received a temporary interdiction on giving blood was measured. A total of 956 novice donors were temporarily deferred (n = 490, in the implementation intentions condition; n = 466, in the mere measurement condition). Participants in the implementation intentions condition formed if–then plans to overcome three common barriers to blood donation: forgetting to attend, fitting the opportunity to give blood into one's schedule, and organizing transportation to the donation venue. Participants in the mere measurement condition did not form plans.

Results

Participants in the implementation intentions condition had a 19% greater chance of returning to give blood again within the 4 years after their first lifetime donation compared to participants in the mere measurement condition (p = 0.04) when controlling for sex and attempt at which participants were deferred.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that implementation intentions could be a useful strategy for promoting donor return among temporarily deferred novice blood donors.
Modeling the transmission risk of emerging infectious diseases through blood transfusion
Authors: Oei Welling , Janssen Mart P. , van der Poel Cees L. , van Steenbergen Jim E. , Rehmet Sybille , Kretzschmar Mirjam E.E.
Published: November 2012

Background

A timely risk assessment is desired to guide decisions on preventive transfusion safety measures during emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks. TheEuropean Up‐Front Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT) model was developed to provide quantitative transmission risk estimates ofEIDsthrough blood transfusion.

Study Design and Methods

The generic model comprises five sequential steps to estimate the infection risks in the blood transfusion chain: 1) the prevalence of infection in the donor population, 2) the risk of obtaining infected donations, 3) infected components, 4) infected blood products, and 5) the risk of transmitting the infection to recipients. The model uses inputs from epidemiologic characteristics of anEIDand transfusion practice. The model was applied to data from a recent chikungunya outbreak inItaly.

Results

Based on data from the outbreak peak, an estimated prevalence of 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38‐2.03) per 100,000 donors would lead to 0.04 infected donations (95%CI, 0.01‐0.10), 0.13 infected blood components, 0.13 infected end products, and 0.0001 severe infections in recipients. This estimated risk can be reduced by increasing the duration of quarantine of the donated blood and becomes zero after 7 or more days of quarantine. The model also estimated the probability of a donor returning from the outbreak area and subsequently donating infected blood in his home country to be 0.30 (95%CI, 0.01‐0.65) per 100,000.

Conclusion

The model can be used to quantifyEIDoutbreak risks to blood transfusion recipients and the effect of targeted safety interventions and as such support public health decision‐making.
Cancer, Culture, and Individual Experience: Public Discourse and Personal Affliction
Authors: Perusek David
Published: November 2012

From folk beliefs about how cancer spreads within the body and why “they” have yet to find a cure for it, to the cultural dimensions of personal condolences, and the ideological dimensions of cancer constructions in the media, I examine the ways in which U.S. culture and culture bearers frame the experience of cancer for cancer patients and their families. Viewing cultural frames as resources to be drawn on in time of need and engaging in participant‐observation in the life of a family simultaneously confronted with two cancer diagnoses, one of which was terminal, I conclude that contemporary cultural understandings of cancer in the United States may often work as antiresources threatening lived experience with maddening distortion.