bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ohio's 2010 Lake Erie Charter Fishing Industry
Authors: Lucente Joseph E , Gabriel Tory , Davis Gregory , Wellington Colleen , Lichtkoppler Frank
Published: December 2012

Charter fishing provides important angler access to Lake Erie sport fishing. It is economically important to local harbor communities, with 79% of charter anglers coming from over 50 miles away. To update information from our 2006 survey, we conducted a mail survey of 500 randomly selected Ohio charter boat captains in early 2010 and received usable information from 239 captains. In 2010 the Ohio Department of Natural Resources licensed 786 charter guides compared to 783 licensed captains in 2006. Possibly reflecting difficult economic times, charter firms in 2010 made on average 10.1 fewer trips per firm (34.6) than in 2006 (44.7). These captains made an estimated 21,082 charter trips in 2010, of which over 81% were full-day and almost 19% were half-day trips. Mean total revenues earned in 2010 ($15,132 ± $16,110) declined over 13% from 2006. Declining harvests, invasive species, and increasing operating costs highlight the concerns noted by captains responding to the survey. Policies and actions to address declining sport fish populations, invasive species, and other key issues may have positive impacts on the industry and help it continue into the future.

RESUMEN

la pesca tipo chárter ofrece a los pescadores un importante acceso a la pesca deportiva en el lago Erie. Se trata de una actividad económicamente relevante para las comunidades locales, en las que 79% de los pescadores de chárteres provienen de lugares situados hasta 50 millas de distancia. Con el fin de actualizar la información recabada en un sondeo realizado en 2006, a inicios de 2010 se condujo otro sondeo por correo a 500 capitanes de barcos chárter en Ohio, recibiéndose información utilizable de 239 de ellos. En 2010, el Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Ohio otorgó 786 guías para chárteres en comparación con los 783 capitanes con licencia registrados en 2006. En 2010, las firmas de barcos chárter realizaron, en promedio, 10.1 menos viajes por firma (34.6) que en 2006 (44.7) lo cual posiblemente sea el reflejo de un periodo difícil en términos económicos. Los capitanes hicieron alrededor de 21,082 viajes chárter en 2010, de los cuales más del 81% tuvieron una duración de un día entero y casi 19% duraron medio día. Los dividendos totales promedio en 2010 ($15,132 ± $16,110) se redujeron más de 13% desde 2006. La disminución de la captura, especies invasivas y el incremento en los costos de operación subrayan la preocupación que expresaron los capitanes que respondieron el sondeo. Las políticas y acciones que surjan en torno a la reducción de las poblaciones sujetas a la pesca deportiva, especies invasoras y otros factores clave pudieran tener impactos positivos en la industria y servirían para mantener la actividad en el futuro.
On Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow: what you see is not all there is
Authors: Earl Peter
                      E.
Published: December 2012

Peter Earl is an associate professor of economics at the University of Queensland, and a rebel. He is a behavioural economist, and was one long before such creatures became acceptable. His interests lie in the economics of information, and more particularly in using contributions from psychology and philosophy to advance the understanding that economics offers. Application is to areas of marketing, strategy and consumer behaviour, as well as innovation, enlightening where mainstream economics casts its pall.
An enterprise resource planning system innovation and its influence on organisational culture: a case study in higher education
Authors: Waring Teresa , Skoumpopoulou Dimitra
Published: December 2012

Many organisations are adopting new enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to address their organisational and business problems. These technologies may promise utopian visions of information management, yet often they have the potential to re-shape organisational life and bring even more control to the workplace; in some instances outcomes that are unpredictable and detrimental to the organisation. The study of ERPs and their influence on organisational life and culture is a complex and highly contested area of research which has been the subject of much theorising. This paper adds to the debate through a longitudinal case study of an integrated information system implementation undertaken within a large UK university. The system (known as SITS – strategic information technology services) was introduced into a university in 2006 and the focus of the research has been on culture change within the SITS environment. Document analysis, interviews and participant observation were used to collect data. What has emerged from this study is that many current approaches are unable to account for the complexity of cultural studies within an integrated information systems environment. Therefore we have adopted an approach which acknowledges technology’s power to facilitate or constrain, as well as the role that individuals play in the use of technology to organise.
Programmed death 1 protects from fatal circulatory failure during systemic virus infection of mice
Authors: Frebel Helge , Nindl Veronika , Schuepbach Reto A. , Braunschweiler Thomas , Richter Kirsten , Vogel Johannes , Wagner Carsten A. , Loffing-Cueni Dominique , Kurrer Michael , Ludewig Burkhard , Oxenius Annette
Published: December 2012

The inhibitory programmed death 1 (PD-1)–programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway contributes to the functional down-regulation of T cell responses during persistent systemic and local virus infections. The blockade of PD-1–PD-L1–mediated inhibition is considered as a therapeutic approach to reinvigorate antiviral T cell responses. Yet previous studies reported that PD-L1–deficient mice develop fatal pathology during early systemic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, suggesting a host protective role of T cell down-regulation. As the exact mechanisms of pathology development remained unclear, we set out to delineate in detail the underlying pathogenesis. Mice deficient in PD-1–PD-L1 signaling or lacking PD-1 signaling in CD8 T cells succumbed to fatal CD8 T cell–mediated immunopathology early after systemic LCMV infection. In the absence of regulation via PD-1, CD8 T cells killed infected vascular endothelial cells via perforin-mediated cytolysis, thereby severely compromising vascular integrity. This resulted in systemic vascular leakage and a consequential collapse of the circulatory system. Our results indicate that the PD-1–PD-L1 pathway protects the vascular system from severe CD8 T cell–mediated damage during early systemic LCMV infection, highlighting a pivotal physiological role of T cell down-regulation and suggesting the potential development of immunopathological side effects when interfering with the PD-1–PD-L1 pathway during systemic virus infections.
Glycosylation Network Analysis Toolbox: a MATLAB-based environment for systems glycobiology
Authors: Liu Gang , Puri Apurv , Neelamegham Sriram
Published: December 2012

Summary: Systems glycobiology studies the interaction of various pathways that regulate glycan biosynthesis and function. Software tools for the construction and analysis of such pathways are not yet available. We present GNAT, a platform-independent, user-extensible MATLAB-based toolbox that provides an integrated computational environment to construct, manipulate and simulate glycans and their networks. It enables integration of XML-based glycan structure data into SBML (Systems Biology Markup Language) files that describe glycosylation reaction networks. Curation and manipulation of networks is facilitated using class definitions and glycomics database query tools. High quality visualization of networks and their steady-state and dynamic simulation are also supported.

Availability: The software package including source code, help documentation and demonstrations are available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnatmatlab/files/.

Contact:  neel@buffalo.edu or gangliu@buffalo.edu
Recruitment depressions in North Sea herring
Authors: Corten Ad
Published: December 2012

Corten, A. 2013. Recruitment depressions in North Sea herring. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70:1–15. Two periods of sustained low recruitment have been observed in North Sea herring in recent history; one from 1971 to 1979 and one that started in 2002 and continued up until the most recent year for which information is available (2010). This paper compares both periods of recruitment depression and considers the possible causes for each of them. The first depression (1971–1979) has been commonly ascribed to insufficient egg production by the depleted parent stock. However, recruitment to the central and northern populations was probably also affected by an environmental factor. There are indications of a reduced Atlantic inflow into the northwestern North Sea at the time of the depression. This could have affected survival of the larvae by slowing down their transport to the nursery areas in the southeastern North Sea. For the second period (2002–2010), the low recruitment has been ascribed to an increase in temperature and/or a regime shift in the ecosystem. An alternative explanation could be predation by the large stock of adult herring on its own larvae.
The application of cloud computing to scientific workflows: a study of cost and performance
Authors: Berriman G. Bruce , Deelman Ewa , Juve Gideon , Rynge Mats , Vöckler Jens-S.
Published: December 2012

The current model of transferring data from data centres to desktops for analysis will soon be rendered impractical by the accelerating growth in the volume of science datasets. Processing will instead often take place on high-performance servers co-located with data. Evaluations of how new technologies such as cloud computing would support such a new distributed computing model are urgently needed. Cloud computing is a new way of purchasing computing and storage resources on demand through virtualization technologies. We report here the results of investigations of the applicability of commercial cloud computing to scientific computing, with an emphasis on astronomy, including investigations of what types of applications can be run cheaply and efficiently on the cloud, and an example of an application well suited to the cloud: processing a large dataset to create a new science product.
GATECloud.net: a platform for large-scale, open-source text processing on the cloud
Authors: Tablan Valentin , Roberts Ian , Cunningham Hamish , Bontcheva Kalina
Published: December 2012

Cloud computing is increasingly being regarded as a key enabler of the ‘democratization of science’, because on-demand, highly scalable cloud computing facilities enable researchers anywhere to carry out data-intensive experiments. In the context of natural language processing (NLP), algorithms tend to be complex, which makes their parallelization and deployment on cloud platforms a non-trivial task. This study presents a new, unique, cloud-based platform for large-scale NLP research—GATECloud. net. It enables researchers to carry out data-intensive NLP experiments by harnessing the vast, on-demand compute power of the Amazon cloud. Important infrastructural issues are dealt with by the platform, completely transparently for the researcher: load balancing, efficient data upload and storage, deployment on the virtual machines, security and fault tolerance. We also include a cost–benefit analysis and usage evaluation.
An integrated view of data quality in Earth observation
Authors: Yang X. , Blower J. D. , Bastin L. , Lush V. , Zabala A. , Masó J. , Cornford D. , Díaz P. , Lumsden J.
Published: December 2012

Data quality is a difficult notion to define precisely, and different communities have different views and understandings of the subject. This causes confusion, a lack of harmonization of data across communities and omission of vital quality information. For some existing data infrastructures, data quality standards cannot address the problem adequately and cannot fulfil all user needs or cover all concepts of data quality. In this study, we discuss some philosophical issues on data quality. We identify actual user needs on data quality, review existing standards and specifications on data quality, and propose an integrated model for data quality in the field of Earth observation (EO). We also propose a practical mechanism for applying the integrated quality information model to a large number of datasets through metadata inheritance. While our data quality management approach is in the domain of EO, we believe that the ideas and methodologies for data quality management can be applied to wider domains and disciplines to facilitate quality-enabled scientific research.
The CARMEN software as a service infrastructure
Authors: Weeks Michael , Jessop Mark , Fletcher Martyn , Hodge Victoria , Jackson Tom , Austin Jim
Published: December 2012

The CARMEN platform allows neuroscientists to share data, metadata, services and workflows, and to execute these services and workflows remotely via a Web portal. This paper describes how we implemented a service-based infrastructure into the CARMEN Virtual Laboratory. A
Software as a Service
framework was developed to allow generic new and legacy code to be deployed as services on a heterogeneous execution framework. Users can submit analysis code typically written in Matlab, Python, C/C++ and R as non-interactive standalone command-line applications and wrap them as services in a form suitable for deployment on the platform. The CARMEN Service Builder tool enables neuroscientists to quickly wrap their analysis software for deployment to the CARMEN platform, as a service without knowledge of the service framework or the CARMEN system. A metadata schema describes each service in terms of both system and user requirements. The search functionality allows services to be quickly discovered from the many services available. Within the platform, services may be combined into more complicated analyses using the workflow tool. CARMEN and the service infrastructure are targeted towards the neuroscience community; however, it is a generic platform, and can be targeted towards any discipline.
Characterization ofMelioribacter roseusgen. nov., sp. nov., a novel facultatively anaerobic thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium from the classIgnavibacteria, and a proposal of a novel bacterial phylumIgnavibacteriae
Authors: Podosokorskaya Olga A. , Kadnikov Vitaly V. , Gavrilov Sergey N. , Mardanov Andrey V. , Merkel Alexander Y. , Karnachuk Olga V. , Ravin Nikolay V. , Bonch‐Osmolovskaya Elizaveta A. , Kublanov Ilya V.
Published: December 2012

A novel moderately thermophilic, facultatively anaerobic chemoorganotrophic bacterium strainP3M‐2Twas isolated from a microbial mat developing on the wooden surface of a chute under the flow of hot water (46°C) coming out of a 2775‐m‐deep oil exploration well (Tomsk region,Russia). StrainP3M‐2Tis a moderate thermophile and facultative anaerobe growing on mono‐, di‐ or polysaccharides by aerobic respiration, fermentation or by reducing diverse electron acceptors [nitrite,Fe(III),As(V)]. Its closest cultivated relative (90.8%rRNAgene sequence identity) isIgnavibacterium album, the only chemoorganotrophic member of the phylumChlorobi. New genus and speciesMelioribacter roseusare proposed for isolateP3M‐2T. Together withI. album, the new organism represents the classIgnavibacteriaassigned to the phylumChlorobi. The revealed group includes a variety of uncultured environmental clones, the16S rRNAgene sequences of some of which have been previously attributed to the candidate divisionZB1. Phylogenetic analysis ofM. roseusandI. albumbased on their23S rRNAandRecAsequences confirmed that these two organisms could represent an even deeper, phylum‐level lineage. Hence, we propose a new phylumIgnavibacteriaewithin theBacteroidetes–Chlorobigroup with a sole classIgnavibacteria, two familiesIgnavibacteriaceaeandMelioribacteraceaeand two speciesI. albumandM. roseus. This proposal correlates with chemotaxonomic data and phenotypic differences of both organisms from other cultured representatives ofChlorobi. The most essential differences, supported by the analyses of complete genomes of both organisms, are motility, facultatively anaerobic and obligately organotrophic mode of life, the absence of chlorosomes and the apparent inability to grow phototrophically.
Direct sequencing of haplotypes from diploid individuals through a modified emulsion PCR‐based single‐molecule sequencing approach
Authors: Metzger Brian Patrick Hansen , Gelembiuk Gregory William , Lee Carol Eunmi
Published: December 2012

While standard DNA‐sequencing approaches readily yield genotypic sequence data, haplotype information is often of greater utility for population genetic analyses. However, obtaining individual haplotype sequences can be costly and time‐consuming and sometimes requires statistical reconstruction approaches that are subject to bias and error. Advancements have recently been made in determining individual chromosomal sequences in large‐scale genomic studies, yet few options exist for obtaining this information from large numbers of highly polymorphic individuals in a cost‐effective manner. As a solution, we developed a simple PCR‐based method for obtaining sequence information from individual DNA strands using standard laboratory equipment. The method employs a water‐in‐oil emulsion to separate the PCR mixture into thousands of individual microreactors. PCR within these small vesicles results in amplification from only a single starting DNA template molecule and thus a single haplotype. We improved upon previous approaches by including SYBR Green I and a melted agarose solution in the PCR, allowing easy identification and separation of individually amplified DNA molecules. We demonstrate the use of this method on a highly polymorphic estuarine population of the copepod Eurytemora affinis for which current molecular and computational methods for haplotype determination have been inadequate.
SNP discovery using Paired‐End RAD‐tag sequencing on pooled genomic DNA of Sisymbrium austriacum (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Vandepitte K. , Honnay O. , Mergeay J. , Breyne P. , Roldán‐Ruiz I. , De Meyer T.
Published: December 2012

Single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs are rapidly replacing anonymous markers in population genomic studies, but their use in non model organisms is hampered by the scarcity of cost‐effective approaches to uncover genome‐wide variation in a comprehensive subset of individuals. The screening of one or only a few individuals induces ascertainment bias. To discover SNPs for a population genomic study of the Pyrenean rocket (Sisymbrium austriacum subsp. chrysanthum), we undertook a pooled RAD‐PE (Restriction site Associated DNA Paired‐End sequencing) approach. RAD tags were generated from the PstI‐digested pooled genomic DNA of 12 individuals sampled across the species distribution range and paired‐end sequenced using Illumina technology to produce ~24.5 Mb of sequences, covering ~7% of the specie's genome. Sequences were assembled into ~76 000 contigs with a mean length of 323 bp (N50 = 357 bp, sequencing depth = 24x). In all, >15 000 SNPs were called, of which 47% were annotated in putative genic regions based on homology with the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Gene ontology (GO) slim categorization demonstrated that the identified SNPs covered extant genic variation well. The validation of 300 SNPs on a larger set of individuals using a KASPar assay underpinned the utility of pooled RAD‐PE as an inexpensive genome‐wide SNP discovery technique (success rate: 87%). In addition to SNPs, we discovered >600 putative SSR markers.
Executive Summary: Education Research in Emergency Medicine—Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies for Success
Authors: LaMantia Joseph , Deiorio Nicole M. , Yarris Lalena M.
Published: December 2012

The 2012 Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM) consensus conference “Education Research In Emergency Medicine: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies for Success” convened a diverse group of stakeholders in medical education to target gaps in emergency medicine (EM) education research and identify priorities for future study. A total of 175 registrants collaborated in preparatory and conference‐day activities to explore subtopics in educational interventions, learner assessment, faculty development, and research funding and infrastructure. The conference was punctuated by didactic sessions led by key international medical education experts and ended with consensus formation in many domains. This issue of AEM presents the exciting results of this process.
Avoidable mortality in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in England
Authors: Hoang U. , Goldacre M. J. , Stewart R.
Published: December 2012

Objective

To quantify the extent of ‘avoidable mortality’ in those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and to quantify the effect a reduction in these might have on the mortality gap associated with severe mental illness.

Method

A cohort was studied of people aged <75 years, discharged from inpatient care with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in 2006–2007, and followed up for 365 days. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated followed by hypothetical SMRs, estimating the residual mortality gap if ‘avoidable’ causes and suicide in the cohorts had occurred at the same level as those in the general population.

Results

Avoidable deaths comprised 60.2% and 59.2% of all deaths in the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cohorts respectively. All‐cause SMRs were 4.23 (95% CI 3.85–4.60) and 2.60 (2.21–3.00) respectively. After discounting the excess attributable to avoidable causes and suicide, the SMRs fell to 2.38 (2.09–2.66) and 1.66 (1.35–1.98) respectively.

Conclusion

Bringing mortality from avoidable causes and suicide down to general population levels would reduce the overall mortality excess in severe mental illness substantially, by about 50%, but would not eliminate it. Other underlying factors beyond those conventionally considered as ‘avoidable’ need further research.
An incidence study of diagnosed autism‐spectrum disorders among immigrants to the Netherlands
Authors: van der Ven E. , Termorshuizen F. , Laan W. , Breetvelt E. J. , van Os J. , Selten J. P.
Published: December 2012

Objective

To estimate the risk of developing autism‐spectrum disorder (ASD) in children born to immigrants as compared with children of Dutch‐born parents.

Method

Retrospective, population‐based cohort study of all live births (n = 106 953) between 1998 and 2007 in a circumscribed geographical region in the Netherlands. Cohort members were linked to the Psychiatric Case Register to identify diagnosed cases.

Results

A total of 518 cases of ASD were identified, including 150 children with autism and 368 children with Asperger syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD‐NOS). Children born to migrants from developing countries were at significantly lower risk of ASD [rate ratio (RR) = 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5–0.9] than children of Dutch‐born parents. Within the ASD group, the risk for the subgroup with Asperger syndrome and PDD‐NOS was reduced (RR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.6), whereas that for narrowly defined autism was non‐significantly increased (RR = 1.4, 95% CI 0.9–2.4). Migrant groups did not differ in age at diagnosis.

Conclusion

The results echo Swedish findings indicating a reversal of risk gradient in children of parents from developing countries, specifically a decreased risk for high‐functioning and increased risk for low‐functioning autism.
No reduction of manual removal after misoprostol for retained placenta: a double‐blind, randomized trial
Authors: van Stralen Giel , Veenhof Marieke , Holleboom Cas , van Roosmalen Jos
Published: December 2012

Objective

To test the effect of 800 μg of misoprostol orally on the prevention of manual removal of retained placenta.

Design

Multicenter, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial.

Setting

One university and one non‐university teaching hospital in the Netherlands.

Sample

99 women with retained placenta (longer than 60 min after childbirth) in the absence of postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods

Eligible women were administered either 800 μg of misoprostol or placebo orally.

Main outcome measures

Number of manual removals of retained placenta and amount of blood loss.

Results

Manual removal of retained placenta was performed in 50% of the women who received misoprostol and in 55% who received placebo (relative risk 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.62–1.34). No difference in the amount of blood loss (970 vs. 1120 mL; p = 0.34) was observed between the two groups.

Conclusions

Administration of 800 μg of oral misoprostol, one hour after childbirth, does not seem to reduce the number of manual removals of retained placentas. The time elapsing results in the delivery of 50% of the retained placentas at the expense of an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
Evaluation of molecular typing methods for identification of outbreak‐associated Neisseria meningitidis isolates
Authors: Törös Bianca , Hedberg Sara T. , Jacobsson Susanne , Fredlund Hans , Olcén Per , Mölling Paula
Published: December 2012

It is essential in an outbreak investigation that strain characterization of Neisseria meningitidis is performed in a rapid and accurate manner. This study evaluated two new molecular typing methods, multiple‐locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and repetitive sequence‐based PCR (rep‐PCR) (DiversiLab; bioMérieux) and compared them with current recommended methodologies. This retrospective study included 36 invasive N. meningitidis serogroup C isolates collected in Sweden 2001 through 2009 and previously subjected to outbreak investigation. All strains were typed with highly variable‐MLVA (HV‐MLVA) and rep‐PCR. The isolates were further characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and sequencing of the fetA, fHbp, penA, porA and porB genes. The results showed that HV‐MLVA had the highest index of diversity (0.99) and rep‐PCR had the highest congruence (40%) with the currently recommended typing methods. The HV‐MLVA correlated best to the spatiotemporal connections and had the overall highest Adjusted Wallace coefficients, suggesting that HV‐MLVA can predict the results of the other typing methods in the study. We therefore suggest that after initial confirmation of species, serogroup and genosubtype, HV‐MLVA should be used as the most discriminatory method for first hand investigation of N. meningitidis serogroup C isolates.
Development and validation of 26‐item dysfunctional attitude scale
Authors: Ebrahimi Amrollah , Samouei Rahele , Mousavii Sayyed Ghafour , Bornamanesh Ali Reza
Published: December 2012

Introduction

DysfunctionalAttitudeScale is one of the most common instruments used to assess cognitive vulnerability. This study aimed to develop and validate a short form ofDysfunctionalAttitudeScale appropriate for an Iranian clinical population.

Methods

Participants were 160 psychiatric patients from medical centers affiliated withIsfahanMedicalUniversity, as well as 160 non‐patients. Research instruments were clinical interviews based on theDiagnostic andStatisticalManual‐IV‐TR,DysfunctionalAttitudeScale andGeneralHeathQuestionnaire (GHQ‐28). Data was analyzed using multicorrelation calculations and factor analysis.

Results

Based on the results of factor analysis and item‐total correlation, 14 items were judged candidates for omission. Analysis of the 26‐itemDysfunctionalAttitudeScale (DAS‐26) revealed aCronbach's alpha of 0.92. Evidence for the concurrent criterion validity was obtained through calculating the correlation between theDysfunctional Attitude Scale and psychiatric diagnosis (r = 0.55),GHQ−28 (r = 0.56) and somatization, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression subscales (0.45,0.53,0.48, and 0.57, respectively). Factor analysis deemed a four‐factor structure the best. The factors were labeled as success‐perfectionism, need for approval, need for satisfying others, and vulnerability‐performance evaluation.

Discussion

The results showed that the Iranian version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS‐26) bears satisfactory psychometric properties suggesting that this cognitive instrument is appropriate for use in an Iranian cultural context.
Correlation of domestic violence during pregnancy with plasma amino‐acid neurotransmitter, cortisol levels and catechol‐o‐methyltransferase Val(158)Met polymorphism in neonates
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zou Shaohong , Zhang Xianghui , Zhang Yalin
Published: December 2012

Introduction

To explore the correlation between domestic violence during pregnancy and glutamate (Glu), r‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), plasma cortisol levels and catechol‐o‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism (rs4818) in neonates.

Methods

Using the Abuse Assessment Survey, 64 abused pregnant women (DV) and 117 non‐abused pregnant women (non‐DV) were screened for two study groups. Blood in neonatal umbilical vein was collected immediately after delivery. Plasma Glu, GABA, cortisol levels and rs4818 polymorphism in the genotypes and alleles of the two neonatal groups were compared.

Results

In the DV group, 49 women (76.6%) experienced emotional abuse, 29 women (45.3%) experienced sexual abuse, 28 (43.8%) women experienced emotional abuse plus sexual abuse, and two women (3.1%) experienced emotional abuse plus physical abuse. We found that plasma Glu, GABA and cortisol levels were higher in DV neonates than in non‐DV neonates. Furthermore, we observed a significantly positive correlation between maternal emotional abuse, sexual abuse and plasma levels of Glu, GABA and cortisol in neonates. By genetic analysis we found a significant difference in rs4818SNP genotype and allele between the two neonatal groups. The ratios of CC genotype and C allele were higher in DV neonates than in non‐DV neonates, and the ratios of GG genotype and G allele were lower in DV neonates than in non‐DV neonates. One‐way ANOVA test showed that GABA level was lower in CC carriers than CG carriers.

Discussion

Domestic violence during pregnancy might be associated with increased plasma levels of glutamate, GABA, cortisol and COMT gene polymorphism in neonates.
Identification and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates from dogs with otitis externa in Australia
Authors: Bugden DL
Published: December 2012

Objective

To identify and quantify the five most frequently isolated significant bacterial microorganisms, and their antibiotic susceptibility, from bacterial cultures of samples taken from the ears of dogs with otitis externa.

Methods

Bacterial culture and susceptibility testing data for ear swabs from dogs with presumed otitis externa were collated and evaluated.

Results

The five most frequently isolated microorganisms were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Proteus sp., beta‐haemolytic streptococci and Escherichia coli. Susceptibility to gentamicin was very high for most isolates, whereas for polymyxin B, high levels of resistance were seen. Beta‐haemolytic streptococci had high levels of resistance to all of the antibiotics tested.

Conclusions

This study provides veterinarians with Australian data to assist in cytological interpretation and initial empirical therapy of canine otitis externa.
Fragment size, vegetation structure and physical environment control grassland functioning: a test based on artificial neural networks
Authors: Herrera Lorena P. , Texeira M. , Paruelo J.M.
Published: December 2012

Questions

How do fragment‐level characteristics affect remnant grassland functioning in a highly transformed landscape? Are artificial neural networks (ANNs) a better statistical tool to model variations in grassland functioning compared to linear regression models (LRMs)?

Location

Tandilia Range, Southern Pampa, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

Methods

We characterized the dynamics of the vegetation functioning in 60 remnant grasslands using enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data provided by MODIS/Terra images from July 2000 to June 2005. First, we performed a principal components analysis (PCA) on the fragment mean monthly values of EVI in order to obtain synthetic measures (i.e. the PCA axes) of grassland functioning. Grassland fragments were also characterized by size, vegetation structure (abundance of the tall‐tussock grass Paspalum quadrifarium) and physical environment (soil type – abundance of litholitic soils – elevation, aspect and slope). The relationship between grassland functioning and these explanatory variables was explored using linear regression models (LRMs) and artificial neural networks (ANNs).

Results

The first and second PCA axes were related to the annual integral of EVI (EVI‐I) and EVI seasonality (EVI‐S), respectively; these explained jointly ca. 80% of total variability in mean EVI values. ANNs captured better than regression models the relationships among the proposed controls and the spatial variability of grassland functioning in Southern Pampa. Results showed that EVI‐I variability was related to all independent variables except aspect. While fragment size, litholitic soils and slope were negatively related to EVI‐I, the abundance of P. quadrifarium had a positive effect on the spectral index. Grasslands with high seasonality were large and had high slope and aspect, low abundance of P. quadrifarium and increased abundance of litholitic soils.

Conclusions

Our results showed that grassland functioning in Southern Pampa, as estimated by EVI, depends on fragment size, vegetation structure and physical factors (soil type, aspect and slope). Paspalum quadrifarium may have an important functional role in this grassland system.
MiR‐383 is Downregulated in Medulloblastoma and Targets Peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3)
Authors: Li Kay Ka‐Wai , Pang Jesse Chung‐Sean , Lau Kin‐Mang , Zhou Liangfu , Mao Ying , Wang Yin , Poon Wai‐Sang , Ng Ho‐Keung
Published: December 2012

Accumulating evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are over‐ or under‐expressed in tumors, and abnormalities in miRNA expression may contribute to carcinogenesis. MiR‐383 was previously identified as one of the under‐expresssed miRNAs in medulloblastoma (MB) by miRNA expression profiling. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR)‐based miRNA assays showed an enrichment of miR‐383 in normal brain. Based on these data, we speculated that miR‐383 is important in MB pathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated significant downregulation of miR‐383 in 23/29 (79%) MB samples and 7/7 (100%) MB cells lines. Ectopic expression of miR‐383 in MB cells led to suppression of cell growth, cell accumulation at sub‐G1 phase and alteration of apoptosis‐related proteins. By transcriptomic analysis and computational algorithms, we identified peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) as a target gene of miR‐383. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR‐383 negatively regulated PRDX3 by interaction between miR‐383 and complementary sequences in the 3′ UTR of PRDX3. MiR‐383 repressed PRDX3 at transcriptional and translational levels as revealed by quantitative RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, depletion of PRDX3 by siRNAs resulted in similar effects as observed in miR‐383‐transfected cells. In conclusion, miR‐383 acts as a regulator controlling cell growth of MB, at least in part, through targeting PRDX3.
Does hypopituitarism recover when macroprolactinomas are treated with cabergoline?
Authors: Karavitaki Niki , Dobrescu Ruxandra , Byrne James V. , Grossman Ashley B. , Wass John A. H.
Published: December 2012

Objective

The frequency and the degree of recovery of anterior pituitary hormone deficits in patients with macroprolactinoma responsive to cabergoline are not clear. Our aim was to evaluate pituitary function in these patients with particular reference to an assessment of the possible restoration of pituitary deficits.

Subjects and Methods

The records of all subjects prospectively presenting to our Department with macroprolactinomas treated with cabergoline over a 2‐year period were reviewed. Pituitary function was assessed at diagnosis and, if abnormal, for three consecutive years for the GH, FSH/LH and ACTH axes, and at 3 years for the TSH axis.

Results

Twelve patients were included. Severe GH deficiency was found in 83% at diagnosis and did not resolve in any patient at last assessment. Gonadotrophin deficiency was found in 90% at diagnosis and in 50% at last evaluation (showing reversal in 44% of deficient patients, all achieved within 1 year). ACTH deficiency was found in 17% at diagnosis and it did not reverse in any patient at last assessment. TSH deficiency was found in 36% at diagnosis and in 27% at last assessment (reversal in 25% of deficient patients).

Conclusions

In our study, in a group of patients with macroprolactinoma systematically assessed at intervals, pituitary dysfunction in response to cabergoline was found to be mostly irreversible, except for the gonadotroph axis which showed restoration in a subset of subjects following achievement of normoprolactinaemia. It would appear that the reversibility of pituitary axes may be less common than previously thought.
Functional characterization of nonmetastatic paraganglioma and pheochromocytoma by 18F‐FDOPA PET: focus on missed lesions
Authors: Gabriel Sophie , Blanchet Elise M. , Sebag Frédéric , Chen Clara C. , Fakhry Nicolas , Deveze Arnaud , Barlier Anne , Morange Isabelle , Pacak Karel , Taïeb David
Published: December 2012

Aims and methods

To evaluate the clinical value of 18F‐fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (18F‐FDOPA) PET in relation to tumour localization and the patient's genetic status in a large series of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL) patients and to discuss in detail false‐negative results.

A retrospective study of PGL patients who were investigated with 18F‐FDOPA PET or PET/CT imaging in two academic endocrine tumour centres was conducted (La Timone University Hospital, Marseilles, France and National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA).

Results

One hundred sixteen patients (39·7% harbouring germline mutations in known disease susceptibility genes) were evaluated for a total of 195 PHEO/PGL foci. 18F‐FDOPA PET correctly detected 179 lesions (91·8%) in 107 patients (92·2%).

Lesion‐based sensitivities for parasympathetic PGLs (head, neck, or anterior/middle thoracic ones), PHEOs, and extra‐adrenal sympathetic (abdominal or posterior thoracic) PGLs were 98·2% [96·5% for Timone and 100% for NIH], 93·9% [93·8 and 93·9%] and 70·3% [47·1 and 90%] respectively (P < 0·001).

Sympathetic (adrenal and extra‐adrenal) SDHx‐related PGLs were at a higher risk for negative 18F‐FDOPA PET than non‐SDHx‐related PGLs (14/24 vs 0/62, respectively, P < 0·001). In contrast, the risk of negative 18F‐FDOPA PET was lower for parasympathetic PGLs regardless of the genetic background (1/90 in SDHx vs 1/19 in non‐SDHx tumours, P = 0·32).

18F‐FDOPA PET failed to detect two head and neck PGLs (HNPGL), likely due to their small size, whereas most missed sympathetic PGL were larger and may have exhibited a specific 18F‐FDOPA‐negative imaging phenotype. 18F‐FDG PET detected all the missed sympathetic lesions.

Conclusions

18F‐FDOPA PET appears to be a very sensitive functional imaging tool for HNPGL regardless of the genetic status of the tumours. Patients with false‐negative tumours on 18F‐FDOPA PET should be tested for SDHx mutations.
Family group conferences: evidence, outcomes and future research
Authors: Frost Nick , Abram Fiona , Burgess Hannah
Published: December 2012

This is the second article of a two‐part review of the literature relating to family group conferences (FGCs); it explores outcomes and challenges in implementing FGCs. The complex data relating to outcomes, drawing on a range of national contexts, is presented. The challenges of researching outcomes and the role of longitudinal and randomized, controlled trials are considered. The article concludes with a discussion of the implementation of FGC policy and practice in the contemporary context.
The cost of nickel allergy: a global investigation of coin composition and nickel and cobalt release
Authors: Hamann Carsten R. , Hamann Dathan , Hamann Curtis , Thyssen Jacob P. , Lidén Carola
Published: December 2012

Background. Nickel is widely used in coins; nickel may cause contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis in those who handle them.

Objectives. To investigate alloy use, coin composition and nickel and cobalt release for a worldwide selection of currently circulating coins.

Materials and methods. Eight hundred and fifty coins of 361 different denominations or issues from 52 countries were collected and analysed with X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry and nickel and cobalt spot tests.

Results. Copper–nickel was the most frequently identified coin alloy, being observed in 100 denominations (28%), followed by aluminium–bronze (62, 17%). In total, 239 denominations released nickel (28%). Coins from Bolivia, Brazil and Costa Rica did not release nickel. Fewer than one‐third of the denominations or issues from China, India, the euro area and Indonesia released nickel. In the United States, the Russian Federation, Japan, and Mexico, one‐third or more of the denominations released nickel.

Conclusions. This worldwide selection of circulating coins covered countries with 75% of the world population, and shows that the majority of the world population lives in countries where coins release nickel. Pertinently, ∼ 40% of circulating coin denominations do not release nickel.
Sensory tricks in focal dystonia and hemifacial spasm
Authors: Loyola D. P. , Camargos S. , Maia D. , Cardoso F.
Published: December 2012

Background and purpose

Sensory tricks are sensory, often but not exclusively tactile, stimuli usually in the body part affected by the movement disorder that produce a meaningful alleviation of dystonia. The frequency and clinical features of sensory tricks in different types of dystonia are poorly studied in the literature. There is no information regarding the presence of a similar phenomenon in HFS.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive patients who had the diagnosis of HFS (26) or the following types of dystonia: cervical dystonia (CD; 21); blepharospasm (BS; 20); and writer's cramp (WC; 10). Patients underwent a structured interview to assess the following items related to sensory trick: presence, type and effectiveness. Statistical analysis used the Verisimilitude Reason test and the significance level was set at 5%.

Results

Sensory trick was more frequent in the CD group (81%) when compared with HFS (38.5%; P = 0.004) and WC (20%; P = 0.001), but there was no statistical difference from the frequency in BS patients (55%; P = 0.078). The most common sensory tricks were facial massage (60%) in HFS; to touch the head with the hands (35.3% in CD); to touch the upper eyelid with the index finger and thumb (81.8%) in BS; and to touch the hand with the contralateral hand (100%) in WC.

Conclusions

Sensory tricks are common in all types of focal dystonia herein studied, although they are more frequent in CD. Patients with HFS also often display improvement of the movement disorder with tactile stimulation.
Radiation budget changes with dry forest clearing in temperate Argentina
Authors: Houspanossian Javier , Nosetto Marcelo , Jobbágy Esteban G.
Published: December 2012

Land cover changes may affect climate and the energy balance of the Earth through their influence on the greenhouse gas composition of the atmosphere (biogeochemical effects) but also through shifts in the physical properties of the land surface (biophysical effects). We explored how the radiation budget changes following the replacement of temperate dry forests by crops in central semiarid Argentina and quantified the biophysical radiative forcing of this transformation. For this purpose, we computed the albedo and surface temperature for a 7‐year period (2003–2009) from MODIS imagery at 70 paired sites occupied by native forests and crops and calculated the radiation budget at the tropopause and surface levels using a columnar radiation model parameterized with satellite data. Mean annual black‐sky albedo and diurnal surface temperature were 50% and 2.5 °C higher in croplands than in dry forests. These contrasts increased the outgoing shortwave energy flux at the top of the atmosphere in croplands by a quarter (58.4 vs. 45.9 W m−2) which, together with a slight increase in the outgoing longwave flux, yielded a net cooling of −14 W m−2. This biophysical cooling effect would be equivalent to a reduction in atmospheric CO2 of 22 Mg C ha−1, which involves approximately a quarter to a half of the typical carbon emissions that accompany deforestation in these ecosystems. We showed that the replacement of dry forests by crops in central Argentina has strong biophysical effects on the energy budget which could counterbalance the biogeochemical effects of deforestation. Underestimating or ignoring these biophysical consequences of land‐use changes on climate will certainly curtail the effectiveness of many warming mitigation actions, particularly in semiarid regions where high radiation load and smaller active carbon pools would increase the relative importance of biophysical forcing.
Arbeitsabhängige soziale Sicherheit für informell Beschäftigte
Authors: Lund Francie
Published: December 2012

Auszug

Die Anzahl informell Erwerbstätiger nimmt weltweit zu. Aufgrund von weltweiten Veränderungen der Beschäftigungstrukturen und Arbeitsplätze sind viele ärmere Arbeiter bei der Arbeit Gefahren und gesundheitlichen Risiken ausgesetzt. Informell Beschäftigte haben jedoch keinen Zugang zu arbeitsabhängiger sozialer Sicherheit. Obschon hohen arbeitsbedingten Gefahren ausgesetzt, verfügen sie dabei aber über keinen oder kaum zuverlässigen formellen oder informellen sozialen Schutz. Bei bürgerorientierten Programmen der sozialen Sicherheit wie Sozialtransfers werden die Bedürfnisse arbeitsfähiger, erwerbstätiger Erwachsener nicht ausreichend berücksichtigt. Auch sind informelle Arbeitsplätze nicht durch die üblichen Zweige und Programme der Gesundheit und Sicherheit am Arbeitsplatz (GSAbzw.OHS,occupational health and safety) abgedeckt, die eine wesentliche Komponente der arbeitsabhängigen sozialen Sicherheit darstellen. Besonders ärmere informell Erwerbstätige befinden sich in einer ungünstigen Ausgangsposition, um sich an möglichen Präventionsmaßnahmen beteiligen zu können, da dies kurzfristige Verdienstausfälle mit sich bringt. Ein umfassenderer, inklusiver Ansatz erfordert organisatorische Änderungen in der Sicherung von Gesundheit und Sicherheit am Arbeitsplatz. Insbesondere sollten lokale Behörden und auch Organisationen informell Erwerbstätiger einbezogen werden, die einflussreiche branchenspezifische Netzwerke auf internationaler Ebene entwickeln. Dazu stellt dieser Artikel vielversprechende Beispiele inklusiver Reformen vonGSA‐Richtlinien vor, die auf dem Verhandlungsweg erreicht wurden. Ein größeres Vorhaben ist die Weiterentwicklung derGSAin dem Sinn, dass informell Erwerbstätige ausdrücklich als Erwerbstätige gelten und nicht nur als besonders „gefährdete Personengruppe“, für die nur Programme zum Schutz vor Armut infrage kommen. Und dabei sollten Präventivmaßnahmen eine wichtige Rolle spielen.