bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do type 2 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy or subjects with impaired fasting glucose have impaired colour vision? The Okubo Color Study Report
Authors: Shoji T. , Sakurai Y. , Sato H. , Chihara E. , Takeuchi M.
Published: March 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 865–871 (2011)

Aims  To investigate associations between fasting plasma glucose level and the prevalence of acquired colour vision impairment in type 2 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy.

Methods  Participants in this cross‐sectional study of male officials aged 20‐60 yr in the Japanese Self Defence Force, underwent colour vision testing, ophthalmic examination, a standardized interview and examination of venous blood samples. Ishihara plates, a Lanthony 15‐hue desaturated panel and Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates Part 2 were used to examine colour vision. The Farnsworth–Munsell 100‐hue test was performed to define acquired colour vision impairment. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were determined from serum blood samples, physical records and an interview. We performed logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, diagnosed hypertension, dyslipidaemia, cataract, glaucoma, being overweight, smoking status and alcohol intake. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated for three glucose levels, which included normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose and diabetes.

Results  Out of a total of 1042 men enrolled, 872 were eligible for the study, and 31 were diagnosed with acquired colour vision impairment. As compared with the subjects with normal fasting glucose (< 5.6 mmol/l), the crude odds ratio for acquired colour vision impairment was 0.93 (95% CI 0.32–2.74) for the subjects with impaired fasting glucose (5.6–6.9 mmol/l) and 8.07 (95% CI 2.48–26.22) for the patients with type 2 diabetes. The multiple‐adjusted odds ratios were 0.77 (95% CI 0.25–2.34) for the subjects with impaired fasting glucose and 5.89 (95% CI 1.55–22.40) for the patients with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions  Our findings suggest that there is a dramatically increased prevalence of acquired colour vision impairment in type 2 diabetes patients without diabetic retinopathy which might be attributable to another pathogenesis associated with diabetic retinopathy.
A meta‐analysis of the association between pre‐eclampsia and childhood‐onset Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Henry E. B. , Patterson C. C. , Cardwell C. R.
Published: March 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 900–905 (2011)

Aims  To review and synthesize the evidence for an increased risk of childhood Type 1 diabetes mellitus in children born to mothers diagnosed with pre‐eclampsia during pregnancy.

Methods  A comprehensive search of the published literature was performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE limited to studies published before August 2010. Crude odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from the data reported in each study. Meta‐analysis techniques were then used to derive a combined odds ratio and investigate heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by study design, ascertainment of pre‐eclampsia and study quality.

Results  Data were available from 16 studies including 8315 children with Type 1 diabetes. Overall, there was little evidence of an increase in the risk of Type 1 diabetes in children born to mothers who had pre‐eclampsia during pregnancy (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.96–1.27; P = 0.17). This association did not vary much between studies (I2 = 28%, P for heterogeneity = 0.14). The association was similar in three cohort studies (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.77–1.44; P = 0.75) and in seven studies with a low risk of bias (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.91–1.40; P = 0.27), but was more marked in 13 studies which ascertained pre‐eclampsia from obstetrical records or birth registry data (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.03–1.36; P = 0.02).

Conclusions  This analysis demonstrates little evidence of any substantial increase in childhood Type 1 diabetes risk after pregnancy complicated by pre‐eclampsia.
The cost of universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in Ireland
Authors: Gillespie P. , O’Neill C. , Avalos G. , O’Reilly M. , Dunne F. ,   for the ATLANTIC DIP Collaborators
Published: March 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 912–918 (2011)

Aims To estimate the costs associated with universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in Ireland.

Methods Bottom‐up, prevalence‐based cost analysis. Healthcare activity identified using the Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy (ATLANTIC DIP) database was grouped into five categories: screening and testing, gestational diabetes treatment, prenatal care, delivery care and neonatal care. A vector of unit cost data (euros in 2008 prices) was applied to specified resource use and the total healthcare cost calculated. A series of one‐way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken to explore the uncertainty in the analysis.

Results When individual resource components were valued and aggregated, the total healthcare cost of gestational diabetes in Ireland was estimated at €12 433 320 (95% CI €9 298 228–16 778 193). The average cost per case detected was €1621 (95% CI €524–2603) and the average total cost per case detected and treated was €11 903 (95% CI €7645–16 121).

Conclusions This research provides the first estimates of the healthcare costs associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in Ireland. Further research is required to determine the cost‐effectiveness of gestational diabetes screening in the region with a view to improving resource allocation in this area in the future.
Warlpiri Wh‐Scope Marking
Authors: Legate Julie Anne
Published: March 2011

Abstract.  This article analyses the wh‐scope‐marking construction in Warlpiri. The literature on wh‐scope‐marking constructions in other languages debates the relative merits of two types of analyses—the direct‐dependency account, which posits covert movement of an embedded wh‐phrase to replace a matrix expletive, and the indirect‐dependency account, which treats the embedded question as the restriction of a matrix wh‐phrase. I argue that an explanation of the Warlpiri data can only be achieved through a variant of the indirect‐dependency approach.
Percentile-Based Empirical Distribution Function Estimates for Performance Evaluation of Healthcare Providers
Authors: Paddock Susan M. , Louis Thomas A.
Published: March 2011

Hierarchical models are widely used to characterize the performance of individual healthcare providers. However, little attention has been devoted to systemwide performance evaluations, the goals of which include identifying extreme (e.g. the top 10%) provider performance and developing statistical benchmarks to define high quality care. Obtaining optimal estimates of these quantities requires estimating the empirical distribution function (EDF) of provider-specific parameters that generate the data set under consideration. However, the difficulty of obtaining uncertainty bounds for a squared error loss minimizing EDF estimate has hindered its use in systemwide performance evaluations. We therefore develop and study a percentile-based EDF estimate for univariate provider-specific parameters. We compute order statistics of samples drawn from the posterior distribution of provider-specific parameters to obtain relevant assessments of uncertainty of an EDF estimate and its features, such as thresholds and percentiles. We apply our method to data from the Medicare end stage renal disease programme, which is a health insurance programme for people with irreversible kidney failure. We highlight the risk of misclassifying providers as exceptionally good or poor performers when uncertainty in statistical benchmark estimates is ignored. Given the high stakes of performance evaluations, statistical benchmarks should be accompanied by precision estimates.
Open label randomized study comparing 3 months vs. 6 months treatment of actinic keratoses with 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel: a trial of the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group
Authors: Pflugfelder A. , Welter A.‐K. , Leiter U. , Weide B. , Held L. , Eigentler T.K. , Dirschka T. , Stockfleth E. , Nashan D. , Garbe C.
Published: March 2011

Background  Actinic keratoses (AK) are carcinomata in situ with the potential to develop into invasive carcinoma. Several studies have demonstrated that 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel (HA) is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of AK. To date there are no large randomized multicentre trials with treatment durations longer than 90 days and histopathological control of treatment outcome.

Objective  The aim of this study was to investigate whether a prolonged treatment with diclofenac in HA of 6 vs. 3 months adds to the efficacy in treatment for AK and if this will influence tolerability and quality of life (QoL).

Methods  This was a multicentre, randomized open‐label study in which 418 patients with mild to moderate AKs were randomized into two treatment groups. Group A received diclofenac in HA for 3 months and group B for 6 months. Treatment efficacy was assessed by size measurement and a final biopsy of a defined marker AK. Quality of life was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire.

Results  Clinical complete clearance was observed in 40% in group A and in 45% in group B (P = 0.38). Histopathological clearance was confirmed in 30% in group A and in 40% in group B (P = 0.16). Treatment was well tolerated and QoL was significantly improved after treatment in both treatment groups.

Conclusion  Treatment with diclofenac in HA is effective and well tolerated during a treatment period of 3 months as well as 6 months. Prolongation of the treatment duration did not significantly affect treatment outcome.
Reliability and cost‐effectiveness of complete lymph node dissection under tumescent local anaesthesia vs. general anaesthesia: a retrospective analysis in patients with malignant melanoma AJCC stage III
Authors: Stoffels I. , Dissemond J. , Schulz A. , Hillen U. , Schadendorf D. , Klode J.
Published: March 2011

Background  Complete lymph node dissection (CLND) in melanoma patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) is currently being debated, as it is a cost‐intensive surgical intervention with potentially high morbidity.

Objective  This clinical study seeks to clarify the effectiveness, reliability and cost‐effectiveness of CLND performed under tumescent local anaesthesia (TLA) compared with procedures under general anaesthesia (GA).

Methods  We retrospectively analysed the data from 60 patients with primary malignant melanoma American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III who underwent CLND.

Results  Altogether 26 (43.3%) patients underwent CLND under TLA and 34 (56.7%) patients underwent CLND under GA. Fifteen of 43 (34.9%) patients had a complication, such as development of seromas and/or wound infections. The rate of complications was 25.0% (3/12) in the axilla subgroup and 28.6% (4/14) in the groin subgroup of the TLA group. In the GA group, the complication rate was 31.3% (5/16) in the axilla subgroup and 44.4% (8/18) in the groin subgroup. The costs for CLND were significantly less for the CLND in a procedure room performed under TLA (mean €67.26) compared with CLND in an operating room under GA (mean €676.20, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions  In conclusion, this study confirms that TLA is an excellent, safe, effective and cost‐efficient alternative to GA for CLND in melanoma patients.
Leaf and Soil Nutrients in a Chronosequence of Second‐Growth Forest in Central Amazonia: Implications for Restoration of Abandoned Lands
Authors: Gomes Ana C. S. , Luizão Flávio J.
Published: March 2011

Subsistence agriculture, cattle ranching, and periodical land abandonment are common land‐use practices in Amazonia. Because changes in land use affect biogeochemical cycles, secondary forests growing after land abandonment develop at varying speeds and spatial patterns, due in part to varying nutrient dynamics. Leaf and soil nutrient concentrations can provide useful information on nutrient cycling processes and strategies of nutrient use by trees that are suitable for introduction to abandoned areas. To understand nutrient dynamics in secondary forests from different regeneration stages, as well as the importance of pioneer species in the regeneration process, we measured the concentration of macronutrients in leaves of three pioneer tree species (Vismia cayennensis, Cecropia sciadophylla, and Bellucia dichotoma) in central Amazon secondary forests. We also measured macronutrients in the topsoil under the trees. We found that type of prior land use, time since abandonment, and number of fire events were significantly correlated with the concentrations of leaf and soil macronutrients, explaining between 10 and 38% of the variation in macronutrient concentrations. The observed patterns suggest that management practices affect the processes involved in N cycling and availability. Of the three pioneer species, C. sciadophylla showed the highest nutrient resorption efficiency and the highest leaf nutritional quality. We suggest that these two features determine a higher potential of C. sciadophylla for natural regeneration and restoration of abandoned lands.
Seedling Recruitment in the Long‐Lived Perennial, Echinacea angustifolia: A 10‐Year Experiment
Authors: Wagenius Stuart , Dykstra Amy B. , Ridley Caroline E. , Shaw Ruth G.
Published: March 2011

Establishment of persistent plant populations may be restricted by limitations on the numbers of seeds, emergence of seedlings, or survival to reproductive maturity. The relative importance of these phases in establishment of new populations, particularly restorations, is poorly understood. In an experiment to quantify seedling emergence and juvenile survival of Echinacea angustifolia during its reintroduction to previously agricultural sites, we evaluated effects of two types of vegetation and prescribed burning at four times relative to sowing. We collected achenes from prairie remnants in western Minnesota, United States, and, each October 2000–2002, overseeded them into nearby study plots either in recently planted stands of native grasses or in oldfields abandoned 40 years earlier. For each cohort, we determined germinability of achenes in the laboratory and, in the field, monitored seedling emergence the following spring and subsequent survival in annual censuses through summer 2009. Germinability ranged from 20 to 37%, varying significantly among collection years. Seedlings emerged in every treatment combination, but emergence rarely exceeded 8% of achenes sown. Burns during the spring prior to sowing tended to enhance emergence, but to differing degrees depending on the year and vegetation. Burning in the spring after sowing reduced emergence. Burning enhanced juvenile survival in restored plots but not in oldfields. Strategies to reintroduce this species should include burning in the spring before sowing, sowing large quantities of seed, avoiding burning in the spring following sowing, and burning at least once within the first 6 years.
Assisted Colonization: A Question of Focal Units and Recipient Localities
Authors: Kreyling Juergen , Bittner Torsten , Jaeschke Anja , Jentsch Anke , Jonas Steinbauer Manuel , Thiel Daniel , Beierkuhnlein Carl
Published: March 2011

Assisted colonization as an adaptation strategy to conserve or restore biodiversity in the face of climate change deservedly evokes controversy. Assisted colonization is perceived by some as a last option for conserving endangered species and by others as a risky and unwise management effort due to current gaps of knowledge. Based on the pros and cons of the recent debate, we show that the current discussion mainly focuses on the assisted colonization of rare and endangered species beyond their natural range of distribution. We suggest that a more useful approach for the conservation of endangered species could occur by focusing on the relevant foundation or keystone species, which ensure ecosystem integrity for a multitude of dependent species by governing the habitat structure and micro‐climate of the site. Examples of foundation species include dominant tree species in forests or dominant corals in coral reefs. For a given conservation or restoration need (e.g. conservation of rare species), we recommend the assisted colonization of pre‐adapted ecotypes of the relevant foundation species from climates similar to future expectations for the target site. This approach could lead to climate‐safe habitats for endangered species with minimal adverse effects on recipient ecosystems.
Cord blood stem cell banking: a snapshot of the Italian situation
Authors: Capone Francesca , Lombardini Letizia , Pupella Simonetta , Grazzini Giuliano , Costa Alessandro Nanni , Migliaccio Giovanni
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND: In Italy, the law does not permit the setting up of private banks to preserve cord blood (CB) stem cells for personal use. However, since 2007 the right to export and preserve them in private laboratories located outside Italy has existed, and an increasing number of women are requesting this collection of umbilical CB at delivery to enable storage of stem cells for autologous use.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Since private banks recruit clients mainly via the Internet, we examined the content of 24 Italian‐language websites that offer stem cells storage (from CB or amniotic fluid), to assess what information is available.

RESULTS: We found that the majority of private banks give no clear information about the procedures of collection, processing, and banking of CB units and that the standards offered by private CB banks strongly differ in terms of exclusion or acceptance criteria from the public banks. These factors may well influence the overall quality of the CB units stored in private CB banks. Of note, during the period 2007 to 2009, the number collected for autologous use did not create a downward trend on the number of units stored in public CB banks for allogeneic use.

CONCLUSION: CB is a valuable community resource but expectant parents should be better informed as to the quality variables necessary for its storage, both by institutions and by professionals. Currently, most of the advertising is insufficient to justify the expense and the hopes pinned on autologous use of CB stem cells.
Selective Cerebellar and Basal Ganglia Injury in Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Authors: Lyons Jennifer L. , Cohen Adam B.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

High core body temperatures have been shown to selectively damage the cerebellum and basal ganglia in malignant hyperthermia, but involvement of both areas in neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) has not been described.

METHODS

Here, we report a case of acute cerebellar and basal ganglia injury by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the setting of NMS. We discuss the pathophysiology, both of NMS and hyperthermic brain injury.

RESULTS

MRI showed new restricted diffusion in cerebellar hemispheres bilaterally and right basal ganglia when compared with brain MRI obtained 1 month prior. T2 FLAIR hyperintensities corresponding to diffusion restriction were also seen in the cerebellum.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the basal ganglia and cerebellum can be injured selectively in NMS.
Teaching of dentistry to medical students in English at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Authors: Loster B. W. , Likeman P. R.
Published: March 2011

The significance of teaching dental subjects to medical students as well as medicine to dental students is considered. The authors’ experience in teaching dentistry to medical students in English at the University of Krakow is described.
Suppression of a cold‐sensitive mutant initiation factor 1 by alterations in the 23S rRNA maturation region
Authors: Belotserkovsky Jaroslav M. , Isak Georgina I. , Isaksson Leif A.
Published: March 2011

Genetic selection has been used to isolate second‐site suppressors of a defective cold‐sensitive initiation factor I (IF1) R69L mutant of Escherichia coli. The suppressor mutants specifically map to a single rRNA operon on a plasmid in a strain with all chromosomal rRNA operons deleted. Here, we describe a set of suppressor mutations that are located in the processing stem of precursor 23S rRNA. These mutations interfere with processing of the 23S rRNA termini. A lesion of RNase III also suppresses the cold sensitivity. Our results suggest that the mutant IF1 strain is perturbed at the level of ribosomal subunit association, and the suppressor mutations partially compensate for this defect by disrupting rRNA maturation. These results support the notion that IF1 is an RNA chaperone and that translation initiation is coupled to ribosomal maturation.
Monitoring a Puma (Puma concolor) Population in a Fragmented Landscape in Southeast Brazil
Authors: Miotto Renata A. , Cervini Marcelo , Begotti Rodrigo A. , Galetti Jr. Pedro M.
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThe northeast area of São Paulo state has been intensively deforested, resulting in a highly fragmented landscape composed of a few large patches and several small patches of natural vegetation surrounded by sugarcane, eucalyptus, and citrus plantations. In this scenario, we investigated the puma (Puma concolor) population size, sex ratio, and relatedness in two of the last, and largest, natural refuges in the area using a noninvasive method during 2004–2008. By collecting and individualizing fecal samples by microsatellites, we identified 17 individuals, 13 females (76.4%) and 4 males (23.6%) in these areas. Five females were sampled in distinct years and over an extended time and probably represented resident adults. By investigating the relatedness among individual pumas inhabiting the area, we found that only three animals were not related to each other. We also found evidence that young females might establish an adjacent or overlapping territory to their mothers (phylopatry). Moreover, we registered 11 road‐killed individuals nearby the study area, ten males and one female, and six human–puma conflicts. The study area may act as a source of individuals that disperse across the matrix to occupy new home ranges, maintaining some degree of gene flow in a source–sink metapopulation structure. Finally, we recommend that puma management should be conducted at the landscape level to provide effective puma conservation in northeastern São Paulo state.

Abstract in Portuguese is available in the online version of this article.
PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF SALMONELLA SEROVARS FROM CHICKEN CARCASSES IN NORTHERN GREECE
Authors: SAKARIDIS I. , SOULTOS N. , IOSSIFIDOU E. , KOIDIS P. , AMBROSIADIS I.
Published: March 2011

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates recovered from chicken carcasses in slaughterhouses in Northern Greece. A total of 150 broiler samples were examined for Salmonella spp. and the results were reported as presence or absence of Salmonella spp. The samples were neck‐skin taken from 450 poultry carcasses at four slaughterhouses in Northern Greece.

Salmonella was present in 56 (37%) of the samples tested. A total of 142 isolates belonging to six serovars were detected. The most common serotype identified was Salmonella blockley (73.2%), followed by Salmonella paratyphi B (16.9%), Salmonella bredeney (6.3%), Salmonella neftenbach (1.4%), Salmonella hadar (1.4%) and Salmonella thompson (0.7%).

Salmonella spp. isolated from chicken carcasses was also examined for antibiotic resistance. Fifty‐six isolates of Salmonella (one strain from each positive sample) were tested for susceptibility to 20 antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. All isolates were resistant to four antimicrobials (penicillin, erythromycin, vancomycin and clindamycin) and the mass majority of them (more than 90%) to another three antimicrobials (tetracycline, oxytetracycline and streptomycin).

The results of this study demonstrate a high prevalence of Salmonella spp. contamination in chicken carcasses and a large percentage of antimicrobial resistant strains.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study complements the limited and out‐of‐date research performed in Greece about the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from chicken carcasses. There is a high prevalence of Salmonella contamination in chicken carcasses in Northern Greece. Poultry meat must be considered as a possible cause of Salmonella poisoning and therefore it should be handled with care during its preparation, especially from the consumers. The Salmonella strains isolated from chicken carcasses are resistant to a significant percentage of the most commonly used antibiotics which confirm that poultry is a major reservoir of multiresistant Salmonella.
Growth and Renewal in the United States: Retooling America's Economic Engine*
Authors: Manyika James , Hunt David , Nyquist Scott , Remes Jaana , Malhotra Vikram , Medonca Lenny , Auguste Byron , Test Samantha
Published: March 2011

New research by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) examines the growth challenge facing the United States and explores how U.S. business and government can contribute to the economy's renewal by reinvigorating their drive toward higher productivity.

As baby boomers retire and the female participation rate plateaus, the U.S. economy will receive significantly less lift from increases in the labor force and will have to rely increasingly on productivity gains to fuel growth. The report finds that the United States needs a 34% acceleration in productivity growth if it is to match the GDP growth rates of the past 20 years—and that this is possible.

Three‐quarters of the necessary productivity growth acceleration can come from the efforts of private‐sector companies operating within the current regulatory and business environment. Even the best‐performing companies and sectors still have headroom to boost productivity by emulating the best practice of others and tapping into new innovations, and coming up with new innovations of their own. The remaining one‐quarter—and more—can come from government and business working together to address barriers that now limit growth.

MGI lays out a seven‐point agenda for action to spur productivity.
Current Accounts and Global Adjustment: The Long and Short of It
Authors: Pradhan Manoj , Taylor Alan M.
Published: March 2011

Global rebalancing is underway, but still quite a distance from being done. Current account imbalances have been a persistent feature of the global economy for over 100 years, especially during the two eras of globalization—the period 1870 to 1914 and the present. Such imbalances have reflected underlying imbalances between savings and investment as well as the prevailing international monetary regime.

One important lesson from the past 150 years is that capital flows play an important role in funding global investment opportunities—a role that would be harmed if policy makers responded to the perceived threat of global imbalances by imposing any sort of cap. During those periods when capital flows have been relatively unhindered, investment opportunities around the world have been financed by capital flows. Such flows have financed the growth of many erstwhile “emerging market” economies, including the U.S. in the early part of this century. And global capital flows are doing much the same for many emerging markets today, even though purchases of reserves by some countries have been offsetting inbound private capital flows in the aggregate.

The other main lesson of history is that imbalances do not last forever, and tend to lead to adjustments and reversals. Experience shows that such adjustments are much easier for surplus countries than for deficit countries.
What Drives CEOs to Take on More Risk? Some Evidence from the Laboratory of REITs
Authors: Füss Roland , Rottke Nico , Zietz Joachim
Published: March 2011

Many have pointed to excessive risk‐taking by the CEOs of financial firms as a contributor to the recent worldwide economic crisis. The same observers often blame questionable corporate governance structures and compensation practices for that risk‐taking. But is this perception correct? And what is the relationship between CEO incentives and risk‐taking outside of the financial industry, where the government guarantees provided by deposit insurance could have distorted incentives?

In an attempt to answer these questions, the authors analyze the relationship between CEO incentives and corporate risk‐taking by 101 U.S. REITs during the period 2003 to 2007. Their main finding is that corporate risk‐taking, as measured by the growth rate in corporate debt (the only measure of risk that is completely under the control of the CEO), is inversely related to CEO stock ownership—that is, the larger the CEO's equity ownership stake, the slower the growth in debt financing and financial risk‐taking. At the same time, the authors find that financial risk‐taking is positively related to large cash bonuses for the CEOs and to situations in which the CEO is also chairman of the board of directors. Finally, the authors also report that CEOs who are relatively new to the job grow more slowly and borrow less, suggesting that boards of directors can temporarily contain risky expansion plans by the CEO. These results provide support for those corporate governance reformers who wish to cut cash bonus payments for CEOs in favor of long‐term stock ownership.
Comply or Explain: Investor Protection Through the Italian Corporate Governance Code
Authors: Bianchi Marcello , Ciavarella Angela , Novembre Valerio , Signoretti Rossella ,   CONSOB
Published: March 2011

Nearly 86% of listed Italian companies now claim to be in formal compliance with the provisions of the Italian Corporate Governance Code, which, like many codes in EU countries, give companies the option to either comply or explain their decision not to do so. But in the wake of the recent financial crisis, the effectiveness of such self‐regulatory corporate governance codes has been subjected to increasing skepticism. In particular, critics wonder whether such governance codes actually encourage the adoption of best practices and promote better governance.

This article presents a governance indicator (CoRe) devised by the authors that attempts to assess the actual, or effective, levels of compliance with the Italian Corporate Governance Code in terms of listed companies' procedures for dealing with related party transactions (RPTs). The authors report that the companies' level of effective compliance with regard to RPTs is considerably lower than their publicly reported levels of formal compliance. The authors also report that higher levels of effective compliance tend to be found in companies where (1) minority shareholders have appointed one or more directors; (2) independent directors serve on important committees; and (3) there are significant holdings by institutional investors—particularly foreign investors—who participate in general shareholder meetings.
The Adoption and Use of Health Information Technology in Rural Areas: Results of a National Survey
Authors: Singh Ranjit , Lichter Michael I. , Danzo Andrew , Taylor John , Rosenthal Thomas
Published: March 2011

Context: Health information technology (HIT) is a national policy priority. Knowledge about the special needs, if any, of rural health care providers should be taken into account as policy is put into action. Little is known, however, about rural‐urban differences in HIT adoption at the national level.

Purpose: To conduct the first national assessment of HIT in rural primary care offices, with particular attention to electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, range of capabilities in use, and plans for adoption.

Methods: A national mail survey of 5,200 primary care offices, stratified by rurality using Rural‐Urban Commuting Area categories, was conducted in 2007‐2008. Regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between office characteristics and EMR adoption, capabilities used, and future adoption plans.

Results: A commercial EMR system was present in 31% of offices, with no significant differences by rurality. Of offices with EMRs, 12% reported using a full range of EMR capabilities, with 51% using a basic range and 37% using less than the basic range. Large Rural (adjusted OR = 3.71, P= .022) and Small Rural (aOR = 3.75, P= .049) offices were more likely than Urban offices to use a broader range of EMR capabilities. Among offices without EMRs, those in Isolated areas were less likely to have more immediate plans to adopt (aOR = 0.19, P= .02).

Conclusions: HIT adoption and use in rural primary care offices does not appear to be lower than in urban offices. The situation, however, is dynamic and warrants further monitoring.
Larval survival of two species of forensically important blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) after submergence in water
Authors: SINGH Devinder , BALA Madhu
Published: March 2011

Survival of larvae of known ages after 2 to 6 h of submersion under water was assessed by observing pupation and adult emergence in the cases of two blowflies of forensic importance, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart). Lowest survival occurred among 10‐h‐old larvae, which could not tolerate more than 2 h of submergence. Even with such a small period of submergence success of survival was only 33%. There were no survivors when 20‐ and 30‐h‐old larvae were submerged for more than 3 and 4 h, respectively. In the cases of 40‐, 50‐, 60‐ and 70‐h‐old larvae there were no survivors if submergence was more than 5 h. The results show that there is an inverse relationship between submergence period and survival rate: the longer the submergence period, the lesser is the survival rate. This study provides data that are potentially useful in estimating the minimum time since submergence (TSS) of a corpse during forensic investigations.
Performance of polyvoltine silkworm Bombyx mori L. on different mulberry plant varieties
Authors: BAHAR Md Habibullah , AL PARVEZ Mahmud , RAHMAN Saidur , ISLAM Rejaul
Published: March 2011

Five cultivated mulberry plant varieties, BSRM‐34, BSRM‐56, BSRM‐57, BSRM‐58 and BSRM‐59, were used to evaluate the effects of plant variety on larval and cocoon characteristics of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. Silkworm larvae undergo their entire larval periods on leaves of mulberry varieties. Different larval characteristics of larval weight, larval length and larval breadth were measured in different growth stages. After rearing, the fifth instar larvae were transferred into a mountage (Chandraki) structure for cocoon rearing for spinning and cocoon production. The cocoons were then harvested and different cocoon characteristics like cocoon weight, shell weight and shell percentage; and other characters like pupal weight and effective rate of rearing were measured. The results showed statistically significant differences among different varieties on larval and cocoon characteristics. The highest performance was observed by feeding the variety BSRM‐34 in respect of the average weight of 10 mature larvae (40.5 g), single mature larval length (7.6 cm) and breadth (1.0 cm), single cocoon weight (1.4 g), shell weight (0.2 g) and pupal weight (1.2 g) while the average performance was recorded by feeding varieties BSRM‐57 and BSRM‐59. The poorest performance was showed by feeding the variety BSRM‐56 (in case of larval characters) and BSRM‐58 (in case of cocoon characteristics). These two varieties also showed the poorest performance for silk yield. Through comparing all the above parameters it was concluded that BSRM‐34 is the best mulberry variety and it is recommended that Bangladeshi farmers adopt that variety for better yield of silk.
Clinical Otolaryngology News
Authors: Browning G.G.
Published: March 2011

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2011, 36, 3–6
Transillumination: a new tool to eliminate the impact of venous stasis during the procedure for the collection of diagnostic blood specimens for routine haematological testing
Authors: LIMA‐OLIVEIRA G. , LIPPI G. , SALVAGNO G. L. , MONTAGNANA M. , SCARTEZINI M. , GUIDI G. C. , PICHETH G.
Published: March 2011

Introduction:  The collection of diagnostic blood specimens for routine haematological testing (RHT) is traditionally performed with tourniquet. However, the transillumination devices based on cold near‐infrared LEDs have been formerly proposed as a valuable tool for identifying reliable venous accesses, especially in patients with difficult or small veins, such as children. This study was aimed to evaluate whether a transillumination device can advantageously replace the use of the tourniquet during the procedure for collection of blood specimens for RHT and thereby eliminating the discomfort and risk of spurious results caused by excessive or prolonged venous stasis.

Methods:  Two hundred and fifty volunteers were divided into five groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) to compare the results of RHT between blood sample collected with transilluminator device (left arm) and with tourniquet application (right arm) for 30 s(G1), 60 s(G2), 90 s(G3), 120 s(G4) and 180 s(G5).

Results:  No significant increases were observed in any of the haematological parameters tested in G1 when compared with blood collected by the transilluminator device. From G2 to G5, significant increases were observed for the platelet count, red blood cell count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, white blood cell count, neutrophils, monocytes and eosinophils. From G3–G5, further increases were observed for lymphocytes. Clinically significant variations were, however, observed for basophils in G2; red blood cell count, haemoglobin, haematocrit and basophils in G3 and eosinophils in G3 only.

Conclusion:  As such, considering that inappropriate use of the tourniquet is commonplace, we conclude that transillumination devices can represent a suitable tool to eliminate the venous stasis and to improve the quality of phlebotomy procedures.
Molecular characterization of activated sludge from a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant
Authors: Sánchez Olga , Garrido Laura , Forn Irene , Massana Ramon , Maldonado Manuel Ignacio , Mas Jordi
Published: March 2011

The prokaryotic community composition of activated sludge from a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant (Almeria, Spain) was investigated by using the rRNA approach, combining different molecular techniques such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), clone libraries and in situ hybridization (FISH and CARD‐FISH). Most of the sequences retrieved in the DGGE and the clone libraries were similar to uncultured members of different phyla. The most abundant sequence recovered from Bacteria in the clone library corresponded to a bacterium from the Deinococcus–Thermus cluster (almost 77% of the clones), and the library included members from other groups such as the Alpha, Gamma and Delta subclasses of Proteobacteria, the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Concerning the archaeal clone library, we basically found sequences related to different orders of methanogenic Archaea, in correspondence with the recovered DGGE bands. Enumeration of DAPI (4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole) stained cells from two different activated sludge samples after a mechanical flocculation disruption revealed a mean cell count of 1.6 × 109 ml−1. Around 94% of DAPI counts (mean value from both samples) hybridized with a Bacteria specific probe. Alphaproteobacteria were the dominant bacterial group (36% of DAPI counts), while Beta‐, Delta‐ and Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes contributed to lower proportions (between 0.5–5.7% of DAPI counts). Archaea accounted only for 6% of DAPI counts. In addition, specific primers for amplification of the amoA (ammonia monooxygenase) gene were used to detect the presence of Beta, Gamma and archaeal nitrifiers, yielding positive amplifications only for Betaproteobacteria. This, together with negative in situ hybridizations with probes for well‐known nitrifiying bacteria, suggests that nitrification is performed by still undetected microorganisms. In summary, the combination of the three approaches provided different and complementary pictures of the real assemblage composition and allowed to get closer to the main microorganisms involved in key processes of seawater‐processing activated sludge.
Qualitative methods to ensure acceptability of behavioral and social interventions to the target population
Authors: Ayala Guadalupe X. , Elder John P.
Published: March 2011

Objectives: This paper introduces qualitative methods for assessing the acceptability of an intervention.

Methods: Acceptability refers to determining how well an intervention will be received by the target population and the extent to which the new intervention or its components might meet the needs of the target population and organizational setting. In this paper, we focus on two common qualitative methods for conducting acceptability research and their advantages and disadvantages: focus groups and interviews.

Results: We provide examples from our own research and other studies to demonstrate the use of these methods for conducting acceptability research and how one might adapt this approach for oral health research.

Discussion: We present emerging methods for conducting acceptability research, including the use of community‐based participatory research, as well as the utility of conducting acceptability research for assessing the appropriateness of measures in intervention research.
Dendrocalamus parvigemma sp. nov. (Gramineae: Bambusoideae) from Vietnam
Authors: Tho Nguyen Van , Xia Nian‐He , Lam Le Viet
Published: March 2011

A new species of Dendrocalamus Nees from Vietnam, D. parvigemma N. H. Xia, V. T. Nguyen et V. L. Le, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to D. latiflorus Munro and D. yunnanicus Hsueh & Li, from which it differs by having a very small and nearly circular culm bud, dense, 1.4–1.6 cm long, palea with bristles and apex split in 2, narrowly lanceolate ovary, and sheath ligule 5 mm heigh and irregularly serrulate.
Jurinea cataonica subsp. mardinensis subsp. nov. (Asteraceae) from southeast Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: Doğan Bekir , Duran Ahmet , Öztürk Meryem
Published: March 2011

A new subspecies, Jurinea cataonica Boiss. & Hausskn. subsp. mardinensis B. Doğan & A. Duran (Asteraceae), is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The subspecies grows on abandoned fields in the Bakirkiri place (C8 Mardin Province) in southeastern Anatolia. It is morphologically similar to J. cataonica subsp. cataonica. Diagnostic morphological characters between these closely similar taxa are discussed and arranged in a key. Ecology and conservation status of the subspecies is also presented. In addition, the geographical distributions of the new subspecies and other related species are given.
Two generalizations of the PRV conjecture
Authors: Montagard P. L. , Pasquier B. , Ressayre N.
Published: March 2011

Let G be a complex connected reductive group. The Parthasarathy–Ranga Rao–Varadarajan (PRV) conjecture, which was proved independently by S. Kumar and O. Mathieu in 1989, gives explicit irreducible submodules of the tensor product of two irreducible G-modules. This paper has three aims. First, we simplify the proof of the PRV conjecture, then we generalize it to other branching problems. Finally, we find other irreducible components of the tensor product of two irreducible G-modules that appear for ‘the same reason’ as the PRV ones.
Investigation of the High Speed Rolling Bearing Temperature Rise With Oil-Air Lubrication
Authors: Jiang Shuyun , Mao Hebing
Published: March 2011

The oil-air lubrication system has been widely used for rolling ball bearing. However, as the rotation speed increases, the temperature rise will increase dramatically, resulting in shortening the service life of the ball bearing. The existing literature has offered valuable fundamental data about the oil-air lubrication of rolling bearing; however, there are still some problems that concerned the oil-air lubrication, which are not addressed. In this study, an experiment setup to investigate the oil-air lubrication for the high speed ball bearing has been developed, and performance tests of hybrid ceramic and steel ball bearings under the extensive operating conditions including oil-air supply pipe length, bearing preload, lube interval, oil type, oil viscosity, nozzle design, and rotation speed have been conducted. The test results show that the bearing has the lowest temperature rise with the pipe length of 1.5 m. For the steel ball bearing, the proper preload decreases with increasing of the rotating speed, and the temperature rise of the hybrid ceramic ball bearing is not sensitive to the axial preload. There exists a proper amount of lubricant for the bearing at each rotational speed; and a larger amount of lubricant is required for the bearing as the rotating speed increases. The tested bearings under different speeds have almost the same lowest temperature rise under the lubricant with the viscosity of 100 cSt; a higher or lower viscosity will increase the bearing temperature rises. The nozzle design is an important factor to affect the temperature rise of the ball bearing, and the suitable geometric parameter of the nozzle is closely related to the cage landing method of the bearing. The temperature rise of tested bearings increases with the increase in the rotation speed; and the hybrid ceramic ball bearing always has a lower temperature rise than that of the steel ball bearing at the same operating conditions.
Nanopatterning by block copolymer micelle nanolithography and bioinspired applications
Authors: Lohmüller Theobald , Aydin Daniel , Schwieder Marco , Morhard Christoph , Louban Ilia , Pacholski Claudia , Spatz Joachim P.
Published: March 2011

This comprehensive overview of block copolymer micelle nanolithography (BCMN) will discuss the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticle arrays by means of micellar diblock copolymer approach and the resulting experimental control of individual structural parameters of the nanopattern, e.g., particle density and particle size. Furthermore, the authors will present a combinational approach of BCMN with conventional fabrication methods, namely, photolithography and electron beam lithography, which combines the advantages of high-resolution micronanopatterning with fast sample processing rates. In addition, the authors will demonstrate how these nanoparticle assemblies can be transferred to polymer substrates with a wide range of elasticity. In the second part of this report the authors will introduce some of the most intriguing applications of BCMN in biology and materials science: The authors will demonstrate how nanoparticle arrays may be used as anchor points to pattern functional proteins with single molecule resolution for studying cellular adhesion and present a technological roadmap to high-performance nanomaterials by highlighting recent applications for biomimetic optics and nanowires. nt]mis|These authors contributed equally to this work.