bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Expandable and Fixed Interbody Cages in a Human Cadaver Corpectomy Model
Authors: Pekmezci Murat , Tang Jessica A. , Cheng Liu , Modak Ashin , McClellan Robert T. , Buckley Jenni M. , Ames Christopher P.
Published: August 2012

Study Design:

In vitro cadaver biomechanics study.

Objective:

The goal of this study is to compare the in situ fatigue life of expandable versus fixed interbody cage designs.

Summary of Background Data:

Expandable cages are becoming more popular, in large part, due to their versatility; however, subsidence and catastrophic failure remain a concern. This in vitro analysis investigates the fatigue life of expandable and fixed interbody cages in a single level human cadaver corpectomy model by evaluating modes of subsidence of expandable and fixed cages as well as change in stiffness of the constructs with cyclic loading.

Methods:

Nineteen specimens from 10 human thoracolumbar spines (T10-L2, L3-L5) were biomechanically evaluated after a single level corpectomy that was reconstructed with an expandable or fixed cage and anterior dual rod instrumentation. All specimens underwent 98 K cycles to simulate 3 months of postoperative weight bearing. In addition, a third group with hyperlordotic cages was used to simulate catastrophic failure that is observed in clinical practice.

Results:

Three fixed and 2 expandable cages withstood the cyclic loading despite perfect sagittal and coronal plane fitting of the endcaps. The majority of the constructs settled in after initial subsidence. The catastrophic failures that were observed in clinical practice could not be reproduced with hyperlordotic cages. However, all cages in this group subsided, and 60% resulted in endplate fractures during deployment of the cage.

Conclusions:

Despite greater surface contact area, expandable cages have a trend for higher subsidence rates when compared with fixed cages. When there is edge loading as in the hyperlordotic cage scenario, there is a higher risk of subsidence and intraoperative fracture during deployment of expandable cages.
Characterization of strains of Weissella fabalis sp. nov. and

Fructobacillus tropaeoli

from spontaneous cocoa bean fermentations
Authors: Snauwaert Isabel , Papalexandratou Zoi , De Vuyst Luc , Vandamme Peter
Published: August 2012

Six facultatively anaerobic, non-motile lactic acid bacteria were isolated from spontaneous cocoa bean fermentations carried out in Brazil, Ecuador and Malaysia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that one of these strains, designated M75T, isolated from a Brazilian cocoa bean fermentation, had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity towards

Weissella fabaria

LMG 24289T (97.7 %),

W. ghanensis

LMG 24286T (93.3 %) and

W. beninensis

LMG 25373T (93.4 %). The remaining lactic acid bacteria isolates, represented by strain M622, showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity towards the type strain of

Fructobacillus tropaeoli

(99.9 %), a recently described species isolated from a flower in South Africa. pheS gene sequence analysis indicated that the former strain represented a novel species, whereas pheS, rpoA and atpA gene sequence analysis indicated that the remaining five strains belonged to

F. tropaeoli

; these results were confirmed by DNA–DNA hybridization experiments towards their respective nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Additionally, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry proved successful for the identification of species of the genera

Weissella

and

Fructobacillus

and for the recognition of the novel species. We propose to classify strain M75T ( = LMG 26217T  = CCUG 61472T) as the type strain of the novel species Weissella fabalis sp. nov.
Aureimonas jatrophae sp. nov. and Aureimonas phyllosphaerae sp. nov., leaf-associated bacteria isolated from Jatropha curcas L.
Authors: Madhaiyan M. , Hu C. J. , Jegan Roy J. , Kim S.-J. , Weon H.-Y. , Kwon S.-W. , Ji L.
Published: August 2012

Four orange-pigmented isolates, L7-456, L7-484T, L9-479 and L9-753T, originating from surface-sterilized leaf tissues of Jatropha curcas L. cultivars were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that all four isolates belong to the genus

Aureimonas

. In these analyses, strain L7-484T appeared to be most closely related to

Aureimonas ureilytica

5715S-12T (95.7 % sequence identity). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains L7-456, L9-479 and L9-753T were found to be identical and also shared the highest similarity with

A. ureilytica

5715S-12T (97.5 %). Both L7-484T and L9-753T contained Q-10 and Q-9 as predominant ubiquinones and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and an aminophospholipid as the major polar lipids. C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. Similar to other species in the genus

Aureimonas

, hydroxylated fatty acids (e.g. C18 : 1 2-OH) and cyclic fatty acids (C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c) were also present. The DNA G+C contents of L7-484T and L9-753T were 66.1 and 69.4 mol%, respectively. Strains L7-484T and L9-753T exhibited less than 40 % DNA–DNA hybridization both between themselves and to

A. ureilytica

KACC 11607T. Our results support the proposal that strain L7-484T represents a novel species within the genus

Aureimonas

, for which the name Aureimonas jatrophae sp. nov. is proposed, and that strains L9-753T, L7-456 ( = KACC 16229  = DSM 25023) and L9-479 ( = KACC 16228  = DSM 25024) represent a second novel species within the genus, for which the name Aureimonas phyllosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strains of Aureimonas jatrophae sp. nov. and Aureimonas phyllosphaerae sp. nov. are respectively L7-484T ( = KACC 16230T  = DSM 25025T) and L9-753T ( = KACC 16231T  = DSM 25026T).
Transfer of

Bacillus schlegelii

to a novel genus and proposal of Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii gen. nov., comb. nov.
Authors: Kämpfer Peter , Glaeser Stefanie P. , Busse Hans-Jürgen
Published: August 2012

Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of species currently assigned to the genus

Bacillus

has shown an extensive intrageneric phylogenetic heterogeneity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of

Bacillus schlegelii

ATCC 43741T shows only 82.2–85.9 % sequence similarity to type strains of other members of the genus

Bacillus

and <88.5 % sequence similarity to recognised species of the most closely related genera,

Calditerricola

(88.4–88.5 %),

Planifilum

(87.3–87.8 %) and

Caldalkalibacillus

(87.2−87.9 %). Furthermore,

B. schlegelii

ATCC 43741T could not be assigned to an existing family by phylogenetic analysis. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified glycolipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Both the polar lipid profile and the fatty acid composition clearly distinguished

B. schlegelii

DSM 2000T from the type species of the genus

Bacillus

,

Bacillus subtilis

. Hence, there is no evidence for a clear phenotypic grouping of this organism into the genus

Bacillus

nor to the genera

Calditerricola

,

Caldalkalibacillus

or

Planifilum

. A proposal is made to transfer

Bacillus schlegelii

to a novel genus and species, Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii gen. nov., comb. nov., and to emend the species description. The type strain of the type species is DSM 2000T ( = ATCC 43741T = CCUG 26017T = CIP 106933T).
Streptomyces chlorus sp. nov. and Streptomyces viridis sp. nov., isolated from soil
Authors: Kim Byung-Yong , Rong Xiaoying , Zucchi Tiago D. , Huang Ying , Goodfellow Michael
Published: August 2012

Two actinomycete strains, BK125T and BK199T, isolated from a hay meadow soil sample were investigated to determine their taxonomic position using a polyphasic approach. The isolates produced greenish-yellow and light green aerial mycelium on oatmeal agar, respectively. They contained anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids, and MK-9 (H6) and MK-9 (H8) as the predominant isoprenoid quinones. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolates formed distinct phyletic lines towards the periphery of the

Streptomyces prasinus

subclade. Analysis of DNA–DNA relatedness between the two isolates showed that they belonged to different genomic species. The organisms were also distinguished from one another and from type strains of species classified in the

S. prasinus

subclade using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic properties. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that the isolates be assigned to the genus

Streptomyces

as Streptomyces chlorus sp. nov. and Streptomyces viridis sp. nov. with isolates BK125T ( = KACC 20902T = CGMCC 4.5798T) and BK199T ( = KACC 21003T = CGMCC 4.6824T) as the respective type strains.
Analysis of gene expression from theWolbachiagenome of a filarial nematode supports both metabolic and defensive roles within the symbiosis
Authors: Darby Alistair C. , Armstrong Stuart D. , Bah Germanus S. , Kaur Gaganjot , Hughes Margaret A. , Kay Suzanne M. , Koldkjær Pia , Rainbow Lucille , Radford Alan D. , Blaxter Mark L. , Tanya Vincent N. , Trees Alexander J. , Cordaux Richard , Wastling Jonathan M. , Makepeace Benjamin L.
Published: August 2012

The α-proteobacteriumWolbachiais probably the most prevalent, vertically transmitted symbiont on Earth. In contrast with its wide distribution in arthropods,Wolbachiais restricted to one family of animal-parasitic nematodes, the Onchocercidae. This includes filarial pathogens such asOnchocerca volvulus, the cause of human onchocerciasis, or river blindness. The symbiosis between filariae andWolbachiais obligate, although the basis of this dependency is not fully understood. Previous studies suggested thatWolbachiamay provision metabolites (e.g., haem, riboflavin, and nucleotides) and/or contribute to immune defense. Importantly,Wolbachiais restricted to somatic tissues in adult male worms, whereas females also harbor bacteria in the germline. We sought to characterize the nature of the symbiosis betweenWolbachiaandO. ochengi, a bovine parasite representing the closest relative ofO. volvulus. First, we sequenced the complete genome ofWolbachiastrainwOo, which revealed an inability to synthesize riboflavin de novo. Using RNA-seq, we also generated endobacterial transcriptomes from male soma and female germline. In the soma, transcripts for membrane transport and respiration were up-regulated, while the gonad exhibited enrichment for DNA replication and translation. The most abundantWolbachiaproteins, as determined by geLC-MS, included ligands for mammalian Toll-like receptors. Enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis were dominant among metabolism-related proteins, whereas the haem biosynthetic pathway was poorly represented. We conclude thatWolbachiamay have a mitochondrion-like function in the soma, generating ATP for its host. Moreover, the abundance of immunogenic proteins inwOo suggests a role in diverting the immune system toward an ineffective antibacterial response.
A camera trap assessment of terrestrial vertebrates in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Authors: Mugerwa Badru , Sheil Douglas , Ssekiranda Peter , van Heist Miriam , Ezuma Pontious
Published: August 2012

We placed camera traps for a month at sixty locations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to determine the species composition and distribution of medium‐to‐large terrestrial vertebrates. A total of 15912 images were recorded from 1800 camera trap days. These provided a total of 625 and 338 camera events when filtered by hour and day, respectively. Twenty mammal species were recorded from 594 and 314 camera events by hour and day, respectively. Four bird species were recorded from 31 and 24 camera events by hour and day, respectively. The African golden cat Profelis aurata Temminck was recorded from 27 and nineteen camera events by hour and day, respectively. The black‐fronted duiker Cephalophus nigrifrons Gray was most frequently photographed with 179 and 65 camera events by hour and day, respectively. Analyses reveal two species possessed a significantly interior‐biased distribution. One species showed an edge‐biased pattern. Five species were detected to have significantly biased altitudinal distributions with higher elevations. Distance to park edge and elevation can significantly influence species distribution. The selective use of the park limits the area that each species utilizes, with implications for maximum population sizes and viability. Our observations provide a baseline for long‐term terrestrial vertebrate monitoring in Bwindi.
Structural diversity and regeneration of the endangered Prunus africana (Rosaceae) in Zimbabwe
Authors: Jimu Luke , Ngoroyemoto Nelson , Mujuru Lizzie
Published: August 2012

Prunus africana is endemic to Africa and was included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1995. In Zimbabwe, the species was reported to be rare and confined to the Eastern Highlands. The objective of this study was to assess size–class distribution and regeneration levels and to characterize structural diversity of P. africana. Given the clustered nature of the species, adaptive cluster sampling was used based on the assumption that there were more P. africana trees in the neighbourhood of reference trees. Each cluster was terminated when there were no more P. africana trees within a distance of 500 m. Data on diameter and height were collected in each cluster using standard forestry procedures. Regeneration was determined by counting seedlings and saplings within a radial distance of 14 m from the mother tree. Structural indices, that ie, diameter and height differentiation and mingling were determined for a structural group of four trees. Findings from this study indicated poor regeneration, fewer P. africana trees in small and large size classes, dominance of positive height and diameter differentiation and high mingling. These findings have implications on management and conservation of P. africana in Zimbabwe.
The use of morphological descriptors to study variability in wild populations of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae) in Tunisia
Authors: Awatef Rhimi , Hédia Hannachi , Sonia Hjaoujia , Mohamed Boussaid
Published: August 2012

Capparis spinosa L. is a perennial shrub and drought‐resistant plant and is well adapted to Mediterranean Ecosystem. Seventeen populations of caper, belonging to different bioclimatic zones, were assessed by morphological descriptors including nine parameters of seed (seed colour, major, medium and minor axial dimension, thousand seed mass, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, surface area and sphericity). The data underwent an analysis of variance, principal coordinate's analysis (PCO) and hierarchical classification analysis (HCA). Results showed that the dimensions of the major, medium and minor axes varied from 2.79 to 3.94 mm, 2.30 to 3.17 mm and 1.66 to 2.36 mm, respectively. The arithmetic and geometric mean diameters ranged, respectively, from 2.66 to 3.16 mm and from 2.19 to 3.05 mm. The sphericity and surface area ranged from 0.38 to 0.40 and from 1.20 to 1.24 mm2, respectively. The thousand seed mass varied from 4.71 to 12.05 g. The analysis of variance of studied descriptors showed significant differences according to the population. Both PCO and HCA generated from Gower general similarity coefficient among all populations showed two distinct clusters each corresponding to one subspecies. Grouping of populations did not reflect bioclimatic patterns, indicating specific adaptation of population to local environments. The divergence between the two caper subspecies (C. spinosa subsp. spinosa and C. spinosa subsp. rupestris), based on morphological traits, corroborates their taxonomic status.
Increased risk of arterial thromboembolism after a prior episode of venous thromboembolism: results from the Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENd stage Disease (PREVEND) Study
Authors: van Schouwenburg Inge M. , Gansevoort Ron T. , Mahmoodi Bakhtawar K. , Visser Margaretha M. , Kluin‐Nelemans Hanneke C. , Lijfering Willem M. , Veeger Nic J. G. M.
Published: August 2012

Large population‐based studies are needed to establish the magnitude and duration of the recently suggested association between arterial and venous thromboembolism. In 1997–98, all inhabitants of Groningen, the Netherlands, aged 28–75 years (n = 85 421), were invited to participate in a study that followed and monitored responding subjects (n = 40 856) for venous and arterial thromboembolism until 2009. Thromboembolism was verified with national registries of hospital discharge diagnoses and death certificates, anticoagulation clinic and medical records. During a median follow‐up of 10·7 years, 549 participants developed venous thromboembolism and 3283 developed arterial thromboembolism. Annual incidence of arterial thromboembolism after venous thromboembolism was 2·03% [95% confidence interval (CI), 1·48–2·71], compared to 0·87% (95% CI, 0·84–0·90) in subjects without venous thromboembolism. The hazard ratio (HR) of arterial thromboembolism after venous thromboembolism was 1·40 (95% CI, 1·04–1·88) after adjustment for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. This risk was highest during the first year after venous thromboembolism [annual incidence, 3·00% (95% CI, 1·64–5·04); adjusted HR, 2·01 (95% CI, 1·19–3·40)] and after an unprovoked event [annual incidence, 2·53% (95% CI, 1·68–3·66); adjusted HR, 1·62 (95% CI, 1·11–2·34)]. This study showed that subjects with venous thromboembolism are at increased risk for arterial thromboembolism, particularly in the first year after venous thromboembolism and after an unprovoked event.
Risk of coronary artery disease is not linked to head and neck cancers: a population‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sun L.‐M. , Liang J.‐A. , Chang S.‐N. , Sung F.‐C. , Muo C.‐H. , Kao C.‐H.
Published: August 2012

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2012, 37, 369–375

Objectives:  To explore the possible association between the risk of coronary artery disease and head or neck cancer based on some possible shared risk factors and/or treatment‐related complications.

Design and setting:  A population‐based retrospective cohort study.

Participants:  All new 729 patients with head and neck cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2003 were followed up till 2009, and the risk of subsequent coronary artery disease was calculated. For each patient, the risk was calculated in 4 age‐and sex‐matched population controls. Matching was not possible for factors including socio‐economic group and smoking.

Main outcome measures:  Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between head or neck cancer and risk of coronary artery disease.

Results:  For patients with head or neck cancer, the overall risk for developing coronary artery disease was almost the same as that of the control group [adjusted hazard ratio (but without control for some lifestyle factors): 0.95; 95% confidence interval: 0.65–1.35]. Overall, we found no increased risk of coronary artery disease for patients with head or neck cancer when the data were categorised either by treatment methods or by cancer subsites.

Conclusions:  This population‐based study indicated that patients with head or neck cancer were at no higher risk of developing coronary artery disease than was the general population over a 6‐ to 9‐year period; however, we cannot exclude the risk over a longer period of time.
Edge artefacts and lost performance in national versus continental conservation priority areas
Authors: Moilanen Atte , Anderson Barbara J. , Arponen Anni , Pouzols Federico M. , Thomas Chris D.
Published: August 2012

Aim

Global conservation policies, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) decision to aim for the protection of 17% of the area of terrestrial ecosystems by 2020, are typically realized at national levels. We investigate the difference between continentally coordinated conservation versus nationally devolved conservation, in a manner relevant for the Nagoya resolution.

Location

The terrestrial areas of the Western Hemisphere.

Methods

We used IUCN distribution data for 8463 species of mammals, birds and amphibians in the Western Hemisphere. We investigated the consequences of prioritizing land at a continental scale, versus analysing priorities within each country separately. Spatial prioritization was performed using the Zonation software, which produces a complementarity‐based hierarchical priority ranking across the area of interest.

Results

We found that coordinated continent‐wide priorities achieved > 50% higher mean protection levels than national analyses for the top 17% of land. National prioritizations also result in spatial priority patterns that can be considered as artefacts at the continental scale: in bands of high‐priority land concentrated at terrestrial political boundaries, such as at low‐latitude edges of temperate zone countries. We find that this edge artefact also correlates with the present distribution of conservation areas, with the density of conservation areas within 50 km of a national border being > 50% higher than the density of conservation areas away from national borders.

Main conclusions

The means by which national priorities are integrated with continental or global conservation prioritization will have considerable influence on how much is achieved by the CBD resolution. Focus on national species distributions and priorities will result in lost performance because of emphasis on nationally rare species that are comparatively common elsewhere. National borders intersect species distributions (and possibly diversity gradients), leading to clustering of nationally rare species and priority areas close to the border.
Isotopic trophic guild structure of a diverse subtropical South American fish community
Authors: Burress Edward D. , Duarte Alejandro , Gangloff Michael M. , Siefferman Lynn
Published: August 2012

Characterization of food web structure may provide key insights into ecological function, community or population dynamics and evolutionary forces in aquatic ecosystems. We measured stable isotope ratios of 23 fish species from the Rio Cuareim, a fifth‐order tributary of the Rio Uruguay basin, a major drainage of subtropical South America. Our goals were to (i) describe the food web structure, (ii) compare trophic segregation at trophic guild and taxonomic scales and (iii) estimate the relative importance of basal resources supporting fish biomass. Although community‐level isotopic overlap was high, trophic guilds and taxonomic groups can be clearly differentiated using stable isotope ratios. Omnivore and herbivore guilds display a broader δ13C range than insectivore or piscivore guilds. The food chain consists of approximately three trophic levels, and most fishes are supported by algal carbon. Understanding food web structure may be important for future conservation programs in subtropical river systems by identifying top predators, taxa that may occupy unique trophic roles and taxa that directly engage basal resources.
Novel monoclonal antibodies broadly reactive to human recombinant sapovirus‐like particles
Authors: Kitamoto Noritoshi , Oka Tomoichiro , Katayama Kazuhiko , Li Tian‐Cheng , Takeda Naokazu , Kato Yoji , Miyoshi Tatsuya , Tanaka Tomoyuki
Published: August 2012

Sapovirus (SaV), a member of the familyCaliciviridae, is an important cause of acute epidemic gastroenteritis in humans. Human SaV is genetically and antigenically diverse and can be classified into four genogroups (GI, GII, GIV, and GV) and 16 genotypes (7 GI [GI.1–7], 7 GII, [GII.1–7], 1 GIV and 1 GV), based on capsid sequence similarities. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are powerful tools for examining viruses and proteins. PAI myeloma cells were fused with spleen cells from mice immunized with a single type of recombinant human SaV virus‐like particles (VLPs) (GI.1, GI.5, GI.6, GII.3, GIV, or GV). Sixty‐five hybrid clones producing MAbs were obtained. Twenty‐four MAbs were characterized by ELISA, according to their cross‐reactivity to each VLP (GI.1, GI.5, GI.6, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.7, GIV, and GV). The MAbs were classified by this method into: (i) MAbs broadly cross‐reactive to all GI, GII, GIV and GV strains; (ii) those reactive in a genogroup‐specific; and (iii) those reactive in a genotype‐specific manner. Further analysis of three broadly cross‐reactive MAbs with a competitive ELISA demonstrated that at least two different common epitopes are located on the capsid protein of human SaVs in the four genogroups. The MAbs generated and characterized in this study will be useful tools for further study of the antigenic and structural topography of the human SaV virion and for developing new diagnostic assays for human SaV.
Effects of green tea consumption on human fecal microbiota with special reference to Bifidobacterium species
Authors: Jin Jong‐Sik , Touyama Mutsumi , Hisada Takayoshi , Benno Yoshimi
Published: August 2012

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Its beneficial health effects and components have been extensively reviewed. However, little is known about the influence of green tea consumption on the human intestinal microbiota (HIM), which plays a crucial role in human health. Ten volunteers who did not usually consume green tea, drank it for 10 days and then stopped drinking it for 7 days. Their fecal samples were collected at three time points: before beginning the 10‐day green‐tea regime, at the conclusion of that 10 days, and 7 days after stopping the regime. Their fecal samples were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism with specific primer‐restriction enzyme systems for HIM and by using a real‐time PCR method for the Bifidobacterium species. Although the HIM of each subject was relatively stable, the proportion of Bifidobacterium species played an important role in the classification of their fecal microbiota. Although there were inter‐individual differences in the Bifidobacterium species, an overall tendency for the proportion of bifidobacteria to increase because of green tea consumption was noted. However, little change was observed in the composition of Bifidobacterium species in each sample. This suggests that the change in proportion was induced, not by an inter‐species transition, but by an intra‐species increase and/or decrease. In conclusion, green tea consumption might act as a prebiotic and improve the colon environment by increasing the proportion of the Bifidobacterium species.
Getting through the day: exploring patients’ leisure experiences in a private hospital
Authors: Chan Zenobia CY , Wu Ching Man , Yip Chi Hung , Yau Ka Kin
Published: August 2012

Aims and objectives.  To explore the patients’ leisure experience and their leisure needs and expectations during hospitalisation in a private hospital setting.

Background.  Leisure plays positive roles in patient satisfaction and has functional values. However, studies on how inpatients spend their time and hospital‐based qualitative studies on leisure needs and expectation among patients were rarely conducted. Through exploring patients’ perspective on leisure, nurses could improve patient satisfaction from a different dimension and enhance quality of care.

Design.  A descriptive qualitative study based on 12 semi‐structural interviews.

Methods.  Applied purposive sampling to select and interview a total of 16 participants, including 12 patients and four patients’ significant others in a private hospital. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted at the patients’ bedside in summer 2011. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis approach was used to analyse data and to categorise themes.

Results.  Four themes were developed: (1) getting through the day, which describes how patients spend their time during hospitalisation and their daily leisure activities; (2) necessity of leisure, which reveals the reasons why patients conducted the activity; (3) resources amelioration, which describes patients’ needs and satisfaction on current leisure resources in the hospital; (4) nurses’ roles in leisure, which is about the involvement of nurses in patients’ leisure activities.

Conclusion.  As patients understand hospital is a place for recovery, they seldom discuss or request their choices of leisure activity. This study could provide some insight into patients’ needs and expectation of leisure activity during hospitalisation, allowing nurses to know the importance of providing leisure activities to patients.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study suggests that clinical nursing practice should support leisure provision and hospital resources management of facilities on the effects of leisure.
Prevalence of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dereke J. , Nilsson C. , Landin‐Olsson M. , Hillman M.
Published: August 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, e436–e439 (2012)

Aims  Gestational diabetes mellitus affects approximately 7% of all pregnant women. Some of these women develop autoantibodies that are generally characteristic of Type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein are the most frequently reported. A recently identified autoantigen in Type 1 diabetes is zinc transporter 8. Some reports suggest that the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies is as high as glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in Type 1 diabetes and thus a good diagnostic marker for autoimmune diabetes. There are currently no reports of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in patients at clinical onset of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods  Subjects included in this pilot study were all diagnosed with gestational diabetes at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 2009–2010 (n = 193). Sera samples were analysed for antibodies using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

Results  We found that 19/193 patients with gestational diabetes, diagnosed in 2009–2010, were positive for at least one autoantibody. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was the most common single autoantibody (52.6%; 10/19), followed by zinc transporter 8 (21.1%; 4/19) and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein (15.8%; 3/19). Combinations of two or more antibodies were rare (10.5%; 2/19).

Conclusions  In this study, we found that zinc transporter 8 added 2.1% (4/193) of autoantibody positivity in women with gestational diabetes who were negative for glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein antibodies. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was still the most prevalent autoantibody in gestational diabetes, but, as zinc transporter 8 was present even in the absence of glutamic acid decarboxylase, this autoantibody could be an important independent marker of autoimmunity in gestational diabetes.
Business strategy, executive compensation and firm performance
Authors: Chen Yasheng , Jermias Johnny
Published: August 2012

We investigate the impact of business strategy on the use of performance‐linked compensation (PLC) and long‐term incentive plans. We also examine the relation between strategy and compensation structure fit and performance. Using cluster and content analyses to classify a firm’s business strategy, we predict and find that product differentiation firms use a higher proportion of PLCs than cost‐leadership firms. Furthermore, we find that the misfit between business strategy and compensation structure has a negative impact on performance. This study contributes to the executive compensation literature by recognizing that business strategy influences the compensation structure and that a strategy and compensation structure misfit negatively affects performance.
Excess cash holdings and investment: the moderating roles of financial constraints and managerial entrenchment
Authors: Sheu Her‐Jiun , Lee Shiou‐Ying
Published: August 2012

Our study investigates the relationship between excess cash holdings and investment behaviour under two dimensions of financial constraints and managerial entrenchment, based upon a sample of Taiwanese firms operating in an environment characterized by poor legal protection for investors, with data covering the years 2000–2006. We find that excess cash is significantly correlated with capital expenditure, particularly for firms financially constrained and with severe managerial entrenchment. However, the evidence shows that excess cash is insensitive to R&D expenditure under these two dimensions.
The impacts of parent’s listing status on subsidiary’s financial constraint and cost of equity capital: the case of equity carve‐outs
Authors: Tam Lewis H. K.
Published: August 2012

We find that listed parents’ carve‐outs have investment‐cash‐flow sensitivities 70 per cent lower than unlisted parents’ carve‐outs, on average. Such a finding is stronger when we consider only equity carve‐outs in technological industries. The finding suggests that listed parents are more capable of alleviating the financial constraint of their carved‐out units than private parents. Our further analysis shows that listed parents’ carve‐outs also have a lower cost of equity than their counterparts, but such difference cannot be explained by corporate transparency, as implied by analyst coverage and analysts’ forecast dispersion. Therefore, we argue that the benefits from affiliation with a listed parent to the carve‐out come mainly from the parent’s financial support rather than an increase in corporate transparency.
Constructions and enactments of whiteness: a discursive analysis
Authors: Wallis Jennifer , Singh Reenee
Published: August 2012

Systemic therapists have argued that it is important to re‐examine issues about white identities if they are to develop cultural competence and cultural sensitivity. Despite this, few studies have explored whiteness in systemic psychotherapy. This small‐scale qualitative study therefore explores how a group of white systemic psychotherapists (trainers and trainees) construct whiteness, how these constructions or discourses facilitate or constrain talk about whiteness and how this influences what therapists do in therapy. The research method used was focus group discussions and an action research approach. The data were analysed using Foucauldian discourse analysis and three main discourses were made apparent: ‘whiteness as an invisible norm’, ‘political correctness’ and ‘systemic therapy discourses’. These discourses are described and the implications, discussed.
RNAi suppression of lignin biosynthesis in sugarcane reduces recalcitrance for biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass
Authors: Jung Je Hyeong , Fouad Walid M. , Vermerris Wilfred , Gallo Maria , Altpeter Fredy
Published: August 2012

Sugarcane is a prime bioethanol feedstock. Currently, sugarcane ethanol is produced through fermentation of the sucrose, which can easily be extracted from stem internodes. Processes for production of biofuels from the abundant lignocellulosic sugarcane residues will boost the ethanol output from sugarcane per land area. However, unlocking the vast amount of chemical energy stored in plant cell walls remains expensive primarily because of the intrinsic recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. We report here the successful reduction in lignification in sugarcane by RNA interference, despite the complex and highly polyploid genome of this interspecific hybrid. Down‐regulation of the sugarcane caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene by 67% to 97% reduced the lignin content by 3.9% to 13.7%, respectively. The syringyl/guaiacyl ratio in the lignin was reduced from 1.47 in the wild type to values ranging between 1.27 and 0.79. The yields of directly fermentable glucose from lignocellulosic biomass increased up to 29% without pretreatment. After dilute acid pretreatment, the fermentable glucose yield increased up to 34%. These observations demonstrate that a moderate reduction in lignin (3.9% to 8.4%) can reduce the recalcitrance of sugarcane biomass without compromising plant performance under controlled environmental conditions.
Andrew, Michael D & Jelmberg, James R ed (2010) How teachers learnPeter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn978‐1‐4331‐0842‐6 220 pp $35.95http://www.peterlang.com/download/datasheet/54201/datasheet_310842.pdf
Authors: Alsawaie Othman N
Published: August 2012

The book describes a five‐year teacher education programme at the University of New Hampshire. It includes several research articles about what supports the programme, especially the internship (teaching practice) component, which is a full year long. The book is useful for educators, especially those involved in teacher training and preparation. If its content is likely to be relevant to you, I recommend you borrow a copy for a while.

Othman N Alsawaie
Jung, Insung & Latchem, Colin ed (2012) Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e‐learningRoutledge (New York & London) isbn 978‐0‐415‐88735‐9 285 pp $44.95http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415887359/
Authors: Sharma Ramesh
Published: August 2012

Informative, useful, and with practical inputs on quality assurance and accreditation in open, distance and e‐learning education, this book is worthy to be consulted by teachers, researchers, quality technicians, practitioners, and policy makers. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you, you should arrange to borrow a copy for a while.

Ramesh Sharma
Collapsibility of Conditional Graphical Models
Authors: LIU BINGHUI , GUO JIANHUA
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In this paper, we consider two kinds of collapsibility, that is, the model‐collapsibility and the estimate‐collapsibility, of conditional graphical models for multidimensional contingency tables. We show that these two definitions are equivalent, and propose a sufficient and necessary condition for them in terms of the interaction graph, which allows the collapsibility to be characterized and judged intuitively and conveniently.
BARBOUR'S TYPOLOGIES AND THE CONTEMPORARY DEBATE ON ISLAM AND SCIENCE
Authors: Bigliardi Stefano
Published: August 2012

Abstract Despite various criticisms, Ian Barbour's fourfold classification of the possible relationships between religion and science remains influential. I compare Barbour's taxonomy with the theories of four authors who, in the last four decades, have addressed the relationship between science and religion from a Muslim perspective. The aim of my analysis is twofold. First, I offer a comparative perspective to the debate on science and Islam. Second, following Barbour's suggestion, I test the general applicability of his categories by comparing them with a discourse on science and religion that is not focused on Christianity. In the first section, I reconstruct Barbour's typologies, recalling some major objections to them, and arguing why despite the latter, Barbour's model is employed for the present analysis. I also reconstruct Barbour's parallel model for the relationships between different religions. In the second section, I reconstruct the discourse on science and religion developed by the Palestinian‐American scholar Ismail Raji al‐Faruqi. The third section is devoted to the ideas of the Persian‐American scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr. In the fourth section, I examine the views of the Iranian author Mehdi Golshani. The fifth section reconstructs the theories of the Algerian author Nidhal Guessoum. In the final section, I argue that a generalized use of the “integration” concept to refer to the entire debate on Islam and science is unhelpful. While these positions do not appear to instantiate Barbourian integration of science and religion, they do move toward what Barbour (skeptically) describes as integration between religions.
CONCILIATION, CONFLICT, OR COMPLEMENTARITY: RESPONSES TO THREE VOICES IN THE HINDUISM AND SCIENCE DISCOURSE
Authors: Brown C. Mackenzie
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis essay is a response to three review articles on two recently published books dealing with aspects of Hinduism and science: Jonathan Edelmann'sHindu Theology and Biology: The Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Contemporary Theory, and my own,Hindu Perspectives on Evolution: Darwin, Dharma and Design. The task set by the editor ofZygonfor the three reviewers was broad: they could make specific critiques of the two books, or they could use them as starting points to engage in a broad discussion of Hinduism and science, or religion and science in general. In my response, I first provide a fairly detailed reply to David Gosling's many critiques of my book, and in the process call into question his Advaitic conciliation of Hinduism and science. Thomas Ellis's thesis of basic incompatibility between Hinduism and science is much closer to my own viewpoint. One of the main objectives of my book was to explain and illustrate this incompatibility with specific regard to Hindu and Darwinian perspectives on evolution. In this essay I provide a few examples in support of Ellis's incompatibility thesis, encompassing both epistemological and metaphysical dissonances. Finally, I reflect uponVaradaraja V. Raman'swide‐ranging exposition on the all‐encompassing nature of the Hindu tradition that readily accommodates both religious and scientific quests for knowledge. Raman uses the two books only as starting points for his own thoughts, without reference to my book. I confine myself, accordingly, to a brief critique of his complementarity approach to Hinduism and science, and of his radical inclusivism that enfolds basically all philosophical positions into the warm embrace of the Hindu tradition, including even the extreme antireligious materialism of the Cārvāka.
Differences in the reading of shallow and deep orthography: developmental evidence from Hebrew and Turkish readers
Authors: Miller Paul , Kargin Tevhide , Guldenoglu Birkan
Published: August 2012

The present study investigates differences in the word‐reading process between individuals reading in a deep (unpointed Hebrew) and a shallow orthography (Turkish). The participants were 120 students evenly and randomly recruited from three levels of education (primary = 3rd–4th graders; middle = 6th–7th graders; high = 9th–10th graders). The students were tested with a computerised paradigm that assessed their efficiency in determining the identicalness of real word (RW) pairs and nonsense word (NW) pairs under perceptual and conceptual conditions. Based on a strong orthographic depth hypothesis, Turkish readers were hypothesised to manifest superior word‐processing skills in comparison to Hebrew readers, both for RWs and NWs. Evidence obtained from the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative performance of the participants failed to support this prediction. Findings are discussed with reference to a single‐route grain‐size‐based word‐reading model and a modified dual‐route word‐reading model.
A non‐targeted metabolomics approach to quantifying differences in root storage between fast‐ and slow‐growing plants
Authors: Atkinson Rebecca R. L. , Burrell Mike M. , Osborne Colin P. , Rose Karen E. , Rees Mark
Published: August 2012

Life history theory posits that slower‐growing species should invest proportionally more resources to storage, structural (e.g. stems) or defence traits than fast‐growing species. Previously, we showed that the slower‐growing monocarpic plants had lower mortality rates and higher bolting probabilities after two defoliation events. Here, we consider a mechanistic explanation, that the slower‐growing species invested relatively more resources to storage.

We compared the relative levels of root storage compounds between eight monocarpic species using metabolomic profiling, and characterized plant growth using a size‐corrected estimate of relative growth rate (RGR).

Growth rate was negatively correlated with the proportional allocation of root metabolites identified as sucrose, raffinose and stachyose and with amino acids known for their roles in nitrogen storage, particularly proline and arginine. The total amount and concentration of energy‐corrected carbohydrates were also negatively correlated with RGR.

Our results show for the first time that slower‐growing species invest proportionally more of their total root metabolites in carbon‐ and nitrogen‐storage compounds. We conclude that the increased investment in these reserves is an important resource allocation strategy underlying the growth–survival trade‐off in plants.
Fatal meningitis during pregnancy in the Netherlands: a nationwide confidential enquiry
Authors: Schaap TP , Schutte JM , Zwart JJ , Schuitemaker NWE , van Roosmalen J ,   on behalf of the Dutch Maternal Mortality Committee
Published: August 2012

Please cite this paper as: Schaap T, Schutte J, Zwart J, Schuitemaker N, van Roosmalen J. Fatal meningitis during pregnancy in the Netherlands: a nationwide confidential enquiry. BJOG 2012;119:1558–1563.

Objective  To determine the incidence of maternal deaths attributable to meningitis in the Netherlands, and to assess clinical features and risk factors.

Design  Confidential enquiry into the causes of maternal deaths.

Setting  Nationwide in the Netherlands.

Population  A total of 4 784 408 live births.

Methods  Analysis of all maternal deaths due to meningitis in pregnancy and puerperium from 1983 up to and including 2007 reported to the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Main outcome measures  Incidence, clinical features and risk factors.

Results  Fifteen maternal deaths occurred due to meningitis, representing 4.4% of all maternal deaths. Twelve women (80%) presented with meningitis during pregnancy, 8 (66%) of them in the third trimester. Presenting symptoms were altered mental status (11; 73%), fever (9; 60%), nuchal rigidity (5; 33%) and headache (13; 87%). Nine women (60%) had otolaryngological infection at presentation or in the previous days or weeks. Twelve women (80%) underwent radiological examination, of which 5 (33%) showed distinct abnormalities. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed infected CSF in 8 (53%) women. In ten women (67%) Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated. Substandard care was identified in 4 (27%) women.

Conclusion  Pregnant or puerperal women presenting with classical symptoms of meningitis, particularly those with a history of otolaryngological infection or headache, should undergo thorough investigation and radiological and CSF examinations. Early diagnosis and immediate antibiotic treatment are imperative because of rapid deterioration in pregnant women. In case of doubt, the threshold for antibiotic treatment should be low and close monitoring is warranted.