bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer of the Trapezius Flap in 20 Dogs and a Wallaby
Authors: Kurach Lindsey , Smith Mark E. H. , Fowler John Dave
Published: November 2012

Objective

To determine the feasibility, complications, and clinical outcome of consecutive free trapezius flap transfers in 20 dogs and a wallaby.

Study Design

Case series.

Animals

Dogs (n = 20) and 1 wallaby

Methods

Medical records of 20 dogs and 1 wallaby that had free trapezius flap transfers were evaluated retrospectively for indications, date of transfer, site of flap relocation, flap composition (myocutaneous, muscular, myoosseus), recipient artery and veins, flap ischemia times, surgery time, antithrombotic strategies used, intra‐ and postoperative complications related to the flap, hospitalization, in hospital duration after flap transfer, and outcome.

Results

Free flap transfers (16 muscle, 4 myocutaneous, 1 myoosseus) were used to treat traumatic soft tissue loss (13), neoplasm excision (2), osteomyelitis (4), and soft palate reconstruction (2); all flaps survived. Anti‐thrombotic therapy was used in all cases although strategies varied. Postoperative complications were infrequent, generally of low severity, and primarily included donor site seroma formation and infection.

Conclusions

Free trapezius flap was successfully used in 21 consecutive cases for a wide variety of reconstructive techniques with good, functional long‐term outcome.
Processed residual pump blood in cardiac surgery: the Processed Residual Blood in Cardiac surgery trial
Authors: Whitlock Richard , Mathew Joseph , Eikelboom John , Al‐Saleh Ayman Mohammad , Yuan Fei , Teoh Kevin
Published: November 2012

Background

Processing residual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) volume via ultrafiltration may improve hemostasis and reduce transfusion through clearing activated complement, activated coagulation components, and proinflammatory cytokines. We sought to establish if processing residual CPB volume with ultrafiltration reduces homologous blood transfusion and bleeding.

Study Design and Methods

Adult patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were randomly assigned to receive processed (n = 99) or unprocessed (control; n = 98) residual CPB volume in this single‐center randomized controlled trial. The intensive care unit team, patients, and assessors were blinded to treatment assignment and a transfusion protocol was followed. Surgeons were permitted to use retrograde autologous priming to minimize crystalloid pump prime.

Results

The processed study bag was of a smaller volume (280 [0, 550] mL vs. 590 [215, 726] mL; p < 0.01) but a higher hematocrit (29% [0%, 34%] vs. 23% [20%, 25%]; p < 0.01) than control. The rate of transfusion with homologous blood was 39% in both groups (p = 0.92). There was no difference in the volume transfused (processed 323 ± 585 mL vs. control 276 ± 520 mL; p = 0.56). There was also no difference in the proportion of patients transfused with any blood product (processed 44% vs. control 45%; p = 0.95) or in the volume of chest tube output (processed 600 [500, 940] mL vs. control 670 [490, 932] mL; p = 0.62).

Conclusion

Ultrafiltration of residual CPB volume in adults undergoing isolated CABG surgery does not reduce the need for transfusion or bleeding.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Learning, Livelihoods, and Social Mobility
Authors: Froerer Peggy , Portisch Anna
Published: November 2012

This special issue explores a variety of learning and educational strategies, their local meanings and relevance, and how these articulate with livelihood options within changing politico‐economic conditions. By considering diverse ethnographic contexts and a multitude of educational and work environments, the papers bring into dialogue various anthropological themes on learning, education and apprenticeship, forms of capital, and the effects of global processes on the relationship between education, livelihood, and social mobility.
Learning, Livelihoods, and Social Mobility: Valuing Girls' Education in Central India
Authors: Froerer Peggy
Published: November 2012

This article is concerned with the relationship between education, aspiration, and social mobility in Chhattisgarh, central India. I am interested in how the ideology of education as an intrinsic “social good” squares with the everyday experiences of marginalized adivasi (tribal) girls. My aim is to understand why education is differently valued by children and adults, and the ways in which girls' education‐related aspirations are altered in relation to the changing possibilities of realizing them.
Learning to Weave the Threads of Honor: Understanding the Value of Female Schooling in Southern Morocco
Authors: Naji Myriem
Published: November 2012

This article is concerned with the role of formal education in the upward social mobility of women in the Sirwa, a marginal Berber region of southern Morocco where carpets are produced by women, and marketed by men. To explore why girls' education in weaving takes precedence over formal education, the article considers the place of women's education in the livelihood strategies of the household and the significance of marriage in women's social mobility.
“Like Unbroken Cream”: Education and Livelihoods among the Kazakh of Western Mongolia
Authors: Portisch Anna
Published: November 2012

This article concerns educational and livelihood trajectories of the Kazakh minority in western Mongolia. It outlines the trajectories of individuals over four generations of a Kazakh family and contextualizes these within social, political, and economic context. It describes the importance of family networks and considers the concept of social capital, arguing that this key term in the literature on education and social mobility must be redefined in different historical and social settings.
“I Want to Be Respected”: Migration, Mobility, and the Construction of Alternate Educational Discourses in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Rao Nitya , Hossain Munshi Israil
Published: November 2012

In a context of globalization, individual aspirations transcend the local as people seek to move to distant locations to fulfill their own as well as larger social expectations. Formal schooling often does not lead to the acquisition of appropriate knowledge or relevant skills to attaining these aspirations, making students opt for vocational or other specialist skills. Based on empirical research in Bangladesh, this paper explores the meanings of learning, both formal and informal, for young men aspiring to social and economic mobility. Theoretically, the paper demonstrates the ways in which learning is situated within social institutions and the power relationships therein and constituted jointly by the agent, the activity, and the larger global context.
Spatial determinants of infection risk in a multi‐species avian malaria system
Authors: Lachish Shelly , Knowles Sarah C. L. , Alves Ricardo , Sepil Irem , Davies Alicia , Lee Simon , Wood Matthew J. , Sheldon Ben C.
Published: November 2012

Spatially‐variable processes can be an important element of host–parasite interactions, but their longer term demographic and evolutionary effects depend on the magnitude of variation in space, the scale at which variation occurs and the degree to which such processes are temporally stable. Here, we use multiple years of data from a study of two closely related tit species (Paridae), infected with two congeneric species of avian malaria (Plasmodium), to evaluate the roles of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in driving spatial heterogeneity in infection risk, and to address questions of scale and temporal stability in these vector‐driven host–parasite interactions. We show that the two malaria parasite species exhibit markedly different spatial epidemiology:P. relictuminfections are effectively randomly distributed in space, with no temporal consistency, whereasP. circumflexuminfections exhibit pronounced spatial structuring that is stable over the six years of this study and similar in both host species. We show that both conspecific and heterospecific host density contribute to elevated infection risk, but that the main determinants of elevated risk ofP. circumflexuminfection risk are habitat features probably associated with vector distribution and abundance. We discuss the implications of these findings, both for our understanding of the epidemiology of malaria in the wild, but also in terms of the longer‐term evolutionary and demographic consequences that spatially variable parasite‐mediated selection may have on host populations.
“The itching hand“– important differential diagnoses and treatment
Authors: Weisshaar Elke , Kallen Ursula , Weiß Melanie
Published: November 2012

Skin diseases affecting the hands receive particular individual attention and constitute a considerable emotional burden. Many dermatoses also present with itching of the hands. Itch is often underestimated when it occurs in a comparably limited body area such as the hands. The high occupational significance of the hands in many professions must, nevertheless, be stressed. One of the most frequent diagnoses in itching of the hands is eczema. In the differential diagnosis, less common diseases such as neurological and systemic diseases and adverse drug reactions must also be taken into consideration. Itching of the hands can also be accompanied by other sensations, such as burning, stinging and pain. A thorough history regarding sensations and dysesthesias already allows for a diagnostic classification of the disease in some cases. Itching of the hands requires a careful and thorough diagnostic approach. This forms the basis of a specific and successful therapy which may be adapted stepwise, depending on the underlying cause, and also may require, in addition to causal therapy, symptomatic antipruritic therapy. Therapy should follow the current guidelines for chronic pruritus and hand eczema. This article reviews over the differential diagnosis and therapy of ìitching handsî.
The dual role of biomarkers for understanding basic principles and devising novel intervention strategies in tuberculosis
Authors: Weiner January , Maertzdorf Jeroen , Kaufmann Stefan H.E.
Published: November 2012

There is great need for better control measures for tuberculosis (TB). High‐throughput analyses, such as transcriptomic and metabolic profiling, offer a promising path toward clinically useful biosignatures. With the help of biomarkers, it will be possible not only to reliably perform diagnosis but also to gain a better understanding of the disease process and, in the future, even predict the onset of disease in infected individuals. Biomarkers based on transcriptomic and metabolic profiles as well as on cytokine composition provide important insights into the basic biological principles of TB and give an opportunity to reliably distinguish TB patients from healthy individuals. Use of biomarkers for point‐of‐care diagnosis, however, is still a distant goal, which to achieve will require extensive analysis of TB biosignatures across different cohorts and a combination of different platforms.
Mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire AB device in large intracerebral artery occlusions
Authors: McCabe John J , Phillips Timothy J , Phatouros Con , Singh Tejinder , Blacker David , Hankey Graeme J , McAuliffe William
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Mechanical thrombectomy has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of acute stroke. The Solitaire AB device is used for clot retrieval with unprecedented revascularisation rates being reported. Our aim is to report our experiences of the safety and efficacy of the Solitaire AB device in acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

A retrospective dual‐centre study of 21 patients with acute ischaemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire AB device between 1 October 2010 and 1 December 2011 was carried out. Using clinical data recovered from patients' case notes, we identified time intervals from groin puncture to recanalisation, revascularisation rates, procedural complications and neurological status before and after treatment (using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS) respectively).

Results

Successful revascularisation, defined as Thrombosis in Cerebral Ischemia Grade 2 or 3, was achieved in 81% of cases. The mean NIHSS score at presentation was 18.5. The mean number of passes required to achieve recanalisation was 1.95 and the median duration of the procedure from groin puncture to recanalisation was 65 min. Procedural events included distal emboli (n = 2), arterial dissection (n = 1) and arterial perforation (n = 1).There were three cases of asymptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. Forty‐eight per cent of patients achieved a good functional outcome at 3 months (mRS score ≤2). The mortality rate at 3 months was 19% (n = 4). There was no procedure‐related mortality.

Conclusions

Mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire AB device is safe and achieves high rates of revascularisation in acute stroke with good clinical outcomes.
HOW YOUNG PEOPLE COPE WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Muhammad Shahid , Noble Helen , Banks Pauline , Carson Amanda , Martin Colin R.
Published: November 2012

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex, long‐term condition occurring in all age groups. It has been reported that the incidence of renal replacement therapy in young people is 7–8 per million population. Notwithstanding those individuals who may receive a donor kidney, many individuals may be disenfranchised by perceptions of helplessness and feelings of powerlessness against a backdrop of diminished health outlook, consequently impacting on capacity for effective coping.

Aim: The aim of this review is to explore how young people cope with CKD.

Methods: Three hundred and thirty‐seven abstracts were identified. Sixty‐three papers were cross‐examined using a Critical Appraisal Skills Checklist Tool.

Results: Young people face various demands; these may be episodic or ongoing, depending on health and circumstance. The themes this review uncovers are: ‘Lack of a Coping Definition’; ‘Coping Strategies in Young People’; and ‘Barriers to the Understanding of Coping in Young People’.

Conclusion: More qualitative research is vital to retrieve ‘real‐life’ perceptions from young people coping with kidney disease to identify how care should be made more explicit for them.
NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OSTEODYSTROPHY (NEMO) IN PATIENTS ON HAEMODIALYSIS: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Karavetian Mirey , Ghaddar Sana
Published: November 2012

Objective

To examine the effect of self‐management dietary counselling (SMDC) on adherence to dietary management of hyperphosphatemia among haemodialysis patients.

Design

An eight‐week cluster based randomised control trial.

Participants

122 stable adult patients were recruited from an HD unit in Sidon, Lebanon. Study groups were: full intervention (A) (n = 41), partial intervention (B) (n = 41) and control (C) (n = 40).

Intervention

Group (A) received SMDC, Group (B) received educational games only and Group (C) did not receive any research intervention.

Main Outcome Measures

Serum phosphorus (P), Calcium Phosphate product (Ca × P) and two questionnaires: patient knowledge (PK) and dietary non‐adherence (PDnA) to P reduced diet.

Results

Group A experienced a significant improvement in mean (± SD) P (6.54 ± 2.05 − 5.4 ± 1.97 mg/dl), Ca × P (58 ± 17 − 49 ± 12), PK scores (50 ± 17 − 69 ± 25%) and PDnA scores (21.4 ± 4.0 − 18.3 ± 2.0). Group B experienced a significant improvement in Ca × P (52 ± 14–45 ± 16). Group C did not experience any significant change post intervention.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the importance of patient‐tailored counselling on serum P management.
A taxonomic revision of Madagascan Gardenia (Rubiaceae, Gardenieae)
Authors: Rakotonirina Nivohenintsoa , Rakouth Bakolimalala , Davis Aaron P.
Published: November 2012

A taxonomic revision of MadagascanGardeniais presented, to include four species and two subspecies. Three species,Gardenia sambiranensisRakoton. & A. P. Davis,G. manongarivenisRakoton. & A. P. Davis,G. brevicalyxRakoton. & A. P. Davis and one subspecies,G. rutenbergianasubsp.australisRakoton. & A. P. Davis, are described as new to science. Identification keys, descriptions, distribution maps, illustrations, species notes (distribution, habitat and ecology, phenology), and conservation assessments are provided. MadagascanGardeniaspecies are restricted to western Madagascar, in seasonally dry and sub‐humid vegetation types. At least two species demonstrate broad ecological and anthropogenic tolerance, which may make them suitable for vegetation restoration projects in western Madagascar.
Mating system variation in Veronica (Plantaginaceae): inferences from pollen/ovule ratios and other reproductive traits
Authors: Scalone Romain , Kolf Markus , Albach Dirk C.
Published: November 2012

The pollen–ovule ratio (P/O) is commonly used to estimate the mode of sexual reproduction in flowering plants. In previous studies, a clear correspondence has been detected between this character and the degree of autogamy. We here investigate variation in this character and its expected correlates in the genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae). Pollen–ovule ratios of 45 species representing eleven percent of all the species in the genus were investigated and compared with results from crossing experiments from previous studies. In addition, multiple populations of 17 of the 45 studied species were sampled and a controlled‐environment experiment was conducted to evaluate the extent of intraspecific variation. Moreover, relationships between P/O and other primary and secondary reproductive characters of the Veronica flower were investigated in relation to a phylogenetic hypothesis in order to determine the phylogenetic constraints on reproductive characters. The differences in P/O among species correspond well to the diversity of mating systems in Veronica and correlate well with other floral characters such as corolla size. These characters together seem to allow a powerful and fast tool to infer mating systems. However, causes for intraspecific variation of P/O, such as different cytotypes, ecotypes or different growth conditions, need to be considered.
Social Networks Help Control Hypertension
Authors: Shaya Fadia T. , Chirikov Viktor V. , Daniel Mullins C. , Shematek Jon , Howard DeLeonardo , Foster Clyde , Saunders Elijah
Published: November 2012

Cardiovascular health disparities continue to pose a major public health problem. The authors evaluated the effect of education administered within social networks on the improvement of hypertension in 248 African Americans compared with historical controls. Patients formed clusters with peers and attended monthly hypertension education sessions. The authors assessed the likelihood of reaching goal below predefined systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) thresholds as well as the absolute reduction in SBP and DBP, controlling for diabetes, smoking, baseline hypertension, and demographics. The intervention group was more likely to have ever reached treatment goal at 12‐month follow‐up (odds ratio, 1.72; P=.11). At 18‐month follow‐up, the Maryland Cardiovascular Disease Promotion Program group had a statistically significant larger drop in SBP (−4.82 mm Hg, P<.0001) and DBP (−3.37 mm Hg, P=.01) than the control group. The clustering of patients in social networks around hypertension education has a positive impact on the management of hypertension in minority populations and may help address cardiovascular health disparities.
Comprehensive microbiological findings in peri‐implantitis and periodontitis
Authors: Koyanagi Tatsuro , Sakamoto Mitsuo , Takeuchi Yasuo , Maruyama Noriko , Ohkuma Moriya , Izumi Yuichi
Published: November 2012

Aim

The microbial differences between peri‐implantitis and periodontitis in the same subjects were examined using 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis and real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Materials and methods

Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the deepest pockets of peri‐implantitis and periodontitis sites in six subjects. The prevalence of bacteria was analysed using a 16S rRNA gene clone library and real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

A total of 333 different taxa were identified from 799 sequenced clones; 231 (69%) were uncultivated phylotypes, of which 75 were novel. The numbers of bacterial taxa identified at the sites of peri‐implantitis and periodontitis were 192 and 148 respectively. The microbial composition of peri‐implantitis was more diverse when compared with that of periodontitis. Fusobacterium spp. and Streptococcus spp. were predominant in both peri‐implantitis and periodontitis, while bacteria such as Parvimonas micra were only detected in peri‐implantitis. The prevalence of periodontopathic bacteria was not high, while quantitative evaluation revealed that, in most cases, prevalence was higher at peri‐implantitis sites than at periodontitis sites.

Conclusions

The biofilm in peri‐implantitis showed a more complex microbial composition when compared with periodontitis. Common periodontopathic bacteria showed low prevalence, and several bacteria were identified as candidate pathogens in peri‐implantitis.
Modulation of attentional blink with emotional faces in typical development and in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Yerys Benjamin E. , Ruiz Ericka , Strang John , Sokoloff Jennifer , Kenworthy Lauren , Vaidya Chandan J.
Published: November 2012

Background:  The attentional blink (AB) phenomenon was used to assess the effect of emotional information on early visual attention in typically developing (TD) children and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The AB effect is the momentary perceptual unawareness that follows target identification in a rapid serial visual processing stream. It is abolished or reduced for emotional stimuli, indicating that emotional information has privileged access to early visual attention processes.

Methods:  We examined the AB effect for faces with neutral and angry facial expressions in 8‐ to 14‐year‐old children with and without an ASD diagnosis.

Results:  Children with ASD exhibited the same magnitude AB effect as TD children for both neutral and angry faces.

Conclusions:  Early visual attention to emotional facial expressions was preserved in children with ASD.
Meta‐analysis of digital dermoscopy follow‐up of melanocytic skin lesions: a study on behalf of the International Dermoscopy Society
Authors: Salerni G. , Terán T. , Puig S. , Malvehy J. , Zalaudek I. , Argenziano G. , Kittler H.
Published: November 2012

It has been demonstrated that dermoscopic monitoring of melanocytic lesions allows for the recognition of melanoma in early stages while minimizing the excision of benign lesions. However, it is still pending to determine the real impact of digital follow‐up in the clinical management of pigmented lesions. To assess the evidence of follow‐up of melanocytic skin lesions with digital dermoscopy in the management of individuals at risk for melanoma by performing a meta‐analysis. Medline database was screened, no limits in terms of date or language were applied. Original studies were selected when the following criteria were met: performed in clinical setting with clinical and dermoscopic evaluation made by physicians, data regarding population characteristics included, follow‐up strategy used described. Fourteen of 145 retrieved references were retained. Included studies account for a total of 5787 patients (mean 445 per study) and 52 739 lesions monitored (mean per study 4057; range 272–11 396) with a mean of 12 lesions monitored per patient; a total of 4388 lesions (8.3%) were excised. The mean length of follow‐up was 30 months. A mean of <1 lesion was excised per patient along the surveillance period. The number needed to monitor (NNM) ranged from 31 to 1008 (mean: 348) among eligible studies. For every additional month of monitoring, 1additional melanoma was detected. Using digital dermoscopy follow‐up, the proportion of in situ melanoma and thin melanomas are higher than expected in general population. Chances to detect a melanoma during surveillance increase as the length of follow‐up extends.
Age and sex affect quantitative genetic parameters for dominance rank and aggression in free‐living greylag geese
Authors: Weiß B. M. , Foerster K.
Published: November 2012

Knowledge of the genetic and environmental influences on a character is pivotal for understanding evolutionary changes in quantitative traits in natural populations. Dominance and aggression are ubiquitous traits that are selectively advantageous in many animal societies and have the potential to impact the evolutionary trajectory of animal populations. Here we provide age‐ and sex‐specific estimates of additive genetic and environmental components of variance for dominance rank and aggression rate in a free‐living, human‐habituated bird population subject to natural selection. We use a long‐term data set on individually marked greylag geese (Anser anser) and show that phenotypic variation in dominance‐related behaviours contains significant additive genetic variance, parental effects and permanent environment effects. The relative importance of these variance components varied between age and sex classes, whereby the most pronounced differences concerned nongenetic components. In particular, parental effects were larger in juveniles of both sexes than in adults. In paired adults, the partner's identity had a larger influence on male dominance rank and aggression rate than in females. In sex‐ and age‐specific estimates, heritabilities did not differ significantly between age and sex classes. Adult dominance rank was only weakly genetically correlated between the sexes, leading to considerably higher heritabilities in sex‐specific estimates than across sexes. We discuss these patterns in relation to selection acting on dominance rank and aggression in different life history stages and sexes and suggest that different adaptive optima could be a mechanism for maintaining genetic variation in dominance‐related traits in free‐living animal populations.
Effects of Media on Recovery of Escherichia coliO157:H7 and Pseudomonas fluorescens from Spinach
Authors: Olanya O. Modesto , Annous Bassam A. , Niemira Brendan A. , Ukuku Dike O. , Sommers Christopher
Published: November 2012

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an important foodborne pathogen implicated in contamination of leafy greens and can cause hemorrhagic colitis in humans. Efficient recovery and enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 (Ec) and Pseudomonas fluorescens from produce are crucial for efficacy of biocontrol of Ec. Biocontrol refers to the suppression, reduction or control of one organism with another. P. fluorescens (Pf) is used for biocontrol research due to its colonization potential and suppressive activity against many microbes. We evaluated the sensitivity and selectivity of Restaino and Frampton (R & F) E. coli O157:H7 chromogenic medium (RFCM) and the effect of storage time and temperature on recovery of Ec and Pf from cultures and spinach. Ec and Pf were inoculated at the same level. Microbial counts differed between media and Ec was identified on RFCM based on color (blue‐black precipitate), while Pf had distinct white/translucent colonies that fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Bacterial populations from mixed cultures plated on media and recovered ranged from 3.6–8.7 and 4.2–7.7 log cfu/mL for Ec and Pf, respectively. Microbial counts on spinach ranged from 6.0–8.2 and 6.5–8.6 log cfu/g for the above bacteria. Bacterial recovery increased with storage time of 0–48 h, implying a possible increase of contact time for bacterial attachment. The RFCM was best suited for simultaneous recovery of Ec and Pf based on differentiation of colonies on media and can be an effective tool for biocontrol research.

Practical Applications

Efficient recovery and accurate enumeration of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the human pathogen and Pseudomonas fluorescens, the biocontrol agent, from leafy greens are crucial for assessment of biocontrol efficacy. P. fluorescens has been used for biocontrol of some foodborne and plant pathogenic microbes from leafy greens, phyllosphere and rhizosphere of agronomic crops based on its competitive and antagonistic ability. Other than the generation of antibiotic resistant strains (foodborne pathogens) or use of green fluorescent‐labeled mutants, there are limited options available for simultaneous recovery and enumeration of biocontrol and pathogenic bacteria. This research provides information on the recovery and differentiation of E. coli O157:H7 and P. fluorescens from media and inoculated spinach. The potential implication is a methodology for evaluation of the effectiveness of a biocontrol agent, with applications to other leafy greens. Accurate recovery and enumeration of biocontrol and pathogenic bacteria would promote optimal determination of biocontrol efficacy, a component of postharvest intervention strategy. This study validates the use of selective medium with specific applications for this type of research.
Outsourcing Mutual Fund Management: Firm Boundaries, Incentives, and Performance
Authors: CHEN JOSEPH , HONG HARRISON , JIANG WENXI , KUBIK JEFFREY D.
Published: November 2012

We investigate the effects of managerial outsourcing on the performance and incentives of mutual funds. Fund families outsource the management of a large fraction of their funds to advisory firms. These funds underperform those run internally by about 52 basis points per year. After instrumenting for a fund's outsourcing status, the estimated underperformance is three times larger. We hypothesize that contractual externalities due to firm boundaries make it difficult to extract performance from an outsourced relationship. Consistent with this view, outsourced funds face higher powered incentives; they are more likely to be closed after poor performance and excessive risk‐taking.
On the High‐Frequency Dynamics of Hedge Fund Risk Exposures
Authors: PATTON ANDREW J. , RAMADORAI TARUN
Published: November 2012

We propose a new method to model hedge fund risk exposures using relatively high‐frequency conditioning variables. In a large sample of funds, we find substantial evidence that hedge fund risk exposures vary across and within months, and that capturing within‐month variation is more important for hedge funds than for mutual funds. We consider different within‐month functional forms, and uncover patterns such as day‐of‐the‐month variation in risk exposures. We also find that changes in portfolio allocations, rather than in the risk exposures of the underlying assets, are the main drivers of hedge funds' risk exposure variation.
Uncovering Hedge Fund Skill from the Portfolio Holdings They Hide
Authors: AGARWAL VIKAS , JIANG WEI , TANG YUEHUA , YANG BAOZHONG
Published: November 2012

This paper studies the “confidential holdings” of institutional investors, especially hedge funds, where the quarter‐end equity holdings are disclosed with a delay through amendments to Form 13F and are usually excluded from the standard databases. Funds managing large risky portfolios with nonconventional strategies seek confidentiality more frequently. Stocks in these holdings are disproportionately associated with information‐sensitive events or share characteristics indicating greater information asymmetry. Confidential holdings exhibit superior performance up to 12 months, and tend to take longer to build. Together the evidence supports private information and the associated price impact as the dominant motives for confidentiality.
Occurrence of the New York Strain of Soil‐Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus in Northern Germany
Authors: Ziegler Angelika , Golecki Bettina , Kastirr Ute
Published: November 2012

Sequence analysis has shown that diseased wheat plants in Northern Germany were infected with the New York strain of soil‐borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV). This is in contrast to the only other confirmed site of SBWMV occurring in Germany, where a variant closely related to the Nebraska‐type strain of SBWMV was found. The results indicate that there have been at least two separate introductions of SBWMV strains to Germany. A survey is required to study the actual distribution of SBWMV in Germany.
Survival of Sclerotia of Rhizoctonia solani AG3PT and Effect of Soil‐Borne Inoculum Density on Disease Development on Potato
Authors: Ritchie Faye , Bain Ruairidh , Mcquilken Mark
Published: November 2012

Sclerotia produced by a single isolate of Rhizoctonia solani AG3PT were buried in small plot experiments to investigate the effects of sclerotial production method, soil type and burial depth on sclerotial viability in field soil. The factor with the greatest effect on sclerotial viability, defined as the percentage of sclerotia germinating on agar following retrieval, in all experiments was the duration of burial. After 18 months, on average across all experiments, 20% of retrieved sclerotia were viable. A comparison between sclerotia produced in vitro on malt yeast extract agar and in vivo using micropropagated tubers in field soil found no significant differences between the two production methods on sclerotial viability. Burial in field soil at 20‐cm depth was found to significantly reduce sclerotial viability to 50% compared to 60% at 5 cm. In two pot experiments, amending the growing medium and soil with increasing inoculum densities of R. solani was found to increase stem number, stem canker and black scurf severity regardless of whether this soil‐borne inoculum was derived from mycelium or sclerotia. Black scurf incidence and severity were assessed 30–32 days posthaulm destruction and found to be similar for a range of sclerotial soil‐borne inoculum densities (1.0 × 10−1 g/kg d.w. soil to 6 × 10−3 g/kg d.w. soil). The significance of these findings in relation to pathogen survival, detection in soil and disease development is discussed.
Compared Anatomy of Young Leaves of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch with Different Degrees of Susceptibility to Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul
Authors: Giordani Edgardo , Padula Giuseppe , Radice Silvia
Published: November 2012

Anatomical observations of leaves infected by Taphrina deformans were studied in tolerant peach trees (TPT) and in very susceptible (VSPT) ones. Leaves from the first sampling (2nd April) showed hyphae penetrating through the stomata or into the cuticle of the host tissue; anatomical structures of leaf sections were similar for both TPT and VSPT. The ultrastructure of the leaves of TPT showed seemingly normal mesophyll cells. In contrast, mesophyll cells of the VSPT showed important signs of degradation. Cells were organelle‐free and the middle lamella was expanded and invaded by hyphae of T. deformans. In some samples, the leaves of TPT showed deformed epidermal cells, loss of some spongy cells and increase of the intercellular spaces and division of the palisade cells. The pathogen proliferation in the leaves of the VSPT was considerably superior. In this case, stimulation of cell division occurred in the abaxial epidermis. Cells showed periclinal and oblique divisions, with an increased number of plasmodesmata; palisade or spongy cells were not differentiable. Leaves from TPT collected on 26th April showed hyphae with a non‐cylindrical section and with a squashed aspect. The hyphae were very evident in the intercellular spaces, showing abundant endoplasmic reticulum of rough type (RER) in the cytoplasm. On the other hand, epidermis of the leaves of the VSPT had numerous hyphae under the cuticle, which were growing in a thick pectin matrix. Leaves from TPT and VSPT collected on 6th May showed relevant differences. The leaves of TPT had a palisade mesophyll with fewer cells but with active chloroplasts. In contrast, the leaves from VSPT showed empty mesophyll cells, the cytoplasm was collapsed and the adaxial epidermis was covered with the fungus fructification. The observed anatomical and ultrastructural differences of leaves from TPT and VSPT confirm a different behaviour in plant‐host reaction at early stages of infection.
Role of probiotics in prevention of Candida infection in critically ill children
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Singhi Sunit
Published: November 2012

Candidiasis accounts for 10–20% of bloodstream infections in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and a significant increase in morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay. Enteric colonisation by Candida species is one of the most important risk factor for invasive candidiasis. The local defence mechanisms may be altered in critically ill patients, thus facilitating Candida overgrowth and candidiasis. Systemic antifungals have been proven to be effective in reducing fungal colonisation and invasive fungal infections, but their use is not without harms. Early restoration or maintenance of intestinal microbial flora using probiotics could be one of the important tools for reducing Candida infection. A few studies have demonstrated that probiotics are able to prevent Candida growth and colonisation in neonates, whereas their role in preventing invasive candidiasis in such patients is still unclear. Moreover, there are no published data on role of probiotics supplementation in the prevention of candidiasis in critically ill children beyond neonatal period. There are gap in our knowledge regarding efficacy, cost effectiveness, risk‐benefit potential, optimum dose, frequency and duration of treatment of probiotics in prevention of fungal infections in critically ill children. Studies exploring and evaluating the role of probiotics in prevention of Candida infection in critically ill children are needed.
Irritable bowel syndrome: is the colonic mucosa to blame?
Authors: Hoffman Jill M.
Published: November 2012

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by chronic abdominal pain or discomfort and altered gastrointestinal function of unknown etiology. Studies of colonic mucosal biopsies from patients with IBS have suggested altered immune system function as a potential mechanism in the pathophysiology of IBS, but efforts to identify the mucosal mediators responsible for the manifestation of symptoms that define the disorder have been limited. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Buhner et al. and Balestra et al. report findings from studies linking increased excitability of the enteric nervous system with mucosal mediators released from biopsies of patients with IBS. These studies provide evidence for the concept that mediators present in the colonic mucosa may contribute to the manifestation of clinical symptoms present in IBS.
Association of personality with the development and persistence of obesity: a meta‐analysis based on individual–participant data
Authors: Jokela M. , Hintsanen M. , Hakulinen C. , Batty G. D. , Nabi H. , Singh‐Manoux A. , Kivimäki M.
Published: November 2012

Personality is thought to affect obesity risk but before such information can be incorporated into prevention and intervention plans, robust and converging evidence concerning the most relevant personality traits is needed. We performed a meta‐analysis based on individual–participant data from nine cohort studies to examine whether broad‐level personality traits predict the development and persistence of obesity (n = 78,931 men and women; mean age 50 years). Personality was assessed using inventories of the Five‐Factor Model (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience). High conscientiousness – reflecting high self‐control, orderliness and adherence to social norms – was associated with lower obesity risk across studies (pooled odds ratio [OR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80–0.88 per 1 standard deviation increment in conscientiousness). Over a mean follow‐up of 5.4 years, conscientiousness predicted lower obesity risk in initially non‐obese individuals (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.85–0.92; n = 33,981) and was associated with greater likelihood of reversion to non‐obese among initially obese individuals (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01–1.14; n = 9,657). Other personality traits were not associated with obesity in the pooled analysis, and there was substantial heterogeneity in the associations between studies. The findings indicate that conscientiousness may be the only broad‐level personality trait of the Five‐Factor Model that is consistently associated with obesity across populations.
The Life‐giving Force of “Ren” and Dai Zhen’s Conception of Desire
Authors: Lan Fei
Published: November 2012

This article examines the vitalistic meaning of “ren” (仁) with its focus of discussion on the 18th century Confucian thinker Dai Zhen’s (戴震 1724–1777) reading of the concept. I argue that Dai Zhen, in both continuation with and departure from the Neo‐Confucian thought on the vitalism of ren provides a unique interpretation of this key Confucian notion in terms of the creative creativity of shengsheng (生生) and thereby throws a fresh light on the age‐old subject of human desire.
Religion and the American West
Authors: Newell Quincy D.
Published: November 2012

The standard narrative of American religious history largely omits the story of religion and the American West. Integrating this story would produce a more coherent history of American religion, allowing nuanced consideration of interactions between Native Americans and colonists and eliminating gaps in the traditional narrative. The West serves as a microcosm and predictor of national religious developments and also contributes to the study of world religions. Five themes have emerged in recent scholarship on religion and the American West: race and ethnicity; transnationalism; the construction of the category of religion; religion and the environment; and the myth of the American West. Scholars in the field face four challenges: learning from Western history’s definitional debates and defining the boundaries of religion and the American West; showing that the American West is a useful unit of regional analysis; constructing synthetic narratives of religion and the American West; and integrating the story of religion and the American West into the story of American religion as a whole.
Patient satisfaction with electronic medical/health record: a systematic review
Authors: Liu Jialin , Luo Li , Zhang Riu , Huang Tingting
Published: November 2012

Rationale and aim

Facilitators and barriers to satisfaction after implementation of the electronic medical/health record (EMR/EHR) are important to understand as patient satisfaction is linked with improvement in health care and meaningful use of EMR/EHR. The objectives of this systematic review were to evaluate patient satisfaction after implementation and to synthesize available factors regarding the estimates of the patient satisfaction with EMR/EHR. These factors may help vendors to better design EMR/EHR and to assist in providing direction for progression of research in this field.

Methods

Data sources for the study included reports of studies from the Medline, Ovid, Springerlink, EBSCOhost, Embase and Wiley Online Library, and searching of bibliographies of review and other articles. Our inclusion criteria were the descriptions of patient satisfaction after implementation of EMR/EHR.

Results

Searching the online database resulted in 1425 articles and 58 articles from reference lists. After removing duplicates and assessing against the selection criteria, 41 articles were for further full‐text review. After careful analysis, 33 articles were excluded. Eventually, a total of eight articles met inclusion criteria and were assessed.

Conclusions

These studies showed a positive patient satisfaction with EMR/EHR, but more rigorous studies should be carried out to more precisely quantify and describe the impact of EMR/EHR on patient satisfaction. Due to many factors influencing patient satisfaction with EMR/EHR, more research is needed to understand these factors before more concrete measurements of satisfaction can be developed to help researchers develop effective evaluation satisfaction.
Arabidopsis A BOUT DE SOUFFLE is a putative mitochondrial transporter involved in photorespiratory metabolism and is required for meristem growth at ambient CO2 levels
Authors: Eisenhut Marion , Planchais Severine , Cabassa Cécile , Guivarc'h Anne , Justin Anne‐Marie , Taconnat Ludivine , Renou Jean‐Pierre , Linka Marc , Gagneul David , Timm Stefan , Bauwe Hermann , Carol Pierre , Weber Andreas P.M.
Published: November 2012

Photorespiratory metabolism is essential in all oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. In plants, it is a highly compartmentalized pathway that involves chloroplasts, peroxisomes, mitochondria and the cytoplasm. The metabolic pathway itself is well characterized, and the enzymes required for its function have been identified. However, very little information is available on the transport proteins that catalyze the high metabolic flux between the involved compartments. Here we show that the A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BOU) gene, which encodes a mitochondrial carrier, is involved in photorespiration in Arabidopsis. BOU was found to be co‐expressed with photorespiratory genes in leaf tissues. The knockout mutant bou‐2 showed the hallmarks of a photorespiratory growth phenotype, an elevated CO2 compensation point, and excessive accumulation of glycine. Furthermore, degradation of the P‐protein, a subunit of glycine decarboxylase, was demonstrated for bou‐2, and is reflected in strongly reduced glycine decarboxylase activity. The photorespiration defect in bou‐2 has dramatic consequences early in the seedling stage, which are highlighted by transcriptome studies. In bou‐2 seedlings, as in shm1, another photorespiratory mutant, the shoot apical meristem organization is severely compromised. Cell divisions are arrested, leading to growth arrest at ambient CO2. Although the specific substrate for the BOU transporter protein remains elusive, we show that it is essential for the function of the photorespiratory metabolism. We hypothesize that BOU function is linked with glycine decarboxylase activity, and is required for normal apical meristems functioning in seedlings.
Cytokinin‐dependent specification of the functional megaspore in the Arabidopsis female gametophyte
Authors: Cheng Chia‐Yi , Mathews Dennis E. , Eric Schaller G. , Kieber Joseph J.
Published: November 2012

The life cycle of higher plants alternates between the diploid sporophytic and the haploid gametophytic phases. In angiosperms, male and female gametophytes develop within the sporophyte. During female gametophyte (FG) development, a single archesporial cell enlarges and differentiates into a megaspore mother cell, which then undergoes meiosis to give rise to four megaspores. In most species of higher plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana, the megaspore closest to the chalaza develops into the functional megaspore (FM), and the remaining three megaspores degenerate. Here, we examined the role of cytokinin signaling in FG development. We characterized the FG phenotype in three triple mutants harboring non‐overlapping T–DNA insertions in cytokinin AHK receptors. We demonstrate that even the strongest mutant is not a complete null for the cytokinin receptors. Only the strongest mutant displayed a near fully penetrant disruption of FG development, and the weakest triple ahk mutant had only a modest FG phenotype. This suggests that cytokinin signaling is essential for FG development, but that only a low threshold of signaling activity is required for this function. Furthermore, we demonstrate that there is elevated cytokinin signaling localized in the chalaza of the ovule, which is enhanced by the asymmetric localization of cytokinin biosynthetic machinery and receptors. We show that an FM‐specific marker is absent in the multiple ahk ovules, suggesting that disruption of cytokinin signaling elements in Arabidopsis blocks the FM specification. Together, this study reveals a chalazal‐localized sporophytic cytokinin signal that plays an important role in FM specification in FG development.