bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of gastrointestinal cancer: Nested case–control study within a prospective cohort, and meta‐analysis
Authors: Green Jane , Czanner Gabriela , Reeves Gillian , Watson Joanna , Wise Lesley , Roddam Andrew , Beral Valerie
Published: June 2011

Use of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) has been associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer; evidence for its effect on other gastrointestinal cancers is limited. We conducted a nested case–control study within a UK cohort, and meta‐analyses combining our results with those from published studies. Our study included women aged 50+ in the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD): 1,054 with oesophageal, 750 with gastric and 4,708 with colorectal cancer, and 5 age‐ and practice‐matched controls per case. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer in relation to prospectively‐recorded HT prescriptions were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Women prescribed HT had a reduced risk of oesophageal cancer (adjusted RR for 1+ vs. no HT prescriptions, 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.88; p = 0.004), gastric cancer (0.75, 0.54–1.05; p = 0.1) and colorectal cancer (0.81, 0.73–0.90; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in cancer risk by HT type, estimated duration of HT use or between past and current users. In meta‐analyses, risks for ever vs. never use of HT were significantly reduced for all three cancers (summary RR for oesophageal cancer, 0.68, 0.55–0.84, p < 0.001; for gastric cancer, 0.78, 0.65–0.94, p = 0.008; for colorectal cancer, 0.84, 0.81–0.88, p < 0.001). In high‐income countries, estimated incidence over 5 years of these three cancers combined in women aged 50–64 was 2.9/1,000 in HT users and 3.6/1,000 in never users. The absolute reduction in risk of these cancers in HT users is small compared to the HT‐associated increased risk of breast cancer.
The cancer burden in the United Kingdom in 2007 due to radiotherapy
Authors: Maddams Jacob , Parkin D. Maxwell , Darby Sarah C.
Published: June 2011

The number of long‐term cancer survivors in the general population of the UK is substantial and increasing rapidly. Many cancer survivors have been treated with radiotherapy but the likely number of radiotherapy‐related second cancers has not previously been estimated. We used estimates of the numbers of cancer survivors in the UK at the beginning of 2007, in conjunction with estimates of the relative risk of a second primary cancer associated with previous radiotherapy from the United States Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) programme, to estimate the numbers of incident cancers in the UK in 2007 that were associated with radiotherapy for a previous cancer and that may have been caused by it. We estimated that 1,346 cases of cancer, or about 0.45% of the 298,000 new cancers registered in the UK in 2007, were associated with radiotherapy for a previous cancer. The largest numbers of radiotherapy‐related second cancers were lung cancer (23.7% of the total), oesophageal cancer (13.3%), and female breast cancer (10.6%); 54% of radiotherapy‐related second cancers were in individuals aged 75 or over. The highest percentages of second cancers related to radiotherapy were among survivors of Hodgkin's disease and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx and cervix uteri; over 15% of second cancers among these survivors were associated with radiotherapy for the first cancer. These calculations, which involve a number of assumptions and approximations, provide a reasonable, if conservative, estimate of the fraction of incident cancers in the UK that are attributable to past radiation therapy.
Inactivation of Escherichia coli using UV/AgTiO2/O3‐mediated advanced oxidation: application to ballast water disinfection
Authors: Wu Donghai , You Hong , Zhang Ran , Chen Chuan , Du Jiaxuan
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND: Ballast water discharge from ships is regarded as one of the four major risk factors that threaten global marine environmental safety, and ballast water treatment is vital to prevent the introduction of potentially invasive species. The UV/AgTiO2/O3 process has been investigated for its potential use for ballast water treatment using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an indicator bacterium. Inactivation curves were obtained, and the occurrence of oxidants was studied.

RESULTS: Compared with individual unit processes with ozone or UV/AgTiO2, the inactivation of E. coli by the combined UV/AgTiO2/O3 process was enhanced, and the inactivation efficiency was improved with increasing ultraviolet intensity and ozone dose. The initial total residual oxidant (TRO) concentration was positively correlated with ozone dose, and resulted in faster decay rate for lower initial concentration. Persistence of TRO resulted in a cumulative bacteria mortality in the effluent.

CONCLUSION: The UV/AgTiO2/O3 process was found to be efficient for E. coli inactivation in simulated ballast water. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
High efficiency bioethanol production from OPEFB using pilot pretreatment reactor
Authors: Han Minhee , Kim Yule , Kim Seung Wook , Choi Gi‐Wook
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND: Current ethanol production processes using crops such as corn and sugar cane are well established. However, the utilization of cheaper biomasses such as lignocellulose could make bioethanol more competitive with fossil fuels while avoiding the ethical concerns associated with using potential food resources.

RESULTS: Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), a lignocellulosic biomass, was pretreated using NaOH to produce bioethanol. The pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions were found to be 127.64 °C, 22.08 min, and 2.89 mol L−1 for temperature, reaction time, and NaOH concentration, respectively. Regarding enzymatic digestibility, 50 FPU g−1 cellulose of cellulase was selected as the test concentration, resulting in a total glucose conversion rate (TGCR) of 86.37% using the Changhae Ethanol Multi Explosion (CHEMEX) facility. Fermentation of pretreated OPEFB using Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in an ethanol concentration of 48.54 g L−1 at 20% (w/v) pretreated biomass loading, along with simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes. Overall, 410.48 g of ethanol were produced from 3 kg of raw OPEFB in a single run, using the CHEMEX_50 L reactor.

CONCLUSION: The results presented here constitute a significant contribution to the production of bioethanol from OPEFB. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Real‐time ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis
Authors: Xie Ping , Xiao Ying , Liu Fang
Published: June 2011

Purpose:

To assess the value of real‐time sonographic (US) elastography in the diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis (SAT).

Methods:

This study included 29 lesions from 20 patients with SAT, 33 nodules from 24 patients with multinodular goiter, and 27 nodules from 23 patients with thyroid cancer. Eighty‐nine lesions in these patients were examined by grayscale US and real‐time US elastography. An elasticity score (ES), based on four classes of tissue stiffness (class 1 for soft lesions; class 2 and 3 for lesions intermediate in stiffness; class 4 for inelastic lesions), was introduced. The distribution of ESs for SAT and multinodular goiter or thyroid cancer was compared. Also, the correlation between serum‐free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations and ESs for lesions in patients with SAT was analyzed.

Results:

Nineteen of 29 SAT lesions had an ES of 3; the rest had an ES of 4. Of 33 multinodular goiter nodules, 5 had an ES of 1, 23 had an ES of 2, and 5 had an ES of 3. Eleven of 27 malignant thyroid nodules had an ES of 3; 15 had an ES of 4, and 1 had an ES of 2. In the distribution of ESs, there was a statistically significant difference between SAT lesions and multinodular goiter nodules (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between SAT lesions and malignant nodules (p > 0.05). No correlation existed between serum FT4 concentrations and ESs for the lesions in patients with SAT (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Real‐time US elastography does not provide conclusive information in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SAT due to its inability to distinguish between SAT and thyroid cancer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011
Tetravalent half‐edge‐transitive graphs and non‐normal Cayley graphs
Authors: Wang Xiuyun , Feng Yan‐Quan
Published: June 2011

Let X be a vertex‐transitive graph, that is, the automorphism group Aut(X) of X is transitive on the vertex set of X. The graph X is said to be symmetric if Aut(X) is transitive on the arc set of X. suppose that Aut(X) has two orbits of the same length on the arc set of X. Then X is said to be half‐arc‐transitive or half‐edge‐transitive if Aut(X) has one or two orbits on the edge set of X, respectively. Stabilizers of symmetric and half‐arc‐transitive graphs have been investigated by many authors. For example, see Tutte [Canad J Math 11 (1959), 621–624] and Conder and Marušič [J Combin Theory Ser B 88 (2003), 67–76]. It is trivial to construct connected tetravalent symmetric graphs with arbitrarily large stabilizers, and by Marušič [Discrete Math 299 (2005), 180–193], connected tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive graphs can have arbitrarily large stabilizers. In this article, we show that connected tetravalent half‐edge‐transitive graphs can also have arbitrarily large stabilizers. A Cayley graph Cay(G, S) on a group G is said to be normal if the right regular representation R(G) of G is normal in Aut(Cay(G, S)). There are only a few known examples of connected tetravalent non‐normal Cayley graphs on non‐abelian simple groups. In this article, we give a sufficient condition for non‐normal Cayley graphs and by using the condition, infinitely many connected tetravalent non‐normal Cayley graphs are constructed. As an application, all connected tetravalent non‐normal Cayley graphs on the alternating group A6 are determined. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory
Prediction of onset and course of high hospital utilization in sickle cell disease
Authors: Carroll C. Patrick , Haywood Carlton , Lanzkron Sophie
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND:

Although sickle cell disease (SCD) patients typically manage their pain at home, a small subgroup is frequently hospitalized and accounts for the majority of costs.

OBJECTIVES:

1) To identify prospective diagnostic and demographic markers of new periods of high utilization; 2) To identify demographic and diagnostic markers of a persistent rather than moderating course of high utilization; 3) To replicate the finding that high utilization tends to moderate.

DESIGN:

The State Inpatient Databases for California, 2004–2007, were used. Patients with new onset periods of high utilization were compared with non‐high utilizers, and new high utilizers who moderated were compared with those who had a persistent course.

SETTING:

All hospitals in the state of California.

PATIENTS:

Patients age 13 years or older in 2004 with a recorded diagnosis of sickle cell disease and at least one hospitalization for crisis during the study period.

MEASURES: METHODS:

Groups from hospitals throughout California were compared on demographics and discharge diagnoses of SCD complications and comorbidities. Patients age 13 years or older in 2004 with a recorded diagnosis of sickle cell disease and at least 1 hospitalization for crisis during the study period were included.

RESULTS:

New periods of high utilization were associated with more prior hospitalizations and previous diagnoses of aseptic necrosis and renal disease. High utilization typically moderated. A persistent course was associated with slightly more hospitalizations during the initial year of high utilization, and, subsequently, by more mentions of septicemia and mood disorders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, high utilization was difficult to predict, as was its course. The diagnoses most associated with high utilization indicated more severe sickle cell disease. Septicemia deserves further investigation as a preventable cause for high utilization, as do mood disorders. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Electrocardiogram score predicts severity of pulmonary embolism in hemodynamically stable patients
Authors: Golpe Rafael , Castro‐Añón Olalla , Pérez‐de‐Llano Luis A. , González‐Juanatey Carlos , Vázquez‐Caruncho Manuel , Méndez‐Marote Lidia , Carmen Fariñas María
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND:

Risk stratification of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is essential to guide therapy. The presence of right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) and the anatomic extent of PE have been suggested to predict clinical course. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of an electrocardiogram (ECG) scoring system to predict RVD or the clot load score in normotensive patients with PE.

METHODS:

Consecutive patients presenting to the emergency room with PE and hemodynamic stability were prospectively included. ECG, echocardiography and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) were performed on all patients.

RESULTS:

A total of 103 patients were studied. ECG score correlated significantly with the clot load score (r = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22‐0.57, P < 0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r= 0.31, 95% CI: 0.09‐0.49, P = 0.006), pulmonary artery diameter (r = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.07‐0.47, P = 0.011) and right ventricle to left ventricle ratio, both measured with echocardiography (r = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.22‐0.57, P < 0.001) and with CTPA (r= 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13‐0.56, P = 0.004). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detecting RVD was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72‐0.89). Interobserver agreement regarding ECG score was substantial (κ = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS:

ECG score correlates with the severity of PE in hemodynamically stable patients. It is potentially useful for risk‐stratification strategies in this setting. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Incidence and predictors of microbiology results returning postdischarge and requiring follow‐up
Authors: El‐Kareh Robert , Roy Christopher , Brodsky Gregor , Perencevich Molly , Poon Eric G.
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND:

Failure to follow up microbiology results pending at discharge can delay appropriate treatment, increasing the risk of patient harm and litigation. Limited data describe the frequency of postdischarge microbiology results requiring a treatment change.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the incidence and predictors of postdischarge microbiology results requiring follow‐up.

DESIGN:

Cross‐sectional.

SETTING:

Large academic hospital during 2007.

MEASUREMENTS:

We evaluated blood, urine, sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures ordered for hospitalized patients. We identified cultures that returned postdischarge and determined which were clinically important and not treated by an antibiotic to which they were susceptible. We reviewed a random subset to assess the potential need for antibiotic change. Using logistic regression, we identified significant predictors of results requiring follow‐up.

RESULTS:

Of 77,349 inpatient culture results, 8668 (11%) returned postdischarge. Of these, 385 (4%) were clinically important and untreated at discharge. Among 94 manually reviewed cases, 53% potentially required a change in therapy. Urine cultures were more likely to potentially require therapy change than non‐urine cultures (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1‐7.2; P = 0.03). Also, 76% of 25 results from surgical services potentially required a therapy change, compared with 59% of 29 results from general medicine, 38% of 16 results from oncology, and 33% of 24 results from medical subspecialties. Overall, 2.4% of postdischarge cultures potentially necessitated an antibiotic change.

CONCLUSIONS:

Many microbiology results return postdischarge and some necessitate a change in treatment. These results arise from many specialties, suggesting the need for a hospital‐wide system to ensure effective communication of these results. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
From classical to contemporary leadership challenges
Authors: Ahn Mark J. , Ettner Larry W. , Loupin Amanda
Published: June 2011

This article explored the Aeneid, Virgil's foundation epic of the Latin canon, from a values‐based leadership perspective, which is defined as the moral foundation underlying stewardship decisions and actions of leaders. Specifically, we juxtaposed the resonant leadership elements of vision, culture, and values—and their corresponding equivalent Roman themes of fatum, pietas, and virtus. Using a thematic analysis approach, we coded the following eight values: integrity, good judgment, leadership by example, decision making, trust, justice/fairness, humility, and sense of urgency. We found that while the Aeneid extols prototypical values, the epic instructs that truly effective leadership is not about being a monochromatic prototype. Rather, the epic reveals that the essence and privilege of effective leadership demands reflection on the dynamic relationship between the leader and the led toward a better, envisioned future.
Coaching models for leadership development: An integrative review
Authors: Carey Wendy , Philippon Donald J. , Cummings Greta G.
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this article was to describe and compare coaching models and to address their relevance to the advancement of leadership. Coaching has become a popular strategy for leadership development and change in complex environments. Despite increasing popularity, little evidence describes the necessity and impact of coaching. An integrative literature review from 1996 to 2010, retrieved through seven databases, reference tracking, and consultation with academic networks, led to inclusion of peer‐reviewed articles on coaching models. Themes and critical elements in the selected coaching models were analyzed. The search yielded 1,414 titles. Four hundred twenty‐seven abstracts were screened using inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 56 papers were retrieved for full‐text screening. Ten papers were included: two coaching models from health care settings, seven from business settings, and one from a medical education institution. Critical components of coaching models are: coach–coachee relationship, problem identification and goal setting, problem solving, transformational process, and mechanisms by which the model achieves outcomes. Factors that impact positive coaching outcomes are: coach's role and attributes, selection of coaching candidates and coach attributes, obstacles and facilitators to the coaching process, benefits and drawbacks of external versus internal coaches, and organizational support. The elements of coaching models identified in this review may be used to guide future research on the effectiveness of coaching as a leadership strategy.
Guest editorial
Authors: Browde Beth
Published: June 2011

In the corporate world, leadership development programs are standard fare. Such programs often include well‐defined competencies and performance metrics, as well as regularly scheduled feedback and mentoring sessions, especially for those employees designated “high potential” performers.

Not so in the public sphere. There are no defined career paths or standardized training curricula for heads of
state. There are, however, requisite competencies for effective public sector leadership. As Gardner (1990) observed, “Leadership is not a mysterious activity. It is possible to describe the tasks that leaders perform....[But] we have barely scratched the surface in our efforts toward leadership development” (p. xix).

The learning curve is steep for a newly elected leader, and fraught with potential landmines. Speaking with
the candor of someone no longer seeking public office, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said recently, “When I came to office, prime minister was the only job I'd ever held; I'd never been a government minister before....The business of running a government is like anything else: You get better the longer you do it. And there are lessons out there that, had they come to me in an identifiable form, would have been useful to know” (talk given on December 16, 2010b).

Both Gardner and Blair are emphatic that leadership is not something one is born with but something learned
over time. And as Blair (2010a) put it, “Government is a race between expectations and capability.”

In the essays that follow, several leadership coaches discuss the unique challenges and effective approaches
they are using to help government leaders build the competencies that will enable them to govern effectively—and win that race between their constituents's expectations and their own capabilities.
Coaching political leaders: Can coaching be used to improve the quality of executive‐level government?
Authors: Browde Beth
Published: June 2011

In the corporate world, leadership development programs are standard fare. Such programs often include well‐defined competencies and performance metrics, as well as regularly scheduled feedback and mentoring sessions, especially for those employees designated “high potential” performers.

Not so in the public sphere. There are no defined career paths or standardized training curricula for heads of
state. There are, however, requisite competencies for effective public sector leadership. As Gardner (1990) observed, “Leadership is not a mysterious activity. It is possible to describe the tasks that leaders perform....[But] we have barely scratched the surface in our efforts toward leadership development” (p. xix).

The learning curve is steep for a newly elected leader, and fraught with potential landmines. Speaking with
the candor of someone no longer seeking public office, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said recently, “When I came to office, prime minister was the only job I'd ever held; I'd never been a government minister before....The business of running a government is like anything else: You get better the longer you do it. And there are lessons out there that, had they come to me in an identifiable form, would have been useful to know” (talk given on December 16, 2010b).

Both Gardner and Blair are emphatic that leadership is not something one is born with but something learned
over time. And as Blair (2010a) put it, “Government is a race between expectations and capability.”

In the essays that follow, several leadership coaches discuss the unique challenges and effective approaches
they are using to help government leaders build the competencies that will enable them to govern effectively—and win that race between their constituents's expectations and their own capabilities.
Coaching government and political leaders in complex environments
Authors: Karlin Donna
Published: June 2011

In the corporate world, leadership development programs are standard fare. Such programs often include well‐defined competencies and performance metrics, as well as regularly scheduled feedback and mentoring sessions, especially for those employees designated “high potential” performers.

Not so in the public sphere. There are no defined career paths or standardized training curricula for heads of
state. There are, however, requisite competencies for effective public sector leadership. As Gardner (1990) observed, “Leadership is not a mysterious activity. It is possible to describe the tasks that leaders perform....[But] we have barely scratched the surface in our efforts toward leadership development” (p. xix).

The learning curve is steep for a newly elected leader, and fraught with potential landmines. Speaking with
the candor of someone no longer seeking public office, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said recently, “When I came to office, prime minister was the only job I'd ever held; I'd never been a government minister before....The business of running a government is like anything else: You get better the longer you do it. And there are lessons out there that, had they come to me in an identifiable form, would have been useful to know” (talk given on December 16, 2010b).

Both Gardner and Blair are emphatic that leadership is not something one is born with but something learned
over time. And as Blair (2010a) put it, “Government is a race between expectations and capability.”

In the essays that follow, several leadership coaches discuss the unique challenges and effective approaches
they are using to help government leaders build the competencies that will enable them to govern effectively—and win that race between their constituents's expectations and their own capabilities.
Coaching as thinking partnership
Authors: Kalungu‐Banda Martin
Published: June 2011

In the corporate world, leadership development programs are standard fare. Such programs often include well‐defined competencies and performance metrics, as well as regularly scheduled feedback and mentoring sessions, especially for those employees designated “high potential” performers.

Not so in the public sphere. There are no defined career paths or standardized training curricula for heads of
state. There are, however, requisite competencies for effective public sector leadership. As Gardner (1990) observed, “Leadership is not a mysterious activity. It is possible to describe the tasks that leaders perform....[But] we have barely scratched the surface in our efforts toward leadership development” (p. xix).

The learning curve is steep for a newly elected leader, and fraught with potential landmines. Speaking with
the candor of someone no longer seeking public office, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said recently, “When I came to office, prime minister was the only job I'd ever held; I'd never been a government minister before....The business of running a government is like anything else: You get better the longer you do it. And there are lessons out there that, had they come to me in an identifiable form, would have been useful to know” (talk given on December 16, 2010b).

Both Gardner and Blair are emphatic that leadership is not something one is born with but something learned
over time. And as Blair (2010a) put it, “Government is a race between expectations and capability.”

In the essays that follow, several leadership coaches discuss the unique challenges and effective approaches
they are using to help government leaders build the competencies that will enable them to govern effectively—and win that race between their constituents's expectations and their own capabilities.
Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer by surface imprinting technique and its performance for adsorption of dibenzothiophene
Authors: Xu Wan‐Zhen , Zhou Wei , Bian Li‐Hua , Huang Wei‐Hong , Wu Xiang‐Yang
Published: June 2011

The novel surface imprinted polymer composites (MIP/K2Ti4O9) were prepared using dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the template, 4‐vinylpyridine as the functional monomer and potassium tetratitanate whisker (K2Ti4O9) as the carrier. The synthetic product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Parameters influencing DBT adsorption such as contact time, temperature and DBT initial concentration were investigated. The adsorption kinetics were evaluated with the pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models, and the adsorption isotherms were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich models. Selectivity experiments showed that MIP/K2Ti4O9 exhibited excellent recognition capacity and binding affinity to DBT compared with the comparative substrates. MIP/K2Ti4O9 could also be easily regenerated and reused ten times with only about 20% loss of adsorption capacity.
Brush‐like copolymer as a physically adsorbed coating for protein separation by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Zhou Dan , Tan Lin , Xiang Lina , Zeng Rongju , Cao Fuhu , Zhu Xiaoxi , Wang Yanmei
Published: June 2011

A brush‐like copolymer consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (PEGMA‐DMA) was synthesized and used as a novel static physically adsorbed coating for protein separation by capillary electrophoresis for the first time, in order to stabilize electroosmotic flow (EOF) and suppress adsorption of proteins onto the capillary wall. Very stable and low EOF was obtained in PEGMA‐DMA‐coated capillary at pH 2.2–7.8. The effects of molar ratio of PEGMA to DMA, copolymer molecular mass, and pH on the separation of basic proteins were discussed. A comparative study of bare capillary with PEGMA‐DMA‐coated capillary for protein separation was also performed. The basic proteins could be well separated in PEGMA‐DMA‐coated capillary over the investigated pH range of 2.8–6.8 with good repeatability and high separation efficiency because the copolymer coating combines good protein‐resistant property of PEG side chains with excellent coating ability of PDMA‐contained backbone. Finally, the coating was successfully applied to the fast separation of other protein samples, such as protein mixture and egg white, which reveals that it is a potential coating for further proteomics analysis.
Lead shot ingestion by mourning doves on a disked field
Authors: Plautz Stephanie C. , Halbrook Richard S. , Sparling Donald W.
Published: June 2011

Previous field studies of hunter‐harvested mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) have reported the percentage of birds with ingested lead shot as 0.2–6.5%. To reduce the uncertainty concerning the number of doves that ingest shot, we conducted an experiment to test the proportion of mourning doves that ingested lead shot on the bare soil of a disked field (typical of a managed dove field) to simulate more natural feeding conditions. In each of 3 treatment groups of 80 birds, we exposed 35 birds to low‐density lead shot (1.5 million shot/ha), and35 birds to high‐density lead shot (29.5 million shot/ha), and 10 birds served as controls (no shot). We dosed 5 positive control birds with 2 lead shot each in trials 2 and 3. We scattered lead shot and mixed seed on the loosely packed soil of treatment cages and after 4 days of exposure, 2.9% of doves voluntarily ingested ≥1 lead shot. The proportion of birds that ingested shot when exposed to the high‐density shot treatment (4.9%) was not different (P = 0.098) from that of the low‐density shot treatment (1.0%). Lead concentrations in liver, kidneys, and blood reached maxima of 94.402 ppm, 346.033 ppm, and 13.883 ppm wet mass, respectively. Differences in delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, packed cell volume, and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (H:L) were greater posttreatment in doves that had ingested shot than in those that did not. The risk posed to mourning doves from lead shot ingestion can be reduced by banning lead shot on management areas or dove fields or disking fields after hunting season to reduce shot availability. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Effects of mesopredators and prescribed fire on hispid cotton rat survival and cause‐specific mortality
Authors: Conner L. Mike , Castleberry Steven B. , Derrick Anna M.
Published: June 2011

Control of mid‐sized mammalian predators (hereafter, mesopredators) is sometimes advocated in an attempt to reduce their impact on wildlife populations, particularly economically important (i.e., game) or endangered species. However, mesopredators may play a role in regulating small mammal populations; thus, lethal control of mesopredators may have unintended consequences. The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus; hereafter, cotton rat) is one of the most common small mammals in the southeastern United States and is an important prey species for several of the region's predators. Within fire‐maintained communities, such as the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests of the Coastal Plain, cotton rat populations dramatically, yet temporarily, decline following prescribed fire. To evaluate the effects of mesopredator removal on cotton rat survival and cause‐specific mortality, we conducted a large‐scale mesopredator exclusion experiment that incorporated a prescribed fire during the winter of study. Between 18 May 2006 and 20 June 2007, we used radio‐telemetry to monitor 252 cotton rats (131 in exclosures and 121 in controls) and documented 184 mortalities. During the 37‐week period of monitoring prior to the prescribed fire event, weekly survival of cotton rats was greater in mesopredator exclusion plots. During the 19 weeks following the prescribed fire, there were no differences in weekly survival relative to mesopredator treatment, but fire caused a short‐term reduction in weekly survival within both exclosures and controls. Of 36 cotton rats monitored on the date of prescribed fire, 18 were depredated within 1 month, 4 emigrated, and 5 were killed by the fire event. Overall, raptors preyed on cotton rats more in exclosures than in controls, but evidence for compensatory predation (raptor‐caused morality greater in exclosures than in controls although survival rates were similar between treatments) only occurred following the prescribed fire event. Our results suggest that managing mesopredators may result in a temporary increase in cotton rat survival, but dormant season prescribed fire removes this effect until well into the following growing season. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Maintaining populations of terrestrial wildlife through land management planning: A case study
Authors: Suring Lowell H. , Gaines William L. , Wales Barbara C. , Mellen‐McLean Kim , Begley James S. , Mohoric Shawne
Published: June 2011

Regulations and directives associated with enabling legislation for management of national forests in the United States require maintenance of viable populations of native and desired non‐native wildlife species. Broad‐scale assessments that address ecosystem diversity cover assessment of viability for most species. We developed an 8‐step process to address those species for which management for ecosystem diversity may be inadequate for providing ecological conditions capable of sustaining viable populations. The process includes identification of species of conservation concern, description of source habitats, and other important ecological factors, grouping species, selection of focal species, development of focal species assessment models, development of conservation strategies, and designing monitoring, and adaptive management plans. Following application of our screening criteria, we identified 209 of 700 species as species of conservation concern on National Forest System lands east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington State, USA. We aggregated the 209 species of conservation concern into 10 families and 28 groups based primarily on habitat associations (these are not phylogenetic families). We selected 36 primary focal species (78% birds, 17% mammals, 5% amphibians) for application in northeast Washington State, USA based on risk factors and ecological characteristics. Our assessment documented reductions in habitat capability across northeast Washington State compared to historical conditions. To address such changes, for each focal species we developed conservation strategies that included habitat protection and restoration and amelioration of threats. We combined conservation strategies for individual species with other focal species and with management proposals for other resources (e.g., recreation, fire, and fuels management) to develop a multi‐species, multi‐resource management strategy. The information generated from our approach can be directly translated into land management planning through development of desired conditions, objectives, and standards and guidelines to improve the probability that desired population outcomes will be achieved. However, it should be noted by practitioners that a practical conservation planning process, such as ours, cannot remove all uncertainty and risk to species viability. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Energy development affects populations of sagebrush songbirds in Wyoming
Authors: Gilbert Michelle M. , Chalfoun Anna D.
Published: June 2011

Oil and natural gas development in the Intermountain West region of North America has expanded over the last 2 decades, primarily within sagebrush dominated landscapes. Although the effects of energy development on high‐profile game species such as the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have been documented, studies examining responses of non‐game birds are lacking. Simultaneously, many songbirds that breed within sagebrush steppe habitats have shown range‐wide population declines that are likely due to widespread habitat loss and alteration. We evaluated songbird abundance and species richness across gradients of oil and natural gas development intensity, as indexed by well density, at 3 energy fields (2 natural gas and 1 oil) in the Upper Green River Basin, Wyoming, USA during 2008–2009. While simultaneously accounting for important habitat attributes, increased well density was associated with significant decreases in Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri) and sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli) abundance, particularly in the Jonah natural gas field. Vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) were also negatively influenced by increased well density. Horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) increased with well density in the Pinedale Anticline natural gas field, and sage thrashers (Oreoscoptes montanus) showed no response to energy development. Species richness was not significantly affected by well density. Results suggest that regional declines of some songbird species, especially sagebrush‐obligates, may be exacerbated by increased energy development. Understanding the specific mechanisms underlying responses to energy development is an important next step and will aid land managers in the development of effective mitigation and management strategies for the maintenance of stable bird communities in sagebrush habitat. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Effects of large‐scale removal of coyotes on pronghorn and mule deer productivity and abundance
Authors: Brown Dylan E. , Conover Michael R.
Published: June 2011

We tested the hypothesis that predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) impacts pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations. We did so by examining the effects of coyote removal on pronghorn and mule deer populations within 12 large areas (>10,500 km2) located in Wyoming and Utah during 2007 and 2008. Pronghorn productivity (fawn to adult female ratio) and abundance were positively correlated with the number of coyotes removed and removal effort (hours spent hunting coyotes from aircraft) although the correlation between pronghorn productivity and removal effort was not statistically significant (P = 0.08). Mule deer productivity and abundance were not correlated with either the number of coyotes removed or removal effort. Coyote removal conducted during the winter and spring provided greater benefit than removals conducted during the prior fall or summer. Our results suggest that coyote removal conducted over large areas increases fawn survival and abundance of pronghorn but not mule deer. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Are you “Humbitious” enough to lead?
Authors: Taylor William C.
Published: June 2011

Leaders are too often expected to fulfill a heroic model: know everything, run from morning till night, and make all key decisions‐all the while maintaining their sanity. Of course, this vision has long been obsolete. What is needed, Taylor says, is not heroic leadership but “humbitious” leadership, which blends ambition with humility. He offers critical insights on becoming more humbitious, so that you can succeed as a leader without losing your mind.
Six ingredients for collaborative partnerships
Authors: Kayser Thomas
Published: June 2011

New and experienced managers alike often lack the necessary mental maps and skills needed to be collaborative leaders capable of building effective partnerships within and across work teams. The author explains how three structural ingredients (shared goals, interdependence and complementary skills, and accountability) along with three behavioral characteristics (character, commitment, and authentic communication) can produce a multiplier effect that produces the synergy inherent in genuine collaborative partnerships.
Amphiphilic Block Copolymer from Hydroxyl‐Terminated Polymers Functionalized with TEMPO. A New Synthetic Method Using Oxoammonium Salt
Authors: Bonilla‐Cruz José , Lara‐Ceniceros Tania E. , Ramírez‐Wong D. G. , Saldívar‐Guerra Enrique , Pérez‐Rodríguez F. , Márquez‐Lamas Uriel
Published: June 2011

A simple approach for the end‐functionalization of hydroxyl‐terminated polymers with nitroxide moieties using oxoammonium salts (OS) is presented. The functionalization is carried out using only one synthetic pathway in which high levels of functionalization (90%) are found. A mechanism for the functionalization with TEMPO moieties using OS is proposed in which the formation of peroxide groups is suggested. The structures of the functionalized polymers are characterized in detail by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DQF‐COSY, and HETCOR. Bifunctional macroalkoxyamines are used to demonstrate how to extend the polymer chain for the synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymers by polymerizing St in a second block mediated by a nitroxide radical which provides the block length control.

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Selective Localization Behavior of Carbon Nanotubes: Effect on Transesterification of Immiscible Polyester Blends
Authors: Wu Defeng , Sun Yurong , Lin Dongpo , Zhou Weidong , Zhang Ming , Yuan Lijuan
Published: June 2011

The selective localization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an immiscible polymer blend has attracted much attention. If the two component polymers could react with each other, do selectively located CNTs affect those reactions? Here, an immiscible polyester blend based on polycarbonate/poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PC/PTT) is studied. CNTs introduced during melt mixing are selectively located in the PTT phase and on the phase interface during the middle stage of melt mixing. The interface‐located CNTs can act as additional substrate to catalyze or even participate in the transesterification themselves, homogenizing the phase morphology of the matrix blend. The degree of randomness of the composite systems is increased, accompanied by a reduced number‐average length of the copolymer sequences.

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Approximation by families of linear trigonometric polynomial operators and smoothness properties of functions
Authors: Rukasov Vladimir , Runovski Konstantin , Schmeisser Hans‐Jürgen
Published: June 2011

The error of approximation by families of linear trigonometric polynomial operators in the scale of Lp‐spaces of periodic functions with 0 < p ⩽ +∞ is characterized with the help of realization functionals associated with operators of multiplier type describing smoothness properties of functions. The results are formulated in terms of generators of the family and of the smoothness. Applications of the general scheme to approximation methods generated by classical kernels as well as some new constructions describing smoothness of odd orders via approximation are given. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Some distributions for I‐segments of planar random homogeneous STIT tessellations
Authors: Mecke J. , Nagel W. , Weiß V.
Published: June 2011

A tessellation‐valued process is considered, the random states of which are planar random homogeneous tessellations stable under iteration (STIT). It can be interpreted as a process of subsequent division of cells by random chords. These chords, referred to as I‐segments, have a length and a birth time. In the present paper the joint distribution of the length and the birth time of the typical I‐segment for isotropic STIT tessellations is given. Furthermore, later occurring chords have their endpoints in the relative interior of an I‐segment and thus generate a node of the tessellation. The distribution of the number of nodes in the relative interior of the typical I‐segment is studied. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
On triple Veronese embeddings of \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathbb {P}^n$\end{document} in the Grassmannians
Authors: Huh Sukmoon
Published: June 2011

We classify all the embeddings of \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathbb {P}_n$\end{document} in a Grassmannian Gr(1, N) such that the composition with the Plücker embedding is given by a linear system of cubics on \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathbb {P}_n$\end{document}. As a direct corollary, we prove that every vector bundle giving such an embedding, splits if n ⩾ 3. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
On discretizations of cumulative distribution functions
Authors: Jensen Gerd , Pommerenke Christian
Published: June 2011

Stochastic processes in discrete time are considered which develop through the successive application of independent positive multipliers and also are martingales. We construct optimal discretizations and derive properties of the Mellin‐Stieltjes transforms of the cumulative distribution functions of the multipliers. Discretization means approximation by positive random variables with values in a given discrete set. It will be shown that the independence of the factors will be preserved in this procedure. The important case that discretization leads to multipliers with values in some fixed geometric progression allows one to write the Mellin‐Stieltjes transforms as Laurent series. The processes are then investigated by using the fact that the Mellin‐Stieltjes transform of an independent product is the product of the transforms of its factors. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Effect of electromagnetic centrifugal casting on solidification microstructure of cast high speed steel roll
Authors: Zhang T. , Wang Q. , Song X. , Fu H.
Published: June 2011

Using self‐made electromagnetic centrifugal casting machine, optical microscopy (OM) and D/max2200pc X‐ray diffraction, the solidification microstructure and phases of as‐cast high speed steel(HSS) roll made by sand casting, centrifugal casting and electromagnetic centrifugal casting were investigated. The experiment results show that the phases of as‐cast high speed steel (HSS) roll are alloy carbide (such as W2C, VC, Cr7C3), martensite and austenite. The centrifugal casting and electromagnetic centrifugal casting can apparently improve the solidification structure of HSS roll. With the increase of electromagnetic field intensity (B), the volume fraction of austenite in the HSS solidification structure increased obviously and eutectic ledeburite decreased, the secondary carbide precipitated from the austenite is more fine and distribution of secondary carbide is more even.
High temperature test rig for inert atmosphere miniature specimen creep testing
Authors: Peter D. , Otto F. , Depka T. , Nörtershäuser P. , Eggeler G.
Published: June 2011

A creep test rig is described which allows to perform creep experiments with miniature tensile creep specimens under an inert gas atmosphere at temperatures up to 1150°C. Previous work on the development of a miniature tensile creep test procedure is described. The key elements of the new inert gas system are then described. The test rig yields reliable creep data. Three examples for applications of the new system addressing grain boundary sliding in a TiAl alloy, creep cavitation and damage accumulation in copper and to provide high temperature creep data for a Co‐Re‐Cr alloy are given.