bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shifting Constructions of Scarcity and the Neoliberalization of Australian Water Governance
Authors: Edwards Gareth A S
Published: July 2013

This paper examines the discursive construction of water scarcity and its role in the establishment and ongoing legitimacy of Australia's market environmentalist water reforms. It shows that climate was the dominant explanation for scarcity crises in Australia until the reforms commenced in the early 1990s, when it was overtaken by mismanagement. Since 2007 climate change has become increasingly prominent, particularly as a discourse explaining future water crises. Drawing on interviews with policymakers and analysis of water policy, it shows that the discourse of mismanagement has played a significant role in justifying the ongoing application of neoliberal policy mechanisms in Australia. Unlike in most accounts from other countries, in Australia neoliberalization has been facilitated by a discursive denaturalization of water scarcity. Yet, despite the reformers' success in mobilizing scarcity in support of neoliberal agendas, collectivist goals continue to have traction, which is visible both in the failure of the National Drought Policy just before the reforms commenced, and particularly as climate change has become discursively prominent since 2007. This points to the utility of studying the neoliberalization of nature in Australia, confirms the dependence of market environmentalism on real or discursively constructed resource scarcity, and highlights the malleability and incompleteness of neoliberal natures.
Whole-genome sequencing identifies a recurrent functional synonymous mutation in melanoma
Authors: Gartner Jared J. , Parker Stephen C. J. , Prickett Todd D. , Dutton-Regester Ken , Stitzel Michael L. , Lin Jimmy C. , Davis Sean , Simhadri Vijaya L. , Jha Sujata , Katagiri Nobuko , Gotea Valer , Teer Jamie K. , Wei Xiaomu , Morken Mario A. , Bhanot Umesh K. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Chen Guo , Elnitski Laura L. , Davies Michael A. , Gershenwald Jeffrey E. , Carter Hannah , Karchin Rachel , Robinson William , Robinson Steven , Rosenberg Steven A. , Collins Francis S. , Parmigiani Giovanni , Komar Anton A. , Kimchi-Sarfaty Chava , Hayward Nicholas K. , Margulies Elliott H. , Samuels Yardena , Becker Jesse , Benjamin Betty , Blakesley Robert , Bouffard Gerry , Brooks Shelise , Coleman Holly , Dekhtyar Mila , Gregory Michael , Guan Xiaobin , Gupta Jyoti , Han Joel , Hargrove April , Ho Shi-ling , Johnson Taccara , Legaspi Richelle , Lovett Sean , Maduro Quino , Masiello Cathy , Maskeri Baishali , McDowell Jenny , Montemayor Casandra , Mullikin James , Park Morgan , Riebow Nancy , Schandler Karen , Schmidt Brian , Sison Christina , Stantripop Mal , Thomas James , Thomas Pam , Vemulapalli Meg , Young Alice
Published: July 2013

Synonymous mutations, which do not alter the protein sequence, have been shown to affect protein function [Sauna ZE, Kimchi-Sarfaty C (2011)
Nat Rev Genet
12(10):683–691]. However, synonymous mutations are rarely investigated in the cancer genomics field. We used whole-genome and -exome sequencing to identify somatic mutations in 29 melanoma samples. Validation of one synonymous somatic mutation in
BCL2L12
in 285 samples identified 12 cases that harbored the recurrent F17F mutation. This mutation led to increased
BCL2L12
mRNA and protein levels because of differential targeting of WT and mutant
BCL2L12
by hsa-miR-671–5p. Protein made from mutant
BCL2L12
transcript bound p53, inhibited UV-induced apoptosis more efficiently than WT
BCL2L12
, and reduced endogenous p53 target gene transcription. This report shows selection of a recurrent somatic synonymous mutation in cancer. Our data indicate that silent alterations have a role to play in human cancer, emphasizing the importance of their investigation in future cancer genome studies.
First Report of Pseudomonas cichorii Causing Leaf Spot of Vegetable Sponge Gourd in China
Authors: Li B. J. , Li H. L. , Shi Y. X. , Xie X. W.
Published: July 2013

A suspect bacterial leaf spot on vegetable sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical (L.) Roem.) was found in a commercial greenhouse in Pi County, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, in February 2011. Approximately 20 to 30% of plants were affected, causing serious economic loss. Symptoms occurred only on seedlings and consisted of water-soaked, irregularly shaped, black lesions on the surface and margins of cotyledons. A bacterium was consistently isolated on nutrient agar from diseased leaf tissues that had been surface disinfected in 70% ethyl alcohol for 30 s. The bacterium produced small gray colonies with smooth margins, was gram negative, fluoresced on King's B medium, and showed pectolytic activity when inoculated on potato slices. The partial sequences of 16SrRNA gene (1,377 bp) of the bacterium (GenBank Accession No. KC762217), amplified by using universal PCR primers 16SF (5′-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3′) and 16SR (5′-GGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3′), shared 100% similarity with that of Pseudomonas cichorii (GenBank Accession No. HM190228). The vegetable sponge gourd isolate was also identified by using the Biolog Microbial Identification System (version 4.2, Biolog Inc., Hayward, CA) as P. cichorii with the following characteristics (1): negative for arginine dihydrolase, gelatin liquefaction, and N2 production. Positive reactions were obtained in tests for catalase, oxidase, potato rot, utilization of melibiose, and mannitol. Tests were negative for utilization of sucrose, trehalose, D-arabinose, raffinose, cellobiose, and rhamnose. A pathogenicity test was conducted on 4-week-old vegetable sponge gourd plants by spray-inoculation with 108 CFU/ml sterile distilled water on the leaves of 15 vegetable sponge gourd plants and by needle puncture on the stems of 15 other plants with P. cichorii, respectively. Control plants were misted with sterile distilled water or punctured on the stem with a clean needle. Plants were placed in a greenhouse maintained at 28 ± 2°C with relative humidity of 80 to 85%. Symptoms, the same as seen on the original diseased plants, developed after 7 to 10 days on inoculated plants. Control plants remained healthy. The bacterium was readily re-isolated from inoculated plants and identified as P. cichorii using P. cichorii-specific primer hrpla/hrp2a (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cichorii causing disease on commercially grown vegetable sponge gourd in China. This new finding will provide the basis for developing resources for diagnostics and management, including screening varieties for resistance.

References: (1) S. Mazurier et al. J. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 49:455, 2004. (2) N. W. Schaad et al., eds. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 3rd ed. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 2001.
Derek William Moore. 19 April 1931 — 15 July 2008
Authors: Stuart J. T.
Published: July 2013

Derek Moore was born in South Shields and studied at the local grammar school, from which he gained an Exhibition to Jesus College, Cambridge. However, before going to Cambridge he did his National Service in the Royal Air Force and was stationed in Yorkshire, where one of his fellow personnel was the poet Ted Hughes. He entered Jesus College in 1951, studying for the Mathematical Tripos, which he gained in 1954, and for Part III, which he gained in 1955. He then became a research student in applied mathematics and theoretical fluid mechanics under the supervision of Dr Ian Proudman and was awarded a PhD degree of the University of Cambridge in 1958. Thereafter he held positions at the University of Bristol, the Goddard Space Flight Center, New York, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and Imperial College, London, where he spent the major part of his career. He became distinguished for the Moore-Spiegel oscillator and the Moore singularity. Moreover he had a strong interest in jazz, which is the subject of an appreciation by Peter Batten.
Making wider use of the world's most widely used vaccine: Bacille Calmette–Guérin revaccination reconsidered
Authors: Dye Christopher
Published: July 2013

Approximately 100 million newborn children receive Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) annually, because vaccination is consistently protective against childhood tuberculous meningitis and miliary TB. By contrast, BCG efficacy against pulmonary TB in children and adults is highly variable, ranging from 0% to 80%, though it tends to be higher in individuals who have no detectable prior exposure to mycobacterial infections, as judged by the absence of delayed-type hypersensitivity response (a negative tuberculin skin test, TST). The duration of protection against pulmonary TB is also variable, but lasts about 10 years on average. These observations raise the possibility that BCG revaccination, following primary vaccination in infancy, could be efficacious among TST-negative adolescents as they move into adulthood, the period of highest risk for pulmonary disease. To inform continuing debate about revaccination, this paper assesses the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of revaccinating adolescents in a setting with intense transmission—Cape Town, South Africa. For a cost of revaccination in the range US$1–10 per person, and vaccine efficacy between 10% and 80% with protection for 10 years, the incremental cost per year of healthy life recovered (disability-adjusted life years, DALY) in the vaccinated population lies between US$116 and US$9237. The intervention is about twice as cost-effective when allowing for the extra benefits of preventing transmission, with costs per DALY recovered in the range US$52–$4540. At 80% efficacy, revaccination averted 17% of cases. Under the scenarios investigated, BCG revaccination is cost-effective against international benchmarks, though not highly effective. Cost-effectiveness ratios would be more favourable if we also allow for TB cases averted by preventing transmission to HIV-positive people, for the protection of HIV-negative people who later acquire HIV infection, for the possible non-specific benefits of BCG, for the fact that some adolescents would receive BCG for the first time, and for cost sharing when BCG is integrated into an adolescent immunization programme. These findings suggest, subject to further evaluation, that BCG revaccination could be cost-effective in some settings.
Auditing Solomon Islands' health and medical governance
Authors: Brown Alistair M.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyse the audit findings, by the Auditor General's Office of the Solomon Islands, of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Solomon Islands' main health and medical agency that aims to coordinate the country's health and medical services.

Design/methodology/approach

Using electronic data from annual reports, audit findings on the Solomon Islands' Ministry of Health and Medical Services are textually analysed over a six year period (2006‐2011) to detect the milieu of reporting by Solomon Islands' main health agency.

Findings

Over a six year period, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services consistently found it difficult to generate accurate and timely annual reports as mandated by legislation. Critical governance issues of internal control, asset management, stock control and bank reconciliations are given short shrift by the Ministry.

Research limitations/implications

The findings presented here are derived exclusively from textual analysis rather than through the medium of open‐ended questionnaires and mixed methodological techniques. However, the paper used authoritative local texts and explanations to overcome these limitations.

Practical implications

In low‐income countries, audit findings need to be fully integrated in the governance of the national health and medical services. The findings presented here provide practical guidance for those considering developing or improving health and medical services in low‐income countries.

Originality/value

Local audit findings have the major potential for improving health and medical services in low‐income countries within existing resource constraints. The audit findings presented here have relevance to the entirety of health and medical systems in low‐income countries.
Unravelling a web of confusion
Authors: Birnbaum David
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the reporting of quality of care in hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a narrative review.

Findings

The American Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently conducted a funding opportunity in recognition that the science of public reporting was insufficiently understood, which underlies relatively weak impact to date of public information web sites on hospital quality and safety. Whether the fundamental purpose of such web sites is to inform consumer choices or to stimulate facility leadership toward accelerated quality improvement, which relates to which metrics would be the most appropriate, and whether public audiences perceive concepts of evidence‐based best practices differently from professional audiences, all remain in question. Whether reporting physical harm of adverse events is the best metric, or whether damage to dignity and trust should be included, or whether more holistic measures of institutional culture would be even more meaningful remain in contention. While it is premature to set standards unifying how and what hospital performance measures should be displayed on public information web sites, there are existing efforts to ensure developers can learn from the natural experiment afforded by the current abundance of independently developed North American reporting programs, league tables and public information web sites.

Practical implications

Developers of public policy and of electronic health information systems can benefit in terms of efficiency and effectiveness by capitalizing on the recent work of several interdisciplinary teams. They can benefit from the generic approach used by some who are attempting to harmonize the broad range of public health reporting programs' data flow into one use case model capable of accommodating all reporting streams, and from others who are applying evidence‐based criteria to rank public information web sites while also evaluating performance of scoring criteria they are developing from broad principles acquired from various cited sources.

Originality/value

Public trust in healthcare facility quality and safety has fallen into mistrust, and the information web sites developed to address that consumer issue are known to have problems in ease of use, believability and helpfulness. This paper describes recent North American projects that acknowledge those problems but also provide potential paths toward solving them.
Emergent disaster rescue methods and prevention management
Authors: Chou Shuo‐Yan , Chen Dayjian
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study is an inquiry into practical solutions in the field of emergent disaster rescue methods and prevention management, and it focuses on planning, real‐time rescue, and emergency management. This study is a conventional writing style. Thus, the purpose of this study is to offer methods for governor reducing disaster losses in terms of human life and livelihoods.

Design/methodology/approach

The government should establish permanent disaster recovery institutions, such as disaster recovery coordinators, resource distributors at the provincial or state level, and nodes in districts to manage supplies, rescue activities. During the preparation stage of disaster responses, government offices must prepare the rescue plans and policies for future disasters, as well as create the documents for establishing part‐time civilian and volunteer agreements.

Findings

Even though residents suffer tremendous losses in terms of human life, regional administrators are usually and poorly organized at the preparation stage.

Practical implications

Disaster rescue activities depend heavily on civilians and organizations. A disaster rescue manager plays a key role, because he or she has received training in and has become familiar with emergent rescue operations.

Originality/value

Disaster rescue management is a valuable topic because it is a globally significant challenge to safeguard people's lives. A complex disaster of earthquakes and tsunamis occurring can give rise to nuclear radiation damage, for example, that occurred in Japan on March 11, 2011, is an illustrative case.
EU‐GCC cooperation for natural gas: prospects and challenges
Authors: Doukas Haris , Flamos Alexandros , Marinakis Vangelis , Assadi Mohsen
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to provide the prospects and challenges of cooperation concerning natural gas (NG) resources between the European Union (EU) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), based on a “critical review” of the current state of the GCC region regarding NG production, consumption, trading movements, policy framework and existing/planned projects and programs for each GCC country individually.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological four‐steps approach adopted is based on the context of the project “Creation and Operation of an EU‐GCC Clean Energy Network” (www.eugcc‐cleanergy.net). This paper summarizes the dynamic NG supply/demand situation in the GCC countries in a structured way, touching upon some pertinent policy issues and relating specific projects.

Findings

The key finding of the paper is the assessment of GCC countries' potential for future collaboration, especially with the EU. The collaboration opportunities, based on a detailed overview of existing and planned practices in the GCC countries, linking the policy to the practical commercial level, as well as the national system context is elaborated.

Originality/value

To the best of their knowledge, a study focused on the EU‐GCC cooperation for NG is not present in the literature. This study highlights how policy measures differ depending on the supply/demand situation of a particular country, bringing a unique perspective on how diverse the GCC region really is. Moreover, based on the specific energy projects presented, the policy level is linked to the practical commercial level. The presented approach and the related outcomes support the policy makers to enable the environment needed for concrete NG cooperation actions of mutual benefit for both regions.
Investigating the impact of resource capabilities on customer loyalty: a structural equation approach for the UK hotels using online ratings
Authors: Ramanathan Usha , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– In this paper, the authors aim to examine the impact of resource capabilities on customer loyalty of UK hotels. Understanding this impact will help organisations to improve customer satisfaction in order to obtain improved customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a relatively innovative data source, namely online ratings. They measure resource capabilities of a firm using customer ratings in terms of various operational criteria. Similarly, customer loyalty is measured using guests ' ratings on their intention to use the same service (stay again in the same hotel) and their intention to recommend the service to friends. The authors employ structural equation modelling to test research hypotheses.

Findings

– The authors ' results indicate that there is a significant positive influence of resource capabilities on customer loyalty. They further find that the significant influence of resource capabilities on customer loyalty does not differ across hotels with various star ratings.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors looked at the online guest ratings available on a particular website, but it is only one of the many websites offering online hotel reservations, and not all customers that made hotel reservations using this e-booking facility would be inclined to leave feedback after their stay in the hotel. This limitation can be partially overcome by pooling similar data from a number of online hotel booking sites.

Practical implications

– The most important managerial implication is that good resource capabilities of firms translate well into customer loyalty. Thus, managers should ensure good performance in terms of various hotel attributes – cleanliness, quality of room, facilities, and customer service – and also ensure that customers perceive good value for their money while staying in the hotel.

Originality/value

– The authors applied structural modelling framework to verify the resource capability – performance link in the context of hotels. They used a relatively novel data source – online guest ratings of hotels – to understand the relationships between resource capabilities and customer loyalty.
Evaluation of quality of air, water and noise in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (India)
Authors: Wani Khursheed Ahmad , Mamta K. , Rao R.J.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The first approach mainly aims at measurement of SPM, SO2 and NO2 from different sources in the Gwalior region and the second and third approach aims at the quantification of water and noise quality of the city of Gwalior. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The water analysis was carried out by the standard methods of APHA, 2005 and the air and noise analysis were carried out by the standard procedures of CPCB, New Delhi and published work earlier respectively.

Findings

The water quality in the city was well within the standards, however, the noise and air quality in the city was above the standards set by CPCB, New Delhi.

Originality/value

This is the first approach in the city of Gwalior that related air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution to acute and chronic illnesses amongst all age groups. This will lead to the development of a sustainable city, while working to transform the city of Gwalior into a sustainable city.
Developing an environmental corporate reputation on the internet
Authors: Gurau Calin
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the specific challenges and success factors faced by companies which develop their environmental corporate reputation using an online communication strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposes a research framework positioned to an intermediary level between quantitative research and case studies. The exploratory methodology adopted in this study was based on a triangulation approach, by comparing and analysing primary data obtained from three different sources: observations of corporate websites, data provided by the communication managers of five investigated firms, and the answers obtained from a sample of 84 environmentally‐conscious consumers.

Findings

The findings indicate the importance of a direct correspondence between the strategic objectives defined by the firm, the communication strategy, and the implemented operational elements. However, as a result of opportunistic environmental claims made by other firms in the past, customers require not only clear and updated online information, but also objective proofs about the trustworthiness of the company's messages and actions.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of investigated firms is too small to allow a valid generalisation of results. On the other hand, the primary data was collected in only one time instance, although the process of corporate image change and reputation building is continuous and dynamic.

Originality/value

Previous research focused almost exclusively on corporate environmental reporting of large companies. Adopting an exploratory approach, this paper analyses the communication strategies designed and implemented by five medium‐sized French firms, as well as their impact on customers’ perceptions.
The impact of customer‐company identification on consumer reactions to new corporate initiatives
Authors: Ashraf Rohail , Merunka Dwight
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Customer‐company identification (CCI) refers to a social relationship between a company and its customers. Prior research highlights the positive consequences of CCI but does not study the process by which CCI shapes both positive and negative consumer reactions to new company initiatives. This study aims to elaborate this process by modelling the mediating consequences of CCI (commitment to the company and feeling of belonging to an in‐group) on consumers’ responses to brand extensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 291 respondents, spanning two companies and four brand extension scenarios. The model parameters were estimated through partial least squares path modelling.

Findings

CCI leads to commitment to the company and to a related group, through identification processes. Both forms of commitment influence consumer reactions to new corporate initiatives. The effect of company commitment is stable; in‐group commitment is more influential in forming consumer responses but varies depending on the severity of the situation.

Originality/value

This research elaborates the mechanisms of identity‐based commitment and its effect on consumer responses to new company initiatives. The two‐tiered, identification‐based commitment model highlights how identified customers relate to both the company and in‐groups of consumers, as a result of CCI. It explains both positive and negative consumer reactions, an insight missing from prior studies.
Neighborhood as Spatial Project: Making the Urban Order on the Downtown Brooklyn Waterfront
Authors: Madden David J.
Published: July 2013

This article argues for a reconceptualization of one of the most basic concepts in urban studies: the neighborhood. Traditionally neighborhoods have been understood as clearly bounded, quasi‐Westphalian containers or as ‘natural areas’ of urban community. But this approach is widely acknowledged to be under‐theorized. And it fails to account for the ways in which the production of neighborhood is inherently political and often conflictual. After reviewing the ways in which neighborhood has been used in urban sociology and urban planning, this article offers a critical conception of neighborhoods as ‘spatial projects’ on the submetropolitan scale. This approach captures the ways in which neighborhoods are not abstract spaces on a city map, but the uneven, unequal products of complex, ongoing struggles between various groups and institutions. This approach is developed through an ethnographic and historical case study of neighborhood formation in one part of Brooklyn, New York. The article concludes with a discussion of how the language of spatial projects refocuses urban research on the political and economic forces that produce neighborhood in the contemporary city.
The School Function Assessment: identifying levels of participation and demonstrating progress for pupils with acquired brain injuries in a residential rehabilitation setting
Authors: West S. , Dunford C. , Mayston M. J. , Forsyth R.
Published: July 2013

Background

Delivering and monitoring residential rehabilitation services for pupils with acquired brain injuries (ABI) is challenging because of variability in aetiology, age and pre‐morbid characteristics. Therapists and educators in this residential rehabilitation setting identified the need for a comprehensive tool which would capture the pupils' ability to participate in typical, everyday, school‐based functional activities. This study aimed to explore the ability of the School Function Assessment (SFA) to identify levels of participation in school‐based functional tasks and demonstrate progress for pupils with an ABI in a residential rehabilitation setting.

Methods

The SFA was conducted on admission and discharge for pupils with ABI receiving residential rehabilitation between January 2007 and October 2011. Data analysis used Kruskal–Wallis to determine between‐group differences in age, time post injury and weeks in rehabilitation. Linear mixed effects modelling was used to establish differences between admission and discharge scores. Case vignettes demonstrated how the SFA was used with individual pupils.

Results

Seventy pupils were identified (31 traumatic brain injury; 29 non‐traumatic and 10 anoxic) 42 boys and 28 girls whose age at injury was 4.5–17.2 years (median 12.8). The SFA demonstrated that 54/70 pupils had made progress with their ability to participate in school activities. Significant differences were found between admission and discharge SFA scores for participation, physical and cognitive assistance and adaptation and activity performance (P < 0.05). There was wide variability between individual profiles reflecting the heterogeneity of ABI.

Conclusions

The SFA determined levels of participation in school‐based functional tasks for these residential pupils with an ABI and demonstrated progress both at the group and individual level in this residential rehabilitation setting. It identified the amount of support a pupil would need when they return to their local school and their strengths and needs in relation to participation in physical and cognitive school‐based functional activities.
Gynecologic cancer screening and communication with health care providers in women with Lynch syndrome
Authors: Burton‐Chase A.M. , Hovick S.R. , Sun C.C. , Boyd‐Rogers S. , Lynch P.M. , Lu K.H. , Peterson S.K.
Published: July 2013

We evaluated knowledge of gynecologic cancer screening recommendations, screening behaviors, and communication with providers among women with Lynch syndrome (LS). Women aged ≥25 years who were at risk for LS‐associated cancers completed a semi‐structured interview and a questionnaire. Of 74 participants (mean age 40 years), 61% knew the appropriate age to begin screening, 75–80% correctly identified the recommended screening frequency, and 84% reported no previous screening endometrial biopsy. Women initiated discussions with their providers about their LS cancer risks, but many used nonspecific terms or relied on family history. Most were not offered high‐risk screening options. While many women were aware of risk‐appropriate LS screening guidelines, adherence was suboptimal. Improving communication between women and their providers regarding LS‐related gynecologic cancer risk and screening options may help improve adherence.
Generation and release of molecular markers for Poa arachnifera Torr.
Authors: Kindiger Bryan , Conley Terry , Cai Hongwei
Published: July 2013

DNA‐based molecular markers can be used in a wide array of plant genetic studies, marker‐trait associations, seed purity evaluations and cultivar protection. However, for the genus Poa, the use of molecular markers is limited by the current lack of informative DNA based markers. This report represents the development and release of an additional 39 molecular markers, all derived from an unenriched Poa arachnifera Torr. genomic library. The newly released markers include genomic microsatellite markers, tandem repeats, palindromes and regions exhibiting low complexity generated from the P. arachnifera library. Many of the primer pairs used to amplify the markers were observed to exhibit polymorphisms when evaluated across five additional Poa species (P. pratensis L., P. secunda J. Presl, P. ligularis Nees ex Steud., P. poiformis [Labill.] Druce and P. labillardieri Steud.) The availability of these new and informative markers should provide Poa breeders and geneticists with additional tools for breeding and genetic research.
The Economy of Seeking Asylum in the Global City
Authors: Vecchio Francesco
Published: July 2013

This article explores asylum seeker survival strategies and agency in relation to the structural, post‐industrial conditions that have emerged in Hong Kong. The focus is on the livelihoods of asylum seekers within spaces of illegality and social exclusion, how such spaces are formed, and how asylum seekers exploit local conditions to establish profitable networks across borders. The article considers asylum seekers' engagement in income‐generating activities and the importance of legal status in the sectors of the economy in which they most often work: recycling and trading. Far from being a burden to society or opportunistic deviants taking advantage of Hong Kong's economic prosperity, as they are normally depicted in public discourse, asylum seekers are economically productive. They act in economic spaces in which disadvantaged strata of the local resident population organize their means of survival, thereby improving the economic opportunities for locals.
Cognitive‐behavioral profiles among different categories of orofacial pain patients: diagnostic and treatment implications
Authors: Dahlström Lars , Widmark Göran , Carlsson Sven G
Published: July 2013

Psychological homogeneity in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is not conclusive. The multidimensional pain inventory (MPI) has previously identified 3 cognitive‐behavioral profiles in TMD and chronic pain patients. Our aims were to replicate these findings in another cultural setting and relate the profiles to the diagnosis and to the treatment demand and outcome. The MPI was administered to 112 referrals comprising 6 categories of patients diagnosed with TMD or intractable orofacial pain. Dysfunctional profiles (high in pain and distress) were most common in patients with orofacial pain of obscure origin and more common in myofascial pain patients than in patients with other TMD diagnoses. Interpersonally‐distressed profiles were found in all categories. Among patients with disk displacement, the 3rd profile (adaptive copers with low pain and distress and high control and activity) was most common in earlier successfully diskectomized patients and least common in those about to undergo invasive interventions. A dysfunctional profile was associated with treatment failure, conservative or surgical, and with the demand for radical therapy. Some support for a cyclical causality between pain and psychological factors was found. It is concluded that the robustness of the MPI as a relevant assessment instrument was further strengthened.
Chondroitin sulfate isomers in synovial fluid of healthy and diseased human temporomandibular joints
Authors: Okazaki Joji , Kakudo Kenji , Kamada Aiko , Utoh Eigo , Gonda Yoshimichi , Shirasu Rikiya , Sakaki Tetsuya
Published: July 2013

Synovial fluid was collected from the superior articular cavity of the temporomandibular joint in patients with unilateral internal derangement and joint pain whose contralateral joint was healthy. Glycosaminoglycans were liberated by digestion with pronase E, and precipitated with cetylpyridinium chloride and ethanol. Unsaturated disaccharide isomers of chondroitin sulfate, obtained following chondroitinase ACII digestion, were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Analytic data indicated that ΔDi‐0S and ΔDi‐6S were often found in chondroitin sulfate from the fluid of the diseased joints. The amounts of ΔDi‐0S and ΔDi‐6S differed significantly between synovial fluid samples from the diseased and healthy joints. Comparison of the relative proportions of the unsaturated disaccharides in the synovial fluid with previously reported values for several tissues, indicated that the chondroitin sulfate originated from articular cartilage, with possibly some contributions from soft connective tissues and serum present in the synovial fluid. These results suggest that chondroitin sulfate in the synovial fluid provides a useful indicator of the degree of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.
Irradiation effects on microhardness of fluoridated and non‐fluoridated bovine dentin
Authors: Kielbassa Andrej M. , Beetz Inka , Schendera Anke , Hellwig Elmar
Published: July 2013

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of irradiation on microhardness of dentin. Dentin blocks from the cervical region of bovine incisors were treated as follows: (1) no irradiation; (2) irradiation of specimens up to 60 Gy (2 Gy/day, 5 days/week); (3) no irradiation, but fluoridation of specimens for 5 min/d; (4) irradiation of specimens and daily fluoridation. Knoop hardness number (KHN) of the control specimens was 62.63 ±14.75 (mean ± SD). This was significantly different from the irradiated dentin samples (8.74 ± 2.59 KHN). Hardness of the fluoridated dentin specimens was 11.19 ± 1.95 KHN in the non‐irradiated group and 10.03±2.76 KHN in the irradiated groups, respectively. Within the limitations of an in vitro study, it is concluded that dentin is severely affected by irradiation. This could be an explanation for the frequently observed side‐effects of irradiation like loss of enamel, gap formation at the amelodentinal junction, and caries of the cervical region. Fluoridation with acidic gels decreases microhardness of dentin surface, and does not prevent softening due to radiation, when saliva is absent.
The boundaries of minimization as a technique for improving affect: good for the goose but not for the gander?
Authors: Grover Kristin W. , Pinel Elizabeth C. , Bosson Jennifer K. , LeBeau Lavonia Smith
Published: July 2013

Research on minimization as a coping strategy suggests that it alleviates negative affect following threats. In contrast, research on minimization as a support‐giving strategy suggests that it does more harm than good. Does this mean that minimization works when it is self‐generated, but does not when it is offered by others? The present study examined the effect of self‐ and externally‐ generated minimizations on people with high and low self‐esteem following a self‐threat. Results suggest that externally‐generated minimizations do not alleviate negative affect when they occur before the recipient has had time to cope. Discussion centers around the implications of these findings for past research, as well as distinctions between how people with low versus high self‐esteem cope with negative events.
Adoptive infusion of tolerance dendritic cells prolongs survival of small intestine allografts in rats: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sun Guixiang , Shan Juan , Li Youping , Feng Li , Zhou Yanni , Guo Yingjia , Tong Yang , Xia Mengjuan
Published: July 2013

Background

Postoperative infections and rejection are the main limiting factors of small intestine allograft survival. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to review rat small intestine allograft survival following infusion of tolerance dendritic cells (Tol‐DCs) induced by different methods.

Methods

Relevant publications were searched from PubMed database and EMbase database. Meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. We chose allograft survival, mixed leukocyte reaction, Th1/Th2 differentiation, Treg induction, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity as the outcomes by which to examine possible mechanisms that promote survival.

Results

Eleven suitable articles were identified and assessed. Tol‐DCs induced by four methods all prolonged allograft survival. The difference in survival time between the Tol‐DC group and the control group was indicated by SMD as follows: drug intervention (SMD = 3.02, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.88, P = 0.001), gene modification (SMD = 2.43, 95% CI 1.77 to 3.10, P < 0.00001), imDC (SMD = 1.76, 95% CI 0.90 to 2.62, P < 0.0001), cytokine induction (SMD = 1.68, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.96, P = 0.01). Tol‐DCs were also synergistic with immunosuppressive drugs or costimulation inhibitors, but no immune tolerance was observed. A single‐dose intravenous injection of 5×106 to 6×106 Tol‐DCs showed the highest allograft survival. Possible mechanisms included donor‐specific T‐cell hyporesponsiveness and Th2 differentiation.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that Tol‐DCs induced by four methods prolong rat small intestine allograft survival. Intravenous infusion of 5×106 to 6×106 Tol‐DCs was the optimum dose in rat small intestine transplantation. Immunosuppressive or costimulatory blockade was synergistic with Tol‐DC on graft survival. Additional high‐quality studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better investigate small intestinal graft longer term survival.
Dopaminergic influences on executive function and impulsive behaviour in impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Leroi Iracema , Barraclough Michelle , McKie Shane , Hinvest Neal , Evans Jonathan , Elliott Rebecca , McDonald Kathryn
Published: July 2013

The development of impulse control disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) may arise from an interaction among cognitive impairment, impulsive responding and dopaminergic state. Dopaminergic state may be influenced by pharmacologic or genotypic (catechol‐O‐methyltransferase; COMT) factors. We sought to investigate this interaction further by comparing those with (n = 35) and without (n = 55) ICDs on delay‐discounting in different pharmacologic conditions (ON or OFF dopaminergic medication) and on response inhibition as well as aspects of executive functioning in the ON state. We then undertook an exploratory sub‐group analysis of these same tasks when the overall PD group was divided into different allelic variants of COMT (val/val vs. met/met). A healthy control group (HC; n = 20) was also included. We found that in those with PD and ICDs, ‘cognitive flexibility’ (set shifting, verbal fluency, and attention) in the ON medication state was not impaired compared with those without ICDs. In contrast, our working memory, or ‘cognitive focus’, task was impaired in both PD groups compared with the HC group when ON. During the delay‐discounting task, the PD with ICDs group expressed greater impulsive choice compared with the PD group without ICDs, when in the ON, but not the OFF, medication state. However, no group difference on the response inhibition task was seen when ON. Finally, the met homozygous group performed differently on tests of executive function compared with the val homozygous group. We concluded that the disparity in levels of impairment among different domains of executive function and impulsive decision‐making distinguishes those with ICD in PD from those without ICD, and may in part be affected by dopaminergic status. Both pharmacologic and genotypic influences on dopaminergic state may be important in ICD.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glycopyrrolate following a continuous‐rate infusion in the horse
Authors: Rumpler M. J. , Kandala B. , Vickroy T. W. , Hochhaus G. , Sams R. A.
Published: July 2013

Glycopyrrolate (GLY) is an antimuscarinic agent that is used in humans and domestic animals primarily to reduce respiratory tract secretions during anesthesia and to reverse intra‐operative bradycardia. Although GLY is used routinely in veterinary patients, there is limited information regarding its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties in domestic animals, and an improved understanding of the plasma concentration–effect relationship in racehorses is warranted. To accomplish this, we characterize the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) actions of GLY during and after a 2‐h constant‐rate intravenous infusion (4 μg/kg/h) and evaluate potential PK‐PD models for cardiac stimulation in adult horses. Measurements of plasma GLY concentrations, heart and respiration rates, and frequency of bowel movements were performed in six Thoroughbred horses. The time course for GLY disposition in plasma followed a tri‐exponential equation characterized by rapid disappearance of GLY from blood followed by a prolonged terminal phase. Physiological monitoring revealed significant (P < 0.01) increases in heart (>70 bpm) and respiratory rates accompanied by a marked and sustained delay in the frequency of bowel movements (1.1 ± 0.2 h [saline group] vs. 6.0 ± 2.0 h [GLY group]). Two of six horses showed signs of colic during the 8‐h observation period after the end of the GLY infusion, but were treated and recovered without further complications. The relationship between plasma GLY concentration and heart rate exhibited counterclockwise hysteresis that was adequately described using an effect compartment.
The threonine degradation pathway of the Trypanosoma brucei procyclic form: the main carbon source for lipid biosynthesis is under metabolic control
Authors: Millerioux Yoann , Ebikeme Charles , Biran Marc , Morand Pauline , Bouyssou Guillaume , Vincent Isabel M. , Mazet Muriel , Riviere Loïc , Franconi Jean‐Michel , Burchmore Richard J. S. , Moreau Patrick , Barrett Michael P. , Bringaud Frédéric
Published: July 2013

The Trypanosoma brucei procyclic form resides within the digestive tract of its insect vector, where it exploits amino acids as carbon sources. Threonine is the amino acid most rapidly consumed by this parasite, however its role is poorly understood. Here, we show that the procyclic trypanosomes grown in rich medium only use glucose and threonine for lipid biosynthesis, with threonine's contribution being ∼ 2.5 times higher than that of glucose. A combination of reverse genetics and NMR analysis of excreted end‐products from threonine and glucose metabolism, shows that acetate, which feeds lipid biosynthesis, is also produced primarily from threonine. Interestingly, the first enzymatic step of the threonine degradation pathway, threonine dehydrogenase (TDH, EC 1.1.1.103), is under metabolic control and plays a key role in the rate of catabolism. Indeed, a trypanosome mutant deleted for the phosphoenolpyruvate decarboxylase gene (PEPCK, EC 4.1.1.49) shows a 1.7‐fold and twofold decrease of TDH protein level and activity, respectively, associated with a 1.8‐fold reduction in threonine‐derived acetate production. We conclude that TDH expression is under control and can be downregulated in response to metabolic perturbations, such as in the PEPCK mutant in which the glycolytic metabolic flux was redirected towards acetate production.
Experimental Investigation of Failure Estimation Method for Cylinders With a Circumferential Crack Subjected to Combined Tensile and Torsion Loads
Authors: Li Yinsheng , Hasegawa Kunio , Miura Naoki , Hoshino Katsuaki
Published: July 2013

When a crack is detected in a stainless steel pipe during in-service inspections, the failure estimation method given in codes such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI or JSME Rules on Fitness-for-Service for Nuclear Power Plants can be applied to evaluate the structural integrity of the cracked pipe. In the current codes, the failure estimation method includes the bending moment and axial force due to pressure. The torsion moment is assumed to be relatively small and is not considered.

Recently, analytical investigations considering multi-axial loads including torsion were conducted in several previous studies by examining the limit load for pipes with a circumferential crack. A failure estimation method for the combined bending moment, torsion moment and internal pressure was proposed. In this study, the failure behavior of pipes with a circumferential crack subjected to multi-axial loads including the torsion is investigated to provide experimental support for the failure estimation method. Experiments were carried out on small size stainless steel cylinders containing a circumferential surface or through-wall crack, subjected to the combined tensile and torsion loads. Based on the experimental results, the proposed failure estimation method was confirmed to be applicable to cracked pipes subjected to combined tensile and torsion loads.