bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To Catch a Terrorist: Can Ethnic Profiling Work?
Authors: Press William
Published: November 2010

In a world threatened by terrorists from a small number of countries, it is tempting to think that racial profiling for security purposes, even if morally objectionable, might save lives. But is it mathematically sound?William Press shows that even with unrealistically perfect data it is surprisingly difficult to gain any benefit from such profiling.
Canada Census 2011: Not Scientifically Valid?
Authors: Baskerville Jon , Miles Jack , Groves Robert , Davies Neville , Aliaga Martha
Published: November 2010

In Canada the abandonment of a compulsory national census has rocked the government. In Britain the Minister in charge of the 2011 census openly hopes it will be the last. Here Jon Baskerville discusses the Canadian experience; Jack Miles ponders an alternative for Britain; and Robert Groves, head of the US Census Bureau, describes his experiences and fears. On page 175 Neville Davies and Martha Aliaga use it for teaching.
UK Census 2011 – The Last?
Authors: Miles Jack
Published: November 2010

In Britain, Francis Maude has described the 2011 census as “wasteful”. He is the Cabinet minister in charge of it. For the future he is examining using databases from credit check agencies, Royal Mail and councils instead of a census. Save our census, says Jack Miles– but offers an alternative to its present form.
Statistics and Animals in Biomedical Research
Authors: Festing Michael
Published: November 2010

A UK government-sponsored review1 has found that out of 271 randomly chosen papers reporting experiments on laboratory animals only 59% stated the objective of the study and the number of animals used. Most did not use randomisation or blinding, and only 70% of the publications that used statistical methods gave their methods and a measure of error. Michael Festing, one of the authors of the review, wants better statistics in animal experiments.
Bradley Efron
Authors: Champkin Julian
Published: November 2010

“Statistics is the science of information gathering, especially when the information arrives in little pieces instead of big ones.” Bradley Efron is good at putting things simply. He talked to Julian Champkin.
Fisher and Friends
Authors: Keyfitz Nathan
Published: November 2010

What do famous statisticians really get up to at conferences? The answer, it seems, is crosswords, exchanging bedrooms and holding up mice. Nathan Keyfitz offers a rare glimpse of R. A. Fisher and company at what could loosely be described as work.
Does prosthodontic rehabilitation change the eating patterns among completely edentulous patients?
Authors: Shigli Kamal , Hebbal Mamata
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00404.x

Does prosthodontic rehabilitation change the eating patterns among completely edentulous patients?

Objective:  Nutrition is compromised in completely edentulous individuals. As there is limited literature available on the nutritional health of the elderly in the Indian population, the present study was undertaken to assess these changes before and 1 month after placement of complete dentures in a dental hospital in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Materials and methods:  The 10‐item closed‐ended questionnaire was completed by the investigator who interviewed the subjects (n = 35) before placement of complete dentures and 1 month later.

Results:  A statistically significant difference was found for having an illness or condition that led to a change in the type and/or amount of food eaten (p = 0.013); eating few fruits, vegetables, or milk products (p = 0.005) and having oral problems that made it difficult to eat (p = 0.003).

Conclusions:  Prosthodontic rehabilitation improved the eating pattern with increased intake of fruits, vegetables and milk products.
Evaluation of experimental cleanser solution of Ricinus communis: effect on soft denture liner properties
Authors: Pisani Marina Xavier , da Silva Cláudia Helena Lovato , Paranhos Helena Freitas Oliveira , Souza Raphael Freitas , Macedo Ana Paula
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00438.x

Evaluation of experimental cleanser solution of Ricinus communis: effect on soft denture liner properties

Objective:  This study evaluated colour stability, hardness and roughness of soft denture liners after immersion in various cleansers.

Materials and methods:  Thirty specimens (14 mm × 4 mm) of Elite Soft Relining (ES) and Mucopren Soft (MS) were randomly immersed in distilled water at 37°C, sodium hypochlorite 1%, and an experimental Ricinus communis solution (RC) for 7, 15 and 183 continuous days.

Results:  anova (p < 0.05) and Tukey’s test indicated that after T7 (μ =8.79 ± 7.36); T15 (μ = 4.23 ± 2.62) and T183 (μ = 8.78 ± 3.16), MS presented a higher increase in hardness than ES. After T7, MS underwent an increase in roughness (μ = 0.09 ± 0.80); ES underwent a decrease (μ = −0.08 ± 0.16). RC caused the smallest variation in roughness. After T15, both materials presented an increase in roughness. After T183, ES (μ = −0.30 ± 0.48) presented a higher roughness variation than MS (μ = −0.07 ± 0.32). Hypochlorite caused an increase in roughness (μ = 0.02 ± 0.19).

Conclusion:  After all periods ES presented higher colour alteration than MS; highest colour alteration was caused by hypochlorite. Both materials were more stable after immersion in RC.
A conventional microwave oven for denture cleaning: a critical review
Authors: Augusto Brondani Mario , Samim Firoozeh , Feng Hong
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00442.x

A conventional microwave oven for denture cleaning: a critical review

Introduction:  Denture cleaning should be quick and easy to perform, especially in long‐term care facilities. The lack of proper oral hygiene can put older adults at higher risk from opportunistic oral infections, particularly fungal. As an alternative to regular brushing, the use of a microwave oven has been suggested for cleaning and disinfecting dentures.

Objectives:  To synthesise and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of a conventional microwave oven for cleaning and disinfecting complete dentures.

Methods:  A brief literature search focused on papers dealing with microwave therapy for denture cleaning through PubMed Central, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, Ovid MEDLINE(R) In‐Process, and Scifinder Scholar.

Results:  One hundred and sixty‐seven manuscripts published in English with full text were found, and 28 were accepted and discussed in the light of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of conventional microwave oven for cleaning and disinfecting complete dentures.

Conclusions:  There was no standardisation for microwave use for denture cleaning. Manual cleaning still seemed to be the optimal method for controlling fungal infection and denture stomatitis. However, such a daily routine appeared to be underused, particularly in long‐term care facilities.
Oral hygiene and periodontal disease in Victorian nursing homes
Authors: Hopcraft Matthew S. , Morgan Michael V. , Satur Julie G. , Wright F.A. Clive , Darby Ivan B.
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00448.x
 
Oral hygiene and periodontal disease in Victorian nursing homes

Objective:  To investigate oral hygiene and periodontal disease in residents of Victoria nursing homes.

Background:  The Australian population is ageing with a growing proportion of elderly Australians living in nursing homes. With declining edentulism rates, periodontal disease is becoming more prevalent in this population.

Materials and methods:  A total of 275 dentate residents from 31 Victorian nursing homes had a questionnaire and clinical examination using the Visual Plaque Index and a modified Community Periodontal Index.

Results:  Self‐reported oral hygiene habits of residents were poor, with less than one‐third of residents cleaning their teeth twice daily or more. Periodontal health was found to be extremely poor, and the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets was 35.6%, with 10.2% having 6 mm+ pockets. Logistic regression found that age, gender, number of teeth present and oral hygiene were all strongly associated with the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets.

Conclusion:  Poor oral hygiene and the presence of significant plaque and calculus were common findings in this study. Periodontal diseases are a significant problem for residents in nursing homes. Addressing this health issue will require improved training for carers and better access to appropriate dental services.
Clinical evaluation of three denture cushion adhesives by complete denture wearers
Authors: Koronis Spyros , Pizatos Evangelos , Polyzois Gregory , Lagouvardos Panagiotis
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.436.x

Clinical evaluation of three denture cushion adhesives by complete denture wearers

Objective:  The aim of this study was the clinical evaluation of three denture cushion adhesives and whether the results were correlated to Kapur Index for denture‐supporting tissues.

Background:  Various types of denture adhesives are used among denture patients. However, information on the clinical behaviour of denture cushions is limited.

Materials and methods:  Thirty edentulous patients had their denture‐supporting tissues scored by Kapur Index and their old dentures replaced. They received three brands of denture cushion adhesives (Fittydent®, Protefix® and Seabond®) and were instructed to use them in a sequence according to the group they were randomly assigned to. Each brand of adhesive was used for 48 h on the lower denture according to the manufacturer’s suggestions. After each brand was used, participants spent 24 h without applying any sort of adhesive. Finally, a questionnaire evaluating and comparing the performance of each brand was filled out.

Results:  Denture adhesives generally improved patient satisfaction and masticatory ability, especially in participants with poor Kapur Index and those who reported a poor retention of their old dentures.

Conclusion:  Fittydent® was the most preferred adhesive, showing the best retention and the longest duration of its effect, but also reported as difficult to remove from the denture‐bearing area.
Rice OsRAD21‐2 is Expressed in Actively Dividing Tissues and its Ectopic Expression in Yeast Results in Aberrant Cell Division and Growth
Authors: Gong Chunyan , Li Tang , Li Qi , Yan Longfeng , Wang Tai
Published: November 2010

Rad21 and its meiotic counterpart Rec8, the key components of the cohesin complex, are essential for sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome segregation in mitosis and meiosis, respectively. In contrast to yeast and vertebrates, which have only two RAD21/REC8 genes, the rice genome encodes four Rad21/Rec8 proteins. Here, we report on the cloning and characterization of OsRAD21‐2 from rice (Oryza sativa L.). Phylogenetic analysis of the full‐length amino acids showed that OsRad21‐2 was grouped into the plant‐specific Rad21 subfamily. Semi‐quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction revealed OsRAD21‐2 preferentially expressed in premeiotic flowers. Further RNA in situ hybridization analysis and promoter::β‐glucuronidase staining indicated that OsRAD21‐2 was mainly expressed in actively dividing tissues including premeiotic stamen, stem intercalary meristem, leaf meristem, and root pericycle. Ectopic expression of OsRAD21‐2 in fission yeast resulted in cell growth delay and morphological abnormality. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the OsRAD21‐2‐expressed cells were arrested in G2 phase. Our results suggest that OsRad21‐2 functions in regulation of cell division and growth.
Sequence Information on Simple Sequence Repeats and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms through Transcriptome Analysis of Mungbean
Authors: Moe Kyaw Thu , Chung Jong‐Wook , Cho Young‐Il , Moon Jung‐Kyung , Ku Ja‐Hwan , Jung Jin‐Kyo , Lee Jungran , Park Yong‐Jin
Published: November 2010

Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is a unique species in its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, with early maturity, and relatively good drought resistance. We used 454 sequencing technology for transcriptome sequencing. A total of 150 159 and 142 993 reads produced 5 254 and 6 374 large contigs (≥500 bp) with an average length of 833 and 853 for Sunhwa and Jangan, respectively. Functional annotation to known sequences yielded 41.34% and 41.74% unigenes for Jangan and Sunhwa. A higher number of simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs was identified in Jangan (1 630) compared with that of Sunhwa (1 334). A similar SSR distribution pattern was observed in both varieties. A total of 8 249 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and indels with 2 098 high‐confidence candidates were identified in the two mungbean varieties. The average distance between individual SNPs was ∼860 bp. Our report demonstrates the utility of transcriptomic data for implementing a functional annotation and development of genetic markers. We also provide large resource sequence data for mungbean improvement programs.
Seasonal distribution and prevalence of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Kurukshetra, Northern India
Authors: KAKKAR Nidhi
Published: November 2010

A total of 8306 individuals as 29 species from 3 subfamilies (Hybosorinae, Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae) were trapped by pitfall bait trapping. The maximum number of species of Scarabaeinae (68.97%) and number of individuals of Aphodiinae (56.84%) take part in the formation of a community. The number of species, number of individuals, diversity and dominance changes throughout the season. Seasonal prevalence of 82.76% of species and 50.81% of individuals was found in June. Aphodius campestris was found to be more attracted to the pitfall bait traps. The beetle community found in May shows the maximum Shannon's Diversity Index (2.46) but Margalef's Diversity Index was highest in August (3.06). Environmental factors play an important role in the occurrence and abundance of dung beetles. In the present study non‐significant but positive correlations between temperature and species richness, abundance and diversity were found. Percent relative humidity showed a positive correlation with abundance only, and negative correlations with species richness and diversity.
Quality and Sensory Characteristics of Hard Red Wheat after Residential Storage for up to 32 Y
Authors: Rose Devin J. , Ogden Lynn V. , Dunn Michael L. , Jamison Rachel G. , Lloyd Michelle A. , Pike Oscar A.
Published: November 2010

Abstract:  Samples of hard red wheat packaged for long‐term storage, ranging in age from 0 to 32 y, were obtained from donors in residential households. All samples had been stored under nonabusive conditions (7% to 10% moisture, 13 to 27 °C). Selected quality parameters of the wheat (moisture, thiamin, free fatty acids, flour extraction rate, bread loaf volume, and bread firmness) and sensory properties of bread made from the stored wheat (aroma, appearance, texture, flavor, overall liking, acceptance for use as part of the regular diet, and acceptance for use in emergency situations) were evaluated. Free fatty acids increased significantly from 0.897 to 11.8 μmol/g, and flour extraction rate decreased significantly from 76.5% to 69.9% over time. None of the other quality parameters measured (moisture, thiamin, bread loaf volume, and bread firmness) were significantly correlated with wheat storage time. Panelists who frequently or occasionally consume whole wheat bread rated all breads made from the stored wheat with hedonic scores (9‐point scale) of at least 6.4 (like slightly to moderately). Consumer ratings of bread texture, flavor, and overall acceptability were negatively correlated with storage time (P < 0.001); however, at least 70% of panelists indicated that they would consume the bread as part of their regular diet even after 32 y of wheat storage, while over 97% would do so in an emergency. These data indicate that wheat maintains nutritional quality and makes acceptable bread when stored up to 32 y at 13 to 27 °C and 7% to 10% moisture.

Practical Application:  Wheat stored for the purposes of disaster relief has the potential of being stored for extremely long periods of time, which may result in undesirable changes in milling and baking quality. Therefore, we tested wheat that had been stored under residential conditions for up to 32 y to determine its functional quality and consumer acceptability. Our results indicate that wheat of low moisture (7% to 10%) packaged in sealed cans and stored for up to 32 y at or below typical room temperature retains quality and can be made into bread that is well accepted by consumers. Thus, whole wheat has good long‐term storage stability and can be recommended for emergency food supplies.
Effect of Partial Substitution of NaCl with KCl on Proteolysis of Halloumi Cheese
Authors: Ayyash Mutamed M. , Shah Nagendra P.
Published: November 2010

Abstract:  The effect of substitution of NaCl with Potassium chloride (KCl) in brine solution on proteolysis of halloumi cheese was investigated. Halloumi cheeses were made and kept in 4 different brine solutions (18% w/w), including only NaCl (HA; control); 3NaCl:1KCl (w/w) (HB); 1NaCl:1KCl (w/w) (HC); 1NaCl:3KCl (w/w) (HD); and stored for 56 d at 4 °C. Proteolysis was assessed using water‐soluble nitrogen (WSN), trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen (TCA‐SN), phosphotungstic‐soluble nitrogen (PTA‐SN), urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (urea‐PAGE), and peptide patterns. WSN and TCA‐SN contents were similar in all experimental cheeses. Peptide patterns of the pH 4.6 N fraction and urea‐PAGE showed no significant difference between halloumi cheeses kept in various NaCl/KCl mixtures (HB, HC, HD) and control (HA). Sodium and potassium contents showed positive correlations with WSN and PTA‐SN. There was an inverse correlation between calcium (Ca) contents and WSN and PTA‐SN. Correlations between Ca and Na or K were negative at the same salt treatment.
Chitosan–Whey Protein Isolate Composite Films for Encapsulation and Stabilization of Fish Oil Containing Ultra Pure Omega‐3 Fatty Acids
Authors: Duan Jingyun , Jiang Yan , Zhao Yanyun
Published: November 2010

Abstract:  Chitosan (1.5%, w/v)–whey protein isolate (WPI, 5% w/v) composite films were developed for encapsulating and stabilizing fish oil (FO) containing 93.7% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Chitosan–WPI film‐forming solutions (FFS) were incorporated with 1.5% or 2% FO (w/v), 2% (w/v) glycerol, Tween 80 (3 times weight of FO), and 0.5% (w/v) oregano or rosemary essential oil (EO), and cast for films at room conditions. Dried films were stored at 2 °C for 30 d for evaluating encapsulation efficiency (EE), lipid stability, and film functionality. Total oil contents in films from FFS incorporating 1.5% or 2% FO were 28.1% to 32.5% and 33.4% to 37.3%, respectively, and free oil contents were 13.5% to 14.7% and 15.5% to 16.3%, respectively. EE, moisture content, and water activity of the films were 47.8% to 66%, 18.7% to 24.9%, and 0.42% to 0.50%, respectively, without significant difference among differently formulated films. Increasing FO concentration from 1.5% to 2% in FFS decreased tensile strength of the films from 0.57–0.73 to 0.34–0.44 MPa, but not the film elongation. Addition of oregano EO in FFS retarded lipid oxidation of the fish oil encapsulated in the films, in which a 43% to 53% reduction in thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances value and 39% to 51% reduction in peroxide value were achieved. Chitosan–WPI composite films with incorporation of oregano essential oil could be applied as a simple and economic means for encapsulating and stabilizing fish oil for fortifying omega‐3 fatty acids in various applications.
Epidemiology of the metabolic syndrome in the USA
Authors: McCULLOUGH Arthur J
Published: November 2010

The metabolic syndrome is a common complex entity that has emerged as a worldwide epidemic and major public health care concern with a prevalence of approximately 25% in the United States. There have been a number of different definitions of the metabolic syndrome but all center around the metabolic abnormalities of central obesity, hypertension, decreased high‐density lipoproteins and elevated triglycerides with insulin resistance as the uniting physiologic factor. The importance of the metabolic syndrome is not just related to its high prevalence rate but also because it predicts the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is now recognized to be the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome, which along with its individual components – particularly diabetes and elevated triglycerides, are the major risk factors for the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. NASH may progress to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. It is currently the third most common cause for liver transplantation and is projected to be the leading cause for liver transplantation in 2020. Weight loss (via diet or bariatric surgery) and vitamin E have recently been demonstrated to be effective treatments of NASH. Although these and other agents may prove to be effective treatments for NASH, the most effective therapeutic strategy would be early screening and intervention to prevent the development of insulin resistance and oxidative stress at a societal level.
Introduction: Representing Animals
Authors: RIDLEY GLYNIS
Published: November 2010

Why devote a volume to the representation of animals in the eighteenth century? One answer lies in the doubling of known quadruped species classified at the time, a development that suggested a previously unsuspected richness of the natural world and which fuelled debates about competing taxonomic systems. During the eighteenth century the ‘exotic’ (for example, elephants and rhinoceroses) became more familiar, even as the range of known exotica increased; and domesticated animals became the focus of a more sympathetic artistic gaze, even as the bodies of livestock became the site of genetic manipulations that could be seen as heralding modern agri‐business.
Creating Animal Experience in Late Eighteenth‐Century Narrative
Authors: SPENCER JANE
Published: November 2010

Late eighteenth‐century children's fiction with animal protagonists played a part in the period's rethinking of animal–human relations. Writers including Dorothy Kilner, Sarah Trimmer, Anna Letitia Barbauld, John Aikin and, most notably, Edward Augustus Kendall represented animal characters in new ways. A combination of influences from the philosophy of sympathy and from contemporary natural history shaped their enactment of a partial shift in animal representation from the fabular, the allegorical and the satirical to the naturalistic and empathetic. Drawing on new narrative techniques for the representation of mind in fiction, they pioneered attempts to imagine the experience of non‐human animals.
Animals in British and French Encyclopaedias in the Long Eighteenth Century
Authors: LOVELAND JEFF
Published: November 2010

This survey of the treatment of animals in eighteenth‐century British and French encyclopaedias will argue that taxonomy and alphabetical encyclopaedias were compatible, despite the reputation of the latter as being antithetical to traditional hierarchies. At the same time, I will point to an evolution in the treatment of animals in encyclopaedias, one that suggests specialisation on the part of readers. My chronology proposes four overlapping stages: one involving intermixed discourses; one involving neglect; one involving separation of the practical and learned aspects of animals; and one involving treatises on animals and sciences of animals.
‘Strange and Wonderful’: Encountering the Elephant in Britain, 1675‐1830
Authors: PLUMB CHRISTOPHER
Published: November 2010

This paper follows in the footsteps of the three live elephants that came to Britain in 1675, 1683 and 1720, before charting the changing cultural taxonomy of the elephant from the second half of the eighteenth century. The shifting understandings of what constituted an elephant's anatomy and character are significant to interpreting divergent and overlapping taxonomies in the long eighteenth century. In a period when different classification systems were rigorously debated, this paper proposes an understanding of the elephant that is not essentialist but rather understands ‘species’ as cultural, historically made and transformed.
Sovereign Violence and the Figure of the Animal, from Leviathan to Windsor‐Forest
Authors: MENELY TOBIAS
Published: November 2010

Hobbes identifies sovereign violence as the force that constitutes the crucial figurative distinction between man and beast. Since animals are susceptible to this unjustifiable yet justifying violence, however, it remains possible for animals to metamorphose into political subjects. In his depiction of the royal hunting ground in Windsor‐Forest, Pope is unable to sustain the distinction between just and unjust violence or between human and animal. While the trope of the animal as exception is implicated in dominion, such tropes, in their sylleptic literalising of creaturely life as vulnerability, anticipate a figure on whom violence may not be justly exercised.
Sentient Genetics: Breeding the Animal Breeder as Fundamental Other
Authors: MILNE ANNE
Published: November 2010

This article discusses some aspects of the discourses of genetics in eighteenth‐century animal breeding as they affected animals, agricultural labourers and breeders, with a specific focus on the work of the yeoman farmer and master breeder Robert Bakewell. Bakewell's celebrity as an agricultural innovator is discussed in the context of his class position. While the potential malleability of animals appeared limitless in the light of new breeding methods, the opportunities for the social mobility of humans remained subject to the apparently naturalised boundaries of their class position.
Oysters for Hodge, or, Ordering Society, Writing Biography and Feeding the Cat
Authors: BERGLUND LISA
Published: November 2010

In their biographies of Samuel Johnson, Hester Lynch Piozzi and James Boswell both recount with concern Johnson's willing violation of hierarchies of race, class and gender in personally buying oysters to feed his cat Hodge, so that, Piozzi reports, ‘Francis the Black's delicacy might not be hurt, at seeing himself employed for the convenience of a quadruped’. Piozzi also uses the story of Hodge's oysters to justify her own labours as Johnson's nurse and confidante, while Boswell's Life depicts Hodge, Johnson's privileged intimate, as a rival to the man most anxious to claim that title for himself.
Scott and the Romantic Dog
Authors: CARSON JAMES P.
Published: November 2010

Noting the centrality of dogs in Walter Scott's life and novels, this article argues that animal metaphors mark the transgression of the boundary between human and animal. In Guy Mannering, Scott makes a conventional use of animal metaphor when the hierarchy of dog breeds serves as a model for and rationalisation of inequality in human society. In The Black Dwarf, however, Scott questions the project of founding a vision of society on a conception of the natural order. For Scott, dogs provide access to affect and, owing to their connections with memory, help to construct human subjectivity.
Integrins: versatile receptors controlling melanocyte adhesion, migration and proliferation
Authors: Pinon Perrine , Wehrle‐Haller Bernhard
Published: November 2010

From the onset of melanocyte specification from the neural crest, throughout their migration during embryogenesis and until they reside in their niche in the basal keratinocyte layer, melanocytes interact in dynamic ways with the extracellular environment of the growing embryo. To recognize and to adhere to their environment, melanocytes depend on heterodimeric cell surface receptors of the family of integrins. In addition to the control of adhesive interactions between melanocytes and the extracellular matrix scaffold secreted by fibroblasts and keratinocytes, the integrin receptors allow cells also to sense the mechanical condition of the extracellular environment, responding by intracellular signaling, triggering cell survival, proliferation or migration events. In this review, we summarize the recently emerged concepts that explain integrin‐dependent adhesion and how this adhesion system interfaces with integrin‐dependent signaling events. The gained information will help to understand melanocyte behavior in pathological situations such as melanoma growth and metastasis formation.
Impact of IFRS in New Zealand on Accounts and Earnings Quality
Authors: Kabir Md Humayun , Laswad Fawzi , Islam Md Ainul
Published: November 2010

The impact of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the accounts and the quality of earnings of New Zealand firms is examined. Our analysis of IFRS adjustments for the last period under pre‐IFRS NZ Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) reveals that total assets, total liabilities and net profit were significantly higher under IFRS than under pre‐IFRS GAAP. Profit and equity under IFRS were increased by adjustments for goodwill and other intangibles and investment property, and decreased by adjustments for employee benefits and share‐based payments. Using data for 2002–2009, we find that absolute discretionary accruals were significantly higher under IFRS than under pre‐IFRS NZ GAAP, suggesting lower earnings quality under IFRS than under pre‐IFRS NZ GAAP. However, we find no significant differences in signed discretionary accruals and the ability of earnings to predict one‐year‐ahead cash flows between pre‐IFRS NZ GAAP and IFRS. These results are consistent across alternative measures of accruals quality, sample selection and whether firms elected to adopt IFRS in 2005 rather than comply with them in 2007.
Corporate Governance and Company Performance in Australia
Authors: Christensen Jacqueline , Kent Pamela , Stewart Jenny
Published: November 2010

This study tests whether the adoption of Australian best practice corporate governance recommendations is associated with financial performance measured by return on assets (ROA) and Tobin's Q. Results suggest that recommended corporate governance structures relating to the adoption of board sub‐committees are sound policy recommendations that enhance performance using the accounting measure ROA and the market‐based measure Tobin's Q. In contrast, the emphasis on board independence guidelines, specifically having outside independent directors, has a negative impact on ROA and Tobin's Q. However, there are conflicting significant results between the accounting and market measures for having a dual CEO/chairperson and board size.
Commentary: IFRS – The SEC's Roadmap and the Contribution of the Academic Community
Authors: Singleton‐Green Brian
Published: November 2010

In November 2008 the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a roadmap for the possible adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by US publicly traded companies. A team of distinguished academics and practitioners discussed the issues raised by the roadmap in a panel session at the American Accounting Association meeting in San Francisco in August 2010. This commentary summarises the discussion. Potential obstacles to US adoption of IFRS include concerns about the International Accounting Standards Board's governance, and the consistency of application of IFRS in different countries around the world. Another key issue is to make sure that there is real agreement on the purpose of financial reporting, which in the US is, by law, for the protection of investors. However, research shows the capital market benefits of IFRS adoption, and at least one study shows a high degree of comparability between US GAAP and IFRS.
Commentary: Some Further Evidence on Discount Rate Selection in the Context of Goodwill Impairment Testing
Authors: Carlin Tyrone M. , Finch Nigel
Published: November 2010

In an earlier edition of this journal, we published evidence relating to the nature of discount rates chosen by a sample of large Australian‐listed firms in the context of their goodwill impairment testing (

Carlin and Finch 2009

). We argued that our evidence suggested that the rigour of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) goodwill impairment testing process was being undermined by inappropriate choice of discount rates on the part of many firms. In a commentary published alongside our article, questions were raised as to the validity of our conclusions and the methodology we applied in our study (

Gallery 2009

). Subsequently, Bradbury has also contributed to the debate, raising similar concerns to those voiced by Gallery (

Bradbury 2010

). In this brief paper, we provide further and better particulars in relation to our original dataset in a bid to assist those who have taken an interest in this debate to further inform their view of the merits (or otherwise) of the case we made in our original article.
Commentary: Is the Reporting Model Broken?
Authors: Singleton‐Green Brian
Published: November 2010

There have been frequent claims in recent decades that the reporting model is broken and needs to be replaced by a new one. Is it really broken? If so, why? And what should be done about it? These issues were discussed by a team of distinguished academics and practitioners in a panel session at the American Accounting Association meeting in San Francisco in August 2010. This commentary summarises the discussion. While panellists agreed that the reporting model is broken, they identified different problems with it. Key concerns included length, complexity, the dominance of a compliance mindset, reporting on intangibles, an excessive focus on financial reporting, and the need for an integrated approach to reporting. Concern was also expressed about the approach of financial reporting standard setters, including to the role of fair value, and their assumption that it is possible to find ‘God's method of accounting’.
Use of Herd Information for PredictingSalmonellaStatus in Pig Herds
Authors: Baptista F. M. , Alban L. , Nielsen L. R. , Domingos I. , Pomba C. , Almeida V.
Published: November 2010

Salmonellasurveillance‐and‐control programs in pigs are highly resource demanding, so alternative cost‐effective approaches are desirable. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a tool for predicting theSalmonellatest status in pig herds based on herd information collected from 108 industrial farrow‐to‐finish pig herds in Portugal. A questionnaire including known risk factors forSalmonellawas used. A factor analysis model was developed to identify relevant factors that were then tested for association withSalmonellastatus. Three factors were identified and labelled: general biosecurity (factor 1), herd size (factor 2) and sanitary gap implementation (factor 3). Based on the loadings in factor 1 and factor 3, herds were classified according to their biosecurity practices. In total, 59% of the herds had a good level of biosecurity (interpreted as a loading below zero in factor 1) and 37% of the farms had good biosecurity and implemented sanitary gap (loading below zero in factor 1 and loading above zero in factor 3). This implied that they, among other things, implemented preventive measures for visitors and workers entering the herd, controlled biological vectors, had hygiene procedures in place, water quality assessment, and sanitary gap in the fattening and growing sections. In total, 50 herds were tested forSalmonella. Logistic regression analysis showed that factor 1 was significantly associated withSalmonellatest status (P = 0.04). Herds with poor biosecurity had a higher probability of testingSalmonellapositive compared with herds with good biosecurity. This study shows the potential for using herd information to classify herds according to theirSalmonellastatus in the absence of good testing options. The method might be used as a potentially cost‐effective tool for future development of risk‐based approaches to surveillance, targeting interventions to high‐risk herds or differentiating sampling strategies in herds with different levels of infection.
Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) Farm Program: Results from Finisher Pig Surveillance
Authors: Deckert A. , Gow S. , Rosengren L. , Léger D. , Avery B. , Daignault D. , Dutil L. , Reid‐Smith R. , Irwin R.
Published: November 2010

In 2006, the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) Farm Program was implemented in sentinel grower‐finisher swine herds in Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Herds were visited 1–3 times annually. Faecal samples were collected from pens of close‐to‐market (CTM) weight (>80 kg) pigs and antimicrobial use (AMU) data were collected via questionnaires. Samples were cultured for generic Escherichia coli and Salmonella and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. This paper describes the findings of this program between 2006 and 2008. Eighty‐nine, 115 and 96 herds participated in this program in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively. Over the 3 years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels remained consistent. During this period, resistance to one or more antimicrobials was detected in 56–63% of the Salmonella spp. isolates and 84–86% of E. coli isolates. Resistance to five or more antimicrobials was detected in 13–23% of Salmonella and 12–13% of E. coli. Resistance to drugs classified as very important to human health (Category I) by the Veterinary Drug Directorate (VDD), Health Canada, was less than or equal to 1% in both organisms. AMU data were provided by 100 herds in 2007 and 95 herds in 2008. Nine herds in 2007 and five herds in 2008 reported no AMU. The most common route of antimicrobial administration (75–79% of herds) was via feed, predominantly macrolides/lincosamides (66–68% of herds). In both 2007 and 2008, the primary reasons given for macrolide/lincosamide use were disease prevention, growth promotion and treatment of enteric disease. The Category I antimicrobials, ceftiofur and virginiamycin were not used in feed or water in any herds in 2008, but virginiamycin was used in feed in two herds in 2007. Parenteral ceftiofur was used in 29 herds (29%) in 2007 and 20 herds (21%) in 2008. The reasons for ceftiofur use included treatment of lameness, respiratory disease and enteric disease.
Evaluation of the Risk Factors for Shedding Salmonella with or without Antimicrobial Resistance in Swine Using Multinomial Regression Method
Authors: Farzan A. , Friendship R. M. , Dewey C. E. , Poppe C. , Funk J.
Published: November 2010

A multinomial logistic regression method was used to investigate the risk factors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella isolated from faecal samples collected on 80 Ontario swine farms in Canada. The samples were classified into three groups including Salmonella‐negative samples (S−), Salmonella‐positive samples without AMR (S+AMR−) and Salmonella‐positive samples with AMR (S+AMR+). The samples collected directly from pigs had a greater chance to be positive for Salmonella with AMR compared to those samples collected from the pen floor. The odds of culturing Salmonella with or without AMR was higher if pelleted feed was used compared with mash or liquid feed (P < 0.001). The faecal samples collected on farrow‐to‐finish farms had a significant lower chance of testing positive for Salmonella with multidrug resistance than the samples from grow‐finisher farms (P = 0.004). The chance of culturing Salmonella without AMR on farms with a continuous system was higher than on farms with an all‐in/all‐out system (P = 0.009). However, there was no significant association between the flow system and recovery of Salmonella with AMR. The larger farms were more likely to be in S+AMR+ group than in S− group (P < 0.001) whereas herd size did not appear as a risk factor for being in S+AMR− group compared with S− group. These findings indicate that although on‐farm antimicrobial use is one component of resistance, there might be other farm management factors that also affect the development of emerging resistant bacterial foodborne pathogens on swine farms. Finding different risk factors for shedding Salmonella with or without antimicrobial resistance would help to take the appropriate approach to each group if a control programme were to be implemented or an intervention applied.
Analysis of Meat Juice ELISA Results and Questionnaire Data to Investigate Farm‐Level Risk Factors for Salmonella Infection in UK Pigs
Authors: Smith R. P. , Clough H. E. , Cook A. J. C.
Published: November 2010

The study set out to explore risk factors for Salmonella infection in pigs, based on seroprevalence amongst slaughtered pigs, using a large study population of holdings and a comprehensive list of farm characteristics. Farm data were collected from pig quality assurance schemes and supplemented by a postal questionnaire. These data were used with meat juice serology results from ongoing abattoir Salmonella surveillance, for a multivariable risk factor analysis, modelling the ELISA sample to positive ratio directly (ELISA ratio). The study population contained 566 farms, covering a geographically representative spread of farms within the United Kingdom, with a mean average of 224 sample results per holding over a 4‐year period. The model highlighted that temporal factors (quarterly and yearly cycles) and monthly meteorological summaries for rainfall, sunshine and temperature were associated with Salmonella presence (P < 0.01). The ELISA ratio was found to be highest in autumn and lowest in spring and summer, whereas yearly averages showed a greater degree of variation than seasonal. Two feed variables (homemix and barley) were found to be protective factors, as was a conventional, rather than organic or freedom foods, farm enterprise type. The number of annual pig deliveries and dead stock collections, and the main cause of pig mortality on the farm were found to be associated with Salmonella infection. Scottish farms had a lower ELISA ratio than other regions, and an increased number of pig farms within a 10‐km radius was associated with a higher ELISA ratio. The study demonstrated that the analysis of routinely collected data from surveillance and quality assurance schemes was cost‐effective, with sufficient power to detect modest associations between Salmonella and exposure variables. The model results can be used to inform on‐farm Salmonella control policies and could target‐specific geographical regions and seasons to assist the efficiency of surveillance.
Comparison of Bacterial Culture and Real‐Time PCR for the Detection ofSalmonellain Grow–Finish Pigs in Western Canada Using a Bayesian Approach
Authors: Wilkins W. , Waldner C. , Rajić A. , McFall M. , Muckle A. , Mainar‐Jaime R. C.
Published: November 2010

The study objective was to evaluate the accuracy of a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and a culture protocol used to detectSalmonellain the faeces of grow–finish pigs using a Bayesian approach. The RT‐PCR wasinvA‐gene‐based assay, while the culture protocol included pre‐enrichment in buffered peptone water, selective enrichment in tetrathionate and Rappaport‐Vassiliadis broths, and isolation on semi‐solid (modified semi‐solid RV) or solid (XLT4, Rambach) agar plates. Bayesian analysis was performed using a two‐test, two‐population model with dependence between culture and RT‐PCR and compared to a second model with conditional independence between these two tests. Two hundred and ninety three individual faecal and 294 pooled pen samples from grow–finish pig collected from 10 farms were tested and results were divided into two groups according to herd size (five herds <250 sows, five herds with >400 sows). In the dependence model, RT‐PCR sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) were estimated to be 90% (95% probability interval 74, 97) and 99% (98, 99), respectively. Culture Se was 92% (75, 99), while culture Sp was considered 100% as all culture‐positive samples were confirmed by serotyping. In the conditional independence model, RT‐PCR Se and Sp, and culture Se, were 96% (93, 98), 99% (98, 100) and 97% (94, 100), respectively. The dependence model resulted in posterior estimates of Se that were lower and with broader probability intervals than the independence model, indicating that when RT‐PCR and culture are evaluated relative to each other, the correlation between these tests is an important source of bias and should be adjusted for during analysis. The RT‐PCR evaluated in this study performed almost comparably to culture; given the cost savings associated with using this test and more timely results, the RT‐PCR may be a useful alternative to culture for screening large numbers of samples, particularly whenSalmonellaprevalence is low.
Examining Heterogeneity in the Diagnostic Accuracy of Culture and PCR forSalmonellaspp. in Swine: A Systematic Review/Meta‐Regression Approach
Authors: Wilkins W. , Rajić A. , Parker S. , Waddell L. , Sanchez J. , Sargeant J. , Waldner C.
Published: November 2010

The accuracy of bacterial culture and PCR forSalmonellain swine was examined through systematic review of existing primary research in this field. A replicable search was conducted in 10 electronic databases. All steps of the review were conducted by two reviewers: to identify relevant publications, to assess their methodological soundness and reporting, and to extract raw data or reported test accuracy estimates. Meta‐analyses and meta‐regression were performed: to evaluate pooled estimates of test sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp), to identify variables explaining the variation in reported test estimates, and to evaluate the association between these variables and reported test Se and Sp. Twenty‐nine studies were included in the review. Unique test evaluations reported in these 29 studies were categorized according to the type of test comparison: culture versus culture (n = 134 test evaluations) and PCR versus culture (n = 21). We identified significant heterogeneity among evaluations for each test category. For culture, more heterogeneity was caused by differences in individual test protocols (52%) than overall differences between studies (16%). Enrichment temperature, study population, agar and enrichment type were significantly associated with variation in culture Se. Furthermore, interaction between enrichment temperature and enrichment type was detected. For PCR, most of the heterogeneity was caused by overall differences between studies (65–70%); sample type and study size were associated with variation in reported PCR Se and Sp. The overall methodological soundness and/or reporting of primary studies included in this review were poor, with variable use of reference standards, and consistent lack of the use or reporting of blinding, randomization and subject (sample) selection criteria. Consequently, the food safety and veterinary public health research community should formally consider ways for standardizing the conduct and reporting of this type of research.