bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing assemblages of Asteraceae and their insect herbivores under different land‐use regimens
Authors: DINIZ SORAIA , LEWINSOHN THOMAS MICHAEL , PRADO PAULO INÁCIO
Published: November 2011

Accelerated tropical landscape changes occurring over recent decades have produced environmental mosaics comprising remaining isolated green areas and mixed land‐use types. Our objective was to study the effects of alterations in the natural landscape on the species composition and structure of assemblages of Asteraceae and their endophagous insects through comparisons between cerrado (savanna), pastures and Eucalyptus stands. We first investigated whether similarities between assemblages of Asteraceae and their insects varied among land uses or localities. Secondly, we asked whether assemblages of Eucalyptus stands and pastures are subsets of those within the cerrado. We sampled within randomly deployed transects in 15 areas. Land use was found to be an important factor in determining plant composition similarity; however, locality did not exert any significant influence. Pastures were less similar to one another, suggesting high beta diversity. Similarities among insect assemblages were correlated with plant assemblage composition, but not with land use or locality. Species of Tephritidae were distributed along localities independently of land use. High beta diversity in Asteraceae assemblages among cerrados and pastures was supported by nestedness analysis. Plant assemblages in Eucalyptus stands were subsets of cerrado, but pasture assemblages were only partial subsets. A higher degree of nestedness in insect assemblages than in plant assemblages indicated lower beta diversity within these herbivores. Our data indicate that many herbivores are specialized on widely distributed plant genera. Conservation of Asteraceae species and their flower head insects depends not only on maintenance of landscape fragments but also on the correct matching of management form and land use. Such management may contribute to reducing isolation of plant and insect species by increasing the connectivity of remaining cerrado tracts, allowing population maintenance even at low abundances.
Is the reassembly of an arid spider assemblage following fire deterministic?
Authors: LANGLANDS PETER R. , BRENNAN KARL E. C. , WARD BRUCE
Published: November 2011

Fire is a common disturbance in many ecosystems, including arid Australia. Understanding whether fauna respond in a deterministic manner towards a single end‐point, or to multiple states, is of crucial importance for conservation management. Why different taxa or assemblages display single or multiple end‐points is also important to develop a synthetic theory of succession. To examine the post‐fire changes in assemblages of spiders, we established a chronosequence study in spinifex habitat of central Western Australia. Ground‐active spiders were pitfall‐trapped over nine months in sites representing experimental fires (0 and 0.5 years post‐fire) and wildfires (3, 5, 8 and 20 years post‐fire). There were significant non‐linear changes in species richness, evenness and composition of spiders with increasing post‐fire age. For all three measures, the assemblage appeared highly deterministic, converging towards the long unburnt state. Similarity in richness, evenness and species composition to the 20‐year‐old sites all increased with increasing time since fire (3–8 years). However, experimentally burnt sites did not neatly fit this sequence. We consider two alternative hypotheses to explain this second trajectory: inertia within the system or the rapid migration and recolonization from nearby surrounding unburnt areas. Analyses indicated that half of the 179 species had significant preferences for, or were restricted to, particular post‐fire ages. This suggests that adequate pyrodiversity, both in terms of post‐fire ages and/or scale and intensity of fires, may be important for the conservation of spiders in this habitat. However, owing to the high number of singletons and low indicator values, the significance of this result for conservation management remains equivocal. Despite this, the high degree of determinism provides hope that managers can develop a good predictive understanding of post‐fire successional changes in spider assemblages in arid Australia.
Value of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) mass ratio in the detection of prostate cancer in men with PSA levels of ≤10 ng/mL
Authors: Hong Sung Kyu , Oh Jong Jin , Byun Seok‐Soo , Hwang Sung Il , Choo Min Soo , Lee Sang Eun
Published: November 2011

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)

Level of Evidence 2b

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

A group of researchers introduced a parameter named PSA mass ratio, which is defined as total circulating PSA protein (PSA [ng/mL] x plasma volume [L]) per prostate volume, as a prostate cancer screening tool. They suggested that PSA mass ratio may be representative of a PSA value adjusted for potentially influencing factors, such as haemodilution and prostate volume. By adjusting for the combined effects of plasma volume and prostate volume, it can be hypothesized that PSA mass ratio would enhance the predictive value of the PSA test.

Although PSA mass ratio appears to be an attractive alternative to serum PSA level, PSA mass ratio may not significantly enhance the currently available method to predict prostate cancer detection among men with PSA level of ≤10 ng/mL who are undergoing prostate biopsy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) mass ratio, defined as total PSA in circulation per prostate volume (PV), in the prediction of prostate cancer detection among men with PSA levels of ≤10 ng/mL who are undergoing prostate biopsy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed records of 2431 men aged 56–80 years who presented with PSA levels of ≤10 ng/mL and underwent multi (≥12)‐core transrectal ultrasound‐guided prostate biopsy at our institution.

Predictive accuracies of relevant variables and multivariate models in the prostate cancer detection via biopsy were assessed with receiver operating characteristics‐derived area under the curve and compared.

RESULTS

When compared one‐on‐one, PSA mass ratio had a significantly higher accuracy than PSA in the prediction of prostate cancer among our subjects (0.638 vs 0.565, P < 0.001).

Meanwhile, when multivariable model for the prediction of prostate cancer detection via prostate biopsy was devised incorporating patient age, body mass index, digital rectal examination findings, PV, number of biopsy cores, and PSA level, the replacement of PSA level with PSA mass ratio (P= 0.102) or the addition of PSA mass ratio (P= 0.164) in the model was not associated with significantly increased accuracy of model for predicting prostate cancer detection via biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Although PSA mass ratio appears to be an attractive alternative to PSA level, PSA mass ratio may not significantly enhance the currently available method to predict prostate cancer detection among men with PSA levels of ≤10 ng/mL who are undergoing prostate biopsy.
Prostate cancers detected by saturation repeat biopsy impairs the Partin tables’ accuracy to predict final pathological stage
Authors: Augustin Herbert , Auprich Marco , Mannweiler Sebastian , Pachernegg Oliver , Al‐Ali Badereddin Mohamad , Pummer Karl
Published: November 2011

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)

Level of Evidence 2b

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The Partin tables represent a widely used tool to predict final pathologic stage in men with localized prostate cancer.

The study provides a validity assessment of the current Partin tables’ version, and compares data sets from patients with prostate cancers detected by different biopsy schedules for potential differences in predictive accuracy.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the overall accuracy of Partin tables, with special emphasis to potential limitations resulting from differences between prostate cancers detected by different biopsy schedules.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical characteristics from 599 patients treated with radical prostatectomy defined the 2007 Partin probabilities of organ confinement (OC), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) and extracapsular extension (ECE). Prostate cancers were detected by initial biopsy (IBx) with ≤12 cores in 405 patients (67.6%), by conventional repeat biopsy (CRBx) with ≤12 cores in 99 (16.5%) and by saturation repeat biopsy (SRBx) with ≥20 cores in 95 patients (15.9%).

The area under the curve (AUC) estimated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, assessed the predictive accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables.

RESULTS

The Partin tables AUC of the IBx, CRBx and the SRBx groups were 0.730 vs 0.701 vs 0.585 for OC, 0.631 vs 0.689 vs 0.547 for ECE, and 0.775 vs 0.755 vs 0.641 for SVI, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall accuracy of the 2007 Partin tables was clearly inferior in patients with prostate cancers detected by SRBx.

Prostate cancers detected by SRBx undermine the Partin tables’ overall accuracy, and this group of patients may be miscounselled by vague predictions.
MORAL ENHANCEMENT VIA DIRECT EMOTION MODULATION: A REPLY TO JOHN HARRIS
Authors: DOUGLAS THOMAS
Published: November 2011

Some argue that humans should enhance their moral capacities by adopting institutions that facilitate morally good motives and behaviour. I have defended a parallel claim: that we could permissibly use biomedical technologies to enhance our moral capacities, for example by attenuating certain counter‐moral emotions. John Harris has recently responded to my argument by raising three concerns about the direct modulation of emotions as a means to moral enhancement. He argues (1) that such means will be relatively ineffective in bringing about moral improvements, (2) that direct modulation of emotions would invariably come at an unacceptable cost to our freedom, and (3) that we might end up modulating emotions in ways that actually lead to moral decline. In this article I outline some counter‐intuitive potential implications of Harris' claims. I then respond individually to his three concerns, arguing that they license only the very weak conclusion that moral enhancement via direct emotion modulation is sometimes impermissible. However I acknowledge that his third concern might, with further argument, be developed into a more troubling objection to such enhancements.
THE COST OF SOCIAL PACTS
Authors: Acocella Nicola , Di Bartolomeo Giovanni
Published: November 2011

The paper deals with the various institutions capable of improving the macroeconomic performance in a situation of conflict between unions and the government. In particular, we discuss the difficulty of agreeing with a cooperative solution and the need for some kind of explicit or implicit compensation for unions in signing a social pact. A cooperative solution encapsulating the operation of the different mechanisms designed to cope with the conflict and including the various elements of compensation is presented. The model shows that the amount of the explicit compensation depends on the extent of the strategic conflict between the parties as well as on the factors that determine the implicit compensation (i.e., unions’ inflation aversion, partisanship) or are partial substitutes for it (i.e., the conservative central banker). Finally, the role played by external anticipated and unanticipated shocks is also discussed.
A NOTE ON THE PROPERTY RIGHTS THEORY AND THE EX ANTE VALUE OF INFORMATION
Authors: Mohan Vijay
Published: November 2011

This paper examines the ex ante value of information in the property rights model where the possibility exists that an investing agent can be provided with relevant information before investments are undertaken. When contracts are incomplete, from an ex ante perspective, informing the investing agent does not necessarily increase the expected surplus resulting from a relationship between two economic agents. The paper highlights the fact that the second‐best nature of the problem that arises from contractual incompleteness can ensure this.
Spectres of History: Nationalist Party Politics and Truth Recovery in Northern Ireland
Authors: McGrattan Cillian
Published: November 2011

This article critically explores the idea that resolving ethnic conflicts requires some form of truth recovery mechanism to ensure accountability for past actions. While the truth recovery model suggests the need for a pluralistic, inclusive approach to peace building, I argue that its intersection with party and identity politics means that it has the potential to destabilise settlement processes. Using the Northern Ireland case as an example, I describe how the truth recovery model can trigger a contest over the past in which ethnicised understandings of the past and the present come to the fore. An essentially disruptive element in peace building, truth recovery conjures into existence alternative historical narratives, counterfactual historical scenarios and, in an ethnically divided society, may actually narrow the space for debating ‘peace’ and thereby reproduce entrenched and polarised identities.
The effects of marital status on episodic and semantic memory in healthy middle‐aged and old individuals
Authors: MOUSAVI‐NASAB S.‐M.‐HOSSEIN , KORMI‐NOURI REZA , SUNDSTRÖM ANNA , NILSSON LARS‐GÖRAN
Published: November 2011

Mousavi‐Nasab, S.‐M.‐H., Kormi‐Nouri, R., Sundström, A. & Nilsson, L.‐G. (2012). The effects of marital status on episodic and semantic memory in healthy middle‐aged and old individuals. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 53, 1–8.

The present study examined the influences of marital status on different episodic and semantic memory tasks. A total of 1882 adult men and women participated in a longitudinal project (Betula) on memory, health and aging. The participants were grouped into two age cohorts, 35–60 and 65–85, and studied over a period of 5 years. Episodic memory tasks concerned recognition and recall, whereas semantic memory tasks concerned knowledge and fluency. The results showed, after controlling for education, some diseases, chronological age and leisure activity as covariates, that there were significant differences between married and single individuals in episodic memory, but not in semantic memory. Married people showed significantly better memory performances than singles in both subsystems of episodic memory, that is, recall and recognition. Also, the rate of decline in episodic memory was significantly larger for singles and widowed than other groups over the 5‐year time period in both age groups. The findings demonstrate that the positive relation found between marriage and health can be extended to the relation between marriage and cognitive performance. This effect might be explained by the role played by cognitive stimulation in memory and cognition.
Neuropsychological function and past exposure to metallic mercury in female dental workers
Authors: SLETVOLD HELGE , SVENDSEN KRISTIN , AAS ODDFRID , SYVERSEN TORE , HILT BJØRN
Published: November 2011

Sletvold, H., Svendsen, K., Aas, O., Syversen, T. & Hilt, B. (2012). Neuropsychological function and past exposure to metallic mercury in female dental workers. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 53, 136–143.

The aim of this study was to see if dental personnel with previous exposure to metallic mercury have later developed disturbances in cognitive function. Ninety‐one female participants who had been selected from a previous health survey of dental personnel were investigated neuropsychologically within the following domains: motor function, short‐term memory, working memory, executive function, mental flexibility, and visual and verbal long‐term memory. The scores were mainly within normal ranges. Relationships between an exposure score, the duration of employment before 1990, and previously measured mercury in urine as independent variables and the neuropsychological findings as dependent variables, were analyzed by multiple linear regression controlling for age, general ability, length of education, alcohol consumption, and previous head injuries. The only relationship that was statistically significant in the hypothesized direction was between the previously measured urine mercury values and visual long‐term memory, where the urine values explained 30% of the variability. As the study had a low statistical power and also some other methodological limitations, the results have to be interpreted with caution. Even so, we think it is right to conclude that neuropsychological findings indicative of subsequent cognitive injuries are difficult to find in groups of otherwise healthy dental personnel with previous occupational exposure to mercury.
Rethinking Conceptions of Unity: Schubert'sMoment musicalin A♭major, D. 780 (Op. 94) No. 2
Authors: RUSCH RENÉ
Published: November 2011

A number of scholars have suggested that the sudden harmonic shifts, remote tonal regions and discontinuity of gestures in Schubert's works can be rationalised through certain conceptions of musical unity. Yet what if we were to entertain the possibility that these musical gestures do not coalesce in a greater whole? What other options are available to us for understanding part‐whole relationships? In this article, I suggest that the notion of Romantic irony might transform our understanding of the composer's music by providing an alternative to an aesthetic of unity. Using the Moment musical in A♭ major, D. 780 (Op. 94) No. 2, as a test case, this paper offers a view which resists the pressure to explain idiosyncratic musical events as contributing to a greater whole, demonstrating that conceptions of unity need not accompany tonal hierarchical systems; it also shows how Schubert's use of tonality and large‐scale organisation can coexist with notions of conventional diatonicism and form and need not be understood either as derivative of these customary procedures or as independent of them, inviting us to reflect on larger issues of historical continuity with regard to tonal and formal practice.
Temporal 3D Lagrangian strain from 2D slice‐followed cine DENSE MRI
Authors: Kindberg Katarina , Haraldsson Henrik , Sigfridsson Andreas , Sakuma Hajime , Ebbers Tino , Karlsson Matts
Published: November 2011

A quantitative analysis of myocardial mechanics is fundamental to the understanding of cardiac function, diagnosis of heart disease and assessment of therapeutic intervention. In clinical practice, most cardiac imaging analyses are performed in 2D because of the limited scan time available. However, the obtained information from a 2D measurement is limited. This study presents a method to obtain temporal evolutions of transmural 3D Lagrangian strains from two intersecting 2D planes of slice‐followed cine displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) data using a bilinear‐cubic polynomial element to resolve strain from the displaced myocardial positions. The method was validated against an analytical standard and has been applied to in vivo data acquired on a 3 T magnetic resonance system from a healthy volunteer to quantify systolic strains at the anterior‐basal region of left ventricular myocardium. The method demonstrates accurate results when validated in the analytical model, and the in vivo results agree within experimental accuracy with values reported in the literature. Even with a short scan time, this method provides the full 3D Lagrangian strain tensor from two 2D DENSE measurements.
Duration and Persistence in Multidimensional Deprivation: Methodology and Australian Application*
Authors: NICHOLAS AARON , RAY RANJAN
Published: November 2011

This article extends the recent literature on static multidimensional deprivation to propose dynamic deprivation measures that incorporate both the persistence and duration of deprivation across multiple dimensions. The article then illustrates the usefulness of the extension by applying it to Australian panel data for the recent period, 2001–2008. The empirical application exploits the subgroup decomposability of the deprivation measures to identify the subgroups that are more deprived than others. The proposed measure is also decomposable by dimensions and is used to identify the dimensions where deprivation is more persistent. The comparison between the subgroups shows that the divide between homeowners and non‐homeowners is one of the sharpest, with the latter suffering much more deprivation than the former. The results are robust to alternative schemes for weighting and aggregating the dimensions as well as to the choice of model parameters.
The Forecasting Performance of Single Equation Models of Inflation
Authors: NORMAN DAVID , RICHARDS ANTHONY
Published: November 2011

In the US academic literature, it is now widely accepted that it is difficult to generate a more accurate forecast of inflation than a simple autoregressive model, following Atkeson and Ohanian's seminal work. In central banks, however, the conventional view that inflation is ultimately determined by excess demand in the economy is still widely accepted, and research into activity‐based models has continued. We add to this research by examining a range of activity‐based models, with the aim being to determine whether any of these can outperform the autoregressive benchmark, and if so, which performs best. Our results show that an expectations‐augmented, unemployment‐based Phillips Curve can produce significantly superior forecasts of Australian trimmed mean inflation to both the autoregressive benchmark and others at a range of forecast horizons, while mark‐up type models also produce superior results at longer horizons. This outperformance is shown to come from the period in which inflation rose to relatively high rates. These results do not, however, translate to headline consumer price index inflation, suggesting that inflation in the items that are ‘trimmed’ largely reflects ‘noise’, as opposed to any signal of trend inflation.
Perceived justice in the division of domestic labor: Actor and partner effects
Authors: MIKULA GEROLD , RIEDERER BERNHARD , BODI OTTO
Published: November 2011

This study analyzed the division of domestic labor as a relational phenomenon. Using structural equation modeling with data of dual‐earner couples from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland (N = 389), actor and partner effects of perceived distributive and procedural justice in the division on relationship satisfaction were investigated. Experience of relationship conflict was considered as possible mediator between perceived justice and relationship satisfaction. Results with actor effects indicate that perceived justice is relevant only to wives' but not to husbands' relationship satisfaction. Results with partner effects, however, show that wives' perceived justice is associated with husbands' relationship satisfaction through the relationship conflict experienced by husbands. Altogether, this study illustrates the importance of considering the relational character of the division of domestic labor.
Laparotomy versus laparoscopy for the treatment of adnexal masses during pregnancy
Authors: KOO Yu‐Jin , KIM Hyun Ja , LIM Kyung‐Taek , LEE In‐Ho , LEE Ki‐Heon , SHIM Jae‐Uk , YOON Seok‐Nam , KIM Ju Ree , KIM Tae‐Jin
Published: November 2011

Background:  Laparoscopy has been highlighted as an effective surgical modality for diverse pelvic organ diseases. However, its surgical and obstetric efficacy has not been fully confirmed in pregnant women because of the absence of a large comparative study. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes between laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses during pregnancy.

Methods:  A retrospective analysis of 262 pregnant women who underwent laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses between 2000 and 2009 was performed.

Results:  Of the 262 women, 174 (66.4%) underwent laparotomy and 88 (33.6%) underwent laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses. The laparoscopy group had a significantly shorter mean operative time (60.7 ± 27.1 vs 69.7 ± 24.4 min, P = 0.002) and mean hospital stay (4.7 ± 1.7 vs 6.6 ± 1.3 days, P < 0.001) than the laparotomy group. In multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference between laparoscopy and laparotomy group in obstetric outcomes, including preterm delivery and miscarriage rate, after adjusting for confounding factors, such as gestational age at surgery, emergency surgery and mass size.

Conclusions:  The laparoscopic approach appears to offer a suitable alternative to laparotomy, which, in our setting, was associated with shorter operative times and hospital stays than laparotomy.
The influence of oral VPA on the required dose of propofol for sedation during dental treatment in patients with mental retardation: A prospective observer‐blinded cohort study
Authors: Ishii Minako , Higuchi Hitoshi , Maeda Shigeru , Tomoyasu Yumiko , Egusa Masahiko , Miyawaki Takuya
Published: November 2011

In sedation of dental patients with moderate or severe mental retardation, it is difficult to identify the optimum sedation level and to maintain it appropriately. Moreover, many patients have concomitant epilepsy and are medicated with oral antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), which influence the drug‐metabolizing enzymes. In particular, valproate (VPA) has been demonstrated to inhibit propofol metabolism in vitro. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the clinical influence of oral VPA on the required dose of propofol for sedation, with use of a prospective cohort study design. We studied 45 patients with moderate or severe mental retardation who underwent dental treatment under sedation. Propofol was infused, and sedation was maintained at the same level in all patients using a bispectral index (BIS) monitor. After the completion of treatment for the scheduled patients, patients were divided into those with oral VPA treatment (VPA group: 20 patients) and without any oral antiepileptic treatment (control group: 25 patients). The propofol dose required for sedation and times to the recovery of the eyelash reflex and spontaneous eye opening were evaluated. The median required propofol doses in the VPA and control groups were 4.15 (range 1.97–5.88) and 5.67 (2.92–7.17) mg/kg/h, respectively. We observed a statistically significant difference between the two patient groups with respect to median VPA dose (p < 0.01). However, no statistically significant differences were noted in the time until eyelash reflex recovery or spontaneous eye opening between the two groups. The results suggest that oral VPA reduces the dose of propofol required for sedation during dental treatment in patients with moderate or severe mental retardation.
Beyond seizures and medications: Normal activity limitations, social support, and mental health in epilepsy
Authors: Lu Bo , Elliott John O.
Published: November 2011

Although seizure control is a critical goal for persons with epilepsy (PWE) from the biomedical perspective, there is growing support for approaches that take into account the effect of epilepsy on the whole person (the biopsychosocial perspective). We hypothesized that PWE who report normal activity limitations due to epilepsy and poor social/emotional support would report poor mental health regardless of whether they report having seizures in the past 3 months or currently taking medication for their epilepsy. In 2005 and 2006, twenty‐two states asked about epilepsy in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). A set of survey weight‐adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine self‐reported poor mental health. Our findings reveal that both normal activity limitations due to epilepsy and poor social/emotional support are significant predictors of reporting poor mental health. After controlling for social support, demographics, comorbidities, and health behaviors we determined that those reporting normal activity limitations due to epilepsy are more likely to report poor mental health (odds ratio [OR] 3.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–6.58). Similarly, after controlling for the same factors, PWE with poor social/emotional support are more likely to report poor mental health (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.84–5.61). In contrast, reported seizures in the past 3 months (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.56–2.25) or current use of medication (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.30–1.10) were not significantly associated with poor mental health. These population‐based findings support the need for clinical approaches that address psychosocial issues in addition to seizure control and treatment.
The Importance of Delirium: Economic and Societal Costs
Authors: Leslie Douglas L. , Inouye Sharon K.
Published: November 2011

Although a number of studies have documented the negative clinical and economic consequences of delirium, interventions to prevent and treat delirium are infrequently implemented. The importance of delirium may continue to be underestimated until its societal and economic effects are documented. The current article outlines the existing literature related to long‐term sequelae and costs associated with delirium and stresses the importance of such research in prompting recognition, prevention, and treatment efforts that could reduce the effect of delirium and improve quality of life for older adults and their caregivers.
Validation of a Medical Record‐Based Delirium Risk Assessment
Authors: Rudolph James L. , Harrington Mary Beth , Lucatorto Michelle A. , Chester Jennifer G. , Francis Joseph , Shay Kenneth J. ,   on behalf of the Veterans Affairs and Delirium Working Group
Published: November 2011

Objectives

To improve identification of patients at high risk for delirium, this study developed a chart abstraction tool for delirium risk and validated the tool against clinical expert diagnosis of delirium.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary Veterans Affairs hospital in New England.

Participants

One hundred veterans admitted to the medical service.

Measurements

While admitted, each participant underwent serial assessments for delirium by a clinical expert. Using the four criteria of a validated delirium prediction rule (cognitive impairment, sensory deficit, severe illness, and dehydration), chart review terms were selected for each criterion, and delirium risk was the sum of criteria present (range: 0–4; 4 = worst). After discharge, a nurse blinded to the expert's diagnosis completed the chart tool.

Results

The participants were mostly male (94%) and older (mean age 81 ± 7), and 23% developed overall delirium (14% incident). The rate of overall delirium was 11% in participants with zero risk factors, 18% in those with one or two, and 50% in those with three or four (P = .01; c‐statistic 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54–0.76). For incident delirium, the rates were 11%, 13%, and 25%, respectively (P = .53; c‐statistic 0.56, 95% CI = 0.42–0.74). Discharge to a rehabilitation center or nursing home increased with increasing delirium risk (0%, 18%, 60%, P = .02).

Conclusion

A chart abstraction tool was effective at identifying overall delirium risk but not incident delirium risk. Although the tool cannot replace clinical assessment and diagnosis of delirium, the use of this tool as an educational, clinical, or quality measurement aid warrants additional study.
The Evaluation of Performance in the Mexican Federal Government: A Study of the Monitoring Agencies' Modernization Process
Authors: Arellano‐Gault David
Published: November 2011

An initial assessment of the Mexican government’s implementation of the Model for the Performance Evaluation of Internal Control Organizations (MIDO) can reveal its actual influence on the organizational culture of those agencies. MIDO began in 2003 as an instrument to transform all federal monitoring agencies into effective, performance‐driven organizations. It seeks to modify the behavior of internal control organizations in order to shift their rigid focus on control to a more flexible perspective. The idea is to allow them to take co‐responsibility for the performance of the agencies they supervise. The author exposes a contradictory and paradoxical result of the program’s implementation: the “net organizational effect” is different from MIDO’s stated objective. The internal control organizations are not only adopting the discourse of performance, but also they are adapting it to fit their own purposes while keeping their traditional function of supervision intact. They have not internalized the co‐responsibility culture, as MIDO proposes, despite accepting the discourse of performance evaluation.
Uncertainty in predictions of range dynamics: black grouse climbing the Swiss Alps
Authors: Zurell Damaris , Grimm Volker , Rossmanith Eva , Zbinden Niklaus , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Schröder Boris
Published: November 2011

Empirical species distribution models (SDMs) constitute often the tool of choice for the assessment of rapid climate change effects on species’ vulnerability. Conclusions regarding extinction risks might be misleading, however, because SDMs do not explicitly incorporate dispersal or other demographic processes. Here, we supplement SDMs with a dynamic population model 1) to predict climate‐induced range dynamics for black grouse in Switzerland, 2) to compare direct and indirect measures of extinction risks, and 3) to quantify uncertainty in predictions as well as the sources of that uncertainty. To this end, we linked models of habitat suitability to a spatially explicit, individual‐based model. In an extensive sensitivity analysis, we quantified uncertainty in various model outputs introduced by different SDM algorithms, by different climate scenarios and by demographic model parameters. Potentially suitable habitats were predicted to shift uphill and eastwards. By the end of the 21st century, abrupt habitat losses were predicted in the western Prealps for some climate scenarios. In contrast, population size and occupied area were primarily controlled by currently negative population growth and gradually declined from the beginning of the century across all climate scenarios and SDM algorithms. However, predictions of population dynamic features were highly variable across simulations. Results indicate that inferring extinction probabilities simply from the quantity of suitable habitat may underestimate extinction risks because this may ignore important interactions between life history traits and available habitat. Also, in dynamic range predictions uncertainty in SDM algorithms and climate scenarios can become secondary to uncertainty in dynamic model components. Our study emphasises the need for principal evaluation tools like sensitivity analysis in order to assess uncertainty and robustness in dynamic range predictions. A more direct benefit of such robustness analysis is an improved mechanistic understanding of dynamic species’ responses to climate change.
Evolution of introduced Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Lake Huron: emergence of population genetic structure in less than 10 generations
Authors: Suk Ho Y. , Neff Bryan D. , Quach Kevin , Morbey Yolanda E.
Published: November 2011

Abstract – Population genetic structure was detected in Chinook salmonOncorhynchus tshawytschain their non‐native range of Lake Huron using microsatellite DNA. All Chinook salmon in this system descend from Green River, Washington cohorts, originally transplanted to Michigan hatcheries in the late 1960s. We tested for population genetic differentiation of age 0 fish collected from 13 rivers and two hatcheries in 2007. The amount of genetic differentiation among collection sites was low but statistically significant, withFSTvalues ranging from 0.036 to 0.133 andRSTvalues ranging from 0.008 to 0.157 for specific loci. Based on pairwiseFSTandRSTvalues and Bayesian cluster analysis, the Maitland River population in the Main Basin of Lake Huron was genetically distinct from the remaining collection sites. Based on analysis of bycatch data from commercial gill net fisheries, Chinook salmon likely colonised the Main Basin by 1975 (10 generations ago) and the North Channel and southern Georgian Bay regions by 1980 (eight generations ago). Thus, population genetic structure has emerged in Lake Huron Chinook salmon in <10 generations.
Association of XRCC1, XRCC3, and NAT2 polymorphisms with the risk of oral submucous fibrosis among eastern Indian population
Authors: Mukherjee Sanjit , Bhowmik Aneek Das , Roychoudhury Paromita , Mukhopadhyay Kanchan , Ray Jay Gopal , Chaudhuri Keya
Published: November 2011

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 292–302

Background:  Arecanut and smokeless tobacco usage is a major cause for oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and its subsequent development to oral squamous cell carcinoma in South‐east Asian population. Polymorphisms at N‐acetyltransferase 2 locus, coding for an enzyme catalyzing acetylation of aromatic amines, might cause DNA adduct formation because of improper acetylation of these polyaromatic hydrocarbons. DNA repair enzymes remove these adduct to prevent malignancy.

Methods:  In this hospital‐based study, 100 controls and 88 OSF patients were genotyped at four polymorphic sites on NAT2 481 (C > T; silent), 590 (G > A; Arg197 > Gln), 803 (A > G; Lys268 > Arg), 857 (G > A; Gly286 > Glu) and two on XRCC1 18067 (C > T Arg 194 > Trp), 28152 (G > A Arg 399 > Gln), and one of XRCC3 26304 (C > T Thr 241 > Met) loci by PCR‐RFLP to determine the risk of the disease.

Results:  Heterozygous XRCC3 codon 241 [OR 2.07 (1.05–4.06)], homozygous variant of NAT C481T [OR 2.81 (1.09–7.21)], and both heterozygous and homozygous variants of NAT codon 268 and 286 [OR 2.31 (1.20–4.45) and 4.98 (1.87–13.14), and 6.12 (2.75–13.62) and 2.65 (1.04–6.72)] individually influenced susceptibility to OSF in the population.

Conclusion:  Gene–gene interaction analysis by multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) revealed that XRCC3 Thr 241 Met had the largest univariate effect followed by XRCC3 Thr 241 Met – NAT2 A857G in men that presents a highly synergistic interaction as one of the potential combinations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to increase the risk of OSF in men if exposed to arecanut or smokeless tobacco usage. These observations can speculate the impact of the studied SNPs on the etiology of OSF.
Fracture strength of incisor crowns after intracoronal bleaching with sodium percarbonate
Authors: Kuga Milton Carlos , dos Santos Nunes Reis José Mauricio , Fabrício Semíramis , Bonetti‐Filho Idomeo , de Campos Edson Alves , Faria Gisele
Published: November 2011

Abstract –  Objectives: To compare the fracture resistance of bovine teeth after intracoronal bleaching with sodium percarbonate (SPC) or sodium perborate (SP) mixed with water or 20% hydrogen peroxide (HP). Materials and methods: Fifty extracted bovine teeth were divided into four experimental groups (G1–G4) and one control (n = 10) after endodontic treatment. Following root canal obturation, a glass ionomer barrier was placed at the cemento–enamel junction. After that, the pulp chambers were filled with: G1 – SP with water; G2 – SP with 20% HP; G3 – SPC with water; and G4 – SPC with 20% HP. No bleaching agent was used in the control group. Coronal access cavities were sealed with glass ionomer and specimens were immersed in artificial saliva. The bleaching agents were replaced after 7 days, and teeth were kept in artificial saliva for an additional 7 days, after which the pastes were removed and the coronal access cavities were restored with glass ionomer. Crowns were subjected to compressive load at a cross head speed of 0.5 mm min−1 applied at 135° to the long axis of the root by an EMIC DL2000 testing machine, until coronal fracture. Data were statistically analysed by anova and Tukey test. Results: No differences in fracture resistance were observed between the experimental groups (P > 0.05). However, all experimental groups presented lower fracture resistance than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: SPC and SP led to equal reduction on fracture resistance of dental crowns, regardless of being mixed with water or 20% HP.
Histopathology of panniculitis – aspects of biopsy techniques and difficulties in diagnosis
Authors: Rose Christian , Leverkus Martin , Fleischer Mariella , Shimanovich Iakov
Published: November 2011

Background: Clinical and histologic diagnosis of panniculitis may be difficult. The patients usually present with erythematous subcutaneous nodules with or without additional symptoms. If a skin biopsy does not include enough subcutaneous fat, histopathologic assessment is limited and the correct diagnosis may be delayed and require further sampling.

Patients and Methods: To illustrate the difficulties in the diagnosis of panniculitis, we performed a retrospective examination of four patients with different forms of panniculitis.

Results: In two patients with subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T cell lymphoma and lupus panniculitis, the correct diagnosis could only be ascertained after a delay of several months because repeated biopsies had to be obtained throughout the course of disease. In two further patients with cold panniculitis and pancreatic panniculitis, clinicians did not even suspect an inflammatory process in the subcutaneous tissue. The correct diagnosis was made with a deep punch biopsy that included subcutaneous fat.

Conclusions: On the one hand, these examples demonstrate the importance of sampling subcutaneous tissue when obtaining routine punch biopsies. On the other hand, in cases where the diagnosis is uncertain, it is necessary to perform large and deep incisional biopsies.
Effects of different fermented soy protein and apparent ileal digestible lysine levels on weaning pigs fed fermented soy protein‐amended diets
Authors: YAN Lei , WANG Jian P. , KIM In H.
Published: November 2011

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of different fermented soybean proteins and the apparent ileal digestible lysine levels on weaning pigs fed fermented soy protein (FSP)‐amended diets. In Exp. 1, 70 crossed piglets (6.25 ± 0.40 kg) were used in a 5‐week trial to evaluate two different FSP. In Exp. 2, 20 weaning barrows (6.15 ± 0.45 kg) were used in a metabolism trial to determine the effects of the apparent ileal digestible (1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5%) lysine levels in weaning pigs fed FSP (5%) diet. In Exp. 1, pigs fed the diet containing Lactobacillus spp. FSP showed higher nitrogen (N) digestibility (P < 0.05), lower blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels (P < 0.05) than those fed the Aspergillus oryzae FSP diet. In Exp. 2, increasing dietary lysine levels increased the average daily gain, apparent dry matter, N digestibility, N retention and essential amino acids in the current study (P < 0.05), with the 1.5% showing the highest value. In conclusion, pigs fed Lactobacillus spp. FSP had a higher N digestibility than those fed A. oryzae FSP. The optimal apparent ileal digestibility lysine level in fermented soy protein diets (3550 kcal/kg metabolizable energy) for maximizing growth performance and N utilization in the first 7 days (6.25 kg) was 1.5%.
Antimicrobial activity of a bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (BMAP‐28) against methicillin‐susceptible and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: TAKAGI Shiaki , HAYASHI Shunji , TAKAHASHI Koichi , ISOGAI Hiroshi , BAI Lanlan , YONEYAMA Hiroshi , ANDO Tasuke , ITO Kumiko , ISOGAI Emiko
Published: November 2011

A bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (BMAP‐28) is a member of the cathelicidin family which is included in the innate immune system of mammals. Recently, there have been many studies about antimicrobial peptides. This study aims to clarify whether BMAP‐28 has bactericidal activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and compares its activity against methicillin‐susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA. We found that the peptide was effective in killing MRSA (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range; 5–20 µg/mL). It was also revealed that MSSA (MIC range; 1.25–20 µg/mL) had two levels of susceptibility to BMAP‐28. We also examined the effect of BMAP‐28 on bacterial shape to visually show its activity. After exposure to the peptide, both MSSA and MRSA cells showed the morphological changes on their surfaces. Our results indicate that BMAP‐28 is a promising candidate for medicine against drug‐resistant bacteria.
Ester‐linked hen egg white lysozyme shows a compact fold in a molecular dynamics simulation – possible causes and sensitivity of experimentally observable quantities to structural changes maintaining this compact fold
Authors: Eichenberger Andreas P. , Smith Lorna J. , van Gunsteren Wilfred F.
Published: November 2011

Prediction and understanding of the folding and stability of the 3D structure of proteins is still a challenge. The different atomic interactions, such as non polar contacts and hydrogen bonding, are known but their exact relative weights and roles when contributing to protein folding and stability are not identified. Initiated by a previous molecular dynamics simulation of fully ester‐linked hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL), which showed a more compact fold of the ester‐linked molecule compared to the native one, three variants of this protein are analyzed in the present study. These are 129‐residue native HEWL, partly ester‐linked HEWL, in which only 34 peptide linkages that are not involved in the helical or β‐strand parts of native HEWL were replaced by ester linkages, and fully (126 residues) ester‐linked HEWL. Native and partly ester‐linked HEWL showed comparable behaviour, whereas fully ester‐linked HEWL could not maintain the native secondary structure of HEWL in the simulation and adopted a more compact fold. The conformational changes were analyzed by comparing simulation averaged values of quantities that can be measured by NMR, such as 1H–15N backbone order parameters, residual dipolar couplings, proton–proton NOE distances and 3J‐couplings with the corresponding values derived from experimental NMR data for native HEWL. The information content of the latter appeared to be insufficient to detect the local conformational rearrangements upon esterification of the loop regions of the protein. For fully ester‐linked HEWL, a significantly reduced agreement was observed. Upon esterification, the backbone–side chain and side chain–side chain hydrogen‐bonding pattern of HEWL changes to maintain its compactness and thus the structural stability of the ester‐linked lysozymes.
EFFECTS OF IMMATURE PERSIMMON (DIOSPYROS KAKI LINN. F.) JUICE ON THE PASTING, TEXTURAL, SENSORY AND COLOR PROPERTIES OF RICE NOODLES
Authors: HAN LIHONG , QI SHAN , LU ZHANHUI , LI LITE
Published: November 2011

Pasting, textural, sensory and color properties of rice noodles were studied in the presence of immature persimmon juice. The addition of persimmon juice was found to cause a significant (P < 0.05) increase in rapid visco‐analyser setback, peak viscosity and final viscosity, but a decrease in pasting temperature of rice flour. The maximum breaking stress, breaking strain and breaking work of the obtained noodle samples formulated with pure immature persimmon juice (the volume fraction of 100%) increased from 35.0 to 69.6 kPa, from 21.1 to 36.3% and from 0.07 to 0.26 J, respectively, compared with that of the control. Chromatic investigation exhibited that juice‐containing noodle samples had enhanced red and yellow hues and improved color stability during storage. Microstructural observation from both scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that cooked juice‐containing noodles has a more compact and homogeneous microstructure.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

In order to increase the commodity fruit rate, fruit thinning is a common technology used to reduce fruit‐bearing rate during persimmon growth. As a consequence, plenty of immature persimmons are treated as a waste for landfill. However, these wasted fruits are rich in polyphenols, nutritional antioxidant vitamins, fiber, etc. The results of this work provide the theoretical basis for the utilization of wasted fruit products and a practical guidance for manufacturing rice noodles with improved nutrition and sensory quality.