bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional cerebral blood flow changes and performance deficit during a sustained attention task in schizophrenia: 15O‐water positron emission tomography
Authors: Seok Jeong‐Ho , Park Hae‐Jeong , Lee Jong‐Doo , Kim Hye‐Sun , Chun Ji‐Won , Son Sang Joon , Oh Maeng‐Keun , Ku Jeonghun , Lee Hyeongrae , Kim Jae‐Jin
Published: December 2012

Aim

Attention deficit has been reported in both schizophrenia patients and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the deficits in sustained attention and associated neural network dysfunctions in schizophrenia patients and MDD patients, and to investigate the difference between the two patient groups.

Methods

Twelve schizophrenia patients, 12 patients with non‐psychotic MDD, and 12 healthy control subjects participated in this study. A sustained attention to response task (SART) was used to measure attention capacity. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) during attention tasks was measured using H215O positron emission tomography. Statistical parametric mapping and analysis of covariance were performed to compare the behavioral performance and CBF changes during SART among three groups.

Results

Behavioral performances were not significantly different among the three groups except for an increased commission error rate in the schizophrenia group. Regional CBF during SART was significantly reduced in the left inferior frontal gyrus, the left cuneus, and the right superior parietal lobule and increased in the right superior frontal gyrus and the right cuneus in the schizophrenia group compared to the healthy control group. In the MDD group, neither significant regional CBF difference nor behavioral deficit was found compared to the healthy control group.

Conclusion

Behavioral performance deficit and perfusion changes in the prefrontal and parietal cortices during SART were observed only in the schizophrenia group. Prefrontal and parietal network dysfunction for sustained attention may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Band ligation of gastric antral vascular ectasia is a safe and effective endoscopic treatment
Authors: Keohane John , Berro Wael , Harewood Gavin C , Murray Frank E , Patchett Stephen E
Published: December 2012

Background and Aim

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) or ‘watermelon stomach’ is a rare and often misdiagnosed cause of occult upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Treatment includes conservative measures such as transfusion and endoscopic therapy. A recent report suggests that endoscopic band ligation (EBL) offers an effective alternative treatment. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate our experiences with this novel technique, and to compare argon plasma coagulation (APC) with EBL in terms of safety and efficacy.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all endoscopies with a diagnosis of GAVE was carried out between 2004 and 2010. Case records were examined for information pertaining to the number of procedures carried out, mean blood transfusions, mean hemoglobin, and complications.

Results

A total of 23 cases of GAVE were treated. The mean age was 73.9 (55–89) years. Female to male ratio was 17:6 and mean follow up was 26 months. Eight patients were treated with EBL with a mean number of treatments of 2.5 (1–5). This resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the endoscopic appearance and a trend towards fewer transfusions. Of the eight patients treated with EBL, six (75%) patients had previously failed APC treatment despite having a mean of 4.7 sessions. Band ligation was not associated with any short‐ or medium‐term complications. The 15 patients who had APC alone had a mean of four (1–11) treatments. Only seven (46.7%) of these patients had any endoscopic improvement with a mean of four sessions.

Conclusions

EBL represents a safe and effective treatment for GAVE.
SPAST mutations in Australian patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia
Authors: Vandebona H. , Kerr N. P. , Liang C. , Sue C. M.
Published: December 2012

Background

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is often caused by mutations in the SPAST gene. The frequency of SPAST mutations causing HSP in Australian patients is currently unknown.

Aim

We aimed to determine the frequency of SPAST gene mutations in our cohort of HSP patients.

Methods

We recruited 30 unrelated patients with HSP for clinical and genetic assessment. DNA or RNA was extracted from patients' samples to perform direct DNA sequencing of the SPAST gene, multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and/or cDNA analysis.

Results

We identified 13 heterozygous SPAST mutations in 16 unrelated patients. Most mutations (75%) were detected by DNA sequence analysis. We identified nine‐point mutations (n = 9), insertion (n = 1), one type of splice site mutation (n = 2), one type of exonic deletion (n = 2) and one type of exonic amplification (n = 2). Missense mutations (n = 7) were the most frequent mutation type (44%). Heterozygous exonic deletion (n = 2) and heterozygous exonic amplification (n = 2) were identified by MLPA and cDNA screening (25%). We also identified the single heterozygous p.Ser44Leu polymorphism in two other patients without pathogenic mutations in SPAST.

Conclusion

We conclude that SPAST mutations are responsible for the majority of HSP in Australia. Most of the patients with SPAST mutations had pure forms of HSP and a positive family history to suggest autosomal dominant (AD) HSP. Not all mutations were identified by direct sequencing of the SPAST gene, necessitating further molecular analysis. Given that SPAST mutations cause AD‐HSP, these findings are important when providing genetic counselling for affected patients.
Big business and small states: Unilever and Norway in the interwar years1
Authors: SANDVIK PÅL THONSTAD , STORLI ESPEN
Published: December 2012

In 1930, Unilever tried to take control of Lilleborg, Norway's most important producer of soap and vegetable oil, with the aim of wiping out most of Norway's independent margarine and soap industry. However, as the purchase was dependent on government concession, Unilever became embroiled in a power struggle with the Norwegian political authorities. The company was strongly criticized by Norwegian nationalists. The question of whether or not to let Unilever go forward became one of the most contested questions in Norwegian politics in the period. In the end, Unilever was allowed to go ahead with the purchase, but in return the company was forced to make substantial concessions. Expanding on Jones's framework for understanding the balance of power between multinationals and host governments, in this article it is argued that we must look beyond firm specific assets and a cost‐benefit oriented analysis of the relationship between multinationals and host countries to understand the end result. In this case, nationalism had a decisive impact. Unilever's acquisition of Lilleborg and the Norwegian response thus contributes to our understanding of the nature of multinational enterprise in the interwar period and of the political economy of foreign direct investment in general.
Topological Gradient Connection Analysis for Feature Detection
Authors: Lo Chao‐Yuan , Chen Liang‐Chien
Published: December 2012

Edges and corners are two major image features in the modelling of man‐made objects; an edge provides strong geometric orientation and corners possess good localisation. Feature detection is the basis of image processing for numerous applications such as image registration and object modelling. Completeness and localisation are the two major considerations for these applications; however, illumination, reflectance and shadows may interfere with image grey values to produce various gradients along an edge. Thus, threshold selection is an important step in obtaining suitable features in target‐dependent methods as improper selection might cause information loss and broken edges. Instead of threshold selection, this study therefore proposes a feature extraction method using topological gradient connection (TGC) analysis involving three steps: grey value refinement, gradient computation and topological connection analysis. The first step uses a Gaussian filter to smooth the grey value image. The second step computes directional gradients to identify ridge pixels and collect feature candidates. The third step analyses adjacent candidates based on the criterion of topological connection. This three‐step tracing procedure combines these connected candidates into a single object. The proposed scheme employs different images derived from various sensors and compares them with the Canny operator (using manually selected thresholds) and manually plotted corners for detection ability assessment. Experimental results indicate that the automatic results are more complete for subtle feature lines than the Canny edges. In addition, the proposed method provides higher flexibility in selecting suitable feature layers for different applications.
Race, Gender, and Government Contracting: Different Explanations or New Prospects for Theory?
Authors: Fernandez Sergio , Malatesta Deanna , Smith Craig R.
Published: December 2012

The U.S. Congress created the Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Women‐Owned Small Business (WOSB) programs to promote fairness in government contracting. In this article, the authors examine whether increases in racial and gender representation in federal agencies correlate with the proportion of contract dollars awarded to women‐ and minority‐owned firms. Using the theory of representative bureaucracy as a starting point, they find evidence that increases in passive minority representation result in a larger proportion of contract dollars awarded to minority‐owned firms, which comports with previous empirical research. There is no evidence, however, that female representation leads directly or indirectly to substantive benefits for women‐owned small businesses. Given that the findings for women do not support representative bureaucracy, the authors provide potential alternative explanations. Specifically, they consider gender bias, social identity, and the “queen bee” phenomenon as possible explanations for why women are less inclined to advocate for other women.
Gender Differences in Leadership Styles as a Function of Leader and Subordinates' Sex and Type of Organization
Authors: Cuadrado Isabel , Navas Marisol , Molero Fernando , Ferrer Emilio , Morales J. Francisco
Published: December 2012

The main purpose of this study is to investigate gender differences in leadership styles and in organizational outcome variables, together with the influence of organizational/contextual variables on leadership styles in female and male participants in Spain. The sample comprised 226 participants (35 leaders and 191 subordinates) belonging to 35 work teams. The general findings show that only 2 of the 10 tested leadership styles are different for female and male leaders. Specifically, subordinates rate female leaders as more autocratic and negotiating than men, and this evaluation varies according to the subordinates' sex. We also found that some differences in the rating of female and male leaders depend on whether the organization is stereotypically feminine or masculine.
Building megaphylogenies for macroecology: taking up the challenge
Authors: Roquet Cristina , Thuiller Wilfried , Lavergne Sébastien
Published: December 2012

The last decades have seen an upsurge in ecological studies incorporating phylogenetic information with increasing species samples, motivated by the common conjecture that species with common ancestors should share some ecological characteristics due to niche conservatism. This has been carried out using various methods of increasing complexity and reliability: using only taxonomical classification; constructing supertrees that incorporate only topological information from previously published phylogenies; or building supermatrices of molecular data that are used to estimate phylogenies with evolutionary meaningful branch lengths. Although the latter option is more informative than the others, it remains under‐used in ecology because ecologists are generally unaware of or unfamiliar with modern molecular phylogenetic methods. However, a solid phylogenetic hypothesis is necessary to conduct reliable ecological analysis integrating evolutive aspects. Our aim here is to clarify the concepts and methodological issues associated with the reconstruction of dated megaphylogenies, and to show that it is nowadays possible to obtain accurate and well sampled megaphylogenies with informative branch‐lengths on large species samples. This is possible thanks to improved phylogenetic methods, vast amounts of molecular data available from databases such as Genbank, and consensus knowledge on deep phylogenetic relationships for an increasing number of groups of organisms. Finally, we include a detailed step‐by‐step workflow pipeline (Supplementary material), from data acquisition to phylogenetic inference, mainly based on the R environment (widely used by ecologists) and the use of free web‐servers, that has been applied to the reconstruction of a species‐level phylogeny of all breeding birds of Europe.
Extending the stress‐gradient hypothesis – is competition among animals less common in harsh environments?
Authors: Barrio I. C. , Hik D. S. , Bueno C. G. , Cahill J. F.
Published: December 2012

The role of positive interactions has become widely accepted as a mechanism shaping community dynamics. Most empirical evidence comes from plant communities and sessile marine organisms. However, evidence for the relative role of positive interactions in organizing terrestrial animal communities is more limited, and a general framework that includes positive interactions among animals is lacking. The ‘stress gradient hypothesis’ (SGH) developed by plant ecologists predicts that the balance between positive and negative interactions will vary along gradients of biotic and abiotic stress, with positive interactions being more important in stressful environments. Paralleling the SGH, stress gradients for terrestrial herbivores could be equated to inverse primary productivity gradients, so we would expect positive interactions to prevail in more stressful, low productivity environments. However, this contradicts the typical view of terrestrial animal ecology that low primary productivity systems will foster intense competition for resources among consumers. Here we use alpine herbivores as a case study to test one of the predictions of the SGH in animal communities, namely the prevalence of positive interactions in low productivity environments. We identify potential mechanisms of facilitation and review the limited number of examples of interspecific interactions among alpine herbivores to assess the role of positive and negative interactions in structuring their communities. A meta‐analysis showed no clear trend in the strength and direction of interactions among alpine herbivores. Although studies were biased towards reporting significant negative inter actions, we found no evidence of competition dominating in harsh environments. Thus, our results only partially support the SGH, but directly challenge the dominant view among animal ecologists. Clearly, a sound theoretical framework is needed to include competition, positive and neutral interactions as potential mechanisms determining the structure of animal communities under differing environmental conditions, and the stress‐gradient hypothesis can provide a solid starting point.
Knowledge Sharing in an Online Community of Volunteers: The Role of Community Munificence
Authors: Erden Zeynep , Von Krogh Georg , Kim Seonwoo
Published: December 2012

This study examines how perceived benefits, and context in online communities, shape members' intentions to share their knowledge. We build a model of knowledge‐sharing intention and provide empirical evidence using survey data collected from a community in which members voluntarily exchange their experiences, ideas, and questions on photographic equipment via online platforms. We find the perceived benefits and favorable conditions provided by a community (community munificence) – which consists of collective knowledge, experienced interdependence, opportunity structures, and psychological safety – influence individuals' motivation to contribute knowledge. We discuss managerial implications and outline suggestions for future theory building and empirical research.
Management of Inherited Atherogenic Dyslipidemias in Children
Authors: Guardamagna Ornella , Cagliero Paola , Abello Francesca
Published: December 2012

In order to prevent cardiovascular disease, the treatment of inherited dyslipidemias in childhood represents an emerging topic capturing scientists' consideration. A body of findings emerged in the last decade for diagnosis and therapy, and results were recently summarized to introduce new guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It is well known and generally shared the need to detect affected children precociously, when the family history address to genetic dyslipidemia and when familial premature cardiovascular disease occurs. A spectrum of disorders involving lipoproteins could be recognized by specific biochemical and genetic markers. A defined diagnosis represents the starting point to establish a correct treatment and follow‐up program. This review represents a literature synthesis of the main cornerstones and criticisms concerning the screening program and management of atherogenic inherited dyslipidemias in children and adolescents.
Splitting a northern account of New Zealand's neoliberalism
Authors: Lewis Nicolas
Published: December 2012

This review responds to Richard Peet's ‘policy regimes’ account of New Zealand's neoliberal experiment published in this volume of the New Zealand Geographer. It welcomes Peet's intervention, especially its comparative approach and its political economy focus, but suggests further insight may have been gained from closer engagement with the work of New Zealand geographers. The review argues that Peet misses opportunities to learn from the New Zealand case. The review subjects a ‘northern’ account of southern experience to a critique by ‘splitting’, a characteristically southern approach to analysing social change from the Antipodes that pays close attention to the situatedness of knowledge production.
Bullying Climate and School Engagement in Ninth‐Grade Students
Authors: Mehta Sharmila B. , Cornell Dewey , Fan Xitao , Gregory Anne
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND: Many authorities agree that bullying has a widespread impact on school climate, affecting bystanders as well as victims. This study tested the contention that a climate of bullying can have a schoolwide impact on student engagement in school.

METHODS: Hierarchical linear modeling assessed the relations between student perception of bullying climate and student engagement at the individual and school level in a statewide sample of 7058 ninth graders randomly selected from 289 schools participating in the Virginia High School Safety Study. Student engagement was assessed by self‐report scales measuring commitment to school and involvement in school activities.

RESULTS: Individual differences in perception of school climate characterized by bullying were associated with lower commitment to school, but not less involvement in school activities. School‐level differences in student perceptions of bullying climate were associated with both lower commitment to school and less involvement in school activities, after controlling for the effects of gender, race, school size, proportion of ethnic minority students in the school, and individual‐level perception of bullying climate.

CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve student engagement should consider the schoolwide impact of bullying on all students.
Coverage of Adolescent Substance Use Prevention in State Frameworks for Health Education: 10‐Year Follow‐Up
Authors: Seitz Christopher M. , Wyrick David L. , Orsini Muhsin M. , Milroy Jeffrey J. , Fearnow‐Kenney Melodie
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND: The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) by adolescents is a national health issue. One way in which the United States approaches the prevention of substance use among adolescents is by teaching high school students about ATOD at school. The curriculum for health education courses is based upon each state's framework. The purpose of this study was to conduct a 10‐year follow‐up to a study that analyzed state frameworks for key mediators of adolescent substance use.

METHODS: Researchers performed an extensive content analysis of all 50 states' curriculum frameworks for high school health education to identify if, and to what degree, key mediators of adolescent substance use were included in each state's curriculum framework. After training, inter‐rater agreement was greater than 95%.

RESULTS: Mediators identified most often in the 50‐state curriculum frameworks for high school health education were beliefs about consequences, decision making, social skills, assistance skills, and goal setting. Twenty‐two of 50‐state curriculum frameworks for high school health education had dedicated sections for ATOD.

CONCLUSION: There were modest improvements since 2001 in the inclusion of mediators of adolescent substance use within state curriculum frameworks. There still exists many opportunities to more effectively use curriculum frameworks to improve classroom health instruction.
Structure of the neuromuscular junction: function and cooperative mechanisms in the synapse
Authors: Takamori Masaharu
Published: December 2012

As an overview of the structure of the neuromuscular junction, three items are described focusing on cooperative mechanisms involving the synapse and leading to muscle contraction: (1) presynaptic acetylcholine release regulated by vesicle cycling (exocytosis and endocytosis); the fast‐mode of endocytosis requires a large influx of external Ca2+ and is promoted by the activation of G protein–coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases; (2) postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor clustering mediated by the muscle‐specific, Dok7‐stimulated tyrosine kinase (MuSK) through two signaling mechanisms: one via agrin‐Lrp4‐MuSK (Ig1/2 domains) and the second via Wnt‐MuSK (Frizzled‐like cysteine‐rich domain)‐adaptor Dishevelled; Wnts/MuSK and Lrp4 direct a retrograde signal to presynaptic differentiation; (3) muscle contractile machinery regulated by Ca2+‐release and Ca2+‐influx channels, including the depolarization‐activated ryanodine receptor‐1 and the receptor‐ and/or store‐operated transient receptor potential canonical. The first mechanism is dysfunctional in Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome, the second in anti‐acetylcholine receptor‐negative myasthenia gravis (MG), and the third in thymoma‐associated MG.
Active zones of mammalian neuromuscular junctions: formation, density, and aging
Authors: Nishimune Hiroshi
Published: December 2012

Presynaptic active zones are synaptic vesicle release sites that play essential roles in the function and pathology of mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The molecular mechanisms of active zone organization use presynaptic voltage‐dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) in NMJs as scaffolding proteins. VDCCs interact extracellularly with the muscle‐derived synapse organizer, laminin β2 and interact intracellularly with active zone–specific proteins, such as Bassoon, CAST/Erc2/ELKS2alpha, ELKS, Piccolo, and RIMs. These molecular mechanisms are supported by studies in P/Q‐ and N‐type VDCCs double‐knockout mice, and they are consistent with the pathological conditions of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome and Pierson syndrome, which are caused by autoantibodies against VDCCs or by a laminin β2 mutation. During normal postnatal maturation, NMJs maintain the density of active zones, while NMJs triple their size. However, active zones become impaired during aging. Propitiously, muscle exercise ameliorates the active zone impairment in aged NMJs, which suggests the potential for therapeutic strategies.
Comparing the Success Rate of Raman Spectroscopy and Powder XRD for Routine Mineral Identification
Authors: Bartholomew Paul R.
Published: December 2012

This study provides a measurement of success rate of Raman spectroscopy for mineral identification, and a direct comparison of powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) is provided by applying the same procedure for measuring its success rate against the identical set of samples. Consistent, standardised analytical procedures were applied to a set of fifty‐five minerals, and a success score was assigned to the results of each analytical method for each sample. For each analytical method, an average success rate (on a scale of 0–100) was calculated from these success scores. The success rate measured for powder XRD is 89, while the success rate for Raman spectroscopy came to 77. As the most common analytical challenge in Raman spectroscopy is specimen photoluminescence (PL), an estimate of the impact of technological advances that would eliminate this interference is provided by recalculating the success rate after removing the samples that produced PL interference from consideration. The resulting no‐PL success rate of 90 indicates that the success rate of Raman spectroscopy would be quite comparable to powder XRD if PL interference could be removed from Raman spectra.
Periodontal conditions during the pregnancy associated with periodontal pathogens
Authors: Usin Maria Matilde , Tabares Sandra M. , Parodi Ricardo J. , Sembaj Adela
Published: December 2012

Aim

To describe the bacterial associations in the periodontal pockets of pregnant women and to correlate the presence of Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia (T. forsythia), Treponema denticola (T. denticola), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromona gingivalis (P. gingivalis) with periodontal parameters of severity.

Methods

The analysis was performed with 150 pregnant women. The examination consisted of an evaluation of bleeding, suppuration, probing depths, clinical attachment levels, hypermobility scores, the Silness and Löe Plaque Index, and the Löe and the Silness Gingival Index. Each periodontal pathogen was identified by polymerase chain reaction.

Results

A statistically‐significant association was observed (P < 0.01) between P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, between P. gingivalis and T. denticola, and between T. forsythia and T. denticola. Age was observed to be a risk factor in the development of moderate periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] = 4.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1–21.3, P = 0.0328). Age was significantly associated with increased pocket depth and plaque index (OR = 6.36, 95% CI = 1.8–22.2, P = 0.0037). In pregnant women, the presence of P. gingivalis was found to increase the risk of developing a clinical attachment level ≥ 5 mm.

Conclusion

A high prevalence of P. gingivalis in pregnant women, especially in combination with T. forsythia and T. denticola, was associated with an increased risk of developing moderate periodontitis, and that association was more marked in pregnant women aged 30 years or older.
Attachment, Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health: Research, Assessment and Intervention
Authors: Schuengel Carlo , de Schipper Johanna Clasien , Sterkenburg Paula S. , Kef Sabina
Published: December 2012

Background

Attachment theory is highly influential in child and adult mental health research and practice. Research and practice have started now to explore the potential value of an attachment perspective for understanding and alleviating the challenges that persons with intellectual disabilities face in mental health and social participation.

Materials and Methods

Research on attachment and intellectual disabilities is reviewed on its importance for knowledge, assessment and intervention.

Results

Progress was found in understanding and distinguishing attachment behaviours, attachment relationships, attachment representations, attachment styles and attachment disorders and their respective implications for assessment and intervention.

Conclusions

Of the various attachment‐related concepts, insights into attachment behaviours and relationships showed the most promise for practical applications in the field of intellectual disabilities. Findings on representations, styles and disorders were inconclusive or preliminary. Attachment‐informed research and practice can be part of emerging developmental understanding of functioning with intellectual disabilities.
The Neurobiology of Risk and Pre‐Emptive Interventions for Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: DeSocio Janiece E.
Published: December 2012

Topic

The neurobiology of risk and pre‐emptive interventions for anorexia nervosa.

Purpose

This article is based on a presentation at the March 2012 annual conference of the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses.

Sources

A review of literature and clinical practice experience.

Conclusions

Advances in genetics and neuroimaging provide evidence of a recognizable phenotype of traits and neuropsychological characteristics that precede symptom onset in children at risk for anorexia nervosa. Early recognition of the phenotype and experiences that can potentiate symptom expression provides the basis for pre‐emptive interventions that may avert or delay the onset and reduce symptom severity.
Catheter Ablation of Stable Ventricular Tachycardia Before Defibrillator Implantation in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease (VTACH): An On‐Treatment Analysis
Authors: DELACRÉTAZ ETIENNE , BRENNER ROMAN , SCHAUMANN ANSELM , ECKARDT LARS , WILLEMS STEPHAN , PITSCHNER HEINZ‐FRIEDRICH , KAUTZNER JOSEF , SCHUMACHER BURGHARD , HANSEN PETER S. , KUCK KARL‐HEINZ
Published: December 2012

Catheter Ablation of Stable Ventricular Tachycardia

Background

In the Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Coronary Heart Disease (VTACH) study, an intention‐to‐treat approach was used and may have diminished the observed degree of treatment effect. We present a subanalysis of the VTACH study by treatment actually received.

Methods and Results

The VTACH study was a prospective, open, randomized controlled trial, undertaken in 16 European centers, comparing defibrillator implantation with and without ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in patients with stable VT, previous myocardial infarction, and reduced left‐ventricular ejection fraction. Of the 52 patients in the ablation group, 7 (13%) did not receive VT ablation and 19% of patients assigned to implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) only treatment group crossed over and had an ablation. The primary endpoint (first recurrence of any documented VT or ventricular fibrillation [VF]) was reached after a median of 19.5 months in the ablation group and 5.9 months in the ICD only group (P = 0.01). Overall, 685 VT/VF events occurred per year of follow‐up in 22 patients of the ablation group and 4,986 events in 43 patients of the control group (P = 0.024). In the ICD only group, median numbers of VT/VF episodes were 25 (IQR 5.8–45.3) and 1.5 (IQR 0–24.8) per patient and year before and after crossover (n = 12), respectively.

Conclusion

On‐treatment analysis of the VTACH study emphasizes the effectiveness of VT ablation in patients receiving ICD treatment because of monomorphic VT post myocardial infarction. VT ablation clearly prolonged time to recurrence of VT/VF episodes and markedly decreased VT/VF burden.
Obesity‐Related Hypertension: Pathogenesis, Cardiovascular Risk, and Treatment
Authors: Landsberg Lewis , Aronne Louis J. , Beilin Lawrence J. , Burke Valerie , Igel Leon I. , Lloyd‐Jones Donald , Sowers James
Published: December 2012

In light of the worldwide epidemic of obesity, and in recognition of hypertension as a major factor in the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with obesity, The Obesity Society and the American Society of Hypertension agreed to jointly sponsor a position paper on obesity‐related hypertension to be published jointly in the journals of each society. The purpose is to inform the members of both societies, as well as practicing clinicians, with a timely review of the association between obesity and high blood pressure, the risk that this association entails, and the options for rational, evidenced‐based treatment. The position paper is divided into six sections plus a summary as follows: pathophysiology, epidemiology and cardiovascular risk, the metabolic syndrome, lifestyle management in prevention and treatment, pharmacologic treatment of hypertension in the obese, and the medical and surgical treatment of obesity in obese hypertensive patients.
Caste ratios affect the reproductive output of social trematode colonies
Authors: Kamiya T. , Poulin R.
Published: December 2012

Intraspecific phenotypic diversification in social organisms often leads to formation of physical castes which are morphologically specialized for particular tasks within the colony. The optimal caste allocation theory argues that specialized morphological castes are efficient at specific tasks, and hence different caste ratios should affect the ergonomic efficiency, hence reproductive output of the colony. However, the reproductive output of different caste ratios has been documented in few species of insects with equivocal support for the theory. This study investigated whether the ratios of nonreproductive and reproductive morphs affect the reproductive output of a recently discovered social trematode, Philophthalmus sp., in which the nonreproductive members are hypothesized to be defensive specialists. A census of natural infections and a manipulative in vitro experiment demonstrated a positive association between the reproductive output of trematode colonies and the ratio of nonreproductive to reproductive morphs in the presence of an intra‐host trematode competitor, Maritrema novaezealandensis. On the contrary, without the competitor, reproductive output was negatively associated with the proportion of nonreproductive castes in colonies. Our findings demonstrate for the first time a clear fitness benefit associated with the nonreproductive castes in the presence of a competitor while illustrating the cost of maintaining such morphs in noncompetitive situations. Although the proximate mechanisms controlling caste ratio remain unclear in this trematode system, this study supports the prediction that the fitness of colonies is influenced by the composition of specialized functional morphs in social organisms, suggesting a potential for adaptive shifts of caste ratios over evolutionary time.
Optimal growth strategies under divergent predation pressure
Authors: Aikio S. , Herczeg G. , Kuparinen A. , Merilä J.
Published: December 2012

The conditions leading to gigantism in nine‐spined sticklebacksPungitius pungitiuswere analysed by modelling fish growth with the von Bertalanffy model searching for the optimal strategy when the model's growth constant and asymptotic fish size parameters are negatively related to each other. Predator‐related mortality was modelled through the increased risk of death during active foraging. The model was parameterized with empirical growth data of fish from four different populations and analysed for optimal growth strategy at different mortality levels. The growth constant and asymptotic fish size were negatively related in most populations. Optimal fish size, fitness and life span decreased with predator‐induced mortality. At low mortality, the fitness of pond populations was higher than that of sea populations. The differences disappeared at intermediate mortalities, and sea populations had slightly higher fitness at extremely high mortalities. In the scenario where all populations mature at the same age, the pond populations perform better at low mortalities and the sea populations at high mortalities. It is concluded that a trade‐off between growth constant and asymptotic fish size, together with different mortality rates, can explain a significant proportion of body size differentiation between populations. In the present case, it is a sufficient explanation of gigantism in pondP. pungitius.
Alaska Pollock Fish Protein Gels as Affected by Refined Carrageenan and Various Salts
Authors: Hunt Angela , Park Jae W.
Published: December 2012

Refined iota and kappa carrageenans were added (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0%) to Alaska pollock surimi and combined with various salts (NaCl, KCl or CaCl2, respectively) at 2%. Sample pastes were subjected to dynamic rheology (temperature sweep heating 20–80C and cooling 80–20C). Gel properties (breaking force, penetration distance and water retention ability [WRA]) were measured at 0, 3, 6 and 9 freeze/thaw cycles. The effect of salt type indicated that NaCl significantly (P < 0.05) increased force values, whereas KCl increased (P < 0.05) penetration distance. WRA was improved (P < 0.05) by KCl, followed by NaCl and CaCl2, respectively. Kappa carrageenan increased (P < 0.05) force values. However, adding kappa and iota carrageenans tended to decrease penetration distance. Iota carrageenan (0.25–1.0%) generally increased (P < 0.05) or did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect WRA compared to kappa carrageenan. Utilizing KCl and NaCl combined with kappa and iota carrageenans could increase gel strength and WRA.

Practical Applications

Iota carrageenan tended to improve or maintain water retention ability of Alaska pollock fish protein gels during extended freeze/thaw cycles compared to when kappa carrageenan was added. However, kappa carrageenan tended to improve force values or gel strength of Alaska pollock fish protein gels. Therefore, a mixture of kappa and iota carrageenans should be evaluated to maximize the respective properties and optimize the amount of each carrageenan type in order to improve functionality of Alaska pollock fish protein gels. In addition, further study to utilize a combination of NaCl and KCl rather than a single salt type could further maximize the functionality of an iota–kappa carrageenan blend in Alaska pollock fish protein gels.
Antipsychotic Use in Nursing Home Residents Admitted with Hip Fracture
Authors: Jung Hye‐Young , Meucci Marissa , Unruh Mark Aaron , Mor Vincent , Dosa David
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To evaluate the association between receiving antipsychotics and the outcomes of a cohort of nursing home (NH) residents with and without presumed delirium after hip fracture.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting

Eleven thousand one hundred nineteen nursing homes nationwide from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007.

Participants

First‐time NH admissions with hip fracture (n = 77,759).

Measurements

The Nursing Home Confusion Assessment Method was used to identify residents with no delirium, subsyndromal delirium, and full delirium. Propensity score reweighting was used, with analyses stratified according to delirium level.

Results

In subjects with no delirium symptoms, approximately 5% (n = 3,250) received antipsychotic drugs. These individuals were less likely to be discharged home (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, P < .001), had a higher likelihood of death before nursing home discharge (OR = 1.28, P = .03), stayed in nursing homes longer (β 2.83, P = .05), and had less functional improvement at discharge (β −0.47, P = .03). Receipt of antipsychotics in participants with mild delirium was associated with a lower likelihood of discharge home (OR = 0.74, P = .03).

Conclusion

In NH residents with hip fracture and no delirium symptoms, use of antipsychotics was associated with worse outcomes, with the exception of rehospitalization. No clear benefits were associated with antipsychotic use for those with presumed delirium.
Does Helicobacter pylori Infection Increase Incidence of Dementia? The Personnes Agées QUID Study
Authors: Roubaud Baudron Claire , Letenneur Luc , Langlais Anthony , Buissonnière Alice , Mégraud Francis , Dartigues Jean‐François , Salles Nathalie ,   for the Personnes Agées QUID Study
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with dementia and risk of developing dementia in a longitudinal population‐based cohort of elderly adults living in the community.

Design

Prospective community‐based cohort study.

Setting

The population‐based Personnes Agées QUID (PAQUID) Study.

Participants

Six hundred three noninstitutionalized individuals aged 65 and older living in the southwest of France followed from 1989 to 2008.

Measurements

A descriptive and comparative analysis including dementia prevalence, according to H. pylori status (serology), was made at baseline. Cox proportional hazard models were used to study the risk of developing dementia according to H. pylori status assessed on sera samples from elderly adults initially free of dementia and followed for 20 years. A neurologist diagnosed dementia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Third Edition criteria.

Results

At baseline, 391 (64.8%) subjects (348 women, mean age 73.9 ± 6.5) were seropositive for H. pylori. Dementia prevalence was higher in the infected group (5.4% vs 1.4%, P = .02). After 20 years of follow‐up, 148 incident cases of dementia were diagnosed. After controlling for age, sex, educational level, apolipoprotein E4 status, cardiovascular risk factors, and Mini‐Mental State Examination score, H. pylori infection was determined to be a risk factor for developing dementia (hazard ratio = 1.46, P = .04).

Conclusion

This longitudinal population‐based study provides additional epidemiological support to the hypothesis of an association between dementia and H. pylori infection, which may enhance neurodegeneration.
Low‐temperature‐SEM study of dihedral angles in the ice‐I/sulfuric acid partially molten system
Authors: McCARTHY C. , BLACKFORD J.R. , JEFFREE C.E.
Published: December 2012

The transport and mechanical properties of partially molten materials are influenced by the wetting behaviour of the melt with respect to the crystalline solid. The equilibrium microstructure of an ice + melt system was examined using low‐temperature scanning electron microscopy. The samples were prepared by spraying a liquid solution of H2O‐H2SO4 into liquid nitrogen and packing the frozen particulates into aluminium capsules. Samples were then sintered at –35 °C or –55 °C (above the eutectic temperature, TE=–62 °C) for various durations and were quenched in liquid nitrogen to capture the equilibrium microstructure. This paper reports the first quantitative measurements of dihedral angle in this system. The measured median dihedral angle between the solid and vitrified melt is approximately 26 ± 2° at –35 °C and increases slightly as temperature decreases and approaches the solidus (32 ± 3° at –55 °C).
Social Stress and the Polymorphic Region of the Serotonin Reuptake Transporter Gene Modify Oestradiol‐Induced Changes on Central Monoamine Concentrations in Female Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Asher J. , Michopoulos V. , Reding K. M. , Wilson M. E. , Toufexis D.
Published: December 2012

Psychosocial stress exposure is linked to the disruption of emotional regulation that can manifest as anxiety and depression. Women are more likely to suffer from such psychopathologies than men, indicating that sex‐based differences in gonadal steroids may be a key factor in the aetiology of stress‐induced adverse health outcomes. Oestradiol (E2) positively influences mood and cognition in females, an effect likely related to the ability of E2 to modulate the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems. Furthermore, genetic variation as a result of the polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene (SLC6A4) encoding the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) also can influence the ability of E2 to modulate behaviour and physiology. However, it remains uncertain whether exposure to social stress interacts with the 5HTTLPR to influence E2‐induced changes in behaviour and physiology. The present study used ovariectomised adult female rhesus monkeys to investigate acute and chronic effects of E2 on central monoamine metabolite concentrations using cerobrospinal fluid sampling. We further assessed how E2‐induced changes in monoamine metabolite levels are modified by the unpredictable stress of social subordination and the 5HTTLPR polymorphism. Levels of the serotonin metabolite 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid decreased significantly during chronic E2 treatment only in dominant females with the long promoter length of SLC6A4. Chronic administration of E2 decreased levels of the dopamine metabolite dihydrophenylacetic acid in a manner independent of the social status, 5HTTLPR genotype, or their interactions. Overall levels of dopamine and serotonin metabolites were increased in subordinate females, although this effect of social stress was not influenced by 5HTTLPR genotype. Together, these data emphasise how E2 can modulate central neurotransmitter systems and indicate that social subordination in female monkeys is a valid model for examining how chronic psychosocial stress alters sensitivity to E2. Future studies are necessary to elaborate how changes in central neurotransmitter metabolism affect behaviour and physiology as a result of E2 and prolonged exposure to stress.
Tax Aggressiveness and Accounting Fraud
Authors: LENNOX CLIVE , LISOWSKY PETRO , PITTMAN JEFFREY
Published: December 2012

There are competing arguments and mixed prior evidence on whether firms that are aggressive in their financial reporting exhibit more or less tax aggressiveness. Our research contributes to resolving this issue by examining the association between aggressive tax reporting and the incidence of alleged accounting fraud. Relying on several proxies for tax aggressiveness to triangulate our evidence, we generally find that tax aggressive U.S. public firms are less likely to commit accounting fraud. However, we caution that our results are sensitive to how tax aggressiveness is measured. More specifically, four (two) of the five (three) proxies for firms’ effective tax rates (book‐tax differences) load positively (negatively) during the 1981–2001 period, implying that fraud firms are less tax aggressiveness. Our inferences persist when we isolate the 1995–2001 period in which accounting impropriety steeply rose and corporate tax compliance steeply fell. Moreover, we continue to find that tax aggressive firms are less apt to fraudulently manipulate their financial statements when we apply factor analysis to identify tax avoidance with a common factor extracted from the underlying proxies and match on propensity scores to ensure that the fraud and nonfraud samples have very similar nontax characteristics.
Do Publicly Disclosed Tax Reserves Tell Us About Privately Disclosed Tax Shelter Activity?
Authors: LISOWSKY PETRO , ROBINSON LESLIE , SCHMIDT ANDREW
Published: December 2012

We examine whether public disclosures of tax reserves recently made available through Financial Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48) reflect corporate tax shelter activities. Understanding this relation is important to corporate stakeholders and researchers keen to infer the aggressive nature of a firm's tax positions from its tax reserve accrual. Our study links public disclosures of tax reserves with mandatory private disclosures of tax shelter participation as made to the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Tax Shelter Analysis. We find strong, robust evidence that the tax reserve is positively associated with tax shelters, while other commonly used measures of tax avoidance are not. Based on out‐of‐sample tests, we also show that the reserve is a suitable summary measure for predicting tax shelters. The tax benefits of tax shelters are economically significant, accounting for up to 48% of the aggregate FIN 48 tax reserves in our sample.