bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occurrence, genes and expression of the W/Se‐containing class II benzoyl‐coenzyme A reductases in anaerobic bacteria
Authors: Löffler Claudia , Kuntze Kevin , Vazquez José Ramos , Rugor Agnieszka , Kung Johannes W. , Böttcher Annette , Boll Matthias
Published: November 2010

Benzoyl‐coenzyme A (CoA) reductases (BCRs) are key enzymes in the anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds and catalyse the reductive dearomatization of benzoyl‐CoA to cyclohexa‐1,5‐dienoyl‐1‐carboxyl‐CoA. Class I BCRs are ATP‐dependent FeS enzymes, whereas class II BCRs are supposed to be ATP‐independent and contain W, FeS clusters, and most probably selenocysteine. The active site components of a putative eight subunit class II BCR, BamBCDEFGHI, were recently characterized in Geobacter metallireducens. In this organism bamB was identified as structural gene for the W‐containing active site subunit; bamF was predicted to code for a selenocysteine containing electron transfer subunit. In this work the occurrence and expression of BCRs in a number of anaerobic, aromatic compound degrading model microorganisms was investigated with a focus on the BamB and BamF components. Benzoate‐induced class II BCR in vitro activities were determined in the soluble protein fraction in all obligately anaerobic bacteria tested. Where applicable, the results were in agreement with Western blot analysis using BamB targeting antibodies. By establishing a specific bamB targeting PCR assay, bamB homologues were identified in all tested obligately anaerobic bacteria with the capacity to degrade aromatic compounds; a number of bamB sequences from Gram‐negative/positive sulfate‐reducing bacteria were newly sequenced. In several organisms at least two bamB paralogues per genome were identified; however, in nearly all cases only one of them was transcribed during growth on an aromatic substrate. These benzoate‐induced bamB genes are proposed to code for the active site subunit of class II BCRs; the major part of them group into a phylogenetic subcluster within the bamB homologues. Results from in silico analysis suggested that all class II BCRs contain selenocysteine in the BamF, and in many cases also in the BamE subunit. The results obtained indicate that the distribution of the two classes of BCRs in anaerobic bacteria appears to be strictly ruled by the available free energy from the oxidation of the aromatic carbon source rather than by phylogenetic relationships.
Root exudates modify bacterial diversity of phenanthrene degraders in PAH‐polluted soil but not phenanthrene degradation rates
Authors: Cébron Aurélie , Louvel Brice , Faure Pierre , France‐Lanord Christian , Chen Yin , Murrell J. Colin , Leyval Corinne
Published: November 2010

To determine whether the diversity of phenanthrene‐degrading bacteria in an aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated soil is affected by the addition of plant root exudates, DNA stable isotope probing (SIP) was used. Microcosms of soil with and without addition of ryegrass exudates and with 13C‐labelled phenanthrene (PHE) were monitored over 12 days. PHE degradation was slightly delayed in the presence of added exudate after 4 days of incubation. After 12 days, 68% of added PHE disappeared both with and without exudate. Carbon balance using isotopic analyses indicated that a part of the 13C‐PHE was not totally mineralized as 13CO2 but unidentified 13C‐compounds (i.e. 13C‐PHE or 13C‐labelled metabolites) were trapped into the soil matrix. Temporal thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analyses of 16S rRNA genes were performed on recovered 13C‐enriched DNA fractions. 16S rRNA gene banding showed the impact of root exudates on diversity of PHE‐degrading bacteria. With PHE as a fresh sole carbon source, Pseudoxanthomonas sp. and Microbacterium sp. were the major PHE degraders, while in the presence of exudates, Pseudomonas sp. and Arthrobacter sp. were favoured. These two different PHE‐degrading bacterial populations were also distinguished through detection of PAH‐ring hydroxylating dioxygenase (PAH‐RHDα) genes by real‐time PCR. Root exudates favoured the development of a higher diversity of bacteria and increased the abundance of bacteria containing known PAH‐RHDα genes.
Molecular biology of surface colonization by Listeria monocytogenes: an additional facet of an opportunistic Gram‐positive foodborne pathogen
Authors: Renier Sandra , Hébraud Michel , Desvaux Mickaël
Published: November 2010

The opportunistic and facultative intracellular pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes causes a rare but severe foodborne disease called listeriosis, the outcome of which can be fatal. The infection cycle and key virulence factors are now well characterized in this species. Nonetheless, this knowledge has not prevented the re‐emergence of listeriosis, as recently reported in several European countries. Listeria monocytogenes is particularly problematic in the food industry since it can survive and multiply under conditions frequently used for food preservation. Moreover, this foodborne pathogen also forms biofilms, which increase its persistence and resistance in industrial production lines, leading to contamination of food products. Significant differences have been reported regarding the ability of different isolates to form biofilms, but no clear correlation can be established with serovars or lineages. The architecture of listerial biofilms varies greatly from one strain to another as it ranges from bacterial monolayers to the most recently described network of knitted chains. While the role of polysaccharides as part of the extracellular matrix contributing to listerial biofilm formation remains elusive, the importance of eDNA has been demonstrated. The involvement of flagella in biofilm formation has also been pointed out, but their exact role in the process remains to be clarified because of conflicting results. Two cell–cell communication systems LuxS and Agr have been shown to take part in the regulation of biofilm formation. Several additional molecular determinants have been identified by functional genetic analyses, such as the (p)ppGpp synthetase RelA and more recently BapL. Future directions and questions about the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes are further discussed, such as correlation between clonal complexes as revealed by MLST and biofilm formation, the swarming over swimming regulation hypothesis regarding the role of the flagella, and the involvement of microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules in the colonization of abiotic and biotic surfaces.
Radical prostatectomy for cT3–4 disease: an evaluation of the pathological outcomes and patterns of care for adjuvant radiation in a national cohort
Authors: Schreiber David , Rineer Justin , Sura Sonal , Teper Ervin , Nabhani Tom , Han Peter , Schwartz David , Choi Kwang , Rotman Marvin
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (cohort)

Level of Evidence 2b

OBJECTIVE

To use the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database to evaluate the pathological outcomes for patients with clinically staged T3–4 disease who undergo radical prostatectomy and to analyze whether these patients are receiving adjuvant radiation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified patients who were clinically staged as having T3–4N0M0 prostate cancer and underwent radical prostatectomy between 2004 and 2006. Clinical data regarding preoperative prostate‐specific antigen, as well as pathological Gleason score, were also collected.

Descriptive analyses were performed regarding the pathological extent of disease for these patients.

Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify unadjusted and adjusted predictors of radiation use for those with non‐organ‐confined disease or positive margins.

RESULTS

A total of 718 patients were identified. Of these, 10.2% had organ‐confined disease (8.1% with negative margins and 2.1% with positive margins). The median number of lymph nodes removed was three, with 9.9% of patients having pathologically positive lymph nodes.

The clinical accuracy of staging was found to be 81.4% for T3a, 77.4% for T3b and 70.1% for T4. Of those who had non‐organ‐confined disease or positive margins pathologically, 21.1% received adjuvant radiation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that those with Gleason 8–10 disease were most likely to receive adjuvant radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large series from a population‐based cohort, clinical staging of T3–T4 disease was highly accurate in predicting pathological extent, with only 10.2% of patients found to have pathological T2 disease.

Most patients with confirmed pathological T3–T4 disease did not receive adjuvant radiation.
The role of transrectal saturation biopsy in tumour localization: pathological correlation after retropubic radical prostatectomy and implication for focal ablative therapy
Authors: Abdollah Firas , Scattoni Vincenzo , Raber Marco , Roscigno Marco , Briganti Alberto , Suardi Nazareno , Gallina Andrea , Capitanio Umberto , Freschi Massimo , Salonia Andrea , Cestari Andrea , Guazzoni Giorgio , Rigatti Patrizio , Montorsi Francesco
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)

Level of Evidence 2b

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

The traditional transrectal sextant and extended biopsy schemes demonstrated low accuracy in predicting unilateral prostate cancer on radical prostatectomy specimens.

We examined the accuracy of an initial saturation biopsy (24‐core) to predict unilateral prostate cancer on radical prostatectomy specimens.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of an initial 24‐core prostate biopsy scheme (PBx24) in predicting unilateral prostate cancer (PCa) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2005 and 2008, 203 consecutive patients underwent PBx24 followed by RP for PCa. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the accuracy of unilateral PCa on PBx24 to predict unilateral PCa in RP specimens.

The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were also calculated. Moreover, in patients with unilateral PCa on biopsy, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested the relationship between the presence of unilateral PCa in an RP specimen and the variables: age, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), total prostate volume, clinical stage, primary Gleason grade, secondary Gleason grade and the number of positive cores.

RESULTS

PCa cores were unilateral in 115 patients (56.7%) on biopsy. Of those, only 26 (22.6%) had unilateral PCa in the RP specimen (AUC, 72.9%; PPV, 22.6%; NPV, 98.8%). In patients with clinically low‐risk tumours, only 17 of 63 (27%) had a unilateral PCa on PBx24 and in the RP specimen (AUC, 59.1%; PPV, 27.0%; NPV, 100.0%).

None of the examined variables was an independent predictor of the presence of unilateral PCa in the RP specimen (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial PBx24 is not sufficiently accurate to be dependable as a method of predicting tumour laterality in RP specimens. Therefore, the use of PBx24 to guide hemi‐ablation therapy of PCa may lead to mistreatment in a considerable proportion of patients.

Moreover, none of the routinely available clinical and pathological characteristics appears to improve the ability of unilateral PCa on biopsy to predict unilateral PCa in the RP specimen.
Facilitating the quality of care in a specialist Pacific ophthalmic nursing workforce
Authors: du Toit R. , Hughes F. , Mason I. , Tousignant B.
Published: November 2010

DU TOIT R., HUGHES F., MASON I. & TOUSIGNANT B. (2011) Facilitating the quality of care in a specialist Pacific ophthalmic nursing workforce. International Nursing Review58, 79–88

Background:  Sufficient, appropriately trained health personnel need to be retained in the workforce, and their performance maintained, to achieve quality care. Mid‐level ophthalmic personnel in Western Pacific Island Countries and Territories (WPICT) are no exception.

Aim:  The study aims to assess influences on the quality of care provided by specialist mid‐level ophthalmic personnel in WPICT and devise strategies to train, retain and maintain performance of these personnel.

Methods:  A situational assessment employed a checklist and semi‐structured interviews with specialist mid‐level ophthalmic personnel, nursing bodies and Ministry of Health representatives from seven WPICT. A selective literature review guided strategies to address the issues identified.

Results:  Appropriate training allows nurses to fulfill a mid‐level role in WPICT as specialist ophthalmic nurses. Resources generally do not restrict practice. Nursing structures have generally failed to support professionalism: scope and conditions of service, clinical supervision, career structures, professional recognition and opportunities for continuing professional development are rudimentary. Ophthalmic nurses were dissatisfied with the lack of specialty recognition, career progression and salary increase. Regional and local strategies tailored to each country have been devised to establish sustainable processes for support.

Conclusion:  Salary was a major cause of dissatisfaction. It should be addressed along with professional recognition and related processes. Without professional support, specialist and advanced cadres within nursing may cease to exist, nurses' performance may be affected or they may leave. Specialist ophthalmic nursing, recognized, situated within and properly supported by nursing structures can provide a model for specialist clinical care for other specialties and in other countries.
The impact of cumulative pressure on accounting students’ propensity to commit plagiarism: an experimental approach
Authors: Koh Hwee Ping , Scully Glennda , Woodliff David R.
Published: November 2010

Adopting aspects of Jones, T.M., 1991, Academy of Management Review16, 366–395 issue‐contingent model of ethical decision‐making to guide our choice of variables, we investigate perceptions of factors that affect student plagiarism. In an experimental setting, time pressure and assessment weighting are manipulated between‐subjects, whilst the severity of plagiarism is examined within‐subjects. Our findings confirm that time pressure and assessment weighting are positively related to perceptions of the likelihood of plagiarism and that plagiarism is perceived as more likely for less severe acts. Further, the likelihood of plagiarism increases as the cumulative pressure of both time deadline and assessment weighting increases.
Humanitarian Space as Arena: A Perspective on the Everyday Politics of Aid
Authors: Hilhorst Dorothea , Jansen Bram J.
Published: November 2010

‘Humanitarian space’ denotes the physical or symbolic space which humanitarian agents need to deliver their services according to the principles they uphold. This concept, which separates humanitarian action from its politicized environment, is widely used in policy documents and academic texts, even though empirical evidence abounds that this space is in fact highly politicized. To some extent the uncritical use of the concept of humanitarian space is understandable because of its aspirational character. This article explores a different angle: how different actors use the concept and the language of humanitarian space and principles in the everyday politics of aid delivery. It proposes an empirical perspective that approaches humanitarian space from the perspective of everyday practices of policy and implementation. It maintains that the humanitarian space is an arena where a multitude of actors, including humanitarians and the disaster‐affected recipients of aid, shape the everyday realities of humanitarian action. The paper develops this perspective for two humanitarian operations: a protracted refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya, and the tsunami response in Sri Lanka.
SOCIAL CHANGE: THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION*
Authors: Greenwood Jeremy , Guner Nezih
Published: November 2010

In 1900 only 6% of unwed teenage females engaged in premarital sex. Now, three quarters do. The sexual revolution is studied here using an equilibrium matching model, where the costs of premarital sex fall over time due to technological improvement in contraceptives. Individuals differ in their desire for sex. Given this, people tend to circulate in social groups where prospective partners share their views on premarital sex. To the extent that society's customs and mores reflect the aggregation of decentralized decision making by its members, shifts in the economic environment may induce changes in what is perceived as culture.
ON MAJORITARIAN BARGAINING WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION*
Authors: Tsai Tsung‐Sheng , Yang C. C.
Published: November 2010

This article studies a finite horizon version of Baron and Ferejohn's (American Political Science Review 83 (1989), 1181–206) majoritarian bargaining with incomplete information. Of many findings, we show that (i) allowing for delay can be optimal for a proposer; (ii) the revelation of a type depends on two conflicting concerns, the “offer” concern à la Spence's signaling (the higher the type the better) and the “coalition inclusion” concern in a majority consent (the lower the type the better); and (iii) players take actions to distinguish themselves via delay, but separating equilibria often fail to exist due to incapability or unprofitability of exercising delay.
POSITIONAL CONCERNS IN AN OLG MODEL: OPTIMAL LABOR AND CAPITAL INCOME TAXATION*
Authors: Aronsson Thomas , Johansson‐Stenman Olof
Published: November 2010

This article concerns optimal income taxation under asymmetric information in a two‐type OLG model when individuals’ relative consumption matters. Positional concerns affect the policy choices via two channels: (i) the average degree of positionality and (ii) positionality differences between the low‐ability type and the mimicker. Under plausible empirical estimates, the marginal labor income tax rates become substantially larger, and the absolute value of the marginal capital income tax rate of the low‐ability type becomes substantially smaller, than in the conventional model. In addition to measures of reference consumption based on average consumption, we also address within‐generation and upward comparisons.
A DYNAMIC OLIGOPOLY STRUCTURAL MODEL FOR THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG MARKET AFTER PATENT EXPIRATION*
Authors: Ching Andrew T.
Published: November 2010

This article incorporates consumer learning and heterogeneity into a dynamic oligopoly model for the prescription drug market. In the model, both firms and patients need to learn the generic qualities via patients' experiences, generic firms' entry decisions are endogenous, but their entry timings depend on a random approval process. I apply the model to examine the impact of shortening the expected generic approval time. Although this policy experiment brings generics to the market sooner, it increases a potential entrant's likelihood of entering a crowded market and hence could reduce the total number of generic entrants and consumer welfare.
COLLUSIVE EQUILIBRIUM IN COURNOT OLIGOPOLIES WITH UNKNOWN COSTS*
Authors: Chakrabarti Subir K.
Published: November 2010

The article studies collusive equilibria in an infinitely repeated Cournot oligopoly with unknown costs. I look at collusive pooled Perfect Bayesian equilibria and separating equilibria either with signaling or with communication. In the separating equilibria with signaling the firms play the strictly separating Bayesian Nash equilibrium in period 1 and produce the optimal incentive compatible collusive quantity vector from period 2 onwards. In the separating equilibrium with communication the optimal incentive compatible quantity vector is produced from period 1 onwards. Among these, the optimal separating equilibrium with communication gives the highest expected discounted joint profits.
Science–Practice Gap in e‐Recruitment
Authors: García‐Izquierdo Antonio L. , Aguinis Herman , Ramos‐Villagrasa Pedro J.
Published: November 2010

We conducted a content analysis of online job application forms used by companies listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange (i.e., Bolsa de Madrid). We collected data from 76 companies in 2005 and then again for 66 of these companies in 2009. We coded the type of information required on the application forms based on 24 categories related to potential illegal discrimination and personnel selection social context issues (i.e., fairness, intrusiveness, and privacy). Results indicated that the relative frequency of the 24 information categories has remained stable from 2005 to 2009. Moreover, averaging 2005 and 2009 results, a large percentage of companies require information that can be used for illegal discrimination and can be perceived as unfair, intrusive, and invasive of applicants' privacy such as age or date of birth (87%), nationality (61%), marital status (48%), place of birth (57%), passport number (47%), a photograph (23%), and number of children (11%). Our results document a science–practice gap in e‐recruitment because scholarly research suggests that requesting these types of information leads to negative applicant reactions ranging from negative perceptions and emotions to actually initiating legal action against the recruiting firm. Our results also point to e‐recruitment as an area that could be targeted as a good collaboration topic between scientists and practitioners because the resulting research has the potential to make important contributions toward bridging the science–practice gap.
Truffle volatiles: from chemical ecology to aroma biosynthesis
Authors: Splivallo Richard , Ottonello Simone , Mello Antonietta , Karlovsky Petr
Published: November 2010

Truffles (Tuber spp.) are symbiotic fungi that develop underground in association with plant roots. Food connoisseurs describe their scent as sensual, seductive and unique. These mysterious fungi, however, do not produce their aroma for the mere pleasure of humans. Truffle volatiles act as odorant cues for mammals and insects which are thus able to locate the precious fungi underground and spread their spores. They also freely diffuse in the soil and mediate interactions with microorganisms and plant roots, potentially regulating a complex molecular dialogue among soil fauna and flora. The aim of this review is to synthesize 30 yr of research on truffle volatiles, spanning fields of study from chemical ecology to aroma biosynthesis. Specific aspects of truffle volatile ecology and biology will be discussed, including which species have been studied so far and for what purpose, what ecological role has been demonstrated or speculated to exist for specific truffle volatiles, which volatiles are common or unique to certain species and what their biosynthetic route might be. Future challenges in truffle aroma research will also be addressed, focusing on how high‐throughput post‐genomic technologies may advance our understanding of truffle aroma biosynthesis and chemical ecology.
Nickel Allergy: Localized, Id, and Systemic Manifestations in Children
Authors: Hsu Jessica W. , Matiz Catalina , Jacob Sharon E.
Published: November 2010

Abstract:  Nickel is the most common allergen causing allergic contact dermatitis in patch‐tested children, especially in female children. Allergy to this metal can manifest in a variety of ways. In this case series, we present four children to illustrate the different presentations of nickel allergy confirmed by patch testing. Localized, id, and systemic nickel reactions are reviewed, as well as the diagnosis and management of nickel allergic contact dermatitis. While localized dermatitis in areas of direct contact to the allergen is the most common and easiest form of nickel allergy to identify, recognition of varying presentations is critical as these can result in more chronic and severe symptoms, and can be misdiagnosed as atopic dermatitis.
Sharing Food, Sharing Values: Mothering and Empathy in Murik Society
Authors: Barlow Kathleen
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Interactions among mothers and children around food are prime opportunities for teaching and learning core cultural values, including their emotional and motivational components. Cognitive theories of culture identify key features and processes that capture the complexity and importance of even brief, but emotionally powerful moments surrounding food and feeding. The Murik concept of mothering is a metaphor of reciprocity and power applied to encompass people in varied and multiple mothering roles in shifting relation to each other. Based on incidents in Murik society, I show how schemas of personhood, sharing, and work are expressed and communicated intersubjectively through interactions involving mothering figures. These interactions express a dynamic among mothers: holding and empathy by a primary mothering figure as a child faces criticism and discipline by other mothers. As mothers enact these complementary roles in situated and particular circumstances, they highlight cultural models and their motivational underpinnings making these available for learning. [mothering; cultural models; food sharing; emotion]
Commentary: From the Mother's Point of View
Authors: LeVine Robert A.
Published: November 2010

Abstract
A person‐centered ethnography of mothering begins with the mother's point of view, reconstructed in terms of its utilitarian and semiotic components, and proceeds to the child's point of view, which is more difficult to detect. The child's culture‐specific precocious behavior can provide indications of earlier experience. Other methodological and interpretive problems are briefly discussed in terms of the articles in the issue: discontinuities in socialization, questions of internalization, and the emotional mutuality of mother and child. [mothering, parenting, childhood, socialization, emotions, ethnographic methods]
Asian American Ethnic Options: How Cambodian Students Negotiate Ethnic Identities in a U.S. Urban School
Authors: Chhuon Vichet , Hudley Cynthia
Published: November 2010

Research suggests that Cambodian students often endure conflicting ethnic stereotypes from larger society and their school and communities. We examine the ways in which Cambodian youth negotiated their ethnic identities in response to these stereotypes and argue that Cambodian students adopted, rejected, and affirmed certain ethnic identities in relation to perceived advantages associated with different labels across varying school contexts. [Asian American identity, Cambodian/Khmer students, ethnic stereotypes, model minority]
Holographic String Encoding
Authors: Hannagan Thomas , Dupoux Emmanuel , Christophe Anne
Published: November 2010

In this article, we apply a special case of holographic representations to letter position coding. We translate different well‐known schemes into this format, which uses distributed representations and supports constituent structure. We show that in addition to these brain‐like characteristics, performances on a standard benchmark of behavioral effects are improved in the holographic format relative to the standard localist one. This notably occurs because of emerging properties in holographic codes, like transposition and edge effects, for which we give formal demonstrations. Finally, we outline the limits of the approach as well as its possible future extensions.
Development or Displacement?: Resettlement and Adaptation among the Cave Dwellers in Cappadocia
Authors: Tibet Eda Elif
Published: November 2010

Keywords:
tourism, cultural heritage, Cappadocia, Turkey, economic development, economic upheaval, social transformation, displacement, architecture/built environment, visual anthropology, Central Asia
Hint for association of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype in SPINK5 gene with atopic dermatitis in Koreans
Authors: Namkung Jung‐Hyun , Lee Jong‐Eun , Kim Eugene , Byun Ji‐Yeon , Kim Sook , Shin Eun‐Soon , Cho Eun‐Young , Yang Jun‐Mo
Published: November 2010

Abstract:  Clinical studies, including twin studies, support the concept that the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) may be mediated through skin‐specific genes, rather than simply through systemic immune or atopy risk genes. The SPINK5 gene is expressed on epithelial surfaces and may provide protection against other allergenic serine proteases. Mutations in the SPINK5 gene result in Netherton syndrome, a disorder characterised by AD, ichthyosis, and elevated serum IgE levels. We genotyped 21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the SPINK5 gene for 1090 case–control samples (631 patients with AD and 459 normal controls) and analysed the SNPs and haplotypes in this gene and also searched for gene–gene interactions between SPINK5 and the DEFB1 gene that we previously reported. Six SNPs [rs17718511 (P = 0.026), rs17860502 (P = 0.024), KN0001820 (P = 0.045), rs60978485 (P = 0.007), rs17718737 (P = 0.02), and rs1422985 (P = 0.038)] and the haplotype TAA (rs60978485, rs6892205, rs2303064; P = 0.023) in the SPINK5 gene showed significant different allelic or genotypic distributions between the AD group and the control group. We also found that four SNPs [rs17718511 (P = 0.033), rs17860502 (P = 0.031), rs60978485 (P = 0.005), rs17718737 (P = 0.023)] and the haplotype TAA (P = 0.02) in the SPINK5 gene showed associations with the susceptibility of the allergic type of AD (ADe). In addition to this finding, we speculate that the SNPs from DEFB1 and SPINK5 affect the individual susceptibility to development of ADe in an additive manner. This study provides evidence for a significant interaction between allergens and the SPINK5 gene that may contribute to ADe susceptibility.
Largemouth bass predators reduce growth, feeding and movement in juvenile channel catfish
Authors: Fine M. L. , Mayo M. S. , Newton S. H. , Sismour E. N.
Published: November 2010

Fine ML, Mayo MS, Newton SH, Sismour EN. Largemouth bass predators reduce growth, feeding and movement in juvenile channel catfish. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 114–119. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract – Animals utilise sensory cues to make decisions that will decrease their vulnerability to predation. With a well‐developed olfactory system and taste buds located inside the mouth and on the external body surface, catfishes are excellent subjects to investigate nonconsumptive predator effects. Juvenile channel catfishIctalurus punctatusare often eaten by largemouth bassMicropterus salmoides, and we tested the hypothesis that largemouth bass fed catfish would adversely affect foraging and growth in channel catfish. Groups of catfish were placed in tanks partitioned by a mesh screen: experimental tanks had a largemouth bass on the other half of the tank, and control tanks had an empty chamber. Experimental catfish exhibited a long‐term decrease in spontaneous motion, feeding and growth. Feeding catfish to the bass caused the experimental catfish to freeze after a multi‐second latency suggesting transport of an alarm cue. Thus, there were long‐term effects from the continuous presence of the bass and additional short‐term cues from the bass consuming a catfish.
Pot as Pretext: Marijuana, Race, and the New Disorder in New York City Street Policing
Authors: Geller Amanda , Fagan Jeffrey
Published: November 2010

Although possession of small quantities of marijuana has been decriminalized in New York State since the late 1970s, arrests for marijuana possession in New York City have increased more than tenfold since the mid‐1990s, and remain high more than 10 years later. This rise has been a notable component of the city's “Order Maintenance Policing” strategy, designed to aggressively target low‐level offenses, usually through street interdictions known as “stop, question, and frisk” activity. We analyze data on 2.2 million stops and arrests carried out from 2004 to 2008, and identify significant racial disparities in the implementation of marijuana enforcement. These disparities, present in both stops and arrests, are robust to controls for social structure, local crime conditions, and stop levels more broadly. The racial imbalance in marijuana enforcement in black neighborhoods suggests a “doubling down” of street‐level policing in places already subject to heightened scrutiny in the search for weapons, a link suggesting that the policing of marijuana may be a pretext in the search for guns. Despite these ties, however, we show no significant relationship between marijuana enforcement activity and the likelihood of seizing firearms or other weapons. We also show that a large proportion of marijuana enforcement lacks constitutional justification under either federal or New York law. Marijuana stops are more prevalent in precincts where “other” and “high‐crime area” justifications are more likely to be reported, two factors that are constitutionally insufficient to justify a street stop. The racial skew, questionable constitutionality, and limited efficiency of marijuana enforcement in detecting serious crimes suggest that nonwhite New Yorkers bear a racial tax from contemporary policing strategy, a social cost not offset by any substantial observed benefits to public safety.
An Empirical Study of Class Action Settlements and Their Fee Awards
Authors: Fitzpatrick Brian T.
Published: November 2010

This article is a comprehensive empirical study of class action settlements in federal court. Although there have been prior empirical studies of federal class action settlements, these studies have either been confined to securities cases or have been based on samples of cases that were not intended to be representative of the whole (such as those settlements approved in published opinions). By contrast, in this article, I attempt to study every federal class action settlement from the years 2006 and 2007. As far as I am aware, this study is the first attempt to collect a complete set of federal class action settlements for any given year. I find that district court judges approved 688 class action settlements over this two‐year period, involving nearly $33 billion. Of this $33 billion, roughly $5 billion was awarded to class action lawyers, or about 15 percent of the total. Most judges chose to award fees by using the highly discretionary percentage‐of‐the‐settlement method, and the fees awarded according to this method varied over a broad range, with a mean and median around 25 percent. Fee percentages were strongly and inversely associated with the size of the settlement. The age of the case at settlement was positively associated with fee percentages. There was some variation in fee percentages depending on the subject matter of the litigation and the geographic circuit in which the district court was located, with lower percentages in securities cases and in settlements from the Second and Ninth Circuits. There was no evidence that fee percentages were associated with whether the class action was certified as a settlement class or with the political affiliation of the judge who made the award.
Are Ideal Litigators White? Measuring the Myth of Colorblindness
Authors: Kang Jerry , Dasgupta Nilanjana , Yogeeswaran Kumar , Blasi Gary
Published: November 2010

This study examined whether explicit and implicit biases in favor of Whites and against Asian Americans would alter evaluation of a litigator's deposition. We found evidence of both explicit bias as measured by self‐reports, and implicit bias as measured by two Implicit Association Tests. In particular, explicit stereotypes that the ideal litigator was White predicted worse evaluation of the Asian American litigator (out group derogation); by contrast, implicit stereotypes predicted preferential evaluation of the White litigator (in group favoritism). In sum, participants were not colorblind, at least implicitly, toward even a “model minority,” and these biases produced racial discrimination. This study provides further evidence of the predictive and ecological validity of the Implicit Association Test in a legal domain.
Breast is Best? Exposing the Myths of Breastfeeding
Authors: Rumbelow Helen
Published: November 2010

Mothers are constantly urged to breastfeed; but how strong is the evidence that it is better than formula milk? Our article, by Helen Rumbelow, examines the evidence for this piece of received wisdom. It was runner-up in the Royal Statistical Society's awards for statistical excellence in journalism for 2010.
Barefoot Statisticians
Authors: Hewson Paul , Kalinauskaite Aiste , Stander Julian , Cai Yuzhi
Published: November 2010

Does statistics have to be done by professionals?Paul Hewson, Aiste Kalinauskaite, Julian Stander and Yuzhi Cai took statistics into the community.
Possible relationship between periodontitis and dementia in a North Indian old age population: a pilot study
Authors: Rai Balwant , Kaur Jasdeep , Anand S. C.
Published: November 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00441.x

Possible relationship between periodontitis and dementia in a North Indian old age population: a pilot study

Background:  Periodontitis and cognitive impairment or dementia is relatively common among older adults. Few cross‐sectional studies and some longitudinal studies have attempted to link oral health with dementia diagnosis or disease pathology but none has investigated the role of inflammation as a potential mediator.

Objectives:  This study was planned to establish a relation of inflammatory mediators between periodontitis and dementia.

Materials and methods:  Fifty‐five patients with severe periodontitis (range 60–69 years), 20 with dementia (10:10 M:F; range 59–69) and 32 healthy controls (range 58–69 years) were selected. The socio‐demographic characteristics, physical health, oral health, education status, and medical status were measured. Serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8, MMP‐9, total IGF‐I, free IGF‐I and TNF‐alpha and GCF MMP‐8 &MMP‐9 were calculated.

Results:  There was no significant difference between the three groups in the level of education, age, occupation, BMI, CAD, CHF and diabetes except dentate status. After adjusting for age, significant differences were found between patients and controls with respect to gingival inflammation, dental plaque, bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth. Total counts of WBCs, neutrophils, thrombocytic counts and serum CRP, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, TNF‐alpha levels were significantly higher in dementia and periodontitis patients in contrast to healthy controls, while, RBC counts, total IGF‐I and Hb levels were lowered in dementia and periodontitis patients in comparison to healthy controls, although higher in dementia as compared to periodontitis patients.

Conclusions:  This study data suggest a relationship of inflammatory mediators between periodontitis and dementia. Further exploration of this is warranted.
EXPLORING THE SPECTRUM OF EXPORT DESTINATION: THE GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF KOREAN EXPORTS, ITS DETERMINANTS, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Authors: KANG Kichun , KIM Jong‐Ho
Published: November 2010

Recent research in international trade has explored the stylized facts and causes and effects of export diversification. A simple model in this paper drawing on the work of Melitz suggests that there is an order in which a country spreads its goods to foreign countries. We estimate the order by using a methodology which takes account of the fact that most goods are not exported to several countries in our sample (unbalanced panel). We find that Korea exports its new goods first to the United States, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and most recently to Bosnia‐Herzegovina. Finally we find that the countries that Korea has exported to first are those with large GDP, low tariff rates, geographic proximity, language familiarity, in‐country Korean export promotion offices, and high‐quality institutions.
IMPACT OF COMMUNIST PARTIES ON THE INDIVIDUAL DECISION TO JOIN A TRADE UNION: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
Authors: PAL Rupayan
Published: November 2010

This paper analyzes the impact on individual decisions to unionize of several factors: the reach of communist parties, the degree of political activism, personal attributes of workers, and industrial characteristics. The workers examined are Indian nonagricultural regular workers, using micro‐data from the 2004–5 Employment and Unemployment Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation, linked to state‐level factors. A notable result is that the reach of communist parties has considerable effect on unionization probability. Moreover, it seems that the mere existence of communist parties in a state also facilitates unionization to some extent. State‐level political activism and unemployment rate also influence the individual decision to join a union. The paper concludes also that a worker's gender, marital status, ethnic background, employment status, experience, occupation, sector of employment, establishment size, and type of industry remain important in the determination of union membership.
Institutional challenges for integrated river basin management in Langat River Basin, Malaysia
Authors: Mokhtar Mazlin Bin , Toriman Mohd Ekhwan Hj. , Hossain Md. Abdullah Abraham , Tan Kok Weng
Published: November 2010

This paper reports on a study of the institutional challenges and factors affecting policy processes and outcomes of integrated river basin management (IRBM) in the Langat River Basin (LRB), Malaysia. A case study approach using institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework was used, and field observations and interviews with local stakeholders of LRB were carried out. The study revealed that polycentric institutional arrangements under the Federal administration are likely capable of coordinating and integrating river basin management by extending the scope of an iterative learning through participation of individual stakeholder at the lowest appropriate level. There should also be an iterative learning mechanism within the interorganizational network for IRBM in LRB. This learning approach is conceptualized as social learning and accordingly a framework is recommended for LRB. The findings of this study would be useful to those who are concerned with successful IRBM implementation in LRB and elsewhere.
Taxonomy of the genusAmblyjoppaCameron (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) from Korea
Authors: JEONG Jong‐Chul , CHA Jin‐Yeol , CHOI Jin‐Kyung , LEE Jong‐Wook
Published: November 2010

A taxonomy of the genusAmblyjoppaCameron in Korea is presented. We have discoveredA. basalis(Uchida, 1925) andA. oiwakensis(Matsumura, 1912) for the first time in Korea. A key, redescriptions and photographs of diagnostic characters and habitus of known KoreanAmblyjoppaspecies are provided.
Animated Beings: Enlightenment Entomology for Girls
Authors: GEORGE SAM
Published: November 2010

This short exploration of Enlightenment entomology for girls draws on the epistolary and dialogic form that was so crucial to young women's engagement with natural science in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Through these two genres a number of topics that are central to the dissemination of entomology for girls are surveyed: ambivalence towards female book‐learning; epistolarity and sociability; empiricist methods of microscopy and classification in entomological texts; the gendered aesthetics of entomology; religious and ethical issues over conduct, utility and cruelty to animals; and further aesthetic concerns over didacticism and imagination raised by the Romantics.
Effects of administration of iron isomaltoside 1000 in patients with chronic heart failure. A pilot study
Authors: HILDEBRANDT PER R. , BRUUN NIELS E. , NIELSEN OLAV W. , PANTEV EMIL , SHIVA FARZAD , VIDEBÆK LARS , WIKSTRÖM GERHARD , THOMSEN LARS L.
Published: November 2010

Intravenous iron preparations have shown benefit in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and iron deficiency. Iron isomaltoside 1000 (Monofer) is a novel intravenous iron compound with low immunological activity of the isomaltoside and low free‐iron‐related toxicity. The primary objective of this open‐label, non‐comparative, multicenter pilot study was to test the safety of iron isomaltoside 1000 in patients with CHF and anemia. In addition, its effect on markers of iron deficiency, anemia and on quality of life was assessed. Twenty patients with CHF and iron deficiency anemia attended six visits during the 8‐week study period. Iron isomaltoside 1000 was infused at baseline (mean dose 868 mg, range 650–1000 mg). No treatment‐related adverse reactions, no acute anaphylactic or delayed allergic reactions and no clinically significant changes in routine clinical laboratory safety tests or vital signs were observed. Markers of iron deficiency, anemia and quality of life improved from baseline with increase in mean value of 49% at 4 weeks in overall quality of life. Iron isomaltoside 1000 administered as a fast single infusion without a test dose to patients with CHF improved quality‐of‐life assessments and was well tolerated in this pilot safety study.
Corporate Climate Change‐Related Governance Practices and Related Disclosures: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Haque Shamima , Deegan Craig
Published: November 2010

This paper investigates the climate change‐related corporate governance disclosure practices of five major Australian energy‐intensive companies over a 16‐year period. In doing so, a content analysis instrument is developed to identify disclosures made in relation to various policies and procedures the organisations have in place for addressing the issues associated with climate change. This instrument is applied to the respective companies’ annual reports and sustainability reports. An increasing trend is found in companies’ climate change‐related corporate governance disclosures over time; however, in many instances the disclosures provide limited insights into the climate change‐related risks and opportunities confronting the sample companies.
Environmental Sampling for Salmonella spp. in Colorado Animal Shelters
Authors: Steneroden K. K. , Hill A. E. , Salman M. D.
Published: November 2010

Salmonella enterica is an important zoonotic agent and nosocomial infections and epidemics have occurred in animal facilities. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella in the environment in animal shelters. From 12 to 25 samples were taken from each shelter to represent environmental contamination. Samples were collected from surfaces in areas used by animals and in public access areas including animal receiving rooms, kennels, paediatric wards, treatment, visitation rooms, isolation, euthanasia, outdoor runs and play areas, reception rooms, animal transport vehicles, offices, break rooms and restrooms. Samples were tested for Salmonella and compared within shelters to identify high‐ and low‐risk areas; and between shelters to identify differences in environmental contamination by geographical location, infection control policies, and shelter size characteristics. Twenty‐eight per cent of sampled Colorado shelters had environmental Salmonella contamination. Two regions in the eastern 1/3 of the state had prevalences of 30% and 100%. Within‐shelter sample prevalence ranged from 0 to 100%. Results of this study indicate that animal shelters can be frequently contaminated with Salmonella spp., a variety of Salmonella species may be present, contamination can be widespread within a facility and recovered isolates may harbour antibiotic resistance The findings from this study may influence and help focus educational policy on issues of infection control and zoonotic disease awareness in animal shelters.