bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the long-term outcome of early onset schizophrenia
Authors: Clemmensen Lars , Vernal Ditte Lammers , Steinhausen Hans-Christoph
Published: September 2012

Background

The current review analyzes the long-term outcome and prognosis of early onset schizophrenia based on previously published studies in 1980.

Methods

A systematic search of articles published in the English-language literature after 1980 identified a total of 21 studies, which included 716 patients who were either suffering from early onset schizophrenia (EOS) or both EOS and other psychotic disorders (MIX). The authors of the current review scored the outcome as either “good,” “moderate,” or “poor.” The mean age of onset in these studies was <18 years.

Results

In general, the outcome in studies with EOS is worse than the outcome in MIX studies. Only 15.4% of the patients in EOS studies versus 19.6% of the patients in MIX studies experienced a “good” outcome. In contrast, 24.5% of the patients in EOS studies versus 33.6% in MIX studies experienced a “moderate” outcome, and 60.1% in EOS studies versus 46.8% in MIX studies experienced a “poor” outcome. The authors identified various significant effects on outcome. In EOS, the findings were significantly affected by sample attrition, indicating that in studies with a high dropout rate, fewer patients experienced a “moderate” outcome, and more patients experienced a “poor” outcome; however, the effect sizes were small. Furthermore, the effects were also small and more favourable for specific functioning measures, as opposed to more global measures, small to moderate in terms of worse outcomes for follow-up periods >10 years, small to moderate for more unfavourable outcomes in males, and small to large for worse outcomes in studies including patients diagnosed before 1970.

Conclusions

In contrast to the adult manifestation, the early manifestation of schizophrenia in childhood and adolescence still carries a particularly poor prognosis. According to these aggregated data analyses, longer follow-up periods, male sex, and patients having been diagnosed before 1970 contribute predominantly to the rather poor course of EOS.
Lymphatic filariasis among the Yakurr people of Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Iboh Cletus I , Okon Okpok E , Opara Kenneth N , Asor Joseph E , Etim Susan E
Published: September 2012

Background

In order to initiate a disease elimination programme for lymphatic filariasis based on mass drug administration, a proper understanding of the geographical distribution and degree of risk is essential.

Methods

An investigation of lymphatic filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti was carried out among 785 people in four communities of Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria between March and August, 2009. Finger prick blood smear samples collected from the subjects were examined for W. bancrofti using standard parasitological protocol. The subjects were also screened for clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis.

Results

Of the 785 persons examined, 48 (6.1%) were positive for microfilariae in their thick blood smear. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis among the various age groups (P < 0.01) although peak prevalence occurred between 41 – 60 years. There was no significant difference in prevalence and density with respect to sex (P > 0.05). The overall mean microfilarial density of the infected individuals was 5.6mf/50 μl. There was a significant variation (P < 0.01) in mean microfilarial density within the communities, ranging from 4.7 to 6.4 mf/50 μl. The only clinical sign found in the study area was lymphoedema of the leg recording 2 (0.3%) prevalence.

Conclusions

The National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme should intervene by expanding the distribution of albendazole and ivermectin to all endemic areas including Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Distribution of emergency operations and trauma in a Swedish hospital: need for reorganisation of acute surgical care?
Authors: al-Ayoubi Fawzi , Eriksson Helen , Myrelid Pär , Wallon Conny , Andersson Peter
Published: September 2012

Background

Subspecialisation within general surgery has today reached further than ever. However, on-call time, an unchanged need for broad surgical skills are required to meet the demands of acute surgical disease and trauma. The introduction of a new subspecialty in North America that deals solely with acute care surgery and trauma is an attempt to offer properly trained surgeons also during on-call time. To find out whether such a subspecialty could be helpful in Sweden we analyzed our workload for emergency surgery and trauma.

Methods

Linköping University Hospital serves a population of 257 000. Data from 2010 for all patients, diagnoses, times and types of operations, surgeons involved, duration of stay, types of injury and deaths regarding emergency procedures were extracted from a prospectively-collected database and analyzed.

Results

There were 2362 admissions, 1559 emergency interventions; 835 were mainly abdominal operations, and 724 diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopies. Of the 1559 emergency interventions, 641 (41.1%) were made outside office hours, and of 453 minor or intermediate procedures (including appendicectomy, cholecystectomy, or proctological procedures) 276 (60.9%) were done during the evenings or at night. Two hundred and fifty-four patients were admitted with trauma and 29 (11.4%) required operation, of whom general surgeons operated on eight (3.1%). Thirteen consultants and 11 senior registrars were involved in 138 bowel resections and 164 cholecystectomies chosen as index operations for standard emergency surgery. The median (range) number of such operations done by each consultant was 6 (3–17) and 6 (1–22). Corresponding figures for senior registrars were 7 (0–11) and 8 (1–39).

Conclusion

There was an uneven distribution of exposure to acute surgical problems and trauma among general surgeons. Some were exposed to only a few standard emergency interventions and most surgeons did not operate on a single patient with trauma. Further centralization of trauma care, long-term positions at units for emergency surgery and trauma, and subspecialisation in the fields of emergency surgery and trauma, might be options to solve problems of low volumes.
The bright and the dark sides of activin in wound healing and cancer
Authors: Antsiferova Maria , Werner Sabine
Published: September 2012

Activin was initially described as a protein that stimulates release of follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary, and it is well known for its important roles in different reproductive functions. In recent years, this multifunctional factor has attracted the attention of researchers in other fields, as new functions of activin in angiogenesis, inflammation, immunity, fibrosis and cancer have been discovered. Studies from our laboratory have identified activin as a crucial regulator of wound healing and skin carcinogenesis. On the one hand, it strongly accelerates the healing process of skin wounds but, on the other hand, it enhances scar formation and the susceptibility to skin tumorigenesis. Finally, results from several laboratories have revealed that activin enhances tumour formation and/or progression in some other organs, in particular through its effect on the tumour microenvironment, and that it also promotes cancer-induced bone disruption and muscle wasting. These findings provide the basis for the use of activin or its downstream targets for the improvement of impaired wound healing, and of activin antagonists for the prevention and treatment of fibrosis and of malignant tumours that overexpress activin. Here, we summarize the previously described roles of activin in wound healing and scar formation and discuss functional studies that revealed different functions of activin in the pathogenesis of cancer. The relevance of these findings for clinical applications will be highlighted.
Fos Activation of Selective Afferents to Ventral Tegmental Area during Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Cocaine Seeking in Rats
Authors: Mahler Stephen V. , Aston-Jones Gary S.
Published: September 2012

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons are crucial for appetitive responses to Pavlovian cues, including cue-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. However, it is unknown which VTA inputs help activate these neurons, transducing stimuli into salient cues that drive drug-seeking behavior. Here we examined 56 VTA afferents from forebrain and midbrain that are Fos activated during cue-induced reinstatement. We injected the retrograde tracer cholera toxin β subunit (CTb) unilaterally into rostral or caudal VTA of male rats. All animals were trained to self-administer cocaine, then extinguished of this behavior. On a final test day, animals were exposed to response-contingent cocaine-associated cues, extinction conditions, a non-cocaine-predictive CS−, or a novel environment, and brains were processed to visualize CTb and Fos immunoreactivity to identify VTA afferents activated in relation to behaviors. VTA-projecting neurons in subregions of medial accumbens shell, ventral pallidum, elements of extended amygdala, and lateral septum (but not prefrontal cortex) were activated specifically during cue-induced cocaine seeking, and some of these were also activated proportionately to the degree of cocaine seeking. Surprisingly, though efferents from the lateral hypothalamic orexin field were also Fos activated during reinstatement, these were largely non-orexinergic. Also, VTA afferents from the rostromedial tegmental nucleus and lateral habenula were specifically activated during extinction and CS− tests, when cocaine was not expected. These findings point to a select set of subcortical nuclei which provide reinstatement-related inputs to VTA, translating conditioned stimuli into cocaine-seeking behavior.
Normal Aging Alters Learning and Attention-Related Teaching Signals in Basolateral Amygdala
Authors: Roesch Matthew R. , Esber Guillem R. , Bryden Daniel W. , Cerri Domenic H. , Haney Zachary R. , Schoenbaum Geoffrey
Published: September 2012

Normal aging has been associated with an increased propensity to wait for rewards. When this is tested experimentally, rewards are typically offered at increasing delays. In this setting, persistent responding for delayed rewards in aged rats could reflect either changes in the evaluation of delayed rewards or diminished learning, perhaps due to the loss of subcortical teaching signals induced by changes in reward; the loss or diminution of such teaching signals would result in slower learning with progressive delay of reward, which would appear as persistent responding. Such teaching signals have commonly been reported in phasic firing of midbrain dopamine neurons; however, similar signals have also been found in reward-responsive neurons in the basolateral amygdala (ABL). Unlike dopaminergic teaching signals, those in ABL seem to reflect surprise, increasing when reward is either better or worse than expected. Accordingly, activity is correlated with attentional responses and with the speed of learning after surprising increases or decreases in reward. Here we examined whether these attention-related teaching signals might be altered in normal aging. Young (3–6 months) and aged (22–26 months) male Long–Evans rats were trained on a discounting task used previously to demonstrate these signals. As expected, aged rats were less sensitive to delays, and this change was associated with a loss of attentional changes in orienting behavior and neural activity. These results indicate that normal aging alters teaching signals in the ABL. Changes in these teaching signals may contribute to a host of age-related cognitive changes.
Therapeutic potential of VIP vs PACAP in diabetes
Authors: Sanlioglu Ahter D , Karacay Bahri , Balci Mustafa Kemal , Griffith Thomas S , Sanlioglu Salih
Published: September 2012

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by chronic insulin resistance and a progressive decline in beta-cell function. Although rigorous glucose control can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes, achieving optimal long-term glycemic control remains to be accomplished in many diabetic patients. As beta-cell mass and function inevitably decline in T2D, exogenous insulin administration is almost unavoidable as a final outcome despite the use of oral antihyperglycemic agents in many diabetic patients. Pancreatic islet cell death, but not the defect in new islet formation or beta-cell replication, has been blamed for the decrease in beta-cell mass observed in T2D patients. Thus, therapeutic approaches designed to protect islet cells from apoptosis could significantly improve the management of T2D, because of its potential to reverse diabetes not just ameliorate glycemia. Therefore, an ideal beta-cell-preserving agent is expected to protect beta cells from apoptosis and stimulate postprandial insulin secretion along with increasing beta-cell replication and/or islet neogenesis. One such potential agent, the islet endocrine neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) strongly stimulates postprandial insulin secretion. Because of its broad spectrum of biological functions such as acting as a potent anti-inflammatory factor through suppression of Th1 immune response, and induction of immune tolerance via regulatory T cells, VIP has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of many autoimmune diseases including diabetes.
Memória: uma chave afetiva para o sentido na performance musical numa perspectiva fenomenológica
Authors: Rocha Sérgio de Figueiredo
Published: September 2012

Relato de experiência sobre a rotina de prática e atuação do quarteto de trombones Trombominas, no qual se propõe uma interlocução entre três eixos: performance musical, fenomenologia e a memória musical, enquanto função cognitiva. São descritos procedimentos sob o referencial fenomenológico, a partir das impressões subjetivas dos participantes do grupo, coletadas através de entrevistas. Busca-se explicar como a memória pode agir como uma chave na construção do sentido para os sujeitos da performance.
Marker-assisted selection for quantitative traits
Authors: Schuster Ivan
Published: September 2012

Although thousands of scientific articles have been published on the subject of marker-assisted selection (MAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL), the application of MAS for QTL in plant breeding has been restricted. Among the main causes for this limited use are the low accuracy of QTL mapping and the high costs of genotyping thousands of plants with tens or hundreds of molecular markers in routine breeding programs. Recently, new large-scale genotyping technologies have resulted in a cost reduction. Nevertheless, the MAS for QTL has so far been limited to selection programs using several generations per year, where phenotypic selection cannot be performed in all generations, mainly in recurrent selection programs. Methods of MAS for QTL in breeding programs using self-pollination have been developed.
Improving final settlement predictions of the observational method
Authors: Sasar Mohammadhasan , Haeri S. Mohsen
Published: September 2012

Preloading is a popular technique in ground improvement works on soft compressible soils. Observational methods such as the Asaoka or hyperbolic methods are widely used in practical applications to assess final settlement and the degree of consolidation during preloading. In this paper it is argued that the major cause of inaccuracy in the final settlement predicted by the Asaoka method, especially in the early stages of preloading (short assessment periods), is neglect of the effects of creep in Asaoka's solution. This may also be the cause of the lack of agreement between observational methods and the piezometer method at higher degrees of consolidation. In this paper a method is proposed that can improve ultimate settlement predicted by the Asaoka method, by considering the effects of creep. By applying this method to two sets of settlement–time data available in the literature, it was found that the final settlements can be estimated with greater accuracy compared with the Asaoka method, even in the early stages of consolidation. Additionally, the proposed method can predict future settlements accurately. The degrees of consolidation predicted by this method showed good agreement with pore pressures recorded in piezometers.
A Conductivity Relationship for Steady‐State Unsaturated Flow Processes under Optimal Flow Conditions
Authors: Liu Hui-Hai
Published: September 2012

Optimality principles have been used to investigate physical processes in different areas. This work applied an optimal principle (that water flow resistance is minimized for the entire flow domain) to steady‐state unsaturated flow processes. Based on the calculus of variations, under optimal conditions, hydraulic conductivity for steady‐state, gravity‐dominated unsaturated flow is proportional to a power function of the magnitude of water flux. This relationship is consistent with an intuitive expectation that for an optimal water flow system, locations where relatively large water fluxes occur should correspond to relatively small resistance (or large conductance). This theoretical result was also consistent with observed fingering‐flow behavior in unsaturated soils and an existing model.
Ion Channels in Sperm Physiology and Male Fertility and Infertility
Authors: Shukla Kamla Kant , Mahdi Abbas Ali , Rajender Singh
Published: September 2012

Abstract: Ion channels regulate the membrane potential and intracellular ionic concentration and thus serve a central role in various cellular processes. Several ion channels have been identified in the germ cells, including sperm, emphasizing their importance in male fertility and reproduction. The molecular mechanism of ion transport and the nature of the ion channels involved have begun to emerge only recently despite the fact that several ligand‐gated and voltage‐gated channels have been identified and localized on sperm. The presence of the sperm‐associated cation channel (CatSper1–4) gene family, proton voltage‐gated ion channel (Hv1), potassium voltage‐gated ion channel (SLO3/KCNU1), sodium voltage‐gated channel (NaV1.1–1.9), and the members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel family suggest an indispensable role for ion channels in sperm physiology and fertility potential. Ion channels are the key players in very important processes such as capacitation and the acrosome reaction, which are critical steps in sperm physiology preparing for fertilization. For example, CatSper, Hv1, SLO3, and TRP channel family members have been proposed to participate in the acrosome reaction, thereby making them most important for sperm fertility. Similarly, NaV channels could play a crucial role in noncapacitated sperm and in the initial capacitation steps. The role of ion channels seems indispensable for sperm fertility as evidenced by studies on animal models; however, the functional defects in infertile human males await further exploration. This article represents an update on the role of ion channels in sperm physiology, male fertility, and infertility.
How Subjective Well-Being Affects Emotional Processing: the Role of Event-related Potentials
Authors: Yu Guo-Ming , Li Biao
Published: September 2012

Using the emotion-priming paradigm, we examined the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between subjective well-being (SWB) and the processing of emotional stimuli by recording event-related potentials relevant to emotion probe words. The positive words were classified faster
and more accurately by both low- and high-level SWB (very happy and not very happy) groups. Late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes elicited by emotional words were compared with words elicited in the neutral priming condition, and we found LPPs significantly reduced under the fear-inducing
priming condition. This priming effect was more prominent in the group of participants who were not very happy, showing that, compared to the very happy group, these participants were more sensitive and subject to the influence of external stimuli (particularly negative emotional stimuli).
The findings provide electrophysiological evidence for the relationship between SWB and emotion processing.
Impact of the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 α (HIF1A) Pro582Ser Polymorphism on Diabetes Nephropathy
Authors: Gu Harvest F. , Zheng Xiaowei , Abu Seman Norhashimah , Gu Tianwei , Botusan Ileana Ruxandra , Sunkari Vivekananda Gupta , Lokman Ezarul Faradianna , Brismar Kerstin , Catrina Sergiu-Bogdan
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE

Hypoxia plays a major pathogenic role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). We have investigated in this study the effect of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α subunit (HIF1A) genetic polymorphisms on the development of DN.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In 1,165 American type 1 diabetic patients with and without DN selected from the Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes (GoKinD) study, the HIF1A genetic polymorphisms were genotyped with TaqMan allelic discrimination. The regulation of HIF-1α in the kidneys of diabetic mice was appreciated by immunohistochemistry, and the effect HIF1A Pro582Ser polymorphism on HIF-1α sensitivity to glucose was evaluated in vitro.

RESULTS

We identified a protective association between HIF1A Pro582Ser polymorphism and DN in male subjects. We also provided mechanistic insights that HIF-1α is repressed in the medulla of diabetic mice despite hypoxia and that Pro582Ser polymorphism confers less sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of glucose during a hypoxic challenge.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrates for the first time that HIF1A Pro582Ser polymorphism has an effect on DN, possibly by conferring a relative resistance to the repressive effect of glucose on HIF-1α.
LinDOS: A Linear Distraction Osteogenesis Simulation System for Maxillofacial Surgery Based on FEM
Authors: Feng Jun , Wang Xiao Dong , Feng Hong Wei , Shang Hong Tao
Published: September 2012

Developmental craniofacial deformity often has serious infection on the patient's chewing, language ability, swallowing, breathing and other related functions. Currently, internal and linear Distraction Osteogenesis (DO) are main surgery solutions of bone transportation and recovery in clinic. In this paper, we present a computer system called LinDOS for maxillofacial system reconstruction and visualization, maxillofacial tissues stress distribution analysis, as well as linear distraction osteogenesis simulation. Both design architecture and the function modules of the system are described in detail. The system can be employed as an assistant tool of maxillofacial preoperative planning and postoperative prediction for maxillofacial surgeons.
The Application of RFID Technology in the Dangerous Goods Logistics
Authors: Liu Yan , Li Chen , Pang Li Bao , Liu Yi
Published: September 2012

Dangerous Goods Logistics deals with the special kinds of objects, i.e. the hazardous article, which tend to be corrosive, spontaneous combustion, flammable, toxic, explosive and likely to cause some hurts and damage during the process of storage, transporting, handling and delivering and need to be treated extremely careful to ensure the special protection. It has to be implemented not only safely, but also to meet the needs of customers at the lowest cost. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is considered to be an advanced technology which offers the dangerous goods logistics a secure, scientific and effective means of management.
Alum Production from some Nigerian Kaolinite Deposits
Authors: Edomwonyi-Otu L.C. , Aderemi B.O. , Edomwonyi-Otu O. , Simo A. , Maaza M.
Published: September 2012

The Development of Sustainable Processing Technologies for the Vast Mineral Resources Available in Nigeria and their Varied Applications Is a Major Pursuit by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. in this Work, Alum Was Produced from Three Different Kaolin Deposits in Nigeria Namely Kankara Brown, Bauchi and Kankara White by Acid Dealumination of the Metakaolin Obtained by Calcination of the Beneficiated Kaolinites and the Yields Were Measured to Ascertain the Process Repeatability. the Reproducibility Studies Carried Out on Samples from each Deposit Showed a Mean Yield of 80 %, 92 % and 87 % and Standard Deviation of 2.50 %, 1.063 % and 1.296 %, for Kankara Brown, Bauchi and Kankara White Respectively. the Values from the Three Deposits Fall within 3 Standard Deviations of the Mean in Accordance with the 68-95-99.7/three-Sigma Rule. the Alum Quality Also Compares Well with Available Commercial Alums in the Market. BET Analysis, of the Alumina Obtained by Calcination of the Alum (Kankara White), Gave a Surface Area of 192.2441m2/g Comparable to Commercial Alumina. these Results Suggest/establishes the Huge Possibility of Commercial Alum Production, Including Alumina, Using Kaolinite Clay from these Deposits as Starting Materials.
Firm Productivity, Innovation, and Financial Development
Authors: Dabla-Norris Era , Kersting Erasmus K. , Verdier Geneviève
Published: September 2012

How do firm‐specific actions—in particular, innovation—affect firm productivity? What is the role of the financial sector in facilitating higher productivity? Using a rich firm‐level data set, we find that innovation is crucial for firm performance as it directly and measurably increases productivity. The impact of innovation on productivity is larger in less‐developed countries. Evidence of financial sector development influencing the innovation‐productivity link is weak, but the effect is difficult to identify due to correlation between indicators of a country's financial and nonfinancial development. Furthermore, we find evidence that the innovation effect on productivity is more significant for high‐tech firms than for low‐tech firms.
An improved electrical and thermal model of a microbolometer for electronic circuit simulation
Authors: Würfel D. , Vogt H.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. The need for uncooled infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPA) for imaging systems has increased since the beginning of the nineties. Examples for the application of IRFPAs are thermography, pedestrian detection for automotives, fire fighting, and infrared spectroscopy. It is very important to have a correct electro-optical model for the simulation of the microbolometer during the development of the readout integrated circuit (ROIC) used for IRFPAs. The microbolometer as the sensing element absorbs infrared radiation which leads to a change of its temperature due to a very good thermal insulation. In conjunction with a high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the sensing material (typical vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon) this temperature change results in a change of the electrical resistance. During readout, electrical power is dissipated in the microbolometer, which increases the temperature continuously. The standard model for the electro-optical simulation of a microbolometer includes the radiation emitted by an observed blackbody, radiation emitted by the substrate, radiation emitted by the microbolometer itself to the surrounding, a heat loss through the legs which connect the microbolometer electrically and mechanically to the substrate, and the electrical power dissipation during readout of the microbolometer (Wood, 1997). The improved model presented in this paper takes a closer look on additional radiation effects in a real IR camera system, for example the radiation emitted by the casing and the lens. The proposed model will consider that some parts of the radiation that is reflected from the casing and the substrate is also absorbed by the microbolometer. Finally, the proposed model will include that some fraction of the radiation is transmitted through the microbolometer at first and then absorbed after the reflection at the surface of the substrate. Compared to the standard model temperature and resistance of the microbolometer can be modelled more realistically when these higher order effects are taken into account. A Verilog-A model for electronic circuit simulations is developed based on the improved thermal model of the microbolometer. Finally, a simulation result of a simple circuit is presented.
Application of electrospray ionization product ion spectra for identification with atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry – a case study with seized drugs
Authors: Östman Pekka , Ketola Raimo A. , Ojanperä Ilkka
Published: September 2012

Product ion spectra obtained with liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI/MS/MS) were applied to the identification of seized drug samples from atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization product ion spectra (AP‐MALDI‐MS/MS spectra). Data acquisition was performed in the information‐dependent acquisition (IDA) mode, and the substance identification was based on a spectral library previously created with LC‐ESI/MS/MS using protonated molecules as precursor ions. A total of 39 seized drug samples were analyzed with both AP‐MALDI and LC‐ESI techniques using the same triple‐quadrupole instrument (AB Sciex 4000QTRAP). The study shows that ESI‐MS/MS spectra can be directly utilized in AP‐MALDI‐MS/MS measurements as the average fit and purity score percentages with AP‐MALDI were 90% and 85%, respectively, being similar to or even better than those obtained with the reference LC/ESI‐MS/MS method. This fact enables the possibility to use large ESI spectral libraries, not only to ESI analyses but also to analyses with other ionization techniques which produce protonated molecules as the base peak. The data obtained shows that spectral library search works also for analytical techniques which produce multi‐component mass spectra, such as AP‐MALDI, unless isobaric compounds are encountered. The spectral library search was successfully applied to rapid identification of confiscated drugs by AP‐MALDI‐IDA‐MS/MS. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Class, State and Property: Modernity and Capitalism in Turkey
Authors: Duzgun Eren
Published: September 2012

This paper argues that the class-based analyses that seek to make sense of the recent transformation of Turkish modernity rest on a pre-given duality between the state and the bourgeoisie. This not only jettisons the relational and temporal context in which classes define and articulate their interests, thereby leading to determinist explanations of various sorts, but also obscures the historical distinctiveness and mutual re-transformation of two different modes of socio-spatial organization, modernity and capitalism, in Turkey. Based on a novel historical materialist method known as Political Marxism, I suggest that re-conceptualizing class as property-relations sheds new light on the historical-comparative specificity of Turkish modernity, which, in turn, leads to a radical re-interpretation of Turkey’s recent transformation.
An examination of psychological contracts, careerism and ITL
Authors: Hamilton Sigrid M. , von Treuer Kathryn
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationships between elements of the psychological contract (i.e. type and fulfilment) and an employee's intention to leave (ITL) their current organisation. The role of careerism as a potential mediating and moderating variable is also to be explored.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 202 allied health professionals (AHPs) completed a questionnaire containing measures of the psychological contract, careerism and ITL.

Findings

As predicted, path analyses conducted via structural equation modelling demonstrated that careerism partially mediates the relationship between contract types and ITL. These findings suggest that employees with transactional contracts are more careerist, resulting in higher ITL, while employees with relational contracts are less careerist, resulting in lower ITL. Contrary to expectation, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that careerism failed to moderate the relationship between perceived contract fulfillment and ITL. However, a strong positive association between contract fulfillment and ITL was found.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected cross‐sectionally, which limits the ability to make causal inferences.

Practical implications

Results were consistent with the proposition that contract type and fulfillment explain employee ITL. It appears that employees with relational contracts are more likely to remain with their organization on a longer‐term basis, compared to employees with transactional contracts, due to differences in career motives. Organizational awareness and understanding of employee psychological contracts and career motives is needed.

Originality/value

This paper provides new theoretical and practical insights on how psychological contracts and careerism can influence ITL among AHPs.
An analytical study of the financial intelligence units' enforcement mechanisms
Authors: Al‐Rashdan Mohammad
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse financial intelligence units' (FIUs') approaches in enforcing compliance and how these units can ensure the application of the most effective enforcement mechanism to secure the best outcome of such regulatory action.

Design/methodology/approach

Sources of information consisted of scholarly books, papers and published articles through the web.

Findings

FIUs should not concentrate on adopting a purely cooperative style (in terms of soft sanctions) or take the opposite approach and be a tough regulator (applying harsh sanctions on non‐compliant reporting entities). Rather, a more qualitative approach should be adopted, individually tailoring the approach on the basis of an examination of the FIUs' findings on entity non‐compliance, and how it can best operate its mechanism so as to ensure those entities comply effectively with their AML/CTF obligations.

Originality/value

This article serves as a fruitful analysis to educate FIUs' personnel, AML/CTF professionals, and reporting entities in terms of achieving the highest level of compliance with AML/CTF laws and regulation. Some studies have discussed FIU enforcement mechanisms generally but, to the best of the author's knowledge, the analytical study of different FIUs' enforcement mechanisms and how to achieve the most effective results to secure compliance is yet to be externally or independently researched and evaluated.
“Happily independent” – configuring the Gwent frailty support and wellbeing worker
Authors: Barber Kevin , Wallace Carolyn
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This article aims to report on the configuration of the integrated Support and Wellbeing Worker (SWB) role in an innovative Gwent Frailty programme from 2009 until 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

The health and social care Gwent Frailty programme used a configuration approach by adopting “frailty” as its unifying theme across the seven agencies involved. In order to configure this role, the Frailty Workforce Group (FWG) identified three tasks; staff engagement, identifying the SWB worker training needs, and scoping the employment options for the new role.

Findings

For others facing the same challenges there are three key principles. The first is that having a unifying concept underpinned by the commissioned “Happily independent” study legitimately enabled the FWG to deliver on its three tasks identified by the Frailty Board. The second was that time spent on early staff and trade union engagement gave positive messages about their value within the role configuration. Finally, that developing an integrated role meant that core training and development had to be consistent so that registered staff were confident they could delegate safely.

Originality/value

The number of articles on developing an integrated support worker role in health and social care is sparse. The value of this article is that it reports on the configuration of an innovative new integrated health and social care role working with frail people. This was based on what older people wanted from services in order to be “happily independent”.
Are informed traders reluctant to bear price risk or execution risk?
Authors: Garvey Ryan , Wu Fei
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine US equity traders’ use of market orders versus price contingent orders with respect to information content.

Design/methodology/approach

Price changes following market and price contingent order submissions are analysed.

Findings

It is found that prices rise (decline) after the submission of market buy (sell) orders; whereas, prices decline (rise) after the submission of price contingent buy (sell) orders. Aggressively priced limit orders (i.e. marketable limit orders) convey information, but they are not more informative than market orders. Traders who transact in smaller quantities, engage in more short‐selling, and frequently achieve better performance are more likely to use market orders.

Originality/value

In contrast to prior studies, the paper's findings suggest that, when executing orders, informed traders have a preference for bearing a price rather than an execution risk.
Morphology of the female reproductive system and reproductive cycle of the mangrove land crab Ucides cordatus (L.) in the Baía de Antonina, Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Castilho‐Westphal Gisela G. , Ostrensky Antonio , Pie Marcio R. , Boeger Walter A.
Published: September 2012

Ucides cordatus is a species of considerable ecological and socioeconomic importance. The goal of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the reproduction biology of this species by describing the macroscopic anatomy, the histology of the female reproductive system and the reproductive cycle of U. cordatus. A total of 367 females were obtained from October of 2002 to March of 2005 during monthly collections in the Baía de Antonina, Paraná, Brazil. Specimens were submitted to necropsy and their reproductive systems (ovary and spermathecae) were analysed histologically. Permanent slides were stained with Harris' hematoxylin and eosin, Mallory's trichromic and the periodic acid‐Schiff reaction. Ovarian analysis allowed for the determination of five developmental stages based on the prevalence of oocytes in different phases of vitellogenesis. During stage V, when ovaries recover from spawning, the presence of oocytes in advanced stages of vitellogenesis was detected, suggesting that there could be more than one spawning in a single reproductive period. Females in stage IV were most common in the spring (November through February), whereas females with their egg mass exposed were most frequent from November through March. The reproductive period of U. cordatus in mangroves of the study region occurred from October to March. The reproductive events observed in the present study suggest that spermatophores acquired during copulation, which takes place during the ‘andada’, are only used in the reproductive period of the following year.
Recurrent nodules in a periauricular plaque‐type blue nevus with fatal outcome
Authors: Held Laura , Metzler Gisela , Eigentler Thomas K. , Leiter Ulrike , Messina Jane , Gogel Jeannette , Bauer Juergen , Garbe Claus
Published: September 2012

Plaque‐type blue nevus is a rare variant of blue nevus characterized by grouped nodules displaying histomorphological features of a cellular blue nevus. We report the clinical, histopathologic and immunohistologic features of a patient with recurrent nodules in a periauricular plaque‐type blue nevus with malignant transformation and fatal outcome. The nevus was characterized clinically by childhood onset, with slow enlargement during adolescence. At age 16, the patient presented with nodules located retroauricularly. Several surgical excisions with the intent of complete removal of the nodules and the nevus were performed. Histopathological, dermal and subcutaneous proliferations of pigmented melanocytes with melanophages were detected. The nodules showed some cellular atypia and few mitotic figures, (Ki67 estimated <1%). At age 20, the patient developed new nodules retroauricular, with histopathology similar to previous lesions; however, the proliferation rate was higher. A comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) showed chromosomal changes indicative of melanoma. At age 25, the patient developed multiple liver metastases and died after 4 weeks. A sequencing of the tumor DNA revealed a GNAQ Q209P mutation, whereas mutations of GNA11, BRAF, NRAS and cKIT were not detected. This case shows that nodules in plaque‐type blue nevus may have malignant potential which may be uncovered by CGH.
Factors related to post‐operative metabolic acidosis following major abdominal surgery
Authors: Park Chi‐Min , Chun Ho‐Kyung , Jeon Kyeongman , Suh Gee Young , Choi Dong Wook , Kim Sung
Published: September 2012

Background

Metabolic acidosis is frequently observed in perioperative patients, especially those who undergo major surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors related to post‐operative metabolic acidosis and to attempt to identify the clinical effect of metabolic acidosis following major abdominal surgery.

Methods

We included 172 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) following major abdominal surgery. All cases were divided into either the acidosis or the normal group using immediate post‐operative standard base excess (SBE). The following clinical data were retrospectively obtained from the chart and ICU database: basic clinical characteristics, operative data, type and volume of fluid infused during the operation, post‐operative arterial blood gas analysis, lactate, and central venous oxygen saturation.

Results

The predominant intraoperative fluid was either 0.9% saline or lactated Ringer's solution. The operation length, estimated blood loss, total fluid infused, total saline infused, lactate and corrected chloride were significantly higher in the acidosis group; however, central venous oxygen saturation was lower in the normal group. Among these factors, total infused saline and lactate level were independent factors related to metabolic acidosis. The comparison between the types of fluid revealed that the saline group had a significantly lower SBE, strong ion difference and higher corrected chloride. SBE was significantly correlated with lactate and total infused saline. ICU and hospital length of stay were significantly longer in the acidosis group.

Conclusions

Post‐operative metabolic acidosis following major abdominal surgery was closely related to both hyperchloremic acidosis associated with large saline infusion and lactic acidosis caused by lactataemia.
The nurture teacher: characteristics, challenges and training
Authors: Syrnyk Corinne
Published: September 2012

The nurture approach is a form of educational intervention for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). Utilising a unique example of a state‐run, special ‘nurturing’ primary school, Corinne Syrnyk, of St Mary's University College, Calgary, presents a case study of the experience of being a ‘nurture teacher’ in this distinctive environment. Findings suggest that nurture teachers value their role and are fulfilled by the challenge it presents. Nurture teachers tended to define their role according to personal qualities and described experiential learning as tantamount to the training process. This study illustrates the holistic approach adopted by nurture teachers and sheds light on the distinguishing features and experiences of nurture teachers. Implications for best practice concerning the support and training of existing and potential nurture teachers are discussed.
AlfredNewton's contribution to ornithology: a conservative quest for facts rather than grand theories
Authors: Birkhead Tim R. , Gallivan Peter T.
Published: September 2012

AlfredNewton (1829–1907) was a founding member of theBritishOrnithologists’Union, served as editor ofTheIbis, and became one of the best‐knownBritish ornithologists of the nineteenth‐century. Between 1855 and 1864 he travelled inEurope andNorthAmerica, making a trip toIceland in 1858 withJohnWolley in search of information about theGreatAukPinguinus impennis. In 1866Newton obtained the chair ofZoology andComparativeZoology at theUniversity ofCambridge, where he remained for rest of his career. An unenthusiastic teacher,Newton nevertheless encouraged successive generations of young ornithologists through the soirées he held in his college rooms. Newton published extensively, but his most significant publication was theDictionary ofBirds(1896). Newton's death marked the beginning of the end of a long period in which scientific ornithology comprised little more than taxonomy and nomenclature, although Newton was also instrumental in initiating conservation legislation. Extremely conservative in most aspects of his life,Newton was nevertheless the first ornithologist to appreciate the significance of natural selection. He therefore constitutes an important figure in an era of ornithology that immediately precedes the current interest in field ornithology.
A Photogrammetric Technique for Acquiring Accurate Head Surfaces of Newborn Infants for Optical Tomography Under Clinical Conditions
Authors: Abreu de Souza Mauren , Robson Stuart , Hebden Jeremy C.
Published: September 2012

Optical tomography (OT) generates 3D images that can be used to monitor blood volume and oxygenation in the brains of newborn infants safely and non‐invasively at the bedside. OT image reconstruction requires that source optical fibres and detector bundles (optodes) are brought into optical contact with the head and that the scalp surface geometry and optode positions for each individual infant are accurately known. The photogrammetric challenge is to create affordable tools that can be employed on newborn, and often severely ill, infants in an intensive care environment with a minimum level of intrusion. The paper describes the application and development of a system capable of mapping each individual infant head surface in the clinic and coordinating optode positions and orientations during optical tomography scans. The system developed includes a combination of stereo and multi‐photo photogrammetry with a pair of digital SLR cameras and a laser dot projector. A bundle adjustment of the sequential stereo‐image pairs is used to generate accurate head meshes that are combined with a photogrammetric network of images from a single camera to bring optodes mounted on a deformable helmet structure into a common coordinate system. This data can then be used in the 3D reconstruction of blood flow in the infant head.
Automatic ICP‐Based Global Matching of Free‐Form Linear Features
Authors: Vassilaki Dimitra I. , Ioannidis Charalambos C. , Stamos Athanassios A.
Published: September 2012

The geometric exploitation of linear features has been investigated in various remote sensing and geospatial problems. This paper introduces a novel and general method based on the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm for the global matching of heterogeneous free‐form linear features of the same (2D–2D, 3D–3D), or different, (2D–3D) dimensionality. No constraints are imposed on either the transformation, the projection type or the geometric nature of the features. The method assumes no prior knowledge of the relative position of the features, or of point correspondences, and is tested with various simulated and real‐world heterogeneous data.