bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
India’s Economy
Authors: Malone David M.
Published: January 2015

This chapter examines the impact of India’s economy on its foreign policy since its independence in 1947. The first half deals with India’s economic development, and is divided into three periods: desperate times in the wake of the Raj (1947–66); autocracy and socialism (1966–90); and reforms, globalization, and growing global interdependence (1990 onwards). The second half considers how evolving economic patterns and relationships have affected India’s foreign policy and its ties with major partners. The chapter concludes that Indian foreign policy has shifted from the primacy of politics and geostrategic considerations to a new emphasis on economic interests and ties.
The Sino–Indian Relationship
Authors: Malone David M.
Published: January 2015

This chapter analyses India’s relationship with China. It first sketches the history of the current and more recent relationship between the two countries and outlines the thematic issues on which they have agreed and disagreed. It then weighs the prospects for future conflict against the prospects for future cooperation. One conclusion arising from this narrative is that a deeper understanding of each other’s domestic compulsions and state-society relations would help identify and defuse potential sources of conflict before they get out of hand. Both countries have also done a creditable job of avoiding unwarranted antagonism and adventurism in their engagement with the other.
India’s East and Southeast Asia Policy
Authors: Malone David M.
Published: January 2015

This chapter examines India’s policy towards the rest of the East and Southeast Asia, including the Southeast Asian nations, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and China. It describes India’s robust economic ties with South Korea; its cordial but substantively sub-par relationship with Japan; and the complex and rapidly developing relations India has with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes several free trade arrangements and ‘strategic partnerships’. The chapter concludes that India enjoys a ‘soft power’ pull in relations with many Asian nations. But the region is unsentimental and to meet India’s expectations demands more Indian engagement than habitually provided by Delhi.
The Evolution of Indian Multilateralism
Authors: Malone David M.
Published: January 2015

This chapter first traces the evolution of India’s approach to multilateralism over the last six decades. It then focuses on four substantive fields of foreign policy or forums of significance to its multilateral stance during this period of global (and Indian) transition and flux: the United Nations Security Council; the World Trade Organization and its Doha Round negotiations culminating in 2008; international efforts to combat climate change; and some emerging international groupings of states in which India is playing an active role or seeking to.
Conclusions
Authors: Malone David M.
Published: January 2015

This concluding chapter highlights a number of patterns and trends that emerged from the preceding chapters. It isolates a few specific issues, mostly regional ones (Kashmir, Afghanistan, China) and management of the economy, that are likely to remain troublesome for some time. It speculates on the kind of power India might turn into and whether it can avoid sharing the burden of managing the global commons and providing other international goods.
The Change from Within
Authors: Vardi Gil-li
Published: January 2015

This chapter examines the generators of change in the way war is waged and the conditions without which change — whether intended, incidental, or even undesired — is not likely to take place. Using the German army of the interwar era as an example, it considers military culture as a mediator of external pressures for change and technology as a generator of change. It also compares the German experience with another army that faced tremendous political and economic transformations in the interwar era — the Red Army.
‘Killing is Easy’
Authors: DeGroot Gerard J.
Published: January 2015

This chapter analyses the impact of the atom bomb on war. It suggests that over the long term, the most important impact of the bomb appears to be its seminal role in making killing easy. In other words, its true importance might lie in the fact that it represented a final surrender to barbarity — a climactic assertion of the right of a nation to slaughter civilians for purposes of national security.
The Changing Character of Civil Wars, 1800–2009
Authors: Kalyvas Stathis N.
Published: January 2015

This chapter surveys civil wars in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, tracing the evolution of civil wars over time — both empirically and intellectually. It examines the broad outlines of their military characteristics (‘how they were fought on the ground’), as well as the way in which they have been described and understood by observers and participants alike. It argues that the way in which civil wars were fought is closely related to how they were understood and conceptualized.
Crime versus War
Authors: Reno William
Published: January 2015

This chapter analyses different uses of violence, in particular how political actors have used violence to assert their authority in pre-conflict regimes and once competition for power has grown fiercer. It connects the interests of these political actors and the constraints that they impose on each other with the personal interests and motivations of individuals. The study refrains from making judgements about what is ‘crime’ or ‘war’ and focuses instead on the circumstances that shape how people use violence when states collapse. It also provides testable hypotheses. For example, are there regime insiders who come to use protective violence in ways that apply to people who are not their immediate ethnic kinsmen? Are there regime outsiders who resort to plunder, and what happens to them?
Who Fights?—A Comparative Demographic Depiction of Terrorists and Insurgents in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
Authors: Hoffman Bruce
Published: January 2015

This chapter sheds light on several key aspects of terrorism and insurgency that have remained remarkably constant over time. Indeed, a comparison of today’s terrorists and insurgents with their predecessors shows that very little has changed in the demographics, socio-economic backgrounds, education, and recruitment, that have always driven men and women into these realms of political violence.
The Civilian in Modern War
Authors: Roberts Adam
Published: January 2015

This chapter argues that the widely held view that civilians are worse off in today’s wars is flawed. It explores changes in the past two centuries in the roles and perceptions of the civilian. It questions the oft-repeated statistics showing an increase in the ratio of civilian to military casualties. It suggests that in the laws of war (also called international humanitarian law), there have been advances in internationally agreed standards of protection of civilians from the effects of war, and that in practice something has been achieved under the auspices of the United Nations and humanitarian relief bodies. Despite the problems encountered in the protection of civilians, such protection will remain an important aspect of international attempts to limit the effects of war.
Killing Civilians
Authors: Steinhoff Uwe
Published: January 2015

This chapter begins by distinguishing between civilians and combatants from a moral point of view. It argues that none of the available theories motivating this distinction can support the idea that soldiers are inherently more legitimate targets of attack than civilians. It then discusses whether the foreseen killing of someone is, all else being equal, morally less bad than their intentional killing. It argues that it is not, and that therefore the idea that concomitant slaughter (another term for collateral damage) is not, all else being equal, as bad as terrorism is mistaken.
The Challenge of the Child Soldier
Authors: Goodwin-Gill Guy S.
Published: January 2015

This chapter discusses present and emerging legal issues concerning child soldiers. It covers international laws on the protection of children; the reasons behind children’s involvement in armed conflict; consolidation and change in the legal framework governing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict; the child soldiers of Sierra Leone; involvement of the UN Security Council; and UNICEF and the development of best practices.
American Strategic Culture
Authors: Echevarria II Antulio J.
Published: January 2015

This chapter examines the concept of American strategic culture and what is assumed to be its ‘subset and product’ — the American way of war. Scholars have yet to reach a consensus on a set of characteristics that define American strategic culture. One can, nonetheless, find traits repeated in the literature. These include a preference for fighting wars as battles; a fascination with technology, also known as technological romanticism; and casualty aversion. The chapter also considers another trait — the American penchant for theorizing when it comes to military affairs — which has been overlooked by scholars of American strategic culture.
Conclusion
Authors: Barkawi Tarak , Brighton Shane
Published: January 2015

The changing character of war concerns relations between the transformation of polities and societies through war and the effects of those transformations on war itself. This chapter begins with the observation that knowledge about war is caught up in these transformations, in this field of relations between war, politics, and society. It focuses on the relationship between war and knowledge about war, and offers a view of the impact of the changing character of war on war studies. It suggests that the nature of war poses special epistemological difficulties that, among other effects, deprive war studies of the kinds of foundational problematics and objects of inquiry around which scholarly disciplines and projects develop.
A review of impacts of marine dredging activities on marine mammals
Authors: Todd Victoria L. G. , Todd Ian B. , Gardiner Jane C. , Morrin Erica C. N. , MacPherson Nicola A. , DiMarzio Nancy A. , Thomsen Frank
Published: January 2015

Marine dredging is an excavation activity carried out worldwide by many industries. Concern about the impact dredging has on marine life, including marine mammals (cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sirenians) exists, but effects are largely unknown. Through consulting available literature, this review aims to expand on existing knowledge of the direct and indirect, negative and positive impacts on marine mammals. In terms of direct effects, collisions are possible, but unlikely, given the slow speed of dredgers. Noise emitted is broadband, with most energy below 1 kHz and unlikely to cause damage to marine mammal auditory systems, but masking and behavioural changes are possible. Sediment plumes are generally localized, and marine mammals reside often in turbid waters, so significant impacts from turbidity are improbable. Entrainment, habitat degradation, noise, contaminant remobilization, suspended sediments, and sedimentation can affect benthic, epibenthic, and infaunal communities, which may impact marine mammals indirectly through changes to prey. Eggs and larvae are at highest risk from entrainment, so dredging in spawning areas can be detrimental, but effects are minimized through the use of environmental windows. Sensitive environments such as seagrass beds are at risk from smothering, removal, or damage, but careful planning can reduce degradation. Assessing impacts of contaminant remobilization is difficult, but as long as contaminated sediments are disposed of correctly, remobilization is limited in space and time. Effects of suspended sediments and sedimentation are species-specific, but invertebrates, eggs, and larvae are most vulnerable. Positive effects, including an increase in food, result from greater nutrient loads, but are often short term. Dredging has the potential to impact marine mammals, but effects are species and location-specific, varying also with dredging equipment type. In general, evidence suggests that if management procedures are implemented, effects are most likely to be masking and short-term behavioural alterations and changes to prey availability.
Heart of darkness: dust obscuration of the central stellar component in globular clusters younger than ∼100 Myr in multiple stellar population models
Authors: Longmore S. N.
Published: January 2015

To explain the observed anomalies in stellar populations within globular clusters, many globular cluster formation theories require two independent episodes of star formation. A fundamental prediction of these models is that the clusters must accumulate large gas reservoirs as the raw material to form the second stellar generation. We show that young clusters containing the required gas reservoir should exhibit the following observational signatures: (i) a dip in the measured luminosity profile or an increase in measured reddening towards the cluster centre, with AV > 10 mag within a radius of a few pc; (ii) bright (sub)mm emission from dust grains; (iii) bright molecular line emission once the gas is dense enough to begin forming stars. Unless the initial mass function is anomalously skewed towards low-mass stars, the clusters should also show obvious signs of star formation via optical emission lines (e.g. Hα) after the stars have formed. These observational signatures should be readily observable towards any compact clusters (radii of a few pc) in the nearby Universe with masses ≳106 Mȯ and ages ≲100 Myr. This provides a straightforward way to directly test globular cluster formation models which predict large gas reservoirs are required to form the second stellar generation. The fact that no such observational evidence exists calls into question whether such a mechanism happens regularly for young massive clusters in galaxies within a few tens of Mpc.
Classification of Rice Based on Statistical Analysis of Pasting Properties and Apparent Amylose Content: The Case of Oryza glaberrima Accessions from Africa
Authors: Gayin Joseph , Chandi Gurpreet Kaur , Manful John , Seetharaman Koushik
Published: January 2015

The diversity of 1,020 Oryza glaberrima rice accessions being kept at the Genetic Resources Unit of the Africa Rice Center with a varied range of apparent amylose content (AAC) and pasting properties was explored with cluster analysis. Rice cultivars are usually characterized according to grain dimensions, AACs, and gelatinization temperatures; however, this work focused on grouping African rice accessions based on their pasting properties and AAC. Using the Ward method of hierarchical cluster analysis, 1,020 rice accessions were initially distributed into five major clusters and further into 23 subclusters. The distribution pattern indicated that clusters I, II, III, IV, and V formed 27.6, 10.2, 15.8, 23.7, and 22.6% of the entire population, respectively. Although some of the groups had similar AAC, their pasting properties were very different, making it imperative for further investigations. Peak viscosity highly correlated (P < 0.01) with trough, breakdown, and final viscosities in all five clusters, whereas correlation between peak viscosity and AAC was not significant within clusters II and IV. Additionally, this categorization serves as a tool for exploring materials that can be employed in the development of rice cultivars for specific end uses.
Notification that new names of prokaryotes, new combinations, and new taxonomic opinions have appeared in volume 64, part 10, of the IJSEM
Authors: Oren Aharon , Garrity George M.
Published: January 2015

This listing of names of prokaryotes published in a previous issue of the IJSEM is provided as a service to bacteriology to assist in the recognition of new names and new combinations. This procedure was proposed by the Judicial Commission [Minute 11(ii), Int J Syst Bacteriol 41 (1991), p. 185]. The names given herein are listed according to the Rules of priority (i.e. page number and order of valid publication of names in the original articles).
List of new names and new combinations previously effectively, but not validly, published
Authors: Oren Aharon , Garrity George M.
Published: January 2015

The purpose of this announcement is to effect the valid publication of the following effectively published new names and new combinations under the procedure described in the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). Authors and other individuals wishing to have new names and/or combinations included in future lists should send three copies of the pertinent reprint or photocopies thereof, or an electronic copy of the published paper to the IJSEM Editorial Office for confirmation that all of the other requirements for valid publication have been met. It is also a requirement of IJSEM and the ICSP that authors of new species, new subspecies and new combinations provide evidence that types are deposited in two recognized culture collections in two different countries. It should be noted that the date of valid publication of these new names and combinations is the date of publication of this list, not the date of the original publication of the names and combinations. The authors of the new names and combinations are as given below. Inclusion of a name on these lists validates the publication of the name and thereby makes it available in the nomenclature of prokaryotes. The inclusion of a name on this list is not to be construed as taxonomic acceptance of the taxon to which the name is applied. Indeed, some of these names may, in time, be shown to be synonyms, or the organisms may be transferred to another genus, thus necessitating the creation of a new combination.
The status of the species Hyphomonas rosenbergii Weiner et al. 2000. Request for an Opinion
Authors: Lai Qiliang , Li Chongping , Shao Zongze
Published: January 2015

On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and several key phenotypic features, it was ascertained that the culture cited as the type strain of the species

Hyphomonas rosenbergii

, ATCC 43869T, does not conform to the description of the species, [Weiner, R. M., Melick, M., O’Neill, K. & Quintero, E. (2000). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50, 459–469]. The type strain does not exist in any other established culture collection or with the authors who described this species. Therefore, it cannot be included in any scientific study. It is proposed that the Judicial Commission place the name

Hyphomonas rosenbergii

on the list of rejected names if a suitable replacement type strain is not found or a neotype is not proposed within two years following the publication of this Request for an Opinion.
Charge density investigations on [2,2]-paracyclophane – in data we trust
Authors: Wolf Hilke , Jørgensen Mads R. V. , Chen Yu-Sheng , Herbst-Irmer Regine , Stalke Dietmar
Published: January 2015

Four datasets on [2,2]-paracyclophane were collected in-house and at the Advanced Photon Source at two different temperatures for charge density investigation. Global data quality indicators such as high resolution, highI/σ(I) values, low mergingRvalues and high multiplicity were matched for all four datasets. The structural parameters did not show significant differences, but the synchrotron data depicted deficiencies in the topological analysis. In retrospect these deficiencies could be assigned to the low quality of the innermost data, which could have been identified bye.g.mergingRvalues for only these reflections. In the multipole refinement these deficiencies could be monitored usingDRK-plotand residual density analysis. In this particular example the differences in the topological parameters were relatively small but significant.
Converted‐wave beam migration with sparse sources or receivers
Authors: Casasanta Lorenzo , Gray Samuel H.
Published: January 2015

Gaussian beam depth migration overcomes the single‐wavefront limitation of most implementations of Kirchhoff migration and provides a cost‐effective alternative to full‐wavefield imaging methods such as reverse‐time migration. Common‐offset beam migration was originally derived to exploit symmetries available in marine towed‐streamer acquisition. However, sparse acquisition geometries, such as cross‐spread and ocean bottom, do not easily accommodate requirements for common‐offset, common‐azimuth (or common‐offset‐vector) migration. Seismic data interpolation or regularization can be used to mitigate this problem by forming well‐populated common‐offset‐vector volumes. This procedure is computationally intensive and can, in the case of converted‐wave imaging with sparse receivers, compromise the final image resolution. As an alternative, we introduce a common‐shot (or common‐receiver) beam migration implementation, which allows migration of datasets rich in azimuth, without any regularization pre‐processing required. Using analytic, synthetic, and field data examples, we demonstrate that converted‐wave imaging of ocean‐bottom‐node data benefits from this formulation, particularly in the shallow subsurface where regularization for common‐offset‐vector migration is both necessary and difficult.
Impact of off‐farm income on food expenditures in rural Bangladesh: an unconditional quantile regression approach
Authors: Mishra Ashok K. , Mottaleb Kh. A. , Mohanty Samarendu
Published: January 2015

This study examines the effects of off‐farm income on food expenditures of rural Bangladeshi households. Our analysis yields unbiased estimates of the unconditional impact of off‐farm income on food expenditures and reveals the heterogeneous effects that occur across the distribution of total food consumption expenditures. The findings suggest that the impacts of off‐farm income are uniformly positive across the unconditional quantile regression and significantly increase food consumption expenditures for all quantiles, except for the 25th quantile. In addition, we found that schooling, experience, and location of the household increase the food expenditures of rural households. Most importantly, this article argues that female‐headed rural households in which the female works off the farm tend to have significantly lower food expenditures.
The different surrogate measures of adiposity in relation to semen quality and serum reproductive hormone levels among Estonian fertile men
Authors: Ehala‐Aleksejev K. , Punab M.
Published: January 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the relations of basic semen parameters and reproductive hormones with different surrogate measures of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC) and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR). Standard semen analysis was performed and serum levels of reproductive hormones were measured in 260 male partners of pregnant women at a university hospital andrology centres in Estonia. Quartile analysis revealed that all adiposity markers were negatively related to sex hormone‐binding globulin and total testosterone levels. After adjustment for covariates a high BF%, WC and WHtR were negatively associated with total sperm count. The BF% was also negatively related to semen volume. These significant changes occurred from a BF% ≥ 23.4%, WC > 98 cm and WHtR > 0.54. Next to these changes the BMI was not related to sperm parameters. This study shows that semen quality is affected by central adiposity and confirms earlier findings that adiposity markedly changes serum sex hormone levels. Further studies are required to find out what is the best body composition marker showing most clearly the relationships between adiposity, semen characteristics and sex hormone levels.
Is a CIS phenotype apparent in children with Disorders of Sex Development? Milder testicular dysgenesis is associated with a higher risk of malignancy
Authors: Chemes H. E. , Venara M. , del Rey G. , Arcari A. J. , Musse M. P. , Papazian R. , Forclaz V. , Gottlieb S.
Published: January 2015

All malignant testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) of adult men are preceded by an in situ stage (CIS) of protracted evolution. The adult CIS is well characterized, but there is debate on the phenotype of infantile CIS, its distinction from delayed maturation of germ cells and prognostic potential. A large series of 43 patients with Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) and dysgenetic testes (90% ranging from neonates to 12 years, mean age 4.7 years), was studied by quantifying dysgenetic features, degree of germ cell abnormalities/atypia (GCA), expression of OCT 3/4 (a pluripotency‐undifferentiation marker), germ cell ploidy and evolution to CIS and invasive TGCT. Findings were compared with those of normal testes. The type of gonads present defined three groups of patients: bilateral testes (BT‐DSD, n = 21), one testis and one streak gonad (CT‐DSD, C for combined, n = 13), and ovarian‐testicular combinations (OT‐DSD, n = 9). There were 5 boys with infantile CIS, bilateral in 3 (total of 8 infantile CIS) and two patients with adult CIS, bilateral in one (total of 3 adult CIS). Two patients had bilateral seminomas one at 12–17 and the other at 23 years. Histological dysgenesis was significantly higher in CT‐DSD (p < 0.05), that had only 1 CIS. The highest frequency of GCA was in BT‐DSD (p < 0.05), which coincided with a total of 11CIS + Seminomas. In all patients, aneuploidy was significantly higher (63%) than diploidy (p < 0.02), and GCA were more frequent in aneuploid than in diploid samples (p < 0.02). All CIS and TGCT were OCT 3/4 positive. Finally, there was a significant association between the triad Aneuploidy + GCA + OCT 3/4 positivity and the incidence of CIS (Fisher Exact test p < 0.002, relative risk 7.0). The degree of testicular dysgenesis (derived from abnormal organization of Sertoli cells in fetal testicular cords) is inversely related to the incidence of CIS. Our data demonstrate that the combined use of OCT 3/4 expression, quantification of germ cell abnormalities‐atypia and ploidy in dysgenetic testes can satisfactorily identify infantile CIS with high risk of malignant evolution and set it aside from delayed germ cell maturation with lower or nil neoplastic potential.
Electromyographically recorded patellar reflex in normotensive pregnant women and patients with preeclampsia
Authors: Brussé Ingrid A. , Visser Gerhard H. , van der Marel Imke C. , Facey‐Vermeiden Sharon , Steegers Eric A.P. , Duvekot Johannes J.
Published: January 2015

Objective

To define reference values of the patellar reflex in normotensive pregnant and postpartum women and to compare these with values in women with preeclampsia.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital in the Netherlands.

Population

Normotensive non‐pregnant women, pregnant women and preeclamptic women.

Methods

In normotensive pregnant women the patellar reflex was cross‐sectionally recorded using surface electromyography at four time points during pregnancy and six to eight weeks postpartum. In non‐pregnant normotensive women this was recorded once. Preeclamptic women were recorded during pregnancy and postpartum.

Main outcome measures

Latency and amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the patellar reflex.

Results

Latency and amplitude of the compound muscle action potential during normotensive pregnancies showed no changes compared with the non‐pregnant state during reproductive age. Latency of the compound muscle action potential was increased in pregnancies with severe preeclampsia compared with normotensive pregnancies. These differences disappeared postpartum.

Conclusions

During pregnancy, the patellar reflex can be assessed using surface electromyography. Latency and amplitude show no changes during normotensive pregnancies and are no different from the postpartum or non‐pregnant values. In severely preeclamptic women, latency is increased. The clinical value of this is limited.
Cycloplegic refraction is the gold standard for epidemiological studies
Authors: Morgan Ian G. , Iribarren Rafael , Fotouhi Akbar , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: January 2015

Many studies on children have shown that lack of cycloplegia is associated with slight overestimation of myopia and marked errors in estimates of the prevalence of emmetropia and hyperopia. Non‐cycloplegic refraction is particularly problematic for studies of associations with risk factors. The consensus around the importance of cycloplegia in children left undefined at what age, if any, cycloplegia became unnecessary. It was often implicitly assumed that cycloplegia is not necessary beyond childhood or early adulthood, and thus, the protocol for the classical studies of refraction in older adults did not include cycloplegia. Now that population studies of refractive error are beginning to fill the gap between schoolchildren and older adults, whether cycloplegia is required for measuring refractive error in this age range, needs to be defined. Data from the Tehran Eye Study show that, without cycloplegia, there are errors in the estimation of myopia, emmetropia and hyperopia in the age range 20–50, just as in children. Similar results have been reported in an analysis of data from the Beaver Dam Offspring Eye Study. If the only important outcome measure of a particular study is the prevalence of myopia, then cycloplegia may not be crucial in some cases. But, without cycloplegia, measurements of other refractive categories as well as spherical equivalent are unreliable. In summary, the current evidence suggests that cycloplegic refraction should be considered as the gold standard for epidemiological studies of refraction, not only in children, but in adults up to the age of 50.
Flicker electroretinograms before and after intravitreal ranibizumab injection in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Yasuda Shunsuke , Kachi Shu , Ueno Shinji , Piao Chang‐Hua , Terasaki Hiroko
Published: January 2015

Purpose

To compare the amplitudes and implicit times of the flicker electroretinograms before and after an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) in eyes with a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 15 consecutive patients who had macular oedema secondary to CRVO and had received an IVR at the Nagoya University Hospital from November 2013 to July 2014. Flicker ERGs were recorded with both the RETeval™ system and a conventional ERG system before the IVR. One month after the IVR, recordings were repeated with only the RETeval™ system.

Results

The mean implicit times of the flicker ERGs of the affected eyes recorded with the RETeval™ system were significantly longer than that of the fellow eyes (32.2 ± 2.6 msec versus 28.1 ± 1.2 msec, p < 0.001). One month after the IVR, the implicit times of the flicker ERGs of affected eyes were significantly shortened from 32.2 ± 2.6 to 30.6 ± 2.2 msec (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The shortening of the implicit times of the flicker ERGs after the IVR indicates an improvement of retinal function after anti‐VEGF therapy for CRVO eyes.
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome treated with single‐incision laparoscopy‐assisted duodenojejunostomy
Authors: Shinji Seiichi , Matsumoto Satoshi , Kan Hayato , Fujita Itsuo , Kanazawa Yoshikazu , Yamada Takeshi , Hagiwara Nobutoshi , Koizumi Michihiro , Onodera Hiroyuki , Ko Kazuhide , Machida Tadashi , Uchida Eiji
Published: January 2015

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is an uncommon disease resulting from compression and partial obstruction of the third portion of the duodenum from the SMA. A 77‐year‐old man, who did not have a history of surgery, experienced repeated vomiting and developed abdominal distension. Abdominal CT showed a narrowed third portion of the duodenum, with a distended stomach and proximal duodenum. The patient was diagnosed as having SMA syndrome and was initially treated conservatively, but his condition did not improve. Single‐incision laparoscopy‐assisted duodenojejunostomy was performed. The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital on postoperative day 8. Laparoscopic treatment is feasible for the treatment of SMA syndrome given its safety and minimal invasiveness. This is a report of the first case of single‐incision laparoscopy‐assisted duodenojejunostomy. This procedure is safer and less invasive than a conventional laparoscopic approach in a patient with SMA syndrome.
Three‐dimensional fusion images combining CT gastrography and CT angiography for early gastric cancer: Pilot experiences of preoperative simulation prior to totally laparoscopic gastrectomy
Authors: Miyazaki Shinichiro , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Hiramatsu Yoshihiro , Ozaki Yusuke , Iino Ichirota , Ohta Manabu , Kamiya Kinji , Sakaguchi Takanori , Unno Naoki , Konno Hiroyuki
Published: January 2015

We herein report two cases of gastric cancer in which preoperative 3‐D CT gastrography and CT angiography fusion images enabled totally laparoscopic gastrectomy. Case 1 involved a 60‐year‐old woman with a superficial depressed lesion on the greater curvature of the middle gastric body. Case 2 involved a 64‐year‐old woman with a superficial depressed lesion on the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. In both cases, 3‐D fusion images were prepared from enhanced CT scans after the area near the lesions was clipped under preoperative gastroendoscopy. Based on the relative position between the clips and nearby vessels, a resection line was preoperatively determined in each case. Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and totally laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy were performed in cases 1 and 2, respectively, with safe surgical margins. Three‐dimensional fusion images can help in preoperative simulation of totally laparoscopic gastrectomy.
Retroperitoneal schwannomas: Advantages of laparoscopic resection. Review of the literature and case presentation of a large paracaval benign schwannoma (with video)
Authors: Petrucciani Niccolo , Sirimarco Dario , Magistri Paolo , Antolino Laura , Gasparrini Marcello , Ramacciato Giovanni
Published: January 2015

Retroperitoneal schwannomas represent 0.5%–3% of all retroperitoneal tumors. Complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice because it permits a correct histological diagnosis and prevents eventual degeneration. Laparoscopic surgery has been reported as safe and effective by several authors. We present a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the role of laparoscopy in surgical resection of retroperitoneal schwannomas, and we present a case showing the technique (with video). Laparoscopic resection in experienced hands is safe and effective, and guarantees excellent postoperative results in terms of patient recovery.
Osseous metaplasia of the endometrium and successful hysteroscopic resection: A report of two cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Madaan Monika , Suman Shweta , Sharma Raksha , Kapoor Neeharika , Garg Priyanka , Raj Samir Shankar
Published: January 2015

Osseous metaplasia is a rare disorder of the endometrium that usually leads to secondary infertility and is frequently associated with recurrent abortions. Here we present two cases: one presenting with primary infertility and another presenting with oligomenorrhea. In both cases, vaginal ultrasonography showed an intrauterine structure that appeared hyperechogenic, suggesting calcification. Hysteroscopy revealed multiple white spicules of bony material in the uterine cavity. In both cases, the lesion was treated by hysteroscopic removal without complications. Histology established a diagnosis of endometrial osseous metaplasia. Thus, hysteroscopy was effective in the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial osseous metaplasia. The patient with primary infertility had spontaneous conception of twins 6 months after the procedure.
Technological characterization of sheep production systems inBrazil
Authors: Raineri Camila , Nunes Bruno César Prosdocimi , Gameiro Augusto Hauber
Published: January 2015

Sheep production has expanded inBrazil focusing on lamb meat, mostly to meet demanding internal markets in the state ofSãoPaulo. Such markets present a demand which internal production is insufficient to meet. However, sheep farmers face many technical difficulties to produce quality lambs at viable costs. This study aimed at investigating the main characteristics of sheep production systems of the state ofSãoPaulo,Brazil, in order to provide resources for the development of technologies, policies and other initiatives focused on the activity. We designed in panel meetings the characteristics of representative sheep farms in five regions of the state, concerning: (i) property and manpower profile; (ii) flock; (iii) handling techniques; (iv) facilities and equipment; (v) food production; and (vi) technical indicators. Results demonstrate that the predominant sheep farming in the state employs low technology, presenting low productivity despite its evolution in recent years. We verified great technical deficiency regarding farmers, who are new in this business and usually do not have access to technologies. Producers' unawareness about basic handling procedures and techniques as well as their lack of flock records can contribute to the activity's unsustainability. There is need for improving rural extension and diffusion of technologies.
Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils supplementation on digestion, colostrum production of dairy ewes and lamb mortality and growth
Authors: Smeti Samir , Joy Margalida , Hajji Hadhami , Alabart José Luis , Muñoz Fernando , Mahouachi Mokhtar , Atti Naziha
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary essential oils (REO) and the forage nature on ewes' performances, immune response and lambs' growth and mortality. Forty‐eight dairy ewes (Sicilo‐Sarde) were fed oat‐hay or oat‐silage supplemented with 400 g of concentrate during pregnancy and 600 g during postpartum. The experimental concentrate contained the same mixture as the control (barley, soybean meal and mineral vitamin supplement) more 0.6 g/kg of REO. Two groups were obtained with each forage (Hay groups: H‐C and H‐REO; Silage groups: S‐C and S‐REO). REO increased the dry matter (DM) intake, the nitrogen intake and retention being higher with the silage groups (P < 0.05). REO increased solid non‐fat (P = 0.004) and fat contents of colostrum which was higher with hay (P = 0.002). REO decreased lamb mortality (P < 0.05) which averaged 21% for control groups and 6% for H‐REO, while no mortality was recorded with S‐REO. REO dietary supply improved forage intake and tended to ameliorate colostrum production; it could be a natural additive to improve ewes' performances.
The g.841G>C SNP of FASN gene is associated with fatty acid composition in beef cattle
Authors: Hayakawa Kiri , Sakamoto Takayuki , Ishii Atsushi , Yamaji Keita , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Sasago Nanae , Kobayashi Eiji , Kobayashi Naohiko , Matsuhashi Tamako , Maruyama Shin , Matsumoto Hirokazu , Oyama Kenji , Mannen Hideyuki , Sasazaki Shinji
Published: January 2015

The objective of the current study is to evaluate the association between fatty acid composition and fatty acid synthase gene polymorphisms as responsible mutations. For this purpose, we selected seven previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FASN gene, including one within promoter region (g.841G>C) and six non‐synonymous SNPs (g.8805C>T, g.13126C>T, g.15532A>C, g.16024A>G, g.16039C>T, g.17924A>G), and genotyped them in Japanese Black cattle. Genotyping results revealed that g.8805 C>T and g.17924 A>G were monomorphic loci. Genome‐wide association analysis including the other five SNPs revealed that only g.841G>C showed significant associations with the percentages of C14:0, C14:1, C16:1 and C18:1 at 5% genome‐wide significance level. In order to further evaluate the effect, we genotyped g.841G>C using additional three populations, including two Japanese Black populations and a Holstein cattle population. g.16024A>G was also genotyped and included in the analysis because it has been reported to be associated with fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle. In the result of analysis of variance, g.841G>C showed stronger effects on fatty acid percentage than those of g.16024A>G in all populations. These results suggested that g.841G>C would be a responsible mutation for fatty acid composition and contribute to production of high‐grade beef as a selection marker in beef cattle.
Zinc‐bearing zeolite clinoptilolite improves tissue zinc accumulation in laying hens by enhancing zinc transporter gene mRNA abundance
Authors: Li Linfeng , Li Ping , Chen Yueping , Wen Chao , Zhuang Su , Zhou Yanmin
Published: January 2015

A study was conducted to investigate effects of zinc‐bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (ZnCP), as an alternative for zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), on laying performance, tissue Zn accumulation and Zn transporter genes expression in laying hens. Hy‐Line Brown laying hens were allocated to three treatments, each of which had six replicates with 15 hens per replicate, receiving basal diet supplemented with ZnSO4 (control, 80 mg Zn/kg diet), 0.23% ZnCP (40.25 mg Zn/kg diet) and 0.46% ZnCP (80.50 mg Zn/kg diet) for 8 weeks, respectively. Compared with control, hens fed diet containing 0.23% ZnCP had similar Zn content in measured tissues (P > 0.05). A higher ZnCP inclusion (0.46%) enhanced Zn accumulation in liver (P < 0.05) and pancreas (P < 0.05). In addition, ZnCP inclusion increased blood iron (Fe) content (P < 0.05). ZnCP supplementation enhanced jejunal metallothionein‐4 (MT‐4) messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance (P < 0.05). ZnCP inclusion at a higher level (0.46%) increased mRNA expression of MT‐4 in pancreas (P < 0.05) and zinc transporter‐1 (ZnT‐1) in jejunum (P < 0.05). The highest ZnT‐2 mRNA abundance in jejunum was found in hens fed 0.23% ZnCP inclusion diet (P < 0.05). The results indicated that ZnCP reached a higher bioavailability as compared with ZnSO4 as evidenced by enhanced tissue Zn accumulation and Zn transporter genes expression.
Neonatal haemostasis and the management of neonatal thrombosis
Authors: Will Andrew
Published: January 2015

Two detailed reviews of the management of neonatal thrombosis were published in 2012; one was an up‐dated version of guidance first issued in 2004 and the other was a comprehensive review. Both of these publications gave very similar advice regarding the practical aspects of the indications, dosage and management of antithrombotic therapy. The authors stated that the evidence supporting most of their recommendations for anti‐thrombotic therapy in neonates remained weak and so the therapy for a neonate with a thrombosis has to be based on an individualized assessment of estimated risk versus potential benefit. The aim of this present review is to give the treating physician an outline of the unique physiology of neonatal coagulation and how this affects the monitoring, dosing and even the choice of therapeutic strategy for the management of thrombosis in the neonate.
The orally active urotensin receptor antagonist, KR36676, attenuates cellular and cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: Oh K S , Lee J H , Yi K Y , Lim C J , Lee S , Park C H , Seo H W , Lee B H
Published: January 2015

Background and Purpose

Blockade of the actions of urotensin‐II (U‐II) mediated by the urotensin (UT) receptor should improve cardiac function and prevent cardiac remodelling in cardiovascular disease. Here, we have evaluated the pharmacological properties of the recently identified UT receptor antagonist, 2‐(6,7‐dichloro‐3‐oxo‐2H‐benzo[b][1,4]oxazin‐4(3H)‐yl)‐N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐1‐(4‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)phenyl) ethyl)acetamide (KR36676).

Experimental Approach

Pharmacological properties of KR36676 were studied in a range of in vitro assays (receptor binding, calcium mobilization, stress fibre formation, cellular hypertrophy) and in vivo animal models such as cardiac hypertrophy induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or myocardial infarction (MI).

Key Results

KR36676 displayed high binding affinity for the UT receptor (Ki: 0.7 nM), similar to that of U‐II (0.4 nM), and was a potent antagonist at that receptor (IC50: 4.0 nM). U‐II‐induced stress fibre formation and cellular hypertrophy were significantly inhibited with low concentrations of KR36676 (≥0.01 μM). Oral administration of KR36676 (30 mg·kg−1) in a TAC model in mice attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. Moreover, KR36676 restored cardiac function and myocyte size in rats with MI‐induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Conclusions and Implications

A highly potent UT receptor antagonist exerted anti‐hypertrophic effects not only in infarcted rat hearts but also in pressure‐overloaded mouse hearts. KR36676 could be a valuable pharmacological tool in elucidating the complicated physiological role of U‐II and UT receptors in cardiac hypertrophy.
Genetic and environmental influence on the association between testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin and body composition in Korean men
Authors: Lee Kayoung , Sung Joohon , Song Yun‐Mi
Published: January 2015

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate an association between testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin and body composition as well as the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the association.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Community‐based study.

Participants

One thousand and eighty‐three Korean men including 144 pairs of monozygotic twins.

Main Outcome Measure

Levels of serum total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and free testosterone (cFT) was calculated using Vermeulen's method. Detailed body composition was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. We performed linear mixed regression analysis with consideration of familial correlations and covariates.

Results

Each 1‐SD increase in age‐adjusted levels of TT, cFT and SHBG was associated with lower levels of adiposity measures and absolute measures of lean body mass. On the other hand, percentage total lean mass increased with increasing levels of TT, cFT and SHBG (P < 0·05). Bivariate variance‐component analyses revealed that most body composition measures had a significant inverse unique environmental correlation with both TT and SHBG, and a significant genetic correlation with TT. A co‐twin control study in monozygotic twins showed that within‐pair differences in adiposity measures were inversely associated with within‐pair differences in the levels of TT and SHBG, while within‐pair differences in lean mass were inversely associated with within‐pair differences in the levels of TT.

Conclusions

The significant associations of body composition with testosterone and SHBG were influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Further efforts to elucidate related genes and modifiable environmental factors are needed.