bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age and ethnic differences in the onset, persistence and recurrence of alcohol use disorder
Authors: Grant Julia D. , Vergés Alvaro , Jackson Kristina M. , Trull Timothy J. , Sher Kenneth J. , Bucholz Kathleen K.
Published: November 2011

Aims  To estimate ethnic differences in three components of alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence course (onset, persistence and recurrence) in a developmental framework.

Design  Longitudinal data from The National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), collected using face‐to‐face interviews.

Setting  Civilian non‐institutionalized US population aged 18 years and older, with oversampling of Hispanics, blacks and those aged 18–24 years.

Participants  Individuals who completed both NESARC assessments, were not life‐long abstainers and were either white (n = 17 458), black (n = 4995), US‐born Hispanic (n = 2810) or Hispanic‐born outside the United States (n = 2389).

Measurements  Alcohol dependence (AD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD; abuse or dependence) onset, persistence and recurrence were examined using the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule, DSM‐IV version.

Findings  Among men: relative to whites aged 18–29, AUD onset and persistence were elevated only in US‐born Hispanics aged 40 years and older; odds were reduced for all non‐US‐born Hispanics, older whites, most blacks and US‐born Hispanics aged 30–39. For AD, onset risk was elevated for all younger minority men and only reduced among non‐US‐born aged Hispanics 40 or older. For women: compared to young whites, non‐US‐born Hispanics were at decreased AUD and AD onset risk; AUD and AD onset and persistence were increased for older blacks and US‐born Hispanics.

Conclusions  In the United States, ethnic differences in alcohol disorder transitions (onset, persistence, and recurrence) vary across age, gender and whether a broad (alcohol use disorder) or narrow (alcohol dependence) alcohol definition is used. Evidence of increased risk for some transitions in minority groups suggests that attention should be paid to the course of alcohol use disorders, and that differences in prevalence should not be assumed to reflect differences in specific transitions.
Distributional migrations, expansions, and contractions of tropical plant species as revealed in dated herbarium records
Authors: Feeley Kenneth J.
Published: November 2011

Species are predicted to respond to global warming through ‘cold‐ward’ shifts in their geographic distributions due to encroachment into newly suitable habitats and/or dieback in areas that become climatically unsuitable. I conduct one of the first‐ever tests of this hypothesis for tropical plant species. I test for changes in the thermal distributions of 239 South American tropical plant species using dated herbarium records for specimens collected between 1970 and 2009. Supporting a priori predictions, many species (59%) exhibit some evidence of significant cold‐ward range shifts even after correcting for collection biases. Over 1/3 of species (35%) show significant cold‐ward movement in their hot thermal limits (mean rate of change = 0.022 °C yr−1). Most of these species (85%; 30% of all study species) show no corresponding shift in their cold thermal limits. These unbalanced changes in the species’ thermal range limits may indicate species that are experiencing dieback due to their intolerance of rising temperatures coupled with an inability to expand into newly climatically suitable habitats. On the other hand, 25% of species show significant cold‐ward shifts in their cold thermal range limits (mean rate of change = 0.003 °C yr−1), but 80% of these species (20% of all study species) show no corresponding shift in their hot thermal range limits. In these cases, the unbalanced shifts may indicate species that are able to ‘benefit’ under global warming, at least temporally, by both tolerating rising temperatures and expanding into new suitable habitat. An important ancillary result of this study is that the number of species exhibiting significant range shifts was greatly influenced by shifting collector biases. This highlights the need to account for biases when analyzing natural history records or other long‐term records.
Antibacterial and smear layer removal ability of a novel irrigant, QMiX
Authors: Stojicic S. , Shen Y. , Qian W. , Johnson B. , Haapasalo M.
Published: November 2011

Stojicic S, Shen Y, Qian W, Johnson B, Haapasalo M. Antibacterial and smear layer removal ability of a novel irrigant, QMiX. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 363–371, 2012.

Aim  To assess in a laboratory experimental model the efficacy of a novel root canal irrigant, QMiX, against Enterococcus faecalis and mixed plaque bacteria in planktonic phase and biofilms. In addition, its ability to remove smear layer was examined.

Methodology  Enterococcus faecalis and mixed plaque bacteria were exposed to QMiX, 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), MTAD and 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 5 s, 30 s and 3 min. Following exposure, samples were taken, serially diluted and grown aerobically and anaerobically on tryptic soy agar (TSA) plates or on blood agar plates for 24 and 72 h, respectively, to measure killing of bacteria. E. faecalis and plaque biofilms were grown for 3 weeks on collagen‐coated hydroxyapatite or dentine discs and exposed for 1 and 3 min to QMiX, 2% CHX, MTAD, 1% and 2% NaOCl. The amount of killed bacteria in biofilms was analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy using viability staining. Dentine blocks were exposed to QMiX and 17% EDTA for 5 min. The effectiveness of smear layer removal by the solution was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. For statistical analysis, one‐way analysis of variance and comparison of two proportions were used.

Results  QMiX and 1% NaOCl killed all planktonic E. faecalis and plaque bacteria in 5 s, while 2% CHX and MTAD were unable to kill all plaque bacteria in 30 s, and some E. faecalis cells survived even 3 min of exposure. QMiX and 2% NaOCl killed up to 12 times more biofilm bacteria than 1% NaOCl (P < 0.01), 2% CHX (P < 0.05; P < 0.001) and MTAD (P < 0.05; P < 0.001). QMiX removed smear layer equally well as EDTA (P = 0.18 × 10−5).

Conclusion  QMiX and NaOCl were superior to CHX and MTAD under laboratory conditions in killing E. faecalis and plaque bacteria in planktonic and biofilm culture. Ability to remove smear layer by QMiX was comparable to EDTA.
New era in sperm selection for ICSI
Authors: Nasr‐Esfahani M. H. , Deemeh M. R. , Tavalaee M.
Published: November 2011

Spermatozoa contribute to approximately half of the genome of future progeny, and therefore, have a profound impact on embryo development post‐fertilization. Sperm selection based on viability and normal morphology does not eliminate the chance for DNA damaged spermatozoa to be inseminated and may account for a considerable percentage of failed embryo development post‐ICSI (Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection). Therefore, sperm selection based on functional sperm characteristics to preclude insemination of DNA damaged spermatozoa have paved the way for successful ICSI outcomes. In regard to this, different laboratories have introduced novel procedures to replace traditional or orthodox sperm selection methods. This review attempts to provide information on the scientific bases of each procedure, and pinpoint their advantages and disadvantages. In addition to data from our research, a systematic search on the literature, publications and presentations was carried out using such databases as PubMed and ISI‐Web.
The use of ArcGIS for determination of quartz optical axis orientation in thin section images
Authors: HASSANPOUR R.
Published: November 2011

In this paper, a new toolbox for petrographic thin section analysis is presented. It was designed using ArcGIS ModelBuilder to extract quartz grain boundary and determine its optical axis orientation from a set of thin section images. It can perform these analyses with little or no operator intervention and convert the boundary and optical axis data into a digital database with preserved spatial relationship. In order to test the validity of toolbox's outputs, an assessment was performed using three natural quartzite thin sections. The results indicate a close relationship (>0.8) between manual and model‐base extraction of grain boundary and optical axis orientation data. This study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of performing thin section image analysis within the GIS framework.
Mental health‐related risk factors for violence: using the evidence to guide mental health triage decision making
Authors: SANDS N. , ELSOM S. , GERDTZ M. , KHAW D.
Published: November 2011

Accessible summary

Reforms of mental health service delivery models have resulted in initial assessments being conducted by crisis and triage service clinicians in acutely time‐pressured environments such as emergency departments and non‐clinical settings. Under these circumstances the use of standardized violence risk assessment instruments is impractical.

We conducted a systematic review to establish the best evidence for patient‐initiated violence risk assessment.

The risk factors that achieved the highest evidence grading included hostility/anger, agitation, thought disturbance, positive symptoms of schizophrenia, suspiciousness and irritability.

We found that the majority of risk factors supported by the highest level of evidence are observable patient characteristics, which clinicians should be trained to detect in the context of conducting initial assessments at point of entry to mental health services.

Mental health clinicians working in emergency crisis assessment teams or mental health triage roles are required to make rapid and accurate risk assessments. The assessment of violence risk at triage is particularly pertinent to the early identification and prevention of patient violence, and to enhancing the safety of clinical staff and the general public. To date, the evidence base for mental health triage violence risk assessment has been minimal. This study aimed to address this evidence gap by identifying best available evidence for mental health‐related risk factors for patient‐initiated violence. We conducted a systematic review based on the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia's methodology for systematic reviews. A total of 6847 studies were retrieved, of which 326 studies met the study inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 277 met inclusion criteria but failed the quality appraisal process, thus a total of 49 studies were included in the final review. The risk factors that achieved the highest evidence grading were predominantly related to dynamic clinical factors immediately observable in the patient's general appearance, behaviour and speech. These factors included hostility/anger, agitation, thought disturbance, positive symptoms of schizophrenia, suspiciousness and irritability.
Intact implicit probabilistic sequence learning in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: NEMETH DEZSO , CSÁBI ESZTER , JANACSEK KAROLINA , VÁRSZEGI MÁRIA , MARI ZOLTAN
Published: November 2011

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) belongs to the sleep‐related breathing disorders and is associated with cognitive impairments in learning and memory functions. The impairments in attention‐demanding cognitive functions such as working memory and executive functions are well established in OSA; however, it remains unknown if less attention‐demanding implicit sequence learning is affected. In the present study, we examined implicit sequence learning in OSA to probe the functional integrity of this fundamental learning mechanism. We used listening span to measure complex working memory capacity and the alternating serial reaction time (ASRT) task, which enables us to measure general skill learning and sequence‐specific learning separately. Twenty OSA patients and 20 healthy controls participated in this study. Our data show dissociation between working memory and implicit sequence learning in OSA. Surprisingly, OSA patients showed preserved general skill and sequence‐specific learning in spite of the possible hypoxia and sleep restriction. In contrast, working memory performance measured by listening span task was impaired in the OSA group. This finding suggests selective susceptibility of more attention‐demanding cognitive functions in this patient population, while implicit learning remains intact. Our findings draw attention the fact that disordered sleep may have less impact on the integrity of structures connected to implicit sequence learning.
Hypsodonty and tooth facet development in relation to diet and habitat in herbivorous ungulates: implications for understanding tooth wear
Authors: Kaiser Thomas M. , Müller Dennis W. H. , Fortelius Mikael , Schulz Ellen , Codron Daryl , Clauss Marcus
Published: November 2011

The evolution of high‐crowned teeth or hypsodonty in herbivorous mammals is widely interpreted as a species‐specific adaptation to increasingly wear‐inducing diets and environments at evolutionary time scales, with internal abrasives (such as phytoliths in grasses) and/or external abrasives (such as dust or grit) as putative causative factors. The mesowear score (MS) instead describes tooth wear experienced by individual animals during their lifetime.

Under the assumption that the abrasiveness that causes the MS in individuals is the same abrasiveness to which species adapted by evolving hypsodonty, one would expect a close correlation between the MS and the hypsodonty index (HI). Alternatively, if these two measures reflect different aspects of wear, one would expect differences in the way that proxies of diet or environment/climate correlate with each parameter.

In order to test these hypotheses, we collated a dataset on the HI, MS, percentage of grass in the natural diet (%grass), habitat (open, intermediate, closed) and annual precipitation (PREC) in extant mammalian herbivores. The availability of a quantitative MS constrained the dataset to 75 species. Data were analysed with and without phylogenetic generalized least squares.

Correlations with PREC were stronger for HI than for MS, whereas correlations with %grass were similar for HI and MS. Habitat had a significant influence on the relationship with %grass for HI but not for MS. Habitat also had a significant influence on the relationship between HI and MS. MS improved the predictive power of HI for %grass, but not for PREC.

These results suggest that while the MS indicates predominantly the wear effect of the diet (internal abrasives), HI represents an adaptation to a wear effect that comprises both diet and environment (external abrasives). The additional environmental wear effect must reduce tooth height without causing macroscopic changes in tooth facet development as described by the MS.

The most parsimonious explanation for the apparent discrepancy between HI and MS is that external abrasives of very fine particle size play a major role in naturally occurring tooth wear. The experimental testing of this hypothesis will enhance our understanding of the processes involved in tooth wear.
The influence of light quality on C4 photosynthesis under steady‐state conditions in Zea mays and Miscanthus × giganteus: changes in rates of photosynthesis but not the efficiency of the CO2 concentrating mechanism
Authors: SUN WEI , UBIERNA NEREA , MA JIAN‐YING , COUSINS ASAPH B.
Published: November 2011

Differences in light quality penetration within a leaf and absorption by the photosystems alter rates of CO2 assimilation in C3 plants. It is also expected that light quality will have a profound impact on C4 photosynthesis due to disrupted coordination of the C4 and C3 cycles. To test this hypothesis, we measured leaf gas exchange, 13CO2 discrimination (Δ13C), photosynthetic metabolite pools and Rubisco activation state in Zea mays and Miscanthus × giganteus under steady‐state red, green, blue and white light. Photosynthetic rates, quantum yield of CO2 assimilation, and maximum phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity were significantly lower under blue light than white, red and green light in both species. However, similar leakiness under all light treatments suggests the C4 and C3 cycles were coordinated to maintain the photosynthetic efficiency. Measurements of photosynthetic metabolite pools also suggest coordination of C4 and C3 cycles across light treatments. The energy limitation under blue light affected both C4 and C3 cycles, as we observed a reduction in C4 pumping of CO2 into bundle‐sheath cells and a limitation in the conversion of C3 metabolite phosphoglycerate to triose phosphate. Overall, light quality affects rates of CO2 assimilation, but not the efficiency of CO2 concentrating mechanism.
Identification of genes expressed by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the pathogen causing soybean rust, at a late stage of infection of susceptible soybean leaves
Authors: Tremblay A. , Hosseini P. , Li S. , Alkharouf N. W. , Matthews B. F.
Published: November 2011

Soybean is one of the top five agricultural products in the United States and is highly susceptible to Phakopsora pachyrhizi, an exotic obligate biotrophic fungus. The little amount of genomic information about P. pachyrhizi limits understanding of the soybean–soybean rust pathogen interaction and the possibility of engineering resistance to this pathogen in soybean. Illumina mRNA‐Seq analysis revealed P. pachyrhizi genes expressed during a biotrophic interaction between P. pachyrhizi and soybean during fungal sporulation 10 days after inoculation. Approximately 2·4 million DNA sequences representing portions of potential P. pachyrhizi genes were assembled into 32 940 contigs that were used to search against expressed sequence tag (EST), protein and conserved domain databases. About 7500 contigs represent newly discovered P. pachyrhizi sequences. Of these, 527 shared similarity to genes encoding fungal proteins involved in different metabolic pathways such as galactose and glycogen metabolism, glycolysis, the citrate cycle, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, proteolysis, protein synthesis, cell cycle division and mitosis, and cell wall biogenesis. Almost 7000 potential P. pachyrhizi genes are still of unknown function. Such information may be useful in the development of new methods of broadening resistance of soybean to P. pachyrhizi, including the silencing of important P. pachyrhizi genes, and also to understand the molecular basis of soybean–P. pachyrhizi interactions.
Serpin protease inhibitors in plant biology
Authors: Fluhr Robert , Lampl Nardy , Roberts Thomas H.
Published: November 2011

Protease inhibitors of the serpin family are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom but relatively little is known about their biological functions in comparison with their counterparts in animals. X‐ray crystal structures have provided crucial insights into animal serpin functions. The recently solved structure of AtSerpin1 from Arabidopsis thaliana, which has the highly conserved reactive center P2–P1′ Leu‐Arg‐Xaa (Xaa = small residue), displays both conserved and plant‐specific serpin features. Sequence homology suggests that AtSerpin1 belongs to serpin Clade B, composed of intracellular mammalian serpins, which is consistent with the lack of strong evidence for secretion of serpins from plant cells. The major in vivo target protease for AtSerpin1 is the papain‐like cysteine RD21 protease, a match reminiscent of the inhibition of cathepsins K, L and S by the Clade‐B mammalian serpin, SCCA‐1 (SERPINB3). The function of AtSerpin1 and other serpins that contain P2–P1′ Leu‐Arg‐Xaa (the ‘LR’ serpins) in plants remains unknown. However, based on its homology and interactive partners, AtSerpin1 and perhaps other serpins are likely to be involved in regulating programmed cell death or associated processes such as senescence. Abundant accumulation of serpins in seeds and their presence in phloem sap suggest additional functions in plant defense by irreversible inhibition of digestive proteases from pests or pathogens. Here we review the most recent findings in plant serpin biology, focusing on advances in describing the structure and inhibitory specificity of the LR serpins.
White matter microstructure in untreated first episode bipolar disorder with psychosis: comparison with schizophrenia
Authors: Lu Lisa H , Zhou Xiaohong Joe , Keedy Sarah K , Reilly James L , Sweeney John A
Published: November 2011

Lu LH, Zhou XJ, Keedy SK, Reilly JL, Sweeney JA. White matter microstructure in untreated first episode bipolar disorder with psychosis: comparison with schizophrenia. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 604–613. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objectives:  White matter abnormalities have been reported in bipolar disorder. The present study aimed to investigate white matter integrity in untreated first episode patients with psychotic bipolar disorder using diffusion tensor imaging, and to compare observations with those from untreated first episode schizophrenia patients.

Methods:  Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were measured in first episode psychotic patients with bipolar disorder (n = 13) or schizophrenia (n = 21) and healthy individuals (n = 18). Group differences were evaluated using voxel‐based morphometry. Axial and radial diffusivity were examined in regions with altered fractional anisotropy in post‐hoc analyses.

Results:  Patients with bipolar disorder showed lower fractional anisotropy than healthy controls in several white matter tracts. Compared with schizophrenia patients, bipolar disorder patients showed lower fractional anisotropy in the cingulum, internal capsule, posterior corpus callosum, tapetum, and occipital white matter including posterior thalamic radiation and inferior longitudinal fasciculus/inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus. Lower fractional anisotropy in bipolar disorder was characterized by increased radial diffusion rather than axial diffusion along the orientation of fiber tracts. Across several white matter tracts, both patient groups showed greater mean diffusivity than healthy individuals.

Conclusions:  Selectively increased radial diffusivity in bipolar disorder patients suggests structural disorganization in fiber tract coherence of neurodevelopmental origin or alterations in myelin sheaths along fiber tracts. In contrast, increased isotropic diffusion along white matter tracts in schizophrenia patients with alterations in both radial and axial diffusivity suggests increased water content outside the axonal space. Thus, the present results suggest that different pathophysiological mechanisms may underlie white matter microstructural abnormalities in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The association of genetic variation in CACNA1C with structure and function of a frontotemporal system
Authors: Wang Fei , McIntosh Andrew M , He Yong , Gelernter Joel , Blumberg Hilary P
Published: November 2011

Wang F, McIntosh AM, He Y, Gelernter J, Blumberg HP. The association of genetic variation in CACNA1C with structure and function of a frontotemporal system. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 696–700. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objectives:  A single nucleotide polymorphism at the CACNA1C gene (rs1006737) has been reported in genome‐wide association studies to be associated with bipolar disorder (BD) with genome‐wide significance. However, the neural system effects of CACNA1C that mediate the association are not known. In this study, we assessed associations between rs1006737 variation and both morphology and functional connectivity within a corticolimbic frontotemporal neural system implicated in BD.

Methods:  A total of 55 European Americans were divided into two groups: a GG group homozygous for the ‘G’ allele (n = 30) and carriers of the high risk A allele (‘A‐carrier’ group, AA/AG genotypes; n = 25). The subjects participated in both high‐resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and functional MRI scans during emotional face‐processing. Voxel‐based morphometry and functional connectivity analyses were performed.

Results:  Compared to the GG group, the A‐carrier group showed significantly increased gray matter volume and reduced functional connectivity within a corticolimbic frontotemporal neural system (p < 0.05, corrected).

Conclusion:  The findings support effects of the rs1006737 variation on the frontotemporal neural system implicated in BD, both in gray matter morphology and in functional connectivity. This suggests that influence of CACNA1C variation on corticolimbic structure and function may be a mechanism contributing to the neural circuitry of BD.
Dimensional psychopathology in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder
Authors: Diler Rasim Somer , Birmaher Boris , Axelson David , Obreja Mihaela , Monk Kelly , Hickey Mary Beth , Goldstein Benjamin , Goldstein Tina , Sakolsky Dara , Iyengar Satish , Brent David , Kupfer David
Published: November 2011

Diler RS, Birmaher B, Axelson D, Obreja M, Monk K, Hickey MB, Goldstein B, Goldstein T, Sakolsky D, Iyengar S, Brent D, Kupfer D. Dimensional psychopathology in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 670–678. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objectives:  To compare the dimensional psychopathology in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BP) with offspring of community control parents as assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Methods:  Offspring of parents with BP, who were healthy or had non‐BP disorders (any psychiatric disorder other than BP; n = 319) or who had bipolar spectrum disorders (n = 35), and offspring of community controls (n = 235) ages 6–18 years were compared using the CBCL, the CBCL‐Dysregulation Profile (CBCL‐DP), and a sum of the CBCL items associated with mood lability. The results were adjusted for multiple comparisons and for any significant between‐group demographic and clinical differences in both biological parents and offspring.

Results:  With few exceptions, several CBCL (e.g., Total, Internalizing, and Aggression Problems), CBCL‐DP, and mood lability scores in non‐BP offspring of parents with BP were significantly higher than in offspring of control parents. In addition, both groups of offspring showed significantly lower scores in most scales when compared with offspring of parents with BP who had already developed BP. Similar results were obtained when analyzing the rates of subjects with CBCL T‐scores that were two standard deviations or higher above the mean.

Conclusions:  Even before developing BP, offspring of parents with BP had more severe and higher rates of dimensional psychopathology than offspring of control parents. Prospective follow‐up studies in non‐BP offspring of parents with BP are warranted to evaluate whether these dimensional profiles are prodromal manifestations of mood or other disorders, and can predict those who are at higher risk to develop BP.
Early management and long‐term outcomes in primary vesico‐ureteric reflux
Authors: Coleman Robert
Published: November 2011

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

Despite evolving understanding of pathogenesis and natural history, controversy exists regarding management of childhood vesicoureteric reflux. Surgical correction of the reflux itself may reduce risk of upper tract complications in some but may not in itself constitute appropriate management of lower tract morbidity in many. This review examines the evidence for early management and long term outcomes in primary vesicoureteric reflux.

Primary vesico‐ureteric reflux is a common condition in childhood associated with bladder dysfunction and an increased risk of urinary tract infection. Recent evidence indicates a lower tract functional abnormality in its pathogenesis. Whilst spontaneous resolution will occur in many, some patients will go on to develop complications in adulthood including reflux nephropathy, hypertension, urinary tract infection, bladder dysfunction and complications of pregnancy. An evolving understanding of the natural history has seen radical changes in management. Evidence for management of the child with primary vesico‐ureteric reflux is reviewed with a focus on the implications on long‐term outcomes in adulthood.
Locally advanced prostate cancer: a population‐based study of treatment patterns
Authors: Lowrance William T. , Elkin Elena B. , Yee David S. , Feifer Andrew , Ehdaie Behfar , Jacks Lindsay M. , Atoria Coral L. , Zelefsky Michael J. , Scher Howard I. , Scardino Peter T. , Eastham James A.
Published: November 2011

Study Type – Therapy (practice patterns)

Level of Evidence 2b

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

The treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer varies widely even though there is level one evidence supporting the use of multimodality therapy as compared with monotherapy.

This study defines treatment patterns of locally advanced prostate cancer within the United States and identifies predicators of who receives multimodality therapy rather than monotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To identify treatment patterns and predictors of receiving multimodality therapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The cohort comprised patients ≥66 years with clinical stage T3 or T4 non‐metastatic prostate cancer diagnosed between 1998 and 2005 identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry records linked with Medicare claims.

Treatments were classified as radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) received within 6 and 24 months of diagnosis.

We assessed trends over time and used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of multimodality treatment.

RESULTS

Within the first 6 months of diagnosis, 1060 of 3095 patients (34%) were treated with a combination of RT and ADT, 1486 (48%) received monotherapy (RT alone, ADT alone or RP alone), and 461 (15%) received no active treatment.

The proportion of patients who received RP increased, exceeding 10% in 2005.

Use of combined RT and ADT and use of ADT alone fluctuated throughout the study period.

In all 6% of patients received RT alone in 2005.

Multimodality therapy was less common in patients who were older, African American, unmarried, who lived in the south, and who had co‐morbidities or stage T4 disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of LAPC varies widely, and treatment patterns shifted during the study period.

The slightly increased use of multimodality therapy since 2003 is encouraging, but further work is needed to increase combination therapy in appropriate patients and to define the role of RP.
The Right to Buy, the Leaseholder, and the Impoverishment of Ownership
Authors: Carr Helen
Published: November 2011

Right to Buy is one of the most successful schemes devised to extend home ownership to those otherwise excluded. Its introduction by Margaret Thatcher and endorsement by New Labour provide a critical indicator of those governments' neo‐liberal credentials. This article suggests that one of the key achievements of the Right to Buy was to obscure inequalities inherent in a project of democratization via property ownership. It examines New Labour's political reform of local authority landlordism and leaseholder rights and exposes the vulnerability of Right to Buy lessees and their successors in title. It argues that the promise of inclusion via home ownership is a more conditional promise than generally recognized, in some cases impoverishing rather than enriching. It concludes by reflecting on the importance of scrutinizing schemes which purport to democratize ownership, observing that the position of Right to Buy leaseholders is unlikely to improve following the abandonment of social reform projects by the coalition government.
End‐of‐Life Decision‐Making in Canada: The Report by the Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel on End‐of‐Life Decision‐Making
Authors: SCHÜKLENK UDO , VAN DELDEN JOHANNES J. M. , DOWNIE JOCELYN , MCLEAN SHEILA A. M. , UPSHUR ROSS , WEINSTOCK DANIEL
Published: November 2011

This report on end‐of‐life decision‐making in Canada was produced by an international expert panel and commissioned by the Royal Society of Canada. It consists of five chapters.

Chapter 1 reviews what is known about end‐of‐life care and opinions about assisted dying in Canada.

Chapter 2 reviews the legal status quo in Canada with regard to various forms of assisted death.

Chapter 3 reviews ethical issues pertaining to assisted death. The analysis is grounded in core values central to Canada's constitutional order.

Chapter 4 reviews the experiences had in a number of jurisdictions that have decriminalized or recently reviewed assisted dying in some shape or form.

Chapter 5 provides recommendations with regard to the provision of palliative care in Canada, as well as recommendations for reform with respect to the various forms of assisted death covered in this document.
Board Task‐related Faultlines and Firm Performance: A Decade of Evidence
Authors: Kaczmarek Szymon , Kimino Satomi , Pye Annie
Published: November 2011

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: To what extent can group faultlines and their potential value‐destroying effects be detected on corporate boards? Task‐related attributes of the type of directorship, education, board tenure, and financial background of board members are considered as directors' characteristics that give rise to the faultline phenomenon. The impact of task‐related faultlines on firm performance as well as the moderating effects of busy boards, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) tenure, executive directors' (EDs) compensation structure, and the average non‐executive directors' (NEDs) involvement in board committees are examined.

Research Findings/Insights: Using a panel of FTSE 350 companies from 1999 to 2008, we find a strong negative effect of task‐related faultlines on firm performance. Further exploration of the moderating effects demonstrates that the condition of a busy board and CEO tenure exacerbate the negative effects of faultlines. At the same time, the executive pay contingency is found to have a remedying effect on boardroom cohesiveness, whereas the involvement of NEDs in board committee work is not likely to make the adverse effects of board faultlines less pronounced.

Theoretical/Academic Implications: Based on the arguments of social identity theory, this study shows that task‐related faultlines on corporate boards have strong negative value‐creating implications. The positive moderating impact of the executive compensation structure renders support to agency theory predictions about executive incentive alignment. This work also underlines the usefulness of the concept of faultlines in the corporate governance literature, because unitary boards, where NEDs and EDs share board responsibility, exhibit pre‐existing factions, similar to top management teams of family‐controlled firms and teams managing international joint‐ventures.

Practitioner/Policy Implications: This research points to the importance of a careful selection process of directors by nomination committees. It also underlines the role for active leadership on boards, who should be aware of available strategies to ameliorate the negative consequences of board schisms, such as accentuating superordinate board identity and/ or informal meetings.
Family Control and Investment‐Cash Flow Sensitivity: Moderating Effects of Excess Control Rights and Board Independence
Authors: Kuo Yi‐Ping , Hung Jung‐Hua
Published: November 2011

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: We explore the effect of family control on investment‐cash flow sensitivity and disentangle the effects of agency problems of free cash flow and asymmetric information. Excess control rights and board independence may moderate the relationship between family control and investment‐cash flow sensitivity by changing agency costs.

Research Findings/Insights: Family control lessens investment‐cash flow sensitivity by mitigating the problem of asymmetric information. Investment‐cash flow sensitivity will be higher in family‐controlled firms with excess control rights because Type II agency problems predominate. Family control may affect investment‐cash flow sensitivity when firms lack independent directors. Having another blockholder in addition to the controlling family reduces the agency problem and improves the independent monitoring function of the board for family‐controlled firms.

Theoretical/Academic Implications: This study provides a better understanding of the relationship between family control and investment‐cash flow sensitivity. It delineates the separate effects of agency problems stemming from free cash flow and asymmetric information and demonstrates that excess control rights and board independence can moderate the effect of family control on investment‐cash flow sensitivity. We show the significant role another blockholder plays in internal governance mechanisms.

Practitioner/Policy Implications: Investors can better gauge firm value by examining the type of company control and linkages between investment distortion and firm value. Policy makers can better understand how excess control and board independence act as mechanisms to worsen or mitigate the effects of family control. Managers can understand the effects of control type and board independence on the firm's financial constraints.
Competing Institutional Logics in the Biopharmaceutical Industry: The Move away from the Small Molecules Therapies Model in the Post‐Genomic Era
Authors: Styhre Alexander
Published: November 2011

The concept of institutional logics has been introduced as the totality of beliefs and assumptions guiding actors in a specific institutional field. While an institutional logic provides actors with guidance for action and an integrated worldview, it is possible for two or more institutional logics to coexist, even over longer periods of time. This study demonstrates how actors in the biopharmaceutical industry are conceiving of a shift from the incumbent small molecules/one target model for new drug development, predominant in the pharmaceutical industry during the post‐World War period, to a more complex model where both genomic and post‐genomic research methods and new forms of in silico biocomputation methods are constituting a new drug development regime where biological entities such as stem cells, biologics (larger molecules such as vaccines) and antibodies play a role in the new therapies. The study concludes (1) that institutional logics are never devoid of struggle and controversy and must be understood as outcomes of complex social processes, and (2) that linear periodizations of the life sciences into, for example, ‘traditional’, ‘genomic’ and ‘post‐genomic’ eras impose an overly simplistic image of how new drug development is organized and technologically embedded in the contemporary period.
Connections Among Farsighted Agents
Authors: GRANDJEAN GILLES , MAULEON ANA , VANNETELBOSCH VINCENT
Published: November 2011

We study the stability of social and economic networks when players are farsighted. In particular, we examine whether the networks formed by farsighted players are different from those formed by myopic players. We adopt the notion of pairwise farsightedly stable sets (Herings, Mauleon, and Vannetelbosch 2009). We first show that under the componentwise egalitarian allocation rule, the set of strongly efficient networks and the set of pairwise (myopically) stable networks that are immune to coalitional deviations are the unique pairwise farsightedly stable set if and only if the value function is top convex. We then investigate in some classical models of social and economic networks whether the pairwise farsightedly stable sets of networks coincide or not with the set of pairwise (myopically) stable networks and the set of strongly efficient networks.
Very early language skills of fifth‐grade poor comprehenders
Authors: Justice Laura , Mashburn Andrew , Petscher Yaacov
Published: November 2011

This study tested the theory that future poor comprehenders would show modest but pervasive deficits in both language comprehension and production during early childhood as compared with future poor decoders and typical readers. Using an existing database (NICHD ECCRN), fifth‐grade students were identified as having poor comprehension skills (n=16), poor decoding skills (n=11) or typical reading skills (n=35) based on standardised assessments of word recognition and reading comprehension. Language comprehension and production during the toddler and preschool years were retrospectively compared across these subgroups. Compared with future typical readers and poor decoders, poor comprehenders had the lowest abilities on language assessments at 15, 24, 36 and 54 months. For nearly all contrasts, the difference between poor comprehenders and the other groups of readers exceeded .5 standard deviation in magnitude, indicating that the early language skills of poor comprehenders exhibit appreciable lags.
Future need of ageing people with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland: lessons learned from the literature
Authors: Doody Catriona M. , Markey Kathleen , Doody Owen
Published: November 2011

Accessible summary

 This article synthesises current literature regarding ageing and service provision for people with an intellectual disability.

 People with intellectual disability are living longer.

 Services need to respond to the needs of older people with intellectual disability.

People with an intellectual disability are living longer, and the numbers continue to rise. Ireland has and is seeing a dramatic change in the age profile of clients and the support services they require. While Ireland had specifically trained nurses in intellectual disability, they predominately work in residential settings. This can be seen as been at odds with the philosophy of supporting people with intellectual disability live at home with their family and the primary care system. As the ageing population is rising, intellectual disability services need to proactively develop and respond to this changing age profile by reviewing and adjusting the way in which they deliver services, not only in terms of how services develop and respond to a changing age profile but also in terms of collaborative working across all health services.
An early isocrinid sea lily from the middle to late Anisian boundary (Middle Triassic) of south‐west China – evidence for a far‐east Tethyan origin of the family Isocrinidae
Authors: STILLER FRANK
Published: November 2011

Abstract: The isocrinid sea lilyTyrolecrinus wugangisp. nov. from uppermost middle to lowermost upper Anisian (lower Middle Triassic) strata of Leidapo near Qingyan, Guizhou Province, south‐west China, provides new data on the early phylogeny of the order Isocrinida. The new species is the earliest unequivocal representative of the family Isocrinidae. It predates all other known species of the genusTyrolecrinusthat come from upper Ladinian to Rhaetian strata and also all other known taxa of the Isocrinidae. Nevertheless, its stem is of fully developed isocrinid type and is characteristic of the genus, with consistently synostosial, rarely cryptosymplectial, distal nodal articular facets. These findings indicate that the Isocrinidae evolved prior to the late middle Anisian in the far‐eastern part of the Palaeotethys ocean, perhaps in the region forming today’s south‐west China, and spread to various other regions later in the Middle and Late Triassic. The genusTyrolecrinusis revised and the new genusBakonycrinusgen. nov. is erected.
Management of severe acute to fulminant hepatitis B: to treat or not to treat or when to treat?
Authors: Tillmann Hans L. , Zachou Kalliopi , Dalekos George N.
Published: November 2011

Despite a decline in cases of acute hepatitis B and the low hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronicity rates in adults, still some patients progress to HBV‐related fulminant liver failure. In this review, we discuss treatment options that may prevent the progression of severe acute hepatitis B to fulminant liver failure and death. In severe acute HBV with prolonged prothrombin time and increased bilirubin, interferon failed to be effective while antiviral treatment, particularly with lamivudine, appears to improve survival (mean survival almost 80%). Outcome without antiviral therapy has remained considerably poor, whereas there is no convincing evidence of amelioration of HBV‐targeted immunity. Of note, most patients who died or required transplantation despite lamivudine therapy, were started on lamivudine at advanced stages compared with those survived. This suggests that prompt and timely antiviral therapy is crucial. Owing to the abovementioned results the design of randomized placebo‐control trials in the setting of severe acute hepatitis B seems unethical. On the contrary, the design of multicentre double‐blind randomized trials to compare the efficacy between lamivudine and entecavir or even tenofovir in acute severe HBV cases is ideally needed, but these studies appear to be very difficult to perform considering that these cases are not frequent and therefore, it is almost impossible to have two arms adequately numerous and homogenous for statistical evaluation. Thus, in the absence of solid evidence based data, the hepatologists could treat their patients with severe acute hepatitis B with lamivudine or the most potent antivirals entecavir or tenofovir.
Dehydration melting of ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite in the Dabie orogen: evidence from multiphase solid inclusions in garnet
Authors: GAO X.‐Y. , ZHENG Y.‐F. , CHEN Y.‐X.
Published: November 2011

Several types of multiphase solid (MS) inclusions are identified in garnet from ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite in the Dabie orogen. The mineralogy of MS inclusions ranges from pure K‐feldspar to pure quartz, with predominance of intermediate types consisting of K‐feldspar + quartz ± silicate (plagioclase or epidote) ± barite. The typical MS inclusions are usually surrounded with radial cracks in the host garnet, similar to where garnet contains relict coesite. Barite aggregates display significant heterogeneity in major element composition, with total contents of only 57–73% and highly variable SiO2 contents of 0.32–25.85% that are positively correlated with BaO and SO3 contents. The occurrence of MS inclusions provides petrographic evidence for partial melting in the UHP metamorphic rock. The occurrence of barite aggregates with variably high SiO2 contents suggests the coexistence of aqueous fluid with hydrous melt under HP eclogite facies conditions. Thus, local dehydration melting is inferred to take place inside the UHP metamorphic slice during continental collision. This is ascribed to phengite breakdown during ‘hot’ exhumation of the deeply subducted continental crust. As a consequence, the aqueous fluid is internally buffered in chemical composition and its local sink is a basic trigger to the partial melting during the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism.
Efficacy of Acitretin for Porokeratosis in a Child with Chronic Cutaneous Graft Versus Host Disease
Authors: Borroni Riccardo G. , Poddighe Dimitri , Zecca Marco , Brazzelli Valeria
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  Porokeratosis is a rare disorder of epidermal keratinization that is regarded as a precancerous. Recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have a greater risk of skin cancer; chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) is an additional risk factor. A 16‐year‐old boy who had received HSCT for acute myelogenous leukemia was referred to us for sclerodermoid chronic cutaneous GVHD. Two years later, he developed disseminated porokeratosis with a few atypical lesions. Despite cryotherapy, numerous lesions of porokeratosis recurred rapidly. Acitretin resulted in good clinical response and reduced the rate of onset of new lesions.