bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pay‐to‐play: SEC staff provides new guidance on Advisers Act Rule 206(4)‐5
Authors: Pittman Edward L. , Harvey Christopher P. , Sherman Michael L. , Carroll Brenden P.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the SEC staff's web site responses to a series of frequently asked questions concerning SEC Advisers Act Rule 206(4)‐5.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the SEC staff responses to FAQs on the ability to rely on prior Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board interpretations regarding MSRB Rules G‐37 and G‐38, determining who is an “official of a government entity,” determining who is a “covered associate,” payments of commissions or other compensation to brokers or others, the Rules' application to political action committees (PACs), and “effective dates” and “compliance dates” under the related recordkeeping rule.

Findings

Pay‐to‐play is the practice of making campaign contributions and related payments to elected officials in order to influence the awarding of lucrative contracts for the management of public pension plan assets and similar government investment accounts. The staff's answers to the FAQs announce cautious positions, do not address some of the more difficult issues advisers may face on a day‐to‐day basis, and are subject to change.

Originality/value

The paper provides practical guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
Recent regulatory actions focused on policies and procedures designed to safeguard material, non‐public information
Authors: Lane Jason
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review recent regulatory enforcement actions sanctioning firms for failure to safeguard material, non‐public information (MNPI).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews recent enforcement actions and examines the implications for other firms who may face similar scrutiny from regulators for deficient policies and procedures and controls relating to their information barriers; makes recommendations on how firms can avoid similar mistakes through improving internal controls.

Findings

Firms need to be especially vigilant in protecting their MNPI by reviewing their policies and procedures to reflect the firm's current business model. Firms must also take steps to ensure that supervisors fully understand their role in implementing and enforcing the firm's policies and procedures.

Practical implications

Firms should conduct a comprehensive review of their business to understand which units come into possession of MNPI and how related entities interact with one another and could potentially share MNPI. Once these tasks are complete, firms will be better positioned to review their policies and procedures relating to safeguarding MNPI. Failure to do so may result in substantial monetary fines and being forced to retain an independent consultant.

Originality/value

The paper serves as a reminder to firms about the implications of failing to have adequate controls to safeguard MNPI from both a monetary and public relations standpoint.
Selected FINRA notices and disciplinary actions, July‐August 2011
Authors: Davis Henry A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide selected Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulatory notices and disciplinary actions issued in July and August 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides Regulatory Notice 11‐31, July 2011, Credit Default Swaps: Interim Pilot Program on Margin Requirements for Credit Default Swaps; Notice 11‐37, July 2011, Trading Halts Due To Extraordinary Market Volatility: Trading Pause Rule Expanded to All NMS Stocks; Notice 11‐38, August 2011, Application of the SEC's Financial Responsibility Rules in Response to the Downgrade of US Long‐term Credit Rating by Standard & Poor's; Notice 11‐39, August 2011, Social Media Websites and the Use of Personal Devices for Business Communications: Guidance on Social Networking Websites and Business Communications; and selected FINRA disciplinary actions in July and August 2011.

Findings

Notice 11‐31: FINRA has extended the implementation of Rule 4240 so that it will expire on January 17, 2012; the Rule established an interim pilot program with respect to margin requirements for certain transactions in credit default swaps. Notice 11‐37: Beginning August 8, 2011, the trading pause pilot rule – currently applicable only to securities included in the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 1000® Index and a list of selected exchange‐traded products (ETPs) – will be expanded to include all National Market System (NMS) stocks. Notice 11‐38: FINRA staff has confirmed with the staff of the SEC that this ratings action by Standard & Poor's does not alter the net capital treatment of these government securities under SEA Rule 15c3‐1(c)(2)(vi)(A) and does not affect the definition of “qualified security” under SEA Rule 15c3‐3(a)(6). Notice 11‐39: Responds to questions regarding the application of Regulatory Notice 10‐06, January 2010, providing guidance on the application of FINRA rules governing communications with the public to social media sites and reminding firms of the recordkeeping, suitability, supervision and content requirements for such communications.

Originality/value

These are direct excerpts designed to provide a useful digest for the reader and an indication of regulatory trends.
Fit manufacturing: a framework for sustainability
Authors: Pham Duc T. , Thomas Andrew J.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

With the current global downturn, companies must develop new and innovative approaches to ensure that economic sustainability is achieved. The purpose of this paper is to propose a Fit Manufacturing Framework (FMF), the adoption of which can help manufacturing companies to become economically sustainable and operate effectively in a global competitive market. This contribution extends the previous work by the authors and provides an evolution on the initial work through enhancing the development of Fit manufacture through developing a more robust framework and a more comprehensive functional testing of the framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed FMF provides a new manufacturing management perspective and a new manufacturing management strategy for creating economically sustainable manufacturing organisations. It builds upon the principles of existing manufacturing paradigms, along with innovative management concepts, to set up the conditions necessary for sustainability. A pilot application of the framework in three SMEs shows positive initial results when assessed against four Measures of Performance.

Findings

Manufacturing strategies such as Lean and Agility allow companies to deliver bottom‐line savings in production terms, although their effectiveness depends upon the volume and demand profile of their products. The trend towards mass customisation requires companies to provide personalised products and services at mass production prices. This now places a further burden on companies and therefore a holistic manufacturing framework must be developed in order to ensure that the factory of the future is able to meet this new demand. This paper proposes a Fit manufacturing paradigm which integrates the manufacturing efficiencies achieved through Lean and Agility with the need to break into new markets through effective marketing and product innovation strategies to achieve long term economic sustainability. The small‐scale application of the approach in a case company shows the initial results to be positive when measured against key MOPs developed within this paper.

Originality/value

The development of a Fit paradigm aimed at tackling directly the issues of economic sustainability is proposed and is considered by the authors as one of a kind. Fit will also provide a framework for the implementation of sustainable manufacturing operations within organisations.
An assembly strategy scheduling method for human and robot coordinated cell manufacturing
Authors: Chen Fei , Sekiyama Kosuke , Huang Jian , Sun Baiqing , Sasaki Hironobu , Fukuda Toshio
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model of assembly strategy generation and selection for human and robot coordinated (HRC) cell assembly. High‐Mix, Low‐Volume production in small production manufacturing industry, tends to employ more flexible assembly cells. The authors propose innovative human and robot coordinated assembly cells to solve the problem of persistent growing cost for human resources and occasional changes in programs and configurations for robots. The first issue is to find out an optimal way to allocate the assembly subtasks to both humans and robots.

Design/methodology/approach

A dual Generalized Stochastic Petri Net (GSPN) model is theoretically studied and then off line built based on a practical assembly task for human and robot coordination. Based on GSPN, Monte Carlo method is carried out to study the time cost and payment cost or possible strategies, and Multiple‐Objective Optimization (MOOP) method related Cost‐effectiveness analysis is adopted to select the optimal ones.

Findings

It is discovered that human and robot coordinated assembly can reduce the assembly time and meanwhile reduce the assembly cost. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by comparing the simulation and experimental results.

Originality/value

The novelty with this work is that the human and robot coordinated flexible assembly cell, as the authors proved, is the main stream in small production in future due to the higher human source pressure from society and cost pressure upon the company. Based on this innovative work, the authors proposed a dual GSPN model to model the assembly task allocation process for human and robot, the model of which is also effective in modeling the possible robot and human behaviors.
Evolutionary clustering algorithm based on mixed measures
Authors: Ma Jingjing , Gong Maoguo , Jiao Licheng
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an evolutionary clustering algorithm based on mixed measure for complex distributed data.

Design/methodology/approach

In this method, the data are first partitioned into some spherical distributed sub‐clusters by using the Euclidean distance as the similarity measurement, and each clustering center represents all the members of corresponding cluster. Then, the clustering centers obtained in the first phase are clustered by using a novel manifold distance as the similarity measurement. The two clustering processes in this method are both based on evolutionary algorithm.

Findings

Theoretical analysis and experimental results on seven artificial data sets and seven UCI data sets with different structures show that the novel algorithm has the ability to identify clusters efficiently with no matter simple or complex, convex or non‐convex distribution. When compared with the genetic algorithm‐based clustering and the K‐means algorithm, the proposed algorithm outperformed the compared algorithms on most of the test data sets.

Originality/value

The method presented in this paper represents a new approach to solving clustering problems of complex distributed data. The novel method applies the idea “coarse clustering, fine clustering”, which executes coarse clustering by Euclidean distance and fine clustering by manifold distance as similarity measurements, respectively. The proposed clustering algorithm is shown to be effective in solving data clustering problems with different distribution.
Dentition of eight species of Mediterranean Sea Gobiidae: do dentition characters of gobies reflect phylogenetic relationships?
Authors: Kramer A. , Kovačić M. , Patzner R. A.
Published: December 2011

Oral and pharyngeal dentition was analysed in eight Mediterranean species of five different genera using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Number, position, shape and size of teeth in the jaws and the pharyngeal tooth plates were used as a basis for comparison among taxa. Three different groups could be established based on the dental morphology among the species investigated and homoplasy due to feeding ecology cannot be considered the reason for similarity among them. The established groups are suggested to reflect phylogenetic relationships and correspond with the scarce published data on the topic.
Paradigm shifts in fish conservation: moving to the ecosystem services concept
Authors: Cowx I. G. , Portocarrero Aya M.
Published: December 2011

Various factors constrain the existence and development of inland fishes and fisheries, such as pollution, habitat degradation, alien invasive species, local user conflicts, low social priority and inadequate research and funding. In many cases, however, degradation of the environment and loss of aquatic habitat are the predominant concerns for the conservation of freshwater aquatic biota. The need for concerted effort to prevent and reduce environmental degradation, as well as protection of freshwater fishes and fisheries as renewable common pool resources or entities in their own right, are the greatest challenges facing the conservation of fishes in inland waters. Unfortunately, traditional conservation practices such as regulation of exploitation, protected areas and habitat restoration have failed to arrest the alarming increase in number of threatened freshwater fish species worldwide. This paper examines the shifting paradigm of fisheries management from rule‐based regulation, through fishery enhancement towards the ecosystem approach to fisheries, with reference to inland waters, and how the emerging concept of ecosystem services coupled with traditional fish conservation management practices, institutional restructuring and integrated management planning should provide a more sustainable thrust to formulation and promotion of fish conservation initiatives.
Videodermoscopic pattern analysis of acral melanocytic nevi
Authors: KOKGIL Tuba D. , EKMEKCI Tugba R. , YASAR Sirin
Published: December 2011

Three major and three minor types of acral melanocytic lesions have been described: parallel furrow, lattice‐like, fibrillar, reticular, homogeneous and globular. To examine the dermoscopic patterns of acral melanocytic lesions and to investigate the association of these patterns with clinical features. This study included 419 acral melanocytic lesions of 295 patients. Dermoscopic images were stored in a standardized digital system and assessed. The incidence rates of the patterns were as follows: parallel furrow (62.5%), reticular (12.2%), globular (7.6%), fibrillar (5.0%), lattice‐like (4.3%), homogeneous (3.8%), non‐typical (3.8%), globulostreak‐like (0.5%) and parallel ridge (0.2%). There was a significant association between pattern and diameter; nevi showing globular pattern were significantly smaller than those showing lattice‐like pattern. There was a significant correlation between pattern and localization. The fibrillar pattern was observed more commonly on the feet, and the lattice‐like pattern was seen almost entirely on the hands. Homogeneous and globular patterns were proportionately more common on the feet than on the hands. A significant association was found between patterns and colors. Compared with the lattice‐like pattern, parallel furrow, fibrillar and homogeneous patterns were lighter in color; the globular pattern was darker than the homogeneous pattern. There was no significant correlations between pattern and clinical presentation. In conclusion, unlike all other studies, in the present study, the two most common patterns following the parallel furrow pattern were reticular and globular, which are minor patterns. Besides the differences in pattern distribution and inherent variability in individual assessment, the age of the study group and location of nevi influence the pattern, possibly in association with race.
Outcomes of Japanese breast cancer patients treated with pre‐operative and post‐operative anastrozole or tamoxifen
Authors: Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Takatsuka Yuichi , Imoto Shigeru , Inaji Hideo , Ikeda Tadashi , Akiyama Futoshi , Tamura Motoshi , Miyoshi Kazuya , Iwata Hiroji , Mitsuyama Shoshu , Noguchi Shinzaburo
Published: December 2011

The present study examined long‐term efficacy outcomes in a subgroup of postmenopausal, estrogen receptor‐positive Japanese breast cancer patients from the Pre‐Operative “Arimidex” Compared with Tamoxifen trial, following pre‐operative (3 months) and post‐operative (5 years) adjuvant treatment with either anastrozole or tamoxifen. Patients with large, potentially operable, locally‐advanced breast cancer were randomized to receive anastrozole (1 mg/day) plus tamoxifen placebo or tamoxifen (20 mg/day) plus anastrozole placebo pre‐operatively. After surgery at 3 months, patients continued on the same study medication as adjuvant therapy for up to 5 years or until recurrence, intolerable toxicity or withdrawal of patient consent. Recurrence‐free survival and overall survival were measured from the date of randomization to the date of recurrence or death, whichever occurred first. Patients were monitored for adverse events throughout the study period and up to 30 days following administration of the last study medication. During post‐operative adjuvant therapy, 4/48 (8%) anastrozole and 25/49 (51%) tamoxifen patients experienced recurrence. There was a significant difference in recurrence‐free survival between the two groups (hazard ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval 0.05–0.41; P = 0.0003). There was a significant increase in overall survival with anastrozole (0.21; 0.05–0.96; P = 0.0436) and there were 2/48 (4%) and 10/49 (20%) deaths with anastrozole and tamoxifen, respectively. Most patients responding to pre‐operative therapy remained recurrence‐free. Sequential pre‐operative/post‐operative treatment with anastrozole resulted in lower recurrence and death rates, compared with tamoxifen. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 491–496)
Genetic variant in CASP3 affects promoter activity and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Yu Xinfeng , Guo Yongli , Song Wenguang , Yu Dianke , Zhang Xuemei
Published: December 2011

Caspase‐3 (CASP3) is the main executioner of apoptosis, mediating both extrinsic and intrinsic cell death signaling pathways, and is involved in tumor behaviors. In this study, we investigated the association of two regulatory variants in CASP3 and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in 1026 cases and 1270 healthy controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed by logistic regression. The function of the CASP3 829 A>C polymorphism was examined by luciferase reporter assay and real‐time PCR. A significant increased risk of ESCC was found for the CASP3 829 AC and CC genotypes with OR (95% CI), 1.53 (1.26–1.89) and 1.42 (1.11–1.82), respectively. When stratified by age and gender, the risk of ESCC was more significant in younger (≤57 years) and male individuals. No significantly changed risk of ESCC was related to 20541 C>T variant. Luciferase reporter assay showed 829 A>C variant dramatically reduced the transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter gene by over 95% in both KYSE30 and KYSE450 esophageal cancer cells. Remarkably, the transcriptional activity of the 829C‐containing construct was much lower than the activity of the pGL3‐basic construct, with over 85% reduction in both cell lines. Real‐time PCR analyses showed that 829 AA genotype carriers had significantly higher RNA levels (0.015 ± 0.00216, n = 24) than the 829 AC genotype carriers (0.00969 ± 0.00136, n = 36), and 829 CC genotype carriers (0.00663 ± 0.00097, n = 20). These findings suggest that CASP3 829 A>C polymorphism may highly affect the function of caspase‐3 and play an important role in the development of ESCC in Chinese populations. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 555–560)
Enhanced growth reduces precocial male maturation in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Moreau Darek T. R. , Fleming Ian A.
Published: December 2011

1. Understanding the proximate and ultimate mechanisms shaping the expression of alternative reproductive phenotypes is a fundamental question in life‐history evolution. Precocial maturation in fishes, one such alternative phenotype, has been thought to reflect rapid growth and/or energy accumulation; however, mechanistically linking these specific traits to discrete life‐history patterns is complex and poorly understood.

2. Here, we use growth hormone (GH) transgenic Atlantic salmon to elucidate the effects of intrinsically fast growth on precocial male maturation as parr (freshwater life stage). Despite facilitating growth to sizes typical of mature wild‐type parr, transgenesis did not influence maturation in the first year of life. In the second year, the number of maturing transgenic parr was only half that of non‐transgenic individuals.

3. By manipulating intrinsic growth and controlling for both environment and genetic background, this study provides direct empirical evidence suggesting that the physiological mechanisms promoting growth do not play a causative role in precocial male maturation in fishes.

4. In addition, this study provides the first empirical data on the relative incidence of precocial male maturation in GH transgenic and non‐transgenic Atlantic salmon and, therefore, provides valuable information for the ecological risk assessment process.
Bioclimate and growth history affect beech lifespan in theItalianAlps andApennines
Authors: Di Filippo Alfredo , Biondi Franco , Maugeri Maurizio , Schirone Bartolomeo , Piovesan Gianluca
Published: December 2011

When site factors reduce growth rates, tree lifespan tends to increase. This study investigates processes leading to such inverse relationship inFagus sylvaticastands distributed along two elevation gradients, with an emphasis on climatic response, suppression periods, and growth trends. Dendrochronological records from old‐growth beech populations sampled at different elevations within two different bioclimatic regions (Alps vs.Apennines), were used to investigate factors that control tree lifespan. Differences between old‐growth (12) and nearby managed (15) stands were used to assess effects of silvicultural practices on maximum age. Logging reduced tree lifespan not only by removing older trees, but also by reducing the number of years beech individuals spent in the shaded understory. Tree lifespan and growth rates were affected by climate (spring–summer temperature) and were inversely related to one another along elevation gradients. The greatest lifespan was observed in old‐growth high‐mountain populations, and was related not only to slower growth due to a shorter growing season, but also to multidecadal periods of growth suppression during the initial development stages in the understory (i.e., slower growth rates at the youngest cambial ages). Past unfavorable climatic periods (in this case, theLittleIceAge) also helped increase tree lifespan. Using a linear model, we estimated a reduction in beech lifespan of 23 ± 5 years for each degree of warming. Basal area increment of trees with the maximum observed lifespan showed an increasing trend over time. Because growth of old (>300 years) trees has increased in theAlps, while it has recently declined in theApennines, different bioclimatic regions can have opposite responses to global climatic change. In the next decades, if warming continues, beech lifespan could be reduced in theAlps by faster growth and in theApennines by drought‐induced mortality.
Region‐wide changes in marine ecosystem dynamics: state‐space models to distinguish trends from step changes
Authors: Spencer Matthew , Mieszkowska Nova , Robinson Leonie A. , Simpson Stephen D. , Burrows Michael T. , Birchenough Silvana N. R. , Capasso Eva , Cleall‐Harding Polly , Crummy Julia , Duck Callan , Eloire Damien , Frost Matthew , Hall Ailsa J. , Hawkins Stephen J. , Johns David G. , Sims David W. , Smyth Timothy J. , Frid Chris L. J.
Published: December 2011

Regime shifts are sudden changes in ecosystem structure that can be detected across several ecosystem components. The concept that regime shifts are common in marine ecosystems has gained popularity in recent years. Many studies have searched for the step‐like changes in ecosystem state expected under a simple interpretation of this idea. However, other kinds of change, such as pervasive trends, have often been ignored. We assembled over 300 ecological time series from sevenUKmarine regions, covering two to three decades. We developed state‐space models for the first principal component of the time series in each region, a common measure of ecosystem state. Our models allowed both trends and step changes, possibly in combination. We found trends in three of seven regions and step changes in two of seven regions. Gradual and sudden changes are therefore important trajectories to consider in marine ecosystems.
Predicting the potential distribution of a riparian invasive plant: the effects of changing climate, flood regimes and land‐use patterns
Authors: Murray Justine V. , Stokes Kate E. , van Klinken Rieks D.
Published: December 2011

Climate change is likely to affect plants in multiple ways, but predicting the consequences for habitat suitability requires a process‐based understanding of the interactions. This is at odds with existing approaches that are mostly phenomenological and largely restricted to predicting the effects of changing temperature and rainfall on species distributions at a coarse spatial scale. We examine the multiple effects of climate change, including predicting the effects of altered flood regimes and land‐use change, on the potential distribution of the invasive riparian species lippia (Phyla canescens) across a 26 000 km2 catchment in eastern Australia. We determined habitat suitability for lippia by combining process‐understanding of experts and an eco‐physiological bioclimatic model within a Bayesian belief network. The bioclimatic model predicted substantial changes in habitat suitability by 2070 under both a wetter (Echam Mark 3) and drier (Hadley Centre Mark 2) climate change scenario, but only the more likely drier scenario reduced suitability in our test region. The area suitable for lippia was predicted to increase at least threefold with increased flooding under a wet climate scenario, although this would be partially negated by land‐use change to cultivation. The region would become unsuitable to lippia with reduced flooding under a drier scenario irrespective of land‐use changes, although existing populations would persist if grazing persisted. Independent field validation verified model structure and parameterization, and therefore the opinion of experts, but identified site‐scale deficiencies in the available environmental data layers. Model predictions suggest that adaptation options for managing lippia will be greatly reduced under a drying scenario, but identify potential restoration opportunities under either scenario. This work highlights the value of predictive models that incorporate process‐understanding at sufficiently fine spatial resolution to capture the important processes underpinning habitat suitability.
Monocytes from tuberculosis patients that exhibit cleaved caspase 9 and denaturalized cytochrome c are more susceptible to death mediated by Toll‐like receptor 2
Authors: Chávez‐Galán Leslie , Sada‐Ovalle Isabel , Baez‐Saldaña Renata , Chávez Raúl , Lascurain Ricardo
Published: December 2011

Experimental models have shown that lipoproteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis induce apoptosis via Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) in the THP‐1 cell line and in monocyte‐derived macrophages from healthy volunteers. We found an increased percentage of circulating monocytes in patients with tuberculosis (TB) in comparison to healthy controls. Patients with TB showed a higher TLR2 and TLR4 expression density on monocytes, and a higher proportion of TLR2+ monocytes, as well as increased serum tumour necrosis factor‐α level. In culture, monocytes from TB patients were more susceptible to death than monocytes from healthy controls. Moreover, death‐susceptible monocytes were positive to both TLR2 and TLR4 at the start of culture. Freshly obtained monocytes from TB patients exhibited cleaved caspase 9 and denaturalized cytochrome c. For levels of caspase 8, apoptosis‐regulating signal kinase 1, and phospho‐p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase there was no difference between samples from TB patients and from healthy controls. The culture filtrate antigen extract from M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain induced the death of monocytes from patient with TB after a 4‐hr incubation, which was abrogated by neutralizing antibodies for TLR2 but not TLR4. Similarly, Pam3CSK4, a synthetic agonist triacylated ligand to TLR2, also induced the death of monocytes, although it did not increase levels of cleaved caspase 9. Our findings suggest that monocytes from TB patients are more susceptible to death, probably through mitochondrial damage, and that cell death increases in the presence of mycobacterial antigen by a TLR2‐dependent pathway.
Application of the dual attribute time‐intensity (DATI) sensory method to the temporal measurement of bitterness and astringency in sorghum
Authors: Kobue‐Lekalake Rosemary I. , Taylor John R. N. , de Kock Henriëtte L.
Published: December 2011

Bitterness and astringency are attributes generally cited as the cause of tannin sorghums being unpalatable. The objective here was to determine the effect of sorghums with varying tannin content on bitterness and astringency simultaneously using dual attribute time‐intensity (DATI). A trained panel assessed bitterness and astringency of bran infusions of tannin and tannin‐free sorghums. In both sorghum types, bitterness developed and reached maximum intensity faster (Tmax 22.5 s; P < 0.001) than astringency (27.9 s). The duration of the astringent sensation (Dtot 69.9 s) lasted longer than bitterness (66.3 s). Overall, the temporal parameters for bitterness distinguished infusions from tannin and tannin‐free sorghums slightly more clearly than those for astringency. The research established that, for sorghum, bitterness and astringency are related. The DATI method also revealed that panellists’ perceptions of the time course of bitterness and astringency differ.
Parasites and invasions: a biogeographic examination of parasites and hosts in native and introduced ranges
Authors: Blakeslee April M. H. , Altman Irit , Miller A. Whitman , Byers James E. , Hamer Caitlin E. , Ruiz Gregory M.
Published: December 2011

Aim  To use a comparative approach to understand parasite demographic patterns in native versus introduced populations, evaluating the potential roles of host invasion history and parasite life history.

Location  North American east and west coasts with a focus on San Francisco Bay (SFB).

Methods  Species richness and prevalence of trematode parasites were examined in the native and introduced ranges of two gastropod host species, Ilyanassa obsoleta and Littorina saxatilis. We divided the native range into the putative source area for introduction and areas to the north and south; we also sampled the overlapping introduced range in SFB. We dissected 14,781 snails from 103 populations and recorded the prevalence and identity of trematode parasites. We compared trematode species richness and prevalence across the hosts’ introduced and native ranges, and evaluated the influence of host availability on observed patterns.

Results  Relative to the native range, both I. obsoleta and L. saxatilis have escaped (lost) parasites in SFB, and L. saxatilis demonstrated a greater reduction of trematode diversity and infection prevalence than I. obsoleta. This was not due to sampling inequalities between the hosts. Instead, rarefaction curves suggested complete capture of trematode species in native source and SFB subregions, except for L. saxatilis in SFB, where infection was extremely rare. For I. obsoleta, infection prevalence of trematodes using fish definitive hosts was significantly lower in SFB compared to the native range, unlike those using bird hosts. Host availability partly explained the presence of introduced trematodes in SFB.

Main conclusions  Differential losses of parasite richness and prevalence for the two gastropod host species in their introduced range is probably the result of several mechanistic factors: time since introduction, propagule pressure, vector of introduction, and host availability. Moreover, the recent occurrence of L. saxatilis’ invasion and its active introduction vector suggest that its parasite diversity and distribution will probably increase over time. Our study suggests that host invasion history and parasite life history play key roles in the extent and diversity of trematodes transferred to introduced populations. Our results also provide vital information for understanding community‐level influences of parasite introductions, as well as for disease ecology in general.
A protocol for temporal calibration of general area cladograms
Authors: Folinsbee Kaila E. , Evans David C.
Published: December 2011

Aim To describe a protocol for incorporating a temporal dimension into historical biogeographical analysis, while maintaining the essential independence of all datasets, involving the generation of general area cladograms.

Location Global.

Methods General area cladograms (GACs) are a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of a set of areas and unrelated clades within those areas. Nodes on a GAC correspond to speciation events in a group of taxa; general nodes are those at which multiple unrelated clades speciate. We undertake temporal calibration of GACs using molecular clock estimates of splitting events between extant taxa as well as first appearance data from the fossil record. We present two examples based on re‐analysis of previously published data: first, a temporally calibrated GAC generated from secondary Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA) of six extant bird clades from the south‐west of North America using molecular clock estimates of divergence times; and second, an analysis of African Neogene mammals based on a phylogenetic analysis for comparing trees (PACT) analysis.

Results A hypothetical example demonstrates how temporal calibration reveals potentially critical information about the timing of both unique and general events, while also illustrating instances of incongruence between dates generated from molecular clock estimates and fossils. For the African Neogene mammal dataset, our analysis reveals that most mammal clades underwent geodispersal associated with the Neogene climatic optimum (c. 16 Ma) and vicariant speciation in central Africa correlated with increased aridity and cooler temperatures around 2.5 Ma.

Main conclusions Temporally calibrated GACs are valuable tools for assessing whether coordinated patterns of speciation are associated with large‐scale climatic or tectonic phenomena.
Understanding the online information‐seeking behaviours of young people: the role of networks of support
Authors: Eynon R. , Malmberg L.‐E.
Published: December 2011

Information seeking is one of the most popular online activities for young people and can provide an additional information channel, which may enhance learning. In this study, we propose and test a model that adds to the existing literature by examining the ways in which parents, schools, and friends (what we call networks of support) effect young people's online information behaviours, while at the same time taking into account young people's individual characteristics, confidence, and skills to use the Internet. Using path analysis, we demonstrate the significance of networks of support in understanding the uptake of online information seeking both directly and indirectly (through enhancing self‐concept for learning and online skills). Young people who have better networks of support, particularly friends who are engaged in technology, are more likely to engage in online information seeking. While quantitative models of this nature cannot capture the complexity of individual online search practices, these findings may assist in the development of policy and practice to support young people to make the most effective use of the Internet for information seeking.
On the cusp of change: examining pre‐service teachers' beliefs about ICT and envisioning the digital classroom of the future
Authors: Fluck A. , Dowden T.
Published: December 2011

Few contemporary pre‐service teachers would have completed their schooling with the extensive aid of computers. Yet, classroom use of information and communication technology (ICT) is now ubiquitous in much of the world. Today's pre‐service teachers are the ‘cusp generation’ who, at a unique moment in history, straddle the two worlds of the ballpoint pen and the computer mouse. This study examined pre‐service teachers' beliefs about their stakeholder role in terms of influencing ICT innovation and adoption. The pre‐service teachers expected their future pupils to learn with computers much more extensively than they had; however, their beliefs about the transformative use of ICT in schooling were divergent. To address these findings, a teaching intervention was designed, which enabled pre‐service teachers to ‘envision’ their practice in the digital classroom of the future. This involved the generation of new learning outcomes only achievable using ICT in pedagogy and assessment, and unfettered by the confines of the traditional pre‐digital curriculum. Ninety‐five per cent of the cohort was assessed as completing the intervention successfully. This paper finishes by discussing methods of equipping the cusp generation to negotiate the tensions inherent between current classroom practice and the rapid emergence of digital technologies in schools.
Disappearing and reappearing differences in drug‐eluting stent use by race
Authors: Federspiel Jerome J. , Stearns Sally C. , Reiter Kristin L. , Geissler Kimberley H. , Triplette Matthew A. , D'Arcy Laura P. , Sheridan Brett C. , Rossi Joseph S.
Published: December 2011

Rationale, aims and objectives  Drug‐eluting coronary stents (DES) rapidly dominated the marketplace in the United States after approval in 2003, but utilization rates were initially lower among African American patients. We assess whether racial differences persisted as DES diffused into practice.

Methods  Medicare claims data were used to identify coronary stenting procedures among elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Regression models of the choice of DES versus bare mental stent controlled for demographics, ACS type, co‐morbidities and hospital characteristics. Diffusion was assessed in the short run (2003–2004) and long run (2007), with the effect of race calculated to allow for time‐varying effects.

Results  The sample included 381 887 Medicare beneficiaries treated with stent insertion; approximately 5% were African American. Initially (May 2003–February 2004), African American race was associated with lower DES use compared to other races (44.3% versus 46.5%, P < 0.01). Once DES usage was high in all patients (March–December 2004), differences were not significant (79.8% versus 80.3%, P = 0.45). Subsequent concerns regarding DES safety caused reductions in DES use, with African Americans having lower use than other racial groups in 2007 (63.1% versus 65.2%, P < 0.01).

Conclusions  Racial disparities in DES use initially disappeared during a period of rapid diffusion and high usage rates; the reappearance of disparities in use by 2007 may reflect DES use tailored to unmeasured aspects of case mix and socio‐economic status. Further work is needed to understand whether underlying differences in race reflect decisions regarding treatment appropriateness.
The process evaluation of two interventions aimed at portion size in worksite cafeterias
Authors: Vermeer W. M. , Leeuwis F. H. , Koprulu S. , Zouitni O. , Seidell J. C. , Steenhuis I. H. M.
Published: December 2011

How to cite this article
 Vermeer W.M., Leeuwis F.H., Koprulu S., Zouitni O., Seidell J.C. & Steenhuis I.H.M. (2012) The process evaluation of two interventions aimed at portion size in worksite cafeterias. J Hum Nutr Diet.25, 180–188

Background:  In a previous study, the effectiveness of introducing a small meal in addition to the existing size and a proportional pricing strategy have been assessed in Dutch worksite cafeterias. To assess the degree of implementation and to inform the design of future interventions, the present study aimed to describe the process evaluation of both interventions.

Methods:  Process evaluation components from Baranowski and Stables, and Rogers (i.e. Recruitment, Maintenance, Context, Resources, Implementation, Exposure, Contamination, and Continued use) were chosen as a theoretical basis. The process evaluation involved qualitative (e.g. structured observations, semi‐structured interviews) and quantitative data (e.g. consumer questionnaires) collected from 17 intervention and eight control worksite cafeterias.

Results:  In all intervention cafeterias, two portion sizes were offered. The pricing instructions were followed in 13 intervention cafeterias. The cafeterias managers indicated that they did not consider offering large and small meals as being complex, risky or time‐consuming to implement. Some managers perceived the consumer demand as high, others as (too) low. One year after the study had ended, nine of the intervention cafeterias had continued (at least partly) to follow the protocol.

Conclusions:  Offering a smaller portion size in addition to the existing size, as well as proportional pricing, was generally implemented as prescribed by the protocol and can be considered promising in terms of continued use. However, additional efforts are needed to make the intervention more effective in motivating consumers to replace their large portion with a small portion.
Pharmacokinetics of oral rufinamide in dogs
Authors: WRIGHT H. M. , CHEN A. V. , MARTINEZ S. E. , DAVIES N. M.
Published: December 2011

Wright, H. M., Chen, A. V., Martinez, S. E., Davies, N. M. Pharmacokinetics of oral rufinamide in dogs.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 529–533.

The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic properties and short‐term adverse effect profile of single‐dose oral rufinamide in healthy dogs. Six healthy adult dogs were included in the study. The pharmacokinetics of rufinamide were calculated following administration of a single mean oral dose of 20.0 mg/kg (range 18.6–20.8 mg/kg). Plasma rufinamide concentrations were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using commercial software. No adverse effects were observed. The mean terminal half‐life was 9.86 ± 4.77 h. The mean maximum plasma concentration was 19.6 ± 5.8 μg/mL, and the mean time to maximum plasma concentration was 9.33 ± 4.68 h. Mean clearance was 1.45 ± 0.70 L/h. The area under the curve (to infinity) was 411 ± 176 μg·h/mL. Results of this study suggest that rufinamide given orally at 20 mg/kg every 12 h in healthy dogs should result in a plasma concentration and half‐life sufficient to achieve the therapeutic level extrapolated from humans without short‐term adverse effects. Further investigation into the efficacy and long‐term safety of rufinamide in the treatment of canine epilepsy is warranted.
Mammalian hybrid zones: a review
Authors: Shurtliff Quinn R.
Published: December 2011

A hybrid zone is a region where interbreeding occurs between two or more genetically distinct populations. Recent studies have shown that mammalian hybrid zones occur in nature more frequently than previously thought.

I summarize the history of research on mammalian hybrid zones, highlighting contributions that demonstrate genetic, behavioural and environmental mechanisms responsible for spatial distribution of genotypes, maintenance or elimination of reproductive barriers and evolutionary outcomes of hybridization.

The role of hybridization in mammalian evolution, adaptation and diversification is demonstrated by the existence of hybrid swarms (e.g. caribou) and species genesis via homoploid hybridization (e.g. primates, bats).

Mammalian hybrid zones are ideal settings in which to investigate genetic mechanisms that influence mate preferences as well as other questions regarding sexual selection. Many evolutionary processes and mechanisms associated with sexual selection have been well demonstrated in primate, rodent and seal hybrid zones by combining behavioural and genetic, and environmental techniques.

Investigations of interbreeding chromosomal races of mouseMus musculusand shrewSorex araneusprovide insight into the role of chromosome rearrangements in the speciation process.

The genomes of some mammals that hybridize in nature are fully sequenced, and rapid progress is being made towards understanding genetic underpinnings of phenotypes governing reproductive isolation. Future studies of mammalian hybrid zones will incorporate genomic techniques with increasing frequency and taxonomic representation. Such techniques may include examination of gene expression patterns using microarrays or large‐scale analysis of introgression using markers from multiple genetic systems (e.g. mitochondria, sex chromosomes).

As methods improve, researchers will be better positioned to advise managers and policy makers about the potential outcomes of hybridization. This may be increasingly important as previously isolated forms come into contact as a result of global climate change.
Ecological aspects of plant selenium hyperaccumulation
Authors: El Mehdawi A. F. , Pilon‐Smits E. A. H.
Published: December 2011

Hyperaccumulators are plants that accumulate toxic elements to extraordinary levels. Selenium (Se) hyperaccumulators can contain 0.1–1.5% of their dry weight as Se, levels toxic to most other organisms. In this review we summarise what is known about the ecological functions and implications of Se (hyper)accumulation by plants. Selenium promotes hyperaccumulator growth and also offers a plant several ecological advantages through negative effects on Se‐sensitive partners. High tissue Se levels reduce herbivory and pathogen infection, and high‐Se litter deposition can inhibit neighbouring plants. There is no evidence for a cost of hyperaccumulation in terms of reproductive functions or pollinator visitation. Hyperaccumulators offer a niche for Se‐tolerant herbivores, pollinators, microbes and neighbouring plants. They may even facilitate these partners through Se enrichment: neighbouring plants with elevated Se levels enjoy enhanced growth and reduced herbivory. Through combined negative and positive effects on ecological partners, Se hyperaccumulators likely affect local plant, microbial and animal species composition and richness, favouring Se‐tolerant species at different trophic levels. By locally concentrating Se and altering its chemical form, Se hyperaccumulators likely play an important role in Se entry into, and Se cycling through, seleniferous ecosystems. These findings are of significance since they provide insight into the ecological reverberations of Se hyperaccumulation, and shed light on the possible selection pressures that have led to the evolution of this fascinating phenomenon. Better ecological insight will also help in the management of seleniferous areas and the agricultural production of Se‐rich crops for phytoremediation or biofortification.