bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Mastering an unpredictable everyday life after stroke’– older women’s experiences of caring and living with their partners
Authors: Gosman‐Hedström Gunilla , Dahlin‐Ivanoff Synneve
Published: February 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 587–597

‘Mastering an unpredictable everyday life after stroke’– older women’s experiences of caring and living with their partners

Introduction:  The shift from older persons living in institutions to living in the community naturally affects both the older persons and their partners. The informal care is often taken for granted, and the research that focuses on the diversity of older female carers needs is scarce.

Aim:  To explore and learn from the older women how they experience their life situation and formal support as carers of their partners after stroke and to suggest clinical implications.

Method:  The design of the study is qualitative being based on the focus group method. Sixteen carers, median age 74 years (range 67–83), participated in four focus group discussions, which each met once for not more than 2 hours.

Findings:  The discussions resulted in one comprehensive theme; ‘Mastering an uncertain and unpredictable everyday life’. Three subthemes emerged from the material: ‘Living with another man’ where the carers discussed not only the marked change in their partner’s personality, but also the loss of a life‐companion and their mutual intellectual contact; ‘Fear of it happening again’, comprising the carers’ experiences of fear and confinement, of always having to be ready to help and of being trapped at home; ‘Ongoing negotiation’, referring to the carers’ struggling and negotiating not only with their partners, but also with themselves and formal care for time to themselves.

Conclusion:  This study helps us to understand how these older women tried to master an uncertain and unpredictable life. Their life had changed radically; now they were always on call to help their partners and felt tied to home. The results draw attention to the carers’ need for time to themselves, a greater knowledge of stroke and continuous support from formal care.
Effects of sewage sludge stabilization on organic‐N mineralization in two soils
Authors: Corrêa R. S. , White R. E. , Weatherley A. J.
Published: February 2012

Sewage sludge is a valuable source of organic matter, N, P and certain micronutrients that have beneficial effects on plant growth and biomass production. However, sanitary regulations often require the stabilization of sewage materials prior to applying them to soils as biosolids. Environmental regulations also demand appropriate management of biosolid‐N to avoid groundwater contamination. Because stabilization processes usually make sewage sludge less putrescible, we hypothesized that the mineralization rates of organic‐N from stabilized biosolids would be affected. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mineralization of five biosolids in two soils – a sandy Spodosol and a clayey Oxisol. Digested sludge, composted sludge, limed sludge, heat‐dried sludge and solar‐irradiated sludge were mixed with soil samples at a concentration of 32.6 mg N/kg soil (1.0 dry t/ha of digested sludge) and incubated at 25 °C in a humidity chamber for 23 weeks. Results showed that the stabilization processes generally slowed the release of mineral‐N in soils relative to the digested sludge from which the biosolids originated. However, increments in the levels of mineral‐N were more influenced by soil type than by the type of stabilization process applied to the sewage sludge. Mineralization rates were up to 5‐fold higher in the Oxisol than in the Spodosol soil, and as a result, organic‐N in biosolids mineralized 10–24% in Spodosol and 23–52% in Oxisol. Any appropriate plan for the management of biosolid‐N for plant use should consider the interaction between soil type and biosolid type.
Development of operational models of receptor activation including constitutive receptor activity and their use to determine the efficacy of the chemokine CCL17 at the CC chemokine receptor CCR4
Authors: Slack RJ , Hall DA
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The operational model provides a key conceptual framework for the analysis of pharmacological data. However, this model does not include constitutive receptor activity, a frequent phenomenon in modern pharmacology, particularly in recombinant systems. Here, we developed extensions of the operational model which include constitutive activity and applied them to effects of agonists at the chemokine receptor CCR4.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of agonists of CCR4 on [35S]GTPγS binding to recombinant cell membranes and on the filamentous (F‐) actin content of human CD4+ CCR4+ T cells were determined. The basal [35S]GTPγS binding was changed by varying the GDP concentration whilst the basal F‐actin contents of the higher expressing T cell populations were elevated, suggesting constitutive activity of CCR4. Both sets of data were analysed using the mathematical models.

RESULTS The affinity of CCL17 (also known as TARC) derived from analysis of the T cell data (pKa= 9.61 ± 0.17) was consistent with radioligand binding experiments (9.50 ± 0.11) while that from the [35S]GTPγS binding experiments was lower (8.27 ± 0.09). Its intrinsic efficacy differed between the two systems (110 in T cells vs. 11).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The presence of constitutive receptor activity allows the absolute intrinsic efficacy of agonists to be determined without a contribution from the signal transduction system. Intrinsic efficacy estimated in this way is consistent with Furchgott's definition of this property. CCL17 may have a higher intrinsic efficacy at CCR4 in human T cells than that expressed recombinantly in CHO cells.
Antidepressant‐like effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are due to activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and neurogenesis in the hippocampus
Authors: Jiang Bo , Xiong Zhe , Yang Jun , Wang Wei , Wang Yue , Hu Zhuang‐Li , Wang Fang , Chen Jian‐Guo
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is one of the major bioactive ingredients of Panax ginseng with little toxicity and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant‐like effect of Rg1 in models of depression in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of Rg1 were assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Rg1 was also investigated in the chronic mild stress (CMS) mouse model of depression with imipramine as the positive control. Changes in hippocampal neurogenesis and spine density, the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling pathway, and serum corticosterone level after chronic stress and Rg1 treatment were then investigated. The tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and the tyrosine kinase B inhibitor were also used to explore the antidepressive mechanisms of Rg1.

KEY RESULTS Ginsenoside Rg1 exhibited antidepressant‐like activity in the FST and TST in mice without affecting locomotor activity. It was also effective in the CMS model of depression. Furthermore, Rg1 up‐regulated the BDNF signalling pathway in the hippocampus and down‐regulated serum corticosterone level during the CMS procedure. In addition, Rg1 was able to reverse the decrease in dendritic spine density and hippocampal neurogenesis caused by CMS. However, Rg1 had no discernable effect on the monoaminergic system.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our results provide the first evidence that Rg1 has antidepressant activity via activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and up‐regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis.
Sirtuin 6 protects cardiomyocytes from hypertrophy in vitro via inhibition of NF‐κB‐dependent transcriptional activity
Authors: Yu Shan‐Shan , Cai Yi , Ye Jian‐Tao , Pi Rong‐Biao , Chen Shao‐Rui , Liu Pei‐Qing , Shen Xiao‐Yan , Ji Yong
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is involved in regulation of glucose and fat metabolism. However, its possible contribution to cardiac dysfunction remains to be determined. In the present study, the effect of SIRT6 on cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (AngII) and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The expression and deacetylase activity of SIRT6 were measured in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by AngII. After SIRT6 overexpression by transfection, or depletion by RNA interference in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, cellular hypertrophy was monitored by measuring cell surface area and the mRNA levels of hypertrophic biomarkers. Further, the interaction between SIRT6 and the transcription factor NF‐κB was investigated by co‐immunoprecipitation, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression and deacetylase activity of SIRT6 were measured in vivo, using the abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) model of cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

KEY RESULTS In AngII‐induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and also in AAC‐induced hypertrophic hearts, the expression of SIRT6 protein was upregulated, while its deacetylase activity was decreased. Overexpression of wild‐type SIRT6 but not its catalytically inactive mutant, attenuated AngII‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We further demonstrated a physical interaction between SIRT6 and NF‐κB catalytic subunit p65, whose transcriptional activity could be repressed by SIRT6 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings suggest that SIRT6 suppressed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro via inhibition of NF‐κB‐dependent transcriptional activity and that this effect was dependent on its deacetylase activity.
The Evolution of Facilitated Industrial Symbiosis
Authors: Paquin Raymond L. , Howard‐Grenville Jennifer
Published: February 2012

While much work has been done on the conditions surrounding the emergence and establishment of industrial symbiosis (IS), new attention is being paid to understanding the evolution of IS over time. We demonstrate empirically how a new, facilitated IS initiative developed and evolved over an 8‐year period. We explore its network evolution by considering how the facilitator's actions enabled and precluded two fundamental network processes—serendipitous and goal‐directed processes. We discuss implications for a more generalized theory of IS development by exploring why and how different evolutionary trajectories may unfold.
Methodological Aspects of Applying Life Cycle Assessment to Industrial Symbioses
Authors: Mattila Tuomas , Lehtoranta Suvi , Sokka Laura , Melanen Matti , Nissinen Ari
Published: February 2012

In view of recent studies of the historical development and current status of industrial symbiosis (IS), life cycle assessment (LCA) is proposed as a general framework for quantifying the environmental performance of by‐product exchange. Recent guidelines for LCA (International Reference Life Cycle Data System [ILCD] guidelines) are applied to answer the main research questions in the IS literature reviewed. A typology of five main research questions is proposed: (1) analysis, (2) improvement, and (3) expansion of existing systems; (4) design of new eco‐industrial parks, and (5) restructuring of circular economies. The LCA guidelines were found useful in framing the question and choosing an appropriate reference case for comparison. The selection of a correct reference case reduces the risk of overestimating the benefits of by‐product exchange. In the analysis of existing systems, environmentally extended input‐output analysis (EEIOA) can be used to streamline the analysis and provide an industry average baseline for comparison. However, when large‐scale changes are applied to the system, more sophisticated tools are necessary for assessment of the consequences, from market analysis to general equilibrium modeling and future scenario work. Such a rigorous application of systems analysis was not found in the current IS literature, but would benefit the field substantially, especially when the environmental impact of large‐scale economic changes is analyzed.
Redefining Industrial Symbiosis
Authors: Lombardi D. Rachel , Laybourn Peter
Published: February 2012

The most commonly cited definition of industrial symbiosis (IS), by Chertow (2000), has served well to foster discussion and research for more than a decade. The definition reflected the state of research and practice at the time; as both have advanced, some terms have been interpreted in substantially different ways. In this article we analyze those generally used terms for their connection to the ecological metaphor that is the root of industrial ecology, and their varied interpretations in IS research and practice over time. We then propose an updated definition intended to communicate the essence of IS as a tool for innovative green growth: IS engages diverse organizations in a network to foster eco‐innovation and long‐term culture change. Creating and sharing knowledge through the network yields mutually profitable transactions for novel sourcing of required inputs and value‐added destinations for non‐product outputs, as well as improved business and technical processes. We posit that, although geographic proximity is often associated with IS, it is neither necessary nor sufficient—nor is a singular focus on physical resource exchange.
Observations of Adolescent Peer Group Interactions as a Function of Within‐ and Between‐Group Centrality Status
Authors: Ellis Wendy E. , Dumas Tara M. , Mahdy Jasmine C. , Wolfe David A.
Published: February 2012

Observations of adolescent (n = 258; M age = 15.45) peer group triads (n = 86) were analyzed to identify conversation and interaction styles as a function of within‐group and between‐group centrality status. Group members' discussions about hypothetical dilemmas were coded for agreements, disagreements, commands, and opinions. Interactions during a hypothetical decision were rated for openness, dominance, aggression, and prosocial behavior. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that higher within‐group status predicted more disagreements, commands, and less openness than lower within‐group status. Interactions showed that prosocial and aggressive behavior varied as a function of individual status in low‐status but not high‐status groups. Boys, but not girls, engaged in more openness in higher status groups. Results provide insights into peer socialization.
Co‐Op Advertising in Dynamic Retail Oligopolies
Authors: He Xiuli , Krishnamoorthy Anand , Prasad Ashutosh , Sethi Suresh P.
Published: February 2012

We study a supply chain in which a consumer goods manufacturer sells its product through a retailer. The retailer undertakes promotional expenditures, such as advertising, to increase sales and to compete against other retailer(s). The manufacturer supports the retailer’s promotional expenditure through a cooperative advertising program by reimbursing a portion (called the subsidy rate) of the retailer’s promotional expenditure. To determine the subsidy rate, we formulate a Stackelberg differential game between the manufacturer and the retailer, and a Nash differential subgame between the retailer and the competing retailer(s). We derive the optimal feedback promotional expenditures of the retailers and the optimal feedback subsidy rate of the manufacturer, and show how they are influenced by market parameters. An important finding is that the manufacturer should support its retailer only when a subsidy threshold is crossed. The impact of competition on this threshold is nonmonotone. Specifically, the manufacturer offers more support when its retailer competes with one other retailer but its support starts decreasing with the presence of additional retailers. In the case where the manufacturer sells through all retailers, we show under certain assumptions that it should support only one dominant retailer. We also describe how we can incorporate retail price competition into the model.
Serial Chain Merger Evaluation Model and Application to Mortgage Banking*
Authors: Wu Desheng Dash , Birge John R.
Published: February 2012

Mortgage banking operations can be viewed from a supply chain perspective, where the primary and secondary markets are upstream and downstream chain members, respectively. This article describes a serial‐chain‐merger data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to assess potential gains from the merger of different chain operations. We show that in our framework the merger of different chains with many sub‐chains is efficient within the DEA paradigm if and only if the mergers of sub‐chain members are all efficient. A case study of a banking operations merger is conducted to illustrate and validate the proposed approach. The computations show that merger of operations can result in overall efficiency improvement in the banking industry if the merger preserves the features assumed in the DEA model.
Order Management in the Customization‐Responsiveness Squeeze*
Authors: Tenhiälä Antti , Ketokivi Mikko
Published: February 2012

Make‐to‐order (MTO) products may be either customized or standard, and customization can occur either at the configuration or component level. Consequently, MTO production processes can be divided into three customization gestalts: non‐customizers, custom assemblers, and custom producers. In this article, we examine how the multilevel nature of customization affects order management in processes that produce complex MTO products. We first empirically validate the existence of the three customization gestalts and subsequently, analyze the order management challenges and solutions in each gestalt in a sample of 163 MTO production processes embedded in seven different supply chains. In the analyses, we follow a mixed‐methods approach, combining a quantitative survey with qualitative interview data. The results show that important contingencies make different order management practices effective in different gestalts. Further qualitative inquiry reveals that some seemingly old‐fashioned practices, such as available‐to‐promise verifications, are effective but commonly neglected in many organizations. The results also challenge some of the conventional wisdom about custom assembly (and indirectly, mass customization). For example, the systematic configuration management methods—conventionally associated with project business environments—appear to be equally important in custom assembly.
Heterostructured Ceramic Powders for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production: Nanostructured TiO2 Shells Surrounding Microcrystalline (Ba,Sr)TiO3 Cores
Authors: Li Li , Rohrer Gregory S. , Salvador Paul A.
Published: February 2012

Heterostructured photocatalysts were prepared to have nanostructured (ns) TiO2 shells surrounding microcrystalline (mc) cores of (Ba,Sr)TiO3. The as‐prepared heterostructures were annealed between 400°C and 600°C to improve crystallinity and core‐shell interfacial bonding. X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and gas adsorption measurements demonstrated that 50 nm thick shells composed of nanocrystalline and nanoporous TiO2 surrounded mc‐cores such that the heterostructured particles had surface areas of 50–100 m2/g. The mc‐(Ba,Sr)TiO3/ns‐TiO2 core‐shell photocatalysts annealed at 600°C had slightly reduced surface areas, but had the highest rates of photochemical hydrogen production from water/methanol solutions, rates much greater than those for ns‐TiO2 or mc‐(Ba,Sr)TiO3 alone. Such heterostructured powders represent a new strategy for the design of efficient photocatalysts and the use of nanostructured catalytic coatings.
Driving Under the Influence of Amphetamine‐Like Drugs
Authors: Musshoff Frank , Madea Burkhard
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  Scientific opinions differ whether the use of stimulants causes deterioration in driving skills. In 1857 of 8709 cases of driving under the influence of drugs, amphetamine‐like drugs (amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylendioxyamphetamine) were present either alone or together with other licit or illicit drugs. In 338 cases, amphetamines were the only psychoactive substance group in plasma at mean, median, and highest concentrations of 0.18, 0.12, and 1.05 mg/L, respectively. A widespread opinion is that after the consumption of amphetamines, centrally stimulating effects with corresponding consequences on safe driving are expected. In contrast, many cases were observed that rather suggested an influence of centrally sedating substances when considering the psycho‐physical conditions. Relations between concentration and effect could not be established. The apparent sedation is probably the consequence of sleep deprivation during an amphetamine binge and the after‐effects of the drug.
Study of Poroscopy Among South Indian Population*
Authors: Preethi Dasa S. , Nithin Mandya D. , Manjunatha Basappa , Balaraj Bheemasamudra M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  Poroscopy is the term applied to a specialized study of pore structure found on papillary ridges of skin as a means of identification. It comes under level 3 detail of identification and hence is more reliable and accurate. The goal of this study is to estimate the importance of poroscopy for identification of individuals and to determine the gender based on frequency, type, and shape of pores. Left plain thumb prints of 200 individuals (100 men and 100 women) aged between 18 and 60 belonging to South Indian population were observed. The results have shown that women tend to have a significantly higher frequency of pores than men. Number of pores ≤ 8 pores/25 mm2 is more likely to be of male origin and ≥9 pores/25 mm2 is more likely to be of female origin. There was no significant sex difference based on type and shape of pores.
A New Kind of Molotov? Gasoline–Pool Chlorinator Mixtures*
Authors: Hutches Katherine , Lord James
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  This paper investigates the reaction between pool chlorinators and gasoline. In particular, the propensity for self‐ignition and the resulting chemical products were studied. An organic pool chlorinator was combined with gasoline in varying proportions in an attempt to form a hypergolic mixture. None of the combinations resulted in self‐ignition, but larger quantities of chlorinator produced vigorous light‐colored smoke and a solid mass containing isocyanuric acid and copper chloride. Additionally, the chlorinating abilities of different commercially available pool chlorinators were explored. When Ca(ClO)2 and sodium dichloro‐s‐triazinetrione‐based chlorinators were used, the presence of gasoline was still visible after 10 days, despite limited chlorination. The trichloro‐s‐triazinetrione‐based chlorinator, however, caused efficient chlorination of the C2‐ and C3‐alkylbenzenes, making gasoline no longer identifiable.
An Investigation into the Differentiating Characteristics Between Car Key Burglars and Regular Burglars
Authors: Chapman Rachel , Smith Lisa L. , Bond John W.
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  Car key burglary has recently become the focus of empirical investigation as offenders, no longer able to steal vehicles without first obtaining their keys, resort to “burgling” target properties. Research surrounding the modus operandi of these offenses is beginning to emerge; however, little attention has been paid to investigating the characteristics of car key burglary offenders. Challenging the assumption that car key burglary offenses are perpetrated by regular burglars, this study aims to differentiate between offenders. Logistic regression analysis of 110 car key and 110 regular burglary offenders revealed that car key burglars are more likely to have previous vehicle theft convictions and are also more likely to be detected on information supplied to the police than regular burglars. Regular burglars are more likely to have previous shoplifting convictions. It was concluded that car key burglars are a distinct sample of offenders and the implications of these findings are discussed.
Detection of people at risk of developing a first psychosis: comparison of two recruitment strategies
Authors: Rietdijk J. , Klaassen R. , Ising H. , Dragt S. , Nieman D. H. , van de Kamp J. , Cuijpers P. , Linszen D. , van der Gaag M.
Published: February 2012

Rietdijk J, Klaassen R, Ising H, Dragt S, Nieman DH, van de Kamp J, Cuijpers P, Linszen D, van der Gaag M. Detection of people at risk of developing a first psychosis: comparison of two recruitment strategies.

Objective:  Better recruitment strategies are needed to improve the identification of people at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis. This study explores the effectiveness of two recruitment strategies: a screening method in a consecutive help‐seeking population entering secondary mental health services for non‐psychotic problems vs. a population referred to the diagnostic center of an early‐psychosis clinic.

Method:  From February 2008 to February 2010, all general practitioner and self‐referrals (aged 18–35 years) to the secondary mental healthcare service in The Hague and Zoetermeer were screened with the Prodromal Questionnaire; patients who scored above the cutoff of 18 and had a decline in social functioning were assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental States (CAARMS). All referrals (aged 14–35 years) to the diagnostic center in Amsterdam were also assessed with the CAARMS.

Results:  The screening detected a three‐fold higher prevalence of at‐risk mental states: these subjects were older and more often female. manova showed significantly higher scores for the screened population on depression, social anxiety, distress with positive symptoms, and a higher rate of transition to psychosis within 12 months.

Conclusion:  The screening method detects more patients with at‐risk mental states than the referral method. The latter method is biased to young male patients in an earlier prodromal stage and a lower transition rate.
Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain–an fMRI study
Authors: Meier Michael L. , Brügger Michael , Ettlin Dominik A. , Luechinger Roger , Barlow Ashley , Jäncke Lutz , Lutz Kai
Published: February 2012

Aim

Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is characterized by a short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin. Most published literature reports on peripheral neural aspects of this pain condition. The current investigation focused on differential cerebral activity elicited by stimulation of sensitive and insensitive teeth by means of natural air stimuli.

Materials and Methods

Five graded stimulus strengths were randomly applied by means of a multi‐injector air jet delivery system, each followed by an individual rating of perceived stimulus intensity. Brain activity was analysed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Results

Stimulation of sensitive teeth induced significant activation in the thalamus, somatosensory cortices (SI & SII), anterior, middle and posterior insular cortices, anterior mid cingulate cortex, perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and frontal regions (BA10 and BA46). Differential responses to DH and painless perceptions were observed in the anterior insula and anterior midcingulate cortex.

Conclusion

For the first time, this fMRI study demonstrates the feasibility of investigating cerebral processes related to DH evoked by natural (air) stimuli. Our neuroimaging data additionally provide evidence that differential activity in the anterior Insula (aIC) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) may represent clinically relevant pain experienced by DH patients.
Inflammatory biomarkers in saliva: assessing the strength of association of diabetes mellitus and periodontal status with the oral inflammatory burden
Authors: Yoon Angela J. , Cheng Bin , Philipone Elizabeth , Turner Ryan , Lamster Ira B.
Published: February 2012

Aim

To determine the strength of association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease with the oral inflammatory burden, as assessed by markers of inflammation in saliva.

Material and Methods

Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 192 subjects with or without type 2 diabetes. β‐glucuronidase (βG) was measured via a fluorometric array and interlukin‐1β (IL‐1β) via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of both mediators was evaluated in relationship to clinical parameters, severity of periodontal disease and diabetes status.

Results

Regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes and periodontal disease was independently and positively correlated with increased concentration of βG in saliva (p < 0.001). Moreover, the relative association of periodontal disease with the level of βG in saliva was greater than the strength of association of the diabetic status. IL‐1β concentration in saliva was primarily associated with the severity of periodontal disease (p < 0.01), but not the presence of diabetes (p = 0.50).

Conclusions

This study examined the nature of the inflammatory response in the oral cavity as assessed by inflammatory markers in saliva. Both periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with the oral inflammatory burden, in which the effect of periodontal disease was more pronounced.
Living on predictability: modelling the density distribution of efficient foraging seabirds
Authors: Cama Albert , Abellana Rosa , Christel Isadora , Ferrer Xavier , Vieites David R.
Published: February 2012

In areas with regular fishing coastal fleets seabirds may benefit from the predictability of discards from fishing vessels, but it is not clear to what extent birds rely on this predictable resource and whether foraging is synchronized with the diel availability of discards. In this paper we investigate if a typical scavenger species, the yellow‐legged gull Larus michahellis, takes advantage of the temporal and spatial predictability of fish discards in the western Mediterranean Sea. The activity and distribution of the trawling fleet in this area is regulated and very predictable in time and space. We gathered aerial survey data across a relatively large area close to the coast to study the spatial distribution and density of L. michahellis, and modelled the density distribution of the species in relation to several oceanographic, ecological and temporal variables, using two different modelling approaches: MARS (multivariate adaptative regression splines) and GLM (generalized linear models). Our models suggest that the spatial density of trawlers at sea and the time of the day are the best explanatory variables of gull distribution, and that gulls concentrate in areas with vessels mainly during fish discarding time, supporting the hypothesis that gulls optimize time foraging to take advantage of fishery waste predictability. Additional surveys from the main gull roosting sites inshore support this hypothesis, as gulls start leaving to the sea just before fishing is completed and vessels begin discarding fish scraps when back to the harbour. This study represents one of the few examples of applying MARS to density distribution modelling, although its application to marine ecosystems should be conducted with caution because of large areas with real absence data. GLMs have shown to be more adaptable to such kind of data. Our data confirm the importance of fishery waste for L. michahellis, not only as a food resource but also as a major driver of their activity and distribution patterns. The ability of seabirds to predict accurately when a food resource will be available implies that modelling their distribution at sea needs to include such variables, both in spatial and temporal dimensions.
The relative importance of climate and habitat in determining the distributions of species at different spatial scales: a case study with ground beetles in Great Britain
Authors: Gillingham Phillipa K. , Palmer Stephen C. F. , Huntley Brian , Kunin William E. , Chipperfield Joseph D. , Thomas Chris D.
Published: February 2012

Experimental studies have shown that many species show preferences for different climatic conditions, or may die in unsuitable conditions. Climate envelope models have been used frequently in recent years to predict the presence and absence of species at large spatial scales. However, many authors have postulated that the distributions of species at smaller spatial scales are determined by factors such as habitat availability and biotic interactions. Climatic effects are often assumed by modellers to be unimportant at fine resolutions, but few studies have actually tested this.

We sampled the distributions of 20 beetle species of the family Carabidae across three study sites by pitfall trapping, and at the national scale from monitoring data. Statistical models were constructed to determine which of two sets of environmental variables (temperature or broad habitat type) best accounted for the observed data at the three sites and at the national (Great Britain) scale.

High‐resolution temperature variables frequently produced better models (as determined by AIC) than habitat features when modelling the distributions of species at a local scale, within the three study sites. Conversely, habitat was always a better predictor than temperature when describing species’ distributions at a coarse scale within Great Britain. Northerly species were most likely to occur in cool micro‐sites within the study sites, whereas southerly species were most likely to occur in warm micro‐sites. Effects of microclimate were not limited to species at the edges of their distribution, and fine‐resolution temperature surfaces should therefore ideally be utilised when undertaking climate‐envelope modelling.
Observational study comparing long‐term safety and efficacy of Deferasirox with Desferrioxamine therapy in chelation‐naïve children with transfusional iron overload
Authors: Aydinok Yesim , Unal Sule , Oymak Yesim , Vergin Canan , Türker Zeynep D. , Yildiz Dilek , Yesilipek Akif
Published: February 2012

Objectives:  An observational study was conducted to explore postmarketing safety and efficacy of Deferasirox (DFX) in comparison with conventional Desferrioxamine (DFO) in chelation‐naïve children with transfusional iron overload.

Methods:  Transfusion‐dependent children (aged ≤5 yr) who had serum ferritin above 1000 μg/L and had been prescribed either first‐line DFX or DFO for at least 12 months to maintain serum ferritin between 500 and 1000 μg/L were included. Initial DFX dose was 20 mg/kg/d for 7 d a week, and DFO dose was 25–35 mg/kg/d subcutaneously, given for 5 d a week. Dose adjustments were based on serum ferritin changes and safety markers. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in serum ferritin from baseline. The effect of transfusional iron loading rate (ILR) and different doses of chelators on serum ferritin was also assessed.

Results:  A total of 111 patients were observed for a median of 2.29 yr on DFX (n = 71) and 2.75 yr on DFO (n = 40). Absolute change in serum ferritin from baseline to the last available observation was not significant with DFX (91 μg/L, P = 0.5) but significantly higher with DFO (385 μg/L, P < 0.005). ILR and DFX doses had a major impact on serum ferritin changes in DFX cohort. The height‐ and weight‐standard deviation scores did not differ significantly in both cohorts during the study. Fluctuations in liver enzymes and non‐progressive increase in serum creatinine were the most common adverse events (DFX; 9.8%, 18.0% and DFO; 5.0%, 7.5%, respectively).

Conclusion:  DFX is well tolerable and at least as effective as DFO to maintain safe serum ferritin levels and normal growth progression in chelation‐naïve children.
A New Look at Patent Quality: Relating Patent Prosecution to Validity
Authors: Mann Ronald J. , Underweiser Marian
Published: February 2012

The article uses two hand‐collected data sets to implement a novel research design for analyzing the precursors to patent quality. Operationalizing patent “quality” as legal validity, the article analyzes the relation between Federal Circuit decisions on patent validity and three sets of data about the patents: quantitative features of the patents themselves, textual analysis of the patent documents, and data collected from the prosecution histories of the patents. The article finds large and statistically significant relations between ex post validity and both textual features of the patents and ex ante aspects of the prosecution history (especially prior art submissions and the existence of internal patent office appeals before issuance). The results demonstrate the importance of refocusing analysis of patent quality on replicable indicators like validity, and the value that more comprehensive collection of prosecution history data can have for improving the output of the patent prosecution process.
The Value of Capital Market Regulation: IPOs Versus Reverse Mergers
Authors: Carpentier Cécile , Cumming Douglas , Suret Jean‐Marc
Published: February 2012

We analyze the economic consequences of disclosure and regulation within a context of significant information asymmetry and lenient regulation. In Canada, firms can enter the stock market at a prerevenue stage by fulfilling each of the requirements of an initial public offering or using reverse mergers. This backdoor listing method implies a smoother oversight by the securities commission and a shorter process based on private placements. Controlling for several dimensions, including self‐selection, we find that the choice of the listing method and regulation strictness significantly influence the value and long‐run performance of newly listed firms. These results are consistent with theories suggesting that a commitment by a firm to a stricter regulatory oversight lowers the information asymmetry component of the cost of capital, reducing the heterogeneity of expectations and mispricing.
Delaware's Competitive Reach
Authors: Cain Matthew D. , Davidoff Steven M.
Published: February 2012

Despite its dominance of the market for public company corporate charters, Delaware has come under increasing fire for losing ground to other states in the competition to retain corporate litigation. To test this criticism, we evaluate the selection of governing law and forum clauses in 1,020 merger agreements between public firms from 2004–2008. This sample provides a clean test of the real‐time attractiveness of states' judiciary during the sample period. In contrast to prior research, we find that Delaware's attractiveness to merging parties has increased in recent years. Parties appear to respond to exogenous events, evidenced by the fact that top‐tier legal advisors, foreign acquirers, transactions surrounded by greater financial uncertainty, and larger transactions tend to select Delaware's forum over other venues. We conclude that during our sample period, Delaware was increasingly valued by the corporate actors who influence incorporation choices, and competed strongly for legal products beyond its primary one, the public company charter. This is important because a failure to retain corporate litigation can possibly lead to an erosion in Delaware's prominence in the public company chartering market.
Dirty Hands or Deterrence? An Experimental Examination of the Exclusionary Rule
Authors: Bilz Kenworthey
Published: February 2012

Historically, the Supreme Court has offered two justifications for the exclusionary rule: (1) it protects the integrity of the judicial system from “dirty” evidence and (2) it deters illegal searches by the police. The former justification has mostly fallen out of favor. Today, decisions turn on whether the rule would, in fact, deter illegal searches in a given class of cases. As such, most empirical studies about the rule have focused on whether or not the rule leads to fewer police searches (illegal or otherwise), or to fewer criminal convictions. This study takes a completely different approach, assessing support for the two competing justifications for the rule. Two experiments show support for the integrity justification for the rule, but not for the deterrence justification. Specifically, when deciding whether to exclude evidence found during a search conducted without probable cause, participants are sensitive to a police officer's motive (clean vs. dirty), but not to alternative means of punishing those officers (civil suit, citizen‐police review board). A third experiment examines the integrity rationale in more detail. Participants who were obligated to use dirty evidence at trial disproportionately selected a bottle of Purell over a pen as a thank‐you gift versus participants who were able to exclude that evidence. In other words, the exclusionary rule seems to protect the courts from being metaphorically tainted. These findings are important given that the rule is not constitutionally mandated. The Supreme Court has held that the rule can be ignored to the extent that it (1) does not achieve its goals and (2) undermines the perceived legitimacy of the courts by the public. Given this, the Court needs to be right about what those goals are, and whether or not its current deterrence‐based jurisprudence enhances legitimacy. These experiments suggest the possibility that reinvigorating the integrity justification would serve the ends of the rule better than current doctrine does.
Evaluation of Compacted Cementitious Composites for Porous Bearings
Authors: Panzera Tulio H. , Christoforo Andre L. , Campos Rubio Juan C. , Bowen Christopher R. , Borges Paulo H. Ribeiro , Silva Leandro J.
Published: February 2012

The use of porous materials as a restrictor in aerostatic bearings provides many advantages over conventional restrictors, such as small variation of temperature, high damping, high operational speeds, limited wear, and capacity to support radial, axial, and combined loading. A design of experiment (DOE) was carried out to evaluate cold‐pressed cementitious composites as an air restrictor in thrust bearings. The physical and mechanical properties such as the apparent porosity, permeability, and elastic modulus were investigated in this work, thus verifying the structural and flow characteristics of the composites for such application. The composites fabricated with low compacting pressure and small silica particles provided the material requirements for porous bearings.
Disease Resistance in Maize and the Role of Molecular Breeding in Defending Against Global Threat
Authors: Ali Farhan , Yan Jianbing
Published: February 2012

Diseases are a potential threat to global food security but plants have evolved an extensive array of methodologies to cope with the invading pathogens. Non‐host resistance and quantitative resistance are broad spectrum forms of resistance, and all kinds of resistances are controlled by extremely diverse genes called “R‐genes”. R‐genes follow different mechanisms to defend plants and PAMP‐induced defenses in susceptible host plants are referred to as basal resistance. Genetic and phenotypic diversity are vital in maize (Zea mays L.); as such, genome wide association study (GWAS) along with certain other methodologies can explore the maximum means of genetic diversity. Exploring the complete genetic architecture to manipulate maize genetically reduces the losses from hazardous diseases. Genomic studies can reveal the interaction between different genes and their pathways. By confirming the specific role of these genes and protein‐protein interaction (proteomics) via advanced molecular and bioinformatics tools, we can shed a light on the most complicated and abstruse phenomena of resistance.

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[ Jianbing Yan (Corresponding author)]
Properties of Proxy-Derived Modified Rankin Scale Assessment
Authors: McArthur Kate , Beagan Michael L. C. , Degnan Andrew , Howarth Rosanne C. , Mitchell Kirsten A. , McQuaige Fiona B. , Shannon Mary Ann C. , Stott DJ , Quinn Terence J.
Published: February 2012

Background

Cognitive or communication issues may preclude direct modified Rankin Scale interview, necessitating interview with a suitable surrogate. The clinimetric properties of this proxy modified Rankin Scale assessment have not been described.

Aims

To describe reliability of proxy-derived modified Rankin Scale and compare with traditional direct patient interview.

Methods

Researchers assessed consenting stroke inpatients and their proxies using a nonstructured modified Rankin Scale approach. Paired interviewers (trained in modified Rankin Scale) performed independent and blinded modified Rankin Scale assessment of patients and appropriate proxies. Interobserver variability and agreement between patient and proxy modified Rankin Scale were described using kappa statistics ( k, 95% confidence interval) and percentage agreement.

Results

Ninety-seven stroke survivors were assessed. Proxies were family members ( n = 29), nurses ( n = 50), or physiotherapists ( n = 25). Median modified Rankin Scale from both patient and proxies was 3 [interquartile range (IQR): 2–4]. Reliability for patient modified Rankin Scale interview was weighted kappa = 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.30–1.00). Reliability for proxy modified Rankin Scale weighted kappa = 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.34–0.90). Subgroup analysis of various proxy information sources were as follows: family weighted kappa = 0.61; nurse weighted kappa = 0.58; therapist weighted kappa = 0.58. There was disagreement between patient-derived modified Rankin Scale and corresponding proxy modified Rankin Scale weighted kappa = 0.64 (95% CI: 0.42–0.86).

Conclusions

There is potential for substantial interobserver variability in proxy modified Rankin Scale and validity of certain proxy assessments is questionable. Direct modified Rankin Scale interview is preferred.
Effects of organic farming on biodiversity and ecosystem services: taking landscape complexity into account
Authors: Winqvist Camilla , Ahnström Johan , Bengtsson Jan
Published: February 2012

The recent intensification of the arable landscape by modern agriculture has had negative effects on biodiversity. Organic farming has been introduced to mitigate negative effects, but is organic farming beneficial to biodiversity? In this review, we summarize recent research on the effects of organic farming on arable biodiversity of plants, arthropods, soil biota, birds, and mammals. The ecosystem services of pollination, biological control, seed predation, and decomposition are also included in this review. So far, organic farming seems to enhance the species richness and abundance of many common taxa, but its effects are often species specific and trait or context dependant. The landscape surrounding the focal field or farm also seems to be important. Landscape either enhances or reduces the positive effects of organic farming or acts via interactions where the surrounding landscape affects biodiversity or ecosystem services differently on organic and conventional farms. Finally, we discuss some of the potential mechanisms behind these results and how organic farming may develop in the future to increase its potential for sustaining biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.
Eco‐evolutionary dynamics in a changing world
Authors: Hanski Ilkka
Published: February 2012

Fast evolutionary changes are common in natural populations, though episodes of rapid evolution do not generally last for long and are typically associated with changing environments. During such periods, evolutionary dynamics may influence ecological population dynamics and vice versa. This review is concerned with spatial eco‐evolutionary dynamics with a focus on the occurrence of species in marginal habitats and on metapopulations inhabiting heterogeneous environments. Dispersal and gene flow are key processes in both cases, linking demographic and evolutionary dynamics to each other, facilitating but also constraining the expansion of the current niche and the geographical range of species and determining the spatial scale and pattern of adaptation in heterogeneous environments. An eco‐evolutionary metapopulation model helps explain the contrasting responses of species to habitat loss and fragmentation. Eco‐evolutionary dynamics may facilitate the persistence of species in changing environments, but typically the evolutionary response only partially compensates for the negative ecological consequences of adverse environmental changes.