bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NAIRU Estimates for Germany: New Evidence on the Inflation–Unemployment Tradeoff
Authors: Kajuth Florian
Published: August 2014

Meaningful estimates of the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (NAIRU) within a Phillips curve framework require an identified tradeoff between inflation and unemployment. However, observations of inflation and unemployment are equilibrium points giving rise to a simultaneity problem. We assess conventional identifying assumptions in the literature on the German NAIRU in a general bi-variate equations system of inflation and unemplyoment. We use a data-driven method for identification based on shifts in the relative volatility of shocks to unemployment and inflation to identify the tradeoff for Germany. Our results support models which estimate a contemporaneous effect of unemployment on inflation and those which model inflation and unemployment jointly.
Growth characteristics of kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in saline environments
Authors: Endo Tsuneyoshi , Kubo‐Nakano Yuko , Lopez Raul A. , Serrano Rogelio R. , Larrinaga Juan A. , Yamamoto Sadahiro , Honna Toshimasa
Published: August 2014

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of saline water irrigation and soil salinity on the growth of kochia (Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The alfalfa production was low, and half of the plants withered and died under soil electrical conductivity of ≥4 dS m−1. However, high salinity did not affect kochia growth. The mechanism of sodium absorption differs between kochia and alfalfa. Kochia has a salt‐tolerance mechanism whereby the sodium concentration in the plant does not increase, regardless of the environmental conditions of the soil. However, the sodium concentration in alfalfa increases with increasing concentrations of sodium in the soil. Accordingly, changes were observed in the salt composition of alfalfa that harmed the plant. Although good kochia growth was observed in soil with limited water irrigation, it is difficult to grow alfalfa using the same quantity and salinity of irrigation water as used for kochia. Kochia can be cultivated using limited water and in highly saline soil in arid and semiarid regions. Furthermore, since kochia cultivation requires limited irrigation water, the plant may suppress the increase in the salinity of the soil and irrigation water. Therefore, in saline soil in arid and semiarid regions, kochia may be promising as an effective forage crop substitute for alfalfa.
Information and decision‐making needs among people with mental disorders: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Tlach Lisa , Wüsten Caroline , Daubmann Anne , Liebherz Sarah , Härter Martin , Dirmaier Jörg
Published: August 2014

Background

Assessment of users' information and decision‐making needs is one key step in the development of decision‐support interventions.

Objective

To identify patients' information and decision‐making needs as a pre‐requisite for the development of high‐quality web‐based patient decision aids (PtDAs) for common mental disorders.

Search strategy

A systematic MEDLINE search for papers published until December 2012 was conducted, and reference lists of included articles and relevant reviews were searched.

Inclusion criteria

Original studies containing data on information or decision‐making needs of adults with depression, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, alcohol‐related disorders and schizophrenia were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data extraction was performed using a standardized form, and data synthesis was conducted using a theory‐based deductive approach by two independent reviewers. Studies were quality assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Main results

Twelve studies were included focusing on information needs or the identification of decisions patients with depression and schizophrenia were facing. No studies were found for the other mental disorders. Overall, seven information needs categories were identified with the topics ‘basic facts’, ‘treatment’ and ‘coping’ being of major relevance. Six decision categories were identified of which decisions on ‘medication’ and ‘treatment setting’ were most often classified.

Conclusions

This review reveals that patients with schizophrenia and depression show extensive information and decision‐making needs. The identified needs can initially inform the design of PtDAs for schizophrenia and depression. However, there is an urgent need to investigate information and decision‐making needs among patients with other mental disorders.
Disparity in perception of the working condition of dental hygienists between dentists and dental hygiene students in Japan
Authors: Muroga R , Tsuruta J , Morio I
Published: August 2014

Objectives

In Japan, there continues to be a shortage of active dental hygienists. The scope of dental hygienists' practice is also considered to be unclear. One of the reasons for this is that dental hygienists find the working conditions during dental hygiene education different from those in reality. The purpose of this study was to clarify the actual working condition of dental hygienists in dental clinics, as well as evaluate the awareness of dental hygiene students and dentists regarding the working condition of dental hygienists.

Methods

Questionnaires were sent by post to 481 dentists and were distributed to 89 dental hygiene students. The awareness about the working condition of dental hygienists was compared between dentists and dental hygiene students.

Results

Two hundred twenty‐two dentists and 89 dental hygiene students responded to questionnaires. Dental hygiene students considered the team of ‘dental hygienist, dental technician and clerk’ to be more effective in providing dental care than dentists (P < 0.001). Among the dentists, 37.1% did not find any clear distinction between hygienists and assistants in their clinics. However, 97.4% of dental hygiene students answered that dental team members should clearly inform patients of the distinction between hygienists and assistants.

Conclusions

This study indicated that there was disparity between dentists' and dental hygiene students' perception of dental hygienists' working conditions, and dental team work was not always effective. For training high quality dental hygienists, all educational institutions related to dentistry must educate students regarding the more realistic dental hygienists' working condition, as well as benefits.
Chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oils of Metaplexis japonica and their antibacterial components
Authors: Wang Da Cheng , Sun Su Hua , Shi Li Na , Qiu Da Ren , Li Xiang , Wei Dong Sheng , Zhang Ya Mei , Qin Jian Chun
Published: August 2014

The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the essential oils from Metaplexis japonica and isolation of antibacterial constituents from the essential oils. Results showed that 63 components were identified in essential oils. Phenylethyl alcohol (77.978%), α‐terpineol (31.810%) and docosane (21.644%) were the most abundent constituents of flower oil, leaf oil and fruit oil, respectively. Based on bioactivity‐guided fractionation, three active constituents were isolated and identified as phenylethyl alcohol, α‐terpineol and β‐linalool. Both flower oil and phenylethyl alcohol showed high antibacterial performance, with inhibition zone from 25 ± 0.5 to 11 ± 0.6 mm at highest concentration, and MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 2%. In both DPPH and ABTS assay, the oils showed moderate antioxidant activity. These results indicate potential efficacy of active constituents and essential oils of M. japonica to control food‐borne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria.
The Deviance Information Criterion in Comparison of Normal Mixing Models
Authors: Fung Thomas , Wang Joanna J.J. , Seneta Eugene
Published: August 2014

Model selection from several non‐nested models by using the deviance information criterion within Bayesian inference Using Gibbs Sampling (BUGS) software needs to be treated with caution. This is particularly important if one can specify a model in various mixing representations, as for the normal variance‐mean mixing distribution occurring in financial contexts. We propose a procedure to compare goodness of fit of several non‐nested models, which uses BUGS software in part.
The effect of tetrabromobisphenol A on protamine content and DNA integrity in mouse spermatozoa
Authors: Zatecka E. , Castillo J. , Elzeinova F. , Kubatova A. , Ded L. , Peknicova J. , Oliva R.
Published: August 2014

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a widely used brominated flame retardant of increasing concern to human health because of its action as an endocrine disruptor. We have previously demonstrated that TBBPA is able to increase apoptosis of testicular cells and other changes in the first and second generations of mice exposed to TBBPA. However, the potential effects of TBBPA on mouse epididymal spermatozoa have not yet been investigated. Therefore, we initiated this study to determine whether TBBPA exposure could also result in increased DNA fragmentation in epididymal spermatozoa and whether it had an effect on the protamines as the major nuclear proteins. C57Bl/6J mouse pups (n = 10) were exposed to TBBPA (experimental group) during the gestation, lactation, pre‐pubertal and pubertal periods up to the age of 70 days as previously described and compared to control mouse pups (n = 10) that were not exposed. The results demonstrate that TBBPA treatment results in a significantly decreased protamine 1/protamine 2 ratio (0.362 vs. 0.494; p < 0.001), increased total protamine/DNA ratio (0.517 vs. 0.324; p < 0.001) and increased number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling positive spermatozoa (39.5% vs. 21.2%; p < 0.05) observed between TBBPA and control mice respectively. These findings indicate that TBBPA exposure, in addition to the resulting increased sperm DNA damage, also has the potential to alter the epigenetic marking of sperm chromatin through generation of an anomalous content and distribution of protamines. The possibility is now open to study whether the detected altered protamine content and DNA integrity are related to the previously observed second‐generation effects upon TBBPA exposure.
Growth of AlN Crystals on SiC Substrates by Thermal Nitridation of Al2O3
Authors: You Yu , Ohtsuka Makoto , Miyake Hideto , Fukuyama Hiroyuki
Published: August 2014

The growth of AlN crystals on c‐plane 6H–SiC substrates by thermal nitridation of Al2O3 pellets in the presence of graphite and ZrO2 was demonstrated. Addition of graphite and ZrO2 effectively accelerated the evaporation of Al2O3, yielding c‐axis oriented AlN films on SiC substrates. The SiC substrate was severely deteriorated at 2173 K, which produced a porous interface between the AlN film and substrate, resulting in low‐quality AlN crystals. The deterioration of SiC was successfully suppressed by introducing a pre‐deposited homo‐buffer layer, allowing two‐dimensional‐like growth of AlN. The buffer layer promoted the formation of a high‐quality AlN film. At 2173 K, the full‐width at half maximum of the X‐ray rocking curves of the (0002) and (10–10) planes of the AlN film was 360 and 425 arcsec, respectively.
Understanding the Distributional Impact of Long‐Run Inflation
Authors: CAMERA GABRIELE , CHIEN YILI
Published: August 2014

The impact of fully anticipated inflation is systematically studied in heterogeneous agent economies with an endogenous labor supply and portfolio choices. In stationary equilibrium, inflation nonlinearly alters the endogenous distributions of income, wealth, and consumption. Small departures from zero inflation have the strongest impact. Three features determine how inflation impacts distributions and welfare: financial structure, shock persistence, and labor supply elasticity. When agents can self‐insure only with money, inflation reduces wealth inequality but may raise consumption inequality. Otherwise, inflation reduces consumption inequality but may raise wealth inequality. Given persistent shocks and an inelastic labor supply, inflation may raise average welfare. The results hold when the model is extended to account for capital formation.
The Consumption–Income Ratio, Entrepreneurial Risk, and the U.S. Stock Market
Authors: HOFFMANN MATHIAS
Published: August 2014

The owners of small noncorporate businesses face substantial and largely uninsurable entrepreneurial risk. They are also an important group of stock owners. This paper explores the role of entrepreneurial risk in explaining time variation in expected U.S. stock returns in the period 1952–2010. It proposes an entrepreneurial distress factor that is based on a cointegrating relationship between aggregate consumption and income from proprietary and nonproprietary wealth. This factor, referred to here as the cpy residual, signals when entrepreneurial income is low in relation to aggregate consumption and other forms of income in the economy. It is highly correlated with cross‐sectional measures of idiosyncratic entrepreneurial and default risk, and it has considerable forecasting power for the expected equity premium. However, the correlation between cpy and the stock market started to decline at the beginning of the 1980s. The decline in this correlation can be associated with increased stock market participation and with the progress of U.S. state‐level bank deregulation. This pattern is consistent with the view that entrepreneurial risk became more easily diversifiable in the wake of U.S. state‐level bank deregulation.
‘Cylindrocarpon’ and Ilyonectria Species Causing Root and Crown Rot Disease of Potted Laurustinus Plants in Italy
Authors: Aiello Dalia , Guarnaccia Vladimiro , Epifani Filomena , Perrone Giancarlo , Polizzi Giancarlo
Published: August 2014

During the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons, a disease was detected on potted laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) plants in two nurseries located in the Catania province (eastern Sicily, Italy). ‘Cylindrocarpon’‐like species were consistently recovered from crown rot and stem rot tissues. Based on morphological characteristics, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of β‐tubulin (TUB), histone H3 (HIS3) and translation elongation factor‐1α (TEF‐1 α) gene sequences, the fungi associated with symptomatic tissues were identified as ‘Cylindrocarpon’ pauciseptatum, Ilyonectria novozelandica and I. torresensis. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests carried out on potted V. tinus cuttings. To our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of ‘C.’ pauciseptatum, I. novozelandica and I. torresensis causing disease on V. tinus.
High‐throughput sequencing reveals neustonic and planktonic microbial eukaryote diversity in coastal waters
Authors: Taylor Joe D. , Cunliffe Michael
Published: August 2014

Neustonic organisms inhabit the sea surface microlayer (SML) and have important roles in marine ecosystem functioning. Here, we use high‐throughput 18S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize protist and fungal diversity in the SML at a coastal time‐series station and compare with underlying plankton assemblages. Protist diversity was higher in February (pre‐bloom) compared to April (spring bloom), and was lower in the neuston than in the plankton. Major protist groups, including Stramenopiles and Alveolata, dominated both neuston and plankton assemblages. Chrysophytes and diatoms were enriched in the neuston in April, with diatoms showing distinct changes in community composition between the sampling periods. Pezizomycetes dominated planktonic fungi assemblages, whereas fungal diversity in the neuston was more varied. This is the first study to utilize a molecular‐based approach to characterize neustonic protist and fungal assemblages, and provides the most comprehensive diversity assessment to date of this ecosystem. Variability in the SML microeukaryote assemblage structure has potential implications for biogeochemical and food web processes at the air‐sea interface.
The Impact of Multimorbidity on Sexual Function in Middle-Aged and Older Women: Beyond the Single Disease Perspective
Authors: Appa Ayesha A. , Creasman Jennifer , Brown Jeanette S. , Van Den Eeden Stephen K. , Thom David H. , Subak Leslee L. , Huang Alison J.
Published: August 2014

Introduction

Little is known about sexual activity and function in women with multiple chronic health conditions.

Aim

To examine the impact of multimorbidity on sexual activity and function in middle-aged and older women.

Methods

Multiethnic cross-sectional cohort of 1,997 community-dwelling women (mean age of 60.2 [±9.5] years) in California. Structured questionnaires assessed prior diagnoses of common cardiometabolic, colorectal, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary conditions.

Main Outcome Measures

Sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity, overall sexual satisfaction, and specific sexual problems (i.e., difficulty with arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain) were assessed by structured questionnaires.

Results

Seventy-one percent of women had two or more diagnosed chronic conditions. Fifty-nine percent reported low sexual desire, 53% reported less than monthly sexual activity, and 47% reported low overall sexual satisfaction. Multimorbidity was associated with increased odds of reporting low sexual desire (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.06–1.17, per each additional chronic condition), less than monthly sexual activity (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.05–1.17 per each additional condition), and low sexual satisfaction (OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.04–1.16 per each additional condition), adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and partner status. Depression and urinary incontinence were each independently associated with low desire (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.19–1.97, and OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.00–1.52, respectively), less than monthly sexual activity (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.06–1.83, and OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.02–1.62, respectively), and low sexual satisfaction (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.14–1.93, and OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.11–1.73, respectively), adjusting for other types of conditions. After adjustment for total number of chronic conditions, age remained a significant predictor of low desire and less than monthly sexual activity, but not sexual satisfaction.

Conclusions

Women with multiple chronic health conditions are at increased risk for decreased sexual function. Depression and incontinence may have particularly strong effects on sexual desire, frequency of activity, and satisfaction in women, independent of other comorbid conditions. Women's overall sexual satisfaction may be more strongly influenced by multimorbidity than age.
Systematic analysis of funding awarded for viral hepatitis‐related research to institutions in the United Kingdom, 1997–2010
Authors: Head M. G. , Fitchett J. R. , Cooke G. S. , Foster G. R. , Atun R.
Published: August 2014

Viral hepatitis is responsible for great health, social and economic burden both globally and in the UK. This study aimed to assess the research funding awarded to UK institutions for viral hepatitis research and the relationship of funded research to clinical and public health burden of viral hepatitis. Databases and websites were systematically searched for information on infectious disease research studies funded for the period 1997–2010. Studies specifically related to viral hepatitis research were identified and categorized in terms of funding by pathogen, disease and by a research and development value chain describing the type of science. The overall data set included 6165 studies (total investment £2.6 billion) of which £76.9 million (3.0%) was directed towards viral hepatitis across 323 studies (5.2%). By pathogen, there were four studies specifically investigating hepatitis A (£3.8 million), 69 studies for hepatitis B (21.4%) with total investment of £14.7 million (19.1%) and 236 (73.1%) hepatitis C studies (£62.7 million, 81.5%). There were 4 studies investigating hepatitis G, and none specifying hepatitis D or E. By associated area, viral hepatitis and therapeutics research received £17.0 million, vaccinology £3.1 million and diagnostics £2.9 million. Preclinical research received £50.3 million (65.4%) across 173 studies, whilst implementation and operational research received £19.4 million (25.3%) across 128 studies. The UK is engaged in much hepatology research, but there are areas where the burden is great and may require greater focus, such as hepatitis E, development of a vaccine for hepatitis C, and further research into hepatitis‐associated cancers. Private sector data, and funding information from other countries, would also be useful in priority setting.
Monitoring policy and actions on food environments: rationale and outline of the INFORMAS policy engagement and communication strategies
Authors: Brinsden H. , Lobstein T. , Landon J. , Kraak V. , Sacks G. , Kumanyika S. , Swinburn B. , Barquera S. , Friel S. , Hawkes C. , Kelly B. , L'Abbé M. , Lee A. , Ma J. , Macmullen J. , Mohan S. , Monteiro C. , Neal B. , Rayner M. , Sanders D. , Snowdon W. , Vandevijvere S. , Walker C. ,   INFORMAS
Published: August 2014

The International Network for Food and Obesity/non‐communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) proposes to collect performance indicators on food policies, actions and environments related to obesity and non‐communicable diseases. This paper reviews existing communications strategies used for performance indicators and proposes the approach to be taken for INFORMAS. Twenty‐seven scoring and rating tools were identified in various fields of public health including alcohol, tobacco, physical activity, infant feeding and food environments. These were compared based on the types of indicators used and how they were quantified, scoring methods, presentation and the communication and reporting strategies used. There are several implications of these analyses for INFORMAS: the ratings/benchmarking approach is very commonly used, presumably because it is an effective way to communicate progress and stimulate action, although this has not been formally evaluated; the tools used must be trustworthy, pragmatic and policy‐relevant; multiple channels of communication will be needed; communications need to be tailored and targeted to decision‐makers; data and methods should be freely accessible. The proposed communications strategy for INFORMAS has been built around these lessons to ensure that INFORMAS's outputs have the greatest chance of being used to improve food environments.
Monitoring the price and affordability of foods and diets globally
Authors: Lee A. , Mhurchu C. N. , Sacks G. , Swinburn B. , Snowdon W. , Vandevijvere S. , Hawkes C. , L'Abbé M. , Rayner M. , Sanders D. , Barquera S. , Friel S. , Kelly B. , Kumanyika S. , Lobstein T. , Ma J. , Macmullan J. , Mohan S. , Monteiro C. , Neal B. , Walker C. ,   INFORMAS
Published: August 2014

Food prices and food affordability are important determinants of food choices, obesity and non‐communicable diseases. As governments around the world consider policies to promote the consumption of healthier foods, data on the relative price and affordability of foods, with a particular focus on the difference between ‘less healthy’ and ‘healthy’ foods and diets, are urgently needed. This paper briefly reviews past and current approaches to monitoring food prices, and identifies key issues affecting the development of practical tools and methods for food price data collection, analysis and reporting. A step‐wise monitoring framework, including measurement indicators, is proposed. ‘Minimal’ data collection will assess the differential price of ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ foods; ‘expanded’ monitoring will assess the differential price of ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ diets; and the ‘optimal’ approach will also monitor food affordability, by taking into account household income. The monitoring of the price and affordability of ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ foods and diets globally will provide robust data and benchmarks to inform economic and fiscal policy responses. Given the range of methodological, cultural and logistical challenges in this area, it is imperative that all aspects of the proposed monitoring framework are tested rigorously before implementation.
Monitoring the impacts of trade agreements on food environments
Authors: Friel S. , Hattersley L. , Snowdon W. , Thow A.‐M. , Lobstein T. , Sanders D. , Barquera S. , Mohan S. , Hawkes C. , Kelly B. , Kumanyika S. , L'Abbe M. , Lee A. , Ma J. , Macmullan J. , Monteiro C. , Neal B. , Rayner M. , Sacks G. , Swinburn B. , Vandevijvere S. , Walker C. ,   INFORMAS
Published: August 2014

The liberalization of international trade and foreign direct investment through multilateral, regional and bilateral agreements has had profound implications for the structure and nature of food systems, and therefore, for the availability, nutritional quality, accessibility, price and promotion of foods in different locations. Public health attention has only relatively recently turned to the links between trade and investment agreements, diets and health, and there is currently no systematic monitoring of this area. This paper reviews the available evidence on the links between trade agreements, food environments and diets from an obesity and non‐communicable disease (NCD) perspective. Based on the key issues identified through the review, the paper outlines an approach for monitoring the potential impact of trade agreements on food environments and obesity/NCD risks. The proposed monitoring approach encompasses a set of guiding principles, recommended procedures for data collection and analysis, and quantifiable ‘minimal’, ‘expanded’ and ‘optimal’ measurement indicators to be tailored to national priorities, capacity and resources. Formal risk assessment processes of existing and evolving trade and investment agreements, which focus on their impacts on food environments will help inform the development of healthy trade policy, strengthen domestic nutrition and health policy space and ultimately protect population nutrition.
INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/non‐communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support): summary and future directions
Authors: Kumanyika S.
Published: August 2014

This supplement presents the foundational elements for INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/non‐communicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support). As explained in the overview article by Swinburn and colleagues, INFORMAS has a compelling rationale and has set forth clear objectives, outcomes, principles and frameworks for monitoring and benchmarking key aspects of food environments and the policies and actions that influence the healthiness of food environments. This summary highlights the proposed monitoring approaches for the 10 interrelated INFORMAS modules: public and private sector policies and actions; key aspects of food environments (food composition, labelling, promotion, provision, retail, prices, and trade and investment) and population outcomes (diet quality). This ambitious effort should be feasible when approached in a step‐wise manner, taking into account existing monitoring efforts, data sources, country contexts and capacity, and when adequately resourced. After protocol development and pilot testing of the modules, INFORMAS aims to be a sustainable, low‐cost monitoring framework. Future directions relate to institutionalization, implementation and, ultimately, to leveraging INFORMAS data in ways that will bring key drivers of food environments into alignment with public health goals.
Pediatric allergy and immunology in Japan
Authors: Ebisawa Motohiro , Nishima Sankei , Ohnishi Hidenori , Kondo Naomi
Published: August 2014

The Japanese Society of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JSPACI) was started in 1966 and currently has 3613 members as of August 1, 2012. The number of pediatricians specializing in allergies who have been certified by the Japanese Society of Allergology is 817. Among these, there are 125 training directors and training facilities for allergy and clinical immunology. The JSPACI first published an asthma guideline specific for children in 2000, and this has been revised every 3 yrs, contributing to better control of pediatric asthma. Food allergy management guidelines were first developed in 2005, which have helped to improve the care of food allergy patients. Among 514 pediatric training programs by the Japanese Society of Pediatrics, there are 312 facilities routinely performing oral food challenges. Among these, there were already 53 facilities performing oral immunotherapy at the end of 2011, treating 1400 cases of food allergy. The prevalence of pediatric allergic diseases has increased in Japan over the past 50 yrs. A number of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood surveys have been conducted in the past at specific times. The prevalence of wheezing among children aged 13–14 yrs in 2002 was 13.0%. Multi‐year surveys found a 1.5‐ to 2‐fold increase every 10 yrs until 2002. However, according to the latest data in 2012, asthma prevalence seems to have slightly decreased in Japan. Food allergy mainly associated with infantile atopic eczema among infants younger than 1 yr of age is the most common form as with other developed countries. The estimated food allergy prevalence based on data from several surveys is 5–10% among infants (0–6 yrs) and 1–2% among schoolchildren (6–15 yrs). A variety of patients suffering from primary deficiency syndrome have been actively analyzed. Previously, antibody defects and well‐defined syndromes with immunodeficiency were analyzed, but recent research is focusing on not only acquired immune disorders but also on innate immune disorders. In contrast to the widespread use of oral immunotherapy, one immediate issue is to develop and reassess subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies for mite and Japanese cedar pollen antigens that have been disused in Japan since the 1990s.
Exposures to molds in school classrooms of children with asthma
Authors: Baxi Sachin N. , Muilenberg Michael L. , Rogers Christine A. , Sheehan William J. , Gaffin Jonathan , Permaul Perdita , Kopel Lianne S. , Lai Peggy S. , Lane Jeffrey P. , Bailey Ann , Petty Carter R. , Fu Chunxia , Gold Diane R. , Phipatanakul Wanda
Published: August 2014

Background

Students spend a large portion of their day in classrooms which may be a source of mold exposure. We examined the diversity and concentrations of molds in inner‐city schools and described differences between classrooms within the same school.

Methods

Classroom airborne mold spores, collected over a 2 day period, were measured twice during the school year by direct microscopy.

Results

There were 180 classroom air samples collected from 12 schools. Mold was present in 100% of classrooms. Classrooms within the same school had differing mold levels and mold diversity scores. The total mold per classroom was 176.6 ± 4.2 spores/m3 (geometric mean ± standard deviation) and ranged from 11.2 to 16,288.5 spores/m3. Mold diversity scores for classroom samples ranged from 1 to 19 (7.7 ± 3.5). The classroom accounted for the majority of variance (62%) in the total mold count, and for the majority of variance (56%) in the mold diversity score versus the school. The species with the highest concentrations and found most commonly included Cladosporium (29.3 ± 4.2 spores/m3), Penicillium/Aspergillus (15.0 ± 5.4 spores/m3), smut spores (12.6 ± 4.0 spores/m3), and basidiospores (6.6 ± 7.1 spores/m3).

Conclusions

Our study found that the school is a source of mold exposure, but particularly the classroom microenvironment varies in quantity of spores and species among classrooms within the same school. We also verified that visible mold may be a predictor for higher mold spore counts. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of mold exposure relative to asthma morbidity in sensitized and non‐sensitized asthmatic children.
Identification and characterization of more than 4 million intervarietal SNPs across the group 7 chromosomes of bread wheat
Authors: Lai Kaitao , Lorenc Michał T. , Lee Hong Ching , Berkman Paul J. , Bayer Philipp Emanuel , Visendi Paul , Ruperao Pradeep , Fitzgerald Timothy L. , Zander Manuel , Chan Chon‐Kit Kenneth , Manoli Sahana , Stiller Jiri , Batley Jacqueline , Edwards David
Published: August 2014

Despite being a major international crop, our understanding of the wheat genome is relatively poor due to its large size and complexity. To gain a greater understanding of wheat genome diversity, we have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms between 16 Australian bread wheat varieties. Whole‐genome shotgun Illumina paired read sequence data were mapped to the draft assemblies of chromosomes 7A, 7B and 7D to identify more than 4 million intervarietal SNPs. SNP density varied between the three genomes, with much greater density observed on the A and B genomes than the D genome. This variation may be a result of substantial gene flow from the tetraploid Triticum turgidum, which possesses A and B genomes, during early co‐cultivation of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. In addition, we examined SNP density variation along the chromosome syntenic builds and identified genes in low‐density regions which may have been selected during domestication and breeding. This study highlights the impact of evolution and breeding on the bread wheat genome and provides a substantial resource for trait association and crop improvement. All SNP data are publically available on a generic genome browser GBrowse at www.wheatgenome.info.
MC1R, Eumelanin and Pheomelanin: Their Role in Determining the Susceptibility to Skin Cancer
Authors: Nasti Tahseen H. , Timares Laura
Published: August 2014

Skin pigmentation is due to the accumulation of two types of melanin granules in the keratinocytes. Besides being the most potent blocker of ultraviolet radiation, the role of melanin in photoprotection is complex. This is because one type of melanin called eumelanin is UV absorbent, whereas the other, pheomelanin, is photounstable and may even promote carcinogenesis. Skin hyperpigmentation may be caused by stress or exposure to sunlight, which stimulates the release of α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) from damaged keratinocytes. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a key signaling molecule on melanocytes that responds to α‐MSH by inducing expression of enzymes responsible for eumelanin synthesis. Persons with red hair have mutations in the MC1R causing its inactivation; this leads to a paucity of eumelanin production and makes red‐heads more susceptible to skin cancer. Apart from its effects on melanin production, the α‐MSH/MC1R signaling is also a potent anti‐inflammatory pathway and has been shown to promote antimelanoma immunity. This review will focus on the role of MC1R in terms of its regulation of melanogenesis and influence on the immune system with respect to skin cancer susceptibility.
The pathological implications of heart transplantation: Experience with 50 cases in a single center
Authors: Ishibashi‐Ueda Hatsue , Ikeda Yoshihiko , Matsuyama Taka‐aki , Ohta‐Ogo Keiko , Sato Takuma , Seguchi Osamu , Yanase Masanobu , Fujita Tomoyuki , Kobayashi Junjiro , Nakatani Takeshi
Published: August 2014

Heart transplantation started in Japan in 1999. Since then, 50 transplants have been performed at our center. We performed histopathological analyses of the 50 explanted hearts and the post‐transplant biopsy specimens. The median age of recipients was 39 years. The primary diseases before transplant were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 33 patients (66%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in seven (14%), restrictive cardiomyopathy in one, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in one, and secondary cardiomyopathy in eight (16%). Before transplantation, 47 patients (94%) had left ventricular assist devices. No severe cardiovascular failure due to allograft rejection occurred. The post‐transplant survival rate was 97.6% at 1 year and 93.1% at 10 years. One recipient was lost to sepsis from myelodysplastic syndrome in the fourth year, one died of multiple organ failure and peritonitis 8 months after transplant. Another patient died of recurrent post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). Mild cardiac dysfunction occurred in seven recipients in the early postoperative period. Moderate acute cellular rejection occurred in six patients (12%), and antibody‐mediated rejection occurred in three (6%). The number of heart transplants performed in Japan is very small. However, the outstanding 10‐year survival rate is due to donor evaluation and post‐transplant care resulting in low grade rejection. Pathological evaluation has also greatly contributed to the results.
Morphological spectrum of renal pathology and its correlation to clinical features in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation: A study involving a series of 21 autopsy cases
Authors: Ohashi Ryuji , Ishii Hideaki , Naito Zenya , Shimizu Akira
Published: August 2014

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a thrombohemorrhagic disorder, occurs as a secondary complication in many diseases, but the histopathological features of kidneys in DIC have not been extensively characterized thus far. We reviewed 21 autopsy cases of patients with a clinical diagnosis of DIC and studied the repertoire of renal pathology. Eighteen patients had elevated serum creatinine levels and 15 patients had a variable degree of proteinuria. Underlying disorders included malignant neoplasms in 12 patients, and abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myocardial infarction, and systemic infections in other patients. Coexistent glomerular pathology, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) with different morphological variants, and microthrombi formation, was present in many patients. The microthrombi were histologically similar to that seen in thrombotic microangiopathy, but characteristics associated with DIC were detected by special staining. The presence of FSGS correlated with the degree of urinary protein (P = 0.0044), and the presence of acute tubular injury (ATI) and the extent of global glomerulosclerosis both correlated with serum creatinine levels (P = 0.019 and 0.0003, respectively). FSGS was probably due to endothelial cell damage, another potential etiology for FSGS. Global glomerulosclerosis, a result of previous renal injury, can be a determinant of renal function during the acute phase of DIC.
The determinants of innovation in green supply chains: evidence from an Italian sectoral study
Authors: Frey Marco , Iraldo Fabio , Testa Francesco
Published: August 2014

Innovation processes are increasingly spreading through the unbounded universe of European small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It represents a fundamental opportunity especially for those SMEs operating in the so‐called ‘green economy’ sectors, in order to be competitive in a National, European and International market with their sustainable products and services. Drawing upon a database of over 300 enterprises operating within the eight defined green sectors, this paper assesses the determinants and drawbacks of innovation. In particular, by using an econometrical approach, we tested the following propositions: (1) small dimension of enterprises is not an obstacle to their innovation capabilities; (2) the adoption of an internationalisation strategy is an opportunity and a stimulus to innovation for SMEs; (3) cooperation with research centres, financial partners, trade association and public entities can help SMEs to overcome difficulties and help them to develop and offer innovative products and services, so to be competitive at an international level. The econometric analysis shows a positive impact of the variables ‘dimension’ and ‘level of internationalisation’ on innovation capabilities. In addition, cooperation with research centres and access to capital market are positively related with effective innovations.
Does board social capital influence chief executive officers' investment decisions in research and development?
Authors: Chen Hsiang‐Lan , Ho Mei Hsiu‐Ching , Hsu Wen‐Tsung
Published: August 2014

The findings of the chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics–research and development (R&D) investment relationship remain incomplete if previous unexamined contingencies are not considered. Very few studies in this area have invariably focused on the constraints from the external environment and overlooked the important influence of board social capital on such relationship. This study uses insights from resource dependence theory to examine how the effects of CEO characteristics on R&D investment are contingent on board social capital. The results show that board social capital mitigates/enhances the negative/positive effect of CEO tenure/CEO educational level on R&D investment, supporting the view that board social capital, as an important conduit to link firms to critical information and essential resources in the environment, may offer better counsel to CEOs and enhance their decision‐making capabilities in moving toward R&D. One important implication is that firms wishing to encourage innovation through R&D spending should consider nominating directors with rich social capital to the board because they may assist CEOs in coping with R&D complexities and acquiring requisite resources, leading to a better planning of R&D.
A Field Study to Unravel Factors that are Significantly Associated with the Secretory Activity of the Corpus Luteum During the First Three Postpartum Cycles in High Yielding Dairy Cows, Based on the Amount of Steroidogenic and Endothelial Cells Present in the Luteal Tissue
Authors: Cools S , Van den Broeck W , Bossaert P , Hostens M , Opsomer G
Published: August 2014

Contents

Fourteen multi‐ and eight primiparous high‐yielding dairy cows were followed from the first till the fourth ovulation postpartum. Cows were randomly divided into two groups and supplemented with soybean (group I; n = 11) or rapeseed meal (group II; n = 11). Both groups were subjected to a biopsy sampling of the corpus luteum (CL) at cycle day 9. The luteal capillary network (visualized by Bandeiraea simplicifolia) was denser in cycles 2 and 3 (p = 0.0005). The same was seen for the surface occupied by steroidogenic cells (visualized by 3β‐hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase) (p = 0.0001). The peripheral blood progesterone concentration showed an increasing trend with increasing cycle number and was higher in primiparous cows (p = 0.013), which had also larger glands on cycle day 9. The area occupied by endothelial cells was positively correlated with the area occupied by steroidogenic cells (r = 0.59; p < 0.0001). Both the areas occupied by endothelial and by steroidogenic cells were negatively correlated with the blood concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) (respectively, r = −0.377; p = 0.004 and r = −0.355; p = 0.007). We can conclude that primiparous cows generally have higher peripheral progesterone levels during the first three cycles after calving which is associated with a larger CL. In comparison with those of the first post‐partum cycle, corpora lutea of cycles 2 and 3 have a denser capillary network and a larger area of steroidogenic cells, while these are only associated with a trend of higher peripheral progesterone concentrations.
Getting Lost in Cities: Spatial Patterns of Phonetically Confusing Street Names
Authors: Chan Keith , Vasardani Maria , Winter Stephan
Published: August 2014

A large street network is likely to contain duplicated or similar sounding street names. These conflicts can cause confusion in communication between people or in machine‐human interaction. Municipal authorities have begun to see the importance of uncovering these existing street name conflicts and mitigating future ones, for improved record keeping, emergency response, etc. However the commonly used Soundex phonetic algorithm is generally considered to produce poor similarity results in terms of uncovering street name conflicts. This study reports on a new fusion algorithm that combines phonetic methods and approximate string matching for street names, weighted by street type suffix (Avenue, Boulevard, Court, etc.), to quantitatively measure the collision/confusion potential presented by a pair of streets. This algorithm is then applied to the entire street network in Greater Melbourne, Australia, and the pattern of collisions at various spatial scales, and within municipalities, is mapped. The goal of this work is to produce better tools that can aid policy makers, administrators and industries dealing with location‐based services to make better decisions when assigning and disambiguating street names.
Decline in overall, smear‐negative and HIV‐positive TB incidence while smear‐positive incidence stays stable in Guinea‐Bissau 2004–2011
Authors: Lemvik G. , Rudolf F. , Vieira F. , Sodemann M. , Østergaard L. , Rodrigues A. , Gomes V. , Aaby P. , Wejse C.
Published: August 2014

Objective

To calculate Tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates in Guinea‐Bissau over an 8‐year period.

Methods

Since 2003, a surveillance system has registered all TB cases in six suburban districts of Bissau. In this population‐based prospective follow‐up study, 1205 cases of pulmonary TB were identified between January 2004 and December 2011. Incidence rates were calculated using census data from the Bandim Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS).

Results

The overall incidence of pulmonary TB was 279 per 100 000 person‐years of observation; the male incidence being 385, and the female 191. TB incidence rates increased significantly with age in both sexes, regardless of smear or HIV status. Despite a peak with unknown cause of 352 per 100 000 in 2007, the overall incidence of pulmonary TB declined over the period. The incidence of HIV infected TB cases declined significantly from 108 to 39 per 100 000, while the incidence of smear‐positive TB cases remained stable; the overall figure was 188 per 100 000.

Conclusions

Overall incidence of pulmonary TB in Guinea‐Bissau has declined from 2004 to 2011. The decline was also seen in the subgroups of smear‐negative and HIV‐positive TB cases, probably due to antiretroviral treatment. Smear‐positive TB incidence remains stable over the period.
Cell‐based therapies for cardiac disease: a cellular therapist's perspective
Authors: Young Pampee P. , Schäfer Richard
Published: August 2014

Cell‐based therapy is an exciting, promising, and a developing new treatment for cardiac diseases. Stem cell–based therapies have the potential to fundamentally transform the treatment of ischemic cardiac injury and heart failure by achieving what would have been unthinkable only a few years ago—the Holy Grail of myocardial regeneration. Recent therapeutic approaches involve bone marrow (BM)‐derived mononuclear cells and their subsets such as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), endothelial progenitor cells as well as adipose tissue–derived MSCs, cardiac tissue–derived stem cells, and cell combinations. Clinical trials employing these cells have demonstrated that cellular therapy is feasible and safe. Regarding delivery methods, the safety of catheter‐based, transendocardial and ‐epicardial stem cell injection has been established. However, the results, while variable, suggest rather modest clinical efficacy overall in both heart failure and ischemic heart disease, such as in acute myocardial infarction. Future studies will focus on determining the most efficacious cell type(s) and/or cell combinations and the most reasonable indications and optimal timing of transplantation, as well as the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects. We will review and summarize the clinical trial results to date. In addition, we discuss challenges and operational issues in cell processing for cardiac applications.