bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microencapsulated sodium butyrate reduces the frequency of abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Banasiewicz T. , Krokowicz Ł. , Stojcev Z. , Kaczmarek B. F. , Kaczmarek E. , Maik J. , Marciniak R. , Krokowicz P. , Walkowiak J. , Drews M.
Published: June 2012

Aim  Abdominal pain, defaecation disorder and change of bowel habit are the commonest symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The effect of microencapsulated sodium butyrate (MSB) was assessed on the severity of symptoms in patients with IBS.

Method  Sixty‐six patients treated with one of the standard pharmacological therapies for at least 3 months were included in the study. They were randomized to receive MSB as a supplemental treatment to standard therapy or to receiving a placebo. Previous pharmacological therapy was continued throughout the study in both arms. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. Each assessment was documented by a validated visual analogue score questionnaire measuring the severity of selected clinical symptoms, a closed‐end questionnaire measuring the frequency of selected clinical symptoms and a single closed‐end question measuring the subjective improvement of symptoms.

Results  After 4 weeks there was a significant decrease of pain during defaecation in the MSB group which extended to improvement of urgency and bowel habit at 12 weeks. Reduction of abdominal pain, flatulence and disordered defaecation was not statistically significant.

Conclusions  MSB as a supplemental therapy can reduce the frequency of selected clinical symptoms in patients with IBS, without significant influence on reducing symptom severity.
DO STATES FREE RIDE IN ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT?
Authors: FEINBERG ROBERT M. , HUSTED THOMAS A.
Published: June 2012

Recent research has documented a substantial role in antitrust enforcement by U.S. states. While many of the cases litigated involve small local firms, a nontrivial portion encompasses multiple‐state issues. Some previous literature has investigated whether states engage in free‐riding behavior in environmental regulation, and whether governments free ride on private decisions in provision of public goods. In this paper, we analyze a sample of antitrust cases involving cross‐state impacts (from the Multi‐State Antitrust Database, provided by the National Association of Attorneys General) and explain the determinants of free riding (which we define as participating in a case, but not as a lead plaintiff). (JEL L40, H41, H77)
Sex moderates associations between prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and human fetal neurological development
Authors: Glynn Laura M. , Sandman Curt A.
Published: June 2012

Maternal cortisol levels (at 15, 19, 25, 31 and 37 weeks’ gestation) and fetal movement response to vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS; at 25, 31 and 37 weeks) were assessed in 190 mother‐fetus pairs. Fetuses showed a response to the VAS at 25 weeks and there was evidence of increasing maturation in the response at 31 and 37 weeks. Early elevations in cortisol predicted a failure to respond to the VAS at 25 weeks and later elevations in cortisol were associated with a larger response among fetuses when assessed near term. The associations between cortisol and VAS emerged earlier and were more apparent among female fetuses than among the males. The findings provide support for the role of prenatal glucocorticoids in shaping human fetal CNS development.
Intelligent Road Sign Inventory (IRSI) with Image Recognition and Attribute Computation from Video Log
Authors: Hu Zhaozheng
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Road signs are infrastructure assets crucial for transportation safety. Transportation agencies need to inventory signs regularly, e.g., annually or every 2 years, for asset management. This article proposes a framework of intelligent road sign inventory (IRSI) to enhance sign data collection, compared with existing manual or semiautomatic methods. The two key technical problems of sign recognition and attribute computation are addressed for IRSI. Because sign colors are important for both image segmentation and color features analysis, a novel kernel‐density‐estimation‐based statistical color model (KDE‐SCM) is proposed to describe the widespread and multimodel sign color distributions. The KDE‐SCM is embedded into a sign recognition algorithm by integrating sign shapes, textures, and other features. Furthermore, sign attributes, including the distance, local position, global positioning system (GPS) position, height, tilt angle, etc., are computed from image and GPS data. The proposed algorithms have been tested with the actual video log images collected on 35 km road segments in Kyoto City, Japan. For the KDE‐SCM color models, the false positive rates for the red and blue colors are 0.9% and 0.7%, while the false negative rates are 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. The sign recognition algorithm was configured and applied to recognize three regulatory sign types of stop, no‐crossing, and no‐parking signs with 92.6% precision and 91.9% recall on average. The sign attribute computation model was also tested with the actual video log. The computation errors for distance, position, tilt angle, and height, etc., increase with the measurement distances. The sign‐to‐camera distances have the computation errors of less than 22 cm if the measurement distances are less than 15 m. The proposed algorithms demonstrate good potential for developing IRSI to enhance road asset data collection and processing.
Leadership Development in Organizations: Multiple Discourses and Diverse Practice
Authors: Mabey Christopher
Published: June 2012

Research on leadership development in organizations is abundant, as are the resources invested in developing their leaders. Although rarely made explicit, much of this writing and activity is driven by functionalist assumptions, with a primary concern for good design and enhanced corporate performance. Given the politically sensitive, culturally complex and institutionally embedded nature of leadership, as well as controversy over the way leadership itself is best defined and developed, the author argues that this reliance on a single perspective is potentially limiting. The aim of this paper is to enhance leadership development practice in organizations by proposing a fresh and theoretically informed approach for exploring the multiple meanings of leadership development. This is done, first, by clarifying the discursive assumptions underlying studies in this field and revealing the distinctive insights that arise from functionalist, interpretive, dialogic and critical discourses of leadership development; and second, by exploring how each of these discourses, or ‘readings’, might promote quite different approaches to leadership development in organizations.
A Multidisciplinary Cognitive Behavioural Framework of Impulse Buying: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Xiao Sarah Hong , Nicholson Michael
Published: June 2012

Impulse buying (IB) is one of the most fragmented concepts in the marketing and consumer literature. This has resulted in some contradictory findings and a lack of an overarching theoretical framework for understanding the IB process and its outcomes. Based on a systematic review of the literature published over the past 60 years, the authors synthesize various research perspectives into a comprehensive multidisciplinary framework of IB – linking antecedents, triggers, the buying act and post‐purchase outcomes. The paper makes four specific contributions relevant to both academic researchers and practitioners. First, it provides a comprehensive understanding of IB as a process and outcome, by systematically reviewing the existing literature. Second, it specifically recognizes and discusses the triggers of IB, by drawing on literature related to the buying process, intentions and motivations. Third, this is the first meta‐analysis review in the area. Finally, it considers the potential consequences of IB that lead to subsequent IB, and provides a framework for future investigation. This paper also addresses a problem of relevance to both academics and practitioners, proposing further research and managerial implications.
Australia's Carbon Pricing Strategies in a Global Context*
Authors: CLARKE HARRY , WASCHIK ROBERT
Published: June 2012

The sectoral impacts of Australia's carbon pricing policies are analyzed in a setting where Australia acts unilaterally to address its carbon emissions and where there is no global market for traded carbon permits. While theory and interest group advocacy suggest a case for compensating Australian producers whose outputs become less competitive because Australia unilaterally prices carbon, this case is sometimes exaggerated. For example, in the ferrous metals sector, analysis suggests that gains from such refinements are low since carbon leakages and adverse competitiveness effects are small. In other sectors – such as non‐ferrous metals – the effects are more pronounced. Exaggerating the competitiveness costs of carbon pricing risks policy overreaction and unintended protectionism, thereby reducing the net benefits from Australian carbon pricing.
Extremism and the Economics of Religion*
Authors: IANNACCONE LAURENCE R.
Published: June 2012

By modeling religious activity as a product of rational choice and market forces, the economics of religion offers new insights concerning religious trends, the consequences of religious freedom, doctrinal innovation, and the enduring appeal of extremism. The work both complements and challenges that of sociologists, historians, and other religious scholars. Club‐theoretic models of sectarianism highlight the potential benefits of strictness and sacrifice, not only in religions, but also in communes, gangs, military units, social movements, political organizations, and even academic subfields.
Do Excellent Research Environments Produce Better Learning and Teaching Outcomes?*
Authors: BARRETT GARRY F. , MILBOURNE ROSS
Published: June 2012

Recent discussion of policies to promote quality tertiary education has been premised on the notion that teaching and research are independent activities, with teaching performance unrelated to research output. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between research quality and teaching performance. The empirical analysis is based on the recent ‘Excellence in Research for Australia’ 2010 ratings and the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund measures for 2007–2008 by field across Australian universities. We found that high‐performing research environments do generate high‐quality learning and teaching in ‘economic’ outcomes but not in ‘perception’ outcomes.
Rates of Interventions in Labor and Birth across Canada: Findings of the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey
Authors: Chalmers Beverley , Kaczorowski Janusz , O‘Brien Beverley , Royle Cathie
Published: June 2012

Background

Rates of interventions in labor and birth should be similar across a country if evidence‐based practice guidelines are followed. This assumption is tested by comparison of some practices across the 13 provinces and territories of Canada. The objective of this study was to describe the wide provincial and territorial variations in rates of routine interventions and practices during labor and birth as reported by women in the Maternity Experiences Survey of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System.

Methods

A sample of 8,244 eligible women was identified from a randomly selected sample of recently born infants drawn from the May 2006 Canadian Census. The sample was stratified by province and territory. Computer‐assisted telephone interviews were conducted with participating birth mothers by Statistics Canada on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Interviews took an average of 45 minutes and were completed when infants were between 5 and 10 months old (9–14 mo in the territories). Completed responses were obtained from 6,421 women (78%).

Results

Provincial and territorial variations in rates of routine intervention used during labor and birth are reported. The percentage range of mothers' experience of induction (range 30.9%), epidural (53.7%), continuous electronic fetal monitoring (37.9%), and medication‐free pain management during labor (40.7%) are provided, in addition to the use of episiotomy (14.1%) or “stitches” (48.3%), being in a “flat lying position” (42.2%), and having their legs in stirrups for birth (35.7%). Wide variations in the use of most of the interventions were found, ranging from 14.1 percent to 53.7 percent.

Conclusions

Rates of intervention in labor and birth showed considerable variation across Canada, suggesting that usage is not always evidence based but may be influenced by a variety of other factors. (BIRTH 39:3 September 2012)
How Do Dental and Prenatal Care Practitioners Perceive Dental Care During Pregnancy? Current Evidence and Implications
Authors: George Ajesh , Shamim Simin , Johnson Maree , Dahlen Hannah , Ajwani Shilpi , Bhole Sameer , Yeo Anthony E.
Published: June 2012

Background

Poor maternal oral health may be associated with adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. However, women seldom seek dental care during pregnancy, and misconceptions by prenatal care practitioners about oral health care during pregnancy may contribute to the problem. The aim of this study was to review current knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of dental and prenatal care practitioners about oral health care during pregnancy.

Methods

This review examined all studies published in English that explored the knowledge, attitude, behavior, and barriers faced by dentists, general practitioners, midwives, and obstetricians/gynecologists with respect to oral health care during pregnancy.

Results

Despite acknowledging the importance of maternal oral health, many dentists are uncertain about the safety of dental procedures and are hesitant in treating pregnant women. General practitioners and midwives are poorly informed about the impact of poor maternal oral health and rarely initiate this topic during prenatal care. Many general practitioners also believe that dental procedures are unsafe during pregnancy. Obstetricians/gynecologists are well informed about perinatal oral health and are supportive of dental procedures, but because of lack of training in this area and competing health demands they seldom focus on oral health care during their prenatal care.

Conclusion

No real consensus exists among dentists and prenatal care practitioners with respect to oral health care during pregnancy. This issue poses a significant deterrent for pregnant women seeking dental care. Practice guidelines in perinatal oral health are needed for health professionals to emphasize this important aspect of prenatal care. (BIRTH 39:3 September 2012)
Stress sensitivity of childhood epilepsy is related to experienced negative life events
Authors: van Campen Jolien S. , Jansen Floor E. , Steinbusch Laurie C. , Joëls Marian , Braun Kees P. J.
Published: June 2012

Purpose:  To evaluate the effect of stress on seizure frequency in childhood epilepsy, and to assess possible differences between children in whom seizures are precipitated by stress and those in whom they are not.

Methods:  Parents or caregivers of children with active epilepsy (aged 2–16 years) were sent questionnaires on developmental and epilepsy characteristics, life‐time stress exposure, and the effect of stressful periods and moments of acute stress on seizure frequency in their child. Further information was extracted from patient files.

Key Findings:  Parents or caregivers of 153 children with a median age of 8.8 years responded to the questionnaires. Thirty‐nine percent reported an increase in seizure frequency during periods of stress, with a median increase of 2.5 times the frequency compared to nonstressful periods. Thirty‐seven percent reported that seizures were precipitated by acute stress, with stress being a precipitating factor in 33% (median value) of the seizures. Overall, 51% of the patients reported stress sensitivity of seizures. A higher number of negative life events experienced in total life was related to an increase in seizure frequency in stressful periods (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, p = 0.01) as well as to the precipitation of seizures by acute stress (OR 1.3, p = 0.02).

Significance:  Stress sensitivity is reported in half of the children with epilepsy. Results of this study suggest a relation between experienced negative life events and stress sensitivity of childhood epilepsy. One possible explanation could be that experiencing negative life events may cause a larger response to daily stressors, thereby increasing the likelihood to induce epileptic activity.
Mitochondrial loss indicates early axonal damage in small fiber neuropathies
Authors: Casanova‐Molla Jordi , Morales Merche , Garrabou Glòria , Solà‐Valls Núria , Soriano Alex , Calvo Maria , Maria Grau Josep , Valls‐Solé Josep
Published: June 2012

Evaluation of nerve fibers in the skin provides a useful tool for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathies (SFNs). Our aim was to determine whether mitochondria are involved in SFN, indicating early axonal damage. We quantified mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV (OXPHOS) and axonal (PGP 9.5) fluorescence on skin sections from 32 SFN patients and 14 healthy controls. Also, a group of six patients were recruited before and after 30‐day treatment with the mitotoxic antibiotic linezolid. We measured the co‐localization of OXPHOS within the intraepidermal and subpapillary dermal axons (PGP‐immunoreactive [PGP‐ir]). SFN patients with relatively preserved intraepidermal nerve fibers (SFN borderline) showed statistically significant reduction of OXPHOS (50.5 ± 33.9 µm2 vs. 107.6 ± 81 µm2 in controls, p < 0.02). A positive correlation was found between both PGP‐ir and OXPHOS in controls (Pearson's coefficient r = 0.59, p < 0.001), whereas such correlation was absent in SFN. With respect to baseline measurements, linezolid therapy increased both PGP‐ir and OXPHOS, which could be considered an initial compensatory toxic‐induced response. This study set out to identify a possible marker of axonal pre‐degenerative state in SFN borderline patients.
Amyloid‐like IgM deposition neuropathy: a distinct clinico‐pathologic and proteomic profiled disorder
Authors: Figueroa Juan J. , Peter Bosch E. , Dyck P. James B. , Singer Wolfgang , Vrana Julie A. , Theis Jason D. , Dogan Ahmet , Klein Christopher J.
Published: June 2012

Some patients with immunoglobulin paraproteinemic neuropathy have intra‐nerve deposits that morphologically mimick amyloid, but do no stain with Congo red. Patients with amyloid‐like deposits were identified. The nerve amyloid‐like aggregates were studied by laser microdissection and dual mass spectrometry. Three male patients, all with IgM gammopathy, and neuropathy were identified. Follow‐up, disease duration was 5, 19, and 7 years, respectively. All had progressive asymmetric sensory‐onset distal axonal polyneuropathy with late motor involvement. Autonomic symptoms occurred in only one after 13 years of symptoms. None had clinical cardio‐renal involvement. One had skin papules with dermal amyloid‐like deposits. Endoneurial amyloid‐like deposits had granulo‐fibrillar ultrastructure. Mass spectrometry of laser‐dissected deposits identified IgM pentameric macroglobulin (heavy, light, and joining chains) without amyloid‐associated proteins including absent apolipoprotein E and serum amyloid P‐component. Amyloid‐like neuropathy has distinct clinical, pathologic, and proteomic features which expand the spectrum of IgM neuropathies. Patients have favorable survival, relative absence of autonomic features, and distinct proteomic profiles of the infiltrative protein in nerve.
Clinical and serological features of acute sensory ataxic neuropathy with antiganglioside antibodies
Authors: Rojas‐García Ricard , Querol Luis , Gallardo Eduard , De Luna Salva Noemi , Juarez Cándido , Garces Mercedes , Fages Eva , Casasnovas Carlos , Illa Isabel
Published: June 2012

There is as yet no consensus for considering pure acute sensory ataxic neuropathy (ASAN) as a variant of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Reactivity against gangliosides sharing disialosyl epitopes has been reported in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of reactivity against gangliosides in ASAN and to define the clinical pattern. From our database we identified patients with suspicion of ASAN. We defined ASAN as the presence of ataxia of peripheral origin with loss of proprioception, and areflexia, absence of ophthalmoplegia and no or minimal muscle weakness. Patients who met these criteria were retrospectively reviewed for their spectrum of reactivity against gangliosides and clinical features. We identified 12 patients fulfilling pre‐defined criteria for ASAN. Reactivity against gangliosides containing disialosyl epitopes was present in seven patients. Concomitant reactivity against other gangliosides was present in 6/7 patients. All patients presented good prognosis and an antecedent illness was present in nine. Our results support the previously described clinico‐immunological association between ASAN and disialosyl specificity, and widen the spectrum of reactivity against gangliosides. The acute presentation with a monophasic course, and good prognosis in all cases, together with transient immunoglobulin G antiganglioside antibodies and infectious antecedent in 7/12 patients support the inclusion of ASAN as a GBS variant.
Contribution of Individual Diseases to Death in Older Adults with Multiple Diseases
Authors: Tinetti Mary E. , McAvay Gail J. , Murphy Terrence E. , Gross Cary P. , Lin Haiqun , Allore Heather G.
Published: June 2012

Objectives

To determine empirically the diseases contributing most commonly and strongly to death in older adults, accounting for coexisting diseases.

Design

Longitudinal.

Setting

United States.

Participants

Twenty‐two thousand eight hundred ninety Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey participants, a national representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries, enrolled during 2002 to 2006.

Measurements

Information on chronic and acute diseases was ascertained from Medicare claims data. Diseases contributing to death during follow‐up were identified empirically using regression models for all diseases with a frequency of 1% or greater and hazard ratio for death of greater than 1. The additive contributions of these diseases, adjusting for coexisting diseases, were calculated using a longitudinal extension of average attributable fraction; 95% confidence intervals were estimated from bootstrapping.

Results

Fifteen diseases and acute events contributed significantly to death, together accounting for nearly 70% of death. Heart failure (20.0%), dementia (13.6%), chronic lower respiratory disease (12.4%), and pneumonia (5.3%) made the largest contributions to death. Cancer, including lung, colorectal, lymphoma, and head and neck, together contributed to 5.6% of death. Other diseases and events included acute kidney injury, stroke, septicemia, liver disease, myocardial infarction, and unintentional injuries.

Conclusion

The use of methods that focus on determining a single underlying cause may lead to underestimation of the extent of the contribution of some diseases such as dementia and respiratory disease to death in older adults and overestimation of the contribution of other diseases. Current conceptualization of a single underlying cause may not account adequately for the contribution to death of coexisting diseases that older adults experience.
Ultrasound‐Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Catheter for Chronic Abdominal Pain
Authors: Guirguis Maged N. , Abd‐Elsayed Alaa A. , Girgis Girgis , Soliman Loran Mounir
Published: June 2012

Abstract  Background and Objectives:  Neural blockade of the thoracolumbar nerves supplying the anterior abdominal wall through transversus abdominis plane (TAP) has been investigated for different applications mainly for the acute pain management following abdominal surgical procedures. The role of this block for chronic pain syndromes is still to be discovered, and its value in chronic abdominal pain needs to be studied. We are presenting new application of the TAP technique for management of chronic abdominal pain syndrome using the continuous infusion.

Case report:  We present a case of an 18‐year‐old girl who underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Postoperatively, patient complained of chronic pain at the site of the surgery. All diagnostic and imaging studies were negative for a surgical or a medical cause. Multiple interventions including epidural blocks, transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation, and celiac plexus blocks had failed to relieve the pain. After discussion with the patient about the diagnostic nature of the procedure and the likelihood of recurrence of pain, TAP block was performed on the right side with significant improvement of pain for about 24 hours. The degree of pain relief experienced by the patient was very dramatic, which encouraged us to proceed with an indwelling TAP catheter to allow for continuous infusion of a local anesthetic. The patient was sent home with the continuous infusion through a TAP catheter for 2 weeks. From the day of catheter insertion and up to 9 months of follow‐up, patient had marked improvement of her pain level as well as her functional status and ability to perform her daily activities, after which our acute pain team stopped following the patient.

Conclusion:  A successful TAP block confirmed the peripheral (somatic) source of the abdominal pain and provided temporary analgesia after which an indwelling catheter was inserted, which provided prolonged pain relief.
Idiopathic Right Ventricular Tract Outflow Tachycardia Induced by High‐Frequency Stimulation
Authors: JESURAJ MASILAMANI LAWRANCE , RAO B. HYGRIV , SHARADA K. , NARASIMHAN C.
Published: June 2012

Idiopathic Right Ventricular Tract Outflow Tachycardia Induced by High‐Frequency Stimulation. 

Ventricular tachycardia arising from the right ventricular outflow tract is one of the common forms of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia. One of the major challenges in mapping and ablation of idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia is noninducibility. Direct stimulation of sympathetic nerves innervating the right ventricular outflow may provide an alternative approach to induce arrhythmia. We report a case of idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia in whom tachycardia was noninducible by aggressive conventional stimulation protocols, which was induced by high‐frequency stimulation of proximal pulmonary artery and was successfully ablated. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 221‐223, February 2013)
SOS—Satisfied or Stuck, Why Older Rural Residents Stay Put: Aging in Place or Stuck in Place in Rural Utah*
Authors: Erickson Lance D. , Call Vaughn R.A. , Brown Ralph B.
Published: June 2012

Abstract

As rural communities undergo substantial demographic and economic changes, understanding the migration intentions and their antecedents of rural elderly persons becomes increasingly important. Using data drawn from a survey of adults from 24 rural Utah communities conducted in 2008, we examine whether rural residents 60 years of age or older plan to remain in their present communities (N= 621). We use structural equation models (SEM) to estimate the relationships between a variety of individual and community‐level background measures, including perceptions of local service quality, leaving one's community for health care, Internet use, attachment to and satisfaction with community, and plans to age in place. Results suggest that even as the rural context of economic decline, population loss, and distance to medical services may reduce the viability of staying in a community, a desire to remain in the community is primarily a function of perceptions of the quality of local services and community satisfaction. This research highlights the need to better understand the interplay between the availability of medical services and perceptions of distance as well as to understand the complex relationship between individual and community level characteristics for migration intentions.
Pattern detection in null model analysis
Authors: Ulrich Werner , Gotelli Nicholas J.
Published: June 2012

Synthesis

The identification of distinctive patterns in species x site presence‐absence matrices is important for understanding meta‐community organisation. We compared the performance of a suite of null models and metrics that have been proposed to measure patterns of segregation, aggregation, nestedness, coherence, and species turnover. We found that any matrix with segregated species pairs can be re‐ordered to highlight aggregated pairs, indicating that these seemingly opposite patterns are closely related. Recently proposed classification schemes failed to correctly classify realistic matrices that included multiple co‐occurrence structures. We propose using a combination of metrics and decomposing matrix‐wide patterns into those of individual pairs of species and sites to pinpoint sources of non‐randomness.

Null model analysis has been a popular tool for detecting pattern in binary presence–absence matrices, and previous tests have identified algorithms and metrics that have good statistical properties. However, the behavior of different metrics is often correlated, making it difficult to distinguish different patterns. We compared the performance of a suite of null models and metrics that have been proposed to measure patterns of segregation, aggregation, nestedness, coherence, and species turnover. We found that any matrix with segregated species pairs can be re‐ordered to highlight aggregated pairs. As a consequence, the same null model can identify a single matrix as being simultaneously aggregated, segregated or nested. These results cast doubt on previous conclusions of matrix‐wide species segregation based on the C‐score and the fixed‐fixed algorithm. Similarly, we found that recently proposed classification schemes based on patterns of coherence, nestedness, and segregation and aggregation cannot be uniquely distinguished using proposed metrics and null model algorithms. It may be necessary to use a combination of different metrics and to decompose matrix‐wide patterns into those of individual pairs of species or pairs of sites to pinpoint the sources of non‐randomness.
The effects of pole walking on health in adults: A systematic review
Authors: Fritschi J. O. , Brown W. J. , Laukkanen R. , van Uffelen J. G. Z.
Published: June 2012

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the effects of pole walking (PW) programs on physical and psychosocial health. Randomized controlled and controlled trials were identified from literature searches in PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, SPORTdiscuss, CINAHL and PEDRO. A total of 14 articles from 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven of the included studies had a quality score of 50% or higher. Most studies included mid to older aged men and women in clinical populations with various medical conditions. Only two studies included nonclinical populations. The majority of the PW programs consisted of supervised group sessions performed two to three times weekly for 8 weeks or longer. Most studies investigated the effects of PW on both physical and psychosocial health and the majority examined effects on four to five outcomes. The effects of PW on cardiorespiratory fitness were most extensively studied. The most frequently examined psychosocial measure was quality of life. All studies reported at least one beneficial effect of PW compared with the control group. The results of this systematic review indicate that PW programs have some beneficial effects on both physical and psychosocial health in adults with and without clinical conditions.
Differential water uptake among plant species in humid alpine meadows
Authors: Leng Xin , Cui Jun , Zhang Shiting , Zhang Wenguang , Liu Yuhong , Liu Shirong , An Shuqing
Published: June 2012

Question

Do the three chosen species (
Caltha palustris, Veratrum nigrum and
Stellera chamaejasme) in humid alpine meadows take up water from different depths? Do these species differ in their responsiveness to rainfall?

Location

Mt. Balang, China.

Methods

Rainwater, soil water and plant water were collected from three plots over a 15‐day period during June–July 2006, and water isotopes analysed. The linear mixed models procedure was used to compare δD and δ
18O values across soil depths, while three‐factor ANOVA was performed to compare δD and δ
18O values among the three species. The contributions of different soil depths to plant water sources were analysed using MixSir. A classic two‐endmember linear mixed model was used to calculate the proportion of rainwater in plant stem water.

Results

Soil water showed substantial temporal shifts in isotopic profile from day to day, as influenced by rainwater input. The three plant species,
C. palustris (CP),
V. nigrum (VN) and
S. chamaejasme (SC), acquired water from different soil depths, with their reliance on deeper soil water increasing in the order of CP < VN < SC. Moreover, CP, VN and SC absorbed 69.18%, 35.50% and 13.46% of their stem water, respectively, from the 4 July rainwater, suggesting that their responsiveness to rain pulses significantly differed in the order of CP > VN > SC.

Conclusions

The isotopic profiles of soil water shifted dramatically in response to rainfall, suggesting rapid movement of soil water. There was separation of the plant water uptake depths among the three species, with SC depending less on surface soil and being associated with drier soil habitats compared with CP and VN. Moreover, CP absorbed rainwater before it percolated below the root zone, while VN and SC did not; the differential responsiveness to water pulses may be related to their different water requirements as a result of adaptation to different soil water conditions. Our study demonstrates inter‐specific differentiation in plant water uptake in humid alpine meadows. Such information is important for species co‐existence and plant community composition.
Land‐use impact on the growth and survival of seedlings and saplings in West African savannas
Authors: Jurisch Katrin , Hahn Karen , Wittig Rüdiger , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus
Published: June 2012

Question

In frequently disturbed habitats such as savannas, survival of seedlings and saplings depends on the species‐specific ability to persist for a long time and to re‐sprout following disturbances that are damaging to individuals. This physiological ability increases with increasing stem diameter, as re‐sprouting requires sufficient nutrient reserves. Are survival and growth of seedlings and saplings of woody savanna species related to habitat conditions and land‐cover type?

Location

Semi‐arid savannas representing different site conditions and land‐use practices in North Benin, West Africa.

Methods

For individuals of 18 common woody species <1‐m tall, basal diameter and height were repeatedly measured in five censuses from 2008 to 2010 in the land‐cover types non‐arable sites, fallows and protected areas. We used multistate capture–recapture models to estimate survival and transition probabilities between diameter classes.

Results

We detected six groups of species with similar survival and transition probabilities. For one of these groups we found no correlation to land use, whereas the other groups comprise species with distinct preferences for different land‐cover types. Most species developed better in the communal area compared to the protected area. For five species (one shrub and four trees), we detected an extremely low transition probability for the latter land‐cover type.

Conclusion

For some species groups, differences in plant performance were explained by a human‐caused opening of the canopy that is beneficial for germination of seeds and enhances survival of juveniles by reducing the competition for light, water and nutrients. Other species showed their best demographic performance in the communal area on non‐arable sites with unfavourable environmental conditions and resulting small‐scale heterogeneity (mosaic of bare ground and areas with low herbaceous cover), whereas five species are likely to decline in the protected area.
Application of highly differentiated SNPs between Japanese Black and Holstein to a breed assignment test between Japanese Black and F1 (Japanese Black x Holstein) and Holstein
Authors: NISHIMURA Shota , WATANABE Toshio , OGINO Atsushi , SHIMIZU Kazuhiro , MORITA Mitsuo , SUGIMOTO Yoshikazu , TAKASUGA Akiko
Published: June 2012

Two taurine breeds, Japanese Black and Holstein, established from geographically distant origins and selected for different uses, beef and dairy, were extensively genotyped using a genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip with more than 1000 animals of each breed. The genetic structure was examined by principal component analysis, in which the first principal component clearly separated the two breeds and explained more than 15% of the variance. Highly differentiated SNPs were detected throughout the genome, some of which were clustered within small regions on BTA4 (79.2–79.7 Mb, Btau4.0) and BTA26 (22.2–23.6 Mb). A breed assignment test was developed using 18 highly differentiated SNPs to distinguish Japanese Black from F1 (Japanese Black × Holstein) and Holstein. The error rate that an F1 or Holstein animal is misjudged as Japanese Black was expected to be < 0.8%, while the error rate that a Japanese Black animal is misjudged as F1 or Holstein was expected to be < 0.001%. This test provides a reliable and powerful method to detect breed label falsification in retail beef.
Breast milk zinc transfer and early post‐natal growth among urban South Indian term infants using measures of breast milk volume and breast milk zinc concentrations
Authors: Samuel Tinu Mary , Thomas Tinku , Thankachan Prashanth , Bhat Swarnarekha , Virtanen Suvi M. , Kurpad Anura V.
Published: June 2012

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in infancy and early childhood is of public health concern in developing countries. This study aimed to longitudinally assess Zn intake of urban South Indian term infants in the first 6 months of life using measures of breast milk (BM) volume and BM Zn concentrations and, additionally, to study the effect of BM Zn intake on infant length and weight gain. BM intake by the deuterium dilution technique, BM Zn concentration at months 1, 3 and 6, as well as serum Zn level at months 3 and 6 were assessed in 50 mother–infant pairs. BM intake significantly declined from 627 mL day−1 at month 1 to 608 mL day−1 at month 6 (P < 0.01). BM Zn concentration and intake significantly declined from month 1 to month 6 (P < 0.001 for both). Mean infant serum Zn level at months 3 and 6 were 93.0 ± 27.1 and 99.6 ± 30.1 µg dL−1, respectively. Infant BM Zn intake at months 1 and 3 was not associated with the weight and length gain between 1–3 and 3–6 months, respectively. Zn intake from BM, maternal BM Zn content and serum Zn levels were not significantly different between small‐for‐gestational age and appropriate‐for‐gestational age infants. Therefore, among urban south Indian term infants less than 6 months of age, BM Zn intakes were low, owing to low volumes of BM intake, despite BM Zn concentrations being in the normal range. Promotion of breastfeeding and thereby increasing the volumes of milk produced is a first important step towards improving Zn intake among infants.
Effects of dietary counselling on food habits and dietary intake of Finnish pregnant women at increased risk for gestational diabetes – a secondary analysis of a cluster‐randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kinnunen Tarja I. , Puhkala Jatta , Raitanen Jani , Ahonen Suvi , Aittasalo Minna , Virtanen Suvi M. , Luoto Riitta
Published: June 2012

The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing and GDM might be prevented by improving diet. Few interventions have assessed the effects of dietary counselling on dietary intake of pregnant women. This study examined the effects of dietary counselling on food habits and dietary intake of Finnish pregnant women as secondary outcomes of a trial primarily aiming at preventing GDM. A cluster‐randomized controlled trial was conducted in 14 municipalities in Finland, including 399 pregnant women at increased risk for developing GDM. The intervention consisted of dietary counselling focusing on dietary fat, fibre and saccharose intake at four routine maternity clinic visits. Usual counselling practices were continued in the usual care municipalities. A validated 181‐item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess changes in diet from baseline to 26–28 and 36–37 weeks gestation. The data were analysed using multilevel mixed‐effects linear regression models. By 36–37 weeks gestation, the intervention had beneficial effects on total intake of vegetables, fruits and berries (coefficient for between‐group difference in change 61.6 g day−1, 95% confidence interval 25.7–97.6), the proportions of high‐fibre bread of all bread (7.2% units, 2.5–11.9), low‐fat cheeses of all cheeses (10.7% units, 2.6–18.9) and vegetable fats of all dietary fats (6.1% ‐units, 2.0–10.3), and the intake of saturated fatty acids (−0.67 energy‐%‐units, −1.16 to −0.19), polyunsaturated fatty acids (0.38 energy‐%‐units, 0.18–0.58), linoleic acid (764 mg day−1, 173–1354) and fibre (2.07 g day−1, 0.39–3.75). The intervention improved diet towards the recommendations in pregnant women at increased risk for GDM suggesting the counselling methods could be implemented in maternity care.
Mobilised bone marrow‐derived cells accelerate wound healing
Authors: Wang Yu , Sun Yu , Yang Xiao‐Yan , Ji Shi‐Zhao , Han Shu , Xia Zhao‐Fan
Published: June 2012

Massive skin defects caused by severe burn and trauma are a clinical challenge to surgeons. Timely and effective wound closure is often hindered by the lack of skin donor site. Bone marrow‐derived cells (BMDCs) have been shown to ‘differentiate’ into multiple tissue cells. In this study we focused on the direct manipulation of endogenous BMDCs, avoiding the immunocompatibility issues and complicated cell isolation, purification, identification and amplification procedures in vitro on wound repair. We found that mobilisation of the BMDCs into the circulation significantly increased the amount of BMDCs at the injury site which in turn accelerated healing of large open wound. We used a chimeric green fluorescent protein (GFP) mouse model to track BMDCs and to investigate their role in full‐thickness skin excisional wounds. We have shown that bone marrow mobilisation by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) exerted multiple beneficial effects on skin repair, both by increasing the engraftment of BMDCs into the skin to differentiate into multiple skin cell types and by upregulating essential cytokine mRNAs critical to wound repair. The potential trophic effects of G‐CSF on bone marrow stem cells to accelerate wound healing could have a significant clinical impact.
The Relationship Between Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio and Female Gender Identity
Authors: Hisasue Shin-ichi , Sasaki Shoko , Tsukamoto Taiji , Horie Shigeo
Published: June 2012

Introduction

Gender identity and the second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D : 4D) are discriminative between the sexes. However, the relationship between 2D : 4D and gender identity disorder (GID) is still controversial.

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between 2D : 4D and score on the Gender Identity Scale (GIS) in female-to-male (FtM) GID subjects.

Methods

Thirty-seven GID-FtM with testosterone replacement therapy from our clinic were included in this study. As controls, 20 male and 20 female volunteers participated from our institution (medical doctors and nurses). We photocopied left and right hands of the participants and measured the second and fourth finger lengths. Gender identity was measured with the GIS.

Main Outcome Measures

2D : 4D digit ratio and GIS in male, female, and GID-FtM subjects.

Results

The 2D : 4D (mean ± standard deviation) in male, female, and GID-FtM were 0.945 ± 0.029, 0.999 ± 0.035, and 0.955 ± 0.029 in right hand and 0.941 ± 0.024, 0.979 ± 0.040, and 0.954 ± 0.036 in left hand, respectively. The 2D : 4D was significantly lower in male controls in both hands and GID-FtM in the right hand than in female controls (P < 0.05, analysis of variance). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that “consistent gender identity” score in the higher domain in GIS and “persistent gender identity” score in the lower domain are statistically significant variables correlating with 2D : 4D in the right hands among biological females.

Conclusions

The finger length ratio 2D : 4D in GID-FtM was significantly lower than in female controls in the right hand in this study. 2D : 4D showed a positive correlation with GIS score. Because 2D : 4D influences are assumed to be established in early life and to reflect testosterone exposure, our results suggest a relationship between GID-FtM and perinatal testosterone.
Understanding the low magnetic field magnetar, SGR 0418+5279, from a magnetized core model
Authors: Soni Vikram
Published: June 2012

We consider the newly found low magnetic field magnetar, SGR 0418+5279, which exhibits flares, in the context of a model recently proposed by us in which magnetars owe their strong magnetic fields to a high baryon density, magnetized core. We calculate the characteristic core size which will give rise to a surface polar field of about 1013 G, observed for this magnetar. We then estimate the time of transport of the magnetic field to the crust by ambipolar diffusion, and find this time to be roughly consistent with the spin-down age of SGR 0418+5279. Our model suggests that a precise post-flare timing analysis for this magnetar would show a persistent increase in the spin-down rate of ν˙, as observed, for example, in PSR 1846-0258, and in due course a decrease in the braking index, consistent with a post-flare increase in the surface field.
A peculiar galaxy appears at redshift 11: properties of a moderate-redshift interloper
Authors: Hayes Matthew , Laporte Nicolas , Pelló Roser , Schaerer Daniel , Le Borgne Jean-François
Published: June 2012

In 2011 Laporte et al. reported a very high redshift galaxy candidate: a lensed J-band dropout (A2667-J1). J1 has a photometric redshift of z = 9.6–12, the probability density function for which permits no low- or intermediate-z solution. We here report new spectroscopic observations of this galaxy with Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter, which show clear [O iii] λ5007 Å, Lyα, Hα and Hβ emission and place the galaxy firmly at z = 2.082. The oxygen lines contribute only ∼25 per cent to the H-band flux and do not significantly affect the dropout selection of J1. After correcting the broad-band fluxes for line emission, we identify two roughly equally plausible natures for A2667-J1: it is either a young heavily reddened starburst or a maximally old system with a very pronounced 4000-Å break, upon which a minor secondary burst of star formation is superimposed. Fits show that to make a 3s detection of this object in the B band (V band), imaging of depth AB = 30.2 (29.5) would be required - despite the relatively bright near-infrared (NIR) magnitude, we would need optical data of equivalent depth to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to rule out the mid-z solution on purely photometric grounds. Assuming that this stellar population can be scaled to the NIR magnitudes of recent Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) IR-selected galaxies, we conclude that unfeasibly deep optical data (reaching AB ∼ 32) would be required for the same level of security. There is a population of galaxies at z 2 with continuum colours alone that mimic those of our z = 7–12 candidates.