bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodologies for assembling and interrogating N, P, K, and S soil test calibrations for Australian cereal, oilseed and pulse crops
Authors: Watmuff G. , Reuter D. J. , Speirs S. D.
Published: August 2013

During the past 50 years, 3800 field experiments yielding over 5200 treatment series were conducted in Australia examining yield responses to applied N, P, K, or S fertiliser applications to cereal, oilseed and pulse crops. The experiments all had accompanying soil test data. These data were entered into multiple Microsoft Access® database templates and then consolidated into a single national online MYSQL® database. A web application (named the BFDC Interrogator) was also developed to rapidly access the national database (BFDC National Database) and construct soil test calibrations between percentage of the maximum grain yield achieved (hereafter called percentage relative yield) and soil test values recorded for specified ranges of regional or national experiments. Search parameters were applied to define soil test calibrations. These included farming system (dryland or irrigated), year of experiment, soil type, crop type, soil test, depth of soil sampling and soil test units. Other data filters based on site metadata, such as method of nutrient placement, can be applied to enable more definitive calibrations. The calibrations are used to derive critical soil test values at 80, 90 and 95% relative crop yield with 95% confidence limits. However, the soil test criteria at 90% relative crop yield with 70% confidence limits have been chosen as the single calibration and reliability standard for all crops and soil tests. Corresponding yield increase (t/ha)–soil test relationships for an applied nutrient can also be accessed. The BFDC National Database and BFDC Interrogator can now be accessed online by trained, registered users. This paper describes the methodologies that underpinned the progressive development of this tool. Through the commitment of the grains and fertiliser industries, it is anticipated that the calibrations will be used to improve decision support systems used to generate fertiliser recommendations for Australian cropping industries.
Soil phosphorus–crop response calibration relationships and criteria for winter cereal crops grown in Australia
Authors: Bell Richard , Reuter Douglas , Scott Brendan , Sparrow Leigh , Strong Wayne , Chen the late Wen
Published: August 2013

Soil testing is the most widely used tool to predict the need for fertiliser phosphorus (P) application to crops. This study examined factors affecting critical soil P concentrations and confidence intervals for wheat and barley grown in Australian soils by interrogating validated data from 1777 wheat and 150 barley field treatment series now held in the BFDC National Database. To narrow confidence intervals associated with estimated critical P concentrations, filters for yield, crop stress, or low pH were applied. Once treatment series with low yield (<1 t/ha), severe crop stress, or pHCaCl2 <4.3 were screened out, critical concentrations were relatively insensitive to wheat yield (>1 t/ha). There was a clear increase in critical P concentration from early trials when full tillage was common compared with those conducted in 1995–2011, which corresponds to a period of rapid shift towards adoption of minimum tillage. For wheat, critical Colwell-P concentrations associated with 90 or 95% of maximum yield varied among Australian Soil Classification (ASC) Orders and Sub-orders: Calcarosol, Chromosol, Kandosol, Sodosol, Tenosol and Vertosol. Soil type, based on ASC Orders and Sub-orders, produced critical Colwell-P concentrations at 90% of maximum relative yield from 15 mg/kg (Grey Vertosol) to 47 mg/kg (Supracalcic Calcarosols), with other soils having values in the range 19–27 mg/kg. Distinctive differences in critical P concentrations were evident among Sub-orders of Calcarosols, Chromosols, Sodosols, Tenosols, and Vertosols, possibly due to differences in soil properties related to P sorption. However, insufficient data were available to develop a relationship between P buffering index (PBI) and critical P concentration. In general, there was no evidence that critical concentrations for barley would be different from those for wheat on the same soils. Significant knowledge gaps to fill to improve the relevance and reliability of soil P testing for winter cereals were: lack of data for oats; the paucity of treatment series reflecting current cropping practices, especially minimum tillage; and inadequate metadata on soil texture, pH, growing season rainfall, gravel content, and PBI. The critical concentrations determined illustrate the importance of recent experimental data and of soil type, but also provide examples of interrogation pathways into the BFDC National Database to extract locally relevant critical P concentrations for guiding P fertiliser decision-making in wheat and barley.
Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping Systems in Australia (BFDC): knowledge gaps and lessons learnt
Authors: Conyers M. K. , Bell M. J. , Wilhelm N. S. , Bell R. , Norton R. M. , Walker C.
Published: August 2013

Soil testing remains a most valuable tool for assessing the fertiliser requirement of crops. The relationship between soil tests (generally taken from surface soil) and relative yield (RY) response to fertiliser is subject to the influence of environment (e.g. water, temperature) and management (e.g. cultivation, sowing date). As such, the degree of precision is often low when the soil test calibration is based on a wide range of independent experiments on many soil types over many years by many different operators. Hence, the 90% RY target used in soil test interpretation is best described by a critical range (critical concentration and confidence interval) for a given soil test rather than a single critical value. The present Better Fertiliser Decisions for Crops (BFDC) National Database, and the BFDC Interrogator that interacts with the database, provide a great advance over traditional formats and experiment-specific critical values because it allows the use of filters to refine the critical range for specific agronomic conditions. However, as searches become more specific (region, soil type) the quantity of data available to estimate a critical range becomes more vulnerable to data paucity, to outliers, and to clusters of localised experiments. Hence, appropriate training of the users of this database will ensure that the strengths and limitations of the BFDC National Database and BFDC Interrogator are properly understood. Additionally, the lack of standardised metadata for sites within the database makes it generally impossible to isolate the effects on critical values of the specific management or environmental factors listed earlier, which are therefore best determined by specific studies. Finally, the database is dominated (60%) by responses of wheat to nitrogen and phosphorus, meaning that relatively few studies are available for responses by pulses (other than narrow leaf lupins) or oilseeds (other than canola), especially for potassium and sulfur. Moreover, limited data are available for current cropping systems and varieties. However, the identification of these gaps can now be used to focus future research on the crops, nutrients, soils, regions, and management practices where data are lacking. The value of metadata and the need for standardised protocols for nutrition experiments were key lessons.
Comparing three sampling techniques for estimating fine woody down dead biomass
Authors: Keane Robert E. , Gray Kathy
Published: August 2013

Designing woody fuel sampling methods that quickly, accurately and efficiently assess biomass at relevant spatial scales requires extensive knowledge of each sampling method’s strengths, weaknesses and tradeoffs. In this study, we compared various modifications of three common sampling methods (planar intercept, fixed-area microplot and photoload) for estimating fine woody surface fuel components (1-, 10-, 100-h fuels) using artificial fuelbeds of known fuel loadings as reference. Two modifications of the sampling methods were used: (1) measuring diameters only and both diameters and lengths and (2) measuring diameters to (a) the nearest 1.0mm, (b) traditional size classes (1h=0–6mm, 10h=6–25mm, 100h=25–76mm), (c) 1-cm diameter classes and (d) 2-cm classes. We statistically compared differences in sampled biomass values to the reference loading and found that (1) fixed-area microplot techniques were slightly more accurate than the others, (2) the most accurate loading estimates were when fuel particle diameters were measured and not estimated to a diameter class, (3) measuring particle lengths did not improve estimation accuracy, (4) photoload methods performed poorly under high fuel loads and (5) accurate estimate of fuel biomass requires intensive sampling for both planar intercept and fixed-area microplot methods.
Alteration of genic 5-hydroxymethylcytosine patterning in olfactory neurons correlates with changes in gene expression and cell identity
Authors: Colquitt Bradley M. , Allen William E. , Barnea Gilad , Lomvardas Stavros
Published: August 2013

The modified DNA base 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is enriched in neurons where it may contribute to gene regulation and cellular identity. To determine how 5hmC influences gene expression in an in vivo neuronal population, we assessed the patterning and function of the base along the developmental lineage of the main olfactory epithelium—from multipotent stem cells through neuronal progenitors to mature olfactory sensory neurons (mOSNs). We find that 5hmC increases over gene bodies during mOSN development with substantial patterning occuring between the progenitor and mOSN stages. Although gene-body 5hmC levels correlate with gene expression in all three developmental cell types, this association is particularly pronounced within mOSNs. Overexpression of Tet3 in mOSNs markedly alters gene-body 5hmC levels and gene expression in a manner consistent with a positive role for 5hmC in transcription. Moreover, Tet3 overexpression disrupts olfactory receptor expression and the targeting of axons to the olfactory bulb, key molecular and anatomical features of the olfactory system. Our results suggest a physiologically significant role for gene-body 5hmC in transcriptional facilitation and the maintenance of cellular identity independent of its function as an intermediate to demethylation.
Protrudin binds atlastins and endoplasmic reticulum-shaping proteins and regulates network formation
Authors: Chang Jaerak , Lee Seongju , Blackstone Craig
Published: August 2013

Significance

In this study, we have identified a type of protein that participates in the formation of the tubular endoplasmic reticulum. This protein, protrudin, harbors hydrophobic hairpins that generate high curvature in endoplasmic reticulum tubules, as well as several domains that may link the tubular endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane or other organelles.
Microscopy ambient ionization top-down mass spectrometry reveals developmental patterning
Authors: Hsu Cheng-Chih , White Nicholas M. , Hayashi Marito , Lin Eugene C. , Poon Tiffany , Banerjee Indroneal , Chen Ju , Pfaff Samuel L. , Macagno Eduardo R. , Dorrestein Pieter C.
Published: August 2013

Significance

To improve targeted molecular characterization of biological samples, we have interfaced a light microscope with ambient ionization MS to perform microscopy-guided targeted mass spectrometric analysis. This tool was used to characterize a diverse set of biomolecules ranging from lipids, sugars, peptides to proteins with molecular masses ranging from ∼300 Da to 16 kDa. Each of these entities could be characterized using top-down analysis directly on developing mouse spinal cords. This technology will be applicable in diverse fields ranging from chemical biology, pathology, and microbiology to neuroscience, medicine, and agriculture.
Preschoolers Trust Novel Members of Accurate Speakers’ Groups and Judge them Favourably
Authors: Barth Hilary , Bhandari Keera , Garcia Jennifer , MacDonald Kyle , Chase Elizabeth
Published: August 2013

By age 3, children track a speaker's record of past accuracy and use it as a cue to current reliability. Two experiments ( N = 95 children) explored whether preschoolers’ judgements about, and trust in, the accuracy of a previously reliable informant extend to other members of the informant's group. In Experiment 1, both 3- and 4-year-olds consistently judged an animated character who was associated with a previously accurate speaker more likely to be correct than a character associated with a previously inaccurate speaker, despite possessing no information about these characters’ individual records of reliability. They continued to show this preference one week later. Experiment 2 presented 4- and 5-year-olds with a related task using videos of human actors. Both showed preferences for members of previously accurate speakers’ groups on a common measure of epistemic trust. This result suggests that by at least age 4, children's trust in speaker testimony spreads to members of a previously accurate speaker's group.
Effects of Contact Precautions on Patient Perception of Care and Satisfaction: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mehrotra Preeti , Croft Lindsay , Day Hannah R. , Perencevich Eli N. , Pineles Lisa , Harris Anthony D. , Weingart Saul N. , Morgan Daniel J.
Published: August 2013

Objective.

Contact precautions decrease healthcare worker-patient contact and may impact patient satisfaction. To determine the association between contact precautions and patient satisfaction, we used a standardized interview for perceived issues with care.

Design.

Prospective cohort study of inpatients, evaluated at admission and on hospital days 3, 7, and 14 (until discharged). At each point, patients underwent a standardized interview to identify perceived problems with care. After discharge, the standardized interview and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey were administered by telephone. Responses were recorded, transcribed, and coded by 2 physician reviewers.

Participants.

A total of 528 medical or surgical patients not admitted to the intensive care unit.

Results.

A total of 528 patients were included in the primary analysis, of whom 104 (20%) perceived some issue with their care. On multivariable logistic regression, contact precautions were independently associated with a greater number of perceived concerns with care (odds ratio, 2.05 [95% confidence interval, 1.31–3.21]; P<.01), including poor coordination of care (P = .02) and a lack of respect for patient needs and preferences (P = .001). Eighty-eight patients were included in the secondary analysis of HCAHPS. Patients under contact precautions did not have different HCAHPS scores than those not under contact precautions (odds ratio, 1.79 [95% confidence interval, 0.64–5.00]; P = .27).

Conclusions.

Patients under contact precautions were more likely to perceive problems with their care, especially poor coordination of care and a lack of respect for patient preferences.
MLML: consistent simultaneous estimates of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation
Authors: Qu Jianghan , Zhou Meng , Song Qiang , Hong Elizabeth E. , Smith Andrew D.
Published: August 2013

Motivation: The two major epigenetic modifications of cytosines, 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), coexist with each other in a range of mammalian cell populations. Increasing evidence points to important roles of 5-hmC in demethylation of 5-mC and epigenomic regulation in development. Recently developed experimental methods allow direct single-base profiling of either 5-hmC or 5-mC. Meaningful analyses seem to require combining these experiments with bisulfite sequencing, but doing so naively produces inconsistent estimates of 5-mC or 5-hmC levels.

Results: We present a method to jointly model read counts from bisulfite sequencing, oxidative bisulfite sequencing and Tet-Assisted Bisulfite sequencing, providing simultaneous estimates of 5-hmC and 5-mC levels that are consistent across experiment types.

Availability:  http://smithlab.usc.edu/software/mlml

Contact:  andrewds@usc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary material is available at Bioinformatics online.
Genome compression: a novel approach for large collections
Authors: Deorowicz Sebastian , Danek Agnieszka , Grabowski Szymon
Published: August 2013

Motivation: Genomic repositories are rapidly growing, as witnessed by the 1000 Genomes or the UK10K projects. Hence, compression of multiple genomes of the same species has become an active research area in the past years. The well-known large redundancy in human sequences is not easy to exploit because of huge memory requirements from traditional compression algorithms.

Results: We show how to obtain several times higher compression ratio than of the best reported results, on two large genome collections (1092 human and 775 plant genomes). Our inputs are variant call format files restricted to their essential fields. More precisely, our novel Ziv-Lempel-style compression algorithm squeezes a single human genome to ∼400 KB. The key to high compression is to look for similarities across the whole collection, not just against one reference sequence, what is typical for existing solutions.

Availability:  http://sun.aei.polsl.pl/tgc (also as Supplementary Material) under a free license.

Supplementary data:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Contact:  sebastian.deorowicz@polsl.pl
Magnetic field effects in flavoproteins and related systems
Authors: Evans Emrys W. , Dodson Charlotte A. , Maeda Kiminori , Biskup Till , Wedge C. J. , Timmel Christiane R.
Published: August 2013

Within the framework of the radical pair mechanism, magnetic fields may alter the rate and yields of chemical reactions involving spin-correlated radical pairs as intermediates. Such effects have been studied in detail in a variety of chemical systems both experimentally and theoretically. In recent years, there has been growing interest in whether such magnetic field effects (MFEs) also occur in biological systems, a question driven most notably by the increasing body of evidence for the involvement of such effects in the magnetic compass sense of animals. The blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome is placed at the centre of this debate and photoexcitation of its bound flavin cofactor has indeed been shown to result in the formation of radical pairs. Here, we review studies of MFEs on free flavins in model systems as well as in blue-light photoreceptor proteins and discuss the properties that are crucial in determining the magnetosensitivity of these systems.
Determinants of repayment performance of group lending in China
Authors: Qinlan Zhang , Izumida Yoichi
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper aims to explore how borrower and group‐level characteristics affect repayment decisions of group borrowers by highlighting the case of rural credit cooperatives (RCCs) in Guizhou province in Southwest China.

Design/methodology/approach

The Logit model was applied to test the determinants of repayment performance of RCCs' group lending. The authors used the survey data of 245 farm households in Guizhou province, collected in 2008.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that there is a serious mismatch between joint liability mechanisms and the social and economic conditions in rural China. Mechanisms such as threatening to withhold defaulters' future loans from RCCs failed to work. In addition, higher household incomes also did not improve repayment performance. However, factors such as a higher degree of acquaintanceship in a group, migrant income, and employment in government agencies, positively improved the chances of repayment.

Practical implications

Group lending is more suitable for poorer areas with few opportunities for migration and limited access to finance. In addition, constructing the trustworthy relationship between micro‐lenders and customers and designing diverse and flexible financial services to meet heterogeneous demands are equally important.

Originality/value

This paper is an attempt to empirically explore the determinants of repayment performance in group lending programs in China. The results provide meaningful policy implications for the government and rural financial institutions.
An analysis on China's agricultural bilateral trade costs? 1995‐2007
Authors: Wen Simei , Zheng Jing , Liu Xiaoli
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The trade cost is a significant factor which restricts the trade potential between two nations. This paper aims to make a measurement of agricultural bilateral trade costs of China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Novy model, this paper makes a measurement of agricultural bilateral trade costs before and after China joining the WTO (1995‐2007).

Findings

This paper finds that China's agricultural trade costs with its five major trade partners have not got a pronounced downward trend during 1995‐2007. In ascending order, these are: Malaysia, the USA, Japan, Brazil and Argentina in 2007. Otherwise, there is an obvious corresponding relationship between the trade potential and costs of agricultural products, which is that high costs lead to inadequate trade. With a simple regression, distance and free trade agreement are found to be main factors influencing agricultural trade costs.

Originality/value

Based on the revised gravity model, this paper especially calculates the agricultural bilateral trade costs before and after China joining the WTO, which expands the understanding of trade costs in an industrial perspective. It can prove the agricultural market opening extent, and also help us to learn more about how China participates in the division of the world farm produce market.
Chinese domestic textile demand: where they buy does matter
Authors: MacDonald Stephen , Pan Suwen , Hudson Darren , Tuan Francis
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of distribution channels on demand for apparel, home textiles, and other textiles (including shoes) in urban China.

Design/methodology/approach

The estimation procedure used in this study is implemented in three steps: first, the price/unit value information is estimated; second, the parameters for a set of demand systems are estimated; and third, the J‐test and likelihood ratio testing are used to determine the most suitable model for the data set.

Findings

The results indicate that households spend more on apparel than home textiles and other textile products if they purchase textile products from small stores. It also indicates that they would spend more on home textiles and other textiles if they purchase from chain stores and supermarkets.

Originality/value

The estimation of Chinese textile consumption presents a significant challenge to both academic researchers and industry, due to China's large population, income inequality, different consumption channels, and other related issues. First, the results presented in the paper provide a clear indication for textile producers, exporters, and others to choose their distribution channels to target specific customers; second, the disaggregated textile expenditure and price elasticity estimates from this article can be used in various analytical procedures (i.e. simulation models) to evaluate the welfare effects of domestic policies and international trade policies. Quantification of the welfare impacts of domestic policies and international trade policies would be more meaningful if disaggregate textile elasticity estimates are used in simulation models.
Structural optimization of fuzzy systems' rules base and aggregation models
Authors: Panteliyovych Kondratenko Yuriy , Pavlovych Klymenko Leonid , Yasin Mustafa Al Zu'bi Eyad
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a general method to simplify the structure of fuzzy controllers' rule base using integrated methodology for reducing the number of fuzzy rules based on modelling and simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers the problem of developing effective methods and algorithms for optimization of fuzzy rules bases of Sugeno‐type fuzzy controllers that can be applied to control of dynamic objects, including objects with non‐stationary parameters. The proposed approach based on calculating the impact of each of the rule on the formation of control signals for different types of input signals provides optimization of a linguistic rules database by using exclusion mechanism for rules with negligible influence. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is investigated using a fuzzy PID controller for control of a non‐stationary object of second order.

Findings

In this paper, the authors argued that different aggregation models can be used for structural optimization of fuzzy controllers and not all the rules are actually required in the fuzzy controllers' rule base. Eliminating some of the rules does not necessarily lead to a significant change in the fuzzy controller's output. The proposed integrated approach based on combination of different kinds of reference input signals for fuzzy controllers modelling and simulation is able to provide guidelines to the users which rules are required and which can be eliminated. The results obtained from the case studies demonstrate that the proposed integrated approach is able to reduce the number of rules required and, at the same time, to have the desired values of quality control indices.

Research limitations/implications

In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, only control object of second order with PID fuzzy controller of Sugeno‐type is chosen. Future studies can advance this research by applying the proposed approach in different types of fuzzy systems.

Practical implications

The proposed integrated approach is able to simplify the structural optimization methodology and make it possible to be implemented in real processes of the fuzzy controllers' design.

Originality/value

The value of the current paper is on the proposal of an integrated approach for rule reduction to enhance the practical use of modelling and simulation in a design of fuzzy controllers.
Valuation of money‐back guarantees for retail goods: a test of the real‐option perspective
Authors: Luo Lieh‐Ming
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to develop an alternative valuation model for money‐back guarantees (MBG) using a real‐option approach and examine the validity of the proposed model with an experimental design. This study attempts to address how retailers appropriately price MBG from a consumer value‐based viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

The study defines the perceived post‐purchase product value as a stochastic underlying process, and then MBG option value could be theoretically determined by the real‐option pricing approach. For the test of the real‐option perspective on MBG, a 2×2×2 factorial experimental design is conducted to examine the empirical effects.

Findings

With model specification, the study investigated the effects of three key factors, i.e. price level, perceived risk level, and consumers' risk‐aversion, which are characterized by a two‐sided effect on MBG option value. The relationships among those factors also are clarified through theoretical analyses. The empirical results could be explained well by the proposed model.

Originality/value

Faced with increasingly competitive market, retailers typically need more sophisticated pricing strategies. The study can offer retailers a more comprehensive understanding of consumers' perceived value of MBG in various situations and thereby suggest some management implications for the MBG pricing issue.
The assessment of cash flow forecasting
Authors: Linares‐Mustarós Salvador , Carles Ferrer‐Comalat Joan , Cassú‐Serra Elvira
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The aim of this study is to show in detail the theoretical and practical foundations of a new feasibility technique for cash flow forecasting (CFF) based on triangular fuzzy numbers.

Design/methodology/approach

One of the most complicated problems business people face is determining if they have enough cash to be able to meet all future payments of a specific period. The uncertainty of forecasting the data to solve the problem suggests that a model based on fuzzy logic tools may provide a good way to obtain new techniques to ensure the feasibility of cash flow management.

Findings

This study shows how a specific company can obtain a quantitative idea of the risk of not being able to meet payments in a specific period. This idea can be put into practice with the usual computer tools.

Research limitations/implications

This work presents a technique to predict the feasibility of CFF using triangular fuzzy numbers. There are other fuzzy numbers with which we can model the study problem and that offer certain advantages over to triangular ones.

Practical implications

A qualitative procedure is currently used to calculate the feasibility of a CFF. This work represents a step forward since it shows how to model quantitative feasibility.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this contribution consists of providing a complete model for a feasibility technique of CFF, as well as several proposals to mechanize the calculations and make the results more intuitive by means of spreadsheet graphs.
Cross‐cultural differences in the content and presentation of web sites
Authors: Huertas‐Garcia Ruben , Casas‐Romeo Agusti , Subira Esther
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Internet is set to be one of the main channels of distribution in the future and already greatly facilitates product evaluation thanks to the information available on the net. The main advantages of electronic shopping over other channels include the reduced costs of searching for products and for product‐related information. Research has stressed the importance of quality information in web site design. The perceived utility of a web site depends on the perceived utility of its content (i.e. quality of information on product characteristics) and its presentation of that content. This paper compares the ways in which a web site's content and content presentation affect the product choice of two consumer groups from different cultures. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an exploratory study to determine the key factors which may be used in a later conclusive research. The authors propose a tool based on the statistical design of experiments to determine the number of significant factors used by two market segments (Spanish and US students) when selecting a bottle of wine sold via a web site.

Findings

The authors identify key extrinsic factors of consumers' perceived utility when selecting a bottle of wine from a web site and analyse whether cross‐cultural aspects are significant in this choice. The authors assume that web site evaluations made by users from different geographical areas reflect their preferences for more familiar designs.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size does not enable us to determine the significance of certain variables. Moreover, the sample is not fully representative of the overall consumer population, and so inferences cannot be made about all consumers. However, since the study is exploratory with a theoretical content, the results can be considered valid.

Practical implications

Web page designers need to take into account the cultural characteristics of their target market in the presentation and content of their sites.

Originality/value

The internet marketing literature considers cultural differences in web design as a tool to improve user confidence and attitude. However, few studies have examined the effects of the cultural adaptation of web sites on user evaluations. Here, the authors propose a straightforward procedure for calculating the main effects of web site attributes. Yates' algorithm and the normal probability plot, proposed by Daniel, can be implemented in any spread sheet.
Algorithm applied in the identification of stakeholders
Authors: Gil‐Lafuente Anna Maria , Barcellos Paula Luciano
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to focus the research on the identification of stakeholders through an analysis of an empirical study by a consulting firm in Brazil. In this case study, the company needs to identify the stakeholders that can exert some influence in its sphere of activity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers the question: to do sustainable business, companies must have good knowledge of all actors with influence in their sphere of activity. This identification of stakeholders is the first step. Based on stakeholder theory, the authors discuss the importance of management with stakeholders in the pursuit of sustainability in business. To achieve this objective, the consultant hired has used fuzzy logic algorithm, applying the theory of clans.

Findings

In applying the model through an empirical study, it has been possible to provide a tool based on the use of grouping algorithm that can facilitate decision making by obtaining qualitative data from a dialogue with managers or specialists on a particular topic. The model also serves to establish the level of relationship between different stakeholders and obtain affinities.

Originality/value

The paper provides an innovative and a useful tool to be used in the process of identifying stakeholders. The paper's main contribution is the application of algorithms in the identification of stakeholders considering sustainability criteria in enterprises, and providing a useful model in making decisions.
Improving cardiac autonomic function following myocardial infarction: The case for anticholinesterase drugs
Authors: Thomas Colleen J
Published: August 2013

See original article on page 610
Fatalities Due to Indigenous and Exotic Species in Florida
Authors: Wolf Barbara C. , Harding Brett E.
Published: August 2013

Florida's climate is suitable for many potentially hazardous animals, including both indigenous and exotic species, which are frequently kept as in zoos or as pets. This has resulted in many unforeseen fatal encounters between animals and the ever expanding human population. While the literature and knowledge pool for more common types of deaths referred to medical examiner/coroner's offices is abundant, the appreciation of wildlife and exotic pet‐related deaths is far less widespread. We report seven animal attack‐related deaths that occurred in Florida. The inflicted injuries included blunt and sharp force injuries, asphyxia, drowning, and envenomation. The underlying cause of death, however, was always a result of the human/animal interaction and in many cases related to human error and failure to appreciate the potentially dangerous behavior of nondomesticated species. These cases illustrate the varied circumstances and pathophysiologies associated with deaths due to indigenous and exotic species and the importance of the multidisciplinary approach in the medicolegal investigation of these cases.
Host‐habitat Location by the Parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)
Authors: Frederickx Christine , Dekeirsschieter Jessica , Verheggen Francois J. , Haubruge Eric
Published: August 2013

This study investigated the role of odorant cues used during host‐habitat location by the generalist parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker. Nasonia vitripennis is a common parasitoid of Dipteran pupae found in association with decaying carrion. Behavioral assays were used to investigate the host‐habitat searching behavior under different scenarios. First, we demonstrated N. vitripennis to be significantly attracted toward odorant cues associated with decaying meat. The biological activity of nine of the volatile molecules constituting the odor of decaying meat was tested on the searching behavior of parasitoid females through two complementary chemoecological approaches: electroantennography (EAG) and olfactometry bioassays. Butanoic acid and butan‐1‐ol elicited high olfactory responses, but no attraction was induced by these two chemicals. Behavioral assays showed that, among the VOCs tested, methyldisulfanylmethane (DMDS) was the only volatile chemical to induce attraction in N. vitripennis.
Detecting Association of Rare Variants by Testing an Optimally Weighted Combination of Variants for Quantitative Traits in General Families
Authors: Fang Shurong , Zhang Shuanglin , Sha Qiuying
Published: August 2013

Although next‐generation sequencing technology allows sequencing the whole genome of large groups of individuals, the development of powerful statistical methods for rare variant association studies is still underway. Even though many statistical methods have been developed for mapping rare variants, most of these methods are for unrelated individuals only, whereas family data have been shown to improve power to detect rare variants. The majority of the existing methods for unrelated individuals is essentially testing the effect of a weighted combination of variants with different weighting schemes. The performance of these methods depends on the weights being used. Recently, researchers proposed a test for Testing the effect of an Optimally Weighted combination of variants (TOW) for unrelated individuals. In this article, we extend our previously developed TOW for unrelated individuals to family‐based data and propose a novel test for Testing the effect of an Optimally Weighted combination of variants for Family‐based designs (TOW‐F). The optimal weights are analytically derived. The results of extensive simulation studies show that TOW‐F is robust to population stratification in a wide range of population structures, is robust to the direction and magnitude of the effects of causal variants, and is relatively robust to the percentage of neutral variants.
Quantitative sonoelastography of the uterine cervix by interposition of a synthetic reference material
Authors: Hee Lene , Sandager Puk , Petersen Olav , Uldbjerg Niels
Published: August 2013

Objective

To develop a reference material that allows quantitative elastography of the uterine cervix using the calculation of the approximate tissue stiffness expressed as Young's modulus (N/mm2). Further, to test the elastography equipment on phantoms from a clinical perspective regarding the distance dependence and the influence of a heterogeneous material.

Design

Methodological study.

Setting

Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

Population

Six mid‐ and five full‐term pregnant women.

Methods

Reference caps and phantoms with Young's moduli between 0.07 and 0.40 N/mm2 were made of silicone and oil. By using reference caps, the approximate Young's moduli of the cervixes were calculated from strain ratios obtained by elastography.

Main outcome measures

Approximate Young's modulus of the cervix.

Results

The recordings of the phantoms revealed that the calculation of the approximate Young's moduli became unreliable at distances above 10–15 mm from the transducer. This was further increased for a phantom which included a soft layer imitating the cervical canal. The approximate Young's modulus obtained from the anterior cervical lip was 0.08 N/mm2 in mid‐term and 0.03 N/mm2 in full‐term pregnant women (Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The reference cap constitutes a promising tool for quantitative elastography of the anterior cervical lip. Figures obtained from the posterior cervical lip are less plausible due to the distance from the transducer and the heterogeneity introduced by the cervical canal. The method has the potential to be used to supplement cervical length assessment when evaluating women at risk of preterm delivery and when planning induction of labor.
Comparing schizophrenia symptoms in the Iban of Sarawak with other populations to elucidate clinical heterogeneity
Authors: McLean Duncan , Barrett Robert , Loa Peter , Thara Rangaswamy , John Sujit , McGrath John , Gratten Jake , Mowry Bryan
Published: August 2013

Introduction

The symptom profile of schizophrenia can vary between ethnic groups. We explored selected symptom variables previously reported to be characteristic of schizophrenia in the Iban of Sarawak in transethnic populations from Australia, India, and Sarawak, Malaysia. We tested site differences to confirm previous research, and to explore implications of differences across populations for future investigations.

Methods

We recruited schizophrenia samples in Australia (n = 609), India (n = 310) and Sarawak (n = 205) primarily for the purposes of genetic studies. We analyzed seven identified variables and their relationship to site using logistic regression, including: global delusions, bizarre delusions, thought broadcast/insertion/withdrawal delusions, global hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and prodromal duration.

Results

We identified a distinct symptom profile in our Sarawak sample. Specifically, the Iban exhibit: low frequency of thought broadcast/insertion/withdrawal delusions, high frequency of auditory hallucinations and disorganized behavior, with a comparatively short prodrome when compared with Australian and Indian populations.

Discussion

Understanding between‐site variation in symptom profile may complement future transethnic genetic studies, and provide important clues as to the nature of differing schizophrenia expression across ethnically distinct groups. A comprehensive approach to subtyping schizophrenia is warranted, utilizing comprehensively ascertained transethnic samples to inform both schizophrenia genetics and nosology.
A multicentre, phase II trial of ofatumumab monotherapy in relapsed/progressive diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Coiffier Bertrand , Radford John , Bosly André , Martinelli Giovanni , Barca Gabriela , Davies Andrew , Decaudin Didier , Gallop‐Evans Eve , Padmanabhan‐Iyer Swaminathan , Van Eygen Koen , Wu Ka Lung , Gupta Ira V. , Lin Thomas S. , Goldstein Nancy , Jewell Roxanne C. , Winter Paul , Lisby Steen ,   415 study investigators
Published: August 2013

This international, multicentre phase II study was conducted to assess ofatumumab, a human anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, in patients with relapsed/progressive diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (TI) or who had relapse/progression after transplantation (PT). Eighty‐one patients received ofatumumab 300 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1, followed by seven weekly IV infusions of 1000 mg. Patients in the TI and PT groups had received a median of 3 (range, 1–7) and 5 (range, 2–7) prior therapies, respectively. One‐third of patients did not respond to the last prior therapy, and 53% had failed two or more rituximab‐containing therapies. Overall response rate was 13% for the TI group (seven partial responses) and 8% for the PT group (two complete responses). Median progression‐free survival was 2·6 months, and median duration of response was 9·5 months. The most common Grade 3–4 adverse events were neutropenia (11%), leucopenia (6%), lymphopenia (6%) and thrombocytopenia (6%). Sixteen deaths have been reported, with disease progression as the most common cause of death. In conclusion, ofatumumab monotherapy was well tolerated and provided clinical benefit to some DLBCL patients in this study. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00622388).
The Tzu Chi nomograms for maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in children: comparison with Miskolc nomogram
Authors: Yang Stephen S. , Chiang I‐Ni , Hsieh Cheng‐Hsing , Chang Shang‐Jen
Published: August 2013

Objective

To report the first ranking method‐based age‐ and gender‐specific nomograms for maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in children.

Patients and Methods

Healthy children aged 4–12 years were enrolled for two sets of uroflowmetry tests.

The first and the higher value of the two consecutive Qmax of each child with a voided volume (VV) of ≥50 mL were included for establishing single‐ and dual‐Qmax nomograms.

Children with possible urinary tract infection or lower urinary tract dysfunctions were excluded.

Results

In all, 1128 children (583 boys and 545 girls) with a mean (sd) age of 7.7 (2.2) years were eligible for analysis and construction of nomograms.

Multivariate analysis showed that the Qmax was significantly affected by age, VV and gender (all P < 0.01).

The values of the corresponding percentile of the Qmax were significantly higher in the dual‐Qmax nomogram compared with the single‐nomogram.

In boys aged 8–12 years, the 5th percentile line of the Miskolc nomogram was significantly lower than that of the present nomograms at all VVs.

Minimally acceptable Qmax values, around the 10th percentile of the dual‐Qmax nomogram, were >11.5 mL/s in children aged ≤6 years and >15.0 mL/s in children aged ≥7 years. External validation is required for the present dual‐Qmax nomograms.

Conclusion

We recommend repeating uroflowmetry in cases with a Qmax lower than the minimally acceptable age‐ and gender‐specific Qmax values.
Polybromo‐1 (PBRM1), a SWI/SNF complex subunit is a prognostic marker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: da Costa Walter H. , Rezende Mariana , Carneiro Felipe C. , Rocha Rafael M. , da Cunha Isabela W. , Carraro Dirce M. , Guimaraes Gustavo C. , de Cassio Zequi Stenio
Published: August 2013

Objective

To analyse the immunohistochemical and mRNA expression of SWI/SNF (SWItch/Sucrose NonFermentable) complex subunit polybromo‐1 (PBRM1) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Patients and Methods

In all, 213 consecutive patients treated surgically for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between 1992 and 2009 were selected.

A single pathologist reviewed all cases to effect a uniform reclassification and determined the most representative tumour areas for construction of a tissue microarray.

In addition, mRNA expression of PBRM1 was analysed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Of the 112‐immunostained ccRCC specimens, 34 (30.4%) were PBRM1‐negative, and 78 (69.6%) were PBRM1‐positive.

The protein expression of PBRM1 was associated with tumour stage (P < 0.001), clinical stage (P < 0.001), pN stage (P = 0.035) and tumour size (P = 0.002).

PBRM1 mRNA expression was associated with clinical stage (P = 0.023), perinephric fat invasion (P = 0.008) and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.042).

PBRM1 significantly influenced tumour recurrence and tumour‐related death. Disease‐specific survival rates for patients whose specimens showed positive‐ and negative‐PBRM1 expression were 89.7% and 70.6%, respectively (P = 0.017).

Recurrence‐free survival rates in patients with positive‐ and negative‐expression of PBRM1 were 87.3% and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.048).

Conclusions

PBRM1‐negative expression is a markedly poor prognosis event in ccRCC.

We encourage PBRM1 study by other groups in order to validate our findings and confirm its possible role as a useful marker in the management of patients with ccRCC.
How the 2SLS/IV estimator can handle equality constraints in structural equation models: A system‐of‐equations approach
Authors: Nestler Steffen
Published: August 2013

Parameters in structural equation models are typically estimated using the maximum likelihood (ML) approach. Bollen (1996) proposed an alternative non‐iterative, equation‐by‐equation estimator that uses instrumental variables. Although this two‐stage least squares/instrumental variables (2SLS/IV) estimator has good statistical properties, one problem with its application is that parameter equality constraints cannot be imposed. This paper presents a mathematical solution to this problem that is based on an extension of the 2SLS/IV approach to a system of equations. We present an example in which our approach was used to examine strong longitudinal measurement invariance. We also investigated the new approach in a simulation study that compared it with ML in the examination of the equality of two latent regression coefficients and strong measurement invariance. Overall, the results show that the suggested approach is a useful extension of the original 2SLS/IV estimator and allows for the effective handling of equality constraints in structural equation models.