bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of probiotic lactobacilli on faecal enzyme and genotoxic activity in human faecal water in the presence of the carcinogen PhIP in vitro
Authors: NOWAK ADRIANA , KATARZYNA ŚLIŻEWSKA , ELŻBIETA KLEWICKA
Published: December 2011

The average β‐glucuronidase activity for children was 0.48 ± 0.04 U/mg, for adults 0.75 ± 0.27 U/mg and for elderly 1.55 ± 0.06 U/mg. For β‐glucosidase, it was 0.19 ± 0.02 U/mg for children, 0.77 ± 0.26 U/mg for adults and 1.18 ± 0.27 U/mg for elderly. In the presence of probiotics, the highest decrease in genotoxicity was observed for Lactobacillus casei 0908 (to 7.99 ± 1.32) and Lactobacillus paracasei 0919 (to 6.19 ± 1.44) for all children. In adults, lower mean genotoxicity was regarded after incubation of PhIP with L. casei 0908 (it was 5.27 ± 1.13) and L. paracasei 0919 (it was o 6.01 ± 1.00). For elderly, statistically significant decrease was maintained after incubation of PhIP with L. casei 0900 (to 6.72 ± 2.67).
The Politics of International Assessments: The IAASTD Process, Reception and Significance
Authors: FELDMAN SHELLEY , BIGGS STEPHEN
Published: December 2011

This paper explores the career of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology and Development (IAASTD) from its inception, the publishing of its reports, and its place in ongoing debates on global agriculture, food security, poverty reduction, social equity and sustainable development. We highlight the disputes and disruptions that characterize the IAASTD process and attempts to marginalize its findings. Following a brief review of the history of the Assessment and of the social construction of scientific knowledges, we consider five processes that expose the hierarchies and contestations that shape ongoing debates. We reveal how conflicts within IAASTD and between IAASTD and its sponsors cannot be dismissed as either technical or managerial, but instead showcase the fragility of claims that privilege productivity increases over other relations in agricultural practice. We conclude with a challenge to understanding agricultural change and its future that builds on social, ecological and political relations as constitutive rather than as exogenous to research and policy formation.
The origin of ovarian cancer
Authors: Ahmed AA , Becker CM , Bast RC
Published: December 2011

Please cite this paper as: Ahmed A, Becker C, Bast R Jr. The origin of ovarian cancer. BJOG 2012;119:134–136.
Patient’s preference: a sound basis for policy?
Authors: Kitchener HC , Paraskevaidis E
Published: December 2011

Please cite this paper as: Kitchener H, Paraskevaidis E. Patient’s preference: a sound basis for policy? BJOG 2012;119:5–6.
Abdominal radical trachelectomy in West London
Authors: Saso S , Ghaem‐Maghami S , Chatterjee J , Naji O , Farthing A , Mason P , McIndoe A , Hird V , Ungar L , Del Priore G , Smith JR
Published: December 2011

Please cite this paper as: Saso S, Ghaem‐Maghami S, Chatterjee J, Naji O, Farthing A, Mason P, McIndoe A, Hird V, Ungar L, Del Priore G, Smith J. Abdominal radical trachelectomy in West London. BJOG 2012;119:187–193.

Objective  Traditionally, the surgical management of invasive cervical carcinoma that has progressed beyond microinvasion has been a radical abdominal hysterectomy. However, this results in the loss of fertility, with significant consequences for the young patient. This report describes abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) as a potential replacement for radical hysterectomy in patients with stage IA2–IIA cervical cancer who desire a fertility‐sparing procedure without decreasing the curative rates.

Design  Observational, retrospective study.

Setting  Teaching hospital and regional cancer centre in London, UK.

Population  Patients undergoing ART.

Methods  Patients presenting during the period 2000–2009 with cervical cancer stage IA2–IIA were offered a trachelectomy, if they expressed a desire to preserve fertility. The type of trachelectomy (vaginal/abdominal) was chosen based on patient anatomy and neoplastic and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics. Each patient was counselled as to the experimental nature of the procedure.

Main outcome measures  Survival, recurrence and fertility issues among ART patients.

Results  A total of 30 patients underwent ART (open and laparoscopic) between 2001 and 2009. Three patients presented with a recurrence, two of which have died (median follow‐up: 24 months). Only three patients required further surgical re‐intervention because of operative complications. Ten patients attempted to conceive, resulting in three conceptions (30%) and two live children.

Conclusions  Abdominal radical trachelectomy provides a feasible, cost‐effective and safe treatment option for young women who have been diagnosed with early‐stage cervical cancer and wish to preserve their fertility.
Understanding regional differences in maternal mortality: a national case–control study in France
Authors: Saucedo M , Deneux‐Tharaux C , Bouvier‐Colle M‐H
Published: December 2011

Please cite this paper as: Saucedo M, Deneux‐Tharaux C, Bouvier‐Colle M. Understanding regional differences in maternal mortality: a national case–control study in France. BJOG 2012;119:573–581.

Objectives  To assess the risk of postpartum maternal death associated with region, and to examine whether the quality of care received by the women who died differed by region.

Design  A national case–control study.

Setting  France.

Population  Selected from recent nationwide surveys, 328 postpartum maternal deaths from 2001 through 2006 as cases; and a representative sample (n = 14 878) of women who gave birth in 2003 as controls.

Methods  Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of maternal death associated with region were calculated with logistic regression, and the quality of care for women who died was compared according to region with chi‐square tests or Fisher’s exact tests.

Main outcome measures  Risk of postpartum maternal death associated with region, and quality of care.

Results  After adjustment for maternal age and nationality, the risk of maternal death was higher in the Ile‐de‐France region (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.0) and the overseas districts (aOR 3.5, 95% CI 2.4–5.0) than in the group for the rest of continental France. In both regions, the excess risk of death from haemorrhage, amniotic fluid embolism and hypertensive disorders was significant. In continental France, after further controlling for women’s obstetric characteristics, the risk of maternal death in Ile‐de‐France remained higher (aOR 1.8. 95% CI 1.3–2.6). The women in the cases groups received suboptimal care more frequently in Ile‐de‐France than in the other continental regions (64% versus 43%, P = 0.01).

Conclusions  These results suggest that quality of care and organisation of health services may play a role in the differential risk of maternal mortality between regions in France. Research on severe maternal morbidity and its determinants is needed to clarify the mechanisms involved.
Placental site trophoblastic tumours and the concept of fertility preservation
Authors: Saso S , Haddad J , Ellis P , Lindsay I , Sebire NJ , McIndoe A , Seckl MJ , Smith JR
Published: December 2011

Please cite this paper as: Saso S, Haddad J, Ellis P, Lindsay I, Sebire N, McIndoe A, Seckl M, Smith J. Placental site trophoblastic tumours and the concept of fertility preservation. BJOG 2011; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471‐0528.2011.03230.x.

The standard management of placental site trophoblastic tumours (PSTTs) is a radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node sampling. We present five cases to demonstrate a modified Strassman procedure (MSP), which is an alternative fertility‐sparing technique. Each had a presumed solitary uterine PSTT. Following surgery, one patient remained in remission with her fertility intact. The other four underwent a completion hysterectomy because of incomplete excision of the disease. No residual disease was later found in two of these four uteri. This treatment should only be offered after extensive counselling. We intend to investigate the use of intraoperative frozen section analysis with cold‐knife dissection in future.
Vascular endothelial growth factor in the ischemic retina and its regulation by somatostatin
Authors: Cervia Davide , Catalani Elisabetta , Dal Monte Massimo , Casini Giovanni
Published: December 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 818–829.

In a retinal ischemic ex vivo model, we have reported protective effects of somatostatin (SRIF) receptor 2 (sst2). As an ischemic condition not only causes cell death but also induces a vascular response, we asked whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is altered in this model and whether its expression, release or localization are affected by sst2 activation. Ex vivo retinas of wild‐type (WT) and sst1 KO mice (which over‐express sst2) were incubated in ischemic conditions with SRIF, octreotide (OCT) or a VEGF trap. Ischemia in WT retinas caused increase of VEGF release and decrease of VEGF mRNA. Both effects were counteracted by SRIF or OCT. VEGF immunoreactivity was in retinal neurons and scarcely in vessels. Ischemia caused a significant shift of VEGF immunoreactivity from neurons to vessels. The increase of vascular VEGF was reduced in sst1 KO retinas and in WT retinas treated with SRIF or OCT. VEGF trap also limited this increase, demonstrating that vascular VEGF was of extracellular origin. Together, the data show a VEGF response to ischemia, in which VEGF released by damaged neurons reaches the retinal capillaries. The activation of sst2 protects neurons from ischemic damage, thereby limiting VEGF release and the VEGF response.
MULTIPLE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES FOR CHEMICALLY SIMILAR OBSIDIANS FROM THE AREA OF PORTADA COVUNCO, WEST‐CENTRAL NEUQUÉN, ARGENTINA
Authors: STERN C. R. , PEREDA I. , AGUERRE A. M.
Published: December 2011

In west‐central Neuquén Province, Argentina, in the area around Estancia Llamuco, west of Zapala, south of Las Lajas and north‐east of Lago Aluminé, there are multiple primary and secondary sources of obsidian. Primary sources occur within the south‐east extension of the Plio‐Quaternary volcanic chain that runs from Copahue volcano through Pino Hachado. Secondary sources include river‐bed gravels within the valleys of Arroyo Cochicó Grande and Río Kilca as far south as where this river joins with Río Aluminé, and the Quaternary fluvial–glacial sediments cut by the valley of Río Covunco as far east as Portada Covunco. Visually variable obsidians from these two secondary sources include homogeneous black and grey‐translucent types, porphyritic and banded types, and an abundant quantity of oxidized red and black obsidian. However, all these visually distinct obsidians have similar and unique chemistry, with Ba between 220 and 340 ppm, different from any other obsidians previously reported from Neuquén, which all have Ba > 500 ppm, as do obsidians from sources to the north in Mendoza and to the west in Chile. This chemical distinctive obsidian has been exploited and transported over a wide area, beginning prior to 4000 bp, and occurs in local archaeological sites, as well as sites ≥ 300 km to the north‐east in La Pampa Province, ∼430 km to the south in Chubut Province, and >75 km to the west across the Andean drainage divide in Chile.
Inhibitory effects of dopamine on spinal synaptic transmission via dopamine D1‐like receptors in neonatal rats
Authors: Kawamoto K , Otsuguro K , Ishizuka M , Ito S
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dopamine released from the endings of descending dopaminergic nerve fibres in the spinal cord may be involved in modulating functions such as locomotion and nociception. Here, we examined the effects of dopamine on spinal synaptic transmissions in rats.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Spinal reflex potentials, monosynaptic reflex potential (MSR) and slow ventral root potential (sVRP), were measured in the isolated spinal cord of the neonatal rat. Dopamine release was measured by HPLC.

KEY RESULTS Dopamine at lower concentrations (<1 µM) depressed sVRP, which is a C fibre‐evoked polysynaptic response and believed to reflect nociceptive transmission. At higher concentrations (>1 µM), in addition to a potent sVRP depression, dopamine depolarized baseline potential and slightly depressed MSR. Depression of sVRP by dopamine was partially reversed by dopamine D1‐like but not by D2‐like receptor antagonists. SKF83959 and SKF81297, D1‐like receptor agonists, and methamphetamine, an endogenous dopamine releaser, also caused the inhibition of sVRP. Methamphetamine also depressed MSR, which was inhibited by ketanserin, a 5‐HT2A/2C receptor antagonist. Methamphetamine induced the release of dopamine and 5‐HT from spinal cords, indicating that the release of endogenous dopamine and 5‐HT depresses sVRP and MSR respectively.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggested that dopamine at lower concentrations preferentially inhibited sVRP, which is mediated via dopamine D1‐like and other unidentified receptors. The dopamine‐evoked depression is involved in modulating the spinal functions by the descending dopaminergic pathways.
Improving Planting Stocks for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Restoration through Community‐Based Seed Harvesting Strategies
Authors: Brancalion Pedro H. S. , Viani Ricardo A. G. , Aronson James , Rodrigues Ricardo R. , Nave André G.
Published: December 2011

High‐diversity reforestation can help jumpstart tropical forest restoration, but obtaining viable seedlings is a major constraint: if nurseries do not offer them, it is hard to plant all the species one would like. From 2007 to 2009, we investigated five different seed acquisition strategies employed by a well‐established tree nursery in southeastern Brazil, namely (1) in‐house seed harvesters; (2) hiring a professional harvester; (3) amateur seed harvesters; or (4) a seed production cooperative, as well as (5) participating in a seed exchange program. In addition, we evaluated two strategies not dependent on seeds: harvesting seedlings from native tree species found regenerating under Eucalyptus plantations, and in a native forest remnant. A total of 344 native tree and shrub species were collected as seeds or seedlings, including 2,465 seed lots. Among these, a subset of 120 species was obtained through seed harvesting in each year. Overall, combining several strategies for obtaining planting stocks was an effective way to increase species richness, representation of some functional groups (dispersal syndromes, planting group, and shade tolerance), and genetic diversity of seedlings produced in forest tree nurseries. Such outcomes are greatly desirable to support high‐diversity reforestation as part of tropical forest restoration. In addition, community‐based seed harvesting strategies fostered greater socioeconomic integration of traditional communities in restoration projects and programs, which is an important bottleneck for the advance of ecological restoration, especially in developing countries. Finally, we discuss some of the limitations of the various strategies for obtaining planting stocks and the way forward for their improvement.
Soil Conditions in Natural, Declining and Restored Heathlands Influence Plant–Pollinator Interactions of Calluna vulgaris
Authors: de la Peña Eduardo , Van De Velde Helena , Lens Luc , Bonte Dries
Published: December 2011

We hypothesized that the contrasting soil conditions resulting from different historical land use in heathlands mediate the interactions of Calluna vulgaris with pollinators. We compared using a common garden experiment, the flowering phenology, the interaction with pollinators, and the colonization by ericoid mycorrhiza of mature C. vulgaris on three types of soils namely: (1) natural rhizospheric soil collected in a natural heath, (2) soil from an arable land recently restored into a heathland, and (3) soil of C. vulgaris from an area in which a high degree of heterospecific competition with perennial grasses occurred. The results of the experiment showed a strong effect of soil on flower phenology and synchrony. There was also an interaction with pollinators because not only did visitation rates depend on soil provenance but also the choice of plant by the pollinator, at least for honeybees, was affected by soil provenance. An a posteriori correlation analysis suggests that ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and not abiotic conditions across the different soil provenances may be involved in the interaction between plants and pollinators. The results obtained from this study highlight the importance of soil processes to understand plant–pollinator interactions and point at plant–soil feedbacks as an important mechanism for understanding heathland ecology.
Identifying Native Vegetation for Reducing Exotic Species during the Restoration of Desert Ecosystems
Authors: Abella Scott R. , Craig Donovan J. , Smith Stanley D. , Newton Alice C.
Published: December 2011

There is currently much interest in restoration ecology in identifying native vegetation that can decrease the invasibility by exotic species of environments undergoing restoration. However, uncertainty remains about restoration's ability to limit exotic species, particularly in deserts where facilitative interactions between plants are prevalent. Using candidate native species for restoration in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern U.S.A., we experimentally assembled a range of plant communities from early successional forbs to late‐successional shrubs and assessed which vegetation types reduced the establishment of the priority invasive annuals Bromus rubens (red brome) and Schismus spp. (Mediterranean grass) in control and N‐enriched soils. Compared to early successional grass and shrub and late‐successional shrub communities, an early forb community best resisted invasion, reducing exotic species biomass by 88% (N added) and 97% (no N added) relative to controls (no native plants). In native species monocultures, Sphaeralcea ambigua (desert globemallow), an early successional forb, was the least invasible, reducing exotic biomass by 91%. However, the least‐invaded vegetation types did not reduce soil N or P relative to other vegetation types nor was native plant cover linked to invasibility, suggesting that other traits influenced native‐exotic species interactions. This study provides experimental field evidence that native vegetation types exist that may reduce exotic grass establishment in the Mojave Desert, and that these candidates for restoration are not necessarily late‐successional communities. More generally, results indicate the importance of careful native species selection when exotic species invasions must be constrained for restoration to be successful.
Modeling Metal Flow Systems
Authors: Bollinger L. Andrew , Davis Chris , Nikolić Igor , Dijkema Gerard P.J.
Published: December 2011

Substance flow analysis (SFA) is a frequently used industrial ecology technique for studying societal metal flows, but it is limited in its ability to inform us about future developments in metal flow patterns and how we can affect them. Equation‐based simulation modeling techniques, such as dynamic SFA and system dynamics, can usefully complement static SFA studies in this respect, but they are also restricted in several ways. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the ability of agent‐based modeling to overcome these limitations and its usefulness as a tool for studying societal metal flow systems.

The body of the article summarizes the parallel implementation of two models—an agent‐based model and a system dynamics model—both addressing the following research question: What conditions foster the development of a closed‐loop flow network for metals in mobile phones? The results from in silico experimentation with these models highlight three important differences between agent‐based modeling (ABM) and equation‐based modeling (EBM) techniques. An analysis of how these differences affected the insights that could be extracted from the constructed models points to several key advantages of ABM in the study of metal flow systems. In particular, this analysis suggests that a key advantage of the ABM technique is its flexibility to enable the representation of societal metal flow systems in a more native manner. This added flexibility endows modelers with enhanced leverage to identify options for steering metal flows and opens new opportunities for using the metaphor of an ecosystem to understand metal flow systems more fully.
Racial Diversity and Sense of Belonging in Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Wu Zheng , Hou Feng , Schimmele Christoph M.
Published: December 2011

This study examines the relationship between the racial composition of urban Canadian neighborhoods and national belonging and in–group belonging. The study employs multilevel data and an instrumental variable approach to estimate differences in sense of belonging between individuals from racially heterogeneous and racially homogenous neighborhoods. The study demonstrates that residential exposure to racial diversity has an independent effect on belonging, after adjusting for individual– and neighborhood–level variables that could confound this relationship. National belonging is strongest in heterogeneous neighborhoods, although this effect of diversity is nonsignificant for visible minorities. In–group belonging is weakest in heterogeneous neighborhoods, but this effect also reflects the attitudes of whites. The primary conclusions support intergroup contact theory, which suggests that exposure to racial diversity is an important mechanism for reducing intergroup antagonisms and promoting a cosmopolitan sense of belonging.
Flower Extracts and Their Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobial Agents for Food Uses and Pharmaceutical Applications
Authors: Voon Han Ching , Bhat Rajeev , Rusul Gulam
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  Plants with potential therapeutic value have been used from time immemorial to cure various ailments and infectious diseases. Secondary metabolites or the bioactive compounds (phytochemicals) present in plants have been reported to be accountable for various observed biological activities. Consumer awareness of the possible side effects of using chemical‐based antimicrobial agents has forced researchers to identify and explore natural plant‐based antimicrobial agents (or preservatives) that are toxicologically safe, especially when used in food applications. Of late, scientific evidence has been provided on the potential antimicrobial activities exhibited by certain traditionally used flower extracts or their essential oils (edible and wild). This review focuses on providing and updating available information on the antimicrobial activities exhibited by flowers, which are envisaged to find potential applications as natural preservatives for foods or applications in the pharmaceutical industries to develop new and economical herbal‐based products for treating various diseases.
Oh, What Those Oats Can Do. Quaker Oats, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Market Value of Scientific Evidence 1984 to 2010
Authors: Fitzsimmons Robert
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  Contemporary consumers have become accustomed to nutrition labels in the 20 y since they were federally mandated. However, “health claim” labels that link nutrients to disease prevention have a contentious history involving regulators, corporations, and the public. The “oat bran craze” of the late 1980s demonstrated these claims’ enormous profit potential, but also the need for more rigorous regulation. In response, the 1990 Nutrition Labeling Education Act created quantitative nutrition labels and qualitative “health claims” to summarize medical knowledge about specific foods. Quaker Oats was granted the first food‐specific health claim in January 1997 when the Food and Drug Administration determined that consumption of soluble fiber from oats lowered risk of heart disease. The company subsequently made the oat health claim a central part of its strategy and has served as a model for other manufacturers seeking health claims. This article examines the institutional interactions and underlying values that made health claims desirable, legally possible, and profitable from the 1980s onward.
Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) melophagium in the Sheep Ked Melophagus ovinus from Organic Farms in Croatia: Phylogenetic Inferences Support Restriction to Sheep and Sheep Keds and Close Relationship with Trypanosomes from Other Ruminant Species
Authors: Martinković Franjo , Matanović Krešimir , Rodrigues Adriana C. , Garcia Herakles A. , Teixeira Marta M. G.
Published: December 2011

Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) melophagium is a parasite of sheep transmitted by sheep keds, the sheep‐restricted ectoparasite Melophagus ovinus (Diptera: Hippoboscidae). Sheep keds were 100% prevalent in sheep from five organic farms in Croatia, Southeastern Europe, whereas trypanosomes morphologically compatible with T. melophagium were 86% prevalent in the guts of the sheep keds. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses using sequences of small subunit rRNA, glycosomal glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, spliced leader, and internal transcribed spacer 1 of the rDNA distinguished T. melophagium from all allied trypanosomes from other ruminant species and placed the trypanosome in the subgenus Megatrypanum. Trypanosomes from sheep keds from Croatia and Scotland, the only available isolates for comparison, shared identical sequences. All biologic and phylogenetic inferences support the restriction of T. melophagium to sheep and, especially, to the sheep keds. The comparison of trypanosomes from sheep, cattle, and deer from the same country, which was never achieved before this work, strongly supported the host‐restricted specificity of trypanosomes of the subgenus Megatrypanum. Our findings indicate that with the expansion of organic farms, both sheep keds and T. melophagium may re‐emerge as parasitic infections of sheep.
Influence of training load on upper respiratory tract infection incidence and antigen‐stimulated cytokine production
Authors: Gleeson M. , Bishop N. , Oliveira M. , Tauler P.
Published: December 2011

This study examined the effect of training load on upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence in men and women engaged in endurance‐based physical activity during winter and sought to establish if there are training‐associated differences in immune function related to patterns of illness. Seventy‐five individuals provided resting blood and saliva samples for determination of markers of systemic immunity. Weekly training and illness logs were kept for the following 4 months. Comparisons were made between subjects (n = 25) who reported that they exercised 3–6 h/week (LOW), 7–10 h/week (MED) or ≥ 11 h/week (HIGH). The HIGH and MED groups had more URTI episodes than the LOW group (2.4 ± 2.8 and 2.6 ± 2.2 vs 1.0 ± 1.6, respectively: P < 0.05). The HIGH group had approximately threefold higher interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4 and IL‐10 production (all P < 0.05) by antigen‐stimulated whole blood culture than the LOW group and the MED group had twofold higher IL‐10 production than the LOW group (P < 0.05). Other immune variables were not influenced by training load. It is concluded that high levels of physical activity are associated with increased risk of URTI and this may be related to an elevated anti‐inflammatory cytokine response to antigen challenge.
Restoration of flooded meadows in Estonia – vegetation changes and management indicators
Authors: Metsoja Jaak‐Albert , Neuenkamp Lena , Pihu Silvia , Vellak Kai , Kalwij Jesse M. , Zobel Martin
Published: December 2011

Question

How does restoration management affect vegetation diversity and composition in flooded meadows, and can plant species serve as indicators of management status?

Location

Flooded meadows in Alam‐Pedja Nature Reserve, central Estonia (26°14′ E, 58°28′ N).

Methods

Plant community composition was described in 2000 and 2010 for restored and unmanaged stands of mesic, wet and tall sedge meadows, encompassing a survey of 280 vegetation plots of 1 m × 1 m. The impact of restoration management (mulching for first 5 yrs, mowing in Jul with hay removal in consecutive years) on vegetation diversity in different meadow types was estimated using general linear models, changes in plant community composition were described by NMDS ordination, multiple permutation tests and Indicator species analysis.

Results

Restoration management resulted in an increase in species richness on mesic meadows in one of the study sites, and caused a decrease in spatial species turnover and significant changes in community composition in all sites. The effects of restoration on species composition were greater in drier, more elevated mesic meadows, and least prominent in tall sedge meadows in floodplain depressions. Indicator species analysis revealed Ranunculus auricomus as a common indicator of management in mesic and wet meadows, and Carex cespitosa and Calamagrostis canescens as indicators of abandonment in wet and tall sedge meadows, respectively.

Conclusions

Restoration management was successful on flooded meadows that had been abandoned for 15–20 yrs, where water regime and soil fertility have not been altered by human activities, and where the local species pool is still available. The current community composition under different management regimes made it possible to propose several species as management status indicators, which may further be used in practical decision‐making when evaluating the status of meadow communities.
Harvesting the Biosphere: The Human Impact
Authors: Smil Vaclav
Published: December 2011

The human species has evolved to dominate the biosphere: global anthropomass is now an order of magnitude greater than the mass of all wild terrestrial mammals. As a result, our dependence on harvesting the products of photosynthesis for food, animal feed, raw materials, and energy has grown to make substantial global impacts. During the past two millennia these harvests, and changes of land use due to deforestation and conversions of grasslands and wetlands, have reduced the stock of global terrestrial plant mass by as much as 45 percent, with the twentieth‐century reduction amounting to more than 15 percent. Current annual harvests of phytomass have been a significant share of the global net primary productivity (NPP, the total amount of new plant tissues created by photosynthesis). Some studies put the human appropriation of NPP (the ratio of these two variables) as high as 40 percent but the measure itself is problematic. Future population growth and improved quality of life will result in additional claims on the biosphere, but options to accommodate these demands exist without severely compromising the irreplaceable biospheric services.
The Association of Television and Radio with Reproductive Behavior
Authors: Westoff Charles F. , Koffman Dawn A.
Published: December 2011

This note analyzes the association between media exposure and reproductive behavior in 48 developing countries. A summary of part of a more extensive Demographic and Health Surveys report, it shows strong connections between media exposure and the use of modern contraception, the number of children desired, and recent fertility. Television viewing is particularly important; it is assumed to expose viewers to aspects of modern life that compete with traditional attitudes toward the family and is associated with greater use of modern contraceptive methods, with a desire for fewer children, and with lower fertility. These relationships are particularly noteworthy because the data measure only the frequency of media exposure with no information about its content.
Deinstitutionalization and Quality of Life of Individuals With Intellectual Disability: A Review of the International Literature
Authors: Chowdhury Monali , Benson Betsey A.
Published: December 2011

The policy of deinstitutionalization was based on the proposition that quality of life (QoL) of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) will improve as a result of being moved from institutions to community‐based care settings. The aim of this literature review was to evaluate whether this assumption has become a reality now that the social policy of deinstitutionalization has progressed in many countries across the globe. A total of 15 studies were examined that assessed QoL as an outcome of community living following deinstitutionalization. Results indicated that relocation had a general positive impact on life quality of participants. However, many of the studies found that improvements were most prominent shortly after the move and plateaued after a year. Also, participants continued to have low levels of community integration. There was some evidence that healthcare needs might not be adequately met in the community. The role of service providers was indicated as vital in the continued development of participants' life quality. Common limitations of the studies reviewed included lack of subjective assessments of QoL and limited use of standardized measures of QoL. The authors note that the directions for future research should include examining whether QoL outcomes after deinstitutionalization are affected by level of ID and age of participants. Overall, additional empirical research is needed to identify the factors that are critical in enhancing QoL of participants in community‐based care following deinstitutionalization.
Palliative care in the emergency department: An oxymoron or just good medicine?
Authors: Lukin William , Douglas Carol , O'Connor Alan
Published: December 2011

In 2006, the American Board of Emergency Medicine co‐sponsored hospice and palliative medicine as a recognized medical subspecialty. There is recognition of the need for these skills to be available in EDs in the USA. This article discusses the rationale for integrating a palliative approach in the ED. We need to engage our palliative care colleagues to increase clinical support to meet the needs of these vulnerable patients and to foster collaborative educational opportunities.
Galaxy cluster strong lensing: image deflections from density fluctuations along the line of sight
Authors: Host Ole
Published: December 2011

A standard method to study the mass distribution in galaxy clusters is through strong lensing of background galaxies in which the positions of multiple images of the same source constrain the surface mass distribution of the cluster. However, current parametrized mass models can often only reproduce the observed positions to within 1 arcsec or a few arcseconds which is worse than the positional measurement uncertainty. One suggested explanation for this discrepancy is the additional perturbations of the path of the light ray caused by matter density fluctuations along the line of sight. We investigate this by calculating the statistical expectation value for the angular deflections caused by density fluctuations, which can be done given the matter power spectrum. We find that density fluctuations can, indeed, produce deflections of a few arcsec. We also find that the deflection angle of a particular image is expected to increase with source redshift and with the angular distance on the sky to the lens. Since the light rays of neighbouring images pass through much the same density fluctuations, it turns out that the images' expected deflection angles can be highly correlated. This implies that line-of-sight density fluctuations are a significant and possibly dominant systematic for strong lensing mass modelling and set a lower limit to how well a cluster mass model can be expected to replicate the observed image positions. We discuss how the deflections and correlations should explicitly be taken into account in the mass model fitting procedure.
Massive black hole binary plane reorientation in rotating stellar systems
Authors: Gualandris Alessia , Dotti Massimo , Sesana Alberto
Published: December 2011

We study the evolution of the orientation of the orbital plane of massive black hole binaries (BHBs) in rotating stellar systems in which the total angular momentum of the stellar cusp is misaligned with respect to that of the binary. We compare results from direct summation N-body simulations with predictions from a simple theoretical model. We find that the same encounters between cusp stars and the BHBs that are responsible for the hardening and eccentricity evolution of the binary lead to a reorientation of the binary orbital plane. In particular, binaries whose angular momentum is initially misaligned with respect to that of the stellar cusp tend to realign their orbital planes with the angular momentum of the cusp on a time-scale of a few hardening times. This is due to angular momentum exchange between stars and the BHBs during close encounters, and may have important implications for the relative orientation of host galaxies and radio jets.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSORY LEXICON AND APPLICATION BY AN INDUSTRY TRADE PANEL FOR TURRÓN, A EUROPEAN PROTECTED PRODUCT
Authors: VÁZQUEZ‐ARAÚJO LAURA , CHAMBERS DELORES , CARBONELL‐BARRACHINA ÁNGEL A.
Published: December 2011

A lexicon for describing the sensory flavor and texture properties of turrón, a traditional Spanish Protected Geographical Indication almond nougat product, was developed and validated. Sixty‐seven different products were studied, including different product types, brands, commercial categories and manufacturing seasons. Once the lexicon was developed, five products were studied by a different sensory panel to validate the terms. A total of 25 flavor and 16 texture attributes were identified, defined and referenced for turrón evaluation. The main flavor attributes were nutty overall and almond, followed by caramelized, roasted and brown sugar. Predominant texture attributes were different depending on the product because some products have milling stages during processing and others do not. Lexicon validation showed some inconsistencies in texture attributes, e.g., uniformity of bite, graininess/grittiness and cohesiveness. Further studies may be carried out to adapt the definitions and references to products from different countries, unifying therefore the developed lexicon.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Sensory lexicons are helpful for companies and researchers who are trying to improve uniformity of traditional products by providing standardized sensory terms, definitions and references for future studies. This study will be a model for beginning similar researches on other traditional products. The lexicon will be a tool to relate accurate descriptive data to consumer liking, information that could be use to expand production lines, end the seasonal production and sale of turrón and develop different types of almond nougats.
Gouvernance et sécurité sociale: étendre la portée des lignes directrices de l’AISS en matière de bonne gouvernance
Authors: Musalem Alberto R. , Ortiz Maribel D.
Published: December 2011

Dans bon nombre de pays, les pouvoirs publics redéfinissent leurs politiques et stratégies afin de répondre aux besoins, importants et croissants, de leurs citoyens en matière de sécurité sociale. La bonne gouvernance dans le domaine de l’administration de la sécurité sociale est indispensable pour atteindre les objectifs visés parce que la qualité des nouvelles politiques et stratégies est conditionnée par la qualité de leur mise en œuvre. Le présent article aborde la gouvernance en envisageant deux niveaux d’exercice du pouvoir, en l’occurrence celui des institutions de sécurité sociale et celui du gouvernement national. S’agissant des institutions de sécurité sociale, nous présentons un cadre de gouvernance schématique qui synthétise les différents aspects de la mise en œuvre d’un régime de sécurité sociale. Nous nous plaçons ensuite du point de vue national pour nous concentrer sur la gouvernance d’un système de sécurité sociale. Sur le plan de la gouvernance, il est indispensable que les pouvoirs publics facilitent la formation d’un consensus national sur les grands objectifs du système de sécurité sociale du pays qu’ils dirigent. Nous plaidons pour la désignation, à l’échelon national, d’une autorité supérieure chargée de veiller à ce que les différents dispositifs qui composent le système de sécurité sociale d’un pays soient mis en place et développés de façon cohérente. Par ailleurs, il est nécessaire d’assurer une meilleure coordination de la politique de sécurité sociale et des politiques menées dans le domaine de l’emploi et du marché du travail afin de créer des synergies positives et de renforcer la capacité des politiques à promouvoir l’accès à des emplois dans l’économie formelle, ce qui est indispensable pour lutter contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale et pour permettre à la population pauvre d’accéder à des formes de protection sociale plus complètes. La bonne gouvernance a un rôle à jouer pour garantir une contribution forte et durable des systèmes de sécurité sociale à la croissance et au développement économiques des pays.
Extinction risk and bottlenecks in the conservation of charismatic marine species
Authors: McClenachan Loren , Cooper Andrew B. , Carpenter Kent E. , Dulvy Nicholas K.
Published: December 2011

The oceans face a biodiversity crisis, but the degree and scale of extinction risk remains poorly characterized. Charismatic species are most likely to garner greatest support for conservation and thus provide a best‐case scenario of the status of marine biodiversity. We summarize extinction risk and diagnose impediments to successful conservation for 1,568 species in 16 families of marine animals in the movie Finding Nemo. Sixteen percent (12–34%) of those that have been evaluated are threatened, ranging from 9% (7–28%) of bony fishes to 100% (83–100%) of marine turtles. A lack of scientific knowledge impedes analysis of threat status for invertebrates, which have 1,000 times fewer conservation papers than do turtles. Legal protection is severely deficient for sharks and rays; only 8% of threatened species in our analysis are protected. Extinction risk among wide‐ranging taxa is higher than most terrestrial groups, suggesting a different conservation focus is required in the sea.
Cucurbitacin B inhibits 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate‐induced invasion and migration of human hepatoma cells through inactivating mitogen‐activated protein kinase and PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathways
Authors: Zhou Xueying , Yang Jiao , Wang Yanli , Li Wen , Li‐Ling Jesse , Deng Yihui , Zhang Meixia
Published: December 2011

Aim:  Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is an active component isolated from various plants used as folk medicine in Asian countries and has shown diverse antitumor activities. There is, however, no documented effect of CuB on the migration and invasion of human hepatoma cells yet. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of CuB on the migration and invasion of hepatoma cells and to explore the possible mechanism.

Methods:  Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and BEL‐7402 were used for the study. Effects of CuB on cancer cell migration and invasion were evaluated in vitro with wound healing and transwell assays. The effect of CuB on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Akt, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), c‐Fos and c‐Jun was investigated with gelatin zymography and/or western blotting.

Results:  Cucurbitacin B has significantly suppressed 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA)‐induced cell invasion and migration in a concentration‐dependent manner, which was accompanied with suppression of TPA‐induced MMP‐9 expression through inactivation of phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38 and Akt. In the nucleus, it has also strongly suppressed TPA‐stimulated expression of NF‐κB, c‐Jun and c‐Fos.

Conclusion:  Cucurbitacin B has a potential value for suppressing metastasis of human hepatoma cells through suppressing the expression of MMP‐9.
A Universal Appointment Rule in the Presence of No‐Shows and Walk‐Ins
Authors: Cayirli Tugba , Yang Kum Khiong , Quek Ser Aik
Published: December 2011

This study introduces a universal “Dome” appointment rule that can be parameterized through a planning constant for different clinics characterized by the environmental factors—no‐shows, walk‐ins, number of appointments per session, variability of service times, and cost of doctor's time to patients’ time. Simulation and nonlinear regression are used to derive an equation to predict the planning constant as a function of the environmental factors. We also introduce an adjustment procedure for appointment systems to explicitly minimize the disruptive effects of no‐shows and walk‐ins. The procedure adjusts the mean and standard deviation of service times based on the expected probabilities of no‐shows and walk‐ins for a given target number of patients to be served, and it is thus relevant for any appointment rule that uses the mean and standard deviation of service times to construct an appointment schedule. The results show that our Dome rule with the adjustment procedure performs better than the traditional rules in the literature, with a lower total system cost calculated as a weighted sum of patients’ waiting time, doctor's idle time, and doctor's overtime. An open‐source decision‐support tool is also provided so that healthcare managers can easily develop appointment schedules for their clinical environment.
Complementary Drivers of New Product Development Performance: Cross‐Functional Coordination, Information System Capability, and Intelligence Quality
Authors: Bendoly Elliot , Bharadwaj Anandhi , Bharadwaj Sundar
Published: December 2011

Coordination efforts that access and align relevant cross‐functional expertise are regarded as an essential element of innovation success. In recent years, these efforts have been further augmented through complementary investments in information systems, which provide the technological platforms for information sharing and coordination across functional and organizational boundaries. Somewhat overlooked has been the critical mediating role of the intelligence gained through these efforts and capabilities. This study draws on the theory of complementarity to elaborate on the nature of this mediating concept. Theoretical predictions of the model are tested using instrument variable regression analysis of data collected from a sample of publicly traded US manufacturing firms. The findings suggest that the effects of both internal and external coordination on market intelligence and supply‐chain intelligence are moderated by the firm's information system capability. The effect of both types of intelligence quality on new product development performance was contingent with the effects being enhanced (attenuated) when the market conditions were dynamic (stable). The results are robust to common‐method bias, endogeneity concerns, and alternative estimation methods.