bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Na+‐Doped Zinc Oxide Nanofiber Membrane for High Speed Humidity Sensor
Authors: Zhang Hongnan , Li Zhenyu , Wang Wei , Wang Ce , Liu Li
Published: October 2009

A novel sensitive humidity nanosensor based on Na+‐doped ZnO nanofiber membrane has been prepared via electrospinning and calcination. The product was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. During the whole relative humidity (11%–95%) measurement, the response and recovery time is about 3 and 6 s, respectively, with good linearity, and reproducibility. These remarkable and sensitive sensing performances make our product a good candidate in fabricating humidity sensors.
Negotiation Analysis: From Games to Inferences to Decisions to Deals
Authors: Sebenius James K.
Published: October 2009

Exemplified by the pioneering work of Howard Raiffa and often expressed in the pages of Negotiation Journal, the emergent prescriptive field of “negotiation analysis” progressively developed from Raiffa's early contributions to game theory and to his later foundational work in statistical decision theory and decision analysis. Drawing from each of these fields but methodologically distinct from them, negotiation analysis has mainly adopted an “asymmetrically prescriptive/descriptive” orientation. It develops the best possible advice for what one or more parties should do conditional on empirically grounded assessment of what the other side(s) actually will do. An extensive negotiation analytic literature has developed, often making the traditional assumption of a well‐specified and fixed situation for analysis. Relaxing this requirement, however, more recent work systematically puts the “setup” of a negotiation itself — its parties, their interests, their no‐deal options, the sequence and process choices or design — into the realm of strategic and tactical choice.
A Decision‐Making Perspective to Negotiation: A Review of the Past and a Look to the Future
Authors: Tsay Chia‐Jung , Bazerman Max H.
Published: October 2009

Over the past quarter century, the decision‐analytic approach to negotiation has seen the development of a better dialogue between the descriptive and the prescriptive and has also attracted the interest of both academics and practitioners. Researchers have built upon the work in behavioral decision theory, examining the ways in which negotiators may deviate from rationality. The 1990s brought a renewed interest in social factors, as work on social relationships, egocentrism, attribution and construal processes, and motivated illusions was incorporated into our understanding of negotiations. Several promising areas of research have emerged in recent years, drawing from other disciplines and informing the field of negotiations, including work on the influence of ethics, emotions, intuition, and training.
The Deceptive Simplicity of Teaching Negotiation: Reflections on Thirty Years of the Negotiation Workshop
Authors: Patton Bruce
Published: October 2009

What is required for effective teaching depends on the goal of the effort, and our criteria for success should be much more demanding than positive ratings from participants. If the goal is to improve participants' effectiveness as negotiators, we need a proven theory and associated skills. In the absence of robust confirming empirical data, which is still mostly lacking, we can take some confidence from qualitative evaluations. But whether or not we have a proven theory, the pedagogical task is complex and challenging, calling for a variety of sophisticated techniques deployed by a skilled instructor committed to joint learning. This article tells the story of some of the instructors' pedagogical learnings in thirty years of teaching the pioneering Negotiation Workshop at Harvard Law School, many of which now have empirical support. It also suggests some areas and tools for more experimentation in future advanced courses.
The Evolution of International Conflict Resolution: From Cold War to Peacebuilding
Authors: Babbitt Eileen F.
Published: October 2009

Shaped by the changing nature of international conflict, the field of international conflict resolution evolved significantly throughout the latter years of the twentieth century and continues to be redefined. The end of the Cold War created space for a major transformation of the international conflict resolution field. This transformation was marked by three trends: (1) an expansion from a focus on superpower negotiating strategies to a wider peacebuilding agenda, (2) an increase in the role of nongovernmental actors as both disputants and third parties in international conflicts, and (3) a growing concern about human security in addition to state security, creating both tensions and opportunities for collaboration between governmental and nongovernmental bodies. This article presents a brief overview of each trend, as well as some concluding questions to frame the field's further development at this important juncture.
The Secret Knowledge of Peacemaking
Authors: Winslade John
Published: October 2009

In this article, the author tells stories of relationship conflict in which the trajectory of the conflict narrative is disturbed by one of the participants instigating a shift to a different story line. He analyzes these shifts in terms of narrative theory and accounts for them in terms outlined in the narrative mediation literature, interrogating the knowledge called upon by the protagonists to initiate these narrative shifts. This knowledge seems to be pragmatic knowledge, local knowledge, and performative knowledge, with implications for professional practice. Practitioners are urged to be alert for opportunities to privilege such knowledge.
The Next Generation: Creating New Peace Processes in the Middle East
Authors: Menkel‐Meadow Carrie , Nutenko Irena
Published: October 2009

This essay describes how Israeli students in a course on mediation and consensus building taught in an Israeli university law department by an American law professor and an Israeli instructor analyzed and studied the conflict in the Middle East. It describes the suggestions they made for process design for the next stages of whatever peace process might emerge for the region. In light of the students' suggestions, the authors present some ideas as to how different approaches to reconciliation and peace might be used, managed, and coordinated.
Organic farming at local and landscape scales benefits plant diversity
Authors: Rundlöf Maj , Edlund Mathilda , Smith Henrik G.
Published: October 2009

Agri‐environment schemes (AES) have been suggested to counter negative effects of agricultural intensification and enhance farmland biodiversity, but evaluations have produced inconsistent results. We suggest that this is partly a consequence of scale‐dependence, i.e. that the consequence of organic farming will differ depending on the scale of uptake in a particular landscape. To test our hypothesis on diversity of forbs, we designed a landscape scale study using spatially explicit information about the Swedish AES for organic farming. The study system consisted of uncultivated field borders along paired fields (organic and conventional) in matched landscapes with either a high or a low proportion of organic faming, allowing separate tests of the effects of farming practice at the local and the landscape scale. The local effect of organic farming was consistently strong, with higher diversity in borders adjoining organic fields, most likely due to the lack of herbicide use on organically managed farmland. Thus, we show that not only the proportion of semi‐natural habitat is important for farmland biodiversity, but that also the management of cropland can influence the diversity in semi‐natural habitats. Furthermore, forb richness was also higher in borders situated in landscapes with a high proportion of organic land, irrespectively of local management, possibly as a result of dispersal of mainly annual plant species from the organically managed fields into the borders (mass effect). Our results demonstrate that farming practice at a local and a landscape scale independently can influence plant species richness, indicating that organic farming can influence diversity also at larger spatial scales and outside the organically managed land. Our study highlight the importance of studying multiple scales, including both local and landscape factors to provide a better understanding of biodiversity patterns.
Integrating highly diverse invertebrates into broad‐scale analyses of cross‐taxon congruence across the Palaearctic
Authors: Schuldt Andreas , Wang Zhiheng , Zhou Hongzhang , Assmann Thorsten
Published: October 2009

Our knowledge on broad‐scale patterns of biodiversity, as a basis for biogeographical models and conservation planning, largely rests upon studies on the spatial distribution of vertebrates and plants, neglecting large parts of the world's biodiversity. To reassess the generality of these patterns and better understand spatial diversity distributions of invertebrates, we analyzed patterns of species richness and endemism of a hyperdiverse insect taxon, carabid beetles (ca 11 000 Palaearctic species known), and its cross‐taxon congruence with well‐studied vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles) and plants across 107 units of the Palaearctic. Based on species accumulation curves, we accounted for completeness of the carabid data by separately examining the western (well‐sampled) and eastern (partly less well‐sampled) Palaearctic and China (deficient data). For the western Palaearctic, we highlight overall centers of invertebrate, vertebrate and plant diversity. Species richness and endemism of carabids were highly correlated with patterns of especially plant and amphibian diversity across large parts of the Palaearctic. For the well‐sampled western Palaearctic, hotspots of diversity integrating invertebrates were located in Italy, Spain and Greece. Only analysis of Chinese provinces yielded low congruence between carabids and plants/vertebrates. However, Chinese carabid diversity is only insufficiently known and China features the highest numbers of annual new descriptions of carabids in the Palaearctic. Even based on the incomplete data, China harbors at least 25% of all Palaearctic carabid species. Our study shows that richness and endemism patterns of highly diverse insects can exhibit high congruence with general large scale patterns of diversity inferred from plants/vertebrates and that hotspots derived from the latter can also include a high diversity of invertebrates. In this regard, China qualifies as an outstanding multi‐taxon hotspot of diversity, requiring intense biodiversity research and conservation effort. Our findings extend the limited knowledge on broad‐scale invertebrate distributions and allow for a better understanding of diversity patterns across a larger range of the world's biodiversity than usually considered.
International Federation for Emergency Medicine model curriculum for medical student education in emergency medicine
Authors: Hobgood Cherri , Anantharaman Venkataraman , Bandiera Glen , Cameron Peter , Halperin Pinchas , Holliman James , Jouriles Nicholas , Kilroy Darren , Mulligan Terrence , Singer Andrew
Published: October 2009

There is a critical and growing need for emergency physicians and emergency medicine resources worldwide. To meet this need, physicians must be trained to deliver time‐sensitive interventions and life‐saving emergency care. Currently, there is no internationally recognized, standard curriculum that defines the basic minimum standards for emergency medicine education. To address this lack, the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) convened a committee of international physicians, health professionals and other experts in emergency medicine and international emergency medicine development, to outline a curriculum for foundation training of medical students in emergency medicine. This curriculum document represents the consensus of recommendations by this committee. The curriculum is designed with a focus on the basic minimum emergency medicine educational content that any medical school should be delivering to its students during their undergraduate years of training. It is designed, not to be prescriptive, but to assist educators and emergency medicine leadership in advancing physician education in basic emergency medicine content. The content would be relevant, not just for communities with mature emergency medicine systems, but also for developing nations or for nations seeking to expand emergency medicine within current educational structures. We anticipate that there will be wide variability in how this curriculum is implemented and taught, reflecting the existing educational milieu, the resources available, and the goals of the institutions' educational leadership.
Challenges associated with electronic ordering in the emergency department: A study of doctors' experiences
Authors: Fernando Sanj , Georgiou Andrew , Holdgate Anna , Westbrook Johanna I
Published: October 2009

Purpose:  The objective of the present study was to identify and report on the key challenges confronted by emergency doctors following the introduction of Computerised Provider Order Entry system in a major metropolitan hospital in Sydney.

Basic procedures:  A qualitative study was undertaken during the period May 2006 to December 2006. The study included a series of eight interviews with three senior doctors and one focus group involving six registrars. Participants were chosen on the basis of their experience of planning for, or working with the new electronic ordering system. The study also incorporated five observation sessions and document analysis. Data were analysed iteratively, which led to the identification and elaboration of issues relevant to the research question.

Findings:  Three major issues emerged from the findings: (i) the implementation of the new system was accompanied by major shifts in ED work responsibilities and tasks; (ii) the appearance of dysfunctional consequences of the new system related to the excess time it took to electronically order and the usability of some features of the new system; and (iii) doctors' concerns that their views and opinions about the design and implementation of the new system had not been adequately addressed.

Conclusion:  The implementation of electronic ordering has important implications for ED functioning and the delivery of patient care. The complexity of the ED makes it vulnerable to disruption caused by inadequate system design and ineffective channels of communication across the hospital.
Pyloric stenosis: A retrospective study of an Australian population
Authors: Gotley Lisa M , Blanch A , Kimble R , Frawley K , Acworth Jason P
Published: October 2009

Increased awareness of idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) and readily available ultrasonographic diagnosis might mean that ‘classic’ presentations are becoming less common. We sought to describe the epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of children with IHPS in the modern era. A retrospective case review of all cases of IHPS presenting to a single tertiary paediatric hospital over an 11 year period was conducted. Inclusion criteria were met by 329 children with confirmed IHPS. Eighty‐four per cent of patients were male and 19% were born premature. Premature infants tended to present later, reflecting postmenstrual age. The median age at presentation was 5 weeks (range 0–31) with median symptom duration of 7 days (range 1–95). At least one classic symptom or sign was present in 87% of infants but only 14% had the classic triad (projectile vomiting, palpable olive and visible peristalsis). Elevated bicarbonate was present in 61% of blood samples, whereas hypochloraemia was found in only 29%. Ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis in 89%. Surgical techniques were similar in outcome, except that incomplete pyloromyotomy was more common with the laparoscopic compared with periumbilical approach (6% vs 1%, P= 0.023). IHPS occurs more frequently in male and ex‐premature infants. It commonly presents without the full spectrum of ‘classic’ symptoms and signs. Given the availability of ultrasound diagnosis, IHPS should be considered in all babies with any one of the classic findings.
Reduced Labial Temperature in Response to Sexual Films with Distractors among Women with Lower Sexual Desire
Authors: Prause Nicole , Heiman Julia
Published: October 2009

Introduction

Sexual desire variation traditionally has been treated as due to variance in affective response to sexual stimulation, but differences in attention to the stimuli may better account for differences in sexual desire.

Aim

Determine whether sexual desire varies due to attention biases towards sexual stimuli.

Main outcome measures

Sexual arousal was quantified by physiological (labia minus temperature) and experienced (continuously adjusting a potentiometer) indicators.

Methods

Twenty-two women who varied in their level of sexual desire attended one laboratory session during which they viewed a neutral nature film, a sexual film, and a sexual film with distractors while their labial temperature and self-reported sexual arousal were recorded.

Results

Participants reported and displayed lower sexual arousal during the sexual stimulus with distractors as compared to the sexual film without distractors. While all women reported lower sexual arousal to the sexual film with distractors, women with relatively lower sexual desire also reported lower sexual arousal to the sexual film with no distractors than women with higher sexual desire. Physiologically, women with lower sexual desire exhibited lower labial temperature.

Conclusions

Since the predicted lower self-reported and physiological sexual arousal to the sexual stimulus with distractors for the women with lower sexual desire did not emerge, this study does not support that sexual desire levels vary due to differential attention to sexual stimuli.
Effects of 12-Month Tadalafil Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction on Couple Relationships: Results from the DETECT Study
Authors: Verheyden Benny , Roumeguère Thierry , Bitton Alain , Belger Mark , Schmitt Henry
Published: October 2009

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is distressing and can affect a couple’s relationship.

Aim

To investigate partner awareness of ED, relationship problems, and the effects of tadalafil treatment over 12 months.

Methods

The Determinants of Continued Use of Tadalafil study is a prospective 12-month European observational study in patients with ED initiating or changing treatment to on-demand tadalafil. A total of 1,900 patients were enrolled in eight countries. Assessments were made on predefined treatment outcomes in a routine clinical setting.

Main Outcome Measures

At baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months, patients were asked about relationship problems (unspecified), partner awareness and support of consultation, and partner sexual problems. Data were analyzed for patients continuing tadalafil at 12 months.

Results

At baseline, 96% of patients had a partner, 80% of partners supported an ED consult, and 73% were aware of the consultation. Relationship problems were reported by 17% of patients at baseline. At 12 months, 84% of patients were still taking tadalafil. Of these, 19% reported relationship problems at baseline. After 12 months of treatment with tadalafil, 4% of patients still reported perceived problems. Factors associated with no relationship problems at 12 months were: at baseline, no previous ED treatment, partner in poor health; and at 12 months a lower ED severity. If the partner was felt to have a sexual problem at 12 months, relationship improvement was less likely. Further, 3% of patients developed relationship problems during treatment. Factors associated with developing a relationship problem were: a history of pelvic surgery at baseline, a different partner at 12 months than at baseline, and a partner with a sexual problem at 12 months.

Conclusions

Improvement of ED with tadalafil was associated with reduced relationship problems, suggesting that problems were associated with ED and resolved with treatment.
Arsenic Geochemistry and Hydrostratigraphy in Midwestern U.S. Glacial Deposits
Authors: Root Tara L. , Gotkowitz Madeline B. , Bahr Jean M. , Attig John W.
Published: October 2009

Arsenic concentrations exceeding the U.S. EPA's 10 μg/L standard are common in glacial aquifers in the midwestern United States. Previous studies have indicated that arsenic occurs naturally in these aquifers in association with metal‐(hydr)oxides and is released to groundwater under reducing conditions generated by microbial oxidation of organic matter. Despite this delineation of the arsenic source and mechanism of arsenic mobilization, identification of arsenic‐impacted aquifers is hindered by the heterogeneous and discontinuous nature of glacial sediments. In much of the Midwest, the hydrostratigraphy of glacial deposits is not sufficiently characterized to predict where elevated arsenic concentrations are likely to occur. This case study from southeast Wisconsin presents a detailed characterization of local stratigraphy, hydrostratigraphy, and geochemistry of the Pleistocene glacial deposits and underlying Silurian dolomite. Analyses of a single core, water chemistry data, and well construction reports enabled identification of two aquifers separated by an organic‐rich aquitard. The upper, unconfined aquifer provides potable water, whereas arsenic generally exceeds 10 μg/L in the deeper aquifer. Although coring and detailed hydrostratigraphic characterization are often considered impractical, our results demonstrate that a single core improved interpretation of the complex lithology and hydrostratigraphy. This detailed characterization of hydrostratigraphy facilitated development of well construction guidelines and lays the ground work for further studies of the complex interactions among aquifer sediments, hydrogeology, water chemistry, and microbiology that lead to elevated arsenic in groundwater.
Just between Friends: Bilateral Cooperation and Bounded Sovereignty in the “Global War on Terror”
Authors: BISWAS BIDISHA
Published: October 2009

The “Global War on Terror,” led by the United States, emphasizes the role of international alliances in tackling terrorist threats. By their very nature, international counterterrorism efforts challenge state sovereignty by requiring changes to both foreign and domestic policies. This, in turn, creates complex sovereignty issues and raises some interesting questions for closer examination. How has cooperation in counterterrorism altered the perceptions and behavior of allies of the United States? Has the post‐9/11 security environment constrained the sovereignty of other nations? This article explores these questions in the context of Canada's cooperation with the United States. The study argues that Canada's sovereignty has been bounded, but not determined, by U.S. demands. Examining the relationship between the United States and Canada can help us understand both the limitations and the continuing relevance of the traditional concepts of power, sovereignty, and interdependence in international relations.

La “Guerra Global contra el Terrorismo,” encabezada por los Estados Unidos, enfatiza el rol de las alianzas internacionales para afrontar las amenazas terroristas. Por su propia naturaleza, las acciones contra el terrorismo ponen a prueba la soberanía de los estados al requerir cambios tanto en su política exterior como en la interna. Esto, a su vez, genera complejos problemas de soberanía y crea algunas preguntas interesantes para ser examinadas. ¿Cómo ha alterado la cooperación contra el terrorismo la percepción y el comportamiento de los aliadosde Estados Unidos? ¿Ha restringido la soberanía de otras naciones el ambiente de seguridad posterior a 11/9? Este artículo explora estas cuestiones en el contexto de la cooperación Canadiense con los Estados Unidos. El estudio argumenta que la soberanía Canadiense ha sido limitada, pero no determinada, por las demandas estadounidenses. Examinar la relación entre los Estados Unidos y Canadá puede ayudarnos a comprender tanto las limitaciones y la continua relevancia de las concepciones tradicionales de poder, soberanía, e interdependencia en las relaciones internacionales.
Public Accounts Committees, New Public Management, and Institutionalism: A Case Study
Authors: JONES KATE , JACOBS KERRY
Published: October 2009

The rise of New Public Management is often seen as undermining traditional systems of parliamentary financial oversight. One of the most prevalent of such systems is the public accounts committee, found in most Westminster parliamentary systems. We examine the experience of such a committee, the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee in the State of Victoria, Australia, at a time when a reforming state government implemented wide‐ranging reforms based on the principles of new public management. We argue that the strength of the committee can be understood by using a historical institutionalism perspective.

El ascenso de lo que ha venido a llamarse la Nueva Gerencia Pública es a menudo visto como algo que subvierte el control financiero en sistemas parlamentarios tradicionales. Uno de los más frecuentes en dichos sistemas es el Comité de Cuentas Públicas, encontrado en la mayoría de los sistemas parlamentarios Westminster. Estudiamos la experiencia de tal tipo de comité, el Comité de Cuentas Públicas y Presupuesto del estado de Victoria, Australia, a tiempo que un gobierno reformista en turno implementó diversas medidas basadas en los principios de la nueva gerencia pública. Argumentamos que la fuerza de tal tipo de comités puede ser comprendida desde una perspectiva histórica institucionalista.
Flavor Characterization of Sugar‐Added Pennywort (Centella asiatica L.) Juices Treated with Ultra‐High Pressure and Thermal Processes
Authors: Apichartsrangkoon Arunee , Wongfhun Pronprapa , Gordon Michael H.
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT:  The flavor characteristics of pennywort juices with added sugar treated by ultra‐high pressure, pasteurization, and sterilization were investigated using solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. It was found that sesquiterpene hydrocarbons comprised the major class of volatile components present and the juices had a characteristic aroma due to the presence of volatiles including β‐caryophyllene and humulene and α‐copaene. In comparison with heated juices, HPP‐treated samples could retain more volatile compounds such as linalool and geraniol similar to those present in fresh juice, whereas some volatiles such as α‐terpinene and ketone class were apparently formed by thermal treatment. All processing operations produced juice that was not significantly different in the concentration of total volatiles.

Practical Application: Pennywort juice is considered a nutraceutical drink for health benefits. Therefore, to preserve all aroma and active components in this juice, a nonthermal process such as ultra‐high pressure should be a more appropriate technique for retention of its nutritive values than pasteurization and sterilization.
Update on current issues of the immune responses related to transfusion medicine
Authors: Husebekk A.
Published: October 2009

Antibodies are friends and foes in transfusion medicine; friends as diagnostic tools and as naturally occurring antibodies in healthy individuals, foes as alloantibodies or autoantibodies. In order for antibodies to appear, a complex immune response must have taken place. This regularly involves cells and molecules belonging to the innate and adaptive immune systems. The border between the innate and adaptive immune systems is not obvious and the two cannot be regarded as separate systems, but rather as two sequences of the same response. There are few if any immune responses belonging to the field of transfusion medicine that is described in detail from the first contact with the innate immune system all the way to the functional immune response. The most ‘complete’ immune responses are described to infectious agents. Immune responses will be discussed in general and with special focus on responses to foreign human leucocyte antigens (HLA), to RhD – and human platelet antigen (HPA) 1a, which are all strong antigens related to the field of transfusion medicine.
Translational research: an important integrated paradigm for transfusion medicine
Authors: Kleinman S.
Published: October 2009

Translational research (TR) has many different potential definitions. There are two broad elements: one is research that serves as a bridge between basic science and the development/use of a therapeutic product/intervention; the second (also known as knowledge translation) explores why a clinically established product is not used more widely and/or further characterizes its optimal use. The first TR element has always been an integral part of transfusion medicine; it has previously been referred to as applied research or development. TR includes animal model research, and Phase I, II, and I/II clinical trials using human volunteers to determine safety and start evaluating efficacy of a novel therapy; some TR definitions also include definitive Phase III randomized controlled trials. TR usually needs a different infrastructure than basic research; funding may require public (government or university) and private (commercial companies) partnerships. Conducting TR requires a strong understanding of regulatory requirements and often necessitates the establishment of national or international multi‐center research programs supported by sophisticated information technology and a clinical coordinating center well versed in these disciplines. To this end, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the U.S. not only offers its usual funding mechanisms but has also developed several other funding mechanisms to better support and coordinate such activities. There are multiple examples of successful TR in transfusion medicine; these include nucleic acid testing for infectious disease agents, the use of monoclonal antibodies in immunohematology, and the transfusion of pathogen inactivated platelet and plasma products in many countries. Scientific questions addressed by animal model research include red cell alloimmunization, graft versus host disease, transfusion related immunomodulation, and transfusion related acute lung injury. A new area of transfusion medicine TR is the production of functional mature RBCs from cultures of embryonic stem cells. The issue of how to best conduct TR still remains; challenges include finding mechanisms to adequately fund technological and product development, overcoming regulatory obstacles to the licensing of new technologies, and designing and funding large clinical trials to answer many of the remaining questions about transfusion triggers and best transfusion practices. The knowledge translation component of TR offers additional challenges; these require a different set of investigator skills and infrastructure in order to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that can change clinical practice.
The molecular biology of blood groups
Authors: Daniels G.
Published: October 2009

The genes representing all but one of the 30 human blood group systems have been identified and sequenced, and the molecular bases to almost all of the blood group polymorphisms are known. Though most blood group polymorphisms result from single nucleotide polymorphisms, a variety of other mechanisms can also be involved. Some blood group variants result from mutations in genes independent of the blood group gene, such as the gene encoding a transcription factor. Some blood group proteins exist in the membrane as part of large protein complexes. Mutations in a gene encoding one of the proteins of the complex can affect antigen expression on other proteins of the same complex. In addition to inherited blood group variants, somatic mutation can also affect blood group expression.
Unrelated haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and bank
Authors: Morishima Y.
Published: October 2009

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an established treatment for a variety of haematological malignancies. Accumulating evidence indicates that genetic polymorphisms in HLA, and/or killer cell Ig‐like receptors have critical impact on immunobiological complications such as graft‐versus‐host disease, engraftment and graft‐versus‐leukemia effects. In HLA‐mismatched transplantation, identification of permissive and non‐permissive HLA alleles is crucial for increasing the number of patients who can benefit from this curative modality. This article reviews the recent tremendous progress focusing on unrelated HSCT and HLA matching.
In vitro production of transfusable red blood cells
Authors: Nakamura Y.
Published: October 2009

Background  The supply of transfusable red blood cells (RBCs) is not sufficient in many countries. If transfusable RBCs could be produced abundantly from certain resources it would be very useful. We have developed a method to produce enucleated RBCs efficiently from haematopoietic stem cells present in umbilical cord blood (Nat Biotechnol 2006; 24:1255). More recently, it was reported that enucleated RBCs could be abundantly produced from human embryonic stem (ES) cells (Blood 2008; 112:4475). The common obstacle for application of these methods is that these methods require very high cost to produce sufficient number of RBCs that are applicable in the clinic.

Aims  If erythroid cell lines (immortalized cell lines) able to produce transfusable RBCs in vitro were established, they would be valuable resources. However, such cell lines have not been established. To evaluate the feasibility of establishing useful erythroid cell lines, we attempted to establish such cell lines from mouse ES cells.

Methods  We developed a robust method to obtain differentiated cell lines following the induction of haematopoietic differentiation of mouse ES cells. Briefly, we have used feeder cells and several kinds of humoral factor so as to induce haematopoietic differentiation of mouse ES cells efficiently.

Results  We established five independent haematopoietic cell lines using the method. Three of these lines exhibited characteristics of erythroid cells. Although their precise characteristics varied, each of these lines could differentiate in vitro into more mature erythroid cells, including enucleated RBCs. Following transplantation of these erythroid cells into mice suffering from acute anaemia, the cells proliferated transiently, subsequently differentiated into functional RBCs, and significantly ameliorated the acute anaemia. In addition, we did not observe formation of any tumours following transplantation of these cells (PLoS ONE 2008; 3:e1544).

Conclusions  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show the feasibility of establishing erythroid cell lines ablility to produce mature RBCs. Considering the number of human ES cell lines that have been established so far and the number of induced pluripotent stem cell lines that will be established in future, the intensive testing of a number of these lines for erythroid potential may allow the establishment of human erythroid cell lines similar to the mouse erythroid cell lines.
Transfusion errors and their prevention
Authors: Ohsaka A.
Published: October 2009

Although the current risks of acquiring viral transmission through blood components and products are very small, mistransfusion, in which a blood unit is incorrectly administered to a non‐designated recipient, remains the most common type of error in transfusion practice. ABO‐incompatible blood transfusion attributable to the incorrect identification (ID) of the patient or the blood unit is one of the most serious transfusion hazards. Many studies revealed that transfusion errors occur frequently in clinical areas, with the most common error being failure to perform the final patient ID check at the bedside. Thus, the pretransfusion bedside check is the most critical step for the prevention of mistransfusion. Machine‐readable ID technology, especially a bar code‐based ID system, is ideally suited to bedside check requirements. Our experience at the Juntendo University Hospital shows that the bar code‐based ID system has worked well over a 7‐year period on a hospital‐wide basis, and approximately 70 000 blood components have been transfused without a single mistransfusion. The overall rate of compliance with ‘second’ electronic bedside checking for blood components was 99%. Human error was the most frequent cause of errors leading to the failure of the bedside bar code ID check. The bar code‐based ID system has become applicable to the bedside pretransfusion check for paediatric transfusion, i.e. blood dispensed in syringes, and preoperative autologous blood donation, as well as regular allogeneic blood transfusion. If we want to reduce the risk of mistransfusion to improve transfusion safety, we have to address the issue at the hospital level, with a system‐based approach.
Epidemiology of dengue and chikungunya viruses and their potential impact on the blood supply
Authors: Ng L. C. , Lam S. , Teo D.
Published: October 2009

Dengue and chikungunya, transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes, have caught worldwide attention because of increase in the frequency of major epidemics in recent years. Though transmitted by the same vectors, they are caused by different viruses (DENV and CHIKV) that belong to the genus Flavivirus and Alphavirus, respectively.

There has been a worldwide resurgence of dengue in the last few decades. Today, it is estimated that it affects at least 50–100 million people every year. With more than 100 countries, between the 10°C isothermal lines, being endemic, 2·5 billion people are at risk of infection. Facilitated by rapid urbanization and increased travel, the disease continues to make its geographical spread, and the number of cases continues to rise across the world.

Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported in Asia and Africa. Major epidemics appear and disappear cyclically, usually with an inter‐epidemic period of 7–20 years. However, its recent unprecedented explosive outbreaks since 2005, revealed an altered epidemiology. Millions of cases have been reported as the disease sweeps across the islands in the Indian Ocean, followed by countries in South Asia and South East Asia. An outbreak in Italy in 2007 demonstrated the threat of the tropical disease to temperate countries. These two Aedes‐borne diseases have also impacted travellers significantly, with numerous reports of imported cases in countries with no transmission.

In both diseases, viruses have been detected prior to the onset of symptoms, and asymptomatic cases have also been reported. As a result, under‐ and delayed diagnoses have led to dengue transmission through organ transplant and blood transfusion. The potential impact of the epidemiology of the two diseases on the safety of blood and organ donation will be discussed.
Non‐invasive detection of foetal RhD status and other genetic characteristics by circulating nucleic acids in maternal plasma
Authors: Tsui N. B. Y. , Lo Y. M. D.
Published: October 2009

Since the discovery of cell‐free foetal DNA in maternal plasma in 1997, many circulating foetal DNA markers have been developed for the non‐invasive prenatal assessment of foetal genetic status. Some of the diagnostic applications, such as foetal sex determination and foetal rhesus D blood group genotyping, have already been introduced as routine services in some clinical centres. To extend the spectrum of foetal traits in which circulating foetal DNA can be worked on, advanced molecular technologies, such as mass spectrometry, microfluidic system and digital polymerase chain reaction analysis, have been employed. These newly developed tools have superior detection sensitivities and specificities over conventional methods. They have allowed researchers to overcome many technical challenges regarding the non‐invasive investigations of the foetal genetic characteristics, especially those involving a single nucleotide change. We envision that after validations by large‐scale studies, these new tools would be useful in a clinical setting in the near future.
Dental team management for a patient with Klippel–Feil syndrome: Case report
Authors: De Deus Moura de Lima Marina , Ortega Karem Lopez , Araújo Luis Carlos Arias , Soares Marcelo Melo , De Magalhães Marina Helena Cury Gallottini
Published: October 2009

Klippel–Feil syndrome (KFS) is a rare congenital abnormality characterized by a short neck, a low posterior hairline, and limited head movement. Occasionally, patients with KFS may also show signs of deafness, intellectual disability, cardiac malformation, palpebral ptosis, facial nerve paralysis, cleft palate, and scoliosis. Although some researchers have documented this syndrome, scant attention has been paid to craniomaxillofacial manifestations and dental treatment of patients with KFS. The objective of this case report was to describe the planning and execution of dental treatment for a 10‐year‐old male patient with KFS.
Biological Marker Candidates of Alzheimer's Disease in Blood, Plasma, and Serum
Authors: Schneider Philine , Hampel Harald , Buerger Katharina
Published: October 2009

At the earliest clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), when first symptoms are mild, making a reliable and accurate diagnosis is difficult. AD related brain pathology and underlying molecular mechanisms precede symptoms. Biological markers can serve as supportive early screening and diagnostic tools as well as indicators of presymptomatic biochemical change. Moreover, biomarkers cover a variety of roles and functions such as disease prediction, indicating disease acuity and progression, and may ensure biological mapping of treatment outcome. Early screening, detection, and diagnosis of AD would permit earlier disease modifying intervention at potentially reversible stages. To date, most established biological markers from both cerebrospinal fluid neurochemistry and structural and functional neuroimaging have not reached widespread clinical application. Crucial remaining problems, such as easy acceptance and application of a test, cost‐effectiveness, and noninvasiveness, need to be resolved. The development and validation of precise, reliable, and robust tests and biomarkers in blood, plasma, or serum has therefore been for a long time the ultimate focus of many research groups worldwide. Blood‐based testing will most likely be the prerequisite to future sensitive screening of large populations at risk of AD and the baseline in a diagnostic flow approach to AD. The status and emerging perspectives on hypothesis and exploratory‐based candidate biomarkers derived from blood, plasma, and serum are reviewed and discussed.
Soccer Science and the Bayes Community: Exploring the Cognitive Implications of Modern Scientific Communication
Authors: Shrager Jeff , Billman Dorrit , Convertino Gregorio , Massar J. P. , Pirolli Peter
Published: October 2009

Science is a form of distributed analysis involving both individual work that produces new knowledge and collaborative work to exchange information with the larger community. There are many particular ways in which individual and community can interact in science, and it is difficult to assess how efficient these are, and what the best way might be to support them. This paper reports on a series of experiments in this area and a prototype implementation using a research platform called CACHE. CACHE both supports experimentation with different structures of interaction between individual and community cognition and serves as a prototype for computational support for those structures. We particularly focus on CACHE‐BC, the Bayes community version of CACHE, within which the community can break up analytical tasks into “mind‐sized” units and use provenance tracking to keep track of the relationship between these units.
Genetic diversity of the endangered speciesRosa rugosaThunb. in China and implications for conservation strategies
Authors: YANG Ji‐Hong , ZHANG Shu‐Ping , LIU Jian , ZHAI Wen , WANG Ren‐Qing
Published: October 2009

Abstract Rosa rugosaThunb. is one of the dominant and important shrub species in estuary dunes and shingle beaches of northern China. However, its area of distribution, the number of populations, and the size of each population have decreased rapidly in the past two decades because of habitat degradation and loss. Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were used to determine the genetic diversity of four remaining large natural populations ofR. rugosaand to discuss an effective conservation strategy for this endangered species in China. High genetic variations were detected inR. rugosapopulations in China. The mean percentage of polymorphic loci (P%) within four local populations was 57.99%, with theP% of the total population being 75.30%. Mean Shannon's information index (H0) was 0.2826, whereas totalH0was 0.3513. The genetic differentiation among populations was 0.1878, which indicates that most genetic diversity occurs within populations. Population Tumenjiang (TMJ) showed the highest genetic diversity (P%= 66.27%;H0= 0.3117) and contained two exclusive bands. Population Changshandao (CSD) showed higher genetic diversity (P%= 59.04%;H0= 0.3065). Populations TMJ and CSD contained 95.33% and 99.33%, respectively, of loci with moderate to high frequency (P>0.05) of the total population. These results indicate that populations TMJ and CSD should be given priority for in situ conservation and regarded as seed or propagule sources for ex situ conservation. The results of the present study also suggest thatR. rugosain China has become endangered as a result of human actions rather than genetic depression of populations; thus, human interference should be absolutely forbidden inR. rugosahabitats.
Autecology and conservation status of Magnolia sargentiana Rehder & Wilson (Magnoliaceae) in the Dafengding region, southern Sichuan Province, China
Authors: WANG Jing , TANG Ya , XIE Zheng‐Hua , ZHANG Mian‐Yue
Published: October 2009

Abstract  This paper reports the first population ecology study of the endangered Magnolia sargentiana Rehder & Wilson (Magnoliaceae). Magnolia sargentiana is a protected species in China, but little is known about its present status in the field. In 2007 and 2008, we surveyed the population and conservation status of M. sargentiana in the Provincial Mamize Nature Reserve and the National Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Natural regeneration is poor because of unfavorable environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. Flower buds and bark of M. sargentiana are used in traditional Chinese medicine and their collection by local people over the period 1983–1994 has led to marked population declines. The collection of flower buds and bark is now banned, but hewing branches for firewood and grazing continues to have a negative impact on the recovery of M. sargentiana populations. To protect the species, we require a ban on hewing branches, closure of primary forests to reduce the impact of humans and ungulates, better education of local people, and increased awareness of wildlife conservation.