bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peritonealization in gynecology and obstetrics: Review of literature
Authors: Sparic Radmila , Lazovic Biljana , Mazic Sanja , Djelic Marina , Argirovic Aleksandar
Published: July 2013

Introduction. Our purpose was to review the literature on the subject of
peritoneal closure and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this
procedure. Experimental Studies. Experimental studies have proved that
peritoneal defects demonstrate mesothelial integrity (reperitonealization)
48-72 hours after injury and gross healing occurs within five days. A foreign
body in the peritoneum causes tissue ischemia, necrosis, inflammation, and it
stimulates numerous and dense adhesions. Surgery (General and Gynecological).
The major advantage of peritoneal non-closure is a decreased adhesion
formation, quicker return of bowel activity and reduced risk of bowel
obstruction after surgery. Not only does peritoneal closure provide no
immediate postoperative benefits, but it also prolongs surgical time,
exposure to anesthesia and post-operative hospital stay unnecessarily, thus
increasing surgery expenses. In summary, the existing data do not show
advantages of this technique. Since many surgical tenets are based on limited
data or opinion of the individual surgeons, they should be changed according
to evidence-based medicine. Conclusion. Therefore, we suggest that the
traditional practice of peritoneal closure be abolished in gynecology and
obstetrics. It is our strong wish to encourage clinicians not to close both
parietal and visceral peritoneum.
Rare blood donors with irregular antibodies
Authors: Krga-Milanovic Mirjana , Bujandric Nevenka , Milosavljevic-Knezevic Natasa
Published: July 2013

Introduction. Blood groups are inherited biological characteristics that do
not change throughout life in healthy people. Blood groups represent antigens
found on the surface of red blood cells. Kell blood group system consists of
31 antigens. Kell antigen (K) is present in 0.2% of the population (the rare
blood group). Cellano antigen is present in more than 99% (the high-frequency
antigen). These antigens have a distinct ability to cause an immune response
in the people after blood transfusion or pregnancy who, otherwise, did not
have them before. Case Report. This paper presents a blood donor with a rare
blood group, who was found to have an irregular antibody against red blood
cells by indirect antiglobulin test. Further testing determined the
specificity of antibody to be anti-Cellano. The detected antibody was found
in high titers (1024) with erythrocyte phenotype Kell-Cellano+. The blood
donor was found to have a rare blood group KellKell. This donor was excluded
from further blood donation. It is difficult to find compatible blood for a
person who has developed an antibody to the high-frequency antigen. The
donor?s family members were tested and Cellano antigen was detected in her
husband and child. A potential blood donor was not found among the family
members. There was only one blood donor in the Register of blood donors who
was compatible in the ABO and Kell blood group system. Conclusion. For the
successful management of blood transfusion it is necessary to establish a
unified national register of donors of rare blood groups and cooperate with
the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory in Bristol with the
database that registers donors of rare blood groups from around the world.
The Role of Dissemination in Market Liquidity: Evidence from Firms' Use of Twitter™
Authors: Blankespoor Elizabeth , Miller Gregory S. , White Hal D.
Published: July 2013

Firm disclosures often reach only a portion of investors, which results in information asymmetry among investors and, therefore, lower market liquidity. This issue is particularly salient for firms that are not highly visible, as they tend not to receive broad news dissemination via traditional intermediaries, such as the press. This paper examines whether firms can reduce information asymmetry by more broadly disseminating their news. To isolate the impact of dissemination, we focus our analysis on firms' use of Twitter and exploit the 140-character message restriction. Specifically, using a sample of technology firms, we examine the impact of using Twitter to send market participants links to press releases that are provided via traditional disclosure methods. We find this additional dissemination of firm-initiated news via Twitter is associated with lower abnormal bid-ask spreads and greater abnormal depths, consistent with a reduction in information asymmetry. Moreover, this result holds mainly for firms that are not highly visible, consistent with them being in greater need of this additional dissemination channel. We also examine the impact of dissemination on a volume-based measure of liquidity, and find that dissemination is positively associated with liquidity.

Data Availability: All data are publicly available from the sources indicated in the paper.
The Unintended Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility Performance on Investors' Estimates of Fundamental Value
Authors: Elliott W. Brooke , Jackson Kevin E. , Peecher Mark E. , White Brian J.
Published: July 2013

We provide theory and experimental evidence consistent with an unintended, causal relation between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance and investors' estimates of fundamental value that can be attenuated by investors' explicit assessment of CSR performance. Consistent with “affect-as-information” theory from psychology, we find that investors who are exposed to, but do not explicitly assess, CSR performance derive higher fundamental value estimates in response to positive CSR performance, and lower fundamental value estimates in response to negative CSR performance. Explicit assessment of CSR performance, however, significantly diminishes this effect, indicating that the effect among investors who do not explicitly assess CSR performance is unintended; i.e., they unintentionally use their affective reactions to CSR performance in estimating fundamental value. Supplemental findings shed light on consequences of these fundamental value estimates: investors who do not explicitly assess CSR performance rely on their unintentionally influenced estimates of fundamental value to increase the price they are willing to pay to invest in the stock of a firm with positive CSR performance. Overall, our theory and findings contribute to the CSR and affect literatures in accounting by revealing the contingent nature of how and to what extent CSR performance influences investors' beliefs about firm value and the bids these investors are likely to make in equity markets.

Data Availability: Contact the authors.
A bi-logistic growth model for conference registration with an early bird deadline
Authors: Fenner Trevor , Levene Mark , Loizou George
Published: July 2013

The recent interest in human dynamics has led researchers to investigate the processes that explain human behaviour within different contexts. Here we are concerned in modelling the human response to a deadline, and in particular we look at the process of conference registration with an early bird deadline. We provide empirical evidence from a six-year conference registration data set that the bi-logistic growth function, with the interpretation as registration with an early bird deadline, can be viewed as a social mechanism.
Genotype-environment interaction and stability analysis in hybrid rice: an application of additive main effects and multiplicative interaction
Authors: Kulsum M Umma , Hasan M Jamil , Akter Anowara , Rahman Hafizar , Biswas Priyalal
Published: July 2013

Genotype-environment interaction and stability performance were investigated on amylase, protein and grain yield with 13 hybrid rice promising combinations in five environments. The combined ANOVA showed that the mean sum of square due to genotype (G), environment (E) and G × E interaction were significant for amylose content, protein content and grain yield. This suggests a number of variabilities among the genotypes and environments as and the indicated genotypes interacted significantly with environments. The Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) biplot for yield clearly indicated that the hybrids BR10A/BR12R, II32A/BR15R, II32A/BR16R, II32A/BR10R, BR9A/BR15R, BRRI hybrid dhan2 and BRRI hybrid dhan3 were high yielding, stable and had general adaptability at all locations. The AMMI estimation had a profound effect in producing sharp and stratified ranking patterns and on this basis BRRI hybrid dhan2 would be considered more adapted to a wide range of environments than the rest of the genotypes. The biplot technique was used to identify appropriate genotype to special locations. This consideration on the basis of average yield for specific genotype to the specific location. The hybrid combination II32A/BR12R was more suitable for Gazipur location and the hybrid combination BR10A/BR13R was considered for Comilla region. Barisal was more stable site than other location for grain yield due to IPCA score near zero which had no interaction effect. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15867 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(1): 73-81, 2013 (June)
Effects of salicylic acid on sucrose synthase activity during seed development and germination in pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Murtaza Ghulam , Asghar Rehana
Published: July 2013

Effects of 0, 0.1 and 0.01 mM salicylic acid (SA) on activities of sucrose synthase (Sus) in four varieties of pea (Pisum sativum L.) viz., Meteor, Climax, Green feast and Rondo during seed development and germination were studied. Sus activity was highest in the variety Meteor and for the varieties treated with SA (0.1 mM), while the varieties treated twice i.e. seed treated plus foliar spray revealed maximum Sus activity. During germination, the maximum Sus activity was observed for the variety Green feast. Seeds treated with SA 0.1 mM revealed maximum Sus activity, while the seeds raised from the varieties and whose seeds were treated plus foliar sprayed exhibited maximum Sus activity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15868 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(1): 83-90, 2013 (June)
Effects of copper and chromium and high temperature on growth, proline and protein content in wheat seedlings
Authors: Muslu Ahmet , Ergün Nuray
Published: July 2013

Effects of interactions between high temperature and chromium (Cr(VI)) and copper (Cu) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Dagdas 94) seedlings were investigated. High concentrations of Cr and Cu at 40°C decreased the root and shoot length and dry weight. The total chlorophyll content was decreased at 30 ?M Cr + 40°C. At the high Cr and Cu concentrations, carotenoid content was increased compared to that of control groups. Heavy metal treatment increased proline content but decreased that of soluble protein. In addition, chromium showed greater toxic effects on growth and biochemical parameters than that of Cu. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15871 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(1): 105-111, 2013 (June)
Diabetic Retinopathy and Homocysteine in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Rahman Md Rezwanur , Arslan M Iqbal , Hoque Md Mozammel , Rahman Md Waliur , Shermin Shahana
Published: July 2013

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is the commonest complication that occurs from the very beginning in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM itself leads to increased homocysteine (Hcy) level. It is postulated that hyperhomocysteinaemia causes retinal vascular damage as Hcy is an established vasculotoxic agent and auto-oxidation of Hcy leads to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation and thrombus formation. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum Hcy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects with diabetic retinopathy. Materials and method: A case control study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, during the period of January 2006 to December 2007. Total 85 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subjects were included in this study, 40 were case having retinopathy and 45 were age and sex matched control without retinopathy. Serum Hcy was measured and compared between case and control. Results: Serum Hcy level in cases was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to that of control (15.11±5.49 ?mol/L vs. 12.59±4.01 ?mol/L). Odds ratio was also determined for hyperhomocysteinemia (OR=2.23; CI 0.9-5.45). Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dmcj.v1i2.15916 Delta Med Col J. Jul 2013;1(2):37-41
Socio Demographic Determinants of Delivery Practice in Rural Women of Bangladesh
Authors: Begum Meherunnessa , Sarwar Khondoker Bulbul , Akther Nasreen , Sabnom Rokshana , Begum Asma , Chowdhury Kawser Ahmed
Published: July 2013

Background: Every year, world wide, 200 million women become pregnant. The development of urban areas allowed women to receive more care and treatment. However, in rural areas such measures are not available to every woman. Data on delivery practice of rural woman may help the social and public health planners and decision makers to minimize and prevent maternal mortality and morbidity ensuring safe motherhood.Objective: The aim of the study was to observe the delivery practice of rural women of Bangladesh. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted and data were collected from Dhamrai upazila, Dhaka, Bangladesh in April 2008. Total 159 women of reproductive age group at least having one child were selected purposively to elicit information on various demographic, socioeconomic, cultural and selected programmatic variables including maternal health care and delivery practices. Results: Among the respondents about 55% were literate. Majority (80%) of the respondents delivered at home and most of the them (71%) felt that home delivery was comfortable where as about 29% of the respondents were compelled to deliver at home due to family decision and financial constraint. Among the deliveries about 82% occurred normally and 18.2% were by cesarean section. A considerable percentage of deliveries (49%) were attended by traditional birth attendants. Blade was used for cutting umbilical cord in majority of the cases (74%) who delivered at home. Most of the respondents (90%) took ante natal check up and about 74% were vaccinated by tetanus toxoid. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that a lot of work is still to do for the policy makers and health planners to target, plan, develop and deliver maternal health services to the rural women of Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dmcj.v1i2.15917 Delta Med Col J. Jul 2013;1(2):42-45
Revision Total Hip Replacement: A Case Report
Authors: Rahman Md Hafizur , Sarker Md Mohoshin , Matin Md Abdul
Published: July 2013

Total hip replacement is a reconstructive procedure that has improved the management of those diseases of the hip joint that have responded poorly to conventional medical therapy. Conventional, primary total hip replacement is a durable operation in the majority of patients. A hip replacement is a mechanical device with parts that are assembled before and during the operation. But the possible complications of total hip arthroplasty, and its clinical performance over time, is a challenging occasion to the surgeons, and such a challenge we faced with our presenting patient. A 68 year old lady with history of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty done in a tertiary care hospital, due to fracture neck of the left femur having the history of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, anaemia, and mental disorders presented with loosened prosthesis, thinning of medial proximal cortex of the femur which had broken within few months after surgery. She complained of painful walking at left hip joint. There was also evidence of chronic infective and degenerative arthritis of acetabular component of the affected hip joint. Cemented revision total hip replacement surgery was performed with expert multidisciplinary involvement. On 2nd postoperative day the patient was allowed to walk on operated limb with the aid of walker. On 12th postoperative day all the stitches were removed and wound was found healthy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dmcj.v1i2.15920 Delta Med Col J. Jul 2013;1(2):58-61
The Biology of Neisseria Adhesins
Authors: Hung Miao-Chiu , Christodoulides Myron
Published: July 2013

Members of the genus Neisseria include pathogens causing important human diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia, gonorrhoea and pelvic inflammatory disease syndrome. Neisseriae are found on the exposed epithelia of the upper respiratory tract and the urogenital tract. Colonisation of these exposed epithelia is dependent on a repertoire of diverse bacterial molecules, extending not only from the surface of the bacteria but also found within the outer membrane. During invasive disease, pathogenic Neisseriae also interact with immune effector cells, vascular endothelia and the meninges. Neisseria adhesion involves the interplay of these multiple surface factors and in this review we discuss the structure and function of these important molecules and the nature of the host cell receptors and mechanisms involved in their recognition. We also describe the current status for recently identified Neisseria adhesins. Understanding the biology of Neisseria adhesins has an impact not only on the development of new vaccines but also in revealing fundamental knowledge about human biology.
Flow of Information during an Evolutionary Process: The Case of Influenza A Viruses
Authors: Serrano-Solís Víctor , José Marco
Published: July 2013

The hypothesis that Mutual Information (MI) dendrograms of influenza A viruses reflect informational groups generated during viral evolutionary processes is put forward. Phylogenetic reconstructions are used for guidance and validation of MI dendrograms. It is found that MI profiles display an oscillatory behavior for each of the eight RNA segments of influenza A. It is shown that dendrograms of MI values of geographically and historically different segments coming from strains of RNA virus influenza A turned out to be unexpectedly similar to the clusters, but not with the topology of the phylogenetic trees. No matter how diverse the RNA sequences are, MI dendrograms crisply discern actual viral subtypes together with gain and/or losses of information that occur during viral evolution. The amount of information during a century of evolution of RNA segments of influenza A is measured in terms of bits of information for both human and avian strains. Overall the amount of information of segments of pandemic strains oscillates during viral evolution. To our knowledge this is the first description of clades of information of the viral subtypes and the estimation of the flow content of information, measured in bits, during an evolutionary process of a virus.
The Use of Artificial Neural Networks for Identifying Sustainable Biodiesel Feedstocks
Authors: Jahirul Mohammed , Brown Richard , Senadeera Wijitha , O'Hara Ian , Ristovski Zoran
Published: July 2013

Over the past few decades, biodiesel produced from oilseed crops and animal fat is receiving much attention as a renewable and sustainable alternative for automobile engine fuels, and particularly petroleum diesel. However, current biodiesel production is heavily dependent on edible oil feedstocks which are unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term due to the rising food prices and the concerns about automobile engine durability. Therefore, there is an urgent need for researchers to identify and develop sustainable biodiesel feedstocks which overcome the disadvantages of current ones. On the other hand, artificial neural network (ANN) modeling has been successfully used in recent years to gain new knowledge in various disciplines. The main goal of this article is to review recent literatures and assess the state of the art on the use of ANN as a modeling tool for future generation biodiesel feedstocks. Biodiesel feedstocks, production processes, chemical compositions, standards, physio-chemical properties and in-use performance are discussed. Limitations of current biodiesel feedstocks over future generation biodiesel feedstock have been identified. The application of ANN in modeling key biodiesel quality parameters and combustion performance in automobile engines is also discussed. This review has determined that ANN modeling has a high potential to contribute to the development of renewable energy systems by accelerating biodiesel research.
A Virtual Tool for Minimum Cost Design of a Wind Turbine Tower with Ring Stiffeners
Authors: Karpat Fatih
Published: July 2013

Currently, renewable energy resources are becoming more important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. Researchers have focused on all components of wind turbines to increase reliability and minimize cost. In this paper, a procedure including a cost analysis method and a particle swarm optimization algorithm has been presented to efficiently design low cost steel wind turbine towers. A virtual tool is developed in MATLAB for the cost optimization of wind turbine steel towers with ring stiffeners using a particle swarm optimization algorithm. A wind turbine tower optimization problem in the literature is solved using the developed computer program. In the optimization procedure the optimization results match very well with the optimization results obtained previously. The wall thickness of the shell segments and the dimensions of the ring stiffeners are selected as the design variables, and the limits of the local buckling for the flat ring stiffeners, the local shell buckling limit, the panel ring buckling limit and the limitation of the frequency are considered the design constraints. Numerical examples are presented to understand the impacts of the design variables on the total cost of the wind turbine tower.
Insulin-Dependent H2O2 Production Is Higher in Muscle Fibers of Mice Fed with a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Espinosa Alejandra , Campos Cristian , Díaz-Vegas Alexis , Galgani José , Juretic Nevenka , Osorio-Fuentealba César , Bucarey José , Tapia Gladys , Valenzuela Rodrigo , Contreras-Ferrat Ariel , Llanos Paola , Jaimovich Enrique
Published: July 2013

Insulin resistance is defined as a reduced ability of insulin to stimulate glucose utilization. C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) are a model of insulin resistance. In skeletal muscle, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced by NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) is involved in signaling pathways triggered by insulin. We evaluated oxidative status in skeletal muscle fibers from insulin-resistant and control mice by determining H2O2 generation (HyPer probe), reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio and NOX2 expression. After eight weeks of HFD, insulin-dependent glucose uptake was impaired in skeletal muscle fibers when compared with control muscle fibers. Insulin-resistant mice showed increased insulin-stimulated H2O2 release and decreased reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG). In addition, p47phox and gp91phox (NOX2 subunits) mRNA levels were also high (~3-fold in HFD mice compared to controls), while protein levels were 6.8- and 1.6-fold higher, respectively. Using apocynin (NOX2 inhibitor) during the HFD feeding period, the oxidative intracellular environment was diminished and skeletal muscle insulin-dependent glucose uptake restored. Our results indicate that insulin-resistant mice have increased H2O2 release upon insulin stimulation when compared with control animals, which appears to be mediated by an increase in NOX2 expression.
Self-Directed Online Learning Modules: Students’ Behaviours and Experiences
Authors: Maloney Stephen , Tai Joanna , Paynter Sophie , Lo Kristin , Ilic Dragan
Published: July 2013

Academic programs are experiencing pressure to produce efficiencies in education by incorporating online learning. Simply transplanting a text-based resource to an online setting by itself does not necessarily provide an effective online learning environment. In collaboration with clinical educators, our academic team constructed an online learning activity designed to reinforce allied health student knowledge of pharmacology. However, anecdotal reports from students entering the clinical environment indicated poor engagement with the online resources. These reports prompted the need for a method of formal analysis of student engagement and insights into student preferences and behaviours with online learning. Through auditing online usage data and survey analysis, our study determines a set of practical recommendations for the design of online resources, and their implementation, in order optimise their utilization and educational value.
An Infrastructure to Enable Lightweight Context-Awareness for Mobile Users
Authors: Curiel Pablo , Lago Ana
Published: July 2013

Mobile phones enable us to carry out a wider range of tasks every day, and as a result they have become more ubiquitous than ever. However, they are still more limited in terms of processing power and interaction capabilities than traditional computers, and the often distracting and time-constricted scenarios in which we use them do not help in alleviating these limitations. Context-awareness is a valuable technique to address these issues, as it enables to adapt application behaviour to each situation. In this paper we present a context management infrastructure for mobile environments, aimed at controlling context information life-cycle in this kind of scenarios, with the main goal of enabling application and services to adapt their behaviour to better meet end-user needs. This infrastructure relies on semantic technologies and open standards to improve interoperability, and is based on a central element, the context manager. This element acts as a central context repository and takes most of the computational burden derived from dealing with this kind of information, thus relieving from these tasks to more resource-scarce devices in the system.
Wireless Prototype Based on Pressure and Bending Sensors for Measuring Gate Quality
Authors: Grenez Florent , Villarejo María , Zapirain Begoña , Zorrilla Amaia
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a technological solution based on sensors controlled remotely in order to monitor, track and evaluate the gait quality in people with or without associated pathology. Special hardware simulating a shoe was developed, which consists of three pressure sensors, two bending sensors, an Arduino mini and a Bluetooth module. The obtained signals are digitally processed, calculating the standard deviation and establishing thresholds obtained empirically. A group of users was chosen with the aim of executing two modalities: natural walking and dragging the left foot. The gait was parameterized with the following variables: as far as pressure sensors are concerned, one pressure sensor under the first metatarsal (right sensor), another one under the fifth metatarsal (left) and a third one under the heel were placed. With respect to bending sensors, one bending sensor was placed for the ankle movement and another one for the foot sole. The obtained results show a rate accuracy oscillating between 85% (right sensor) and 100% (heel and bending sensors). Therefore, the developed prototype is able to differentiate between healthy gait and pathological gait, and it will be used as the base of a more complex and integral technological solution, which is being developed currently.
Circular Thermodynamics of Organisms and Sustainable Systems
Authors: Ho Mae-Wan
Published: July 2013

A circular thermodynamics of organisms and sustainable systems is presented based on dynamic closures in nested space-time domains that enable the system to approach the ideal of zero entropy production simultaneously at equilibrium and far from equilibrium conditions.
Development of the first chloroplast microsatellite loci in Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae)
Authors: Xie Chun‐Xiang , Zhao Ming‐Shui , Fu Cheng‐Xin , Zhao Yun‐Peng
Published: July 2013

• Premise of the study: To investigate population genetics, phylogeography, and cultivar origin of Ginkgo biloba, chloroplast microsatellite primers were developed.

• Methods and Results: Twenty‐one chloroplast microsatellite markers were identified referring to the two published chloroplast genomes of G. biloba. Polymorphisms were assessed on four natural populations from the two refugia in China. Eight loci were detected to be polymorphic in these populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to seven, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus varied from 0.441 to 0.807.

• Conclusions: For the first time, we developed 21 chloroplast microsatellite markers for G. biloba, including 13 monomorphic and eight polymorphic ones within the assessed natural populations. These markers should provide a powerful tool for the study of genetic variation of both natural and cultivated populations of G. biloba, as well as cultivars.
Soil type affectsPinus ponderosavar.scopulorum(Pinaceae) seedling growth in simulated drought experiments
Authors: Lindsey Alexander J. , Kilgore Jason S.
Published: July 2013

•Premise of the study:Effects of drought stress and media type interactions on growth ofPinus ponderosavar.scopulorumgerminants were investigated.

•Methods and Results:Soil properties and growth responses under drought were compared across four growth media types: two native soils (dolomitic limestone and granite), a soil‐less industry standard conifer medium, and a custom‐mixed conifer medium. After 35 d of growth, the seedlings under drought stress (reduced watering) produced less shoot and root biomass than watered control seedlings. Organic media led to decreased root biomass, but increased root length and shoot biomass relative to the mineral soils.

•Conclusions:Media type affected root‐to‐shoot biomass partitioning ofP. ponderosavar.scopulorum, which may influence net photosynthetic rates, growth, and long‐term seedling survival. Further work should examine how specific soil properties like bulk density and organic matter influence biomass allocation in greenhouse studies.
A method for preparing spaceflight RNAlater‐fixed Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) tissue for scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Schultz Eric R. , Kelley Karen L. , Paul Anna‐Lisa , Ferl Robert J.
Published: July 2013

• Premise of the study: In spaceflight experiments, tissues for morphologic study are fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde, while tissues for molecular study are fixed in RNAlater; thus, an experiment containing both study components requires multiple fixation strategies. The possibility of using RNAlater‐fixed materials for standard SEM‐based morphometric investigation was explored to expand the library of tissues available for analysis and maximize usage of samples returned from spaceflight, but these technologies have wide application to any situation where recovery of biological resources is limited.

• Methods and Results: RNAlater‐fixed samples were desalinated in distilled water, dehydrated through graded methanol, plunged into liquid ethane, and transferred to cryovials for freeze‐substitution. Sample tissues were critical point dried, mounted, sputter‐coated, and imaged.

• Conclusions: The protocol resulted in acceptable SEM images from RNAlater‐fixed Arabidopsis thaliana tissue. The majority of the tissues remained intact, including general morphology and finer details such as root hairs and trichomes.
El reforzamiento de los vínculos comunitarios a través de la fiesta en las ciudades castellanas en el marco de cuadrillas y cofradías. Siglos XV-XVII
Authors: Diago Hernando Máximo
Published: July 2013

En el período preindustrial en las ciudades europeas se celebraron fiestas de muy variadas características. Con frecuencia éstas fueron organizadas por la autoridad urbana como instrumento de legitimación del orden vigente. Pero también se organizaron celebraciones con una más marcada base popular, que tenían por objetivo reforzar los lazos de solidaridad entre el conjunto de los participantes. Fue el caso de muchas de las fiestas celebradas por las cofradías, pero también de algunas que organizó el conjunto de la población pechera distribuida en cuadrillas. En este trabajo se analiza en profundidad un caso muy original de este último tipo de fiestas, la celebrada por las cuadrillas del Común de pecheros en Soria el primer domingo después de San Juan, que pervive en la actualidad.
Las meigas: la transformación de un estigma en recurso patrimonial
Authors: Jiménez-Esquinas Guadalupe
Published: July 2013

Este artículo plantea una reflexión en torno a los procesos de patrimonialización de las meigas gallegas teniendo en cuenta su marginalización y exclusión en el pasado y su actual transformación y reinterpretación como recurso social. Para abordar este proceso de cambio han de tenerse en cuenta diversos factores contextuales tanto globales como locales que tienen que ver con cambios socioeconómicos y la explosión del mercado turístico. Pero, más allá de una lógica económica, el patrimonio es recurso que puede servir al cambio social a través de la recuperación de la historia de estas mujeres que fueron estigmatizadas desde una mirada misógina y excluyente.
La reencarnación de lo efímero o cuando las exposiciones universales parían museos
Authors: Sánchez Gómez Luis Ángel
Published: July 2013

El propósito del artículo es revisar la vinculación existente entre ciertos museos y ciertas exposiciones internacionales durante la segunda mitad del siglo XIX y la primera del XX. Más concretamente, nos centraremos en museos creados de forma directa a partir de materiales o colecciones presentadas en determinadas exposiciones, incluidas algunas de proyección exclusivamente nacional. Los contextos referenciados son la etnología, el colonialismo, las misiones y el folklore.
Presencia de pautas narrativas de la tradición oral y popular en Cartucho de Nellie Campobello
Authors: Marco González Ana
Published: July 2013

Este trabajo examina la presencia de estrategias discursivas y representacionales propias de la tradición oral hispánica en uno de los testimonios más sobresalientes del ciclo narrativo de la Revolución Mexicana como es Cartucho (1931), de Nellie Campobello. En su voluntad de ofrecer una visión subjetiva, comunitaria y regionalista de las luchas entre villistas y carrancistas en el norte de México, la autora optó por reproducir historias que le habían sido transmitidas por familiares y vecinos, dando con ello lugar a un relato marcadamente polifónico y testimonial. La voz condiciona así de manera indeleble un texto en el que es perceptible además el diálogo con formas literarias del folclore mexicano, en particular con un representante destacado del género baladístico como el corrido, el cual es convocado en la prosa tanto por medio de la cita directa como por la mímesis de su poética y su lenguaje característicos.
El álbum fotográfico del falangista: género y memoria en la posguerra española
Authors: Rosón Villena María
Published: July 2013

A través del estudio de un álbum fotográfico que recoge la vivencia en un albergue del Sindicato Español Universitario en 1941 se aborda la retórica visual de Falange y su construcción de la masculinidad, la capacidad discursiva de la fotografía y sus potencialidades estéticas, la problemática de la memoria en el ámbito de lo público y lo íntimo, y las posibilidades del álbum como documento.
Ibiza en la pintura costumbrista de Amadeo Roca
Authors: Lena Mateu Prats Mª.
Published: July 2013

La polémica que en los años treinta suscitó la manera con que se mostraba la indumentaria tradicional ibicenca en la pintura costumbrista de Amadeo Roca sirve de eje estructural al artículo para profundizar en el correspondiente concepto de ideal de grupo y en el proceso evolutivo que le afecta. El enfrentamiento entre la corrección establecida (limitada por la pérdida de memoria histórica) y la libertad artística (no exenta de documentación etnográfica y contenido) ofrece así un interesante campo de estudio en el que ha de tomar parte la metodología etnohistórica. Junto a ello, la oportuna estancia del pintor en un núcleo de la payesía isleña, esboza una visión antropológica del lugar y el momento, interrelacionada con el proceso de realización, e incluso desaparición, de parte de su obra.
Factors that contribute to public sector nurses’ turnover in Limpopo province of South Africa
Authors: Tshitangano Takalani G.
Published: July 2013

Background: The ongoing worldwide phenomenon of a shortage of about 4.3 million nurses and midwives poses a threat to health service delivery. Limpopo province had the worst nurse shortage of over 60% in 2010. Authors attribute this shortage to turnover of nurses. The quest to describe factors contributing to nurses’ turnover led to this study in Limpopo province,South Africa.Objectives: To explore and describe factors that contribute to nurses’ turnover in Limpopo province of South Africa by assessing public sector nurses’ job satisfaction in relation to common determinants of job satisfaction.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional approach used primary quantitative data collected from 141 of 380 respondents (31.1% response rate) contacted incidentally. Self-administered hand delivered questionnaires were used to gather ordinal data, which were analysed in terms off requency and percentage tables using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 6. The sum of positive and negative effects was used to determine satisfaction; if positive effects were greater than negative effects respondents were judged to be satisfied and vice versa.Results: Frequency and percentage tables revealed that nurses in Limpopo province were more dissatisfied (53.9%) than satisfied (37.8%) with their jobs. Factors which respondents were found to be dissatisfied with included staffing (85.2%), availability of workplace resources(83.7%), salaries (78.8%), workplace safety (73.7%), career development opportunities (64.5%) and hours of work (47.6%).Conclusion: Nurses’ turnover is attributed to nurses’ dissatisfaction with staffing, resources, salaries and workplace safety. Attention needs to be given to these specific issues if retentionof nurses is to be achieved.
Pathways for retaining human capital in academic departments of a South African university
Authors: Dube Luyanda , Ngulube Patrick
Published: July 2013

Background: The article underscores the process of knowledge retention for academics in select academic departments in the College of Human Sciences (CHS) at the University of South Africa (UNISA). The knowledge economy is ubiquitous and necessitates that organisations foster innovation and improve efficiency, effectiveness, competitiveness and productivity through knowledge retention. In an academic setting, which is the focus of this article, the situation is no different because there seems to be an accord worldwide that the quality of higher education largely depends on the qualifications of staff and professorial capability in quality research, instruction and doctoral level certification. By implication, it is critical that the retention of knowledge should be prioritised to ensure the curtailment of the impact of knowledge attrition.Objective: The study intends to profile knowledge assets in CHS, determine retention strategies and offer suggestions about regenerating knowledge retention initiatives.Research methodology: A quantitative approach, more specifically the informetrics technique of data mining, was adopted to profile academics in CHS at UNISA.Results: The results confirm the assertion that there is a discrepancy between senior academics who are probably due to leave the university in the next few years, and entrants who will replace them. The issue is worsened by the lack of an institutional framework to guide, standardise, strengthen or prioritise the process of knowledge retention.Conclusion: The study recommends the prioritisation, formalisation and institutionalisation of knowledge retention through the implementation of a broad range of knowledge retention strategies.
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for Maintenance of Portal Venous Patency in Liver Transplant Candidates
Authors: Gaba Ron Charles , Parvinian Ahmad
Published: July 2013

Maintenance of portal venous patency is vital to liver transplant candidates, as the presence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) adversely impacts clinical outcomes by increasing surgical complexity and decreasing postoperative survival. By enhancing portal venous blood flow, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation may enable clearance of PVT and preservation of portal venous patency in cirrhotic patients. Herein, we describe four cases in which TIPS produced and sustained an open portal venous system in liver transplant candidates with partial PVT. All patients demonstrated rapid and effective flow-enabled clearance of clot and intermediate to long-term preservation of portal venous flow. On this basis, we propose that maintenance of portal venous patency in liver transplant candidates with partial PVT represents a developing indication for TIPS.
A Rare Cause of Crazy-Paving and Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy: Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Senturk Aysegul , Karalezli Aysegul , Soyturk Ayse Nur , Hasanoglu H. Canan
Published: July 2013

Crazy-paving sign is a pattern seen on multislice computed tomography images of the lungs. It is characterized by a reticular pattern superimposed on ground-glass opacity. It was first described in the late 1980s in patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, but has now been described in some other diseases of the lung. Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes can be seen in infectious and specific inflammatory diseases and malignancies. The present report describes a case of a 44-year-old man in whom congestive heart failure presented with a crazy-paving appearance and enlarged lymph nodes of the lungs on the chest computed tomography scan.
Globalisation, Gender, and Equity – Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Labour Markets in Rural Indonesia
Authors: Siegmann Karin Astrid
Published: July 2013

This study assesses the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on gendered labour markets in rural Indonesia. It focuses on the gender composition of the workforce, female and male workers' employment conditions and gender wage inequality. The research strategy of »between-methods triangulation« is chosen, denoting the combination of quantitative and qualitative types of data generation and analysis.

Two underlying mechanisms have been identified. A »cost effect« associated with transnational corporations' (TNCs') greater orientation towards the world market is the preferential recruitment of, on average, lower paid female workers. In light of global competitive cost considerations, this appears as a rational strategy for TNCs. Conversely, foreign firms' advanced technological endowments relative to domestic companies require a well-educated workforce with technical skills. In light of these perspectives, gender gaps in education and, on average, women's weaker labour market attachment disadvantage female workers' employment in TNCs. Both effects are mediated by a »reproductive constraint«. This refers to the asymmetric distribution of reproductive obligations between female and male household members, whereby female input into the domestic economy is more demanding relative to that of males.
Basel II – Benefits for Developing Countries?
Authors: Metzger Martina
Published: July 2013

The major target of the new capital accord which was adopted in 2004 and is implemented not before 2007 is to prevent bad banking by introducing more risk-sensitive capital requirements. This paper analyses the impacts of Basel II on developing countries which have been most strongly affected by bad banking. The paper identifies structural, price and displacement effects of Basel II which will change international lending to developing countries. While lower-rated developing countries' access to international capital markets will be restrained even further, an accumulation of foreign debt by higher-rated developing countries will be encouraged. Moreover, the new capital accord induces structural and displacement effects on credit markets in developing countries themselves. Due to the use of different approaches toward the measurement of risk, domestic banks will loose competitiveness against subsidiaries of internationally operating banks. For the former this will result in an increased vulnerability to shocks and financial crises.
Editorial: The »New Monetary Policy« – A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Fontana Giuseppe , Gnos Claude , Truger Achim
Published: July 2013

First paragraph

The »New Monetary Policy« (NMP) is the major stabilisation policy associated with the so-called »New Consensus« (NC) view in macroeconomics. NC is the dominant view in modern mainstream economics. Its major tenets are (1) the supply-side determined equilibrium level of unemployment (e.g. NAIRU), and, related to it, (2) the acceptance of the long-run Phillips curve. Within this classical framework, the NC has first explored and then supported a role for short-run effective stabilisation policies, which have usually meant aggregate demand fine-tuning via changes in the short-run nominal interest rate controlled by the central bank. The contributions to this special issue, which contains some of the papers presented at the workshop on Macroeconomics and Macroeconomic Policy organized by the Research Network Alternative Macroeconomic Policies (Germany), the Post Keynesian Economic Study Group (UK), and the Association pour le Développement des Études Keynésiennes (France) on 28th and 29th October 2005 in Berlin, discuss this NC view and its NMP implications from a variety of perspectives and economic traditions.
Rethinking the Role of Monetary Policy and Wage Bargaining in a World Without the Real Balance Effect
Authors: Dullien Sebastian
Published: July 2013

In standard macroeconomic models (new classical, AS-AD, monopolistic competition etc.) monetary policy determines the price level. Output and employment are determined in the labour market where nominal wages are set (possibly under the influence of unions), which together with the price level yield real wages. This paper shows that including nominal wages instead of real balances in the aggregate demand function of a standard monopolistic competition model changes this conclusion completely. In a model with micro-founded investment decisions, wage setters now control the price level. Monetary policy determines output and employment. Neither actor can influence real wages and profits, which are determined by the degree of monopolisation. Further, this conclusion fits well the stylised facts of the Euro area and provides an explanation for high unemployment in Europe.
A Kaleckian Analysis of Monetary Policy
Authors: Sawyer Malcolm
Published: July 2013

This paper has the simple objective of exploring the implications of a Kaleckian (heterodox) macroeconomic analysis for the effectiveness of monetary policy, specifically one based on the use of interest rates to target the rate of inflation. The paper begins by setting out the essential features of a Kaleckian macroeconomic analysis in terms of the role of aggregate demand and money, and considering the nature of the supply-side of the economy. Some features of that analysis are drawn out and implications are drawn for the nature and effectiveness of monetary policy.
Monetary Policy Under Uncertainty
Authors: Spahn Heinz-Peter
Published: July 2013

»Uncertainty« indicated a critical post Keynesian argument against neoclassical monetarism, but was taken up by the European Central Bank (ECB) in order to emphasize the importance of the money supply indicator in its »two pillar« strategy. In a state of model uncertainty on behalf of market and policy agents, the quantity of money is meant to control long-term inflation expectations. However, the instability of money demand and the intention to reject the responsibility for the cycle leads the ECB to modify the quantity theory towards a credit theory of nominal income. The ECB decides on the validity of the money-inflation nexus in a discretionary way and thus undermines the credibility of the monetary pillar. Lack of information is also offered in order to defend the ECB's single price-stability target. Following only this target is suboptimal on welfare-theoretic grounds as the ECB indirectly accepts the non-neutrality of money.