bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mating disruption of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) in stored product habitats using the synthetic pheromone serricornin
Authors: Mahroof R. M. , Phillips T. W. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractCigarette beetles, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), cause significant damage to the multibillion dollar food and tobacco industries worldwide each year. A non‐insecticidal alternative to manage L. serricorne is the application of mating disruption, in which high levels of synthetic sex pheromone are released to create an atmosphere that results in males failing to mate females, thereby causing population suppression or extinction. The reported work used synthetic serricornin, the predominant sex pheromone of L. serricorne, in mating disruption trials conducted in selected food‐ and feed‐processing facilities in South Carolina during 2010 and 2011. Mills subjected to mating disruption trials were monitored using oviposition cups filled with larval food and pheromone traps for males that contained monitoring lures. Immediately after deployment of mating disruption dispensers, trap captures declined significantly and indicated a reduction in population levels, that is, there was ‘trap shutdown’. A significant reduction was observed in numbers of adult beetles caught in the traps 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after treatment in both years. Beetle numbers from pheromone traps in untreated buildings remained at similar levels or increased after the time of mating disruption deployment in treated buildings. The numbers of adults that emerged from oviposition food cups were generally low and varied irregularly in treated and untreated buildings and were determined to be of little value for assessing treatment effects on reproduction. These initial field studies in the USA suggest that release of the synthetic sex pheromone of L. serricorne for mating disruption can significantly inhibit proper orientation behaviour of male L. serricorne to females and may lead to pest population decline from mating disruption.
Evaluation of the fibromyalgia diagnostic screen in clinical practice
Authors: Martin Susan A. , Coon Cheryl D. , McLeod Lori D. , Chandran Arthi , Arnold Lesley M. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesFibromyalgia (FM) is challenging to diagnose, especially in primary care settings. The Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen was developed to facilitate the diagnosis of FM in clinical practice. The objectives of this study were to assess the performance of the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen in primary care and specialty clinics, using the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria as the gold standard, and comparing the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen with the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire (LFESSQ) and the modified 2010 ACR Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria (ACR‐FDC).MethodsThis multicenter, cross‐sectional study included 150 adult chronic pain patients who underwent a physician‐administered structured history and physical exam and completed the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen, the LFESSQ and the modified ACR‐FDC. The analyses determined the predictive ability of the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen for FM.ResultsItem‐level analyses provided support for the response categories and predictive ability of most of the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen items. Additionally, the evaluation of the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen scoring models demonstrated the greatest accuracy in predicting an FM diagnosis with a combination of patient items and clinician items that included an abbreviated tender point exam (sensitivity 0.68, specificity, 0.82). Sensitivity of the modified ACR‐FDC and the LFESSQ was 0.87 and 0.86, respectively, with specificity 0.62 and 0.49, respectively.ConclusionsThe Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Screen is a useful new clinical tool to aid in the evaluation of FM in clinical practice.
Motor excitability during movement preparation in Tourette syndrome
Authors: Draper Amelia , Jude Lucinda , Jackson Georgina M. , Jackson Stephen R. 
Published: November 2013

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the occurrence of motor and vocal tics. TS has been linked to the impaired operation of cortical‐striatal‐thalamic‐cortical circuits that give rise to hyper‐excitability of cortical motor areas, which may be exacerbated by dysfunctional intra‐cortical inhibitory mechanisms. That said, many individuals gain control over their tics during adolescence and it has been suggested that this increased control arises as a result of the development of mechanisms that operate to suppress corticospinal excitability (CSE) ahead of volitional movements. Here we used single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in conjunction with a manual Go/NoGo task to investigate alterations in CSE ahead of volitional movements in a group of adolescents with TS (N = 10). Our study demonstrated that CSE, as measured by TMS‐induced motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs), was significantly reduced in the TS group in the period immediately preceding a finger movement. More specifically, we show that individuals with TS, unlike their age‐matched controls, do not exhibit the predicted increase in mean MEP amplitude and decrease in MEP variability that immediately precede the execution of volitional movements in typically developing young adults. Finally, we report that the magnitude of the rise in MEP amplitude across the movement preparation period in TS is significantly negatively correlated with clinical measures of motor tic severity, suggesting that individuals with severe motor tics are least able to modulate motor cortical excitability.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE: THE HISTORY OF THOUGHT AND THE CENTRAL THEMES
Authors: Leppälä Samuli 
Published: December 2013

AbstractFollowing the development of knowledge economies, there has been a rapid expansion of economic analysis of knowledge, both in the context of technological knowledge in particular and decision theory in general. This paper surveys this literature by identifying the main themes and contributions, and outlines the future prospects of the discipline. The wide scope of knowledge‐related questions in terms of applicability and alternative approaches has led to the fragmentation of research. Nonetheless, one can identify an enduring quest for analyzing various aspects of the generation, dissemination and use of knowledge in the economy.
Reduced Gray Matter Volume and Increased White Matter Fractional Anisotropy in Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Authors: Bloemers Jos , Scholte H. Steven , van Rooij Kim , Goldstein Irwin , Gerritsen Jeroen , Olivier Berend , Tuiten Adriaan 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIntroductionModels of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) imply altered central processing of sexual stimuli. Imaging studies have identified areas which show altered processing as compared with controls, but to date, structural neuroanatomical differences have not been described.AimThe aim of this study is to investigate differences in brain structure between women with HSDD and women with no history of sexual dysfunction, and to determine sexual behavioral correlates of identified structural deviations.MethodsSexual functioning and gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) were assessed in 29 women with HSDD and 16 healthy control subjects of comparable age and socioeconomic status with no history of sexual dysfunction.Main Outcome MeasuresWM properties were measured using diffusion-weighted imaging and analyzed using fractional anisotropy (FA). GM volume was measured using three-dimensional T1-weighted recordings and analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. Sexual functioning was measured using the Sexual Function Questionnaire.ResultsWomen with HSDD, as compared with controls, had reduced GM volume in the right insula, bilateral anterior temporal cortices, left occipitotemporal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Also, increased WM FA was observed within, amongst others, the bilateral amygdalae. Sexual interest and arousal correlated mostly with GM volume in these regions, whereas orgasm function correlated mostly with WM FA.ConclusionHSDD coincides with anatomical differences in the central nervous system, in both GM and WM. The findings suggest that decreased salience attribution to sexual stimuli, decreased perception of bodily responses and sexual emotional stimulus perception, and concomitant altered attentional mechanisms associated with sexual response induction.
Female odours promote the activation of sheltered kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus males and modulate their orientation
Authors: PONTES G. , ZACHARIAS C. A. , MANRIQUE G. , LORENZO M. G. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe existence of a pheromone emitted during copulation has been reported for Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Stål. Adults possess one pair of metasternal glands (MGs) from which female R. prolixus release volatiles mainly at night. We investigated whether these volatiles emitted by adult R. prolixus can modulate sexual‐related behaviours of opposite and/or same sex individuals. We first used a shelter bioassay to test if adult activity patterns can be affected by chemical signals emitted by opposite sex conspecifics. We observed that males left the shelter more frequently in the presence of females, showing higher activity and an increase of intrasexual copulation attempts. Females showed no shelter‐related activation in the presence of male odours. Second, we used a locomotion compensator device to investigate whether females or males show oriented responses to odours emitted by adults. We found that males oriented towards air currents carrying female odours but females did not orient towards odours emitted by adults. Finally, we observed that males oriented towards the female MG compounds. Thus, a volatile chemical signal emitted by females from their MGs promoted the activation of sheltered males and modulated orientation to air currents.
Porphyromonas gingivalis C‐terminal signal peptidase PG0026 and HagA interact with outer membrane protein PG27/LptO
Authors: Saiki K. , Konishi K. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryOuter membrane protein PG27 is essential for secretion/maturation of conserved C‐terminal domain (CTD) proteins such as gingipains, HagA, and PG0026. To determine the binding partner(s) of PG27, we used a Porphyromonas gingivalis mutant strain, 83K48, which expressed functional histidine‐tagged PG27. Purification of histidine‐tagged PG27 from 83K48 found that 136‐kDa and 264‐kDa proteins accompanied histidine‐tagged PG27. Mass spectrometry revealed the 136‐kDa protein and 264‐kDa protein to be PG0026 and PG1837 (HagA), respectively. PG0026 is a C‐terminal signal peptidase which cleaves the CTDs of other CTD proteins. A cross‐linking and a native electrophoresis studies suggested the interaction between histidine‐tagged PG27 and HagA and the interaction between histidine‐tagged PG27 and PG0026. We constructed Porphyromonas gingivalis gene disrupting mutants, and characterized them. PG0026 was required for the full activities of gingipains, whereas HagA was not. A mutation disrupting PG0026 affected localization of PG27, but a mutation disrupting PG1837 showed little effect on the expression and localizations of PG27 and PG0026. To determine the functional role of HagA, we used PG1837‐disruptant 83K54 which expressed functional histidine‐tagged PG27. Histidine‐tagged PG27 in 83K54 was co‐purified with not only PG0026 but also several contaminated proteins. These results suggest that PG0026 interacts with PG27 in the absence of HagA, and that the binding state of a PG27‐PG0026 complex was affected and stabilized by HagA. Taken together, these data suggest that secreted PG0026 anchors to the cell by interacting with PG27, is stabilized by HagA, and functions in processing of other CTD proteins such as gingipains.
Oil prices, US inflation, US money supply and the US dollar
Authors: Azar Samih Antoine 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA central proposition in many macroeconomic models is price stickiness, while it is agreed that commodity prices are determined in auction markets, and are necessarily fully flexible. The overall price level is a weighted average of commodity prices and consumer prices. An exogenous increase in the money supply, keeping everything else constant, increases the overall price level proportionately. Because of stickiness of consumer prices, commodity prices overshoot the increase in the money supply. The purpose of this paper is to re‐examine the relations between the price of one specific commodity which is oil with US inflation, US money supply and the US dollar. One empirical fact is that during the sample period, global and US demand shocks have raised oil prices immediately while their effect on consumer prices was delayed. This overshooting of oil prices is expected to occur in the short run and to wane in the long run as consumer prices fully adjust. The overshooting of oil prices is the mirror image of the overshooting of the US dollar. This is true for two main reasons. One, both oil and the US dollar react in the same manner to money supply changes. Two, oil prices are quoted in US dollars and a depreciation of the US dollar is instantly compensated by a rise in the US price of oil. Additionally, the paper analyses and discusses the evidence on an apparent long run overshooting of oil prices and explains why it is just a statistical artefact that stems from the salient features of oil.
Exploring the impact of oil revenues on OPEC members' macroeconomy
Authors: Almulali Usama , Sab Che Normee Binti Che 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of oil revenues on the macroeconomy in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The panel model was used taking the period 2000–2011 when oil prices increased to high levels causing an increase in the oil revenues of the investigated countries. The results showed that oil exports revenues have a long‐run and a short‐run positive relationship with the gross domestic product, domestic investment, government consumption expenditure and the consumer price index. However, the results also showed that oil exports revenues have a long‐run and a short‐run negative relationship with the real exchange rate, gross domestic savings and the current account balance. Therefore, it was recommended that these countries should reduce their level of domestic consumption and increase their domestic savings. It was also recommended that these countries should reduce their real exchange rate appreciation and use more flexible exchange rate regimes.
Industrial energy demand, a forecasting model based on an index decomposition of structural and efficiency effects
Authors: Lescaroux François 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis paper proposes an approach for explaining and forecasting global industrial energy demand, at the country level, that could be seen as a trade‐off between the two main options in use: ‘top‐down’ and ‘bottom‐up’ models. It relies on a two‐term decomposition of industrial energy intensity, one evaluating the contribution of changes in the industrial structure, the other one reflecting the contribution of changes in sectoral efficiency. The former can be projected ‘bottom‐up’ using microeconomic forecasts. The latter is modelled ‘top‐down’ as a function of real per capita gross domestic product and electricity's market share. Hence, this approach enables both to project future demand and to disentangle the effects of structural mutations and efficiency gains for explaining past or future changes. The latter driver might further be decomposed into two factors: efficiency gains resulting from fuel substitutions and ‘other’ sectoral efficiency gains.
The potential role of patient stress in rates of dental post‐extraction complication
Authors: McDowall C. , Lydall E.S. , Moore S.C. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimStress, alcohol and tobacco use can detrimentally influence wound healing outcomes; however, there is uncertainty as to whether these observations generalise to dental practice. This study explored whether stress, alcohol and tobacco use influenced the complication rate experienced by patients following tooth extraction.Material and methodsPatients attending an oral surgery clinic for a tooth extraction were recruited while they waited for their appointment. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire containing instruments that measure perceived stress, experienced pain, and alcohol and tobacco use. Demographic information was collected. Participants were telephoned 2 weeks following their initial appointment and asked if they had experienced any complications relating to their treatment.ResultsData were available from 68 patients, of whom 52 could be contacted by telephone. A Cox proportional‐hazards regression yielded a significant positive effect of stress on the likelihood of a complication (P < 0.05). Participants with higher levels of alcohol consumption were less likely to develop a post‐extraction complication (P < 0.001), as were younger participants (P < 0.01). Participants who experienced a complication also reported significantly higher post‐extraction pain scores (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThese data suggest that stress and pain are positively associated, and alcohol consumption is negatively associated, with post‐extraction complication rates. These results are discussed in relation to opportunities for novel behavioural interventions to reduce stress.
R‐Wave Sensing in an Implantable Cardiac Monitor without ECG‐Based Preimplant Mapping: Results from a Multicenter Clinical Trial
Authors: KRAHN ANDREW D. , PICKETT ROBERT A. , SAKAGUCHI SCOTT , SHAIK NAUSHAD , CAO JIAN , NORMAN HOLLY S. , GUERRERO PATRICIA 
Published: December 2013

IntroductionReducing the form factor of an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) may simplify device implant. This study evaluated R‐wave sensing at a range of electrode distances and a preferred device implant location without mapping.MethodsPatients scheduled for a Medtronic Reveal® ICM implant (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) underwent a preimplant pocket recording using a diagnostic recording catheter. The ICM implant location was left to the discretion of the implanting physician, but a “recommended” position spanned the V2–V3 electrocardiogram electrode location in an oblique 45° angle. R‐wave amplitudes were analyzed from ICM follow‐up.ResultsSeventeen of 41 subjects (15 male, age 57 ± 16 years) had the maximum surface‐filtered R‐wave at the recommended location. Fourteen patients underwent diagnostic recording across the range of electrode spacing. There was a strong correlation between the R‐wave amplitude and electrode distance (r2 = 0.97, P < 0.001) with an increase of 29 μV per 2.5 mm. Comparing normalized R‐wave distributions between the recommended ICM implant group (Group 1, n = 19) and the remaining patients (Group 2, n = 7), the proportion of ICM R‐wave counts of amplitude 0.25–1.2 mV was higher (79% vs 46%, P < 0.05). Of 17 patients in Group 1 who had ≥1‐month ICM follow‐up (79 ± 45 days), no sensing‐related false arrhythmia detection was found in 16 (93%) patients.ConclusionsThe subcutaneous R‐wave amplitude correlates with electrode spacing in the implant zone of ICM patients. Implant locations at the V2–V3 position at a 45° angle offer an adequate R wave for sensing. Preimplant mapping to achieve acceptable R‐wave amplitude may not be necessary.
Senile onset frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TAR‐DNA binding protein 43 proteinopathy primarily presenting with wasteful habits
Authors: Iwasaki Yasushi , Mori Keiko , Ito Masumi , Tatsumi Shinsui , Mimuro Maya , Yoshida Mari 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe present an autopsied case of a senile Japanese woman with sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) presenting as frontotemporal dementia. Disease onset was at the age of 70 and presented as a behaviour disorder, particularly involving wasteful habits. The patient had repeated incidents of making expensive purchases and then had difficulty making payments. Following these symptoms, she showed other changes of character such as lethargy and apathy. She gradually showed signs of parkinsonism including rigidity and bradykinesia, and in the terminal stage, an akinetic mutism state with quadriplegia in flexion was observed. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe frontotemporal lobe atrophy with severe lateral ventricular dilatation and frontal white matter degeneration. At autopsy, the brain weighed 930 g and the frontotemporal cerebral cortex showed neuron loss with gliosis, tissue rarefaction and spongiform change, particularly in the superficial layers. Pathologic degeneration was more severe in the anterior portion of the frontal lobe with extensive white matter degeneration. Immunostaining for phosphorylated TAR‐DNA binding protein 43 (TDP‐43) revealed numerous neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions and extensive short dystrophic neuritis, particularly in the frontotemporal cortex. Many TDP‐43‐positive cytoplasmic inclusions were also observed in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with FTLD with TDP‐43‐positive inclusions (FTLD‐TDP) without motor neuron disease. The immunohistochemical findings corresponded to type A of the FTLD‐TDP pathology classification system.
Location for Foreign Direct Investment in Vertically Related Markets
Authors: Milliou Chrysovalantou 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis paper studies a multinational enterprise's (MNE's) location decision in a vertically related market with endogenous vertical technology transfer (VTT). We show that, even though VTT is more costly in a less developed country, an MNE can transfer more technology there than in a developed country (DC). When the opposite occurs, the MNE sometimes locates in a DC where, although it faces stronger competition, it obtains the input at better terms. Therefore, by arguing that the MNE's decision can be crucially affected by the upstream market's outcomes, an alternative explanation is provided for the commonly observed foreign direct investment (FDI) in DCs.