bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of hybrid poplar clones in short rotation coppice in Mediterranean environments: analysis of genotypic stability
Authors: Sixto Hortensia , Gil Paula , Ciria Pilar , Camps Francesc , Sánchez Mario , Cañellas Isabel , Voltas Jordi 
Published: May 2013

AbstractImproving production in short rotation coppice (SRC) plantations requires, among other elements, a proper understanding of clonal performance. Genotypic stability over a range of environments is a factor of concern for breeding and recommendation purposes. Most common stability measures can be embedded in a mixed‐model framework accounting for interaction and heterocedasticity in genotype‐by‐environment tables. Data from nine hybrid poplars of different taxonomic background were tested in four Mediterranean sites under three agronomic practices (control, herbicide application, and supplementary fertilization) for total biomass (TB), stem biomass (SB), and branch biomass (BB) at the end of the first rotation. Stability models (stability variance, Finlay–Wilkinson and Eberhart–Russell) were compared, also allowing for the definition of groups of genotypes with distinct taxonomic backgrounds and a priori different variabilities. Results showed that genotype‐by‐environment (GE) interactions were associated with factors inherent to evaluation sites rather than to the agronomic practices tested. Depending on biomass fraction, regression models provided appropriate stability measures. Highly reactive clones to improving environmental conditions (e.g., ‘AF2’) tended to show the largest meanTB. However, this was not always the case, as clone ‘Monviso’ showed both intermediate reactivity (i.e., stablesensuEberhart–Russell) and enhanced overall performance. The taxonomic group was relevant for explaining stability patterns forSB. The stability assessment forBBindicated different patterns in biomass allocation. Present findings point to the feasibility of either exploiting specific adaptation (in which case hybrid type may play a relevant role) or searching for broadly adapted, stable material exhibiting good performance in Mediterranean conditions.
Reconciling Flexible Staffing Models with Inclusive Governance and Management
Authors: Whitchurch Celia , Gordon George 
Published: May 2013

AbstractHigher education managers are under increasing pressure from governments to reduce costs by adopting more flexible staffing practices and tensions can arise as institutions seek to sustain motivation and morale across a diversifying workforce. This paper considers how institutional management and governance practices facilitate innovative developments whilst also providing a supportive and inclusive environment. It draws on interviews in seven institutions to describe three models that reflect integrated, private‐sector and partnership approaches, exploring the implications of these for the psychological contract between institutions and their staff, including different interpretations of the employment package; the establishment of processes that are seen as equitable and transparent, although not necessary identical; and the adoption of a range of communication channels, both at the level of the individual and collectively.
Follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor expression in soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Renner Marcus , Goeppert Benjamin , Siraj Muhammad Ahsan , Radu Aurelian , Penzel Roland , Wardelmann Eva , Lehner Burkhard , Ulrich Alexis , Stenzinger Albrecht , Warth Arne , Vogel Monika Nadja , Weichert Wilko , Schirmacher Peter , Mechtersheimer Gunhild , Ghinea Nicolae 
Published: May 2013

AimsIn adult humans, the follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is expressed only in the granulosa cells of the ovary and the Sertoli cells of the testis. Recently, it has been shown that FSHR is expressed selectively on the surface of blood vessels in a wide range of tumours. So far, the expression of FSHR in mesenchymal tumours has not been studied.Methods and resultsWe performed a semiquantitative evaluation of FSHR protein expression in a large cohort of soft tissue sarcomas (STS; n = 335), including 11 subtypes. FSHR‐positive vessels were detected in all sarcoma subtypes analysed. Among liposarcomas, significantly more cases of dedifferentiated liposarcomas (28 of 44) showed FSHR expression compared to well‐differentiated liposarcomas (WDLS; four of 21; P < 0.001). Vessels in lipomas (n = 9) and non‐neoplastic fat were FSHR‐negative. FSHR expression was also detected in tumour cells of all sarcoma subtypes examined, with the lowest incidence in WDLS (three of 21; 14.3%) and the highest frequency in undifferentiated high‐grade pleomorphic sarcomas (41 of 60; 68.3%).ConclusionsThese data supplement the previously reported results of FSHR expression in endothelial cells of various cancer types and form a solid basis for further studies of FSHR in mesenchymal neoplasms.
REPRESENTATION AS A COGNITIVE INSTRUMENT
Authors: ANKERSMIT FRANK 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTThis essay discusses the role of the notions of reference, truth, and meaning in historical representation. Four major claims will be argued. First, conditional for all meaningful discussion of historical representation is that one radically discards from one's mind the paradigm of the true statement and all the epistemological and ontological problems occasioned by it. Second, representation is not a two‐place, but a three‐place operator: in representation a represented reality (1) is represented by a representation (2) focusing on certain aspects of represented reality (3). Third, applying the notions of reference, truth, and meaning to historical representations compels us to give them a content basically different from the ones they have in contemporary philosophy of language and science. Fourth, it will be shown that in (historical) representation, meaning precedes truth—and not the other way around as in most of contemporary philosophy of language.
REOCCUPYING SECULARIZATION: SCHMITT AND KOSELLECK ON BLUMENBERG'S CHALLENGE
Authors: PANKAKOSKI TIMO 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the compound of the categories of secularization and reoccupation in its variations from Hans Blumenberg's philosophy to Carl Schmitt's political theory and, ultimately, to Reinhart Koselleck's conceptual history. By revisiting the debate between Blumenberg and Schmitt on secularization and political theology with regard to the political‐theoretical aspects of secularization and the methodological aspects of reoccupation, I will provide conceptual tools that illuminate the partly tension‐ridden elements at play in Koselleck's theorizing of modernity, history, and concepts. For Schmitt, secularization is inherently related to the question of political conflict, and, correspondingly, he attempts to discredit Blumenberg's criticism of secularization as an indirectly aggressive, and thereby hypocritical, attempt to escape the political. To this end, I argue, Schmitt appropriates Blumenberg's concept of “reoccupation” and uses it alternately in the three distinct senses of “absorption,”“reappropriation,” and “revaluation.” Schmitt's famous thesis of political concepts as secularized theological concepts contains an unmistakable methodological element and a research program. The analysis therefore shows the relevance of the Blumenberg/Schmitt debate for the mostly tacit dialogue between Blumenberg and Koselleck. I scrutinize Koselleck's understanding of secularization from his early Schmittian and Löwithian theory of modernity to his later essays on temporalization of history and concepts. Despite Blumenberg's criticism, Koselleck holds onto the category of secularization throughout, but gradually relativizes it into a research hypothesis among others. Simultaneously, Koselleck formalizes, alongside other elements, the Schmittian account of reoccupation into his method of conceptual analysis and uses the term in the same three senses—thus making “reoccupation” conceptually compatible with “secularization,” despite the former notion's initial critical function in Blumenberg's theory. The examination highlights a Schmittian residue that accounts for Koselleck's reserved attitude toward Blumenberg's metaphorology, regardless of a significant methodological overlap.
Description of the Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains local health districts' influenza prevention programme
Authors: Brown M. , Sheppeard V. , Gabriel S. , Thomas J. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundInfluenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In 2011, influenza vaccination was provided free for people at greatest risk of severe disease: people aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal Australians 15 years and older, pregnant women, and individuals aged 6 months and over who suffered chronic medical conditions.AimsTo evaluate the Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Influenza Prevention Program and to identify some of the enablers and barriers to vaccination in the hospital outpatient setting.MethodsWestern Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains local health districts' influenza prevention programme provided influenza vaccine in hospital outpatient settings between 21 March 2011 and 30 June 2011. Accredited nurse immunisers vaccinated 2824 individuals and recorded their primary reason for vaccination. Nurse immunisers were interviewed to identify barriers and enablers to influenza immunisation uptake.ResultsTwo thousand, eight hundred and twenty‐four doses of influenza vaccine were administered to people at high risk of influenza in four hospitals in the region: two tertiary facilities and two district hospitals. The primary indication for vaccination was chronic disease in 50% and pregnancy in 37%. Estimated direct cost of the programme was $19 per dose.Conclusions: A hospital‐based influenza vaccination programme can be an effective way to improve influenza vaccination rates among specific population groups at high risk of severe disease with influenza, particularly pregnant women and those younger than 65 years with a chronic medical condition.
Predictive gene testing for Huntington disease and other neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Wedderburn S. , Panegyres P. K. , Andrew S. , Goldblatt J. , Liebeck T. , McGrath F. , Wiltshire M. , Pestell C. , Lee J. , Beilby J. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundControversies exist around predictive testing (PT) programmes in neurodegenerative disorders.AimsThis study sets out to answer the following questions relating to Huntington disease (HD) and other neurodegenerative disorders: differences between these patients in their PT journeys, why and when individuals withdraw from PT, and decision‐making processes regarding reproductive genetic testing.MethodsA case series analysis of patients having PT from the multidisciplinary Western Australian centre for PT over the past 20 years was performed using internationally recognised guidelines for predictive gene testing in neurodegenerative disorders.ResultsOf 740 at‐risk patients, 518 applied for PT: 466 at risk of HD, 52 at risk of other neurodegenerative disorders – spinocerebellar ataxias, hereditary prion disease and familial Alzheimer disease. Thirteen per cent withdrew from PT – 80.32% of withdrawals occurred during counselling stages. Major withdrawal reasons related to timing in the patients' lives or unknown as the patient did not disclose the reason. Thirty‐eight HD individuals had reproductive genetic testing: 34 initiated prenatal testing (of which eight withdrew from the process) and four initiated pre‐implantation genetic diagnosis. There was no recorded or other evidence of major psychological reactions or suicides during PT.ConclusionsPeople withdrew from PT in relation to life stages and reasons that are unknown. Our findings emphasise the importance of: (i) adherence to internationally recommended guidelines for PT; (ii) the role of the multidisciplinary team in risk minimisation; and (iii) patient selection.
Survival times of women with metastatic breast cancer starting first‐line chemotherapy in routine clinical practice versus contemporary randomised trials
Authors: Thientosapol E. S. , Tran T. T. , Della‐Fiorentina S. A. , Adams D. H. , Chantrill L. , Stockler M. R. , Kiely B. E. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundSurvival times of women starting first‐line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in routine clinical practice were determined and compared with those from a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.MethodsWe identified women with MBC starting first‐line chemotherapy from June 2003 to February 2011 and recorded their demographics, tumour and treatment characteristics, and survival times from the start of chemotherapy. Their survival distribution was summarised by the following percentiles (represented scenarios for survival): 90th (worst‐case), 75th (lower‐typical), 25th (upper‐typical) and 10th (best‐case), which were compared with the same percentiles from our systematic review of first‐line chemotherapy trials.ResultsThe 273 women had a median age of 56 years, and a median time from diagnosis of MBC of 3 months. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0–1 in 80%. Tumours were hormone receptor positive in 69%, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive in 27% and triple negative in 13%. Survival times in months in routine clinical practice (vs the systematic review) were: 90th percentile 4 (6); 75th percentile 9 (12); median 20 (22); 25th percentile 36 (36) and 10th percentile 61 (56). Independent predictors of overall survival included HER2‐positive disease (hazard ratio (HR) 0.49, P = 0.0002), hormone receptor positive disease (HR 0.51, P = 0.0004), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1 (HR 0.36, P < 0.0001) and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.86, P = 0.0002).ConclusionMedian and better survival times in routine practice were similar to those from randomised clinical trials; however, survival times worse than the median were shorter, likely reflecting patient selection in trials. Oncologists should adjust trial‐based survival estimates for patients not meeting typical trial eligibility criteria.
Treatment of delirium with risperidone in cancer patients
Authors: Kishi Yasuhiro , Kato Masashi , Okuyama Toru , Thurber Steven 
Published: May 2013

Aim:  Antipsychotic medications have frequently been regarded as the treatment of choice for delirium. This study examined the clinical efficacy of risperidone for the treatment of delirium in cancer patients, combined with a repeated assessment of underlying medical severity levels.Methods:  The study included consecutive referrals of 29 delirious cancer patients (mean age, 68.9 ± 12.5 years; male, 69%) to the psychiatric consultation service. Risperidone was given orally once per day (mean dosage, 1.4 ± 1.3 mg/day). Study participants were assessed using quantitative standardized scales of cognitive function, delirium, and physical impairment at baseline and at the end of the study (seventh day).Results:  Risperidone with routine clinical management was effective for the treatment of delirium: 48% of the patients responded and 38% achieved remission. The reduction of delirium severity occurred in 79% of the patients. Changes in delirium severity were unrelated to age, gender, general cognitive dysfunction, or to severity of attendant medical conditions. In addition to changes in agitation and perceptional disturbances, risperidone was also effective for other specific delirium symptoms.Conclusions:  Risperidone with routine clinical management is effective in the treatment of delirium in advanced cancer patients, independent of changes in the underlying medical condition.
Associations between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function and facial emotion processing in depressed and control participants
Authors: Douglas Katie M. , Porter Richard J. 
Published: May 2013

Aim:  The current study examined the relation between facial emotion processing accuracy and an aspect of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function in 64 inpatients with major depression and 49 healthy controls over a 2‐week period.Methods:  The Dexamethasone Suppression Test and a Facial Expression Recognition Task were completed at baseline and 10–14 days after baseline. Treatment response was determined 6 weeks after baseline by change in the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale.Results:  Increased cortisol response to dexamethasone was significantly correlated with reduced ability to recognize facial expressions of anger, sadness and disgust within the total sample, but these correlations did not remain significant at 10–14 days. Surprisingly, cortisol response to dexamethasone was comparable in acutely depressed inpatients and healthy controls, and did not change over time in relation to treatment response.Conclusion:  The study findings provide preliminary evidence that hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning and processing threat‐related facial expressions are related, perhaps through involvement of the amygdala.
Effects of antipsychotic polypharmacy on side‐effects and concurrent use of medications in schizophrenic outpatients
Authors: Hashimoto Yasuhiko , Uno Junji , Miwa Takaichi , Kurihara Masaaki , Tanifuji Hiroaki , Tensho Masami 
Published: May 2013

Aims:  Medical therapy is the cornerstone of schizophrenia, but >50% of patients do not adhere to medication regimens. In previous reports, the reasons for non‐adherence were assessed only by medical staff. We think that patients have specific reasons for non‐adherence. We researched whether there was an association between patients' subjective opinions and the number of antipsychotics used.Methods:  A self‐rating questionnaire survey was conducted on 252 outpatients with schizophrenia at five psychiatric hospitals in Japan. Based on patients' subjective opinions, we retrospectively analyzed the patients' medications: the number of antipsychotics, concurrently used agents, and dosages of antipsychotics.Results:  There was no significant difference regarding attitudes toward medication between monotherapy and polypharmacy. The most common reason for not taking medications was ‘I sometimes forget’ followed by ‘side‐effects’. Of the latter, weight gain was the most common, and dry mouth (P < 0.05) and sexual dysfunction (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in polypharmacy. The dosages of antipsychotics (P < 0.01), concurrent use of anti‐Parkinsonian agents (P < 0.01), and the number of side‐effects (P < 0.01) were also higher in polypharmacy.Conclusions:  Patients had good attitudes toward medication but a higher prevalence of side‐effects was seen in polypharmacy of antipsychotics. Hence, monotherapy may be a more appropriate prescription with respect to side‐effects. By using monotherapy, patients may reduce feelings of discomfort due to side‐effects.
Determinants of psychogeriatric inpatient length of stay and direct medical costs: A 6‐year longitudinal study using a national database in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Chin‐Ming , Li Chu‐Shiu , Liu Chwen‐Chi , Tu Chu‐Chin 
Published: May 2013

Aims:  This research examined factors related to the average length of hospital stay (LOS) and average direct medical costs (DMC) for 2291 psychogeriatric inpatients (aged 65 and over) admitted for the first time to a psychiatric ward in 2002.Methods:  Hospitalization claim data of these inpatients were traced for the subsequent 6 years (2002–2007) from the dataset of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Analysis was carried out using the t‐test, χ2‐test and zero truncated Tobit regression.Results:  Mean LOS and mean DMC were significantly different according to sex, psychiatric diagnosis, institution type, ownership type, and number of hospitalizations, but age was the exception. Both LOS and DMC exhibited downward U‐shape for the number of hospitalizations. Factors significantly associated with longer LOS and higher DMC were: male sex; schizophrenic and delusional disorders (compared with dementia); and public institution (compared with private hospital). Compared with dementia, organic mental and anxiety disorders had significantly shorter LOS, and affective disorders had shorter LOS but higher DMC. Community and psychiatric hospitals (compared with general hospital) significantly influenced LOS but not DMC.Conclusion:  Our results can be used as a reference for providers and policymakers to improve psychiatric care efficiency and carry out National Health Insurance financial reform for psychogeriatric inpatients.
Autoagglutination in Ejaculates Caused by Sperm‐Agglutinating Antibodies
Authors: FRIBERG JAN 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Human spermatozoa may be agglutinated by bacteria, virus, and mycoplasmas, as well as by epithelial cells and cellular debris. Agglutination may also be caused by sperm‐agglutinating antibodies, but controversy exists as to its significance. One reason for the controversy is that the degree of agglutination has generally been evaluated in a wet smear. During this routine examination, the specimens are often shaken and a part of the specimen is usually transferred to a microscope slide before examination. Such mechanical agitation may cause the agglutinates to break up. Later, the spermatozoa reagglutinate but these agglutinates are usually smaller and may easily be overlooked and therefore, its significance has not been fully recognized.In the present study, portions from ejaculates were obtained immediately after ejaculation and kept under liquid parafin oil in microchambers, a technique that permits the agglutination to proceed undisturbed, but still under observation. The degree of agglutination in ejaculates from 129 men with tail‐to‐tail (T‐T) and 36 men with head‐to‐head (H‐H) sperm‐agglutinating antibodies were compared with findings in 138 men without antibodies, and the influence of different titers evaluated. The results indicate that ejaculates from men with H‐H or low titers (≤ 1:32) of T‐T sperm‐agglutinating antibodies displayed the same degree of agglutination as was seen in the ejaculates from men without any antibodies. Patients with high T‐T titers (≥ 1:512) very often had a quite pronounced or complete agglutination in the ejaculates.Evaluation of seminal fluid using anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and various absorption experiments indicated that the T‐T sperm‐agglutinating factor in the seminal fluid was caused by IgA antibodies and in a few samples the T‐T agglutination was also caused by IgG antibodies. Analysis of the T‐T sperm agglutination in male sera demonstrated that this factor was caused by IgG antibodies and that H‐H agglutination was caused by IgM antibodies. Head‐to‐head agglutination was not present in the seminal fluid, which is consistent with the fact that IgM antibodies do not penetrate to the seminal fluid.