bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leaf hydraulic evolution led a surge in leaf photosynthetic capacity during early angiosperm diversification
Authors: Brodribb Tim J. , Feild Taylor S. 
Published: November 2009

Ecology letters (2010) 13: 175–183AbstractAngiosperm evolution transformed global ecology, and much of this impact derives from the unrivalled vegetative productivity of dominant angiosperm clades. However, the origins of high photosynthetic capacity in angiosperms remain unknown. In this study, we describe the steep trajectory of leaf vein density (Dv) evolution in angiosperms, and predict that this leaf plumbing innovation enabled a major shift in the capacity of leaves to assimilate CO2. Reconstructing leaf vein evolution from an examination of 504 angiosperm species we found a rapid three‐ to fourfold increase in Dv occurred during the early evolution of angiosperms. We demonstrate how this major shift in leaf vein architecture potentially allowed the maximum photosynthetic capacity in angiosperms to rise above competing groups 140–100 Ma. Our data suggest that early terrestrial angiosperms produced leaves with low photosynthetic rates, but that subsequent angiosperm success is linked to a surge in photosynthetic capacity during their early diversification.
Institutions Behind Family Ownership and Control in Large Firms
Authors: Peng Mike W. , Jiang Yi 
Published: November 2009

abstractThere is a major debate regarding the role of concentrated family ownership and control in large firms, with three positions suggesting that such concentration is (1) good, (2) bad, or (3) irrelevant for firm value. Why are there such differences? We theorize that the impact of family ownership and control on firm value is associated with the level of shareholder protection embodied in legal and regulatory institutions of a country. Data from 634 publicly listed large family firms in seven Asian countries (Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) are used to test our hypotheses. Overall, this article sketches the contours of a cross‐country, institution‐based view of corporate governance, and leads to a more informed understanding of the crucial role of institutions behind family ownership and control in large firms.
SURROGACY: DONOR CONCEPTION REGULATION IN JAPAN
Authors: SEMBA YUKARI , CHANG CHIUNGFANG , HONG HYUNSOO , KAMISATO AYAKO , KOKADO MINORI , MUTO KAORI 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTAs of 2008, surrogacy is legal and openly practised in various places; Japan, however, has no regulations or laws regarding surrogacy. This paper reports the situation of surrogacy in Japan and in five other regions (the USA, the UK, Taiwan, Korea and France) to clarify the pros and cons of prohibiting surrogacy, along with the problems and issues relating to surrogacy compensation.Not only in a country such as France that completely prohibits surrogacy within the country, but also in a country such as the UK that allows non‐commercial surrogacy, infertile couples travel overseas for the purpose of surrogacy. In addition, some couples might seek underground surrogacy if the government prohibits surrogacy. If an intended parent couple and a surrogate make an agreement among themselves and then a problem occurs, they cannot ask for support from professionals or bring a case to court, as can be observed in South Korea and Taiwan.We also conclude that there is little difference between commercial surrogacy and non‐commercial surrogacy in the absence of a clear definition of ‘reasonable expenses.’ In the UK, the law does not allow surrogates to receive compensation. However, in reality, there may be little difference between the amounts paid to surrogates for profit in the US and those paid to surrogates for reasonable expenses in the UK. We conclude that the issue of surrogacy demands further discussion in Japan.
THE ONGOING CHARITY OF ORGAN DONATION. CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH SUNNI FATWAS ON ORGAN DONATION AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Authors: VAN DEN BRANDEN STEF , BROECKAERT BERT 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTBackground: Empirical studies in Muslim communities on organ donation and blood transfusion show that Muslim counsellors play an important role in the decision process. Despite the emerging importance of online English Sunni fatwas, these fatwas on organ donation and blood transfusion have hardly been studied, thus creating a gap in our knowledge of contemporary Islamic views on the subject.Method: We analysed 70 English Sunni e‐fatwas and subjected them to an in‐depth text analysis in order to reveal the key concepts in the Islamic ethical framework regarding organ donation and blood transfusion.Results: All 70 fatwas allow for organ donation and blood transfusion. Autotransplantation is no problem at all if done for medical reasons. Allotransplantation, both from a living and a dead donor, appears to be possible though only in quite restricted ways. Xenotransplantation is less often mentioned but can be allowed in case of necessity. Transplantation in general is seen as an ongoing form of charity. Nearly half of the fatwas allowing blood transfusion do so without mentioning any restriction or problem whatsoever. The other half of the fatwas on transfusion contain the same conditional approval as found in the arguments pro organ transplantation.Conclusion: Our findings are very much in line with the international literature on the subject. We found two new elements: debates on the definition of the moment of death are hardly mentioned in the English Sunni fatwas and organ donation and blood transfusion are presented as an ongoing form of charity.
Does Ownership Form Matter for Corporate Social Responsibility? A Longitudinal Comparison of Environmental Performance between Public, Private, and Joint‐venture Firms
Authors: LEE MIN‐DONG PAUL 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTThis study examines whether a firm's ownership form has any influence on its social performance. Conventional wisdom suggests that public (publicly traded) corporations are more susceptible to corruption and socially irresponsible behavior than privately owned corporations because of the intense short‐term profit maximization pressure from shareholders and the lack of sufficient monitoring mechanisms. This study introduces an alternate perspective in thinking about the relationship between ownership form and corporate social responsibility. This study reasons that public corporations are more likely to become socially responsible because of their greater exposure to external influence and greater dependence on external actors with diverse interests. Using a panel data on the pollution management practices of 118 industrial facilities over a 13‐year period, this study shows that public corporations were indeed subject to greater external pressure to reduce pollution, and the pressure led to consistently stronger environmental performance.
Consumers on a Mission to Force a Change in Public Policy: A Qualitative Study of the Ongoing Canadian Seafood Boycott1
Authors: BRAUNSBERGER KARIN , BUCKLER BRIAN 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTNetnography (i.e., the online equivalent of ethnography) was used to analyze consumer boycott pledges submitted to an online boycott petition that was designed to recruit consumer participation in the contentious Canadian Seafood Boycott. The purpose was to investigate what motivates consumers to pledge boycott participation as well as to provide a preliminary understanding of boycott pledgees' psychographic makeup. The findings show that petition signatories are generally very angry about the Canadian Seal Hunt, pledge to boycott for a variety of objectives (instrumental, expressive, and punitive), abhor cruelty against animals, do not believe that it is acceptable to kill an animal for its fur, and worry about the environment in general. Many are very religious and quite a number believe that traditions that embrace animal cruelty need to be abolished. The findings further indicate that concern for animal welfare/rights has been moved into the mainstream.
Treatment of refractory adult‐onset pityriasis rubra pilaris with TNF‐alpha antagonists: a case series
Authors: Garcovich S , Di Giampetruzzi AR , Antonelli G , Garcovich A , Didona B 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare inflammatory dermatosis with frequent clinical presentation as erythroderma. Conventional systemic treatment is often unsatisfactory and limited by long‐term toxicity. The use of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists has been reported previously in single cases, but lacking long‐term follow‐up or comparison between different biological agents.Objectives  To assess the long‐term efficacy and safety of TNF‐alpha antagonist, infliximab and etanercept, either in monotherapy or in combination therapy of severe, refractory adult‐onset PRP.Methods  Seven patients of adult‐onset PRP, six newly diagnosed type‐I and 1 type‐II, which were resistant or ineligible to conventional systemic treatment, received a single course of infliximab or etanercept therapy, alone or in combination with low‐dose acitretin (>0.25 mg/kg/daily). After complete remission and treatment discontinuation, a follow‐up period of 12 months was evaluated for relapses.Results  Six patients obtained complete remission after a single course of anti‐TNF‐alpha therapy: mean therapy duration was 19.3 weeks (range 6–48 weeks). All patients obtained significant clearing (>75% of body surface area) of skin lesions at week 12. Two patients with marked keratoderma developed localized disease recurrence during treatment. During follow‐up, only a single patient, affected by type II PRP, had disease relapse.Conclusions  Both TNF‐alpha antagonists proved successful for the treatment of refractory, adult‐onset PRP, yielding complete and persistent clinical responses in type‐I PRP. Infliximab was associated with a more rapid onset of action, while treatment duration was comparable with etanercept. PRP type II warranted long‐term therapy and showed relapse after drug discontinuation.
The mechanics behind plant development
Authors: Hamant Olivier , Traas Jan 
Published: November 2009

SummaryMorphogenesis in living organisms relies on the integration of both biochemical and mechanical signals. During the last decade, attention has been mainly focused on the role of biochemical signals in patterning and morphogenesis, leaving the contribution of mechanics largely unexplored. Fortunately, the development of new tools and approaches has made it possible to re‐examine these processes. In plants, shape is defined by two local variables: growth rate and growth direction. At the level of the cell, these variables depend on both the cell wall and turgor pressure. Multidisciplinary approaches have been used to understand how these cellular processes are integrated in the growing tissues. These include quantitative live imaging to measure growth rate and direction in tissues with cellular resolution. In parallel, stress patterns have been artificially modified and their impact on strain and cell behavior been analysed. Importantly, computational models based on analogies with continuum mechanics systems have been useful in interpreting the results. In this review, we will discuss these issues focusing on the shoot apical meristem, a population of stem cells that is responsible for the initiation of the aerial organs of the plant.

Contents

Summary
369

I.
Introduction
369

II.
The cellular basis of plant morphogenesis and plant mechanics
370

III.
From cells to organisms: a dialog between levels of organization
374

IV.
Biomechanics: some concepts and approaches
375

V.
Sensing forces: some clues on the molecular basis
380

VI.
Conclusion
381

Acknowledgements
381

References
381
Apolipoprotein E genotype and cerebral palsy
Authors: BRAGA LUCIA W , BORIGATO ELIANA V M , SPECK‐MARTINS CARLOS E , IMAMURA ERICA U , GORGES ANA M PEDROSA , IZUMI ANA P , DANTAS RIZAEL C , NUNES LUIS G NADAL 
Published: November 2009

Aim  Apolipoprotein E (APOE, protein; [ApoE, gene]) is a lipid transport protein abundantly present in brain cells. We investigated whether the APOE genotype is associated with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether patients with CP with comorbid conditions and more severe neurological deficits are likely to have a particular genotype.Method  In a cross‐sectional study, 243 individuals with spastic CP (135 males, 108 females; mean age at data collection 11 year ([SD 6y 7mo], 34% with hemiplegia, 37% with diplegia, 29% with triplegia/tetraplegia; 44% with mild motor involvement), 31% with moderate motor involvement, 25% with severe motor involvement, were compared with healthy individuals matched by age, race, and sex to analyse the association between APOE genotype and the incidence of CP. Associations between the APOE genotype and the incidence of comorbidities and neurological deficits were studied in the group with CP.Results  The APOE ε2ε3 genotype was significantly more prevalent in the group with CP (11%) than the comparison group (5%) (odds ratio [OR] 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–7.66). The presence of the ε2 allele raised the probability of having CP (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.27–8.27). The presence of ApoE ε4 was not significantly different among groups. No relation was found between APOE genotype and severity of neurological deficit or distribution of motor involvement. Four patients with CP presented the ε4ε4 genotype, and all exhibited epilepsy and microcephaly. Eleven of 12 individuals with CP and macrocephaly carried the ε3ε3 genotype.Interpretation  A higher prevalence of the APOE ε2 genotype was found among those with CP. The association of microcephaly and epilepsy with the ε4ε4 genotype and the association of macrocephaly with ε3 demand further investigation.
The effect of a basic home stimulation programme on the development of young children infected with HIV
Authors: POTTERTON JOANNE , STEWART AIMEE , COOPER PETER , BECKER PIETER 
Published: November 2009

Aims  The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) potentially causes a significant encephalopathy and resultant developmental delay in infected children. The aim of this study was to determine whether a home‐based intervention programme could have an impact on the neurodevelopmental status of children infected with HIV.Method  A longitudinal, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. A total of 122 children aged less than 2 years 6 months were assigned to either a comparison or an experimental group. Children in the experimental group were given a home stimulation programme that was updated every 3 months. The home programme included activities to promote motor, cognitive, and speech and language development. Children in the comparison group received no developmental intervention. Children were assessed by a blinded assessor at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 2nd edition.Results  The children in this study came from poor socioeconomic backgrounds and their nutritional status was suboptimal. The experimental group included 60 children (30 males, 30 females) with a mean age of 18 months (SD 8.1mo). The comparison group included 62 children (32 males, 30 females) with a mean age 19 months (SD 8.2mo). Cognitive and motor development were severely affected at baseline, with 52% of the children having severe cognitive delay and 72% having severe motor delay at baseline. Children in the experimental group showed significantly greater improvement in cognitive (p=0.010) and motor (p=0.020) development over time than children in the comparison group.Interpretation  A home stimulation programme taught to the caregiver can significantly improve cognitive and motor development in young children infected with HIV.
Prevalence of motor‐skill impairment in preterm children who do not develop cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: WILLIAMS JACQUELINE , LEE KATHERINE J , ANDERSON PETER J 
Published: November 2009

Aim  Motor skill impairment is a common negative outcome in children born preterm who do not develop cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of current data to provide an accurate estimate of the prevalence of non‐CP motor impairment in preterm children at school age.Method  We searched the Medline, PubMed, and PsycInfo databases and relevant journals to identify all studies published post‐1990 that reported the prevalence of motor impairment in school‐aged children born preterm (<37wks’ gestation) using standardised motor assessment batteries. We applied a range of exclusionary criteria, with 11 studies included in the final analyses. We identified two levels of motor impairment commonly reported – mild–moderate and moderate – and conducted a random effects meta‐analysis to produce a prevalence estimate for each.Results  The pooled estimate for mild–moderate impairment in preterm children was 40.5/100. and for moderate motor impairment the estimate was 19.0/100. There was also a trend for lower motor impairment levels in samples born before 1990 compared with those born after 1990.Interpretation  Children born preterm are at increased risk of motor impairment, with prevalence three to four times greater than in the general population. This highlights the need for improved surveillance and intervention strategies in this group of children.
Evidence of impaired neurocognitive functioning in school‐age children awaiting cardiac surgery
Authors: VAN DER RIJKEN RACHEL , HULSTIJN‐DIRKMAAT GERDINE , KRAAIMAAT FLORIS , NABUURS‐KOHRMAN LIDA , DANIËLS OTTO , MAASSEN BEN 
Published: November 2009

Aim  Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of developing neurocognitive problems. However, as these problems are usually identified after cardiac surgery, it is unclear whether they resulted from the surgery or whether they pre‐existed and hence might be explained by complications and events associated with the heart disease itself. The purpose of this study was to examine whether neurocognitive deficits commonly reported after cardiac surgery are present before surgery.Method  Forty‐five children (22 males, 23 females; mean age 11y 6mo, SD 3y 0mo) with cyanotic and acyanotic heart diseases scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were compared with 41 healthy peers (17 males, 24 females; mean age 11y 10mo, SD 2y 10mo) for attention and processing speed, construction, motor speed, motor planning and fluency, and visual memory. Twenty‐three children in the patient group were awaiting their first cardiac surgery and 22 were awaiting follow‐up surgery.Results  The patients showed manifest neurocognitive difficulties. Their performance was inferior to that of the healthy comparison group for motor planning (p=0.02) and visual memory (p=0.01). The same neurocognitive profile was found in the group of patients awaiting their first cardiac operation.Interpretation  School‐age children with various forms of CHD are at risk of neurocognitive impairments before cardiac surgery.
Chronic hyperammonemia induces tonic activation of NMDA receptors in cerebellum
Authors: ElMlili Nisrin , Boix Jordi , Ahabrach Hanan , Rodrigo Regina , Errami Mohammed , Felipo Vicente 
Published: November 2009

J. Neurochem. (2009)112, 1005–1014.AbstractReduced function of the glutamate–nitric oxide (NO)–cGMP pathway is responsible for some cognitive alterations in rats with hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy. Hyperammonemia impairs the pathway in cerebellum by increasing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) phosphorylation in Ser847 by calcium‐calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), reducing nNOS activity, and by reducing nNOS amount in synaptic membranes, which reduces its activation following NMDA receptors activation. The reason for increased CaMKII activity in hyperammonemia remains unknown. We hypothesized that it would be as a result of increased tonic activation of NMDA receptors. The aims of this work were to assess: (i) whether tonic NMDA activation receptors is increased in cerebellum in chronic hyperammonemiain vivo; and (ii) whether this tonic activation is responsible for increased CaMKII activity and reduced activity of nNOS and of the glutamate–NO–cGMP pathway. Blocking NMDA receptors with MK‐801 increases cGMP and NO metabolites in cerebellumin vivoand in slices from hyperammonemic rats. This is because of reduced phosphorylation and activity of CaMKII, leading to normalization of nNOS phosphorylation and activity. MK‐801 also increases nNOS in synaptic membranes and reduces it in cytosol. This indicates that hyperammonemia increases tonic activation of NMDA receptors leading to reduced activity of nNOS and of the glutamate–NO–cGMP pathway.
The Adoption of Genetically Modified Cotton and Poverty Reduction in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Akhter , Abdulai Awudu 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThis article employs a propensity score‐matching approach to examine the direct effects of adoption of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton on yields, pesticide demand, household income and poverty, using cross‐sectional data from a survey of farmers in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Generally, the findings reveal that adoption of the new technology exerts a positive and significant impact on cotton yields, household income and poverty reduction, and a negative effect on the use of pesticides. The positive and significant impact of the technology on yields and household income is consistent with the potential role of new agricultural technology in directly reducing rural poverty through increased farm household income.
Photogrammetry and augmented reality for cultural heritage applications
Authors: Portalés Cristina , Lerma José L. , Pérez Carmen 
Published: November 2009

AbstractVirtual modelling and 3D reconstruction are common tools used in the field of cultural heritage to recreate, analyse and visualise large objects (for example, archaeological sites and architectural buildings) and small objects such as sculptures, ceramic tiles or silver, marble and wooden artefacts. At present, it is possible to apply different technologies to achieve accurate photo‐realistic 3D models. On the one hand, the precise modelling of existing 3D data is usually difficult and expensive as “reality” is complex per se; the more complex the object, the more complex the model. On the other hand, models are often achieved with the purpose of visualising the past state of monuments that nowadays are no longer fully conserved. In this sense, “augmented reality” (AR) technology can play an important role in cultural heritage. First, it permits the simultaneous viewing of both virtual and real 3D data. Second, the modelling of the entire object is no longer necessary. Third, it is possible to have full “immersion” of the viewer. This paper overviews the new technology of AR, as used in the world of cultural heritage to display past (now partially or totally lost) and present scenes together. It goes on to describe some practical experience of applying AR to the re‐creation of two features, a Baroque vault and a Renaissance reredos, formerly present above the high altar of Valencia Cathedral in Spain.