bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The functional morphology of Mactrinula reevesii (Bivalvia: Mactroidea) in Hong Kong: adaptations for a deposit‐feeding lifestyle
Authors: Barnes Penelope A. G. , Morton Brian 
Published: May 2009

The shallow subtidal mactrid bivalve Mactrinula reevesii is a deposit‐feeder in the southern and south‐eastern oceanic waters of Hong Kong. Buried obliquely, large quantities of fine sediment are taken into the mantle cavity and sorted on enormous labial palps. The small ctenidia probably have little value in collecting material, amounts taken in being too large. The mid gut is long and complexly folded inside the visceral mass. It is also capable of distension, although superficial visceral muscles maintain internal tonus. The rectum is narrow and creates compact faecal pellets.Most interest is in the ventral mantle margin which is, posterior to the pedal gape and the base of the inhalant siphon, united by a sheet of cuticle. There is no fourth pallial aperture. There are, however, two pairs of flaps extending along the posterior third of the internal ventral mantle surface. These arch over left and right mantle rejection tracts which transfer unwanted material to the base of the inhalant siphon for final expulsion. The mantle flaps prevent such material from being returned to the anterior end of the mantle cavity, for palp reprocessing, when new material arrives. They, thus, maximize sorting efficiency by separating unsorted from sorted and rejected material.Other mactrids have similar mantle flaps which they use in different ways, including the channelling of unwanted material to a fourth pallial aperture for expulsion, as in Lutraria lutraria. The Mactridae have thus evolved a unique method of increasing the efficiency of pseudofaecal waste rejection which has thereby facilitated the deposit‐feeding lifestyle by the diverse representatives of this family.
A community‐based long‐term follow up of women undergoing obstetric fistula repair in rural Ethiopia
Authors: Nielsen HS , Lindberg L , Nygaard U , Aytenfisu H , Johnston OL , Sørensen B , Rudnicki M , Crangle M , Lawson R , Duffy S 
Published: May 2009

Objectives  To assess urinary and reproductive health and quality of life following surgical repair of obstetric fistula.Design  Follow‐up study.Setting  A newly established fistula clinic (2004) at Gimbie Adventist Hospital, a 71‐bedded district general hospital in West Wollega Zone, in rural Western Ethiopia.Population  Thirty‐eight women (86%) of 44 who had undergone fistula repair were identified in their community.Methods  Community‐based structured interviews 14–28 months following fistula repair, using a customised questionnaire addressing urinary health, reproductive health and quality of life.Main outcome measures  Urinary health at follow up was assessed as completely dry, stress or urge incontinence, or fistula. King’s Health Questionnaire was modified and used for the quality‐of‐life assessment.Results  At follow up, 21 women (57%) were completely dry, 13 (35%) suffered from stress or urge incontinence and three (8%) had a persistent fistula. Surgery improved quality of life and facilitated social reintegration to a level comparable to that experienced before fistula development for both women who were dry and those with residual incontinence (P = 0.001). For women still suffering from fistula no change was seen (P = 0.1). Four women became pregnant following their surgery, among which there was one maternal death, three stillbirths and one re‐occurrence of fistula.Conclusion  Community‐based, long‐term follow up after fistula repair succeeded in Western rural Ethiopia. Despite one‐third still suffering stress or urge incontinence, the women reported improved quality of life and social reintegration after fistula closure.
Pulmonary morbidity of diaphragmatic surgery for stage III/IV ovarian cancer
Authors: Chéreau E , Ballester M , Selle F , Cortez A , Pomel C , Darai E , Rouzier R 
Published: May 2009

Objective  To determine the morbidity of diaphragmatic peritonectomy.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  A Gynecology Department of a University Hospital.Population  From 2005 to 2007, thirty‐seven consecutive patients underwent surgery for stage IIIC or IV ovarian cancer.Methods  Patients were separated into a diaphragmatic surgery group (n = 18) and a control group (n = 19). Diaphragmatic surgery may consist of coagulation, stripping or muscle resection.Main outcome measures  Postoperative course and outcome were analysed.Results  Patients in group 1 (diaphragmatic surgery) underwent more intestinal resection (89% versus 37%, P = 0.01) and pelvic (94% versus 63%, P = 0.02) or para‐aortic lymphadenectomy (94% versus 53%, P = 0.04). Neither the mean estimated blood loss (960 ml versus 909 ml) nor the rates of intra‐operative blood transfusion (11 versus 9) were significantly different between the two groups. The mean operative time was higher in group 1 (480 minutes versus 316 minutes, P < 0.05). There were thirteen postoperative complications in group 1 and eight in group 2 (P = 0.065). In group 1, the main complication was pleural effusion (seven cases): four patients required secondary pleural drainage, two required only pleural puncture and one had both procedures. There were more complete cytoreduction in group 1 than in group 2 (89% versus 63%, P = 0.068).Conclusions  Diaphragm peritonectomies and resections are an effective way to cytoreduce diaphragm carcinomatosis and increase the rate of optimal debulking surgery. Such procedures frequently result in pleural effusion, but with no long‐term morbidity.
Is exercise associated with primary dysmenorrhoea in young women?
Authors: Blakey H , Chisholm C , Dear F , Harris B , Hartwell R , Daley AJ , Jolly K 
Published: May 2009

Please cite this paper as: Blakey H, Chisholm C, Dear F, Harris B, Hartwell R, Daley A, Jolly K. Is exercise associated with primary dysmenorrhoea in young women? BJOG 2010;117:222–224.Anecdotal beliefs that exercise is an effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea have prevailed for many years although evidence is contradictory. Previous studies have also contained a number of methodological inadequacies. A questionnaire that assessed menstrual pain and levels of exercise was administered to 654 university students. Attempts were made to blind the purpose of the study. A response rate of 91.3% (597/654) was obtained. Analyses showed no association between participation in exercise and primary dysmenorrhoea. Prospective studies would be useful in further research.
Sterile water injection for labour pain: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Hutton EK , Kasperink M , Rutten M , Reitsma A , Wainman B 
Published: May 2009

Background  Up to one‐third of labouring women will experience painful ‘back labour’. Sterile water injected lateral to the lumbosacral spine is a simple and well‐researched approach to this pain.Objective  To determine if sterile water injection for low back pain compared to placebo or alternative therapy increased or decreased the rate of Caesarean section.Search strategy  We performed a literature search with no language restriction in four databases: the Cochrane library, EMBASE (1980–2009), Ovid Medline (1950–2009) and CINAHL (1982–2009).Selection criteria  We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of sterile water injection for labour pain that included outcomes of interest and original data.Data collection and analysis  We compared Caesarean section rates among women who received sterile water injection in labour with those who received either placebo treatment or another non‐pharmacological treatment modality. Other outcomes included pain scores, use of regional analgesia and women’s assessment of treatment. We used Revman 5 for the meta‐analysis. Data were entered by one reviewer and independently cross‐checked. Pooled outcomes were reported as Relative Risk (RR) or Weighted Mean Difference using Mantel–Haenszel fixed‐effects model except when the I2 value >50% indicated significant heterogeneity in which case random‐effects model was used.Main results  We included eight RCTs. The Caesarean section rate was 4.6% in the sterile water injection group and 9.9% in the comparison group (n = 828) (RR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.87).Conclusion  We believe that a large RCT should be mounted to validate our findings regarding the impact of sterile water injections on mode of delivery.
The Incentive Value of Inventory and Cross‐training in Modern Manufacturing
Authors: NAGAR VENKY , RAJAN MADHAV V. , SAOUMA RICHARD 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTThis paper shows that major components of modern manufacturing processes, such as inventory management and cross‐training, play a significant control role. In our model, workers possess information that is critical to efficient ongoing operations. An organizational design that motivates workers to optimally apply this information leverages both the production schedule and worker–management communication. Management's use of these controls results in work‐in‐process (WIP) inventory that appears excessive from a pure job‐scheduling perspective, but is optimal when control issues are considered. Empirical work testing pure job‐scheduling theories of modern manufacturing practices has yielded mixed results. We provide control‐related interpretations for these empirical findings, and also provide novel predictions regarding the link between inventory levels and the nature of operational information asymmetries. Overall, our model highlights the importance of recognizing both control and scheduling issues when analyzing production processes.
Topical treatment of erectile dysfunction with prostaglandin E1 ethyl ester
Authors: Schanz Stefan , Hauck Ekkehard W. , Schmelz Hans U. , Weidner Wolfgang , Fierlbeck Gerhard 
Published: May 2009

Summary Background: Prostaglandin E1 ethyl ester (PGE1‐EE) is a prodrug of prostaglandin E1 but with much improved transdermal penetration. Patients and Methods: We performed a randomized, double‐blind, controlled study in 34 patients to assess the safety and efficacy of transdermally applied PGE1‐EE for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In a first single‐blinded titration period the most appropriate PGE1‐EE dose (maximum 1000 μg) was determined. PGE1‐EE was applied to the shaft of the penis using an adhesive foil patch which contained the drug. For home use, the patients were provided with 4 patches with the appropriate dose and 2 patches with placebo containing a small dose of 5 μg PGE1‐EE to use randomly prior to sexual intercourse, waiting three days between each use. Results: The median rigidity score as the primary outcome variable was significantly higher after verum versus placebo applications. Also, concerning the secondary outcome variable satisfactory sexual activity, superiority was shown for verum versus placebo. Although penetrating intercourse could not be performed significantly more frequently, 50 % of patients considered the treatment successful. It was well‐tolerated and local side effects were generally mild. Conclusions: PGE1‐EE could be a promising drug formulation in local penile therapy of ED. In further studies higher doses should be investigated in order to potentially achieve a higher level of efficacy.
QTL for traits related to humoral immune response estimated from data of a porcine F2 resource population
Authors: Wimmers K. , Murani E. , Schellander K. , Ponsuksili S. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study aimed to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for traits related to humoral innate immune defence. Therefore, haemolytic complement activity in the alternative and the classical pathway, serum concentration of C3c and of haptoglobin (HP) were measured in blood samples obtained from F2 piglets (n = 457) of a porcine F2 resource population before and afterMycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Aujeszky's disease virus (Suid herpesvirus I, SuHVI) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccination at 6, 14 and 16 weeks of age. Animals were genotyped at 88 autosomal markers. QTL analysis was performed under the line cross and the half sib. Phenotypic data were adjusted for systematic effects by mixed models with and without repeated measures statement. In total, 46 and 21 estimated QTL positions were detected with genome‐wide significance at the 0.05 and 0.01 level, respectively. The proximal region of SSC2 (orthologous to HSA11 0–70 Mb), the distal region of SSC4 (HSA1 95–155 Mb), and the intermediate region of SSC16 (HSA5 0–73 Mb and 150–174 Mb) showed a clustering of estimated QTL positions for complement activity based on the different models. A common genetic background, i.e. a single true QTL, might underlie these QTL positions for related traits. In addition, QTL for antibody titres were detected on SSC1, 2, 6 and 7. With regard to number and magnitude of their impact, QTL for humoral innate immune traits behave like those for other quantitative traits. Discovery of such QTL facilitates the identification of candidate genes for disease resistance and immune competence that are applicable in selective breeding and further research towards improving therapeutic and prophylactic measures.
HLA genes in Uros from Titikaka Lake, Peru: origin and relationship with other Amerindians and worldwide populations
Authors: Arnaiz‐Villena A. , Gonzalez‐Alcos V. , Serrano‐Vela J. I. , Reguera R. , Barbolla L. , Parga‐Lozano C. , Gómez‐Prieto P. , Abd‐El‐Fatah‐Khalil S. , Moscoso J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryUros population from the Titikaka Lake live in about 42 floating reed (‘totora’) islands in front of Puno City (Peru) at a 4000 m high altiplano. They present both an mtDNA and a human leucocyte antigen (HLA) profile different from the surrounding populations: mtDNA A2 haplogroup is common to Uros and Amazon forest lowland Amerindians. HLA genetic distances between populations have been calculated and neighbour‐joining dendrograms and correspondence analyses were carried out. Approximately 15 006 HLA chromosomes from worldwide populations have been used for comparisons. Only eight HLA‐A alleles have been found, three of them accounting for most of the frequencies. The same phenomenon is seen for HLA‐B, HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 alleles: a few alleles (3, 4 and 3, respectively) are present in most individuals. The presence of HLA‐B*4801 and HLA‐DRB1*0901 alleles in a relatively high frequency (although not the most frequent alleles found) is a characteristic shared with Asians and some populations from the Andean altiplano. Three specific Uros haplotypes have been found among the most frequent ones: HLA‐A*680102‐B*3505‐DRB1*0403‐DQB1*0302; HLA‐A*2402‐B*1504‐DRB1*1402‐DQB1*0301; and HLA‐A*2402‐B*4801‐DRB1*0403‐DQB1*0302. The present study suggests that Uros may have been one of the first populations from the shores of the Titikaka Lake coming from the Amazonian forest, which might have given rise to other later differentiated ethnic group (i.e. Aymaras). Uros HLA profile is also useful to study genetic epidemiology of diseases linked to HLA and to construct a future transplant waiting list by adding up regional lists in order to get a bigger pool for transplanting with better HLA matching.
High‐yield timothy (Phleum pratense L.) strains developed by ‘clone and strain synthesis’, a method for breeding perennial and self‐incompatible crops
Authors: Tamaki Hiroyuki , Sato Koichi , Ashikaga Kazunori , Tanaka Tsuneki , Yoshizawa Akira , Fujii Hiroki 
Published: May 2009

AbstractWhile breeding methods to exploit only general combining ability (GCA) have been widely adopted in perennial and self‐incompatible forage crops, maize breeders have had great success in improving maize yield by developing hybrid breeding, whereby not only GCA but also specific combining ability (SCA) can be effectively exploited. A number of trials to apply hybrid breeding to such crops have not been successful because of severe inbreeding depression and/or ineffectiveness in commercial seed production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of ‘clone and strain synthesis’ (CSS), a method in which both GCA and SCA can be exploited effectively to breed perennial and self‐incompatible crops. CSS consists of two procedures: (i) harvest of syn‐1 seeds from two seed parental clones after mating of each clone with a pollen parental strain under separate, isolated conditions; and (ii) even mixing of the syn‐1 seeds to produce subsequent generations, as is done to develop conventional synthetic strains from a number of parental clones. Therefore, the yield of a strain developed by CSS depends partly on combining ability, including SCA, among the three parental materials. Fifteen timothy (Phleum pratense L.) strains were developed by CSS for verification. The productivity test results indicated that four strains in the syn‐2 had significantly higher yield levels than the commercial variety adopted as their pollen parent, suggesting the potential of CSS to breed high‐yield varieties for forage, biofuel, or other uses. Yield of the strains was applied to a diallel analysis to evaluate the relative importance of SCA toward GCA; the results suggested that SCA was important in determining yield level.
Biting strategy of sheep in grazing grass leaf blades
Authors: Devee Enkhee , Aro Aro Juan Marcos , Toukura Yuji , Hirata Masahiro , Hongo Akio 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe biomechanical characteristics of leaf blades of diploid and tetraploid cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and these effects on biting behavior of sheep were investigated using 3‐D loadcell in order to clarify biting strategy of sheep and the effect of biting forces on dry matter (DM) intake. Ten, 20, 30 and 40 leaf blade segments per loadcell were offered to sheep. Sheep usually grazed leaves with low biting forces (3.5–22.1 N). The number of bites per point, number of grazed leaf blades per bite and DM weight per bite increased with increasing leaf densities. Sheep used more bites in grazing leaf blades of tetraploid Prospero than those of diploid Aurora. In contrast, the number of grazed leaves per bite was lower in grazing leaf blades of Prospero than those of Aurora. The grand means of duration time per bite and time up to a peak biting force were 0.169 ± 0.005 and 0.061 ± 0.003 s, respectively. Intake efficiency (DM weight per mean biting force) as an indicator of benefit/cost ratio was not significantly different among any treatments and the grand mean was 14.4 ± 1.0 mg DM N−1. There was an apparent correlation between bending moment and mean shearing strength, suggesting that sheep may recognize biomechanical characteristics of all leaf blades prior to prehension through sensing bending strength and decide the level of creative biting force. From the number of grazed leaf blades per bite and mean shearing strength of a single leaf, mean biting forces were estimated (5.1 N in Aurora and 4.3 N in Prospero), compared with mean biting forces (5.5 ± 0.5 N in Aurora and 6.5 ± 0.4 N in Prospero) observed in grazing trial. These results suggest that sheep may break leaf blades mainly by shearing force.
Soil carbon stock in typical grasslands in Japan
Authors: Nakagami Koji , Hojito Masayuki , Itano Shiro , Kohyama Kazunori , Miyaji Tomoko , Nishiwaki Aya , Matsuura Shoji , Tsutsumi Michio , Kano Shunpei 
Published: May 2009

AbstractTo evaluate the carbon (C) sequestration function of grassland soils in Japan, soil C stocks were measured in 24 grasslands (3–43‐year‐old pastures) across 14 livestock farms nationwide. Soil C stocks varied among soil types, and the values in the upper 25 and 50 cm were higher in Andosols (mean, 12.4 and 19.3 kg m−2, respectively) than in Brown Forest soils (7.5 and 13.7 kg m−2) and other soil types (5.5 and 7.5 kg m−2). At the same time, C stocks varied among pastures within each soil type. Compared to data from the published work on the C content shortly after pasture establishment, aged pastures had decreasing C concentrations as the soil depth increased, suggesting substantial C accumulation in the top soil layers during pasture aging. This C accumulation caused grassland soils to store as much C as adjacent forest soils. Although the C stocks in the grassland soils were not statistically different from those in the adjacent native forest soils, some grassland areas stored greater amounts of C than the forests, indicating a possibility of increasing soil C stocks through improved grassland management.
Definitive Sun-as-a-star p-mode frequencies: 23 years of BiSON observations
Authors: Broomhall A.-M. , Chaplin W. J. , Davies G. R. , Elsworth Y. , Fletcher S. T. , Hale S. J. , Miller B. , New R. 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
We present a list of ‘best possible’ estimates of low-degree p-mode frequencies from 8640 days of observations made by the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON). This is the longest stretch of helioseismic data ever used for this purpose, giving exquisite precision in the estimated frequencies. Every effort has been made in the analysis to ensure that the frequency estimates are also accurate. In addition to presenting the raw best-fitting frequencies from our ‘peak-bagging’ analysis, we also provide tables of corrected frequencies pertinent to the quiet-Sun and an intermediate level of solar activity.
A Robed Revolution: The Contemporary Buddhist Nun's (Bhikṣuṇ?) Movement
Authors: Mrozik Susanne 
Published: May 2009

AbstractWomen's access to full ordination as Buddhist nuns (bhikṣuṇ?) is one of the most hotly contested issues in the Buddhist world today. Focusing on Sri Lanka and the Tibetan exile community in India, this article outlines the central issues of the debate, which range from the minutiae of Buddhist monastic regulations to the politics of national and ethnic identity. Topics addressed include Sakyadhita, ordination lineage (vinaya), alternative forms of female renunciation (e.g., maechee), feminism, and tensions between local and international visions of the Buddhist monastic community, which lie at the heart of the current debate.
The development of the Recovery and Prevention of Psychosis Service in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Murphy Brendan P. , Simms Carolyn , Dowling Rose‐Mary , Graham Annette , Doherty Anne , Meadows Graham N. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAim: To describe the establishment of a multicomponent, phase‐specific, early intervention service for young people experiencing psychosis.Methods: The Recovery and Prevention of Psychosis Service commenced streamed clinical service delivery in November 2004, providing comprehensive case management for up to 3 years within Victoria's largest metropolitan health service. It delivers phase‐oriented treatment focusing on early detection, recovery and relapse prevention, and minimizing disability and secondary comorbidity. The combined programme covers training and professional development, data collection and evaluation, specialist intervention services, group programme work and community development.Results: Of the first 151 clients, 70.2% were male, the average age at first presentation was 20.9 years, 15% were under 18 at first contact and 67% required inpatient admission at least once. Mean age at first contact was 20.84 years for those requiring inpatient services and 70% admitted were male. The average length of stay was 25.69 days and 23% were secluded, with an average of 2.1 seclusions. A large percentage of Recovery and Prevention of Psychosis Service clients (81%) required involuntary treatment, a significantly greater proportion of admitted patients were on Community Treatment Orders compared to those never admitted (22.5% cf. 4.1%; P = 0.04) and 92% of those admitted subsequently relapsed compared to 8% of those not admitted (P = 0.02).Conclusions: Recovery and Prevention of Psychosis Service is successfully developing a fully integrated first episode service. Recent developments include expanding the period of care up to 5 years for selected patients, the recruitment of a health promotions officer and planning for the development of a youth inpatient unit.