bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting crop insurance purchases in China: the Inner Mongolia region
Authors: Boyd Milton , Pai Jeffrey , Zhang Qiao , Holly Wang H. , Wang Ke 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the factors affecting crop insurance purchases by farmers in Inner Mongolia, China.Design/methodology/approachA survey of farmers in Inner Mongolia, China, is undertaken. Selected variables are used to explain crop insurance purchases, and a probit regression model is used for the analysis.FindingsResults show that a number of variables explain crop insurance purchases by farmers in Inner Mongolia. Of the eight variables in the model, seven are statistically significant. The eight variables used to explain crop insurance purchases are: knowledge of crop insurance, previous purchases of crop insurance, trust of the crop insurance company, amount of risk taken on by the farmer, importance of low crop insurance premium, government as the main information source for crop insurance, role of head of village, and number of family members working in the city.Research limitations/implicationsA possible limitation of the study is that data includes only one geographic area, Inner Mongolia, China, and so results may not always fully generalize to all regions of China, for all situations.Practical implicationsCrop insurance has been recently expanded in China, and the information from this study should be useful for insurance companies and government policy makers that are attempting to increase the adoption rate of crop insurance in China.Social implicationsCrop insurance may be a useful approach for stabilizing the agricultural sector, and for increasing agricultural production and food security in China.Originality/valueThis is the first study to quantitatively model the factors affecting crop insurance purchases by farmers in Inner Mongolia, China.
Selection of critical processes for “process improvement”
Authors: Sarkar Ashok , Ranjan Mukhopadhyay Arup , Ghosh Sadhan Kumar 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a criterion for selection of critical sub‐processes when all the sub‐processes cannot be taken up simultaneously for improvement. There exist various methods but the practitioners get utterly confused because of the existence of these multiple options. In this paper, the goal is to assist practitioners in the selection of the critical sub‐processes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors discuss various statistical methods such as correlation and regression, simulation, basic statistics such as average, standard deviation, coefficient of variation % (C.V.%), etc. for the selection and identification of the critical sub‐processes. The strengths and weaknesses of these methods have been compared through empirical analysis based on real‐life case examples.FindingsThe stepwise regression and simulation have been found to yield identical results. However, from the perspective of application, stepwise regression has been found to be a preferred option.Originality/valueThe roadmap thus evolved for the selection of the critical sub‐processes will be of great value to the practitioner, as it will help them understand the ground reality in an unambiguous manner, resulting in a superior strategy for process improvement.
Developing a specialist neuropsychiatric clinic for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Pickard Max , MacDonald Bridget , Liddiard Heather 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share and report on practice development.Design/methodology/approachA description of a joint neuropsychiatric clinic, including demographics of patients seen, is provided.FindingsThe paper expresses the opinion that the experience of running a joint clinic for complex cases with neurological and psychiatric pathology was professionally rewarding and that clinicians found it a more effective way of delivering care.Originality/valueThis is the first description of such a clinic to the authors' knowledge. Development of similar services may be of value.
How crucial incidents analysis support Chinese lesson study
Authors: Yang Yudong , Ricks Thomas E. 
Published: November 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe two kinds of crucial incidents analysis that Chinese teachers employ during traditional Chinese Teaching Research Group (TRG) activities to analyze their lessons.Design/methodology/approachChinese educators have engaged for several decades in Teaching Research Group (TRG) activities. The paper describes the methods they use.FindingsThe methods employed by teachers were: first, quaternary analysis of a lesson's key point, difficult point, and critical point; and second, part‐to‐whole analysis (experienced teachers' ways of discussing a lesson).Originality/valueThe authors hope that recognition of these two kinds of teaching analysis can help teachers to better understand the essence of traditional TRG activities, and to employ them more consciously during their lesson study activities.
Young people's beliefs about the harmfulness of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco for mental disorders: findings from two Australian national youth surveys
Authors: Yap Marie Bee Hui , Reavley Nicola J. , Jorm Anthony Francis 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTAims  Using cross‐sectional national survey data, we assessed young peoples' beliefs about the role of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders as well as the predictors of these beliefs. We also compared these findings with those from a similar survey carried out in 2006.Design, setting and participants   Between January and May 2011, a national computer‐assisted telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Australian youths aged 15–25 years. A total of 3021 young people were presented with a case vignette portraying depression, depression with suicidal thoughts, psychosis, social phobia, depression with alcohol misuse or post‐traumatic stress disorder in a young person.Measurements  Respondents were asked about their beliefs regarding the role of using alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in preventing or dealing with the mental disorders described in the vignettes. Level of psychological distress was assessed by the Kessler 6 scale (K6).Findings  More than 75% of respondents agreed that the three substances were harmful for the young people in the vignettes, and that not using marijuana or drinking alcohol in excess is preventive. Males, young adults and more distressed respondents were less likely to endorse these beliefs. No significant changes were observed between surveys.Conclusions  Most young people in Australia are aware of the negative impact of substance use on mental disorders, but a few high‐risk groups remain: males, young adults and those with more psychological distress. Future public health campaigns need to target these groups and focus on translating young people's substance use beliefs into behavioural change.
A randomized controlled trial of stage‐matched intervention for smoking cessation in cardiac out‐patients
Authors: Chan Sophia S. C. , Leung Doris Y. P. , Wong David C. N. , Lau Chu‐Pak , Wong Vivian T. , Lam Tai‐Hing 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To examine the effectiveness of a stage‐matched smoking cessation counselling intervention for smokers who had cardiac diseases.Methods  A total of 1860 Chinese cardiac patients who smoked at least one cigarette in the past 7 days and aged 18 years or above recruited from cardiac out‐patient clinics in Hong Kong hospitals were allocated randomly to an intervention group or control group. The intervention group (n = 938) received counselling matched with their stage of readiness to quit by trained counsellors at baseline, 1 week and 1 month. The control group (n = 922) received brief counselling on healthy diet at baseline. The primary outcomes were self‐reported 7‐day and 30‐day point prevalence (PP) of tobacco abstinence at 12 months after baseline. The secondary outcome measures included biochemically validated abstinence at 12‐month follow‐up, self‐reported 7‐day and 30‐day PP abstinence and reduction of cigarette consumption by 50% at 3 and 6 months.Results  By intention‐to‐treat analysis, the intervention and control groups showed no significant difference in self‐reported 7‐day PP abstinence (intervention: 26.5% versus control: 25.5%; P = 0.60) and 30‐day PP (intervention: 25.4% versus control: 24.2%; P = 0.55), biochemically validated abstinence (intervention: 6.6% versus control: 4.9%; P = 0.14) and overall quit attempts of least 24 hours (intervention: 40.3% versus control: 34.3%; P = 0.007) at the 12‐month follow‐up, adjusted for the baseline stage of readiness to quit smoking.Conclusions  An intervention, based on the Stages of Change model, to promote smoking cessation in cardiac patients in China failed to find any long‐term benefit.
Immunology in clinic review series; focus on autoinflammatory diseases: role of inflammasomes in autoinflammatory syndromes
Authors: Ozkurede V U , Franchi L 
Published: November 2011

Summary
OTHER THEMES PUBLISHED IN THIS IMMUNOLOGY IN THE CLINIC REVIEW SERIES
Allergy, Host Responses, Cancer, Type 1 diabetes and viruses, Metabolic diseases.
Autoinflammatory syndromes are disorders characterized by the hyperactivation of the innate immune system in the absence of microbial infection or autoantibody production. Some autoinflammatory syndromes are associated with recurrent episodes of fever and systemic inflammation that are caused by dysregulated activation of inflammasomes, molecular platforms responsible for the activation of caspase-1 and the production of interleukin (IL)-1β. In this review we will discuss the role of IL-1β and the inflammasomes in host defence and how mutations of two genes, NLRP3 and PYRIN, leads to the autoinflammatory syndromes, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Both CAPS and FMF are characterized by increased inflammasome activity and overproduction of IL-1β which is ultimately responsible for disease manifestations. Importantly, understanding the molecular mechanisms of these syndromes has led to effective treatment for these rare diseases with biological drugs that target IL-1β-mediated signalling.
Multifunctional CD4+T cells in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Macedo A B B , Sánchez-Arcila J C , Schubach A O , Mendonça S C F , Marins-Dos-Santos A , de Fatima Madeira M , Gagini T , Pimentel M I F , De Luca P M 
Published: November 2011

SummaryLeishmaniasis is a group of important parasitic diseases affecting millions worldwide. To understand more clearly the quality of T helper type 1 (Th1) response stimulated after Leishmania infection, we applied a multiparametric flow cytometry protocol to evaluate multifunctional T cells induced by crude antigen extracts obtained from promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis (LbAg) and Leishmania amazonensis (LaAg) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healed cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. Although no significant difference was detected in the percentage of total interferon (IFN)-γ-producing CD4+T cells induced by both antigens, multiparametric flow cytometry analysis revealed clear differences in the quality of Th1 responses. LbAg induced an important proportion of multifunctional CD4+ T cells (28% of the total Th1 response evaluated), whereas LaAg induced predominantly single-positive cells (68%), and 57% of those were IFN-γ single-positives. Multifunctional CD4+T cells showed the highest mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) for the three Th1 cytokines assessed and MFIs for IFN-γ and interleukin-2 from those cells stimulated with LbAg were significantly higher than those obtained after LaAg stimulation. These major differences observed in the generation of multifunctional CD4+ T cells suggest that the quality of the Th1 response induced by L. amazonensis antigens can be involved in the mechanisms responsible for the high susceptibility observed in L. amazonensis-infected individuals. Ultimately, our results call attention to the importance of studying a Th1 response regarding its quality, not just its magnitude, and indicate that this kind of evaluation might help understanding of the complex and diverse immunopathogenesis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.
Population structure and migration pattern of a conifer pathogen,Grosmannia clavigera, as influenced by its symbiont, the mountain pine beetle
Authors: TSUI CLEMENT K. M. , ROE AMANDA D. , EL‐KASSABY YOUSRY A. , RICE ADRIANNE V. , ALAMOUTI SEPIDEH M. , SPERLING FELIX A. H. , COOKE JANICE E. K. , BOHLMANN JÖRG , HAMELIN RICHARD C. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractWe investigated the population structure ofGrosmannia clavigera(Gc), a fungal symbiont of the mountain pine beetle (MPB) that plays a crucial role in the establishment and reproductive success of this pathogen. This insect–fungal complex has destroyed over 16 million ha of lodgepole pine forests in Canada, the largest MPB epidemic in recorded history. During this current epidemic, MPB has expanded its range beyond historically recorded boundaries, both northward and eastward, and has now reached the jack pine of Alberta, potentially threatening the Canadian boreal forest. To better understand the dynamics between the beetle and its fungal symbiont, we sampled 19 populations in western North America and genotyped individuals from these populations with eight microsatellite markers. The fungus displayed high haplotype diversity, with over 250 unique haplotypes observed in 335 single spore isolates. Linkage equilibria in 13 of the 19 populations suggested that the fungus reproduces sexually. Bayesian clustering and distance analyses identified four genetic clusters that corresponded to four major geographical regions, which suggested that the epidemic arose from multiple geographical sources. A genetic cluster north of the Rocky Mountains, where the MPB has recently become established, experienced a population bottleneck, probably as a result of the recent range expansion. The two genetic clusters located north and west of the Rocky Mountains contained many fungal isolates admixed from all populations, possibly due to the massive movement of MPB during the epidemic. The general agreement in north–south differentiation of MPB andG. clavigerapopulations points to the fungal pathogen’s dependence on the movement of its insect vector. In addition, the patterns of diversity and the individual assignment tests of the fungal associate suggest that migration across the Rocky Mountains occurred via a northeastern corridor, in accordance with meteorological patterns and observation of MPB movement data. Our results highlight the potential of this pathogen for both expansion and sexual reproduction, and also identify some possible barriers to gene flow. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of this fungus–beetle association is important for the modelling and prediction of MPB epidemics.
Evidence for evolutionary change associated with the recent range expansion of the British butterfly, Aricia agestis, in response to climate change
Authors: BUCKLEY JAMES , BUTLIN ROGER K. , BRIDLE JON R. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPoleward range expansions are widespread responses to recent climate change and are crucial for the future persistence of many species. However, evolutionary change in traits such as colonization history and habitat preference may also be necessary to track environmental change across a fragmented landscape. Understanding the likelihood and speed of such adaptive change is important in determining the rate of species extinction with ongoing climate change. We conducted an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)‐based genome scan across the recently expanded UK range of the Brown Argus butterfly, Aricia agestis, and used outlier‐based (DFDIST and BayeScan) and association‐based (Isolation‐By‐Adaptation) statistical approaches to identify signatures of evolutionary change associated with range expansion and habitat use. We present evidence for (i) limited effects of range expansion on population genetic structure and (ii) strong signatures of selection at approximately 5% AFLP loci associated with both the poleward range expansion of A. agestis and differences in habitat use across long‐established and recently colonized sites. Patterns of allele frequency variation at these candidate loci suggest that adaptation to new habitats at the range margin has involved selection on genetic variation in habitat use found across the long‐established part of the range. Our results suggest that evolutionary change is likely to affect species’ responses to climate change and that genetic variation in ecological traits across species’ distributions should be maximized to facilitate range shifts across a fragmented landscape, particularly in species that show strong associations with particular habitats.
Subunit Vaccine Candidate AMM Down‐Regulated the Regulatory T Cells and Enhanced the Protective Immunity of BCG on a Suitable Schedule
Authors: Luo Y. , Jiang W. , Da Z. , Wang B. , Hu L. , Zhang Y. , An R. , Yu H. , Sun H. , Tang K. , Tang Z. , Wang Y. , Jing T. , Zhu B. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) priming and subunit vaccine boosting strategies are urgently needed to improve the protective efficacy of BCG in adult population. However, the schedule of subunit vaccine boosting is not well investigated, especially the optimal immune responses and vaccine immunization schedules are still not clear. We have constructed a novel subunit vaccine candidate consisting of fusion protein Ag85B‐Mpt64 (190‐198)‐Mtb8.4 (AMM) in a complex adjuvant composed of dimo‐thylidioctyl ammonium bromide (DDA) and BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid (BCG‐PSN). In this study, we compared the effect of different boosting schedules of the subunit vaccine in the prime‐boost strategies. C57BL/6 mice were primed with BCG first and then boosted with the AMM vaccine once at 10th week, twice at 8th, 10th week, or thrice at 6th, 8th, 10th week, respectively. The immune responses were evaluated at the 14th and 20th weeks, respectively. Twelve weeks after the last immunization, the mice were challenged with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv, and the protective effect was evaluated. The results showed that BCG priming and the AMM vaccine boosting twice induced the strongest antigen‐specific IFN‐γ and IL‐2 production, down‐regulated CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and had the best protective effect among all groups, while boosting thrice induced the strongest IL‐4 production and did not improve BCG‐primed protection significantly. Boosting BCG with the AMM vaccine twice instead of once or thrice induced strong Th1‐type immunity and down‐regulated Tregs significantly, which correlated with the best protection against M. tuberculosis infection in mice.
Rapid auxin‐mediated changes in the proteome of the epidermal cells in rye coleoptiles: implications for the initiation of growth
Authors: Deng Z. , Xu S. , Chalkley R. J. , Oses‐Prieto J. A. , Burlingame A. L. , Wang Z.‐Y. , Kutschera U. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn axial organs of juvenile plants, the phytohormone auxin (indole‐3‐acetic acid, IAA) rapidly mediates cell wall loosening and hence promotes turgor‐driven elongation. In this study, we used rye (Secale cereale) coleoptile sections to investigate possible effects of IAA on the proteome of the cells. In a first set of experiments, we document that IAA causes organ elongation via promotion of expansion of the rigid outer wall of the outer epidermis. A quantitative comparison of the proteome (membrane‐associated proteins), using two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2‐D DIGE), revealed that, within 2 h of auxin treatment, at least 16 protein spots were up‐ or down‐regulated by IAA. These proteins were identified using reverse‐phase liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Four of these proteins were detected in the growth‐controlling outer epidermis and were further analysed. One epidermal polypeptide, a small Ras‐related GTP‐binding protein, was rapidly down‐regulated by IAA (after 0.5 h of incubation) by −35% compared to the control. Concomitantly, a subunit of the 26S proteasome was up‐regulated by IAA (+30% within 1 h). In addition, this protein displayed IAA‐mediated post‐translational modification. The implications of these rapid auxin effects with respect to signal transduction and IAA‐mediated secretion of glycoproteins (osmiophilic nano‐particles) into the growth‐controlling outer epidermal wall are discussed.
Emergence of Candida spp. and exploration of natural bioactive molecules for anticandidal therapy –status quo
Authors: Rajeshkumar Radhakrishnan , Sundararaman Muthuraman 
Published: November 2011

SummaryThe opportunistic yeast pathogen Candida albicans and the emerging non‐albicans Candida spp. cause life‐threatening infections in immuno‐compromised patients, leading to an increase in mortality rate. At present, the emergence of non‐albicans Candida spp. causes serious infections that are difficult to treat the human populations worldwide. The available, synthetic antifungal drugs show high toxicity to host tissues causing adverse effects. Many metabolites of terrestrial and marine plants, microbes, algae, etc., contain a rich source of unexplored novel leads of different types, which are under use to treat various diseases. Such natural drugs are less expensive and have lower toxicity to host tissues. The patent search on identified and potential anticandidal‐lead molecules, from various patent databases, has been described in this review. Furthermore, this article consolidates the trends in the development of anticandidal drug discovery worldwide. Most of the investigations on natural, bioactive molecules against candidiasis are in various phases of clinical trials, of which, two drugs Caspofungin acetate and Micafungin sodium were approved by the U.S. FDA. In conclusion, the exploration of drugs from natural resources serves as a better alternative source in anticandidal therapeutics, having great scope for drug discovery in the future.
Anatomical basis for carrying out a state‐of‐the‐art radical prostatectomy
Authors: Takenaka Atsushi , Tewari Ashutosh K 
Published: November 2011

AbstractRobotic‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy has consolidated the position of surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the USA. In a few years, it is expected to spread rapidly worldwide. However, surgical anatomy has trailed the advance in surgical techniques of robotic‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Therefore, we reviewed the recent literature, which sometimes refutes the established consensus on pelvic anatomy, for the state‐of‐the‐art technique. We also describe the anatomical findings for each basic step during robotic‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, and show evidence‐based surgical techniques. Of course, these findings will also be useful for radical retropubic, perineal and conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy. Surgical anatomy should always be developing and changing with advances in surgical approaches.