bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Near‐field air concentrations of pesticides in potato agriculture in Prince Edward Island
Authors: Garron Christine A , Davis Kimberly C , Ernst William R 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Pesticides in air have become of increasing concern in recent years. This study examined downwind air concentrations of carbofuran, methamidophos, mancozeb and diquat dibromide resulting from spray drift within 24 h of application, within 100 m of potato fields.RESULTS: Concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 µg m−3 in prespray samples to 6.37 µg m−3 for methamidophos at 3 h post‐spray. For most applications, air concentrations decreased with distance from the field and with time after application. Methamidophos concentrations in the air downwind continued to increase up to 3 h after spray. Air concentrations during spray were positively correlated with application rate (r = 0.904), and air concentrations at 1 h and 3 h post‐spray were positively correlated with vapour pressure (r = 1.000 and r = 0.999 respectively). Carbofuran, methamidophos and diquat dibromide concentrations during spray were above some Canadian and international health protection guidelines.CONCLUSION: Although pesticide air concentrations measured in this study are generally consistent with other studies, maximum concentrations are greater than those that have been measured elsewhere, and some are above published air quality guidelines. An evaluation of the degree of risk posed by these and other pest control products to human and wildlife receptors is recommended. Copyright © 2009 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fitness and maternal effects in hybrids formed between transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and wild brown mustard [B. juncea (L.) Czern et Coss.] in the field
Authors: Di Kun , Stewart C Neal , Wei Wei , Shen Bao‐cheng , Tang Zhi‐Xi , Ma Ke‐Ping 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Gene flow between crops and weedy relatives depends on the survivorship and reproduction of early‐generation hybrids in a field environment. The primary aim of this study was to compare the fitness of transgenic crop × wild hybrids with their parental types and a non‐transgenic crop type in the field under enhanced temperature and humidity.RESULTS: Transgenic insect‐resistant oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), wild brown mustard [B. juncea (L.) Czern et Coss.], their hybrids and non‐transgenic B. napus were grown in such a way as to mimic field conditions after harvest under which volunteer plants might appear in agricultural settings. Factor analysis revealed that vegetative growth characteristics explained most of the observed differences among plant types. Wild brown mustard had the highest fitness during its entire life history. Hybrids had intermediate composite fitness and lowest reproductive fitness. The hybrid and the wild weed shared similar vegetative growth characteristics and seed dormancy in their respective progenies.CONCLUSION: These data indicate that there might be enhanced persistence of the transgene in warmer climates. The absence of fitness cost of the transgenes might allow transgenes to persist in ecosystems. These data will contribute to risk assessments of transgene persistence and weed management against the backdrop of global climate change. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Kinematic synthesis of tendon-driven robotic manipulators using singular value decomposition
Authors: Sheu Jinn-Biau , Huang Jyun-Jheng , Lee Jyh-Jone 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThis work describes a systematic methodology for the synthesis of tendon-driven manipulators. A method for enumerating the topology of tendon routings is first established. To conform with the enumerated structures, the kinematic synthesis of the manipulator using singular value decomposition is then developed. Design equations for synthesizing a general tendon-driven manipulator with isotropic transmission characteristics are subsequently derived. It is shown that the design methodology may give designers wider selection in determining the tendon routing topology than prior methods by other literature.
DV-Curve: a novel intuitive tool for visualizing and analyzing DNA sequences
Authors: Zhang Zhu-Jin 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Motivation: The rapid growth of DNA sequence data creates a need to find graphic tools to study DNA sequence in a perceivable form. A large number of scholars work hard in this field. However, it is difficult to handle the following problems in one graph: (i) degeneracy, (ii) loss of information, (iii) difficulty of observing in multi-dimensional graph, (iv) difficulty of visualization when representing long DNA sequences and (v) need to reflect useful information.
Results: DV-Curve (Dual-Vector Curve) using two vectors to represent one alphabet of DNA sequences not only avoids degeneracy and loss of information, but also has good visualization no matter whether sequences are long, and can reflect the length of DNA sequence. The applications of the DV-Curve on mutation analysis and two types of similarity analysis are presented in detail. DV-Curve is a significative tool by which biologists could find useful biological knowledge.
Availability: The corresponding software of DV-Curve is available at http://bmchust.3322.org/Data/Soft/332-DV-Curve2.0.zip
Contact: zhangzhujin@gmail.com
Dietary beliefs and behaviour of a UK Somali population
Authors: McEwen A. , Straus L. , Croker H. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground:  Somalis comprise one of the largest asylum seeking populations in the UK, yet very little is known about how this migration has affected traditional attitudes towards food or eating habits. The present study was commissioned to examine the health behaviours (smoking, diet and exercise) of a Somali population in London; the study focuses on the dietary beliefs and self‐reported eating behaviours of these subjects.Methods:  Because of the documented difficulty of engaging black and minority ethnic groups in research, a mixed methodology was used, involving focus groups to elicit specific dietary themes and a questionnaire survey to attempt to quantify community concordance with these themes. Eight focus groups were held in London in 2006; there were two women’s and six men’s groups, with 62 participants in total. The questionnaire was developed following analysis of the focus group discussions and opportunistically distributed via local Somali community organisations (77 respondents).Results:  The typical diet of focus group participants largely consisted of rice, pasta and red meat. There was low consumption of fruit and vegetables reported among the focus group participants: of survey respondents 97% reported eating less than two pieces of fruit, and 92% less than two portions of vegetables, a day.Conclusions:  Fruit and vegetable consumption was low and there was uncertainty about what constituted a healthy diet and a stated desire for education around this. Cultural factors such as the traditional Somali diet, social associations of food and lack of appropriate information are issues that need to be addressed.
Species relative abundance and direction of introgression in oaks
Authors: LEPAIS O. , PETIT R. J. , GUICHOUX E. , LAVABRE J. E. , ALBERTO F. , KREMER A. , GERBER S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSuccessful hybridisation and subsequent introgression lead to the transfer of genetic material across species boundaries. In this process, species relative abundance can play a significant role. If one species is less abundant than the other, its females will receive many heterospecific gametes, increasing mate‐recognition errors and thus hybridisation rate. Moreover, first‐generation hybrids will also more likely mate with the more abundant species, leading to asymmetric introgression. These predictions have important fundamental consequences, especially during biological invasions or when a rare species threatened by extinction is surrounded by individuals from a related species. However, experimental tests in nature of the importance of the relative abundance of each species on hybridisation dynamics remain scarce. We assess here the impact of species relative abundance on hybridisation dynamics among four species from the European white oak species complex. A total of 2107 oak trees were genotyped at 10 microsatellite markers and Bayesian clustering methods were used to identify reference trees of each species. We then used these reference trees to simulate purebred and hybrid genotypes to determine optimal threshold for genetic assignment. With this approach, we found widespread evidence of hybridisation between all studied oak species, with high occurrence of hybrids, varying from 11% to 31% according to stand and sampling strategies. This finding suggests that hybridisation is a common phenomenon that plays a significant role in evolution of this oak species complex. In addition, we demonstrate a strong impact of species abundance on both hybridisation rate and introgression directionality.
Pre‐pregnancy body mass index change between pregnancies and preterm birth in the following pregnancy
Authors: Chen Aimin , Klebanoff Mark A. , Basso Olga 
Published: March 2009

SummaryMaternal pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI) may affect the risk of preterm birth. However, it is unclear how changes in BMI between pregnancies modify the risk of preterm birth in the following pregnancy. We studied this effect in the Collaborative Perinatal Project, when obesity was uncommon and the prevalence of induction of labour was low. This analysis included 1892 primiparae whose first enrolled (index) pregnancy was a singleton livebirth and the second enrolled (outcome) pregnancy was a consecutive singleton pregnancy (both pregnancies within 20–51 weeks of gestation). We used the Cox regression model to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of preterm birth at the outcome pregnancy as a function of reduced BMI (<25thpercentile of change) and increased BMI (>75thpercentile), compared with stable BMI (25th–75thpercentile), adjusted for pre‐pregnancy BMI at the index pregnancy and other covariates.Body mass index reduction was associated with a non‐significant increased risk of preterm birth, adjusted HR 1.17 [95% confidence interval 0.90, 1.53]; BMI increase had effects close to null (adjusted HR 1.08 [0.83, 1.41]). In the model with linear BMI change, each 1 kg/m2increase was associated with an HR of 0.96 [0.89, 1.03]. The estimates associated with a BMI reduction were higher in women whose index pregnancy ended preterm (HR 1.49 [0.90, 2.44]) and in those with BMI < 25 kg/m2at the index pregnancy (HR 1.30 [0.98, 1.71]). This study involved mainly low‐to‐normal weight women with spontaneous deliveries, and might suffer from type II error owing to small sample size. The effect of BMI change in overweight and obese women needs to be studied using contemporary data.
Seagrass meadows at the extreme of environmental tolerance: the case of Posidonia oceanica in a semi‐enclosed coastal lagoon
Authors: Tomasello Agostino , Di Maida Germana , Calvo Sebastiano , Pirrotta Maria , Borra Marco , Procaccini Gabriele 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAtoll‐like structures of the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica were encountered in the innermost area of the Stagnone di Marsala, a semi‐enclosed coastal lagoon along the western coasts of Sicily. The area is characterized by limited water exchange with the open sea and by a marked seasonal variation of water salinity and temperature, reaching beyond the theoretical tolerance limits of the species. In the present study we determined the genetic composition of the atoll‐like structures, as well as the growth performance and flowering rate of these stands. We also assessed whether and to what extent the atoll‐like structures are genetically isolated from plants growing in meadows outside the lagoon. For this purpose we utilized 13 microsatellite markers to genotype single shoots sampled inside and outside the lagoon. Lepidochronological analyses were performed on the same shoots to determine the annual rhizome growth rate, the number of leaves and the inflorescences formed as an estimate of growth‐ and reproductive performance over the years. The innermost area of the lagoon showed a lower number of alleles, a lower percentage of polymorphic loci, a lower clonal diversity, but higher heterozygosis excess with respect to the other areas analysed. Spatial autocorrelation was here significant, up to slightly below 300 m. Shoots collected in the atolls exhibited a 25% lower vertical growth rate and 16% lower leaf formation in comparison to those in open‐sea meadows. No flowering events were recorded during 24 years of investigation, whereas inflorescences were observed frequently in meadows outside the lagoon. Results from Fst and factorial correspondence analysis confirmed the expected genetic isolation of the confined atolls with respect to the meadows outside the lagoon and revealed limited gene flow within the lagoon itself. Apparently, the enclosed system of the Stagnone lagoon is genetically isolated, with a possible selection of genotypes adapted to persistent stressful conditions, consistent with reduced growth and lack of flowering events.
Application of per oral cholangiopancreatoscopy in pancreatobiliary diseases
Authors: Nguyen Nam Q 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPancreaticobiliary ductal diseases are largely investigated by indirect imaging techniques. Therefore, the pathology of up to 30% of cases remains undetermined. Cholangiopancreatoscopy allows direct visualization of ductal abnormalities with the ability to sample tissue and deliver a number of endotherapies. The technique can be broadly categorized into either two‐operator or single‐operator systems. Both systems provide important diagnostic information in the investigation of undetermined biliary or pancreatic strictures, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia, occult ductal malignant changes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and occult intraductal stones in patients with complex biliary stone diseases. Therapeutically, cholangiopancreatoscopy‐guided endotherapies provide a highly effective and safe alternative to surgery for patients with difficult extrahepatic and intrahepatic ductal stones that are not amenable to conventional endoscopic extraction by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The clinical application of cholangiopancreatoscopy, however, will be limited unless the technology is further refined to improve its durability, image quality, therapeutic capability and technical feasibility.
Haemorrhoidectomy by vessel sealing system under local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting: preliminary experience
Authors: Luo C.‐H. , Zang C.‐B. , Zhang G.‐K. , Liu H.‐Y. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim  This prospective study was designed to assess the feasibility of local anaesthesia for LigaSureTM haemorrhoidectomy in an outpatient setting.Method  From April 2006 to March 2007, 207 consecutive patients (median age 42, 126 males) with grade III (147) and grade IV (60) haemorrhoids, underwent Milligan–Morgan haemorrhoidectomy with LigaSureTM under local anaesthesia (lidocaine 1%, mean dose 27 ± 1.7 ml) in an outpatient setting. Postoperative pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results  Two, three and four files were removed in 120, 51 and 36 patients. Mean operative time was 12 ± 5.2 min and mean blood loss was 3.4 ± 3.9 ml. The mean postoperative pain scores were 6.2 ± 2.1 for the maximal pain intensity and 6.1 ± 2.5 for the pain on defecation. All patients left hospital after surgery within 2 h and 33 (15.9%) required analgesics. They returned to normal daily activity after 12.2 ± 7.9 days including work (12.1 ± 7.8 days). The wounds had healed by 32.2 ± 9.1 days. At a follow‐up of at least 6 months, only six cases of major bleeding had occurred and 24 patients had skin tags. The median satisfaction score was +2 (−2 to +3).Conclusion  LigaSureTM haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia in the outpatient setting is safe and effective.
Impact of clinical factors, including a point‐of‐care nuclear matrix protein‐22 assay and cytology, on bladder cancer detection
Authors: Lotan Yair , Capitanio Umberto , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Hutterer Georg C. , Karakiewicz Pierre I. 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the nuclear matrix protein‐22 (NMP22) assay can improve the accuracy of discriminating between high‐risk patients with and without bladder cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODSAge, gender, race, smoking status, haematuria and its extent, and the NMP22 and urinary cytology results, were available for 1272 patients. The data of 670 (52.7%) from four study sites were used to develop a logistic regression model‐based nomogram to predict the presence of bladder cancer. The remaining data from 602 (47.3%) patients from nine study sites were used to externally validate the nomogram. A separate nomogram was developed for urinary cytology, and for the combination of NMP22 and urinary cytology findings.RESULTSOf 1272 patients, 76 (6.0%) had bladder cancer, 217 (17.1%) were NMP22‐positive and 17 (1.3%) had malignant cells on urinary cytology. NMP22 and urinary cytology results were independent predictors of bladder cancer (P = 0.005 and 0.007, respectively). In external validation, the area under the curve (AUC) for NMP22 was 76.0% vs 56.2% for cytology. External validation of the multivariable NMP22‐based bladder cancer nomogram gave an AUC of 82.4% vs 74.7% for the multivariable cytology‐based nomogram (gain 7.7%; P = 0.006) vs 82.6% for the multivariable nomogram combining NMP22 and cytology results (gain 0.2%; P = 0.1).CONCLUSIONSThe ability of the NMP22 test to predict bladder cancer in high‐risk patients significantly exceeds that of urinary cytology. The NMP22‐based nomogram can help to identify individuals at risk of bladder cancer.
Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: 3 years of experience with 454 patients
Authors: Shah Hemendra , Khandkar Amit , Sodha Hiren , Kharodawala Shabbir , Hegde Sunil , Bansal Manish 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVETo present our experience with 454 patients who had tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (TPCNL) over last 3 years.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom September 2004 to August 2007, all patients aged >14 years and undergoing PCNL were considered for TPCNL. Exclusion criteria were the presence of pyonephrosis, matrix calculi, significant bleeding or residual stone burden and need for three of more percutaneous accesses. These patients had a nephrostomy tube placed after PCNL (control group). The remaining patients undergoing TPCNL (study group) had antegrade ureteric stenting. Demographic and perioperative data were compared retrospectively.RESULTSOf 840 patients who had PCNL during the study period, 454 had TPCNL. The two groups had comparable demographic data except for a smaller stone burden (322.8 vs 832.2 mm2) and fewer staghorn calculi (94 vs 154) in patients undergoing TPCNL (P < 0.001). The mean number of tracts per renal unit and operative duration were statistically higher in patients undergoing standard PCNL (1.5 vs 1.1, and 68.8 vs 52.2 min, respectively). The decrease in haemoglobin, complication and stone‐free rates were comparable. TPCNL was associated with less postoperative pain, analgesia requirement and earlier discharge (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSTPCNL can be used with a favourable outcome and no increase in complications in selected patients, with the potential advantages of decreased postoperative pain, analgesia requirement and hospital stay. Its application can be extended to patients with a solitary kidney, previous ipsilateral open surgery, raised serum creatinine level, in the presence of three renal accesses or supracostal access, and in patients undergoing bilateral synchronous PCNL or contralateral endourological stone treatment.
The Challenges of Socially Responsible Investment Among Institutional Investors: Exploring the Links Between Corporate Pension Funds and Corporate Governance
Authors: VIVÓ LAURA ALBAREDA , FRANCH MARÍA ROSARIO BALAGUER 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTDuring the last few decades, globalization of finance markets has come under increasing pressure to manage the many risks that companies face due to the negative impact that certain financial crises have had on securities quoted on the stock exchange. Simultaneously, there is a growing tendency among different institutional investors to take into account nonfinancial aspects—social, environmental, and ethical values—of company management. In this respect, increasing numbers of asset managers are aware of the importance of nonfinancial aspects of company management for finance markets. Asset managers integrate corporate social responsibility, sustainability policies and corporate governance strategies as indicators in risk management and the search for long‐term investments. The largest segment of socially responsible investment (SRI) screened and mutual funds are portfolios that are privately managed on behalf of institutions. Socially responsible investors include private and public pension funds, mutual funds, and private accounts that are managed on behalf of institutional investors such as corporations, universities, hospitals, religious institutions, and nonprofit organizations, among others. The aim of this paper is to analyze the development of SRI‐screened management corporate pension plans in the Spanish finance market. Spain is one of the European countries with a less developed SRI institutional market. Since SRI is still at the fledgling stage in the Spanish institutional market, this analysis is restricted to the awareness of SRI among a sample of the total number of corporate pension funds or schemes in Spain. The paper concludes with some proposals to encourage wider SRI acceptance and practice in Spain.
Reducing Obesity: Motivating Action While Not Blaming the Victim
Authors: ADLER NANCY E. , STEWART JUDITH 
Published: March 2009

Context:The rise in obesity in the United States may slow or even reverse the long‐term trend of increasing life expectancy. Like many risk factors for disease, obesity results from behavior and shows a social gradient. Especially among women, obesity is more common among lower‐income individuals, those with less education, and some ethnic/racial minorities.Methods:This article examines the underlying assumptions and implications for policy and the interventions of the two predominant models used to explain the causes of obesity and also suggests a synthesis that avoids “blaming the victim” while acknowledging the role of individuals' health behaviors in weight maintenance.Findings:(1) The medical model focuses primarily on treatment, addressing individuals' personal behaviors as the cause of their obesity. An underlying assumption is that as independent agents, individuals make informed choices. Interventions are providing information and motivating individuals to modify their behaviors. (2) The public health model concentrates more on prevention and sees the roots of obesity in an obesogenic environment awash in influences that lead individuals to engage in health‐damaging behaviors. Interventions are modifying environmental forces through social policies. (3) There is a tension between empowering individuals to manage their weight through diet and exercise and blaming them for failure to do so. Patterns of obesity by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status highlight this tension. (4) Environments differ in their health‐promoting resources; for example, poorer communities have fewer supermarkets, more fast‐food outlets, and fewer accessible and safe recreational opportunities.Conclusions:A social justice perspective facilitates a synthesis of both models. This article proposes the concept of “behavioral justice” to convey the principle that individuals are responsible for engaging in health‐promoting behaviors but should be held accountable only when they have adequate resources to do so. This perspective maintains both individuals' control and accountability for behaviors and society's responsibility to provide health‐promoting environments.