Nonparametric measures of the impact of public research expenditures on Australian broadacre agriculture

Nonparametric methods are used to measure the impact of public research expenditures on Australian broadacre agriculture over the 1953–94 period. Results using both unrestricted and 30‐year lagged specifications of the research impacts on productivity suggest that while certain aspects of the nonparametric multi‐input/output technologies are quite robust to alternative specifications (in particular, the associated Malmquist total factor productivity indexes), other aspects are less stable (in particular, the indexes on input and, to a lesser extent, output biased technical change). Internal rates of return to research expenditures on Australian broadacre agriculture are estimated to be in the 12 per cent to 20 per cent range.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Development of a Next-Generation NIL Library in Arabidopsis Thaliana for Dissecting Complex Traits

The identification of the loci and specific alleles underlying variation in quantitative traits is an important goal for evolutionary biologists and breeders. Despite major advancements in genomics technology, moving from QTL to causal alleles remains a major challenge in genetics research. Near-isogenic lines are the ideal raw material for QTL validation, refinement of QTL location and, ultimately, gene discovery. Results: In this study, a population of 75 Arabidopsis thaliana near-isogenic lines was developed from an existing recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between physiologically divergent accessions Kas-1 and Tsu-1. First, a novel algorithm was developed to utilize genome-wide marker data in selecting RILs fully isogenic to Kas-1 for a single chromosome. Seven such RILs were used in 2 generations of crossing to Tsu-1 to create BC1 seed. BC1 plants were genotyped with SSR markers so that lines could be selected that carried Kas-1 introgressions, resulting in a population carrying chromosomal introgressions spanning the genome. BC1 lines were genotyped with 48 genome-wide SSRs to identify lines with a targeted Kas-1 introgression and the fewest genomic introgressions elsewhere. 75 such lines were selected and genotyped at an additional 41 SNP loci and another 930 tags using 2b-RAD genotyping by sequencing. The final population carried an average of 1.35 homozygous and 2.49 heterozygous introgressions per line with average introgression sizes of 5.32 and 5.16 Mb, respectively. In a simple case study, we demonstrate the advantage of maintaining heterozygotes in our library whereby fine-mapping efforts are conducted simply by self-pollination. Crossovers in the heterozygous interval during this single selfing generation break the introgression into smaller, homozygous fragments (sub-NILs). Additionally, we utilize a homozygous NIL for validation of a QTL underlying stomatal conductance, a low heritability trait. Conclusions: The present results introduce a new and valuable resource to the Brassicaceae research community that enables rapid fine-mapping of candidate loci in parallel with QTL validation. These attributes along with dense marker coverage and genome-wide chromosomal introgressions make this population an ideal starting point for discovery of genes underlying important complex traits of agricultural and ecological significance.NSF DEB-1022196, DEB-0618302, DEB-0618347, IOS-09221457Integrative Biolog

Sex-Based Differences in Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background: While sex-based differences in outcomes after hip arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) are often recorded, no studies have been dedicated to analyzing the literature as a whole. Purpose: To investigate whether sex is a predictor of outcomes in studies evaluating hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Ovid, and PubMed Central databases for English-language studies that evaluated sex-specific outcomes in human populations. The search terms used were as follows: (“Hip Arthroscopy”) AND (“Femoroacetabular Impingement” OR “FAI”) AND (“Sex” OR “Gender” OR “Male” OR “Female”). Studies with evidence levels 2 through 4 were included. The studies were then screened, followed by data extraction. Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) outcomes and return-to-sport (RTS) rates were recorded. These were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was calculated using the I2 statistic. Results: Of 256 full-text articles screened, 48 articles were included in this analysis; of these, 14 studies (29%) concluded that female sex was a negative predictor of postoperative outcomes, while 6 studies (13%) found female sex to be positive predictor. The remaining 28 studies (58%) found no sex-based differences in postoperative outcomes. Of 7 studies (416 male and 519 female) included in the mHHS analysis, 2 studies concluded that male patients had significantly higher postoperative mHHS scores. Of 6 studies (502 male and 396 female) included in the RTS analysis, 1 study concluded that male patients had a significantly higher RTS rate. Conclusion: Almost one-third of the included studies determined that female sex was a negative predictor of postoperative outcomes, 13% found female sex to be a positive predictor, and 58% found no sex-based differences. Our study illustrates an insufficiency of high-level evidence supporting sex-specific differences in outcomes after hip arthroscopic surgery, but findings indicated that the postoperative mHHS score and RTS rate may be influenced by sex

Angiographically silent atherosclerosis detected by intravascular ultrasound in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia: Correlation with high density lipoproteins

AbstractObjectives. This study sought to evaluate the extent of atherosclerosis in coronary and iliac arteries in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or familial combined hyperlipidemia, using intravascular ultraound imaging.Background. Intravascular ultrasound imaging provides cross-sectional tomographic views of the vessel wall and allows quantitative assessment of atherosclerosis.Methods. Forty-eight nonsmoking, asymptomatic patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or familial combined hyperlipidemia underwent intravascular ultrasound imaging of the left anterior descending coronary, left main coronary and common iliac arteries. Angiography showed only minimal or no narrowing in these vessels. Intravascular ultrasound images obtained during catheter pullback underwent morphometric analysis. Plaque burden was expressed as the mean and maximal intimal index (ratio of plaque area and area within the internal elastic lamina) and as the percent of vessel surface covered by plaque.Results. Intravascular ultrasound detected plaque more frequently than angiography in the left anterior descending (80% vs. 29%, respectively), left main (44% vs. 16%) and iliac arteries (33% vs. 27%). Plaque burden was higher in the left anterior descending (mean intimal index [±SD] 0.25 ± 0.16) than in the left main (0.11 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) and iliac arteries (0.02 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). Angiography detected lumen narrowing only in coronary arteries with a maximal intimal index ⪰0.42 (left anterior descending artery) and ⪰0.43 (left main artery). The area within the internal elastic lamina increased with plaque area in the left anterior descending (r = 0.82, p < 0.001) and left main arteries (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). By stepwise multiple regression analysis, the strongest predictor for plaque burden in the left anterior descending artery was the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol ratio for the left main artery.Conclusions. In patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia, extensive coronary plaque is present despite minimal or no angiographic changes. Compensatory vessel enlargement and diffuse involvement with eccentric plaque may account for the lack of angiographic changes. Levels of HDL cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol ratio are far more powerful predictors of coronary plaque burden than are low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in these patients with early, asymptomatic disease

Surgical protocol violations in children with renal tumors provides an opportunity to improve pediatric cancer care: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of surgical protocol violations (SPVs) among children undergoing surgery for renal tumors who were enrolled on the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) renal tumor biology and classification study AREN03B2.MethodsAREN03B2 was opened in February 2006, and as on March 31, 2013, there were 3,664 eligible patients. The surgical review forms for 3,536 patients with unilateral disease were centrally reviewed for SPVs. The frequency, type, number of violations, institutional prevalence, and quartiles for SPVs were assessed.ResultsOf the 3,536 patients, there were a total of 505 with at least one SPV (564 total SPVs reported), for an overall incidence of 14.28%. The types of SPVs included a lack of lymph node sampling in 365 (64.7%), avoidable spill in 61 (10.8%), biopsy immediately before nephrectomy in 89 (15.8%), an incorrect abdominal incision in 32 (5.7%), and unnecessary resection of organs in 17 (3.0%). The SPVs occurred in 163 of 215 participating institutions (75.8%). For centers with at least one SPV, the mean number of SPVs reported was 3.10 ± 2.39 (mean ± standard deviation). The incidence of protocol violation per institution ranged from 0 to 67%. Centers with an average of ≤1 case/year had an incidence of SPVs of 12.2 ± 3.8%, those with an average of >1 to 0.05).ConclusionsSPVs that potentially result in additional exposure to chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not uncommon in children undergoing resection of renal malignancies.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134088/1/pbc26083.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134088/2/pbc26083_am.pd

Development of a next-generation NIL library in Arabidopsis thaliana for dissecting complex traits

Background: The identification of the loci and specific alleles underlying variation in quantitative traits is an important goal for evolutionary biologists and breeders. Despite major advancements in genomics technology, moving from QTL to causal alleles remains a major challenge in genetics research. Near-isogenic lines are the ideal raw material for QTL validation, refinement of QTL location and, ultimately, gene discovery. Results: In this study, a population of 75 Arabidopsis thaliana near-isogenic lines was developed from an existing recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between physiologically divergent accessions Kas-1 and Tsu-1. First, a novel algorithm was developed to utilize genome-wide marker data in selecting RILs fully isogenic to Kas-1 for a single chromosome. Seven such RILs were used in 2 generations of crossing to Tsu-1 to create BC1 seed. BC1 plants were genotyped with SSR markers so that lines could be selected that carried Kas-1 introgressions, resulting in a population carrying chromosomal introgressions spanning the genome. BC1 lines were genotyped with 48 genome-wide SSRs to identify lines with a targeted Kas-1 introgression and the fewest genomic introgressions elsewhere. 75 such lines were selected and genotyped at an additional 41 SNP loci and another 930 tags using 2b-RAD genotyping by sequencing. The final population carried an average of 1.35 homozygous and 2.49 heterozygous introgressions per line with average introgression sizes of 5.32 and 5.16 Mb, respectively. In a simple case study, we demonstrate the advantage of maintaining heterozygotes in our library whereby fine-mapping efforts are conducted simply by self-pollination. Crossovers in the heterozygous interval during this single selfing generation break the introgression into smaller, homozygous fragments (sub-NILs). Additionally, we utilize a homozygous NIL for validation of a QTL underlying stomatal conductance, a low heritability trait. Conclusions: The present results introduce a new and valuable resource to the Brassicaceae research community that enables rapid fine-mapping of candidate loci in parallel with QTL validation. These attributes along with dense marker coverage and genome-wide chromosomal introgressions make this population an ideal starting point for discovery of genes underlying important complex traits of agricultural and ecological significance.Keywords: Stomatal conductance, Quantitative trait loci, 2b-RAD, Fine-mappingKeywords: Stomatal conductance, Quantitative trait loci, 2b-RAD, Fine-mappin

Reversal of graft-versus-host disease with infusion of autologous bone marrow

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major complication of bone marrow transplantation. This report describes reversal of GVHD by infusion of stored recipient bone marrow following combined liver-bone marrow allotransplantation. Graft-versus-host disease developed at the end of the first postoperative week. The skin involvement progressively spread to approximately 80% of the body surface and was not affected by modification of the immunosuppressive treatment. On the 42nd and 43rd postoperative day 1.23 × 108 and 1.6 × 108 autologous bone marrow cells per kg of recipient body weight were infused. The skin rush began to dramatically improve and resolved within 2 wk from the autologous marrow infusion. Autologous bone marrow storage previous to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for tolerance induction could constitute a safety net in case of occurrence of GVHD. © 1994

Faith Integration in the Classroom: A Plural View

The topic of faith integration has been of interest to the higher education community for almost two centuries. Ten professors from ten different business schools collaborated during a Best Practices in College Teaching course to discuss faith integration, its importance in Christian universities, and ideas on implementation. Their writings on the topic were combined to form a guide to operationalizing faith integration. The resulting article seeks to demonstrate the imperative nature of integration within religious universities, focusing on schools of business. Practical ways of incorporating faith are also discussed, including three dimensions of integration. Assessment ideas and project proposals are included as well to aid professors in implementation

Results of Treatment for Patients With Multicentric or Bilaterally Predisposed Unilateral Wilms Tumor (AREN0534): A report from the Children’s Oncology Group

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156248/2/cncr32958_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156248/1/cncr32958.pd