bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Burnout in nurses – the relationship between social capital in hospitals and emotional exhaustion
Authors: Kowalski Christoph , Ommen Oliver , Driller Elke , Ernstmann Nicole , Wirtz Markus A , Köhler Thorsten , Pfaff Holger
Published: April 2010

Aims. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between a hospital’s social capital, individual decision latitude, workload and emotional exhaustion in nurses, controlling for age, sex, years of professional experience and job tenure.

Background. In western countries between 15–45% of nurses working in hospitals suffer from burnout, characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and decreased personal performance. The prevention of burnout constitutes a great challenge to those responsible for the health care system, not least because burnout may cause increasing turnover rates in nurses and lead to medical mistakes.

Design. Survey.

Method. A questionnaire was mailed to 1325 nurses working at four hospitals in east and west Germany in 2002. Nine hundred and fifty nine nurses responded (response rate: 72·4%).

Results. Logistic regression identified three significant predictors of emotional exhaustion in nurses: workload (OR: 4·523, CI: 3·230–6·333) was positively associated with emotional exhaustion. Decision latitude (OR: 0·376, CI: 0·254–0·557) and social capital in the hospitals (OR: 0·549, CI: 0·403–0·746) were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion was not affected by age, sex, years of professional experience and job tenure. Nagelkerke′s PseudoR2was 0·225.

Conclusions. The findings underline the importance of social capital and organisational development in hospital management.

Relevance to clinical practice. Efforts to create a good working atmosphere with readiness to provide mutual support and the pursuit of joint values in a hospital, the reduction of workload and increased decision latitude may prevent the development of emotional exhaustion in nurses.
Nurses’ perception of nursing workforce and its impact on the managerial outcomes in emergency departments
Authors: Hu Yi‐Chun , Chen Jih‐Chang , Chiu Hsiao‐Ting , Shen Hsi‐Che , Chang Wen‐Yin
Published: April 2010

Aims.  (1) To understand nurses’ subjective perceptions of the current nursing workforce in their emergency departments, (2) to examine the relationship between nurses’ workforce perceptions and its impact on the managerial outcomes and (3) to analyse the correlation between nurses’ characteristics and the scores on workforce perception.

Background.  While the association between workforce perceptions and nurse outcomes is well‐documented, few studies have examined how emergency department nurses perceive current workforce and related outcomes.

Design.  A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.

Method.  A self‐reported workforce perception questionnaire was used to survey 538 registered nurses in the emergency departments of 19 hospitals in northern Taiwan, during May to October 2006. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi‐square test, independent t‐test, Pearson correlation and one‐way anova.

Results.  The mean score of workforce perception was 6·28 points (total = 10 points). Both overtime (p = 0·02) and number of callbacks on days off (p = 0·01) were significantly correlated to current nursing workforce and hospital level. Older nurses tended to have more emergency department experience (r = 0·37; p = 0·01) and those with more emergency department experience tended to have vacation accumulation (r = 0·09; p = 0·04), overtime (r = 0·10; p = 0·03) and better perception of their emergency department’s current workforce (r = 0·09; p = 0·05).

Conclusions.  Although nurses’ perceptions were found to be only moderate, overtime and number of callbacks on days off are potential problems that should be addressed by nursing leaders to benefit future emergency nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings can help drive strategies to ensure adequate staffing, to stabilise the nursing workforce and to prevent nurses from burnout factors such as working long hours, unpredictable schedules and a stressful work environment that may impact both the quality of emergency care and the quality of the nurses’ work environment.
Older nursing home residents’ experiences with videoconferencing to communicate with family members
Authors: Tsai Hsiu‐Hsin , Tsai Yun‐Fang
Published: April 2010

Aim.  This study explored the experiences of older Taiwanese nursing home residents in using videoconferencing to communicate with family members.

Background.  Enhancing communication between long‐term care residents and their family is important. Interactions between residents and their family members can be increased through high‐tech videoconferencing programmes.

Design.  A qualitative, observational research design was used to gain a deeper understanding of the videoconference experiences of older nursing home residents in Taiwan.

Methods.  In‐depth interviews were used to gather information from 34 older residents at 10 nursing homes in northern Taiwan. Participants were asked to describe their three‐month experience using videoconference communication with their family in the nursing home. Participants (18 women, 16 men) had an average age of 75·38  (SD 10·19, range 60–95). Verbatim transcripts of audiotaped interviews were analysed by content analysis and Atlas.ti software.

Results.  Participants experiences using videoconference communication with family members were captured by four themes: enriched life, second‐best option for visiting, life adjustments and true picture of family life.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Our findings may enhance policy makers’ and healthcare providers’ understanding of older nursing home residents’ experience with videoconferencing to communicate with distant family members, thus guiding development and evaluation of nursing home videoconference services to improve older people’s lives in nursing homes.
Ribavirin plasma concentration is a predictor of sustained virological response in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 2/3 infection
Authors: Pedersen C. , Alsiö Å. , Lagging M. , Langeland N. , Färkkilä M. , Rauning Buhl M. , Mørch K. , Westin J. , Sangfelt P. , Norkrans G. , Brehm Christensen P. ,   for the NORDynamicIC Study Group
Published: April 2010

Summary.  In hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection, the likelihood of obtaining sustained virological response (SVR) is associated with higher ribavirin exposure. Such an association has not been demonstrated for HCV genotype 2/3 infection, where a fixed 800 mg daily dosing of ribavirin is generally recommended. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between ribavirin concentration at day 29 and therapeutic response in patients with HCV genotype 2/3 infection. A total of 382 patients were randomized to 12 or 24 weeks of treatment with pegylated interferon‐alfa 2a 180 μg weekly and 800 mg ribavirin daily. Trough plasma concentration of ribavirin was measured at day 29 and week 12 and the primary outcome was SVR (HCV‐RNA undetectable 24 weeks after treatment). Of the 382 patients, 355 had a ribavirin concentration available at day 29. SVR was 84% among patients with a ribavirin concentration ≥2 mg/L at day 29 compared to 66% in those with concentrations <2 mg/L (P = 0.002). The corresponding figures in the 12‐week treatment group were 74% and 57% (P = 0.12), and in the 24‐week treatment group 91% and 75% (P = 0.02), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, ribavirin concentration at day 29 was an independent predictor of SVR (P = 0.002). In conclusion, a higher plasma ribavirin concentration is associated with an increased likelihood of achieving SVR in HCV genotype 2/3 infection. Individualization of ribavirin dosing may be helpful in improving outcome, especially in the presence of unfavourable baseline characteristics. This, however, requires evaluation in a prospective trial.
Evidence of protection against clinical and chronic hepatitis B infection 20 years after infant vaccination in a high endemicity region
Authors: Poovorawan Y. , Chongsrisawat V. , Theamboonlers A. , Leroux‐Roels G. , Kuriyakose S. , Leyssen M. , Jacquet J.‐M.
Published: April 2010

Summary.  Vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) immediately after birth prevents neonatal infection by vertical transmission from HBV carrier mothers. There is an ongoing debate whether infant vaccination is sufficient to protect against infection when exposed to HBV later in life. We studied 222 Thai infants born to HBsAg −/+ and HBeAg −/+ mothers who were vaccinated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at 0‐1‐2‐12 months of age. A subset of 100 subjects received a booster dose at age 5 years. Blood samples collected yearly for 20 years were examined for anti‐HBs antibodies and serological markers of hepatitis B infection (anti‐HBc, HBsAg, and in selected cases HBeAg, anti‐HBe, HBV DNA). During the 20‐year follow‐up, no subject acquired new chronic HBV infection or clinical hepatitis B disease. During the first decade, possible subclinical breakthrough HBV infection (anti‐HBc seroconversion) was only observed in subjects born to HBsAg +/HBeAg + mothers (6/49 [12.2%]). During the second decade, breakthrough HBV infections were detected in all groups (18/140 [12.8%]). Increases in anti‐HBs concentrations that were unrelated to additional HBV vaccination or infection were detected in approximately 10% of subjects in each decade. Primary infant vaccination with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine confers long‐term protection against clinical disease and new chronic hepatitis B infection despite confirmed hepatitis B exposure. (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00240500 and NCT00456625)
Eukaryotic behaviour of a prokaryotic energy‐transducing membrane: fully detached vesicular organelles arise by budding from the Rhodobacter sphaeroides intracytoplasmic photosynthetic membrane
Authors: Niederman Robert A.
Published: April 2010

A major feature that distinguishes prokaryotic organisms from eukaryotes is their less complex internal structure, in which all membrane‐associated functions are thought to be present within a continuous lipid–protein bilayer, rather than with distinct organelles. Contrary to this notion, as described by Tucker and co‐workers in this issue of Molecular Microbiology, the application of cryo‐electron tomography to the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides has demonstrated a heretofore unrecognized ultrastructural complexity within the intracytoplasmic membrane (ICM) housing the photosynthetic apparatus. In addition to distinguishing invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane (CM) and interconnected vesicular structures still attached to the CM, a eukaryote‐like ICM budding process was revealed, which results in the formation of fully detached vesicular structures. These bacterial organelles are able to carry out both the light‐harvesting and light‐driven energy transduction activities necessary for the cells to assume a photosynthetic lifestyle. Their formation is shown to represent the final stage in a membrane invagination and growth process, originating with small CM indentations, which after cell disruption give rise to a membrane fraction that can be separated from mature ICM vesicles by rate‐zone sedimentation.
A dual‐function sRNA from B. subtilis: SR1 acts as a peptide encoding mRNA on the gapA operon
Authors: Gimpel Matthias , Heidrich Nadja , Mäder Ulrike , Krügel Hans , Brantl Sabine
Published: April 2010

Small non‐coding RNAs (sRNAs) have been found to regulate gene expression in all three kingdoms of life. So far, relatively little is known about sRNAs from Gram‐positive bacteria. SR1 is a regulatory sRNA from the Bacillus subtilis chromosome that inhibits by base‐pairing translation initiation of ahrC mRNA encoding a transcriptional activator of the arginine catabolic operons. Here we present a novel target of SR1, the glycolytic gapA operon. Both microarray and Northern blot analyses show that the amount of gapA operon mRNA is significantly higher in the presence of SR1 when cells were grown in complex medium until stationary phase. Translational lacZ fusions and toeprinting analyses demonstrate that SR1 does not promote translation of gapA mRNA. By contrast, the half‐life of gapA operon mRNA is strongly reduced in the sr1 knockout strain. SR1 does not act as a base‐pairing sRNA on gapA operon mRNA. Instead, we demonstrate that the 39 aa peptide encoded by SR1, SR1P, is responsible for the effect of SR1 on the gapA operon. We show that SR1P binds GapA, thereby stabilizing the gapA operon mRNA by a hitherto unknown mechanism. SR1 is the first dual‐function sRNA found in B. subtilis.
Underdeveloped embryos and germination in Aristolochia galeata seeds
Authors: Alves‐Da‐Silva D. , Borghetti F. , Thompson K. , Pritchard H. , Grime J. P.
Published: April 2010

Aristolochiaceae have been described as having seeds with underdeveloped embryos and morphological or morphophysiological dormancy. Aristolochia galeata is a native climber found in the Cerrado biome, associated with road and gallery forest edges. The aims of this study were to investigate: embryo growth rate, morphology and seed germination parameters under different treatments. Embryos were excised to obtain embryo length at four stages: initial, seeds after coat rupture, radicle tip protrusion and cotyledon emergence from the seed coat. Germination tests were conducted at 30 °C under three nitrate concentrations (1, 10 and 20 mM), fluctuating temperature (27/20 °C) and light and dark conditions. We found that seeds have underdeveloped embryos, which take about 301 ± 178 h (±SD) to achieve seed coat rupture, another 205 ± 126 h to reach radicle protrusion and 176 ± 76 h more to the final stage of cotyledon emergence. Germinability was above 52% in all treatments, except in the dark (15%). For all treatments, average germination time was above 290 ± 123 h. Potassium nitrate increased germinability to >87%. No particular treatment was required for embryo development, but seeds in the population that continued to germinate after 1 month were probably in various states of non‐deep, simple morphophysiological dormancy. Increased germinability in nitrate treatments and light requirement for germination could prevent germination under unsuitable environmental conditions and be a strategy to increase seedling establishment in the cerrado.
Distribution of lignin monomers and the evolution of lignification among lower plants
Authors: Espiñeira J. M. , Novo Uzal E. , Gómez Ros L. V. , Carrión J. S. , Merino F. , Ros Barceló A. , Pomar F.
Published: April 2010

Through application of chemical, biochemical and histochemical analyses, we provide new data on the absence/presence of syringyl lignins in the algal species Mastocarpus stellatus, Cystoseira baccata and Ulva rigida, the bryophytes Physcomitrella patens and Marchantia polymorpha, the lycophytes Selaginella martensii, Isoetes fluitans and Isoetes histrix, the sphenophyte Equisetum telmateia, the ferns Ceratopteris thalictroides, Ceratopteris cornuta, Pteridium aquilinum, Phyllitis scolopendrium and Dryopteris affinis, and the angiosperm Posidonia oceanica. Lignins, and especially syringyl lignins, are distributed from non‐vascular basal land plants, such as liverworts, to lycopods and ferns. This distribution, along with the already reported presence of syringyl lignins in ginkgoopsids, suggests that syringyl lignin is a primitive character in land plant evolution. Here, we discuss whether the pathway for sinapyl alcohol recruitment was iterative during the evolution of land plants or, alternatively, was incorporated into the earliest land plants and subsequently repressed in several basal liverworts, lycopods, equisetopsids and ferns. This last hypothesis, which is supported by recent studies of transcriptional regulation of the biosynthesis of lignins, implies that lignification originated as a developmental enabler in the peripheral tissues of protracheophytes and would only later have been co‐opted for the strengthening of tracheids in eutracheophytes.
Sensory processing and stereotypical and repetitive behaviour in children with autism and intellectual disability
Authors: Joosten Annette V. , Bundy Anita C.
Published: April 2010

Background:  Sensory processing disorders have been linked to stereotypical behaviours in children with intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to anxiety in children with ASD. In earlier phases of this study with the same participants, we found that those with both ASD and ID were more motivated than those with ID alone to engage in stereotypical behaviour to alleviate anxiety. In this phase, we confirmed that children with both ASD and ID and those with ID alone process sensation differently than typically developing children. We asked: Do the sensory processing difficulties of children with ASD and ID differ significantly from those of children with ID alone in a way that would help explain the increased anxiety of the former group?

Method:  Parents of children with ASD and ID (n = 29; mean age 9.7 years) and with ID alone (n = 23; mean age 9.5 years) completed a Sensory Profile (SP) to provide information about their children's sensory processing abilities. SP quadrant scores for each group were compared with each other and with the published norms of typically developing children.

Results:  Children with ASD and ID and with ID alone processed sensory information differently than typically developing children (P = 0.0001;d = > 2.00). Children with both ASD and ID were significantly more sensitive (P = 0.007;d = 0.70) and avoidant (P < 0.05;d = 0.47) than the children with ID alone.

Conclusion:  We conclude that increased sensitivity and the tendency to avoid sensation may help explain anxiety in children with autism.
Renal length nomogram in Hong Kong Asian children: sonographic measurement and multivariable approach
Authors: Luk Wing Hang , Lo Adrian Xu Ning , Au‐Yeung Andrea Wai San , Liu Karen Ka Yee , Woo Yip Hin , Chiang Chilene Chi Lin , Lo Kitty Kit Lin
Published: April 2010

Aim:  The purpose of our study was to build a multiple renal length nomogram for Hong Kong Asian children based on normal renal ultrasonography.

Methods:  All children below the age of 13 years, who underwent ultrasonography in a local Hospital in Hong Kong from 23 September 2008 to 31January 2009 due to melamine exposure were identified.

Results:  A total of 3031 normal children were identified. Hong Kong Asian children have smaller kidneys as compared with the Western. Age, body weight and body height are the significant factors in the multiple nomogram model of renal length. The interaction between body ln(weight) (ln stands for natural logarithm) and age as well as body height and age are also significant in the model.

Conclusion:  Our study provides a practical multiple nomogram of renal length for Hong Kong Asian children.
Justification for living donor kidney transplantation
Authors: Kanellis John
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2007

Final submission: October 2008
Psychosocial care of living kidney donors
Authors: Van Hardeveld Emma , Tong Allison
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2007

Final submission: October 2008
Surgical techniques in living donor nephrectomy
Authors: Gibbons Norma , Nicol David
Published: April 2010

Date written: September 2007

Final submission: October 2008
Assessment of donor kidney anatomy
Authors: Munn Stephen
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2007

Final submission: October 2008
Donor‐specific transfusions
Authors: Mackie Fiona
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2007

Final submission: October 2008
Endovascular treatment
Authors: MacGinley Robert , Kumar Subramanian Karthik , Mantha Murty , Mount Peter , Roberts Matthew , Mangos George
Published: April 2010

Date written: February 2009

Final submission: August 2009
Diabetes
Authors: Pedagogos Eugenie
Published: April 2010

Date written: December 2008

Final submission: September 2009
Food safety recommendations for adult kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Chadban Steven , Chan Maria , Fry Karen , Patwardhan Aditi , Ryan Catherine , Trevillian Paul , Westgarth Fidye
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2008

Final submission: June 2009
Nutritional interventions for the prevention of bone disease in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Chadban Steven , Chan Maria , Fry Karen , Patwardhan Aditi , Ryan Catherine , Trevillian Paul , Westgarth Fidye
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2008

Final submission: June 2009
Nutritional management of overweight and obesity in adult kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Chadban Steven , Chan Maria , Fry Karen , Patwardhan Aditi , Ryan Catherine , Trevillian Paul , Westgarth Fidye
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2008

Final submission: June 2009
Nutritional management of hypertension in adult kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Chadban Steven , Chan Maria , Fry Karen , Patwardhan Aditi , Ryan Catherine , Trevillian Paul , Westgarth Fidye
Published: April 2010

Date written: June 2008

Final submission: June 2009
Assessment of kidney function in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Chadban S , Howell M , Twigg S , Thomas M , Jerums G , Cass A , Campbell D , Nicholls K , Tong A , Mangos G , Stack A , MacIsaac RJ , Girgis S , Colagiuri R , Colagiuri S , Craig J
Published: April 2010

Date written: April 2009

Final submission: April 2009
Prevention and management of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes
Authors: S Chadban , M Howell , S Twigg , M Thomas , G Jerums , A Cass , D Campbell , K Nicholls , A Tong , G Mangos , A Stack , RJ MacIsaac , S Girgis , R Colagiuri , S Colagiuri , J Craig
Published: April 2010

Date written: April 2009

Final submission: April 2009
The clinical advances of fluorine‐2‐D‐deoxyglucose – positron emission tomography/computed tomography in urological cancers
Authors: Avril Norbert , Dambha Fatima , Murray Iain , Shamash Jonathan , Powles Tom , Sahdev Anju
Published: April 2010

Fluorine‐18 labeled fluorine‐2‐D‐deoxyglucose (FDG) is the most frequently used positron emission tomography (PET) probe but it has certain limitations when used in urological cancers. The introduction of co‐registered PET and computed tomography (PET/CT) represents a major advance in technology and FDG‐PET/CT has now become the new standard. The diagnostic performance of FDG‐PET and PET/CT depends on the metabolic activity of tumor tissue, which is generally low in primary renal cell and prostate cancers and often in their metastatic deposits. In contrast, both seminomatous and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors are characterized by upregulated glucose metabolism with subsequently increased FDG uptake in tumor sites. Generally, the metabolic activity provides accurate information regarding the presence of a viable tumor, except in patients with residual mature teratoma. Although bladder cancer demonstrates sufficiently increased FDG uptake, primary tumors are difficult to identify due to the renal excretion of FDG. The accuracy of FDG‐PET/CT in metabolically active metastases is generally higher compared to conventional CT except for identifying small lung deposits. With disease progression and subsequent de‐differentiation of prostate cancer, castrate resistant disease is more likely to present with lesions that have increased glucose metabolism.
Sustained activation of ERK signaling in astrocytes is critical for neuronal injury‐induced monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 production in rat corticostriatal slice cultures
Authors: Katayama Takahiro , Sakaguchi Emi , Komatsu Yosuke , Oguma Takahiro , Uehara Takashi , Minami Masabumi
Published: April 2010

We previously demonstrated that N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) treatment (50 μm, 3 h) induced astrocytic production of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1, CCL2), a CC chemokine implicated in ischemic and excitotoxic brain injury, in rat corticostriatal slice cultures. In this study, we investigated the signaling mechanisms for NMDA‐induced MCP‐1 production in slice cultures. The results showed a close correlation between NMDA‐induced neuronal injury and MCP‐1 production, and an abrogation of NMDA‐induced MCP‐1 production in NMDA‐pretreated slices where neuronal cells had been eliminated. These results collectively indicate that NMDA‐induced neuronal injury led to astrocytic MCP‐1 production. NMDA‐induced MCP‐1 production was significantly inhibited by U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK). Immunostaining for phosphorylated ERK revealed that transient neuronal ERK activation was initially induced and subsided within 30 min, followed by sustained ERK activation in astrocytes. Treatment with U0126 during only the early phase (U0126 was washed out at 15 or 30 min after NMDA administration) suppressed early activation of ERK in neuronal cells, but not later activation of ERK in astrocytes. In this case, MCP‐1 production was not suppressed, suggesting that activation of neuronal ERK is not necessary for MCP‐1 production. In contrast, delayed application of U0126 at 3 h after the beginning of NMDA treatment inhibited MCP‐1 production to the same degree as that observed when U0126 was applied from 3 h before NMDA administration. These findings suggest that sustained activation of the ERK signaling pathway in astrocytes plays a key role in neuronal injury‐induced MCP‐1 production.
High‐frequency gamma oscillations coexist with low‐frequency gamma oscillations in the rat visual cortex in vitro
Authors: Oke Olaleke O. , Magony Andor , Anver Himashi , Ward Peter D. , Jiruska Premysl , Jefferys John G. R. , Vreugdenhil Martin
Published: April 2010

Synchronization of neuronal activity in the visual cortex at low (30–70 Hz) and high gamma band frequencies (> 70 Hz) has been associated with distinct visual processes, but mechanisms underlying high‐frequency gamma oscillations remain unknown. In rat visual cortex slices, kainate and carbachol induce high‐frequency gamma oscillations (fast‐γ; peak frequency ∼ 80 Hz at 37°C) that can coexist with low‐frequency gamma oscillations (slow‐γ; peak frequency ∼ 50 Hz at 37°C) in the same column. Current‐source density analysis showed that fast‐γ was associated with rhythmic current sink‐source sequences in layer III and slow‐γ with rhythmic current sink‐source sequences in layer V. Fast‐γ and slow‐γ were not phase‐locked. Slow‐γ power fluctuations were unrelated to fast‐γ power fluctuations, but were modulated by the phase of theta (3–8 Hz) oscillations generated in the deep layers. Fast‐γ was spatially less coherent than slow‐γ. Fast‐γ and slow‐γ were dependent on γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors, α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors and gap‐junctions, their frequencies were reduced by thiopental and were weakly dependent on cycle amplitude. Fast‐γ and slow‐γ power were differentially modulated by thiopental and adenosine A1 receptor blockade, and their frequencies were differentially modulated by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, GluK1 subunit‐containing receptors and persistent sodium currents. Our data indicate that fast‐γ and slow‐γ both depend on and are paced by recurrent inhibition, but have distinct pharmacological modulation profiles. The independent co‐existence of fast‐γ and slow‐γ allows parallel processing of distinct aspects of vision and visual perception. The visual cortex slice provides a novel in vitro model to study cortical high‐frequency gamma oscillations.
Maturation of Schaffer collateral synapses generates a phenotype of unreliable basal evoked release and very reliable facilitated release
Authors: Schiess Adrian R. B. , Scullin Chessa , Donald Partridge L.
Published: April 2010

Short‐term synaptic plasticity undergoes important age‐dependent changes that have crucial implications during the development of the nervous system. Paired‐pulse facilitation is a form of short‐term synaptic plasticity by which the response to the second of two temporally‐paired stimuli is larger and more reliable than the response to the first stimulus. In this study, a paired‐pulse minimal stimulation technique was used to measure the probability and quantal amplitude of synaptic release at hippocampal synapses from 12–16‐day‐old (young) and 7–9‐week‐old (adult) rats. In order to assess the contribution of temperature‐dependent processes, we carried out experiments at both room temperature and at near physiological temperature. We report here that neither temperature nor maturation affected the low basal evoked release probability and quantal amplitude of release. However, the warmer temperature revealed a unique developmental increase in facilitated evoked release probability and quantal amplitude of release. As a result, although both basal evoked release and facilitated release are rather unreliable in synapses from young animals, the maturation process at near physiological temperature generates a phenotype with unreliable basal evoked release and highly reliable facilitated release.
Annotation and overview of the Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi NCPPB 3335 draft genome reveals the virulence gene complement of a tumour‐inducing pathogen of woody hosts
Authors: Rodríguez‐Palenzuela Pablo , Matas Isabel M. , Murillo Jesús , López‐Solanilla Emilia , Bardaji Leire , Pérez‐Martínez Isabel , Rodríguez‐Moskera Martín E. , Penyalver Ramón , López Maria M. , Quesada José M. , Biehl Bryan S. , Perna Nicole T. , Glasner Jeremy D. , Cabot Eric L. , Neeno‐Eckwall Eric , Ramos Cayo
Published: April 2010

Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi is a tumour‐inducing pathogen of Olea europaea L. causing olive knot disease. Bioinformatic analysis of the draft genome sequence of strain NCPPB 3335, which encodes 5232 predicted coding genes on a total length of 5856 998 bp and a 57.12% G + C, revealed a large degree of conservation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola 1448A and P. syringae pv. tabaci 11528. However, NCPPB 3335 contains twelve variable genomic regions, which are absent in all previously sequenced P. syringae strains. Various features that could contribute to the ability of this strain to survive in a woody host were identified, including broad catabolic and transport capabilities for degrading plant‐derived aromatic compounds, the duplication of sequences related to the biosynthesis of the phytohormone indoleacetic acid (iaaM, iaaH) and its amino acid conjugate indoleacetic acid‐lysine (iaaL gene), and the repertoire of strain‐specific putative type III secretion system effectors. Access to this seventh genome sequence belonging to the ‘P. syringae complex’ allowed us to identify 73 predicted coding genes that are NCPPB 3335‐specific. Results shown here provide the basis for detailed functional analysis of a tumour‐inducing pathogen of woody hosts and for the study of specific adaptations of a P. savastanoi pathovar.
Anatomical retro‐apical technique of synchronous (posterior and anterior) urethral transection: a novel approach for ameliorating apical margin positivity during robotic radical prostatectomy
Authors: Tewari Ashutosh K. , Srivastava Abhishek , Mudaliar Kumaran , Tan Gerald Y. , Grover Sonal , El Douaihy Youssef , Peters David , Leung Robert , Yadav Rajiv , John Majnu , Wysock James , Vaughan E. Daracott , Muir Sara , Amin Mahul B. , Rubin Mark , Tu Jiangling , Akthar Mohammed , Shevchuk Maria
Published: April 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel synchronous approach to apical dissection during robotic‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) which augments circumferential visual appreciation of the prostatic apex and membranous urethra anatomy, and assess its effect on apical margin positivity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Positive surgical margins (PSM) during RP predispose to earlier biochemical recurrence, and occur most frequently at the prostatic apex. Conventional apical transection after early ligation of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) remains suboptimal, as this approach obscures visualization of the intersection between prostatic apex and membranous urethra, leading to inadvertent apical capsulotomy and eventual margin positivity. A synchronous urethral transection commenced via a retro‐apical approach was adopted in 209 consecutive patients undergoing RARP by one surgeon (A.T.) between April to September 2009. The apical margin rates for this group were compared with those of 1665 previous patients who received conventional urethral transection via an anterior approach after DVC ligation. Outcomes were adjusted for differences in clinicopathological variables. All RP specimens were processed according to institutional protocols, and examined by dedicated genitourinary pathologists. The location of PSMs was identified as apex, posterior, posterolateral, bladder neck, anterior, base, or multifocal.

RESULTS

Patients receiving synchronous urethral transection had significantly lower apical PSM rates than the control group (1.4% vs 4.4%, P= 0.04). This marked improvement in the retro‐apical group occurred despite a significantly higher incidence of aggressive cancer (≥pT3a) documented on final specimen pathology (16% vs 10%, P= 0.027).Technical difficulty was encountered in three of 209 study patients, in whom urethral transection had to be completed using the classic anterior approach.

CONCLUSION

Improved circumferential visualization of the prostatic apex, membranous urethra and their anatomical intersection facilitates precise dissection of the apex and its surrounding neural scaffold, and optimizes membranous urethral preservation. This has significantly ameliorated apical PSM rates in patients undergoing RARP, despite having to deal with more aggressive cancer on final specimen pathology.
Not by Rent Alone: Analysing the Pro‐Poor Functions of Small‐Scale Fisheries in Developing Countries
Authors: Béné Christophe , Hersoug Bjørn , Allison Edward H.
Published: April 2010

The dominant view in academic and policy arenas is increasingly one in which the major contribution of capture fisheries to development should be derived from the capacity of society to maximise the economic rent of fishery resources. Drawing upon empirical experience from the South, this article highlights the potentially disastrous consequences that a universal implementation of the rent‐maximisation model would have in developing countries, and argues that a more gradual approach would be preferable. The welfare function of small‐scale fisheries, namely, their capacities to provide labour and cash income to resource‐poor households, should be preserved until the appropriate macroeconomic conditions for rent‐maximisation and redistribution are fulfilled.
Using Farmers' Preferences to Assess Development Policy: A Case Study of Uganda
Authors: James Philip A. S.
Published: April 2010

As part of ongoing economic reforms, the Ugandan government implemented the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) targeted at reducing rural poverty. This article demonstrates the application of a stated preference method using a choice experiment conducted in 9 sub‐counties to assess farmers' preferences for adaptation options and identify areas of the PMA requiring reform to improve its effectiveness. This research shows the importance of microfinance, agricultural extension systems and basic education in farmers' adaptation decisions, and highlights a crucial need to improve local engagement in decision‐making. A potentially problematic contradiction between farmers' preferences and some interventions proposed under the PMA is identified.
‘Something to talk about’: notation and knowledge‐making among Central Slovak lace‐makers
Authors: Makovicky Nicolette
Published: April 2010

Notational systems are useful devices for recording the movements of craftspeople, dancers, and artists. Because of the predominantly haptic nature of their skills, these practitioners experience difficulty in verbalizing descriptions of their work and instructions to fellow artisans. For lace‐makers, notation is an effective way of sharing information about the ways a given design is made across generations and community boundaries. But because notation separates procedure from practice and extricates craftwork from its geographical, social, and historical context, it has direct consequences for the ways lace‐makers understand skill, proficiency, and design composition. By making craft practice the subject of conversation, notation implicates lace‐making in a political economy of knowledge that assigns differential values to different stages of the production process, thereby elevating some ways of knowing above others. Indeed, notation and codification call into question the very agency of the craftswomen as professionals and carriers of local cultural tradition. Based on continuing ethnographic fieldwork among lace‐makers in Central Slovakia, this paper analyses the impact of notational use on lace‐makers' thinking about their craft knowledge and skill, and, by extension, issues of local style and cultural heritage.

Les systèmes de notation sont des instruments utiles pour enregistrer les mouvements des artisans, des danseurs et des artistes. De par la nature principalement haptique de leurs compétences, ces praticiens ont des difficultés à verbaliser leur travail et leur instructions à leurs collègues. Chez les dentellières, la notation est un moyen efficace de partager des informations sur la manière de réaliser un dessin donné, d’une génération à l’autre et au‐delà des limites de la communauté. Mais parce qu’elle sépare la procédure de la pratique et extrait l’artisanat de son contexte géographique, social et historique, la notation a des conséquences directes sur la manière dont les dentellières comprennent la compétence, la maîtrise et la composition des dessins. En faisant de la pratique artisanale un sujet de conversation, la notation implique la dentellerie dans une économie politique des connaissances qui attribue des valeurs différenciées aux différentes étapes du processus de production et élève ainsi certaines manières de savoir au‐dessus des autres. De fait, la notation et la codification remettent en question l’agencéité même des artisanes en tant que professionnelles et porteuses d’une tradition culturelle locale. Basé sur un travail de terrain ethnographique en cours chez les dentellières du centre de la Slovaquie, l’article analyse l’impact de l’utilisation de la notation sur la façon dont les dentellières pensent leur savoir et leurs compétences et, par extension, sur les questions de style local et de patrimoine culturel.
Learning to weave; weaving to learn ... what?
Authors: Venkatesan Soumhya
Published: April 2010

This paper places the anthropology of learning in conversation with the anthropology of work by unpacking the interrelationship between the processes by which a skill is learned and knowledge about the skill, its possibilities and ramifications. The paper's ethnographic focus is the Labbai mat‐weavers of Pattamadai town in South India, who are ambivalent about being weavers. It contrasts this ambivalence with the excitement that weaving generated in a development practitioner who sought to promote the weaving industry and who also learned how to weave. The same skill is approached differently by different kinds of persons: they understand and learn different things. Learning and knowing cannot be easily separated. By focusing on the various purposes and modes of learning, on the social production of knowledge, and on instances of communication and miscommunication, the paper explores the embodied and historicized production of knowledge by different kinds of person: the mat‐weavers, the development professional, and, to a certain extent, an anthropologist.

Le présent article confronte l’anthropologie de l’apprentissage à l’anthropologie du travail en révélant les relations entre les processus d’acquisition d’une compétence et la connaissance de cette compétence, de ses possibilités et de ses ramifications. Le sujet ethnographique de l’article concerne les tisserands de tapis Labbai de la ville de Pattamadai, dans le Sud de l’Inde, qui ont une attitude ambivalente vis‐à‐vis de leur statut de tisserands. L’auteur met en regard cette ambivalence et l’intérêt éveillé par le tissage chez un intervenant en développement qui cherchait à promouvoir l’artisanat du tissage et avait même appris à tisser. La même compétence est approchée différemment par différentes sortes de personnes : celles‐ci voient et comprennent des choses différentes. L’apprentissage et la connaissance ne peuvent pas être facilement dissociés. En se concentrant sur les différents buts et modes de l’apprentissage, sur la production sociale de connaissance et sur des cas de communication bien et mal menée, l’article explore la production incorporée et historicisée de connaissances par différentes sortes de personnes : les tisserands, le professionnel du développement et, dans une certaine mesure, l’anthropologue.
Reflections on knowledge practices and the problem of ignorance
Authors: Dilley Roy
Published: April 2010

Much anthropological literature regards ‘knowledge’ as an unproblematic accumulation of what people claim to know about the world, their social relations, cosmology, and practices. The flip‐side to knowledge, namely ignorance, however, is rarely considered. To speak of knowledge deprived of its relation to ignorance is like speaking of velocity devoid of a notion of distance. The paper explores what an anthropological conception of ignorance might look like. It reflects on the problem of ignorance in anthropological theories of knowledge, and illustrates the issues with a case study of the knowledge practices of Senegalese craftspeople and French colonial officers and administrators in West Africa.

Une grande partie de la littérature anthropologique considère les « connaissances » comme une accumulation de ce que les gens disent savoir du monde, de leurs relations sociales, de leur cosmologie et de leurs pratiques, et cette accumulation ne pose aucune difficulté. Le revers de la médaille, à savoir l’ignorance, est pour sa part rarement étudié. Or parler des connaissances en les privant de leur relation à l’ignorance équivaut à parler de vitesse sans notion de distance. L’article explore ce que pourrait être une conception anthropologique de l’ignorance. Il questionne la problématique de l’ignorance dans les théories anthropologiques de la connaissance et illustre son propos par une étude de cas des pratiques du savoir chez les artisans sénégalais et les officiers et administrateurs coloniaux français en Afrique de l’Ouest.
The impact of the global financial crisis on social protection in developing countries
Authors: McCord Anna
Published: April 2010

The global financial crisis has had a devastating effect on poverty levels in developing countries, and the social protection response to date, in the form of social assistance, has been limited, constrained by the weak systems and low coverage of pre‐existing provision. Developing countries have struggled to honour pre‐crisis social protection policy commitments due to declining revenues, and in this context the potential for expanding coverage to assist those further impoverished and the “new poor” are remote. Despite the expansionary fiscal stance adopted by many developing countries, the focus of policy responses to the crisis has been on protecting and stimulating growth. The focus has not been on social protection provision to assist the poor directly. Where social protection interventions have been made they have, in many cases, been limited to ad hoc and often regressive interventions such as generalized food or fuel subsidies, rather than more systemic and pro‐poor interventions. However, there may be some scope for optimism, as the crisis has stimulated a number of initiatives to promote donor coordination and programming coherence, which may result in improvements in the efficiency and impact of future social protection programming.
Social security in times of crisis
Authors: Bonnet Florence , Ehmke Ellen , Hagemejer Krzysztof
Published: April 2010

To counter the negative social consequences of the present crisis, States must take measures to provide income support and new employment opportunities to affected workers and their families. This article reviews crisis responses in a number of countries with respect to support from unemployment programmes, the branch of social security most directly affected by economic downturn. It also discusses the trade offs that all social security schemes face during economic crises, when revenues from contributions or taxes earmarked to finance programmes fall and expenditures on benefits rise. In turn, concerns about pension policies receive special attention. The article concludes by discussing the initiative, launched by the United Nations, for a global “social protection floor”: to extend, at the very least, basic social protection to the large majority of the world's population who are currently without and who remain vulnerable to all economic and social risks.
Skin improvement and stability ofEchinacea purpureadermatological formulations
Authors: Yotsawimonwat S. , Rattanadechsakul J. , Rattanadechsakul P. , Okonogi S.
Published: April 2010

Synopsis

Echinacea purpureacontains many beneficial constituents for protection of skin from oxidative stress and for improving hydration of skin. This study aimed to investigate the stability and dermatological efficacy ofE. purpureacream and gel.Echinacea purpureaextract was incorporated into suitable cream and gel bases. Stability of the extract in the formulations was investigated by determining its residual total phenolic content and antioxidant activity after storage at 4°C, 30°C and 40°C for 6 months. The effect of those formulations on skin irritation, hydration level and wrinkle reduction was evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers, aged 25–40 years. The shelf lives ofE. purpureacream and gel in terms of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were only 2 and 4 months respectively at 4°C and could be extended up to 7 months by incorporation of α‐tocopherol or disodium editate. The corneometer hydration indices increased up to 10.6 AU and 11.4 AU, and the wrinkles decreased 9.47% and 14.92% because of the application ofE. purpureacream and gel for 1 month. Both formulations showed no irritation to skin.Echinacea purpureacream and gel developed in this study were effective in improving skin hydration and reducing wrinkle, but showed low storage stability.
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine: unique behaviour in solution and in hair care formulations
Authors: Minguet M. , Subirats N. , Castán P. , Sakai T.
Published: April 2010

Synopsis

The rise of ecological awareness among consumers and industry has impacted the cationic surfactants market. The most used cationic surfactants present some drawbacks in this sense. Therefore, new molecules are being studied and developed which fulfil eco‐toxicological requirements without losing performance. One of these surfactants is Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine (BAPDMA). This biodegradable amidoamine, which converts into a cationic surfactant at acidic pH, shows outstanding water solubility, despite its very long alkyl chain. Its behaviour in solution has been exhaustively studied. The conditioning performance of this product is superior to that of commonly used cationic surfactants, providing a superior sensorial profile and improved combing force reductions on hair. Moreover, other applications for this product in the non‐ionic form have been studied, such as conditioning agent in 2 in 1 shampoos, where it also shows colour protection effects, and as gelling agent in hair colouration creams. This multifunctional and high performance profile, together with an improved biodegradation and aquatic toxicity compared with currently used cationic surfactants, make this product a very interesting eco‐friendly alternative for the hair care market.