bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant traits mediate consumer and nutrient control on plant community productivity and diversity
Authors: Eskelinen Anu , Harrison Susan , Tuomi Maria
Published: June 2012

The interactive effects of consumers and nutrients on terrestrial plant communities, and the role of plant functional traits in mediating these responses, are poorly known. We carried out a six‐year full‐factorial field experiment using mammalian herbivore exclusion and fertilization in two habitat types (fertile and infertile alpine tundra heaths) that differed in plant functional traits related to resource acquisition and palatability. Infertile habitats were dominated by species with traits indicative of a slow‐growing strategy: high C:N ratio, low specific leaf area, and high condensed tannins. We found that herbivory counteracted the effect of fertilization on biomass, and that this response differed between the two habitats and was correlated with plant functional traits. Live biomass dominated the treatment responses in infertile habitats, whereas litter accumulation dominated the treatment responses in fertile habitats and was strongly negatively associated with resident community tannin concentration. Species richness declined under herbivore exclusion and fertilization in fertile habitats, where litter accumulation was greatest. Community means of plant C:N ratio predicted treatment effects on diversity: fertilization decreased and herbivory increased dominance in communities originally dominated by plants with high C:N, while fertilization increased and herbivory diminished dominance in communities where low C:N species were abundant. Our results highlight the close interdependence between consumer effects, soil nutrients, and plant functional traits and suggest that plant traits may provide an improved understanding of how consumers and nutrients influence plant community productivity and diversity.
Unemployment and Mortality: A Comparative Study of Germany and the United States
Authors: McLeod Christopher B. , Lavis John N. , MacNab Ying C. , Hertzman Clyde
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined the relationship between unemployment and mortality in Germany, a coordinated market economy, and the United States, a liberal market economy.

Methods. We followed 2 working-age cohorts from the German Socio-economic Panel and the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics from 1984 to 2005. We defined unemployment as unemployed at the time of survey. We used discrete-time survival analysis, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results. There was an unemployment–mortality association among Americans (relative risk [RR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7, 3.4), but not among Germans (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.0, 2.0). In education-stratified models, there was an association among minimum-skilled (RR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.4, 4.7) and medium-skilled (RR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.5, 3.8) Americans, but not among minimum- and medium-skilled Germans. There was no association among high-skilled Americans, but an association among high-skilled Germans (RR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.3, 7.0), although this was limited to those educated in East Germany. Minimum- and medium-skilled unemployed Americans had the highest absolute risks of dying.

Conclusions. The higher risk of dying for minimum- and medium-skilled unemployed Americans, not found among Germans, suggests that the unemployment–mortality relationship may be mediated by the institutional and economic environment.
Elevated Risk of Posttraumatic Stress in Sexual Minority Youths: Mediation by Childhood Abuse and Gender Nonconformity
Authors: Roberts Andrea L. , Rosario Margaret , Corliss Heather L. , Koenen Karestan C. , Austin S. Bryn
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined whether lifetime risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was elevated in sexual minority versus heterosexual youths, whether childhood abuse accounted for disparities in PTSD, and whether childhood gender nonconformity explained sexual-orientation disparities in abuse and subsequent PTSD.

Methods. We used data from a population-based study (n = 9369, mean age = 22.7 years) to estimate risk ratios for PTSD. We calculated the percentage of PTSD disparities by sexual orientation accounted for by childhood abuse and gender nonconformity, and the percentage of abuse disparities by sexual orientation accounted for by gender nonconformity.

Results. Sexual minorities had between 1.6 and 3.9 times greater risk of probable PTSD than heterosexuals. Child abuse victimization disparities accounted for one third to one half of PTSD disparities by sexual orientation. Higher prevalence of gender nonconformity before age 11 years partly accounted for higher prevalence of abuse exposure before age 11 years and PTSD by early adulthood in sexual minorities (range = 5.2%–33.2%).

Conclusions. Clinicians, teachers, and others who work with youths should consider abuse prevention and treatment measures for gender-nonconforming children and sexual minority youths.
Gender Abuse, Depressive Symptoms, and HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male-to-Female Transgender Persons: A Three-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Nuttbrock Larry , Bockting Walter , Rosenblum Andrew , Hwahng Sel , Mason Mona , Macri Monica , Becker Jeffrey
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined gender abuse and depressive symptoms as risk factors for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (HIV/STI) among male-to-female transgender persons (MTFs).

Methods. We conducted a 3-year prospective study of factors associated with incident HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, chlamydia, and gonorrhea among 230 MTFs from the New York Metropolitan Area. Statistical techniques included Cox proportional hazards analysis with time varying covariates.

Results. Among younger MTFs (aged 19–30 years), gender abuse predicted depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression score ≥ 20), and gender abuse combined with depressive symptoms predicted both high-risk sexual behavior (unprotected receptive anal intercourse) and incident HIV/STI. These associations were independent of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, hormone therapy, and sexual reassignment surgery.

Conclusions. Gender abuse is a fundamental distal risk factor for HIV/STI among younger MTFs. Interventions for younger MTFs are needed to reduce the psychological impact of gender abuse and limit the effects of this abuse on high-risk sexual behavior. Age differences in the impact of gender abuse on HIV/STI suggest the efficacy of peer-based interventions in which older MTFs teach their younger counterparts how to cope with this abuse.
Disparities in Fetal Death and First Day Death: The Influence of Risk Factors in 2 Time Periods
Authors: Wingate Martha S. , Barfield Wanda D. , Petrini Joann , Ruben Smith
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined how changes in risk factors over time influence fetal, first day, and combined fetal–first day mortality and subsequent racial/ethnic disparities.

Methods. We selected deliveries to US resident non-Hispanic White and Black mothers from the linked live birth–infant death cohort and fetal deaths files (1995–1996; 2001–2002) and calculated changes over time of mortality rates, odds, and relative odds ratios (RORs) overall and among mothers with modifiable risk factors (smoking, diabetes, or hypertensive disorders).

Results. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for fetal mortality overall (AOR = 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96, 1.01) and among Blacks (AOR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.93, 1.03) indicated no change over time. Among women with modifiable risk factors, the RORs indicated no change in disparities. The ROR was not significant for fetal mortality (ROR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.83, 1.01) among smokers, but there was evidence of some decline. There was evidence of increase in RORs in fetal death among mothers with diabetes and hypertensive disorders, but differences were not significant.

Conclusions. Disparities in fetal, first day, and combined fetal–first day mortality have persisted and reflect discrepancies in care provision or other factors more challenging to measure.
Educating Health Care Professionals in Advocacy for Childhood Obesity Prevention in Their Communities: Integrating Public Health and Primary Care in the Be Our Voice Project
Authors: McPherson Marianne E. , Mirkin Rachelle , Heatherley Priya Nair , Homer Charles J.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We assessed the perceived need for and the effectiveness of the Be Our Voice advocacy training. In this training, health care professionals learned public health strategies to advocate for environmental systems changes to prevent childhood obesity in their communities.

Methods. We assessed 13 trainings across 8 pilot sites. We conducted 2 rounds of surveys with participants—pre-training (n = 287, 84% response rate) and immediately post-training (n = 254, 75% response rate)—and semi-structured interviews with participants after training (n = 25).

Results. We uncovered essential and promising elements of the training. Primary care providers found the Be Our Voice training effective at building their comfort with and motivation for engaging in public health advocacy; they reported achieving learning objectives, and they had positive responses to the training overall and to specific sessions. They articulated the need for the training and plans for advocacy in their communities.

Conclusions. The Be Our Voice training provides an opportunity to integrate primary care providers into public health, community-based advocacy. It may be a model for future educational offerings for health care professionals in graduate and postgraduate training and in practice.
Screen-Capture Instructional Technology: A Cognitive Tool for Designing a Blended Multimedia Curriculum
Authors: Smith Jeffrey G. , Smith Rita L.
Published: June 2012

Online instruction has been demonstrated to increase the academic achievement for post-secondary students; however, little empirical investigation has been conducted on high school students learning from online multimedia instruction in the traditional classroom. This study investigated the knowledge acquisition, transfer, and favorability of secondary students using a teacher's screen-capture instructional technology. A two-group experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted on secondary students enrolled in two computer aided design (CAD) classes. Total scores on the posttests were significantly higher for students in the screen-capture group ( M = 9.71) than those in the textbook group ( M = 7.83), F(1, 48) = 4.79, p < .05, partial η2 = .09. Additionally, 88.2% of the students surveyed preferred learning from the multimedia instruction over written text. This study implies that a teacher's screen-capture multimedia instruction can be used toward establishing a blended learning environment.
Relations between Technology, Parent Education, Self-Confidence, and Academic Aspiration of Hispanic Immigrant Students
Authors: Park Haeseong , Lawson Daniel , Williams Helen Easterling
Published: June 2012

The purpose of this project is to test a theoretical model explaining the relationship between technology use, parent educational background, academic aspiration, and self-confidence as predictors of mathematics achievement across three immigrant groups. This study utilized data from the TIMSS 2007. To compare the effect size of technology use, multi-group analyses of the path model were performed with Analysis of Moment Structures. The result shows that later immigrated students' technology use is positively related to their mathematics performance. They may gain more benefits from technology use than moderately or early immigrated student groups. It is reasoned that later immigrated Hispanic students may reduce their learning hindrance associated with cultural barriers or limited English proficiency by using educational technology. Enhancement in the investment of educational technology into this subgroup may narrow the achievement gap between later immigrated, moderately immigrated, and early immigrated students.
Understanding the Effectiveness of Online Peer Assessment: A Path Model
Authors: Lu Jingyan , Zhang Zhidong
Published: June 2012

Peer assessment has been implemented in schools as both a learning tool and an assessment tool. Earlier studies have explored the effectiveness of peer assessment from different perspectives, such as domain knowledge and skills, peer assessment skills, and attitude changes. However, there is no holistic model describing the effects of cognitive and affective feedback, grading, and prior knowledge, and earlier studies often discuss learning outcomes without ascribing them to particular causes. Moreover, few studies have differentiated between the effects of peer assessment on both assessors and assessees. This study used a path model to investigate how two online peer-assessment activities—rubric-based assessment and peer feedback—affected the learning performance of assessors and assessees. One hundred and eighty-one high school students engaged in peer assessment via an online system—iLAP. Several path models were tested and we found that the original model did not fit when the variable of cognitive feedback from peers was included. The best fit model was the one in which direct paths from cognitive feedback from peers and student exam scores in a prior Humanities course were removed.
A Mindfulness Course Decreases Burnout and Improves Well-Being among Healthcare Providers
Authors: Goodman Matthew J. , Schorling John B.
Published: June 2012

Objective:

Healthcare providers are under increasing stress and work-related burnout has become common. Mindfulness-based interventions have a potential role in decreasing stress and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine if a continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction could decrease burnout and improve mental well-being among healthcare providers, from different professions.

Design:

This was a pre-post observational study conducted in a university medical center. A total of 93 healthcare providers, including physicians from multiple specialties, nurses, psychologists, and social workers who practiced in both university and community settings, participated. The intervention was a continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction that met 2.5 hours a week for 8 weeks plus a 7-hour retreat. The classes included training in four types of formal mindfulness practices, including the body scan, mindful movement, walking meditation and sitting meditation, as well as discussion focusing on the application of mindfulness at work. The course was offered 11 times over 6 years. The main outcome measures were work-related burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory and self-perceived mental and physical well-being as measured by the SF-12v2.

Results:

Maslach Burnout Inventory scores improved significantly from before to after the course for both physicians and other healthcare providers for the Emotional Exhaustion ( p < 0.03), Depersonalization ( p < 0.04), and Personal Accomplishment ( p < 0.001) scales. Mental well-being measured by the SF12v2 also improved significantly ( p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the SF12v2 physical health scores.

Conclusion:

A continuing education course based on mindfulness-based stress reduction was associated with significant improvements in burnout scores and mental well-being for a broad range of healthcare providers.
The Association between Childhood Adversity and Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults with Mood Disorders: Results from the International Mood Disorders Collaborative Project
Authors: McIntyre Roger S. , Soczynska Joanna K. , Liauw Samantha S. , Woldeyohannes Hanna O. , Brietzke Elisa , Nathanson Jay , Alsuwaidan Mohammed , Muzina David J. , Taylor Valerie H. , Cha Danielle S. , Kennedy Sidney H.
Published: June 2012

Objective:

We sought to determine whether a reported history of childhood adversity is associated with components of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP-III)-defined metabolic syndrome in adults with mood disorders.

Method:

This was a cross-sectional analysis of adult outpatients ( n = 373; n = 230 female, n = 143 male; mean age [ SD]=42.86 [14.43]) from the International Mood Disorders Collaborative Project (University of Toronto and Cleveland Clinic) with DSM-IV-defined major depressive disorder and bipolar I/II disorder. Childhood adversity was measured with the Klein Trauma & Abuse-Neglect self-report scale. The groups with and without childhood adversity were compared to determine possible differences in the rates of metabolic syndrome and its components. Logistic and linear regressions adjusted for age, sex, education, employment status, and smoking were used to evaluate the association between childhood adversity and components of metabolic syndrome.

Results:

For the full sample, 83 subjects (22.25%) met criteria for metabolic syndrome. Individuals reporting a history of any childhood adversity had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic: p = 0.040; diastolic: p = 0.038). Among subjects with a history of sexual abuse, a significant proportion met criteria for obesity (45.28% vs. 32.88%; p = 0.010); a trend toward overweight was found for subjects with a history of physical abuse (76.32% vs. 63.33%; p = 0.074), although this relationship did not remain significant after adjusting for potential confounders. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall rate of dyslipidemia and/or metabolic syndrome between subjects with and without childhood adversity.

Conclusion:

The results herein provide preliminary evidence suggesting that childhood adversity is associated with metabolic syndrome components in individuals with mood disorders.
The Prevalence of 22 Self-Harm Behaviors in a Consecutive Sample of Obstetrics/Gynecology Outpatients
Authors: Sansone Randy A. , Chang Joy , Jewell Bryan
Published: June 2012

Background:

While a number of previous studies have examined limited forms of self-harm behavior, such as suicidal ideation/attempts/completions, or one specific behavior such as cutting or burning oneself (most frequently in psychiatric populations), few studies have examined the lifetime prevalence of multiple self-harm behaviors in a single non-psychiatric population and no study has done so among obstetrics/gynecology outpatients.

Method:

Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 370 women presenting to an obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinic and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the lifetime prevalence of 22 self-harm behaviors.

Results:

In this sample, the most frequently self-reported self-harm behaviors were: engaged in emotionally abusive relationships (24.7%), abused alcohol (22.0%), been promiscuous (21.0%), attempted suicide (18.3%), and tortured self with self-defeating thoughts (16.7%). Four of these preceding behaviors were also the most commonly reported 5 of 22 behaviors in 3 previous studies of self-harm behavior in different clinical populations.

Conclusions:

It appears that the most frequently reported lifetime self-harm behaviors are relatively common across various non-psychiatric clinical populations of adults, albeit in different proportions, with some exceptions (i.e., suicide attempts in the present sample).
Brain Event-Related Potentials Associated with Psychiatric Symptoms in Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Dependent Patients
Authors: Zhang Yao , Zhong Bao-Liang , Li Yi , Zi-Long MA , Tian Yan , Tang Jun
Published: June 2012

Objective:

To explore the correlation between brain event-related potentials (ERPs) and psychiatric symptoms in patients with amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) dependence.

Method:

Using Galileo Sirius 32-channels digital-evoked potential system, we measured the auditory P300 ERP in 40 ATS dependence subjects and 30 normal controls, respectively. Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used to rate the psychiatric symptoms in the subjects.

Results:

In ATS dependence subjects, the latency of N2, latency of P3, and inter-peak latency of P2-N2 were significantly longer than those in controls, respectively ( P < 0.05). The amplitude of P300 in ATS dependence subjects was significantly lower than that in controls ( P < 0.01). Besides, significantly lower amplitude of P3 and longer latency of P3 were found in ATS dependence subjects suffering from psychiatric symptoms than those without psychotic symptoms ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, in ATS dependence subjects, the latency of N2 was negatively correlated with the scores of anxiety factor ( r = −0.366) and paranoid ideation factor of SCL-90; the latency of P3 negatively correlated with the scores of psychoticism ( r = −0.430) and somatization ( r = −0.397) factor; also, the amplitude of P3 was negatively correlated with the score of psychoticism factor ( r = −0.486).

Conclusions:

These findings suggest cognitive dysfunction may be one of results of ATS dependence.
Avian influenza: The political economy of disease control in Cambodia
Authors: Ear Sophal
Published: June 2012

In the wake of avian flu outbreaks in 2004, Cambodia received $45 million in commitments from international donors to help combat the spread of animal and human influenza, particularly avian influenza (H5N1). How countries leverage foreign aid to address the specific needs of donors and the endemic needs of the nation is a complex and nuanced issue throughout the developing world. Cambodia is a particularly compelling study in pandemic preparedness and the management of avian influenza because of its multilayered network of competing local, national, and global needs, and because the level of aid in Cambodia represents approximately $2.65 million per human case—a disproportionately high number when compared with neighbors Vietnam and Indonesia. This paper examines how the Cambodian government has made use of animal and human influenza funds to protect (or fail to protect) its citizens and the global community. It asks how effective donor and government responses were to combating avian influenza in Cambodia, and what improvements could be made at the local and international level to help prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. Based on original interviews, a field survey of policy stakeholders, and detailed examination of Cambodia's health infrastructure and policies, the findings illustrate that while pandemic preparedness has shown improvements since 2004, new outbreaks and human fatalities accelerated in 2011, and more work needs to be done to align the specific goals of funders with the endemic needs of developing nations.
Resistance to alternative management in fisheries: Economic and cultural considerations of North Carolina's commercial fishers
Authors: Crosson Scott
Published: June 2012

Research in recent decades has shown that although conventional fisheries management strategies such as fishing seasons, size limits, or gear restrictions can provide sufficient biological protection to fisheries stocks, they do not necessarily lead to satisfactory social or economic outcomes. In their stead, the merits and shortcomings of a variety of alternate management systems, including individual transferable quotas, have been proposed, implemented, and analyzed. Few investigations, however, have examined actual fishers' preferences for different management systems. Integrating results from a mail survey of North Carolina commercial fishers with their individual harvest histories and sociodemographic profiles shows that economic and cultural variables both play a significant role in management system preference. The analysis introduces the use of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), a measure of investment diversity, as a measure of diversity in fisheries harvests and demonstrates an association with management preferences. Social and family factors are also notable indicators.
Genes, cognition, and social behavior: Next steps for foundations and researchers
Authors: Lupia Arthur
Published: June 2012

Editor's note This well circulated but heretofore unpublished report is the summary statement of an interdisciplinary meeting of scholars convened by the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia on June 28, 2010. The workshop, which was funded by the NSF's Political Science Program (Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Grant #1037831), was convened to answer two compelling questions: Are studies of social behavior that build from discoveries about genes and/or cognition of greater social and scientific value than studies of the same topics that ignore such factors? And, how can fundable research on genes, cognition, and politics generate transformative scientific practices, infrastructure, and findings of high social value? Assembled for the workshop were a group of scholars representing diverse yet increasingly connected research areas, including genetics, cognitive science and neuroscience, decision making and risk analysis, economics, political science, and sociology. The resulting report outlines the substantial challenges facing interdisciplinary research but also describes the considerable contributions to knowledge that could result from sustained collaborations between biologists, geneticists, and brain scientists on the one hand and social scientists on the other. Following this main report are three white papers by Jeremy Freese. Elizabeth Hammock, and Rose McDermott, which address importmant considerations related to the discussion. For a download of the full report, see http://www.isr.umich.edu.cps/workshop.Welcome.html.
Fashioning a Constitutional Narrative: John S. Ewart and the Development of a ‘Canadian Constitution’
Authors: Price Peter
Published: June 2012

Abstract:

John Skirving Ewart (1849–1933) was one of the most controversial public figures in early-twentieth-century Canada. With a background as an experienced lawyer, Ewart wrote extensively on Canadian law and national independence. This paper examines Ewart's private and public writings, focusing on the way in which he crafted a new and unique narrative of the Canadian constitution that positioned Canada as historically and politically distinct from the British Empire. At a time when a robust sense of imperialism energized much of English Canada, Ewart's ideas were controversial and contested. Assessing Ewart's constitutional narrative provides a way of understanding the early development of independent Canadian nationalism and the constitutional changes that emerged in the mid-twentieth century.
Predictors of Anxiety and Depression in Veterinary Medicine Students: A Four-Year Cohort Examination
Authors: Siqueira Drake Adryanna A. , Hafen McArthur , Rush Bonnie R. , Reisbig Allison M.J.
Published: June 2012

Mental health needs of veterinary medical students have become the focus of concern in recent years. Literature to date is scarce, but indicates a large number of veterinary medical students experience clinical levels of anxiety and depression. The present study focused on the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a sample of veterinary medical students (N=142) across four-year cohorts. Findings indicate elevated scores of anxiety and depression across the four-year cohorts. Students in their second and third years had the highest anxiety and depression scores. Perceived physical health, unclear expectations, difficulty fitting in, heavy workload, and homesickness were most relevant in explaining anxiety and depression symptom prevalence. Implications for practice and future research are addressed based on these findings.
The Arab Oedipus: Oriental Perspectives on the Myth
Authors: Mahfouz Safi Mahmoud
Published: June 2012

Abstract:

This article investigates five Arab plays based on the Greek Oedipus legend: Tawfīq Al-Ḥakīm’s King Oedipus, ‘Alī Aḥmad Bākṯīr’s The Tragedy of Oedipus, Fawzī Fahmī’s ‘Awdat Al-Ġā’ib (The Return of the Absent), ‘Alī Sālim’s The Comedy of Oedipus: You’re the One Who Killed the Beast, and Walīd Iḫlāṣī’s Oedipus: A Modern Tragedy. These leading Arab playwrights have used the Oedipus myth more than any other Greek legend as a source text for their plays. The present article is an in-depth analysis of the Arabization of the Greek myth and of the different perspectives implicit in the various Arab versions of Oedipus. It shows the Arab playwrights’ departures from and sincere portrayal of the Greek Oedipus legend to suit Arab audiences.
Noli Me Tangere: Haptic Certitude in Beckett’s Eh Joe and Nacht und Träume
Authors: McTighe Trish
Published: June 2012

Abstract:

This article will examine the act of touch, real or imagined, in Beckett’s television plays Eh Joe and Nacht und Träume. The kinesis and soundscape of Eh Joe are structured around an absent (female) figure. The solitary body of this play is touched by the (absent) presence of an exterior, ghostly figure. In Nacht und Träume, there is a significant moment of touch: hands emerge from the darkness in the image dreamed by the lone figure. These hands also withdraw, and the dream fades. I argue that this reaching toward – and oftentimes failure to make – contact with the other is a key “haptic” element of Beckett’s aesthetic in these plays. Using the work of philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy, I connect the act of touch as presented in these plays with its meaning in culture as a verifier of presence, human or divine. Touch, while it signifies an attempt to verify presence (one thinks of Doubting Thomas) also, in Nancy’s thinking, reveals an anxiety over presence, thus enabling a discussion of these plays in relation to their medium and the ghostly or ‘virtual’ bodies presented therein.
Antibiotics: Responding to a Global Challenge
Authors: Butler Christopher C.
Published: June 2012

The miracle of antibiotics is hard to exaggerate. Each day, in every corner of the world, antibiotics improve, or could be improving outcomes in the septic neonate, the child with pneumonia, the new mother after a complicated delivery, the patient undergoing surgery, the nursing home resident with a urinary tract infection, the patient being treated of cancer, or the trauma patient on life support. The miracle also keeps our animals healthy for effective food production. But the miracle of these ‘wonder drugs’ is under threat and may be short lived: antimicrobial resistance is relentlessly increasing, especially for Gram negative organisms, prompting the oft expressed concern that we are plummeting head-long back into the pre-antibiotics era where clinicians and families once again will have to stand by and watch patients and loved ones die from once easily-treated infections. [...]
Thermodynamic Geometry and Topological Einstein–Yang–Mills Black Holes
Authors: Bellucci Stefano , Tiwari Bhupendra Nath
Published: June 2012

From the perspective of the statistical fluctuation theory, we explore the role of the thermodynamic geometries and vacuum (in)stability properties for the topological Einstein–Yang–Mills black holes. In this paper, from the perspective of the state-space surface and chemical Weinhold surface of higher dimensional gravity, we provide the criteria for the local and global statistical stability of an ensemble of topological Einstein–Yang–Mills black holes in arbitrary spacetime dimensions D ≥ 5. Finally, as per the formulations of the thermodynamic geometry, we offer a parametric account of the statistical consequences in both the local and global fluctuation regimes of the topological extremal Einstein–Yang–Mills black holes.
Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity Against Sitophilus zeamais of the Essential Oils Derived from Artemisia giraldii and Artemisia subdigitata
Authors: Chu Sha-Sha , Liu Zhi-Long , Du Shu-Shan , Deng Zhi-Wei
Published: June 2012

The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oils derived from flowering aerial parts of Artemisia giraldii Pamp. and A. subdigitata Mattf. (Family: Asteraceae) against the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.). Essential oils of aerial parts of A. giraldii and A. subdigitata were obtained from hydrodistillation and investigated by GC and GC-MS. A total of 48 and 33 components of the essential oils of A. giraldii and A. subdigitata were identified, respectively. The principal compounds in A. giraldii essential oil were β-pinene (13.18%), iso-elemicin (10.08%), germacrene D (5.68%), 4-terpineol (5.43%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (5.06%). 1,8-Cineole (12.26%) and α-curcumene (10.77%) were the two main components of the essential oil of A. subdigitata, followed by β-pinene (7.38%), borneol (6.23%) and eugenol (5.87%). The essential oils of A. giraldii and A. subdigitata possessed fumigant toxicity against the maize weevils with LC50 values of 6.29 and 17.01 mg/L air, respectively. The two essential oils of A. giraldii and A. subdigitata also exhibited contact toxicity against S. zeamais adults with LD50 values of 40.51 and 76.34 µg/adult, respectively. The results indicated that the two essential oils show potential in terms of fumigant and contact toxicity against grain storage insects.
A New Method for Production of Chiral 2-Aryl-2-fluoropropanoic Acids Using an Effective Kinetic Resolution of Racemic 2-Aryl-2-fluoropropanoic Acids
Authors: Tengeiji Atsushi , Shiina Isamu
Published: June 2012

We report a new method for the preparation of chiral 2-aryl-2-fluoropropanoic acids, including 2-fluoroibuprofen, a fluorinated analogue of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-aryl-2-fluoropropanoic acids using enantioselective esterification. By applying pivalic anhydride (Piv2O) as a coupling agent, bis(α-naphthyl)methanol [(α-Np)2CHOH] as an achiral alcohol, and (+)-benzotetramisole (BTM) as a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst, a series of racemic 2-aryl-2-fluoropropanoic acids were kinetically separated to afford the optically active carboxylic acids and the corresponding esters with good to high enantiomeric excesses. This technology can provide a convenient approach to furnish the chiral α-fluorinated drugs containing quaternary carbons at the α-positions in the 2-aryl-2-fluoropropanoic acid structure.
Prevalence and factors associated with Group A rotavirus infection among children with acute diarrhea in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Temu Akwila , Kamugisha Erasmus , Mwizamholya Damas L , Hokororo Aldofina , Seni Jeremiah , Mshana Stephen E.
Published: June 2012

Introduction: Rotavirus infections frequently cause acute gastroenteritis in humans and are the most important cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in young children in both developed and developing countries. Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional, hospital-based study on 300 children ≤ 5 years with acute watery diarrhea who attended Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) and Nyamagana District hospital between May and November 2009. Stool specimens were tested for rotavirus infection using latex agglutination test. Data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS 11.0. Results: Of 300 children with acute watery diarrhea, 136 (45.3%) were female and the mean age was 12.63 months (SD = 10.4). Sixty-two (20.7%) children were found to have rotavirus infection. Of children with severe malnutrition three (37.5%) were infected with rotavirus. Fifty-two (84%) of children with rotavirus infection were below two years of age. Severe dehydration was present in 48 (16%) children of whom 12 (25%) were infected with rotavirus compared to 18 (16.6%) of 109 children with no dehydration. Living next door to a child with diarrhea was highly associated with rotavirus infection (43% versus 19%; p = 0.036). The mean hospital stay among children with rotavirus infection was 3.66 days versus 2.5 days for those without rotavirus (p = 0.005).      Conclusion: Rotavirus infection is prevalent in Mwanza region and contributes to prolonged hospital stay. Proper education on hygiene to control diarrheal diseases among children should be emphasized. Extensive studies to determine the serotypes of rotavirus are warranted in the region before rotavirus vaccine is introduced.
Frequency and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from oral and topical medicaments from Hilla, Iraq
Authors: Al-Charrakh Alaa Hani
Published: June 2012

Introduction: The presence of microorganisms in pharmaceuticals is undesirable because they may cause spoilage of the product and may present an infection hazard to the consumers or patients.  Methodology: A total of 102 samples of oral and topical non-sterile pharmaceutical products were collected at random from different drug houses and pharmacies in Iraq, to investigate the microbial contamination of these products. Bacterial isolates recovered from these medicaments were subjected to susceptibility testing against various antibiotics by disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards (CLSI) guidelines. Results: The results revealed that the occurrence of Gram-positive bacteria was in oral and topical medicaments while Gram-negative bacteria were only detected in topical medicaments. More than 58% of Bacillus isolates were resistant to lincomycin and Bacillus mycoides isolates were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Staphylococcus spp. showed a relatively high resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. S. epidermidis had the highest number of multi-resistant isolates. Furthermore, 87.5% of isolated Gram-negative rods showed high resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and 75% of them were highly resistant to erythromycin. One isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most resistant among all Gram-negative rod isolates. Conclusion: The high rate of resistance to antimicrobial agents of bacterial isolates recovered from oral and topical medicaments in this study may indicate a widespread antibiotic resistance among bacteria isolated from different sources, including those of anthropological and environmental origin.
Two cases of bacteremia due to an unusual pathogen, Comamonas testosteroni in Iran and a review literature
Authors: Farshad Shohreh , Norouzi Fatemeh , Aminshahidi Maneli , Heidari Behzad , Alborzi Abdolvahab
Published: June 2012

Here we describe two cases of bacteremia caused by Comamonas testosteroni in two malignant patients, a 10-year-old boy with brain medulloblastoma and a 19-year-old girl with osteosarcoma admitted in the same hospital at short intervals. This is the first report in Iran on this low inherent virulence organism as a human pathogen.
Clinical presentation of tuberculoid leprosy in an epidermodysplasia verruciformis patient
Authors: Prestes-Carneiro Luiz Euribel , Nai Gisele Alborghetti , Silva Márcia G. , Cristofano Carlos , Crivelin Luciana Leite , Calabreta Carmela Beatriz Ramos , Moliterno Ricardo Alberto , Morgado de Abreu Marilda Aparecida Milanez
Published: June 2012

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is triggered by a variety of mechanisms that at least partly include genetic background. We present a Brazilian man with a 30-year history of flat, wart-like lesions with clinical, histopathological, and evolutive aspects consistent with papillomavirus (HPV)-associated EV. Histological analysis of the wart lesions showed epidermis with hyperkeratosis, regular acanthosis, hypergranulosis, and cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm. Moreover, a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate was found in the superficial dermis, consistent with a viral wart. Type-2-HPV DNA was detected in various fragments of skin-wart lesions using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two years after the EV diagnosis, the patient presented with an anesthetic well-demarcated, erythematous and mildly scaly plaque on his right forearm. A histopathological analysis of this lesion demonstrated the presence of a compact tuberculoid granuloma. Ziehl-Neelsen staining demonstrated the presence of rare acid-fast bacilli and confirmed the tuberculoid leprosy diagnosis. The patient's Mitsuda Intradermal Reaction was positive. To elucidate the possible mechanism involved in this case of EV, we genotyped the HLA genes of this patient. DQB genotyping showed the polymorphic HLA alleles DQB1*0301 and 0501. The patient was treated with a paucibacillary multi-drug therapy scheme, and the disease was cured in six months. This report describes an EV patient with an M. leprae infection, confirming that tuberculoid leprosy patients possess a relatively specific and efficient cell-mediated immunity against the bacillus and, therefore, localized forms of the disease. Moreover, we show the possible involvement of the polymorphic HLA alleles DQB1*0301 and 0501 in EV induction mechanisms.
Dosage Adjustment of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor in Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Effective in Maintaining Remission in Clinical Practice
Authors: PACCOU JULIEN , BACLÉ-BOUTRY MARIE-ASTRID , SOLAU-GERVAIS ELISABETH , BELE-PHILIPPE PEGGY , FLIPO RENÉ-MARC
Published: June 2012

Objective.

While remission is possible in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), it is often unclear what attitude should be adopted once remission has occurred. We investigated whether dosage adjustment is an effective means of maintaining remission.

Methods.

This was a retrospective study drawn from clinical situations. Remission was defined using clinical measures [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≤ 20/100 and no peripheral joint disease] and biological measures [C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≤ normal value]. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors used were infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept. Response predictors of remission were evaluated by logistic regression (age, CRP, HLA-B27 positivity, sex, duration of disease, and anti-TNF-α naivety). CRP and BASDAI were evaluated before and after dosage adjustment at about 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.

Results.

One hundred eighty-nine patients with AS were included in the study, with a mean followup of 43.5 (± 17.9) months after the introduction of the first anti-TNF-α inhibitor. Mean age was 45.6 (± 12.5) years. Remission had occurred in 65 patients (35%). Significant response predictors of remission were male sex (p = 0.003) and anti-TNF-α naivety (p < 0.001). Dosage adjustment was observed 49 times, and progressively reducing treatment frequency was effective to maintain remission in a large number of patients for 36 months. The cumulative probability of continuing anti-TNF-α after dosage adjustment was 79.0% at 12 months, 70.5% at 24 months, and 58.8% at 36 months.

Conclusion.

Remission had occurred in 35% of the patients with AS under anti-TNF-α inhibitor therapy. Dosage adjustment and progressively reducing treatment frequency was effective in maintaining remission.
Genetic Risk Factors for Thrombosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: KAISER RACHEL , LI YONGHONG , CHANG MONICA , CATANESE JOSEPH , BEGOVICH ANN B. , BROWN ELIZABETH E. , EDBERG JEFFREY C. , McGWIN GERALD , ALARCÓN GRACIELA S. , RAMSEY-GOLDMAN ROSALIND , REVEILLE JOHN D. , VILÁ LUIS M. , PETRI MICHELLE A. , KIMBERLY ROBERT P. , TAYLOR KIMBERLY E. , CRISWELL LINDSEY A.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

Thrombosis is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated whether genetic variants implicated in thrombosis pathways are associated with thrombosis among 2 ethnically diverse SLE cohorts.

Methods.

Our discovery cohort consisted of 1698 patients with SLE enrolled in the University of California, San Francisco, Lupus Genetics Project and our replication cohort included 1361 patients with SLE enrolled in the PROFILE cohort. Patients fulfilled American College of Rheumatology SLE criteria, and data relevant to thrombosis were available. Thirty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) previously shown to be associated with risk of deep venous thrombosis in the general population or implicated in thrombosis pathways were genotyped and tested for association with thrombosis in bivariate allelic analyses. SNP with p < 0.1 in the bivariate analyses were further tested in multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, disease duration, antiphospholipid antibody status, smoking, nephritis, and medications.

Results.

In the discovery cohort, 23% of patients with SLE experienced a thrombotic event. SNP in the following genes demonstrated association with thrombosis risk overall in the discovery or replication cohorts and were assessed using metaanalytic methods: factor V Leiden(FVL)rs6025 (OR 1.85, p = 0.02) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801133 (OR 0.75, p = 0.04) in whites, and fibrinogen gamma (FGG) rs2066865 (OR 1.91, p = 0.01) in Hispanic Americans. SNP in these genes showed association with venous thrombosis risk in whites:MTHFRrs1801131 (OR 1.51, p = 0.01),MTHFRrs1801133 (OR 0.70, p = 0.04),FVLrs6025 (OR 2.69, p = 0.002), andFGGrs2066865 (OR 1.49, p = 0.02) in whites. A SNP inFGGrs2066865 (OR 2.19, p = 0.003) demonstrated association with arterial thrombosis risk in Hispanics.

Conclusion.

Our results implicate specific genetic risk factors for thrombosis in patients with SLE and suggest that genetic risk for thrombosis differs across ethnic groups.
Digital Amputation in Systemic Sclerosis: Prevalence and Clinical Associations. A Retrospective Longitudinal Study
Authors: CARAMASCHI PAOLA , BIASI DOMENICO , CAIMMI CRISTIAN , BARAUSSE GIOVANNI , SABBAGH DANIA , TINAZZI ILARIA , LA VERDE VALENTINA , TONETTA SARA , ADAMI SILVANO
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To evaluate the prevalence of digital necrosis requiring surgical amputation in a single-center group of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to compare the characteristics of patients with and those without this severe complication.

Methods.

We reviewed the medical records of 188 patients with SSc [162 women, 26 men, mean age 59.2 yrs, mean disease duration 8.0 yrs, mean time from onset of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) 11.7 yrs, median followup duration 92 mo] enrolled in the Rheumatology Unit since 2004. Demographic and clinical features were collected, as well as the presence of the typical risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Results.

Nine patients (4.8%) underwent partial or total surgical digital amputation because of necrotic process; all these patients except 1 had a long history of multiple and persisting digital ulcers. All 9 patients had concomitant large-vessel involvement. Comparison of cases with and without digital amputation showed that this complication was associated with older age, long history of RP, long disease duration, presence of anticentromere antibody, and coexistence of peripheral artery disease and hypercholesterolemia.

Discussion.

We noted that 4.8% of patients with SSc underwent digital amputation. Our retrospective analysis suggests that peripheral artery disease is strongly associated with digital amputation. The preventive strategy for digital ulcers and amputation associated with SSc should include an extensive diagnostic and preventive investigation for peripheral atherosclerosis.
Y a-t-il une machine derrière la machine ?
Authors: Zimra Georges
Published: June 2012

L’homme et la machine sont désormais dans un rapport de consubstantialité. Impossible de penser l’homme sans la technique, impossible de penser le monde sans les machines. Le problème est de savoir comment cette dépendance s’est organisée à travers les discours philosophique, médical, économique. Comment la langue s’en trouve profondément transformée et comment cette transformation nous affecte en retour ? La question donc n’est pas tant de nous défier des machines mais de nous demander à quoi servent-elles ? Qui servent-elles ? À quelle idéologie obéissent-elles ? Faut-il machiner les hommes ou humaniser les machines ? C’est toute une conception que nous nous faisons du monde qui est ici posée et qui organise le lien social en politique.