bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mechanism for Anisotropic Reentry in Electrically Active Tissue
Authors: SAYPOL JOSHUA M. , ROTH BRADLEY J.
Published: September 2013

A Mechanism for Anisotropic Reentry. Introduction: Numerical simulations of wavefront propagation were performed using a two‐dimensional sheet of tissue with different anisotropy ratios in the intracellular and extracellular spaces.

Methods and Results: The tissue was represented by the bidomain model, and the active properties of the membrane were described by the Hodgkin‐Huxley equations. Two successive stimuli, delivered through a single point electrode, resulted in the formation of a reentrant wavefront when the second stimulus was delivered during the vulnerable period of the first wavefront.

Conclusion: The mechanism for the development of reentry was that the bidomain tissue responded to point cathodal stimulation by depolarizing the tissue under the electrode in the direction perpendicular to the fiber axis, and hyperpolarizing the tissue in the direction parallel to the fiber axis. Such a distribution of depolarization and hyperpolarization modifies the refractory period of the action potential differently in each direction, resulting in block in the direction perpendicular to the fiber axis and leading to reentry and the formation of stable, rotating wavefronts.
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Flutter: Current Concepts and Results
Authors: TOUBOUL PAUL , SAOUDI NADIR , ATALLAH GEORGES , KIRKORIAN GILBERT
Published: September 2013

Ablation of Atrial Flutter. The role of a macroreentrant mechanism within the right atrium is currently accepted in the genesis of human atrial flutter. Fractionated potentials are recordable in various parts of the atrium, suggesting slow conduction areas. Transient entrainment may be helpful in identifying those areas belonging to the reentrant circuit. Using such criteria, the Koch triangle appears to be a critical zone to ablate. Our personal experience includes 16 patients with drug refractory type I atrial flutter who underwent direct catheter ablation of the atrial tissue. In every case, careful mapping of endocardial depolarization during flutter revealed a counterclockwise circus movement within the right atrium, the impulse ascending along the interatrial septum and swinging toward the anterolateral wall of the atrium. Areas of prolonged, fragmented electrograms could usually be detected in the inferior and posteroseptal parts of the right atrium in the vicinity of the coronary sinus os. Transient entrainment was used to provide evidence that these slow conduction areas belonged to the circuit. Under general anesthesia, unipolar shocks of 2 to 2.5 J/kg were delivered to these sites. Immediate ventricular fibrillation occurred in one patient, which required cardioversion, and another subject developed permanent complete atrioventricular block necessitating a VVIR pacemaker. Early relapses affected 50% of the patients: they always led to repeat ablation and additional prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs. Eight patients are currently asymptomatic: five without treatment and three on drugs (mean follow‐up 34 months). In the others, cardiac arrhythmias have persisted: identical flutter in half of them, or newly developed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In the arrhythmia‐free subjects, atrial flutter remained electrically inducible in 40% of the cases. In conclusion, efficacy of catheter ablation for refractory atrial flutter is still modest. Further progress may depend on a better understanding of human atrial flutter and also on new modes of ablation (radiofrequency current).
Ontogenetic patterns of constitutive immune parameters in altricial house sparrows
Authors: Killpack Tess L. , Oguchi Yushi , Karasov William H.
Published: September 2013

Innate immune functions are proposed to develop rapidly post‐hatch in altricial nestlings, compared with adaptive immune defenses that require development of receptor specificity and memory. Studies of ontogenetic changes in altricial birds have been few until relatively recently and often do not encompass the entire developmental period. We examined the patterns of development in constitutive innate and adaptive immune indices in house sparrow nestlings (3, 6, 9 and 12 days (d) post‐hatch), hatch‐year birds and adults. Lysozyme activity significantly decreased with age, likely representing catabolism of maternal investment of lysozyme in the egg albumen. Levels of total IgY (indexing adaptive immune function), as well as agglutination and lysis (indexing innate immune function), increased throughout the nestling period, but were significantly below levels found in fully‐grown birds at the time of fledging. There were no significant differences between hatch‐year birds and adults in these measures, indicating that rapid, full maturation occurs early in the post‐fledging period. In combination with previous studies, these data highlight the importance of sampling fledglings to assess full immune ontogeny and suggest that fledgling birds may be more vulnerable to infection than adults.
Testing for enemy‐mediated density‐dependence in the mortality of seedlings: field experiments with five Neotropical tree species
Authors: Gripenberg Sofia , Bagchi Robert , Gallery Rachel E. , Freckleton Robert P. , Narayan Lakshmi , Lewis Owen T.
Published: September 2013

The coexistence of plant species in species‐rich tropical forests can be promoted by specialised enemies acting in a negatively density‐dependent manner. While survival of tropical tree seedlings is often negatively density‐dependent, the causes have rarely been identified. We tested whether insects and plant pathogens cause density‐dependent seedling recruitment and survival in five forest tree species in Belize, Central America. We manipulated densities of seeds or newly germinated seedlings in small (1 m2 or 0.25 m2) plots close to fruiting conspecific trees. Using a factorial design, we excluded enemies from subsets of the plots with fungicides and insecticides. Seed germination (for two species) and early seedling survival (for all species) were monitored at approximately weekly intervals for up to eight weeks, during the period when plants are likely to be most susceptible to natural enemies. In Terminalia amazonia, seed germination was negatively density‐dependent and the proportion of seeds germinating increased when insects were excluded. However, the magnitude of the insecticide effect was independent of density. The only significant density effect for survival of young seedlings was in Acacia polyphylla; counter to expectation, seedling survival was higher at high densities. In a few cases pesticide application had a significant effect on seedling survival, but in only one case (Terminalia amazonia) was a significant pesticide × density interaction detected. Our results caution against generalising from studies conducted on a single species at a single time and place and illustrate the challenges of experimentally testing for enemy‐mediated negative density‐dependence. Experimental outcomes are likely to depend on the spatial scale at which the principal enemies disperse and respond to plant density, and the timescales over which they act. Gathering information on these variables will improve our understanding of the natural histories of tropical forest species and help inform the design of future experiments.
CULTURAL RELEVANCE OF THE QUALITY‐OF‐LIFE TOOLS FOR PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
Authors: Ayoub Abdelbasit , Nelson Katherine , Wood Pamela
Published: September 2013

Background

Many tools are used to examine the Quality of Life (QOL) of patients with kidney disease, but little is known about how culturally relevant they are and why one should utilise one tool over another. As part of a larger study on the QOL of dialysis patients in United Arab Emirates, the cultural relevance of two tools (SF‐36 and the QOL Index) was examined. This paper suggests a model to establish cultural relevance of QOL tools.

Method

A descriptive comparative survey design using a mixed method design was used in 2007 to study the QOL of 161 patients on dialysis and 350 people from the community. The cultural relevance of each tool was assessed by (i) examining missed questions, (ii) asking respondents about the cultural relevance of each tool, (iii) asking respondents what questions could be added or deleted to make the tools more culturally relevant and (iv) asking respondents to identify the factors that might contribute to their QOL.

Results

Of respondents, 94.7% from the dialysis sample and 90.4% from the community sample considered both tools culturally relevant. The QOL Index tool had more missing data. Many of the themes generated from the analysis of the qualitative data were addressed by the subscales of both tools. Themes not addressed by either tool were concerned with values, safety and country.

Conclusion

Cultural adaptation of QOL tools needs to follow well‐established guidelines. The target population should be involved in establishing the cultural relevance of QOL tools.
Polygala webbiana (Polygalaceae), the first record for Europe and a synopsis of Polygala subgen. Chamaebuxus
Authors: Calvo Joel , Hantson Stijn , Paiva Jorge
Published: September 2013

Polygala subgen. Chamaebuxus comprises five perennial species, distributed in Europe and northwestern Africa. Polygala webbiana was hitherto thought to be endemic to Morocco. In this paper, we report the first known population of this species in Europe, present in the province of Málaga (Spain). Detailed pictures of the flower, fruit, and seed are presented, as well as a map of the whole distribution. Moreover, a key to identify the species of Polygala subgen. Chamaebuxus is provided. The names P. chamaebuxus and P. vayredae are lectotypified.
Localized conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of Mycosis Fungoides: our experience in 100 patients
Authors: Piccinno R. , Caccialanza M. , Çuka E. , Recalcati S.
Published: September 2013

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the treatments of choice as skin‐directed therapy in Mycosis Fungoides (MF), both in first stages of the disease as total skin electron beam irradiation and in tumoural stage as localized treatment with conventional energies or electrons.

Objective

Through a retrospective study, to evaluate the results of localized superficial RT in a series of 100 patients affected by MF.

Methods

All the patients, after diagnosis supported by histological and immunophenotyping investigations, have been treated with conventional RT (range 50–150 kV) and a total dose ranging from 9 to 40 Gy.

Results

Complete remission of the irradiated lesion has been observed in 88%, partial remission in 6% and non‐response in 2%. Four patients were lost to follow‐up. Local relapse has been observed in 13 lesions, with a local control rate of 85% after 5 years from the end of RT. Cosmetic results have been good and acceptable in 93% of cases. The treatment has been always well tolerated. The results confirm to be dose dependent, and show that better response is found in the range of higher energies.

Conclusion

Localized RT is an effective and safe tool in the care and palliation of MF.
Evaluating the primary‐to‐specialist referral system for elective hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Fyie Ken , Frank Cy , Noseworthy Tom , Christiansen Tanya , Marshall Deborah A.
Published: September 2013

Rationale, aims and objectives

Persistently long waiting times for hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) specialist consultations have been identified as a problem. This study described referral processes and practices, and their impact on the waiting time from referral to consultation for TJA.

Methods

A mixed‐methods retrospective study incorporating semi‐structured interviews, patient chart reviews and observational studies was conducted at three clinic sites in Alberta, Canada. A total of 218 charts were selected for analysis. Standardized definitions were applied to key event dates. Performance measures included waiting times percentage of referrals initially accepted. Voluntary (patient‐related) and involuntary (health system‐related) waiting times were quantified.

Results

All three clinics had defined, but differing, referral processing rules. The mean time from referral to consultation ranged from 51 to 139 business days. Choosing a specific surgeon for consultation rather than a next available surgeon lengthened waits by 10–47 business days. Involuntary waiting times accounted for at least 11% of total waiting time. Approximately 40–80% of the time patients with TJA wait for surgery was in the consultation period. Fifty‐four per cent of new referrals were initially rejected, prolonging patient waits by 8–46 business days.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that variation in referral processing led to increased waiting times for patients. The large proportion of total wait attributable to waiting for a surgical consultation makes failure to measure and evaluate this period a significant omission. Improving referral processes and decreasing variation between clinics would improve patient access to these specialist referrals in Alberta.
Clinical Evaluation of Enamel Microabrasion for the Aesthetic Management of Mild‐to‐Severe Dental Fluorosis
Authors: Celik Esra Uzer , Yildiz Gül , Yazkan Başak
Published: September 2013

Statement of the Problem

The clinical performance of enamel microabrasion alone for aesthetic management of dental fluorosis is debatable.

Purpose of the Study

This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of enamel microabrasion for the aesthetic management of mild‐to‐severe dental fluorosis.

Methods/Materials

A total of 154 fluorosed incisors and canines in 14 patients on the basis of the fluorosis were included; the teeth were classified as mild (group I, n = 53), moderate (group II, n = 56), and severe (group III, n = 45). All teeth were treated with enamel microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent Products, South Jordan, UT, USA). “Improvement in appearance,” “changes in brown stains,” “changes in opaque white areas,” and “requirement for further treatments” were assessed by using visual scale systems. The data were analyzed using nonparametric tests (α = 0.05).

Results

The “improvement in appearance” score was the worst for group III (p < 0.05), whereas the “changes in opaque white areas” score was the best for group I (p < 0.05). Groups II and III did not differ with respect to “changes in brown stains.” The proportion of patients who needed further treatment was the highest in Group III (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The severity of fluorosis affected the clinical performance of enamel microabrasion except for its performance of removing brown stains. Increase in fluorosis severity led to increased requirements for further treatments.

Clinical Significance

The clinical performance of enamel microabrasion is affected by the severity of dental fluorosis, except for its performance of removing brown stains. Even though its performance of improving appearance decreases with the increase in severity of fluorosis, it may not only remove the fluorosis stains but also may increase the success of additional subsequent treatment.
North Atlantic demersal deep‐water fish distribution and biology: present knowledge and challenges for the future
Authors: Bergstad O. A.
Published: September 2013

This paper summarizes knowledge and knowledge gaps on benthic and benthopelagic deep‐water fishes of the North Atlantic Ocean, i.e. species inhabiting deep continental shelf areas, continental and island slopes, seamounts and the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. While several studies demonstrate that distribution patterns are species specific, several also show that assemblages of species can be defined and such assemblages are associated with circulatory features and water mass distributions. In many subareas, sampling has, however, been scattered, restricted to shallow areas or soft substrata, and results from different studies tend to be difficult to compare quantitatively because of sampler differences. Particularly, few studies have been conducted on isolated deep oceanic seamounts and in Arctic deep‐water areas. Time series of data are very few and most series are short. Recent studies of population structure of widely distributed demersal species show less than expected present connectivity and considerable spatial genetic heterogeneity and complexity for some species. In other species, genetic homogeneity across wide ranges was discovered. Mechanisms underlying the observed patterns have been proposed, but to test emerging hypotheses more species should be investigated across their entire distribution ranges. Studies of population biology reveal greater diversity in life‐history strategies than often assumed, even between co‐occurring species of the same family. Some slope and ridge‐associated species are rather short‐lived, others very long‐lived, and growth patterns also show considerable variation. Recent comparative studies suggest variation in life‐history strategies along a continuum correlated with depth, ranging from shelf waters to the deep sea where comparatively more species have extended lifetimes, and slow rates of growth and reproduction. Reproductive biology remains too poorly known for most deep‐water species, and temporal variation in recruitment has only been studied for few deep‐water species. A time series of roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris recruitment spanning three decades of fisheries‐independent data suggests that abundant year classes occur rarely and may influence size structure and abundance even for this long‐lived species.
Literature review: preoperative radiotherapy and rectal cancer – impact on acute symptom presentation and quality of life
Authors: O'Gorman Claire , Denieffe Suzanne , Gooney Martina
Published: September 2013

Aims and objectives

This paper presents a critical review of published literature detailing side effects of preoperative radiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer and the impact of their treatment on their quality of life which will assist in guiding nursing management in the future.

Background

Preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer leads to a number of side effects that have a negative influence on patients' quality of life. Although studies have investigated the various adverse effects that can occur, these have not yet been critically appraised and synopsised to form a comprehensive review of their prevalence and effects on the quality of life of patients with rectal cancer.

Design

This literature review study addresses the aims and objectives.

Methods

Following a literature search of electronic databases, 23 articles were retrieved that met the selection criteria with papers discussed in relation to symptoms that present due to this treatment, with six of these 23 studies also referring to health‐related quality of life.

Results

Preoperative radiotherapy leads to a number of common adverse effects including diarrhoea, dermatological problems, micturition problems, fatigue, sexual dysfunction and pain. Some can lead to a decline in quality of life during treatment and cause prolonged surgical recovery times, but there appears to be no long‐term deterioration in quality of life.

Conclusions

There is a paucity of literature that specifically examines fatigue and quality of life in relation to patients with rectal cancer during preoperative radiotherapy treatment.

Relevance to clinical practice

Awareness of the prevalence and severity of the acute side effects of preoperative radiotherapy will enable nurses to thoroughly assess these symptoms, plan and implement appropriate interventions and evaluate outcomes. This will assist in optimising the quality of life of patients with rectal cancer and may hasten postoperative recovery times.
Instruments for evaluating compliance with infection control practices and factors that affect it: an integrative review
Authors: Valim Marília Duarte , Marziale Maria H Palucci , Richart‐Martínez Miguel , Sanjuan‐Quiles Ángela
Published: September 2013

Aims and objectives

To search for instruments to measure compliance with infection control practices and to report on which dimensions and contents the instruments evaluate, their psychometric characteristics, compliance and factors influencing compliance.

Background

Low compliance with infection control practices has been reported among healthcare professionals around the world over the years. Existing data concerning health professionals' compliance with standard precautions are based on measuring instruments.

Design

Integrative review.

Methods

The descriptors were identified and used separately and in combination to search in the following databases:Lilacs,PubMed (MEDLINE),ISI Web ofKnowledge,Scopus andCINAHL. The selected articles complied with inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

Twenty‐three studies were analysed, resulting in the identification of 18 instruments. No instrument addressed all compliance topics, and the most commonly addressed topics were the use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and safe practices in the handling of cutting material. Most authors explored content validity and some performed reliability analysis by means ofCronbach's alpha and test–retest. Countries in the sample have different human development indices, and countries with medium and low human development indices show less compliance. Some variables were strong predictors of compliance: training, perceptions of safe environment, perception of obstacles to comply with standard precautions and knowledge.

Conclusions

Compliance is below the recommended levels. Health professionals seem to be selective in following standard precautions. Significant influences include institutional management and psychosocial variables, which deserve further study.

Relevance to clinical practice

Health managers and government policies and interventions should pay greater attention to this subject.
Fertility outcomes of patients with early stage endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Parlakgumus Huriye Ayse , Kilicdag Esra Bulgan , Simsek Erhan , Haydardedeoglu Bulent , Cok Tayfun , Aytac Pinar Caglar , Bagis Tayfun , Erkanlı Serkan
Published: September 2013

Aim

Three to five percent of endometrial carcinoma patients are younger than 40 years and may desire fertility. Conservative treatment can be employed in these cases. We aimed to review treatment outcomes of patients who were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and who wanted to preserve their fertility.

Material and Methods

We reviewed nine patients who were diagnosed with early stage endometrial carcinoma and wanted to spare their fertility. The patients were followed up at Baskent University Adana Research Center from January 2004 to December 2011.

Results

In all patients the carcinoma presented as polyps, which were resected by hysteroscopy. After being informed about both surgical and medical therapies, four patients preferred surgery and five preferred medical treatment. The mean number of in vitro fertilization trials after conservative treatment was 3.25. One woman, who was on medroxyprogesterone acetate, delivered a healthy term baby from a fresh cycle. Another woman, who was on dydrogesterone, got pregnant from a thawing cycle, which later ended up in a missed abortus. Of all the patients who chose medical treatment, three had surgery at the end. One woman developed an ovarian tumor during the follow‐up; one woman had a recurrence of endometrial carcinoma on dilatation and curettage for missed abortus and one woman tried in vitro fertilization several times and could not get pregnant, thus decided to have surgery. Two women had stage IA endometrial carcinoma and one had stage IIB ovarian carcinoma.

Conclusion

Conservative treatment of endometrial carcinoma is safe in most cases. However, patients should be well‐informed about the risks of conservative treatment because delaying definitive treatment sometimes worsens the prognosis.
Recent pregnancy trends among early adolescent girls in Japan
Authors: Baba Sachiko , Goto Aya , Reich Michael R.
Published: September 2013

Aim

The paper examines recent time trends, explores potentially influential background factors and discusses prevention strategies of pregnancy among girls under 15 years of age in Japan.

Methods

Using Japanese government data, we first analyzed time trends of early adolescence (<15 years of age) abortion, live birth and child sexual abuse from 2003 to 2010. Second, we analyzed ecological correlations of early adolescent pregnancy (abortion, live birth and stillbirth) with pregnancy in other age groups, child sexual abuse, and indicators of juvenile victimization and juvenile delinquency, using prefectural data.

Results

We found that rates of both abortion and live birth in early adolescents have increased since 2005 (annual percent change 5.3% and 2.3%, respectively), despite declining rates in older age groups. The abortion ratio in early adolescence remained the highest among all age groups in Japan. The early adolescent pregnancy rate showed significant correlation with the rates of juvenile victimization of welfare crimes (obscenity, alcohol drinking, smoking and drug use) (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.42, P = 0.00) and juvenile delinquency among junior high school students (12–14 years of age) (rs = 0.69, P = 0.00).

Conclusion

The observed rise in rates of abortion, live birth and child sexual abuse among early adolescents along with strong ecological correlations of their pregnancy rate with juvenile victimization and delinquency indicators suggests that epidemiological investigation and public health programs at the individual and community levels are needed to address the complex social roots of these trends and to produce effective improvements in early adolescent reproductive health.
Placental abnormalities detected by ultrasonography in a case of confined placental mosaicism for trisomy 2 with severe fetal growth restriction
Authors: Nagamatsu Takeshi , Kamei Yoshimasa , Yamashita Takahiro , Fujii Tomoyuki , Kozuma Shiro
Published: September 2013

Clinical outcome of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) is varied, from normal pregnancy to intrauterine fetal death. It has been suggested that CPM for trisomy 2 is less likely to cause serious adverse effect on pregnancy. We hereby report a case of CPM for trisomy 2, which presented severe fetal growth restriction (FGR) and placental abnormalities. A 30‐year‐old woman was referred to our hospital at 17+2 weeks because of marked FGR. Ultrasonography demonstrated prominent placental hypertrophy with multiple focal defects without any fetal structural abnormalities. Amniocentesis at 18+3 weeks revealed normal karyotype. Fetal growth rate worsened with gestational weeks, reaching −7 standard deviation at 36 weeks. At 37 weeks, the fetal condition suddenly deteriorated, ending in a stillbirth of a 756‐g female baby. Postnatal cytogenetic analysis by array comparative genomic hybridization revealed trisomy 2 of the chorionic villi, and CPM for trisomy 2 was suggested as the cause of FGR and placental abnormalities.
Chinese Migration and Entangled Histories: Broadening the Contours of Migratory Historiography
Authors: Low Kelvin E.Y.
Published: September 2013

This paper broadens the analytical contours of Chinese migration by employing the paradigm of histoire croisée. By comparing three connected episodes within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: (1) British expansionism; (2) Kuomintang activities and British migratory legislation; and (3) the interconnection of the slump in China's silk industry, the anti‐marriage movement, and the intertwinement of historiographies of China and Singapore – the entangled histories approach offers analytic purchase for which Chinese migration can be scrutinised with attention paid to the interpellations of historical contingencies and economic relations. The paper therefore analyses broader sociocultural and political patterns that inflect migratory flows, and considers the significance of how migratory historiography bears upon social memory of Chinese female migrants.
Cranio‐Caudal (Transradial) Approach for Renal Artery Intervention
Authors: SANGHVI KINTUR , COPPOLA JOHN , PATEL TEJAS
Published: September 2013

This report describes the technique of transradial renal angiography and interventions. We illustrate the approach using typical case images. We believe cranio‐caudal approach to the renal artery for diagnostic and therapeutic catheterization offers advantages over the traditional femoral approach. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:530‐535)
Rearing conditions influence nutrient availability of plant extracts supplemented diets when fed to broiler chickens
Authors: Pirgozliev V. , Bravo D. , Rose S. P.
Published: September 2013

The effects of a standardised mixture of essential oils, including 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% capsicum (XT 6930; Pancosma S.A), on dietary apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen retention (AMEn), nutrient digestibility and mucin secretions, measured as sialic acid (SA) were investigated in broilers fed on the same diet but reared under different conditions, that is, cages and floor pens littered with wood shavings used in previous broiler study. The use of XT reduced (p < 0.05) nitrogen digestibility (0.585 vs. 0.544) and tended (p = 0.072) to reduce dry matter digestibility (0.733 vs. 0.717) of the diet when fed to birds reared in cages. However, XT supplementation improved (p < 0.05) fat digestibility (0.844 vs. 0.862) and tended (p = 0.093) to increase AMEn (14.01 vs. 14.25 MJ/kg DM) of the same diet when fed to broilers reared in floor pens. Essential oils supplementation tended (p = 0.059) to increase the secretion of SA, when fed to birds reared in cages (11.24 vs. 14.18 μg), but did not influence (p > 0.05) the SA secretion from birds reared in floor pens. The results obtained from the cage study tend to be the opposite of those obtained from the floor pen study. This suggests that the efficiency of dietary plant extracts may be influenced by the rearing/hygienic conditions of poultry. Based on the overall results, it can be concluded that information on rearing conditions should be taken into account for more complete interpretation of the experimental data emanating from experiments involving use of essential oils typified by those considered in this study.
Maintenance of constant functional diversity during secondary succession of a subtropical forest in China
Authors: Böhnke Martin , Kröber Wenzel , Welk Erik , Wirth Christian , Bruelheide Helge
Published: September 2013

Questions

Does the importance of biotic interactions between tree species increase during secondary forest succession? Do functional trait values become increasingly divergent from early towards late successional stages and how is functional diversity affected by trait identity, species identity and species richness effects?

Location

Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province, southeast China.

Methods

Based on 26 leaf and wood traits for 120 woody species, we calculated functional diversity, using Rao's formula for quadratic entropy, trait dissimilarity, defined as half the mean trait‐based distance of all species in the community, and functional evenness, defined as the degree to which functional diversity is maximized. We employed randomization techniques to disentangle the effects of trait identity, species identity and species richness on these three components of functional diversity.

Results

Against expectations, functional diversity did not show any successional trend because the communities compensated for a loss in trait dissimilarity by distributing the trait values more evenly among the resident species, thus increasing functional evenness. Randomization tests showed that functional diversity was not affected by trait identity, by species identity or by species richness, which indicates that functional diversity was neither determined by particular single traits or by single species with outstanding trait values.

Conclusions

The constant functional diversity suggests constant functionality in this subtropical forest, which might temporally maintain stable immigration conditions during the course of succession, and thus provides an explanation why these subtropical forests become more species‐rich with time.
Clara Reeve's Progress of Romance and the Female Critic in the 18th Century
Authors: Omdal Gerd Karin
Published: September 2013

Clara Reeve's The Progress of Romance (1785) is of very few literary historical works written in the dialogue form by female authors in the 18th century. Extending over two volumes The Progress of Romance is significant in several ways; both as a part of the rich British tradition of literary history writing and genre theory, and as a contribution to the tradition of female literary history which was initiated by Elizabeth Rowe and Susan Dobson earlier in the 18th century. Reeve writes about the general history of romance, and of its reputation and reception. But how does the fact that she is of the underrepresented sex in scholarly work of her time affect her text?
Beyond Shakespeare: Early Modern Adaptation Studies and Its Potential
Authors: Clement Jennifer
Published: September 2013

Even after years of important and useful work, early modern adaptation studies remains largely limited to two areas: Shakespeare and film. This limitation is understandable. An adaptor himself, Shakespeare has also inspired countless adaptations and appropriations over the centuries. Film Shakespeare carries obvious appeal for those interested in early modern adaptation, not only for the magic of Shakespeare's name but also because much adaptation theory remains the province of film scholars. However, this article argues that such a tight focus unnecessarily restricts the wide field of early modern adaptation practices available for study. Instead, we need to establish a wider context for early modern adaptation studies. This article suggests some approaches towards establishing such a context through its examinations of adaptation theory and digital humanities as avenues for moving beyond Shakespeare.
Instruction and Information from Manuscript to Print: Some English Literature, 1400–1650
Authors: Griffin Carrie
Published: September 2013

This paper considers aspects of the variety of literature concerned with information and instruction that was in circulation in later medieval and early modern England. It looks at the dynamic nature of that literature and at what it can reveal about cultural and social practices as well as ways of reading and engaging with texts and textual genres. It also examines the interface between texts in manuscript and in print, and considers some of the implications that technological innovation had for the spread of information.
Urinary Bladder Relaxation through Activation of Imidazoline Receptors Induced by Agmatine is Increased in Diabetic Rats
Authors: TSAI Tsung‐Chin , LIN Chia‐Ho , CHUNG Hsien‐Hui , CHENG Juei‐Tang , CHEN I‐Hung , TONG Yat‐Ching
Published: September 2013

Objectives

The effect of agmatine on bladder contractility and the diabetes‐induced alteration of this action were studied in the rat.

Methods

Bladder strips were isolated from 9‐week‐old streptozotocin (STZ)‐diabetic rats and control Wistar rats. Strips were hung in an organ bath for measurement of isometric tension and pre‐contracted with either 1 µmol/L acetylcholine (ACh) or 50 mmol/L KCl. Dose‐dependent relaxation of the bladder strips was studied by cumulative administration of agmatine 1–100 µmol/L into the organ bath. Effects of specific imidazoline receptor (IR) antagonists on the agmatine‐induced relaxation were studied. Western blotting analysis was used to measure bladder IR, sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) and inwardly rectifying K+ channel subunit 6.2 (Kir 6.2) protein levels.

Results

Agmatine reduced ACh and KCl pre‐contracted bladder strip tension in a dose‐dependent fashion. Relaxation was significantly increased in STZ‐diabetic rats. The relaxation was inhibited by BU224, a selective I2 IR antagonist; but not by efaroxan (I1 IR antagonist) or KU14R (I3 IR antagonist). Moreover, the agmatine‐induced relaxation was attenuated by glibenclamide (inhibitor of KATP channel) and H‐89 (inhibitor of protein kinase A), but enhanced by 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX, inhibitor of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase). Western blotting showed increased expression of bladder IR but not SUR or Kir 6.2 in the STZ‐diabetic rat.

Conclusion

Agmatine causes rat bladder relaxation by activation of the I2 IR, which opens KATP channels through the cyclic AMP/protein kinase A pathway. Agmatine‐induced bladder relaxation in STZ‐diabetic rats is increased due to a higher expression of IR.
Optimization of Earthquake Energy Dissipation System by Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Hejazi F. , Toloue I. , Jaafar M. S. , Noorzaei J.
Published: September 2013

Numerous recent studies have assessed the stability and safety of structures furnished with different types of structural control systems, such as viscous dampers. A challenging issue in this field is the optimization of structural control systems to protect structures against severe earthquake excitation. As the safety of a structure depends on many factors, including the failure of structural members and movement of each structural node in any direction, the optimization technique must consider many parameters simultaneously. However, the available literature on optimizing earthquake energy dissipation systems shows that most researchers have considered optimization processes using just one or a few parameters applicable only to simple SDOF or MDOF systems. This article reports on the development of a multiobjective optimization procedure for structural passive control systems based on genetic algorithm; this research focused on systems that would minimize the effects of earthquake based on realistic structural responses considering plastic hinge occurrence in structural elements and three‐directional displacement in all structural nodes. The model was applied to an example of three‐dimensional reinforced concrete framed building and its structural seismic responses were investigated. The results showed that the optimized control system effectively reduced the seismic response of structures, thus enhancing building safety during earthquake excitations.
Biochemical analysis and structure determination of Paucimonas lemoignei poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase PhaZ7 muteins reveal the PHB binding site and details of substrate–enzyme interactions
Authors: Jendrossek Dieter , Hermawan Siska , Subedi Bishwa , Papageorgiou Anastassios C.
Published: September 2013

Five amino acids (Y105, Y176, Y189, Y189, W207) that constitute the substrate binding site of PHB depolymerase PhaZ7 were identified. All residues are located at a single surface‐exposed location of PhaZ7. Exchange of these amino acids by less hydrophobic, hydrophilic or negatively charged residues reduced binding of PhaZ7 to PHB. Modifications of other residues at the PhaZ7 surface (F9, Y66, Y103, Y124, Y169, Y172, Y173, F198, Y203, Y204, F251, W252) had no effect on substrate binding. The PhaZ7 wild‐type protein, three muteins with single amino acid exchanges (Y105A, Y105E, Y190E), a PhaZ7 variant with deletion of residues 202–208, and PhaZ7 in which the active‐site serine had been replaced by alanine (S136A) were crystallized and their structures were determined at 1.6–2.0 Å resolution. The structures were almost identical but revealed flexibility of some regions. Structural analysis of PhaZ7 (S136A) with bound 3‐hydroxybutyrate tetramer showed that the substrate binds in a cleft that is composed of Y105, Y176, Y189 and Y190 and thus confirmed the data obtained by site‐directed mutagenesis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first example in which the substrate binding site of a PHB depolymerase is documented at a molecular and structural level.
New challenges in modelling photosynthesis: temperature dependencies of Rubisco kinetics
Authors: DIAZ‐ESPEJO A.
Published: September 2013

This article comments on: Temperature response of in vivo Rubisco kinetics and mesophyll conductance in Arabidopsis thaliana: comparisons to Nicotiana tabacum
TheBrazilianAssociation ofRegulatoryAgencies: Integrating levels, consolidating identities in the regulatory state in the south
Authors: Bianculli Andrea C.
Published: September 2013

This article discusses a unique organization in the regulatory world, theBrazilianAssociation ofRegulatoryAgencies (ABAR), which brings together federal, state, and municipal regulatory agencies across different policy sectors. The paper argues that as a regulatory policy network,ABARhas been crucial to the professional socialization, capacity building, and institutionalization of regulators inBrazil. Moreover, it has promoted their identity as professionals and differentiated them from politicians, regulatees, and societal actors. Thus, whileABARraises the shield of expertise to secure independence from political and social interference, it has itself become a relevant actor in the country's regulatory political dynamics, contributing as such to the strengthening of theBrazilian regulatory state.
Emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis: Coincidence or conspiracy?
Authors: Huie Tristan J. , Solomon Joshua J.
Published: September 2013

See article, page 1191
Hierarchical Longitudinal Models of Relationships in Social Networks
Authors: Paul Sudeshna , O'Malley A. James
Published: September 2013

Motivated by the need to understand the dynamics of relationship formation and dissolution over time in real world social networks we develop a new longitudinal model for transitions in the relationship status of pairs of individuals (‘dyads’). We first specify a model for the relationship status of a single dyad and then extend it to account for important interdyad dependences (e.g. transitivity—‘a friend of a friend is a friend’) and heterogeneity. Model parameters are estimated by using Bayesian analysis implemented via Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. We use the model to perform novel analyses of two diverse longitudinal friendship networks: an excerpt of the Teenage Friends and Lifestyle Study (a moderately sized network) and the Framingham Heart Study (a large network).
A Coupled Hidden Markov Model for Disease Interactions
Authors: Sherlock Chris , Xifara Tatiana , Telfer Sandra , Begon Mike
Published: September 2013

To investigate interactions between parasite species in a host, a population of field voles was studied longitudinally, with presence or absence of six different parasites measured repeatedly. Although trapping sessions were regular, a different set of voles was caught at each session, leading to incomplete profiles for all subjects. We use a discrete time hidden Markov model for each disease with transition probabilities dependent on covariates via a set of logistic regressions. For each disease the hidden states for each of the other diseases at a given time point form part of the covariate set for the Markov transition probabilities from that time point. This allows us to gauge the influence of each parasite species on the transition probabilities for each of the other parasite species. Inference is performed via a Gibbs sampler, which cycles through each of the diseases, first using an adaptive Metropolis–Hastings step to sample from the conditional posterior of the covariate parameters for that particular disease given the hidden states for all other diseases and then sampling from the hidden states for that disease given the parameters. We find evidence for interactions between several pairs of parasites and of an acquired immune response for two of the parasites.
Smooth Estimation of a Lifetime Distribution with Competing Risks by Using Regular Interval Observations: Application to Cocoa Fruits Growth
Authors: Soh Patrice Takam , Nguéma Eugène-Patrice Ndong , Gwet Henri , Ndoumbè-Nkeng Michel
Published: September 2013

In the estimation of a lifetime distribution from regular interval-censored data with an additional censoring variable, we focus on the case where (contrary to the actuarial method) both events (interest and censorship) can occur on a given individual in the same interval and, thus, are observed simultaneously. Specifically, we consider a population where individuals pass through a finite number of successive stages during their growth and are threatened by a disease. First, we estimate the lifetime and time-to-disease distributions in each developmental stage from such censored data. Using data that were recorded on a cohort of individuals followed over a long period of time, we propose a non-parametric, yet continuously differentiable and piecewise quadratic polynomial, estimator for the survival function of each of these distributions. We applied it to estimate, from weekly field observations in Mbankomo (Cameroon), the lifetime and time-to-disease distributions of cocoa fruits in each of their three developmental stages before maturity. It is found that on average a healthy cocoa fruit spends only 212 weeks in its first stage (cherelle), compared with nearly 9 weeks as a young pod and 712 weeks as an adult pod. In a second phase, however, adapting our methodology to competing risks estimation, we observed that, owing to the severe rate of attacks, the fruits' effective lifetime expectancy in farmland is much shorter. Indeed, in that part of Cameroon, the cumulative risk of an attack on cocoa fruits in farmland, especially by pod rot disease, far outweighs their chances of reaching maturity.
Initiation of Dialysis Should be Timely: Neither Early Nor Late
Authors: Mehrotra Rajnish , Rivara Matthew , Himmelfarb Jonathan
Published: September 2013

Over the last decade, individuals with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States are starting maintenance dialysis therapy at progressively higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Moreover, several observational studies have demonstrated an association of a higher risk of death with higher serum creatinine‐based estimates of GFR at the time of initiation of dialysis. In contrast, studies in which renal function has been measured by timed urinary collection show either a lower risk of death or no significant association with higher GFR at the time of initiation of dialysis. There are numerous potential sources of bias in such observational studies, particularly in those that use serum creatinine‐based eGFR. The only randomized controlled clinical trial to have examined this question did not demonstrate either benefit or harm with initiation of dialysis at higher level of renal function. Thus, the data to date suggest that eGFR should not be the sole consideration when assessing the need for initiating maintenance dialysis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Given the high societal costs of starting renal replacement therapy earlier in the course of the disease, these considerations also suggest that dialysis can be safely be postponed in otherwise asymptomatic individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease. By the same token, dialysis should not be denied to individuals who could clearly benefit from renal replacement therapy simply because the GFR is too high (viz., volume overload, refractory hyperkalemia). Finally, there is a compelling need to reexamine the symptoms that could be attributed to uremia and clearly improve upon initiation of dialysis to better guide clinical decision‐making.