bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SUPERFLIP– a computer program for the solution of crystal structures by charge flipping in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Palatinus Lukáš , Chapuis Gervais
Published: July 2007

SUPERFLIPis a computer program that can solve crystal structures from diffraction data using the recently developed charge-flipping algorithm. It can solve periodic structures, incommensurately modulated structures and quasicrystals from X-ray and neutron diffraction data. Structure solution from powder diffraction data is supported by combining the charge-flipping algorithm with a histogram-matching procedure.SUPERFLIPis written in Fortran90 and is distributed as a source code and as precompiled binaries. It has been successfully compiled and tested on a variety of operating systems.
Single-crystal-to-single-crystal E → Z isomerization of tiglic acid in a supramolecular framework
Authors: Zheng Shao-Liang , Messerschmidt Marc , Coppens Philip
Published: July 2007

The single-crystal-to-single-crystal E → Z photoisomerization of tiglic acid (2,3-dimethylacrylic acid) occurs in the supramolecular crystals CECR–HTA·2MeOH·1.5H2O (1) (where HTA = tiglic acid, CECR = C-ethylcalix[4]resorcinarene) with the preservation of the crystal lattice, indicating the `scaffolding effect' of the molecular framework, which holds the crystal together notwithstanding the change in shape of the embedded guest molecules. A photostationary state is reached at a concentration of ca 30% of the Z isomers. A kinetic analysis shows the Z → E back-reaction to proceed with a larger rate constant than the E → Z isomerization.
Complex disorder in β-NH4Fe2(PO4)2: deciphering from a five-dimensional formalism
Authors: Pérez Olivier , Adam Laure , Guesdon Anne , Daturi M. , Raveau Bernard
Published: July 2007

A new mixed-valent iron ammonium phosphate, β-NH4Fe2(PO4)2, has been synthesized. The diffuse scattering observed on the diffraction patterns implies complex disorder phenomena and prevents a direct structure resolution. The latter can be solved by generating an artificially ordered orthorhombic structure, using a five-dimensional approach and performing partial integration of the diffuse streaks. In the artificially ordered structure, hexagonal tunnels, delimited by FeO6 octahedra, perpendicular to the directions [011] and [0\bar 11] can then be seen; they are filled either by [FeP2O10]∞ zigzag ribbons or by NH_4^+ cations. It is shown that the disordering originates from the shifting of adjacent (100) tunnel slices of the structure with respect to each other along [011], allowing the formation of either new commensurate (superstructure) or incommensurate modulations, or even complete disorder along a. The close relationships with the ordered monoclinic form α-NH4Fe2(PO4)2 are also explained by this description.
Comparison of the proton-transfer path in hydrogen bonds from theoretical potential-energy surfaces and the concept of conservation of bond order. II. (N—H...N)+ hydrogen bonds
Authors: Majerz Irena , Olovsson Ivar
Published: July 2007

The quantum-mechanically derived reaction coordinates (QMRC) for the proton transfer in (N—H—N)+ hydrogen bonds have been derived from ab initio calculations of potential-energy surfaces. A comparison is made between the QMRC and the corresponding bond-order reaction coordinates (BORC) derived by applying the Pauling bond-order concept together with the principle of conservation of bond order. We find virtually perfect agreement between the QMRC and the BORC for intermolecular (N—H—N)+ hydrogen bonds. In contrast, for intramolecular (N—H—N)+ hydrogen bonds, the donor and acceptor parts of the molecule impose strong constraints on the N—N distance and the QMRC does not follow the BORC relation in the whole range. The X-ray determined hydrogen positions are not located exactly at the theoretically calculated potential-energy minima, but instead at the point where the QMRC and the BORC coincide with each other. On the other hand, the optimized hydrogen positions, with other atoms in the cation fixed as in the crystal structure, are closer to these energy minima. Inclusion of the closest neighbours in the theoretical calculations has a rather small effect on the optimized hydrogen positions. [Part I: Olovsson (2006). Z. Phys. Chem.
220, 797–810.]
Atomvolumen, Packungsdichte der Atome und chemische Bindung in nichtmetallischen Elementen
Authors: Trömel M.
Published: July 2007

The atomic volume of crystalline elements is largely determined by the packing density of atoms in the respective modification. The determination of packing density is improved by assuming that the atomic distances depend on bond valences according to Pauling's equation. With the additional assumption of equal valence in different modifications, the experimental atomic volume of an element in any given structure is reduced to its volume in close-packed structures, e.g. f.c.c. The ratio of this reduced atomic volume and the experimental atomic volume is a measure of packing density. Reduced atomic volumes of C, Si, Ge, P, As, S and Se, as calculated from different modifications, correspond in most cases to within less than ±1% for each element, even if calculated from extremely different structures like diamond and buckminsterfullerene in the case of carbon, or from numerous modifications of sulfur with annular molecules of different sizes. Exceptions (graphite, white phosphorus, tin and selenium) indicate deviating valences.
Probability density analyses of guest ions in hollandite Ax
Mg
x/2Ti8 − x/2O16 (A = K, Rb)
Authors: Michiue Yuichi
Published: July 2007

Probability density functions (PDFs) of mobile ions in one-dimensional ionic conductors of hollandite A

x
Mg
x/2Ti8 − x/2O16 (A = K, Rb) were examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A conventional structure model was modified by imposing an additional constraint condition, which is based on microscopic description for the possible displacement of mobile ions adjacent to a vacancy in the tunnel. Joint PDFs and one-particle potentials for mobile ions were obtained from the structure models applying harmonic and anharmonic atomic displacement parameters (ADPs). Potential curves of the ion hopping between neighboring cavities were calculated from the joint PDF of the specific ions of the process. Energy barriers of the ion hopping were estimated at 52–60 meV from anharmonic ADP models of K-hollandite, while the values varied from 140 to 250 meV for Rb-hollandite.
Disorder in pentachloronitrobenzene, C6Cl5NO2: a diffuse scattering study
Authors: Thomas Lynne H. , Welberry T. Richard , Goossens Darren J. , Heerdegen Aidan P. , Gutmann Matthias J. , Teat Simon J. , Lee Peter L. , Wilson Chick C. , Cole Jacqueline M.
Published: July 2007

Monte Carlo computer simulation has been used to interpret and model observed single-crystal diffuse X-ray scattering data for pentachloronitrobenzene, C6Cl5NO2. Each site in the crystal contains a molecule in one of six different basic orientations with equal probability. However, no short-range order amongst these different orientations has been detected. The strong, detailed and very distinctive diffraction patterns can be accounted for almost entirely on the assumption of random occupancy of each molecular site, but with very large local relaxation displacements that tend to increase the neighbouring distances for contacts involving NO2...NO2 and NO2...Cl with a corresponding reduction for those involving Cl...Cl. The results show that the mean NO2...NO2 distance is increased by ∼ 0.6 Å, compared with that given by the average structure determination.
Structure of oxidized bismuth nanoclusters
Authors: Stevens K. J. , Ingham B. , Toney M. F. , Brown S. A. , Partridge J. , Ayesh A. , Natali F.
Published: July 2007

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction has determined that β-Bi2O3 is the dominant oxide phase covering hexagonal bismuth nanoclusters produced in an inert gas aggregation source. Simulated Debye–Scherrer patterns have indicated that the oxide is 20 ± 5 Å thick on average, at the surface of 320 ± 40 Å diameter clusters. A Williamson–Hall analysis of the peak broadening was used to measure the non-uniform strain in clusters. The oxidized clusters were in −0.11 ± 0.06% uniform compressive strain compared with other clusters without oxides detectable by X-ray diffraction which only have a small tensile uniform strain. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and multislice image simulations indicated a β-Bi2O3 thickness of 20–50 Å. The HRTEM micrographs show the relative orientation between the oxide and the cluster core.
New oxybromide cobaltites with layered perovskite-related structures: 18R-Ba6Co5BrO14 and 14H-Ba7Co6BrO17
Authors: Kauffmann Matthieu , Roussel Pascal
Published: July 2007

Single crystals of the title compounds were prepared by solid–solid reaction using BaBr2 flux at 1373 K. The structures of these two new cobaltites were solved and refined. The two compounds are built from a close-packing of [BaO3] and [BaOBr] layers with stacking sequences (c′chhcc′)3 and (c′chhhcc′)2 for the 18R and 14H structures, respectively, which create Co3O12 trimers or Co4O15 tetramers of face-sharing octahedra connected at their extremities to isolated tetrahedra by corner-sharing. These new materials are strongly related to the 5H-Ba5Co5O14/12H-Ba0.9CoO2.6 and 10H-Ba5Co5ClO13/6H-Ba6Co6ClO16 materials, with the existence of common blocks. In Ba6Co5BrO14 and Ba7Co6BrO17, all the atoms in the vicinity of the [BaOBr] layers are disordered, whereas the rest of the structure is perfectly ordered.
Crystal structure and local order in Co6Al11−x
Si6+x
Authors: Richter Klaus W. , Prots Yurii , Borrmann Horst , Ramlau Reiner , Grin Yuri
Published: July 2007

The ternary compound Co6Al_{11-x}Si_{6+x} (∊ phase) was prepared from the elements by arc melting and subsequent heat treatment, and then characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This new structure type consists of planar layers with the composition [Co6Al10Si4], which are penetrated by perpendicular (Si—Si—Al) chains. While the layers are well described by an orthorhombic model (space group Pnma, Pearson symbol oP46), the chains exhibit doubled periodicity, thus yielding a superstructure. Two alternative ordering models (space group Cmc21, oC184, and space group P21/c, mP92) are presented and discussed based on XRD and TEM results. The (Si—Si—Al) chains are located in pentagonal antiprismatic `channels' which reveal the similarity of the Co6Al_{11-x}Si_{6+x} structure to Al-rich transition-metal compounds such as Co4Al13, Co2Al5, Fe4Al13, V7Al45, V4Al23 and VAl10, which also exhibit this type of pentagonal `channels' in their crystal structures. The phase shows only a very small homogeneity range.
Analysis of structures with saturated hydrogen bonding. Corrigendum
Authors: Loehlin James H. , Okasako Elizabeth L. N.
Published: July 2007

Corrected space groups for the paper by Loehlin & Okasako (2007), Acta Cryst. B63, 132–141 are given.
Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of lorazepam in children with severe malaria and convulsions
Authors: Muchohi Simon N. , Obiero Kenneth , Newton Charles R. J. C. , Ogutu Bernhards R. , Edwards Geoffrey , Kokwaro Gilbert O.
Published: July 2007

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Lorazepam (LZP) may be a more useful anticonvulsant to stop convulsions in children with severe malaria (SM) than diazepam, since it has a longer duration of action and can be given by other routes, such as intramuscular (i.m.).

• There are no studies describing both the pharmacoknetics and clinical efficacy of LZP in African children, particularly those with SM.

• We have undertaken a study with LZP, administered either intravenously (i.v.) or i.m., to children with SM and convulsions in order to describe and compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of LZP following administration via both routes and determine whether the currently recommended dose of LZP (0.1 mg kg−1) is effective in terminating convulsions in this group.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• Administration of LZP (i.v. or i.m.) at the currently recommended dose (0.1 mg kg−1) resulted in rapid achievement of plasma LZP concentrations within the reported effective therapeutic range without clinically significant cardiorespiratory effects.

• A single dose of LZP was effective in the rapid termination of convulsions in all children, and prevention of seizure recurrence for >72 h in 11 of 15 (73%) children and 10 of 11 (91%) children after i.v. and i.m. administration, respectively.

AIM

To investigate the pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) lorazepam (LZP) in children with severe malaria and convulsions.

METHODS

Twenty‐six children with severe malaria and convulsions lasting ≥5 min were studied. Fifteen children were given a single dose (0.1 mg kg−1) of i.v. LZP and 11 received a similar i.m. dose. Blood samples were collected over 72 h for determination of plasma LZP concentrations. Plasma LZP concentration–time data were fitted using compartmental models.

RESULTS

Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] LZP concentrations of 65.1 ng ml−1 (50.2, 107.0) and 41.4 ng ml−1 (22.0, 103.0) were attained within median (95% CI) times of 30 min (10, 40) and 25 min (20, 60) following i.v. and i.m. administration, respectively. Concentrations were maintained above the reported therapeutic concentration (30 ng ml−1) for at least 8 h after dosing via either route. The relative bioavailability of i.m. LZP was 89%. A single dose of LZP was effective for rapid termination of convulsions in all children and prevention of seizure recurrence for >72 h in 11 of 15 children (73%, i.v.) and 10 of 11 children (91%, i.m), without any clinically apparent respiratory depression or hypotension. Three children (12%) died.

CONCLUSION

Administration of LZP (0.1 mg kg−1) resulted in rapid achievement of plasma LZP concentrations within the reported effective therapeutic range without significant cardiorespiratory effects. I.m administration of LZP may be more practical in rural healthcare facilities in Africa, where venous access may not be feasible.
Interaction between midazolam and clarithromycin in the elderly
Authors: Quinney Sara K. , Haehner Barbara D. , Rhoades Melissa B. , Lin Zhen , Gorski J. Christopher , Hall Stephen D.
Published: July 2007

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Clarithromycin is a mechanism‐based inhibitor of CYP3A that has been shown to inhibit midazolam hydroxylation in young, healthy subjects.

• Elderly persons exhibit altered metabolism of a variety of drugs, including clarithromycin.

• However, the consequences of increased exposure to an inhibitor drug on CYP3A activity have not been addressed.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study utilized intravenous and oral midazolam asin vivoprobes to examine the effect of clarithromycin on intestinal and hepatic CYP3A activity.

• Although clarithromycin concentrations are greater in elderly individuals than in young, healthy volunteers, intestinal and hepatic CYP3A enzymes are inhibited to a similar extent as in the young.

AIM

To assess the relative contribution of intestinal and hepatic CYP3A inhibition to the interaction between the prototypic CYP3A substrate midazolam and clarithromycin in the elderly.

METHODS

On day 1, 16 volunteers (eight male, eight female) aged 65–75 years weighing 59–112 kg received simultaneous doses of midazolam intravenously (i.v.) (0.05 mg kg−1over 30 min) and orally (p.o.) (3.5 mg of a stable isotope,15N3‐midazolam). Starting on day 2, clarithromycin 500 mg was administered orally twice daily for 7 days. On day eight, i.v. and p.o. doses of midazolam were administered 2 h after the final clarithromycin dose. Serum and urine samples were assayed for midazolam,15N3‐midazolam and metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectometry.

RESULTS

Men and women exhibited similar i.v. (30.4vs.36.0 l h−1) and p.o. (119vs.124 l h−1) clearances of midazolam. Midazolam hepatic availability was significantly (P = 0.006) greater in men [0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75, 0.84] than in women (0.66, 95% CI 0.59, 0.73), but midazolam intestinal availability (0.39vs.0.55) was not different. Following clarithromycin dosing, a significant decrease in systemic (33.2 l h−1to 11.5 l h−1) and oral (121 l h−1to 17.4 l h−1) midazolam clearance occurred. Oral, hepatic and intestinal availability was significantly increased after clarithromycin dosing from 0.34 to 0.72, 0.73 to 0.91 and 0.47 to 0.79, respectively. Clarithromycin administration led to an increase in the AUC of midazolam by 3.2‐fold following i.v. dosing and 8.0‐fold following p.o. dosing. Similar effects were observed for males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal and hepatic CYP3A inhibition by clarithromycin significantly reduces the clearance of midazolam in the elderly.
Complex upper-mantle deformation beneath the North China Craton: implications for lithospheric thinning
Authors: Zhao Liang , Zheng Tianyu
Published: July 2007

The mechanism of lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton (NCC) remains controversial. To constrain the mechanism, this study investigated the upper-mantle deformation pattern of the craton by measuring shear wave splitting at the cratonic edge. The results, derived from data recorded at 47 stations, reveal a complex pattern of mantle deformation. Inside the eastern craton, the majority of fast direction trends SE—NW parallel to the tectonic extension direction accompanying with the lithospheric thinning. At the cratonic edge, 15 stations with only null splitting results indicate undetectable anisotropy beneath the stations. This may be due to upwelling or chaotic ascension of mantle flow. To the north, off the craton, large delay times and variation of splitting parameter with backazimuth are generated by the combination of lithospheric and asthenospheric anisotropy. Based on comparison of the splitting results and the predicted ones by the compelling models, it is likely that lithospheric delamination dominated the lithospheric thinning at the north edge of the NCC during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic.
Potential host colonization by insect herbivores in a warmer climate: a transplant experiment
Authors: ANDREW NIGEL R. , HUGHES LESLEY
Published: July 2007

We conducted a transplant experiment to investigate the potential colonization of a plant species by insect herbivores under a warmer climate. Acacia falcata seeds collected from four latitudes, encompassing the current coastal range of the species (1150 km), were grown in the same soil type and climatic conditions in a glasshouse. Plants were then transplanted to two sites, 280 km north of A. falcata's current coastal range; the transplant sites were 1.2 and 5.5°C warmer than the northernmost and southernmost boundaries of the species' current range, respectively. We compared the structure and composition of the herbivorous Hemiptera and Coleoptera communities on the transplants (i) to that of A. falcata within its current distribution, (ii) to a closely related Acacia species (Acacia leptostachya) that naturally occurred at the transplant sites, and (iii) among the A. falcata transplants originating from seeds collected at different latitudes. Herbivory on A. falcata was also compared between the transplants and the current distribution, and among transplant originating from different latitudes. Thirty species of externally feeding herbivorous Coleoptera and Hemiptera were collected from the transplanted A. falcata over a period of 12 months following transplantation. Guild structure of this herbivore community (based on the proportion of species within each of seven groups based on taxonomy and feeding style) did not significantly differ between the transplants and that found on A. falcata within its natural range, but did differ between the transplants and A. leptostachya. Rates of herbivory did not significantly differ between the transplants and plants at sites within the natural range. There were no significant differences in herbivore species richness or overall rates of herbivory on the transplants originating from different latitudes. In conclusion, host plant identity was apparently more important than climate in influencing the structure of the colonizing herbivore community. If this result holds for other plant–herbivore systems, we might expect that under a warmer climate, broad patterns in insect community structure and rates of herbivory may remain similar to that at present, even though species composition may change substantially.
Environmental change and the phenology of European aphids
Authors: HARRINGTON RICHARD , CLARK SUZANNE J. , WELHAM SUE J. , VERRIER PAUL J. , DENHOLM COLIN H. , HULLÉ MAURICE , MAURICE DAMIEN , ROUNSEVELL MARK D. , COCU NADÈGE ,   EUROPEAN UNION EXAMINE CONSORTIUM
Published: July 2007

Aphids, because of their short generation time and low developmental threshold temperatures, are an insect group expected to respond particularly strongly to environmental changes. Forty years of standardized, daily data on the abundance of flying aphids have been brought together from countries throughout Europe, through the EU Thematic Network ‘EXAMINE’. Relationships between phenology, represented by date of first appearance in a year in a suction trap, of 29 aphid species and environmental data have been quantified using the residual maximum likelihood (REML) methodology. These relationships have been used with climate change scenario data to suggest plausible changes in aphid phenology. In general, the date of first record of aphid species in suction traps is expected to advance, the rate of advance varying with location and species, but averaging 8 days over the next 50 years. Strong relationships between aphid phenology and environmental variables have been found for many species, but they are notably weaker in species living all year on trees. Canonical variate analysis and principal coordinate analysis were used to determine ordinations of the 29 species on the basis of the presence/absence of explanatory variables in the REML models. There was strong discrimination between species with different life cycle strategies and between species feeding on herbs and trees, suggesting the possible value of trait‐based groupings in predicting responses to environmental changes.
Spruce budworm (Choristoneura spp.) biotype reactions to forest and climate characteristics
Authors: VOLNEY W. JAN A. , FLEMING RICHARD A.
Published: July 2007

The spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is the most destructive insect defoliator of forests in North America. Climatic influences on this species' life history are considered a major factor in restricting the extent and intensity of outbreaks. We examine the life history traits of the spruce budworm and related Choristoneura populations with respect to forecasting the conifer‐feeding responses of these insects in changing environments. Analysis of the evolutionary relationships between Choristoneura entities, including their hybridization, genetic distances, and their degree of sympatry leads us to distinguish 15 possible Choristoneura‘biotypes’.

Population trend has been associated with recruitment to the feeding stage, and two indicators of recruitment, egg weights and phenological development, are both ‘biotype’ and climate dependent. Among Abietoid feeding ‘biotypes’ and among spruce budworm populations, those from locations with extreme winters tend to have heavier eggs than those from the more benign environments. In spruce budworm, this genetically based adaptation allows populations to increase their potential recruitment substantially where winters are mild.

All biotypes feed on the newly developed shoots of their host trees in spring, and are thus vulnerable to the uncertain timing of budbreak. Genetic control of spring emergence is weak so larvae from a single family typically exit from hibernacula over a prolonged period. This guarantees some synchronization with budburst. However, hybrid populations have high heritabilities. This allows rapid adaptation to new conditions (e.g. mixed host‐species stands). Geographic variation in phenological development after establishing feeding sites is largely genetically controlled.

The importance of variation in these traits is examined with respect to competing population dynamics theories to evaluate their utility in forecasting future trends in defoliation. We finish with a plea for jointly using alternative approaches in forecasting spatiotemporal patterns of defoliation.
Genetic basis for reproductive diapause is correlated with life history traits within the Culex pipiens complex
Authors: Mori A. , Romero‐Severson J. , Severson D. W.
Published: July 2007

The evolution of late season reproductive arrest (diapause) among female Culex pipiens mosquitoes allows them to overwinter in temperate climates, while females of the sibling species Culex quinquefasciatus do not exhibit the diapause phenotype. We present results for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses of two independent segregating populations derived from crosses between C. pipiens and C. quinquefasciatus. QTL for diapause and three life history traits were identified and compared for genome positions and gene effects. Using a combination of composite interval mapping, single‐marker analysis and all possible subsets regression, we identified multiple QTL for each trait, totalling 14 and 17 QTL for each population, respectively. Individual QTL across traits often mapped to similar genome locations, suggesting these traits may be controlled in part by genes with pleiotropic effects or multiple tightly linked genes. The majority of QTL were intermediate in magnitude in that they explained 10–25% of the phenotypic variation. The majority of QTL showed overdominance effects. We suggest that this could impact natural populations, as increased heterosis across hybrid zones may allow populations to adapt to environmental conditions via stabilizing selection, and yet maintain species identity outside these regions because of strong morphological integration, wherein related traits evolve as an integrated unit.
Dental health, received care, and treatment needs in 11‐ to 13‐year‐old children with immigrant background in Heidelberg, Germany
Authors: BISSAR ABDUL‐RAZAK , OIKONOMOU CHRYSOULA , KOCH MARTIN JEAN , SCHULTE ANDREAS GERHARD
Published: July 2007

Objectives. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the caries experience, the provided care, and the unmet treatment need in 11‐ to 13‐year‐old schoolchildren with immigration background compared to children without migration experience.

Methods. A cross‐sectional study of 502 schoolchildren, 48% of which have immigration background, was conducted. Schools in areas of disadvantaged socio‐economic status were chosen for this study. DMFT scores, fissure sealants, and the occurrence of orthodontic treatments were recorded.

Results. The mean DMFT score of the immigrant children was significantly higher than that of the nonmigrants: 1.5 vs. 0.8. The SiC Index was also significantly different in both groups: 3.7 vs. 2.4, respectively. The Unmet Restorative Treatment Need Index was twofold higher in the immigrants compared to the nonmigrants. Only 45.6% of the immigrants had sound permanent teeth compared to 65.5% of the nonmigrants. The average number of sealants per child was 1.9 vs. 2.8, respectively. In addition, only 31.5% of the immigrants were provided with an orthodontic treatment compared to 48.3% of the nonmigrants.

Conclusion. Children with immigration background demonstrated more caries and received less dental care when compared to children without migration experience. The community prevention programmes, addressed similarly to all children, could not close the gap in oral health between immigrant and non‐immigrant children.
Korean version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale: a translation and validation study
Authors: Lee JuHee , Friedmann Erika , Picot Sandra J. , Thomas Sue Ann , Kim Cho Ja
Published: July 2007

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to examine the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale with Korean caregivers of older stroke survivors.

Background.  The Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale was developed in the United States of America for an American English‐speaking population to measure primary caregivers’ appraisals of potential stressors and the efficacy of their coping efforts related to caregiving experiences.

Methods.  Using the back‐translation method, the instrument was translated into Korean. The Korean version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale was self‐administered by 147 primary family caregivers recruited from three outpatient clinics and two home health agencies in Korea. The study was conducted in 2005.

Results.  In this sample, Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was 0.86. Reliability coefficients for each of the five subscales ranged from 0.40 to 0.85. Two subscales, burden and satisfaction, showed good reliability; one subscale, impact, showed marginally acceptable reliability; two subscales, mastery and demand, had low reliability. Principal components factor analysis of the Korean version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale yielded six factors. Except for the mastery domain, which was divided into two factors, the other factors were similar to those in the original scale.

Conclusion.  The Korean version of the Revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale had adequate reliability and validity in a sample of Korean caregivers of stroke survivors. It can be used to assess the impact of caregiving and interventions on Korean caregiver attitudes. Further studies are needed with different categories of caregiver.
Saying the wrong thing: improving learning with multimedia by including misconceptions
Authors: Muller D.A. , Bewes J. , Sharma M.D. , Reimann P.
Published: July 2007

Abstract  In this study, 364 first‐year physics students were randomly assigned to one of four online multimedia treatments on Newton's First and Second Laws of Motion: (1) the ‘Exposition’, a concise lecture‐style presentation; (2) the ‘Extended Exposition’, the Exposition with additional interesting information; (3) the ‘Refutation’, the Exposition with common misconceptions explicitly stated and refuted; or (4) the ‘Dialogue’, a student–tutor discussion of the same material as in the Refutation. Students were tested using questions from mechanics conceptual inventories before and after watching the multimedia treatments. Results show the Refutation and Dialogue produced the greatest learning gains, with effect sizes of 0.79 and 0.83, respectively, compared with the Exposition. Students with low prior knowledge benefited most, however high prior knowledge learners were not disadvantaged by the misconception‐based approach. The findings suggest that online multimedia can be greatly improved, promoting conceptual change in students with all levels of experience, by including a discussion of misconceptions.
Dietary variety and its effect on food intake of elderly adults
Authors: Hollis J. H. , Henry C. J. K.
Published: July 2007

Background  Older people frequently have poor food intake. This present study investigated the effect of dietary variety on food intake in younger and older people.

Methods  Eighteen young adults (mean age = 26 years) and 18 older adults (mean age = 70 years) consumed four consecutive courses of sandwiches on two occasions. In the plain treatment, each course of sandwiches was of the same type, while in the variety treatment four courses, each of a different type of sandwich, were served. Each time the participants were presented with a serving of sandwiches and asked to eat as much as they liked.

Results  In the plain condition, the older adult group consumed more than their young counterparts. This situation was reversed for the variety condition when the young group ate more than the older adults. Interestingly, the older adult group ate more when a variety of sandwiches was presented. This may be contrary to what is predicted by the sensory‐specific satiety model of eating behaviour.

Conclusions  This study suggests that presenting the older people with a varied meal may be a valid strategy to improve food intake in this group.
Sacred radical of psychiatry
Authors: CLARKE L.
Published: July 2007

At least a dozen articles in this journal have referred directly to the psychiatry of Thomas Szasz, even favourably on occasions. Szasz makes no distinction between the occupational statuses of mental health workers and so his work is relevant to nurses. Szasz's central claims take on renewed vitality given recent developments in forensic care, especially in Britain. In this article, I criticize Szasz's rationale of what constitutes illness as opposed to disease. In addition, I question – in a nuanced way – his views on custodial psychiatry and his use of history to bolster his clams. I also comment on recent developments in biological research and their implications for diagnosing schizophrenia: further, I link the question of such diagnoses to Szasz's assertion that private contracts are the definitive test of what counts as mental illness. Lastly, I ask if improvements in mental health care contradict Szaszian criticisms and/or his seeming inability/unwillingness to acknowledge such changes.
Attitudes towards suicide among nurses and doctors working with children and young people who self‐harm
Authors: ANDERSON M. , STANDEN P. J.
Published: July 2007

This paper presents a study investigating the attitudes towards suicide in nurses and doctors who work with children and young people who self‐harm. The effect of basic demographic factors on attitudes towards suicide in the staff group is explored. The Suicide Opinion Questionnaire was implemented to collect data on attitudes towards suicide. A 5‐point Likert Scale was used to score responses and attitudes were measured on eight clinical scales. Participants were 179 nurses and doctors working in three clinical areas: accident and emergency; paediatric medicine and adolescent inpatient mental health services. Nurses and doctors indicated agreement on the Mental Illness, Cry for Help, Right to Die, Impulsivity, Normality and Aggression scales, and less agreement on the Religion and Moral Evil scale. Only the scores for Mental Illness were statistically different in relation to professional group. There were no other significant differences on the other clinical scales in relation to gender, age clinical speciality and length of experience in current post. It is argued that complex attitudes need to be taken into account in training for healthcare professionals and in the development of contemporary suicide prevention policy.
A preliminary usability evaluation of Web‐based portal application for patients with schizophrenia
Authors: KOIVUNEN M. , VÄLIMÄKI M. , PITKÄNEN A. , KUOSMANEN L.
Published: July 2007

This study evaluated the usability of a Web‐based portal application developed for the use of nursing staff with patients suffering from schizophrenia and related psychosis. The study was designed solely to gain direct inputs from the nursing staff (N = 76, n = 38) in acute inpatient wards in two Finnish psychiatric hospitals. The data were collected by questionnaire covering the functionality, content and benefits of the portal. The evaluation showed that the portal is user‐friendly enabling a user to move inside the service and to find the relevant information. The content of the portal was interesting, understandable and easy to read. Some nurses were concerned about the effects of the portal on the patients' care, well‐being or personal contacts between nursing staff and patients. Some nurses have difficulties in evaluating the portal because they did not actively use it in clinical practice during the testing period. Emphasis should be put on nurses' motivation and concerns regarding possible negative effects of the portal, which may influence the future implementation of eHealth applications in clinical practice.
Empowerment in the interpersonal field: discourses of acute mental health nurses
Authors: LLOYD M.
Published: July 2007

Social policy greatly influences the working environment of mental health nurses but in practice can be difficult to translate. Empowerment of service users is one area that is constantly significant in policy, locally and nationally, yet quite difficult to define in practice. This ethnomethodological study explored the practice of 10 mental health nurses working in an acute admissions unit. Through semi‐structured interviews, the nurses were asked to discuss the taken‐for‐granted methods of empowerment with individual service users, their families and with work colleagues. The results were thematically analysed and compared with international findings, which reflected an awareness among mental health nurses of empowering practice in four areas. These were: Working with mental illness, Making connections, Responsibility and Teamworking.
How mental health nursing can best improve service users' experiences and outcomes in inpatient settings: responses to a national consultation
Authors: BRIMBLECOMBE N. , TINGLE A. , MURRELLS T.
Published: July 2007

Despite a number of national developments in the past few years, concerns remain about the experience and outcomes for service users in inpatient care settings. As part of a national review of mental health nursing in England, a consultation exercise was carried out to ascertain the opinions of a wide range of stakeholders in order to inform subsequent recommendations. The consultation question specifically related to inpatient care was ‘How can mental health nurses best improve service users’ experiences, and outcomes, in inpatient care settings?' The consultation generated a total of 326 written responses, mostly from groups and organizations. Responses were subject to content analysis and the three largest categories were ‘Service users influencing services’ (n = 80, 31%), ‘Service users involved in own care’ (n = 74, 29%) and ‘Direct clinical time’ (n = 68, 26%), including respondents citing the need for protected therapeutic engagement time. Many of the themes raised in the consultation were subsequently reflected in the recommendations made in ‘From values to action; the Chief Nursing Officer’s review of mental health nursing'.
A concept analysis of relational aggression
Authors: GOMES M. M.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this article is to conduct a concept analysis of the phenomenon of relational aggression. With the increases in violence among our youth, the topic of aggression, and more specifically relational aggression, has gained an increasing interest. Discussion of relational aggression is imperative because it lends credence to a type of aggression not readily studied in previous decades. A new understanding of relational aggression will aide in future nursing and multidisciplinary research studies and will guide health promotion interventions to alleviate the consequences of relational aggression for adolescent girls. Therefore, with an increased knowledge about the consequences of relational aggression the nurse can provide appropriate nursing interventions to combat the detriment associated with it.
Comparative phylogeography of Trypanosoma rangeli and Rhodnius (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) supports a long coexistence of parasite lineages and their sympatric vectors
Authors: MAIA DA SILVA F. , JUNQUEIRA A. C. V. , CAMPANER M. , RODRIGUES A. C. , CRISANTE G. , RAMIREZ L. E. , CABALLERO Z. C. E. , MONTEIRO F. A. , COURA J. R. , AÑEZ N. , TEIXEIRA M. M. G.
Published: July 2007

To make reliable interpretations about evolutionary relationships between Trypanosoma rangeli lineages and their insect vectors (triatomine bugs of the genus Rhodnius) and, thus, about the determinant factors of lineage segregation within T. rangeli, we compared phylogenies of parasite isolates and vector species. Sixty‐one T. rangeli isolates from invertebrate and vertebrate hosts were initially evaluated in terms of polymorphism of the spliced‐leader gene (SL). Further analysis based on SL and SSUrRNA sequences from 33 selected isolates, representative of the overall phylogenetic diversity and geographical range of T. rangeli, supported four phylogenetic lineages within this species. By comparing the phylogeny of Rhodnius species with that inferred for T. rangeli isolates and through analysis of the geographical range of the isolates, we showed that there is a very significant overlap in the distribution of Rhodnius species and T. rangeli lineages. Congruence between phylogeographical analysis of both T. rangeli lineages and complexes of Rhodnius species are consistent with the hypothesis of a long coexistence of parasites and their vectors, with lineage divergence associated with sympatric species of Rhodnius apparently without association with particular vertebrate hosts. Separation of T. rangeli isolates from vectors of distinct complexes living in sympatry favours the absence of gene flow between the lineages and suggests evolution of T. rangeli lineages in independent transmission cycles, probably associated to specific Rhodnius spp. ecotopes. A polymerase chain reaction assay based on SL intergenic sequences was developed for simultaneous identification and lineage genotyping of T. rangeli in epidemiological surveys.
Asian origin and rapid global spread of the destructive dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans
Authors: KAUSERUD HÅVARD , SVEGÅRDEN INGEBORG BJORVAND , SÆTRE GLENN‐PETER , KNUDSEN HENNING , STENSRUD ØYVIND , SCHMIDT OLAF , DOI SHUICHI , SUGIYAMA TOMOAKI , HÖGBERG NILS
Published: July 2007

The dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans (Basidiomycota) is the most damaging destroyer of wood construction materials in temperate regions. While being a widespread aggressive indoor biodeterioration agent, it is only found in a few natural environments. The geographical source of spread and colonization by this fungus in human environments is thus somewhat of an enigma. Employing genetic markers (amplified fragment length polymorphisms, DNA sequences and microsatellites) on a worldwide sample of specimens, we show that the dry rot fungus is divided into two main lineages; one nonaggressive residing naturally in North America and Asia (var. shastensis), and another aggressive lineage including specimens from all continents, both from natural environments and buildings (var. lacrymans). Our genetic analyses indicate that the two lineages represent well‐differentiated cryptic species. Genetic analyses pinpoint mainland Asia as the origin of the aggressive form var. lacrymans. A few aggressive genotypes have migrated worldwide from Asia to Europe, North and South America and Oceania followed by local population expansions. The very low genetic variation in the founder populations indicate that they have established through recent founder events, for example by infected wood materials transported over land or sea. A separate colonization has happened from mainland Asia to Japan. Our data also indicate that independent immigration events have happened to Oceania from different continents followed by admixture.
Genetic divergence in the Atlantic–Mediterranean Montagu's blenny, Coryphoblennius galerita (Linnaeus 1758) revealed by molecular and morphological characters
Authors: DOMINGUES VERA S. , FARIA CLÁUDIA , STEFANNI SERGIO , SANTOS RICARDO S. , BRITO ALBERTO , ALMADA VITOR C.
Published: July 2007

Coryphoblennius galerita is a small intertidal fish with a wide distribution and limited dispersal ability, occurring in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. In this study, we examined Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of C. galerita to assess levels of genetic divergence across populations and to elucidate historical and contemporary factors underlying the distribution of the genetic variability. We analyse three mitochondrial and one nuclear marker and 18 morphological measurements. The combined dataset clearly supports the existence of two groups of C. galerita: one in the Mediterranean and another in the northeastern Atlantic. The latter group is subdivided in two subgroups: Azores and the remaining northeastern Atlantic locations. Divergence between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean can be the result of historical isolation between the populations of the two basins during the Pleistocene glaciations. Present‐day barriers such as the Gibraltar Strait or the ‘Almeria‐Oran jet’ are also suggested as responsible for this isolation. Our results show no signs of local extinctions during the Pleistocene glaciations, namely at the Azores, and contrast with the biogeographical pattern that has been observed for Atlantic–Mediterranean warm‐water species, in which two groups of populations exist, one including the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast of western Europe, and another encompassing the western tropical coast of Africa and the Atlantic islands of the Azores, Madeira and Canaries. Species like C. galerita that tolerate cooler waters, may have persisted during the Pleistocene glaciations in moderately affected locations, thus being able to accumulate genetic differences in the more isolated locations such as the Azores and the Mediterranean. This study is one of the first to combine morphological and molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear) with variable rates of molecular evolution to the study of the relationships of the Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of a cool‐water species.
Two alternate mechanisms contribute to the persistence of interdependent lineages in Pogonomyrmex harvester ants
Authors: SCHWANDER TANJA , KELLER LAURENT , CAHAN SARA HELMS
Published: July 2007

Some populations of Pogonomyrmex harvester ants comprise pairs of highly differentiated lineages with queens mating at random with several males of their own and of the alternate lineage. These queens produce two types of diploid offspring, those fertilized by males of the queens’ lineage which develop into new queens and those fertilized by males of the other lineage which mostly develop into functionally sterile workers. This unusual mode of genetic caste determination has been found in 26 populations and a total of four lineage pairs (F1‐F2, G1‐G2, H1‐H2 and J1‐J2) have been described in these populations. Despite the fact that a few interlineage queens are produced, previous studies revealed that there is a complete lack of genetic introgression between lineages. Here we quantify the proportion of interlineage queens produced in each of the four lineage pairs and determine the fate of these queens. In the F1‐F2, G1‐G2 and H1‐H2 lineage pairs, interlineage queens were produced by a minority of colonies. These colonies exclusively produced interlineage queens and workers, suggesting that interlineage eggs can develop into queens in these three pairs of lineages in the absence of competition with pure‐lineage brood. An analysis of three key stages of the colony life cycle revealed that colonies headed by interlineage queens failed to grow sufficiently to produce reproductive individuals. In laboratory comparisons, interlineage queens produced fewer viable eggs, with the effect that they raised fewer workers and lost more weight per worker produced than pure‐lineage queens. In the J1‐J2 lineage pair, we did not find a single interlineage queen, raising the possibility that interlineage eggs have completely lost the ability to develop into queens in this lineage pair. Hence, two distinct mechanisms seem to account for the complete lack of between‐lineage gene flow in the F1‐F2, G1‐G2, H1‐H2 and J1‐J2 lineage pairs.