bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role and mechanism of phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C in survival and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Chayakulkeeree Methee , Sorrell Tania C. , Siafakas A. Rosemary , Wilson Christabel F. , Pantarat Namfon , Gerik Kimberly J. , Boadle Ross , Djordjevic Julianne T.
Published: June 2008

Phospholipase B1 (Plb1) is secreted after release from its glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and is implicated in initiation and dissemination of infection of the pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. To investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C (PI‐PLC) in Plb1 secretion, we identified two putative PI‐PLC‐encoding genes in C. neoformans var. grubii (PLC1 and PLC2), and created Δplc1 and Δplc2 deletion mutants. In Δplc1, which expressed less PI‐PLC activity than wild type (WT), three major cryptococcal virulence traits, Plb1 secretion, melanin production and growth at host temperature (37°C) were abolished and absence of Plb1 secretion coincided with Plb1 accumulation in plasma membranes. In addition, Δplc1 cell walls were defective, as indicated by cell clumping and irregular morphology, slower growth and an inability to activate mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the presence of cell wall‐perturbing agents. In contrast to Δplc2, which was as virulent as WT, Δplc1 was avirulent in mice and exhibited attenuated killing of Caenorhabditis elegans at 25°C, demonstrating that mechanism(s) independent of the 37°C growth defect contribute to the virulence composite. We conclude that Plc1 is a central regulator of cryptococcal virulence, acting through the protein kinase C/MAPK pathway, that it regulates release of Plb1 from the plasma membrane and is a candidate antifungal drug target.
Messenger RNA interferase RelE controls relBE transcription by conditional cooperativity
Authors: Overgaard Martin , Borch Jonas , Jørgensen Mikkel G. , Gerdes Kenn
Published: June 2008

Prokaryotic toxin–antitoxin (TA) loci consist of two genes in an operon that encodes a metabolically stable toxin and an unstable antitoxin. The antitoxin neutralizes its cognate toxin by forming a tight complex with it. In all cases known, the antitoxin autoregulates TA operon transcription by binding to one or more operators in the promoter region while the toxin functions as a co‐repressor of transcription. Interestingly, the toxin can also stimulate TA operon transcription. Here we analyse mechanistic aspects of how RelE of Escherichia coli can function both as a co‐repressor and as a derepressor of relBE transcription. When RelB was in excess to RelE, two trimeric RelB2•RelE complexes bound cooperatively to two adjacent operator sites in the relBE promoter region and repressed transcription. In contrast, RelE in excess stimulated relBE transcription and released the RelB2•RelE complex from operator DNA. A mutational analysis of the operator sites showed that RelE in excess counteracted cooperative binding of the RelB2•RelE complexes to the operator sites. Thus, RelE controls relBE transcription by conditional cooperativity.
The primary target of the killer toxin from Pichia acaciae is tRNAGln
Authors: Klassen Roland , Paluszynski John P. , Wemhoff Sabrina , Pfeiffer Annika , Fricke Julia , Meinhardt Friedhelm
Published: June 2008

The Pichia acaciae killer toxin (PaT) arrests yeast cells in the S‐phase of the cell cycle and induces DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs). Surprisingly, loss of the tRNA‐methyltransferase Trm9 – along with the Elongator complex involved in synthesis of 5‐methoxy‐carbonyl‐methyl (mcm5) modification in certain tRNAs – conferred resistance against PaT. Overexpression of mcm5‐modified tRNAs identified tRNAGln(UUG) as the intracellular target. Consistently, toxin‐challenged cells displayed reduced levels of tRNAGln and in vitro the heterologously expressed active toxin subunit disrupts the integrity of tRNAGln(UUG). Other than Kluyveromyces lactis zymocin, an endonuclease specific for tRNAGlu(UUC), affecting its target in a mcm5‐dependent manner, PaT exerts activity also on tRNAGln lacking such modification. As sensitivity is restored in trm9 elp3 double mutants, target tRNA cleavage is selectively inhibited by incomplete wobble uridine modification, as seen in trm9, but not in elp3 or trm9 elp3 cells. In addition to tRNAGln(UUG), tRNAGln(CUG) is also cleaved in vitro and overexpression of the corresponding gene increased resistance. Consistent with tRNAGln(CUG) as an additional TRM9‐independent target, overexpression of PaT's tRNase subunit abolishes trm9 resistance. Most interestingly, a functional DSB repair pathway confers PaT but also zymocin resistance, suggesting DNA damage to occur generally concomitant with specific tRNA offence.
Hyponastic leaf growth decreases the photoprotective demand, prevents damage to photosystem II and delays leaf senescence in Salvia broussonetii plants
Authors: Abreu Maria Elizabeth , Munné‐Bosch Sergi
Published: June 2008

The influence of leaf angle on the response of plants to high light was studied in Salvia broussonetii, a species endemic of the Canary Islands that shows hyponastic leaf growth. The response of vertical, naturally oriented leaves was compared with that of horizontal, artificially held leaves for 1, 13, 24 and 29 days in terms of photoinhibition [efficiency of photosystem II (PSII)], photoprotection (by the xanthophyll cycle, α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene) and progression of leaf senescence. Vertical leaves not only showed a decreased photoprotective demand compared with horizontal leaves but also kept the maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) constant throughout the experiment, thus reflecting the capacity of naturally oriented leaves to avoid photooxidative stress in the field. By contrast, horizontal leaves, which were exposed to higher light intensities, showed a higher photoprotective demand (reflected by a higher de‐epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle, carotenoid losses and increases in α‐tocopherol), damage to PSII (as indicated by decreases in the Fv/Fm ratio) and accelerated leaf senescence, which was associated with cell death after 24 days of high light exposure. It is concluded that hyponastic leaf growth prevents photoinhibition and decreases the photoprotective demand of leaves by reducing the incident light, which helps maintaining leaf vigor and delaying the progression of leaf senescence in S. broussonetii plants. Hyponastic leaf growth is therefore one of the first photoprotection mechanisms activated in this species to avoid the negative impact of high‐light stress in the field.
Effects of feed particle size at dietary presence of added organic acids on caecal parameters and the prevalence of Salmonella in fattening pigs on farm and at slaughter
Authors: Visscher C. F. , Winter P. , Verspohl J. , Stratmann‐Selke J. , Upmann M. , Beyerbach M. , Kamphues J.
Published: June 2008

In a field study with fattening pigs, effects of feed particle size at the dietary presence of organic acids on Salmonella prevalence were measured. On two farms (f1/f2), each holding ∼800 pigs, diets based on finely ground (control) or coarsely ground ingredients (experiment) were fed as crumbs. On f1 both control and experimental grower and finisher diets contained identical concentrations of formic and propionic acid (0.4% and 0.2% respectively). On f2 only finisher diet of the experimental group contained 1.2% potassium diformate. At the start of the fattening period no statistical differences were measured between Salmonella prevalence in animals fed control and experimental diets on both farms. At slaughter Salmonella prevalence in caecal contents was lower (p < 0.05) on f1 in animals fed the experimental diet. Furthermore, the number of seronegative meat juice samples taken from these animals [optical density (OD) <10] was higher (p < 0.001); seropositive as well as distinct seropositive samples (OD ≥20 and ≥40 respectively) were less frequent (p < 0.01) compared to samples from animals fed the control diet. Feeding the experimental diet on f2 resulted in a lower Salmonella detection rate in faeces before slaughter (p < 0.01). Salmonella prevalence was lower in caecal content at slaughter for pigs fed the experimental diet compared to those fed control diet (p < 0.0001). The number of distinct seropositive meat juice samples (OD ≥40) was lower (p < 0.01) for pigs fed the experimental than for those fed the control diet. In comparison to pigs in the control group, starch concentrations in the caecal content from pigs in the experimental groups on both farms were higher (p < 0.05) and the pH values lower (p < 0.05). Propionate (p < 0.0001) and butyrate (p < 0.01) concentrations were higher in the caecal content taken from pigs in the experimental group on f2.
Current concepts in hypospadias surgery
Authors: Hayashi Yutaro , Kojima Yoshiyuki
Published: June 2008

Abstract:  Anatomical anomalies in hypospadias are an abnormal ventral opening of the urethral meatus, abnormal ventral curvature of the penis and abnormal distribution of the foreskin around the glans with a ventrally deficient hooded foreskin. The techniques of hypospadias surgery continue to evolve. The current standard of care for hypospadias repair includes not only a functional penis adequate for sexual intercourse and urethral reconstruction offering the ability to stand to urinate, but also a satisfactory cosmetic result. Tubularized incised plate repair has been the mainstay for distal hypospadias. In cases of proximal hypospadias, one‐stage repairs such as the Duckett repair or the Koyanagi repair have been well established, while two‐stage repairs remain important alternatives. Whether dorsal plication or ventral lengthening should be used to correct penile curvature is still controversial, and long‐term results are required. Efforts have been made in this decade to improve cosmetic appearance, constructing a slit‐like meatus or performing foreskin reconstruction, and to prevent onerous complications.
When do host–parasite interactions drive the evolution of non‐random mating?
Authors: Nuismer Scott L. , Otto Sarah P. , Blanquart François
Published: June 2008

Interactions with parasites may promote the evolution of disassortative mating in host populations as a mechanism through which genetically diverse offspring can be produced. This possibility has been confirmed through simulation studies and suggested for some empirical systems in which disassortative mating by disease resistance genotype has been documented. The generality of this phenomenon is unclear, however, because existing theory has considered only a subset of possible genetic and mating scenarios. Here we present results from analytical models that consider a broader range of genetic and mating scenarios and allow the evolution of non‐random mating in the parasite as well. Our results confirm results of previous simulation studies, demonstrating that coevolutionary interactions with parasites can indeed lead to the evolution of host disassortative mating. However, our results also show that the conditions under which this occurs are significantly more fickle than previously thought, requiring specific forms of infection genetics and modes of non‐random mating that do not generate substantial sexual selection. In cases where such conditions are not met, hosts may evolve random or assortative mating. Our analyses also reveal that coevolutionary interactions with hosts cause the evolution of non‐random mating in parasites as well. In some cases, particularly those where mating occurs within groups, we find that assortative mating evolves sufficiently to catalyze sympatric speciation in the interacting species.
High beta diversity of bacteria in the shallow terrestrial subsurface
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Wu Yucheng , Jiang Hongchen , Li Chunhai , Dong Hailiang , Wu Qinglong , Soininen Janne , Shen Ji
Published: June 2008

While there have been a vast number of studies on bacterial alpha diversity in the shallow terrestrial subsurface, beta diversity – how the bacterial community composition changes with spatial distance – has received surprisingly limited attention. Here, bacterial beta diversity and its controlling factors are investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and cloning of samples from a 700‐cm‐long sediment core, the lower half of which consisted of marine‐originated sediments. According to canonical correspondence analysis with variation partitioning, contemporary environmental variables explain beta diversity in a greater proportion than depth. However, we also found that community similarity decayed significantly with spatial distance and the slopes of the distance–decay relationships are relatively high. The high beta diversity indicates that the bacterial distribution patterns are not only controlled by contemporary environments, but also related to historical events, that is, dispersal or depositional history. This is highlighted by the different beta diversity patterns among studied sediment layers. We thus conclude that the high beta diversity in the shallow terrestrial subsurface is a trade‐off between historical events and environmental heterogeneity. Furthermore, we suggest that the high beta diversity of bacteria is likely to be recapitulated in other terrestrial sites because of the great frequency of high geochemical and/or historical variations along depth.
Relationships between Facets of Job Satisfaction and Task and Contextual Performance
Authors: Edwards Bryan D. , Bell Suzanne T. , Arthur, Jr. Winfred , Decuir Arlette D.
Published: June 2008

This study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and task and contextual performance. Specifically, it assessed this relationship for overall as well as facets of job satisfaction. Four hundred and forty‐four employees in a manufacturing plant completed measures of job satisfaction and their supervisors completed measures of task and contextual job performance. Results indicate that the relationships between overall job satisfaction and task and contextual performance were the same. However, when the facets of job satisfaction were considered, different relationships emerged. There was a stronger relationship between satisfaction with supervision and contextual performance compared to task performance. In contrast, there was a stronger relationship between satisfaction with work and task performance compared to contextual performance. Results indicated the importance of considering different facets with the job satisfaction and job performance relationship, as well as the importance of matching predictors and criteria in terms of their levels of specificity.

Cette étude examine la relation entre la satisfaction au travail, la tâche et la performance en contexte. Plus spécifiquement, cette relation a étéévaluée en envisageant la relation au travail de façon globale ou selon différentes facettes. La satisfaction au travail a été mesurée auprès de 444 salariés d’une usine de fabrication, la tâche et la performance en contexte ont étéévaluées par leurs supérieurs. Les résultats indiquent que les relations entre la satisfaction au travail envisagée de façon globale, la tâche et la performance en contexte sont les mêmes. Cependant, quand on distingue les facettes de la satisfaction au travail, des relations différentes émergent. Il y a une relation plus importante entre la satisfaction envers la supervision et la performance en contexte qu’entre la satisfaction envers la supervision et la performance. En revanche, il y a une relation plus forte entre la satisfaction du travail et la performance qu’entre la satisfaction du travail et la performance en contexte. Les résultats indiquent l’importance de trouver des indicateurs et des critères qui rendent compte de ces spécificités.
A polymorphism in a transporter of testosterone is a determinant of androgen independence in prostate cancer
Authors: Sharifi Nima , Hamada Akinobu , Sissung Tristan , Danesi Romano , Venzon David , Baum Caitlin , Gulley James L. , Price Douglas K. , Dahut William L. , Figg William D.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE

To determine if patients with advanced prostate cancer carrying a polymorphism that codes for a more active testosterone transporter have less durable responses to androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) than patients not carrying this polymorphism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We previously determined that a polymorphism in SLCO1B3 affects testosterone transport and that those men who have at least one wild‐type T allele at the 334 T > G polymorphism in this gene have a shorter survival. We hypothesized that the T allele which increases testosterone transport would be associated with a shorter interval from ADT to androgen independence. We examined the association between this SLCO1B3 polymorphism and time from ADT to androgen independence, ADT to prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) nadir and PSA nadir to androgen independence in 68 Caucasian patients with advanced prostate cancer who were treated with ADT with metastatic disease (D2) or biochemical failure with no metastatic disease (D0).

RESULTS

When examined separately, patients in the individual stages tended to have a shorter time to androgen independence with the T allele in the D0 (P = 0.11) and D2 (P = 0.18) groups. Combining these groups and stratifying by stage yielded a statistically significant shorter time to androgen independence with the T allele (P = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

A polymorphism in a transporter that increases testosterone import is associated with a shorter time to androgen independence in patients with prostate cancer who are treated with ADT.
Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy for pathological stage II disease in nonseminomatous germ cell tumours: a 15‐year experience
Authors: Cresswell Joanne , Scheitlin Walter , Gozen Ali , Lenz Elke , Teber Dogu , Rassweiler Jens
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE

To present our 15‐year experience of laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (LRPLND) combined with adjuvant chemotherapy (after RPLND) for patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumour and positive nodes (pN+), evaluating the morbidity and long‐term oncological outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data for 87 patients with clinical stage I GCT were collected prospectively from 1992 to 2007. Primary diagnostic LRPLND was performed for pathological staging using a modified‐template dissection. Patients with lymph node involvement had adjuvant chemotherapy, with two cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin.

RESULTS

The mean (range) operative duration was 177 (68–360) min, and the hospital stay 6 (4–18) days. Positive nodes were identified in 24% of patients, who subsequently had adjuvant chemotherapy. After a mean (range) follow‐up of 84 (1–186) months, distant relapse occurred in 9% of patients with pathological stage I (no adjuvant chemotherapy), including three patients with pulmonary metastases, two with retroperitoneal recurrence (outside the template field), two biochemical recurrences (α‐fetoprotein elevated) and one port‐site metastasis. No patients with pN+ disease relapsed. There were complications after surgery in 9% of patients, i.e. one pulmonary embolus, one lymphocoele, temporary ureteric stenting in two, ureteric stenosis requiring surgical repair in three and retrograde ejaculation in one patient. All patients remain disease‐free.

CONCLUSIONS

After gaining experience, LRPLND has comparable operative times to contemporary open series, and low morbidity. The two retroperitoneal recurrences (2.5%) were outside the template field. No patients with pN+ had a recurrence, showing the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy. Our approach provides excellent oncological outcomes, avoiding intensive surveillance.
Positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy: do they have an impact on biochemical or clinical progression?
Authors: Pfitzenmaier Jesco , Pahernik Sascha , Tremmel Tina , Haferkamp Axel , Buse Stephan , Hohenfellner Markus
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively examine the effects of the margin status after radical prostatectomy (RP), the location, and the number of positive surgical margins (PSMs) on biochemical and clinical outcome, as even if there seems to be little debate that there is a higher risk of both local and distant recurrence of prostate cancer in the face of a PSM the significance of a PSM after RP is only followed for biochemical progression in most studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From our prospective database, 406 consecutive well‐described patients without neoadjuvant and ‘direct postoperative’ adjuvant therapy who underwent RP were included. The median age was 64.7 years, the median preoperative PSA level was 7.9 ng/mL, and the median follow‐up was 5.2 years. We analysed pathological tumour stage, grading, number and location of PSMs, PSA‐free survival, local recurrence‐free survival, metastasis‐free survival, prostate cancer‐specific and, overall survival prospectively.

RESULTS

The overall rate of PSMs was 17.2%. The number was higher in higher stage (P < 0.001) and higher grade tumours (P = 0.041). For a PSM the PSA recurrence rate was 64.3%, the local recurrence rate was 18.6%, the development of distant metastasis was 15.7% and therefore much higher than in patients with negative margins (20.5%, 2.7%, and 1.5%). A PSM was an adverse predictor for PSA‐free survival (P < 0.001), local recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.002), and development of metastasis (P = 0.003) on multivariate analysis. The number and location of PSMs was of no additional prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS

A PSM increases the risk of biochemical and clinical e.g. local, disease progression after RP. The number and location of PSMs is of minor importance. Although only ≈20% of patients with a PSM will develop local recurrence, surgeons should continue to strive to reduce the rate of PSMs to improve cancer control.
THE LOTTERY PARADOX AND OUR EPISTEMIC GOAL
Authors: DOUVEN IGOR
Published: June 2008

Abstract:Many have the intuition that the right response to the Lottery Paradox is to deny that one can justifiably believe of even a single lottery ticket that it will lose. The paper shows that from any theory of justification that solves the paradox in accordance with this intuition, a theory not of that kind can be derived that also solves the paradox but is more conducive to our epistemic goal than the former. It is argued that currently there is no valid reason not to give preference to the derived accounts over the accounts from which they come.
ENDURANTISM, DIACHRONIC VAGUENESS AND THE PROBLEM OF THE MANY
Authors: MILLER KRISTIE
Published: June 2008

Abstract: A plausible desideratum for an account of the nature of objects, at, and across time, is that it accommodate the phenomenon of vagueness without locating vagueness in the world. A series of arguments have attempted to show that while universalist perdurantism– which combines a perdurantist account of persistence with an unrestricted mereological account of composition – meets this desideratum, endurantist accounts do not. If endurantists reject unrestricted composition then they must hold that vagueness is ontological. But if they embrace unrestricted composition they are faced with the problem of the many, and cannot plausibly accommodate vagueness. This paper disambiguates two related sub‐problems of the problem of the many, and argues that universalist perdurantism is not superior to universalist endurantism with respect to either of these.
BRITISH SOCIAL HOUSING AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Authors: Whelan Robert
Published: June 2008

Housing for the poor was a thriving part of the voluntary sector in the nineteenth century, providing thousands of homes through hundreds of societies without subsidy. It was undermined by state action which has effectively driven other providers from the field.
POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO LOW‐INCOME HOUSEHOLDS1
Authors: Utt Ronald D.
Published: June 2008

From the 1930s onwards America's housing assistance policies have largely been shaped by the federal government's response to catastrophe, whether of an external nature (the Great Depression, the urban riots of the 1960s) or an internal nature (mismanagement, excessive costs). Consequently, today's collection of federal housing policies resemble more the results of an archaeological dig through 70 years of activity than a coherent approach to a longstanding problem. Nonetheless, one key theme that emerges is the shift from wholly government solutions to a hybrid public–private partnership approach in the early 1970s.
URBANISATION AND INFORMALITY IN AFRICA'S HOUSING MARKETS
Authors: Boudreaux Karol
Published: June 2008

Urbanisation is a growing phenomenon in Africa. Across the continent cities are drawing more and more people in search of economic opportunity. The majority of these people end up living in informal settlements: slums. As Africa's slums expand, international organisations, NGOs, and governments themselves call for strong public‐sector action to deal with the problems in these settlements and to limit their expansion. However, government intervention in African housing markets may have contributed significantly to the growth of informal settlements. A maze of regulations and administrative barriers has imposed high transaction costs on formal‐sector housing entrepreneurs. By raising the costs of providing low‐income housing, African governments bear much responsibility for driving formal‐sector entrepreneurs out of the housing market and for driving their citizens into slums.
COMPETITION AND SOCIAL HOUSING IN EUROPE
Authors: Oxley Michael , Elsinga Marja , Haffner Marietta , Van Der Heijden Harry
Published: June 2008

This article discusses the application of the concept of competition to social housing in Europe. A distinction is made between competition amongst social housing suppliers and between social housing organisations and commercial suppliers of housing. The competitiveness of social housing is examined using evidence mainly from England and the Netherlands.
THE GLOBAL IMBALANCES: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Authors: Corden Max
Published: June 2008

In the 2007 Wincott Lecture the author argues that global current account imbalances are an indication of ‘intertemporal trade’. Savings and investment, both private and public, determine the imbalances. He expounds Richard Cooper's argument that it is perfectly natural for the USA to have a big deficit and suggests that the large Chinese surplus may be temporary.
COMMENTS ON ‘THE GLOBAL IMBALANCES: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?’, THE 2007 WINCOTT LECTURE, GIVEN BY MAX CORDEN
Authors: Wolf Martin
Published: June 2008

The view that the United States will be able to run significant deficits for a long time is convincing. However, the proposition that it makes sense for foreigners to invest in the USA because of the high returns is questionable. The value of their US assets is at risk from dollar depreciation, inflation and government sequestration. Accordingly, there is a danger that foreign investors will cut and run, causing a brutal and swift adjustment.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK ON THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC OF OUR DAY: A REVIEW OF AFTER WAR: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF EXPORTING DEMOCRACY, BY CHRISTOPHER J. COYNE1
Authors: Boettke Peter
Published: June 2008

Efforts to export democracy and liberty through military intervention have often been ineffective and have resulted in unintended and undesirable consequences. Countries are free because of belief systems, and institutions that follow from those beliefs, which support and reinforce political and economic freedom. Rational constructivist attempts at nation building are therefore likely to fail in places where there is no tradition of such beliefs and institutions. In this superb book Coyne argues that principled non‐interventionism and free trade have historically had the greatest degree of success and should be our guiding policies today.
The structure of primary and secondary teachers’ attributions for pupils’ misbehaviour: a preliminary cross‐phase and cross‐cultural investigation
Authors: Gibbs Simon , Gardiner Marianne
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was to see if systematic contrasts in educational culture and curricular emphases might affect the underlying structure of teachers’ attributions for children's behaviour. Thus, responses to a questionnaire developed from earlier work by Miller and colleagues (2000, 2002) were gathered from primary and secondary school teachers in England and the Republic of Ireland. Exploratory factor analyses revealed that teachers participating in the study appear to have attributed pupils’ misbehaviour at least as much to teachers’ and adult behaviours as much as to any distinctive parental or home factors. The structure of primary and secondary teachers’ attributions appears to have differed, with primary teachers distinguishing between their own and parental influences on children's behaviour. However, contrary to expectation the demands of the curriculum did not seem to have figured highly in these teachers’ perception of causes of misbehaviour. Finally, some speculations on possible differences in relative weighting between English and Irish teachers’ views are offered. Teachers in the Republic of Ireland appear to have attached greater importance to children's personalities and pressures on children. Further, teachers in primary schools in England seem to have rated their classroom management strategies and other more general adult behaviours as more important associates of behaviour than did their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to cultural and curricular differences and teachers’ constructions of behaviour and special educational needs.
Special needs education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): a systems perspective
Authors: Arif Mohammed , Gaad Eman
Published: June 2008

In order to obtain maximum benefits from the educational system, it is imperative that the system should work as a unified coherent unit. Gaad, Arif and Scott (2006) conducted the systems analysis of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) general education system. They analysed three components of the system in order to assess the development, delivery and evaluation. This paper utilises the same framework to analyse the special needs education (SEN) system in the UAE. Data for the research were collected through observations and semi‐structured interviews. Analysis of the data identifies some possibilities for improvement. In the area of development, more teaching and supplemental material specific to special needs education needs to be developed. Currently, teachers are working with what is known as the ‘para curriculum’. It is based on the regular textbook; with chapters that are difficult being simplified or removed. In the area of delivery, more training would be beneficial to teachers. The monitoring and evaluation component's analysis points out that the evaluation instrument used currently needs to be modified for special needs education monitoring and additional resources in the area of special needs education would required.
Prevalence of HSV‐2 antibody in a Melbourne antenatal population attending a tertiary obstetric hospital
Authors: SASADEUSZ Joseph John , SILVERS Julie Elizabeth , KENT Helen Elizabeth , DEVENISH Wayne , HOCKING Jane , GARLAND Suzanne Marie
Published: June 2008

Objective: To determine the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV‐2) seroprevalence rate in a Melbourne antenatal cohort.

Design: Prospective collection of serum and questionnaires in 1371 women attending an outpatient antenatal clinic.

Setting: A tertiary obstetric hospital in metropolitan Melbourne.

Participants: Women aged 18 years or older attending an antenatal clinic appointment.

Main outcome measure: Seroprevalence rate of HSV‐2 using an ELISA‐based‐ type‐specific serological assay.

Results: The overall HSV‐2 seroprevalence rate in women was 13.6%. Only 0.4% of assays were equivocal and required confirmation by Western blot analysis. By multivariate analysis, HSV‐2 seroprevalence was found to be associated with increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 4.63; confidence interval (CI) 1.86, 11.52 for age greater than 40 years), increasing number of sexual partners (OR 4.07, CI 2.13, 7.7 for five or more) and a past history of genital herpes in the index case (OR 5.48, CI 2.77, 10.87) or in a current or previous partner (OR 8.29, CI 4.15 to 16.56).

Conclusions: HSV‐2 seroprevalence rates in Melbourne are comparable to other similar populations in Australia. Routine antenatal screening for HSV‐2 is probably not warranted but targeted screening based on numbers of sexual partners or a history of genital herpes in partners may be justified.
Maternal obesity and pregnancy complications: A review
Authors: RAMACHENDERAN Jonathan , BRADFORD Jennifer , MCLEAN Mark
Published: June 2008

Obesity in women of reproductive age is increasing at an unprecedented rate in western societies. Maternal obesity is associated with an unequivocal increase in maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy. Excessive maternal weight gain in pregnancy also appears to be an independent risk factor, regardless of prepregnancy weight. Few guidelines exist regarding appropriate weight gain in pregnancy in obese women. We review the association of maternal obesity with pregnancy complications. We also suggest that appropriate diet and lifestyle intervention can enable women with severe prepregnancy obesity to safely achieve quite strict targets for limited weight gain in pregnancy.
Nocturia among women aged 60 or older in Taiwan
Authors: HSIEH Ching‐Hung , KUO Tsung‐Cheng , HSU Chun‐Sen , CHANG Shao‐Tung , LEE Meng‐Chih
Published: June 2008

Background:  From a public health point of view, it is important to evaluate the prevalence of nocturia and to identify the associated factors for nocturia among the elderly that might impair the quality of life of sufferers. However, those among the Taiwanese female population aged 60 or older are still unclear.

Aims:  To estimate the prevalence of nocturia in Taiwanese women aged 60 or older and to assess its associated factors.

Methods:  Nocturia, defined by the International Continence Society, and its associated problems were evaluated, and medical history and sociodemographic variables were recorded. A sample of 2410 female was selected by a multistage random sampling method.

Results:  Six hundred and twenty‐one women who were selected had been deceased. Face‐to‐face interviews with 1523 women were completed, producing a response rate of 85.1% (1523 of 1789) and 73.5% (1120 of 1523) of the interviewees reported having had nocturia. Age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prior drug allergy and urinary incontinence significantly increased the risk of nocturia.

Conclusions:  Although the pathophysiologies of nocturia are still not all known, it is a common condition among Taiwanese women. Multiple approaches are necessary to treat the patients with nocturia. Treatment of nocturia in this patient population can both improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of deterioration in their general state of health.
Maternal deaths in New South Wales, Australia: A data linkage project
Authors: CLIFFE Susan , BLACK Deborah , BRYANT Joanne , SULLIVAN Elizabeth
Published: June 2008

Background: The magnitude of maternal mortality is underestimated as deaths occurring beyond the traditional 42‐day time period after the pregnancy ending (‘late death’) have not been reported routinely in Australia.

Aims: The aims of this study were to undertake a data linkage study to improve the ascertainment of maternal deaths and to determine the number of deaths occurring 43–365 days after the pregnancy ended (‘late maternal death’).

Methods: Data from the New South Wales Midwives Data Collection were linked with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Death Index. Australian identified pregnancy‐related deaths were then coded as direct, indirect and incidental to the pregnancy.

Results: During the period 1994–2001, 173 maternal deaths were identified. Of these, 97 were classified as occurring up to 42 days of the pregnancy ending, 15 (15.5%) of which were previously unknown to the maternal mortality committee. In addition, 76 deaths were classified as occurring between 43 and 365 days after the pregnancy ended. The majority (70 of 76) of these late deaths were only identified through the linkage study. Most (73 of 76) of these deaths were classified as indirect maternal deaths with the most common causes of deaths suicide (n= 23), cardiac disorders (n= 16) or accident/violence (n= 16).

Conclusions: The ascertainment of maternal and late maternal mortality was enhanced through data linkage of birth and mortality data. Data linkage is a viable method for monitoring late maternal deaths.
Tardive dyskinesia with ziprasidone and citalopram use in an elderly female patient
Authors: OZBULUT Omer , EMUL Murat , GULER Ozkan , GECICI Omer
Published: June 2008

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is occasionally an irreversible condition caused by antipsychotic treatment. Second‐generation antipsychotics are considered to have less extrapyramidal effects, including causing TD. Herein, we present a case of TD following ziprasidone use. A 67 year‐old woman started to hear voices and ‘see’ people speaking to her, especially while praying. She presented to our clinic with anxiety, anhedonia, dysphoria, and auditory hallucinations. She was admitted with a diagnosis of depressive disorder with psychotic features. Citalopram 20 mg/day and ziprasidone 40 mg b.i.d. were started. After her symptoms had been relieved, the patient was was discharged and with monthly follow up. At her first visit 1 month after discharge, orofacial dyskinesia was found on physical examination. Ziprasidone may be associated with TD, even in someone who has never been exposed to a traditional neuroleptic. However, concomittant treatment with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the present case may have favored the appearance of TD.
Efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of delirium in elderly patients
Authors: IKEZAWA Koji , CANUET Leonides , ISHII Ryouhei , IWASE Masao , TESHIMA Yoshio , TAKEDA Masatoshi
Published: June 2008

Background:  Despite increasing recognition of delirium as a serious complication of physical illness, little has been reported in this area. Interest has been raised in treatment options other than haloperidol, such as atypical antipsychotic agents.

Methods:  A 2‐week open‐label trial of risperidone for the treatment of delirium was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerance of this medication in elderly patients. Twenty‐two patients with DSM‐IV‐defined delirium were investigated. All patients had the hyperactive–hyperalert variant of delirium. Patients received a fixed dose of risperidone (mean 1.5 ± 0.7 mg; range 0.5–3 mg). Delirium was assessed using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) at baseline and on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after the initiation of risperidone treatment. Clinical and demographic data, as well as risperidone therapy related information, were collected.

Results:  Delirium resolved in all patients over the course of treatment. The mean period over which delirium resolved was 4.0 ± 2.9 days. The mean DRS score at baseline was 20.7 ± 3.0. The DRS score improved from baseline to Day 1 of treatment and continued to improve until the study end‐point. Mild side‐effects were present in 27.3% of patients. Stepwise logistic regression identified a decrease of 2 points or higher on the DRS on Day 1 associated with side‐effects. There were no significant differences in the response to treatment with the different doses of risperidone used.

Conclusion:  Our findings indicate that low‐dose risperidone (0.5–3.0 mg/day) is effective and safe for the treatment of delirium in elderly patients, and that an early response on Day 1 of treatment may be associated with side‐effects in these patients.
A case of senile depression diagnosed by N‐isopropyl‐P‐[123I]‐iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography and 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography
Authors: KOIKE Shinske , OSHIMA Norihito , DOI Nagafumi , KATO Nobumasa
Published: June 2008

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between dementia with depressive mood and depressive pseudodementia (DPD). However, it is important that a differential diagnosis between them is made because cognition and memory disorder in DPD patients are treatable. Herein, we describe a case of senile depression in a woman with memory and cognition problems. Her diagnosis was based on low blood flow and low metabolism in her frontal lobe, detected by N‐isopropyl‐P‐[123I]‐iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET). After antidepressant therapy, the patient's depressive mood diminished and blood flow and metabolism in the frontal lobe recovered. These findings suggest that SPECT and PET can be used to make a differential diagnosis between senile depression and dementia, as well as for following recovery from a depressive mood.
Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease with diabetes in the Japanese population
Authors: KIMURA Ryosuke , TOMIYASU Hitoshi , TAKEUCHI Toyo , SHIMIZU Manabu , HAYASHI Yoshinari , OKAYAMA Naotsuka , KAMIYA Yoshinobu , JOH Takashi
Published: June 2008

Background:  The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of impaired cognitive function and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in diabetic subjects from Japan.

Methods:  In the present study, 386 Japanese diabetic subjects aged more than 50 years were initially screened with the ‘brief screening test’ for AD, and were diagnosed with AD and vascular dementia (VaD) according to the criteria of the NINCDS‐ADRDA and the NINDS‐AIREN. We compared the prevalence of dementia in diabetic patients with that in ordinary subjects, and analyzed the association of the status of diabetes with dementia including AD and VaD.

Results:  Forty‐six (11.9%) patients were diagnosed with dementia, including 13 (3.4%) patients with AD and nine (2.3%) patients with VaD. Of the 221 subjects aged more than 65 years, 39 (17.6%) patients had dementia, including 13 (5.9%) patients with AD and eight (3.6%) patients with VaD. Compared with ordinary subjects, the prevalence of dementia in the present study was more frequent than the prevalence of dementia for the general population in almost each age group examined. There was also a greater prevalence of AD and VaD in subjects aged over 65 years in the present study. In the present study, AD subjects had significantly higher levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 247.5 ± 116.3 mg/dL; P < 0.05) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c; 8.8 ± 1.9%; P < 0.01) compared with non‐demented subjects. In AD patients, the odds ratios of FPG and HbA1c were also significantly higher (1.02 and 2.07, respectively; both P < 0.01).

Conclusion:  The present study shows that diabetes can be associated with impaired cognitive function, particularly AD, in Japanese subjects.
Differentiating early and late‐onset depression with multichannel near‐infrared spectroscopy
Authors: YAMAGATA Bun , TOMIOKA Hiroi , TAKAHASHI Taro , ISOMURA Angelica J , KOBAYASHI Hitomi , MIMURA Masaru
Published: June 2008

Background:  Individuals with late‐life depression can be divided into two categories, those with early and late‐onset depression (EOD and LOD, respectively). It has been reported that LOD has more accentuated subcortical vascular lesions and frontal lobe dysfunction (hypofrontality). The aim of the present study was to examine whether LOD exhibits more prominent hypofrontality than EOD during performance of the word fluency task (WFT) under multichannel near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a newly developed non‐invasive functional neuroimaging technique.

Methods:  Eleven patients with EOD, 12 patients with LOD, and 13 healthy controls participated in the study. Clinical symptoms of depression were equivalent in the EOD and LOD groups. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated more robust subcortical vascular changes in LOD than EOD. The NIRS images were obtained using an ETG‐4000, 52‐channel NIRS system (Hitachi Medical, Tokyo, Japan). Mean changes in oxy‐hemoglobin (oxy‐Hb) were evaluated while the participants performed the phonemic WFT.

Results:  Healthy controls exhibited clear increases in oxy‐Hb bilaterally throughout the medial to the lateral frontal cortices and the superior temporal areas during the WFT. In contrast, increases in oxy‐Hb were mildly attenuated in EOD and severely attenuated in LOD in most channels. Subsequent analyses revealed that increases in oxy‐Hb in LOD during the WFT was significantly poorer than in EOD in the left lateral portion of the cortex, including the dorsolateral prefrontal and the superior temporal areas. In addition, significant negative correlations were obtained between the age of onset and oxy‐Hb, as well as between subcortical vascular changes and oxy‐Hb in the lateral channels. These findings suggest that the higher the age of onset of depression, and the more prominent the vascular lesions, the greater the attenuation in lateral frontal and temporal activation, as indicated by NIRS.

Conclusions:  Multichannel NIRS is useful for demonstrating attenuated functional activation in the left lateral prefrontal and temporal areas in LOD and, thus, for differentiating between LOD and EOD. The NIRS findings observed may have useful clinical implications for treatment‐resistant LOD.
Granulite facies metamorphism and subsolidus fluid‐absent reworking, Strangways Range, Arunta Block, central Australia
Authors: DIENER J. F. A. , WHITE R. W. , POWELL R.
Published: June 2008

Orthopyroxene‐rich quartz‐saturated granulites of the Strangways Range, Arunta Block, central Australia, record evidence of two high‐grade metamorphic events. Initial granulite facies metamorphism (M1, at c. 1.7 Ga) involved partial melting and migmatization culminating in conditions of 8.5 kbar and 850 °C. Preservation of the peak M1 mineral assemblages from these conditions indicates that most of the generated melt was lost from these rocks at or near peak metamorphic conditions. Subsequent reworking (M2, at c. 1.65 Ga) is characterized by intense deformation, the absence of partial melting and the development of orthopyroxene–sillimanite ± gedrite‐bearing mineral assemblages. Gedrite is only present in cordierite‐rich lithologies where it preferentially replaces M1 cordierite porphyroblasts. Pseudosection calculations indicate that M2 occurred at subsolidus fluid‐absent conditions (aH2o ∼ 0.2) at 6–7.5 kbar and 670–720 °C. The mineral assemblages in the reworked rocks are consistent with closed system behaviour with respect to H2O subsequent to M1 melt loss. M2 reworking was primarily driven by increased temperature from the stable geotherm reached after cooling from M1 and deformation‐induced recrystallization and re‐equilibration, rather than rehydration from an externally derived fluid. The development of the M2 assemblages is strongly dependent on the intensity of deformation, not only for promoting equilibration, but also for equalizing the volume changes that result from metamorphic reactions. Calculations suggest that the protoliths of the orthopyroxene‐rich granulites were cordierite–orthoamphibole gneisses, rather than pelites, and that the unusual bulk compositions of these rocks were inherited from the protoliths. Melt loss is insufficient to account for the genesis of these rocks from more typical pelitic compositions. In quartz‐rich gneisses, however, melt loss along the M1 prograde path was able to modify the bulk rock composition sufficiently to stabilize peak metamorphic assemblages different from those that would have otherwise developed.