bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A game of risk: Boat migration and the business of bordering Europe (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Andersson Ruben
Published: December 2012

Largely in response to irregular migration flows, a Euro‐African border is under construction at the southern edges of Europe. The latest phase in this ‘borderwork’ is a system known as Eurosur, underpinned by a vision of a streamlined surveillance cover of Europe's southern maritime border and the African ‘pre‐frontier’ beyond it. Eurosur and other policing initiatives pull in a range of sectors – from border guards to aid workers – that make the statistically small figure of the irregular border crosser their joint target. To highlight the economic and productive aspects of controlling migratory flows, I call this varied group of interests an ‘illegality industry’. Casting an eye on the Spanish section of the external EU border, this article investigates how the illegality industry conceptualizes migrants as a source of risk to be managed, visualized and controlled. The end result, it is argued, is a ‘double securitization’ of migrant flows, rendering these as both a security threat and a growing source of profits.
A framework for monitoring instructional environments in a virtual world
Authors: Chodos David , Stroulia Eleni , King Sharla , Carbonaro Mike
Published: December 2012

Virtual worlds are gaining momentum as a platform for delivering simulation‐based educational experiences to students. However, a key aspect of virtual world‐based education that has received little attention is recording and analyzing students' in‐world actions. This capability is essential for assessing what students have learned through their simulation experience, and engaging the students in post‐simulation reflective learning.

In this research, we present a framework for recording and analyzing students' actions in a virtual world. This framework is based upon pedagogical theories of exploratory and experiential learning, and is defined in a virtual‐world agnostic manner. The framework consists of two parts: (1) the Avatar Capabilities Model, which defines the educationally relevant actions that a student can take within a virtual world and (2) the Simulation Capture and Analysis toolkit that records and analyzes these actions, from an educational perspective. These analyses provide instructors with systematically collected evidence of the students' actions during their virtual world experience. This alleviates the need for instructors to directly observe students, thereby allowing for the scaling‐up of virtual worlds use in education. We have demonstrated the usefulness of the tool via a pilot study, with two students, in an emergency medical education context.
Loïc Wacquant's ‘Ghetto’ and Ethnic Minority Segregation in the UK: The Neglected Case of Gypsy‐Travellers
Authors: Powell Ryan
Published: December 2012

This article utilizes Loïc Wacquant's concept of the ghetto as an analytical tool in understanding the marginal and ambivalent position of Gypsy‐Traveller populations resident on sites (or camps) in Britain. The article argues that the fruitful work of quantitative urban scholars on ethnic segregation in the UK has neglected Gypsy‐Travellers. It suggests that the theoretical concept of the ghetto can elucidate the ways in which the spatial marginality of sites serves as a weapon of ‘confinement and control’ for the dominant, and an ‘integrative and protective device’ for the stigmatized Gypsy‐Traveller population. Drawing on qualitative empirical data, key characteristics in Wacquant's definition of the ghetto are shown to hold true for Gypsy‐Traveller sites; these include ethnic homogeneity, spatial confinement, shared cultural identity, mutual distancing and a retreat into the private sphere of the family. This comparison also reveals key differences in terms of economic function, parallel institutionalism and the relationship with the state. The article points to the potential offered by Wacquant's theory and suggests that the dismissal of the ghetto concept within the UK ignores its power as a tool of comparison. The article suggests that qualitative and theoretical approaches should seek to complement the work of quantitative social scientists through focusing on everyday social relations and encounters between ethnic minority groups and ‘host’ populations — both within and outwith residential boundaries. It also questions the urban‐centred focus of debates on ethnic segregation.
Survey of Nursing Integration of Genomics Into Nursing Practice
Authors: Calzone Kathleen A. , Jenkins Jean , Yates Jan , Cusack Georgie , Wallen Gwenyth R. , Liewehr David J. , Steinberg Seth M. , McBride Colleen
Published: December 2012

Purpose: Translating clinically valid genomic discoveries into practice is hinged not only on technologic advances, but also on nurses—the largest global contingent of health providers—acquiring requisite competencies to apply these discoveries in clinical care. The study aim was to assess practicing nurse attitudes, practices, receptivity, confidence, and competency of integrating genomics into nursing practice.

Design: A convenience sample of practicing nurses was recruited to complete an online survey that assessed domains from Roger's Diffusion of Innovations Theory and used family history utilization as the basis for competency assessment.

Methods: Results were tabulated and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques.

Findings: Two‐hundred‐thirty‐nine licensed registered nurses, 22 to 72 years of age, with a median of 20 years in practice, responded, for an overall response rate of 28%. Most were White (83%), female (92%), and held baccalaureate degrees (56%). Seventy‐one percent considered genetics to be very important to nursing practice; however, 81% rated their understanding of the genetics of common diseases as poor or fair. Per‐question response rates varied widely. Instrument assessment indicated that modifications were necessary to decrease respondent burden.

Conclusions: Respondents’ perceived genomic competency was inadequate, family history was not routinely utilized in care delivery, and the extent of family history varied widely. However, most nurses indicated interest in pursuing continuing genomic education.

Clinical Relevance: Findings from this study can lead to the development of targeted education that will facilitate optimal workforce preparation for the ongoing influx of genetics and genomics information, technologies, and targeted therapies into the healthcare arena. This pilot study provides a foundation on which to build the next step, which includes a national nursing workforce study.
Landscape effects of disturbance, habitat heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation for a ground beetle (Carabidae) assemblage in mature boreal forest
Authors: Blanchet F. Guillaume , Bergeron J. A. Colin , Spence John R. , He Fangliang
Published: December 2012

Ground beetle (Carabidae) assemblages are speciose and frequently employed as indicators of ecosystem function. It is thus important to understand the factors that affect their spatial distributions so as to better interpret how ecosystem variation influences the structure of their assemblages. We evaluated how anthropogenic disturbances, habitat heterogeneity, and spatial autocorrelation (unmeasured spatially structured habitat variables and/or dispersal limitation) influence the distribution of carabids on a mature boreal forest landscape. We worked with a large sample of carabids from 194 sites from a near‐regular grid covering 70 km2. Data about forest floor cover, vegetation structure, soil drainage, and topography were associated with each site. We modelled the structure of carabid assemblages using these variables together with Moran’s eigenvector maps (MEM) as spatial constraints. Overall, our model explained about half of the variation in ground beetle assemblages. Forest floor cover, soil drainage, and vegetation structure were the principal factors useful for explaining carabid assemblages. The spatial patterns described by the MEMs for the ground beetle assemblages seem to result from spatial autocorrelation in soil drainage, floor cover, topography, and vegetation structure; however, this spatial autocorrelation independently and uniquely explained only 1.4% of the variation in assemblages. This was much less important than the explanatory power of the environmental variables considered; e.g. ground cover descriptors and vegetation structure by themselves accounted, respectively, for 12.1 and 4.5% of the variation in the carabid data. The spatial distribution of ground beetles in undisturbed forest was only mildly affected by surrounding anthropogenic disturbances, but clearly small patches were invaded by species characteristic of open habitat. We conclude that to help conserve ground beetle diversity at the landscape scale in boreal forests, mature forest patches should be large and connected to other patches and the surrounding forest.
A Social Neuroscience Perspective on Stress and Health
Authors: Muscatell Keely A. , Eisenberger Naomi I.
Published: December 2012

Psychological stress is a major risk factor for the development and progression of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, and major depression. A growing body of research suggests that long term, stress‐induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis may lead to increases in inflammation, which is known to play a key role in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases. Furthermore, the burgeoning fields of social neuroscience and health neuroscience have begun to identify the neurocognitive mechanisms by which stress may lead to these physiological changes. Here we review the literature examining the neurocognitive correlates of stress‐induced SNS, HPA, and inflammatory responses. Specifically, we summarize the results of neuroimaging studies that have examined the neural correlates of stress‐related increases in SNS, HPA, and inflammatory activity. A set of neural systems involved in threat processing, safety processing, and social cognition are suggested as key contributors to stress‐related changes in physiology. We conclude by offering suggestions for future research in the exciting new field of health neuroscience.
Patterns of molecular evolution in dioecious and non‐dioecious Silene
Authors: Käfer J. , Talianová M. , Bigot T. , Michu E. , Guéguen L. , Widmer A. , žlůvová J. , Glémin S. , Marais G. A. B.
Published: December 2012

Dioecy (i.e. having separate sexes) is a rather rare breeding system in flowering plants. Such rareness may result from a high probability of extinction in dioecious species because of less efficient dispersal and the costs of sexual selection, which are expected to harm dioecious species' survival on the long term. These handicaps should decrease the effective population size () of dioecious species, which in turn should reduce the efficacy of selection. Moreover, sexual selection in dioecious species is expected to specifically affect some genes, which will evolve under positive selection. The relative contribution of these effects is currently unknown and we tried to disentangle them by comparing sequence evolution between dioecious and non‐dioecious species in the Silene genus (Caryophyllaceae), where dioecy has evolved at least twice. For the dioecious species in the section Melandrium, where dioecy is the oldest, we found a global reduction of purifying selection, while on some, male‐biased genes, positive selection was found. For section Otites, where dioecy evolved more recently, we found no significant differences between dioecious and non‐dioecious species. Our results are consistent with the view that dioecy is an evolutionary dead end in flowering plants, although other scenarios for explaining reduced cannot be ruled out. Our results also show that contrasting forces act on the genomes of dioecious plants, and suggest that some time is required before the genome of such plants bears the footprints of dioecy.
Profiling two indole‐2‐carboxamides for allosteric modulation of the CB1 receptor
Authors: Ahn Kwang H. , Mahmoud Mariam M. , Samala Sushma , Lu Dai , Kendall Debra A.
Published: December 2012

Allosteric modulation of G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represents a novel approach for fine‐tuning GPCR functions. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor, a GPCR associated with the CNS, has been implicated in the treatment of drug addiction, pain, and appetite disorders. We report here the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of two indole‐2‐carboxamides:5‐chloro‐3‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐N‐(4‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)phenethyl)‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxamide (ICAM‐a) and 5‐chloro‐3‐pentyl‐N‐(4‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)phenethyl)‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxamide (ICAM‐b). Although both ICAM‐a and ICAM‐b enhanced CP55, 940 binding, ICAM‐b exhibited the strongest positive cooperativity thus far demonstrated for enhancing agonist binding to the CB1 receptor. Although it displayed negative modulatory effects on G‐protein coupling to CB1, ICAM‐b induced β‐arrestin‐mediated downstream activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. These results indicate that this compound represents a novel class of CB1 ligands that produce biased signaling via CB1.
Hospitalisations for sickle‐cell disease in an Australian paediatric population
Authors: Teoh Yvonne , Greenway Anthea , Savoia Helen , Monagle Paul , Roy John , Barnes Chris
Published: December 2012

Aim

Sickle‐cell disease (SCD) is more prevalent in Australia due to increased migration; however, the Australian paediatric SCD population has not been previously described. This study aimed to identify the demographic features of and quantify the hospital resource utilisation in the SCD population at The Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review of SCD patients who presented to the Royal Children's Hospital over a 10.5‐year period. Descriptive analyses were conducted.

Results

Thirty‐seven SCD patients aged from 0.2 to 18.0 years (mean: 8.5 ± 4.8 years) had 535 admissions over the 10.5‐year period. The population was made up of 28 homozygous sickle‐cell disease, 1 sickle C disease and 8 sickle‐cell beta patients from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Admissions included 264 unplanned admissions, that is 258 admissions via the emergency department and 6 admissions via outpatients, and 271 planned admissions. Mean length of stay for unplanned admissions was 3.2 ± 2.6 days. Common diagnoses for unplanned admissions were 187 vaso‐occlusive crisis (70.8%), 32 infections (12.1%) and 26 anaemic episodes (9.8%). Transfusion therapy (91.9%) accounted for the majority of planned admissions.

Conclusions

Children with sickle‐cell disease in an Australian setting require hospitalisation for various reasons related to disease, either unexpected complications or elective procedures. Factors affecting the provision of optimal healthcare to be explored include the multicultural demographics of the SCD population, the timely management of vaso‐occlusive crises and the availability of SCD‐related protocols.
Perinatal factors in non‐disabled ELBW school children and later performance
Authors: Zanudin Asfarina , Gray Peter H , Burns Yvonne , Danks Marcella , Watter Pauline , Poulsen Leith
Published: December 2012

Aim

To determine the association between perinatal events and subsequent motor performance, cardiorespiratory endurance and respiratory function in non‐disabled extremely low birthweight (ELBW) school children at 12 years of age.

Methods

Forty‐eight ELBW infants were included in this study. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), VO2max score as a measure of cardiorespiratory endurance and respiratory function testing were performed and perinatal variables were extracted from the children's hospital files. Children with MABC score ≤ 15th centile were described as having suspect motor performance. Children were classified as being unfit with a VO2max > 1 standard deviation below the mean according to gender and age. Perinatal risk factors were explored as risk factors for motor outcome, cardiorespiratory endurance and respiratory function.

Results

MABC category was significantly related with gender (P = 0.005) and chronic neonatal lung disease (P = 0.013). Multiple regression analysis showed motor outcome at 12 years to be independently related to male gender (P = 0.03) and chronic neonatal lung disease (P = 0.045). Sixty‐five per cent of all the children were identified as unfit. Chronic neonatal lung disease was significantly related to cardiorespiratory endurance (P = 0.03) and predicted VO2max at 12 years (P = 0.05). No perinatal factors were significantly related to respiratory function variables.

Conclusion

Male gender and chronic neonatal lung disease were associated with later motor outcome of ELBW school children. It is suggested that objective and consistent follow‐up from childhood through preadolescence are important to address motor and fitness issues especially for male children born with ELBW.
Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: Has anything changed?
Authors: Taylor Nicole D , Cass Daniel T , Holland Andrew JA
Published: December 2012

Aim

The study aims to review the contemporary presentation, diagnosis and treatment of children with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) at an Australian paediatric tertiary centre.

Methods

A retrospective case review of patients with IHPS presenting to our institution between January 2004 and December 2010 was performed. Results were compared with a previous study evaluating two earlier 6‐year series of patients treated between January 1984 and November 1995.

Results

Of 362 infants presenting over the current 7‐year review, 84.8% were male. Mean age of admission fell from 5.9 weeks in the previous study to 5.4 weeks. An ‘olive’ was palpated on examination in 48%, visible peristalsis seen in 25% and 16% of patients presented with haematemesis. Diagnosis solely on clinical examination fell from 74% to 9% and was associated with a corresponding increase in use of ultrasound from 16% to 91%. The frequency of serum chloride values less than 85 mmol/L declined from 26% to 9%. A variety of open and minimally invasive surgical approaches were used with similar outcomes, although laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was associated with significantly higher rates of wound infection (χ2 = 4.6, P = 0.03). The frequency of major complications remained low at 1%.

Conclusion

Contemporary patients with IHPS typically present earlier with a reduction in the incidence of metabolic derangement. Diagnosis based on clinical examination alone appears uncommon, with the majority of suspected cases confirmed by ultrasound. There was no clear difference in overall outcome based on the surgical approach used, although minor variations may reflect our institution's initial experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.
Nematode diversity in different microhabitats in a mangrove region
Authors: Pinto Taciana K. , Austen Melanie C. V. , Warwick Richard M. , Somerfield Paul J. , Esteves André M. , Castro Francisco J. V. , Fonseca‐Genevois Verônica G. , Santos Paulo J. P.
Published: December 2012

Mangroves are highly productive environments that play important ecological and socioeconomic roles; however, they have been impacted to different degrees in most countries worldwide. The knowledge of which organisms inhabit this environment and their ecological interactions is the first step towards its conservation. The natural variability of environmental factors in mangroves provides numerous niches available to different species. Meiofauna have patchy patterns of distribution that are related to the availability of resources. Hence, meiofauna are expected to present a high diversity of different taxa occupying the different microhabitats offered by mangroves. This work aims to test the hypothesis that the assemblage structure of Nematoda varies significantly among mangrove microhabitats and to contribute knowledge on the meiofauna diversity in mangrove environments. This work was carried out in a mangrove region at Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. Qualitative samples were collected in nine microhabitats which show different characteristics mainly in terms of presence of vegetation or another organism and sediment grain size. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to Nematoda genera abundance data. Our results demonstrate the existence of significant differences among microhabitats regarding nematode assemblage structure corroborating the hypothesis. Different Nematoda assemblages are present in at least seven microhabitats. These assemblages are composed of nematode genera with different trophic and morphological features, demonstrating a strong relationship between morphological diversity and ecological plasticity. Furthermore, this study also demonstrates the importance of the conservation of this ecosystem and its attributes.
High diversity and widespread occurrence of mitotic spore mats in ectomycorrhizal Pezizales
Authors: Healy R. A. , Smith M. E. , Bonito G. M. , Pfister D. H. , Ge Z. ‐W. , Guevara G. G. , Williams G. , Stafford K. , Kumar L. , Lee T. , Hobart C. , Trappe J. , Vilgalys R. , McLaughlin D. J.
Published: December 2012

Fungal mitospores may function as dispersal units and/ or spermatia and thus play a role in distribution and/or mating of species that produce them. Mitospore production in ectomycorrhizal (EcM) Pezizales is rarely reported, but here we document mitospore production by a high diversity of EcM Pezizales on three continents, in both hemispheres. We sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and partial large subunit (LSU) nuclear rDNA from 292 spore mats (visible mitospore clumps) collected in Argentina, Chile, China, Mexico and the USA between 2009 and 2012. We collated spore mat ITS sequences with 105 fruit body and 47 EcM root sequences to generate operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Phylogenetic inferences were made through analyses of both molecular data sets. A total of 48 OTUs from spore mats represented six independent EcM Pezizales lineages and included truffles and cup fungi. Three clades of seven OTUs have no known meiospore stage. Mitospores failed to germinate on sterile media, or form ectomycorrhizas on Quercus, Pinus and Populus seedlings, consistent with a hypothesized role of spermatia. The broad geographic range, high frequency and phylogenetic diversity of spore mats produced by EcM Pezizales suggests that a mitospore stage is important for many species in this group in terms of mating, reproduction and/or dispersal.
Increasing Perceived Variability Reduces Prejudice and Discrimination: Theory and Application
Authors: Er‐rafiy Abdelatif , Brauer Markus
Published: December 2012

In this article, we describe theoretically‐based research on a new method to reduce prejudice and discrimination. The method is based on increasing people’s perceived variability of an out‐group. Our research allowed us to generate a versatile experimental paradigm for investigating cognitive processes related to prejudice. It also led to the development of an effective tool that policy makers and managers can use to reduce prejudice in the real world. We describe several randomized field and laboratory experiments in which an increase of perceived variability led to a decrease in prejudice and discrimination. We also describe the results of research in which we tested the effectiveness of a ready‐to‐be‐used intervention in a variety of social settings.
Xenotransplantation literature update, September–October 2012
Authors: Schneider Mårten K. J. , Seebach Jörg D.
Published: December 2012

Schneider MKJ, Seebach JD. Xenotransplantation literature update, September–October 2012. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 370–374. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Copiotrophic Marine Bacterium Alteromonas macleodii Strain ATCC 27126
T
Authors: Gonzaga Aitor , López-Pérez Mario , Martin-Cuadrado Ana-Belen , Ghai Rohit , Rodriguez-Valera Francisco
Published: December 2012

The genome of
Alteromonas macleodii
strain ATCC 27126
T
has been resequenced and closed into a single contig. We describe here the genome of this important and globally distributed marine bacterium.
Genome Sequence of Gallaecimonas xiamenensis Type Strain 3-C-1
Authors: Lai Qiliang , Wang Liping , Wang Wanpeng , Shao Zongze
Published: December 2012

Gallaecimonas xiamenensis
3-C-1
T
was isolated from a crude-oil-degrading consortium enriched from the surface seawater around Xiamen Island. Here, we present the draft genome of strain 3-C-1
T
, which contains 4,062,282 bp with a G+C content of 60.58% and contains 3,798 protein-coding genes and 65 tRNAs.
Genome Sequences of Two Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from a Patient before and after Treatment with Tigecycline
Authors: Hua Xiaoting , Zhou Hua , Jiang Yan , Feng Ye , Chen Qiong , Ruan Zhi , Yu Yunsong
Published: December 2012

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a Gram-negative bacterium which emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen worldwide. To investigate the molecular basis of the tigecycline-resistant mechanism, we determined the genome sequences of two multidrug-resistant
A. baumannii
strains isolated from a patient before and after treatment with tigecycline.
Genome Sequence of the Agar-Degrading Marine Bacterium Alteromonadaceae sp. Strain G7
Authors: Kwak Min-Jung , Song Ju Yeon , Kim Byung Kwon , Chi Won-Jae , Kwon Soon-Kyeong , Choi Soobeom , Chang Yong-Keun , Hong Soon-Kwang , Kim Jihyun F.
Published: December 2012

Here, we present the high-quality draft genome sequence of the agar-degrading marine gammaproteobacterium
Alteromonadaceae
sp. strain G7, which was isolated from coastal seawater to be utilized as a bioresource for production of agar-derived biofuels. The 3.91-Mb genome contains a number of genes encoding algal polysaccharide-degrading enzymes such as agarases and sulfatases.
Genome Sequence of the Pathogenic Herbaspirillum seropedicae Strain Os34, Isolated from Rice Roots
Authors: Ye Weijun , Ye Shuting , Liu Jian , Chang Siping , Chen Mingyue , Zhu Bo , Guo Longbiao , An Qianli
Published: December 2012

Most
Herbaspirillum seropedicae
strains are beneficial endophytes to plants. In contrast,
H. seropedicae
strain Os34, isolated from rice roots, is pathogenic. The draft genome sequence of strain Os34 presented here allows in-depth comparative genome analyses to understand the specific mechanisms of beneficial and pathogenic
Herbaspirillum
-plant interactions.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Flocculating Zymomonas mobilis Strain ZM401 (ATCC 31822)
Authors: Zhao Ning , Bai Yun , Zhao Xin-Qing , Yang Zhen-Yu , Bai Feng-Wu
Published: December 2012

Zymomonas mobilis
ZM401 is a flocculating strain which can be self-immobilized within fermentors for a high-cell-density culture to improve ethanol productivity, as well as high-gravity fermentation to increase ethanol titer, due to its improved ethanol tolerance associated with the morphological change. Here, we report its draft genome sequence.
Postpartum pneumoperitoneum: an important clinical lesson
Authors: Miles Dua Sascha , Morrison Christa , Farrant Joanna , Rolles Keith
Published: December 2012

A 23-year-old primigravida presented to accident and emergency department with a 4-day history of generalised abdominal pain associated with vomiting and diarrhoea. She had previously given birth to her first child by vaginal delivery 6 days previously at another hospital and suffered a third-degree vaginal tear following prolonged labour. Shortly after birth, the patient had described the unusual symptom of soft tissue crepitations in the neck, but had been reassured and discharged without further investigation by her obstetrics team and reassured by a visiting general practitioner. At representation, the patient had obvious pneumoperitoneum, which was missed by the admitting team and underwent laparotomy for perforated duodenal ulcer.
Displacement of a cemented femoral implant. A complication of manipulation of a dislocated total hip replacement
Authors: Ng Man Sun Stephen , Gillott Elizabeth , Davies Neil , Skinner John
Published: December 2012

Dislocation is a common complication of total hip replacement, which has been quoted in the literature as having an incidence of 1–4%. This is commonly treated with closed reduction. The authors present a case report of displacement of a cemented smooth-polished tapered femoral stem, which occurred while attempting closed reduction of a dislocated hybrid total hip replacement. The patient required full revision arthroplasty.
Fahr's disease: an incidental finding in a patient of tubercular meningitis
Authors: Aggarwal Puneet , Kumar Gunjan , Dev Nishanth , Jain Shalabh
Published: December 2012

Fahr's disease, also known as idiopathic basal ganglia calcification, is a rare clinical entity characterised by bilaterally symmetric calcification of the basal ganglia. Most of the patients present with extrapyramidal symptoms, but the natural history, progression and treatment still remain unknown. We report a case of tubercular meningitis diagnosed by a cerebrospinal fluid examination with incidental findings of an extensive basal ganglia calcification on CT. CT of sibling, done to evaluate an episode of seizure, revealed strikingly similar calcification. Both these calcifications were due to Fahr's disease. The patient was treated with antitubercular and antiepileptic drugs. The patient fully recovered clinically and currently is seizure-free on antiepileptic treatment.
Ocular injury secondary to sheep bile exposure
Authors: Okullo Alfin Taddeo , Low Tim , Baker Louise Leslie
Published: December 2012

A 57-year-old abattoir worker was seen at a general practitioner after sheep bile splashed into his left eye. Flourescein examination revealed extensive ulceration involving at least two-thirds of the corneal surface. Copious irrigation with normal saline, application of chloramphenicol ointment and an eye patch resulted in excellent healing within 2 days with return to normal vision for the patient thereafter.
Breast angiosarcoma secondary to phyllodes tumour
Authors: Costa Sílvia , Graça Susana Alexandra Rodrigues , Ferreira António , Maciel Jorge
Published: December 2012

Angiosarcomas are rare malignant tumours that arise from endothelial cells lining vascular channels, representing 0.04% of malignant neoplasms of the breast. Breast angiosarcomas (BAs) were first described by Schmidt in 1887, and may be primary or secondary to the pre-existing conditions. Primary BAs are more common in young women and present as a palpable mass. Secondary BAs arise in older patients, frequently 5–6 years after radiotherapy, and present as a rash.The authors describe the case of an 83-year-old woman with no history of thoracic radiotherapy or surgery. She had been observed for a breast nodule where biopsy revealed phyllodes tumour. The patient refused surgery and returned 2 years later because of an impressive increase in tumour volume and skin ulceration. She underwent mastectomy with local skin flaps. Histopathological result revealed high-grade angiosarcoma of 15×12 cm. There was follow-up without evidence of recurrence, after radiotherapy.
Species-specific environmental requirements to break seed dormancy: implications for selection of regeneration niches in three Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) species
Authors: Santiago Alejandro , Herranz José M. , Copete Elena , Ferrandis Pablo
Published: December 2012

Environmental requirements for seed germination can operate as an important filter in determining the regeneration niche and ultimately the habitat preference of many plant species. We hypothesize that morphological and morphophysiological seed dormancy may play a major role in habitat selection, because underdeveloped embryos responsible for those dormancy types usually require strict species-specific environmental conditions to grow and to overcome dormancy, imposing marked constraints to recruitment and thus to species distribution. We analyzed the influence of temperature and light on embryo growth and seed germination, as well as germination phenology in three Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) species. Lonicera xylosteum L. seeds had morphological dormancy. Those of Lonicera etrusca Santi had unusual within-species dormancy variability, with a fraction being able to show both morphological and morphophysiological dormancy. Seeds of Lonicera arborea had deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. The close correspondence between the environmental conditions that each Lonicera species requires to break seed dormancy and their altitudinal range suggests that morphological and morphophysiological dormancies act as important filters in determining the regeneration niches of species, probably because such dormancy mechanisms impose markedly specific environmental requirements during the earlier stages of recruitment.
Factors affecting the occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 contamination in irrigation ponds on produce farms in the Suwannee River Watershed
Authors: Gu Ganyu , Luo Zhiyao , Cevallos-Cevallos Juan M. , Adams Paige , Vellidis George , Wright Anita , van Bruggen Ariena H.C.
Published: December 2012

Outbreaks of enteritis caused by Escherichia coli O157 associated with fresh produce have resulted in questions about the safety of irrigation water; however, associated risks have not been systematically evaluated. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of the human pathogen E. coli O157 from vegetable irrigation ponds within the Suwannee River Watershed in Georgia were investigated, and the relationship to environmental factors was analyzed. Surface and subsurface water samples were collected monthly from 10 vegetable irrigation ponds from March 2011 to February 2012. Escherichia coli O157 was isolated from enriched filtrates on CHROMagar and sorbitol MacConkey agar media and confirmed by an agglutination test. Presence of virulence genes stx1, stx2 , and eae was tested by polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 27 environmental variables of the sampled ponds were measured. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was conducted for the analysis of bacterial communities in the water samples. Biserial correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the log10 colony-forming unit per millilitre correlations between the environmental factors and the occurrence of E. coli O157. Stepwise and canonical discriminant analyses were used to determine the factors that were associated with the presence and absence of E. coli O157 in water samples. All 10 ponds were positive for E. coli O157 some of the time, mainly in summer and fall of 2011. The temporal distribution of this bacterium differed among the 10 ponds. Temperature, rainfall, populations of fecal coliform, and culturable bacteria were positively correlated with the occurrence of E. coli O157 (P < 0.05), while the total nitrogen concentration, oxidation–reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen concentration were negatively correlated with the occurrence of this pathogen (P < 0.05). Temperature and rainfall were the most important factors contributing to the discrimination between samples with and without E. coli O157, followed by bacterial diversity and culturable bacteria population density. Bacterial numbers and diversity, including fecal coliforms and E. coli O157, increased after rainfall (and possibly runoff from pond margins) in periods with relatively high temperatures, suggesting that prevention of runoff may be important to minimize the risk of enteric pathogens in irrigation ponds.
Magnesium orotate elicits acute cardioprotection at reperfusion in isolated and in vivo rat hearts
Authors: Mirica Silvia N. , Duicu Oana M. , Trancota Simona L. , Fira-Mladinescu Ovidiu , Angoulvant Denis , Muntean Danina M.
Published: December 2012

Orotic acid and its salts chronically administered have been shown to significantly improve cardiac function in pathological settings associated with ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of magnesium orotate (Mg-Or) administration at the onset of post-ischemic reperfusion on myocardial function and infarct size (IS). Ex-vivo experiments performed on isolated perfused rat hearts were used to compare Mg-Or administration with a control group (buffer treated), ischemic post-conditioning, orotic acid treatment, and MgCl2treatment. Mg-Or administration was also investigated in an in-vivo model of regional I/R performed in rats undergoing reversible coronary ligation. The effect of Mg-Or on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening after I/R was investigated in vitro to gain mechanistic insights. Both ex-vivo and in-vivo experiments showed a beneficial effect from Mg-Or administration at the onset of reperfusion on myocardial function and IS. In-vitro assays showed that Mg-Or significantly delayed mPTP opening after I/R. Our data suggest that Mg-Or administered at the very onset of reperfusion may preserve myocardial function and reduce IS. This beneficial effect may be related to a significant reduction of mPTP opening, a usual trigger of cardiac cell death following I/R.
The contact aureole of the South Mountain Batholith in Halifax, Nova Scotia: geology, mineral assemblages, and isograds
Authors: Jamieson R.A. , Hart G.G. , Chapman G.G. , Tobey N.W.
Published: December 2012

The contact aureole at the eastern margin of the South Mountain Batholith (Halifax Pluton) underlies most of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Halifax Group in the study area includes two lithological units, the Cunard and Bluestone formations. Before intrusion, both had been affected by greenschist facies regional metamorphism and deformed into northeast–southwest-trending, regional upright folds associated with a strong slaty cleavage. Contact metamorphic isograds trend obliquely across the Halifax peninsula, at a high angle to regional structural trends. At 2.5–3 km from the intrusive contact, sparse cordierite spots mark the outer limit of the contact aureole. The biotite-in isograd is marked by the development of biotite within chlorite + muscovite stacks inherited from regional metamorphism. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulphide mineral throughout the contact aureole. With increasing metamorphic grade, assemblages in both units are marked by increasing modal abundance of cordierite and biotite, with K-feldspar variably developed within ca. 600 m of the contact. However, there is a marked difference in the distribution and appearance of andalusite between the two units. In aluminous pelites of the Cunard formation, idioblastic chiastolite appears before biotite more than 1500 m from the contact. In the less aluminous Bluestone formation, andalusite is present only within ca. 500 m of the contact, where it forms xenoblastic, spongy crystals. In both units, the assemblage andalusite + biotite + K-feldspar ± cordierite is developed near the contact, with local fibrolite and evidence of incipient partial melting. Petrographic constraints suggest pressure–temperature conditions at the contact of ca. 2.5–3.0 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa) at ca. 650 °C.
Metamorphism and deformation of the Grand Forks complex: implications for the exhumation history of the Shuswap core complex, southern British Columbia
Authors: Cubley Joel F. , Pattison David R.M.
Published: December 2012

The Grand Forks complex (GFC) is an elongate, north–south-trending metamorphic core complex in the Shuswap domain of southeastern British Columbia. It comprises predominantly upper-amphibolite- to granulite-facies paragneisses, schists, orthogneisses, amphibolites, and calc-silicates of the Paleoproterozoic to Paleozoic Grand Forks Group. The GFC is juxtaposed against low-grade rocks of the Quesnel terrane across two bounding Eocene normal faults: the Kettle River fault (KRF) on the east flank and the Granby fault (GF) on the west flank. Peak metamorphic Sil + Kfs ± Grt ± Crd (Sil, sillimanite; Kfs, potassium feldspar; Grt, garnet; Crd, cordierite) assemblages in paragneiss and Hbl ± Opx ± Cpx (Hbl, hornblende; Opx, orthopyroxene; Cpx, clinopyroxene) assemblages in amphibolite in the GFC formed at 750 ± 25 °C, 5.6 ± 0.5 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa; 20 ± 2 km depth). Stratigraphically overlying Sil + St-bearing pelitic schists (St, staurolite) within the complex record peak conditions of 600 ± 15 °C, 5.5 ± 0.25 kbar. Crd + Ilm + Spl (Crd, cordierite; Ilm, ilmenite; Spl, spinel) and Crd + Qtz (Qtz, quartz) coronal textures in paragneiss, and Cpx + Opx + Pl + Mt (Pl, plagioclase; Mt, magnetite) symplectites in amphibolite, formed at 735 ± 20 °C, 3.3 ± 0.5 kbar, indicating high-temperature, near-isothermal decompression of the GFC of ∼2.3 ± 0.7 kbar (∼8.2 ± 2.5 km) from peak conditions. Transitional greenschist–amphibolite metamorphic assemblages in the hanging wall of the KRF indicate conditions of ∼425 ± 25 °C and 2.2 ± 0.6 kbar (∼8 ± 2 km depth), with local contact metamorphism around Jurassic intrusions as high as 630–650 °C at ∼2.5 ± 0.5 kbar. The pressure contrast across the Kettle River fault prior to greenschist facies displacement was ∼0.8 ± 0.7 kbar, for a vertical offset of ∼2.9 ± 2.5 km. This is similar to estimates for the Granby fault on the west flank of the GFC. The GFC therefore experienced a two-stage exhumation history: early high-temperature decompression at upper-amphibolite- to granulite-facies conditions, followed by low-temperature exhumation at greenschist-facies conditions owing to movement on the Eocene Granby and Kettle River faults.
U–Pb and Hf isotopic data from Franklinian Basin strata: insights into the nature of Crockerland and the timing of accretion, Canadian Arctic Islands
Authors: Anfinson Owen A. , Leier Andrew L. , Gaschnig Rich , Embry Ashton F. , Dewing Keith
Published: December 2012

New detrital zircon uranium–lead (U–Pb) ages and initial epsilon hafnium (εHf(i)) data from the Devonian clastic succession of the Canadian Arctic Islands refines the provenance of strata within the Franklinian Basin and provides constraints on the geologic evolution of the landmass responsible for the Ellesmerian Orogen. This study contributes more than 500 U–Pb ages and 32 εHf(i) values from the Blackley Formation and the Parry Islands Formation. The Middle Devonian Blackley Formation represents the onset of clastic sedimentation into the Franklinian Basin during the Devonian period. Detrital zircon from two samples yield U–Pb age populations of 380–470, 500–700, 900–2100, and 2550–3000 Ma. The population of 500–700 Ma U–Pb ages indicates a source exotic to the northern Laurentian margin and is attributed to a continental landmass located north of the present Canadian Arctic Islands (often referred to as Crockerland). This is some of the earliest evidence of 500–700 Ma detrital zircon deposition onto the northern Laurentian margin and indicates this northern landmass is at least partially accreted to Laurentia by early-Eifelian time. The Late Devonian Parry Islands Formation is the uppermost succession of Ellesmerian Orogen foreland basin sedimentation in the Franklinian Basin. Detrital zircon from four samples yield U–Pb age populations of 370–450, 470–750, 930–2100, and 2300–3200 Ma. The U–Pb ages suggest the Parry Islands Formation is derived from the northern source terrane (Crockerland) and indicate this landmass contains rocks similar to that of the east Greenland Caledonides, Pearya, and northeastern Baltica. Rim and core U–Pb double dates from the 500–700 Ma detrital zircon population and εHf(i) values from the 380–450, 520–550, and 650–710 Ma detrital zircon populations help constrain magma generation processes within Crockerland and suggest the zircons are derived from a juvenile lithosphere.
NEARLY EXACT OPTION PRICE SIMULATION USING CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTIONS
Authors: BERNARD CAROLE , CUI ZHENYU , MCLEISH DON
Published: December 2012

This paper presents a new approach to perform a nearly unbiased simulation using inversion of the characteristic function. As an application we are able to give unbiased estimates of the price of forward starting options in the Heston model and of continuously monitored Parisian options in the Black-Scholes framework. This method of simulation can be applied to problems for which the characteristic functions are easily evaluated but the corresponding probability density functions are complicated.
Students' perceived value of physiology course activities in a Sudanese medical faculty
Authors: Kaddam Lamis , Elnimeiri Mustafa Khidir Mustafa
Published: December 2012

The physiology course in our department consists of lectures, laboratory sessions, and tutorials, all of which are teacher centered, as well as student-led seminars. The overall aim of this project was to investigate student perceptions of the value of varying academic activities on their learning of physiology. A faculty-based descriptive study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Alneelain University (Khartoum, Sudan). Questionnaires (150 total) were distributed to students from the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Physiotherapy; 127 questionnaires were completed and returned. The results showed that 108 students (85%) believed that their absence from different academic activities could affect their performance. Students perceived lectures as the most valuable academic activity (90.7%), whereas seminars presented by students were perceived as the least important activity (18.5%). There was a significant correlation between lectures attendance and their performance in examinations ( P = 0.008). Ninety percent of the students thought that teacher involvement in tutorials was essential and that lectures were useful to understand certain topics. These results showed that in our course, students perceived teacher involvement as a key component of the educational process.
Bridging different perspectives of the physiological and mathematical disciplines
Authors: Batzel Jerry Joseph , Hinghofer-Szalkay Helmut , Kappel Franz , Schneditz Daniel , Kenner Thomas , Goswami Nandu
Published: December 2012

The goal of this report is to discuss educational approaches for bridging the different perspectives of the physiological and mathematical disciplines. These approaches can enhance the learning experience for physiology, medical, and mathematics students and simultaneously act to stimulate mathematical/physiological/clinical interdisciplinary research. While physiology education incorporates mathematics, via equations and formulas, it does not typically provide a foundation for interdisciplinary research linking mathematics and physiology. Here, we provide insights and ideas derived from interdisciplinary seminars involving mathematicians and physiologists that have been conducted over the last decade. The approaches described here can be used as templates for giving physiology and medical students insights into how sophisticated tools from mathematics can be applied and how the disciplines of mathematics and physiology can be integrated in research, thereby fostering a foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration. These templates are equally applicable to linking mathematical methods with other life and health sciences in the educational process.
Isolated Adrenocorticotropin Deficiency Associated with Delirium and Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Murakami Masanori , Matsushita Noriko , Arai Rie , Takahashi Naohiro , Kawamura Ryuki , Suzuki Sayaka , Takekawa Sachio , Iwashima Fumiko , Shibui Takashi , Hata Akihiro , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Horiuchi Toshiyuki
Published: December 2012

We report a 65-year-old woman with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. The patient was transported to the emergency outpatient department by ambulance complaining of malaise and nausea. Because her laboratory data revealed hyponatremia, we performed endocrinological examinations and diagnosed isolated ACTH deficiency. After admission, she went into a delirious state and suffered from takotsubo cardiomyopathy due to adrenal insufficiency. Replacement therapy with hydrocortisone sufficiently improved her delirium and cardiomyopathy. We conclude that her unstable mental state and myocardial dysfunction were closely related to adrenal insufficiency and suggest that adrenal crisis may cause delirium and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.