bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NEW ARCHAEOMAGNETIC DATA RECOVERED FROM THE STUDY OF THREE ROMAN KILNS FROM NORTH‐EAST SPAIN: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE IBERIAN PALAEOSECULAR VARIATION CURVE*
Authors: GÓMEZ‐PACCARD M. , BEAMUD E. , MC INTOSH G. , LARRASOAÑA J. C.
Published: March 2012

New archaeomagnetic results from three archaeological kilns recovered from one archaeological site in north‐east Spain are reported. The abandonment of kilns BC1 and BC2 has been dated by archaeological evidence to between ad 0 and ad 50, whereas kiln BC3 was abandoned later, between ad 50 and ad 150. Mean archaeomagnetic directions and archaeointensities have been obtained from classical Thellier experiments. The new data are consistent with previous archaeomagnetic data for the Iberian Peninsula. They add to and improve the description of palaeosecular variation during Roman times in Iberia.
Comparison of Distribution‐ and Anchor‐Based Approaches to Infer Changes in Health‐Related Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Survivors
Authors: Jayadevappa Ravishankar , Malkowicz Stanley Bruce , Wittink Marsha , Wein Alan J. , Chhatre Sumedha
Published: March 2012

Objective

To determine the minimal important difference (MID) in generic and prostate‐specific health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) using distribution‐ and anchor‐based methods.

Study Design and Setting

Prospective cohort study of 602 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients recruited from an urban academic hospital and a Veterans Administration hospital. Participants completed generic (SF‐36) and prostate‐specific HRQoL surveys at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months posttreatment. Anchor‐based and distribution‐based methods were used to develop MID estimates. We compared the proportion of participants returning to baseline based on MID estimates from the two methods.

Results

MID estimates derived from combining distribution‐ and anchor‐based methods for the SF‐36 subscales are physical function = 7, role physical = 14, role emotional = 12, vitality = 9, mental health = 6, social function = 9, bodily pain = 9, and general health = 8; and for the prostate‐specific scales are urinary function = 8, bowel function = 7, sexual function = 8, urinary bother = 9, bowel bother = 8, and sexual bother = 11. Proportions of participants returning to baseline values corresponding to MID estimates from the two methods were comparable.

Conclusions

This is the first study to assess the MID for generic and prostate‐specific HRQoL using anchor‐based and distribution‐based methods. Although variation exists in the MID estimates derived from these two methods, the recovery patterns corresponding to these estimates were comparable.
Development and Status of Image Matching in Photogrammetry
Authors: Gruen Armin
Published: March 2012

Image and template matching is probably the most important function in digital photogrammetry and also in automated modelling and mapping. Many approaches for matching have evolved over the years, but the problem is still unsolved in general terms. This paper describes the development of image matching techniques in photogrammetry over the past 50 years, addresses the results of some empirical accuracy studies and also provides a critical account of some of the problems that remain.
Although automated approaches have quite a number of advantages, the quality of the results is still not satisfactory and, in some cases, far from acceptable. Even with the most advanced techniques, it is not yet possible to achieve the quality of results that a human operator can produce. There is an urgent need for further improvements and innovations, be it through more powerful multi‐sensor approaches, thereby enlarging the information spectrum, and/or through advancements in image understanding algorithms, thus coming closer to human capabilities of reading and understanding image content.
Preclinical antiepileptic actions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—Implications for clinical trial design
Authors: Igelström Kajsa M.
Published: March 2012

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can reduce seizure frequency in humans, but no large‐scale clinical trials have been done to test the utility of SSRIs as potential antiepileptic drugs. This may be caused in part by a small number of reports on seizures triggered by SSRI treatment. The preclinical literature on SSRIs is somewhat conflicting, which is likely to contribute to the hesitance in accepting SSRIs as possible anticonvulsant drug therapy. A careful review of preclinical studies reveals that SSRIs appear to have region‐specific and seizure subtype–specific effects, with models of chronic partial epilepsy being more likely to respond than models of acute generalized seizures. Moreover, this preclinical profile is similar to that of clinical antiepileptic drugs. These observations suggest that SSRIs are promising antiepileptic agents, and that clinical trials may benefit from defining patient groups according to the underlying pathology.
Long‐term seizure outcome and risk factors for recurrence after extratemporal epilepsy surgery
Authors: McIntosh Anne M. , Averill Clare A. , Kalnins Renate M. , Mitchell L. Anne , Fabinyi Gavin C. A. , Jackson Graeme D. , Berkovic Samuel F.
Published: March 2012

Purpose:  We aimed to assess long‐term seizure outcome and risk factors for seizure recurrence in a cohort of patients who have undergone extratemporal resection for management of refractory seizures.

Methods:  Eighty‐one patients underwent extratemporal resection at Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia (1991–2004). Seizure recurrence was any postoperative disabling seizure (complex partial seizure [CPS] ± secondary generalization). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models examined potential preoperative and perioperative risk factors and the risk associated with early postoperative seizures (≤28 days postsurgery). The change between preoperative and postoperative seizure frequency was also measured.

Key Findings:  Median follow‐up was 10.3 years (range 1–17.7). The probabilities of freedom from disabling seizures (on or off antiepileptic medication) were 40.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30–51) at 1 month, 23.5% (95% CI 15–33) at 1 year, and 14.7% (95% CI 8–23) at 5 years postoperative. Reduction of disabling seizures to at least 20% of preoperative frequency was attained by 57% of patients at 5 postoperative years. Of the preoperative/perioperative factors, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type 1 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.90, 95% CI 1.08–3.34, p = 0.025) and incomplete resection (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.06–2.76, p = 0.028) were independent recurrence risks. After surgery, an early postoperative seizure was the only factor associated with higher risk (HR 4.28 [2.42–7.57], p = 0.00).

Significance:  Distinction between subtypes of focal cortical dysplasia, which can be made using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria, may be useful for preoperative prognostication. Early seizures after surgery are not benign and may be markers of factors that contribute to seizure recurrence. Most patients achieve substantial reduction in seizure frequency. Further study of the significance of this reduction in terms of surgical “success” or otherwise is required.
The early implementation of Trypanosoma cruzi antibody screening of donors and donations within England: preempting a problem
Authors: Kitchen Alan D. , Hewitt Patricia E. , Chiodini Peter L.
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasitic infection endemic in Central and Southern America, but is spreading into nonendemic countries with migration of infected individuals from endemic countries. The parasite is transmitted by transfusion or transplantation and donation screening is performed routinely in endemic countries to prevent transmission. In situations where migrants from endemic countries have settled in nonendemic countries and present as donors (blood or other cellular products), intervention is required to prevent transfusion or transplantation transmission.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A screening program for T. cruzi was developed and has been used successfully for over 10 years that includes donor selection and donation screening. Donor selection criteria to identify specific risk of T. cruzi infection were developed together with laboratory screening of donations for T. cruzi antibodies and the subsequent confirmation of screen reactivity.

RESULTS: Since the introduction of T. cruzi screening in England in 1998, a total of 38,585 donors and donations have been screened for T. cruzi antibodies, of which 223 were repeat reactive on screening and referred for confirmation: 206 confirmed negative, 14 inconclusive, and three positive. Since the move in 2005 from donor qualification to donation release testing, 15,536 donations were collected and screened, of which 15,499 (99.8%) were T. cruzi antibody negative and released to inventory.

CONCLUSION: An effective program to minimize risk of the transmission of T. cruzi infection via donations has been developed and implemented. Not only does the program minimize risk of transmission, it also minimizes the cumulative, and needless, loss of donors and donations that would ensue if permanent donor deferral alone was adopted.
Institutional Arrangements and Logrolling: Evidence from the European Union
Authors: Aksoy Deniz
Published: March 2012

This article illustrates how voting rules used to pass a piece of legislation and the structure of the legislation, in terms of whether or not it has single or multiple issue dimensions, influence the frequency and the purpose of position changes in legislative negotiations. Through analysis of data on a set of legislative proposals negotiated in the European Union, I show that position changes are less common under unanimity rule than under majority rule. More importantly, I argue and show that when the negotiated legislation is multidimensional (i.e., contains multiple issues) and the voting rule is unanimity, position changing is a lucrative strategy for legislators. Multidimensional legislation creates opportunities for logrolling, and legislators’ veto power under the unanimity rule enables them to exploit these opportunities. Accordingly, under this scenario, legislators often engage in what I call a within‐legislation logroll and secure favorable legislative outcomes.
A Comparison of Intracoronary with Intravenous Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: FU GANG , JIA LEI , ZHAO XIN , WANG YIBO , CHEN XIAOHUI , YANG YANG , LU NA , ZHAO WEI , HUI RUTAI , ZHENG YANG
Published: March 2012

Background
: It is still debatable whether intracoronary (IC) administration of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) is superior to intravenous (IV) administration for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods:

We performed a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. A literature search was conducted for relevant trials. Primary end‐points were short‐term (1–3 months) and mid‐/long‐term (6/12 months) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (mortality, reinfarction, target vessel revascularization [TVR]). Secondary end‐points were thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade flow, TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) flow, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) within 2 weeks, and bleeding complication.

Results:

Twelve studies were included in the meta‐analysis. IC administration of GPIs did not decrease short‐term mortality (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.41–1.23, P = 0.22) and reinfarction rate (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.45–1.29, P = 0.31) compared with IV administration. There was a trend toward reduction of short‐term TVR rate in IC group compared with IV group but not reaching statistical significance (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.31–1.04, P = 0.07). IC administration of GPIs significantly increased TIMI grade 3 flow (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06–2.06, P = 0.02) and TMPG grade 2–3 flow (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.53–4.51, P = 0.0004) compared with IV administration. No significant difference was observed in long‐term MACEs rate, LVEF, and bleeding complication between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

IC administration of GPIs in patients with ACS undergoing PCI can significantly increase target coronary flow and myocardial reperfusion without increasing the risk of bleeding complication, but cannot improve clinical outcome compared with IV administration. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:223–234)
Ayahuasca Religions in Acre: Cultural Heritage in the Brazilian Borderlands
Authors: Labate Beatriz Caiuby
Published: March 2012

The Brazilian ayahuasca religions, Santo Daime, Barquinha, and União do Vegetal, have increasingly sought formal recognition by government agencies in Brazil and other countries to guarantee their legal use of ayahuasca, which contains DMT, a substance that is listed. This article focuses on new alliances and rifts that have emerged between and among different ayahuasca groups as they have sought and in some cases achieved formal recognition and legitimacy at the state and national levels in Brazil and abroad. It presents a historical overview of the origin of the main ayahuasca religions, and their connections to the Amazon region and the state of Acre in particular, where the political environment has facilitated petitions seeking the elevation of ayahuasca as cultural and historical heritage in Acre and Brazil. This process has resulted in the active selection of certain symbolic, cultural, and historical elements and subtle changes in the ways various ayahuasca groups represent themselves in the public sphere. It also resulted in the reconfiguration of political alliances and a recasting of the historical facts regarding origins. The article reflects on notions of origin, place, authenticity, and tradition throughout the ongoing transformation of ayahuasca from “dangerous drug” to state and national heritage.
Personal Report: Significance of Community in an Ayahuasca Jungle Dieta
Authors: Hagens Bethe , Lansky Steven
Published: March 2012

What is the potential significance of community in a prolonged dieta (10‐day restricted diet with regular ritual consumption of ayahuasca and other medicinal plants) in a remote jungle location in the Amazon basin of Peru? Pre‐dieta experiences including how participants join the community, cleansing routines prior to departure to Peru, sharing with the shaman one's personal intentions and health history, and prior experience with medicinal and entheogenic plants are introduced. Dieta rituals such as tambo housing, meals, hygiene and maintenance, music, ceremony preparations, ceremonial and everyday dieta etiquette, and post‐ceremony ritual and day of rest are considered. Bonding with the local support community and those who harvested and crafted the medicinal plant mixtures are evaluated in the context of both dieta and traditional indigenous goals of creating a spiritual practice community of love and trust that embraces people, plants, and all of earth and beyond.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Where Counseling and Neuroscience Meet
Authors: Makinson Ryan A. , Young J. Scott
Published: March 2012

There is increasing evidence to support the biological basis of mental disorders. Subsequently, understanding the neurobiological context from which mental distress arises can help counselors appropriately apply cognitive behavioral therapy and other well‐researched cognitive interventions. The purpose of this article is to describe the neurobiological context underlying the formation and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorders, a mental disorder frequently encountered by counselors, from a cognitive therapy framework.
Applying the Notion of Metaphor Types to Enhance Counseling Protocols
Authors: Tay Dennis
Published: March 2012

This article introduces the notion of metaphor types to show how the more nuanced aspects of metaphor theory can be applied to counseling practice. The author suggests that metaphor types can enhance existing interview protocols designed to help clients expand the source domain imagery of their metaphors and “bridge back” the expanded imagery to identified target issues. A sample analysis of a counseling transcript is provided to illustrate the recommended steps in applying metaphor types.
Choosing Assessment Instruments for Depression Outcome Research With School‐Age Youth
Authors: Muller Brooke E. , Erford Bradley T.
Published: March 2012

Using effect size results from Erford et al.'s (2011) meta‐analysis for treatment of depression in school‐age youth, the authors analyzed 6 commonly used instruments for practical and technical strengths and weaknesses. Effect size estimates from these 6 instruments were compared to indicate likely results when used in future depression outcome research.
Counseling in Singapore
Authors: Yeo Lay See , Tan Soo Yin , Neihart Maureen F.
Published: March 2012

Singapore, a tiny island nation, rose from 3rd‐ to 1st‐world status in just 3 decades. Unlike in most developed countries, counseling in Singapore has a short history with faith‐based beginnings and currently faces challenges to remain culturally relevant. The authors trace the development of Singapore's counseling services, provide an update regarding counseling practices in the school and community, and describe counseling and its relation to psychology in the educational setting. The authors conclude by examining professional issues and future directions.
Within‐ and between‐season repeatability of eggshell colouration in the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Authors: Honza Marcel , Procházka Petr , Požgayová Milica
Published: March 2012

While avian eggshell colouration has attracted biologists for decades, little is known about its variation within individuals. The main goal of this study was to explore within‐ and between‐season repeatability of eggshell appearance in the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus. To achieve this, we measured eggshell reflectance of first and replacement clutches of individual females within one breeding season, and the reflectance of their first clutches in two following breeding seasons. As environmental conditions may affect egg colouration, repeatability was estimated from linear mixed‐effects models where we initially included temperature and rainfall during egg laying, as well as year, clutch order and egg‐laying date as fixed effects, and clutch identity nested in females as random effects. Eggshell appearance within clutches showed moderate repeatability, while both within‐ and between‐season repeatability in clutch colouration for individual females was low. Our findings indicate that low intra‐clutch variation may have a function within the context of brood parasitism, i.e. in facilitating host recognition of alien eggs. With variable eggs between successive clutches, however, host females may need to relearn the appearance of their eggs with every clutch they lay. This could represent a significant constraint for host egg‐discrimination abilities. Yet, whether environmental or intrinsic physiological factors are responsible for the variation in eggshell colouration between successive clutches of the same females still remain to be discovered.
A framework for costing diagnostic methods in oral health care: An application comparing a new imaging technology with the conventional approach for maxillary canines with eruption disturbances
Authors: Christell Helena , Birch Stephen , Horner Keith , Rohlin Madeleine , Lindh Christina ,   The SEDENTEXCT consortium
Published: March 2012

Objectives

The aims were (i) to propose a framework for costing diagnostic methods in oral health care and (ii) to illustrate the application of the framework to the radiographic examination of maxillary canines with eruption disturbances.

Methods

The framework for costing, following Drummond et al. (2005), includes three elements: (i) identification of different resources used in producing and delivering the service, (ii) measurement of the amount of each resource required and (iii) valuation of the resources in monetary terms. Four data collection instruments were designed – a protocol for apportioning the cost of capital equipment to each diagnostic procedure, separate forms for recording consumable items, for the time of different health care providers used for a diagnostic examination and a patient survey for calculation of the total cost to the patient associated with the examination. The framework was applied to the radiographic examination of maxillary canines with eruption disturbances comparing two imaging methods: (i) a new method with cone beam computed tomography and panoramic radiography and (ii) a conventional method using intraoral and panoramic radiography. The primary analysis was performed from the perspective of the health care system. A separate analysis included patient costs with health care system costs to provide a societal perspective. Comparison of the two perspectives allows consideration of whether any costs savings to the health care system are generated at the expense of greater costs for patients and their families. Data for the cost‐analysis were retrieved from 47 patients (mean age 14 years) referred to a department of radiology for examination of maxillary canines.

Results

Application of the framework for costing allowed us to compare the resources used to perform examinations of the two methods. The mean total cost per examination for the new method was 128.38€ and 81.80€ for the conventional method, resulting in an incremental cost per examination of the new method of 46.58€.

Conclusions

The application of the framework demonstrates the feasibility of measuring and comparing the total costs as well as the distribution of total costs between providers and patients for different approaches to this common examination.
Combined cytoplasmic and membranous EGFR and p53 overexpression is a poor prognostic marker in early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Monteiro Luís Silva , Diniz‐Freitas Márcio , Garcia‐Caballero Tomás , Warnakulasuriya Saman , Forteza Jerónimo , Fraga Máximo
Published: March 2012

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 559–567

Objective:  Our aim was to evaluate the expression of several molecules that regulate growth, the cell cycle and signalling pathways including EGFR, p53, p16 and p27 in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). We examined their utility as prognostic markers by relating to clinicopathological characteristics and the clinical outcome.

Patients and methods:  Using tissue microarray technology, we analysed 67 primary OSCC and examined immunohistochemical expression of EGFR, p53, p16 and p27. Multivariate analysis was conducted to examine their role in survival.

Results:  Many of the markers were highly expressed in these cancers. Membranous EGFR expression in 95.2%, both membrane and cytoplasm expression in 35%, p53 expression in 61.6%, p27 expression in 89.5% and p16 expression in 27.9% of cases. In the multivariate analysis, independent prognostic influence of a lower overall survival was determined only for advanced tumour stage (P < 0.001), p53 overexpression (P = 0.004), EGFR cytoplasm and membrane co‐expression location (P = 0.002) and p16 reduced expression (P = 0.002). When considering a subgroup of early stage tumours, p53 overexpression (P = 0.028) and combined membranous and cytoplasm EGFR co‐expression (P = 0.039) were indicators of a lower overall survival. For disease‐free survival, in addition to these three factors, the histological grade (P = 0.011) showed independent prognostic values.

Conclusion:  The independent value of EGFR subcellular location (cytoplasm and membrane) and p53 overexpression in overall survival even in early stages of OSCC suggests that these markers may serve as reliable biological markers to identify high‐risk subgroups and to guide therapy.
Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the chronology of healing process after immediate tooth replantation in incisor rat teeth
Authors: Panzarini Sônia Regina , Okamoto Roberta , Poi Wilson Roberto , Sonoda Celso Koogi , Pedrini Denise , da Silva Paula Ervolino , Saito Celia Tomiko Matida Hamata , Marão Heloísa Fonseca , Sedlacek Paulo
Published: March 2012

Abstract –  Dental tissues have special characteristics, and its regenerative capacity is noteworthy. However, understanding the circumstances that lead to regeneration is challenging. In this study, the chronology of the healing process after immediate replantation of rat incisor teeth was examined by histological and immunohistochemical analyses within a 60‐day period. Thirty‐six male Wistar rats had their maxillary right incisors extracted and replanted after 15 min in saline storage. The rats were sacrificed immediately 3, 7, 15, 28, and 60 days after replantation. The histological analysis showed rupture of the periodontal ligament and formation of a blood clot, which started being replaced by a connective tissue after 3 days. At 7 days, the gingival mucosa epithelium was reinserted and areas of root resorption could be seen. At 15 days, the periodontal ligament was repaired. At 3 days, the pulp presented an absence of the odontoblast layer, which started being replaced by a connective tissue. This tissue suffered gradual calcification, filling the root canal at 28 and 60 days. The root ends were closed. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed greater expression of OP, OPG, and RANK proteins in the initial periods (0 and 3 days), while TRAP expression predominated at 28 and 60 days (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in delayed tooth replantation, there is great new bone formation activity in the earlier periods of the repair process, while a predominance of bone resorption and remodeling is observed in the more advanced periods.
Biologics in oral medicine: Sjogren syndrome
Authors: O’Neill ID , Scully C
Published: March 2012

Oral Diseases (2012) doi:10.1111/j.1601‐0825.2012.01932.x

Biologic therapy has a potential to benefit patients with orofacial manifestations of Sjogren syndrome (SS). The most appropriate use of biologics would appear to be in patients with severe or multisystem features of SS, but their use early in the pathogenesis has the potential to prevent disease progression. Tumour necrosis factor‐alpha blockade has not proven effective in SS. B‐cell depletion using rituximab has been of benefit, mainly in relation to extraglandular features, and to some extent in relation to hyposalivation where there is still residual salivary function. Rituximab is also effective in the treatment of SS‐associated (extrasalivary) lymphomas, although the therapeutic response in salivary lymphoma is poorer. Rituximab is given as a single or periodic intravenous infusion. Potential adverse effects exist, notably infusion reactions and infection, and so a full risk/benefit analysis is indicated for prospective patients. This and clinical use is best performed and monitored in conjunction with rheumatologists with appropriate training and experience in biologic therapies. Further studies of rituximab in SS are ongoing, and newer agents under trial include belimumab.
Scale‐dependent responses of species richness to experimental manipulation of productivity and disturbance in Californian coastal grasslands
Authors: Sandel Brody , Corbin Jeffrey D.
Published: March 2012

Question

Relationships between species richness and environmental drivers such as productivity and disturbance are sensitive to the scale over which they are measured, but the extent to which this scale‐dependence is important for experimental studies conducted over small scale ranges is not well known. We ask whether the response of species richness to experimental manipulation of productivity and disturbance varies across small spatial scales (0.016–4 m2). We show that species–area relationships are well suited to summarize cross‐scale responses of species richness, and ask whether the responses of species–area relationships to experimental manipulations are more consistent than richness at any single scale.

Location

Northern Californian coastal grasslands.

Methods

We applied disturbance and productivity reduction treatments over 4 yr at two sites. We assessed changes in species richness over five grain sizes, encompassing a 256‐fold range of plot size. This allowed us to construct a species–area relationship for each experimental plot in each sampling year. We used the slope of the species–area relationship to summarize changes in species richness across multiple spatial scales.

Results

Richness responses were scale‐dependent and complex, causing changes at any one scale to be difficult to interpret. Disturbance either increased or had no effect on richness, while reducing productivity had idiosyncratic effects among sites, scales and years. Both treatments, however, had consistent and interpretable effects on the species–area relationship. Reducing productivity increased the slope of the species–area relationship, while disturbance decreased it.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the productivity–richness and disturbance–richness relationships are scale‐dependent, and that improved generality could be achieved by focusing attention on the response of the species–area relationship to these factors.
What Is Right? Ethics in Intellectual Disabilities Research
Authors: McDonald Katherine E. , Kidney Colleen A.
Published: March 2012

There are important benefits to including adults with intellectual disabilities in research. Calls for their increased participation in research co‐occur with notable discussion about how to conduct ethically strong research with adults with intellectual disabilities, a population widely considered vulnerable in the context of research. The authors systematically researched the peer‐reviewed literature on ethical practices in research with adults with intellectual disabilities to identify and analyze conceptually and empirically supported ethical approaches to research in the area of research with adults with intellectual disabilities. They conducted a thematic analysis of the 37 articles that met inclusion criteria. They identified three overarching themes: (1) guiding frameworks and approaches; (2) strategies to promote accountability to ethics; and (3) making decisions about participation, including considerations for coercion, capacity to consent, surrogate decision‐making, and promoting understanding. From the review, they noted diverse recommendations for ethical research practices, characterized by a lack of consensus, entrenched tensions in value orientations, and gaps in knowledge and practice. Attention to promising strands of scholarship that emphasize attention to strengths, autonomy, dignity of risk, and a contextually based framing of consent capacity may be particularly fruitful. Similarly, bringing to the forefront the role of accommodations in promoting participation, systematically studying diverse ethical aspects of research, and identifying and considering the perspectives of persons with intellectual disabilities may represent critical next steps. They suggest that research collaborations between academics and persons with intellectual disabilities present opportunities to further strengthen the ethical integrity of research in the field.

A video abstract of this article can be viewed at http://youtu.be/5Oqx02Aw3xs.
Comorbidities Associated With Intellectual Disability among Pediatric Outpatients Seen at a Teaching Hospital in Northern India
Authors: Jauhari Prashant , Bhargava Roli , Bhave Anupama , Kumar Chandrakanta , Kumar Rashmi
Published: March 2012

There is a dearth of comprehensive studies on comorbidities associated with intellectual disability (ID) in developing economy countries. This prospective study reports the prevalence of common comorbidities observed in a cohort of children with ID presenting to a regional medical center in Northern India. Subjects were drawn from the first three children between 6 months and 15 years of age presenting with complaints of developmental delay or mental dullness on one day a week at a pediatric outpatient unit and at the pediatric neurology clinic of a university teaching hospital. All potential subjects were tested for global developmental delay or ID by validated tests, and then the children were assessed for a set of predefined comorbid conditions, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, microcephaly, impaired vision or hearing, feeding disorder, malnutrition, constipation, squint, drooling, violent behavior, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The prevalence of comorbidities was found to be high, and it increased with severity of ID, except for ADHD, autism, and violent behavior, which decreased. Comparisons between children with and without cerebral palsy showed that most conditions were more common in children with cerebral palsy (in particular, epilepsy and constipation). A high prevalence of neurologic and medical comorbidities was seen in children with ID in Northern India, which underlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach to their identification and treatment.
Effect of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) host plants on life‐history parameters of the parasitoid Apanteles taragamae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Dannon Elie A. , Tamò Manuele , Agboton Cyriaque , van Huis Arnold , Dicke Marcel
Published: March 2012

Abstract  The effect of four host plant species of the herbivore Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on development time, longevity, fecundity and sex ratio of the parasitoid Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was investigated under laboratory conditions. The larvae were parasitized when in the second instar. Maruca vitrata larvae were fed with flowers of four legumes, that is, Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Sesbania rostrata, Lonchocarpus sericeus and Pterocarpus santalinoides, or an artificial diet both before and after parasitization. The parasitoid did not develop in hosts feeding on L. sericeus or V. unguiculata at 25°C, or on P. santalinoides at 25°C or 29°C. Apanteles taragamae had the shortest development time on artificial diet at both 25°C and 29°C while the longest development time was recorded on L. sericeus at 29°C. Female wasps took longer to develop compared to males at the two temperatures, regardless of the feeding substrate of their host. The longevity of the wasps at 25°C varied among feeding substrates, but not at 29°C. Survival rate of parasitized larvae depends on the feeding substrate. Moreover, infection of host larvae with Maruca vitrata multi‐nucleopolyhedrovirus (MaviMNPV) killed larger proportions of parasitized larvae at 25°C than at 29°C, which was likely caused by the difference in parasitoid developmental rate. The proportion of female parasitoids was lowest on L. sericeus. The daily fecundity showed a nonlinear trend regardless of the feeding substrate, indicating that A. taragamae is a pro‐ovigenic species. The data support the slow growth–high mortality hypothesis.
The Use of Automated Sequencing Techniques to Investigate the Sequence Selectivity of DNA‐Damaging Agents
Authors: Murray Vincent , Nguyen Trung V. , Chen Jon K.
Published: March 2012

In this review, the use of automated DNA sequencing techniques to determine the sequence specificity of compounds that interact with DNA is discussed. The sequence specificity of a DNA‐damaging agent is an essential element in determining the cellular mechanism of action of a drug. A number of DNA‐damaging compounds are mutagenic, carcinogenic, as well as being widely used as cancer chemotherapeutic agents. The distribution of lesions in a sequence of DNA can give vital clues in the determination of the precise mechanism of interaction of the agent with DNA. The DNA sequence specificity of a number of DNA‐damaging agents has been delineated using automated DNA sequencing technology, and these studies are discussed in this review. The current state‐of‐the‐art methodology involves capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence detection usually on an Applied Biosystems ABI 3730 capillary sequencer. This current technique has higher resolution, greater sensitivity, higher precision, more rapid separation times, is safer and easier to perform than previous methods. The two main methods to determine the DNA sequence selectivity of compounds that interact with DNA are described: end labelling and the polymerase stop assay. The interaction of the antitumour drug, bleomycin, with DNA is utilized to illustrate the recent technological advances.
An open‐label phase I trial of a live attenuated H2N2 influenza virus vaccine in healthy adults
Authors: Talaat Kawsar R. , Karron Ruth A. , Liang Philana H. , McMahon Bridget A. , Luke Catherine J. , Thumar Bhagvanji , Chen Grace L. , Min Ji‐Young , Lamirande Elaine W. , Jin Hong , Coelingh Kathy L. , Kemble George W. , Subbarao Kanta
Published: March 2012

Please cite this paper as: Talaat et al. (2012) An open‐label phase I trial of a live attenuated H2N2 influenza virus vaccine in healthy adults. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2012.00350.x.

Background  Live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) against a variety of strains of pandemic potential are being developed and tested. We describe the results of an open‐label phase I trial of a live attenuated H2N2 virus vaccine.

Objectives  To evaluate the safety, infectivity, and immunogenicity of a live attenuated H2N2 influenza virus vaccine.

Participants/methods  The A/Ann Arbor/6/60 (H2N2) virus used in this study is the attenuated, cold‐adapted, temperature‐sensitive strain that provides the genetic backbone of seasonal LAIV (MedImmune). We evaluated the safety, infectivity, and immunogenicity of two doses of 107 TCID50 of this vaccine administered by nasal spray 4 weeks apart to normal healthy seronegative adults.

Results  Twenty‐one participants received a first dose of the vaccine; 18 participants received a second dose. No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. The most common adverse events after vaccination were headache and musculoskeletal pain. The vaccine was restricted in replication: 24% and 17% had virus detectable by culture or rRT‐PCR after the first and second dose, respectively. Antibody responses to the vaccine were also restricted: 24% of participants developed an antibody response as measured by either hemagglutination‐inhibition assay (10%), or ELISA for H2 HA‐specific serum IgG (24%) or IgA (16%) after either one or two doses. None of the participants had a neutralizing antibody response. Vaccine‐specific IgG‐secreting cells as measured by enzyme‐linked immunospot increased from a mean of 0·5 to 2·0/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); vaccine‐specific IgA‐secreting cells increased from 0·1 to 0·5/106 PBMCs.

Conclusions  The live attenuated H2N2 1960 AA ca vaccine demonstrated a safety profile consistent with seasonal trivalent LAIV but was restricted in replication and minimally immunogenic in healthy seronegative adults.
ALDH1A1 is a Marker of Astrocytic Differentiation during Brain Development and Correlates with Better Survival in Glioblastoma Patients
Authors: Adam S. Alexandra , Schnell Oliver , Pöschl Julia , Eigenbrod Sabina , Kretzschmar Hans A. , Tonn Jörg‐Christian , Schüller Ulrich
Published: March 2012

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor and patients usually succumb to their disease within 2 years. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) has been suggested as a marker for cancer stem cells that is associated with poor prognosis in human gliomas. However, little is known about the expression and the function of ALDH1A1 in early stages of brain development. We analyzed ALDH1A1 expression in developing and mature central nervous system (CNS) as well as in 93 cases of primary glioblastomas. Surprisingly, ALDH1A1 was absent in the stem cell niches at varying stages of CNS development, but strong ALDH1A1 expression was observed in mature astrocytes coexpressing GFAP and S100. There were 92 out of 93 glioblastomas (99%) that showed ALDH1A1 protein expression in up to 49% of tumor cells. The majority of these cells co‐expressed GFAP, but not established stem cell markers such as Nestin, OLIG2 or SOX2. Finally, strong expression of ALDH1A1 correlated with a significantly better survival of the patients and proved to be an independent prognostic marker in our series (P < 0.01). In contrast to other published data, we therefore provide evidence for ALDH1A1 as a marker of astrocytic differentiation during brain development and of better prognosis in patients suffering from primary glioblastoma.
Clinical application of immune‐enhanced enteral nutrition in patients with advanced gastric cancer after total gastrectomy
Authors: LIU Hua , LING Wei , SHEN Zhi Yong , JIN Xin , CAO Hui
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE:  To determine whether immune‐enhanced enteral nutrition (EN) was effective on nutritional status, immune function, surgical outcomes and days of hospitalization after total gastrectomy for patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS:  From August 2005 to May 2011, 78 patients with AGC who underwent a total gastrectomy were enrolled and divided randomly into three groups: immune‐enhanced EN (EN + glutamine [Gln]) group, standard EN group and control group. Serum parameters including total protein, albumin, proalbumin and transferrin were examined on preoperative day 1, postoperative day 2 and day 12. Levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were also compared.

RESULTS:  The formulas were tolerated well in all the patients except 5 with mild complications. The EN + Gln and EN groups showed a faster onset of flatus and shorter hospitalization duration than the control group. On postoperative day 12, serum total protein, albumin, proalbumin and transferrin levels of the EN + Gln and EN groups were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). CD4+ T cells, NK cells, IgM and IgG levels of the EN + Gln group increased prominently, and were significantly higher than those before the operation as well as those in the EN and control groups.

CONCLUSION:  Immune‐enhanced EN can improve nutritional status and immune function for the patients with AGC after total gastrectomy.
Réformes du financement des systèmes d'assurance maladie aux Pays‐Bas, en Allemagne et en France: quelles conséquences en matière de couverture sociale et de redistribution?
Authors: Turquet Pascale
Published: March 2012

Les systèmes d'assurance maladie allemand, français et néerlandais s'efforcent depuis plusieurs années de freiner leurs dépenses et de diversifier leurs ressources, à l'origine essentiellement constituées de contributions sociales. Cette diversification peut passer par un élargissement de l'assiette des financements publics, mais aussi par un recours accru à des recettes et des opérateurs privés. Dans le cas de l'Allemagne et des Pays‐Bas, ces réformes vont de pair avec la volonté de mise en compétition des organismes assureurs. En France, l'assurance complémentaire privée est devenue indispensable à un bon accès aux soins. Mais ces mesures ne sont pas dénuées de conséquences en matière de redistribution, conséquences que des dispositifs d'assistance peinent à corriger.
A universal method for the detection and identification of Aphidiinae parasitoids within their aphid hosts
Authors: DEROCLES STEPHANE A. P. , PLANTEGENEST MANUEL , SIMON JEAN‐CHRISTOPHE , TABERLET PIERRE , LE RALEC ANNE
Published: March 2012

Molecular methods are increasingly used to detect and identify parasites in their hosts. However, existing methods are generally not appropriate for studying complex host–parasite interactions because they require prior knowledge of species composition. DNA barcoding is a molecular method that allows identifying species using DNA sequences as an identification key. We used DNA amplification with primers common to aphid parasitoids and sequencing of the amplified fragment to detect and identify parasitoids in their hosts, without prior knowledge on the species potentially present. To implement this approach, we developed a method based on 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene and LWRh nuclear gene. First, we designed two primer pairs specific to Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera), the main group of aphid parasitoids. Second, we tested whether the amplified regions could correctly identify Aphidiinae species and found that 61 species were accurately identified of 75 tested. We then determined the ability of each primer pair to detect immature parasitoids inside their aphid host. Detection was earlier for 16S than for LWRh, with parasitoids detected, respectively, 24 and 48 h after egg injection. Finally, we applied this method to assess parasitism rate in field populations of several aphid species. The interest of this tool for analysing aphid‐parasitoid food webs is discussed.
Effects of the REMEEX System in Female Patients with Intrinsic Sphincteric Deficiency and Recurrent Urinary Incontinence: 3‐Year Outcomes
Authors: SONG Phil H. , HYUN Chang H. , SHIN Esther , JUNG Hee‐C.
Published: March 2012

Objectives: To evaluate the long‐term outcomes of the REMEEX system (EXternal MEchanical REgulation, Neomedic International, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain) for the treatment of recurrent urinary incontinence (UI) and intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD).

Methods: From August 2006 to September 2007, a total of 30 patients underwent REMEEX system. Patients were categorized into failed UI (Group A, 11 patients) and ISD (Group B, 19 patients). The success rate of patients after surgery was assessed by cure and satisfaction rates postoperatively at follow‐up at 1, 12, and 36 months. Clinical, urodynamic, perioperative, and postoperative data of success rates were analyzed.

Results: Total cure rates with REMEEX system(Group A/Group B) were 100.0/94.7% at 1 month and 90.9/79.0% at 3 years. Satisfaction rates were 100.0/89.5% at 1 month and 81.8/68.4% at 3 years in groups A and B. Two patients (6.7%) experienced wound infections. Of these, one patient was treated using intravenous antibiotics and the other had their varitensor removed. Other minimal postoperative complications were immediately resolved.

Conclusion: The REMEEX system may be an effective procedure regardless of previous incontinence surgical interventions and ISD. The correct sling tension is easily achieved during the early postoperative period, and when necessary, is able to convert late failures into cures. The problems of recurrent UI during the follow‐up period were also resolved successfully in every case.
Negative emotional states, life adversity, and interrogative suggestibility
Authors: McGroarty Allan , Thomson Heather
Published: March 2012

Purpose. Interrogative suggestibility has been shown to vary according to cognitive and personality factors and if reliably measured may predict performance in real forensic interviews. It is therefore of both theoretical and practical interest to identify which psychological factors are most closely related to suggestible responding. This study examines the extent to which individual differences in negative emotional states predict performance on a measure of interrogative suggestibility and also tests the assumption that self‐reports of negative life events are associated with suggestibility.

Method. A non‐clinical sample (N= 80) of participants was administered the brief form of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21), the Life Experiences Survey (LES), and the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS‐1).

Results. Negative emotional states were found to correlate positively, although moderately, with all of the suggestibility measures. Multiple regression analyses found significant predictive models emerged for Yield 1, Yield 2, and Total Suggestibility. Each of these predicted a small proportion of the variance. Negative life event impact ratings were not associated with interrogative suggestibility.

Conclusions. The findings suggest that brief self‐report measures of negative emotional states are limited as predictors of interrogative suggestibility. The results also call into question the predictive utility of traditional checklist measures of life adversity for forensic purposes.