bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ub‐family modifications at the replication fork: Regulating PCNA‐interacting components
Authors: Kirchmaier Ann L.
Published: August 2011

A vast array of proteins is recruited to the replication fork in a dynamic and coordinated manner through physical interactions with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, PCNA. How this complex exchange of PCNA binding partners is choreographed to ensure proper replication origin licensing, DNA synthesis during normal replication or repair of DNA damage, chromatin assembly, DNA methylation, histone modification, and sister chromatid cohesion is only beginning to be appreciated. In this review, several roles of ubiquitin‐related modifications in the recruitment and turnover of PCNA‐interacting proteins at the replication fork are considered.
Preoperative urodynamic predictors of short‐term voiding dysfunction following a transobturator tension‐free vaginal tape procedure
Authors: Mostafa Alyaa , Madhuvrata Priya , Abdel‐Fattah Mohamed
Published: August 2011

Objective

To determine whether preoperative urodynamic parameters can predict the development of short‐term voiding dysfunction (VD) after a transobturator tension‐free vaginal tape (TO‐TVT) procedure.

Methods

In a prospective study between April 2005 and April 2007, 341 women were randomized to receive “inside‐out” or “outside‐in” TO‐TVT. The present secondary analysis included women who had completed a preoperative symptom questionnaire, had a voided volume of 100 mL or more on preoperative uroflowmetry, and underwent standardized postoperative voiding assessment. VD was defined as a requirement for postoperative catheterization. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done by SPSS 17.

Results

The inclusion criteria were met by 224 women, of whom 17 (7.6%) had postoperative VD. On univariate analysis, there were no differences in preoperative parameters among those with and those without VD: residual urine volume (P = 0.485), peak flow rate on or below 5th centile (P = 0.272), average flow rate on or below 5th centile (P = 0.142), detrusor pressure at opening (P = 0.955), maximum urethral closure pressure at 30 cm H2O or less (P = 0.855) and functional urethral length (P = 0.173). None of the variables analyzed was an independent risk factor on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Preoperative urodynamic parameters did not predict the development of short‐term voiding dysfunction after a TO‐TVT procedure.
Legal and ethical issues in fetal surgery
Authors: Dickens Bernard M. , Cook Rebecca J.
Published: August 2011

Recent research in the USA has shown the advantages for children's welfare of open fetal surgery over postnatal treatment for myelomeningocele. However, a balance must be struck between complications of premature birth risked by prenatal surgery and the long‐term advantages for affected children's health, including mobility and neurologic capacity. Risks for women are repeated surgery for intervention and delivery. The research raises legal and ethical questions about how fetal interests should influence women's choices, and whether women may decline interventions in their pregnancies that offer their children lifelong advantages. Beyond fetal interests and women's preferences are state interests in fetal life, which in the USA and elsewhere have been expressed in judicially authorized cesarean deliveries. Underlying issues are the nature of fetal interests; contrasting entitlements to care from their mothers of fetuses and born children; healthcare providers’ responsibilities toward fetuses; and duties of care, information, and advice to pregnant women.
Public and private authority in the transnational response to the 2008 financial crisis
Authors: Porter Tony
Published: August 2011

A remarkable feature of the international policy response to the 2008 financial crisis has been the degree to which it has relied heavily upon existing transnational regulatory arrangements involving public and private actors. The article starts by accounting theoretically for the autonomy of such arrangements. It then examines the role played by these networks before and during the crisis, while also acknowledging the relevance of competing approaches that emphasize the power of states and private actors. Understanding the role of these arrangements in shaping the interactions among public and private actors is important both for the reform of the global financial architecture, and for our more general theoretical understanding of transformations in sovereignty.
The determinants of value of incoming cross-border mergers & acquisitions in European transition countries
Authors: Višić Josipa , Perić Blanka Škrabić
Published: August 2011

This research aims to determine variables that affect the aggregate value of incoming cross-border M&As in European transitional countries. Dynamic panel models have been estimated using Arellano and Bond GMM estimator for period between year 1994 and 2008. The ratio of the total value of cross-border M&A to GDP of the country is the dependent variable. Independent variables include following indicators: lagged value of cross-border M&A to GDP, lagged GDP per capita, lagged GDP growth, inflation, interest rate spread, lagged private credit to GDP ratio, market capitalization to GDP ratio, lagged rule of law and lagged control of corruption.
Superparasitism in Laboratory rearing ofSpalangia cameroni(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of medfly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Tormos J. , Asís J. , Sabater-Muñoz B. , Baños L. , Gayubo S.F. , Beitia F.
Published: August 2011

The frequency of superparasitism and its effects on the quality of laboratory-rearedSpalangia cameroni(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) parasitoids were investigated under laboratory conditions. Numerous variables were measured, such as the number of ‘ovip holes’ per host as a measure of superparasitism. Adult emergence and sex ratio, as well as female size, emergence ability from soil and longevity were also measured. Finally, an assessment was made of fertility and survival of adult parasitoids emerging from the medflyCeratitis capitata(Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae with different levels of superparasitism. A high frequency and prevalence of superparasitism under laboratory rearing conditions was observed. The number of ‘ovip holes’ per host ranged from one to 17, with an average (±SD) of 2.8±3.4. Sex ratios became increasingly female-biased with increasing levels of superparasitism, although overall levels of wasp emergence (male, female) declined. Nevertheless, no relationship was discerned between female size and level of superparasitism. The ‘emergence ability from the soil’ was higher in those parasitoids that emerged from strongly superparasitized hosts, but not related to the type of substrate in which the host pupae were buried. The level of superparasitism did not have a significant effect on the longevity, fertility and survival of female parasitoids. Our results support the hypothesis that superparasitism inS. cameronimight be adaptive, since attributes such as ‘emergence ability from the soil’, longevity, fertility and survival were not affected by the level of superparasitism or the presumably detrimental effects derived from physical combats among conspecific larvae. Our findings are relevant to recommendations for rearingS. cameronifor biological control releases, as well as shedding light on superparasitism under both laboratory and field conditions.
Pochonia chlamydosporia fungal activity in a solid medium and its crude extract against eggs of Ascaridia galli
Authors: Braga F.R. , Araújo J.V. , Araujo J.M. , Frassy L.N. , Tavela A.O. , Soares F.E.F. , Carvalho R.O. , Queiroz L.M. , Queiroz J.H.
Published: August 2011

The present study aimed to evaluate the ovicidal activity (type 3 effect) of VC1 and VC4 isolates of Pochonia chlamydosporia in a solid medium and the action of a crude extract of P. chlamydosporia against eggs of Ascaridia galli. To evaluate ovicidal activity in culture medium, 1000 A. galli eggs were plated on Petri dishes containing 2% water-agar with grown fungal isolates (VC1 or VC4) and without fungus (control group) and were examined at 1, 3 and 5 days post-inoculation (assay A). Then, to test the action of crude extracts of P. chlamydosporia (VC1 or VC4), 500 eggs of A. galli were plated on Petri dishes of 4.5 cm diameter with 5 ml of fungal filtrate from each tested isolate. The control group consisted of 500 eggs of A. galli with 10 ml of distilled water on each Petri dish (assay B). Fungal isolates were effective (P < 0.01) at destroying these eggs, showing a type 3 effect at the studied intervals. On the other hand, the crude extract of isolates (VC1 or VC4) reduced the number of A. galli eggs in the treated group compared with the control group by 64.1% and 56.5%, respectively. The results of the present study show that P. chlamydosporia is effective at destroying eggs of A. galli and could therefore be used in the biological control of nematodes.
Genetic characterization ofStrongyloidesspp. from captive, semi-captive and wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Central and East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia
Authors: LABES E. M. , WIJAYANTI N. , DEPLAZES P. , MATHIS A.
Published: August 2011

Orangutans (Pongospp.), Asia's only great apes, are threatened in their survival due to habitat loss, hunting and infections. Nematodes of the genusStrongyloidesmay represent a severe cause of death in wild and captive individuals. In order to better understand whichStrongyloidesspecies/subspecies infect orangutans under different conditions, larvae were isolated from fecal material collected in Indonesia from 9 captive, 2 semi-captive and 9 wild individuals, 18 captive groups of Bornean orangutans and from 1 human working with wild orangutans. Genotyping was done at the genomic rDNA locus (part of the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1, ITS1) by sequencing amplicons. Thirty isolates, including the one from the human, could be identified asS. fuelleborni fuelleborniwith 18S rRNA gene identities of 98·5–100%, with a corresponding published sequence. The ITS1 sequences could be determined for 17 of these isolates revealing a huge variability and 2 main clusters without obvious pattern with regard to attributes of the hosts. The ITS1 amplicons of 2 isolates were cloned and sequenced, revealing considerable variability indicative of mixed infections. One isolate from a captive individual was identified asS. stercoralis(18S rRNA) and showed 99% identity (ITS1) withS. stercoralissequences from geographically distinct locations and host species. The findings are significant with regard to the zoonotic nature of these parasites and might contribute to the conservation of remaining orangutan populations.
Obstacles and options for the design and implementation of payment schemes for ecosystem services provided through farm trees in Saxony, Germany
Authors: SCHLEYER CHRISTIAN , PLIENINGER TOBIAS
Published: August 2011

Agricultural crops and pasturelands cover 24–38% of the global land area, and thus the ecological services that agricultural systems provide are of utmost societal importance. An important determinant of ecosystem services provision from European farmland is the amount and spatial arrangement of trees, shrubs and woodlands that are integrated into the respective land-use systems. This paper uses an institutional economics framework for the analysis of payment schemes for ecosystem services (PES schemes) that enhance the establishment, conservation and management of farm trees and woodlands, elaborating on the reasons for the often very reluctant participation of farmers in these schemes. PES schemes in Saxony (Germany) were selected as a typical example. Obstacles identified included high production costs and opportunity costs for land use, contractual uncertainties, land-tenure implications and heterogeneous societal preferences for ecosystem services of farm trees. Further, since scheme adoption has been relatively low compared with the total area covered by the respective farm tree types in Saxony, the PES schemes alone could not explain the substantial increase in number and size of some farm-tree types, in particular hedgerows. Regionalized premiums, result-oriented remuneration and cooperative approaches are options to improve participation in PES schemes for farm trees. The example of PES schemes for farm trees highlights one of the major challenges for the protection and preservation of cultural landscapes: they are man-made and thus need to be preserved, managed and maintained continuously.
Cytochalasin B treatment of mouse oocytes during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) increases embryo survival without impairment of development
Authors: Hu Li-li , Shen Xing-hui , Zheng Zhong , Wang Zhen-dong , Liu Zhong-hua , Jin Lian-hong , Lei Lei
Published: August 2011

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique commonly used in clinical and research settings. In mouse oocytes, conventional ICSI has a poor survival rate caused by a high level of lysis. Cytochalasin B (CB) is a toxic microfilament-inhibiting agent that is known to relax the cytoskeleton and enhance the flexibility of oocytes. CB has been used widely in nuclear transfer experiments to improve the success rate of the micromanipulation, however information describing the use of CB in ICSI is limited. Here, we demonstrated that the addition of 5 μg/ml CB to the manipulation medium of ICSI procedure significantly improved the survival rate of the ICSI embryos (80.74% vs. 89.50%, p < 0.05), and that there was no harm for the in vitro or in vivo development. The birth rates and birth weights were not significantly different between the CB-treated and -untreated groups. Interestingly, the microfilaments of the ICSI embryos were almost undetectable immediately after CB treatment; however, they gradually re-appeared and had fully recovered to the normal level 2 h later. Moreover, CB did not disturb spindle rotation, second polar body formation or pronuclei migration, and had no effect on the microtubules. We thus conclude that ICSI manipulation in CB-containing medium results in significantly improved survival rate of mouse ICSI embryos, and that short-term treatment with CB during ICSI manipulation does not have adverse effects on the development of ICSI embryos.
Effect of lanosterol on thein vitromaturation in semi-defined culture system of prepubertal ewe oocytes
Authors: Marco-Jiménez F. , Vicente J.S. , Viudes-de-Castro M.P.
Published: August 2011

The choice of medium and supplements can affect meiotic regulation and may have an impact on the regulation of mammalian oocyte growth and embryonic cell function. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of oxygen concentration and endogenous lanosterol on thein vitromaturation (IVM) media without serum and based on recombinant human chorionic gonadotrophin in prepubertal ewe oocytes. Firstly, the effect of varying oxygen concentrations (5% and 20%) during IVM in TCM-199 supplemented (4 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), 100 μM cysteamine, 0.3 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.1 UI/ml recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (r-FSH; Gonal-F® 75 UI, Serono, Italy), 0.1 UI/ml recombinant leuteinizing hormone (r-LH; Lhadi® 75 UI, Serono, Italy) and 1 μg/ml estradiol-17β) on subsequent nuclear maturation of oocytes examined under ultraviolet light following staining with bisbenzimide (Hoechst 33342) was investigated. Secondly, two concentrations of lanosterol (0, 10 and 50 μM) were added to the IVM medium. Nuclear maturation of oocytes was examined as previously. Lipid content in oocytes, an important indicator of cytoplasmic maturity, was also measured using Nile red fluorescent stain. The results showed that low oxygen concentration affected the nuclear maturation. Similarly, a significantly higher rate of meiosis resumption was observed with 10 μM (72.3%) of lanosterol compared with the control (51.8%) or 50 μM of lanosterol (59.4%). A significantly higher content of lipids was also observed with 10 and 50 μM of lanosterol (7.3 ± 0.2 × 106and 7.4 ± 0.2 × 106arbitrary units of fluorescence) compared with the control (6.7 ± 0.2 × 106arbitrary units of fluorescence). The results indicate that 10 μM lanosterol during IVM in medium without serum and based on recombinant human chorionic gonadotrophin has a positive effect on maturation of prepubertal ewe oocytes.
Recent progress in reproduction of whale oocytes
Authors: Zheng Yue-Liang
Published: August 2011

Whale oocytes recovered from follicles can be matured in vitro. Whale sperm and mature oocytes can be used for in vitro fertilization (IVF), and IVF embryos have the ability to develop to morula stage. Whale sperm injected into bovine or mouse oocytes can activate the oocytes and form pronucleus. Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos have been reconstructed with whale somatic cell nucleus and enucleated bovine or porcine oocytes, and interspecies cloned embryos can develop in vitro. This paper reviews recent progress in maturation, fertilization and development of whale oocytes.
THE SHUFFLE VARIANT OF JEŚMANOWICZ’ CONJECTURE CONCERNING PYTHAGOREAN TRIPLES
Authors: MIYAZAKI TAKAFUMI
Published: August 2011

Let (a,b,c) be a primitive Pythagorean triple such that b is even. In 1956, Jeśmanowicz conjectured that the equation ax+by=cz has the unique solution (x,y,z)=(2,2,2) in the positive integers. This is one of the most famous unsolved problems on Pythagorean triples. In this paper we propose a similar problem (which we call the shuffle variant of Jeśmanowicz’ problem). Our problem states that the equation cx+by=az with x,y and z positive integers has the unique solution (x,y,z)=(1,1,2) if c=b+1 and has no solutions if c>b+1 . We prove that the shuffle variant of the Jeśmanowicz problem is true if c≡1 mod b.
The “La Caixa” Foundation and WHO Collaborating Center Spanish National Program for enhancing psychosocial and spiritual palliative care for patients with advanced diseases, and their families: Preliminary findings
Authors: Gómez-Batiste Xavier , Buisan Montse , González M. Pau , Velasco David , de Pascual Verónica , Espinosa Jose , Novellas Anna , Martínez-Muñoz Marisa , Simón Marc , Calle Candela , Lanaspa Jaume , Breitbart William
Published: August 2011

Objective:

The psycho-social needs of patients with advanced chronic illness and their families include emotional, spiritual, and bereavement care. With a funding initiative by the La Caixa Foundation and design by the WHO Collaborating Center, we developed and implemented a program for the comprehensive care of terminally-ill individuals and their families, in Spain. The intent was to improve the psycho-social and spiritual dimensions of care, to generate experience and evidence, to explore models, and to act as catalyst in the Spanish National Strategy for Palliative Care.

Method:

We reviewed the process of design, implementation, and initial evaluation of the program at 18 months.

Results:

Thirty psycho-social teams’ (PST) acting as support teams projects were initiated. There were 120 full-time healthcare professionals appointed (58% clinical psychologists). These professionals received training through a comprehensive postgraduate course, and all used the same documentation. Some results were collated 18 months post-implementation. The total number of patients attended to was 10,954, and the number of relatives was 17,715. The preliminary clinical outcomes show a significant improvement in well-being, and a decrease in anxiety and insomnia, although there was a smaller impact on alleviating depression. Healthcare professionals collated results on satisfaction with palliative care (PC) services.

Significance of results:

Based on these preliminary results, we suggest that the PST can be a model of organization that is effective and efficient in improving the psycho-social and spiritual aspects of care of terminally ill patients. Further follow-up and evaluation with validated tools are the main goals for the immediate future.
Protection against perceptions of powerlessness and helplessness during palliative care: The family members' perspective
Authors: Milberg Anna , Strang Peter
Published: August 2011

Objective:

Resilience in relation to coping with stress, loss, and bereavement has recently received increased attention. The aim of the current study was to describe aspects that are experienced as a protection against powerlessness and/or helplessness during advanced palliative home care (APHC) or as a help when coping with such perceptions.

Method:

Both family members during ongoing APHC and family members 3–9 months after the patient's death responded (in total, N = 233; response rate 72%) to a postal questionnaire with mainly open-ended questions. The text responses were analyzed using Manifest Content Analysis.

Results:

Protection against powerlessness and helplessness had been facilitated by a stable patient condition, the patient coping well, a trusting relationship with the patient, practical and emotional support from family and friends, access to palliative expertise, and staff support that was both individually-focused and cooperative. Other aspects that had helped or protected family members against powerlessness and helplessness were a belief that they had their own reliable knowledge to manage the difficult situation, talking to someone, doing good for the patient, distracting activities, acceptance, meaning and hope, and an inner feeling of security.

Significance of results:

The findings are discussed in relation to existential psychology, the dual process model of coping with bereavement, and repressive coping. Clinical implications are suggested.
Meeting needs of family members of persons with life-threatening illness: A support group program during ongoing palliative care
Authors: Henriksson Anette , Benzein Eva , Ternestedt Britt-Marie , Andershed Birgitta
Published: August 2011

Objective:

The aim of the study was to describe family members' experiences of content, structure, and approach of a potential intervention including a support group program for family members of persons with life-threatening illness.

Method:

The study was a pilot project in a developmental phase in which a potential intervention, a support group program, was investigated. The design of the study was qualitative descriptive. Twenty-nine family members were interviewed by telephone after taking part in the program. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results:

The results indicate that the support group program could work as an acceptable and useful intervention for family members. The program was experienced to cover topics of immediate interest reflecting life close to severely ill persons. The structure of the program was found to be inviting, offering an opportunity to establish relationships with other participants and the caring team in a warm atmosphere.

Significance of results:

The study indicates the importance of health professionals inviting and interacting with family members during ongoing palliative care. The results could inspire nursing staff to initiate, develop, and deliver similar interventions.
Harmonizing hope: A grounded theory study of the experience of hope of registered nurses who provide palliative care in community settings
Authors: Penz Kelly , Duggleby Wendy
Published: August 2011

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to explore the hope experience of registered nurses (RNs) who provide palliative care services in community settings. The specific aims of the study were to (1) describe their hope experience, (2) develop a reflexive understanding of the processes of their hope, and (3) construct a substantive theory of hope of palliative care RNs.

Methods:

Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, purposeful theoretical sampling was used to enroll 14 practicing community palliative care RNs in the study. Twenty-seven open-ended telephone interviews were conducted and nine daily journal entries on hope were copied. Interviews and journals were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Charmaz's grounded theory approach.

Results:

Participants described their hope as a positive state of being involving a perseverant and realistic understanding of future possibilities. Their hope sustained and motivated them, and helped them to strive to provide high-quality care. The main concern for participants was keeping their hope when faced with work life challenges and contrasting viewpoints (i.e., when their hopes differed from the hopes of others around them). They dealt with this through harmonizing their hope by the processes of “looking both ways,” “connecting with others,” “seeing the bigger picture,” and “trying to make a difference.” Their experience of hope was defined within the social context of their work and lives.

Significance of results:

The results of this study suggest that hope is very important to palliative care RNs, in that it helps them to persevere and sustains them when faced with work life challenges in their practice. This study also highlights the need for continued research in this area as there appears to be a lack of evidence on the meaning of hope for healthcare professionals, and, in particular, understanding hope in the context of palliative and end-of-life care delivery.
Sharing living and dying: A balancing act between vulnerability and a sense of security. Enrolled nurses' experiences of working in the sitting service for dying patients at home
Authors: Wallerstedt Birgitta , Benzein Eva , Andershed Birgitta
Published: August 2011

Objective:

To describe enrolled nurses' (ENs') experiences of working in a sitting service for dying patients at home (SSH).

Method:

The ENs who participated in this study had permanent jobs in community care/ primary care, but were also employed part time in a special home-sitting service organization in a municipality in the south of Sweden. Data were collected by four focus group interviews with 17 enrolled nurses. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results:

Care-giving in SSH was a balancing act between a sense of security and a feeling of vulnerability. Feeling secure and valued and that one is developing both professionally and personally, stemmed from working in partnership, whereas a feeling of vulnerability was associated with managing closeness and distance, being a mediator, having responsibility and feeling guilty, feeling hindered from doing good, facing loneliness, and affecting private lives.

Significance of results:

SSH makes it possible for people who are terminally ill to remain at home until they die. If the SSH organization were not an option for dying patients and their families, the pressure on the healthcare would be dramatically increased.
“How do you live without a stomach?”: A multiple case study examination of total gastrectomy for palliation or prophylaxis
Authors: Garland Sheila N. , Lounsberry Joshua , Pelletier Guy , Bathe Oliver F.
Published: August 2011

Objective:

The number of diagnosed cases of stomach cancer in Western countries is relatively small compared to prevalence rates in Eastern populations. This disparity creates a general lack of information and understanding of the experience of patients treated for this disease in North America. Surgical removal of the stomach, also called total gastrectomy (TG), is presently the only curative treatment available to patients with stomach cancer. Considering the impact such a procedure may have, very little is known about what factors influence an individual's postsurgical quality of life (QL).

Method:

This article reviews current literature and examines three unique case studies. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using content analysis, a qualitative analytic approach for reporting combined subject responses.

Results:

Participants included one 37-year-old man with multiple polyps in his stomach and a family history of stomach cancer, one 18 year-old man with a confirmed CDH1 mutation and a family history of stomach cancer, and one 33-year-old man with confirmed metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. Subjective patient experience was categorized into: (1) making the decision, (2) treatment impact, and (3) life after TG. Prior to surgery, all patients carefully evaluated their perceived risk compared to the treatment consequences and indicated that a certain event triggered their decision. The largest treatment impacts were learning to eat again and adjusting to the physical changes. Each patient endorsed that their experience made them appreciate and make the most of life.

Significance of results:

This currently represents the only study to investigate the lived experience of TG for prophylaxis or palliation in individuals with and without genetic risk for stomach cancer. Understanding this process will allow all members of the cancer care team, and the patients themselves, to better understand the factors involved in decision making and postoperative adjustment. Fruitful avenues for future research are discussed.
Cancer family caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases: A review of the descriptive psychosocial literature
Authors: Williams Anna-Leila , McCorkle Ruth
Published: August 2011

Objective:

Because caregiving to an adult with cancer is a dynamic process, a caregiver's perceived burden and psychosocial concerns may be different at different phases of the patient's disease. There is evidence of escalation in caregiver anxiety, depression, and psychological distress as the patient's functional status declines and as the patient nears death. The purpose of this review was to organize the literature in a meaningful way that can potentially capture the unique needs of caregivers to patients receiving palliative and/or hospice care, and caregivers who are in the post-death bereavement phase.

Method:

A systematic review was conducted. Major databases were searched for non-intervention descriptive studies that included psychosocial variables of family caregivers to adults with cancer during the palliative, hospice, or bereavement phases.

Results:

The 19 studies reviewed were conducted in six countries and varied considerably by samples, outcome measures, methodologies, and analytic approaches. Despite limiting to the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases, inconsistent results were found for key variables, such as age, gender, and relationship to the patient. When patient–caregiver dyad analysis was conducted, with rare exception, there was mutuality between the patient's condition and the caregiver's response. Across the 19 studies, 89 unique instruments were used, almost half of which were study specific with no psychometric testing reported.

Conclusions/significance of research:

As a direct consequence of assuming the caregiver role, cancer family caregivers in the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases are at increased risk for physical and mental morbidity. Often, the psychological burden of the caregiver exceeds that of the critically ill patient. It is possible that distressed caregivers have a deleterious influence on patient well-being. This review demonstrates the need to develop research standards, especially regarding measurement instruments, so that caregiver research can mature and interventions can be developed to support family caregivers.
The timing and provenance record of the Late Permian Klondike orogeny in northwestern Canada and arc‐continent collision along western North America
Authors: Beranek Luke P. , Mortensen James K.
Published: August 2011

The northern Canadian Cordillera exhibits coeval accreted arc, subduction zone, ocean basin, and continental margin assemblages that make the region an exceptional place to understand tectonic processes involved in arc‐continent collision. In this study, we use U‐Pb zircon and monazite geochronology to define the timing and provenance record of Late Permian collisional orogeny related to the accretion of the Yukon‐Tanana terrane onto the ancestral North American continental margin of northwestern Canada. New U‐Pb crystallization ages of Permian intrusive rocks in the Klondike District of western Yukon bracket the timing of collision‐related ductile deformation and greenschist‐ to amphibolite‐facies metamorphism on the Yukon‐Tanana terrane between 260 and 252.5 Ma. This tectonothermal event is herein named the Klondike orogeny. Detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology of Triassic strata provides the sedimentary record of arc‐continent collision and crustal reworking along the Cordilleran margin. Arc‐derived detrital zircons in Early to Middle Triassic (251–235 Ma) strata overlying the ancestral North American continental margin in Yukon suggest that a foreland‐style basin developed adjacent to the Klondike orogen. Regionally extensive Late Triassic (235–200 Ma) strata containing primarily North American detrital zircons form an overlap assemblage that covered the accreted terranes and western North America. The timing of the Klondike orogeny is roughly synchronous with other contractional events along the ∼5000 km strike length of the Cordillera, including the Late Permian‐Early Triassic Sonoman orogeny in Nevada. Global plate reorganization linked to assembly of Pangaea may have been the tectonic engine for late Paleozoic‐early Mesozoic development of the North American Cordillera.
Rising sea level may cause decline of fringing coral reefs
Authors: Field Michael E. , Ogston Andrea S. , Storlazzi Curt D.
Published: August 2011

Coral reefs are major marine ecosystems and critical resources for marine diversity and fisheries. These ecosystems are widely recognized to be at risk from a number of stressors, and added to those in the past several decades is climate change due to anthropogenically driven increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Most threatening to most coral reefs are elevated sea surface temperatures and increased ocean acidity [e.g., Kleypas et al., 1999; Hoegh‐Guldberg et al., 2007], but sea level rise, another consequence of climate change, is also likely to increase sedimentary processes that potentially interfere with photosynthesis, feeding, recruitment, and other key physiological processes (Figure 1). Anderson et al. [2010] argue compellingly that potential hazardous impacts to coastlines from 21st‐century sea level rise are greatly underestimated, particularly because of the rapid rate of rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that sea level will rise in the coming century (1990–2090) by 2.2–4.4 millimeters per year, when projected with little contribution from melting ice [Meehl et al., 2007]. New studies indicate that rapid melting of land ice could substantially increase the rate of sea level rise [Grinsted et al., 2009; Milne et al., 2009].
Climate change policy in the European Union: Confronting the dilemmas of mitigation and adaptation?
Authors: Betts Alan
Published: August 2011

There is no doubt that climate change presents an exquisite dilemma to global society and our systems of governance. Either we accept our collective responsibility and adapt our energy systems, or our societies and many critical ecosystems may be swept away by climate extremes, food crises, and, eventually, rising seas. The European Union (EU) has emerged in a leading role in the international struggle to govern climate change. Climate change is an accepted part of the political agenda in the EU, so agreement on targets has been relatively easy compared to the actual implementation of policies to reduce emissions. This book addresses in a historical context, from the late 1980s to 2010, the challenges that climate change policy has presented to the EU and how policy has been developed. The risks posed by climate change have been known for several decades. The evolution of climate change policy in the EU has occurred in parallel with extensive expansion of the EU itself, which grew from 9 member countries in the 1980s to its present 27. The EU is a relatively large emitter of greenhouse gases, and with 27 countries, it represents a microcosm of the global community, albeit with a unique form of governance.
Chlorine radicals measured in Eyjafjallajökull volcanic plume
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: August 2011

When the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted in spring 2010, it disrupted commercial air travel, stranding passengers across Europe and beyond. In response to the lack of information on the volcanic ash load and dispersion, scientific instruments were deployed on a number of special flights to observe the composition and chemistry of the volcanic plume and included three deployments aboard a Lufthansa aircraft of the Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the Atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container (CARIBIC) observational instrument package. Baker et al. report on the first observation‐based estimates of chlorine radical concentrations in the volcanic plume. Previous studies had suggested that chlorine radicals could exist in volcanic plumes. This study, the first to identify chlorine radical chemistry and quantify chlorine radicals in a volcanic plume, will help researchers to more fully understand volcanic chemistry, particularly halogen chemistry, and its effects on the atmosphere. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047571, 2011)
Heat and freshwater budgets of the Nordic seas computed from atmospheric reanalysis and ocean observations
Authors: Segtnan O. H. , Furevik T. , Jenkins A. D.
Published: August 2011

The heat and freshwater budgets of the Nordic seas are computed from atmospheric reanalysis data and ocean observations, mainly taken during the period 1990–1999. The total heat loss is 198 TW and the freshwater gain 52 mSv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1), with residuals equal to 1 TW and 3 mSv, respectively. Budgets are also computed for three subregions within the Nordic seas: the Norwegian Sea, the Barents Sea and the Greenland/Iceland Sea. Without accounting for transfer of heat and freshwater across the Arctic Front, which separates the Greenland/Iceland Sea from the Norwegian Sea, the residuals of the heat and freshwater budgets range from −36 TW to 34 TW and from −16 mSv to 19 mSv, respectively. To close the budgets of all subregions cross‐frontal fluxes of −35 TW and 17 mSv, caused either by eddy shedding along the Arctic Front or ocean currents not accounted for, must be included. Combined with observations of the average temperature and salinity on both sides of the Arctic Front these values indicate a rate of cross‐frontal water exchange of approximately 4 Sv. The most intense water mass modifications occur in the Norwegian Sea, where ocean heat loss and freshwater input are equal to 119 TW and 41 mSv, respectively.
Computation of resonances in photonic crystal nanocavities
Authors: Bandlow B. , Classen C. , Schuhmann R.
Published: August 2011

The spatial confinement of light is an important prerequisite for the excitation of light‐matter interactions and nonlinear optics. Photonic crystal nanocavities can have very high quality factors that lead to the desired confinement. We study the feasibility of a hybrid time and frequency domain formulation for the computation of the resonance frequencies and the external quality factors of photonic crystal nanocavities. The time domain approach yields estimates for quality factor and resonance frequency by a special postprocessing technique as well as an approximate eigenvector. In the eigenvalue computation the approximate results from time domain analysis are used for the accelerated solution of the eigenvalue problem.
Novel NIR Spectroscopy Correlation Approach to Amino Acid Analysis of Soybean Proteins for Composition Improvements
Authors: Baianu I. , Prisecaru Valentin
Published: August 2011

Amino acid NIR calibrations were developed in our Physical Chemistry of Foods Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana for three selected amino acid groups that include essential amino acids for identified soybean accessions. Conventional “wet chemistry” analytical methods are time-consuming and costly. As a result, soybean breeders and researchers have an imperative need to utilize faster and less expensive methods. NIR Spectroscopy is a rapid and inexpensive method for composition analysis for academia and industry. Recent advancements in instrumentation design, such as the application of the Diode Array (DA) technique and the Fourier Transform (FT) IR and NIR techniques, have significantly improved overall instrument performance and advancement in the field of grain analysis.Novel results are presented for amino acid calibrations for US soybean accessions relevant to the food and agricultural industry.
Toxicity prediction of anti tuberculosis active molecules
Authors: R Sajeev , Jaleel.U.C Abdul
Published: August 2011

Abstract The aim of the work was to understand the toxicity, physically significant descriptors and pharmaceutically relevant properties of some imidazoles obtained from the open sources that may found to be active against tuberculosis. At present five azoles were modeled for the prediction and calculation of descriptors that were carried out by means of computational approach [1].
NIF and NeuroLex
Authors: Bandrowski Anita
Published: August 2011

In the digital age one can find data and teaching materials on the web, however data and materials of a high quality are not always ranked very high on commercial search engines that look at the number of other sites that link to a page rather than the quality of the information. Additionally, many such materials are maintained within databases that are inaccessible to search technology. To solve these problems, the Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF: http://www.neuinfo.org) was created to aid the neuroscience community to discover useful digital resources, such as academic databases, and it has also developed a large digital catalog of resources that are related to neuroscience.NIF has developed a “resource ontology”, and synchronized to a large extent the effort with the BRO (biomedical resource ontology) and assigned all 4000+ digital resources within the catalog to one or more of these ontological categories, making it possible to discover for example: all atlases through the NIF catalog. The resource categories are: Data, Funding, Job, Material, People, Services, Software, and Training. Most of these comprise sub-categorizations, definitions and synonyms and they can be viewed in the Neurolex found at http://neurolex.org/wiki/Resource_Type_Hierarchy. Each “resource descriptor” has been coded in OWL format files and has a unique identifier as well as synonyms and subclasses to help search systems locate data.Cataloging efforts of digital resources are tricky because unlike publications they can change at any time, including major shifts of data and structure, therefore the curation effort must be reasonably scoped and relatively nimble. NIF has developed some self reporting tools in the DISCO suite, accessible from http://disco.neuinfo.org/webportal/discoDashboardShow.do, to create just such a nimble resource identification system such that when a resource changes content or data structure significantly, the resource provider (such as the webmaster or database engineer) can change a small xml file sitting on their home page that will alert the NIF system and any other automated agent that the resource has changed. This tool in addition to the human curation effort results in a catalog that is reasonably representative of the state of biomedical resources.NIF maintains a list of current policies, issues and solicits input from community members at https://confluence.crbs.ucsd.edu/display/NIF/NIF+Resources+and+Curation+Policies.
Creating “fire-smart” forest stands and landscapes
Authors: Fernandes Paulo
Published: August 2011

Wildland fire is an important feature of the Mediterranean Basin. Past fire incidence has been limited by landscape diversity and the intensity of biomass use. Fire activity and the meteorological component of fire danger have increased during the last decades, but the fire regime modification was primarily fuel-driven, i.e. caused by changes in land cover and land use. Fire-smart forests and landscapes are resistant to fire spread and resilient to its occurrence. In cultural landscapes where fires are seldom allowed to spread "fire smartness" is attained through proactive management by either treating fuels in fire-prone vegetation types or decreasing the importance of those vegetation types in the landscape. The presentation overviews these subjects as they relate to Mediterranean Europe and discusses them in the frame of climate change. Fire-smart landscapes are obtained by area-wide fuel treatments and by fuel type conversion, rather than by fuel isolation. The spatial features of fuel management are critical, as random patterns can mitigate the effects of wildfire locally but have no impact on its growth. Proactive management should concentrate on expanding (i) less flammable forest types, and (ii) vegetation types that are resilient regardless of flammability, the latter being the preferred option.
A novel protein from the serum of Python sebae, structurally homologous with type-γ phospholipase A2 inhibitor, displays antitumour activity
Authors: Donnini Sandra , Finetti Federica , Francese Simona , Boscaro Francesca , Dani Francesca R. , Maset Fabio , Frasson Roberta , Palmieri Michele , Pazzagli Mario , De Filippis Vincenzo , Garaci Enrico , Ziche Marina
Published: August 2011

Cytotoxic and antitumour factors have been documented in the venom of snakes, although little information is available on the identification of cytotoxic products in snake serum. In the present study, we purified and characterized a new cytotoxic factor from serum of the non-venomous African rock python (Python sebae), endowed with antitumour activity. PSS (P. sebae serum) exerted a cytotoxic activity and reduced dose-dependently the viability of several different tumour cell lines. In a model of human squamous cell carcinoma xenograft (A431), subcutaneous injection of PSS in proximity of the tumour mass reduced the tumour volume by 20%. Fractionation of PSS by ion-exchange chromatography yielded an active protein fraction, F5, which significantly reduced tumour cell viability in vitro and, strikingly, tumour growth in vivo. F5 is composed of P1 (peak 1) and P2 subunits interacting in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio to form a heterotetramer in equilibrium with a hexameric form, which retained biological activity only when assembled. The two peptides share sequence similarity with PIP {PLI-γ [type-γ PLA2 (phospholipase A2) inhibitor] from Python reticulatus}, existing as a homohexamer. More importantly, although PIP inhibits the hydrolytic activity of PLA2, the anti-PLA2 function of F5 is negligible. Using high-resolution MS, we covered 87 and 97% of the sequences of P1 and P2 respectively. In conclusion, in the present study we have identified and thoroughly characterized a novel protein displaying high sequence similarity to PLI-γ and possessing remarkable cytotoxic and antitumour effects that can be exploited for potential pharmacological applications.
Nanoparticle-based protein detection by optical shift of a resonant microcavity
Authors: Santiago-Cordoba Miguel A. , Boriskina Svetlana V. , Vollmer Frank , Demirel Melik C.
Published: August 2011

We demonstrated a biosensing approach which, for the first time, combines the high sensitivity of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) with a metallic nanoparticle-based assay. We provided a computational model based on generalized Mie theory to explain the higher sensitivity of protein detection. We quantitatively analyzed the binding of a model protein (i.e., Bovine Serum Albumin) to gold nanoparticles from high-Q WGM resonance frequency shifts, and fit the results to an adsorption isotherm, which agrees with the theoretical predictions of a two-component adsorption model.