bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporary reappearance of sperm 12 months after vasectomy clearance
Authors: O'BRIEN T.S. , CRANSTON D. , ASHWIN P. , TURNER E. , MACKENZIE I.Z. , GUILLEBAUD J.
Published: November 2008

Objectives To determine the incidence of positive semen analysis 12 months after vasectomy clearance.

Subjects and methods A prospective study was undertaken, starting in 1990, of men undergoing vasectomy. Azoospermia was confirmed by two successive semen analyses 16 weeks after vasectomy. One year later a further sample was analysed for the presence of sperm.

Results Of 1000 men who provided a sample for analysis, six men (0.6%) have had positive semen analyses 1 year after the initial tests showed azoospermia. In all six the sperm count was < 10 000 per mL. Five of the six men produced a repeat sample 1 month later which, in all five cases, showed azoospermia. No pregnancies have been reported to date.

Conclusion Transitory reappearance of sperm following successful vasectomy occurs in about 0.6% of men. This incidence is 18 times greater than the reported pregnancy rate following successful vasectomy.
An open, in‐patient incremental safety and efficacy study of desmopressin in women with multiple sclerosis and nocturia
Authors: ECKFORD S.D. , CARTER P.G. , JACKSON S.R. , PENNEY M.D. , ABRAMS P.
Published: November 2008

Objectives To examine the safety and efficacy of desmopressin in three doses given to women with multiple sclerosis to treat nocturia with or without enuresis.

Patients and methods Eight women with clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis and nocturia with or without enuresis were entered as in‐patients into an open, non‐randomized, placebo‐controlled study of incremental doses of 20, 40 and 60 μg desmopressin. Urinary and serum sodium, plasma arginine vasopressin and urine osmolality were monitored every 4 h for 24 h. A single dose of placebo or desmopressin was given during each of four 24‐h periods.

Results There was a significant decrease in nocturnal urinary volumes and a significant increase in nocturnal urinary osmolalities in patients taking desmopressin when compared with those taking a placebo, but there was no difference among the desmopressin doses. There was no significant difference in serum sodium level between the desmopressin doses. However, at the end of the 24‐h period with the 60 μg dose, serum sodium was decreased significantly.

Conclusions Neither a significant decrease in nocturnal urinary volumes nor an increase in urinary osmolality was achieved by doses of desmopressin > 20 μg. A dose of 60 g was associated with a decreased serum sodium level at the end of the 24‐h period but there was no biochemical hyponatraemia. Because there were no benefits and a possibility of clinical hyponatraemia with higher doses, doses of > 20 μg desmopressin cannot be recommended.
Impact of tumour grade, stage, number and size, and smoking and sex, on survival in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: RAITANEN M.P. , NIEMINEN P. , TAMMELA T.L.J.
Published: November 2008

Objective To evaluate the impact of the grade, stage, number and size of the tumour and of smoking and sex of patient on survival, and the relationship between smoking and tumour grade, stage, number and size, and sex of patient in patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder.

Patients and methods The study comprised 252 consecutive patients with histologically verified TCC of the bladder reporting to Oulu University Central Hospital between 1978 and 1986. The average duration of follow‐up was 6.7 years. The association between smoking and other covariates was analysed by cross‐tabulation and standard chi‐squared analyses. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to obtain estimated survival curves and significant differences determined using log rank statistics.

Results Smoking had no impact on tumour grade, stage, size and number or aggressiveness of metastases. Prognosis was noticeably better if the patient did not smoke, as 27% of the non‐smokers and 40% of the smokers had died during the first 10 years after diagnosis. Survival was also better in patients with low grade (I, II), non‐invasive (Ta/T1) and small (± 3 cm) tumours.

Conclusion In addition to the well‐known prognostic factors (histological grade and stage of the tumour), smoking is a risk factor for bladder cancer and also has an impact on prognosis, leading to higher mortality from the disease in the longer term.
Does delayed diagnosis or scrotal incision affect outcome for men with non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours?
Authors: HARDING M. , PAUL J. , KAYE S.B.
Published: November 2008

Objective To ascertain whether delayed diagnosis or type of orchidectomy affected outcome for men with non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT).

Patients and methods The case notes of 454 men resident in the west of Scotland with a diagnosis of NSGCT between 1975 and 1989 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical record was available for 442 (97%) and included information on time to diagnosis in 92% and diagnostic surgery in 97%. The study end‐point for orchidectomy was loco‐regional recurrence and for diagnostic delay was survival.

Results A significant minority of men (10.4%) underwent a scrotal orchidectomy or had a scrotal incision before an inguinal orchidectomy (9.4%). More scrotal incisions were performed on patients under the care of general surgeons (28%) than of urologists (12.1%). Of the men who had scrotal surgery, one of 78 (1.3%; 95% CI, 0–4%) developed loco‐regional disease as the initial site of recurrence, compared with none of 318 men undergoing inguinal orchidectomy. The median time to diagnosis was 3 months. There was no relationship between time to diagnosis and tumour extent at presentation. A diagnostic delay of >3 months was associated with inferior survival in univariate analysis, but delayed diagnosis was not an independent influence on survival after adjustment for the major prognostic factors—tumour extent, year of diagnosis and treatment unit.

Conclusions These results suggest that scrotal incision is unlikely to affect the risk of loco‐regional recurrence and that effective cytotoxic therapy has probably reduced the prognostic importance of delayed diagnosis on survival of men with NSGCT.
Clinical outcome and quality of life following enterocystoplasty for idiopathic detrusor instability and neurogenic bladder dysfunction
Authors: HASAN S.T. , MARSHALL C. , ROBSON W.A. , NEAL D.E.
Published: November 2008

Objective To study the long‐term outcome of patients undergoing enterocystoplasty.

Patients and methods The study comprised 48 patients (17 men and 31 women; mean age 46 years) who underwent enterocystoplasty for idiopathic detrusor instability (DI, 35 patients) or neurogenic bladder dysfunction (13 patients). Symptoms were scored from 0 to 14 and the overall outcome and generic quality of life were assessed using a Visick grading system (groups A to E) and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). These assessments were carried out before, 3 months after operation and at the final follow‐up (38 ± 18 months, range 13–78). Urodynamic studies were performed before and after operation.

Results No patient died after operation and there was minimal early morbidity. Late complications (>30 days) included incisional hernia (3), anastomotic perforation (1), calculus formation (1) and urethral stricture (1). Clean intermittent self‐catheterization (CISC) was performed by 36 (75%) patients. Early symptomatic outcome was good in 40 (83%) patients, moderate in seven (15%) and unsatisfactory in one (2%) patient. The mean symptom scores before and 3 months after surgery were 10 (range 2–14) and 3 (range 2–14), respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in total bladder capacity (307±140 to 588±217 mL; P < 0.001) and bladder compliance (37±50 to 169±162 mL/cm H2O; P < 0.001). DI persisted in 15 (31%) patients. NHP scores revealed significant improvements in all domains. Final assessment showed a less satisfactory situation, with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in 17 (3 7%) patients, a need for long‐term antibiotic therapy in seven (15%) and a change in bowel habit in 15 (33%) (13 DI, two with neurogenic bladder dysfunction). CISC was performed by 39 (85%) patients. The long‐term outcome was good or moderate in 12 patients (92%) with neurogenic bladder dysfunction and good or moderate in only 19 patients (58%) with DI.

Conclusion Clam enterocystoplasty remains an effective management option in some patients with DI, but most patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction do well. The procedure is, however, associated with long‐term complications such as disturbance of bowel habit and recurrent UTIs, which impair the outcome in the long‐term in patients with DI despite general improvements in irritative bladder symptoms.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy versus transurethral resection for symptomatic benign prostatic obstruction: a prospective randomized study with a 2‐year follow‐up
Authors: DAHLSTRAND C. , WALDÉN M. , GEIRSSON G. , PETTERSSON S.
Published: November 2008

Objective To compare the outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate (TÜRP) and transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) on symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients and methods Patients with symptomatic BPH were treated by either TÜRP (32 patients; mean age 70±6 years) or TUMT (37 patients; mean age 67±9 years) and assessed using the Madsen‐Iversen symptom score, measurements of urinary free flow rate and post‐void residual urine volume, digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, cystometry and pressure‐flow measurement, ultrasonography or intravenous pyelography (IVP) of the upper urinary tract, urine analysis and routine blood chemistry including serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level. Examinations were repeated at fixed intervals for up to 24 months after treatment.

Results After both TURP and TUMT there was an improvement in symptom score, residual urine volume, free flow rate and infravesical obstruction. The improvements of free flow rate and obstruction were more pronounced after TURP. Serious complications, such as bleeding requiring a re‐operation, occurred only in patients who underwent TURP.

Conclusion Satisfactory results were obtained after both treatments and the improvements with either treatment lasted for at least 24 months.
Non‐traumatic rupture of the urinary tract during pregnancy
Authors: WOLFF J.M. , JUNG P.K. , ADAM G. , JAKSE G.
Published: November 2008

Objective To review published cases of rupture of the urinary tract during pregnancy and illustrate the clinical manifestations of this serious complication of pregnancy.

Methods Reported cases of urinary tract rupture were reviewed and a new case described.

Results Spontaneous rupture of the urinary tract during pregnancy is rare; a review of the literature revealed only 24 cases, most commonly occurring in diseased kidneys. In the majority of cases the rupture was associated with underlying diseases of the kidney, the most common being renal tumours. Of the 25 cases examined, 12 had ruptures of the collecting system and 13 had ruptures of the renal parenchyma; 21 were diagnosed during pregnancy in the second and third trimester and four within the first 24 h postpartum.

Conclusion Pregnancy‐induced changes in the urinary tract exaggerate any weakness of the parenchyma or collecting system. Pregnant patients with overdistension of the upper urinary tract should undergo routine ultrasonography and be observed carefully for infection or haematuria.
Elevated mast cell tryptase in the urine of patients with interstitial cystitis
Authors: BOUCHER W. , EL‐MANSOURY M. , PANG X. , SANT G.R. , THEOHARIDES T.C.
Published: November 2008

Objective To investigate the number of tryptase positive bladder mast cells and the level of urine tryptase in interstitial cystitis (IC), a bladder disorder which occurs mostly in women and is characterized by suprapubic pain, frequency and nocturia.

Patients and methods Bladder biopsies from 37 women with IC and 15 control women with other bladder conditions (age range 18–63 years) were obtained during diagnostic bladder distension and frozen immediately. Mast cells positive for tryptase were identified by immunohistochemistry and evaluated by light microscopy. Tryptase was measured by solid phase radioimmunoassay in urine samples, collected immediately (spot) and during a period of 24 h, obtained from normal women volunteers, controls and patients with IC. To adequately quantify tryptase, the physiologically active tetramer was dissociated to inactive monomers with supersaturated NaCl (6.0 M), and then dialysed.

Results The patients' spot urine sample tryptase levels were indistinguishable from those of controls, which included the normal women volunteers. However, the tryptase levels in 24 h urine samples were greatly elevated only in patients with IC, both before (P < 0.005), and especially after NaCl treatment and dialysis (P < 0.001).

Conclusion These results indicate that the tryptase levels of 24 h urine samples, combined with methyl‐histamine levels and the clinical criteria presently used, may possibly help to better identify IC.
P‐cadherin as a prognostic indicator and a modulator of migratory behaviour in bladder carcinoma cells
Authors: Mandeville Jessica A. , Neto Brasil Silva , Vanni Alex J. , Smith Gjanje L. , Rieger‐Christ Kimberly M. , Zeheb Ron , Loda Massimo , Libertino John A. , Summerhayes Ian C.
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE

To identify changes associated with P‐cadherin expression in bladder cancer and evaluate the potential role of such events in determining the clinical outcome and cell behaviour, as the function of P‐cadherin in normal epithelium is unknown, as is its potential role in neoplastic progression in different cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all, 536 bladder tumour specimens

from 408 patients were assembled in seven tissue microarrays. Paraffin sections from each array were processed for immunohistochemistry to assess the expression of P‐cadherin. The expression of P‐cadherin was forced using lipofectin, followed by an assessment of migration and invasion potential using standard in vitro assays.

RESULTS

The absence of P‐cadherin staining was associated with muscle‐invasive disease, grade 3 (P < 0.001) and nodal disease (P = 0.009). Similar results were obtained when considering cytoplasmic and unrestricted localization of P‐cadherin (P < 0.001), except for nodal involvement. The group with cytoplasmic location of P‐cadherin showed a shorter cancer‐specific survival than the group with membrane location of P‐cadherin (P = 0.03). Forced expression of P‐cadherin in EJ and UM‐UC‐3 cells, that constitutively lack P‐cadherin expression, resulted in modulation of catenin expression and enhanced migration of EJ and UM‐UC‐3/P‐cadherin transfectants (>200%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that loss of expression, cytoplasmic relocation or unrestricted tissue location of P‐cadherin was associated with a poor clinical outcome and prognosis in bladder cancer. From the in vitro work it is evident that P‐cadherin plays a role in regulating the migration potential of bladder carcinoma cells.
Prostate cancer screening in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian cancer screening trial: update on findings from the initial four rounds of screening in a randomized trial
Authors: Grubb Robert L. , Pinsky Paul F. , Greenlee Robert T. , Izmirlian Grant , Miller Anthony B. , Hickey Thomas P. , Riley Thomas L. , Mabie Jerome E. , Levin David L. , Chia David , Kramer Barnett S. , Reding Douglas J. , Church Timothy R. , Yokochi Lance A. , Kvale Paul A. , Weissfeld Joel L. , Urban Donald A. , Buys Saundra S. , Gelmann Edward P. , Ragard Lawrence R. , Crawford E. David , Prorok Philip C. , Gohagan John K. , Berg Christine D. , Andriole Gerald L.
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE

To describe the results of the first four rounds (T0‐T3) of prostate cancer screening in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial (designed to determine the value of screening in the four cancers), that for prostate cancer is evaluating whether annual screening with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal examination (DRE) reduces prostate cancer‐specific mortality.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In all, 38 349 men aged 55–74 years were randomized to undergo annual screening with PSA (abnormal >4.0 ng/mL) and a DRE. The follow‐up of abnormal screening results was at the discretion of subjects’ physicians. PLCO staff obtained records related to diagnostic follow‐up of positive screen results.

RESULTS

Compliance with screening decreased slightly from 89% at baseline to 85% at T3. Both PSA positivity rates (range 7.7–8.8% at T0‐T3) and DRE positivity rates (range 6.8–7.6% at T0‐T3) were relatively constant over time. The positive predictive value (PPV) of a PSA level of >4.0 ng/mL decreased from 17.9% at T0 to 10.4–12.3% at T1‐T3; the PPV for DRE (in the absence of a positive PSA test) was constant over time (2.9–3.6%). Cancer was diagnosed in 1902 men (4.9%). Screen‐detected cancers at T0 (549) were more likely to be clinical stage III/IV (5.8%) and to have a Gleason score of 7–10 (34%) than screen‐detected cancers at T1‐T3 (1.5–4.2% stage III/IV and 24–27% Gleason score 7–10 among 1054 cases).

CONCLUSION

The present findings on serial prostate screening are similar to those reported from other multi‐round screening studies. Determining the effect of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality awaits further follow‐up.
Female Ethnicity: Understanding Muslim Immigrant Businesswomen in The Netherlands
Authors: Essers Caroline , Benschop Yvonne , Doorewaard Hans
Published: November 2008

Building on theories of intersectionality, in this article we develop the concept of female ethnicity in order to understand the meanings of femininity for Muslim immigrant businesswomen in the context of entrepreneurship. Through the notion of female ethnicity we analyse four life stories and illustrate the tensions these women encounter because of the interlaced working of gender and ethnicity as social categories of exclusion. In addition, we highlight the strategies that they develop in order to cope with these tensions. These analyses, we argue, contribute to conceptualizations of entrepreneurship that do justice to complex and contradictory processes of identity constructions.
Impaired prioritization of novel onset stimuli in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Keehn Brandon , Joseph Robert M.
Published: November 2008

Background: Deficiency in the adaptive allocation of attention to relevant environmental stimuli is an associated feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent evidence suggests that individuals with ASD may be specifically impaired in attentional prioritization of novel onsets.

Method: We investigated modulation of attention by novel onset stimuli in 22 children with ASD and 22 age‐ and IQ‐matched typically developing (TD) children using a preview visual search task (Donk & Theeuwes, 2003). In preview search, a subset of search stimuli (old) is presented briefly before the remaining stimuli (new) with the effect that search times for targets appearing among the new elements are typically shorter than for those appearing among the old elements.

Results: Whereas the TD group exhibited faster reaction time (RT) to targets occurring as novel search elements, the ASD group performed similarly in target new and old conditions, indicating impaired attentional prioritization of novel onsets. Group differences in eye‐movement behavior, including fixation frequency and saccadic error for novel onset stimuli, were consistent with the RT findings. Attentional modulation by novel onsets varied inversely with social‐communicative symptom severity in the ASD group.

Conclusions: The results provide further evidence of reduced sensitivity to novel onsets in ASD, and suggest that impaired processing of dynamic stimuli, possibly associated with abnormalities in the dorsal visual processing stream, may be implicated in the core symptoms of ASD.
Association of ADHD, tics, and anxiety with dopamine transporter (DAT1) genotype in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Gadow Kenneth D. , Roohi Jasmin , DeVincent Carla J. , Hatchwell Eli
Published: November 2008

Background:  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with high rates of psychiatric disturbance to include attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tic disorder, and anxiety disorders. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) functional polymorphism located in the 3’‐untranslated region of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and the severity of these symptoms as well as the association between the DAT1 DdeI polymorphism and severity of tics.

Methods:  Parents (n = 62) and teachers (n = 57) completed a DSM‐IV‐referenced rating scale for 67 children with ASD.

Results:  According to parent ratings, children with the 10‐10 repeat allele (versus a combined group of all other genotypes) exhibited less severe symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as less severe language deficits. Teacher ratings indicated that social anxiety and tic symptoms were more severe for children with the 10‐10 genotype versus all others. Exploratory analyses provided preliminary support for the notion that heterozygosity (9–10 repeat genotype) may be a risk/protective factor. There were no associations of tic severity with the DAT1 DdeI polymorphism.

Conclusion:  Collectively, these results suggest that the extraordinary variability in ASD clinical phenotypes may be explained in part by the same genes that are implicated in a host of other psychiatric disorders in non‐ASD populations. Nevertheless, replication with independent samples is necessary to confirm this preliminary finding.
Remediation of a mine soil with insoluble polyacrylate polymers enhances soil quality and plant growth
Authors: Guiwei Q. , De Varennes A. , Cunha‐Queda C.
Published: November 2008

We investigated the effects of different application rates of insoluble hydrophilic polyacrylate polymers on plant growth and soil quality from a Pb‐contaminated mine soil. The polymer increased the water‐holding capacity of the soil from about 250 g/kg in unamended soil to almost 1000 g/kg in soil with 0.6% polymer. However, the capacity of the polymer to retain water decreased progressively, presumably as the polymer sorbed Pb. Growth of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Amba) was stimulated in the polymer‐amended soil. The greatest accumulated biomass over four cuts was obtained in soil amended with 0.4% of polymer. After orchardgrass had been growing for 101 days, the amounts of CaCl2‐extractable Pb present in the polymer‐amended soil were 15–66% of those in the unamended soil, depending on polymer application rate. The number of bacteria culturable on agar enriched with ‘Nutrient’ and yeast extract, and the activities of dehydrogenase, phosphatase, β‐glucosidase, protease and cellulase increased following polymer application. In contrast, urease activity was impaired by polymer application, presumably due to the presence of ammonium as a counter ion. Principal component analysis was used to compare the effects of the different rates of polymer application. Overall, the application of 0.2 or 0.4% polymer resulted in closer values for the indicators of soil quality used than the treatment with 0.6% polymer.
Impact of alum on crust prevention and aggregation of calcareous soil: laboratory studies
Authors: Eltaif N. I. , Gharaibeh M. A.
Published: November 2008

Alum was applied at rates of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% by weight to a calcareous silty clay soil in an attempt to reduce soil crusting and improve soil aggregation. Results indicated that the modulus of rupture (MR) was reduced from 176 to 60 kPa with the addition of 0.2% alum. The mean weight diameter (MWD) was doubled when the application rate of alum increased from 0 to 0.2%. Alum apparently modified the soil physical environment by making the soil fluffy which in turn reduces its MR. Gypsum was formed by the reaction of alum with calcium carbonate in proportion to the amount of alum applied, increasing from 0.2% in the control soil to 1.1% with the highest rate of alum applied. This increase may have lead to the reduction in the MR and an increase in the MWD. This research showed that alum was effective in improving soil aggregate stability and decreasing aggregate rupture stress.
Prediction of soil water retention properties after stratification by combining texture, bulk density and the type of horizon
Authors: Al Majou H. , Bruand A. , Duval O. , Le Bas C. , Vautier A.
Published: November 2008

Among the numerous pedotransfer functions (PTFs) published, class‐PTfs have received little attention because their accuracy is often considered limited. However, recent studies show that performance of class‐PTFs can be similar to the more popular continuous‐PTFs. In this study, we compare the performance of PTFs that were derived from a set of 456 horizons collected in France grouped by combinations of texture, bulk density and type of horizon (topsoil and subsoil). The performance of these class‐PTFs was validated against water retained at −33 and −1500 kPa. Our results show that the best performance was obtained with class‐PTFs that used both texture and bulk density (texture‐structural class‐PTFs). They also showed that incorporation of horizon type into the PTF did not improve prediction performance. Comparison of performance at −33 and −1500 kPa showed very little difference, thus indicating no bias according to the value of water potential. Finally, the class‐PTFs developed are well suited for predicting water retention properties at the continental and national scales because only very basic soils data are available at these scales. A map of the available water capacity (AWC) was established for France using the 1:1 000 000 Soil Geographical Database of France and an averaged AWC of 104 mm was computed for France.
Parental Death and Subjective Age: Indelible Imprints from Early in the Life Course?*
Authors: Schafer Markus H.
Published: November 2008

Past research suggests that sustaining a young identity helps adults maintain a greater sense of well‐being. The experience of subjective aging, however, is not a spontaneous phenomenon, but stems from lifelong developmental experiences. Drawing from writings on the life course and self‐concept, I consider how parental death in childhood shapes subjective age in adulthood. To examine the effects of maternal and paternal death on subjective age, I employ the Midlife Development in the United States Study (MIDUS). A series of linear regression analyses indicates that maternal death during childhood is associated with an older subjective age in adulthood, death of a father does not have a similar influence on subjective age, and that the effect on subjective age is stronger if maternal death occurred during childhood than during other periods of the life course. The findings highlight interconnections between timing of transitions in the life course, linked lives, and the development of self‐concept. Subjective age in adulthood seems to hinge on important biographical experiences from childhood, such as parental death, though the processes differ by the gender of the deceased parent.
Can Managers Bank on Seed Banks When RestoringPinus taedaL. Plantations in Southwest Georgia?
Authors: Andreu Michael G. , Hedman Craig W. , Friedman Melissa H. , Andreu Anne G.
Published: November 2008

In the southeastern United States, private forestland managers are under increased pressure to provide wildlife habitat and biodiversity in addition to commercial products such as timber. This study used a stand classification scheme based on vegetation biodiversity fromHedman et al.to compare seed bank composition of benchmark (BM) and nonbenchmark (NBM) Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands. In theHedman et al.study, BM stands contained species associated with Longleaf pine (P. palustris)/Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) communities, whereas NBM stands contained species associated with disturbed sites. The current vegetation of the BM and NBM stands had an average cover of 7.9%/m2and an average richness of 11 species/m2. The intent for this study was to assist in understanding the potential role of the seed bank during stand development and restoration. We collected seed bank samples from six pine plantations in the winter of 2006. Seed bank samples yielded 2,885 germinants representing 56 unique species but only 4 were found in both current herbaceous vegetation plots and seed bank. The seed bank was dominated by native dicots. In BM stands, 76% of species were native, whereas in NBM stands, 69% were native. Seed bank samples from NBM stands had greater species richness (p= 0.03) and total germinants (p= 0.03) than BM stands. Although the seed bank in all stands was dominated by native species, our data suggest that the seed bank underP. taedastands should not be viewed as the sole source of native species for most restoration goals.
Comparison of Post‐Mine Rehabilitated and Natural Shrubland Communities in Southwestern Australia
Authors: Herath Dulana N. , Lamont Byron B. , Enright Neal J. , Miller Ben P.
Published: November 2008

Following mineral sand mining near Eneabba, southwestern Australia, rehabilitation managers have the difficult task of restoring shrubland communities of exceptional plant species richness. Species diversity, composition, structure, and key functional attributes in four mined sites rehabilitated 8 (R8) to 24 (R24) years ago were compared with those of typical nearby natural areas classified on the basis of substrate type (Low and High sand Dunes, shallow sand Swales, sand over Laterite, and sand over Limestone). The rehabilitated sites (except R8) had more species (about 140) than natural sites (about 100) in 40 × 40–m plots, with 12–37% species in common with natural sites. Rehabilitated sites were more similar in composition to each other than they were to the natural sites, with two strong colonizers, the fire‐killed Acacia blakelyi and the fire‐tolerant Melaleuca leuropoma, universally present. Dendrograms and ordinations based on composition and cover showed that rehabilitated sites grouped with each other before they did with the Dune and Swale sites (physically closest), and last with the Laterite and Limestone sites. Plant densities for R16 and R24 were about half those of the High Dune and Limestone, and about a quarter those of the Swale and Laterite. Fire resprouters were under‐represented in the rehabilitated sites. Growth form distribution in rehabilitated sites was most similar to those of the dunes, with some woody shrubs up to 2.5 m tall present. Total iron and soil hardness (penetrability) were the only soil factors consistently different (higher) in the rehabilitated sites.
Developmental Typologies of Identity Formation and Adjustment in Female Emerging Adults: A Latent Class Growth Analysis Approach
Authors: Luyckx Koen , Schwartz Seth J. , Goossens Luc , Soenens Bart , Beyers Wim
Published: November 2008

The developmental interplay between identity and adjustment was examined in a seven‐wave longitudinal study of 428 European female college students (Mage=18.8 years) over a period of 3 years, with semi‐annual measurement waves each year. Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) was used to identify developmental typologies of both identity formation (i.e., dimensions of commitment and exploration) and adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms and self‐esteem). Four trajectory classes emerged for identity, three of which had been suggested earlier in the literature (Josselson, 1996): Pathmakers, Guardians, and Searchers. The fourth trajectory class was labeled Consolidators and consisted of individuals characterized by a strong focus on strengthening their current identity commitments, at the expense of a thorough exploration of alternative options. Three trajectory classes were identified for adjustment: Optimal Adjustment, Moderate Adjustment, and Stable Maladjustment. Each of the four identity trajectory classes was associated with a specific profile of adjustment, with the Searchers showing the poorest profile and the Pathmakers and Consolidators the most positive profile. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are outlined.
Organized Left Atrial Tachyarrhythmia During Stepwise Linear Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: ZHENG LIHUI , YAO YAN , ZHANG SHU , CHEN WENSHENG , ZHANG KUIJUN , WANG FANGZHENG , CHEN XIN , HE DING SHENG , KADISH ALAN H.
Published: November 2008

Introduction:
This study attempted to delineate the mechanism of organized left atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) during stepwise linear ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) using noncontact mapping.

Methods and Results:
Eighty patients in whom organized ATs developed or induced during stepwise linear ablation for AF were enrolled. Left atrial (LA) activation during ATs was mapped using noncontact mapping. Radiofrequency (RF) energy was delivered to the earliest activation site or narrowest part of the reentrant circuit of ATs. A total of 146 ATs were mapped. Four ATs were characterized as a focal mechanism (cycle length (CL): 225 ± 49 ms). A macroreentrant mechanism was confirmed in the remaining 142 ATs. LA activation time accounted for 100% of CL (205 ± 37 ms). All 142 ATs used the conduction gaps in the basic figure‐7 lesion line. There were three types of circuits classified based on the gap location. Type I (n = 68) used gaps at the ridge between left atrial appendage (LAA) and left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV). Type II (n = 50) used gaps on the LA roof. Type III (n = 24) passed through gaps in the mitral isthmus. Ablation at these gaps eliminated 130 ATs. During the follow‐up period of 16.2 ± 6.7 months, 82.5% of the 80 patients were in sinus rhythm.

Conclusion:
The majority of left ATs developed during stepwise linear ablation for AF are macroreentrant through conduction gaps in the figure‐7 lesion line, especially at the LAA–LSPV ridge. Noncontact activation mapping can identify these gaps accurately and quickly to target effective catheter ablation.
Internal Composition of 20‐Year‐Old Fly Ash and Slag‐Blended Ordinary Portland Cement Pastes
Authors: Luke Karen , Lachowski Eric
Published: November 2008

Pozzolanic materials have been used as an extender in concrete for more than half a century, providing various degrees of durability against chemical attack. Most studies use short term data to develop thermodynamic models to predict long term performance. This paper presents data on OPC and OPC blended cements at 30% replacement with either Class F fly ash or blast furnace slag that have been cured under controlled conditions for 20 years. The aqueous phase composition was characterized in terms of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Si4+, Al3+, Mg2+ and Cl−. DTA, XRD and a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy along with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis on argon‐milled sections were used to determine the mineralogy and microstructure of the solid phase assemblage.
Novel Fabrication of Nickel Hydrosilicate Hollow Spheres
Authors: Feng Jingdong , Wang Qingwei
Published: November 2008

Hollow Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 nanospheres were synthesized via a facile deposition process at room temperature. The diameters of the products are in the range of 300–320 nm, and the average wall thickness is about 10 nm. Furthermore, the synthesis process of Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 hollow spheres was briefly described and this solution‐based approach could be extendable to the preparation of other spherical materials with hollow interiors.
Is mass loss in Brünnich's guillemots Uria lomvia an adaptation for improved flight performance or improved dive performance?
Authors: Elliott Kyle H. , Jacobs Shoshanah R. , Ringrose Julian , Gaston Anthony J. , Davoren Gail K.
Published: November 2008

Breeding Brünnich's guillemots Uria lomvia show stepwise mass loss at the time of hatch. This mass loss has usually been explained as an adaptation to reduce the cost of flight during the chick‐rearing period because flight time increases during that period. It is possible, however, that mass loss also increases dive performance during the chick‐rearing period because time spent diving also increases during that period. Reduced mass could reduce basal metabolic rate or costs associated with buoyancy and therefore increase aerobic dive limit. To examine the role of mass loss in dive behavior, we attached time‐depth‐temperature recorders for 24–48 h to chick‐rearing and incubating Brünnich's guillemots at Coats Island, Nunavut (2005: n=45, 2006: n=40), and recorded body mass before and after each deployment. There was no relationship between mass and dive duration during either incubation or chick‐rearing. Seventeen of the birds we sampled during incubation were resampled during chick‐rearing. For this group, dive duration increased with mass loss between incubation and chick‐rearing (r2=0.67–0.75). Mass loss occurred through reductions in metabolically‐active tissues (liver, bladder) and buoyant tissues (lipids) although muscle and gut mass did not change. Despite the large change in lipids, buoyancy only changed by 0.1%, and mass loss therefore did not have much effect on costs associated with buoyancy. Nonetheless, surface pause duration for a given dive depth decreased during chick‐rearing, supporting the idea that reduced mass led to increased aerobic dive limit through reduced metabolic rate and inertial costs; oxygen stores did not increase. We also attached neutrally (n=9) and negatively (n=11) buoyant handicaps to the legs of adults to assess the effect of artificial mass increases on time budgets. Artificially increasing mass decreased total time spent diving but did not change time spent flying. There was no change in shift length between incubation and chick‐rearing, and therefore no support for the idea that mass loss reflected a change in fasting endurance requirements. An energetic model suggested that the observed mass reduction reduced dive costs by 5–8% and flight costs by 3%. We concluded that mass loss may be as important for increasing dive performance as increasing flight performance.
Between‐male variation in sperm size, velocity and longevity in sand martins Riparia riparia
Authors: Helfenstein Fabrice , Szép Tibor , Nagy Zsolt , Kempenaers Bart , Wagner Richard H.
Published: November 2008

Sperm mobility is known to be an important determinant of a male's sperm competitive ability. Although more debated, sperm length and its relation to sperm swimming ability has also been proposed to determine a male's fertilisation potential. Furthermore, both mobility and length may covary with a male's phenotype, either positively (the phenotype‐linked fertility hypothesis) or negatively if, for instance, low‐quality males have less access to females but invest more in sperm production. Using dummy females, we collected sperm samples from wild sand martins Riparia raparia males. We investigated the relationship between sperm length and sperm swimming speed as measured by sperm straight line velocity (VSL), and determined whether sperm traits are correlated with male body size and condition. We found that total sperm length is repeatable within‐ejaculate and shows substantial inter‐male variation. Sperm length was associated with sperm velocity: males with short sperm have sperm that swim initially faster but die sooner, whereas males with longer sperm have sperm that swim more slowly but for a longer time. Smaller males produced sperm with higher overall velocity. This correlation between male size and sperm behaviour may reflect alternative fertilisation strategies where small males having less mating opportunities invest more in sperm competitive ability. The existence of such alternative strategies would participate in maintaining variation in sperm length and velocity in this species.
Sib‐sib communication and the risk of prey theft in the barn owlTyto alba
Authors: Roulin Alexandre , Colliard Caroline , Russier Flavien , Fleury Matthieu , Grandjean Valentin
Published: November 2008

Conflicts among siblings are widespread and their resolution involves complex physical and communication tools. Observations in the barn owlTyto albashowed that siblings vocally communicate in the absence of parents to negotiate priority of access to the impending food resources that parents will bring. In the present paper, we hypothesize and provide correlative evidence that after a parent brought a food item to their progeny, sibling competition involves vocal sib‐sib communication. A food item takes a long time to be entirely consumed, and hence siblings continue to compete over prey monopolization even after parents gave a food item to a single offspring. When physical competition is pronounced and thereby the risk of prey theft is high, the individual that received a prey item consumes it in a concealed place. Concomitantly, nestlings vocalize intensely probably to indicate their motivation to siblings to not share their food item, since this vocal behaviour was particularly frequent in younger individuals for which the risk of being robbed is higher than in their older siblings. Furthermore, nestlings consumed more rapidly a food item when their siblings vocalized intensely presumably because the intensity of siblings’ vocalizations is associated with a risk of prey theft. Our correlative study suggests that sibling competition favoured the evolution of sib‐sib communication under a wide range of situations.
Evaluation of the adhesion of fiber posts cemented using different adhesive approaches
Authors: Radovic Ivana , Mazzitelli Claudia , Chieffi Nicoletta , Ferrari Marco
Published: November 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the adhesion of fiber posts cemented with luting agents that utilize three currently available adhesive approaches: etch‐and‐rinse, self‐etch, and self‐adhesive. Forty‐two intact single‐rooted human premolars were used in the study. Teeth were divided into six groups. In each group, a different resin cement with its adhesive system (if needed) and a fiber post were used. The groups were classified, according to the adhesive approach, into the following three categories. (i) Etch‐and‐rinse groups: Calibra resin cement/XPBond adhesive + self‐curing activator (SCA)/RadiX Fiber Post (Dentsply Caulk), FluoroCore 2 core build‐up material/XPBond + SCA/RadiX Fiber Post (Dentsply Caulk), and MultiCore Flow luting and core build‐up material/Excite DSC adhesive/FRC Postec Plus fiber post (Ivoclar Vivadent). (ii) Self‐etch group: Panavia F 2.0/ED primer (Kuraray)/RadiX Fiber Post (Dentsply Caulk). (iii) Self‐adhesive groups: experimental self‐adhesive cement/RadiX Fiber Post (Dentsply Caulk), and RelyX Unicem/RelyX Fiber Post (3M ESPE). The adhesion between the post and the root canal walls was assessed using the ‘thin‐slice’ push‐out test. In the test arrangement used, the self‐etching approach may offer less favourable adhesion to root canal dentin in comparison with etch‐and‐rinse and self‐adhesive approaches.
Epidemiological evaluation of short‐form versions of the Child Perception Questionnaire
Authors: Foster Page L. A. , Thomson W. M. , Jokovic A. , Locker D.
Published: November 2008

The objective of the study was to compare the performance of four short‐form versions of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11–14) with that of the long‐form version in a random population sample of 12‐ and 13‐yr‐old children from New Zealand in order to determine which short‐form version was the most valid. Children (n = 430, participation rate 74.1%) completed the 37‐item CPQ11–14. Two separate 8‐ and 16‐item short‐form versions were previously developed using (a) item impact and (b) regression methods. The four different short‐form scales were compared with the full CPQ11–14 on their construct validity. The children were examined for malocclusion (using the Dental Aesthetic Index) and for dental caries by a single examiner (L.F.P.). All short‐form versions revealed substantial variability in overall oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL). Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.73 (Regression Short Form [RSF]‐8) to 0.86 (RSF‐16). For all short‐form versions, mean scores were positively associated with self‐rated oral health and overall wellbeing; associations with the latter were stronger. All short‐form versions detected OHRQoL gradients, as hypothesized, across ascending categories of caries and malocclusion. These findings suggest that the short‐form versions of the CPQ11–14 all show acceptable properties, but that the 16‐item versions perform better (and are essentially equivalent); however, the stronger theoretical underpinning of the item‐impact‐derived 16‐item short‐form version suggests that it shows the most promise.
Association between generalized joint hypermobility and signs and diagnoses of temporomandibular disorders
Authors: Hirsch Christian , John Mike T. , Stang Andreas
Published: November 2008

The aim of this study was to analyze whether generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a risk factor for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). We examined 895 subjects (20–60 yr of age) in a population‐based cross‐sectional sample in Germany for GJH according to the Beighton classification and for TMD according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). After controlling for the effects of age, gender, and general joint diseases using multiple logistic regression analyses, hypermobile subjects (with four or more hypermobile joints on the 0–9 scale) had a higher risk for reproducible reciprocal clicking as an indicator for disk displacement with reduction (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.68) compared with those subjects without hypermobile joints. Concurrently, subjects with four or more hypermobile joints had a lower risk for limited mouth opening (< 35 mm; OR = 0.26). The associations between GJH and reproducible reciprocal clicking or limited mouth opening were statistically significant in a trend test. No association was observed between hypermobility and myalgia/arthralgia (RDC/TMD Group I/IIIa). In conclusion, GJH was found to be associated with non‐painful subtypes of TMD.
Study Habits, Skills, and Attitudes: The Third Pillar Supporting Collegiate Academic Performance
Authors: Credé Marcus , Kuncel Nathan R.
Published: November 2008

Study habit, skill, and attitude inventories and constructs were found to rival standardized tests and previous grades as predictors of academic performance, yielding substantial incremental validity in predicting academic performance. This meta-analysis ( N = 72,431, k = 344) examines the construct validity and predictive validity of 10 study skill constructs for college students. We found that study skill inventories and constructs are largely independent of both high school grades and scores on standardized admissions tests but moderately related to various personality constructs; these results are inconsistent with previous theories. Study motivation and study skills exhibit the strongest relationships with both grade point average and grades in individual classes. Academic specific anxiety was found to be an important negative predictor of performance. In addition, significant variation in the validity of specific inventories is shown. Scores on traditional study habit and attitude inventories are the most predictive of performance, whereas scores on inventories based on the popular depth-of-processing perspective are shown to be least predictive of the examined criteria. Overall, study habit and skill measures improve prediction of academic performance more than any other noncognitive individual difference variable examined to date and should be regarded as the third pillar of academic success.