bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Video‐Assisted Thyroidectomy Significantly Reduces the Risk of Early Postthyroidectomy Voice and Swallowing Symptoms
Authors: Lombardi Celestino P. , Raffaelli Marco , D’alatri Lucia , De Crea Carmela , Marchese Maria Raffaella , Maccora Daria , Paludetti Gaetano , Bellantone Rocco
Published: February 2008

Background

Voice and swallowing symptoms are frequently reported after thyroidectomy even in absence of objective voice alterations. We evaluated the influence of the video‐assisted approach on voice and swallowing outcome of thyroidectomy.

Methods

Sixty‐five patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) were recruited. Eligibility criteria were: nodule size ≤30 mm, thyroid volume ≤30 ml, no previous neck surgery. Exclusion criteria were: younger than aged 18 years and older than aged 75 years, vocal fold paralysis, history of voice, laryngeal or pulmonary diseases, malignancy other than papillary thyroid carcinoma. Patients were randomized for video‐assisted (VAT) or conventional (CT) thyroidectomy. Videostrobolaryngoscopy (VSL), acoustic voice analysis (AVA), and maximum phonation time (MPT) evaluation were performed preoperatively and 3 months after TT. Subjective evaluation of voice (voice impairment score = VIS) and swallowing (swallowing impairment score = SIS) were obtained preoperatively, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after TT.

Results

Fifty‐three patients completed the postoperative evaluation: 29 in the VAT group, and 24 in the CT group. No laryngeal nerves injury was shown at postoperative VSL. Mean postoperative MPT, F0, Flow, Fhigh, and the number of semitones were significantly reduced in the CT group but not in the VAT group. Mean VIS 3 months after surgery was significantly higher than preoperatively in CT group but not in the VAT group. Mean SIS was significantly decreased 1 and 3 months after VAT but not after CT.

Conclusions

The incidence and the severity of early voice and swallowing postthyroidectomy symptoms are significantly reduced in patients who undergo VAT compared with conventional surgery.
Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Annambhotla Suman , Bourgeois Sebastian , Wang Xinwen , Lin Peter H. , Yao Qizhi , Chen Changyi
Published: February 2008

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an increasingly common clinical condition with fatal implications. It is associated with advanced age, male gender, cigarette smoking, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and genetic predisposition. Although significant evidence has emerged in the last decade, the molecular mechanisms of AAA formation remain poorly understood. Currently, the treatment for AAA remains primarily surgical with the lone innovation of endovascular therapy. With advances in the human genome, understanding precisely which molecules and genes mediate AAA development and blocking their activity at the molecular level could lead to important new discoveries and therapies. This review summarizes recent updates in molecular mechanisms of AAA formation, including animal models, autoimmune components, infection, key molecules and cytokines, mechanical forces, genetics, and pharmacotherapy. This review will be helpful to those who want to recognize the newest endeavors within the field and identify possible lines of investigation in AAA.
The importance of conserved amino acid residues in p94 protease sub‐domain IIb and the IS2 region for constitutive autolysis
Authors: Ono Yasuko , Hayashi Chikako , Doi Naoko , Tagami Mai , Sorimachi Hiroyuki
Published: February 2008

p94/calpain 3, a skeletal muscle‐specific member of calpain protease family, is characterized by apparent Ca2+‐independence during exhaustive autolysis and concomitant proteolysis of non‐self substrates. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively profile the structural basis of p94 enabling activation in the cytosol without an extra Ca2+. Ca2+‐dependent p94 mutants were screened using “p94‐trapping”, which is an application of yeast genetic reporter system called “proteinase‐trapping”. Several amino acids were revealed as critical for apparent Ca2+‐independent p94 activity. These results highlight the importance of conserved amino acids in domain IIb as well as in the p94‐specific IS2 region.
National identity and Europeanization in post-communist Romania. The meaning of citizenship in Sibiu: European Capital of Culture 2007
Authors: Dragoman Dragoş
Published: February 2008

The structure of the requirements for citizenship in a Romanian city differs by and large from the structure of the same requirements in other European cities. The peculiarity lies in the lack of distinctiveness between the origin, the ethnic aspect and the civic aspect of citizenship and also in the emphasis on the language requirements for citizenship. The explanations could be traced back to the previous century and to the cultural and political project of state and nation-building. But the importance assigned to the national identity and national sovereignty issues in Romania may affect the European integration by hindering the feelings of European belonging and solidarity.
Taste preferences, liking and other factors related to fruit and vegetable intakes among schoolchildren: results from observational studies
Authors: Brug Johannes , Tak Nannah I. , te Velde Saskia J. , Bere Elling , de Bourdeaudhuij Ilse
Published: February 2008

The present paper explores the relative importance of liking and taste preferences as correlates of fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes among schoolchildren in Europe. The paper first provides an overview of potential determinants of food choice among children and subsequently summarizes the results of two recent observational studies on determinants of FV intakes among school-aged children. It is proposed that taste preferences and liking are important for children's food choices as part of a broader spectrum of nutrition behaviour determinants. Taste preferences and liking are important for motivation to eat certain foods, but social-cultural and physical environmental factors that determine availability and accessibility of foods, as well as nutrition knowledge and abilities should also be considered.

Study 1 shows that children with a positive liking for FV have a greater likelihood to eat fruits (odds ratio (OR) = 1·97) or vegetables (OR = 1·60) every day, while ability and opportunity related factors such as knowledge, self-efficacy, parental influences and accessibility of FV were also associated with likelihood of daily intakes (ORs between 1·16 and 2·75). These results were consistent across different countries in Europe. Study 2 shows that taste prerences were the stongest mediator of gender differences in FV intakes among children; the fact that girls eat more could for a large extend be explained by there stronger taste preferences.
Influence of parental attitudes in the development of children eating behaviour
Authors: Scaglioni Silvia , Salvioni Michela , Galimberti Cinzia
Published: February 2008

The present paper is a review of available data on effects of parental feeding attitudes and styles on child nutritional behaviour. Food preferences develop from genetically determined predispositions to like sweet and salty flavours and to dislike bitter and sour tastes. There is evidence for existence of some innate, automatic mechanism that regulate appetite. However, from birth genetic predispositions are modified by experience. There are mechanisms of taste development: mere exposure, medicine effect, flavour learning, flavour nutrient learning. Parents play a pivotal role in the development of their child's food preferences and energy intake, with research indicating that certain child feeding practices, such as exerting excessive control over what and how much children eat, may contribute to childhood overweight. Mothers are of particular interest on children's eating behaviour, as they have been shown to spend significantly more time than fathers in direct interactions with their children across several familial situations.

A recent paper describes two primary aspects of control:restriction, which involves restricting children's access to junk foods and restricting the total amount of food, andpressure, which involves pressuring children to eat healthy foods (usually fruits and vegetables) and pressuring to eat more in general.

The results showed significant correlations between parent and child for reported nutritional behaviour like food intake, eating motivations, and body dis- and satisfaction. Parents create environments for children that may foster the development of healthy eating behaviours and weight, or that may promote overweight and aspects of disordered eating. In conclusion positive parental role model may be a better method for improving a child's diet than attempts at dietary control.
Survey of Neodohrniphora spp. (Diptera: Phoridae) at colonies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (FOREL) and specificity of attack behaviour in relation to their hosts
Authors: Silva V.S.G. , Bailez O. , Viana-Bailez A.M. , Tonhasca A. , Castro Della Lucia T.M.
Published: February 2008

Atta sexdens rubropilosa is a leaf-cutting ant that is a significant agricultural and forestry pest in the Neotropical region. This ant is parasitized by flies from the genera Neodohrniphora spp., Apocephalus spp. and Myrmosicarius spp. This study was carried out to determine which species of Neodohrniphora spp. are found near foraging trails of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and to evaluate the specificity of attack behaviour of these parasitoids. From May 2002 to April 2004, we sampled Neodohrniphora spp. hovering over foraging trails of Atta sexdens rubropilosa between 8:00 and 11:00 h and between 15:00 and 18:00 h. To investigate the attacking behaviour against the ants, flies were released individually inside an observation chamber containing a single leaf-cutting ant worker. Each parasitoid was confronted successively with a worker ant of A. sexdens rubropilosa, Atta laevigata Smith, Acromyrmex crassispinus Forel and Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans Santschi. Phorids of three species were identified: Neodohrniphora elongata Brown, Neodohrniphora declinata Borgmeier and Neodohrniphora tonhascai Brown. The three phorid species were active throughout the year and often along the same foraging trails, but N. elongata was the most frequent species. In the laboratory assay, N. elongata, N. declinata and N. tonhascai attacked workers of A. sexdens rubropilosa, A. laevigata and A. crassispinus, but not of A. subterraneus molestans.
Positive association between resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis and overwintering survival of cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Caron V. , Myers J.H.
Published: February 2008

Development of resistance to insecticides has generally been associated with fitness costs that may be magnified under challenging conditions. Lepidopterans which are resistant to the biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) have been shown to have reduced fitness, such as lower survival when subjected to overwintering stress. Recently, resistance to Btk has been found in some populations of Trichoplusia ni Hübner in greenhouses in British Columbia. This situation provides an opportunity to investigate potential trade-offs between overwintering survival and insecticide resistance in a major pest species. Here, we assess the survival and eventual fecundity of Btk resistant and susceptible T. ni pupae exposed to cool temperatures. Contrary to our expectations, resistant T. ni had higher overwintering survival than susceptible individuals. This is the first account of a potential advantage associated with Btk resistance. Resistant and susceptible moths had reduced fecundity and smaller progeny after cold exposure compared to controls, and this may counteract the survival advantage. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that this is sufficient to select out the resistant phenotype in the presence of strong selection for resistance and in the absence of immigration of susceptible moths. The appearance of resistance without evidence of a trade-off in overwintering survival presents a major challenge to management in production greenhouses.
Schism within the Curia: The Twin Papal Elections of 1378
Authors: WILLIMAN DANIEL
Published: February 2008

The Great Western Schism divided Latin Christendom along national lines, but it began in 1378 not as a conflict between two national factions of cardinals in the conclave, but in two successive elections by the same college of cardinals, none dissenting. Each of the two new popes had the same usual claim to canonical legitimacy, but since each election was flawed in its circumstances and procedure, each pope could and did condemn and excommunicate his rival. Investigating the activities of the two leading bureaucrats of the Roman Curia, the archbishops who headed its two most powerful ministries, the Chancery and Camera, this paper explores an alternative interpretation of the two elections. According to this narrative, there were two extraordinary interventions in the succession to Pope Gregory xi: the disorderly papal election of 9 April 1378 was captured by one papal minister, the deputy director of the papal Chancery, Bartolomeo Prignano, archbishop of Bari; the second election, of 20 September, which began the Great Western Schism, was a counter-coup managed by the minister in charge of the Camera Apostolica, the chamberlain Pierre de Cros, archbishop of Arles.
Complex trauma of war captivity: a prospective study of attachment and post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Solomon Z. , Dekel R. , Mikulincer M.
Published: February 2008

Background

Victims of war captivity sometimes suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a unique form of PTSD that entails various alterations in personality. These alterations may involve changes in attachment orientation.

Method

The sample comprised two groups of veterans from the 1973 Yom Kippur War: 103 ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and 106 comparable control veterans. They were assessed at two points in time, 18 years and 30 years after the war.

Results

Ex-POWs suffered from more post-traumatic symptoms than controls at both measurements points and these symptoms increased only among ex-POWs from Time 1 to Time 2. In addition, both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance increased with time among ex-POWs, whereas they decreased slightly or remained stable among controls. Finally, the increases in attachment anxiety and avoidance were positively associated with the increase in post-traumatic symptoms among both study groups. Further analyses indicated that early PTSD symptoms predicted later attachment better than early attachment predicted later PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions

The results suggest that: (1) complex traumas are implicated in attachment orientations and PTSD symptoms even many years after captivity; (2) there is an increase in attachment insecurities (anxiety, avoidance) and an increase in PTSD symptoms decades after the captivity; (3) and post-traumatic stress symptoms predict attachment orientations better than attachment orientations predict an increase in PTSD symptoms.
Variability of upwelling and chlorophyll in the equatorial Atlantic
Authors: Grodsky Semyon A. , Carton James A. , McClain Charles R.
Published: February 2008

The primary seasonal phytoplankton bloom in the equatorial Atlantic occurs in boreal summer in response to seasonal strengthening of zonal winds. However, the equatorial Atlantic also has a secondary bloom in late fall – early winter. This secondary bloom is weaker than the primary bloom by a factor of two, but is subject to year‐to‐year variability that is similar in magnitude. Here, observational evidence, including sea level and SeaWiFS‐derived chlorophyll‐a concentration, is used to examine several potential causes of this secondary bloom. The secondary bloom varies independently of blooms along the eastern coastal zones. Also, the secondary bloom has a relationship with the cessation of the Northwest African monsoon, which propotes the secondary seasonal strengthening of the trade winds. The variability of the secondary bloom results from perturbations in the depth of the thermocline induced by zonal wind anomalies in the western tropical Atlantic. These wind anomalies are correlated with mean sea level atmospheric pressure anomalies in the region of the northern subtropical high as well as over the Amazon.
First upstream proton cyclotron wave observations at Venus
Authors: Delva M. , Zhang T. L. , Volwerk M. , Magnes W. , Russell C. T. , Wei H. Y.
Published: February 2008

The escape of particles from planetary atmospheres, especially hydrogen, is an important key towards understanding the atmospheric composition and evolution over the lifetime of the solar system. For an unmagnetized planet such as Venus or Mars when the neutral exosphere extends into the flowing solar wind plasma, loss of pick‐up ions upstream of the bow shock can play a significant role in the escape process. Cyclotron waves from pick‐up of planetary hydrogen in the solar wind have been previously observed at Mars and other solar system bodies. At Venus, they were reported within the magnetosheath, but not upstream of the bow shock. Here we present observations of the magnetometer aboard the Venus Express spacecraft showing waves at the proton cyclotron frequency in the solar wind; this provides direct evidence that the solar wind is removing hydrogen from the planetary exosphere.
The influence of magnetic field configuration on an electron cyclotron resonance ion source
Authors: Peng S. X. , Xu R. , Zhao J. , Yuan Z. X. , Zhang M. , Song Z. Z. , Yu J. X. , Lu Y. R. , Guo Z. Y.
Published: February 2008

In an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source, the magnetic field along the axis of the plasma chamber and extraction system is a key parameter. At Peking University, a new 2.45GHz ECR ion source (PMECR III), dedicated to proton production, has been developed to investigate the influence of the magnetic field on the gas discharge and beam characteristics. The magnetic configuration is provided by two permanent magnet rings independently tunable along the source axis. Moreover, the beam extraction position changes by moving the whole magnetic system along the source axis and by using different lengths of plasma electrode. A brief description of the source is reported and the magnetic field influence results are presented.
Magnetic permeability of (FeCoGe)88Zr6B5Cu1 alloys: Thermal stability in a wide temperature range
Authors: Blázquez J. S. , Conde C. F. , Franco V. , Conde A. , Kiss L. F.
Published: February 2008

Temperature dependence, from room temperature up to 1000K, of the initial permeability (μ) of Fe83−xCoxGe5Zr6B5Cu1 (x=5 and 20) alloys at different stages of devitrification is reported. As nanocrystallization progresses, room temperature μ decreases but high temperature one increases, leading to an improvement of its thermal stability extended from room temperature up to 915K, characterized by a temperature coefficient of permeability ∼0.1%∕K (μ∼4000) and 0.04%/K (μ∼800) for 5 and 20at.% Co containing alloys, respectively.
Development of an ultraslim permanent magnet brushless motor for microelectronic devices
Authors: Hsu Liang-Yi , Huang Chien-Chin , Yan Guo-Jhih , Tsai Mi-Ching
Published: February 2008

This paper develops an ultraslim permanent magnet brushless motor with printed circuit board winding, which, in application, is an electromagnetic exciting component. The design of its mechanical structure aims to eliminate any unnecessary space. An effective explanation for calculating the related motor parameters is presented and finite element analysis is also incorporated for further performance evaluation and refinement. Following the design process, a prototype of an ultraslim motor is suggested. A commercially available motor drive integrated circuit has been effectively adapted to make the motor work successfully. Excellent agreement between the simulation and measured results shows that the ultraslim motor may be suitable for microelectronic products.
Influence of polymer ionization potential on the open-circuit voltage of hybrid polymer/TiO2 solar cells
Authors: Ishwara T. , Bradley D. D. C. , Nelson J. , Ravirajan P. , Vanseveren I. , Cleij T. , Vanderzande D. , Lutsen L. , Tierney S. , Heeney M. , McCulloch I.
Published: February 2008

We report studies of the dependence of the open-circuit voltage (VOC) of polymer/titanium dioxide hybrid devices on the ionization potential of the polymer (IP). Once corrected for differences in photocarrier generation by the polymers, the measured VOC values vary linearly with the polymer IP, with a slope of 0.8±0.1. This behavior agrees with recent studies of polymer/fullerene photovoltaic devices and is consistent with the hypothesis that VOC of an organic donor-acceptor solar cell is limited by the energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital of the donor (in this case, the polymer) and the lowest unoccupied electronic level of the acceptor (in this case, the conduction band edge of the TiO2).
The heterothermic loophole exploited by penguins
Authors: Thomas Daniel B. , Fordyce R. Ewan
Published: February 2008

Penguins are generally smaller than the predicted minimum body size for marine endotherms. Anatomical observations of the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) suggest that extant penguins actively defeat the lower size threshold using regional heterothermy. The wing arteries in the little blue penguin form a humeral plexus, a series of three parallel arteries (including the marginal artery) that stem from the axillary artery, replacing a single brachial artery. Each artery of the plexus is associated with at least two veins to form a counter current heat-retention system. The humeral plexus thus restricts heat from entering distal areas of the wing and dissipating into seawater, ultimately reducing the bulk mass required for heat production and insulation. Humeral plexi are confirmed as a synapomorphic character of the Spheniscinae, with the humeral plexus of E. minor most similar to that of the African penguin Spheniscus demersus. The humeral plexus represents a loophole in body size minima of marine endotherms and offers insight into the ecology of living penguins.
Counteractive Control of Polarized Morphogenesis during Mating by Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Fus3 and G1 Cyclin-dependent Kinase
Authors: Yu Lu , Qi Maosong , Sheff Mark A. , Elion Elaine A.
Published: February 2008

Cell polarization in response to external cues is critical to many eukaryotic cells. During pheromone-induced mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Fus3 induces polarization of the actin cytoskeleton toward a landmark generated by the pheromone receptor. Here, we analyze the role of Fus3 activation and cell cycle arrest in mating morphogenesis. The MAPK scaffold Ste5 is initially recruited to the plasma membrane in random patches that polarize before shmoo emergence. Polarized localization of Ste5 is important for shmooing. In fus3 mutants, Ste5 is recruited to significantly more of the plasma membrane, whereas recruitment of Bni1 formin, Cdc24 guanine exchange factor, and Ste20 p21-activated protein kinase are inhibited. In contrast, polarized recruitment still occurs in a far1 mutant that is also defective in G1 arrest. Remarkably, loss of Cln2 or Cdc28 cyclin-dependent kinase restores polarized localization of Bni1, Ste5, and Ste20 to a fus3 mutant. These and other findings suggest Fus3 induces polarized growth in G1 phase cells by down-regulating Ste5 recruitment and by inhibiting Cln/Cdc28 kinase, which prevents basal recruitment of Ste5, Cdc42-mediated asymmetry, and mating morphogenesis.
Nup53 Is Required for Nuclear Envelope and Nuclear Pore Complex Assembly
Authors: Hawryluk-Gara Lisa A. , Platani Melpomeni , Santarella Rachel , Wozniak Richard W. , Mattaj Iain W.
Published: February 2008

Transport across the nuclear envelope (NE) is mediated by nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). These structures are composed of various subcomplexes of proteins that are each present in multiple copies and together establish the eightfold symmetry of the NPC. One evolutionarily conserved subcomplex of the NPC contains the nucleoporins Nup53 and Nup155. Using truncation analysis, we have defined regions of Nup53 that bind to neighboring nucleoporins as well as those domains that target Nup53 to the NPC in vivo. Using this information, we investigated the role of Nup53 in NE and NPC assembly using Xenopus egg extracts. We show that both events require Nup53. Importantly, the analysis of Nup53 fragments revealed that the assembly activity of Nup53 depleted extracts could be reconstituted using a region of Nup53 that binds specifically to its interacting partner Nup155. On the basis of these results, we propose that the formation of a Nup53–Nup155 complex plays a critical role in the processes of NPC and NE assembly.
Sister Kinetochore Recapture in Fission Yeast Occurs by Two Distinct Mechanisms, Both Requiring Dam1 and Klp2
Authors: Gachet Yannick , Reyes Céline , Courthéoux Thibault , Goldstone Sherilyn , Gay Guillaume , Serrurier Céline , Tournier Sylvie
Published: February 2008

In eukaryotic cells, proper formation of the spindle is necessary for successful cell division. We have studied chromosome recapture in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We show by live cell analysis that lost kinetochores interact laterally with intranuclear microtubules (INMs) and that both microtubule depolymerization (end-on pulling) and minus-end–directed movement (microtubule sliding) contribute to chromosome retrieval to the spindle pole body (SPB). We find that the minus-end–directed motor Klp2 colocalizes with the kinetochore during its transport to the SPB and contributes to the effectiveness of retrieval by affecting both end-on pulling and lateral sliding. Furthermore, we provide in vivo evidence that Dam1, a component of the DASH complex, also colocalizes with the kinetochore during its transport and is essential for its retrieval by either of these mechanisms. Finally, we find that the position of the unattached kinetochore correlates with the size and orientation of the INMs, suggesting that chromosome recapture may not be a random process.
G1/S Cyclin-dependent Kinase Regulates Small GTPase Rho1p through Phosphorylation of RhoGEF Tus1p inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kono Keiko , Nogami Satoru , Abe Mitsuhiro , Nishizawa Masafumi , Morishita Shinichi , Pellman David , Ohya Yoshikazu
Published: February 2008

Rho1p is an essential small GTPase that plays a key role in the morphogenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show here that the activation of Rho1p is regulated by a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). Rho1p is activated at the G1/S transition at the incipient-bud sites by the Cln2p (G1 cyclin) and Cdc28p (CDK) complex, in a process mediated by Tus1p, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho1p. Tus1p interacts physically with Cln2p/Cdc28p and is phosphorylated in a Cln2p/Cdc28p-dependent manner. CDK phosphorylation consensus sites in Tus1p are required for both Cln2p-dependent activation of Rho1p and polarized organization of the actin cytoskeleton. We propose that Cln2p/Cdc28p-dependent phosphorylation of Tus1p is required for appropriate temporal and spatial activation of Rho1p at the G1/S transition.
Postbloom Fruit Drop of Citrus and Key Lime Anthracnose Are Caused by Distinct Phylogenetic Lineages of Colletotrichum acutatum
Authors: Peres N. A. , MacKenzie S. J. , Peever T. L. , Timmer L. W.
Published: February 2008

Colletotrichum acutatum causes two diseases of citrus, postbloom fruit drop (PFD) and Key lime anthracnose (KLA). PFD is a disease restricted to flowers of sweet orange and most other citrus, and symptoms include petal necrosis, abscission of developing fruit, and the formation of persistent calyces. KLA is a disease of foliage, flowers, and fruits of Key lime only, and symptoms include necrotic lesions on leaves, fruits, twigs, flowers, and blight of entire shoots. The internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and the gene encoding the 5.8S ribosomal RNA subunit within the nuclear ribosomal cluster (ITS) and intron 2 of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (G3PD) were sequenced for isolates from PFD-affected sweet orange and KLA-affected Key limes collected in the United States (Florida), Brazil (São Paulo), Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic to determine if there are consistent genetic differences between PFD and KLA isolates over the geographic area where these diseases occur. Based on the sequence data, isolates clustered into two well-supported clades with little or no sequence variation among isolates within clades. One clade (PFD clade) contained PFD isolates from all countries sampled plus a few isolates from flowers of Key lime in Brazil. The other clade (KLA clade) contained KLA isolates from Key lime foliage from all countries sampled and one isolate from flowers of sweet orange in Mexico. In greenhouse inoculations with PFD and KLA isolates from Florida, isolates from both clades produced PFD symptoms on Orlando tangelo flowers, but KLA-clade isolates produced significantly less severe symptoms. PFD-clade isolates were not pathogenic to Key lime foliage, confirming previous studies. The differentiation of PFD and KLA isolates into two well-supported clades and the pathogenicity data indicate that PFD and KLA are caused by distinct phylogenetic lineages of C. acutatum that are also biologically distinct. PFD is a recently described disease (first reported in 1979) relative to KLA (first reported in 1912) and it had been proposed that strains causing PFD evolved from strains causing KLA eventually losing pathogenicity to Key lime foliage. We reject the hypothesis that PFD strains have diverged from KLA strains recently based on estimated divergence times of haplotypes and it appears that PFD and KLA strains have been dispersed throughout the Americas independently in association with each host.
Results of the Clinical Testing of a New Drug “Metronidazole” in the Treatment of Chronic Alcoholism*
Authors: BONFIGLIO G. , DONADIO G.
Published: February 2008

Résumé L'utilisation du “Metronidazole” dans les vaginites et les uréthrites a étée, pendant des années, le sujet de recherches et expériences et seulement récemment et presque par chance il a été découvert que ce remède pourrait être un auxiliaire utile dans le traitement de l'alcoolisme chronique. Cet article est limitéà la description du traitement d'un seul cas d'alcoolisme chronique et conclut avec la théorie que l'administration de la drogue a provoqué chez ce malade une aversion progressive pour l'alcool quand, pendant le traitement, le patient buvait des breuvages alcooliques; la réaction à l'alcool était du type rencontré chez les patients traités avec Disulfiran.

Die Verwendung von “Metronidazol” bei Scheiden‐ und Harnröhrenentzündung bildete seit Jahren einen Gegenstand zur Forschung und für Experimente, doch erst kürzlich und beinahe durch Zufall wurde entdeckt, dass dieser Heilstoff ein nützliches therapeutischen Mittel für chronischen Alkoholismus sein könnte. Diese Abhandlung beschränkt sich auf die Beschreibung der Behandlung eines Einzelfalles von chronischem Alkoholismus und schliesst mit der Theorie, dass die Verabreichung von Drogen bei dem betreffenden Patienten eine fortschreitende Abneigung gegen Alkohol hervorbrachte und dass, wenn der Patient während der Behandlung alkoholische Getränke einnahm, Alkoholreaktionen der Art, wie sie bei mit Disulfiram behandelten Patienten beobachtet wurden, auftraten.
The Rush to Combine: Sociological Dissimilarities of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse*
Authors: PITTMAN DAVID J.
Published: February 2008

In dieser Abhandlung besprachen wir die hauptsächlichsten Unterschiede zwischen Rauschgiftsucht und Alkoholismus vom sozial‐kulturellen Gesichtspunkt aus gesehen. Meiner Ansicht nach ist es erfahrungsgemäss unklug, Studien über alle Suchtabarten zu vereinen, da die sozialen Definitionen dieser Zustände, die ihnen von der menschlischen Gemeinschaft beigemessenen Werte und die sozialen Reaktionen gegenüber den verschiedenen Suchtarten äussserst unterschiedlich sind.
Gene therapy for haemophilia
Authors: Murphy Samuel L. , High Katherine A.
Published: February 2008

The ultimate goal of gene therapy is the replacement of a defective gene sequence with a corrected version to eliminate disease for the lifetime of the patient. This challenging task is not yet accomplished, however significant progress is evident. An initial spate of clinical trials attempting the treatment of haemophilia with gene transfer primarily resulted in the demonstration of good safety profiles, but without efficacy. Subsequent reengineering of vector plasmids and delivery systems resulted in markedly improved outcomes in animal models of the disease. The most recent clinical trial for the treatment of haemophilia B with gene transfer showed transient achievement of efficacy in the highest dose cohort tested, but also exposed a previously hidden barrier to the future success of these treatments. The progress and problems of gene therapies for haemorrhagic disorders will be discussed. This review will concentrate on approaches in or near clinical application.
Schizophrenia sufferers and their carers: a survery of understanding of the condition and its treatment, and of satisfaction with services
Authors: WRAY S. J.
Published: February 2008

This paper reports a simple random survey of all identifiable schizophrenia sufferers, not in long‐term residential or hospital care in one Health Board area. The survey was carried out (1) to assess service users' and carers' understanding of the illness, and (2) to assess perceptions of services by people with schizophrenia and their carers.

A response rate of 55.6% from a sample of 142 was achieved; 79 service users and 22 carers were interviewed.

In general service users reported a limited understanding of the condition of schizophrenia and its treatment. Many reported an understanding that was either neutral or negative, as assessed by the Knowledge about Schizophrenia Interview. Carers generally had a more positive understanding of the condition than the user group, but considerable scope for improvement by educational intervention remained.

It was found that people with schizophrenia generally perceived the service in a positive light, but had specific dissatisfaction with regard to medication, vocational training and hospitalization.

Both service users and carers were dissatisfied with information and advice from professionals and identified these as areas that require improvement. On the whole carers expressed less satisfaction with services than did people with schizophrenia.
Assessing the side‐effects of antipsychotic drugs: a survey of CPN practice
Authors: BENNETT J. , DONE J. , HUNT B.
Published: February 2008

Assessing the side‐effects of antipsychotic drugs: a survey of CPN practice

The provision of community‐based care for people with serious and enduring mental health problems requires an approach that combines drug therapy, psychological interventions and skills training. Mental health nurses are being required to place more emphasis on their work with this client group. It has been suggested that community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) will require training in appropriate skills to work with the seriously mentally ill. While the training of CPNs to use psychological intervention strategies has received limited attention, the area of medication management, including the detection of side‐effects, is relatively unexplored. Community psychiatric nurses' practice with clients on antipsychotic medication was investigated. This paper reports selected findings on the assessment of medication side‐effects and CPNs' attitude to this aspect of their role. Fifty CPNs in three health districts completed a self‐administered questionnaire. The results showed that the CPNs were supervising the medication of large numbers of clients. They reported that their training had adequately prepared them to assess clients for medication side‐effects and that this was being done frequently. They also felt that their reports of side‐effects influence the pre‐scribers' decisions on medication when clients are reviewed. However, the data also suggested that CPNs were only monitoring their clients for three to four side‐effects and that they held an unfavourable attitude towards their involvement with medication.
Measuring constructs accurately: a prerequisite to theory testing
Authors: COATES V.E.
Published: February 2008

Accurate identification and measurement of constructs is particularly relevant to mental health nurses, who often have to work with clients that have intangible needs and problems. In this paper, the measurement of constructs, the relevance of construct validity to nursing research and, in particular, to theory testing will be discussed. Constructs within the health belief model are used to illustrate the discussion and procedure of factor analysis. Analysis of data based on a survey of health beliefs of 276 adults with the chronic condition of insulin‐dependent diabetes is presented, interpreted and discussed. Whilst the paper focuses upon specific constructs and study population in order to provide a worked example, the issues raised and principles outlined relate to an analytical model that can be applied to other research problems and settings.
Mental disorder among a homeless population in Belfast: an exploratory survey
Authors: McAULEY A. , Dphil H.P. McKENNA
Published: February 2008

Mental disorder among a homeless population in Belfast: an exploratory survey

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of mental disorder in hostels for the homeless in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In addition, it attempted to assess the facilities and support offered from both the hostels and the Health Service to homeless people who have a mental disorder. Lastly it sought to determine whether or not psychiatric hospital bed closure had any influence on the prevalence of homelessness among these persons in Belfast. An exploratory approach was adopted, using semi‐structured interviews as the method of data collection. The sample consisted of 12 hostels for the homeless with a total occupancy of 250 residents. Officers in charge were surveyed. The results obtained indicated that approximately 25% of the homeless in Belfast hostels have a diagnosed mental disorder and that hospital closure has had a direct effect on the size of this percentage. In addition, it was found that the hostels generally are not able to offer the levels of therapy and support given in hospital or in designated hostels for people with mental health problems. Responses also suggest that support from Health Service personnel is less than satisfactory. While the findings in this study do not look at the entire homeless population in Northern Ireland, interesting and useful information emerged that has implications for policy and further areas of study elsewhere.
Objective burden among primary caregivers of persons with chronic schizophrenia
Authors: PROVENCHER H. L.
Published: February 2008

Objective burden among primary caregivers of persons with chronic schizophrenia

A better understanding of the burden on the family has become increasingly important because many families assume a major role in the care of their relatives who have schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information about the negative consequences on the family (e.g. physical problems, restrictions in social life, tense relationships in the family) reported by the primary caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. Two types of objective burden were studied: general and attributable objective burden. The former refers to the general consequences on the family while the latter corresponds to those consequences specifically attributed to the presence of mental illness. Seventy primary caregivers completed a self‐report instrument. The general negative consequences identified most frequently were tense relationships in the household, and the physical and emotional problems of the primary caregiver. The most common negative consequences directly related to the ill relative were the primary caregiver's emotional problems, the disturbance in the primary caregiver's performance of work, and the disruption in the lives of other adults in the household. The clinical implications and future directions of research are discussed.
Book reviews
Authors: Norman Ian
Published: February 2008

Book reviewed in this article:

Wounded Healers: Mental Health Workers' Experiences of Depression Vicky Rippere & Ruth Williams (eds)

Reminiscence Work with Old People G. Gillies & A. lames

Reminiscence Reviewed: Evaluations, Achievements, Perspectives Joanna Bornat (ed)

People with Learning Disability and Severe Challenging Behaviour. New Developments in Services and Therapy Ian Fleming & Biza Stenfert Kroese (eds)

Group Treatment of Adult Incest Survivors Mary Ann Donaldson & Susan Cordes Green
Live supervision and family systems nursing: postmodern influences and dilemmas
Authors: TAPP D. M. , WRIGHT L. M.
Published: February 2008

Live supervision and family systems nursing: postmodern influences and dilemmas

Evolving nursing practices in a graduate nursing education programme that offers live clinical supervision in family systems nursing can be conceptualized within a postmodern perspective. Postmodernism is described as a debate about knowledge that questions traditional foundational theories or explanations in science, culture, religion and literature. Practices of a clinical supervision system, i.e. a graduate student, supervisor, and clinical team, illustrate postmodern influences on clinical work with families. Dilemmas posed by contemporaneity of modern and postmodern influences are also explored.
Economies with ‘the truth’: professionals' narratives about lying and deception in mental health practice
Authors: REED A.
Published: February 2008

In psychiatric and psychotherapeutic literature, the idea of clients lying is not one that is commonly voiced, and many therapeutic positions seem to discourage discussion of the issue. In practice, however, professionals do meet with people who they feel are not being ‘truthful’, and this study sought to examine the narratives that a group of colleagues provided about the resulting conflicts and dilemmas. Through the use of unstructured interviews, I invited mental health practitioners to discuss their experiences of situations where they felt clients were lying to them. From an analysis of these research conversations I propose that, in a psychiatric context, lying and secrecy often occur as response to an experience of powerlessness by service‐users. I also suggest that the issue of clients' lying requires more open discussion amongst practitioners, in order to explore differences in power and perspective between professionals and clients.
An extended literature review of health professionals' perceptions of illicit drugs and their clients who use them
Authors: McLAUGHLIN D. , LONG A.
Published: February 2008

The literature relating to health professionals and illicit drugs and clients who use them shows many common themes. It is evident that the majority of health professionals hold negative, stereotypical perceptions of illicit drug‐users. Consequently, these negative attitudes become prejudicial, hence blocking the professional from carrying out effective and humane nursing care to this client group.

Evidence also shows that health professionals' perceptions on the legalization of currently illicit drugs is linked to their own use of these drugs rather than any social or health reasons. Professionals' views on the different illicit substances are also coloured by their use, not by the actual evidence relating to the effects of that drug, in particular, cannabis. The literature shows that health professionals project heavily on to the client all their own negative perceptions of illicit drug use, in the care setting. This has produced very unsatisfactory and unsafe care, resulting in both client and carer being dissatisfied with the whole aspect of care. In addition, specialist teams are being swamped by health professionals who are referring almost every illicit drug‐user to these services. The future may be brighter with the generalist and specialist working closely together for the benefit of all, especially the client and, ultimately, the community.
Recovering from depression: a one‐year follow‐up
Authors: PEDEN A. R.
Published: February 2008

The purpose of this research was to further describe the process of recovering in women who have been depressed. In prior research, recovering from depression consisted of eight categories within three distinct phases and was initiated by a crisis or ‘Turning Point’ experience. In‐depth follow‐up interviews with the seven women who participated in a study that had been performed one year earlier were conducted in order to: (i) determine their status in the recovering process; (ii) describe in greater depth the antecedents of the recovering process; and (iii) identify potential interventions to assist women in recovering. No new phases of the recovering process were identified in the present study. Interventions that assisted recovering were psychoeducational in nature, instilled hope, and provided for individualized treatment. Recommendations for further research are included in this study. Little empirically based information is available on the process of recovering among women who experience depression. This research is a one‐year follow‐up of women who participated in an earlier qualitative study of the process of recovering in women who had been depressed. In the previous study, recovering from depression was found to consist of eight categories within three distinct phases, and to be initiated by a crisis or Turning Point experience. The purposes of this present study were to: (i) determine the status of the recovering process one year later; (ii) more fully describe the antecedents of the process; and (iii) propose testable nursing interventions to assist women with depression toward recovering.

Recovering from depression requires a readiness to make changes, hard work, time, and much assistance from mental health professionals. The findings of this study support the need for interventions that provide information about the illness of depression, have a psychoeducational focus, and that facilitate change. There exists a large at‐risk group of women who would benefit from interventions directed at preventing the recurrence of depression.
Verbal and non‐verbal behaviour immediately prior to aggression by mentally disordered people: enhancing the assessment of risk
Authors: WHITTINGTON R. , PATTERSON P.
Published: February 2008

In this study we seek to enhance the assessment of imminent violence risk by providing empirical data on the types of verbal and non‐verbal behaviour exhibited by 31 psychiatric inpatients immediately prior to assaulting a staff member, and 31 non‐aggressive controls. Verbal abuse, high overall activity level and standing uncomfortably close to the intended victim were the most common behaviours immediately prior to the assault, but most preassault behaviours were also exhibited when patients were not assaulting staff. In the 3 days prior to the assault, aggressive patients differed from non‐aggressors in terms of verbal abuse, abnormal activity level (P<0.05), threatening gestures and threatening stance (P<0.01). Only one patient was aggressive in the absence of any predictive behaviours. We conclude that most patients exhibit easily identifiable signs of imminent aggression, but that many of these signs occur in the absence of aggression.