bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivation, effort and life circumstances as predictors of foot ulcers and amputations in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Bruun C. , Guassora A. D. , Nielsen A. B. S. , Siersma V. , Holstein P. E. , de Fine Olivarius N.
Published: July 2014

Aim

To investigate the predictive value of both patients' motivation and effort in their management of Type 2 diabetes and their life circumstances for the development of foot ulcers and amputations.

Methods

This study was based on the Diabetes Care in General Practice study and Danish population and health registers. The associations between patient motivation, effort and life circumstances and foot ulcer prevalence 6 years after diabetes diagnosis and the incidence of amputation in the following 13 years were analysed using odds ratios from logistic regression and hazard ratios from Cox regression models, respectively.

Results

Foot ulcer prevalence 6 years after diabetes diagnosis was 2.93% (95% CI 1.86–4.00) among 956 patients. General practitioners' indication of ‘poor’ vs ‘very good’ patient motivation for diabetes management was associated with higher foot ulcer prevalence (odds ratio 6.11, 95% CI 1.22–30.61). The same trend was seen for ‘poor’ vs ‘good’ influence of the patient's own effort in diabetes treatment (odds ratio 7.06, 95% CI 2.65–18.84). Of 1058 patients examined at 6‐year follow‐up, 45 experienced amputation during the following 13 years. ‘Poor’ vs ‘good’ influence of the patients’ own effort was associated with amputation (hazard ratio 7.12, 95% CI 3.40–14.92). When general practitioners assessed the influence of patients’ life circumstances as ‘poor’ vs ‘good’, the amputation incidence increased (hazard ratio 2.97, 95% CI 1.22–7.24). ‘Poor’ vs ‘very good’ patient motivation was also associated with a higher amputation incidence (hazard ratio 7.57, 95% CI 2.43–23.57), although not in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions

General practitioners' existing knowledge of patients' life circumstances, motivation and effort in diabetes management should be included in treatment strategies to prevent foot complications.
Type 2 diabetes continuing medical education for general practitioners: what works? A systematic review
Authors: Thepwongsa I. , Kirby C. , Schattner P. , Shaw J. , Piterman L.
Published: July 2014

Aims

To perform a systematic review of studies that have assessed the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve healthcare professionals' care of patients with diabetes and to assess the effects of educational interventions targeted at general practitioners' diabetes management.

Methods

A computer search was conducted using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Informit, Google scholar and ERIC from the earliest date of each database up until 2013. A supplementary review of reference lists from each article obtained was also carried out. Measured changes in general practitioners' satisfaction, knowledge, practice behaviours and patient outcomes were recorded.

Results

Thirteen out of 1255 studies met the eligibility criteria, but none was specifically conducted in rural or remote areas. Ten studies were randomized trials. Fewer than half of the studies (5/13, 38.5%) reported a significant improvement in at least one of the following outcome categories: satisfaction with the programme, knowledge and practice behaviour. There was little evidence of the impact of general practitioner educational interventions on patient outcomes. Of the five studies that examined patient outcomes, only one reported a positive impact: a reduction in patient HbA1c levels.

Conclusions

Few studies examined the effectiveness of general practitioner Type 2 diabetes education in improving general practitioner satisfaction, knowledge, practices and/or patient outcomes. Evidence to support the effectiveness of education is partial and weak. To determine effective strategies for general practitioner education related to Type 2 diabetes, further well designed studies, accompanied by valid and reliable evaluation methods, are needed.
Assessment of diabetes acceptance can help identify patients with ineffective diabetes self‐care and poor diabetes control
Authors: Schmitt A. , Reimer A. , Kulzer B. , Haak T. , Gahr A. , Hermanns N.
Published: July 2014

Aims

To estimate the associations between insufficient diabetes acceptance and relevant diabetes outcomes.

Methods

A total of 320 patients completed questionnaires on diabetes non‐acceptance (the Acceptance and Action Diabetes Questionnaire), diabetes distress (the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale), depressive mood (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), coping with illness (the Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness), self‐care activities (the Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities Measure) and quality of life (the Short Form−36 Health Questionnaire). A six−item version of the Acceptance and Action Diabetes Questionnaire showing good reliability and validity was established, and the associations between insufficient acceptance and clinical outcomes were estimated.

Results

Higher diabetes non‐acceptance correlated significantly with less active coping (−0.37), reduced self‐care (−0.43) and higher HbA1c levels (0.31), higher diabetes distress (0.53) and more depressive symptoms (0.36). Correlations of diabetes non‐acceptance with diabetes self‐care/glycaemic control were significantly higher than were those of depressive mood or diabetes distress with these criteria.

Conclusions

Low diabetes acceptance is associated with impaired self‐care and glycaemic control. Assessment of diabetes acceptance may facilitate the detection of patients at high risk and may present an essential target for treatments to improve diabetes control that is more relevant than elevated depressive mood or diabetes distress.
AUCTIONS WITH RESALE OPPORTUNITIES: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Authors: Jog Chintamani , Kosmopoulou Georgia
Published: July 2014

We study first price asymmetric private value auctions with resale opportunities presented in seller's and buyer's markets. We offer experimental evidence on bidding behavior, prices, and resource allocation. Building upon the Hafalir and Krishna (2008) model, we find that bidders will bid higher in an auction if the resale market is a seller's market than a buyer's market. There is a price/revenue‐efficiency trade‐off established theoretically between these two resale regimes. In equilibrium, however, final efficiency is high irrespective of the resale market structure. Evidence of bid symmetrization and higher final efficiency is found in the buyer‐advantaged resale case. (JEL D44, C92)
Does multi‐level environmental filtering determine the functional and phylogenetic composition of wild bee species assemblages?
Authors: Sydenham Markus Arne Kjær , Moe Stein R. , Totland Ørjan , Eldegard Katrine
Published: July 2014

A central goal in ecology is to develop theories that explain the diversity and distribution of species. The evolutionary history of species and their functional traits may provide mechanistic links between community assembly and the environment. Such links may be hierarchically structured such that the strength of environmental filtering decreases in a step‐wise manner from regional conditions through landscape heterogeneity to local habitat conditions. We sampled the wild bee species assemblages in power‐line strips transecting forests in south‐eastern Norway. We used altitude, landscape diversity surrounding sites and plant species composition, together with total plant cover as proxies for regional, landscape and local environmental filters, respectively. The species richness and abundance of wild bees decreased with altitude. The reduction in species richness and abundance was accompanied by a phylogenetic clustering of wild bee individuals. Furthermore, regional filters followed by local filters best explained the structure of the functional species composition. Sites at high altitudes and sites with Ericaceae‐dominated plant communities tended to have larger bees and a higher proportion of social and spring‐emerging bees. When Bombus species were excluded from the analysis, the proportion of pollen specialists increased with the dominance of Ericaceae. Furthermore, we also found that the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional compositional turnover between sites was higher in the northern region than in the southern part of the study region. Altogether, these results suggest that regional filters drive the species richness and abundance in trait‐groups whereas local filters have more descrete sorting effects.

We conclude that the model of multi‐level environmental filters provides a good conceptual model for community ecology. We suggest that future studies should focus on the relationship between the biogeographical history of species and their current distribution, and on the assumption that closely related species do indeed compete more intensely than distantly related species.
Poverty, inequality and growth in Albania
Authors: Mastromarco Camilla , Peragine Vito , Russo Felice , Serlenga Laura
Published: July 2014

This article studies the distribution of well‐being and, specifically, the degree of poverty and deprivation in Albania, in the years 2002 and 2005, using Living Standard Measurement Surveys (LSMS). The distribution analysis is performed by applying both one‐dimensional and multidimensional approaches, in particular to better examine the link between economic growth, inequality and poverty in Albania. Furthermore, by estimating a non‐monetary indicator, as proposed by Bossert et al. (), and a nonlinear principal component model together with a probit model, the paper focuses on the multidimensional measures of poverty to address the relationship between poverty and socio‐economic factors. Our evidence shows that absolute poverty decreased from 2002 to 2005 while national relative poverty increased; economic growth reduced poverty in Albania over the observed period; and living in rural and mountain areas, being female, poorly educated and with a large family increased the probability of suffering from deprivation.
Biology of Lysiphlebus fabarum following cold storage of larvae and pupae
Authors: Mahi Hossein , Rasekh Arash , Michaud J.P. , Shishehbor Parviz
Published: July 2014

Cold storage is one means of preserving parasitoids prior to release in augmentation biological control programs. This study examined the feasibility of storing larval and pupal stages of a sexual population of Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshall (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) at 6 ± 1 and 8 ± 1 °C, 50–60% r.h., and L14:D10 photoperiod. These life stages were stored for periods of 1, 2, and 3 weeks under fluctuating thermal regimes (2 h daily at 21 ± 1 °C). Generally, pupae gave better results than larvae, and 6 °C was better than 8 °C, considering wasp survival, wasp size (tibial and antennal lengths), egg load, and egg size. The best results were obtained with pupae stored for 2 weeks under a fluctuating temperature regime at 6 °C. Females emerging from this treatment did not differ from controls (developing directly at 21 °C) in body size, egg size, or progeny sex ratio, and suffered less than 20% mortality. Egg loads were reduced in these wasps, but the reductions were substantially less than occurred in other 2‐week‐storage treatments. Wasps stored in this manner successfully parasitized similar numbers of aphids as controls and produced similar progeny sex ratios. These results reveal a suitable set of low‐temperature conditions that can be used to delay the development of L. fabarum for 2 weeks with minimal impact on wasp fitness.
Effects of mating patterns on reproductive performance and offspring fitness in Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Authors: Jiaqin Xie , Yuhong Zhang , Hongsheng Wu , Ping Liu , Congshuang Deng , Hong Pang
Published: July 2014

We examined the female mating choice of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) when exposed to a male with which she had mated before vs. a novel male which she never encountered. After first mating, most females chose to remate with the same male and showed a shorter mating latency period to copulation with the familiar male as compared to a new male. Then, we allowed a female to mate once, 5× with the same, or 5× with different males to evaluate how different mating patterns influence the females’ reproductive performance and offspring fitness. Mating 5× with the same male or different males improved female egg production, but had no effect on hatching rate or offspring fitness. Our findings suggest that female C. montrouzieri are able to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar males and prefer to mate with the former. Further, multiple mating appears to offer material benefits to female C. montrouzieri specifically by increasing fecundity.
Gut microbes of mammalian herbivores facilitate intake of plant toxins
Authors: Kohl Kevin D. , Weiss Robert B. , Cox James , Dale Colin , Denise Dearing M.
Published: July 2014

The foraging ecology of mammalian herbivores is strongly shaped by plant secondary compounds (PSCs) that defend plants against herbivory. Conventional wisdom holds that gut microbes facilitate the ingestion of toxic plants; however, this notion lacks empirical evidence. We investigated the gut microbiota of desert woodrats (Neotoma lepida), some populations of which specialise on highly toxic creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Here, we demonstrate that gut microbes are crucial in allowing herbivores to consume toxic plants. Creosote toxins altered the population structure of the gut microbiome to facilitate an increase in abundance of genes that metabolise toxic compounds. In addition, woodrats were unable to consume creosote toxins after the microbiota was disrupted with antibiotics. Last, ingestion of toxins by naïve hosts was increased through microbial transplants from experienced donors. These results demonstrate that microbes can enhance the ability of hosts to consume PSCs and therefore expand the dietary niche breadth of mammalian herbivores.
Dental fear affects adolescent perception of interaction with dental staff
Authors: Jaakkola Sirkka , Lahti Satu , Räihä Hannele , Saarinen Maiju , Tolvanen Mimmi , Aromaa Minna , Sillanpää Matti , Suominen Sakari , Mattila Marja‐Leena , Rautava Päivi
Published: July 2014

The main purpose of this study was to explore whether subjective perception of interaction with dental staff is associated with dental fear in a population‐based sample of 18‐yr‐old adolescents (n = 773). The interaction was measured using the Patient Dental Staff Interaction Questionnaire (PDSIQ), validated with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which yielded the factors of ‘kind atmosphere and mutual communication’, ‘roughness’, ‘insecurity’, ‘trust and safety’, and ‘shame and guilt’. Dental fear was measured using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Gender and sense of coherence (SOC) were included as potential confounding variables. Adolescents with high dental fear more often perceived their interaction with dental staff negatively and more often felt insecure than others. This difference persisted after adjustment for gender and SOC. In conclusion, adolescents with high dental fear may perceive their interaction with dental staff more positively if the staff succeed in creating a positive, trusting, approving, and supportive atmosphere with kindness, calmness, and patience. The communication and interaction skills of dental staff may play a particularly important role when encountering highly fearful dental patients.
Let's Call A Truce…For Now: The Silent Bared‐Teeth Face Expression in Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) During Baseline and Post‐Conflict Conditions
Authors: Otovic Pete , Partan Sarah R. , Bryant Judith B. , Hutchinson Eric
Published: July 2014

The distinction between signals that are friendly and those that are non‐aggressive but motivationally neutral (signals of benign intent, SBIs) has not often been well elucidated in the literature. Although both signals occur in similar contexts, friendly signals should be exchanged more often between animals with good relationships whereas SBIs should be more commonly exchanged between animals with poor or unpredictable relationships. The importance of this distinction is particularly salient in the post‐conflict context, because the two different types of signals may have disparate distributions and functions. This study examines the nature of the silent bared‐teeth face (SBTF) in captive mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) both during baseline interactions and following aggressive conflicts. We report that the SBTF is most commonly exchanged between mandrills with high rates of agonism. In addition, the SBTF is the most common post‐conflict signal exchanged, and the mandrills exchanging this signal after fighting also have poor relationships. We conclude that, although one must be careful in generalizing from studies of captive populations, the mandrill SBTF observed in this study is most accurately classified as a signal of benign intent, but not a truly friendly signal and discuss problems with interpreting post‐conflict data without distinguishing between these types of signals.
Real‐time three‐dimensional imaging of epidermal splitting and removal by high‐definition optical coherence tomography
Authors: Boone Marc , Draye Jean Pierre , Verween Gunther , Pirnay Jean‐Paul , Verbeken Gilbert , De Vos Daniel , Rose Thomas , Jennes Serge , Jemec Gregor B. E. , Del Marmol Véronique
Published: July 2014

While real‐time 3‐D evaluation of human skin constructs is needed, only 2‐D non‐invasive imaging techniques are available. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the potential of high‐definition optical coherence tomography (HD‐OCT) for real‐time 3‐D assessment of the epidermal splitting and decellularization. Human skin samples were incubated with four different agents: Dispase II, NaCl 1 M, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Triton X‐100. Epidermal splitting, dermo‐epidermal junction, acellularity and 3‐D architecture of dermal matrices were evaluated by High‐definition optical coherence tomography before and after incubation. Real‐time 3‐D HD‐OCT assessment was compared with 2‐D en face assessment by reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). (Immuno) histopathology was used as control. HD‐OCT imaging allowed real‐time 3‐D visualization of the impact of selected agents on epidermal splitting, dermo‐epidermal junction, dermal architecture, vascular spaces and cellularity. RCM has a better resolution (1 μm) than HD‐OCT (3 μm), permitting differentiation of different collagen fibres, but HD‐OCT imaging has deeper penetration (570 μm) than RCM imaging (200 μm). Dispase II and NaCl treatments were found to be equally efficient in the removal of the epidermis from human split‐thickness skin allografts. However, a different epidermal splitting level at the dermo‐epidermal junction could be observed and confirmed by immunolabelling of collagen type IV and type VII. Epidermal splitting occurred at the level of the lamina densa with dispase II and above the lamina densa (in the lamina lucida) with NaCl. The 3‐D architecture of dermal papillae and dermis was more affected by Dispase II on HD‐OCT which corresponded with histopathologic (orcein staining) fragmentation of elastic fibres. With SDS treatment, the epidermal removal was incomplete as remnants of the epidermal basal cell layer remained attached to the basement membrane on the dermis. With Triton X‐100 treatment, the epidermis was not removed. In conclusion, HD‐OCT imaging permits real‐time 3‐D visualization of the impact of selected agents on human skin allografts.
Environmental enrichment for fish in captive environments: effects of physical structures and substrates
Authors: Näslund Joacim , Johnsson Jörgen I
Published: July 2014

Structural environmental enrichment, that is, a deliberate addition of physical complexity to the rearing environment, is sometimes utilized to reduce the expression of the undesirable traits that fish develop in captivity. Increasing demands and regulations regarding usage of enrichment to promote fish welfare also make investigations on the effects of enrichment important. Here, we sythesize the current state‐of‐the‐art knowledge about the effects of structural environmental enrichment for fish in captive environments. We find that enrichment can affect several aspects of the biology of captive fish, for example, aggression, stress, energy expenditure, injury and disease susceptibility. Importantly, these effects are often varying in direction and magnitude, and it is clear that just addition of structure is not a solution to all problems in fish rearing. Each species and life stage needs special consideration with respect to its natural history and preferences. A multitude of different enrichment types has been investigated and many studies investigate several enrichment components at the same time, making comparisons among studies difficult. To the present date, the majority of efforts have been directed to investigate salmonid fish in stock‐fish hatcheries and cichlids from a basic research perspective. Some contexts are under‐studied with respect to environmental enrichment, for instance effects on results in basic research and welfare effects in display aquaria. There are many research opportunities left within this field. However, future studies could utilize experimental designs which make it possible to discriminate between effects of different environmental manipulations to a higher degree than what has been performed to this date.
Military Custody and Visitation: Problems and Solutions in the Twenty‐First Century
Authors: Sullivan Mark E.
Published: July 2014

Custody and visitation cases involving military personnel bring a new level of complexity to an area which is already very difficult for judges. Several states have already taken action to provide tailored and specific protections for military families facing visitation and custody disputes. A significant improvement is the publication of the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act (UDPCVA). This article explores the contents of the UDPCVA and explains how judges can use it to resolve custody and visitation cases involving military parents. It explains the definitions used in it, the rules for delegated visitation rights and communication during deployment, the requirements as to custody jurisdiction, priority calendaring and testimony by telephone or internet. It discusses how the Act covers cases where the terms are written into a settlement and where the parties litigate some or all of the issues. The Act bars courts from using past or future deployments against a servicemember unless there are substantial issues regarding the child's best interest. Finally it explains how the court can terminate the provisions for military custody and visitation upon the ending of deployment and how the parents can accomplish this by agreement.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

Encourages the parents to reach enforceable agreements on custodial arrangements and communications during deployment;

Protects the residence of the deploying parent, thus discouraging interstate jurisdiction litigation;

Establishes prompt procedures and electronic testimony to assist in moving the case forward and not impairing the planned deployment;

Allows judges to grant delegated visitation rights to family members who have a close relationship with the child, so long as this is in the child's best interest; and

Promotes an expeditious and fair resolution of custody and visitation issues in the face of an impending deployment or after a deployment has ended by protecting the rights of the deploying parent, the nonmilitary parent and—above all—the best interest of the children involved.
The Dynamics of Military Deployment in the Family System: What Makes a Parent Fit for Duty?
Authors: Riggs Shelley A. , Cusimano Angela
Published: July 2014

Due to the increasing number of married servicemembers with children, the family court system is seeing more divorce and custody cases involving military parents and children. The media has highlighted cases in which military members have lost custody of their children ostensibly due to extended deployments required by their military employer. In order to avoid penalizing military members for service to their country while acting in the best interests of children, it is essential that the family courts understand and take into account the unique challenges of military families. This article provides an overview of the military family experience and reviews the literature regarding the military deployment cycle, including its impact on parents, children and the family system. Developmental and contextual considerations and recommendations in the determination of custody for military children are discussed.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

The family attachment network model is useful in developing objective standards and identifying risk and protective factors for military families.

In custody cases involving military families who have experienced deployment, assessment of current and retrospective individual and family functioning (e.g., before, during, after deployment) is necessary.

Current child behaviors may be normal responses to extended separation(s) and subsequent reunion(s) with a deployed parent.

Key considerations and recommendations in custody evaluations for military families are offered.
Special Considerations in Conducting Psychological Custody Evaluations with Military Families
Authors: Simon Robert A.
Published: July 2014

Child custody evaluations are highly complex forensic evaluations that study children's needs, parental capacities, and the resulting fit. Child custody evaluations are typically asked to provide the court with recommendations that foster the best interests of children when their parents separate/divorce and cannot agree on a child sharing and parenting plan for children. Children who have a parent or parents that serve in the military are part of family systems that present unique factors and considerations that are typically not present in nonmilitary families. In addition, there are legal considerations involving members of the Uniformed Services that may not apply to civilian parents. This article aims to explore some of these factors and considerations and discuss how they can be incorporated into comprehensive and useful child custody evaluations and parenting plan recommendations.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

Familiarize attorneys, judicial officers and mental health professionals with special considerations in making custody determination for children who have a parent in the military

Discuss how these considerations impact child custody evaluations and the formulation of parenting plan recommendations.

Discuss how these considerations impact decisions about best interests of children when the Court makes custody orders.
Mission Critical: A Call to Action for Juvenile and Family Courts, the U.S. Armed Forces, and Veterans Affairs
Authors: Rosa Janice M.
Published: July 2014

This article describes an innovative court program to focus services and case processing on military families, both active and retired (veterans), who are involved in family law proceedings in the civil courts. The article examines the process taken from concept to implementation in one court, with focus on the interplay between the court and armed force support groups, and legal/court stakeholders focused on improved outcomes for military families in distress. Finally, the author briefly examines the possible reasons for the historical disconnect between the courts and the military (veterans and active forces), draws corollaries to existing federal support for other family matters, and posits a method to include the military family under the umbrella of federal attention.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

The ease with which the pilot went from concept to rollout bodes well for replication, even when no funding source is available

This civil family docket is the perfect adjunct for communities with Veterans Treatment Courts

There is an imperative need for the branches of service, VA, and the courts to communicate about this topic

Only federal initiative, similar to what has already occurred in other areas of family law, can resolve the impasse
At Cliff's Edge: Judicial Dispute Resolution in Domestic Violence Cases
Authors: Neilson Linda C.
Published: July 2014

The article endeavors, from a point of view informed by domestic violence (DV) research, to provide information, options, and tools that may help judicial (and nonjudicial) mediators make settlement processes equitable and safe. While opinions about the use of mediation and judicial dispute resolution in domestic violence cases are polarized, the reality is that the vast majority of these cases are settled by lawyers prior to trial, by judges in dispute resolution processes, by mediators, or by intimate (and formerly intimate) partners themselves. Thus the ultimate goal of this article is not to weigh the merits of settlement against litigation; instead the goal is to support the work of judges and mediators in making settlement processes equitable and safe.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

Judicial dispute resolution (JDR) is a recognized component of judicial practice

Some JDR cases will involve intimate partner violence

Identifying and responding to domestic violence violence by type

Screening for domestic violence

Pre‐dispute‐resolution assessments: of risk, of parties, and of process

Options to enhance due process and safety
Drop the Knife! Instituting policies of Nonsurgical Intervention for Intersex Infants
Authors: Thorn Erin D.
Published: July 2014

When a child is born intersex, meaning that they possess genitalia medically categorized as both male and female, it is common for doctors to recommend surgical alteration of the child as early as possible to identify the child as either only male or only female on their birth certificate. These surgeries are largely cosmetic in nature and may still be performed based on now‐debunked theories about the relationship between a child's genitalia, sexual identity, and gender socialization. Further, these surgeries often have negative consequences, including the loss of sexual function and feeling in ones' genitalia. Currently, in the United States there are virtually no barriers to parental consent to these surgeries. In other countries, however, these surgeries have been contested and sometimes banned. As such, this Note recommends that, as was done in Colombia, legislation be enacted that severely restricts parents' ability to consent to these cosmetic surgeries. It also recommends allowing a child to be identified as intersex on their birth certificate, as was recently enacted in Germany, to help relieve the pressure to surgically alter a child as soon as possible after birth.

Key Points for the Family Court Community

Intersex children born in the United States are being subjected to cosmetic genitalia surgeries with little to no benefit. U.S. law does nothing to regulate this.

Other countries are addressing this issue through legislative and court actions.

States should consider restricting parents' rights to consent to these surgeries to shift the question of surgical alteration to the intersex individual themselves.
Comparative phylogeography of codistributed aquatic insects in western North America: insights into dispersal and regional patterns of genetic structure
Authors: Sproul John S. , Houston Derek. D. , Davis Nicholas , Barrington Emily , Oh Sun Yeong , Evans R. Paul , Shiozawa Dennis K.
Published: July 2014

Phylogeographic studies provide insights about complex systems at different evolutionary scales. In addition to providing evidence about ecological processes at the organismal level, a synthesis of studies across taxa can illuminate broad phylogeographic patterns at the landscape scale.

We compared the phylogeographic patterns of two codistributed species of aquatic insects, Pteronarcella badia (Plecoptera: Pteronarcyidae) and Drunella grandis (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae), across much of their range in western North America.

We conducted population genetic analyses of P. badia and D. grandis individuals that co‐occurred in 22 western North American localities. Patterns of genetic structure and gene flow were compared to test for differential dispersal ability and to determine whether broad‐scale phylogeographic trends are consistent with patterns seen in terrestrial taxa across a similar geographic area. We also evaluated whether patterns observed in these species fit previously proposed models of genetic structure in aquatic organisms.

Pteronarcella badia showed greater genetic structure and lower rates of dispersal than D. grandis. Both taxa showed several shared geographic regions of genetic isolation, including the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, the Pacific Northwest, the southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. These broad‐scale phylogeographic patterns are largely consistent with trends observed in several terrestrial taxa across the sample area. D. grandis showed patterns of gene flow consistent with an isolation‐by‐distance model of genetic structure. Patterns observed in P. badia reflect elements of multiple models and may highlight the value of the dendritic network approach to understanding genetic patterns of aquatic taxa at broad geographic scales.
Heat as a Tracer for Examining Depth‐Decaying Permeability in Gravel Deposits
Authors: Sakata Yoshitaka
Published: July 2014

Depth dependence of permeability can appear in any geologic setting; however, vertical trends in alluvial gravel deposits are poorly understood because of the high variability of hydraulic conductivity K in monotonic sequences. This paper examines the sensitivity of depth‐decaying permeability through heat transport simulation around a river's losing reach in the Toyohira River alluvial fan, Japan. Observed variations in groundwater temperature indicate that heat fluxes are dominant in the shallow zone, despite a vertical hydraulic gradient. In eight cases with different conditions (presence or absence of exponential decay trend, large or small variogram range, and cell isotropy or anisotropy) 1000 K realizations are stochastically generated throughout a cross‐sectional model. The groundwater flow and heat transport are transiently calculated, and the averaged root mean square error is used for sensitivity comparison. The variance of shows that small realizations are effectively reproduced with vertical trend assumed. Plausible realizations of below a given threshold were obtained only when a vertical trend was assumed. The most plausible realization almost completely matched the observations. However, the number of plausible realizations per case was ≤10 and the median were insensitive to all the conditions. Statistical testing suggested that these plausible realizations may be statistically significant, aiding in generating a connected K zone for high heat flows. The cell anisotropy condition had the smallest effect on the simulation. Thus, effective modeling of the vertical trend contributes to heat transport; however, the model's efficiency is low without detailed information about the sedimentary structure.
Influence of Carbon and Microbial Community Priming on the Attenuation of Uranium in a Contaminated Floodplain Aquifer
Authors: Mouser P.J. , N'Guessan L.A. , Qafoku N.P. , Sinha M. , Williams K.H. , Dangelmayr M. , Resch C.T. , Peacock A. , Wang Z. , Figueroa L. , Long P.E.
Published: July 2014

The capacity for subsurface sediments to sequester radionuclide contaminants, such as uranium (U), and retain them after bioremediation efforts are completed is critical to the long‐term stewardship of re‐mediated sites. In U bioremediation strategies, carbon amendment stimulates bioreduction of U(VI) to U(IV), immobilizing it within the sediments. Sediments enriched in natural organic matter are naturally capable of sequestering significant U, but may serve as sources to the aquifer, contributing to plume persistence. Two types of organic‐rich sediments were compared to better understand U release mechanisms. Sediments that were artificially primed for U removal were retrieved from an area previously biostimulated while detrital‐rich sediments were collected from a location never subject to amendment. Batch incubations demonstrated that primed sediments rapidly removed uranium from the groundwater, whereas naturally reduced sediments released a sizeable portion of U before U(VI)‐reduction commenced. Column experiments confirmed that U release persisted for 65 pore volumes in naturally reduced sediments, demonstrating their sink‐source behavior. Acetate addition to primed sediments shifted the microbial community from sulfate‐reducing bacteria within Desulfobacteraceae to the iron‐reducing Geobacteraceae and Firmicutes, associated with efficient U(VI) removal and retention, respectively. In contrast, Geobacteraceae communities in naturally reduced sediments were replaced by sequences with similarity to Pseudomonas spp. during U release, while U(VI) removal only occurred with enrichment of Firmicutes. These investigations stress the importance of characterizing zones with heterogeneous carbon pools at U‐contaminated sites prior to the determination of a remedial strategy to identify areas, which may contribute to long‐term sourcing of the contaminants.
A combination of nuclear β‐catenin and atypical scores as useful diagnostic markers for borderline malignancy of gastric tumours
Authors: Takahashi Hiroyuki , Ohkuma Takuya , Tsuruta Tomoko , Saegusa Makoto
Published: July 2014

Aims

Although recent advances in endoscopic technology, including submucosal dissection (ESD), contribute to significant improvement in detection and treatment for early gastric carcinomas (GCas), discrepant diagnosis between forceps biopsied and ESD sections sometimes occurs. Here, we focused on histological markers for accurate diagnosis of gastric tumours in forceps biopsied samples before ESD treatment.

Methods and results

A total of 136 cases of gastric tumours, including 25 adenomas and 111 GCas, were investigated using a combination of forceps biopsied and ESD samples. Atypical scores based on both nuclear and branching parameters could distinguish between adenomas and GCas in both samples. The labelling indices (LIs) of nuclear β‐catenin were significantly higher in GCas than adenomas, and positively correlated with atypical scores, as well as branching parameters. In addition, nuclear β‐catenin immunoreactivity showing small cluster pattern was colocalized with immunoreactivity for aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), known as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker, which suggests the presence of some CSC population, and may be due to formation of dynamic tubular branching in GCas.

Conclusions

A combination of nuclear β‐catenin and atypical scores may be useful for differential diagnosis of borderline malignancy of gastric tumours.
Drivers of organic food purchase intentions in mainland China – evaluating potential customers' attitudes, demographics and segmentation
Authors: Chen Jue , Lobo Antonio , Rajendran Natalia
Published: July 2014

This research aims to investigate the important attitudes, demographics and segmentation of potential consumers' purchase intentions of organic food in urban China. The survey instrument was designed based on validated measures and three focus group interviews. Data were collected at supermarkets in the major cities which yielded 935 usable responses. The 23 attributes that measured attitudes were factor analysed and five dimensions were generated. Of these, the strongest dimension was ‘Certification’ which accounted for 24.7% of the total variance of 58.4% explained by the five dimensions. This dimension included food safety, government regulations and correct labelling. Chinese consumers are highly concerned about food safety issues relating to personal health. The findings also revealed that gender, age and educational level had no significant relationship in influencing the purchase intentions. However, income, attitudes and pre‐purchase intentions all demonstrated weak to moderate significant correlations with purchase intentions of organic food. Gender moderated the relationship between attitudes and purchase intentions. Finally, a cluster analysis was performed which generated three distinct clusters, which we named safety conscious, gastronomes and sceptics. The distinctive features of the profiles of these three clusters are discussed in the paper. The findings of this study have important implications to all stakeholders of the organic food industry, in particular to foreign firms that intend to export organic food to China.
Development of a food safety attitude and practice questionnaire for Iranian consumers
Authors: Moghaddam Atefeh Fooladi , Khoshnevisan Farnaz , Bondarianzadeh Dolly , Mohammadi Mehrdad , Abkenar Hooman Bakhshandeh
Published: July 2014

To develop and to offer a promising tool to measure food safety attitude and practice for Iranian consumers, a pool of questions on four major areas of food handling was extracted from the literature by a team of experts in food, nutrition and epidemiology, and sent to 30 experts to be approved for content validity. The study was conducted in the capital city of Tehran. Two hundred and thirty‐three participants, 18 years and older, completed the 56‐item questionnaire. Principle component factor analysis (PCFA) plus a Varimax rotation method was used for exploration of construct validity. Cronbach's alpha (α) and intra‐class correlation coefficient were used to demonstrate questionnaire reliability. PCFA revealed that three and four main components existed in attitude and practice questionnaires, respectively, explaining 60.02% and 59.6% of total variations. α was 0.681, 0.632 and 0.308 for the components of attitude and 0.689; 0.674, 0.647 and 0.167 for the components of practice questionnaires respectively. The questionnaire proved to be a useful tool in the assessment of food safety attitudes and practices among Iranian consumers.
To use a recipe – not a piece of cake. Students with mild intellectual disabilities’ use of recipes in home economics
Authors: Brunosson Albina , Brante Göran , Sepp Hanna , Mattsson Sydner Ylva
Published: July 2014

Recipes are not only part of today's cooking culture, they are also part of the Swedish syllabus of home economics. The aim of this study was to investigate what kinds of difficulties students with mild intellectual disabilities have using recipes during cooking lessons in home economics. We conducted an ethnographically inspired approach, with a total of 44 h of accompanying observations. Three compulsory schools for students with intellectual disabilities were enrolled in the study, and 37 students and three teachers were included. The socio‐cultural theory of learning has been used as a theoretical framework. The findings reveal both that recipes are central artefacts during the cooking lessons and that the students have various difficulties using the recipes. The difficulties vary, and they concern both how the recipes are designed and the purport of the recipes. Difficulties in relation to the design included, for example, the separation of ingredients and instructions in the text and the large amount of information given in both the whole and the parts of the recipes. The difficulties in relation to the purport – that is, the meaning or sense of the recipe – were the ingredients, the kitchen utensils and the knowledge of how to perform a specific task. These difficulties can be considered special in relation to the use of the recipes. We suggest the concept of ‘recipe literacy’ to capture the complex knowledge of using recipes.
Examining the role of financial factors, resources and skills in predicting food security status among college students
Authors: Gaines Alisha , Robb Clifford A. , Knol Linda L. , Sickler Stephanie
Published: July 2014

The prevalence of food insecurity among college students has received little attention in academic literature, despite previous studies suggesting increased risk and potentially high rates of food insecurity among students. Additionally, the combined effects of financial and food management skills and resources have not been considered when examining student food security. A sample of 557 undergraduate students at a large, public university in the southeastern United States was surveyed to assess food security and its risk factors. Data were analysed based on sociodemographic characteristics, food security status, select financial factors, cooking self‐efficacy and food management resources and skills. Prevalence of food insecurity among this sample of students was approximately 14%, comparable to national estimates. Results from probit regression analyses suggested that food security status was significantly associated with food resource adequacy. The model also highlighted the importance of several financial factors, including financial independence, familial financial support, receipt of financial or food assistance, budgeting behaviours, credit card ownership and exogenous shock. These data provide insights into the nature of food insecurity on a large college campus and fill a significant gap in the current literature by addressing relevant financial factors. The data are particularly salient due to two factors facing students at the sampled university during the period of study: (1) uncertain economic climate at the national and local level; and (2) the local area was recently affected by a significant natural disaster. Such data are useful to student affairs personnel who may wish to provide resources to assist students who are at risk for food insecurity.
Status consciousness and knowledge as potential impediments of households' sustainable consumption practices of fresh produce amidst times of climate change
Authors: Marx‐Pienaar Nadene J.M.M. , Erasmus Alet C.
Published: July 2014

Climate change is an issue recognized not only by developed countries but also emerging economies such as South Africa (SA). With the number one trend for 2014, ‘limiting food waste’ is proclaimed key in curbing climate change. In SA, 31% of food, mostly fresh produce, is wasted annually notwithstanding that more sustainable consumption of this commodity could address local food security and combat the global challenge of climate change. The purpose of this study was to produce evidence that an improvement of SA consumers' level of knowledge of climate change and subsequent consumption practices in this basic product category has great potential to mitigate climate change. A self‐completion survey was used to collect data from 560 Tshwane households (a major urban area in SA). Among other issues relating to climate change and irresponsible consumer behaviour, the survey also addressed the pertinent influence of consumer knowledge (tacit and explicit) and personal values such as status consciousness during respondents' fresh produce consumption. Findings confirmed the influence of status consciousness when purchasing fresh produce among young consumers. This is alarming if one considers this groups' role in future endeavours. In terms of consumers' knowledge, evidence suggests that much can still be done to educate all consumers not only about climate change per se but also about possible avenues that could be utilized to amend unsustainable consumption. Although findings conclusively confirmed that consumers fail to comprehend the implication of their unrealistic demands on retail, it was also evident that the mitigation of unsustainable behaviour could benefit from more support from retail and government.