bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chlamydia at an inner metropolitan sexual health service in Sydney, NSW: Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) Project
Authors: Franklin Neil , O'Connor Catherine C. , Shaw Miranda , Guy Rebecca , Grulich Andrew , Fairley Christopher K. , Chen Marcus Y. , Hellard Margaret , Dickson Bridget , Marshall Lewis , Donovan Basil
Published: November 2010

Background: Australia has a widely dispersed network of public sexual health services that test large numbers of people from high prevalence populations for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. These populations include young sexually active heterosexuals, men who have sex with men, sex workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) Project was established to monitor chlamydia testing rates and positivity rates at a national level, which in turn will help interpret trends in chlamydia diagnoses reported through passive surveillance. The ACCESS Project is the first time that chlamydia-related data including priority population and testing denominators has been collated at a national level. The present paper reports on chlamydia testing and positivity rates in a sexual health service in the inner west of Sydney between 2004 and 2008 and compares these to published national data from the ACCESS Project in sexual health services. Methods: Chlamydia positivity and testing rates at an inner western Sydney sexual health service were compared with aggregate data from the ACCESS Project obtained from 14 sexual health services across Australia. Using a standardised extraction program, retrospective de-identified line-listed demographic and chlamydia testing data on all patients were extracted from patient management systems. Results: Over the 5-year period, 5145 new patients attended the inner-west sexual health service. Almost 66% had a chlamydia test at first visit and there was no significant difference in this testing rate when compared with the ACCESS Project national rate for sexual health services (67.0%; odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence intervals 0.88–1.00). The testing rate increased over time from 61% in 2004 to 70% in 2008. There were 281 chlamydia diagnoses at this service, giving an overall chlamydia positivity rate of 9.3%, significantly higher than the ACCESS Project national rate of 8.2% (OR 1.16, 95% confidence intervals 1.02–1.32). Discussion: Testing rates were similar and positivity rates for Chlamydia trachomatis were higher in this sexual health service in Sydney than national trends.
The difficult task of gathering information on PSI&T
Authors: Valero-Garcés Carmen
Published: November 2010

This increasingly more plural and changing society demands resources that allow communication between those arriving and those who are already there. Such a situation has been occurring since time immemorial, but since the last decades of the twentieth century it has accelerated and reached other countries where until now this phenomenon was unknown, such as the southern and eastern countries members of the EU.
In the article some research about those needs and solutions within the specific field of public service interpreting and translating (PSIT) and from three different perspectives (the scholar and researcher’s; the intermediary’s; and the service provider’s) are presented. These three perspectives are complementary, but for the sake of clarity and given the difficulty and lack of information and resources available in some language combinations, as well as the intricacies of the role played by the translator and interpreter (Tr&In) in these environments, I will structure the article in this way. The main focus will be on Spain, one of the EU countries where the phenomenon of migration has reached the highest level.
Making room for small-language imports: Jacint Verdaguer
Authors: Puppo Ronald
Published: November 2010

This essay discusses translation and translator choices in the context of importing a small-language poet into English-language circulation. Small-language imports play a modest but supporting role in counteracting the sort of cultural daltonism that screens any number of cultures and literatures from general global view. Taking the first English-language anthology of poetry by nineteenth-century Catalan-language poet Jacint Verdaguer (Selected Poems of Jacint Verdaguer: A Bilingual Edition, University of Chicago, 2007) as a case in point, the author/translator argues that if the native-culture value of poetic production is to be preserved in the new cultural and literary currency, contextual essentials (historical, social, literary) must be brought to light. Where the texts themselves are concerned, the translator of poetry must seek to re-create the form-content synthesis of the original, even as new intratextual and intertextual meanings and correspondences emerge in translation.
Degrees of pragmaticalization
Authors: Defour Tine , D'Hondt Ulrique , Simon-Vandenbergen Anne-Marie , Willems Dominique
Published: November 2010

Despite their formal resemblance, the English word ‘actually’ and the French word actuellement fulfil very different semantic-pragmatic functions in their present-day usage. In most cases they are ‘false friends’, as they overlap in meaning in a very limited number of contexts only. Since these words can — directly or indirectly (through borrowing) — be traced back to the same origin, their present-day meanings indicate that the words have followed different paths of change. It is the aim of the present article to trace the semantic-pragmatic developments of these words through a detailed examination of the discursive contexts in which they have occurred from their first attestations in the languages concerned until the present time. In this way, the subtle transitions from one meaning to another are laid bare. In addition, the cross-linguistic perspective offers insight into how polysemy may develop in different directions. The analyses are based on French and English monolingual corpus data, both synchronic and diachronic. In addition, translation corpus data provide further evidence for the semantics of the two adverbs. The results of the empirical analysis are interpreted within the framework of pragmaticalization and (inter)subjectification.
É vida, olha…: Imperatives as discourse markers and grammaticalization paths in Romance
Authors: Fagard Benjamin
Published: November 2010

In this paper, we investigate the evolution from imperatives to discourse markers in Romance, with a corpus-based approach. We focus on the case of items coming from verbs meaning ‘to look’, in a semasiological perspective: Spanish and Catalan mira, Portuguese olha, Italian guarda, French regarde, Romanian uite. We show that they all share many uses, among which turn-taking, introduction of reported speech, hesitation phenomenon, topic-shifting and modalization, except for French regarde. We then establish (against Waltereit, 2002) that the development of these uses is the result of a process of grammaticalization, from lexical, clause-internal uses to uses as discourse markers, in a cline which tends to confirm the predictions made by Brinton and Traugott (2005). The lesser grammaticalization of French regarde could seem unimportant, but is in apparent contradiction with the now well-established fact that French is, of all Romance languages, the most grammaticalized. We try, in conclusion, to address this paradox: is French not so grammaticalized after all, or is this just an exception to the rule?
Dynamics of a self gravitating light-like shell with
spherical symmetry
Authors: Kijowski Jerzy , Czuchry Ewa
Published: November 2010

A novel Hamiltonian description of the dynamics of a spherically symmetric,
light-like, self-gravitating shell is presented. It is obtained via the systematic
reduction of the phase space with respect to the Gauss–Codazzi constraints,
model and rare procedure in the canonical gravity. The
Hamiltonian of the system (numerically equal to the value of the
Arnowitt–Deser–Misner mass) is explicitly calculated in terms of the gauge-invariant
‘true degrees of freedom’, i.e. as a function on the reduced phase space. A geometric
interpretation of the momentum canonically conjugate to the shell's radius is given.
Models of matter compatible with the shell dynamics are found. A transformation
between the different time parameterizations of the shell is calculated. The
presented model may become a new toy model of quantum gravity.
Genetic Variation in Biomass Traits among 20 Diverse Rice Varieties
Authors: Jahn Courtney E. , Mckay John K. , Mauleon Ramil , Stephens Janice , McNally Kenneth L. , Bush Daniel R. , Leung Hei , Leach Jan E.
Published: November 2010

Biofuels provide a promising route of producing energy while reducing reliance on petroleum. Developing sustainable liquid fuel production from cellulosic feedstock is a major challenge and will require significant breeding efforts to maximize plant biomass production. Our approach to elucidating genes and genetic pathways that can be targeted for improving biomass production is to exploit the combination of genomic tools and genetic diversity in rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, we analyzed a diverse set of 20 recently resequenced rice varieties for variation in biomass traits at several different developmental stages. The traits included plant size and architecture, aboveground biomass, and underlying physiological processes. We found significant genetic variation among the 20 lines in all morphological and physiological traits. Although heritability estimates were significant for all traits, heritabilities were higher in traits relating to plant size and architecture than for physiological traits. Trait variation was largely explained by variety and breeding history (advanced versus landrace) but not by varietal groupings (indica, japonica, and aus). In the context of cellulosic biofuels development, cell wall composition varied significantly among varieties. Surprisingly, photosynthetic rates among the varieties were inversely correlated with biomass accumulation. Examining these data in an evolutionary context reveals that rice varieties have achieved high biomass production via independent developmental and physiological pathways, suggesting that there are multiple targets for biomass improvement. Future efforts to identify loci and networks underlying this functional variation will facilitate the improvement of biomass traits in other grasses being developed as energy crops.
Direct observation of various reaction pathways of arylnitrenes in different crystal environments caused by acid–base complex formation
Authors: Mitsumori Takahiro , Sekine Akiko , Uekusa Hidehiro , Ohashi Yuji
Published: November 2010

The structures of reaction intermediates, arylnitrenes and their final products have been successfully analyzed by X-rays using acid–base complex formation. The acid–base complexes of 2-azidobenzoic acid (2a), 3-azidobenzoic acid (3a) and 4-azidobenzoic acid (4a) were made with dibenzylamine (db), N-benzyl-2-phenylethylamine (bp) and dicyclohexylamine (dc). For the complex crystals of (3a) and db (3a-db), and (4a) and db (4a-db) two forms of (I) and (II) were obtained. Eight types of complex crystals, (2a-db), (3a-db-I), (3a-db-II), (3a-dc), (4a-db-I), (4a-db-II), (4a-bp) and (4a-dc), suitable for X-ray analysis were obtained. When the crystals were irradiated with UV light at low temperatures, the reactions proceeded keeping the single-crystal form in the five crystals (2a-db), (3a-db-I), (3a-db-II), (3a-dc) and (4a-bp). Less than 25% of each azidobenzoic acids was transformed into an arylnitrene and dinitrogen. In three crystals the arylnitrenes produced gave new final products; 2,1-benzisoxazolone was observed for (2a-db) and trans-azobenzenes (i.e. dimerized nitrenes) were obtained for (3a-db-II) and (4a-bp). For (3a-db-I) and (3a-dc) the intermediate arylnitrenes were observed but did not transform to new products. All the structural changes were directly observed by X-ray analysis because the incomplete reactions occurred with retention crystallinity. The crystal environment, including the hydrogen bonding between the benzoic acid and the amine, places restrictions on the movement of the arylnitrene and influences the reaction pathway followed for conversion of the arylnitrene to its final product.
Lavender foal syndrome in Arabian horses is caused by a single‐base deletion in the MYO5A gene
Authors: Bierman A. , Guthrie A. J. , Harper C. K.
Published: November 2010

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal recessive lethal disorder affecting Arabian foals which is also characterized by a dilute coat colour and severe neurological signs. Dilute mouse and rat mutants, and Griscelli syndrome type 1 in humans, which are characterized by similar clinical signs, are caused by mutations in the MYO5A gene. MYO5A was, therefore, identified as a possible candidate gene for LFS. Sequencing of the coding region identified a single‐base deletion in a conserved region of the tail domain. The deletion produces a truncated protein product through the insertion of a premature stop codon (p.Arg1487AlafsX13). The deletion was confirmed as the causative mutation by genotyping affected, carrier and normal individuals.
Genetic diversity in the Maremmano horse and its relationship with other European horse breeds
Authors: Felicetti M. , Lopes M. S. , Verini‐Supplizi A. , Da Câmara Machado A. , Silvestrelli M. , Mendonça D. , Distl O.
Published: November 2010

The Maremmano is an Italian warmblood horse breed from central Italy. We characterized the genetic diversity and the degree of admixture in Maremmano in comparison to 14 other European horse breeds using 30 microsatellites. Between‐breed diversity explained about 9 per cent of the total genetic diversity. Cluster analysis, genetic distances and genetic differentiation coefficients showed a close relationship of Maremmano with Hanoverian and Lusitano in accordance with breed history.
Targets of selection in the Thoroughbred genome contain exercise‐relevant gene SNPs associated with elite racecourse performance
Authors: Hill E. W. , Gu J. , McGivney B. A. , MacHugh D. E.
Published: November 2010

Athletic performance is influenced by a complex interplay among the environment and a suite of genes, which contributes to system‐wide structure and function. In a panel of elite and non‐elite Thoroughbred horses (n = 148), we genotyped 68 SNPs in 17 putative exercise‐relevant genes chosen from a genome scan for selection. We performed a series of case–control and quantitative association tests for relationships with racecourse performance. Thirteen SNPs in nine genes were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with a performance phenotype. We selected five SNPs in four genes (ACSS1, ACN9, COX4I1, PDK4) for validation in an independent sample set of elite and non‐elite Thoroughbreds (n = 130). Two SNPs in the PDK4 gene were validated (P < 0.01) for associations with elite racing performance. When all samples were considered together (n = 278), the PDK4_ 38973231 SNP was strongly associated (P < 0.0005) with elite racing performance. Individuals with the A:A and A:G genotypes had a 16.2–16.6 lb advantage over G:G individuals in terms of handicap rating. Re‐sequencing of the PDK4 gene and further genotyping will be required to identify the causative variant that is likely influencing exercise‐induced variation in expression of the gene. Notwithstanding, this information may be employed as a marker for the selection of racehorses with the genetic potential for superior racing ability.
Genetics of swayback in American Saddlebred horses
Authors: Cook D. , Gallagher P. C. , Bailey E.
Published: November 2010

Extreme lordosis, also called swayback, lowback or softback, can occur as a congenital trait or as a degenerative trait associated with ageing. In this study, the hereditary aspect of congenital swayback was investigated using whole genome association studies of 20 affected and 20 unaffected American Saddlebred (ASB) Horses for 48 165 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A statistically significant association was identified on ECA20 (corrected P = 0.017) for SNP BIEC2‐532523. Of the 20 affected horses, 17 were homozygous for this SNP when compared to seven homozygotes among the unaffected horses, suggesting a major gene with a recessive mode of inheritance. The result was confirmed by testing an additional 13 affected horses and 166 unaffected horses using 35 SNPs in this region of ECA20 (corrected P = 0.036). Combined results for 33 affected horses and 287 non‐affected horses allowed identification of a region of homozygosity defined by four SNPs in the region. Based on the haplotype defined by these SNPs, 80% of the 33 affected horses were homozygous, 21% heterozygous and 9% did not possess the haplotype. Among the non‐affected horses, 15% were homozygous, 47% heterozygous and 38% did not possess the haplotype. The differences between the two groups were highly significant (P < 0.00001). The region defined by this haplotype includes 53 known and predicted genes. Exons from three candidate genes, TRERF1, RUNX2 and CNPY3 were sequenced without finding distinguishing SNPs. The mutation responsible for swayback may lie in other genes or in regulatory regions outside exons. This information can be used by breeders to reduce the occurrence of swayback among their livestock. This condition may serve as a model for investigation of congenital skeletal deformities in other species.
Structural annotation of equine protein‐coding genes determined by mRNA sequencing
Authors: Coleman S. J. , Zeng Z. , Wang K. , Luo S. , Khrebtukova I. , Mienaltowski M. J. , Schroth G. P. , Liu J. , MacLeod J. N.
Published: November 2010

The horse, like the majority of animal species, has a limited amount of species‐specific expressed sequence data available in public databases. As a result, structural models for the majority of genes defined in the equine genome are predictions based onab initiosequence analysis or the projection of gene structures from other mammalian species. The current study used Illumina‐based sequencing of messenger RNA (RNA‐seq) to help refine structural annotation of equine protein‐coding genes and for a preliminary assessment of gene expression patterns. Sequencing of mRNA from eight equine tissues generated 293 758 105 sequence tags of 35 bases each, equalling 10.28 gbp of total sequence data. The tag alignments represent approximately 207× coverage of the equine mRNA transcriptome and confirmed transcriptional activity for roughly 90% of the protein‐coding gene structures predicted by Ensembl and NCBI. Tag coverage was sufficient to refine the structural annotation for 11 356 of these predicted genes, while also identifying an additional 456 transcripts with exon/intron features that are not listed by either Ensembl or NCBI. Genomic locus data and intervals for the protein‐coding genes predicted by the Ensembl and NCBI annotation pipelines were combined with 75 116 RNA‐seq‐derived transcriptional units to generate a consensus equine protein‐coding gene set of 20 302 defined loci. Gene ontology annotation was used to compare the functional and structural categories of genes expressed in either a tissue‐restricted pattern or broadly across all tissue samples.
Estimated prevalence of the Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy mutation in selected North American and European breeds
Authors: McCue M. E. , Anderson S. M. , Valberg S. J. , Piercy R. J. , Barakzai S. Z. , Binns M. M. , Distl O. , Penedo M. C. T. , Wagner M. L. , Mickelson J. R.
Published: November 2010

The GYS1 gene mutation that is causative of Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) has been identified in more than 20 breeds of horses. However, the GYS1 mutation frequency or Type 1 PSSM prevalence within any given breed is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of the GYS1 mutation and prevalence of genetic susceptibility to Type 1 PSSM in selected breeds from Europe and North America. The GYS1 mutation was detected in 11 breeds, including, in order of increasing allele frequency, Shires, Morgans, Appaloosas, Quarter Horses, Paints, Exmoor Ponies, Saxon‐Thuringian Coldbloods, South German Coldbloods, Belgians, Rhenish German Coldbloods and Percherons. The prevalence of genetic susceptibility to Type 1 PSSM in these breeds varied from 0.5% to 62.4%. The GYS1 mutation was not found in the sampled Thoroughbreds, Akhal‐Tekes, Connemaras, Clydesdales, Norwegian Fjords, Welsh Ponies, Icelandics, Schleswig Coldbloods or Hanoverians, but failure to detect the mutation does not guarantee its absence. This knowledge will help breed associations determine whether they should screen for the GYS1 mutation and will alert veterinarians to a possible differential diagnosis for muscle pain, rhabdomyolysis or gait abnormalities.
Identification of equine major histocompatibility complex haplotypes using polymorphic microsatellites
Authors: Tseng C. T. , Miller D. , Cassano J. , Bailey E. , Antczak D. F.
Published: November 2010

A system for identifying equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes was developed based on five polymorphic microsatellites located within the MHC region on ECA 20. Molecular signatures for 50 microsatellite haplotypes were recognized from typing 353 horses. Of these, 23 microsatellite haplotypes were associated with 12 established equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) haplotypes in Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. Five ELA serotypes were associated with multiple microsatellite subhaplotypes, expanding the estimates of diversity in the equine MHC. The strong correlations between serological and microsatellite typing demonstrated a linkage to known MHC class I protein polymorphisms and validated this assay as a useful supplement to ELA serotyping, and in some applications, a feasible alternative method for MHC genotyping in horse families and in population studies.
Identification of the myostatin locus (MSTN) as having a major effect on optimum racing distance in the Thoroughbred horse in the USA
Authors: Binns M. M. , Boehler D. A. , Lambert D. H.
Published: November 2010

One hundred and eighty‐nine Thoroughbred horses that had won Graded Stakes races in North America were genotyped with the Illumina Equine SNP50 bead chip. Association tests using PLINK to determine whether any SNPs were associated with optimum racing distance (7 furlongs and under compared to 8–10 furlongs) identified a locus on ECA18 that was statistically significant (−log 10 EMP2 = 1.63) at the genome‐wide level following permutation analysis (10 000 permutations). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the two ECA18 SNPs with the highest statistical significance spanned the MSTN (myostatin) locus. Mutations in myostatin in several mammalian species have been associated with increased muscling, with a preferential increase in fast glycolytic type IIB fibres, which would increase power potential. Thoroughbred horses that race over sprint distances, which are 5–7 furlongs, are often characterized by impressive hind quarter musculature, strongly suggesting that the association observed between the ECA18 SNPs and optimum race distance is mediated through MSTN.
A conserved segmental duplication within ELA
Authors: Brinkmeyer‐Langford C. L. , Murphy W. J. , Childers C. P. , Skow L. C.
Published: November 2010

The assembled genomic sequence of the horse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (equine lymphocyte antigen, ELA) is very similar to the homologous human HLA, with the notable exception of a large segmental duplication at the boundary of ELA class I and class III that is absent in HLA. The segmental duplication consists of a ∼710 kb region of at least 11 repeated blocks: 10 blocks each contain an MHC class I‐like sequence and the helicase domain portion of a BAT1‐like sequence, and the remaining unit contains the full‐length BAT1 gene. Similar genomic features were found in other Perissodactyls, indicating an ancient origin, which is consistent with phylogenetic analyses. Reverse‐transcriptase PCR (RT‐PCR) of mRNA from peripheral white blood cells of healthy and chronically or acutely infected horses detected transcription from predicted open reading frames in several of the duplicated blocks. This duplication is not present in the sequenced MHCs of most other mammals, although a similar feature at the same relative position is present in the feline MHC (FLA). Striking sequence conservation throughout Perissodactyl evolution is consistent with a functional role for at least some of the genes included within this segmental duplication.
The marriage of evidence and narrative: scientific nurturance within clinical practice
Authors: Silva Suzana Alves , Charon Rita , Wyer Peter C.
Published: November 2010

Rationale, aims and objectives Published elaborations of evidence‐based medicine (EBM) have failed to materially integrate the domains of interpersonal sensibility and relationship with tools intended to facilitate attention to biomedical research and knowledge within clinical practice. Furthermore, the elaboration of EBM skills has been confined to a narrow range of clinical research. As a result, crucial tools required to connect much clinically relevant research and practice remain hidden, and explorations of the deeper challenges faced by practitioners in their struggle to integrate sound science and shared clinical action remain elusive.

Methods We developed a model for scientifically informed, individualized, medical practice and learning that embraces the goals, resources and skills of EBM within a larger framework of practice defined by narrative process: ‘attention’, ‘representation’ and ‘affiliation’. We drew from published elaborations of EBM, narrative medicine (NM) and the results of a project to develop tools for assessment of the cognitive skills embedded within a practice based EBM domain.

Results Within the resulting model, a tool of representation, whose components are Problem delineation, Actions, Choices and Targets, enables the clinical problem to be delineated and the patient and practitioner perspectives to be concretely defined with reference to four classes of clinical interaction: ‘therapy’, ‘diagnosis’, ‘prognosis’ and ‘harm’. As a result, the ‘information literacy’ skills required to access, evaluate and apply clinical research using electronic resources are well defined but subordinated to shared appreciation of patient need. The model acknowledges the relevance of the full range and scope of scientifically derived medical knowledge.

Conclusion A model based on integration of NM and EBM can lead to instructional tools that integrate clinical epidemiological knowledge with enforced consideration of differing patient and practitioner perspectives. It also may inform avenues for qualitative research into the processes through which such differing perspectives can be productively identified and shared.
Review: Molecular genetics and pathology of hereditary small vessel diseases of the brain
Authors: Yamamoto Y. , Craggs L. , Baumann M. , Kalimo H. , Kalaria R. N.
Published: November 2010

Y. Yamamoto, L. Craggs, M. Baumann, H. Kalimo and R. N. Kalaria (2011) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology37, 94–113 Molecular genetics and pathology of hereditary small vessel diseases of the brain

Advances in molecular genetics have enabled identification of several monogenic conditions involving small vessels predisposing to ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes and diffuse white matter disease. With emphasis on cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), we review the molecular pathogenesis of recently characterized disorders including cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL), retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy (RVCL) and the Collagen type IV, alpha 1 (COL4A1)‐related disorders. CADASIL remains the most common hereditary small vessel disease (SVD) caused by >190 different mutations in the NOTCH3 gene, which encodes a cell‐signalling receptor. Mutant NOTCH3 instigates degeneration of vascular smooth muscle cells in small arteries and arterioles leading to recurrent lacunar infarcts. Mutations in the serine protease HTRA1 gene are associated with CARASIL. Aberrant HTRA1 activity results in increased transforming growth factor‐β signalling provoking multiple actions including vascular fibrosis and extracellular matrix synthesis. The RVCL disorders characterized by profound retinopathy are associated with mutations in TREX1, which encodes an abundant 3′–5′ DNA‐specific exonuclease. TREX1 mutations lead to detrimental gain‐of‐function or insufficient quantities of enzyme. The COL4A1‐related disorders are highly variable comprising four major phenotypes with overlapping systemic and central nervous system features including SVD with cerebral haemorrhages in children and adults. Mutant COL4A1 likely disrupts the extracellular matrix resulting in fragile vessel walls. The hereditary SVDs albeit with variable phenotypes demonstrate how effects of different defective genes converge to produce the characteristic arteriopathy and microvascular disintegration leading to vascular cognitive impairment.
Cold stress contributes to aberrant cytokinesis during male meiosis I in a wheat thermosensitive genic male sterile line
Authors: TANG ZONGHUI , ZHANG LIPING , YANG DI , ZHAO CHANGPING , ZHENG YONGLIAN
Published: November 2010

The male sterility of a wheat thermosensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) line is strictly controlled by temperature. When the TGMS line BS366 was exposed to 10 °C from the pollen mother cell stage to the meiosis stage, a few pollen grains were formed and devoid of starch. We report here a large‐scale transcriptomic study using the Affymetrix wheat GeneChip to follow gene expression in BS366 line anthers in response to cold stress. Notably, many cytoskeletal signaling components were gradually induced in response to cold stress in BS366 line anthers. However, the cytoskeleton‐associated genes that play key roles in the dynamic organization of the cytoskeleton were dramatically repressed. Histological studies revealed that the separation of dyads occurred abnormally during male meiosis I, indicating defective male meiotic cytokinesis. Fluorescence labelling and subcellular histological observations revealed that the phragmoplast was defectively formed and the cell plate was abnormally assembled during meiosis I under cold stress. Based on the transcriptomic analysis and observations of characterized histological changes, our results suggest that cold stress repressed transcription of cytoskeleton dynamic factors and subsequently caused the defective cytokinesis during meiosis I. The results may explain the male sterility caused by low temperature in wheat TGMS lines.
Dual Δ13C/δ18O response to water and nitrogen availability and its relationship with yield in field‐grown durum wheat
Authors: CABRERA‐BOSQUET LLORENÇ , ALBRIZIO ROSSELLA , NOGUÉS SALVADOR , ARAUS JOSÉ LUIS
Published: November 2010

The combined use of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in plant matter is a tool of growing interest in cereal crop management and breeding, owing to its relevance for assessing the photosynthetic and transpirative performance under different growing conditions including water and N regimes. However, this method has not been applied to wheat grown under real field conditions. Here, plant growth, grain yield (GY) and the associated agronomic components, carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) plus oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) as well as leaf and canopy gas exchange were measured in field‐grown wheat subjected to different water and N availabilities. Water limitation was the main factor affecting yield, leaf and canopy gas exchange and Δ13C and δ18O, whereas N had a smaller effect on such traits. The combination of Δ13C and δ18O gave a clear advantage compared with gas exchange measurements, as it provides information on the instantaneous and the long‐term plant photosynthetic and transpirative performance and are less labour intensive than gas exchange measurements. In addition, the combination of plant Δ13C and δ18O predicted differences in GY and related agronomical parameters, providing agronomists and breeders with integrative traits for selecting crop management practices and/or genotypes with better performance under water‐limiting and N‐limiting conditions.
Protein trafficking to the cell wall occurs through mechanisms distinguishable from default sorting in tobacco
Authors: De Caroli Monica , Lenucci Marcello S. , Di Sansebastiano Gian‐Pietro , Dalessandro Giuseppe , De Lorenzo Giulia , Piro Gabriella
Published: November 2010

The secretory pathway in plants involves sustained traffic to the cell wall, as matrix components, polysaccharides and proteins reach the cell wall through the endomembrane system. We studied the secretion pattern of cell‐wall proteins in tobacco protoplasts and leaf epidermal cells using fluorescent forms of a pectin methylesterase inhibitor protein (PMEI1) and a polygalacturonase inhibitor protein (PGIP2). The two most representative protein fusions, secGFP–PMEI1 and PGIP2–GFP, reached the cell wall by passing through ER and Golgi stacks but using distinct mechanisms. secGFP–PMEI1 was linked to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor and stably accumulated in the cell wall, regulating the activity of the endogenous pectin methylesterases (PMEs) that are constitutively present in this compartment. A mannosamine‐induced non‐GPI‐anchored form of PMEI1 as well as a form (PMEI1–GFP) that was unable to bind membranes failed to reach the cell wall, and accumulated in the Golgi stacks. In contrast, PGIP2–GFP moved as a soluble cargo protein along the secretory pathway, but was not stably retained in the cell wall, due to internalization to an endosomal compartment and eventually the vacuole. Stable localization of PGIP2 in the wall was observed only in the presence of a specific fungal endopolygalacturonase ligand in the cell wall. Both secGFP–PMEI1 and PGIP2–GFP sorting were distinguishable from that of a secreted GFP, suggesting that rigorous and more complex controls than the simple mechanism of bulk flow are the basis of cell‐wall growth and differentiation.
Packed red blood cell age does not impact adverse events or outcomes after subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Naidech A. M. , Liebling S. M. , Duran I. M. , Ault M. L.
Published: November 2010

Objectives: To determine if the age of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) is associated with adverse events or outcomes in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Aim: Analyse data on PRBC age to complications and outcomes in patients with SAH.

Background: Patients who receive a PRBC transfusion after SAH have a higher rate of complications, and older PRBC age may be responsible for this.

Methods/Materials: We prospectively recorded clinical and demographic data, acute adverse effects related to transfusion, major hospital events, radiographic cerebral infarction, PRBC age and outcomes in 119 patients with SAH who received a PRBC transfusion. Patients were followed for outcomes at 14 days or discharge, 28 days and 3 months with the modified Rankin scale (a measure of neurologic function).

Results: In 241 PRBC transfusions, there was new fever in 36 (15%), hypotension in 23 (10%), pulmonary oedema or symptomatic respiratory distress in 5 (2%) and rash in 1 (1%). Age of PRBCs administered was not associated with vasospasm, cerebral infarction, acute adverse events or outcomes (P > 0·1 for all).

Conclusions: In this small registry of patients with SAH, the age of transfused PRBCs was not associated with adverse events or outcomes.
Methoprene treatment reduces the pre‐copulatory period in Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) sterile males
Authors: Segura D. F. , Utgés M. E. , Liendo M. C. , Rodríguez M. F. , Devescovi F. , Vera M. T. , Teal P. E. A. , Cladera J. L.
Published: November 2010

Anastrepha fraterculus is a major fruit pest in South America. Ongoing studies support the implementation of the sterile insect technique (SIT) against this pest. Sexual readiness of sterile males is a key point for SIT application. The pre‐copulatory period of A. fraterculus males has not been reported before, but it is expected to last several days. An acceleration of sexual maturation was achieved in other Anastrepha species after topical applications of juvenile hormone analogues, like methoprene. Here, we studied the effect of methoprene on male sexual maturation, mating duration and sperm transfer in A. fraterculus as well as the impact of acetone (methoprene solvent) on survival. We also explored a method to deliver methoprene massively. Pheromone‐calling and mating ability were evaluated daily from adult emergence, and used as indicators of sexual maturity. Anastrepha fraterculus males showed a long pre‐copulatory period (7 days approximately), as other Anastrepha species. This process was accelerated after methoprene treatment (2.5 μg/μl), both in non‐irradiated and irradiated males which matured 2–3 days earlier. Mating duration for methoprene‐treated males was longer than for mature untreated males, however, no differences in sperm transfer were detected. Survival was not affected by acetone. Dipping pupae in methoprene allowed emerging males to mature as fast as those receiving topical application as adults. Dipping of pupae is a promising method to deliver massively methoprene and should be further investigated.
Isolation of five new monosomic alien addition lines of Gossypium australe F. Muell in G. hirsutum L. by SSR and GISH analyses
Authors: Sarr D. , Lacape J‐M. , Rodier‐Goud M. , Jacquemin J‐M. , Benbouza H. , Toussaint A. , Palm R. , Ahoton L. , Baudoin J‐P. , Mergeai G.
Published: November 2010

With 2 figures and 3 tables

Gossypium australe F. Muell (2n = 2x = 26) is a wild perennial species possessing agronomic useful traits that would be interesting to introgress into G. hirsutum L. (2n = 4x = 52), the main cultivated cotton species. To isolate monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) of G. australe in G. hirsutum, the [2(G. hirsutum × G. australe) × G. hirsutum] pentaploid (2n = 5x = 65) was backcrossed as male parent to G. hirsutum. Analysis of 42 BC1 plants and seven alien addition lines, already available, with 150 SSR markers developed from G. hirsutum revealed a cross‐species amplification rate of 100% and a polymorphism rate of 56%. Eighty polymorphic SSR markers generated 87 G. australe‐specific loci that have been assigned by a hierarchical cluster analysis to 13 linkage groups corresponding to the 13 chromosomes of G. australe. Analysis by SSR markers and genomic in situ hybridization of the self‐progeny of disomic alien addition lines, backcross progeny of the pentaploid, allowed the isolation of five new MAALs.
Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Depression Coping Self‐efficacy Scale
Authors: Albal Esra , Kutlu Yasemin , Bilgin Hulya
Published: November 2010

Reliable and valid instruments are needed to assess and deal with the problems that are encountered by depressed patients in psychiatric nursing practice. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Depression Coping Self‐efficacy Scale. A descriptive and correlation design was used to determine the psychometric properties of the Scale. The study population was 105 depressed inpatients from acute psychiatry services. The study confirmed that the Scale is reliable and valid for assessing depression coping self‐efficacy of depressed patients in acute psychiatric wards in Turkey.
Why Thai parents do not discuss sex with their children: a qualitative study
Authors: Sridawruang Chaweewan , Pfeil Michael , Crozier Kenda
Published: November 2010

This qualitative article explores the attitudes of Thai adolescents and parents concerning the barriers that prevent parents providing sex education to their adolescent children. Focus groups were conducted with 30 parents and 36 adolescents in rural north‐eastern Thailand and were analyzed by using thematic analysis. The results showed that most Thai parents have not taught their children about sex education issues. Five themes emerged in relation to the limitations in providing sex education in Thai families. These were: restrictions imposed by traditional Thai culture; sex education is not a parental duty; parental limitations; the generation gap; and better not bring it up. We conclude that the core values in Thai society restrict the discussion of sex, resulting in youth missing the opportunity to acquire the knowledge that is needed about sexual issues from their family. This article provides evidence of how parents' knowledge and perceptions are linked to their ability and willingness to discuss sexual matters with their teenagers. Therefore, future sex education policies could be greatly enhanced by empowering parents to take part in the sex education of their teenage children.
Self‐efficacy in Infant Care Scale: Revision and further psychometric testing
Authors: Prasopkittikun Tassanee , Tilokskulchai Fongcum
Published: November 2010

Maternal self‐efficacy is an important factor in parenting behaviors and skills. In order to assess maternal self‐efficacy in infant care, a solid measure is needed. The integrity of the assessment of self‐efficacy in infant care depends upon whether or not an instrument possesses proper measurement properties. The purpose of this study was to revise the scale items and examine the further psychometric properties of the Self‐efficacy in Infant Care Scale. Using a sample of 235 Thai mothers, the revised Scale, with 44 items, was found to have internal consistency and test‐retest reliability values of 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized structure. Also, the revised Scale was found to be correlated with a measure of a theoretically related construct; that is, the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form. The psychometric testing results suggest that the revised Scale can be used as an assessment tool for both research and clinical purposes.
Effectiveness of Chronic Disease Self‐management Program in Japan: Preliminary report of a longitudinal study
Authors: Yukawa Keiko , Yamazaki Yoshihiko , Yonekura Yuki , Togari Taisuke , Abbott Fusae K. , Homma Mieko , Park Minjeong , Kagawa Yumi
Published: November 2010

This is the preliminary report of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self‐management Program in Japan by comparing changes in health outcomes at the baseline and 3‐month and 6‐month follow‐ups. The program is a patient‐centered educational program for the self‐management of chronic conditions. The study's participants were recruited from among the attendees of the program workshops. During the study period (August 2006 to May 2007), 18 workshops were held and 128 attendees agreed to participate in the study. The health outcomes that were measured included health status, self‐management behaviors, utilization of health services, self‐efficacy, satisfaction with daily living, and clinical indicators. These indicators were further analyzed by disease type: diabetes, rheumatic disease, and cardiovascular disease/dyslipidemia. The findings indicated statistically significant positive changes in health distress, coping with symptoms, stretching exercises, communication with the physician, and satisfaction with daily living. The positive changes were especially remarkable among the groups with diabetes and rheumatic disease. These findings suggest that the Chronic Disease Self‐management Program can be effective for Japanese people with chronic conditions.
Open repair of the acutely torn Achilles tendon under local anaesthetic
Authors: Macquet Adrian Jules , Christensen Rosie Jane , Debenham Matthew , Wyatt Michael , Panting Allan Leslie
Published: November 2010

Background:  Where surgery has been preferred, the torn Achilles tendon (AT) has most commonly been repaired under general or spinal anaesthetic (GA). Repair using local anaesthetic (LA) has been reported, but does not appear to be widely used.

Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed 87 patients, following open repair using either GA or LA at Nelson Hospital, 2001–2005. Calf strength and ankle range of motion (ROM) were assessed. Subjective pain and function were assessed using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle Questionnaire. Complications, time off work and sport, time in theatre, and hospital were recorded.

Results:  Fifty‐nine tendons were repaired under GA (68%) and 28 under LA (32%). Outcomes were similar for each group. There was no significant difference in strength and ROM. Foot and Ankle Questionnaire scores were similar. Total theatre time averaged 57 min for GA and 37 min for LA (P = 0.01). LA repairs (82%) were performed as a day case compared with 10% of the GA repairs (P = 0.01). LA patients had a quicker return to work. GA complications included two deep vein thromboses and two pulmonary emboli. One patient from each group had a re‐rupture.

Conclusion:  A repair of the acutely ruptured AT under LA is at least as effective as repair under GA with regard to function, long‐term pain and patient satisfaction. LA repair results in significant cost savings due to less theatre time, fewer anaesthetic costs, and a shorter hospital stay.
De novo renal cell carcinoma of native and graft kidneys in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Tsaur Igor , Obermüller Nicholas , Jonas Dietger , Blaheta Roman , Juengel Eva , Scheuermann Ernst‐Heinrich , Kachel Heinz‐Georg , Karalis Athanasios , Probst Michael
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Immmunosuppression is an etablished risk factor for development of different maligancies. Nevertheless, little is known about the behaviour of renal cell cancer of native and graft kidneys in renal transplanted patients. The study results show an increased incidence of renal cell carcinoma in renal transplant recipients with high prevalence of papillary subtype, significantly younger patient age at the immunosuppression onset, aggressive behaviour with an increased tendency to systemic advance despite a high rate of low‐stage and low‐grade carcinomas at diagnosis. Furthermore, graft tumours had a more favourable prognosis than those of native kidney.

OBJECTIVE

To access the epidemiological, clinical and survival features of renal transplant patients with de novo renal cell carcinoma of native and graft kidneys.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective examination of the data of 2001 consecutive renal transplant recipients at our centre between November 1979 and January 2010.

RESULTS

In the patient cohort examined, 30 renal cell carcinomas were observed in 26 individuals (incidence 1.5%) with 25 tumours in the native and five in allograft kidneys. Mean tumour size in surgical specimens was 44 ± 36 mm. The rate of papillary cancer was 37.5%.

After a mean follow‐up of 58.6 ± 62.3 months, 15.4% of the patients died from cancer and 57.7% were in complete remission.

Overall and tumour‐specific survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were 86.1%, 75.1% and 43.8%, and 90.4%, 83.5% and 66.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to increasingly improved survival after renal transplantation, de novo malignancies might soon become the main cause of intermediate‐ or long‐term mortality.

Current data support an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma in renal transplant recipients in a particularly aggressive way, but low tendency for metachronous contralateral evolution.

With continuous radiological follow‐ups, acceptable oncological outcome can be achieved. Graft tumours may have a favourable prognosis.