bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parenting and problem behaviors in children of substance abusing parents
Authors: Burlew A. Kathleen , Johnson Candace , Smith Stephanie , Sanders Alexis , Hall Ritchie , Lampkin Beatrice , Schwaderer Mary
Published: October 2012

Background

This study examined parenting practices, parental stress, and problem behaviors among urban Children of Substance Abusing Parents.

Method

One hundred and seven children completed the Child Rating Scale and the Children's Depression Inventory. Parents completed the Parenting Practices Scale‐Parent Version, Parenting Stress Index, and internalizing and externalizing scales on the Parent Observation of Classroom Adaptation.

Results

Structural Equation Modeling findings support an indirect effects pathway in which unfavorable parenting practices predict parental stress and parental stress predicts internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Conclusion

The results argue for assessing parental stress and including activities to improve the parent‐child bond in family intervention programs.
A New Approach to Counteract Bacteria Resistance: A Comparative Study Between Moxifloxacin and a New Moxifloxacin Derivative in Different Model Systems of Bacterial Membrane
Authors: Lopes Silvia C. , Ribeiro Carla , Gameiro Paula
Published: October 2012

New drug design has been one of the major challenges to combat bacterial resistance over the past decade. Conventional antibiotics act by destroying bacterial cell wall or by blocking biosynthetic pathways necessary for its survival. Unfortunately, there has been a fast increase in multiresistance, to several conventional antibiotics, in clinical bacterial strains. Previous studies have shown that metalloantibiotics, ternary complexes of antibiotic‐metal‐phenanthroline, present an increased potential as antimicrobial agents. In this work moxifloxacin, a fourth‐generation quinolone, with a broad spectrum of action, and its copper ternary complex (metalloantibiotic) have been study by fluorescence spectroscopy. Partition coefficients were determined and showed that while free moxifloxacin exhibits the same behaviour independently of the lipidic system tested, the metalloantibiotic presents higher partition to liposomes, in a lipid composition‐dependent way. These significant differences in the interaction of the metalloantibiotic with model bacteria membranes point out for a putative change in its uptake mechanism with increased drug–lipid interaction potentiating metalloantibiotic influx.
Prognostic value of tgfb1 protein in endometrioid adenocarcinoma
Authors: Soufla Giannoula , Sifakis Stavros , Porichis Filippos , Spandidos Demetrios A.
Published: October 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012

Background  Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for tumour development, progression and metastasis; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms in endometrial carcinoma are poorly understood.

Design  In this study, the mRNA and protein expression profiles of two key regulators of angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta‐1 (TGFB1), were evaluated by real‐time PCR and western blot analysis in 23 endometrial cancer tissue‐paired specimens (malignant vs. adjacent normal tissues). We aimed to investigate whether VEGF and TGFB1 serve as markers of the malignant transformation of the endometrium and whether VEGF or TGFB1 expression can constitute a useful prognostic marker of survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Results  Tissue‐pair analysis revealed VEGF transcriptional up‐regulation and TGFB1 mRNA down‐regulation as the most frequent transcriptional features. VEGF and TGFB1 mRNA were positively correlated (P < 0·001). VEGF protein levels were higher in endometrioid‐type tissue pairs (P = 0·047). TGFB1 protein and mRNA levels were negatively correlated (P = 0·042). TGFB1 protein expression was related to survival only in patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma (P = 0·045).

Conclusions  Tissue‐pair mRNA and protein analysis reveals VEGF transcriptional up‐regulation and TGFB1 down‐regulation that are correlated with the malignant transformation of the endometrium, while post‐transcriptional mechanisms control VEGF and TGFB1 protein. TGFB1 protein demonstrated a prognostic value only in endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
Acinetobacter baumannii FolD ligand complexes – potent inhibitors of folate metabolism and a re‐evaluation of the structure of LY374571
Authors: Eadsforth Thomas C. , Maluf Fernando V. , Hunter William N.
Published: October 2012

The bifunctional N5,N10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase (DHCH or FolD), which is widely distributed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, is involved in the biosynthesis of folate cofactors that are essential for growth and cellular development. The enzyme activities represent a potential antimicrobial drug target. We have characterized the kinetic properties of FolD from the Gram‐negative pathogen Acinetobacter baumanni and determined high‐resolution crystal structures of complexes with a cofactor and two potent inhibitors. The data reveal new details with respect to the molecular basis of catalysis and potent inhibition. A unexpected finding was that our crystallographic data revealed a different structure for LY374571 (an inhibitor studied as an antifolate) than that previously published. The implications of this observation are discussed.

Database

The coordinates have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession numbers: 4B4U, 4B4V and 4B4W.

Structured digital abstract

AbFolD and AbFolD bind by x-ray crystallography (View interaction)
Individual and combined effects of fish predation and bed disturbance on stream benthic communities: a streamside channel experiment
Authors: HERRMANN PETER B. , TOWNSEND COLIN R. , MATTHAEI CHRISTOPH D.
Published: October 2012

1. The composition and spatiotemporal dynamics of biological communities are influenced by biotic processes, such as predation and competition, but also by physical disturbances, such as floods in running waters. However, the interplay of disturbance with predation is still poorly understood, especially in frequently disturbed streams. Further, different predator species can affect prey communities in different ways depending on their feeding mode and efficiency.

2. We investigated the individual and combined effects of flood‐induced bed disturbance and fish predation on the benthos for 4 weeks in 18 streamside channels fed by a flood‐prone New Zealand river. Bed movements caused by floods were simulated by tumbling the substratum in half the channels. Six channels each were stocked with introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) or native upland bully (Gobiomorphus breviceps) or had fish excluded. We studied algal biomass and both invertebrate density and daytime activity on surface stones on several dates after the disturbance, invertebrate community composition in the substrata of the entire channels on day 28 and leaf decomposition rates over the 28‐day period.

3. Disturbance affected algal biomass and density, richness and activity of surface stone invertebrates, and overall density and richness of channel invertebrates. Presence or absence of fish, by contrast, did not influence overall invertebrate standing stocks when subsurface substrata were included but did affect invertebrate densities on surface stones in 45% of all analysed cases and invertebrate activity on surface stones in all cases. Leaf decomposition rates were not influenced at all by the experimental manipulations.

4. Native upland bullies featured more often than exotic brown trout in causing invertebrate density changes and equally often in causing changes to grazer behaviour. Overall, our results imply that fish predation can have strong effects on the benthic invertebrate community in frequently disturbed streams, especially via behavioural changes.
Concordance between realised and fundamental niches in three IberianSigaraspecies (Hemiptera: Corixidae) along a gradient of salinity and anionic composition
Authors: CARBONELL J. A. , MILLÁN A. , VELASCO J.
Published: October 2012

1. We test the hypothesis that the physiological tolerance of corixids for saline conditions determines, at least partially, their occurrence along a salinity gradient that encompasses a variety of anionic compositions.

2. Three species ofSigara,S. nigrolineata(fresh waters),S. scripta(hyposaline waters) andS. selecta(mesosaline and hypersaline waters) were selected, and it was predicted that species occurring in the most saline waters would be ion regulation specialists that are more tolerant of higher salinity, while species living in fresh or hyposaline waters would be generalist regulators in relation to different anions, and therefore less tolerant of higher salinity.

3. Niche breadth was quantified using field data for both water conductivity and anionic composition (realised niche). In addition, physiological tolerance in relation to conductivity and anionic composition (fundamental niche) was estimated in laboratory tests using eggs, nymphs and adults of all species.

4. Sigara nigrolineataadults showed the most limited conductivity tolerance and were generalists in relation to different anionic water compositions.Sigara scriptademonstrated tolerance of hyposaline and mesosaline waters and higher survival rates in sulphated waters.Sigara selectawas the only species occupying hypersaline waters that showed a preference for anion chloride.

5. Sigara scriptawas the only species coexisting with the other two species. This can be explained by the overlap found in conductivity and anionic composition niche dimensions at the lower (S. nigrolineata) and upper (S. selecta) tolerance limits.

6. Young life‐stages of the species showed similar responses but less tolerance of higher salinity than adults; this was the case for eggs ofS. nigrolineataand nymphs ofS. scriptaandS. selecta.

7. Physiological limitations were not found in relation to fresh and less saline waters inS. selecta,so other factors, probably involving biotic interactions, may play an important role in this species.
Interobserver agreement among pathologists regarding core tissue specimens obtained with a new endoscopic ultrasound histology needle; a prospective multicentre study in 50 cases
Authors: Petrone Maria Chiara , Poley Jan‐Werner , Bonzini Matteo , Testoni Pier Alberto , Abdulkader Ihab , Biermann Katharina , Monges Genevieve , Rindi Guido , Doglioni Claudio , Bruno Marco J , Giovannini Marc , Iglesias‐Garcia Julio , Larghi Alberto , Arcidiacono Paolo Giorgio
Published: October 2012

Aim

To evaluate the interobserver agreement among pathologists in grading the quality of specimens obtained with a new 19‐gauge endoscopic ultrasound histology needle.

Methods and results

This multicentre prospective study involved 50 slides prepared using material obtained with the new needle. Five experienced pathologists independently reviewed all of the samples, and made assessments of the following features: the presence of a core, the adequacy of the specimen, the interpretability of the specimen, and the possibility of performing additional analyses using the material. Interobserver agreement, determined by Fleiss' kappa statistic and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), was used as the primary outcome measure. Overall, the presence of a core was reported in 88% of cases with good agreement among the pathologists (κ = 0.61; 95% CI 0.52–0.70). The specimens were adequate in 91.2% of cases, and Fleiss' κ was 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.81). The interpretation of the specimens was reported to be ‘easy’ in approximately 87% of cases, with moderate agreement among the pathologists (κ = 0.44; 95% CI 0.35–0.53). The possibility of performing additional analyses from the same sample was rated as positive in approximately 91%, with good agreement (κ = 0.66; 95% CI 0.58–0.75).

Conclusions

There was excellent interobserver agreement among pathologists in the assessment of the histological material, especially with regard to sample adequacy.
The benefits of Fischer‐Tropsch waxes in synthetic petroleum jelly
Authors: Bekker M. , Louw N. R. , Jansen Van Rensburg V. J. , Potgieter J.
Published: October 2012

Synopsis

This article is an introduction and general discussion regarding the use of Fisher‐Tropsch wax in petroleum jelly applications. Traditionally, petroleum jelly is prepared from a blend of microwax, paraffin wax and mineral oil that are all derived from crude oil. Sasol Wax has successfully prepared a petroleum jelly based on predominantly to fully synthetic Fisher‐Tropsch wax. Sasol Wax was awarded a patent P53898ZP00‐29 November 11 for a predominantly to fully synthetic petroleum jelly based on Fisher‐Tropsch wax blends. The benefits of Fisher‐Tropsch wax discussed in this article include the absence of aromatic compounds and polycyclic aromatic compounds in Fisher‐Tropsch wax as well as the sustainable production that is possible with Fisher‐Tropsch wax, as opposed to paraffin wax that may be affected by the closure of group I Base Oil plants. This article will be the first in a series of articles from the same authors, and follow‐up articles will include solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance and crystallization studies to determine the influence of predominantly synthetic waxes on petroleum jelly network structures compared with more traditional mineral oil‐derived petroleum jellies, final product performance and stability of synthetic petroleum jelly used in, for example, personal care lotions or creams. The influence of oxygenated compounds and product safety and rheological properties (including primary skin feel upon application and secondary skin feel after application) of synthetic petroleum jellies compared with traditional mineral oil‐derived petroleum jellies are discussed.
Accuracy of CBCT for volumetric measurement of simulated periapical lesions
Authors: Ahlowalia M. S. , Patel S. , Anwar H. M. S. , Cama G. , Austin R. S. , Wilson R. , Mannocci F.
Published: October 2012

Aim

To compare the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro‐computed tomography (μCT) when measuring the volume of bone cavities.

Methodology

Ten irregular‐shaped cavities of varying dimensions were created in bovine bone specimens using a rotary diamond bur. The samples were then scanned using the Accuitomo 3D® CBCT scanner. The scanned information was converted to the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format ready for analysis. Once formatted, 10 trained and calibrated examiners segmented the scans and measured the volumes of the lesions. Intra/interexaminer agreement was assessed by each examiner re‐segmenting each scan after a 2‐week interval. Micro‐CT scans were analysed by a single examiner. To achieve a physical reading of the artificially created cavities, replicas were created using dimensionally stable silicone impression material. After measuring the mass of each impression sample, the volume was calculated by dividing the mass of each sample by the density of the set impression material. Further corroboration of these measurements was obtained by employing Archimedes' principle to measure the volume of each impression sample. Intraclass correlation was used to assess agreement.

Results

Both CBCT (mean volume: 175.9 mm3) and μCT (mean volume: 163.1 mm3) showed a high degree of agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.9) when compared to both weighed and ‘Archimedes’ principle' measurements (mean volume: 177.7 and 182.6 mm3, respectively).

Conclusion

Cone beam computed tomography is an accurate means of measuring volume of artificially created bone cavities in an ex vivo model. This may provide a valuable tool for monitoring the healing rate of apical periodontitis; further investigations are warranted.
Quantum Cutting in Luminescent Glasses and Glass Ceramics
Authors: Zhou Jiajia , Teng Yu , Zhou Shifeng , Qiu Jianrong
Published: October 2012

In the last decade, revolutions in photonic material design and large‐area nanostructure fabrication have given researchers and technologists tools to enable a new era of ultrahigh‐efficiency photovoltaics. Quantum cutting has received much attention as a potential approach to enhance the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar cell in the recent decades. In this article, we review the phenomena, mechanisms, and design of the quantum cutting processes, focusing on the promising applications of the transparent glasses and glass ceramic materials as the down‐converter of solar spectrum. We discuss the gaps between the current theoretical analysis and the practical applications of the quantum‐cutting materials. To concave the negative effects of using the quantum‐cutting materials as a down‐converter on the front surface of the solar cell, much attention should be given to the choice of material and improvement of the material properties as well as the integration of photonic nanostructures and circuits on the solar cell.
Prevalence of undiagnosed and undertreated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in lung cancer population
Authors: ZHANG JING , ZHOU JIE‐BAI , LIN XIN‐FENG , WANG QUN , BAI CHUN‐XUE , HONG QUN‐YING
Published: October 2012

Background and objective:  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor and important coexisting disease for lung cancer; however, the current status of management of COPD in lung cancer patients is not fully described. This study addressed this issue in a general teaching hospital in China.

Methods:  Medical records of hospitalized lung cancer patients in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2006 and December 2010 were reviewed. The definition of COPD was according to the spirometric criteria of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) document. The diagnostic rate (COPD recorded as a discharge diagnosis/spirometry‐defined percentage) and conformity to GOLD treatment guidelines were investigated. The factors influencing diagnosis were analysed.

Results:  During the study period, the prevalence of spirometry‐defined COPD in hospitalized lung cancer patients was 21.6% (705/3263). The overall diagnostic rate of COPD was 7.1%, and the treatment conformity for stable and acute exacerbation of COPD was 27.1% and 46.8%, respectively. Respiratory physicians had a higher diagnostic rate than non‐respiratory doctors (34.8% vs 2.9%, P < 0.001) and a better treatment conformity for acute exacerbation of COPD (63.6% vs 37.5%, P = 0.048). Patients with COPD as a discharge diagnosis had more chance to receive guideline‐consistent treatment. The diagnostic rate of COPD was higher among patients with a history of smoking, respiratory diseases or symptoms.

Conclusions:  COPD is substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated in a hospitalized lung cancer population. History of smoking, respiratory diseases and symptoms promotes diagnosis. Education of COPD knowledge among patients and doctors is urgently required in this special population.
‘A Very Transcendental Power’: Denaturalisation and the Liberalisation of Citizenship in the United Kingdom
Authors: Gibney Matthew J.
Published: October 2012

The right to strip citizenship from (denaturalise) those deemed disloyal or dangerous is a significant but largely unexamined power held by some liberal states. Since 2002, the British government has, in response to concerns about terrorism and value of citizenship, expanded its power to denaturalise certain categories of citizens, including those born in the UK. This development seems odd in the light of academic literature that has described a recent trend in Europe towards the increasing ‘liberalisation’ of citizenship. Writing on the subject of citizenship acquisition, scholars have pointed to a range of changes that curtail the state's ability to withhold citizenship from resident non-citizens. In this article, I draw upon parliamentary debates, archived documents, government reports and secondary literature, to chart the historical development of denaturalisation power in the UK and consider the extent to which it has been shaped by liberal principles. This history indicates that denaturalisation had indeed undergone a process of liberalisation before the Labour government partly reversed its direction after 2002. Yet it also shows that liberal principles, far from simply curtailing the state's powers to strip citizenship, have been deeply implicated in recent and historical attempts to expand denaturalisation power by British governments.
Proximity of brain infarcts to regions of endogenous neurogenesis and involvement of striatum in ischaemic stroke
Authors: Delavaran H. , Sjunnesson H. , Arvidsson A. , Lindvall O. , Norrving B. , van Westen D. , Kokaia Z. , Lindgren A.
Published: October 2012

Background and purpose

Clinical stroke trials with stem cell‐based approaches aiming for trophic actions, modulation of inflammation and neuroprotection are ongoing. However, experimental studies also suggest that neuronal replacement by grafted neural stem cells (NSCs) and possibly by endogenousNSCs from the subventricular zone (SVZ) may restore function in the stroke‐damaged striatum. To evaluate the potential clinical impact of these findings, we analyzed the spatial relationship of infarcts to theSVZand the proportion of individuals with striatal lesions in a consecutive series of ischaemic stroke patients.

Methods

Patients aged 20–75 years with first‐ever ischaemic stroke underwentDW‐MRIof the brain within 4 days after stroke onset. We analyzed location, size, number of acute focal ischaemic abnormalities and their spatial relationship to theSVZ. Stroke severity was assessed usingNIHStroke Scale (NIHSS).

Results

Of 108 included patients, the distance from the nearest margin of the infarct(s) to theSVZwas ≤2 mm in 51/102 patients with visible ischaemic lesions onDW‐MRI. Twenty‐four patients had involvement of striatum. Eight of these had predominantly striatal lesions, that is >50% of the total ischaemic lesion volume was located in caudate nucleus and/or putamen. These 8 patients had a medianNIHSSof 3.

Conclusions

Many stroke patients have infarcts located close to theSVZ, providing some supportive evidence that optimized endogenous neurogenesis may have therapeutic potential. However, predominantly striatal infarcts are rare and tend to give mild neurological deficits, indicating that striatum should not be the primary target for neuronal replacement efforts in humans.
Transport of root‐respired CO2 via the transpiration stream affects aboveground carbon assimilation and CO2 efflux in trees
Authors: Bloemen Jasper , McGuire Mary Anne , Aubrey Doug P. , Teskey Robert O. , Steppe Kathy
Published: October 2012

Upward transport of CO2 via the transpiration stream from belowground to aboveground tissues occurs in tree stems. Despite potentially important implications for our understanding of plant physiology, the fate of internally transported CO2 derived from autotrophic respiratory processes remains unclear.

We infused a 13CO2‐labeled aqueous solution into the base of 7‐yr‐old field‐grown eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) trees to investigate the effect of xylem‐transported CO2 derived from the root system on aboveground carbon assimilation and CO2 efflux.

The 13C label was transported internally and detected throughout the tree. Up to 17% of the infused label was assimilated, while the remainder diffused to the atmosphere via stem and branch efflux. The largest amount of assimilated 13C was found in branch woody tissues, while only a small quantity was assimilated in the foliage. Petioles were more highly enriched in 13C than other leaf tissues.

Our results confirm a recycling pathway for respired CO2 and indicate that internal transport of CO2 from the root system may confound the interpretation of efflux‐based estimates of woody tissue respiration and patterns of carbohydrate allocation.
Transition of research focus from vasospasm to early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Caner Basak , Hou Jack , Altay Orhan , Fuj Mutsumi , Zhang John H.
Published: October 2012

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating disease that can be difficult to manage. Not only is the initial bleeding and rebleeding associated with high mortality, but a large fraction of patients also develop a delayed neurological deficit even when the aneurysm was successfully secured with clipping or coiling. Past research effort has traditionally been focused on vasospasm, which was conceived to be the sole factor for delayed neurological deficit. The failure of anti‐vasospastic drugs to improve outcome in clinical trials has brought into focus the significance of early brain injury. The immediate events associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, including increased intracranial pressure, decreased cerebral blood flow and global ischemia initiate a cascade of pathological changes that occur before the onset of delayed vasospasm. These pathological changes in the very early stage of the hemorrhage propagate and cause blood–brain barrier disruption, inflammation, oxidative stress and cell death. Focusing only on the treatment of vasospasm with complete disregard for early brain injury is insufficient for the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Instead, a therapeutic intervention has to aim at stopping the molecular cascades of early brain injury that may lead to long‐term deficits in addition to vasospasm. We review the pathological mechanisms of early brain injury, which may reveal new therapeutic avenues that can be exploited to serve as combination therapy with anti‐vasospasm medications in the future.
Transcranial Doppler ultrasound in neurovascular diseases: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects
Authors: Akif Topcuoglu M.
Published: October 2012

Albeit no direct anatomical information can be obtained, neurosonological methods provide real‐time determination of velocity, and spectral waveform of blood flow in basal intracranial arteries adds significant benefit to the care of the patients with neurovascular diseases. Several features, such as relative simplicity in terms of interpretation and performance, significantly low cost, totally non‐invasiveness, portability, and excellent temporal resolution, make neurosonology increasingly popular tool for evaluation, planning, and monitoring of treatment, and for determining prognosis in various neurovascular diseases. Usefulness of transcranial Doppler in diagnosing/monitoring subarachnoid hemorrhage related vasospasm and sickle cell vasculopathy is already well known. Utility in diagnosis of intracranial arterial stenosis, acute occlusion and recanalization, intracranial hemodynamic effect of the cervical arterial pathologies, intracranial pressure increase, and cerebral circulatory arrest are also well established. Neurosonological determination of vasomotor reactivity, cerebral autoregulation, neurovascular coupling, and micro‐embolic signals detection are useful in the assessment of stroke risk, diagnosis of right‐to‐left shunting, and monitoring during surgery and interventional procedures. Transcranial Doppler is also an evolving ultrasound method with a therapeutic potential such as augmentation of clot lysis and cerebral delivery of thrombolytic or neuroprotective agent loaded nanobubbles in neurovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to give an overview of current usage of the different ultrasound modalities in different neurovascular diseases.
The evolution of lenses
Authors: Land Michael F
Published: October 2012

Structures which bend light and so form images are present in all the major phyla. Lenses with a graded refractive index, and hence reduced spherical aberration, evolved in the vertebrates, arthropods, annelid worms, and several times in the molluscs. Even cubozoan jellyfish have lens eyes. In some vertebrate eyes, multiple focal lengths allow some correction for chromatic aberration. In land vertebrates the cornea took over the main ray‐bending task, leaving accommodation as the main function of the lens. The spiders are the only other group to make use of a single cornea as the optical system in their main eyes, and some of these – the salticids – have evolved a remarkable system based on image scanning. Similar scanning arrangements are found in some crustaceans, sea‐snails and insect larvae.
Eye cosmetic usage and associated ocular comfort
Authors: Ng Alison , Evans Katharine , North Rachel , Purslow Christine
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Eye cosmetics usage is commonplace and whilst some products such as eyeliner are applied with close proximity to the ocular surface, there is little knowledge of the short‐ and long‐term ocular effects of eye cosmetic formulations. This study aimed to investigate the use of eye cosmetics and identify any relationships between ocular comfort and cosmetic usage.

Methods

Results were collated from an online survey comprising 23 questions that recorded demographics, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, extent and range of eye cosmetic use and perceived comfort differences with and without eye cosmetics.

Results

The 1360 female respondents (median age 25, interquartile range 20–34 years) completed the survey; 83% reported using eye cosmetics regularly (≥ 3 times per week) with mascara being most commonly used. Fifty three per cent used at least three different eye cosmetics products regularly. OSDI scores of cosmetics users were similar to non‐users (p = 0.083), but perceived comfort was greater when cosmetics were not used (p < 0.001). In occasional cosmetics users (use of products < 3 times per week), 65% reported a reduction in comfort when cosmetics were used. Median OSDI scores suggested a trend towards reduced comfort amongst eyeliner users (p = 0.07) although frequency and type of cosmetic products used did not appear to influence OSDI scores.

Conclusions

This study shows the use of multiple eye cosmetics is extensive and associated with the perception of ocular discomfort. With such widespread use of these products, more research is required to assess the effect on the ocular surface and tear film, which may be underestimated.
Comparing Alcohol Screening Measures Among HIV‐Infected and ‐Uninfected Men
Authors: McGinnis Kathleen A. , Justice Amy C. , Kraemer Kevin L. , Saitz Richard , Bryant Kendall J. , Fiellin David A.
Published: October 2012

Background

Brief measures of unhealthy alcohol use have not been well validated among people with HIV. We compared the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to reference standards for unhealthy alcohol use based on 30‐day Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) and Composite International Diagnostic Interview—Substance Abuse Module (CIDI‐SAM), among 837 male HIV‐infected and ‐uninfected patients in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study.

Methods

Three reference standards were (i) Risky drinking—based on TLFB >14 drinks over 7 consecutive days or >4 drinks on 1 day; (ii) Alcohol dependence—based on a CIDI‐SAM diagnosis; and (iii) Unhealthy alcohol use—risky drinking or a CIDI‐SAM diagnosis of abuse or dependence. Various cutoffs for the AUDIT, AUDIT‐C, and heavy episodic drinking were compared with the reference standards.

Results

Mean age of patients was 52 years, 53% (444) were HIV‐infected, and 53% (444) were African American. Among HIV‐infected and ‐uninfected patients, the prevalence of risky drinking (14 vs. 12%, respectively), alcohol dependence (8 vs. 7%), and unhealthy alcohol use (22 vs. 20%) was similar. For risky drinking and alcohol dependence, multiple cutoffs of AUDIT, AUDIT‐C, and heavy episodic drinking provided good sensitivity (≥80%) and specificity (≥90%). For unhealthy alcohol use, few cutoffs provided sensitivity ≥80%; however, many cutoffs provided good specificity. For all 3 alcohol screening measures, sensitivity improved when heavy episodic drinking was included with the cutoff. Sensitivity of measures for risky drinking and unhealthy alcohol use was lower in HIV‐infected than in uninfected patients.

Conclusions

For identifying risky drinking, alcohol dependence, and unhealthy alcohol use, AUDIT‐C performs as well as AUDIT and similarly in HIV‐infected and ‐uninfected patients. Cutoffs should be based on the importance of specific operating characteristics for the intended research or clinical use. Incorporating heavy episodic drinking increased sensitivity for detecting alcohol dependence and unhealthy alcohol use.
Faith Matters: Religious Affiliation and Public Opinion About Barack Obama's Foreign Policy in the “Greater” Middle East
Authors: Taydas Zeynep , Kentmen Cigdem , Olson Laura R.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

Despite the obvious relevance of religious themes and symbols in U.S. foreign policy since September 11, 2001, scholars know little about whether or how religious affiliation and behavior affect foreign policy attitudes. In this study, we endeavor to fill this gap in the literature.

Methods

We analyze the relationship between religious affiliation and public opinion about several dimensions of U.S. foreign policy in the Greater Middle East under President Barack Obama using pooled data from three surveys conducted in 2009 by the Pew Research Center.

Results

Our analysis indicates that the “faith factor” is a powerful force driving American attitudes about Obama's foreign policy. Specifically, seculars, mainline Protestants, and Catholics variously stand out as more moderate and more supportive of Obama when compared to evangelical Protestants.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that even when other determinants of foreign policy public opinion are controlled, religious affiliation has a powerful and independent impact on a wide array of foreign policy attitudes. Religion's impact on foreign policy attitudes thus is limited neither to the period immediately following September 11 nor to the administration of George W. Bush.
The Tea Party, Sarah Palin, and the 2010 Congressional Elections: The Aftermath of the Election of Barack Obama
Authors: Bullock Charles S. , Hood M. V.
Published: October 2012

Objective

Sarah Palin and the Tea Party played active roles in endorsing candidates for the U.S. House in 2010; we explore whether they followed different strategies. Palin proved more careful in backing candidates while the decentralized Tea Party movement often became involved in hopeless causes.

Method

We analyze the endorsements made by Palin and the Tea Party in contests involving House seats held by Democrats going into the 2010 elections.

Results

We show that Palin and the Tea Party had different endorsement approaches.

Conclusions

Palin's endorsements seem to have been guided by more strategic considerations than those from the Tea Party. The Tea Party concentrated more on trying to defeat incumbents and especially incumbents who had supported the Obama legislative package with the stimulus bill being a lightning rod for Tea Partiers. Palin proved far more selective in making endorsements and concentrated more on backing challengers likely to unseat Democrats. Although she endorsed less than half as many races as the Tea Party, she backed almost as many winners.
Modeling forage mediated aggregation in a gregarious ruminant
Authors: Street Garrett M. , Weckerly Floyd W. , Schwinning Susan
Published: October 2012

Two explanations exist for the evolutionary origin of grouping in primary consumers: reduction of individual predation risk and resource‐mediated aggregation. While several studies have assessed relationships between aggregation and predation risk, few studies have examined the circumstances under which resource‐mediated aggregation can lead to stable group formation. Using a model, we examined if forage preference alone can generate stable aggregation, and what were the circumstances of its emergence and stability. The model was a spatially explicit grazing model using empirically derived parameters to simulate large ruminant foraging in a meadow. Simulation results indicated that aggregation can spontaneously arise if grazers exhibit preference for forage of higher nutritional quality, usually associated with intermediate stages of forage growth. In this case, foragers could establish and maintain ‘islands’ of high quality forage as a result of revisiting continuous paths of previously grazed patches. However, aggregation was an intermittent phenomenon and occurred only within a narrow range of parameters. If grazer density was low compared to the amount of forage, the grazers’ foraging paths intersected too rarely to form contiguous islands of high forage quality; if their density was too high, the entire available area was uniformly utilized and foraging movements resembled unbounded random walks. We conclude that it is difficult to conceive of the evolution of grouping without the involvement of predators, since the relationship between grazer and forage abundance is ultimately co‐regulated by predator abundance, and because in modern grazers, predator avoidance and foraging behavior seem to be functionally inseparable. Future research should consider the reinforcing effects of predator avoidance as well as foraging behavior on consumer aggregation.
Side-Effects in Antidepressants
Authors: Wijlaars Linda
Published: October 2012

Thirty-eight years after it was first discovered, we still do not know whether the most researched drug in history is safe. Linda Wijlaars looks at the murky past of our most popular antidepressant. This article was a runner-up in our Young Statisticians Group/Significance writing competition.
The Next President
Authors: VanDerwerken Douglas
Published: October 2012

Will Douglas VanDerwerken change the world? He becomes converted to voting – and works out the odds that his vote will be the crucial all-important pivotal decider that determines who becomes President.
Score and Ignore
Authors: McConway Kevin , Spiegelhalter David
Published: October 2012

Do you shout at the morning radio when a story about a medical “risk” is distorted, exaggerated, mangled out of all recognition? Does your annoyance ruin your breakfast? You are not alone. Kevin McConway and David Spiegelhalter have developed a defence strategy to save their start-of-the-day sanity. Strike back at the presenters! And make it personal …
Building social capital among rural, older Australians through information and communication technologies: A review article
Authors: Warburton Jeni , Cowan Sue , Bathgate Tenzin
Published: October 2012

This paper undertakes a comprehensive review of the growing international literature on the adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among older people. Issues associated with access and adoption of ICTs among older people living in rural communities will be explored, drawing on social capital as a theoretical lens through which to identify how these new technologies can build healthy ageing. ICTs as bridging social capital can address some of the challenges of service provision in rural Australia and provide access to more extensive information and resources. ICTs can also contribute to bonding social capital through access to other forms of communication to build on local connectedness. However, rural, older people face particular challenges of access, which may exacerbate the cycle of rural social exclusion. In the context of the Australian National Broadband rollout, it is timely to consider how some of these disparities can be addressed.
Open-Label Extension Study of Flibanserin in Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Authors: Jayne Christopher , Simon James A. , Taylor Leslie V. , Kimura Toshio , Lesko Lynna M.
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is a common form of Female Sexual Dysfunction characterized by low sexual desire that causes distress or interpersonal difficulty.

Aim

This 52-week open-label extension study aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of flibanserin, a postsynaptic 5-HT1A agonist/5-HT2A antagonist, in women with HSDD.

Methods

Women with HSDD who had completed a trial of flibanserin or flibanserin placebo received flexible-dose flibanserin (50 or 100 mg once daily at bedtime [qhs] or 25 or 50 mg twice daily [bid]) for 52 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary end points were: proportions of women with somnolence, sedation, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting (adverse events [AEs] known to be associated with flibanserin); discontinuations due to AEs; and serious AEs. Secondary end points included change from baseline in Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised total and Item 13 scores and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) total and desire domain score scores. FSFI total scores were used to classify women into FSFI remitters (FSFI score >26.55, indicating no clinical sexual dysfunction) and FSFI non-remitters (FSFI score <26.55).

Results

Of the 1723 women who received flibanserin, 962 (55.8%) completed 12 months’ treatment, and 883 women were exposed to flibanserin 100 mg qhs for ≥180 days. Somnolence, sedation, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting were reported by 15.8, 1.6, 7.6, 6.9, 6.3, and 1.4% of participants, respectively. A total of 185 participants (10.7%) discontinued due to AEs. Serious AEs were reported by 1.2% of participants. At study end, 42% of baseline non-remitters had improved their FSFI score to remission level. The proportion of baseline FSFI remitters in remission rose from 83% at week 4 to a stable value of ∼90%.

Conclusion

Flibanserin was well tolerated. Sexual function improved in women who were not FSFI remitters at baseline, and was maintained in those who were remitters at baseline.
Fragments of β‐thymosin from the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus as potential antimicrobial peptides against staphylococcal biofilms
Authors: Schillaci Domenico , Vitale Maria , Cusimano Maria Grazia , Arizza Vincenzo
Published: October 2012

The immune mediators in echinoderms can be a potential source of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) applied toward controlling pathogenic staphylococcal biofilms that are intrinsically resistant to conventional antibiotics. The peptide fraction <5 kDa from the cytosol of coelomocytes of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (5‐CC) was tested against a group of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative pathogen reference strains. The 5‐CC of P. lividus was active against all planktonic‐tested strains but also showed antibiofilm properties against staphylococcal strains. Additionally, we demonstrated the presence of three small peptides in the 5‐CC belonging to segment 9‐41 of a P. lividusβ‐thymosin. The smallest of these peptides in particular, showed the common chemical–physical characteristics of AMPs. This novel AMP from β‐thymosin has high potential activity as an antibiofilm agent, acting on slow‐growing bacterial cells that exhibit a reduced susceptibility to conventional antibiotics and represent a reservoir for recurrent biofilm‐associated infections.
Thymosin β4 sustained release from poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) microspheres: synthesis and implications for treatment of myocardial ischemia
Authors: Thatcher Jeffrey E. , Welch Tré , Eberhart Robert C. , Schelly Zoltan A. , Michael DiMaio J.
Published: October 2012

A sustained release formulation for the therapeutic peptide thymosin β4 (Tβ4) that can be localized to the heart and reduce the concentration and frequency of dose is being explored as a means to improve its delivery in humans. This review contains concepts involved in the delivery of peptides to the heart and the synthesis of polymer microspheres for the sustained release of peptides, including Tβ4. Initial results of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) microspheres synthesized with specific tolerances for intramyocardial injection that demonstrate the encapsulation and release of Tβ4 from double‐emulsion microspheres are also presented.
Diversification and conservation of the extraembryonic tissues in mediating nutrient uptake during amniote development
Authors: Sheng Guojun , Foley Ann C.
Published: October 2012

The transfer of nutrients from the mother through the chorioallantoic placenta meets the nutritional needs of the embryo during human prenatal development. Although all amniotes start with a similar “tool kit” of extraembryonic tissues, an enormous diversity of extraembryonic tissue formation has evolved to accommodate embryological and physiological constraints unique to their developmental programs. A comparative knowledge of these extraembryonic tissues and their role in nutrient uptake during development is required to fully appreciate the adaptive changes in placental mammals. Here, we offer a comparative embryological perspective and propose that there are three conserved nutrient transfer routes among the amniotes. We highlight the importance of the yolk sac endoderm, thought to be a vestigial remnant of our amniote lineage, in mediating nutrient uptake during early human development. We also draw attention to the similarity between yolk sac endoderm‐mediated and trophectoderm‐mediated nutrient uptake.
Genomics of complex traits
Authors: Womack James E. , Jang Hyun‐Jun , Lee Mi Ok
Published: October 2012

The analysis of complex genetic traits, including mapping and identification of causative genes, has long been an enigma of genetic biology, whether in the animal sciences or in medical sciences. Traits of agricultural interest and traits of medical interest are often under the influence of both environmental factors and multiple genes, each with modest contributions to the total variance in the trait. Although the number of known mutations underlying complex traits is still relatively small, advances in genomics have greatly enhanced traditional pathways to their analysis and gene mining. The candidate gene approach, linkage analysis, and association studies are all significantly more powerful with recent advances in genome mapping, sequencing, and analysis of individual variation. Avenues to gene discovery are discussed with emphasis on genome wide association studies (GWAS) and the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as revealed by increasingly powerful commercially available microarrays.
Thymosin α1 in melanoma: from the clinical trial setting to the daily practice and beyond
Authors: Danielli Riccardo , Fonsatti Ester , Calabrò Luana , Giacomo Anna Maria Di , Maio Michele
Published: October 2012

Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is an immunomodulatory peptide released by the thymus gland in mammals. It was first described in 1977 as a potential agent for the treatment of immune deficiencies and cancer. Among solid tumors, a number of clinical trials have investigated the activity of Tα1 in melanoma. In particular, a large randomized phase II trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining Tα1 with dacarbazine and interferon alpha in metastatic melanoma patients provided the rationale for further clinical applications. The main findings emerging from clinical trials and that support the therapeutic use of Tα1 in human melanoma are summarized and discussed.