bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermotolerance adaptation to human‐modified habitats occurs in the native range of the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata before long‐distance dispersal
Authors: Foucaud Julien , Rey Olivier , Robert Stéphanie , Crespin Laurent , Orivel Jérôme , Facon Benoit , Loiseau Anne , Jourdan Hervé , Kenne Martin , Masse Paul Serge Mbenoun , Tindo Maurice , Vonshak Merav , Estoup Arnaud
Published: March 2013

Key evolutionary events associated with invasion success are traditionally thought to occur in the introduced, rather than the native range of species. In the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata, however, a shift in reproductive system has been demonstrated within the native range, from the sexual non‐dominant populations of natural habitats to the clonal dominant populations of human‐modified habitats. Because abiotic conditions of human‐ modified habitats are hotter and dryer, we performed lab experiments on workers from a set of native and introduced populations, to investigate whether these ecological and genetic transitions were accompanied by a change in thermotolerance and whether such changes occurred before establishment in the introduced range. Thermotolerance levels were higher in native populations from human‐modified habitats than in native populations from natural habitats, but were similar in native and introduced populations from human‐modified habitats. Differences in thermotolerance could not be accounted for by differences in body size. A scenario based on local adaptation in the native range before introduction in remote areas represents the most parsimonious hypothesis to account for the observed phenotypic pattern. These findings highlight the importance of human land use in explaining major contemporary evolutionary changes.
Equine grass sickness in Scotland: A case–control study of signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors
Authors: Wylie C. E. , Shaw D. J. , Fordyce F. M. , Lilly A. , McGorum B. C.
Published: March 2013

Reasons for performing study

Equine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Britain. Since previous investigations of signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors for EGS have yielded some conflicting data, further investigation is warranted.

Objectives

To identify signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors for EGS in Scotland.

Study design

Retrospective time‐matched case–control study.

Methods

This study was undertaken using data for 455 EGS cases and 910 time‐matched controls that were referred to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and average UK Meteorological Office weather station meteorological values from the month of admission of the animal, from the 3, 6 and 12 months prior to admission, and for the entire 1990–2006 period.

Results and conclusion

Signalment‐related risk factors associated with an increased risk of EGS were native Scottish pure breeds compared with crossbreeds (odds ratio [OR] = 3.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.43–5.43) and animals living on premises located further north within the study region (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.06–1.10). There was a decreased risk of EGS in animals aged 11–20 years compared with animals 2–10 years (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.22–0.45), non‐native Scottish pure breeds compared with crossbreeds (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.94), and stallions compared with mares (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.22–0.86). Meteorology‐related risk factors associated with an increased risk of EGS were (if Ordnance Survey northing is excluded) more sun hours (OR>1.43) and more frost days (OR>1.13), while there was a decreased risk of EGS with higher average maximum temperature (OR<0.83).

Potential relevance

The signalment‐related risk factors will help owners identify high‐risk animals, thereby allowing them to prioritise management strategies. The identification of meteorological risk factors may assist studies on the aetiology of EGS.
Profiling the careers ofThoroughbred horses racing inHongKong between 2000 and 2010
Authors: Velie B. D. , Stewart B. D. , Lam K. , Wade C. M. , Hamilton N. A.
Published: March 2013

Reasons for performing study

Research inThoroughbred racehorses is often specific to horses from a given racing population or region. In order to investigate trends in racehorse careers across populations accurately, population‐specific benchmarks for performance outcomes must be established.

Objectives

To provide summary statistics for performance outcomes forThoroughbreds racing inHongKong between 2000 and 2010 and to document and provide evidence on the current differences in racing careers across sexes and regions of origin for horses racing inHongKong.

Study design

Performance data on the population of Thoroughbreds racing in Hong Kong between 3 September 2000 and 12 March 2011 (n = 4950) were acquired and used to describe and compare the careers of Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong.

Methods

Career length, number of career starts and number of spells from racing per year were evaluated.Kaplan–Meier survival curves, stratified by sex, age group, country of origin and region of origin were produced for career length. ACox's proportional hazards model was fitted to assess factors influencing the risk of retirement from racing inHongKong.

Results

Log‐rank tests for equality of career length survivor functions showed significant differences (P<0.001) across sexes, age groups, countries of origin and regions of origin. An increased age at first start inHongKong tended to increase the hazard rate for retirement from racing inHongKong, whereas greater earnings per race and originating fromEurope tended to reduce the hazard rate for racing retirement.

Conclusions and potential relevance

Differences in career outcomes within a racing population appear to be influenced partly by the region from which a horse originates, with specific effects on each performance outcome also varying between regions. Future research should take into account these potential differences when comparing results across populations.

TheSummary is available inChinese – seeSupporting information.
The proto‐oncogeneERGis a target of microRNAmiR‐145in prostate cancer
Authors: Hart Martin , Wach Sven , Nolte Elke , Szczyrba Jaroslaw , Menon Roopika , Taubert Helge , Hartmann Arndt , Stoehr Robert , Wieland Wolf , Grässer Friedrich A. , Wullich Bernd
Published: March 2013

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in men. One of the distinct characteristics of prostate cancer is over‐expression of theERGproto‐oncogene. TheTMPRSS2–ERGgene fusion, the most common gene fusion, is found in approximately 50% of prostate cancer cases. We show that certain microRNAs are extensively deregulated in prostate cancer cell lines and primary clinical cancer samples. MicroRNAs are capable of modulating post‐transcriptional gene expression via inhibition of protein synthesis. Independent target prediction methods have indicated that the 3′ untranslated region of theERGmRNAis a potential target ofmiR‐145.miR‐145is consistently down‐regulated in prostate cancer. Here we show that theERG3′ untranslated region is a regulative target ofmiR‐145 in vitro. Ectopic expression ofmiR‐145led to a reduction in expression of theERGprotein. We analyzed 26 prostate cancer samples and corresponding normal tissue.ERGprotein expression was found to be elevated in the tumor samples, together with increased expression of severalERGisoforms. We identifiedERGproteins of 35 and 24 kDa, which may represent unknownERGsplice variants. Analyses ofmiR‐145andERGmRNAexpression revealed a general down‐regulation ofmiR‐145irrespective of the presence or absence of translocations involvingERG. This observation indicates that down‐regulation ofmiR‐145may contribute to the increased expression of mostERGsplice variants sharing themiR‐145target sequence in their 3′ untranslated region.
High‐temperature low‐cycle fatigue behaviour of a cast Al–12Si–CuNiMg alloy
Authors: Zhang Qing , Zuo Zhengxing , Liu Jinxiang
Published: March 2013

The low‐cycle fatigue behaviour of a cast Al–12Si–CuNiMg alloy, with a high content of Si, is investigated at 200, 350 and 400 °C. The fatigue test results show that the alloy exhibits symmetrical hysteresis loops, moderate cyclic softening and higher fatigue resistance at higher temperature. The fracture surface analysis reveals that more tear ridges are formed at higher temperature, which strongly affect the fatigue resistance. Furthermore, evaluation of the material fatigue resistance using an energy‐based Halford–Marrow model indicates that the material's ability to absorb and dissipate plastic strain energy is enhanced as temperature increases.
On the genetic basis of face cognition and its relation to fluid cognitive abilities
Authors: Kiy A. , Wilhelm O. , Hildebrandt A. , Reuter M. , Sommer W.
Published: March 2013

The oxytocin and the dopaminergic systems have turned out to be highly relevant for social abilities and cognition. Therefore, we examined the association between two functional gene polymorphisms and face cognition (FC) in a multivariate study (N = 250) by applying structural equation modeling. The catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism influences the enzyme activity of COMT, which affects the prefrontal dopamine concentration. The rs226849 is a single‐nucleotide polymorphism located in the promoter region of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, modulating the mRNA expression. By modeling a general fluid ability factor (defined by working memory and reasoning) and nested FC factors, we tested genetic contributions to FC, after controlling for variance in FC that was also associated with fluid abilities. In line with several previous studies, we found a significant association between the COMT genotype and fluid abilities (Gf) but not with FC. The association between the oxytocin polymorphism and Gf was opposite in direction for men and women. Women with the C+ genotype performed better on Gf tasks than those with the C− genotype. Conversely, men with the C− genotype performed better than those with the C+ genotype. There was no significant association between OXTR and the nested FC factor. Therefore, the relationship between the oxytocin polymorphism and FC can be fully accounted for by Gf. The sex specificity of this relationship is a novel finding and warrants a mechanistic explanation.
Reward‐related ventral striatum reactivity mediates gender‐specific effects of a galanin remote enhancer haplotype on problem drinking
Authors: Nikolova Y. S. , Singhi E. K. , Drabant E. M. , Hariri A. R.
Published: March 2013

The neuropeptide galanin has been implicated in the regulation of appetitive and consummatory behaviors. Prior studies have shown that direct injection of galanin into the hypothalamus results in increased release of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and parallel increases in food and alcohol consumption. These studies are consistent with a role of hypothalamic galanin in regulating reward system reactivity. In humans, a common functional haplotype (GAL5.1) within a remote enhancer region upstream of the galanin gene (GAL) affects promoter activity and galanin expression in hypothalamic neurons in vitro. Given the effects of hypothalamic galanin on NAcc DA release and the effects of the GAL5.1 haplotype on GAL expression, we examined the impact of this functional genetic variation on human reward‐related ventral striatum (VS) reactivity. Using an imaging genetics strategy in Caucasian individuals (N = 138, 72 women) participating in the ongoing Duke Neurogenetics Study, we report a significant gender‐by‐genotype interaction (right hemisphere: F1,134 = 8.08, P = 0.005; left hemisphere: F1,134 = 5.39, P = 0.022), such that homozygosity for the GG haplotype, which predicts greater GAL expression, is associated with relatively increased VS reactivity in women (n = 50, right hemisphere: P = 0.015; left hemisphere: P = 0.060), but not in men (N = 49, P‐values > 0.10). Furthermore, these differences in VS reactivity correlated positively with differences in alcohol use, such that VS reactivity mediated a gender‐specific association between GAL5.1 haplotype and problem drinking. Our current results support those in animal models implicating galanin signaling in neural pathways associated with appetitive and consummatory behaviors of relevance for understanding risk for substance use and abuse.
Impacts of climate change on avian populations
Authors: Jenouvrier Stephanie
Published: March 2013

This review focuses on the impacts of climate change on population dynamics. I introduce theMUP(Measuring, Understanding, and Predicting) approach, which provides a general framework where an enhanced understanding of climate‐population processes, along with improved long‐term data, are merged into coherent projections of future population responses to climate change. This approach can be applied to any species, but this review illustrates its benefit using birds as examples.

Birds are one of the best‐studied groups and a large number of studies have detected climate impacts on vital rates (i.e., life history traits, such as survival, maturation, or breeding, affecting changes in population size and composition) and population abundance. These studies reveal multifaceted effects of climate with direct, indirect, time‐lagged, and nonlinear effects. However, few studies integrate these effects into a climate‐dependent population model to understand the respective role of climate variables and their components (mean state, variability, extreme) on population dynamics. To quantify how populations cope with climate change impacts, I introduce a new universal variable: the ‘population robustness to climate change.’ The comparison of such robustness, along with prospective and retrospective analysis may help to identify the major climate threats and characteristics of threatened avian species.

Finally, studies projecting avian population responses to future climate change predicted byIPCC‐class climate models are rare. Population projections hinge on selecting a multiclimate model ensemble at the appropriate temporal and spatial scales and integrating both radiative forcing and internal variability in climate with fully specified uncertainties in both demographic and climate processes.
Stress‐induced lncRNAs evade nuclear degradation and enter the translational machinery
Authors: Galipon Josephine , Miki Atsuko , Oda Arisa , Inada Toshifumi , Ohta Kunihiro
Published: March 2013

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of gene expression. In fission yeast, glucose starvation triggers a transcriptional cascade of polyadenylated lncRNAs in the upstream region of the fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase gene (fbp1+), which is correlated with stepwise chromatin remodeling and necessary for the massive induction of fbp1+ mRNA. Here, we show that these novel metabolic stress‐induced lncRNAs (mlonRNAs) are 5′‐capped, less stable than fbp1+ mRNA and sensitive to a certain extent to the nuclear exosome cofactor Rrp6. However, most mlonRNAs seem to escape nuclear degradation and are exported to the cytoplasm, where they localize to polysomes precisely during glucose starvation‐induced global translation inhibition. It is likely that ribosomes tend to accumulate in the upstream region of mlonRNAs. Although mlonRNAs contain an unusual amount of upstream AUGs (uAUGs) and small open reading frames (uORFs), they escape Upf1‐mediated targeting to the non‐sense‐mediated decay (NMD) pathway. The deletion of Upf1 had no effect on mlonRNA stability, but considerably destabilized fbp1+ mRNA, hinting toward a possible novel role of Upf1. Our findings suggest that the stability of mlonRNAs is distinctly regulated from mRNA and previously described noncoding transcripts.
Energy metabolism, body composition, and urea generation rate in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Sridharan Sivakumar , Vilar Enric , Berdeprado Jocelyn , Farrington Ken
Published: March 2013

Hemodialysis (HD) adequacy is currently assessed using normalized urea clearance (Kt/V), although scaling based on Watson volume (V) may disadvantage women and men with low body weight. Alternative scaling factors such as resting energy expenditure and high metabolic rate organ mass have been suggested. The relationship between such factors and uremic toxin generation has not been established. We aimed to study the relationship between body size, energy metabolism, and urea generation rate. A cross‐sectional cohort of 166 HD patients was studied. Anthropometric measurements were carried on all. Resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry, fat‐free mass by bio‐impedance and total energy expenditure by combining resting energy expenditure with a questionnaire‐derived physical activity data. High metabolic rate organ mass was calculated using a published equation and urea generation rate using formal urea kinetic modeling. Metabolic factors including resting energy expenditure, total energy expenditure and fat‐free mass correlated better with urea generation rate than did Watson volume. Total energy expenditure and fat‐free mass (but not Watson Volume) were independent predictors of urea generation rate, the model explaining 42% of its variation. Small women (<mean V) had a significantly higher urea generation rate per kg than women with higher V. Similarly urea generation rate normalized to fat‐free mass was significantly greater in small women than in all others (significant only in comparison to larger men). Exercise‐related energy expenditure correlated significantly with urea generation rate. Energy metabolism, body composition and physical activity play important roles in small solute uremic toxin generation in HD patients and hence may impact on minimum dialysis requirements. Small women generate relatively more small solute toxins than other groups and thus may have a higher relative need for dialysis.
Successful percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation for hepatic venous outflow obstruction after pediatric liver transplantation: A series of cases
Authors: Rao Wei , Sun Li‐Ying , Zhu Zhi‐Jun , Chen Guang , Sun Xiao‐Ye , Gao Wei , Shi Rui
Published: March 2013

Aim

Whether percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation (PTBD) or stent placement should be used in children with hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively describe experience in diagnosis and treatment of HVOO and to evaluate the outcome of PTBD in HVOO patients after pediatric liver transplantation (P‐LT).

Methods

From January 2001 to January 2011, 54 children received P‐LT at our center. The clinical features of children with HVOO analyzed included demography, type of donor and liver transplant, the new‐onset symptoms, liver function test, interventional examination, and treatment and outcome.

Results

Three children were treated successfully with PTBD without stenting. All patients received percutaneous interventional management successfully. In the total of eight episodes of PTBD across the stenosis, the mean pressure gradient ± standard deviation was 16.6 ± 7.90 mmHg before PTBD and 6.8 ± 2.27 mmHg after PTBD. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). All of the three HVOO patients were still surviving with primary graft functioning normally until the last follow up.

Conclusion

HVOO after P‐LT should be taken seriously. PTBD is an effective and safe treatment for HVOO in younger patients subjected to P‐LT and re‐venoplasty is recommended even in patients with recurrent HVOO.
The expression of chemokine receptors CCR6, CXCR2 and CXCR4 is not organ‐specific for distant metastasis in colorectal cancer: a comparative study
Authors: Hu Dongzhi , Du Changzheng , Xue Weicheng , Dou Fangyuan , Yao Yunfeng , Gu Jin
Published: March 2013

Aims

The liver and lung are the organs most commonly affected by metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the interaction of chemokines and chemokine receptors (CKRs) plays an important role in the metastatic process. The aim of this study was to investigate the organ specificity of CKRs in CRC distant metastasis.

Methods and results

Surgical specimens of primary tumours from 46 patients with metachronous distant metastases were retrieved retrospectively (20 lung metastases; 26 liver metastases). As a control, the records of 29 patients without distant metastases were randomly retrieved from our database, and their specimens were reassessed. The expression rates of CKRs, including CCR6, CXCR2, and CXCR4, were determined by immunohistochemistry, and were compared among the groups. The expression rates of CCR6 and CXCR2 were both significantly higher in the metastasis group than in the non‐metastasis group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between the lung metastasis and liver metastasis subgroups. The expression of CXCR4 was not significantly different between the metastasis and non‐metastasis groups. Multivariable analysis suggested that preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, CCR6 and CXCR2 were independent factors associated with distant metastasis.

Conclusions

The expression of CCR6 and CXCR2 in CRC could predict metachronous distant metastasis, but they have no organ specificity for metastasis.
Hereditary red cell membrane disorders and laboratory diagnostic testing
Authors: King M.‐J. , Zanella A.
Published: March 2013

This overview describes two groups of nonimmune hereditary hemolytic anemias caused by defects in membrane proteins located in distinct layers of the red cell membrane. Hereditary spherocytosis (HS), hereditary elliptocytosis (HE), and hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP) represent disorders of the red cell cytoskeleton. Hereditary stomatocytoses represents disorders of cation permeability in the red cell membrane. The current laboratory screening tests for HS are the osmotic fragility test, acid glycerol lysis time test (AGLT), cryohemolysis test, and eosin‐5′‐maleimide (EMA)‐binding test. For atypical HS, SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of erythrocyte membrane proteins is carried out to confirm the diagnosis. The diagnosis of HE/HPP is based on abnormal red cell morphology and the detection of protein 4.1R deficiency or spectrin variants using gel electrophoresis. None of screening tests can detect all HS cases. Some testing centers (a survey of 25 laboratories) use a combination of tests (e.g., AGLT and EMA). No specific screening test for hereditary stomatocytoses is available. The preliminary diagnosis is based on presenting a compensated hemolytic anemia, macrocytosis, and a temperature or time dependent pseudohyperkalemia in some patients. Both the EMA‐binding test and the osmotic fragility test may help in differential diagnosis of HS and hereditary stomatocytosis.
Improving blood disorder diagnosis: reflections on the challenges
Authors: Hayward C. P. M.
Published: March 2013

Hematology laboratories have a vital role in providing diagnostic testing for a wide range of blood disorders. Improvements in hematology laboratory diagnostics are highly dependent on new discoveries on blood disorder pathology, the translation of new knowledge into assays for clinical testing purposes, and research that assesses, compares, and optimizes diagnostic practices. This article reviews the author's experiences with research leading to improved blood disorder diagnosis, including research studies on Quebec platelet disorder and other bleeding disorders, evaluations of practice, and research on the external quality assessment of diagnostic testing for platelet function disorders. The importance of research to advancing diagnostic testing for blood disorders is emphasized.
Laboratory testing for bleeding disorders: strategic uses of high and low‐yield tests
Authors: Hayward C. P. M. , Moffat K. A.
Published: March 2013

Laboratory testing is essential for diagnosing bleeding disorders. The tests and panels that laboratories currently use for bleeding disorder evaluation are not standardized, although most offer coagulation screening tests in bleeding disorder panels. Some tests for bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand factor multimer assays and tests for rarer disorders, are not widely available. Accordingly, clinicians and laboratories need tailored strategies for evaluating common and rare bleeding disorders. Coagulation screening tests have high specificity, however, false positives and false negatives do occur among subjects evaluated for bleeding disorders and more specific tests (e.g., factor assays) are required to further assess abnormalities. Tests for defects in primary hemostasis have similar high specificity but much greater sensitivity for common bleeding disorders than coagulation screening tests. Nonetheless, extensive testing fails to establish a diagnosis in a significant number of individuals considered to have significant bleeding problems. Rare bleeding disorder investigations are important to diagnose some conditions, particularly those with delayed‐onset bleeding, such as factor XIII deficiency, α2 antiplasmin deficiency, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 deficiency, and Quebec platelet disorder. These issues need careful consideration when assessing patients for congenital and acquired bleeding problems.
Tumour necrosis factor receptors and apoptosis of alveolar macrophages during early infection with attenuated and virulent Mycobacterium bovis
Authors: Rodrigues Michele F. , Alves Caio C. S. , Figueiredo Bárbara B. M. , Rezende Alice B. , Wohlres‐Viana Sabine , Silva Vânia Lúcia da , Machado Marco Antônio , Teixeira Henrique C.
Published: March 2013

Apoptosis of macrophages has been reported as an effective host strategy to control the growth of intracellular pathogens, including pathogenic mycobacteria. Tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) plays an important role in the modulation of apoptosis of infected macrophages. It exerts its biological activities via two distinct cell surface receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, whose extracellular domain can be released by proteolysis forming soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2). The signalling through TNFR1 initiates the majority of the biological functions of TNF‐α, leading to either cell death or survival whereas TNFR2 mediates primarily survival signals. Here, the expression of TNF‐α receptors and the apoptosis of alveolar macrophages were investigated during the early phase of infection with attenuated and virulent mycobacteria in mice. A significant increase of apoptosis and high expression of TNFR1 were observed in alveolar macrophages at 3 and 7 days after infection with attenuated Mycobacterium bovis but only on day 7 in infection with the virulent M. bovis. Low surface expression of TNFR1 and increased levels of sTNFR1 on day 3 after infection by the virulent strain were associated with reduced rates of apoptotic macrophages. In addition, a significant reduction in apoptosis of alveolar macrophages was observed in TNFR1−/− mice at day 3 after bacillus Calmette–Guérin infection. These results suggest a potential role for TNFR1 in mycobacteria‐induced alveolar macrophage apoptosis in vivo. In this scenario, shedding of TNFR1 seems to contribute to the modulation of macrophage apoptosis in a strain‐dependent manner.
A simulation‐based differential evolution algorithm for stochastic parallel machine scheduling with operational considerations
Authors: Zhang Rui , Song Shiji , Wu Cheng
Published: March 2013

We consider a parallel machine scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing two types of costs: the cost related to production operations and the cost related to due date performances. The former could be reduced by reasonable settings of the operational variables (e.g., the number of workers, the frequency of maintenance), while the latter could be reduced by appropriate scheduling of the production process. However, the optimization of both targets is significantly complicated by the influence of human factors that play a dominant role in real‐world manufacturing systems. To cope with this issue, a simulation‐based optimization framework is adopted in this paper for obtaining high‐quality robust solutions to the integrated scheduling problem. Meanwhile, differential evolution, a metaheuristic algorithm based on swarm intelligence, is applied for a systematic search of the huge solution space. Finally, numerical computations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis and practical implications are also presented.
Mother’s experience of the support from a bereavement follow‐up intervention after the death of a child
Authors: Nikkola Ida , Kaunonen Marja , Aho Anna Liisa
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectives.  To describe the mothers’ experience of the support they received in a bereavement follow‐up intervention after the death of a child and their experiences of the intervention programme. The intervention included three complementary components: (1) a support package, (2) peer supporters’ contact with mothers and (3) health professionals’ contact with mothers.

Background.  Although several types of intervention have been targeted at grieving parents or mothers, there exists a lack of knowledge of what kind of intervention is supportive and enhances the coping of parents after the death of a child.

Design.  An intervention was implemented in two university‐level hospitals in Southern Finland. The study participants were grieving mothers (n = 86) whose child had died at the age of three or younger. The data were collected by using a structured questionnaire within six months of the death of a child.

Methods.  The data were analysed with descriptive statistical methods.

Results.  The mothers felt that the support they received helped them in coping with the situation. Among the different forms of received support, the mothers felt they received the most emotional support from peer supporters and health professionals. The mothers considered the support intervention to be useful.

Conclusion.  The collaborative support intervention between health professionals and peer supporters enabled versatile, immediate and long‐term support that helped the mothers cope after the death of a child.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Health professionals should collaborate systematically with the third sector to provide support for mothers after the death of their child. In addition to the support given in hospital, health professionals should arrange more contacts and meetings with bereaved mothers on a long‐term basis, after the mothers have left the hospital.
Bodily cleanliness in modern nursing
Authors: Boge Jeanne , Kristoffersen Kjell , Martinsen Kari
Published: March 2013

Why are bodily washing practices the way they are in nursing? Michel Foucault argues that modern democratic societies discipline human bodies in accordance with political interests. In the extension of that argumentation we will show that bodily cleanliness in modern nursing may have been used as a disciplining tool. The first part of our discussion takes as its point of departure the second half of the 19th/the beginning of the 20th centuries, the period in which modern nursing emerged. At that time scientific theories on hygiene seem to have legitimized the political effort to produce a clean, pleasant‐smelling, decent, obedient, and productive population. Doctors, nurses and teachers played important roles in the implementation of hygienic bodily washing practices. The second part of the discussion focuses on the post‐War period. At that time humanistic needs theories seem to have legitimized political argumentation for independent patients who washed themselves if possible. Those who could not manage on their own, should, as far as possible, be washed by cheaper staff, so that nurses could concentrate on medical treatment. Finally we argue that present day bodily washing practices in nursing are in accordance with the norms of appearance and smell that arose in the second half of the 19th and the first part of the 20th centuries. We further argue that staff with little or no education perform much of the bodily nursing work. Self‐care seems to be of interest only when it reduces public expenses.
An internal morality of nursing: what it can and cannot do
Authors: Newham Roger A.
Published: March 2013

It has been claimed that there are certain acts that nurses as people practising nursing (nurses qua nurses) must never do because they are nurses and this is regardless of what the same agent (when not acting in the role of a nurse) should do; that certain actions are not part of proper nursing practice. The concept of an internal morality has been discussed in relation to medicine and has been used to ground the actions proper to medicine in a realist tradition. Although the concept of an internal morality of nursing is not explicitly mentioned in the literature the underpinning ideas about the proper practice of nursing based on philosophical realism I argue equate with it and a discussion of the method of an internal morality can help to understand how arguments against euthanasia (amongst other acts) related to the profession of nursing are far from clear. Ultimately, although the idea of particular acts proper to nurses qua nurses is not clear, the concept of an internal morality can help to get practitioners to see how the profession is tightly linked to moral actions, even so the hard problems in bioethics such as the morality of euthanasia remain hard for all and the easy ones easy for all.
Nurses as ‘guests’– a study of a concept in light of Jacques Derrida's philosophy of hospitality
Authors: Öresland Stina , Lutzén Kim , Norberg Astrid , Rasmussen Birgit H. , Määttä Sylvia
Published: March 2013

As revealed in previous empirical research, nurses describe their position in home‐based nursing care (HBNC) as that of ‘guests’ in the patient's home. Such a description is problematic as ‘guests’ might not be considered to belong to the realm of professionalism. As Jacques Derrida's work on hospitality has received wide publicity, sparking theoretical and philosophical discussion about host and guest, the aim of this study was to explore how the concept ‘guests’ can be understood in the light of Derrida's philosophy of hospitality. The study revealed that (a) guest must be considered a binary concept; and (b) hospitality should be regarded as an exchange of giving and receiving between a host and a guest. The present study demonstrated that it is important to reflect on the meaning of the concepts used by nurses in HBNC. Further theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept ‘hospitality’ would be fruitful, i.e. what is patients' understanding of ‘hospitality’ and ‘hostility’ related to nurses' descriptions of themselves as ‘guests’ in the patient's home.
Metacommunity, mainland‐island system or island communities? Assessing the regional dynamics of plant communities in a fragmented landscape
Authors: May Felix , Giladi Itamar , Ristow Michael , Ziv Yaron , Jeltsch Florian
Published: March 2013

Understanding the regional dynamics of plant communities is crucial for predicting the response of plant diversity to habitat fragmentation. However, for fragmented landscapes the importance of regional processes, such as seed dispersal among isolated habitat patches, has been controversially debated. Due to the stochasticity and rarity of among‐patch dispersal and colonization events, we still lack a quantitative understanding of the consequences of these processes at the landscape‐scale.

In this study, we used extensive field data from a fragmented, semi‐arid landscape in Israel to parameterize a multi‐species incidence‐function model. This model simulates species occupancy pattern based on patch areas and habitat configuration and explicitly considers the locations and the shapes of habitat patches for the derivation of patch connectivity. We implemented an approximate Bayesian computation approach for parameter inference and uncertainty assessment. We tested which of the three types of regional dynamics – the metacommunity, the mainland‐island, or the island communities type – best represents the community dynamics in the study area and applied the simulation model to estimate the extinction debt in the investigated landscape.

We found that the regional dynamics in the patch‐matrix study landscape is best represented as a system of highly isolated ‘island’ communities with low rates of propagule exchange among habitat patches and consequently low colonization rates in local communities. Accordingly, the extinction rates in the local communities are the main drivers of community dynamics. Our findings indicate that the landscape carries a significant extinction debt and in model projections 33–60% of all species went extinct within 1000 yr.

Our study demonstrates that the combination of dynamic simulation models with field data provides a promising approach for understanding regional community dynamics and for projecting community responses to habitat fragmentation. The approach bears the potential for efficient tests of conservation activities aimed at mitigating future losses of biodiversity.
Time stress and temperature explain continental variation in damselfly body size
Authors: Hassall Christopher
Published: March 2013

Body size is among the most important biological variables but despite much measurement of this trait, the factors driving its variation are not fully understood. Here, I describe variation in body size in the damselfly Calopteryx maculata to establish whether variations in growth and development observed in response to experimental manipulation of temperature and time stress in the laboratory can be scaled‐up to variation among natural populations. Nine hundred and seven specimens of C. maculata males were collected from 34 sites across the species’ entire range in North America during the summer of 2010. A general measure of body size was derived from a series of wing and leg measurements. I compare the fit of models based on latitude (Bergmann’s rule), temperature (the temperature–size rule) and seasonal effects (a combination of temperature and time stress) using Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). The U‐shaped relationship between size and latitude was best explained by a seasonality model containing both photoperiod and temperature. The presence of both these terms suggests that time stress dominates in the southern part of the range, reducing body size by accelerating development. However, the temperature–size rule dominates in the northern part of the range, increasing body size closer to the northern range margin. The best‐fit model of geographic variation in size is in accordance with previous laboratory studies of temperature and photoperiod in damselflies and theoretical work, indicating that the findings from such studies can be applied to natural populations. These findings are likely applicable to any species with complex life histories inhabiting seasonal environments.
Sleep quality, social well‐being, gender, and inflammation: an integrative analysis in a national sample
Authors: Friedman Elliot M.
Published: March 2013

Social isolation and poor sleep quality are independent predictors of poor health outcomes and increased biological risk for disease. We previously found in a small sample of older women that the presence of social ties compensated for poor sleep in associations with the inflammatory protein interleukin 6 (IL‐6). The current study extended those findings to a national sample of middle‐aged and older men and women. Using both subjective and objective sleep assessments, we found that in men, but not in women, social engagement moderated the association of subjective sleep complaints with both IL‐6 and the soluble adhesion molecule E‐selectin. Social engagement also moderated the link between sleep efficiency—assessed by actigraphy—and IL‐6 levels in men, but not in women. These results extend our previous work and bolster the suggestion that positive psychological functioning may compensate for other risk factors in predicting advantageous profiles of biological risk in aging adults.
Understanding chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain
Authors: Hughes Jane P. , Chessell Iain , Malamut Richard , Perkins Martin , Bačkonja Miroslav , Baron Ralf , Farrar John T. , Field Mark J. , Gereau Robert W. , Gilron Ian , McMahon Stephen B. , Porreca Frank , Rappaport Bob A. , Rice Frank , Richman Laura K. , Segerdahl Märta , Seminowicz David A. , Watkins Linda R. , Waxman Stephen G. , Wiech Katja , Woolf Clifford
Published: March 2013

This meeting report highlights the main topics presented at the conference “Chronic Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain,” convened jointly by the New York Academy of Sciences, MedImmune, and Grünenthal GmbH, on June 2–3, 2011, with the goal of providing a conducive environment for lively, informed, and synergistic conversation among participants from academia, industry, clinical practice, and government to explore new frontiers in our understanding and treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain. The program included leading and emerging investigators studying the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neuropathic and chronic pain, and experts in the clinical development of pain therapies. Discussion included novel issues, current challenges, and future directions of basic research in pain and preclinical and clinical development of new therapies for chronic pain.
Frequency of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism in Turkish acute stroke patients
Authors: Hulyam Kurt , Aysegul Bayramoglu , Veysi Gunes Hasan , Demet Ozbabalik , Irfan Degirmenci , Ertugrul Colak , Didem Cosan Turgut , Banu Bayram , Miris Dikmen
Published: March 2013

This study was performed in acute stroke patients in the Turkish population to determine the frequency of the A1166C polymorphism in the AT1 gene and to examine the role of this polymorphism in acute stroke development. In this study, 257 genomic DNA samples were analysed (from 206 acute stroke patients and 51 healthy individuals). Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood using the salt‐extraction method. The presence of the A1166C polymorphism in the AT1 gene was determined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. PCR products were separated by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized by a charge‐coupled device (CCD) camera. In this study, the allele frequency at the A1166C position was 92% A and 8% C for control and 97% A and 3% C for patients. This difference in allele frequency between the control group and the patient group was not statistically significant. However, genotype and allele frequencies showed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the control and the patient groups. The results of this study show no relationship between the A1166C polymorphism in the AT1 gene and acute stroke in the Turkish population.
Management of in situ melanoma of the nail apparatus with functional surgery: report of 11 cases and review of the literature
Authors: Neczyporenko F. , André J. , Torosian K. , Theunis A. , Richert B.
Published: March 2013

Background

Nail apparatus melanoma (NAM) is a rare melanocytic neoplasm with pejorative prognosis often related to late diagnosis. Early diagnosis at in situ stage (NAMis) is difficult, but essential to improve prognosis. NAMis management is not well established yet. Removal of the whole nail unit has been advocated in several small series as a potential treatment for NAMis.

Objective

To report and assess ‘functional’ or ‘conservative’ surgery for NAMis and evaluate its long‐term oncologic safety.

Methods

Retrospective study of cases diagnosed in the University Hospital Saint‐Pierre collected over a 13 year period and compared with the published data.

Results

Eleven cases of NAMis were identified: 73% concerned females. Thumb and first toe were the most affected digits (63% of total). Monodactylic longitudinal melanonychia (LM) was the most frequent presentation (92%). Mean diagnosis delay was 5 years. Diagnosis was suspected on the basis of clinical and dermatoscopic signs and was confirmed by pathological examination. All patients underwent complete nail unit removal with 6 mm security margins around the anatomic boundaries of the nail. Two late local recurrences were observed at 7 and 11 years follow‐up.

Conclusions

Our series, the largest up to now, demonstrates that ‘functional surgery’ is a rational approach for NAMis with an excellent oncologic safety at 5 years. However, this study suggests that a very long‐term follow‐up is mandatory, as recurrences may appear late.
Dermoscopic patterns of common facial inflammatory skin diseases
Authors: Lallas A. , Argenziano G. , Apalla Z. , Gourhant J.Y. , Zaballos P. , Di Lernia V. , Moscarella E. , Longo C. , Zalaudek I.
Published: March 2013

Background

Several common inflammatory dermatoses, such as rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis (SD), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and granulomatous skin diseases manifest as erythematous macules or plaques on the facial skin. Although clinical examination represents the cornerstone of diagnosis, the broad variety of clinical features and uncommon presentations of these diseases may cause at times diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty. Dermoscopy, in addition to its well‐documented value in evaluation of skin tumours, is continuously gaining appreciation also in the field of general dermatology.

Objective

To describe and compare the dermoscopic patterns of common facial inflammatory skin diseases including SD, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ER), sarcoidosis, lupus vulgaris (LV), DLE and granuloma faciale (GF).

Methods

Dermoscopic images of lesions from patients with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of SD, ER, sarcoidosis, LV, DLE or GF were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of several criteria. Selection of the dermoscopic variables included in the evaluation process was based on the data available in the literature and on our preliminary observations.

Results

One hundred and fifteen dermoscopic images were included in the study. SD was dermoscopically characterized by dotted vessels and yellow scales, whereas ER was typified by a characteristic pattern of vascular polygons. Sarcoidosis and LV very commonly exhibited orange‐yellowish areas and linear branching vessels. Features related to follicle abnormalities and linear branching vessels were the most common dermoscopic criteria of DLE and GF.

Conclusions

This study provides new insights into the dermoscopic variability in common facial inflammatory dermatoses.
Presence of Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809 det. Krabbe, 1878) and Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) (Nematoda; Anisakidae) in runts of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L
Authors: Mo T A , Gahr A , Hansen H , Hoel E , Oaland Ø , Poppe T T
Published: March 2013

One hundred farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were examined for the presence of nematodes by digestion of tissue in HCl–pepsin solution. All fish were sampled from one cage in a fish farm on the Norwegian south‐west coast. Fifty harvest quality salmon, that is, salmon for human consumption (mean 5.4 kg, variation 3.0–7.6 kg), were sampled at the processing line while 50 salmon runts (mean 1.1 kg, variation 0.4–1.8 kg), discarded due to poor performance, were sampled from the discard bin after the grading station. Runts are individual fish with clear signs of poor performance over time and abnormal appearance and are thus not processed for human consumption. No nematodes were found in the musculature or viscera of the 50 harvest quality salmon. In total, 75 nematodes were found in 10 (20%) of the runts; 53 nematodes in the viscera and 22 in the musculature. Nematodes in the musculature were identified as Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809 det. Krabbe, 1878), while nematodes in the viscera were identified as A. simplex and Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802).