bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In‐Home HIV Testing and Nevirapine Dosing by Traditional Birth Attendants in Rural Zambia: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Brennan Alana T. , Thea Donald M. , Semrau Katherine , Goggin Caitlin , Scott Nancy , Pilingana Portipher , Botha Belinda , Mazimba Arthur , Hamomba Leoda , Seidenberg Phil
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Access to lifesaving prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) services is problematic in rural Zambia. The simplest intervention used in Zambia has been 2‐dose nevirapine (NVP) administration in the peripartum period, a regimen of 1 NVP tablet to the mother at the onset of labor and 1 dose in the form of syrup to the newborn within 4 to 72 hours after birth. This 2‐dose regimen has been shown to reduce MTCT by nearly 50%. We set out to demonstrate that in‐home HIV testing and NVP dosing by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) is feasible and acceptable by women in rural Zambia.

Methods

This was a pilot program using TBAs to perform rapid saliva‐based HIV testing and administer single‐dose NVP in tablet form to the mother at the onset of labor and syrup to the infant after birth.

Results

A total of 280 pregnant women were consented and enrolled into the program, of whom 124 (44.3%) gave birth at home with the assistance of a trained TBA. Of those, 16 (12.9%) were known to be HIV positive, and 101 of the remaining 108 (93.5%) accepted a rapid HIV test. All these women tested HIV negative. In the subset of 16 mothers who were HIV positive, 13 (81.3%) took single‐dose NVP administered by a TBA between 1 and 24 hours prior to birth and 100% of exposed newborns (16 of 16) received NVP syrup within 72 hours after birth, 80% of whom were dosed in the first 24 hours of life.

Discussion

With the substantial shortage of human resources in public health care throughout sub‐Saharan Africa, it is extremely valuable to utilize lay health care workers to help extended services beyond the level of the facility. Given the high uptake of PMTCT services we believe that TBAs with proper training and support can successfully provide country‐approved PMTCT.
Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening as a patient safety initiative: using patients’ experiences to improve the quality of screening practices
Authors: Currie Kay , Knussen Christina , Price Lesley , Reilly Jacqui
Published: October 2013

Aims and objectives

To explore the patient experience and acceptability of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening of inpatient admissions to acute hospital settings.

Background

Prevention of healthcare‐associated infections such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a major patient safety concern internationally. Screening of patients for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation is becoming a routine aspect of hospital admission; however, evidence of the patient experience and acceptability of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening is limited.

Design

A mixed‐methods study set in six acute care hospitals in three Scottish regions.

Methods

Data collection involved postdischarge self‐report survey of patients who had been screened (n = 54) and qualitative patient interviews (n = 10). Theoretical constructs derived from the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour used in analysis.

Results

Findings indicated that methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening was broadly acceptable to patients. The experience of screening did not appear to be problematic; responses demonstrate that screening provided reassurance and generated confidence that health organisations were tackling healthcare‐associated infections. Patients were less positive regarding the provision of information, the possibility of refusing a screen and the consequences of a positive test result. Furthermore, there were indications that patients wanted to be told the results of the screen and strong support for screening of hospital staff.

Conclusions

Analysis of constructs from our theoretical frameworks provides evidence that attitudes were largely positive; responses indicate a belief in the beneficial impact of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening for patients and the wider community. However, it is important that health professionals continually assess the patient experience of ‘routine’ aspects of health care such as MRSA screening.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings from this study suggest that while methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening is generally acceptable to patients as a regular patient safety initiative, to enhance the quality of the patient experience, clinicians should consider the timing, content and effectiveness of information provision.
AFLPandRAPDCharacterization ofPhaeoacremonium aleophilumAssociated withVitis viniferaDecline in Spain
Authors: Martín Laura , Sáenz de Miera Luis E. , Martín María Teresa
Published: October 2013

The genetic diversity amongSpanish isolates of the fungusPhaeoacremonium aleophilum,one of the major causes of grapevine decline, was determined using random amplified polymorphicDNA(RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) techniques. UsingRAPD, a large genetic variation was observed among 36Pm. aleophilumsingle‐spore cultures, with 76 (82.6%) polymorphic bands generated by 12RAPDprimers. A neighbour‐joining dendrogram showing theRAPDpatterns of diversity revealed four groups of haplotypes. The Bayesian and principal components clustering analysis revealed three groups of haplotypes. When more than one isolate ofPm. aleophilumwas obtained from a single vine, different haplotypes were found. Seventeen single‐spore isolates were used forAFLPanalysis. Five primer combinations produced 358 scorable markers, of which 309 (86.3%) were polymorphic. The analysis based on genetic distance as well as clustering analysis confirmed three main groups largely in agreement with those returned by theRAPDresults. TheMantel correlation between theRAPDandAFLPdistance matrices ranged fromR = 0.5931 toR = 0.6294. The high level of haplotype diversity among theRAPDandAFLPmarkers suggests that sexual reproduction and genetic recombination may occur betweenPm. aleophilumhaplotypes in Spain. TheAFLPapproach revealed a greater number of polymorphic markers. A relationship between the genetic profile of the infecting isolate ofPm. aleophilumand the age or decline symptoms of the grapevines may exist.
Comparison of hydrophobic properties of thoracic duct lymph chylomicrons from rats given different fats or oils by gavage
Authors: Kaya K. , Işıkgil Ö. , Güldür T.
Published: October 2013

Lipoprotein aggregation is generated by hydrophobic nature of lipoproteins that is known to be one of the causes of atherosclerosis. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) has been extensively studied in this respect but not chylomicrons. There is strong evidence that post‐prandial triacylglycerol‐rich lipoproteins are atherogenic. Because biophysical properties of lipoproteins are largely determined by their lipid compositions, hydrophobic nature of thoracic lymph duct chylomicrons obtained from rats given different fats or oils by gavage was investigated by vortexing‐induced aggregation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Contrary to LDL, vortexing did not cause aggregation in chylomicrons. Vortexing of fish oil and butter chylomicrons resulted in more prominent reduction in absorbances compared with chylomicrons from other sources that might indicate less micelle stability. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography of fish oil, palm oil and olive oil chylomicrons yielded three fractions, whereas that of sunflower, margarine and butter chylomicrons gave rise to two fractions. These results suggest that surface hydrophobicity of chylomicrons might be heterogenous. Our results also demonstrate that fish oil chylomicrons have less hydrophobicity and lower stability against vortexing compared with chylomicrons from other sources. Considering beneficial effects of fish oil in cardiovascular health, less hydrophobicity together with lower stability might provide an additional atherogeneicity index for lipoproteins.
Prevailing sea surface temperatures inhibit summer reproduction of the kelp Laminaria digitata at Helgoland (North Sea)
Authors: Bartsch Inka , Vogt Johanna , Pehlke Constanze , Hanelt Dieter
Published: October 2013

The impact of abiotic factors on kelp sporophyte reproduction has rarely been investigated. Laminaria digitata (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux is one of the few summer fertile Laminaria species worldwide and reproduction is subjected to relatively high water temperatures. We investigated the impact of prevailing summer temperatures (~18°C in August) on the induction of sporangia, meiospore release, and germination at the island of Helgoland (North Sea). At Helgoland, fertile sporophytes are found between April and December with a maximum in late summer. While released meiospore numbers were constant between June and October, germination rates decreased significantly in summer. Short‐term exposure of mature sori to 17°C–22°C induced a significantly higher meiospore release indicating enhancement of sporulation by elevated temperatures. Induction of sporangia on vegetative blade disks was not possible at 20°C, and fertility was only 20% at 18°C–19°C, but it was 100% in cool temperatures of 1°C–10°C. It was shown for the first time in a kelp species that “sporogenesis” is the life‐cycle process with the narrowest temperature window compared to growth or survival of the sporophyte or reproduction, growth, and survival of the gametophyte. We incorporated several parameters (induction time, fertile area, and relative fertility) into a “Reproductive efficiency index.” This indicates that sporogenesis of L. digitata is a cold‐adapted process with an optimum at (5)–10°C. The results show that the population at Helgoland is at its reproduction limit despite the existence of other geographically more southerly located populations.
Comparison of treatment effects of guided tissue regeneration on infrabony lesions between animal and human studies: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yen C‐C. , Tu Y‐K. , Chen T‐H. , Lu H‐K.
Published: October 2013

Background and Objective

For ethical reasons it is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain, from clinical studies, histological data on infrabony defects treated with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) techniques. The aim of this systematic review was to find the value of extrapolating animal data on treatment of periodontal infrabony lesions, using GTR only or GTR + bone grafts, to human clinical results.

Material and Methods

Searches of the PubMed and Cochrane databases were combined with hand searching of articles published from 1 January 1969 to 1 August 2012. The search included any type of barrier membrane, with or without grafted materials, used to treat periodontal infrabony lesions. All studies with histological or re‐entry methodology outcome parameters that evaluated bone‐filling and/or new‐cementum‐formation ratios from a defect depth were collected. When comparing animal and human outcomes, a meta‐analysis was used to evaluate the bone‐filling ratio, but only a descriptive analysis of the histological studies was performed.

Results

In total, 22 studies were selected for the meta‐analysis. In the GTR + bone graft groups the weighted‐average bone‐filling ratios were 52% (95% CI: 18–85%) in animals and 57% (95% CI: 30–83%) in humans, which were not statistically significantly different (p = 0.825). Similar results were found in the GTR‐only groups, in which the weighted‐average bone‐filling ratios were 54% (95% CI: 37–72%) in animals and 59% (95% CI: 42–77%) in humans (p = 0.703). New‐cementum formation of GTR only and GTR + bone grafts showed comparable ratio outcomes, and both were superior to the control group in animals only (p = 0.042).

Conclusion

Although quality assessments differed between animal and human studies, our analysis indicated that animal models and human results showed similar bone‐filling ratios in infrabony defects treated with GTR only or with GTR + bone grafting.
Self-Assessment of Genital Anatomy and Sexual Function Within a Belgian, Dutch-Speaking Female Population: A Validation Study
Authors: Bronselaer Guy , Callens Nina , De Sutter Petra , De Cuypere Griet , T'Sjoen Guy , Cools Martine , Hoebeke Piet
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Data on self-perceived genital anatomy and sensitivity should be part of the long-term follow-up of genitoplasty procedures. However, no normative data, based on a large sample, exist to date.

Aims

Validation of the Self-Assessment of Genital Anatomy and Sexual Function, Female version (SAGAS-F) questionnaire within a Belgian, Dutch-speaking female population.

Methods

Seven hundred forty-nine women with no history of genital surgery (aged 18–69 years, median 25 years) completed an Internet-based survey of whom 21 women underwent a gynecological examination as to correlate self-reported genital sensitivity assessed in an experimental setting.

Main Outcome Measures

The SAGAS-F enables women to rate the sexual pleasure, discomfort, intensity of orgasm, and effort required for achieving orgasm in specified areas around the clitoris and within the vagina, as well as genital appearance. The latter was similarly evaluated by an experienced gynecologist, and women were asked to functionally rate the anatomical areas pointed out with a vaginal swab.

Results

Sexual pleasure and orgasm were strongest, and effort to attain orgasm and discomfort was lowest when stimulating the clitoris and sides of the clitoris (P < 0.05). Vaginal sensitivity increased with increasing vaginal depth, but overall orgasmic sensitivity was lower as compared with the clitoris. Functional scores on the SAGAS-F and during gynecological examination corresponded highly on most anatomical areas (P < 0.05). Gynecologist's ratings corresponded highly with the women's ratings for vaginal size (90%) but not for clitoral size (48%).

Conclusions

Replication of the original pilot study results support the validity of the questionnaire. The SAGAS-F discriminates reasonably well between various genital areas in terms of erotic sensitivity. The clitoris itself appeared to be the most sensitive, consistent with maximum nerve density in this area. Surgery to the clitoris could disrupt neurological pathways and compromise erotic sensation and pleasure.
Contribution of Unmeasured Anions to Acid–Base Disorders and its Association with Altered Demeanor in 264 Calves with Neonatal Diarrhea
Authors: Gomez D.E. , Lofstedt J. , Stämpfli H.R. , Wichtel M. , Muirhead T. , McClure J.T.
Published: October 2013

Background

The quantitative effect of strong electrolytes, unmeasured anions (UAs),pCO2, and plasma protein concentrations in determining plasmapHand bicarbonate (HCO3−) can be demonstrated using the physicochemical approach. Demeanor of calves with diarrhea is associated with acidemia, dehydration, and hyper‐d‐lactatemia.

Hypothesis

Unmeasured anions are a major factor influencing changes in plasmapHandHCO3−of calves with diarrhea andUAs and strongUAs, estimated by anion gap (AG) and strong ion gap (SIG), respectively, are more strongly associated with alteration of demeanor compared to other acid–base variables.

Animals

A total of 264 calves with diarrhea from two data sets (DS1 andDS2).

Methods

Retrospective study. Forward stepwise regression was performed to determine the relationship between measuredpHorHCO3−, and physicochemical variables. A two‐way ANOVA was performed to investigate the association between acid–base variables and attitude (bright, obtunded, and stuporous), posture (standing, sternal or lateral recumbency), and strength of suckling reflex (strong, weak, or absent).

Results

Increased strongUAs estimated bySIGwas the most important contributor to changes in measuredpHandHCO3−(DS1:r266 and 59%,DS2: 39 and 42%,P < .0001).SIGandAGwere correlated to deteriorating calf demeanor for all three clinical scoring categories: attitude, posture, and suckle reflex (P < .0001).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

Elevated concentrations of strongUAs were the primary cause of acidemia and had an important influence on the demeanor of calves with diarrhea. These findings emphasize the importance of the calculation ofUAs when evaluating acid–base abnormalities in calves.
Temporary Contracts, Employment Protection, and Collective Bargaining
Authors: Masui Makoto
Published: October 2013

This paper examines the effect of employment protection in a matching model with endogenous job destruction, collective bargaining, and two types of employment contracts. Using this framework, we show that (i) the impact on job creation and job destruction caused by reducing the firing costs associated with temporary jobs depends on the labour unions' bargaining strength and the gap in firing costs between contracts; (ii) reducing the firing costs associated with permanent jobs unambiguously decreases equilibrium unemployment if labour unions have strong bargaining power; and (iii) the impact caused by the firing costs differs between collective and individual bargaining.
Legal Typologies and Topologies: The Construction of Indigenous Alterity and Its Spatialization Within the Colombian Constitutional Court
Authors: Bocarejo Diana
Published: October 2013

This article examines the different legal articulations between indigenous typologies and topologies, that is, the relationship between someone classified as an indigenous subject, a grantee of minority rights, and the spatial arrangements such as reservations or ancestral territories considered necessary for indigenous “cultural survival.” I analyze how the jurisprudence of the Colombian Constitutional Court manifests and rests on the diverse combinations of these two factors. The typology/topology binary characterizes the manner in which these legal discourses portray indigeneity and culture. This binary also offers insight into a broad range of issues, including the access that indigenous peoples have to minority rights, the use of customary law, and the spatial delimitations that frame indigenous legal jurisdictions. Some of the complexities that arise from this binary are: the conceptualization of indigenous places as habitats, the idea of culture as a list of traits, and the concept of “degrees” of indigeneity that determine these peoples' access to minority rights.
The Questionable Character of the Bar's Character and Fitness Inquiry
Authors: Levin Leslie C. , Zozula Christine , Siegelman Peter
Published: October 2013

Lawyers who engage in misconduct can do substantial harm. To screen out “unfit” lawyers, bar examining authorities collect detailed personal information from bar applicants. The rationale for this “character and fitness” inquiry is to identify who is likely to become a problematic lawyer. Despite the history of discrimination associated with this inquiry and the highly personal information requested, there has been no rigorous test of whether such predictions are possible. This article examines the information disclosed by 1,343 Connecticut bar applicants and their subsequent disciplinary records. It reveals that while some bar application data are associated with an elevated risk of future discipline, the predictive power of the data is extremely low. Moreover, several variables are more strongly associated with less severe discipline than with more severe discipline. We argue that some of the causal mechanisms linking application data to subsequent discipline may have more to do with career trajectory than with an underlying propensity to engage in misconduct.
Monophyly of Wolbachia pipientis genomes within Drosophila melanogaster: geographic structuring, titre variation and host effects across five populations
Authors: Early Angela M. , Clark Andrew G.
Published: October 2013

Wolbachia pipientis is one of the most widely studied endosymbionts today, yet we know little about its short‐term adaptation and evolution. Here, using a set of 91 inbred Drosophila melanogaster lines from five populations, we explore patterns of diversity and recent evolution in the Wolbachia strain wMel. Within the D. melanogaster lines, we identify six major mitochondrial clades and four wMel clades. Concordant with past studies, the Wolbachia haplotypes contain an overall low level of nucleotide diversity, yet they still display geographic structuring. Using Bayesian analysis informed with demographic estimates of colonization times, we estimate that all extant D. melanogaster mitochondrial haplotypes coalesce to a Wolbachia‐infected ancestor approximately 2200 years ago. Finally, we measure wMel titre within the infected flies and find that titre varies across populations, an effect attributable to host genetic factors. This demonstration of local phenotypic divergence suggests that intraspecific host genetic variation plays a key role in shaping this model symbiotic system.
Structure and secretion of CofJ, a putative colonization factor of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Yuen Alex S. W. , Kolappan Subramaniapillai , Ng Dixon , Craig Lisa
Published: October 2013

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) colonize the human gut, causing severe cholera‐like diarrhoea. ETEC utilize a diverse array of pili and fimbriae for host colonization, including the Type IVb pilus CFA/III. The CFA/III pilus machinery is encoded on the cof operon, which is similar in gene sequence and synteny to the tcp operon that encodes another Type IVb pilus, the Vibrio cholerae toxin co‐regulated pilus (TCP). Both pilus operons possess a syntenic gene encoding a protein of unknown function. In V. cholerae, this protein, TcpF, is a critical colonization factor secreted by the TCP apparatus. Here we show that the corresponding ETEC protein, CofJ, is a soluble protein secreted via the CFA/III apparatus. We present a 2.6 Å resolution crystal structure of CofJ, revealing a large β‐sandwich protein that bears no sequence or structural homology to TcpF. CofJ has a cluster of exposed hydrophobic side‐chains at one end and structural homology to the pore‐forming proteins perfringolysin O and α‐haemolysin. CofJ binds to lipid vesicles and epithelial cells, suggesting a role in membrane attachment during ETEC colonization.
Minor splicing pathway is not minor any more: Implications for the pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases
Authors: Onodera Osamu , Ishihara Tomohiko , Shiga Atsushi , Ariizumi Yuko , Yokoseki Akio , Nishizawa Masatoyo
Published: October 2013

To explore the molecular pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the nuclear function of TAR‐DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP‐43) must be elucidated. TDP‐43 is a nuclear protein that colocalizes with Cajal body or Gem in cultured cells. Several recent studies have reported that the decreasing number of Gems accompanied the depletion of the causative genes for ALS, TDP‐43 and FUS. Gems play an important role in the pathogenesis of spinal muscular atrophy. Gems are the sites of the maturation of spliceosomes, which are composed of uridylate‐rich (U) snRNAs (small nuclear RNAs) and protein complex, small nuclear ribonuclearprotein (snRNP). Spliceosomes regulate the splicing of pre‐mRNA and are classified into the major or minor classes, according to the consensus sequence of acceptor and donor sites of pre‐mRNA splicing. Although the major class of spliceosomes regulates most pre‐mRNA splicing, minor spliceosomes also play an important role in regulating the splicing or global speed of pre‐mRNA processing. A mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy, in which the number of Gems is decreased, shows fewer subsets U snRNAs. Interestingly, in the central nervous system, U snRNAs belonging to the minor spliceosomes are markedly reduced. In ALS, the U12 snRNA is decreased only in the tissue affected by ALS and not in other tissues. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the decreased U12 snRNA resulting in cell dysfunction and cell death in motor neuron diseases remain unclear, these findings suggest that the disturbance of nuclear bodies and minor splicing may underlie the common molecular pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases.
Irritable bowel syndrome‐type symptoms in female patients with mild systemic lupus erythematosus: frequency, related factors and quality of life
Authors: García Carrasco M. , Mendoza Pinto C. , López Colombo A. , Méndez Martínez S. , Andari Sawaya R. , Muñoz Guarneros M. , Vázquez De Lara L. , Lescas Hernández M. , Montiel Jarquín A. , Ramos Álvarez G. , Schmulson M.
Published: October 2013

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) impairs quality of life (HRQOL), as does systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both are more common in women and are associated with fibromyalgia (FM). However, the relationship between IBS and SLE and its impact on HRQOL has not been explored. Therefore, we aimed to study the frequency and features likely to influence the presence of IBS‐type symptoms in SLE and their impact on HRQOL.

Methods

Female patients with SLE were studied. The presence of IBS‐type symptoms and bowel habit subtype were established by Rome III criteria and HRQOL was assessed using the SF‐36. Fibromyalgia and depression were assessed using the American College of Rheumatology criteria and CES‐D scale, respectively.

Key Results

A total of 105 consecutive patients (43.62 ± 11.34 years old) were included; 48.6% had IBS‐type symptoms (SLE+IBS) and were classified as IBS‐C: 23.5%, IBS‐D: 37.3%, and IBS‐M: 39.2%. In addition, 23.8% had FM. SLE+IBS vs Non‐IBS SLE patients had higher SLE activity scores (2.55 ± 1.65 vs 1.74 ± 2.19; p = 0.03), were more likely to have FM (33.0% vs 14.8%; p = 0.02) and depression (41.1% vs 25.9%, p = 0.04). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that IBS‐type symptoms were associated with FM (OR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.11–7.43) and depression (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.13). Finally, SLE+IBS vs Non‐IBS SLE patients had lower SF‐36 scores (49.65 ± 18.57 vs 62.67 ± 18.14; p = 0.02).

Conclusions & Inferences

IBS‐type symptoms are highly prevalent among women with SLE and are associated with FM and depression. SLE+IBS patients had worse HRQOL vs Non‐IBS SLE, independently of FM status. We suggest that treating IBS symptoms may improve HRQOL in women with SLE.
FISHERY SHARE SYSTEMS, ITQ MARKETS, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF RENTS
Authors: HATCHER AARON
Published: October 2013

Although, in most commercial fisheries, fishing crews are remunerated under a share system, the implications of share systems for individual transferable quotas markets have received relatively little attention. In this paper, we model the impact of extending crew shares of vessel operating costs to include payments for quota. Allocative efficiency is maintained as long as any share system is adopted consistently across the entire fleet. Making crews bear a share of quota costs, however, simply inflates the quota price: at market equilibrium the vessel owner's profit share is unaffected. Crews lose out if the vessel is leasing quota in, but gain if the vessel owner is a net seller of quota. We also consider the outcome if only net purchasers of quota involve crews in the cost of quota. Here, all vessel owners benefit, while all crews see a reduction in their earnings. These results are illustrated with a simple numerical example.
Curved fossil bee cells as tools for reconstructing the evolutionary history and palaeogeographical distribution of Diphaglossinae (Apoidea, Colletidae)
Authors: Sarzetti Laura C. , Dinghi Pablo A. , Genise Jorge F. , Bedatou Emilio , Verde Mariano
Published: October 2013

The new ichnospecies Celliforma curvata is described to include curved fossil bee cells from Argentina, Uruguay and the USA. The upper part of the cell (neck) of the new ichnospecies is curved, and accordingly, it can be attributed to bees of the subfamily Diphaglossinae (Colletidae). The oldest record of C. curvata, from the early Eocene of North America (52–49 Ma), provides a minimum age for the appearance of this subfamily, in accordance with an already proposed calibrated phylogeny. It is also proposed that these fossil cells could be used for future calibrations of molecular clocks. C. curvata indicates that Diphaglossinae had a widespread distribution, from southern Utah to extra‐Andean Patagonia at 42°S. In contrast, extant representatives reach only 38°S in this region. Diphaglossinae were more extended southwards in the past thanks to better environmental conditions in extra‐Andean Patagonia.
A retrospective study of multimodal analgesic treatment after laparoscopic appendectomy in children
Authors: Liu Yang , Seipel Catherine , Lopez Monica E. , Nuchtern Jed G. , Brandt Mary L. , Fallon Sara C. , Manyang Peter A. , Tjia Imelda M. , Baijal Rahul G. , Watcha Mehernoor F.
Published: October 2013

Background

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common emergency pediatric surgery procedure accompanied by substantial pain (pain scores >4 for >60% of the time) in 33% of these patients. We introduced a bundle of pain management interventions including local anesthetic infiltration at the incision site, intravenous (IV) opioids by patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA), and scheduled doses of IV ketorolac and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of these pain management interventions on pain control after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively studied pain in 206 children above 7 years of age undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy from December 2011 to February 2012 at our institution. We extracted data on patient demographics, duration of anesthesia and surgery, intraoperative opioids, local anesthetic infiltration, surgical procedure reports, along with pain scores, postoperative PCA use, and opioid‐related complications and hospital stays. Patients were divided into two groups – simple appendicitis without peritonitis and appendicitis with generalized peritonitis.

Results

The incidence of substantial pain when the multimodal regimen was used was 12%, which is significantly lower than earlier reports (Fisher's exact test P < 0.001). Patients with generalized peritonitis experienced more pain, consumed more opioids, had more unmet PCA demands, and a higher incidence of respiratory depression compared with those with simple appendicitis.

Conclusion

The multimodal regimen of local anesthetic infiltration, opioid by PCA, NSAIDs, and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone reduced the incidence of substantial pain. Additional studies are required to identify subgroups of patients with minimal opioid requirements who can benefit from modifications of this regimen.
Polyamines reprogram oxidative and nitrosative status and the proteome of citrus plants exposed to salinity stress
Authors: TANOU GEORGIA , ZIOGAS VASILEIOS , BELGHAZI MAYA , CHRISTOU ANASTASIS , FILIPPOU PANAGIOTA , JOB DOMINIQUE , FOTOPOULOS VASILEIOS , MOLASSIOTIS ATHANASSIOS
Published: October 2013

The interplay among polyamines (PAs) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RNS and ROS) is emerging as a key issue in plant responses to salinity. To address this question, we analysed the impact of exogenous PAs [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm)] on the oxidative and nitrosative status in citrus plants exposed to salinity. PAs partially reversed the NaCl‐induced phenotypic and physiological disturbances. The expression of PA biosynthesis (ADC, SAMDC, SPDS and SPMS) and catabolism (DAO and PAO) genes was systematically up‐regulated by PAs. In addition, PAs altered the oxidative status in salt‐stressed plants as inferred by changes in ROS production and redox status accompanied by regulation of transcript expression and activities of various antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, NaCl‐induced up‐regulation of NO‐associated genes, such as NR, NADde, NOS‐like and AOX, along with S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase and nitrate reductase activities, was partially restored by PAs. Protein carbonylation and tyrosine nitration are depressed by specific PAs whereas protein S‐nitrosylation was elicited by all PAs. Furthermore, we identified 271 S‐nitrosylated proteins that were commonly or preferentially targeted by salinity and individual PAs. This work helps improve our knowledge on the plant's response to environmental challenge.
Childhood Psoriasis—An Analysis of German Health Insurance Data
Authors: Matusiewicz David , Koerber Andreas , Schadendorf Dirk , Wasem Juergen , Neumann Anja
Published: October 2013

This study explored the epidemiology, treatment, and comorbidities of juvenile psoriasis in Germany using health insurance data. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects approximately 2% to 3% of the world's population. Data were obtained from a database of approximately 6.7 million individuals registered with health insurance organizations throughout Germany. The analysis considered all individuals age 18 years and younger with psoriasis who were registered in 2007. Comorbidities were identified using software based on a morbidity‐based risk adjustment model. A total of 138,338 patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis were identified in the database, yielding a prevalence of 2.1%. Within this group there were 4,499 children and adolescents (≤18 years of age), a prevalence of 0.4%. The prevalence ranged from 0.1% at the age of 1 year to 0.8% at the age of 18 years. Most of the patients were treated with topical corticosteroids (72.2%) and antipsoriatics (e.g., tars, psoralen; 20.0%). Immunosuppressants were used in 3.3% of the cases. Juvenile psoriasis was associated with numerous significant comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation (2.1%); delirium, psychosis, and psychotic and dissociative disorder (1.1%); and heart disease (0.6%). Our study demonstrated that psoriasis is more prevalent in children and adolescents than some older international investigations have documented. Analysis of the health insurance data showed that juvenile psoriasis is associated with a range of comorbidities. The data also may suggest an unrecognized burden of mental health problems in young persons with psoriasis.
Wittgenstein and the Expression of Feelings in Psychotherapy
Authors: Purton Campbell
Published: October 2013

Effective psychotherapy is often held to involve the expression of feelings. Within the person‐centred approach, this view has been especially emphasised by Carl Rogers and Eugene Gendlin. I am concerned with the question of why the expression of feelings can be therapeutically effective. Many psychotherapists picture feelings as “inner experiences” for which the client tries to find appropriate words, but the difficulties with this picture, which were highlighted by Wittgenstein, seem to call for a very different approach. Here, I develop a Wittgensteinian account of the expression of feelings that avoids the difficulties to which Wittgenstein draws attention.
Induced resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Capsicum annuum by a Fusarium crude elicitor fraction, free of proteins
Authors: Veloso J. , Díaz J.
Published: October 2013

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) induces resistance in pepper against the airborne pathogen Botrytis cinerea and the soil‐borne pathogen Verticillium dahliae. However, its practical use is limited due to its pathogenicity to other crops. In this study we tested several fractions of a heat‐sterilised crude FOL‐elicitor preparation to protect pepper against B. cinerea and V. dahliae. Only the protein‐free insoluble fraction of the preparation reduced B. cinerea infection. However, none of the fractions reduce V. dahliae symptoms. The insoluble protein‐free fraction induced expression of defence genes in the plant, namely a chitinase (CACHI2), a peroxidase (CAPO1), a sesquiterpene cyclase (CASC1) and a basic PR1 (CABPR1). Even though the CASC1 gene was not induced directly after treatment with the insoluble fraction in the leaves, it was induced after B. cinerea inoculation, showing a priming effect. The insoluble protein‐free FOL‐elicitor protected pepper against the airborne pathogen through a mechanism that involves induced responses in the plant, but different to the living FOL.
Cell proliferation and plant development under novel altered gravity environments
Authors: Herranz R. , Medina F. J.
Published: October 2013

Gravity is a key factor for life on Earth. It is the only environmental factor that has remained constant throughout evolution, and plants use it to modulate important physiological activities; gravity removal or alteration produces substantial changes in essential functions. For root gravitropism, gravity is sensed in specialised cells, which are capable of detecting magnitudes of the g vector lower than 10−3. Then, the mechanosignal is transduced to upper zones of the root, resulting in changes in the lateral distribution of auxin and in the rate of auxin polar transport. Gravity alteration has consequences for cell growth and proliferation rates in root meristems, which are the basis of the developmental programme of a plant, in which regulation via auxin is involved. The effect is disruption of meristematic competence, i.e. the strict coordination between cell proliferation and growth, which characterises meristematic cells. This effect can be related to changes in the transport and distribution of auxin throughout the root. However, similar effects of gravity alteration have been found in plant cell cultures in vitro, in which neither specialised structures for gravity sensing and signal transduction, nor apparent gravitropism have been described. We postulate that gravity resistance, a general mechanism of cellular origin for developing rigid structures in plants capable of resisting the gravity force, could also be responsible for the changes in cell growth and proliferation parameters detected in non‐specialised cells. The mechanisms of gravitropism and graviresistance are complementary, the first being mostly sensitive to the direction of the gravity vector, and the second to its magnitude. At a global molecular level, the consequence of gravity alteration is that the genome should be finely tuned to counteract a type of stress that plants have never encountered before throughout evolution. Multigene families and redundant genes present an advantage in that they can experience changes without the risk of being deleterious and, for this reason, they should play a key role in the response to gravitational stress.
Insight into the photosynthetic apparatus in evergreen and deciduous European oaks during autumn senescence using OJIP fluorescence transient analysis
Authors: Holland V. , Koller S. , Brüggemann W.
Published: October 2013

Climate change is one of the major issues nowadays, and Mediterranean broadleaf species have been suggested to fill possible future gaps created by climate change in Central European forests. To provide a scientific‐based foundation for such practical strategies, it is important to obtain a general idea about differences and similarities in the physiology of Central European and Mediterranean species. In the present study, we evaluated the onset of leaf senescence of a broad spectrum of oak species under the Central European climate in a common garden experiment. Degradation of the photosynthetic apparatus of evergreen (Quercus ilex, Q. suber), semi‐evergreen (Q. × turneri, Q. × hispanica) and deciduous oaks (Q. robur, Q. cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. pubescens) was monitored as chlorophyll content and analysed chlorophyll fluorescence induction transients. In the deciduous species, a significant decline in chlorophyll content was observed during autumn/winter, with Q. pubescens showing the slowest decline. Analysis of fluorescence induction transients revealed a significant decline in quantum efficiency of the primary photochemistry and reaction centre density and later, a decrease in quantum efficiency of end acceptor reduction. Alterations in fluorescence parameters were compared to the decline in chlorophyll content, which occurred much more slowly than expected from the fluorescence data. The evergreen species showed no decline in chlorophyll content, nor different chlorophyll a fluorescence induction behaviour despite temperature falling below 0 °C. The hybrids showed intermediate behaviour between their parental evergreen and deciduous taxa.
Optimal Uniform Pricing Strategy of a Service Firm When Facing Two Classes of Customers
Authors: Zhou Wenhui , Chao Xiuli , Gong Xiting
Published: October 2013

When facing heterogeneous customers, how should a service firm make its pricing decision to maximize revenue? If discrimination is allowed, then priority schemes and differentiated pricing are often used to achieve that. In many applications, however, the firm cannot or is not allowed to set discriminatory prices, for example, list price in retail stores, online shopping, and gas stations; thus a uniform price must be applied to all customers. This study addresses the optimal uniform pricing problem of a service firm using a queueing system with two classes of customers. Our result shows that the potential pool of customers plays a central role in the firm's optimal decision. Depending on the range of system parameters, which are determined explicitly by the primitive data, the firm's optimal strategy may choose to serve only one class of customers, a subset of a class of customers, or a combination of different classes of customers. In addition, the optimal price is in general not monotonic with respect to the potential market sizes because their changes may lead to a major shift in the firm's decision on which customer class to serve. However, unless such a shift occurs, the optimal price is weakly decreasing in the potential market sizes.
Capacity Planning with Financial and Operational Hedging in Low‐Cost Countries
Authors: Chen Lijian , Li Shanling , Wang Letian
Published: October 2013

The authors of this article outline a capacity planning problem in which a risk‐averse firm reserves capacities with potential suppliers that are located in multiple low‐cost countries. While demand is uncertain, the firm also faces multi‐country foreign currency exposures. This study develops a mean‐variance model that maximizes the firm's optimal utility and derives optimal utility and optimal decisions in capacity and financial hedging size. The authors show that when demand and exchange rate risks are perfectly correlated, a risk‐averse firm, by using financial hedging, will achieve the same optimal utility as a risk‐neutral firm. In this study as well, a special case is examined regarding two suppliers in China and Vietnam. The results show that if a single supplier is contracted, financial hedging most benefits the highly risk‐averse firm when the demand and exchange rate are highly negatively related. When only one hedge is used, financial hedging dominates operational hedging only when the firm is very risk averse and the correlation between the two exchange rates have become positive. With both theoretical and numerical results, this study concludes that the two hedges are strategic tools and interact each other to maximize the optimal utility.
Service Completion Estimates for Cross‐trained Workforce Schedules under Uncertain Attendance and Demand
Authors: Easton Fred F.
Published: October 2013

Although cross‐trained workers offer numerous operational advantages for extended‐hour service businesses, they must first be scheduled for duty. The outcome from those decisions, usually made a week or more in advance, varies with realized service demand, worker attendance, and the way available cross‐trained workers are deployed once the demands for service are known. By ignoring the joint variability of attendance and demand, we show that existing workforce scheduling models tend to overstate expected schedule performance and systematically undervalue the benefits of cross‐training. We propose a two‐stage stochastic program for profit‐oriented cross‐trained workforce scheduling and allocation decisions that is driven by service completion estimates obtained from the convolution of the employee attendance and service demand distributions. Those estimates, reflecting optimal worker allocation decisions over all plausible realizations of attendance and demand, provide the gradient information used to guide workforce scheduling decisions. Comparing the performance of workforce scheduling decisions for hundreds of different hypothetical service environments, we find that solutions based on convolution estimates are more profitable, favor proportionately more cross‐trained workers and fewer specialists, and tend to recommend significantly larger (smaller) staffing levels for services under high (low) contribution margins than workforce schedules developed with independent expectations of attendance and demand.
End‐of‐Life Inventory Problem with Phaseout Returns
Authors: Pourakbar M. , van derLaan E. , Dekker R.
Published: October 2013

We consider the service parts end‐of‐life inventory problem of a capital goods manufacturer in the final phase of its life cycle. The final phase starts as soon as the production of parts terminates and continues until the last service contract expires. Final order quantities are considered a popular tactic to sustain service fulfillment obligations and to mitigate the effect of obsolescence. In addition to the final order quantity, other sources to obtain serviceable parts are repairing returned defective items and retrieving parts from phaseout returns. Phaseout returns happen when a customer replaces an old system platform with a next‐generation one and returns the old product to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). These returns can well serve the demand for service parts of other customers still using the old generation of the product. In this study, we study the decision‐making complications as well as cost‐saving opportunities stemming from phaseout occurrence. We use a finite‐horizon Markov decision process to characterize the structure of the optimal inventory control policy. We show that the optimal policy consists of a time‐varying threshold level for item repair. Furthermore, we study the value of phaseout information by extending the results to cases with an uncertain phaseout quantity or an uncertain schedule. Numerical analysis sheds light on the advantages of the optimal policy compared to some heuristic policies.
Genetic variation for resistance to herbivores and plant pathogens: hypotheses, mechanisms and evolutionary implications
Authors: Keith R. , Mitchell‐Olds T.
Published: October 2013

The interactions between plants and enemies employ a variety of mechanisms, which in turn affect the long‐term evolutionary histories of the interacting species. Different patterns of interactions determine not only the selective forces acting on individual genes, but also the flexibility and rapidity of evolution in response to new threats. New genomic techniques allowing large‐scale comparisons within and between species demonstrate that defence genes are highly variable and experience very different selective patterns even in recently diverged species. Similar and even shared pathways for defence against diverse taxa of enemies reveal the variability and flexibility of plant defence.