bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tourette Syndrome Support Organizations Around the World
Authors: Roper Louise , Hollenbeck Peter J. , Rickards Hugh E.
Published: September 2013

This chapter presents and discusses the results of a survey that collected extensive information on patient advocacy and support groups for Tourette syndrome (TS) worldwide. TS associations and support groups are in different stages of development in different countries, probably as a result of different self-help/advocacy cultural approaches. Funding derives from different sources, including the government. Only a few organizations are involved in political and scientific agenda setting (e.g., in directing and funding research, providing guidelines, and lobbying governments). Current austerity measures due to the worldwide financial crisis are likely to affect the future activities of patient support groups, which may need to adapt their operational strategies.
Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures
Authors: Duncan Roderick
Published: September 2013

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) were known to Gowers as ‘Hysteroid Attacks’, and featured in his 1901 monograph on epilepsy, though not directly in his ‘Borderlands’. We have now largely defined the observed semiology of PNES, most patients having events that consist of loss of response with tremor (high frequency low amplitute, or low frequency high amplitude) or with no movements at all. The subjective semiology is less well known. Only 10% of patients have epilepsy as well as PNES. PNES typically arise after the epilepsy, so epilepsy can be regarded as a predisposing factor. Many patients have a backgrounds of psychological trauma, also understood as a predisposing factor. The relationship between predisposition and causation remains uncertain. Therapeutically, the landscape is dominated by the fact that a substantial minority of patients stop having PNES with no intervention other than communication of the diagnosis, with or without withdrawal of anticonvulsant medication. One randomized controlled trial has showed an encouraging short-term effect of cognitive behavioural therapy, but the evidence for sustained effectiveness of psychological intervention remains observational.
Panic, Ictal Fear, and Hyperventilation
Authors: Schöndienst Martin , Lindemann Katrin
Published: September 2013

This chapter begins with an examination of Gowers’ attempt to describe “vagal and vaso-vagal attacks” – panic attacks in today’s diagnostic classifications – and his difficulties with concisely delineating a condition, which is now thought of as a “mental” disorder. Given that the interrelations between panic, hyperventilation and ictal fear are diverse and have to be explored clinically on a case-by-case basis, we then use several case reports to demonstrate how diagnostic access can be gained and how this relates to therapeutic dimensions. In the borderland of these conditions, every patient represents a ‘special scenario’ with idiosyncratic transitions between anxiety and epilepsy and sometimes hyperventilation, making it indispensable to consider every patient’s individual subjective symptoms. We illustrate this approach by working with short extracts from doctor-patient interactions. Patients’ own descriptions of their subjective experiences usually allow a clear definition of the idiosyncratic aspects of their condition. We then discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms of the different disorders. Further case reports highlight situations in which panic and hyperventilation are tightly interwoven with epileptic seizures. Our chapter concludes with suggestions for the management of this clinical scenario.
Hyperekplexia and Kinesigenic and Non-kinesigenic Dyskinesias
Authors: Henriksen Tove , Hjermind Lena E.
Published: September 2013

This chapter describes several very rare disorders, both sporadic and familial. The latter provide increasing insights into the genetic basis of movement disorders, which in turn help us gain a better understanding of their pathogenesis. The paroxysmal dyskinesias comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders sharing the paroxysmal occurrence of dyskinesia, which can manifest as choreoathetosis, ballism and dystonia. The history and, in some cases, genetic testing, help to make the diagnosis. Unfortunately, many patients are initially misdiagnosed as having a psychogenic disorder. A diagnostic workup including MRI of the brain is mandatory in sporadic cases. Carbamazepine is the drug of choice for the kinesigenic dyskinesias, and clonazepam for the non-kinesigenic forms.
Stereotypical Behaviors and Sudden Nonepileptic Behaviors in People with an Intellectual Disability
Authors: Thompson Rose , Waddington Keir , Kerr Michael
Published: September 2013

Stereotypical behaviors are repetitive rhythmical movements that appear to seem purposeful to the person performing them but are purposeless. They can involve any part of the body and develop in most children under the age of three, but may persist and develop into more complicated routines in individuals with intellectual disabilities. These rhythmical movements may be mistaken for seizures, especially in individuals with ID however they are not accompanied by altered consciousness and individuals may be distracted from performing them. These movements seem to be rewarding for the individuals that perform them, and individuals will continue in the absence of social reinforcement and in the presence of aversive stimuli. Some evidence suggests that they may be a consequence of dysfunction in the basal ganglia. They are cited as a core feature of many genetic syndromes such as Rett syndrome and in conditions associated with ID such as autism. Clinicians need to be aware on stereotypy and non-epileptic behaviors to avoid unnecessary treatment as they mimic seizures.
Episodic Dyscontrol, Rage, and Violence
Authors: Beran Roy G.
Published: September 2013

As epileptic seizures reflect uncontrolled activity of part or all of the brain, it is not surprising that seizures may provoke episodic dyscontrol, rage or violence, consequent to discharges from an appropriate brain region, such as the amygdala. There appears an overestimate of the amount of aggressive behavior associated with epilepsy, yet it has clearly been demonstrated via telemetric patient monitoring. It may occur ictally, postictally and interictally with the majority of reports describing post-ictal aggression or post-ictal psychosis, especially with temporal lobe epilepsy. The relevant neurobiology suggests peri-amygdala pathology, possibly with left or bilateral EEG and MRI abnormalities. PET studies have demonstrated temporal and frontal hypometabolism while the involvement of various neurotransmitters has been implicated. Associated familial behavioral problems have been reported together with comorbidities and underlying brain disorders. Treatment may include use of antiepileptic medications, atypical antipsychotic agents, non-pharmacological psychotherapy and, possibly, deep brain stimulation.
Personality and Personality Disorder
Authors: Tebartz Ludger , Elst Van
Published: September 2013

When Gowers gave his famous lectures on the borderland of epilepsy the concept of personality and personality disorder did not feature in the theoretical framework and repertoire of science. Thus at the beginning of this chapter the history and development of the concepts of person, personality and personality disorder will be described. This description will focus especially on the conceptual dichotomy between primary personality disorder and organic personality disorders, for example in the context of epilepsy. Some personality disorders, for example emotional-unstable personality disorder, are frequent in a primary (psychiatric) context as well as in the context of epilepsy. We then present a case of an apparently primary Borderline Personality Disorder and demonstrate how epilepsy-associated neuronal network instability may produce the clinical picture of a personality disorder. Based on this case description this chapter will present an etiopathogenetic model based on local area network inhibition. It proposes that a mixture of pathophysiological mechanisms and psychoreactive coping styles explain the development of most personality disorders.
Sequence selectivity of the cleavage sites induced by topoisomerase I inhibitors: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Siu Fung-Ming , Pommier Yves
Published: September 2013

Topoisomerase IB (Top1) inhibitors, such as camptothecin (CPT), stabilize the Top1-DNA cleavage complex in a DNA sequence-dependent manner. The sequence selectivity of Top1 inhibitors is important for targeting specific genomic sequences of therapeutic value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this selectivity remain largely unknown. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to delineate structural, dynamic and energetic features that contribute to the differential sequence selectivity of the Top1 inhibitors. We found the sequence selectivity of CPT to be highly correlated with the drug binding energies, dynamic and structural properties of the linker domain. Chemical insights, gained by per-residue binding energy analysis revealed that the non-polar interaction between CPT and nucleotide at the +1 position of the cleavage site was the major (favorable) contributor to the total binding energy. Mechanistic insights gained by a potential of mean force analysis implicated that the drug dissociation step was associated with the sequence selectivity. Pharmaceutical insights gained by our molecular dynamics analyses explained why LMP-776, an indenoisoquinoline derivative under clinical development at the National Institutes of Health, displays different sequence selectivity when compared with camptothecin and its clinical derivatives.
Functional Analysis of a Tannic-Acid-Inducible and Hypoviral-Regulated Small Heat-Shock Protein Hsp24 from the Chestnut Blight FungusCryphonectria parasitica
Authors: Baek Jin-Ho , Park Jin-Ah , Kim Jung-Mi , Oh Jung-Mi , Park Seung-Moon , Kim Dae-Hyuk
Published: September 2013

A small heat-shock protein gene, CpHsp24, of Cryphonectria parasitica was selected based on its expression pattern, which showed that it was tannic acid inducible and that its induction was severely hampered by a hypovirus. The predicted protein sequence of CpHsp24 consisted of a hallmark α-crystalline domain flanked by a variable N-terminal and a short C-terminal region. Disruption of CpHsp24 resulted in a slow growth rate under standard growth conditions. The CpHsp24-null mutant showed enhanced sensitivity to heat shock, which was consistent with Northern and Western analyses displaying the heat-shock induction of the CpHsp24 gene and protein, respectively. Virulence tests on the excised bark revealed a severe decrease in the necrotic area of the CpHsp24-null mutant. When the hypovirus was transferred, virus-containing CpHsp24-null progeny displayed severely retarded growth patterns with hypovirulent characteristics of reduced pigmentation and sporulation. Because the tannic-acid-inducible and hypoviral-suppressible expression and the severely impaired virulence are also characteristics of the laccase3 gene (lac3), lac3 expression in the CpHsp24-null mutant was also examined. The resulting lac3 induction was severely affected in the CpHsp24-null mutant, suggesting that CpHsp24 is important for lac3 induction and that CpHsp24 may act as a molecular chaperone for the lac3 protein.
Can High-Risk Fungicides be Used in Mixtures Without Selecting for Fungicide Resistance?
Authors: Mikaberidze Alexey , McDonald Bruce A. , Bonhoeffer Sebastian
Published: September 2013

Fungicide mixtures produced by the agrochemical industry often contain low-risk fungicides, to which fungal pathogens are fully sensitive, together with high-risk fungicides known to be prone to fungicide resistance. Can these mixtures provide adequate disease control while minimizing the risk for the development of resistance? We present a population dynamics model to address this question. We found that the fitness cost of resistance is a crucial parameter to determine the outcome of competition between the sensitive and resistant pathogen strains and to assess the usefulness of a mixture. If fitness costs are absent, then the use of the high-risk fungicide in a mixture selects for resistance and the fungicide eventually becomes nonfunctional. If there is a cost of resistance, then an optimal ratio of fungicides in the mixture can be found, at which selection for resistance is expected to vanish and the level of disease control can be optimized.
Wild Asian elephants distinguish aggressive tiger and leopard growls according to perceived danger
Authors: Thuppil Vivek , Coss Richard G.
Published: September 2013

Prey species exhibit antipredator behaviours such as alertness, aggression and flight, among others, in response to predators. The nature of this response is variable, with animals reacting more strongly in situations of increased vulnerability. Our research described here is the first formal study to investigate night-time antipredator behaviour in any species of elephants, Asian or African. We examined the provocative effects of elephant-triggered tiger and leopard growls while elephants attempted to crop-raid. Tigers opportunistically prey on elephant calves, whereas leopards pose no threat; therefore, we predicted that the elephant response would be reflective of this difference. Elephants reacted similarly cautiously to the simulated presence of felids of both species by eventually moving away, but differed markedly in their more immediate behavioural responses. Elephants retreated silently to tiger-growl playbacks, whereas they responded with aggressive vocalizations, such as trumpets and grunts, to leopard-growl playbacks. Elephants also lingered in the area and displayed alert or investigative behaviours in response to leopard growls when compared with tiger growls. We anticipate that the methods outlined here will promote further study of elephant antipredator behaviour in a naturalistic context, with applications for conservation efforts as well.
Characterizations of particle size distribution of the droplets exhaled by sneeze
Authors: Han Z. Y. , Weng W. G. , Huang Q. Y.
Published: September 2013

This work focuses on the size distribution of sneeze droplets exhaled immediately at mouth. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the experiment and 44 sneezes were measured by using a laser particle size analyser. Two types of distributions are observed: unimodal and bimodal. For each sneeze, the droplets exhaled at different time in the sneeze duration have the same distribution characteristics with good time stability. The volume-based size distributions of sneeze droplets can be represented by a lognormal distribution function, and the relationship between the distribution parameters and the physiological characteristics of the subjects are studied by using linear regression analysis. The geometric mean of the droplet size of all the subjects is 360.1 µm for unimodal distribution and 74.4 µm for bimodal distribution with geometric standard deviations of 1.5 and 1.7, respectively. For the two peaks of the bimodal distribution, the geometric mean (the geometric standard deviation) is 386.2 µm (1.8) for peak 1 and 72.0 µm (1.5) for peak 2. The influences of the measurement method, the limitations of the instrument, the evaporation effects of the droplets, the differences of biological dynamic mechanism and characteristics between sneeze and other respiratory activities are also discussed.
Characterizing the dynamics of rubella relative to measles: the role of stochasticity
Authors: Rozhnova Ganna , Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Grenfell Bryan T.
Published: September 2013

Rubella is a completely immunizing and mild infection in children. Understanding its behaviour is of considerable public health importance because of congenital rubella syndrome, which results from infection with rubella during early pregnancy and may entail a variety of birth defects. The recurrent dynamics of rubella are relatively poorly resolved, and appear to show considerable diversity globally. Here, we investigate the behaviour of a stochastic seasonally forced susceptible–infected–recovered model to characterize the determinants of these dynamics and illustrate patterns by comparison with measles. We perform a systematic analysis of spectra of stochastic fluctuations around stable attractors of the corresponding deterministic model and compare them with spectra from full stochastic simulations in large populations. This approach allows us to quantify the effects of demographic stochasticity and to give a coherent picture of measles and rubella dynamics, explaining essential differences in the recurrent patterns exhibited by these diseases. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of vaccination and changing birth rates as well as the persistence of these two childhood infections.
Explaining the distribution of breeding and dispersal syndromes in conifers
Authors: Leslie Andrew B. , Beaulieu Jeremy M. , Crane Peter R. , Donoghue Michael J.
Published: September 2013

The evolution of plants exhibiting different sexes, or dioecy, is correlated with a number of ecological and life-history traits such as woody growth form and animal-dispersed seeds, but the underlying causes of these associations are unclear. Previous work in seed plants has suggested that the evolution of fleshy cones or seeds may favour dioecy. In this study, we use a well-sampled molecular phylogeny of conifers to show that although dioecy and fleshiness strongly co-occur at the species level, this relationship has not resulted from numerous separate origins of this trait combination or from differential rates of diversification. Instead, we suggest that two character combinations—the ancestral dry-monoecious condition and the derived fleshy-dioecious condition—have persisted in conifers longer than other combinations over evolutionary time. The persistence of these trait combinations appears to reflect differences in the rate of successful transition into and out of these character states over time, as well as the geographical restriction of species with rare combinations and their consequent vulnerability to extinction. In general, we argue that such persistence explanations should be considered alongside ‘key innovation’ hypotheses in explaining the phylogenetic distribution of traits.
Cryptic species ofArchinome(Annelida: Amphinomida) from vents and seeps
Authors: Borda Elizabeth , Kudenov Jerry D. , Chevaldonné Pierre , Blake James A. , Desbruyères Daniel , Fabri Marie-Claire , Hourdez Stéphane , Pleijel Fredrik , Shank Timothy M. , Wilson Nerida G. , Schulze Anja , Rouse Greg W.
Published: September 2013

Since its description from the Galapagos Rift in the mid-1980s,Archinome rosaceahas been recorded at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Only recently was a second species described from the Pacific Antarctic Ridge. We inferred the identities and evolutionary relationships ofArchinomerepresentatives sampled from across the hydrothermal vent range of the genus, which is now extended to cold methane seeps. Species delimitation using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) recovered up to six lineages, whereas concatenated datasets (COI, 16S, 28S and ITS1) supported only four or five of these as clades. Morphological approaches alone were inconclusive to verify the identities of species owing to the lack of discrete diagnostic characters. We recognize fiveArchinomespecies, with three that are new to science. The new species, designated based on molecular evidence alone, include:Archinome levinaen. sp., which occurs at both vents and seeps in the east Pacific,Archinome tethyanan. sp., which inhabits Atlantic vents andArchinome jasonin. sp., also present in the Atlantic, and whose distribution extends to the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Biogeographic connections between vents and seeps are highlighted, as are potential evolutionary links among populations from vent fields located in the east Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the latter presented for the first time.
Electron backscatter diffraction study of twins and intergrowths among quartz crystals in granite
Authors: Zhao Shan-Rong , Xu Hai-Jun , Wang Qin-Yan , Yang Kun-Guang
Published: September 2013

Quartz has various types of twin law and twinned quartz is more common than untwinned quartz. However, it is difficult to determine the twin laws of quartz by optical or diffraction methods, so the distribution of the different twin laws of quartz in rocks is still unknown. This paper introduces a method to determine quartz twin laws using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Based on this method, the relationships between quartz crystals in the granite of Tiantangzhai pluton, located at the centre of the Dabie Mountain area, China, are analysed. It is found that the Dauphiné twin is very abundant but the other twin laws (Japan, Esterel, Sardinian, Breithaupt and Cornish) are very rare in this granite. Besides twin laws, many kinds of intergrowths among the quartz crystals are also found. In the intergrowths the overlapping faces are {11\overline 22}, {10\overline 11}, {10\overline 12}, {11\overline 21} and {20\overline 21}, which are simply the twin planes of the Japan, Esterel, Sardinian, Breithaupt and Cornish twin laws, respectively. It is interesting that quartz crystals like to form intergrowths based on these faces but do not like to form twins with these faces as a twin plane. This research shows that the relationship between quartz crystals in the granite is controlled by the crystallographic orientation, resulting in the twins and intergrowths occurring at frequencies far exceeding random contact. It is also suggested that EBSD is the best method to determine the twin laws and intergrowths of quartz in a rock.
NCImilano: an electron-density-based code for the study of noncovalent interactions
Authors: Saleh Gabriele , Lo Presti Leonardo , Gatti Carlo , Ceresoli Davide
Published: September 2013

NCImilano, a Fortran90 code for applying the reduced density gradient (RDG) descriptor to a real-space study of noncovalent interactions, is presented. This code has been specifically designed for the X-ray charge density community, as it can deal with both gas-phase and solid-state electron densities as evaluated by popular multipolar (XD2006) and Gaussian-based quantum mechanical (Gaussian03/09,CRYSTAL) computational platforms. Moreover, it implements for the first time the possibility of plotting energy densities over RDG isosurfaces.
Three-dimensional reciprocal space mapping of diffuse scattering for the study of stacking faults in semipolar (\bf 11{\overline 2}2) GaN layers grown from the sidewall of anr-patterned sapphire substrate
Authors: Lazarev Sergey , Bauer Sondes , Meisch Tobias , Bauer Martin , Tischer Ingo , Barchuk Mykhailo , Thonke Klaus , Holy Vaclav , Scholz Ferdinand , Baumbach Tilo
Published: September 2013

Three-dimensional reciprocal space mapping of semipolar (11{\overline 2}2) GaN grown on stripe-patternedr-plane (1{\overline 1}02) sapphire substrates is found to be a powerful and crucial method for the analysis of diffuse scattering originating from stacking faults that are diffracting in a noncoplanar geometry. Additionally, by measuring three-dimensional reciprocal space maps (3D-RSMs) of several reflections, the transmission electron microscopy visibility criteria could be confirmed. Furthermore, similar to cathodoluminescence, the 3D-RSM method could be used in future as a reliable tool to distinguish clearly between the diffuse scattering signals coming from prismatic and from basal plane stacking faults and from partial dislocations in semipolar (11{\overline 2}2) GaN. The fitting of the diffuse scattering intensity profile along the stacking fault streaks with a simulation based on the Monte Carlo approach has delivered an accurate determination of the basal plane stacking fault density. A reduction of the stacking fault density due to the intercalation of an SiN interlayer in the GaN layer deposited on the sidewall of the pre-patterned sapphire substrate has led to an improvement of the optoelectronic properties, influenced by the crystal quality, as has been demonstrated by a locally resolved cathodoluminescence investigation.
Preliminary study of disfluency in school‐aged children with autism
Authors: Scaler Scott Kathleen , Tetnowski John A. , Flaitz James R. , Yaruss J. Scott
Published: September 2013

Background

In recent years, there has been increased identification of disfluencies in individuals with autism, but limited examination of disfluencies in the school‐age range of this population. We currently lack information about whether the disfluencies of children with autism represent concomitant stuttering, normal disfluency, excessive normal disfluency, or some form of disfluency unique to the school‐age population of children with autism.

Aims

This paper explores the nature of disfluencies in school‐aged children with autism in comparison with matched children who stutter and controls. It explores stuttering‐like disfluencies, non‐stuttering‐like disfluencies and word‐final disfluencies.

Methods & Procedures

This study compared disfluency patterns in 11 school‐aged children with Asperger's syndrome (AS), 11 matched children who stutter (CWS), and 11 matched children with no diagnosis (ND). Analyses were based on speech samples collected during an expository discourse task.

Outcomes & Results

Results reveal statistically significant differences between children with AS and CWS and between children with AS and those with ND for the percentage of words containing stuttering‐like disfluencies. In the AS group, four out of 11 (36%) met the common diagnostic criteria for a fluency disorder. Disfluencies in the AS group differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the CWS, and included a larger distribution of word‐final disfluencies.

Conclusions & Implications

This study provides initial data regarding patterns of disfluency in school‐aged children with AS that, with careful consideration and the cautious application of all findings, can assist therapists in making more evidence‐based diagnostic decisions. Findings offer evidence that when working with children with AS, disfluencies both similar and dissimilar to those of CWS may be identified in at least a subset of those with AS. Therefore, children with AS should be screened for fluency disorders during their initial evaluation and treated if it is determined that the fluency disorder negatively impacts the effectiveness of communication.
What do we know about tocolytic effectiveness and how do we use this information in guidelines? A comparison of evidence grading
Authors: Roos C , Borowiack E , Kowalska M , Zapalska A , Mol BW , Mignini L , Meads C , Walczak J , Khan KS ,   the EBM CONNECT collaboration
Published: September 2013

Background

Evidence summaries of tocolytic effectiveness assign quality levels based on a single dimension: the study design. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system takes into account several domains, including limitations of the study design and ranking the importance of outcomes.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to compare the quality of evidence according to GRADE with the quality as described by existing guidelines.

Search strategy

A practitioner survey to rank the importance of outcomes and a systematic review were conducted. For the systematic review, we searched Medline, Embase, and DARE databases from inception to December 2010 using the terms ‘tocolytics’ and ‘threatened preterm labour’, without any language restrictions.

Selection criteria

Inclusion criteria for the review were randomised controlled trials comparing tocolytics with either placebo or betamimetics.

Data collection and analysis

The review and survey teams worked independently. Evidence ratings according to GRADE were performed.

Main results

The majority of the survey respondents thought that it was important to use tocolytics to buy the time needed for steroids to promote fetal lung maturation and to allow in utero transfer. Nearly 80% of ‘high’ ratings in guidelines were downgraded as a result of deficiencies identified by GRADE.

Authors’ conclusions

We propose a move away from the use of evidence rating systems reliant solely on study design, as they have a propensity towards strong recommendations when the underlying evidence is weak.
Maternal and health care determinants of preconceptional use of folic acid supplementation in France: results from the 2010 National Perinatal Survey
Authors: Tort J , Lelong N , Prunet C , Khoshnood B , Blondel B
Published: September 2013

Objectives

To estimate the national prevalence and analyse the factors associated with preconceptional folic acid supplementation, including maternal sociodemographic characteristics, region of residence, birth control use and chronic diseases requiring medical care before conception.

Design

Cross‐sectional population‐based study.

Setting

All maternity units in France.

Population

A nationally representative sample of women giving birth in 2010 (n = 12,646).

Methods

Data came from mothers' interviews 2–3 days after delivery. Statistical analyses included multivariable logistic regressions.

Main outcome measure

Folic acid supplementation starting at least 1 month before conception.

Results

14.8% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 14.2–15.4) of women used folic acid before pregnancy; this percentage varied from 10.4% to 18.7% across regions. Supplementation was more frequent in primiparae, French citizens, women with higher educational levels and those needing medical monitoring or treatment before conception. Women who stopped contraception to become pregnant (75% of our population) used folic acid more often (intrauterine device or implant: 19%, pill: 17%, other methods which did not need medical monitoring: 17%) than other women (7%). The adjusted odds ratios were 3.3 (95% CI 2.6–4.3) for intrauterine device and implant, 2.2 (95% CI 1.8–2.6) for pill and 1.9 (95% CI 1.5–2.4) for other methods, compared with women who did not use birth control.

Conclusion

The absence of preconceptional folic acid supplementation for most women, even those needing consultations with healthcare professionals before pregnancy, shows that campaigns to promote folic acid supplementation should address not only women but also healthcare professionals involved in birth control and obstetric care before pregnancy.
An ‘at‐risk’ curriculum for ‘at‐risk’ students? Special educational needs and disability in the new Australian Curriculum
Authors: Garner Philip , Forbes Fiona
Published: September 2013

The number of students who are ‘at risk’ including those with special education needs and or disabilities is increasing rapidly worldwide in all schools. This has prompted widespread debate regarding the impact of initiatives in Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting for this group of students. Teachers, parents and administrators need to have further information to enable them to contribute to the development of content, assessment and reporting processes in the curriculum that are inclusive, relevant, reliable and valid. This paper explores some of the issues and dilemmas raised by recent policy discussions regarding the inception of a first national Australian Curriculum. It draws purposively on literature relating to developments in England and Wales, where national curriculum provision has existed for over 25 years, as well as the responses of a group of stakeholders (teachers and leaders) from both England/Wales and Australian schools and settings. These data highlight both tension and opportunity in this area of work.
Mandatory Disclosure, Voluntary Disclosure, and Stock Market Liquidity: Evidence from the EU Bank Stress Tests
Authors: BISCHOF JANNIS , DASKE HOLGER
Published: September 2013

We use the EU stress tests and the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis to study the consequences of supervisory disclosure of banks’ sovereign risk exposures. We test the idea that a mandatory one‐time disclosure induces an increase in voluntary disclosures about sovereign risk in the following periods and, through the shift in the voluntary disclosure equilibrium, increases the liquidity of banks’ shares. First, we find that the timing and content of different mandatory disclosure events helps explain the levels of stress‐test banks’ voluntary disclosures about sovereign risk. Second, although the bid‐ask spreads of stress test participants generally increased after the mandatory stress test in 2011, our results suggest that the decrease in market liquidity is entirely attributable to those stress‐test participants that did not commit to voluntarily maintaining the disclosures of sovereign risk exposure.
FACE‐R—A 3D Database of 400 Living Individuals' Full Head CT‐ and Face Scans and Preliminary GMM Analysis for Craniofacial Reconstruction
Authors: Kustár Agnes , Forró Laszlo , Kalina Ildiko , Fazekas Ferenc , Honti Szabolcs , Makra Szabolcs , Friess Martin
Published: September 2013

In the past, improvements in craniofacial reconstructions (CFR) methodology languished due to the lack of adequate 3D databases that were sufficiently large and appropriate for 3‐dimensional shape statistics. In our study, we created the “FACE‐R” database from CT records and 3D surface scans of 400 clinical patients from Hungary, providing a significantly larger sample that was available before. The uniqueness of our database is linking of two data types that makes possible to investigate the bone and skin surface of the same individual, in upright position, thus eliminating many of the gravitational effects on the face during CT scanning. We performed a preliminary geometric morphometric (GMM) study using 3D data that produces a general idea of skull and face shape correlations. The vertical position of the tip of the (soft) nose for a skull and landmarks such as rhinion need to be taken into account. Likewise, the anterior nasal spine appears to exert some influence in this regard.
Sex differences in the influence of social context, salient social stimulation and amphetamine on ultrasonic vocalizations in prairie voles
Authors: MA Sean T. , RESENDEZ Shanna L. , ARAGONA Brandon J.
Published: September 2013

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are a socially monogamous rodent species and their cooperative behaviors require extensive communication between conspecifics. Rodents use ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate and because a prairie vole breeder pair must engage in extensive cooperation for successful reproduction, auditory communication may be critical for this species. Therefore, we sought to characterize USVs in adult male and female prairie voles, and to determine how these calls are influenced by social context, salient social stimuli and the psychostimulant drug of abuse amphetamine (AMPH). Here, we characterize prairie vole USVs by showing the range of frequencies of prairie vole USVs, the proportion of various call types, how these call types compare between males and females, and how they are influenced by social stimulation and AMPH. AMPH caused a robust increase in the number of USVs in both males and females and there was a dramatic sex difference in the complexity of call structures of AMPH‐induced USVs, with males emitting more elaborate calls. Moreover, we show that novel (i.e. salient) social cues evoked differential increases in USVs across sex, with males showing a much more robust increase in USV production, both with respect to the frequency and complexity of USV production. Exposure to an estrous female in particular caused an extraordinary increase in USVs in male subjects. These data suggest that USVs may be a useful measure of social motivation in this species, including how social behaviors can be impacted by drugs of abuse.
Physicochemical Characterization and Sensory Analysis of Yeast‐leavened and Sourdough Soy Breads
Authors: Yezbick Gabrielle , Ahn‐Jarvis Jennifer , Schwartz Steven J. , Vodovotz Yael
Published: September 2013

Sourdough fermentation has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects on bread quality, and nutritionally enhance soy‐supplemented bread by altering isoflavone chemical forms. Given this, the objective of this study was to compare the loaf quality and shelf life of sourdough and yeast‐leavened soy breads by various physical, thermal, and sensorial methods, and to assess the effects of fermentation by various microorganisms on isoflavone profile in dough and breads using high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. Sourdough fermentation yielded a less extensible dough compared to yeast‐leavened soy dough (P < 0.001), and resulted in a harder bread crumb (P < 0.05) and lighter crust color (P < 0.001), compared to yeast‐leavened soy bread (Y‐B). Sensory analysis revealed a significantly higher overall liking of Y‐B compared to sourdough soy bread (SD‐B) (P < 0.001). Segmentation analysis of the cohort suggests that overall liking and bread consumption frequency may be determinants of Y‐B or SD‐B preference. SD‐B and Y‐B exhibited similar shelf‐life properties. Despite significantly different enthalpies associated with the melting of amylose‐lipid complexes, thermal analysis of the 2 soy breads stored for 10 d (ambient conditions) demonstrated no significant difference in water distribution and starch retrogradation (P < 0.05). Lastly, SD‐B was determined to have 32% of total isoflavones occurring in the aglycone form compared to 17% in Y‐B. These findings warrant further investigation of sourdough fermentation as a processing technique for quality and nutritional enhancement of soy‐based baked goods.
Botryticidal Activity of Nanosized Silver‐Chitosan Composite and Its Application for the Control of Gray Mold in Strawberry
Authors: Moussa Shaaban H. , Tayel Ahmed A. , Alsohim Abdullah S. , Abdallah Reda R.
Published: September 2013

Botrytis cinerea Pers, the gray mold fungus, is among the most dangerous plant pathogens that cause great losses in agricultural crops. The botryticidal activities of nanosized silver (nano Ag), fungal chitosan (CTS) irradiated fungal chitosan (IrCTS), and nano Ag‐IrCTS composite were investigated. All of the examined materials exhibited powerful antifungal activity against B. cinerea. The most effective compound was nano Ag‐IrCTS composite with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 125 μg/mL. The microscopic examination, of treated B. cinerea with the composite, revealed that an obvious alteration in mycelial shape was appeared accompanied and moderate lysis in fungal hyphae. With the prolongation of treatment, most of the fungal mycelia were lysed into small and elastic fragments. The consequence of strawberries coating, with antifungal composite based solution, was the disappearance of gray mold infection signs in 90% of the contaminated fruits after 7 d of storage, treated fruits had a fresh‐like appearance at the end of storage. Coating with nano Ag‐IrCTS solution could be highly recommended regarding its efficiency in prohibiting B. cinerea growth, preventing gray mold decay and enhancing the overall quality of coated strawberry fruits.
Phytochemical Analysis and Anti‐inflammatory Potential of Hyphaene thebaica L. Fruit
Authors: Farag Mohamed A. , Paré Paul W.
Published: September 2013

Metabolite profiling and biological activity are reported from organic and aqueous extracts of the fruit from the desert palm Hyphaene thebaica. Phenolics and oxylipids profiles were determined using UPLC‐PDA‐TOF (ultra performance‐photodiode array‐time of flight) high‐resolution mass spectrometry in order to obtain the molecular formula and exact mass Under optimized conditions, 17 compounds were simultaneously identified and quantified including 2 cinnamic acid derivatives, 5 flavonoids, 6 fatty acids, 2 sphingolipids, a lignan, and a stilbene. Sugars composition in the fruit was characterized and quantified by 1H‐NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) with sucrose detected as the major component in fruit at a level of 219 mg/g. Fruit organic extracts anti‐inflammatory potential was assessed in vitro by cyclooxygenase‐1 enzyme inhibition.
Chemical Treatments for Reducing the Yellow Discoloration of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Fillets
Authors: Li Yilin , Liu Shaoyang , Cline David , Chen Shengshun , Wang Yifen , Bell Leonard N.
Published: September 2013

The effect of chemical pretreatments on the color and carotenoid content of yellow discolored channel catfish fillets was studied. The color and carotenoid content of the fillets were analyzed by the L*a*b* color system and high‐performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Untreated fillets turned more yellow and darker after 12‐d storage. Sodium bicarbonate had a beneficial effect on reducing the degree of yellowness, but the fillets still turned darker after storage. Sodium bisulfite gave the best results with fillets becoming less yellow and brighter after storage. Ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole, citric acid, and sodium metabisulfite were not successful at reducing the discoloration. The sum of carotenoid contents of untreated fillets decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during storage as compared to the fresh fillets. However, the sum of the carotenoid contents of fillets treated by various chemicals was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the fresh or untreated fillets. The appearance of catfish fillets may be improved during storage by pretreating with sodium bisulfite.
Phase II trial of paclitaxel‐carboplatin with intercalated gefitinib for untreated, epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation status unknown non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yang Jianliang , Shi Yuankai , Zhang Xiangru , Xu Jianping , Wang Bin , Hao Xuezhi , Li Junling , Yan Wang
Published: September 2013

Background

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel‐carboplatin combined with intercalated gefitinib in patients with advanced, untreated, nonsquamous non‐small cell lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 29 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were Chinese, with a histology type of adenocarcinoma, without a smoking history, and as a result of the limited tissue sample, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation test could not be performed. All patients received chemotherapy of paclitaxel‐carboplatin every 21 days for four cycles, and gefitinib (250 mg/day) was administered on days eight to 17 of the chemotherapy cycle. If the patient responded to chemotherapy, maintenance therapy of 250mg of gefitinib could be administered daily.

Results

All of the 29 patients received at least one cycle of chemotherapy and gefitinib, and 25 patients received four cycles of therapy. Eighteen patients selected maintenance therapy with gefitinib. The objective response rate was 74.1% (95% confidence interval, 53.7% to 88.9%). No complete response was achieved. The median progression‐free survival was 16 months, however, the median overall survival was not available by the conclusion of the study. The major adverse event was hematologic toxicity.

Conclusions

The regimen of paclitaxel‐carboplatin combined with intercalated gefitinib showed a high response rate and a favorable safety profile. Gefitinib maintenance therapy was proven to be beneficial. This study proposes a good pattern of chemotherapy combined with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Altered cingulate and insular cortex activation during risk‐taking in methamphetamine dependence: losses lose impact
Authors: Gowin Joshua L. , Stewart Jennifer L. , May April C. , Ball Tali M. , Wittmann Marc , Tapert Susan F. , Paulus Martin P.
Published: September 2013

Aims

To determine if methamphetamine‐dependent (MD) individuals exhibit behavioral or neural processing differences in risk‐taking relative to healthy comparison participants (CTL).

Design

This was a cross‐sectional study comparing two groups' behavior on a risk‐taking task and neural processing as assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Settings

The study was conducted in an in‐patient treatment center and a research fMRI facility in the United States.

Participants

Sixty‐eight recently abstinent MD individuals recruited from a treatment program and 40 CTL recruited from the community completed the study.

Measurements

The study assessed risk‐taking behavior (overall and post‐loss) using the Risky Gains Task (RGT), sensation‐seeking, impulsivity and blood–oxygenation‐level‐dependent activation in the brain during the decision phase of the RGT.

Findings

Relative to CTL, MD displayed decreased activation in the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and greater activation in the left insula across risky and safe decisions (P < 0.05). Right mid‐insula activation among CTL did not vary between risky and safe decisions, but among MD it was higher during risky relative to safe decisions (P < 0.05). Among MD, lower activation in the right rostral ACC (r = −0.39, P < 0.01) and higher activation in the right mid‐insula (r = 0.35, P < 0.01) during risky decisions were linked to a higher likelihood of choosing a risky option following a loss.

Conclusions

Methamphetamine‐dependent individuals show disrupted risk‐related processing in both anterior cingulate and insula, brain areas that have been implicated in cognitive control and interoceptive processing. Attenuated neural processing of risky options may lead to risk‐taking despite experiencing negative consequences.
Two selves and online forums in China
Authors: Ye Wei Ming , Sarrica Mauro , Fortunati Leopoldina
Published: September 2013

Chinese society is characterized by emerging fragmentation and by the coexistence of traditional and Western values, goals and norms. In this multifaceted environment bi‐cultural selves, which encompass social and individual orientations, may emerge. The aim of this paper is to explore if features of bi‐cultural selves concerning interactions, emotions, and values are reflected in online public discussions in China. In order to address this question, we explored two of the most popular bulletin board systems (BBSs): Tian Ya and Feng Huang Forums. BBSs attract almost one third of Internet users in China and provide these users with a forum to carry out public dialogue; BBSs are thus an ideal place to study how the self is socially shaped in public communication. A sample of 6109 messages was subjected to quantitative content analysis. Results show that twofold self‐construal, corresponding to the individual‐ and social‐oriented self, are (also) detected in BBSs forum content: direct and polemic content coexist with conciliatory content; ego‐focused and other‐focused emotions are almost equally as frequent as one another; and traditional values are evoked together with the quest for truth and individual rights. Moreover, three typologies of Internet users (proactive, ambivalent, and follower), which were identified on the basis of the quality of their online interactions, show different patterns of emotions and values. We may thus conclude that alternative ways of constructing self‐other and self‐society relationships currently coexist in China and that these alternative views confront each other on BBS forums.