bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching Evolutionary Psychology: An Interview with David M. Buss
Authors: Barker Lewis
Published: January 2006

David M. Buss received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and has taught at Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. He has received the American Psychological Foundation Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions and the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientist Lecturer Award and has been a G. Stanley Hall Lecturer. His books include The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating (2003) and Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (2004), which won the Robert W. Hamilton Book Award. His most recent books are The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind Is Designed to Kill (2005b) and The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (2005a). Buss has roughly 200 publications. His research interests include mating strategies, murder, and sexual conflict.

Lewis Barker received his BA in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles and an MA and PhD from Florida State University. He taught for 28 years at Baylor University in Texas where he was Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience. He currently is a professor of psychology at Auburn University. Over his career, he has taught 18 different undergraduate courses, 9 graduate courses, and 5 labs. Introduction to Biopsychology, first taught in 1974, was among the earliest freshman-level course offerings in evolutionary and physiological psychology in the United States. He has numerous publications and book chapters and has edited 2 books in the general area of human and animal learning. Currently, he is researching how students' knowledge of psychology terms is related to their overall understanding of psychological concepts. He has written two textbooks, Learning and Behavior: Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Perspectives, and Psychology —the latter from an evolutionary perspective. He has 3 adult daughters and 2 grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas.
Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry: Teaching about the Social Construction of Madness
Authors: Connor-Greene Patricia A.
Published: January 2006

Theories and treatments of mental illness reflect the social, philosophical, and historical context in which they developed. This article describes ways to invite students to grapple with complex questions about “madness” from an interdisciplinary perspective. Looking at the construct of madness through multiple lenses (e.g., literature, anthropology, medicine) brings depth and breadth to the study of abnormal psychology. I discuss resources relevant to 6 themes: (a) the construct of mental illness, (b) diagnosis as a form of social control, (c) the role of the psychiatric patient, (d) the search for solutions, (e) madness and popular culture, and (f) contemporary issues in mental health. I also describe pedagogical strategies to encourage reflective thinking and critical inquiry.
Grade Expectations: Informed or Uninformed Optimism, or Both?
Authors: Svanum Soren , Bigatti Silvia
Published: January 2006

We investigated optimistic grade expectations among 258 college students from 2 contrasting perspectives: optimism as uninformed wishfulness and as an informed aspirational judgment. Results revealed considerable grade optimism; most students (70%) overestimated an average of 1 full grade. Grade expectations moderately predicted final grade but not course effort after adjusting for cumulative grade point average (GPA). Grade optimism and predictive accuracy differed as a function of GPA. For most students (upper two thirds on GPA), grade expectations accurately predicted performance, suggesting a mixture of self-knowledge and realistic aspirations, or informed optimism. For less accomplished students, grade optimism may be more uninformed wishfulness, the solution to which may be student skill improvement.
Kisses of Death in the Graduate School Application Process
Authors: Appleby Drew C. , Appleby Karen M.
Published: January 2006

A survey of psychology graduate admissions committee chairs revealed 5 categories of mistakes applicants make that diminish their probability of acceptance. We discuss 3 strategies that psychology departments can use to decrease the likelihood that students will commit these mistakes in their graduate school applications and provide suggestions that will help students avoid these mistakes.

The ideal student, seen through the eyes of graduate faculty, is gifted and creative, very bright and extremely motivated to learn, perfectly suited to the program, eager to actively pursue the lines of inquiry valued by the faculty, pleasant, responsible, and devoid of serious personal problems.

—Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman (2000, p. 32)
Statistics and Methodology Courses: Interdepartmental Variability in Undergraduate Majors' First Enrollments
Authors: Lauer Joan B. , Rajecki D. W. , Minke Karl A.
Published: January 2006

Transcripts of 784 psychology alumni from 4 universities revealed that students' timing of first enrollments in a statistics or methodology course was the result of an interaction between personal preferences and differences in program requirements. Where only a single methodological course was mandatory, first enrollments were especially late in students' careers. In departments having multiple methodological requirements, negative correlations between the timing of first method course versus first content course (e.g., clinical, developmental) indicated that the precedence of 1 category meant a delay for the other. We offer recommendations for increasing students' direct early exposure to scientific methodology in psychology.
Teaching Personality Theories Using Popular Music
Authors: Leck Kira
Published: January 2006

Previously, psychology instructors have used popular music to illustrate psychological concepts in the classroom. In this study, students enrolled in a personality theories class heard 13 popular songs that demonstrated various concepts. Students then selected and analyzed their own songs that contained elements of personality theories. Test grades and student evaluations of the demonstration provided support for the use of this activity for teaching personality theories.
Design, synthesis and characterization of captopril prodrugs for enhanced percutaneous absorption
Authors: Moss Gary P , Gullick Darren R , Cox Paul A , Alexander Cameron , Ingram Matthew J , Smart John D , Pugh W John
Published: January 2006

Most drugs are designed primarily for oral administration, but the activity and stability profiles desirable for this route often make them unsuitable for transdermal delivery. We were therefore interested in designing analogues of captopril, a model drug with poor percutaneous penetration, for which the sustained steady-state blood plasma level associated with transdermal delivery (and which is unattainable orally) would be particularly beneficial. Quantitative structure—permeability relationships (QSPRs) predicted that ester and thiol prodrug derivatives of captopril would have lower maximal transdermal flux (Jm) than the parent drug, since the increases in permeability coefficient (kp) of prodrugs would be outweighed by the reductions in aqueous solubility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize a series of prodrugs of captopril and to determine if a QSPR model could be used to design therapeutically viable prodrugs. Molecules with the highest predicted kp values were synthesized and characterized, and Jm measured in Franz diffusion cells from saturated aqueous donor across porcine skin (fresh and frozen). In-vitro metabolism was also measured. Captopril and the prodrugs crossed the skin relatively freely, with Jm being highest for ethyl to butyl esters. Substantial first-order metabolism of the prodrugs was observed, suggesting that their enhanced percutaneous absorption was complemented by their metabolic performance. The results suggested that QSPR models provided excellent enhancements in drug delivery. This was not seen at higher lipophilicities, suggesting that issues of solubility need to be considered in conjunction with any such use of a QSPR model.
Amphiphilogels as drug carriers: effects of drug incorporation on the gel and on the active drug
Authors: Jibry Nadeen , Sarwar Tanzeem , Murdan Sudaxshina
Published: January 2006

Amphiphilogels (a subset of organogels) are being studied as drug carriers in our laboratories. In this paper, the effects of drug incorporation on the drugs and the gels are discussed. Amphiphilogels were prepared by heating a mixture of the gelator (sorbitan monostearate or sorbitan monopalmitate) and the liquid (e.g. Tweens or liquid Spans) to form a solution/dispersion, which was cooled to the gel state. Drugs were dissolved by heating a mixture of the drug and the gel and cooling the resulting solution. Hydrophilic gels (composed of hydrophilic Tweens as the liquid) were more effective solvents than hydrophobic ones (composed of hydrophobic Span 20 or 80 liquids). The latter's solvent capacity could, however, be increased by the inclusion of co-solvents, such as propylene glycol and ethanol. Drug incorporation at 10% w/w did not cause any detrimental changes in gel stability, while the drug's release rate was dependent on its concentration and on the nature of the gel's liquid component (which influences drug solubility), but not on gelator concentration or on the method of drug incorporation. This study shows the importance of the nature of the gels' liquid component and the possibility of using hydrophilic amphiphilogels as solvents for poorly water-soluble drugs.
Evaluation of in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of some 2-alkyl-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazines
Authors: Dianzani Chiara , Collino Massimo , Gallicchio Margherita , Fantozzi Roberto , Samaritani Simona , Signore Giovanni , Menicagli Rita
Published: January 2006

The ability of some 2-alkyl(aryl)-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine derivatives to interfere with production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human phagocytes was evaluated in an in-vitro cell model. Superoxide anion (O2−.) production by human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), challenged by the chemotactic agent N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by all the compounds tested, compounds 3, 4 and 5 being statistically the most active. Adhesion of PMNs to vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is a critical step in recruitment and infiltration of leucocytes into tissues during inflammation, and the effects of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives on PMN adhesion to ECs from the human umbilical vein (HUVEC) were also investigated. Triazines were incubated with PMNs and HUVEC; adhesion was quantitated by computerized micro-imaging fluorescence analysis. The 1,3,5-triazines tested inhibited the adhesion evoked by pro-inflammatory stimuli, such as platelet activating factor (PAF), FMLP, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose—response manner over the concentration range 10−9 to 10−4  m, compounds 5 and 6 being the most active. Both of these compounds inhibited PMN adhesion to HUVEC, even when endothelial or PMN stimuli were used. Indeed, when both cell populations were activated contemporarily, the anti-adhesive effect was enhanced. The study suggests that 2-aryl-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazines deserve further evaluation as anti-inflammatory agents.
Protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi on oxidative injury and cellular abnormalities during doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage in rats
Authors: Subashini Rajakannu , Yogeeta Surinderkumar , Gnanapragasam Arunachalam , Devaki Thiruvengadam
Published: January 2006

Nardostachys jatamansi is a medicinally important herb of Indian origin. It has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. We have evaluated the effect of N. jatamansi (rhizomes) on the biochemical changes, tissue peroxidative damage and abnormal antioxidant levels in doxorubicin (adriamycin)-induced cardiac damage. Preliminary studies on the effect of the graded dose of extract showed that 500 mg kg−1 orally for seven days was found to be optimum and hence all further study was carried out with this particular dose. Rats administered doxorubicin (15 mg kg−1, i.p.) showed myocardial damage that was manifested by the elevation of serum marker enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase). The animals showed significant changes in the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) and lipid peroxidation levels. Pretreatment with N. jatamansi extract significantly prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activity and lipid peroxides to near normal levels. Restoration of cellular normality accredits the N. jatamansi with a cytoprotective role in doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage.
Effect of berberine on proliferation, biosynthesis of macromolecules, cell cycle and induction of intercalation with DNA, dsDNA damage and apoptosis in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells
Authors: Letašiová Silvia , Jantová Soňa , Miko Milan , Ovádeková Renáta , Horváthová Mira
Published: January 2006

Our primary aim was to study berberine, a potential anti-cancer drug, for its cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity in-vitro using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by the growth inhibition assay. We investigated the effect of berberine on the biosynthesis of macro-molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins), cell cycle effects and induction of dsDNA damage and apoptosis in berberine-treated EAC cells. Our results showed that berberine acts cytotoxically on EAC cells. The cytotoxicity was directly concentration and time dependent. The highest cytotoxic concentrations (100 and 50 μg mL−1) induced intercalation of berberine with DNA, formation of dsDNA breaks, inhibition of DNA synthesis and death of EAC cells. A concentration of 10 μg mL−1 induced clear apoptotic cell death, which was followed by inhibition of protein synthesis.
Paracellular and transcellular pathways facilitate insulin permeability in rat gut
Authors: Lane Majella E , Corrigan Owen I
Published: January 2006

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic investigation of the absorption of insulin in the rat intestine in the presence of permeation enhancers and protease inhibitors. An in-situ perfused rat gut model was used for the co-perfusion of insulin and PEG 4000 in the presence or absence of bile salts, bile salt:fatty acid surfactant systems and protease inhibitors. Perfusion experiments were conducted for 180 min with perfusate and blood collection at regular intervals. Permeability coefficients for insulin were calculated from plasma insulin and PEG 4000 permeability coefficients were calculated from lumenal disappearance data. In the absence of enzyme inhibitors, insulin permeability was consistently lower than PEG 4000, but increased in proportion to PEG 4000 permeability. Large increases in insulin permeability were obtained for mixed micellar systems and protease inhibitors. In the presence of protease inhibitors and simple micelle systems, PEG 4000 permeability was three-fold greater than insulin permeability. In the presence of absorption enhancers, PEG 4000 permeability increased up to a maximum value of 3.63 times 10−6 cm s−1, a value five-fold less than that of the estimated aqueous boundary layer permeability for PEG 4000. This suggests that PEG 4000 permeability is primarily membrane controlled. Insulin permeability is enhanced to a maximum value of 9.17 times 10−6 cm s−1, suggesting that paracellular transport routes do not account exclusively for insulin permeation across the intestinal epithelium. The results add support to suggestions that routes other than the paracellular route may contribute to insulin absorption in rat gut.
Regulation of somitogenesis by Ena/VASP proteins and FAK duringXenopusdevelopment
Authors: Kragtorp Katherine A. , Miller Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2006

The metameric organization of the vertebrate body plan is established during somitogenesis as somite pairs sequentially form along the anteroposterior axis. Coordinated regulation of cell shape, motility and adhesion are crucial for directing the morphological segmentation of somites. We show that members of the Ena/VASP family of actin regulatory proteins are required for somitogenesis in Xenopus. Xenopus Ena (Xena) localizes to the cell periphery in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM), and is enriched at intersomitic junctions and at myotendinous junctions in somites and the myotome, where it co-localizes with β1-integrin, vinculin and FAK. Inhibition of Ena/VASP function with dominant-negative mutants results in abnormal somite formation that correlates with later defects in intermyotomal junctions. Neutralization of Ena/VASP activity disrupts cell rearrangements during somite rotation and leads to defects in the fibronectin (FN) matrix surrounding somites. Furthermore, inhibition of Ena/VASP function impairs FN matrix assembly, spreading of somitic cells on FN and autophosphorylation of FAK, suggesting a role for Ena/VASP proteins in the modulation of integrin-mediated processes. We also show that inhibition of FAK results in defects in somite formation, blocks FN matrix deposition and alters Xena localization. Together, these results provide evidence that Ena/VASP proteins and FAK are required for somite formation in Xenopus and support the idea that Ena/VASP and FAK function in a common pathway to regulate integrin-dependent migration and adhesion during somitogenesis.
Nkx3.2/Bapx1 acts as a negative regulator of chondrocyte maturation
Authors: Provot Sylvain , Kempf Hervé , Murtaugh L. Charles , Chung Ung-il , Kim Dae-Won , Chyung Jay , Kronenberg Henry M. , Lassar Andrew B.
Published: January 2006

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is essential to maintain a pool of dividing, immature chondrocytes in the growth plate of long bones. In chick and mouse, expression of Nkx3.2/Bapx1 in the growth plate is restricted to the proliferative zone and is downregulated as chondrocyte maturation begins. Nkx3.2/Bapx1 expression is lost in the growth plates of mice engineered to lack PTHrP signaling and, conversely, is maintained by ectopic expression of PTHrP in developing bones. Artificially preventing Nkx3.2/Bapx1 downregulation, by forced expression of either retroviral-encoded PTHrP or Nkx3.2 inhibits chondrocyte maturation. Although wild-type Nkx3.2 blocks chondrocyte maturation by acting as a transcriptional repressor, a `reverse function' mutant of Nkx3.2 that has been converted into a transcriptional activator conversely accelerates chondrocyte maturation. Nkx3.2 represses expression of the chondrocyte maturation factor Runx2, and Runx2 misexpression can rescue the Nkx3.2-induced blockade of chondrocyte maturation. Taken together, these results suggest that PTHrP signals block chondrocyte hypertrophy by, in part, maintaining the expression of Nkx3.2/Bapx1, which in turn represses the expression of genes required for chondrocyte maturation.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone-receptor 1 (CRH-R1) and CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) are expressed in the gills and skin of common carpCyprinus carpioL. and respond to acute stress and infection
Authors: Mazon A. F. , Verburg-van Kemenade B. M. L. , Flik G. , Huising M. O.
Published: January 2006

We established that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) and CRH-receptor 1 (CRH-R1) are expressed in the gills and skin of common carp Cyprinus carpio, an early vertebrate. Immunoreactive CRH was detected in macrophage-like cells in gills and skin, in fibroblasts in the skin and in endothelial cells in the gills. The involvement of the CRH system in gills and skin was investigated in response to infection and in an acute restraint stress paradigm. Carp were infected with the protozoan leech-transmitted blood flagellate Trypanoplasma borreliand subjected to acute restraint stress by netting for 24 h. The expression of CRH-BP and CRH-R1 genes in the gills and in the skin is downregulated after both infection and restraint. Thus the peripheral CRH system reacts to infection and stress. The gills and skin separate the internal from the external environment and are permanently exposed to stress and pathogens. Because of their pivotal role in maintaining the homeostatic equilibrium,these organs must act locally to respond to diverse stresses. Clearly, the CRH system is involved in the response of the integument to diverse stresses at the vulnerable interface of the internal and external milieu.
Exposure to brackish water, upon feeding, leads to enhanced conservation of nitrogen and increased urea synthesis and retention in the Asian freshwater stingray Himantura signifer
Authors: Chew Shit F. , Poothodiyil Nirmala K. , Wong Wai P. , Ip Yuen K.
Published: January 2006

The white-edge freshwater whip ray Himantura signifer is ammonotelic in freshwater, but retains the capacities of urea synthesis and ureosmotic osmoregulation to survive in brackish water. The first objective of this study was to examine whether exposure to brackish water would lead to increases in food intake, and/or conservation of nitrogen in H. signifer upon daily feeding. Results obtained showed that a progressive increase in ambient salinity, from 1‰ to 15‰ over a 10-day period, did not lead to an increase in daily food intake. However, there were significant reductions in daily rates of ammonia and urea excretion in H. signifer during salinity changes, especially between day 5 (in 10‰water) and day 10 (in 15‰ water) when compared to those of the control kept in 1‰ water. Consequently, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of nitrogen (N) from the food being excreted as nitrogenous waste(ammonia-N+urea-N) during this period. On day 10, the tissue urea contents in fish exposed to 15‰ water were significantly greater than those of fish kept in 1‰ water, and the excess urea-N accumulated in the former fish could totally account for the cumulative deficit in excretion of urea-N+ammonia-N during the 10-day period. Thus, it can be concluded that H. signifer is N-limited, and conserved more N from food when exposed to brackish water. The conserved N was converted to urea, which was retained in tissues for osmoregulation. The second objective of this study was to elucidate whether the retention of the capacity of N conservation in H. signifer would lead to an accumulation of urea in fish exposed to not only 15‰ water, but also 1‰ water, upon feeding. For fish pre-acclimated to 1‰ water or 15‰ water for 10 days and then fasted for 48 h, the rate of ammonia excretion in fish exposed to 15‰water was consistently lower than that of fish exposed to 1‰ water,throughout the 36-h post-feeding period. In addition, the hourly rate of urea excretion in the former was significantly lower than that of the latter between hours 12 and 36. There were postprandial increases in ammonia contents in the muscle, liver, stomach, intestine, brain and plasma of fish kept in 1‰ water; but postprandial increases in ammonia occurred only in the liver and brain of fish exposed to 15‰ water, and the magnitudes of increases in the latter were smaller than those in the former. Indeed,postprandial increases in tissue urea contents occurred in both groups of fish, but the greatest increase in urea content was observed in the muscle of fish exposed to 15‰ water. Taken together, these results indicate that H. signifer in freshwater could be confronted with postprandial osmotic stress because of its capacity of conserving N and increasing urea synthesis upon feeding.
How bees tune their dancing according to their colony's nectar influx:re-examining the role of the food-receivers' `eagerness'
Authors: De Marco Rodrigo J.
Published: January 2006

Apis mellifera bees perform dances to communicate the presence of desirable nectar sources. The regulation of these dances does not depend exclusively on properties of the nectar sources, but also upon certain stimuli derived from the foraging status of the colony as a whole; i.e. bees exploiting a source of constant profitability are more likely to dance when the colony's nectar intake rate is low. Based on these stimuli, individual bees tune their dances according to their colony's nectar influx without visiting alternative nectar sources.

Division of labour, in addition, is a common feature in honeybees. Upon returning to the nest, successful foragers transfer the content of their crops to food-receivers by means of a common behaviour in social insects called trophallaxis, i.e. the transfer of liquid food by mouth. Martin Lindauer stated that a returned forager may sense the foraging status of its colony on the basis of the food transfer process by computing how quickly and eagerly the food-receivers unload its crop.

This study focuses on the forager's experience during the food transfer process, its variability based on the colony's nectar influx, and the separate effects that the `ease' and the `eagerness' of the food-unloading have on the tuning of recruitment dances. Results indicate that foragers can rapidly sense variations in the colony's nectar influx, even when they experience no variation in the time interval between their return to the hive and the beginning of the food transfer. To accomplish this task they appear to use stimuli derived from the number of food-receivers, which enable them, in turn,to set their dance thresholds in relation to the nectar influx of their colony. The relevance of these findings is discussed in the context of communication and successful foraging.
Search-Theoretic Models of the Labor Market: A Survey
Authors: Rogerson Richard , Shimer Robert , Wright Randall
Published: January 2006

We survey the literature on search-theoretic models of the labor market. We show how this approach addresses many issues, including the following: Why do workers sometimes choose to remain unemployed? What determines the lengths of employment and unemployment spells? How can there simultaneously exist unemployed workers and unfilled vacancies? What determines aggregate unemployment and vacancies? How can homogeneous workers earn different wages? What are the tradeoffs firms face from different wages? How do wages and turnover interact? What determines efficient turnover? We discuss various modeling choices concerning wage determination and the meeting process, including recent models of directed search.
Are We Collapsing? A Review of Jared Diamond’s Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Authors: Page Scott E
Published: January 2006

Jared Diamond’s Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (Viking Penguin, 2005), tells the dramatic decline of past civilizations—the Easter Islanders, the Anasazi in the Southwestern United States, the Mayans in Central America, the Norse Vinland settlement in Greenland. These civilizations did not slowly fall apart; they suffered drastic reductions in population and productivity. In Diamond's account, their collapses result from mismanaged resources, lost friends, gained enemies, climate changes, and most tellingly, their cultures and beliefs. Diamond provides captivating histories and an engaging explanation of the sciences required to piece those histories together, but his logic and his prescriptions would benefit from greater familiarity with some basic principles of economics and a richer understanding of human nature.
Magnetic Tracking: A Novel Method of Assessing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency
Authors: Kundra RK , Moorehead JD , Barton-Hanson N , Montgomery SC
Published: January 2006

INTRODUCTION

The Lachman test is commonly performed as part of the routine assessment of patients with suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. A major drawback is its reliance on the clinician's subjective judgement of movement. The aim of this study was to quantify Lachman movement using a magnetic tracking device thereby providing a more accurate objective measure of movement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten patients aged 21–51 years were assessed as having unilateral ACL deficiency with conventional clinical tests. These patients were then re-assessed using a Polhemus Fastrak™ magnetic tracking device.

RESULTS

The mean anterior tibial displacement was 5.6 mm (SD = 2.5) for the normal knees and 10.2 mm (SD = 4.2) for the ACL-deficient knees. This gave an 82% increase in anterior tibial displacement for the ACL deficient knees. This was shown to be highly significant with P = 0.005.

CONCLUSIONS

The magnetic tracking system offers an objective quantification of displacements during the Lachman test. It is convenient, non-invasive and comfortable for the patient and is, therefore, ideally suited for use as an investigative tool.
Publication of Surgical Abstracts in Full Text: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Balasubramanian SP , Kumar ID , Wyld L , Reed MW
Published: January 2006

INTRODUCTION

Abstracts presented at national and international scientific meetings are an important educational resource. However, the work is not peer reviewed and little is known about the quality or validity of the presented results and the fate of such abstracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of abstracts presented to the 1997 annual meeting of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. We examined the rates of full-text publication, time to publication, factors influencing publication, inconsistencies between presented and subsequently published manuscripts, and reasons for non-publication of abstracts.

RESULTS

Of the 241 abstracts presented, 136 (56.4%) were published at a median duration of 18 months. Multicentre studies had a greater tendency to subsequent publication and studies involving academic centres predicted publication in a high impact factor journal. Inconsistencies between presented and published abstracts were common and were significantly associated with delayed publication. Oral and poster presentations were equally likely to be published. Reasons for non-submission of presented abstracts included lack of time, low priority to publish, perceived methodological limitations, lack of novelty of findings and co-investigators leaving the organisation.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the work presented at a national surgical meeting in the UK has been subsequently published. Various factors that influence the process of publication and remediable causes for non-publication have been identified.
Gauze Packing of Open Surgical Wounds: Empirical or Evidence-Based Practice?
Authors: Dinah F , Adhikari A
Published: January 2006

INTRODUCTION

Most surgical wounds are closed primarily, but some are allowed to heal by secondary intention. This usually involves repeated packing and dressing of the raw wound surfaces. Although the long-term care of such wounds has devolved to the care of nurses in the community or out-patient setting, the initial wound dressing or cavity packing is done by the surgeon in the operating theatre. Many surgeons are unaware of the growth of the discipline of wound care, and still use traditional soaked gauze for dressing and packing open surgical wounds and cavities.

RESULTS

This review summarises the some of the modern alternatives available and the evidence – or the lack of it – for their use in both the acute and chronic setting.
Prevalence of HIV Status and CD4 Counts in a Surgical Cohort: Their Relationship to Clinical Outcome
Authors: Čačala SR , Mafana E , Thomson SR , Smith A
Published: January 2006

INTRODUCTION

HIV positivity alone as a predictor of surgical outcome has not been extensively studied in regions of high prevalence. The aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in surgical patients, and compare differences in their clinical course based on their serological status and CD4 counts.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective cohort of 350 patients, enrolled over 6 weeks, were studied. HIV status was determined in all patients. HIV-positive patients had CD4 counts. Clinical details were collated with HIV data after completion of enrolment.

RESULTS

Of the 350 patients, all but 6 were black South Africans. The median age was 31 years (range, 18–82 years). There were 143 trauma and 207 non-trauma patients. The male:female ratio was 1.4:1. The overall HIV seropositivity rate was 39% (females, 46%; males, 36%). Overall, 228 patients had surgical intervention and 96 patients had drainage of sepsis. The hospital stay (HIV negative, 11.9 ± 15.9 days; HIV positive, 11.0 ± 15 days) and mortality (HIV positive, 3.6%; HIV negative, 3.7%) did not differ by major diagnostic category. For HIV-positive patients, the male:female ratio was 1.2:1. There were 54 trauma and 83 non-trauma patients. An operation for the drainage of a septic focus was commoner in the HIV-positive admissions. Thirty-two (24%) patients had CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3, (i.e. AIDS). The hospital mortality, hospital stay and severity of sepsis were not related to CD4 counts.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV status does not influence the outcome of general surgical admissions and should not influence surgical management decisions. In HIV-positive surgical patients, CD4 counts have no relation to in-hospital outcome in a heterogeneous group of surgical patients.
Management of Dupuytren's Disease – Clear Advice for an Elusive Condition
Authors: Bayat A , McGrouther DA
Published: January 2006

Dupuytren's disease is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder of an unknown origin affecting the hands causing permanent flexion contracture of the digits. Significant risk factors for development of Dupuytren's disease include old age, male sex, white northern European extraction, presence of positive family history of Dupuytren's disease, and diabetes mellitus. The disease also seems to deteriorate rapidly in those cases showing young age of onset and additional fibromatosis affecting the back of the hands, soles of the feet and the penis. Although there is no cure, patients with Dupuytren's disease of the hand may gain a significant functional benefit following surgical improvement or correction of the deformity. With realistic expectations, timely and appropriate surgical technique in a specialist centre, and attention to postoperative recovery and rehabilitation (occupational therapy and physiotherapy support), a beneficial outcome can be achieved in most cases.
Is There a Role for the Intravenous Urogram in the 21st Century?
Authors: Whitfield Ahn , Whitfield HN
Published: January 2006

For debate

Over the last two decades, there have been major advances in methods of medical imaging that have brought great benefits to patients both for diagnosis and for treatment. There has been an increasing tendency for some of these new imaging modalities to be dependent on highly sophisticated technology. The belief has developed amongst doctors who use these techniques that newer is necessarily better. Just as patients (and some doctors) now often believe that anything done with a laser represents the best that can be offered, so there is a tendency to demand that newer techniques in imaging should always be offered as the preferred option. In urological practice that philosophy is questionable.
Semiautomated Method for Determination of Serum Paraoxonase Activity Using Paraoxon as Substrate
Authors: Charlton-Menys Valentine , Liu Yifen , Durrington Paul N
Published: January 2006

Background: Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is an enzyme associated with HDL, and its ability to protect LDL from oxidation is one mechanism by which HDL protects against atherosclerosis. Low concentrations of PON1 are found in patients with type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. Serum PON1 activity may also be important in avoidance of organophosphate toxicity in industry.

Methods: The generally accepted method for determining PON1 activity requires use of a recording spectrophotometer and is not suited to large numbers of samples; in addition, automation presents particular problems because of the extreme toxicity of substrates such as paraoxon. We established a relatively safe microtiter plate method that facilitates the determination of PON1 activity at a rate of 120 samples per hour.

Results: PON1 activity was determined by the generally accepted method (x) and the new method (y); results correlated with a slope close to unity (y = 0.93x + 8; r = 0.97; P <0.0001; n = 101). Examination of differences by Bland–Altman plots showed a weak concentration-dependent difference (r = 0.33; P <0.0001; n = 101). The intra- and interassay sample CVs, obtained with samples with PON1 activities ranging from 41 to 348 nmol · min−1 · mL−1, were 3.5% and 2.7%, respectively (n = 16).

Conclusion:The proposed method for determination of PON1 activity is simple, relatively safe, and inexpensive and is suitable for analysis of large numbers of samples.
The ghost : the gothic melodrama in Stephen King's fiction
Authors: Strengell Heidi
Published: January 2006

King's fictional art consists of generic hybrids. In combining elements of the Gothic tale with other genres - such as realism, literary naturalism, myths, fairy tales, romanticism, and other elements of the fantastic - King enriches his fiction at the same time as he challenges the
traditional limits associated with these genres. As I see it, the Gothic provides the background; myths and fairy tales make good stories; and literary naturalism lends the world-view implicit in King's fictional universe. This essay is designed to discuss Gothic genre traits in Stephen King's
fiction.
Reviews
Authors: Burn Stephen J , Seed David
Published: January 2006

Conversations with Don DeLillo, Thomas DePietro (ed.), (2005) Jackson: University Press, 208 pp., ISBN 1-57806703-0 (hbk), 50, ISBN 1-57806-704-9, (pbk), 20

The Last Titan: A Life of Theodore Dreiser, Jerome Loving, (2005) California: University of California
Press, 480 pp., ISBN 0-520-23481-2 (hbk.), 22.95
Contributors to Suicidal Ideation Among Bipolar Patients With and Without a History of Suicide Attempts
Authors: Allen Michael H. , Chessick Cheryl A. , Miklowitz David J. , Goldberg Joseph F. , Wisniewski Stephen R. , Miyahara Sachiko , Calabrese Joseph R. , Marangell Lauren , Bauer Mark S. , Thomas Marshall R. , Bowden Charles L. , Sachs Gary S.
Published: January 2006

This study was designed to develop models for vulnerability to suicidal ideation in bipolar patients. Logistic regression models examined correlates of suicidal ideation in patients who had versus had not attempted suicide previously. Of 477 patients assessed, complete data on demographic, illness history, and personality variables were available on 243. The regression models achieved positive predictive values of 55% and 59% for the attempter (N = 92) and nonattempter groups (N = 151), respectively. Depression was cross‐sectionally associated with suicidal ideation in both the attempter and nonattempter groups but made a smaller contribution among attempters. Poor psychosocial adaptation and the personality factor “openness” were stronger contributors to suicidal ideation among prior attempters while anxiety and extraversion appeared protective against ideation. Among nonattempters, depression, anxiety, and neuroticism were the predominant influences on suicidal ideation. Bipolar patients with suicidal ideation may benefit from different treatment strategies depending on their prior attempt status.
Suicidality in Bipolar I Disorder
Authors: Johnson Sheri L. , McMurrich Stephanie L. , Yates Marisa
Published: January 2006

People with bipolar disorder are at high suicide risk. The literature suggests that suicidality is predicted by higher symptom severity and less use of pharmacological agents, but few studies have examined the joint contributions of these variables. The present study examines the conjoint contribution of symptom severity and pharmacological treatment to suicidal ideation and behavior among participants with bipolar disorder. The model was able to account for 53% of the variance in suicidality scores. Depression, mixed state, and hopelessness were significantly associated with suicidality. All other variables were nonsignificant once symptom severity had been controlled. Implications for future research are described.
Reported Childhood Trauma and Suicide Attempts in Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Roy Alec
Published: January 2006

Childhood traumas are associated with suicidal behavior but this aspect has not been examined in relation to schizophrenia. In this study, 50 chronic schizophrenic patients who had attempted suicide were compared with 50 chronic schizophrenic patients who had never attempted suicide for their scores on the 34‐item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). It was found that schizophrenics who had attempted suicide reported significantly higher CTQ scores for emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect than schizophrenics who had never attempted suicide. Therefore, childhood trauma may be a risk factor predisposing schizophrenic patients to attempt suicide.
Characteristics of Suicide Attempters and Nonattempters with Schizophrenia in a Rural Community
Authors: Ran Mao‐Sheng , Xiang Meng‐Ze , Mao Wen‐Jun , Hou Zai‐Jin , Tang Mu‐Ni , Chen Eric Yu‐Hai , Chan Cecilia Lai‐Wan , Yip Paul S. F. , Conwell Yeates
Published: January 2006

In this study, demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with schizophrenia in a Chinese rural community who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt were compared. Among individuals with schizophrenia, subjects with (n = 38) and without (n = 472) a lifetime history of suicide attempt were assessed with the Present State Examination. The results indicate that attempters had a significantly younger age, higher level of education, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and a larger number of positive symptoms than patients without suicide attempts. The logistic regression models also indicated that hopelessness, the number of positive symptoms and age were the most important predictors. Early interventions focusing on reducing hopelessness and controlling positive symptoms may help reduce the risk of suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia.
Coincidences of hypercubic lattices in 4 dimensions
Authors: Zeiner Peter
Published: January 2006

We consider the CSLs of 4-dimensional hypercubic lattices. In particular, we derive the coincidence index Σ and calculate the number of different CSLs as well as the number of inequivalent CSLs for a given Σ. The hypercubic face centered case is dealt with in detail and it is sketched how to derive the corresponding results for the primitive hypercubic lattice.
Two isostructural manganese (III) diphosphates, acid α-MnHP2O7 and double MnLiP2O7: crystal structure determination from X-ray powder diffraction data
Authors: Ivashkevich Ludmila S. , Selevich Kirill A. , Lesnikovich Anatoly I. , Selevich Anatoly F. , Lyakhov Alexander S.
Published: January 2006

Ab initio crystal structure determination of the α form of MnHP2O7 and Rietveld refinement of the MnLiP2O7 structure were performed using powder X-ray diffraction data. The final structures have been obtained using soft restraints on interatomic bond lengths and bond angles for the diphosphate group. The two compounds were found to be to a great extent isostructural. They crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21, Z = 2, a = 6.7547(6), b = 8.3160(7), c = 4.8769(5) Å, β = 113.1791(18)°, R
p = 0.0283, R
wp = 0.0390, R
Bragg = 0.0930, R
F = 0.0869 for α-MnHP 22O7, and a = 7.0018(5), b = 8.1616(6), c = 4.7267(4)Å, β = 109.404(3)°, R
p = 0.0307, R
wp = 0.0423, R
Bragg = 0.0960, R
F = 0.0861 for MnLiP2O7. In both compounds, diphosphate groups adopt nearly eclipsed configuration. Their structures present three-dimensional networks, which have tunnels including the lithium cations or hydrogen atoms. The behaviour of the crystalline forms of MnHP2O7 in H/Li exchange reactions is discussed, vs. their structural aspects.
Variable temperature (100—295 K) single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of the α-polymorph of glycylglycine and a glycylglycine hydrate
Authors: Drebushchak Tatyana N. , Kolesnik Evgenia N. , Boldyreva Elena V.
Published: January 2006

The crystal structures of the α-polymorph of glycylglycine (glygly) and of its hydrate (glygly × 1.5 H2O) were refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 100, 150, 220, and 295 K (glygly) and at 100, 200, 295 K (glygly × 1.5 H2O). The values of the volume thermal expansions of glygly and its hydrate were shown to be larger than for the three polymorphs of glycine. The anisotropy of strain on cooling was analyzed. Despite a smaller bulk thermal expansion measured for glygly, linear strain (both compression and expansion) along the axes of the strain ellipsoids was larger for the structure of glygly, than for the structure of glygly × 1.5 H2O. The contributions of the distortion of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and of the conformational changes of the zwitter-ions to the lattice strain are considered.
A comparative study of the anisotropy of lattice strain induced in the crystals of DL-serine by cooling down to 100 K, or by increasing pressure up to 8.6 GPa. A comparison with L-serine
Authors: Boldyreva Elena V. , Kolesnik Evgenia N. , Drebushchak Tatyana N. , Sowa Heidrun , Ahsbahs Hans , Seryotkin Yuri V.
Published: January 2006

The anisotropy of lattice strain in the crystals of DL-serine (P21/n) on cooling down to 100 K and with increasing hydrostatic pressure up to 8.6 GPa was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In contrast to L-serine undergoing pressure-induced phase transitions at about 5 and 8 GPa, no phase transitions were observed in DL-serine at least up to 8.6 GPa (the highest pressure reached in the experiment). The anisotropy of strain in DL-serine on cooling was shown to be radically different from that with increasing pressure. The response of the crystal structure of DL-serine to cooling and to increasing pressure was considerably different from that of L-serine.
Connection between Moisture Content and Electrical Parameters of Apple Slices during Drying
Authors: Mészáros Péter , Vozáry Eszter , B. Funk David
Published: January 2006

Generally the drying process of fruits is followed by weight loss. The weight loss characterizes only the global moisture content of fruits and does not give information about the inner state of tissue. Electrical impedance spectroscopy of biological tissues shows ab-dispersion band that is associated with membrane structures and is sensitive to their integrity and functionality. The aim of this study was to measure the impedance spectra of apple slices during drying and to correlate impedance parameters to moisture content in the different drying periods. The electrical impedance spectra of apple slices were determined during drying by an HP 4284A Precision LCR Meter in frequency range from 30 Hz up to 1 MHz. The measured spectra were approximated by Cole-impedance elements. Parameter values for the fitted curves that characterized the state of drying tissue showed good correlation with the moisture content calculated from weight loss in the two falling-rate drying periods.