bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The new HLA allele, HLA‐A*03:57, differs from HLA‐A*03:01 by two amino acids at positions 76 and 77 in the α2 domain affecting the pocket F of the peptide‐binding groove
Authors: Martens J. , Verboom M. , Figueiredo C. , Eiz‐Vesper B. , Blasczyk R. , Immenschuh S.
Published: November 2011

HLA‐A*03:57 has two amino acid exchanges in exon 2 at adjacent positions of the peptide‐binding groove.
Expression of cadherin, aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase genes in Cry1Ac‐susceptible and Cry1Ac‐resistant strains of Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: Yang Z.‐X. , Wu Q.‐J. , Wang S.‐L. , Chang X.‐L. , Wang J.‐H. , Guo Z.‐J. , Lei Y.‐Y. , Xu B.‐Y. , Zhang Y.‐J.
Published: November 2011

Cadherin proteins, aminopeptidase N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bind to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in the lepidopteran midgut, but the inherent function of these receptors remains unclear. To clarify whether these three potential receptors contribute to the resistance of lepidopteran insects to the Bt toxin, the transcription patterns of these genes in Cry1Ac‐susceptible Plutella xylostella strains and strains highly resistant to Cry1Ac were examined using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Both gene expressions of cadherin and APNs were most abundant in the midgut of fourth larval instars but were also found in pupae. The transcription levels of cadherin, APN2 and ALP genes in the midgut were more abundant in the susceptible strain than in the resistant strain and also clearly differed between the two strains. Moreover, the transcription levels of cadherin increased as the insect developed from the second to the fourth larval instars and then decreased in pupae. mRNA of the APN2 gene was more abundant than that of the APN1, APN3 and APN4 genes in the susceptible strain. The results suggested that these differences were attributable to the adaptation of the resistant strain to the Bt toxin and demonstrated a possible link between the gene expression of cadherin, ALP and APN2 and the resistance of P. xylostella to Bt. The information provided in the current study can be useful for the development of resistance management strategies.
Exercise‐induced respiratory symptoms not due to asthma
Authors: Pandit Chetan A , Batterby Eugenie , Van Asperen Peter , Cooper Peter , Selvadurai Hiran , Fitzgerald Dominic A
Published: November 2011

This manuscript describes two interesting patients who had exercise‐induced symptoms that unmasked an alternative underlying diagnosis. The first is an 8‐year‐old boy who was treated for asthma all his life but really had exercise‐induced stridor (labelled as wheeze) causing significant exercise limitation, which was due to a double aortic arch with the right arch compressing the trachea. The second case describes the diagnosis of vocal cord dysfunction in a 13‐year‐old anxious high achiever. He also initially had exercise‐induced symptoms treated as exercise‐induced wheeze but again had a stridor due to vocal cord dysfunction. Both these cases demonstrate the importance of detailed history including during exercise, which can unmask alternative diagnosis. Another important message is that if there is no response to bronchodilator treatment with absence of typical signs and symptoms of asthma, alternative diagnosis should be considered.
Inherited neuromuscular disorders: Pathway to diagnosis
Authors: Menezes Manoj P , North Kathryn N
Published: November 2011

Muscle weakness in childhood can be caused by a lesion at any point extending from the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord to the anterior horn cell, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction and muscle. A comprehensive history and physical examination is essential to aid classification of the neuromuscular disorder and direct gene testing. The more common disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy may be diagnosed on direct gene testing based on the history and clinical examination. The congenital myopathies are classified based on structural abnormalities on muscle biopsy, while protein abnormalities on immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting aid classification of the muscular dystrophies. In this review, we provide an approach to diagnosis of a child with weakness, with a focus on the inherited neuromuscular disorders, and the features on history, examination and investigation that help to distinguish between them.
Scientific consensus forum to review the evidence underpinning the recommendations of the Australian SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Health Promotion Programme – October 2010
Authors: Mitchell Edwin A , Freemantle Jane , Young Jeanine , Byard Roger W
Published: November 2011

This paper summarises a 1‐day scientific consensus forum that reviewed the evidence underpinning the Australian SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Health Promotion Programme. The focus was on each of the potentially modifiable risk factors for sudden unexpected deaths in infancy, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents. In particular infant sleeping position, covering of the face, exposure to cigarette smoke, room sharing, unsafe sleeping environments, bed sharing, immunisation, breastfeeding, pacifier use and Indigenous issues were discussed in depth. The participants recommended that future ‘Reducing the Risk’ campaign messages should focus on back to sleep, face uncovered, avoidance of cigarette smoke before and after birth, safe sleeping environment, room sharing and sleeping baby in own cot.
Management of daytime urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms in children
Authors: Deshpande Aniruddh V , Craig Jonathan C , Smith Grahame HH , Caldwell Patrina HY
Published: November 2011

Lower urinary tract symptoms, particularly urgency, frequency and incontinence are common in school‐aged children but are often overlooked. They may cause considerable physical, social and psychological difficulties to children and their families, and usually are manifestations of underlying non‐neurogenic voiding disorders. The differential diagnoses include overactive bladder syndrome, dysfunctional voiding and vaginal reflux as well as less common conditions like giggle incontinence, voiding postponement, pollakiuria and diabetes insipidus. In this paper, we discuss an evidence‐based approach to the management of conditions causing daytime urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms in children from a general paediatrician's perspective.
Rheumatic fever in New Zealand
Authors: Webb Rachel , Wilson Nigel
Published: November 2011

Acute rheumatic fever and its sequel rheumatic heart disease remain major unsolved problems in New Zealand, causing significant morbidity and premature death. The disease burden affects predominantly indigenous Māori and Pacific Island children and young adults. In the past decade these ethnic disparities are even widening. Secondary prophylaxis using 28‐day intramuscular penicillin has been the mainstay of disease control. In the greater Auckland region, audit shows community nurse‐led penicillin delivery rates of 95% and recurrence rates of less than 5%. The true penicillin failure rate of 0.07 per 100 patient years supports 4 weekly penicillin rather than more frequent dose regimens. Landmark primary prevention research has been undertaken supporting sore throat primary prevention programmes in regions with very high rheumatic fever rates. Echocardiographic screening found 2.4% previously undiagnosed rheumatic heart disease in socially disadvantaged children. Combined with secondary prevention, echocardiography screening has the potential to reduce the prevalence of severe rheumatic heart disease.
Trust and trustworthiness in nursing: an argument‐based literature review
Authors: Dinç Leyla , Gastmans Chris
Published: November 2011

DINÇ L and GASTMANS C. Nursing Inquiry 2012; 19: 223–237  Trust and trustworthiness in nursing: an argument‐based literature review

Caring requires nurses to establish trusting relationships with patients and to be trustworthy professionals. This article provides insight into the conceptual understanding of trust and trustworthiness in nursing through an argument‐based literature review of 17 articles published between 1980 and 2010. Trust is characterized as an attitude relying with confidence on someone. The importance of trust relationships is considered by addressing the imbalances of power in nurse–patient relationships as they increase the vulnerability and dependency of the truster. Trust is considered as a process, and time, reliance on others, risk and fragility are identified as basic attributes of trust. However, trustworthiness is inadequately explored in the nursing ethics literature. Nurse educators have a responsibility to ensure that nurses are equipped with the attitudes and knowledge that are needed to establish trusting nurse–patient relationships.
Yearly diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients age 80 years or older, with a special interest in colorectal cancer
Authors: Loffeld Ruud JLF , Liberov Boris , Dekkers Pascale EP
Published: November 2011

Aim:  A high diagnostic yield of colonoscopy has been reported in elderly patients, but there is no data on the yearly yield. Our aim was to detect the yearly yield of colonoscopy in elderly patients.

Methods:  All consecutive endoscopies in the years 1992–2009 were included. Important endoscopic diagnoses were defined as colorectal cancer (CRC), polyps, diverticuli and inflammation.

Results:  In total, 19 569 endoscopies were performed, of which 1706 (8.7%) were in patients age 80 years or older. The number of women was significantly higher (P < 0.001). The percentage of patients who were 80 years or older was higher than in the general population and remained stable during the study period, though there has been a proportional increase of elderly people in the general population. Inconclusive procedures were present in 106 (6.2%) elderly patients compared with 277 (1.6%) patients under 80 years of age (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the consecutive years. A procedure revealing no endoscopic diagnosis was observed less often in patients who were 80 years or older (P < 0.001). CRC was diagnosed in 221 (19.6%) older patients. This figure remained more or less constant each year. Polyps were seen in 448 (8.8%) patients 80 years of age or older. The percentage of patients with diverticuli and inflammation was constant. The number of patients 80 years or older with CRC and polyps rose at a lower rate than the number of older people in the general population.

Conclusion:  The yield of colonoscopy in patients 80 years or older was high and constant over the years. The number of tumors rose less than expected compared to the increase of elderly in the general population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 298–303.
Metagenomic analysis of a complex marine planktonic thaumarchaeal community from the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Tully Benjamin J. , Nelson William C. , Heidelberg John F.
Published: November 2011

Thaumarchaea, which represent as much as 20% of prokaryotic biomass in the open ocean, have been linked to environmentally relevant biogeochemical processes, such as ammonia oxidation (nitrification) and inorganic carbon fixation. We have used culture‐independent methods to study this group because current cultivation limitations have proved a hindrance in studying these organisms. From a metagenomic data set obtained from surface waters from the Gulf of Maine, we have identified 36 111 sequence reads (containing 30 Mbp) likely derived from environmental planktonic Thaumarchaea. Metabolic analysis of the raw sequences and assemblies identified copies of the catalytic subunit required in aerobic ammonia oxidation. In addition, genes that comprise a nearly complete carbon assimilation pathway in the form of the 3‐hyroxypropionate/4‐hydroxybutyrate cycle were identified. Comparative genomics contrasting the putative environmental thaumarchaeal sequences and ‘Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1’ revealed a number of genomic islands absent in the Gulf of Maine population. Analysis of these genomic islands revealed an integrase‐associated island also found in distantly related microbial species, variations in the abundance of genes predicted to be important in thaumarchaeal respiratory chain, and the absence of a high‐affinity phosphate uptake operon. Analysis of the underlying sequence diversity suggests the presence of at least two dominant environmental populations. Attempts to assemble complete environmental genomes were unsuccessful, but analysis of scaffolds revealed two diverging populations, including a thaumarchaeal‐related scaffold with the full urease operon. Ultimately, the analysis revealed a number of insights into the metabolic potential of a predominantly uncultivated lineage of organisms. The predicted functions in the thaumarchaeal metagenomic sequences are directly supported by historic measurements of nutrient concentrations and provide new avenues of research in regards to understanding the role Thaumarchaea play in the environment.
Detection and functional characterization of a large genomic deletion resulting in decreased pathogenicity in Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 strains
Authors: González Adriana , Plener Laure , Restrepo Silvia , Boucher Christian , Genin Stéphane
Published: November 2011

Bacterial wilt (brown rot) disease of potato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most important bacterial diseases and a major constraint on potato production worldwide. Through a comparative genomic analysis between R. solanacearum‘race 3 biovar 2’ (R3bv2) strains, we identified a 77 kb region in strain UW551 which is specifically absent in the hypoaggressive strain IPO1609. We proved that IPO1609 indeed carries a 77 kb genomic deletion and provide genetic evidence that occurrence of this deletion is responsible for almost complete loss of pathogenicity of this strain. We carried out a functional analysis of this 77 kb region in strain UW551 using a combination of gene deletion and functional complementation approaches which identified the methionine biosynthesis genes metER as having a major contribution to IPO1609 pathogenesis. Deletion of the metER genes significantly impacts pathogenicity of R3bv2 strains but does not lead to methionine auxotrophy nor reduced ability to multiply in planta. In addition, this study indicated that three type III secretion system effectors or a type VI secretion system present within the 77 kb region have no or very minor contribution to pathogenicity.
GPR40‐induced insulin secretion by the novel agonist TAK‐875: first clinical findings in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Araki T. , Hirayama M. , Hiroi S. , Kaku K.
Published: November 2011

Aim: Free fatty acids act as signalling molecules for modulating insulin secretion, and their insulinotropic effects are glucose‐dependent and mediated through G protein‐coupled receptor 40 (GPR40). This mechanism is a potential target for new treatments for managing diabetes. In this study, we present the first clinical data for TAK‐875, a novel highly selective, orally bioavailable GPR40 agonist, in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled by diet or exercise therapy.

Methods: This was an exploratory phase II, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, parallel group study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of TAK‐875 100 and 400 mg, and placebo, all administered once daily for 2 weeks.

Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, TAK‐875 produced marked glucose lowering effects in a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as evidenced by mean ± SE intergroup differences in plasma glucose AUC0–3 h of −12.98 ± 1.48 (p < 0.0001) and −8.12 ± 1.49 mmol·h/l (p < 0.0001), for TAK‐875 400 mg vs. placebo and TAK‐875 100 mg vs. placebo, respectively, and 2 h plasma glucose [−4.95 ± 0.71 (p < 0.0001) and −3.21 ± 0.71 mmol/l (p < 0.0001), respectively]. This was accompanied by a significant increase in insulin AUC0–3 h [34.68 ± 12.16 (p < 0.01) and 31.49 ± 12.20 (p < 0 · 05) µIU·h/ml, respectively]. Improvement in glycaemic profile was mirrored by a significant change in fasting plasma glucose [−2.37 ± 0·27 (p < 0.0001) and −1.88 ± 0.27 mmol/l (p < 0.0001), respectively]. No cases of hypoglycaemia were observed despite the significant reduction in plasma glucose.

Conclusions: These exploratory findings provide evidence of the glucose‐dependent insulinotropic potential of the GPR40 agonist TAK‐875, and the promising clinical changes support future longer term clinical investigation.
Comparisons of the effects of 12‐week administration of miglitol and voglibose on the responses of plasma incretins after a mixed meal in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Narita T. , Yokoyama H. , Yamashita R. , Sato T. , Hosoba M. , Morii T. , Fujita H. , Tsukiyama K. , Yamada Y.
Published: November 2011

To compare the effects of miglitol [an alpha‐glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) absorbed in the intestine] and voglibose (an AGI not absorbed) on plasma glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) levels, 26 and 24 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to receive miglitol or voglibose, respectively. After 12‐week administration of both drugs, during 2‐h meal tolerance test, plasma glucose, serum insulin and total GIP were significantly decreased and active GLP‐1 was significantly increased. Miglitol group showed a significantly lower total GIP level than voglibose group. Miglitol, but not voglibose, significantly reduced body weight (BW). In all participants, the relative change in BW was positively correlated with that of insulin significantly and of GIP with a weak tendency, but not of GLP‐1. In conclusion, both drugs can enhance postprandial GLP‐1 responses and reduce GIP responses. The significant BW reduction by miglitol might be attributable to its strong GIP‐reducing efficacy.
The immune marker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is associated with new‐onset diabetes in non‐smoking women and men
Authors: Haugaard S. B. , Andersen O. , Hansen T. W. , Eugen‐Olsen J. , Linneberg A. , Madsbad S. , Olsen M. H. , Jørgensen T. , Borch‐Johnsen K. , Jeppesen J.
Published: November 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 479–487 (2012)

Aim  To explore the putative association of new‐onset diabetes and the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), which is a new and stable plasma marker of immune function and low‐grade inflammation. This association has been previously suggested by using the less sensitive International Classification of Disease system to detect incident diabetes in the Danish MONICA 10 cohort.

Methods  The Danish National Diabetes Register enabled more accurate identification of incident diabetes during a median follow‐up of 13.8 years in the Danish MONICA 10 cohort (n = 2353 generally healthy individuals). The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor was measured by the ELISA method. To fulfil model assumptions, outcome analyses were stratified by age, and further by smoking, owing to the interaction between the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and smoking on new‐onset diabetes (P < 0.0001).

Results  New‐onset diabetes (n = 182) was associated with increased soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor levels (P = 0.013). Among 699 middle‐aged (41 and 51 years) and 564 older (61 and 71 years) non‐smokers, participants in the upper soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor quartile had a sex‐ and age‐adjusted relative risk of 6.01 (95% CI 2.17–16.6, P < 0.0006) and relative risk of 3.25 (95% CI 1.51–6.98, P = 0.0025), respectively, for new‐onset diabetes compared with participants in the lowest quartile. This relationship remained significant after additional adjustments for C‐reactive protein and leukocytes or fasting glucose and insulin or BMI (P < 0.05). The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor was not related to incident diabetes among smokers (P ≥ 0.85).

Conclusions  In these explorative analyses, the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor associated independently with incident diabetes in non‐smokers, supporting an immune origin of Type 2 diabetes. Competing disease risk may explain lack of association among smokers.
Changing healthcare utilization patterns in diabetes mellitus: case–control studies 1 year and 8 years after diagnosis
Authors: Sparring V. , Nyström L. , Östman J. , Wahlström R. , Burström K. , Jonsson P. M.
Published: November 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 784–791 (2012)

Aims  To describe healthcare utilization patterns in young and middle‐aged patients with diabetes 1 year and 8 years after diagnosis and to compare with the general population at two time points, 16 years apart.

Methods  Four cohorts with disease duration of 1 year or 8 years were selected from the Diabetes Incidence Study in Sweden, which registers all incident cases of diabetes in the 15‐ to 34‐year age group. Control subjects were selected from the population register matched by age, sex and county of residence. A postal questionnaire was sent to the 1983 and 1992 cohorts in 1991 and 1993, and to the 1999 and 2008 cohorts in 2007 and 2009. Nine hundred and thirteen patients with diabetes and 1679 control subjects responded.

Results  One year after diagnosis, 49% of patients with diabetes in the 1992 cohort compared with 4.2% in the 2008 cohort reported visits to departments of internal medicine and endocrinology. A similar pattern was seen 8 years after diagnosis. The use of day care was 4–5 times higher among patients with diabetes compared with control subjects. Utilization of outpatient hospital care was higher among patients with diabetes compared with control subjects, even when excluding visits to diabetes clinics.

Conclusions  Excess use of health care among patients with diabetes remained 16 years after the first follow‐up. Utilization patterns were stable, except for a major decrease in inpatient care 1 year after diagnosis and an increase in day care 8 years after diagnosis. Observed changes probably reflect successive reforming of diabetes care in Sweden.
Adult‐onset diabetes among Arabs and Jews in Israel: a population‐based study
Authors: Kalter‐Leibovici O. , Chetrit A. , Lubin F. , Atamna A. , Alpert G. , Ziv A. , Abu‐Saad K. , Murad H. , Eilat‐Adar S. , Goldbourt U.
Published: November 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 748–754 (2012)

Aims  To study the age at presentation and factors associated with adult‐onset diabetes (≥ 20 years) among Arabs and Jews in Israel.

Methods  Participants (n = 1100) were randomly selected from the urban population of the Hadera District in Israel. The study sample was stratified into equal groups according to sex, ethnicity (Arabs and Jews) and age. Information on age at diabetes presentation, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, socio‐demographic and lifestyle characteristics was obtained through personal interviews. Self reports of diabetes were compared with medical records and were found reliable (κ = 0.87). The risk for diabetes was calculated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Factors associated with diabetes in both ethnic groups were studied using Cox proportional hazard model.

Results  The prevalence of adult‐onset diabetes was 21% among Arabs and 12% among Jews. Arab participants were younger than Jews at diabetes presentation. By the age of 57 years, 25% of Arabs had diagnosed diabetes; the corresponding age among Jews was 68 years, a difference of 11 years (P < 0.001). The greater risk for diabetes among Arabs was independent of lifestyle factors, family history of diabetes and, among women, history of gestational diabetes; adjusted hazard ratio 1.70; 95% confidence interval 1.19–2.43.

Conclusions  Arabs in Israel are at greater risk for adult‐onset diabetes than Jews and are younger at diabetes presentation. Culturally sensitive interventions aimed at maintaining normal body weight and active lifestyle should be targeted at this population. Possible genetic factors and gene–environmental interactions underlying the high risk for diabetes among Arabs should be investigated.
My cup runneth over: Young people's lack of knowledge of low‐risk drinking guidelines
Authors: DE VISSER RICHARD O. , BIRCH JULIAN D.
Published: November 2011

Introduction and Aims. If young people are to consume alcohol in accordance with government guidelines, they must possess the relevant knowledge and skills. No previous research has examined correlations between different forms of knowledge of alcohol guidelines or how they are related to personality variables and beliefs.

Design and Methods. Two samples were recruited in South‐East England: 309 secondary school students aged 16–18, and 125 university students aged 18–25. All participants completed a computer‐administered survey of knowledge and beliefs. University students also reported their alcohol consumption and completed tasks in which they poured their ‘usual’ drinks, and what they believed to be ‘units’ of alcohol.

Results. Most respondents lacked the knowledge and skills required to drink in accordance with government guidelines. Participants' usual drinks were substantially larger than one unit, and participants tended to underestimate the unit content of drinks. There was little evidence that possession of accurate knowledge of one aspect of alcohol units and guidelines was related to accurate knowledge in other domains.

Discussion and Conclusions. Many young people may lack the knowledge required to monitor their alcohol consumption or give accurate self‐reports in research. Future research should evaluate using a drink‐pouring task as part of interventions designed to improve knowledge and skills and encourage moderate consumption of alcohol.[de Visser RO, Birch JD. My cup runneth over: Young people's lack of knowledge of low‐risk drinking guidelines. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:206–212]
The Chinese Youth Attitudes toward Young Drug Users scale: An initial scale development and refinement
Authors: CHUI WING HONG , CHAN HENG CHOON (OLIVER)
Published: November 2011

Introduction and Aims. Little is known about adolescents' perspectives of young drug users, especially in the Chinese context. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure Chinese youth attitudes toward young drug users.

Design and Methods. Initially, a total of 26 non‐at‐risk and at‐risk adolescents (15 male and 11 female) aged 13 to 20 years were interviewed in five separate focus group sessions to explore their general views of young drug users. At‐risk youths recruited in this study were adolescents who previously had contact with the juvenile justice system. The responses of these 26 adolescents were documented, and subsequently 25 items were generated out of the respondents' common themes. These 25 items were then surveyed in a group of 137 secondary school‐aged adolescents (68 male and 69 female), ranging 13 to 17 years, to examine its underlying factor structure for further scale refinement, with the use of the exploratory factor analysis.

Results. A five‐factor structure with 12 items was ultimately selected for the Chinese Youth Attitudes toward Young Drug Users (CYAYDU) scale.

Discussion and Conclusions. This newly developed scale is anticipated to provide utility in the social work settings, especially for youth social workers to assist in providing effective social services to young drug users. Despite the promising strength of the CYAYDU scale, further validation with large sample size is needed.[Chui WH, Chan HC. The Chinese Youth Attitudes toward Young Drug Users scale: An initial scale development and refinement. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:477–482]
‘Hotspots’ for aggression in licensed drinking venues
Authors: GRAHAM KATHRYN , BERNARDS SHARON , OSGOOD D. WAYNE , WELLS SAMANTHA
Published: November 2011

Introduction and Aims. In order to better understand the social context of barroom aggression, the aim was to identify common locations (‘hotspots’) for aggression in bars and examine the association of hotspots with aggression severity and environmental characteristics.

Design and Methods. Aggression hotspots were identified using narrative descriptions and data recorded on premises' floor plans for 1057 incidents of aggression collected in the Safer Bars evaluation. Hierarchical Linear Modelling was used to identify bar‐level and night‐level characteristics associated with each hotspot.

Results. The most common location for aggression was the dance floor (20.0% of incidents) or near the dance floor (11.5%), followed by near the serving bar (15.7%), at tables (13.1%), aisles, hallways and other areas of movement (6.2%), entrance (4.5%) and the pool playing area (4.1%). Hotspots were predicted mainly by bar‐level characteristics, with dance floor aggression associated with crowded bars, a high proportion of female and young patrons, lots of sexual activity, a large number of patrons and staff, security staff present, better monitoring and coordination by staff, and people hanging around at closing. Incidents at tables and pool tables tended to occur in bars with the opposite characteristics. Nightly variations in patron intoxication and rowdiness were associated with aggression at tables while variations in crowding and sexual activity were associated with aggression in areas of movement. Incidents outside tended to be more severe.

Discussion and Conclusions. Each aggression location and their associated environments have somewhat different implications for staff training, premises design, policy and prevention.[Graham K, Bernards S, Osgood DW, Wells S. ‘Hotspots’ for aggression in licensed drinking venues. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:377–384]
The Moderating Role of Self‐Monitoring on the Interpersonal Aspects of Attitude Ambivalence
Authors: Cowley Elizabeth , Czellar Sandor
Published: November 2011

Extant research has found a relation between holding conflicting attitudes with a familiar person (interpersonal discrepancy) and subjective attitude ambivalence. In 2 studies, we investigated the role of interpersonal discrepancy in the experience of attitude ambivalence as a function of self‐monitoring and level of liking of the other person. Building on balance theory, we proposed and found that high (vs. low) self‐monitors feel most comfortable when they are in agreement with liked (vs. disliked) others. In Study 1, 80 university students revealed that when the significant other is a parent, high self‐monitors feel more subjective ambivalence when there is more interpersonal discrepancy. In Study 2, 37 university students reported their feelings of subjective ambivalence when considering the interpersonal discrepancy between liked (vs. disliked) familiar people. Again, it was high self‐monitors who were most susceptible to increased feelings of subjective ambivalence, particularly for discrepancies between their own attitude and the attitude of liked others. Taken together, our 2 studies broaden our understanding of the interpersonal foundations of subjective ambivalence by suggesting that they may depend on personality differences and the nature of the social relationship.
Narcissism in Midlife: Longitudinal Changes in and Correlates of Women's Narcissistic Personality Traits
Authors: Edelstein Robin S. , Newton Nicola J. , Stewart Abigail J.
Published: November 2011

We examined changes in and correlates of 3 kinds of narcissism—hypersensitivity, willfulness, and autonomy—during middle adulthood. Few studies have examined narcissistic personality traits beyond young adulthood, and none has assessed longitudinal changes in narcissism during midlife. In a sample of 70 college‐educated women, we found that observer ratings of hypersensitive narcissism were associated with more negative outcomes at ages 43 and 53 (i.e., more depressive symptoms and physical health problems, lower life satisfaction and well‐being). Ratings of willfulness and autonomy predicted more positive outcomes. All 3 kinds of narcissism showed considerable rank‐order stability over 10 years, but there were also mean‐level changes: Hypersensitivity and autonomy decreased, whereas willfulness increased. More positive outcomes were associated with decreases in hypersensitivity and increases in willfulness and autonomy. However, in multivariate analyses, autonomy did not show any significant associations with women's health and well‐being outcomes, suggesting that it may have less predictive utility compared to hypersensitivity and willfulness. Our findings highlight developmental changes in and correlates of women's narcissistic personality traits and the importance of assessing different aspects of narcissism in midlife.
Equality and Marriage in Vico
Authors: ZANETTI GIANFRANCESCO
Published: November 2011

The subject of this paper is the relationship between marriage and equality in Giambattista Vico. In his writings Vico gives the notion of marriage a unique importance, not framed on any oversized notion of nature or natural law but on the political fight for the right to marry (a quest for full citizenship status). The right to marry is linked with complex dynamics of human equality, and to a notion of human nature shaped by belief‐dependent institutions.
A Bayesian Non-Linear Model for Forecasting Insurance Loss Payments
Authors: Zhang Yanwei , Dukic Vanja , Guszcza James
Published: November 2011

We propose a Bayesian non-linear hierarchical model that addresses some of the major challenges that non-life insurance companies face when forecasting the outstanding claim amounts for which they will ultimately be liable. This approach is distinctive in several ways. First, data from individual companies are treated as repeated measurements of various cohorts of claims, thus respecting the correlation between successive observations. Second, non-linear growth curves are used to model the loss development process in a way that is intuitively appealing and facilitates prediction and extrapolation beyond the range of the available data. Third, a hierarchical structure is employed to reflect the natural variation of major parameters between the claim cohorts, accounting for their heterogeneity. This approach enables us to carry out inference at the level of industry, company and/or accident year, based on the full posterior distribution of all quantities of interest. In addition, prior experience and expert opinion can be incorporated in the analyses through judgementally selected prior probability distributions. The ability of the Bayesian framework to carry out simultaneous inference based on the joint posterior is of great importance for insurance solvency monitoring and industry decision making.
A Case-Study in the Clinical Epidemiology of Psoriatic Arthritis: Multistate Models and Causal Arguments
Authors: O’Keeffe Aidan G. , Tom Brian D. M. , Farewell Vernon T.
Published: November 2011

In psoriatic arthritis, permanent joint damage characterizes disease progression and represents a major debilitating aspect of the disease. Understanding the process of joint damage will assist in the treatment and disease management of patients. Multistate models provide a means to examine patterns of disease, such as symmetric joint damage. Additionally, the link between damage and the dynamic course of disease activity (represented by joint swelling and stress pain) at both the individual joint level and otherwise can be represented within a correlated multistate model framework. Correlation is reflected through the use of random effects for progressive models and robust variance estimation for non-progressive models. Such analyses, undertaken with data from a large psoriatic arthritis cohort, are discussed and the extent to which they permit causal reasoning is considered. For this, emphasis is given to the use of the Bradford Hill criteria for causation in observational studies and the concept of local (in)dependence to capture the dynamic nature of the relationships.
Point Pattern Modelling for Degraded Presence-Only Data Over Large Regions
Authors: Chakraborty Avishek , Gelfand Alan E. , Wilson Adam M. , Latimer Andrew M. , Silander John A.
Published: November 2011

Explaining the distribution of a species by using local environmental features is a long-standing ecological problem. Often, available data are collected as a set of presence locations only, thus precluding the possibility of a desired presence–absence analysis. We propose that it is natural to view presence-only data as a point pattern over a region and to use local environmental features to explain the intensity driving this point pattern. We use a hierarchical model to treat the presence data as a realization of a spatial point process, whose intensity is governed by the set of environmental covariates. Spatial dependence in the intensity levels is modelled with random effects involving a zero-mean Gaussian process. We augment the model to capture highly variable and typically sparse sampling effort as well as land transformation, both of which degrade the point pattern. The Cape Floristic Region in South Africa provides an extensive class of such species data. The potential (i.e. non-degraded) presence surfaces over the entire area are of interest from a conservation and policy perspective. The region is divided into about 37000 grid cells. To work with a Gaussian process over a very large number of cells we use a predictive spatial process approximation. Bias correction by adding a heteroscedastic error component has also been implemented. We illustrate with modelling for six different species. Also, a comparison is made with the now popular Maxent approach though it is limited with regard to inference. The resultant patterns are important on their own but also enable a comparative view, for example, to investigate whether a pair of species are potentially competing in the same area. An additional feature of our modelling is the opportunity to infer about biodiversity through species richness, i.e. the number of distinct species in an areal unit. Such an investigation immediately follows within our modelling framework.
Variable Selection for High Dimensional Bayesian Density Estimation: Application to Human Exposure Simulation
Authors: Reich Brian J. , Kalendra Eric , Storlie Curtis B. , Bondell Howard D. , Fuentes Montserrat
Published: November 2011

Numerous studies have linked ambient air pollution and adverse health outcomes. Many studies of this nature relate outdoor pollution levels measured at a few monitoring stations with health outcomes. Recently, computational methods have been developed to model the distribution of personal exposures, rather than ambient concentration, and then relate the exposure distribution to the health outcome. Although these methods show great promise, they are limited by the computational demands of the exposure model. We propose a method to alleviate these computational burdens with the eventual goal of implementing a national study of the health effects of air pollution exposure. Our approach is to develop a statistical emulator for the exposure model, i.e. we use Bayesian density estimation to predict the conditional exposure distribution as a function of several variables, such as temperature, human activity and physical characteristics of the pollutant. This poses a challenging statistical problem because there are many predictors of the exposure distribution and density estimation is notoriously difficult in high dimensions. To overcome this challenge, we use stochastic search variable selection to identify a subset of the variables that have more than just additive effects on the mean of the exposure distribution. We apply our method to emulate an ozone exposure model in Philadelphia.
Antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeasts and filamentous fungi isolated from nail infection
Authors: Ataides F.S. , Chaul M.H. , El Essal F.E. , Costa C.R. , Souza L.K.H. , Fernandes O.F.L. , Silva M.R.R.
Published: November 2011

Background  Onychomycosis is the nail infection caused by a wide spectrum of fungi species, including yeasts, dermatophytes and filamentous fungi non‐dermatophytes (FFND). This fungal infection represents an important medical problem because it involves the patient′s life quality.

Objective  The aim was to isolate and identify the fungal agents of onychomycosis, and to determine the in vitro susceptibility to antifungal agents.

Methods  During the period of March 2008 to March 2009, 114 patients clinically suspected of having onychomycosis were examined. Demographic data, mainly age and gender were obtained from each patient. The nail samples collected (136) were submitted to direct examination with potassium hydroxide 20% and grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the method of broth microdilution, recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Results  Onychomycosis was observed in 95 (83.3%) patients, including 16 men (16.8%) and 79 women (83.2%), with mean age of 48.1 years. Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton rubrum and Fusarium spp were the fungi most frequently isolated. The most of the isolated yeasts showed susceptibility to antifungal agents studied. Among filamentous fungi, high MIC values to itraconazole were found for T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, while Fusarium spp showed decreased susceptibility to itraconazole and voriconazole.

Conclusion  C. parapsilosis was the most common fungal species isolated from patients with onychomycosis. The different response obtained by in vitro susceptibility testing to drugs shows the importance of these methods to assist clinicians in choosing the best therapeutic option.
Getting here from there: testing the genetic paradigm underpinning introduction histories and invasion success
Authors: Hardesty Britta Denise , Le Roux Johannes J. , Rocha Oscar J. , Meyer Jean‐Yves , Westcott David , Wieczorek Ania M.
Published: November 2011

Aim To explore the potential of genetic processes and mating systems to influence successful plant invasions, we compared genetic diversity of the highly invasive tropical treelet,Miconia calvescens,in nine invasive populations and three native range populations. Specifically, we tested how genetic diversity is partitioned in native and invaded regions, which have different invasion histories (multiple vs. single introductions). Lastly, we infer how levels of inbreeding in different regions impact invasion success.

Location Invaded ranges in the Pacific (Hawaii, Tahiti, New Caledonia) and Australia and native range in Costa Rica.

Methods Genetic diversity was inferred by analysing variation at nine microsatellite loci in 273 individuals from 13 populations ofM. calvescens. Genetic structure was assessed usingamova, isolation by distance (IBD) within regions, a Bayesian clustering approach, and principal coordinates analysis.

Results Microsatellite analysis revealed that invaded regions exhibit low levels of allelic richness and genetic diversity with few private alleles. To the contrary, in the native range, we observed high levels of allelic richness, high heterozygosity and 78% of all private alleles. Surprisingly, despite evident genetic bottlenecks in all invasive regions, similarly high levels of inbreeding were detected in both invasive and native ranges (FIS: 0.345 and 0.399, respectively). Bayesian clustering analysis showed a lack of geographical structure in the Pacific and evidence of differing invasion histories between the Pacific and Australia. While Pacific populations are derived from a single introduction to the region, multiple introductions have taken place in Australia from different source regions.

Main conclusions Multiple introductions have not resulted in increased genetic diversity forM. calvescensinvasions. Moreover, similar inbreeding levels between native and invaded ranges suggests that there is no correlation between levels of inbreeding and levels of standing genetic diversity forM. calvescens.Overall, our results show that neither inbreeding nor low genetic diversity is an impediment to invasion success.
Volcanic perturbations of the marine environment in South China preceding the latest Permian mass extinction and their biotic effects
Authors: SHEN J. , ALGEO T. J. , ZHOU L. , FENG Q. , YU J. , ELLWOOD B.
Published: November 2011

The Dongpan section in southern Guangxi Province records the influence of local volcanic activity on marine sedimentation at intermediate water depths (∼200–500 m) in the Nanpanjiang Basin (South China) during the late Permian crisis. We analyzed ∼100 samples over a 12‐m‐thick interval, generating palynological, paleobiological, and geochemical datasets to investigate the nature and causes of environmental changes. The section records at least two major volcanic episodes that culminated in deposition of approximately 25‐ to 35‐cm‐thick ash layers (bentonites) and that had profound effects on conditions in both the Dongpan marine environment and adjacent land areas. Intensification of eruptive activity during each volcanic cycle resulted in a shift toward conifer forests, increased wildfire intensity, and elevated subaerial weathering fluxes. The resulting increase in nutrient fluxes stimulated marine productivity in the short term but led to a negative feedback on productivity in the longer term as the OMZ of the Nanpanjiang Basin expanded, putting both phytoplankton and zooplankton communities under severe stress. Radiolarians exhibit large declines in diversity and abundance well before the global mass extinction horizon, demonstrating the diachroneity of the marine biotic crisis. The latest Permian crisis, which was probably triggered by the Siberian Traps flood basalts, intensified the destructive effects of the earlier local eruptions on terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the South China craton.
A new role for laminins as modulators of protein toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Jensen Louise T. , Møller Tine H. , Larsen Simon A. , Jakobsen Helle , Olsen Anders
Published: November 2011

Protein misfolding is a common theme in aging and several age‐related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The processes involved in the development of these diseases are many and complex. Here, we show that components of the basement membrane (BM), particularly laminin, affect protein integrity of the muscle cells they support. We knocked down gene expression of epi‐1, a laminin α‐chain, and found that this resulted in increased proteotoxicity in different Caenorhabditis elegans transgenic models, expressing aggregating proteins in the body wall muscle. The effect could partially be rescued by decreased insulin‐like signaling, known to slow the aging process and the onset of various age‐related diseases. Our data points to an underlying molecular mechanism involving proteasomal degradation and HSP‐16 chaperone activity. Furthermore, epi‐1‐depleted animals had altered synaptic function and displayed hypersensitivity to both levamisole and aldicarb, an acetylcholine receptor agonist and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, respectively. Our results implicate the BM as an extracellular modulator of protein homeostasis in the adjacent muscle cells. This is in agreement with previous research showing that imbalance in neuromuscular signaling disturbs protein homeostasis in the postsynaptic cell. In our study, proteotoxicity may indeed be mediated by the neuromuscular junction which is part of the BM, where laminins are present in high concentration, ensuring the proper microenvironment for neuromuscular signaling. Laminins are evolutionarily conserved, and thus the BM may play a much more causal role in protein misfolding diseases than currently recognized.