bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Puerto Rican parrot reintroduction program: Sustainable management of the aviary population
Authors: Earnhardt Joanne , Vélez‐Valentín Jafet , Valentin Ricardo , Long Sarah , Lynch Colleen , Schowe Kate
Published: January 2014

The cornerstone of the recovery plan for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vitatta) is an actively managed, long‐term reintroduction program. One captive population distributed across two aviaries in Puerto Rico is the sole source for release but its ability to persist as a managed resource has not been evaluated since 1989. We conducted an assessment for sustainable management of the aviary population while harvesting for release. To assess demographic rates such as population growth, vital rates, and age/sex structure, we compiled a studbook database on all living, dead, and released individuals in the aviary population. Using an individual‐based risk assessment model we applied population specific data based on the management period from 1993 to 2012 to simulate future aviary population dynamics and evaluate future potential production. We modeled four potential management strategies to harvest parrots for proposed releases; these scenarios vary the number of parrots and the life stage. Our simulations revealed that the aviary population can be simultaneously managed for sustainability and harvesting of parrots for release. However, without cautious management, overharvesting can jeopardize sustainability of the aviary population. Our analysis of the aviary breeding program provides a rare opportunity to review progress relative to conservation program objectives after four decades of active management. The successful growth of the aviary population and its ability to serve as a sustainable source for reintroductions supports the 1973 decision to build a breeding program from a small population of 13 parrots. Zoo Biol. 33:89–98, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Semen characterization, seasonality of production, and in vitro sperm quality after chilled storage and cryopreservation in the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Authors: O'Brien Justine K. , Robeck Todd R.
Published: January 2014

Research was conducted to examine seasonal seminal traits and to establish short‐term and long‐term sperm preservation methods in the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) for use in genome banking and artificial insemination (AI). Spermic ejaculates (n = 87) obtained using a cooperative method were collected across multiple (n = 6, Male 1) and a single (Male 2) breeding season(s). Non‐contaminated ejaculates (n = 69) were 0.36 ± 0.32 ml at 56.3 ± 62.7 × 107 sperm/ml with 85.3 ± 10.6% total motility (TMot), 52.5 ± 12.9% progressive motility (PMot), 86.6 ± 24.3 µm/sec average path velocity (VAP) and 92.3 ± 3.7% plasma membrane intact. In vitro quality of chilled semen was best maintained over 48 hr at 5°C than 21°C, with decreased (P < 0.05) motility and morphology parameters observed by 24 and 6 hr, respectively. A comparison of two freezing methods (straw [STR] vs. directional [DF]) demonstrated similar effects on post‐thaw quality at 0 and 3 hr, with the exception of plasma membrane integrity which was higher (P < 0.05) at 0 hr for DF (48.7 ± 6.5%) than STR (41.2 ± 7.0%). At 0 hr post‐thaw, DF samples retained 46%, 69%, and 52% of their initial PMot, VAP, and plasma membrane integrity, respectively. Normal morphology of motile cells was reduced (P < 0.05) during freeze–thawing from 84% post‐collection to 37% and 34% at 0 and 3 hr post‐thaw, respectively. Results indicate that chilled and cryopreserved semen from the king penguin has potential for use in AI. Zoo Biol. 33:99–109, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Long‐Term Results of the Modified Thal Procedure in Patients with Chagasic Megaesophagus
Authors: Alves Andréa Pedrosa Ribeiro , de Oliveira Paulo Gonçalves , de Oliveira Julia Martins , de Mesquita Diego Martins , dos Santos João Henrique Zanotelli
Published: January 2014

Background

Chagas disease is a serious public health issue in South and Central America due to its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. The esophageal form of the disease leads to achalasia and consequent megaesophagus. In advanced or recurrent cases of megaesophagus, there is no consensus for which of three established techniques—the Serra‐Dória procedure, subtotal esophagectomy, or Modified Thal cardioplasty—is best. Very few studies have investigated the average efficacy and long‐term outcomes of the Thal procedure. The present study sought to bridge this gap.

Methods

The Modified Thal procedure was performed in 29 patients at Hospital Universitário de Brasília between 1998 and 2008. All underwent clinical and nutritional evaluation, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UDE) with chromoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24‐h pH monitoring.

Results

Overall, 86 % experienced resolution of all symptoms after surgery. Most patients were classified as Visick grade I, II, or III. The average body mass index was 22.7 kg/m2. UDE showed normal mucosa in 76 % of patients, and 11 % had unstained areas on chromoscopy. Esophageal manometry demonstrated incomplete lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation in 50 % of patients, complete LES relaxation in 21 %, and no LES relaxation in 29 %. All showed complete relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter. On 24‐h pH monitoring, reflux was pathological in 50 % of patients.

Conclusions

Overall, the modified Thal procedure improved symptoms—namely, dysphagia to liquids with resulting weight loss and malnutrition—in patients with megaesophagus. No correlations were found between clinical complaints, endoscopic findings, and degree of manometric abnormality in these patients.
Genetic assessment of environmental features that influence deer dispersal: implications for prion‐infected populations
Authors: Kelly Amy C. , Mateus‐Pinilla Nohra E. , Brown William , Ruiz Marilyn O. , Douglas Marlis R. , Douglas Michael E. , Shelton Paul , Beissel Tom , Novakofski Jan
Published: January 2014

The landscape can influence host dispersal and density, which in turn, affect infectious disease transmission, spread, and persistence. Understanding how the landscape influences wildlife dispersal and pathogen epidemiology can enhance the efficacy of disease management in natural populations. We applied landscape genetics to examine relationships among landscape variables, dispersal of white‐tailed deer hosts and transmission/spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal prion encephalopathy. Our focus was on quantifying movements and population structure of host deer in infected areas as a means of predicting the spread of this pathology and promoting its adaptive management. We analyzed microsatellite genotypes of CWD‐infected and uninfected deer from two disease foci (Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois). We quantified gene flow and population structure using FST, assignment tests, and spatial autocorrelation analyses. Gene flow estimates were then contrasted against a suite of landscape variables that potentially mediate deer dispersal. Forest fragmentation and grassland connectivity promoted deer movements while rivers, agricultural fields and large urbanized areas impeded movement. Landscape variables, deer dispersal, and disease transmission covaried significantly and positively in our analyses. Habitats with elevated host gene flow supported the concept of dispersal‐mediated CWD transmission by reflecting a concomitant, rapid CWD expansion. Large, interrelated social groups isolated by movement barriers overlapped disease foci, suggesting that philopatry exacerbated CWD transmission. Our results promote adaptive management of CWD by predicting patterns of its spread and identifying habitats at risk for invasion. Further, our landscape genetics approach underscores the significance of topography and host behavior in wildlife disease transmission.
A Network Perspective on the Processes of Empowered Organizations
Authors: Neal Zachary P.
Published: January 2014

Organizational empowerment is a multi‐faceted concept that involves processes occurring both within and between organizations that facilitate achievement of their goals. This paper takes a closer look at three interorganizational processes that lead to empowered organizations: building alliances, getting the word out, and capturing others’ attention. These processes are located within the broader nomological network of empowerment and organizational empowerment, and are linked to particular patterns of interorganizational relationships that facilitate organizations’ ability to engage in them. A new network‐based measure, γ‐centrality, is introduced to capture the particular network structure associated with each process to be assessed. It is demonstrated first in a hypothetical organizational network, then applied to take a closer look at organizational empowerment in the context of a coordinating council composed of human service agencies. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of relationships between these processes, and the potential for unintended consequences in the empowerment of organizations.
Assessing the Integration of Genomic Medicine in Genetic Counseling Training Programs
Authors: Profato Jessica , Gordon Erynn S. , Dixon Shannan , Kwan Andrea
Published: January 2014

Medical genetics has entered a period of transition from genetics to genomics. Genetic counselors (GCs) may take on roles in the clinical implementation of genomics. This study explores the perspectives of program directors (PDs) on including genomic medicine in GC training programs, as well as the status of this integration. Study methods included an online survey, an optional one‐on‐one telephone interview, and an optional curricula content analysis. The majority of respondents (15/16) reported that it is important to include genomic medicine in program curricula. Most topics of genomic medicine are either “currently taught” or “under development” in all participating programs. Interview data from five PDs and one faculty member supported the survey data. Integrating genomics in training programs is challenging, and it is essential to develop genomics resources for curricula.
Huntington Disease: Who Seeks Presymptomatic Genetic Testing, Why and What are the Outcomes?
Authors: Scuffham Tracey M. , MacMillan John C.
Published: January 2014

The aims of this study were to: 1) quantify the characteristics of those seeking presymptomatic testing for HD, 2) identify their motivations for testing, 3) quantify the waiting times between the various steps within the testing process, and 4) quantify the outcomes of testing at a large state‐wide genetic testing center in Australia. A review of medical charts for all referrals for presymptomatic testing of Huntington disease received over a 4 year period (2006–2010) was undertaken. A total of 152 cases met the study inclusion criteria; the mean age was 39 years, 46 % were male and 61 % underwent genetic testing. Of the males who were tested there was a non‐significant trend towards having an affected mother vs father (62 %, p = 0.09), whereas females tested were just as likely to have an affected mother or father. The most frequently cited reasons for seeking testing were “family planning”, “plan future”, and “need to know”. Some 11 % deferred testing following the psychological assessment. Of those at 50 % prior risk, 57.5 % tested positive; this was higher than expected and much higher than reported in other studies. The median times from referral to initial appointment, and then to results was 69 days and 144 days respectively. Overall, this review of medical charts shows the depth of information obtainable from routinely collected data and revealed that a high proportion of patients tested positive for HD at this centre.
The Effect of Genetic Counseling for Adult Offspring of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes on Attitudes Toward Diabetes and its Heredity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Nishigaki M. , Tokunaga‐Nakawatase Y. , Nishida J. , Kazuma K.
Published: January 2014

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of diabetes genetic counseling on attitudes toward diabetes and its heredity in relatives of type 2 diabetes patients. This study was an unmasked, randomized controlled trial at a medical check‐up center in Japan. Subjects in this study are healthy adults between 30 and 60 years of age who have a family history of type 2 diabetes in their first degree relatives. Participants in the intervention group received a brief genetic counseling session for approximately 10 min. Genetic counseling was structured based on the Health Belief Model. Both intervention and control groups received a booklet for general diabetes prevention. Risk perception and recognition of diabetes, and attitude towards its prevention were measured at baseline, 1 week and 1 year after genetic counseling. Participants who received genetic counseling showed significantly higher recognition about their sense of control over diabetes onset than control group both at 1 week and 1 year after the session. On the other hand, anxiety about diabetes did not change significantly. The findings show that genetic counseling for diabetes at a medical check center helped adults with diabetes family history understand they are able to exert control over the onset of their disease through lifestyle modification.
Elastoplastic contact of rough surfaces: a line contact model for boundary regime of lubrication
Authors: Chong W. W. F. , De la Cruz M.
Published: January 2014

This paper introduces an improved friction model accounting for elastoplastic behavior of interacting asperities along contiguous rough surfaces for a line contact solution. It is based on Greenwood and Tripp’s original boundary friction model and specifically tailored for a boundary regime of lubrication. The numerical solution of Reynolds’ equation is achieved by implementing Elrod’s cavitation algorithm for a one dimensional line contact. The transience in the numerical solution is retained by accounting for the squeeze film term in Reynolds’ equation under fixed loading conditions and varying sliding motion. A sliding bearing rig is used to measure friction and compare the results with the prediction made using the approach highlighted above. The numerical/experimental results show good agreement.
Challenges in Measuring the Sequencing of Life Events Among Adolescents in Malawi: A Cautionary Note
Authors: Mensch Barbara S. , Soler-Hampejsek Erica , Kelly Christine A. , Hewett Paul C. , Grant Monica J.
Published: January 2014

Using data from two rounds of the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Survey, this research note examines consistency of retrospective reporting on the timing and sequencing of sexual initiation, school leaving, and marriage. The analysis, which compares reporting of events both within and between rounds, indicates substantial inconsistency in reporting of event sequences and highlights difficulties in measuring transitions to adulthood in sub-Saharan Africa with survey data.
The ground state energy of the two dimensional Ginzburg–Landau functional with variable magnetic field
Authors: Attar K.
Published: January 2014

We consider the Ginzburg–Landau functional with a variable applied magnetic field in a bounded and smooth two dimensional domain. We determine an accurate asymptotic formula for the minimizing energy when the Ginzburg–Landau parameter and the magnetic field are large and of the same order. As a consequence, it is shown how bulk superconductivity decreases in average as the applied magnetic field increases.
Control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through histidine kinases in Aspergillus nidulans under different growth conditions
Authors: Hayashi Saki , Yoshioka Megumi , Matsui Tetsuji , Kojima Kensuke , Kato Masashi , Kanamaru Kyoko , Kobayashi Tetsuo
Published: January 2014

Sensor histidine kinases (HKs) are important factors that control cellular growth in response to environmental conditions. The expression of 15 HKs from Aspergillus nidulans was analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR under vegetative, asexual, and sexual growth conditions. Most HKs were highly expressed during asexual growth. All HK gene‐disrupted strains produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Three HKs are involved in the control of ROS: HysA was the most abundant under the restricted oxygen condition, NikA is involved in fungicide sensing, and FphA inhibits sexual development in response to red light. Phosphotransfer signal transduction via HysA is essential for ROS production control.
Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome
Authors: Nasser Felipe , Cavalcante Rafael N. , Affonso Breno B. , Messina Marcos L. , Carnevale Francisco C. , de Gregorio Miguel A.
Published: January 2014

Objective

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter embolization using coils for treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and to elucidate prognostic factors for clinical success.

Methods

Data were retrospectively analyzed from 113 women with PCS who underwent endovascular embolization of ovarian and pelvic varicose veins at Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain between January 2001 and January 2011. Pain score was evaluated before and after the procedure via a visual analog scale (VAS). Associated symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, and lower limb symptoms) were also evaluated. Patients were followed up for 12 months.

Results

The technical and clinical success was 100%. At 12 months, 53% of patients had no pelvic pain and 47% reported a reduction in pelvic pain. The average VAS was 7.34 before the procedure and 0.47 at 12 months. Complete relief of pain and associated symptoms was achieved for 37% of patients. Urinary urgency, lower limb symptoms, and vulvar and lower limbs varicosities were prognostic factors related to incomplete treatment success. The global complication rate was low (5/113, 4.4%).

Conclusion

Transcatheter embolization was a safe and effective treatment for PCS. Lower limb symptoms, urinary urgency, and varicosities were associated with incomplete clinical success.
Acceptability and feasibility of medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in Nigeria
Authors: Okonofua Friday , Shittu Oladapo , Shochet Tara , Diop Ayisha , Winikoff Beverly
Published: January 2014

Objective

To examine the acceptability and feasibility of medical abortion in Nigeria.

Methods

In total, 250 women who were eligible for legal pregnancy termination with a gestational age of up to 63 days since last menstrual period were enrolled in Benin City and Zaria between May 2005 and October 2006. Participants received 200 mg of oral mifepristone in the clinic and then took 400 μg of oral misoprostol 2 days later—choosing to either return to the clinic or take it at home. Women returned 2 weeks later for an assessment of abortion status.

Results

The vast majority (96.3%) of women had successful complete abortions. Ultrasound was used to determine outcome in less than one‐third (28.9%) of participants. Most women (83.2%) took the misoprostol at home. Almost all (96.2%) participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the abortion method.

Conclusion

The introduction of medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol could greatly expand current method options and improve the quality of reproductive health care in Nigeria and other settings in which access to legal abortion services is limited.
The Complementary Role of the Kinect Virtual Reality Game Training in a Patient With Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Authors: Ulaşlı Alper Murat , Türkmen Utku , Toktaş Hasan , Solak Özlem
Published: January 2014

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by demyelination of the peripheral and central nerves. Patients with MLD can present with gait disturbances, progressive spastic quadriparesis, diffuse muscle atrophy, and areflexia attributable to central or peripheral nerve involvements. The rehabilitation of patients with MLD generally focuses on gait disturbances, balance impairments, and muscle weaknesses. Here, we present a case of MLD in which virtual reality (VR) training was used as an adjunctive therapy. We also discuss the complementary role of VR therapy, which was successfully integrated with a conventional rehabilitation program for a young patient with MLD who had impaired balance and gait. After completion of the integrated rehabilitation program, the patient demonstrated improvements in functional independency, mobility, walking speed, and balance. His total Functional Independence Measure score increased from 97 to 109, 6‐minute walk test increased from 342 to 396 m, 10‐minute walk test decreased from 11 to 7 seconds, and Berg Balance Scale score increased from 38 to 42 points. Moreover, 6 weeks after completion of the therapy, these improvements were sustained for the most part. Adding VR to a conventional rehabilitation program is an emerging trend in neurologic rehabilitation. Our patient with MLD demonstrated considerable improvements with a high level of enjoyment and satisfaction.
Rapid bottom-water circulation changes during the last glacial cycle in the coastal low-latitude NE Atlantic
Authors: Gallego-Torres David , Romero Oscar E. , Martínez-Ruiz Francisca , Kim Jung-Hyun , Donner Barbara , Ortega-Huertas Miguel
Published: January 2014

Previous paleoceanographic studies along the NW African margin focused on the dynamics of surface and intermediate waters, whereas little attention has been devoted to deep-water masses. Currently, these deep waters consist mainly of North Atlantic Deep Waters as part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). However, this configuration was altered during periods of AMOC collapse. We present a high-resolution reconstruction of bottom-water ventilation and current evolution off Mauritania from the last glacial maximum into the early Holocene. Applying redox proxies (Mo, U and Mn) measured on sediments from off Mauritania, we describe changes in deep-water oxygenation and we infer the evolution of deep-water conditions during millennial-scale climate/oceanographic events in the area. The second half of Heinrich Event 1 and the Younger Dryas were recognized as periods of reduced ventilation, coinciding with events of AMOC reduction. We propose that these weakening circulation events induced deficient deep-water oxygenation in the Mauritanian upwelling region, which together with increased productivity promoted reducing conditions and enhanced organic-matter preservation. This is the first time the effect of AMOC collapse in the area is described at high resolution, broadening the knowledge on basin-wide oceanographic changes associated with rapid climate variability during the last deglaciation.
Holocene climate–fire–vegetation interactions at a subalpine watershed in southeastern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Courtney Mustaphi Colin J. , Pisaric Michael F.J.
Published: January 2014

Vegetation assemblages and associated disturbance regimes are spatially heterogeneous in mountain ecosystems throughout the world due to the complex terrain and strong environmental gradients. Given this complexity, numerous sites describing postglacial vegetation and fire histories are needed to adequately understand forest development and ecosystem responses to varying climate and disturbance regimes. To gain insight into long-term historical climate–fire–vegetation interactions in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, sedimentological and paleoecological analyses were performed on a sediment core recovered from a small subalpine lake. The pollen assemblages, stomata, and macroremains indicate that from 9500 to 7500 cal yr BP,Pinus-dominated forests occurred within the catchment andAlnuswas also present. Climate was an important control of fire and fire frequency was highest at this time, peaking at 8 fires 1000 yr− 1, yet charcoal accumulation rates were low, indicative of low terrestrial biomass abundance. From 7500 to 4600 cal yr BP,Pinusdecreased asPicea,AbiesandLarixincreased and fire frequencies decreased to 3–6 fires 1000 yr− 1. Since 7500 cal yr BP the fire regime varied at a millennial scale, driven by forest biomass abundance and fuel accumulation changes. Local scale (bottom-up) controls of fire increased in relative importance since at least 6000 cal yr BP.
The Effect of Positioning on the Level of Arousal and Awareness in Patients in the Vegetative State or the Minimally Conscious State: A Replication and Extension of a Previous Finding
Authors: Wilson Barbara A. , Dhamapurkar Samira , Tunnard Catherine , Watson Peter , Florschutz Gerhard
Published: January 2014

In 2005 Elliott et al. published a paper entitled ‘Effect of posture on levels of arousal and awareness in vegetative and minimally conscious patients: a preliminary investigation’. Twelve patients, of whom 5 were in the vegetative state (VS) and 7 in the minimally conscious state (MCS), were assessed with the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM) when supine and when upright on a tilt table. The present study replicated and extended these findings by including a third position, sitting, in addition to supine and standing. We assessed 16 patients (8 in the VS and 8 in the MCS) with mixed aetiologies and compared the observed behaviours in three different positions (supine, sitting and standing) using the WHIM. Most patients (75%) showed more behaviours when in the upright position, compared to lying down (p < .003). Our findings are similar to those seen in the study reported by Elliott et al. With regard to sitting, 62.5% of patients were more responsive when assessed sitting in a wheelchair (p < .05) than in a supine position, and almost 69% were more responsive if assessed in an upright position compared to sitting. This was particularly true for patients in the MCS, where 87.5% did better if assessed on a tilt table or standing frame compared to sitting, suggesting that positional changes can have an effect on the level of arousal and awareness among patients in the VS and MCS.
Relative importance of effects in stochastic actor-oriented models
Authors: INDLEKOFER NATALIE , BRANDES ULRIK
Published: January 2014

A measure of relative importance of network effects in the stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM) is proposed. The SAOM is a parametric model for statistical inference in longitudinal social networks. The complexity of the model makes the interpretation of inferred results difficult. So far, the focus is on significance tests while the relative importance of effects is usually ignored. Indeed, there is no established measure to determine the relative importance of an effect in a SAOM. We introduce such a measure based on the influence effects have on decisions of individual actors in the network. We demonstrate its utility on empirical data by analyzing an evolving friendship network of university freshmen.
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women living in the South East of the UK: the influence of diet and nutritional supplements on iodine status
Authors: Bath Sarah C. , Walter Alan , Taylor Andrew , Wright John , Rayman Margaret P.
Published: January 2014

Iodine is a key component of the thyroid hormones which are crucial for brain development. Adequate intake of iodine in pregnancy is important as in utero deficiency may have lifelong consequences for the offspring. Data on the iodine status of UK pregnant women are sparse, and there are no such data for pregnant women in the South East of the UK. A total of 100 pregnant women were recruited to a cross-sectional study carried out at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, at their first-trimester visit for an ultrasound scan. The participants provided a spot-urine sample (for the measurement of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and creatinine concentration) and 24 h iodine excretion was estimated from the urinary iodine:creatinine ratio. Women completed a general questionnaire and a FFQ. The median UIC (85·3 μg/l) indicated that the group was iodine deficient by World Health Organisation criteria. The median values of the iodine:creatinine ratio (122·9 μg/g) and of the estimated 24 h iodine excretion (151·2 μg/d) were also suggestive of iodine deficiency. UIC was significantly higher in women taking an iodine-containing prenatal supplement (n 42) than in those not taking such a supplement (P< 0·001). In the adjusted analyses, milk intake, maternal age and iodine-containing prenatal supplement use were positively associated with the estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion. Our finding of iodine deficiency in these women gives cause for concern. We suggest that women of childbearing age and pregnant women should be given advice on how to improve their iodine status through dietary means. A national survey of iodine status in UK pregnant women is required.
British university students' attitudes towards noise-induced hearing loss caused by nightclub attendance
Authors: Johnson O , Andrew B , Walker D , Morgan S , Aldren A
Published: January 2014

Background:

Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among adolescents and young adults has increased. This study aimed to address the current dearth of literature implicating excessive nightclub sound levels (more than 85 dB) as a direct cause of auditory symptoms related to noise-induced hearing loss.

Method:

A questionnaire was completed by 325 students to gauge the frequency of auditory symptoms after nightclub attendance, and to explore knowledge and opinions about noise levels in nightclubs.

Results:

The findings showed that 88.3 per cent of students experienced tinnitus after leaving a nightclub and 66.2 per cent suffered impaired hearing the following morning. In terms of behaviour, 73.2 per cent of students said that the risk of hearing damage would not affect their nightclub attendance, but most students (70.2 per cent) felt that noise levels in nightclubs should be limited to safe volumes.

Conclusion:

A high proportion of students reported experiencing symptoms related to noise-induced hearing loss after attending a nightclub. These findings are relevant to policy makers.
Primary-care patients' trade-off preferences with regard to antidepressants
Authors: Wouters H. , Van Dijk L. , Van Geffen E. C. G. , Gardarsdottir H. , Stiggelbout A. M. , Bouvy M. L.
Published: January 2014

Background

Antidepressants are frequently prescribed but results regarding their efficacy have been equivocal for different spectra of the severity continuum and their side-effects are often burdensome. Non-adherence is a likely consequence. The objective was therefore to examine patients’ trade-offs between the efficacy, side-effects and other drawbacks of antidepressants and whether these trade-offs predicted non-adherence.

Method

Trade-offs from 225 antidepressant users, recruited through community pharmacies, were assessed with an Adaptive Conjoint Analysis (ACA) choice task that was customized to each individual patient. From the estimated utilities, relative importance scores of treatment properties were calculated. Non-adherence was measured through self-report and pharmacy refill data.

Results

Relapse prevention and symptom relief were on average equally important. Side-effects were as important and the side-effect stomach and intestine complaints was on average even slightly more important than relapse prevention and symptom relief. Additional treatment with psychotherapy was preferred by 61% of the patients. A benefit/drawback ratio revealed that 18% of the patients did not consider the efficacy to outweigh the drawbacks. A higher benefit/drawback ratio was associated with a decreased odds of intentional non-adherence [odds ratio (OR) 0.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07–0.7, Wald = 6.7,p = 0.01).

Conclusions

For nearly one in five patients, the efficacy of antidepressants does not outweigh their drawbacks. Knowing patients’ trade-offs is likely to aid both physicians and patients to identify important treatment preferences, to improve adherence and to make more deliberate decisions on whether or not to continue treatment.
Parental Leave and Domestic Work of Mothers and Fathers: A Longitudinal Study of Two Reforms in West Germany
Authors: SCHOBER PIA S.
Published: January 2014

Following two parental leave reforms in West Germany, this research explores how child care and housework time changed among couples who have just had a child. The reform in 1992 extended the low paid or unpaid parental leave period, whereas the 2007 reform introduced income-dependent compensation and two ‘daddy months’. This study contributes to the literature by examining different mechanisms on how these reforms were associated with domestic work time in couples. Based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (1990–2010), the analysis applies ordinary least square (OLS) regressions and difference-in-difference estimations. The findings point to a significant reduction in paternal child care time eighteen to thirty months after childbirth among couples with children born after the 1992 reform. The 2007 reform was associated with increased child care time of fathers in the first year and eighteen to thirty months after the birth. Changes in maternal child care and both partners’ housework were not statistically significant. Alterations in maternal and paternal labour market participation, wages and leave taking accounted for most of the observed variations in paternal child care except for eighteen to thirteen months after the 2007 reform. This unexplained variance may point to a normative policy effect.
“Smokestack Nostalgia,” “Ruin Porn” or Working-Class Obituary: The Role and Meaning of Deindustrial Representation
Authors: Strangleman Tim
Published: January 2014

This article explores some of the visual imagery that has emerged from the process of deindustrialization. It seeks to understand the similarities and differences between post-industrial photography collected in book format in both North America and Europe and the critics of this genre. It makes sense of the value and meaning of this publishing trend and what it says about its market. While it would be easy to dismiss this material as “simply nostalgic,” representing another manifestation of “smokestack nostalgia,” this article suggests that we need a more nuanced account which asks questions about the continuing desire to reflect back and find value in the industrial past. In so doing it makes a contribution to a wider critical account of the role of cultural approaches to interpreting industrial change and working-class history.
“Broken Men” and “Thatcher's Children”: Memory and Legacy in Scotland's Coalfields
Authors: Perchard Andrew
Published: January 2014

This article explores the legacy of the demise of the deep coal mining industry in Scotland. It places particular emphasis on the cultural scars of this process as witnessed through miners' and managers' memories, positioning these within the context of occupational socialization, conflict, and alienation. The piece explores the enduring importance of these cultural scars in shaping broader collective narratives of decline in Scotland, and how responses were manifest in shifting political outlooks and the emergence (at both a local and national level) of a resurgent nationalism from the early 1960s onward. Drawing on the notion of the “cultural circuit,” the article examines how and why personal experience of the loss of the coal industry informed and conformed to the politics of the miners' union in Scotland, the National Union of Mineworkers Scottish Area (NUMSA). As the article makes clear, the program of closures in the industry has left profound psychological scars in coalfield communities—ones that, like the closure of other major industrial sites, shape a powerful national narrative.
Deindustrialization and the Moral Economy of the Scottish Coalfields, 1947 to 1991
Authors: Phillips Jim
Published: January 2014

The long-running deindustrialization in the Scottish coalfields, the consequence of political decisions, took place in three distinct periods analyzed here: “restructuring,” 1958–1967, when, in response to union activism, a large number of closures was offset by government and industry initiatives to provide or stimulate alternative employment; “stabilization,” 1968–1977, when closures were minimized as the broader industrial economy slowed; and then “accelerated contraction,” 1978–1987, within the larger program of economic restructuring engineered by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative UK governments. Moral economy arguments shaped the debate about deindustrialization in the first two phases: closures were legitimate only where agreed to by the workforce, who would in turn receive guaranteed economic security. These factors did not apply in the final phase, when closures were enforced and redundant miners had limited employment alternatives.
“What Are We Fighting for?” Loyalty in the Soviet War Effort, 1941–1945
Authors: Edele Mark
Published: January 2014

When, beginning on June 22, 1941, German forces sliced through Soviet defenses, Soviet citizens severed their ties with the Stalinist state. In the Western Borderlands, annexed in 1939–1940 as a result of the Hitler-Stalin pact, locals welcomed the invaders with bread and salt as liberators from the Bolshevik yoke. Red Army men hailing from these regions left their posts and went home. Soldiers from the pre-1939 Soviet territories stationed in Ukraine deserted, too, reasoning that the Bolsheviks had “sucked our blood for twenty-five years, enough already!” A group of two hundred soldiers, including an outspoken Siberian, “decided to force our way back, at all cost, toward the Germans.” When army commissars tried to stop them, “[w]e killed them and moved on.” Further East, collective farmers in the pre-1939 territories greeted the German “liberators” in some localities, while displaying a “wait-and-see” attitude in others. One day after the start of the war an inhabitant of Leningrad region reacted to the news of his mobilization by threatening the official bearing the news with a revolver, exclaiming “I will not fight for Soviet Power, I will fight for Hitler!” Urban dwellers rejoiced at the arrival of the long-awaited apocalypse, believing that “the fascists kill Jews and Communists, but don't touch Russians.” As Moscow descended into panic in October 1941, crowds stopped functionaries leaving the city, pulled them out of their cars, assaulted them, and scattered the contents of their luggage on the ground. “Beat the Jews,” yelled the crowd, and protesting their non-Jewishness did not help the victims; to the mob, “Jew” and “functionary” were one and the same. On October 19, workers struck in Ivanovo, an industrial center with a long tradition of militancy. Excited by the spectacle of the advancing Germans and the apparent inability of the Stalinist leadership to stop them, rioters destroyed administrative and Party buildings and beat up state and Party activists, including the first secretary of the region. They demanded “Soviets without communists,” while discussing seriously whether life would be better under Hitler or Stalin. Meanwhile, back at the frontline, where news of the “massive beating up of Jews” in Moscow quickly spread, the state's enforcement agencies arrested soldiers voicing their discontent. They also ensured that both the confused and the hostile would fight. By October 10, People's Commissariat Internal Affairs (NKVD) forces had detained 657,364 soldiers separated from their units. The majority were returned to the front and thrown back into battle; 25,878 were arrested, 10,201 of them shot.
Reasons to Revolt: Iranian Oil Workers in the 1970s
Authors: Jafari Peyman
Published: January 2014

Oil workers played a pivotal role during the Iranian Revolution of 1978–1979. Involving tens of thousands of workers, oil strikes paralyzed the state and paved the way for the Shah's downfall. Various accounts of these strikes, however, ignore the subjectivity and agency of the oil workers by focusing exclusively on the role of political agitation. Addressing this deficit, this article explores the oil workers' experiences in and out of the workplace in the 1970s in order to contextualize their participation in the revolution. After analyzing the oil strikes and their goals, the article makes two arguments: First, oil workers were conscious of the considerable power they had to disrupt the economic and political routine of the country. Second, the demands of the oil strikes reflected grievances that, while reflecting sentiments in the wider society, were embedded in their own specific conditions and experiences.
Youngstown's ‘Ghost’? Memory, Identity, and Deindustrialization
Authors: Rhodes James
Published: January 2014

This article considers the highly contested and contradictory uses of the industrial past that continue to animate questions of place-based identity in the wake of large-scale deindustrialization. Drawing on media accounts as well as qualitative interviews with city residents, the representations surrounding Youngstown, Ohio's former middleweight boxing champion, Kelly Pavlik, and his asserted relationships to the city are considered. It is argued that through the various depictions of Pavlik, we see how deindustrialization has led to a more complex interaction of space and time—rather than marking a material and symbolic break from the era in which heavy industry dominated the city and its sense of identity—as aspects of the past are alternately disavowed, recovered, rearticulated, and reconstructed in relation to shifting economic, social, and cultural contexts.
Mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms and the risk of sepsis: evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: ZHANG A.-Q. , YUE C.-L. , PAN W. , GAO J.-W. , ZENG L. , GU W. , JIANG J.-X.
Published: January 2014

Several studies have evaluated the association between mannose-binding lectin (MBL) polymorphisms and sepsis. However, the results are inconclusive and conflicting. To better understand the roles of MBL polymorphisms in sepsis, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis. All relevant studies were searched from PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Knowledge databases, with the last report up to 7 May 2013. Twenty-nine studies addressing four MBL polymorphisms (–550G/C, –221G/C, structure variant A/O, Gly54Asp) were analysed for susceptibility to sepsis and one study for sepsis-related mortality. Overall, significant associations between structure variant A/O and susceptibility to sepsis were observed for AO + OOvs. AA [odds ratio (OR) 1·27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·05–1·52,P = 0·01] and Ovs. A (OR 1·19, 95% CI 1·02–1·40,P = 0·03). In subgroup analysis based on age group, increased risk was found in the paediatric group in the dominant model (OR 1·72, 95% CI 1·16–2·56,P = 0·007). Moreover, there was a slight association between the +54A/B polymorphism and susceptibility to sepsis in Caucasians (recessive model: OR 10·64, 95% CI 1·24–91·65,P = 0·03). However, no association was observed for –550G/C and –221G/C polymorphisms both overall and in subgroup analysis. For sepsis-related mortality, only one study suggested AO/OO was associated with in-hospital mortality in pneumococcal sepsis patients after controlling for confounding variables. Our meta-analysis indicated that MBL structure variants might be associated with susceptibility to sepsis but further studies with a large sample size should be conducted to confirm these findings.
Lateral Resolution Enhancement of Vertical Scanning Interferometry by Sub-Pixel Sampling
Authors: Arvidson Rolf S. , Fischer Cornelius , Sawyer Dale S. , Scott Gavin D. , Natelson Douglas , Lüttge Andreas
Published: January 2014

We apply common image enhancement principles and sub-pixel sample positioning to achieve a significant enhancement in the spatial resolution of a vertical scanning interferometer. We illustrate the potential of this new method using a standard atomic force microscope calibration grid and other materials having motifs of known lateral and vertical dimensions. This approach combines the high vertical resolution of vertical scanning interferometry and its native advantages (large field of view, rapid and nondestructive data acquisition) with important increases in lateral resolution. This combination offers the means to address a common challenge in microscopy: the integration of properties and processes that depend on, and vary as a function of observational length.
Fieber bei chemotherapie-assoziierter Neutropenie
Authors: Conen Katrin
Published: January 2014

Die Neutropenie ist eine der häufigsten Chemotherapie-assoziierten Nebenwirkungen in der Onkologie. Entwickelt der Patient in dieser Situation Fieber, liegt ein onkologischer Notfall vor. Nach umgehender Basisdiagnostik ist die sofortige Therapie mit empirischer Pseudomonas-wirksamer mono- oder dualer Antibiotikatherapie einzuleiten, da in den meisten Fällen eine bakterielle Infektion als ursächlich angenommen wird. Eine Verschiebung von gramnegativen hin zu grampositiven Bakterien und das vermehrte Auftreten multiresistenter Keime werden beobachtet und muss je nach geographischer Verteilung dieser Stämme immer in Betracht gezogen und gegebenenfalls antibiotisch mitabgedeckt werden. In der Regel ist eine stationäre Aufnahme notwendig. Sollte es nicht spätestens nach 72h zu einer Besserung des Zustandes kommen, muss weiterführende Diagnostik erfolgen und die Therapie angepasst werden. Dann muss auch an eine Virusinfektion oder Mykose gedacht werden.
Biologika und Infekte in der Rheumatologie
Authors: Hügle Thomas , Daikeler Thomas , Tyndall Alan
Published: January 2014

Das Zytokin-Netzwerk ist ein feinabgestimmtes System welches schnell und wirksam auf Infektionen zu reagieren vermag. Dieses System ist bei chronisch entzündlichen Erkrankungen dysreguliert. Biologika erlauben einen gezielten und meist gut verträglichen Eingriff in dieses System. Dies kann aber mitunter zu schwerwiegenden Infekten führen. Bezüglich der Häufigkeit der Infekte zeigen uns klinische Zulassungsstudien nur eine Momentaufnahme; viel wichtiger ist die nachhaltige Erfassung der Sicherheit von Biologika in Patientenregistern, wie z. B. dem Swiss Clinical Quality Managment (SCQM). Vor der Behandlung mit einem Biologikum sollten immer eine individuelle Risikostratifikation für eine Infektion, Screening Tests und die notwendigen Impfungen erfolgen. Beim Verdacht auf eine Infektion unter Biologika muss von atypischen klinischen Verläufen ausgegangen werden und dementsprechend Diagnose und Behandlung angepasst werden.
La trasformazione di una sindrome lombovertebrale in stato confusionale acuto
Authors: Gianella Pietro , Fusi Tanja , Bernasconi Enos
Published: January 2014

Si tratta di un ragazzo somalo 19enne che viene condotto in pronto soccorso a causa di un'importante lombalgia senza nozione di trauma, ormai persistente da diversi mesi. L'esame clinico all'arrivo mostra una dolenzia diffusa alla percussione della muscolatura paravertebrale sinistra senza coinvolgimento neurologico. Gli esami di laboratorio evidenziano un importante rialzo dei parametri di flogosi (CRP 154 mg/l, procalcitonina 0,05 µg/l), le emoculture permangono negative ed una TAC toraco-lombare risulta senza particolarità (G1). Un approfondimento diagnostico mediante risonanza magnetica evidenzia un ascesso a livello della muscolatura paravertebrale sinistra con invasione dello spazio epidurale (G2). Il quadro clinico evolutivo si complica in seguito alla comparsa di una rigidità nucale, associata ad uno stato confusionale acuto, conseguenze della rottura nello spazio meningeo dell'ascesso (G3). Una rachicentesi permetterà di coltivare uno Staphylococcus aureus meticillino-sensibile quale microorganismo eziologicamente responsabile.
Schizophrenie und Gewalt
Authors: Boudriot Friederike , Guldimann Angela , Habermeyer Elmar
Published: January 2014

Schizophrene Menschen haben ein gegenüber der Allgemeinbevölkerung erhöhtes Risiko, straffällig zu werden. Der weitaus überwiegende Teil schizophrener Patienten begeht jedoch keine Straftaten und das Risiko, von einer Gewalttat eines Schizophrenen betroffen zu sein, ist für die Allgemeinbevölkerung gering. Die Ursachen von Delinquenz bei Schizophrenen sind komplex, jedoch können bestimmte Risikomerkmale (z.B. eine begleitende Substanzabhängigkeit) benannt werden. Die Behandelbarkeit und Legalprognose schizophrener Straftäter sind gut, was dafür spricht, dass bei Risikopatienten durch Etablierung eines geeigneten Helfernetzes auch präventiv gearbeitet werden kann.