bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[meso-5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)porphyrinato-κ4N,N′,N′′,N′′′]nickel(II) benzene hemisolvate
Authors: Prasath R. , Bhavana P. , Gupta Sushil K. , Butcher Ray J.
Published: November 2013

In the title compound, [Ni(C40H28N4S4)]·0.5C6H6, the NiIIatom is in a square-planar geometry defined by four pyrrole N atoms. There is considerable buckling in the porphyrin ring with the dihedral angles between the N4donor set and the pyrrole rings being in the range 16.24 (5)–22.47 (5)°. Each of the six-membered chelate rings is twisted about an Ni—N bond and the dihedral angles between diagonally opposite chelate rings are 21.36 (4) and 23.87 (4)°; each pair of rings is oriented in opposite directions. The methylthienyl rings are twisted out of the plane of the central N4core with dihedral angles in the range 75.98 (2)–88.70 (5)°. All four methylthienyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites, as is commonly found with such groups, with occupancies of 0.553 (8):0.447 (8), 0.579 (7):0.421 (7), 0.796 (6):0.204 (6) and 0.956 (7):0.044 (7). The benzene solvent molecule was found to be present in half-occupancy.
In vitro susceptibility of dermatomycoses agents to six antifungal drugs and evaluation by fractional inhibitory concentration index of combined effects of amorolfine and itraconazole in dermatophytes
Authors: Tamura Takashi , Asahara Miwa , Yamamoto Mikachi , Yamaura Mariko , Matsumura Mitsuru , Goto Kazuo , Rezaei‐Matehkolaei Ali , Mirhendi Hossein , Makimura Miho , Makimura Koichi
Published: November 2013

To investigate the antifungal drug susceptibility of fungi responsible for dermatomycoses, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) tests were performed in 44 strains of dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum, with six antifungal drugs (amorolfine, terbinafine, butenafine, ketoconazole, itraconazole and bifonazole) by broth microdilution assay according to Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute protocols. Six possible dermatomycosis‐causing non‐dermatophytic fungi were also tested. The two major causes of tinea, T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, showed significantly different sensitivities to ketoconazole and bifonazole. Clinically derived dermatophytes were sensitive to the six antifungal drugs tested. However, non‐dermatophytes, especially Fusarium spp., tended to be resistant to these antifungal drugs. In Trichophyton spp., the MICs of non‐azole drugs had narrower distributions than those of azoles. To evaluate the effects of antifungal drug combinations, the fractional inhibitory concentration index was calculated for the combination of amorolfine and itraconazole as representative external and internal drugs for dermatophytes. It was found that this combination had synergistic or additive effects on most dermatophytes, and had no antagonistic effects. The variation in susceptibility of clinically derived fungal isolates indicates that identification of causative fungi is indispensable for appropriately choosing effective antifungal drugs in the early stages of infection. The results of combination assay suggest that multiple drugs with different antifungal mechanisms against growth of dermatophytes should be used to treat refractory dermatomycoses, especially onychomycosis.
The presence of antibodies against the AD2 epitope of cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B is associated with acute rejection after renal transplantation
Authors: Ishibashi Kei , Tokumoto Tadahiko , Shirakawa Hiroki , Oguro Toshiki , Yanagida Tomohiko , Takahashi Norio , Nomiya Masanori , Haga Nobuhiro , Aikawa Ken , Tanabe Kazunari , Inoue Naoki , Kojima Yoshiyuki , Suzutani Tatsuo
Published: November 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein B (gB) and acute rejection after transplantation. Seventy‐seven consecutive renal transplant recipients in a D + /R+ setting were studied. Biopsy‐proven rejection occurred in 35% of the recipients. Among these recipients, 85% had antibodies against CMV gB. The rate of acute rejection was significantly higher in recipients with antibodies against gB than in those without them. Antibodies against gB can be a useful predictor of acute rejection in renal transplant recipients in a D + /R+ setting.
Specialization and phenological synchrony of plant–pollinator interactions along an altitudinal gradient
Authors: Benadi Gita , Hovestadt Thomas , Poethke Hans‐Joachim , Blüthgen Nico
Published: November 2013

One of the most noticeable effects of anthropogenic climate change is the shift in timing of seasonal events towards earlier occurrence. The high degree of variation in species' phenological shifts has raised concerns about the temporal decoupling of interspecific interactions, but the extent and implications of this effect are largely unknown. In the case of plant–pollinator systems, more specialized species are predicted to be particularly threatened by phenological decoupling, since they are assumed to be less flexible in the choice of interaction partners, but until now this hypothesis has not been tested.

In this paper, we studied phenology and interactions of plant and pollinator communities along an altitudinal gradient in the Alps as a model for the possible effects of climate change in time.

Our results show that even relatively specialized pollinators were much more flexible in their use of plant species as floral resources than their local flower visitation suggested. We found no relationship between local specialization of pollinators and the consistency of their visitation patterns across sites, and also no relationship between specialization and phenological synchrony of pollinators with particular plants.

Thus, in contrast to the conclusions of a recent simulation study, our results suggest that most pollinator species included in this study are not threatened by phenological decoupling from specific flowering plants. However, the flexibility of many rarely observed pollinator species remains unknown. Moreover, our results suggest that specialized flower visitors select plant species based on certain floral traits such as the length of the nectar holder tube. If that is the case, the observed flexibility of plant–pollinator interactions likely depends on a high degree of functional redundancy in the plant community, which may not exist in less diverse systems.
Building integral projection models: a user's guide
Authors: Rees Mark , Childs Dylan Z. , Ellner Stephen P.
Published: November 2013

In order to understand how changes in individual performance (growth, survival or reproduction) influence population dynamics and evolution, ecologists are increasingly using parameterized mathematical models.

For continuously structured populations, where some continuous measure of individual state influences growth, survival or reproduction, integral projection models (IPMs) are commonly used.

We provide a detailed description of the steps involved in constructing an IPM, explaining how to: (i) translate your study system into an IPM; (ii) implement your IPM; and (iii) diagnose potential problems with your IPM. We emphasize how the study organism's life cycle, and the timing of censuses, together determine the structure of the IPM kernel and important aspects of the statistical analysis used to parameterize an IPM using data on marked individuals.

An IPM based on population studies of Soay sheep is used to illustrate the complete process of constructing, implementing and evaluating an IPM fitted to sample data.

We then look at very general approaches to parameterizing an IPM, using a wide range of statistical techniques (e.g. maximum likelihood methods, generalized additive models, nonparametric kernel density estimators). Methods for selecting models for parameterizing IPMs are briefly discussed.

We conclude with key recommendations and a brief overview of applications that extend the basic model. The online Supporting Information provides commented R code for all our analyses.
Warmer temperatures increase disease transmission and outbreak intensity in a host–pathogen system
Authors: Elderd Bret D. , Reilly James R.
Published: November 2013

While rising global temperatures are increasingly affecting both species and their biotic interactions, the debate about whether global warming will increase or decrease disease transmission between individuals remains far from resolved. This may stem from the lack of empirical data.

Using a tractable and easily manipulated insect host–pathogen system, we conducted a series of field and laboratory experiments to examine how increased temperatures affect disease transmission using the crop‐defoliating pest, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and its species‐specific baculovirus, which causes a fatal infection.

To examine the effects of temperature on disease transmission in the field, we manipulated baculovirus density and temperature. As infection occurs when a host consumes leaf tissue on which the pathogen resides, baculovirus density was controlled by placing varying numbers of infected neonate larvae on experimental plants. Temperature was manipulated by using open‐top chambers (OTCs). The laboratory experiments examined how increased temperatures affect fall armyworm feeding and development rates, which provide insight into how host feeding behaviour and physiology may affect transmission.

Disease transmission and outbreak intensity, measured as the cumulative fraction infected during an epizootic, increased at higher temperatures. However, there was no appreciable change in the mean transmission rate of the disease, which is often the focus of empirical and theoretical research. Instead, the coefficient of variation (CV) associated with the transmission rate shrunk. As theCVdecreased, heterogeneity in disease risk across individuals declined, which resulted in an increase in outbreak intensity.

In the laboratory, increased temperatures increased feeding rates and decreased developmental times. As the host consumes the virus along with the leaf tissue on which it resides, increased feeding rate is likely to increase the probability of an individual consuming virus‐infected leaf tissue. On the other hand, decreased developmental time increases the sloughing of midgut cells, which is predicted to hinder viral infection.

Increases in outbreak intensity or epizootic severity, as the climate warms, may lead to changes in the long‐term dynamics of pests whose populations are strongly affected by host–pathogen interactions. Overall, this work demonstrates that the usual assumptions governing these effects, via changes in the mean transmission rate alone, may not be correct.
Testing the Impact of Political Generations: The Class of 94 and Pro‐feminist Ideas in the Swedish Riksdag
Authors: Öhberg Patrik , Wängnerud Lena
Published: November 2013

How can one explain the transformation of elected assemblies like national parliaments? In this study it is argued that much can be gained from taking the assumption of political generations more seriously when trying to explain transformations of the political agenda – for example, of themes and topics brought up in the parliamentary process. More specifically, the article expands on previous research in three ways: first, it launches the concept of ‘parliamentary political generation’ where the core element is the combination of an influx of large numbers of newcomers into the elected assembly and an electoral context that is formative – that is, that exhibits characteristics that distinguish the election from other elections. Second, an empirical test is conducted where other factors such as party affiliation and social background characteristics are controlled for. Finally, the test on the impact of parliamentary political generations is conducted in a context – the Swedish Riksdag – where parliamentary party groups are strong. The data used is the Parliamentary Surveys 1985–2010 conducted at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The political generation in focus is the ‘Class of 94’. The results show that the Class of 94 distinguish themselves by being more feminist than their senior colleagues and other groups of newcomers in Swedish elections. This is the feminist generation in Swedish politics.
Crime, Citizenship and Community: Neoliberal Communitarian Images of Governmentality
Authors: Houdt Friso van , Schinkel Willem
Published: November 2013

This article discusses the emergence, in the field of crime and safety, of a formula of government that can be called neoliberal communitarianism. This is a paradoxical governmental strategy that combines a focus on ‘individual responsibility’, ‘community’ and a ‘selectively tough state’. The discussion is based on the Foucaultian triangle of strategy, political programmes and techniques. The substance of this application consists of a discussion of recent Dutch political programmes and techniques in crime and safety policies. The discussion includes the local case of Rotterdam, a city at times regarded as a ‘policy laboratory’. Specifically, the role that notions of citizenship and community play in crime and safety policies is analysed. We hereby point at two different manifestations of responsibilization – repressive responsibilization and facilitative responsibilization – aimed at two governmentally differentiated populations. In addition, we describe how neoliberal communitarianism entails the selective exclusion of subjects imagined as ‘high risk’. Because the government of crime tells us much about the government of ‘society’, neoliberal communitarianism is a useful concept to grasp contemporary changes in government in the Netherlands and in other European countries.
The Renewed Hope of Multilateralism in South Asia: Applying the MFN Principle to Pakistan–India Trade
Authors: Gopalan Sasidaran , Malik Ammar A. , Reinert Kenneth A.
Published: November 2013

The multilateral trading principle of nondiscrimination and the World Trade Organization commitment of most‐favoured nation (MFN) treatment have been missing in the Pakistan–India trading relationship. This practitioner commentary addresses recent moves toward multilateral principles between these two countries, namely Pakistan's decision to grant MFN status to India. It considers the political economy of Pakistan's ‘negative list’ in addressing ‘sensitive sectors’ in Pakistan and provides partial equilibrium estimates of the domestic output, consumer welfare and net welfare impacts in Pakistan of liberalizing trade in this negative list.
Wild Animal Welfare in International Law: The Present Position and the Scope for Development
Authors: Harrop Stuart R.
Published: November 2013

Wild animal welfare is a global subject and yet international regulation and policy dealing with welfare is sparse and in places idiosyncratic. Nevertheless, there is potential to develop a comprehensive and coherent international wild animal welfare regime in law and policy derived from the propositions in the World Charter for Nature that life has intrinsic value and deserves ‘respect’. Beyond that, the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species establishes a principle – in the context of international trade but with potential for wider application – that welfare protection should be extended to wild animals under human control. However, further development is more problematic. Although the International Whaling Commission to a minor extent regulates the welfare of hunted whales, there is no universal approach to extending welfare to freely living animals in international law and policy. This article analyses this background and goes on to recommend a way in which international policy may overcome the challenges of polarised debate and the gulf between moral relativism and moral universalism to develop the foundations of a comprehensive welfare regime at the international level.
Mark‐resight abundance estimation under incomplete identification of marked individuals
Authors: McClintock Brett T. , Hill Jason M. , Fritz Lowell , Chumbley Kathryn , Luxa Katie , Diefenbach Duane R.
Published: November 2013

Often less expensive and less invasive than conventional mark–recapture, so‐called 'mark‐resight' methods are popular in the estimation of population abundance. These methods are most often applied when a subset of the population of interest is marked (naturally or artificially), and non‐invasive sighting data can be simultaneously collected for both marked and unmarked individuals. However, it can often be difficult to identify marked individuals with certainty during resighting surveys, and incomplete identification of marked individuals is potentially a major source of bias in mark‐resight abundance estimators. Previously proposed solutions are ad hoc and will tend to underperform unless marked individual identification rates are relatively high (>90%) or individual sighting heterogeneity is negligible.

Based on a complete data likelihood, we present an approach that properly accounts for uncertainty in marked individual detection histories when incomplete identifications occur. The models allow for individual heterogeneity in detection, sampling with (e.g. Poisson) or without (e.g. Bernoulli) replacement, and an unknown number of marked individuals. Using a custom Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to facilitate Bayesian inference, we demonstrate these models using two example data sets and investigate their properties via simulation experiments.

We estimate abundance for grassland sparrow populations in Pennsylvania, USA when sampling was conducted with replacement and the number of marked individuals was either known or unknown. To increase marked individual identification probabilities, extensive territory mapping was used to assign incomplete identifications to individuals based on location. Despite marked individual identification probabilities as low as 67% in the absence of this territorial mapping procedure, we generally found little return (or need) for this time‐consuming investment when using our proposed approach. We also estimate rookery abundance from Alaskan Steller sea lion counts when sampling was conducted without replacement, the number of marked individuals was unknown, and individual heterogeneity was suspected as non‐negligible.

In terms of estimator performance, our simulation experiments and examples demonstrated advantages of our proposed approach over previous methods, particularly when marked individual identification probabilities are low and individual heterogeneity levels are high. Our methodology can also reduce field effort requirements for marked individual identification, thus, allowing potential investment into additional marking events or resighting surveys.
Does Documentation in Nursing Records of Nutritional Screening on Admission to Hospital Reflect the Use of Evidence‐Based Practice Guidelines for Malnutrition?
Authors: Geurden Bart , Wouters Conny , Franck Erik , Weyler Joost , Ysebaert Dirk
Published: November 2013

Purpose

To describe the documentation of nutrition‐related data and wards referral to dieticians in a Belgian university hospital.

Method

Retrospective analysis of 506 nursing records.

Findings

Body weight and height are documented in 22%. “Feeding assistance” and “usual food intake pattern” are documented in 68% of all cases, and in 71% it is marked whether the patient is on a diet. Eight percent of the patients are referred to a dietician, but the indications for these referrals are not clear.

Conclusion

Given the poor documentation, most likely these patients are not adequately screened for malnutrition as recommended.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Nurses' documentation of nutrition‐related data should be improved to facilitate treatment of malnutrition with tailored multidisciplinary interventions.

Doel

Een beschrijving van de documentatie van essentiële voedingsparameters in het verpleegdossier, alsook de verwijzing van patiënten naar de diëtist, in een Belgisch universitair ziekenhuis.

Method

Retrospectieve analyse van 506 verpleegdossiers.

Resultaten

In 22% van alle dossiers wordt gewicht en lengte gedocumenteerd. “Hulp bij voeding” en “voedingspatroon” wordt gedocumenteerd in 68% van alle dossiers, en in 71% wordt er aangegeven of de patiënt al dan niet een dieet volgt. 8% van alle patiënten werd verwezen naar een diëtist maar de criteria om te verwijzen blijven onduidelijk.

Conclusie

Gezien de gebrekkige documentering werden deze patiënten waarschijnlijk niet, zoals aanbevolen, adequaat gescreend voor ondervoeding.

Implicaties Voor De Verpleegkundige Praktijk

Behandeling van ondervoeding met aangepaste multidisciplinaire interventies mag niet langer belemmerd worden door een gebrekkige documentatie door de verpleegkundigen van essentiële voedingsparameters.
Effectiveness and tolerance of anti‐inflammatory drugs' add‐on therapy in major mental disorders: a systematic qualitative review
Authors: Fond G. , Hamdani N. , Kapczinski F. , Boukouaci W. , Drancourt N. , Dargel A. , Oliveira J. , Le Guen E. , Marlinge E. , Tamouza R. , Leboyer M.
Published: November 2013

Objective

To provide a systematic review of the literature regarding the efficacy of anti‐inflammatory drugs in three major mental disorders [major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and bipolar disorders].

Method

Four databases were explored, without any year or language restrictions. The baseline search paradigm was limited to open‐labelled clinical and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Results

Four major classes of anti‐inflammatory drugs were identified, namely polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, anti‐TNFalpha and minocycline. Effectiveness and benefit/risk ratio of each class in MDD, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia was detailed when data were available. Several meta‐analyses indicated effectiveness of PUFAs in MDD with a good tolerance profile. One meta‐analysis indicated that COX‐2 specific inhibitors showed effectiveness in schizophrenia. Anti‐TNFalpha showed important effectiveness in resistant MDD with blood inflammatory abnormalities. Minocycline showed effectiveness in schizophrenia.

Conclusion

Polyunsaturated fatty acids seem to have the best benefit/risk ratio profile but proved their effectiveness only in MDD. A number of anti‐inflammatory drugs are available as adjunct treatment for treatment‐resistant patients with MDD, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. If used with caution regarding their possible side‐effects, they may be reasonable therapeutic alternatives for resistant symptomatology.
Evidence‐Based Tailoring of Behavior‐Change Campaigns: Increasing Fluoride‐Free Water Consumption in Rural Ethiopia with Persuasion
Authors: Huber Alexandra C. , Tobias Robert , Mosler Hans‐Joachim
Published: November 2013

Two hundred million people worldwide are at risk of developing dental and skeletal fluorosis due to excessive fluoride uptake from their water. Since medical treatment of the disease is difficult and mostly ineffective, preventing fluoride uptake is crucial. In the Ethiopian Rift Valley, a fluoride‐removal community filter was installed. Despite having access to a fluoride filter, the community used the filter sparingly. During a baseline assessment, 173 face‐to‐face interviews were conducted to identify psychological factors that influence fluoride‐free water consumption. Based on the results, two behavior‐change campaigns were implemented: a traditional information intervention targeting perceived vulnerability, and an evidence‐based persuasion intervention regarding perceived costs. The interventions were tailored to household characteristics. The campaigns were evaluated with a survey and analyzed in terms of their effectiveness in changing behavior and targeted psychological factors. While the intervention targeting perceived vulnerability showed no desirable effects, cost persuasion decreased the perceived costs and increased the consumption of fluoride‐free water. This showed that altering subjective perceptions can change behavior even without changing objective circumstances. Moreover, interventions are more effective if they are based on evidence and tailored to specific households.
The development of a national children's formulary
Authors: Lenney Warren
Published: November 2013

The British National Formulary has been in existence for over 30 years. The prescribing of medicines for children has been less well organized. Many medicines used in children have never been tested in the appropriate age groups and have been prescribed ‘off‐label’. This has led to safety issues and concerns that children continued to be treated as second‐class citizens. The first attempt at the development of a national formulary specifically for prescribing in children occurred in 1999 with the publication of ‘Medicines for Children’. This generated much national and international interest resulting in the government agreeing to fund the development and production of the first British National Formulary for Children in 2005. This article charts the process and progress of the formulary to the present day.
Therapeutic effect of farnesylthiosalicylic acid on adjuvant-induced arthritis through suppressed release of inflammatory cytokines
Authors: Aizman E , Blacher E , Ben-Moshe O , Kogan T , Kloog Y , Mor A
Published: November 2013

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by pronounced inflammation and leucocyte infiltration in affected joints. Despite significant therapeutic advances, a new targeted approach is needed. Our objective in this work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats, an experimental model for RA. Following AIA induction in Lewis rats by intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rats were treated with either FTS or dexamethasone and assessed daily for paw swelling. Joints were imaged by magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography and analysed histologically. The anti-inflammatory effect of FTS was assessed by serum assay of multiple cytokines. After adjuvant injection rats demonstrated paw swelling, leucocyte infiltration, cytokine secretion and activation of Ras-effector pathways. Upon FTS treatment these changes reverted almost to normal. Histopathological analysis revealed that the synovial hyperplasia and leucocyte infiltration observed in the arthritic rats were alleviated by FTS. Periarticular bony erosions were averted. Efficacy of FTS treatment was also demonstrated by inhibition of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 release. The Ras effectors PI3K, protein kinase B (AKT), p38, and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) were significantly attenuated and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) transcription factor, a marker of regulatory T cells, was significantly increased. Thus, FTS possesses significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties and accordingly shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent for RA. Its effects are apparently mediated, at least in part, by a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines.
Immediate Loading of Two Dental Implants, in Edentulous Mandibles, with Locator® Attachments or Dolder® Bars: First Results from a Prospective Randomized Clinical Study
Authors: Kappel Stefanie , Eberhard Lydia , Giannakopoulos Nikolaos Nikitas , Rammelsberg Peter , Eiffler Constantin
Published: November 2013

Objective

The study aims to evaluate survival and the incidence of complications for pairs of implants placed in the frontal area of edentulous mandibles and immediately loaded with either bar or Locator® (Zest Anchors LLC, Escondido, CA, USA) attachments.

Material and Methods

Forty‐six patients (mean age 69.4 years; 73.9% male) with edentulous mandibles each received two immediately loaded implants in the interforaminal area of the symphysis. Immediately after implant placement, Dolder® bar (Sub‐Tec Wirobond; BEGO Implant Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, Germany) or Locator® attachments, allocated randomly, were attached, and both clips and a framework were incorporated into the denture by the dental technician. The implants were loaded within 72 hours.

Results

During a mean observation period of 6 months (maximum 24 months, SD 0.43) eight implants in five patients were lost. Survival was 93.5% for the Locator® group and 89.1% for the bar group. Estimated cumulative survival after 1 year of function was 93.4% for the Locator® group and 87.1% for the bar group.

During the observation period, 12 prosthetic complications required aftercare. No superstructure was lost or had to be remade for prosthetic reasons, but five dentures had to be removed or reworked after implant failure. Survival of the original dentures was, therefore, 95.7% for the Locator® group and 93.5% for the bar group.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, immediate loading of two implants in the edentulous mandible with either Locator® or bar attachments did hardly differ. Ease of repair and cleaning, in particular, might be arguments for choosing the single attachment system.
Treatment with corticosteroids and the risk of anastomotic leakage following lower gastrointestinal surgery: a literature survey
Authors: Eriksen T. F. , Lassen C. B. , Gögenur I.
Published: November 2013

Aim

Background Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication in colorectal surgery. Treatment with corticosteroids is known to impair wound healing but their effect on the healing of a colorectal anastomosis remains unclear, and studies have reported conflicting results. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the effect of corticosteroids on the risk of anastomotic leakage following colorectal surgery.

Method

Search strategy A systematic review was conducted following a search of PubMed and Embase. Selection criteria Inclusion criteria were studies published in English and involving humans. A minimum cohort of 50 patients was required and anastomoses involving the ileum, colon and rectum were included. Studies that investigated corticosteroids as a risk factor for anastomotic leakage were included regardless of the duration and the dose of corticosteroids. Data Collection and analysis A comparison was conducted between anastomotic leakage in noncorticosteroid‐ and corticosteroid‐treated patients. The main outcome measure was the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Results

Twelve studies with a total of 9564 patients were included in the review. In total, 1034 patients received corticosteroids in the preoperative period, and 344 patients were diagnosed with anastomotic leakage, 70 of whom had received corticosteroids. Six of the 12 studies showed an increased risk for anastomotic leakage in the corticosteroid group. Overall, the anastomotic leakage rate was 6.77% (95% CI: 5.48–9.06) in the corticosteroid group and 3.26% (95% CI: 2.94–3.58) in the noncorticosteroid group.

Conclusion

Caution should be shown in patients scheduled for lower gastrointestinal surgery with anastomosis.
Implicit Transfer of Reversed Temporal Structure in Visuomotor Sequence Learning
Authors: Tanaka Kanji , Watanabe Katsumi
Published: November 2013

Some spatio‐temporal structures are easier to transfer implicitly in sequential learning. In this study, we investigated whether the consistent reversal of triads of learned components would support the implicit transfer of their temporal structure in visuomotor sequence learning. A triad comprised three sequential button presses ([1][2][3]) and seven consecutive triads comprised a sequence. Participants learned sequences by trial and error, until they could complete it 20 times without error. Then, they learned another sequence, in which each triad was reversed ([3][2][1]), partially reversed ([2][1][3]), or switched so as not to overlap with the other conditions ([2][3][1] or [3][1][2]). Even when the participants did not notice the alternation rule, the consistent reversal of the temporal structure of each triad led to better implicit transfer; this was confirmed in a subsequent experiment. These results suggest that the implicit transfer of the temporal structure of a learned sequence can be influenced by both the structure and consistency of the change.
Attitude Sensing in Text Based on A Compositional Linguistic Approach
Authors: Neviarouskaya Alena , Prendinger Helmut , Ishizuka Mitsuru
Published: November 2013

In this article, we introduce a compositional linguistic approach for attitude recognition in text. There are several aspects that distinguish our attitude analysis model (@AM) from other systems. First, our method classifies sentences using fine‐grained attitude labels (nine for affective states, two for positive and negative judgment, and two for positive and negative appreciation), as compared against other methods that mainly focus on two sentiment categories (positive and negative) or basic emotions. Next, our @AM is based on the analysis of syntactic and dependence relations between words in a sentence, the compositionality principle, a novel linguistic approach based on the rules elaborated for semantically distinct verb classes, and a method considering the hierarchy of concepts. As distinct from the state‐of‐the‐art approaches, the proposed method extensively deals with the semantics of terms, processes sentences of different complexity, handles not only correctly written text but also informal messages, and encodes the strength and the level of confidence of attitude through numerical values. The performance of our @AM was evaluated on data sets represented by sentences from different domains. @AM achieved a high level of accuracy on sentences from personal stories about life experiences, fairy tales, and news headlines, outperforming other methods on several measures.
Microcolumn adsorption studies of acid/basic dyes related to the physicochemical properties of the adsorbent
Authors: Iriarte‐Velasco Unai , Álvarez‐Uriarte Jon I , González‐Marcos María P , González‐Velasco Juan R
Published: November 2013

The adsorptive removal of cationic Methylene Blue and anionic Alizarin Red S was analysed in microcolumn tests. A detailed analysis of the influence of adsorbent surface acidity/basicity, elemental composition, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller area, pore distribution, and point‐of‐zero‐charge pH on breakthrough properties was carried out. The characteristics of the mass transfer zone were used for evaluation of column performance. Four different activated carbons with different physical and chemical properties were analysed. It was concluded that, for adsorbents containing pores smaller than 1.7 times the solute molecular radius, the interactions between surface and solute have the greatest influence on the effective usage of column uptake capacity. A column packed with adsorbent characterised by large enough pores readily removed either anionic or cationic solutes. Partial correlation analysis revealed that the adsorption of cationic dye (Methylene Blue) was more sensitive to adsorbent textural properties in comparison with anionic dye (Alizarin Red S). Maximum column capacities were 3–4 times higher for cationic Methylene Blue than for anionic Alizarin Red S, with values of 494 and 107 mg/g respectively. The higher solubility of Alizarin Red S could be responsible for its lower and more even removal efficiencies. Finally, the surface chemistry of the adsorbent affected how the operating conditions influenced the column performance, as deduced from the opposite effect of flow rate on the adsorption of Methylene Blue by each adsorbent.
Selective importance of the rat anterior thalamic nuclei for configural learning involving distal spatial cues
Authors: Dumont Julie R. , Amin Eman , Aggleton John P.
Published: November 2013

To test potential parallels between hippocampal and anterior thalamic function, rats with anterior thalamic lesions were trained on a series of biconditional learning tasks. The anterior thalamic lesions did not disrupt learning two biconditional associations in operant chambers where a specific auditory stimulus (tone or click) had a differential outcome depending on whether it was paired with a particular visual context (spot or checkered wall‐paper) or a particular thermal context (warm or cool). Likewise, rats with anterior thalamic lesions successfully learnt a biconditional task when they were reinforced for digging in one of two distinct cups (containing either beads or shredded paper), depending on the particular appearance of the local context on which the cup was placed (one of two textured floors). In contrast, the same rats were severely impaired at learning the biconditional rule to select a specific cup when in a particular location within the test room. Place learning was then tested with a series of go/no‐go discriminations. Rats with anterior thalamic nuclei lesions could learn to discriminate between two locations when they were approached from a constant direction. They could not, however, use this acquired location information to solve a subsequent spatial biconditional task where those same places dictated the correct choice of digging cup. Anterior thalamic lesions produced a selective, but severe, biconditional learning deficit when the task incorporated distal spatial cues. This deficit mirrors that seen in rats with hippocampal lesions, so extending potential interdependencies between the two sites.
The ecology of sexual conflict: ecologically dependent parallel evolution of male harm and female resistance inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Arbuthnott Devin , Dutton Emily M. , Agrawal Aneil F. , Rundle Howard D.
Published: November 2013

The prevalence of sexual conflict in nature, along with the potentially stochastic nature of the resulting coevolutionary trajectories, makes it an important driver of phenotypic divergence and speciation that can operate even in the absence of environmental differences. The majority of empirical work investigating sexual conflict's role in population divergence/speciation has therefore been done in uniform environments and any role of ecology has largely been ignored. However, theory suggests that natural selection can constrain phenotypes influenced by sexual conflict. We use replicate populations ofDrosophila melanogasteradapted to alternative environments to test how ecology influences the evolution of male effects on female longevity. The extent to which males reduce female longevity, as well as female resistance to such harm, both evolved in association with adaptation to the different environments. Our results demonstrate that ecology plays a central role in shaping patterns of population divergence in traits under sexual conflict.
Transcriptomic responses to high water temperature in two species of Pacific salmon
Authors: Jeffries Ken M. , Hinch Scott G. , Sierocinski Thomas , Pavlidis Paul , Miller Kristi M.
Published: November 2013

Characterizing the cellular stress response (CSR) of species at ecologically relevant temperatures is useful for determining whether populations and species can successfully respond to current climatic extremes and future warming. In this study, populations of wild‐caught adult pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) salmon from the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada, were experimentally treated to ecologically relevant ‘cool’ or ‘warm’ water temperatures to uncover common transcriptomic responses to elevated water temperature in non‐lethally sampled gill tissue. We detected the differential expression of 49 microarray features (29 unique annotated genes and one gene with unknown function) associated with protein folding, protein synthesis, metabolism, oxidative stress and ion transport that were common between populations and species of Pacific salmon held at 19°C compared with fish held at a cooler temperature (13 or 14°C). There was higher mortality in fish held at 19°C, which suggests a possible relationship between a temperature‐induced CSR and mortality in these species. Our results suggest that frequently encountered water temperatures ≥19°C, which are capable of inducing a common CSR across species and populations, may increase risk of upstream spawning migration failure for pink and sockeye salmon.
No effect of seed source on multiple aspects of ecosystem functioning during ecological restoration: cultivars compared to local ecotypes of dominant grasses
Authors: Baer Sara G. , Gibson David J. , Gustafson Danny J. , Benscoter Allison M. , Reed Lewis K. , Campbell Ryan E. , Klopf Ryan P. , Willand Jason E. , Wodika Ben R.
Published: November 2013

Genetic principles underlie recommendations to use local seed, but a paucity of information exists on the genetic distinction and ecological consequences of using different seed sources in restorations. We established a field experiment to test whether cultivars and local ecotypes of dominant prairie grasses were genetically distinct and differentially influenced ecosystem functioning. Whole plots were assigned to cultivar and local ecotype grass sources. Three subplots within each whole plot were seeded to unique pools of subordinate species. The cultivar of the increasingly dominant grass,Sorghastrum nutans, was genetically different than the local ecotype, but genetic diversity was similar between the two sources. There were no differences in aboveground net primary production, soil carbon accrual, and net nitrogen mineralization rate in soil between the grass sources. Comparable productivity of the grass sources among the species pools for four years shows functional equivalence in terms of biomass production. Subordinate species comprised over half the aboveground productivity, which may have diluted the potential for documented trait differences between the grass sources to influence ecosystem processes. Regionally developed cultivars may be a suitable alternative to local ecotypes for restoration in fragmented landscapes with limited gene flow between natural and restored prairie and negligible recruitment by seed.
Climate change and timing of avian breeding and migration: evolutionary versus plastic changes
Authors: Charmantier Anne , Gienapp Phillip
Published: November 2013

There are multiple observations around the globe showing that in many avian species, both the timing of migration and breeding have advanced, due to warmer springs. Here, we review the literature to disentangle the actions of evolutionary changes in response to selection induced by climate change versus changes due to individual plasticity, that is, the capacity of an individual to adjust its phenology to environmental variables. Within the abundant literature on climate change effects on bird phenology, only a small fraction of studies are based on individual data, yet individual data are required to quantify the relative importance of plastic versus evolutionary responses. While plasticity seems common and often adaptive, no study so far has provided direct evidence for an evolutionary response of bird phenology to current climate change. This assessment leads us to notice the alarming lack of tests for microevolutionary changes in bird phenology in response to climate change, in contrast with the abundant claims on this issue. In short, at present we cannot draw reliable conclusions on the processes underlying the observed patterns of advanced phenology in birds. Rapid improvements in techniques for gathering and analysing individual data offer exciting possibilities that should encourage research activity to fill this knowledge gap.
Troponin assays in the assessment of the equine myocardium
Authors: Rossi T. M. , Pyle W. G. , Maxie M. G. , Pearl D. L. , Physick‐Sheard P. W.
Published: November 2013

In 2000, troponin assays were adopted as the test of choice for detection of myocardial injury in man. This decision was made after extensive testing and followed a 60 year search for a biomarker of myocardial damage with sufficient analytical sensitivity and specificity. This has led to proliferation of assays for use in human medicine, each requiring extensive testing and validation before it could be made available on the open market for human use. The search for ever‐more analytically sensitive assays and for a standard reference material continues. The adoption of troponin testing in veterinary medicine followed shortly after its development for use in man, providing a much‐needed means of detecting and monitoring myocardial damage in horses. However, application of these tests in veterinary medicine has exclusively involved use of assays designed for and clinically validated in human patients. There is no mandated requirement for test validation in veterinary medicine and, while many of these assays have been shown to be capable of detecting equine troponin, the wide diversity of available tests, lack of validation, absence of protocols for their use and lack of standardisation make their application problematic. The objective of this review article is to address this issue, offering guidance where data are available and encouraging caution where there are none. Ultimately, the overall goal of this review is to examine critically the use of troponin assays in the horse and to promote the accurate and appropriate interpretation of valid results.
Applications of Collaborative Helping Maps: Supporting Professional Development, Supervision and Work Teams in Family‐Centered Practice
Authors: Madsen William C.
Published: November 2013

Collaborative, family‐centered practice has become an influential approach in helping efforts across a broad spectrum of human services. This article draws from previous work that presented a principle‐based, practice framework of Collaborative Helping and highlighted the use of Collaborative Helping maps as a tool both to help workers think their way through complex situations and to provide a guideline for constructive conversations between families and helpers about challenging issues. It builds on that work to examine ways to utilize Collaborative Helping maps at worker, supervisory, and organizational levels to enhance and sustain collaborative, family‐centered practice and weave its core values and principles into the everyday fabric of organizational cultures in human service agencies and government agencies that serve poor and marginalized families and communities.