bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metachromatic leukodystrophy: Diffusion MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy
Authors: Sener R. N.
Published: December 2009

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is characterized by dysmyelination caused by a deficiency of arylsulfatase-A. In a 17-month-old boy with metachromatic leukodystrophy, an echo-planar diffusion MR sequence revealed a restricted diffusion pattern in the deep white matter, manifested by high-signal on b = 1000 s/mm2 images, and low ADC values (0.56 × 10−3 mm2/s). Proton MR spectroscopy revealed a marked decrease in choline, a metabolite related to myelin turnover. These observations consisting of a restricted diffusion pattern on diffusion MR imaging, and decreased choline peaks on proton spectroscopy, likely represented dysmyelination in metachromatic leukodystrophy.
Value of air trapping in detection of small airways disease in smokers
Authors: Vikgren J. , Bake B. , Ekberg-Jansson A. , Larsson S. , Tylén U.
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that diffuse and/or focal air trapping are sensitive indicators of airflow obstruction in smoker's small airways disease, when age, gender and presence of emphysematous lesions were allowed for.

Material and Methods: Fifty-eight smokers and 34 never smokers, recruited from a randomized population study of men born in 1933, were investigated by HRCT and by extended pulmonary function tests, including a sensitive test for small airways disease (N2 slope). Diffuse air trapping was evaluated by calculating a quotient of mean lung density at expiration and inspiration. Focal air trapping was scored visually by consensus.

Results: Diffuse air trapping did not differ between non-emphysematous smokers and never smokers. Furthermore, diffuse air trapping correlated well to the quotient between the residual volume and total lung capacity (RV/TLC, p = 0.01) and was consequently higher in emphysematous smokers than in never smokers.

Focal air trapping was found as frequently in smokers without emphysema as in never smokers. Smokers with emphysema showed significantly less focal air trapping. Neither the N2 slope nor any of the other lung function variables differed between those with and without focal air trapping among non-emphysematous smokers.

Conclusion: Neither diffuse nor focal air trapping are sensitive indicators of smoker's small airways disease.
Diffusion-weighted imaging in hyperacute stroke – gold standard?
Authors: Wong Y.-Y. , Lam W. W.-M.
Published: December 2009

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is more sensitive than CT and conventional T2-weighted MR imaging in the detection of early cerebral ischemia and infarction.

In this case report, we present a case of a 79-year-old woman with symptoms of acute stroke, clinically and radiologically documented progression to complete stroke with an initial negative diffusion-weighted scan.
Book Reviews
Authors: Sundin Anders
Published: December 2009

Practical FDG Imaging; A Teaching File. By D. Delbeke, W. H. Martin, J. A. Patton and M. P. Sandler. Springer 2002. ISBN 0-387-95292-6. Price hardcover: €139.
Clinical diagnostic and intervention studies of children with semantic—pragmatic language disorder
Authors: Adams Catherine
Published: December 2009

The diagnosis of semantic—pragmatic language disorder (SPLD) has been the subject of a number of research studies over the last two decades. Classification and diagnostic debates, while illuminating, have done little to develop tools to improve services to these children. In this paper, two children whose communication difficulties are suggestive of an SPLD diagnosis but who have differing profiles are studied. Using existing models of psycholinguistics and pragmatics to guide assessment and intervention, the diversity of language and social communicative behaviours that are covered by the label SPLD are exemplified. Consideration is given to whether the term SPLD is appropriate for both children or whether Bishop's revision of the diagnosis to ‘pragmatic language impairment’ might be more useful. Methods of intervention and evaluation for semantic and pragmatic deficits in these two cases are described. It is argued that existing tools can enable accurate explanation and modelling of the communication of children with SPLD and that there is a role for intervention studies in helping to refine those tools, to improve therapies and to understand the nature of the condition more fully.
Thermodynamic characteristics of two-dimensional fluids with isotropic pair interaction potentials
Authors: Vaulina O S , Koss (Adamovich) X G
Published: December 2009

A simple semi-empirical approximation of the energy density in two-dimensional liquids is proposed for the different types of isotropic pair potentials, commonly used for simulation of repulsion in kinetics of interacting particles. Coefficients of this approximation were obtained by the best fitting of the numerical data by the suggested analytical function. The proposed analytical expression of the energy density may be used for determination of any thermodynamic functions using the known formulae of thermodynamics. Comparisons of theoretical results with the numerical data are presented.
Magneto-thermoelectric effects in two-dimensional quantum well: role of short-range potential
Authors: Hashimzade F M , Hasanov Kh A , Mehdiyev B H , Cakmak S
Published: December 2009

We have studied transverse thermomagnetic effects in a quantum well (QW) with parabolic potential in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the two-dimensional electron gas layer. The calculation was carried out for the case of elastic electron scattering on short-range potential for degenerate and non-degenerate electron gas. It is shown that the reviewed mechanism of charge carriers' relaxation is essential for the electroconductivity at low temperatures. In the quantum limit, the dependencies of the transverse Nernst–Ettingshausen coefficient and the thermopower on the magnetic field strength, the temperature and the carrier density are determined and analyzed. We have showed that the magnetothermopower is not determined by the entropy only, as is the case for bulk specimens.
ChiBE: interactive visualization and manipulation of BioPAX pathway models
Authors: Babur Ozgun , Dogrusoz Ugur , Demir Emek , Sander Chris
Published: December 2009

Summary: Representing models of cellular processes or pathways in a graphically rich form facilitates interpretation of biological observations and generation of new hypotheses. Solving biological problems using large pathway datasets requires software that can combine data mapping, querying and visualization as well as providing access to diverse data resources on the Internet. ChiBE is an open source software application that features user-friendly multi-view display, navigation and manipulation of pathway models in BioPAX format. Pathway views are rendered in a feature-rich format, and may be laid out and edited with state-of-the-art visualization methods, including compound or nested structures for visualizing cellular compartments and molecular complexes. Users can easily query and visualize pathways through an integrated Pathway Commons query tool and analyze molecular profiles in pathway context.

Availability:  http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/%7Ebcbi/chibe.html

Contact:  ugur@cs.bilkent.edu.tr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Validation of double digest selective label database for sequenced prokaryotic genomes
Authors: Terletskiy Valery , Tyshchenko Valentina , Martinez-Ballesteros Ilargi , Garaizar Javier , Bikandi Joseba
Published: December 2009

Summary: A database for simulation of double digest selective label (DDSL) typing technique has been created and validated against a sequenced strain (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain LT2). In silico bands were in agreement with experimental, and the technique was able to discriminate among strains belonging to the same species. When compared with other strain discrimination techniques, DDSL showed a higher discriminatory power. The database contains precomputed data which may be searched to retrieve experimental conditions for typing all up-to-dated sequenced prokaryotic microorganisms.

Availability: This is a new resource for molecular biology freely available on the Internet at http://insilico.ehu.es/DDSL

Contact:  joseba.bikandi@ehu.es
HIGEDA: a hierarchical gene-set genetics based algorithm for finding subtle motifs in biological sequences
Authors: Le Thanh , Altman Tom , Gardiner Katheleen
Published: December 2009

Motivation: Identification of motifs in biological sequences is a challenging problem because such motifs are often short, degenerate, and may contain gaps. Most algorithms that have been developed for motif-finding use the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm iteratively. Although EM algorithms can converge quickly, they depend strongly on initialization parameters and can converge to local sub-optimal solutions. In addition, they cannot generate gapped motifs. The effectiveness of EM algorithms in motif finding can be improved by incorporating methods that choose different sets of initial parameters to enable escape from local optima, and that allow gapped alignments within motif models.

Results: We have developed HIGEDA, an algorithm that uses the hierarchical gene-set genetic algorithm (HGA) with EM to initiate and search for the best parameters for the motif model. In addition, HIGEDA can identify gapped motifs using a position weight matrix and dynamic programming to generate an optimal gapped alignment of the motif model with sequences from the dataset. We show that HIGEDA outperforms MEME and other motif-finding algorithms on both DNA and protein sequences.

Availability and implementation: Source code and test datasets are available for download at http://ouray.cudenver.edu/∼tnle/, implemented in C++ and supported on Linux and MS Windows.

Contact:  katheleen.gardiner@ucdenver.edu
The effects of familiarity and social hierarchy on group membership decisions in a social fish
Authors: Jordan Lyndon A. , Wong Marian Y. L. , Balshine Sigal S.
Published: December 2009

Members of animal groups face a trade-off between the benefits of remaining with a familiar group and the potential benefits of dispersing into a new group. Here, we examined the group membership decisions ofNeolamprologus pulcher, a group-living cichlid. We found that subordinate helpers showed a preference for joining familiar groups, but when choosing between two unfamiliar groups, helpers did not preferentially join groups that maximized their social rank. Rather, helpers preferred groups containing larger, more dominant individuals, despite receiving significantly more aggression within these groups, possibly owing to increased protection from predation in such groups. These results suggest a complex decision process inN. pulcherwhen choosing among groups, dependent not only on familiarity but also on the social and life-history consequences of joining new groups.
Temporal learning of predation risk by embryonic amphibians
Authors: Ferrari Maud C. O. , Manek Aditya K. , Chivers Douglas P.
Published: December 2009

For prey species that rely on learning to recognize their predators, natural selection should favour individuals able to learn as early as possible. The earliest point at which individuals can gather information about the identity of their potential predators is during the embryonic stage. Indeed, recent experiments have demonstrated that amphibians can learn to recognize predators prior to hatching. Here, we conditioned woodfrog embryos to recognize predatory salamander cues either in the morning or in the evening, and subsequently exposed the two-week-old tadpoles to salamander cues either in the morning or in the evening, and recorded the intensity of their antipredator behaviour. The data indicate that amphibians learn to recognize potential predators while still in the egg, and also learn the temporal component of this information, which they use later in life, to adjust the intensity of their antipredator responses throughout the day.
Toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to
Gyps
vultures: a new threat from ketoprofen
Authors: Naidoo Vinny , Wolter Kerri , Cromarty Duncan , Diekmann Maria , Duncan Neil , Meharg Andrew A. , Taggart Mark A. , Venter Leon , Cuthbert Richard
Published: December 2009

Three
Gyps
vulture species are on the brink of extinction in South Asia owing to the veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. Carcasses of domesticated ungulates are the main food source for Asia's vultures and birds die from kidney failure after consuming diclofenac-contaminated tissues. Here, we report on the safety testing of the NSAID ketoprofen, which was not reported to cause mortality in clinical treatment of scavenging birds and is rapidly eliminated from livestock tissues. Safety testing was undertaken using captive non-releasable Cape griffon vultures (
Gyps coprotheres
) and wild-caught African white-backed vultures (
G. africanus
), both previously identified as susceptible to diclofenac and suitable surrogates. Ketoprofen doses ranged from 0.5 to 5 mg kg
−1
vulture body weight, based upon recommended veterinary guidelines and maximum levels of exposure for wild vultures (estimated as 1.54 mg kg
−1
). Doses were administered by oral gavage or through feeding tissues from cattle dosed with ketoprofen at 6 mg kg
−1
cattle body weight, before slaughter. Mortalities occurred at dose levels of 1.5 and 5 mg kg
−1
vulture body weight (within the range recommended for clinical treatment) with the same clinical signs as observed for diclofenac. Surveys of livestock carcasses in India indicate that toxic levels of residual ketoprofen are already present in vulture food supplies. Consequently, we strongly recommend that ketoprofen is not used for veterinary treatment of livestock in Asia and in other regions of the world where vultures access livestock carcasses. The only alternative to diclofenac that should be promoted as safe for vultures is the NSAID meloxicam.
Computational limits to binary genes
Authors: Zabet Nicolae Radu , Chu Dominique F.
Published: December 2009

We analyse the trade-off between the speed with which a gene can propagate information, the noise of its output and its metabolic cost. Our main finding is that for any given level of metabolic cost there is an optimal trade-off between noise and processing speed. Any system with a non-vanishing leak expression rate is suboptimal, i.e. it will exhibit higher noise and/or slower speed than leak-free systems with the same metabolic cost. We also show that there is an optimal Hill coefficienthwhich minimizes noise and metabolic cost at fixed speeds, and an optimal thresholdKwhich minimizes noise.
Early origins of inflammation: microbial exposures in infancy predict lower levels of C-reactive protein in adulthood
Authors: McDade Thomas W. , Rutherford Julienne , Adair Linda , Kuzawa Christopher W.
Published: December 2009

Ecological factors are important determinants of the development and function of anti-pathogen defences. Inflammation is a central part of innate immunity, but the developmental factors that shape the regulation of inflammation are not known. We test the hypothesis that microbial exposures in infancy are associated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) in adulthood using prospective data from a birth cohort in the Philippines (
n
= 1461). Lower birth weight was associated with increased CRP, consistent with a role for inflammation in the widely documented inverse relationship between birth weight and adult cardiovascular diseases. In addition, higher levels of microbial exposure in infancy were associated with lower CRP. These associations were independent of socioeconomic status, measures of current body fat and other health behaviours. We conclude that measures of microbial exposure and nutrition during the pre-natal and early post-natal periods are important predictors of CRP concentration in young adulthood. We speculate that the development of anti-inflammatory regulatory networks in response to early microbial exposure represents plasticity in the development of anti-pathogen defences, and that this process may help explain the low CRP concentrations in this population.
VirtualPlant: A Software Platform to Support Systems Biology Research
Authors: Katari Manpreet S. , Nowicki Steve D. , Aceituno Felipe F. , Nero Damion , Kelfer Jonathan , Thompson Lee Parnell , Cabello Juan M. , Davidson Rebecca S. , Goldberg Arthur P. , Shasha Dennis E. , Coruzzi Gloria M. , Gutieݩrrez Rodrigo A.
Published: December 2009

Data generation is no longer the limiting factor in advancing biological research. In addition, data integration, analysis, and interpretation have become key bottlenecks and challenges that biologists conducting genomic research face daily. To enable biologists to derive testable hypotheses from the increasing amount of genomic data, we have developed the VirtualPlant software platform. VirtualPlant enables scientists to visualize, integrate, and analyze genomic data from a systems biology perspective. VirtualPlant integrates genome-wide data concerning the known and predicted relationships among genes, proteins, and molecules, as well as genome-scale experimental measurements. VirtualPlant also provides visualization techniques that render multivariate information in visual formats that facilitate the extraction of biological concepts. Importantly, VirtualPlant helps biologists who are not trained in computer science to mine lists of genes, microarray experiments, and gene networks to address questions in plant biology, such as: What are the molecular mechanisms by which internal or external perturbations affect processes controlling growth and development? We illustrate the use of VirtualPlant with three case studies, ranging from querying a gene of interest to the identification of gene networks and regulatory hubs that control seed development. Whereas the VirtualPlant software was developed to mine Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genomic data, its data structures, algorithms, and visualization tools are designed in a species-independent way. VirtualPlant is freely available at www.virtualplant.org.
Acute hypotension associated with leucocyte depletion filters during cell salvaged blood transfusion
Authors: Sreelakshmi T. R. , Eldridge J.
Published: December 2009

Intra‐operative cell salvage is used in more than 75% of NHS hospitals in the United Kingdom and is a safe and cost effective alternative to allogenic blood transfusion. We report a case of acute hypotension during reinfusion of cell salvaged blood through a leucocyte depletion filter that occurred during a caesarean section. We review the literature of hypotension associated with the use of bedside leucocyte depletion filters.
Functional characterization of human nucleosome assembly protein 1‐like proteins as histone chaperones
Authors: Okuwaki Mitsuru , Kato Kohsuke , Nagata Kyosuke
Published: December 2009

Nucleosome Assembly Protein 1 (NAP1) is a highly conserved histone chaperone protein suspected to be involved in the dynamical regulation of the histone H2A‐H2B hetero‐dimer. However, the exact mechanism by which NAP1‐like proteins act is currently unknown. In this work, we characterized the biochemical properties of two human NAP1‐like proteins, hNAP1L1 and hNAP1L4, including a previously uncharacterized subtype, with the aim of determining their exact mechanistic role. Both hNAP1L1 and hNAP1L4 were found to be localized mainly to the cytoplasm and a minor population of them was suggested to be in the nucleus. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that both hNAP1L1 and hNAP1L4 mediated nucleosome formation. In addition, hNAP1L1 was shown to possess a significantly greater nucleosome disassembly activity than hNAP1L4, suggesting that hNAP1L1 and hNAP1L4 may play distinct roles in the regulation of histone dynamics. Building upon this initial discovery we also found that histone H2A‐H2B and various histone H2A variants‐H2B dimers were found to associate with both hNAP1L1 and hNAP1L4 in cell extracts. These results suggest that human NAP1‐like proteins play overlapping roles in transport and deposition of histone H2A‐H2B or H2A variants‐H2B dimers on chromatin and nonoverlapping roles in nucleosome disassembly.
Continuity of care and monitoring pain after discharge: patient perspective
Authors: Soler Rosa Suñer , Juvinyà Canal Dolors , Noguer Carmen Bertran , Poch Carme Graboleda , Brugada Motge Neus , del Mar Garcia Gil Maria
Published: December 2009

suñer r.s., juvinyà d.c., Bertran c.n., Graboleda c.p., brugada n.m. & garcia m.m.g. (2010) Continuity of care and monitoring pain after discharge: patient perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1), 40–48.

Title.  Continuity of care and monitoring pain after discharge: patient perspective.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to evaluate, from the patients’ perspective, a Liaison and Continuity of Care Programme coordinating care provision between a hospital and primary care centres.

Background.  Promoting continuity of care between hospitals and primary care improves quality of care, patient satisfaction and decreases further hospitalizations. However, inadequate pain management is common after discharge.

Method.  A sample of patients from the Liaison and Continuity of Care Programme were included in a longitudinal study in 2007. We conducted standardized telephone interviews at 24 hours, 7 days, 1 and 3 months after discharge. Outcome measures included readmission, time between hospital discharge and readmission, information level at discharge, patient satisfaction, queries about care and information related to perceived state of health and pain.

Results.  Eighty‐three adult patients (average age 69·3, 50·6% males) who needed continued care at discharge were followed. Ten participants died during follow‐up, and seven required readmission. A total of 49·4% of patients stated that they had understood the information given at discharge very well or perfectly. At 24 hours after discharge, 30% already had doubts about their state of health and the management of their condition. In relation to perceived health, only 25·3% stated that this was good or very good. Prevalence of pain 24‐hours after discharge was 58·3% in surgical patients and 17·1% in other patients.

Conclusion.  The preparation and education of patients and family members should be improved before discharge, and appropriate written information must be given, especially if a patient has pain or requires complex care.
Redefining relationships and identity in young adults with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Sparud‐Lundin Carina , Öhrn Ingbritt , Danielson Ella
Published: December 2009

sparud‐lundin c., öhrn i. & danielson e. (2010) Redefining relationships and identity in young adults with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1), 128–138.

Title.  Redefining relationships and identity in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study exploring the meaning of interactions with and supports of self‐management from parents and other significant others for young adults with type 1 diabetes.

Background.  Adolescence and young adulthood is known to be a critical period for people living with diabetes in terms of diabetes control, which is why support from significant others is of utmost importance during the transition to adult life.

Method.  A grounded theory approach was used. Interviews with 13 young adults with type 1 diabetes and 13 parents 2 years after transfer to adult diabetes care were conducted during 2006–2007. Internet communication between young people on a diabetes website was also included in the constant comparative analysis.

Findings.  Transition to adult life for young adults with diabetes was characterized by a relational and reflexive process leading to ongoing redefinition of relationships and identity. Parents were perceived as the most reliable supporters, compared to partners, siblings and other significant others. Chat friends can also become important through emotional, social and diabetes‐related support in internet communication. The young adults showed growing awareness of their own capacities, shortcomings and emotional reactions, reflections which contribute to a redefinition of self.

Conclusion.  Further research is needed to explore how contemporary interactions contribute to development of the self. By focusing on supporting relationships, nurses are in a strategic position to develop knowledge and modify clinical programmes that promote diabetes management and care by taking supporting interactions into account from a contemporary point of view.
Determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed: broadening our understanding
Authors: Tourangeau Ann E. , Cummings Greta , Cranley Lisa A. , Ferron Era Mae , Harvey Sarah
Published: December 2009

tourangeau a.e., cummings g., cranley l.a., ferron e.m. & harvey s. (2010) Determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed: broadening our understanding. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1), 22–32.

Title.  Determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed: broadening ourunderstanding.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to identify nurse reported determinants of intention to remain employed and to develop a model explaining determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed.

Background.  A worsening shortage of nurses globally suggests that efforts must be made to promote retention of nurses. However, effective retention promotion strategies depend on understanding the factors influencing nurse retention.

Methods.  A descriptive study using focus group methodology was implemented. Thirteen focus groups including 78 nurses were carried out in two Canadian provinces in 2007. Thematic analysis strategies were incorporated to analyse the data.

Findings.  Eight thematic categories reflecting factors nurses described as influencing their intentions to remain employed emerged from focus groups: (1) relationships with co‐workers, (2) condition of the work environment, (3) relationship with and support from one’s manager, (4) work rewards, (5) organizational support and practices, (6) physical and psychological responses to work, (7) patient relationships and other job content, and (8) external factors. A model of determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed is hypothesized.

Conclusion.  Findings were both similar to and different from previous research. The overriding concept of job satisfaction was not found. Rather, nurse assessments of satisfaction within eight thematic categories were found to influence intentions to remain employed. Further testing of the hypothesized model is required to determine its global utility. Understanding determinants of intention to remain employed can lead to development of strategies that strengthen nurse retention. Incorporation of this knowledge in nurse education programmes is essential.
Evidence for drought and forest declines during the recent megafaunal extinctions in Madagascar
Authors: Virah‐Sawmy Malika , Willis Katherine J. , Gillson Lindsey
Published: December 2009

Aim  There remains some uncertainty concerning the causes of extinctions of Madagascar’s megafauna. One hypothesis is that they were caused by over‐hunting by humans. A second hypothesis is that their extinction was caused by both environmental change and hunting. This paper systematically addresses the second hypothesis through examination of two new pollen records from south‐eastern Madagascar alongside other published records across the island.

Location  South‐eastern Madagascar.

Methods  We reconstructed past vegetation and fire dynamics over the past 6000 years at two sites in south‐eastern Madagascar (Ste‐Luce) using fossil pollen and charcoal contained in sedimentary sequences. We investigated drivers of vegetation changes and how these, in turn, influenced faunal species in the south‐east, using published climatic, archaeological and faunal records. Further, we also used published records to provide a synthesis of environmental changes on the whole island.

Results  Vegetation reconstructions indicate that the mosaic vegetation in the region of Ste‐Luce was highly dynamic in response to climatic changes. The open woodland, surrounding the littoral forest, transformed into an ericoid grassland between c. 5800 and 5200 cal. yr bp, possibly in response to a moderate drought recorded during this period. The littoral forest was more stable between c. 5100 and 1000 cal. yr bp, with only some minor compositional changes c. 2800 cal. yr bp and between c. 1900 and 1000 cal. yr bp. Significant forest decline, however, is observed at c. 950 cal. yr bp, coinciding with a drought and a marine surge. A comparison of these results with a synthesis of published vegetation records across the island shows asynchronous vegetation changes in response to various droughts during the Holocene, except for the 950 cal. yr bp drought event, with evidence of widespread vegetation transformations and fires across the island.

Main conclusions  Pronounced climatic desiccation between 1200 and 700 cal. yr bp may have been the slow driver framing and triggering vegetation transformations and decline in megafaunal populations. In addition, hunting by drought‐impacted human inhabitants and competition with newly introduced cattle would have amplified the impacts on megafaunal populations, leading to numerous extinctions in this period.
Prosthodontic decision‐making: what unprompted information do dentists seek before prescribing treatment?
Authors: OMAR R. , AKEEL R.
Published: December 2009

Summary  This study explored the nature of the unprompted information that clinicians seek before making a treatment decision and whether this decision corresponded with the clinical parameters of the case. Interns, general practitioners (GP) and prosthodontists (n = 70, mean age 33 years, range 23–68) were presented with a written vignette of partial edentulism that included two spaces and were invited to ask any questions for the purpose of making a treatment recommendation. A list of 48 potential question/answer items was available to the interviewer, of which 38 were asked. These were then allotted to four thematic categories. Mean number of questions asked did not differ significantly amongst groups, although prosthodontists asked significantly more questions in the ‘clinical and radiographic information’ category than GPs (P = 0·0001) and interns (P = 0·003). The relationship between a prescribed treatment and questions asked was tested by dichotomizing all recommendations into ‘possible’ or ‘not possible’ based on the authors’ knowledge of the actual case history. There were no significant differences amongst the groups in the frequency of prescribing ‘possible’ treatment (Pearson chi‐square 0·083 and 0·108 for upper and lower spaces, respectively), but those who prescribed ‘possible’ treatment asked significantly more questions in the ‘clinical and radiographic information’ category, specifically about bone adequacy in the edentulous areas: upper jaw (P = 0·0001) and lower jaw (P = 0·003). It may be concluded that prosthodontists generally opted for more ‘possible’ treatments, as well as seeking items of information that seemed to improve the chance of making recommendations that conformed to the actual case characteristics.
Transplantation tourism: high risk for the recipients
Authors: Yakupoglu Yarkın K. , Ozden Ender , Dilek Melda , Demirbas Alper , Adibelli Zelal , Sarikaya Saban , Akpolat Tekin
Published: December 2009

Yakupoglu YK, Ozden E, Dilek M, Demirbas A, Adibelli Z, Sarikaya S, Akpolat T. Transplantation tourism: high risk for the recipients.  Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 835–838. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Background:  The shortage of donor organ supply is forcing patients with end‐stage renal disease to alternative searches. The aim of this study is to present the clinical and laboratory data of five patients who were transplanted in Egypt from paid living‐unrelated donors and followed at our institution.

Methods:  Five patients (four male, one female, mean age 51 yr) were included in this retrospective study.

Results:  All allografts still have good function with a mean serum creatinine level of 0.9 mg/dL. Surgical and medical problems were common such as wound infection (n = 3), evisceration (n = 2), deep vein thrombosis (n = 2), unexplained abdominal incision requiring removal of an abdominal surgical compress left in situ during previous surgery, placement of allograft on the side of an unrepaired indirect inguinal hernia and transplant pyelonephritis.

Conclusion:  Although recent developments increased success in renal transplantation, receiving a kidney from a paid living donor at a commercial transplant center still carries great risks for the recipient.
Genetic analysis and gene mapping of a rice recessive male sterile mutant
Authors: Chen J. B. , He F. , Qin P. , Wang Y. P. , Xu J. , Li Y. Y. , Zheng J. , Hu J. T. , Li S. G.
Published: December 2009

With 3 figures and 2 tables

Male sterility of rice is one of the major genetic tools used for hybrid rice production. In this study, a spontaneous male sterile mutant, SC‐ms‐2, was obtained from the F4 progeny of the cross D 297B × Changfeng B. Microscopic observation revealed that the microspores were developed abnormally and the tapetum cells were incrassated during microsporogenesis. Genetic analysis indicated that male sterility of SC‐ms‐2 was controlled by a single recessive gene. By using bulked segregant analysis on two F2 populations developed from crossing SC‐ms‐2 with Hua B and ‘Nipponbare’, this gene was finely mapped between two simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers on chromosome 9, RM24451 and RM7048, with genetic distance of 0.3 cM and 0.6 cM respectively, and the approximate physical distance was 172 kb. Our results showed that this gene was distinguished from all the other male sterility genes in rice reported and it was designated ms92(t), temporally. Moreover, candidate genes in the region of 172kb, including the rice homologue to the Arabidopsis MALE STERILITY1 (MS1) gene, were surveyed and discussed.
Post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following renal transplantation: A single‐center experience over 40 years
Authors: Abe Toyofumi , Ichimaru Naotsugu , Kokado Yukito , Maeda Tetsuo , Kakuta Yoichi , Okumi Masayoshi , Imamura Ryoichi , Nonomura Norio , Isaka Yoshitaka , Takahara Shiro , Okuyama Akihiko
Published: December 2009

Objectives:  To investigate post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) following renal transplantation at our institution.

Methods:  Medical records of 631 patients who underwent renal transplantation at Osaka University Hospital between March 1965 and December 2008 were reviewed.

Results:  PTLD following renal transplantation was detected in 10 patients (five men, five women; mean age at transplantation, 38.5 years). Mean duration from renal transplantation to the onset of PTLD was 7.1 years (range, 5 months to 18 years, 9 months). Mean duration of observation was 3.9 years from the onset of PTLD. Immunosuppressant therapy comprised multidrug combination therapy, including cyclosporine in six patients and tacrolimus in four patients. In addition to a reduction in the immunosuppressant dose, which was performed in all patients, PTLD was treated with surgery in seven patients, radiotherapy in two patients, rituximab in five patients, and cytotoxic chemotherapy in four patients. A complete remission in eight patients and progressive disease in two were observed. At last follow up, seven patients were alive and five patients had functioning grafts.

Conclusions:  The incidence of PTLD following renal transplantation at our institution is 1.6% with onset occurring more than 5 years after transplantation in five patients. Consequently, with long‐term renal graft survival now feasible, attention must be paid to detecting late‐onset PTLD.
Surgical decision making
Authors: Francis David M. A.
Published: December 2009

Decision making is an integral part of surgical practice and is a skill that is as important as the ability to operate. Sound decision making is the result of acquiring ‘surgical wisdom’, which is achieved through learning, experience and reflection. This paper reviews the processes of surgical decision making with respect to choosing the correct procedure and deciding when to operate, and how operative decisions are made, together with the factors that influence our surgical decisions.
Electrophysiological evidence of mediolateral functional dichotomy in the rat accumbens during cocaine self‐administration: tonic firing patterns
Authors: Fabbricatore Anthony T. , Ghitza Udi E. , Prokopenko Volodymyr F. , West Mark O.
Published: December 2009

Given the increasing research emphasis on putative accumbal functional compartmentation, we sought to determine whether neurons that demonstrate changes in tonic firing rate during cocaine self‐administration are differentially distributed across subregions of the NAcc. Rats were implanted with jugular catheters and microwire arrays targeting NAcc subregions (core, dorsal shell, ventromedial shell, ventrolateral shell and rostral pole shell). Recordings were obtained after acquisition of stable cocaine self‐administration (0.77 mg/kg/0.2mL infusion; fixed‐ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement; 6‐h daily sessions). During the self‐administration phase of the experiment, neurons demonstrated either: (i) tonic suppression (or decrease); (ii) tonic activation (or increase); or (iii) no tonic change in firing rate with respect to rates of firing during pre‐ and post‐drug phases. Consistent with earlier observations, tonic decrease was the predominant firing pattern observed. Differences in the prevalence of tonic increase firing were observed between the core and the dorsal shell and dorsal shell–core border regions, with the latter two areas exhibiting a virtual absence of tonic increases. Tonic suppression was exhibited to a greater extent by the dorsal shell–core border region relative to the core. These differences could reflect distinct subregional afferent processing and/or differential sensitivity of subpopulations of NAcc neurons to cocaine. Ventrolateral shell firing topographies resembled those of core neurons. Taken together, these observations are consistent with an emerging body of literature that differentiates the accumbens mediolaterally and further advances the likelihood that distinct functions are subserved by NAcc subregions in appetitive processing.
Sedation trends in the 21st century: the transition to dexmedetomidine for radiological imaging studies
Authors: MASON KEIRA P.
Published: December 2009

Sedation for radiological imaging studies encompasses the majority of all sedation‐related procedures outside of the intensive care unit. This review will follow the evolution of pediatric sedation for radiological imaging studies in North America as well as the transition of sedation services from the oversight of radiologists to those of other providers. The evolving options for sedation agents will be reviewed, with attention given to examining the advantages, limitations, and risks of replacing the standard sedatives with dexmedetomidine.
A meta‐analysis of trait differences between invasive and non‐invasive plant species
Authors: Van Kleunen Mark , Weber Ewald , Fischer Markus
Published: December 2009

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 235–245

A major aim in ecology is identifying determinants of invasiveness. We performed a meta‐analysis of 117 field or experimental‐garden studies that measured pair‐wise trait differences of a total of 125 invasive and 196 non‐invasive plant species in the invasive range of the invasive species. We tested whether invasiveness is associated with performance‐related traits (physiology, leaf‐area allocation, shoot allocation, growth rate, size and fitness), and whether such associations depend on type of study and on biogeographical or biological factors. Overall, invasive species had significantly higher values than non‐invasive species for all six trait categories. More trait differences were significant for invasive vs. native comparisons than for invasive vs. non‐invasive alien comparisons. Moreover, for comparisons between invasive species and native species that themselves are invasive elsewhere, no trait differences were significant. Differences in physiology and growth rate were larger in tropical regions than in temperate regions. Trait differences did not depend on whether the invasive alien species originates from Europe, nor did they depend on the test environment. We conclude that invasive alien species had higher values for those traits related to performance than non‐invasive species. This suggests that it might become possible to predict future plant invasions from species traits.
Foreign Plants and Industry Productivity: Evidence from Chile
Authors: Ramondo Natalia
Published: December 2009

This paper presents new evidence on foreign plants and their effects on a host industry. I test the predictions of a Melitz‐type model using a panel of domestic and foreign plants in the Chilean manufacturing sector. Foreign ownership is a strong predictor of plant productivity and size advantages. Moreover, productivity gains for a domestic incumbent are positively associated with foreign plants' presence in the same industry and region. I also find a positive correlation between foreign entry and exit of less productive domestic plants, but inconclusive evidence on the effects on productivity of new domestic plants.
Development and initial validation of a brief screener for focused HIV prevention efforts
Authors: Bennett M , Strachan E , Uldall K
Published: December 2009

Objectives

The public health response to the spread of HIV relies on behavioural changes, especially reductions in sexual and drug‐use‐related transmission risk behaviours (TRBs). While understanding the factors that dispose people towards risky behaviours is important scientifically, it can be difficult to distil the many predictors of sexual risk behaviours into a useful clinical tool for focused prevention efforts. Our goal was to evaluate the extent to which known predictors of sexual TRBs (self‐efficacy, treatment optimism, engagement with medical care, awareness of risky behaviours, substance use, and relevant behavioural and socio‐demographic characteristics) combined with additional attitude‐related assessments to identify those who had engaged in recent sexual TRBs and may therefore be at risk of additional TRBs.

Methods

In this study, we analysed data on beliefs and behaviours related to sex, substance use, HIV prevention and other relevant factors for 280 patients at a publicly funded HIV/AIDS clinic in Seattle. All participants completed a baseline audio computer‐assisted self interview (ACASI) as part of a larger trial focused on reducing TRBs.

Results

Our multivariate model yielded three screening questions that could prove effective in identifying HIV‐positive patients in need of focused prevention resources.

Conclusions

The resulting screener holds promise as a brief and easily deployed tool that can be used by providers regardless of access to ACASI technology. Additional validation is needed and longitudinal evaluation is currently in progress.
Gazprom versus the Skyline: Spatial Displacement and Social Contention in St. Petersburg
Authors: DIXON MEGAN
Published: December 2009

On 1 December 2006, the Governor of St. Petersburg, Russia, announced the winning entry in a design competition to design a skyscraper headquarters for the Gazprom‐Neft corporation. The chosen site lies directly across the Neva River from a popular historical tourist site, Smolny Cathedral, and the building's high modernist style in steel and glass promises a departure from St. Petersburg's historical style. However, the building's proposed height of 396 meters poses the greatest threat to local notions of architectural and planning tradition, which favors a low horizontal skyline. Widespread loyalty to that tradition focused attention on the project's contradiction of the existing Height Regulation, which galvanized the protest activity of several disparate groups throughout 2007 and 2008. Evidence gathered in examination of media coverage, participant observation and interviews among protest groups, as well as city planners and architects, suggests that protest against the project connects directly to the struggle to codify the Height Regulation. Drawing on the moral authority of the historical built environment, protest groups develop a thorough knowledge of drafted legislation and attempt to shame officials who disregard existing codes. Residents thereby enact their ‘right to the city’, as well as new possibilities for Russian polity and identity.

Le 1erdécembre 2006, la gouverneur de Saint‐Pétersbourg annonçait le gagnant du concours qui portait sur la création d’un gratte‐ciel abritant le siège de la société russe Gazprom Neft. Il s’élèvera sur la rive de la Neva, en face d’un site touristique historique très fréquenté, la cathédrale Smolny, et l’ultra‐modernisme du bâtiment d’acier et de verre promet une rupture avec le style historique de la ville. Néanmoins, c’est la hauteur prévue de la tour, 396 mètres, qui défie directement les principes traditionnels locaux en architecture et urbanisme, lesquels privilégient un profil urbain horizontal de faible hauteur. Un attachement généraliséà cette tradition a focalisé l’attention sur le projet qui contrevient à la réglementation existante sur la hauteur, galvanisant les oppositions de plusieurs groupes disparates en 2007 et 2008. Les indices collectés en analysant la couverture médiatique, en observant les protagonistes et en interrogeant les groupes protestataires, ainsi que des urbanistes et architectes, suggèrent que l’opposition au projet est clairement liée à la lutte visant à codifier la Réglementation sur la hauteur des bâtiments. S’appuyant sur l’autorité morale de l’environnement historique construit, les groupes protestataires mettent au point une connaissance parfaite de la législation en projet et tentent de faire honte aux intervenants officiels qui passent outre aux codes en vigueur. Les résidents mettent ainsi en oeuvre leur ‘droit à la ville’, ouvrant de nouvelles possibilités pour l’identité et l’action publique russe.