bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BIOLOGICAL FITNESS AND ACTION OPPORTUNITY OF NATURAL SELECTION IN AN URBAN POPULATION OF CUBA: PLAZA DE LA REVOLUCIÓN, HAVANA
Authors: VAZQUEZ VANESSA , ALONSO VERÓNICA , LUNA FRANCISCO 
Published: July 2011

SummaryThis paper describes the biological fitness of an urban population of Havana city, Plaza de la Revolución, which has the lowest fertility and the highest demographic ageing in Cuba. The aim is to assess the biological fitness of this community through the indexes of action opportunity of natural selection, to determine its evolutionary pattern and the influence of its socio-cultural peculiarity. Demographic data were obtained from the reproductive histories of 1200 women between the ages of 55 and 64. Data concerning mortality and surviving offspring from the first embryonic stages until age of reproduction were also collected. In order to measure the level of biological fitness two indexes were used: the Crow index of action opportunity of natural selection and the corrected index proposed by Johnston and Kensinger, which takes into account prenatal mortality. This corrected index was calculated including and excluding induced abortions in order to evaluate the contribution of these to biological fitness. When only postnatal mortality was considered, the results showed an evolutionary pattern similar to that of developed countries, based on low mortality and fertility. However, when prenatal mortality was taken into account, biological fitness decreased and the corrected index of natural selection was 4.5 times higher than when miscarriages and fetal deaths were not considered. Moreover, this corrected index was 2.65 times higher when induced miscarriages were considered, indicating the large decrease in biological fitness as a result of the current reproductive behaviour of frequent induced abortion.
Frontal osteomas: standardising therapeutic indications
Authors: Gil-Carcedo L M , Gil-Carcedo E S , Vallejo L A , de Campos J M , Herrero D 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground:We believe the currently accepted indications for frontal osteoma surgery are inappropriate. We propose a new osteoma classification system, below, in order to standardise surgical decisions.Method:Osteomas were classified based on: relationship of tumour mass to sinus size; tumour proximity to the infundibulum, destruction of sinus walls, and complications. Forty-five osteoma cases were thus classified (1971–2007), 29 of which underwent surgery (64.44 per cent).Results:Three stages were thus derived: I, tumour/air fraction less than one-third, tumour distant from the infundibulum, no sinusitis, and no complications (18 patients (40 per cent)); II, tumour/air fraction one-third to one-half, no infundibular obstruction, no bone destruction, no sinusitis, and no complications (six (13.33 per cent)); and III, tumour/air fraction more than one-half, partial or total infundibular obstruction, sinusitis, bone destruction, and/or complications (21 (46.67 per cent)).Conclusion:Study findings suggest the following surgical indications: stage I, no surgery required, implement monitoring protocol; stage II, implement monitoring protocol, surgery may be required depending on tumour severity and general patient condition; and stage III, surgery always required. This system provides a method of standardising osteoma surgical decisions.
Encystment site affects the reproductive strategy of a progenetic trematode in its fish intermediate host: is host spawning an exit for parasite eggs?
Authors: HERRMANN KRISTIN K. , POULIN ROBERT 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYEach transmission event in complex, multi-host life cycles create obstacles selecting for adaptations by trematodes. One such adaptation is life cycle abbreviation through progenesis, in which the trematode precociously matures and reproduces within the second intermediate host. Progenesis eliminates the need for the definitive host and increases the chance of life cycle completion. However, progenetic individuals face egg-dispersal challenges associated with reproducing within metacercarial cysts in the tissues or body cavity of the second intermediate host. Most progenetic species await host death for their eggs to be released into the environment. The present study investigated temporal variation of progenesis inStegodexamene anguillaein one of its second intermediate fish hosts and the effect of the fish's reproductive cycle on progenesis. The study involved monthly sampling over 13 months at one locality. A greater proportion of individuals became progenetic in the gonads of female fish hosts. Additionally, progenesis of worms in the gonads was correlated with seasonal daylight and temperature changes, major factors controlling fish reproduction. Host spawning events are likely to be an avenue of egg dispersal for this progenetic species, with the adoption of progenesis being conditional on whether or not the parasite can benefit from fish spawning.
Curupira-1 and Curupira-2, two novel Mutator-like DNA transposons from the genomes of human parasitesSchistosoma mansoniandSchistosoma japonicum
Authors: JACINTO DANIELE S. , MUNIZ HELOISA DOS SANTOS , VENANCIO THIAGO M. , WILSON R. ALAN , VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA SERGIO , DEMARCO RICARDO 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYTransposons of the Mutator superfamily have been widely described in plants, but only recently have metazoan organisms been shown to harbour them. In this work we describe novel Mutator superfamily transposons from the genomes of the human parasitesSchistosoma mansoniandS. japonicum, which we name Curupira-1 and Curupira-2. Curupira elements do not have Terminal Inverted Repeats (TIRs) at their extremities and generate Target Site Duplications (TSDs) of 9 base pairs. Curupira-2 transposons code for a conserved transposase and SWIM zinc finger domains, while Curupira-1 elements comprise these same domains plus a WRKY zinc finger. Alignment of transcript sequences from both elements back to the genomes indicates that they are subject to splicing to produce mature transcripts. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that these transposons represent a new lineage of metazoan Mutator-like elements with characteristics that are distinct from the recently described Phantom elements. Description of these novel schistosome transposons provides new insights in the evolution of transposable elements in schistosomes.
Ichthyobodo salmonis sp. n. (Ichthyobodonidae, Kinetoplastida), an euryhaline ectoparasite infecting Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)
Authors: ISAKSEN TROND E. , KARLSBAKK EGIL , WATANABE KUNINORI , NYLUND ARE 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYPhylogenetic analyses of SSU rDNA sequences have previously revealed the existence of 2 Ichthyobodo species able to infect Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Ichthyobodo necator sensu stricto (s.s.) is assumed to be a freshwater parasite, while a genetically distinct but undescribed species, Ichthyobodo sp. II sensu Todal et al. (2004) have been detected on Atlantic salmon in both fresh- and seawater. In the present study a morphological description of Ichthyobodo sp. II from the gills of salmon reared in fresh-, brackish- and seawater is presented, using both light- and electron microscopy. Comparative morphometry show that Ichthyobodo sp. II from both freshwater and seawater displays a different cell shape, and is significantly smaller than I. necator s.s. Also, ultrastructural characteristics distinguish these two species, notably differences in the attachment region and the presence of spine-like surface projections in Ichthyobodo sp. II. Based on both unique SSU rDNA sequences and morphological characteristics, we conclude that Ichthyobodo sp. II. represents a novel species for which we propose the name Ichthyobodo salmonis sp. n.
Do different parasite species interact in their effects on host fitness? A case study on parasites of the amphipodParacalliope fluviatilis
Authors: RAUQUE C. A. , PATERSON R. A. , POULIN R. , TOMPKINS D. M. 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYThere is a gap in our understanding of the relative and interactive effects of different parasite species on the same host population. Here we examine the effects of the acanthocephalanAcanthocephalus galaxii, an unidentified cyclophyllidean cestode, and the trematodesCoitocaecum parvumandMicrophallussp. on several fitness components of the amphipodParacalliope fluviatilis, using a combination of infection surveys and both survival and behavioural trials. In addition to significant relationships between specific parasites and measures of amphipod survival, maturity, mating success and behaviour, interactions between parasite species with respect to amphipod photophilia were also significant. While infection by eitherA. galaxiiorC. parvumwas associated with increased photophilia, such increases were negated by co-infection withMicrophallussp. We hypothesize that this is due to the more subtle manipulative effect ofA. galaxiiandC. parvumbeing impaired byMicrophallussp. We conclude that the low frequency at which such double infections occur in our sampled population means that such interactions are unlikely to be important beyond the scale of the host individual. Whether or not this is generally true, implying that parasitological models and theory based on single parasite species studies do generally hold, requires cross-species meta-analytical studies.
A cluster analysis-derived classification of psychological distress and illness behavior in the medically ill
Authors: Fava G. A. , Guidi J. , Porcelli P. , Rafanelli C. , Bellomo A. , Grandi S. , Grassi L. , Mangelli L. , Pasquini P. , Picardi A. , Quartesan R. , Rigatelli M. , Sonino N. 
Published: July 2011

BackgroundThe classification of psychological distress and illness behavior in the setting of medical disease is still controversial. Current psychiatric nosology does not seem to cover the spectrum of disturbances. The aim of this investigation was to assess whether the joint use of DSM-IV categories and the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), that provide identification of syndromes related to somatization, abnormal illness behavior, irritable mood, type A behavior, demoralization and alexithymia, could yield subtyping of psychosocial variables in the medically ill.MethodA cross-sectional assessment using both DSM-IV and the DCPR was conducted in eight medical centers in the Italian Health System. Data were submitted to cluster analysis. Participants were consecutive medical out-patients and in-patients for whom a psychiatric consultation was requested. A total of 1700 subjects met eligibility criteria and 1560 agreed to participate.ResultsThree clusters were identified: non-specific psychological distress, irritability and affective disturbances with somatization.ConclusionsTwo-step cluster analysis revealed clusters that were found to occur across clinical settings. The findings indicate the need of expanding clinical assessment in the medically ill to include the various manifestations of somatization, illness behavior and subclinical distress encompassed by the DCPR.
Aging in Rural Canada: A Retrospective and Review
Authors: Keating Norah , Swindle Jennifer , Fletcher Stephanie 
Published: July 2011

RÉSUMÉLa recherche sur le vieillissement en milieu rural s’est développée considérablement depuis la publication du livre,Aging in Rural Canada(Butterworths, 1991). Le but de cet article est double : de fournir une rétrospective sur les questions de viellissement en milieu rural tirée de ce livre, et une revue de la littérature canadienne sur le vieillissement en milieu rural depuis sa publication. L’examen met en évidence les nouvelles orientations dans les définitions conceptuelles du « rural », et dans les questions de l’engagement social, l’indépendance, les réseaux familiaux et sociaux et les services ruraux et la santé. Deux perspectives principales de recherche sont évidents. Le point de vue ou l’optique d’analyse de la marginalisation se concentre sur les personnes âgées en milieu rural ayant des problèmes de santé, mais n’a pas inclus celles qui sont marginalisées par la pauvrété ou le sexe. L’optique d’analyse du vieillissement sain se concentre sur les contributions et l’engagement, mais a omis la recherche sur les relations sociales et la qualité de l’interaction familiale. Le rapport comprend un appel s’interroger sur l’interaction entre les gens et leur lieu de vie et à comprendre les enjeux de la diversité en milieu rural et le processus de vieillissement en milieu rural.
The combined effects of prenatal drug exposure and early adversity on neurobehavioral disinhibition in childhood and adolescence
Authors: Fisher Philip A. , Lester Barry M. , DeGarmo David S. , Lagasse Linda L. , Lin Hai , Shankaran Seetha , Bada Henrietta S. , Bauer Charles R. , Hammond Jane , Whitaker Toni , Higgins Rosemary 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe negative effects of prenatal substance exposure on neurobiological and psychological development and of early adversity are clear, but little is known about their combined effects. In this study, multilevel analyses of the effects of prenatal substance exposure and early adversity on the emergence of neurobehavioral disinhibition in adolescence were conducted. Neurobehavioral disinhibition has previously been observed to occur frequently in multiproblem youth from high-risk backgrounds. In the present study, neurobehavioral disinhibition was assessed via behavioral dysregulation and poor executive function composite measures. Data were drawn from a prospective longitudinal investigation of prenatal substance exposure that included 1,073 participants followed from birth through adolescence. The results from latent growth modeling analyses showed mean stability but significant individual differences in behavioral dysregulation and mean decline with individual differences in executive function difficulties. Prior behavioral dysregulation predicted increased executive function difficulties. Prenatal drug use predicted the emergence and growth in neurobehavioral disinhibition across adolescence (directly for behavioral dysregulation and indirectly for executive function difficulties via early adversity and behavioral dysregulation). Prenatal drug use and early adversity exhibited unique effects on growth in behavioral dysregulation; early adversity uniquely predicted executive function difficulties. These results are discussed in terms of implications for theory development, social policy, and prevention science.
Growth delay as an index of allostatic load in young children: Predictions to disinhibited social approach and diurnal cortisol activity
Authors: Johnson Anna E. , Bruce Jacqueline , Tarullo Amanda R. , Gunnar Megan R. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe goal of this study was to examine whether growth delay can serve as an index of allostatic load during early development, as it is well known that the activity of stress-mediating systems inhibits growth. The participants were children adopted internationally from institutional care (n= 36), children adopted internationally from foster care (n= 26), and nonadopted children (n= 35). For the adopted children, height for age and weight for height were assessed at adoption; for all children, disinhibited social approach (DSA; termed elsewhere as “indiscriminate friendliness”) and diurnal cortisol were assessed at 6–8 years (M= 6.9 years). For internationally adopted children in general, and postinstitutionalized children specifically, linear growth delay assessed at the time of adoption was associated with more dysregulated behavior in response to an unfamiliar adult (i.e., greater DSA) and a more dysregulated diurnal cortisol rhythm (i.e., higher late afternoon and evening values). Further, among the most growth-delayed children, higher cortisol levels later in the day were correlated with DSA. The potential for using growth delay as an allostatic load indicator and the possible problems and limitations in its use in child populations are discussed.
What can allostasis tell us about anabolic–androgenic steroid addiction?
Authors: Hildebrandt Tom , Yehuda Rachel , Alfano Lauren 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAnabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) are synthetic hormones used by individuals who want to look better or perform better in athletics and at the gym. Their use raises an interesting paradox in which drug use is associated with a number of health benefits, but also the possibility of negative health consequences. Existing models of AAS addiction follow the traditional framework of drug abuse and dependence, which suggest that harmful use occurs as a result of the drug's ability to hijack the motivation–reward system. However, AASs, unlike typical drugs of abuse, are not used for acute intoxication effects or euphoria. Rather, AASs are used to affect the body through changes to the musculoskeletal system and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis as opposed to stimulating the reward system. We offer an allostatic model of AAS addiction to resolve this inconsistency between traditional drug addiction and AAS addiction. This allostatic framework provides a way to (a) incorporate exercise into AAS misuse, (b) identify where AAS use transitions from recreational use into a drug problem, and (c) describe individual differences in vulnerability or resilience to AASs. Implications for this model of AAS addiction are discussed.
Allostatic processes in the family
Authors: Repetti Rena L. , Robles Theodore F. , Reynolds Bridget 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe concepts of allostatic load and allostatic processes can help psychologists understand how health trajectories are influenced by stressful childhood experiences in the family. This paper describes psychological pathways and two key allostatic mediators, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the immune system, through which stressful early rearing conditions may influence adult mental and physical health. The action of meshed gears is introduced as a metaphor to illustrate how responses occurring within a brief time frame, for example, immediate reactions to stressors, can influence developmental and health processes unfolding over much longer spans of time. We identify early-developing psychological and biological response patterns that could link chronic stressors in childhood to later health outcomes. Some of these “precursor outcomes” (e.g., heightened vigilance and preparedness for threats; enhanced inflammatory and humoral responses to infectious microorganisms) appear to be aimed at protection from immediate dangers; they may reflect “adaptive trade-offs” that balance short-term survival advantages under harsh rearing conditions against disadvantages manifested later in development. Our analysis also suggests mechanisms that underlie resilience in risky family environments.
Early adversity and adult health outcomes
Authors: Taylor Shelley E. , Way Baldwin M. , Seeman Teresa E. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAdversity in childhood has effects on mental and physical health, not only in childhood but across the lifespan. A chief task of our research has been to define the pathways by which childhood experience has these surprising health outcomes, often decades later. The concept of allostatic load, which refers to dysregulations across major biological regulatory systems that have cumulative interacting adverse effects over time, provides a mechanism for understanding these relations and defining specific pathways. To chart these pathways, we examine early childhood socioeconomic status, family environment, and genetic predispositions as antecedents to socioemotional functioning/psychological distress; and neural responses to threat that have downstream effects on major stress regulatory systems, ultimately culminating in risks to mental and physical health outcomes. This integrative approach to investigating the impact of childhood experience on adult health outcomes illustrates the significance of multilevel integrative approaches to understanding developmental psychopathology more generally.
Impact of using nationalv. international definitions of underweight, overweight and obesity: an example from Kuwait
Authors: El-Ghaziri Mira , Boodai Shurooq , Young David , Reilly John J 
Published: July 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the classification of overweight, obesity and underweight using internationalv. national approaches in Kuwaiti adolescents.DesignAssessment of underweight, overweight and obesity using a national approach (based on Kuwaiti reference data for BMI-for-age) was compared with assessments obtained using three international approaches: the Coleet al.and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) definitions of thinness and of overweight and obesity (Cole-IOTF); WHO 2007; and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 reference data and definitions. The degree of agreement between the different methods was assessed using the weightedκstatistic (κw).SettingTwo randomly selected public intermediate schools in Kuwait City.SubjectsA total of 499 10–14-year-old Kuwaiti adolescents.ResultsPrevalence of overweight and obesity using Kuwaiti reference data (36·7 %; 95 % CI 32·4, 41·1) was significantly lower than that obtained using international approaches – Cole-IOTF (44·7 %; 95 % CI 40·3, 49·2), CDC 2000 (44·9 %; 95 % CI 40·5, 49·4) and WHO 2007 (50·5 %; 95 % CI 46·0, 55·0) (P< 0·01). All three international approaches showed almost perfect agreement: IOTFv. WHO (κw= 0·82; 95 % CI 0·79, 0·85) and IOTFv. CDC (κw= 0·90; 95 % CI 0·87, 0·92). However, Kuwaiti reference data showed the lowest agreement with the three international approaches, the poorest being with WHO 2007 (κw= 0·54; 95 % CI 0·49, 0·59).ConclusionsCaution should be exercised when using recently collected national reference data and definitions while assessing underweight, overweight and obesity for clinical and public health applications.
Comparison of measured rain attenuation and ITU-R predictions on experimental microwave links in Malaysia
Authors: Abdulrahman Amuda Yusuf , bin Abdulrahman Tharek , bin Abdulrahim Sharul Kamal , Kesavan Ulaganathen 
Published: July 2011

This paper presents the results of direct rain attenuation measurements carried out on four experimental microwave links, installed at UTM, Malaysia. The links operate at frequencies of 15, 22, 26, and 38 GHz and the cumulative distribution function for different rain rates have been generated from the measured 4-year rain gauge data. The experimentally measured attenuation data have been compared with International Telecommunication Unior-R rain attenuation predictions; and it has been found that the latter have underestimated the measured values, especially at higher rain rates. The deviations have been modeled as a function of rain rate exceedances R%p. It is hoped that the study will provide useful information for estimation of rainfall attenuation on microwave links in tropical regions that have similar situation to Malaysia.