bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sexual Behavior in Pregnancy: Comparing between Sexual Education Group and Nonsexual Education Group
Authors: Wannakosit Salakjit , Phupong Vorapong 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexuality usually decreases during pregnancy.

Aims
To evaluate sexual behavior during pregnancy, comparing two groups. One had sexual education and the other had none.

Methods
After randomizing two groups of pregnant women, they completed self-administered questionnaires regarding attitudes and sexual behavior before and during pregnancy. Sexual education was provided in one group and a second self-administered questionnaire was completed 12 weeks later. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Comparison of change of sexual behavior between two groups was analyzed using chi-square and student t-tests.

Main Outcome Measures
The change in frequency of coitus during pregnancy was compared between the sexual education group and the noneducation group.

Results
There was no statistically difference in changes of sexual behavior between the two groups. There was a reduction in frequency of coitus (90.6% vs. 94.9%, P &gt; 0.05) between the nonsexual education group and the sexual education group and no statistically significant change in mean reduction of sexual desire (8.9 vs. 4.4, P &gt; 0.05), sexual arousal (14.3 vs. 13.1, P &gt; 0.05), satisfaction from coitus (15.4 vs. 7.2, P &gt; 0.05), and orgasm from coitus (12.3 vs. 12.3, P &gt; 0.05).

Conclusions
The change of sexual behavior during pregnancy in the sexual education group was not different from that in the nonsexual education group.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—PSYCHOLOGY: Sexual Desire in Women: An Integrative Approach Regarding Psychological, Medical, and Relationship Dimensions
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Nobre Pedro 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexual desire depends on the balance between biologic, psychological, and cultural values. Therefore, conceptualizations of female sexual desire difficulties should consider the interrelated role of those factors.

Aim
The aim of this study was to test a conceptual model regarding factors often implicated on female sexual desire, in order to understand the way those factors interact in sexual interest. Moreover, we intended to evaluate the mediation role of cognitive–emotional factors between sexual desire and other dimensions such as age, medical problems, psychopathology, or dyadic adjustment.

Methods
Two hundred and thirty-seven women from the general population participated in the study. We evaluated psychopathology, dysfunctional sexual beliefs, automatic thoughts and emotions during sexual activity, dyadic adjustment, and presence of medical problems.

Main Outcome Measures
Psychopathology measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, dysfunctional sexual beliefs measured by the Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire, thoughts and emotions in sexual context measured by the Sexual Modes Questionnaire, dyadic adjustment measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, medical condition measured by the Medical History Formulation, and sexual desire measured by the Sexual Desire subscale of the Female Sexual Function Index.

Results
Results from the proposed conceptual model suggest that cognitive factors (mainly automatic thoughts during sexual activity) were the best predictors of sexual desire. In a more specific way, age, failure/disengagement thoughts, and lack of erotic thoughts during sexual activity, showed a significant direct effect on reduced sexual desire. Furthermore, sexual conservatism beliefs, and medical factors showed indirect effects, acting on sexual desire via the presence of lack of erotic thoughts, and failure/disengagement sexual thoughts, respectively.

Conclusions
Results from this integrative approach support the need to include cognitive dimensions in the assessment and treatment of sexual desire problems, considering their implication as vulnerability or resilient factors regarding deficient sexual interest in women.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—COUPLES’ SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS: Sexual Disorders in Infertile Couples
Authors: Wischmann Tewes H. 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexuality and the desire for a child are strongly interconnected. The same applies to sexual disorders and the unfulfilled desire for a child.

Aim
This article indicates the relations between sexual disorders and the unfulfilled desire for a child and outlines the potential effects of diagnostics and treatment in the context of reproductive medicine on the couples’ sexuality.

Methods
A research drive was undertaken in well-established medical and psychological literature database with the keywords “infertile” or “infertility” and “sexual dysfunction” or “sexual satisfaction.”

Results
Sexual dysfunctions (of organic or of psychic origin) as a cause of involuntary childlessness are relatively unusual. By contrast (temporary) sexual disorders resulting from diagnosis and medical therapy are common in couples with fertility problems, with women more frequently affected than men.

Conclusions
Counseling for couples with the unfulfilled desire for a child should invariably include explicit and appropriately tactful reference to sexuality and (functional) sexual disorders by the therapist.
Effects of Agricultural Intensification on the Assemblage of Leaf‐Nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae) in a Coffee Landscape in Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Williams‐Guillén Kimberly , Perfecto Ivette 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTThe agricultural matrix surrounding forested areas serves critical functions as dispersal corridors and alternate habitat for wildlife. Agricultural intensification, however, can reduce the conservation value of these areas. To evaluate the effects of agroecosystem management on bat assemblages, we studied the abundance and diversity of leaf‐nosed bats (family: Phyllostomidae) in southwestern Chiapas, Mexico, a landscape dominated by shade coffee agroforestry. During 2104 mist‐net hour (MNH), we captured 3167 bats of 27 phyllostomid species. Total species richness in each land‐use type varied from 24 species in forest fragments to 22 species in commercial shade polycultures. Although the cumulative observed species richness showed little change in response to management intensity, the number of bats captured per MNH declined significantly in the more intensively managed (i.e., low‐shade monocultures) plantations. Intensively managed coffee plantations had lower phyllostomid diversity and species similarity, and had lower proportions of nectarivorous and animalivorous bats. Among frugivores, the proportion of large (>25 g) frugivores captured increased with management intensity. Recapture frequency was significantly higher than expected in forest fragments, and lower than expected in more intensively managed coffee. Our results suggest that less intensively managed coffee agroforests can serve as valuable feeding and commuting areas for most leaf‐nosed bats, and that maintaining forest fragments in agricultural landscapes contributes to bat diversity. Declines in populations of gleaning insectivores, however, could compromise natural suppression of insect pests in these agricultural areas.
Tree Diversity Explains Variation in Ecosystem Function in a Neotropical Forest in Panama
Authors: Ruiz‐Jaen Maria C. , Potvin Catherine 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTMany experimental studies show that a decline in species number has a negative effect on ecosystem function, however less is known about this pattern in natural communities. We examined the relative importance of environment, space, and diversity on ecosystem function, specifically tree carbon storage in four plant types (understory/canopy; trees/palms), in a tropical forest in central Panama. The objectives of this study were to detect the relationship between tree diversity and carbon storage given the environmental and spatial variation that occur in natural forests and to determine which species diversity measure is more important to tree carbon storage: richness or dominance. We used redundancy analyses to partition the effect of these sources of variation on tree carbon storage. We showed that together, environment, space, and diversity accounted for 43 percent of tree carbon storage, where diversity (19%) alone is the most important source of variation and explained more variation than space (13%) and environment (1%) together. Therefore, even in natural forests where substantial environment and spatial variation can be found, it is still possible to detect the effect of diversity on ecosystem function at scales relevant to conservation. Moreover, both richness and dominance are important to explain the variation on tree carbon storage in natural forests suggesting that these two diversity measures are complementary. Thus, tree diversity is important to predict tree carbon storage in hyperdiverse forests.
Overexpression and Suppression of Violaxanthin De‐epoxidase Affects the Sensitivity of Photosystem II Photoinhibition to High Light and Chilling Stress in Transgenic Tobacco
Authors: Gao Shan , Han Han , Feng Hai‐Long , Zhao Shi‐Jie , Meng Qing‐Wei 
Published: February 2010

Abstract Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transformed with the sense and antisense constructs of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) violaxanthin de‐epoxidase gene (LeVDE) was obtained under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (35S‐CaMV). Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis demonstrated that the exogenous gene was integrated into the tobacco genome. Wild type (WT), the sense‐transgenic line T1‐24(+) and the antisense‐transgenic line T1‐17(−) were used for physiological measurement. The ratio of (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) and non‐photochemical quenching in WT were lower than that in sense plants and higher than that in antisense ones under high light and chilling stress with low irradiance. The maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm) and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in the sense line decreased less, while Fv/Fm and Pn in the antisense line decreased most obviously among all lines. These results suggest that the expression of the violaxanthin de‐epoxidase gene in transgenic plants affects the sensitivity of PSII photoinhibition to high light and chilling stress.
Organ‐Specific Responses of Vacuolar H+‐ATPase in the Shoots and Roots of C3 Halophyte Suaeda salsa to NaCl
Authors: Yang Ming‐Feng , Song Jie , Wang Bao‐Shan 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
Suaeda salsa L. is a halophytic species that is well adapted to high salinity. In order to understand its salt tolerance mechanism, we examined the growth and vacuolar H+‐ATPase (V‐ATPase) response to NaCl within the shoots and roots. The growth of shoots, but not roots, was dramatically stimulated by NaCl. Cl− and Na+ were mainly accumulated in shoots. V‐ATPase activity was significantly increased by NaCl in roots and especially in shoots. Interestingly, antisera ATP95 and ATP88b detected three V1 subunits (66, 55 and 36 KDa) of V‐ATPase only in shoots, while an 18 kDa V0 subunit of V‐ATPase was detected by both antisera in shoots and roots. It suggested that the tissue‐specific characteristics of V‐ATPase were related to the different patterns of growth and ion accumulation in shoots and roots of S. salsa.
Optimizing Seed Water Content: Relevance to Storage Stability and Molecular Mobility
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhuo Jia‐Jin , Wang Xu , Wu Sen , Wang Xiao‐Feng 
Published: February 2010

Abstract This research was conducted to determine the optimum moisture content (MC) that gave maximum longevity to seeds. Three species were used to represent seeds with different dry matter reserves, which gives them different sorption properties: maize (Zea mays L.), elm (Ulmus pumila L.) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). The seeds of elm, safflower, and maize embryos with MC ranging from 0.00–0.15 g H2O/g dry weight (DW) were stored at 35 °C for different periods of time. The results showed that the optimum MC for seed and embryo storage varied between species (0.057 g H2O/g DW for maize embryos, 0.045 g H2O/g DW for elm, and 0.02 g H2O/g DW for safflower). Drying below this optimum MC increased the aging rate and there were detrimental effects of drying. The relative humidity corresponding to optimum MC in embryos of maize, elms and safflower was about 15%, 12% and 7% respectively, according to the lipid composition of the embryos. The data provided confirmatory evidence that molecular mobility (ΔAzz) in elms, maize and safflower embryos was compatible with the optimum moisture content.
Increased Vitamin C Content Accompanied by an Enhanced Recycling Pathway Confers Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Zinan , Xiao Ying , Chen Wansheng , Tang Kexuan , Zhang Lei 
Published: February 2010

Abstract Vitamin C (L‐ascorbic acid, AsA) has important antioxidant and metabolic functions in both plants and animals. Once used, ascorbic acid can be regenerated from its oxidized form in a reaction catalyzed by dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1). To analyze the physiological role of DHAR catalyzing the reduction of DHA to ascorbate in environmental stress adaptation, we examined whether increasing the level of AsA through enhanced AsA recycling would limit the deleterious effects of oxidative stress. A chimeric construct consisting of the double CaMV35S promoter fused to the Myc‐dhar gene was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants were biochemically characterized and tested for responses to oxidative stress. Western blot indicated that the dhar‐transgene was successfully expressed. In homozygous T4 transgenic seedlings, DHAR overexpression was increased up to 1.5 to 5.4 fold, which enhanced foliar ascorbic acid levels 2‐ to 4.25‐fold and ratio of AsA/DHA about 3‐ to 16‐fold relative to wild type. In addition, the level of glutathione, the reductant used by DHAR, also increased as did its redox state. When whole plants were treated with high light and high temperature stress or in vitro leaf discs were subjected to 10 μM paraquat, transgenic plants showed a larger AsA pool size, lower membrane damage, and a higher level of chlorophyll compared with controls. These data suggested that increasing the plant vitamin C content through enhanced ascorbate recycling could limit the deleterious effects of environmental oxidative stress.
Viability Loss Pattern under Rapid Dehydration of Antiaris toxicaria Axes and its Relation to Oxidative Damage
Authors: Xin Xia , Jing Xin‐Ming , Liu Yong , Song Song‐Quan 
Published: February 2010

Abstract The relation between oxidative damage and viability loss of excised embryonic axes of Antiaris toxicaria subjected to rapid drying with silica gel at 15 °C was studied. Changes of survival rate, accumulation of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARs), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and the permeability of cell membrane that was determined as relative electrolyte leakage (REL) were measured. The half‐life moisture content (MCL50) was 0.41 g H2O/g DW (dry weight basis). During drying, the activities of SOD, CAT and APX increased until MCL50, and declined thereafter. The generation speed of ·O2−, and content of H2O2 and TBARs remained steadily or even decreased at MC levels higher than MCL50, demonstrating a low oxidative level in these axes. There was no significant correlation between viability loss and accumulation of reactive oxygen species or lipid peroxidation within the dehydration process until MCL50. Whereas the increase in REL from the beginning of the drying process indicated that the cell membrane was damaged. In conclusion, under rapid drying with silica gel the viability loss of excised recalcitrant A. toxicaria axes seemed to be triggered by mechanical or physical damage, rather than metabolic damage.
The Arabidopsis BE1 Gene, Encoding a Putative Glycoside Hydrolase Localized in Plastids, Plays Crucial Roles during Embryogenesis and Carbohydrate Metabolism
Authors: Wang Xingchun , Xue Li , Sun Jiaqiang , Zuo Jianru 
Published: February 2010

Abstract Carbohydrate metabolism is central to plant growth and development. However, little is known about its role in embryogenesis. Here, we report the characterization of multiple alleles of the BRANCHING ENZYME1 (BE1) gene (also known as EMB2729). The weak allele of be1‐3, characterized by positional cloning, carries a single‐nucleotide substitution in an exon‐intron junction and shows various developmental defects during post‐germination growth. This mutation causes a reduced level of BE1 mRNA that, likely generated from cryptically spliced pre‐mRNA, contains a Glu‐to‐Lys substitution at codon 366. In four null alleles, BE1 is disrupted by T‐DNA insertions, causing embryo developmental arrests at the heart stage. Light microscopy reveals reduced cell divisions and abnormal cell differentiation, thereby leading to defects in setting up the shoot apical meristem, embryonic vascular tissues and cotyledons. Overexpression of BE1 results in a pleiotropic phenotype, indicating that the fine‐tuned BE1 level is crucial for plant growth and development. BE1 encodes a putative glycoside hydrolase that is highly conserved in higher plants. A BE1‐GFP fusion protein, which is fully functional in complementing be1 mutants, is localized in plastids. The be1‐3 phenotype can be partially rescued by glucose, fructose or sucrose, implying the involvement of BE1 in carbohydrate metabolism in plastids.
Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 with neurological manifestations, a case series
Authors: Noriega Luis Miguel , Verdugo Renato J. , Araos Rafael , Munita José Manuel , Díaz Violeta , Marcotti Alejandra , Perez Jorge , Gonzalez Patricia , Thompson Luis , Canals Magdalena , Hoppe Arnold , Mounts Anthony W. , Vial Pablo A. 
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Noriega et al. (2010) Pandemic influenza a (H1N1) 2009 with neurological manifestations, a case series. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(3), 117–120.Objectives  Describe a series of atypical presentations of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009.Methods  Description of case series using hospital records.Results  Six patients aged 1 to 65 years with confirmed pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection presented with neurological complications within 2 to 5 days after the first signs of influenza‐like illness. All six were admitted with seizures or altered mental status. No abnormalities were found in brain scans or cerebral spinal fluid studies of any of the six. All were discharged without sequelae within days of admission.Conclusions  This is only the second report of pandemic influenza presenting with neurological manifestations. Clinicians caring for patients when pandemic influenza is prevalent in their communities should maintain a high level of awareness of the potential atypical presentations with which this disease can appear.
Neuropathological Findings in Intractable Epilepsy: 435 Chinese Cases
Authors: Piao Yue‐Shan , Lu De‐Hong , Chen Li , Liu Jing , Wang Wei , Liu Lei , Yu Tao , Wang Yu‐Ping , Li Yong‐Jie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe number of patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing surgical management in China is increasing rapidly. We retrospectively reviewed 435 consecutive cases of intractable epilepsy receiving surgical resection from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital, looking specifically at the neuropathological findings. The three most common causes of intractable epilepsy were focal cortical dysplasia (FCD; 52.9%), scar lesions (22.8%) and brain tumors (11.7%). Hippocampal sclerosis was identified in 74 cases (17.0%), although most of these were accompanied by dual pathology with FCD (especially Palmini type IB), scar lesions or tumors. Among FCD cases, Palmini type I lesions are the most frequently observed abnormality, with a preferred location in the temporal lobe (60.1%) and often accompanied by dual pathology. In contrast, Palmini type II FCD lesions occurred predominantly in the frontal regions and with a lower age of onset. Most tumors were mixed neuronal–glial tumors, mainly ganglioglioma (19 cases) and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (10 cases), with a trend toward a temporal location and usually accompanied by cortical dysplasia in the peritumor area. Our data on the neuropathology of intractable epilepsy in China show that glioneuronal lesions are the most prominent cause of intractable epilepsy, and this is consistent with reports from other countries.
Serum myeloperoxidase levels and platelet activation parameters as diagnostic and prognostic markers in the course of coronary disease
Authors: PAWLUS J. , HOŁUB M. , KOŻUCH M. , DĄBROWSKA M. , DOBRZYCKI S. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryEarly prediction of coronary artery disease complications is vital for the prevention and effective treatment of patients with coronary cardiac disease. It has been reported that inflammatory markers play a key role in the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Platelet count and platelet morphological parameters were analyzed on a fully‐automated hematological analyzer ADVIA 2120 (Siemens). Serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) level was determined with an enzyme immunoassay (BioCheck). The measuring range of this assay is between 0 and 40 ng/ml. We demonstrate that serum MPO concentration and platelet activation increase systematically with the advancement of coronary artery disease. Moreover, MPO level is significantly higher in patients with unstable coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction compared with healthy subjects and patients with stable angina. The diagnostic sensitivity of these parameters was higher than of TnI (cardiac troponin I), CK‐MB (creatine kinase‐heart type), CRP (C‐reactive protein), and fibrinogen and DD (D‐dimers). MPO, L‐PLT (large platelet), MPV (mean platelet volume), and MPC (mean platelet component concentration) may serve as attractive diagnostic and prognostic markers in the assessment of the risk for unstable atheroma in the course of coronary artery disease.
Characterisation and relevance of CD138‐negative plasma cells in plasma cell myeloma
Authors: REID S. , YANG S. , BROWN R. , KABANI K. , AKLILU E. , HO P. J. , WOODLAND N. , JOSHUA D. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryIntroduction:  The use of CD138 to isolate CD138 + plasma cells (PCs) from plasma cell myeloma (PCM) patients’ bone marrow samples has been used extensively in myeloma research. We sought to highlight the problem with this selection process, by demonstrating that a subpopulation of CD138− plasma cells exists which is not included in these analyses.Methods:  Retrospective analysis of a patient database was carried out on all PCM patient bone marrow biopsies taken between 4/9/07 and 18/2/09 (n = 218). CD138 + and CD138− cell populations were separated using flow cytometry cell sorter then analyzed for percentage of cells in S phase using plasma cell labeling index as an indicator of proliferation.Results:  Database results indicated a CD138− PC population in all PCM patient samples which also had a significantly increased (r = 0.53; P < 0.0001) CD45 expression, an indicator or immaturity. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the presence of a more immature, higher proliferating CD138− PC population through a significantly (t = 3.26; P < 0.02) higher number of CD138− PCs in S phase compared with the CD138 + cells.Conclusion:  We have characterised the CD138− PCs as more immature and with a significantly higher proliferative potential. The current trend to ignore this more immature and proliferative subpopulation of malignant PCs may have serious implications when determining gene expression, classifications and drug sensitivity of the malignancy.