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Summary Results from recent randomised clinical trials in amblyopia should change our approach to screening for and treatment of amblyopia. Based on the current evidence, if one screening session is used, screening at school entry could be the most reasonable time. Clinicians should preferably use age-appropriate LogMAR acuity tests, and treatment should only be considered for children who are clearly not in the typical range for their age. Any substantial refractive error should be corrected before further treatment is considered and the child should be followed in spectacles until no further improvement is recorded, which can take up to 6 months. Parents and carers should then be offered an informed choice between patching and atropine drops. Successful patching regimens can last as little as 1 h or 2 h a day, and successful atropine regimens as little as one drop twice a week. Intense and extended regimens might not be needed in initial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MedBiquitous is a consortium whose members are working to develop a common technology framework that will support reforms in healthcare education and competence assessment. The mission of MedBiquitous is to advance healthcare education through technology standards that promote professional competence, collaboration, and better patient care. The consortium members include professional medical associations, technology. companies, e-learning firms, and publishers, among others. Two publishers actively working within MedBiquitous are John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and the American Academy of Pediatrics, who are pursuing their own objectives to help to create improved online medical communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that a subset of cancer cells within some tumors, the so-called cancer stem cells, may drive the growth and metastasis of these tumors. Understanding the pathways that regulate proliferation, self-renewal, survival, and differentiation of malignant and normal stem cells may shed light on mechanisms that lead to cancer and suggest better modes of treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To assess the degree of accuracy, precision and consistency with which consultant urologists, oncologists and junior doctors predict a patient's 10-year life-expectancy.Eighteen doctors of varying seniority independently examined 70 patient case scenarios containing detailed medical histories; 13 of these cases were duplicate scenarios. Bland-Altman analyses were used to compare doctors’ estimates of the probability of each hypothetical patient surviving 10 years with that calculated using actuarial methods. Intra- and interdoctor reliability were also assessed.Compared with actuarial estimates, doctors underestimated the 10-year survival probability by an overall mean of 10.8% (95% confidence interval, 10.1–11.5%). The 18 individual doctors ranged from a mean underestimation of 33.2% to a mean overestimation of 3.9%. Variation around these means was considerable for each doctor, the standard deviations being 14.5–20.9%. Inter-doctor reliability was 0.58, while overall intra-doctor reliability was 0.74, but for individual doctors was 0.31–0.94. Junior doctors were less accurate in their predictions than the senior doctors. Five doctors tended to overestimate where life-expectancy was poor and underestimate where it was good.Doctors were poor at predicting 10-year survival, tending to underestimate when compared with actuarial estimates. There was also substantial variability both within and between doctors. The inaccuracy, imprecision and inconsistency amongst the doctors in assessing patient life-expectancy is an important finding and has significant implications for managing patients. Many patients may be denied treatment after a pessimistic assessment of life-expectancy and (less commonly) some may inappropriately be offered treatment after an optimistic assessment. The particular inaccuracy in junior doctors compared with their senior colleagues also highlights the need for training. The development of a tool to assist in both training and clinical practice has the potential to improve doctors’ decision-making and patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increasing evidence to support the phenomenon of response shift (RS) in quality of life (QoL) studies, with many current QoL measures failing to allow for this. If significant response shift occurs amongst prostate cancer patients, it will be necessary to allow for this in the design of future clinical research and to reassess the conclusions of previous studies that have not allowed for this source of bias. This study therefore aimed to assess the presence of RS and psychosocial morbidity in patients with advanced prostate cancer and their partners. Methods: 55 consecutive advanced prostate cancer patients and their partners completed the Prostate Cancer Patient & Partner questionnaire (PPP), shortly after diagnosis and again at 3 months and 6 months. At the follow-up visits, both patients and partners also completed a thentest in order to assess RS. Results: Partners consistently showed greater psychological morbidity than patients in relation to the prostate cancer. This was most marked on the General Cancer Distress (GCD) subscale (p < 0.001, paired t-test), and regarding worries about treatment (p = 0.01). Significant RS was identified in partners and patients by the use of the then-test technique, particularly on the GCD subscale, the concerns about treatment and the concerns about urinary symptoms items. Conclusion: These results suggest the presence of RS in patients with advanced prostate cancer and their partners, with higher levels of psychosocial morbidity noted amongst partners. This is the first study to identify RS in partners and calls into question the interpretation of all studies assessing changes in QoL that fail to allow for this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many organisms that are responsible for low-grade infection after total hip replacement (THR) are not recognized by routine culture. Patients and methods We examined wound contamination during primary total hip replacement performed in standard and ultra-clean operating theaters. 20 THRs were performed in each type of theater. Paired tissue specimens taken at the beginning and end of surgery were analyzed by bacterial culture and for the presence of bacterial DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In total, 160 specimens (80 for culture, 80 for PCR) from 40 THRs were tested. Results In standard theaters, none of the 20 specimens taken at the start of surgery were positive by culture, but 3 were positive by PCR (15%). Of the 20 specimens taken at the end of surgery, 2 were positive by enriched culture and 9 were positive by PCR. All specimens positive by culture were also positive by PCR. In ultra-clean theaters, none of the 20 specimens taken at the start of surgery were positive by culture, but 2 were positive by PCR. Of the 20 specimens taken at the end of surgery, none were positive by culture, but 6 were positive by PCR. All specimens that were positive by culture were positive by PCR. Interpretation Wound contamination of primary THR occurs frequently in both standard and ultra-clean operating theaters and contamination is greater at the end of surgery than at the beginning (p=0.04). In this small series, we found no differences in wound contamination between standard and ultra-clean theaters (p=0.1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid tumors arise in organs that contain stem cell populations. The tumors in these tissues consist of heterogeneous populations of cancer cells that differ markedly in their ability to proliferate and form new tumors. In both breast cancers and central nervous system tumors, cancer cells differ in their ability to form tumors. While the majority of the cancer cells have a limited ability to divide, a population of cancer stem cells that has the exclusive ability to extensively proliferate and form new tumors can be identified based on marker expression. Growing evidence suggests that pathways that regulate the self-renewal of normal stem cells are deregulated in cancer stem cells resulting in the continuous expansion of self-renewing cancer cells and tumor formation. This suggests that agents that target the defective self-renewal pathways in cancer cells might lead to improved outcomes in the treatment of these diseases.Oncogene (2004) 23, 7274-7282. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207947 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the access to scientific, technical, and medical (STM) literature. Information on the open access movement for STM in the Internet; Discussion on the copyright designation of publication; Development of electronic publications.

The airline industry can been described as one of the most technologically advanced. The primary players--the scheduled carriers rely on a wide variety of management information systems and decision support systems, which are typically developed using concepts from operations research and artificial intelligence. Operation research techniques have been applied to all areas of airline management, ranging from the strategic planning phase through to the post-analysis phase of operations. We present the state-of-the-art in the airline industry as it relates to applying operations research to solve traditional airline planning problems. We describe each business problem, review existing solution procedures, highlight recent research activity, and identify potential advancements and research opportunities. In addition, we quantify the benefits of implementing operations research based solutions in the airline industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Kingdom's present strategic nuclear deterrent, the Trident submarine-based system, has been in full operation for less than four years. But the government will have to consider questions about the follow-on to this system before the end of this parliament and its successor government will almost certainly have to start taking, and implementing, decisions before 2008–9. In the past, political and public debates about the UK's nuclear weapons tended to flow forward on their own technical momentum, backed by the strategic imperatives of the Cold War. The next successor decisions, however, will be made in an era where both the technical questions and the strategic environment will be radically different. There may or may not be another vigorous public debate, but the present, and next, government will face some fundamental [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Not all cancer cells are created equal. There are intrinsic differences among cancer cells from the same patient in terms of their ability to proliferate and form tumors in vivo. • A subset of cancer cells have the properties of cancer stem cells, which self-renew to generate additional cancer stem cells and differentiate to generate phenotypically diverse cancer cells with limited proliferative potential. Cancer stem cells are highly enriched for the ability to form tumors following transplantation relative to bulk tumor cells or non-tumorigenic cancer cells. • Cancer stem cells have been characterized in the context of human acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer and glioblastoma. In each case, surface markers have been identified that distinguish cancer stem cells from cancer cells with more limited proliferative potential, allowing the prospective identification of cancer stem cells. • In some cases, cancer stem cells might arise from the mutational transformation of normal stem cells, whereas in other cases mutations might cause restricted progenitors or differentiated cells to acquire properties of cancer stem cells such as self-renewal potential. • The neoplastic proliferation of cancer stem cells is likely to be driven by mutations that inappropriately activate pathways that promote the self-renewal of normal stem cells. Examples of these pathways include the WNT, and BMIl-dependent pathways that regulate the self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells and neural stem cells. • Further characterization of cancer stem cells might lead to improved diagnostics and therapies by allowing us to better identify and target cancer stem cells. To cure cancer it is necessary to kill, differentiate or prevent the metastasis of cancer stem cells. INSETS: Summary;Targeting cancer-stem-cel self-renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing peer relationships in school is an essential part of growing up. Many children who have little or no functional speech are provided with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems such as speech synthesizers and books and charts of symbols/pictures/words. Such children face many barriers to communication and to developing peer relationships. To date there exists little understanding of the characteristics of interaction between children using AAC and their speaking peers. This paper reports findings from an analysis of interactions between 12 children with physical disabilities using AAC systems and their speaking peers in school. Analysis identifies the primary structures, functions, and modes of communication used by both partners in one-to-one conversation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region is China's largest administrative unit and is populated by predominantly non-Han Chinese peoples. Throughout the 1991-2001 period, Xinjiang has witnessed regular and sometimes violent incidents of Uighur opposition to Chinese control of the region. The re-emergence of ethnic nationalist sentiment in Xinjiang has serious implications not only for China's internal economic and political development but also for its foreign relations with the states of Central Asia. This paper will argue that this process does not follow an internal-external trajectory exclusively, in that both its foreign policy objectives and the international environment in which those objectives are pursued can also influence China's policies in Xinjiang. Conversely, reformulation of Chinese foreign policy objectives toward certain states can also have an impact upon the formulation and implementation of minority policy within Xinjiang. An example of these processes is China's relations with the post-Soviet Central Asian Republics. This paper argues that China's relations with these states over the 1991-2001 period have been influenced by both fragmenting and integrating dynamics, whereby renewed ethno-religious conflicts have developed in parallel with increasing economic and political integration across Central Asia and Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-developed synthetic chemistry of ruthenium, particularly with ammine, amine and imine ligands, provides for many approaches to innovative new metallopharmaceuticals. Advantages of utilizing ruthenium am(m)ine complexes in drug development include, (1) reliable preparations of stable complexes with predictable structures; (2) the ability to tune ligand affinities, electron transfer and substitution rates, and reduction potentials; and (3) an increasing knowledge of the biological effects of ruthenium complexes. Many Ru(II) and Ru(III) am(m)ine complexes selectively bind to imine sites in biomolecules. Collectively, these lend ruthenium complexes to redox-activation and photodynamic approaches to therapy as well as the development of radiopharmaceuticals containing one of several radionuclides of ruthenium. Ruthenium red and the related Ru360 strongly inhibit calcium ion uptake in the mitochondria. A number of ruthenium compounds with anticancer activity appear to penetrate tumors through a transferrin-mediated process and bind to cellular DNA following intracellular activation by reduction. Ruthenium complexes exhibit both nitric oxide release and scavenging functions that can affect vasodilation and synapse firing. Simple ruthenium complexes are unusually effective in suppressing the immune response by inhibiting T cell proliferation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The well-developed synthetic chemistry of ruthenium, particularly with ammine, amine and imine ligands, provides for many approaches to innovative new metallopharmaceuticals. Advantages of utilizing ruthenium am(m)ine complexes in drug development include, (1) reliable preparations of stable complexes with predictable structures; (2) the ability to tune ligand affinities, electron transfer and substitution rates, and reduction potentials; and (3) an increasing knowledge of the biological effects of ruthenium complexes. Many Ru(II) and Ru(III) am(m)ine complexes selectively bind to imine sites in biomolecules. Collectively, these lend ruthenium complexes to redox-activation and photodynamic approaches to therapy as well as the development of radiopharmaceuticals containing one of several radionuclides of ruthenium. Ruthenium red and the related Ru360 strongly inhibit calcium ion uptake in the mitochondria. A number of ruthenium compounds with anticancer activity appear to penetrate tumors through a transferrin-mediated process and bind to cellular DNA following intracellular activation by reduction. Ruthenium complexes exhibit both nitric oxide release and scavenging functions that can affect vasodilation and synapse firing. Simple ruthenium complexes are unusually effective in suppressing the immune response by inhibiting T cell proliferation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary. This report presents a historical and descriptive account of randomized trials in childhood leukaemia since the earliest such studies in the 1960s. It focuses on trials that began before 1988, making use of the register of trials developed for a systematic review of treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children. The number of randomized trials starting each year increased from one or two in the 1960s to an annual average of five or six in the 1980s. However trials remained relatively small, with more than half of all randomizations accruing less than 200 patients and only five having more than 1000. Most trials were published more than once. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the sex ratios of adults and nestlings in the cooperatively breeding bell miner, Manorina melanophrys. Representation of males among helpers; Comparison between the net cost of raising males and that of females; Quantitative predictions from repayment models.

Presents the pattern relative to the translation of woolly English into Parryist approach to Homeric epithets of Greek tragedy. Attributive manifestation of Sophocles and Antigone; Scrutiny on the linguistic and cultural context of the tragedy; Overview of the expositions used in the version of Greek tragedy.

Focuses on the language used by Homer in Greek mythology. Contextual representation integrated in the series; Assessment on the Homeric attestation relative to the dialogue in Iliad and Odyssey; Interpretation of the Homeric characters depicted on his works.

Despite intensive study of p53, the regulation of p53 cellular localization is still poorly understood. This is an overview of the elements and molecules involved in p53 nucleocytoplasmic transportation. These include the nuclear import and export signals of p53, inhibition of p53 nuclear import and export by oligomerization, MDM2-mediated p53 nuclear export, and possible roles of p53 phosphorylation in regulating p53 cellular localization. Finally, questions regarding p53 cellular trafficking will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the professionalization of financial advice in Great Britain. The very success of the professions which established themselves on the classical model of the liberal or free profession by the end of the nineteenth century, epitomized by law and medicine, alter the conditions for least some of their aspiring successors. The substantial autonomy achieved by law and medicine laid down a marker for other occupations, not least because it was based on the claim that their remits concerned areas of life of vital importance, in which the expertise necessary to deliver a service that could protect citizens now existed. As established well funded and substantially autonomous occupations the clergy and academics arguably predate law and medicine. The constant advance of knowledge, scientific and otherwise, and the concomitant ever changing division of labor have given rise to a steady flow of aspirant professions. And, it should be said, the longterm growth of industrial economies, accompanied by social democratic politics and welfarism, has resulted in substantial portions of populations having the incomes and expectations of security which might form the basis for the patronage of additional professions.

Aim: The aims were: (1) to identify the environmental drivers of interannual variation in wildfire extent and severity; (2) to examine temporal trends in climatic potential for large and severe wildfires; and (3) to assess whether environmental conditions experienced during the 2019–2020 mega‐fire season were anomalous. Location: South‐eastern Australia. Time period: 1953–2020. Major taxa studied: Temperate forests. Methods: We used satellite‐derived fire severity mapping from 1988 to 2020 to model the effects of drought, weather and fuels on the annual area burned and the proportion of the area burned that was impacted by high‐severity fire across four bioregions. Trends in wildfire extent and severity were then estimated from 1953 to 2020 using these derived models and gridded climate data to assess changes in climatic potential for large and severe wildfires. Estimates of wildfire extent and severity for the 2019–2020 fire season were then assessed against prior seasons (1953–2019). Results: Annual area burned was positively related to the severity of seasonal drought and frequency of fire weather conditions that promote substantial daily fire growth. Wildfire severity was elevated in years with severe fire weather and increased with increasing antecedent drought in years without severe fire weather. Fuels had a lesser effect on wildfire extent and severity than climate. Potential fire extent and severity have increased over time in response to an increased severity of drought and worsening fire weather conditions. Estimates of wildfire extent and severity during the 2019–2020 fire season approached the upper extreme within each bioregion, owing to widespread extreme climatic conditions. Main conclusions: The climatic potential for large and severe forest fires has increased across south‐eastern Australia since the 1950s, probably because of anthropogenic climate change. The magnitude and severity of the 2019–2020 fires reflected climatic conditions that are driving an increase in the size and severity of wildfires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of varying algal availability on byssal thread production by re–attaching zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) was quantified. The byssal apparatus was severed and mussels allowed to re–attach to a hard substratum for a 21 day period during which they were fed at algal concentrations of 0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg C l−1. Byssal thread production was quantified by counting the number of new attachment plaques present each day. Results showed that starved mussels continued to partition organic carbon towards thread production but the resultant byssal mass was compromised, containing fewer threads than those produced by fed mussels. The daily average byssal thread production by mussels fed at 2.0 mg C l−1 was greater than that of starved mussels and the final mean dry soft tissue weight higher. At algal C concentrations below maintenance requirements byssal thread production was elevated compared to starved mussels, but there was no concurrent increase in soft tissue. This suggests that below maintenance levels assimilated carbon was solely partitioned towards byssus production and stored reserves may have been utilized. The ratio of organic carbon contained in the byssus to that in the soft tissues remained relatively constant across all feeding levels. This suggests that the carbon content of the byssus is a constant function of that of the soft tissue mass. These results may explain seasonal variation in attachment strength of numerous byssate species and seasonal vertical migrations by D. polymorpha. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents information on a study which focused on the mechanistic approaches to chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs involving non-platinum metal ion complexes. Application of transition-metal antitumor agents in clinical tests; Impact of Gallium in clinical treatment of soft tissue tumors; Correlation between cytotoxicity and DNA; Conclusion.

It has been reported that Lysine-305 is needed for the nuclear import of the p53 protein (Liang et al., 1998). In the present study, further mutagenesis analyses were carried out between Lys-305 and the major nuclear localization signal (NLS I) of p53. It was found that a single mutation of Arg-306 resulted in the defect of p53 nuclear import. This effect is the same as that of Lys-305 mutation. Other mutations between Arg-306 and NLS I have no effect on the nuclear import of p53. However, deletions of more than two amino acids between this region abolished the transport of p53 into the nucleus. These results indicate that a basic domain other than the well defined NLS is required for the nuclear import of p53. A spacer between this basic domain and NLS I is necessary for the entrance of p53 into the cell nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The social organization of the sexually dimorphic and dichromatic Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera (Latham 1801) was studied at Wilsons Promontory National Park between January 1994 and January 1997. All breeding attempts at one site were followed during the spring and summer of 1996. Most pairs were multibrooded, with pair-bonds maintained throughout the study. Breeding males held well-defined territories. Females, although generally restricting their activities to within their mate’s territory, visited other males’ territories more frequently than did their mates and did so close to the time of egg laying. Males aggressively chased intruding males, but appeared to permit intrusions by non-mate females. Circumstantial evidence suggests some males may kill neighbour’s nestlings. Female Crescent Honeyeaters are solely responsible for nest construction and incubation. While both sexes attended nestlings, males contributed to parental care significantly less than females. Males also provided significantly less parental care than has been reported for monomorphic species of honeyeater. Single syllable calls are given throughout the year. Peaks in the rate of double and multisyllable calls corresponded with peaks in breeding activity. Only males were observed uttering loud multisyllable calls. In contrast to predictions arising from sexual selection theory and observations of the mating system of sexually dimorphic hummingbirds, the population of Crescent Honeyeaters studied exhibited a socially monogamous mating system. However, the very limited male role in parental care and non-observance of male territory boundaries by females suggest the genetic mating system may not be one of monogamy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines the assumptions on which traditional management in British local authorities was based. It argues the those assumptions were grounded in the conditions of the postwar period, but outlines developing critiques. In recent years societal changes and economic and financial pressures have challenged the basis of traditional management and reinforced the critiques. The legislative program of the Conservative Government on local government is presented as one response to the need to build a new management, with its own strengths and weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the significant points of contact that can be discovered between Karlheinz Stockhausen's traditional technique and the computer music. Techniques used by Stockhausen in the composition `Kontakte'; Manipulation of different aspects of sound using different pieces of equipment; Concept of unity in computer music.

The abilities of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Information/Orientation (IO) subtest of the CAPE assessment to detect a range of severities of dementia were completed the initial screening phase on the basis of their MMSF score, 438 completed the second stage, a full psychiatric assessment using the CAMDEX (Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination). The IO subtest performed significantly better than the MMSE for detection of moderate and sever dementia. However, for minimal or worse dementia the MMSE showed the best overall performance. Optimal cutpoints for detection of moderate+ dementia were found to be 18/19 (MMSE) an 8/9 (IO subset) while for mild and more sever dementia these were 22/23 (MMSE) and 11/12 (IO subtest). For both screens the ability of the test to discriminate dementia was significantly impaired for those with physical disability, of manual social class or low educational attainment. The MMSE also performed worse with those aged 80 years and over. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a postal survey of first year Sociology degree courses in the United Kingdom. The main feature of the results is their uniformity and traditionalism. Both polytechnics and universities work within considerable resource constraints in the first year, frequently teaching large numbers. Teaching relies heavily upon lectures and a highly planned course, with limited class/tutorial support. Although courses are constantly revised and few teachers appear satisfied, there is considerable consensus upon the contents of courses with a limited number of elements usually combined into one or more of a few recognizable types. The source of this constant revision yet limited range lies in the tension between the empirical aspiration to describe the social world and the complex issues raised by attempts to do so, the difficulty of which is often seen as frustrating to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares the risk of perinatal death between Asian mothers and mothers in Leicestershire, England. Verification of the sociomedical rick factors for the perinatal death cases; Understanding of the causal factors of perinatal death care; Assistance to educators and health service planners.

Focuses on the obtainment of data from randomized controlled trials. Need for reliable and informative meta-analysis; Consideration of the meta-analysis of individual patients as a gold standard approach; Minimization of biases and random errors.

Examines the perinatal mortality rates as a method of auditing obstetric and neonatal care in Leicestershire, England. Effects of transfer between hospitals during pregnancy and case mix; Differences between general practitioner and consultant units during pregnancy; Adjustment of mortality rates for case mix and referral patterns.

In this article, the author has argued that insofar as sociological research seeks to elicit information from individuals directly, it necessarily involves the formation of a social relationship between investigator and subjects which may in time modify either party. The author has concentrated on the effects of the research relationship on the investigator, effects which he claim are denied and systematically eliminated by being processed through a methodology which attempts to create a formal hiatus between the researcher and his facts, and to present the facts in such a way as to be readily communicable and verifiable by the professional community. One important area of investigation is thus that of how the research results are achieved or constructed and in particular, an investigation of the variety of ways in which research situations can affect investigators.

Compares the translation of Greek literature into the English language. Homer's contribution to poetry; Analytical discussion of study.

Examines the adaptive significance of alternative patterns of dispersing hoarded food by determining which factors influence the occurrence of scatter-hoarding in the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus. Likelihood of scatter-hoarding in relation to age, sex and reproductive states; Effect of environmental variables on the incidence of scatter-hoarding.

Studies the survival of zebra mussels, morality and rate on byssogenesis. What were the materials and methods used to carry out the study; What was the response to hypoxia; What are the results of the case study; Discussion on the study given.

Investigates parentage among Bell Miner nestlings, examining the degree of relatedness between parents and helpers at the nest. Use of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting in this investigation; Overview of cooperative breeding in birds; Analysis of species investigated.

Objective: To determine whether silastic ring laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (SR-LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) produces superior diabetes remission at 5 years.Research Design and Methods: In a single-center, double-blind trial, 114 adults with type 2 diabetes and BMI 35-65 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to SR-LRYGB or LSG (1:1; stratified by age-group, BMI group, ethnicity, diabetes duration, and insulin therapy) using a web-based service. Diabetes and other metabolic medications were adjusted according to a prespecified protocol. The primary outcome was diabetes remission assessed at 5 years, defined by HbA1c <6% (42 mmol/mol) without glucose-lowering medications. Secondary outcomes included changes in weight, cardiometabolic risk factors, quality of life, and adverse events.Results: Diabetes remission after SR-LRYGB versus LSG occurred in 25 (47%) of 53 vs. 18 (33%) of 55 patients (adjusted odds ratios 4.5 [95% CI 1.6, 15.5; P = 0.009] and 4.2 [1.3, 13.4; P = 0.015] in the intention-to-treat analysis). Percent body weight loss was greater after SR-LRYGB than after LSG (absolute difference 10.7%; 95% CI 7.3, 14.0; P < 0.001). Improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors were similar, but HDL cholesterol increased more after SR-LRYGB. Early and late complications were similar in both groups. General health and physical functioning improved after both types of surgery, with greater improvement in physical functioning after SR-LRYGB. People of Māori or Pacific ethnicity (26%) had lower incidence of diabetes remission than those of New Zealand European or other ethnicities (2 of 25 vs. 41 of 83; P < 0.001).Conclusions: SR-LRYGB provided superior diabetes remission and weight loss compared with LSG at 5 years, with similar low risks of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRAF inhibition therapy, used to treat melanomas with BRAF mutations, is associated with both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cutaneous side effects including squamous cell carcinomas, warty dyskeratomas, verrucous keratoses, photosensitivity and widespread eruptions that present histopathologically as acantholytic dyskeratosis. We report a case of a patient undergoing BRAF inhibition therapy for disseminated melanoma with a V600E mutation who developed bilateral areolar leiomyomas, one of which was biopsied and the other of which resolved after discontinuation of vemurafenib therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a mesenchymal neoplasm developing in association with BRAF inhibition therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editors describe the kinds of articles they want to publish, including literary critiques that deal with postcolonialism, globalization, and diaspora.

Gene profiling experiments have revealed similarities between cancer and embryonic stem (ES) cells. dissect the gene expression signature of ES cells into three functional modules and find that the Myc module, including genes targeted by Myc-interacting proteins, accounts for most of the similarity between ES and cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

IN a previous issue of (April 2008, Vol 30, pp 225–227), Phil Sketchley outlined the Veterinary Medicines Regulations' new distribution categories and rules for supply. Here, Michael Clarke looks at the implications of these regulations for practitioners, and suggests ways that veterinary practices can ensure that they make the best use of the medicines supply environment [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors focus on new insights on tumor radioresistance. The authors reflect on the findings by a medical study that cells from breast cancer cell lines radioresistant compared with the remainder of breast cancer cells. These cells, termed as cancer stem cells (CSCs), are driven and maintained by a subpopulation of cells that have a capacity to self-renew. The authors suggest that the studies showed that radioresistance may be a general property of CSCs.

Abstract: Cancers arise in a tissue as the culmination of a series of mutations that activate oncogenes and inactivate tumor suppressor genes. Many of these mutations affect cell proliferation and survival. Recently, it has become apparent that some oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes also regulate self-renewal, the process by which stem cells maintain themselves. In some cancer cells, the process of self-renewal is de-regulated resulting in expansion of these cells and tumors. It is likely that targeting cancer cell self-renewal pathways will result in more effective cancer therapies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses issues related to the journal "Pediatrics." It reveals the principles that guided the journal's evolution throughout the nine years of its existence. It also presents the findings of several readership surveys on issues concerning the design of the journal, such as the color of the paper, typeface and cover layout. The results of these surveys were taken into consideration in changing the design and layout of the journal.

• Saliva could be a non-invasive way to measure vitamin D status. • Differences between collection methods normalised by adjusting for VDBP. • Centrifugation both prior to and following thawing samples is essential. • Strongest correlation with serum 25(OH)D was via passive collection over 3 days. • Adjusting for flow rate improves the linear correlation (serum and saliva 25(OH)D). Accurately detecting vitamin D deficiency (defined as concentration in blood of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), <20 ng/mL) is important for both clinicians and researchers. Drawing blood may be difficult in some populations, such as infants and children. We thus explored the development of a method to measure 25(OH)D concentrations in saliva, using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) assay. Using 25(OH)D 3 standards spiked into synthetic saliva, we generated a standard curve with high correlation (r = 0.999, Pearson's); the intra-assay and inter-assay variation were ≤3.2% and ≤13.2% (CV%), respectively. Passive collection of saliva via drooling into glass or polypropylene tubes yielded higher levels of 25(OH)D 3 than chewing on a synthetic swab. Chewing gum for at least 4 min reduced saliva levels of 25(OH)D 3. Differences in the levels of 25(OH)D 3 in saliva between the passive drooling and stimulated swab-chewing methods were normalised by adjusting for measured levels of vitamin D binding protein in saliva. Freezing samples immediately, or after 24 h of refrigeration did not affect 25(OH)D 3 levels. When saliva levels of 25(OH)D 3 were averaged from samples collected daily for three consecutive days, for which an additional centrifugation step was performed after samples were defrosted (to remove mucin), there was a positive (but non-significant) correlation between 25(OH)D 3 levels in saliva and serum (r = 0.57, p = 0.24, Pearson's) with significant correlations (r ≥ 0.88, p < 0.05) observed after further adjusting for saliva flow rate. The time of day of the collection made little difference to 25(OH)D 3 levels measured in saliva. In conclusion, we have developed an LC–MS/MS assay that accurately measures saliva 25(OH)D 3 levels, which correlated with serum levels. However, for a measurement that correlates with serum 25(OH)D it may be necessary to average results from saliva collected on three consecutive days, and adjust for differences in saliva flow rate. This would increase costs, and combined with the processing requirements for samples, could limit the applicability of this assay to large cohort and field studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]