Community pharmacists' roles in providing contraceptive services: views and experiences of adolescents in urban Khon Kaen, Northeast Thailand

OBJECTIVES

Adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority in Thailand. While contraceptive methods are available to prevent adolescent pregnancy, Thai adolescent contraceptive usage is low. Community pharmacists are likely the first health professionals to contact adolescents engaged in unprotected sex and needing emergency contraception. However, there is limited research on Thai pharmacists' roles in promoting sexual and reproductive health. This study examines Thai adolescents' perspectives on community pharmacists' roles in promoting contraceptives and preventing unwanted pregnancies.

METHOD

This qualitative study recruited 38 adolescents aged 15-19 from one vocational school and one secondary school in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Data were collected from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Participants felt community pharmacists had potentially critical roles in promoting adolescent contraceptive use. Community pharmacists had relevant knowledge of effective contraceptive methods, the risks and benefits of each method, and the quality of different condoms available. Community pharmacists, at times, also provided emotional support to distressed adolescents who came to their store. However, participants reported pharmacists' age, gender, and non-empathetic and judgemental attitudes could be barriers to adolescents' ease of access to contraceptive services.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the potentially crucial role community pharmacists could play in providing contraceptive information for adolescents. It suggests the need for changes in government policies and education and training of community pharmacists to enhance their soft skills - empathetic and non-judgemental attitudes - and their roles in delivering youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.

Limited accrual of myxospores of Kudoa inornata (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in their wild fish hosts, Cynoscion nebulosus (Teleostei: Sciaenidae)

Kudoa inornata is a myxosporean that infects the seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus. Increased prevalence of infection as fish age and absence of inflammation against plasmodia led to the hypothesis that seatrout retain and accumulate myxospores throughout their lives. However, opportunistic observations that wild-caught seatrout cleared infection when maintained in aquaculture conditions and evidence of encapsulated infected necrotic myofibers suggested that fish develop an immunity against this parasite, or that myxospores have a limited life span. To evaluate myxospore clearance and to test putative resistance to re-infection, we examined 44 wild-caught seatrout broodstock maintained in parasite-free water for 2-6 yr. Twenty-five fish served as negative controls (time zero of experiment), and 19 were exposed to water-borne K. inornata infective stages for 18 wk. Over 73% of the exposed fish became infected, compared to ~12% of control fish, indicating that fish were susceptible to re-infection by K. inornata. Whether plasmodia degenerate because K. inornata myxospores have a limited life span or seatrout develop an adaptive immunity against these life stages remains unknown. To test for accumulation of myxospores over time, we compared myxospore densities and intensities between sexes and across ages and sizes of wild seatrout. There was no significant difference in myxospore densities with size, age, or sex. However, intensities increased significantly with increasing fish age and size, indicating accrual of myxospores over time. These results combined with evidence of infection clearance suggest that K. inornata myxospores do not persist but nevertheless accrue in wild seatrout due to continuous contact with infective stages.

First Exploration of Neutron Shell Structure below Lead and beyond N=126

The nuclei below lead but with more than 126 neutrons are crucial to an understanding of the astrophysical r process in producing nuclei heavier than A∼190. Despite their importance, the structure and properties of these nuclei remain experimentally untested as they are difficult to produce in nuclear reactions with stable beams. In a first exploration of the shell structure of this region, neutron excitations in ^{207}Hg have been probed using the neutron-adding (d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics. The radioactive beam of ^{206}Hg was delivered to the new ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer at an energy above the Coulomb barrier. The spectroscopy of ^{207}Hg marks a first step in improving our understanding of the relevant structural properties of nuclei involved in a key part of the path of the r process.

Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive ^{222}Ra and ^{228}Ra Beams

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.

Analysis of Zearalenone and a-Zearalenol in Urine of Ruminants Using Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The present paper describes a sensitive procedure for quantitative analysis of the Fusarlum mycotoxins zearalenone and α-zearalenol in urine of ruminants. Extraction is done with an octadecyl (C18) column and cleanup with a silica column providing a preparation that Is analyzed by gas chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The trlmethylsllyl ether derivatives of zearalenone and a-zearalenol yield molecular ions with m/z 462 and 536, respectively. These Ions are selected In the first mass analyzer and then fragmented In a collision cell to give characteristic daughter Ions (m/z 151, 333, 318, and 446). The method is known as multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Elimination of chemical background noise by selecting proper fragment ions produces chromatograms in which Identification and quantitation in a biological matrix is possible. The method was tested with sheep urine from an experimental feeding trial and was used to confirm natural mycotoxlcosis of cows affected with zearalenone. Zearalenone (1 ppb) and a-zearalenol (14 ppb) were found In 2 different cow urine samples. The detection limit for both zearalenone and zearalenol Is 1 ppb (1 ng/mL) In urine and Is linear between 1 and 20 ppb for the former and 1 and 10 ppb for the latter.

Effects of Opisthorchis viverrini infection on glucose and lipid profiles in human hosts: A cross-sectional and prospective follow-up study from Thailand

Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) infection is endemic to the Northeast Thailand where the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is higher whilst the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is lower than the rest of Thailand. Helminth infection has both nutritional and immunological impact on their definitive hosts. Thus, a cross-sectional study was performed to see the effects of OV infection on glucose and lipid profiles. For this purpose, 200 each of OV infected and uninfected residents were recruited and their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) levels and anthropometric measurements, including BMI were examined. Then, as the prospective follow- up study, changes of those metabolic parameters of OV positive subjects (n = 120) before and after Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment were monitored for six months. The results showed that OV infection has a protective effect against hyperglycemia (OR 0.482 and p = .04) and metabolic disease risk group (OR 0.478 and p = .03). OV positive participants had lower HbA1c (5.5% Vs. 6.01%, p = .001) but higher HDL (54.07 Vs. 49.46 mg/dL, p = .001) than OV negative participants that are statistically significant. After PZQ treatment for OV-positive subjects, their serum levels of HbA1c (p < .05) and HDL (p < .05) significantly rose during the follow up. Apparently, OV infection lowers HbA1c but increases HDL in definitive human hosts.

Mechanisms Suppressing Superheavy Element Yields in Cold Fusion Reactions

Superheavy elements are formed in fusion reactions which are hindered by fast nonequilibrium processes. To quantify these, mass-angle distributions and cross sections have been measured, at beam energies from below-barrier to 25% above, for the reactions of ^{48}Ca, ^{50}Ti, and ^{54}Cr with ^{208}Pb. Moving from ^{48}Ca to ^{54}Cr leads to a drastic fall in the symmetric fission yield, which is reflected in the measured mass-angle distribution by the presence of competing fast nonequilibrium deep inelastic and quasifission processes. These are responsible for reduction of the compound nucleus formation probablity P_{CN} (as measured by the symmetric-peaked fission cross section), by a factor of 2.5 for ^{50}Ti and 15 for ^{54}Cr in comparison to ^{48}Ca. The energy dependence of P_{CN} indicates that cold fusion reactions (involving ^{208}Pb) are not driven by a diffusion process.

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in ²²⁴Rn and ²²⁶Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.

Engaging community volunteers in participatory action research in Tāmaki community of Auckland, New Zealand

This article discusses the experiences of community volunteers' participation in a community-based participatory research project in Tāmaki, a low socio-economic and ethnically diverse suburban community within greater Auckland City, New Zealand. In the Tāmaki Community Action Research project, community volunteers were recruited and trained to conduct random household surveys (RHS) and asset mapping commissioned by community groups and government agencies in that area. The volunteers were involved in planning, coordination and ongoing governance of the project and ∼70 residents and local university students participated at different stages of the 2-year project. Over 600 RHS were completed and the volunteers' experiences were recorded in field notes, informal group discussions, daily team meetings and individual interviews and form the basis of this article. Only their experiences are discussed here, not the survey results which will be presented elsewhere. The project reflected the inherent asset-rich nature of the community via examples of individual volunteer empowerment and collective social/community capacity building. Volunteers increased their interpersonal and organizational skills, their understanding of the complexity of their community's logistics and cultural diversity, and gained an increased sense of community purpose and commitment. There was very strong endorsement of culturally sensitive research practice to recognize cultural differences and to engage productively within their richly ethnically diverse community. Full community volunteer participation in the project's governance (i.e. through design, training, implementation and ongoing consultation/management phases) was considered key to sustaining the life of project.

Using Action Research to prevent work-related illness among rubber farmers in Northeastern Thailand

OBJECTIVES

This research aimed to enhance self-care among rubber farmers for preventing work-related illness.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

The project used Action Research's four phase iterative process: fact-finding to understand the problems, action planning, action plan implementation, and evaluation and reflection on action plan impacts. Sixty-six participants (46 rubber farmers and 20 community stakeholders) were purposively recruited from two villages in the top 10 rubber producing provinces in Northeastern Thailand.

MEASURES

Demographic and work-related illness data were collected in face-to-face structured interviews, Focus group interviews and participant observations were used to collect data in each project phase. Night group meetings were held throughout the research phases. The intervention included training workshops and establishing a community health education team for ongoing farmer support.

RESULTS

Results showed improved farmer self-care behaviors and establishment of a community health education team to encourage farmers to care for themselves properly.

CONCLUSION

Community nurses, other health personnel, and the Thai government can build on initiatives like this to strengthen occupational health and safety practices and services policy for rubber farmers.

Role of socio-cultural and economic factors in cyprinid fish distribution networks and consumption in Lawa Lake region, Northeast Thailand: Novel perspectives on Opisthorchis viverrini transmission dynamics

Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) is a fish-borne parasite endemic in parts of Lao PDR, Cambodia, southern Vietnam and Northeast Thailand (Isaan) where an estimated 10 million people are infected. Human Ov infection, associated with hepatobiliary complications, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), occurs when infected fish are consumed raw or undercooked, a longstanding cultural tradition in the region. This mixed- methods descriptive study was carried out in Isaan villages around Lawa Lake, Khon Kaen Province, known for their Ov endemicity. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in depth interviews (IDIs) were used to explore socio-cultural determinants underlying raw fish consumption practices, and global positioning system (GPS) devices to map local fish distribution networks. Qualitative data affirmed major socio-cultural and dietary lifestyle transitions occurring consequent on recent decades of modernization policies and practices, but also the persistence of Isaan traditional raw-fish eating practices and incorrect beliefs about infection risk avoidance. Fish traders/middlemen purchase most of the catch at the lakeshore and play the dominant role in district market fish distribution networks, at least for the larger and less likely infected, fish species. The lower economic value of the small potentially-infected cyprinid fish means local fishermen typically distribute them free, or sell cheaply, to family and friends, effectively concentrating infection risk in already highly Ov infected villages. Our study confirmed the persistence of traditional Isaan raw-fish meal practices, despite major ongoing socio-cultural lifestyle transitions and decades of Ov infection health education programs. We contend that diffuse socio-cultural drivers underpin this practice, including its role as a valued cultural identity marker. A "fish economics" factor was also evident in the concentration of more likely infected fish back into local villages due to their low economic value at district market level. The complexity of factors supporting "risky" fish-eating traditions in Isaan underscores the importance of integrated liver fluke infection control strategies to draw on transdisciplinary knowledge beyond biomedicine and also embrace participatory protocols for engaging communities in developing, implementing and evaluating interventions.

Choosing the optimal method of blood pressure measurement for limited-resource rural communities in the "Community Health Assessment Program-Philippines"

The Community Health Assessment Program-Philippines (CHAP-P) is an international collaboration of investigators whose aim is to adapt a previously proven Canadian community-based cardiovascular awareness and prevention intervention to the Philippines and other low-middle-income countries. Choosing a method of blood pressure measurement for the research program presents a challenge. There is increasing consensus globally that blood pressure measurement with automated devices is preferred. Recommendations from low-middle-income countries, including the Philippines, are less supportive of automated blood pressure devices. The value placed on factors including device accuracy, durability, cost, energy source, and complexity differ with local context. Our goal was to support the progress of local policy concerning blood pressure measurement while testing a comprehensive approach to community-based screening for cardiovascular risk. The authors describe the challenges in making a choice of blood pressure device and the approach to determine optimal method of measurement for our research program.

Risk factors for Clonorchis sinensis infection transmission in humans in northern Vietnam: A descriptive and social network analysis study

Clonorchis sinensis is major fish-borne trematode, endemic in North Vietnam. Risk factors described so far include individual eating behaviors and environmental factors. Here, additional to conventional risk factors, we report on socially influenced liver fluke transmission in endemic communities. A cross-sectional study on risk factors and fish sharing networks was conducted in 4 villages of Gia Thinh Commune, Ninh Binh Province. A total of 510 residents in 272 households were recruited for risk factor analysis while 220 households, 28 fishermen and 10 fish-sellers were enrolled for social network study. Fecal examination for C. sinensis eggs was performed. Average C. sinensis infection rate at Gia Thinh commune was 16.5% (range 2% to 34.4%). Higher infection rates were significantly associated with males, lower educational levels, eating raw fish, and location of the villages. Social network analysis (SNA) showed a strong positive correlation between ego network size (number of households in fish sharing network) and quantity of raw fish consumed (r=0.603, P<0.05). The infection rate in people who ate raw-fish caught from a nearby river was significantly higher than those who consumed fish taken from farmed ponds (P<0.05). The amount of raw-fish meal consumed per resident/year was significantly higher in villages that had a strong network of sharing raw-fish food (P<0.001). This study reports for the first time on fish-food sharing among neighbors, proximity to water bodies, frequency of eating raw fish from natural water bodies and low education were key risk factors in C. sinensis infection transmission in northern Vietnam.

Cryopreservation of Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) sperm

Cryopreservation is a valuable technique for aquaculture as it enables a library or bank of genetically valuable animals to be maintained in a cost-effective manner. Here, we describe a method to cryopreserve the sperm of the Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) and how to use the sperm post-thawing to maximize larval production from thawed sperm in selective breeding.

The Development of a Readiness Scale for Changing Farmers' Behaviors of Using Pesticides

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Inappropriate pesticide-using behaviors impose significant negative impacts on health and environment. Developmentalprograms to change such behaviors offarmers should target those who are ready to change in order to achieve efficiency. The objective was to develop a readiness scale in changing behavior ofusing pesticides offarmers. The scale of this study is expected to be used in recruiting targetfarmers in developmental programs.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A cross-sectional study was divided into two phases. The first phase, qualitative method, performed on 17farmers participated to seek factors related to the farmers' safe use of pesticides. The second phase, quantitative method to develop the readiness scale, an exploratoryfactor analysis (EFA) was analyzed on 230farmers and was randomly selected to measure the scale's construct validity, internal consistency (reliability), one-dimensionality and the appropriate cut-off point, respectively.

RESULTS

Farmers' pesticide use, safety behaviors involved several factors, and are applied to create a set ofquestions on the readiness scale; there were 33 main items (with 40 sub-items), which could be grouped into 8 factors associated with farmers using pesticide safety, the scale, the best way to predict farmers who are ready to change. Finally, they were reduced to 23 main questions with 30 sub-questions in the scale.

CONCLUSION

The development of a readiness scale application of changing behaviors as a guide, to assess content validity using index of item-objective congruence measurement (IOC), the exploratory factor analysis was used to determine an item and to test reliability on the scale. The scale can be a useful tool for recruiting farmers into intervention program in changing pesticide use, safety behaviors.

Toward integrated opisthorchiasis control in northeast Thailand: the Lawa project

Human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, a food-borne trematode is a significant public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand. Despite a long history of control programmes in Thailand and a nationwide reduction, O. viverrini infection prevalence remains high in the northeastern provinces. Therefore, a new strategy for controlling the liver fluke infection using the EcoHealth/One Health approach was introduced into the Lawa Lake area in Khon Kaen province where the liver fluke is endemic. A programme has been carried using anthelminthic treatment, novel intensive health education methods both in the communities and in schools, ecosystem monitoring and active community participation. As a result, the infection rate in the more than 10 villages surrounding the lake has declined to approximate one third of the average of 50% as estimated by a baseline survey. Strikingly, the Cyprinoid fish species in the lake, which are the intermediate host, now showed less than 1% prevalence compared to a maximum of 70% at baseline. This liver fluke control programme, named "Lawa model," is now recognised nationally and internationally, and being expanding to other parts of Thailand and neighbouring Mekong countries. Challenges to O. viverrini disease control, and lessons learned in developing an integrative control programme using a community-based, ecosystem approach, and scaling-up regionally based on Lawa as a model are described.

Shape coexistence in the neutron-deficient even-even (182-188)Hg isotopes studied via coulomb excitation

Coulomb-excitation experiments to study electromagnetic properties of radioactive even-even Hg isotopes were performed with 2.85  MeV/nucleon mercury beams from REX-ISOLDE. Magnitudes and relative signs of the reduced E2 matrix elements that couple the ground state and low-lying excited states in Hg182-188 were extracted. Information on the deformation of the ground and the first excited 0+ states was deduced using the quadrupole sum rules approach. Results show that the ground state is slightly deformed and of oblate nature, while a larger deformation for the excited 0+ state was noted in Hg182,184. The results are compared to beyond mean field and interacting-boson based models and interpreted within a two-state mixing model. Partial agreement with the model calculations was obtained. The presence of two different structures in the light even-mass mercury isotopes that coexist at low excitation energy is firmly established.

Availability to lactating dairy cows of methionine added to soy lecithins and mixed with a mechanically extracted soybean meal

We evaluated a product containing methionine mixed with soy lecithins and added to a mechanically extracted soybean meal (meSBM-Met). Lactational responses of cows, plasma methionine concentrations, and in vitro degradation of methionine were measured. Twenty-five Holstein cows were used in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design and fed a diet designed to be deficient in methionine or the same diet supplemented either with 4.2 or 8.3g/d of supplemental methionine from a ruminally protected source or with 2.7 or 5.3g/d of supplemental methionine from meSBM-Met. All diets were formulated to provide adequate amounts of metabolizable lysine. Concentration of milk true protein was greater when methionine was provided by the ruminally protected methionine than by meSBM-Met, but milk protein yield was not affected by treatment. Milk yields and concentrations and yields of fat, lactose, solids-not-fat, and milk urea nitrogen were not affected by supplemental methionine. Body condition scores increased linearly when methionine from meSBM-Met was supplemented, but responses were quadratic when methionine was provided from a ruminally protected source. Nitrogen retention was not affected by supplemental methionine. Plasma methionine increased linearly when methionine was supplemented from a ruminally protected source, but plasma methionine concentrations did not differ from the control when supplemental methionine from meSBM-Met was provided. In vitro degradation of supplemental methionine from meSBM-Met was complete within 3h. Data suggest that meSBM-Met provides negligible amounts of metabolizable methionine to dairy cows, and this is likely related to extensive ruminal destruction of methionine; however, cow body condition may be improved by ruminally available methionine provided by meSBM-Met.

Effects of aldicarb and neonicotinoid seed treatments on twospotted spider mite on cotton

Twelve field experiments and one laboratory experiment were conducted to determine the effects of furrow applied aldicarb and seed treatments of thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, Avicta (thiamethoxam + abamectin), Aeris (imidacloprid + thiodicarb), and acephate on twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on cotton, Cossypium hirsutum L. For the field experiments, data were pooled across all experiments for analysis. Aeris, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid treatments resulted in twospotted spider mite densities greater than those in the untreated check, aldicarb, and acephate treatments. However, cotton treated with Avicta (thiamethoxam + abamectin) had 34% fewer mites than other neonicotinoid seed treatments when infestations occurred near cotyledon stage. Untreated check and aldicarb treatments had the lowest mite densities. Only aldicarb reduced mite densities below that in the untreated check. In a laboratory trial, the fecundity of twospotted spider mite was measured. While neonicotinoid seed treatments increased mite densities in the field, they did not increase fecundity in the laboratory experiment. Foliar applied thiamethoxam slightly elevated average fecundity in the laboratory experiment. Increased use of neonicotinoid seed treatments instead of furrow applied aldicarb is likely at least partly responsible for recent increased twospotted spider mite infestations in seedling cotton across the mid-south.

How curved is too curved? The severity of penile deformity may predict sexual disability among men with Peyronie's disease

Peyronie's disease (PD) is caused by progressive fibrotic scarring of the tunica albuginea resulting in curvature or other deformities of the erect penis. The severity of penile curvature or other deformity may contribute to a man's inability to have intercourse (sexual disability), due to difficulty with penetration, partner pain or emotional stress. To determine whether the degree of curvature or type of penile deformity predicts sexual disability among men with PD. This cross-sectional analysis of consecutive men evaluated for PD at a single tertiary referral center used a PD-specific questionnaire to evaluate risk factors for sexual disability in men with PD, who did not have erectile dysfunction (ED). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the clinical predictors of sexual disability. Sexual disability as defined by the inability to have penetrative intercourse. A total of 202 men were evaluated and 88 men with ED were excluded. Sexual disability was associated with relationship problems, penile curvature and penile length loss in bivariate, but not multivariate analysis. We found that although many of the demographic, medical and sexual function domains were significant predictors of inability to have sex, the only significant predictor of sexual disability in multivariate analysis was curvature>60° (odds ratio 3.23 95%CI 1.08-9.67). PD can be sexually disabling in many men without ED. Severe penile curvature is a robust independent predictor of the ability to have intercourse. Other penile deformities fail to predict sexual disability. This is important for counseling patients with newly diagnosed PD and those who are considering medical or surgical intervention.

The occurrence of methyl methoxystearate isomers in the methyl esters prepared from sheep perinephric fat

A fraction has been isolated from sheep perinephric fat and identified by techniques which included mass and infrared spectrometry, as a mixture of the 8 to 14-methoxyoctadecanoic acid isomers. It is postulated that these isomers are artifacts produced by rigorous esterification with methanol and concentrated H(2)SO(4) of a large sample of sheep perinephric fatty acids which are presumed to have contained trace amounts of constituent hydroxy fatty acids. It is estimated that these methoxystearic acid isomers represented approximately 0.08% of the total weight of fatty acids.

Cryopreservation of Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) trochophore larvae

The Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) is the main shellfish species farmed in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cryoprotectant concentration, loading and unloading strategy as well as freezing and thawing method in order to develop a protocol for cryopreservation of trochophore larvae (16-20 h old). Toxicity tests showed that levels of 10-15% ethylene glycol (EG) were not toxic to larvae and could be loaded and unloaded in a single step. Through cryopreservation experiments, we designed a cryopreservation protocol that enabled 40-60% of trochophores to develop to D-larvae when normalized to controls. The protocol involved: holding at 0 °C for 5 min, then cooling at 1 °C min⁻¹ to -10 °C, holding for a further 5 min, then cooling at 0.5 °C min⁻¹ to -35 °C followed by a 5 min hold and then plunging into liquid nitrogen. A final larval rearing experiment of 18 days was conducted to assess the ability of these frozen larvae to develop further. Results showed that only 2.8% of the frozen trochophores were able to develop to competent pediveligers.

Pyrethroid insecticide tolerance in bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, in the Mississippi Delta

BACKGROUND

Pyrethroid insecticides have historically been effective for controlling bean leaf beetles in soybeans. Perceived field efficacy in the Mississippi Delta region has been lower over the past several years. Laboratory and field data were collected to determine whether there has been a reduction in pyrethroid insecticide susceptibility.

RESULTS

Laboratory and field data both confirmed that control of bean leaf beetles with pyrethroid insecticides is poorer in the Delta regions of Mississippi and Louisiana than in all other regions tested. However, it was not possible to show that this reduced susceptibility changed over time. Furthermore, insect movement appeared to make insecticide susceptibility regional, so that localized insecticide applications had little impact on the susceptibility of successive generations.

CONCLUSION

Lack of field control owing to low efficacy of pyrethroid insecticides against bean leaf beetle populations in the Delta region should be expected. Selection pressure on a regional basis may further decrease efficacy. Carbamate insecticides generally still provide high levels of control.

Discovery of the shape coexisting 0+ state in 32 Mg by a two neutron transfer reaction

The "island of inversion" nucleus 32 Mg has been studied by a (t, p) two neutron transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at REX-ISOLDE. The shape coexistent excited 0+ state in 32 Mg has been identified by the characteristic angular distribution of the protons of the Δ L=0 transfer. The excitation energy of 1058 keV is much lower than predicted by any theoretical model. The low γ-ray intensity observed for the decay of this 0+ state indicates a lifetime of more than 10 ns. Deduced spectroscopic amplitudes are compared with occupation numbers from shell-model calculations.

Morphology of BHK-21 Cells Infected with Sindbis Virus Temperature-Sensitive Mutants in Complementation Groups D and E

BHK-21 cells infected with temperature-sensitive mutants of Sindbis virus in complementation groups D and E differed in their appearance under nonpermissive conditions. Cells infected at nonpermissive temperature with virus defective in complementation group E had nucleocapsids attached in large numbers to the inside surface of the host plasma membrane. Infection with a group D mutant produced nucleocapsids that did not attach to the plasma membrane but rather remained free in the cell cytoplasm.

Development and characterization of promoterless helper RNAs for the production of alphavirus replicon particle

Alphavirus-based replicon systems are frequently used as preclinical vectors and as antigen discovery tools, and they have recently been assessed in clinical vaccine trials. Typically, alphavirus replicon RNAs are delivered within virus-like replicon particles (VRP) that are produced following transfection of replicon RNA and two helper RNAs into permissive cells in vitro. The non-structural proteins expressed from the replicon RNA amplify the replicon RNA in cis and the helper RNAs in trans, the latter providing the viral structural proteins necessary to package the replicon RNA into VRP. Current helper RNA designs incorporate the alphavirus 26S promoter to direct the transcription of high levels of structural gene mRNAs. We demonstrate here that the 26S promoter is not required on helper RNAs to produce VRP and propose that such promoterless helper RNAs, by design, reduce the probability of generating replication-competent virus that may otherwise result from RNA recombination.

Lifetime measurements of the neutron-rich N = 30 isotones 50Ca and 51Sc: orbital dependence of effective charges in the fp shell

The lifetimes of the first excited states of the N = 30 isotones (50)Ca and (51)Sc have been determined using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift method in combination with the CLARA-PRISMA spectrometers. This is the first time such a method is applied to measure lifetimes of neutron-rich nuclei populated via a multinucleon transfer reaction. This extends the lifetime knowledge beyond the f_{7/2} shell closure and allows us to derive the effective proton and neutron charges in the fp shell near the doubly magic nucleus (48)Ca, using large-scale, shell-model calculations. These results indicate an orbital dependence of the core polarization along the fp shell.

Early-season soybean as a trap crop for stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Arkansas' changing system of soybean production

Early-season soybean, Glycine max L. Merrill, was evaluated in Arkansas soybean fields as a trap crop for a complex of stink bug species that included Nezara viridula L., Acrosternum hilare (Say), and Euschistus servus (Say). Early-season soybean production systems (ESPSs) are composed of indeterminate soybean cultivars planted in April. In the first year of a 2-yr study, field-scale trap crops ( approximately 0.5-1.0 ha) of maturity group (MG) III and IV soybean were planted adjacent to production fields of MG V soybean. Stink bugs were attracted first to the ESPS trap crops and were twice treated with insecticide, yet damaging populations developed later in the MG V soybean adjacent to the trap crops. General sampling and observations of low stink bug densities in commercial fields of soybean and corn across the study area suggested that stink bugs were widely distributed across the agricultural landscape. These observations and the subsequent discovery of additional ESPS fields outside the study area suggested that developing populations in the adjacent MG V soybean probably did not originate from the trap crops. However the source of the populations colonizing MG V soybean could not be determined, and we concluded that the scale of future experiments should be increased to better control stink bugs dispersing from other ESPSs outside the study area. In the second year of the study, the experiment was expanded in size to a farm- or community-scale project where entire fields of ESPSs (8-32 ha) were used as trap crops. Insecticide was applied to the trap-crop fields and other fields of ESPSs within a 0.8-km radius of targeted response fields, yet again there was no apparent effect on subsequent populations of stink bugs in the MG V response fields. With the recent expansion of ESPSs in Arkansas, it may be difficult to use ESPSs as a trap crop to lower stink bug populations across large enough areas to suppress populations in late-season soybean. Also, multiple soybean cultivars are generally planted across a 2- or 3-mo period in Arkansas, which results in staggered soybean development across the landscape and extends the time period that soybean is attractive to colonizing stink bugs. Trap crops of ESPSs are only attractive for oviposition for up to 4-5 wk and cannot protect full-season soybean production systems (FSSPSs) for such an extended time period. This shift in production systems may limit the use of ESPS trap crops for management of stink bugs unless highly coordinated efforts are made to synchronize soybean maturity and control stink bugs in ESPSs across large geographic areas.

Seasonal abundance, species composition, and population dynamics of stink bugs in production fields of early and late soybean in South Arkansas

From 2003 through 2007, densities of stink bugs were monitored weekly in 297 commercial production fields of early and late soybean, Glycine max L. Merrill, in southeast and southwest Arkansas. The goal of this research was to better understand seasonal abundance, species composition, and population dynamics of pentatomids as a benchmark reference for future management systems. Thirty-five percent of all the 25-sweep samples taken in soybean contained at least one stink bug specimen. The average density (mean +/- SEM) of stink bugs across all soybean samples was 1.84 +/- 0.06 per 25 sweeps. Overall, Nezara viridula L. was the most abundant species, although Euschistus serous (Say) was frequently found in soybean samples (18% of all samples). Peak densities of stink bugs in soybean were observed during the full-pod (R7) developmental stage. Approximately 25% of all soybean fields sampled had threshold densities (nine or more per 25 sweeps) at some time during the year, although 82 and 78% of fields in 2006 and 2007, respectively, reached threshold. At low densities (one to three stink bugs per 25 sweeps), E. serous comprised 50% of total stink bugs, but at high densities (> 71 stink bugs per 25 sweeps), N. viridula comprised 81% of total stink bugs. Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) was observed as a pest of Arkansas soybean in 2005, and reproduction in soybean was documented in 2006 and 2007. Stink bugs seem to be a serious and increasingly important pest of soybean in southern Arkansas. Crop phenological development is a key factor in predicting colonization and population growth of stink bugs on Arkansas soybean, regardless of geographic region or type of soybean production system.

Human papillomavirus 6 seropositivity is associated with risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, independent of tobacco and alcohol use

BACKGROUND

The risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) associated with common human papillomavirus types has not been well defined.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of 1034 individuals (486 incident cases diagnosed with HNSCC and 548 population-based controls matched to cases by age, gender, and town of residence) in Greater Boston, MA. Sera were tested for antibodies to human papillomavirus (HPV)6, HPV11, HPV16, and HPV18 L1.

RESULTS

HPV6 antibodies were associated with an increased risk of pharyngeal cancer [odds ratio (OR)=1.6, 1.0-2.5], controlling for smoking, drinking, and HPV16 seropositivity. In HPV16-seronegative subjects, high HPV6 titer was associated with an increased risk of pharyngeal cancer (OR=2.3, 1.1-4.8) and oral cancer (OR=1.9, 1.0-3.6), suggesting that the cancer risk associated with HPV6 is independent of HPV16. There was no association between smoking and alcohol use and HPV6 serostatus. Further, the risk of pharyngeal cancer associated with heavy smoking was different among HPV6-seronegative (OR 3.1, 2.0-4.8) and HPV6-seropositive subjects (OR=1.6, 0.7-3.5), while heavy drinking also appears to confer differing risk among HPV6-negative (OR 2.3, 1.5-3.7) and -positive subjects (OR=1.3, 0.6-2.9).

CONCLUSIONS

There may be interactions between positive serology and drinking and smoking, suggesting that the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus in HNSCC involves complex interactions with tobacco and alcohol exposure.

Help-seeking at the time of stroke: stroke survivors' perspectives on their decisions

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in many countries. Early access to the most appropriate medical treatment can improve health outcomes. Despite this, only 30-60% of people who experience a stroke seek medical help within the recommended 3-hour timeframe. This study used open-ended interviews to explore patients' views on factors that influenced their decision to seek help at the time of stroke. Twenty participants were recruited from five centres: three hospitals, a community-based stroke support service and a primary healthcare service focused on providing health care for Maori. A qualitative methodology drawing on Grounded Theory informed data collection and analysis. Four main themes influenced the decision to seek help: making sense of symptoms, maintaining a sense of normality, presence and influence of another person and perception of medical services. Participants appeared to go through a process of recognition, interpretation and negotiation during their decision-making. Each of the four themes seemed to influence this process, either assisting or delaying help-seeking behaviour. The more time spent going through this process (or repeating each step), the longer the delay appeared to be. Our key findings which add to current help-seeking literature, include: (1) people tended to prioritise everyday commitments and responsibilities over their own health; (2) at times the presence and influence of another person contributed to delays in seeking help; and (3) people had different personal thresholds for when they perceived themselves to be 'sick enough' to seek medical help.

Alphavirus replicon approach to promoterless analysis of IRES elements

Here we describe a system for promoterless analysis of putative internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements using an alphavirus (family Togaviridae) replicon vector. The system uses the alphavirus subgenomic promoter to produce transcripts that, when modified to contain a spacer region upstream of an IRES element, allow analysis of cap-independent translation of genes of interest (GOI). If the IRES element is removed, translation of the subgenomic transcript can be reduced >95% compared to the same transcript containing a functional IRES element. Alphavirus replicons, used in this manner, offer an alternative to standard dicistronic DNA vectors or in vitro translation systems currently used to analyze putative IRES elements. In addition, protein expression levels varied depending on the spacer element located upstream of each IRES. The ability to modulate the level of expression from alphavirus vectors should extend the utility of these vectors in vaccine development.

Measurement of the sign of the spectroscopic quadrupole moment for the 2(1)+ state in 70Se: no evidence for oblate shape

Using a method whereby molecular and atomic ions are independently selected, an isobarically pure beam of 70Se ions was postaccelerated to an energy of 206 MeV using REX-ISOLDE. Coulomb-excitation yields for states in the beam and target nuclei were deduced by recording deexcitation gamma rays in the highly segmented MINIBALL gamma-ray spectrometer in coincidence with scattered particles in a silicon detector. At these energies, the Coulomb-excitation yield for the first 2+ state is expected to be strongly sensitive to the sign of the spectroscopic quadrupole moment through the nuclear reorientation effect. Experimental evidence is presented here for a prolate shape for the first 2+ state in 70Se, reopening the question over whether there are, as reported earlier, deformed oblate shapes near to the ground state in the light selenium isotopes.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in serum and follicular fluid--is there a correlation with IVF implantation failure?

BACKGROUND

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are associated with infertility, but the mechanism underlying this statistical association is currently obscure. We aimed to investigate the finding that aPLs are concentrated in follicular fluid and to establish if this is associated with a poorer outcome from IVF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 19.2% of 99 women undergoing IVF, at least one aPL was detected in their serum and/or follicular fluids, but the antibody levels in follicular fluid were not higher than in serum. Women with aPLs had a lower implantation rate (14%) than women without these antibodies (24.1%), but this difference was not significant (P=0.127). There was also a non-significant reduction in the live birth rate for women with aPLs. In a parallel investigation, 10 sheep immunized with beta2 glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) or irrelevant control antigens showed strong immune responses, but there were no significant differences between the levels of antibodies in the follicular fluid or serum from beta2GPI or control immunized sheep.

CONCLUSION

aPLs do not appear to be selectively concentrated in follicular fluids and, when present, do not adversely affect the reproductive outcome of women undergoing IVF.

Successful cryopreservation of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) oocytes

Protocols for cryopreservation of sperm and oocytes would provide the ultimate control over parental crosses in selective breeding programmes. Sperm freezing is routine for many species, but oocyte freezing remains problematic, with virtually zero success in aquatic species to date. This paper describes the development of a successful protocol for cryopreserving high concentrations of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) oocytes. Ethylene glycol (10%) and dimethyl sulfoxide (15%) were found to be the most effective cryoprotectants resulting in post-thaw fertilization rates of 51.0+/-8.0 and 45.1+/-8.3%, respectively. Propylene glycol was less effective and methanol resulted in zero fertilization post-thaw. The use of Milli-Q water rather than seawater as a base medium significantly improved fertilization (20.4+/-3.0 and 8.7+/-2.2%, respectively) as did the inclusion of a 5 min isothermal hold at -10 or -12 degrees C (35.9+/-5.0 and 31.9+/-4.6%, respectively). The optimal cooling rate post-hold was 0.3 degrees C min(-1), with virtually zero post-thaw fertilization with cooling rates of 3 and 6 degrees C min(-1). Using an optimized protocol, post-thaw fertilization rates for oocytes from eight individual females ranged from 0.8 to 74.5% and D-larval yields from 0.1 to 30.1%. For three individuals, larvae were reared through to spat. Development of D-larvae to eyed larvae and spat was similar for larvae produced from unfrozen (24.8+/-4.1% developed to eyed larvae and 16.5+/-3.2% to spat) and cryopreserved (28.4+/-0.6 and 18.7+/-0.5%, respectively) oocytes. The ability to cryopreserve large quantities of oyster oocytes represents a major advance in cryobiology and selective breeding.