Cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of cervical cerclage (CC) in twin pregnancies. Methods Retrospective analysis of twin pregnancies undergoing CC between January 2001 and December 2009 at our Institution. CC was offered in case of a cervical length measurement B20 mm (ultrasound-indicated CC) or in case of cervical dilatation with membranes at or beyond the external cervical os (physical examination-indicated CC). Cervicovaginal and rectal swabs were obtained preoperatively. Perioperative antibiotics and tocolysis were administered. Results There were 28 cases of ultrasound-indicated and 14 of physical examination-indicated CC. Positive swab cultures were observed in 21 % of cases. The incidence of preterm delivery\34 weeks was 32 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 16–52 %] and 50 % (95 % CI 23–77 %) in the ultrasound-indicated and physical examination-indicated CC group, respectively. The incidence of premature rupture of membranes \34 weeks was 21 % (95 % CI 8–41 %) and 29 % (95 % CI 8–58 %) in the ultrasoundindicated and physical examination-indicated CC group, respectively. Perinatal survival was 96 % (95 % CI 88–100 %) in the ultrasound-indicated CC group, and 86 % (95 % CI 67–96 %) in the physical examinationindicated CC group.Conclusions We showed a high-risk of preterm delivery in both groups, but with a high overall perinatal survival. Our data stress the importance of re-evaluating the efficacy of CC in twin pregnancies by properly designed clinical trials, particularly if it is physical examination indicated

Vitis vinifera - a chemotaxonomic approach: Pollen wall proteins

The electrophoretic pattern of the pollen wall proteins from clones of cv. Nebbiolo grown in different areas show a geographical clustering. Vermentino, Pigato and Favorita are found virtually identical both by morphological and biochemical criteria

Nomenclatural Assessment Of Goniotrichum Kützing, Erythrotrichia Areschoug, Diconia Harvey, And Stylonema Reinsch (Rhodophyta)

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149711/1/tax03682.pd

The status of Agardhiella tenera and Agardhiella baileyi (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales)

Evidence is presented to support the placement of Agardhiella tenera in Solieria (as S. tenera comb. nov.) for the reason that a large fusion cell is present in the center of the cystocarp. Since A. tenera is the type species of the genus, Agardhiella S chmitz (1896) becomes a junior synonym of Solieria J. A gardh (1842). It is argued that A. baileyi , upon which the generic description of Agardhiella was based, is generically distinct from Solieria , and Neoagardhiella gen. nov. is proposed, with N. baileyi as the type species. Agardhiella ramosissima is also transferred into this new genus. The old observations of Solieria as a procarpial genus made by B ornet & T huret (1880) are reinforced by the present observations. This situation in the type genus of the family is contrasted with the nonprocarpial condition known in several other genera at present considered members of the Solieriaceae.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42895/1/10750_2004_Article_BF00014259.pd

Molecular Tools for Monitoring the Ecological Sustainability of a Stone Bio-Consolidation Treatment at the Royal Chapel, Granada

Background: Biomineralization processes have recently been applied in situ to protect and consolidate decayed ornamental stone of the Royal Chapel in Granada (Spain). While this promising method has demonstrated its efficacy regarding strengthening of the stone, little is known about its ecological sustainability.Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we report molecular monitoring of the stone-autochthonous microbiota before and at 5, 12 and 30 months after the bio-consolidation treatment (medium/long-term monitoring), employing the well-known molecular strategy of DGGE analyses. Before the bio-consolidation treatment, the bacterial diversity showed the exclusive dominance of Actinobacteria (100%), which decreased in the community (44.2%) after 5 months, and Gamma-proteobacteria (30.24%) and Chloroflexi (25.56%) appeared. After 12 months, Gamma-proteobacteria vanished from the community and Cyanobacteria (22.1%) appeared and remained dominant after thirty months, when the microbiota consisted of Actinobacteria (42.2%) and Cyanobacteria (57.8%) only. Fungal diversity showed that the Ascomycota phylum was dominant before treatment (100%), while, after five months, Basidiomycota (6.38%) appeared on the stone, and vanished again after twelve months. Thirty months after the treatment, the fungal population started to stabilize and Ascomycota dominated on the stone (83.33%) once again. Members of green algae (Chlorophyta, Viridiplantae) appeared on the stone at 5, 12 and 30 months after the treatment and accounted for 4.25%, 84.77% and 16.77%, respectively.Conclusions: The results clearly show that, although a temporary shift in the bacterial and fungal diversity was observed during the first five months, most probably promoted by the application of the bio-consolidation treatment, the microbiota tends to regain its initial stability in a few months. Thus, the treatment does not seem to have any negative side effects on the stone-autochthonous microbiota over that time. The molecular strategy employed here is suggested as an efficient monitoring tool to assess the impact on the stone-autochthonous microbiota of the application of biomineralization processes as a restoration/conservation procedure.This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Junta de Andalucía (Spain) and the “Fortalecimiento de la I+D+i” program from the University of Granada, co-financed by grant RNM-3493 and Research Group BIO-103 from Junta de Andalucía, as well as by the Spanish Government through “José Castillejo” program from the “Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte” (I+D+i 2008-2011), and by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) under Grant “Elise-Richter V194-B20”

Manipulating the Hype: contemporary art's response to media cliches

Manipulating the Hype addresses art’s reaction to the barrage of signs produced by the media. The paper researches contemporary art’s response to clichéd media stereotypes and elucidates artists’ multifaceted perspective on overtly obvious yet widely embraced paradigms marketed by the media. Contemporary art’s strategic reconfiguration of media stereotypes is a valuable introspection upon the superficiality and impracticability of advertising and entertainment industry constructs. By reconsidering the mediated image, art has the ability to inspire reevaluation of cultural values. The thesis additionally attempts to ascertain the reinterpretation of media stereotypes as a common thread linking principal art movements and historically significant artworks from around the world since 1960. How does contemporary art respond to the extensive cultural influence of the media? Is a reaction to mass media a thematic commonality linking contemporary artists in the age of globalization? Manipulating the Hype is a dual outcome investigation comprised of written thesis and studio practice. The written thesis combines experience from a lengthy professional practice with historical and theoretical research. The visual thesis consists of twelve photographic works taken at on the Big Island of Hawaii. The images juxtapose artificial icons of power from popular culture with the natural force of the active lava flow. The process of research discloses how the advertising and entertainment industries capitalize upon innate human desires through the manipulative proliferation of archetypal imagery. Furthermore, the thesis establishes the widespread retort to media clichés as a palpable commonality in studio practices worldwide. The findings in the research make evident that although contemporary art does not have sufficient influence to reform the media, it can heighten public awareness of media tactics

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services