Reviews

Apolog

An acoustic analysis of rhoticity in Lancashire, England

This paper presents the first systematic acoustic analysis of a rhotic accent in present- day England. The dataset comprises spontaneous and elicited speech of 28 speakers from Blackburn in Lancashire, Northern England, where residual rhoticity remains, having never been lost in the earlier sound change which rendered most of England non-rhotic. Although sociolinguistic studies of rhoticity in England exist, we have almost no description of its phonetic properties. Moreover, most sociolinguistic studies focus on the South West of England and relatively little is known about rhoticity in the North. Our study is timely because Northern rhoticity is predicted to disappear in the next few generations, a process which is now complete in many areas of the South West. Our results demonstrate that rhoticity is still present in Blackburn, although non-prevocalic /r/ is weaker when compared to other rhotic varieties of English such as those in Scotland and North America. We find that non-prevocalic /r/ is phonetically weakening in apparent time, with the F3-F2 difference being larger for younger speakers as well as females. We present additional social and linguistic factors affecting its potential demise, and discuss how our results contribute to our understanding of historical /r/-loss in Anglo-English

Glareosin : A novel sexually dimorphic urinary lipocalin in the bank vole, Myodes glareolus

Electronic supplementary material is available online at https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3859369. Detailed methods are presented in the electronic supplementary material. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE [32] partner repository with the dataset identifier PXD006645 and 10.6019/PXD006645 This work was funded in part by BBSRC (BB/J002631/1 and BB/M012557/1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 part 3

Posters Can Merino Ewes be Teased to Synchronise Oestrus for a Summer/Autumn Mating? Ken Hart, Keith Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Rob Davidson, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia. Mario D\u27Antuono, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Damara Sheep: Now Looking Domestic Evan Burt and Tanya Kilminster, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Production and Water Use of Lucerne and French Serradella Under Three Sowing Rates Diana Fedorenko1,4, Darryl McClements1,4 , Robert Beard3,4 1Department of Agriculture, 3 Farmer, Meckering, 4CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. E-SHEEP - Individual Animal Management is here Sandy Turton & Martin Atwell, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Using Radio Frequency Identification Technology on Farm Martin Atwell & Sandy Turton, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia The Impact of Introducing Lucerne into a Wheat / Sheep Farming System on Wool and Meat Production Robert Beard1,3 and Diana Fedorenko2,3. 1Farmer, Meckering; 2Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, 3CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinit

Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of Lycra sleeve for management of glenohumeral subluxation in people with stroke

Background: Glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) is a common secondary complication reported in up to 81% of people with stroke. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of conductinga fully powered randomized controlled trial of the Lycra sleeve for the management of GHS.Method: Stroke survivors over 18 years with hemiplegia, muscle strength of ⩽3 on Medical Research Council scale, able to provide informed written consent were recruited from acute settings.Evaluation points were at baseline and at three months. Patients were randomized to immediate (IG) or delayed (received sleeve atthree months) groups (DG). Staff, patients and carers received training on application of sleeve. Recruitment, retention, adverse events and completeness of data collection were explored atthree months using descriptive statistics: GHS (ultrasound method), passive range of movement, muscle strength, spasticity, upper limb function and quality of life. Questionnaires explored acceptability.Results/findings: Of 257 stroke survivors screened, 31 (12%) were recruited (N = 19 IG). Retention was 87% (N = 27) and all patients tolerated clinical outcome measures. Average days the sleeve was worn: 50/90 days (mean 10 hours/day). Seven (41%) participants from IG and two (22%) from DG showed reduction in GHS. Swelling inthe hand was reported by 2/27. A further three participants were unsure of adverse effect due to preexisting medical condition(s). Patients reported the sleeve was comfortable to wear (100% N = 27)and was acceptable in their daily life (96% N = 27).Conclusion: Recruitment was low but retention was good. This study found that a subsequent clinical trial was feasible, with modifications to the recruitment strategy

Acceptability of Lycra arm sleeve in people with sub-acute stroke: Patients', 1 carers' and clinicians' perspectives

BackgroundPrevious studies found that the Lycra sleeve has potential to reduce glenohumeral subluxation in people with stroke. The primary aim of this study was to explore the acceptability of the Lycra sleeve from patients’, carers’ and staff perceptive in the sub-acute phase of stroke.MethodStroke survivors over 18 years with hemiplegia and muscle strength of ≤3 (Medical Research Council scale) shoulder abduction, able to provide informed consent were recruited as soon as they were medically stable. Patients wore the Lycra sleeve for up to 10 hours/day for three months. A questionnaire was administered three months post-sleeve application to immediate and delayed groups and healthcare staff.ResultsTwenty-seven patients (immediate group (n=19), delayed group (n=8)), 23 carers/family-members and 36 healthcare staff (nurses (n=10), nursing assistants (n=5), physiotherapists (n=10), physiotherapy assistants (n=3) and occupational therapists (n=8) completed a questionnaire. Several staff reported for more than one patient resulting in up to 37 responses to some questions from nursing staff and 46 responses from therapy staff. Of 27 patients, all found the sleeve to be comfortable. The average time to apply the sleeve was between two and five minutes. The sleeve was reported as acceptable in daily life by patients (96%, n=24/25), carers/family-members (96%, n=21/22), by nurses (92%, n=34/37) and in routine clinical practice by therapists (91%, n=41/45).ConclusionWearing of Lycra sleeve was acceptable for patients during activities of daily living/rehabilitation. However, research is required on the effectiveness of the sleeve before this can be routinely used in clinical practice

Executive functions in binge spectrum eating disorders with comorbid compulsive buying

Objective: The aims were to explore if bulimic spectrum disorders (BSD) patients, who also present comorbid compulsive buying (CB), could represent a specific subtype considering its neuropsychological performance; to present a descriptive analysis of different clinical features; and to explore how these variables could influence treatment outcome. It was hypothesised that the comorbid group will present worse neuropsychological performance that will lead to a worse treatment outcome. Method: The study has a longitudinal design. Women (N = 75) diagnosed with BSD, BSD + CB and Healthy Controls (HC); completed an evaluation of: cognitive flexibility, decision making, eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, psychopathological state and personality traits. Results: BSD + CB was the group with the most severe clinical profile, worst treatment outcome and higher neuropsychological impairment, than other groups. Path-analysis evidenced that deficits in decision making were associated with bad treatment outcome, while deficits in flexibility with the presence of the comorbidity. Self-directedness and novelty seeking were associated with the neuropsychological performance and the comorbidity. Conclusion: BSD + CB exhibit a worse clinical and neuropsychological profile that seems to be related with the treatment outcome, which should be taken into account for the establishment of specific treatment approaches

Strategy for Treating Motor Neuron Diseases Using a Fusion Protein of Botulinum Toxin Binding Domain and Streptavidin for Viral Vector Access: Work in Progress

Although advances in understanding of the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have suggested attractive treatment strategies, delivery of agents to motor neurons embedded within the spinal cord is problematic. We have designed a strategy based on the specificity of botulinum toxin, to direct entry of viral vectors carrying candidate therapeutic genes into motor neurons. We have engineered and expressed fusion proteins consisting of the binding domain of botulinum toxin type A fused to streptavidin (SAv). This fusion protein will direct biotinylated viral vectors carrying therapeutic genes into motor nerve terminals where they can enter the acidified endosomal compartments, be released and undergo retrograde transport, to deliver the genes to motor neurons. Both ends of the fusion proteins are shown to be functionally intact. The binding domain end binds to mammalian nerve terminals at neuromuscular junctions, ganglioside GT1b (a target of botulinum toxin), and a variety of neuronal cells including primary chick embryo motor neurons, N2A neuroblastoma cells, NG108-15 cells, but not to NG CR72 cells, which lack complex gangliosides. The streptavidin end binds to biotin, and to a biotinylated Alexa 488 fluorescent tag. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the delivery of genes to motor neurons in vivo, by the use of biotinylated viral vectors

Claudin-containing exosomes in the peripheral circulation of women with ovarian cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The absence of highly sensitive and specific serum biomarkers makes mass screening for ovarian cancer impossible. The claudin proteins are frequently overexpressed in ovarian cancers, but their potential as prognostic, diagnostic, or detection markers remains unclear. Here, we have explored the possible use of these proteins as screening biomarkers for ovarian cancer detection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Claudin protein shedding from cells was examined by immunoblotting of conditioned culture media. The presence of claudins in exosomes released from ovarian cancer cells was demonstrated by sucrose gradient separation and immunogold electron microscopy experiments. Claudin-4-containing exosomes in the plasma of ovarian cancer patients were evaluated in a pilot panel of 63 ovarian cancer patients and 50 healthy volunteers. The CA125 marker was also assessed in these samples and compared with claudin-4 positivity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that full-length claudins can be shed from ovarian cancer cells in culture and found in the media as part of small lipid vesicles known as exosomes. Moreover, 32 of 63 plasma samples from ovarian cancer patients exhibited the presence of claudin-4-containing exosomes. In contrast, only one of 50 samples from individuals without cancer exhibited claudin-4-positive exosomes. In our small panel, at a specificity of 98%, the claudin-4 and CA125 tests had sensitivities of 51% and 71%, respectively. The two tests did not appear to be independent and were strongly correlated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our work shows for the first time that claudin-4 can be released from ovarian cancer cells and can be detected in the peripheral circulation of ovarian cancer patients. The development of sensitive assays for the detection of claudin-4 in blood will be crucial in determining whether this approach can be useful, alone or in combination with other screening methods, for the detection of ovarian cancer.</p