African development : the historical context of NEPAD

Includes bibliographical references

Women's Sexual Desire: Challenging Narratives of "Dysfunction"

Recent changes in the classification of female sexual dysfunction in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the first drug to treat low sexual desire in women (flibanserin) have highlighted the intense focus on sexual desire problems in women. We first discuss the rationale for the DSM changes and outline the DSM-5 criteria for Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder. We provide an overview of some of the key events leading up to the approval of flibanserin for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women, including the role of the “Even the Score” advocacy campaign, that accused the FDA of gender bias in not giving women with sexual desire problems access to treatment options. Incorporating narratives from testimonials of female patients attending the 2014 FDA Patient-Focused Drug Development Public Meeting, we examine some of the prevalent beliefs around sexual “normalcy” and the immutability of sexual desire. We critique how the media and pharmaceutical companies depict sexual norms and female sexual desire and how pharmaceutical trials often narrowly define and assess sexual desire and “sex.” We end with some recommendations for how researchers, clinicians, and journalists can better acknowledge that sex and desire have multiple meanings and interpretations with a view to women being offered a truly informed choice when seeking help for sexual problems

Enhancing Classroom Management Skills: Efficacy of a Supplemental Multi-Platform Intervention for Preservice Teachers

Many teachers are ill-prepared to apply practices that can both preempt and address challenging behaviors that interfere with academic instruction. We evaluated the efficacy of a supplemental multi-platform (direct instruction, guided practice, and mixed reality simulations) intervention designed for preservice teachers who do not have opportunities to participate in formal classroom management courses. Efficacy of the intervention was assessed through the quality of classroom management plans, the presentation and implementation of the plan in the virtual classroom, and classroom management self-efficacy. Results indicated that preservice teachers successfully developed quality proactive classroom management plans but struggled to present and implement their plans. However, self-efficacy increased indicating that participants believed they were better able to manage classroom behavior than they did prior to the intervention. Implications of these outcomes are discussed with an emphasis on how adequate opportunities to practice acquired classroom management skills are included in budget-challenged teacher preparation programs

Evaluation of novel ß-ribosidase substrates for the differentiation of Gram-negative bacteria

Aims:  To synthesize novel substrates for the detection of β-ribosidase and assess their potential for the differentiation of Gram-negative bacteria. Methods and Results:  Two novel chromogenic substrates, 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone-4′-β-D-ribofuranoside (DHF-riboside) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-ribofuranoside (X-riboside) were evaluated along with a known fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-ribofuranoside (4MU-riboside). A total of 543 Gram-negative bacilli were cultured on media containing either DHF-riboside or X-riboside. Hydrolysis of DHF-riboside or X-riboside resulted in the formation of clearly distinguishable black or blue-green colonies, respectively. Hydrolysis of 4MU-riboside was evaluated in a liquid medium in microtiter trays and yielded blue fluorescence on hydrolysis which was measured using fluorimetry. β-Ribosidase activity was widespread with 75% of strains, including 85·6% of Enterobacteriaceae, showing activity with at least one substrate. Genera that demonstrated β-ribosidase activity included Aeromonas, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Hafnia, Klebsiella, Morganella, Providencia, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Shigella. In contrast, strains of Proteus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus generally failed to demonstrate β-ribosidase activity. Conclusions:  The novel substrates DHF-riboside and X-riboside are effective for the detection of β-ribosidase in agar-based media and may be useful for the differentiation and identification of Gram-negative bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first report describing the application and utility of chromogenic substrates for β-ribosidase. These substrates could be applied in chromogenic media for differentiation of Gram-negative bacteria

Outcomes of lung transplantation in adults with bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation is a well-established treatment for end-stage non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BR), though information regarding outcomes of transplantation remains limited. Our results of lung transplantation for Br are reported here. METHODS: A retrospective review of case notes and transplantation databases was conducted for patients that had underwent lung transplantation for bronchiectasis at the Freeman Hospital between 1990 and 2013. RESULTS: Fourty two BR patients underwent lung transplantation, the majority (39) having bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Mean age at transplantation was 47.1 years. Pre-transplantation osteoporosis was a significant non-pulmonary morbidity (48%). Polymicrobial infection was common, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection frequently but not universally observed (67%). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (% predicted) improved from a pre-transplantation mean of 0.71 L (22% predicted) to 2.56 L (79 % predicted) at 1-year post-transplantation. Our survival results were 74% at 1 year, 64% at 3 years, 61% at 5 years and 48% at 10 years. Sepsis was a common cause of early post-transplantation deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplantation for end-stage BR is a useful therapeutic option, with good survival and lung function outcomes. Survival values were similar to other bilateral lung transplants at our centre. Pre-transplantation Pseudomonas infection is common

Nocardia kroppenstedtii sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from a lung transplant patient with a pulmonary infection

An actinomycete, strain N1286T, isolated from a lung transplant patient with a pulmonary infection, was provisionally assigned to the genus Nocardia. The strain had chemotaxonomic and morphological properties typical of members of the genus Nocardia and formed a distinct phyletic line in the Nocardia 16S rRNA gene tree. It was most closely related to Nocardia farcinica DSM 43665T (99.8% gene similarity) but was distinguished from the latter by a low level of DNA:DNA relatedness. These strains were also distinguished by a broad range of phenotypic properties. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that isolate N1286T (=DSM 45810T = NCTC 13617T) should be classified as the type strain of a new Nocardia species for which the name Nocardia kroppenstedtii is proposed

A novel chromogenic medium for isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the sputa of cystic fibrosis patients

AbstractBackgroundA novel chromogenic medium for isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from sputa of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was evaluated and compared with standard laboratory methods.MethodsOne hundred sputum samples from distinct CF patients were cultured onto blood agar (BA), Pseudomonas CN selective agar (CN) and a Pseudomonas chromogenic medium (PS-ID). All Gram-negative morphological variants from each medium were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and identification using a combination of biochemical and molecular methods.ResultsP. aeruginosa was isolated from 62 samples after 72 h incubation. Blood agar recovered P. aeruginosa from 56 samples (90.3%) compared with 59 samples (95.2%) using either CN or PS-ID. The positive predictive value of PS-ID (98.3%) was significantly higher than growth on CN (88.5%) for identification of P. aeruginosa (P<0.05).ConclusionsPS-ID is a promising medium allowing for the isolation and simultaneous identification of P. aeruginosa from sputa of CF patients