Descriptive study of cooperative language in primary care consultations by male and female doctors

ObjectiveTo compare the use of some of the characteristics of male and female language by male and female primary care practitioners during consultations.DesignDoctors’ use of the language of dominance and support was explored by using concordancing software. Three areas were examined: mean number of words per consultation; relative frequency of question tags; and use of mitigated directives. The analysis of language associated with cooperative talk examines relevant words or phrases and their immediate context.Subjects26 male and 14 female doctors in general practice, in a total of 373 consecutive consultations.SettingWest Midlands.ResultsDoctors spoke significantly more words than patients, but the number of words spoken by male and female doctors did not differ significantly. Question tags were used far more frequently by doctors (P<0.001) than by patients or companions. Frequency of use was similar in male and female doctors, and the speech styles in consultation were similar.ConclusionsThese data show that male and female doctors use a speech style which is not gender specific, contrary to findings elsewhere; doctors consulted in an overtly non-directive, negotiated style, which is realised through suggestions and affective comments. This mode of communication is the core teaching of communication skills courses. These results suggest that men have more to learn to achieve competence as professional communicators.

Key messages

• Standard teaching on medical communication promotes a cooperative approach to doctor-patient interaction
• In everyday life, however, cooperative language is more typical of female speech style, and this suggests that male doctors may find it harder to develop appropriate consulting styles; in a sample of 373 consultations, male and female general practitioners used examples of cooperative language equally
• Language based study of doctor-patient interaction can deepen understanding and provide useful insights

     

The Effect of Shear on the Desorption of Liposomes Adsorbed to Bacterial Biofilms

Abstract

With the aid of a flow cell assembly the desorption of cationic liposomes prepared from mixtures of dipalmitoylphoshatidylcholine (DDPC), cholesterol, and either dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB) or 3,β[N-(N¹,N-dimethylethylenediamine)-carbamoyl]cholesterol (DC-chol) from immoblized biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus has been studied as a function of shear stress by confocal microscopy. A shear stress theory has been adapted from fluid mechanics of laminar flow between parallel plates and used to determine the critical shear stress for liposome desorption. The critical shear stress for both DDAB and DC-chol liposomes has been determined as a function of cationic lipid content and hence surface charge as reflected in their zeta potentials. The critical shear stress has been used to obtain the potential energy of liposome–biofilm interaction which together with the electrostatic interaction energy has enabled estimates of the London-Hamaker constants to be made. The values of the London-Hamaker constants at small liposome-bacterial cell separation were found to be independent of liposome composition.     

New ichnospecies of Linichnus Jacobsen & Bromley, 2009

Abstract

A new ichnospecies, Linichnus bromleyi, is described on bone substrate as the result of a very likely predator/scavenger interaction. L. bromleyi consists of a single groove with a non-serrated edge. This new ichnotaxon is compared with L. serratus which was defined as a single elongate serrate-edged groove. L. bromleyi has been identified over the surface of bones of marine mammals (in particular, cetaceans and pinnipeds) from two Pliocene outcrops of Andalusia, southern Spain. The new ichnospecies can be clearly related with a trophic interaction between sharks and marine mammals (mainly whales, dolphins and seals).     

Dioecy in the endemic genusDendrocacalia (Compositae) on the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands

Dendrocacalia crepidifolia Nakai (Compositae, Senecioneae), the only species of this arboreal genus endemic to Haha Island in the Bonin Islands, was found to be dioecious. Male flowers differ from female ones in having a stunted style (style in female exserted from corolla and deeply bifurcating) and anthers filled with fertile pollen (anthers in the female lacking pollen). The size of the corolla and number of florets per head were similar between male and female flowers. The crown area of this arboreal species was also similar in male and female plants. The sex ratio was 0.55 male, not significantly different from 0.5. Both sexes produced nectar of similar sugar concentration (ca. 50%). The flowers are pollinated by feral honeybees (Apis mellifera), but they are thought to have been pollinated by small, lesshairy, endemic solitary bees before honeybees were introduced and subsequently became the dominant bee species on the island. The evolution of dioecy ofDendrocacalia on the island is thought to stem from the deleterious effects of inbreeding that are inherent in plants with geitonogamy. The increased geitonogamy on the island has resulted from increased woodiness (i.e., increased number of flowers per plant) and the original dependence on endemic bee pollinators, which are now endangered.     

Two Mosses from Scotland,New to the British Isles

Abstract

Ditrichum cornubicum sp. nov. is a small plant with obtuse leaf apices, and tubers on the rhizoids, and has been assigned to Ditrichum somewhat tentatively because female inflorescences and sporophytes are unknown. It has been gathered in two areas in Cornwall where copper and tin were formerly extracted, and its habitat is described.     

Identity and distribution of Agama stellio picea Parker (Sauria: Agamidae), endemic to the volcanic desert of Jordan

Abstract

Agama stellio picea Parker, 1935, was clearly defined as a black lizard, with the female dotted with orange, from the Transjordan lava desert. Three later collections confirmed this. While the subspecies appears to be endemic to Jordan, its name has been erroneously applied to other A. stellio populations in adjacent countries.     

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculation studies between inhibitors and type II dehydroquinase (DHQ2)

Type II dehydroquinase (DHQ2) is the third enzyme of the shikimic acid pathway, and it has been the effective target for tuberculosis (TB). So far, developing multiple potent inhibitors of the DHQ2 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (DHQ2-Mt) has been considered to be the new therapy to TB. Molecular dynamics simulations followed by molecular mechanics-generalised Born surface area were carried out to calculate the free binding energy and to determine the affinity ability of the four chosen inhibitor molecules, L1, L2, L3 and L4. Energy decomposition analyses show the electrostatic interaction and van der Waals interaction of the ligands to every residue of the DHQ2-Mt. The results suggest that some important residues have different interactions with the four ligands, such as Arg19 and Tyr24. These interactions may have an effect on the ligand binding affinity. The binding affinity of monosubstituted inhibitor is higher than that of disubstituted inhibitor, due to some important interactions with the DHQ2-Mt residues. These computational works will be significant to the theoretical research in the future.     

Osservazioni embriologiche,sistematiche ed ecologiche su Allium parciflorum Viv.

Abstract

Embryological, systematic and ecological observations on Allium parciflorum Viv. The morphological observations and the comparison with some allied species have shown a good taxonomic isolation of Allium parciflorum: this has suggested to ascribe it to a new section.

It has been observed that the female gametophyte develops according to the disporic-type, as in other species of Allium previously studied.

The distributional area in Sardinia has been considerably extended and many ecological data are also given.     

(S)-1-(Pent-4′-enoyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-azetidin-2-one derivatives as inhibitors of human fatty acid amide hydrolase (hFAAH): synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular modelling

Abstract

A series of lipophilic ester derivatives (2a–g) of (S)-1-(pent-4′-enoyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-azetidin-2-one has been synthesised in three steps from (S)-4-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-azetidin-2-one and evaluated as novel, reversible, β-lactamic inhibitors of endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes (human fatty acid amide hydrolase (hFAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (hMAGL)). The compounds showed IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range and selectivity for hFAAH versus hMAGL. The unexpected 1000-fold decrease in activity of 2a comparatively to the known regioisomeric structure 1a (i.e. lipophilic chains placed on N₁ and C₃ positions of the β-lactam core) could be explained on the basis of docking studies into a revisited model of hFAAH active site, considering one or two water molecules in interaction with the catalytic triad.     

Male and female condition influence mating performance and sexual receptivity in two tropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) with contrasting life histories

Recent recognition of widespread polyandry in insects has generated considerable interest in understanding why females mate multiple times and in identifying factors that affect mating rate and inhibit female remating. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the question from both a female and male perspective, particularly with respect to factors that may simultaneously influence female remating rates. Here, we report on a study aimed at ascertaining the possible interactive effects that male and female size and diet, and female access to a host could have on mating latency, probability, and duration and female refractory period using two tropical fruit fly species with contrasting life histories. Of all factors tested, adult diet played the most significant role. Both Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua males which had constant access to protein and sucrose mated more often, had shorter copulations and induced longer refractory periods in females than males fed a low quality diet (sucrose offered every third day). Female size and the interaction with male diet determined how quickly female A. ludens mated for the first time. Smaller females mated sooner with low quality fed males than with high quality fed males while there was no difference for large females, suggesting that male choice may be at play if high quality fed males discriminate against smaller females. Copulation duration also depended on both male and female nutritional condition, and the interaction between male diet and female size and diet. Large and high quality fed females had shorter copulations regardless of male condition. Importantly, for A. ludens, female refractory period depended on male size and the nutritional condition of both males and females, which could indicate that for this species, female receptivity does not depend only on the condition of the male ejaculate. For A. obliqua refractory period was associated with the interaction between male size and diet and male diet and host presence. We discuss our results in terms of male ability to inhibit female remating and the relative contribution of female condition to this behavior. We also address the importance of studying effects simultaneously on species with contrasting life histories.     

BREEDING SYSTEM IN FICUS CARICA,THE COMMON FIG. I. FLORAL DIVERSITY

Coevolution in Ficus carica (Moraceae) and the fig wasp (Blastophaga psenes, Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea) has resulted in a complex breeding system involving two tree morphs (Caprifig and Edible fig), three floral forms (long-styled female, short-styled female, and male flowers) and the insect pollinator. The two female floral forms have been reported to differ only in style length and stigma shape. In the present study, we demonstrate that the two female flowers differ from inception—short-styled flower primordia are smaller and exhibit significantly greater individual variation than do those of the long-styled flower, and the relative growth rate of each flower type differs. Mature forms exhibit disparity in style length, in stigma characteristics, and in degree of fusion of stylar lobes. Female flowers of both tree morphs are unisexual from inception. Male flowers of the Caprifig tree morph are initiated as hermaphrodites and gynoecium abortion occurs before megaspore mother cell stage. A single inflorescence therefore expresses two pathways to unisexuality. Hermaphrodite flower primordia were repeatedly found in the supposedly unisexual female syconium of the Edible fig tree morph. Based on its developmental morphology, Ficus carica appears to be of gynomonoecious ancestry.     

Contribution to the description of an endemic Turkish Salix species

Abstract

The sex genetic determinants of the dioecious species Asparagus offcinalis are codified on the chromosome pair n. 5 and inherited as a monomendelian trait; since the dominant alleal controls the development of androecium, the males are heterozygous and the female homozygous. The male plants of asparagus are know to be superiour respect to the female ones for important yield components, therefore one objectiv of the breeding is the synthesis of all-male hybrids. That is possible by crossing female plants (m/m) with male plaits (M/M) homozygous for sex pair chromosome. The synthes of such kind of males by selfing the rare andromonoecious plants, involves several problems which can be overcome by using the in vitro anther culture technique. At our Institute this technique has been sistematically applied during the last twenty years and allowed to regenerate doubled haploid clones which were evaluated in the field for a minimum period of four years. The best male and female clones were then utilized as parents of all-male F₁ hybrids. Following omparative varietal trials in different location for several years, the best F₁ all-mal hybrids were identified and released to private seed companies for the production of commercial seed.     

Don't pull the plug! the Drosophila mating plug preserves fertility

ABSTRACT

Mating plugs are hardened structures—typically a coagulation of seminal fluid components—that are transferred to, or formed within, the female reproductive tract of numerous animal species (both mammals and insects). Analysis of the role(s) of the mating plug in reproduction has been conducted in a wide array of diverse species. These structures have been proposed to have a multitude of functions, which include altering female re-mating rate, acting as a barrier to re-mating and being required for sperm storage or sperm movement to occur in mated females. A recent analysis of the Drosophila melanogaster mating plug has shown that proper formation of the structure is required for optimal fertility in flies: the Drosophila mating plug is required to retain the ejaculate within the female reproductive tract once mating has terminated. Here, we discuss the possible implications of the Drosophila mating plug in the fertility of this species in light of these new results.     

Biophysical insights into the binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin with dipyridamole and the influence of molecular interaction with β cyclodextrin

Abstract

The binding characteristic of anti-platelet drug dipyridamole has been investigated with a transport protein, serum albumin. A multi-spectroscopic approach has been employed, and the results were well supported by in silico molecular docking and simulation studies. The fluorescence quenching of serum albumin at three different temperatures revealed that the mechanism involved is static and the binding constant of the interaction was found to be of the order of 10⁴ M^?1. The reaction was found to be spontaneous and involved hydrophobic interactions. Synchronous, 3D fluorescence and CD spectroscopy indicated a change in conformation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on interaction with DP. Using site-selective markers, the binding site of DP was found to be in subdomain IB. Molecular docking studies further corroborated these results. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations showed lower RMSD values on interaction, suggesting the existence of a stable complex between DP and BSA. Furthermore, since β-Cyclodextrin (βCD) is used to improve the solubility of DP in ophthalmic solutions, therefore, the effect of (βCD) on the interaction of BSA and DP was also studied, and it was found that in the presence of βCD, the binding constant for BSA-DP interaction decreased. The present study is an attempt to characterize the transport of DP and to improve its bioavailability, consequently helping in dosage design to achieve optimum therapeutic levels.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Intermolecular Interaction of Fluoro Propanes

Abstract

Intermolecular interaction is investigated for an isomeric pair of fluoro propane, CH₃CF₂CF₃ (HFC–245cb, CB) and CH₂FCF₂CHF₂ (HFC–245ca, CA). CB has a larger dipole moment than CA. This may suggest that CB has a larger intermolecular attractive interaction than CA; the reverse is, however, found from the experimental data: normal boiling point, critical temperature, and heat of vaporization. Systematic ab initio calculations have been done for both CB dimer and CA dimer, and confirmed that the former has a smaller attractive interaction than the latter.

On the basis of these calculations, analytic functions have been constructed as the pair potential models for the two isomers. Each of these models has 11 Lennard-Jones and Coulomb interaction sites in the molecule. The present models can explain why CB dimer has a smaller attractive interaction than CA dimer, and they will easily be extended to a series of fluoro propanes, and make it possible to perform the systematic molecular simulation studies.     

Disentangling the pollination system of the food-deceptive orchid Anacamptis longicornu (Orchidaceae): from breeding system to spatio-temporal variation in reproductive success

Abstract

The deceptive breeding system in the Orchidaceae family has been studied for decades to disentangle how pollination service can occur. Moreover, the interference of introduced herbivores on population development has been reported to affect the reproductive output in different plant species, including orchids. In this study, the breeding system of the food-deceptive species Anacamptis longicornu has been assessed. The spatio-temporal variation in both male and female reproductive fitness and its relationship with plant features were also analyzed. The possible herbivory effects were investigated by an exclusion experiment using two types of cages. The results confirm that this species is pollinator dependent and mostly allogamous but is also self-compatible. This species showed high values of cumulative inbreeding depression index for fruit set and seed viability parameters and was highly pollen-limited. Male fitness was always higher than female fitness between years and locations, and both parameters showed spatio-temporal variation. The use of cages excluded herbivores but, eventually, also excluded pollinators, so that both male and female reproductive success parameters decreased significantly in the complete exclusion treatment. The strong dependence of the species’ fitness on pollinator-mediated pollen transfer must be considered for the long-term conservation of A. longicornu.     

Status,conservation and ecology of Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Carruth. in a key region of England

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Pallavicinia lyellii is recognised as being of principal importance for conservation in England and is threatened with extinction in Europe. The aims of this study were to investigate the current status, conservation and ecology of the species in S Hampshire, a key region for the plant.

Methods. All recent and historic locations for Pallavicinia lyellii in S Hampshire were searched and information collected on distribution, abundance and ecology.

Results. Pallavicinia lyellii was re-found at three sites. It is almost certainly extinct at two sites and may have been lost from a third. Whilst few colonies were sterile, most comprised a single sex. Colonies with both male and female plants were confined to Cadnam Bog, which supported 49 (91%) of the colonies found. Overall, female shoots occurred at 41 (76%) colonies and males at 26 (48%), producing a female sex bias (1.6:1). All colonies occur in boggy woodland, mostly on the sides of low mounds of damp, acidic, peaty soil developed, due to poaching by ponies and cattle, at the base of trees, usually I. aquifolium. The community mainly comprises a species-poor mix of acidophilous mosses and liverworts, most frequently Mnium hornum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans and Leucobryum juniperoideum.

Conclusions. Cadnam Bog appears to support the largest sexually reproducing population of Pallavicinia lyellii in England. The site is specially protected, actively managed with consideration to P. lyellii and seemingly in favourable condition for the plant. Research is needed to quantify canopy shade favoured by the plant and assess implications for woodland management. Future monitoring should include re-survey of populations every 3?yr.     

Morfologia fiorale embriologia ed embriog in Leontopodium alpinum Cass. var. α typicum fiori e Paoletti

Abstract

FLOWER MORPHOLOGY, EMBRYOLOGY AND EMBRYOGENESIS OF LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM CASS. VAR. α TYPICUM FIORI E PAOLETTI. — The present work has been carried on with capitules of L. alpinum var. α typicum, included and dissected, differing thus from the previous research which is also summarised (BEAUVERD 1909 a e b, 1910, 1012, 1913 a e b, 1914).

The results are the following: all capitules of the same corymb of this species have the same structure, differing eventually in details. Generally they show outwards a few female flowers, inwards a relevant number of pseudohermaphrodite flowers (the sterile hermaphrodite of BEAUVERD). They are therefore subdioecious capitules with tendency to reduce the already scarce number of female flowers. Both female and pseudohermaphrodite flowers have been extensively described. Some rare hermaphrodite flowers with ovules and anthers, and very rare subhermaphrodite without ovules and empty or almost empty anthers have been also observed.

On the same material, embryological and embryogenetical research has been carried out: from it results that the microsporogenesis proceeds normally, without degeneration. The megasporogenesis and the development of the female gametophyte and the formation of an 8-nucleate have been observed and also several cases of poliantiopody. Many gamethophytes at this stage degenerate; the others develop particularly transversally; the antipodes completely degenerate and the secondary nucleus and the egg cell reach remarkable size. Synergids at this stage appear more or less completely fessurate, in their micropilar part.

Fertilisation occurs through porogamy, the zygote producing a bicellular proembryo which goes on dividing while the nucleus of the endosperm forms a cellular albumen.

The embryological and embryogenetical observations do not completely agree with those made by SOKOLOWSKA-KULCZYCKA (1959) on specimens of L. alpinum collected on the Tatra mountains (Carpathian Mts.), where the tetrad often degenerates and only exceptionally brings to the constitution of an aphid gamethophyte. More frequently apomixis has been observed, which implies a parthenogenetical development of the egg cell.     

UVA and UVB wavebands modulate expression of FasL in mouse skin epidermis

Abstract

In our previous report, we observed different cytokine modulation in mouse epidermis by the UVA and UVB wavebands. In the present investigations, the effects of irradiation with UVA and UVB on the Fas(CD95)/FasL system have been studied because apoptosis mediated by the interaction between Fas and FasL has been suggested recently to be associated with UVB-induced immunosuppression in mouse skin. Our results show that UVA irradiation following UVB irradiation has the ability to reduce the up-regulation of FasL expression in mouse skin resulting from the UVB irradiation.     

Determining the interaction behavior of calf thymus DNA with berberine hydrochloride in the presence of linker histone: a biophysical study

Abstract

The binding of small molecules with histone-DNA complexes can cause an interference in vital cellular processes such as cell division and the growth of cancerous cells that results in apoptosis. It is significant to study the interaction of small molecules with histone-DNA complex for the purpose of better understanding their mechanism of action, as well as designing novel and more effective drug compounds. The fluorescence quenching of ct-DNA upon interaction with Berberine has determined the binding of Berberine to ct-DNA with K_sv?=?9.46?×?10⁷ M^?1. K_sv value of ct-DNA-Berberine in the presence of H1 has been observed to be 3.10?×?10⁷ M^?1, indicating that the H1 has caused a reduction in the binding affinity of Berberine to ct-DNA. In the competitive emission spectrum, ethidium bromide (EB) and acridine orange (AO) have been examined as intercalators through the addition of Berberine to ct-DNA complexes, which includes ctDNA-EB and ctDNA-AO. Although in the presence of histone H1 , we have observed signs of competition through the induced changes within the emission spectra, yet there has been apparently no competition between the ligands and probes. The viscosity results have confirmed the different behaviors of interaction between ctDNA and Berberine throughout the binary and ternary systems. We have figured out the IC50 and viability percent values at three different time durations of interaction between Berberine and MCF7 cell line. The molecular experiments have been completed by achieving the results of MTT assay, which have been confirmed to be in good agreement with molecular modeling studies.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma