bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A ‘learning platform’ approach to outcome measurement in fragile X syndrome: a preliminary psychometric study
Authors: Hall S. S. , Hammond J. L. , Hirt M. , Reiss A. L.
Published: April 2012

Background  Clinical trials of medications to alleviate the cognitive and behavioural symptoms of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are now underway. However, there are few reliable, valid and/or sensitive outcome measures available that can be directly administered to individuals with FXS. The majority of assessments employed in clinical trials may be suboptimal for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) because they require face‐to‐face interaction with an examiner, taxing administration periods, and do not provide reinforcement and/or feedback during the test. We therefore examined the psychometric properties of a new computerised ‘learning platform’ approach to outcome measurement in FXS.

Method  A brief computerised test, incorporated into the Discrete Trial Trainer©– a commercially available software program designed for children with ID – was administered to 13 girls with FXS, 12 boys with FXS and 15 matched ID controls aged 10 to 23 years (mental age = 4 to 12 years). The software delivered automated contingent access to reinforcement, feedback, token delivery and prompting procedures (if necessary) on each trial to facilitate responding. The primary outcome measure was the participant's learning rate, derived from the participant's cumulative record of correct responses.

Results  All participants were able to complete the test and floor effects appeared to be minimal. Learning rates averaged approximately five correct responses per minute, ranging from one to eight correct responses per minute in each group. Test–retest reliability of the learning rates was 0.77 for girls with FXS, 0.90 for boys with FXS and 0.90 for matched ID controls. Concurrent validity with raw scores obtained on the Arithmetic subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐III was 0.35 for girls with FXS, 0.80 for boys with FXS and 0.56 for matched ID controls. The learning rates were also highly sensitive to change, with effect sizes of 1.21, 0.89 and 1.47 in each group respectively following 15 to 20, 15‐min sessions of intensive discrete trial training conducted over 1.5 days.

Conclusions  These results suggest that a learning platform approach to outcome measurement could provide investigators with a reliable, valid and highly sensitive measure to evaluate treatment efficacy, not only for individuals with FXS but also for individuals with other ID.
The effect of flight on reproduction in an outbreaking forest lepidopteran
Authors: ELLIOTT CHRISTINA G. , EVENDEN MAYA L.
Published: April 2012

Post‐flight reproductive investment by female insects may be limited as a result of a trade‐off in resource allocation between flight and reproduction. Outbreaking forest pests reduce their habitat quality as a result of severe defoliation when population densities are high. Female relocation to better‐quality habitats can increase offspring survival but reduce their reproductive fitness through flight. In the present study, the effect of flight on the capacity of femaleChoristoneura conflictana(Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to mate and produce eggs is examined. Females are flown on flight mills, and the subsequent reproductive capacity of each moth is assessed through measures of mating success and egg production. There is no effect of flight on commencement or the duration of mating. Although flight does not affect egg production directly, energy expenditure as a result of flight (as measured by weight loss) shows a negative correlation to potential fecundity, possibly indicating the resorption of eggs in some females. The effect of female size on fecundity is dependent on mating status, suggesting that energy allocated to reproduction is not dependent on flight treatment. Female moth longevity also has a significant effect on egg production but is dependent on flight and mating treatments. There is a relationship between energy expenditure to flight and reproduction inC. conflictana. Females that fly away from dense populations may produce fewer offspring, although this cost may be mitigated by improved offspring survivorship in less defoliated habitats.
Identification of a Novel UTY‐Encoded Minor Histocompatibility Antigen
Authors: Mortensen B. K. , Rasmussen A. H. , Larsen M. E. , Larsen M. V. , Lund O. , Braendstrup P. , Harndahl M. , Rasmussen M. , Buus S. , Stryhn A. , Vindeløv L.
Published: April 2012

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags) encoded by the Y‐chromosome (H‐Y‐mHags) are known to play a pivotal role in allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) involving female donors and male recipients. We present a new H‐Y‐mHag, YYNAFHWAI (UTY139–147), encoded by the UTY gene and presented by HLA‐A*24:02. Briefly, short peptide stretches encompassing multiple putative H‐Y‐mHags were designed using a bioinformatics predictor of peptide‐HLA binding, NetMHCpan. These peptides were used to screen for peptide‐specific HLA‐restricted T cell responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained post‐HCT from male recipients of female donor grafts. In one of these recipients, a CD8+ T cell response was observed against a peptide stretch encoded by the UTY gene. Another bioinformatics tool, HLArestrictor, was used to identify the optimal peptide and HLA‐restriction element. Using peptide/HLA tetramers, the specificity of the CD8+ T cell response was successfully validated as being HLA‐A*24:02‐restricted and directed against the male UTY139–147 peptide. Functional analysis of these T cells demonstrated male UTY139–147 peptide‐specific cytokine secretion (IFNγ, TNFα and MIP‐1β) and cytotoxic degranulation (CD107a). In contrast, no responses were seen when the T cells were stimulated with patient tumour cells alone. CD8+ T cells specific for this new H‐Y‐mHag were found in three of five HLA‐A*24:02‐positive male recipients of female donor HCT grafts available for this study.
Whole genomes in the clinic: uncovering de novo mutations in sporadic infantile epilepsy
Authors: Kay C
Published: April 2012

De novo pathogenic SCN8A mutation identified by whole‐genome sequencing of a family quartet affected by infantile epileptic encephalopathy and SUDEP Veeramah et al. (2012) American Journal of Human Genetics 90 (3):502–510
Conversion to sirolimus in pediatric renal transplant patients: A single‐center experience
Authors: Monteverde Marta L. , Ibañez Juan , Balbarrey Ziomara , Chaparro Alicia , Diaz Mario , Turconi Amalia
Published: April 2012

Monteverde ML, Ibañez J, Balbarrey Z, Chaparro A, Diaz M, Turconi A. Conversion to sirolimus in pediatric renal transplant patients: A single‐center experience.

Abstract:  We studied efficacy and safety of conversion from CNI‐ to SRL‐based immunosuppression in 92 kidney TX recipients, mainly due to CAN (69%). Median time of conversion was 31 months (r: 0.3–165); median time of follow‐up: 36 months (r: 2–102). In the whole group mean eGFR increased from 53 ± 22 to 67 ± 26 mL/min/1.73 m2 at three months (p = 0.02) and did not change subsequently. Patients with grade I CAN had higher eGFR than those with grade II CAN. Patient and graft survival was 96% and 70% 10 yr after conversion. Patients with grade I CAN had better graft survival than those with grade II CAN: 89% vs. 65% at six yr (p = 0.02) post conversion. There were two episodes of BPAR. Baseline proteinuria >20 mg/kg/day (HR: 10) and baseline eGFR <50 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR: 8) were independent predictors of graft loss. Sixty‐seven of 92 subjects had ≥1 AEs: diarrhea (n = 52), urinary tract infections (n = 35), and lower respiratory tract infections (n = 12) were the most frequent. Patients with >2 AEs had SRL blood levels >9 ng/mL at month 3 (p = 0.01). In conclusion, patients converted from CNI to SRL had good graft survival and tolerable but frequent AEs. Independent predictors of graft loss were baseline proteinuria and eGFR.
Evaluation of diel patterns of relative changes in cell turgor of tomato plants using leaf patch clamp pressure probes
Authors: Lee Kang M. , Driever Steven M. , Heuvelink Ep , Rüger Simon , Zimmermann Ulrich , de Gelder Arie , Marcelis Leo F. M.
Published: April 2012

Relative changes in cell turgor of leaves of well‐watered tomato plants were evaluated using the leaf patch clamp pressure probe (LPCP) under dynamic greenhouse climate conditions. LPCP changes, a measure for relative changes in cell turgor, were monitored at three different heights of transpiring and non‐transpiring leaves of tomato plants on sunny and cloudy days simultaneously with whole plant water uptake. Clear diel patterns were observed for relative changes of cell turgor of both transpiring and non‐transpiring leaves, which were stronger on sunny days than on cloudy days. A clear effect of canopy height was also observed. Non‐transpiring leaves showed relative changes in cell turgor that closely followed plant water uptake throughout the day. However, in the afternoon the relative changes of cell turgor of the transpiring leaves displayed a delayed response in comparison to plant water uptake. Subsequent recovery of cell turgor loss of transpiring leaves during the following night appeared insufficient, as the pre‐dawn turgescent state similar to the previous night was not attained.
Experimental evidence of early costs of reproduction in conspecific viviparous and oviparous lizards
Authors: BLEU J. , HEULIN B. , HAUSSY C. , MEYLAN S. , MASSOT M.
Published: April 2012

Reproduction entails costs, and disentangling the relative importance of each stage of the reproductive cycle may be important to assess the costs and benefits of different reproductive strategies. We studied the early costs of reproduction in oviparous and viviparous lizard females of the bimodal reproductive species Zootoca vivipara. Egg retention time in oviparous females is approximately one‐third of the time in viviparous females. We compared the vitellogenesis and egg retention stages that are common to both reproductive modes. Precisely, we monitored the thermoregulatory behaviour, the weight gain and the immunocompetence of the females. Moreover, we injected an antigen in half of the females (immune challenge) to study the trade‐offs between reproductive mode and immune performance and between different components of the immune system. Finally, we experimentally induced parturition in viviparous females at the time of egg laying in oviparous females. Oviparous and viviparous females did not show strong differences in response to the immune challenge. However, viviparous females spent more time thermoregulating while partially hidden and gained more weight than oviparous females. The greater weight gain indicates that the initial period of egg retention is less costly for viviparous than for oviparous females or that viviparous females are able to save and accumulate energy at this period. This energy may be used by viviparous females to cope with the subsequent costs of the last two‐third of the gestation. Such an ability to compensate the higher costs of a longer egg retention period may account for the frequent evolution of viviparity in squamate reptiles.
Diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica in western Spain and identification of hypovirus‐infected isolates
Authors: Zamora P. , Martín A. B. , Rigling D. , Diez J. J.
Published: April 2012

Isolates of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica were obtained from 44 localities in four provinces in Western Spain and characterized for vegetative compatibility (vc) types, mating types and the presence of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1). Among the 1232 isolates recovered from chestnut blight cankers, 11 vc types were identified: five known vc types included in EU1 to EU74 (EU1, EU11, EU12, EU28 and EU66) and six unknown vc types (CL4, CL5 CL6, CL8, CL9 and CL10). The number of vc types found per province varied between two and seven. The vc type EU11 was present in all provinces and accounted for 48.9% of all isolates. EU1 was detected in three provinces and accounted for 39.1% of the isolates. The vc types EU12, EU66, CL5 and CL6 were present in one or two provinces and comprised between 2.4% and 3% of the isolates. The other vc types were represented by only one or very few isolates. The mating type MAT‐1 was largely dominant in the provinces Leon and Avila, while both mating types MAT‐1 and MAT‐2 were found in Salamanca and Zamora. Fourteen hypovirus‐infected C. parasitica isolates were found, nine were in vc type EU1 and five in EU11, and they were detected only in the province León. All isolates analysed contained the French hypovirus subtype CHV1‐F1.
Microbial Communities in Potato Roots and Soil in Organic and Integrated Production Systems Compared by the Plate Culturing Method
Authors: Lenc Leszek , Kwaśna Hanna , Sadowski CzesŁaw
Published: April 2012

Microbial communities in roots, rhizoplane, rhizosphere soil and non‐rhizosphere soil in potato were compared in organic and integrated production systems in 2005–2007. Identification of microorganisms was based on morphotyping. The density (number of colony‐forming units in a sample) of Fungi and Oomycota was significantly greater in the integrated system. Greater densities of Arthrobacter and Streptomyces occurred more often in organic and integrated systems, respectively. The dominant fungal taxa (with frequency >5% in at least one habitat) included Aspergillus, Clonostachys + Gliocladium, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium + Gibberella + Haematonectria + Neonectria, Gibellulopsis nigrescens, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phoma and Trichoderma. The subdominant taxa (with frequency 1–5%) included species from 16 genera. In the rhizoplane, rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil, the total density of pathogens was greater in the organic system, and of antagonists in the integrated system. Dominant pathogens, that is, C. coccodes, Fusarium culmorum, Haematonectria haematococca and G. nigrescens, and dominant antagonists, that is, Clonostachys + Gliocladium and Trichoderma, occurred at greater density in the organic system. Subdominant pathogens, that is, Alternaria + Ulocladium, Pythium and Thanatephorus cucumeris, and subdominant antagonists, that is, Mortierella and Umbelopsis vinacea, occurred at significantly greater density in the integrated system. Incidence of sprout rot was more frequent in the organic system, and of Fusarium dry rot and black scurf in the integrated system. The organic system provided a less disease‐suppressive environment than the integrated system and resulted in smaller potato yield. An integrated system of potato production based on 4‐year rotation, white mustard as a cover crop, inorganic fertilizers including ammonium nitrate and chemical control of insects and diseases may be promoted in Poland.
Selection and Evaluation of Interspecific Hybrids of Pear Highly Resistant to Venturia nashicola
Authors: Zhang Hai E. , Yue Wen Quan , Wu Ya Qin , Yi Wang , Han Zhen Hai , Zhang Xin Zhong
Published: April 2012

Pear scab (Venturia nashicola Tanaka et Yamamoto or Venturia pirina Aderhold) is one of the most important diseases of pears. Two hybrids, 03‐04‐034 and 03‐08‐080, highly resistant to pear scab were selected from interspecific reciprocal crosses of Pyrus × bretschneideri cv. Yali and Pyrus × ussuriensis cv. Jingbaili. The content of salicylic acid (SA) and polyphenols in the leaves of 03‐04‐034 and a highly susceptible hybrid individual were tested by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The two scab‐resistant individuals 03‐04‐034 and 03‐08‐080 were backcrossed with both of their parents, and the progenies were used for inheritance analysis of the resistance trait. The results indicated that diseased and non‐diseased progenies segregated qualitatively and that diseased was dominant over non‐diseased. The ratio of diseased/non‐diseased progenies in all of the backcross populations was not significantly different from 1 : 15 indicating the segregation of four major gene loci was involved in the variation of resistance in these hybrid populations. When susceptible subpopulations from the two crosses were assessed for the severity of infection as measured by the ratio of lesion area to total leaf area, resistance was identified as a quantitative trait. Endogenous SA content in the leaves was extensively induced as early as 3 h after inoculation of the highly resistant individual 03‐04‐034, but no significant change in leaf SA content was found in the highly susceptible individual 03‐19‐136. Polyphenolic compounds, such as phlorhizin, catechol, quercetin and rutin, began to accumulate in leaves of 03‐04‐034 several hours earlier than that 03‐19‐136. The lignin content increased 45 h after inoculation in the resistant individual 03‐04‐034, but not in the susceptible individual 03‐19‐136. These observations indicated that the genetic resistance to pear scab of this interspecific population was correlated to SA induction, earlier polyphenol accumulation and the subsequent lignification of leaf tissue.
Expression patterns and potential roles of SIRT1 in human medulloblastoma cells in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Ma Jing‐Xin , Li Hong , Chen Xiao‐Ming , Yang Xiang‐Hong , Wang Qian , Wu Mo‐Li , Kong Qing‐You , Li Zai‐Xia , Liu Jia
Published: April 2012

Medulloblastoma is a primitive neuroectodermal tumor, which originates in the cerebellum, presumably due to the alterations of some neurogenetic elements. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase (HDAC), regulates differentiation of neuronal stem cells but its status in medulloblastomas remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to address this issue by checking SIRT1 expression in noncancerous cerebellar tissues, medulloblastoma tissues and established cell lines. The roles of SIRT1 in proliferation and survival of UW228‐3 medulloblastoma cells were analyzed by SIRT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection and SIRT1 inhibitor nicotinamide treatment. The results revealed that the frequency of SIRT1 expression in medulloblastoma tissues was 64.17% (77/120), while only one out of seven tumor‐surrounding noncancerous cerebellar tissues showed restricted SIRT1 expression in the cells within the granule layer. Of the three morphological subtypes, the rates of SIRT1 detection in the large cell/anaplastic cell (79.07%; 34/43) and the classic medulloblastomas (60.29%; 41/68) are higher than that (22.22%; 2/9) in nodular/desmoplastic medulloblastomas (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Heterogeneous SIRT1 expression was commonly observed in classic medulloblastoma. Inhibition of SIRT1 expression by siRNA arrested 64.96% of UW228‐3 medulloblastoma cells in the gap 1 (G1) phase and induced 14.53% of cells to apoptosis at the 48‐h time point. Similarly, inhibition of SIRT1 enzymatic activity with nicotinamide brought about G1 arrest and apoptosis in a dose‐related fashion. Our data thus indicate: (i) that SIRT1 may act as a G1‐phase promoter and a survival factor in medulloblastoma cells; and (ii) that SIRT1 expression is correlated with the formation and prognosis of human medulloblastomas. In this context, SIRT1 would be a potential therapeutic target of medulloblastomas.
ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE PERFORMED FOR REFRACTORY BILE DUCT STENOSIS DUE TO CHRONIC PANCREATITIS: A CASE REPORT
Authors: KATANUMA AKIO , MAGUCHI HIROYUKI , OSANAI MANABU , TAKAHASHI KUNIYUKI
Published: April 2012

We report a case of the patient who underwent endoscopic ultrasound‐guided biliary drainage (EUS‐BD) for refractory bile duct stenosis due to chronic pancreatitis. The patient had repeatedly undergone endoscopic biliary stenting for bile duct stenosis due to chronic pancreatitis. Because of repeated relapses of cholangitis and jaundice, transpapillary treatment was judged to have reached its limits. Surgical bypass was attempted but had to be abandoned due to adhesions. Thus, EUS‐BD was performed. The procedure was successful, and placement of a covered expandable metallic stent (C‐EMS) relieved cholangitis. Two months after placement, the C‐EMS was removed, and the patient became stent‐free but closure of the fistula subsequently occurred.
CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF 200 COLORECTAL ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTIONS
Authors: HISABE TAKASHI , NAGAHAMA TAKASHI , HIRAI FUMIHITO , MATSUI TOSHIYUKI , IWASHITA AKINORI
Published: April 2012

Background:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an outstanding endoscopic technique in which a colonic lesion can be resected en‐bloc. However, the procedure requires a high level of skill and the procedure has yet to be standardized. At the present time, colorectal ESD is only permitted in Japanese institutions that have been certified for advanced medical treatments.

Methods:  We examined 200 cases of colorectal ESD that were performed in our hospital.

Results:  Over time, it was found that there was a continuous improvement in the treatment outcomes along with advances in both the procedures and the peripheral equipment utilized.

Conclusion:  Current results suggest that the colorectal ESD procedure is relatively stable. To ensure colorectal ESD continues to be safe, indications for its use need to be more fully investigated and medical personnel must be trained to carefully perform the procedure.
CASE OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN G4‐RELATED CHOLANGITIS ACCOMPANYING AUTOIMMUNE PANCREATITIS: DIAGNOSIS BY PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY AND TREATMENT BY ENDOSCOPIC BILIARY STENTING
Authors: OKANO NAOKI , IGARASHI YOSHINORI , KISHIMOTO YUI , ITO KEN , SASAI DAISUKE
Published: April 2012

Recently, the progress of endoscopy has made it possible to evaluate bile duct mucosa by peroral cholangioscopy. Herein, we report a case of immunoglobulin G4‐related sclerosing cholangitis accompanying autoimmune pancreatitis in a patient who improved with treatment by steroid therapy and endoscopic biliary stenting, and observed the bile duct mucosa by peroral cholangioscopy before and after treatment.
Metallic stent deployment in endosonography‐guided biliary drainage: Long‐term follow‐up results in patients with bilio‐enteric anastomosis
Authors: Horaguchi Jun , Fujita Naotaka , Noda Yutaka , Kobayashi Go , Ito Kei , Koshita Shinsuke , Kanno Yoshihide , Ogawa Takahisa , Masu Kaori , Hashimoto Shinichi , Ishii Shoutarou
Published: April 2012

Background and Aim:  Although reports on endosonography‐guided biliary drainage (ESBD) have been increasing, only a few reports on deployment of a self‐expandable metal stents (SEMS) have been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SEMS deployment in ESBD.

Methods:  Of 42 patients who underwent ESBD during the period from January 2007 to August 2011, 21 patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction in whom SEMS deployment had been attempted were included. In the first session, a plastic stent or SEMS was placed in a bilio‐enteric anastomosis (BEA) method. SEMS was deployed with the one‐step technique or with replacement of a plastic stent with a SEMS in the second session. The technical success, early and late complications, and stent patency of SEMS were evaluated.

Results:  One‐step SEMS deployment was attempted in seven patients, and SEMS was deployed with stent exchange in 14. SEMS deployment was successful in all patients without any complications. Finally, SEMS was placed in a BEA method in 16 patients (extrahepatic bile duct, 13; intrahepatic bile duct, three), and with antegrade deployment in five. Late complications occurred in three patients who underwent deployment of SEMS in a BEA method (stent obstruction in two and reflux cholangitis in one). The mean stent patency period was 433 days.

Conclusions:  As SEMS deployment in ESBD is safe and provides long stent patency, a SEMS seems to be the stent of choice in ESBD for patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction in whom long survival is expected.
Comparison of modified introducer method with pull method for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: Prospective randomized study
Authors: Shigoka Hiroaki , Maetani Iruru , Tominaga Kenji , Gon Katsushige , Saitou Michihiro , Takenaka Yukio
Published: April 2012

Aim:  The pull method is associated with a high incidence of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) site infection. The introducer method has been shown to be less likely to cause infection, because it avoids the passage of a tube through the oropharynx. The aim of the present study was to compare the modified introducer method with the pull method for PEG.

Methods:  The study included patients who were scheduled for PEG from April 2008 to April 2010. The patients were randomly assigned to receive PEG by the pull method (Group I) or the modified introducer method (Group II). We evaluated the incidence of PEG site infection, some infection‐associated parameters and other complications. Wound infections were evaluated in accordance with the Jain's score.

Results:  Of 62 patients enrolled, 31 patients were assigned to each of the two groups. One patient in Group I died on the day after PEG. The cause of death and relationship with PEG were unclear. Excluding this patient, 61 were included in the per‐protocol analysis. The incidence of peristomal infection within 1 week was slightly lower in Group II than in Group I, albeit not statistically significant (12.9% vs 23.3%, P = 0.3354). White blood cell count (WBC) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly lower in Group II (WBC: P = 0.0345, CRP: P = 0.0346). None of the patients underwent surgical procedures for the treatment of peristomal infection.

Conclusion:  The results of the present study show that gastrostomy by the modified introducer method may be less likely, although not significantly, to cause peristomal infection than the pull method.
Training practice nurses to improve the physical health of patients with severe mental illness: Effects on beliefs and attitudes
Authors: Hardy Sheila
Published: April 2012

Annual health checks are recommended for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) as they are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Ideally, these health checks should be carried out in primary care. Practice nurses are already competent in carrying out physical health checks, but might have misconceptions about mental illness, which is a barrier to offering the service. We used a mirror imaging study to establish the effectiveness of a training package for practice nurses that aims to address common misconceptions about the physical health of people with SMI. This 2‐hour training package (Northampton Physical Health and Wellbeing Project) was delivered to eight practice nurses. Their misconceptions and beliefs were assessed before and after training. Motivation to work with community mental health workers was assessed after training. The practice nurses involved in the study rejected commonly held misconceptions about the physical health of people with SMI after training. Their attitudes towards their role in providing health checks appeared to be modified in a positive direction. Their motivation to work with community mental health workers also seemed to be enhanced. The Northampton Physical Health and Wellbeing Project training was effective in modifying practice nurses' misconceptions about physical health in people with SMI.
Health behaviour interventions to improve physical health in individuals diagnosed with a mental illness: A systematic review
Authors: Happell Brenda , Davies Cally , Scott David
Published: April 2012

Individuals diagnosed with mental illness experience high rates of morbidity and mortality as a result of poor physical health and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the literature on health behaviour interventions to improve the physical health of individuals diagnosed with a mental illness. A systematic search strategy was undertaken using four of the major electronic databases. Identified articles were screened for inclusion, included articles were coded, and data were extracted and critically reviewed. A total of 42 articles were identified for inclusion. The most commonly targeted physical health behaviour was weight management. The majority of studies reported improvements in health behaviours following interventions. The findings provide evidence for the positive effect of health behaviour interventions in improving the physical health of individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness. A focus on health behaviour interventions within the mental health nursing profession might lead to improvements in health behaviours and general health in consumers of mental health services.
Mental and physical health comordibity: Political imperatives and practice implications
Authors: Hardy Sally , Thomas Ben
Published: April 2012

Insufficient priority is being given to meet the physical health‐care needs of people with mental illness. Mental health nurses, as the largest professional group working in mental health care, have a pivotal role in improving the physical health and well‐being of people with mental illness. Through health‐promotion strategies, alongside recovery‐focused support aimed at avoiding deteriorating physical health, mental health nurses can significantly contribute to improving the current rate of premature death experienced by people with enduring mental illness. Drawing from contemporary policy, alongside practical examples taken from the published literature, this paper considers what constitutes recommended best practice in dealing with the physical health‐care needs of people with mental illness. The role that UK‐based health‐care policy plays in shaping care delivery that meets the needs of people with mental illness is explored and placed within the context of global health concerns. Recommendations are made on how mental health nursing can work to provide evidence for a reassertion that nurses are well placed to work across organizational and professional boundaries to deliver person‐centred care and a holistic approach to population health and well‐being.
Deterministic Processing of Complex Multiaxial Fatigue Load Data on a Tubular Specimen with Hole
Authors: PAPUGA J. , HRUBÝ Z. , RŮŽIČKA M. , BALDA M. , SVOBODA J.
Published: April 2012

A study of the use of deterministic fatigue life prediction methods for a set of multiaxial experimental data on broad‐band random loading applied to a tubular specimen with a hole is presented. There is a discussion of the applicability of stress‐based predictions and strain‐based predictions based on the linear cumulative rule under current conditions. The only feasible criteria finally chosen for the application are strain‐based methods for analysing the fatigue life until fatigue crack initiation. Several methods differing in the damage parameter and application of the mean stress effect (MSE) are evaluated. The MSE is optimised so that a comparison of the predicted and experimental data have the least scatter and similar mean values. The results are presented, and the most promising method (by Erdogan and Roberts) has been selected. The positive properties of Walker mean stress correction and the failure of SWT and Landgraf methods are commented on.
Concurrent ratcheting–fatigue damage analysis of uniaxially loaded A‐516 Gr.70 and 42CrMo Steels
Authors: AHMADZADEH G. R. , VARVANI‐FARAHANI A.
Published: April 2012

This study intends to investigate the concurrent interaction of fatigue damage and ratcheting strain in two commonly used steel alloys of (American Society for Testing and Materials) ASTM A‐516 Gr.70 and 42CrMo, respectively for pressure vessels and high grade machinery parts over uniaxial stress cycles. Ratcheting extension and fatigue damage progress were both characterized cycle‐by‐cycle over life cycles of tested materials. The interaction of ratcheting and fatigue damage was defined based on mechanistic parameters involving the effects of mean stress, stress amplitude and cyclic softening/hardening response of materials. The extent of ratcheting effect was defined by product of average ratcheting strain per cycle, and maximum stress value during a cycle, while fatigue damage was analysed based on earlier developed energy‐based models of Xia–Ellyin, and Smith–Watson–Topper. Overall damage due to ratcheting and fatigue was calibrated through a weighting factor at various mean/ cyclic amplitude stresses. An algorithm was developed to evaluate overall damage due to ratcheting and fatigue stress cycles of materials subjected to various mean and amplitude stresses. The estimated lives at different mean stresses and stress amplitudes for ASTM A‐516 Gr.70 and 42CrMo samples showed good agreements as compared with those of reported experimental data.
Genome‐wide identification of novel small RNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gómez‐Lozano María , Marvig Rasmus Lykke , Molin Søren , Long Katherine S.
Published: April 2012

Bacterial small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) function in post‐transcriptional control of gene expression and control a variety of processes including metabolic reactions, stress responses and pathogenesis in response to environmental signals. A variety of approaches have been used previously to identify 44 sRNAs in the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this work, RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) is used to identify novel transcripts in P. aeruginosa involving a combination of three different sequencing libraries. Almost all known sRNAs and over 500 novel intergenic sRNAs are identified with this approach. Although the use of three libraries increased the number of novel transcripts identified, there were significant differences in the subset of transcripts detected in each library, underscoring the importance of library preparation strategy and relative sRNA abundance for successful sRNA detection. Nearly 90% of the novel sRNAs have no orthologous bacterial sequences outside of P. aeruginosa, supporting a limited degree of sequence conservation and rapid evolution of sRNAs at the species level. We anticipate that the data will be useful for the study of regulatory sRNAs in bacteria and that the approach described here may be applied to identify sRNAs in any bacterium under different growth and stress conditions.
Comparison of efficacy between uncovered and covered self‐expanding metallic stents in malignant large bowel obstruction: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Y. , Shi J. , Shi B. , Song C. Y. , Xie W. F. , Chen Y. X.
Published: April 2012

Aim  Insertion of a self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) can rapidly relieve colorectal obstruction. This study aimed to compare the efficacy between uncovered and covered SEMSs in the treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction.

Method  A systematic search in Medline, Embase, the Cochrane controlled trials register and bibliographies of retrieved articles was performed. Randomized controlled trials and other comparative studies comparing uncovered and covered SEMSs for treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction were selected for this systematic review and meta‐analysis. The main outcome measures were technical success, clinical success, tumour ingrowth, tumour overgrowth, early migration (≤ 7 days), late migration (> 7 days), overall complications and the duration of stent patency.

Results  Compared with covered SEMSs, uncovered SEMSs were associated with a lower late migration rate (relative risk 0.25; 95% CI 0.08, 0.80; P = 0.02), a higher tumour ingrowth rate (relative risk 5.99; 95% CI 2.23, 16.10; P = 0.0004) and a prolonged stent patency (weighted mean difference 15.34 days; 95% CI 4.31, 26.37; P = 0.006). There was no significant difference in technical success, clinical success, tumour overgrowth, early migration, perforation or overall complications between the two groups.

Conclusion  Tumour ingrowth occurred more frequently in the uncovered SEMS group, while late migration was more common in the covered SEMS group.
Achieving high quality colonoscopy: using graphical representation to measure performance and reset standards
Authors: Rajasekhar P. T. , Rutter M. D. , Bramble M. G. , Wilson D. W. , East J. E. , Greenaway J. R. , Saunders B. P. , Lee T. J. W. , Barton R. , Hungin A. P. S. , Rees C. J.
Published: April 2012

Aim  Completeness and thoroughness of colonoscopy are measured by the caecal intubation rate (CIR) and the adenoma detection rate (ADR). National standards are ≥ 90% and ≥ 10% respectively. Variability in CIR and ADR have been demonstrated but comparison between individuals and units is difficult. We aimed to assess the performance of colonoscopy in endoscopy units in the northeast of England.

Method  Data on colonoscopy performance and sedation use were collected over 3 months from 12 units. Colonoscopies performed by screening colonoscopists were included for the CIR only. Funnel plots with upper and lower 95% confidence limits for CIR and ADR were created.

Results  CIR was 92.5% (n = 5720) and ADR 15.9% (n = 4748). All units and 128 (99.2%) colonoscopists were above the lower limit for CIR. All units achieved the ADR standard with 10 above the upper limit. Ninety‐nine (76.7%) colonoscopists were above 10%, 16 (12.4%) above the upper limit and 7 (5.4%) below the lower limit. Median medication doses were 2.2 mg midazolam, 29.4 mg pethidine and 83.3 μg fentanyl. In all, 15.1% of colonoscopies were unsedated. Complications were bleeding (0.10%) and perforation (0.02%). There was one death possibly related to bowel preparation.

Conclusion  Results indicate that colonoscopies are performed safely and to a high standard. Funnel plots can highlight variability and areas for improvement. Analyses of ADR presented graphically around the global mean suggest that the national standard should be reset at 15%.
Salient Goals Direct and Energise Students' Actions in the Classroom
Authors: Boekaerts Monique , Smit Karin , Busing Frank
Published: April 2012

In this exploratory study, a multidimensional unfolding technique is used to visualise goal salience. A total of 1,733 students from secondary vocational education reported on the importance of 16 goals, using the GIFI, which is based on the 24 goal taxonomy proposed by Ford and Nichols (1991). Results show that students make a clear distinction between ego and non‐ego goals and that non‐ego goals are reported as most important by most students. Also, differences within the group of boys and the group of girls, and differences between boys and girls, are shown. The results and possibilities of multidimensional unfolding for future research on goals are discussed.
Genetic modification; the development of transgenic ornamental plant varieties
Authors: Chandler Stephen F. , Sanchez Cory
Published: April 2012

Plant transformation technology (hereafter abbreviated to GM, or genetic modification) has been used to develop many varieties of crop plants, but only a few varieties of ornamental plants. This disparity in the rate and extent of commercialisation, which has been noted for more than a decade, is not because there are no useful traits that can be engineered into ornamentals, is not due to market potential and is not due to a lack of research and development activity. The GM ornamental varieties which have been released commercially have been accepted in the marketplace. In this article, progress in the development of transgenic ornamentals is reviewed and traits useful to both consumers and producers are identified. In considering possible factors limiting the release of genetically modified ornamental products it is concluded that the most significant barrier to market is the difficulty of managing, and the high cost of obtaining, regulatory approval.
Developmental Effects of Incentives on Response Inhibition
Authors: Geier Charles F. , Luna Beatriz
Published: April 2012

Inhibitory control and incentive processes underlie decision making, yet few studies have explicitly examined their interaction across development. Here, the effects of potential rewards and losses on inhibitory control in 64 adolescents (13‐ to 17‐year‐olds) and 42 young adults (18‐ to 29‐year‐olds) were examined using an incentivized antisaccade task. Notably, measures were implemented to minimize age‐related differences in reward valuation and potentially confounding motivation effects. Incentives affected antisaccade metrics differently across the age groups. Younger adolescents generated more errors than adults on reward trials, but all groups performed well on loss trials. Adolescent saccade latencies also differed from adults across the range of reward trials. Overall, results suggest persistent immaturities in the integration of reward and inhibitory control processes across adolescence.
Thinking in Categories or Along a Continuum: Consequences for Children’s Social Judgments
Authors: Master Allison , Markman Ellen M. , Dweck Carol S.
Published: April 2012

Can young children, forming expectations about the social world, capture differences among people without falling into the pitfalls of categorization? Categorization often leads to exaggerating differences between groups and minimizing differences within groups, resulting in stereotyping. Six studies with 4‐year‐old children (N = 214) characterized schematic faces or photographs as falling along a continuum (really mean to really nice) or divided into categories (mean vs. nice). Using materials that children naturally group into categories (Study 3), the continuum framing prevented the signature pattern of categorization for similarity judgments (Study 1), inferences about behavior and deservingness (Studies 2 and 5), personal liking and play preferences (Study 4), and stable and internal attributions for behavior (Study 6). When children recognize people as members of continua, they may avoid stereotypes.
Auctions with Anticipated Emotions: Overbidding, Underbidding, and Optimal Reserve Prices*
Authors: Roider Andreas , Schmitz Patrick W.
Published: April 2012

The experimental literature has documented that there is overbidding in second‐price auctions, regardless of the valuations of bidders. In contrast, in first‐price auctions, there tends to be overbidding for large valuations, but underbidding for small valuations. We show that the experimental evidence can be rationalized by a simple extension of the standard auction model, where bidders anticipate (constant) positive or negative emotions caused by the mere fact of winning or losing. Even if the emotional (dis‐)utilities are very small, the revenue‐maximizing reserve price might be significantly different from the standard model. Moreover, decreases with the number of bidders.
Change‐point detection in panel data
Authors: Horváth Lajos , Hušková Marie
Published: April 2012

We consider N panels and each panel is based on T observations. We are interested to test if the means of the panels remain the same during the observation period against the alternative that the means change at an unknown time. We provide tests which are derived from a likelihood argument and they are based on the adaptation of the CUSUM method to panel data. Asymptotic distributions are derived under the no change null hypothesis and the consistency of the tests are proven under the alternative. The asymptotic results are shown to work in case of small and moderate sample sizes via Monte Carlo simulations.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of transporters, phytohormone and lipid metabolism pathways in response to arsenic stress in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Yu Lu‐jun , Luo Ying‐feng , Liao Bin , Xie Li‐juan , Chen Liang , Xiao Shi , Li Jin‐tian , Hu Song‐nian , Shu Wen‐sheng
Published: April 2012

Arsenic (As) contamination of rice (Oryza sativa) is a worldwide concern and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of As accumulation in rice may provide promising solutions to the problem. Previous studies using microarray techniques to investigate transcriptional regulation of plant responses to As stress have identified numerous differentially expressed genes. However, little is known about the metabolic and regulatory network remodelings, or their interactions with microRNA (miRNA) in plants upon As(III) exposure.

We used Illumina sequencing to acquire global transcriptome alterations and miRNA regulation in rice under As(III) treatments of varying lengths of time and dosages.

We found that the response of roots was more distinct when the dosage was varied, whereas that of shoots was more distinct when the treatment time was varied. In particular, the genes involved in heavy metal transportation, jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis and signaling, and lipid metabolism were closely related to responses of rice under As(III) stress. Furthermore, we discovered 36 new As(III)‐responsive miRNAs, 14 of which were likely involved in regulating gene expression in transportation, signaling, and metabolism.

Our findings highlight the significance of JA signaling and lipid metabolism in response to As(III) stress and their regulation by miRNA, which provides a foundation for subsequent functional research.
Concurrent blockade of free radical and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase‐1‐mediated PGE2 production improves safety and efficacy in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Shin Jin Hee , Lee Young Ae , Lee Jae Keun , Lee Yong Beom , Cho Woong , Im Doo Soon , Lee Jin Hwan , Yun Bok Sun , Springer Joe E. , Gwag Byoung Joo
Published: April 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 952–961.

While free radicals and inflammation constitute major routes of neuronal injury occurring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), neither antioxidants nor non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs have shown significant efficacy in human clinical trials. We examined the possibility that concurrent blockade of free radicals and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)‐mediated inflammation might constitute a safe and effective therapeutic approach to ALS. We have developed 2‐hydroxy‐5‐[2‐(4‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐ethylaminobenzoic acid] (AAD‐2004) as a derivative of aspirin. AAD‐2004 completely removed free radicals at 50 nM as a potent spin‐trapping molecule and inhibited microsomal PGE2 synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) activity in response to both lipopolysaccharide‐treated BV2 cell with IC50 of 230 nM and recombinant human mPGES‐1 protein with IC50 of 249 nM in vitro. In superoxide dismutase 1G93A transgenic mouse model of ALS, AAD‐2004 blocked free radical production, PGE2 formation, and microglial activation in the spinal cords. As a consequence, AAD‐2004 reduced autophagosome formation, axonopathy, and motor neuron degeneration, improving motor function and increasing life span. In these assays, AAD‐2004 was superior to riluzole or ibuprofen. Gastric bleeding was not induced by AAD‐2004 even at a dose 400‐fold higher than that required to obtain maximal therapeutic efficacy in superoxide dismutase 1G93A. Targeting both mPGES‐1‐mediated PGE2 and free radicals may be a promising approach to reduce neurodegeneration in ALS and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases.