bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Barriers to Readiness to Change in Alcohol‐Dependent Patients
Authors: Le Berre Anne‐Pascale , Vabret François , Cauvin Céline , Pinon Karine , Allain Philippe , Pitel Anne‐Lise , Eustache Francis , Beaunieux Hélène
Published: March 2012

Background

Patients' personal investment and readiness to change have proved to be a prerequisite for the successful treatment of alcohol addiction. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of cognitive functions to the motivation process to abandon maladjusted behavior in favor of a healthier lifestyle.

Methods

An adapted version of the “readiness to change” questionnaire was completed by 31 alcohol‐dependent patients after detoxification and at alcohol treatment entry. This tool is designed to assess the 3 main stages of motivation to change regarding alcohol consumption: precontemplation (substance abuse and no intention to stop drinking), contemplation (strong intention to change habits but ambivalent behavior), and action (cessation of excessive alcohol consumption and behavioral changes for healthier habits) stages. Patients and 37 healthy controls also underwent an extensive neuropsychological battery including episodic memory, metamemory, executive functions, and decision‐making assessment.

Results

When alcohol‐dependent patients were considered as a group, the mean score on the action subscale was significantly higher than the precontemplation and contemplation ones. Nevertheless, when the stage of change reached by each patient was considered individually, we found that some alcohol‐dependent patients were still in the earlier precontemplation and contemplation stages. Stepwise regression analysis revealed links between impaired memory and executive functions and low motivation, and between good decision‐making skills and high motivation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a set of complementary cognitive abilities is needed to achieve awareness and resolve ambivalence toward alcohol addiction, which is essential for activating the desire to change problematic behavior.
Formation of Phosphatidylethanol and Its Subsequent Elimination During an Extensive Drinking Experiment Over 5 Days
Authors: Gnann Heike , Weinmann Wolfgang , Thierauf Annette
Published: March 2012

Background

For almost 30 years, phosphatidylethanol (PEth) has been known as a direct marker of alcohol consumption. This marker stands for consumption in high amounts and for a longer time period, but it has been also detected after 1 high single intake of ethanol (EtOH). The aim of this study was to obtain further information about the formation and elimination of PEth 16:0/18:1 by simulating extensive drinking.

Methods

After 3 weeks of alcohol abstinence, 11 test persons drank an amount of EtOH leading to an estimated blood ethanol concentration of 1 g/kg on each of 5 successive days. After the drinking episode, they stayed abstinent for 16 days with regular blood sampling. PEth 16:0/18:1 analysis was performed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (high‐performance liquid chromatography 1100 system and QTrap 2000 triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Values of blood alcohol were obtained using a standardized method with headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detector.

Results

Maximum measured concentrations of EtOH were 0.99 to 1.83 g/kg (mean 1.32 g/kg). These values were reached 1 to 3 hours after the start of drinking (mean 1.9 hours). For comparison, 10 of 11 volunteers had detectable PEth 16:0/18:1 values 1 hour after the start of drinking, ranging from 45 to 138 ng/ml PEth 16:0/18:1. Over the following days, concentrations of PEth 16:0/18:1 increased continuously and reached the maximum concentrations of 74 to 237 ng/ml between days 3 and 6.

Conclusions

This drinking experiment led to measurable PEth concentrations. However, PEth 16:0/18:1 concentrations stayed rather low compared with those of alcohol abusers from previous studies.
Delays in Auditory Processing Identified in Preschool Children with FASD
Authors: Stephen Julia M. , Kodituwakku Piyadasa W. , Kodituwakku Elizabeth L. , Romero Lucinda , Peters Amanda M. , Sharadamma Nirupama M. , Caprihan Arvind , Coffman Brian A.
Published: March 2012

Background

Both sensory and cognitive deficits have been associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol; however, very few studies have focused on sensory deficits in preschool‐aged children. As sensory skills develop early, characterization of sensory deficits using novel imaging methods may reveal important neural markers of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Methods

Participants in this study were 10 children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and 15 healthy control (HC) children aged 3 to 6 years. All participants had normal hearing as determined by clinical screens. We measured their neurophysiological responses to auditory stimuli (1,000 Hz, 72 dB tone) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). We used a multidipole spatio‐temporal modeling technique to identify the location and timecourse of cortical activity in response to the auditory tones. The timing and amplitude of the left and right superior temporal gyrus sources associated with activation of left and right primary/secondary auditory cortices were compared across groups.

Results

There was a significant delay in M100 and M200 latencies for the FASD children relative to the HC children (p = 0.01), when including age as a covariate. The within‐subjects effect of hemisphere was not significant. A comparable delay in M100 and M200 latencies was observed in children across the FASD subtypes.

Conclusions

Auditory delay revealed by MEG in children with FASDs may prove to be a useful neural marker of information processing difficulties in young children with prenatal alcohol exposure. The fact that delayed auditory responses were observed across the FASD spectrum suggests that it may be a sensitive measure of alcohol‐induced brain damage. Therefore, this measure in conjunction with other clinical tools may prove useful for early identification of alcohol affected children, particularly those without dysmorphia.
Opposing Actions of Ethanol and Nicotine on MicroRNAs are Mediated by Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Fetal Cerebral Cortical–Derived Neural Progenitor Cells
Authors: Balaraman Sridevi , Winzer‐Serhan Ursula H. , Miranda Rajesh C.
Published: March 2012

Background

Ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine are often co‐abused. However, their combined effects on fetal neural development, particularly on fetal neural stem cells (NSCs), which generate most neurons of the adult brain during the second trimester of pregnancy, are poorly understood. We previously showed that EtOH influenced NSC maturation in part, by suppressing the expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we tested in fetal NSCs the extent to which EtOH and nicotine coregulated known EtOH‐sensitive (miR‐9, miR‐21, miR‐153, and miR‐335), a nicotine‐sensitive miRNA (miR‐140‐3p), and mRNAs for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits. Additionally, we tested the extent to which these effects were nAChR dependent.

Methods

Gestational day 12.5 mouse fetal murine cerebral cortical–derived neurosphere cultures were exposed to EtOH, nicotine, and mecamylamine, a noncompetitive nAChR antagonist, individually or in combination, for short (24 hour) and long (5 day) periods, to mimic exposure during the in vivo period of neurogenesis. Levels of miRNAs, miRNA‐regulated transcripts, and nAChR subunit mRNAs were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

EtOH suppressed the expression of known EtOH‐sensitive miRNAs and miR‐140‐3p, while nicotine at concentrations attained by cigarette smokers induced a dose‐related increase in these miRNAs. Nicotine's effect was blocked by EtOH and by mecamylamine. Finally, EtOH decreased the expression of nAChR subunit mRNAs and, like mecamylamine, prevented the nicotine‐associated increase in α4 and β2 nAChR transcripts.

Conclusions

EtOH and nicotine exert mutually antagonistic, nAChR‐mediated effects on teratogen‐sensitive miRNAs in fetal NSCs. These data suggest that concurrent exposure to EtOH and nicotine disrupts miRNA regulatory networks that are important for NSC maturation.
Higher Medical Morbidity Burden Is Associated with External Locus of Control
Authors: Henninger Debra E. , Whitson Heather E. , Cohen Harvey J. , Ariely Dan
Published: March 2012

Objectives

To describe the association between an increasing number of coexisting conditions and locus of control (LOC), a psychological construct reflecting the degree to which one perceives circumstances to be controlled by personal actions (internal LOC) versus outside factors (external LOC) in older adults.

Design

Cross‐sectional study using survey data from the North Carolina Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (NC EPESE) data set.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Three thousand two hundred twelve community‐dwelling adults aged 68 and older.

Measurements

Nine common medical conditions were assessed according to self‐report. LOC was measured using a standard questionnaire. Analyses were adjusted for demographics, functional status (self‐reported activities of daily living), cognition (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire), and depression score (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale).

Results

A higher number of chronic conditions was associated with external LOC (β = 0.37, P < .001). This relationship persisted after adjustment for age, race, sex, functional status, cognition, and depression (β = 0.17, P < .001). Most individual conditions were not associated with LOC, although vision impairment (P < .001) and arthritis (P = .02) were associated with more‐internal LOC.

Conclusion

These results suggest that medically complex patients tend to exhibit a more‐external LOC, meaning that they perceive little personal control over circumstances and environment. Clinicians should be aware of this tendency, because external LOC may impede an older adult's willingness to engage in the considerable task of managing multiple chronic conditions.
Metformin, Other Antidiabetic Drugs, and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: A Population‐Based Case–Control Study
Authors: Imfeld Patrick , Bodmer Michael , Jick Susan S. , Meier Christoph R.
Published: March 2012

Objectives

To explore the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in individuals with diabetes mellitus treated with metformin or other antidiabetic drugs.

Design

Case–control study.

Setting

The United Kingdom–based General Practice Research Database (GPRD), a well‐established primary care database.

Participants

Seven thousand eighty‐six individuals aged 65 and older with an incident diagnosis of AD identified between 1998 and 2008 and the same number of matched controls without dementia. Matching criteria were age, sex, general practice, calendar time, and years of history in the database.

Measurements

Comparison of previous use of metformin or other antidiabetic drugs between cases and controls and calculation of corresponding odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using conditional logistic regression. Risk estimates were stratified according to duration of use and adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

As compared with nonusers, long‐term users of 60 or more metformin prescriptions were at greater risk of developing AD (adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.12–2.60), but there was no consistent trend with increasing number of prescriptions. Long‐term use of other antidiabetic drugs such as sulfonylureas (AOR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.72–1.42), thiazolidinediones (AOR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.31–2.40), or insulin (AOR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.58–1.73) was not related to an altered risk of developing AD.

Conclusion

Long‐term use of sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, or insulin was not associated with an altered risk of developing AD. There was a suggestion of a slightly higher risk of AD in long‐term users of metformin.
Social Capital, Religion,Wal‐Mart, and Hate Groups inAmerica*
Authors: Goetz Stephan J. , Rupasingha Anil , Loveridge Scott
Published: April 2012

Objective

The recent surge in hate group activity is a concern to many citizens and policymakers. We examine the roles of socioeconomic factors measured at the county level that are hypothesized to account for the presence of such groups, including social capital and religious affiliations.

Methods

We estimate aPoisson regression model using counts of hate groups provided by theSouthernPovertyLawCenter for each of the over 3,000 U.S. counties. Our regressors include a wider set of variables than has been considered in previous studies, such asJefferson andPryor (1999).

Results

Our approach produces a better statistical fit than that inJefferson andPryor's paper, and the additional regressors contribute significantly to our understanding of hate groups.

Conclusion

Both social capital stocks and religious affiliation exert an independent and statistically significant influence on the number of hate groups, as does the presence ofWal‐Mart stores, holding other factors constant.
A cross‐sectional study on the prevalence of marginal bone loss among implant patients
Authors: Cecchinato Denis , Parpaiola Andrea , Lindhe Jan
Published: March 2012

Objective

The aim of the present cross‐sectional retrospective study was to determine bone loss in a sample of subjects restored with implant‐supported prostheses and the prevalence and severity of peri‐implantitis in a sub‐sample.

Material and methods

A total of 139 patients who had attended a follow‐up visit in 2007 were considered for inclusion. Subjects with implants that had been in function for less than 3 years or had poor quality radiographs were excluded. The final study population comprised 133 subjects with a total of 407 implants. Radiographic measurements identified subjects who had ≥1 implant site exhibiting marginal bone loss of >0.5 mm; 40 subjects met this criterion and were recalled for a clinical examination. Of the 40 subjects that were recalled for the clinical examination, 30 attended. The following parameters were recorded at mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual/palatal aspects of all implants: oral hygiene standard (plaque), bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth (PPD).

Results

The mean interval between the baseline (1‐year post‐loading) and the follow‐up radiographs was 4.8 ± 2.3 years. In the total subject sample (133 subjects and 407 implants), the mean amount of marginal bone loss that had occurred was 0.2 ± 1.2 mm. Ninety‐three subjects with 246 implant sites exhibited no bone level alteration (group A), whereas 40 subjects with 161 implant sites (group B) displayed marginal bone loss of >0.5 mm at ≥1 implant (loser site). Sixty‐eight implant sites in group B exhibited bone loss of >0.5 mm. However, only 20% of subjects and 11% of sites had lost >1 mm marginal bone, and 8% of subjects and 4% of sites had lost >2 mm bone. The total amount of bone loss that had occurred in group B was (i) 0.88 ± 1.5 mm and (ii) among the loser sites 2.1 ± 1.4 mm. Thirty subjects from group B were exposed to a clinical examination; out of 37 sites with bone loss >0.5 mm in this subgroup, 29 sites had a PPD value of ≥4 mm.

Conclusion

Marginal bone loss (>0.5 mm) at implants was observed in 30% of subjects and 16% of implant sites. More advanced loss of marginal bone occurred in much fewer subjects and sites. Sites with marginal bone loss was in the sub‐sample characterized by bleeding on probing, but only occasionally with deep (≥6 mm) pockets.
Immediate supracrestal implant placement with immediate temporization in the anterior dentition: a retrospective study of 31 implants in 26 patients with up to 5.5‐years follow‐up
Authors: Paul Stefan , Held Ulrike
Published: March 2012

Aim

To assess the stability of the peri‐implant bone, the peri‐implant soft tissues and the esthetic success of immediately placed implants.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, scalloped‐shaped implants were placed immediately and 1.5 mm supracrestally after single‐tooth extraction. All implants were immediately restored with an implant‐supported temporary crown. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed on the day of tooth extraction with subsequent implant placement and temporization, after 6 months at delivery of the final crown, and after 1, after 3, and up to 5 years after crown delivery.

Results

All 31 implants were clinically successful and in function during the observation period (mean 3.4 years). The peri‐implant soft tissues were clinically healthy as indicated by a low mean plaque (below 0.5) and sulcus bleeding index (below 0.24) values. The distance between the implant shoulder and the first visible bone‐to‐implant contact (DIBrx) was measured at the mesial and distal aspects of each implant using periapical radiographs. Mean values for DIBrx of 1.73 ± 0.59 mm directly after implant placement and 2.25 ± 0.66 mm after the observation period demonstrated stable peri‐implant bone levels. The mean distance from the implant shoulder to the gingival margin on the labial aspect (DIM vestibular) was 2.21 ± 1.09 mm directly after implant placement. Respective values at 1 year, at 3 years and at 5 years after crown delivery remained stable thus demonstrating little if any gingival recession. The assessed mean values for the pink (PES) and white (WES) esthetic score (0 = 0–33% score, 1 = 34–66% score, 2 = 67–100% score) were 8/4 directly after implant placement and 9/10 after 1.5–5.5 years of observation.

Conclusions

After an observation time of 1.5–5.5 years all implants demonstrated very stable soft tissue levels with little if any recession on mesial, distal and labial aspects and an esthetic score that was reasonable directly after temporization and developed toward maximum scores over time.
The “puffed cheek method” to evaluate mucosal thickness: case series
Authors: Dvorak G. , Arnhart C. , Schön P. , Heuberer S. , Watzek G. , Gahleitner A.
Published: March 2012

Objectives

Mucosal thickness should be considered in implant treatment planning. Needle probing to measure mucosal thickness is invasive and therefore not used in routine diagnosis. The “puffed cheek” method is an established technique to visualize the vestibule in computed tomography (CT). As CT assesses bone availability, a simultaneous mucosal thickness measurement would be useful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of mucosal thickness measurement in CT with distended cheeks.

Materials and Methods

Buccal maxillary mucosa thickness was evaluated at four measurement sites in the incisor and molar area of 11 patients. Each site was evaluated via CT with cheek distension and needle probing. Measurement area was identified with the aid of a thermoplastic splint to localize the exact position by a gutta‐percha marker point. The comparison between the two methods was performed by Bland–Altman diagram.

Results

The mean clinical thickness was 1.17 mm (±0.31) compared to 1.11 mm (±0.31) in CT evaluation. The mean difference between the two methods was 0.07 mm (±0.40; CI‐0.14;0.12, P = 0.88, Krippendorff α = 0.38). According to Bland–Altman diagram the mucosal thickness may diverge by up to 0.9 mm from the radiologic thickness.

Conclusions

The two measurement methods may not be interchangeably used. As additional information to three‐dimensional bone analyses, CT may be performed as a pre‐operative soft tissue analysis at most implant sites with distended cheeks. Nevertheless, this method yields less valid and reliable results than the gold standard.
Probing at implants with peri‐implantitis and its relation to clinical peri‐implant bone loss
Authors: Serino Giovanni , Turri Alberto , Lang Niklaus P.
Published: March 2012

Objectives

To evaluate the probing depth at implants with signs of peri‐implantitis before and following the removal of the prosthetic reconstructions and its relation with the peri‐implant bone level as revealed by open access flap surgery.

Material and methods

Twenty‐nine patients with 89 implants with diagnosis of peri‐implantitis were included in the study. The probing pocket depth at implants before (PPD‐1) and following (PPD‐2) the removal of the prosthetic reconstructions was measured at four sites of the implants. These measurements were also analysed in relation to the amount of peri‐implant bone loss measured during peri‐implant surgery.

Results

The results showed that in only 119 (37%) of the sites, the measurements were similar between PPD‐1 and PPD‐2; in 124 sites (39%), the difference was ±1 mm, in 47 sites (15%) it was ±2 mm and in the rest of the sites it was ±3 mm. A high linear and statistically significant (P = <0.001) correlation between PPD‐2 and the bone loss measured at implants for all and single surfaces was observed (r = 0.67, range 0.64–0.69), while PPD‐1 yielded a weak and no statistically significant correlation (r = 0.35, range 0.27–0.42). The analysis of the bone loss at implants showed that 59 implants (66%) had an amount of bone loss that was similar at all the four surfaces, while in 30 implants, the bone loss differed for the various sites. A higher extent of bone loss was often detected at the buccal compared with the other sites.

Conclusion

The results of this study yielded differences in the pocket probing measurements at implants with or without the prosthetic reconstruction in place and that the probing pocket depth following the removal of the prosthesis had a high correlation with the amount of bone loss at implants assessed during surgery.
Patient‐specific analysis of FLT3 internal tandem duplications for the prognostication and monitoring of acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Schiller Joanna , Praulich Inka , Krings Rocha Cristiano , Kreuzer Karl‐Anton
Published: March 2012

Objectives

Internal tandem duplications (ITDs) of the fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (
FLT3) gene occur in 13–35% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
FLT3‐ITD is associated with poor clinical outcome and is an indication for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT).

Methods

To investigate
FLT3‐ITD length, position, and mutational load in AML cases, we developed patient‐specific quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) assays and correlated the results with established sensitive minimal residual disease (MRD) parameters and clinical outcome.

Results

In 409 patients with AML, FLT3‐ITDs could be detected in 54 cases (13%). Within our cohort, patients with
FLT3‐ITD ≥45 base pairs had significantly higher relapse rates (P = 0.03) and a worse overall survival (P = 0.03). Our method could be applied to 97% of
FLT3‐ITD‐positive patients and was as sensitive as other MRD parameters such as
PML‐RARA
, NPM1 mutations, or
MLL
‐PTD (correlation: r = 0.63; 0.99, and 0.99, respectively). MRD negativity predicted lasting remission independent of allo‐SCT (N = 7) or non‐allo‐SCT (N = 9). All paired diagnostic/relapsed samples showed
FLT3‐ITD positivity. Compared with bone marrow samples,
FLT3‐ITD analyses appeared to be equivalently sensitive in peripheral blood.

Conclusions

We conclude that individualized monitoring of
FLT3‐ITD in patients with AML may guide treatment decisions and should be evaluated for the indication for allo‐SCT.
Exercise efficiency of low power output cycling
Authors: Reger M. , Peterman J. E. , Kram R. , Byrnes W. C.
Published: March 2012

Exercise efficiency at low power outputs, energetically comparable to daily living activities, can be influenced by homeostatic perturbations (e.g., weight gain/loss). However, an appropriate efficiency calculation for low power outputs used in these studies has not been determined. Fifteen active subjects (seven females, eight males) performed 14, 5‐min cycling trials: two types of seated rest (cranks vertical and horizontal), passive (motor‐driven) cycling, no‐chain cycling, no‐load cycling, cycling at low (10, 20, 30, 40 W), and moderate (50, 60, 80, 100, 120 W) power outputs. Mean delta efficiency was 57% for low power outputs compared to 41.3% for moderate power outputs. Means for gross (3.6%) and net (5.7%) efficiencies were low at the lowest power output. At low power outputs, delta and work efficiency values exceeded theoretical values. In conclusion, at low power outputs, none of the common exercise efficiency calculations gave values comparable to theoretical muscle efficiency. However, gross efficiency and the slope and intercept of the metabolic power vs mechanical power output regression provide insights that are still valuable when studying homeostatic perturbations.
Sedation with intranasal midazolam of Angolan children undergoing invasive procedures
Authors: Kawanda Lumana , Capobianco Ivan , Starc Meta , Felipe Daniel , Zanon Davide , Barbi Egidio , Munkela Nadine , Rodrigues Verónica , Malundo Lúis , Not Tarcisio
Published: March 2012

Aim:  Ambulatory surgery is a daily requirement in poor countries, and limited means and insufficient trained staff lead to the lack of attention to the patient’s pain. Midazolam is a rapid‐onset, short‐acting benzodiazepine which is used safely to reduce pain in children. We evaluated the practicability of intranasal midazolam sedation in a suburban hospital in Luanda (Angola), during the surgical procedures.

Methods:  Intranasal midazolam solution was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Using the Ramsay’s reactivity score, we gave a score to four different types of children’s behaviour: moaning, shouting, crying and struggling, and the surgeon evaluated the ease of completing the surgical procedure using scores from 0 (very easy) to 3 (managing with difficulty).

Results:  Eighty children (median age, 3 years) were recruited, and 140 surgical procedures were performed. Fifty‐two children were treated with midazolam during 85 procedures, and 28 children were not treated during 55 procedures. We found a significant difference between the two groups on the shouting, crying and struggling parameters (p < 0.001). The mean score of the ease of completing the procedures was significantly different among the two groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:  These results provide a model of procedural sedation in ambulatory surgical procedures in poor countries, thus abolishing pain and making the surgeon’s job easier.
Does perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptors induce autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders? Review
Authors: de Cock Marijke , Maas Yolanda G.H. , van de Bor Margot
Published: March 2012

Aim:  To provide an overview of studies on perinatal exposure in humans to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in relation to autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders.

Methods:  A review of the literature (PubMed) was performed. Exposure‐related keywords, including various chemicals, were matched with keywords describing outcome. Animal studies as well as publications not written in English were excluded. In total, 834 titles were retrieved. The final selection included 21 publications.

Results:  Positive associations were found for ASD in relation to exposure to all chemicals investigated, which included hazardous air pollutants, pesticides and bisphenol A (BPA). Increased risks of ADHD or positive associations were found for exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dialkyl phosphate (DAP) and chlorpyrifos. BPA, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates were positively associated with externalizing behaviour. Five of 17 studies did not find any association between exposure and ADHD.

Conclusion:  Perinatal exposure to EDCs appears to be associated with the occurrence of ASD as well as ADHD. Disruption of thyroid hormone function and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic mechanisms may offer an explanation for the observed relations; though, conclusive evidence in humans is limited.
Effect of sheep and horse grazing on species and functional composition of sub‐Mediterranean grasslands
Authors: Catorci Andrea , Gatti Renata , Cesaretti Sabrina
Published: March 2012

Questions

How does horse or sheep grazing affect species richness, diversity and functional composition of plant communities in sub‐Mediterranean grasslands? What are the implications of grazing management for species conservation?

Location

Pastures dominated by Bromus erectus grazed by either sheep or horses in the Umbria‐Marches Apennines (central Italy).

Methods

We examined grasslands at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 1200 m a.s.l. on north‐facing slopes and with a slope angle of 20–40 °. In 20 plots of 1 m2 for each management type, canopy height and above‐ground phytomass were recorded. In 120 plots (60 for each management type) of 1 m2 the cover value of each species was recorded. Floristic diversity and community similarity of the sheep‐ and horse‐grazed conditions were compared. Functional plant traits and strategies or ecological requirements were also evaluated.

Results

The sward was shorter and supported less above‐ground phytomass in the horse‐grazed area. The sheep‐ and horse‐grazed areas had similar floristic diversity. Accidental species were the species most affected. Plants with low‐nutrient requirement spread in horse‐grazed pasture. Functional traits of species were filtered by the system, resulting in diverse cover values of species. Horse grazing promoted plants with a robust defence strategy (avoidance and tolerance) that ensured leaves were replaced when horses were not grazing, as well as species with clonal growth. In the sheep‐grazed area, a higher level of selective defoliation and a delayed start to the grazing period promoted species with low palatability, a late‐flowering strategy and those intolerant to trampling by large herbivores (chamaephytes). The value of forage feed was slightly higher in horse‐grazed pasture. Grazing of horses was more effective than that of sheep for controlling dominant unpalatable tall grasses.

Conclusion

In terms of biodiversity conservation, horse grazing may be considered as useful as sheep grazing, but only if managed at optimal stocking rates, because the increase in short grasses and annuals (growth forms with poor root systems) does not ensure maintenance of soil on steep slopes.
Slack, Planning and Organizational Performance: Evidence from the Arab Middle East
Authors: Elbanna Said
Published: March 2012

This study uses data from the Arab Middle East, namely, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to examine whether slack and planning (comprehensiveness of strategic decision making and extensiveness of strategic planning), which are of special importance at the moment in this recently established country, contribute towards or inhibit organizational performance. The interplay of slack and planning variables was also examined (moderating and mediating effects). The results of a survey of 174 public and private organizations show that both slack and comprehensiveness are important predictors of performance and that the impact of slack and comprehensiveness on performance varies with the age of an organization. Interestingly, this study shows that extensiveness does not influence performance, and even the age of an organization does not play a moderating role in this relationship. The location of this study brings up certain characteristics which contribute to explain its findings. I hope this paper to inspire scholars to study the determinants of performance in the troubled Arab Middle East region.
CAUDAL VENA CAVA KINKING IN DOGS WITH ASCITES
Authors: Pelosi Augusta , Prinsen Joseph K. , Eyster George E. , Schall William , Olivier N. Bari
Published: March 2012

A 9‐year‐old dog with spontaneous ascites was found to have hepatic vein distension and a tortuous vena cava on abdominal ultrasound. In right lateral recumbency, the caudal vena cava crossed the diaphragm and became kinked before entering into the right atrium. Following this observation, we performed an experimental study in a normal dog to determine whether kinking of the caudal vena cava could be the result and not the cause of ascites. Ascites was induced using warm saline injected through a needle inserted into the abdominal cavity. Venograms were collected from different body positions, under four conditions: before and after a total of one, two and 3 liters of saline had been injected. Caudal vena cava kinking was observed in the experimental dog after 2 liters of fluid had been injected. Vena cava obstruction may cause ascites, but we found that sometimes caudal vena cava kinking can be the result and not the cause of the peritoneal effusion.
Development and acceptability of a novel milk‐free soybean–maize–sorghum ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (SMS‐RUTF) based on industrial extrusion cooking process
Authors: Owino Victor O. , Irena Abel H. , Dibari Filippo , Collins Steve
Published: March 2012

Peanut milk‐based ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (P‐RUTF) primarily used to treat severe acute malnutrition at community setting is expensive. We developed an alternative milk‐free soybean–maize–sorghum‐based RUTF (SMS‐RUTF) using locally grown ingredients that have the potential to support local economy and reduce the cost of RUTF. We describe the production process and results of acceptability of the new product. Acceptability and tolerance of SMS‐RUTF was compared with P‐RUTF among 45 children aged 4–11 years old based on a cross‐over design. Each child consumed 250 g RUTF for 10 days followed by a five‐day washout period and a subsequent 10‐day period on the second RUTF. The SMS‐RUTF was as acceptable as the P‐RUTF among normal children aged 4–11 years of age with no associated adverse effects. SMS‐RUTF was stable for at least 12 months without detectable microbiological or chemical deterioration. The major challenge encountered in SMS‐RUTF development was the difficulty to accurately determine key nutrient composition due to its high oil content. Use of diversified locally available ingredients to produce RUTF is feasible. The SMS‐RUTF meets expected standards and is acceptable to children aged 4–11 months old. Effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of SMS‐RUTF is required.
Breastfeeding and educational achievement at age 5
Authors: Heikkilä Katriina , Kelly Yvonne , Renfrew Mary J. , Sacker Amanda , Quigley Maria A.
Published: March 2012

Our aim was to investigate whether the duration of breastfeeding, at all or exclusively, is associated with educational achievement at age 5. We used data from a prospective, population‐based UK cohort study, the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). 5489 children from White ethnic background born at term in 2000–2001, attending school in England in 2006, were included in our analyses. Educational achievement was measured using the Foundation Stage Profile (FSP), a statutory assessment undertaken by teachers at the end of the child's first school year. Breastfeeding duration was ascertained from interviews with the mother when the child was 9 months old. We used modified Poisson's regression to model the association of breastfeeding duration with having reached a good level of achievement overall (≥78 overall points and ≥6 in ‘personal, social and emotional development’ and ‘communication, language and literacy’ points) and in specific areas (≥6 points) of development. Children who had been breastfed for up to 2 months were more likely to have reached a good level of overall achievement [adjusted rate ratio (RR): 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.19] than never breastfed children. This association was more marked in children breastfed for 2–4 months (adjusted RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.29) and in those breastfed for longer than 4 months (adjusted RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.26). The associations of exclusive breastfeeding with the educational achievement were similar. Our findings suggest that longer duration of breastfeeding, at all or exclusively, is associated with better educational achievement at age 5.
Dietary patterns in infancy and their associations with maternal socio‐economic and lifestyle factors among 758 Japanese mother–child pairs: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study
Authors: Okubo Hitomi , Miyake Yoshihiro , Sasaki Satoshi , Tanaka Keiko , Murakami Kentaro , Hirota Yoshio ,   Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study Group
Published: March 2012

Dietary habits established in early childhood contribute to lifelong dietary pattern and the development of early risk factors for disease in adulthood. Although a large body of epidemiologic data from Western countries show that the dietary pattern of children is influenced by maternal socio‐economic and lifestyle characteristics, information on this topic in non‐Western countries is absolutely lacking. The present study identified dietary patterns among infants aged 16–24 months, and then examined the influence of maternal socio‐economic and lifestyle characteristics on identified dietary patterns. Subjects were 758 Japanese mother–child pairs. Dietary data of infants were collected from the mothers using a questionnaire. Dietary patterns were extracted from the consumption of 15 foods (times week−1) by cluster analysis. The following two dietary patterns were identified: ‘fruits, vegetables and high‐protein foods’ (n = 483) and ‘confectionaries and sweetened beverages’ (n = 275) patterns. After adjustment for all other predictors, maternal educational level, number of infants' siblings and maternal dietary patterns were independently associated with dietary patterns of infants. Infants whose mothers had a higher educational level and the ‘rice, fish and vegetables’ dietary pattern were less likely to belong to the ‘confectionaries and sweetened beverages’ pattern, whereas infants whose mothers had a higher number of children and the ‘wheat product’ dietary pattern were more likely to belong to the ‘confectionaries and sweetened beverages’ than the ‘fruits, vegetables and high‐protein foods’ pattern. In conclusion, the mother's socio‐economic position and dietary patterns were associated with the dietary patterns of infants in the Japanese pairs as observed in the Western populations.
Morbidity profiles and lifetime health of Australian centenarians
Authors: Richmond Robyn L , Law Jenaleen , KayLambkin Frances
Published: March 2012

Aim:  To examine the lifetime prevalence and initial onset of diseases among centenarians.

Methods:  In this descriptive study, we administered structured questionnaires by interview to 188 centenarians and asked about the presence and timing of 14 common age‐related diseases.

Results:  The most common conditions were ocular disease (70%), arthritis (58%) and hypertension (40%). Average age at disease onset was 80 years, and average number of comorbidities was 3. Participants were characterised into three morbidity profiles – survivors (46%), delayers (34%) and escapers (19%). No participants had a diagnosis of dementia or osteoporosis before age 80 years.

Conclusion:  Relative to the general population, a select sample of Australian centenarians reported lower rates of chronic conditions, with many escaping osteoporosis, dementia, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, cancers, anxiety and depression. Increasing age is correlated with increasing morbidity but a few centenarians reached 100 years of age without disease.
Effect of Methoxychlor on Ca2+ Movement and Viability in MDCK Renal Tubular Cells
Authors: Cheng He‐Hsiung , Lu Yi‐Chau , Lu Ti , Cheng Jin‐Shiung , Mar Guang‐Yuan , Fang Yi‐Chien , Chai Kuo‐Liang , Jan Chung‐Ren
Published: March 2012

The effect of the insecticide methoxychlor on the physiology of renal tubular cells is unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect of methoxychlor on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in MDCK renal tubular cells using the Ca2+‐sensitive fluorescent dye fura‐2. Methoxychlor at 5–20 μM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration‐dependent manner. The signal was reduced by 80% by removing extracellular Ca2+. Methoxychlor‐induced Ca2+ entry was not affected by nifedipine and SK&F96365 but was inhibited by econazole and protein kinase C modulators. In Ca2+‐free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin or 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone (BHQ) partly inhibited methoxychlor‐induced [Ca2+]i rise. Incubation with methoxychlor also inhibited thapsigargin‐ or BHQ‐induced [Ca2+]i rise. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 nearly abolished methoxychlor‐induced [Ca2+]i rise. At 5–15 μM, methoxychlor slightly increased cell viability, whereas at 20 μM, it decreased viability. The cytotoxic effect of methoxychlor was not reversed by chelating cytosolic Ca2+ with 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N,N‐tetraacetic acid/AM (BAPTA/AM). Annexin V‐FITC data suggest that 10 μM methoxychlor inhibited apoptosis, while 20 μM methoxychlor enhanced apoptosis. Methoxychlor (10 and 20 μM) increased the production of reactive oxygen species. Together, in renal tubular cells, methoxychlor induced [Ca2+]i rise by inducing phospholipase C‐dependent Ca2+ release from multiple stores and Ca2+ entry via protein kinase C‐ and econazole‐sensitive channels. Methoxychlor slightly enhanced or inhibited cell viability in a concentration‐dependent, Ca2+‐independent manner. Methoxychlor induced cell death that may involve apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways.
Gender Variance in Childhood and Sexual Orientation in Adulthood: A Prospective Study
Authors: Steensma Thomas D. , van der Ende Jan , Verhulst Frank C. , Cohen-Kettenis Peggy T.
Published: March 2012

Introduction

Several retrospective and prospective studies have reported on the association between childhood gender variance and sexual orientation and gender discomfort in adulthood. In most of the retrospective studies, samples were drawn from the general population. The samples in the prospective studies consisted of clinically referred children. In understanding the extent to which the association applies for the general population, prospective studies using random samples are needed.

Aim

This prospective study examined the association between childhood gender variance, and sexual orientation and gender discomfort in adulthood in the general population.

Methods

In 1983, we measured childhood gender variance, in 406 boys and 473 girls. In 2007, sexual orientation and gender discomfort were assessed.

Main Outcome Measures

Childhood gender variance was measured with two items from the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18. Sexual orientation was measured for four parameters of sexual orientation (attraction, fantasy, behavior, and identity). Gender discomfort was assessed by four questions (unhappiness and/or uncertainty about one's gender, wish or desire to be of the other gender, and consideration of living in the role of the other gender).

Results

For both men and women, the presence of childhood gender variance was associated with homosexuality for all four parameters of sexual orientation, but not with bisexuality. The report of adulthood homosexuality was 8 to 15 times higher for participants with a history of gender variance (10.2% to 12.2%), compared to participants without a history of gender variance (1.2% to 1.7%). The presence of childhood gender variance was not significantly associated with gender discomfort in adulthood.

Conclusions

This study clearly showed a significant association between childhood gender variance and a homosexual sexual orientation in adulthood in the general population. In contrast to the findings in clinically referred gender-variant children, the presence of a homosexual sexual orientation in adulthood was substantially lower.
Identifying Aquifer Type in Fractured Rock Aquifers using Harmonic Analysis
Authors: Rahi Khayyun A. , Halihan Todd
Published: March 2012

Determining aquifer type, unconfined, semi‐confined, or confined, by drilling or performing pumping tests has inherent problems (i.e., cost and complex field issues) while sometimes yielding inconclusive results. An improved method to cost‐effectively determine aquifer type would be beneficial for hydraulic mapping of complex aquifer systems like fractured rock aquifers. Earth tides are known to influence water levels in wells penetrating confined aquifers or unconfined thick, low‐porosity aquifers. Water‐level fluctuations in wells tapping confined and unconfined aquifers are also influenced by changes in barometric pressure. Harmonic analyses of water‐level fluctuations of a thick (∼1000 m) carbonate aquifer located in south‐central Oklahoma (Arbuckle‐Simpson aquifer) were utilized in nine wells to identify aquifer type by evaluating the influence of earth tides and barometric‐pressure variations using signal identification. On the basis of the results, portions of the aquifer responded hydraulically as each type of aquifer even though there was no significant variation in lithostratigraphy. The aquifer type was depth dependent with confined conditions becoming more prevalent with depth. The results demonstrate that harmonic analysis is an accurate and low‐cost method to determine aquifer type.
Heated Distributed Temperature Sensing for Field Scale Soil Moisture Monitoring
Authors: Striegl Arlen M. , Loheide II Steven P.
Published: March 2012

Characterizing both spatial and temporal soil moisture (θ) dynamics at site scales is difficult with existing technologies. To address this shortcoming, we developed a distributed soil moisture sensing system that employs a distributed temperature sensing system to monitor thermal response at 2 m intervals along the length of a buried cable which is subjected to heat pulses. The cable temperature response to heating, which is strongly dependent on soil moisture, was empirically related to colocated, dielectric‐based θ measurements at three locations. Spatially distributed, and temporally continuous estimates of θ were obtained in dry conditions (θ≤ 0.31) using this technology (root mean square error [RMSE] = 0.016), but insensitivity of the instrument response curve adversely affected accuracy under wet conditions (RMSE = 0.050).
Postural balance in young adults: The role of visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems
Authors: Grace Gaerlan Mary , Alpert Patricia T. , Cross Chad , Louis Margaret , Kowalski Susan
Published: March 2012

Abstract  Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine what sensory system predominates to maintain balance (e.g., visual, vestibular, and somatosensory) among people in their twenties and thirties.

Data sources: A subset of individuals from a larger descriptive cross‐sectional study was assessed. A sample of 194 (males = 28%, females = 72%) young adults in the second and third decades of life had anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and leg length) taken and body mass index and waist‐to‐hip ratio were calculated. Balance was assessed using the NeuroCom Balance Master machine.

Results: There was a significant difference among the three sensory systems for postural balance among the young population, F (2, 576) = 111.741, p < .001. Post hoc Bonferroni tests were maintained at the 0.05 level which showed significance for the visual system compared to vestibular and somatosensory system: visual (M = 93.7, SD = 2.07); vestibular (M = 90.4, SD = 2.74); and somatosensory (M = 90.0, SD = 3.13). Based on the results, the visual system is the predominant sensory system used by young adults to maintained optimal postural balance.

Significance for Practice: There is very little known about balance of younger adults. If balance issues are identified early in adult life it is possible to prevent exacerbation of balance decline as one age. If nurse practitioners are aware of what dominant sensory systems for balance young adults use, perhaps strategies to preserve these can avoid falls as they age.