bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personalisation, family relationships and autism: Conceptualising the role of adult siblings
Authors: Atkin Karl , Tozer Rosemary 
Published: March 2013

Summary Current policy discourses demonstrate a weak connection to broader theoretical debates about family obligation and in particular how family responsibilities become negotiated over time and across the life course. How policy imagines family care can, therefore, be different to the actual experiences of families. This qualitative paper, using semi-structured interviews, explores the experience of a particularly neglected group, adult siblings, who have a brother or sister with autism (plus learning disability). We spoke to 21 adult siblings, met with 12 of their siblings with autism and talked to 12 health and social care professionals. Findings Our analysis suggests that connectedness and commitment, which remained subject to continuous redefinition by all family members, informed sibling relationships Practitioners, however, struggle to engage with this complexity, thereby undermining the extent siblings’ relationships can be realised. Application The paper concludes that policy initiatives are at risk of becoming an uneasy compromise, in which the need to offer choice occurs alongside the ‘problem’ of managing family care. Sibling relationships are more than simply ‘being of’ or ‘belonging to’ a family. They are dynamic, subject to contingency and negotiation. Interventions should be formulated to work with these assumptions, without presupposing a definite experience fixed in time and space. This would not only maximise the disabled siblings’ quality of life, but also ensure a more productive and fulfilling context for family relationships.
Religious and non-religious components in substance abuse treatment: A comparative analysis of faith-based and secular interventions
Authors: Davis Margot Trotter 
Published: March 2013

Summary Recently, faith-based organizations have become increasingly welcomed as government partners in providing services for chronic social problems. In many countries including the United States policies permit social service and healthcare providers that utilize religious practices to be eligible for public funding. The government’s support of faith-based programs has provided increased capacity and gives clients more choice in providers. However, providers and policy makers have limited knowledge about the nature and treatment regimen of faith-based interventions. This qualitative study examined 28 faith-based and 27 secular substance abuse treatment programs in the United States using grounded theory methods to develop models of religious influences. Findings The comparison yielded major differences. Secular programs allow religious practices but consider them voluntary components. Faith-based programs adopt one of the two strategies. Some selectively introduce religious practices but separate them from other treatment activities. Others regard religious practices as essential to recovery and require participation in religious observance. Application This article describes the conceptual dimensions of religious practices in substance abuse treatment programs and will inform policy makers and practitioners about the role of religion in faith-based and secular programs.
The understandings of social pedagogy from northern European perspectives
Authors: Eriksson Lisbeth 
Published: March 2013

Summary This study examines understandings of social pedagogy. Interviews were conducted with nine social pedagogical researchers from Northern Europe. The interviewees were selected as representatives of their cultural and professional context and provided insight into their countries’ social pedagogical discourses. The interviewees were asked to talk about their understandings of social pedagogy from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Findings The empirical data were divided into two discourses; the universalistic and the particularistic. In the interview statements it was evident that interviewees leaned towards one of the two discourses as a starting point for their understanding of social pedagogy. However, the way the two discourses were combined varied among the interviewees. In further analysis, three models were constructed, which can be regarded as ideal types. These models shows that social pedagogical way of thinking extend from an individualistic, adaptive, starting point through a democratic approach to a mobilising collective approach. Application These models can be seen as an important contribution to understanding of social pedagogy that illustrate three different ways of understanding social pedagogy from northern European perspectives. The models elucidate the complexity embedded in the concept, but can also be used to facilitate analyses and interpretations of various social pedagogical activities. This findings has implications for how education in the field is constructed and implemented. Social pedagogy may not be definable in a simple way, but it can nevertheless be understood and described by the models constructed in this study.
Identifying women with persistent abnormal glucose metabolism following gestational diabetes mellitus: changing times, changing populations and changing needs
Authors: Joseph Frank , Photiou Victoria , Verma Arpana , Goenka Niru , Davies Joanne , Clement-Jones Mark , Casson Ian 
Published: March 2013

Introduction: An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) six weeks after delivery is considered the gold standard test to identify persistently abnormal glucose metabolism in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) but the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends fasting plasma glucose (FPG) alone. This however, cannot be used to diagnose those with persisting impaired glucose tolerance and will also fail to identify some women with persisting diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aims to identify the percentage of women with DM and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) that would be missed using this strategy. Methods: Data from 147 women from two sites were analysed. Fishers’ exact test was used to demonstrate differences between OGTT and FPG and a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to try and identify a FPG concentration that would predict a post-glucose load abnormality. Results: Fifty-two of the 147 women had a persistent abnormality in glucose metabolism. Twenty-three had impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG), 21 had IGT and eight women had DM. Only seven of the eight women with DM had a FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L and hence one out of eight women with DM (12.5%) and all 21 women with IGT would have been missed if FPG alone were used (p<0.001). Conclusion: Postnatal FPG alone is inadequate to identify all women with DM and would miss a significant number of women with IGT. An OGTT in all women with diagnosed GDM remains the gold standard test to identify persistent abnormal glucose metabolism in these women.
The multiplicative Zagreb indices of graph operations
Authors: Das Kinkar C , Yurttas Aysun , Togan Muge , Cevik Ahmet Sinan , Cangul Ismail Naci 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Recently, Todeschini et al. (Novel Molecular Structure Descriptors - Theory and Applications I, pp. 73-100, 2010), Todeschini and Consonni (MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 64:359-372, 2010) have proposed the multiplicative variants of ordinary Zagreb indices, which are defined as follows:

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These two graph invariants are called multiplicative Zagreb indices by Gutman (Bull. Soc. Math. Banja Luka 18:17-23, 2011). In this paper the upper bounds on the multiplicative Zagreb indices of the join, Cartesian product, corona product, composition and disjunction of graphs are derived and the indices are evaluated for some well-known graphs.

MSC:05C05, 05C90, 05C07.
A recombinant scFv-FasLext as a targeting cytotoxic agent against human Jurkat-Ras cancer
Authors: Chan Derek V , Sharma Rahul , Ju Chiao-Ying A , Roffler Steve R , Ju Shyr-Te 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundTargeted therapy of human cancers is an attractive approach and has been investigated with limited success. We have developed novel cytotoxic agents for targeted therapy of human cancers based on the extracellular cytotoxicity domain of CD178 (FasL) and the specificity offered by single chain antibodies (scFv) against dominant human tumor Ag TAG-72 (cc49scFv) and TAL6 (L6scFv).ResultsThe cc49scFv-FasLextis highly effective inin vitrokilling of human TAG-72+Jurkat-Ras tumor cells with a 30,000 fold greater cytotoxicity as compared to soluble FasL (sFasL). On the other hand, L6scFv-FasLextonly increased cytotoxicity 500-fold as compared with sFasL against TAL6+HeLa cells inin vitroassays. The high specificity and strong cytotoxicity of cc49scFv-FasLextmade it feasible to cure IP-implanted Jurkat-Ras tumors in SCID mice.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that scFv-FasLextwith a strong cytotoxicity against sensitive human tumor targets may be useful as effective chemotherapeutic agents.
Target renal damage: the microvascular associations of increased aortic stiffness in patients with COPD
Authors: John Michelle , Hussain Samia , Prayle Andrew , Simms Rebecca , Cockcroft John R , Bolton Charlotte E 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Although renal impairment has been described in COPD, there is opportunity to evaluate further to determine nature and consider optimal management. Increased aortic stiffness, as seen in COPD, leads to reduced buffering of pulsatile flow. We hypothesised that urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) would reflect glomerular damage related to aortic stiffness.

Methods
Patients with COPD and controls underwent spirometry, blood pressure, arterial stiffness - aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and provided a spot urine sample for UACR, with other renal biomarkers measured.

Results
The UACR was increased in patients (n = 52): 0.80 mg/mmol compared to controls (n = 34): 0.46 mg/mmol, p < 0.05. Aortic PWV was related to log10 UACR in all subjects (r = 0.426, p < 0.001) and COPD patients alone. Aortic PWV was a significant variable for UACR with oxygen saturations, after accounting for potential confounders. Eight subjects (7 patients) reached a defined clinical microalbuminuria threshold, with aortic PWV greater in these patients compared to those patients without, although albuminuria is a continuum. Proximal tubular damage biomarkers, unlike the glomerular marker, were not different between patients and controls.

Conclusions
There is glomerular damage in patients with COPD evidenced by increased UACR, related to increased aortic stiffness. Besides the macrovascular prognostic implications of increased aortic stiffness, the microvascular state in COPD management should be considered.
AUREA: an open-source software system for accurate and user-friendly identification of relative expression molecular signatures
Authors: Earls John C , Eddy James A , Funk Cory C , Ko Younhee , Magis Andrew T , Price Nathan D 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Public databases such as the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus contain extensive and exponentially increasing amounts of high-throughput data that can be applied to molecular phenotype characterization. Collectively, these data can be analyzed for such purposes as disease diagnosis or phenotype classification. One family of algorithms that has proven useful for disease classification is based on relative expression analysis and includes the Top-Scoring Pair (TSP), k-Top-Scoring Pairs (k-TSP), Top-Scoring Triplet (TST) and Differential Rank Conservation (DIRAC) algorithms. These relative expression analysis algorithms hold significant advantages for identifying interpretable molecular signatures for disease classification, and have been implemented previously on a variety of computational platforms with varying degrees of usability. To increase the user-base and maximize the utility of these methods, we developed the program AUREA (Adaptive Unified Relative Expression Analyzer)—a cross-platform tool that has a consistent application programming interface (API), an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), fast running times and automated parameter discovery.

Results
Herein, we describe AUREA, an efficient, cohesive, and user-friendly open-source software system that comprises a suite of methods for relative expression analysis. AUREA incorporates existing methods, while extending their capabilities and bringing uniformity to their interfaces. We demonstrate that combining these algorithms and adaptively tuning parameters on the training sets makes these algorithms more consistent in their performance and demonstrate the effectiveness of our adaptive parameter tuner by comparing accuracy across diverse datasets.

Conclusions
We have integrated several relative expression analysis algorithms and provided a unified interface for their implementation while making data acquisition, parameter fixing, data merging, and results analysis ‘point-and-click’ simple. The unified interface and the adaptive parameter tuning of AUREA provide an effective framework in which to investigate the massive amounts of publically available data by both ‘in silico’ and ‘bench’ scientists. AUREA can be found at http://price.systemsbiology.net/AUREA/.
Tandem repeats derived from centromeric retrotransposons
Authors: Sharma Anupma , Wolfgruber Thomas K , Presting Gernot G 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Tandem repeats are ubiquitous and abundant in higher eukaryotic genomes and constitute, along with transposable elements, much of DNA underlying centromeres and other heterochromatic domains. In maize, centromeric satellite repeat (CentC) and centromeric retrotransposons (CR), a class of Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons, are enriched at centromeres. Some satellite repeats have homology to retrotransposons and several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the expansion, contraction as well as homogenization of tandem repeats. However, the origin and evolution of tandem repeat loci remain largely unknown.

Results
CRM1TR and CRM4TR are novel tandem repeats that we show to be entirely derived from CR elements belonging to two different subfamilies, CRM1 and CRM4. Although these tandem repeats clearly originated in at least two separate events, they are derived from similar regions of their respective parent element, namely the long terminal repeat (LTR) and untranslated region (UTR). The 5’ ends of the monomer repeat units of CRM1TR and CRM4TR map to different locations within their respective LTRs, while their 3’ ends map to the same relative position within a conserved region of their UTRs. Based on the insertion times of heterologous retrotransposons that have inserted into these tandem repeats, amplification of the repeats is estimated to have begun at least ~4 (CRM1TR) and ~1 (CRM4TR) million years ago. Distinct CRM1TR sequence variants occupy the two CRM1TR loci, indicating that there is little or no movement of repeats between loci, even though they are separated by only ~1.4 Mb.

Conclusions
The discovery of two novel retrotransposon derived tandem repeats supports the conclusions from earlier studies that retrotransposons can give rise to tandem repeats in eukaryotic genomes. Analysis of monomers from two different CRM1TR loci shows that gene conversion is the major cause of sequence variation. We propose that successive intrastrand deletions generated the initial repeat structure, and gene conversions increased the size of each tandem repeat locus.
The mutation rate of mycobacterial repetitive unit loci in strains of M. tuberculosisfrom cynomolgus macaque infection
Authors: Ragheb Mark N , Ford Christopher B , Chase Michael R , Lin Philana Ling , Flynn JoAnne L , Fortune Sarah M 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRUs) are minisatellites within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) genome. Copy number variation (CNV) in MIRU loci is used for epidemiological typing, making the rate of variation important for tracking the transmission of Mtb strains. In this study, we developed and assessed a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) approach to detect MIRU CNV in Mtb. We applied this methodology to a panel of Mtb strains isolated from the macaque model of tuberculosis (TB), the animal model that best mimics human disease. From these data, we have estimated the rate of MIRU variation in the host environment, providing a benchmark rate for future epidemiologic work.

Results
We assessed variation at the 24 MIRU loci used for typing in a set of Mtb strains isolated from infected cynomolgus macaques. We previously performed WGS of these strains and here have applied both read depth (RD) and paired-end mapping (PEM) metrics to identify putative copy number variants. To assess the relative power of these approaches, all MIRU loci were resequenced using Sanger sequencing. We detected two insertion/deletion events both of which could be identified as candidates by PEM criteria. With these data, we estimate a MIRU mutation rate of 2.70 × 10-03 (95% CI: 3.30 × 10-04- 9.80 × 10-03) per locus, per year.

Conclusion
Our results represent the first experimental estimate of the MIRU mutation rate in Mtb. This rate is comparable to the highest previous estimates gathered from epidemiologic data and meta-analyses. Our findings allow for a more rigorous interpretation of data gathered from MIRU typing.
Linear echoendoscope-guided ERCP for the diagnosis of occult common bile duct stones
Authors: Chan Hoi-Hung , Wang E-Ming , Sun Meng-Shun , Hsu Ping-I , Tsai Wei-Lun , Tsai Tzung-Jiun , Wang Kai-Ming , Chen Wen-Chi , Wang Huay-Min , Liang Huei-Lung , Lai Kwok-Hung , Brugge William Robert 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Less than 67% of patients with intermediate risk for common bile duct (CBD) stones require therapeutic intervention. It is important to have an accurate, safe, and reliable method for the definitive diagnosis of CBD stones before initiating therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Few publications detail the diagnostic efficacy of linear echoendoscopy (EUS) for CBD stones.

Methods
30 patients with biliary colic, pancreatitis, unexplained derangement of liver function tests, and/or dilated CBD without an identifiable cause were enrolled in the study. When a CBD stone was disclosed by linear EUS, ERCP with stone extraction was performed. Patients who failed ERCP were referred for surgical intervention. If no stone was found by EUS, ERCP would not be performed and patients were followed-up for possible biliary symptoms for up to three months.

Results
The major reason for enrollment was acute pancreatitis. The mean predicted risk for CBD stones was 47% (28–61). Of the 12 patients who were positive for CBD stones by EUS, nine had successful ERCP, one failed ERCP (later treated successfully by surgical intervention) and two were false-positive cases. No procedure-related adverse events were noted. For those 18 patients without evidence of CBD stones by EUS, no false-negative case was noted during the three-month follow-up period. Linear EUS had sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicted values for the detection of CBD stones of 1, 0.9, 0.8 and 1, respectively.

Conclusion
Linear EUS is safe and efficacious for the diagnosis of occult CBD stones in patients with intermediate risk for the disease.
Endotoxaemia is common in children with Plasmodium falciparummalaria
Authors: Olupot-Olupot Peter , Urban Britta C , Jemutai Julie , Nteziyaremye Julius , Fanjo Harry M , Karanja Henry , Karisa Japhet , Ongodia Paul , Bwonyo Patrick , Gitau Evelyn N , Talbert Alison , Akech Samuel , Maitland Kathryn 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Background
Children presenting to hospital with recent or current Plasmodium falciparum malaria are at increased the risk of invasive bacterial disease, largely enteric gram-negative organisms (ENGO), which is associated with increased mortality and recurrent morbidity. Although incompletely understood, the most likely source of EGNO is the bowel. We hypothesised that as a result of impaired gut-barrier function endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), present in the cell-wall of EGNO and in substantial quantities in the gut, is translocated into the bloodstream, and contributes to the pathophysiology of children with severe malaria.

Methods
We conducted a prospective study in 257 children presenting with malaria to two hospitals in Kenya and Uganda. We analysed the clinical presentation, endotoxin and cytokine concentration.

Results
Endotoxaemia (endotoxin activity ≥0.4 EAA Units) was observed in 71 (27.6%) children but its presence was independent of both disease severity and outcome. Endotoxaemia was more frequent in children with severe anaemia but not specifically associated with other complications of malaria. Endotoxaemia was associated with a depressed inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response. Plasma endotoxin levels in severe malaria negatively correlated with IL6, IL10 and TGFβ (Spearman rho: TNFα: r=−0.122, p=0.121; IL6: r=−0.330, p<0.0001; IL10: r=−0.461, p<0.0001; TGFβ: r=−0.173, p<0.027).

Conclusions
Endotoxaemia is common in malaria and results in temporary immune paralysis, similar to that observed in patients with sepsis and experimentally-induced endotoxaemia. Intense sequestration of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes within the endothelial bed of the gut has been observed in pathological studies and may lead to gut-barrier dysfuction. The association of endotoxaemia with the anaemia phenotype implies that it may contribute to the dyserythropoesis accompanying malaria through inflammation. Both of these factors feasibly underpin the susceptibility to EGNO co-infection. Further research is required to investigate this initial finding, with a view to future treatment trials targeting mechanism and appropriate antimicrobial treatment.