bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired natural killer cell-induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity is associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 disease progression
Authors: Jia M , Li D , He X , Zhao Y , Peng H , Ma P , Hong K , Liang H , Shao Y 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThis study evaluates the correlation between natural killer (NK) cell function and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 disease progression in 133 untreated HIV-1 positive Chinese subjects, including 41 former plasma donors (FPDs) and 92 men who have sex with men, and 35 HIV-negative controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine the abundance of NK cell subsets, the expression levels of receptor species, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping and the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses of NK cells. We observed a decreased expression of CD56dimCD16+ NK cell subsets and an increased expression of CD56−CD16+ with HIV-1 infection. As well, the expression of activating and inhibitory receptors increased significantly in NK cells, but CD16 receptor levels and the NKG2A/NKG2C ratio were down-regulated with HIV-1 infection. ADCC responses were higher in elite controllers than in all other groups, and were correlated inversely with HIV-1 viral load but correlated positively with CD4 count only in FPDs. Furthermore, individuals infected for &lt; 1 year have lower ADCC responses than those infected for &gt; 1 year. We also observed a negative association between ADCC responses and viral load in those who carry the HLA-A*30/B*13/Cw*06 haplotype. The positive correlation between CD16 expression and ADCC responses and a negative correlation trend between CD158a and ADCC responses were also observed (P = 0·058). Our results showed that the ADCC response is associated with patients' disease status, receptor expression levels, infection time and specific HLA alleles, which indicates that ADCC may offer protective effects against HIV-1 infection.
Causation and evidence‐based practice: an ontological review
Authors: Kerry Roger , Eriksen Thor Eirik , Lie Svein Anders Noer , Mumford Stephen D , Anjum Rani Lill 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis paper explores the nature of causation within the framework of evidence‐based practice (EBP) for health care. The aims of the paper were first to define and evaluate how causation is presently accounted for in EBP; second, to present an alternative causal account by which health care can develop in both its clinical application and its scientific research activity. The paper was premised on the idea that causation underlies medical and health care practices and impacts on the way we understand health science research and daily clinical practice. The question of what causation is should therefore be of utmost relevance for all concerned with the science, philosophy and progress of EBP. We propose that the way causation is thought of in contemporaneous health care is exposed by evidential frameworks, which categorize research methods on their epistemological strengths. It is then suggested that the current account of causation is limited in respect of both the functionality of EBP, and its inherent scientific processes. An alternative ontology of causation is provided, which has its roots in dispositionalism. Here, causes are not seen as regular events necessitating an effect, but rather phenomena that are highly complex, context‐sensitive and that tend towards an effect. We see this as a better account of causation for evidence‐based health care.
On the spatial scale of dispersal in coral reef fishes
Authors: Puebla O. , Bermingham E. , McMillan W. O. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractMarine biologists have gone through a paradigm shift, from the assumption that marine populations are largely ‘open’ owing to extensive larval dispersal to the realization that marine dispersal is ‘more restricted than previously thought’. Yet, population genetic studies often reveal low levels of genetic structure across large geographic areas. On the other side, more direct approaches such as mark‐recapture provide evidence of localized dispersal. To what extent can direct and indirect studies of marine dispersal be reconciled? One approach consists in applying genetic methods that have been validated with direct estimates of dispersal. Here, we use such an approach—genetic isolation by distance between individuals in continuous populations—to estimate the spatial scale of dispersal in five species of coral reef fish presenting low levels of genetic structure across the Caribbean. Individuals were sampled continuously along a 220‐km transect following the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, population densities were estimated from surveys covering 17 200 m2 of reef, and samples were genotyped at a total of 58 microsatellite loci. A small but positive isolation‐by‐distance slope was observed in the five species, providing mean parent‐offspring dispersal estimates ranging between 7 and 42 km (CI 1–113 km) and suggesting that there might be a correlation between minimum/maximum pelagic larval duration and dispersal in coral reef fishes. Coalescent‐based simulations indicate that these results are robust to a variety of dispersal distributions and sampling designs. We conclude that low levels of genetic structure across large geographic areas are not necessarily indicative of extensive dispersal at ecological timescales.
Physicians' attitudes toward the definition of “death from age‐related physical debility” in deceased elderly with aspiration pneumonia
Authors: Komiya Kosaku , Ishii Hiroshi , Kushima Hisako , Sato Shintaro , Kimura Hiroki , Yasuda Takaaki , Okabe Eiji , Tokimatsu Issei , Yamamoto Hidehiko , Kadota Jun‐ichi 
Published: September 2012

Aim:  Deaths from aspiration pneumonia in elderly patients are occasionally considered to be “death from age‐related physical debility”, because most aspiration pneumonias are a result of aging and lead to death without any definitive therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess physicians' attitudes toward the diagnosis of and actual description of “death from age‐related physical debility” on death certificates for deceased patients with aspiration pneumonia.Methods:  This study surveyed 62 Japanese physicians including 36 pulmonologists and 26 other physicians who treat patients with pneumonia. Their attitudes regarding consideration and actually recorded “death from age‐related physical debility” for deceased patients with aspiration pneumonia were assessed by using anonymous questionnaires, which included the decision‐making process and the necessity of detailed diagnostic criteria.Results:  A total of 32 (52%) respondents had considered deceased patients with aspiration pneumonia to be “death from age‐related physical debility”, and 10 (16%) have actually stated this on the death certificate. Advanced age, bedridden status, inability of oral intake and disturbance of consciousness including dementia were major factors in their decision‐making. A total of 34 (55%) of the respondent physicians wanted detailed criteria to be established.Conclusions:  Physicians' attitudes toward the definition of “death from age‐related physical debility” vary a great deal depending on the respondent. The description in death certificates therefore might inaccurately reflect the results of current mortality statistics in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 586–590.
The social location of heavy episodic alcohol consumption in the Victorian population
Authors: Matthews Sharon , Dietze Paul , Room Robin , Chikritzhs Tanya , Jolley Damien 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsTo examine heavy episodic drinking across demographic subgroups to identify where heavy episodic drinking is socially located in an Australian state.Design and MethodsCross‐sectional survey, 2483 adult Victorians using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing. Two measures of heavy drinking were used: (i) heavy episodic drinking—more than five standard drinks at least weekly; and (ii) typically heavy drinking—50% or more of all drinking occasions involving consumption of 5+ standard drinks. Associations between heavy episodic drinking and eight potential sociodemographic correlates (gender, age, education, income, marital status, ethnic origin, religion and geographical remoteness) were examined.ResultsThere were few significant correlates of heavy episodic drinking apart from gender and age, once gender and age were controlled. Men were more likely to report heavy episodic drinking than women, but this was attenuated in the measure of typically heavy drinking, suggesting that women reporting heavy episodic drinking were more likely to typically drink that much when they drank. Younger people were more likely to report weekly heavy episodic drinking and more likely to report engaging in this pattern on at least half of their drinking occasions, and this was also true for those unmarried or in de facto relationships. Those of Asian background were less likely to report heavy drinking. In multivariate analysis, the remaining sociodemographic variables were largely unrelated to the drinking measures.Discussion and ConclusionThe study clearly shows that the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking varies particularly across gender and age groups in Victoria. These variations appear to hold across key sociodemographic variables such as income and education.
Mothers' Socialization of Children's Emotion in India and the USA: A Cross‐ and Within‐culture Comparison
Authors: Raval Vaishali V. , Raval Pratiksha H. , Salvina Jennifer M. , Wilson Stephanie L. , Writer Sharon 
Published: September 2012

AbstractParent responses to children's emotions vary within and across cultures. The present study compared mothers' reports of their emotional and behavioral responses in hypothetical situations depicting their children experiencing anger, sadness, or physical pain in two communities in India (traditional old city, N = 60; suburban middle class, N = 60), with a suburban middle‐class group in the USA (N = 60). Results showed that mothers in both groups in India reported more explanation‐oriented problem‐focused responses to their children's emotions than US mothers. US mothers reported the most solution‐oriented problem‐focused responses, followed by suburban Indian mothers, followed by old‐city mothers. US mothers reported behaviorally‐oriented punitive responses (i.e., time out, removal of privileges) towards child anger more than the other groups. Suburban Indian mothers reported briefly not talking to the child in response to child anger more than the other groups whereas old‐city Indian mothers reported scolding/spanking more than the other groups.
High on‐treatment platelet reactivity on commonly prescribed antiplatelet agents following transient ischaemic attack or ischaemic stroke: results from the Trinity Antiplatelet Responsiveness (TRAP) study
Authors: Tobin W. O. , Kinsella J. A. , Coughlan T. , Collins D. R. , O'Neill D. , Murphy R. P. , Egan B. , Tierney S. , Feeley T. M. , McCabe D. J. H. 
Published: September 2012

Background and purposeThe prevalence of ex vivo ‘high on‐treatment platelet reactivity’ (HTPR) to antiplatelet regimens in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain.MethodsHTPR was assessed with PFA‐100 collagen‐epinephrine (C‐EPI) and collagen‐ADP (C‐ADP) cartridges. Platelet activation (CD62P, CD63 and leucocyte–platelet complex formation) was assessed with whole‐blood flow cytometry. Patients were assessed at baseline [≤4 weeks of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ischaemic stroke], and at 14 days and ≥90 days after changing treatment from (i) no medication to aspirin monotherapy (N = 26) or (ii) aspirin to clopidogrel monotherapy (N = 22). HTPR was defined in a novel, ‘longitudinal fashion’ as failure to prolong relevant closure times compared with the patient's ‘baseline value’ before he/she underwent an antiplatelet change by more than twice the coefficient of variation of the assay.Results(i) C‐EPI closure times increased at 14 days and 90 days after commencing aspirin (P = 0.002); 24% at 14 days and 18% at 90 days demonstrated HTPR on aspirin. (ii) C‐ADP closure times increased at 14 days (P = 0.001) but not 90 days (P = 0.09) after changing from aspirin to clopidogrel; 41% at 14 days, and 35% at 90 days demonstrated HTPR on clopidogrel. Platelet activation was unaffected by aspirin (P = 0.09). The percentage neutrophil–platelet complexes decreased at 14 days (P = 0.02), but this reduction was not maintained 90 days after changing to clopidogrel (P = 0.3). No patient had a recurrent vascular event during prospective follow‐up.ConclusionsLongitudinal definitions of HTPR in patients with ischaemic CVD who are undergoing a change in antiplatelet therapy have the potential to provide more clinically meaningful information than traditional ‘cross‐sectional definitions’ of HTPR which are usually based on the comparison of patients’ values with those in healthy controls. Using our novel, longitudinal definition of HTPR, the PFA‐100 could be used to monitor ex vivo responsiveness to aspirin, and larger, prospective studies are warranted to assess the clinical predictive value of this and other platelet function tests in patients with ischaemic CVD.
Where Do We Go from Here? The Future of English Higher Education
Authors: Huisman Jeroen , de Boer Harry , Bótas Paulo Charles Pimentel 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA Delphi study has been carried out, soliciting views from higher education experts on likely and desirable developments in English higher education until 2025. The paper reports the most salient findings of the Delphi questionnaire and presents two scenarios that focus largely on the institutional fabric of the system. The first scenario follows the general agreement emerging from the two rounds of the Delphi study and suggests a smaller higher education system and the return of a binary divide between about 25 research‐intensive universities and about 70 other higher education institutions. The second scenario is a counter‐scenario that intends to present an alternative picture of English higher education in 2025. That scenario suggests a compact system of six research‐intensive universities, about 40 comprehensive institutions and five private providers. With respect to the steering of the system, a key difference between the two scenarios is that the former assumes a continuing role of market forces, whereas the latter is based on a much stronger role of the government.
Shrinking the state or the Big Society? Public service employment relations in an era of austerity
Authors: Bach Stephen 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe Big Society is an integral part of the coalition's plans for public service retrenchment, but it is premature to dismiss it as exclusively concerned with expenditure cuts and privatisation. The Big Society signals the government's ambition to transform public services and it is the rubric that is being used to shrink the state and undermine long‐standing systems of public service employment relations. This article considers the origins and meaning of the Big Society and then assesses its consequences for public service provision and the workforce. The Big Society is integrally connected to deficit reduction with the voluntary sector and an increased emphasis on volunteering promoted as a more user‐centred and cost‐effective way of delivering public services in tough times. For the workforce, more competition between diverse providers in conjunction with budget cuts is placing downward pressure on terms and conditions and encouraging employers to question the continuation of national pay determination in many parts of the public sector.
Public service restructuring in the UK: the case of the English National Health Service
Authors: Tailby Stephanie 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis article overviews welfare state retrenchment in the UK under the Conservative‐led coalition government that formed in May 2010 and has centred its response to economic crisis on rapid public deficit reduction through public expenditure austerity targeted increasingly on the welfare benefits budget. It locates the coalition's reforms of public services and public sector employment relations in the long trajectory of public sector restructuring in the UK: the policies of New Right governments in the 1980s and New Labour from 1997 to 2010 that installed marketisation and privatisation in a permutation of forms, intensifying challenges for trade union organising. Focusing on the English NHS, the article identifies the respects in which the coalition's reforms continue and depart from New Labour's.
The effects of ratio of cow's milk to soymilk, probiotic strain and fruit concentrate on qualitative aspects of probiotic flavoured fermented drinks
Authors: Shahabbaspour Zahra , Mortazavian Amir Mohammad , Pourahmad Rezvan , Moghimi Ali , Sohrabvandi Sara 
Published: September 2012

The effects of proportion of cow's milk to soymilk (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100), probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 or Lactobacillus casei L‐01) and natural fruit concentrates (strawberry, apricot, peach and pear) on quality characteristics of soy‐based probiotic drink were investigated. The parameters were analysed at the end of fermentation and during 21 days of storage at 5 °C. The highest viability was observed when the equal proportion of cow's milk and soymilk and L. casei was used (50:50‐CY). During chilled storage, the flavouring apricot had the highest stimulatory effect on the survival of L. casei in 50:50 treatment. In general, the treatment 50:50‐CY was realised as the best one overall.
College Drinking among Latinos(as) in the United States and Mexico
Authors: Ceballos Natalie A. , Czyzewska Maria , Croyle Kristin 
Published: September 2012

Background and Objectives: Existing studies of Latino(a) college students in the United States suggest that self‐reported alcohol consumption tends to be higher among males, and that drinking among Latinas is often influenced by social and contextual factors. The current study extended this work by examining both self‐reported drinking levels and predictors of drinking among Latino(a) college students in the United States and Mexico (MX).Methods: Latino(a) college students (N = 376) from three universities in the South Central United States and Northern Mexico completed pencil‐and‐paper surveys about alcohol.Results: US Latino students (vs. MX males), reported drinking more frequently and had more positive expectancies about alcohol. Latinas in the United States (vs. MX females) were more likely to report regular drinking. Across countries, both female gender and the Mexican orientation component of acculturation predicted lower reported alcohol consumption. Positive expectancies about drinking predicted increased drinking.Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Self‐reported college drinking and expectancies about alcohol may differ subtly among individuals in the United States and Mexico based on gender and endorsement of traditional Mexican values. These findings could ultimately be applied to the development of more tailored programs for the treatment and prevention of alcohol abuse on college campuses. (Am J Addict 2012;21:544–549)
What Do We Know About Market Discipline in Insurance?
Authors: Eling Martin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe aim of this article is to summarize the knowledge on market discipline in insurance and other financial service sectors. Market discipline can be defined as the ability of customers, investors, intermediaries (agents, brokers), and evaluators (analysts, auditors, rating agencies) to monitor and influence a company's management. Looking at banking is especially interesting, since market discipline in this field has been studied extensively. Based on existing knowledge, we develop a framework for researching market discipline in insurance that includes its most important drivers and impediments. The results highlight a significant need for continuing research. The findings are of relevance not only for European insurers and regulators, but for institutions outside Europe.
What do we mean by population health?
Authors: Batchelor Paul 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe term ‘population health’ is part of the natural evolution of the science of epidemiology. With the recognition of the importance of a life‐course approach to help understand health along with the recognition of the importance of the wider determinants of health, epidemiology requires new techniques and thinking. ‘Population health’ recognizes that to improve oral health, then the determinants have to be tackled. These include both those that may be described as belonging to the environment and those influenced by the care system. The key issue for policy development is the need to recognize that with globalization and the extended time frame to undertake research, partnerships will be a key necessity to help ensure success in addressing inequalities and overall levels of health.
Social determinants of oral health inequalities: implications for action
Authors: Watt Richard G. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractFor over 30 years, the WHO has been advocating an integrated approach in chronic disease prevention. The concept of the common risk factor approach (CRFA) highlighted shared risk factors for chronic conditions including oral diseases has provided the basis for closer integration of oral and general health promotion activities. Although considerable progress has been undoubtedly made in combating the isolation and compartmentalization of oral health, this paper will argue that future action on tackling oral health inequalities requires a reorientation of oral health policy away from a fixation on changing oral health behaviours to instead action on the common social determinants of oral health inequalities. The narrow and restricted interpretation of the CRFA is a serious threat to developing effective action to address oral health inequalities. Based upon the WHO conceptual framework on the social determinants of health inequalities, an overview will be presented of a range of actions that could be implemented to tackle the social gradients in oral health outcomes.
Reforming the mission of public dental services
Authors: Wright F. A. C. , List P. F. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAustralia has a complex history of providing public dental services to its communities. From the early days of Colonial settlement, the provision of dental care to the Australian public has largely been driven and influenced by organized groups and associations of dentists. The Constitution of Australia, under Section 51 xxiii A, allows for the Commonwealth to provide for medical and dental services. Unlike the United Kingdom, however, dental services have not been embedded into a universal national health service agenda. In 1974, that the Australian Government through the Australian School Dental Program provided the first funding and national direction for public dental services – and that, limited to children. The Commonwealth Dental Health Program 1993–1997 was the second national endeavor to provide public dental services, this time to financially disadvantaged adults. Since that time, public dental service responsibility has been shuttled between States/Territories and the Commonwealth. A new paradigm for public dental services in Australia requires strong Commonwealth leadership, as well as the commitment of State and Territories and the organized dental profession. The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission provided the most recent scenario for a radical change in mission. This paper canvases the competing roles of strategic, functional, and structural issues in relationship to social network and policy issues, which must be recognized if Australians truly seek to reform public dental services.