bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Art Lift’ intervention to improve mental well‐being: An observational study from UK general practice
Authors: Crone Diane M. , O'Connell Elaine E. , Tyson Phillip J. , Clark‐Stone Frances , Opher Simon , James David V. B. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractArts for health interventions are emerging as an alternative option to medical management of mental health problems and well‐being. This study investigated process and outcomes of an art intervention on patients referred by primary care professionals, including associations between patient characteristics (e.g. sex), progress through the intervention (e.g. attendance), and changes in mental well‐being. Referral criteria included people with anxiety, depression, or stress; low self‐esteem, confidence, or overall well‐being; and chronic illness or pain. The study took place in UK‐based general practitioner practices, with a total of 202 patients referred to a 10‐week intervention. Patient sociodemographic information was recorded at baseline, and patient progress assessed throughout the intervention. Significant improvement in well‐being was revealed for the 7‐item (t = −6.049, d.f. = 83, P < 0.001, two‐tailed) and 14‐item (t = −6.961, d.f. = 83, P < 0.001, two‐tailed) scales. Of referred patients, 77.7% attended and 49.5% completed. Most patients were female, and from a range of socioeconomic groups, and those who completed were significantly older (t = −2.258, d.f. = 145, P = 0.025, two‐tailed). Findings reveal that this art intervention was effective in the promotion of well‐being and in targeting women, older people, and people from lower socioeconomic groups.
Greek‐Cypriot mental health nurses' professional satisfaction and association with mild psychiatric symptoms
Authors: Karanikola Maria N. K. , Kaite Charis 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe present descriptive correlational study aims to explore among Greek‐Cypriot mental health nurses (MHNs) the level of professional satisfaction, potential differences with regard to vocational characteristics, and associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms. A random sample of 225 Greek‐Cypriot MHNs employed in hospital and community settings completed Hamilton's Anxiety Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory, and Stamps's Index of Work Satisfaction. Moderate levels of overall professional satisfaction of 4.38 (±0.58) were detected. Work experience was positively correlated with satisfaction from payment (τ = 0.230, P < 0.0001). Men seemed to be more satisfied with organizational policies (P = 0.0043) and performed tasks (P = 0.027) than women. Nurses working in psychiatric clinics of general hospitals experienced higher levels of professional satisfaction in general, and more satisfaction from organizational policies, autonomy, and task requirements than nurses working in community settings, substance misuse programs, and community mental health centres (P = 0.001). Nurses working in acute/admission settings were the less satisfied, compared to nurses working in rehabilitation wards (P = 0.017). Professional satisfaction was associated with anxiety (τ = 0.280, P < 0.0001) and depressive (τ = 0.246, P < 0.0001) symptoms. Greek‐Cypriot MHNs seem to get moderate satisfaction from their work, whilst professional satisfaction is associated with their psychological well‐being. Targeted managerial interventions and longitudinal research are warranted.
Mental health nurses' beliefs about smoking by mental health facility inpatients
Authors: Connolly Michael , Floyd Sue , Forrest Rachel , Marshall Bob 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis study examined beliefs of mental health nurses about smoking by clients, nurses, and visitors in inpatient facilities and identified the influence of years of experience, smoke‐free status, and workplace on these beliefs. Data were collected by a survey, distributed via a nursing newsletter with approximately 600 members. Descriptive statistics and cross‐tabulations explored the data. A total of 104 responses were received. Smoke‐free status made significant differences to nurses' beliefs relating to prohibition of smoking for clients, staff, and visitors; concern about the effects of passive smoking; the role of smoking in the development of therapeutic relationships; smoking as a source of patient pleasure; and the role of smoking in symptom management. That half of the nurses who responded believe that smoking is helpful in the creation of therapeutic relationships is of concern. The nurse plays an important role model in promoting smoke‐free lifestyles amongst clients, and the effects of positive role modelling could be lost if nurses continue to smoke with clients. The negative impacts of smoking on the physical health of mental health inpatients is considerable and well documented, and the creation of smoke‐free inpatient mental health services can help to address these.
Effects of extrusion and equal channel angular pressing on the microstructure, tensile and fatigue behaviour of the wrought magnesium alloy AZ80
Authors: FERESHTEH‐SANIEE F. , AKBARIPANAH F. , KIM H.K. , MAHMUDI R. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe microstructure, mechanical properties, fatigue life and fatigue crack propagation rate of Mg‐8Al‐0.5Zn‐0.3Mn (AZ80) magnesium alloy were investigated after extrusion and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). The highest ultimate and yield strengths and a large enhancement in the fatigue lifetime were obtained after two passes of ECAP. These were decreased with further pressing, although the grain size became finer. There was a correlation between the fatigue and ultimate strengths of AZ80 alloy. The transition from twinning to dislocation slip has also occurred at an average grain size of 7.9 μm. Simultaneous influences of the grain size and the yield strength caused an almost the same threshold of the stress intensity ratio for different process conditions. Moreover, the enhanced ductility of the ECAPed alloy resulted in an increase in the crack growth resistance because of its better ability to accommodate plastic strains during cycling.
An evolutionary ecology of individual differences
Authors: Dall Sasha R. X. , Bell Alison M. , Bolnick Daniel I. , Ratnieks Francis L. W. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIndividuals often differ in what they do. This has been recognised since antiquity. Nevertheless, the ecological and evolutionary significance of such variation is attracting widespread interest, which is burgeoning to an extent that is fragmenting the literature. As a first attempt at synthesis, we focus on individual differences in behaviour within populations that exceed the day‐to‐day variation in individual behaviour (i.e. behavioural specialisation). Indeed, the factors promoting ecologically relevant behavioural specialisation within natural populations are likely to have far‐reaching ecological and evolutionary consequences. We discuss such individual differences from three distinct perspectives: individual niche specialisations, the division of labour within insect societies and animal personality variation. In the process, while recognising that each area has its own unique motivations, we identify a number of opportunities for productive ‘cross‐fertilisation’ among the (largely independent) bodies of work. We conclude that a complete understanding of evolutionarily and ecologically relevant individual differences must specify how ecological interactions impact the basic biological process (e.g. Darwinian selection, development and information processing) that underpin the organismal features determining behavioural specialisations. Moreover, there is likely to be co‐variation amongst behavioural specialisations. Thus, we sketch the key elements of a general framework for studying the evolutionary ecology of individual differences.
The source of microbial C has little impact on soil organic matter stabilisation in forest ecosystems
Authors: Throckmorton Heather M. , Bird Jeffrey A. , Dane Laura , Firestone Mary K. , Horwath William R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe source of microbial C is thought to impact its stability in soil due to variations in cellular biochemistry. It has been hypothesised that a fungal‐dominated community stabilises more C than a bacterial‐dominated community, in part due to chemical recalcitrance of their non‐living biomass, particularly cell wall components and pigments. We compared the turnover of 13C‐labelled (99.9 atom %) temperate and tropical microbial isolates [i.e. fungi, Gram‐positive bacteria (including actinobacteria) and Gram‐negative bacteria] in temperate (California) and tropical (Puerto Rico) forest soils. While significant differences in 13C recovery and mean residence times occurred among some microbial additions, similar turnover rates were observed, and in general, results do not support the view that microbial biochemistry affects soil C maintenance. Different effects by microbial necromass additions in California and Puerto Rico suggest that ecosystem‐specific effects may be as important to microbial C stabilisation as its macromolecular composition and recalcitrance.
Does androgen‐ablation therapy (AAT) associated autophagy have a pro‐survival effect in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells?
Authors: Bennett Haley L. , Stockley Jacqueline , Fleming Janis T. , Mandal Ranadip , O'Prey Jim , Ryan Kevin M. , Robson Craig N. , Leung Hing Y. 
Published: August 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Androgen‐ablation therapy (AAT) and chemotherapy are commonly used to treat incurable prostate cancer. To improve outcome, there is major on‐going research to develop more effective treatments with less toxicity. Autophagy has been suggested from previous studies to play a potential role in cell survival and may be associated with resistance to chemotherapy.
Autophagy is known to be upregulated by nutrient starvation or AAT in prostate cancer. However, its functional impact is not fully known. The present study describes the potential synergism between the blockade of autophagy and AAT alone or AAT combined with taxane chemotherapy. Hence, future combined treatment options are warranted to further investigate the clinical impact of autophagy suppression as a treatment strategy.
Objective
To study the cellular effects of the anti‐androgen bicalutamide on autophagy and its potential impact on response to androgen‐ablation therapy (AAT) alone or combined with docetaxel chemotherapy in human prostate cancer LNCaP cells.
Materials and Methods
LNCaP cells were treated with bicalutamide ± docetaxel, and cellular effects were assayed: lipidated LC3 (a microtubule‐associated protein) for autophagy and its trafficking to fuse with lysosome; flow cytometry using propidium iodide or caspase 3 for cell death; and sulforhodamine B assay for cell growth.
Results
Bicalutamide treatment enhanced autophagy in LNCaP cells with increased level of autophagosome coupled with an altered cellular morphology reminiscent of neuroendocrine differentiation.
Consistent with the literature on the interaction between androgen receptor activation and taxane chemotherapy, bicalutamide diminished docetaxel mediated cytotoxicity.
Significantly, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with 3‐methyladenine significantly enhanced the efficacy cell kill mediated by AAT ± docetaxel.
Conclusion
Autophagy associated with bicalutamide treatment in LNCaP cells may have a pro‐survival effect and strategy to modulate autophagy may have a potential therapeutic value.
LIMIT THEOREMS FOR PROPORTIONS OF OBSERVATIONS FALLING INTO RANDOM REGIONS DETERMINED BY ORDER STATISTICS
Authors: Dembińska Anna 
Published: August 2012

SummaryIn this paper, we study asymptotic behavior of proportions of sample observations that fall into random regions determined by a given Borel set and an order statistic. We show that these proportions converge almost surely to some population quantities as the sample size increases to infinity. We derive our results for independent and identically distributed observations from an arbitrary cumulative distribution function, in particular, we allow samples drawn from discontinuous laws. We also give extensions of these results to the case of randomly indexed samples with some dependence between observations.
Links between DRD4, executive attention, and alphabetic skills in a nonclinical sample
Authors: Kegel Cornelia A. T. , Bus Adriana G. 
Published: August 2012

Background:  The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disorders. In this study, we examined whether diminished anticipatory dopamine cell firing – typical of the long variant of the DRD4 allele – is related to emergent and advanced alphabetic skills, and whether executive attention is a mediator between this allele and alphabetic skills.Method:  We tested alphabetic skills in a normative sample of 159 children in both kindergarten and Grade 1, and executive attention 1 year earlier. Cheek cells were collected and genomic DNA was isolated from the samples using the Chemagic buccal swab kit on a chemagen Module I workstation.Results:  Thirty‐seven percent of the children were carriers of at least one DRD4 7‐repeat allele. Carriers of the long variant scored lower on alphabetic skills, and executive attention appeared to be a mediator of the relation between characteristics of DRD4 and alphabetic skills in kindergarten and first grade.Conclusion:  This study shows how a genetic factor which has been shown to relate to variation in attention and regulatory behavior can explain delays in alphabetic skills. A practical implication is that in many cases early interventions should not only target reading skills, but also support children’s engagement in tasks.
The ubiquitin–proteasome system: central modifier of plant signalling
Authors: Sadanandom Ari , Bailey Mark , Ewan Richard , Lee Jack , Nelis Stuart 
Published: August 2012

SummaryUbiquitin is well established as a major modifier of signalling in eukaryotes. However, the extent to which plants rely on ubiquitin for regulating their lifecycle is only recently becoming apparent. This is underlined by the over‐representation of genes encoding ubiquitin‐metabolizing enzymes in Arabidopsis when compared with other model eukaryotes. The main characteristic of ubiquitination is the conjugation of ubiquitin onto lysine residues of acceptor proteins. In most cases the targeted protein is rapidly degraded by the 26S proteasome, the major proteolysis machinery in eukaryotic cells. The ubiquitin–proteasome system is responsible for removing most abnormal peptides and short‐lived cellular regulators, which, in turn, control many processes. This allows cells to respond rapidly to intracellular signals and changing environmental conditions. This review maps out the roles of the components of the ubiquitin–proteasome system with emphasis on areas where future research is urgently needed. We provide a flavour of the diverse aspects of plant lifecycle where the ubiquitin–proteasome system is implicated. We aim to highlight common themes using key examples that reiterate the importance of the ubiquitin–proteasome system to plants. The future challenge in plant biology is to define the targets for ubiquitination, their interactors and their molecular function within the regulatory context.

Contents

Summary
13

I.
Brief history
13

II.
Components of the ubiquitin–proteasome system
14

III.
Ubiquitin‐mediated degradation: a recurrent theme in the plant life cycle
18

IV.
Conclusion and future prospects
25

Acknowledgements
25

References
25
Heterozygosity‐Fitness Correlations and Inbreeding Depression in Two Critically Endangered Mammals
Authors: Ruiz‐López MarÍA JOSÉ , Gañan Natalia , Godoy José Antonio , Del Olmo Ana , Garde Julian , Espeso Gerardo , Vargas Astrid , Martinez Fernando , Roldán Eduardo R. S. , Gomendio Montserrat 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe relation among inbreeding, heterozygosity, and fitness has been studied primarily among outbred populations, and little is known about these phenomena in endangered populations. Most researchers conclude that the relation between coefficient of inbreeding estimated from pedigrees and fitness traits (inbreeding‐fitness correlations) better reflects inbreeding depression than the relation between marker heterozygosity and fitness traits (heterozygosity‐fitness correlations). However, it has been suggested recently that heterozygosity‐fitness correlations should only be expected when inbreeding generates extensive identity disequilibrium (correlations in heterozygosity and homozygosity across loci throughout the genome). We tested this hypothesis in Mohor gazelle (Gazella dama mhorr) and Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). For Mohor gazelle, we calculated the inbreeding coefficient and measured heterozygosity at 17 microsatellite loci. For Iberian lynx, we measured heterozygosity at 36 microsatellite loci. In both species we estimated semen quality, a phenotypic trait directly related to fitness that is controlled by many loci and is affected by inbreeding depression. Both species showed evidence of extensive identity disequilibrium, and in both species heterozygosity was associated with semen quality. In the Iberian lynx the low proportion of normal sperm associated with low levels of heterozygosity was so extreme that it is likely to limit the fertility of males. In Mohor gazelle, although heterozygosity was associated with semen quality, inbreeding coefficient was not. This result suggests that when coefficient of inbreeding is calculated on the basis of a genealogy that begins after a long history of inbreeding, the coefficient of inbreeding fails to capture previous demographic information because it is a poor estimator of accumulated individual inbreeding. We conclude that among highly endangered species with extensive identity disequilibrium, examination of heterozygosity‐fitness correlations may be an effective way to detect inbreeding depression, whereas inbreeding‐fitness correlations may be poor indicators of inbreeding depression if the pedigree does not accurately reflect the history of inbreeding.Correlaciones Heterocigosidad‐ Adaptabilidad y Depresión Endogámica en Dos Especies de Mamíferos Críticamente en Peligro
CD34+ cell subclasses and lymphocyte subsets in blood grafts collected after various mobilization methods in myeloma patients
Authors: Varmavuo Ville , Mäntymaa Pentti , Silvennoinen Raija , Nousiainen Tapio , Kuittinen Taru , Jantunen Esa 
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND: Cyclophosphamide (CY) combined with granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is commonly used to mobilize stem cells in multiple myeloma (MM). Plerixafor may also be used with G‐CSF in patients who mobilize poorly or it may be added to chemomobilization to boost mobilization. Limited data are available on graft content collected after various mobilization methods.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood grafts collected from 21 MM patients were retrospectively analyzed. We analyzed CD34+ subclasses and lymphocyte subsets from cryopreserved grafts collected on the next morning after plerixafor injection in nine MM patients mobilized with G‐CSF with (n = 5) or without preceding CY (n = 4). As controls we had the first collections from 12 MM patients mobilized with low‐dose CY with G‐CSF.RESULTS: The proportion of the most primitive stem cells (CD34+CD133+CD38–) from all CD34+ cells in the graft was higher in the plerixafor‐treated patients but there was no significant difference in the total number of these cells. The numbers of CD19+ B lymphocytes and natural killer cells were higher in patients collected after G‐CSF plus plerixafor when compared to the patients mobilized with CY plus G‐CSF. Early engraftment after high‐dose melphalan was comparable between the groups.CONCLUSION: Plerixafor appears to have effects on blood stem cell graft composition in myeloma patients. A higher number of grafts should be evaluated in regard to cellular content and longer follow‐up of the patients is needed to evaluate the potential clinical impact of graft content.
Prevalence, management, and outcomes of patients with coagulopathy after acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the United Kingdom
Authors: Jairath Vipul , Kahan Brennan C. , Stanworth Simon J. , Logan Richard F.A. , Hearnshaw Sarah A. , Travis Simon P.L. , Palmer Kelvin R. , Murphy Michael F. 
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND: Coagulopathy after major hemorrhage has been found to be an independent risk factor for mortality after traumatic bleeding. It is unclear whether similar associations are present in other causes of major hemorrhage. We describe the prevalence, use of plasma, and outcomes of patients with coagulopathy after acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a multicenter UK national audit. Data were collected prospectively on consecutive admissions with upper gastrointestinal bleeding over a 2‐month period to 212 UK hospitals. Coagulopathy was defined as an international normalized ratio (INR) of at least 1.5. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between coagulopathy and patient‐related outcome measures of mortality, rebleeding, and need for surgery and/or radiologic intervention.RESULTS: A total of 4478 patients were included in the study. Coagulopathy was present in 16.4% (444/2709) of patients in whom an INR was recorded. Patients with coagulopathy were more likely to present with hemodynamic shock (45% vs. 36%), have a higher clinical Rockall score (4 vs. 2), receive red blood cell transfusion (79% vs. 48%) and have high‐risk stigmata of hemorrhage at endoscopy (34% vs. 25%). After adjustment for confounders the presence of a coagulopathy was associated with a fivefold increased in the odds of mortality (odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 3.09‐10.27; p < 0.001). Only 35% of patients with coagulopathy received fresh‐frozen plasma transfusion.CONCLUSIONS: Coagulopathy was prevalent in 16% of patients after NVUGIB and independently associated with more than a fivefold increase in the odds of in‐hospital mortality. Wide variation in plasma use exists indicates clinical uncertainty regarding optimal practice.
Alloimmune platelet transfusion refractoriness circumvented by allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Bonstein Lilach , Stemer Galia , Dann Eldad J. , Zuckerman Tsila , Fineman Riva , Haddad Nuhad 
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND: Administration of intensive chemotherapy used in the management of malignancies is accompanied with marrow suppression. Patients undergoing such treatments and especially those with acute leukemia need prolonged blood component support and are at risk for platelet (PLT) refractoriness. Irradiated and filtered blood, although effective, does not eliminate the risk for refractoriness and consequent fatal hemorrhage.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The current report presents a case of an acute myeloid leukemia patient who became alloimmunized to multiple HLA antigens after complicated autologous stem cell transplantation and to whom granulocytes were transfused as part of treatment for overwhelming sepsis. Poor engraftment necessitated prolonged transfusion dependency with rare HLA‐compatible donors detected according to the indirect PLT immunofluorescence test. During the proceeding weeks the patient suffered from recurrent severe attacks of gastrointestinal bleeding. When several conservative treatments failed, a fully HLA‐matched, bidirectionally ABO‐incompatible allogeneic transplantation from a sibling donor was performed.RESULTS: Allogeneic transplantation was uneventful, with stable full donor‐derived lymphohematopoietic engraftment.CONCLUSION: Immune PLT refractoriness can appear at later stages of treatment even in severely immunocompromised patients. Granulocyte transfusions could lead to alloimmunization and should therefore be cautiously considered in this patient population.