bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring perceptions of psychological services in a children's hospice in the United Kingdom
Authors: Wray Jo , Lindsay Bruce , Crozier Kenda , Andrews Lauren , Leeson Janet 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground:The provision of emotional and psychological support for all family members who need it is an essential element of holistic palliative care. Within East Anglia's Children's Hospice, teams of professionally trained and experienced workers offer psychosocial support to all family members at all times during the child's and family's journey. However, the effectiveness and appropriateness of current psychosocial provision is unclear, as is the requirement for any additional psychological services.Objective:The purpose of this study was to elicit perceptions about current psychological support within the hospice from a group of stakeholders (parents, hospice staff, and external professionals).Method:Forty-five parents participated in family focus groups, telephone interviews, individual interviews in their home, or a web-based survey. Ninety-five hospice staff (including nurses, carers, play specialists, therapists, and family support practitioners) and 28 external staff (including physicians, nurses, and commissioning managers) were seen using a mixture of focus group and individual meetings. Focus groups and meetings were held at the hospice building or at an external venue. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic coding.Results:Two main themes addressing perceptions of current psychological provision emerged: “understanding psychological support” and “unmet psychological need.” Subthemes linked to support included choice, staff roles and labels, communication, and flexibility, whereas the themes within unmet need had a stronger focus on people and problems.Significance of results:Understanding different user perspectives is an important first step in enhancing current psychological provision; operationalizing the findings will be challenging.
Efficient technique for ultra broadband, linear power amplifier design
Authors: Sayed Ahmed , Preis Sebastian , Boeck Georg 
Published: November 2012

In this paper, a 10 W ultra-broadband GaN power amplifier (PA) is designed, fabricated, and tested. The suggested design technique provides a more accurate starting point for matching network synthesis and better prediction of achievable circuit performance. A negative-image model was used to fit the extracted optimum impedances based on source-/load-pull technique and multi-section impedance matching networks were designed. The implemented amplifier presents an excellent broadband performance, resulting in a gain of 8.5 ± 0.5 dB, saturated output power of ≥10 W, and power added efficiency (PAE) of ≥23% over the whole bandwidth. The linearity performance has also been characterized. An output third-order intercept point (OIP3) of ≥45 dBm was extracted based on a two-tone measurement technique in the operating bandwidth with different frequency spacing values. The memory effect based on AM/AM and AM/PM conversions was also characterized using a modulated WiMAX signal of 10 MHz bandwidth at 5.8 GHz. Furthermore, a broadband Wilkinson combiner was designed for the same bandwidth with very low loss to extend the overall output power. Excellent agreement between simulated and measured PA performances was also achieved.
A combined electron microprobe (EMP) and Raman spectroscopic study of the alteration products in Martian meteorite MIL 03346
Authors: Kuebler K. E. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWe examine the secondary alteration products in MIL 03346 using Raman spectroscopic and electron microprobe traverses. Discussion focuses on the single olivine in ,177 supplemented with observations from ,168 and ,169. Traverses start at the rim and progress into the interior. Dark brown, nearly opaque, laihunite [Fe2+Fe3+2(SiO4)2] is present as overgrowths, and 20–50µm veins of reddish‐brown stilpnomelane [(K,Na,Ca)4(Ti0.1,Al2.3,Fe3+35.5,Mn0.8,Mg9.3) (Si63Al9)(O,OH)206∗n(H2O)] occur inside the olivine. Stilpnomelane crosscuts and postdates the laihunite; veins are in sharp contact with the host olivine but lined by ~5µm films of jarosite [KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6] from a later generation of alteration. An interstitial laihunite also hosts stilpnomelane. The most recent secondary phases are gypsum and bassanite in our X‐ray maps of ,168 and ,169. Ca‐sulfates were not observed in X‐ray maps of ,177 but were detected in our Raman point count. All sulfates are believed to be Martian. The groundmass of MIL indicates rapid cooling from elevated temperatures withfO2near QFM. Reports of laihunite synthesis by olivine oxidation at elevated temperatures (100–800°C) suggest the overgrowths formed during consolidation. In terrestrial rocks, stilpnomelane is a product of late diagenesis to garnet‐grade metamorphism. In MIL, stilpnomelane appears to be a secondary phase formed at the lower end of this stability range, at conditions akin to diagenesis. Raman spectra indicate that the stilpnomelane, jarosite, and Ca‐sulfates are hydrated. The stilpnomelane contains Cl−and was followed by jarosite, a product of acid alteration, and the deposition of Ca‐sulfates and halide salts from more neutral chloride solutions.
Identification of transcriptional and phosphatase regulators as interaction partners of human ADA3, a component of histone acetyltransferase complexes
Authors: Zencir Sevil , Sike Adam , Dobson Melanie J. , Ayaydin Ferhan , Boros Imre , Topcu Zeki 
Published: November 2012

ADA (alteration/deficiency in activation) 3 is a conserved component of several transcriptional adaptor and HAT (histone acetyltransferase) complexes that regulate RNA polymerase II-mediated gene expression. Within the HAT complexes ADA3 is associated with ADA2 and the HAT GCN5 (general control non-repressed 5). ADA3 plays roles in diverse cellular processes and also in malignancies by modulating GCN5 catalytic activity and/or by interactions with other regulators. To gain a better understanding of ADA3 function, we used a yeast two-hybrid approach to screen a human fetal cDNA library for proteins that interacted with hADA3 (human ADA3). We identified three novel hADA3-interacting partners, a transcriptional regulator, AATF (apoptosis-antagonizing transcription factor), and regulatory subunits of the PP1 (protein phosphatase 1) and PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) [PPP1R7 (PP1 regulatory subunit 7) and PPP2R5D (PP2A 56 kDa regulatory subunit δ isoform) respectively]. Analysis of truncated versions of hADA3 indicated that the C-terminal ADA2-interacting domain was not required for these interactions. Fluorescent microscopy analysis and co-immunoprecipitation provided support for the co-localization and interaction of hADA3 with these proteins in human cells. Expression of the interacting proteins altered expression of an hADA3-regulated reporter gene, suggesting functional consequences for the interactions. The detected interactions of hADA3 might extend the spectrum of mechanisms by which ADA3 can contribute to the regulation of gene expression and shed light on processes mediated by these newly identified ADA3 partners.
Biomineralization of selenium by the selenate-respiring bacteriumThauera selenatis
Authors: Butler Clive S. , Debieux Charles M. , Dridge Elizabeth J. , Splatt Peter , Wright Matthew 
Published: November 2012

Bacterial anaerobic respiration using selenium oxyanions as the sole electron acceptor primarily result in the precipitation of selenium biominerals observed as either intracellular or extracellular selenium deposits. Although a better understanding of the enzymology of bacterial selenate reduction is emerging, the processes by which the selenium nanospheres are constructed, and in some cases secreted, has remained poorly studied. Thauera selenatis is a Gram-negative betaproteobacterium that is capable of respiring selenate due to the presence of a periplasmic selenate reductase (SerABC). SerABC is a molybdoenzyme that catalyses the reduction of selenate to selenite by accepting electrons from the Q-pool via a dihaem c-type cytochrome (cytc4). The product selenite is presumed to be reduced in the cytoplasm, forming intracellular selenium nanospheres that are ultimately secreted into the surrounding medium. The secretion of the selenium nanospheres is accompanied by the export of a ~95 kDa protein SefA (selenium factor A). SefA has no cleavable signal peptide, suggesting that it is also exported directly for the cytoplasmic compartment. It has been suggested that SefA functions to stabilize the formation of the selenium nanospheres before secretion, possibly providing reaction sites for selenium nanosphere creation or providing a shell to prevent subsequent selenium aggregation. The present paper draws on our current knowledge of selenate respiration and selenium biomineralization in T. selenatis and other analogous systems, and extends the application of nanoparticle tracking analysis to determine the size distribution profile of the selenium nanospheres secreted.
Colicin M, a peptidoglycan lipid-II-degrading enzyme: potential use for antibacterial means?
Authors: Touzé Thierry , Barreteau Hélène , El Ghachi Meriem , Bouhss Ahmed , Barnéoud-Arnoulet Aurélie , Patin Delphine , Sacco Emmanuelle , Blanot Didier , Arthur Michel , Duché Denis , Lloubès Roland , Mengin-Lecreulx Dominique 
Published: November 2012

Colicins are proteins produced by some strains of Escherichia coli to kill competitors belonging to the same species. Among them, ColM (colicin M) is the only one that blocks the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, a specific bacterial cell-wall polymer essential for cell integrity. ColM acts in the periplasm by hydrolysing the phosphoester bond of the peptidoglycan lipid intermediate (lipid II). ColM cytotoxicity is dependent on FkpA of the targeted cell, a chaperone with peptidylprolyl cis–trans isomerase activity. Dissection of ColM was used to delineate the catalytic domain and to identify the active-site residues. The in vitro activity of the isolated catalytic domain towards lipid II was 50-fold higher than that of the full-length bacteriocin. Moreover, this domain was bactericidal in the absence of FkpA under conditions that bypass the import mechanism (FhuA–TonB machinery). Thus ColM undergoes a maturation process driven by FkpA that is not required for the activity of the isolated catalytic domain. Genes encoding proteins with similarity to the catalytic domain of ColM were identified in pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas and other genera. ColM acts on several structures of lipid II representative of the diversity of peptidoglycan chemotypes. All together, these data open the way to the potential use of ColM-related bacteriocins as broad spectrum antibacterial agents.
Molecular basis of Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2B disease
Authors: Bucci Cecilia , De Luca Maria 
Published: November 2012

CMT2B (Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2B) disease is an autosomal dominant peripheral neuropathy whose onset is in the second or third decade of life, thus in adolescence or young adulthood. CMT2B is clinically characterized by severe symmetric distal sensory loss, reduced tendon reflexes at ankles, weakness in the lower limbs and muscle atrophy, complicated by ulcerations that often lead to amputations. Four missense mutations in the gene encoding the small GTPase Rab7 cause the CMT2B neuropathy. Rab7 is a ubiquitous protein that regulates transport to late endosomes and lysosomes in the endocytic pathway. In neurons, Rab7 is important for endosomal trafficking and signalling of neurotrophins, and for retrograde axonal transport. Recent data on CMT2B-causing Rab7 mutant proteins show that these proteins exhibit altered koff rates and, as a consequence, they are mainly in the GTP-bound state and bind more strongly to Rab7 effector proteins. Notably, expression of CMT2B-causing Rab7 mutant proteins strongly inhibit neurite outgrowth in several cells lines and alter NGF (nerve growth factor) trafficking and signalling. These data indicate that Rab7 plays an essential role in neuronal cells and that CMT2B-causing Rab7 mutant proteins alter neuronal specific pathways, but do not fully explain why only peripheral neurons are affected in CMT2B. In the present paper, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying CMT2B, and we consider possible hypotheses in order to explain how alterations of Rab7 function lead to CMT2B.
A cross‐cultural study of adolescents' physical activity levels in France and Spain
Authors: Aibar Alberto , Bois Julien E. , Generelo Eduardo , Zaragoza Casterad Javier , Paillard Thierry 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe goals of this study were (1) to describe and compare levels of physical activity (PA), assessed by accelerometry, of adolescents in two close Spanish and French cities according to gender and period of the week and (2) to assess, with reference to country and gender, the extent to which international PA guidelines were fulfilled. The PA of 401 adolescents (53.37% females) from France and Spain (55.72% French) aged 14.45±0.67 years was assessed with GT3X accelerometers for seven consecutive days to evaluate their habitual levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Data collection took place from September to December 2010 in six public and state schools in France and Spain. There were significant differences in MVPA in terms of country, gender and period of the week. Spanish adolescents were more active than French adolescents, boys were more active than girls and MVPA was higher on weekdays than at weekends. French girls showed the lowest level of PA. Only 35.9% of the whole sample met the guidelines for PA in both countries. Governments of relevant countries, especially France, should adopt PA promotion policies targeted at adolescents in order to enhance their compliance with PA guidelines.
A beta-mixture quantile normalization method for correcting probe design bias in Illumina Infinium 450 k DNA methylation data
Authors: Teschendorff Andrew E. , Marabita Francesco , Lechner Matthias , Bartlett Thomas , Tegner Jesper , Gomez-Cabrero David , Beck Stephan 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Motivation: The Illumina Infinium 450 k DNA Methylation Beadchip is a prime candidate technology for Epigenome-Wide Association Studies (EWAS). However, a difficulty associated with these beadarrays is that probes come in two different designs, characterized by widely different DNA methylation distributions and dynamic range, which may bias downstream analyses. A key statistical issue is therefore how best to adjust for the two different probe designs.
Results: Here we propose a novel model-based intra-array normalization strategy for 450 k data, called BMIQ (Beta MIxture Quantile dilation), to adjust the beta-values of type2 design probes into a statistical distribution characteristic of type1 probes. The strategy involves application of a three-state beta-mixture model to assign probes to methylation states, subsequent transformation of probabilities into quantiles and finally a methylation-dependent dilation transformation to preserve the monotonicity and continuity of the data. We validate our method on cell-line data, fresh frozen and paraffin-embedded tumour tissue samples and demonstrate that BMIQ compares favourably with two competing methods. Specifically, we show that BMIQ improves the robustness of the normalization procedure, reduces the technical variation and bias of type2 probe values and successfully eliminates the type1 enrichment bias caused by the lower dynamic range of type2 probes. BMIQ will be useful as a preprocessing step for any study using the Illumina Infinium 450 k platform.
Availability: BMIQ is freely available from http://code.google.com/p/bmiq/.
Contact: a.teschendorff@ucl.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Positive Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies. Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Mehanna Raja , Patton Eddie L. , Phan Cecile L. , Harati Yadollah 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Myasthenia gravis is a nerve–muscle junction disease, for which the most specific test is an increase in the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (anti-AChR-Abs) titer. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. Positive AChR-Ab in patients with pure ALS are exceedingly rare. We report the case of a patient with confirmed ALS and very high levels of AChR-Ab and review the literature on this topic.
Different Characteristic Phenotypes According to Antibody in Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Oh Shin J. , Morgan Marla B. , Lu Liang , Hatanaka Yuki , Hemmi Shoji , Young Angela , Claussen Gwendolyn C. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Objectives:
To find the characteristic phenotypes of 3 different types of myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods:
The clinical and electrophysiological features among 15 cases of muscle-specific kinase antibody positive (MuSK Ab+) MG, 59 cases of double seronegative (DSN) MG, and 161 cases of acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR Ab)+ MG in the University of Alabama at Birmingham were compared.

Results:
AChR Ab was positive in 69% of cases and MuSK Ab in 6% of cases. MuSK Ab+ MG was more common (14%) in African Americans compared with whites (4%). AChR Ab+ MG is characterized by male predominance, later onset, a fewer cases of ocular MG, and a higher association with thymoma. DSN-MG is characterized by a greater prevalence of ocular MG, milder forms of MG with less number of crisis, and fewer abnormalities in the repetitive nerve stimulation test. MuSK Ab+ MG is characterized by younger age at onset, severe and bulbar forms of MG, predominant faciobulbar neck weakness, and a poor response to edrophonium, anticholinesterase, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Long-term outcome showed no difference among 3 types of MG.

Conclusions:
AChR Ab+ MG and DSN-MG are similar, with the exception of less severity in the latter. MuSK Ab+ MG has distinct clinical and electrophysiological features.
Acute Bilateral Painless Radiculitis With Abnormal Borrelia burgdorferi Immunoblot
Authors: Almodovar Jorge L. , Hehir Michael K. , Nicholson Katharine A. , Stommel Elijah W. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
A 57-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and hypothyroidism presented with painless left arm weakness and numbness 2 weeks before evaluation. Nerve conduction studies of the left arm revealed normal motor and sensory responses. Needle examination revealed acute denervation changes in all myotomes of the affected extremity, including cervical paraspinals on the left, and several myotomes on the contralateral side. The laboratory evaluation revealed normal anti-GM1 antibodies and 3 IgM/5 IgG bands on Lyme Western Blot. The patient began treatment with 28 days of intravenous ceftriaxone. On follow-up, patient had regained full strength of her extremities with no sensory deficits. Inflammatory borrelia radiculitis usually presents with pain in the distribution of the affected nerves and nerve roots. The novelty of this case report rests on (1) the absence of primary borreliosis symptomatology preceding the radiculitis and (2) the painless and bilateral clinical presentation in a patient with suspected Lyme radiculitis.
Older adults' satisfaction with the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program
Authors: Kelley‐Gillespie Nancy , Wilby Frances , Farley O. William 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the satisfaction of older adults in the services they receive from the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) program – a program designed to assist older adults to remain independent in their homes and communities.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire examining various domains of service was developed and administered to 49 older adults who had been receiving assistance from NHN for at least six months.FindingsFindings revealed that 87 percent (41) of the participants were satisfied with services and believed that NHN helped them remain independent in the community.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was a cross‐sectional design and did not look at change over time based on a pre/post test research design. Therefore, no causation can be implied. Another limitation is that the study was conducted internally by NHN; program participants may have responded in a socially desirable way in order not to reflect negatively on the program.Practical implicationsFindings from this study may have implications for developing sustainable home‐ and community‐based support programs for older adults.Social implicationsWith the aging of societies and cutbacks in government social services, it is important to examine how the needs of aging citizens can be met.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the NHN model is innovative in its use of students, community‐building approaches, and volunteers in meeting the needs of older adults. The NHN program provides an innovative model that can be replicated by other universities or other community‐based organizations around the country.
Octavia Hill, pioneer of social housing: rebel with a cause
Authors: Hindes Grahame , Chung Kam 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to consider the legacy of Octavia Hill in the UK, one of the early pioneers of what is now called social housing.Design/methodology/approachThe paper sets out the background of Octavia Hill, and the context in which she operated before moving on to a discussion about the current relevance of her work.FindingsIn the centenary year (2012) of the death of Octavia Hill her work has come under some criticism. The authors consider this and seek to defend her reputation, pointing to the many ways in which her work and thinking anticipated the lessons still being learned today in the management of social housing.Originality/valueThe paper gives an account of the achievements of Octavia Hill and evidences their relevance to modern social housing.
Occupational therapy and supported employment: is there any added value?
Authors: Priest Becky , Bones Kate 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper's aim is to explore the added value of occupational therapy in supported employment, demonstrated by a case study in Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.Design/methodology/approachThe paper sets out the unique contribution of occupational therapy to the evidence based individual placement with support (IPS) model, through a case study of implementation in Sussex.FindingsOccupational therapists are well placed to play a central role in embedding IPS into clinical teams, as well as supporting the work of employment specialists. They also have a wider role in championing person centred practice, and challenging negative assumptions about the work abilities of people with mental health problems.Practical implicationsClarity of role design is crucial, with methods for assessing and monitoring competence built into supervision structures. Clinicians need to be motivated and enthusiastic about the role as well as having allocated time to carry out the discrete employment support function. The partnership between the employment service and clinical team is central to good implementation of the model.Originality/valueThis paper adds clarity to the role of occupational therapy in supporting people with severe and enduring mental health problems to gain and maintain mainstream employment. There is a need for the development of a more formal evidence base for occupational therapy interventions in the field of supported employment; this paper is a starting point outlining key issues.