bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review: The nature and extent of social work research on substance use disorders treatment interventions among African Americans
Authors: Clark Trenette T , McGovern Patricia , Mgbeokwere Davena , Wooten Nikki , Owusu Hawa , McGraw Kathleen A 
Published: April 2013

Summary Little is known about the contribution made by social workers to empirical evidence on substance use disorders treatment, especially interventions for African Americans. This article presents a systematic review of 23 articles, presentations, and dissertations written by social workers that focus on substance use disorders treatment interventions with African Americans. The aim of this review is to estimate the extent of contribution made by social workers to the research knowledge base on substance use disorders treatment interventions that are effective among African Americans, and to assess the methodological quality of those studies. Findings The review shows social workers’ contributions to research examining substance use disorders treatment interventions with African Americans is inadequate and the methodological rigor of these studies is slightly below average. Of the 23 articles examined, few studies included only African American samples, and most investigated substance use disorders treatment interventions in samples with a small percentage of African American participants. Moreover, most of the reviewed studies were published between 1994 and 2010 in non-social work journals and were cited an average of 6.67 times. Applications The social work profession must increase its contribution to the empirical knowledge base on substance use disorders intervention research with African Americans because it is essential to the provision of culturally sensitive, evidence-based practice to African Americans. More quasi-experimental and experimental designs are needed to compare multiple evidence-based treatments across diverse populations, and to determine causality between treatment processes and outcomes.
Preserving participant anonymity during remote preenrollment consent form checking
Authors: Journot Valérie , Pérusat-Villetorte Sophie , Bouyssou Caroline , Couffin-Cadiergues Sandrine , Tall Aminata , Fagard Catherine , Chêne Geneviève ,   the OPTIMON Collaborative Group
Published: April 2013

Background In biomedical research, the consent form must comply with regulatory requirements. Checking for compliance typically has been performed on-site and most frequently after a participant’s final enrollment. We use a procedure for remote preenrollment checking of consent forms that protects participant identities. This procedure requires a copy of the consent form that partially masks the fields for participant’s name and signature; this copy is faxed to the clinical trials unit for checking. Purpose To describe our efforts to identify an appropriate printed masking pattern. We tried several patterns that permit ascertainment of the presence of signatures and names and evaluated each one with respect to degree of masking participant identities. Methods We assessed the efficiency of a satisfactory pattern through an experiment. We created forms with variants of the masking pattern on the copy to be faxed. We completed the forms with fictitious identities before copies were faxed and checked by clinical research associates. We measured the rate of empty and filled fields detected and the rate of letters and names correctly read. The target was defined as 100% for the rate of empty and filled fields detected and 0% for the rate of letters and names correctly read. Results The best masking pattern allowed the detection of 100% empty and filled fields and the reading of 0% names and 19% letters. Consequently, the consent form with the selected masking pattern has been used routinely in our clinical trials unit. Limitations We tested only five fictitious identities, five individuals who completed forms, and three who checked forms. Also, we initially considered only four patterns and variations in them. Conclusions We defined a masking pattern that satisfactorily fulfilled our needs for confidentiality. This and other procedures for remote preenrollment checking of consent form can be a key component of a risk-based monitoring strategy.
Prospective histopathologic evaluation of lifestyle modification in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized trial
Authors: Eckard Carly , Cole Renee , Lockwood Joshua , Torres Dawn M. , Williams Christopher D. , Shaw Janet C. , Harrison Stephen A. 
Published: April 2013

Background and aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as part of the metabolic syndrome, and is specifically related to obesity and insulin resistance. Lifestyle modification is advocated for the treatment of NAFLD, but few studies have evaluated its impact on liver histology. The purpose of this study was to investigate which, if any, specific diet and exercise recommendations are associated with histopathologic changes. Methods: A total of 56 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 lifestyle modification subgroups for 6 months: standard care, low-fat diet and moderate exercise, moderate-fat/low-processed-carbohydrate diet and moderate exercise, or moderate exercise only. All subjects had biopsy-proven NAFLD, to include nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and received a repeat 6-month biopsy to detect histopathologic changes. Other measures included blood assay of liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase), fasting glucose, serum insulin, lipid panel, body weight, dietary intake, fat mass, and fitness level. Results: Among the 41 participants who completed the study (88% with NASH), a significant change was found in pre- to post-NAFLD activity score in the group as a whole ( p < 0.001) with no difference detected between subgroups ( p = 0.31). Our results confirm that lifestyle modification is effective in improving NAFLD and NASH. Conclusions: Regardless of intervention group, lifestyle modification improved liver histology, as verified by repeat biopsy, after a 6-month intervention. This study reinforces the importance of lifestyle modification as the primary treatment strategy for patients with NAFLD.
Oral health promotion in Gauteng: a qualitative study
Authors: Molete Mpho Primrose , Daly Blanaid , Hlungwani Tintswalo Mercy 
Published: April 2013

Introduction and background: One of the aims of the South African Oral Health Promotion Framework is to integrate oral health promotion activities into general health promotion using the Common Risk Factor Approach (CRFA). Though policies have directed that oral health should be integrated into general health promotion in South Africa, little is known about the implementation of the CRFA in daily oral health promotion practice. Aim: This study aimed to assess how health promoters in Gauteng integrate oral health into their general health promotion activities. Objectives: The objectives were (i) to describe how health promoters undertake health promotion in Gauteng; (ii) to describe how health promoters incorporate oral health promotion into health promotion activities; and (iii) to describe the opportunities and challenges for health promoters in applying the CRFA. Method: This was a qualitative study and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. A purposive sample of 10 formally trained health promoters agreed to be interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Participants’ work was centred mostly on healthy lifestyle campaigns and there was little integration of oral health into health promotion activities. While most health promoters had an understanding of the CRFA, this understanding was not common amongst other levels of management. Oral health literacy was low and health promoters perceived few opportunities for using a CRFA when weighed against other priorities such as poverty and HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Currently there is little evidence of integration of oral health into general health promotion activities.
Diagnosis by real-time polymerase chain reaction of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in bone marrow transplant patients with bloodstream infections
Authors: Menezes Liana Carballo , Rocchetti Talita Trevizani , de Castro Bauab Karen , Cappellano Paola , Quiles Milene Gonçalves , Carlesse Fabianne , de Oliveira Jose Salvador Rodrigues , Pignatari Antonio Carlos Campos 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Early identification of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in bloodstream infections (BSIs) decreases morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the present study was to compare real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with commercial kits for detection of 17 pathogens from blood culture (BC) and 10 antimicrobial resistance genes.

Methods
A total of 160 BCs were taken from bone marrow transplant patients and screened with Gram-specific probes by multiplex real-time PCR and 17 genus-specific sequences using TaqMan probes and blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaSPM, blaVIM, vanA, vanB, and mecA genes by SYBR Green.

Results
Twenty-three of 33 samples identified by phenotypic testing were concordantly positive by BC and real-time PCR. Pathogen identification was discordant in 13 cases. In 12 of 15 coagulase-negative staphylococci, the mecA gene was detected and four Enterococcus spp. were positive for vanA. Two blaCTX and three blaSHV genes were found by quantitative PCR. The blaKPC and metallo-β-lactamase genes were not detected. Five fungal species were identified only by real-time PCR.

Conclusions
Real-time PCR could be a valuable complementary tool in the management of BSI in bone marrow transplants patients, allowing identification of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes.
Oral immunization with Lactococcus lactis secreting attenuated recombinant staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces a protective immune response in a murine model
Authors: Asensi Giselli Fernandes , de Sales Nathalia Ferrari Fonseca , Dutra Fabiano Ferreira , Feijó Daniel Ferreira , Bozza Marcelo Torres , Ulrich Robert G , Miyoshi Anderson , de Morais Katia , Azevedo Vasco Ariston de Carvalho , Silva Joab Trajano , Le Loir Yves , Paschoalin Vânia Margaret Flosi 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is unrestrictedly found in humans and in animal species that maintain thermal homeostasis. Inadequate cleaning of processing equipment or inappropriate handling can contaminate processed food and cause severe food poisoning. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a potent superantigenic exotoxin, is produced by 50% of clinical isolates of S. aureus and is associated with massive food poisoning and with the induction of toxic shock syndrome.

Results
A gene sequence encoding a recombinant SEB (rSEB), devoid of superantigenic activity, was successfully cloned and expressed in a cytoplasmic or a secreted form in the food-grade lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis. The recombinant protein detected in the cytoplasm or in the culture medium exhibited the expected molecular mass and was recognized by a SEB-polyclonal antibody. Oral immunization with the recombinant L. lactis strains induced a protective immune response in a murine model of S. aureus infection. Immunized mice survived intraperitoneal challenge with an S. aureus SEB-producer strain. Counts of S. aureus in the spleen of rSEB-immunized mice were significantly reduced. The rSEB-immunized mice showed significant titers of anti-SEB IgA and IgG in stools and serum, respectively. Both recombinant L. lactis strains were able to elicit cellular or systemic immune responses in mice, with no significant difference if rSEB was produced in its cytoplasmic or secreted form. However, recombinant L. lactis expressing the cytoplasmic rSEB increased the survival rate of the challenged mice by 43%.

Conclusions
These findings show the vaccine efficacy of L. lactis carrying an attenuated SEB, in a murine model, following lethal S. aureus challenge.
Rupture of the profunda femoris artery in a patient with alcoholic liver disease: a case report
Authors: Orchard Philippa , Tan Benjamin HL , Abayasekara Kumar 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Profunda femoris artery aneurysms are rare and often present with rupture. However, to the best of our knowledge, rupture of a non-aneurismal profunda femoris artery has never been reported before.

Case presentation
We report the case of a 31-year-old Caucasian man with alcoholic liver disease who presented with rupture of the profunda femoris artery following blunt trauma which was treated by endovascular embolization.

Conclusion
Coagulopathy secondary to alcoholic liver disease is a major contributory factor and a high index of suspicion of vascular injury must be attached to such patients following blunt trauma. Although there have no previous documented cases, treatment by endovascular embolization appears to be effective and safe.
Serum agonistic autoantibodies against type-1 angiotensin II receptor titer in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: a potential role in tumor cell migration and angiogenesis
Authors: Song Li , Zhang Su-Li , Bai Ke-Hua , Yang Jie , Xiong Hai-Yan , Li Xiao , Liu Teng , Liu Hui-Rong 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Although agonistic autoantibodies against type-1 angiotensin-II receptor (AT1-AA) are frequently detected in women with preeclampsia, the clinical significance of AT1-AA in association with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not been identified.

Methods
In an attempt to clarify this issue, we measured serum AT1-AA titer from EOC patients (n = 89) and healthy normal subjects (n = 55), correlated AT1-AA titer with EOC stage and grade, and demonstrated the effects of purified AT1-AA on migration of ovarian cancer cells and angiogenesis of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.

Results
We found that the AT1-AA titer was significantly higher in EOC patients compared with healthy control subjects (1.77 ± 0.28 vs. 0.35 ± 0.05, P < 0.01). The positive rate was averaged by 72.1±2.5% in EOC patients and 15.5 ±1.5% in control (P < 0.01). Increased AT1-AA titer in EOC patients was associated with advanced stages and grades of EOC, and positively correlated with level of vascular endothelial growth factor (r = 0.855, P < 0.01). Furthermore, AT1-AA directly stimulated migration of ovarian cancer cells and enhanced microvascular density of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. These AT1-AA-mediated effects were significantly blocked either by an autoantibody-neutralizing peptide or an angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist, losartan.

Conclusion
Taken together, we found that a higher serum AT1-AA titer may be associated with advanced progression of EOC in patients and play an important role in development of EOC by promoting cancer cell migration and angiogenesis. These findings implicate that AT1-AA might be selected as a detectable biomarker and potential therapeutic target in diagnosis and treatment of EOC patients.
The distribution of mercury and other trace elements in the bones of two human individuals from medieval Denmark – the chemical life history hypothesis
Authors: Rasmussen Kaare Lund , Skytte Lilian , Pilekær Christian , Lauritsen Anne , Boldsen Jesper Lier , Leth Peter Mygind , Thomsen Per Orla 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Excavating human skeletons is the closest archaeologists can get to the people who lived in the past. Once excavated the bones are often analysed chemically in order to yield as much information as possible. Most archaeometric analyses performed on samples of human skeletal remains have been performed on a single sample from a tooth or a long bone. In this paper we investigate how a suite of elements (Mg, Al, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Sr, Ba, Hg and Pb) are distributed in two medieval skeletons excavated at the laymen cemetery at the Franciscan Friary in Svendborg, Denmark.
The analyses have been performed using CV-AAS for Hg and ICP-MS for the rest of the elements. We find that in general Hg concentrations are highest in the trabecular tissues and in the abdomen region. Our data also show that the elements Al, Fe and Mn concentrate in the trabecular tissue and on the surfaces of the bones. The two individuals can be clearly distinguished by Principal Component Analysis of all the measured trace elements.
Our data support a previously published hypothesis that the elemental ratios Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mg/Ca are indicative of provenance. Aluminium, Fe and Mn can be attributed to various forms of diagenesis, while Hg is not present in sufficiently large amounts in the surrounding soil to allow diagenesis to explain the high Hg values in the trabecular tissue. Instead we propose that Hg must originate from decomposed soft tissue.
An Investigation into the Iranian EFL Language Learners' Attitudes on TOEFL iBT
Authors: Soureshjani Kamal Heidari , Riahipour Parisa , Safikhani Arezoo 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The present study, which was probably the first of its kind in Iran, aimed at investigating the attitudes of Iranian iBT candidates towards the iBT test. It especially addressed the role of gender in the attitude of the participants of the study on iBT test. Accordingly, an attitude questionnaire was developed based on the theoretical framework of the study and then administered among Iranian iBT candidates who had taken the test in Shiraz, Iran. The collected data was then analyzed through chi-square and T-test to see if there was any meaningful relationship between candidates' sex and their attitudes towards the iBT test. The study revealed that first, most of the participants in the study had a positive attitude toward iBT and second, it was found out that the candidates' gender had no significant role in their attitudes towards iBT test. Implications can be drawn for all the stakeholders including candidates intending to sit for the test, institutes running iBT preparation program and teachers wishing to teach such programs.
The Effect of Dynamic Assessment on EFL Reading Comprehension in Different Proficiency Levels
Authors: Ajideh Parviz , Nourdad Nava 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The present study aimed at investigating the effect of dynamic assessment on EFL learners' reading comprehension in different proficiency levels. 197 Iranian university students participated in six groups of this study. The design of the research was quasi-experimental. The results of MANOVA test revealed that while dynamic assessment had improving immediate and delayed effect on reading comprehension of learners in all proficiency levels the proficiency groups did not differ significantly in their taking advantage of this kind of assessment.
MR cisternography/myelography of post-traumatic spinal CSF fistulae and meningeal lesions in small animals
Authors: Muñoz Alberto , Mateo Isidro , Lorenzo Valentina , Martinez Jeronimo , Crespo Jose 
Published: April 2013

Background The diagnosis of post-traumatic spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulae due to dural tears or lesions remains a challenge. Thus far, CT myelography is the standard test used to diagnose these complications. Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic ability of gadolinium-enhanced MR cisternography/myelography (intrathecal gadopentate dimeglumine or Gd-DTPA) in small animals that had experienced accidental spinal trauma. Material and Methods Four dogs and one cat suffered traumatic accidents resulting in neurological deficits underwent spinal MRI with intrathecal Gd-DTPA after routine plain films and MR images. Results T2-weighted SE images showed high water content in the epidural space or in the surroundings of the vertebrae in four animals. MR myelography revealed CSF leakage in all of them. In two animals CSF leaks were observed exuding from the spinal canal and tracking towards adjacent loose fat and interfascial planes. In two other animals Gd-DTPA extravasation was diffusely collected in paraspinal tissues around the vertebral arch. In the fifth animal a focal pseudomeningocele was observed adjacent to the traumatized region. Conclusion Intrathecal administration of Gd-DTPA is an effective method to reveal and confirm post-traumatic spinal CSF fistulae or other dural lesions in animals with potential application in humans.
A “Meta-Analysis” of Multibrand, Multioutlet Channel Systems
Authors: Lee Eunkyu , Staelin Richard , Yoo Weon Sang , Du Rex 
Published: April 2013

In today's multibrand, multichannel marketplace, optimal channel design involves issues such as distribution intensity, channel exclusivity, vertical and horizontal coordination, and online–offline mixed structures. We investigate how a firm's choice in these design issues affects its profitability under varying levels of brand and outlet differentiation. Our spatial model explicitly captures heterogeneous consumer preference for brand position, store location, and outlet type, under various consumer behavior assumptions. We apply this same underlying model to 10 different channel structures, deriving associated demand functions and equilibrium solutions. We perform a meta-analysis over the entire set of results to estimate a general model that summarizes the linkages among the factors shaping optimal channel structure decisions in a multibrand, multioutlet market. This general model efficiently describes the complex interactions of channel characteristics with industry structure and consumer characteristics, providing new findings as well as greater clarity to some results in the literature. A predictive analysis applied to additional channel structures exhibits strong generalizability in qualitative findings. This paper was accepted by by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
License to Cheat: Voluntary Regulation and Ethical Behavior
Authors: Gino Francesca , Krupka Erin L. , Weber Roberto A. 
Published: April 2013

Although monitoring and regulation can be used to combat socially costly unethical conduct, their intended targets can often avoid regulation or hide their behavior. This surrenders at least part of the effectiveness of regulatory policies to firms' and individuals' decisions to voluntarily submit to regulation. We study individuals' decisions to avoid monitoring or regulation and thus enhance their ability to engage in unethical conduct. We conduct a laboratory experiment in which participants engage in a competitive task and can decide between having the opportunity to misreport their performance or having their performance verified by an external monitor. To study the effect of social factors on the willingness to be subject to monitoring, we vary whether participants make this decision simultaneously with others or sequentially, as well as whether the decision is private or public. Our results show that the opportunity to avoid being submitted to regulation produces more unethical conduct than situations in which regulation is either exogenously imposed or entirely absent. This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Geographic Constraints on Knowledge Spillovers: Political Borders vs. Spatial Proximity
Authors: Singh Jasjit , Marx Matt 
Published: April 2013

Geographic localization of knowledge spillovers is a central tenet in multiple streams of research. However, prior work has typically examined this phenomenon considering only one geographic unit—country, state, or metropolitan area—at a time and has rarely accounted for spatial distance. We disentangle these multiple effects by using a regression framework employing choice-based sampling to estimate the likelihood of citation between random patents. We find both country and state borders to have independent effects on knowledge diffusion beyond what just geographic proximity in the form of metropolitan collocation or shorter within-region distances can explain. An identification methodology comparing inventor-added and examiner-added citation patterns points to an even stronger role of political borders. The puzzling state border effect remains robust on average across analyses, though it is found to have waned with time. The country effect has, in contrast, not only remained robust but even strengthened over time. This paper was accepted by Kamalini Ramdas, entrepreneurship and innovation.