bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Speech–language therapists’ process of including significant others in aphasia rehabilitation
Authors: Hallé Marie‐Christine , Le Dorze Guylaine , Mingant Anne 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlthough aphasia rehabilitation should include significant others, it is currently unknown how this recommendation is adopted in speech–language therapy practice. Speech–language therapists’ (SLTs) experience of including significant others in aphasia rehabilitation is also understudied, yet a better understanding of clinical reality would be necessary to facilitate implementation of best evidence pertaining to family interventions.AimsTo explore the process through which SLTs work with significant others of people with aphasia in rehabilitation settings.Methods & ProceduresIndividual semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight SLTs who had been working with persons with aphasia in rehabilitation centres for at least 1 year. Grounded theory principles were applied in analysing interview transcripts.Outcomes & ResultsA theoretical model was developed representing SLTs’ process of working with significant others of persons with aphasia in rehabilitation. Including significant others was perceived as challenging, yet a bonus to their fundamental patient‐centred approach. Basic interventions with significant others when they were available included information sharing. If necessary, significant others were referred to social workers or psychologists or the participants collaborated with those professionals. Participants rarely and only under specific conditions provided significant others with language exercises or trained them to communicate better with the aphasic person. As a result, even if participants felt satisfied with their efforts to offer family and friends interventions, they also had unachieved ideals, such as having more frequent contacts with significant others.Conclusions & ImplicationsIf SLTs perceived work with significant others as a feasible necessity, rather than as a challenging bonus, they could be more inclined to include family and friends within therapy with the aim to improve their communication with the person with aphasia. SLTs could also be more satisfied with their practice. In order to operate these changes in perceptions, we suggest that SLT curriculums include in‐depth training about family intervention, a redefinition of the concept of patient, and exploration of SLTs’ beliefs and emotions related to significant others.
Global phylogeography of pelagic Polynucleobacter bacteria: Restricted geographic distribution of subgroups, isolation by distance and influence of climate
Authors: Hahn Martin W. , Koll Ulrike , Jezberová Jitka , Camacho Antonio 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe free‐living planktonic freshwater bacterium Polynucleobacter necessarius subspecies asymbioticus (> 99% 16S rRNA similarity) represents a taxon with a cosmopolitan distribution and apparently ubiquitous occurrence in lentic freshwater habitats. We tested for intra‐taxon biogeographic patterns by combining cultivation‐independent and cultivation methods. A culture collection of 204 strains isolated from globally distributed freshwater habitats (Arctic to Antarctica) was investigated for phylogeographic patterns based on sequences of two markers, the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacers and the glutamine synthetase gene (glnA). Genetic distance between isolates showed significant geographic distance‐decay patterns for both markers, suggesting that an isolation‐by‐distance mechanism influences the global phylogeography. Furthermore, a couple of subgroups showed restricted geographic distributions. Strains of one subgroup were exclusively obtained from tropical sites on four continents (pantropical subgroup). Cultivation‐independent methods were used to confirm the restricted geographic distributions of two subgroups. The pantropical taxon could be detected in 63% of investigated tropical habitats but not in any of 121 European freshwater samples. Physiological tests indicated that almost all strains of the pantropical subgroup failed to grow at temperatures of 4°C, while strains affiliated with other subgroups showed good growth at this temperature. This suggests that thermal adaptation is involved in phylogeographic structuring of the global Polynucleobacter population.
A single exposure to a sublethal pediocin concentration initiates a resistance‐associated temporal cell envelope and general stress response in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Laursen Martin F. , Bahl Martin I. , Licht Tine R. , Gram Lone , Knudsen Gitte M. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryListeria monocytogenes can cause the potentially fatal food‐borne disease listeriosis, and the use of bacteriocin‐producing lactic acid bacteria to control L. monocytogenes holds great promise. However, the development of bacteriocin resistance is a potential challenge, and the purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to sublethal concentrations of pediocin‐containing Lactobacillus plantarum WHE 92 supernatant could prime L. monocytogenes for resistance. By transcriptomic analysis, we found two, 55 and 539 genes differentially expressed after 10, 60 and 180 min of exposure to L. plantarum WHE 92 supernatant as compared with control exposures. We observed temporal expression changes in genes regulated by the two component system LisRK and the alternative sigma factors SigB and SigL. Additionally, several genes involved in bacteriocin resistance were induced. ΔlisR, ΔsigB and ΔsigL mutants were all more resistant than wild types to L. plantarum WHE 92 supernatant. Conclusively, LisRK, SigB and SigL regulation and genes associated with resistance are involved in the temporal adaptive response to pediocin, and all three regulatory systems affect pediocin resistance. Thus, a single exposure to a sublethal pediocin concentration initiates a response pointing to resistance, and indicates that further research exploring the link between adaptive responses and resistance is needed.
Outer membrane vesicles are vehicles for the delivery ofVibrio tasmaniensisvirulence factors to oyster immune cells
Authors: Vanhove Audrey Sophie , Duperthuy Marylise , Charrière Guillaume M. , Le Roux Frédérique , Goudenège David , Gourbal Benjamin , Kieffer‐Jaquinod Sylvie , Couté Yohann , Wai Sun Nyunt , Destoumieux‐Garzón Delphine 
Published: June 2014

SummaryVibrio tasmaniensis LGP32, a facultative intracellular pathogen of oyster haemocytes, was shown here to release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) both in the extracellular milieu and inside haemocytes. Intracellular release ofOMVs occurred inside phagosomes of intact haemocytes having phagocytosed few vibrios as well as in damaged haemocytes containing large vacuoles heavily loaded withLGP32. TheOMVproteome ofLGP32 was shown to be rich in hydrolases (25%) including potential virulence factors such as proteases, lipases, phospholipases, haemolysins and nucleases. One major caseinase/gelatinase namedVsp for vesicular serine protease was found to be specifically secreted throughOMVs in which it is enclosed.Vsp was shown to participate in the virulence phenotype ofLGP32 in oyster experimental infections. Finally,OMVs were highly protective against antimicrobial peptides, increasing the minimal inhibitory concentration of polymyxinBby 16‐fold. Protection was conferred byOMVtitration of polymyxinBbut did not depend on the activity ofVsp or anotherOMV‐associated protease. Altogether, our results show thatOMVs contribute to the pathogenesis ofLGP32, being able to deliver virulence factors to host immune cells and conferring protection against antimicrobial peptides.
In vivo role of checkpoint kinase 2 in signaling telomere dysfunction
Authors: García‐Beccaria María , Martínez Paula , Flores Juana M. , Blasco Maria A. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryCheckpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) is a downstream effector of the DNA damage response (DDR). Dysfunctional telomeres, either owing to critical shortening or disruption of the shelterin complex, activate a DDR, which eventually results in cell cycle arrest, senescence and/or apoptosis. Successive generations of telomerase‐deficient (Terc) mice show accelerated aging and shorter lifespan due to tissue atrophy and impaired organ regeneration associated to progressive telomere shortening. In contrast, mice deficient for the shelterin component TRF1 in stratified epithelia show a rapid and massive induction of DDR, leading to perinatal lethality and severe skin defects. In both mouse models, p53 deficiency can rescue survival. Here, we set to address the role of CHK2 in signaling telomere dysfunction in both mouse models. To this end, we generated mice doubly deficient for Chk2 and either Terc (Chk2−/− Terc−/−) or Trf1 (Trf1Δ/Δ K5Cre Chk2−/−). We show that Chk2 deletion improves Terc‐associated phenotypes, including lifespan and age‐associated pathologies. Similarly, Chk2 deficiency partially rescues perinatal mortality and attenuates degenerative pathologies of Trf1Δ/Δ K5Cre mice. In both cases, we show that the effects are mediated by a significant attenuation of p53/p21 signaling pathway. Our results represent the first demonstration of a role for CHK2 in the in vivo signaling of dysfunctional telomeres.
The PAG Crowd: A Graph Based Approach for Efficient Data‐Driven Crowd Simulation
Authors: Charalambous P. , Chrysanthou Y. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe present a data‐driven method for the real‐time synthesis of believable steering behaviours for virtual crowds. The proposed method interlinks the input examples into a structure we call the perception‐action graph (PAG) which can be used at run‐time to efficiently synthesize believable virtual crowds. A virtual character's state is encoded using a temporal representation, the Temporal Perception Pattern (TPP). The graph nodes store groups of similar TPPs whereas edges connecting the nodes store actions (trajectories) that were partially responsible for the transformation between the TPPs. The proposed method is being tested on various scenarios using different input data and compared against a nearest neighbours approach which is commonly employed in other data‐driven crowd simulation systems. The results show up to an order of magnitude speed‐up with similar or better simulation quality.
Healing at mandibular block‐grafted sites. An experimental study in dogs
Authors: De Santis Enzo , Lang Niklaus P. , Favero Giovanni , Beolchini Marco , Morelli Fabrizio , Botticelli Daniele 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the healing of autologous bone block grafts or deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) block grafts applied concomitantly with collagen membranes for horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation.Material and methodsIn six Labrador dogs, molars were extracted bilaterally, the buccal bony wall was removed, and a buccal box‐shaped defect created. After 3 months, a bony block graft was harvested from the right ascending ramus of the mandible and reduced to a standardized size. ADBBMblock was tailored to similar dimensions. The two blocks were secured with screws onto the buccal wall of the defects in the right and left sides of the mandible, respectively. Resorbable membranes were applied at both sides, and the flaps sutured. After 3 months, one implant was installed in each side of the mandible, in the interface between grafts and parent bone. After 3 months, biopsies were harvested and ground sections prepared to reveal a 6‐month healing period of the grafts.Results77 ± 6.2% and 5.9 ± 7.5% of vital mineralized bone were found at the autologous bone andDBBMblock graft sites, respectively. Moreover, at theDBBMsite, 63 ± 11.7% of connective tissue and 31 ± 15.5% ofDBBMoccupied the area analyzed. Only 0.2 ± 0.4% ofDBBMwas found in contact with newly formed bone. The horizontal loss was in a mean range of 0.9–1.8 mm, and 0.3–0.8 mm, at the autologous bone andDBBMblock graft sites, respectively.ConclusionsAutologous bone grafts were vital and integrated to the parent bone after 6 months of healing. In contrast,DBBMgrafts were embedded into connective tissue, and only a limited amount of bone was found inside the scaffold of the biomaterial.
A 40‐year, continent‐wide, multispecies assessment of relevant climate predictors for species distribution modelling
Authors: Barbet‐Massin Morgane , Jetz Walter 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimSpecies distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly used to address numerous questions in ecology, biogeography, conservation biology and evolution. Surprisingly, the crucial step of selecting the most relevant variables has received little attention, despite its direct implications for model transferability and uncertainty. Here, we aim to address this with a continent‐wide, evaluation of which climate predictors provided the most accurate SDMs for bird distributions.LocationConterminous United States.MethodsFor 243 species, we used yearly data since 1971 (from the North American Breeding Bird Survey) to run SDMs (six different algorithms) with combinations of six relatively uncorrelated climate predictors (selected from 22 widely used climate variables). We then estimated the importance of each predictor – both spatially and over a 40‐year time period – by comparing the accuracy of the model obtained with or without a given predictor.ResultsThree temperature‐related variables (annual potential evapotranspiration, mean annual temperature and growing degree days) produced significantly more accurate SDMs than any other predictors. Among precipitation predictors, annual precipitation provided the most accurate results. Albeit only rarely used in SDMs, the moisture index performed similarly strongly. Interestingly, predictors that summarize average annual climate produced more accurate distributions than seasonal predictors, despite distinct seasonal movements in most species considered. Encouragingly, spatial and temporal (over 40 years) evaluation of variables yielded very similar results.Main conclusionsThe approach presented here allowed us to identify the statistically most relevant predictors for birds in the USA and can be applied to other taxa and/or in different parts of the world. Appropriately selecting the most relevant predictors of species distributions at large spatial scale is vital to identifying ecologically meaningful relationships that provide the most accurate predictions under climate change or biological invasions.
Self‐awareness of foot health status in patients with Type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II
Authors: Baba M. , Foley L. , Davis W. A. , Davis T. M. E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimsTo determine self‐awareness of diabetes‐related foot problems and its associates in a community‐based cohort of people with Type 2 diabetes.MethodsA survey concerning diabetic foot problems was administered to 358 consecutive patients with Type 2 diabetes [mean ± sd age 67.4 ± 10.8 years, 56.1% males, median (interquartile range) diabetes duration 9.0 (3.9–16.8) years] attending for detailed clinical, biochemical and questionnaire assessment as part of the longitudinal observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.ResultsCompared with the 213 patients (59.5%) who considered their feet to be normal, the 145 (40.5%) who considered their feet to be abnormal were older, had longer diabetes duration and were more likely to have sensory neuropathic symptoms and self‐reported poor circulation (P < 0.001). In those who considered their feet to be normal, 67.9% had peripheral sensory neuropathy (score >2/8 on the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument clinical portion), 9.9% had an ankle‐brachial index < 0.9, 6.1% had both peripheral sensory neuropathy and an ankle‐brachial index < 0.90, and 86.9% had one or more features on inspection, such as deformity, dry skin, callus and fissures that could facilitate more serious complications, despite the majority having had at least one foot examination by a healthcare professional in the previous year.ConclusionsSelf‐assessment of diabetes‐related foot problems by patients in the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II was unreliable. The present data suggest that self‐perceived foot health should be assessed together with foot examination findings. Intensive education and monitoring may be necessary in those who consider their feet to be normal but who have neurovascular, structural and/or other precursors of serious foot pathology.
Influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on neonatal weight outcome in twin pregnancies
Authors: Guillén M. A. , Herranz L. , Barquiel B. , Hillman N. , Burgos M. A. , Pallardo L. F. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on neonatal birthweight, macrosomia and weight discrepancy in twin neonates.MethodsAn observational retrospective study was performed. One hundred and six women with gestational diabetes and twin pregnancy and 166 twin controls who delivered viable fetuses > 24 weeks were included. Impact of maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI, smoking habit, method of conception, chorionicity, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery and hypertensive complications were also analysed. The effect of maternal hyperglycaemia and metabolic control in gestational diabetes pregnancies was assessed.ResultsGestational hypertension and pre‐eclampsia were significantly higher in the group with gestational diabetes (21.5% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.007 and 6.2% vs. 0%, P = 0.025). There were no differences in the incidence of macrosomia (5.7% vs. 7.2%, P = 0.803), large for gestational age (10.3% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.570), small for gestational age (10.3% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.701), severely small for gestational age (6.6% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.814) or weight discrepancy (20.6% vs. 15.2%, P = 0.320) in the group with gestational diabetes compared with twin pregnancies without diabetes. There were no differences when comparing insulin‐requiring gestational diabetes pregnancies and twins without diabetes for any of the neonatal weight outcomes. There was no relationship between third trimester HbA1c and neonatal birthweight or infant birthweight ratio.ConclusionGestational diabetes did not increase the risk of macrosomia or weight discrepancy of twin newborns. Furthermore, glycaemic control did not influence the rate of any of the weight outcomes in our study population. In twin pregnancies, gestational diabetes was associated with a higher risk of gestational hypertension and pre‐eclampsia.
Greater fear of hypoglycaemia with premixed insulin than with basal‐bolus insulin glargine and glulisine: patient‐reported outcomes from a 60‐week randomised study
Authors: Polonsky W. H. , Thompson S. , Wei W. , Riddle M. C. , Chaudhari S. , Jackson J. , Bruno A. S. 
Published: June 2014

AimTo assess the effect of initiating insulin treatment on quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the 60‐week All‐to‐Target trial (NCT00384085).MethodsPatient‐reported outcomes from a phase IV, multicentre, randomised, open‐label, parallel‐group study were analysed. Participants were randomised to: insulin glargine with up to one insulin glulisine injection (G + 1); insulin glargine with stepwise addition of up to three insulin glulisine injections (G + 3); or twice‐daily premixed 70/30 insulin protamine‐aspart/aspart (PM‐2). Patient‐reported outcome questionnaires were administered at weeks 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60.ResultsThere were no between‐group differences in the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness State–Self Report (PAIS‐SR) or in the EuroQoL Group Five‐Dimension Self‐Report Index Questionnaire (EQ‐5D) from baseline to week 60; however, PAIS–SR scores improved significantly over this period in the G + 3 group (p = 0.0016) and EQ‐5D scores worsened significantly in the PM‐2 group (p = 0.02). Hypoglycemia Fear Survey Behaviour and Worry subscales worsened significantly for all groups, with greater deterioration being observed in the PM‐2 group than in the G + 1 group (Behaviour, p = 0.0050; Worry, p = 0.0017) and G + 3 groups (Behaviour, p = 0.0105; Worry, p = 0.0016). Total scores on the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQoL) questionnaire improved more in the G + 3 group than in the PM‐2 group over the study period (p = 0.0284), with all groups showing a significant improvement in DQoL score over time.ConclusionInsulin glargine‐based regimens showed advantages over premixed insulin in a number of patient‐reported outcome measures. The potential impact on fear of hypoglycaemia may be of particular relevance when addressing the major barriers to early insulin treatment.
Evaluation of the insulin‐releasing and glucose‐lowering effects of GPR120 activation in pancreatic β‐cells
Authors: Moran B. M. , Abdel‐Wahab Y. H. A. , Flatt P. R. , McKillop A. M. 
Published: June 2014

AimsTo assess the potency and selectivity of various GPR120 agonists and to determine the cellular localization of GPR120 in clonal β‐cells and pancreatic islets.MethodsInsulin secretion and alterations in intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP response to glucose and GPR120 agonists, including endogenous agonists α‐linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and a synthetic analogue (GW‐9508), were examined using clonal pancreatic BRIN‐BD11 cells, mouse pancreatic islets and in vivo studies using NIH Swiss mice. Cytotoxicity was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase release. Cellular localization of GPR120 was explored by double‐staining immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe most potent and selective GPR120 agonist tested was ALA (half maximum effective concentration 1.2 × 10−8 mol/l) with a maximum stimulation of insulin secretion of 53% at 10−4 mol/l (p < 0.001) in BRIN‐BD11 cells. Stimulation of insulin secretion was also observed with GW‐9508 (6.4 × 10−8 mol/l; 47%), EPA (7.9 × 10−8 mol/l; 36%) and DHA (1.0 × 10−7 mol/l; 50%). Results were corroborated by islet studies, with no evidence of cytotoxic effects. Dose‐dependent insulin secretion by GPR120 agonists was glucose‐sensitive and accompanied by significant elevations of intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP. Immunocytochemistry showed GPR120 expression on BRIN‐BD11 cells and was confined to islet β‐cells with no distribution on α‐cells. Administration of GPR120 agonists (0.1 µmol/kg body weight) in glucose tolerance studies significantly reduced plasma glucose and augmented insulin release in mice.ConclusionsThese results indicate that GPR120 is expressed on pancreatic β‐cells and that agonists at this receptor are potent insulin secretagogues with therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes.
Do House Prices Affect Consumption? A Re‐assessment of the Wealth Hypothesis
Authors: Cristini Annalisa , Sevilla Almudena 
Published: June 2014

This paper revives the debate in the literature about the relationship between house prices and consumption by exploring conflicting results in the UK. Campbell and Cocco () find that old owners benefit most from a house price increase and young renters least, confirming the so‐called wealth hypothesis. In contrast, Attanasio et al. () find that house prices have the same impact on consumption across age groups. We rule out several potential explanations related to data construction, and provide evidence that the functional form can reconcile the conflicting results in the two papers.