bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Working for a Better Life: Longitudinal Evidence on the Predictors of Employment Among Recently Arrived Refugee Migrant Men Living in Australia
Authors: Correa‐Velez Ignacio , Barnett Adrian G. , Gifford Sandra 
Published: May 2013

AbstractAlthough a number of studies have investigated the predictors of employment among refugee migrants, there is a dearth of evidence from longitudinal data. This study investigated the cross‐sectional and longitudinal predictors of employment among 233 adult refugee men living in South‐East Queensland, Australia. Participants were interviewed four times at six‐month intervals between 2008 and 2010. Using a conceptual model developed from the literature, Generalized Estimating Equations were used to model the predictors of employment. Over time, the employment rate increased from 44 per cent to 56 per cent. Region of birth, length of time in Australia, seeking employment through job service providers and informal networks, and owning a car were significant predictors of employment. Contrary to previous research, English language proficiency was not a significant predictor when other variables were controlled for. Recognition of overseas skills and qualifications decreased the chances of finding employment. The policy and programme implications are discussed.
Policy Implications

Recognition of refugee migrants' overseas‐gained skills and qualifications does not guarantee them securing employment.

Recognition of overseas skills and qualifications should be accompanied by educating employers, especially those outside the traditional migrant employment ‘niches’, about the resources and capabilities of refugee migrants, and the value of their qualifications.

Fostering programmes that target the needs of job seekers from refugee backgrounds could enhance their employment outcomes.

Supporting refugee migrants getting their drivers' licence and establishing favourable loan programmes that enable refugee migrants to buy a car can have a positive impact on their workforce participation.
Dimensional analysis of burden in family caregivers of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Torres Albina Rodrigues , Hoff Natália Travenisk , Padovani Carlos Roberto , Ramos‐Cerqueira Ana Teresa de Abreu 
Published: May 2013

Aims:  Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) also generates emotional burden in the patient's family members, but no study has evaluated the specific dimensions of burden. The objectives were to evaluate the dimensions of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and possible correlates.Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional study involving 47 patients and 47 caregivers, using a sociodemographic questionnaire; the ZBI; the Self Reporting Questionnaire; the Family Accommodation Scale; and the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale. The ZBI factor analysis was conducted using Varimax Rotation.Results:  Six factors were identified, explaining 74.2% of the total variance: factor 1, interference in the caregiver's personal life (36.6% of the variance); factor 2, perception of patient's dependence (10.8%); factor 3, feelings of irritation or intolerance (9.2%); factor 4, guilt (7.2%); factor 5, insecurity (5.6%); and factor 6, embarrassment (4.8%). The six ZBI factors were associated with greater OCD severity and with greater accommodation to the patient's symptoms, and factors 1, 2, 5 and 6 with caregiver's psychological morbidity. Caregiver's sex (female) was associated with factors 5 and 6, relationship with the patient (being a parent or son/daughter) with factor 5, higher educational level with factor 6, living with the patient with factor 3, worse self‐evaluation of health with factors 1, 5 and 6, and occupational status (not working) with factors 1, 2, 5 and 6.Conclusion:  The dimensions of burden identified indicate the most affected aspects of a caregiver's life and could guide the planning of more specific interventions. Thus, the caregiver could participate more effectively in the OCD patient's treatment, with a lower impact on his/her life.
Sex differences in risk factors for suicidality among Japanese substance use disorder patients: Association with age, types of abused substances, and depression
Authors: Matsumoto Toshihiko , Matsushita Sachio , Okudaira Kenichi , Naruse Nobuya , Cho Tetsuji , Muto Takeo , Ashizawa Takeshi , Konuma Kyohei , Morita Nobuaki , Ino Aro 
Published: May 2013

Aim:  The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for suicide in Japanese substance use disorder (SUD) patients, adjusting for age and sex, and to examine sex differences in suicide risk among these patients.Methods:  A self‐reporting questionnaire on age, sex, types of abused substances, current depression, and suicidality was administered to 1420 SUD patients who consecutively visited seven hospitals specializing in SUD treatment during the month of December 2009. Unadjusted/adjusted odds ratios of factors associated with suicidality were calculated for each sex.Results:  The multivariate analysis using the total sample identified younger age, female sex, and current depression as risk factors for severe suicidality in SUD patients. The multivariate analysis by each sex demonstrated that younger age and current depression were associated with severe suicidality in male SUD patients. Only current depression was associated with severe suicidality in female patients.Conclusion:  Current depression is a risk factor for suicide in SUD patients common in both Western countries and Japan, although in Japanese SUD patients both younger age and female sex were more closely associated with severe suicidality than aspects of SUD. Additionally, young male SUD patients are speculated to have psychosocial features associated with suicidality in common with female SUD patients.
Global biogeography of autotroph chemistry: is insolation a driving force?
Authors: Borer Elizabeth T. , Bracken Matthew E. S. , Seabloom Eric W. , Smith Jennifer E. , Cebrian Just , Cleland Elsa E. , Elser James J. , Fagan William F. , Gruner Daniel S. , Harpole W. Stanley , Hillebrand Helmut , Kerkhoff Andrew J. , Ngai Jacqueline T. 
Published: May 2013

SynthesisThe tissue chemistry of plants can influence ecosystem processes including growth, herbivory, and decomposition. Our comparison of nitrogen and phosphorus in over 1700 autotroph taxa demonstrates that latitudinal trends in tissue chemistry are consistent across non‐vascular and vascular species in freshwater, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. Tissue chemistry varies most within species and taxonomic lineages, yet the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio within individuals is strikingly similar among species in different ecosystems. These results shed new light on existing hypotheses, suggesting that light (e.g. photon flux) and growing season duration are primary drivers of latitudinal gradients in tissue chemistry, but providing little support for temperature, nutrient supply, or soil substrate age.Photoautotroph nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) tissue concentrations can influence ecosystem function via processes including growth, decomposition, and consumption, and may reflect traits maintaining coexistence. Studies in terrestrial systems have led to hypotheses that latitudinal trends in the N and P content of leaves may be driven by soil substrate age, environmental temperature, or season length; however, terrestrial patterns alone cannot differentiate these mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that broad geographical patterns of N and P in freshwater and marine multicellular photoautotrophs are concordant with those in terrestrial ecosystems. Our > 6800 record database reveals that mean tissue N and P increase with latitude in all ecosystems, but P increases more rapidly, causing N:P to decline; mean N:P scaling within individuals also is identical among systems, despite very different evolutionary environments. A partitioning of the variance in these data suggests that species composition and local environmental context likely lead to the variation observed within a latitudinal band. However, the consistency of trends in photosynthetic tissue chemistry across Earth’s ecosystems suggests that biogeographical gradients in insolation and growing season length may constrain tissue N and P, whereas global trends in temperature, nutrient supply, and soil substrate age are unlikely to generate the consistent latitudinal trends among ecosystems. Thus, this cross‐ecosystem comparison suggests a new hypothesis, global patterns of insolation, while also providing a new perspective on other mechanisms that have been hypothesized to underlie latitudinal trends in photosynthetic tissue chemistry.
Seminar in Reproductive Immunology: Sequential Activation of V Genes During Postnatal Life
Authors: BONA CONSTANTIN A. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: The BALB/c mouse strain represents an excellent model for studying the activation of V genes, because several myeloma proteins share the cross‐reactive idiotype with antipolysaccharide antibodies of the same antigenic specificity. In addition, the majority of these antipolysaccharide antibody responses are independent of T help and, therefore, the maturation of helper T cells does not play a role in the study of these responses.Our results, as well as those obtained by other investigators, have shown that immunization of 1‐day‐old mice elicits an anti‐β2—6 fructosan, 384Id anti‐S tranaroa LPS, and X24IdX and X24IdI antigalactan response. T15Id+ phosphocholine, IdX+ anti‐Ars, and 460Id+ anti‐TNP (in response to immunization with TNP‐LPS and TNP‐Levan) antibody responses can be induced only in 6‐to 8‐day‐old mice. One can obtain 2.4 SSSIII Id+ of anti‐SSSIII and 347Id+ antiflagellin antibody responses only in 2‐week‐old mice. In 4‐week‐old mice IdX+ anti‐β2‐>1 fructosan was elicited, and QPC52IdX+ anti‐α1‐6 dextran in 3‐month‐old mice. These observations suggest a sequential activation of V genes during postnatal life. The theoretical and practical implications of these observations are discussed.
Antibodies Against Cultured Human Fibroblasts During Pregnancy
Authors: Vanderbeeken Y. , Duchateau J. , Delespesse G. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Some normal human sera contain cytotoxic antibodies reacting with an antigen expressed on cultured human fibroblasts and on tissues from fetuses less than three months old. We show that the cytotoxic activity is complement‐dependent and mediated by both IgG and IgM antibodies; furthermore, the cytotoxic activity of positive sera of various origins is inhibited by fragments of normal IgG, demonstrating a competition for the same antigen. This antigen is not expressed on freshly prepared fibroblasts and is not related to HLA.We have tested 96 sera from women at various stages of pregnancy, eight cord blood sera, and 24 control sera for the presence of antifibroblast antibodies (AFA). The results show a progressive and significant increase in the frequency of AFA‐positive sera in the second and last trimester of pregnancy. A working hypothesis on the significance of this finding is presented.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen as a Monitor in Breast Cancer
Authors: CILLARI ENRICO , BELLAVIA ANGELO , ROMANO GIUSEPPINA COLONNA , DI GESU GIUSEPPE , PALMERI SERGIO , NORATO ARCANGELO , SALERNO ALFREDO , VOTI PIETRO LI 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were serially determined in 125 patients with breast cancer in order to study the diagnostic and prognostic use of serum CEA levels before and/or after surgery and during treatment with hormonal and chemotherapy. Serum CEA levels were elevated in 15.5% of nonmetastatic patients. Carcinoembryonic antigen increased according to stage (TNM classification); and a direct relationship between positive CEA levels and subsequent recurrence was found. After a three‐year postoperative interval a 50% survival rate was exhibited in CEA‐positive patients vs an 88% survival rate in those patients found to be CEA negative.There is a definite correlation between the trend of serial CEA values and the response to therapy and the development of metastases despite the fact that metastases occurred in CEA‐negative patients.Therefore CEA assay is a useful and simple adjuvant test of monitoring metastatic and nonmetastatic breast cancer.
Antibody Transfer Mechanisms From Mother to Fetus Across Rat Yolk Sac Endoderm*
Authors: LALIBERTÉ F. , MUCCHIELLI A. , AYRAUD N. , MASSEYEFF R. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: The rat yolk sac, like the human placenta, has been shown to be the transport route of passive immunity from mother to fetus. Different hypotheses deal with the transfer mechanisms of antibodies.To investigate this mechanism, female rats were immunized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After mating, 16‐to 18‐day pregnant rats were sacrificed, yolk sac removed, and autologous anti‐HRP antibodies were detected.The IgG was detected on the apical plasma membrane, in clusters forming from this membrane, in coated vesicles, and in intercellular spaces.These structures were never implicated in experiments where monospecific anti‐HRP Fab fragments or free HRP were injected into pregnant rats before sacrifice.The sole common structures implicated in IgG, Fab fragments, and free HRP transfer, were dense reaction product‐filled vesicles. From the comparison of these experiments, a selective uptake and transport system functioning alongside a nonselective system was hypothesized. The IgG transfer from mother to fetus could be a result of this specific mechanism.
Effect of Anti‐HCG Sera on Purified Syncytiotrophoblast From Full‐Term Human Placenta
Authors: PAUL SUDHIR , JAILKHANI BANSI L. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Heterologous anti‐HCG and anti‐β‐HCG sera failed to effect complement‐dependent lysis of purified 51chromium‐labeled syncytiotrophoblast in vitro. The progesterone synthetic activity of syncytiotrophoblast was also preserved in the presence of the anti‐HCG sera. Binding of the anti‐HCG antibodies to the syncytiotrophoblast was demonstrated in an immunofluorescence test. The potential of the anti‐HCG sera to participate in complement‐dependent lysis of other HCG‐bearing cell types was revealed using BeWo cells as the targets; 53%‐68% of the latter were killed by exposure to anti‐HCG sera and complement.The possible mechanism(s) whereby syncytiotrophoblast resists damage by the anti‐HCG sera are considered.
Zona Pellucida Antibodies in a Group of Women With Idiopathic Infertility*
Authors: BOUSQUET D. , ST‐JACQUES S. , ROBERTS K.D. , CHAPDELAINE A. , BLEAU G. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: The presence of zona pellucida antibodies was sought in a group of ten women with infertility of unknown cause. The reaction of these sera with ova was compared to the reaction obtained with a control antizona pellucida serum produced by the immunization of a rabbit with 8,000 solubilized hamster zonae pellucidae. This antiserum reached a maximum titer of 1 in 256 as measured by an immunoprecipitation assay and of 1 in 1,024 as measured by indirect immunofluorescence. It is tissue‐specific but is not species‐specific.With the indirect immunofluorescence technique on ova obtained from different species, the sera of eight of the ten patients gave a positive reaction with at least one type of test ova: three patients gave a positive reaction with hamster ova, six with porcine ova, and two with monkey ova. One infertile woman presented a positive reaction on hamster ova and another on pig ova as detected with all three types of γ‐globulins. Two other patients presented a positive reaction with the anti‐IgG and ‐IgM on porcine ova. The titer of the reaction never rose above one in four in any of the positive cases.Adsorption of the sera with fresh erythrocytes from human, hamster, and porcine blood did not change the titer or the intensity of the fluorescent reaction on ova. This indicates that the positive reactions are not due to nonspecific heteroagglutinins. Adsorption of the sera with formalin‐fixed erythrocytes from human and porcine blood completely abolished the fluorescent reaction. However, the latter treatment, applied to a dihydrotestosterone antiserum and a β‐hCG antiserum also greatly diminished the binding of hormones to these antisera; fresh erythrocytes did not adsorb the antibodies in these two antisera. This demonstrates that formalin‐fixed erythrocytes are not suited for adsorption of sera before testing for specific autoantibodies to the zona pellucida in infertile women.None of the sera from the infertile women gave a positive reaction with human pre‐ovulatory or post‐ovulatory ova or with frozen sections of human ovary. None of the sera produced an inhibition of in vitro fertilization of hamster ova. On the contrary, the control zona pellucida antiserum completely blocked in vitro fertilization. Furthermore, in a group of pregnant women, 2 of 11 exhibited a positive reaction with hamster ova while 6 of 28 showed a positive reaction with porcine ova.These results suggest the presence of low titer zona pellucida antibodies in 8 of the 10 infertile women. The importance of these antibodies in their infertility remains to be established.
Respective Roles and Interactions of T Lymphocyte and PGE2‐Mediated Monocyte Suppressive Activities in Human Newborns and Mothers at the Time of Delivery
Authors: DURANDY A. , FISCHER A. , MAMAS S. , DRAY F. , GRISCELLI C. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Recently the concept of a poorly functional humoral immune response in the newborn was proposed. Data have been presented indicating that the impaired newborn B cell maturation, as shown in vitro in a pokeweed mitogen‐induced B cell maturation system, is due both to an immaturity of lymphocyte subsets and to an increased suppressive T activity. In the present work, we present evidence that there exists a predominance of a naturally occurring T lymphocyte suppressive activity in the cord blood in that the removal of the suppressive activity by irradiation allows a normal maturation of newborn B cells. Such normal maturation of newborn B cells can also be obtained using mixed cultures of adult T cells and newborn B cells. Newborn suppressor T cells belong to both EAγ(+) and EAγ(—) fractions, and it is not known whether these two groups do or do not belong to different subsets. The PGE2‐dependent monocyte suppressive activity does not play any role in the suppression observed in newborns since newborn monocytes are poorly suppressive and since they produce a smaller amount of PGE2 than adult monocytes. Some observations suggest, on the contrary, that the suppressive T lymphocytes can regulate the level of the PGE2‐dependent monocyte suppressive activity.It should be noticed that similar observations about T lymphocyte and PGE2‐dependent monocyte suppressive activities have been made at the same time using mothers' cells. These observations suggest the possibility that such changes in B cell immune regulation may result from an interaction between maternal and fetal lymphoid cells.
Influence of Spermatozoal Antibodies in the Reproduction of Mice*
Authors: SEKI M. , METTLER L. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Under in vitro and in vivo conditions, the influence of spermatozoal antibodies on isolated gametes and early embryonic stages up to implantation and into postimplantation fetal development was tested.In the in vitro experiment, a clear‐cut correlation between the amount of antisera added and the reduction of fertilization rates was observed. In the in vivo experiments, female mice were immunized with homologous washed sperms. A correlation between the amount of immunization and the reduction of fertilization rate occurred. In the sperm‐immunized female group, the percentage of large blastocysts showed statistically significant reduction in correlation to the amount of immunization.Spermatozoal antibodies had an effect on isolated gametes, on fertilization, and on the early development of the embryo as well as on implantation.No influence of sperm antibodies either in low or high titer sperm antisera on developmental stages occurred. No spermatozoal antibody‐induced abortions occurred. However, an influence of high titer antisera on implantation was evident.
Specific Suppression of Humoral and Delayed Hypersensitivity Responses by Cyclophosphamide in an Experimental Model of Autoimmunity
Authors: RIERA CLELIA M. , GALMARINI MIRIAN , SERRA HORACIO M. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: The aim of this report is to investigate the effect of cyclophosphamide (CY) in an experimental model of autoimmunity to rat male accessory glands. The results indicated that 100 mg/kg of this drug suppressed humoral immune response that persisted for at least 45 days when administered 3 days after the first immunization of rats with modified rat male accessory glands (MRAG) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Administration of the drug 3 days before ID injection of antigen caused a shorter suppression of antibody formation. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) studied 13 days after the first immunization was suppressed only in the animals that were administered CY after the antigen.The specificity of the immunosuppression was studied in rats treated with CY after the first immunization with MRAG using aggregated human γ‐globulin (AHGG) as an unrelated antigen. The studies demonstrated significant suppression of DTH (p < 0.005) and humoral immunity only against MRAG. On the contrary, the response to AHGG was not significantly modified.
Transient Immunologic Effects of Betamethasone in Human Pregnancy After Suppression of Preterm Labor
Authors: HENSLEIGH PAUL A. , HERZENBERG LEONARD A. , LIPMAN SUSAN H. , MALVEHY ROMAN M. , MEDEARIS ARNOLD L. , MOORE MAXINE H. , SUTHERLAND KATHERINE K. , WATERS VIRGINIA BRYAN 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACT: Maternal immune suppression is a potentially significant adverse effect when betamethasone is used to hasten lung maturation of the fetus at risk for preterm delivery. However, increased incidence of infection has not been observed consistently after betamethasone treatment of pregnant women. This study was designed to determine if the cellular immune response to steroids may be modified during pregnancy in a way that would diminish the infection risk associated with steroid treatment.The effect of betamethasone on immunocytes among patients with preterm labor or in nonpregnant subjects were determined following administration of 12 mg of betamethasone intramuscularly. We measured serially the circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and their subsets. Measurements were also made of localized leukocyte mobilization to serum‐filled skin chambers covering experimental inflammatory sites. Patients in preterm labor had increased WBC counts prior to treatment with betamethasone but no additional leukocytosis was induced nor was mobilization of leukocytes to the skin chambers decreased. Lymphopenia and depression of T cells was more transient among pregnant patients compared to nonpregnant. Thus, the pregnant patients studied had diminished or more transient potentially adverse immunocyte responses to betamethasone as compared to nonpregnant subjects.