bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive deficits of executive functions and decision‐making in obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Authors: Dittrich Winand H. , Johansen Thomas 
Published: July 2013

The nature of cognitive deficits in obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by contradictory findings in terms of specific neuropsychological deficits. Selective impairments have been suggested to involve visuospatial memory, set shifting, decision‐making and response inhibition. The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive deficits in decision‐making and executive functioning in OCD. It was hypothesized that the OCD patients would be less accurate in their responses compared to the healthy controls in rational decision‐making on a version of the Cambridge gambling task (CGT) and on the color‐word interference test and on a version of the Tower of Hanoi test (tower test) of executive functioning. Thirteen participants with OCD were compared to a group of healthy controls (n = 13) matched for age, gender, education and verbal IQ. Results revealed significant differences between the OCD group and the healthy control group on quality of decision‐making on the CGT and for achievement score on the tower test. On these two tasks the OCD group performed worse than the healthy control group. The symptom‐dimension analysis revealed performance differences where safety checking patients were impaired on the tower test compared to contamination patients. Results are discussed in the framework of cognition and emotion processing and findings implicate that OCD models should address, specifically, the interaction between cognition and emotion. Here the emotional disruption hypothesis is forwarded to account for the dysfunctional behaviors in OCD. Further implications regarding methodological and inhibitory factors affecting cognitive information processing are highlighted.
Healthy, Happy and Humane: Evidence in Farm Animal Welfare Policy
Authors: Bock Bettina , Buller Henry 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThere has been a dramatic expansion and diversification of knowledge, expertise and expectation associated with farm animal welfare and we witness its increasing adoption within legislative and policy strategies. This article examines how the understanding of what constitutes farm animal welfare and how it should be enhanced, has shifted since it first entered the modern political arena in the sixties. It explores farm animal welfare as a critical and shifting area of imbrication of ‘science’ and ‘society’ and charts this process in particularly theUKand TheNetherlands. We demonstrate how public and scientific debates about what constitutes animal welfare, what counts as evidence of animal suffering and how welfare enhancement should be encouraged, has unveiled the tensions underlying its construction as a policy problem between social and animal science, productivity and integrity, as well as production and consumption and has turned animal welfare into a matter of societal choice. The article unravels the social construction of animal welfare science and reveals its limited capability of delivering ‘facts’ or ‘evidence’ in any truly objective manner.
Agriculture ‘East of the Elbe’ and the Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: Swain Nigel 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis article explores some of the ambiguities inherent in applying a model of Western European agriculture (the model implicit within the tried and tested modalities of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)) to the very different agrarian structures of Central and Eastern Europe. It identifies first the dramatic and long‐standing differences in agrarian structures between these two European regions before considering some of the policy consequences of applying an agricultural support model based on the former to the latter as the CAP (albeit in a slightly modified form initially) was extended to the Accession States. The effect was to exacerbate what many see as perverse features of the CAP. A greater degree of reflexivity on the part of policymakers might have avoided some of these anomalies, but the research agenda of the last half century has left much relating to the CAP unexplored, including agriculture ‘east of the Elbe’.
Human platelet antigens frequencies in Maori and Polynesian populations
Authors: Edinur H. A. , Dunn P. P. J. , Lea R. A. , Chambers G. K. 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARYBackgroundAllele frequencies of human platelet antigens (HPA) reflect population history and possibility of platelet‐specific alloimmunization. Here, we report on screening of variants at HPA loci for Polynesian and Maori subjects.ObjectivesOur aims are to evaluate new HPA genotyping methods, compile and analyse new HPA datasets for these subjects, use HPA data for tracing ancestry, migration patterns, genetic admixture and its potential influence on health.Materials and MethodsA total of 75 Maori and 25 Polynesian DNA samples were genotyped using commercial BAGene HPA‐TYPE DNA‐SSP kits, BLOODchip hybridization SNP assays and DNA sequence based typing.ResultsGenotyping was successful and cross validation of PCR‐SSP and BLOODchip gave 100% agreement. Among the HPA loci tested, only six are dimorphic (HPA‐1 to ‐3, ‐5, ‐6 and ‐15) and all others are monomorphic. The Polynesians and Maori have the ‘a’ allele form as the most common for all loci except HPA‐15.ConclusionsThe newly observed HPA data as well as principal coordinate analysis clearly indicate genetic contributions from both, Asia and Australasia in Maori and Polynesian populations together with recent admixture with Europeans. In addition, different prevalences of HPA alleles among Polynesian, Maori and European populations contribute towards different risk profiles for platelet‐specific alloimmunization. This is the first report for these populations and our findings are of direct practical relevance for blood transfusion centres, the management of pregnancies, assessment of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and management of multi‐transfused patients.
Cluster‐randomised trial of the impact of school‐based deworming and iron supplementation on the cognitive abilities of schoolchildren in Sri Lanka's plantation sector
Authors: Ebenezer Roshini , Gunawardena Kithsiri , Kumarendran Balachandran , Pathmeswaran Arunasalam , Jukes Matthew C. H. , Drake Lesley J. , de Silva Nilanthi 
Published: July 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the impact of deworming and iron supplementation on the cognitive abilities and educational achievement of school‐age children in Sri Lanka.MethodsProspective, placebo‐controlled randomised study. The treatment group received deworming and weekly iron supplementation for 6 months; the control group received placebo for both the anthelmintic and iron. A mixed effects regression model was used to answer the main research question. To increase the precision of this study's estimates, various background variables were controlled for that were not related to treatment but could have some impact on the outcome.ResultsThe prevalence of soil‐transmitted helminth (STH) infection was reduced in the treatment group (n = 615), with significant differences between treatment and control groups (n = 575) in the levels of Ascaris and Trichuris. No impact was found on haemoglobin (Hb) levels, nor any significant impact on concentration levels or on educational test scores.ConclusionDecline in STH prevalence alone, in the absence of improved Hb status, produced no evidence of impact on concentration levels or educational test scores.
Performance of different Trypanosoma cruzi antigens in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis from a co‐endemic region in Argentina
Authors: Vega Benedetti A.F. , Cimino Rubén O. , Cajal Pamela S. , Juarez Marisa Del Valle , Villalpando Carlos A. , Gil José F. , Marcipar Iván S. , Krolewiecki Alejandro J. , Nasser Julio R. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the ability of recombinant antigens to detect cases of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi among cases of infection with Leishmania spp. by serological methods.MethodsSera from 41 patients infected with Leishmania spp. were evaluated with ELISA using single (FRA, CP1 and TSSAVI) or pooled (commercial Rec‐ELISA) recombinant proteins or homogenate antigens (commercial H‐ELISA). As there is no gold standard antigen to discriminate Chagas disease from leishmaniasis, the correlation of results between defined antigens and the homogenate was made with Kappa Index (KI), the level of correlation considered being used as a criterion of specificity.ResultsSingle recombinant antigens and Rec‐ELISA showed good correlation (KI > 0.8). A low correlation (KI < 0.66) was observed between the results from single recombinant antigens or the commercial recombinant kit and H‐ELISA.ConclusionsThe highly correlated results between T. cruzi single or pooled recombinant proteins are indicative of the usefulness of recombinant antigens for Chagas diagnosis. Our results also indicate that in the city of Oran in Argentina, between 12% and 17% of patients with leishmaniasis are also infected with Chagas disease. The high KI values between TSSAVI and the other recombinant proteins suggest that in these patients, the infection may be caused by T. cruzi II and/or V and/or VI lineages.
Evolution of Divergent Life History Strategies in Marine Alphaproteobacteria
Authors: Luo Haiwei , Csűros Miklós , Hughes Austin L. , Moran Mary Ann 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Marine bacteria in the
Roseobacter
and SAR11 lineages successfully exploit the ocean habitat, together accounting for ~40% of bacteria in surface waters, yet have divergent life histories that exemplify patch-adapted versus free-living ecological roles. Here, we use a phylogenetic birth-and-death model to understand how genome content supporting different life history strategies evolved in these related alphaproteobacterial taxa, showing that the streamlined genomes of free-living SAR11 were gradually downsized from a common ancestral genome only slightly larger than the extant members (~2,000 genes), while the larger and variably sized genomes of roseobacters evolved along dynamic pathways from a sizeable common ancestor (~8,000 genes). Genome changes in the SAR11 lineage occurred gradually over ~800 million years, whereas
Roseobacter
genomes underwent more substantial modifications, including major periods of expansion, over ~260 million years. The timing of the first
Roseobacter
genome expansion was coincident with the predicted radiation of modern marine eukaryotic phytoplankton of sufficient size to create nutrient-enriched microzones and is consistent with present-day ecological associations between these microbial groups. We suggest that diversification of red-lineage phytoplankton is an important driver of divergent life history strategies among the heterotrophic bacterioplankton taxa that dominate the present-day ocean.

IMPORTANCE
One-half of global primary production occurs in the oceans, and more than half of this is processed by heterotrophic bacterioplankton through the marine microbial food web. The diversity of life history strategies that characterize different bacterioplankton taxa is an important subject, since the locations and mechanisms whereby bacteria interact with seawater organic matter has effects on microbial growth rates, metabolic pathways, and growth efficiencies, and these in turn affect rates of carbon mineralization to the atmosphere and sequestration into the deep sea. Understanding the evolutionary origins of the ecological strategies that underlie biochemical interactions of bacteria with the ocean system, and which scale up to affect globally important biogeochemical processes, will improve understanding of how microbial diversity is maintained and enable useful predictions about microbial response in the future ocean.
Analysis of Activator and Repressor Functions Reveals the Requirements for Transcriptional Control by LuxR, the Master Regulator of Quorum Sensing in Vibrio harveyi
Authors: van Kessel Julia C. , Ulrich Luke E. , Zhulin Igor B. , Bassler Bonnie L. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

LuxR-type transcription factors are the master regulators of quorum sensing in vibrios. LuxR proteins are unique members of the TetR superfamily of transcription factors because they activate and repress large regulons of genes. Here, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation and nucleotide sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify LuxR binding sites in the
Vibrio harveyi
genome. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the LuxR consensus binding site at repressed promoters is a symmetric palindrome, whereas at activated promoters it is asymmetric and contains only half of the palindrome. Using a genetic screen, we isolated LuxR mutants that separated activation and repression functions at representative promoters. These LuxR mutants exhibit sequence-specific DNA binding defects that restrict activation or repression activity to subsets of target promoters. Altering the LuxR DNA binding site sequence to one more closely resembling the ideal LuxR consensus motif can restore
in vivo
function to a LuxR mutant. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of how a single protein can recognize a variety of binding sites to differentially regulate gene expression.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria use the cell-cell communication process called quorum sensing to regulate collective behaviors. In vibrios, LuxR-type transcription factors control the quorum-sensing gene expression cascade. LuxR-type proteins are structural homologs of TetR-type transcription factors. LuxR proteins were assumed to function analogously to TetR proteins, which typically bind to a single conserved binding site to repress transcription of one or two genes. We find here that unlike TetR proteins, LuxR acts a global regulator, directly binding upstream of and controlling more than 100 genes. Again unlike TetR, LuxR functions as both an activator and a repressor, and these two activities can be separated by mutagenesis. Finally, the consensus binding motifs driving LuxR-activated and -repressed genes are distinct. This work shows that LuxR, although structurally similar to TetR, has evolved unique features enabling it to differentially control a large regulon of genes in response to quorum-sensing cues.
H7N9 Avian Influenza A Virus and the Perpetual Challenge of Potential Human Pandemicity
Authors: Morens David M. , Taubenberger Jeffery K. , Fauci Anthony S. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe ongoing H7N9 influenza epizootic in China once again presents us questions about the origin of pandemics and how to recognize them in early stages of development. Over the past ~135 years, H7 influenza viruses have neither caused pandemics nor been recognized as having undergone human adaptation. Yet several unusual properties of these viruses, including their poultry epizootic potential, mammalian adaptation, and atypical clinical syndromes in rarely infected humans, suggest that they may be different from other avian influenza viruses, thus questioning any assurance that the likelihood of human adaptation is low. At the same time, the H7N9 epizootic provides an opportunity to learn more about the mammalian/human adaptational capabilities of avian influenza viruses and challenges us to integrate virologic and public health research and surveillance at the animal-human interface.
Developing future clinical leaders for quality improvement: experience from a London children's hospital
Authors: Runnacles Jane , Moult Beki , Lachman Peter 
Published: July 2013

IntroductionMedical training does not necessarily prepare graduates for the real world of healthcare in which continual improvement is required. Doctors in postgraduate training (DrPGT) rarely have the opportunity to develop skills to implement changes where they work. Paradoxically they are often best placed to identify safety and quality concerns and can innovate across organisational boundaries. In order to address this, educational programmes require a supportive educational environment and should include experiential learning on a safety and quality project, alongside teaching of quality improvement (QI) knowledge and systems theory.MethodEnabling Doctors in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (EQuIP) has been designed for DrPGT at a London children's hospital. The aim is to prepare trainees for the future of continual improvement to ensure safe and effective services are developed through effective clinical microsystems. This paper describes the rationale and design of EQuIP with evaluation built in the evolving programme. EQuIP supports DrPGTs through a QI project within their department, aligned to the Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust's objectives. This changes the way DrPGTs view healthcare as they become quality champions for their department. A three-level approach to the programme is described. The innovation involves a peer-designed programme while being work-based, delivering organisational strategies.ResultsResults of the preprogramme and postprogramme evaluations demonstrate an improvement in knowledge, skills and attitudes. Benefits to both the DrPGTs and the organisation are emphasised and key factors to achieve success and barriers identified by the participants.DiscussionThe design and evaluation of EQuIP may inform similar educational programmes in other organisations. This capacity building is crucial to ensure that future clinical leaders have the skills and motivation to improve the effectiveness of clinical microsystems.
A prospective, observational study of the effects of implementation strategy on compliance with a surgical safety checklist
Authors: Hannam J A , Glass L , Kwon J , Windsor J , Stapelberg F , Callaghan K , Merry A F , Mitchell S J 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundThe reported benefits of using the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) are likely to depend on compliance with its correct use. Compliance with SSC administration in centres that have introduced the checklist under a research protocol may differ from centres where the SSC is introduced independently.ObjectiveTo compare compliance with SSC administration at an original WHO pilot study centre (Hospital 1) with that at a similar neighbouring hospital (Hospital 2) that independently integrated the SSC with pre-existing practice.MethodsThis was a prospective, observational study. One hundred operations were observed at each hospital. We recorded: compliance with administration of SSC domains (Sign In, Time Out and Sign Out) and individual domain items; timing of domain administration; and operating room team engagement during administration.ResultsDomain compliance at Hospital 1 and Hospital 2, respectively, was: 96% and 31% (p<0.0005) for Sign In; 99% and 48% (p<0.0005) for Time Out and 22% and 9% (p=0.008) for Sign Out. Engagement of two or more teams during Sign In and Time Out occurred more frequently at Hospital 2 than at Hospital 1.DiscussionCompliance with administration of SSC domains was lower at Hospital 2 which introduced the SSC outside the context of a strict study protocol. This finding mandates caution in extrapolation of benefits identified in SSC studies to non-study hospitals. Staff engagement was better at Hospital 2 where checklist administration leadership is strategically shared among anaesthetic, surgical and nursing team members as compared with exclusive nursing leadership at Hospital 1.Study registry numberAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: Ref: ACTRN12612000135819,http://www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=362007
An image-based method to measure all-terrain vehicle dimensions for engineering safety purposes
Authors: Jennissen Charles A , Miller Nathan S , Tang Kaiyang , Denning Gerene M 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundAll-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes are a serious public health and safety concern. Engineering approaches that address ATV injury prevention are critically needed. Avenues to pursue include evidence-based seat design that decreases risky behaviours, such as carrying passengers and operation of adult-size vehicles by children.ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to create and validate an image-based method to measure ATV seat length and placement.MethodsPublicly available ATV images were downloaded. Adobe Photoshop was then used to generate a vertical grid through the centre of the vehicle, to define the grid scale using the manufacturer's reported wheelbase, and to determine seat length and placement relative to the front and rear axles using this scale. Images that yielded a difference greater than 5% between the calculated and the manufacturer's reported ATV lengths were excluded from further analysis.ResultsFor the 77 images that met inclusion criteria, the mean±SD for the difference in calculated versus reported vehicle length was 1.8%±1.2%. The Pearson correlation coefficient for comparing image-based seat lengths determined by two independent measurers (20 models) and image-based lengths versus lengths measured at dealerships (12 models) were 0.95 and 0.96, respectively.ConclusionsThe image-based method provides accurate and reproducible results for determining ATV measurements, including seat length and placement. This method greatly expands the number of ATV models that can be studied, and may be generalisable to other motor vehicle types. These measurements can be used to guide engineering approaches that improve ATV safety design.
THE QUANTUM DECOMPOSITION OF RANDOM VARIABLES WITHOUT MOMENTS
Authors: ACCARDI LUIGI , REBEI HABIB , RIAHI ANIS 
Published: July 2013

The quantum decomposition of a classical random variable is one of the deep results of quantum probability: it shows that any classical random variable or stochastic process has a built-in non-commutative structure which is intrinsic and canonical, and not artificially put by hands. Up to now the technique to deduce the quantum decomposition has been based on the theory of interacting Fock spaces and on Jacobi's tri-diagonal relation for orthogonal polynomials. Therefore it requires the existence of moments of any order and cannot be applied to random variables without this property. The problem to find an analogue of the quantum decomposition for random variables without finite moments of any order remained open for about fifteen years and nobody had any idea of how such a decomposition could look like. In the present paper we prove that any infinitely divisible random variable has a quantum decomposition canonically associated to its Lévy–Khintchin triple. The analytical formulation of this result is based on Kolmogorov representation of these triples in terms of 1–cocycles (helices) in Hilbert spaces and on the Araki–Woods–Parthasarathy–Schmidt characterization of these representation in terms of Fock spaces. It distinguishes three classes of random variables: (i) with finite second moment; (ii) with finite first moment only; (iii) without any moment. The third class involves a new type of renormalization based on the associated Lévy–Khinchin function.