bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Communicating with the Public Following Radiological Terrorism: Results from a Series of Focus Groups and National Surveys in Britain and Germany
Authors: Pearce Julia M. , Rubin G. James , Selke Piet , Amlôt Richard , Mowbray Fiona , Rogers M. Brooke 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIntroductionIncidents involving the exposure of large numbers of people to radiological material can have serious consequences for those affected, their community and wider society. In many instances, the psychological effects of these incidents have the greatest impact. People fear radiation and even incidents which result in little or no actual exposure have the potential to cause widespread anxiety and behavior change. The aim of this study was to assess public intentions, beliefs and information needs in the UK and Germany in response to a hidden radiological exposure device. By assessing how the public is likely to react to such events, strategies for more effective crisis and risk communication can be developed and designed to address any knowledge gaps, misperceptions and behavioral responses that are contrary to public health advice.MethodsThis study had three stages. The first stage consisted of focus groups which identified perceptions of and reactions to a covert radiological device. The incident was introduced to participants using a series of mock newspaper and broadcast injects to convey the evolving scenario. The outcomes of these focus groups were used to inform national telephone surveys, which quantified intended behaviors and assessed what perceptions were correlated with these behaviors. Focus group and survey results were used to develop video and leaflet communication interventions, which were then evaluated in a second round of focus groups.ResultsIn the first two stages, misperceptions about the likelihood and routes of exposure were associated with higher levels of worry and greater likelihood of engaging in behaviors that might be detrimental to ongoing public health efforts. The final focus groups demonstrated that both types of misunderstanding are amenable to change following targeted communication.ConclusionShould terrorists succeed in placing a hidden radiological device in a public location, then health agencies may find that it is easier to communicate effectively with the public if they explicitly and clearly discuss the mechanisms through which someone could be affected by the radiation and the known geographical spread of any risk. Messages which explain how the risk from a hidden radiological device “works” should be prepared and tested in advance so that they can be rapidly deployed if the need arises.PearceJM, RubinGJ, SelkeP, AmlôtR, MowbrayF, RogersMB. Communicating with the public following radiological terrorism: results from a series of focus groups and national surveys in Britain and Germany. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-10.
Amount of Usage and Involvement in Explosions Not Associated with Increased Contamination of Prehospital Vehicles with Multi-drug-resistant Organisms
Authors: Lesho Emil , Ake Julie , Huang Xiao-Zhe , Cash Dana M. , Nikolich Mikeljon , Barber Melissa , Robens Kathleen , Garnett Eric , Lindler Luther , Scott Paul 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIntroductionThe role of explosions and patient transport vehicles as sources and vectors of Gram-negative, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) that predominate infections following lengthy evacuations after disasters due to natural hazards and in current war-trauma patients is unknown.Hypothesis/ProblemDamaged or heavily-used vehicles could be sources of the MDROs subsequently linked to nosocomial infections.MethodsFrom January through May 2008 in Iraq, inside surfaces of heavily-used, tactical vehicles (Experimental Group) were sampled with sterile, pre-moistened swabs. Swabs, along with positive and negative controls, were shipped to the reference laboratory in Washington, DC, where they underwent culture, identification and susceptibility testing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Multidrug-resistant organisms were defined according to the standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions. High risk organisms (HROs) were defined as susceptible E. coli, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp, or Klebsiella spp. Concurrently, new counterparts (Control Group) were similarly surveyed in a storage lot in Georgia, USA. Groups were compared using the Chi-squared test.ResultsOne hundred thirty-nine consecutive vehicles including all available ambulances were sampled, yielding 153 swabs. Nineteen were lost or damaged during shipping. Seventy-nine swabs yielded growth of one or more Gram-negative bacteria. The amount and genotype of MDROs in heavily-used vehicles, including those involved in roadside bombings, were compared to control vehicles and to strains isolated from wounds and environmental surfaces at the base hospital. Predominant organisms included P. agglomerans (34%), S. flexneri (8%), E. vulneris (6%), Pseudomonas sp. (6%), and K. pneumonia (6%). No MDROs were isolated. Thirteen vehicles (eight of 94 experimental and five of 45 control) yielded HRO. There was no difference in contamination rates (P = .63). No HROs were isolated from ambulances. No clonal association existed between vehicle and hospital strains.ConclusionGiven the implications that this knowledge gap has on military and civilian prehospital reservoirs of infection, further study is warranted to confirm these findings and identify targets for preventive intervention throughout civilian disaster and military casualty evacuation chains.LeshoE, AkeJ, HuangX, CashDM, NikolichM, BarberM, RobensK, GarnettE, LindlerL, ScottP. Amount of usage and involvement in explosions not associated with increased contamination of prehospital vehicles with multi-drug-resistant organisms. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-3..
InCroMAP: integrated analysis of cross-platform microarray and pathway data
Authors: Wrzodek Clemens , Eichner Johannes , Büchel Finja , Zell Andreas 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Summary: Microarrays are commonly used to detect changes in gene expression between different biological samples. For this purpose, many analysis tools have been developed that offer visualization, statistical analysis and more sophisticated analysis methods. Most of these tools are designed specifically for messenger RNA microarrays. However, today, more and more different microarray platforms are available. Changes in DNA methylation, microRNA expression or even protein phosphorylation states can be detected with specialized arrays. For these microarray technologies, the number of available tools is small compared with mRNA analysis tools. Especially, a joint analysis of different microarray platforms that have been used on the same set of biological samples is hardly supported by most microarray analysis tools. Here, we present InCroMAP, a tool for the analysis and visualization of high-level microarray data from individual or multiple different platforms. Currently, InCroMAP supports mRNA, microRNA, DNA methylation and protein modification datasets. Several methods are offered that allow for an integrated analysis of data from those platforms. The available features of InCroMAP range from visualization of DNA methylation data over annotation of microRNA targets and integrated gene set enrichment analysis to a joint visualization of data from all platforms in the context of metabolic or signalling pathways.
Availability: InCroMAP is freely available as Java™ application at www.cogsys.cs.uni-tuebingen.de/software/InCroMAP, including a comprehensive user’s guide and example files.
Contact: clemens.wrzodek@uni-tuebingen.de or andreas.zell@uni-tuebingen.de
Trafficking of regulatory T cells in the intestinal immune system
Authors: Pabst Oliver 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Intestinal tolerance toward dietary antigens and the microbiota critically depends on regulatory T cells (Treg cells). To exert their function, Treg cells need to get into the proximity of their target cells foremost within lymphoid organs and the lamina propria in the small and large intestines. Thus, Treg-cell-mediated immunosuppression is intrinsically linked to cell migration and localization. However, the gut lamina propria not only constitutes an effector site but also actively influences Treg-cell function. In particular, gut-resident macrophages take an active role in shaping the Treg-cell pool. Here, the author summarizes recent observations to suggest that Treg-cell migration not only directs cells to sites of immunosuppression but also allows for the coordinated shaping of the Treg-cell population.
Effect of osmolarity and viscosity on the motility of pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira
Authors: Takabe Kyosuke , Nakamura Shuichi , Ashihara Masamichi , Kudo Seishi 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACTThe motility of bacteria is an important factor in their infectivity. In this study, the motility of Leptospira, a member of the spirochete family that causes a zoonotic disease known as leptospirosis, was analyzed in different viscous or osmotic conditions. Motility assays revealed that both pathogenic and saprophytic strains increase their swimming speeds with increasing viscosity. However, only pathogenic Leptospira interrogans maintained vigorous motility near physiological osmotic conditions. This suggests that active motility in physiological conditions is advantageous when Leptospira enters hosts and when it migrates toward target tissues.
Factors that influence the professional resilience of occupational therapists in mental health practice
Authors: Ashby Samantha E. , Ryan Susan , Gray Mel , James Carole 
Published: December 2012

Background/aimMental health practice can create challenging environments for occupational therapists. This study explores the dynamic processes involved in the development and maintenance of professional resilience of experienced mental health occupational therapy practitioners. It presents thePRIOrity model that summarises the dynamic relationship between professional resilience, professional identity and occupation‐based practice.MethodsA narrative inquiry methodology with two phases of interviews was used to collect the data from nine experienced mental health practitioners. Narrative thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.ResultsProfessional resilience was linked to: (i) professional identity which tended to be negatively influenced in contexts dominated by biomedical models and psychological theories; (ii) expectations on occupational therapists to work outside their professional domains and use generic knowledge; and (iii) lack of validation of occupation‐focussed practice. Professional resilience was sustained by strategies that maintained participants' professional identity. These strategies included seeking ‘good’ supervision, establishing support networks and finding a job that allowed a match between valued knowledge and opportunities to use it in practice.ConclusionFor occupational therapists professional resilience is sustained and enhanced by a strong professional identity and valuing an occupational perspective of health. Strategies that encourage reflection on the theoretical knowledge underpinning practice can sustain resilience. These include supervision, in‐service meetings and informal socialisation. Further research is required into the role discipline‐specific theories play in sustaining professional values and identity. The development of strategies to enhance occupational therapists' professional resilience may assist in the retention of occupational therapists in the mental health workforce.
Barriers to the use of Information and Communication Technology by occupational therapists working in a rural area of New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Chedid Rebecca Jean , Dew Angela , Veitch Craig 
Published: December 2012

Background/aimThis qualitative study formed part of a large‐scale, multi‐phase study into the delivery of therapy services to people with a disability, living in one rural area of New South Wales, Australia. The study's purpose was to identify the impact of Information and Communication Technology on the workforce practices of occupational therapists' working in a rural area of New South Wales.MethodsIndividual semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 13 occupational therapists working in disability, health and private practice in a rural area of New South Wales. Participants were asked about access to, skills and limitations of using Information and Communication Technology. A modified grounded theory approach, based on thematic analysis and constant comparison, was used to analyse the interview transcripts.ResultsThis study found widespread use of technology by rurally based occupational therapists working in the disability sector in New South Wales. However, Information and Communication Technology was primarily used for client contact, professional development and professional networking rather than therapy provision. The study identified individual, workplace and community barriers to greater uptake of Information and Communication Technology by this group. The individual barriers included: age cohort, knowledge and personal preferences. The workplace barriers included: support and training and availability of resources. The community barriers included: infrastructure and perceptions of clients' acceptance.ConclusionThe potential exists for Information and Communication Technology to supplement face‐to‐face therapy provision, enhance access to professional development and reduce professional isolation thereby addressing the rural challenges of large distances, travel times and geographic isolation. To overcome these challenges, individual, workplace and community Information and Communication Technology barriers should be addressed concurrently.
Work outcomes and their predictors in the Redesigning Daily Occupations (ReDO) rehabilitation programme for women with stress‐related disorders
Authors: Eklund Mona , Wästberg Birgitta A. , Erlandsson Lena‐Karin 
Published: December 2012

Background/AimPrevious research has shown that the Redesigning Daily Occupations programme reduced the degree of sick leave and increased return to work rates among women on sick leave for stress‐related disorders when compared with “care as usual”. To further investigate the Redesigning Daily Occupations intervention, this study explored changes in the work situation from baseline to a 12‐month follow‐up in the Redesigning Daily Occupations group compared with the “care as usual” group and analysed any predictors of change.MethodsA matched‐control design was used and 84 women were recruited. Objective (return to work and sick leave) and subjective work outcomes (perceptions of the worker role and the work environment) were explored. Potential predictors were clinical and demographic variables and an anxiety–depression factor.ResultsIn both groups, large positive effect sizes from baseline to follow‐up were found regarding the objective outcomes, a moderate positive effect size was found for perceived work environment, whereas perceived worker role remained unaffected. Previous work rehabilitation predicted objective work outcomes in both groups. Higher education and older age were predictors of subjective outcomes in the Redesigning Daily Occupations group, whereas a more severe anxiety–depression rating was negative for work environment ratings in the “care as usual” group.ConclusionsReturn to work seemed possible without a change in the women's perceptions of the worker role; rather they renegotiated their view of the work environment. The Redesigning Daily Occupations programme was found to be promising, with a positive effect on return to work and sick leave reduction. It seemed more suitable for the higher educated and older women.
Conjugal transfer of the Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 symbiotic plasmid is governed through the concerted action of one‐ and two‐component signal transduction regulators
Authors: Nogales Joaquina , Blanca‐Ordóñez Helena , Olivares José , Sanjuán Juan 
Published: December 2012

SummaryConjugal transfer of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli symbiotic plasmids are repressed by the transcriptional regulator RctA. Here we report on new key players in the signal transduction cascade towards S. meliloti pSym conjugation. We have identified S. meliloti pSymA gene SMa0974 as an orthologue of the R. etli rctB gene which is required to antagonize repression by RctA. In S. meliloti two additional genes, rctR and rctC participate in control of rctB expression. rctR (SMa0955) encodes a protein of the GntR family of transcriptional regulators involved in repression of rctB. A rctR mutant promotes pSymA conjugal transfer and displays increased transcription of tra, virB and rctB genes even in presence of wild‐type rctA gene. Among genes repressed by RctR, rctC (SMa0961) encodes a response regulator required to activate rctB transcription and therefore for derepression of plasmid conjugative functions. We conclude that in both R. etli and S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is derepressed via rctB, however the regulatory cascades to achieve activation of rctB are probably different. Upstream of rctB, the S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is regulated through the concerted action of genes representing one‐ (rctR) and two‐component (rctC) signal transduction systems in response to yet unidentified signals.
Structural Change in Current Account and Real Exchange Rate Dynamics: Evidence from the G7 Countries
Authors: Shibamoto Masahiko , Kitano Shigeto 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPrevious studies decompose the current account and the real exchange rate into temporary and permanent shocks and argue that a temporary shock creates the combination of a current account surplus (deficit) and real exchange rate depreciation (appreciation). The present paper extends their framework by examining a possible structural break in current account and real exchange rate dynamics. Using G7 country data for 1980–2007, we find structural changes in two‐variable dynamics for all G7 countries during the 1990s. Temporary shocks have not been the main source of fluctuation in the current account since the 1990s. Our empirical results imply that the conventional mechanism has played a limited role in explaining the dynamics of the two variables.
Income Heterogeneity in the Voluntary Provision of Dynamic Public Goods
Authors: Seçilmiş İ. Erdem , Güran M. Cahit 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper explores the effect of income inequality on the voluntary contributions to a dynamic public good. We find that income heterogeneity has a significant impact both on contributions and welfare. The results show that the often observed decay of cooperation does not carry over to the asymmetric environment considered in this study. Our results also suggest that subjects in each income class make different contribution amounts in an absolute sense and give the same percentage of their income. Moreover, we find that contributions of individuals with the same endowment are sensitive to how heterogeneous the environment is.
The evolutionary strategies of plant defenses have a dynamic impact on the adaptations and interactions of vectors and pathogens
Authors: Huot Ordom Brian , Nachappa Punya , Tamborindeguy Cecilia 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPlants have evolved and diversified to reduce the damages imposed by infectious pathogens and herbivorous insects. Living in a sedentary lifestyle, plants are constantly adapting to their environment. They employ various strategies to increase performance and fitness. Thus, plants developed cost‐effective strategies to defend against specific insects and pathogens. Plant defense, however, imposes selective pressure on insects and pathogens. This selective pressure provides incentives for pathogens and insects to diversify and develop strategies to counter plant defense. This results in an evolutionary arms race among plants, pathogens and insects. The ever‐changing adaptations and physiological alterations among these organisms make studying plant–vector–pathogen interactions a challenging and fascinating field. Studying plant defense and plant protection requires knowledge of the relationship among organisms and the adaptive strategies each organism utilize. Therefore, this review focuses on the integral parts of plant–vector–pathogen interactions in order to understand the factors that affect plant defense and disease development. The review addresses plant–vector–pathogen co‐evolution, plant defense strategies, specificity of plant defenses and plant–vector–pathogen interactions. Improving the comprehension of these factors will provide a multi‐dimensional perspective for the future research in pest and disease management.
Anticoagulation in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Low Ejection Fraction, and Sinus Rhythm: Back to the Drawing Board
Authors: Mischie Alexandru Nicolae , Chioncel Valentin , Droc Ionel , Sinescu Crina 
Published: December 2012

SummaryHeart failure patients present an important thrombo‐embolic risk, including symptomatic or silent peripheral arterial embolism, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Patients in sinus rhythm who have concomitant depressed (<35%) left ventricular ejection fraction have a 4% rate of embolic events. Several prospective randomized trials of anticoagulation in this group of patients were either underpowered or had a short period of follow‐up. Even though in two studies warfarin had a slight advantage over aspirin (in the WATCH and WARCEF trials), it was at the cost of an increased risk in major hemorrhage. To decrease bleeding rates and to improve anticoagulant effect, new treatment strategies have to be tested. Novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban) seem to be a promising alternative.
Potato purple top phytoplasma‐induced disruption of gibberellin homeostasis in tomato plants
Authors: Ding Y. , Wu W. , Wei W. , Davis R.E. , Lee I.‐M. , Hammond R.W. , Sheng J.P. , Shen L. , Jiang Y. , Zhao Y. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPhytoplasmas are phloem‐inhabiting, cell wall‐less bacteria that cause numerous plant diseases worldwide. Plants infected by phytoplasmas often exhibit various symptoms indicative of hormonal imbalance. In this study, we investigated the effects of potato purple top (PPT) phytoplasma infection on gibberellin homeostasis in tomato plants. We found that PPT phytoplasma infection caused a significant reduction in endogenous levels of gibberellic acid (GA3). The decrease in GA3 content in diseased plants was correlated with down regulation of genes responsible for biosynthesis of bioactive GAs ( GA20ox1 and GA3ox1) and genes involved in formation of GA precursors [geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPS) and copalyldiphosphate synthase (CPS)]. Exogenous application of GA3 at 200 µmol L−1 was able to restore the GA content in infected plants to levels comparable to those in healthy controls, and to attenuate the characteristic ‘big bud’ symptoms induced by the phytoplasma. The interesting observation that PPT phytoplasma‐infected plants had prolonged low expression of key GA biosynthesis genes GA20ox1 and GA3ox1 under GA deficiency conditions led us to hypothesise that there was a diminished sensitivity of the GA metabolism feedback regulation, especially GA biosynthesis negative feedback regulation, in those affected plants, and such diminished sensitization in early stages of infection may represent a central element of the phytoplasma‐induced disruption of GA homeostasis and pathogenesis.