bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized controlled trial of a nurse‐led rheumatology clinic for monitoring biological therapy
Authors: Larsson Ingrid , Fridlund Bengt , Arvidsson Barbro , Teleman Annika , Bergman Stefan 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAimTo compare and evaluate the treatment outcomes of a nurse‐led rheumatology clinic and a rheumatologist‐led clinic in patients with low disease activity or in remission who are undergoing biological therapy.BackgroundPatients with chronic inflammatory arthritis treated with biological therapy are usually monitored by rheumatologists. Nurse‐led rheumatology clinics have been proposed in patients with low disease activity or in remission.DesignRandomized controlled trial.MethodsA 12‐month follow‐up trial was conducted between October 2009 and August 2011, where 107 patients were randomized into two groups with a 6‐month follow‐up to a nurse‐led rheumatology clinic based on person‐centred care (intervention group; n = 53) or to a rheumatologist‐led clinic (control group; n = 54). The hypothesis was that the nurse‐led clinic outcomes would not be inferior to those obtained from a rheumatologist‐led clinic at the 12‐month follow‐up. The primary outcome was disease activity measured by Disease Activity Score 28.ResultsA total of 47 patients in the intervention group and 50 in the control group completed the 12‐month trial. The trial revealed no statistically significant differences between groups in mean change of Disease Activity Score 28, Visual Analogue Scales for pain, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, satisfaction with or confidence in obtaining rheumatology care.ConclusionPatients with stable chronic inflammatory arthritis undergoing biological therapy could be monitored by a nurse‐led rheumatology clinic without difference in outcome as measured by the Disease Activity Score 28.
Assisted Cycling Exercise Improves Fine Manual Dexterity in Persons with Down's syndrome
Authors: Chen C‐C (JJ) , Ringenbach S. D. R. , Albert A. R. 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundThis study was aimed at investigating the impact of assisted cycling therapy (ACT) on fine manual dexterity in adults with Down's syndrome (DS).MethodsNine persons with DS completed four different interventions: voluntary exercise (VE), voluntary with music (VEM), assisted exercise (AE) and no exercise (NE). Fine manual dexterity (e.g., Purdue Pegboard) was tested pre and post interventions.ResultsThe results showed dominant and bimanual hands were improved after AE but no evident in either subtest after VE. The assembly subtest, processed by spatial‐temporal ability, was only improved after VEM and NE.ConclusionsIt is speculated that AE stimulated more peripheral sensory input to the motor cortex and neurotransmitters than the other interventions. In addition, the involvement of music may enhance spatial intelligence during VEM. Even though the exact mechanisms are still unknown, the implication of our results showed that AE and VEM can improve fine manual dexterity in persons with DS.
Intention to Seek Mental Health Treatment for Adolescent Girls: Comparison of Predictors in Mothers and Daughters
Authors: Logsdon M. Cynthia , Pinto Melissa D. , LaJoie A. Scott , Hertweck Paige , Lynch Tania , Flamini Laura 
Published: June 2013

ProblemTo examine predictors of intention to seek mental health treatment for adolescent girls in mothers and daughters.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, mothers and adolescent daughters (n = 71) completed measures of behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to seek mental health treatment for the adolescent daughter.FindingsBehavioral attitude and perceived behavioral control predicted intention to seek mental health treatment among mothers. Behavioral attitude predicted intention among daughters. There were no associations between mothers and daughters on study variables.ConclusionsTo promote shared decision making and engagement in mental health treatment, clinicians may target interventions to the mother's perceived behavioral control and behavioral attitudes of daughters and mothers. Based upon study results, clinicians should promote shared decision making and concordance between mothers and daughters on attitudes toward mental health treatment.
In vivo induction of P‐glycoprotein expression at the mouse blood–brain barrier: an intracerebral microdialysis study
Authors: Chan Gary N. Y. , Saldivia Victor , Yang Yingbo , Pang Henrianna , de Lannoy Inés , Bendayan Reina 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIntracerebral microdialysis was utilized to investigate the effect of P‐glycoprotein (a drug efflux transporter) induction at the mouse blood–brain barrier (BBB) on brain extracellular fluid concentrations of quinidine, an established substrate of P‐glycoprotein. Induction was achieved by treating male CD‐1 mice for 3 days with 5 mg/kg/day dexamethasone (DEX), a ligand of the nuclear receptor, pregnane X receptor, and a P‐glycoprotein inducer. Tandem liquid chromatography mass spectrometric method was used to quantify analytes in dialysate, blood and plasma. P‐glycoprotein, pregnane X receptor and Cyp3a11 (metabolizing enzyme for quinidine) protein expression in capillaries and brain homogenates was measured by immunoblot analysis. Following quinidine i.v. administration, the average ratio of unbound quinidine concentrations in brain extracellular fluid (determined from dialysate samples) to plasma at steady state (375–495 min) or Kp, uu, ECF/Plasma in the DEX‐treated animals was 2.5‐fold lower compared with vehicle‐treated animals. In DEX‐treated animals, P‐glycoprotein expression in brain capillaries was 1.5‐fold higher compared with vehicle‐treated animals while Cyp3a11 expression in brain capillaries was not significantly different between the two groups. These data demonstrate that P‐gp induction mediated by DEX at the BBB can significantly reduce quinidine brain extracellular fluid concentrations by decreasing its brain permeability and further suggest that drug–drug interactions as a result of P‐gp induction at the BBB are possible.imageApplying microdialysis, distribution of quinidine, a P‐gp substrate, in mouse brain extracellular fluid (ECF) was investigated following ligand‐mediated P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) induction at the blood–brain barrier (BBB). We demonstrated that a PXR agonist (dexamethasone) significantly up‐regulated P‐gp in brain capillaries and reduced quinidine brain ECF concentrations. Our data suggest that drug–drug interactions as a result of P‐gp induction at the BBB are possible.
School‐Based Mental Health Program Evaluation: Children's School Outcomes and Acute Mental Health Service Use
Authors: Kang‐Yi Christina D. , Mandell David S. , Hadley Trevor 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThis study examined the impact of school‐based mental health programs on children's school outcomes and the utilization of acute mental health services.METHODSThe study sample included 468 Medicaid‐enrolled children aged 6 to 17 years who were enrolled 1 of 2 school‐based mental health programs (SBMHs) in a metropolitan area sometime during school year 2006‐2007. A multilevel analysis examined the relative effects of SBMHs on children's absence, suspension, grade promotion, use of acute mental health services, as well as the association of child and school‐level factors on the outcomes of interest.RESULTSLittle change in average number of days absent per month and no significant change in the use of acute mental health services were found. The mean number of days suspended per month out‐of‐school decreased from 0.100 to 0.003 days (p < .001). The percentage of children promoted to the next grade increased almost 13% after program enrollment (p < .01). Program type did not predict outcome changes except grade promotion.CONCLUSIONSDespite the positive effect of school‐based mental health programs on some school outcomes, the lack of difference between programs suggests the need to identify active mechanisms associated with outcome to make the delivery of care more efficient.
Optimal Dynamic Nonlinear Income Taxes with No Commitment
Authors: BERLIANT MARCUS , LEDYARD JOHN O. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe wish to study optimal dynamic nonlinear income taxes. Do real‐world taxes share some of their features? What policy prescriptions can be made? We study a two‐period model, where the consumers and government each have separate budget constraints in the two periods, so income cannot be transferred between periods. Labor supply in both periods is chosen by consumers. The government has memory, so taxes in the first period are a function of first‐period labor income, whereas taxes in the second period are a function of both first‐ and second‐period labor incomes. The government cannot commit to future taxes. Time consistency is thus imposed as a requirement. The main results of the paper show that time‐consistent incentive‐compatible two‐period taxes involve separation of types in the first period and a differentiated lump‐sum tax in the second period, provided that the discount rate is high or utility is separable between labor and consumption. In the natural extension of the Diamond () model with quasi‐linear utility functions to two periods, an equivalence of dynamic and static optimal taxes is demonstrated, and a necessary condition for the top marginal tax rate on first‐period income is found.
Plant diversity and floristic characters of the alpine subnival belt flora in the Hengduan Mountains,SWChina
Authors: XU Bo , LI Zhi‐Min , SUN Hang 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThere have been few studies of the alpine subnival belt flora in the Hengduan Mountains (HM), which host remarkable biodiversity. To extend knowledge of this flora, we examined published florae, herbarium specimens, and field observations (and material) collected by both ourselves and others. In total, 942 seed plant species have been recorded in the belt, representing 168 genera and 48 families. Twenty‐four large families (with ≥10 species) are present, represented by 873 species (92.68% of the total). These include Asteraceae, Saxifragaceae, and Brassicaceae (146, 82, and 71 species, respectively). There are also 27 large genera (represented by ≥10 species), collectively contributing 587 species (62.31%) to the flora, includingSaxifraga,Corydalis, andSaussurea(75, 55, and 49 species, respectively). Areal elements represented by the highest numbers of genera are the North temperate, Sino‐Himalaya, and Old World temperate elements (39.88%, 14.29%, and 12.50%, respectively), while the Hengduan Mountains, Sino‐Himalaya, and Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau elements are most species‐rich (355, 281, and 161 species, respectively), collectively accounting for 84.61% species of the known flora. Of these, 295 species (31.32%) are endemic to the Sino‐Himalayan alpine subnival belt and 151 (16.03%) strictly endemic to the alpine subnival belt of the HM. These findings indicate that the flora is young, strongly differentiated, probably developed as a result of the plateau's uplift, and speciation has been accelerated by the harsh environment and strong heterogeneity of niches.
Montane refugia isolation and plateau population expansion: Phylogeography of Sino‐Himalayan endemic Spenceria ramalana (Rosaceae)
Authors: YUE Liang‐Liang , SUN Hang 
Published: June 2013

AbstractClimate oscillations and landscape heterogeneity make the historical population processes of organisms of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau quite complex. We used chloroplast DNA sequences and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs) to study the phylogeography and genetic variation of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau endemic Spenceria ramalana Trimen. The parsimony network contains two star‐like evolutionary units, nested into two nested clades, coinciding with geographic population groups indicated by SAMOVA software. The central group shows genetic homogeneity, indicating a bottleneck or founder effect of population dynamics. Margin groups contribute more haplotype diversity (CT), indicating potential refugia. Several expansion events during several interglacial periods were detected. The latest expansion of the eastern population contributed to the modern population structure of the central area. Four AFLP clusters were detected. Higher CT, a relict pattern of haplotype distribution and DW values of marginal populations, confirmed the location of potential montane refugia. Relict distribution pattern, nested clade phylogeographic analysis conclusions, and restricted gene flow detected by AFLPs indicated an isolation pattern of the populations of montane areas. Heterogeneity of landscape of the western and southern montane areas could be the main barrier for gene flow. Moisture conditions and ecotype transformation might help to build the phylogeographic pattern of this species. Neither chloroplast DNA markers nor AFLP was able to differentiate the two varieties of this species.
Prospective food diaries demonstrate breastfeeding characteristics in a UK birth cohort
Authors: Grimshaw Kate E.C. , Aksoy Burcu , Palmer Anna , Jenner Katharine , Oliver Erin M. , Maskell Joe , Kemp Terri , Foote Keith D. , Roberts Graham C. , Ellahi Basma , Margetts Barrie M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBreastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding rates are universally below those recommended by World Health Organization. Due to limitations and challenges associated with researching breastfeeding characteristics, the times when exclusivity is likely to be lost and when women are most likely to discontinue breastfeeding have not yet been identified. Prospective food diaries allow reliable description of the dynamics of breastfeeding to be made to help identify these key time periods. Food diaries detailing intake from birth until the cessation of breastfeeding were analysed for 718 infants recruited into a national arm of an international multicentre birth cohort study (EuroPrevall). Analyses included linear regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier time course analysis. Breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding cessation rates for younger mothers (<25 years) are high in the first few weeks after delivery but slow markedly in the period 10–12 weeks after delivery. Cessation rates are consistent from 0 to 26 weeks in older mothers. This difference in feeding patterns led to significant differences between the two different age groups at 26 weeks for breastfeeding (P = 0.006) and exclusive breastfeeding at 8 weeks (P = 0.009). Forty‐nine per cent of younger mothers (<25 years) stopped breastfeeding before their infant was 3 weeks old. To increase breastfeeding duration, further work is required to investigate the attitudes and perceptions associated with such high breastfeeding cessation rates in younger mothers during these very early post‐natal weeks.
Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles in combination with nystatin and chlorhexidine digluconate against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms
Authors: Monteiro Douglas R. , Silva Sónia , Negri Melyssa , Gorup Luiz F. , de Camargo Emerson R. , Oliveira Rosário , Barbosa Debora B. , Henriques Mariana 
Published: June 2013

SummaryAlthough silver nanoparticles (SN) have been investigated as an alternative to conventional antifungal drugs in the control of Candida‐associated denture stomatitis, the antifungal activity of SN in combination with antifungal drugs against Candida biofilms remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of SN in combination with nystatin (NYT) or chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms. The drugs alone or combined with SN were applied on mature Candida biofilms (48 h), and after 24 h of treatment their antibiofilm activities were assessed by total biomass quantification (by crystal violet staining) and colony forming units enumeration. The structure of Candida biofilms was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The data indicated that SN combined with either NYT or CHG demonstrated synergistic antibiofilm activity, and this activity was dependent on the species and on the drug concentrations used. SEM images showed that some drug combinations were able to disrupt Candida biofilms. The results of this study suggest that the combination of SN with NYT or CHG may have clinical implications in the treatment of denture stomatitis. However, further studies are needed before recommending the use of these drugs safely in clinical situations.
Reliability and validity of the Algase Wandering Scale – version 2 for Japanese people with dementia
Authors: Greiner Chieko , Makimoto Kiyoko , Suzuki Mizue , Yamakawa Miyae 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn Japan, where older people already make up more than 23% of the population and the proportion is still growing, the burden on those caring for people with dementia is an increasing problem. This burden is magnified by wandering behavior, a peripheral symptom. Thus, there is a need for an objective measure of wandering behavior to determine what constitutes effective care. In this study, we translated the Algase Wandering Scale – Version 2 into Japanese, and examined its reliability and validity. Ambulatory residents with dementia were selected from two nursing homes and two wards specializing in dementia care in hospitals in Japan. Nurses and care workers taking care of these residents answered questionnaires regarding the residents. From the results, the Algase Wandering Scale – Version 2, Japanese version, was examined for inter‐rater reliability, stability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity. The results of the analysis in the present study demonstrated that the Algase Wandering Scale – Version 2, Japanese version, has reliability and validity, and that it can measure the presence or absence of wandering and its severity. Surveys of residents with various wandering patterns in many facilities and verification of construct validity are warranted in the future.
Low‐resolution colonic manometry leads to a gross misinterpretation of the frequency and polarity of propagating sequences: Initial results from fiber‐optic high‐resolution manometry studies
Authors: Dinning P. G. , Wiklendt L. , Gibbins I. , Patton V. , Bampton P. , Lubowski D. Z. , Cook I. J. , Arkwright J. W. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundHigh‐resolution manometry catheters are now being used to record colonic motility. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pressure sensor spacing on our ability to identify colonic propagating sequences (PS).MethodsFiber‐optic catheters containing 72–90 sensors spaced at 1 cm intervals were placed colonoscopically to the cecum in 11 patients with proven slow transit constipation, 11 patients with neurogenic fecal incontinence and nine healthy subjects. A 2 h section of trace from each subject was analyzed. Using the 1 cm spaced data as the gold standard, each data set was then sub‐sampled, by dropping channels from the data set to simulate sensor spacing of 10, 7, 5, 3, and 2 cm. In blinded fashion, antegrade and retrograde PS were quantified at each test sensor spacing. The data were compared to the PSs identified in the corresponding gold standard data set.Key ResultsIn all subject groups as sensor spacing increased; (i) the frequency of identified antegrade and retrograde PSs decreased (P < 0.0001); (ii) the ratio of antegrade to retrograde PSs increased (P < 0.0001); and (iii) the number of incorrectly labeled PSs increased (P < 0.003).Conclusions & InferencesDoubling the sensor spacing from 1 to 2 cm nearly halves the number of PSs detected. Tripling the sensor spacing from 1 to 3 cm resulted in a 30% chance of incorrectly labeling PSs. Closely spaced pressure recording sites (<2 cm) are mandatory to avoid gross misrepresentation of the frequency, morphology, and directionality of colonic propagating sequences.
Foggy days and dry nights determine crown‐level water balance in a seasonal tropical montane cloud forest
Authors: GOTSCH SYBIL G. , ASBJORNSEN HEIDI , HOLWERDA FRISO , GOLDSMITH GREGORY R. , WEINTRAUB ALEXIS E. , DAWSON TODD E. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe ecophysiology of tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) trees is influenced by crown‐level microclimate factors including regular mist/fog water inputs, and large variations in evaporative demand, which in turn can significantly impact water balance. We investigated the effect of such microclimatic factors on canopy ecophysiology and branch‐level water balance in the dry season of a seasonal TMCF in Veracruz, Mexico, by quantifying both water inputs (via foliar uptake, FU) and outputs (day‐ and night‐time transpiration, NT). Measurements of sap flow, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and pressure–volume relations were obtained in Quercus lanceifolia, a canopy‐dominant tree species. Our results indicate that FU occurred 34% of the time and led to the recovery of 9% (24 ± 9.1 L) of all the dry‐season water transpired from individual branches. Capacity for FU was independently verified for seven additional common tree species. NT accounted for approximately 17% (46 L) of dry‐season water loss. There was a strong correlation between FU and the duration of leaf wetness events (fog and/or rain), as well as between NT and the night‐time vapour pressure deficit. Our results show the clear importance of fog and NT for the canopy water relations of Q. lanceifolia.
A fast circadian clock at high temperatures is a conserved feature across Arabidopsis accessions and likely to be important for vegetative yield
Authors: KUSAKINA JELENA , GOULD PETER D. , HALL ANTHONY 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe circadian clock is an endogenous 24 h oscillator regulating many critical biological processes in plants. One of the key characteristics of the circadian clock is that it is buffered against temperature, maintaining an approximately 24 h rhythm over a broad physiological temperature range. Here, we tested temperature‐buffering capacity of the circadian clock across a number of Arabidopsis accessions using several circadian clock reporters: leaf movement, CCA1:LUC and LHY:LUC. We found that leaf movement was the best temperature buffered circadian output. On the other hand, when temperature increases, circadian rhythms of CCA1 and LHY transcription shorten considerably across all accessions, indicating that the clock driving expression of CCA1 and LHY is not perfectly buffered. This feature might be crucial to plants growing in a constantly changing environment, and here, we provide insight into the importance of period shortening to plant growth performance and the benefits of a flexible clock.
Carotenoid responses to environmental stimuli: integrating redox and carbon controls into a fruit model
Authors: FANCIULLINO A. L. , BIDEL L. P. R. , URBAN L. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractCarotenoids play an important role in plant adaptation to fluctuating environments as well as in the human diet by contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases. Insights have been gained recently into the way individual factors, genetic, environmental or developmental, control the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway at the molecular level. The identification of the rate‐limiting steps of carotenogenesis has paved the way for programmes of breeding, and metabolic engineering, aimed at increasing the concentration of carotenoids in different crop species. However, the complexity that arises from the interactions between the different factors as well as from the coordination between organs remains poorly understood.This review focuses on recent advances in carotenoid responses to environmental stimuli and discusses how the interactions between the modulation factors and between organs affect carotenoid build‐up. We develop the idea that reactive oxygen species/redox status and sugars/carbon status can be considered as integrated factors that account for most effects of the major environmental factors influencing carotenoid biosynthesis. The discussion highlights the concept of carotenoids or carotenoid‐derivatives as stress signals that may be involved in feedback controls. We propose a conceptual model of the effects of environmental and developmental factors on carotenoid build‐up in fruits.