bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of genes regulated by the MvaT‐like paralogues TurA and TurB of Pseudomonas putida KT2440
Authors: Renzi Francesco , Rescalli Emanuela , Galli Enrica , Bertoni Giovanni 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe genome of the Pseudomonas putida strain KT2440 contains five paralogous proteins (TurA, TurB, TurC, TurD and TurE) of the H‐NS‐like MvaT class of transcription regulators. TurA and TurB belong to groups I and II, respectively, both containing orthologous MvaT proteins that are present in all Pseudomonadaceae species. On the contrary, TurC, TurD and TurE belong to group III, which contains species‐specific paralogous MvaT proteins. We analysed the global effects on the P. putida KT2440 transcriptome of eliminating the conserved TurA and TurB proteins, which had been identified in our previous studies aimed to search for novel specific co‐regulators of the upper TOL operon for toluene biodegradation. While the loss of TurA de‐repressed the expression of many genes covering a broad range of functional classes in both mid‐exponential and early stationary phases, the absence of TurB brought about a very different outcome. Although the loss of TurB affected also very different functions, the number of genes that changed in the turB mutant was fivefold smaller than that of TurA. Furthermore, TurB does not act generally as repressor. Interestingly, the degree of overlap between their mutual regulons is very limited. A closer examination of one case where such overlap clearly occurs (a gene cluster for biosynthesis of lipodepsinonapeptide phytotoxins) revealed that TurA and TurB can act in concert, perhaps by forming a heterodimer. In addition, our results indicate that TurA is the master regulator of TurB as well as of the other paralogues, TurD and TurE.
Routine scrotal ultrasonography during the follow‐up of patients with testicular cancer leads to earlier detection of asynchronous tumours and a high rate of organ preservation
Authors: Stoehr Brigitte , Zangerl Florian , Steiner Eberhard , Leonhartsberger Nicolai , Fritzer Andreas , Bartsch Georg , Steiner Hannes 
Published: September 2009

Study Type – Diagnosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo compare outcomes of patients with asynchronous tumours detected before and after the introduction of scrotal ultrasonography (SUS) during routine follow‐up examinations.PATIENTS AND METHODSSince January 2001 SUS was also used during the follow‐up of patients with testicular cancer. A series of 16 consecutive patients with asynchronous bilateral testicular tumours diagnosed while still complying with routine follow up investigations were identified and divided into two groups; group A was diagnosed by palpation only, before 2001, and group B was diagnosed after 2000. The groups were compared statistically for the interval between asynchronous tumours, clinical stage, tumour diameter at the time of diagnosis and rate of testis‐sparing surgery.RESULTSAll tumours in group A were diagnosed by palpation, but only two in group B were palpable at the time of diagnosis. The mean tumour diameter was statistically significantly smaller in group B (1.2 cm) than in group A (2.68 cm); testis‐sparing surgery was used in all of group B and only three patients in group A. After organ‐sparing surgery all patients had normal testosterone levels. All patients after organ‐sparing surgery had adjuvant scrotal radiotherapy because of germ cell tumour, and no patient had a local recurrence.CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that using SUS for the remaining testicle in routine follow‐up visits of patients with testicular cancer leads to the earlier detection of smaller tumours and, consequently, a higher rate of organ preservation. The maintenance of physiological endocrine function might finally result in a better quality of life.
Effect of the dual 5α‐reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, on serum testosterone and body mass index in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Hong Sung Kyu , Min Gyeong Eun , Ha Seung Bum , Doo Seung Hwan , Kang Min Yong , Park Hong Joo , Yoon Cheol Yong , Jeong Seong Jin , Byun Seok‐Soo , Lee Sang Eun 
Published: September 2009

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1bOBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of dutasteride on serum testosterone level and body mass index (BMI) in men who received medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 120 patients with BPH were randomized to three treatment groups: tamsulosin 0.2 mg/day (α‐blocker group), dutasteride 0.5 mg/day (dutasteride group), or tamsulosin 0.2 mg plus dutasteride 0.5 mg/day (combination group) for 1 year. For all patients the BMI and serum testosterone levels were checked at baseline and after 1 year of treatment.RESULTSAmong the evaluable 107 patients, the dutasteride (33) and combination groups (37) had significantly greater increases in serum testosterone level (16.3% and 15%, respectively) than the α‐blocker group (37; 0.3%) after 1 year of treatment (both P < 0.001). When analysed by baseline serum testosterone tertile, the increases in serum testosterone level among the dutasteride and combination group were greatest in the lowest tertile. For BMI, the dutasteride and combination group had mean decreases of 0.17 and 0.20 kg/m2, respectively, at 1 year, whereas the α‐blocker group had a mean increase of 0.04 kg/m2. The decreases in BMI for the dutasteride and combination group were statistically significant only in the lowest tertile (P = 0.048 and 0.010, respectively).CONCLUSIONOur results show that dutasteride treatment in men with BPH led to a significant increase in serum testosterone level and a significant decrease in BMI among those with relatively lower baseline serum testosterone levels.
Nonword repetition in children and adults: effects on movement coordination
Authors: Sasisekaran Jayanthi , Smith Anne , Sadagopan Neeraja , Weber‐Fox Christine 
Published: September 2009

AbstractHearing and repeating novel phonetic sequences, or novel nonwords, is a task that taps many levels of processing, including auditory decoding, phonological processing, working memory, speech motor planning and execution. Investigations of nonword repetition abilities have been framed within models of psycholinguistic processing, while the motor aspects, which also are critical for task performance, have been largely ignored. We focused our investigation on both the behavioral and speech motor performance characteristics of this task as performed in a learning paradigm by 9‐ and 10‐year‐old children and young adults. Behavioral (percent correct productions) and kinematic (movement duration, lip aperture variability – an index of the consistency of inter‐articulator coordination on repeated trials) measures were obtained in order to investigate the short‐term (Day 1, first five vs. next five trials) and longer‐term (Day 1 vs. Day 2, first five vs. next five trials) changes associated with practice within and between sessions. Overall, as expected, young adults showed higher levels of behavioral accuracy and greater levels of coordinative consistency than the children. Both groups, however, showed a learning effect, such that in general, later Day 1 trials and Day 2 trials were shorter in duration and more consistent in coordination patterns than Day 1 early trials. Phonemic complexity of the nonwords had a profound effect on both the behavioral and speech motor aspects of performance. The children showed marked learning effects on all nonwords that they could produce accurately, while adults’ performance improved only when challenged by the more complex nonword stimuli in the set. The findings point to a critical role for speech motor processes within models of nonword repetition and suggest that young adults, similar to children, show short‐ and longer‐term improvements in coordinative consistency with repeated production of complex nonwords. There is also a clear developmental change in nonword production performance, such that less complex novel sequences elicit changes in speech motor performance in children, but not in adults.
Improving the lives of Ghanaian children: complementing the global agenda with a structural social work approach
Authors: Manful Saka E. , Manful Esmeranda 
Published: September 2009

Manful SE, Manful E. Improving the lives of Ghanaian children: complementing the global agenda with a structural social work approachInt J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 115–123 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.In principle, Ghana's commitment to the global agenda for improving the welfare of children cannot be disputed. Globalisation has advanced changes in the country's institutional landscape with the introduction of economic reforms and administrative institutional frameworks to improve the welfare of children, amongst others. This article discusses the impacts of two global agendas, the Structural Adjustment Program and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It argues that the economic reforms and the legal framework to ensure the welfare of children have not achieved their envisaged goals, because the global initiatives focused on institutional changes, neglecting social factors that cause inequalities. Consequently, these factors have contributed to the inability of adequate service provision for children. To alleviate the problem, this article suggests that a structural social work approach be adopted in Ghana as a complementary strategy to improve the welfare of children.
Women and Migration in Albania: A View from the Village
Authors: Vullnetari Julie 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSince the fall of communism in the early 1990s, Albania has experienced migrations of epic proportions: 17 years later almost one in four Albanians has emigrated and lives abroad, primarily in Greece and Italy. Albanian emigration has by and large represented a typically male‐dominated model, whereby men have “led the way” and women have followed as family members. Despite the considerable participation of Albanian women in this migration, their roles and experiences remain under‐researched. Based on in‐depth interviews with rural migrant women and their families, as well as additional ethnographic material collected from 2004 to 2006 in Albania and Greece, this paper aims to fill this knowledge gap. The findings demonstrate the various ways in which Albanian rural women participate in the migratory process. They are often the most important pillar for supporting the family migration strategy through their productive and reproductive labour when remaining behind. They are also closely involved in decision‐making about the migration of other family members. Furthermore, they have been among the pioneers of the early 1990s migration themselves, including taking the long and risky journeys across the mountains to Greece. Overall, their contribution to the migrant household is beyond their presumed reproductive role and includes a strong economic component.While some “traditional” norms and values persist and are reinforced during migration, changedoestake place, albeit at a slow and gradual pace. However, for the emancipatory benefits women could accrue through migration to be enhanced, immigration policies need adjusting to address their position as fully autonomous economic and social actors, thus reducing their dependency on male “bread‐winners.”Albanian women’s particular migratory experiences, combined with their increasing numbers as migrants, make a compelling case for further attention from researchers and policymakers.
The influence of soil and biosolids type, and microbial immobilisation on nitrogen availability in biosolids‐amended agricultural soils – implications for fertiliser recommendations
Authors: Rigby H. , Perez‐Viana F. , Cass J. , Rogers M. , Smith S. R. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSoil microbial biomass interactions influencing the mineralisation of N in biosolids‐amended agricultural soil were investigated under field conditions in two soil types, a silty clay and a sandy silt loam, with contrasting organic matter contents. Soil treatments included: dewatered raw sludge (DRAW); dewatered and thermally dried, mesophilic anaerobically digested biosolids (DMAD and TDMAD, respectively); lime‐treated unstabilised sludge cake (LC); and NH4Cl as a mineral salt control for measuring nitrification kinetics. Soil mineral N and microbial biomass N (MBN) concentrations were determined over 90 days following soil amendment. Despite its lower total and mineral N contents, TDMAD had a larger mineralisable pool of N than DMAD, and was an effective rapid release N source. Increased rates of mineralisation and nitrification of biosolids‐N were observed in the silty clay soil with larger organic matter content, implying increased microbial turnover of N in this soil type compared with the sandy silt loam, but no significant difference in microbial immobilisation of biosolids‐N was observed between the two soil types. Thus, despite initial differences observed in the rates of N mineralisation, the overall extent of N release for the different biosolids tested was similar in both soil types. Therefore, the results suggest that fertiliser guidelines probably do not need to consider the effect of soil type on the release of mineral N for crop uptake from different biosolids products applied to temperate agricultural soils.
Effect of selected organic materials and inorganic fertilizer on the soil fertility of a Humic Nitisol in the central highlands of Kenya
Authors: Mugwe J. , Mugendi D. , Mucheru‐Muna M. , Odee D. , Mairura F. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe effect on soil fertility of applying particular organic resources to a humic Nitisol in the central highlands of Kenya was studied. The organic resources (Calliandra calothyrsus,Leucaena trichandra,Tithonia diversifolia,Mucuna pruriens,Crotalaria ochroleucaand cattle manure) were either applied solely or along with inorganic fertilizer in a cropping trial using maize as the experimental crop. After 4 years of continuous cultivation and manuring, soil fertility effects varied among treatments. Cattle manure proved to be the most effective and improved soil fertility by increasing pH, cations (Ca, K and Mg), and C.Calliandra, Leucaena, Tithoniaand herbaceous legumes generally reduced soil pH, C and N but increased Ca, K and Mg. Cattle manure is therefore an important resource for maintaining soil organic matter (SOM) in the area and in other similar areas with arable‐livestock systems. Reduction of soil C and N by the high quality organic materials suggests that their role in maintaining SOM in the long‐term is limited in this area. A sound nutrient management system should strive to make a balance between maximizing crop production and sustaining soil quality.
Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices: Evidence from a semi‐arid region of Ethiopia
Authors: Kassie Menale , Zikhali Precious , Manjur Kebede , Edwards Sue 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn the wake of the resource constraints for external farm inputs faced by farmers in developing countries, sustainable agriculture practices that rely on renewable local or farm resources present desirable options for enhancing agriculture productivity. In this study, plot‐level data from the semi‐arid region of Ethiopia, Tigray are used to investigate the factors influencing farmers' decisions to adopt agriculture practices, with a particular focus on conservation tillage, compost and chemical fertilizer. A trivariate probit model is used to analyze the determinants of adoption of these practices. In addition, stochastic dominance analysis is used to compare the productivity impacts of compost with that of chemical fertilizer based on a six‐year cross‐sectional farm‐level dataset. Our results indicate heterogeneity with regard to the factors that influence adoption decisions of the three practices and the importance of both plot and household characteristics on influencing adoption decisions. In particular, we found that household endowments and access to information, among other factors, impact the choice of sustainable farming practices significantly. Furthermore, the use of stochastic dominance analysis supported the contention that sustainable farming practices enhance productivity. They even proved to be superior to the use of chemical fertilizers — justifying the need to investigate factors that influence adoption of these practices and to use this knowledge to formulate policies that encourage adoption.
The TRIPS Agreement and transfer of climate‐change‐related technologies to developing countries
Authors: Littleton Matthew 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDespite numerous international commitments to promote transfer of climate‐change‐related technologies to developing countries, such transfers are not occurring at a rate fast enough to aid these nations in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. The impact of the WTO Agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on transfer of these technologies is discussed through a detailed examination of relevant TRIPS provisions. The article also addresses options for improving technology transfer through exploitation of existing TRIPS flexibilities, modification of the Agreement, and other public and private legal and policy avenues.
LAMINARIOCOLAX SP. (PHAEOPHYCEAE) ASSOCIATED WITH GALL DEVELOPMENTS IN LESSONIA NIGRESCENS (PHAEOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Thomas Daniela , Beltrán Jessica , Flores Verónica , Contreras Loretto , Bollmann Edda , Correa Juan A. 
Published: September 2009

As part of a long‐term study on the biology and ecology of the intertidal kelp Lessonia nigrescens Bory, we report on the occurrence of gall development on this alga, identified the possible causal agent, and assessed the extent of the phenomenon in two wild stands of the host. Our results showed that galls affecting natural populations of L. nigrescens were associated with the infection by a filamentous brown algal endophyte of the genus Laminariocolax. Assignment to Laminariocolax of the endophytes isolated from cultured gall tissue was based on the (i) high internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence similarity and phylogenetic relationship between the Chilean isolates and several species of the genus Laminariocolax endophytic in other kelps, (ii) reproductive and vegetative features of the endophyte in culture, and (iii) anatomical agreement of fully developed galls of Lessonia with those described for other kelp galls caused by endophytic members of Laminariocolax. Unequivocal identification at the species level of the endophytes infecting Lessonia, however, awaits further studies.
Phytogeographical evidence for post‐glacial dispersal limitation of European beech forest species
Authors: Willner Wolfgang , Di Pietro Romeo , Bergmeier Erwin 
Published: September 2009

The post‐glacial migration of European beech Fagus sylvatica has been addressed by many studies using either genetic or fossil data or a combination of both. In contrast to this, only little is known about the migration history of beech forest understorey species. In a review of phytosociological literature, we identified 110 plant species which are closely associated with beech forest. We divided the distribution range of European beech forests into 40 geographical regions, and the presence or absence of each species was recorded for each region. We compared overall species numbers per region and numbers of narrow‐range species (species present in <10 regions). A multiple regression model was used to test for the explanatory value of three potential diversity controls: range in elevation, soil type diversity, and distance to the nearest potential refuge area. A hierarchical cluster analysis of the narrow‐range species was performed.The frequency of range sizes shows a U‐shaped distribution, with 42 species occurring in <10 regions. The highest number of beech forest species is found in the southern Alps and adjacent regions, and species numbers decrease with increasing distance from these regions. With only narrow‐range species taken into consideration, secondary maxima are found in Spain, the southern Apennines, the Carpathians, and Greece. Distance to the nearest potential refuge area is the strongest predictor of beech forest species richness, while altitudinal range and soil type diversity had little or no predictive value. The clusters of narrow‐range species are in good concordance with the glacial refuge areas of beech and other temperate tree species as estimated in recent studies. These findings support the hypothesis that the distribution of many beech forest species is limited by post‐glacial dispersal rather than by their environmental requirements.
Implant Osseointegration in Circumferential Bone Defects Treated with Latex‐Derived Proteins or Autogenous Bone in Dog's Mandible
Authors: Manfrin Arnez Maya Fernanda , Xavier Samuel Porfírio , Pinto Faria Paulo Esteves , Pedrosa Júnior Wagner Fernandes , Cunha Tatiana Ramirez , de Mendonça Ricardo José , Coutinho‐Netto Joaquim , Salata Luiz Antonio 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTBackground: In sites with diminished bone volume, the osseointegration of dental implants can be compromised. Innovative biomaterials have been developed to aid successful osseointegration outcomes.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of angiogenic latex proteins for improved bone formation and osseointegration of dental implants.Materials and Methods: Ten dogs were submitted to bilateral circumferential defects (5.0 × 6.3 mm) in the mandible. Dental implant (3.3 × 10.0 mm, TiUnite MK3™, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) was installed in the center of the defects. The gap was filled either with coagulum (Cg), autogenous bone graft (BG), or latex angiogenic proteins pool (LPP). Five animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Implant stability was evaluated using resonance frequency analysis (Osstell Mentor™, Osstell AB, Göteborg, Sweden), and bone formation was analyzed by histological and histometric analysis.Results: LPP showed bone regeneration similar to BG and Cg at 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively (p ≥ .05). Bone formation, osseointegration, and implant stability improved significantly from 4 to 12 weeks (p ≤ .05).Conclusion: Based on methodological limitations of this study, Cg alone delivers higher bone formation in the defect as compared with BG at 12 weeks; compared with Cg and BG, the treatment with LPP exhibits no advantage in terms of osteogenic potential in this experimental model, although overall osseointegration was not affected by the treatments employed in this study.