bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of personality on self‐rated health in a 1‐year randomized controlled trial of chronic illness self‐management
Authors: Jerant Anthony , Chapman Benjamin , Duberstein Paul , Franks Peter 
Published: July 2009

Objective. Personality factors moderate self‐efficacy enhancing effects of some illness self‐management interventions, but their influence on self‐rated health is unclear. This study examined whether high neuroticism and low conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness (the distressed personality profile) moderated the effects of the homing in on health (HIOH) illness self‐management intervention on mental and physical health status.Design. Analysis of data from 384 subjects completing a randomized controlled trial of HIOH.Methods. Regression analyses examined effects of NEO‐five factor inventory scores on SF‐36 mental component summary (MCS‐36) and physical component summary (PCS‐36) scores (baseline; 2, 4, and 6 weeks; 6 months; 1 year), adjusting for age, gender, and study group.Results. Baseline MCS‐36 scores were worse in those with the distressed personality profile relative to others: high neuroticism (13.3 points worse, 95% confidence interval (CI)=11.0, 15.7) and low conscientiousness (6.6 points worse, 95% CI=4.1, 9.2), extraversion (10.1 points worse, 95% CI=7.7, 12.5) and agreeableness (4.2 points worse, 95% CI=1.6, 6.8). Intervention subjects had better MCS‐36 scores at 4 and 6 weeks, and benefits were confined to participants with low conscientiousness (4 weeks – 3.7 points better, 95% CI=0.2, 71; 6 weeks – 5.0 points better, 95% CI=1.57, 8.4). There were no intervention or personality effects on PCS‐36 scores.Conclusions. Chronically ill self‐management intervention recipients with the distressed personality profile had worse self‐rated mental health, and conscientiousness moderated the short‐term effects of the intervention on self‐rated mental health. Measuring personality may help identify individuals more likely to benefit from self‐management interventions.
Response shift in the assessment of quality of life among people attending cardiac rehabilitation
Authors: Dempster Martin , Carney Rosa , McClements Roger 
Published: July 2009

Objectives. To examine whether any response shift in quality of life (QoL) assessment over the course of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme could be explained by changes in individuals' internal standards (recalibration), values (reprioritization), and/or conceptualization of QoL and the extent to which any response shift could be explained by health locus of control, optimism, and coping strategy.Design. Longitudinal survey design.Methods. The schedule for evaluation of individual QoL‐direct weighting (SEIQoL‐DW) was administered at the beginning and end of a CR programme. At the end of the programme, the SEIQoL‐DW then‐test was also administered to measure response shift. A total of 57 participants completed these measures and other measures to assess health locus of control, optimism, and coping.Results. Response shift effects were observed in this population mainly due to recalibration. When response shift was incorporated into the analysis of QoL a larger treatment effect was observed. Active coping as a mechanism in the response shift model was found to have a significant positive correlation with response shift.Conclusion. This study showed that response shift occurs during CR. The occurrence of response shift in QoL ratings over time for this population could have implications for the estimation of the effectiveness of the intervention.
Direct Tensile-Shear Test (DTS) on Unsaturated Kaolinite Clay
Authors: Vesga Luis F. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
In this study, constant-water-content direct-tensile-shear (DTS) tests were performed on specimens of kaolinite clay using a new apparatus. Existing studies on strength of clayey soils consider soils subjected to tensile stress, compression-shear stress, or triaxial stress, but only few of them account for combinations of tension and shear. The clay specimens used in this study had an average water content of 15 %. At this water content, the clay is unsaturated, the pore water distribution corresponds to the complete-pendular state, and the soil is subjected to an equivalent effective stress of 400 kPa when external confinement stress is not applied. Each specimen in the DTS test is subjected to an initial tensile stress that is maintained constant while the shear stress is gradually increased until the specimen fails. The results from DTS tests combined with other constant-water-content triaxial compression tests in the same clay produced a failure envelope defined by tensile as well as frictional components. It was found that the Mohr circles derived from the DTS tests are tangent at a common point; this point represents the tensile strength of the material. In other words, the direct shear stress applied produced a tensile failure. These concepts are helpful for understanding and analyzing the behavior of unsaturated soils and other materials subjected to tensile-shear state of stresses, which may lead to formation and/or propagation of cracks. Examples of soils subjected to tensile-shear state of stresses are slopes and desiccating soils and landfill covers.
Evaluation of Practical Procedure for Compaction Density and Unit Weight of Rockfill Material
Authors: Rolston Jack W. , Lade Poul V. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
A compaction control procedure for rockfill is proposed on the basis of a method devised for determination of the maximum density of a mixture of soil, gravel, cobbles, and boulders. The procedure is straightforward and involves compaction of rocks (gravel, cobbles, and boulders) separately and compaction of the soil fraction in the usual manner. Only one compaction test is necessary for the rocks because the minimum void ratio for rocks is insensitive to water content. Mathematical formulas are given to calculate the maximum dry density (or unit weight) of the rockfill. These formulas depend on the relative amounts of soil and rocks in the total sample. If the grain size distribution curve is shallower than that for the “maximum density grading curve,” which is often the case for rockfill, then the distinction between soil particles and rock particles is relatively unimportant because the smaller particles fit in the voids between the larger particles.
Ignition Sensitivity of Nonmetallic Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Air (NITROX): A Never Ending Story in SCUBA Diving?
Authors: Binder Chr. , Brock T. , Hesse O. , Lehné S. , Tillack T. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers use different mixtures of nitrogen and oxygen as breathing gas. The so-called NITROX mixture often contains more oxygen than is contained in air and may increase the fire hazard in diving equipment. The SCUBA diving community, however, still differentiates between NITROX mixtures that contain more than 40 % oxygen or less. They consider a mixture with up to 40 % oxygen often as regular air. In filling operations of SCUBA cylinders, gas flows from high pressure to low pressure. Because of compressive heating, a sudden temperature rise in the gas occurs and nonmetallic materials, e.g., seals may ignite. BAM has used the pneumatic impact test to investigate the ignition sensitivity of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), fluorelastomer (FPM), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and nylon (PA 6.6) to gaseous impacts in synthetic air, in various NITROX mixtures, and in pure oxygen. The test results clearly show that for nonmetallic materials, the maximum pressure of nonreaction in NITROX mixtures decreases at a content of 29 % oxygen in comparison to those in air. In addition, autoignition temperatures of the nonmetallic materials were also determined. The findings of this investigation support very well the results of other publications on oxygen enrichment. As a consequence of this study, in SCUBA diving, the same safety requirements for NITROX mixtures with more than 21 % oxygen should be applied as for pure oxygen in the industry.
The Importance of Quality Assurance and Batch Testing on Nonmetallic Materials Used for Oxygen Service
Authors: Binder Chr. , Arlt K. , Brock T. , Hartwig P. , Hesse O. , Tillack T. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
In oxygen components, even for high pressure oxygen service, it is possible to use organic seals, lubricants, or filling liquids, provided their oxygen compatibility has been checked. However, fire incidents in oxygen systems still occur because these materials ignite and burn. There are many reasons, such as incorrect design, contamination, faulty operation, unsuitable materials, etc., why this happens. Another cause that is overseen very often is proper maintenance on the user’s side. It is very important to replace in a component a worn out seal by the same one with identical oxygen compatibility properties. On the part of the producer or distributor of materials, batch testing and also a quality assurance system play a key role in the safety of an oxygen component. Any change in the manufacturing process of a material, or in its composition, and even its further processing may have an impact on its oxygen compatibility and finally on the component in which it is used. Numerous investigations by BAM over decades reveal the influence of minor constituents and fillers on a material’s oxygen compatibility. The test results in this paper show how important it is to regularly perform batch testing on nonmetallic materials used for oxygen service and to have a quality assurance system that helps minimize incidents where unsuitable materials are chosen by accident.
ASTM Proficiency Testing Programs for Biofuels
Authors: Nadkarni R. A. Kishore , McKlindon Anne 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Proficiency testing programs (PTPs) play an important role in maintaining the quality of data produced in a laboratory. PTPs are a useful statistical quality assurance (SQA) tools to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of a laboratory’s performance. Many laboratory accreditation agencies require laboratory participation in such programs. Two significant PTPs sponsored by American Society for Testing and Materials Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants have been the programs on biodiesel and fuel-ethanol that were launched in the past few years. The data obtained from these SQA programs will be presented and analyzed for the lessons learned and the changes that are necessary in these PTP programs and biofuels specifications.
Kursk - Mythen und Wirklichkeit einer Schlacht
Authors: Töppel Roman 
Published: July 2009

Vorspann
Die Frage nach der Wirklichkeit des Krieges ist eine der schwierigsten historiographischen Fragen; das Beispiel der Schlacht von Kursk kann das veranschaulichen. Obwohl sie als größte Panzerschlacht der Welt und Wendepunkt des deutsch-sowjetischen Krieges stets im Mittelpunkt des Interesses stand, sind zentrale Fragen nach wie vor ungeklärt. Sie werden durch diese konzise Schlachtbeschreibung nicht nur definitiv beantwortet. Diese zeigt auch, fast wie in einem Lehrstück, wie sehr gerade eine politische, psychologische und moralische Grenz- und Ausnahmesituation wie der Krieg die Mythenbildung fördert.
Landshut in Mogadischu. Das außenpolitische Krisenmanagement der Bundesregierung angesichts der terroristischen Herausforderung 1977
Authors: Geiger Tim 
Published: July 2009

Vorspann
Somalia und Mogadischu waren nicht erste Wahl. Andreas Baader, der Chef der Roten Armee Fraktion, und seine Mitgefangenen wollten im Falle einer Freipressung in andere Länder ausreisen. Die Bundesregierung vereitelte diese Pläne und legte sich dann auch auf eine Politik der Unnachgiebigkeit fest, als ein palästinensisches Kommando die Lufthansa-Maschine „Landshut“ entführte und die Freilassung der Häftlinge in Stammheim verlangte. Der Historiker Tim Geiger vom Institut für Zeitgeschichte schildert diese Ereignisse und die geschickte Verhandlungstaktik von Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski in Somalia. Er zeigt aber auch, mit welchen Mitteln Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt und sein Mann vor Ort operierten, als sie die Regierung von Siad Barre zur Mithilfe veranlassten. Vor allem mit Blick auf die selbstauferlegte Verpflichtung, keine Waffen in Krisenregionen zu liefern, gingen sie bis hart an die Grenze des Erlaubten.
Multilocus Patterns of Nucleotide Diversity and Divergence Reveal Positive Selection at Candidate Genes Related to Cold Hardiness in Coastal Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii)
Authors: Eckert Andrew J , Wegrzyn Jill L , Pande Barnaly , Jermstad Kathleen D , Lee Jennifer M , Liechty John D , Tearse Brandon R , Krutovsky Konstantin V , Neale David B 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Forest trees exhibit remarkable adaptations to their environments. The genetic basis for phenotypic adaptation to climatic gradients has been established through a long history of common garden, provenance, and genecological studies. The identities of genes underlying these traits, however, have remained elusive and thus so have the patterns of adaptive molecular diversity in forest tree genomes. Here, we report an analysis of diversity and divergence for a set of 121 cold-hardiness candidate genes in coastal Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii). Application of several different tests for neutrality, including those that incorporated demographic models, revealed signatures of selection consistent with selective sweeps at three to eight loci, depending upon the severity of a bottleneck event and the method used to detect selection. Given the high levels of recombination, these candidate genes are likely to be closely linked to the target of selection if not the genes themselves. Putative homologs in Arabidopsis act primarily to stabilize the plasma membrane and protect against denaturation of proteins at freezing temperatures. These results indicate that surveys of nucleotide diversity and divergence, when framed within the context of further association mapping experiments, will come full circle with respect to their utility in the dissection of complex phenotypic traits into their genetic components.
C-Terminal Flap Endonuclease (rad27) Mutations: Lethal Interactions With a DNA Ligase I Mutation (cdc9-p) and Suppression by Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (POL30) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Karanja Kenneth K , Livingston Dennis M 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
During lagging-strand DNA replication in eukaryotic cells primers are removed from Okazaki fragments by the flap endonuclease and DNA ligase I joins nascent fragments. Both enzymes are brought to the replication fork by the sliding clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). To understand the relationship among these three components, we have carried out a synthetic lethal screen with cdc9-p, a DNA ligase mutation with two substitutions (F43A/F44A) in its PCNA interaction domain. We recovered the flap endonuclease mutation rad27-K325* with a stop codon at residue 325. We created two additional rad27 alleles, rad27-A358* with a stop codon at residue 358 and rad27-pX8 with substitutions of all eight residues of the PCNA interaction domain. rad27-pX8 is temperature lethal and rad27-A358* grows slowly in combination with cdc9-p. Tests of mutation avoidance, DNA repair, and compatibility with DNA repair mutations showed that rad27-K325* confers severe phenotypes similar to rad27Δ, rad27-A358* confers mild phenotypes, and rad27-pX8 confers phenotypes intermediate between the other two alleles. High-copy expression of POL30 (PCNA) suppresses the canavanine mutation rate of all the rad27 alleles, including rad27Δ. These studies show the importance of the C terminus of the flap endonuclease in DNA replication and repair and, by virtue of the initial screen, show that this portion of the enzyme helps coordinate the entry of DNA ligase during Okazaki fragment maturation.
Temperature-Sensitive Mutations Made Easy: Generating Conditional Mutations by Using Temperature-Sensitive Inteins That Function Within Different Temperature Ranges
Authors: Tan Guihong , Chen Ming , Foote Christopher , Tan Change 
Published: July 2009

AbstractReversible and easy to use, temperature-sensitive (TS) mutations are powerful tools for studying gene function. However, TS alleles are rare and difficult to generate and identify, and this has limited their use in most multicellular organisms. We have generated and characterized 41 intein switches, temperature-sensitive Sce VMA mutations that splice only at the permissive temperatures to generate intact host proteins. At nonpermissive temperatures, they fail to splice, resulting in a loss of function of the proteins in which they reside. By inserting an intein switch into a protein of interest, one can turn on and off the activities of the engineered protein with a simple temperature shift. The 41 TS inteins function in five different temperature ranges, with permissive temperatures ranging from 18° to 30°. This collection makes it possible to choose a TS-intein switch according to the optimal growth temperature of an organism or to suit a special experimental design.
METT-10, A Putative Methyltransferase, Inhibits Germ Cell Proliferative Fate in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Dorsett Maia , Westlund Bethany , Schedl Tim 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Germ-line stem cells are unique because they either self-renew through mitosis or, at a certain frequency, switch to meiosis and produce gametes. The switch from proliferation to meiosis is tightly regulated, and aberrations in switching result in either too little or too much proliferation. To understand the genetic basis of this regulation, we characterized loss-of-function mutations and a novel tumorous allele of Caenorhabditis elegansmett-10, which encodes a conserved putative methyltransferase. We show that METT-10 is a nuclear protein that acts in the germ line to inhibit the specification of germ-cell proliferative fate. METT-10 also promotes vulva, somatic gonad, and embryo development and ensures meiotic development of those germ cells that do differentiate. In addition, phenotypic analysis of a mett-10 null allele reveals that METT-10 enables mitotic cell cycle progression. The finding that METT-10 functions to inhibit germ-cell proliferative fate, despite promoting mitotic cell cycle progression of those germ cells that do proliferate, separates the specification of proliferative fate from its execution.
Reducing Immunization Discomfort in 4- to 6-Year-Old Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Berberich F. Ralph , Landman Zachary 
Published: July 2009

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to test a multifaceted distraction method designed to reduce injection-associated pain in school-aged children.METHODS: A clinical trial evaluated 41 children, 4 to 6 years of age, who were given 3 standard prekindergarten immunizations; 21 were assigned randomly to an office routine control group, whereas 20 received a multifaceted, discomfort-reducing intervention. The intervention added verbal suggestions of diminished sensation and a visual focusing activity to the use of ethyl chloride, an established pain-reducing measure. The distraction materials used for the intervention consisted of topical ethyl chloride spray, an improvised, plastic, multipronged arm gripper, and a vibrating instrument descending on the contralateral arm, which provided the focusing task and visual distraction.RESULTS: According to patient and parent Faces Pain Scale-Revised scores and nonblinded, video-taped observations scored according to the face-legs-activity-crying-consolability method, the intervention group showed highly significant reductions in pain and discomfort, compared with the control group (patient self-report, P &lt; .0013; parent report, P &lt; .0002; observation score, P &lt; .0001).CONCLUSION: This multifaceted distraction intervention reduced significantly the pain and discomfort of childhood immunizations in children 4 to 6 years of age.
Injuries Associated With Bathtubs and Showers Among Children in the United States
Authors: Mao Shengyi J. , McKenzie Lara B. , Xiang Huiyun , Smith Gary A. 
Published: July 2009

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to describe the epidemiological features of injuries associated with bathtubs and showers, especially those related to slips, trips, and falls, among US children.
METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by using nationally representative data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 through 2007 for children ≤18 years of age.
RESULTS: There were an estimated 791 200 bathtub- and shower-related injuries among children ≤18 years of age who were treated in US emergency departments in 1990–2007, with an average of 43 600 cases per year or ∼5.9 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The largest number of injuries involved children 2 years of age; children ≤4 years accounted for 54.3% of injuries. The most common diagnosis was laceration (59.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was a slip, trip, or fall, accounting for 81.0% of cases or 4.6 injuries per 10 000 US children per year. The most frequently injured body part was the face (48.0%), followed by the head/neck (15.0%). The majority (71.3%) of injuries occurred in a bathtub. Of the cases with a known place of injury, 97.1% occurred at home. An estimated 2.8% of patients were admitted, transferred to another hospital, or held for observation.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on bathtub- and shower-related injuries using nationally representative data. Slips, trips, and falls in bathtubs and showers are a common cause of injury among children, especially children ≤4 years of age. The incidence of these injuries may be decreased by increasing the coefficient of friction of bathtub and shower surfaces.
Park Location Affects Forest Protection: Land Characteristics Cause Differences in Park Impacts across Costa Rica
Authors: Pfaff Alexander , Robalino Juan , Sanchez-Azofeifa G. Arturo , Andam Kwaw S , Ferraro Paul J 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
To support conservation planning, we ask whether a park's impact on deforestation rates varies with observable land characteristics that planners could use to prioritize sites. Using matching methods to address bias from non-random location, we find deforestation impacts vary greatly due to park lands' characteristics. Avoided deforestation is greater if parks are closer to the capital city, in sites closer to national roads, and on lower slopes. In allocating scarce conservation resources, policy makers may consider many factors such as the ecosystem services provided by a site and the costs of acquiring the site. Pfaff and Sanchez 2004 claim impact can rise with a focus upon threatened land, all else equal. We provide empirical support in the context of Costa Rica's renowned park system. This insight, alongside information on eco-services and land costs, should guide investments.