bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychometric properties of the ‘Spanish Burnout Inventory’ among employees working with people with intellectual disability
Authors: Gil‐Monte P. R. , Figueiredo‐Ferraz H. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  Burnout has been recognised as an important stress‐related problem for employees working with people with intellectual disability. Researchers have been troubled by some of the psychometric limitations of the questionnaires developed to evaluate burnout. This study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish Burnout Inventory.Method  The sample consisted of 697 Spanish employees working in intellectual disability services. The instrument is composed of 20 items distributed in four dimensions: Enthusiasm towards the job, Psychological exhaustion, Indolence and Guilt. The psychometric properties were examined through the following analyses: confirmatory factor analysis and reliability. To assess the factorial validity of the Spanish Burnout Inventory, four alternative models were tested.Results  The four‐factor model obtained an adequate data fit for the sample. The four sub‐scales exhibited high reliability, with Cronbach alphas exceeding the critical value of 0.70.Conclusions  This study provides evidence showing the adequate psychometric properties of an alternative burnout measure that could facilitate the diagnosis of individuals with burnout. It recommends taking feelings of guilt into consideration in interventions designed to improve staff burnout.
A longitudinal study of the intra‐country variations in the provision of residential care for adult persons with an intellectual disability
Authors: McConkey R. , Kelly F. , Craig S. , Mannan H. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  Small‐scale community accommodation is the preferred alternative internationally to the institutional and congregated services that previously dominated residential care for persons with intellectual disability. The strategies required for changing to new service models are not well researched.Method  The National Intellectual Disability Database in Ireland provided the data to explore the changes in provision that occurred over a 10‐year period and the extent of the intra‐country variation across eight administrative areas for health services. Data were extracted for 2 years, 1999 and 2009, for over 7000 adult persons resident in either congregated or community‐based accommodation. Comparative indicators were calculated for the eight areas as well as nationally. In addition, over 4000 persons living in congregated settings were tracked over the 10 years to ascertain relocations as well as gathering information on the numbers of people newly admitted to each type of accommodation.Results  Marked variations across the eight areas were found in the overall numbers of people in residential accommodation, the proportion of persons living in congregated settings and the extent of changes in the numbers of people in each type of accommodation. Moreover, fewer than 15% of people had relocated nationally from congregated settings over the 10‐year period and the number of new admissions to this form of provision remained high in certain areas.Conclusions  The implementation of new forms of provision was not uniform across Ireland and possible reasons are proposed. Among the wider lessons internationally is the need for robust systems to monitor service provision nationally and locally if equity of access is to be achieved.
The functional fitness capacity of adults with Down syndrome in South Africa
Authors: Terblanche E. , Boer P.‐H. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  It is well established that there is a relationship between physical inactivity and increased risk for diseases of lifestyle. Persons with Down syndrome (DS) are especially at risk because of physical and health impairments, as well as perceived and real barriers to participation in exercise. The purpose of the study was to establish the functional fitness capacity and predictors of performance of DS adults.Methods  Data were collected at various intellectual disability centres and private homes in seven provinces of South Africa. Three hundred and seventy‐one DS individuals (199 men and 172 women) from 18 to 66 years were tested for balance, flexibility, coordination, muscular strength and endurance, aerobic capacity and functional ability. Data were categorised according to gender and age groups (18–25, 26–35, 36–45, and >45 years). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the functional task and physical test items.Results  Down syndrome men performed significantly better on all but two tests compared with the women (P < 0.05). DS women performed better on the sit‐and‐reach flexibility item and the chair stand test; however, differences were not statistically significant from the men. Significant differences across age groups were observed for nine of the 13 functional fitness tests (P < 0.05). Muscular strength items, especially leg strength, significantly predicted functional performance in DS men and women. Aerobic capacity only predicted functional performance in DS men and sit‐and‐reach flexibility and dynamic balance only in DS women.Conclusions  Findings of this study provide important information on the functional capacity of DS adults and show which physical attributes contribute to functional performance. Consequently appropriate training programmes can be tailored for this population whom is known to have poor functional fitness.
Oxidative and nitrosative‐based signaling and associated post‐translational modifications orchestrate the acclimation of citrus plants to salinity stress
Authors: Tanou Georgia , Filippou Panagiota , Belghazi Maya , Job Dominique , Diamantidis Grigorios , Fotopoulos Vasileios , Molassiotis Athanassios 
Published: July 2012

SummaryReactive oxygen and nitrogen species are involved in a plethora of cellular responses in plants; however, our knowledge on the outcomes of oxidative and nitrosative signaling is still unclear. To better understand how oxidative and nitrosative signals are integrated to regulate cellular adjustments to external conditions, local and systemic responses were investigated in the roots and leaves of sour orange plants (Citrus aurantium L.) after root treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or sodium nitroprusside (a nitric oxide donor), followed by NaCl stress for 8 days. Phenotypic and physiological data showed that pre‐exposure to these treatments induced an acclimation to subsequent salinity stress that was accompanied by both local and systemic H2O2 and nitric oxide (NO) accumulation. Combined histochemical and fluorescent probe approaches showed the existence of a vascular‐driven long‐distance reactive oxygen species and NO signaling pathway. Transcriptional analysis of genes diagnostic for H2O2 and NO signaling just after treatments or after 8 days of salt stress revealed tissue‐ and time‐specific mechanisms controlling internal H2O2 and NO homeostasis. Furthermore, evidence is presented showing that protein carbonylation, nitration and S‐nitrosylation are involved in acclimation to salinity stress. In addition, this work enabled characterization of potential carbonylated, nitrated and nitrosylated proteins with distinct or overlapping signatures. This work provides a framework to better understand the oxidative and nitrosative priming network in citrus plants subjected to salinity conditions.
Computed Tomography and Cross‐Sectional Anatomy of the Metatarsus and Digits of the One‐humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) and Buffalo (Bos bubalis)
Authors: El‐Shafey A. , Kassab A. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThe purpose of the present study was to provide a detailed computed tomography (CT) and cross‐sectional anatomic reference of the normal metatarsus and digits for the camel and buffalo, as well as to compare between metatarsus and digits in these animals to outstand a basis for diagnosis of their diseases. Advantages, including depiction of detailed cross‐sectional anatomy, improved contrast resolution and computer reformatting, make it a potentially valuable diagnostic technique. The hind limbs of 12 healthy adult camel and buffalo were used. Clinically relevant anatomic structures were identified and labelled at each level in the corresponding images (CT and anatomic slices). CT images were used to identify the bony and soft tissue structures of the metatarsus and digits. The knowledge of normal anatomy of the camel and buffalo metatarsus and digits would serve as initial reference to the evaluation of CT images in these species.
Is partial tail loss the key to a complete understanding of caudal autotomy?
Authors: CROMIE GILLIAN L. , CHAPPLE DAVID G. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAutotomy, the self‐amputation of limbs or appendages, is a dramatic anti‐predator tactic that has repeatedly evolved in a range of invertebrate and vertebrate groups. In lizards, caudal autotomy enables the individual to break away from the predator's grasp, with the post‐autotomy thrashing of the tail distracting the attacker while the lizard makes its escape. This drastic defensive strategy should be selectively advantageous when the benefit (i.e. survival) exceeds the subsequent costs associated with tail loss. Here, we highlight how the position of autotomy along the length of the tail may influence the costs and benefits of the tactic, and thus the adaptive advantage of the strategy. We argue that most studies of caudal autotomy in lizards have focused on complete tail loss and failed to consider variation in the amount of tail shed, and, therefore, our understanding of this anti‐predator behaviour is more limited than previously thought. We suggest that future research should investigate how partial tail loss influences the likelihood of surviving encounters with a predator, and both the severity and duration of costs associated with caudal autotomy. Investigation of partial autotomy may also enhance our understanding of this defensive strategy in other vertebrate and invertebrate groups.
Feasibility of a new self‐expandable metallic stent for patients with malignant colorectal obstruction
Authors: Yoshida Shuntaro , Watabe Hirotsugu , Isayama Hiroyuki , Kogure Hirofumi , Nakai Yousuke , Yamamoto Natsuyo , Sasaki Takashi , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Ito Yukiko , Yashima Yoko , Sasahira Naoki , Hirano Kenji , Yamaji Yutaka , Tada Minoru , Omata Masao , Koike Kazuhiko 
Published: July 2012

AimStent migration due to peristalsis of the colon is one of the unresolved complications of colonic self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement. Axial force (AF), a recovery force of the stent to a straight position after bending, has been considered a factor influencing the conformability of the digestive tract. An uncovered SEMS (Niti‐S Enteral Colonic Uncovered Stent, D‐type; Taewoong, Inc., Gimpo, South Korea) with improved conformability is considered to decrease migration.MethodsThirty three consecutive patients with symptomatic colorectal obstruction between March 2006 and December 2011 underwent endoscopic stent placement for palliation to estimate the efficacy and safety of Niti‐S stents prospectively in four tertiary referral centers.ResultsTechnical and clinical success rates were 100% and 97%, respectively. Seventeen patients had the following complications: ingrowth (n = 6), overgrowth (n = 1), collapse of the SEMS (n = 1), stool impaction (n = 2), migration (n = 1), bleeding (n = 3), and tenesmus (n = 3). The patient with migration had no recurrent symptoms until death. Of these 17 patients, 10 required re‐interventions. Seven patients underwent an additional SEMS implantation. One patient underwent surgery for stoma creation. Two patients had stool impaction, and they underwent endoscopic cleaning. The median duration of patency was 347.0 ± 65.5 days. The mean survival time after stent insertion was 240.1 ± 39.9 days.ConclusionThe new SEMS effectively relieves malignant colorectal obstruction. Good conformability, according to the very low AF, may contribute to the low incidence of migration.
A unified statistical model for S‐N fatigue curves: probabilistic definition
Authors: PAOLINO D. S. , CHIANDUSSI G. , ROSSETTO M. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTIn recent years, experimental tests exploring the gigacycle fatigue properties of materials suggest the introduction of modifications in well‐known statistical fatigue life models. Usual fatigue life models, characterized by a single failure mechanism and by the presence of the fatigue limit, have been integrated by models that can take into account the occurrence of two failure mechanisms and do not consider the presence of the fatigue limit. The general case, in which more than two failure mechanisms coexist with the fatigue limit, has not been proposed yet. The paper presents a unified statistical model which can take into account any number of failure mechanisms and the possible presence of the fatigue limit. The case of S‐N curves with different fatigue life distributions coexisting for the entire stress range covered by fatigue tests is also considered. The adaptability of the statistical model to the S‐N curves proposed in the open literature is demonstrated by qualitative numerical examples.
Selective and regulated gene expression in murine Purkinje cells by in utero electroporation
Authors: Nishiyama Jun , Hayashi Yukari , Nomura Toshihiro , Miura Eriko , Kakegawa Wataru , Yuzaki Michisuke 
Published: July 2012

AbstractCerebellar Purkinje cells, which convey the only output from the cerebellar cortex, play an essential role in cerebellar functions, such as motor coordination and motor learning. To understand how Purkinje cells develop and function in the mature cerebellum, an efficient method for molecularly perturbing them is needed. Here we demonstrate that Purkinje cell progenitors at embryonic day (E)11.5 could be efficiently and preferentially transfected by spatially directed in utero electroporation (IUE) with an optimized arrangement of electrodes. Electrophysiological analyses indicated that the electroporated Purkinje cells maintained normal membrane properties, synaptic responses and synaptic plasticity at postnatal days 25–28. By combining the L7 promoter and inducible Cre/loxP system with IUE, transgenes were expressed even more specifically in Purkinje cells and in a temporally controlled manner. We also show that three different fluorescent proteins could be simultaneously expressed, and that Bassoon, a large synaptic protein, could be expressed in the electroporated Purkinje cells. Moreover, phenotypes of staggerer mutant mice, which have a deletion in the gene encoding retinoid‐related orphan receptor α (RORα1), were recapitulated by electroporating a dominant‐negative form of RORα1 into Purkinje cells at E11.5. Together, these results indicate that this new IUE protocol, which allows the selective, effective and temporally regulated expression of multiple foreign genes transfected into Purkinje cell progenitors in vivo, without changing the cells’ physiological characteristics, is a powerful tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying early Purkinje cell developmental events, such as dendritogenesis and migration, and synaptic plasticity in mature Purkinje cells.
Biological control of the fruit‐spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens using weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina on African mahoganies in Australia
Authors: Peng Renkang , Christian Keith , Reilly Don 
Published: July 2012

African mahogany Khaya senegalensis is a high‐value timber tree. Pilot plantings showed that the fruit‐spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens causes severe damage of the tree in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia. The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an efficient biocontrol agent in some horticulture crops. To investigate whether the ants control this pest, field experiments were conducted from April 2006 to January 2009 at two study sites in the Darwin area, Australia. A laboratory experiment was carried out in March 2007 at Berrimah Farm.
During the experimental period, in the weaver ant treatments, the overall percentage of trees damaged by the pest was 0–8% at both sites, and the damaged trees were attacked once only. In the treatments without weaver ants, however, the damage level was > 80% at Berrimah Farm and 31–100% at Howard Springs, and the damaged trees were attacked more than once.
The mean percentage of trees damaged per monitoring occasion was 0–2.6% in the weaver ant treatments at both sites, whereas, in the treatments without the ants, the damage percentages were 14.2–27.0% at Howard Springs and 28.2–48.6% at Berrimah Farm.
Extrafloral nectar of African mahoganies is attractive to weaver ants. Fruit‐spotting bugs only damage the tender parts of flushing shoots and growing tips. Weaver ants live on sugar solution and meat, and they frequently harvest extrafloral nectar on growing shoots, on which they catch nymphs of the pest for their meat supply. The aggressive behaviour of the ants also repels the pest away from flushing shoots.
The data suggest that weaver ants were effective biocontrol agents of fruit‐spotting bugs, and the ants can be used to manage the pest on African mahoganies.
The present study demonstrates that the introduced African mahogany comprises another major host of the fruit‐spotting bug.
Higher rate of colorectal cancer among patients with pyogenic liver abscess withKlebsiella pneumoniaethan those without: an 11‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Huang W.‐K. , Chang J. W.‐C. , See L.‐C. , Tu H.‐T. , Chen J.‐S. , Liaw C.‐C. , Lin Y.‐C. , Yang T.‐S. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has been reported as an early manifestation of colorectal cancer (CRC) in adults, but few studies have investigated this relationship. It is unclear if patients withKlebsiella pneumoniaePLA are at increased risk of subsequent CRC. Our aims were to estimate the incidence of CRC among patients with PLA and to compare the incidence of CRC betweenK. pneumoniaePLA and non‐K. pneumoniaePLA groups.Method We conducted a retrospective study of patients with PLA diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 at a medical centre in northern Taiwan. CRC status and survival status were determined until December 2010. Incidence data from the general population were retrieved from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Outcome measures were defined as standardized incidence ratio and the incidence rate per 100 000 person‐years.Results This study included 2294 patients, of whom 1194 (52%) hadK. pneumoniaeinfection. During the follow‐up period, 54 (2.3%) patients were diagnosed with CRC, corresponding to an overall incidence rate of 669.1 (95% CI, 490.7–847.6) per 100 000 person‐years. The adjusted hazard ratio of CRC was 2.68 times greater for patients withK. pneumoniaePLA than for those with non‐K. pneumoniaePLA (95% CI, 1.40–5.11).Conclusion Patients withK. pneumoniaePLA had a significantly higher rate of subsequent CRC than did patients with non‐K. pneumoniaePLA. Colonoscopy is recommended to detect occult colonic malignancy in patients with PLA, particularly for patients over 60 years of age and withK. pneumoniae.
High‐frequency mini‐probe ultrasound as a useful adjunct in the management of patients with malignant colorectal polyps
Authors: Haji A. , Ryan S. , Bjarnason I. , Papagrigoriadis S. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim  Colorectal polyps with a focus of malignancy, identified postpolypectomy, pose a management challenge of whether endoscopic treatment is adequate or whether further surgical resection is required. This study assessed 12‐ and 20‐MHz colonoscopic ultrasound to evaluate the presence of residual disease and local lymph nodes.Method  Consecutive cases of all colorectal polyps with a focus of malignancy were included. Colonoscopic high‐frequency ultrasound was performed (20‐MHz mini‐probes for residual polyps and 12‐MHz ultrasound for local lymph nodes) in the region of previous polypectomy. Biopsies were taken of the polypectomy site if any abnormalities were seen.Results  Twenty‐one malignant polyps (sigmoid, n = 10; rectum, n = 8; transverse colon, n = 1; ascending colon, n = 1; and caecum, n = 1) were identified. All were invasive adenocarcinomas; 12 were intramucosal and nine were submucosal (seven sm1 lesions in the upper third of the submucosa; and two sm2 lesions in the middle third of the submucosa). Excision was histologically complete in 12 patients, four had involved margins and histology was uncertain in five owing to diathermy artefacts. Further colonoscopy revealed a residual abnormality in eight patients. The 12‐ and 20‐MHz ultrasound imaging revealed mucosal irregularity with normal bowel‐wall layers and no lymph‐node involvement, with normal histology. High‐frequency ultrasound was normal in the remaining 13 patients. At the time of writing, 15 (72%) of the 21 patients were disease free without further surgery. Six of the 21 patients underwent surgery, despite normal high‐frequency ultrasound findings, because of submucosal invasion (sm1 or sm2) and uncertain completeness of resection. The specimens were free of cancer in all six patients.Conclusion  High‐frequency ultrasound is feasible for the assessment of colorectal malignant polyps.
Comparative morphology of the pectoral fin spine of the Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus, the Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, and the Starry sturgeon Acipenser stellatus in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Bakhshalizadeh Shima , Bani Ali , Abdolmalaki Shahram 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe morphological characteristics of the pectoral fin spine were compared in three species of sturgeon, the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus), the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), and the Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), all sampled from the Caspian Sea. On the basis of morphological characters of the pectoral fin spine, 62.2% of the individuals were correctly classified into separate groups. The cluster analysis also divided the three species into two major subgroups. Acipenser persicus and A. gueldenstaedtii were grouped together, suggesting a similar evolutionary basis. Significant morphological heterogeneity in pectoral fin spine characteristics was observed among the three sturgeon species. Principal component analysis identified the largest differences were in the pectoral fin spine size and the angle between distal pectoral fin spine and the horizontal line (A°). The first and second principal components (PC1 and PC2) of all observations accounted for 64.19% and 14.33% of the total variation, respectively. The combination of all analyses showed the relevance of applying pectoral fin spine shape for interspecific distinction of the three species of sturgeons.
How Does Chinese Local Government Respond to Citizen Satisfaction Surveys? A Case Study of Foshan City (中国地方政府如何响应公民满意度调查？来自广东省佛山市的案例研究)
Authors: Gao (高洁) Jie 
Published: July 2012

Three decades of economic liberalisation in China have reshaped relationships between the state, market and community to a remarkable degree. In recent years, a growing body of literature has documented the rise of citizen satisfaction surveys in assessing the performance of Chinese local government. Yet little is known about how Chinese local government responds to such surveys. This article addresses this gap. Based on a case study of Foshan City in Guangdong Province, this article shows that information in citizen satisfaction surveys is used in two major ways in this locality: the city's leadership officials use the information to support pre‐existing policies while departmental officials use it to improve service delivery. This study shows that, with the rising power of the community, citizen satisfaction surveys can be an important intermediary between the Chinese state and its citizens and help local government to be more responsive to citizen needs.中国过去三十年来的经济改革在很大程度上重塑了政府、市场与社会的关系。近年来，越来越多的研究开始关注公民满意度调查在评估中国地方政府绩效中的使用。然而，对于地方政府如何响应这些调查的结果却知之尚少。本文试图解答这个问题。文章通过对广东省佛山市的案例研究发现，公民满意度调查中的信息在该地主要用于两个方面：市领导使用这些信息来支持既有改革和调整政策投入，而主管改革的部门官员则使用这些信息来改善公共服务。本研究表明，随着社会的力量不断增强，公民满意度调查或可成为中国地方政府与公民之间的重要媒介，并使地方政府对公民的需求更具响应性。