bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral Streptococcus species in pre‐term and full‐term children – a longitudinal study
Authors: KIM SEOW W. , LAM JANICE H. C. , TSANG ANNETTA K. L. , HOLCOMBE TREVOR , BIRD PHILIP S. 
Published: September 2009

Background.  Despite high clinical significance, the microbiology of the dental biofilm in young children remains poorly understood.Aim.  The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate five Streptoccocus species commonly found in the oral biofilm of children, namely Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus salivarius to determine their relative numbers in caries‐free pre‐term children, and age‐matched full‐term controls.Design.  Plaque and saliva samples were obtained from 15 pre‐term children and 15 age‐matched controls at ages 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. A quantitative real‐time PCR technique was used to determine the numbers of five species of Streptococcus using probes and primers specific for each bacterial species.Results.  All species of Streptococcus generally increased from ages 3 to 24 months. The relative ratios of the bacteria remained fairly constant at all ages studied (P > 0.1). There were no significant differences in numbers of all Streptococcus species between pre‐term children and full‐term controls at all the ages investigated between.Conclusion.  The results show that the relative numbers of S. mutans, S. sobrinus, S. mitis, S. sanguinis, and S. salivarius remain relatively constant from 3 to 24 months of age in caries‐free pre‐ and full‐term children.
Oral health status in a group of children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy type 1 over a 4‐year period
Authors: ENGVALL MONICA , SJÖGREEN LOTTA , KJELLBERG HEIDRUN , ROBERTSON AGNETA , SUNDELL STEN , KILIARIDIS STAVROS 
Published: September 2009

Aim. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate changes in oral health, orofacial function, and dental care in children with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) in comparison with a control group.Methods. Thirty‐six DM1 patients and 33 control patients out of originally 37 in each group were examined on two occasions about 4 years apart. Caries, plaque, and gingivitis were registered, mouth opening capacity assessed and the ability to cooperate in dental treatment estimated. Questionnaires concerning different aspects of oral health and care, symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), and dental trauma were also used.Results. The DM1‐patients, in particular the boys, had significantly more caries, plaque, and gingivitis than the control patients on both occasions and the increase in decayed missing or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) and surfaces (DMFS) was significantly larger. They received more dental care and had lower cooperation ability. Mouth opening capacity and increase of it was significantly lower and symptoms of TMD were significantly more frequent.Conclusions. DM1 patients, as they grow older, have increasing amounts of plaque and risk of caries and gingivitis. They have more TMD problems. Behaviour management problems do not seem to decrease with age. Increased prophylactic care is essential for DM1 patients.
Everyday‐ and dental‐pain experiences in healthy Swedish 8–19 year olds: an epidemiological study
Authors: KREKMANOVA LARISA , BERGIUS MARIANNE , ROBERTSON AGNETA , SABEL NINA , HAFSTRÖM CAROLINE , KLINGBERG GUNILLA , BERGGREN ULF 
Published: September 2009

Background. Very little is known about children’s everyday pains and dental treatment pains. A child’s gender, age, and level of dental anxiety are factors that could interplay with the perception of pain and are thus worth studying.Aim. The objectives of this study were to investigate the frequency and reported intensity levels of children’s everyday‐ and dental‐pain experiences, and to study the reported pains in relation to gender, age, and dental anxiety.Design. Three hundred and sixty‐eight consecutive patients (8–19 years, mean age 13.5 years) from three different Public Dental Service were recruited. Pain ratings were obtained using McGrath’s Children’s Pain Inventory list and some additional items. Dental anxiety was estimated by the Dental Anxiety Scale.Results. Most frequently experienced everyday pains were headache and tummy/stomach ache. Among dental treatment events, dental injection was reported to be most often ranked as painful, and more frequently by girls. Both dental and everyday pains were rated higher grouping children with high dental anxiety.Conclusions. The frequency of pain experiences are the same in Swedish children as in other populations. There is a relation between dental anxiety and the perception of pain.
Do maternal factors influence the dental health status of Nigerian pre‐school children?
Authors: ABIOLA ADENIYI A. , EYITOPE OGUNBODEDE O. , SONNY JEBODA O. , MORENIKE FOLAYAN O. 
Published: September 2009

Objective.  This study was designed to investigate the relationship between maternal related factors and the dental health status of pre‐school children in Lagos State, Nigeria.Methods.  A cross‐sectional study of 404 pairs of mothers and their pre‐school children was conducted at two selected primary health centres in Lagos State Nigeria. An interviewer administered questionnaire recorded the mother’s socio‐demographic characteristics and assessed her perception of her child’s dental needs, attitude to oral disease prevention, level of dental health knowledge and attitude to oral health. The child’s dental status was assessed using the dft index (caries status) and the simplified oral hygiene index. Data analysis tools included Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression.Results.  Maternal age, maternal education, location of residence, maternal knowledge, and attitudes were all positively correlated with the child’s caries and oral hygiene status. There were statistically significant correlations between maternal attitude and the oral hygiene index (P = 0.01) and dft score (P = 0.001). Maternal age also had a significant relationship with the child’s caries status (P = 0.003).Conclusion.  This study concluded that maternal age and attitude were important determinants of caries experience whereas the mother’s attitude was an important determinant of oral cleanliness in pre‐school children in Lagos State Nigeria.
Animal disturbances promote shrub maintenance in a desertified grassland
Authors: Eldridge David J. , Whitford Walter G. , Duval Benjamin D. 
Published: September 2009

Summary1. Soil disturbance by animals affects the availability of water, nutrients, sediment and seeds, which are critical for the maintenance of functional ecosystems. We examined long‐lived faunal structures across six vegetation communities in the northern Chihuahuan desert of New Mexico, USA, testing the proposition that disturbances in undesertified grassland differ in magnitude and effect from those in desertified grassland.2. Vertebrate and invertebrate disturbances totalled 18.9 structures ha−1across 18 sites. The most common were pits and mounds of American badgers (Taxidea taxus,32%), nests of the antAphaenogaster cockerelli(18.8%) and mounds of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis, 31%).3. Desertification was associated with a doubling of the density of structures, but no effects on cover or volume. The greatest density was in desertified mesquite and creosote bush shrublands, and the lowest density in undesertified grass swales. Badger and wood rat (Neotomasp.) mounds were significant indicators of desertified communities.4. Desertification did not affect the density of kangaroo rat mounds (6.7 ha−1in black grama grasslands and creosote bush shrublands). However, mounds in creosote bush shrubland were smaller and had more and larger shrubs than adjacent inter‐mound hummocks. Desertification was associated with increases in the density ofAphaenogaster cockerelliandTrachymyrmex smithiinests, and declines inPogonomyrmex rugosusnests. Substantial increases in soil nitrate and electrical conductivity onMyrmecocystusnests were associated with desertification.5. Synthesis. Desertification shaped this desert environment in two main ways. First, while kangaroo rat mound density changed little with desertification, mounds in shrubland continued to enhance shrub persistence long after abandonment, reinforcing desertification processes. Second, marked changes in the density of nests of the key ant species altered the spatial distribution of soil nitrate and electrical conductivity, likely affecting soil fertility and the distribution of desert plants. Our results highlight the importance of animal activity in shaping desert plant communities, and in maintaining or reinforcing desertification processes.
Parasite–grass–forb interactions and rock–paper– scissor dynamics: predicting the effects of the parasitic plant Rhinanthus minor on host plant communities
Authors: Cameron Duncan D. , White Andy , Antonovics Janis 
Published: September 2009

Summary1. Parasitic plants affect the growth, reproduction and metabolism of their hosts and may also influence the outcome of competitive interactions between host species and, consequently, the structure of entire host communities.2. We investigate the effect of the root hemiparasitic plant Rhinanthus minor on plant community dynamics using a spatial theoretical model. The model is parameterized with data from pairwise interaction experiments under two nutrient levels between the hemiparasite and three grass species (Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca rubra and Phleum bertolonii) and three forb species (Leucanthemum vulgare, Plantago lanceolata and Ranunculus acris).3. Relative interaction coefficients were intransitive, with the dynamics of the system conforming to a rock–paper–scissors game. Stable deterministic dynamics emerge from parameters obtained under low‐nutrient conditions. Under high‐nutrient conditions, the dynamics are unstable, but are stabilized in spatially explicit models. The outcomes are sensitive to initial spatial pattern and frequency.4. Synthesis. This study supports the idea that hemiparasite populations may form ‘shifting clouds’ in natural populations and explains seemingly unpredictable shifts in host community structure following introduction of hemiparasites. Management of plant communities using hemiparasites needs to take these complex dynamics into account.
Ethnic variation in service utilisation among children with intellectual disability
Authors: Durà‐Vilà G. , Hodes M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  This study examined whether service utilisation among children with intellectual disability (ID) varied by ethnic cultural group.Method  Survey carried out in four special schools in London. Information was provided by school teachers using case files, and 242 children aged 7 to 17 years with mild and moderate ID were identified. Ethnic categories were derived from self‐reported main categories. Service utilisation categorised as use of: child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), social services, physical health and education services.Results  Child and adolescent mental health services uptake was lower for South Asians than for White British (P = 0.0487). There were statistically significant differences among ethnic groups for community‐based social services uptake (being the highest for the Black groups and the lowest for South Asians, P = 0.015) and respite care uptake (being the highest for the Black and White European groups and the lowest for South Asians, P = 0.009). In regression analysis family structure predicted CAMHS service utilisation and social service community support. Ethnicity predicted use of respite care.Conclusions  Significant ethnic differences in service utilisation among children with ID were found for both CAMHS and social service contact. There was particularly low service use for the South Asian group. These differences might arise because of differences in family organisation, as more South Asian children lived in two‐parent families, which may have been better able to provide care than single‐parent families. Other factors such as variation in parental belief systems and variation in psychopathology may be relevant. Implications are discussed.
Crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of gypsum measured by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)
Authors: HILDYARD R.C. , PRIOR D.J. , MARIANI E. , FAULKNER D.R. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryAn investigation by electron backscatter diffraction on gypsum shows that this technique can be used to study the microstructures and crystallographic preferred orientation of gypsum. Presented here are the methods, verification tests and data obtained from a naturally deformed sample of gypsum‐rich rock. The electron backscatter diffraction data show the sample has a strong crystallographic preferred orientation.
Interconvertibility of lipid‐ and translocon‐bound forms of the bacterial Tat precursor pre‐SufI
Authors: Bageshwar Umesh K. , Whitaker Neal , Liang Fu‐Cheng , Musser Siegfried M. 
Published: September 2009

SummarySignal peptides target protein cargos for secretion from the bacterial cytoplasm. These signal peptides contain a tri‐partite structure consisting of a central hydrophobic domain (h‐domain), and two flanking polar domains. Using a recently developed in vitro transport assay, we report here that a central h‐domain position (C17) of the twin arginine translocation (Tat) substrate pre‐SufI is especially sensitive to amino acid hydrophobicity. The C17I mutant is transported more efficiently than wild type, whereas charged substitutions completely block transport. Transport efficiency is well‐correlated with Tat translocon binding efficiency. The precursor protein also binds to non‐Tat components of the membrane, presumably to the lipids. This lipid‐bound precursor can be chased through the Tat translocons under conditions of high proton motive force. Thus, the non‐Tat bound form of the precursor is a functional intermediate in the transport cycle. This intermediate appears to directly equilibrate with the translocon‐bound form of the precursor.
Anxiety Level Predicts Post‐Conflict Behaviour in Wild Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui)
Authors: Majolo Bonaventura , Ventura Raffaella , Koyama Nicola F. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractReconciliation (i.e. the post‐conflict exchange of friendly behaviour between former opponents) functions to control for the detrimental effects that aggression may have on social relationships. Studies conducted so far have investigated intra‐individual sources of variation in post‐conflict behaviour, showing that animals have a stronger increase in anxiety and are more likely to reconcile after conflicts with valuable partners, such as kin. Much less attention has been given to how differences between individuals in emotional profiles affect post‐conflict behaviour. Our aim was to analyse whether inter‐individual differences in baseline anxiety levels predicted the magnitude of the increase in anxiety following a conflict and the occurrence of reconciliation. We collected data on two groups of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui). Animals having a higher baseline level of anxiety had a more dramatic anxious response following a conflict while controlling for a series of factors (e.g. relationship quality between opponents). These more anxious animals were also less likely to reconcile than more relaxed individuals. Therefore, more anxious animals face some social costs by being less able to cope with the post‐conflict condition. We propose that differences in anxiety levels may be interpreted as tradeoffs between benefits and costs across conditions. For example, more anxious animals, who are less able to reconcile conflicts, might also be less exploratory and thus face a lower risk to eat unknown, poisonous food.
Decision‐making Processes in Group Departures of Cattle
Authors: Ramseyer Amandine , Thierry Bernard , Boissy Alain , Dumont Bertrand 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTo keep social cohesiveness, group‐living animals have to reach consensus decisions through recruitment processes. This implies that decision‐making depends on the behaviours and social relationships of several group members at different stages of movements. We tested these assumptions in a group of fifteen 18‐mo‐old Charolais heifers (Bos taurus) at pasture, in which two observers continuously videotaped social interactions and group departures after resting periods. These departures were preceded by a phase of preparation characterized by an increase in activity. The number of heifers participating to a movement increased with the number of group members oriented in the direction of the movement before departure. The first moving animal also recruited a higher number of mates when it had a greater number of close neighbours, the first individuals to follow being mainly its preferential partners. Coercive interactions such as pressing behaviours were observed within the 5 min preceding or following departure. After departure, the numbers of walks and restarts of the first two movers were still operative in recruiting others. The frequency of pauses of the first mover was significantly higher when it was not followed, meaning that it adjusted its behaviour to that of other group members. Decision‐making was distributed among group members, with any individual being liable to move first. The behaviour of cows and their spatial distribution before departure, at departure and after departure significantly affected the number of participants in the movement, demonstrating that decision‐making was time‐distributed in the studied cattle group.
Seizing the Opportunity: Subordinate Male Fowl Respond Rapidly to Variation in Social Context
Authors: Wilson David R. , Nelson Ximena J. , Evans Christopher S. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDominance affects mating and reproductive success in many group‐living species. Potential mechanisms include subordinates being inherently less attractive and social constraints imposed by dominant individuals. To test the former possibility, we measured morphology in 45 male fowl, Gallus gallus, prior to group formation. Males were then assigned to social groups (three males and three females in each). None of the measured traits predicted subsequent social status, suggesting that subordinates were not inherently unattractive. We then manipulated social constraints in each group to test if subordinates were socially constrained. We removed either the alpha (experimental) or the gamma male (control) for 40 min and observed the effect on the beta male’s reproductive behavior. Controls accounted for putative group size and disturbance effects, and ensured that the only difference between treatments was the relative dominance of the remaining male. In each trial, we measured the beta male’s courtship effort and his mating success, as well as his proximity to females and to the remaining male. Results show that social context did not affect mating success, but had a significant impact on courtship behavior. Beta males courted significantly more often when they had exclusive access to a female, as opposed to when another male was nearby. Furthermore, their courtship effort was higher if the nearby male was a fellow subordinate, as opposed to the dominant male. We conclude that both the proximity and social status of nearby males affects, either directly or indirectly, the courtship efforts of subordinate male fowl.
High‐riding superior pericardial recess: A pitfall in the upper mediastinum
Authors: STEINKE Karin , POTGIETER Gerhardus J. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe high‐riding superior pericardial recess is an anatomical entity both radiologists and respiratory physicians should be aware of. Recognition that this high‐riding portion of the recess is of water attenuation, that it connects to the inferior portion of the superior pericardial recess, and that it does not exert mass effect on adjacent structures should help avert misdiagnosis and subsequent inappropriate treatment.
Bronchial anthracostenosis with mediastinal fibrosis associated with long‐term wood‐smoke exposure
Authors: BOONSARNGSUK Viboon , SUWATANAPONGCHED Thitiporn , ROCHANAWUTANON Mana 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTBronchial anthracostenosis describes a disease entity consisting of bronchial destruction, deformity and stenosis related to dark pigmentation on bronchoscopy in patients with a history of coal workers' pneumoconiosis or chronic exposure to biomass smoke. The combined occurrence of bronchial anthracostenosis and mediastinal fibrosis in association with wood‐smoke exposure has not been previously reported. This case report describes a non‐cigarette smoking elderly woman who developed bronchial anthracostenosis and mediastinal fibrosis after long‐term exposure to wood smoke. Clinical and radiological improvements were achieved after treatment with corticosteroid and tamoxifen. Awareness of this unusual entity will help to avoid misdiagnosis of malignancy or unnecessary thoracotomy.
Clinical significance of non‐diagnostic pathology results from percutaneous transthoracic needle lung biopsy: experience of a tertiary hospital without an on‐site cytopathologist
Authors: MIN Joo‐Won , LEE Sang‐Min , CHUNG Doo Hyun , YIM Jae‐Joon , YANG Seok‐Chul , YOO Chul‐Gyu , KIM Young Whan , HAN Sung Koo , SHIM Young‐Soo , CHUNG Hee Soon 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  More non‐diagnostic pathology results may be reported following transthoracic needle lung biopsy (TTNB) when no on‐site cytopathologist is available. This study was conducted to analyse the final outcomes in patients with non‐diagnostic pathology results, and the factors related to the adequacy of specimens.Methods:  The medical records of consecutive patients who had undergone TTNB from January 2004 to January 2005 were retrospectively analysed. Non‐diagnostic pathology results were classified into three groups: (i) atypical cells, (ii) non‐specific inflammation and (iii) inadequate specimen. The final diagnosis and clinical outcome for each patient were analysed after additional diagnostic studies and clinical follow up.Results:  TTNB was performed on 291 patients. Specimens were adequate in 256 cases. The results were non‐diagnostic for 103 patients, and the percentages of atypical cells, non‐specific inflammation and inadequate specimen were 15.5% (16/103), 50.5% (52/103) and 40% (35/103), respectively. In 14 patients (87.5%) the diagnosis of atypical cells was confirmed, and in 10 (62.5%) these were due to malignancies. In two patients (3.8%) the lesions reported as non‐specific inflammation were eventually confirmed as malignancies. After repeated attempts to confirm their diagnoses, 22 patients (62.9%) with initial reports of inadequate specimen were diagnosed with specific diseases. Specimen adequacy correlated with technical skill, size of the lesion, guidance method and biopsy method.Conclusions:  Non‐diagnostic pathology results from TTNB, in the absence of an on‐site cytopathologist, are of value in assessing the clinical probability of malignancy and can be useful in the management of lung lesions. However, many other factors should be considered in patients with inadequate specimens.