bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment: when does it help and when does it hinder? Parents' experiences of the assessment process
Authors: Harris Nathan 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTIt is widely acknowledged that there are significant benefits when statutory child protection agencies and parents are able to engage cooperatively with one another to ensure the well‐being of children. Despite promising innovations there are ongoing concerns that the current child protection model alienates and confuses many parents. It is hypothesized that a significant reason for this is that statutory agencies have become reliant on formalistic assessment, and as a consequence interactions with parents have become dominated by a focus on assessment‐compliance. A qualitative study of 40 parents who had recently been investigated in Australia is reported. The analysis suggests that many parents find characteristics of assessment processes intrusive and that this undermines engagement. It is concluded that there should be greater debate about the role that assessment plays in child protection practice.
A secure base? The adolescent–staff relationship in secure residential youth care
Authors: Harder Annemiek T. , Knorth Erik J. , Kalverboer Margrite E. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe client–therapist relationship is recognized as an important factor contributing to outcomes of child and youth care. Particularly in secure residential youth care, in which adolescents with mainly externalizing behaviour problems are often placed coercively, the client–staff relationship seems to be important for the achievement of positive outcomes. The present study aims to assess the client–staff relationship for a group of 135 adolescents in secure residential care and factors associated with a positive relationship. The results show that adolescents, group care workers and teachers experience a limited affective bond in their relationship 2 months after the adolescents were admitted to the secure care centre. Adolescents do tend to use care workers and teachers as a secure attachment figure, which suggests that an affective bond is no precondition for the adolescents to experience staff as a secure base. Main predictors of a good relationship are the positive treatment skills of both group care workers and teachers. These findings point to the need for training of care workers and teachers so that they are better prepared for working with these adolescents.
Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), a novel NF‐kappaB inhibitor, inhibits allergic inflammation and airway remodelling in murine models of asthma
Authors: Shimizu K. , Konno S. , Ozaki M. , Umezawa K. , Yamashita K. , Todo S. , Nishimura M. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryBackgroundDehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) is a newly developed compound that inhibits nuclear factor κB activation and is reported to ameliorate animal models of various inflammatory diseases without significant adverse effects. Because nuclear factor κB is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of asthma, DHMEQ may be of therapeutic benefit in asthma.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of DHMEQ on airway inflammation and remodelling in murine models of asthma.MethodsThe BALB/c mice were sensitized and then challenged acutely or chronically with ovalbumin and administered DHMEQ intraperitoneally before each challenge. Inflammation of airways, lung histopathology and airway hyper responsiveness to methacholine challenge were evaluated. In addition, the effect of DHMEQ on production of cytokines and eotaxin‐1 by murine splenocytes, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bronchial epithelial cells was investigated.ResultsAirway hyper responsiveness was ameliorated in both acutely and chronically challenged models by treatment with DHMEQ. DHMEQ significantly reduced eosinophilic airway inflammation and levels of Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the acute model. It also inhibited parameters of airway remodelling including mucus production, peribronchial fibrosis and the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin. Moreover, the production of Th2 cytokines from murine splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the production of eotaxin‐1 by bronchial epithelial cells were inhibited by DHMEQ.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThese results indicate that DHMEQ inhibits allergic airway inflammation and airway remodelling in murine models of asthma. DHMEQ may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of asthma.
Phenotyping airways disease: an A to E approach
Authors: Gonem S. , Raj V. , Wardlaw A. J. , Pavord I. D. , Green R. , Siddiqui S. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe airway diseases asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are heterogeneous conditions with overlapping pathophysiological and clinical features. It has previously been proposed that this heterogeneity may be characterized in terms of five relatively independent domains labelled from A to E, namely airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchitis, cough reflex hypersensitivity, damage to the airways and surrounding lung parenchyma, and extrapulmonary factors. Airway hyperresponsiveness occurs in both asthma and COPD, accounting for variable day to day symptoms, although the mechanisms most likely differ between the two conditions. Bronchitis, or airway inflammation, may be predominantly eosinophilic or neutrophilic, with different treatments required for each. Cough reflex hypersensitivity is thought to underlie the chronic dry cough out of proportion to other symptoms that can occur in association with airways disease. Structural changes associated with airway disease (damage) include bronchial wall thickening, airway smooth muscle hypertrophy, bronchiectasis and emphysema. Finally, a variety of extrapulmonary factors may impact upon airway disease, including rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity and dysfunctional breathing. This article discusses the A to E concept in detail and describes how this framework may be used to assess and treat patients with airway diseases in the clinic.
Effects of natural S‐equol supplements on overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome in the Japanese, based on sex and equol status
Authors: Usui Takeshi , Tochiya Mayu , Sasaki Yousuke , Muranaka Kazuya , Yamakage Hajime , Himeno Akihiro , Shimatsu Akira , Inaguma Asami , Ueno Tomomi , Uchiyama Shigeto , Satoh‐Asahara Noriko 
Published: April 2012

SummaryObjectivesEpidemiologic studies indicate that soy intake has an important role in the prevention of age‐related health problems. Daidzein, the principal isoflavone contained in soy, is converted to S‐equol by the intestinal bacteria. Not all individuals, however, can produce S‐equol, which is considered the most biologically active metabolite. We studied the effects of a natural S‐equol supplement on metabolic parameters associated with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome.MethodsThe study was a randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, crossover design with no washout period. All subjects were considered overweight or obese if they had a body mass index ≧25 kg/m2. Placebo or natural S‐equol tablets containing 10 mg S‐equol were orally ingested each day for 12 weeks. A total of 54 Japanese overweight or obese outpatients were enrolled. The equol phenotype was determined, and various metabolic parameters, including cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI), were measured.ResultsEquol non‐producers comprised 67·9% of the overweight or obese subjects. The ratio of equol non‐producers in this overweight or obese subject group was higher than the previously reported ratio of equol non‐producers (approximately 50%) in the general population. Compared with the placebo group, intervention with natural S‐equol led to a significant decrease in HbA1c, serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels and CAVI score. Furthermore, the effect was more prominent in the subgroup of female equol non‐producers.ConclusionThe ratio of equol non‐producers in overweight or obese populations might be higher than generally reported. Natural S‐equol might have a role in glycaemic control and in the prevention of cardiovascular disease by its effects to lower LDL‐C levels and CAVI scores in overweight or obese individuals.
Associations between visceral adipose tissue, inflammation and sex steroid concentrations in men
Authors: Gautier Alain , Bonnet Fabrice , Dubois Séverine , Massart Catherine , Grosheny Catherine , Bachelot Anne , Aubé Christophe , Balkau Beverley , Ducluzeau Pierre‐Henri 
Published: April 2012

SummaryContextIn men, obesity and the metabolic syndrome are accompanied by decreased testosterone levels, but little is known about the associations between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), VAT‐related inflammation and sex steroids.ObjectiveTo examine the relative impact of VAT, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6), a marker of VAT‐induced inflammation, on testosterone (T) and 17β‐oestradiol (E2) levels in dysmetabolic men.MethodsWe study the NUMEVOX cohort of 229 men, aged 27–77 years, who all had at least one metabolic syndrome criterion (on average three). IL‐6, C‐reactive protein, Homeostasis Model Assessment of (HOMA) insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR), liver enzymes, E2, LH, sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), T, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) were measured; bioavailable testosterone (BT) was calculated from T and SHBG; MRI‐assessed VAT and SAT were analysed in 109 of these men.ResultsVisceral adipose tissue was strongly correlated with E2 (Spearman r = 0·38, P < 0·001) and with BT/E2 ratio (r = −0·42, P < 0·001), while SAT was not correlated with either. IL‐6 was correlated with E2 (r = 0·19, P = 0·007), BT (r = −0·19, P = 0·006) and BT/E2 ratio (r = −0·30 P < 0·001). In multivariate linear analysis, the relation between VAT and E2 was independent of age, BMI (P = 0·008), leptin (P < 0·001), T and SHBG. Log(IL‐6) was significantly inversely related with log(BT) (P = 0·032) independently of age, VAT, leptin and HOMA‐IR.Conclusions17β‐oestradiol levels were positively associated with VAT, but not with SAT, while T and BT were negatively and independently associated with IL‐6. The significant inverse association between IL‐6 and T suggests an important role of low‐grade visceral fat inflammation in the central hypogonadism associated with the metabolic syndrome.
Healthy birth after testicular extraction of sperm and ICSI from an azoospermic man with mild androgen insensitivity syndrome caused by an androgen receptor partial loss‐of‐function mutation
Authors: Massin Nathalie , Bry Hélène , Vija Lavinia , Maione Luigi , Constancis Elizabeth , Haddad Bassam , Morel Yves , Claessens Frank , Young Jacques 
Published: April 2012

SummaryContextThe androgen receptor (AR) is essential for the development and maintenance of the male phenotype, and for spermatogenesis. Mutations in the AR gene cause a wide variety of androgen insensitivity syndromes (AIS), ranging from complete feminization to phenotypic males with infertility.ObjectiveWe report the first birth achieved after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with sperm from an azoospermic man with an AR mutation associated with mild AIS (MAIS).Patients and methodsA couple with primary infertility was referred to our centre. The man had azoospermia with testicular hypotrophy and an undervirilized phenotype despite a normal plasma testosterone level. His androgen sensitivity index and serum anti‐mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were elevated, pointing to AIS. Molecular analysis of the AR gene revealed a point mutation resulting in an F754S substitution (renumbered F755S in the 2012 McGill University AR gene database), in the ligand‐binding domain of the protein, and further analysis indicated impaired receptor function.ResultsAfter genetic counselling of the couple, oocytes were retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, and sperm were obtained simultaneously by testicular extraction for ICSI. Nine embryos were obtained. Two were transferred and two were suitable for cryopreservation. A pregnancy was obtained and a healthy girl, carrying the F754S AR mutation, was born at 37 weeks of gestation. AR and AMH were detected by immunohistochemistry in the patient's testicular specimens. AMH immuno‐staining was intense in tubules without spermatogenesis and weak in those with ongoing spermatogenesis.ConclusionA healthy child can be obtained by testicular extraction and ICSI despite azoospermia in MAIS. The parents must be informed of the X‐linked transmission of the mutation to their descendants. The relationship between AR signalling, testicular AMH expression and spermatogenesis in this patient is discussed.
What are the keys to successful thyroid FNA interpretation?
Authors: Sebo Thomas J. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThere is much concern expressed in the literature regarding the lack of predictive power of the thyroid fine needle aspiration/biopsy (TFNAB) approach to defining the nature of clinically detected thyroid nodules. This has been exacerbated in the past decade or more by the routine use of ultrasonography (US) in examining the thyroid as well as the introduction of molecular testing in the realm of thyroid pathology. Some have even gone so far as to suggest replacing the TFNAB with molecular signature testing to reduce the degree of uncertainty for a specific cytological diagnosis. This review addresses those concerns with a re‐emphasis on understanding the basic keys to successfully evaluating a patient with a thyroid nodule by routine TFNAB examination. These keys include bringing to bear an experienced group of physicians in an integrated team approach, a sharpened focus on the TFNAB cytological categories and a grounded understanding of the predictive ability of molecular testing in a given patient when the cytological interpretation creates too much uncertainty in the minds of the patients and clinicians in attempting to reach a decision on how to manage a thyroid nodule. With this practical approach in mind, the false‐negative and false‐positive rates of “negative (benign)” and “positive (malignant)” thyroid aspirates should be no more than 1%; and the prevalence of an “indeterminate” aspirate – the area in TFNAB attracting the most attention for improvement with novel biomarkers – should be 10% or less. Thus, physicians should be capable of managing at least 90% of patients undergoing TFNAB in a confident manner without further testing beyond the routine, future re‐examination of the patient's nodule to re‐assess for any change in its nature or its impact on the patient's quality of life. The other 10% can then be considered for molecular testing in a manner tailored to those individuals truly in need of a more sophisticated – and expensive – approach to the characterization of their thyroid nodules. As the era of US has matured – just as with the era of serum PSA testing for prostate cancer in men – we have experienced a paradigm shift: Given the incidence of thyroid nodules in the U.S. adult population in comparison with the risk of dying of thyroid malignancy, the main role of TFNAB is to reduce the need for surgical intervention.
Trophic positioning and microphytobenthic carbon uptake of biofilm‐dwelling meiofauna in a temperate river
Authors: MAJDI NABIL , TACKX MICHÈLE , BUFFAN–DUBAU EVELYNE 
Published: April 2012

Summary1. δ13C and δ15N stable isotope signatures combined with an in situ microphytobenthic 13C labelling experiment were performed on epilithic biofilms of a large temperate river (the Garonne, France) to infer the trophic positioning of biofilm‐dwelling meiofauna and their uptake of microphytobenthic carbon.2. Chironomidae larvae and Chromadorina spp. nematodes rapidly incorporated freshly produced microphytobenthic carbon in contrast to Rhyacophilidae larvae and Naididae oligochaetes. Quantitatively, macrofaunal Chironomidae incorporated more microphytobenthic carbon per day than did meiofauna. Moreover, Chironomidae seemed more involved in the spatial export of microphytobenthic carbon than nematodes.3. Rhyacophilidae larvae were predators feeding on large meiofauna (Naididae and Chironomidae) but not on nematodes. Naididae oligochaetes primarily gained their carbon from allochthonous and/or microbial‐loop recycled sources.4. A rapid and significant loss of labelled microphytobenthic carbon was observed. Feeding activity of biofilm‐dwelling invertebrates seemed not to be primarily involved in this loss.
No significant nitrous oxide emissions during spring thaw under grazing and nitrogen addition in an alpine grassland
Authors: Li Kaihui , Gong Yanming , Song Wei , Lv Jinling , Chang Yunhua , Hu Yukun , Tian Changyan , Christie Peter , Liu Xuejun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA recent study (Wolf et al., 2010) suggests that short—lived pulses of N2O emission during spring thaw dominate the annual N2O budget and that grazing decreases N2O emissions during the spring thaw. To verify this we conducted year—round N2O flux measurements from June 2010 to May 2011 in Tianshan alpine grassland in central Asia. No pulse emissions of N2O were found at grazing management sites and nitrogen addition sites during the spring thaw. The contribution of the spring thaw to the total annual N2O budget was small and accounted for only 6.6% of the annual fluxes, with winter emissions accounting for 16.7% and growing season emissions accounting for 76.7%. The difference in N2O emissions attributable to grazing management was not significant (P > 0.05). Nitrogen input tended to increase N2O emissions at N addition sites during the grass growing season compared with those at unfertilized sites. N2O fluxes showed a significant correlation with air temperature and also with both soil temperature and soil water content at 10 cm depth.
Conserving energy at a cost to biodiversity? Impacts of LED lighting on bats
Authors: Stone Emma L. , Jones Gareth , Harris Stephen 
Published: April 2012

AbstractArtificial lighting is a key biodiversity threat and produces 1900 million tonnes of
CO

2 emissions globally, more than three times that produced by aviation. The need to meet climate change targets has led to a global increase in energy‐efficient light sources such as high‐brightness light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Despite the energetic benefits of LEDs, their ecological impacts have not been tested. Using an experimental approach, we show that LED street lights caused a reduction in activity of slow‐flying bats (
Rhinolophus hipposideros and
Myotis spp.). Both
R. hipposideros and
Myotis spp. activities were significantly reduced even during low light levels of 3.6 lux. There was no effect of LED lighting on the relatively fast‐flying
Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus and
Nyctalus/Eptesicus spp. We provide the first evidence of the effects of LED lights on bats. Despite having considerable energy‐saving benefits, LED lights can potentially fragment commuting routes for bats with associated negative conservation consequences. Our results add to the growing evidence of negative impacts of lighting on a wide range of taxa. We highlight the complexities involved in simultaneously meeting targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. New lighting strategies should integrate climate change targets with the cultural, social and ecological impacts of emerging lighting technologies.
Increased temperature and altered summer precipitation have differential effects on biological soil crusts in a dryland ecosystem
Authors: Johnson Shannon L. , Kuske Cheryl R. , Carney Travis D. , Housman David C. , Gallegos‐Graves La Verne , Belnap Jayne 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBiological soil crusts (biocrusts) are common and ecologically important members of dryland ecosystems worldwide, where they stabilize soil surfaces and contribute newly fixed C and N to soils. To test the impacts of predicted climate change scenarios on biocrusts in a dryland ecosystem, the effects of a 2–3 °C increase in soil temperature and an increased frequency of smaller summer precipitation events were examined in a large, replicated field study conducted in the cold desert of the Colorado Plateau, USA. Surface soil biomass (DNA concentration), photosynthetically active cyanobacterial biomass (chlorophyll a concentration), cyanobacterial abundance (quantitative PCR assay), and bacterial community composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing) were monitored seasonally over 2 years. Soil microbial biomass and bacterial community composition were highly stratified between the 0–2 cm depth biocrusts and 5–10 cm depth soil beneath the biocrusts. The increase in temperature did not have a detectable effect on any of the measured parameters over 2 years. However, after the second summer of altered summer precipitation pattern, significant declines occurred in the surface soil biomass (avg. DNA concentration declined 38%), photosynthetic cyanobacterial biomass (avg. chlorophyll a concentration declined 78%), cyanobacterial abundance (avg. gene copies g−1 soil declined 95%), and proportion of Cyanobacteria in the biocrust bacterial community (avg. representation in sequence libraries declined 85%). Biocrusts are important contributors to soil stability, soil C and N stores, and plant performance, and the loss or reduction of biocrusts under an altered precipitation pattern associated with climate change could contribute significantly to lower soil fertility and increased erosion and dust production in dryland ecosystems at a regional scale.
Forage production and nutritive value of Dactylis glomerata and Trifolium subterraneum mixtures under different shading treatments
Authors: Kyriazopoulos A. P. , Abraham E. M. , Parissi Z. M. , Koukoura Z. , Nastis A. S. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractProduction and nutritive value of forage in silvopastural systems can be improved by introducing shade‐ tolerant grass and legume species in appropriate mixtures. The management of these systems can present a challenge regarding the selection of the proper grass and legume species as well as the maintenance of the optimum balance between the two species in the grass–legume stand. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the performance of pure stands and mixtures (75:25, 50:50, 25:75) of Dactylis glomerata:Trifolium subterraneum under full sun, 60% shade and 90% shade. Dry matter production of D. glomerata was not affected by shading, while that of T. subterraneum was drastically reduced. Shading increased the crude protein (CP) and acid detergent lignin content, but did not affect the acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre content. The dry matter production of the 75:25 and 25:75 mixtures was higher compared to the one of the 50:50 mixture, while the CP content of the 75:25 mixture was the highest under moderate shading. However, relative yield, aggressivity index and competitive balance index indicated higher competitive ability for D. glomerata compared with T. subterraneum especially under shade. Therefore, the 25:75 mixture is suggested as the most suitable under moderate shade (60%), to perpetuate the stand and avoid the frequent re‐sowing of T. subterraneum.