bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mothers' questionnaire of preschoolers' language and motor skills: a validation study
Authors: Gudmundsson E. , Gretarsson S. J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjective  Parent questionnaires of child motor and language skills are useful in many contexts. This study validates one such measure, the Preschool Child Development Inventory (PCDI), a mother‐answered standardized measure of motor (fine and gross) and language (expression and comprehension) skills of 3–6‐year‐old children.Methods  Eighty‐one mothers answered the inventory and their children were concurrently tested on six verbal subtests of WPPSI‐RIS.Results  The six language and motor subtests of the PCDI revealed the predicted convergent and divergent correlations with the verbal subtests of the WPPSI‐RIS. As predicted, the motor subtests diverged and the language subtests converged with the expected WPPSI‐RIS subtests. Principal components analysis of all the measures (the PCDI and the WPPSI‐RIS subtests) revealed two components, verbal and motor in content.Conclusions  The findings support the validity of a mother‐answered inventory to assess language and motor development. It is pointed out that such inventories are a viable brief and cost effective alternative to individual testing, both to supplement such measures in clinical practice and as main information in research, for example on determinants of development. Some suggestions are made for future research and applications.
Functionality of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from tonsillar tissue
Authors: Sada-Ovalle I , Talayero A , Chavéz-Galán L , Barrera L , Castorena-Maldonado A , Soda-Merhy A , Torre-Bouscoulet L 
Published: February 2012

SummaryFor many years, tonsillectomy has been used routinely in children to treat chronic or recurrent acute tonsillitis. Palatine tonsils are secondary lymphoid organs and the major barrier protecting the digestive and respiratory tracts from potential invasive microorganisms. They have been used as sources of lymphoid tissue; however, despite the hundreds of papers published on tonsillectomy, no studies addressing the functionality of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from chronically infected tonsils have yet been published. The aim of this study was to analyse the functionality of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with respect to tonsillar tissue. We used an affordable approach to measure the frequency of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, the direct ex-vivo cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, memory T cell phenotype, cytokine profile and DC phenotype. Our results demonstrate that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from tonsillar tissue are totally functional, as shown by their ability to produce cytokines, to degranulate and to differentiate into effector-memory T cells.
Soil frost enhances stream dissolved organic carbon concentrations during episodic spring snow melt from boreal mires
Authors: Ågren Anneli M. , Haei Mahsa , Blomkvist Peder , Nilsson Mats B. , Laudon Hjalmar 
Published: February 2012

AbstractChanges in winter time conditions at high‐latitude ecosystems could severely affect the carbon exchange processes. Using a 15 year stream record combined with winter field measurements and laboratory experiment, we studied the regulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in stream water draining boreal mire during snow melt. The most unanticipated finding was that cold soils with deep soil frost resulted in increased snow melt DOC concentrations in the stream runoff. Wintertime field measurements of DOC concentrations below the mire soil frost showed that this phenomenon could be explained by freeze‐out of DOC giving higher levels of DOC in the soil water below the ice as the soil frost developed downwards in the mire. Experimental freezing of water with a certain DOC concentration in the laboratory further corroborated the freeze‐out of DOC. In this experiment, as much as 96% of the DOC was excluded from the ice, whereas the freeze‐out in the mire was less effective (60%). The difference between the proportion of DOC retained in pure water relative to the proportion retained in peat water during freezing is probably due to trapped DOC in the solid peat soil matrix. A simple mass‐balance model showed that to explain the higher stream DOC concentrations during a winter with deep soil frost, approximately 0.5% of the mire area needed to be hydrologically connected to the stream discharge. In the stream records, we also found that the DOC concentrations during snow melt episodic runoff were negatively related to increasing intensity of the snow melt episodes (dilution by low DOC snow melt water) and higher previous export of DOC.
Communication between nurses, children and their parents in asthma review consultations
Authors: Callery Peter , Milnes Linda 
Published: February 2012

Aim and objective.  To examine communication between nurses, children and parents in asthma review consultations.Background.  Communication is an essential component of asthma care, but there has been little examination of nurses’ consultations with children and parents.Design.  Observation of communication in consultations examined in the context of the perspectives of parents and nurses.Method.  Qualitative analysis of audio recordings of nine consultations with nurses by children aged 7–12 years and their parents; and interviews with 18 parents and six nurses.Results.  The triadic relationship between child–nurse–parent was constructed from dyads of nurse–parent, nurse–child and parent–child. Both cooperation and conflict were identified in the analysis of interaction in dyads although direct confrontations were minimised or avoided. Conflicts arose from differing beliefs about asthma and its treatment and from different perspectives on the impact of asthma and the goals of treatments, and about the roles of children, parents and practitioners. There was uncertainty about the appropriate role of children in their asthma management.Conclusions.  The dyads of nurse–parent, nurse–child and parent–child each make distinct and important contributions to triadic communication. Personal and task elements of therapeutic alliance are important elements in communication between nurses, children and their parents in asthma review consultations.Relevance to clinical practice.  Communication is an essential component of children’s asthma care. Guidance encourages practitioners to use review consultations to help children and parents to identify areas where they want treatment to have effect and to negotiate personalised action plans with practitioners. There is potential for conflict as well as cooperation. There is a need for more research into nurses’ communication with children and parents to provide an evidence base for practice, education and training.
The mammalian cell entry (Mce) protein of pathogenic Leptospira species is responsible for RGD motif‐dependent infection of cells and animals
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Chenglin , Ojcius David M. , Sun Dexter , Zhao Jinfang , Lin Xuai , Li Liwei , Li Lanjuan , Yan Jie 
Published: February 2012

SummaryMammalian cell entry proteins (Mces) contribute to Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence. A mce homologue has been identified in the Leptospira interrogans genome, but its function was unknown. We showed that the mce gene is expressed only by pathogenic Leptospira strains tested. Leptospiral mce mRNA and Mce protein levels increased during infection of macrophages. The ability to infect macrophages was significantly lower in a strain with the mce gene deleted (mce‐). Complementation of the mce gene restored the ability of the mutant strain (mcecom) to adhere to and invade cells. Importantly, the mce gene knock‐in strain (mce+) derived from L. biflexa acquired the ability to infect cells, and the mce+/ΔRAA knock‐in strain (in which the RGD motif was replaced by RAA) was unable to infect cells. The mce‐ mutant was also dramatically less efficient in infecting hamsters than the wild‐type L. interrogans strain, and fewer leptospires of the mutant were found in peripheral blood monocytes and the urine from infected animals. The recombinant Mce protein showed a high binding affinity to the integrins α5β1 and αVβ3. Blockade of the two integrins or the Mce protein decreased leptospiral adherence and invasiveness. The results showed that Mce is an RGD‐motif‐dependent virulence factor in pathogenic Leptospira species.
Protective efficacy evaluation induced by recombinant protein LHD‐Sj23‐GST of Schistosoma japonicum emulsified with three different adjuvants
Authors: ZHU Z. , FU Z. , ZHANG M. , HAN Y. , HONG Y. , LI D. , ZHAO Z. , SHI Y. , LI X. , LIN J. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryAs a complement to chemotherapy and other control approaches, the development of an effective vaccine is necessary to combat Schistosomiasis japonica that remains a serious public health problem in China. In the present study, mice were vaccinated with purified recombinant protein LHD‐Sj23‐GST (large hydrophilic domain of 23 kDa antigen of S. japonicum fused with Sj26GST) emulsified with Freund’s adjuvant (FA), Montanide ISA 206 and Montanide ISA 70M and challenged with cercariae, the protective efficacy induced by the recombinant protein was evaluated, and the LHD‐Sj23‐GST‐specific IgG and its subtypes were determined. The result revealed that a significant worm burden reduction (58.8%, 26.3% and 54.3%; P < 0.05) was obtained in mice vaccinated with LHD‐Sj23‐GST emulsified with three different adjuvants compared to those mice treated with respective adjuvant only. ELISA test suggested that the high‐level production of LHD‐Sj23‐GST‐specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgG3 antibodies may participate in protecting against schistosome infection.
Geological investigation and optical dating of Quaternary siliciclastic sediments near Apalachicola, North‐west Florida, USA
Authors: BURDETTE KEVIN E. , RINK WILLIAM J. , LÓPEZ GLORIA I. , MALLINSON DAVID J. , PARHAM PETER R. , REINHARDT EDUARD G. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractGround penetrating radar and single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose optically stimulated luminescence were used to determine the depositional environments and age of unconsolidated siliciclastic sediments near Apalachicola, Florida. Five direct‐push cores, five vibracores and 28 optically stimulated luminescence samples were collected, as well as 7 km of ground penetrating radar data. A new model of cosmic dose rate calculation, which removes the effect of a much younger aeolian cap, was utilized to calculate more representative optically stimulated luminescence ages. Five radar facies were identified based on reflector amplitude and orientation. The resulting data indicate that the Tertiary/Quaternary Shelly Sediments were deposited before marine isotope stage 6, the Quaternary Alluvium was deposited during marine isotope stage 6 and the Quaternary Beach Ridge and Dune was deposited during the marine isotope stage 5e sea‐level highstand, which peaked at approximately 2·5 m above present sea‐level in this area.
Small RNAs containing the pathogenic determinant of a chloroplast‐replicating viroid guide the degradation of a host mRNA as predicted by RNA silencing
Authors: Navarro Beatriz , Gisel Andreas , Rodio Maria Elena , Delgado Sonia , Flores Ricardo , Di Serio Francesco 
Published: February 2012

SummaryHow viroids, tiny non‐protein‐coding RNAs (∼250–400 nt), incite disease is unclear. One hypothesis is that viroid‐derived small RNAs (vd‐sRNAs; 21–24 nt) resulting from the host defensive response, via RNA silencing, may target for cleavage cell mRNAs and trigger a signal cascade, eventually leading to symptoms. Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), a chloroplast‐replicating viroid, is particularly appropriate to tackle this question because it induces an albinism (peach calico, PC) strictly associated with variants containing a specific 12–14‐nt hairpin insertion. By dissecting albino and green leaf sectors of Prunus persica (peach) seedlings inoculated with PLMVd natural and artificial variants, and cloning their progeny, we have established that the hairpin insertion sequence is involved in PC. Furthermore, using deep sequencing, semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR and RNA ligase‐mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), we have determined that two PLMVd‐sRNAs containing the PC‐associated insertion (PC‐sRNA8a and PC‐sRNA8b) target for cleavage the mRNA encoding the chloroplastic heat‐shock protein 90 (cHSP90), thus implicating RNA silencing in the modulation of host gene expression by a viroid. Chloroplast malformations previously reported in PC‐expressing tissues are consistent with the downregulation of cHSP90, which participates in chloroplast biogenesis and plastid‐to‐nucleus signal transduction in Arabidopsis. Besides PC‐sRNA8a and PC‐sRNA8b, both deriving from the less‐abundant PLMVd (−) strand, we have identified other PLMVd‐sRNAs potentially targeting peach mRNAs. These results also suggest that sRNAs derived from other PLMVd regions may downregulate additional peach genes, ultimately resulting in other symptoms or in a more favorable host environment for viroid infection.
Reverse genetic characterization of two paralogous acetoacetyl CoA thiolase genes in Arabidopsis reveals their importance in plant growth and development
Authors: Jin Huanan , Song Zhihong , Nikolau Basil J. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryAcetoacetyl CoA thiolase (AACT, EC 2.3.1.9) catalyzes the condensation of two acetyl CoA molecules to form acetoacetyl CoA. Two AACT‐encoding genes, At5g47720 (AACT1) and At5g48230 (AACT2), were functionally identified in the Arabidopsis genome by direct enzymological assays and functional expression in yeast. Promoter::GUS fusion experiments indicated that AACT1 is primarily expressed in the vascular system and AACT2 is highly expressed in root tips, young leaves, top stems and anthers. Characterization of T‐DNA insertion mutant alleles at each AACT locus established that AACT2 function is required for embryogenesis and for normal male gamete transmission. In contrast, plants lacking AACT1 function are completely viable and show no apparent growth phenotypes, indicating that AACT1 is functionally redundant with respect to AACT2 function. RNAi lines that express reduced levels of AACT2 show pleiotropic phenotypes, including reduced apical dominance, elongated life span and flowering duration, sterility, dwarfing, reduced seed yield and shorter root length. Microscopic analysis reveals that the reduced stature is caused by a reduction in cell size and fewer cells, and male sterility is caused by loss of the pollen coat and premature degeneration of the tapetal cells. Biochemical analyses established that the roots of AACT2 RNAi plants show quantitative and qualitative alterations in phytosterol profiles. These phenotypes and biochemical alterations are reversed when AACT2 RNAi plants are grown in the presence of mevalonate, which is consistent with the role of AACT2 in generating the bulk of the acetoacetyl CoA precursor required for the cytosol‐localized, mevalonate‐derived isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway.
The placebo puzzle: examining the discordant space between biomedical science and illness/healing
Authors: Pohlman Shawn , Cibulka Nancy J , Palmer Janice L , Lorenz Rebecca A , SmithBattle Lee 
Published: February 2012

POHLMAN S, CIBULKA NJ, PALMER JL, LORENZ RA and SMITHBATTLE L. Nursing Inquiry 2013; 20: 71–81  The placebo puzzle: examining the discordant space between biomedical science and illness/healingThe placebo response presents an enigma to biomedical science: how can ‘inert’ or ‘sham’ procedures reduce symptoms and produce physiological changes that are comparable to prescribed treatments? In this study, we examine this puzzle by explicating the discordant space between the prevailing biomedical paradigm, which focuses on a technical understanding of diagnosis and treatment, and a broader understanding of illness and healing as relational and embodied. Although biomedical achievements are impressive, the knowledge resulting from this paradigm is limited by its ontological and epistemological assumptions. When the body and world are objectified, illness meanings, therapeutic relationships, and healing practices are dismissed or distorted. In spite of a robust critique of the tenets of biomedicine for guiding practice, the biomedical paradigm retains a tenacious hold on evidence‐based medicine and nursing, downplaying our clinical understanding of the sentient body, patients’ life‐worlds, and illness and healing. In reality, skilled nurses rely on multiple forms of knowledge in providing high‐quality care to particular patients. Clinically wise nurses integrate their experience and knowledge of patients’ priorities, fears, and illness trajectories along with biomedical findings to make astute judgments and promote health and healing.
Specialization of the posterior temporal lobes for audio‐motor processing – evidence from a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of skilled drummers
Authors: Tsai Chen‐Gia , Fan Li‐Ying , Lee Shu‐Hui , Chen Jyh‐Horng , Chou Tai‐Li 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSounds of hammering or clapping can evoke simulation of the arm movements that have been previously associated with those sounds. This audio‐motor transformation also occurs at the sequential level and plays a role in speech and music processing. The present study aimed to demonstrate how the activation pattern of the sensorimotor network was modulated by the sequential nature of the auditory input and effector. Fifteen skilled drum set players participated in our functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Prior to the scan, these drummers practiced six drumming grooves. During the scan, there were four rehearsal conditions: covertly playing the drum set under the guidance of its randomly‐presented isolated stroke sounds, covertly playing the drum set along with the sounds of learned percussion music, covertly reciting the syllable representation along with this music, and covertly reciting along with the syllable representation of this music. We found greater activity in the bilateral posterior middle temporal gyri for active listening to isolated drum strokes than for active listening to learned drum music. These regions might mediate the one‐to‐one mappings from sounds to limb movements. Compared with subvocal rehearsals along with learned drum music, covert rehearsals of limb movements along with the same music additionally activated a lateral subregion of the left posterior planum temporale. Our results illustrate a functional specialization of the posterior temporal lobes for audio‐motor processing.
Dispersal ability modulates the strength of the latitudinal richness gradient in European beetles
Authors: Baselga Andrés , Lobo Jorge M. , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Aragón Pedro , Araújo Miguel B. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  A debate exists as to whether present‐day diversity gradients are governed by current environmental conditions or by changes in environmental conditions through time. Recent studies have shown that latitudinal richness gradients might be partially caused by incomplete post‐glacial recolonization of high‐latitude regions; this leads to the prediction that less mobile taxa should have steeper gradients than more mobile taxa. The aim of this study is to test this prediction.Location  Europe.Methods  We first assessed whether spatial turnover in species composition is a good surrogate for dispersal ability by measuring the proportion of wingless species in 19 European beetle clades and relating this value to spatial turnover (βsim) of the clade. We then linearly regressed βsim values of 21 taxa against the slope of their respective diversity gradients.Results  A strong relationship exists between the proportion of wingless species and βsim, and βsim was found to be a good predictor of latitudinal richness gradients.Main conclusions  Results are consistent with the prediction that poor dispersers have steeper richness gradients than good dispersers, supporting the view that current beetle diversity gradients in Europe are affected by post‐glacial dispersal lags.
Pension Funding Constraints and Corporate Expenditures*
Authors: Liu Weixi , Tonks Ian 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of a company's pension contributions (PCs) on its dividend and investment policies. The effects of shocks to cash flows on these corporate expenditures are identified by changes to pension funding regulations. Using a sample of DB pension schemes in FTSE350 UK‐listed firms we find a strong negative relation between PCs and corporate dividends even after controlling for the correlation between funding status and unobserved investment opportunities. We find that the more stringent funding requirements under the Pensions Act 2004 had a more pronounced effect on both dividend and investment sensitivities to PCs.
An Internet‐based programme to promote adequate UV exposure behaviour in adolescents in Spain
Authors: Buendía Eisman A. , Arias Santiago S. , Moreno‐Gimenez J.C. , Cabrera‐León A. , Prieto L. , Castillejo I. , Conejo‐Mir J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  The exponential rise in the incidence of cutaneous cancers underscores the need to promote primary prevention. Adolescents are highly familiar with the use of Internet, and new technologies and Internet systems have proven especially useful to educate this age group in other health problems. To date, there have been no reports of Internet‐based primary prevention campaigns for adolescents against skin cancer.Objectives  To determine the knowledge and behaviour of a Spanish adolescent population in relation to sun exposure through an Internet‐based system and to describe the use of an Internet‐based school intervention programme to improve the sun exposure knowledge and behaviour in adolescents.Methods  The cross‐sectional study included 2170 school pupils aged between 12 and 16 years from public secondary schools. Pupils in the participating centres completed the survey via the website, which contained a total of 35 questions and three information blocks. For the intervention programme, a sub‐sample of 12 secondary schools (total of 1290 pupils) was randomly selected.Results  About 56.7% of the female pupils and 52.6% of the male pupils reported having suffered from sunburn in the previous summer. Sunburn risk increased with the frequency of sun exposure between 12 and 6 pm (OR of 3.59), null knowledge of the negative effects of sun exposure (OR of 2.102), the use of sun protection cream (OR of 0.695 for non‐use) and physical sun protection measures (OR of 2.21 for 0–1 physical measures). A significant reduction in self‐reported sunburns was observed in the quasi‐experimental group in comparison with controls after adjusting for sex and inland or coastal location of the centre (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23–0.87, P = 0.018). Adjusted OR showed that there was a significant improvement in the use of physical measures, use of sun cream, frequency of sun cream application every 2 h and use of protection on cloudy days.Conclusions  This is the first study to demonstrate that a programme entirely conducted via Internet significantly reduces by half self‐reported sunburn risk in an adolescent population achieving very high satisfaction rates.
Singing the new Nepal
Authors: Hutt Michael 
Published: February 2012

AbstractNepal's adoption of a new national anthem in 2007 reflected a decision to establish a new social and political order that was republican, federal and inclusive of the country's many minority communities. It came after a ten‐year internal conflict, and was followed by the abolition of the Shah monarchy that had ruled the country since the late eighteenth century. This article describes the historical and political context of the decision to replace the old anthem, the selection of the new anthem, and the debates that arose in the Nepali media and public sphere after its lyrics and the identity of its author were made known. The discussion refers to arguments made by Karen Cerulo about the relationship between the syntactic structure of national anthems and the stage reached in the process of political modernisation of the nation‐state in question, and provides some comparative perspectives on the Nepali case.