bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social science perspectives on schistosomiasis control in Africa: past trends and future directions
Authors: AAGAARD-HANSEN J. , MWANGA J. R. , BRUUN B. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYNew ways of integrating and scaling up control of neglected tropical diseases (including schistosomiasis) are presently underway. In this context consideration of social science perspectives is essential. In this article, we review social science publications of relevance to sustained control of schistosomiasis in Africa including diagnosis and screening, treatment, supply of clean water and improved sanitation, as well as health communication. Studies of community involvement and links between schistosomiasis control programmes and broader health care systems are also explored. Directions for future social science of relevance to sustainable schistosomiasis control are outlined, including ways of ensuring equitable access to health services as well as involvement of endemic communities and local health care systems based on equal partnership.
Genetic growth potential interacts with nutrition on the ability of mice to cope withHeligmosomoides bakeriinfection
Authors: COLTHERD J. C. , BÜNGER L. , KYRIAZAKIS I. , HOUDIJK J. G. M. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYArtificial selection for improved productivity may reduce an animal's ability to cope with pathogens. Here, we used Roslin mice, uniquely divergently selected for high (ROH) and low (ROL) body weight, to assess interactive effects of differing growth potential and protein nutrition on host resilience and resistance. In a 2×2×6 factorial design, ROH and ROL mice were either sham-infected or infected with 250 L3Heligmosomoides bakeriand fed diets with 30, 80, 130, 180, 230 and 280 g crude protein per kg. The infected ROL-30 treatment resulted in clinical disease and was discontinued. In the remaining ROL mice, infection and feeding treatments did not affect growth but infection reduced weight gain in ROH-30, ROH-80 and ROH-130 mice. Although infection resulted in temporarily reduced food intake (anorexia) in both mouse lines, mean food intake over the whole experiment was reduced in ROH mice only. ROH mice excreted more worm eggs and had higher worm burdens, with relatively fewer female worms, than ROL mice. However, these resistance traits were not sensitive to dietary protein. These results support the view that selection for high growth may reduce the ability to cope with pathogens, and that improved protein nutrition may to some extent ameliorate this penalty.
Impact of temporal changes and host factors on the genetic structure of a population ofOpisthorchis viverrini sensu latoin Khon Kaen Province (Thailand)
Authors: SAIJUNTHA W. , SITHITHAWORN P. , CHILTON N. B. , PETNEY T. N. , KLINBUNGA S. , SATRAWAHA R. , WEBSTER J. P. , ANDREWS R. H. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYThe population genetics of 317 individualOpisthorchis viverrinifrom Khon Kaen Province Thailand, from 4 different years and 4 cyprinid fish species was examined using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis of enolase (Enol), phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) and triose phosphate isomerase (Tpi). Allele and genotype frequencies forEnolandPgmwere consistent irrespective of year or host species. No heterozygote deficiency was detected forEnol. Significant heterozygote deficiencies were detected in 3 of 4 years forPgm. ForTpi, allele frequencies of the most common allele and genotype frequency varied between years and among individuals from different host species. Heterozygote deficiencies forTpiwere detected in 2 years. No significant heterozygous deficiencies were detected amongO. virerrinifrom different fish species in 2005, except atPgmandTpifromPuntioplites protozsron. There was no statistical significance in pairwiseFSTvalues betweenO. viverrinifromCyclocheilichthys armatusin different years or different host species in 2005. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg expectations and a high rate of gene flow in a population ofO. viverriniare discussed in terms of self- and cross-fertilisation, natural selection, non-random mating, the Wahlund effect, presence of null alleles, intensity of infection, biology and ecology of their intermediate cyprinid hosts.
Validating justifications in preschool girls' and boys' friendship group talk: implications for linguistic and socio-cognitive development
Authors: KYRATZIS AMY , ROSS TAMARA SHUQUM , KOYMEN S. BAHAR 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTChildren are believed to construct their causal theories through talk and interaction, but with the exception of a few studies, little or nothing is known about how young children justify and build theories of the world together with same-age peers through naturally occurring interaction, Children's sensitivity to when a pair or group of interlocutors who interact frequently together feel that a justification is needed, is an index of developing pragmatic competence (Goetz & Shatz, 1999) and may be influenced by interactive goals and gender identity positioning. Studies suggest that salient contexts for justifications for young children are disagreement and control (e.g. Veneziano & Sinclair, 1995) but researchers have been less recognizant of ‘situations in which partners verbally assist in the construction of justifications as a means to maintain contact or create solidarity’ (Goetz & Shatz, 1999: 722) as contexts for justifications. The present study examined the spontaneously produced justification constructions in the naturally occurring free play of five friendship groups of preschool-aged children (aged from 3 ; 6 to 5 ; 4), in terms of the motivating context of the justification, marking of the causal relationship with a connective, and causal theories accessed in the talk. Partner expansion (validating justifications) was a salient motivating context for justifications, especially in the talk of friendship groups of girls, and seemed to privilege greater marking of the causal relationship with a connective and less arbitrary reasoning. One group of girls varied their use of validating justifications depending on the theme of play. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of use of validating justifications for children's causal theory building with peers, linguistic development, and pragmatic development.
Semantic bias in the acquisition of relative clauses in Japanese
Authors: OZEKI HIROMI , SHIRAI YASUHIRO 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTThis study analyzes the acquisition of relative clauses in Japanese to determine the semantic and functional characteristics of children's relative clauses in spontaneous speech. Longitudinal data from five Japanese children are analyzed and compared with English data (Diessel & Tomasello, 2000). The results show that the relative clauses produced by Japanese children predominantly have stative/attributive predicates. Additionally, early relative clauses in Japanese are often used to identify a referent that is not present in the context of interaction. These findings contrast with Diessel & Tomasello's (2000) English data, and possible explanations include the input that children are exposed to, which reflects typological characteristics of noun modification in Japanese.
Linking sandwich pairs
Authors: SCHECHTER MARTIN 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSince the development of the calculus of variations there has been interest in finding critical points of functionals. This was intensified by the fact that for many equations arising in practice, the solutions are critical points. In searching for critical points, there is a distinct advantage if the functionalGis semibounded. In this case one can find a Palais–Smale (PS) sequenceor even a Cerami sequenceThese sequences produce critical points if they have convergent subsequences. However, there is no clear method of finding critical points of functionals which are not semibounded. Linking subsets do provide such a method. They can produce a PS sequence provided they separate the functional. In the present paper we show that there are pairs of subsets that can produce Cerami-like sequences even though they do not separate the functional. All that is required is that the functional be bounded from above on one of the sets and bounded from below on the other, with no relationship needed between the bounds. This provides a distinct advantage in applications. We apply the method to several situations.
Lower bounds for the number of conjugacy classes of finite groups
Authors: KELLER THOMAS MICHAEL 
Published: June 2009

AbstractIn 2000, L. Héthelyi and B. Külshammer proved that if p is a prime number dividing the order of a finite solvable group G, then G has at least $2\sqrt{p-1}$ conjugacy classes. In this paper we show that if p is large, the result remains true for arbitrary finite groups.
Klobuchar-Like Local Model of Quiet Space Weather GPS Ionospheric Delay for Northern Adriatic
Authors: Filjar Renato , Kos Tomislav , Kos Serdjo 
Published: June 2009

Ionospheric delay is the major source of satellite positioning system performance degradation. Designers of satellite positioning systems attempt to mitigate the impact of the ionospheric delay by deployment of correction models. For instance, the American GPS utilises a global standard (Klobuchar) model, based on the assumption that the daily distribution of GPS ionospheric delay values follows a biased cosine curve during day-time, while during the night-time the GPS ionospheric delay remains constant. Providing a compromise between computational complexity and accuracy, the Klobuchar model is capable of correcting up to 70% of actual ionospheric delay, mainly during quiet space weather conditions. Unfortunately, it provides a very poor performance during severe space weather, geomagnetic and ionospheric disturbances. In addition, a global approach in Klobuchar model development did not take into account particularities of the local ionospheric conditions that can significantly contribute to the general GPS ionospheric delay. Current research activities worldwide are concentrating on a better understanding of the observed GPS ionospheric delay dynamics and the relation to local ionosphere conditions.Here we present the results of a study addressing daily GPS ionospheric delay dynamics observed at a Croatian coastal area of the northern Adriatic (position ϕ=45°N, λ=15°E) in the periods of quiet space weather in 2007. Daily sets of actual GPS ionospheric delay values were assumed to be the time series of composite signals, consisting of DC, cosine and residual components, respectively. Separate models have been developed that describe components of actual GPS ionospheric delay in the northern Adriatic for summer and winter, respectively. A special emphasis was given to the statistical description of the residual component of the daily distribution of GPS ionospheric delay, obtained by removing DC (bias) and cosine components from the composite GPS ionospheric delay.Future work will be focused on further evaluation and validation of a quiet space weather GPS ionospheric delay model for the northern Adriatic, transition to a non-Klobuchar model, and on research in local GPS ionospheric delay dynamics during disturbed and severe space weather conditions.
Pupil constriction evoked in vitro by stimulation of the oculomotor nerve in the turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Authors: DEARWORTH JAMES R. , BRENNER J.E. , BLAUM J.F. , LITTLEFIELD T.E. , FINK D.A. , ROMANO J.M. , JONES M.S. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe pond turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) exhibits a notably sluggish pupillary light reflex (PLR), with pupil constriction developing over several minutes following light onset. In the present study, we examined the dynamics of the efferent branch of the reflex in vitro using preparations consisting of either the isolated head or the enucleated eye. Stimulation of the oculomotor nerve (nIII) using 100-Hz current trains resulted in a maximal pupil constriction of 17.4% compared to 27.1% observed in the intact animal in response to light. When current amplitude was systematically increased from 1 to 400 μA, mean response latency decreased from 64 to 45 ms, but this change was not statistically significant. Hill equations fitted to these responses indicated a current threshold of 3.8 μA. Stimulation using single pulses evoked a smaller constriction (3.8%) with response latencies and threshold similar to that obtained using train stimulation. The response evoked by postganglionic stimulation of the ciliary nerve using 100-Hz trains was largely indistinguishable from that of train stimulation of nIII. However, application of single-pulse stimulation postganglionically resulted in smaller pupil constriction at all current levels relative to that of nIII stimulation, suggesting that there is amplification of efferent drive at the ganglion. Time constants for constrictions ranged from 88 to 154 ms with relaxations occurring more slowly at 174–361 ms. These values for timing from in vitro are much faster than the time constant 1.66 min obtained for the light response in the intact animal. The rapid dynamics of pupil constriction observed here suggest that the slow PLR of the turtle observed in vivo is not due to limitations of the efferent pathway. Rather, the sluggish response probably results from photoreceptive mechanisms or central processing.
Exercise capacity reflects ventricular function in patients having the Fontan circulation
Authors: Klimes Katrin , Ovroutski Stanislav , Abdul-Khaliq Hashim , Ewert Peter , Alexi-Meskishvili Vladimir , Kuehne Titus , Gutberlet Matthias , Berger Felix 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackgroundIn this study we sought to determine, first, whether maximal exercise capacity reflects ventricular function, and second, whether the age of the patient, and the age of completion of the Fontan circulation, influence ventricular function and exercise performance.Methods and ResultsCardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed in 29 patients at a median time of 6.9 years after completion of the Fontan circulation. We divided the patients into 2 groups, the first 19 having their operation below the age of 18 years, and the second group, of 10 patients, having completion of the Fontan circulation when they were older than 18 years. Parameters for ventricular function and exercise were compared for both groups with controls.Compared to controls, the younger patients had normal end-diastolic ventricular volumes, but significantly impaired ventricular function, lower maximal work load and consumption of oxygen. The older patients had greater end-diastolic ventricular volumes, and significantly poorer ventricular function than both the younger patients and the controls. Maximal work load and consumption of oxygen were significantly lower in the older patients than in the younger ones and the controls.ConclusionPatients with the Fontan circulation have an impaired systolic ventricular function, which correlates with maximal exercise capacity and uptake of oxygen. Those having completion of the Fontan circulation when younger than 18 years had significantly better ventricular function and exercise performance than those who had completion of the Fontan circulation at an older age. An early creation of the Fontan circulation may preserve cardiac function and exercise capacity.
Concurrent Validity of the PSYCH-6, a Very Short Scale for Detecting Anxiety and Depression, Among Oncology Outpatients
Authors: Clover Kerrie , Leigh Carter Gregory , Adams Catherine , Hickie Ian , Davenport Tracey 
Published: June 2009

Objective: To improve the acceptability of screening for depression and anxiety among patients with cancer there is a need for scales that are both very short and accurate. To date no very short questionnaire has been found to provide optimal performance for screening in oncology populations and other candidates must be examined. This study examined the concurrent validity of a relatively new, very short scale, the six item PSYCH-6 subscale of the Somatic and Psychological Health Report (SPHERE-12), in an oncology outpatient population. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 340 oncology outpatients attending a regional hospital in Newcastle, Australia. The performance of the PSYCH-6 against the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was evaluated using correlation, Cohen's kappa, positive agreement and negative agreement. Results: The PSYCH-6 subscale of the SPHERE-12, at a cut-off point of 3, had substantial agreement with the total score of the HADS (HADS-T; κ = 0.73, p < 0.001). Negative agreement (0.92) was marginally higher than positive agreement (0.80). Conclusions: The PSYCH-6 scale of the SPHERE-12 at a cut-off point of 3 is an equivalent instrument to the HADS-T for detecting cases and excluding non-cases of anxiety and depression and is suitable for deployment in oncology populations.
Psychological Distress and its Correlates in Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Huang Jun Ping , Xia Wei , Sun Cai Hong , Zhang Hui Ying , Wu Li Jie 
Published: June 2009

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of severe psychological distress in Chinese adolescents, and to identify the demographic and psychosocial factors associated with psychological distress in this population. Method: A multi-stage stratified sampling procedure was used to select a sample of adolescents (n = 3109) in Heilongjiang Province (Northeast of China), who were aged 13–18 years old. Psychological distress was measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). A K10 score between 22 and 30 was defined as moderate psychological distress; a score of ≥ 31 was defined as severe psychological distress in this study. Results: The rates of moderate and severe psychological distress were 27.9% and 12.2%, respectively in the participants. There were no statistical differences in severe psychological distress by gender. Multivariate analysis showed that family environmental variables, schooling variables, self-perception with life and appearance, perceived health and negative life events were significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusion: Severe psychological distress is prevalent in the Chinese adolescent population. Family dysfunction, higher academic pressure, poor relationship with others and negative self-perception are important risk factors associated with psychological distress in adolescents. More studies using the K10 scale are needed so that national and international comparisons can be made.
Epidemiology of Intentional Self-Harm Presenting to Four District Health Boards in New Zealand Over 12 Months, and Comparison with Official Data
Authors: Hatcher Simon , Sharon Cynthia , Collins Nicola 
Published: June 2009

Objective: The aim of the present study was to describe the number and characteristics of people presenting with intentional self-harm to four district health boards in New Zealand and to compare this with official data. Methods: People presenting with self-harm were identified by searching a mixture of electronic and written databases in each DHB. Results: Over 12 months 1633 people presented a total of 2087 times to these four DHBs. The highest rates were in Northland, young women and Maori. Official figures significantly underestimate the number of people who present to hospital with intentional self-harm. Conclusion: Considerably more people present to hospital with intentional self-harm in New Zealand than are recorded by official figures. This is important because reducing self-harm is a key part of the New Zealand health strategy. To achieve this, accurate measurement of self-harm rates is required. Encouraging improved reporting by DHBs is unlikely to work. It is suggested that dedicated monitoring sites be set up in representative DHBs to solve the problem of flawed official data collection.
Latent Structure of Depression in a Japanese Population Sample: Taxometric Procedures
Authors: Okumura Yasuyuki , Sakamoto Shinji , Ono Yutaka 
Published: June 2009

Objective: Although the debate on whether mental disorders are categorical or dimensional is critical for researchers and practitioners, past findings of taxometric studies of depression have been somewhat contradictory and difficult to reconcile. One reason for the disagreement was that most researchers relied only on selected samples (students, clinical patients, or screened community samples). The present study investigated whether the latent structure of depression is categorical or dimensional using an unselected general community sample. Method: To determine whether the latent structure of depression assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale is categorical or dimensional, taxometric procedures were carried out on a Japanese general population-based sample of 20 987 individuals selected using a cluster sampling procedure. Results: Both the means above and below a sliding cut (MAMBAC) and the maximum eigenvalue (MAXEIG) procedures, using indicators drawn from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale yielded results that the latent structure of depression is dimensional. Conclusions: The dimensional structure of depression should be considered when classifying individual differences and selecting suitable research designs.
Perceived Need for Mental Health Care: Findings from the 2007 Australian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Authors: Meadows Graham N. , Burgess Philip M. 
Published: June 2009

Objectives: To provide an overview of perceived need for mental health care and response of services to those needs as assessed by the general Australian adult population. Method: The Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire was administered to respondents of the Australian 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. This instrument allows for self assessment of needs for five kinds of intervention from mental health services as needed in the last year. Specific needs assessed included: medication, information, counselling including psychotherapy, social interventions and skills training: Needs for care may be rated as unmet, partially met and met. Results: Approximately 14% of the population perceived a need for mental health care and between 7% and 8% perceived a met need for either counselling or medication. Need for care was less likely to be perceived by people with substance use disorders than among those with anxiety or affective disorders. For just under half of the population with perceived need (45%), all perceived needs were rated as met, and for around one in five of those with perceived needs, none of their perceived needs were met. Proportionally, needs for medication are most likely to be rated as met at 84%, needs for counselling and information are met at a rate of between 50% and 60%, skills training approximately 40%, and social interventions needs are those least likely to be rated as fully met, at 25%. Conclusions: Mental health care is delivered in large volume and often with high levels of acceptability to the Australian community, although major gaps still remain. It appears that the disparity between need and care may be proportionally larger in the areas described as skills training and social interventions than areas outside of conventional mental health service domains of provision and medication and psychotherapy or counselling.