bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The criminal injuries compensation scheme
Authors: Sugarman Neil 
Published: April 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide an analysis of historic and current criminal injuries compensation schemes in Great Britain.Design/methodology/approachThe paper aims to explain the nature of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) that administers the present scheme and to identify the qualifying criteria to establish eligibility for awards of compensation and obstacles to success. It deals with the nature and amounts of the awards available, the evidence gathering process, causes of delay and impediments to the achievement of fair outcomes. In the context of cases of serious injury, including acquired brain injury, it examines specific problems that are likely to be encountered and a perceived inadequacy of the compensation available to victims of such injury. The paper considers the involvement of the National Health Service in cases where applications for compensation are made and the possibility that medical professionals might inadvertently hinder the chances of a fair award. The position of local authorities and social services departments is also addressed, as is the danger that proper claims for injured victims might not be identified.FindingsFrom the point of view of the victim of crime who is faced with making an application to CICA, the problems that they face lie with the process, the possibility of being refused on technical grounds, limits on compensation, gaps in the scheme – which might leave victims or their relatives going uncompensated or under‐compensated, and finally the lack of financial support with the cost of representation where it is needed. Of equal concern is the fact that the description of the circumstances of the assault and the injuries suffered can be crucial to ensure that full, proper, and relevant evidence gathering is undertaken. Without suitable skills, it is very easy for the lay applicant inadvertently to mislead, or to give the CICA the opportunity to reject or under‐compensate.Originality/valueThis paper provides a detailed analysis of CICA and reflects upon what the future might hold for injured victims of crime.
Personal injury litigation process
Authors: Underhill Malcolm 
Published: April 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to consider the claims process for personal injury matters, prior to and post commencement of litigation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes an examination of the personal injury pre‐action protocol and thereafter, the actions required to commence legal proceedings. Flowing from this is a step‐by‐step guide to the actions required to prepare a case for trial. It concludes with a summary of the trial process, in the event that the case is not resolved by other means.FindingsThe actual steps and timetable for the resolution of personal injury neurological cases will vary and be dictated by the particular facts of each case. However, they will all broadly follow the approach outlined, with compliance with the pre‐action protocol before commencement of proceedings. Those proceedings will then be tightly managed by a judge through one or more case management conferences before a trial will proceed.Originality/valueThe paper provides details of the litigation process so that health professionals feel comfortable with the framework of litigation and can understand the client's anxieties. Therefore, it is important that those same professionals are familiar with the personal injury litigation process, to enhance their role and contribution to a case, to the benefit of the mutual client.
T Helper Type 17 Cells Expand in Patients with Myasthenia‐Associated Thymoma
Authors: Wang Z. , Wang W. , Chen Y. , Wei D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMyasthenia gravis (MG) is a prototypical CD4+ T cell–dependent autoimmune disease mediated by anti‐acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies (AChR‐Abs). Certain subsets of helper T cells are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of MG, including Th1 and regulatory T cells (Treg). However, whether the recently identified Th17 cells play a role in the development of MG and its prognosis is still unknown. Here, we demonstrated that Th17 cells and their associated cytokines are increased, while the Treg cells are decreased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MG patients with thymomas (TM), but not from those with normal thymus (NT) or thymic hyperplasia (TH). Furthermore, the quantity of Th17 cells correlates with the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score in patients with TM. We also found a significant positive relationship between the frequency of Th17 cells (%) and the concentration of AChR antibodies in patients with MG. Therefore, the Th17/Treg imbalance in TM may suggest MG with certain pathological subtype, and the increase in Th17 cells may reveal the severity of the disease, which is valuable in the diagnosis and choice of therapeutic strategy for patients with MG.
Temporal Progress of Yellow Sigatoka and Aerobiology of Mycosphaerella musicola Spores
Authors: Rocha Hermínio Souza , Pozza Edson Ampélio , Uchôa Cleilson Do Nascimento , Cordeiro Zilton José Maciel , De Souza Paulo Estevão , Sussel ÂNgelo Aparecido Barbosa , De Rezende Carlos Alberto 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAn understanding of the progression of a disease is important in the adoption of control strategies as well as the evaluation of their efficacies. Temporal analysis is especially useful because it integrates the evolution of the interaction between the components of the pathosystem, as expressed by the accumulated data on the incidence and severity of disease and depicted by the disease progression curve. Within a given patho‐system, the dispersed airborne spores are important components in the progress of plant disease epidemics. Our aims were to evaluate the temporal dynamics of yellow Sigatoka in a banana plantation located in Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil, and to assess the aerobiology of Mycosphaerella musicola spores throughout the year. During the rainy season, we observed intense disease progression concomitant with high rates of leaf emission, which caused rapid reversal of the severity peaks after the maximum rates were reached. The yellow Sigatoka progress curve showed two peaks of extreme severity. The first, which occurred during the rainy season, was predominantly caused by a high concentration of conidia. The second, which occurred during the dry season, was predominantly caused by a high concentration of ascospores in the air. The ascospore concentrations were correlated with the severity of the disease 29 days later, indicating the average latency period of the disease in that region. The patterns of the severity curves for both peaks fit the monomolecular model, and the progression rates were higher during the rainy season than the dry season. The spore concentrations were the same at the two evaluated heights. In all evaluations, it was observed a higher concentration of ascospores than of conidia, with the greatest ascospore concentrations occurring during the early hours of the day and the greatest conidia concentrations occurring later, after the dew has dropped from the leaves.
Endometrial Phospholipase A2 Activity During the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy in Mares
Authors: Ababneh MM , Troedsson MHT 
Published: April 2012

ContentsThe aim of this study was to determine phospholipase A2 (PLA2) kinetics and activity in the mare’s endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Phospholipase A2 is responsible for the liberation of arachidonic acid from phospholipids, which is the first limiting step in prostaglandins synthesis. Phospholipase A2 activity was measured using an assay based on the liberation of oleic acid from 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐[14C] oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. The enzyme was shown to be calcium dependent, to have an optimum pH of 8 and an apparent Michaelis constant of 127 μm. Enzyme activity was low in the endometrium of early luteal phase tissue but increased significantly (p < 0.001) during the late luteal phase (5.39 ± 0.16; 3.48 ± 0.33, 6.85 ± 0.59, and 9.96 thinsp;± thinsp;1.23 thinsp;nmol oleic acid released/mg protein at oestrus, and Days 3, 8 and 14 after ovulation, respectively). The mean PLA2 activity in endometrial tissue from pregnant mares (4.23 ± 0.74) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than from cyclic animals during late dioestrus (9.96 ± 1.23). The results indicate that PLA2 activity in equine endometrium changes with the stage of the oestrous cycle and thus may be influenced by systemic hormone concentrations. The inhibitory effects of conceptus products on secretion of prostaglandin during early pregnancy were associated with a competitive inhibitor that decreased endometrial PLA2 activity.
Systematic review of the use of topical diltiazem compared with glyceryltrinitrate for the nonoperative management of chronic anal fissure
Authors: Sajid M. S. , Whitehouse P. A. , Sains P. , Baig M. K. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim  The study analyzed clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of diltiazem (DTZ) and glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) for the nonsurgical management of chronic anal fissure (CAF).Method  Randomized trials on the effectiveness of DTZ and GTN were analyzed systematically using RevMan® where combined outcome was expressed as risk ratio (RR).Results  Seven randomized controlled trials that included 481 patients were analyzed. Two‐hundred and thirty‐eight patients were treated with DTZ and 243 patients were treated with GTN. There was significant heterogeneity [Tau2 = 0.24, χ2 = 13.16, d.f. = 6 (P < 0.05); I2 = 54%] among the included trials. In the random‐effects model, DTZ was associated with a lower incidence of side effects (RR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.27, 0.86; z = 2.46; P < 0.01), headache (RR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.24, 0.66; z = 3.54; P < 0.004) and recurrence (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.52, 0.89; z = 2.77; P < 0.006) of CAF. Both GTN and DTZ were equally effective (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.34; z = 0.92; P = 0.36) in the nonsurgical management of CAF.Conclusion  This systematic review of seven trials validates and strengthens the finding of a previously published meta‐analysis of two randomized trials. Both DTZ and GTN are equally effective in the management of CAF. However, DTZ is associated with a lower incidence of headache and recurrent fissure. Therefore DTZ should be the preferred first line of treatment for CAF.
Decrease in frequency of ketoacidosis at diabetes onset over the past two decades – perspectives of a paediatric tertiary care centre
Authors: de Vries L. , Oren L. , Lebenthal Y. , Shalitin S. , Lazar L. , Phillip M. 
Published: April 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, e170–e175 (2012)AbstractAims  To determine whether the frequency and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis and the clinical characteristics of children at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus have changed over the past decades among patients under surveillance of a tertiary paediatric centre.Methods  In three time‐periods, 75 (1986–1987), 86 (1996–1997) and 245 (2006–2007) patients at mean age 10.1 ± 4.7 years (0.6–20.0) were diagnosed with new‐onset Type 1 diabetes. Data on clinical characteristics and laboratory evaluation at diagnosis retrieved from the patients’ files . Comparative analysis was performed between the three time periods.Results  The frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was 40% in 1986–1987, 41.8% in 1996–1997 and 29.4% in 2006–2007; the last rate was significantly lower (P = 0.04). No significant differences in the proportions of patients with severe or moderate diabetic ketoacidosis were found over time. Mean weight standard deviation score significantly increased from −0.72 ± 1.8 in 1986–1987 to −0.27 ± 1.2 in 2006–2007 (P < 0.05), while percentage weight loss (∼6.5%) before diagnosis remained unchanged. In 2006–2007 a higher proportion of children had glucose testing at the community clinic before diagnosis, than in the earlier years (73.1 vs. 59.6%, P = 0.003).Conclusions  The overall frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis in children with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes has decreased in the past decade, although the degree of metabolic decompensation has remained unchanged.
Linking temperate demersal fish species to habitat: scales, patterns and future directions
Authors: Johnson Andrew F , Jenkins Stuart R , Hiddink Jan G , Hinz Hilmar 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAdoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management relies on recognition of the link between fish and other components of the ecosystem, namely their physical and biological habitat. However, identifying the habitat requirements of marine fishes and hence determining their distribution in space and time is scientifically complex. We analysed the methodologies and findings of research on temperate, demersal fish habitat requirements to highlight the main developments in this field and to identify potential shortfalls. Many studies were undertaken over large spatial scales (≥100s km2) and these generally correlated abundances of fish to abiotic variables. Biological variables were accounted for less often. Small spatial scale (≤m2), experimental studies were comparatively sparse and commonly focused on biotic variables. Whilst the number of studies focusing on abiotic variables increased with increasing spatial scale, the proportion of studies finding significant relationships between habitat and fish distribution remained constant. This mismatch indicates there is no justification for the tendency to analyse abiotic habitat variables at large spatial scales. Innovative modelling techniques and habitat mapping technologies are developing rapidly, providing new insights at the larger spatial scales. However, there is a clear need for a reduction in study scale, or increase in resolution additional to the integration of biotic variables. We argue that development of sound predictive science in the field of demersal fish habitat determination is reliant on a change in focus along these lines. This is especially important if spatial management strategies, such as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) or No Take Zones (NTZ), are to be used in future ecosystem‐based approaches to fisheries management.
LPHN3 and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: interaction with maternal stress during pregnancy
Authors: Choudhry Zia , Sengupta Sarojini M. , Grizenko Natalie , Fortier Marie‐Eve , Thakur Geeta A. , Bellingham Johanne , Joober Ridha 
Published: April 2012

Background:  Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous behavioral disorder, complex both in etiology and clinical expression. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated, and it has been suggested that gene‐environment interactions may play a pivotal role in the disorder. Recently, a significant association was reported between ADHD and LPHN3 (which codes for latrophilin 3), and replicated in independent samples.Methods:  We have examined the association between tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LPHN3 within the region previously implicated in ADHD. Family based association tests (FBAT) were conducted (n = 380 families) with the categorical diagnosis of ADHD, behavioral and cognitive phenotypes related to ADHD, and response to treatment (given a fixed dose of methylphenidate, 0.5 mg/day). Stratified FBAT analyses, based on maternal smoking and stress during pregnancy, was conducted.Results:  Whereas limited association was observed in the total sample, highly significant interaction between four LPHN3 tag SNPs (rs6551665, rs1947274, rs6858066, rs2345039) and maternal stress during pregnancy was noted. Analysis conducted in the sub‐group of mothers exposed to minimal stress during pregnancy showed significant associations with ADHD, behavioral and cognitive dimensions related to ADHD, as well as treatment response. Although extensive association was observed with the candidate SNPs, the findings are partially inconsistent with previously published results with the opposite alleles over‐transmitted in these studies.Conclusions:  These results provide evidence for the interaction between a genetic and environmental factor independently shown to be associated with ADHD. If confirmed in independent large studies, they may present a step forward in unraveling the complex etiology of ADHD.
Probing the pharmacological properties of distinct subunit interfaces within heteromeric glycine receptors reveals a functional ββ agonist‐binding site
Authors: Dutertre Sébastien , Drwal Malgorzata , Laube Bodo , Betz Heinrich 
Published: April 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 38–47.AbstractSynaptic glycine receptors (GlyRs) are hetero‐pentameric chloride channels composed of α and β subunits, which are activated by agonist binding at subunit interfaces. To examine the pharmacological properties of each potential agonist‐binding site, we substituted residues of the GlyR α1 subunit by the corresponding residues of the β subunit, as deduced from sequence alignment and homology modeling based on the recently published crystal structure of the glutamate‐gated chloride channel GluCl. These exchange substitutions allowed us to reproduce the βα, αβ and ββ subunit interfaces present in synaptic heteromeric GlyRs by generating recombinant homomeric receptors. When the engineered α1 GlyR mutants were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, all subunit interface combinations were found to form functional agonist‐binding sites as revealed by voltage clamp recording. The ββ‐binding site displayed the most distinct pharmacological profile towards a range of agonists and modulators tested, indicating that it might be selectively targeted to modulate the activity of synaptic GlyRs. The mutational approach described here should be generally applicable to heteromeric ligand‐gated ion channels composed of homologous subunits and facilitate screening efforts aimed at targeting inter‐subunit specific binding sites.
Difficulties in emotional regulation: association with poorer oral health‐related quality of life in the general population
Authors: Mattila A.K. , Pohjola V. , Suominen A.L. , Joukamaa M. , Lahti S. 
Published: April 2012

Mattila AK, Pohjola V, Suominen AL, Joukamaa M, Lahti S. Difficulties in emotional regulation and poorer oral health‐related quality of life in the general population.   Eur J Oral Sci 2012; 120: 224–231. © 2012 Eur J Oral SciPersonality is one of the strongest predictors of subjective well‐being and may, according to a few previous studies, affect how people report oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL). Alexithymia, a personality trait involving difficulties in emotional regulation, is associated with poorer health‐related quality of life in the general population. We studied if alexithymia is also associated with poorer OHRQoL in a general population sample of 4,460 adults. Oral health‐related quality of life was measured using the 14‐item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) and alexithymia was measured using the 20‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20). Controlling for clinically assessed dental health, depression, anxiety, and socio‐demographic variables, higher scores on the TAS‐20 as well as on its three dimensions [difficulties in identifying feelings (DIF), difficulties in describing feelings (DDF), and externally oriented thinking (EOT)] were associated with higher OHIP‐14 composite scores according to Poisson regression analyses. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, the TAS‐20 and two of its dimensions (DIF and DDF) were positively and significantly associated with the seven OHIP‐14 dimensions and the prevalence of those reporting one or more OHIP‐14 items fairly often or very often. The study showed that difficulties in emotional regulation might be reflected in poorer OHRQoL, regardless of the dental health status, depression, anxiety, and socio‐demographic variables.
Association between subjective oral health and regularity of service use
Authors: Kaprio Henri , Suominen Anna Liisa , Lahti Satu 
Published: April 2012

Kaprio H, Suominen AL, Lahti S. Association between subjective oral health and regularity of service use.   Eur J Oral Sci 2012; 120: 212–217. © 2012 Eur J Oral SciThe aim was to evaluate the predictive power of two different measures of subjective oral health in relation to regularity of use of oral health‐care services. The nationally representative data were collected as part of the Health 2000 Survey on Finnish adults, 30+ yr of age (n = 4926). Subjective oral health and regularity of using of oral health‐care services were measured using single questions and oral health‐related quality of life was measured using the 14‐item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) questionnaire. Those reporting poor oral health or higher impacts in the OHIP‐14 were more likely to be irregular users of oral health‐care services. Further research is needed to investigate more precisely the applicability of these measures in different settings of oral health‐care provision.
Diversity and Expression of RubisCO Genes in a Perennially Ice-Covered Antarctic Lake during the Polar Night Transition
Authors: Kong Weidong , Ream David C. , Priscu John C. , Morgan-Kiss Rachael M. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

The autotrophic communities in the lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, have generated interest since the early 1960s owing to low light transmission through the permanent ice covers, a strongly bimodal seasonal light cycle, constant cold water temperatures, and geographical isolation. Previous work has shown that autotrophic carbon fixation in these lakes provides an important source of organic matter to this polar desert. Lake Bonney has two lobes separated by a shallow sill and is one of several chemically stratified lakes in the dry valleys that support year-round biological activity. As part of an International Polar Year initiative, we monitored the diversity and abundance of major isoforms of RubisCO in Lake Bonney by using a combined sequencing and quantitative PCR approach during the transition from summer to polar winter. Form ID RubisCO genes related to a stramenopile, a haptophyte, and a cryptophyte were identified, while primers specific for form IA/B RubisCO detected a diverse autotrophic community of chlorophytes, cyanobacteria, and chemoautotrophic proteobacteria. Form ID RubisCO dominated phytoplankton communities in both lobes of the lake and closely matched depth profiles for photosynthesis and chlorophyll. Our results indicate a coupling between light availability, photosynthesis, and
rbcL
mRNA levels in deep phytoplankton populations. Regulatory control of
rbcL
in phytoplankton living in nutrient-deprived shallow depths does not appear to be solely light dependent. The distinct water chemistries of the east and west lobes have resulted in depth- and lobe-dependent variability in RubisCO diversity, which plays a role in transcriptional activity of the key gene responsible for carbon fixation.