bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen deposition, vegetation burning and climate warming act independently on microbial community structure and enzyme activity associated with decomposing litter in low‐alpine heath
Authors: PAPANIKOLAOU NIKI , BRITTON ANDREA J. , HELLIWELL RACHEL C. , JOHNSON DAVID 
Published: February 2010

AbstractLow‐alpine heathlands are thought to be particularly sensitive to nitrogen (N) deposition, climate and land management change, yet little is known about how these factors regulate key belowground processes, like litter turnover, under field conditions. Here we use an in situ factorial field experiment to test the effects of increased atmospheric N deposition, climate manipulation and past vegetation burning, and their interactions, on litter decomposition and the activity and diversity of associated microorganisms. The use of litter from within (native) and outwith (standard) the experimental plots also enabled us to test whether decomposition and microbial functional diversity is driven primarily by soil conditions or litter chemistry. In general, extracellular enzyme activities of litter were driven by additions of simulated N deposition with phosphatase being the most responsive. We found that standard litter incubated in plots that had been burnt 8 years previously decomposed slower and lost less N and phosphorus than in unburnt plots. This material also had associated with it the greatest activity of glucosidase and the least diverse microbial community, as assessed by culture‐independent methods. Although all treatments significantly affected microbial diversity, burning explained most of the variability, indicating a close coupling between plant and microbial communities in these treatments. A striking feature of all the data relating to both standard and native litter was an almost complete lack of interactive effects between the treatments. The lack of interactions between the treatments indicates that each perturbation might affect different mechanisms in the decomposition process (including the composition of associated microbial communities) and nutrient cycling.
Personality disorders in offenders with intellectual disability: a comparison of clinical, forensic and outcome variables and implications for service provision
Authors: Alexander R. T. , Green F. N. , O'Mahony B. , Gunaratna I. J. , Gangadharan S. K. , Hoare S. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractAim  To establish any differences between patients with and without a diagnosis of personality disorders, being treated in a secure inpatient service for offenders with intellectual disability (ID) in the UK.Method  A cohort study involving a selected population of people with ID and offending behaviours.Results  The study included a total of 138 patients, treated over a 6 year period – 77 with a dissocial or emotionally unstable personality disorder and 61 without. Women were more likely to be in the personality disorder group. Both groups had high prevalence of abuse with no significant differences. Depressive disorders and substance abuse were more common in the personality disorder group, while epilepsy and autistic spectrum disorders were more common in the non‐personality disorder group. Rather than differences, what was more striking was the rate and range of these comorbidities across both groups. Although past histories of violence and institutional aggression were no different, compulsory detention under criminal sections and restriction orders were more common in the personality disorder group. There were no differences in treatment outcomes.Conclusions  Although about half of patients detained in secure units for offenders with ID have a personality disorder, there were more similarities than differences between this group and the rest. While good treatment outcomes supported the case for specialised secure treatment units for people with ID, the case for establishing a more specialised ID–personality disorder unit was less convincing. There is also a need to explore whether there are alternative diagnostic models that can delineate better the group with personality difficulties in this population.
An exploratory study of the defence mechanisms used in psychotherapy by adults who have intellectual disabilities
Authors: Newman D. W. , Beail N. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractProblem  A significant concept in psychodynamic theory and practice is that of defence mechanisms. The identifications of defences is a key task of the therapist and these are then used in the formulation and form part of the therapist's interventions. Case studies of psychotherapy with adults who have intellectual disabilities (IDs) suggest that they use more primitive defences but this has not been empirically evaluated. This study aimed to find out what defences adults with IDs use within and across sessions of individual psychotherapy.Methods  Transcripts of psychotherapy sessions with a case series of eight adults with IDs were evaluated using the defence mechanism rating scale.Results  Contrary to expectation the participants were observed to use a wide range of defences from primitive to mature. There was evidence to suggest that participants had developed a defensive style, but little evidence to show change in defensive structure across the first eight sessions of treatment.Conclusions  This exploratory study shows that adults who have IDs use a range of defences in psychotherapy and have particular defensive styles. The results suggest that future studies may need more participants and a longer time frame to see if change in defences occurs during psychotherapy. The defence mechanism rating scale may also need some validation work with adults who have IDs and consider inclusion of some defences that are disability‐specific.
Forward genetics in Candida albicans that reveals the Arp2/3 complex is required for hyphal formation, but not endocytosis
Authors: Epp Elias , Walther Andrea , Lépine Guylaine , Leon Zully , Mullick Alaka , Raymond Martine , Wendland Jürgen , Whiteway Malcolm 
Published: February 2010

Summary Candida albicans is a diploid fungal pathogen lacking a defined complete sexual cycle, and thus has been refractory to standard forward genetic analysis. Instead, transcription profiling and reverse genetic strategies based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae have typically been used to link genes to functions. To overcome restrictions inherent in such indirect approaches, we have investigated a forward genetic mutagenesis strategy based on the UAU1 technology. We screened 4700 random insertion mutants for defects in hyphal development and linked two new genes (ARP2 and VPS52) to hyphal growth. Deleting ARP2 abolished hyphal formation, generated round and swollen yeast phase cells, disrupted cortical actin patches and blocked virulence in mice. The mutants also showed a global lack of induction of hyphae‐specific genes upon the yeast‐to‐hyphae switch. Surprisingly, both arp2Δ/Δ and arp2Δ/Δarp3Δ/Δ mutants were still able to endocytose FM4‐64 and Lucifer Yellow, although as shown by time‐lapse movies internalization of FM4‐64 was somewhat delayed in mutant cells. Thus the non‐essential role of the Arp2/3 complex discovered by forward genetic screening in C. albicans showed that uptake of membrane components from the plasma membrane to vacuolar structures is not dependent on this actin nucleating machinery.
Chasing the golden egg: vaccination against poultry coccidiosis
Authors: SHARMAN P. A. , SMITH N. C. , WALLACH M. G. , KATRIB M. 
Published: February 2010

Summary Eimeria species, of the Phylum Apicomplexa, cause the disease coccidiosis in poultry, resulting in severe economic losses every year. Transmission of the disease is via the faecal‐oral route, and is facilitated by intensive rearing conditions in the poultry industry. Additionally, Eimeria has developed drug resistance against most anticoccidials used today, which, along with the public demand for chemical free meat, has lead to the requirement for an effective vaccine strategy. This review focuses on the history and current status of anticoccidial vaccines, and our work in developing the transmission‐blocking vaccine, CoxAbic® (Netanya, Israel). The vaccine is composed of affinity‐purified antigens from the wall‐forming bodies of macrogametocytes of Eimeria maxima, which are proteolytically processed and cross‐linked via tyrosine residues to form the environmentally resistant oocyst wall. The vaccine is delivered via maternal immunization, where vaccination of laying hens leads to protection of broiler offspring. It has been extensively tested for efficacy and safety in field trials conducted in five countries and involving over 60 million offspring chickens from immunized hens and is currently the only subunit vaccine against any protozoan parasite to reach the marketplace.
DROUGHT STRESS: Soil Water Availability Alters the Inter‐ and Intra‐Cultivar Competition of Three Spring Wheat Cultivars Bred in Different Eras
Authors: Song L. , Zhang D.‐W. , Li F.‐M. , Fan X.‐W. , Ma Q. , Turner N. C. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractCompetition for water generates a classic aspect of the tragedy of the commons, the ‘race for fish’, where crops must allocate more resource to acquisition of the limiting resource than is optimal for crop yield allocation. A pot experiment using a simple additive (target–neighbour) design was conducted to examine the above‐ground and below‐ground growth of three spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) cultivars when grown alone and in mixtures at three levels of water availability. The effects of competition and water availability were compared by observing patterns of growth, biomass allocation and below‐ground outcomes. Competitive interactions were investigated among cultivars ‘HST’, ‘GY602’ and ‘LC8275’, target plant of each cultivar grown without neighbouring plants are referred to herein as control plant and one target plant of each cultivar sown surrounded either by same or another cultivar as intra‐ or inter‐cultivar competition. Competitive ability was assessed as the response ratio (lnRR) between the target plant surrounded by six other plants and the target plant in isolation. Our results showed that the cultivar ‘HST’, released over a century ago, produced a higher biomass and grain yield than the more recently released cultivars ‘LC8275’ and ‘GY602’ when grown as isolated plants with sufficient water supply. However, competition for resources from neighbours led to target plant biomass and grain yield being significantly reduced relative to controls in all three cultivars, particularly in ‘HST’. When subjected to intra‐cultivar competition, the two recently released cultivars ‘LC8275’ and ‘GY602’ had higher grain yields and water use efficiency for grain than ‘HST’ in all three water regimes. The landrace ‘HST’ had better and significantly linear relationships between biomass and biomass allocation, root length and specific root length, whereas the recent and modern cultivars had much more water‐related species‐specific changes in root morphology and allocation patterns. These results suggest that crop traits that influence competitive ability, such as biomass allocation to roots and root plasticity in response to drought have changed in modern wheat cultivars because of breeding and selection.
The inheritance of anther extrusion in hexaploid wheat and its relationship to Fusarium head blight resistance and deoxynivalenol content
Authors: Skinnes H. , Semagn K. , Tarkegne Y. , Marøy A. G. , Bjørnstad Å. 
Published: February 2010

With 6 figures and 3 tables AbstractAnther extrusion (AE) has been suggested as one of the resistance mechanisms to Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, but not well investigated. The objectives of this study were to assess AE in the double haploid population ‘Arina’ × ’NK93604’, evaluate its relationship both with FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation, and map quantitative trait loci (QTLs). AE was studied in 2005−2007 and its relationship to FHB and DON content was analysed with data from Fusarium culmorum inoculations in 2001–2003 and with Fusarium graminearum in 2007. AE showed continuous distribution, transgressive segregation, minimal genotype × year interactions and was highly heritable (H2 = 0.91). Mean AE showed highly significant negative correlations both with FHB (r = −0.53 to −0.69, P = 0.0001) and DON (r = −0.39 to −0.46, P = 0.0001). Composite interval mapping identified 4 QTLs for mean AE over 2 years that explained 53.6% of the total phenotypic variation. The phenotypic variance explained by the QTLs on chromosomes 1AL, 1BL, 4DL and 6AS varied from 7.4% to 18.3%. This is the first report describing QTLs for AE and to look systematically for association of AE with FHB and DON.
TSWV resistance in DH lines of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) obtained from a hybrid between ‘Polalta’ and ‘Wiślica’
Authors: Laskowska D. , Berbeć A. 
Published: February 2010

With 2 tables Abstract Nicotiana tabacum cv. ‘Polalta’ is reported as having a hypersensitive type of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistance. In ‘Polalta’ hybrids with susceptible cultivars, morphological deformations (thickened and ribbon‐shaped leaves, irregular venation, tumours) appear. Acceptable DH lines derived from hybrids of ‘Polalta’ with ‘Wiślica’ were obtained by a method of in vitro culture. Those DH lines were evaluated for TSWV resistance. Tests for resistance were conducted under greenhouse conditions using one TSWV isolate from a local source. The presence of the virus was verified using DAS‐ELISA. The DH lines PW‐833, PW‐834, and PW‐900 showed a near correct morphology and stably inherited dominant monogenic resistance to TSWV.
Effects of mosapride on esophageal functions and gastroesophageal reflux
Authors: Koshino Kenji , Adachi Kyoichi , Furuta Kenji , Ohara Shunji , Morita Terumi , Nakata Shuji , Tanimura Takashi , Miki Masaharu , Kinoshita Yoshikazu 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  A substantial number of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease show symptomatic resistance to high‐dose proton pump inhibitors. In those cases, prokinetics are possible candidates for treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine whether mosapride, a prokinetic agent, stimulates esophageal functions, and prevents acidic and non‐acidic gastroesophageal reflux.Methods:  Normal volunteers (nine and 13 for two experiments, respectively) were enrolled. Salivary secretion, esophageal peristaltic contractions, and resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure with and without mosapride administration were recorded using a cross‐over protocol. Post‐prandial acidic and non‐acidic reflux levels were also recorded.Results:  Mosapride at a standard dose of 15 mg/day did not stimulate salivary secretion or any esophageal motor functions. It also failed to prevent acidic and non‐acidic post‐prandial gastroesophageal reflux.Conclusions:  Mosapride at 15 mg/day, a standard dose in Japan, did not change the esophageal motility and salivary secretion in healthy volunteers. Future study on a larger number of individuals with higher dose of mosapride is worthwhile.
Quantitative serum HBsAg and HBeAg are strong predictors of sustained HBeAg seroconversion to pegylated interferon alfa‐2b in HBeAg‐positive patients
Authors: Ma Hui , Yang Rui‐feng , Wei Lai 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  To evaluate the usefulness of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) for predicting HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with conventional interferon (IFN) alfa‐2b or PegIFN alfa‐2b.Methods:  Fifty‐eight patients were enrolled; 29 for the training group and 29 for the validating group. Quantification of HBsAg and HBeAg was carried out at baseline, week 12, week 24, and then again at 12 and 24 weeks follow up, respectively, for two groups. Sixteen patients in the training group were followed up for 5 years.Results:  The cutoff of 1500 IU/mL in serum HBsAg at week 12 had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 33% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91%, and 2890 IU/mL at week 24 had a PPV of 43% and an NPV of 95% for HBeAg seroconversion at week 48. The cutoff of 17.55 Paul Ehrlich Institute units/mL (PEI‐U/mL) in serum HBeAg at week 12 had a PPV of 38% and an NPV of 95%, and 8.52 PEI‐U/mL at week 24 had a PPV of 44% and a NPV of 100% for HBeAg seroconversion at week 48. Moreover the HBsAg and HBeAg levels of PegIFN alfa‐2b group were lower than those of the conventional IFN alfa‐2b group. During follow up, patients with HBeAg seroconversion remained HBeAg negative and none of them progressed to cirrhosis, but among the patients with non‐HBeAg seroconversion, two progressed to cirrhosis. Two additional patients with negative HBeAg were observed.Conclusions:  On‐treatment serum HBsAg and HBeAg had high predictive values to predict sustained HBeAg seroconversion by PegIFN alfa‐2b. Patients who cleared HBeAg had better survival free of hepatic complications during long‐term follow‐up study.
Is it necessary to perform prophylactic cholecystectomy for asymptomatic subjects with gallbladder polyps and gallstones?
Authors: Choi Sung Youn , Kim Tae Sun , Kim Hong Joo , Park Jung Ho , Park Dong Il , Cho Yong Kyun , Sohn Chong Il , Jeon Woo Kyu , Kim Byung Ik 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aims:  The purpose of the present study was to determine the clinical characteristics of subjects with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis compared with those with gallbladder polyps only.Methods:  Between August 1999 and December 2005, 176 subjects with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis (study group) by transabdominal ultrasonography performed during a medical check‐up at our institution were recruited and compared with a control group of 185 subjects who had gallbladder polyps only.Results:  No significant difference in the mean interval change (delta) of polyp size during the follow‐up period between the study and control groups (0.85 ± 1.39 mm vs 0.84 ± 1.58 mm, respectively, P = 0.927) was noted. A significantly higher proportion (9/176 [5.1%]) of examinees in the study group had attacks of acute cholecystitis compared with the control group (1/185 [0.5%], P < 0.01). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, gallbladder wall thickening on initial ultrasonography (odds ratio, 13.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–178.0; P = 0.046) and the interval increase in the size of the gallbladder polyps (odds ratio, 14.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–126.9; P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for cholecystectomy. No gallbladder cancer occurred during the follow‐up period.Conclusions:  There was no significant difference in delta polyp size between the examinees with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis and those with gallbladder polyps only. Hence, a small proportion of subjects with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis, such as those with thickened gallbladder walls and an interval increase in the size of the gallbladder polyps are candidates for prophylactic cholecytectomy.
Clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of gastric cancer that initially presents with disseminated intravascular coagulation: A retrospective study
Authors: Rhee Jiyoung , Han Sae‐Won , Oh Do‐Youn , Im Seock‐Ah , Kim Tae‐You , Bang Yung‐Jue 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Few systematic studies have been published on prognosis and clinical outcome of gastric cancer patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as the first presentation of malignancy. We evaluated the clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of this population.Methods:  We reviewed the medical records of patients with metastatic or recurred gastric cancer that initially presented with DIC.Results:  Twenty‐one patients were included. Median age was 47 years (range, 24–72 years). Eighteen patients (85.7%) had bone metastasis, and nine patients (42.9%) had hemorrhagic complication of DIC. Fourteen patients received palliative chemotherapy, and seven patients received best supportive care (BSC). The most common factor influencing the decision to abandon the palliative chemotherapy was uncontrolled bleeding (57.1%). The median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 58 days (range, 2–342 days). The OS was significantly shorter in BSC than in the chemotherapy group (median, 16 vs 99 days, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy was independently associated with longer OS. In the chemotherapy group, the response to treatment was evaluable in 11 patients: two (18.2%) had a partial response, five (45.5%) had stable disease and four (36.4%) had progressive disease. The OS of patients with progressive disease was significantly longer in the chemotherapy group than in the BSC group (median, 92 vs 16 days, P = 0.009).Conclusions:  The prognosis is poor with gastric cancer that initially presents with DIC but palliative chemotherapy, compared with BSC, prolongs OS. Therefore, early and intensive management for correctable DIC followed by chemotherapy should be considered in this population.
Education strategies to foster health professional students' clinical reasoning skills
Authors: Rochmawati Erna , Wiechula Rick 
Published: February 2010

AbstractClinical reasoning is an important skill for health professionals that should be developed to achieve high levels of expertise. Several education strategies have been suggested for implementation by health professional educators to foster their students' clinical reasoning skills. The strategies have included the following: problem‐based learning, the integrative curriculum, reflection, and concept mapping. This review assesses which is the most effective education strategy for developing the clinical reasoning skills of health professional students. Four publications, from a total of 692 identified records, were included. Overall, this review was not able to make a final conclusion to answer the question. Therefore, there is a need to conduct more studies with larger samples and to undertake research that evaluates the following aspects: more alternate education interventions, variations in the delivery of education interventions, and the cost‐effectiveness of implementing education strategies.
Development and internal validation of a nomogram predicting extracapsular extension in radical prostatectomy specimens
Authors: Satake Naoya , Ohori Makoto , Yu Changhong , Kattan Michael W , Ohno Yoshio , Miyakawa Ayako , Hatano Tadashi , Tachibana Masaaki 
Published: February 2010

Objectives:  To present a nomogram predicting the side‐specific probability of extracapsular extension (ECE) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens.Methods:  Three hundred and fifty‐four patients with T1c‐T3a prostate cancer undergoing RP were included in the analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out to evaluate the predictive values of each clinical and pathological factor, separately and in combination. Based on logistic regression analysis, a nomogram predicting the side‐specific probability of ECE was developed.Results:  Overall, 146 (40%) of 354 patients and 165 (23%) of 708 lobes had ECE pathologically. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of the standard features, such as serum PSA, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason sum on each side, in predicting side‐specific probability of ECE were 0.624, 0.627, and 0.747, respectively. When these three features were combined, AUC increased to 0.773 which was not significantly different from 0.791 of maximum percent of cancer alone (P = 0.613) and significantly enhanced by including maximum percent of cancer on each side, 0.799 (P = 0.022). The resulting nomogram was internally validated and had excellent calibration.Conclusions:  The accuracy in predicting ECE is increased by combining standard clinical factors (clinical stage, serum PSA, highest Gleason score) and biopsy features, such as maximum percent of cancer in the cores. The developed nomogram is helpful when deciding whether or not neurovascular bundles can be preserved.