bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Malnutrition and feeding difficulty in Taiwanese older with dementia
Authors: Chang Chia‐Chi , Roberts Beverly L 
Published: April 2011

Aims and objectives.  To determine differences in the physical and psychological factors and feeding difficulty between people who are well‐nourished and malnourished and to determine the predictors of risk of malnutrition and malnutrition in Taiwanese residents with dementia.Background.  Malnutrition is a common problem among nursing home residents but frequently is unrecognised. Nutritional status of older people is associated with cognitive impairment and patients with dementia have high risk for malnutrition because of difficulties in eating.Design.  A cross‐sectional design was used to determine predictors of risk of malnutrition and malnutrition.Methods.  Subjects were recruited from five Taiwanese long‐term care facilities. Data were collected using Mini Nutritional Assessment Screening Form, body mass index, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Barthel index, Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia scale and eating time.Results.  Eighty‐three subjects participated. According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment Screening Form cut‐point scores, 75 (90·4%) residents with dementia had risk of malnutrition. However, using the World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index cut‐point of <18·5, the prevalence rate of malnutrition was 19%. Using logistic regression, gender (odds ratio: 38·627, 95% CI: 1·927–774·407) and eating time (odds ratio: 0·814, 95% CI: 0·689–0·962) were significant predictors of risk of malnutrition. However, only gender (odds ratio: 6·12, 95% CI: 1·05–35·662) was a significant predictor of malnutrition using the WHO body mass index cut‐point.Conclusions.  The prevalence of the risk for malnutrition was high in residents with dementia in Taiwanese nursing homes. Feeding difficulty, activities of daily living dependence, cognitive impairment, number of medications and age increased with malnutrition while shorter eating times were associated with poorer nutrition. However, when the factors were considered together, only being female and eating time were significant risk factors for malnutrition. Being female was the only significant factor of malnutrition.Relevance to clinical practice.  Monthly monitoring of weight and assessment with Mini Nutritional Assessment Screening Form are essential to early identification of emerging malnutrition and implementation of interventions. Providing nutritional supplements and energy and protein‐dense food may be needed for good nutrition and more time for eating or feeding assistance may delay malnutrition or even improve nutritional status.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in cats
Authors: ESCOBAR A. , PYPENDOP B. H. , SIAO K. T. , STANLEY S. D. , ILKIW J. E. 
Published: April 2011

Escobar, A., Pypendop, B. H., Siao, K. T., Stanley, S. D., Ilkiw, J. E. Effect of dexmedetomidine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in cats.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 163–168.This study reports the effects of dexmedetomidine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (MACiso) in cats. Six healthy adult female cats were used. MACisoand dexmedetomidine pharmacokinetics had previously been determined in each individual. Cats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen. Dexmedetomidine was administered intravenously using target‐controlled infusions to maintain plasma concentrations of 0.16, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ng/mL. MACisowas determined in triplicate at each target plasma dexmedetomidine concentration. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for dexmedetomidine concentration. The following model was fitted to the concentration–effect data:imagewhere MACiso.cis MACisoat plasma dexmedetomidine concentration C, MACiso.0is MACisoin the absence of dexmedetomidine,Imaxis the maximum possible reduction in MACiso, and IC50is the plasma dexmedetomidine concentration producing 50% ofImax. Mean ± SE MACiso.0, determined in a previous study conducted under conditions identical to those in this study, was 2.07 ± 0.04. Weighted mean ± SEImax, and IC50estimated by the model were 1.76 ± 0.07%, and 1.05 ± 0.08 ng/mL, respectively. Dexmedetomidine decreased MACisoin a concentration‐dependent manner. The lowest MACisopredicted by the model was 0.38 ± 0.08%, illustrating that dexmedetomidine alone is not expected to result in immobility in response to noxious stimulation in cats at any plasma concentration.
Protection of calves against Haemonchus placei and Haemonchus contortus after immunization with gut membrane proteins from H. contortus
Authors: BASSETTO C. C. , SILVA B. F. , NEWLANDS G. F. J. , SMITH W. D. , AMARANTE A. F. T. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryA vaccine containing integral membrane glycoproteins from the intestine of Haemonchus contortus was evaluated in four groups of nine worm‐free calves challenged with either 8000 H. contortus or Haemonchus placei infective larvae. Vaccinates received 50 μg of the antigen and 1 mg QuilA adjuvant three times 21 days apart, while the controls got adjuvant alone. The calves were challenged 7 days after the last immunization and killed for worm counts 43 days later. Immunization resulted in high titre antibodies against the vaccine antigens and significant reduction in egg output and worm numbers of both challenge species, compared with control calves. It was concluded that vaccination of calves with native parasite gut membrane glycoproteins obtained from H. contortus conferred protection against both H. placei and H. contortus.
Reliability and validity of the German version of the OPTION scale
Authors: Hirsch Oliver , Keller Heidemarie , Müller‐Engelmann Meike , Gutenbrunner Monika Heinzel , Krones Tanja , Donner‐Banzhoff Norbert 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjective To examine the psychometric properties of the German version of the ‘observing patient involvement’ scale (OPTION) by analysing video recordings of primary care consultations dealing with counselling in cardiovascular prevention.Design Cross‐sectional assessment of physician–patient interaction by two rater pairs and two experts in shared decision making (SDM).Setting Primary care.Participants Fifteen general practitioners provided 40 videographed consultations.Measurements Video ratings using the OPTION instrument.Results Mean differences on item level between the four raters were quite large. Most items were skewed towards minimal levels of shared decision making. Measures of inter‐rater association showed low to moderate associations on item level and high associations on total score level. Cronbach‐α of the whole scale based on the data of all four raters is 0.90 and therefore on a high level. An oblique factor analysis revealed two factors, but both factors were highly correlated so we can confirm a one‐dimensional structure of the instrument. ROC analyses between the rater total scores and dichotomized expert ratings (SDM yes/no) revealed a good discriminability of the OPTION total score. Physicians with more expertise in shared decision making received higher OPTION ratings.Conclusions The German version of the OPTION scale is reliable at total score level. Some items need further revision in the direction of more concrete, observable behaviour. We were only able to perform a quasi‐validation of the scale. Validity issues need further research efforts.
A chromatographically purified human TGF‐β1 fraction from virally inactivated platelet lysates
Authors: Burnouf T. , Chang C.‐W. , Kuo Y.‐P. , Wu Y.‐W. , Tseng Y.‐H. , Su C.‐Y. 
Published: April 2011

Background and Objectives  TGF‐β1 exerts important physiological functions in osteogenesis and chondrogenesis and may be of therapeutic interest. The aim of this work was to develop a scalable purification process of TGF‐β1 from virally inactivated human platelets.Study Design and Methods  Apheresis platelet concentrates (N = 12) were solvent/detergent (S/D) treated (1% TnBP/1% Triton X‐45; 31 °C) and the resulting platelet lysates were clarified by oil extraction and centrifugation, then chromatographed on an anion‐exchange DEAE‐Sepharose Fast‐Flow column equilibrated in a PBS buffer, pH 7·5. The column was washed to eliminate unbound proteins and the S/D agents. Bound proteins were eluted using a 1 M NaCl–PBS buffer pH 7·5 (DEAE‐eluate). The content in TGF‐β1, PDGF‐AB, VEGF, IGF‐1, EGF, and b‐FGF was measured by ELISA. Proteins, lipids, and S/D agents were assessed. Protein profile was determined by SDS‐PAGE under reduced or non‐reduced conditions.Results  Most proteins, including albumin and immunoglobulins G, A, and M did not bind to the DEAE column as evidenced also by SDS‐PAGE. Essentially all PDGF, VEGF, and IGF were in the breakthrough. The DEAE‐eluate contained close to 60% of the TGF‐β1 at a mean concentration of about 102 ng/ml, whereas EGF, b‐FGF were at about 0·72 and 0·18 ng/ml, respectively. The content in TnBP and Triton X‐45 was <2 ppm.Conclusion  A fraction enriched in TGF‐β1 can be prepared from virally inactivated human platelet lysates using an easily scale process. Its interest in regenerative medicine and cell therapy will be evaluated in further studies.
Variation in Podosphaera xanthii on Cucurbits in Southern Italy
Authors: Miazzi Monica , Laguardia Cataldo , Faretra Francesco 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPowdery mildews, caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum and Podosphaera xanthii, are the most common and severe diseases of cucurbits in the Mediterranean basin. In southern Italy, only P. xanthii is apparently present. However, information on its distribution and population biology is scanty, although it would be crucial for a more rational disease control. Studies addressing physiological races, mating types and RAPD analysis were carried out on 82 isolates of P. xanthii sampled in 34 cucurbit fields from Apulia (southern Italy). A set of eight differential melon genotypes were used to discriminate physiological races of the fungus. In particular, 13% of the tested isolates belonged to physiological race 2 FR, 30% to race 5, 25% to race 1, 10% to race 3, 5% to race 4, 1% to race 0 and 16% to undetermined races, whereas only one of the two mating types (MAT1‐2) of the fungus was detected, and RAPD analysis showed a quite broad variation within fungal isolates.
Silicon Suppresses Fusarium Crown and Root Rot of Tomato
Authors: Huang Cheng‐Hua , Roberts Pamela D. , Datnoff Lawrence E. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis‐lycopersici, the causal agent of Fusarium crown and root rot (FCRR), is a serious soilborne disease of tomato. Soil fumigation and host resistance may reduce the impact of this disease, but other alternative management strategies are needed because these options may not always be available or effective. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of silicon (Si) to reduce the disease severity of FCRR. Seven‐day‐old seedlings of Bonny Best tomato, susceptible to FCRR, were transplanted in sand culture amended with Hoagland’s nutrient solution with (+Si) or without (−Si) 100 mg Si/l. At 3 weeks after transplanting, three inoculum concentrations 0, 106 and 107 conidia/plant were used to inoculate the seedlings. Disease severity and silicon concentration were evaluated at 4 weeks after inoculation. Disease progress over time was investigated using the seedlings amended with Si or without Si and inoculated with 0 or 106 conidia/plant. Disease severity was evaluated at 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after inoculation. After rating disease, evaluated plants were divided into shoots and roots for silicon concentration analysis. Si significantly reduced the severity of FCRR on the stem of tomato at 4 weeks after inoculation. Results of disease progress suggested that the decrease in the disease severity of FCRR by Si amendment was probably due to a delay in onset in initial infection of roots and the movement of the pathogen from roots to stems. Si contents of roots and shoots were significantly higher in tomato plants supplied with Si than in those without Si. Moreover, the increase in the Si content of roots was significantly correlated with the reduction of disease severity of root, crown and stem, indicating a silicon‐mediated resistance. Supplying Si to tomato seedlings can reduce the disease severity of FCRR, providing an alternative disease management strategy.
Detrital heavy minerals from Lower Jurassic clastic rocks in the Joetsu area, central Japan: Paleo‐Mesozoic tectonics in the East Asian continental margin constrained by limited chloritoid occurrences in Japan
Authors: KAMIKUBO HIROSHI , TAKEUCHI MAKOTO 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDetrital chloritoids were extracted from the Lower Jurassic sandstones in the Joetsu area of central Japan. The discovery of detrital chloritoids in the Joetsu area, in addition to two previous reports, confirms their limited occurrence in the Jurassic strata of the Japanese islands. This finding emphasizes the importance of the denudation of chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic belts in Jurassic provenance evolution, in addition to a change from an active volcanic arc to a dissected arc that has already been described. Possible sources for the detrital chloritoids from the Jurassic sandstones are the Permo–Triassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks distributed in dispersed tectonic zones (Hida, Unazuki, Ryuhozan and Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks), which are in fault contact with Permian to Jurassic accretionary complexes in the Japanese islands. This is because all of these pre‐Jurassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks have a Carboniferous–Permian depositional age and a Permo–Triassic metamorphic age, whereas a Permian–Triassic metamorphic age on the Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks remains unreported. In addition, most metamorphic chloritoids imply a former stable land surface that has evolved into an unstable orogenic area. Therefore, the chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks might form a continuous metamorphic belt originating from a passive continental margin in East Asia. Evidence from paleontological and petrological studies indicates that the Permo–Triassic metamorphic belt relates to a collision between the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and the North China Craton. The evolution of the Permian–Jurassic provenance of Japanese detrital rocks indicates that the temporal changes in detritus should result from sequences of collision‐related uplifting processes.
Reaction microstructures in corundum‐ and kyanite‐bearing mafic mylonites from the Takahama metamorphic rocks, western Kyushu, Southwest Japan
Authors: ARIMA KAZUHIRO , IKEDA TAKESHI , MIYAZAKI KAZUHIRO 
Published: April 2011

AbstractHigh‐grade mylonites occur in the Takahama metamorphic rocks, a member of the high‐pressure low‐temperature type Nagasaki Metamorphic Rocks, western Kyushu, Japan. Mafic layers within the mylonites retain reaction microstructures consisting of margarite aggregates armoring both corundum and kyanite. The following retrograde reaction well accounts for the microstructures in the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O system: 3Al2O3 + 2Al2SiO5 + 2Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH) + 3H2O = 2Ca2Al8Si4O20(OH)4 (corundum + kyanite + clinozoisite + fluid = margarite). Mass balance analyses and chemical potential modeling reveal that the chemical potential gradients present between kyanite and corundum have likely driven the transport of the CaO and SiO2 components. The mylonitization is considered to take place chronologically after peak metamorphism and before the above reaction, based on the following features: approximately constant thickness of the margarite aggregates, random orientation of margarite, and local modification of garnet composition at a boudin neck that formed during mylonitization. The estimated peak temperature of 640°C and the pressure–temperature conditions of the above reaction indicate that the mylonitization took place at temperature between 530 and 640°C at pressures higher than 1.2 GPa, approximately equivalent to the depth of the lower crust of island arcs.
EUS in exploring the etiology of mild acute biliary pancreatitis with a negative finding of biliary origin by conventional radiological methods
Authors: Zhan Xianbao , Guo Xiaorong , Chen Yan , Dong Yuanhang , Yu Qihong , Wang Kaixuan , Li Zhaoshen 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Conventional radiological methods, including transcutaneous ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) are non‐invasive and recommended for the detection of etiologies of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). There are still, however, a number of patients whose etiologies cannot be found by these methods. The value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for this population is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of EUS in exploring the unknown etiology of mild ABP.Methods:  The data from patients with mild ABP admitted to Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China, from June 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively collected, and the results of the imaging methods in detecting biliary disorders were analyzed.Results:  A total of 223 patients with mild ABP underwent both US and CT. Of these, 106 underwent additional MRCP. There were still 37 patients with unknown biliary etiologies, even after the use of the conventional methods mentioned earlier. EUS was conducted in 33 of these patients. Abnormalities associated with the etiology of mild ABP were found in 14 cases (42.4%) confirmed by subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, with biliary stones in 11 cases, biliary sludge in two cases, and ampullary adenocarcinoma in one case.Conclusion:  The results suggest that EUS is helpful in the identification of the etiology of mild biliary pancreatitis when conventional radiological imaging is negative or equivocal.
Demography and dynamics of three wild horse populations in the Australian Alps
Authors: DAWSON M. J. , HONE J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWild horses (Equus caballus) are a non‐native species occupying over 2800 km2 of the nationally significant Australian Alps National Parks. We estimated key demographic parameters (fecundity, adult and juvenile survival and annual finite population growth rate) over 3 years and related these to horse body condition and available food for three populations under natural conditions, and found a trend consistent with food limitation. The populations were independent, with different site characteristics and occupied areas, identified by land managers, as areas of concern about possible conservation impacts. Annual fecundity and juvenile survival varied across sites averaging between 0.21 and 0.31 female young per adult female, and 0.83 and 0.90 per annum, respectively, and annual adult survival was consistent across sites averaging 0.91 per annum. One population was increasing (λ = 1.09 year−1; 95% CI 1.04–1.14) and two populations were stable (λ ∼ 1.0 year−1). Mean body condition of horses was positively correlated with mean pasture biomass rank. Across the three populations, fecundity, recruitment, body condition and annual finite population growth rate were lowest when mean pasture biomass rank was lowest and conversely highest when pasture rank was highest. We conclude that food limitation appears to be operating across these three sites. We used our results to assess the sensitivity of annual finite rate of increase (λ) to changes in key demographic parameters and found that λ was most sensitive to a change in adult survival, with the second most sensitive parameter being fecundity. Thus, if the aim of management is to reduce the size of the wild horse population then targeting adult survival is most important, followed by fecundity. Finally, we estimated the linear, negative, numerical response for wild horses between annual λ and horses per unit pasture biomass.
Spatial and genetic investigation of aggregation inIschnochiton(Polyplacophora; Neoloricata; Ischnochitonina; Ischnochitonidae; Ischnochitoninae) species with different larval development
Authors: PALMER AMY NICOLA SUSAN 
Published: April 2011

AbstractMany species are aggregated at some spatial scale but for some species, due to habitat or behaviour, aggregation can be difficult to assess quantitatively. Here, aggregation of chiton species (Polyplacophora; Neoloricata; Ischnochitonina; Ischnochitonidae; Ischnochitoninae; Ischnochiton) living under boulders in intertidal boulder fields was investigated at several relatively small spatial scales. Closely related species were found to be aggregated at the level of individual boulders, but evidence for grouping at the larger scale of patches of boulders varied. When organisms are mobile, dispersal can have an important influence on spatial patterns. Some organisms, such as marine invertebrates, have a highly dispersive larval phase that can influence spatial patterns of adults, particularly where the adult is sessile or relatively sedentary. Aggregation was compared in two species to test whether different modes of larval development influence spatial pattern. There was some evidence that species with a planktonic larva were even more aggregated than expected, in contrast to predictions based on this mode of development. Both types of larval development (planktonic and non‐planktonic) produce larvae with short development times in these species, so one possible explanation for the grouping habit of these chitons is that they do not disperse, at all, from their natal boulder. The complexity of the boulder field habitat and the cryptic behaviour of these chitons may also contribute to a lack of dispersal. A simple application of a genetic method indicated, however, that philopatry at this scale is unlikely.
Testing the regeneration niche hypothesis with Gesneriaceae (tribe Sinningiae) in Brazil: Implications for the conservation of rare species
Authors: RANIERI BERNARDO DOURADO , PEZZINI FLÁVIA FONSECA , GARCIA QUEILA SOUZA , CHAUTEMS ALAIN , FRANÇA MARCEL GIOVANNI COSTA 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe germination requirements of sexually reproducing plants are regulated by environmental factors such as temperature. Those factors acting at the germination phase are part of the regeneration niche, which is fundamental in the processes that contribute to habitat suitability and geographic distribution. We tested the hypothesis that rarity is associated with regeneration niche in three species of plants in the family Gesneriaceae (tribe Sinningieae), Sinningia rupicola (Mart.) Wiehler, Paliavana sericiflora Benth and Sinningia allagophylla (Mart.) Wiehler, which vary in their distribution and habitat specificity but share a small zone of sympatry in rocky fields south of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The regeneration niche was tested using a seed germination experiment under controlled light conditions at seven fixed temperatures (10–40°C at 5°C intervals). Each of the three species germinated differently at the various temperatures. The species with the smallest geographic range, S. rupicola, also had the most restricted germination: germination peaked at 15°C when relatively few seeds germinated (45%), and even fewer germinated at other temperatures. The regeneration niche was wider in P. sericiflora and wider still in S. allagophylla, with germination greater than 90% between 15–25°C and greater than 80% between 15–30°C, respectively. Our germination results provide qualified support for the hypothesis of correlation of the regeneration niche with geographic distribution of related plant taxa, with important conservation implications for rare and endangered species.