bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identifying language impairment in children: combining language test scores with parental report
Authors: Bishop Dorothy V. M. , McDonald David 
Published: April 2009

Background: Children who meet language test criteria for specific language impairment (SLI) are not necessarily the same as those who are referred to a speech and language therapist.Aims: To consider how far this discrepancy reflects insensitivity of traditional language tests to clinically important features of language impairment.Methods & Procedures: A total of 245 twin children, 52 of whom had been referred to a speech and language therapist for assessment or intervention, were studied. They were given a battery of language tests and their parents completed the Children's Communication Checklist — 2 (CCC‐2).Results: Language tests that stressed verbal short‐term memory were best at distinguishing clinically referred from other cases; narrative and vocabulary tasks were less effective. A discriminant function analysis identified a combination of language test and parental report measures as giving the best discrimination between referred and non‐referred cases. Nevertheless, of 82 children classified as language impaired by the discriminant function, 44 had never been referred to a speech and language therapist. These did not appear to be false‐positives; they scored at least as poorly as referred cases on literacy tests. They had significantly lower socio‐economic backgrounds than referred cases.Conclusions & Implications: Language test scores provide important information about which children are at risk of academic failure, though this varies from test to test. Reliance on language tests alone, however, is insufficient; a parental report provides important complementary information in the diagnostic process. Children of low socio‐economic status with language problems are particularly likely to have no contact with speech and language therapist services.
Swimbladders under pressure: anatomical and acoustic responses by walleye pollock
Authors: Horne John K. , Sawada Kouichi , Abe Koki , Kreisberg Richard B. , Barbee David H. , Sadayasu Kazuhiro 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Horne, J. K., Sawada, K., Abe, K., Kreisberg, R. B., Barbee, D. H., and Sadayasu, K. 2009. Swimbladders under pressure: anatomical and acoustic responses by walleye pollock. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1162–1168. Pressure influences echo intensities from fish through changes in swimbladder volumes and surface areas. Volume reduction is expected to correspond to Boyle’s law (volume α pressure−1), but the effects of deforming the dorsal-aspect surface area of the swimbladder on the target strength (TS) of a physoclist have not been quantified at geometric scattering frequencies. Dorsal and lateral radiographs of three juvenile walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in a pressure chamber were used to image swimbladders from ambient to a maximum of 4.9 × 105 Pa (i.e. 5 atm). Radiographs from an additional 16 0-group, 21 juvenile, and 28 adult fish were used to compare swimbladder sizes and shapes across life-history stages. The directional elliptical eccentricity, which describes the relative compression in dorsal and lateral planes, was formulated to define swimbladder shapes and their variation. As pressure increased, dorsal-aspect surface areas of the swimbladder decreased at a constant rate. Swimbladder-volume reductions were similar among individuals, but less than those predicted by Boyle’s law. Compression was greatest in the dorsal–ventral plane and asymmetric anterior to posterior. The Kirchhoff-ray mode backscatter model predicted that TS at 38 and 120 kHz decreased by ∼4 dB as pressure increased from ambient to 4.9 × 105 Pa.
Chloroplast Photooxidation-Induced Transcriptome Reprogramming in ArabidopsisimmutansWhite Leaf Sectors
Authors: Aluru Maneesha R. , Zola Jaroslaw , Foudree Andrew , Rodermel Steven R. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractArabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) immutans (im) has green and white sectoring due to the action of a nuclear recessive gene, IMMUTANS. The green sectors contain normal-appearing chloroplasts, whereas the white sectors contain abnormal chloroplasts that lack colored carotenoids due to a defect in phytoene desaturase activity. Previous biochemical and molecular characterizations of the green leaf sectors revealed alterations suggestive of a source-sink relationship between the green and white sectors of im. In this study, we use an Affymetrix ATH1 oligoarray to further explore the nature of sink metabolism in im white tissues. We show that lack of colored carotenoids in the im white tissues elicits a differential response from a large number of genes involved in various cellular processes and stress responses. Gene expression patterns correlate with the repression of photosynthesis and photosynthesis-related processes in im white tissues, with an induction of Suc catabolism and transport, and with mitochondrial electron transport and fermentation. These results suggest that energy is derived via aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of imported sugar in im white tissues for growth and development. We also show that oxidative stress responses are largely induced in im white tissues; however, im green sectors develop additional energy-dissipating mechanisms that perhaps allow for the formation of green sectors. Furthermore, a comparison of the transcriptomes of im white and norflurazon-treated white leaf tissues reveals global as well as tissue-specific responses to photooxidation. We conclude that the differences in the mechanism of phytoene desaturase inhibition play an important role in differentiating these two white tissues.
Variations in the Composition of Gelling Agents Affect Morphophysiological and Molecular Responses to Deficiencies of Phosphate and Other Nutrients
Authors: Jain Ajay , Poling Michael D. , Smith Aaron P. , Nagarajan Vinay K. , Lahner Brett , Meagher Richard B. , Raghothama Kashchandra G. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractLow inorganic phosphate (Pi) availability triggers an array of spatiotemporal adaptive responses in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). There are several reports on the effects of Pi deprivation on the root system that have been attributed to different growth conditions and/or inherent genetic variability. Here we show that the gelling agents, largely treated as inert components, significantly affect morphophysiological and molecular responses of the seedlings to deficiencies of Pi and other nutrients. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy analysis revealed variable levels of elemental contaminants not only in different types of agar but also in different batches of the same agar. Fluctuating levels of phosphorus (P) in different agar types affected the growth of the seedlings under Pi-deprivation condition. Since P interacts with other elements such as iron, potassium, and sulfur, contaminating effects of these elements in different agars were also evident in the Pi-deficiency-induced morphological and molecular responses. P by itself acted as a contaminant when studying the responses of Arabidopsis to micronutrient (iron and zinc) deficiencies. Together, these results highlighted the likelihood of erroneous interpretations that could be easily drawn from nutrition studies when different agars have been used. As an alternative, we demonstrate the efficacy of a sterile and contamination-free hydroponic system for dissecting morphophysiological and molecular responses of Arabidopsis to different nutrient deficiencies.
Advances in the understanding of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ballmaier Matthias , Germeshausen Manuela 
Published: April 2009

SummaryCongenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (MIM #604498) is an extremely rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome, usually presenting as a severe thrombocytopenia at birth due to ineffective megakaryocytopoiesis and no characteristic physical anomalies. Usually the isolated thrombocytopenia progresses to pancytopenia during the first years of life. The only curative therapy to date is haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Most of the cases of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia are caused by defective expression or function of the thrombopoietin receptor due to homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the gene MPL. The essential roles of thrombopoietin as a lineage specific regulator of platelet production and as a regulator of haematopoietic stem cell function are reflected in the haematological defects seen in affected individuals.
Physicochemical properties of ferumoxytol, a new intravenous iron preparation
Authors: Balakrishnan V. S. , Rao M. , Kausz A. T. , Brenner L. , Pereira B. J. G. , Frigo T. B. , Lewis J. M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  Intravenous iron is a critical component of anaemia management. However, currently available preparations have been associated with the release of free iron, a promoter of bacterial growth and oxidative stress.Materials and methods  We determined the molecular weight, dialysability and capacity for free iron release of ferumoxytol, a semi‐synthetic carbohydrate‐coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle. Ferumoxytol was compared with three intravenous iron preparations in clinical use: iron dextran (low molecular weight), sodium ferric gluconate and iron sucrose. Intravenous iron preparations were also incubated in rat, and pooled human sera (at concentrations of 600 μM and 42 μg mL−1 respectively) from healthy subjects.Results  The molecular weight of ferumoxytol was 731 kDa. The relative order of molecular weight was as follows: ferumoxytol > iron dextran > iron sucrose > sodium ferric gluconate. The least ultrafilterable iron was observed with ferumoxytol and the most with ferric gluconate. The least dialysable free iron was observed with ferumoxytol and the most with ferric gluconate. Incubation of intravenous iron preparations in rat or pooled human sera demonstrated minimal free iron release with ferumoxytol. The order of catalytic iron release as detected by the bleomycin detectable iron assay was as follows: ferumoxytol < iron dextran < iron sucrose < ferric gluconate. A similar trend was observed for the in vivo serum concentration of free iron in rats.Conclusions  In vitro observations from these experiments suggest that ferumoxytol has a favourable profile in terms of tendency to release free iron, in comparison with currently available intravenous iron preparations.
Triggering of suicidal erythrocyte death by radiocontrast agents
Authors: Föller M. , Sopjani M. , Schlemmer H. P. , Claussen C. D. , Lang F. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  According to in vitro observations, gadolinium‐containing magnetic resonance (MRT) contrast agents stimulate suicidal cell death or apoptosis. Similar to nucleated cells, erythrocytes may undergo suicidal death or eryptosis, characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure at the erythrocyte surface. Eryptosis is triggered by increased cytosolic Ca2+‐activity. This study explored whether gadolinium‐containing MRT contrast agents stimulate eryptosis.Materials and methods  Annexin V‐binding reflecting PS exposure and forward scatter reflecting cell volume were determined in erythrocytes within freshly drawn blood from patients (8♀, 3♂, 29–72 years) prior to and 10 min after administration of gadoterate meglumine (0·1 mmol kg−1 b.w. Dotarem®; six patients) or gadobenate dimeglumine (0·05 mmol kg−1 bw Multi Hance®; five patients). In a separate series, eryptosis was determined prior to and following in vitro incubation of erythrocytes from 16 blood donors for 4 h with gadoterate meglumine (5 mM Dotarem®) or gadobenate dimeglumine (5 mM Multi Hance®). Finally, eryptosis and Fluo3 fluorescence reflecting cytosolic Ca2+ were determined in vitro following exposure to Gd3+. Data were analysed using paired t‐test or anova with Tukey’s test as post‐test.Results  The MRT contrast agents such as gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem®) and gadobenate dimeglumine (Multi Hance®) significantly increased the percentage of eryptotic cells. Moreover, in vitro exposure to gadoterate meglumine (5 mM), gadobenate dimeglumine (5 mM) or Gd3+ (1·9 μM) stimulated eryptosis in vitro. The effect of Gd3+ was paralleled by increase in cytosolic Ca2+‐activity.Conclusions  MRT contrast agents may stimulate suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Effect of polymerized‐type I collagen in knee osteoarthritis. II. In vivo study
Authors: Furuzawa‐Carballeda J. , Muñoz‐Chablé O. A. , Macías‐Hernández S. I. , Agualimpia‐Janning A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  Polymerized‐Type I Collagen (Polymerized‐Collagen) is an anti‐inflammatory and a tissue regenerator biodrug. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra‐articular injections of Polymerized‐Collagen in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods and design  Patients (n = 53) were treated with 12 intra‐articular injections of 2 mL of Polymerized‐Collagen (n = 27) or 2 mL of placebo (n = 26) during 6 months. Follow up period was 6 months. The primary endpoints included Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, Lequesne index, and pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were patient global score, investigator global score and drug evaluation. Clinical improvement was determined if the decrease in pain exceeds 20 mm on a VAS and patients achieved at least 20% of improvement from baseline. Urinary levels of C‐terminal crosslinking telopeptide of collagen type II (CTXII) and serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined by enzyme immunoassays. Statistical analysis was performed by intention to treat.Results  Polymerized‐Collagen was safe and well tolerated. Patients had a statistically significant improvement (P < 0·05) from baseline vs. Polymerized‐Collagen and vs. placebo at 6 months in: Lequesne Index (13·1 ± 0·5 vs. 7·1 ± 0·7 vs. 9·6 ± 0·8; P = 0·027), WOMAC (9·0 ± 0·5 vs. 4·0 ± 0·6 vs. 5·80 ± 0·8; P = 0·032), patient VAS (60·0 ± 2·6 vs. 20·6 ± 2·4 vs. 36·1 ± 4·5; P = 0·003), physician VAS (49·8 ± 1·9 vs. 16·8 ± 2·9 vs. 29·8 ± 2·9; P = 0·002), patient global score (1·08 ± 0·1 vs. 2·7 ± 0·1 vs. 1·9 ± 0·2; P = 0·028) and analgesic usage (30·1 ± 9·4 vs. 11·0 ± 3·4 vs. 17·9 ± 4·9; P = 0·001). This improvement was persistent during the follow up. A threefold increase in CTXII was determined in placebo group. No differences were found on hs CRP and incidence of adverse events between groups.Conclusion  Polymerized‐Collagen is safe and effective in the treatment of knee OA.
Invasions and niche width: does niche width of an introduced crayfish differ from a native crayfish?
Authors: OLSSON KARIN , STENROTH PATRIK , NYSTRÖM PER , GRANÉLI WILHELM 
Published: April 2009

Summary1. Human activities have promoted the spread of species worldwide. Several crayfish species have been introduced into new areas, posing a threat to native crayfish and other biota. Invader success may depend on the ability to utilise a wide variety of habitats and resources. Successful invaders are generally expected to have broader niches and to be more plastic than non‐invasive species.2. Using stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen we compared the niche widths of native noble crayfish and introduced signal crayfish, a successful invader of Swedish streams. The calculation of niche width took account of between‐site differences in basal resource isotope signature ranges. We also assessed whether population density, prey biomass or prey diversity affected niche width.3. At the species level, signal crayfish had twice the niche width of noble crayfish. However, individual populations of noble crayfish and signal crayfish in Swedish streams had similar niche widths. This suggests that signal crayfish has greater plasticity with respect to habitat utilisation and feeding than noble crayfish. Niche width in both species correlated positively with benthic invertebrate biomass and diversity, indicating that animal food sources are important for crayfish.4. We find that assessing niche width in relation to invader success can be a useful tool trying to predict the impact of invasions on different scales. The findings in this study suggest that invaders and natives will have a similar impact on the stream scale whereas the invader will have a larger impact on the regional scale due to the ability to utilise a wider range of streams.
Effects of macrophytes on feeding and life‐history traits of the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata
Authors: QIU JIAN‐WEN , KWONG KING‐LUN 
Published: April 2009

Summary1. Biological invasions have become a serious threat to ecosystems worldwide. Various factors can contribute to the success of biological invasion. We examined how different macrophyte food affected feeding and life‐history traits of the invasive herbivorous snail Pomacea canaliculata, and whether differences in snail life‐history traits could explain its successful infestation of agricultural and non‐agricultural wetlands in Asia.2. We tested five cultivated and five wild semi‐aquatic macrophytes. Snail daily feeding rate varied substantially with plant species, ranging from 1.3% to 22% of its body mass. Snails fed with four (Amaranthus gangeticus, Apium graveolens dulce, Ipomoea aquatica and Nasturtium officinale) of the five cultivated macrophyte species exhibited high survivorship, fast growth and high fecundity. Snails fed with Colocasia esculenta, however, grew poorly, did not reproduce and eventually died.3. Of the five wild species (Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia adscendens, Murdannia nudiflora, Myriophyllum aquaticum and Polygonum hydropiper), M. nudiflora supported a high snail survival, but snails had slower growth and lower fecundity than those reared on the four palatable cultivated species. Snails fed with L. adscendens grew substantially slower than those fed with M. nudiflora, and produced only a small clutch of eggs. Snails fed with E. crassipes, M. aquaticum and P. hydropiper had very low survivorship, grew very little and did not reproduce.4. We determined six plant properties and their correlation with the feeding, growth and reproduction of the apple snails. Cultivated macrophytes in general had a higher nutritional value and lower physical and chemical defences. Phenolic content was negatively correlated with snail feeding rate, while plant nitrogen and phosphorus contents were positively correlated with snail egg production and growth, respectively.5. These results indicate that, due to their higher nutritional value and lower chemical and physical defences, cultivated macrophytes are in general desirable for the apple snail which may partly explain its successful invasion into wet agricultural areas in Asia. This snail may also selectively graze poorly defended wild macrophytes in non‐agricultural wetlands, leading to changes in floral diversity and wetland functioning. Management of this and other apple snails with similar life‐history traits should thus focus on the prevention of their further spread.
The sensitive hare: sublethal effects of predator stress on reproduction in snowshoe hares
Authors: Sheriff Michael J. , Krebs Charles J. , Boonstra Rudy 
Published: April 2009

Summary1. Prey responses to high predation risk can be morphological or behavioural and ultimately come at the cost of survival, growth, body condition, or reproduction. These sub‐lethal predator effects have been shown to be mediated by physiological stress. We tested the hypothesis that elevated glucocorticoid concentrations directly cause a decline in reproduction in individual free‐ranging female snowshoe hares,Lepus americanus. We measured the cortisol concentration from each dam (using a faecal analysis enzyme immunoassay) and her reproductive output (litter size, offspring birth mass, offspring right hind foot (RHF) length) 30 h after birth.2. In a natural monitoring study, we monitored hares during the first and second litter from the population peak (2006) to the second year of the decline (2008). We found that faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentration in dams decreased 52% from the first to the second litter. From the first to the second litter, litter size increased 122%, offspring body mass increased 130%, and offspring RHF length increased 112%. Dam FCM concentrations were inversely related to litter size (r2 = 0·19), to offspring birth mass (r2 = 0·32), and to offspring RHF length (r2 = 0·64).3. In an experimental manipulation, we assigned wild‐caught, pregnant hares to a control and a stressed group and held them in pens. Hares in the stressed group were exposed to a dog 1–2 min every other day before parturition to simulate high predation risk. At parturition, unsuccessful‐stressed dams (those that failed to give birth to live young) and stressed dams had 837% and 214%, respectively, higher FCM concentrations than control dams. Of those females that gave birth, litter size was similar between control and stressed dams. However, offspring from stressed dams were 37% lighter and 16% smaller than offspring from control dams. Increasing FCM concentration in dams caused the decline of offspring body mass (r2 = 0·57) and RHF (r2 = 0·52).4. This is the first study in a free‐ranging population of mammals to show that elevated, predator‐induced, glucocorticoid concentrations in individual dams caused a decline in their reproductive output measured both by number and quality of offspring. Thus, we provide evidence that any stressor, not just predation, which increases glucocorticoid concentrations will result in a decrease in reproductive output.
Differentiating characteristics of deafblindness and autism in people with congenital deafblindness and profound intellectual disability
Authors: Hoevenaars‐van den Boom M. A. A. , Antonissen A. C. F. M. , Knoors H. , Vervloed M. P. J. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  In persons with deafblindness, it is hard to distinguish autism spectrum disorders from several deafblind specific behaviours caused by the dual sensory impairments, especially when these persons are also intellectually disabled. As a result, there is an over‐diagnosis of autism in persons who are deafblind leading to unsuitable interventions.Methods  Autism as specified by the DSM‐IV was studied in 10 persons with congenital deafblindness with profound intellectual disabilities. Behaviours of people with deafblindness and autism (n = 5) and of people with deafblindness without autism (n = 5) were observed in a semi‐standardised assessment.Results  All people with deafblindness showed impairments in social interaction, communication and language. In contrast to persons without autism, people with deafblindness and autism showed significantly more impairments in reciprocity of social interaction, quality of initiatives to contact and the use of adequate communicative signals and functions. No differences between the groups were found for quantity and persistence of stereotyped behaviour, quality of play and exploration and adequate problem‐solving strategies.Conclusions  This study indicates that there are some possibilities to differentiate autism from behaviours specific for deafblindness. It also confirms the large overlap in overt behaviours between people with deafblindness and persons with autism.