bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus blood screening: impact of nucleic amplification technology testing implementation on identifying hepatitis B surface antigen non‐reactive window period and chronic infections
Authors: Iudicone P. , Miceli M. , Palange M. , Agresti A. , Gallo A. , Isacchi G. , Girolami E. , Pierelli L. , Mannella E. 
Published: March 2009

Background  Despite improvements in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test sensitivity, post‐transfusion hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection still occurs because HBsAg is undetectable during the early window phase (WP) of the infection, in the convalescence core window phase of the infection, or in serologically silent chronic hepatitis or in mutant forms of HBV. HBV‐DNA screening using high sensitivity nucleic amplification technology (NAT) assays has recently been introduced to reduce the residual risk of transmission of HBV by transfusion of blood components.Materials  Over 1 year 75 063 donations were individually screened for HBV‐DNA by the Ultrio Procleix assay on the Tigris platform. The donations were collected in the Latium region, an area of the central Italy, and they accounted for the 40% of the total blood units collected in this area per year. The initial reactive samples were re‐tested and confirmed by the discriminatory HBV assay. Additional HBV serological markers were also performed. Suspected WP infections were followed‐up to monitor the development of the immune response. All HBV‐DNA‐positive donors were called back to check up their infectious status.Results  The results of testing the 75 063 donations are: 33 donations HBsAg positive, 31 out of them HBV‐DNA‐positive and two HBV‐DNA negative; 22 donations HBsAg‐negative but HBV‐DNA positive with low viral load. Six of the 22 were found to be consistently HBV‐DNA reactive whereas the remaining 16 donations showed inconsistent results on multiple NAT retesting. One WP infection was confirmed by the follow‐up of the donor for 3 months following the index blood donation.Conclusions  In the donor population of the Latium region, NAT screening has revealed a higher than expected number of donors who were HBsAg non‐reactive but HBV‐DNA‐positive with three donors showing HBV‐DNA as the only marker of infection. The adoption of genome screening has increased the safety of the blood supply and has also contributed to the protection of donor health by identifying either WP or clinically silent infections.
We all Appreciate the Same Animals: Cross‐Cultural Comparison of Human Aesthetic Preferences for Snake Species in Papua New Guinea and Europe
Authors: Marešová Jana , Antonín Krása , Frynta Daniel 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe examined the aesthetic perception of animal species in two culturally contrasting societies. Students from the Czech Republic and villagers from Papua New Guinea were asked to rank photographs of the python and boa species according to the perceived beauty of the depicted snake. The ranking of the species in Europe and Papua tightly correlated in spite of ethnic differences that were significant in the case of six species. This result suggesting basic similarity in animal beauty perception between two distant ethnic groups is not only a partial argument for perceptual unity of humankind. This cross‐cultural congruence may be important for conservation policies as humans may be predetermined to appreciate and thus support some species more than others.
Social relationships influencing positive perceived health among Thai older persons: A secondary data analysis using the National Elderly Survey
Authors: Thanakwang Kattika 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis study examined the associations between social relationships and positive perceived health among Thai older persons. The data were taken from the 2002 National Elderly Survey in Thailand. The sample of this study included 24 664 elders aged ≥ 60 years. Multiple logistic regression models were employed in this secondary analysis of the national database. The findings revealed that friendship networks, informational and emotional support, and social engagements are positively associated with good perceived health. In addition, for individual pathways, the more that elders engage with regular exercise, prepare for healthy aging, and enjoy psychological well‐being, the better they perceive their health to be. There was strong evidence that friendship interactions, social support, and healthy behaviors have a significant association with perceived good health. Health‐care professionals should target the promotion of friendship networks, social support, and health‐promoting behaviors, especially focusing on the oldest old, uneducated, poor, and elders with a disability.
Organizational and Market Influences on Physician Performance on Patient Experience Measures
Authors: Rodriguez Hector P. , Von Glahn Ted , Rogers William H. , Safran Dana Gelb 
Published: March 2009

Objective. To examine the extent to which medical group and market factors are related to individual primary care physician (PCP) performance on patient experience measures.Data Sources. This study employs Clinician and Group CAHPS survey data (n=105,663) from 2,099 adult PCPs belonging to 34 diverse medical groups across California. Medical group directors were interviewed to assess the magnitude and nature of financial incentives directed at individual physicians and the adoption of patient experience improvement strategies. Primary care services area (PCSA) data were used to characterize the market environment of physician practices.Study Design. We used multilevel models to estimate the relationship between medical group and market factors and physician performance on each Clinician and Group CAHPS measure. Models statistically controlled for respondent characteristics and accounted for the clustering of respondents within physicians, physicians within medical groups, and medical groups within PCSAs using random effects.Principal Findings. Compared with physicians belonging to independent practice associations, physicians belonging to integrated medical groups had better performance on the communication ( p=.007) and care coordination ( p=.03) measures. Physicians belonging to medical groups with greater numbers of PCPs had better performance on all measures. The use of patient experience improvement strategies was not associated with performance. Greater emphasis on productivity and efficiency criteria in individual physician financial incentive formulae was associated with worse access to care ( p=.04). Physicians located in PCSAs with higher area‐level deprivation had worse performance on the access to care ( p=.04) and care coordination ( p<.001) measures.Conclusions. Physicians from integrated medical groups and groups with greater numbers of PCPs performed better on several patient experience measures, suggesting that organized care processes adopted by these groups may enhance patients' experiences. Physicians practicing in markets with high concentrations of vulnerable populations may be disadvantaged by constraints that affect performance. Future studies should clarify the extent to which performance deficits associated with area‐level deprivation are modifiable.
Functional Limitations, Socioeconomic Status, and All‐Cause Mortality in Moderate Alcohol Drinkers
Authors: Lee Sei J. , Sudore Rebecca L. , Williams Brie A. , Lindquist Karla , Chen Helen L. , Covinsky Kenneth E. 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the survival benefit associated with moderate alcohol use remains after accounting for nontraditional risk factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and functional limitations.DESIGN: Prospective cohort.SETTING: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of U.S. adults aged 55 and older.PARTICIPANTS: Twelve thousand five hundred nineteen participants were enrolled in the 2002 wave of the HRS.MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked about their alcohol use, functional limitations (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and mobility), SES (education, income, and wealth), psychosocial factors (depressive symptoms, social support, and the importance of religion), age, sex, race and ethnicity, smoking, obesity, and comorbidities. Death by December 31, 2006, was the outcome measure.RESULTS: Moderate drinkers (1 drink/d) had a markedly more‐favorable risk factor profile, with higher SES and fewer functional limitations. After adjusting for demographic factors, moderate drinking (vs no drinking) was strongly associated with less mortality (odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.40–0.62). When traditional risk factors (smoking, obesity, and comorbidities) were also adjusted for, the protective effect was slightly attenuated (OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.46–0.72). When all risk factors including functional status and SES were adjusted for, the protective effect was markedly attenuated but still statistically significant (OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.57–0.91).CONCLUSION: Moderate drinkers have better risk factor profiles than nondrinkers, including higher SES and fewer functional limitations. Although these factors explain much of the survival advantage associated with moderate alcohol use, moderate drinkers maintain their survival advantage even after adjustment for these factors.
Visibility of Latin American Nursing Research (1959–2005)
Authors: Mendoza‐Parra Sarah , Paravic‐Klijn Tatiana , Muñoz‐Muñoz Ana María , Barriga Omar A. , Jiménez‐Contreras Evaristo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjectives:To analyze scientific activity in Latin American nursing using bibliometric indicators.Materials and Methods:This is a quantitative, descriptive study of the universe of Latin American nursing journals (119) and scientific documents (13,208) published according to current library databases including: the Web of Science (WOS), Medline, LILACS, Periodica, Cuiden, and SciELO. A database was prepared using ProCite®.Results:The PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) Open‐access Directory of Latin American Nursing Journals includes the greatest number of the 119 journal titles (60%). The average journal longevity is 11.3 years and Brazil produces the greatest percentage (31.9%) of journals. Of the current journals, 55% do not have international readership. The non‐Latin American countries that contribute most to document diffusion are Spain, the United States, and England. The doubling time of scientific production of documents is 7.3 years and the annual growth rate is 10%; 2% of researchers form the most productive group of authors. Only in recent years has the number of contributions to the ISI nursing category begun to stabilize.Conclusions:Latin American scientific nursing production is still growing exponentially and Latin American nursing contributions to knowledge being disseminated through databases of recognized scientific quality seem to be increasing. The current scientific task is to organize and improve the publication processes.Clinical Relevance:We describe the conditions in which Latin American nursing research has become institutionalized, the challenges that it has faced, and the gradual incorporation of such research into international science.
A 2‐Decade Appraisal of African Nursing Scholarship: 1986–2006
Authors: Adejumo Oluyinka , Lekalakala‐Mokgele Eucebious 
Published: March 2009

Abstract Purpose: This paper is a description of a study about articles published about nursing in Africa from 1986 to 2006. Methods: An exhaustive database search of articles written by nurses or articles related to nursing in Africa was done. Access to the database was mainly via EBSCO (http://www.ebsco.com), which allowed searching seven electronic databases. These are major databases useful for finding and accessing articles in academic journals, repositories, and archives. Data were recorded on computer spreadsheets and analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Findings: A total of 1,860 indexed research studies were categorized and analysed for themes, content, source of publication, location, subject, scientific or nonscientific methods, nursing or non‐nursing research, clinical or nonclinical nursing. A progressive increase of publications was noted. Regional variations were observed in the number of publications over the years with most from Southern Africa (67.3%) compared to West Africa (5.2%) and East Africa (3.3%). Common themes were nursing education (11.9%) HIV/AIDS (11.9%), community health care (16.1%), and professional nursing issues (10.3%). Single authorship (90.7%) outnumbered multiple authorship (9.3%), though research‐based (50.5%) and nonresearch‐based articles (49.5%) were almost evenly distributed. Conclusions and Recommendations: More emphasis will be required for research concerning clinical studies; and collaborations—particularly multinational and across regions of Africa—should be developed. Efforts should be intensified to continue to build research capacity among nurses. Clinical Relevance: Emphasis on African‐based clinical studies which directly relate to patient care and culture can advance evidence‐based practice in nursing with particular reference to African settings.
Make books, not war: workshops at a summer camp in Bosnia
Authors: Darvin Jacqueline 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis article focuses on a bookmaking project that was conducted with pre‐adolescent Serbian and Bosnian girls at a summer camp outside Sarajevo, Bosnia in 2005. During this camp, children from Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia were brought together by the Global Children's Organisation to engage in a variety of activities, including conflict resolution, art, athletics and academics. The literacy workshops that were offered gave the children the opportunity to write, illustrate and construct their own books about topics such as peace, friendship and the preservation of nature in Bosnia. The workshops were conducted in English and Serbo‐Croatian, using a variety of pedagogical strategies. Upon completion of their books, the girls hosted a ‘story hour’ for the younger children at the camp and their stories were read aloud and discussed. This article explores the story telling of children in post‐war Bosnia (through writing samples) and discusses the powerful social component of literacy events and their ability to unite and heal disparate groups. Additionally, this article explores writing as a means of imagining a more hopeful future and how as writers, children are shapers of their own cultures and of their individual and collaborative identities within those cultures.
TDP‐43 Redistribution is an Early Event in Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Giordana Maria Teresa , Piccinini Marco , Grifoni Silvia , De Marco Giovanni , Vercellino Marco , Magistrello Michela , Pellerino Alessia , Buccinnà Barbara , Lupino Elisa , Rinaudo Maria Teresa 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder consisting of progressive loss of motor neurons. TDP‐43 has been identified as a component of ubiquitin‐immunoreactive inclusions of motor neurons in ALS. We focused on the diffuse cytoplasmic TDP‐43 immunoreactivity in ALS neurons, and quantitatively assessed it in comparison with skein/round TDP‐43 and ubiquitin immunostaining in motor neurons of 30 sporadic ALS cases. The percentage of spinal motor neurons with cytoplasmic TDP‐43 immunoreactivity was higher than that of ubiquitin‐immunoreactive ones. The percentage of TDP‐43‐positive motor neurons was independent of neuron counts in anterior horns, while the percentage of ubiquitinated neurons was inversely correlated. Aiming to define the cytosolic localization of TDP‐43, the immunoblot analysis of spinal cord and frontal cortex showed that full‐length TDP‐43, the 45 kDa form and ubiquitinated TDP‐43 are found in the soluble inclusion‐free fraction. The present data suggest that delocalization, accumulation and ubiquitination of TDP‐43 in the cytoplasm of motor neurons are early dysfunctions in the cascade of the events leading to motor neuron degeneration in ALS, preceding the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies. Being cytoplasmic accumulation an ongoing event during the course of the illness, a therapeutic approach to this incurable disease can be envisaged.
COI barcodes for identification ofMerodonhoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of Lesvos Island, Greece
Authors: STÅHLS G. , VUJIC A. , PÉREZ‐BAÑON C. , RADENKOVIC S. , ROJO S. , PETANIDOU T. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDNA barcoding has become a useful system for linking different biological life stages, and for identification of species within a known taxonomic framework. In this study, we generated mitochondrial DNA COI barcodes using adult specimens of all 22 species of the hoverfly genusMerodon(Diptera, Syrphidae) occurring on Lesvos island (Greece). The generated COI barcodes could well discriminate between allMerodontaxa of Lesvos, except forM. loewiandM. papillusthat shared the same haplotype, despite their clear morphological differences. In addition, the barcodes revealed two cases of hitherto unknown morphologically cryptic species close toM. avidusandM. nigritarsis, respectively. Because only few successful rearings of immature stages ofMerodonhoverflies are available, the larval host plant remains unknown for these phytophagous taxa. The obtained COI barcode library for theMerodonspp. of Lesvos will constitute a tool to link any unknown immature stages with already known species, and thus provide important life‐history information and promise for ecological studies.
Overexpression of Twist in colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hong Ran , Lim Sung‐Chul 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT Background and aim: Twist, a basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is a master regulator of gastrulation and mesoderm specification. Twist has now been characterized as a newly found epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐inducer and has been shown to be involved in tumor invasiveness and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to examine the pattern of Twist expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA) and to compare the expression of Twist and E‐cadherin as determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Methods: A semiquantitative scoring system was applied based on the intensity and the extent of positive expression in cancer cells. Results: Twist was not detected in non‐neoplastic mucosa, but immunoreactivity was evident in 86.2% of CRA. Expression of Twist was significantly associated with tumor invasion (P= 0.001) and differentiation (P= 0.003), and showed inverse correlation with E‐caherin expression (P= 0.045). Twist expression did not influence overall survival. Conclusions: We demonstrated, for the first time, that Twist is up‐regulated in CRA. These results demonstrated that a positive role of Twist in tumor invasion in CRA, and inverse correlation of Twist and E‐cadherin expression suggest that Twist may play some role in the EMT by inhibition of E‐cadherin activity.
Potency and Bactericidal Activity of Iclaprim against Recent Clinical Gram-Positive Isolates
Authors: Sader Helio S. , Fritsche Thomas R. , Jones Ronald N. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

The in vitro activity of iclaprim, a novel diaminopyrimidine derivative, was evaluated against 5,937 recent gram-positive clinical isolates collected in the United States and Europe. Iclaprim demonstrated potent activity against
Staphylococcus aureus
(including methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
[MRSA]), beta-hemolytic
Streptococcus
spp., and
Enterococcus faecalis
strains tested. In addition, iclaprim exhibited bactericidal activity against all
S. aureus
strains tested, including MRSA.
Differing Effects of Combination Chemotherapy with Meropenem and Tobramycin on Cell Kill and Suppression of Resistance of Wild-TypePseudomonas aeruginosaPAO1 and Its Isogenic MexAB Efflux Pump-Overexpressed Mutant
Authors: Drusano G. L. , Liu Weiguo , Fregeau Christine , Kulawy Robert , Louie Arnold 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThe drug interaction terminology (synergy, additivity, antagonism) relates to bacterial kill. The suppression of resistance requires greater drug exposure. We examined the combination of meropenem and tobramycin for kill and resistance suppression (wild-typePseudomonas aeruginosaPAO1 and its isogenic MexAB-overexpressed mutant). The drug interaction was additive. The introduction of MexAB overexpression significantly altered the 50% inhibitory concentration of meropenem but not that of tobramycin, resulting in the recovery of a marked increase in colony numbers from drug-containing plates. For the wild type, more tobramycin-resistant isolates than meropenem-resistant isolates were present, and the tobramycin-resistant isolates were harder to suppress. MexAB overexpression unexpectedly caused a significant increase in the number of tobramycin-resistant mutants, as indexed to the area under the curve of slices through the inverted U resistance mountain. The differences were significant, except in the absence of meropenem. We hypothesize that the pump resulted in the presence of less meropenem for organism inhibition, allowing more rounds of replication and also affecting the numbers of tobramycin-resistant mutants. When resistance suppression is explored by combination chemotherapy, it is important to examine the impacts of differing resistance mechanisms for both agents.
Functional analysis of three AHL autoinducer synthase genes in Mesorhizobium loti reveals the important role of quorum sensing in symbiotic nodulation
Authors: Yang Menghua , Sun Kejing , Zhou Lei , Yang Ruifu , Zhong Zengtao , Zhu Jun 
Published: March 2009

One of the most important signal transduction pathways in bacteria, quorum sensing, is involved in many regulatory circuits in rhizobia, especially in the control of communication between rhizobia and their plant hosts. In this study, we identified 3 autoinducer synthase genes — mrlI1, mrlI2, and mrlI3 — in Mesorhizobium loti NZP 2213. We found that MrlI1 and MrlI2 could synthesize distinct N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducers in rich medium cultures, and the expression of mrlI1 was shown to be growth-phase-dependent. MrlI3 did not produce any detectable AHL molecules under the culture conditions tested. To investigate whether these AHL synthases affect nodulation, we examined the nodulation of AHL-deficient mutants on their native plant host Lotus corniculatus and found that the efficiency of nodulation of bacteria with mutations of any of these 3 synthase genes was reduced, suggesting that quorum sensing systems in M. loti may play an important role in successful establishment of rhizobium–legume symbiosis.