bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of fecal DNA preservation techniques and effects of sample age and diet on genotyping success
Authors: Panasci Michael , Ballard Warren B. , Breck Stewart , Rodriguez David , Densmore Llewellyn D. , Wester David B. , Baker Robert J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractOptimal collection and preservation protocols for fecal DNA genotyping are not firmly established. We evaluated 3 factors that influence microsatellite genotyping success of fecal DNA extracted from coyote (Canis latrans) scats: 1) age of scat, 2) preservative, and 3) diet content. We quantified genotyping success by comparing rates of allelic dropout, false alleles, and failed amplifications among consensus genotypes. We used a panel of 6 microsatellite loci to genotype 20 scat samples, each of which was subjected to 3 age (1 day, 5 days, and 10 days post‐deposition) and 3 preservation (DET buffer, 95% ethanol [EtOH], and lysis buffer) treatments. Both sample age and storage buffer had a significant effect on success and reliability. Ethanol and DET buffer preserved fecal samples with similar efficiency, and both were superior to lysis buffer. Our analysis of DNA degradation rates revealed that samples collected as early as 5 days of age yielded DNA that was highly degraded relative to samples collected on day 1. We tested the influence of dietary remains on microsatellite genotyping by using scat samples consisting predominantly of insect prey (n = 5), mammalian prey (n = 9), or the remains of juniper (Juniperus spp.) berries (n = 6) and compared EtOH and DET buffer preservation efficacy. We observed a significant interaction effect between storage buffer and diet for the probability of a false allele in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), suggesting that the optimal preservation technique depended on the food remains comprising the scat. Scats comprised of juniper berry remains were more reliably genotyped when preserved in DET than EtOH. Mammalian prey‐based scats were more reliable when stored in EtOH than DET buffer. Insect‐predominant scats were preserved in EtOH and DET buffer with similar efficiency. Although accurate and reliable results can be obtained from scats collected at ≥5 days of age, we suggest sampling design to include collection of scats <5 days of age to minimize field and laboratory expenses. We suggest EtOH preservation for scats of obligate carnivores and of facultative carnivores with a diet consisting primarily of mammals. We suggest DET buffer preservation for animals with a diet consisting of plant‐derived foods. Lysis buffer protocols that we employed should not be used for fecal DNA preservation. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Modeling perforation in glass fiber reinforced composites subjected to low velocity impact loading
Authors: Fan Jiying , Guan Zhongwei , Cantwell Wesley J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIn this article, experimental results are presented investigating the response of glass fiber composites subjected to low velocity impact loading. The resulting load‐displacement traces and deformation modes have been used to validate a number of numerical models. Here, finite element models have been developed to predict the impact behavior of the composite plates. Damage in the woven glass‐fiber reinforced composite plate was modeled using the Hashin failure criteria. The influence of target size, projectile size, projectile shape, and striking location on the impact response of the composites was investigated. In general, good agreement was obtained in terms of the load‐displacement traces and the failure modes in the composite plates. It has been shown that the perforation energy increases rapidly with target thickness, with the numerical results closely agreeing with the experimental data. Similarly, the energy required to perforate the composite targets increases with increasing projectile diameter, with the failure mechanisms being similar in all cases. Finally, increasing the bluntness of the impactor resulted in a significant increase in the energy to perforate these targets. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Adolescents’ over‐use of the cyber world – Internet addiction or identity exploration?
Authors: Israelashvili Moshe , Kim Taejin , Bukobza Gabriel 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTIn this study, we tested the hypothesis that the Internet can serve as a valuable tool assisting adolescents in pursuing the developmentally‐related need for self concept clarity. Participants in the study were 278 adolescents (48.5% girls; 7th–9th graders) who completed questionnaires relating to their levels of Internet use, Internet addiction, ego development, self consciousness, self‐concept clarity, and personal demographic data. The study results support the general notion that adolescents’ level of self‐clarity is negatively related to Internet addiction and over‐use. Hence, it is suggested that future studies on adolescents’ Internet over‐use should use qualitative rather than quantitative conceptualization and measurements in order to properly explore such a behavior and its, either positive or negative, implications. A differentiation is proposed between over‐users, heavy users, and addicted users. Namely, over‐users and heavy users utilize the Internet for age‐related and modern‐life‐related purposes, and hence should not be labeled as addicted. Implications for the measurement, definition, and treatment of Internet over‐use are suggested.
Identification and recognition of depression in community care assessments: impact of a national policy in England
Authors: Clarkson Paul , Abendstern Michele , Sutcliffe Caroline , Hughes Jane , Challis David 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTBackground: Depression continues to be under-recognized in older people. Most policies addressing this issue focus on the primary health care team. However, recognition may be improved by use of assessment tools and collaboration between secondary health and social care, particularly at the assessment stage. This study aimed to evaluate whether the Single Assessment Process (SAP), introduced in England from April 2004, promoting such processes, improved the identification and correct recognition of depression by enhancing the content of statutory community care assessments by social services care managers.Methods: An observational study compared depression identification and its accuracy (“correct recognition”) in samples of older people before and after SAP introduction. Participants were interviewed using standardized measures including the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Depression elicited from the GDS was compared with that recorded in community care assessments with calculation of inter-rater reliabilities (kappa statistic) pre- and post-SAP. Logistic regression examined the associations between the policy's introduction, potential confounding factors (depression, cognitive impairment, function, behavior and characteristics) and the identification and correct recognition of depression.Results: Whilst the identification of depression was more likely after SAP, its correct recognition did not improve after the policy, with only slight agreement between GDS and community care assessments. The existence of depression and cognitive impairment made identification, but not correct recognition, more likely.Conclusions: Correct recognition of depression was not improved in these statutory care assessments following the policy. Recognizing and thus responding to depression in a coordinated and appropriate way in the community requires further action.
Isolation and identification of a novel polysaccharide–peptide complex with antioxidant, anti-proliferative and hypoglycaemic activities from the abalone mushroom
Authors: Li Ning , Li Le , Fang Jin Cen , Wong Jack Ho , Ng Tzi Bun , Jiang Yun , Wang Chang Rong , Zhang Ni Ye , Wen Ting Yi , Qu Li Yuan , Lv Peng Yun , Zhao Ruili , Shi Bin , Wang Yin Ping , Wang Xiao Ying , Liu Fang 
Published: August 2011

A novel antioxidant polysaccharide–peptide complex LB-1b from the fruiting bodies of the edible abalone mushroom (Pleurotus abalonus) was purified and identified. The structural characteristic of LB-1b was identified by FTIR (Fourier-transform IR), 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. LB-1b is a polysaccharide–peptide complex that contains glucose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid and galactose in the molar ratio of 22.4:1:1.7:1.6 and the N-terminal sequence of its peptide moiety has also been determined. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of LB-1b, IPKERKEFQQAQHLK, showed some resemblance to antioxidant enzymes. LB-1b exhibited high antioxidant activity in erythrocyte haemolysis in vitro and the anti-proliferative activity towards hepatoma HepG2 cells and breast cancer MCF7 cells with an IC50 of 24 and 14 μM respectively. LB-1b also demonstrated hypoglycaemic activity in drug-induced diabetic mice and anti-HIV-1 RT (reverse transcriptase) with an IC50 value of 12.5 μM.
The GNAT library for local and remote gene mention normalization
Authors: Hakenberg Jörg , Gerner Martin , Haeussler Maximilian , Solt Illés , Plake Conrad , Schroeder Michael , Gonzalez Graciela , Nenadic Goran , Bergman Casey M. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Summary: Identifying mentions of named entities, such as genes or diseases, and normalizing them to database identifiers have become an important step in many text and data mining pipelines. Despite this need, very few entity normalization systems are publicly available as source code or web services for biomedical text mining. Here we present the Gnat Java library for text retrieval, named entity recognition, and normalization of gene and protein mentions in biomedical text. The library can be used as a component to be integrated with other text-mining systems, as a framework to add user-specific extensions, and as an efficient stand-alone application for the identification of gene and protein names for data analysis. On the BioCreative III test data, the current version of Gnat achieves a Tap-20 score of 0.1987.
Availability: The library and web services are implemented in Java and the sources are available from http://gnat.sourceforge.net.
Contact: jorg.hakenberg@roche.com
Factors associated with injection cessation, relapse and initiation in a community‐based cohort of injection drug users in Chennai, India
Authors: Mehta Shruti H. , Sudarshi Darshan , Srikrishnan Aylur K. , Celentano David D. , Vasudevan Canjeevaram K. , Anand Santhanam , Kumar Muniratnam Suresh , Latkin Carl , Solomon Suniti , Solomon Sunil S. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To characterize factors associated with injection cessation, relapse and initiation.Design  The Madras Injection Drug User and AIDS Cohort Study (MIDACS) is a prospective cohort of injection drug users (IDUs) recruited in 2005–06 with semi‐annual follow‐up to 2009. Discrete‐time survival models were used to characterize predictors of time to first injection cessation and relapse.Setting  Chennai, India.Participants  A total of 855 IDUs who reported injecting in the 6 months prior to baseline and had >1 follow‐up visit.Measurements  Cessation was defined as the first visit where no injection drug use was reported (prior 6 months) and relapse as the first visit where drug injection (prior 6 months) was reported after first cessation.Findings  All participants were male; median age was 35 years. Over 3 years, 92.7% reported cessation [incidence rate (IR): 117 per 100 person‐years]. Factors associated positively with cessation included daily injection and incarceration and factors associated negatively with cessation included marriage, alcohol and homelessness. Of those who reported cessation, 23.6% relapsed (IR: 19.7 per 100 person‐years). Factors associated positively with relapse included any education, injection in the month prior to baseline, sex with a casual partner, non‐injection drug use, incarceration and homelessness. Alcohol was associated negatively with relapse. The primary reasons for cessation were medical conditions (37%) and family pressure (22%). The majority initiated with non‐injection drugs, transitioning to injection after a median 4 years.Conclusions  Injection drug users in southern India demonstrate a high rate of injection cessation over 3 years, but relapse is not uncommon. Compensatory increases in alcohol use indicate that cessation of injection does not mean cessation of all substance use. Family pressure, concerns about general health, fear of human immunodeficiency virus infection and a history of non‐injection drug use are important correlates of cessation.
Non steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use and levels of oestrogens and androgens in men
Authors: Gates Margaret A. , Araujo Andre B. , Hall Susan A. , Wittert Gary A. , McKinlay John B. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryObjective  Studies suggest that regular use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may lower oestrogen levels in women. However, no large, population‐based studies have assessed NSAID/hormone associations in men. Our objective was to examine the association between use of prescription and over‐the‐counter NSAIDs, and levels of oestrogens and androgens in men.Design  The Boston Area Community Health Survey, an observational survey with initial data collection in 2002–2005.Patients  A total of 1766 men who provided a blood sample and data on recent analgesic use.Measurements  Adjusted geometric mean levels of androgens, oestrogens, SHBG, LH and FSH for each category of NSAID use and the per cent difference in hormone levels for users vs nonusers.Results  There was no significant association between prescription/over‐the‐counter NSAID use and any hormone examined after adjustment for potential confounders. For example, geometric mean testosterone levels were 13·8, 13·6 and 14·2 nm in nonusers, prescription users and over‐the‐counter NSAID users, respectively; the corresponding levels for estradiol were 80·3, 70·4 and 79·9 pm. In stratified analyses, however, prescription NSAID use was associated with lower testosterone, estradiol and estrone levels in obese men and lower testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in inactive men.Conclusions  While overall these data do not provide strong support for an association between NSAID use and hormone levels in men, prescription NSAIDs may decrease levels of certain oestrogens and androgens in obese and inactive men.
Are expression and localization of tight and adherens junction proteins in testes of adult boar affected by foetal and neonatal exposure to flutamide?
Authors: Hejmej A. , Kopera I. , Kotula‐Balak M. , Lydka M. , Lenartowicz M. , Bilinska B. 
Published: August 2011

SummarySeveral recent studies have indicated that androgen disruption induced by the administration of anti‐androgen flutamide during critical developmental stages results in various reproductive abnormalities, mainly in rodents. However, scarce data are available regarding the alterations caused by this toxicant on cell–cell adhesion molecules. Of note, there is no report on the expression and regulation of tight and adherens junction proteins in the boar. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyse whether foetal and neonatal exposure to flutamide affects the expression and distribution of ZO‐1, occludin, β‐catenin, and N‐cadherin in testes of adult pigs. Moreover, to evaluate whether androgen signal was altered in the boar, testicular levels of testosterone and oestradiol and the expression of androgen receptor were examined. Flutamide (50 mg/kg bw) was injected into pregnant gilts during gestational days 20–28 and 80–88 (GD20, GD80), and into male piglets on postnatal days 2–10 (PD2). In the testes of all flutamide‐exposed boars, expressions of ZO‐1, N‐cadherin and β‐catenin were significantly decreased at mRNA and protein level, whereas expression of occludin was unchanged when compared with the controls. In addition, in severely damaged seminiferous tubules of PD2 pigs, mislocalization of ZO‐1, N‐cadherin and β‐catenin was observed. Changes in junction protein expressions were accompanied by disturbed intratesticular androgen–oestrogen balance, although androgen receptor expression was not altered. Taken together, these results demonstrate that blockade of androgen action by flutamide during both gestational and neonatal periods affects the expression of ZO‐1, N‐cadherin and β‐catenin in adult pig testes. Of concern, neonatal window seems to be most critical for the organization of BTB and consequently for normal spermatogenesis in the boar. It is likely that altered expression of junction proteins is related to insufficient testosterone production and/or excessive oestradiol synthesis, which may result from impaired Leydig cell function.
Sacred spaces in public places: religious and spiritual plurality in health care
Authors: Reimer‐Kirkham Sheryl , Sharma Sonya , Pesut Barb , Sawatzky Richard , Meyerhoff Heather , Cochrane Marie 
Published: August 2011

REIMER‐KIRKHAM S, SHARMA S, PESUT B, SAWATZKY R, MEYERHOFF H and COCHRANE M. Nursing Inquiry 2012; 19: 202–212  Sacred spaces in public places: religious and spiritual plurality in health careSeveral intriguing developments mark the role and expression of religion and spirituality in society in recent years. In what were deemed secular societies, flows of increased sacralization (variously referred to as ‘new’, ‘alternative’, ‘emergent’ and ‘progressive’ spiritualities) and resurgent globalizing religions (sometimes with fundamentalist expressions) are resulting in unprecedented plurality. These shifts are occurring in conjunction with increasing ethnic diversity associated with global migration, as well as other axes of difference within contemporary society. Democratic secular nations such as Canada are challenged to achieve social cohesion in the face of growing religious, spiritual and ethnic diversity. These challenges are evident in the high‐paced, demanding arena of Health care. Here, religious and spiritual plurality enter in, sometimes resulting in conflict between medical services and patients’ beliefs, other times provoking uncertainties on the part of healthcare professionals about what to do with their own religiously or spiritually grounded values and beliefs. In this paper, we present selected findings from a 3‐year study that examined the negotiation of religious and spiritual pluralism in Health care. Our focus is on the themes of ‘sacred’ and ‘place’, exploring how the sacred – that which is attributed as special and set apart as it pertains to the divine, transcendence, God or higher power – takes form in social and material spaces in hospitals.
Micro‐indentation fracture from flat‐ended cylindrical indenter
Authors: XIE Y. J. , HU X. Z. , CHEN J. , LEE K.Y. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTUnlike a Hertzian ring crack induced by a spherical indenter in absence of a singular stress field, a ring crack generated by a rigid flat cylindrical indenter can be explicitly linked to a K‐dominant singular stress field at the perimeter of the flat indenter. This means microcrack initiation induced by a flat indenter and relevant properties such as the critical indentation load and fracture toughness can be formulated explicitly using the fracture mechanics approach. It is shown in this paper that the indentation stress intensity factor, , for such a stress field is similar to that of a mode I crack. Based on the energy‐releasing rate and the Griffith's theorem, a flat indentation cracking model has been proposed; the critical load and critical cracking angle for crack initiation are derived. A new concept of fracture toughness for negative mode I singular stress field,, has been defined and a relationship between and the traditional KIC has been derived. The experimental investigation validates the existence of such , from which the KIC value of the glass had been determined to be 0.772 ± 0.003 MPa m1/2, agreeing well with the literature data. This analysis for indentation fracture or crack initiation due to surface contact of a flat indenter is particularly useful in determining KIC of brittle materials with dimensions in micro/nanoscales, e.g. thin films and other microstructures as flat micro/nano‐indenters are available and can be used on various nano‐indentation machines.
The Staphylococcus aureus CsoR regulates both chromosomal and plasmid‐encoded copper resistance mechanisms
Authors: Baker Jonathan , Sengupta Mrittika , Jayaswal Radheshyan K. , Morrissey Julie A. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryCopper is an essential metal which is used as a cofactor in several enzymes and is required for numerous essential biochemical reactions. However, free copper ions can be toxic to cellular systems if the intracellular concentration is not tightly regulated. In this study we show that Staphylococcus aureus copper resistance is not the same in every staphylococcal isolate, but in fact varies considerably between clinical strains. Hyper‐copper‐resistance was shown to be due to the carriage of an additional plasmid‐encoded copper homeostasis mechanism, copBmco. This plasmid can be transferred into the copper‐sensitive S. aureus Newman to confer a hyper‐copper‐resistant phenotype, showing that copper resistance has the potential to spread to other S. aureus strains. This is the first time that plasmid‐encoded copper resistance has been reported and shown to be transferable between pathogenic bacteria isolated from humans. A homologue of the Bacillus subtilis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis CsoR regulators was identified in S. aureus. The S. aureus csoR gene is conserved in all sequenced S. aureus genomes and was found to be copper‐induced and transcribed along with two downstream genes: a putative copper chaperone (csoZ) and a hypothetical gene. Mutational and complementation studies showed that unlike other homologues, the S. aureus CsoR negatively regulates both chromosomal and plasmid‐encoded copper homeostasis mechanisms in response to excess‐copper conditions.
Rhetoric, Division and Constraint: Elements in Local Social Mobilisation
Authors: Young Ed 
Published: August 2011

The paper is a speculative discussion of the relative saliency of communal rhetoric in instances of local social mobilisation. Despite several recent studies of local collective action, there remains considerable uncertainty as to when – and why – values exphasising local distinctiveness and superiority find assertion amongst groups at the community level. By detailing the activities of residents associations and organised amenity groups in one setting, I suggest that the saliency of communal imagery is closely associated with constraints facing local leaders in mobilising and sustaining their support. Where leadership interests are well established, yet must base their legitimacy in appeal to pluralistic sources of local support, the celebration of communal identity is pronounced and pervades local collective action. The declaration of communal unity then, marks the existence of elites for whom such sentiments are advantageous. This point suggests a re-examination of Coleman's earlier analysis of community conflict as revealing distinctive organisational dynamics, rapid issue elaboration and vilification between protagonist interests. I argue that these processes themselves reflect deeper patterns in local social organisation; the exigencies of local leader – follower relationships.