bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of risk factors for the onset and maintenance of depression
Authors: Bottomley Christian , Nazareth Irwin , Torres-González Francisco , Švab Igor , Maaroos Heidi-Ingrid , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Xavier Miguel , Saldivia Sandra , King Michael 
Published: December 2009

BackgroundFactors associated with depression are usually identified from cross-sectional studies.AimsWe explore the relative roles of onset and recovery in determining these associations.MethodHazard ratios for onset and recovery were estimated for 39 risk factors from a cohort study of 10 045 general practice attendees whose depression status was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months.ResultsRisk factors have a stronger relative effect on the rate of onset than recovery. The strongest risk factors for both onset and maintenance of depression tend to be time-dependent. With the exception of female gender the strength of a risk factor's effect on onset is highly predictive of its impact on recovery.ConclusionsPreventive measures will achieve a greater reduction in the prevalence of depression than measures designed to eliminate risk factors post onset. The strength of time-dependent risk factors suggests that it is more productive to focus on proximal rather than distal factors.
National dissemination of effective parenting programmes to improve child outcomes
Authors: Scott Stephen 
Published: December 2009

SummaryAlthough living standards have increased in the past 40 years, children's behaviour problems have become worse. Good parenting can help by maximising children's potential and promoting resilience. Effective programmes are available that improve parenting, but unfortunately ineffective approaches are still used widely. A new National Academy for Parenting Practitioners has been set up in England, which offers free training in evidence-based interventions and conducts research to increase their effectiveness.
Influence of number of children on cancer screening among adults in the United States
Authors: Stimpson Jim P , Wilson Fernando A , Reyes-Ortiz Carlos A 
Published: January 2010

Objective To investigate the influence of children in the household on the likelihood of reporting cancer screening among adult men and women living in the United States. Methods 2004–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) were used to calculate the probability of self-reported cancer screening by number of children for adult men and women with adjustment for age, sex, marital status, race, education, current smoking status, obesity status, health insurance and having a usual health-care provider. Results The largest percentage of persons who had cancer screening was among respondents with no children in the household. In multivariate results, the probability of endoscopy was lower for persons with one child (24%) and two or more children (21%) in comparison with persons with no children living in the household (30%). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing was lower among men with one child (17%) and two or more children (14%) in comparison with no children (22%). Pap smears were lower for women with two or more children (50%) but not different for women with one child (55%) in comparison with no children (56%). Mammograms were lower for women with one child (48%) and two or more children (42%) in comparison with no children in the household ( 55%). Conclusion Across several different cancer screening modalities, the probability of screening is lower as the number of children in the household increases. Children may be an additional barrier to screening beyond factors such as socioeconomic status and access to care.
Exploring the acceptability of two self-sampling devices for human papillomavirus testing in the cervical screening context: a qualitative study of Muslim women in London
Authors: Szarewski Anne , Cadman Louise , Ashdown-Barr Lesley , Waller Jo 
Published: January 2010

Objectives We explored Muslim women's attitudes to self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of cervical cancer screening and their responses to two self-sampling devices. Setting A Muslim community centre in north-east London. Methods Following a talk given on the subject of cervical cancer and HPV at the community centre, 28 women were recruited to take part in three focus group discussions. The discussion covered cervical screening, self-sampling and HPV testing. Women were also asked for their responses to a swab self-sampling kit and a cervico-vaginal lavage device. Discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim and the qualitative data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results Participants were generally positive about cervical screening but acknowledged that some women in their community were reluctant to attend because of embarrassment, language difficulties, fear or because they were unmarried and did not want to communicate implicit messages about being sexually active. Self-sampling met a mixed response – women were concerned about not doing the test correctly, but thought that it might overcome barriers to screening for some women. HPV testing itself was thought to raise potentially difficult issues relating to trust and fidelity within marriages. Although most women said they would prefer to continue to have screening by a health professional, if they were to perform self-sampling, there was overwhelming preference for the swab over the lavage kit. Conclusions There was limited enthusiasm for self-sampling in this group of Muslim women who had mostly attended for cervical screening, but a clear preference for a swab rather than a cervico-vaginal lavage.
Barriers to cervical cancer screening attendance in England: a population-based survey
Authors: Waller Jo , Bartoszek Marta , Marlow Laura , Wardle Jane 
Published: January 2010

Objectives To explore barriers to cervical screening attendance in a population-based sample, and to compare barriers endorsed by women who were up-to-date with screening versus those who were overdue. We also tested the hypothesis that women who were overdue for screening would be more generally disillusioned with public services, as indexed by reported voting behaviour in elections. Setting A population-based survey of women in England. Methods Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 580 women aged 26–64 years, and recruited using stratified random probability sampling as part of an omnibus survey. Questions assessed self-reported cervical screening attendance, barriers to screening, voting behaviour and demographic characteristics. Results Eighty-five per cent of women were up-to-date with screening and 15% were overdue, including 2.6% who had never had a smear test. The most commonly endorsed barriers were embarrassment (29%), intending to go but not getting round to it (21%), fear of pain (14%) and worry about what the test might find (12%). Only four barriers showed significant independent associations with screening status: difficulty making an appointment, not getting round to going, not being sexually active and not trusting the test. We found support for our hypothesis that women who do not attend for screening are less likely to vote in elections, even when controlling for barrier endorsement and demographic factors. Conclusions Practical barriers were more predictive of screening uptake than emotional factors such as embarrassment. This has clear implications for service provision and future interventions to increase uptake. The association between voting behaviour and screening uptake lends support to the hypothesis that falling screening coverage may be indicative of a broader phenomenon of disillusionment, and further research in this area is warranted.
Obesity and recovery from low back pain: a prospective study to investigate the effect of body mass index on recovery from low back pain
Authors: Mangwani Jitendra , Giles Claire , Mullins Mark , Salih Tuncar , Natali Colin 
Published: December 2009

INTRODUCTION We describe a prospective cohort study to investigate any association between recovery from low back pain and body mass index (BMI) in patients with low back pain undergoing physiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 140 patients with low back pain and no evidence of neurological deficit were divided into three groups based on their BMI. All patients underwent a back-specific physiotherapy programme for 6 or 12 weeks. Recovery parameters such as pain intensity (visual analogue scale scores) and physical impairment index scores were measured. The range of motion of the lumber spine was also recorded. These variables were compared pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS Mean age of the patients was 38 years (range, 18–67 years) with 62% males and 38% females. The treatment resulted in significant improvements in all the recovery parameters (P < 0.005, paired t-test). No significant association was detected between the BMI of subjects and percentage changes in pain intensity, physical impairment index, and range of motion of the lumbar spine. A comparative analysis of the after treatment recovery parameter scores in normal (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) patients revealed no significant differences in the mean pain intensity and mean self-experienced impairment and disability scores amongst the groups. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that BMI does not influence the overall recovery from low back pain in patients undergoing physiotherapy treatment.
Emergency subtotal colectomy for fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis – is a surgical solution considered for all patients?
Authors: Gash K , Brown E , Pullyblank A 
Published: December 2009

INTRODUCTION Clostridium difficile has been an increasing problem in UK hospitals. At the time of this study, there was a high incidence of C. difficile within our trust and a number of patients developed acute fulminant colitis requiring subtotal colectomy. We review a series of colectomies for C. difficile, examining the associated morbidity and mortality and the factors that predispose to acute fulminant colitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing subtotal colectomy for C. difficile colitis in an NHS trust over 18 months. Case notes were reviewed for antibiotic use, duration of diarrhoea, treatment, blood results, pre-operative imaging and surgical morbidity and mortality. RESULTS A total of 1398 patients tested positive for C. difficile in this period. Of these, 18 (1.29%) underwent colectomy. All were emergency admissions, 35% medical, 35% surgical, 24% neurosurgical and 6% orthopaedic. In the cohort, 29% were aged less than 65 years. Patients had a median of three antibiotics (range, 1–6), for a median of 10 days (range, 0–59 days). Median length of stay prior to C. difficile diagnosis was 13 days. Subtotal colectomy was performed a median of 4 days (range, 0–23 days) after diagnosis. Postoperative mortality was 53% (9 of 17). The median C-reactive protein level for those who died was 302 mg/l, in contrast to 214 mg/l in the survival group. Whilst 62% of all C. difficile cases were medical, the colectomy rate was only 0.7%. In the surgical specialties, the colectomy rates were 3.2% for general surgical, 1.2% for orthopaedic and 8% for neurosurgical patients. CONCLUSIONS Colectomy for C. difficile colitis has a high mortality but can be life-saving, even in extremely sick patients. Although heavy antibiotic use is a predisposing factor, this is not an obligatory prerequisite in the development of C. difficile. Neither is it a disease of the elderly, making it difficult to predict vulnerable patients. There are large differences in colectomy rates between specialties and we suggest there may be a place for a surgical opinion in all cases of severe C. difficile colitis.
High-Throughput Assay to Measure Oxygen Consumption in Digitonin-Permeabilized Cells of Patients with Mitochondrial Disorders
Authors: Jonckheere An I , Huigsloot Merei , Janssen Antoon JM , Kappen Antonia JH , Smeitink Jan AM , Rodenburg Richard JT 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Background: Muscle biopsy analysis is regarded as the gold standard in diagnostic workups of patients with suspected mitochondrial disorders. Analysis of cultured fibroblasts can provide important additional diagnostic information. The measurement of individual OXPHOS complexes does not always provide sufficient information about the functional state of the complete mitochondrial energy-generating system. Thus, we optimized a high-throughput fluorescence-based methodology for oxygen consumption analysis in patient-derived cells.
Methods: We analyzed mitochondrial respiration in digitonin-permeabilized cells in the presence of a substrate mix containing pyruvate and malate, using a phosphorescent probe, 96-well plates, and a fluorescence plate reader.
Results: In control fibroblasts, we observed clear stimulation by ADP of the pyruvate + malate–driven respiration. Known inhibitors of the OXPHOS system and the Krebs cycle significantly reduced respiration. In patient fibroblasts with different OXPHOS deficiencies, ADP-stimulated respiratory activity was decreased in comparison to control cells. In several patients with reduced ATP production rate in muscle tissue but with normal OXPHOS enzyme activities, the fibroblasts displayed reduced respiratory activity. Finally, we observed a clear difference between control and complex I–deficient transmitochondrial cybrid cells.
Conclusions: These results confirm the validity of the assay as a high-throughput screening method for mitochondrial function in digitonin-permeabilized cells. The assay allows primary and secondary mitochondrial abnormalities in muscle to be differentiated, which is of great importance with respect to counseling, and also will facilitate the search for new genetic defects that lead to mitochondrial disease.
True Triaxial Piping Test Apparatus for Evaluation of Piping Potential in Earth Structures
Authors: Richards Kevin S. , Reddy Krishna R. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Current methods available for testing the piping potential of soils in dams (pinhole test, hole erosion test, and slot erosion test) are limited to cohesive soils that maintain an open hole within the sample. These tests do not adequately simulate conditions within a zoned embankment, where zones of non-cohesive materials are present under relatively high confining stresses. A new apparatus, called true triaxial piping test apparatus or TTPTA, was developed for testing a wider variety of soils under a wider range of confining stresses, hydraulic gradients, and pore pressures than current tests allow. The TTPTA is capable of applying a range of confining stresses along three mutually perpendicular axes in a true triaxial test apparatus. Pore pressures are also controlled through regulated inlet and outlet pressures. The test determines the critical hydraulic gradient and, more importantly, the critical hydraulic velocity at which piping is initiated in non-cohesive soils. Detailed descriptions of the test apparatus and test method are presented, as are initial test results using TTPTA. Three sets of initial tests were conducted using uniform sand to (1) assess the repeatability of test results, (2) evaluate how the rate of change of inflow impacts the critical discharge rate at which piping is initiated, and (3) evaluate how the angle of seepage affects the critical velocity for piping initiation. These initial tests were conducted to evaluate the method and to help set test parameters for future testing. It is found that the TTPTA is capable of yielding fairly consistent results with 10 % scatter in repeat tests. The seepage angle tests demonstrate that the angle between seepage flow direction and the direction of gravity is an important factor to consider when evaluating piping potential. The rate of change in seepage also has a minor influence on test results, but a change in flow rate of 5 (mL/min)/min could produce reliable results. Based on the results, the hydraulic gradient is found to be a less reliable indicator of piping potential than the hydraulic velocity for non-cohesive soils. The TTPTA is capable of simulating conditions within small to medium sized embankments.
Residual Strength of Liquefied Sand Measured in a Ring Shear Device
Authors: Sandoval J. , de Alba P. , Fussell B. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Earthquake-induced liquefaction flow slides have resulted in loss of life and major damage at many sites around the world. In order to better understand the mechanics of such slides, it is necessary to quantify the residual shearing strength of the liquefied soil. Small-scale stress-controlled experiments suggest that this residual strength is not a constant, but that liquefied sand can be modeled as a highly viscous stress-thinning fluid, whose resistance varies with the velocity of flow. We present results obtained with a ring shear device designed specifically to measure the large-displacement post-liquefaction residual strength of sands under strain-controlled conditions. Residual strength of a fine uniform sand was measured for a range of relative densities (Dr) from 19 % to 36 % at four different shear-strain rates, varying from 11 to 44 s−1 representative of flow slide velocities. Measurements show that the strain-rate-dependent Herschel–Bulkley model for stress-thinning fluids applies to the liquefied sand, with resistance increasing as strain rate increases, but suggest that at relative densities higher than perhaps 50 %, relative density dominates, and residual strength can be approximated as a constant.
The Development and Testing of an Instrumented Open-Ended Model Pile
Authors: Igoe David , Doherty Paul , Gavin Kenneth 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
This paper describes the development of a model instrumented open-ended (pipe) pile. The importance of model geometry and separating the shaft, annular and plug load, and horizontal effective stresses is discussed. A detailed description of the construction of the twin-walled open-ended pile is presented. Particular attention was given to protecting the fragile instrumentation from the rigours of installation and the effects of water ingress. Calibration procedures, which were used to verify the instrument reliability, are also discussed. The final section describes field tests conducted in both loose sand and medium-dense sand deposits, which are used to validate the instrument performance.
Effects of the Chromosome Region Including the Gpc‐B1 Locus on Wheat Grain and Protein Yield
Authors: Brevis Juan Carlos , Dubcovsky Jorge 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThe recent cloning of the Gpc‐B1 gene from Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn. ex Asch. and Graebn.) Thell. (DIC hereafter) chromosome 6BS revealed that modern wheat varieties have a nonfunctional allele. The DIC allele accelerates senescence and increases grain protein concentration (GPC) relative to the nonfunctional allele, but its effect on yield is not known. Here we describe the effect of Gpc‐B1 on grain yield, grain weight, protein yield (grain yield by GPC), and N harvest index (NHI) of common (T. aestivum L.) and durum [T. turgidum ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] wheat using BC6F3 near‐isogenic lines (NILs, >99% identical) with and without the DIC Gpc‐B1 allele. Six hexaploid and three tetraploid pairs of NILs were tested in three California locations (2005–2007) and all showed higher GPC when the functional Gpc‐B1 allele was present (P < 0.0001). Hexaploid NILs with the DIC Gpc‐B1 allele showed a significant decrease in grain weight (2.8%, P = 0.0004) and a similar trend was observed between tetraploid NILs, although the differences were marginally not significant (P = 0.08). In spite of this reduction, the differences in grain yield between NILs with different Gpc‐B1 alleles across genotypes and environments were not significant. Protein yield was increased in the Gpc‐B1 NILs of both hexaploid (P < 0.0001) and tetraploid (P = 0.06) wheat. The Gpc‐B1 introgression in hexaploid NILs resulted in significantly (P < 0.01) lower straw N concentration at maturity and higher NHI, which suggests that the functional Gpc‐B1 allele improves N remobilization.
Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci for Long Coleoptile in Chinese Wheat Landrace Wangshuibai
Authors: Yu Jian‐Bin , Bai Gui‐Hua 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with long coleoptiles can be sown deeply for better seedling establishment in drought environments. A population of 139 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between a long‐coleoptile Chinese landrace, Wangshuibai, and short‐coleoptile U.S. wheat cultivar, Wheaton, were characterized for coleoptile length and plant height. Heritabilities for coleoptile length were high (h2 > 0.82). Interval mapping identified six significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) on 1B, 3D, 4DS, 4DL, 5AS, and 5B for coleoptile length; four of them, on 3D, 4DS, 4DL, and 5AS, showed pleiotropic effects on plant height. One major QTL for long coleoptile was mapped on the locus Rht‐D1 (Rht2) for reduced height (Rht) on chromosome 4DS and explained up to 65% of phenotypic variation for coleoptile length. Another major QTL was located on 4DL and explained up to 33% of phenotypic variation for coleoptile length. Standard height allele Rht‐D1a from Wangshuibai appeared to have an epistatic effect on the 4DL QTL for long coleoptile. Other QTL showed only a minor effect. Although Rht‐D1a explained a major portion of genetic variation for long coleoptile in Wangshuibai, a combination of Rht‐D1a in Wangshuibai with gibberellic acid (GA)–sensitive Rht genes for reduced wheat height from other sources should be able to select long coleoptiles, semidwarf cultivars in wheat breeding programs for which long coleoptile is a breeding objective.
QTL Underlying Self‐Fertility in Tetraploid Alfalfa
Authors: Robins Joseph G. , Brummer E. Charles 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTA potential strategy to decrease the levels of self‐seed production during the seed increase stages of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) synthetic cultivar development is selection for decreased self‐fertility. The underlying genetics of this trait have not been elucidated and, therefore, a study was designed to identify genetic determinants of alfalfa self‐fertility. An F1 mapping population developed by crossing parents representing Medicago sativa subsp. falcata and M. sativa subsp. sativa was characterized for self‐fertility in a greenhouse during the winter of 1999. Traits representing self‐fertility were measured and then mapped to the resulting genetic maps of both parents. Heritability values for each trait were high, suggesting genetic factors are important for their expression. Quantitative trait loci for self‐fertility traits were identified on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 4 from the falcata parent and LGs 4 and 8 of the sativa parent.