bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of in situ manganese(II) oxidation in the Columbia River and offshore plume: linking Aurantimonas and the associated microbial community to an active biogeochemical cycle
Authors: Anderson C. R. , Davis R. E. , Bandolin N. S. , Baptista A. M. , Tebo B. M. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe Columbia River is a major source of dissolved nutrients and trace metals for the west coast of North America. A large proportion of these nutrients are sourced from the Columbia River Estuary, where coastal and terrestrial waters mix and resuspend particulate matter within the water column. As estuarine water is discharged off the coast, it transports the particulate matter, dissolved nutrients and microorganisms forming nutrient‐rich and metabolically dynamic plumes. In this study, bacterial manganese oxidation within the plume and estuary was investigated during spring and neap tides. The microbial community proteome was fractionated and assayed for Mn oxidation activity. Proteins from the outer membrane and the loosely bound outer membrane fractions were separated using size exclusion chromatography and Mn(II)‐oxidizing eluates were analysed with tandem mass spectrometry to identify potential Mn oxidase protein targets. Multi‐copper oxidase (MCO) and haem‐peroxidase enzymes were identified in active fractions. T‐RFLP profiles and cluster analysis indicates that organisms and bacterial communities capable of oxidizing Mn(II) can be sourced from the Columbia River estuary and nearshore coastal ocean. These organisms are producing up to 10 fM MnO2 cell−1 day−1. Evidence for the presence of Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacterial isolates from the genera Aurantimonas, Rhodobacter, Bacillus and Shewanella was found in T‐RFLP profiles. Specific Q‐PCR probes were designed to target potential homologues of the Aurantimonas manganese oxidizing peroxidase (Mop). By comparing total Mop homologues, Aurantimonas SSU rRNA and total bacterial SSU rRNA gene copies, it appears that Aurantimonas can only account for ∼1.7% of the peroxidase genes quantified. Under the broad assumption that at least some of the peroxidase homologues quantified are involved in manganese oxidation, it is possible that other organisms oxidize manganese via peroxidases.
Cognitive function in adult offspring of women with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Clausen T. D. , Mortensen E. L. , Schmidt L. , Mathiesen E. R. , Hansen T. , Jensen D. M. , Holm S. , Poulsen L. , From M. , Damm P. 
Published: March 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 838–844 (2011)AbstractAims  Maternal diabetes may affect offspring cognitive function. The objective of the study was to evaluate cognitive function and potential predictors hereof in adult offspring of women with Type 1 diabetes.Methods  We conducted a follow‐up study of adult offspring of women with Type 1 diabetes (n = 158) and a reference group from the background population (n = 118). The main outcome measure was offspring cognitive function measured by global cognitive score, derived from Raven’s Progressive Matrices and three verbal subtests from the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale.Results  Offspring of women with Type 1 diabetes obtained lower global cognitive scores (94.8 vs. 100.0, P = 0.004) than offspring from the background population. When adjusted for confounders, the groups no longer differed significantly (difference 0.4, 95% CI –3.3 to 4.). Positive predictors of cognitive function in offspring of women with diabetes were family social class, parental educational level, maternal diabetes duration, male gender and offspring age, whereas parity ≥ 1 and gestational age < 34 weeks were negative predictors. We found no association with maternal glycaemia during pregnancy or with neonatal hypoglycaemia.Conclusions  Impaired cognitive function in adult offspring of women with Type 1 diabetes compared with the background population apparently reflects differences with respect to well‐known confounders. However, harmful effects of maternal hyperglycaemia may be mediated through delivery at < 34 weeks.
Drug use patterns in the presence of crack in downtown Montréal
Authors: ROY ELISE , ARRUDA NELSON , VAILLANCOURT ERIC , BOIVIN JEAN‐FRANCOIS , MORISSETTE CAROLE , LECLERC PASCALE , ALARY MICHEL , BOURGOIS PHILIPPE 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. A study was undertaken to verify reports of an increasing presence of crack in downtown Montréal, and to investigate the influence of crack availability on current drug use patterns among street‐based cocaine users.Design and Methods. The study combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. These included long‐term intensive participant observation carried out by an ethnographer familiar with the field and a survey. The ethnographic component involved observations and unstructured interviews with 64 street‐based cocaine users. Sampling was based on a combination of snowballing and purposeful recruitment methods. For the survey, structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 387 cocaine users attending HIV/HCV prevention programs, downtown Montréal.Results. A gradual shift has occurred in the last 10 years, with the crack street market overtaking the powder cocaine street market. Although the data pointed to an increase in crack smoking, 54.5% of survey participants both smoked and injected cocaine. Drug market forces were major contributing factors to the observed modes of cocaine consumption. While the study focused primarily on cocaine users, it became apparent from the ethnographic fieldwork that prescription opioids (POs) were very present on the streets. According to the survey, 52.7% of participants consumed opioids, essentially POs, with 88% of them injecting these drugs.Discussion and Conclusions. Despite the increased availability of crack, injection is still present among cocaine users due at least in part to the concurrent increasing popularity of POs.[Roy E, Arruda N, Vaillancourt E, Boivin J‐F, Morissette C, Leclerc P, Alary M, Bourgois P. Drug use patterns in the presence of crack in downtown Montréal. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:72–80]
How and when health‐care practitioners in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services deliver alcohol screening and brief intervention, and why they don't: A qualitative study
Authors: CLIFFORD ANTON , SHAKESHAFT ANTHONY , DEANS CATHERINE 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction. Indigenous Australians experience a disproportionately high burden of alcohol‐related harm. Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) offers the potential to reduce this harm if barriers to its delivery in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) can be optimally targeted.Aims. Examine health‐care practitioners' perceptions of, and practices in, alcohol SBI in ACCHSs.Methods. Semi‐structured group interviews with 37 purposively selected health staff across five ACCHSs.Results. Alcohol screening independent of standard health assessments was generally selective. The provision of brief intervention was dependent upon factors related to the patient. Four key factors underlying health‐care practitioners' perceptions of alcohol SBI were prominent: outcome expectancy; role congruence; utilisation of clinical systems and processes; and options for alcohol referral.Discussion. The influence of outcome expectancy and role congruence on health‐care practitioners' alcohol SBI practices has been identified previously, as has to a lesser extent, their less than optimal use of clinical systems and processes. The influence of options for alcohol referral on health‐care practitioners' willingness to deliver alcohol SBI primarily related to their misunderstanding of alcohol SBI and the lack of culturally appropriate alcohol referral options for their patients.Conclusion. An intervention combining interactive, supportive and reinforcing evidence‐based dissemination strategies is most likely required to enhance health‐care practitioners' knowledge and skills in alcohol SBI delivery, positively orientate them to their role in its delivery, and facilitate integration of evidence‐based alcohol SBI into routine clinical processes and locally available systems.[Clifford A, Shakeshaft A, Deans C. How and when health‐care practitioners in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services deliver alcohol screening and brief intervention, and why they don't: A qualitative study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:13–19]
The effects of beverage type on homicide rates in Russia, 1970–2005
Authors: STICKLEY ANDREW , RAZVODOVSKY YURY 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Previous research from Western Europe and North America has suggested that consuming different types of alcoholic beverage may have differing effects on homicide rates both within and between countries. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the consumption of different beverage types and homicide rates in Russia across the later‐Soviet and post‐Soviet periods.Design and Methods. Age‐standardised male and female homicide data for the period 1970–2005 and data on beverage‐specific alcohol sales were obtained from the Russian State Statistical Committee (Rosstat). Time series analysis (autoregressive integrated moving average modelling) was used to examine the relation between the sale (consumption) of different alcoholic beverages and homicide rates.Results. Total alcohol consumption and vodka consumption as measured by sales were significantly associated with both male and female homicide rates: a 1 L increase in overall alcohol sales would result in a 5.9% increase in the male homicide rate and a 5.1% increase in the female homicide rate. The respective figures for vodka were 16.4% and 14.3%. The consumption of beer and wine was not associated with changes in homicide rates.Discussion and Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the consumption of distilled spirits has had an especially detrimental impact on lethal violence in Russia from at least 1970 onwards. In order to reduce homicide rates in this context, alcohol policy should focus on reducing overall consumption as well as attempting to shift the beverage preference away from distilled spirits.[Stickley A, Razvodovsky Y. The effects of beverage type on homicide rates in Russia, 1970–2005. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:257–262]
A Critic Unfettered: The Legacy of Ernest Feder
Authors: Ross Eric B. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTErnest Ludwig Feder was among the most prolific, creative and boldest of rural economists in the decades after the Second World War. Yet much of the work for which he would become most well known — on land reform, dependency and peasant agriculture, particularly in Latin America — was a comparatively late development, starting when he was almost fifty, more than two‐thirds of the way through a full and varied life that never conformed to conventional academic criteria and that came to a premature end when he was just seventy‐one. In the years since, the relevance of his work has grown, although the number of younger scholars who actually read his books and papers has declined.
Controlling attention to gaze and arrows in childhood: an fMRI study of typical development and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Vaidya Chandan J. , Foss‐Feig Jennifer , Shook Devon , Kaplan Lauren , Kenworthy Lauren , Gaillard William D. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractFunctional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine functional anatomy of attention to social (eye gaze) and nonsocial (arrow) communicative stimuli in late childhood and in a disorder defined by atypical processing of social stimuli, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Children responded to a target word (‘LEFT’/‘RIGHT’) in the context of a distracting arrow or averted gaze pointing in a direction that was congruent, incongruent, or neutral (bar without arrowheads, central gaze) relative to the target word. Despite being irrelevant to the target task, both arrow and averted gaze facilitated responses (Congruent vs. Neutral trials) to the same extent in the two groups and led to interference (Incongruent vs. Congruent trials), which was greater from arrows in ASD than control children. In the brain, interaction between group and distracter‐domain was observed in frontal‐temporal regions during facilitation and frontal‐striatal regions during interference. During facilitation, regions associated with attention to gaze in control children (left superior temporal sulcus, premotor) were associated with attention to arrows in ASD children; gaze was associated with medial temporal involvement in ASD children. During interference, regions associated with arrows in control children (anterior cingulate, right caudate) were activated in response to gaze in ASD children; further, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region not observed in control children, was activated during gaze‐interference in ASD children. Thus, functional anatomy was atypical in ASD children during spontaneous processing of social and nonsocial communicative cues.
Exploring Non‐Linear Relationship of Blendshape Facial Animation
Authors: Liu Xuecheng , Xia Shihong , Fan Yiwen , Wang Zhaoqi 
Published: March 2011

AbstractHuman face is a complex biomechanical system and non‐linearity is a remarkable feature of facial expressions. However, in blendshape animation, facial expression space is linearized by regarding linear relationship between blending weights and deformed face geometry. This results in the loss of reality in facial animation. To synthesize more realistic facial animation, aforementioned relationship should be non‐linear to allow the greatest generality and fidelity of facial expressions. Unfortunately, few existing works pay attention to the topic about how to measure the non‐linear relationship. In this paper, we propose an optimization scheme that automatically explores the non‐linear relationship of blendshape facial animation from captured facial expressions. Experiments show that the explored non‐linear relationship is consistent with the non‐linearity of facial expressions soundly and is able to synthesize more realistic facial animation than the linear one.
Measurement of motor root conduction time at the early stage of Guillain–Barre syndrome
Authors: Temuçin Ç. M. , Nurlu G. 
Published: March 2011

Background and purpose:  As they are mainly performed at distal nerve parts, routine electrophysiological examinations can fail to detect the abnormalities at the early stage of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) because of predominant involvement of proximal nerve segments. Measurements focused on proximal conduction can provide additional findings. We investigated the diagnostic significance of motor root conduction time (MRCT) at the early stage of GBS.Methods:  Study was performed in 30 healthy volunteers and within the first week of 12 patients with GBS. MRCT was calculated as the latency differences between motor nerve conduction time (MNCT) obtained by cervical magnetic stimulation and total peripheral motor conduction time obtained by electrical stimulation of ulnar nerve. Also MNCT/MRCT ratio was calculated in each subject.Results:  There were statistically significant differences between groups for MRCT (P < 0.0001) and MNCT/MRCT ratio (P < 0.0001). Although the F‐wave latency at ulnar nerve was abnormal only in 33%, MRCT was significantly prolonged in 83% of patients. In three patients, prolongation of MRCT was the only abnormality at the first electrodiagnostic examination.Conclusions:  Motor root conduction time as a non‐invasive method can provide additional and confirmative information at the early stage of GBS in which routine nerve conduction studies may fail to detect the focal demyelination.
The incidence and prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Sheffield, UK
Authors: Raoof N. , Sharrack B. , Pepper I. M. , Hickman S. J. 
Published: March 2011

Background and purpose:  The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in Sheffield, UK.Methods:  A retrospective review of case notes was conducted to identify cases of IIH seen between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008.Results:  Sixteen (15 women and 1 man) new patients were identified to give an incidence within Sheffield of 1.56/100 000/year and 2.86/100 000/year for women. The incidence of IIH in obese women was 11.9/100 000/year. The prevalence of IIH was calculated as 10.9/100 000, and 85.7/100 000 in obese women.Conclusion:  A higher incidence of IIH than previously reported UK data was found, which may be because of increasing obesity within the population, or improved case ascertainment.
Ultrasound detection and identification of cosmetic fillers in the skin
Authors: Wortsman X. , Wortsman J. , Orlandi C. , Cardenas G. , Sazunic I. , Jemec G.B.E. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  While the incidence of cosmetic filler injections is rising world‐wide, neither exact details of the procedure nor the agent used are always reported or remembered by the patients. Thus, although complications are reportedly rare, availability of a precise diagnostic tool to detect cutaneous filler deposits could help clarify the association between the procedure and the underlying pathology.Objectives  The aim of this study was to evaluate cutaneous sonography in the detection and identification of cosmetic fillers deposits and, describe dermatological abnormalities found associated with the presence of those agents.Methods  We used ultrasound in a porcine skin model to determine the sonographic characteristics of commonly available filler agents, and subsequently applied the analysis to detect and identify cosmetic fillers among patients referred for skin disorders.Results  Fillers are recognizable on ultrasound and generate different patterns of echogenicity and posterior acoustic artefacts. Cosmetic fillers were identified in 118 dermatological patients; most commonly hyaluronic acid among degradable agents and silicone oil among non‐degradable. Fillers deposits were loosely scattered throughout the subcutaneous tissue, with occasional infiltration of local muscles and loco‐regional lymph nodes. Accompanying dermatopathies were represented by highly localized inflammatory processes unresponsive to conventional treatment, morphea‐like reactions, necrosis of fatty tissue and epidermal cysts; in the case of non‐degradable agents, the associated dermatopathies were transient, resolving upon disappearance of the filler.Conclusions  Cosmetic filler agents may be detected and identified during routine ultrasound of dermatological lesions; the latter appear to be pathologically related to the cosmetic procedure.
Effect of psoriasis therapy on VEGF and its soluble receptors serum concentrations
Authors: Flisiak I. , Zaniewski P. , Rogalska‐Taranta M. , Chodynicka B. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is recognized a pivotal pro‐angiogenic factor responsible for new blood vessels formation in psoriatic lesion.Objectives  The aim of the study was to analyse serum concentrations of VEGF and its soluble receptors (sVEGF) R1 and R2 in psoriatic patients before and after treatment.Methods  Serum samples were collected before and after 14 days of standard topical therapy, from 44 patients with exacerbated chronic plaque‐type psoriasis and VEGF, sVEGF R1 and sVEGF R2 concentrations were measured using an enzyme immunoassay. Data were analysed with respect to baseline values of the psoriasis area severity index (PASI).Results  Baseline mean serum levels of VEGF and sVEGF R1, but not sVEGF R2 were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. VEGF demonstrated significant correlation with PASI score. Treatment resulted in significant reduction of VEGF serum concentration, particularly in patients with severe course of the disease (PASI >20) and increase in sVEGF R1 concentration in patients with mild disease activity (PASI <10). Moreover, serum sVEGF R1 level after treatment termination was significantly higher in patients with mild than severe course of psoriasis.Conclusions  We confirmed the association between psoriasis activity and serum VEGF concentrations, which can be recognized as an indicator of the disease severity. However, the increase of serum sVEGF R1 concentrations can predict amelioration of clinical signs.
Psychosocial health in children and adolescents surviving cancer
Authors: Eilertsen Mary‐Elizabeth B. , Rannestad Toril , Indredavik Marit S. , Vik Torstein 
Published: March 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 725–734Psychosocial health in children and adolescents surviving cancerAim:  To explore psychosocial health in children and adolescents surviving cancer three years after diagnosis compared with healthy controls, as assessed by adolescents themselves, their parents and teacher.Material and methods:  Case–control study included 50 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer between 1 January 1993 and 1 January 2003 and treated at the Paediatric Department St. Olav’s University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Data were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (self‐report, parent report and teacher report), as well as the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment questionnaire (teacher report).Results:  Children surviving cancer had more emotional symptoms, higher total problem scores and poorer academic performance than their peers. Emotional problems were consistently reported by parents, teachers and adolescents themselves, in particular in children with brain tumours and among survivors with late effects.Conclusion:  Our study shows that children surviving cancer are at higher risk for emotional problems when compared with their friends, even after several years following diagnosis and treatment. We conclude that when planning long‐term follow‐up care, rehabilitation of children and adolescents with cancer, especially for survivors with brain tumours and late effects, should particularly take into account their psychological problems and psychosocial functioning.
Effects of tillage and crop rotation on chemical phosphorus forms and some related biological activities in a Chilean Ultisol
Authors: Redel Y. D. , Escudey M. , Alvear M. , Conrad J. , Borie F. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe effect of tillage systems and crop rotation on microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and acid phosphatase (P‐ase) activity, and the amount of different phosphorus (P) forms measured by 31P‐NMR spectroscopy were studied on a field experiment carried out in a temperate Ultisol from southern Chile. Two tillage systems, no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and two crop rotations, oat–wheat (OW) and lupine–wheat (LW) were evaluated 4 yr after the start of the experiment to determine the effects of such management on some soil biological parameters and P forms at three depths (0–5, 0–10 and 10–20 cm). Microbial biomass P ranged from 6.5 to 22.6 mg/kg, whereas the mean total P (PT) was 1995 mg/kg for all treatments (OW and LW). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and surface P accumulation (at 0–5 cm depth), including Olsen P, MBP, orthophosphate monoesters (monoester‐P), were larger under NT than CT. Tillage effects were greater than crop rotation effects in enhancing P availability. The LW rotation showed enhanced P‐ase activity and increased monoester‐P forms (57 vs. 30% of the total integral area of the spectra, in average) compared with OW. Nevertheless, OW rotation increased orthophosphate (ortho‐P), especially at 10–20 cm. Microbial biomass carbon ranged from 532 to 2351 mg/kg, which represented 1.2–4.5% of total organic C (Co). Furthermore, MBP correlated positively with MBC (r = 0.80), Olsen P (r = 0.77), Co (r = 0.77), pH (r = 0.65), PT (r = 0.65) and P‐ase activity (r = 0.57), suggesting the importance of the microbial biomass on soil P availability.