bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in men receiving radiotherapy and neo‐adjuvant androgen deprivation for prostate cancer: results from a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Mc Caughan Eilis , Mc Sorley Oonagh , Prue Gillain , Parahoo Kader , Bunting Brendan , Sullivan Joe O , McKenna Hugh 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim.  To report a study measuring the quality of life and side effects in men receiving radiotherapy and hormone ablation for prostate cancer up to 1 year after treatment.Background.  Prostate cancer incidence is increasing with the result that more men are living longer with the disease and the side effects of treatment. It is important to know the effects this has on their quality of life.Design.  Survey.Method.  Between September 2006–September 2007, all men who were about to undergo radical conformal radiotherapy ± neo‐adjuvant androgen deprivation for localized prostate cancer were invited to participate in the study; 149 men were recruited. They completed the European Organization on Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire C‐30 and Prostate Cancer module PR25 at four time‐points.Results.  At 4–6 weeks after radiotherapy, participants experienced the biggest relative decline in global quality of life, social, physical, and role functioning and an increase in treatment side effects. At 6 months postradiotherapy the majority of men experienced an improvement in their side effects. However, a minority of men were experiencing severe side effects of radiotherapy at 1 year post‐treatment. Single men and men who had a low quality of life prior to radiotherapy, reported a lower quality of life at 1 year after treatment in comparison to married men.Conclusion.  Men with prostate cancer suffer limitations due to the symptoms they experience and disruption to their quality of life. It is essential that nurses develop and deliver follow‐up care which is flexible and appropriate to the individual needs of these men.
Development of a new antibody for detecting natural killer enhancing factor (NKEF)‐like protein in infected salmonids
Authors: Bethke J , Rojas V , Berendsen J , Cárdenas C , Guzmán F , Gallardo J A , Mercado L 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe main cellular responses of innate immunity are phagocytic activity and the respiratory burst, which produces a high amount of reactive oxygen species. Natural killer enhancing factor (NKEF) belongs to the peroxiredoxin family that has an antioxidant function and enhances cytotoxic cell activity. This molecule may play a key role in macrophage and cytotoxic cell communication during the innate immune response of fish against pathogens. In fish, the NKEF gene has been characterized in some species as showing an up‐regulation in infected fish, suggesting a trigger effect upon NK‐like cells. To detect and localize this molecule in salmonids at protein level, a monospecific polyclonal antibody was generated. A probable NKEF‐like protein epitope region was identified and characterized using bioinformatic tools, and the sequence was chemically synthesized using Fmoc strategy, analysed by RP‐HPLC and its molecular weight confirmed by mass spectrometry. The synthetic peptide was immunized and antibodies from ascitic fluid were obtained. The resulting antibody is a versatile tool for detecting NKEF by different immune techniques such as ELISA, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Analysis of NKEF‐like protein is a useful method for characterizing immune properties of this molecule in fish during response to pathogens.
Intrusive fathering, children's self‐regulation and social skills: a mediation analysis
Authors: Stevenson M. , Crnic K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground  Fathers have unique influences on children's development, and particularly in the development of social skills. Although father–child relationship influences on children's social competence have received increased attention in general, research on fathering in families of children with developmental delays (DD) is scant. This study examined the pathway of influence among paternal intrusive behaviour, child social skills and child self‐regulatory ability, testing a model whereby child regulatory behaviour mediates relations between fathering and child social skills.Methods  Participants were 97 families of children with early identified DD enrolled in an extensive longitudinal study. Father and mother child‐directed intrusiveness was coded live in naturalistic home observations at child age 4.5, child behaviour dysregulation was coded from a video‐taped laboratory problem‐solving task at child age 5, and child social skills were measured using independent teacher reports at child age 6. Analyses tested for mediation of the relationship between fathers' intrusiveness and child social skills by child behaviour dysregulation.Results  Fathers' intrusiveness, controlling for mothers' intrusiveness and child behaviour problems, was related to later child decreased social skills and this relationship was mediated by child behaviour dysregulation.Conclusions  Intrusive fathering appears to carry unique risk for the development of social skills in children with DD. Findings are discussed as they related to theories of fatherhood and parenting in children with DD, as well as implications for intervention and future research.
Superfolder GFP reporters validate diverse new mRNA targets of the classic porin regulator, MicF RNA
Authors: Corcoran Colin P. , Podkaminski Dimitri , Papenfort Kai , Urban Johannes H. , Hinton Jay C. D. , Vogel Jörg 
Published: March 2012

SummaryMicF is a textbook example of a small regulatory RNA (sRNA) that acts on a trans‐encoded target mRNA through imperfect base pairing. Discovery of MicF as a post‐transcriptional repressor of the major Escherichia coli porin OmpF established the paradigm for a meanwhile common mechanism of translational inhibition, through antisense sequestration of a ribosome binding site. However, whether MicF regulates additional genes has remained unknown for almost three decades. Here, we have harnessed the new superfolder variant of GFP for reporter–gene fusions to validate newly predicted targets of MicF in Salmonella. We show that the conserved 5′ end of MicF acts by seed pairing to repress the mRNAs of global transcriptional regulator Lrp, and periplasmic protein YahO, while a second targeting region is also required to regulate the mRNA of the lipid A‐modifying enzyme LpxR. Interestingly, MicF targets lpxR at both the ribosome binding site and deep within the coding sequence. MicF binding in the coding sequence of lpxR decreases mRNA stability through exacerbating the use of a native RNase E site proximal to the short MicF‐lpxR duplex. Altogether, this study assigns the classic MicF sRNA to the growing class of Hfq‐associated regulators that use diverse mechanisms to impact multiple loci.
Optimizing the Conditions for In Vitro Maturation and Artificial Activation of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum) Oocytes
Authors: Yin Y , Tang L , Zhang P , Kong D , Wang Z , Guan J , Song G , Tang B , Li Z 
Published: March 2012

ContentsWith the goal of establishing experimental protocols for cloning sika deer, various conditions for in vitro maturation (IVM) and artificial activation of sika deer oocytes were examined. In vitro maturation was evaluated in seven different culture media. The highest rate of oocyte maturation was 75.4% in 10 μg/ml follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), 1 μg/ml LH, 0.2 mm cysteamine and 50 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) after 24 h of IVM. The efficiency after 24 h of IVM did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from that observed after 20 h. Cysteamine (0.2 mm) significantly increased the maturation rates after 20 h (from 59.1% to 67.2%, p < 0.05) and after 24 h (from 63.2% to 71.6%, p < 0.05) of IVM. The IVM rates of oocytes collected during the oestrous season (75.4%) and the anoestrous season (23.3%) were significantly different at 24 h. The 20 μg/ml FSH, 2 μg/ml LH, 0.4 mm cysteamine and 100 ng/ml EGF significantly increased the maturation rates (from 23.3% to 54.2%, p < 0.01) at 24 h during the anoestrous season. For the activation experiments, the most effective method was chemical activation [ionomycin + 6‐dimethylaminopurine (6‐DMAP)], which promoted the development of sika deer oocytes to the blastocyst stage (32.4%). Our results indicate that in vitro matured sika deer oocytes are good candidates for parthenogenetic activation and that chemical treatment is needed for relatively efficient activation of the oocytes. These optimized conditions for IVM and parthenogenetic activation may be useful for efforts to restore populations of the endangered sika deer using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technique.
Appreciating age diversity and German nurse well‐being and commitment: Co‐worker trust as the mediator
Authors: Lehmann‐Willenbrock Nale , Lei Zhike , Kauffeld Simone 
Published: March 2012

AbstractNursing practice faces the challenges of succeeding with a great diversity of customers and managing a diverse workforce with a wide range of age differences. While age diversity can lead to increased creativity and a greater richness of values and skills, it can also lead to value clashes, disrespect of each other's viewpoints, and increased conflict. As a result, nurses frequently experience stress, work–life imbalance, and a withdrawal from commitment. We propose the injection of positive diversity mindsets (age diversity appreciation) as one remedy. Specifically, we suggest that age diversity appreciation is positively related to nurses' well‐being (stress and work–life balance), and also positively related to their team commitment. We further hypothesize that nurses' trust in co‐workers mediates the hypothesized relationships. Our survey data of 138 nurses in a large hospital in Germany supported our hypotheses. We discuss both theoretical and managerial implications of our findings in the context of age diversity and nursing work outcomes in hospitals.
A prospective audit of safety issues associated with general anesthesia for pediatric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Stockton Emma , Hughes Marina , Broadhead Mike , Taylor Andrew , McEwan Angus 
Published: March 2012

SummaryBackground/Objectives:  Cardiac MRI (CMR) is increasingly used for surgical planning and serial monitoring of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). For small children, general anesthesia (GA) is required. We describe our experience of the safety of GA for pediatric CMR, using data collected prospectively over 3 years.Methods:  All consecutive infants undergoing GA for CMR at our institution, between November 2005 and May 2008, were included. Informed and written consent to participate in research investigation was acquired from the guardians of every patient prior to CMR. The cardiac anesthetist completed a standardized data collection form during each procedure. Information collected included demographics, diagnosis, surgical history, anesthetic management, significant incidents, and discharge circumstances.Results:  A total of 120 patients with varying cardiac physiology and a range of hemodynamics underwent GA for CMR during the study period. Gas induction was predominantly used, even in those with impaired ventricular function. The majority (71%) of procedures were undertaken without significant incident. Minor adverse incidents were recorded in 32 patients, mild hypotension being most frequent. One major adverse event occurred. A patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) suffered hypotension then cardiac arrest in the scanner. This patient was successfully resuscitated.Conclusion:  Although the majority of cases were safe and without incident, the complication rate in children with CHD receiving a GA for CMR is higher than in the general pediatric population. This reinforces the need for a senior, multidisciplinary team to be involved in the care of these children during imaging.
Motivation and parental presence during induction of anesthesia: an examination of the role of ethnicity and language
Authors: Fortier Michelle A. , Gomez Sulay H. , Kain Alexandra 
Published: March 2012

SummaryObjectives:  To examine the role of ethnicity and language in parental desire and motivation to be present for children’s anesthesia induction.Aim:  To compare motivation for parental presence at induction of anesthesia (PPIA) between English‐ and Spanish‐speaking White and Hispanic parents of children undergoing outpatient surgery.Background:  The effectiveness of PPIA may depend, in part, on parental motivation and desire to be present at children’s anesthesia induction; however, cultural variables such as ethnicity and language have not previously been explored in this relationship.Methods/Materials:  Participants included 258 parents of children undergoing outpatient surgery and general anesthesia. Parents were grouped by self‐reported ethnicity and primary language spoken into English‐speaking White (ESW, n = 55), English‐speaking Hispanic (ESH, n = 108), and Spanish‐speaking Hispanic (SPH, n = 95) groups. Measures included the Motivation for Parental Presence during Induction of Anesthesia (MPPIA) and a 4‐item measure of preference for PPIA.Results:  The majority of parents (73%) expressed a preference for PPIA. Analyses controlling for group differences in socioeconomic status and demographic variables revealed that English‐ (P = 0.03) and Spanish‐speaking (P = 0.06) Hispanic parents reported significantly greater levels of desire to be present for their child’s anesthesia induction compared to English‐speaking White parents. English‐speaking Hispanic parents also reported greater levels of beliefs about the impact of anxiety on children’s anesthesia induction compared to English‐speaking White parents (P = 0.07).Conclusions:  Parental ethnicity and language may impact desire and motivation for PPIA, which may subsequently impact the effectiveness of PPIA and child anxiety at anesthesia induction. Future research should examine the impact of parental characteristics, including cultural variables, on children’s preoperative anxiety.
Forgotten in the ocean: systematics, biogeography and evolution of the Trachylepis skinks of the Socotra Archipelago
Authors: Sindaco R. , Metallinou M. , Pupin F. , Fasola M. , Carranza S. 
Published: March 2012

Sindaco, R., Metallinou, M., Pupin, F., Fasola, M. & Carranza, S. (2012). Forgotten in the ocean: systematics, biogeography and evolution of the Trachylepis skinks of the Socotra Archipelago. —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 346–362.The Socotra Archipelago, in the north‐west Indian Ocean, is considered to be one of the most remote and most biodiversity rich and distinct islands in the world. Often referred to as the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Natural site in 2008. Despite having a very rich and bizarre fauna and flora with a high level of endemicity at both species and generic levels, the taxonomy of most of the groups is still not clear, and their origin and evolution remain unknown. Reptiles constitute the most relevant vertebrate fauna of the Socotra Archipelago, with 90% of the 30 species and 45% of the 12 genera being found nowhere else in the world. The skinks of the endemic species Trachylepis socotrana are the only reptile species in the Archipelago distributed across all four islands (Socotra, Darsa, Samha and Abd Al Kuri). Although the species is very well known from Socotra Island, it was not discovered on Samha until 1999 and on Darsa until 2000, whereas only a few citations and one single Museum specimen exist for the population from Abd Al Kuri. To clarify the systematics, biogeography and evolution of Trachylepis socotrana, we assembled a dataset for Mabuya sensu lato including 904 base pairs (bp) of sequence (392 bp from the 12S and 512 from the 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes) for 115 individuals, including specimens of T. socotrana from all four island populations, numerous representatives of the genus Trachylepis from the Middle East, Africa and Madagascar, plus some individuals from each of the other three genera of Mabuya sensu lato (Chioninia, Eutropis and Mabuya). The results of the phylogenetic analyses indicate that, contrary to what was previously thought, members of the genus Trachylepis have colonized the Socotra Archipelago in two independent events, with the first giving rise to the populations from Socotra, Samha and Darsa and the second to the Trachylepis from Abd Al Kuri Island. According to the calibrations, both colonization events occurred within the last fourteen million years, when the Socotra Archipelago had already drifted away from Arabia, thus ruling out vicariance. Both morphological and genetic data show that the Trachylepis from Abd Al Kuri is a distinct taxon, which is herein described as a new species belonging to the T. brevicollis species complex. On the basis of this evidence, the terrestrial herpetofauna from Abd Al Kuri is composed exclusively of endemic species (one of which, the gecko Pristurus abdelkuri, was introduced into some parts of Socotra).
Information Gathering Externalities for a Multi‐Attribute Good
Authors: Bar‐Isaac Heski , Caruana Guillermo , Cuñat Vicente 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMost goods and services vary in numerous dimensions. Customers choose to acquire information to assess some characteristics and not others. Their choices affect firms' incentives to invest in quality and so lead to indirect externalities in consumers' choices. We characterize a model in which a monopolist invests in the quality of a product with two characteristics, and consumers are heterogeneous ex‐ante. Consumers do not internalize their influence on the firm's investment incentives when choosing which information to acquire. Cheaper information affects consumers' information gathering and thereby firm investment. This can paradoxically reduce consumer surplus, profits, and welfare.
Disciplining Disability under Danish Active Labour Market Policy
Authors: Møller Marie Østergaard , Stone Deborah 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis article explores how caseworkers are re‐constructing disability in the Danish welfare system and disciplining themselves and clients according to the active labour policy paradigm. Combining Foucault's ideas about discipline with Maynard‐Moody and Musheno's method of interpreting street‐level bureaucrats' stories (Foucault 1977; Maynard‐Moody and Musheno 2003), we analyze caseworkers' stories about their clients, fellow caseworkers and themselves to understand how they practice the ideology behind active labour policy. Our analysis uses Møller's (2009) interviews with 24 Danish caseworkers who administer social welfare and sick leave benefits based on disability as the primary eligibility criterion. We selected stories told by caseworkers that exemplify archetypes of good and bad citizens, good and bad clients, and good and bad caseworkers. Through interpretative analysis, we elucidate how caseworkers make sense of active labour policy and internalize the pressures of managerial reforms to discipline both citizens and each other.
From Defamilialization to Degenderization: Toward a New Welfare Typology1
Authors: Saxonberg Steven 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis article discusses the debate on gendering welfare states. It criticizes typologies based on the differentiation between degrees of familialization and defamilialization and proposes a new typology based on the notion of genderization and degenderization. It also argues against the notion of regime types, which includes outputs in their classification systems. Instead it argues that typologies should concentrate on policies to make it possible for researchers and policymakers to analyze the influence of different types of policies on different societies. It is important to know whether similar policies would lead to different outcomes under different socio‐economic or cultural conditions. The article goes on to show how one could analyze family policies based on a typology based on genderization and degenderization.
Black‐market Medicine and Public Opinion Towards the Welfare State: Evidence from Israel
Authors: Cohen Nissim , Mizrahi Shlomo , Yuval Fany 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBased on a survey and interviews, this article presents and analyses Israeli public opinion toward black‐market medicine (BMM) and the welfare state. In addition to providing quantitative and qualitative evidence of the existence of under‐the‐table payments in Israel, we suggest various insights into this phenomenon. While most citizens admit that they would consider making under‐the‐table payments in order to receive preferential medical treatment, when the questions mention words such as ‘illegal’ or ‘bribe’, respondents tend to be less tolerant of such activities. We find that, first, there is a basic willingness among Israeli citizens to use BMM. Second, despite this predilection, Israeli citizens are reluctant to articulate their willingness to engage in such illegal activities. This reluctance implies the existence of a moral barrier among the population as far as identifying themselves with illegal behaviour is concerned. We may infer the existence of a gap between declared attitudes and behaviour. Third, the fact that people's willingness to engage in BMM is greater than their willingness to adopt black‐market strategies in other areas signifies the special nature of health care. Finally, by connecting the phenomenon of BMM to public opinion regarding the welfare state, we point to a possible gap between normative attitudes and preferences produced by structural conditions.
HLA alleles in Brazilian patients with fissured tongue
Authors: Gonzaga H.F.S. , Marcos E.V.C. , Santana F.C.S. , Jorge M.A. , Tomimori J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground  Fissured tongue (FT) is a clinical condition manifested by numerous little furrows on the tongue’s surface. Previously, the authors observed an association with HLA‐C×06 in psoriasis (PS) and benign migratory glossitis (BMG); however, HLA‐C was not surveyed in FT.Objective  This study investigated the association between HLA alleles and FT.Methods  Thirty‐three FT bearers were studied, after evaluation of criteria for inclusion. These patients did not present PS, BMG or any other conditions associated with FT. The control group (CG) was composed of 561 individuals with HLA‐A, 560 individuals with HLA‐B, 168 individuals with HLA‐C, 564 individuals with HLA‐DRB1 and 390 individuals with HLA‐DQB1. Samples from these individuals were processed to extract DNA. The HLA classes I and II were determined using the reverse line blot technique. The frequencies of HLA antigens found in patients were compared with the CG using Fisher’s exact test.Results  The comparison of the frequencies of HLA antigens found in the patient groups and in CG revealed no association with any of the alleles studied, except for HLA‐A*01, which exhibited a decreased frequency in patient groups. HLA‐C*06 was detected in 7.57% of FT patients and 10.42% of the CG (not significant).Conclusion  The lack of association of FT with HLA‐C*06 reinforces the proposal that this disease does not have a common genetic factor in the triad of BMG, FT and PS.