bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Welfare Politics in Congress
Authors: Mead Lawrence M. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe stakes of political conflict involve contending values and issue definitions as well as policy. Welfare reform was the most important change in American domestic policy since civil rights. Its significance hinges crucially on how participants understood the issue, but existing research fails to resolve what their perceptions were. Most accounts suggest that welfare reform was an ideological contest concerning the proper scope of government, but there are other views. This study gauges the welfare agenda rigorously by coding speakers in congressional hearings on the basis of how they framed the issue and the position they took on it during the six chief episodes of welfare reform that occurred between 1962 and 1996. The reform efforts aroused four distinct divisions. Over time, positions moved rightward, but more important, the dominant issue changed: The ideological debate about government was overtaken by a more practical debate about how to manage welfare. This is the first study to track the substantive meaning of any issue in Congress over an extended period of time using hearing witnesses and a preset analytic scheme.
Columnar Alterations of NADH Fluorescence during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Immature Rat Brain
Authors: Welsh Frank A. , Vannucci Robert C. , Brierley James B. 
Published: April 2011

Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia was produced in 7-day postnatal rats by unilateral carotid artery ligation combined with systemic hypoxia (8% O2). Levels of high energy phosphates, which were only slightly altered in the contralateral hemisphere, were nearly depleted in the ipsilateral hemisphere during the 3-h hypoxic insult. With hypoxia of between 1 and 3 hours' duration, columnar alterations of cortical NADH fluorescence occurred in the same location and regional pattern as did histologic damage demonstrated previously (Rice et al., 1981). In regions exhibiting columns of NADH fluorescence, there was no evidence of a columnar reduction of high energy phosphates as levels of ATP and phosphocreatine were nearly zero. Recovery from 3 h of hypoxia was accompanied by partial and regionally heterogeneous restoration of ATP within the ipsilateral hemisphere. Columnar variations of NADH fluorescence were not detected in the recovery period; rather, regions with impaired restitution of high energy phosphates exhibited NADH fluorescence that was diminished diffusely compared to the contralateral hemisphere. The correlation between depressed NADH fluorescence and depleted ATP, present as cortical columns during hypoxia and as larger regions during recovery, suggests that decreased formation of NADH may be limiting the resynthesis of high energy phosphates.
The availability and age‐appropriateness of medicines authorized for children in the Netherlands
Authors: van Riet‐Nales Diana A. , de Jager Karin E. , Schobben Alfred F.A.M. , Egberts Toine C.G. , Rademaker Carin M.A. 
Published: April 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Children are entitled to safe, efficacious, child and parent friendly (i.e. age‐appropriate) medicines. However, off‐label and unlicensed paediatric prescription rates in hospital range from 36% (surgical and medical wards) to 93% (neonatal wards), which indicates a general lack of age‐appropriate medicines for children. In 2007, the European Union issued the Paediatric Regulation aiming at better medicines for children by, for example, increasing the number of authorized paediatric medicines. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This study reviews the availability and age‐appropriateness of medicines for children in the Netherlands, herewith providing a baseline for an estimation of the effect of the European Paediatric Regulation in the near future. This study also provides a tool for the evaluation of the child authorization status of medicines on the basis of the information in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) and for the assessment of key aspects of the age‐appropriateness of paediatric formulations.AIM To study the number of medicines and active chemical entities that are authorized and commercially available for children in the Netherlands and to evaluate the age‐appropriateness of the available paediatric medicines.METHODS The availability of paediatric medicines and active chemical entities was studied with the help of a Dutch medicines database and the Summary of Product Characteristics. Medicines were categorized with respect to their route of administration, type of oral dosage form and therapeutic category. The age‐appropriateness was assessed on three aspects: dose capability, suitability of the dosage form and inclusion of potentially harmful excipients.RESULTS Three thousand five hundred and forty‐two paediatric medicines containing 703 different active chemical entities were identified. This equalled half of all the medicines and chemical entities available for human use. The percentage of paediatric medicines increased with age and varied for the route of administration from 22% (dermal) to 81% (inhalation) and for the therapeutic category from 11% (uro‐genital, sex hormones) to 89% (anti‐parasites). The appropriateness of the paediatric medicines with respect to their authorization status, dose capability and dosage form increased with age from 27–88%. Fifty‐two percent of all oral paediatric liquid formulations contained a potentially harmful excipient.CONCLUSION This study confirms the limited availability of paediatric medicines for a broad range of therapeutic areas and shows that paediatric medicines may not be age‐appropriate, even if authorized. While confirming the need for a legislative incentive, the results also provide baseline information for an estimation of the effect of the European Paediatric Regulation in the near future.
An accessory protein required for anchoring and assembly of amyloid fibres in B. subtilis biofilms
Authors: Romero Diego , Vlamakis Hera , Losick Richard , Kolter Roberto 
Published: April 2011

SummaryCells within Bacillus subtilis biofilms are held in place by an extracellular matrix that contains cell‐anchored amyloid fibres, composed of the amyloidogenic protein TasA. As biofilms age they disassemble because the cells release the amyloid fibres. This release appears to be the consequence of incorporation of d‐tyrosine, d‐leucine, d‐tryptophan and d‐methionine into the cell wall. Here, we characterize the in vivo roles of an accessory protein TapA (TasA anchoring/assembly protein; previously YqxM) that serves both to anchor the fibres to the cell wall and to assemble TasA into fibres. TapA is found in discrete foci in the cell envelope and these foci disappear when cells are treated with a mixture of d‐amino acids. Purified cell wall sacculi retain a functional form of this anchoring protein such that purified fibres can be anchored to the sacculi in vitro. In addition, we show that TapA is essential for the proper assembly of the fibres. Its absence results in a dramatic reduction in TasA levels and what little TasA is left produces only thin fibres that are not anchored to the cell.
Do pH changes in the leaf apoplast contribute to rapid inhibition of leaf elongation rate by water stress? Comparison of stress responses induced by polyethylene glycol and down‐regulation of root hydraulic conductivity
Authors: EHLERT CHRISTINA , PLASSARD CLAUDE , COOKSON SARAH JANE , TARDIEU FRANÇOIS , SIMONNEAU THIERRY 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTWe have dissected the influences of apoplastic pH and cell turgor on short‐term responses of leaf growth to plant water status, by using a combination of a double‐barrelled pH‐selective microelectrodes and a cell pressure probe. These techniques were used, together with continuous measurements of leaf elongation rate (LER), in the (hidden) elongating zone of the leaves of intact maize plants while exposing roots to various treatments. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) reduced water availability to roots, while acid load and anoxia decreased root hydraulic conductivity. During the first 30 min, acid load and anoxia induced moderate reductions in leaf growth and turgor, with no effect on leaf apoplastic pH. PEG stopped leaf growth, while turgor was only partially reduced. Rapid alkalinization of the apoplast, from pH 4.9 ± 0.3 to pH 5.8 ± 0.2 within 30 min, may have participated to this rapid growth reduction. After 60 min, leaf growth inhibition correlated well with turgor reduction across all treatments, supporting a growth limitation by hydraulics. We conclude that apoplastic alkalinization may transiently impair the control of leaf growth by cell turgor upon abrupt water stress, whereas direct hydraulic control of growth predominates under moderate conditions and after a 30–60 min delay following imposition of water stress.
Speech therapy for persistent hypernasality/nasal air escape after velopharyngeal surgery
Authors: SELL DEBBIE , MA L 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT  The treatment of speech symptoms associated with velopharyngeal inadquacy is frequently surgery. Unfortunately, about 20–30% of cases have persistent hypernasality/nasal air escape after velopharyngeal surgery and, in effect, present as surgical failures. It is the usual practice of surgical colleagues to recommend six months' post‐operative speech therapy in this situation. Very often this can lead to a negative unsuccessful experience for both the patient and the speech and language therapist.The use of nasopharyngoscopy as a pre‐operative investigation in the assessment of velopharyngeal dysfunction has been well established. Some authorities advocate the use of this technique for the objective assessment of post‐operative velopharyngeal closure, but this is rarely an established standard of care in the National Health Service (NHS). At Great Ormond Street the speech and language therapist is responsible for coordinating the service for velopharyngeal inadequacy and is trained in endoscopy. The model of practice includes a speech tape recording and assessment, and nasopharyngoscopy, at three months post‐operatively. Since 1990, more than 200 consecutive patients have been referred with suspected disorders of velopharyngeal function and entered on the database. To date there have been 63 surgical procedures.Through the use of video presentations, different examples of post‐operative findings will be presented. Evidence is provided to show that the aetiology of postoperative hypernasality and nasal air escape is variable. For example, the aetiology may be inappropriate surgical procedures, poor surgical technique, habitual factors or variability related to consonant production.Speech therapy is not always appropriate and should be recommended when the therapist and the surgeon have observed post‐operative velopharyngeal function through nasopharyngoscopy. Sometimes it may be advised for a shorter period than the routine recommendation of six months. Post‐operative nasopharyngoscopy will provide guidelines for appropriate referral, thereby increasing the cost‐effectiveness of speech therapy treatment. In addition, it will reduce the frequent sense of failure and frustration often associated with this treatment — not only for the patient but also for the therapist. It is suggested that the routine post‐operative recommendation of six months' therapy should be discarded in favour of specific recommendations based on the nasopharyngoscopy and speech assessment findings.
Facilitating phonological awareness in 3‐ and 4‐year‐old children
Authors: INNES SARA 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT  There is evidence that awareness of phonology emerges in early childhood (Chaney, 1992), being exhibited by preschool and pre‐literate children, although rapid development can be seen in school age children. Most previous metaphonological facilitation studies have focused on school age children (Cunningham, 1990; Lie, 1991) while few others have studied young pre‐schoolers (Byrne & Fielding‐Barnsley, 1991). The present study investigated the effects of a short‐term facilitation programme aimed at increasing the phonological awareness of preschool, pre‐literate children between 3 1/2–4 1/2 years of age. Forty‐eight subjects were assessed both before and after a four‐week intervention phase on measures of metasyntactic ability, auditory memory, auditory discrimination and four measures of metaphonological ability. Following the pre‐intervention assessments subjects were allocated to one of three groups (groups A, B and C) each containing 16 subjects and matched for age, gender, social background and linguistic ability. Group A received a programme specifically designed to facilitate metaphonological abilities in eight half‐hour sessions. The first control group (Group B) received the same amount of input with a programme targeting semantics instead. Group C, the second control group, received no intervention.No statistically significant difference was found amongst groups A, B and C for any of the pre‐intervention assessment measures (p>0.0). The increase in mean combined metaphonological score from pre‐ to post‐intervention testing for Group A was significantly greater than for either Group B (p=0.0016) or Group C (p=0.0015), whereas the two control groups did not differ significantly from one another (p=0.6917). No significant difference was found amongst the three groups for any other measures (p>0.1).The results indicate that the metaphonological intervention programme significantly influenced the metaphonological abilities of 3‐ and 4‐year‐old children, whereas the control conditions had no such effect. It is suggested that a metaphonological intervention programme would benefit preschool, pre‐literate children in their preparation for school and their pursuit of reading readiness. Preschool children have disparate levels of metaphonological ability having had different metaphonological experiences. Not all children are equally ready to develop literacy skills when they start school. Children with poor phonological awareness, especially those with delayed or disordered language, are thought to be at risk of future reading difficulties (Schuele & Van Kleck, 1987) and would particularly benefit from preschool metaphonological intervention.
Is it memory or phonological difficulty?
Authors: TREHARNE DILYS , DOWLING SARAH 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT  The continuing discussion concerning the relationship between short‐term auditory memory (STAM) skills and phonological difficulties was explored in one subject (aged 12;11) with a residual immature speech pattern, poor auditory and phonological analysis skills, and specific language difficulties. The views to be considered include: (1) That poor STAM reflects a weak knowledge of language (Bloom & Lahey, 1978); (2) That poor storage within STAM results in language difficulties (Gathercole & Baddeley, 1990); (3) That phonological processing difficulties lead to imitations in the phonological component of working memory (Brady, 1991); or (4) That there is a disassociation of phonological processing skills and STAM (Pennington, Van Orden, Kirson & Haith, 1991). A battery of five experiments to test components of the working memory model designed by Gathercole and Baddeley (1990) was administered. These consisted of non‐word repetition, serial word recall of phonologically similar and phonologically dissimilar words, an auditory discrimination task, and two tests to assess speech rate. The first two tests are felt to assess phonological memory skills. The tests had previously been administered to a group of 10‐year‐old dyslexic subjects and their normal age‐matched controls by Nicolson and Fawcett (personal communication).The subject converted non‐words to real words or phrases retaining the syllable structure. He did not show evidence of a phonological similarity effect, indicating that he may have been relying on information other than phonological. He displayed some phonological discrimination difficulties. His articulation time was slower than the dyslexic subjects and the controls, especially for long words. His voice latency was difficult to evaluate. It appears from this evidence that the subject was attempting to use his weak phonological skills, but was supporting these with other, possibly semantic, skills.The results appear to indicate that the subject has a weak phonological store in his working memory. It is difficult to argue, though, that the capacity of the phonological store has affected the subject's auditory and phonological difficulties. It would appear that perceptual and phonological processing difficulties have resulted in the subject attempting to utilise other linguistic skills available when pressured to analyse speech. This explanation would reinforce the arguments of Bloom and Lahey (1978) or Brady (1991). This allows the professionals working with the subject to consider multiple strategies for word recall, analysis and manipulation, possibly drawing on the semantic strategies he is already developing.
Audit quality and information asymmetry between traders
Authors: Clinch Greg , Stokes Donald , Zhu Tingting 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the association between audit quality and information asymmetry between informed and uninformed traders. We employ three proxies for information asymmetry – absolute price differences, absolute volatility differences, and absolute differences in the long/short ratio of trades – between US stock and options markets and represent audit quality through the appointment of Big n and industry specialist auditors. For a sample of 4062 firm‐years between 2002 to 2005, our results indicate that the appointment of Big n and industry specialist auditors is associated with lower information asymmetry measures. Our results are consistent with audit quality playing a role in the quality of financial reporting information and flowing through to the allocation of information among traders.
Market sentiment: a key factor of investors’ imitative behaviour
Authors: Blasco Natividad , Corredor Pilar , Ferreruela Sandra 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to explore herding behaviour among investors to determine its rational and emotional component factors and identify relationships among them. We apply causality tests to evaluate the impact of return and market sentiment on herding intensity. The herding intensity is quantified using the measure developed by Patterson and Sharma (2006). The research was conducted during the period 1997–2003 in the Spanish stock market, where the presence of herding has been confirmed. The results reveal that the herding intensity depends on past returns and sentiment or subjective assessments and confirm the presence of both a rational and an emotional factor.
Localized Reentry as a Novel Type of the Proarrhythmic Effects of Linear Ablation in the Left Atrium
Authors: JU WEIZHU , YANG BING , CHEN HONGWU , ZHANG FENGXIANG , ZHAI LISHANG , CAO KEJIANG , CHEN MINGLONG 
Published: April 2011

Background: There is a consistent understanding that the proarrhythmic effect of linear ablation in the left atrium body for atrial fibrillation (AF) always manifests as the macroreentry tachycardia. However, its genesis of localized reentry has been underestimated.
Methods: Among 90 persistent AF patients who had accepted linear ablation in the left atrium body, a total of 11 patients (12%) presented with a localized reentry (six men, mean age 59 ± 11 years) associated with previous ablation lines. Among the 11 patients, four were encountered during the index procedure for AF ablation and the remaining seven during the redo procedure for atrial tachycardias (ATs).
Results: The ATs were all located at previously ablated lesion sites and manifested a centrifugal mode in both the activation mapping and pattern of the postpacing interval response. The mean tachycardia cycle length (TCL) of the localized reentrant ATs was 306 ± 73 ms. The target sites demonstrated low amplitude (0.17 ± 0.09 mV) continuous complex electrograms or long double potentials, covering 142 ± 57 ms (46 ± 12 % of the TCL). The localized reentrant tachycardias were all successfully eliminated by catheter ablation.
Conclusions: A novel type of the proarrhythmic effects of linear ablation in the left atrium for AF may manifest as localized reentrant ATs, as evidenced by the association of the site of origin with the prior lesions. (PACE 2011; 34:919–926)
An Integrative Review of Expert Nursing Practice
Authors: Morrison Shirley M. , Symes Lene 
Published: April 2011

Abstract Purpose: To review relevant literature on expert practice in nursing to assess common characteristics across the breadth of nursing specialties and work settings. Organizing Construct: An integrative literature search was conducted with inclusion criteria: (a) primary studies of how clinical staff nurses develop and demonstrate expert practice; (b) subjects from variety of specialties, employment settings, and countries of origin; and (c) studies of clinical staff nurses and not nurses in advanced practice roles. Methods: Literature published between 1996 and 2009 was reviewed using MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) using the key words “nursing,”“expert,” and “practice.” Findings: The characteristics of expert practice as explicated across a variety of specialty areas of practice and international settings included the following: knowing the patient, intuitive knowledge, reflective practice, risk taking, and skilled know‐how. Involvement and engagement of the expert nurse with her or his patients underpin these characteristics. Themes were illustrated in a star model of nursing expert practice surrounded by support and grounded in emotional involvement. Conclusions: Expert practice develops as nurses gain experience in a specialized practice setting, reflect on and learn from their experience, and develop meaningful relationships with their patients, families, and colleagues. Clinical Relevance: The findings provide an understanding of expert nursing practice that can serve as a foundation for efforts to transfer knowledge from expert nurses to less expert nurses in all practice settings to reduce the expertise gap that is now widening.
A therapeutic role for mesenchymal stem cells in acute lung injury independent of hypoxia‐induced mitogenic factor
Authors: Song Lin , Xu Jinfu , Qu Jieming , Sai Yin , Chen Chunmei , Yu Long , Li Dechun , Guo Xuejun 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) have therapeutic potential in acute lung injury (ALI). Hypoxia‐induced mitogenic factor (HIMF) is a lung‐specific growth factor that participates in a variety of lung diseases. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic role of BM‐MSC transplantation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐ induced ALI and assessed the importance of HIMF in MSC transplantation. MSCs were isolated and identified, and untransduced MSCs, MSCs transduced with null vector or MSCs transduced with a vector encoding HIMF were transplanted into mice with LPS‐induced ALI. Histopathological changes, cytokine expression and indices of lung inflammation and lung injury were assessed in the various experimental groups. Lentiviral transduction did not influence the biological features of MSCs. In addition, transplantation of BM‐MSCs alone had significant therapeutic effects on LPS‐induced ALI, although BM‐MSCs expressing HIMF failed to improve the histopathological changes observed with lung injury. Unexpectedly, tumour necrosis factor α levels in lung tissues, lung oedema and leucocyte infiltration into lungs were even higher after the transplantation of MSCs expressing HIMF, followed by a significant increase in lung hydroxyproline content and α‐smooth muscle actin expression on day 14, as compared to treatment with untransduced MSCs. BM‐MSC transplantation improved LPS‐induced lung injury independent of HIMF.