bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pilot study of influenza vaccine effectiveness in urban Australian children attending childcare
Authors: Yin J Kevin , Lahra Monica M , Iskander Mary , Lambert Stephen B , Heron Leon , Nissen Michael D , Rost Laura , Murphy Jennifer , Sloots Theo P , Booy Robert 
Published: June 2011

Background:  Influenza outbreaks in the childcare setting are a significant cause of excess winter morbidity. This study explored methods of follow up and sample collection for a proposed randomised controlled trial of influenza vaccination in children attending childcare.Methods:  The study was conducted in four Sydney childcare centres during 2007. Healthy children aged 6–59 months eligible for vaccination were recruited in two centres, with another two acting as controls. Data on influenza‐like illness (ILI: ≥37.8°C plus at least one respiratory symptom) occurrence were collected weekly. In those children with an ILI, parents were asked to collect nasal swabs and send via surface mail for viral polymerase chain reaction. Vaccine efficacy (VE) for ILI was estimated overall and for subgroups aged 6–23 and 24–59 months using the formula VE = 1 − relative risk (RR).Results:  Sixty‐three per cent (151/238) of eligible children had parents give consent. Sixty‐three children received influenza vaccine and 88 participated as controls. Of 26 specimens returned, a virus was detected in 18 (69%); none with influenza. Two symptomatic children had positive near‐patient influenza tests in general practice (one a vaccine failure). The RR with 95% confidence interval in all children and those aged 6–23 months were less than one, 0.56 (0.32–1.02) and 0.46 (0.15–1.45), respectively.Conclusions:  This study demonstrated the feasibility and utility of parent‐collected and mailed respiratory specimens for VE research in the childcare setting. Two‐thirds of parent‐collected swabs proved positive for at least one virus. Finding ways to reduce reluctance of parents to submit samples could improve the representativeness of samples collected and the power of the study. No evidence was found for influenza VE, but point estimates were in the direction of protection.
Framing health inequalities for local intervention: comparative case studies
Authors: Blackman Tim , Harrington Barbara , Elliott Eva , Greene Alex , Hunter David J. , Marks Linda , McKee Lorna , Williams Gareth 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis article explores how health inequalities are constructed as an object for policy intervention by considering four framings: politics, audit, evidence and treatment. A thematic analysis of 197 interviews conducted with local managers in England, Scotland and Wales is used to explore how these framings emerge from local narratives. The three different national policy regimes create contrasting contexts, especially regarding the different degrees of emphasis in these regimes on audit and performance management. We find that politics dominates how health inequalities are framed for intervention, affecting their prioritisation in practice and how audit, evidence and treatment are described as deployed in local strategies.
Identity, emotion and the internal goods of practice: a study of learning disability professionals
Authors: Fisher Pamela , Byrne Victoria 
Published: June 2011

AbstractContemporary transitions in the delivery of health and social care are a global phenomenon. They prompt a particular need to reconsider how quality in relation to professional practice should be understood and whether greater importance should be attached to values such as goodwill, altruism and commitment. Based on a qualitative study of a small voluntary sector organisation in the North of England, this paper addresses how changes in policy articulate with the identities of professionals who work in learning disability services. Drawing on MacIntyre’s After Virtue, which is discussed in relation to some recent sociological debates on emotion, it is suggested that professionals have an emotionally based commitment to their work as well as to the people they work with. Professional commitment is embedded in a coherent sense of self that problematises traditional binaries between the private and the public, and the cognitive and affective. The participants in this study appeared to pursue what MacIntyre terms the ‘internal goods’ of practice; they valued being able to work innovatively and responsively with service users. It is suggested that this requires a particular type of relationship with oneself, with others, and with practice, which engenders a criticality towards dominant professional discourses.
CREATING A COMMODIFIED WILDERNESS: TOURISM, PRIVATE GAME FARMING, AND ‘THIRD NATURE’ LANDSCAPES IN KWAZULU‐NATAL
Authors: BROOKS SHIRLEY , SPIERENBURG MARJA , VAN BRAKEL LOT , KOLK ANNEMARIE , LUKHOZI KHETHABAKHE B. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTThis article explores contemporary cultural geographies and underlying histories of change on private land in post‐apartheid South Africa. Its focus is the expansion of wildlife‐based tourism and related forms of commodified wilderness consumption in KwaZulu‐Natal province. The article explores the social and economic processes occurring on game farms in a region known as the Midlands. Here nature is being culturally (re)constructed on former farmlands to create new landscapes shaped by the demands of wildlife‐based tourism. In pursuit of these ‘third nature’ dreams, spaces often need to be physically changed as well as discursively repositioned through marketing. Yet this is not an unchallenged process: the presence of ‘farm dwellers’ living on privately owned land disrupts smooth progress to a refashioned wilderness landscape. The article identifies various strategies employed by landowners in order to minimise the presence of farm dwellers on their land. In the current context, the involvement of the state on private land adds a further layer of complexity. Land reform policies and programmes serve as a mesh through which these contestations are filtered. While their effects are often ambiguous, land claims in particular serve to challenge the ‘third nature’ dream of landowners.
Enhancing Authenticity
Authors: LEVY NEIL 
Published: June 2011

abstractSome philosophers have criticized the use of psychopharmaceuticals on the grounds that even if these drugs enhance the person using them, they threaten their authenticity. Others have replied by pointing out that the conception of authenticity upon which this argument rests is contestable; on a rival conception, psychopharmaceuticals might be used to enhance our authenticity. Since, however, it is difficult to decide between these competing conceptions of authenticity, the debate seems to end in a stalemate. I suggest that we need not resolve this debate to end the stalemate. New technologies which alter the self can be understood within the framework of the first conception of authenticity, I suggest, not as threatening the authentic self, but rather as bringing the outward appearance of the self into line with its deepest essence. Since psychopharmaceutical use can plausibly be understood on this model, it can be seen as enhancing our authenticity on either conception.
An investigation into the effectiveness of collaboration between Greek secondary EFL teachers and specialist providers for dyslexia issues
Authors: Rontou Maria 
Published: June 2011

This paper investigates the collaboration of Greek secondary school teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) with psychologists and advisers for dyslexia issues. Data were collected through audio recorded observations and interviews with head teachers and teachers.Taking a Vygotskian approach to learning, activity theory is applied to analyse the contradictions that emerge around the collaboration of teachers and head teachers with specialist provision for dyslexia issues from data in interviews and field notes across two schools. The analysis shows that contradictions are created when the participants try to achieve their goals for dyslexia support by the absence of ‘what’ artefacts – such as knowledge on dyslexia – and ‘how’ artefacts – processes and procedures such as collaboration with a counsellor – to support the collaboration of EFL teachers with EFL and special educational needs advisers and psychologists, the lack of staff at diagnostic centres and lack of funding for training. This finding indicates that the collaboration between psychologists, advisers and teachers to exchange information on pedagogy needs to be established through meetings and in‐service training of teachers.
Bp44mT: an orally active iron chelator of the thiosemicarbazone class with potent anti‐tumour efficacy
Authors: Yu Y , Rahmanto Y Suryo , Richardson DR 
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Our previous studies demonstrated that a thiosemicarbazone iron chelator (di‐2‐pyridylketone‐4,4‐dimethyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazone; Dp44mT) possesses potent and selective anti‐cancer activity but led to cardiotoxicity at non‐optimal doses. In this study, we examined the in vivo anti‐tumour efficacy and tolerability of a new‐generation 2‐benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone iron chelator (2‐benzoylpyridine‐4,4‐dimethyl‐3‐thiosemicarbazone; Bp44mT) administered via the oral or i.v. routes.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH BpT chelators were tested in vitro against human lung cancer cells (DMS‐53) and in vivo in DMS‐53 tumour xenografts in mice. The toxicity of Bp44mT in vivo and its effects on the expression of iron‐regulated molecules involved in growth and cell cycle control were investigated.KEY RESULTS Administration of Bp44mT by either route resulted in marked dose‐dependent inhibition of tumour growth. When administered at 50 mg·kg−1 via oral gavage three times per week for 23 days, the net xenograft growth was inhibited by 75%, compared with vehicle‐treated mice. Toxicological examination showed reversible alterations including slight reduction of RBC count, with a decrease of liver and splenic iron levels, which confirmed iron chelation in vivo. Importantly, in contrast to Dp44mT, the chelator‐treated mice did not show cardiac histological abnormalities. There was also no significant weight loss in mice, suggesting oral administration of Bp44mT was well tolerated.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This is the first study to show that Bp44mT can be given orally with potent anti‐tumour efficacy. Oral administration of a novel and effective chemotherapeutic agent provides the benefits of convenience for chronic dosing regimens.
Small lipid‐binding proteins in regulating endothelial and vascular functions: focusing on adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and lipocalin‐2
Authors: Wang Yu 
Published: June 2011

Dysregulated production of adipokines from adipose tissue plays a critical role in the development of obesity‐associated cardiovascular abnormalities. A group of adipokines, including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A‐FABP) and lipocalin‐2, possess specific lipid‐binding activity and are up‐regulated in obese human subjects and animal models. They act as lipid chaperones to promote lipotoxicity in endothelial cells and cause endothelial dysfunction under obese conditions. However, different small lipid‐binding proteins modulate the development of vascular complications in distinctive manners, which are partly attributed to their specialized structural features and functionalities. By focusing on A‐FABP and lipocalin‐2, this review summarizes recent advances demonstrating the causative roles of these newly identified adipose tissue‐derived lipid chaperones in obesity‐related endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications. The specific lipid‐signalling mechanisms mediated by these two proteins are highlighted to support their specialized functions. In summary, A‐FABP and lipocalin‐2 represent potential therapeutic targets to design drugs for preventing vascular diseases associated with obesity.LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Fat and Vascular Responsiveness. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue‐3
Real‐time object detection with sub‐pixel accuracy using the level set method
Authors: Burkert Florian , Butenuth Matthias , Ulrich Markus 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis paper presents a method for object detection with sub‐pixel accuracy in digital images satisfying real‐time applications. The method uses an approximation of the level‐set‐based contour evolution, which applies only integer operations in a fast two‐cycle algorithm to achieve real‐time performance. Level‐set‐based contour evolution forms a part of the geometric active contour process, which combines image data and a priori geometric knowledge of an object to be evolved over an image towards the object border. The algorithm avoids the solution of partial differential equations. Instead only integer operations are applied and the contour evolution is performed by using a two‐cycle algorithm. The proposed method for object detection with sub‐pixel accuracy refines the pixel‐accurate result of the level‐set‐based contour evolution algorithm by using a fast parabolic fitting mechanism. Sub‐pixel accuracy of the resulting object contours is achieved by adjusting every contour point towards the nearby maximum of the image gradient. Real‐time performance can be provided because the adjustment is performed only once after the contour evolution. Experimental results with images from industry, photogrammetry, remote sensing and medicine show the functionality and applicability of this method to several fields of work. In addition, the experiments are evaluated by applying quality measures for the geometric accuracy and the run time.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Awareness and Vaccination among Young Adult Women
Authors: Ford Jodi L. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine racial and ethnic disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness and vaccination among young adult females aged 18–24 years.
Design and Sample: Descriptive correlational study. One thousand nineteen women aged 18–24 years who self‐identified as Hispanic, non‐Hispanic Black, or non‐Hispanic White.
Measures: Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses using data from the 2007–2008 National Survey of Family Growth.
Results: Approximately 90% of non‐Hispanic White women, 80% of non‐Hispanic Black women, and 56–60% of Hispanic women reported an awareness of HPV infection and vaccination, and yet, vaccine receipt across racial and ethnic groups was 23%, 8%, and 6%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, Hispanic and non‐Hispanic Black women were less aware than non‐Hispanic White women of HPV infection (OR=0.10, 95% CI=0.05, 0.19; OR=0.23, 95% CI=0.13, 0.40) and vaccination (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.07, 0.27; OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.14, 0.52) and also less likely to report vaccine receipt (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.21, 0.90; OR=0.16, 95% CI=0.07, 0.35).
Conclusions: Despite moderate to high levels of awareness, HPV vaccination rates were low among this national population of young adult women. Continued surveillance is imperative to monitor vaccine uptake, including racial and ethnic disparities. Further research exploring HPV knowledge and vaccination barriers across diverse cultural groups is needed to inform the development of more effective public health interventions.
Bead Packing and Release Using Flexible Polydimethylsiloxane Membrane for Semi‐Continuous Biosensing
Authors: Yoo Sung Keun , Kim Young Man , Yoon Sang Youl , Kwon Hyuk‐Sang , Lee Jong Hyun , Yang Sung 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe continuous or semi‐continuous biosensing of systemic inflammatory responses is important both during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures. A bead packing and release method, which is able repetitively to capture and release receptor‐coated beads within microfluidic channels, is herein advanced for use in semi‐continuous biosensing. The receptor‐coated beads are compacted and concentrated at specific locations in the device using an elastomeric valve. This concentration creates a localized bioreactor in which the binding of the antigen with the functionalized beads can be made more effective. After the reaction and detection have taken place, the beads can be released and a new assay carried out. We demonstrated the operation of our device using streptavidin‐coated beads and biotin‐4‐fluorescein (B4F). The high sensitivity of the device allows it to detect a B4F concentration of 50 pg/mL after an incubation time of 5 min. We also tested our device in the semi‐continuous immunoassay of interleukin (IL)‐6, which is one of the proinflammatory cytokines. The assay demonstrated the linear dependence of the intensity of fluorescence at concentrations of IL‐6 from 10 to 250 pg/mL, which is a physiologically important range for CPB procedures.
Hungarian landscape types: classification of landscapes based on the relative cover of (semi‐) natural habitats
Authors: Bölöni János , Botta‐Dukát Zoltán , Illyés Eszter , Molnár Zsolt 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAim: This paper introduces a new method for vegetation‐based landscape classification. As a case study, we present the landscape classification of Hungary with a total area of 9.3 million ha.Location: Hungary.Methods: Data from the MÉTA (Magyarországi Élőhelyek Térképi Adatbázisa: GIS Database of the Hungarian Habitats) vegetation survey were used in our analyses. The basal units of the survey were hexagons with an area of 35 ha, in which surveyors estimated the cover of the various types of the (semi)‐natural vegetation. The sample unit in our analyses was a rosette consisting of seven hexagons. The distance between sample units was calculated based on the relative cover of (semi‐)natural habitats by Rao's beta diversity, a new distance measure that includes the similarities between habitats. A hierarchical classification was then performed using the UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) algorithm.Results: The optimal number of groups was 41 on the basis of average silhouette. Landscape types dominated by forests or grasslands were separated at the highest dissimilarity level. At lower levels, the division of groups could be attributed to differences in site conditions (dry, mesic, wet, saline). The most common landscape types (more than 400 occurrences) in Hungary are those dominated by zonal forests, degraded treeless habitats, xeric and mesic saline and alkaline habitats, and reedbeds and wet meadows. The rarest types (less than 50 occurrences) are mosaics of edaphic habitats, and coniferous forests.Conclusions: Landscape classification based on (semi‐)natural vegetation may be used for estimating landscape diversity, landscape modeling, selection of study sites, regionalization of local scientific results, and for landscape development planning and nature conservation management. The new distance measure has met our expectations and resulted in a classification with clearly interpretable groups. It is likely that this distance measure may also prove to be appropriate for numerical syntaxonomy, in which the stability of the resulting groups may be increased by taking into consideration the similarities/differences in phytosociological preference of species.
Oil price shocks and the dynamics of current account balances in Nigeria
Authors: Chuku Chuku A. , Akpan Usenobong F. , Sam Ndifreke R. , Effiong Ekpeno L. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis paper pioneers research on the relationship between oil price shocks and current account dynamics in Nigeria, a country that doubles as an oil exporter and importer. Structural vector autoregression is applied to quarterly data from 1970Q1 to 2008Q4 to identify oil price shocks and to evaluate its net effect on Nigeria's current account balances. After introducing three control variables (output gap, real exchange rate misalignment and the lagged values of current account ratio), we impose six structural restrictions on the model to help track and identify the structural shocks of oil prices on current account balances. Overall, we find that oil price shocks have a significant short‐run effect on current account balances for Nigeria. Specifically, the impulse response of the current account ratio to oil price shocks increases speedily in the first six quarters, and then, it declines afterwards until the 30th quarter. The variance decomposition analysis shows that approximately 15.77 per cent of the variations in current account dynamics are caused by oil price shocks. The insight we draw from this finding is that there is no one‐for‐one relation between oil price shocks and current account dynamics. Exchange rate misalignment provides the offsetting effect as revealed from our results. The implication for policy is that reserve‐augmenting strategies, lax monetary policy and intensified international financial integration would need to be enhanced and sustained by policy‐makers to reinforce the positive effects of oil price shocks on the Nigerian economy.
Possible Involvement of Monoaminergic Neurotransmission in Antidepressant‐like activity of Emblica officinalis Fruits in Mice
Authors: Dhingra Dinesh , Joshi Parul , Gupta Arun , Chhillar Ritu 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYAims: In this study, antidepressant‐like activity of Emblica offcinalis Gaertn. fruits (Family: Euphorbiaceae) was evaluated in Swiss young male albino mice employing tail suspension test and forced swim test. Methods: Aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) of the fruits was administered orally for 14 successive days to mice. On day 14, 60 min after extract administration, animals were subjected to tail suspension test and forced swim test. Results: The extract significantly decreased immobility period in both tail suspension test and forced swim test, indicating significant antidepressant‐like activity. The lower dose (200 mg/kg) of the extract showed better antidepressant‐like action. The efficacy of the extract was found to be comparable to fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), imipramine (15 mg/kg), and phenelzine (20 mg/kg). The extract did not show any significant effect on locomotor activity of the mice. Prazosin (alpha1‐adrenoceptor antagonist), sulpiride (selective D2‐receptor antagonist), baclofen (GABAB agonist), and p‐CPA (tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor) significantly attenuated the extract‐induced antidepressant‐like effect. The extract also significantly decreased brain MAO‐A levels. Discussion: The aqueous extract might produce antidepressant‐like effect by interaction with α1‐adrenoceptors, dopamine D2‐ receptors, serotonergic, and GABAB receptors. In this study, aqueous extract was found to contain 2.94% of ascorbic acid. So ascorbic acid and other constituents like flavanoids, tannoid principles, and polyphenolic substances present in the aqueous extract of E. officinalis might be responsible for its antidepressant‐like activity. Conclusions: Thus, aqueous extract of E. officinalis showed antidepressant‐like activity probably by inhibiting MAO‐A and GABA; and also due to its antioxidant activity.