bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi‐species distribution modelling highlights the Adelaide Geosyncline, South Australia, as an important continental‐scale arid‐zone refugium
Authors: GUERIN GREG R. , LOWE ANDREW J. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe mainland portion of the Adelaide Geosyncline (Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges) has been postulated as an important arid‐zone climate refugium for Australia. To test the sensitivity of this putative Australian arid biome refugium to contemporary climate change, we compared Generalized Additive Modelling and MaxEnt distribution models for 20 vascular plant species. We aimed to identify shared patterns to inform priority areas for management. Models based on current climate were projected onto a hypothetical 2050 climate with a 1.5°C increase in temperature and 8% decrease in rainfall. Individual comparisons and combined outputs of logistic models for all 20 species showed range contraction to shared refugia in the Flinders Ranges and southern Mount Lofty Ranges. Modelling suggests the Flinders Ranges will experience species turnover while suitable climatic habitat will be retained in the Mount Lofty Ranges for the current suite of species. Fragmentation of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges poses management challenges for conserving species diversity with warming and drying. Although projected models must be interpreted carefully, they suggest the region will remain an important but threatened refugium for mesic species at a continental scale.
Does the location of colorectal carcinoma differ between screened and unscreened populations?
Authors: Mackay C. D. , Ramsay G. , Rafferty A. , Loudon M. A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  Screening for colorectal malignancy using faecal occult blood testing is established across the UK. In NHS Grampian the programme was introduced in 2007. Previous studies have reported no difference in anatomical locations of cancers detected by screening programmes compared with those in unscreened populations. This study aims to review the location of tumours detected in an established screening programme compared with those diagnosed through symptomatic presentation within the same population.Method  All patients discussed at the regional multidisciplinary meeting between June 2007 and August 2011 were included. Data were collated prospectively from multidisciplinary team records while site of tumour was documented from radiology, endoscopy, operative and pathology reports. Comparative statistics (χ2) were performed using spss 19.Results  Of 1487 patients included 255 were detected via the screening programme and 1232 from symptomatic presentation. More left sided tumours (splenic flexure to rectosigmoid) were detected via screening (P = 0.005). Of non‐screened patients (n = 1232), 456 (37%) tumours were right sided (caecum to distal transverse colon), 419 (34%) were left sided and 357 (29%) were in the rectum. This compares with the screened group (n = 255): right sided 74 (29%), left sided 113 (44%) and rectal 68 (27%).Conclusion  More left sided tumours appear to be detected in screened patients compared with symptomatic presentation, contrary to previously published work. These results may be worthy of further consideration given the ongoing debate on the optimal means of screening.
Effect of anti‐IL‐1β antibody (canakinumab) on insulin secretion rates in impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes: results of a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Rissanen A. , Howard C. P. , Botha J. , Thuren T. ,   for the Global Investigators
Published: June 2012

AimsEvaluate anti‐interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) antibody, canakinumab, in patients with type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in whom hyperglycaemia may trigger IL‐1β‐associated inflammation leading to suppressed insulin secretion and β‐cell dysfunction.MethodsThis 4‐week, parallel‐group study randomized 190 patients with type 2 diabetes 2 : 1, canakinumab versus placebo, into the following treatment arms: metformin monotherapy, metformin + sulfonylurea, metformin + sulfonylurea + thiazolidinedione or insulin ± metformin. IGT population (n = 54) was randomized 1 : 1, canakinumab versus placebo. Primary efficacy assessment was change from baseline in insulin secretion rate (ISR) relative to glucose 0–2 h.ResultsMean changes from baseline to week 4 in ISR relative to glucose at 0–2 h or other time points were not statistically significant for canakinumab versus placebo across groups. ISR (relative to glucose) at 0–0.5 h (first‐phase insulin secretion) numerically favoured canakinumab versus placebo in insulin‐treated patients {difference in mean change from baseline [point estimate (PE)] 3.81 pmol/min/m2/mmol/l; p = 0.0525} and in the IGT group (PE 3.92 pmol/min/m2/mmol/l; p = 0.1729). Mean change from baseline in fasting plasma glucose favoured canakinumab in the type 2 diabetes/metformin group and the IGT group; however, differences were not statistically significant. Mean change from baseline in peak insulin level and insulin AUC 0–4 h were statistically significantly higher in the canakinumab group in IGT patients. Canakinumab was well tolerated and consistent with known safety experience.ConclusionsThe trend towards improving ISR relative to glucose 0–0.5 h in patients treated with insulin supports the hypothesis that insulin secretion can be improved by blocking IL‐1β.
Nerve‐sparing approach during radical prostatectomy is strongly associated with the rate of postoperative urinary continence recovery
Authors: Suardi Nazareno , Moschini Marco , Gallina Andrea , Gandaglia Giorgio , Abdollah Firas , Capitanio Umberto , Bianchi Marco , Tutolo Manuela , Passoni Niccolò , Salonia Andrea , Hedlund Petter , Rigatti Patrizio , Montorsi Francesco , Briganti Alberto 
Published: June 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are the most bothersome sequelae affecting health‐related quality of life in patients treated with radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. While it has been widely reported that a nerve‐sparing approach significantly improves postoperative erectile function, the impact of neurovascular bundle preservation on urinary continence recovery is still a matter of controversy.
Our study clearly demonstrates that patients treated with nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy have higher chances of recovering full continence after surgery. The results indicate that, when technically and oncologically feasible, an attempt at a nerve‐sparing approach should be planned in order to increase the probability of achieving full continence after radical prostatectomy.
Objective
To demonstrate that nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) is associated with higher rates of urinary continence (UC) recovery compared with non‐nerve‐sparing procedures in patients with surgically treated organ‐confined prostate cancer.
Patients and Methods
The study included 1249 patients treated with radical prostatectomy between 2003 and 2010. Patients were divided into three preoperative risk groups: low (PSA < 10 ng/mL, cT1, biopsy Gleason sum ≤6), high (cT3 or biopsy Gleason 8–10 or PSA > 20 ng/mL) and intermediate (all the remaining).
Postoperative UC recovery was defined as the absence of any protection device.
The association between nerve‐sparing status and UC recovery was assessed in univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses after accounting for age at surgery, Charlson Comorbidity Index and preoperative risk group.
Results
At a mean follow‐up of 42.2 months (range 1–78), 993 patients (79.5%) recovered UC. Overall, UC recovery rate at 1 and 2 years was 76% and 79%, respectively.
On univariable Cox regression analysis, age at surgery, preoperative risk group, medical comorbidities and nerve‐sparing status were significantly associated with UC recovery (all P ≤ 0.001).
On multivariable analysis, age, risk group and nerve‐sparing status were also independently associated with UC recovery (all P < 0.003). Patients treated with bilateral NSRP had a 1.8‐fold higher chance of full UC recovery.
Conclusions
Patients treated with bilateral NSRP have significantly higher chances of recovering full continence.
Therefore, when oncologically and technically feasible, a nerve‐sparing procedure should be attempted.
A cohort study reporting clinical risk factors and individual risk perceptions of prostate cancer: implications for PSA testing
Authors: Forbat Liz , Place Morag , Kelly Daniel , Hubbard Gill , Boyd Kenny , Howie Kate , Leung Hing Y. 
Published: June 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Prostate cancer has three known clinical risk factors: age, ethnicity and family history. Men's knowledge of prostate cancer is low.
This study demonstrates that men rely on family and friends to learn about prostate cancer and help them interpret their risk. The findings suggest the need for tailored prostate cancer education, through social networks, to encourage risk‐stratified PSA testing, which will lead to earlier diagnosis for those most at risk.
Objectives
To determine men's perceptions of their risk of developing prostate cancer.
To consider the implications for PSA testing based on individual risk perceptions.
Patients and Methods
The research adopted an embedded mixed‐method design, using clinical records and a retrospective postal survey.
Patients (N = 474) diagnosed with prostate cancer in a two‐year period (2008–2009) in Greater Glasgow were identified from pathology records.
In all, 458 men received a postal survey (16 deceased patients were excluded); 320 men responded (70%).
Results
Analysis indicates that there is no association between known clinical risk factors and men's perceptions of their own risk.
Older men did not display increased perceived risk. Men with a family history of prostate cancer (11%) had no increase in their own perception of risk. PSA tests are not requested by those who are at greater risk.
The subsample of patients who had requested a test were no more likely to have a family history of prostate cancer. They were more likely, however, to perceive themselves to be at high risk, to have friends with prostate cancer, to be affluent and to have a low grade tumour.
Conclusions
GPs need to balance men's risk perceptions in discussions about known clinical risk factors.
Men's knowledge of prostate cancer stems largely from interpersonal sources (such as friends/family).
Social networks may consequently offer an additional opportunity to increase awareness of risk‐stratified testing.
Can harms associated with high‐intensity drinking be reduced by increasing the price of alcohol?
Authors: Byrnes Joshua , Shakeshaft Anthony , Petrie Dennis , Doran Christopher 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsIncreasing the price of alcohol is consistently shown to reduce the average level of consumption. However, the evidence for the effect of increasing the price on high‐intensity drinking is both limited and equivocal. The aim of this analysis is to estimate the effect of changes in price on patterns of consumption.Design and MethodsSelf‐reported patterns of alcohol consumption and demographic data were obtained from the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Surveys, conducted in 2001, 2004 and 2007. A pooled three‐stage least‐squares estimator was used to simultaneously model the impact of the price on the frequency (measured in days) of consuming no, low, moderate and high quantities of alcohol.ResultsA 1% increase in the price of alcohol was associated with a statistically significant increase of 6.41 days per year on which no alcohol is consumed (P ≤ 0.049), and a statistically significant decrease of 7.30 days on which 1–4 standard drinks are consumed (P ≤ 0.021). There was no statistically significant change for high or moderate‐intensity drinking.ConclusionsFor Australia, and countries with a similar pattern of predominant high‐intensity drinking, taxation policies that increase the price of alcohol and are very efficient at decreasing harms associated with reduced average consumption may be relatively inefficient at decreasing alcohol harms associated with high‐intensity drinking.
What is Absolute Undecidability?†
Authors: Clarke‐Doane Justin 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIt is often alleged that, unlike typical axioms of mathematics, the Continuum Hypothesis (CH) is indeterminate. This position is normally defended on the ground that the CH is undecidable in a way that typical axioms are not. Call this kind of undecidability “absolute undecidability”. In this paper, I seek to understand what absolute undecidability could be such that one might hope to establish that (a) CH is absolutely undecidable, (b) typical axioms are not absolutely undecidable, and (c) if a mathematical hypothesis is absolutely undecidable, then it is indeterminate. I shall argue that on no understanding of absolute undecidability could one hope to establish all of (a)–(c). However, I will identify one understanding of absolute undecidability on which one might hope to establish both (a) and (c) to the exclusion of (b). This suggests that a new style of mathematical antirealism deserves attention—one that does not depend on familiar epistemological or ontological concerns. The key idea behind this view is that typical mathematical hypotheses are indeterminate because they are relevantly similar to CH.
Routes Out of Prison Using Life Coaches to Assist Resettlement
Authors: Schinkel Marguerite , Whyte Bill 
Published: June 2012

AbstractScotland is undertaking one of its biggest penal reforms in a generation and is seeking a fundamental change to its approach to punishment, which is characterised by the use of very short prison sentences. This article discusses some findings from phase one of an ongoing evaluation study of Routes out of Prison (RooP) which uses Life Coaches, many of whom are themselves former prisoners, to support the transition and resettlement of large numbers of short‐term prisoners back to the community. The article examines the way in which these Life Coaches were recruited and managed, how they were viewed by their clients, and the added value that peer or mentor support can offer.
Social protection as a mechanism for family protection in sub‐Saharan Africa1
Authors: Mokomane Zitha 
Published: June 2012

Mokomane Z. Social protection as a mechanism for family protection in sub‐Saharan AfricaIn sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), the extended family has for generations been the basis for the sustenance of society, offering material, social, emotional and care‐giving support for its members in times of need and crisis. Over the years, however, this institution has been affected by demographic and socio‐economic transformations that have continued to take place in the region. This article illustrates how these changes have contributed to family circumstances that are characterised by economic fragility, debilitating poverty and weakened family support for household chores and care‐giving responsibilities. The article argues that the development and provision of more comprehensive social protection policies and programmes in SSA can help mitigate the impact of the changes on families and their members.
Person and Being: Conversation with T.F. Torrance about the Monarchy of God
Authors: Dean Benjamin 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIn whom is the unified rule of God centred? Does ultimate determination and authority reside with God the Father or is supreme power shared equally by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? T.F. Torrance's conception of a triune Monarchy, with its differentiated senses of God's Fatherhood, is here expounded and contrasted with Karl Barth's account of command and obedience as integral to God's eternal Being. A brief exegetical study in the Fourth Gospel is also undertaken to seek clarification. The main strengths of Torrance's view are reckoned the unqualified divinity of the Son and Spirit, and their full participation together with the Father in all God's ways and works. A weakness is identified, however, in an under‐determination of the Father's fatherliness. Resolution is then pursued in terms of Person and Being. Although Torrance makes wide‐ranging use of these terms, he does not appear to employ them sufficiently regarding the Monarchy. It is subsequently argued that with respect to Person God the Father is Monarch, while with respect to Being the Three share the Monarchy of God equally and eternally.
Baptism, Faith and Severe Cognitive Impairment in Some Medieval Theologies
Authors: Cross Richard 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThirteenth‐century theologians believed that grace and theological virtues count as created habits, infused by God. They held that this belief placed them in a stronger position to give an account of the grace given to those with severe cognitive impairments than those who denied such habits. Aquinas argued that the faith infused in baptism, in the case of those who lack reason, nevertheless needs to be supplemented by other church members' actual occurrent assent to the Christian faith. Duns Scotus gives reasons to deny this, and thus defends a view of church membership that avoids any kind of non‐mutual dependence in this context.
Intercorrelations between serum, salivary, and hair cortisol and child‐reported estimates of stress in elementary school girls
Authors: Vanaelst Barbara , Huybrechts Inge , Bammann Karin , Michels Nathalie , de Vriendt Tineke , Vyncke Krishna , Sioen Isabelle , Iacoviello Licia , Günther Kathrin , Molnar Denes , Lissner Lauren , Rivet Noellie , Raul Jean‐Sebastien , de Henauw Stefaan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTo evaluate the impact of stress on children's well‐being, it is important to have valid and reliable stress assessment methods. Nevertheless, selection of an appropriate method for a particular research question may not be straightforward, as there is currently no consensus on a reference method to measure stress in children. This article examined to what extent childhood stress can be estimated accurately by stressor questionnaires (i.e., Coddington Life Events Scale) and biological markers (serum, salivary, and hair cortisol) using the Triads (a triangulation) method in 272 elementary school girls. Salivary cortisol was shown to most accurately indicate true childhood stress for short periods in the past (i.e., last 3 months), whereas hair cortisol may be preferred above salivary measurements for periods more distant and thus for chronic stress assessment. However, applicability should be confirmed in larger and more heterogeneous populations.
Perception of effort reflects central motor command during movement execution
Authors: de Morree Helma M. , Klein Christoph , Marcora Samuele M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIt is thought that perception of effort during physical tasks is the conscious awareness of the central motor command sent to the active muscles. The aim of this study was to directly test this hypothesis by experimentally varying perception of effort and measuring movement‐related cortical potential (MRCP). Sixteen healthy, recreationally active men made unilateral dynamic elbow flexions to lift a light (20% one repetition maximum, 1RM) and a heavier (35% 1RM) weight with a fatigued arm and a nonfatigued arm while rating of perceived effort (RPE), biceps brachii electromyogram (EMG), and MRCP were recorded. RPE, EMG amplitude, and MRCP amplitude at Cz during weight raising increased with weight and with muscle fatigue. There was a significant correlation between RPE and MRCP amplitude at the vertex during the weight raising epoch. This study provides direct neurophysiological evidence that perception of effort correlates with central motor command during movement execution.
Nitrospira‐dominated biofilm within a thermal artesian spring: a case for nitrification‐driven primary production in a geothermal setting
Authors: Marks C. R. , Stevenson B. S. , Rudd S. , Lawson P. A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWater chemistry, energetic modeling, and molecular analyses were combined to investigate the microbial ecology of a biofilm growing in a thermal artesian spring within Hot Springs National Park, AR. This unique fresh water spring has a low dissolved chemical load and is isolated from both light and direct terrestrial carbon input – resulting in an oligotrophic ecosystem limited for fixed carbon and electron donors. Evaluation of energy yields of lithotrophic reactions putatively linked to autotrophy identified the aerobic oxidation of methane, hydrogen, sulfide, ammonia, and nitrite as the most exergonic. Small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene libraries from biofilm revealed a low‐diversity microbial assemblage populated by bacteria and archaea at a gene copy ratio of 45:1. Members of the bacterial family ‘Nitrospiraceae’, known for their autotrophic nitrite oxidation, dominated the bacterial SSU rRNA gene library (approximately 45%). Members of the Thaumarchaeota ThAOA/HWCGIII (>96%) and Thaumarchaeota Group I.1b (2.5%), which both contain confirmed autotrophic ammonia oxidizers, dominated the archaeal SSU rRNA library. Archaea appear to dominate among the ammonia oxidizers, as only ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes belonging to members of the Thaumarchaeota were detected. The geochemical, phylogenetic, and genetic data support a model that describes a novel thermophilic biofilm built largely by an autotrophic nitrifying microbial assemblage. This is also the first observation of ‘Nitrospiraceae’ as the dominant organisms within a geothermal environment.
Gradients in N‐cycling attributes along forestry and agricultural land‐use systems are indicative of soil capacity for N supply
Authors: FAGOTTI D. S. L. , MIYAUCHI M. Y. H. , OLIVEIRA A. G. , SANTINONI I. A. , EBERHARDT D. N. , NIMTZ A. , RIBEIRO R. A. , PAULA A. M. , QUEIROZ C. A. S. , ANDRADE G. , ZANGARO W. , NOGUEIRA M. A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIndicators of soil quality associated with N‐cycling were assessed under different land‐use systems (native forest – NAT, reforestation with Araucaria angustifolia or Pinus taeda and agricultural use – AGR) to appraise the effects on the soil potential for N supply. The soil total N ranged from 2 to 4 g/kg (AGR and NAT, respectively), and the microbial biomass N ranged from 80 to 250 mg/kg, being higher in NAT and A. angustifolia, and lower in P. taeda and AGR sites. Activities of asparaginase (ca. 50–200 mg NH4+‐N/kg per h), glutaminase (ca. 200–800 mg NH4+‐N/kg per h) and urease (ca. 80–200 mg NH4+‐N/kg/h) were also more intense in the NAT and A. angustifolia‐reforested soils, indicating greater capacity for N mineralization. The NAT and AGR soils showed the highest and the lowest ammonification rate, respectively (ca. 1 and 0.4 mg NH4+‐N/kg per day), but the inverse for nitrification rate (ca. 12 and 26%), indicating a low capacity for N supply, in addition to higher risks of N losses in the AGR soil. A multivariate analysis indicated more similarity between NAT and A. angustifolia‐reforested sites, whilst the AGR soil was different and associated with a higher nitrification rate. In general, reforestation with the native species A. angustifolia had less impact than reforestation with the exogenous species P. taeda, considering the soil capacity for N supply. However, AGR use caused more changes, generally decrease in indicators of N‐cycling, showing a negative soil management effect on the sustainability of this agroecosystem.