bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcoholics Anonymous in Ireland: AA's first European experience
Authors: Butler Shane , Jordan Tony 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTAims  To trace the evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous in Ireland from its establishment there in 1946, focusing on the efforts of early members to publicize the fellowship and negotiate a role for themselves in relation to existing religious and healthcare institutions.Methods  Archival research, drawing mainly on primary sources in AA archives in New York and Dublin.Results  Anticipated tensions between this fellowship, which had its roots in Evangelical Protestantism, and the politically powerful Roman Catholic Church in Ireland were skillfully avoided; initial hostility from the medical profession quickly dissipated; and AA distanced itself from policy debate on the wider topic of alcoholism as disease.Conclusions  The relatively smooth introduction of AA to Ireland, the first European country in which it was established, may be attributed to the essentially pragmatic nature of the fellowship and the strategic abilities of its early members.
The spatial ecology of alcohol problems: niche theory and assortative drinking
Authors: Gruenewald Paul J. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTAims This paper summarizes several theoretical perspectives that serve to explain observed associations between concentrations of alcohol outlets and alcohol‐related problems. A critique of each perspective discusses how each addresses the social etiology of these problems; that is, how, where and why these problems arise in association with alcohol outlets?Methods This theoretical work is based upon mathematical and computational models of the ecology of alcohol‐related problems developed in the ‘Ecosystems Modeling Project’, an advanced research project of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, United States.Results Associations between outlets and problems are thought to arise from the concentration of individuals in drinking places (‘flow models’), the attraction of some places for people at risk for problems (‘gravity models’), or because outlets are located in high‐risk neighborhoods and have negative social normative effects (‘social contextual models’). None of these approaches explain how some outlets come to have more problems than others (e.g. violent outlets). An alternative social ecological model is introduced which asserts that the complementary processes of niche marketing and assortative drinking form the social dynamic that explains these relationships. Alcohol sellers ‘niche market’ to select social strata, drinkers return to establishments at which they find people like themselves, and consequent social stratification of the market‐place increases the levels of related problems in some outlets.Conclusions The proposed mechanism is very general, and suggests that over‐concentrations of outlets will lead to stratification of drinking groups and intensification of problems related to those outlets.
Susceptibility genes in Graves’ ophthalmopathy: searching for a needle in a haystack?
Authors: Bednarczuk Tomasz , Gopinath Bamini , Ploski Rafal , Wall Jack R. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe variety of clinical presentations of eye changes in patients with Graves’ disease suggests that complex interactions between genetic, environmental, endogenous and local factors influence the development/severity of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). At present, the role of genetic factors in the development of GO remains unknown. Based on small case‐control association studies with candidate genes, several susceptibility loci in GO have been proposed. These are human leucocyte antigen (HLA, 6p21·3), cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4, 2q33), tumour necrosis factor (TNF, 6p21·3), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ, 12q14), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1, 19p13), and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene (TSH‐R, 14q31). Unfortunately, these results were either not confirmed or require replication in larger studies. There are many reasons for the lack of reproducibility of association studies in GO, including poor characterization of the studied groups and small sample sizes, which may result in both false positive and negative results. Thus, the genetic background of GO remains to be elucidated in future research. However, the possibility that GO may be a genetically heterogeneous disorder, or that the development of GO may be predominantly influenced by environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, can not be disregarded.
Eco‐evolutionary conservation biology: contemporary evolution and the dynamics of persistence
Authors: KINNISON MICHAEL T. , HAIRSTON NELSON G. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryNatural and human mediated perturbations present challenges to the fate of populations but fuel contemporary evolution (evolution over humanly observable time‐scales). Here we ask if such evolution is sufficient to make the difference between population extinction and persistence.To answer this question requires a shift from the usual focus on trait evolution to the emergent ‘eco‐evolutionary’ dynamics that arise through interactions of evolution, its fitness consequences and population abundance.By combining theory, models and insights from empirical studies of contemporary evolution, we provide an assessment of three contexts: persistence of populationsin situ, persistence of colonising populations, and persistence under gene flow and in metapopulations.Contemporary evolution can likely rescue some, but not all, populations facing environmental change. Populations may fail partly because of the demographic cost of selection.Contemporary evolution that initiates positive population growth, such as selective founding processes, may create a ‘persistence vortex’ that overcomes the problems of small populations.Complex, even shifting, relationships between gene flow and adaptation may aid the persistence of subpopulations as well as the persistence and expansion of metapopulations.An eco‐evolutionary perspective suggests that we expand our focus beyond the acute problems of threatened populations and growing invasions, to consider how contemporary evolutionary mechanics contribute to such problems in the first place or affect their resolution.
Janus kinase 3‐deficient T lymphocytes have an intrinsic defect in CCR7‐mediated homing to peripheral lymphoid organs
Authors: García‐Zepeda Eduardo A. , Licona‐Limón Ileana , Jiménez‐Sólomon M. Fernanda , Soldevila Gloria 
Published: May 2007

SummaryChemokine‐mediated signalling involves the activation of a Janus kinase (Jak) pathway. We have previously shown that Jak3 mediates CCR9 and CXCR4 signalling in response to CCL25 and CXCL12 in BM progenitors and thymocytes. The lack of peripheral lymph nodes and Peyer's patches observed in Jak3–/– mice suggested a possible role of Jak3 in CCR7‐mediated homing to these organs. Here, we demonstrate phosphorylation of Jak3 in peripheral lymphocytes in response CCL19 and CCL21. In addition, Jak3–/– naïve T cells and pharmacologically inhibited Jak3+/+ T lymphocytes have impaired chemotactic responses towards these ligands. Interestingly, CCR7 expression was higher in Jak3–/– thymocytes compared to their Jak3+/– littermates, indicating that the impaired migration must be caused by impaired CCR7‐mediated signalling, in the absence of Jak3. In addition, adoptive transfer experiments showed that Jak3+/+ mice reconstituted with Jak3–/– green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ bone marrow progenitors had reduced T‐lymphocyte homing to peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes, compared to reconstitution with Jak3+/+ GFP+ progenitors. Furthermore, reciprocal transfer experiments indicated that Jak3–/– stromal cells were not responsible for the deficient T‐cell homing. Finally, we performed direct competitive homing assays and demonstrated that Jak3–/– T lymphocytes have a clear defect in homing to peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes, while migration to spleen was moderately impaired. Our data demonstrates that Jak3–/– T lymphocytes have an intrinsic defect in CCR7‐mediated homing to peripheral lymphoid organs.
Reliability and validity of a faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale
Authors: HOWARD KAREN E. , FREEMAN RUTH 
Published: May 2007

Background.  A new version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) was formed by adding a faces rating scale to the original numeric form.Aims.  To describe the psychometric properties of the faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDASf), and to provide normative data for dental anxiety for children using the MCDASf.Design.  To determine the test–retest reliability, 287 schoolchildren aged 8–10 years completed the MCDASf on two separate occasions 17 weeks apart. To determine the criterion validity, 207 schoolchildren aged 10–12 years completed the MCDASf and the CFSS‐DS at the same sitting. Construct validity was assessed using a cohort of 206 consecutive child dental patients and their parents.Results.  The MCDASf showed good test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.80) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82). The MCDASf significantly correlated with the CFSS‐DS (r = 0.80, P < 0.001). Dental anxiety assessed using the MCDASf was related to the dmft (t = −2.17, P = 0.03), DMFT (t = −4.19, P < 0.001), and dental general anaesthetic experience (t = −4.46, P < 0.01). The mean MCDASf score for the normative sample (n = 475) was 19.81 (95% CI: 19.20, 20.43).Conclusions.  The MCDASf is a reliable and valid measure of dental anxiety in children aged 8–12 years.
Using a pheromone lure survey to establish the native and potential distribution of an invasive Lepidopteran, Uraba lugens
Authors: KRITICOS DARREN J. , POTTER KARINA J. B. , ALEXANDER NEIL S. , GIBB ANDY R. , SUCKLING D. MAX 
Published: May 2007

Summary

When invasive species are first detected in a new environment there is often a demand for information about the potential for the organism to spread and create impacts. Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) is an Australian native moth that has invaded New Zealand in what are presumed to be two separate episodes. After U. lugens was found in Auckland in 2001 a climex™ model was prepared to gauge the potential for the moth to spread and inflict damage in New Zealand. Inconsistencies in fitting model parameters to the then known native distribution, indicated that the known native distribution was probably incomplete, and that the unknown part of its range was critical for defining its likely range limits in New Zealand.
A synthetic sex pheromone trapping survey was used to ascertain the altitudinal and upper rainfall range limits of U. lugens in part of its native range in Australia. The survey extended the known range of U. lugens into higher‐altitude and higher‐rainfall zones of Tasmania. We used the expanded distribution information to refine a climex model, and to project the climate suitability for U. lugens with particular emphasis on New Zealand.
The projected climatic suitability of New Zealand indicates that the area likely to be at risk of invasion by U. lugens is considerably more extensive than was indicated from its historical distribution records in Australia. It now includes all the eucalypt forestry areas. Similarly, the global potential distribution covers the major eucalypt forestry regions of the world.
The minimum heat sum necessary to complete a generation for U. lugens that was associated with its range limits was considerably lower than that predicted by average development rates gained from constant temperature and daylength studies. Possible explanations for this anomaly are discussed.
Synthesis and applications. The lack of suitable data on the distribution of organisms is perhaps the single most common challenge for ecological climate modellers. Trapping along climatic gradients with a synthetic pheromone lure offers a cheap, rapid means of ascertaining the climatic distribution of suitable high profile insects.
Effects of removing Cynodon dactylon from a recently abandoned agricultural field
Authors: MAU‐CRIMMINS T M 
Published: May 2007

SummaryAn understanding of ecosystem response to the removal of a dominant non‐native species is critical for planning control or eradication efforts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of recently abandoned agricultural fields in south‐eastern Arizona, USA to the removal of Cynodon dactylon, a dominant perennial rhizomatous grass. C. dactylon was removed from treatment plots using glyphosate herbicide. Repeated application of glyphosate to C. dactylon did have a significant impact on the cover of C. dactylon and in the community composition of the treated plots. However, patterns observed in this study were similar in both control and treated plots, suggesting that the response of the system to the removal of C. dactylon was nested within larger changes the entire system was experiencing during the time of the study. The short‐term, dynamic response to herbicide treatment seemed to be mediated by the amount and timing of precipitation. Additionally, though C. dactylon removal via herbicide treatment was effective, undesired effects including increases in other non‐native, noxious species were observed. The results demonstrate that control of C. dactylon would likely be possible and cost‐effective for this site. However, removing C. dactylon apparently created conditions conducive for other opportunistic species to increase. The decision to undertake a large‐scale eradication effort should weigh the benefits of C. dactylon removal against the potential increase in other undesirable species.
Spartina invasion in China: implications for invasive species management and future research
Authors: AN S Q , GU B H , ZHOU C F , WANG Z S , DENG Z F , ZHI Y B , LI H L , CHEN L , YU D H , LIU Y H 
Published: May 2007

SummaryFour species of Spartina (Spartina anglica, S. alterniflora, S. patens and S. cynosuroides) have been introduced to China, but currently only the first three are present and only the first two successfully reproduce on the Chinese coast. Spartina anglica and S. alterniflora were introduced to China from England in 1963 and from the United States in 1979, respectively. Today, S. alterniflora has expanded its coverage to more than 112 000 ha and S. anglica has declined to <50 ha. This is compared with only 260 ha of S. alterniflora and over 36 000 ha of S. anglica in 1985. The fates of Chinese Spartina, with dramatic expansion of S. alterniflora and significant decline of S. anglica, were different from those in other locations throughout the world. Factors affecting the growth of the two naturalized Spartina species in China include differences in artificial plantation strategy, impacts of tideland reclamation, species competition ability and genetic diversity. Several methods for Spartina control in China, such as harvesting, herbicide application and freshwater irrigation, have been developed, but more research is needed to verify their effectiveness.
Vertical distribution, size and composition of the weed seedbank under various tillage and herbicide treatments in a sequence of industrial crops
Authors: VASILEIADIS V P , FROUD‐WILLIAMS R J , ELEFTHEROHORINOS I G 
Published: May 2007

SummaryInvestigations were conducted during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 growing seasons in northern Greece to evaluate effects of tillage regime (mouldboard plough, chisel plough and rotary tiller), cropping sequence (continuous cotton, cotton–sugar beet rotation and continuous tobacco) and herbicide treatment on weed seedbank dynamics. Amaranthus spp. and Portulaca oleracea were the most abundant species, ranging from 76% to 89% of total weed seeds found in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depths during the 3 years. With the mouldboard plough, 48% and 52% of the weed seedbank was found in the 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil horizons, while approximately 60% was concentrated in the upper 15 cm soil horizon for chisel plough and rotary tillage. Mouldboard ploughing significantly buried more Echinochloa crus‐galli seeds in the 15–30 cm soil horizon compared with the other tillage regimes. Total seedbank (0–30 cm) of P. oleracea was significantly reduced in cotton–sugar beet rotation compared with cotton and tobacco monocultures, while the opposite occurred for E. crus‐galli. Total seed densities of most annual broad‐leaved weed species (Amaranthus spp., P. oleracea, Solanum nigrum) and E. crus‐galli were lower in herbicide treated than in untreated plots. The results suggest that in light textured soils, conventional tillage with herbicide use gradually reduces seed density of small seeded weed species in the top 15 cm over several years. In contrast, crop rotation with the early established sugar beet favours spring‐germinating grass weed species, but also prevents establishment of summer‐germinating weed species by the early developing crop canopy.
Can the occurrence of Senecio jacobaea be influenced by management practice?
Authors: SUTER M , SIEGRIST‐MAAG S , CONNOLLY J , LÜSCHER A 
Published: May 2007

Summary Senecio jacobaea is a poisonous weed in grasslands of various countries (e.g. Great Britain, New Zealand, Central European states) and the further spread of the species into farmland must be prevented. To assess the influence of management practice and site conditions on the occurrence of S. jacobaea, we conducted a survey in the northern and central part of Switzerland. Botanical assessments were carried out on grassland plots with S. jacobaea occurrence and on neighbour plots without S. jacobaea. For these plots, we analysed the soil nutrients and the details of management practice, such as type and intensity of management and fertiliser application. The most important factors influencing the occurrence of S. jacobaea were related to management: There was a high risk for the occurrence of the species on parcels with low nitrogen fertilisation, continuous‐extensive grazing (set stocking) and a very open sward. Senecio jacobaea was not present in intensively managed meadows cut more than twice per year. As an exception, with a high propagule pressure from the vicinity, S. jacobaea was also found in intensively grazed pastures and in meadows of moderate management intensity (two cuts). We conclude that long‐term control of S. jacobaea can best be achieved by avoiding sward damage and by preventing the species’ seed formation in the pasture and local vicinity.
Development and validation of an electronic version of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire
Authors: Juniper E. F. , Riis B. , Juniper B. A. 
Published: May 2007

Background:  As clinicians and pharmaceutical companies move from paper versions of health status questionnaires to electronic versions, it cannot be assumed that adaptations to other media will produce valid data.Aims:  The aims of this study were to (1) adapt the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire [RQLQ(S); standardized version], for the Palm Treo 650, (2) test the device for ease and accuracy of understanding and (3) examine the validity of the electronic version by comparing it with the original paper version of the RQLQ(S).Methods:  Seventy adults with current rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms completed the electronic and paper versions of the RQLQ(S). They were randomized to complete either the paper or the electronic version first. After a 2‐h break, they completed the other version.Results:  Concordance between paper and electronic versions for the overall RQLQ(S) score was acceptable with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.95 and there was no evidence of bias (P = 0.13). Concordance for the seven individual domains ranged from 0.86 to 0.94. A small but significant bias was observed in the activity and sleep domains (P = 0.02). Completion times were quicker with paper (4.1 vs 4.9 min, P < 0.0001). About 51% of patients preferred electronic, 17% preferred paper and 31% had no preference.Conclusions:  This electronic version of the RQLQ(S) was easy for patients to use and the concordance between paper and this version on the Palm Treo 650 provides evidence of the validity of this electronic version.
Desloratadine improves quality of life and symptom severity in patients with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Pradalier A. , Neukirch C. , Dreyfus I. , Devillier P. 
Published: May 2007

Background:  Desloratadine is associated with decreased signs and symptoms and improved nasal airflow in multiple clinical trials in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The effect of desloratadine on quality of life (QOL) in AR has not been widely reported to date. We compared the effects of desloratadine and placebo on QOL in seasonal AR using validated, disease‐specific measures.Methods:  This was a multicenter, double‐blind, randomized, parallel‐group study of desloratadine 5 mg or placebo daily for 2 weeks in patients with symptomatic seasonal AR. QOL was assessed at baseline and at day 14 using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). AR signs/symptoms and the global response to therapy were measured at baseline and at day 14; signs/symptoms were also rated AM/PM in patient diaries. Adverse events (AE) were recorded.Results:  Overall 234 patients received desloratadine and 249 received placebo. At day 14 desloratadine was associated with a significantly larger improvement from baseline in the mean total RQLQ score vs placebo (P = 0.0003). Desloratadine also led to significant improvements from baseline in all RQLQ sub‐domains (P ≤ 0.043). At day 14 significant decreases from baseline were noted in the desloratadine group for total nasal (P = 0.0003), total non‐nasal (P = 0.001) and total symptoms scores (P = 0.0001). Morning AR symptoms were significantly decreased in the desloratadine group after 1 day of treatment. Desloratadine was well tolerated, with an AE rate similar to placebo.Conclusion:  Significant reductions in signs and symptoms of AR with desloratadine treatment were accompanied by improved disease‐specific QOL measures.
Xylazine Premedication does not Modify the Onset and Duration of Cisatracurium Blockade in Anaesthetized Dogs
Authors: Kariman A. , Shahabeddin M. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of xylazine as premedication on the onset time and duration of cisatracurium neuromuscular blockade in anaesthetized dogs. This study was carried out on 12 healthy dogs aged 0.5–6 years and weighing 9–26 kg undergoing various elective surgical procedures. The dogs were randomly divided into two groups of t (test) and c (control), with six dogs each. In group t, premedication was conducted using acepromazine maleate 0.3 mg kg−1 and xylazine 0.3 mg kg−1 and in group c only acepromazine (same dose) was injected intramuscularly 20 min before general anaesthesia. After induction with thiopental, anaesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen to deliver an end‐tidal halothane concentration of 1.1%. Neuromuscular blockade was induced with cisatracurium 0.2 mg kg−1 and monitored using the train‐of‐four (TOF) stimulation pattern applied at the ulnar nerve. The onset time of cisatracurium blockade was 195 ± 85.44 s in test and 153.3 ± 38.16 s in control group. The duration of neuromuscular blockade was 24.8 ± 4.79 min in t and 28.3 ± 5.46 min in the c group. Statistical analysis of the data showed no significant difference between groups in terms of onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade.