bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complex intervention development for diabetes self‐management
Authors: Sturt Jackie , Whitlock Sandra , Hearnshaw Hilary 
Published: April 2006

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to present the development and evaluation of the Self‐Efficacy Goal Achievement nursing intervention for type 2 diabetes.Background.  Systematic reviews support the clinical effectiveness of diabetes self‐management programmes that are collaborative, involve biomedical feedback and are goal focussed.Method.  The self‐efficacy goal achievement intervention comprises patient goal‐setting consultations with practice nurses using the Diabetes Management Self‐Efficacy Scale. The United Kingdom Medical Research Council framework for the evaluation of complex interventions by randomized controlled trial was used to develop and evaluate the intervention. The ‘preclinical’ study included literature analysis and findings from parallel studies. The ‘phase I’ study, carried out in spring 2003, was a small trial of the intervention, evaluation of its feasibility, identification of appropriate outcome measures for future trials and improvement of the components, with two nurses and eight patients.Findings.  The ‘preclinical’ study supported continued intervention development. The ‘phase I’ intervention resulted in a mean reduction in participants’ glycosylated haemoglobin of 0·93% between baseline and 3‐months postintervention. It showed an increase in patient self‐efficacy and some decline in patient diabetes treatment satisfaction. Qualitative data recorded therapeutically desirable behavioural changes in all participants. Follow‐up consultations and goal evaluation were found to be important to patients. Nurses reported (i) reservations about the repeated use of components of the intervention, which were felt to be repetitive and restrictive; and (ii) the time commitment required to deliver the educational sessions.Conclusions.  Most phase I components were effective in delivering a feasible nursing intervention. The intervention has been adjusted to remove the less effective components and enhance the more effective. The outcome measures were appropriate for the intervention. A phase II trial is being developed to further test both the intervention and research protocol for comparing the intervention to an alternative.
Phylogeography of the flag cabrilla Epinephelus labriformis (Serranidae): implications for the biogeography of the Tropical Eastern Pacific and the early stages of speciation in a marine shore fish
Authors: Craig Matthew T. , Hastings Philip A. , Pondella Daniel J. , Ross Robertson D. , Rosales‐Casián Jorge A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAim  To examine the role of previously described biogeographical boundaries in shaping phylogeographical relationships within and among two putative eastern Pacific sibling species, the flag cabrilla, Epinephelus labriformis and the Clipperton grouper, Epinephelus clippertonensis (Serranidae).Location  Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP).Methods  Sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were obtained from samples throughout the range of the species. Coalescence analysis, mismatch distributions and an analysis of molecular variance (amova) were used to infer population differentiation.Results  Overall, 49 haplotypes were found among 304 specimens, and there was significant structure corresponding to geographical locality (amova, Φct = 0.198, P < 0.001; Φst = 0.207, P < 0.001; Fst = 0.169, P < 0.001; Fct = 0.151, P = 0.036). Coalescence analysis indicates a population expansion at Clipperton Atoll during the mid‐Pleistocene.Main conclusions  Our results suggest that previously described barriers to dispersal along the mainland of the TEP may not impinge on the dispersal ability of marine species, such as these groupers, that have long‐lived pelagic larvae. In contrast, gene flow between mainland and island populations of the readily distinguishable morphospecies E. labriformis and E. clippertonensis is restricted. The low level of genetic differentiation between the two species indicates that changes in external colour patterns may evolve more rapidly than genetic markers commonly used to delimit species boundaries. Thus a combination of colour differences and a lack of reciprocal monophyly may act as good indicators of incipient speciation in the marine environment.
Cell wall assembly in Bacillus subtilis: how spirals and spaces challenge paradigms
Authors: Bhavsar Amit P. , Brown Eric D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAlthough the bacterial cell wall has been the subject of decades of investigation, recent studies continue to generate novel and controversial models of its synthesis and assembly. Here we compare and contrast the transcompartmental biosyntheses of peptidoglycan and teichoic acid in Bacillus subtilis. In addition, the current paradigms of B. subtilis wall assembly and structure are distinguished from emerging models of murein insertion and organization. We discuss evidence for the directed, cytoskeleton‐dependent insertion of nascent peptidoglycan and the existence of a periplasmic compartment. Furthermore, we summarize the challenges these findings represent to the existing paradigm of murein insertion. Finally, motivated by these new developments, we discuss outstanding issues that remain to be addressed and suggest research directions that may contribute to a better understanding of cell wall assembly in B. subtilis.
No evidence for a substantial involvement of primary motor hand area in handedness judgements: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Authors: Sauner Dieter , Bestmann Sven , Siebner Hartwig R. , Rothwell John C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwelve right‐handed volunteers were asked to judge the laterality of a hand stimulus by pressing a button with one of their toes. Judgements were based on two‐dimensional drawings of the back or palm of a right or left hand at various orientations. Suprathreshold single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was given to the left primary motor hand area (M1‐HAND) at 0, 200, 400, 600, 800 or 1000 ms after stimulus onset to probe the functional involvement of the dominant left M1 at various stages of handedness recognition. We found that mean reaction times and error rates increased with angle of rotation depending on the actual biomechanical constraints of the hand but suprathreshold TMS had no influence on task performance regardless of the timing of TMS. However, the excitability of the corticomotor output from the left M1‐HAND was modulated during the reaction. Judging left hand drawings was associated with an attenuation of motor‐evoked potentials 300–100 ms before the response, whereas judging right hand drawings facilitated the motor‐evoked potentials only immediately before the response. These effects were the same for pictures of backs and palms and were independent of the angle of rotation. The failure of TMS to affect task performance suggests that there is no time window during which the M1‐HAND makes a critical contribution to mental rotation of the hand. The modulation of motor‐evoked potentials according to the laterality of the stimulus indicates a secondary effect of the task on corticomotor excitability that is not directly related to mental rotation itself.
Rapid‐rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of animal auditory cortex impairs short‐term but not long‐term memory formation
Authors: Wang Hong , Wang Xu , Wetzel Wolfram , Scheich Henning 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBilateral rapid‐rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of gerbil auditory cortex with a miniature coil device was used to study short‐term and long‐term effects on discrimination learning of frequency‐modulated tones. We found previously that directional discrimination of frequency modulation (rising vs. falling) relies on auditory cortex processing and that formation of its memory depends on local protein synthesis. Here we show that, during training over 5 days, certain rTMS regimes contingent on training had differential effects on the time course of learning. When rTMS was applied several times per day, i.e. four blocks of 5 min rTMS each followed 5 min later by a 3‐min training block and 15‐min intervals between these blocks (experiment A), animals reached a high discrimination performance more slowly over 5 days than did controls. When rTMS preceded only the first two of four training blocks (experiment B), or when prolonged rTMS (20 min) preceded only the first block, or when blocks of experiment A had longer intervals (experiments C and D), no significant day‐to‐day effects were found. However, in experiment A, and to some extent in experiment B, rTMS reduced the within‐session discrimination performance. Nevertheless the animals learned, as demonstrated by a higher performance the next day. Thus, our results indicate that rTMS treatments accumulate over a day but not strongly over successive days. We suggest that rTMS of sensory cortex, as used in our study, affects short‐term memory but not long‐term memory formation.
The influence of physical activity on abdominal fat: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Kay S. J. , Fiatarone Singh M. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe relationship between excess abdominal adipose tissue, metabolic and cardiovascular health risk has stimulated interest in the efficacy of physical activity in specifically perturbing this adipose depot. The evolution of imaging techniques has enabled more direct measurement of changes in abdominal and visceral fat. The purpose of this summary was to systematically review the relationship between physical activity and abdominal fat. Methods: Database searches were performed on MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORT DISCUS and PUBMED, from 1985 to 2005 with keywords ‘exercise’, ‘abdominal fat’ and ‘visceral fat’. Results: Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and eight non‐randomized controlled trials were selected. In RCTs using imaging techniques to measure change in abdominal fat in overweight or obese subjects, seven out of 10 studies (including three trials with type 2 diabetics) reported significant reductions compared with controls. Reductions in visceral and total abdominal fat may occur in the absence of changes in body mass and waist circumference. Waist‐to‐hip ratio is not a sensitive measure of change in regional adiposity in exercise studies. No studies fulfil the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement's criteria for the highest quality of randomized trial; however, many studies were in progress or published before the opportunity to comply with these recommendations. Therefore, limited evidence from a number of studies suggests a beneficial influence of physical activity on reduction in abdominal and visceral fat in overweight and obese subjects when imaging techniques are used to quantify changes in abdominal adiposity. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Buying Influence: Aid Fungibility in a Strategic Perspective
Authors: Hagen Rune Jansen 
Published: April 2006

AbstractI study equilibria of non‐cooperative games between an aid donor and a recipient when there is conflict over the allocation of their combined budgets. The general conclusion is that a donor's influence over outcomes is increasing in the share of the available resources it controls; if this share is large enough, aid fungibility is not important as the donor achieves its most preferred allocation. The game‐theoretic approach to fungibility is contrasted with the traditional non‐strategic approach. I argue that the former is superior as it derives final allocations instead of assuming them, making analysis of the sources of influence over outcomes possible.
An epidemiology study of patients with uremic pruritus
Authors: Mistik S , Utas S , Ferahbas A , Tokgoz B , Unsal G , Sahan H , Ozturk A , Utas C 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Pruritus is a common problem in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and haemodialysis patients. There are few studies on the clinical characteristics of uremic itch, the cause of which is still unknown.Objectives  The aim of this study was to define the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pruritus in CAPD and haemodialysis patients.Methods  A questionnaire was used to evaluate pruritus in 52 CAPD and 289 haemodialysis patients in two dialysis units. The relationship of various factors and medical parameters to itch was examined.Results  Of the 341 patients, 177 (51.9%) had pruritus at the time of examination, 97 (28.4%) had pruritus in the past. Pruritus was present in 145 (50.2%) of the haemodialysis patients and 32 (61.5%) of the CAPD patients. Men, patients with liver disease, and patients with pruritus before starting dialysis treatment were more likely to have uremic pruritus.Conclusions  This study showed us that uremic pruritus was observed more in men than women. The high prevalence of uremic pruritus in our study does not support the decrease of pruritus due to an improvement in the management of dialysis patients.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus
Authors: ZHANG JUNBIN , CAI ZEPING , HUANG HUI 
Published: April 2006

Abstract Lutjanus argentimaculatus, also called mangrove red snapper, is a commercially important fish in East Asia. A proper understanding of population structure is primarily linked with the management of genetic resources in exploiting marine fisheries. Herein, seven microsatellite loci, which showed high polymorphism (observed heterozygosity per locus ranging from 0.3571 to 0.7857 and expected heterozygosity per locus ranging from 0.6236 to 0.8821), were isolated and characterized from L. argentimaculatus. Cross‐species amplifications also indicate that primers designed for these loci may be useful for further studies about other closely phylogenetic species of the family Lutjanidae.
Ethanol and Sucrose Seeking and Consumption Following Repeated Administration of the GABAB Agonist Baclofen in Rats
Authors: Czachowski Cristine L. , Legg Brooke H. , Stansfield Kirstie H. 
Published: April 2006

Background: Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, has been found to decrease alcohol craving in humans and to nonselectively decrease ethanol intake in some rodent models. This experiment assessed the effects of repeated administration of baclofen on reinforcer seeking and consumption using the sipper tube appetitive/consummatory model of ethanol access.Methods: Subjects were divided into 2 groups and trained to make 30 lever press responses that resulted in access to either 10% ethanol or 2% sucrose in a sipper tube‐drinking spout for 20 minutes. Three doses of baclofen were tested (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg) and each drug treatment was assessed using the following schedule: Monday, saline; Tuesday to Thursday, baclofen; and Friday, saline.Results: The low dose of baclofen had no effect on the seeking or intake of either sucrose or ethanol, and the 1.0 mg/kg dose also had no effect on the appetitive, seeking response. However, the 1.0 mg/kg dose significantly decreased sucrose intake (from an average of 0.56 to 0.41 g/kg) and significantly increased ethanol intake (from an average of 0.77 to 1.00 g/kg). Similarly, the high dose (3.0 mg/kg) decreased sucrose intake and had a tendency to increase ethanol intake while decreasing both sucrose seeking and ethanol seeking.Conclusions: Overall, baclofen treatment affected reinforcer intake at doses that had no effect on reinforcer seeking, and effective doses decreased both sucrose seeking and ethanol seeking. Moreover, the effects on reinforcer intake were disparate, in that baclofen increased ethanol drinking and decreased sucrose drinking. The nonspecific effects of baclofen suggest that the GABAB system may be involved in general consummatory or drinking behaviors and does not appear to specifically regulate ethanol‐motivated responding.
Rheologic behavior of sickle and normal red blood cell mixtures in sickle plasma: implications for transfusion therapy
Authors: Alexy Tamas , Pais Eszter , Armstrong Jonathan K. , Meiselman Herbert J. , Johnson Cage S. , Fisher Timothy C. 
Published: April 2006

BACKGROUND:  Guidelines for transfusion in sickle cell disease usually define an upper hematocrit (Hct) limit of 0.30 to 0.35 to avoid blood hyperviscosity. In vitro viscosity studies of normal (AA) and sickle (SS) red blood cell (RBC) mixtures in buffer appear to confirm that this Hct limit is optimal for oxygen delivery to vascular beds as judged by the ratio of Hct to viscosity, with this ratio often termed “oxygen or RBC transport effectiveness.” In the absence of plasma, however, effects due to RBC‐RBC interactions mediated by plasma proteins cannot be assessed.STUDY DESIGNS AND METHODS:  To investigate the optimal Hct‐to‐viscosity ratio of RBCs in plasma, the rheologic effects of Hct (0.20‐0.40), the proportion of SS RBCs (0‐100%), and shear rate (1‐1000/sec) for mixtures of oxygenated and deoxygenated SS and AA RBCs were evaluated in sickle plasma at 37°C.RESULTS:  RBC suspension viscosity was shear‐dependent (i.e., viscosity decreased with increasing shear rate) and increased with Hct and proportion of SS RBCs. An “optimal” Hct level (defined as a maximal of the Hct‐to‐viscosity ratio) was seen only at shear rates above 50/sec. At lower shear rates (e.g., 5/sec), where plasma‐mediated RBC‐RBC interactions predominate, any increment in Hct was offset by a proportionally greater increase in viscosity, thus leading to a lower Hct‐to‐viscosity ratio.CONCLUSION:  These results indicate the importance of plasma‐mediated RBC interactions and suggest that the benefits of transfusion may vary depending on local flow rates (i.e., shear rates) and organ‐specific hemodynamics.
Molecular Control of Cardiac Sodium Homeostasis in Health and Disease
Authors: HILGEMANN DONALD W. , YARADANAKUL ALP , WANG YONG , FUSTER DANIEL 
Published: April 2006

Introduction: Cardiac myocytes utilize three high‐capacity Na transport processes whose precise function can determine myocyte fate and the triggering of arrhythmias in pathological settings. We present recent results on the regulation of all three transporters that may be important for an understanding of cardiac function during ischemia/reperfusion episodes. Methods and Results: Refined ion selective electrode (ISE) techniques and giant patch methods were used to analyze the function of cardiac Na/K pumps, Na/Ca exchange (NCX1), and Na/H exchange (NHE1) in excised cardiac patches and intact myocytes. To consider results cohesively, simulations were developed that account for electroneutrality of the cytoplasm, ion homeostasis, water homeostasis (i.e., cell volume), and cytoplasmic pH. The Na/K pump determines the average life‐time of Na ions (3–10 minutes) as well as K ions (>30 minutes) in the cytoplasm. The long time course of K homeostasis can determine the time course of myocyte volume changes after ion homeostasis is perturbed. In excised patches, cardiac Na/K pumps turn on slowly (−30 seconds) with millimolar ATP dependence, when activated for the first time. In steady state, however, pumps are fully active with <0.2 mM ATP and are nearly unaffected by high ADP (2 mM) and Pi (10 mM) concentrations as may occur in ischemia. NCX1s appear to operate with slippage that contributes to background Na influx and inward current in heart. Thus, myocyte Na levels may be regulated by the inactivation reactions of the exchanger which are both Na‐ and proton‐dependent. NHE1 also undergo strong Na‐dependent inactivation, whereby a brief rise of cytoplasmic Na can cause inactivation that persists for many minutes after cytoplasmic Na is removed. This mechanism is blocked by pertussis toxin, suggesting involvement of a Na‐dependent G‐protein. Given that maximal NCX1‐ and NHE1‐mediated ion fluxes are much greater than maximal Na/K pump‐mediated Na extrusion in myocytes, the Na‐dependent inactivation mechanisms of NCX1 and NHE1 may be important determinants of cardiac Na homeostasis. Conclusions: Na/K pumps appear to be optimized to continue operation when energy reserves are compromised. Both NCX1 and NHE1 activities are regulated by accumulation of cytoplasmic Na. These principles may importantly control cardiac cytoplasmic Na and promote myocyte survival during ischemia/reperfusion episodes by preventing Ca overload.
Occupational pesticide intoxications among farmers in Bolivia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jørs Erik , Morant Rafael Cervantes , Aguilar Guido Condarco , Huici Omar , Lander Flemming , Bælum Jesper , Konradsen Flemming 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Pesticide use and its consequences are of concern in Bolivia due to an intensive and increasing use.

Methods
To assess the magnitude and reasons for occupational pesticide intoxication, a cross-sectional study with interviews and blood-tests was performed among 201 volunteer farmers from 48 villages in the temperate and subtropical valleys in the eastern part of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia. Of these 171 male farmers using pesticides in their agricultural production were used in the statistical analysis, including linear- and logistic regression analysis.

Results
This study documented a frequent use of the most toxic pesticides among farmers who have had almost no instructions in how to use pesticides and protect themselves against the dangers of intoxication, reflected in the hazardous practices used when handling pesticides. Symptoms of intoxications were common in connection with spraying operations. The risk of experiencing symptoms and the serum cholinesterase activity were influenced by whether or not organophosphates were used and the number of times sprayed. The experience of symptoms was moreover influenced by the hygienic and personal protective measures taken during spraying operations while this had no influence on the serum cholinesterase level.

Conclusion
The study showed that occupational pesticide intoxications were common among farmers and did depend on multiple factors. Pesticide use is probably one of the largest toxicological problems in Bolivia, and a coordinated action by authorities, society and international bodies is needed to limit the number of intoxications and the environmental pollution.
The History of the Department of State: VI
Authors: Hunt Gaillard 
Published: April 2006

In his first annual message, December 8, 1829, President Andrew Jackson said :
The great and constant increase of business in the Department of State forced itself at an early period upon the attention of the Executive, Thirteen years ago it was, in Mr. Madison’s last message to Congress, made the subject of an earnest recommendation, which has been repeated by both of his successors; and my comparatively limited experience has satisfied me of its justness. It has arisen from many causes, not the last of which is the large addition that has been made to the family of independent nations and the proportionate extension of our foreign relations. The remedy proposed was the establishment of a home department — a measure which does not appear to have met the views of Congress on account of its supposed tendency to increase, gradually and imperceptibly, the already too strong bias of the federal system towards the exercise of authority not delegated to it. I am not, therefore, disposed to revive the recommendation, but am not the less impressed with the importance of so organizing that Department that its Secretary may devote more of his time to our foreign relations. Clearly satisfied that the public good would be promoted by some suitable provision on that subject, I respectfully invite your attention to it.