bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Action of ciprofloxacin on planktonic bacteria and biofilm of Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Aiassa V. , Barnes A. I. , Albesa I. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTProteus mirabilis can persist in biofilms, with the bacteria in this state tending to resist antibiotic therapy. Until now, the relationship between the action of ciprofloxacin and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has not been studied in planktonic and biofilmic P. mirabilis. Our results show that ciprofloxacin stimulates the production of ROS in planktonic P. mirabilis, but that the increase in ROS was observed in sensitive strains (n = 4) only in the absence of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This augmentation of ROS was principally intracellular, invoking an increase in intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD). ROS were assayed by chemiluminescence (CL) and SOD by inhibition of reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium in the presence of methionine, riboflavin and light. The antibiotic-resistant strains (n = 4) did not suffer oxidative stress and exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity than antibiotic-sensitive ones, as indicated by tripyridyltriazine assay. Both types of bacterial strain showed a reduction in antioxidant capacity in the presence of ciprofloxacin, and only the resistant bacteria returned to normal count levels within 5 min of introduction of antibiotic. Ciprofloxacin stimulated ROS more than it did nitric oxide (NO) in planktonic bacteria, as determined by Griess's reaction. Proteus mirabilis biofilms treated with ciprofloxacin did not suffer any increase in ROS but there was an increase in NO and the ratio of intracellular ROS:NO decreased to 25%. Biofilms of P. mirabilis were neither stressed nor inhibited by 40 µg ciprofloxacin/ml, a dose higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (i.e. supra MIC). Both resistant and sensitive strains maintained the number of viable bacteria in biofilms incubated with supra MIC ciprofloxacin at concentrations that stressed and reduced substantially the number of colony-forming units of planktonic bacteria per millilitre. These results contribute to understanding of the differences between biofilmic and planktonic bacteria, with respect to susceptibility to oxidative stress caused by ciprofloxacin and also the antioxidant effect of ECM.
Alcohol dependence with comorbid drug dependence: genetic and phenotypic associations suggest a more severe form of the disorder with stronger genetic contribution to risk*
Authors: Dick Danielle M. , Agrawal Arpana , Wang Jen C. , Hinrichs Anthony , Bertelsen Sarah , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Schuckit Marc , Kramer John , Nurnberger John , Tischfield Jay , Edenberg Howard J. , Goate Alison , Bierut Laura J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTBackground  Twin data suggest that alcohol dependence comorbid with illicit drug dependence represents a more heritable form of the disorder. In the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism sample, approximately half the alcohol‐dependent individuals also meet diagnostic criteria for illicit drug dependence. In this study, we tested for heterogeneity in the association between the muscarinic acetylcholine M2 receptor gene (CHRM2) and alcohol dependence, reported previously in the full sample, among the subgroups of alcohol‐dependent individuals with and without comorbid drug dependence.Methods  Family‐based association tests were conducted separately (a) in individuals with alcohol dependence with comorbid drug dependence (n = 477) and (b) in individuals with alcohol dependence without comorbid drug dependence (n = 433). These subgroups were subsequently compared on other phenotypic characteristics.Results  The evidence for association between CHRM2 and alcohol dependence came entirely from the subgroup of individuals with comorbid drug dependence. There was no evidence of association with CHRM2 among the alcohol‐dependent individuals without drug dependence. Subsequent phenotypic analyses suggest that the subgroup of alcohol‐dependent individuals with comorbid drug dependence differ on a number of other phenotypic characteristics, including several measures of the severity of their alcohol problems, personality traits and comorbid psychiatric disorders.Conclusions  These analyses provide specific genetic evidence suggesting that alcohol dependence with comorbid drug dependence represents a particularly severe form of the disorder, with higher genetic contribution to vulnerability.
Combined coronary artery bypass grafting and phaeochromocytoma excision
Authors: To A. C. Y. , Frost C. , Grey A. B. , Croxson M. S. , Cooper J. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryWe report two patients who had successful combined coronary artery bypass grafting and excision of phaeochromocytoma. These cases represent the first reports of combined coronary artery bypass grafting and laparoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma and of combined coronary artery bypass grafting and excision of extra‐adrenal phaeochromocytoma. With careful peri‐ and intra‐operative management, especially in regard to haemostasis, combined operations for coronary artery disease and phaeochromocytoma are both feasible and safe.
13C and 15N in microarthropods reveal little response of Douglas‐fir ecosystems to climate change
Authors: HOBBIE ERIK A. , RYGIEWICZ PAUL T. , JOHNSON MARK G. , MOLDENKE ANDREW R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractUnderstanding ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling under global change requires experiments maintaining natural interactions among soil structure, soil communities, nutrient availability, and plant growth. In model Douglas‐fir ecosystems maintained for five growing seasons, elevated temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) increased photosynthesis and increased C storage belowground but not aboveground. We hypothesized that interactions between N cycling and C fluxes through two main groups of microbes, mycorrhizal fungi (symbiotic with plants) and saprotrophic fungi (free‐living), mediated ecosystem C storage. To quantify proportions of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi, we measured stable isotopes in fungivorous microarthropods that efficiently censused the fungal community. Fungivorous microarthropods consumed on average 35% mycorrhizal fungi and 65% saprotrophic fungi. Elevated temperature decreased C flux through mycorrhizal fungi by 7%, whereas elevated CO2 increased it by 4%. The dietary proportion of mycorrhizal fungi correlated across treatments with total plant biomass (n= 4, r2= 0.96, P= 0.021), but not with root biomass. This suggests that belowground allocation increased with increasing plant biomass, but that mycorrhizal fungi were stronger sinks for recent photosynthate than roots. Low N content of needles (0.8–1.1%) and A horizon soil (0.11%) coupled with high C : N ratios of A horizon soil (25–26) and litter (36–48) indicated severe N limitation. Elevated temperature treatments increased the saprotrophic decomposition of litter and lowered litter C : N ratios. Because of low N availability of this litter, its decomposition presumably increased N immobilization belowground, thereby restricting soil N availability for both mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth. Although increased photosynthesis with elevated CO2 increased allocation of C to ectomycorrhizal fungi, it did not benefit plant N status. Most N for plants and soil storage was derived from litter decomposition. N sequestration by mycorrhizal fungi and limited N release during litter decomposition by saprotrophic fungi restricted N supply to plants, thereby constraining plant growth response to the different treatments.
Survival after breast cancer treatment: the impact of provider volume
Authors: Bailie Karen , Dobie Iain , Kirk Stephen , Donnelly Michael 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  Research has not paid sufficient attention to the need for adequate case‐mix adjustment in studies of the relationship between provider volume and performance. This study attempted to address this limitation by capturing and including 5‐year survival outcomes and a wide range of case‐mix variables in multivariate analyses of the volume–outcome relationship relating to breast cancer treatments.Methods  All patients diagnosed with invasive primary breast cancer during 1996 (n = 809) were included. Patient, disease and treatment data were extracted from medical records; survival data were corroborated using official death registrations. A Cox proportional hazards approach was used to model relationships between patient, disease and service variables and risk of death.Results  There were 262 deaths among 807 patients followed up; overall 5‐year survival was 70%. Advancing age, higher levels of co‐morbidity, late‐stage disease, more positive nodes, and high‐grade tumour were independently associated with lower survival (P < 0.05). Patients who received hormonal therapy (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28–0.89) and radiotherapy (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.03) had a survival advantage. Using a cut‐off point of ≥30 cases per annum, survival was lower for patients treated in low volume settings (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.09–1.96) after adjustment for case mix.Conclusions  There was some evidence to support treatment in high volume settings although patient and disease variables were the major determinants of survival for patients with breast cancer.
Hospital doctors’ views of factors influencing their prescribing
Authors: Ljungberg Christina , Lindblad Åsa Kettis , Tully Mary Patricia 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRationale, aim and objective  Factors influencing doctors in prescribing of drugs have mostly been studied in primary care. Studies performed in hospital care have primarily focused on new drugs, not prescribing in general. An in‐depth understanding of the prescribing process in the more specialized secondary care is not only important for secondary care itself, but because it also influences prescribing in primary care. The aim of this study is therefore to identify factors that secondary care doctors believe influence them in prescribing drugs, using a qualitative approach.Method  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 hospital doctors in different medical specialities and the interviews were analysed from an interpretivist perspective. The information gathered was on how prescribing decisions were made in general and how the doctors chose a specific drug therapy, including information sources used.Results  According to our interviews, the hospital doctors took patient‐specific factors and cost into consideration when prescribing, informed by different written information sources and commercial verbal information. Personal practice, colleagues and therapeutic tradition at the hospital or clinic, were influential in the prescribing of drugs. The themes identified should not to be seen as individual influences; many of them probably act in combination.Conclusions  If changes in prescribing behaviour are desired, factors warranting more attention include understanding how to influence therapeutic traditions and the doctor’s personal habits for prescribing. The importance of clinical experience and information exchange with colleagues should not be underestimated in providing information about drugs to hospital doctors.
The HvDOF19 transcription factor mediates the abscisic acid‐dependent repression of hydrolase genes in germinating barley aleurone
Authors: Moreno‐Risueno Miguel Ángel , Díaz Isabel , Carrillo Laura , Fuentes Rebeca , Carbonero Pilar 
Published: June 2007

SummaryUpon germination of seed cereals, mobilization of the reserves stored in the endosperm is regulated by the phytohormones gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). In barley, the cis regulatory elements and the trans‐acting factors mediating the ABA response of hydrolase genes remain elusive. Two new barley genes, HvDof17 and HvDof19, encoding transcription factors (TFs) of the DNA binding with one finger (DOF) class have been characterized and their role upon germination investigated. HvDOF19 binds in a specific manner to the pyrimidine box within the GARC of a thiol‐protease gene (Al21), and mediates the ABA repression of this gene in the barley aleurone. Silencing of HvDof19 in transient expression assays diminishes the inhibitory effect of ABA upon expression of the Al21 gene promoter. Transcripts from HvDof17 and HvDof19 accumulate early in germinating aleurones with a peak at 16 h after seed imbibition (hai), whereas the mRNAs of the GA‐induced activator GAMYB remain little expressed. At 48 hai, mRNA content of both genes is comparatively insignificant compared with that of GAMYB, which reaches a maximum. Both TFs repress, in transient expression assays, the GA‐ and the GAMYB‐mediated activation of this thiol‐protease gene (Al21). In addition, HvDOF17 and HvDOF19 interact with GAMYB in plant cell nuclei, and HvDOF17, but not HvDOF19, interferes with the DNA binding of GAMYB to its target site in the promoter of the Al21 gene. A regulatory model of hydrolase gene expression upon germination is proposed.
Penetrating keratoplasty in a California Brown Pelican
Authors: Lynch Gwendolyn L. , Scagliotti Randall H. , Hoffman Allison , Dubielzig Richard R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractFresh homologous penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was performed on the left cornea of a young adult female California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) for the treatment of vision‐threatening corneal scarring and granulation tissue. The procedure appeared to be highly successful based on short‐term clinical follow‐up and histopathology results. However, the patient died from unrelated causes before long‐term follow‐up could be obtained.
High‐normal levels of albuminuria predict the development of micro‐ and macroalbuminuria and increased mortality in Brazilian Type 2 diabetic patients: an 8‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Murussi M. , Campagnolo N. , Beck M. O. , Gross J. L. , Silveiro S. P. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim  To analyse the risk factors for the development of micro‐ and macroalbuminuria and mortality rates in a cohort of normoalbuminuric Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.Methods  In this prospective study, 193 Type 2 DM patients with urinary albumin excretion (UAE) < 20 µg/min, 96 men (50%), aged 56.5 ± 9 years, were followed for a mean period of 8 ± 3 years. UAE and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) were measured. The outcomes were development of persistent micro‐ and macroalbuminuria and mortality.Results  Twenty patients were lost to follow‐up. Of the 173 remaining patients, 33 (19%) died. The Cox analysis [hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval] revealed that the baseline significant predictors of mortality were higher UAE [above median (5 µg/min); HR 2.7, 1.2–6.1; P = 0.02], male sex (HR 3.9, 1.7–9.2; P = 0.002), age (HR 1.6, 1.3–1.9; P = 0.0001), and fasting plasma glucose (HR 1.2, 1.1–1.3; P = 0.004). Smoking and eGFR were not significant in this model. Follow‐up renal data were available for 158 patients: 34 (22%) progressed to microalbuminuria and seven (4%) to macroalbuminuria, and the baseline predictors were a higher UAE (> 5 µg/min, HR 2.5, 1.2–5.1; P = 0.02), presence of diabetic retinopathy (HR 2.5, 1.3–5.0; P = 0.009), fasting glucose (HR 1.1, 1.0–1.2; P = 0.015), and male sex (HR 2.2, 1.1–4.7; P = 0.04), independently of smoking and hypertension. Lower GFR (HR 0.98, 0.97–1.00; P = 0.07) was of borderline significance.Conclusions  In normoalbuminuric Type 2 DM patients, the development of micro‐ or macroalbuminuria and mortality rates was independently and positively associated with higher levels of albuminuria, although still in the traditionally established normal range.
Mixed Unemployment and Differentiated Policies
Authors: Cette Gilbert , Taddei Dominique 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT: The works related to the disequilibrium theory often show that situations of classical unemployment and of Keynesian unemployment coexist on a long‐term basis. The following study deals with a theoretical model of mixed unemployment reflecting this coexistence. In this model, prices are assumed to be flexible upward, but not downward. Hence, classical unemployment leads to inflation, without quantitative rationing on demand, which is closer to reality.The study analyses the asymmetric relations between the classical and the Keynesian sectors as well as the resulting implications for economic policy. What comes out is that differentiated policies always have a stronger impact than aggregate policies. The highest level of efficiency is obtained by stimulating the supply of firms set in the classical situation, provided that one acts on the non‐wage determinants of supply in order not to further depress the outlets for firms set in the Keynesian situation.
Twenty Years after the Hot Autumn: Work and Politics in Italy from Rupture to Change
Authors: Regini Marino , Lange Peter 
Published: June 2007

Abstract. In the first paper the authors make a critical analysis of the interpretations and models generally used for it caso italiano(the Italian Case) and propose explanations that are not one‐sided, and that take into account all the elements of continuity which characterised the various phases of these last twenty years.The second paper examines the institutional features of the Italian industrial relations system, and underlines its ‘constant characteristic’. that is. its under‐institutionalisation. The author emphasises the negative effects of these institutional shortcomings, and shows concern that the much exalted ‘flexibility’ of the Italian system could be detrimental, rather than positive, as it derives from these shortcomings.The note by Guido Romagnoli. attempts to use some theoretical statements on union behaviour, as the key to interpret the events of the Italian case. The author then indicates some aspects and reasons for the crisis of Italian unions.The fourth paper examines the relationship of the unions with the Italian political system over the last twenty years. This article suggests that it is characterised by considerable continuity in stabilising this political system, both in phases of strength and in times of weakness. This stabilising role has. however, not been reciprocated; in fact, not only has the political system not stabilised the unions and industrial relations, but has become a major obstacle to their strategic reorientation.The last paper in this group of essays on the Autunno Caldo offers what could be termed an ‘institutional’ explanation of union continuity, analysing the various phases of collective mobilisation. political exchange and flexibility, and examines the relationships between the social actors during these phases.The selection of papers published here is in memoriam of our colleague and friend Guido Romagnoli, who suddenly died shortly after the conference. For this reason it includes the outline that he presented at that conference which he could not develop into a full article.
Inequalities in Entry to Higher Education: a Comparison Over Time between Scotland and England and Wales
Authors: Iannelli Cristina 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper uses data from the Scottish School Leavers Surveys and the England and Wales Youth Cohort Study to analyse changes over time in gender and social class inequalities in the opportunities of young people to participate in higher education (HE) in Scotland, England and Wales. The results show that in Great Britain, in the period from the end of the 1980s to 2001–2002, HE expansion has benefited more women than men, and in the most recent time points has led to a reduction in social inequalities. However, gender and social class differences persist at degree level and in the choice of subject studied. The results also show that higher proportions of working class students enter HE in Scotland than in England and Wales, but that social inequalities are more marked in Scotland. The larger availability of vocational routes in Scotland, at both sub‐degree and degree level, may explain country differences in HE participation rate of working class students.
Does Higher Education Need a Hippocratic Oath?
Authors: Watson David 
Published: June 2007

AbstractTaking as a starting point Eric Ashby's proposal that academic staff should swear to inculcate ‘the discipline of constructive dissent’, this paper explores the question of whether or not contemporary society's ethical expectations of higher education should be codified. Three types of relationship between the university and its communities are explored: ‘first order’, arising from the university just being there; ‘second order’, being largely structured by contracts; and ‘third’ order, between the institution and its members. This leads to discussion of partnerships, stakeholding, of governance, of the public interest and of academic citizenship. Ashby's approach to academic values is then contrasted with that of the Institute of Business Ethics and the Council for Industry and Higher Education, as well as Macfarlane's concept of academic virtues. The author concludes with a proposed set of ‘10 commandments’ for members of universities and colleges.
A Framework for Transition: Supporting ‘Learning to Learn’ in Higher Education
Authors: Wingate Ursula 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn this paper, a framework for developing first‐year students' learning is proposed. Its aim is to increase university managers' and teachers' awareness of two issues: (1) that the currently predominant ‘skills’ approaches to the enhancement of student learning are based on a deficiency model and achieve little more than remedying the overt problems of individual students and (2) that a holistic, subject‐specific approach is needed to support all students in the complex process of learning to learn in higher education. The framework aims at facilitating transition to university by helping students to understand what is expected from them at university, by addressing their conceptions of learning and knowledge and by gradually developing their competence as independent learners as well as their competence in constructing knowledge in their discipline. Different contexts are used to apply complementary methods for the development of learning.As the framework relies on the engagement of academic teachers, it is critical that university managers and policy makers give appropriate recognition to effective teaching. This involves instigating changes in conceptions of teaching, providing opportunities for educational development and setting incentives for teachers' commitment to student learning.