bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parenting programmes: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research
Authors: Kane G. A. , Wood V. A. , Barlow J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground  Parenting programmes are at the heart of intervention strategies for parents of children with emotional and behaviour problems. Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials have indicated that such programmes can improve many aspects of family life. However, there is currently a dearth of information concerning what it is that makes parenting programmes meaningful and helpful to parents. The aim of this paper was to examine parents' experience and perceptions of parenting programmes using the meta‐ethnographic method, in order to sensitize policymakers and practitioners to the key factors that parents perceive to be of value.Methods  Systematic searches of a number of electronic databases were undertaken using key search terms. Critical appraisal of included studies was conducted using standardized criteria, and the reports were synthesized using meta‐ethnographic methods.Results  Six reports were purposefully selected and critically appraised independently by two reviewers. Two were excluded. Based on the remaining four papers, five key concepts were identified as important when planning and delivering parenting programmes. A lines‐of‐argument synthesis was developed which suggests that the acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding, together with feelings of acceptance and support from other parents in the parenting group, enabled parents to regain control and feel more able to cope. This led to a reduction in feelings of guilt and social isolation, increased empathy with their children and confidence in dealing with their behaviour.Conclusion  This evaluation provides an indication of the components that parents perceive to be necessary in the provision of parenting programmes, independent of the particular type of programme being provided. It may therefore aid policymakers in decisions about which programmes to provide.
Interleukin‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and insulin relationships to body composition, metabolism and resting energy expenditure in a migrant Asian Indian population
Authors: Rush Elaine C. , Plank Lindsay D. , Yajnik Chittaranjan S. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryObjective  Systemic inflammation and insulin resistance may play important roles in the pathogenesis of obesity‐related diseases for which migrant Asian Indians are at particularly high risk. We examined relationships between markers of insulin resistance and inflammation, resting energy expenditure (REE), and body composition.Design and methods  Measurements were made of total and regional body composition, including regional fat mass (FM) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), REE by indirect calorimetry and fasting interleukin (IL)‐6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, glucose and insulin, in 79 healthy Asian Indians (38F, 41M; age 30–49 years) from urban Auckland, New Zealand. Beta‐cell function (HOMA B%) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA S%) were derived using homeostatic model assessment.Results  Men had a more central distribution of body fat than women. REE was strongly correlated with IL‐6 concentrations in men but not in women. In both sexes, IL‐6 was associated positively with percentage body fat and HOMA B% and inversely with ASMM and HOMA S%. Insulin increased and HOMA S% decreased with increasing waist‐to‐hip ratio and abdominal‐to‐thigh fat ratio in men but not in women. TNF‐α was not significantly associated with any of the variables examined.Conclusion  Relationships between body fat distribution and HOMA S% were strongly sex dependent and may indicate a greater propensity for development of the metabolic syndrome among male Asian Indians than females in the age group examined.
The analgesic efficacy of lidocaine/prilocaine (EMLA) cream during fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules
Authors: Gursoy Alptekin , Ertugrul Derun Taner , Sahin Mustafa , Tutuncu Neslihan Bascil , Demirer Asli Nar , Demirag Nilgun Guvener 
Published: March 2007

SummaryObjective  Pain is one of the few drawbacks of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in patients with nodular thyroid disease (NTD). Lidocaine/prilocaine cream, an eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA), is a frequently used topical anaesthetic. Despite its well‐documented efficacy for the relief of pain associated with other cutaneous procedures that involve needle insertion, the analgesic role of EMLA has not been previously reported in patients with NTD who are undergoing FNAB. The aim of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy of EMLA for FNAB‐associated pain in patients with NTD.Design  Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial.Patients  The study was conducted at a thyroid outpatient clinic. We studied 99 patients with NTD.Measurements  Patients with NTD were allocated to receive either 2·5 g of EMLA (n = 50) or placebo (n = 49) 60 min before ultrasonographically guided FNAB. A series of four biopsies of each nodule was performed. Patients rated pain associated with the procedure according to a 100‐mm visual analogue scale (VAS), an 11‐point numeric rating scale (NRS), and 4‐category verbal rating scale (VRS).Results  When the EMLA group was compared with the placebo group, there were no significant differences with respect to age, sex, thyroid volume, nodule size or nodule site. Significant differences were noted in the pain ratings of the two groups according to all three pain scales. When the effectiveness of EMLA was compared with that of placebo, the mean VAS score was 25·0 ± 22·3 mm vs. 40·0 ± 30·5 mm (P = 0·006) and the mean NRS score was 2·9 ± 2·3 points vs. 4·0 ± 2·6 points (P = 0·02). The absolute numbers according to VRS score in each group was also significantly different (P = 0·01). Although our sample size was small, the data suggest that FNAB‐associated pain was sex‐related and that women were significantly more sensitive than were men (P = 0·003 for VAS score and P = 0·001 for NRS score). No adverse effects from the use of EMLA were reported.Conclusions  To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that a topical anaesthetic, EMLA, provides an effective and noninvasive analgesia during the FNAB of NTD.
Relative adrenal insufficiency: an identifiable entity in nonseptic critically ill patients?
Authors: De Jong Margriet F. C. , Beishuizen Albertus , Spijkstra Jan‐Jaap , Girbes Armand R. J. , Groeneveld A. B. Johan 
Published: March 2007

SummaryObjective  To determine whether relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) can be identified in nonseptic hypotensive patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).Design  Retrospective study in a medical–surgical ICU of a university hospital.Patients  One hundred and seventy‐two nonseptic ICU patients (51% after trauma or surgery), who underwent a short 250 µg ACTH test because of > 6 h hypotension or vasopressor/inotropic therapy.Measurements  On the test day, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were calculated to estimate disease severity. The ICU mortality until day 28 was recorded. Best discriminative levels of baseline cortisol, increases and peaks were established using receiver operating characteristic curves. These and corticosteroid treatment (in n = 112, 65%), among other variables, were examined by multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to find independent predictors of ICU mortality until day 28.Results  ICU mortality until day 28 was 23%. Nonsurvivors had higher SAPS II and SOFA scores. Baseline cortisol levels correlated directly with albumin levels and SAPS II. In the multivariate analyses, a cortisol baseline > 475 nmol/l and cortisol increase < 200 nmol/l predicted mortality, largely dependent on disease severity but independent of albumin levels. Corticosteroid (hydrocortisone) treatment was not associated with an improved outcome, regardless of the ACTH test results.Conclusion  In nonseptic hypotensive ICU patients, a low cortisol/ACTH response and treatment with corticosteroids do not contribute to mortality prediction by severity of disease. The data thus argue against RAI identifiable by cortisol/ACTH testing and necessitating corticosteroid substitution treatment in these patients.
The speed of ecological speciation
Authors: HENDRY ANDREW P. , NOSIL PATRIK , RIESEBERG LOREN H. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAdaptation can occur on ecological time‐scales (contemporary evolution) and adaptive divergence can cause reproductive isolation (ecological speciation). From the intersection of these two premises follows the prediction that reproductive isolation can evolve on ecological time‐scales. We explore this possibility in theory and in nature. Finding few relevant studies, we examine each in some detail.Theory: Several models have demonstrated that ecological differences can drive the evolution of partial reproductive barriers in dozens to hundreds of generations. Barriers likely to evolve quickly include dispersal rate, habitat preference and selection against migrants/hybrids.Plants: Adjacent populations adapting to different fertilizer treatments or to mine tailings can develop reproductive barriers within at least 100 generations. These barriers include differences in flowering time and selection against migrants/hybrids.Invertebrates: Populations on native and introduced host plants can manifest reproductive barriers in dozens to hundreds of generations. These barriers include local host preference and selection against migrants/hybrids.Vertebrates: Salmon adapting to divergent breeding environments can show restricted gene flow within at least 14 generations. Birds evolving different migratory routes can mate assortatively within at least 10–20 generations. Hybrid sculpins can become isolated from their ancestral species within at least 20–200 generations.Ecological speciation can commence within dozens of generations. How far it goes is an important question for future research.
Source components and interannual variability of soil CO2 efflux under experimental warming and clipping in a grassland ecosystem
Authors: ZHOU XUHUI , WAN SHIQIANG , LUO YIQI 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPartitioning soil CO2 efflux into autotrophic (RA) and heterotrophic (RH) components is crucial for understanding their differential responses to climate change. We conducted a long‐term experiment (2000–2005) to investigate effects of warming 2°C and yearly clipping on soil CO2 efflux and its components (i.e. RA and RH) in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Interannual variability of these fluxes was also examined. Deep collars (70 cm) were inserted into soil to measure RH. RA was quantified as the difference between soil CO2 efflux and RH. Warming treatment significantly stimulated soil CO2 efflux and its components (i.e. RA and RH) in most years. In contrast, yearly clipping significantly reduced soil CO2 efflux only in the last 2 years, although it decreased RH in every year of the study. Temperature sensitivity (i.e. apparent Q10 values) of soil CO2 efflux was slightly lower under warming (P>0.05) and reduced considerably by clipping (P<0.05) compared with that in the control. On average over the 4 years, RH accounted for approximately 65% of soil CO2 efflux with a range from 58% to 73% in the four treatments. Over seasons, the contribution of RH to soil CO2 efflux reached a maximum in winter (∼90%) and a minimum in summer (∼35%). Annual soil CO2 efflux did not vary substantially among years as precipitation did. The interannual variability of soil CO2 efflux may be mainly caused by precipitation distribution and summer severe drought. Our results suggest that the effects of warming and yearly clipping on soil CO2 efflux and its components did not result in significant changes in RH or RA contribution, and rainfall timing may be more important in determining interannual variability of soil CO2 efflux than the amount of annual precipitation.
The transcription factor Con7p is a central regulator of infection‐related morphogenesis in the rice blast fungusMagnaporthe grisea
Authors: Odenbach Dominik , Breth Björn , Thines Eckhard , Weber Roland W. S. , Anke Heidrun , Foster Andrew J. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryA strain harbouring an insertion within the promoter of theCON7gene ofMagnaporthe griseawas isolated. This gene was previously shown to be essential for appressorium formation and growth in planta and is predicted to encode a transcription factor. Microarray‐based gene expression analysis was used to identify several genes whose transcription during germination depends on Con7p. These include the pathogenicity factor‐encoding genePTH11and several other genes which likePTH11are predicted to encode G protein‐coupled receptors. Microarray analysis also revealed several Con7p‐dependent genes which may encode factors determining cell wall structure or function, either through the synthesis/degradation of cell wall components or by association with the cell exterior. One Con7p‐dependent gene predicted to encode a class VII chitin synthase was deleted, leading to dramatic consequences on the pathogenic development of the resultant strain. Within the con7–mutant, a 29% reduction in chitin content of germinated spores was found and the mutant was hypersensitive to the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin Z. A green fluorescent protein‐tagged Con7p was found to have nuclear localization within spores. Taken together, these observations suggest that Con7p encodes a transcription factor required for the transcription of several genes which participate in disease‐related morphogenesis inM. grisea.
NK–KIR ligand identification: a quick Q‐PCR approach for HLA‐C epitope typing
Authors: Schellekens J. , Rozemuller E. H. , Borst H. P. E. , Otten H. G. , Van Den Tweel J. G. , Tilanus M. G. J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInteraction of donor natural killer (NK)‐cell‐associated killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) with the patient’s human leukocyte antigen‐C (HLA‐C) ligands can result in an alloreactive NK response after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In many retrospective studies, additional HLA‐C‐typing data are required to predict NK‐cell alloreactivity. We developed a Taqman assay using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q‐PCR) technique that facilitates HLA‐C epitope typing, allowing the assignment of HLA‐C group 1 or 2 alleles based on the dimorphism at residues 77 and 80 rather than based on the sequence specific priming (SSP) and sequence‐based typing allele types. Q‐PCR analysis for HLA‐C epitope detection showed three clusters reflecting homozygous group 1 or 2 and heterozygous samples. This new approach introduces a quick HLA‐C epitope screening method to define the presence of the ligand for the KIR–HLA‐C interaction.
Rapid detection of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (G241R and K469E) polymorphisms by a novel PCR–SSP assay
Authors: Tajik N. , Salari F. , Hajilooi M. , Amoli M. , Salekmoghaddam A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIntercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) is a cell surface glycoprotein member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and is actively involved in immune and inflammatory responses. We introduce a novel polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primers (PCR–SSP) method for rapid and simultaneous genotyping of ICAM‐1 G241R and K469E polymorphisms. In a total of 184 DNA samples that have been previously analyzed for these polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, re‐genotyping of all samples with this new assay showed accurate and reproducible results. As PCR–SSP‐based genotyping protocols are more convenient and cost‐effective to do, it could therefore offer a valuable tool for assessment of ICAM‐1 polymorphisms to which more confirmatory studies are needed.
HLA‐DRB1*0402 haplotypes without DQB1*0302 in Venezuelan patients with pemphigus vulgaris
Authors: Sáenz‐Cantele A. M. , Fernández‐Mestre M. , Montagnani S. , Calebotta A. , Balbas O. , Layrisse Z. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe two basic forms of autoimmune intraepidermal blistering diseases, pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF), affect different layers of the skin, have different symptoms and target different antigens. We have defined human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1‐DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in a case–control study of 66 non‐Jewish patients attending a public reference Hospital over the past 10 years. The control group consisted of 101 matched individuals tested also by medium to high‐resolution polymerase chain reaction‐sequence‐specific oligonucleotide with primers and probes from the 12th and 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop. Patients and controls were descendants of three‐generation individuals born in the country. Among the patients, 49 had PV, 50% showed predominantly mucosal involvement, 50% showed predominantly the cutaneous clinical phenotype and 17 had PF. Statistically significant HLA‐DR frequency differences between patients with PV and controls were found only for DRB1*0402 and DRB1*1401 [odds ratio (OR) = 27.22, confidence interval (CI) 94.7–7.82, P= 1.1 × 10−14 and OR = 46.56, CI 801.4–2.70 P= 7.5 × 10−6, respectively]. Both alleles were also increased in the patients with PF compared with the controls (OR = 7.0, P= 0.038 and OR = 21.64, P= 0.009, respectively), but the significance of the difference did not resist Bonferroni correction. Haplotype analysis showed that DRB1*0402 was always present with DQB1*0302 and DRB1*1401 with DQB1*0503, but no independent effect of the DQB1*0302 in the former haplotype was evident. Our results support the hypothesis that the DRB1*0402 without DQB1*0302 is the most relevant HLA‐DRB1 allele responsible for the pathogenesis of pemphigus in Venezuelan patients with PV and discard the DQB1*0302 influence observed in other populations.
The cyanotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 responds to cyanide by defence mechanisms against iron deprivation, oxidative damage and nitrogen stress
Authors: Luque‐Almagro Victor M. , Huertas María J. , Roldán M. Dolores , Moreno‐Vivián Comrado , Martínez‐Luque Manuel , Blasco Rafael , Castillo Francisco 
Published: March 2007

SummaryTwo‐dimensional (2‐D) electrophoresis approach has been used to test protein expression changes in response to cyanide in the alkaliphilic bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344. This is a cyanide‐assimilating strain which also grows in media containing cyanide‐enriched effluent from the jewellery industry. The bacterium efficiently uses this residue as the sole nitrogen source for aerobic growth under alkaline pH with negligible nitrogen losses as HCN. Cell‐free extracts isolated from P. pseudoalcaligenes grown with a jewellery residue, free cyanide or ammonium chloride as nitrogen source were subjected to 2‐D electrophoresis and the spot patterns were examined to determine differential protein expression. Electrophoretic plates exhibiting an average of 1000 spots showed significant differences in the expression of about 44 proteins depending on the nitrogen source. Some of these protein spots were analysed by Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS). Characterization of five of these proteins reveals that cyanide shock induces proteins related to iron acquisition, regulation of nitrogen assimilation pathways and oxidative stress repairing and protection.
Compensatory role of the cis‐trans‐isomerase and cardiolipin synthase in the membrane fluidity of Pseudomonas putida DOT‐T1E
Authors: Bernal Patricia , Segura Ana , Ramos Juan‐Luis 
Published: March 2007

SummaryIn Gram‐negative bacteria, cell membrane fluidity is influenced by phospholipid head group composition and linked fatty acids. Exposure of Pseudomonas putida to stressing agents results in short‐ and long‐term modifications in membrane lipids. The main adaptive change observed in response to organic solvents in the short term is the cis‐ to trans‐isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids in a reaction mediated by cis/trans‐isomerase (CTI); whereas in the long term an increase in cardiolipin content takes place. Despite the interest of these genes in the context of stress responses, the transcriptional regulation of the cti and cls genes has not been studied before. The cti and cls (cardiolipin synthase) genes in the solvent‐tolerant P. putida DOT‐T1E strain form monocistronic units and are expressed from sigma‐70 promoters. Expression from the cls promoter is sixfold higher in the stationary phase than in the log phase, and expression of the cls gene is not influenced by solvents. The cti gene is expressed at fairly constant levels in the log and stationary phase, but its level of expression is moderately upregulated in response to toluene. We used fluorescence polarization assays to show that mutants deficient in the cti gene exhibit less rigid membranes than the wild‐type strain, whereas mutants with a knockout in the cls gene exhibit increased membrane rigidity. A double cti/cls mutant has similar membrane rigidity as the wild‐type strain, which points towards a compensatory effect of the mutations with regard to membrane fluidity. However, the cls and cls/cti mutants were more sensitive to solvents than the wild‐type and the cti mutant because of the impaired functioning of efflux drug transporters.
Unpopping: Solving the Image‐Space Blend Problem for Smooth Discrete LOD Transitions
Authors: Giegl Markus , Wimmer Michael 
Published: March 2007

Abstract This paper presents a new, simple and practical algorithm to avoid artifacts when switching between discrete levels of detail (LOD) by smoothly blending LOD representations in image space. We analyse the alternatives of conventional alpha‐blending and so‐called late‐switching (the switching of LODs ‘far enough’ from the eye‐point), widely thought to solve the LOD switching discontinuity problem, and conclude that they either do not work in practice, or defeat the concept of LODs. In contrast we show that our algorithm produces visually pleasing blends for static and animated discrete LODs, for discrete LODs with different types of LOD representations (e.g. billboards and meshes) and even to some extent totally different objects with similar spatial extent, with a very small runtime overhead.
A Survey of General‐Purpose Computation on Graphics Hardware
Authors: Owens John D. , Luebke David , Govindaraju Naga , Harris Mark , Krüger Jens , Lefohn Aaron E. , Purcell Timothy J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe rapid increase in the performance of graphics hardware, coupled with recent improvements in its programmability, have made graphics hardware a compelling platform for computationally demanding tasks in a wide variety of application domains. In this report, we describe, summarize, and analyze the latest research in mapping general‐purpose computation to graphics hardware.We begin with the technical motivations that underlie general‐purpose computation on graphics processors (GPGPU) and describe the hardware and software developments that have led to the recent interest in this field. We then aim the main body of this report at two separate audiences. First, we describe the techniques used in mapping general‐purpose computation to graphics hardware. We believe these techniques will be generally useful for researchers who plan to develop the next generation of GPGPU algorithms and techniques. Second, we survey and categorize the latest developments in general‐purpose application development on graphics hardware.