bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Obesity and intellectual disability
Authors: Rimmer James H. , Yamaki Kiyoshi 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWhile much of the industrialized world struggles for clues to the growing rise in obesity in their respective countries, researchers and service providers involved in understanding the health characteristics and health behaviors of persons with intellectual disability (ID) struggle with their own issues regarding the increased prevalence of obesity in this segment of the population. What is particularly alarming is that adults with ID residing in the United States in smaller, less supervised settings (e.g., group homes and family households) have a significantly higher rate of obesity compared to other countries and those living in larger and more supervised settings (e.g., institutions). These differences support the theory that the environment appears to exert a powerful influence on obesity in this population. Obesity presents a substantial threat to the livelihood of persons with ID and may have an effect on community participation, independent living, and healthy years of life. The lack of research on successful weight reduction strategies for obese persons with ID makes this an important and greatly needed area of research. MRDD Research Reviews 2006;12:22–27. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Augmentation of the contraction force of human thenar muscles by and during brief discharge trains
Authors: Howells James , Trevillion Louise , Jankelowitz Stacey , Burke David 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWe investigated the influence of the history of activity on the contractile properties of abductor pollicis brevis (APB) to define how the forces produced by individual stimuli change within a stimulus train, with a view to clarifying the optimal discharge frequency for force production in brief trains. Supramaximal electrical stimuli were delivered to the median nerve at the wrist singly or in trains of 2–5 at various interstimulus intervals (ISIs). The force and electromyographic (EMG) responses to trains of n stimuli were defined by online subtraction of the responses to n − 1 stimuli. The force attributable to the nth stimulus was normalized to that produced by a single stimulus. The contraction force produced by 2 stimuli exceeded the force expected with linear summation of 2 single twitches by 30–40% at ISIs of 2–100 ms. Increasing the number of stimuli resulted in less augmentation of the force produced by the last stimulus in the train for ISIs up to 20 ms, but greater augmentation for ISIs of 50–100 ms. At ISIs of less than 10 ms, the time to peak force produced by the last stimulus in a 5‐pulse train was delayed by ∼100 ms, the peak force produced by that stimulus was less than that produced by a single stimulus, and it occurred on the falling phase of the overall contraction. These properties are best explained by the catchlike property of muscle. This implies that the augmentation of contraction force due to this property can increase throughout a stimulus train, and is not restricted to the doublet discharges that have conventionally been studied. We conclude that, with brief discharge trains, maximal forces occur at ISIs of 56–75 ms, intervals that are longer than those conventionally associated with the catchlike property. Discharge rates of 15–20 HZ appear to be optimal for force generation by APB during steady contractions. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of DNA repair genes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Pakakasama Samart , Sirirat Tanasan , Kanchanachumpol Saowanee , Udomsubpayakul Umaporn , Mahasirimongkol Surakameth , Kitpoka Pimpun , Thithapandha Amnuay , Hongeng Suradej 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackgroundPolymorphisms of DNA repair genes can alter protein structure and may impair DNA repair capacity. Defects in repairing damaged DNA lead to genetic instability and carcinogenesis. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the polymorphisms of DNA repair genes on risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).ProceduresWe genotyped polymorphisms of X‐ray repair cross‐complimenting group 1 (XRCC1) codon 194 (Arg to Trp), 280 (Arg to His) and 399 (Arg to Gln), and xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) codon 312 (Asp to Asn) and 715 (Lys to Gln) in 108 children with ALL and 317 healthy controls using PCR‐RFLP method. The allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies of these polymorphisms were compared between cases and controls using Chi‐square or Fisher's exact test. PHASE computer software was used to analyze estimated haplotypes of the XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms.ResultsThe frequency of XRCC1 194Trp allele in patients was significantly lower than that in controls (odds ratio (OR) 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47–0.97). Individuals with XRCC1 194 Trp/Trp genotype had a significantly reduced risk of ALL (OR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05–0.96). The frequency of the XRCC1 haplotype B (194Trp‐280Arg‐399Arg) was significantly lower in children with ALL when compared to controls. The XRCC1 399Gln allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of ALL (OR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.20–2.33). The frequency of the XRCC1 haplotype C (194Arg‐280Arg‐399Gln) was significantly higher in patients. There was no difference of allele frequencies of the XRCC1 280 (Arg to His), XPD 312 (Asp to Asn), or XPD 715 (Lys to Gln) between cases and controls.ConclusionThe XRCC1 194Trp allele and haplotype B showed a protective effect against development of childhood ALL. In contrast, individuals with the XRCC1 399Gln allele and haplotype C were associated with increased risk for this disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:16–20. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Successful treatment of a child with t(15;19)‐positive tumor
Authors: Mertens Fredrik , Wiebe Thomas , Adlercreutz Catharina , Mandahl Nils , French Christopher A. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractA subset of poorly differentiated carcinomas is characterized by the translocation t(15;19)(q13;p13), resulting in a BRD4/NUT fusion gene. Typically, this tumor affects children or young adults, with a predilection for midline head and neck or thoracic structures. The clinical course is invariably fatal, in spite of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We here present the successful treatment of a 10‐year‐old boy who presented with a BRD4/NUT‐positive undifferentiated tumor in the iliac bone. The patient was selected for combined modality therapy, and has remained in complete continuous remission for close to 13 years. The findings show that t(15;19)‐BRD4/NUT‐positive tumors may arise in locations more typical for other pediatric tumors, such as Ewing sarcoma, and that they not always display epithelial differentiation. More importantly, our results also demonstrate that at least some patients with t(15;19)‐positive tumors may be successfully treated. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:1015–1017. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atom transfer radical polymerization of N‐vinyl carbazole: Optimization to characterization
Authors: Brar A. S. , Kaur Sukhdeep 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe homopolymerization of N‐vinylcarbazole was performed with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with Cu(I)/Cu(II)/2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) as the catalyst system at 90 °C in toluene. N‐2‐Bromoethyl carbazole was used as the initiator, and the optimized ratio of Cu(I) to Cu(II) was found to be 1/0.3. The resulting homopolymer, poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PVK), was formed after a monomer conversion of 76% in 20 h. The molecular weight as well as the polydispersity index (PDI) showed a linear relation with the conversion, which showed control over the polymerization. A semilogarithmic plot of the monomer conversion with time was linear, indicating the presence of constant active species throughout the polymerization. The initiator efficiency and the effect of the variation of the initiator concentration on the polymerization were studied. The effects of the addition of CuBr2, the variation of the catalyst concentration with respect to the initiator, and CuX (X = Br or Cl) on the kinetics of homopolymerization were determined. With Cu(0)/CuBr2/bpy as the catalyst, faster polymerization was observed. For a chain‐extension experiments, PVK (number‐average molecular weight = 1900; PDI = 1.24) was used as a macroinitiator for the ATRP of methyl methacrylate, and this resulted in the formation of a block copolymer that gave a monomodal curve in gel permeation chromatography. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1745–1757, 2006
Recent Developments in the Safety Regime for Naval Ship Design
Authors: Andrews David 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper brings together the issues presented by the author to the two International Maritime Conferences on Design for Safety, held in Glasgow in 1999 and in Osaka in 2004. To appreciate how the safety issues for naval ships differ from those for merchant vessels, it is necessary to consider how naval ship design differs from that for most merchant ships. The paper outlines the features of the U.K. Naval Ship Safety Regime and the most significant change since its 1998 implementation, the introduction of Naval Ship Classification. The second aspect of relevance is the role of the Design Authority for a new class of warships, now that the direct design of such vessels is no longer undertaken within the relevant government procurement agency. An important safety management feature, within this arrangement, is the role of the Naval Authority, which is outlined, prior to a concluding section considering the ways in which the current Naval Ship Safety Regime might be developed further. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mixed implicit/explicit solvation models in quantum mechanical calculations of binding enthalpy for protein–ligand complexes
Authors: Nikitina E. , Sulimov V. , Grigoriev F. , Kondakova O. , Luschekina S. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAn approach to quantum mechanical investigation of interactions in protein–ligand complexes has been developed that treats the solvation effect in a mixed scheme combining implicit and explicit solvent models. In this approach, the first solvation shell of the solvent around the solute is modeled with a limited number of hydrogen bonded explicit solvent molecules. The influence of the remaining bulk solvent is treated as a surrounding continuum in the conductor‐like screening model (COSMO). The enthalpy term of the binding free energy for the protein–ligand complexes was calculated using the semiempirical PM3 method implemented in the MOPAC package, applied to a trimmed model of the protein–ligand complex constructed with special rules. The dependence of the accuracy of binding enthalpy calculations on size of the trimmed model and number of optimized parameters was evaluated. Testing of the approach was performed for 12 complexes of different ligands with trypsin, thrombin, and ribonuclease with experimentally known binding enthalpies. The root‐mean‐square deviation (RMSD) of the calculated binding enthalpies from experimental data was found as ∼1 kcal/mol over a large range. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Oviposition responses to patch quality in the larch ladybird Aphidecta obliterata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): effects of aphid density, and con- and heterospecific tracks
Authors: Oliver T.H. , Timms J.E.L. , Taylor A. , Leather S.R. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe effects and persistence of oviposition-deterring semiochemical cues from conspecific and heterospecific larval tracks on the oviposition rate of Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus) females were investigated. In addition, the effects of varying aphid prey density were considered and also whether any resulting response originated from differential nutritional status of females and/or due to aphid odour stimuli. The existence of oviposition responses to conspecific egg chemicals was also considered. Gravid A. obliterata females were deterred from oviposition by conspecific larval tracks and the effect was density dependent. Females actively avoided searching in these contaminated areas. Tracks induced a significant effect on oviposition for up to three days. Heterospecific tracks of the coccinellid Adalia bipunctata (Fabricius) or the chrysopid Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) did not induce any oviposition response in A. obliterata females. Increasing aphid density induced increased oviposition rate in A. obliterata females. Nutritional status of females was an important factor in the relationship between aphid density and oviposition rate, but aphid associated cues (odours) were not. There was an inhibitory effect of extracts of conspecific egg-surface chemicals on oviposition by A. obliterata females. In the field, cannibalism, competition and limited food availability represent the major threats to egg and larval survival. Patch quality assessment mechanisms enable females to lay eggs at sites where offspring survival is maximized. Oviposition-deterring semiochemicals tend to promote more even distribution of predators over prey patches.
Response of the polyphagous whitefly Bemisia tabaci B-biotype (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to crop diversification – influence of multiple sensory stimuli on activity and fecundity
Authors: Bird T.L. , Krüger K. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractA fundamental question concerning crop diversification is which mechanisms determine pest population size in polycultures compared to monocultures. It has been proposed that polyphagous insects experience a difficulty in decision-making when selecting food and oviposition sites in the presence of different host plants. This hypothesis was tested in the extremely polyphagous whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-biotype, where behaviour (movement) and fecundity of females were compared in choice and no-choice experiments in the laboratory. Two parallel tests, one on different crops, including cucumber, bean and tomato, and one on different tomato cultivars, were conducted using both a mixture of crops and of tomato cultivars, as opposed to the same crop or cultivar respectively. Bemisia tabaci showed a distinct behavioural preference for cucumber when exposed to different crops simultaneously suggesting that B. tabaci has no difficulty in choosing a host plant, i.e. in making a decision, when one of the plants offered in the choice test is a high-ranking host plant. Conversely, when only low-ranking hosts of similar, but not identical, signatures were present, female whiteflies appeared to have difficulty in making a decision, resulting in increased movement and reduced fecundity. This is consistent with both the hypothesis that polyphagous insects have a problem selecting a host plant when given multiple choices and with the hierarchy threshold model, under which egg loads are lessened between periods of searching for better host plants. The study illustrates how insect behaviour can be affected by intercropping not only with different crops, but also with different cultivars of the same crop, thus potentially providing a simple and efficient way of reducing whitefly population build-up.
Parents' and professionals' perceptions of Quality of Life in children with speech and language difficulty
Authors: Markham Chris , Dean Taraneh 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground: The true impact of speech and language difficulties (SaLD) on children's lives and the effectiveness of intervention is unknown. Within other fields of paediatric healthcare, clinicians and policy‐makers are increasingly emphasizing the utility of Health‐Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) studies and measures. SaLT has a variety of measures to assess and treat children's ‘quantity’ of life, but also requires measures that allow it to measure and even target their Quality of Life.Aims: To provide novel, primary data on the HRQoL of children with speech and/or language difficulties.Methods & Procedures: The study used a qualitative methodology to begin the process of developing knowledge about HRQoL in children with SaLD. Focus group interviews were held with parents and professional carers of children with SaLD, and participants were encouraged to reflect on their experiences and beliefs around HRQoL issues for these children. The discussions within these groups were tape‐recorded and analysed using the principles of grounded theory and content analysis.Outcomes & Results: Analysis of tape‐recorded data identified ten descriptive themes related to children with SaLDs HRQoL. These themes were labelled: Inclusion; Behaviour and reactions of others; Education and awareness; Friendships and family relations; Schooling; The child's needs; Dependence/independence; Quality of care; Choice and potential; and Variability. The results can be seen as lying on a spectrum, with factors outside of the child at one pole, the individual child's characteristics at the other, and the interaction between the child and significant others in the middle. A number of the themes reflected a common belief, across all groups, that the HRQoL of children with SaLD is influenced by the behaviours, attitudes and beliefs of people surrounding them. In addition, participants' beliefs that the quality of a child's social integration, relationships and care are also related to their HRQoL.Conclusions: These are encouraging results, indicating that children with SaLD experience HRQoL issues associated with their communication impairments. The results support the suggestion that speech and language therapists should ensure that their assessments and interventions account for both a child's impairment and also factors related to well‐being reflected in the themes presented here. However, this was also a small‐scale study and consequently further research of this type, with a larger and more varied population, is necessary so that HRQoL issues for all clinical sub‐groups of children with SaLD can be explored.
Population changes within a group of fish species in Lake Tanganyika following their exploitation
Authors: Coulter G. W. 
Published: January 2006

Pelagic fish populations in Lake Tanganyika consist mainly of two small clupeid species and four centroponiid species which prey on them. Exploitation with purse‐seines began in the southeast arm in 1962 and catches were sampled up to early 1969. Inshore clupeid populations were also sampled with a scoop‐net (lusenga of the kind used in the traditional inshore fishery.Clupeid biomass reached annual maxima around September. One clupeid species, Stolothrissa tanganicae Regan, dominated pelagic catches except in 2 years when about equal quantities of the other clupeid, Limnothrissa miodon Blgr. were caught. Numbers of each predator (three species of Lates and Luciolates stappersii Blgr.) decreased from 1963 to 1966 and remained low thereafter. The clupeid catch rose from 1964 to 1967 and remained high in 1968. The average nightly catch weight per year of all species together altered relatively little. Changes in population size distributions occurred.Sampling methods were concluded to be valid for clupeid populations, but probably indi‐cated only general changes in predator populations. Clupeid life‐cycles are mostly accomplished within a year, and appear closely related to the periodic and spatial variations in plankton production. The two species are competitive and can replace one another in the pelagic zone. Certain distribution patterns of the clupeids and of the predator young are believed to be adaptations to severe predation. Low replacement rates under fishing pressure account for the decline of predator species, and the clupeid increase resulted from reduction in predation. A fairly stable exploited phase has apparently been reached in which clupeid biomass is much greater and predator biomass much less than in the natural state. The data encourage certain predictions. Similar major trends occurred in the much larger fishery in the Burundi sector of the lake.
An attempt to balance the energy budget of a host‐parasite system
Authors: Walkey M. , Meakins R. H. 
Published: January 2006

A quantitative assessment of the demand by the parasite Schistocephalus solidus (Miiller, 1776) upon its secondary host, Gasterosteus aculentus L., was obtained by comparing the energy budgets for infected and non‐infected fish. Observations on the energy trans‐formations during feeding, assimilation, growth and respiration of fishes indicated some overall effects of the parasite upon host metabolism.Infection resulted in a greater depletion of host food reserws, shown by a marked in‐crease in mortality of parasitized fish during starvation. When fed ad libitum upon Tubifex, differences were recorded in the feeding and assimilation rates of fish. By comparison, no significant differences were detected in the respiratory expenditure of infected and non‐infected hosts. The computation of energy budgets indicated that fish bearing parasites characteristically exhibited a higher gross efficiency than did fish without parasites. How‐ever, subtraction of the calculated effect due to the presence of worms, suggested that the efficiency of infected fish alone, that is, without their parasites, was actually lower than the efficiency of uninfected fish. It is considered therefore that the apparent greater energy turnover in a parasitized fish is due to the parasite being more efficient in its energy trans‐formations than is its host.
An experiment on the culture of Tilapia esculenta (Graham) and Tilapia zillii (Gervais) (Cichlidae) in fish ponds
Authors: Payne A.I. 
Published: January 2006

Segregated populations of Tilapia zillii and Tilapia esculenta were kept in artificial ponds. Supplementary food was given and phytoplankton was encouraged by the addition of superphosphate and ammonium sulphate fertilisers. The fry were cropped regularly in an attempt to control population size. A control population of T. zillii was also established in which none of these procedures were carried out.The growth of T. esculenta was found to be dependent upon the phytoplankton density of the pond whilst T. zillii successfully utilized the supplementary food and grew well. The T. esculenta population also produced more fry than the T. zillii population. The comparative advantages of planktrvorous/brooders and herbivorous/guarders in fish culture are considered.Despite the fecundity of the species used a population of known composition was maintained by manual cropping of the fry.The addition of ammonium sulphate to the ponds caused blooms of phytoplankton which in turn had effects upon the base reserves and pH of the water, and probably caused some reduction of oxygen concentration beneath surface scums. This last point is used to explain the changes in phosphate and calcium content of the water also observed.The low oxygen concentration frequently noted in the mornings probably affected the feeding behaviour of the fishes, and was low enough to have affected metabolism directly.