bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Healthcare needs and healthcare satisfaction from the perspective of parents of children with chronic conditions: the DISABKIDS approach towards instrument development
Authors: Schmidt S. , Thyen U. , Chaplin J. , Mueller‐Godeffroy E. , Bullinger M. ,   European DISABKIDS Group
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim  Increasingly, families' perspectives are taken into account in the appraisal of health services. The objective of this study was to cross‐culturally analyse concepts related to healthcare needs, healthcare utilization and the appraisal and satisfaction with care of parents of children with chronic conditions with the aim of developing a cross‐cultural measure.Methods  Several approaches were employed in the study: (i) a deductive approach integrating existing measurements; and (ii) an inductive approach based on focus groups. Focus groups were conducted in seven countries with mothers and fathers as well as their children with seven different chronic conditions, and qualitatively analysed.Results  As a result of an evaluation of the different existing methodological approaches, the basic structural components were identified: healthcare needs, the receipt of services, problems with receiving services as well as the appraisal of and satisfaction with the quality of care. While items referring to existing healthcare services were primarily derived by the work of an expert group, items related to quality of care and satisfaction with services mainly evolved from the focus group work. From the focus groups, 367 statements were extracted, which were further processed in a Q‐sort rating by a multinational expert group in order to identify domains and salient items. The draft questionnaire to be pilot tested cross‐nationally consisted of 101 items which were reduced on the basis of psychometric findings.Conclusion  On the basis of results of focus groups and existing evidence, a comprehensive measure should be employed in paediatric health services research including structural, process and outcome parameters of care from the perspective of parents.
Maternal and child undernutrition 2: consequences for adult health and human capital
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: April 2008

.

Victora C.G.,
Adair L.,
Fall C.,
Hallal P.C.,
Martorel R.,
Richter L.,
Sachdev H.S. and
(
2008
)

,
371
,
340
–
357
.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140‐6736(07)61692‐4.
The lancet series on preterm birth (3): an overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: April 2008

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Saigal S.,
Doyle L.W.
(
2008
)

,
371
,
261
–
269
.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140‐6736(08)60136‐1.
Universal parenting programme to prevent early childhood behavioural problems: cluster randomized trial
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: April 2008

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Hiscock H.,
Bayer J.K.,
Price A.,
Ukuomunne O.C.,
Rogers S.,
Wake M
(
2008
)

,
336
,
318
–
321
.

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39451.609676.AE.
Objective  To determine whether a parenting programme, offered universally in primary care, can prevent behavioural problems in children and improve parenting and maternal mental health.Design  Cluster randomized trial.Setting  Forty primary care nursing centres (clusters) in Victoria, Australia.Participants  A total of 733 English speaking mothers of 8‐month‐old children sequentially recruited from well child appointments; 656 retained at 24 months.Intervention  Structured three session programme at age 8–15 months, co‐led by well child providers and a parenting expert. The programme covered normal development and behaviour, strategies to increase desired behaviour and strategies to reduce unwanted behaviour.Main outcome measures  Maternal report of child externalizing behaviour (child behaviour checklist 1.5–5 year old), parenting (parent behaviour checklist), and maternal mental health (depression anxiety stress scales) at 18 and 24 months.Results  At 18 months, child behaviour and parenting scores were similar in the two groups. At 24 months, externalizing scores in the intervention and control groups were similar [mean 11.9 (SD 7.2) vs. 12.9 (7.4)]; however, on the parent behaviour checklist subscale scores, intervention group parents were less likely to report harsh/abusive parenting [mean 38.9 (SD 7.7) vs. 40.5 (8.8); adjusted mean difference –1.83, 95% confidence interval −3.12 to −0.55] and unreasonable expectations of child development [40.9 (9.9) vs. 42.7 (9.6); −2.18, −3.74 to −0.62]. Mean scores for nurturing parenting and maternal mental health were similar in the two groups at both times.Conclusions  A universal parenting programme resulted in modest improvement in parenting factors that predict behavioural problems in children but did not reduce externalizing behavioural problems or affect maternal mental health at 2 years.
IGF system and peripheral arterial disease: relationship with disease severity and inflammatory status of the affected limb
Authors: Brevetti Gregorio , Colao Annamaria , Schiano Vittorio , Pivonello Rosario , Laurenzano Eugenio , Di Somma Carolina , Lombardi Gaetano , Chiariello Massimo 
Published: April 2008

SummaryObjectives IGF‐1 and its binding proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We designed this study to unravel the relationship of the IGF system with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Design Case‐control, cross‐sectional study.Measurements Serum levels of IGF‐1, IGFBP‐3 and acid labile subunit (ALS) were measured in 96 PAD patients and 89 controls. In 28 patients who underwent peripheral angiography, C‐reactive protein (CRP), IGF‐1, IGFBP‐3 and ALS were measured in blood from femoral vein of the affected limb and aorta.Results Compared to controls, PAD patients showed lower levels of IGFBP‐3 (3569 ± 115vs.3106 ± 107 µg/l,P < 0·01), and ALS (12·2 ± 0·5vs.8·3 ± 0·5 mg/l,P < 0·01). In PAD, concentrations of IGFBP‐3 and ALS were significantly lower in patients with ankle/brachial index less than median than in those with a less severe PAD. In the affected limb, CRP venous‐arterial difference correlated negatively with that of IGF‐1 (ρ = −0·57,P < 0·01), and positively with that of IGFBP‐3 (ρ = 0·63,P < 0·01). At multivariate analysis, a high transfemoral gradient of CRP was independently associated with a low transfemoral gradient of IGF‐1 (β coefficient = −0·48,P < 0·01), and a high transfemoral gradient of IGFBP‐3 (β coefficient = 0·22,P < 0·05).Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate that the systemic levels of IGF axis components are associated with the presence and severity of PAD, and that the inflammatory status of the ischaemic limb affects the transfemoral concentrations of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3. Due to the importance of IGF axis in modulating atherosclerotic plaque progression, our data may contribute to a better understanding of PAD pathophysiology.
Effect of pretreatment conditions on physicochemical parameters of carrot juice
Authors: Sharma Harish Kumar , Kaur Jasmeet , Sarkar Bhavesh Chandra , Singh Charanjv , Singh Bahadur 
Published: April 2008

SummaryCarrot juice obtained by hydraulic press with wooden set‐up was subjected to pretreatments (temperature, time and pH) prior to extraction process. Their effects on the most important quality parameters of carrot juice, such as beta‐carotene, reducing sugars, pectin, vitamin C, viscosity, pH and acidity were studied. Response surface methodology was employed, where the experiment was carried out according to a central composite rotatable design. The variables ranges used were 61.50–98.50 °C (temperature), 124.55–595.45 s (time) and 2.31–6.69 (pH – concentration of citric acid). The results showed that beta‐carotene extraction was significantly increased (52.9%) with these pretreatments in comparison to control samples. All the derived mathematical models for the responses were found to be fit significantly to predict the data. The responses were optimised by numerical method and were found to be 7190 μg per 100 g beta‐carotene, 3.41% reducing sugars, 4.96 mg per 100 g vitamin C, 0.59% pectin, 1.64 × 103 Ns m−2 viscosity, 5.26 pH and 4.97% acidity at optimum input variables of 75.26 °C (temperature), 349.89 s (time) and 3.2 (pH). The desirability for all the responses was found to be 83.8%.
Effects of historical and contemporary factors on global patterns in avian species richness
Authors: Qian Hong 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim The aim of this study was to determine how regional and historical factors influence global patterns in avian species richness.Location Global.Methods Using a comprehensive data set including 710 World Wildlife Fund terrestrial ecoregions covering nearly all the land surface of the Earth, avian species richness was compared among six biogeographical regions after accounting for sample area, elevational range and climate. Analysis of variance and multiple regressions were used. Spatial autocorrelation in model residuals was accounted for.Results Significant effects of region on avian species richness were found in nearly all comparisons between biogeographical regions.Main conclusions Regional and historical processes have played a role in regulating large‐scale avian species richness patterns across the globe. Avian species richness in different regions of the world cannot be accurately predicted by a single global model. Avian species richness in areas of similar environments may differ substantially between regions, and thus avian species richness in one biogeographical region cannot be predicted using the richness–environment relationship derived from the data of another biogeographical region, even one with similar environments.
Using rainout shelters to evaluate climate change effects on the demography of Cryptantha flava
Authors: Lucas Richard W. , Forseth Irwin N. , Casper Brenda B. 
Published: April 2008

Summary

Precipitation in arid regions is temporally variable with much of it arriving in discrete, unpredictable pulses. Climate change models predict an increase in the variation of precipitation, with longer droughts and larger rainfall events, in addition to increased temperatures.
A life table response experiment (LTRE) was conducted with the herbaceous arid‐land perennial Cryptantha flava (Boraginaceae) from 1997 to 2000, in order to determine how variation in precipitation affects asymptotic population growth (l) and vital rates. Variation in precipitation took two forms, through rainout shelters erected just before and during the 1999 spring growing season, and through naturally occurring variation over the 4 years.
An unexpected effect of rainout shelters on l was observed that could not be attributed to drought. The l value decreased greatly in control census plots in the 1998–99 transition but did not decrease in sheltered of plots. The 1999 spring, when shelters were in place, was unusually cold, resulting in frost damage to unsheltered plants. Plants under shelters experienced elevated nighttime temperatures and escaped frost damage. The greater value of l in the sheltered plots is attributable almost entirely to greater contributions of survival, growth and stasis.
There were residual effects of the 1999 drought treatment in the 1999–2000 transition as l decreased in the sheltered populations while l increased in control populations. Compared to controls, there were large negative effects of survival, growth, and stasis and a large positive effect of retrogression in the droughted plots.
Natural variation in fecundity contributed considerably to inter‐annual variation in l in control plots. Annual variation in fecundity strongly paralleled annual variation in seedling establishment. The relative contributions of other vital rates varied greatly among the annual transitions.
Synthesis. The study illustrates the sensitivity of this arid‐land species to early season frost events and to variation in precipitation. It suggests the importance of considering the seasonal timing of precipitation events when projecting the population‐level consequences of global climate change, with particular attention given to precipitation that triggers germination and seedling establishment. Researchers using shelters to create drought treatments should consider their nighttime warming effects.
Games roots play: effects of soil volume and nutrients
Authors: O’Brien Erin E. , Brown Joel S. 
Published: April 2008

Summary

A growing body of literature suggests that some plants may engage in a game of Tragedy of the Commons when competing for soil resources. Two annual plants sharing a whole space will produce more roots per individual and less reproductive yield per individual than one plant with half the space to itself.
Several papers have recently suggested that the increase in soil volume in going from a single plant to two competitor plants (as has been the case in empirical tests of the above prediction) may produce the increased root proliferation independent of the competitor.
We extend the Tragedy of the Commons model of Gersani et al. (2001) to explicitly consider the separate effects of volume per plant (V) and nutrient concentration per unit volume (N) on root proliferation and yield of plants that ‘own’ their space relative to plants that share their space with a competitor. We then use simulations resulting from the model to evaluate existing data and the new perspectives provided by recent challenges to the conceptual basis for the Tragedy of the Commons.
When N is held constant, increasing V should produce an almost linear increase in root proliferation and net nutrient profit for reproduction. The increase in roots should be more pronounced for two plants sharing their space, and the increase in yield should be more pronounced for plants with exclusive access to half the space. When V ¥ N is held constant, roots per plant should at first increase and then decline with increased volume. The difference between a plant that ‘owns’ its space vs. one that shares its space with a competitor should be less pronounced as V increases.
Synthesis. We use this model to help clarify some confusion surrounding the Tragedy of the Commons theory of below‐ground competition by showing how issues raised by others are not incompatible with the approach used to generate the Tragedy of the Commons theory and highlight future opportunities for research on root growth strategies.
From vulnerable plaque to atherothrombosis
Authors: Thim T. , Hagensen M. K. , Bentzon J. F. , Falk E. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract.Plaque rupture precipitates approximately 75% of all fatal coronary thrombi. Therefore, the plaque prone to rupture is the primary focus of this review. The lipid‐rich core and fibrous cap are pivotal in the understanding of plaque rupture. Plaque rupture is a localized process within the plaque caused by degradation of a tiny fibrous cap rather than by diffuse inflammation of the plaque. Atherosclerosis is a multifocal disease, but plaques prone to rupture seem to be oligofocal at most.
Functional status of masticatory system, executive function and episodic memory in older persons
Authors: SCHERDER E. , POSTHUMA W. , BAKKER T. , VUIJK P. J. , LOBBEZOO F. 
Published: April 2008

Summary  Findings from human experimental studies suggest that mastication positively influences cognitive function. The participants in those studies were relatively young. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between the functional status of the masticatory system, episodic memory, and executive functions in elderly people.The participants, elderly people living independently at home, were divided into two groups. One group had a full complement of natural teeth (n = 19) and the other group had full dentures (n = 19). The functional status of the masticatory system was assessed by measuring mandibular excursions (i.e. the distances over which the mandible can move in the open, lateral, and forward directions), bite force, number of occluding pairs and complaints of the masticatory system (facial pain, headaches/migraine). Executive functions and episodic memory were assessed by neuropsychological tests.Backward regression analysis showed that only in the group of elderly people with full dentures, 22% of executive functions were predicted by complaints of the masticatory system and 19·4% of episodic memory was predicted by masticatory performance (composed of mandibular excursions and bite force).The conclusion of this study is that only in older persons with full dentures the relationship between mastication, episodic memory, and executive function becomes evident when the functional status of the masticatory system decreases.
Distribution and speciation of some Carnivores
Authors: BRINK F.‐H. VAN DEN 
Published: April 2008

SummaryStarting from the hypothesis of evolution of species as being the product of adaptive selection and isolation, and the past and present distribution of the species of the genera Canis and Lynx, the author deduces the theory that the very near species of both genera originated (that is: separated from each other) early in the Tertiary. One supporting fact, the specific independence of Lynx lynx and L. pardinus, is discussed in greater detail.RésuméPrenant comme point de départ l'hypothèse selon laquelle l'évolution des espèces est le résultat de sélection adaptive et d'isolement; et la répartition passée et actuelle des espéces des genres Canis et Lynx, l'auteur déduit la théorie que les espèces très proches de ces deux genres respectits ont leur ongine (ou bien: se sont séparés) assez tôt au Tertiaire. Un des faits servant comme appui de cette théorie, l'indépendance spécifique de Lynx lynx et L. pardinus, est commenté en détail.
The oestrous cycle with particular reference to the neural control of the ovary
Authors: HUTCHINSON J. S. M. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe differing types of oestrous cycle found in mammals seem to be manifestations of the degree to which the external environment participates in the control of the three main phases of the ovarian cycle, the follicular phase, ovulation, corpus luteum phase. The question of the importance of the external and the internal environment for the manifestations of cyclicity has been discussed by reference to the factors involved in the control of ovarian function. The control of the ovarian cycle involves an interrelated fluctuation in the secretion of the anterior pituitary gonadotrophins FSH and LH, and in certain species LTH, which are under the control of hypophysiotrophic hormones produced in the hypothalamus. The production of these hormones is modified by other hypothalamic and extra–hypothalamic mechanisms, including a probable preoptic cycling mechanism controlling the ovulatory surge of gonadotrophins. These mechanisms can be triggered and timed by means of nervous reflexes arising from a variety of sensory end organs. Also this brain–hypothalamus–pituitary unit appears to contain sex steroid and gonadotropin sensitive elements through which these factors can influence the system. The additional luteotrophin and luteolytic factors involved in corpus luteum control have not been discussed. A brief idea as to how all these factors are integrated for the control of ovarian cyclicity is presented.
Seasonal breeding in female mammals
Authors: CLARKE J. R. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryStudy of the causation of seasonal breeding can be subdivided into a consideration of external or ecological, and internal or physiological, factors. Of the ecological ones, the role of day–length has been most extensively studied. Subjecting appropriate animals to different photoperiods should give fresh insight into mechanisms of the central nervous system. Alterations in day–length may produce changes in the C.N.S. and pituitary quite quickly, say within 24 to 48 hours. But there is still uncertainty about such basic problems as the relative significance of abrupt and gradual changes in day–length for the alteration of gonadal activity; and the existence of an annual endogenous physiological rhythm which may provoke the gonads into activity at the appropriate time. In addition, for some small rodents physical environmental factors apparently are not always equally efficient in stopping breeding in the winter, and it may be that length of breeding season is also influenced by biotic factors, such as the phase of a population cycle. Susceptibility to the effects of short photoperiods (“winter”) may be to some extent genetically controlled. Possibly then genotypes allowing winter breeding may be favoured at some, but not other, phases of population cycles.
Seasonal changes in the gonads and accessory glands of male mammals
Authors: CHAPMAN D. I. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe seasonal or cyclical changes in the size, histology and secretions of the male reproductive organs and accessory glands of certain mammals are reviewed briefly. Some mammals such as man and the laboratory rat are fertile throughout the year whereas others such as the Red deer stag and the mole are fertile only at certain periods. The male's cycle cannot necessarily be inferred from the female's cycle in those mammals that have a seasonal cycle, neither can it be inferred from rutting or copulatory behaviour. In some species the male is fecund throughout the year whereas the female has a well defined breeding season or seasons, which is defined as the period between conception and parturition. It is stressed that morphological changes, whether macroscopic or histological, do not necessarily reflect the secretory activity of the gland and that the presence of spermatozoa indicates fecundity, not fertility.The information available on the reproductive organs, accessory glands and breeding cycles of mammals which occur in Britain is summarized. The majority of these mammals exhibit a seasonal cycle. The reproductive cycle of Fallow, Red and Sika deer, which are temperate species, can be correlated with the shedding and growth of antlers; for Red and Sika deer this is controlled by changes in the photoperiod. Two tropical mammals, the wildebeest and the hippopotamus, are considered and in the wildebeest we may have an animal which has a well–defined rutting period although spermatogenesis proceeds throughout the year. Although the male hippopotamus is sexually active throughout the year, there are peaks in the calving season which can be correlated with the rainy seasons. In some hibernating insectivores and rodents, recrudescence of the gonads and accessory glands begins before hibernation finishes. In temperate bats insemination usually takes place in the Autumn and this is followed by hibernation, fertilization not taking place until the Spring. Fertilization in some species of Miniopterus takes place after copulation but growth of the embryo is retarded during hibernation.Finally, the causes of the cyclical waxing and waning of the reproductive organs and accessory glands and the effects of various external stimuli are considered. Very little experimental work has been done in this field apart from that on the effect of light on some domesticated species.