bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal study of idiom and text comprehension
Authors: LEVORATO M. CHIARA , ROCH MAJA , NESI BARBARA 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThe relation between text and idiom comprehension in children with poor text comprehension skills was investigated longitudinally. In the first phase of the study, six-year-old first graders with different levels of text comprehension were compared in an idiom and sentence comprehension task. Text comprehension was shown to be more closely related to idiom comprehension than sentence comprehension. The follow-up study, carried out eight months later on less-skilled text comprehenders, investigated whether an improvement in text comprehension was paralleled by an improvement in idiom comprehension. The development of sentence comprehension was also taken into account. Children who improved in text comprehension also improved in idiom comprehension; this improvement was, instead, weakly related to an improvement in sentence comprehension. The relationship between text and idiom comprehension is discussed in the light of the Global Elaboration Model (Levorato & Cacciari, 1995).
Early delayed language development in very preterm infants: Evidence from the MacArthur-Bates CDI
Authors: FOSTER-COHEN SUSAN , EDGIN JAMIE O. , CHAMPION PATRICIA R. , WOODWARD LIANNE J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTThis study examined the effects of being born very preterm on children's early language development using prospective longitudinal data from a representative regional cohort of 90 children born very preterm (gestational age <33 weeks and/or birth weight <1,500 grams) and a comparison sample of 102 children born full term (gestational age 38–41 weeks). The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Sentences (CDI-WS) was used to assess children's language development at age 2 ; 0 (corrected for gestational age at birth). Clear linear relationships were found between gestational age at birth and later language outcomes, with decreasing gestational age being associated with poorer parent-reported language skills. Specifically, children born extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestation) tended to perform less well than those born very preterm (28–32 weeks' gestation), who in turn performed worse than children born full term (38–41 weeks' gestation). This pattern of findings was evident across a range of outcomes spanning vocabulary size and quality of word use, as well as morphological and syntactic complexity. Importantly, associations between gestational age at birth and language outcomes persisted after statistical control for child and family factors correlated with both preterm birth and language development. These findings demonstrate the presence of pervasive delays in the early language development of children born very preterm. They also highlight the importance of gestational age in predicting later language risk in this population of infants.
Reviews
Authors: Roberts Pepe , Guyer Jane I. , Williams Gavin , Loxley John , Kamier El 
                      Wathig M. , Bakri Zeinab 
                      B. El , Mukandabantu Angel 
                      Mwenda , Roberts Pepe , Bryceson Deborah 
                      Fahy , Munslow Barry , Crisp Jeff , Shenton Robert , Phillips Pete 
Published: July 2007

Femmes et Sociétés: Revue de la Commission Internationale pour l'Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelles (CAMS‐Internationale),No.O 1983. Dakar.

THE WORLD BANK'S PRESCRIPTIONS FOR RURAL AFRICA

Sisters Under the Sun: The Story of Sudanese Womenby Marjorie Hall and Bakhita Amin Ismail (Longman, 1981).

The Political Thought of Amilcar Cabral: A Review Article

In the Twilight of Revolution: The Political Theory of Amilcar Cabral by Jock McCulloch (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1983) 159pp, £6.50 paperback. Amilcar Cabral: Revolutionary Leadership and People's War by Patrick Chabal (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983) 272pp., £9.95 paperback.
The works by Amilcar Cabral referred to are as follows:
Unity and Struggle (London: Heinemann, 1980).
Return to the Source (London: Monthly Review Press, 1973).
Revolution in Guinea: An African People's War (Brussels, 1971).

Lobola: The Pros and Consby Aeneas Chigwidere (Harare, Books for Africa, 59pp); Zimbabwean Women in Customary and Colonial Lawby Joan May (Zimbabwe and Edinburgh, Mambo Press/Holmes McDougall, 1983, 128pp); African Marriage in Zimbabweby A.K.H Weinrich (Zimbabwe and Edinburgh; Mambo Press/Holmes McDougall, 1982, 212pp).

Women in Tanzania: An Analytical Bibliographyby Ophelia Mascarenhas and Marjorie Mbilinyi (Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Uppsala and Swedish International Development Authority, Stockholm, Sweden: Motala, 1983) 256pp, no price.

Afrocommunismby David and Marina Ottaway (Africana Publishing Co., London, 1981).

The Politics of Basic Needs: Urban Aspects of Assaulting Poverty in Africaby Richard Sandbrook, Heinemann, 1982, 250pp., £5.95.

A Third World Proletariat?by Peter Lloyd, George Allen and Unwin, 1982, 139pp., £3.95.

The Political Economy of West African Agricultureby Keith Hart, Cambridge University Press, 1982.

Dependence and Collective Self‐Reliance in Southern Africa (The Case of The Southern African Development Co‐ordination Conference— SADCC)by Arne Tostensen, Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies.
Probing nonnucleoside inhibitor‐induced active‐site distortion in HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase by transient kinetic analyses
Authors: Xia Qing , Radzio Jessica , Anderson Karen S. , Sluis‐Cremer Nicolas 
Published: July 2007

AbstractNonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) are a group of structurally diverse compounds that bind to a single site in HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase (RT), termed the NNRTI‐binding pocket (NNRTI‐BP). NNRTI binding to RT induces conformational changes in the enzyme that affect key elements of the polymerase active site and also the association between the two protein subunits. To determine which conformational changes contribute to the mechanism of inhibition of HIV‐1 reverse transcription, we used transient kinetic analyses to probe the catalytic events that occur directly at the enzyme's polymerase active site when the NNRTI‐BP was occupied by nevirapine, efavirenz, or delavirdine. Our results demonstrate that all NNRTI–RT–template/primer (NNRTI–RT–T/P) complexes displayed a metal‐dependent increase in dNTP binding affinity (Kd) and a metal‐independent decrease in the maximum rate of dNTP incorporation (kpol). The magnitude of the decrease in kpol was dependent on the NNRTI used in the assay: Efavirenz caused the largest decrease followed by delavirdine and then nevirapine. Analyses that were designed to probe direct effects on phosphodiester bond formation suggested that the NNRTI mediate their effects on the chemistry step of the DNA polymerization reaction via an indirect manner. Because each of the NNRTI analyzed in this study exerted largely similar phenotypic effects on single nucleotide addition reactions, whereas each of them are known to exert differential effects on RT dimerization, we conclude that the NNRTI effects on subunit association do not directly contribute to the kinetic mechanism of inhibition of DNA polymerization.
Thyroid hormone levels in children with Prader–Willi syndrome before and during growth hormone treatment
Authors: Festen D. A. M. , Visser T. J. , Otten B. J. , Wit J. M. , Duivenvoorden H. J. , Hokken‐Koelega A. C. S. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBackground  Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by muscular hypotonia, psychomotor delay, obesity and short stature. Several endocrine abnormalities have been described, including GH deficiency and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Published data on thyroid hormone levels in PWS children are very limited.Objective  To evaluate thyroid function in children with PWS, before and during GH treatment.Design/patients  At baseline, serum levels of T4, free T4 (fT4), T3, reverse T3 (rT3) and TSH were assessed in 75 PWS children. After 1 year, assessments were repeated in 57 of the them. These children participated in a randomized study with two groups: group A (n = 34) treated with 1 mg GH/m2/day and group B (n = 23) as controls.Results  Median age (interquartile range, IQR) of the total group at baseline was 4·7 (2·7–7·6) years. Median (IQR) TSH level was –0·1 SDS (–0·5 to 0·5), T4 level –0·6 SDS (–1·7 to 0·0) and fT4 level –0·8 SDS (–1·3 to –0·3), the latter two being significantly lower than 0 SDS. T3 level, at 0·3 SDS (–0·3 to 0·9), was significantly higher than 0 SDS. After 1 year of GH treatment, fT4 decreased significantly from –0·8 SDS (–1·5 to –0·2) to –1·4 SDS (–1·6 to –0·7), compared to no change in untreated PWS children. However, T3 did not change, at 0·3 SDS (–0·1 to 0·8).Conclusions We found normal fT4 levels in most PWS children. During GH treatment, fT4 decreased significantly to low‐normal levels. TSH levels remained normal. T3 levels were relatively high or normal, both before and during GH treatment, indicating that PWS children have increased T4 to T3 conversion.
Excess mortality in women with pituitary disease: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Nielsen E. H. , Lindholm J. , Laurberg P. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBackground  Increased mortality has been reported in patients with pituitary disease, with some studies showing higher standard mortality rates (SMR) in women than in men.Objective  To assess overall SMR for men and women with benign pituitary disease without excessive ATCH or GH secretion and to investigate associations between SMR and time period of diagnosis.Design  From searches in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases, and reference lists of major reviews and original articles, we included original studies providing SMR values and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for men and women separately. Thirty articles were studied in detail. Six studies were eligible for the meta‐analysis of sex‐specific mortality, and seven for the analysis of association between SMR and diagnosis period.Results  Individual studies (total 5412 patients) reported total SMR values (men and women together) ranging from 1·21 to 3·80. SMR varied from 0·98 to 3·36 in men and from 2·11 to 4·54 in women. Weighted SMR values were significantly higher in women (2·80; CI 2·59–3·02) than in men (2·06; CI 1·94–2 20) (P < 0·0001). SMR was negatively correlated with first year of diagnosis in individual studies (partial correlation analysis controlling for sex, P = 0·017), and approached normal in recent studies in men but not in women.Conclusions  In our meta‐analysis of patients with pituitary disease without ACTH or GH excess, SMR was significantly higher in women than in men. SMR reached normal levels in men treated in recent decades, but remained elevated in women.
Dispersal ability and genetic structure in aquatic invertebrates: a comparative study in southern California streams and reservoirs
Authors: ZICKOVICH JULIANNE M. , BOHONAK ANDREW J. 
Published: July 2007

Summary1. The natural seasonal drying and flooding of southern California streams have been altered over the past century by activities related to agriculture, flood control, and reservoir construction. The genetic structure and diversity of aquatic invertebrates inhabiting these environments is largely unexplored, and may be important for conservation.2. We sampled two species of aquatic invertebrates with different dispersal abilities to assess genetic structure and diversity, and make inferences about the evolutionary processes that underlie these genetic patterns. The mayflyFallceon quilleri, which has a winged terrestrial stage, was sampled from perennial and intermittent streams from three catchments across San Diego County. The amphipodHyalella aztecawas sampled from streams (perennial and intermittent) and reservoirs in a single catchment (San Dieguito). Because it is obligately aquatic throughout its life‐cycle,H. aztecawas assumed to disperse less thanF. quilleri.3. Intrapopulation and overall genetic diversity was higher inF. quillerithan inH. azteca. InF. quillerithere was very little genetic divergence among populations, and most of the genetic differentiation that was observed could be attributed to a single population. InH. azteca, populations were markedly differentiated between the upper and lower segments of the San Dieguito basin, which are separated by ac.10 km section of stream that rarely has surface flow. Within both segments, genetic divergence between sites connected by reservoirs and perennial streams was not significantly different.4. Our results suggest thatF. quilleridisperses widely and thus avoids genetic bottlenecks and marked levels of population differentiation that may be expected from frequent extinctions and recolonizations. In contrast, restricted dispersal inH. aztecais associated with relatively low genetic diversity and high genetic divergence across a portion of the catchment in which surface flow is rare.
Genetic and molecular requirements for function of the Pto/Prf effector recognition complex in tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Balmuth Alexi , Rathjen John P. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe Pto gene of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) confers specific recognition of the unrelated bacterial effector proteins AvrPto and AvrPtoB. Pto resides in a constitutive molecular complex with the nucleotide binding site‐leucine rich repeats protein Prf. Prf is absolutely required for specific recognition of both effectors. Here, using stable transgenic lines, we show that expression of Pto from its genomic promoter in susceptible tomatoes was sufficient to complement recognition of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) bacteria expressing either avrPto or avrPtoB. Pto kinase activity was absolutely required for specific immunity. Expression of the Pto N‐myristoylation mutant, ptoG2A, conferred recognition of Pst (avrPtoB), but not Pst (avrPto), although bacterial growth in these lines was intermediate between resistant and susceptible lines. Overexpression of ptoG2A complemented recognition of avrPto. Transgenic tomato plants overexpressing wild‐type Pto exhibited constitutive growth phenotypes, but these were absent in lines overexpressing ptoG2A. Therefore, Pto myristoylation is a quantitative factor for effector recognition in tomato, but is absolutely required for overexpression phenotypes. Native expression of Pto in the heterologous species Nicotiana benthamiana did not confer resistance to P. syringae pv. tabaci (Pta) expressing avrPto or avrPtoB, but recognition of both effectors was complemented by Prf co‐expression. Thus, specific resistance conferred solely by Pto in N. benthamiana is an artefact of overexpression. Finally, ptoG2A did not confer recognition of either avrPto or avrPtoB in N. benthamiana, regardless of the presence of Prf. Thus, co‐expression of Prf in N. benthamiana complements many but not all aspects of normal Pto function.
Influence of cytokine genes polymorphisms on long‐term outcome in renal transplantation
Authors: Breulmann Bärbel , Bantis Christos , Siekierka Magdalena , Blume Cornelia , Aker Sendogan , Kuhr Nicola , Grabensee Bernd , Ivens Katrin 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:  Background:  Recently, polymorphisms of cytokine genes have been associated with modified gene expression and increased cytokine production. We evaluated the influence of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) gene G‐1082A, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) gene G‐308A and IL‐6 gene G‐174C polymorphisms on the rejection rate, renal function and long‐term outcome in renal transplantation.Patients and methods:  We studied n = 224 consecutive patients, who underwent renal transplantation at our centre from 1998 to 2001 (cadaveric: n = 175, living related: n = 49) followed up for 4.9 ± 2.0 yr and n = 100 healthy volunteers. IL‐10 gene G‐1082A, TNFα gene G‐308A and IL‐6 gene G‐174C polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.Results:  The genotype distribution of the investigated polymorphisms was similar in patients and controls (ns). The age of donor and the recipient, the number of HLA mismatches and cold and warm ischemic time did not differ among patients with different genotypes (ns). No association between cytokine polymorphisms and the incidence of acute rejection episodes was detected (ns). The cytokine genotypes did not correlate with serum creatinine or creatinine clearance at any time during follow up (ns). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the genotype frequencies among patients experiencing graft failure (ns). Patients with different cytokine gene polymorphisms showed similar outcomes in the Kaplan–Meier analysis of graft survival (ns). Finally, cytokine polymorphisms had no influence on the acute rejection rate or graft outcome also in the subgroup of HLA‐DR mismatched grafts (ns).Conclusion:  Our results suggest that IL‐10 gene G‐1082A, TNFα gene G‐308A and IL‐6 gene G‐174C polymorphisms are no major risk factors in renal transplantation.
Where and when is blood transfused? An observational study of the timing and location of red cell transfusions in the north of England
Authors: Tinegate H. N. , Thompson C. L. , Jones H. , Stainsby D. 
Published: July 2007

Background and Objectives  This study was undertaken to provide denominator data relating to the timing and location of transfusion, to support interpretation of reports of incorrect blood component transfused (IBCT) events to the UK Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme.Materials and Methods  The study was carried out in 29 hospitals in northern England. Data on the timing, location and speciality responsible for transfusion were collected retrospectively (usually the following day) for all red cell units transfused over a 7‐day period in September 2005. The timing and location of transfusion of these units was compared with those IBCT reports to SHOT between 1 January and 31 December 2005 in which there was an error in blood collection from the hospital storage site and/or administration to the patient.Results  Data were received on 3123 red cell units, 3118 of which were analysable. Individual hospitals returned data on between 1 and 279 units. The data showed that 888 out of 3118 (28.5%) of units were transfused between 20:00 and 08:00 hours, while 63 out of 169 (37%) of IBCT reports to SHOT where there was an error in blood collection/administration were recorded as occurring during this time period.Conclusions  Comparison of our data with those from SHOT suggests that transfusions that are given outside core hours are more likely to be associated with clinical errors.
Effects of maize grain and lucerne particle size on ruminal fermentation, digestibility and performance of cows in midlactation
Authors: Cao Z. J. , Li S. L. , Xing J. J. , Ma M. , Wang L. L. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThis study evaluated the effects of, and interactions between, maize grain particle size (MPS) and lucerne particle size (LPS) on dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition, ruminal fermentation, microbial yield, chewing activity and nutrient digestibility in midlactation cows. Four multiparous Holstein cows with ruminal cannulas were assigned randomly to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, averaged 595 kg (SD = 52) of body weight and 121 days in milk (SD = 21) at the start of the experiment. Experimental periods were 21 days in length (14 days of treatment adaptation and 7 days of data collection). All diets were fed as total mixed ration and were formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of a 600 kg multiparous cow producing 20 kg milk/day with 4.0% fat. The ratio of concentrate to forage was 39:61 (dry matter basis). Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design; two levels of LPS (2.54 and 6.22 mm) were combined with concentrates based on either ground maize grain (711 μm) or cracked maize grain (1755 μm). Maize grain and LPS did not affect milk production and milk fat percentage. Milk protein percentage increased when MPS was decreased (p = 0.04). Milk urea nitrogen was lower for cows fed ground maize grain compared with cracked maize grain (118–134 mg/l, p = 0.05). Estimated microbial N supply increased 41.9 g/day for ground maize grain compared with cracked maize grain. Cows fed long lucerne (LL) hay spent more time ruminating compared with cows fed short lucerne (SL) hay ranging from 293 to 336 min/day (p < 0.001). Total time spent chewing by cows increased from 505 to 574 min/day (p = 0.002) for SL and LL respectively. Based on the results from this study, midlactation cows can be fed diets that contain ground maize grain and SL hay without leading to negative effects on ruminal pH and nutrient digestibility.
Pustular psoriasis‐like tinea incognito due to Trichophyton rubrum
Authors: Serarslan Gamze 
Published: July 2007

SummaryTinea incognito describes fungal infections with atypical clinical features and is usually caused by administration of steroids. We describe an 11‐year‐old girl who presented with widespread erythematous and pustular lesions being treated with topical corticosteroid. The diagnosis was confirmed by mycological examination including culture. Complete clinical resolution was observed with oral and topical antimycotic treatment.
Use of diagnostic tests by dermatologists, podiatrists and family practitioners in the United States: pilot data from a cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Koshnick Rebecca L. , Lilly Kia K. , Clair Katherine St , Finnegan Mary T. , Warshaw Erin M. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBefore treating onychomycosis, it is important to exclude other conditions such as lichen planus and psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physician preferences and uses of diagnostic tests for toenail onychomycosis (TO) by surveying dermatologists (D), podiatrists (P) and family practitioners (FP) in the United States. Surveys were mailed to approximately 1000 randomly sampled physicians from each of the three specialities. The questionnaire consisted of 15 items regarding physician and practice characteristics, number of patients with TO seen and treated, tests used to diagnose TO and reasons for using the tests. Results were analysed using several statistical methods. Response rates were low (D33.7%; P16.6%; FP28.4%). Ds and Ps (75.2%) and FPs (43.4%) reported feeling ‘very confident’ at diagnosing onychomycosis. KOH was the preferred diagnostic test for all three specialities. More Ds (75.4%) felt ‘very confident’ interpreting potassium hydroxide (KOH) exams than Ps (24.9%) and FPs (18.5%). Use of KOH exams was statistically associated with confidence interpreting exams (P P = 0.04092; D & FP P < 0.0001). Some FPs (46.6%) and Ps (21.6%) did not obtain a confirmatory diagnostic test prior to the treatment of onychomycosis while 63.6% of Ds ‘almost always/always’ did. While limited by low‐response rate, this study provides pilot information on the diagnostic preferences for TO by American D, P and FP.