bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of life‐cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of growing genetically modified, nitrogen use‐efficient canola
Authors: Strange Alison , Park Julian , Bennett Richard , Phipps Richard 
Published: February 2008

SummaryAgriculture, particularly intensive crop production, makes a significant contribution to environmental pollution. A variety of canola (Brassica napus) has been genetically modified to enhance nitrogen use efficiency, effectively reducing the amount of fertilizer required for crop production. A partial life‐cycle assessment adapted to crop production was used to assess the potential environmental impacts of growing genetically modified, nitrogen use‐efficient (GMNUE) canola in North Dakota and Minnesota compared with a conventionally bred control variety. The analysis took into account the entire production system used to produce 1 tonne of canola. This comprised raw material extraction, processing and transportation, as well as all agricultural field operations. All emissions associated with the production of 1 tonne of canola were listed, aggregated and weighted in order to calculate the level of environmental impact. The findings show that there are a range of potential environmental benefits associated with growing GMNUE canola. These include reduced impacts on global warming, freshwater ecotoxicity, eutrophication and acidification. Given the large areas of canola grown in North America and, in particular, Canada, as well as the wide acceptance of genetically modified varieties in this area, there is the potential for GMNUE canola to reduce pollution from agriculture, with the largest reductions predicted to be in greenhouse gases and diffuse water pollution.
A systematic review of the evidence regarding efficacy of obesity prevention interventions among adults
Authors: Lemmens V. E. P. P. , Oenema A. , Klepp K. I. , Henriksen H. B. , Brug J. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryIn the past, interventions aimed at reducing obesity have mainly targeted at weight loss treatment in obese adults, with limited long‐term effects. With the increasing number of people being obese and being at risk for obesity, there has been a shift in focus towards prevention of obesity. We conducted a systematic review of the peer‐reviewed literature on the efficacy of obesity prevention interventions in adults in order to identify effective interventions and intervention elements. Pubmed, OVID, and Web of Science databases were searched from January 1996 to June 2006. Interventions aimed at primary prevention of weight gain among adults achieved by focusing on dietary intake, physical activity or the combination of both were included. The outcome measure had to be difference in change in body mass index or body weight between the intervention and the control groups. Nine studies were included, five long‐term studies (at least 1 year) and four short‐term (3 months to 1 year). Seven studies evaluated an intervention that focused on a combination of diet and physical activity to prevent weight gain, one on diet only and one on physical activity only. One dietary intervention (long‐term), and three combined dietary and physical activity interventions (one long‐term and two short‐term) produced significantly positive results at end of follow‐up. The two long‐term, effective interventions consisted of intensive and long‐term intervention implementation, including groups sessions designed to promote behavioural changes. The current evidence of efficacy of obesity prevention interventions is based on a very small number of studies. Some studies showed a positive impact on body mass index or weight status, but there was too much heterogeneity in terms of study design, theoretical underpinning and target population to draw firm conclusions about which intervention approaches are more effective than others. More research is urgently needed to extend the body of evidence.
Non‐infectious aggregates of the prion protein react with several PrPSc‐directed antibodies
Authors: Biasini Emiliano , Seegulam M. Esa , Patti Brianna N. , Solforosi Laura , Medrano Andrea Z. , Christensen Heather M. , Senatore Assunta , Chiesa Roberto , Williamson R. Anthony , Harris David A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe key event in the pathogenesis of prion diseases is the conformational conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP) (PrPC) into an infectious, aggregated isoform (PrPSc) that has a high content of β‐sheet. Historically, a great deal of effort has been devoted to developing antibodies that specifically recognize PrPSc but not PrPC, as such antibodies would have enormous diagnostic and experimental value. A mouse monoclonal IgM antibody (designated 15B3) and three PrP motif‐grafted monoclonal antibodies (referred to as IgG 19–33, 89–112, and 136–158) have been previously reported to react specifically with infectious PrPSc but not PrPC. In this study, we extend the characterization of these four antibodies by testing their ability to immunoprecipitate and immunostain infectious and non‐infectious aggregates of wild‐type, mutant, and recombinant PrP. We find that 15B3 as well as the motif‐grafted antibodies recognize multiple types of aggregated PrP, both infectious and non‐infectious, including forms found in brain, in transfected cells, and induced in vitro from purified recombinant protein. These antibodies are exquisitely selective for aggregated PrP, and do not react with soluble PrP even when present in vast excess. Our results suggest that 15B3 and the motif‐grafted antibodies recognize structural features common to both infectious and non‐infectious aggregates of PrP. Our study extends the utility of these antibodies for diagnostic and experimental purposes, and it provides new insight into the structural changes that accompany PrP oligomerization and prion propagation.
Flexibility, friendship, and family
Authors: ALLAN GRAHAM 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis article is concerned with the impact of late modernity on patterns of solidarity in friend and family relationships. It takes as its starting point the transformations in partnership, family, and household formation and dissolution that have been occurring in Western societies since the 1970s. Accepting these shifts as indicative of the greater freedoms people now have over the construction of their personal relationships and social networks, the article examines the degree to which the domains of family and friendship are merging. Its principal argument is that despite increased flexibility in the construction of personal life, including diversity in the prioritization of different relationships, at a cultural level clear boundaries exist between family and friendship ties.
An observational study of humor use while resolving conflict in dating couples
Authors: CAMPBELL LORNE , MARTIN ROD A. , WARD JENNIE R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis research focused on whether affiliative and aggressive humor use was associated with relationship satisfaction and with greater perceived closeness, problem resolution, and emotional distress following a conflict discussion task. Ninety‐eight dating couples from a large Texas University participated in this research. Both partners independently completed questionnaires about their relationship perceptions, participated in a videotaped conflict resolution task, and then answered some additional questions. The results revealed that individuals whose partners used more affiliative and less aggressive humor during the discussion were more satisfied with their relationship and reported an increase in perceived closeness and better problem resolution following the discussion. These results highlight the importance of both positive and negative forms of humor in the regulation of close relationships.
Timing of the transition to motherhood and union quality: The moderator role of union length
Authors: BOUCHARD GENEVIÈVE , LACHANCE‐GRZELA MYLÈNE , GOGUEN AMANDA 
Published: February 2008

AbstractResearchers have examined the contribution of women’s age at first pregnancy to the prediction of union quality across the transition to motherhood, but the emerging picture is inconsistent. The authors investigated the moderator role of union length in the relationship between the 2 variables. A sample of 143 Canadian women completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. As predicted, after partialing out the influence of other demographic variables, union length moderated the relationship between maternal age and changes in union quality across the transition, p < .001. The results showed that postponing motherhood to a later age has positive effects on women’s union quality only among those who are in long‐term relationships.
Patterns of couple interaction during the transition to parenthood
Authors: HOUTS RENATE M. , BARNETT‐WALKER KORTNEE C. , PALEY BLAIR , COX MARTHA J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractUsing latent transition analysis, this study identified Constructive and Destructive marital problem‐solving patterns in couples prenatally and at 3, 12, and 24 months postbirth. Most couples remained in the same group across the 2 years (27.5% and 52.2% who started as Destructive and Constructive, respectively). Always Destructive spouses reported more depressive symptomatology and more negative and less positive views of marriage than Always Constructive couples. Mixed wives mirrored Always Constructive wives in their depressive symptomatology and concurrent views of marriage; mixed husbands mirrored Always Constructive husbands in their depressive symptomatology and Always Destructive husbands in their concurrent views of marriage. Mixed couples divorced or separated at the highest rates (35.7%), while Always Constructive couples tended to remain married (93.1%).
Attitudes toward marriage: Embeddedness and outcomes in personal relationships
Authors: RIGGIO HEIDI R. , WEISER DANA A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis study examines marriage attitudes, attitude embeddedness, personal relationship outcomes, and parental marital status and conflict using 400 undergraduate students. In a conceptual replication of Prislin and Ouellette (1996), more embedded marriage attitudes are more predictive of evaluations of general marriage issues and relationship scenarios than less embedded attitudes. Consistent with findings that marriage attitudes influence relationship quality (Amato & Rogers, 1999), more embedded attitudes predict relationship conflict, commitment, desirability of alternatives, and expectations of relationship success. Recollections of high parental conflict are associated with greater relationship conflict, and individuals with divorced parents report more negative marriage attitudes. Future research on relationship attitudes, their strength, and consequences of parental divorce and conflict for offspring marriage attitudes is discussed.
Disease Modification in Migraine: Study Design and Sample Size Implications
Authors: Fox Anthony W. 
Published: February 2008

Objective.— Describe a clinical trial design that is capable of detecting disease modifying effects (DME) of anti‐migraine drugs, and to explore the effect on study size of the likely variability in initial active‐ and placebo‐response rates.Methods.— An orthodox power calculation and typical response rates in studies of prophylactic drugs for migraine were used to construct the initial model. The interactions between variability in response rates for active and placebo treatments (ARR and PRR, respectively), as well as required sample size, was then analyzed as a 3‐dimensional problem.Results.— Overall, the putative study design requires 4 times as many patients as in each analyzable treatment group, all with allowances for loss to follow up, when both positive and negative control groups are available for comparison with the group being tested for DME. For an example prophylactic agent with ARR = 50% and PRR = 25%, the model suggests that the study might need 260‐270 patients. Sample sizes increase in quasi‐exponential manner as placebo‐response rates rise, and active‐response rates fall, and these are plotted for the reported variability of ARR and PRR in migraine prophylaxis.Conclusions.— Variations on the study design can be modeled for the likely variability in outcome using a straightforward technique. Investigating DME activity for drugs with the efficacy that is typical of approved prophylactic agents might not require impractically large numbers of patients. Such models can be used not only in study design, but also in assessing the overall feasibility of whether or not to pursue DME detection within a given development program.
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Clinical and neuropathologic findings of familial and sporadic forms
Authors: Andrade‐Valença Luciana Patrízia A. , Valença Marcelo Moraes , Velasco Tonicarlo Rodrigues , Carlotti Carlos Gilberto , Assirati João Alberto , Galvis‐Alonso Orfa Yineth , Neder Luciano , Cendes Fernando , Leite João Pereira 
Published: February 2008

Summary
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and hippocampal histological features of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) in both familial (FMTLE) and sporadic (SMTLE) forms.
Methods: Patients with FMTLE (n = 20) and SMTLE (n = 39) who underwent surgical treatment for refractory seizures were studied at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto. FMTLE was defined when at least two individuals in a family had clinical diagnosis of MTLE. Hippocampi from all patients were processed for Nissl/HE and Timm's stainings. Both groups were compared for clinical variables, hippocampal cell densities, and intensity of supragranular mossy fiber staining.
Results: There were no significant differences between FMTLE and SMTLE groups in the following: age at the surgery, age of first usual epileptic seizure, history of initial precipitating injury (IPI), age of IPI, latent period, ictal and interictal video‐EEG patterns, presence of hippocampal atrophy and signal changes at MRI, and postoperative outcome. In addition, no differences were found in cell densities in hippocampal cornu ammonis subfields (CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4), fascia dentata, polymorphic region, subiculum, prosubiculum, and presubiculum. However, patients with SMTLE had greater intensity of mossy fiber Timm's staining in the fascia dentata‐inner molecular layer (p< 0.05).
Discussion: Patients with intractable FMTLE present a clinical profile and most histological findings comparable to patients with SMTLE. Interestingly, mossy fiber sprouting was less pronounced in patients with FMTLE, suggesting that, when compared to SMTLE, patients with FMTLE respond differently to plastic changes plausibly induced by cell loss, neuronal deafferentation, or epileptic seizures.
In‐patient comparison of immediate and conventional loaded implants in mandibular molar sites within 12 months
Authors: Barış Güncü M. , Aslan Yavuz , Tümer Celal , Güncü Güliz N. , Uysal Serdar 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of dental implants placed in the mandibular molar sites and immediately functionally restored compared with conventionally loaded controls in an in‐patient study.Material and methods: Twenty‐four dental implants were placed in 12 patients who had first molar loss bilaterally in the mandibular area. One site of the patient was determined as immediately loaded (IL) and the other side was conventionally loaded (CL). Resonance frequency analyses for implant stability measurements, radiographic examinations for marginal bone levels and peri‐implant evaluations were performed during the clinical follow‐up appointments within 12 months.Results: During the 12‐month follow‐up period, only one implant was lost in the IL group. The mean implant stability quotient values were 74.18±5.72 and 75.18±3.51 for Groups IL and CL at surgery, respectively, and the corresponding values were 75.36±5.88 and 75.64±4.84 at 1‐year recall, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between the two groups during the 12‐month study period (P>0.05). When peri‐implant parameters were evaluated, excellent peri‐implant health was demonstrated during the 1‐year observation period and all implants showed less than 1 mm of marginal bone resorption during the first year.Conclusions: In the present study, immediate functionally loading did not negatively affect implant stability, marginal bone levels and peri‐implant health when compared with conventional loading of single‐tooth implants.
Inverse association between periodontitis and respiratory allergies in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Friedrich Nele , Kocher Thomas , Wallaschofski Henri , Schwahn Christian , Lüdemann Jan , Kerner Wolfgang , Völzke Henry 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAim: In a general adult population, we have demonstrated an inverse association between periodontitis and respiratory allergies that is in line with the hygiene hypothesis suggesting a protective effect of infections against the development of allergies. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between periodontitis and respiratory allergies in a type 1 diabetes mellitus population.Material and Methods: The study population comprised 170 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus aged 17–80 years. Respiratory allergies were present in 22 subjects. The attachment loss (AL) was measured. Periodontitis was defined according to the percentage of surfaces that exceeded 3 mm AL (healthy, mild, moderate, severe periodontal conditions).Results: Our adjusted analyses revealed an inverse association between periodontitis and respiratory allergies. For increasing AL, a trend towards a decreasing risk was present for respiratory allergies (ptrend<0.05). Compared with subjects with healthy periodontal conditions, individuals with severe periodontal conditions had the lowest risk of respiratory allergies [odds ratios (OR) 0.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.39)], followed by subjects with moderate AL [OR 0.14 (95% CI 0.03–0.63)] and mild AL [OR 0.32 (95% CI 0.09–1.08)].Conclusion: There is a strong inverse association between periodontitis and respiratory allergies in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. These findings further support the hygiene hypothesis.
Functional Cathepsin C mutations cause different Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome phenotypes
Authors: Noack Barbara , Görgens Heike , Schacher Beate , Puklo Magda , Eickholz Peter , Hoffmann Thomas , Schackert Hans Konrad 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAim: The autosomal‐recessive Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is characterized by severe aggressive periodontitis, combined with palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, and is caused by mutations in the Cathepsin C (CTSC) gene. This study aimed to identify CTSC mutations in different PLS phenotypes, including atypical forms and isolated pre‐pubertal aggressive periodontitis (PAP).Material and Methods: Thirteen families with different phenotypes were analysed by direct sequencing of the entire coding region and the regulatory regions of CTSC. The function of novel mutations was tested with enzyme activity measurements.Results: In 11 of 13 families, 12 different pathogenic CTSC mutations were found in 10 typical PLS patients, three atypical cases and one PAP patient. Out of four novel mutations, three result in protein truncation and are thus considered to be pathogenic. The homozygous c.854C>T nucleotide exchange (p.P285L) was associated with an almost complete loss of enzyme activity. The observed phenotypic heterogeneity could not be associated with specific genotypes.Conclusions: The phenotypic variability of the PLS associated with an identical genetic background may reflect the influence of additional genetic or environmental factors on disease characteristics. CTSC mutation analyses should be considered for differential diagnosis in all children suffering from severe aggressive periodontitis.
Association between body weight and periodontal infection
Authors: Ylöstalo Pekka , Suominen‐Taipale Liisa , Reunanen Antti , Knuuttila Matti 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground: Besides being a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and type II diabetes, obesity has been suggested to be a risk factor for periodontitis. A number of epidemiological studies have studied the association between obesity and periodontitis, but the results have been partly inconclusive. The aim of this study was to examine the association of body weight with periodontal infection.Material and Methods: The association between body weight and periodontal infection was examined using a nationally representative Health 2000 Health Examination Survey. The study was based on a subpopulation of dentate non‐diabetic subjects aged 30–49 (n=2841). Periodontal infection was measured by the number of teeth with periodontal pockets of 4 mm or deeper and 6 mm or deeper. Body weight was measured using body mass index (BMI).Results: We detected a weak exposure–response association of BMI with teeth with deepened periodontal pockets after controlling for smoking habits by restricting the sample to subjects who have never smoked and for other potential confounders by including them in the multivariate models.Conclusions: The results showed an association between body weight and periodontal infection among the non‐diabetic, non‐smoking population aged 30–49. Additional research is needed to determine the nature of this association.
Undergraduate education in gerodontology in Germany: the Leipzig Programme
Authors: Nitschke Ina , Sobotta Bernhard A.J. , Reiber Thomas 
Published: February 2008

Objective:  To evaluate students’ attitude towards the clinical component of the Leipzig Programme of undergraduate Education in Gerodontology (LPEG).Background:  Undergraduate student education has long been recognised as a mainstay of fostering the aims of gerodontology. Extramural clinical education with direct exposure to various groups of vulnerable elderly is known to contribute to the formation of positive attitudes. LPEG has been designed to include didactic components and six visits to a long‐term care facility (LTC) spread over 4 of the 5 years of the dental course.Methods:  A structured questionnaire with 10 items was administered to 230 students (60.9% female) on three occasions in 2004–05. Total return was 411 questionnaires. The mean age of respondents was 24.3 (SD 2.67) years. Students were asked to indicate the degree of their agreement with seven statements presented using a 5‐point scale. A choice of responses which characterised the course was offered to mark all those deemed agreeable.Results:  The vast majority of students responded positively. In the students perception there was no significant difference (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.24) in the amount of knowledge acquired between subjects participating once, twice or three times. ‘Interesting’ and ‘feel pity for patients’ were the two items that received the most support. Respondents expressed the wish to accompany up to 10 patients during their course with a mean of 3.5 (SD 2.9) but 31 (7.5%) subjects did not wish to see any frail elderly patients at all.Conclusion:  The LPEG is well received by dental students. A complex subject including overarching social skills has been integrated seamlessly into the dental curriculum.