bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive differences between pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters
Authors: SUCHY YANA , WHITTAKER J. WILSON , STRASSBERG DONALD S. , EASTVOLD ANGELA 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAlthough some evidence exists that child molesters may be characterized by structural and functional brain abnormalities, findings across studies are inconsistent. Past cognitive research in this area has been extensively criticized for relying on conceptually weak batteries, measures of questionable reliability, and poorly defined samples (i.e., failing to distinguish between pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters). The present study aimed to address the weaknesses of past research by comparing 40 child molesters (20 pedophilic and 20 nonpedophilic) and 20 demographically matched nonoffender controls on six well-defined neurocognitive composite scores of comparable reliability (i.e., semantic knowledge, executive functioning, processing speed, motor speed, auditory memory, and visual memory). Results indicated that pedophilic child molesters exhibit slower processing speed, nonpedophilic child molesters exhibit poorer semantic knowledge, and both molester groups exhibit executive weaknesses as compared to nonoffender controls. This study is the first to compare the two molester types on neurocognitive functions. The observed differences between the molester groups help explain inconsistencies in past research and demonstrate the need to distinguish between the two types of child molesters when studying neurobiologic underpinnings of sexual offending. (JINS, 2009, 15, 248–257.)
IL‐17 is involved in bone resorption in mouse periapical lesions
Authors: Oseko Fumishige , Yamamoto Toshiro , Akamatsu Yuki , Kanamura Narisato , Iwakura Yoichiro , Imanishi Jiro , Kita Masakazu 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTPeriapical lesions are induced by bacterial infection of the dental pulp and result in destruction of the surrounding alveolar bone. Although various immunological studies concerning periapical bone resorption have been reported, the role of cytokines in the formation of periapical lesions remains unclear. In this study, the role of IL‐17A in periapical lesions in mice was investigated. Normal C57BL/6, IFN‐γ−/−, TNF‐α−/−, and IL‐17A−/− mice were subjected to pulp exposure and infected with Prevotella intermedia (ATCC25611) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC33277) in the mandibular first molar. Periapical lesions were determined by μCT on day 21 after infection, and 3D visual construction was performed using 3D picture quantification software. The expression of IL‐17A mRNA in periapical lesions was determined by the RT‐PCR and real‐time RT‐PCR method. Periapical lesions developed in wild‐type, IFN‐γ−/−, and TNF‐α−/− mice after infection with P. intermedia and P. gingivalis. However, periapical lesions were not observed in IL‐17A−/− mice. The expression of IL‐17A mRNA was significantly induced in periapical lesions of wild‐type mice after infection. These results suggest that IL‐17A, but not IFN‐γ or TNF‐α, plays an important role in the formation of periapical lesions.
Measuring gambling participation
Authors: Rodgers Bryan , Caldwell Tanya , Butterworth Peter 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThere are many parallels between research on gambling and research on alcohol use, but a striking difference is the emphasis in the former area on problem gambling rather than the use of participation measures. We outline five topics that are underdeveloped as a consequence: (i) gambling participation and future problems; (ii) moderate gambling; (iii) separate measurement of exposures and harms; (iv) predictors of participation; and (v) natural history of participation. Challenges to the future development of gambling participation measures are discussed by reference to comparable difficulties in the field of alcohol use and some examples are given as to how progress could be made. Further development of measures will necessarily occur in the context of broader scientific aims. Some recent studies are highlighted that provide hope of gains in this area. We urge further progress to yield conceptually and operationally distinct indices of exposures and harms.
Use of supervised injection facilities and injection risk behaviours among young drug injectors
Authors: Bravo María J. , Royuela Luis , De la Fuente Luis , Brugal María T. , Barrio Gregorio , Domingo‐Salvany Antonia ,   the Itínere Project Group
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  To study the use of supervised injection facilities (SIFs) as a predictor of safer injecting practices.Design  Cross‐sectional study conducted with face‐to‐face interview using a structured questionnaire with computer‐assisted personal interviewing. Dried blood spot samples were collected for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing.Setting  All participants were street‐recruited by chain referral methods in Madrid and Barcelona.Participants  A total of 249 young heroin drug injectors recruited by the ITINERE cohort study in two Spanish cities with SIFs.Measurements  The main outcome measures were self‐reported injecting behaviours and SIFs attendance.Results  SIF users were more marginalized socially than non‐users. They were also more often regular injectors (weekly or more versus sporadic) [odds ratio (OR) = 4.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7–8.8], speedball users (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5–4.3) and anti‐HCV‐positive (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.4–7.1). In the logistic regression analysis, using SIFs was associated independently with not borrowing used syringes (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4–7.7). However, no significant association was found between SIF use and not sharing injection equipment indirectly (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.5–2.2).Conclusions  SIFs attract highly disadvantaged drug injectors who engage none the less in less borrowing of used syringes than non‐users of these facilities. The risks of indirect sharing should be emphasized when counselling SIF attendees.
Disruptiveness, peer experiences and adolescent smoking: a long‐term longitudinal approach
Authors: Otten Roy , Wanner Brigitte , Vitaro Frank , Engels Rutger C. M. E. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  This study examined links of peer experiences (i.e. social status and affiliation with disruptive peers) throughout childhood with respect to adolescent smoking trajectories, after controlling for childhood disruptiveness. Specifically, we tested four models regarding links of peer experiences and deviant behaviours.Design  Prospective community sample.Participants  A total of 312 children, aged 6.17 years at baseline.Measurements  Growth parameters of own disruptive behaviour, disruptive behaviour of friends and social status measured at ages 7–12 years as predictors of smoking assessed at ages 13–15 years, while controlling for own disruptive behaviour at age 6 years.Findings  We found three groups with distinct profiles of smoking. One group displayed hardly any or no smoking at all; a second group showed a trajectory of increased smoking; and a third group that showed high smoking rates initially and increased in smoking intensity over time. Results support the assumption of the selection model that the link between disruptive peers and smoking is spurious and due to shared variances with own early disruptiveness. Moreover, support was found for the popularity–socialization model supporting the assumption that age‐related increases in social status are associated with smoking.Conclusions  The findings emphasize that early disruptiveness is predictive of later smoking. In addition, it was shown that smoking becomes less deviant over time, in line with group norms. Future prevention programmes should emphasize the need to change these norms.
A taxometric study of alcohol abuse and dependence in a general population sample: evidence of dimensional latent structure and implications for DSM‐V
Authors: Slade Tim , Grove Rachel , Teesson Maree 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  To explore, with the aid of taxometric analysis, whether alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are each conceptualized most effectively as single latent dimensions or distinct latent categories.Design  Data were taken from a nationally representative cross‐sectional epidemiological survey of psychiatric and substance use disorders.Setting  General population of Australia.Participants  A subsample of all respondents who had consumed at least 12 drinks in the year prior to the survey and who had consumed at least three drinks on at least one single day (n = 4920 of a possible 10 641).Measurements  DSM‐IV criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 2.1. Two independent taxometric procedures, MAXimum EIGenvalue (MAXEIG) and mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), together with analysis of simulated dimensional and categorical data sets, were carried out.Findings  Consistent evidence was found for a single latent dimension underlying the symptoms of alcohol dependence. Less consistent evidence of dimensionality was found for the symptoms of alcohol abuse.Conclusions  These findings support the growing consensus regarding the need for continuous measures of alcohol use disorders to complement the traditional categorical representations in upcoming versions of the major psychiatric classification systems.
Overweight and perception of overweight as predictors of smokeless tobacco use and of cigarette smoking in a cohort of Swedish adolescents
Authors: Caria Maria Paola , Bellocco Rino , Zambon Antonella , Horton Nicholas J. , Galanti Maria Rosaria 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  To study the association between measured or perceived overweight in adolescence and subsequent uptake of cigarette smoking and of the Swedish smokeless tobacco ‘snus’ (oral moist snuff).Design  Population‐based prospective cohort study with 7 years' follow‐up.Setting  Self‐administered questionnaires and school nurses' visits.Participants  A total of 2922 children of both sexes and mean age 11.6 years at recruitment, resident in the Stockholm region, Sweden.Measurements  Tobacco use was self‐reported at baseline and on six subsequent surveys. Subjects' height and weight were measured by school nurses during the first 4 years, self‐reported thereafter. Overweight perception was self‐reported at the age of 15 years.Findings  Overweight and perception of overweight were not associated with subsequent uptake of either smoking or snus among males. Among females, overweight at baseline was associated with uptake of smoking [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.63], but not of snus. A similar pattern was found with overweight status during follow‐up. Among girls with low‐educated parents, overweight at baseline predicted the uptake of both snus and smoking. Among 15‐year‐old females who never used tobacco perceived overweight was associated with subsequent uptake of smoking (adjusted HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.20–2.46), but not of snus.Conclusions  In Sweden, adolescent girls with actual or perceived overweight are at increased risk to start smoking, while indications that this increased risk applies to smokeless tobacco (snus) are limited to girls of low socio‐economic status.
How reactions to cigarette packet health warnings influence quitting: findings from the ITC Four‐Country survey
Authors: Borland Ron , Yong Hua‐Hie , Wilson Nick , Fong Geoffrey T. , Hammond David , Cummings K. Michael , Hosking Warwick , McNeill Ann 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives  To examine prospectively the impact of health warnings on quitting activity.Design  Five waves (2002–06) of a cohort survey where reactions to health warnings at one survey wave are used to predict cessation activity at the next wave, controlling for country (proxy for warning differences) and other factors. These analyses were replicated on four wave‐to‐wave transitions.Setting and participants  Smokers from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Samples were waves 1–2: n = 6525; waves 2–3: n = 5257; waves 3–4: n = 4439; and waves 4–5: n = 3993.Measures  Warning salience, cognitive responses (thoughts of harm and of quitting), forgoing of cigarettes and avoidance of warnings were examined as predictors of quit attempts, and of quitting success among those who tried (1 month sustained abstinence), replicated across four wave‐to‐wave transitions.Results  All four responses to warnings were independently predictive of quitting activity in bivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, both forgoing cigarettes and cognitive responses to the warnings predicted prospectively making quit attempts in all replications. However, avoiding warnings did not add predictive value consistently, and there was no consistent pattern for warning salience. There were no interactions by country. Some, but not all, the effects were mediated by quitting intentions. There were no consistent effects on quit success.Conclusions  This study adds to the evidence that forgoing cigarettes as a result of noticing warnings and quit‐related cognitive reactions to warnings are consistent prospective predictors of making quit attempts. This work strengthens the evidence base for governments to go beyond the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to mandate health warnings on tobacco products that stimulate the highest possible levels of these reactions.
Screening for hepatitis B, C and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: a survey of community‐based physicians
Authors: KALLMAN J. B. , ARSALLA A. , PARK V. , DHUNGEL S. , BHATIA P. , HADDAD D. , WHEELER A. , YOUNOSSI Z. M. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBackground  Screening guidelines for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV) as well as a position statement for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been put forth by different sources, but awareness of these guidelines and their impact on the physician practices have not been assessed.Aim  To assess the attitudes of primary care physicians (PCPs), gastroenterologists (GEs) and hepatologists (HEPs) regarding screening for HBV, HCV and NAFLD.Design  A survey questionnaire was sent to community‐based PCPs and GEs to assess issues related to HBV, HCV and NAFLD. The same questionnaire was sent to hepatologists (HEPs). The questionnaire contained 10 items related to demographic and practice patterns of these physicians, 35 items related to HBV, 35 items related to HCV and 29 items related to NAFLD.Results  A total of 214 physicians (103 PCPs, 59 GEs and 52 HEPs) completed the survey. A majority of PCPs, GEs and HEPs agreed on most screening issues for these causes of liver disease. Nevertheless, within group comparison of physicians (guideline aware versus guideline unaware) showed significant differences in accurate response between those who were aware of guidelines and those who were not aware.Conclusions  A large percentage of PCPs and GEs were unaware of official guidelines for viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Those aware of guidelines were more likely to screen appropriately and avoid unnecessary testing. More needs to be done to assess awareness and the impact implementation of guidelines in hepatology.
Genetic evidence for the introgression of Western NR6A1 haplotype into Chinese Licha breed associated with increased vertebral number
Authors: Yang G. , Ren J. , Zhang Z. , Huang L. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryThere is evidence that NR6A1 is a strong candidate for being a causal gene underlying vertebral number in pigs. The Licha Black is one of the leanest Chinese indigenous pig breeds, having an average vertebral number of 21.5. The introgression of Western germplasm into Licha Black, resulting in increased vertebral number, has been assumed but is not confirmed. This study detected allele frequencies of the NR6A1 causative mutation (c.575T>C) in 519 pigs from three Western and seven Chinese breeds including Licha Black, and evaluated the genetic variation in a 650‐kb region containing NR6A1 in the 10 breeds. Allele T for increased vertebral number was fixed in Western breeds. In contrast, this allele was very rare in most of the Chinese native breeds. Notably, the T allele was present in the Licha Black at a rather higher frequency (0.585) and in the Laiwu at lower frequency (0.250). As expected, selection pressure has wiped out the genetic variability in the 650 kb region in Western breeds. Conversely, Chinese indigenous breeds showed a high degree of genetic variability in this region. However, the Licha Black displayed dramatically reduced heterozygosity at the loci proximal to the causative mutation. Moreover, a high proportion (45.9%) of Licha Black pigs and a small number (21%) of Laiwu pigs had the Western NR6A1 haplotype, and the two breeds showed closer relationships with Western commercial breeds than other Chinese breeds in the phylogenic tree. When the results are taken together, this study supports the assumption that the Western NR6A1 haplotypes were introduced into Licha Black and possibly Laiwu and are associated with increased vertebral number.
Linkage disequilibrium in the North American Holstein population
Authors: Kim E.‐S. , Kirkpatrick B. W. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryLinkage disequilibrium was estimated using 7119 single nucleotide polymorphism markers across the genome and 200 animals from the North American Holstein cattle population. The analysis of maternally inherited haplotypes revealed strong linkage disequilibrium (r2 > 0.8) in genomic regions of ∼50 kb or less. While linkage disequilibrium decays as a function of genomic distance, genomic regions within genes showed greater linkage disequilibrium and greater variation in linkage disequilibrium compared with intergenic regions. Identification of haplotype blocks could characterize the most common haplotypes. Although maximum haplotype block size was over 1 Mb, mean block size was 26–113 kb by various definitions, which was larger than that observed in humans (∼10 kb). Effective population size of the dairy cattle population was estimated from linkage disequilibrium between single nucleotide polymorphism marker pairs in various haplotype ranges. Rapid reduction of effective population size of dairy cattle was inferred from linkage disequilibrium in recent generations. This result implies a loss of genetic diversity because of the high rate of inbreeding and high selection intensity in dairy cattle. The pattern observed in this study indicated linkage disequilibrium in the current dairy cattle population could be exploited to refine mapping resolution. Changes in effective population size during past generations imply a necessity of plans to maintain polymorphism in the Holstein population.
Evaluation of SPATA1‐associated markers for stallion fertility
Authors: Giesecke K. , Hamann H. , Stock K. F. , Woehlke A. , Sieme H. , Distl O. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryStallion fertility is an economically important trait because the use of artificial insemination is increasing in the horse industry and superior sires are used more intensely. Molecular genetic markers may be useful as early indicators for a stallion’s fertility and genetic improvement programmes. The testis‐specific SPATA1 protein is involved in shaping the sperm head during spermatogenesis. Thus, the spermatogenesis associated 1 (SPATA1) gene was chosen as candidate for stallion fertility, and we analysed intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as genetic markers for the least square means (LSM) of the pregnancy rate per oestrus of stallions and breeding values (BV) for the paternal and embryonic component of the pregnancy rate per oestrus. We sequenced the cDNA of SPATA1 to verify the annotated mRNA sequence. One SPATA1‐associated intronic SNP (BIEC2‐968854) showed a significant association with the embryonic component of BVs of stallions for the pregnancy rate per oestrus. The embryonic component of BVs was positively associated with homozygous C/C stallions. Both the additive and dominance effects were significant with values of −5.8% (P = 0.01) and −6.4% (P = 0.02) for the embryonic component of BVs. For the same SNP, a suggestive association was found for the LSM of the pregnancy rate per oestrus of stallions. Heterozygous stallions had higher pregnancy rates per oestrus than homozygous stallions. The dominance effect was 4.1% with a nominal P‐value of 0.02. The SNP BIEC2‐968854 can change an SP1 binding site and thus we assume that gene regulation may be influenced through this intronic mutation. This is the first report on SPATA1 being associated with the pregnancy rate per oestrus for stallions.
Seasonal variation in the composition of fish assemblages in small Amazonian forest streams: evidence for predictable changes
Authors: ESPÍRITO‐SANTO HELDER MATEUS VIANA , MAGNUSSON WILLIAM ERNEST , ZUANON JANSEN , MENDONÇA FERNANDO PEREIRA , LANDEIRO VICTOR LEMES 
Published: February 2009

Summary1. The effects of seasonal inundation on the biology of fishes on floodplains of large Amazonian rivers are well studied. However, the small seasonal changes in headwater streams are generally considered to have little effect on fish assemblages.2. In this study, we analysed seasonal changes in the species composition and abundance of fish in small Amazonian forest streams. We sampled fish with hand and seine nets in headwater streams in a 10 000 ha terra‐firme forest reserve near Manaus, Brazil. Each stream was surveyed at the end of the 2005 dry season, at the beginning of the 2006 rainy season and at the beginning of the 2006 dry season, by means of a standardized sampling effort.3. The numbers of individuals and species caught were higher in the dry season, but rarefaction analyses indicated that greater species numbers could have been due simply to the larger number of individuals caught.4. Between the dry and rainy season, the direction of changes in species composition in multivariate space varied among sites, especially for quantitative (abundance) data. However, the observed variation among sites was the less than expected if the directions of change were random.5. Fish assemblages in the second dry season were more similar to those in the previous dry season than expected if changes in species composition among seasons were random. This indicates that a general seasonal pattern in fish assemblages can be detected, despite the existence of some erratic site‐specific changes.6. Most of the species that showed large seasonal variations in density occupy temporary ponds during the rainy season, when much of the valley is inundated and pond networks form adjacent to streams. Short‐duration lateral migrations to these ponds may play an important role in the seasonal fish‐assemblage dynamics in Amazonian headwater streams.7. Our results contrast with previous studies on small Amazonian streams, which have found little seasonal change in fish assemblages, and highlight the importance of the abundance of common species as an indicator of general fish assemblage structure in biological monitoring programmes.